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Steve Pruett has seen more than his share of booms in three decades in the oil business. None, though, as strange as the one gripping the Permian Basin right now.

The telltale signs are the same as always, with companies like his desperate for skilled workers to man the drilling rigs that pierce the horizon in west Texas. Whats unusual, and unnerving, is that the Permian is still thrumming with activity after prices cratered for the stuff it pumps out. Crude is trading for around $50 a barrel, but this is the hottest oil patch anywhere on Earth, a swing producer influencing the trajectory of global markets and threatening OPEC.

That either means the industry has become so incredibly efficient that production can continue to rise even if prices dont, or that its throwing money after a mirage. Pruett, chief executive officer of Midland, Texas-based Elevation Resources, is more concerned about the latter.

Oil men are innately optimistic, he said, and sometimes our optimism is our own worst enemy.

This is the funny thing about the business. Ups and downs are so ingrained that crazy success is seen as an omen that the end may be around the corner. It has often been the case. Midland, a city of about 140,000 halfway between Fort Worth and El Paso, has ridden the roller coaster since oil was discovered in the Permian in 1923. Now the place is on a major upswing thats permeated every sector, from auto sales to hotel bookings to home construction.

You would think oil is $100 a barrel the way the real estate market is going, said Victoria Printz, a Midland-based agent representing properties selling for more than $1 million. The average new-home sales price in the metro area shot up 8.5 percent in the past year, and permits for new construction climbed 76 percent. This is extraordinary-even for Midland.

A new estimate of the oil contained in the Permian underscores the boom mentality. It holds 60 billion to 70 billion barrels of yet-to-be pumped crude, enough to supply every refinery in the U.S. for 12 years, according to a study by IHS Markit.

What gives oil people pause is that costs for everything from pressure pumps to well casing have been rising, up from 20 to 30 percent in the last year, a marker of an overheated situation that could burn out. Another is that possibly too-eager drillers are starting to venture from prime acreage to less bountiful formations, where they may get less bang for their bucks.

Experienced workers are harder to find, and training newbies adds to expenses. The quality of work can suffer, too, erasing efficiency gains. Pruett said Elevation Resources recently had a fracking job that was supposed to take seven days but lasted nine because unschooled roughnecks caused some equipment malfunctions.

By this point, weve given up all of our profit margin, he said, referring to the industry. Were over-capitalized, were over-drilling and, if prices dont rise, we might be facing a double dip in drilling.

Pruetts hands are tied: Hes working on University of Texas land and the lease requires development, so he has to keep boring drill bits into the ground. But other companies are slowing down or putting plans on hold as they assess whether what theyre spending will bear enough fruit.

Nobody wants this play to die out-and certainly not due to stupid boom-happy decisions that will flood the market and spur another crash. Its important that we try, during these periods that look pretty volatile to us, to pace, said Al Walker, CEO of Anadarko Petroleum on a recent conference call with investors.

Anadarko is one of several large energy companies, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum among them, that have expanded operations in the Permian. It covers 75,000 square miles, nearly the size of Great Britain, in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The land is so flat that the horizon tapers off in the distance, as if youre standing on an upturned bowl, while the sky stretches out to seeming infinity.

Hundreds of millions of years ago, it was a vast inland sea. The water evaporated and thousands upon thousands of feet of shale slowly built up, pressure-cooking deceased aquatic life and creating a massive reserve of oil trapped in the fine-grained sedimentary rock.

Other U.S. shale patches have petered out, but this one is special, blessed with unusually thick bands of the mudstones, 10 to 15 times the diameter of those in the Eagle Ford just down the road in southern Texas. Oil- and gas-soaked layers are stacked on top of each other like a tiramisu, bearing names such as Spraberry, Wolfcamp, Bone Spring and Avalon.

Those werent worth a whole lot until the 80s, when the industry began perfecting fracking, a method of coaxing petroleum out of shale. It uses directional bores to carve out horizontal holes and blasts the tunnels with high-pressure bursts of water, chemicals and sand. That creates millions of tiny cracks, vastly expanding the areas for escape.

The process isnt cheap, which didnt matter when crude was commanding so much in the early part of this decade. Thats when the Permian and other shale fields, including the Eagle Ford and the Bakken in North Dakota and Montana, helped the U.S. reverse decades of declining output.

The American surge was a reason for the glut in 2014-the benchmark price went from $140 to $30 in six months-and there were more than a few obituaries written for high-cost shale. But the Permian roared back within two years, thanks to a combination of more intense fracking and the use of technology to mark more precise plotting for drilling targets.

The number of active rigs has more than doubled since May 2016. In August, Permian output exceeded that of eight of the 13 members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The flow is projected to rise to a record 2.63 million barrels a day in October, which would account for more than a quarter of the total from the U.S.

To Nate Steadmon, who runs the Midland branch of W-B Supply Co., those are just statistics. He knows from behavior which way the wind is blowing. When times are good, drillers want equipment as fast as possible. When its bad, they want it as cheap as possible.

In the last couple of months, theyve started asking how quickly we can do it again, Steadmon said. Now time is more of the issue, not money.

That is one of those danger signs. But companies are constantly coming up with workarounds to rein in costs, like the hub being set up in a New Mexico pasture. A herd of cows feasted on hay on a recent afternoon, staring through a fence as dump trucks, bulldozers and backhoes kicked up a fog of dust. Occidental Petroleum is building a logistics-and-maintenance center that will host fracking pumps, steel pipes, sand and other materials by next year.

Right now, all that has to be hauled in from Odessa, some 120 miles away. Oxy, which spends about $6.6 million on a well, hopes to slice off from $500,000 to $750,000 of that total. This will be a game-changer, said Jody Elliott, president of the domestic oil and gas division.

Maybe the experts will figure it out, and this one will last. But its so reminiscent of the last boom that went bust that it has folks on edge. Curtis Helms, a geologist, was amazed when he drove through the little Texas town of Orla, near the New Mexico border.

Holy cow, said Helms, director of the Petroleum Professionals Development Center at Midland College. Theres man camps, RV parks, food trucks. You have to be careful not to get blown off the road by the tanker trucks whooshing by. It is crazy.
Heres the annoying thing about this golden age of instantaneous communication and reality TV: Even when you are thousands of miles from home and being led by a knowledgeable local guide to a less-than-promising-looking eight-table restaurant in the chefs slightly rundown house that is only open for lunch and that you would never find on your own in a million years, it turns out Anthony Bourdain has been there ahead of you.

Seriously, Anthony. Couldnt you have left at least one stone unturned? And did you have to let them take your photo to hang on the wall? Couldnt you have let us intrepid travelers treasure the illusion that we were discovering Chez Wong for ourselves?

Because eating there feels like you have discovered a hidden gem, even if it turns out it didnt really need discovering.

Having done extraordinarily little homework before the Peru trip, I had no idea what to expect when our itinerary said we were going to Chez Wong for ceviche. Certainly, the hybrid French/Chinese name didnt offer any clues. If I had looked on Yelp or Travel Advisor, I might have noticed all the rave reviews and folks proclaiming it the best ceviche restaurant in Lima (which might possibly make it the best ceviche restaurant in the world, given Perus status in the raw fish world).

But as it was, when we trooped into the house and took our places at the glass-topped table set with paper Chez Wong placemats in the restaurants only room, I wasnt expecting much.

It certainly didnt look very promising. There was hardly anything to it. At the end, facing the room, was a single work counter. Behind that was a tiny room with another counter, a few storage racks, a small stove off to the side and a few assistants milling around. Javier Wong, the 70-something Chinese-Peruvian chef sporting a white beret to match his chefs jacket, was busy at the front counter chopping some vegetables. When we were all seated, he got to work on the fish.

It was quite a show.

He started with an enormous whole flounder, one of the biggest Ive ever seen. When he held it up, it came nearly to his knees.

I imagine it must have given the fisherman quite a fight, but it was no match for the chef. Working on that small counter at the end of the room, he had it filleted so quickly I barely had time to photograph it. In another few seconds, it was reduced to bite-size pieces, which he swept into a large bowl.

As assistants efficiently swapped out cutting boards, chef spent another few seconds slicing red onions, which followed the fish into the bowl. Pepper and a scary amount of salt were tossed in next, followed by lime juice. I think that pieces of cooked octopus must have been marinating in the lime juice, because somehow that ended up in the bowl too. It happened so fast, it was hard to tell.

Moments later, platters of the freshly made ceviche were on every table, and we were diving in.

It was amazing that something that simple could taste so good. We kept eating until we were stuffed.

Which might have been a mistake, as it was only the first course.

While we were exclaiming over the ceviche, the chef pulled out another enormous flounder and worked his magic, reducing it to bite-size pieces. But the fish wasnt for more ceviche. Instead, it was headed toward a blazing hot wok perched on the burner in the kitchen.

In another minute, platters of an indescribably delicious stir-fry were on our table and we were pigging out again.

There was a third course after that, but our table declined it out of fear of exploding. I couldnt have eaten another bite, but I truly regret my lack of capacity. The folks at the other tables in the room seemed to be relishing it  another stir-fry that looked sweet-and-sour and had fruit in it, that I think was intended as dessert.

It was a truly special meal. As much as I would like to try to keep the secret, I cant help blabbing about it and urging any of you planning to be in Lima to secure one of the sought-after reservations.

But I also urge you to do it soon, if you want the full experience.

Wong will be closing the restaurant in his home in a few months. Now that he is world famous, he has decided to cash in and open a larger, legit restaurant in another location.

Im sure the ceviche will be just as good, but I cant imagine that the atmosphere will be the same. I doubt he will be able to replicate the slightly seedy charm of his repurposed living room in the new place. Though Im pretty certain of one element of the decor.

That grinning photo of Anthony Bourdain will be there, hung prominently on the wall.

Gloating that he got there first.

Peruvian Ceviche

When I first encountered ceviche, I was told that the fish, though raw, was actually cooked by the acid in the lime juice. That may be true of ceviche in Mexico and other places, but not in Peru, where the impeccably fresh fish is definitely still raw. The lime juice is introduced just moments before serving, and doesnt have time to do more than bathe it in flavor.

There are probably as many types of ceviche in Peru as there are cooks making it. The genius of Chef Wongs version is its stripped-down, absolute simplicity, which can probably only be achieved with the local variety of lime (less acidic but unavailable here) and of course the just-caught fish. I know any attempt to replicate it in my kitchen with California ingredients would result in a pale imitation, so I havent tried. Instead, Im offering a more forgiving version based on one we made in a cooking class later in the trip.

1 jalapeno*

1 lb. very fresh sole or flounder fillets

Salt and pepper

1 celery stalk, finely sliced on the bias

1/2 tsp. finely grated fresh ginger

2 large garlic cloves, finely minced

1/2 red onion, finely sliced

Juice of 10-12 key limes

2 sprigs cilantro, roughly chopped

Romaine lettuce leaves

Red onion, sliced

Cooked sweet potato, peeled and sliced

Firm ripe avocado, sliced

Corn nuts (optional)

*The pepper used in Peru is aji amarillo, a somewhat hot, yellow-orange pepper that is nearly impossible to find in this country. Jalapenos are not equivalent, but may be the best substitute available.

Cut the chili pepper in half and rub the inside of a large bowl with the cut side of one of the halves, then discard it. Finely slice the other half (removing the seeds) to use as a garnish.

Cut the fish fillets on the bias into 1/2-inch slices, then into small cubes. Add them to the bowl. Add salt (be generous) and pepper, and toss. Then add the red onion, celery, grated ginger, garlic and lime juice, and mix. Just before serving, add the cilantro to the mixture.

To serve, heap each serving of ceviche onto a lettuce leaf and garnish with a slice or two of sweet potato, a slice of avocado, some finely sliced hot pepper and the corn nuts.
For years, a handful of people have stationed themselves at one of Napas busiest intersections, raising signs urging an end to Americas wars and calling for a new spirit of peace. On Sunday afternoon  in support of like-minded pacifists across the country and world campaigning for nonviolence  Napas handful grew by a few people.

Streams of drivers heading down Soscol Avenue and Third Street rolled past 10 mostly older men and women, and the messages they held for passers-by to see in an instant. NO JUSTICE  KNOW PEACE! proclaimed one placard; To have peace, we must make peace! another sign declared.

Some of the anti-violence sign holders had been at this task for up to a decade or more, faithfully sharing their messages from 2 to 4 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of every other month. But on this afternoon  on a day when the movement Campaign Nonviolence sponsored hundreds of such events in the U.S.  newcomers like Margery Bancroft added their signs to the silent peace vigil.

I was raised a pacifist, and Ive seen this vigil, but this is the first time Ive put my own body here, said Bancroft, who learned about the campaign from emails, Facebook posts and church-service messages at Napa Methodist Church.

Sundays silent protest in Napa was one of the events that capped a week of vigils, rallies and marches that Campaign Nonviolence promoted as not only opposing warfare, but also as promoting a culture of peace and nonviolence free from war, poverty, racism, environmental destruction and the epidemic of violence, it website reads.

Bancroft was joining a core of war opponents who first took their signs to the Soscol-Third intersection in 2004, a year after the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Ive been doing something for peace before even the shock and awe in Iraq  marched against the war in San Francisco in 2002, declared Teresa Cahill, a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a regular at the Napa sign campaign, which takes place once every two months just east of the Napa River and downtown.

Its been ongoing for 17 years and Im not gonna stop. Somebody asked me when were gonna stop, and I said, Probably never.

It was her fear of a much deadlier potential conflict  between the U.S. and nuclear-armed North Korea  that weighed on Bancroft during her first day taking part in the Napa vigil.

Ill be blunt  I believe the North Korean leader (Kim Jong-un) is a terrorist. But I want to tell our president, Do not be a terrorist, she said of the volley of threats and name-calling between Donald Trump and Kim in recent days.

Between silences of a minute or two, bursts of horn honks penetrated the rumble of tires as drivers signaled their support for the peace vigil before rolling on. A rare exception was a man who paused on southbound Soscol Avenue after catching sight of the signs.

When I served (in the military), my friends died for peace, the man called out to three women at the corner. So be mindful of your signs, he added before leaving.

For Joe Wilcox, such dissent was mild compared to the reactions he and others have sometimes received for more than a decade.

Id say these days we get about 90, 95 percent positive (reactions), said Wilcox, who joined the vigil in 2004 shortly after it began. You get the very occasional raised finger, and sometimes What about 9/11? And I say to them, Youre right  what about 9/11?

Its dwindled; weve had times with up to 16 people here, but some have died, some have aged, and some have moved on, he said of the small numbers of sign holders in recent years.

But Wilcox himself had come out for another Sunday afternoon. Sitting behind a crosswalk light, he raised a pole bearing a U.S. flag  its 50 stars replaced with a white peace symbol over the blue field  as stiff winds starched the fabric into eye-catching waves.

Changing the world, he said, one afternoon at a time.
OAKLAND  Motorists going through the Bay Bridge toll plaza today may see a east-facing billboard that is displaying a photo of Donald Trump with the word Impeach next to his face.

The billboard started displaying the call for the presidents impeachment this morning and it will run through Sunday, according to the Courage Campaign, which paid for the billboard.

The Courage Campaign is a group of about 1.4 million members who are working toward a more progressive California, according to the groups website.

The billboard was paid for through donations by the groups members, who paid $17 each.

The president could be impeached if he is convicted for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, according to the U.S. Constitution.

We think theres a legal case and a moral case for impeachment, Courage Campaign executive director Eddie Kurtz said.

According to Kurtz, the president has used his office to benefit himself and his family financially and obstructed justice, among other offenses.

The billboard is mainly part of the Courage Campaigns effort to mobilize voters on moral grounds since impeachment is a political process and politics is based on the will of the people, Kurtz said.

Officials with Courage Campaign could keep the billboard up longer if they decide its worth it based on traffic at the website DemandImpeachmentNow.com, which is shown on the billboard.

Kurtz is calling on others who are dismayed by the presidents work to get involved in the Courage Campaign or any other group that wants to see changes in the countrys highest office.

Courage Campaign officials plan to put up similar billboards in seven Republican districts in the state if representatives in those districts do not support the impeachment effort.

The Courage Campaign in August launched a petition to impeach Trump. So far 90,000 people have signed it.

The petition can be found at http://act.couragecampaign.org/sign/impeachtrump.
Two days after voters approved Patricia Guerrero to become Californias first Latina Supreme Court chief justice in January, a state panel has approved Kelli Evans to be the high courts first openly lesbian justice. The moves mark the last dominos to fall after Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye announced in July that she will step down in January. Gov. Gavin Newsom first elevated Guerrero to lead the nations largest judicial system. The same day, he announced he would appoint Evans to take her place. Evans was approved Thursday by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
- China imposes limits on oil supply to North Korea







- Imposes additional limits on textile trading with North Korea.

China has agreed to limit its oil exports to North Korea in compliance with the recent sanctions approved by the United Nations Security Council last week.





China's Ministry of Commerce has disclosed in a statement on its website on Saturday that China would limit exports of refined petroleum products from October 1, and ban condensates and liquefied natural gas immediately.





For many decades, North Korea has mainly generated foreign revenue through the sale of textile and these new sanctions are a step part of what the U.S. has repeatedly referred to as biting.





Although it is still too soon to tell the potential effects of these sanctions, it could take months for any of the effects to become noticeable.
14:42

Peepli Live co-director Mahmood Farooqui, convicted of rape, has been acquitted by the Delhi High court. The court pronounced its judgement on an appeal of Mahmood Farooqui, against his seven-year jail term for raping a US researcher.





Justice Ashutosh Kumar had reserved the verdict on September 1 after hearing arguments of the counsel for the State and Farooqui.





Farooqui has challenged his conviction and the sentence given by the trial court.





During the arguments, Farooqui's lawyer had denied the allegation of rape levelled by the woman and said "no such incident took place on that day'.





His counsel had referred to messages exchanged between his client and the woman before the lodging of the case and contended that the two were in a "relationship' since January 2015.





"In a relationship when people are attracted to each other, things do happen. But it does not mean it's rape,' he had said, adding that the "woman's version is also contradictory to the documentary evidence'.





This argument was opposed by Delhi Police's counsel who had said the rape had taken place and the trial court had given reasons while convicting and sentencing 45-year-old Farooqui. A trial court had on August 4 last year sent him to jail for seven years, observing that he had taken advantage of the situation when the victim was alone in his house.





The court, which on July 30, 2016 had held Farooqui guilty of raping the American woman in 2015 in a drunken state, had also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him.





The police had on June 19, 2015, lodged the FIR against Farooqui on the woman's complaint after which he was arrested.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 03:52:49|Editor: Mengjie

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A Hezbollah fighter fires at a position of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria's Qalamoun region, on Aug. 26, 2017. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

MOSCOW, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Russian lieutenant general was killed in a shelling launched by Islamic State (IS) terrorists near the city of Deir al-Zour in northeastern Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday.

"As a result of the sudden IS mortar shelling, Lt. Gen. Valery Asapov sustained a fatal injury," Russia's Sputnik news agency cited a ministry statement as saying.

According to the document, Asapov was a member of the group of Russian military advisers working with Syrian commanders during the operation aimed at the the liberation of Deir al-Zour.

The deceased serviceman will receive a state award posthumously, the statement said.

On Thursday, the ministry said that the Syrian government troops continued their offensive operations to destroy the last stronghold of the IS terrorist group in the vicinity of Deir al-Zour, after breaking a three-year blockade of the city earlier this month.

About 85 percent of the city is free from the IS and the whole city could be liberated within a week, it added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 03:52:50|Editor: yan

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BAGHDAD, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday reiterated his rejection to the referendum on independence of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan slated for Sept. 25.

"Taking a decision unilaterally that would affect Iraq's unity and making separation from one side is contrary to the law and unconstitutional, and we will not deal with it or with its results," Abadi said in a statement broadcast on the official Iraqiya channel.

"Such insistence will lead to more problems in Iraq and the region," Abadi warned.

"If the Kurdish regional authorities insist on holding the referendum, there will be subsequent steps to protect Iraq's unity," Abadi said without specifying what these steps would be.

Abadi's speech came as a response to the Kurdish regional president Masoud Barzani who held a press conference in the region's capital Erbil and reconfirmed holding the referendum as scheduled on Monday.

On June 7, Barzani announced his intention to hold a referendum on the independence of the Kurdish region from Iraq on Sept. 25.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed by many countries because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and because it comes as the Iraqi forces are in fight against the terrorist IS militant group.

In addition, the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iran and Syria see that such a step would threaten their territorial integrity, as larger populations of Kurds live in those countries.

The referendum is not a declaration of independence, but still it is a way for the Iraqi Kurds to express their intention to pursue independence more aggressively in a post-Islamic State (IS) Iraq, and to solidify their territorial gains, most importantly the oil-rich Kirkuk province.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 03:57:53|Editor: An

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LAGOS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China-Nigeria bilateral relations have reached a new height in recent years through cooperation in multiple areas, said Chao Xiaoliang, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, on Sunday.

Addressing a reception here marking the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Oct. 1, Chao spoke highly of the development of the relations between China and Nigeria, saying that the countries have a potential to boost their cooperation in various fields.

"With the joint efforts of the two countries, recent years have witnessed tangible progress in China-Nigeria relations," he said, noting that their strategic partnership enjoyed comprehensive and rapid development.

For his part, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, applauded the achievements China has made in its successful development policy, saying that Nigeria is willing to learn from China's experience and deepen bilateral dialogue between the two countries.

Also, Anofi Olarenwaju Elegushi, the acting commissioner for Transport in Lagos State, said China and Nigeria have much in common as their peoples are hard-working and patriotic and the two countries have good prospects for a new heightened level of cooperation.

He believes that Lagos as the economic hub of Nigeria will benefit tremendously from improved relations between Nigeria and China.

In the first five months of 2017, bilateral trade volume reached 5.46 billion U.S. dollars, increasing 32.8 percent over the same period in 2016, according to official statistics released at the reception.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 04:22:58|Editor: yan

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian army continued an operation for the third consecutive day in the favela of Rocinha on Sunday. For the past week, military units have been cracking down on the drug trafficking trade across Rio de Janeiro.

Official sources said Sunday's operation took place after intense firefights on Saturday, leading to nine arrests, the seizure of 18 guns and a large quantity of drugs.

Around 1,000 soldiers and 10 armored vehicles have been inside Rocinha since Friday to try to stem bloodshed between two rival gangs, fighting for control of the favela.

According to Rio's secretary of security, Roberto Sa, the presence of the army has already stopped around 1 million reais (around 300,000 U.S. dollars) from flowing to gangs in Rocinha.

This symbolic favela in the south of the city is nestled right next to the rich neighborhoods of Sao Conrado and Gavea. Official data says around 70,000 people live inside Rocinha but unofficial estimates put the number far higher.

According to the press, this drug war was started by a group controlled by drug leader Rogerio Avelino, alias "Rogerio 157." He was seemingly trying to expel from Rocinha a gang led by Antonio Bomfim Lopez, who is seeking to maintain control while being in prison in the northern state of Rondonia.

Clashes in Rocinha over the last week have left at least four dead, and caused all schools in the area to shut down.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 04:43:04|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- As widely expected, Angela Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU bloc has again won the most votes in the German federal election on Sunday, but she needs to reflect what's behind her bitter victory.

According to preliminary survey, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc won 32.5 percent of the total votes, falling short of expectations with a 9-percentage-point gap compared with the election four years ago. Its major rival, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) won only 20 percent.

But the biggest surprise is made by the far-right populist Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD), which won 13.5 percent of votes and entered the Bundestag for the first time as a far-right party.

"The result showed that the next German government will face challenges," Hajo Funke, a professor from Free University Berlin, told Xinhua.

Funke said to some degree the result is a reflection of the partly failure of the grand coalition government between the Union Party and the SPD in the past four years, mostly in domestic issues, as the government failed to address enough the divide between the rich and poor.

Although German economy is booming and enjoying some of the best times since 2008/2009 global financial crisis, the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing. According to a survey by German media, social justice has become the second social problems in the country, just after the refugee issues.

Not only wealth gap between the rich and the poor, but also between different regions. According to the newspaper Bild, about 27 percent of male voters in eastern Germany cast their ballots for the AfD, the highest ratio among all parties. Eastern Germany is the most less developed regions.

"The prices are climbing, the rent is increasing, but our salaries are increasing as quickly as living costs," said the 52-year-old repair worker Stephen Norman in Berlin, who voted for AfD.

"I'm heavily taxed, and all Germans are heavily taxed, but we don't want to use our money to support refugees. That is unfair!" Norman told Xinhua.

"We lost so many voters because they dissatisfied with CDU's policy, such as the refugee policy. But they switched to AfD not because they believed that AfD can provide solutions, but an expression of their dissatisfaction to us," Andreas Quebbemann, member of the state parliament in Niedersachsen told Xinhua.

Many AfD supporters also believed that although they don't disagree that if Muslim people live as their neighbors, but if millions of Muslim immigrants come to Germany the country will fall apart.

In addition, some of them believed that all of other German parties were converging. They supported the AfD only because they want a different party.

Funke said those problems need the new government to solve with more efforts, especially caring more about children, the poor and other people becoming marginalized in a bid to curb social insecurity feelings in a booming economy.

As Merkel said after the election, she will try to win back all AfD supporters "with good policies."

Although refugee crisis has passed its peak, it is as some media has called the Achilles' Ankle for Merkel. Germany managed to handle the social and economic impacts brought by over one million of refugees, but it is true that some terrorists also entered Germany and launched a series of attacks here.

Experts believed that the new government need to take into consideration of the people that have been affected by immigrants the most, and protect legal immigrants by fighting against illegal ones and making more effective policies to send failed asylum seekers back home

However, as a coin has its two sides, the election result also showed some positive signs for future.

Having served as German Chancellor for 12 years, Merkel has dealt with an array of crises, from the financial crisis in 2008/2009, to the Euro-crisis and the most recent refugee crisis, but she managed to deal with them without leaving a Germany and perhaps the EU as a whole in chaos.

Some voters believed that in a world full of uncertainties, Merkel may continue to maintain Germany stability. Even among those who did not like her, some thought that maybe Merkel was not the best choices, but there was no other alternative compared to her competency.

That's why Merkel could win in the election, according to Funke.

"Merkel is an experienced crisis manager who takes Germany as a mother of the nation. This is something that meets the security needs of the Germans," said Dr. Oskar Niedemayer, professor with Free University Berlin.

"So, for many voters, why should I change the horses in such a crippling situation?" Niedemayer asked.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 04:53:06|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The conservative union led by German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday defended its commanding role in the Bundestag (German parliament) with 32.5 percent of the vote, falling short of expectations with a 9-percentage-point gap compared with the election four years ago.

The union's main rival, Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by former European Parliament president Martin Schulz, also suffered a big setback in Sunday's election.

Meanwhile, the far-right party Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) unexpectedly made a historical breakthrough with 13.5 percent of votes, and became the third strongest party in the Bundestag.

LOWER BUT MERKEL BELIEVED CDU REACHED ITS GOAL

The lower than expected margin will still offer a decent chance for Merkel to claim her fourth term as Chancellor.

Senior official of the CDU Volker Kauder told reporters after the election that the CDU had reached its expectation in the election, and Merkel will remain in office as chancellor and will be granted the mandatory to form the new cabinet.

In a televised speech after the election, Merkel told her supporters that "we have clear government mandate, and no government can be formed without us", admitting that her bloc had reached strategic goal in election though she had hoped for better results.

She also promised to win back voters of AfD with good policies, vowing to fight against illegal immigrants while protecting interests of legal citizens.

Despite Merkel's bitter victory, Andreas Quebbemann, member of the state parliament in Niedersachsen, said he was Very disappointed with the result.

"We lost so many voters because they dissatisfied with CDU's policy, such as the refugee policy. But they switched to AfD not because they believed AfD can provide solutions, but an expression of their dissatisfaction to us," Quebbemann told Xinhua.

"As to the coalition cabinet, there is only one option left for CDU -- joint FDP and the Green Party. But we have many differences with the Green Party. The coalition is bound to be a difficult one, but I believe the final compromise will be reached. Because this is politics," Quebbemann added.

Calling it a historical day because of AfD's breakthrough, David Mcallister, a CDU senior member and Chairman of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, told Xinhua that the conservative union has no choice but form a "Jamaica coalition" (so-called because the parties' colors match those of the Jamaican flag) with the Greens and liberal FDP.

"Though we have common ground, the three-party coalition government will meet plenty of challenges, because we have differences in the economic, diplomatic and many other aspects," said Mcallister.

SPD POCKETS HISTORICAL LOW BUT REFUSES GRAND COALITION

In addition, the union's main rival SPD took just 20 percent of the vote and garnered the lowest vote since World War II, according to a preliminary exit poll.

For his part, Schulz said the election marked a "historic crash" for the SPD. But Thomas Oppermana, a senior official of the party, said Schulz will continue to be the president of the party despite the "crash" and led the renovation of the party.

According to local media ARD, Schulz said his party had no intention to form a coalition government with the conservative union and "will go to the opposite".

He said his party is a "strong bulwark" against would-be lawmakers from the right-wing AfD.

"We are a strong bulwark against the enemies of democracy that we now have in parliament," Schulz said in a television interview.

He referred to the AfD's result as "depressing," saying that widespread fears about the refugee crisis had fuelled support for the right-wing party.

"This is a turning point," said Schulz. "It's clear that the decision to welcome refugees has divided our society. What is a great act of humanity to some seems threatening to others. We didn't manage to convince people that Germany is strong enough to leave no one behind."

Lisa Price, official of SPD's state commission in Brandenburg, told Xinhua that refusing the grand coalition (CDU/CSU plus SPD) is SPD's victory, because "SPD will finally have the opportunity to prove itself."

"Staying out the grand coalition will make SPD more distinctive and could focus on such issues as the interests of the low-income groups as an opposition party," she told Xinhua.

Gerhard Stahl, a Berliner who has been an SPD since 1970s, now professor with College of Europe in Brussels, said Schulz should not hold the whole responsibility for SPD's loss.

"Being an opposition party can also give the people an alternative. A lot of people are dissatisfied with the ruling coalition, if the two largest party group form a grand coalition again, there will be no alternative for voters. If the government let us down in the coming years, we can vote for SPD instead," Stahl told Xinhua.

AFD'S CELEBRATIONS MET WITH PROTEST

In another development, the AfD crossed the five-percent-vote threshold on Sunday came into the new parliament for the first time. It is also the first far-right populist party in the Bundestag since WWII.

"We will hunt Merkel! We want to bring our country and people back," said Alexander Gauland, one of the two candidates of the AfD in this election who always accuses Merkel's policies in refugees and euro crisis.

"It's a historical and outstanding result for AfD. We will experience more pluralism in the Bundestag, and we will experience a lively democracy through the AfD," said AfD's politician Bjoern Hoecke.

However, Hoecke's joyful words met with protests and demonstrations against AfD shortly after.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Berlin's Alexanderplatz on Sunday evening, bearing umbrellas to keep dry and waving anti-AfD signs to protest AfD's election result.

Later, the crowd shouted as one, "The whole of Berlin hates the AfD."

Police were monitoring the situation and prohibiting the protesters from drawing close to the building housing the AfD's party.

According to security authority, AfD supporters were cleared off the building's balcony after demonstrators on the ground threw objects in that direction.

Similar anti-AfD protests also took place on the other side of the country in Cologne. Demonstrators met in front of the west German city's central train station before marching through the streets with a banner reading "Whoever is silent, is complicit".

The two rallies were parts of a nationwide campaign dubbed "Nationalism is not an Alternative", which also saw 300 people rallying in Frankfurt, German news agency DPA reported.

Despite AfD's breakthrough, many experts believed that the party's influence should not be overestimated.

Prof. Dr. Paul Nolte, a historian with Free University Berlin, said as SPD refused to form another grand coalition government with the CDU/CSU bloc, the AfD will not become the largest opposition party, so that their influence in the Bundestag will be restricted.

Prof. Dr. Hajo Funke, a political scientist with Free University Berlin focusing on right-wing extremism, told Xinhua that although the AfD is popular to a small degree in the public, but most others have realized that it is a dangerous right-wing party.

Although it has entered the Bundestag, none of the parties in the federal parliament, no matter the small parties or the country's two major parties, ruled out cooperation with the AfD in any form, possibly making it a lonely marginal man in the Bundestag.

Funke also doubted that the AfD would be stronger in the future, as the party has lost the flexibility.

"Right-wing parties like the FPOE in Austria, they say something very radical but act more like centrists. But when it comes to AfD, its leading structure has decided to be right-wing radical, which has limited their influence," said Funke.

Founded in 2013, the eurosceptic and anti-immigration party -- which welcomed Brexit, missed the Bundestag with 4.7 percent of votes in the same year.

The party gained momentum during the Euro and the refugee crisis. It was polling at around 10 percent before Sunday's federal election.

About 73,500 polling stations across the country opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) and closed at 6:00 p.m. (1600 GMT).

Official statistics showed that Sunday's turnout of the election stood at 75 percent, higher than the 71.5 percent in 2013.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 05:03:07|Editor: Liu

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German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel (Front) is applauded after the preliminary exit poll at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party's headquarters in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 24, 2017. The conservative union led by German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday defended its dominant role in the Bundestag (German parliament) with 32.5 percent of the vote, according to the preliminary exit poll. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

BERLIN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The conservative union led by German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday defended its commanding role in the Bundestag (German parliament) with 32.5 percent of the vote, falling short of expectations with a 9-percentage-point gap compared with the election four years ago.

The union's main rival, Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by former European Parliament president Martin Schulz, also suffered a big setback in Sunday's election.

Meanwhile, the far-right party Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) unexpectedly made a historical breakthrough with 13.5 percent of votes, and became the third strongest party in the Bundestag.

LOWER SUPPORTS BUT MERKEL SAYS CDU REACHED ITS GOAL

The lower than expected margin will still offer a decent chance for Merkel to claim her fourth term as Chancellor.

Senior official of the CDU Volker Kauder told reporters after the election that the CDU had reached its expectation in the election, and Merkel will remain in office as chancellor and will be granted the mandatory to form the new cabinet.

In a televised speech after the election, Merkel told her supporters that "we have clear government mandate, and no government can be formed without us", admitting that her bloc had reached strategic goal in election though she had hoped for better results.

She also promised to win back voters of AfD with good policies, vowing to fight against illegal immigrants while protecting interests of legal citizens.

Despite Merkel's bitter victory, Andreas Quebbemann, member of the state parliament in Niedersachsen, said he was Very disappointed with the result.

"We lost so many voters because they dissatisfied with CDU's policy, such as the refugee policy. But they switched to AfD not because they believed AfD can provide solutions, but an expression of their dissatisfaction to us," Quebbemann told Xinhua.

"As to the coalition cabinet, there is only one option left for CDU -- joint FDP and the Green Party. But we have many differences with the Green Party. The coalition is bound to be a difficult one, but I believe the final compromise will be reached. Because this is politics," Quebbemann added.

Calling it a historical day because of AfD's breakthrough, David Mcallister, a CDU senior member and Chairman of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, told Xinhua that the conservative union has no choice but form a "Jamaica coalition" (so-called because the parties' colors match those of the Jamaican flag) with the Greens and liberal FDP.

"Though we have common ground, the three-party coalition government will meet plenty of challenges, because we have differences in the economic, diplomatic and many other aspects," said Mcallister.

MERKEL NEEDS TO REFLECT ON BITTER VICTORY

"The result showed that the next German government will face challenges," Hajo Funke, a professor from Free University Berlin, told Xinhua.

Funke said to some degree the result is a reflection of the partly failure of the grand coalition government between the Union Party and the SPD in the past four years, mostly in domestic issues, as the government failed to address enough the divide between the rich and poor.

Although German economy is booming and enjoying some of the best times since 2008/2009 global financial crisis, the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing. According to a survey by local media, social justice has become the second social problems in the country, following the refugee issues.

Gaps not only exist between the rich and the poor, but also among different regions. According to the newspaper Bild, about 27 percent of male voters in eastern Germany cast their ballots for the AfD, the highest ratio among all parties. Eastern Germany is the most less developed regions.

"The prices are climbing, the rent is increasing, but our salaries are increasing as quickly as living costs," said the 52-year-old repair worker Stephen Norman in Berlin, who voted for AfD.

"I'm heavily taxed, and all Germans are heavily taxed, but we don't want to use our money to support refugees. That is unfair!" Norman told Xinhua.

SPD POCKETS HISTORICAL LOW BUT REFUSES GRAND COALITION

In addition, the union's main rival SPD took just 20 percent of the vote and garnered the lowest vote since World War II, according to a preliminary exit poll.

For his part, Schulz said the election marked a "historic crash" for the SPD. But Thomas Oppermana, a senior official of the party, said Schulz will continue to be the president of the party despite the "crash" and led the renovation of the party.

According to local media ARD, Schulz said his party had no intention to form a coalition government with the conservative union and "will go to the opposite".

He said his party is a "strong bulwark" against would-be lawmakers from the right-wing AfD.

"We are a strong bulwark against the enemies of democracy that we now have in parliament," Schulz said in a television interview.

He referred to the AfD's result as "depressing," saying that widespread fears about the refugee crisis had fuelled support for the right-wing party.

"This is a turning point," said Schulz. "It's clear that the decision to welcome refugees has divided our society. What is a great act of humanity to some seems threatening to others. We didn't manage to convince people that Germany is strong enough to leave no one behind."

Lisa Price, official of SPD's state commission in Brandenburg, told Xinhua that refusing the grand coalition (CDU/CSU plus SPD) is SPD's victory, because "SPD will finally have the opportunity to prove itself."

"Staying out the grand coalition will make SPD more distinctive and could focus on such issues as the interests of the low-income groups as an opposition party," she told Xinhua.

Gerhard Stahl, a Berliner who has been an SPD since 1970s, now professor with College of Europe in Brussels, said Schulz should not hold the whole responsibility for SPD's loss.

"Being an opposition party can also give the people an alternative. A lot of people are dissatisfied with the ruling coalition, if the two largest party group form a grand coalition again, there will be no alternative for voters. If the government let us down in the coming years, we can vote for SPD instead," Stahl told Xinhua.

"The result (of SPD) is foreseeable. It is a difficult situation with immigrants this time around, but you should not overlook that there are 85 percent voters who had voted normal parliamentary parties, it showed the strength of German system that all these parties can cooperate and Germany is a stable democracy," Stahl told Xinhua.

AFD'S CELEBRATIONS MET WITH PROTEST

In another development, the AfD crossed the five-percent-vote threshold on Sunday came into the new parliament for the first time. It is also the first far-right populist party in the Bundestag since WWII.

"We will hunt Merkel! We want to bring our country and people back," said Alexander Gauland, one of the two candidates of the AfD in this election who always accuses Merkel's policies in refugees and euro crisis.

"It's a historical and outstanding result for AfD. We will experience more pluralism in the Bundestag, and we will experience a lively democracy through the AfD," said AfD's politician Bjoern Hoecke.

However, Hoecke's joyful words met with protests and demonstrations against AfD shortly after.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Berlin's Alexanderplatz on Sunday evening, bearing umbrellas to keep dry and waving anti-AfD signs to protest AfD's election result.

Later, the crowd shouted as one, "The whole of Berlin hates the AfD."

Police were monitoring the situation and prohibiting the protesters from drawing close to the building housing the AfD's party.

According to security authority, AfD supporters were cleared off the building's balcony after demonstrators on the ground threw objects in that direction.

Similar anti-AfD protests also took place on the other side of the country in Cologne. Demonstrators met in front of the west German city's central train station before marching through the streets with a banner reading "Whoever is silent, is complicit".

The two rallies were parts of a nationwide campaign dubbed "Nationalism is not an Alternative", which also saw 300 people rallying in Frankfurt, German news agency DPA reported.

Despite AfD's breakthrough, experts believed that the party's influence should not be overestimated.

Prof. Dr. Paul Nolte, a historian with Free University Berlin, told Xinhua that as SPD refused to form another grand coalition government with the CDU/CSU bloc, the AfD will not become the largest opposition party, so that their influence in the Bundestag will be restricted.

Prof. Dr. Hajo Funke, also a political scientist with Free University Berlin focusing on right-wing extremism, told Xinhua that although the AfD is popular to a small degree in the public, but most others have realized that it is a dangerous right-wing party.

Although it has entered the Bundestag, none of the parties in the federal parliament, no matter the small parties or the country's two major parties, ruled out cooperation with the AfD in any form, possibly making it a lonely marginal man in the Bundestag.

Funke also doubted that the AfD would be stronger in the future, as the party has lost the flexibility.

"Right-wing parties like the FPOE in Austria, they say something very radical but act more like centrists. But when it comes to AfD, its leading structure has decided to be right-wing radical, which has limited their influence," said Funke.

Founded in 2013, the eurosceptic and anti-immigration party -- which welcomed Brexit, missed the Bundestag with 4.7 percent of votes in the same year.

The party gained momentum during the Euro and the refugee crisis. It was polling at around 10 percent before Sunday's federal election.

About 73,500 polling stations across the country opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) and closed at 6:00 p.m. (1600 GMT).

Official statistics showed that Sunday's turnout of the election stood at 75 percent, higher than the 71.5 percent in 2013.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 05:08:11|Editor: yan

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GAZA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) called Sunday on the consensus government of Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to start immediate, direct and full operation in the Gaza Strip.

The call was made during a meeting of the PLO executive committee chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"The consensus government is called to bear its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip in accordance to the law and without any obstacles," said an official statement issued after the meeting.

The Gaza Strip has been under the ruling of Islamic Hamas movement since 2007, when the movement had violently seized control of the territory following weeks of internal fighting with Abbas and his Fatah movement's militants.

"The PLO highly appreciates Egypt's role of boosting unity, achieving reconciliation, ending internal division and regaining the unity of the Palestinian political program," said the statement.

The PLO also welcomed last week's declaration of Hamas in Cairo to dissolve the controversial Administrative Committee that Hamas formed last year to run the daily affairs of more than 2 million people in the enclave.

Meanwhile, the PLO warned the Israeli government of neglecting the will of the international community and the international laws, conventions and resolutions related to the Palestinian cause.

The PLO also decided to transfer the Israeli settlement file, considering it as a crime, to the International Criminal Court.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 05:08:11|Editor: An

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CAIRO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Special Envoy for Syria Xie Xiaoyan said Sunday that the situation in Syria is headed for a political settlement, while calling for increased cooperation with Egypt on resolving the Syrian crisis.

"We have noticed some countries have adjusted their positions on the Syrian issue. I think this presents a good opportunity, a new opportunity to push forward the political settlement," Xie told reporters after meeting with Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs Tarek Al-Kouni.

Xie revealed that he discussed with Egyptian officials the current situation in Syria in an attempt to coordinate the efforts to push forward the political process.

"The relevant parties' agreement on the establishment of the de-escalation zones is a reflection of the very strong desire of the international community that they wish all the parties in the conflict to try to resolve their differences so they can speed up the process of political settlement," he said.

But the envoy emphasized that the establishment of the de-escalation zones must be temporary and should not lead to the separation of Syria.

"The independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria must be respected and protected," Xie said.

On the war against terror, the Chinese envoy hailed the progress achieved so far, while asserting that the fight must continue "because terrorism is a common enemy of the world."

"Our view is all terrorist organizations on the list of the UN Security Council must be dealt with, must be defeated," he said, adding "one thing we have to try to prevent is letting them (the terrorists) regroup so they will come back again."

"When we talk about the fight against terrorism, we not only have to tackle the symptoms, but also have to go after the root causes of terrorism," Xie said.

He noted that a new round of Geneva talks on Syria will be held in October, expressing the hope that the international community will continue the joint efforts to urge the parties to maintain their strong commitment to political settlement.

He stressed that this will help maintain the momentum of the dialogue under the guidance of the UN, expecting more consensuses to be reached among the parties.

Meanwhile, Xie lauded Egypt as a very important country with big influence in the region, citing Cairo has been playing a very important role in resolving the Syrian crisis.

"We would like to continue our consultation, coordination and cooperation with Egypt. We will continue to exchange our views; we will continue to make joint efforts to work together for that end," he said.

The Syrian crisis started on March 15, 2011, and has evolved into a full-fledged civil war that involved outside powers. But the rise of the IS in the country in the past years has complicated the efforts to seek an end to the war.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 310,000 people have been killed during Syria's six-year-old war.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 05:28:15|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Roman sarcophagus of Hercules, which was smuggled abroad 50 years ago, was put on display in an official ceremony on Sunday at its home in Turkey's Mediterranean resort of Antalya.

The sarcophagus was delivered to Turkish officials in Geneva, Switzerland on Sept. 13 and returned back to Turkey in the following day, local Hurriyet daily reported.

Speaking at the ceremony at the Antalya Museum, Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Numan Kurtulmus said that it was not easy to bring such pieces back to their homes, adding that the ministry was in contact with foreign authorities to return 57 pieces back to Turkey.

The ancient Roman artifact was found during illegal excavations in the ancient city of Perge in Antalya and smuggled out of the country in late 1960s.

The marble sarcophagus, which depicts the 12 labors of Hercules, is authenticated to be sculpted around the end of the 2nd century AD, according to experts and archaeologists.

In 2015, a Swiss court ruled that it should be returned to Turkey which has sought its return since 2011.

Since 2003, Turkey has been seeking a legal process for the retrieval of several artifacts. Over 4,000 smuggled artifacts were repatriated to Turkey from 2004 to 2016, according to official statistics.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 05:43:18|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States has sent large shipments of military gears to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to help them in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria's northern province of Raqqa, the SDF said Sunday.

The large quantities of weapons aim to help the SDF in their fight to completely clear Raqqa from IS, said the group.

Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS, is almost liberated and people started returning to their homes, the SDF added.

On Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said the SDF fighters were mopping up the last IS holdouts in Raqqa.

The Observatory, which says it relies on a network of activists on ground, said the IS had lost its main stronghold in Syria by losing Raqqa to the Kurdish-led SDF, adding that the remaining IS fighters are hiding in basements and underground shelters in the city center.

The anticipated victory comes following a 110-day battle by the SDF and allied fighters to drive out IS from Raqqa, which the terror-designated group self-declared as its capital in 2014.

The SDF fighters, backed by U.S. special forces, are combing the city to defuse the bombs left by IS, said the Observatory.

The London-based watchdog also said the SDF will declare the full capture of Raqqa once the city is fully cleared of IS militants.

According to the monitor group, 80 percent of the city has been destroyed, and about 3,100 including IS militants have been killed during the months-long offensives in the city.

A source familiar with the situation in Raqqa told Xinhua that the SDF could declare the liberation of the city within hours or a day.
Photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Feb. 13, 2017 shows a test firing of a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 on Feb. 12, 2017. (Xinhua/KCNA)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- An overwhelming majority of Americans oppose a preemptive strike on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and most Americans trust U.S. military leaders instead of U.S. President Donald Trump to handle the nuclear crisis responsibly, said a new poll on Sunday.

According to the Washington Post-ABC News poll, 67 percent of Americans believe that the United States should launch a military strike on the DPRK only if the country first attacks the United States or its allies.

As to their confidence in Trump on solving the DPRK nuclear issue, 37 percent of Americans trust Trump either "a great deal" or "a good amount" to handle the issue in a responsible way, with 42 percent saying that they trust Trump "not at all."

In comparison, 72 percent of Americans trust U.S. military leaders on the DPRK issue, including 43 percent saying that they trust them "a great deal."

Trump on Tuesday threatened in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly that the United States "will have no choice than to totally destroy" the country if forced to defend itself or its allies.

After the threat, the DPRK said it might test a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean.

China on Friday urged all relevant parties to avoid any action that may increase tension on the Korean Peninsula.

"The current situation on the peninsula is severe and complicated," Foreign Minister spokesperson Lu Kang said at a daily press briefing. "Only if all sides bear their due responsibilities, can the peninsula nuclear issue be truly resolved and peace and stability restored to the region."

The DPRK knows well that China opposes its development of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests, Lu said. "What parties concerned should do now is to strictly and comprehensively implement UN Security Council resolutions and make positive efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue."

"China opposes unilateral sanctions imposed by any country outside the framework of the UN Security Council," Lu said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 06:28:25|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The gunman who opened fire on Sunday at a church in the U.S. southern state of Tennessee has been identified, police said.

A 39-year-old woman was shot dead with seven injured during the shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, southeast of Nashville. The suspect was among the injured.

The suspect, identified as Emanuel Kidega Samson, is a legal U.S. resident who immigrated from Sudan in 1996, police said in a news conference.

The 25-year-old wore a mask and brought two guns to the church on Sunday and fired "multiple rounds," said police.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department tweeted that Samson had been released from the hospital and will be charged with murder, in addition to attempted murder.

At around 11:15 a.m. local time, police began receiving calls that multiple shots were fired with people shot at the church, a dispatcher told the Tennessean, part of USA Today Network.

A church usher, identified as Robert Engle, 22, confronted the masked gunman at one point and was pistol-whipped, causing "significant injury around his head," police said.

They said Engle went to his own car, grabbed a pistol and headed back into the church.

It was initially reported that the gunman shot himself, although police said it's unclear whether he shot himself or the gun unintentionally discharged during his scuffle with Engle.

Megan Barry, mayor of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, said in a statement that the shooting "is a terrible tragedy for our city. My heart aches for the family and friends of the deceased as well as for the wounded victims and their loved ones."

The church holds its Sunday service at 10 a.m.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 09:28:53|Editor: Mengjie

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German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel (L, Front) is applauded after the preliminary exit poll at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party's headquarters in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

by Xinhua writers Yan Feng, Tian Dongdong

BERLIN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Despite rising tide of populism in Europe, Black Swan shunned Germany on Sunday as German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative union defended its biggest-party title in the federal parliament after a fierce yet unsurprising campaign.

The shrunken yet still commanding margin of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister Christian Socialist Union (CSU) heralds a fourth term for Merkel as Chancellor, with the support of other parties.

Having served as Germany's head of government for 12 consecutive years, Merkel has long been known for her support for globalization and international cooperation. For those who care about the future development of China-Germany relations, her fourth term is a positive signal.

Merkel visited China 10 times during her chancellory, a fact suggesting a lot to the development of Germany-China relations. Given the heft of bilateral ties, it is highly hoped that she will keep the wheels turning and pull her weight as before for further progress.

The reasons are crystal clear.

China and Germany have forged one of the world's most important bilateral relationships. In 2010, the two sides upgraded their relations to a strategic partnership, and further lifted it to a comprehensive strategic one during Chinese President Xi Jinping's first state visit to Germany in 2014. Along with over 2 million personnel exchanges in 2016 alone, China for the first time became Germany's largest trading partner, while the latter has long been China's largest importer in Europe.

Germany's robust economy, to which its close ties with China have surely contributed, is Merkel's trump card in the federal election.

During her last three terms, the world's second and fourth largest economies were highly complementary. China's economic restructuring and its booming market keep on creating opportunities for German enterprises, while Germany's advanced facilities and managerial experience in turn help in China's industrial upgrading.

Meanwhile, in an increasingly volatile world, a mature Germany-China relationship is essential to global prosperity and stability. Both bearing significant international influence, the two sides are actively committed to addressing conflicts and crises through political and diplomatic means, instead of military actions.

Moreover, as staunch supporters of open economy instead of protectionism, China and Germany share a common stance on economic globalization and multilateralism, and on commitment to the Paris climate accord.

As some analysts have given it, the two countries are in the middle of the forging of "special" ties, and any interruption would be too costly.

In paricular, the two sides shall be aware of the specter of protectionism rising from some corners of Europe.

For years, the Merkel-led Germany has enjoyed being one of the world's leading exporters and major beneficiaries of free trade. It would be more than disheartening to see a Germany to allow trade barriers against foreign enterprises, including Chinese companies, to not only block export and investment, but also do harm to Europeans themselves.

It is highly expected that Chancellor Merkel, as a seasoned political leader, will continue to fight protectionism and keep Germany-China relations as well as the world economy free from disruption.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 10:14:21|Editor: Mengjie

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YANGON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Some 28 dead bodies of Hindu villagers have been found buried in Maungtaw, Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, as authorities dug up earth to confirm the information by a villager in Sittway, Myanmar News Agency reported Monday.

According to the information, the victims were left by attacks on the village on Aug. 25 by about 300 members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) extremist terrorists.

Investigation is underway and more search will be continued, the report added.

Meanwhile, seven more improvised explosive devices, suspected of being planted by the ARSA, were also uncovered by Myanmar security forces in Chein Khar Li village, Yathedaung township Saturday as the security forces were patrolling the area.

The Myanmar government is working for the resettlement of refugees displaced at home and abroad due to conflicts in the country's northern Rakhine state.

Local people in the affected areas by the recent attacks on Aug. 25 are being provided with humanitarian aid without discrimination, officials said, adding that the authorities are increasing more humanitarian aid to reach all areas in Rakhine state with the help of donor countries including those of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Meanwhile, recommendations of the final report of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine, led by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, are being implemented by the Implementation Committee.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 10:19:24|Editor: Mengjie

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BERLIN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- With all votes counted, official results on early Monday confirmed Germany's far-right party Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) won its first seats in the federal parliament.

The anti-immigration populist party netted 12.6 percent of votes in Sunday's Bundestag (parliament) election, pinning itself as the third strongest party in the parliament, official results suggested.

It is also the first far-right populist party in the Bundestag since WWII.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 10:34:30|Editor: An

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By Xinhua writers Yang Jianxiang, Qu Ting

BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- On a sunny, humid morning at an open area of tropical forest in Honduras, a group of 16 locals and two Chinese men are on an archaeological dig. Suddenly a snake slithers in the debris. Frightened and yelling, the locals use spades, sticks and anything to hand to scare the snake away.

To Li Xinwei, an archeologist from Beijing, the red-skinned snake was similar to a Lycodon rufozonatus he had seen in fields at home. But from the speech and gestures of the head worker, who was wielding a machete, he realized the snake was extremely poisonous. A bite on the arm might require cutting off the limb to save the victim's life.

That was in November 2015. Li and his colleague were on an excavation resulting from an agreement signed with the Honduras government more than a year before. The five-year scheme was a cooperative project between the Institute of Archaeology of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (IACASS) and Honduras Institute of Anthropology and History. The Anthropology Department of Harvard University also had a part.

Under the project, Chinese archaeologists were expected to excavate and reconstruct Group 8N-11, a sub-royal elite residential compound, in Copan, Honduras.

Not long after, they unearthed carvings of serpent-headed supernatural birds with outstretched shell-shaped wings and maize-like god heads. This reflected the theme of death and rebirth of the maize god, a common belief among the ancient Mayan people.

At the Society for American Archeology annual meeting this year in Vancouver, Canada, Li Xinwei, director of the IACASS Honduras team, shared the findings. His presentation won warm applause from the international audience.

The serpent-headed bird resembled a common Chinese dragon-head icon, which reminded Li of the late Chinese archeologist Kwang-chih Chang, who believed that American and Chinese civilizations probably shared pan-Pacific cultural genes and were different developments from the same ancestor.

"We cannot understand the special characteristics of our own civilization without understanding the characteristics of other civilizations," Li said.

Copan is the first of the Chinese archaeologists' major foreign explorations. The Temple of Montu in Luxor, Egypt, and the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana, India, are prospective destinations. In recent years, China has sent archaeological teams to central, west and southeast Asia, and to Kenya in Africa.

In March, the CASS Research Centre of World Archaeology was inaugurated under director Wang Wei.

A category of new archaeological awards was set up in 2016 to recognize Chinese archaeologists' remarkable achievements in foreign excavations. Last year, the top award went to the Mingtepa project, a joint operation between IACASS and counterparts in central Asia's Uzbekistan.

The foreign excavations coincide with the Belt and Road initiative proposed by China in 2013. The initiative involves the expansion of infrastructure and trade networks to connect Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes. Many foreign destinations are along the ancient Silk Road and such endeavors have strong support from the government, Wang said.

Wang led the first team to Copan in July 2014, accompanied by William Fash, a Harvard University archeologist who started excavating in Honduras in the late 1970s. Although China came to the picture fairly late, Fash said he had great confidence in Chinese archaeologists' abilities and strongly believed they would contribute to the study of Mayan civilization.

In the Mingtepa project, Chinese archaeologists employed a unique China-made tool known as "Luoyang spade". Through five excavations, they successfully broadened the excavation site size and proved that over 2,000 years ago Mingtepa was not simply a provisional garrison fort for nomads, but a fully functional castle, the largest in the Fergana Valley.

Li's team also used drone cameras, high resolution professional software and 3D modeling. Their work proved more efficient and accurate than established local practices in recording the location, topology and properties of units of the excavation grid.

The Mayans often built over existing sites, a testament to their belief in life-cycle theory. For the excavation of 8N-11, Li adopted the conventional approach of tunneling. He was careful to examine and record the colors and properties of soil. A little over a year later, Li had a clear picture of four main stages of construction, destruction and reconstruction of the 8N-11 complex structure. He was able to answer many questions related to the development of divine kingship, expressions of cosmology, roads, architecture and sculptures, and to conjecture about the causes of the collapse of Mayan dynastic rule.

Chinese archaeologists are achieving positive results in other countries. A Kenyan project undertaken by a team with Peking University's School of Archeology and Museology has not only made a fruitful survey of ceramic exports from China to Africa, but also uncovered, through excavations at five coastal sites, a large quantity of ancient relics, which put the existence of the early Malindi Kingdom at around the 9th and 10th centuries. Chinese scholars also proved the region accommodated an iron smelting industry and was an important manufacturing base for iron products in the early trading era of the Indian Ocean. The finding was well received by Kenyan scholars, who hailed it as a great advance in the study of the Swahili coast of Africa.

"One of the main purposes of the archaeological projects is to get a world perspective in our research on the development of societies, to appreciate and share the beauties of other cultures," Li told Xinhua in a recent interview.

At Copan, Li makes efforts to learn Spanish. By mastering the local language, he hopes he can respond more rapidly next time when an incident occurs. He also wishes to continue working on the Mayan culture after the current project winds up in 2019.

"The American archaeologists have committed to the Maya study for more than a hundred years now. We can do the same," he said, "The serene pyramids scattered in the tropical forest are beckoning."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 10:49:33|Editor: ZD

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday expanded a travel ban to include visitors from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in East Asia, Venezuela in Latin America and Chad in central Africa.

Meanwhile, Trump kept the controversial travel ban which was set to expire Sunday on five of six Muslim-majority countries, namely Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, and lifted restrictions on Sudan.

The new travel restrictions are expected to take effect on Oct. 18 and will be indefinite, according to a president's proclamation, in which the White House said has the same force as an executive order.

Such a grace period may prevent mass confusions and chaos across U.S. airports seen in late January, when the initial travel ban took effect immediately upon Trump's announcement.

"The State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement.

Unlike the previous versions of Trump's travel ban, which sparked nationwide protests and lawsuits, the new standards are based on factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with embedded traveller information or share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories, the administration said.

The United States then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

Moreover, as the DPRK and Venezuela included, the new travel restrictions will no longer be seen as a "Muslim ban," analysts said.

However, these limits will have little practical impact on the two countries as few DPRK visitors travel to the United States and the new restrictions on Venezuela apply only to government officials, not to the broader population, according to local experts.

"As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," Trump said in the proclamation.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted on Sunday evening.

Trump said in the proclamation that Iraq also did not meet requirements for identity-management protocols and other risk-mitigating factors, but entry restrictions were not warranted given Iraq's relations with the United States and its efforts to combat terrorists.

The U.S. president issued his first travel ban order one week after taking office on Jan. 20, barring U.S. entry to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen with immediate effect.

Facing nationwide protests and an array of lawsuits, Trump introduced a revised order on March 6, dropping Iraq from the list of targeted countries while excluding existing visa and green card holders from the impact of the suspension.

The revised order was also challenged by several federal judges and set for an argument at the Supreme Court on Oct. 10. It's unclear how the latest restrictions will impact that case.

Days ago, the U.S. president called for a "tougher" travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.

"The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!" Trump tweeted last week.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 10:49:34|Editor: ying

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Chairwoman of Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) party Frauke Petry, AfD's federal spokesman Joerg Meuthen, candidates for the general election Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel (from L to R) attend a press conference after the general election in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Sept. 25, 2017. With all votes counted, official results on early Monday confirmed that Germany's far-right Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) was elected in the federal parliament for the first time. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

BERLIN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- With all votes counted, official results on early Monday confirmed that Germany's far-right Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) was elected in the federal parliament for the first time.

The anti-immigration populist party netted 12.6 percent of votes in Sunday's federal election, pinning itself as the third strongest party in the Bundestag, or German federal parliament, official results suggested.

It is also the first far-right populist party in the Bundestag since WWII.

Official results also showed AfD has won the most votes in the German eastern state of Saxony, by gaining 27 percent of votes, just slightly ahead of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

The CDU and their Bavarian-based Christian Social Union (CSU) allies secured its leading position in the Bundestag with 33 percent of the votes, 8.5 percentage points less than that of the 2013 and the worst performance since 1949.

The shrunken yet still commanding margin of the CDU/CSU conservative alliance is set to herald a fourth term for Merkel as Chancellor, with the support of other parties.

The Union's major rival Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by Martin Schulz tumbled to 20.5 percent, while the Green and Left parties won about 8.9 percent and 9.2 percent, respectively.

The pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) enjoyed a remarkable 10.7 percent of votes and was re-elected into the Bundestag after its failure in 2013.
Residents stay at a temporary shelter as they are evacuated from dangerous areas following potential eruption of Gunung Agung volcano in Bali, Indonesia, on Sept. 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Fauzy Chaniago)

JAKARTA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of people fleeing home has significantly risen to nearly 35,000 after the volcano alert status was raised to the highest level in the Bali resort island of Indonesia, a senior official said here on Saturday.

Volcanic activity remains high and there are indications of magma rising to the surface and causing tremors. Volcanologists raised its alert level on Friday with extension of dangerous zone for the second time.

Some 35,000 were evacuated, more than doubling the figure of 15,000 on Friday, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.

"The number of displaced persons are expected to keep rising," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the agency told Xinhua.

As of Sunday, the agency sent a total of 14 tons of aids, including blankets, communication devices, and a 1 billion rupiah (some 75,188 U.S. dollars) financial assistance to the evacuation centers for their operation, he said.

Emergency status has been declared by local authorities from Sept. 18 to Oct. 1, said Sutopo.

The spokesman called for sending assistance to the evacuated persons.

On Friday volcanologists extended the no-go zone to 9 km from the crater from 7.5 km, and 12 km for the areas in the north, northeast, southeast, south and southwest.

A total of 4.92 million foreign tourists visited Bali island, the center of Indonesia's tourism industry, last year, according to government data.

Indonesia, an archipelagic nation, is home to over 17,500 islands and a total of 129 active volcanoes.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 11:44:45|Editor: An

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HAVANA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A group of specialists from the Red Cross Society of China arrived in Havana on Sunday to train a group of Cuban volunteers in disaster relief, after Hurricane Irma struck the island country.

The Chinese experts shared theoretical knowledge and did a practical demonstration about how to deploy camp tents for the displaced.

Li Qinghua, the deputy director of the disaster-relief department of the Red Cross Society of China, told Xinhua that China is willing to assist Cuban people in the distribution of first-aid materials and train volunteers.

Members of the Cuban Red Cross said such exchanges are highly significant as they can greatly help increase their operational knowledge of disaster relief.

Luis Enrique Calero, the director of operations of the Cuban Red Cross, explained that the Chinese trainers were focusing on the deployment of 12-square-meter tents which each can shelter five people.

"This is also a gesture of solidarity between the two countries," said Calero.

On Friday, a plane from China arrived in Cuba carrying 86 tons of humanitarian aid, including tents, electronics, cushions, water dispensers, lighting, and blankets.

Six ships loaded with rice will also arrive in Cuba from China next month.

Irma, the strongest hurricane ever registered in the Atlantic, killed at least 10 people in Cuba, displaced 1.7 million, and caused widespread flooding and extensive damage to infrastructure, including hotels and the power grids.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 13:09:58|Editor: Mengjie

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KABUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Seven Islamic State (IS) militants were killed during an operation in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar on Sunday, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Seven IS fighters were killed and two others detained as a result of a cordon operation and subsequent airstrikes in Achin district of Nangarhar," the ministry said on Twitter.

The district is the stronghold of IS militants in the province, 120 km east of Afghan capital of Kabul.

Afghan forces have beefed up security operations against militants as the war-weary people are facing upsurges in attacks by Taliban and IS militants across the country. However, the militants responded by armed attacks and bombings.

Earlier on Monday, one police officer was killed and another wounded following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack in Police District 8 of Kandahar city, capital of southern Kandahar province, provincial police spokesman Zia Durrani told Xinhua.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 13:15:00|Editor: Mengjie

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SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House said Monday that the country had consulted with the United States in advance on the flight of U.S. strategic bombers and fighter escorts in the international airspace last weekend near the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

A Blue House official told local reporters that President Moon Jae-in was briefed on consultations on the flights on a real-time basis during his stay in New York last week, saying the close consultation between South Korea and the United States was reported to President Moon.

B-1B strategic bombers from the U.S. Pacific island of Guam and F-15C fighter escorts from Okinawa, Japan flew in the international airspace over the waters off the east coast of the DPRK Saturday night, according to media reports.

It was an apparent show of force to the DPRK as the war of words was resumed between Pyongyang and Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump said in his debut speech to the United Nations that his country would have no choice but to "totally destroy" the DPRK if Pyongyang continues to threaten the United States and its allies.

The Blue House official was quoted as saying that the flight operation of U.S. bombers and fighter jets were closely consulted on by South Korea and the United States in advance, and that it was conducted in close cooperation, which means an agreement between the two sides.

President Moon made a four-day trip to New York last week to attend the UN General Assembly and held summit meetings with Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

After coming back to South Korea, Moon on Sunday convened a National Security Council (NSC) meeting attended by ministers of foreign affairs, defense and unification as well as key presidential secretaries and spy agency chief.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 13:40:08|Editor: Mengjie

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SYDNEY, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Australia's national energy regulator has warned the federal government on Monday that the domestic supply of liquified natural gas (LNG) is at risk of a "supply shortfall."

The Australian Energy Market Operator's (AEMO) annual projections forecast a shortage of 54 petajoules in 2018 and 107 petajoules in 2019, which represents one-sixth of the country's total demand each year.

AEMO chief executive Audrey Zibelman said the findings "suggest there is a need to look at reforms to improve predictability and stability in energy markets to the benefit of consumers."

Shorty after the report was made public, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that the government would enact a policy to restrict export and reserve supply for the domestic market, if the country's LNG producers did not attempt to fix the problem.

"We expect them to demonstrate to us what they have already indicated in meetings and in writing that they will ensure that there is not a shortage of gas next year on the east coast," Turnbull said.

"If they are able to do that to the satisfaction of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commision (ACCC), then the foreshadowed export control mechanism will have done its work."

But according to some experts, addressing the issue may be proven difficult for Aussie gas companies.

"The decisions to export gas were made at a time when the rules were different," CMC Markets' chief market strategist Michael McCarthy explained to Xinhua.

"Now the whole time frame in developing this industry has been disrupted because plans to develop gas fields take years and years and huge amounts of investments, because investors naturally look for a stable and certain regulatory environment."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 13:50:11|Editor: Mengjie

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ISLAMABAD, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A two-week long joint exercise codenamed as "DRUZBA 2017" between special forces of Pakistan and Russia Armies started in Mineralnye Vody, Russia, Pakistani army said on Monday.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior military officials of special forces of both countries, the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

The joint exercise will focus on counter terrorism operations, hostage and rescue, cordon and search operation, it said.

The joint exercise will enhance and further strengthen military ties between both countries and share Pakistan Army's experience in war against terrorism, the statement said.

It has been the second time in one year that Pakistan and Russia are holding joint military exercises. A contingent of 100 Russian troops had taken part in joint exercises in Pakistan in September last year.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 14:00:14|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (2nd L) attends the ceremony to close the dam's water gates of 400-megawatt Lower Sesan II Hydropower Plant in Stung Treng, Cambodia, Sept. 25, 2017. The 400-megawatt Lower Sesan II Hydropower Plant, which is Cambodia's biggest hydropower dam so far, will start operation in November after almost four years of construction. (Xinhua/Mao Pengfei)

STUNG TRENG, Cambodia, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 400-megawatt Lower Sesan II Hydropower Plant, which is Cambodia's biggest hydropower dam so far, will start operation in November after almost four years of construction.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo presided over a ceremony to close the dam's water gates on Monday.

According to a report by Cambodian Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem, the plant has eight turbines and each turbine has installed capacity of 50 megawatts.

The construction of the whole project is almost completed, as the first turbine will be put into operation in November, and all of the 8 turbines will be fully operational in October, 2018, he said.

The project is a joint venture among China's Huaneng Hydrolancang International Energy holding 51 percent of the stake, Cambodia's Royal Group owning 39 percent and Vietnamese EVN International Joint Stock Company possessing 10 percent.

The project is a concessional contract of a 45-year build-operate-transfer (BOT), of which, 5 years for construction and 40 years for operations, the minister said, adding that the plant is estimated to produce 1.9 billion kilowatt-hour per year and the electricity will be sold to the Electricity of Cambodia at the fixed price of 6.95 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour.

The plant could generate tax revenue about 30 million U.S. dollars per year when it is fully operational.

Speaking during the closure ceremony of the water gates, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the project is a new achievement in the development of energy sector in Cambodia.

"I can say that it is the biggest-ever hydroelectric power dam in Cambodia," he said.

Hun Sen said since the past until the present, Cambodia's northeastern region, including Stung Treng, Kratie, Ratanakkiri and Mondolkiri provinces, had relied on electricity mainly imported from neighboring Laos.

"But from now on, especially when the first turbine starts operating, residents in these provinces will have access to long-term and reliable electricity with cheap prices," he said.

The Lower Sesan II Hydropower Plant is 56.5 meters tall and covers a 36,000 hectare plot. The project has affected 860 families in six villages. To date, 752 families, or 88 percent of them, have accepted compensation and relocated to new villages.

"There is no any development in the world that does not affect environment; it's just small or big impact only," the prime minister said. "This project will provide great benefit to socio-economic development and poverty reduction, especially in the northeastern region."

Meanwhile, Hun Sen expressed his gratitude to China for always supporting Cambodia in socio-economic development.

Huang Yongda, president of China Huaneng Group, the parent company of Huaneng Hydrolancang International Energy, said the project was a testament to the fruitful cooperation between China and Cambodia under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"This is also a key achievement in energy cooperation between China and Cambodia," he said.

China is the largest investor in developing hydroelectric dams in Cambodia. According to the Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy, Chinese enterprises have invested for seven dam projects in Cambodia.

The ministry said the total capacity in Cambodia last year was 2,008 megawatts, including 1,592 megawatts taken from hydropower plants, coal-fired power plants, oil-fueled power plants, solar power plants, and etc.

By June 2017, the Cambodian government had expanded electricity to 11,195 villages nationwide, or about 79 percent of the kingdom's total villages, the ministry said, adding that a total of 1.98 million households were also connected, or 60.4 percent of the kingdom's 3.28 million households.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 14:15:20|Editor: Liu

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SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korean prosecutors planned to summon the former spy agency chief under former President Lee Myung-bak's government over illegal politicking allegations, Yonhap news agency reported Monday citing the prosecution office.

Won Sei-hoon, who led the National Intelligence Service (NIS) from 2009 to 2013 under Lee's presidency, would be summoned Tuesday afternoon by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for questioning, according to Yonhap.

Won has been in custody since the Seoul High Court sentenced him to four years in jail in late August for violations of the NIS act and election law, which bans public officials from engaging in election campaigns.

He was convicted of ordering NIS officials to meddle in the 2012 presidential election by posting online comments against then opposition contenders and in favor of then ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye, who narrowly defeated then main opposition candidate Moon Jae-in.

Separately from the case, Won was suspected of leading the illegal NIS funding of extra-departmental private teams for illicit smear campaigns.

According to the internal NIS investigation results submitted to the prosecution office and unveiled by local media reports, the former NIS head was suspected of ordering a wide range of illegal politicking such as the funding of a conservative civic group to mobilize people in pro-government rallies, pressures on then opposition politicians and the blacklisting of anti-government artists.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon sued former President Lee and the former NIS chief Won last week for the violation of the NIS law, abuse of power, illicit political interference and defamation.

The Seoul mayor's accusation was relevant to the ongoing probe by prosecutors into the so-called blacklisting of anti-government entertainers under Lee's presidency.

The blacklisting was allegedly aimed to remove entertainers and artists criticizing the Lee administration from the mainstream media. The prosecution summoned alleged victims to the blacklisting last week for questioning.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 14:20:22|Editor: ZD

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TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior vice Cabinet Office minister in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government announced Monday he would be leaving the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to join a new party being formed by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and her allies.

Mineyuki Fukuda, 53, a third term lower house lawmaker, told a press briefing on the matter that he wants to form a new party with independent lower house member Masaru Wakasa.

"I will make a new political party with House of Representatives lawmaker Masaru Wakasa," Fukuda said, referring to the independent lawmaker who has joined forces with former Democratic Party members including Goshi Hosono and other defectors.

"I want to join the new party and work on raising up its human resources," Fukuda said, confirming his plan to run as a candidate for the envisioned new party in the expected upcoming general election.

Fukuda was first elected to the lower house in 2005, and while being defeated in the 2014 general election in his Kanagawa Prefecture constituency, he did, however, managed to retain his seat on the LDP's proportional representation list.

The new party, envisioned by Wakasa and Hosono, has seen a number of defectors jump ship from their parties to join the embryonic party that will field 50 or more candidates in all of Tokyo's 25 constituencies.

A veteran member of the main opposition party Democratic Party who also served in the past as the head of the National Public Safety Commission, Jin Matsubara, is also among the most recent lawmakers to jump to the new party.

He said that Koike's involvement was a large part of his decision to defect. "I am determined to join the new party made by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike," Matsubara said after tendering his resignation from the party on Monday.

Local media reported that Koike has just announced to launch the new party.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 14:50:30|Editor: Yurou

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SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean government under President Moon Jae-in decided Monday to repeal the previous government's labor guidelines that allow companies to fire workers in an easier way.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor held a meeting with heads of 47 agencies affiliated with the ministry, making the decision to scrap the two labor regulations introduced in January last year under the government of impeached President Park Geun-hye.

The abolished regulations aimed to allow business owners to dismiss employees who yield poor performance, while enabling companies to introduce rules deemed disadvantageous to employees without consent of the majority of the labor union or workers.

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions, one of the two major South Korean umbrella labor groups, announced its withdrawal on Jan. 22 of last year from the tripartite dialogue panel with the government and businesses in protest against the labor regulations.

The federation has picked the abolition of the labor guidelines as a prerequisite for its return to the tripartite panel to discuss issues on wage and labor conditions.

President Moon, who took office in May, had promised on his campaign trail to scrap the labor regulations. Moon has repeatedly said his government would put top priority on creating decent jobs.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 14:55:31|Editor: Zhou Xin

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ANKARA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkey will take "every measure" under international law if the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum on Monday endangers Turkey's national security, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Monday morning.

Turkey calls the independent referendum "null and void" and won't recognize the initiative because it lacks a legal basis and legitimacy in international law and the Iraqi constitution, according to a written statement released by the ministry.

The referendum threatens the peace and stability of Iraq and the entire region, the statement warned.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 14:55:32|Editor: ying

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A Kurdish man casts his vote at a polling station during the referendum vote in Erbil, Iraq, on Sept. 25, 2017. The Iraqi Kurds on Monday cast their votes in a referendum that will determine the independence of the Kurdish region and the disputed areas that are currently under de facto Kurdish control. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

ERBIL, Iraq, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Kurds on Monday cast their votes in a referendum that will determine the independence of the Kurdish region and the disputed areas that are currently under de facto Kurdish control.

About 5.2 million eligible voters in the three northern provinces -- Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk -- and other areas outside the region, known as the disputed areas, are expected to cast their votes in 12,000 ballot boxes in 2,000 polling centers across the Kurdish region and the disputed areas.

The voters are to choose either "Yes" to independence Kurdish state or "No" to remain as autonomous region part of the Iraqi state.

The regional electoral committee announced earlier that the voting is to start at 8:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) and end at 6:00 p.m. (1500 GMT).

The Iraqi government has repeatedly rejected the referendum and its results, describing it as "unconstitutional."

"Taking a decision unilaterally that would affect Iraq's unity and making separation from one side is contrary to the law and unconstitutional and we will not deal with it or with its results," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi the day before said in a statement.

On June 7, the Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani announced his intention to hold a referendum on the independence of the Kurdish region from Iraq on Sept. 25.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed by many countries because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and because it could undermare fight against Islamic State militants.

In addition, neighboring countries such as Turkey, Iran and Syria see that such a step would threaten their territorial integrity, as larger populations of Kurds live in those countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 14:55:33|Editor: Liangyu

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TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Monday as a softer yen against the U.S. dollar early on set a positive tone and saw exporter-linked issues given a boost, with investors also piling into issues with high-yielding dividends before the end of the first half of the fiscal year.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 101.13 points, or 0.50 percent, from Friday to close the day at 20,397.58.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 8.21 points, or 0.49 percent, to finish at 1,672.82.

Rubber product, information and communication, and pharmaceutical-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the close of play.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 15:00:34|Editor: ying

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by Robert Stanton

HOUSTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- When it comes to major storms, Hurricane Harvey was an ecological worst-case scenario as it unleashed a deadly gumbo of chemicals and carcinogens into waterways in the southern U.S. state of Texas, according to experts.

While the Houston area dodged the brunt of Harvey's most destructive winds, the catastrophic flooding over a four-day period wreaked havoc on neighborhoods and waterways.

Some areas received more than 1 meter of rain after the hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm on Aug. 25. The floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

With that much flooding, the stakes are high for the Texas Gulf Coast that houses roughly 30 percent of the proven oil reserves in the United States. The plants and refineries that line Galveston Bay are home to much of the nation's petroleum refining, ethylene and chemical production, and jet fuel.

The plants and refineries took a big hit from the storm, releasing deadly chemicals into the Houston Ship Channel and other Houston-area waterways, an expert told Xinhua.

Danny Reible, professor of Chemical Engineering at the Texas Tech University in Lubbock, expressed concern of such a catastrophe at the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

The concern is that "major storm events might cause exposure of contaminated sites or landfills with contaminated materials, or that a chemical facility might be damaged by a storm," said Reible.

Texas is home to 53 federal Superfund sites that have been placed on the National Priorities List. A Superfund site is any land in the United States that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a candidate for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and the environment.

"Of the 13 federal Superfund sites flooded by Hurricane Harvey, federal officials have not yet inspected eight of those sites," said Kara Cook-Schultz, toxics program director for TexPIRG, a group that advocates for consumer safety. "Also, the Environmental Protection Agency has not officially cleared the sites that have been visually inspected," he said.

Cook-Schultz took issue with Texas Governor Greg Abbott's comments that state and federal inspections of hazardous waste sites and landfills in the Houston area had found no evidence so far of any leakage.

Of the 13 Superfund sites of concern, two stand out and need immediate testing of nearby areas, according to TexPIRG. The San Jacinto Waste Pits, located on the San Jacinto River, holds toxic sludge deposited at the site from a nearby paper mill in the 1960s. The site contains dioxin, a known carcinogen.

And the Highlands Acid Pits in Harris County contains unknown toxic sludge from oil and gas that includes sulfuric acid, which causes breathing problems and can kill fish and other animals. Due to the sandy nature of the soil, the toxic waste has previously spread to at least one nearby aquifer.

Jim Blackburn, professor in the practice of environmental law at Rice University in Houston, points to climate change as the reason for the more intense hurricanes.

"Tropical Storm Harvey went from a tropical cyclone overnight almost to a Category 4 storm, and that was because of the heat of the Gulf of Mexico," he said, "Hurricanes and tropical storms are fed by the heat of the oceans. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the hottest water bodies in the world."

"Our storms are getting fed more heat and there's going to be stronger storms because of that," Blackburn said.

"It's hard to predict which storms, it's hard to predict where, it's hard to say that any one storm was a climate-related storm, but the pattern is clear. They're getting more serious," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 15:15:37|Editor: ying

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Three militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with Indian army near Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir, officials said Monday.

The gunfight according to Indian army officials broke out in forest area at Kalghe village of frontier Uri town, about 117 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Three militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with army at Kalghe of Uri," a police spokesman said. "The gunfight that started early on Sunday morning ended during the night."

The operation in the area was launched following specific information about presence of militants in the area, police said.

The identity of slain militants was being ascertained, a police official said.

According to police spokesman three assault rifles and some ammunition was recovered from the gunfight site.

A local media report said a trooper and four civilians were also wounded, and two residential houses suffered damage during the gunfight.

Indian army officials and police said the militants seem to have recently infiltrated in the area with the aim to carry out a major attack.

"We have averted a major tragedy. The way a suicide attack was carried out on the army base last year, the group of militants killed in Uri was planning a similar strike," region's Police Chief Shesh Paul Vaid told media in Srinagar.

A separatist movement and guerilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfights between militants and Indian troops take place intermittently across the region.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 15:25:40|Editor: ying

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TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Monday announced her intention to launch her own national political party, according to local media reports.

Koike said in a briefing on the matter that she will be the leader of a new political party at the national level and that the party will be called "Kibou No To," which means Party of Hope in English.

Koike made the surprise announcement before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe started his meeting with his party executives and officially announced his contentious plans to dissolve the lower house of parliament and call a snap election.

The Tokyo governor's news following Koike's Tomin First no Kai's (Tokyoites First party) sweeping victory in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly race in July, seeing off challenges from rival parties including the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which Abe is also the president of.

The Tokyo metropolitan assembly race is widely regarded as a barometer for the future direction of national politics and triggered rumors that Koike was eyeing a return to national politics after her landslide win, as proved to be the case.

Koike served as a lower house member from 1993 to 2016 at which time she resigned to run in the gubernatorial election.

She previously held the defense minister portfolio in the Cabinet of Abe, but resigned in August 2007 after just 54 days in office.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 15:30:41|Editor: Zhou Xin

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SANYA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval flotilla Monday returned to a military port in the city of Sanya in southern China's Hainan Province after a military exercise with the Russian navy in the Baltic Sea.

The formation, comprising missile destroyer "Hefei," missile frigate "Yuncheng" and supply vessel "Luomahu," was the first Chinese fleet to ever sail in the region for a military exercise.

The joint drill, held in July, was the first phase of "Joint Sea 2017," which had similar exercises in the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk this year.

During the 100-day sail that covers more than 28,000 nautical miles, the fleet also made friendly visits to Finland and Latvia, staging anti-terrorism and anti-piracy drills.

Such exercises show an open and confident Chinese navy, accumulating experience in long-term missions overseas.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 15:40:44|Editor: ying

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TEHRAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday discussed the Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum on the phone, state IRIB TV reported.

The Iraqi Kurds on Monday cast their votes in a referendum that will determine the independence of the Kurdish region and the disputed areas that are currently under de facto Kurdish control.

Both Rouhani and Erdogan emphasized their coordinated opposing stance over the referendum in their telephone conversation.

The integrity of Iraq is highly important for Iran, Rouhani said, adding that the security of his country and the region is, to a significant degree, depends on this factor.

This is a clear message for those who are going to disturb the security and stability of the region, Rouhani pointed out.

Turkey would also give any appropriate response to the Kurdish referendum at political, economic or military level, Erdogan said.

Ankara is ready to boost his ties with the Islamic republic given the current situation in the region, Erdogan stressed.

On June 7, the Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani announced his intention to hold a referendum on the independence of the Kurdish region from Iraq on Sept. 25.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed by many countries because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and because it could undermine fight against Islamic State militants.

In addition, neighboring countries such as Turkey, Iran and Syria see that such a step would threaten their territorial integrity, as larger populations of Kurds live in those countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 16:00:51|Editor: ying

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KABUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Work for building a 10-megawatt solar power plant has started in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar on Sunday, Afghan power supply company the Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat said in a statement released here on Monday.

The project costs about 20 million U.S. dollars, with 10 million dollars provided by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the remaining by an Indian firm. The construction will take 12 months, the statement added.

Afghanistan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, during his one-day visit to Kandahar province, inaugurated the project on Sunday.

According to the statement, the Indian firm, under the agreement, is committed to selling 1 Kilowatt for 3.7 U.S. cents to the Breshna Sherkat, and after 15 years would hand over the solar power plant to Afghan government.
U.S.-led airstrikes at IS stronghold in Syria's Raqqa killed 84 civilians, includingdozens of children. (Reuters Photo)

DAMASCUS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S.-led airstrikes at the Islamic State (IS) group's Syrian stronghold Raqqa in March killed at least 84 civilians, including dozens of children, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday.

The organization said the strikes hit two sites: a school housing displaced families in the town of Mansourah, and a market and bakery in the town of Tabqa.

It said witnesses acknowledged that IS fighters had been present at both sites, but that large numbers of civilians were also there.

"These attacks killed dozens of civilians, including children, who had sought shelter in a school or were lining up to buy bread at a bakery," HRW deputy emergencies director Ole Solvang said.

The HRW said the first of the two strikes was on March 20, and killed at least 40 people including 16 children at the Badia School in Mansourah. The second was on March 22 and killed at least 44 people including 14 children at the Tabqa market and bakery.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 16:15:59|Editor: ying

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ANKARA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkey will take "every measure" under international law if the Iraqi Kuru independence referendum on Monday endangers Turkey's national security, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Monday morning.

Turkey calls the independent referendum "null and void" and won't recognize the initiative because it lacks a legal basis and legitimacy in international law and the Iraqi constitution, according to a written statement released by the ministry.

The referendum threatens peace and stability in Iraq and the entire region, the statement warned.

On June 7, Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani announced his plan to hold a referendum on Sept. 25 for seeking independence of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region from Iraq.

Since then, Iraq, Turkey, Iran and the United States have all spoken out against the referendum, saying it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and further destabilize the region.

The Turkish Armed Forces have been taking a military drill near the Turkish-Iraqi border since Sept. 18, with the participation of tanks and heavy military vehicles.

The exercise area sits to the north of the Syrian and Iraqi borders and contains the Habur border crossing, which provides the KRG with its main access point to the outside world.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim warned on Saturday that Turkey's response to the planned independence referendum in northern Iraq's Kurdish region will have security, diplomatic, political and economic dimensions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 16:51:12|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China Unicom announced Monday the establishment of a big data unit in its latest effort to seek new growth as traditional business shrinks.

The new subsidiary will make full use of the telecom carrier's advantage in cross-industry data collection and integration to offer a variety of services in information sharing, transactions, government management, risk control and travel.

Jiang Zhengxin, vice general manager of China Unicom, said the company welcomes external investment and wants to expand cooperation with strategic investors participating in China Unicom's mixed-ownership reform.

The state-owned telecom firm unveiled a plan to bring in private investors, including IT giants Alibaba and Tencent, to improve competitiveness more than a month earlier.

An agreement was signed between China Unicom and China UnionPay Monday to jointly use data resources, further technological cooperation and strengthen product research and development.

In the face of challenges in the broadband market and shrinking revenue from fixed-line voice services, China Unicom is swiftly expanding its business territory, with more energy channeled into sectors such as cloud computing, Internet of Things and big data.

Its 4G services, which once lagged behind China Mobile, the country's largest telecom operator, have been given priority and have contributed to substantial increases in business.

China Unicom's net profits surged more than 70 percent in the first half of 2017, mainly due to the transformation in business patterns, according to its mid-year report.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 16:51:13|Editor: Zhou Xin

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by Hashi

MOGADISHU, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Armed gunmen on Sunday night killed a senior ministry of defence official and his bodyguard as they were walking home from a mosque in the restive Mogadishu, police confirmed on Monday.

A police officer said Abdullahi Mohamed Sheikh, a senior officer at the army command control headquarters in Mogadishu, and his bodyguard were shot dead by gunmen armed with pistols.

"Gen Mohamed and his bodyguard were shot dead by armed gunmen from behind. The two were walking home from a mosque after evening prayers," said the police officer who declined to be identified.

The military official once served as deputy commander of logistics for the Somali army. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 17:06:20|Editor: Zhou Xin

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TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Monday announced her intention to launch her own national political party, according to local media reports.

Koike said in a press briefing on the matter that she will be the leader of a new political party at the national level and that the party will be called "Kibou No To," which means Party of Hope in English.

Koike's announcement comes on the heels of a number of high profile defections from both the ruling and opposition camps by party lawmakers to join a new party launched by her close ally, lower house independent lawmaker Masaru Wakasa.

"Mr. Wakasa, a former main opposition Democratic Party member, Mr. Goshi Hosono and others have been having various discussions up to now, but we have done a reset, and I will lead the party myself and be directly involved," Koike was quoted as saying.

Koike said she will simultaneously carry out her duties as both governor and party head and said she wants to be involved in national politics, in part, so she can carry out changes in the capital.

An "all-Japan" approach would be the foundation of the party's ethos, Koike said, with the focus on support for families raising children. She added that she plans to field candidates nationwide in the expected general election.

Koike made the surprise announcement before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe started his meeting with his party executives earlier Monday and officially announced his contentious plans to dissolve the lower house of parliament and call a snap election.

The Tokyo governor's news following Koike's Tomin First no Kai's (Tokyoites First party) sweeping victory in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly race in July, seeing off challenges from rival parties including the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which Abe is also the president of.

The Tokyo metropolitan assembly race is widely regarded as a barometer for the future direction of national politics and triggered rumors that Koike was eyeing a return to national politics after her landslide win, as has proved to be the case, political watchers noted.

The result of the metropolitan assembly race triggered the beginning of an exodus of lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party, which has been a blow to its new leader Seiji Maehara, who is fighting to keep the party united and his lawmakers defecting.

But in further blow to Abe on Monday, a senior vice Cabinet Office minister in his government announced he would be leaving the ruling LDP.

Mineyuki Fukuda, 53, a third term lower house lawmaker, told a press briefing on the matter that he wants to form a new party with independent lower house member Masaru Wakasa.

"I will make a new political party with House of Representatives lawmaker Masaru Wakasa," Fukuda said, referring to the independent lawmaker who has joined forces with former Democratic Party members including Goshi Hosono and other defectors.

"I want to join the new party and work on raising up its human resources," Fukuda said, confirming his plan to run as a candidate for the envisioned new party in the expected general election.

Fukuda was first elected to the lower house in 2005. While being defeated in the 2014 general election in his Kanagawa Prefecture constituency, he did, however, managed to retain his seat on the LDP's proportional representation list.

Koike, meanwhile, served as a lower house member between 1993 to 2016 at which time she resigned to run in the gubernatorial election race which she won.

She previously held the defense minister portfolio but resigned in August 2007 after just 54 days in office.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 17:16:23|Editor: Zhou Xin

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SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Liberal South Korean civic groups on Monday issued a joint statement condemning the flight of U.S. bombers and fighter jets over the weekend in airspace near the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Seven advocacy groups, including the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Peace Network, said in the statement that it was unacceptable for the U.S. military to send B-1B bombers in a show of force to the DPRK that took people in the Korean Peninsula as hostage.

According to media reports, U.S. B-1B strategic bombers from the Pacific island of Guam and F-15C fighter escorts from Okinawa of Japan flew in international airspace over waters off the east coast of the DPRK Saturday night.

The statement said it was a very dangerous military action that drove people of the Korean Peninsula into a danger amid the escalated tensions.

Tensions were running high on the peninsula as the war of words was resumed between Pyongyang and Washington.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in his debut speech to the United Nations last week that his country would have no choice but to totally destroy the DPRK if Pyongyang continues to threaten the United States and its allies.

In response to the Trump's speech, top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un warned that Washington would face "the highest-level of hardline countermeasure in history."

The presidential Blue House said earlier in the day that the U.S. flight operation of bombers was closely coordinated by Seoul and Washington in advance.

The South Korean peace activists urged the authorities of South Korea and the United States as well as the DPRK not to make any show of military might that can put the peninsula into peril.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 17:41:29|Editor: ying

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and his visiting Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban attend a press conference, in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Sept. 25, 2017. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his visiting Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban agreed here on Monday to take specific measures to strengthen cooperation in various fields. (Xinhua/VNA)

HANOI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his visiting Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban agreed here on Monday to take specific measures to strengthen cooperation in various fields.

Addressing a joint press briefing after their talks, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the two sides will beef up economic cooperation, trade promotion and investment, and create more favorable conditions for Hungarian firms to do business in or with Vietnam, especially in the spheres of water resource exploitation, environmental protection, pharmaceutical, husbandry, foodstuff processing and renewable energy.

The Hungarian prime minister said his country wants to develop special relations with Vietnam because the two countries have traditional friendly and cooperative ties, and Vietnam has great potential for development in the next 30 years.

After the talks, the two prime ministers witnessed ceremonies of signing cooperative documents in the fields of finance, culture, education, agriculture, labor, and information and communications technology, and of inking a sister city deal between Vietnam's southern Can Tho city and Hungary's southwester Kaposvar city.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 18:06:43|Editor: Zhou Xin

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JAKARTA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian scientists have found the world's smallest squirrel in Borneo rain forest in the central parts of the country.

The Bormean pigmy squirrel or exilisciurus exilis was found in Meratus mountain of South Kalimantan province, Zainudin Basriansyah, scientist at Lambung Mangkurat university of the province disclosed on Monday.

"One of surprising things is the fact that there is a unique and endangered species, the smallest squirrel in the world in Meratus mountain," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

The species, found on Sept. 16 during an expedition, has a size of 73 mm long with weight of about 17 gram, said Basriansyah.

"This type of species lives across Borneo island, especially the area with height of over 1,000 meters above sea surface," he said.
File photo taken on Feb. 22, 2017 shows elephants at the Tsavo West National Park, near Voi, Kenya. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

ARUSHA, Tanzania, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has vowed to get tough measures with the groups and individuals responsible for the mass poaching of elephants.

Gaudence Milanzi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism called for stern actions against poachers and other people engaged in illegal wildlife trade in the east African nation.

He said poachers and other people engaged in illegal wildlife trade would be punished severely to deter would-be offenders.

"We're concerned that wildlife crimes such as poaching and illegal trade in ivory would pose serious threats to biodiversity, nature tourism, and foreign investment," Milanzi said in an interview.

Milanzi called upon villagers and local government to team up in the fight against elephant poaching, a move that threatens the future of tourism, which is one of leading sectors in Tanzania as it contributes 2 billion U.S dollars to GDP.

He also said that Tanzania has set aside September 22, every year as a special national day for elephants aimed at encouraging local people to take part in the fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

Participants take part in the "walk for elephant" activity in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Jan. 14, 2017. Chinese Embassy in Tanzania organized a five km walk named "walk for elephant" in Dar es Salaam on Saturday to raise public awareness of elephant protection. (Xinhua/Li Sibo)

According to Milanzi, the idea has emanated from the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), on the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

This year's National Elephant Day was held in southern Tanzania's district of Namtumbo, which is close to Selous Game Reserve, and Niassa nature reserve in Cabo Delgado Province and Niassa Province, Mozambique.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 18:26:49|Editor: Xiang Bo

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SHIJIAZHUANG, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Huang Xingguo, former acting Communist Party chief and mayor of Tianjin Municipality, was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday for taking bribes of over 40 million yuan (6 million U.S. dollars).

He was also fined 3 million yuan, according to a court in the city of Shijiazhuang in north China's Hebei Province.

Between 1994 and 2016, Huang took advantage of his various posts to seek benefits regarding land using and personnel promotion for others.

He also used his power and status to seek illegal benefits for others through other officials, the court statement said.

In return, he accepted gifts and money worth 40 million yuan by himself or through others, it said.

The statement said the court handed down the sentence with consideration of Huang's confessing to his crimes, showing repentance and providing reliable evidence of others' violations. Huang has been cooperative in returning all his illegal gains.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 18:41:56|Editor: Xiang Bo

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Delhi high court Monday acquitted Mahmood Farooqui, a film director, of a rape case, officials said.

The high court set aside a trial court order that handed him seven-year jail term for allegedly raping a U.S. researcher.

Farooqui is currently undergoing a jail term at New Delhi's Tihar jail.

"The court has directed that Farooqui be released forthwith," a court official said.

In July this year a local court convicted Farooqui of raping a 30-year-old researcher from the United States.

The researcher from Columbia University last year filed a rape case against the filmmaker, saying he sexually assaulted her at his house in south Delhi last year, when she had gone to get his help for her research work.

Farooqui co-directed a known film "Peepli Live" along with his wife Anusha Rizvi. The film depicted problems of farmers in India and was centered around the theme of farmer suicides and the subsequent media and political response. The film was acclaimed internationally.

Farooqui had denied the allegations, saying he was falsely implicated.

India introduced tough new anti-rape laws after the December 2002 fatal gang-rape of a medical student in New Delhi, which brought spotlight on crimes against women in the country.

As per new law, the punishment for rape is a minimum jail term of seven years and in extreme cases may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 18:41:57|Editor: Xiang Bo

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HANGZHOU, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Public ports along China's Grand Canal will all be able to provide shore-side electrical power for docking ships in the next two years.

The Ministry of Transport, National Energy Administration and State Grid Corporation of China on Monday signed an agreement to install shore power facilities along the Grand Canal, which runs over 2,500 km from Beijing to Hangzhou.

The facilities will also be installed in ports on the east coast and along the Yangtze River.

Shore power can reduce noise and save diesel a ship burns while it stays at berth.

Emission from ships constitutes a big chunk of global air pollution.

The 130 small shore power facilities installed on three ports along the Grand Canal in Zhejiang Province could cut carbon dioxide emissions by 3,950 tons and reduce fuel consumption by 1,250 tons a year.

The state grid company has more than 600 shore power facilities in ports.
Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2013 shows a beautiful view in Selous Game Reserve, southeast Tanzania. Large numbers of elephants, black rhinoceroses, cheetahs, giraffes, hippopotamuses and crocodiles as well as about 550 species of birds live in this immense sanctuary, which measures 50,000 square kilometers and is relatively undisturbed by human impact. It also has a variety of vegetation zones, ranging from dense thickets to open wooded grasslands. The Selous Game Reserve was inscribed onto the world heritage list in 1982. (Xinhua/Zhang Ping)

DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 50 multinational companies have expressed their bids for the construction of the Rufiji hydropower project at Stiegler's Gorge in the Selous Game Reserve, one of the largest faunal reserves of the world, located in the south of Tanzania.

President John Magufuli said in Arusha city on Saturday that the bidding has attracted 50 foreign companies after the Ministry of Energy and Minerals announced the tendering process in August this year.

A roller is perched on a branch in Selous Game Reserve, southeast Tanzania, Oct. 11, 2013. (Xinhua/Zhang Ping)

According to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, bidders were required to have minimum average annual construction turnover of 500 million U.S. dollars calculated as certified payments received for contracts in progress and or completed within last five years.

The Selous Game Reserve covers 50,000 square kilometers with the proposed project expected to use a mere 3 percent of the area.

The project will see the construction of the largest dam in Tanzania along the Rufiji River in the Selous Game Reserve.

Once it comes to completion, the proposed power station is expected to generate 2,100 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Currently, Tanzania generates only 1,460 MW of power.

A black-winged stilt walks in Selous Game Reserve, southeast Tanzania, Oct. 12, 2013. (Xinhua/Zhang Ping)

The proposed project however has its fair share of controversies.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world's leading conservation organization, said in a report that the project threatens an important wetland as well as the livelihoods of more than 200,000 people in impoverished areas.

The Selous, which covers nearly 50,000 square kilometers, has been under pressure from poachers who have decimated its elephant population to supply the illegal ivory market, said the WWF report.

A yellow-billed stork flies in Selous Game Reserve, southeast Tanzania, Oct. 12, 2013. (Xinhua/Zhang Ping)

The reserve is also home to the critically endangered black rhinoceros.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 19:17:18|Editor: Xiang Bo

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ISTANBUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday vowed not to allow a "terror state" to be established along the border with Turkey.

Turkey will announce measures against the independence vote by the Iraqi Kurdish region later this week, he said.

"This is an empty dream for them," Erdogan told an international meeting in Istanbul on Monday. "We can suddenly step in one night," he stressed.

The Turkish leader hinted at barring Iraqi Kurds from exporting gas via Turkey, saying "We own the valve."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 19:22:24|Editor: ying

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Afghan security members take part in a military operation in Jaghato district of eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, on Sept. 24, 2017. Forty-six militants were killed and 18 others wounded as Afghan security forces conducted military and cordon operations across the country over the past 24 hours, said Defense Ministry on Monday. (Xinhua/Sayed Mominzadah)

KABUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Forty-six militants were killed and 18 others wounded as Afghan security forces conducted military and cordon operations across the country over the past 24 hours, said Defense Ministry on Monday.

"Afghan National Defense and Security Forces have launched military operations in several provinces. As a result 46 militants were killed 18 injured and four others detained," it said in a statement.

According to the statement, the security forces also destroyed militants' 18 hideouts and bunkers.

Afghan army together with police and national intelligence agency have launched more than 6,000 military and cordon operations over the past six months, killing scores of militants and destroying nearly 500 militants' strongholds and bunkers, Gen. Dawlat Waziri, defense ministry spokesman, told reporters on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 19:32:29|Editor: Lu Hui

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BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday held a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Theresa May on bilateral ties and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

A prosperous, stable and open Britain and European Union conform to the interests of all parties, Xi told May, adding that China is willing to promote further development of China-Britain and China-EU relations.

Xi also said the Korean Peninsula issue should be solved through peaceful means including dialogue and consultation, which needs joint efforts by the international community.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 19:37:32|Editor: ying

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TEHRAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's foreign minister criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his administration's new travel ban on Iran after it successfully launched a ballistic missile, state IRIB TV reported on Monday.

Mohammed Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter early Monday: "Trump's fake empathy for Iranians rings ever more hollow, with his new and even more offensive travel ban against such outstanding citizens."

Iran had "successfully" launched a strategic ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km last Friday.

Zarif, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, has taken to Twitter to criticize Trump.

Iran previously was among the six majority Muslim nations targeted in the travel ban.

The new travel ban applies indefinite restrictions to citizens of some countries including Iran, which will take effect on Oct. 18.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 19:42:35|Editor: Xiang Bo

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JAKARTA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's national disaster management agency has urged thousands of people who remain in dangerous zone in the resort island of Bali to immediately escape, as a volcano in the island could erupt at any time, a senior official of the agency said here on Monday.

Gunung Agung volcano in Karang Asem district is in the highest alert following rising seismic activity, forcing over 48,000 villagers living in the dangerous zone to flee, spokesman of the agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

The spokesman said there are thousands of villagers remaining in the evacuation zone now.

"It is estimated about 62,000 people living in the dangerous zone," he said.

"The officials keep combing the area and ask the villagers there to escape the territory and take shelters in safer ground," Sutopo said.

Volcanologists have twice extended the no-go zone to 12 km for the areas in the north, northeast, southeast, south and southwest of the crater and 9 km for the other areas from 7.5 km.

"Based on all observations, the potential of eruption of the volcano is high," said Sutopo.

Indonesia, an archipelagic nation, is home to over 17,500 islands and a total of 129 active volcanoes.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 19:42:35|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BERLIN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Berlin residents have voted in a referendum on Monday to maintain operations at the city's Tegel airport in opposition to local government plans for its closure.

A majority of 56.1 percent of voters cast their ballot in favor of keeping the small but centrally-located Tegel airport open. Although the result is non-binding, it will increase pressure on the Berlin Senate to reconsider its stance to close Tegel six months after the new and heavily-delayed Berlin Brandenburg airport (BER) finally opens.

Press reports cited Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Germany's dominant airline, as a potential loser of the development. Lufthansa has been selected for talks to acquire much of the insolvent carrier Air Berlin's fleet and landing rights and would gain a tighter grip on air traffic in the German capital if Tegel were to close.

As a consequence, rival Irish airline Ryanair supported the referendum campaign to preserve Tegel airport launched by Free Democrat (FDP) politician Sebastian Czaja with a series of billboards throughout Berlin.

Czaja succeeded in forcing the referendum by collecting 250,000 signatures after BER has seen its opening delayed by more than six years and its price tag for tax payers double to 5.1 billion euros. Berlin's Mayor Michael Mueller (SPD) wants to shut down Tegel after the new hub's completion and create a housing and technology complex in its stead.

The FDP and others supporting Czaja's campaign to "save" the airport have argued that BER's predicted capacity is already less than the number of visitors who pass through the two existing Tegel and Schoenefeld aviation facilities. In contrast, their opponents have complained about inner-city noise and pollution levels caused by Tegel, as well as emphasizing the need to ensure that public investment in BER ultimately pays off.

Tegel airport handled more than 21 million travelers last year despite being built during the Cold War with a capacity of only 2.7 million annual passengers.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 19:42:36|Editor: ying

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SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's ruling Democratic Party lawmakers against the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) on Monday cast doubts on its missile interception capability on the Korean Peninsula.

The Democratic Party's special panel to draw up countermeasures to the U.S. missile shield deployment, composed of anti-THAAD members, held a public hearing in the National Assembly building, blatantly raising doubts on the operability and effectiveness of the U.S. weapons.

Rep. Shim Jae-kwon, who leads the anti-THAAD panel, said THAAD in South Korea would be incapable of defending the capital Seoul and its surrounding areas from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s missile attacks.

The three-term lawmaker said the U.S. anti-missile system would be also incapable of protecting the new garrison of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, and the southeastern port city of Busan, to which the U.S. reinforcements are believed to be dispatched in time of armed conflict.

He noted that THAAD in South Korea could only intercept missiles flying toward the areas near Seongju county at an altitude of 40-150 km.

THAAD is designed to shoot down missiles at an altitude of 40-150 km. Most of DPRK missiles taking aim at South Korea fly at an altitude of less than 40 km.

THAAD interceptors are unable to defend the capital Seoul and its surrounding metropolitan areas, which are home to about half of the country's 50 million population, as they have a maximum interception range of around 200 km.

The THAAD battery, deployed in Seongju county, North Gyeongsang province, is located over 300 km southeast of the capital city.

The remaining THAAD launchers and other elements were transported to the U.S. military base at the county earlier this month after violent dispersion of anti-THAAD protest rallies by residents and peace activists.

Rep. Shin Dong-keun of the Democratic Party said THAAD will be operated in a way that a bullet should intercept another bullet, stressing that if interceptors fall short of destroying incoming missiles and just alter the direction of missiles, it would fall inside the South Korean territory.

Rep. Lee Hoon said THAAD launchers in South Korea could only defend from 48 DPRK missiles, even assuming that THAAD has a 100-percent interception capability.

A THAAD battery is comprised of six mobile launchers, 48 interceptors, the AN/TPY-2 radar and the fire and control unit.

Lee urged the defense ministry to conduct simulation tests to make known to the pubic the THAAD's interception capability under situations that the DPRK fires ballistic missiles at a normal angle.

Rep. Sul Hoon of the ruling party said THAAD was installed in South Korea for political reasons, rather than military purposes, to consider relations with the United States, noting that the THAAD's military effectiveness would be very poor.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 19:47:39|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Central authorities Monday released a guideline on encouraging entrepreneurial spirit and creating a favorable environment for entrepreneurship.

The guideline, the first of its kind focused on entrepreneurial spirit, was released by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council in a move to spur market vitality.

The government will protect the legal rights and interests of entrepreneurs, ensure fair competition and strengthen protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) to encourage innovation.

It will also work on rules to protect IPR of innovative achievements such as new business models and cultural creativity.

A negative list management program will be rolled out nationwide to ensure fair access to industries and businesses that are not off-limits for market entities, according to the guideline.

The guideline stated that the government will fight against monopolies, unfair competition practices and regional protectionism, and remove regulations that undermine fair competition.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 19:47:40|Editor: Lu Hui

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 25, 2017. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced officially at a press conference on Monday that he will dissolve the House of Representatives when it convenes Thursday to pave way for a general election. (Xinhua)

TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced at a press conference on Monday that he will dissolve the House of Representatives when it convenes Thursday to pave way for a general election.

The prime minister said that the snap election was called to seek a fresh mandate to overcome a national crisis caused by "the biggest challenge facing Japan, which is the population aging and low birthrate," as well as security challenges.

He said that he would seek mandate from the people for shifting the usage of part of the revenue generated by a consumption tax hike that has been delayed until 2019 from paying debt to welfare policies.

He said that fostering human resources and improving productivity would be two pillars of his Cabinet's policies, adding that the government would compile a policy package worth 2 trillion yen (18 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of this year to boost support for child care and education.

The policy package would include measures to make preschool education and day care services free for children aged between three and five and reduce the financial burdens for higher education, according to Abe.

He also said that he would seek public support for a tougher stance over the Korea Peninsula issue.

Regarding the recent favoritism scandals that brought down his support ratings, Abe said he expects a "tough election" with harsh criticisms from opposition parties.

He said he would call the election a success if the ruling bloc could take over half of the seats of the lower house of parliament.

Abe's decision to call for a snap election has drawn staunch criticism from opposition parties, which accused the prime minister of fleeing from cronyism accusations.

Abe has been under fire for his connection with nationalist private school operator Moritomo Gakuen, which purchased a piece of state-owned land in Osaka for only a fraction of the market price.

He has also been accused of using his influence to make the government choose Kake Educational Institution, run by a close friend of Abe's, to open a new department in a government-designated special economic zone.

There have also been criticisms saying that Abe tries to stay in power regardless of the risks of creating a political vacuum at a time of rising geopolitical tensions over the Korea Peninsula.

Local analysts said Abe is trying to take advantage of the recent recovery in his support ratings after a plunge due to the favoritism scandals, while the opposition parties are not yet prepared for an election.

According to a survey conducted over the weekend by Kyodo News, 64.3 percent of the respondents said they do not support the prime minister's plan to call a snap election, while 23.7 percent expressed support.

About 78.8 percent of the respondents said they are not satisfied with the government's explanation on the recent favoritism scandals, while only 13.8 percent said the opposite.

Shortly before Abe announced his plan to dissolve the lower house, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she is establishing a new political party at the national level and that the party will be called "Kibou no To," which means Party of Hope in English.

Koike's Tomin First no Kai's (Tokyoites First party) has won a sweeping victory over Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly race in July, which is widely regarded as a barometer for the future direction of national politics.

The snap election is slated for Oct. 22, with the official campaigning beginning on Oct. 10.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 20:17:47|Editor: ying

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ISTANBUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday vowed not to allow a "terror state" to be established along the border with Turkey.

Turkey will announce measures against the independence vote by the Iraqi Kurdish region later this week, he said.

"This is an empty dream for them," Erdogan told an international meeting in Istanbul. "We can suddenly step in one night."

He referred to Turkey's last military operation in northern Syria, in which Ankara seized Jarablus, al-Rai and al-Bab from the Islamic State.

As the Iraqi Kurdish region relies heavily on Turkey for access to the outside world, the Turkish leader hinted at barring it from exporting gas via Turkey, the Iraqi Kurds' lifeline.

"When we close the valve, all will be finished," Erdogan said, noting "The entrance and exit will be closed" as well.

"We are taking every step regarding economic, commercial and security measures," he added, stressing that the Turkish army has not been launching a military exercise "for nothing" over the past few days in Silopi province bordering Iraq.

Despite opposition and threats from Turkey, Iran, the United States and others, Iraqi Kurds in the Kurdish autonomous region and other disputed territories went to the polls on the day for a referendum on whether to break away from Baghdad.

Erdogan described the move as "outright opportunism" in light of the current situation in the region.

"Turkey does not recognize the referendum and would view it as null and void. It is illicit," he said, stressing northern Iraq is the living area for Arabs and Turkmens as well.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 20:22:49|Editor: ying

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YANGON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar government has been seeking assistance from the international community for the resettlement of displaced ethnic people in Rakhine state.

A day after her special speech on the country's national reconciliation and peace efforts in Nay Pyi Taw on Sept. 19, Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi held a meeting with the Implementation Committee of Recommendations on Rakhine state, disclosing that the Myanmar authorities are planning to form a committee to implement national verification process, the rehabilitation and resettlement and long-term development programs for ethnic groups in the state.

Aung San Suu Kyi called on the international community to cooperate for constructively tackling the issue of Rakhine state, voicing the government's pledge to implement the recommendations by the Advisory Commission led by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

She said those recommendations will help bring speedy improvement to the situation of the state within the shortest time frame.

She highlighted the government's social economic development in Rakhine, disclosing that the Rakhine state's socio-economic development plan 2017-2021 has been drafted to boost regional development in various sectors, including infrastructure and electrification as well as providing new job opportunities for the local people through private-public partnership.

She stressed that all people in Rakhine state will have access to education and healthcare services without discrimination.

She also said the government is trying to promote inter-communal religious harmony by engaging interfaced groups.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar government has begun to resettle refugees displaced at home and abroad due to conflicts in Rakhine state.

The local people in the affected areas by the recent attack on Aug. 25 are being provided with humanitarian aid without any discrimination, government officials said, adding that the authorities are increasing more humanitarian aid to reach all areas in Rakhine state with the help of donors of China, the United States, Britain, Denmark and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Shortly on the day after Aung San Suu Kyi's speech, China provided 200 million kyats (147,058 U.S. dollars) to help restore peace and stability in Rakhine state.

Speaking at the donation ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang expressed his belief that this cash assistance will be useful in restoring peace and stability in the state.

Hong Liang said China will continue to assist the Myanmar government in carrying out the peace process in Rakhine state to strengthen the Pauk-Phaw (fraternal) relationship between the two countries.

Two days after the donation, Chinese embassy in Myanmar, on behalf of the Chinese government, donated again 100 million kyats to the Myanmar Red Cross for rehabilitation of displaced people in Rakhine state.

As stability began to restore since early this month, the Implementation Committee of Rakhine Advisory Commission is actively addressing economic and social issues in the state.

The committee was established to implement the recommendations of the final report of the Advisory Commission and Rakhine Investigation Commission, led by Vice-President U Myint Swe. (1 U.S. dollar = 1,363 Myanmar kyat)
By Yang Hongyan

Smile freezes on his face when Song Sicheng accidentally knocks over a box full of cocoa powder on the table. The 14-year-old boy stops jumping up and down. Only several seconds later, however, his eyes move away. Then he continues to jump happily, as if nothing has happened.

His mother quickly cleans the sprinkled powder, then softly pats Sicheng on the back, "Stop, good boy." But he fails to keep focused on what he is supposed to do.

Sicheng and his mother are going to make chocolate cookies. Ten minutes has passed. They are still preparing raw materials in line with the instructions printed on a piece of paper.

Every Friday morning, Sicheng's mother would accompany him to Yuren Bakery in the northwestern suburb of Beijing to learn elementary baking skills. As baking does not need too much social interaction, Mrs Song decided six months ago to let her son have a try.

Sicheng is a boy with autism, a spectrum disorder characterized by impaired social skills, repetitive behaviors, and impaired speech and nonverbal communication. Sicheng never actively talks to anybody or makes direct eye contact. He lives in his own world, with a narrow interest in objects.

Cookies made by an autistic teenager at Yuren Bakery

For Mrs Song, the bakery means a glimpse of hope of Sicheng's future. Maybe her son can one day work as an assistant baker to support himself when she and her husband are too old, she thinks.

It is believed that around 80 percent of China's estimated 10 million autistic population are aged above 14 years old. However, most rehabilitation programs are designed for children under 12, while facilities providing life skills for autistic teenagers and adults are particularly few.

As Sicheng is expected to graduate from a special school for intellectually challenged children in two years, Mrs Song has to worry about what her son can do in the future.

She got the information about Yuren online. The bakery under Kangnazhou Autism Family Support Center in Beijing was founded in 2012 as an experimental program to explore vocational rehabilitation and support employment for autistic people. Currently, 36 adolescents are learning at Yuren. They learn how to make cookies and cakes.

But Liu Linmei, an executive teacher in charge of the program, says it is even more important for them to learn social skills here than baking skills. So they have to clock in and out when they come to learn, an imitation of real work environment. They also have work-break exercises and share what they make with others after the work.

As the name of an illness, autism wasn't known in China until 1982, when the first case of this spectrum disorder was reported. Three decades has passed, but the term remains unfamiliar to the public.

Chinese people's limited knowledge about autism comes mainly from scarce news report and a movie or two about the group of people, such as the Oscar winning Rain Man, a movie about an autistic savant starring Dustin Hoffman. The name of the Kangnazhou bakery Yuren literally means "rain man."

Some media events in recent years have helped promoting the awareness of autism among the public. However, their touting of autistic kids' special talents has shaped a romantic image about the group of people, while the real conditions of them and the plight of their families are neglected.

Trainers and learners pose for a photo to celebrate their newly-made cakes at Yuren Bakery

FOR THE BETTER

Sicheng was diagnosed with autism more than ten years ago in 2006. At the beginning, Mrs Song felt strange that her son still could not speak at the age of three and was also unwilling to play with other children.

While her neighbors suspected that little Sicheng might be autistic, Mrs Song refused to believe it. To seek an authoritative diagnosis, she made a 1,080-kilometer journey with her son to Beijing from her home in northeast China's Jilin Province.

The result came as a shock. She stared off into empty air, tears rolling down her face. "All of my family members are healthy. How could my son be autistic?"

It was too hard for her to admit the reality. As Deng Xueyi, director of Kangnazhou's research and development team, put it, most parents of autistic children could not face the reality at the very beginning after their children's diagnosis. "Most mothers would weep day and night," Deng says.

While some elders in the family tried to persuade Mrs Song to give up, she was determined to look for a place to have her kid treated.

Despite a large autistic population, the number of child psychiatrists all over China is rather small, estimated at no more than 500, and most of them gather in large cities like Beijing, according to a report on China's autism rehabilitation industry released by Beijing Wucailu Children Behavior Rectification Center in April.

Mrs Song and her husband decided to quit their jobs and moved to Beijing at the end of 2006. They rent a 10-square-meter room, where they made a family plan at the first night: Sicheng's father would go to find a job, while the mother would take care of the boy.

The monthly cost for Sicheng's rehabilitation training of about 5,000 yuan (about 750 U.S dollars) was a big sum for the couple, but they did not give up even when they were in debt.

To their relief, however, little Sicheng started to utter "um-um" and became responsive after receiving a month of language training. The couple felt soothed.

Now ten years has passed and Sicheng has grown up into a 1.7-meter-tall adolescent, big and old enough for his parents to think about how their child can be accepted by society in the coming years.

Learners watch how to make decoration for cakes at Yuren Bakery

Ah Meng, a 25-year-old baker who works full time at Yuren Bakery, might be whom Mrs Song hopes her son could be like.

In fact, Yuren Bakery provides training for autistic children only from Friday to Sunday. During the remaining weekdays, Ah Meng makes cakes and cookies there based on orders.

Ah Meng has worked at the bakery for two years. With light autism, he is one of the three autistic adults who have been hired by the bakery after years of vocational training there. He works there also as a way of rehabilitation.

In his mind, he has a fixed work schedule that nothing seems able to break. He arrives at the bakery at 9 am every day, has lunch at 12 pm and goes off work at 4 pm. When he cannot find raw materials he wants, he would get lost in entanglement for a while.

Despite these stereotyped behavior, Ah Meng seems to be no different from ordinary people. In the eyes of the management staff, the man can be called a good employee without any bad habit.

Most of the bakery's orders come from parents of autistic children, NGOs and philanthropy enterprises. There are also occasionally some orders from the bakery's online shopping store.

Mooncakes for Kangnazhou's charity sale

SURVIVAL MATTERS

However, like Sicheng's shaky start at Yuren, the bakery itself also faces "huge" difficulties, according to Zou Wen, initiator of the bakery program and one of the six mothers of autistic children who founded the Kangnazhou center.

"Our biggest difficulty is the lack of money and professional management. We hope to find both government and non-governmental funding to sustain the program," says Zou. " As we mothers grow older, we find that our strength always fails our ambition. So we need a professional management team."

Another problem is that the bakery doesn't have a regular sales channel. So business goes through ups and downs. Taking the mooncake sales for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival for example, the bakery has sold only about 1,000 cases of the traditional round pastries, about one fifth of last year's sales, according to Zou.

Zou sees the charity sale of the mooncakes both a way to raise money for the care of autistic people and an occasion to promote public awareness of autism.

Staff of Kangnazhou sell cookies and cakes made by Yuren Bakery at a music festival in Beijing

Although the orders do not come regularly, Ah Meng gets a regular pay for each month, like other employees in the bakery. But not everyone is as lucky as Ah Meng. For most autistic children, their employment is too extravagant a dream for their parents.

Ma Jingpeng's autistic son Ma Shuai is 24 years old. Shuai was found to be autistic at the age of two and half, but before that, he was able to chant rhymes or sing, according to the father.

To make it worse, however, the boy began to suffer incontinence and was no longer able to speak six months later at the age of three.

What followed was years of rehabilitation training, but the boy showed little sign of improvement. At the age of 18, Ma Shuai was sent to a rehabilitation service to receive social interaction training for five days a week. He has been there for nearly seven years. Each weekend he would be picked up home from the school.

A "groundbreaking" behavior of Ma Shuai surprised his parents a few months ago when the young man one day after dinner stood up from the table and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Another improvement: The young man who was once too nervous to go outside has now become increasingly calm in an unfamiliar environment when the family hang out.

Mooncakes for Kangnazhou's charity sale

Ma Jingpeng says that he and his wife are grateful for their son's small progress, but they "dare not expect too much," including Ma Shuai's employment.

In his speech marking World Autism Awareness Day in 2015, then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the world to recognize the talents of autistic people to create "a society that is truly inclusive."

The theme of the day in that year was "Employment: The Autism Advantage." The fact, however, is that more than 80 percent of autistic adults are unemployed, according to Ban's speech.

Over the past 20 years, Ma Jingpeng has visited all well-known rehabilitation institutions across the country to give his son all kinds of training. During the process, he has met with thousands of parents of severely autistic children.

"Almost none of us expect that our children can get a job in the future. Our primary concern is their survival at present," the father says.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 20:32:55|Editor: Xiang Bo

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by H. L. Bentley

YINCHUAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- It is early evening in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The air is dry; the heat, just about bearable. The streets of Yinchuan, the regional capital, are a hive of activity.

Families of ethnic Hui are eating outside barbeque restaurants as businessmen in starched shirts walk briskly along the sidewalks beneath bright neon signs promoting seafood, meat and imported vegetables.

A few hundred kilometers south in Xiji County, it is another world: a Martian landscape of miles upon miles of scorched red earth with topsoil so thick and compact it may as well be baked clay. The dusty air swirls around a lake, the banks of which are strangely devoid of vegetation. This lake cannot be used to irrigate the parched fields, as it is salty water. It appeared overnight following a huge earthquake in the 1920s.

Most of Ningxia's 66,000 square kilometers is desert. Much of its arable land has been ruined by human activity. While the Yellow River cuts through the north of the region, the south has just 400 mm of rainfall a year.

Of the region's 2.8 million rural residents, 80 percent live in the south and of them, 380,000 are under the poverty line. For locals, life here is as tough as the land upon which they toil.

For many, education is the only way out, the only way they can take an active role in determining their own future. While training and vocational courses are available for adults, it is the children who bear the heaviest burdens. If they work hard at school, so they are told, they can provide for their families. Many children who have not even hit double figures are acutely aware of this.

Chencha Primary School is the most remote school in the county, about 400 km from Yinchuan. There are just 48 students across five grades at the school.

There is no school bus, no fleet of parents dropping the kids off on the school-run. All the students walk to school.

Headmaster Zhang Qiang is as rugged and weather-worn as the hills surrounding the three squat classroom blocks. While his hands bear the scars of physical labor and his shoes show signs of wear, he speaks with the quiet, commanding tone of a school principal.

"I didn't understand much as a child, so I saw becoming a teacher a challenge. Not only would I learn, but I could pass on my knowledge," he said, a smile washing across his face.

According to the household registration system, 363 families live in Chencha village. In reality, however, only about 180 actually live here, the remainder having left to look for work. Of the families that stayed, 132 are below the poverty line. This means they earn less than 2,300 yuan (about 350 U.S. dollars) a year.

Since the start of the opening up and reform era in the 1980s, China has raised over 700 million people out of poverty, 70 percent of global poverty reduction in the period. At the end of last year, China still had more than 43 million impoverished people, who mostly live in rural or isolated areas not unlike Xiji.

Guo Yunyun is in the final year of primary school. He lives in a courtyard of four structures with his parents and younger siblings. The outer walls of the family compound are made from compacted earth and straw, the traditional building material used here.

The family's main living space is a large south-facing building, which is made from bricks, fronted in tiles, and has a squat, black belly stove in the center of its single large room. One of the older buildings serves as a kitchen, with a huge open-fire stove and walls thick with soot. Another houses the precious motorbike that Mr. Guo uses to get to construction jobs across Ningxia.

Mrs. Guo is a stoic, tremendously proud mother. She cannot drive, and rarely goes to the village proper as the children and the family farmland keep her busy, and close to home. She doesn't think either she or her husband will ever leave the village, but that doesn't stop her dreaming of her children being admitted to the high school in the regional capital.

The downside is separation.

Liupanshan High School, in Yinchuan, is one of two high schools for poor rural residents. Every gifted student is encouraged to sit the school's entrance exam, which, should they pass, would mean they could complete the final three years of high school, and, more importantly, not pay.

The school has 6,000 students across three grades. Each receives a grant from the local education department, and a monthly stipend covers living costs and class material. Of last year's graduates, 106 students from Xiji were offered college places, among whom were graduates of Chencha Primary School.

"This is probably the first poverty relief high school in China," headmaster Jin Chunyu explains as he walks around an exhibition on the school's history.

"We have three missions - to deliver high quality education; to provide an accessible, learning environment for ethnic minorities and the very poor; and to do all this for free."

Liupanshan and the local school in Chencha are as different as night and day.

There is an infectious enthusiasm at Liupanshan, which is absent from the rural primary school. Chencha students are taught by rote: The only objective is to pass the entrance exam. The children at Liupanshan are encouraged to play an active role in their education, to ask "why?" They are confident, both in themselves and their abilities.

"Poverty alleviation should enable people, help them develop skills, rather than just throwing money at the problem," Jin explained.

At the school in Chencha, only the headmaster has been there for more than two years. In Ningxia's poverty stricken area, the number of teachers that retire each year exceeds the number of new recruits.

To fill in vacancies, even just temporarily, teachers are moved around schools. As a result, it is the children who pay for this - their education lacks consistency.

There is a sizable gap between rural and urban education. Each year, Liupanshan accepts 2,000 new students. These are the most promising students from all rural areas in Ningxia. Yet, it begs the question: If the quality of education at Ningxia's lower grade rural schools was as high as in Yinchuan, how many students would be eligible to attend high school, and beyond?

Twenty years ago, the majority of people in Ningxia lived in rural areas. By the end of 2016, of the 6.7 million people who called Ningxia home 56.3 percent lived in urban areas.

This trend seems set to continue as most students at Liupanshan see their futures in the city, but not as migrant workers. This next wave of workers will be armed with qualifications and, more importantly, ideas.

These children are the future of Ningxia. They have experienced poverty first hand, and their knowledge could be a powerful tool in the final push to end poverty in China.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 20:42:58|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Monday said all Chinese should stay motivated, forge ahead and make persistent efforts to realize the country's two centenary goals and fulfill the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when visiting an exhibition here displaying China's outstanding achievements over the past five years.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 20:48:00|Editor: ying

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BERLIN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Though German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her allies apparently won the parliamentary election Sunday despite a diminished number of votes, her road to form a new government for a record fourth time will not be a cakewalk.

According to the preliminary results released Monday morning, the coalition of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Socialist Union (CSU), obtained 33 percent of the votes, shrunk from the 41 percent in 2013. However, it still heralded a fourth term for her, with the support of other parties.

Her main rival, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Martin Schulz, received a record low of 20.5 percent. The surprise came from the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), which captured 12.6 percent, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), which successfully re-entered the federal parliament, the Bundestag, after a four-year break with 10.7 percent.

Merkel is likely to remain chancellor. However, with the AfD entering parliament for the first time, the negotiations on a new coalition might be difficult.

Merkel said she had hoped for a better result, but the coalition had achieved its strategic objectives and had the mandate to form the government.

She rejected speculation about a possible minority government. "I do not see this ... we should achieve a stable government in Germany," Merkel told public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.

Germany will see a six-party parliament for the first time since the 1950s. On Friday, the parties will discuss the results of the election.

Both the liberal democrats of the FDP and the Greens expressed their willingness to enter into negotiations on a trilateral coalition, although with great divergences to overcome on issues such as energy and immigration policies.

FDP leader Christian Lindner wants to make his party agree to a coalition depending on the degree of consensus on political contents.

"We are not condemned to govern, but we are, of course, willing to take political responsibility," he told ARD and ZDF.

Greens candidate Katrin Goering-Eckardt also anticipated difficult talks, saying, "We will not be an easy partner."

In light of these difficulties, the CDU has appealed to the SPD not to refuse coalition talks.

Although a grand coalition of the CDU and SPD remains mathematically possible, SPD's Schulz, a chancellor candidate, rejected a renewal of the coalition.

"It is quite clear that the electoral mandate to us is to form the opposition," Schulz said.

After the crushing defeat at the election, he did not want to lead the SPD parliamentary party, stating his intention to remain party chairman.

All the other parties have previously expressed their unwillingness to enter into a coalition with the AfD, which received a very high level of voter support.

AfD support is especially widespread in the eastern German states.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany saw the country face the greatest democratic challenge since 1949. The Turkish community in Germany also expressed concern.

Merkel said her party wanted to win back AfD voters "by solving problems, by taking up their worries and also, partially, their fears, but above all, with good politics."

Schulz attacked the chancellor and attributed a "great responsibility" to her for the rise of the right-wing populists.

"This systematic refusal of political debate has created a vacuum that the AfD was able to fill," he said.

AfD's top candidate Alexander Gauland reiterated his intention to lead a fierce opposition in future.
Iran slams Trump for imposing new travel ban after Iran successfully launched a ballistic missile. (Reuters Photo)

TEHRAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's foreign minister criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his administration's new travel ban on Iran after it successfully launched a ballistic missile, state IRIB TV reported on Monday.

Mohammed Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter early Monday: "Trump's fake empathy for Iranians rings ever more hollow, with his new and even more offensive travel ban against such outstanding citizens."

Iran had "successfully" launched a strategic ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km last Friday.

Zarif, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, has taken to Twitter to criticize Trump.

Iran previously was among the six majority Muslim nations targeted in the travel ban.

The new travel ban applies indefinite restrictions to citizens of some countries including Iran, which will take effect on Oct. 18.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 21:08:11|Editor: ying

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ALGIERS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia affirmed Monday his government's commitment to the application of the national reconciliation charter, official APS news agency reported.

Ouyahia made the remarks on Monday when he presented the government's plan of action to the Council of the Nation (Upper House).

He said in front of members of the council that "I declare on behalf of the Government our commitment to the national reconciliation charter."

Ouyahia appealed remaining terrorists to returning to their people and their families, adding that if they refuse to surrender, "they will be judged and condemned by the force of the law."

At the same time, he stressed that the government will do utmost to support army and security forces to cope with the threats from terrorists.

He pointed out that Algeria's experience in the field of national reconciliation "will be helpful to other countries and organizations that want to be inspired by it."

The Algerian government hopes to eliminate terrorist issues through peaceful means with as little bloodshed as possible.

While violence has declined in Algeria after many surrenders of radical Islamists, terrorist attacks continue to occur sporadically in different areas of the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 21:23:18|Editor: ying

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ISTANBUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone on Monday, stressing territorial integrity of both Iraq and Syria, according to Turkish presidential sources.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the Astana process seeking to bring peace to Syria, in which Russia, Turkey and Iran have agreed to create four de-escalation zones in the war-torn country, the sources said.

The two leaders decided to discuss the issues in detail during Putin's visit to Ankara on Thursday, said the sources.

The phone conversation came as Iraqi Kurds are pressing ahead on the day with an independence referendum despite opposition from Turkey, Iran, the United States and the United Nations, sparking concerns about fresh conflicts in the turmoil-hit region, as Ankara and Tehran have both resorted to war games ahead of the vote.

Erdogan has just vowed not to allow a "terror state" to be established along the border with Turkey, threatening punitive measures against the Iraqi Kurdish region within days, including barring it from exporting gas via Turkey.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 21:23:19|Editor: Xiang Bo

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PHNOM PENH, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Some 635,000 Chinese tourists had visited Cambodia in the first seven months of 2017, up 42.7 percent compared with the same period last year, according to Tourism Ministry statistics on Monday.

Chinese holidaymakers accounted for 20.4 percent of the foreign tourists visiting Cambodia during the January-July period this year, the statistics said, adding that China topped the chart among the top 10 arrivals to the kingdom, followed by Vietnam and Laos.

The statistics showed that a total of 3.1 million international tourists traveled to Cambodia in the first seven months of this year, up 12.8 percent compared with the same period last year.

Kong Sopheareak, director of the Tourism Ministry's statistics and planning department, said niceties between Cambodia and China, Cambodia's attractive tourism sites and direct flights between the two countries were the major factors attracting more and more Chinese tourists and business people to Cambodia.

"It is expected that Chinese tourists to Cambodia will hit 1 million in 2017," he said.

The Southeast Asian nation is famous for the Angkor world heritage site in northwestern Siem Reap province.

Last year, the country launched a "China Ready" strategy with the aim of attracting 2 million Chinese tourists annually to Cambodia by 2020.

The strategy listed steps to be taken by tourism authorities to facilitate visits by Chinese tourists, such as providing Chinese signage and documents for visa processing, encouraging local use of the Chinese currency and the Chinese language, and ensuring that food and accommodation facilities are suited to Chinese tastes.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting the Cambodian economy. The country received 5 million foreign tourists including 830,000 Chinese in 2016, earning gross revenue of 3.4 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Tourism Ministry.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 21:33:22|Editor: ying

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DAMASCUS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Assistant Foreign Minister Ayman Soussan has said that the independence vote of the Iraqi Kurdistan region is "null and void," local media reported Monday.

Soussan has made the remarks to the online al-Watan daily, during which he dismissed the independence vote in Iraq's Kurdistan region, saying such a move is "the result of the U.S. policies that aim to fragment the region and create conflicts among the components of the society."

"We are with the unity and sovereignty of Iraq and no party can claim the right to fragment this country or that one," he was cited by al-Watan as saying.

The voting in Iraq "harms Iraq and the Kurds as well."

He said the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are capitalizing on the voting in Iraq and the U.S. support to attempt to draw a similar scenario in northern Syria.

"The Kurds are part of the national fabric of the countries where they exist," he said, hoping that the "Kurds would realize this truth and don't accept to be the Trojan horse for others' policies."

The Iraqi Kurds started casting their ballots on Monday in a controversial independence referendum amid heightening tension with Baghdad and international opposition as well.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 22:08:37|Editor: ying

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LUSAKA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior Zambian government official said on Monday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has pledged to help the country train personnel in nuclear science.

Minister of Higher Education Nkandu Luo said the agency was ready to support the Zambian government in human resource and capacity development as the southern African nation prepares to set up its first-ever nuclear center.

The Zambian minister, who has just returned from attending the 61st regular session of the general conference of the IAEA in Vienna, Austria, said the country needed to interact with countries that were already doing well in nuclear science, according to a statement released by her office.

Zambia, she said, was already working with the Russian government which has agreed to train 40 local people in nuclear science.

In June this year, a Russian firm, Rosatom, signed a project development agreement with the Zambian government, paving the way for the establishment of the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology as well as preliminary feasibility studies into the proposed construction of a nuclear power plant.

The establishment of the center was meant to increase research in health and increase knowledge on other sources of energy that include nuclear energy, the minister said.

Zambia already uses nuclear science in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers at its Cancer Disease Hospital.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 22:13:40|Editor: ying

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CAIRO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian army recently killed six militants and arrested 31 others in the country's restive North Sinai, army's spokesman said on Monday.

The militants were killed in military raids between September 16 and September 21, military spokesman Tamer al-Refaay said in a statement.

He added that 65 terror hideouts, 56 motorbikes, three booby-trapped cars and nine bombs have been detected and destroyed.

Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

Terror attacks in Egypt target police and military men in North Sinai but they recently spread nationwide, with most of them claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional Islamic State militant group.

The Egyptian military and police have killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects as part of the country's anti-terror war.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 22:23:42|Editor: yan

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by Ronald Njoroge

NAIROBI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's umbrella body of the banking industry on Monday said that greater convertibility of the Chinese currency, yuan, will boost the East African nation's economic growth.

Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) CEO Habil Olaka told Xinhua in Nairobi that the renminbi has gained importance because of the significance of China in the global trade.

"Kenya's economy is now benefiting as more and more banks are now offering Chinese yuan," Olaka said during a workshop on new International Financial Reporting Standards 9 (IFRS 9) regulations.

Kenyan banks are set to begin implementing the IFRS 9 beginning in January.

Olaka noted that more and more banks are embracing the Chinese yuan as Sino-Kenya trade increases.

"The influence of the Chinese is being felt globally and therefore it would not be prudent to ignore the yuan," Olaka said.

In 2016, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) added the Chinese yuan into its basket of reserve currencies.

"We are encouraging our members to adopt the use of yuan in order to ease trade with our biggest trading partner," Olaka said.

He said at least 10 out of Kenya's 42 banks have the Chinese yuan available over the counter.

According to KBA, banks facilitate trade and have therefore embraced the Chinese currency in order to bring convenience to their customers.

Olaka noted that before the availability of the yuan in Kenya, traders were required to convert the Kenyan shilling to U.S. dollars and then to yuan.

"This increased the cost of trading between Kenya and China and so banks with Chinese yuan counters have helped to promote Sino-Kenya trade," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 22:23:43|Editor: yan

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HONG KONG, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Court of Appeal of Hong Kong High Court handed down a judgment on Monday in which a British lesbian won a landmark appeal against the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government to acquire a spousal visa to Hong Kong.

The woman, known as QT, applied a judicial review last year after the Immigration Department refused to grant her a dependant visa through her same-sex partner who was working in Hong Kong. The High Court later dismissed her application.

QT then appealed to the High Court in June and request the same immigration documents previously only granted to heterosexual couples by the HKSAR government.

The Immigration Department said the refusal was because it did not recognize same-sex marriage. But QT argued that the department's decision had discriminated against her sexual orientation.

According to the law of Hong Kong, same-sex marriage or civil unions are not recognized.

QT moved to Hong Kong in late 2011 with her same-sex partner, known as SS. They are registered as legal civil partnership in the United Kingdom. The Immigration Department granted her a work visa, but she insisted on getting a visa for residence in Hong Kong as a dependant.

In a 68-page judgment reached unanimously, three judges of the Court of Appeal said the Immigration Department had failed to demonstrate the visa scheme had been put in place rationally.

"The director (of Immigration) has therefore failed to justify the indirect discrimination on account of sexual orientation that QT suffers," the judges wrote.

The Immigration Department said in reply to Xinhua on Monday evening that it is carefully reviewing the judgment and will consider further actions by consulting legal advice.

The Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong ruled in 2013 that a trans-sexual woman has the right to marry her boyfriend in her affirmed gender.

However, the Legislative Council of the HKSAR later voted down a bill, which proposes recognition of trans-gender marriage, submitted by the HKSAR government to revise Hong Kong's Marriage Ordinance.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 22:28:47|Editor: ying

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CAIRO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek al-Molla said on Monday that his ministry has signed 83 agreements with international companies to dig for oil and gas since June 2013 revolution, official MENA news agency reported.

His comments came during his meeting with members of the French Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, the French Ambassador Stephane Romatet and representatives of French oil companies.

The number of agreements is a record in the history of Egyptian petroleum industry, al-Molla said.

In June 2013, the Egyptian army ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi from the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, in response to mass protests against his one-year rule.

The minister added that the trust of the French companies in Egypt comes from the sincere desire of the Egyptian government to apply its economic reform program.

The Egyptian minister revealed that a new strategy will be witnessed in 2018 to develop the mineral wealth in Egypt.

Also on Monday, al-Molla met in Cairo with British Ambassador to Egypt John Casson and UK trade envoy Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to discuss available investment opportunities in Egypt.

During the meeting, al-Molla said that the fruitful results achieved by British companies investing in the Petroleum sector in Egypt represent an incentive for bumping more investments in Egypt.

They also reviewed major gas projects carried out in Egypt with the participation of the British companies including the operation of gas fields in northern Alexandria and western the Mediterranean coast.

Once an energy exporter, Egypt has turned into a net importer in recent years, squeezed by declining production and increasing consumption.

However, Egypt is back on track to be an exporter soon after a big number of recent discoveries across the country that attracted several international firms for oil exploration over the past years.
File Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint news conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto (not in the picture) at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Aug. 28, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday expanded a travel ban to include visitors from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in East Asia, Venezuela in Latin America and Chad in central Africa.

Meanwhile, Trump kept the controversial travel ban which was set to expire Sunday on five of six Muslim-majority countries, namely Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, and lifted restrictions on Sudan.

The new travel restrictions are expected to take effect on Oct. 18 and will be indefinite, according to a president's proclamation, in which the White House said has the same force as an executive order.

Such a grace period may prevent mass confusions and chaos across U.S. airports seen in late January, when the initial travel ban took effect immediately upon Trump's announcement.

"The State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement.

Unlike the previous versions of Trump's travel ban, which sparked nationwide protests and lawsuits, the new standards are based on factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with embedded traveller information or share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories, the administration said.

The United States then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

Moreover, as the DPRK and Venezuela included, the new travel restrictions will no longer be seen as a "Muslim ban," analysts said.

However, these limits will have little practical impact on the two countries as few DPRK visitors travel to the United States and the new restrictions on Venezuela apply only to government officials, not to the broader population, according to local experts.

"As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," Trump said in the proclamation.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted on Sunday evening.

Trump said in the proclamation that Iraq also did not meet requirements for identity-management protocols and other risk-mitigating factors, but entry restrictions were not warranted given Iraq's relations with the United States and its efforts to combat terrorists.

The U.S. president issued his first travel ban order one week after taking office on Jan. 20, barring U.S. entry to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen with immediate effect.

Facing nationwide protests and an array of lawsuits, Trump introduced a revised order on March 6, dropping Iraq from the list of targeted countries while excluding existing visa and green card holders from the impact of the suspension.

The revised order was also challenged by several federal judges and set for an argument at the Supreme Court on Oct. 10. It's unclear how the latest restrictions will impact that case.

Days ago, the U.S. president called for a "tougher" travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.

"The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!" Trump tweeted last week.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 22:43:51|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's latest guideline on encouraging entrepreneurial spirit and creating a favorable environment for entrepreneurship is expected to give a boost to the country's innovation-driven development.

The guideline, the first of its kind that focused on entrepreneurial spirit, was released on Monday by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council in a move to spur market vitality.

The government looks to the entrepreneurial spirit, which includes hard work, pursuing excellence, craftsmanship and innovation, serving society, to stimulate mass innovation and create a positive climate for enterprises, said the guideline.

The guideline stressed that the government will protect the legal rights and interests of entrepreneurs, ensure fair competition and strengthen protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) to encourage innovation.

It will also work on rules to protect the IPR of innovative achievements such as new business models and cultural creativity.

A negative list management program will be rolled out nationwide to ensure fair access to industries and businesses that are not off-limits for market entities, according to the guideline.

The guideline stated that the government will fight against monopolies, unfair competition practices and regional protectionism, and remove regulations that undermine fair competition.

"The guideline signals the central government's recognition of entrepreneurs in China, restores confidence of enterprises and gives a long-lasting boost to mass innovation and entrepreneurship," said Lu Guanqiu, founder and chairman of Wanxiang Group.

Haier chairman Zhang Ruimin echoed that, noting that "the guideline provides all-round support for entrepreneurs to focus on quality and sustain innovation-driven development without extra worries."

Over the past five years, China has made big strides encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.

Through a simpler approval process, lower corporate fees and technology-based services, the government is transforming its functions to let the market play a larger role in the economy.

Latest data showed that in the first eight months of this year, 16,000 new companies were registered every day on average, compared with only 6,900 more than three years ago, when business registration reforms were initiated.

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 the period.

"The entrepreneurial spirit is always the driving force to promote China's supply-side structural reform," said renowned Chinese economist Li Yining.

Boosting entrepreneurial spirit is necessary for deepening supply-side structural reform and accelerating the shift from old growth drivers to new ones as well as achieving innovation of science and technology, management and systems, said Li.

Indeed, China is moving toward an economy focused on consumer spending, innovation and services, reducing reliance on investment and exports of low value-added goods, and boosted by strengthened innovation and research.

In the future, China will introduce a number of reform measures to create a better environment for innovation and development, according to a decision at a State Council executive meeting last month.

"We must give full play to the role of innovation in spurring entrepreneurship and employment, and speed up the transformation of innovation into real productivity," said Premier Li Keqiang, who chaired the meeting.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 22:43:52|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Monday said all Chinese should make persistent efforts to realize the country's two centenary goals and fulfill the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when visiting an exhibition here displaying China's outstanding achievements over the past five years.

Other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, including Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli, also visited the exhibition.

The Chinese Dream concept was put forward by Xi five years ago when he attended a 2012 exhibition themed "The Road Toward Renewal," at which he said achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the greatest dream for the nation in modern times.

Commending the "historic progress and changes" that have taken place in China over the past five years, Xi said efforts must be made to inspire public confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Party members and all Chinese should stay motivated, forge ahead and make persistent efforts to realize the country's two centenary goals, fulfill the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, and prepare for the upcoming 19th National Congress of the CPC, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 22:48:53|Editor: Song Lifang

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Zhou Shuchun, editor-in-chief of China Daily, a national English-language newspaper, speaks during a meeting between Chinese and Russian media leaders and government officials in Russia's southern city of Rostov-on-Don, on Sept. 25, 2017. Chinese and Russian media leaders and government officials met in Russia's southern city of Rostov-on-Don on Monday to explore cooperation opportunities in the field of Internet-based media. (Xinhua/Shi Hao)

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Russian media leaders and government officials met in Russia's southern city of Rostov-on-Don on Monday to explore cooperation opportunities in the field of Internet-based media.

Chinese and Russian media outlets face the common tasks of telling their countries' stories to the world audience and getting a bigger say in the international arena through practical cooperation in the Internet era, said Zhou Shuchun, editor-in-chief of China Daily, a national English-language newspaper.

"To that end, we should involve more young people from both countries in cooperative programs and encourage their creativity so that they can pass on China-Russia friendship," Zhou said.

Russian Deputy Minister of Communications and Mass Media Alexei Volin said it is necessary to strengthen cooperation in Internet-based media with a focus on the education of young journalists.

About 150 people from governmental bodies, media outlets and academic institutions attended the meeting.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 22:53:54|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia plans to conduct a study on HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities that have been carried out during the past 15 years.

According to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, the study will be conducted on more than 25,000 adults and children in 395 identified areas across the east African country.

Ebba Abate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute Director-General, told reporters that the assessment, which is the first of its kind to be conducted on HIV/AIDS in the country, envisaged to investigate in detail HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities that have been implemented over the past 15 years.

The assessment mainly aimed to complement the global 90-90-90 HIV treatment goals, which aspires 90 percent of people living with HIV diagnosed, 90 percent of diagnosed people on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 90 percent of people in treatment with fully suppressed viral load by 2020, it was indicated.

According to Abate, the study would help to identify priority areas of intervention for the realization of the global target as it would enable Ethiopia to figure out the status of HIV/AIDS among its citizens.

Ethiopia is among the 15 countries in Africa selected for the study, which will be conducted jointly by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment and Programs at Columbia University (ICAP), it was noted.

The Ethiopian Anti-HIV/AIDS Associations Coalition has recently expressed its concern that HIV/AIDS intervention and response is presently sluggish in Ethiopia. According to Edlam Gebreselassie, coalition board head, over 54 HIV/AIDS associations were closed over the past few years; while some 348 are facing serious challenges.

There are 720,000 people in Ethiopia living with HIV, of whom 420,000 are receiving antiretroviral treatment, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:08:58|Editor: Mengjie

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Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (R) meets with Alexei Miller, CEO of Russian natural gas company Gazprom, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli met with Alexei Miller, CEO of Russian natural gas company Gazprom, on Monday, agreeing to broaden cooperation in the energy sector.

Promoted by leaders of the two countries, Sino-Russian energy cooperation has achieved remarkable results, Zhang said.

The two sides should implement the China-Russia east-route gas pipeline project and strengthen cooperation in upstream oil-gas projects, oil-gas standards as well as gas-fired electricity generation, he said.

He stressed that bilateral energy cooperation must adhere to market rules and the principle of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Miller said that Russia-China gas cooperation has developed in an all-round model and has reached an unprecedented height.

He said Russia is ready to advance the construction of east-route gas pipeline project with China.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:13:59|Editor: yan

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KHARTOUM, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sudan government on Monday welcomed a U.S. decision on crossing Sudan off the list of a U.S. travel ban, said Sudan's Foreign Ministry in a statement Monday.

The ministry further regarded the U.S. decision as "positive and important," which removes ban on Sudanese nationals to enter the United States.

It suggests development in the bilateral relations between Sudan and the United States, it added, saying that the decision was a result of a prolonged, frank dialogue, and also joint efforts from both sides.

The ministry reiterated determination of the Sudanese government to make efforts for the removal of any barriers impeding full normalization of the bilateral relations.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed on Sunday a proclamation expanding the list of countries whose citizens are prohibited from entering the United States, but removed Sudan from the original list which included Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Iran and Libya.

Sudan hopes that the U.S. would decide to permanently lift the sanctions imposed on Sudan in October.

The United States extended a review period of three months in July to decide whether to permanently lift trade sanctions on Sudan, given its human rights records and other issues.

On Jan. 13, former U.S. President Barack Obama issued a decision to cancel two executive orders imposing economic sanctions on Sudan. The executive orders gave 180 days for review before the sanctions are fully lifted to ensure the Sudanese government maintains its efforts on human rights and anti-terrorism.

The decision also allowed for the resumption of all banking transactions and trade exchanges between the two countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:39:08|Editor: yan

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ALGIERS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia on Monday presented the government's plan of action (POA) to the Council of the Nation (Upper House) in a plenary session, official Algeria Press Service news agency reported.

Ouyahia unveiled several measures the government will take after the approval of the plan from parliament.

He pointed out that the country is facing harsh financial situation, such as the declining foreign exchange reserves, increasing unemployment rate and bankruptcies of more companies.

He said the government will announce all privileges granted to investors in the country. The government will support every municipality that needs to build economic zone on its soil.

The government stressed the importance of giving priority to national products in public transactions and encouraging them to fortify the national market.

This plenary session of the council, chaired by President of the Council Abdelkader Bensalah, will be followed by a two-day general debate, during which the prime minister will answer questions from members of the Council of the Nation on Wednesday.

The POA focuses on several fundamental issues, including consolidation of democracy, preservation of social achievements, a diversified economy free from oil dependence, preservation of security, stability and unity of the country and the pursuit of a dynamic diplomacy.

The government's plan, which aims to promote President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's social development program, was passed by a majority of the People's National Assembly (Lower House) last Thursday. 341 members of the parliament supported the plan, 64 voted against and 13 abstained.

The POA will still need approval from the Council of the Nation before going into effect.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:39:08|Editor: yan

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HAVANA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cuba's National Electoral Commission decided on Monday to extend the deadline for nomination of municipal election candidates to Oct. 30 due to Hurricane Irma's devastation.

The commission said the decision was made after the State Council last week postponed by one month the municipal elections that will eventually lead to the election of a successor to President Raul Castro.

The first phase of the general election process, previously scheduled for Oct. 22, will be held on Nov. 26, as a result of the damage caused to this Caribbean nation by Hurricane Irma early this month.

The State Council said it delayed the municipal vote so that Cubans could focus on the recovery from Irma.

The election will choose councils or delegates and is the first in a series of votes for local, provincial and finally, national officials.

Raul Castro, 86, became president in 2008 and is expected to step down in February.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:39:09|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The heavy electoral losses experienced by the German conservative sister parties Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) have caused a public spat over future of the long-standing electoral alliance, observers noted on Monday.

Representatives from both parties expressed a range of differing views on how Germany's conservatives should respond to the surge in voter support recorded by the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Governor of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff (CDU) urged the CDU/CSU to take the fears of Germans caused by the recent migrant wave seriously and advocated for a corresponding lurch to the political right.

Haseloff said national responsibilities such as securing borders had been lifted to a European level without ensuring that Brussels was able to handle the task. As a consequence, Germany would now have to make a greater effort toward ensuring the protection of the European Union's external borders.

Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer (CSU) said his party had suffered from an "open flank" on the political right due to Chancellor Merkel's perceived softness on migration.

Seehofer was supported by CSU Secretary General Andreas Scheuer who called on the CDU sister party to hold a "debate on future orientation" over the conservative profile of both parties in order to win back AfD supporters.

In contrast, such arguments were rejected by governor of Schleswig-Holstein Daniel Guenther (CDU), as well as CDU vice-president Julia Kloeckner. While both politicians also urged the CDU/CSU to make a more persuasive political offer to former voters, they voiced their opposition to adopting more right-wing positions towards this end.

Guenther noted that the regional CDU branches which had clearly-supported Angela Merkel's (CDU) more moderate stance on migration lost fewer votes than the CSU which has clashed with the chancellor for months over its perceived need for fixed limit on the number of asylum seekers admitted to Germany each year.

Guenther's concerns were echoed by Kloeckner, who said she was "sure that we do not need a lurch to the right."

The CDU/CSU achieved a combined 33 percent of the vote in Sunday's federal elections, down from 41.5 percent in 2013. The committees of both parties are holding consultations over their next steps in their respective party headquarters in Berlin and Munich on Monday.

Seeing as the SPD has announced its intention to enter the opposition rather than forming another coalition government, the only seemingly-realistic remaining option for Merkel to form a new government is a so-called "Jamaica" coalition (named after the parties' official colors) between the CDU/CSU, Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Greens (Gruene).

Governor Guenther, who already leads a regional government composed of the same actors in Schleswig-Holstein, expressed confidence that such an arrangement could benefit all parties involved.

While sparring over what future pitch to make to voters, neither CDU nor CSU politicians wanted to engage in a leadership debate. Even Haseloff, who openly attacked the incumbent Chancellor during the refugee crisis, said that the CDU/CSU "owed to Angela Merkel" that it was currently was arguing over what kind of government policies to embrace.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:39:10|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia has granted amnesty for thousands of prisoners on the occasion of the Ethiopian New Year.

On Monday, Ethiopia's largest Oromia regional state granted amnesty for 6,655 prisoners who have demonstrated good manners whilst in detention.

Other Ethiopian regional states had pardoned a large number of prisoners earlier this month in connection with the recently celebrated Ethiopian New Year, which started on September 11.

Ethiopia's Southern SNNP region pardoned over 3,000 prisoners, while the second largest northwestern Amhara region granted amnesty for over 1,980 prisoners ahead of the New Year earlier this month. Tigray region was also the third state that granted some 957 prisoners earlier this month.

Administrators of the three regional states have urged the pardoned individuals to embrace peaceful and productive livelihood while rejoining the community in the just started Ethiopian New Year.

Ethiopia has a unique calendar deriving from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church traditions whereby the country counts its annual year seven to eight years, based on leap year, behind the internationally acclaimed Gregorian calendar. Accordingly, the Ethiopian New Year that falls on September 11, 2017 will be 2010.

The amnesty was granted as part of the east African country's 10-day nationwide New Year celebrations, which started from September 1, 2017, to usher in the Ethiopian New Year.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:44:11|Editor: yan

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COLOMBO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Guangxi Cultural Week, organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Colombo along with the Chinese Embassy, got off to a colourful start here on Monday with traditional Chinese dances, concerts and acrobatics.

The events on the week-long agenda will depict China's cultural and ethnic diversity, especially from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Speaking at the launch of the cultural week, Sri Lankan Minister of Culture S.B. Navinna said that ties between Sri Lanka and China date back to ancient times and have since been beneficial to both nations.

He thanked China for its strong and continuous support and appreciated its efforts to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang said at the event that Guangxi was chosen this year because of its rich cultural diversity.

He highlighted the strong cultural ties between China and Sri Lanka, adding that he was keen to further strengthen these ties.

Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Colombo Yue Liwen said that a plan has been made to introduce to Sri Lanka one Chinese province or region each year to give the people of the island an idea of the diverse culture in China.

The dance troupe, musicians and artistes who have arrived from China to take part in the cultural week will also perform in Malabe on the outskirts of the capital and Anuradhapura, the capital city of Sri Lanka's North Central Province.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:44:12|Editor: yan

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NAIROBI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's wildlife agency said Monday rescuers had launched search for the body of Chinese tourist who died while descending from Mountain Kenya's Batian point, the highest peak, on Sunday.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Corporate Communications Officer Ngugi Gecaga said the searchers had not made much progress due to the nature of the terrain and prevailing weather condition.

"The search team consisting of technical climbers is already at the scene but no progress has been made due to the prevailing weather conditions," Gecaga told Xinhua.

Paul Gathitu, KWS spokesman, clarified that the man was a 33-year-old Chinese citizen born in Shanghai. He died while descending Mt. Kenya's Batian Summit, which is 5,199 meters above sea level. His climbing partner was a Kenyan technical climbing guide.

Gathitu said the duo had already reached the summit, and was in the process of descending when the accident happened at around 3 p.m. on Sunday near a short climb from Batian.

The tourist slipped and fell 60 meters down a cliff. His guide then descended to the accident scene and discovered that he was dead. The guide secured the body and commenced a self-rescue, whereupon he managed to clamber down to safety, arriving at Shipton Camp at 10 p.m., according to Gathitu.

Gecaga had earlier said it would take about three days to retrieve the body due to the terrain and adverse weather conditions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:54:15|Editor: yan

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MOSCOW, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry Monday denied a media report that Russian warplanes had struck U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led militia in the vicinity of a gas field in Syria.

"In the course of the operation of Syrian troops that aimed to destroy the last IS stronghold in Deir al-Zour, Russian Air Force planes carried out precision air strikes against terrorist facilities after receiving intelligence confirmed via several channels," spokesman Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

He said the strikes were carried out against identified Islamic State (IS) firing points and the terrorist reinforcements advancing from the rear areas.

Earlier on Monday, Reuters reported that Russian warplanes had struck the positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir al-Zour province bordering Iraq in eastern Syria, near a natural gas field they had seized from IS recently.

The agency quoted the SDF as saying that the attack killed one of its fighters and injured two others.

But according to Konashenkov, Russian drones and other reconnaissance means operating round the clock in the Deir al-Zour area did not register any clashes with SDF militants, traces of explosions or bomb hits.

The Russian Defense Ministry has published "absolutely objective and specific evidence", including images from the aerial photographic survey, which directly proved the deployment and free movement of SDF militants and U.S. Special Forces in the referred-to areas, he added.

Last week, Washington accused Moscow of bombing SDF positions on the eastern side of the Euphrates River.

Moscow denied this and said Syrian troops and Russian forces came under fire from SDF positions, warning the U.S that it would retaliate if the shelling was repeated.

Russia and the U.S.-led coalition are backing separate offensives against IS with both advancing in oil-rich Deir al-Zour.

According to Reuters, Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, has denied that Washington was racing with Moscow over Deir al-Zour. Contacts were increasing to avoid confrontation, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-25 23:54:16|Editor: yan

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by David Musyoka

NAIROBI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) said on Monday it will announce a new date for the signing of a deal with the government of Kenya on setting its regional headquarters in Nairobi, one of Africa's fastest growing financial hubs.

In a response, the bank's President Benedict Okey Oramah said through the bank's communications department that the agreement with Kenya was not signed earlier this year as expected but a formal announcement would be made soon.

"The agreement (with Kenya) was not signed by the expected time frame. The Bank will make a decision on how to proceed," noted a response from the bank's Head of Communications Obi Emekekwue.

An investor briefing by Kenya's investment company Cytonn Investments noted that the signing of this deal will see Kenya further establish itself as the regional headquarters hub, thus boosting foreign investor confidence and spurring economic growth.

"The bank's location in Nairobi will create more job opportunities for the youth and generate business opportunities for entrepreneurs to venture into. Afreximbank has already become a significant player in Kenya's economy, having financed deals close to 300 million U.S. dollars," noted the brief.

Afreximbank is an initiative started by African governments, African private and institutional investors as well as non-African financial institutions and private investors for the purpose of financing, promoting and expanding intra-African and extra-African trade.

Kenya is growing its status as a financial hub for Africa, with Nairobi hosting African offices of major global financial companies.

Nairobi's Upper Hill estate is also being upgraded to host the financial district with major local and international companies already having offices in the area.

In July, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed a law, Nairobi International Financial Centre Act, set to cement efforts to make Nairobi a global financial hub.

The Act also establishes the Nairobi Financial Centre Authority (NFCA), which will license firms that will operate within the center and also formulate the legal and regulatory structures to support the centre.

The authority is expected to review and recommend in collaboration with the relevant regulatory authorities, developments to the legal and regulatory framework in order to develop Kenya as an international competitive financial center.

In 2014, the government of Qatar agreed to help Kenya set up an international financial center and the two countries have since been collaborating on the same.

Some of the pending issues to be agreed on between the Afreximbank and Kenyan officials include whether to grant diplomatic immunity for its top executives and whether to exempt the bank's employees from paying local taxes.

The bank's other regional headquarters are in Abuja (Nigeria), Harare (Zimbabwe), Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), Tunis (Tunisia) and Egypt (Cairo).

Earlier this month, Afreximbank announced in Nairobi that it will for the first time open up to retail investors as it hunts for 300 million dollars equity to shore its capacity to lend for light industry manufacturing.

The idea is to shore up the bank's capital to meet what the officials said is increasing demand for financing from the private sector and its own goal of shifting Africa from dependence on commodities.

The bank projects that light manufacturing will also help to increase intra-Africa trade as countries will import less what is made locally.
File photo shows children play beside the Ethiopian national flag in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Wu Xia)

ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia has granted amnesty for thousands of prisoners on the occasion of the Ethiopian New Year.

On Monday, Ethiopia's largest Oromia regional state granted amnesty for 6,655 prisoners who have demonstrated good manners whilst in detention.

Other Ethiopian regional states had pardoned a large number of prisoners earlier this month in connection with the recently celebrated Ethiopian New Year, which started on September 11.

Ethiopia's Southern SNNP region pardoned over 3,000 prisoners, while the second largest northwestern Amhara region granted amnesty for over 1,980 prisoners ahead of the New Year earlier this month. Tigray region was also the third state that granted some 957 prisoners earlier this month.

Administrators of the three regional states have urged the pardoned individuals to embrace peaceful and productive livelihood while rejoining the community in the just started Ethiopian New Year.

Ethiopia has a unique calendar deriving from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church traditions whereby the country counts its annual year seven to eight years, based on leap year, behind the internationally acclaimed Gregorian calendar. Accordingly, the Ethiopian New Year that falls on September 11, 2017 will be 2010.

The amnesty was granted as part of the east African country's 10-day nationwide New Year celebrations, which started from September 1, 2017, to usher in the Ethiopian New Year.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 00:39:30|Editor: yan

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by Maria Vasileiou

THE HAGUE, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Weakened mainly because of a far-right surge in Sunday's German election, Angela Merkel will face serious challenges in promoting deeper European integration with French President Emmanuel Macron, experts say.

"Merkel has secured a fourth term as chancellor, but emerged weakened, facing difficult coalition talks and reduced chances to proceed with a compromising attitude towards Macron's demands for a more integrated Europe," said Adriaan Schout, coordinator of European Union (EU) affairs at Clingendael, the Hague-based institute for international relations.

"Germany's liberals, who are most likely to become coalition partners, have a critical attitude towards a more integrated European Union, making it difficult for Merkel to support such plans," Schout noted.

In Sunday's election, Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party along with its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) recorded its worst election result since after the Second World War, winning only 239 seats (33 percent) in the 598-seat Bundestag, down from 311 seats, according to preliminary results.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by former European Parliament president Martin Schulz, came second, gaining around 21 percent of the vote. But following the result, Schulz pledged to abandon the so-called "grand coalition" with the conservatives, which has governed Germany over eight of the past 12 years.

The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) came third, gaining about 13 percent of the vote, above what pre-election polls had predicted. It is the first time after World War II that a far-right party has entered the German parliament.

The result points to the direction of more internal tensions and more polarization within Germany, making it more difficult for Merkel to mesh with Macron's demands for reforms to deepen the EU and the eurozone, explained Schout.

"The result of the German vote reduces the chances of major reforms as French President Macron has pledged," said Zsolt Darvas, senior fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.

The French president, who has pledged to bring about a "radical reform" of Europe, is expected to fully develop his ideas in a speech at Sorbonne University in Paris on Tuesday. He has made calls for a eurozone budget that would finance investments and stabilize the European economy during crises, as well as a eurozone finance minister and parliament.

"Emmanuel Macron has a long list of reform ideas, but I'm afraid little progress will be made," said Darvas. "The idea of a permanent Eurogroup president might be enhanced, but the position will not have the scope the French president has pledged."

As far as the prospect of a eurozone budget, Darvas called it a "no-go idea."

"Even before the elections, Merkel was sceptical about the idea of a common budget, referring only to the possibility of a small budget," he said.

"Scepticism runs high, not only among the liberals, but also among members of her own party, making it almost impossible for Merkel to proceed with such an idea," he explained. FDP leader Christian Lindner has ruled out setting up a common eurozone budget calling it "a red line for us."

If the FDP becomes a coalition partner, it will be difficult for Merkel to realize such a move, said Darvas.

Immigration could be another issue that would cause Merkel difficulty. The FDP is following a harder line on asylum policy as do members of the conservative party, while Merkel and the Greens are opposed.

"The AfD's strong performance in combination with the Liberals and the weakening of the two middle parties lead to more fragmentation and a more difficult decision-making process," said Schout. But according to the Dutch EU affairs expert, "it will not make much of a difference regarding 'migration' as Merkel had already sharpened migration policies."

For other EU member states like the Netherlands, who view with caution the revival of the Franco-German axis and the prospect of further deepening the 27-member bloc post Brexit, "it would be easier now to rely on Germany," noted Schout.

"In the wake of the elections, Germany's political scene resembles more of the Dutch political climate and interests, where fragmentation, liberals and a strong far-right party have already been part of the political landscape for a long time," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 00:59:35|Editor: yan

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MADRID, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Said Ben Jazza, a 24-year-old Moroccan man arrested in Vinaroz, eastern Spain on Sept. 22 on suspicion of aiding the Aug. 17 attacks which claimed 16 lives in Barcelona and nearby Cambrils, has been sent to prison by the judge investigating the case.

Judge Fernando Andreu has charged Ben Jazza with collaborating with a terrorist organization, which carries a possible prison sentence of between five and 10 years.

The judge explained that Ben Jazza had a relationship with "at least" two of the members of the cell behind the attacks: Younes Abouyaaqoub who carried out the van attack on La Rambla in Barcelona which claimed 15 lives, and Mohamed Hichamy who was shot by police in Cambrils in the early hours of Aug. 18.

In his report, Judge Andreu concluded that on July 12, Hichamy and Abouyaaqoub used Ben Jazza's documents to purchase 100 liters of hydrogen peroxide, an essential substance needed to make the explosive TATP used in attacks in Europe.

They also used his car to transport the purchase to the safe house they had in the town of Alcaner, south of Barcelona, 10 km from where Ben Jazza was arrested.

Hichamy and Youssef Aalla, who was killed when the explosives they were preparing in Alcaner exploded, also used Ben Jazza's documents for a further purchase of 240 liters of hydrogen peroxide on July 27.

Judge Andreu also said there was evidence of Ben Jazza's presence in Alcanar on April 23, and also on Aug. 1 and 13, "the last two being dates in which the manufacture of the explosive material had been practically concluded."

"Together with the analysis of telephone activity and his positioning on the dates of the biggest importance to the investigation, we determine that he could have collaborated with members of the cell, helping in logistic tasks necessary for the cell to achieve its objectives," the judge said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 00:59:36|Editor: yan

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by Justice Lee Adoboe

ACCRA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Officials attending the Ninth West and Central African (WaCA) Mining Summit and Expo here maintained on Monday that the region of West and Central Africa possessed some of the world's largest untapped mineral resources.

Opening the summit, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi noted that this is one of the reasons the region had become the hub of mining investments and activities on the African continent.

"The region provides massive opportunities in terms of accessibility and availability of mineral resources on the African continent. The mineral producing countries in this region contain some of the world's largest untapped high-grade mineral deposits," she insisted, explaining that this is the reason behind the "phenomenon rush of mining interests in the region."

The deputy minister therefore called for brainstorming to identify how African mineral producing countries could leverage their mineral resources for optimal socio-economic growth and development of the African continent.

According to Oteng-Gyasi, Ghana was taking steps to optimize opportunities in the mining sector through the provision of long-term inexpensive power supply; reducing Value Added Tax (VAT) on exploration activities; Development of railway infrastructure to help transportation of bauxite and manganese to ports as well as encouraging the development of shared infrastructure to integrate mining with community development.

In addition, she said the government was promoting value-addition through the processing of minerals; and the enactment of consolidated Mineral Revenue Management Law, similar to the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) to guide the use of mineral revenue in strategic sectors of the economy.

The two-day summit and expo organized by Magenta Global, a mining industry match-maker has participants and exhibitors from Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Senegal among other African countries and others from Europe and the Americas.

As the mining industry seems to be emerging from its most turbulent periods in recent history, Maggie Tan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Magenta Global pte, noted that the West and Central African region is back in the spotlight.

"It is one of the world's fastest growing regions for gold and mineral production. There are extensive opportunities for growth given the region's massive geological base," she observed.

The WaCA mining summit and exhibition is designed as an important productive networking platform for the global mining operators, exploration companies and service providers to get first-hand understanding of the mining potentials and challenges in the region.

"To ensure the economy (of Ghana) does not suffer undue setbacks as a result of weak gold prices as we are currently experiencing government's policy is to diversify its minerals production base," Addae Antwi-Boasiako, CEO of the country's Minerals Commission, announced in his remarks.

One of the ways this is being done was the development of a strategic Anchor industry with a robust integrated bauxite and aluminum industry, iron and steel industry and renewable solar salt production architecture, according to the CEO.

The mining sector accounted for 14.4 percent of total government of Ghana revenue and 34 percent of total merchandise export in 2016, with 3.6 million ounces of gold production valued at 3.3 billion U.S. Dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 01:04:39|Editor: yan

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by Alex Osei-Boateng

ACCRA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) on Monday said the boundary dispute between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire serves as a wake-up call for African countries to properly define, document and sign boundary agreements, most of which were inherited from the colonial era, to prevent future disputes.

In a release issued by its Executive Director Benjamin Boakye, the Accra-based energy policy think tank said the clarity on boundary delimitation provides certainty and could improve investment attraction.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) last Saturday rejected Cote d'Ivoire's claims that Ghana had infringed its sovereign boundary in oil exploration within a disputed zone.

The Hamburg-based tribunal prescribed new coordinates for the demarcation of the maritime boundary between the two West African countries.

According to ACEP, given the discoveries that have been made on both sides of the border, there is the possibility of future discoveries that could straddle both countries which may require joint field development and operation.

"The joint agreement by both parties to be bound by the decision of the ITLOS, which is highly commendable, is a step in the right direction towards peaceful co-existence between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire which is necessary for possible future partnerships in the upstream oil and gas sector," read the release.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian government has been urged to ensure the delimitation of the country's border boundary with neighboring Togo to avert future dispute.

Former Attorney General Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, who was part of the Ghanaian team that chalked the historic feat in Germany last Saturday, said a definite resolution of the Togo-border boundary will save Ghana the experience it went through with the four-year-old maritime dispute with Cote d'Ivoire.

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) also called on the government to take proactive steps to safeguard Ghana's maritime boundary with Togo to forestall any boundary dispute between the two countries in the future.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 01:09:41|Editor: yan

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 33rd Annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC 2017), a leading oil and gas conference in the pan-Asian region, opened here on Monday.

With a theme of "where global markets meet," the three-day event is organized by the S&P Global Platts and jointly supported by International Enterprise Singapore and China Petroleum Procurement Federation of Independent Refineries.

The organizer says the APPEC 2017 will attract some 400 delegates from about 50 countries around the world this year, who will discuss the global oil industry's most critical issues, such as the industry's supply, demand and trading outlook.

Mohammed Barkindo, secretary general of OPEC, made an address through a video played at the APPEC 2017 pre-conference.

He said that OPEC welcomes more opportunities to engage with buyers from the Asia-Pacific region.

According to the secretary general, crude oil exports from the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific region will increase between 2016 and 2040 from 14.5 million barrels a day to 22 million barrels a day.

"For the foreseeable future, we can count on the Asia-Pacific region to be the primary outlet for OPEC and Middle Eastern export barrels," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 01:39:52|Editor: Mengjie

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A Chinese naval officer shakes hands with people at the welcoming ceremony at Muara port, Brunei, on Sept. 25, 2017. The Chinese naval fleet arrived at the Muara port of Brunei on Monday for a three-day friendly visit to the country, conveying a message of friendship and cooperation. (Xinhua/Jeffrey Wong)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval fleet arrived at the Muara port of Brunei on Monday for a three-day friendly visit to the country, conveying a message of friendship and cooperation.

The Chinese naval fleet docked at Brunei's largest port, receiving a warm welcome by the Bruneian navy, government officials and Chinese Embassy officials, as well as Chinese living in the sultanate.

Speaking upon the fleet's arrival, Shen Hao, commander of the Chinese naval fleet, said at the welcoming ceremony that the friendly exchanges between the two countries date back to more than 1,500 years ago, and the traditional friendship between the two peoples has been continuing to grow.

"Through our fleet's visit to Brunei, we hope that both sides could continue to work hand in hand, heart to heart, to further promote bilateral relations between China and Brunei," he said.

During its stay here, the Chinese navy will hold several joint activities with the Bruneian navy, including mutual visits, exchanges and sport matches.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 01:49:57|Editor: yan

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RIGA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- An overhaul of the Latvian health system began on Monday as ministers endorsed draft legislation that will regulate the health sector's financing, local media informed.

The healthcare financing bill, which will be put before the parliament this week, is expected to take effect as of next year.

Latvia's health reform provides for dividing all patients into two groups -- those entitled to public health insurance and consequently the full range of government-funded healthcare services, and those without such health insurance and only entitled to the minimum amount of medical assistance.

"We divide the healthcare basket into two parts -- the so-called minimum basked and the so-called full basket. The full basket will be available to those people that make social security contributions and those insured by the government: children, pensioners and others mentioned in the bill," said Health Ministry official Daina Murmane-Umbrasko.

Those working-age Latvians that do not make social security contributions will only be entitled to the minimum healthcare basket, but they will be able to join the system -- and receive the full basket of healthcare services -- by making an annual payment, the Health Ministry official explained.

In 2018, the annual payment for joining the government-paid healthcare system has been set at 1 percent of the minimum monthly wage, but it will be raised to 5 percent of the minimum wage in following years.

Representatives of the Latvian Finance Ministry said that a number of issues related to the planned health reformed still remained unresolved. The new bill, for instance, only covers matters concerned with the financing of healthcare, but provides little clarity on how the new health insurance system will work.

"It would make sense to have one law, covering financing, services and insurance," said Latvian Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola.

Under the agreement reached by the ministers on Monday, the Health Ministry has to draw up a bill on mandatory public health insurance by the end of 2018, which means that its adoption might be left to Latvia's next government and parliament.
Syrian pro-government forces gather on a road in Bir Qabaqib, more than 40 kilometres west of Deir Ezzor, after taking control of the area on their way to Kobajjep in the ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on September 4, 2017. (AFP PHOTO)

MOSCOW, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry Monday denied a media report that Russian warplanes had struck U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led militia in the vicinity of a gas field in Syria.

"In the course of the operation of Syrian troops that aimed to destroy the last IS stronghold in Deir al-Zour, Russian Air Force planes carried out precision air strikes against terrorist facilities after receiving intelligence confirmed via several channels," spokesman Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

He said the strikes were carried out against identified Islamic State (IS) firing points and the terrorist reinforcements advancing from the rear areas.

Earlier on Monday, Reuters reported that Russian warplanes had struck the positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir al-Zour province bordering Iraq in eastern Syria, near a natural gas field they had seized from IS recently.

The agency quoted the SDF as saying that the attack killed one of its fighters and injured two others.

But according to Konashenkov, Russian drones and other reconnaissance means operating round the clock in the Deir al-Zour area did not register any clashes with SDF militants, traces of explosions or bomb hits.

The Russian Defense Ministry has published "absolutely objective and specific evidence", including images from the aerial photographic survey, which directly proved the deployment and free movement of SDF militants and U.S. Special Forces in the referred-to areas, he added.

Last week, Washington accused Moscow of bombing SDF positions on the eastern side of the Euphrates River.

Moscow denied this and said Syrian troops and Russian forces came under fire from SDF positions, warning the U.S that it would retaliate if the shelling was repeated.

Russia and the U.S.-led coalition are backing separate offensives against IS with both advancing in oil-rich Deir al-Zour.

According to Reuters, Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, has denied that Washington was racing with Moscow over Deir al-Zour. Contacts were increasing to avoid confrontation, he said.
China Daily's editor-in-chief Zhou Shuchun speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2017 China-Russia annual conference on e-media cooperation, on September 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Shi Hao)

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Russian media leaders and government officials met in Russia's southern city of Rostov-on-Don on Monday to explore cooperation opportunities in the field of Internet-based media.

Chinese and Russian media outlets face the common tasks of telling their countries' stories to the world audience and getting a bigger say in the international arena through practical cooperation in the Internet era, said Zhou Shuchun, editor-in-chief of China Daily, a national English-language newspaper.

"To that end, we should involve more young people from both countries in cooperative programs and encourage their creativity so that they can pass on China-Russia friendship," Zhou said.

Russian Deputy Minister of Communications and Mass Media Alexei Volin said it is necessary to strengthen cooperation in Internet-based media with a focus on the education of young journalists.

About 150 people from governmental bodies, media outlets and academic institutions attended the meeting.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 02:30:08|Editor: ZD

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A Kurdish man casts his vote at a polling station during the referendum vote in Erbil, Iraq, on Sept. 25, 2017. The Iraqi Kurds on Monday cast their votes in a referendum that will determine the independence of the Kurdish region and the disputed areas that are currently under de facto Kurdish control. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

ERBIL, Iraq, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Kurds on Monday ended their vote in a referendum that will determine the independence of the Kurdish region and the disputed areas amid threats and rejection from Baghdad and neighboring countries.

About 5.2 million eligible voters were entitled to cast ballots in 12,000 polling boxes in 2,000 polling centers, which was kicked off at 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and was supposed to close at 6 p.m. (1500 GMT), but extended another hour to allow people queuing outside the polling centers to vote.

Queues were formed since early morning at many polling stations, and the regional President Masoud Barzani was one of the first to vote. The voters were asked to answer one question in the referendum; either "Yes" to independent Kurdish state or "No" to remain as autonomous region part of the Iraqi state.

According to the regional electoral committee, the results of the referendum will be announced within two or three days.

The voting was held under security threats and tensions in the disputed areas, particularly in Kirkuk, where the provincial government announced overnight curfew in the ethnically-mixed city of Kirkuk.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Kirkuk governor Najm al-Din Kareem called on the residents of Kirkuk to return to their homes after voting and avoid celebrations in the city.

"Those who have not voted in the referendum are not our enemy and we will not oppose them. People are free how they will vote in the referendum," the governor added.

The referendum was held despite intense international pressure on Barzani to halt the voting, amid fears that it would spark new conflicts with Baghdad and with neighboring Iran and Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Ankara would close its border with the Kurdish region in northern Iraq because of the independence referendum and threatened the Iraqi Kurds with blocking their key oil exports.

Iran reiterated its opposition to the Kurdish referendum in Iraq, underlining the need for maintaining Iraq's sovereignty at a time that Baghdad is making great successes in its fight against IS terrorist group.

Earlier in the day, the Iraqi parliament issued a package measures against the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan over its controversial referendum on independence.

The parliament demanded Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who is the Commander-in-Chief of Iraqi forces, to redeploy the Iraqi security forces in the disputed areas outside the Kurdish region.

The parliament demanded the federal government to regain control of oil fields in the disputed areas to be under the control of the federal Oil Ministry.

Among other measures, the parliament also voted on blocking all the border crossing points in all directions, including between the region and the rest of Iraq, the channel said without giving further details about how to block the crossing points with Iran and Turkey.

The Iraqi government has repeatedly rejected the referendum and its results, describing it as "unconstitutional."

"Taking a decision unilaterally that would affect Iraq's unity and making separation from one side is contrary to the law and unconstitutional and we will not deal with it or with its results," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a statement.

On June 7, the Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani announced his intention to hold a referendum on the independence of the Kurdish region from Iraq on Sept. 25.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed by many countries because they said it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and it could undermine fight against Islamic State militants.

In addition, neighboring countries such as Turkey, Iran and Syria see that such a step would threaten their territorial integrity, as larger populations of Kurds live in those countries.
President of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak (C) 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. 25 (Xinhua) -- The VIP session of this year's United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) concluded here on Monday, after all 196 representatives spoke at the marble podium in the past week.

Miroslav Lajcak, president of the General Assembly, declared the conclusion of the General Debate of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, calling for efforts to putting people first.

In his closing remarks, Lajcak said the priorities of the 72nd session would be conflict prevention, human rights, and sustainable development and climate change.

All 196 representatives -- from 193 UN member states plus representatives of Palestine, the Holy See and the European Union -- have spoken at the General Debate, the first time in 11 years, said Lajcak.

During this year's general debate, 421 meetings were held plus 356 side events and 1,528 bilateral meetings, said Brenden Varma, spokesman for Lajack.
File Photo: Photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Dec. 2, 2016 shows top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (unseen) guiding an intensive artillery drill on Dec. 1, 2016. (Xinhua/KCNA)

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has "declared a war" on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the country's top diplomat said here on Monday.

"Last weekend, Trump claimed that our leadership wouldn't be around much longer. He declared a war on our country," Ri Yong-ho, the DPRK foreign minister, told reporters.

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to take countermeasures, including the right to shoot down U.S. strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country," Ri said.

On Saturday, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers and F-15C Eagle fighter escorts flew in international airspace over waters east of the DPRK, the Pentagon said.

"This is the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) any U.S. fighter or bomber aircraft have flown" off the DPRK's coast in the 21st century, said the Pentagon, adding that the move underscored "the seriousness with which we take DPRK's reckless behavior."

U.S. President Donald Trump also talked tough on the DPRK. In his first speech at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 19, Trump threatened 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 also signed a new order to ramp up sanctions on the DPRK on Sept. 21.

In response, DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un vowed to retaliate, saying Trump "will face results beyond his expectation."

"I am now thinking hard about what response he could have expected when he allowed such eccentric words to trip off his tongue," Kim was quoted by the official Korean Central News Agency as saying in a statement released on Friday.

Kim also accused Trump of uttering "unprecedented rude nonsense that one has never heard from any of his predecessors," saying the threat to "totally destroy" a sovereign state has gone beyond the limit.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 05:00:56|Editor: Song Lifang

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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni addresses a ceremony held by the Chinese Embassy to mark the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Kampala Sept. 25, 2017. Yoweri Museveni said on Monday the China-Africa ties are set to grow deeper, noting that their cooperation dated back to the colonial era when many African countries were fighting for independence. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)

KAMPALA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese community in Uganda on Monday celebrated the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who attended the ceremony held here hailed the China-Uganda ties, noting that many of the country's infrastructure projects have been constructed with funding from China.

He applauded China's noninterference policy in domestic matters of sovereign countries.

"Chinese don't come here to tell us what to do. They come, you give your opinion and they give theirs. They will always take yours because they know it is your country," he said.

Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, hailed Uganda for its support to China on international issues.

"China deeply appreciates the firm support of Uganda on the issue of South China Sea, Tibet and Taiwan. At present, with the joint efforts of President Xi Jinping and President Museveni, our bilateral relationship has entered the best period in history," Zheng said.

The ceremony that was also among others attended by foreign envoys had performances which included singing, dancing and martial arts by Chinese and Ugandans.

China was one of the first countries in the world to recognize Uganda's independence from British rule in 1962.

China is now the largest source of foreign investment to Uganda and the total Chinese investment exceeded 4.25 billion U.S. dollars by end of 2016, according to Chinese embassy figures.

Among the key investments are in infrastructure and mining sector. China is funding the construction of the 1.68 billion dollar Karuma Hydropower Plant, the 568 million dollar Isimba Hydropower Plant, and the 470 million dollar Entebbe-Kampala Expressway, among others.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation has invested about 2 billion dollars in developing Uganda's oil fields.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 05:36:12|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday stressed their support for the Iraqi government and the territorial integrity of Iraq, official IRNA news agency reported.

The announcement was made following a telephone conversation between Rouhani and Putin on Monday.

Territorial integrity of the countries and irreversibility of their borders in the region is of high importance for Iran, Rouhani said with reference to the Iraqi Kurdistan's Monday independence referendum.

Rouhani urged the coordination and cooperation of regional states to this end.

For his part, Putin said that "The Russian government supports the Baghdad central government and Iraq's territorial integrity."

The Iraqi Kurds on Monday ended their vote in a referendum that will determine the independence of the Kurdish region and the disputed areas amid threats and rejection from Baghdad and neighboring countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 05:51:16|Editor: yan

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HELSINKI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The German election results have justified the view held by many researchers last spring that the setback of populist parties in the Dutch and French elections were only a temporary halt.

Juha Jokela, the Program Director of the Finnish Institute for International Affairs, said on Monday that many researchers cautioned against the "sighs of relief" heard in Europe last spring.

Jokela told national broadcaster Yle that the underlying reasons for populism still exist in Europe. They are dissatisfaction with the agenda of traditional major parties and the the outreach of those parties towards the people.

On the Finnish political scene, only the remaining Finns Party openly sympathizes with the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Finns Party chairman Jussi Halla-aho said on Monday the current Finns Party and the current AfD are close to each other on many issues.

Finnish conservative party leader Petter Orpo said dissatisfaction has created new political forces. Orpo said on Monday the situation needs extremely serious attention.

The German situation after the election success of the AfD is being watched in Finland and the rest of the Nordic area.

There has been no uniform Nordic way of confronting modern populism. In Sweden, an attempt continues to exclude the populist from the government level, while in Finland and Norway they have reached government, but with divergent results.

In Finland, the populist Finns Party grew so large in opposition with the 2011 and 2015 election victories, that they were included in the coalition in May 2015. Following many compromises in the coalition, the backing of the Finns Party collapsed and this summer the party broke up and a secessionist group remained in the government.

The "Blue Future" that continues in the government talks about immigration in a much more subdued way than the remaining Finns Party.

In Sweden, the rest of the political scene has tried to isolate the Swedish Democrats as they consider the party's historic ties with right wing extremism problematic. But in a recent poll in Sweden, the populists already reached the position of the country's second largest party. The party has tried to sound more moderate and would like to start cooperating with the mainstream conservatives in Sweden.

In Norway, the right wing populist Progressive Party was in the government, but averted a major loss of popularity. In the recent election its support declined only one percentage point.

Minttu Mikkonen, an international affairs writer for Yle, said that there is no generally applicable solution. She said on Monday that the early reactions of the rest of the German political scene towards the AfD indicate Germany would be opting the Swedish approach of isolation.

In the German election on Sunday, the far-right party AfD unexpectedly made a historical breakthrough with 13.5 percent of votes, and became the third strongest party in the Bundestag (German parliament).
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 05:51:17|Editor: yan

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CARACAS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's government on Monday criticized a White House decision to impose a travel ban against Venezuelans, and called for a dialogue to overcome their ideological differences.

"Venezuela categorically rejects the irrational decision by the United States government to once again categorize the Venezuelan people as a threat to national security ... under the false pretense that they pose a terrorist threat," the government said in a statement.

On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump extended a travel ban against five mostly Muslim countries (Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia) to include citizens from Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Chad and Venezuela.

A statement issued by the White House said Trump was keeping his campaign promise to strengthen security standards for travel to the United States by imposing "certain travel limitations and restrictions" on nationals from those countries.

Also on Monday, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza said his country was willing to dialogue with the U.S., but received only "attacks."

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Arreaza said Venezuelan "President Nicolas Maduro is always open to dialogue with Trump or any other leader, always within a framework of mutual respect."

"However, we are seeing one attack after another," he added.

"Governments like that of the United States are on the wrong side ... when they fail to respect the most basic founding principle of the (United Nations) organization," said Arreaza.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 05:56:18|Editor: ZD

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White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S. September 25, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United States has not declared war on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( DPRK ), the White House said on Monday, in response to remarks of the DPRK's top diplomat.

"Last weekend, Trump claimed that our leadership wouldn't be around much longer. He declared a war on our country," Ri Yong-ho, the DPRK foreign minister, told reporters earlier in New York.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country," Ri said, referring to Trump's tweet message on Saturday.

In response, the White House denied that the United States had declared war on Pyongyang.

"We have not declared war on North Korea and frankly the suggestion of that is absurd," White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders told a regular briefing in Washington.

"Our goal is still the same. We continue to seek the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," she said.

The DPRK foreign minister also said that the DPRK reserved the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down U.S. bombers even if they are not in its air space.

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to take countermeasures, including the right to shoot down U.S. strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country," Ri said.

On Saturday, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers and F-15C Eagle fighter escorts flew in international airspace over waters east of the DPRK, the Pentagon said.

"This is the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) any U.S. fighter or bomber aircraft have flown" off the DPRK's coast in the 21st century, said the Pentagon, adding that the move underscored "the seriousness with which we take DPRK's reckless behavior."

U.S. President Donald Trump also talked tough on the DPRK. In his first speech at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 19, Trump threatened that the United States "will have no choice than to totally destroy" the country unless Pyongyang refrains from its nuclear tests and missile launches.

Two days later, Trump also signed a new order to ramp up sanctions on the DPRK.

In response, DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un vowed to retaliate, saying Trump "will face results beyond his expectation."

In a statement released on Friday, Kim said "I am now thinking hard about what response he could have expected when he allowed such eccentric words to trip off his tongue," according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Kim also accused Trump of uttering "unprecedented rude nonsense that one has never heard from any of his predecessors," saying the threat to "totally destroy" a sovereign state has gone beyond the limit.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 05:56:19|Editor: yan

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SANAA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. oil engineer has been kidnapped by an unknown armed group in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, a security official said on Monday.

The 63-year-old engineer, Danny Lavone Burch, was abducted on Saturday from a busy street in downtown Sanaa and was seen taken under guns into a car heading for unknown location, said the source from the interior ministry.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident and conducted a search operation to locate the U.S. citizen, who worked with the Yemeni state-owned oil company Safer, said the official.

Burch, who married a Yemeni woman after converting to Islam and had three children, has been working with Safer since many years.

Sanaa is under tightened control of Shiite Houthi rebels since the group stormed the capital and seized control over it in Sept. 21, 2014.

Several citizens from western countries have been kidnapped or detained by Houthi group since then, but were later released unharmed and transferred to the neighboring Gulf state of Oman.

The United States has warned its citizens against staying or travelling to Yemen and also banned Yemenis from entering the United States.

The U.S. embassy in Sanaa has been closed along with all other foreign embassies since Houthi's takeover of Sanaa and expelled the internationally recognized Yemeni government into exile.

The country has since slid into a devastating war between Iran-allied Houthi fighters and the government forces backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, which seeks to roll back rebel gains and reinstate the government into Sanaa.

More than 10,000 have been killed in the war and 3 million displaced, according to UN aid agencies.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 06:16:23|Editor: yan

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WARSAW, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday unveiled his proposals on judiciary reforms, including reform of the Supreme Court (SN) and the National Judicial Council (KRS), at a press conference in Warsaw.

According to the president's amended proposal, if the Sejm (the lower house) fails to elect KRS members by a three-fifths majority, in the next stage every MP would be able to vote for one candidate only.

In his original draft, the president would have the final say on KRS members in the case that a three-fifths majority was not secured.

"The three-fifths will be the principle, the basic mode. If KRS judges cannot be elected this way by the set deadline, the second mode would kick in, that is every MP would have a single vote," the president explained after a meeting with the parliamentarians.

Duda also announced that he wouldn't press for all current Supreme Court (SN) judges to retire, stating that removing all judges from the SN in a single day "was not a provision that he, as the president of the Republic of Poland, could approve." Instead, he proposed the policy same as the common courts, which is retiring at the age of 65.

The ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) used to seek splitting the Supreme Court into three chambers, changing appointment regulations for its judges and retiring its present judges. The bill was passed by Sejm on July 20 and by the Senat (the upper house) on July 22. But Duda said on July 24 that he decided to veto two of the three judicial bills that stirred up controversies not only in Poland but also abroad.

European Commission (EC) Vice-President Frans Timmermans expressed his satisfaction with Poland's readiness to hold a dialogue, following Duda's proposal. On Monday, the EU was to assess on if there was backing for sanctions against Poland's government over fears its court reforms threaten the rule of law.

The European Commission earlier criticized Polish judiciary law reform, stressing it was incompatible with EU laws. Timmermans announced that EC would closely examine Polish President Andrzej Duda's bills to SN and KRS reforms.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 06:26:26|Editor: yan

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TRIPOLI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A delegation from Libya's Higher Council of State and representatives of the House of Representatives on Monday have left for neighboring Tunisia to participate in a UN-sponsored political dialogue meeting.

The meeting, backed by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), will be held on Tuesday.

Ghassan Salame, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UNSMIL, said the meeting aimed to introduce amendments to the current political agreement.

Amendment of the political agreement is the first stage of a roadmap proposed by Salame on Wednesday at the high-level meeting on Libya in New York, in order to end the current political crisis of Libya.

Salame's proposed action plan includes amendment of the political agreement, holding a UN-sponsored national conference among all Libyan political factions, adopting a constitution, and finally electing a president and a parliament.

Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime. The country is still suffering political division despite signing a UN-sponsored peace agreement and appointment of a unity government.

"Six years ago, Libyans were promised a transition of 18 months. Their transitions continue, and if no action is taken, no end is in sight," said Salame.

"A succession of transitions have failed to bring to the Libyan people what they want the most - stable, effective and predictable governance and decent living standards," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 06:26:27|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, Sep. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has vowed for measures against Iraqi Kurds' independence referendum from economic pressure to military undertakings.

It plays its cards bit by bit against Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) which was its strategic partner in the region until a short while ago.

Turkish leadership harshly criticized the vote by the Iraqi Kurdish region held on Monday which seeks independence in the autonomous Kurdish region from Iraq.

The Turkish government threatened Erbil to impose punitive sanctions against its once-partner which Ankara has developed strong political, security and economic relations for about a decade.

However, Turkish government's cooperation is critical to the Iraqi Kurds for several reasons.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday hinted at barring Iraqi Kurds from exporting gas via Turkey, saying "We own the valve. The moment we shut the valve, that's the end of it."

The KRG's fragile economy depends on near exclusively on oil. Turkey's southern Ceyhan is currently the sole outlet for Kurdish crude to be exported for world markets.

Ankara keeps the card of closing the Habur border gate to northern Iraq with merely increasing controls at the gate for now which is under the control of the KRG across the border.

Iraq's central government informed Ankara that Baghdad will take control of international border posts and its international airports, retaliating to the referendum, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Monday.

Turkey has a trade volume of 2.5 billion U.S. dollars with the Iraqi Kurds and is one of the two main partners of the region along with Iran. They are dependent on Turkey for many products, including food, textiles and furniture.

Despite officially not confirmed, Turkey reportedly had supported the KRG with cash for delivering its public salaries as it is currently in an economic bottleneck.

The Turkish army launched military exercises last week near the Habur border gate with participation of Iraqi soldiers on late Monday.

President Erdogan also pointed to the military exercises currently taking place on Turkey's border with the Iraqi Kurdish region. "Our military is not (at the border) for nothing. We can suddenly step in one night," Erdogan said on Monday implying a military operation into northern Iraq.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu clarified it later in the day warning about a possible military intervention in northern Iraq if the Turkmen there gets targeted following an independence referendum in the region.

The Iraqi Kurds are also laying claim to some territories, including oil-rich Kirkuk, whose status is disputed according to the Iraqi Constitution. Kirkuk is currently controlled by the Kurdish peshmerga forces, dominated by Kurds but is also home to Arabs, Assyrian Christians and Turkmen.

Ankara sees itself as the protector of Turkmen community in Kirkuk and has repeatedly warned against including the province in the referendum.

Turkish Foreign Minister also stated the end of Turkish training of Peshmerga forces in northern Iraq.

The Bashiqa camp, where Turkish army have provided training of local Sunni groups and Kurdish Peshmerga forces against the Islamic State(IS) elements in the region on the expense of drawing reaction of Baghdad who claimed Turkish troops were deployed illegally out of central government's consent.

Voicing several sanctions against the Iraqi Kurds, Ankara solely decided Monday to suspend broadcast of the KRG's three TV channels in Turkey.

As the Turkish government joins chorus against the Kurdish referendum along with Iraq and Iran, even came to the point of joint measures against the KRG although Ankara was at odds with these neighbors till recently.

Turkey is home to the largest Kurdish population in the region and itself fighting a Kurdish insurgency on its soil, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Ankara faces two threads over Kurdish referendum according to political analyst Ahmet Kasim Han.

One is the risk of further instability in the region that could bring more clashes, the other is the Kurdish independence could be an example to its own Kurdish population in the country given the current political environment in Turkey, Han said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 06:31:29|Editor: yan

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BRATISLAVA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people went on Bratislava street Monday evening to join the third anti-corruption march, which calls for the step down by several high-ranking government officials, including Interior Minister Robert Kalinak.

Carrying Slovak and EU flags and a large placard reading "Step by Step Against Corruption," protestors marched through the old town center peacefully without incidents.

"We're not opposition, we're not media and we're not obsessed with Kalinak. We just want the rules to apply to everyone equally," high school student and co-organizer Robert Martin Hudec said in his speech.

Prime Minister Robert Fico welcomes young people's interest in public affairs and is ready to create appropriate conditions for them to deepen this interest. In the reaction of the march, he offers students an internship at the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) based in Austria.

The anti-corruption march was organized by two secondary school students, Karolina Farska and David Straka with the first one on April 18.

Both students view the current state of affairs as unsustainable and a key reason fuelling the rise of extremism.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 06:41:32|Editor: yan

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by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Scoring the best result for a far-right movement in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Alternative fuer Deutschland party (AFD) will enter German parliament for the first time ever. Both domestic and external factors contributed to this rise, according to Italian analysts.

From a poor 4.7 percent registered in the previous federal elections held in 2013, the AFD made a huge leap and reached 12.6 percent of the vote on Sunday. It gained more than 90 seats, becoming the third largest force in the Bundestag (lower house).

"From a domestic point of view, a major factor behind this result was the shift made by Angela Merkel's CDU towards the center of the political spectrum," Eleonora Poli, researcher on European integration and EU institutions with Italian Institute for International Affairs (IAI), told Xinhua.

"This was especially clear on issues such as immigration and welfare. Thus, German conservative voters were not able to identify themselves with the CDU's orientation anymore, and looked elsewhere."

The scholar added that shifting towards the political center can prove a double-edged sword, and not only for the German Conservatives or Social Democrats.

"When mainstream parties move towards the center -- regardless if they are leftist or conservative -- they partially lose their political identity. This trend has emerged not only in Germany, but in France and Italy as well," Poli said.

Il Sole 24 Ore, Italy's leading business daily, provided a similar analysis. "Extremism and old parties, Germany somatises Europe's malaises," it headlined on Monday.

"Big parties from center-left and center-right have lost in Germany, as they had in France and, up to some extent, in The Netherlands and even Britain," Angela Manganaro wrote on Il Sole.

"It is something we have seen already... A fractured 'old Europe' is now united through the same electoral setbacks, and Germany, which is Europe's guide, would represent them all."

Il Sole's analyst also noted that far-right AFD was able to mobilize those German citizens who were not used to vote anymore, as (U.S.) President Donald Trump did with some "white, weary, and angry Americans" in the U.S.

Now, the business daily warned, Germany may risk a "common illness": political instability.

Some global factors also affected the German campaign, according to Poli. "Several elements linked to globalization contributed to the rise of the far-right among voters," she explained.

"Most of all, some people's fear of losing national identity, combined with an increased perception of their social and economic vulnerability."

This mixture led a portion of electorate to opt for nationalist parties, and to hope for a return to the nation state, which however was "no longer a realistic perspective."

Despite such rise, though, the IAI researcher warned against overestimating AFD's performance, which was negative but not exceptional, if compared with other similar parties in Europe.

For example, Marine Le Pen's Front National reached the runoff in the French presidential election in May, while Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom drew over 13 percent of the vote in the Dutch elections in March.

"Of course, it is of a disquieting trend, but still limited: I would call it an alarm bell," Poli said.

"Yet, the risk of a further turn of the electorate towards the extreme right exists, if the parties now ruling in France, Germany, and other EU countries will fail to deliver the right policies, and to govern properly," she warned.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-26 07:01:36|Editor: Mengjie

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for political dialogue in Afghanistan as well as international efforts to boost the country's defense capacity, governance and its integration into regional development frameworks.

"Political dialogue is the only viable solution to the question of Afghanistan," Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told an open meeting of the UN Security Council on Afghanistan.

"All actors in Afghanistan should put the country's long-term interests and people's welfare first and actively participate in the reconciliation process. The international community should continue to promote the realization of a broad, inclusive political settlement with Afghan leadership and Afghan ownership," said Wu.

The international community should engage with all parties concerned in Afghanistan for the early launch of peace talks, he said.

All political actors in Afghanistan must achieve unity and resolve their difference through dialogue and consultations, he said, adding that the international community must respect the Afghan people's will to choose their political system and development path.

"Maintaining peace and stability is the basis for Afghanistan's reconstruction and economic development," he said.

The international community should continue to boost the capacity of the Afghan security forces and the country's ability to defend itself so that Afghanistan can effectively respond to security threats such as terrorism, transnational crime and drug trafficking, said Wu.

"Strengthening governance is an important guarantee of the peace and reconstruction process in Afghanistan," he said. The international community should provide targeted assistance to help the Afghan government improve governance. "At the end of the day, Afghan affairs should be handled by Afghans themselves."

He also stressed the need for Afghanistan to be integrated into regional development frameworks. With its rich resources and geographical advantages, Afghanistan enjoys bright prospects in terms of regional cooperation, he said.

China, which has always been playing a constructive role in promoting the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, will continue to support Afghanistan's security capacity development and its socio-economic development, said Wu.

China is ready to work with the international community to strive for peace, stability and development of Afghanistan, said the Chinese envoy.
Encouragement to talent and skill development to be an essential part of the vision of "New India": Naqvi

New Delhi, Mon, 25 Sep 2017 NI Wire

Ministry of Minority Affairs working to establish Hunar Hub across the country to provide a platform to master artisans and craftsmen to display as well sell their products: Naqvi

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said here that Ministry of Minority Affairs is working to establish Hunar Hub across the country to provide a platform to master artisans and craftsmen to display as well sell their products.

Naqvi and Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy today inaugurated Hunar Haat, being organised by Ministry of Minority Affairs at Puducherry.

Naqvi said that the artisans and craftsmen will also be provided training according to the requirements of the current markets.

Naqvi said that encouragement to talent and skill development will be an essential part of the vision of New India.

Hunar Haat is being organised at Craft Bazaar, Gandhi Thidal Beach, Goubert Avenue in Puducherry, one of renowned centre of art & culture, till 30th September, 2017 to provide market and opportunity to master artisans from across the country. Puducherry Member of Parliament Shri R. Radhakrishnan, National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation Chairman Shri Shabaz Ali and officials from Puducherry Government and Minority Affairs Ministry were also present on the occasion.

Shri Naqvi said that Ministry of Minority Affairs has prepared an E-Portal to provide national as well as international markers to artisans and craftsmen from across the country. A data bank of artisans and craftsmen will be prepared by this year end, thousands of artisans from various parts of the country have already been registered.

Shri Naqvi said that Hunar Haat of Minority Affairs Ministry have been very successful and encouraging for master artisans belonging to the poor sections of the Minorities.

Master artisans from 16 states are showcasing their traditional talent in Hunar Haat at Puducherry. Artisans have brought for display and sale, a wide variety of traditional and rare Handicraft and Handloom items which include Hyderabad Pearl, Wrought Iron & Wood Carving, wooden and sandalwood items, hand-made jewellery, Hand Embroidery, handmade painting, wooden-toys/gift Items, printed dresses and Maheshwari Saree etc are also available.

Traditional stalls have been constructed in the Hunar Haat where the visitors will also enjoy delicious foods from various parts of the country. Culinary experts are participating from different States. Delicious food items like Rajasthani Food, Maharashtrian Food, Gujarati Thali, Punjabi Food, Malabar Food, Mughlai food, Mutton/Kakori Kabab, , food from Andhra Pradesh, M.P, Halwa, Ghewar, West Bengal Sweets, chokha-bati, traditional pickles from Kerala and other states are also available.

The participating artisans belong to different parts of the country. Artisans from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Orissa, Puducherry and Uttarakhand etc are participating.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has organized Hunar Haat earlier also at different places. Recently, Hunar Haat had been organized at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Cannaught Place in New Delhi which was a hit among the people as more than 26 lakh people, both domestic and foreign visitors, visited this Hunar Haat. The people purchased goods at large scale which helped and promoted traditional arts of these master artisans.

In the coming days, Hunar Haat will also be organised at Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangaluru, Lucknow, Allahabad, Ranchi, Guwahati, Jaipur, Bhopal etc to promote artisans and craftsmen.

Source: PIB
Irish President Michael D. Higgins may visit Nigeria soon. This is part of the outcome of the presentation of the letter of credence by Nigerias new ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Dr. Uzoma Elizabeth Emenike in Dublin.

The new envoy told President Higgins that he shared a lot in common with President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly in integrity and passion to develop their countries. She also told Higgins that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa.

Ambassador Emenike indicated that with the biggest population on the African continent, with one in every five black persons in the world, Nigerias investment potentials are enormous. Nigeria, according to the Ambassador, also has a youthful population, where over 60 percent is under 35 years. With these attractive features of the economy, she added that Irish investment in Nigeria is guaranteed present and future profitability.

She said the opportunities which Nigeria offers would be greatly enhanced by diplomatic engagement of both countries at the highest level of leadership. She informed President Higgins that in line with the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations, it would be splendid for the Irish President to pay a state visit to Nigeria since a Nigerian leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo had visited Ireland in 2002.

Higgins promised to give her suggestion a serious consideration. He went further to trace the history of relationship between both countries, pointing out that both countries established diplomatic relation immediately after Nigeria gained her independence from Britain in 1960.

President Higgins said the relationship between the two countries were deep because of the work of Irish missionaries during the colonial era. He was particularly happy with the efforts President Buharis government has made to contain the menace posed by Boko Haram just as he applauded the work of over 40,000 Nigerians who live, work, or study in Ireland. He wished Ambassador Emenike a successful tenure and pledged to support any initiatives that would further boost relations between both countries.

These remarks were made before an impressive and color guard of honor parade as part of the ceremony marking the presentation of Ambassador Emenikes letter of credence to the Republic of Ireland.

The well-choreographed ceremony, which took place at the official residence of the Irish President, was attended by officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin and also High Chief Ikechi Emenike, the husband of the Ambassador, and their four children. Many high-ranking Nigerians who came from all over the world, ambassadors, and other foreign dignitaries were treated to a reception afterwards.

Ambassador Emenike, who holds a doctorate degree in Foreign Relations, an experienced, diplomat used the opportunities offered her by the reception to raise the profile of Nigeria and market her countrys huge economic potentials to the world. Ambassador Emenike stated that, among other important functions, she regarded herself as the chief marketing officer for Nigeria in Ireland. She promised to not only improve the ongoing good relation between Nigeria and Ireland, but also to increase the participation of Irish capital and expertise in the economic development of her country.

She also met with various Nigerian citizens and groups in Ireland and assured them of the commitment of the President Buhari, the Federal Government and the whole country to their wellbeing. She also told them that each and every one of them is an ambassador of Nigeria in their own right and they must always respect the laws of Ireland, exhibiting the highest level of integrity in dealing with the host country, her institutions, and her citizens. She pledged that herself and the other officials of the embassy will be available to serve them.

Ambassador Emenike, a woman with sharp mind, her character always highlighted by patience and integrity, her long career undergirded by firm commitment to high ideals and learning, is set to make her mark as a great ambassador. Her career started with Nigerian foreign services in 1987 and many who have worked with her respect her prodigious intellect, honesty, professionalism, and oratorical skills.
Members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the group of pro-democracy activists who battled the astringent war for the entrenchment of popular government amid the dull days of military fascism, are by and by back in the trenches.

The group, which took the campaign for the sanctity of the ballot paper to the global arena in the wake of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by billionaire politician, Chief M.K.O Abiola, reconvened at the weekend to fight another war to protect Nigerias democracy.

The regrouping of NADECO, which comprises remnants of the old activists that fought the military to a standstill, came on the heels of calls by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for the devolution of power to the countrys federating units for Nigeria to develop.

Atiku, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) declared that only lazy states in the country are afraid of restructuring saying, I dont know what fear those who are afraid of restructuring are having; those who are afraid of restructuring of Nigeria must be lazy.

At a meeting attended by prominent NADECO chieftains like Dr. Amos Akingba, Chiefs Ayo Opadokun and Ayo Adebanjo, in Lagos, the group made a damning verdict on the country; Nigeria is back to dictatorship.

In a statement released after the meeting, the group said, it is time once again to rise and defend democracy in our dear country. We are very troubled by recent national developments and are forced to issue this warning to all our compatriots that democracy is once again under threat in our nation!

While condemning military operations against the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the south-east and the planned attempt to repeat it in the other two zones in Southern Nigeria, the group called for the entrenchment of true federalism in the country.

According to NADECO, In Abia State, the soldiers invaded communities, tortured civilian population, over-awed the constitutionally elected governor and civil institutions of the state, and declared the IPOB a terrorist organisation, in defiance of the judgment of the Federal High Court.

All of these actions are unconstitutional and represent an illegal takeover of the functions of the National Assembly, the Abia State House of Assembly and the legal authorities.

The Army High Command has announced further that the Operation Python Dance will be a regular event and that another similar activity named Operation Crocodile Smile will be carried out in the south-south and south-west.

The actions of the military, we restate, are inconsistent with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and may be the beginning, if not checked, of the unwitting or witting subversion of democracy in Nigeria.

The group also seeks a return to the 1963 Constitution, which it said described essentially what true federalism is with emphasis on the coming together of independent federating units to form a federation which central government they cede some of their powers and responsibilities to.

NADECO also decried misinformation on the definition of restructuring particularly by partisan political operators who want to confuse the Nigerian public and particularly our young people about the clear and unambiguous meaning of Federalism which universally represents a system of government whereby there is a distribution of power particularly between a central government and the constituent units wherever it is practised as opposed to centrist/unitary government.

While lamenting the slow progress in the northern part of the country, Atiku who spoke at a forum on political leadership among youths in Abuja said, We fought the Civil War with the Igbo, but today if I drive from the north to the east, the east has been completely developed, but you will still find thatched roofs and mud houses in the north. Is it the fault of the easterners that the north is like that?

According to Atiku, restructuring will enable the 36 states to acquire more powers, which will enable them to generate more resources for regional development.

The arrangement of the country in the last 50 years has not served us very well. I am not a product of the current structure of Nigeria; I am a product of the First Republic. I saw the regional government at work and I have also seen this arrangement at work, and that was why I came out to the detriment of my career to advocate restructuring of Nigeria and I still stand by what I said.

I believe what is more important is the devolution of powers and resources to the various components, whether you want to call them states or regions. There are other issues that must be tackled along with the political restructuring of Nigeria; the economy is also a very important issue.

Left to me, I would ask every part of this country to be in charge if its resources. The Federal Government should be in charge of defence, foreign affairs and immigration, among others. The Federal Government should also have the powers to tax, after all, that was the system that brought me up and it was so efficient, fair and equitable.

The former vice president stressed the need for all the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to dialogue in order to proffer solutions to the lingering challenges facing the country.

Atiku, who hinted that he would quit active politics in 10 years , called for the removal of state of origin from the constitution to be replaced with state of residency, saying it would put an end to cases of quit notices in different parts of the country.

The former vice president said the product of the 1995/96 constitution drafting committee was not what was eventually released and foisted on the people of the country in 1999.

I was a member of the constitutional conference of 1994-1995, but what we actually drafted was not what eventually came out.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Political Leaders Amongst Youth (PLAY), Mr. Charles Okpalaeke, urged Nigerian youths to be tolerant of opposing views.

Meanwhile the Federal Government has warned those it described as troublemakers in the country, irrespective of geo-political zone, against using their complaints as an excuse to subvert the social order in the country.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo gave the warning during a grand reception in his honour at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the weekend as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the states creation.

He stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari at all times is prepared to engage and listen to every group in the country, thereby acting for the best interest of all.

Osinbajo urged Nigerians to resist attempts by disgruntled elements whose stock in trade is destroying the bonds of brotherhood that have been built through tribe and tongue for years past.

We must not take for granted the steady progress of our economic growth and stability not just as a state but as a nation; peace is the foundation of enduring prosperity, and for peace to reign everywhere in Nigeria all of us as Nigerians must make necessary sacrifices.

We are in a situation where we must take seriously the admonition to love one another, whatever complaints we may have must not be an excuse to subvert the social order.

You and I as individuals have a major role to play, citizens everywhere should never sit idle when misguided elements in our midst recklessly destroy the common bonds of friendship and brotherhood that have been built through tribe and tongue for decades. It is our duty to speak up and convey the message of peace and reconciliation, a message which is common to cultures and religion in

Nigeria, he said.

Earlier, Emmanuel acknowledged that, the state came to being as a result of persistent demand by the people, thanking former military president Ibrahim Babangida for creating the state on September 23, 1987.
A national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said restructuring will bring much-needed balance to the country.

The former Lagos State governor, however, said he was against the split-up of the country.

Tinubus assertion followed repeated pronouncements by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo that Nigerias unity is settled and not open to negotiation.

Tinubu, who was the keynote speaker at the annual dinner of the Kings College Old Boys Association, on Saturday, described Nigeria as a nation that had not sufficiently defined its governance.

The APC leader said, We are like the bewildered couple who has got their marriage licence after a lavish wedding, yet neither of them really understands the meaning of marriage or their roles as husband and wife in it.

Legally, they are married but functionally, their union is a crippled one. This couple will be at loggerheads until somehow they forge an agreement on what type of home they want and what are their respective duties in making that home come into existence.

It is a rather curious lapse that a nation with such diversity as ours has not taken the time to give our legal marriage its proper functional underpinning. In other words, we all lined up to call ourselves Nigerians without gathering to discuss what it meant.

We may be defined by political borders and boundaries but we have not glued ourselves to collective purpose and vision. Too many of us are born in Nigeria but not of it. Thus, our society is not a collective enterprise as important to each of us as our own personal endeavour. It is a platform, an arena, to claim whatever one can by whatever means available.

Thus, we argue over matters that long ago should have been settled. The longer such fundamental questions fester, the more extreme become the proposed answers. Thus, we have people clamouring for secession in one part of the country and the murmur of such a course grows stronger in other sections.

Tinubu noted that blame and recrimination had become the political currency, while statesmanship had fallen in short supply as the dominant urge was to confront instead of reconcile.

Constitutionally, we are a federation of 36 states. However, the vestiges of past military rule continue to haunt the democratic road we hew. We function like a unitary state in many ways. We cannot become a better Nigeria with an undue concentration of power at the federal level. Competition for federal office will be too intense, akin to a winner-take-all duel.

Those who lose will bristle at the lack of power in the periphery they occupy. They will scheme to pester and undermine the strong executive because that is where they want to be. The executive will become so engaged in deflecting their antics, that it will not devote its great powers to the issues of progressive governance for which such powers were bestowed.

Things will be in a constant state of disequilibrium and irritation. Such a situation tends toward the maintenance of an unsatisfactory status quo in the political economy. It is against reform.

It would be better to restructure things to attain the correct balance between our collective purpose on (the) one hand and our separate grass-roots realities on the other. We must listen to what is being said so that we can determine what is really meant, he added.

Tinubu, however, noted that there were opportunists on the path to achieving balance in the polity.

He said, Let us be frank. Many who cry separation do so because their personal ambitions will be better served by such a thing. They believe they will have greater chance at political power under a different arrangement. Yet the cry for separation has gained traction among average people. This is due to the chronic failure of government to meet basic aspirations.

If over the years, government had delivered on the promise of growth, prosperity, and justice, those calling for such extreme remedies would be but a small fringe of little consequence.

Our task is not to condemn but to listen and understand. I care not at all for this proposed solution. But I dare not discount the concerns and problems that have led many people into advocating such a thing.

Here, I want to plainly state my position. I am a firm believer in Nigeria. I believe this land will become a great nation and a leader among other African nations. We can resolve our dysfunctions in a manner that will make this nation rise as a standard of decency, justice and prosperity for all Nigerians.
A senator from Kaduna State and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Shehu Sani, has decried the spate of human trafficking in the country, saying some Nigerians were being used for terrorist activities in Libya.

Sani said this in Abuja during a visit to the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Julie Okah-Donli.

The senator, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debt, said the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria deserved the same attention given to the fight against corruption and insurgency.

According to a release by the NAPTIP Head, Press and Public Relations, Josiah Emerole, on Sunday, the senator said human trafficking had become a great threat to national security and undermined Nigerias sovereignty.

Sani said, Nigerian youths are being trafficked to Italy en route Niger Republic and Libya to Europe and so on. Some of them stop over in Libya, where they are engaged in terrorist activities, while those trafficked to Italy are involved in sex slavery. Each time, a tragedy occurs from human trafficking, it affects everyone of us.

This is because if an individual that is trafficked to Libya joins the ISIS or Al-Qaida group, such individuals may come back to the country after the training, to perpetuate evil. This is dangerous.

It is shameful that after 300 years of the abolition of slavery internationally, Africans are still dying in the sea in the name of human trafficking. It is also worrisome that unlike times past when Africans were forced to get on the boat, nobody presently forces us to get on the ship. Almost six decades of our political independence, we are still talking about trafficking.

The NAPTIP DG, Okah-Donli, said despite the insufficient funds allocated to the agency, a lot of awareness creation and prosecution was being done on trafficking.

The envelope system of funding for NAPTIP will never be enough because we deal with a crime with international dimension and huge implications for the country. The situation is so bad that my officers and men sometimes contribute money to take care of the victims of trafficking in our shelters, Okah-Donli added.
Many more Nigerians are throwing fits about the proposed bill before the House of Representatives to regulate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country.

If the NGO Regulation Bill is passed, NGOs will need permission to raise or spend money and every of their projects must be cleared by the Federal Government.

While Umar Jibril, Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and sponsor of the bill, is vehemently defending the bill, alleging that some NGOs collected funds for North East IDPs and disappeared, many Nigerians, including legal practitioners, say the proposed bill is unnecessary, stating that at a time of poor public finances, it seeks to create yet another pointless parastatal and add to government overhead.

The House of Representatives is presently considering what perhaps qualifies as the most dangerous piece of legislation to come before the National Assembly since the return of civilian rule in 1999. The bill is stunning in its audacity, far-reaching in its scope, and a danger to elective government in Nigeria. It should not be allowed to pass, argued Chidi Odinkalu, lawyer and former chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The NGO Regulation Bill is the latest among these measures to constrain the civic space and destroy dissent. It comprises 58 sections of extraordinarily bad drafting, jumbled thinking and un-concealed ill-will, he said.

He explained that the Bill proposes to create an NGO Regulatory Commission, which will be headed by an executive secretary appointed by the president for five years and a 17-member Governing Board, led by a chairman, all of whom shall also be appointed by the president.

The Board will have powers to license all NGOs. Without the licence of the Board, no NGO can operate. The licence of the NGO Board alone (not registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission) will confer legal personality and perpetual succession on NGOs, Odinkalu said.

However, such a licence must be renewed every 24 months. If not, legal personality is lost. Clearly, no one told Hon Jibril that the idea of renewing legal personality defeats the entire purpose of corporate personality, he said.

Odinkalu further explained that the bill empowers the Minister (of Interior) to direct the Board at his whim as he deems fit, including, presumably, to register or de-register any NGO.

All NGOs must submit reports to the Board of their money, where they get it from and how much. Before an NGO spends any money received, it must secure the permission of the NGO Board. If it does not, it violates the law. Thats a crime under the Bill.

The Board will also license NGOs on cooperation with international bodies. The Bill requires NGOs to comply not merely with all laws but also with all national and foreign policies, whatever that means, he said.

He added that the Board will also enjoy substantial immunities under law and from process and any judgment against it cannot be enforced except with the express permission of the serving Attorney-General of the Federation.

As if these were not enough confusion, the Bill proposes that the Board will also oversee a Voluntary Code of conduct for NGOs to be adopted by the first one hundred NGOs to be registered by the Board. The Code will be operated by a National Council for Voluntary Agencies, he said.

On Friday morning, Odinkalu was also on Channels TV breakfast show, Sunrise Daily, contending that the Bill may also be intended as a tool by politicians to emasculate civil society organizations (CSOs), which often give voice to the opposition, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

But Jibril, in a press release posted on the House of Reps social media platform, said, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) are voluntary organisations that are registered to partner government at all levels to fill gaps wherever they exist. They are supposed to be partners in progress with the government; therefore, the need for a commission to serve this purpose arises.

Secondly and naturally, for them to carry out their activities, the NGOs and CSOs solicit for funds from all over the world and collect billions of naira on behalf of Nigerians!

Thirdly, they recruit expatriates to help them run their activities in the country with lots of abuses.

But reacting to the statement that some NGOs collected funds for the North East IDPs and disappeared, some Nigerians asked the House to deal with the problem that led to the country having millions of IDPs rather than making laws to promote IDPs.

In the first place, are we supposed to have IDPs? queried an unnamed public affairs commentator.

Others urged the Jibril to go after the NGOs and CSOs with the existing laws of the land.

This is baseless and toothless. Are there not enough laws dealing with duping, 419 and stealing? the public affairs commentator asked.

One respondent, George Ter Ayua, said, The best global practice of NGO activities to check all the issues mentioned is through Civil Military Coordination, CIMIC. You have anti-terror laws and other laws to check whatever, but no. Why dont you explore CIMIC as a coordination platform? The primary duty of managing this country, you are failing. Is it NGOs you want to regulate well? he asked.

Ayua went on to accuse politicians of a desire to control everything.

They are done destroying government institutions, now they want to destroy NGOs, he said.

Once this bill scales through, NGOs employment method will change and the usual wuruwuru of recommendation from MPs and senators will begin. NGOs are the only organisations in this country that the politicians have not dominated for themselves. That is why MPs want this bill, Ayua alleged.

Chris Akiri, a lawyer and social analyst, in an article said the proposed bill had an anti-social intendment.

He said the proposed anti-progress bill is designed to starve NGOs of funds, citing section 23 of the bill which provides that any organisation registered under this Act shall not be entitled to diplomatic or consular privileges or immunities.

Then section 24 covers the field, as it were, by providing that contravention of the provision of the law attracts a prohibitive fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for eighteen months, Akiri said.

The section referred to says, It shall be an offence for any person to operate a Non-Governmental Organization in Nigeria for welfare, research, health relief, agriculture, education, industry, the supply of amenities or any other similar purposes without registration and certificate under this Act.

According to Akiri, If and whenever an NGO obtains any funds from any quarters, national or international, according to this Bill, the NGO must not only disclose its source(s) of income but must render an account (a financial statement of its expenses, subject to periodic audit by the Federal Government).

In default of this provision, the defaulter(s) will be liable to imprisonment for up to 18 months. Imagine the les Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) (Doctors without Borders), a Non-Governmental Organization, advancing the cause of humanity and best known in war-torn regions and in developing countries afflicted by endemic diseases, being required by the French Government to show the sources of their income and the use thereof or creating a Commission and a Board to supervise their activities! The NGOs in Nigeria are to this country what the MSF is to the international community.

Akiri said the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), though an amalgam of irreconcilable inconsistencies, enshrines secularity in its section 10 and the fundamental freedoms of worship, speech and association in its Chapter Four.

Similar and identical provisions can be found in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), in the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (domesticated as Cap. 10, LFN. 1990) and in several Treaties and Conventions to which Nigeria is signatory. The NGO Regulatory Bill must NEVER become Law, he said.
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Algerias disillusioned diplomacy is apparently resorting to fake news claiming that the SADR separatist entity will be invited to the Africa-EU summit. As it endures setbacks one after the other in its ideologically anachronistic foreign policy, Algeria indulges in terminology games claiming that the African Union and the EU are negotiation to change the appellation of the event into EU-AU Summit in a scheme to impose the participation of its puppet Sahrawi Republic.

The fake news was propagated by Algerian government mouthpiece, Algeria Press Service news agency, which relayed the fallacious statements of its Ambassador in Brussels, Amar Belani, saying that the Polisario will receive an invitation to attend the Africa-EU summit.

Lessons from History

Such statements show the short memory of the Algerian diplomacy, which seems not to learn from past mistakes. Contacted by Moroccan based Le Desk news portal, sources within the EU maintain that only countries that are member of the UN are entitled to take part in the Africa-EU summit. No decision has been made to change the name of the event that will be hosted in Abidjan on November 29-30, the sources said.

In obstinately trying to impose the participation of a separatist entity in international events involving Africa and multilateral partners, Algeria is blocking efforts towards Africas development. Last month in Maputo, the follow-up meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) was disrupted due to Mozambique authorities, under orders from Algeria, to impose the participation of the Polisario.

In strong worded response, Japanese Foreign Minister made it clear that Japan has never recognized the Polisarios self-proclaimed republic and deplored the maneuvers of Mozambique authorities in their desperate attempt to give a seat to the separatist entity. The Japanese Minister said he was astonished at the Mozambican authorities maneuvers to give Polisario officials access to the TICAD meeting through backdoors, deploring that invited delegations, including members of the Japanese embassy, were mistreated by Mozambican authorities.

Algeria faced the same fiasco at the latest 17th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Venezuela in September 2016. Despite the pressure exerted by Algeria and the host country, NAM member states rejected the invitation to the self-proclaimed SADR.

Moroccos AU membership sends shockwaves in Algeria

As it feels the heat of Moroccos return to the African Union, the carpet is gradually pulled under the feats of Algeria. Morocco has always been criticizing the admission of the Polisario within the pan-African organization as an anomaly in contradiction with the international law. This view is also shared by a growing number of African states who see in the Algerian pro-separatist rhetoric an ideological anachronism that aims at manipulating the AU to serve Algiers own hegemonic agenda.

With Moroccos return to the African Union, the Polisario sees gloomy prospects for its propaganda in the continent. In July 2016, at the African Union Summit in Kigali, 28 African countries submitted a motion demanding to freeze the Polisarios membership in the continental organization. A course that is set to continue as more countries in the African Union see the Polisarios membership as an aberration in contradiction with international law because the Polisario is not a state and lacks state attributes.

Recently, several African countries that once supported the Polisario separatist endeavor are backtracking. After a diplomatic offensive coupled with win-win partnerships led by King Mohammed VI in Africa, several countries have ceased to support Algerias plot to create a separatist entity in Morocco and affirmed support for the UN-led political process. These countries include African heavyweights such as Nigeria and Ethiopia, which now see new cooperation opportunities with Morocco.

Overall, Moroccos return to the African Union has set the tone for a gradual demise of the Algerian-sponsored separatism in the Sahara as the Kingdom and its friends will act as a bulwark against any attempt to use the pan-African body to simmer tension and instability in the region.

The EU for its part does not recognize the separatist SADR entity. The EU, both at the Union and at member states level, maintains a stance in support of the UN process to find a political and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara issue along the lines of UN Security council resolutions, which stress the preeminence of Moroccos autonomy proposal.

Therefore, Algerias attempts to give Polisario militia a seat on an equal footing with EU and African member states at an international event is as pointless as it is unfeasible.

EU Does not Recognize Polisario

Voices are also rising in the EU against the Polisario. The separatist fronts proponents at the European Parliament have recently suffered a new setback with the rejection of an amendment to include a new aid to the Algeria-based separatist group in the 2017 EU draft budget.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) decried that it is inconceivable for the EU to continue funding a movement whose involvement in embezzlement and dilapidation is well established, notably following the disclosure in 2015 of a report by the EUs anti-fraud office (OLAF) blaming the Polisario and Algeria for diverting humanitarian aid.

The OLAF report documents well-organized, years-long embezzlement by the Polisario Front of humanitarian aid designated for Sahraouis held in the camps of Tindouf in Algeria. The document states that aid theft begins in the Algerian port of Oran, where the sorting between what should arrive and what can be diverted takes place.

On the need to undertake a census of the Tindouf camps population to determine actual humanitarian needs and bar the road to embezzlers, the report explains that One of the reasons that made these diversions possible is the overestimation of the number of refugees and therefore aid provided.

Recently, MEPs also drew the attention of the European commission to the inacceptable imposture by Algeria of a tax on the humanitarian aid sent to the population in the Polisario-run Tindouf camps.

Algerias stance in support of separatism in Morocco has been dealt a heavy blow at the legal level. Last year, a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling restored the legality of the Moroccan-EU farm agreements after a legal challenge by the Polisairo, saying that the deals do not concern the Polisairo front.

Prior to the ruling, the ECJs Chief Advocate General Melchior Wathelet explained that the Polisario front is not a legitimate organization for contesting the Morocco-EU trade agreements.

Wathelet contested the validity of the Polisarios legality to plea at the ECJ, saying that the Polisario is not recognized by the International community as a representative of the commercial interests of the population of the Sahara, although it is considered as a party in the political process to find a solution to the conflict over the Saharan provinces.

Algerias responsibility in Perpetuating Sahara Dispute

Algerias push to impose the participation of its puppet the Polisario in multilateral event is evidencing once more that Algiers is a party to the Sahara artificial dispute and not only an observer as its diplomats purport. Algeria can no longer hide behind its observer status and should take a seat at the table of negotiations to fully contribute to implementing the UN Security Council resolution. UN Security Council Resolution 2351, adopted last April, has once more reiterated the call on Algeria to uphold its responsibility to allow a census of the population held in the camps.

Algeria continues to fund and support diplomatically and militarily the Polisario militias, which it hosts in the region of Tindouf since the 1970s. The Polisario have been using Algerian territories as a rear base for their guerilla warfare against Morocco until the UN-brokered ceasefire agreement in 1991.

In 2007, Morocco put forward the autonomy initiative after the organization of a referendum proved to be unfeasible in view of disagreements over who is eligible to vote. Morocco offers the autonomy initiative, which has been internationally endorsed as a credible and serious basis for negotiations. The autonomy plan offers the Sahara exclusive powers with regards to managing local affairs within the framework of Moroccos sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Furthermore, as relic of the cold-war, the Polisario remains obedient and dependent financially and diplomatically on its paymaster Algeria, which uses it to achieve regional hegemony to the detriment of regional stability.

Over the last years, support for the Algerian-sponsored separatist thesis in the Moroccan Sahara has been waning, as 43 countries have withdrawn their recognition of the SADR entity out of 80 that previously recognized it in a Cold War context.
UN special envoy to Libya has approved any intent by Saif al-Islam to run for elections in the Libya next year if he wants despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court.

Ghassan Salame, head of the UNSMIL told French France 24 that aside from Saif al-Islam all former loyalists and supporters of former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi can participate in the general elections slated to the take place next year.

Elections must be open to all, Salame said.

Gaddafis son is wanted by the Libyan court and by the International Criminal Court for war crimes during the 2011 uprising.

Arrested in 2011, he was jailed in Zintan before being released this year in July on a request from Libyas east-based government.

Salame last week unveiled a new action plan for the North African country. The plan, Salame said was proposed by Libyans themselves during his tour of the country.

According to the UN envoy, the plan to take maximum one year will lay the ground for parliamentary elections and the election of the president.

Current of mandate of UN-backed Prime Minister Faiez Serraj ends in December.

Salame also noted that Islamists opposed to Egypt, Russia, and United Arab Emirates-backed military commander Khalifa Haftar will also take part in the process.

Libya has descended into chaos following Gaddafs fall in 2011. The country has had two distinct administrations namely the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli and Haftar-backed government in the east.

The UN envoy has stood against all solo foreign mediations adding that they foil UN efforts in oil-rich country.
US African command AFRICOM announced it killed 17 Islamic State group (IS) fighters in six air strikes on terrorist training camps of the group located near its former stronghold of Sirte.

The AFRICOM command said in statement that the operation took place on Friday and targeted a training camp in the desert, 240 kilometers south-east of Sirte; the terrorist groups former stronghold lost in December to UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) aligned forces.

AFRICOM said the camp was used to move terrorists in and out of the North African country and served to stockpile weapons and equipment, and to plot and conduct attacks.

The US military command also noted that three cars were destroyed in the airstrikes which according reports were carried out by drones and B-2 stealth bombers.

The Friday airstrikes were the first sorties of US air forces in Libya under new President Donald Trump.

Last US airstrikes in the country date back to January under the leadership of President Barack Obama.

The early January sorties targeted two camps IS camps outside Sirte. Around 90 terrorists were killed by airstrikes which were counted to be around 100.
This travel ban is based on a country-by-country review of security problems, but is still mostly aimed at Muslims. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

After considerable advance speculation, the president has issued a new travel restriction order to replace most of the highly controversial and much-litigated temporary order issued in January and revised in March. It covers more countries (eight), including two that are not majority Muslim, and while its provisions vary by country, the travel restrictions are in most cases stricter. The new order does not cover refugees, though a separate order involving them is likely imminent. And the timing of the action could well make the pending Supreme Court review of the original order moot.

Unlike the very first order, which caused great chaos at airports and generated much fear about people lawfully in the United States being deported, the new order does not affect permanent legal residents or those with valid visas (e.g., student and employee visas), at least until such visas expire. The New York Times summarizes the impact by country:

The proclamation imposes the most severe restrictions on Syria and North Korea, which Mr. Trump says fail to cooperate with the United States in any respect. All citizens from those countries will be denied visas to enter the United States once the proclamation goes into effect.

Most citizens of Chad, Libya and Yemen will be blocked from emigrating to or visiting the United States because the countries do not have the technical capability to identify and screen their travelers, and in many cases have terrorist networks in their countries, officials said.

Officials said Somalia did, barely, meet the security standards set by the United States, but will still be subject to a ban on emigration and heightened scrutiny for travel because it is a safe haven for terrorists. Officials said that Iran was uncooperative and would be subject to a broad travel ban, but Mr. Trump made an exception for student and exchange visas.

In Venezuela, Mr. Trump restricted only the travel of government officials and their families, writing in the proclamation that the ban was focused on that group because they were responsible for the identified inadequacies in sharing information about travelers.

Of the countries on the original restriction list, Sudan has provided sufficient assurances to avoid inclusion in the new ban; Iraq was dropped in the March revision.

The order will be challenged in the federal courts very quickly, but the administration believes it has strengthened its case against the two most viable complaints about the original order. First, the restrictions are the product of an extensive country-by-country review of cooperation with U.S. requests for information on possible terrorist suspects, and of technical capabilities to screen travelers. So it is less likely to be vulnerable to a claim that the restrictions are not based on valid security concerns as required by federal law. And the addition of two non-Muslim countries (along with the exclusion of many majority-Muslim countries) will provide ammunition against the argument that the restrictions are a thinly veiled implementation of Team Trumps calls for a clearly unconstitutional Muslim ban during and immediately after the 2016 elections.

On another much-disputed issue involving waivers from the travel ban for people with a close connection to U.S. citizens or entities, fresh litigation is entirely possible, according to Politico:

The new proclamation includes waivers available to foreigners with close family members in the United States and for some people seeking to come to the U.S. for work or to do business with U.S. firms, but if the courts allow the new directive to take effect the waiver may apply to a smaller set of relatives. A mere tie to a U.S. company or organization, such as a past relationship or a speaking invitation, might not be enough to qualify.

The Supreme Court, which was scheduled to hold oral arguments on cases involving the original travel ban on October 10, has now called off the the arguments and is asking the parties to file briefs on how to proceed now. The Court could proceed with a review of issues raised by the new and old restrictions alike, or let the lower courts deal with the new order first.

Another complication is that the earlier ban on refugees  allowed by the Supreme Court to stay in place with respect to all but those with immediate family members already in the U.S  remains in place until October 24. It is generally assumed the president will at some point release a new policy with respect to refugees, but the timing is uncertain.

Opponents of the earlier travel ban have been quick to denounce the new policies as similarly flawed:

Six of President Trumps targeted countries are Muslim. The fact that Trump has added North Korea  with few visitors to the U.S.  and a few government officials from Venezuela doesnt obfuscate the real fact that the administrations order is still a Muslim ban, said Anthony D. Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

That will likely remain the most contentious issue in the courts.
Senator Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

John McCain spent most of the last week muttering his demands that health-care legislation be approved through regular order, before shocking Washington Friday with an announcement that he would not support Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidys latest attempt to repeal Obamacare. Graham and Cassidy have revised their bill once again, and the updated version merely serves to confirm McCains position: the process through which Republicans are attempting to pass a massive reordering of the American health-care system is an utter dereliction of public responsibility.

Like several previous repeal plans, Graham-Cassidy is designed around the belief that speed can outrun analysis. The latest version, which leaked out Sunday night, contains a series of revisions designed to placate Senate holdouts. The funding is tweaked to favor a handful of states whose Republican senators have indicated opposition. There is a $500 million payoff specifically tailored for Alaska:

Graham-Cassidy includes a $500 million bribe to states with waivers that cover reinsurance - which is to say, Alaska. This isn't subtle. pic.twitter.com/flhEYQhOYm  Nicholas Bagley (@nicholas_bagley) September 25, 2017

There is also, amusingly, a $750 million payment exclusively for Louisiana, home state of the bills major sponsor, Bill Cassidy:

States that expanded Medicaid after Dec 2015 get extra $$$



Louisiana -- i.e., Cassidy's state -- expanded Jan 2016 https://t.co/BitPz9ehyG pic.twitter.com/D3MVqqWmOu  Jonathan Cohn (@CitizenCohn) September 25, 2017

The most sweeping changes are a comprehensive deregulation of state insurance markets. Insurance plans would now be even more liberated to charge higher prices to sick people, and to cap payments to families. The official waiver process for deregulation would be eliminated, and in its place would be a weaker requirement that states merely submit an explanation for how their states looser or nonexistent regulations would allow adequate and affordable insurance for all. Its more like a grade-school essay contest than a well-designed regulatory regimen. The net effect would be to eviscerate the protections for people with expensive medical costs, once again leaving them to bear the burden of their own costs alone, without cross-subsidies from healthy people.

Graham and Cassidy deny this, of course. The bad faith of their last-minute push is comprehensive. They propose to rewrite every insurance market in the country in ways experts are grasping to comprehend, and to rush this massive complex change into law in a matter of days. The Trump administration is circulating ludicrously inaccurate numbers purporting to show that certain states would gain under the new formula. (Of course, Graham-Cassidy also allows the Executive branch to rewrite the funding formula as it sees fit, so any deal struck now can be revised later on.)

Cassidy committed an act of near-candor when he explained why any Congressional Budget Office analysis of the bill would be worthless. The proposal is mutating so rapidly, he told ABC News, that any study of its impact will be instantly moot.

.@BillCassidy tells @ThisWeekABC a new bill will be introduced tomorrow: "Whatever the CBO score is will be superseded by another score." pic.twitter.com/QjqCkfnhmO  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 24, 2017

Cassidy meant this comment as a dismissal of the value of CBOs analysis. But it is actually a confession about his own method. His purpose is to keep alive various incompatible promises to different Republicans senators. Some (like Lisa Murkowski) want more spending, and others (like Rand Paul) want less. The party leadership has consistently followed the strategy of last-minute legislative changes that allows them to emphasize different features to different members of Congress, hoping to secure their agreement before any outside experts can recognize what is going on, and before stakeholders can mobilize in response.

They have continued to follow this reckless strategy because, while a handful of Republicans have blocked them, the vast majority of the party has acceded, leaving them tantalizingly close. Their willingness to unleash sweeping and potentially catastrophic change, with little understanding of its precise workings, is a testament to the ideological mania for repeal that has not been dislodged. As the deadline for the latest repeal approaches, the Republican government is continuing to reveal its unfitness to govern.
Angela Merkel speaks to supporters after a debate on September 24, 2017. Photo: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Since Donald Trump moved into the White House in January, many hot takes and think pieces have dubbed German chancellor Angela Merkel the new leader of the free world. This sentiment, echoed over the weekend by Hillary Clinton, reflects the high regard in which American and European liberals hold Merkel: for her statesmanship, for her steadfast rejection of racist and authoritarian approaches to the threat of terrorism, and particularly for her open-door policy toward refugees.

That policy, for better and for worse, has become Merkels defining issue. It was a calculated risk from the start, and though she managed to eke out a fourth term in Sundays federal election, the backlash was felt both in her center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) partys unexpectedly weak showing and in the frighteningly strong performance of the far-right, explicitly xenophobic Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Leaders of the AfD, which came in third place with 13.5 percent of the vote and will seat Germanys first nationalist parliamentarians in six decades, are jubilant at their big win, telling supporters they plan to hunt Merkel from their perch in the Bundestag and reclaim our country and our people. The party had run a distinctly Trump-like campaign: lobbing rhetorical bombshells toward Germanys immigrant communities, going to war with the media, and suggesting that Germany stop feeling ashamed of the crimes of the Nazis. Like Trump, they remain pariahs among the political class, but they know how to work that to their advantage.

The AfDs outrageous tactics paid dividends largely because German democracy is suffering the same malaise as its American, British, and French cousins: Voters are increasingly disillusioned with the elites of the mainstream parties and are grasping at alternatives as much to protest the Establishment as out of real ideological conviction. While the CDU lost votes to the AfD, so did its traditional center-left rival the Social Democrats, which took under 21 percent of the vote: its worst showing in postwar history.

Yet there is no denying that the anti-immigrant, culture-war message of the AfD resonated on its own terms. It did particularly well in eastern Germany, where residents are poorer and more amenable to the depiction of immigrants as a threat to their livelihoods (and which has a shorter history of liberal democracy and anti-fascist culture than the rest of the country). Like other far-right parties in Europe today, it ran on an outspoken platform of Euroskepticism, opposition to immigration, and fear of cultural dilution. Even if most of the votes it won were protest votes, as Politicos chief Europe correspondent Matthew Karnitschnig contends, its hard to imagine that these voters did not know what kind of people they were voting for.

Sheri Berman, a professor of political science at Barnard College, is considerably more worried than Karnitschnig, writing at the Washington Post that the election reveals distressing attitudinal shifts  within German society. In particular, she points to signs that more Germans than voted for the AfD agree with some of its positions on immigration and the countrys approach to its past. To the extent that these attitudes are indeed resurgent in Germany, it draws strength by being the only party advocating the politically incorrect position on these issues.

The other indication that immigration really was the issue that won the AfD seats in the Bundestag is that German voters really dont have much else to complain about: Thats why this election was supposed to be boring. The economy is strong and stable, with the unemployment rate at 3.9 percent. Merkel is as unbesmirched by scandal as a head of state can be after 12 years in office. The E.U.s approval rating in Germany, never particularly low, rebounded since Brexit in the latest polling from Pew.

Yet while 68 percent of Germans told Pew they held a favorable view of the union, 59 percent disapproved of its handling of the refugee crisis. Other polling shows that the German public is consistently welcoming of immigrants in principle, but concerned about their countrys capacity to absorb more refugees, as well as the migrant crisiss impact on security and German ways of life. A series of terrorist incidents, including last Decembers ISIS-inspired truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market that killed 12 people, undoubtedly helped the AfD persuade voters that immigrants from the Muslim world were a liability.

Even Syrian refugees themselves acknowledge that their presence is a big part of the reason Merkel lost so much ground in this election, and while they are relieved at her victory, they find the success of the AfD deeply unsettling (as do Jews), and fear that the election results will prompt the government to tighten immigration controls further to appease the nativists. Politicos Karnitschnig expects Merkel to also take a harder line on other European countries like Poland and Hungary that have refused to take in their share of refugees, leaving Germany to shoulder the burden of a massive influx.

Whatever Merkels plans may be for the next four years, she will likely have a hard time enacting them. The CDUs weak showing, combined with the SPDs announcement that it will not form another grand coalition with its traditional rival, will likely force her to cobble together a similarly uncomfortable government with the Green party and the neoliberal Free Democrats, whose competing agendas will tie her hands in many ways. Even for an extremely talented politician like Merkel, such a scenario likely dooms bold initiatives like the eurozone reforms she and French president Emmanuel Macron have been exploring.

The AfDs success on Sunday also gives pause to those among us who had hoped that the tide of right-wing populism in Europe was abating after nationalists failed to take power in the Netherlands and France earlier this year. The celebration of those defeats was premature to begin with, as neither of those elections delivered a slam-dunk victory for liberalism. Sundays outcome is a sobering reminder of how easily fear can drive success for this brand of politics, even in a country as attuned to the dangers of xenophobic nationalism as Germany. It also illustrates the power of jihadism to influence the politics of European societies and animate their most self-destructive impulses.

Clearly, we havent seen the last of Europes new far right, and as Merkel plots the closing act of her remarkable premiership, the task she faces is to make and win the argument against them. Hopefully, Germany and Europe are not too far gone to hear it.
Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

On Friday night, Iranian state TV tweeted the following:

On Saturday night, between goading star athletes and threatening a nuclear attack on North Korea, President Trump responded:

Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel.They are also working with North Korea.Not much of an agreement we have!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

But Fox News reported on Monday that, according to two officials, the Iranian footage was actually seven months old, and showed a launch that failed when the missile exploded after liftoff. A missile was indeed rolled out at a parade on Friday, but not put into the air. Trump, not shockingly, had been duped.

The phony launch fit into Trumps narrative of an out-of-control Iran. He has repeatedly bashed the U.S. nuclear deal with the country put into place by the Obama administration, recently calling it an embarrassment in a United Nations speech.

Trump also has a thing for fake Iran videos. During the 2016 election, he repeatedly referred to footage that purported to show bags of cash being unloaded from a U.S. aircraft in an Iranian airport. In fact, it merely showed Americans getting off a plane.
Demonstrators at LAX protest President Trumps original travel ban on January 31, 2017. Photo: Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto via Getty Images

As President Trumps revised travel ban expired on Sunday his administration announced new, expanded restrictions that will bar visitors from eight countries indefinitely.

Amid the furor over the travel ban issued in January  which was revised in March after the courts blocked parts of the original order  the fact that it was meant to be a temporary measure to provide time to review vetting procedures was sometimes overlooked. Administration officials said the new ban is based on a review of which countries are complying with U.S requests for information on which visitors pose potential terrorist threats.

Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet.https://t.co/KJ886okyfC  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

What that means in practice is that the new restrictions vary by country. The original order temporarily banned people from seven majority-Muslim countries  Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, and Syria  and all refugees. The second order removed Iraq from the list, and the courts eventually ruled that people with a bona fide connection to the U.S. could not be barred.

The new order puts different restrictions on people from Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Per the New York Times:

Most citizens of Chad, Libya and Yemen will be blocked from emigrating to or visiting the United States because the countries do not have the technical capability to identify and screen their travelers, and in many cases have terrorist networks in their countries, officials said.

Officials said Somalia did, barely, meet the security standards set by the United States, but will still be subject to a ban on emigration and heightened scrutiny for travel because it is a safe haven for terrorists. Officials said that Iran was uncooperative and would be subject to a broad travel ban, but Mr. Trump made an exception for student and exchange visas.

Critics allege that countries were added and removed from the list for purely political purposes. Sudan is no longer on the list, ostensibly because its now meeting U.S. security standards. But the Intercepts Ryan Grim suggested there was more to the story:

Sudan getting dropped from the travel ban comes as the UAE has been lobbying hard for them in DC in exchange for mercenary support in Yemen  Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) September 25, 2017

And the inclusion of North Korea and Venezuela appears to be mostly symbolic. According to Politico, only 110 North Koreans received visas to travel to the U.S. in the last fiscal year. As for Venezuela, the restrictions apply to government officials  who could have been barred without being mentioned in the order  not all Venezuelan citizens. The latest travel ban still would not have kept out anyone who caused a deadly terror attack in the U.S. since 9/11.

The new rules go into effect on October 18 and do not apply to current visa holders (though once their existing visas expire, they will be subject to the ban). The order does not address the refugee ban, which is set to expire on October 24, but a separate order lowering the refugee cap is expected soon.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the revised travel ban on October 10, and it seems the new order will affect that case. A Justice Department spokesperson said the solicitor general will be updating the court about the new restrictions, adding that the administration will continue to defend the presidents lawful authority to issue his executive order.

Lawyers already fighting the previous ban suggested they will challenge the new restrictions as well.

Six of President Trumps targeted countries are Muslim. The fact that Trump has added North Korea  with few visitors to the U.S.  and a few government officials from Venezuela doesnt obfuscate the real fact that the administrations order is still a Muslim ban, said Anthony D. Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. President Trumps original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list.
Theres a temptation to treat every revelation about Robert Muellers investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election, every breadcrumb about its progress, as the missing piece bringing us closer to the undoing of the Trump administration. Thats been the norm since May, when the Department of Justice appointed Mueller as special counsel to lead a wide-ranging investigation that, in time, has featured everything from early-morning raids to grand-jury subpoenas to document-preservation requests that have kept Donald Trump, his associates, and the White House on edge.

Mueller himself is a black box  as in, hes barred by law and his own professionalism to say anything publicly about the probe. But if his actions were judged by the pace of news about what he and his team of prosecutors are up to, it wouldnt be a stretch to think hes on the brink of the next Watergate. In one particularly busy week in September, the American public got a jolt from a series of bombshells about Muellers tactics, some of them so sensational that even MSNBCs Rachel Maddow acknowledged on air the word bombshell may be losing meaning. The biggest one came from CNN, which reported that Paul Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, was the subject of not one but two foreign-surveillance warrants, each empowering federal investigators to wiretap him for set periods both before and right after the election.

Disclosure of secret surveillance of a U.S. citizen is itself a stunning development  the information is classified, and the very existence of a warrant suggests to the public that its target may be a foreign spy. The implications are simply too damaging to linger out in the open. And with no record that Manafort has been charged with a crime, at least none that has been made public yet, its no wonder that publishing this information drove him to push back, Trump-style, as if the investigation were a grand liberal witch hunt. Its unclear if Paul Manafort was the objective, Jason Maloni, Manaforts spokesman and himself a grand-jury witness, told The Wall Street Journal about the reported surveillance. Perhaps the real objective was Donald Trump.

Compound this with the August reports that federal agents executed a no-knock warrant of Manaforts Virginia home one early July morning, and a later New York Times piece indicating that Mueller all but threatened Manafort with an indictment following the raid, and the perception that were waiting for the biggest shoe to drop in the Russia inquiry seems inevitable.

But Manafort, in the grand scheme of the sprawling Russia investigation, is only one player in a long list of characters and events in Muellers sights. To turn his troubles into an expectation that something big is coming flies in the face of how complex, white-collar federal investigations work. And the reality is that this particular investigation is proceeding alongside an even more complex counterintelligence probe into Russian electoral interference that Mueller is also leading. And that both of those investigations are tethered to a third one into Trump, the president, arising from what Stephen Bannon, his ousted chief strategist, has called the gravest mistake in modern political history: the firing of FBI director James Comey. In Bannons telling, Mueller wouldnt have a job as Washingtons second-most-powerful man had it not been for his bosss folly.

All of these pieces work in tandem at a slow, steady pace, and for analysts or the chattering class to pretend that they know Muellers game plan sells him short. Anybody who purports to explain whats going on is talking out of an orifice other than their mouths, Benjamin Wittes, the editor-in-chief of Lawfare and a leading anti-Trump critic, told an audience at the International Student House in Washington in August. Wittes isnt a lawyer, but those who are and have worked these kinds of cases are of the same mind. Until such time the special counsels office decides to go public, youre not going to really know other than to the extent certain attorneys or certain witnesses decide to speak freely about what has transpired, which theyre permitted to do. But the government really isnt, said Robert Ray, a former federal prosecutor and independent counsel in the Whitewater investigation. Its kind of a one-sided process.

The one-sidedness is a feature, not a bug, of the Mueller probe, which in many respects shares elements with other large-scale federal investigations implicating dozens, if not hundreds, of witnesses and subjects, many of whom may have done nothing wrong yet know information that may be of use to the special counsel. As much as the #resistance to Trump may pine for his downfall, its not Muellers role to throw meat at them. Due process is still something he must watch out for, and in a politicized environment where even his sterling reputation has been called into question, any misstep could fuel accusations of prosecutorial overreach. If we learn, as we have, that Hope Hicks or Sean Spicer or White House counsel Donald McGahn have lawyered up and that Mueller wants to talk to them, that doesnt mean theyre in trouble  though they may well be down the road if theyre found to have lied to Mueller in service of Trump. All retaining counsel signals is that they may be privy to facts that may help Mueller understand where to take his investigation. If you were to be contacted by the special counsels investigation for an interview or subpoena before the grand jury, youd be out of your mind not to have counsel represent you, Ray said, taking his sweet time with words out of your mind. So the mere fact that someone has counsel with regard to even something as simple as an interview before the special counsels office doesnt really signal anything.

One individual who is familiar with an aspect of the Mueller inquiry but asked to not be named told New York that, unlike other federal probes that hes seen in action, where prosecutors build their cases from clear allegations, this one feels different. This is a backward investigation, the individual said. You dont have a crime. Youre searching. And so youre not really sure exactly what youre searching for. So you start asking around and you see what comes up. And you start creating a paradigm and you see what else comes up and figure out at some point whether or not theres a crime.

And yet none of us can help but wonder  and speculate  if the investigation will ultimately bring Trump down. The president may well believe in his heart of hearts that the Russia collusion narrative is a hoax, but his own White House has generated all kinds of additional controversy and unforced errors that Mueller will certainly look into. The same week the Manafort wiretap bombshell dropped, administration officials confirmed that Mueller is interested in documents and notes related to 13 different incidents over which the White House has come under fire. These are all familiar: They include Trumps retention of Michael Flynn as national security adviser, notwithstanding warnings from acting attorney general Sally Yates, an Obama administration holdover, that Flynn may be subject to Russian blackmail. Or the time Trump, with no American media present, nonetheless told Russian officials, from the comfort of the Oval Office, that nut job James Comey was no longer a liability to his administration. (I faced great pressure because of Russia, Trump said, according to a document chronicling the meeting that the Times got its hands on. Thats taken off.) And then there is Trumps teams fumbled response, from Air Force One, to the revelation that Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and Manafort met in Trump Tower with a Russian-linked attorney who promised dirt on Hillary Clinton during the campaign: The initial response offered the pretext of the adoption of Russian children instead of the meetings real purpose.

All of these blunders, some more egregious than others, are fair game for Mueller, whose mandate includes not just Russian interference, but also any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation, plus the prosecution of any federal crimes he deems necessary and appropriate. His powers are inherently broad. So to assert that Trump or his underlings may have engaged in obstruction of justice  a term of art thats up there with collusion in the quasi-legal discourse of the public and the press  is jumping the gun, but the exploration of that question is perfectly within the purview of the special counsel.

Mueller may not show his hand for a long time  and theres no need to when the tools at his disposal, like the infamous Manafort raid, may be sending helpful signals to those considering cooperating with him. As another former prosecutor put it to the Times: They are setting a tone. Its important early on to strike terror in the hearts of people in Washington, or else you will be rolled.

With or without the shock and awe, there is still a tendency to overreact to Muellers moves  especially as they are represented in the media. Marcy Wheeler, a veteran independent reporter who has written critically about the coverage around the more technical aspects of the Russia probe, says that the vacuum created by the special counsels silence lends itself to rushed, partial scoops  ones which rely on sources who are invested in a particular outcome. That introduces this asymmetry that people need to keep in mind  both when considering the motives behind a particular story and when you think you get a full view of whats happening, Wheeler says. You dont, because youre not seeing whats going on. Youre only hearing from the people who want to talk. In the absence of an official word from Mueller, who doesnt seem like one to rush to judgment, we are all left waiting for the man to finish his job.
Muhammad Rabbani. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

In London today, the director of advocacy group Cage was convicted on terrorism charges because he refused to give airport security the passwords to his electronics. Muhammad Rabbani was convicted of obstructing counterterrorism operations by not ceding access to his laptop and cell phone.

According to The Guardian, Rabbani was stopped last November while returning from a wedding in Qatar. At the wedding, he met a man who alleged that he had been tortured in the US. (Cages work focuses on civil rights in the context of the war on terror.)

Heathrow Airport authorities contend that the stop was lawful, though Rabbani was not charged with any other crime at the time of the inspection. The court handed down a conditional discharge of 12 months, meaning no jail time, and ordered him to pay 620 pounds. On Twitter, Cage announced that Rabbani was considering appealing the decision.

Rabbani will today walk out of court with his head held high and welcomed by a crowd of congratulating supporters.  CAGE (@UK_CAGE) September 25, 2017

In the meantime, the ruling sets a precedent that could have severe consequences for anyone handling sensitive information and traveling into the United Kingdom, where refusal to unlock devices for authorities could lead to prosecution. In the United States, the legality of being forced to provide device passwords when crossing the border is unclear. For local law enforcement, it is generally accepted that one can legally refuse to provide alphanumeric passwords.
Dont do it dude.

Nearly every day, Indigo Rancourt wakes up to a new Instagram message request. And though they come from a wide range of people shes never met, who live all over the globe, the message sent is almost always the same: Hey. I added u off tinder, hope thats not too creepy lol.

It is too creepy, lol. Photo: Indigo Rancourt

Rancourt, like most women on Tinder who have the unfortunate pleasure of being into dudes, is the victim of one of modern datings newest trends: Tindstagramming.

Tindstagramming

/tind-stuh-gram-ing/ noun

The act of sneaking into someones Instagram DMs after failing to match with them on Tinder.

Tindstagrammers in action. Photo: Indigo Rancourt

If youre unfamiliar with Tinder, it works like this: Youre presented with a persons profile, and you choose to swipe left, to dismiss, or right, to match. If you both swipe right, you can message each other. If you dont both swipe right, you cant. Tindstagramming happens when someone  almost always a guy  decides to subvert that cardinal rule, by leaving the app and taking his creepy DMs to Instagram.

The phenomenon has its roots in a new feature announced in April of 2015, when Tinder first allowed users to link their Instagram accounts to the app. On its face, the move seemed pretty inoffensive  now you could wow potential matches with your expertly curated grid, great!  but in practice, the change ushered in a new era for the app. Previously, Tinder had been pretty surprisingly decent at keeping its users anonymous  the only thing you knew about your potential date was their first name, general employment or education info, and whatever was revealed through their short (and usually terrible) bio. If you didnt match with someone, it was practically impossible to find them off the app. But with the advent of Instagram support, the jaded and matchless finally had another option.

Why would you go to so much trouble to message someone whos already indicated that shes not interested? The Tindstagrammer knows that the person hes contemplating Super Liking will probably never match with him, but the issue is that he vehemently believes its not his fault. Tinder profile[s], most of the time, dont provide enough information for you to find common ground with the other person, Daniel Elf, a Tindstagrammer from Tel Aviv, explained to me. [But] when sending an IG message, I can show myself  as my Instagram is a layer in an internet persona [that] I consciously built.

a segment I like to call, "boys who don't have a chance that found me on tinder and decided to slide into the instagram DM's" pic.twitter.com/jkZPYVVxMA  lindsay bluth (@karuhganlee) December 9, 2016

why did this picture just dm on instagram calling me a bitch for not matching with them on tinder https://t.co/k76XOoR3kB  ria (@mariawmyb) August 12, 2017

Usually, its some dude saying he saw me on Tinder and thinks Im hot, Madison Killian, who goes by @maaaaaadiison on Twitter, told me about her Tindstagram messages. They definitely come across as super douchey, and obviously dont respect boundaries when they message you even though you didnt match. The one that I did respond to, he got so angry that I turned him down that he wrote a fake Craigslist ad and posted my Instagram, and I woke up to like 15 horny dudes messaging me.

Unfortunately, this is far from the first case of Tindstagramming gone wrong. At first, it seemed very harmless, just a sweet guy who was very interested in me, Katie Meuser, a Tinder user from Chicago told me about one of her latest Tindstagramming experiences. I told him that I was flattered, but I didnt want to meet him, but he kept sending me messages and not respecting the fact that I said no. He kept explaining that he was a romantic and not creepy. The unwanted messages kept on coming for over two years, until Meuser finally bit the bullet and blocked the guy this July.

TWO. YEARS. Photo: Katie Meuser

The first time it happened, I was honestly shocked, Rancourt confessed to me. I didnt think this actually happened  that people honest to god thought DM-sliding from Tinder was gonna be the way to, what, get laid? Fall in love? I dont know what theyre looking for, but its not coming from me.

Mike, an NYC-based Tindstagrammer who preferred to stay anonymous, told me that hes actually gotten dates from these blind messages. He used to write down girls Instagram handles before swiping right on them, so he could follow up with a DM if they didnt match, a method he said worked for him about 2 to 3 times out of 30. Part of good game is not giving a fuck and doing everything you can to meet women, he explained. The No. 1 reason [its so common] is probably because its easy. Yes, its ineffective, but its so low effort that its hard to justify not doing it if you are committed to doing everything you can to meet girls.

This is the root of the problem. If Tinder were to do away with linked Instagram accounts tomorrow, the problem wouldnt be fixed. If Instagram removed DMs, nothing would change. Tindstagramming doesnt happen simply because its easy, or because the apps algorithm is subpar; it happens because a lot of guys (both online and IRL) still dont trust in a womans ability to say no and mean it. Tindstagramming isnt a problem with Instagram, or even with Tinder  its a problem with men.
Gov't chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa

After their brazen attempt to introduce the anti-age bill in Parliament was thwarted last Thursday, by a determined loud opposition, NRM strategists returned to the drawing board with some suggesting recourse to physical violence to muscle the highly divisive amendment through the House.

On Friday, a day after the failed attempt, proponents of the anti-age limit bill were locked up in a series of meetings -- following up on their sit-down with Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga on Thursday afternoon.

One radical course of action they contemplated, sources said, is the use of raw force to defeat opposition to their wish to open a gateway towards a possible life presidency for Presidency Museveni.

The strategists were adamant that given their numbers, they can ably deal physically with any resistance from the opposition.

Some 30-something MPs cant fail us and I can assure you, we shall not allow them to repeat what they did on Thursday, a senior NRM party official at parliament told The Observer.

We are ready for them; we shall lift them and throw them out of the chamber such that we can transact business in peace, the official who preferred not to be named said.

The suggestion to physically eject opposition MPs came moments after the Thursday afternoon meeting with Kadaga, which was attended by NRM members of the Parliamentary Commission namely, Robinah Nabbanja (Kakumiro Woman), Arinaitwe Rwakajara (Workers) and Peter Ogwang (Usuk).

They were joined by the Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa (Kiboga Woman) and the mover of the bill, Raphael Magyezi (Igara West).

Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah who on Thursday, September 22, deferred the tabling of the controversial motion, also attended the meeting.

A source in the meeting said Kadaga asked for time to study their motion, as well as the counter proposal of Kassanda North MP Patrick Nsamba Oshabe for a Constitutional Review Commission, plus a pile of other related petitions.

She also reportedly told the group that it was important to let tempers calm down so that all proposals are considered in an environment, which is not as tense as it was last Thursday.

During a subsequent press conference at parliament, Nankabirwa confirmed that her group met the parliamentary leadership. She also spoke with bitterness about selfish people who had set them back in parliament.

We were denied an opportunity to transact business that concerns the people because of selfishness, Nankabirwa said, wondering why MPs opposed to the lifting of the age limit still went on with their plan to disrupt the plenary session yet by 1:30pm all MPs had been notified that the matter was off the table.

The bill will anyway come, there is no reason why a member should be gagged...it cant die in the corridors of parliament, it has to be disposed of in the most appropriate manner, Nankabirwa said.



NUMBERS

Nankabirwas criticism of the chaos, which unfolded in parliament, did not extend to her colleagues on the ruling party side even though they, too, got involved in the spectacle.

Mathias Mpuuga (Masaka municipality), one of the oppositions key strategists, told The Observer last week that the opposition will not allow NRM to use its tyranny of numbers in the House at Ugandas expense.

Mere majority in the House cannot be used to circumvent the good prosperity of the country; it has been our clarion call that any attempt to amend the Constitution on very fundamental issues should be a consultative process, Mpuuga said.

A collision course appears to have been set by the NRM movers in light of their Friday discussions well aware of the oppositions resolve never to walk out again.

We agreed that there shall never be a walk-out of the House again because that is what they [NRM] want...it will never happen again because we are dealing with a mob, which doesnt listen, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, the chief opposition whip said.

While Nankabirwa told journalists that the ruling party would not resort to violence, ruling party MPs who spoke at her press conference did not hide their belligerence.

If they think we are goats, that all of us on the NRM side dont understand, they should know that we are ready to deal with them. If it comes to flexing, my friend, they should not joke, Katerera MP Hatwib Katoto said.

The opposition strategists are understood to have met on Friday and Saturday but had not concluded their plan by press time.



sadabkk@observer.ug
A former lawyer with Uganda Revenue Authority, who received part of the Shs 6 billion shared between 42 government officials who successfully argued Ugandas capital gains tax cases against two British oil firms; Heritage Oil and Tullow Oil, has sued challenging parliaments recommendations.

In June, parliament adopted a report of the committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) recommending that the beneficiaries of the so-called oil cash presidential handshake refund this money, and that the IGG should investigate them further.

But in his suit filed in the Civil division of the High court on Friday, Ali Ssekatawa, who was paid Shs 242 million, wants a judicial review of the findings and recommendations.

Ali Ssekatawa (L) with URA commissioner general Doris Akol appearing before COSASE earlier

While also seeking constitutional interpretation, the former official now an employee with the Petroleum Authority, names the Attorney General, Parliamentary Commission and COSASE as respondents.

It is not clear if Ssekatawa has considered the immunities enjoyed by MPs and Parliament under both the Constitution and the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act  which laws protect them from litigation arising out of their work.

He says, though, that the committees proceedings were conducted in a manner that contravened the principles of natural justice.

On January 19, 2017, Ssekatawa says, Mbarara Municipality MP Michael Tusiime moved a motion seconded by Anita Among (Bukedea Woman), Elijah Okupa (Kasilo) and Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East) urging parliament to investigate the circumstances under which Shs 6 billion was paid to the 42 public officers.

Ssekatawa says Tusiimes actions were illegal because parliament relied on unauthentic documents from highly questionable sources.

No formal record existed before Parliament from relevant government institutions in regard to the allegations made in the motion and no verification was done of the same prior to passing the motion, Ssekatawas affidavit reads.

He claims the motion was moved contrary to Article 163 of the Constitution, which specifically empowers the Auditor General to audit public expenditures and report to the legislature.

In the result, the Parliament of Uganda and more specifically COSASE did not have legal mandate or ability to investigate financial expenditures of entities prior to their evaluation by the office of the Auditor General as envisaged by law, Ssekatawa says.

The suit attacks COSASE, which he says was constituted of highly conflicted MPs. Abdu Katuntu, COSASE chairman, and Medard Lubega Sseggona, were conflicted because they were members of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee of the 9th Parliament, which he says summoned the same government officers, queried expenditures on the arbitration cases and eventually approved the budgets.

Ssekatawa says COSASE did not give enough opportunity to the beneficiaries of what he calls the presidential reward to be heard, thereby denying them a right to a fair hearing in contravention of articles 20(1) and 3; 28 (1); 42 and 44 of the Constitution.

During the course of hearings before COSASE, the chairman and members of the committee exhibited apparent bias, Ssekatawa says.

This was evidenced in the manner in which they conducted the inquiry.

Ssekatawa says a controversy also arose as to the interpretation of articles 98 and 99 of the constitution on whether the president as a fountain of honour has discretionary executive powers to reward public servants.

Article 98 stipulates that, There shall be a President of Uganda who shall be the Head of State, Head of Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces and the Fountain of Honour.

Article 99 says, The executive authority of Uganda is vested in the President and shall be exercised in accordance with this Constitution and the laws of Uganda.



dkiyonga@observer.ug
Morrison Rwakakamba, a former presidential aide (research) and vociferous supporter of the ruling NRM, has said the country risks disintegrating if Parliament amends Article 102(b) of the Constitution and removes the upper 75-year age cap for presidential candidates.

In a Monday interview with Baker Batte Lule at his office in Najjeera, Kira municipality, Rwakakamba explained his fears. Excerpts:-



Why did you resign from government?

It was time to get onto the balcony and get fresh perspectives. Being on that balcony gives you time to say, eeh, what is going on here?

When you are on the dance floor, you cant figure out how the dance is moving. I also wanted to join the private sector and public interest-related consulting.

Morrison Rwakakamba

You couldnt handle the two alongside each other?

Not at all, you know when you are in government, the terms are very clear; you are a fulltime employee. Government demands full time and when you want to concentrate on the private sector, it is also a 24-hour job.

I had served government for almost five years, offering policy views. There comes a time when you want to serve the country in other areas. The private sector is critical to economic growth because its where the jobs are created and where the public sector gets taxes.



Just five years in government and you call it quits; that sounds very non-Ugandan

I left without any recriminations. My five years were a period of getting experience in government, which I had not served before.

I had worked in the private sector and civil society; so, my five years in government were about learning. My concentration was fusing the scientific analysis to make sure that government decisions are made backed up by scientific evidence.



Did you succeed in doing that?

You could say not 100 per cent. There are aspects like believing that defeating corruption wasnt essentially about having laws but about sharing information, where, for example, the ministry of Finance would publish money remittances to different institutions so that people follow what is going on and hold government accountable.



When in government, were you convinced that people running it were up to the task?

There is need for more imagination. I think the President [Museveni] is more concerned with maintaining a hold onto power. For example, you have a parliament spending so many hours trying to diminish the Constitution by removing Article 102(b) instead of concentrating on those things in the [2016] manifesto.

When the president was inaugurating cabinet, he put out what he called strategic guidelines with clear parameters around investment, security, land, and environment. That was at the beginning of this kisanja [5th term] called Hakuna Mchezo [no games], which was about service delivery. But the entire cabinet and parliament [are] busy weakening the Constitution in order to perpetuate a life presidency.

To say you want Uganda to move to a middle-income status yet you are presiding over an economy that is growing at 3.8 per cent per annum [to get into the middle-income bracket], you need an economy that is consistently growing at 10 per cent per annum for ten years.

If your population is growing at three per cent and that population is jobless because even the economic growth of three per cent is largely in the service sector, and then you dont see concerted conversation in all agencies of government Deploying money on buying a machine to detect pornography and not in the productive sectors of the economy shows that your agenda is not transformative.



You are one of the people who pushed for President Musevenis re-election. One year down the road you are crying about the lifting of age limits. Why should anyone listen to you?

I did not see President Museveni tampering with the Constitution or covertly trying to stimulate members of parliament to overthrow it. I thought this was kisanja hakuna mchezo; the manifesto was fantastic.

I got indications of a change of heart by Museveni when he appointed the cabinet. I thought we would have a leaner cabinet; I thought he would appoint professionals.

But it was about regional balance, tribes [and] rewarding supporters; I began to sense that Museveni was in campaigning mood. We are entrapped in a [circle] where you have rhetoric but the practical things that you do are no different from the past.

The country is trapped. We need to have a national conversation on why we have an economy that is not working, why we have failed to manage a transition. We need a dialogue facilitated by credible nonpartisan conveners. We are concerned with the age limit removal that is our last firewall; this country is in that situation envisaged by [late brigadier] Noble Mayombo who moved a motion to cap the age.

All these things were envisaged by those people, they knew that one day the country [would] be in this stalemate, and perhaps what would save it would be this 75-year age cap because building institutions capable of delivering free and fair elections to help us with the transition would take a lot of time.

Isnt it erroneous to say the 75-year age cap was a safeguard for peaceful transition and not a ploy by President Museveni to lock out former president Milton Obote?

I dont think so; the cap was to help in transiting from one leader to another in a free and fair election but that takes time.

So, if you dont have institutions that can deliver, then you have term limits. If the term limits were removed through political manoeuvring, then at least have other caps.

Term and age limits, as safeguards, should have been entrenched so that you dont have members of parliament sitting and removing them; make them only removable by the people through a referendum. If Im to ever support amending Article 102(b), it would be to entrench it.

Morrison Rwakakamba in his office

Is there anything that can be done to stop parliament from removing age limits?

We should summon the better angels in our MPs. I think it would be wrong to make this a debate between the NRM and the opposition  this will alienate NRM leaders and independents.

There are NRM people who believe that removing the age limits is counterproductive and portends a very bleak future for our country. Before allegiance to the political party, one has allegiance to the Constitution and the country and that is what they swore to.

By framing the debate as us against them is a political calculation to rally MPs to the NRM flag instead of the countrys flag. Those leading the debate against removing age limits should not ostracise the MPs supporting it but should try to appeal to them not to be on the wrong side of history.



I have read elsewhere about you calling upon all Ugandans to do something to protect the Constitution. What is it that you want them to do?

Citizenship and patriotism come before other loyalties. I call upon everybody, in a peaceful way, to act by, say; writing to his/her member of parliament and express fears about the removal of age limits. It could be a text message to say; look we can defend and protect our Constitution.

It could be organising town hall meetings, fireplace conversations with community leaders. This is a very consequential decision; if it goes beyond the deletion, we will be removing the last firewall that guarantees peaceful transition. If it passes, it portends trouble for the country and it pushes Ugandas risk profile through the roof.



You mean President Museveni is such a risk for Uganda?

You are faced with a life presidency and opening this window is allowing Museveni to be here not only beyond 2021, but 2026, or even 2031.

In my view, President Museveni has done his part, he should be retiring. If he doesnt, he is pushing us to the Zimbabwe corridor, where the president has no capability to drive the country. That is not a situation we want. We would want to see a clear end game.



Proponents of the age limit amendment say what they are doing is legal

No one is saying that you dont have a right to amend the Constitution but your right to amend should aim to strengthen it. Good men and women in parliament should entrench those provisions that protect its spirit.

The president has been saying that the problems of Uganda are the what not the who. The what has been here: its the lack of jobs, health care, the education, which is more about schooling and less about learning; infrastructure and institutions that are diminishing.

Like he has said, we know the strategic bottlenecks. The who has been here trying to solve the what but if the what is not changing, then the problem is the who.

Year 2021 is the opportunity to re-imagine the who to be able to solve the what. Those calling for the removal of age limits perhaps have already bought flats in Nairobi and South Africa; they know when problems come, they will escape.

When you have elections that have problems like the three Supreme court judgements said...the hope that is left for the people is the Constitution.

If its removed, then people lose hope and you cannot comfortably say that people will not try to look for other means that are violent in nature that the constitution had tried to stop. I really hope that doesnt happen.



bakerbatte@observer.ug
Twelve years after they were scrapped, presidential term limit is back on the national stage, being dangled as trade-off for the removal of presidential age limits, in multiple motions lodged with Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.

The movers of the motions are seeking leave of parliament to introduce private members constitutional amendment bills parallel to the ruling NRM-promoted Rapheal Magyezis bill seeking to remove presidential age limits.

A common thread in some of the motions is that they either offer a trade-off for saving Article 102(b) on presidential age limits, or are deliberately designed to overwhelm parliament.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga handed a copy of the Constitution by President Museveni last year

By Friday, all hedging was cast aside as Workers MP, Dr Sam Lyomoki, filed what could yet amount to the most aggressive attempt to engineer a dignified exit for President Museveni -- a bill for restoring the term limit and guaranteeing Museveni immunity from prosecution for any crimes.

Our president fears to leave because other people might want to pounce on him when he leaves power. This bill will cater for his retirement peacefully so that no one pursues him, but that is if he goes peacefully, Dr Lyomoki told journalists.

After 31 years at State House, Museveni will be 77 when the next election comes round in 2021. Despite promises not to stick around after 75, it is suspected that those fanning the flames, which could burn Article 102 (b), enjoy his unspoken approval.

This has left Speaker Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah in some difficulty given the public outrage over the Raphael Magyezi (Igara West)s proposal to bury presidential age limits.

But even at this early stage, there are questions hanging over Magyezis prospects after Oulanyah maintained that his motion has not yet been fully filed. Parliament has not received a copy of his proposed bill.

Last week, Oulanyah, in adjourning the House, hinted at the heavy workload ahead saddled by the speakers office in the face of the multiple motions.

Oulanyah said the House had to be adjourned last Thursday because Kadaga needed time to understand the full extent of the two motions (Magyezi, Nsamba motions) and that she also had a pile of other petitions. Since then, many more motions have been filed.

At the other extreme, the counter motion filed by Patrick Nsamba Oshabe (Kassanda North), urging the government to urgently constitute the long-awaited Constitutional Review Commission, is ready but faces hostility from the ruling partys overwhelming House majority.

Oulanyah had also revealed on Thursday that several other petitions have been delivered to parliament, completing a feeling that the House leaderships objectivity is being tested on Parliament avenue.



SUCCESSION

On Friday, Lyomoki filed his notice for a motion requesting leave of parliament to move a private members Bill entitled, The Museveni Succession, Transition and Immunities bill, 2017. In it, he assures Museveni of a soft landing, free of prosecution and persecution, once he retires.

There is also a provision of smooth transition of power. A day earlier, the same Lyomoki had drafted another notice for a similar motion for a bill to reinstate presidential term limit.

The two-five-year term limit previously provided for in Article 105(2) was controversially scrapped during an acrimonious process in 2005. Ruling party MPs received Shs 5 million reportedly as part of a deal to amend that article by deletion.

As fate would have it, Oulanyah (then still a member of the opposition Uganda Peoples Congress party) was the chair of the Legal and Parliamentary committee, whose report recommended the lifting of term limit. His reputation took such a beating that he lost his Omoro seat in 2006.

The reinstatement of term limit as an option was first publicly mooted by some NRM legislators during a caucus meeting held last Wednesday, September 20, to formally back Magyezis motion.

We want to see whether cabinet will rally behind it because it seems they want all bills related to elections so, we hope they will also call a cabinet meeting and endorse my bill, Lyomoki told journalists at parliament on Friday.

Sources in parliament have revealed that another member, Mbwatekamwa Gaffa (Kasambya), is waiting in the wings with a motion for a private members bill to scrap the constitutional provisions on minimum academic requirements for all elective positions in the country.

At the same time, John Baptist Nambeshe (Manjiya) has a draft bill, which proposes that MPs appointed to cabinet must resign their parliamentary seats.

More MPs have filed separate motions

Nambeshe said on Saturday that his intention is to fully apply the doctrine of separation of powers; to allow the Executive and Parliament finally stand as independent institutions in key decision making.

Nambeshe cited the recent public declaration of support for the Magyezi proposal by 20-plus ministers as the sort of interference he seeks to cure. His bill, he said, would entrench parliament as a separate centre of power, devoid of infection from the executive through cabinet ministers who wear two hats as MPs.



PARALYSIS

Meanwhile, Mbwatekamwa said that unless the Constitutional Review Commission is put in place, legislators opposed to the removal of age limits plan to draft even more motions. That could paralyse parliamentary proceedings.

Nsamba, who revealed that he has another motion, barring private members bills on constitutional amendments, said the strategy is both to counter the Magyezi motion, and give chance to the executive to acknowledge the importance of an omnibus bill, which embraces all proposed constitutional amendments from different quarters.

We are all targeting the enemy. Other motions will come in and by Tuesday, you will hear and then we will see how the speaker and cabinet will say they are only allowing the Magyezi motion. We have all the time on Article 102(b) and it can be postponed to the next parliament, Nsamba said.

A host of electoral reforms ordered by the Supreme court in their ruling on the Amama Mbabazi 2016 presidential election petition necessitate amendments to assorted articles of the Constitution. The court set a timeframe of two years within which this should be done

Policy wonk Godber Tumushabe, who is executive director at the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies, affirms the suggestion that tabling numerous motions on constitutional amendments could very well bastardise the Magyezi motion.

In an interview on Saturday, Tumushabe said the only discussion parliament should engage in is on how to secure peaceful and dignified transition from President Museveni.

Legislators should throw their weight behind Dr Lyomokis proposed bill to create the safeguards for peaceful retirement of the President. After 30 years, he has probably done many bad things that he needs to be guaranteed a safe and peaceful retirement, Tumushabe said.



Implication of motions

A senior legal officer at parliament, who declined to be quoted on record, told The Observer that the speaker now has to exercise her discretion as the head of the institution, to engage all the legislators with motions.

She will have to listen to them, weigh their legality because some of those motions may be unconstitutional and explore whether some of them can also be consolidated, the officer said.

Rule 111 of Parliaments Rules of Procedure outlines how a private members bills can be introduced by way of motion. For the motion to be approved, the whole House must first vote to grant the mover leave of parliament to introduce the bill.

Chair of the House committee on legal and parliamentary affairs, Jacob Oboth-Oboth (West Budama South), told The Observer on Saturday that while the rules do not bar any member from tabling a private members bill, reason must prevail.

It is proper that we handle this constitutional amendment process with rationality rather than with sentiments, he said. The greater [point] is that the stakeholders should have an interest in this. However, the first motion to be taken to the speaker takes precedence.

The wider implication of the flurry of motions being waved, Oboth-Oboth said, is that it emphasises the need for a comprehensive constitutional review as opposed to current piecemeal efforts. In principle, the NRM backers of the Magyezi proposal are open to all-comers, apparently confident in their numbers.

It is okay for another member to have a motion. Let us debate the motions and vote on them in the first round where one is seeking leave of Parliament, government chief whip Ruth Nankabirwa said on Friday.

If Nsambas motion carries the day, we will go with that. How shall we know what Magyezi or Nsamba wants if they are gagged? It is uncivilisation of the highest degree. Whatever comes, when we take the vote, whoever carries the day we shall support it.

Nankabirwa acknowledged that more amendments will come up obviously but the amendments are controlled by Article 93, which dictates that Parliament shall not introduce a motion (including an amendment) that would impose a charge on the Consolidated Fund.



eyotaru@gmail.com
Ugandans in the diaspora have launched a new resistance campaign against attempts to amend the Constitution of Uganda in order to lift the cap on the presidential age limit.



The campaign was announced at a conference held this morning at the Boston Marriot in Newton, Massachusetts. The conference was attended by Ugandans from across the United States of America, who came together to purposely discuss the proposed constitutional amendment.



It was organized at the backdrop of a spirited fight by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party MPs to amend article 102 (b) of the Constitution, a move which would lift the last hurdle for President Yoweri Museveni to seek re-election when his term of office expires in 2021.

Anti age removal protest in Lira town

Born in 1944, President Museveni would not be eligible to contest for the seat under the current provision.



But Martin Byakuleka, a member of the Ugandan Community in the United States of America described the proposed amendment as absurd adding that by seeking to extend his three-decade rule, Museveni is instead creating a bigger problem for the African continent.



Byakuleka adds that the diaspora community has a primary responsibility to fight excesses, expose abuse and restore constitutionalism and rule of law in Uganda considering that freedom of expression in Uganda is increasingly becoming limited.

"The people who made that Constitution were brave men and women. They gave that Constitution a voice. They said; here it is but should anybody touch it, you have the right to resist it. So were going to resist", he said.



"...The dictators are very good at intimidating, oppressing and bribing the primary factors in their country. Our people now can hardly protest, the moment they bring out the head, they beat, they go back. The moment they say something, they kick them they go back. There is no space to protest. So if the people inside the country who are the primary factors have no space to protest, now who are the primary factors? You have the primary responsibility to make sure that this dictatorship doesnt take hold you must make it very difficult and eventually it goes", he Byakuleka added.

Kampala Central Councillor Moses Katabu being arrested last week over age limit protests

Byakuleka unveiled an organisation codenamed the Common League of the Ugandan Diaspora, a wing that will be used to facilitate resistance efforts by various groups in Uganda. He says the wing will extend financial support to individuals and groups fighting against life presidency, to counter the NRM numerical strength.

"We must have an organised resistance, I tell you that I have a suggestion of an organisation and it is called The Common League of the Uganda DiasporaAnd this organisation shall need our struggle from now onwards. We the diaspora shall actively support brave people who go to protest on the street. Were going to facilitate them and were going to liaise with them constructively on how to defeat the dictatorship from out country. Because what all this tantamount to is a project of life presidency. If you remove 102(b) so that Mr Museveni goes to the polls over and over again, you know what happens when Mr goes to the polls, he never loses", he said.



Dr Daniel Kawuma, a member of the Ugandan Community in the United States of America urged the Ugandans in the diaspora to stop being spectators on policies that affect the general well being of Ugandans and urged them to rise up to defend the Constitution before it's too weak to protect democracy and create stability in Uganda.



"The Uganda diaspora is here to defend the integrity of the Uganda Constitution before it is too weak to defend us, before it is too weak to defend our democracy, before its too weak to create stability and certainty in our country. And before its too weak to give every boy, girl hope that they can lead our great nation.

The reality is that the Ugandans on the ground are the primary stakeholders to withstand the wills of change and resistance to this amendment. However, we have a large stake in Ugandas economy, we chose to leave our country because we wanted to look for opportunities somewhere else. But the fact that were here today, demonstrates that we love our country and that we prefer to have these opportunities back home than home", said Dr Kawuma.



Kawuma adds that the attempt to remove safeguards against life presidency in Uganda is eroding a sense of hope among Ugandan citizens.



"We need certainty. The constitution is supposed to be a powerful document that affirms that every Ugandan is led by the same rules. We cannot continue sending resources to a country that does not respect the rule of law," Kawuma added.

"Removing presidential term limits in 2005 and the attempt to remove the remaining safeguards against life presidency deeply erodes the sense of hope among Ugandan citizens. Were losing hope and when we lose hope, we stop to persevere, we lose motivation, we give up on our country and responsibilities as citizens. That is what we are trying to preventWe dont want to turn into a hopeless nation.

That is why we need to stand our ground to stop this amendment. We dont want a country and citizens to be stuck in a sense of hopelessness. And to fully restore democracy in Uganda, the parliament shouldnt be removing age limits but they should restore presidential term limits."
Turkey could cut off the crude oil flow from the northern Iraqi region of Kurdistan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, putting further pressure on Kurdistan over what Ankara sees as an illegitimate separatist vote.

Turkeywhich is vehemently opposing todays referendum on independence from Iraq that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has calledis crucial to Kurdistans oil exports to the world, because most Kurdish oil is moved through a pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

Turkey has the largest Kurdish population in the region and sees the referendum as a serious matter for its own security. Iraq and Iran are also strongly opposing the Kurdish referendum. So are the U.S. and Western European powers, who have called for the vote to be canceled because it could further destabilize the region and distract from efforts to defeat ISIS.

The referendum is proceeding, and the President of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, tweeted that he had voted.

(Click to enlarge)

Turkeys Erdogan did not say that he had definitively decided to cut off the oil exports of Kurdistan, but made clear that the option was on the table, according to Reuters.

After this, lets see through which channels the northern Iraqi regional government will send its oil, or where it will sell itWe have the tap. The moment we close the tap, then its done, Erdogan said, as quoted by Reuters. Related: U.S. Shales Most Productive Play May Peak By 2021

Earlier today, Turkeys Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that his country would not recognize the outcome of the Kurdish referendum, and could take punitive measures against the KRG, evaluating measures concerning border gates and air space.

According to shipping sources who spoke to Reuters, the oil flow from Kurdistan via Ceyhan was transiting as normal as of Monday morning local time. On Sunday, Iraq called on foreign countries to stop direct imports of oil from Kurdistan and to deal only with the central government.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Five years ago, the idea of OPEC and Russia working together on any oil and gas issue would have seemed absurd to any energy analyst worth his or her salt. But the unusual market circumstances of the past three years have made this unlikely scenario a reality.

Now, Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the industry cartel, is venturing to deepen political ties with Russia directly, based on mutual interests over the Qatar blockade and rebalancing the supply side of the worlds oil markets.

In a Saudi first, King Salman will visit Moscow next month, where he will announce the monarchys support for de-escalation zones in Syriaa stance Riyadh previously despised. The change in mindset is a direct reflection of Russias easing of criticisms against the Saudi-led coalitions fight against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia now plans to strike a deal with Moscow to extend the 1.8-million barrels of oil per day of OPEC and NOPEC production cuts that began in January. Nine months in, that agreement failed to raise prices to their previous heights.

But the joint efforts effectively thawed relations between Russia and Saudi Arabiathe latter a key U.S. ally on geopolitical issues until the end of President Obamas term earlier this year. The rise of President Donald Trump on the world stage has shaken alliances across continents. His unpredictability in continuing or disposing of bilateral or multilateral partnerships is forcing other nations to take a hard look at their own diplomatic ties. They ask: which country will we really be able to rely on when times get tough?

Related: Failed Oil Price Recovery Slams Energy Stocks

It was a win-win situation for everyone and Saudi Arabia knew it will gain a lot from this U-turn, a Saudi oil official told The Wall Street Journal. The crown prince is trying to hedge his bets by having new strong alliances in case the U.S. turns its back on Saudi again.

The American entry in the oil and gas export game in December 2015 set the scene for Russia and Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations. Until then, all U.S. oil was redirected to American refineries, which would process oil for American consumption. The Arab oil embargo of the 1970s, carried out in retaliation for Washingtons military support of Israel, left a sour taste in Congress mouth, prompting the legislative body to ban all outward oil sales.

But the past 1.5 years have seen a rebound of American oil exports that has done much to negate the effects of OPECs production cutsOPEC cuts that Venezuela desperately needed. Caracas demise, which grows more and more likely by the day as state-run PDVSA struggles to make good on its debt in this low oil-price environment, would ultimately be in the best interest of the U.S. anti-communism foreign policy agenda. So the public- and private-sector incentives for American actors to work with either Russia or OPEC to lower supplieswhich are slim anyway under an America-first objectivejust dont exist at the moment.

This is why Saudi is keen on establishing a joint energy investment fund with Moscow and importing natural gas from the Russian heartlands. Though American production is actually higher than that of Russia and Saudi Arabia individually, OPEC and Russia combined can control half of global oil exports. Unfortunately for OPEC, the KSA does not have total political control over the countries in the bloc, as demonstrated by Qatars continued rebellion against Saudis coercive foreign policy tactics.

So far, Russias stance against Qatar, the worlds largest liquefied natural gas exporter, has been lukewarm. Moscow is officially neutral on the issue, but ostracizing Doha further would be advantageous for Russias natural gas industry. So far, Qatars energy ministry has boasted its timely shipments via an Omani port after being kicked out of its previous hub in the UAE. But recruiting non-Arab and non-Muslim allies in the united front against Qatars sectarian tendencies will add economic pressure on the small Gulf emirate.

Long story short, American fossil fuel interests and Trumps election have propelled a Saudi-Russian alliance to match-made-in-heaven status.

By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com

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U.S. President Donald Trump trashed the Iran nuclear deal at the UN last week, sparking speculation about whether he intends to pull the U.S. out of the deal before a key deadline by mid-October.

The U.S. president needs to recertify the agreement every three months, with the latest deadline coming up on October 15. Theres speculation that this time around, President Trump wont issue a recertification, a move that could trigger the withdrawal of the U.S. from the international accord, with far-reaching consequences for U.S.-Iranian relations, Middle East stability, and global markets.

President Trump called the agreement an embarrassment and previously said it was one of the worst deals hes ever seen. He begrudgingly recertified the agreement a few months ago, but has hinted that this time around hell pull the plug.

Trumps case is problematic. He argues that Iran has violated the agreement, despite the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency, the official monitor of the nuclear accord, says Iran has complied. So do the other signatories to the deal, including U.S. allies.

In fact, The New York Times reported in July that Trump tasked his aides to find a rationale for declaring that the country is violating the terms of the accord. Trump is trying to find an excuse to scrap the deal, despite the lack of evidence of Iranian non-compliance.

More recently, Trump has pointed to Irans actions on missile testing and support for terrorism, which have nothing to do with the nuclear deal.

Nevertheless, Trump appears to have a preference for scrapping the deal and taking a hawkish line on Iran. But unilaterally blowing up the deal is incredibly dangerous, and the U.S. would almost certainly be on its own. The U.S. European allies would likely balk at trying to return to a state of confrontation with Iran. We already have one potential nuclear crisis. We definitely (do) not need to go into a second one, the EUs High Representative for foreign affairs told reporters at the UN.

Related: Failed Oil Price Recovery Slams Energy Stocks

Worse, the move could undermine the systems in place that monitor Irans nuclear activity, and would certainly make proliferation more likely. Eighty of the worlds leading nuclear nonproliferation experts issued a joint statement on September 13, arguing that the nuclear deal has proven to be an effective and verifiable arrangement that is a net plus for international nuclear nonproliferation efforts. They went on to add: we are concerned by statements from the Trump administration that it may be seeking to create a false pretext for accusing Iran of noncooperation or noncompliance with the agreement in order to trigger the reimposition of nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.

To what end? The problem for Trump is that hes likely overestimating what the U.S. can do on its own. Sanctions on Iran worked because it involved global coordination, and included far-reaching steps to limit Irans ability to sell oil and use the international financial system to make oil sales. The result of that coordination was to significantly curtail Iranian oil exportsa move that severely damaged the economy and forced Iran to the table.

But, the U.S. likely would have serious trouble limiting Iranian oil exports on its own.

In short, the U.S. would forfeit some of the only ways to verifiably monitor Irans nuclear program, inflict damage on its already shaky relationship with key allies, sacrifice international goodwill and make conflict more likelyall for almost no upside. The end result: needless confrontation with Iran.

If that isnt all, pulling out of the deal would essentially make any diplomatic resolution ending North Koreas nuclear program impossible. For North Korea, why would it sign on to some nuclear deal if the U.S. unjustifiably trashes a landmark nuclear agreement that it signed just two years ago?

Oil markets might interpret Trumps move to scrap the nuclear deal as bullish for oil, but Iran shrugged off hypothetical attempts to restrain its oil exports. Saeid Khoshrou, director of international affairs at National Iranian Oil Co., told Bloomberg that Iran is not worried about its ability to export oil due to U.S. action.

Iran currently produces about 3.8 million barrels per day (mb/d) and exports about 2.2 mb/d, plus 400,000 bpd of condensate. Khoshrou said that about 60 percent is sent to Asia while the remaining 40 percent goes to Europe. Before sanctions were lifted in early 2016, Irans crude exports were forced down to less than 1 mb/d, but there is much less of a chance that the U.S. could inflict a similar level of damage alone. The whole Europe wont follow policy of U.S., Khoshrou said, according to Bloomberg. For exports, Im not worried about that. Related: The Frac Sand Industry Has A Big Problem

For that reason, some think that Trump may, at the end of the day, decide not to scrap the deal. Even Iran is skeptical that the U.S. would make such a rash move. We dont think Trump will walk out of the deal despite (his) rhetoric and propaganda, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last week.

If the U.S. does pull out of the Iran deal, it will burn all conceivable options short of war with Iran as well as North Korea. Much of the rhetoric from Washington could very well be bluster, in which case, the impact on the oil market would be limited. On the other hand, military action, however inconceivable, would throw all oil forecasts out of the window.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

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OPEC should approach Libya and Nigeria, the two exempted OPEC members who were allowed to continue raising their crude oil output despite the November 2016 deal, Irans Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told media. The official said that OPEC members are compliant with their lower production quotas at an acceptable level, but rising supply from Libya and Nigeria is hampering the cartels efforts to rebalance the oil market.

OPECs actions are working and compliance is acceptable overall, although there needs to be some change, Zanganeh said, as quoted by Bloomberg. Changes are really related to Libya and Nigeria and the 100 percent compliance of everyone.

Rising production from the two exempt OPEC memberschiefly from Libyahas indeed slowed down the oil price improvement that OPEC targeted with its agreement. The North African country set a target of pumping more than 1 million bpd by the end of July, and it reached it early onan accomplishment that weighed heavily on benchmark prices.

In August, however, production outages cut Libyan supply and propped up prices. In that month, Libya pumped 890,000 bpd, according to OPECs secondary sources, down from 1.003 million bpd in July. Nigeria, which said it would join the cuts once its daily output rate reached 1.8 million bpd, produced 1.86 million bpd, secondary source data suggested. However, Nigerian data pegged its daily production at 1.74 million bpd.

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Iran was also treated preferentially in the original negotiations. OPEC agreed to let Iran raise its crude oil production by up to 90,000 bpd, Bloomberg recalls. In August, the country produced 3.828 million bpd, according to secondary sources. The data was in line with internal data, which gave a daily production rate of 3.845 million bpd.

Libya and Nigeria have collectively added about 550,000 bpd since the original deal was agreed to last year. That amount has offset about half of the output reduced by the rest of OPEC; the group agreed to cut production by 1.2 million bpd.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Negotiations between Baghdad and Shell regarding the companys possible exit from the Majnoon oilfield are still continuing, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luiebi said on Sunday. The official added that the government had not yet begun talking about the fields operation with other companies.

Reports about Shells plans to quit its Iraqi oilfields, including the divestiture of its 45-percent stake in the Majnoon field, first appeared last November. The sales were to be part of a wider divestment strategy, prompted by Shells acquisition of BG Group, which swelled its debt load.

Back then, Shell was mulling the sale of only its oilfield interests, and was set on keeping its natural gas fields in Iraq. At the Majnoon oilfield, near Basra in southern Iraq, Shell is the operator and holder of 45 percent, with Malaysias Petronas owning 30 percent, and Iraqs Missan Oil Company holding the remaining 25 percent.

The company confirmed the reports earlier this month, saying it had agreed with Baghdad on an "amicable and mutually acceptable release" of its stake in Majnoon. No timeline was specified, and judging by this Sundays statement from Al-Luiebi, the release might take some time. Interestingly, Shell started an expansive drilling program earlier this year, aimed at raising the fields output to 420,000 bpd.

Related: Expect A Major Leap In U.S. Oil Exports

The oilfield started production in 2014 and now produces an average of 210,000 bpd, according to Shells website. According to Iraqi oil officials who spoke to Reuters, the current production is around 235,000 bpd. The fields reserves have been estimated at 38 billion barrels of crude oil, and the initial production plan for maximum output was 1.8 million bpd, at a payment of US$1.39 a barrel for the consortium developing the field.

If Shell quits Majnoon, it will become the first supermajor to pull out of an oilfield project under Iraqs technical service contract, S&P Platts notes.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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India is mother of terrorism in South Asia: Maleeha Lodhi

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has categorically rejected India's allegations about Islamabad's involvement in terrorist acts, citing instances of New Delhi's sponsorship of terrorism and aggression against all neighbours making it the 'mother of terrorism' in South Asia.



"India has considerable experience in the state sponsorship of terrorism in our region," Ambassador Lodhi, Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, told the UN General Assembly, while responding to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's speech in which she called Pakistan 'the pre-eminent export factory for terror'.



In a hard-hitting statement made in exercise of her right of reply, the Pakistani envoy described Swaraj's statement earlier in the day as an 'orgy of slander' against her country. "Her comments towards my country betray the hostility that the Indian leadership has towards Pakistan - hostility we have endured for 70 years."



Ambassador Lodhi said India had "sponsored and perpetrated terrorism and aggression against all its neighbours; creating terrorist groups; destabilizing and blockading neighbours to do its strategic bidding and sponsoring subversion, sabotage and terrorism in various parts of Pakistan."



"India's proclivity to violence is also no secret. In the 70 years since its independence India has been engaged in at least over a dozen instances of the use of force and continues to face 17 insurgencies in its own land. It has fought a war with or in each of its neighbours," she said.



Jammu and Kashmir was not part of India but a disputed territory and the Indian occupation was illegal, she told the 193-member assembly. She called for the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions and for a UN special envoy to be appointed to ensure India's adherence to its legal obligations, adding that Pakistan was committed to openness and dialogue with India so long as it ended its campaign of subversion.



The UN Security Council had, in over a dozen resolutions, decided that the dispute must be resolved by enabling the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine their own destiny through a UN-supervised plebiscite, the Pakistani envoy said. India had accepted these UN resolutions, but avoided implementing them through obfuscation, diversion, deceit and aggression, she added.



Rejecting the Indian minister's claim that UN Security Council resolutions had been 'overtaken', she said, "Law has no expiry date. Morality has no sell-by date." "India's posture is that of the predator. It cannot escape its legal and moral obligation to abide by the resolutions of the Security Council," she added.



India, she said, was now also refusing a bilateral dialogue with Pakistan, either composite or comprehensive. "Violence emanates, first and foremost, from India's occupation and brutal suppression of the Kashmiri people," she pointed out.



Ambassador Lodhi also urged the UN to take steps to investigate India's ongoing and massive violations of human rights in Kashmir, end the impunity enjoyed by India's security forces, lift the draconian emergency laws and punish those responsible for the war crimes and genocide in Kashmir.



"If the international community wishes to avoid a dangerous escalation between India and Pakistan, it must call on India to halt its provocations and aggressive actions," she said. "It must end the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC). It must halt its sponsorship of terrorist groups against Pakistan."



"The state terrorism which the Indian national security adviser (Ajit Doval) has boasted is being sponsored by India's spy agencies in Pakistan's Balochistan province in what he called a 'double squeeze' strategy," she said.



Pakistan, she added, has in its custody an intelligence officer, Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has confessed to India's support to terrorist activities in Pakistan.



Deploring the Indian minister's attempt to denigrate Pakistan's founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Pakistani envoy said, "All I can say about India's current political luminaries is that they belong to a political organisation that has the blood of thousands of Muslims of Gujarat on its hands." Today, she said, this so-called 'largest democracy' is the world's largest 'hypocrisy'. "It is ruled by a government in which a racist and fascist ideology is firmly embedded. The leadership of this government emanates from the RSS, the same extremist group which is accused of assassinating Mahatma Gandhi," ambassador Lodhi said. "It is a government which has appointed a fanatic as the chief minister of India's largest state whose rallying cry to his mobs was: 'If they kill one Hindu, we will kill 100 Muslims'."
Indian troops shot dead three more civilians in IHK

ISLAMABAD: Indian troops shot dead three more civilians in Uri, Baramulla district of held Kashmir on Sunday. According to Kashmir Media Service, the forces cordoned off the village of Kalgi and began searching the residences there. The military claimed that they shot dead three people while responding to gunfire.



Meanwhile, a police official said five people including a security personnel were also injured in the exchange of fire, while two houses were damaged.



Indian security forces often open fire at civilians in the name of search operations in held Kashmir. Pakistan has been urging international community, the United Nations and human rights organisations to bring the state terrorism in Kashmir to a halt.



Acting Indian HC summoned: The acting director general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summoned acting Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh on Sunday to condemn the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian army on the Line of Control (LoC), causing the death of Pakistani civilians.



He condemned Indian aggression in Kotli and Nikial Sub Sector back on September 22 wherein a 22-year-old woman, Tashiba, was martyred and two others were seriously injured.



Despite calls for restraint, India continues to break the ceasefire with 873 violations by their army which has resulted in the martyrdom of 39 civilians as well as injuries to 144 in this year alone along the LoC.



He urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement as well as calling for a probe into the incidents.



He said that the deliberate targeting of civilians was deplorable and contrary to international human rights and humanitarian laws.



He urged the Indian side to permit the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to play its role mandated as per the UN security council resolutions.



UJC hails Pakistan PM: Hailing the Kashmir-centric speech at United Nations by the Pakistani PM, the United Jehad Council (UJC) has said that Shahid Khaqan Abbasi truly represented the aspirations of Kashmiri people and exposed the hollow and grim picture of Indian democracy.



Freedom loving people of Kashmir wholeheartedly thank the Pakistani PM. He exposed India and presented the Kashmir picture in a true way, UJC said.



The Pakistani PM while highlighting the atrocities of India in Kashmir gave a clear message to the world that long lasting peace in the region was impossible without the final resolution of Kashmir issue.



Syed Salahuddin hailed Pakistan PM for urging upon United Nations to nominate a special envoy for the implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir.



Hurriyat leaders concerned over escalation of tensions: The Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, has expressed serious concern over the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan and stressed on the leadership of both the countries to eschew bitterness and take concrete steps to resolve all issues including Kashmir amicably.



The spokesman termed situation at the borders as serious and stated that the basic reason for tension between the two countries was the lingering Kashmir issue. He said that the unresolved Kashmir issue was taking a serious toll on both countries.



The spokesman said without the resolution of Kashmir issue, peace in the sub continent would remain a challenge. It is high time India and Pakistan took serious steps to resolve the long pending Kashmir issue before it takes an ugly turn, he said.
Karachi hosting 40,000 Bohras from all over the world 25 September, 2017



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Ways that Players Used to Take Advantage of Slot Sites KARACHI: Karachi this year is hosting some 40,000 Bohras from all over the world for their annual congregation, or Ashra Mubaraka, which takes place in different cities every year. There are visitors from India, Sri Lanka, Iraq, UAE, the rest of the Gulf region and the Far East, Malaysia, UK, Canada and the US. The hotels are full as are many Bohra homes who have welcomed members of their community with open arms.



It is after about 21 years that we have so many people from our community visiting. It is the first time also that head of the Dawoodi Bohras Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin is holding the Muharram majlis series. When the gathering was held 21 years ago here the sermons were conducted by [the late 52nd leader or dai] Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, said Mustafa Tawawala, a senior member of the community in Karachi.



Since the Bohras follow the Egyptian calendar, the Muslim year for them commenced a day before everyone else in Pakistan. And the first day was marked with the birthday of the thaal or the huge stainless steel serving platter placed on a kundli or wooden stool around which some eight people can sit cross-legged to enjoy the dishes.



Usually, there are about 53 dishes on each thaal. Fifty-three because the present leader of the community happens to be the 53rd one. But thats not all, the variety in dishes is according to the concept of sakhan, which is a wish to be blessed in as big a variety of ways are there are dishes on the thaal. The more the dishes the more the blessings.



There is all kinds of food including the popular Bohra khitchra, a rice and meat dish, chicken, fish, vegetables, pickles, salads, raita, savoury dishes, deserts and fruit on the thaal. Every meal begins and ends with the tasting of salt but on the birthday of the thaal on Muharram 1, it is customary to first pass a coconut over the thaal seven times in clockwise motion. Then after



the tasting of salt it is time to have the sweetened rice. As a shukrana or thanksgiving every happy occasion within the community begins by having the sweet dish first.



On Sunday, Sakina Bookwala and family, who crossed over to Pakistan from India by train a few days ago, were on their way for the majlis in Saddar. We are travelling from Mumbai in a group. We first arrived in Lahore before coming to Karachi, said Sakina, surrounded by her immediate family which includes her little daughter Sarah, who is wearing a very pretty cap with sail boats, steering wheels, anchors and lifebuoys embroidered on it.



The family is also accompanied by the extended family comprising cousins, aunts and uncles. All could be spotted from afar in their traditional attire. The women are wearing different coloured rida and the men the three-piece white kurta, pajama and saya, a long matching coat worn over the kurta. On their heads they are wearing white caps with golden embroidery. Some also wear golden caps with white embroidery.



When asked if she suggested the design on her cap, Sarah smiled shyly before nodding. And how many caps did she have? Three, she said. This and two more, one decorated with lace and the other with ribbons, she added.



The caps serve as training headgear for when they are old enough to adorn the rida. They also prove as encouragement to dress decently, explained Sakina. All the little girls going to attend majlis wear similar caps. One girl has different colour fish on her cap, another has beads on hers. The caps match the clothes. We have plenty of cap makers within our community. They are experts in their craft, said the mother.



Some of those experts can be found at the nearby Najmi Market, too. There are shops there catering specifically to the Bohra community as they are also owned by Bohras. Unstitched rida sellers, rida tailors, shops selling lace for the borders of the pleated rida capes with hoods and the long skirts and shops which sell Bohra menswear. There are also shops selling other things of daily use such as the wooden slippers, or kharawein, as they are called, attar, bukhur, the short, fat incense sticks, thaal, kundli, etc.



The visitors to Pakistan though dont really have time to shop. Sakina and her family said that they would be leaving around the 12th of Muharram. Wish we could stay longer but the children would miss too much of school then, she pointed out.



With so many Dawoodi Bohras around all of sudden others want to know more about them, which is not easy to do as they are a very peace-loving, quiet community who keep to themselves and dont like to fuss or attract attention towards themselves. We are commonly known as Bohri here, which is a distortion of Bohra. We dont even call the bazaar, commonly known as the Bohri Bazaar that. We call it Bohra Bazaar, Mr Tawawala said.



The word Bohra means traders, by the way, he said. Our community has been associated with various trades, he added.



For instance, if you come across a Bandukwala, you can be certain that he is a progeny of someone who traded in hunting rifles. Similarly, up in the family tree of a Sadriwala there must have been someone involved in the trade of selling or making umbrellas. So our surnames say a lot about our family businesses, he said, adding that such names are common in Gujaratis, who happen to be business-minded people.



Coming back to their attire, one wondered if it could also be an issue as it sets them apart. It gives us an identity, too, says Mr Tawawala. But what if that identity makes them a target for troublemakers? We are a peaceful, non-political community. Why would anyone target us? He wondered aloud upon which he was reminded about the bomb blast outside Saleh Mosque in 2015 and the worst of all attack on Bohri Bazaar in 1987.



If we become afraid of some isolated incidents that happened over the years and dont wear our traditional clothes or stop going to our mosques, or jamatkhana, then we also lose our culture and out identity, he concluded.
Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from London

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan from London on Monday, putting to rest all speculation by political rivals. He had left for the UK about a month ago to see his wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who is undergoing cancer treatment.



All other members of his family, including daughter Maryam and sons Hussain and Hassan, are also in London and none of them accompanied the ex-PM on his return.



Sharif boarded a PIA flight from London in the early hours of Monday and arrived in Islamabad at around 7:30am.



National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, PML-N information secretary Senator Mushahidullah Khan, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Prime Minister's Adviser on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Abbasi were among the several party leaders who received Sharif at Benazir Bhutto International Airport.



Following the meeting, PML-N Senator Asif Kirmani told reporters that Sharif will appear before the accountability court in Islamabad tomorrow in connection with the corruption references filed against him. He said the former prime minister will hold a press conference after his appearance in the court.



Sharif family members told reporters that although his mother is unwell, Hussain Nawaz will also return to Pakistan, since he doesnt want it to seem as if he is evading court proceedings.



Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is also in London for consultations on political matters, visited his elder brothers residence to see him off.



The younger Sharif told the media that the decision to return was not taken spontaneously, but had been in the works for some time.



Speaking to reporters before leaving for the airport, the former prime minister said he came to London to inquire after the health of his wife.



In his remarks, Sharif continued to question the courts decision to disqualify him. We did not commit any corruption. If this was about Panama [Papers], then why was I disqualified for holding an Iqama?



Expressing dissatisfaction with the Supreme Courts handling of his review petitions, Sharif said he had never thought of not returning to Pakistan.



But the ruling partys rivals, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leadership, had been claiming that the disqualified prime minister had left to escape accountability in the references filed against him, since his departure on Aug 30.



Sharif has been summoned on Sept 26 in three corruption references, filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). No one from his side, family member or legal counsel, appeared before the accountability court in Islamabad during the hearing of the case on September 19.



Khawaja Haris, one of the lawyers for the Sharif family in the Panama Papers case, also advised the family to join NAB proceedings a couple of days ago.



Taking to Twitter to express herself, Maryam Nawaz Sharif termed her fathers decision to return home a courageous step in the face of the biased accountability process that awaits him.



In a couple of tweets on Sunday, she said: Knowing what he faces is NOT accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about his person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million.



In another tweet, she maintained: It takes great courage and valour to be willing to pay the price for challenging what needs to be changed. Not everyone can do that.



However, this was in contrast to her stance previously. On Sept 19, when asked on Twitter whether her father would face the NAB cases, Maryam Nawaz had tweeted: He should not. Must not. Should not be a part of political & personal victimisation in the garb of accountability. Its a FARCE (sic).



Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who is also wanted in a NAB reference but had been abroad for the past four weeks, also returned to Islamabad from London. A NAB court had issued bailable arrest warrants for him after he failed to appear on Sept 20.


Jan-Henrik Forster of Bloomberg reports the clock is ticking for private equity to spend through tough times: Time is ticking away for private equity firms to get ready for their next wave of deals. Rising interest rates, inflation and recession risks have eroded consumer confidence and left buyout firms facing a new reality of higher financing costs and potentially lower returns. None of which changes the fact theres more than $1 trillion sitting in their funds that needs to be spent. People say theres no financing available but then our clients are telling us we have a big fund that we have to deploy, said Umberto Giacometti, co-head of financial sponsors in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Nomura Holdings Inc. If you need to deploy, say, $10 billion in four years, and dont do anything for sixth months, you are under pressure. The shift is profound for an asset class that for more than a decade was flooded with cash from investors hunting yield in a low-i
Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association

Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation puts out weekly activity reports for its forest rangers and environmental conservation officers (ECOs) and the ranger report always includes lots of local cases.

The ECO report does not seem to focus on what our local ECO staff does, so I haven't posted it as regularly.

Here is the latest ECO report, as it includes some interesting pre-season hunting arrests. But to the DEC staff who puts together the ECO report, how about some activity local to our region? I know the ECOs in our area are busy, and we almost never hear from/about them. It would be nice to hear about what they are up to.

-- Don Lehman

DEC Environmental Conservation Officer Highlights

ECO Actions for Early September

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) enforce the 71 Chapters of NY Environmental Conservation Law, protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York.

In 2016, the 286 ECOs across the state responded to 26,400 calls and issued 22,150 tickets for crimes ranging from deer poaching to corporate toxic dumping and illegal mining, black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

"From Montauk Point to Mount Marcy, from Brooklyn to Buffalo, the ECOs patrolling our state are the first line of defense in protecting New York's environment and our natural resources, ensuring that they exist for future generations of New Yorkers," said Commissioner Basil Seggos. "They work long and arduous hours, both deep in our remote wildernesses and in the tight confines of our urban landscapes. Although they don't receive much public fanfare, the work of our ECOs is critical to achieving DEC's mission to protect and enhance our environment."

Recent missions carried out by ECOs include:

Alligator and Rattlesnake Parts at Flea Market - Dutchess County

On Sept. 2, ECO Deo Read received information that two booths at the Stormville Flea Market were allegedly offering protected wildlife parts for sale. ECO Read searched for the booths, finding one selling an alligator head, feet, jawbones, and teeth, and rattlesnake hides. The seller claimed the parts were legal. The ECO explained to the subject that he would need a permit to possess/sell any of these items in New York State. The seller was issued three summons for possessing and offering the animal parts for sale without a permit. The seller was given the Special License Office telephone number and told he should inquire about getting the required permits. The seller removed the items in question from sale and the case is pending in Town of East Fishkill Court.

Unhealthy Raptors - Otsego and Delaware Counties

On Sept. 3, ECOs Russell Fetterman and Ryan Wing, a recent graduate of the 21st Basic Academy on Aug. 25, rescued an ill great horned owl in the town of Laurens, Otsego County. On Sept. 4, ECO Nate Doig responded to a report of a sick red tailed hawk in the town of Hamden, Delaware County. Both birds were taken to licensed wildlife rehabilitators for evaluation and treatment with the hopes of returning the birds to the wild.

Garbage Dumper Confesses - Sullivan County

On Sept. 4, ECOs Tom Koepf and Corey Hornicek received a complaint that garbage had been dumped at a public fishing access at the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area in the town of Mamakating. The officers arrived and began to sort through five large contractor bags full of food waste and household garbage. Two pieces of incriminating evidence were found in the trash, both of which included an address in the nearby village of Wurtsboro. The two officers drove to the suspect's residence the next day for an interview. The 22-year-old male suspect denied dumping the garbage at first, but later confessed and apologized after being confronted with the evidence. Two tickets were issued to the man for Unlawful Disposal of Solid Waste and Depositing a Noisome/Unwholesome Substance On or Near a Public Highway.

Illegal September Buck - Orange County

On Sept. 6, ECO Chris Lattimer received a call that someone had shot a buck near Union Avenue in the town of New Windsor. ECO Lattimer called DEC Wildlife staff and found that no deer damage permits were issued in that area. Officer Lattimer spoke with the New Windsor Police Department dispatcher who had taken the original call from the shooter, who reported that he had shot the buck under a deer damage permit and was unable to find it. He had left his number and asked to be contacted if anyone found the deer. ECOs Corey Hornicek, Tom Koepf, and Lattimer went to the area in question and within 20 minutes, ECO Koepf located a dead 8-point buck. ECO Hornicek removed the bullet and, as the deer did not appear to be fit for consumption, photographed it and retained the head and bullet as evidence. ECO Lattimer then contacted the subject who had reported shooting the deer, who then stated that he was hunting the nearby apple orchard on a deer damage permit. However, the permit was for a location in Ulster County. Charges are pending for multiple violations of the Environmental Conservation Law.

Pimping a Polar Bear on Craigslist - Bronx County

On Sept. 7, Division of Law Enforcement investigators and ECOs worked together to coordinate and execute an undercover operation involving the unlawful sale of a polar bear skin rug. In New York State, it is illegal to sell polar bear skin without obtaining the proper permits. The person selling the rug offered it as a private sale on Craigslist from his home in the Bronx. Investigators contacted the seller and arranged to purchase the rug for $15,000. One investigator and an officer entered the residence in plain clothes, with uniformed members waiting around the block. Once the officers observed the rug and the offer for sale was finalized, the officers identified themselves and seized the rug as evidence. Closer inspection revealed that the rug was authentic polar bear skin. The individual was written a notice of violation and charges are currently pending. He faces a class E felony charge and up to $2,350 in civil penalties.

A Sticky Situation - Orange County

On Sept. 9, the opening day of early bear season, ECOs Max Nicols and Lucas Palmateer were patrolling Pochuk Mountain State Forest in Warwick. Multiple vehicles were parked at the trailhead, and one vehicle in particular caught the ECOs' attention when they noticed a box containing jars of honey visible on the passenger seat. The officers spoke with three hunters that had just returned from bear hunting at a nearby camp site, where they spotted jars of honey, a bag of apples, and an empty jar of peanut butter on the ground. Recognizing these items as possible bear bait, the ECOs engaged the hunters in conversation about where they planned on hunting in the morning. The next day, ECOs Nicols and Palmateer returned to Pochuk State Forest and located the hunters in the area described. The hunters immediately began to pack up and leave. The ECOs checked the area for bait, and again located two piles of illegal bait -- cold cut meats and sausages, pastries, peanut butter, and multiple piles of white rice stuck together with honey. They called the hunters back to their location. However, one of the hunters took off running down the mountain. ECO Nicols caught him at the campsite while ECO Palmateer stayed with the other hunters. All three hunters were issued tickets for Hunting Bear with the Aid of a Pre-Established Bait Pile and the subject who fled was issued a ticket for Failing to Comply with a Lawful Order of a Conservation Officer.

Illegal Deer Hunting at Night - St. Lawrence County

On Sept. 9, ECO Joel Schneller received a call from a complainant regarding the shooting of a pair of white tail deer that had been illegally taken earlier that evening in the town of Russell, St. Lawrence County. The man was later interviewed and admitted to taking both deer from a field located on West Road in Russell. He was charged with taking a deer with the aid of an artificial light, possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm from a public highway, and taking deer during the closed season. In addition to the misdemeanors, he was also charged with the violations of hunting without a license, taking deer from a public highway, failure to tag deer, and using rim fire ammunition to hunt deer. If convicted, the subject faces combined fines up to $10,000, revocation of hunting privileges for up to five years, and forfeiture of the rifle used during the illegal activity. All charges are pending in the Town of Russell Court. ECO Bret Canary contributed to the investigation.

The Old Oyster-Toad-Fish-In-A-Bag Trick - New York County

On Sept. 9, ECOs Spencer Noyes, Jason Smith, and Adam Johnson were conducting surveillance of fishermen along the East River when they noticed a man catching fish, stuffing them into a bag, and hiding the bag in nearby bushes. As darkness approached, ECO Noyes approached the man nonchalantly and asked how the fishing was, to which the man smiled and said, "No fish." ECO Noyes told the man to look behind him, and to the man's dismay, there were ECOs Johnson and Smith holding two black plastic bags. The man quickly confessed to catching two Oyster Toad Fish, which were both undersized. The fish were still alive and returned to the East River. The man was issued two summons returnable to New York County Court in November.

If you witness an environmental crime or believe a violation of environmental law has occurred, please call the DEC Division of Law Enforcement hotline at 1-844-DEC-ECOS (1-844-332-3267).
A major Adirondack environmental group called Monday for the state to step in and halt a plan to store hundreds of unused rail cars on a rail line owned by Saratoga & North Creek Railway north of North Creek.

The railway, though, rejected the call as misguided rabble rousing and said the state has no standing to challenge the plan.

The cars that Saratoga and North Creek Railway plans on storing for its customers will be stored safely and with every due consideration for the environment, said the companys lawyer, David Michaud.

Protect the Adirondacks questioned Monday whether storage of cars on the line constituted a new use of the tracks that should trigger a review by Adirondack Park Agency, and whether it should be allowed in the state forest preserve.

Peter Bauer, executive director of Lake George-based Protect the Adirondacks, compared the situation to efforts to site a landfill in Essex County for out-of-region waste in the 1990s, which were rebuffed by the state.

He said in a news release that the cars the rail company has been storing on the line in recent years have been vandalized and had peeling paint, showing that there will be an environmental impact to leaving train cars parked in the forest preserve. The organization also released photos of the dozen or so hopper cars and former passenger cars that have been stored north of North Creek.

Quite simply, the Adirondack Park is a region that should not be used for storing waste, Bauer said in a news release. There has been a longstanding principle, longer than 30 years, that the Adirondack Park should not be used for storing or disposing of waste from outside the Adirondack Park.

Bauer questioned whether using the line for rail car storage would constitute a new commercial activity that should be subject to local control and should be reviewed by the APA.

Weve seen many cases over the years where small businesses in the Adirondacks had to secure new commercial use permits from the APA in order to utilize an existing building. We believe that the proposal of Iowa Pacific to utilize the Sanford Lake Rail Line constitutes a new commercial use, he wrote.

The APA did not respond to phone and email requests for comment on the issue Monday.

Michaud said Bauers analysis about a change of use does not appear to be based in fact or law, though.

The placement of the cars into storage will be done in full compliance with the provisions of the license and operating agreement between the railway, the town, and the county. None of the cars that are being stored will contain hazardous materials, Michaud said in a prepared statement. None of the cars will impinge on the railways ability to provide other freight services.

Bauer added that the plan to store cars on the line seems to show that plans to remove stone from the former Tahawus mines were not going to happen and the tourist rail line was failing.

Its time to take a hard look at getting out of the railway contracts in Warren and Saratoga counties, purchasing the Sanford Lake Rail Line and converting the rail line to some kind of multi-use pedestrian trail. This would be a true community-to-community trail from Saratoga Springs to Newcomb, a European style countryside walking trail, a bike trail, a totally accessible trail, a cross country ski and snowmobile trail and it already has both a wide, defined corridor and connects hamlet areas.

The dividends for the region and for communities along the rail line would be far greater with a community-to-community pedestrian trail than with a dying railroad whose only viable revenue stream comes from trashing the Adirondacks, Bauer wrote.

Railway General Manager Justin Gonyo told Warren County supervisors last week the train cars were on their way to the companys line at that point, and should start arriving this week. He would only say that hundreds were expected, and it was not known what they had been hauling or how long they would be stored.

Warren County owns the rail line the company operates on in Warren County. The town of Corinth owns it in Saratoga County. Saratoga & North Creek has operated a tourist train since taking over service on the line in 2011, but it has struggled to develop freight traffic and that has led to money problems.

The company drew fire from Protect the Adirondacks and other Adirondack groups in August 2015 when it proposed storing empty oil tank cars on the same line and it later withdrew the proposal. Saratoga & North Creek then wanted to put empty tankers in Corinth, but that idea died amid backlash as well.
QUEENSBURY  Jeff Tennyson, Warren Countys superintendent of Public Works, wont have an exact count of how many cars traveled to the Warren County airport until the end of the week.

But Tennyson is confident that the 45th annual Adirondack Balloon Festival drew more people than any previous staging of the event.

We sold more VIP parking passes than ever before; the voluntary donations topped $20,000, the highest ever; and Saturday afternoon, we were parking cars on the grass safety strips for the first time ever.

All six of the balloon launches went off  four from the airport and two from Crandall Park.

Given the fact that the weather was so great, and we had record-breaking numbers, I think things went pretty well, said Tennyson, who had worked with county and balloon festival officials to redesign the traffic flow for parking.

One of the key changes was that visitors taking advantage of free airport parking entered from Ridge Road, leaving Queensbury Avenue for VIP, paid parking passes and those willing to pay $5 or $10 at private lots near the airport. Some issues arose with the new setup, but traffic backups have occurred every year when launch weather looks good.

Its not designed as a festival site, Tennyson said. You wouldnt design it the way the roads are now if it was being used for events. We do the best we can with it.

Traffic was especially heavy for the Friday evening and Saturday morning launches.

With the forecast, and getting out there early, people knew they wanted to come, he said. And we did not get a mid-afternoon break Saturday. People were still coming in at 4 p.m. Sunday was a little lighter, and I think that was because people had already seen great launches.

One issue that cropped up Friday afternoon, according to some Queensbury parents, was that traffic backed up early on Ridge Road, meaning students spent far longer on their buses than usual.

That backup went all the way down Ridge Road to Quaker Road.

There was also concern from those using handicapped parking, which was moved to the south end of the airport.

We will get together as a group and look at what we can do to make it better, Tennyson said.

Kevin Geraghty of Warrensburg, the acting county administrator, said Monday he had heard of no issues.

Balloon festival officials said that, despite the high temperatures, they were not aware of any spectators or participants having heat issues.
FORT ANN  Two Vermont men were jailed early Sunday after state troopers seized quantities of heroin, cocaine and marijuana when a car they were in was stopped for driving with a headlight out, authorities said.

The two were found to have nearly 100 packets of heroin after troopers stopped their vehicle shortly after 2 a.m. on Route 149 and determined the driver was driving under the influence of drugs and had a suspended drivers license, according to State Police.

That led to a search of the vehicle, the driver and a passenger, and led to felony arrests of both, police said.

The men were headed to Vermont and had drug paraphernalia that included a scale and glass pipes, police said.

Charged were the vehicles driver, Brian M. Davidson, 35, of New Haven, Vermont, and passenger Benjamin O. Broughton, 37, of Bristol, Vermont, police said.

Davidson faces two felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and a felony charge that alleges he drove under the influence of drugs, while Broughton was charged with two felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, police records show.

Each also faces a non-criminal count of unlawful possession of marijuana, police records show.

Police said Broughton was arrested for heroin possession in New Haven, Vermont in May after he was found unconscious in a parked vehicle, police reports show.

Broughton was taken to Glens Falls Hospital for an unspecified medical problem that occurred during his arrest, but was released and arraigned and sent to Washington County Jail. Davidson was also arraigned and sent to Washington County Jail.

The arrest by troopers Tiffany Bezio and Anthony Salvatore was the latest in a spate of cases originating from traffic stops on the Route 149-Route 4 corridor through Washington County, a major thoroughfare to and from Vermont.

State Police said heroin packages that dealers buy for $30 or so in urban areas sell for up to $130 in the Glens Falls region and Vermont.
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A Quad-City police officer suffered serious injuries late Monday morning after his squad car was struck by a stolen garbage truck near Buffalo.

Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane said the officer, who was not in his vehicle at the time of the collision, was airlifted to University Hospitals, Iowa City. He declined to identify the officer and his agency, adding that those details likely would be released Tuesday morning.

Lane, who fought back tears during an interview with reporters near the scene of the accident, confirmed that the officer's immediate family was notified about the incident.

Buffalo City Council member Olin Meador later told the Quad-City Times that the officer involved in the crash is Buffalo Police Chief Terry "TJ" Behning.

Meador answered calls about the accident Monday afternoon at Buffalo City Hall.

"Everybody in town is worried about our police chief," he said. "He's that good of a guy."

Two men have been taken into custody in connection with the incident, Lane said.

Driver charged with attempt to commit murder

The driver, Logan Shoemaker, 20, has been charged with attempt to commit murder, serious injury by vehicle, robbery first degree, theft second degree, stalking and other charges. Police allege he threatened the life of the garbage truck driver before taking possession of the vehicle, according to a news release.

Lane said one of the men  later identified as Shoemaker  had been under investigation by the Davenport Police Department for a serious stalking issue, where it was predetermined that this person definitely needed to be brought into custody."

Once they located him near Credit Island Park in Davenport, he and a second man took off in a red pickup and a chase ensued. The vehicle drove out of Davenport on U.S. 61 and turned north on Y48, also known as West Lake Park Road, and then turned onto a gravel road at 145th Street, also known as Telegraph Road, which parallels U.S. 61, toward Blue Grass.

There was a lot of dust on the road, and the pickup crashed. At that time, one of the men, who deputies believe was the passenger in the vehicle, was taken into custody.

Then, the man believed to be the driver took a garbage truck and drove through Blue Grass, where there was a minor accident.

The garbage truck continued toward the intersection of Y40, also known as Red Ball Road, and Iowa 22, where an officer was out of his squad car to deploy stop sticks to try to flatten the vehicle's tires.

It appears the garbage truck swerved toward the officers squad car and struck it. The officer suffered severe injuries.

The driver was arrested and taken to a Quad-City hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, Lane said.

He did not know how fast the pickup was driving at the time of the initial pursuit.

Lane said he did not know how the man acquired the garbage truck. He said the truck belongs to Republic Services and was being used for business purposes in that area.

An accident reconstruction team was called to the scene.

(Tara Becker contributed to this story.)
The Quad-City Negro Heritage Society celebrated its 50th anniversary with a look at the past during "An Evening Out" Sunday at the Holiday Inn, Rock Island.

This evening, we want to celebrate our past and present accomplishments, said society President Vanessa Newkirk, of Davenport, who gave a welcome. These ladies started out as a study group of black history.

The longest-serving member of the society, Gloria Spencer, of East Moline, who served five times as president of the society, presented a history of the group. She moved to the Quad-City area with her husband, Roscoe Spencer, in 1964. Our country had just passed the Civil Rights Bill in 1964, and times were changing, she said. Information and privileges were becoming more accessible, to not only the Quad-Cities, but to people of color all over the United States.

The ultimate goal, she said, was to educate the community about the accomplishments of African-Americans in America and throughout the world.

I saw that there was a need at this particular time for an organization such as this, said Martin, who attended Sundays event. She said she thought the group could do a lot to make people aware of the black community, with the objective to educate the community and also ourselves.

Among the groups first initiatives was donating books about blacks written by blacks to local libraries, Newkirk said. Additionally, the society brought the nationally renowned Ebony Fashion Fair Show to the Quad-Cities, and established a debutante cotillion in 1978.

This is my life, said Marlene Toney, of Davenport, who served twice as president of the group. Both she and Spencer emphasized the importance of staying connected to, and supporting, the young people of the Quad-Cities.

Music, introduction of members and a light buffet were part of the event. Among the sponsors were Lujack Luxury Motor Cars, Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Northwestern Mutual  Jeffery Jackson and The Doris and Victor Day Foundation.
School has been canceled Monday at Franklin Elementary School, 5312 11th Ave. C, Moline, because of a fire in a classroom on Sunday.

Captain Brian Vyncke said that Moline crews, as well as other Quad-City fire crews, responded to a fire alarm at 10:19 a.m. Sunday. Firefighters discovered a lot of smoke, and entered the building to find the fire confined to a classroom.

No people were in the building at the time of the fire, said Vyncke, but a classroom pet died in the fire.

Superintendent Lanty McGuire said school is canceled Monday at Franklin. District administrators are considering alternate sites where students can go with their teachers, he said. Some churches have volunteered locations and other facilities are options too, he said.

McGuire said he hopes to announce a plan early Monday. The Moline-Coal Valley School District website will be updated, he said. About 270 students attend the school, in addition to teachers, support staff and custodians, he added.

Parents were notified about the cancellation through a computerized alert, he said.

"There's a lot of smoke and water damage in that building," McGuire said. "Anything smoke touches has to be cleaned."

An outside company will be at the school Monday to determine a damage estimate and how long it will be before students and staff can return to the building.

Ventilation efforts were limited because of the building's size and layout, and had to be coordinated from several different areas in order to evacuate all the smoke, Vyncke said.

The classroom sustained heavy fire damage, with smoke damage throughout the building and some water damage from crews fighting the blaze.

The state fire marshal was called to the scene to investigate the origin of the fire, said Vyncke, but a cause had not been released late Sunday.

Assisting at the scene were crews from Bettendorf, East Moline, Rock Island, Rock Island Arsenal, AMT Ambulance and Moline Second Alarmers.
Will President Trump bring the country back into the Paris climate agreement? The bets are on, and this bet says he will.

The past few days have produced clashing reports that he may or may not come around. Confusion is how Trump gets turnarounds past the base.

What happened right after he spoke of helping the "dreamers," immigrants brought to this country illegally as children? He defended his earlier controversial remarks equating the Charlottesville racists to the protesters. And he retweeted anti-Muslim sentiments.

After his call to ban transgender troops from serving in the armed forces, our military leaders pushed back, and Trump pulled back. Defense Secretary James Mattis is now tasked with devising a new policy months hence. Meanwhile, transgender people are re-enlisting.

What makes one think that Trump will follow a similar trajectory on the Paris climate deal? Several things.

One, and I hate putting this first because it should be the least consequential: his approval ratings. They've been inching up from the depths for three weeks in a row. Trump's moves toward moderation, which includes working with Democratic leaders, are surely playing a part. A rising applause meter lowers a reality TV star's blood pressure.

Two, and it's a shame this has to go second, is Emmanuel Macron. The French president excels in courting Trump's grandiosity. As other European leaders gave Trump a wide berth, Macron gallantly invited him to Paris for the Bastille Day parade.

At the Elysee Palace, Macron had Trump sitting on gilded chairs that the gilded chairs in Trump Tower wish they could be. Trump was so impressed by the Bastille Day spectacle that he's proposing a Fourth of July parade in Washington that would "top it."

This relationship has led Macron to opine that Trump may reverse the decision to leave the Paris deal. Shortly thereafter, economic adviser Gary Cohn said Trump still plans to withdraw. But no matter.

Macron said there will be no renegotiation  "we won't go back"  but added the "door will always remain open." The dance is a minuet, controlled and ceremonious.

Three is Cohn's participation in the climate issue. Cohn had been an advocate of staying in the Paris agreement. During the United Nations General Assembly, he met with the climate ministers from big-economy countries.

Note Cohn's words. He said the withdrawal will happen "unless we can re-engage on terms more favorable to the United States."

However, the Paris agreement lets countries set their own targets for cutting greenhouse gases. That includes lowering them. Also, every country can meet the targets in its own way.

So Trump can change some numbers under the Paris rules and call it a renegotiation. He's good at that sort of thing.

Next, there is an economic downside to standing outside this international treaty. Not being part hurts America's ability to profit from the booming clean energy economy. Some countries have already been threatening to slap tariffs on American products made under lax environmental standards. And our pullout has opened a leadership chair that China is now filling.

Lastly, and this should really be first, climate change is feeding America's devastating natural disasters. Scientists widely agree that warming waters are making hurricanes more vicious. Witness the monster storms ripping up parts of Texas, Florida and the Caribbean. Higher temperatures are also seen playing a role in the intense wildfires threatening much of the West.

Trump so far has shown little interest in addressing climate change, but more and more of the American people do. Rejoining the Paris agreement would probably do wonders for his approval ratings. And this brings the argument full circle.
The four leaders met last week, but didn't appear to accomplish much of anything.

It was Sen. Bill Brady's first leaders' meeting since his chamber officially confirmed him as the Senate Republican Leader, and he was the one who called for the sit-down. Leader Brady ran for governor three times, winning the 2010 primary. Numerous associates say he wants to make the most of this new role and be as relevant as he possibly can.

Brady helped restart the Senate's stalled "grand bargain" talks in early May by outlining a "five for five" plan that raised $5 billion in new revenues alongside $5 billion in cuts. That proposal was widely believed to have been drafted by Gov. Bruce Rauners office and foreshadowed his subsequent election as leader.

A startling 18 of Brady's 22 Republican members are up for reelection next year, so Brady needs to maintain a close relationship with the wealthy governor to hold off primary opponents and fund general election races.

There's also a very real and growing worry that Gov. Rauner will be a significant drag on down-ballot Republican candidates next year, adding to the problems the party may very well also have with a national backlash against Republican President Donald Trump. The fact that no Republicans have yet emerged to run for three statewide offices (secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer) should tell you something.

So, Brady reportedly wants to do whatever he can to help the governor help himself and, by extension, help his caucus. And a plan for state construction projects would most definitely be a big help.

Brady has an idea in mind. But one person who was briefed last week said it wasnt so much a plan as A magical mystery tour looking for someone to love it.

Several sources say it's a "public-private partnership" (PPP) proposal, meaning the state would seek out investors to help hold down government costs and dampen the need for a big tax hike to pay for it. Gov. Rauner said last week that he opposed raising the gas tax to fund a capital bill.

The House Speaker didnt warm to Rauner's last PPP idea for a toll lane on Interstate 55. The House Democrats complained that Rauner's office should've just handed the proposal over to the tollway board, which already has the legal authority to do such things and is, they pointed out, required to get first crack at projects involving tolls anyway. There was also the usual suspicion about which investors would benefit from such a deal.

Beyond the Democrats not wanting to give the Republican governor a "win" by allowing him to announce sweet projects during a crucial election year, there are still some important remaining questions.

Also, despite the recent agreement on school funding reform, there still isn't much trust at the top.

So some Democrats wonder whether Brady and Rauner are floating this idea in order to ultimately blame Democrats for not going along with them after the GOP moves the goal posts a dozen times. Or, perhaps, is it designed to somehow lure the Democrats into countering with a gas tax hike, which they can then be blamed for?

Leader Brady is generally a sincere guy and he definitely wants to accomplish big things in his new job, so take that for what you will.

Gov. Rauner has in the past demanded reductions to the prevailing wage as part of any capital plan deal. If this plan has any significant poison pills, the Democrats will likely just take their chances with the 2018 election. Word is that Brady will meet with labor representatives today.

And even if it is "labor friendly, the Democrats will undoubtedly want some sort of ironclad assurances that money will actually be spent in their own districts, including and (probably) especially in Chicago. There's also a very real concern that Rauner's administration, badly hobbled by firings and resignations, will bungle the administration of a capital plan.

The Amazon "HQ2" search with its promise of up to 50,000 high-paying jobs also has to be considered here.

Our states bickering political families have to put on their best possible face when the prospective client comes over for dinner. Any public rekindling of this horribly partisan feud could cost the state big.

And, hey, capital money may be needed to entice the company into building its second headquarters in or near the city.

I'm not holding my breath at all, but it would be nice if they can put this together. We need the jobs.
The financial fallout from a failed attempt to drill for oil near Wasta in eastern Pennington County a few years ago continues, and no one is coming out unscathed  including two companies that spent thousands trying to help in the drilling effort.

The state Board of Minerals and Environment last week rejected a request by a Custer construction company to tap into a bond paid to the state by the drilling firm. The Custer company hopes to get back money the construction firm spent on the project.

The board on Thursday unanimously accepted the findings of fact and conclusions of law put forward that resulted in denial of the claim by the construction company that helped in a failed attempt by Quartz Operations to drill an oil well near Wasta, about 45 miles east of Rapid City.

The hearing focused on whether Woodford Construction Co. of Custer could collect $58,617, plus interest, from $130,000 surety bond that Quartz had posted.

Board members agreed with a finding by the board chairman, lawyer Rex Hagg of Rapid City, that state law provides only for surface owners to collect against oil and gas developers.

Charles T. Patterson, an attorney from Custer, represented the construction company last week. Asked after the defeat whether he was heading back to court, Patterson replied: I think so.

Richard Davis, who also provided labor and materials for the project, had received a court judgment, too, in the amount of $109,479. Davis wasnt part of the proceeding Thursday.

Quartz didnt have a representative at the meeting in Pierre last week. Quartz received permits for two oil wells March 21, 2013, from the state board. The permits came with 13 conditions, including the requirement that the company post $130,000 total in sureties.

Quartz began drilling the first well in April 2013. The project stopped when a section of drill pipe stuck in the well hole at a depth of about 2,600 feet below the surface.

Quartz presented a plugging plan to state regulators in April, 2013, and the plan was accepted. Changing conditions led Quartz to present a revised plugging plan that May, but state regulators rejected the revised plan.

Quartz proceeded however in placing two plugs in the upper portion of the wellbore in May 2013, even though regulators hadnt approved those steps. Quartz abandoned the partially completed well later that month.

The state board in June, 2016, directed the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources to issue a formal notice of violation against Quartz Operations for failure to plug the well in accordance with the permit conditions.

Woodford Construction received a judgment from a state circuit judge and, through the Hughes County Sheriff's Office, served a notice of levy on the board prior to the start of a contested case hearing Jan. 19, 2017. The board didnt pay, however.

Patterson said Thursday that Bob Morris violated South Dakota law when Morris signed an order against Quartz Operations on March 16, 2017. Morris, a lawyer from Belle Fourche, is a board member and was the Jan. 19, 2017, hearing chairman.

The order that Morris signed declared forfeiture of the $130,000 surety without remediation or reclamation planned.

Steve Pirner, the departments secretary, issued the notice of violation against Quartz. Pirner sat alone in the front row of the audience section Thursday.

Lawyer Steve Blair from the state office of attorney general made the argument for dismissal of the construction companys claim. The department has no objection to what the chairs proposed, Blair said.

Quartz wanted to drill 9,700 feet deep, through multiple water aquifers and a highly dense layer of pre-Cambrian rock. The site is not far off Interstate 90 about 45 miles east of Rapid City.

State regulators estimated 15 months ago they might face $2 million or more for repair and cleanup of the Quartz site.

Were entitled to a hearing, Patterson said Thursday for the construction company. Were entitled to an allocation of a portion of those proceeds to satisfy this levy.

Board member Gregg Greenfield of Sioux Falls said the $130,000 of forfeited surety is helping pay for monitoring wells around the failed hole.

The concern remains water could flow upward from the lower-quality Minnelusa aquifer through the borehole into the Inyan Kara aquifer. Theres an affirmative pile of evidence theres no danger, Patterson countered. Thats really the guts of it.

Board member Morris said the Quartz matter was the first time a company didnt meet the permit conditions for an oil or gas well.

We did not have a separate bond for reclamation and remediation, Morris told Patterson.

Greenfield said it wasnt fair to characterize the Quartz site as without problems. He said it was confirmed there was water communicating between the two aquifers.

I believe this is a very large problem, Greenfield said. This is a problem thats too big to fix with the money thats even left in the surety account.

Patterson said the proceeding was a pretext for denying the construction companys claim against the surety.

The only reason it was done, Patterson told board members, was to beat me out of $75,000.
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE | Whats in a name? A popular reference to William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, and yet something more entirely. For Airmen who don the uniform, they wear their familys name on their chest.

Names that carry a long history of tradition and culture.

All too often these cultures are blended like a mixture of paintbrushes in the same rinsing cup, where lines become blurred. This is a reality for Airmen who come from many cultures with Hispanic roots  many of them attempt to show the world they are diverse, with their own unique stroke on a painting.

Airmen like Senior Airman Yesenia Lopez Diaz, a physical evaluation board liaison officer assigned to the 28th Medical Support Squadron, observe Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories and contributions of their ancestors. With the coordinated efforts of the diversity council, Ellsworth kicked off the 2nd annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration Sept. 14, 2017.

Events like this make me happy about who I am and where I come from, Lopez Diaz said. Sometimes I feel like its hard to be around others who dont think the same way, but its important that we have events like this so we can all get together and celebrate our differences.

As a Hispanic American, Lopez Diaz understands the struggles of being classified under a culture that is not her own. Born and raised in the town of La Blanca, Zacatecas, she spent most of her life in Mexico. Her family could not afford to give her an education, so they made the decision to move to the United States where she would have to learn a new language and embrace a new culture.

My parents and I moved here in 2006, Lopez Diaz said. It was very hard, especially adapting to a new culture, having to learn a new language, and being discriminated against. There were a lot of racist people around us when we moved in, and it was very difficult to get settled.

Lopez Diaz attended high school where she met a retired Army Airborne Ranger who became her mentor, taught her leadership and the American way of life. Through his stories and teaching, Lopez Diaz was inspired to join the Army, where she dreamed of becoming a sniper.

This goal was unattainable at the time because Lopez Diaz had no social security number. She had to say no to the Army and college but she worked hard every day, applied for citizenship and by the age of 22, finally received her residency card. Shortly afterward, she would take her first steps toward a new life and enlist in the Air Force.

A lot of people like Airman Lopez Diaz who moved to the U.S. from other countries join the military, said Staff Sgt. Natasha Wohlwend, the noncommissioned officer in charge of diagnostic imaging assigned to the 28th Medical Support Squadron and president of the Ellsworth Diversity Council.

Wohlwend said Hispanic-American Airmen speak different languages and come from unique cultures. Even though they have very different backgrounds and ways of life, a lot of people mix them all together and think that they are all one and the same.

The Diversity Council clarified some common misconceptions by hosting various base activities from Sept. 14 to Oct. 15. By celebrating different ethnicities and cultures, heritage month events help educate and bring everyone together.

Countries like Mexico, Spain, Belize, Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and pretty much 90 percent of the different Hispanic cultures will be represented throughout the month, Wohlwend explained. Events like the food tasting and fiesta night help promote diversity and inclusion within the Air Force.

Lopez Diaz added that these activities allow (the Diversity Council) to expose people to different cultures and to show them we arent all the same.

This month is a reminder, Lopez Diaz said. Everyone will be together, talking to other Hispanics of different backgrounds, and having fun during a fiesta night with music, food, dancing  the whole thing, just like back home in Mexico.
A statewide sales tax has been anathema to generations of Montanans, but times change and its time to talk again about that long-taboo tax.

Montanas present revenue shortfall necessitates both short-term and long-term solutions. State revenue hasnt kept up with the cost of maintaining existing public services for the past couple of years. The bigger challenge appears to be that the revenue gap is projected to grow next year and in future years.

The state of Montana relies heavily on personal income taxes and to a lesser extent on corporate income taxes. Income tax revenue is increasing at a low rate while natural resource revenue (oil, gas, coal) has dropped with the global price of oil and decline in worldwide demand for coal.

As of Jan. 1, 45 states were collecting statewide sales tax, according to a report from the Tax Foundation, an independent policy research organization in Washington, D.C. All of Montanas neighbor states collect statewide general sales tax and all allow local governments to collect a general sales tax. According to the Tax Foundation, these are the statewide sales taxes and the maximum local sales tax allowed by:

Wyoming: 4 percent statewide, 2 percent local.

South Dakota: 4.5 percent statewide, 4.5 percent local.

North Dakota: 5 percent, 3.5 percent.

Idaho: 6 percent statewide, 3 percent local.

Montanas neighbors rank among the lower-rate states nationwide. The states with the highest statewide general sales tax are California at 7.25 percent, and Mississippi, Tennessee and Rhode Island all at 7 percent.

Montana is one of five states with no general sales tax, along with Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire and Oregon.

While many Montanans are pleased and proud to pay no sales tax, there are drawbacks. Our state tax system is less diverse and more easily unbalanced by fluctuations in natural resource and income tax collections. As Montanas outdoor economy has grown, that growth isnt reflected substantially in state (or local tax) revenues. Montana has millions of out-of-state visitors every year who spend lots of money on dining and shopping, but dont pay tax on most of their purchases (gasoline, lodging and rental cars are the exceptions).

A state sales tax should be tailored to exempt essentials, such as groceries and health care items. Most states exempt unprepared food. Some exempt clothing. Some states hold sales-tax holidays, such as a weekend for back-to-school shopping.

Over the years, Montana has seen proposals to enact a sales tax that would offset property taxes. But the reform needed now must increase revenues overall.

The states revenue crunch has developed recently. Local governments have been struggling for many years because state law limits their tax options. They depend heavily on property assessments. A statewide general sales tax could be written to allow local government to add a limited tax on the same items.

Montana voters last rejected a sales tax in June 1993 by a margin of 3-1. A lot has changed in the past 24 years. Montana has more people, workers and visitors. Our population is aging faster than most states, increasing demand for health care and home care subsidized by the state. Montana is at full employment with more people earning paychecks.

We dont expect that a statewide sales tax will be enacted this year, but lets get a public discussion started now.
Ex-RusHydro head, chief accountant freed from house arrest - source

MOSCOW, September 25 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) - Ex-head of hydroelectric power giant RusHydro Yevgeny Dod and the companys ex-chief accountant Dmitry Finkel involved in a 73-million-ruble ($1.3 million) embezzlement case have been released from the house arrest, a source close to investigation told RAPSI on Monday.

The term of their house arrest expired on September 22, however, investigators did not file a motion for its extension, the source noted. The defendants defense in turn declined to comment on the case.

As previously reported, prosecutors have refused to approve indictment and the case was returned to investigators. Reportedly, facts indicating that the case had been opened unreasonably were revealed during investigation.

In late December 2016, the court released the defendants from detention and placed them under house arrest upon the investigators motion. Investigator said that RusHydro ex-head had reimbursed the company for alleged damage.

According to the Investigative Committee, in 2013, Dod awarded himself a bonus for his work in RusHydro of 353.2 million rubles (about $6.2 million at the current exchange rate), overestimating therefore its amount by 73 million rubles.

Dod and Finkel pleaded not guilty. However, Dod expressed his willingness to reimburse the company for alleged damage.

On August 1, 2016, Moscow's Basmanny District Court ruled to seize assets belonging to Dod and members of his family. On September 5, the Moscow City Court lifted seizure on assets of Dod's wife and sent the claim for reconsideration.

Dod left RusHydro at his own request in August 2015.
Businessman convicted in penitentiary embezzlement case released on parole

MOSCOW, September 25 (RAPSI)  The Preobrazhensky District Court of Moscow has granted a motion of businessman Nikolay Martynov, found guilty in the notorious large-scale embezzlement case related to Russias Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN), to release him on parole, the courts press-service told RAPSI on Monday.

On June 30, 2016, Martynov was sentenced to 3 years and 8 months in prison and fined 500,000 rubles ($8,700 at the current exchange rate). He fully admitted his guilt in large-scale embezzlement committed between 2010 and 2012 during the purchase of ankle bracelets for the FSIN. Martynov cooperated with the investigators and announced that he is going to compensate the government with delivery of 7,000 new ankle bracelets. Businessman was a head of NPF Meta company that was supplying bracelets for prison inmates.

This June, Moscows Zamoskvoretsky District Court sentenced former head of FSIN Alexander Reimer to 8 years in prison in this case. He was also fined 800,000 rubles ($14,000) and stripped of his General rank.

Reimers former deputy Nikolay Krivolapov, and ex-director of FSINs Information and Technical Support Center Viktor Opredelyonov, received 5 years and 8 months, and 6 years in prison respectively. Krivolapov was fined 600,000 rubles ($10,500) while Opredelyonov got a 700,000-ruble fine ($12,300). According to investigators, Reimer, Krivolapov and Opredelyonov conspired with Martynov to embezzle monetary funds from the Russian state budget.

From 2010 to 2012, Reimer and his accomplices stole money allocated for the purchase of ankle bracelets for persons placed under house arrest. The procurement was pursued at an enormously overvalued price. Damage allegedly caused to the state budget was estimated at no less than 2.7 billion rubles ($47 million at the current exchange rate).

The defendants have been charged, depending of their role, with abuse of office and embezzlement committed through abuse of office. Krivolapov was additionally charged with illegal possession of ammunition. They pleaded not guilty.
HAMILTON  Snow-capped mountains, pristine waters, and healthy fisheries define the Bitterroot Valley, but with increased pressure on the sections most famous for their fly fishing  the upper Bitterroot River and its West Fork  Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has proposed significant restrictions to limit the amount of guided and outfitted trips.

Chuck Stranahans reputation as a fly fishing guide and expert fly-tyer precedes him. With 30 years of experience fishing the West Fork, he is certain regulations on the river would be beneficial; however hes looking beyond the FWP committee's quest for solitude and is worried about the long-term health of the river.

A proposed closure for all floats on the uppermost stretch of the West Fork from July 1 to Sept. 15 would address what he calls "chainsaw habitat destruction," because the problems of stream channel blockage by fallen trees are most pronounced at low flows in midsummer, Stranahan said.

Walking up the banks of the West Fork, Stranahan points out numerous downed trees where people used chainsaws to cut the trees and move them out of the main river channel.

Habitat destruction, what Ill call chainsaw banditry, occurs from the dam to Nez Perce Road and in some cases lower down on the river as well, Stranahan said.

The upper West Fork is a narrow canyon with trees hanging over the river. Over time the river washes out their root systems and they fall across the river. Eventually, trees that fall into the river are pushed against the banks by the current in high water.

When the trees cross the river, as well as when they are up against the bank, the river flows around them and washes out holes underneath the log and roots, which is a place to harbor trout, according to Stranahan.

What Ive seen is the center of such trees being taken out by chainsaw bandits for the convenience of float traffic, Stranahan said. That sort of egregious interruption of a natural habitat replenishment cycle can degrade and destroy habitat for hundreds of yards downstream. Whether all that tree removal on the upper West Fork is for safety is an open question, whether all of it was met with prior approval and permitting from DNRC or FWP is doubtful.

The log jams also create meanders in the river by forcing it to find a path of less resistance. According to Stranahan, those meanders are much healthier habitat for trout than long, straight sections.

There is a whole lot less habitat on a long straight section that drops a few feet than a section that meanders and drops the same, Stranahan said. The thing that has made this habitat on the West Fork is the perpetual downed wood in the river.

Yet Stranahan is encouraged that discussions about serious regulations are in place.

At least 10 years ago I started writing pieces about the West Fork, and weve seen issues on it that could threaten the health of the river at least as far back as then, Stranahan said.
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The Hindu - July 04, 2017

Nothing learnt from history

Harini Nagendra

Raising the Sardar Sarovar dam to its full height will result in more large-scale submergence of habitations

Since Independence, between 25 and 60 million people have been displaced from their homes and uprooted for Indiaas development projects. Most end up living in abysmal poverty and deprivation. That we do not even know the exact numbers of those affected a in a country that prizes bureaucratic record keeping a is a clear indication of the callous disregard we have for these lives.

Disregarding years of sustained non-violent protest and an iconic mass movement that drew national and global attention, the Narmada Control Authority decided on June 17, 2017 to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam to its full height, by ordering the closure of 30 gates. It was announced in time with the arrival of the monsoon. Once the dam is at its full height, it will submerge one town and at least 176 villages, displace close to 20,000 families, flood productive agricultural land, and destroy hundreds of acres of biodiverse forest. Proponents argue that (someone elseas) sacrifice is essential for (their) development. They tout the benefits: the dam will generate hydro-energy, extend irrigation and bring drinking water to drought-affected, arid areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat. But beyond the hype, the facts are in question. Ecologists, hydrologists, economists and engineers have produced detailed documentation that brings into doubt the claims of water provisioning, economic growth and safety made by the project.

Choked with silt

Siltation is one of the biggest challenges faced by dams worldwide, and constitutes one of the biggest challenges to the long-term success of this dam. The steep slopes of the Narmada valley are prone to erosion: they have been protected so far because of the dense forests that line the sides of the valley. Once these trees are lost, soil from the denuded slopes will flow unchecked into the river, turning the water muddy. The Central Water Commissionas 2015 compendium on siltation of Indiaas reservoirs reports alarming figures. For instance, in 85% of Indiaas dams, the actual rates of siltation are higher than those anticipated during their design. An alarming one in four dams has sedimentation rates more than five times as high as expected! Siltation is most rapid in the early years after dam construction and quickly begins to take effect. The problems are likely to be especially severe for giant dams such as the Sardar Sarovar, which cannot be easily desilted. Apart from directly reducing water storage capacity, siltation also decreases water capacity due to increased evaporation loss. As a result, the capacity to generate hydropower is affected. A dam choked with silt creates a river prone to risky situations of potential flooding in the backwaters.

A poor record

Compensation to the displaced, when given, has often come in the form of land unsuitable for farming or living, located either on riverbeds at the risk of flooding, or in rocky areas which cannot be ploughed. Resettlement sites lack basic facilities: no wells, drinking water pipelines, or grazing land for cattle, let alone schools or road facilities. The poor track record of the past is clear. Despite this, tens of thousands of additional households are now being asked to rely on resettlement without an adequately provisioned place to move. This leaves the once self-reliant people of the valley with no option but to work as daily wage labour and crowd into urban slums a often to be resettled again for other developmental or smart city projects.

The Narmada valley is one of the most fertile ecosystems in India, brimming with biodiversity, and with abundant fish, birds and trees. The dams along the Narmada have changed this, blocking normal water flow, leading to downstream habitat change and impacting biodiversity. The Narmada estuary, where the river meets the sea, has become increasingly saline because of the decrease in fresh water flow after the dams came up. Fish catch of some species has now declined by as much as 75%, signalling the almost complete collapse of the once famous fishing industry. Thousands of commercial and subsistence fishermen affected by this change are not classified as dam-affected though. Neither are the people who and industries which depended on the once-abundant supply of fresh water in the delta. (Water has now suddenly turned saline even to the depth of borewells.) Neither will the invisible tribal communities who depend on the lush forests of the valley a forests that will now be submerged. Only those who can produce evidence of losing homes or agricultural plots are counted as aproject-affecteda , and can lay claim to compensation.

There has to be a clear, transparent public accounting of livelihoods lost and jobs created, of profits accrued at the expense of great misery and injustice. For who are we to decide who wins and who loses? Large dams have forced the displacement of millions of Indiaas small farmers and landless peasants from across the country, forcing them into urban slums and shanties, breaking apart families and sending them into a downward spiral of degradation and penury. The tragedy of the Sardar Sarovar Project is that it has failed to learn from history, condemning tens of thousands more to the same fate.

Harini Nagendra is a Professor of Sustainability at Azim Premji University

o o o

Editorial, Hindustan Times, September 18, 2017

It is time to rethink the big dams model of development

Big dams such as the Sardar Sarovar have been built on an obsolete belief that the benefits of hydropower outweigh its other costs. But we now know that this is no longer the case

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures after inaugurating the Sardar Sarovar Dam(AFP Photo/PIB)

The scientific imagination that put big dams at the centre of a national development paradigm belongs to a century long gone. The prevalent ideology around the world at the time when dams such as the Sardar Sarovar were envisioned have undergone a sea change in the decades it has taken to bring it to conclusion.

The original thought behind building dams to harness the power of rivers was the promise of clean, pollution-free, hydropower that would bring electricity to many districts in India. But this outlook was changing even in the 1950s. Nehru himself, who famously called dams atemples of modern Indiaa in 1954 while inaugurating the Bhakra Nangal had changed his mind by 1958, observing that we in India might be suffering from "the disease of gigantism" and rooted for smaller irrigation projects. In a letter to chief ministers in 1957, Nehru had pointed out the need to balance development projects with the need to protect the environment.

Internationally too, there have now been many attempts to do away with large projects that disrupt not just the lives and livelihoods of the people who live in these areas, but also aid the destruction of the ecosystem of the region. According to the non-profit organisation American Rivers, over a thousand dams have been removed till date in the USA alone. An article published in the Scientific American outlined the problems of water quality and ecosystems that came in the wake of building even modest sized dams. The near extinction of the fish such as the Atlantic salmon and sturgeons has been directly linked to the presence of dams on their migration routes. In fact several studies have recognised the building of dams as having the most substantial impact on the destruction of riverine ecosystems. The building of the Aswan Dam in Egypt has been blamed for the erosion of the Nile River delta, deterioration of agriculture in the area, and the increased incidents of parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis.

The other major problem with such large projects is the problem of rehabilitation of displaced people. This is, of course, not counting the fact that the land that tribal communities and others have occupied for centuries is not just something that can be measured in acres and rupees. The cost of history and memory that lies in land and ancestral property can never be reimbursed.

Indiaas record of adequately rehabilitating people displaced by such projects is abysmal. Around 50 million people have been displaced due to development projects in India. In spite of this massive number of affected people, there is a glaring lack of a formal policy of rehabilitation and resettlement for displaced people. Given the terrible status of records of land titles, and the worse records of those who donat own land such as landless labourers, it is almost always the case that many displaced people are never considered for rehabilitation. According to the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), many people displaced by the Bhakra project are yet to be rehabilitated at all.
The Indian Express, 19 September 2017

I am Saldon I am Shifah

I choose to be both. It saddens me that my marriage and spiritual choice are misused to stoke fear and hatred

Written by Stanzin Saldon

The Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) wrongly claimed that the love of my life and my husband, Syed Murtaza Agah, has alureda me to accept Islam

My name is Stanzin Saldon. I also call myself Shifah. I was born in a Buddhist family in 1987 in Leh. I had joined Government Medical College, Jammu, but decided to change my field after four years of training because I was interested in social work. Subsequently, I did my Bachelors in Social Work and have been working for four years now.

My personal decision to marry a Muslim man is being used to fuel communal tension across Ladakh. The Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) wrongly claimed that the love of my life and my husband, Syed Murtaza Agah, has alureda me to accept Islam. The LBA also gave an ultimatum to the entire Muslim community in Ladakh to areturna me or aleavea the region. In fact, the LBA issued this threat in a letter addressed to J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on September 7.

While communal passions were fuelled against the entire Muslim community, which had nothing to do with my personal decision, no one wanted to check the facts. Nobody asked me my view as if I donat matter in this game of misogyny played in my name. I have also watched with a lot of anguish and pain how the media has been selectively highlighting the issue through the prism of their own bias, without caring for my opinion.

Because the choices that I have made are used to mischievously target my lawfully wedded husband and the entire Muslim community, I have decided to stand up and speak for myself. The LBAas statement is not only false and concocted, it is a brazen attempt to suppress and threaten a woman who has shown the courage to follow her heart.

I will be 30 years old soon. I am an independent and educated woman and I have made all my choices regarding my life by my own free will a a right granted and guaranteed to every citizen of this country by the Constitution of India. The Constitution gives me a right as an adult individual to choose my life partner. I have married Syed Murtaza Agha because I love him. There is absolutely no other reason. The accusation that I have been alureda or acoerceda by anybody is an insult to my ability to think for myself. The Ladakh Buddhist Association and random strangers are trying to objectify me by demanding my return as if I am their property and not a human being. I object to this in the strongest possible terms. No one owns me and I give no one the right to decide on my behalf.

I decided to become a Muslim five years ago and it wasnat because I disliked the religion I was born into. It was an outcome of my spiritual quest and interest in different religious philosophies that I decided to become a Muslim. This happened long before I met Murtaza and fell in love with him. On April 22, 2016, I filed an affidavit before a court in Karnataka, where I was staying, to formally become a Muslim.

By spiritual quest I mean a desperate desire to seek answers from all available wisdom and knowledge given to humanity by many great personalities, who explored their path themselves and encouraged the entire humanity to do the same. I respect everyoneas faith and beliefs and expect the same for me. Nobody needs to celebrate my choices or disparage them. It is my choice for myself only.

I would also reaffirm that love and companionship are the only reason for the marital bond between Murtaza and me. Spiritual choice is a very personal matter and should not to be mixed with my marriage. All this time and even earlier when I had to face similar stressful situations, my beloved husband is the person who has always been there with his love and respect for me. We feel lucky that we have decided to spend the remaining part of our lives together. Moreover, being responsible citizens of the largest democracy, we have completed all legal formalities and I will not tolerate the communal and bigoted demand from anybody seeking to annul our bond. I abhor the politics that is being played on my decision.

I am pained to see my personal details and documents being shared without asking my permission on social media, where random strangers question and berate my decision. I was aghast to see my decision to marry a Muslim man from Kargil (which, in fact, is part of Ladakh) being shown as a atheft of a girla and a reason for the adying culture of Ladakha . Our culture and ethos (in fact, all cultures on earth) in Ladakh havenat dropped down from the sky, where love and individual choices have no scope. Thatas the worst possible way for us to look at ourselves. The portrayal of a woman as a mere baby-making machine to save the community was another despicable reason given to question my life choices. There have also been malicious statements that I have been kept away from my family, which are irresponsible and insensitive.

In these difficult times, when my personal decisions regarding my life are being used for divisive political purposes by the self-styled custodians of Ladakh, I will request the people of my motherland in Leh and Kargil to defeat these divisive forces by maintaining peace and harmony. It hurts me immensely to see my personal matters like marriage and spiritual choice being misused to create an atmosphere of fear and hatred. It is shameful to demand that I should be returned, because nobody has taken me or stolen me. I am here and I have made my choices out of my free will.

I am Saldon and also Shifah. I choose to be both and will always be a daughter of my family and Ladakh. I took my decisions out of love and I request everyone who claims to care about me and my well-being to not get consumed by hatred and fear.

The writer is a social worker based in Ladakh
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An unprovoked attack on a woman riding BART from city college drew a seemingly disingenuous response from the transit agency, with a spokesperson terming the random attack as "out of the ordinary" though a similar series of attacks had just happened on the system last month.

It's just the latest in a string of onboard-BART violence so severe that passengers have started suing the transit agency for failing to keep them safe. This time, KRON 4 reports, a man came up behind a woman and "sucker punched" her, leaving her with wounds to the face.

According to Edgar Paz, whose daughter was the victim in the attack, his daughter was on BART between the Oakland Coliseum and San Leandro Stations. As the train approached San Leandro, the suspect hit the woman in the face as she sat.

She was coming back from City College, and the man walked up to her from behind and sucker punched her, Paz told KRON 4. No one helped her. She gathered up her belongings and tried to get a picture of him," getting a photo as the attacker walked away.

Paz says he contacted BART police, "but was not impressed with their response."

When contacted by KRON 4, BART spokesperson Alicia Trost ably toed the company line, saying Super strange incident here. What we had here was somebody was hit, and it was completely unprovoked, and there was no robbery involved. Something very out of the ordinary and very alarming for us to hear that happened.

Leaving aside for the moment the possible implication here that BART might consider robbery to be "ordinary" (if so, they're not wrong!) is the troublingly short memory the transit agency appears to demonstrate. After all, it was just August 7 when BART held a press conference and sent a press release to media with photos of a suspect in a series of unprovoked, random attacks on BART.

That suspect, 42-year-old Berkeley resident Mario Christopher Washington, was arrested after an Oakland Fire Department investigator recognized him from the media coverage of those released photos. And now it appears that this recent case might get the similar treatment, as Trost says What were doing right now is trying to figure out what train she was on. She wasnt really sure, and well have to pull all of the cameras from each and every one of the cars, and thats why it takes a little bit longer."

"Well also pull surveillance footage, so that we can get an image of the suspect, share it with local law enforcement to see who this person was," Trost says.

"But overall, BART is absolutely safe," Trost said, with a completely straight face and no winking or anything. "Things like this actually very rarely happen." Guess it all depends on your definition of "absolutely safe" and "very rare."

Related: Roughed-Up Riders Suing BART For Inadequate Security
In further evidence that Chelsea Manning is now a resident of the Bay Area, she showed up as a surprise speaker at a Berkeley rally Saturday to address crowds of anti-fascist marchers and demonstrators.

As Berkeleyside reports, Manning appeared before 200 protesters, all of whom were gathered for the "March Against White Supremacy," which was organized by members of organizations like the Anti-Police Terror Group, the Catalyst Project, Anti-Fascist (or "antifa" as they've been called as of late) and Refuse Fascism. While commending the crowd for standing up against police violence, institutional racism, fascism, and white supremacy, Manning shared the sentiment that she has been adding on to the end of her resistance-oriented tweets, saying, "We got this."

Cat Brooks, one of the organizers of Saturday's rally and march, specifically pointed out to Berkeleyside that although it was indeed taking place the day before Yiannopoulos's own so-called "rally" on Sproul Plaza, they were assembled not as a counter-protest, but rather as "a celebration of a united Bay Area against white supremacy." Brooks went on to say, "This is not a response to (Free Speech Week) but a condemnation of fascism, African-American men dying under the polices use of force and persecution of immigrants."

Berkeleyside has some other photos from the event here, which was also attended by newly vocal Bay Area right-wing personality Amber Cummings, and culminated in a march of about 100 to 200 people.

Manning previously made an appearance this month at Noisebridge, a hacker/makerspace in the Mission. There, she spoke about digital privacy and what her life has been like since she was released from prison. For the New York Times, she also wrote about her experiences living as a trans woman while being incarcerated, and what her life has been like since then as she tries to rebuild and establish her digital identity within today's particularly stringent systems. "These systems leave no room for humanity, yet they define our daily lives. When I began rebuilding my life this summer, I painfully discovered that they have no time for people who have fallen off the grid  such nuance eludes them."

That visit seemed to be part of a tour of the Bay Area for Manning, as she also posted a photo of herself playing with kittens at the Electronic Frontier Foundation office...

... as well as her own shot of a popular tourist photo-op in Dolores Park.

making very bad people very mad  today is a good day for us  A post shared by Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea87) on Sep 14, 2017 at 2:34pm PDT

It's been pretty great to watch how Manning handles being in the public eye like this. She regularly gets a lot of hate for being who she is and for her federal crimes, especially on Twitter, but she always fights back against it all with a strong sense of positivity and optimism for the future. Moreover, it's been heartening indeed to see her dive right back into activism and standing up for what she believes in. Following her ordeal dealing with transphobic and transmisogynistic federal prison policies last year, she could (arguably) have been forgiven for wanting to just go underground and be out of the public eye. But she hasn't, and she's showing no signs of stopping to do anything like that anytime soon.

It remains unclear where Manning is calling home, post-prison, but she hinted at her SF appearance on September 12 that she was settling into a new home, and had just bought her first coffee table.

Related: Harvard Rescinds 'Visiting Fellow' Honor For Chelsea Manning After CIA Protest
As online marketplace mega giant Amazon continues its search for a location for its brand new second headquarters, five Bay Area cities have joined together to make one big bid for their attention.

The San Francisco Business Times reports that Concord, Richmond, Fremont, San Francisco, and Oakland are involved in the bid, which aims to place the possible headquarters  dubbed HQ2  on Concord's shuttered naval station. It proves to be a bit of an ideal spot for Amazon, as their request for pitches lays out some fairly specific criteria that must be met to qualify for consideration. For starters, apparently the site needs to have the potential for growth, with a minimum starting size of 1 million square feet that could potentially turn into 8 million square feet by 2027's end. On top of that, the SF Business Times also said that site "must be no more than 45 minutes from an airport, have at least two major highways nearby, access to mass transit and be within 30 miles from a population center."

With the "Tidal Area" of the naval base clocking in at about 7,630 acres, Concord easily meets the first requirement. And at about a 40 minute drive (on a good day) to Oakland International Airport, it more or less nails the second criteria.

Guy Bjerke, the director of community reuse planning in Concord, told SF Business Times, "We can give (Amazon) exactly what they want, something they can design from scratch because were in this process right now. But were being good regional partners in the pursuit of this. So were partnering with San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and Fremont, which all have good sites, so that we could potentially get Amazon to maybe distribute themselves along a BART line and put some of their office workers in different spots."

Competing with Concord is Vallejo, as the North Bay Business Journal said last week that the Solano County city was developing its own pitch, possibly suggesting that Mare Island (which is about 25 minutes from Concord's potential site) could serve as a location for HQ2. Naturally, Concord and Vallejo are just two of many other cities vying for the contract. In the running are also Washington, D.C., Denver, Chicago, St. Louis, and Atlanta.

Previously: Oakland, San Jose Both Want To Be In The Running For New Amazon HQ




"When I get on my knees, it's not to disrespect the flag," Milo Yiannopolous told @UCBerkeley crowd https://t.co/08JMtfByjo @Berkeleyside  Carla Marinucci (@cmarinucci) September 25, 2017

Milo Yiannopoulos and alt-right friends Mike Cernovich and Pamela Gellar appeared as promised at Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus Sunday, although without amplified sound and with only a few dozen people gathered to see them  others were there to shout him down in protest, and many more were still waiting in a security queue outside some barricades  all Milo did was say a few words, sing the national anthem, sign some autographs, and leave.

As KQED notes, neither Yiannopoulos nor the guests he brought gave any speeches at all, and little to no violence occurred despite a lot of shouting.

As the East Bay Times reports, security arrangements for this truncated Free Speech Week stunt, which lasted all of about 15 minutes, will cost the university around $800,000, and included importing police from as far away as Vacaville. In total, 11 arrests were made, both near the campus and later in the day at Civic Center Park. Yiannopoulos claims he fled the scene because he had been told "antifa" were approaching, but the university says he left of his own accord.

University spokesman Dan Mogulof called it "probably the most expensive photo opp in the universitys history." (See this op-ed in the New York Times discussing how universities can continue to justify such expenses for events with "scant academic value.")

Video below, via Berkeleyside, shows some of the scene as protesters and Milo supporters faced off against each other, and comments afterwards by university police chief Margo Bennett.

Michael Heaney, a University of Michigan professor who studies the sociology of protest movements, spoke to the Chronicle about what he saw go down with these events and he suggests Yiannopoulos is just like one of many people in social movements who try to gain attention for themselves and galvanize others, and fail. "That makes him typical," Heaney says.

Despite having originally planned Free Speech Week as a four-day event featuring an array of prominent conservative and alt-right speakers, it was suggested from the outset that Yiannopoulos always intended for the event to fail, so that he would have the opportunity to blame the university for thwarting it, and therefore, censoring freedom of speech.

Reports from multiple speakers, both those who were invited by MILO Inc., and those like ex-Googler James Damore who says he was never even asked despite being put on the schedule, suggest a fairly chaotic operation and one that may or may not have been totally genuine.

Yiannopoulos held up various alleged payments he made to the university has proof of his sincere intentions for Free Speech Week, including an alleged payment of $65,000 for venue rentals, although it was made clear last week that he and the sponsoring student organization, the Berkeley Patriot, had not secured the venues within the university's deadlines.

The Berkeley Patriot officially backed out of Free Speech Week on Saturday, however, one conservative speaker invited by MILO Inc., Lucian Wintrich, told Mogulof that the cancellation sounded pretty well decided as of Wednesday  and as Berkeleyside reports, the group also canceled their reservation for Anna Head Alumnae Hall on Wednesday. Wintrich earlier said that while reps for MILO Inc. were publicly insisting the event was still on early last week, privately they were saying very different things, and being generally "shifty."

Berkeleyside went to Yianoppoulos's hotel room Saturday where he happily answered reporters' questions. He explained some of the confusion we've all had about the Berkeley Patriot and who they are, since the group seemed to have just formed recently. He claimed that Berkeley College Republicans and the Berkeley Patriot were essentially made up of the same people, however some maneuvering had to occur to keep the Young America's Foundation happy  that conservative student group has listed Milo among those not approved for campus speaking events, and they've threatened to pull their funding for a lawsuit against the university if BCR were to bring Milo to campus.

Furthermore, Yiannopoulos says to Berkeleyside, "[The Berkeley Patriot members] are much more easily bullied and intimidated than I am. I am not easily intimidated Would I spend $100,000 on something that is relying on a 20-year-old who is petrified and intimidated and has a different opinion every day because hes been bullied left, right and center by the college? Of course I wouldnt. I am not deranged. I would have much rather spent [the money] on Dior."

As the Daily Californian reports, that is it for Free Speech Week, and Milo won't be returning to campus this week, despite some professors having called off classes through Wednesday out of concern for students' safety.

Berkeleyside says Milo vows to return to Berkeley "every year" if necessary, and he continues to suggest he'll get "Uncle Steve" Bannon to come with him as well. "But first," they tell us, "Yiannopoulos is off to Hawaii to marry his partner, John," and "He said his wedding attire would include clothes by Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren."

And I leave you with this photo from Berkeleyside of Milo in his hotel room, with an unmade bed and something piled on top of it in the background.

In interview, Milo denied this is outcome he wanted, despite new info from Cal that Berk Patriot canceled reservation Weds. Pic: @Frannydink pic.twitter.com/mrvsfdZcr3  Berkeleyside (@berkeleyside) September 24, 2017 WTF is that in the background? A fort he built?  Bryan Garcia (@bgarcia935) September 24, 2017



All previous coverage of Free Speech Week on SFist.
He highlighted the fine traditional relationship between the two countries over the past 25 years and affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City has always created favorable conditions for foreign businesses, including Korean enterprises and over 100,000 Korean people living and working in the city.



For his part, Kim Hack Yong thanked the citys government for supporting the RoK community and committed to do his utmost to call for investment in various fields in Vietnam from Korean leading groups.





By LONG HO  Translated by Kim Khanh
HINTON, Iowa | An 11-year-old boy suffered multiple serious injuries after an all-terrain vehicle accident Sunday afternoon.

According to the release from the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office, its communication center received a call shortly before 4 p.m. about an accident involving two juvenile males.

The caller then reported that the boys were riding their ATVs when one of them went out of control and ran into a building on a farm place in on 300th Street in Hinton.

The rider suffered multiple serious injuries in the crash and was taken to UnityPoint-St. Luke's Medical Center in Sioux City.

The victim's name is not being released at this time and the incident is still under investigation.
VERMILLION, S.D. | Former NBC Nightly News anchor and Yankton, S.D. native Tom Brokaw will host a public forum with Russian policy expert Robert Legvold at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in Aalfs Auditorium on the University of South Dakota campus.

Sponsored by the USD political science department, the event entitled "The New Cold War: The united States, Russia and a World of Differences," will showcase a moderated conversation between Brokaw and Legvold as they discuss the United States' relationship with Russia.

In addition to the public forum, Brokaw, a 1964 USD graduate, and Legvold, a 1962 USD graduate, also will meet with students earlier in the day for private, small group discussions.
SIOUX CITY | Eight members of the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard left Monday for Puerto Rico to provide security for relief workers assisting victims of Hurricane Maria.

The Security Forces personnel from the base in Sioux City will deploy with 16 members of the 132nd Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard base in Des Moines.

Col. Greg Hapgood said the guardsmen were transported on a KC-135 Stratotanker Monday from Sioux City to Des Moines. Because there's no power for runway lights in Puerto Rico, the airmen remained in Iowa on Monday night before heading to the U.S. territory on Tuesday morning.

Hapgood says the Air Guardsmen will remain in Puerto Rico for an indeterminate period, supplying supplemental security to civilian law enforcement personnel and relief efforts there.

Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, left at least 15,000 residents in temporary shelters, and much of the island without fresh water, electricity or telephone service. Puerto Rico's nonvoting representative in the U.S. Congress said Sunday the destruction has set the island back decades, even as authorities worked to assess the extent of the damage.

Col. Jim Walker said this is the fourth time in recent history that 185th Security Forces has aided victims during disasters under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), an agreement that offers assistance to all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia.

"In 2005, we offered assistance following Hurricane Katrina," Walker said at an impromptu news conference Monday at the Sioux City base. "We also offered assistance following flooding in eastern Iowa in 2008, as well as when the Missouri River flooded in 2011."

Col. Stephanie Samenus said the 185th received a request to assist in Puerto Rico on Sept. 23.

"This all came together in less than 48 hours," Samenus said. "We didn't have any problem getting volunteers willing to help out. "This is the reason many of us joined the Iowa Air National Guard in the first place," she added. "We want to provide a service to those people in a time of crisis."
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SIOUX CITY | A Sioux City man was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for breaking windows at the Siouxland Community Health Center.

Carl Mohr, 43, had pleaded guilty last month in Woodbury County District Court to one count of second-degree criminal mischief.

In addition to serving the prison sentence, Mohr must pay $1,753 in restitution to the health center.

A video from the health center showed Mohr throwing rocks that broke two large windows on May 7. Mohr had been removed from the facility at 1021 Nebraska St. after a disturbance two days earlier.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa | A Spencer, Iowa, man was sentenced to 17 years in prison Monday for forcing a man from his Wahpeton, Iowa, home and assaulting him.

Tanner Meysenburg, 20, pleaded guilty in Dickinson County District Court to second-degree burglary and assault while participating in a felony.

District Judge David Lester sentenced Meysenburg to 15 years on those two charges, then added two more years for Meysenburg's guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of attempted third-degree burglary from a separate case.

Charges of first-degree robbery and third-degree kidnapping were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Dickinson County authorities said that on Feb. 20, Meysenburg and Jordaen Duhn went to a home in the 1700 block of Lakeside Avenue in Wahpeton and forced Chance Roberts into a vehicle. Roberts was driven to a rural area where he was assaulted. Meysenburg and Duhn then drove to Milford, where Roberts was able to escape by crawling out of the vehicle's window as they traveled on U.S. Highway 71.

Duhn, 23, of Spencer, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, third-degree kidnapping and assault while participating in a felony. Duhn has a pretrial conference scheduled for Oct. 3.
SIOUX CITY | A Mapleton, Iowa, man was sentenced Monday to 45 years in prison for robbing or attempting to rob two stores in Sioux City and another in Correctionville, Iowa.

Jason Marlin, 36, pleaded guilty in Woodbury County District Court to two counts of first-degree theft and a single count of second-degree burglary. All charges included a habitual offender enhancement for Marlin's previous felony convictions, increasing the prison sentences to 15 years on each count.

Following terms of a plea agreement, District Judge Steven Andreasen ordered the three sentences to be served consecutively, or one after another. Marlin must serve at least nine years before he's eligible for parole.

Marlin admitted to robbing or attempting to rob a Sioux City Walgreens store on June 25 and the Valley Stop convenience store in Correctionville, Iowa, and the Kum & Go convenience store at 2930 Gordon Drive in Sioux City, both on July 16.

All three incidents followed the same pattern: Marlin placed an item and cash on the counter as if to make a purchase. When the clerk opened the cash register, Marlin reached across the counter and attempted to grab cash from the cash register drawer. He was able to grab $120 from Kum & Go and an undisclosed amount of cash from Walgreens. He did not get any money from Valley Stop.

Kum & Go clerk Suzanne Warden's arm was hurt during the robbery, and during a victim impact statement given at Marlin's hearing, she said that the incident has changed her.

"What you did to me was take away my dignity and confidence in myself," she said. "Somewhere deep there's something good inside, and I hope you find it."

Marlin said his addiction to methamphetamine played a role in his crime spree.

"I'm truly sorry for what has happened, and meth has really ruined my life," he said.
SIOUX CITY | Should it receive support from the city Monday, the Gilchrist Learning Center could be welcoming visitors to downtown Sioux City by October 2018.

At Mondays Sioux City Council meeting, the council will hold a public hearing and vote on whether or not to accept the construction documents for the Gilchrist project.

The nearly 11,000-square-foot facility would be erected at 220 Pierce St. adjacent to the Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska St.

PLaN Architecture  the firm designing the facility  estimates it will cost about $2.6 million to build the Gilchrist Learning Center, which is named after the foundation that contributed $1 million to kick-start the project.

Altogether, the Sioux City Art Center Association, the private fundraising arm for the art center and the learning center, plan to raise about $3.5 for this project and renovations to the museum.

The new one-story building will contain a classroom, four studios, a ceramics area and pin-up spaces for artwork, adding classroom space and enabling the adjacent Art Center to expand its educational programs. The project would also include improvements to parking areas and landscaping near the complex.

Should the city approve the construction plans, bid letting would start Oct. 7.

This project has already received major support from the state.

In June, the Gilchrist Learning Center was awarded a nearly $325,000 Community Attraction and Tourism grant from the Enhance Iowa board, a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
NEW YORK -- When you discount the rhetorical overkill, the most surprising thing about Donald Trump's address to the United Nations Tuesday was how conventional it was. He supported human rights and democracy; he opposed rogue regimes; he espoused a global community of strong, sovereign nations. Pretty shocking stuff.

Because he's Trump, the zingers got the headlines: He repeated his childish, snarky (but sort of funny) playground denunciation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission." And he offered a bombastic threat that if North Korea attacks the U.S. or its allies, "we will have no choice but to totally destroy" it.

OK, got that: It's a restatement of the existing U.S. policy of nuclear deterrence. Trump also thanked China and Russia for their diplomatic help and pushed them to do more. He said the Iran nuclear deal was "an embarrassment" and its regional actions were a "scourge," but he didn't say he would tear up the deal. He appealed to the Iranian people, without exactly calling for regime change. He checked all the hard-liner boxes, in other words, without making any new commitments.

It was a well-cooked pudding, the sort of speech Trump might have given at his inauguration back in January if he hadn't been so angry. Back then, he spoke like a wrecker (raging about "American carnage"). Now he's using the alliterative phrases that are speechwriters' earwigs, as in calling for "a renewal of will, a rediscovery of resolve and a rebirth of devotion." Stirring, pleasant to hear, otherwise incomprehensible.

Trump even had one of those JFK-style false-dichotomy "ask not ... but what ..." passages when he talked about the choice between lifting the world to a new height or letting it fall into a "valley of disrepair."

The speech was reportedly written by Stephen Miller, aka Darth Vader among many in the mainstream media, but this seemed to be Miller 2.0, and perhaps the language left his now-deposed mentor Steve Bannon gnashing his teeth: What happened to the insurgent populist Trump who talked a year ago as if he wanted to topple the global order? On Tuesday, Trump seemed instead to embrace an updated version of it.

Trump's address offered a heavier dose of nationalism and self-interest; he wanted to root collective action in sovereignty and reciprocity, rather than a vaguer "globalism." He spoke about righteousness defeating evil, a "great re-awakening" of nations, and other fuzzy Reaganisms. But at its core, this was a speech that any president since Harry Truman probably could have delivered. (Interestingly, Trump twice favorably mentioned Truman, the haberdasher from Kansas City whose stubborn common sense shaped the liberal order.)

Trump was something of an interventionist in his remarks. He wanted to bash not just North Korea and Iran, but other undemocratic rogue regimes, such as Cuba and Venezuela. He even spoke up for human rights, decrying the authoritarian nations on the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Trump even invoked the Marshall Plan, the very cornerstone of the liberal international order. He added a Trumpian touch, saying it had been built with "these beautiful pillars" -- sovereignty, security and prosperity. He was right in that, as in saying that North Korea shouldn't be America's responsibility, because "that's what the United Nations is for." (Warning to base: Has POTUS been kidnapped by the black-helicopter crowd?)

Watching Trump give his biggest speech since the inaugural, I was modestly reassured to see him operating within the four walls of rationality, albeit reading from a teleprompter. "Rocket Man" aside, the tone seemed a bit like the recent bipartisan legislative opening to Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.

After a miserable nine months, Trump is sick of losing. He wants to "win," and he evidently has realized that he can't do so with a collection of right-wing outliers as his only allies. The U.N. speech, especially its repeated emphasis on the U.N. itself, struck me as the international version of his rebranding.

So what worries me about Trump's speech? Oddly, it's precisely that it was so conventional. If Trump is going to deal successfully with North Korea, he'll truly have to think outside the box. If he wants a better, longer-lasting deal with Iran, he needs in some way to engage that nation and its people.

And most of all, Trump needs to bring America with him in making a reformed United Nations a place that actually solves problems. The Great Disrupter says he wants to revive the global community and make it work better. OK, Mr. President, let's see what you've got.
International Relations  September 25, 2017

Prison vs. Ballot Boxes in Spain: A Toxic Cocktail in a Democracy

As democrats, we feel an obligation to protest strongly to the government of Mariano Rajoy. After having deployed in 2010 the arsenal of the Constitutional Court to block an agreement that granted further autonomy to Catalonia within Spain, this government is now working to block the electoral process of the Catalan people. Over and above the right of peoples to self-determination, recognized in the United Nations Charter, it is democracy itself that is now being battered.

This is intolerable. It is intolerable to turn our heads and leave to their fate the Catalan people, denying them in the eyes of the entire world the right to vote and declare where they stand on their political future. It is intolerable as well to see a country like Spain, which claims to be a democracy, threaten to prosecute, even imprison, mayors and members of the Catalan government on the sole ground that they are organizing or collaborating in the organization of a referendum. Prison against ballot boxes is a toxic cocktail in a democracy.

Spain is hiding behind the decision of the Constitutional Court, which is now claiming that the referendum fervently demanded by the Catalan people and decided by their Parliament is illegal, when it is the Spanish government that itself solicited this opinion. We wish to remind the Rajoy government that holding a referendum is, in the first place, a political decision that could perfectly well have been agreed with the Catalan Generalitat, as was done in similar circumstances in 2014 between the United Kingdom and Scotland. There is no future in trying to prohibit to a people the right to express themselves on their political status.

To Express Our Solidarity

The Catalan people are conducting an exemplary battle in defense of this right to decide, which has many times led them to take to the streets peacefully. They are not alone in this struggle. The Quebecois have twice managed to vote on their political future, in 1980 and in 1995, notwithstanding the arsenal deployed by the federal government: violation of the rules of referendum participation, application to the Supreme Court to rule on Quebecs right to secession, adoption of the Clarity Act, and more recently a court challenge of Law 99 adopted by the National Assembly. Today it is the turn of the Quebec people to express their solidarity with the Catalan population in its legitimate right to declare itself democratically on its political status.

We call on the Spanish government to cease adding to the mess for which everyone, including Spain, will pay the price. Its intransigence and its authoritarian drift have already done a disservice to its cause, as many Catalans have now left behind the autonomist nationalism they have practiced historically in order to embrace the cause of independence. The Spanish government must put an end to the escalation by forthwith renouncing the heavy-handedness, the antidemocratic maneuvers and the threat to withdraw its current autonomous status from Catalonia.

Mr. Rajoys government has overstepped the mark not only by trying to confiscate election materials, but by going so far as to seize the leaflets of the yes camp. It doing so, it offends against freedom of expression, devitalizing and undermining democracy.

Finally, the atmosphere of threats and intimidation currently prevailing in Catalonia is unhealthy and dishonours Spain and the efforts of the international community to base the functioning of our political institutions on values of democracy, peace and respect for peoples rights.

It is up to the Catalan people to decide alone and in full freedom their political future, and we, faced with so many atrocities, must be numerous in expressing our solidarity with them and coming out in defense of democracy. 

Signatories:

Stephane Bergeron, porte-parole de lopposition officielle en matiere de relations internationales et depute de Vercheres

Jason Brochu-Valcourt, vice-president des OUI Quebec

Serge Cadieux, secretaire general de la FTQ

Claudette Carbonneau, presidente des OUI Quebec

Veronique De Seve, vice-presidente de la CSN

Martine Desjardins, Mouvement national des Quebecoises et Quebecois

Robert Laplante, directeur de LAction nationale

Maxime Laporte, president de la Societe Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montreal et du Reseau Cap sur lindependance

Gabrielle Lemieux, presidente du Parti quebecois

Manon Masse, co-porte-parole de Quebec solidaire et deputee de Sainte-MarieSaint-Jacques

Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-porte-parole de Quebec solidaire et depute de Gouin

Martine Ouellet, chef du Bloc quebecois et deputee de Vachon

Danic Parenteau, professeur au College militaire royal de Saint-Jean

Sol Zanetti, chef dOption nationale
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme.

(Sept. 25, 2017)The Prince Frederick Barrack of the Maryland State Police (MSP) today released the following incident and arrest reports.POSSESSION OF SUBOXONE: On 9/14/2017 at 2:44 pm, Trooper First Class Palumbo stopped a vehicle on Adelina Rd. in Prince Frederick for traffic violations. Several CDS indicators were observed and a K-9 scan was requested and resulted in a positive alert. A search resulted in locating numerous packages of Suboxone sublingual films. The driver,, and the passenger,, were both arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND PUBLIC INTOXICATION: On 9/15/2017 at 9:07 pm, Trooper First Class Robinson responded to the 100 block of Clyde Jones Rd. in Sunderland for a report of an indecent exposure incident in the area of Sunderland Elementary School., was located in an extremely intoxicated condition near the 7-11. He was identified by those that observed his behavior and he was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.BURGLARY: On 9/16/2017 at 5:42 pm, Trooper First Class Robinson responded to the 100 block of North Prince Frederick Blvd. in Prince Frederick for a reported burglary. When arriving at the residence to begin renovation of the home, the homeowner found the front door had been damaged and was left open. Investigation revealed a Harbor Freight Compound Miter Saw and miscellaneous tools were missing from one of the rooms. Investigation continues.DUI & POSSESSION OF COCAINE: On 9/16/2017 at 11:08 pm, Trooper First Class Jones stopped a vehicle on Armory Rd. in Prince Frederick for erratic driving., was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. A search subsequent to the arrest revealed possession of Cocaine. Hawkins was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE: On 9/17/2017 at 8:03 am, Trooper First Class Rucker responded to the 200 block of Pawnee Lane in Lusby for a reported theft from a motor vehicle. The victim reported cash had been removed from inside the center console and other items were found lying in the driver's seat. The victim was unsure is the doors had been locked and no forced entry was noted. Investigation continues.THEFT OF CELLPHONE: On 9/20/2017 at 5:42 pm, Trooper First Class Harrod received a complaint of a theft of a cell phone. The victim reported using the phone during a visit with friends in Chesapeake Beach. Michael A. Brown, 19 of Owings threatened the victim demanding his cell phone. An arrest warrant has been requested for Brown.POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA: On 9/21/2017 at 5:19 pm, Trooper Marsch stopped a vehicle on Rt. 4 in Prince Frederick for traffic violations. The odor of marijuana was detected and a probable cause search performed., was found to be in possession of over 10 grams of marijuana. He was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.DUI & POSSESSION OF HEROIN: On 9/21/2017 at 6:39 pm, Trooper First Class Warrick stopped a vehicle on Stoakley Rd. in Prince Frederick due to erratic driving., was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. A search subsequent to arrest revealed a small amount of heroin, Maguire was incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.OPEN WARRANT / POSSESSION OF COCAINE: On 9/23/2017 at 11:38 pm, Trooper Marsch responded to the 400 block of West Dares Beach Rd. in Prince Frederick for a reported fight in progress. The subjects were located and were arguing on the sidewalk., was arrested on an open warrant through MSP Prince Frederick. A search incident to the arrest revealed a clear glass tube containing cocaine in Ogle's pocket. He was incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: On 9/24/2017 at 3:13 am, Trooper First Class Robinson responded to the 1400 block of Knight Avenue in Dunkirk for a reported destruction of property. During the course of a heated argument,, smashed the windshield on the victim's vehicle. He was arrested for destruction of property and was incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.Joseph A. Beebe, 39, of Pr. Frederick, arrested on 09/16/2017 @ 01:38 am by TFC J. JonesJerry A. Jones, Jr., 47, of St. Leonard, arrested on 09/16/2017 @ 08:22 pm by TFC K. RobinsonReginald J. Hawkins, 57, of Pr. Frederick, arrested on 09/16/2017 @ 11:07 pm by TFC J. JonesDarrell M. Savoy, 29, of Lusby, arrested on 09/17/2017 @ 01:13 pm by TFC N. RuckerDonald A. Behrens, 52, of St. Leonard, arrested on 09/19/2017 @ 07:53 pm by TFC T. DavisSean M. Maguire, 52, of Owings, arrested on 09/21/2017 @ 06:45 pm by TFC J. WarrickChristina M. Procopio, 31, of Owings, arrested on 09/21/2017 @ 09:20 pm by TPR. R. BackusJoshua R. James, 21, of St. Leonard, arrested on 09/23/2017 @ 05:52 pm by TFC J. Harrod
LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Sept. 25, 2017) The Chick-fil-A restaurant located at 45150 First Colony Way in California was collecting donations in a large water jug to help the employees of a Texas Chick-fil-A damaged by Hurricane Harvey. As of Wednesday, September 6, those donations are gone.



Between 5:36 p.m. and 5:54 p.m., the pictured individuals were interacting among themselves inside of the restaurant. As 4 of the 5 people exited the business, the suspect, wearing what appears to be a stripped hooded sweatshirt and glasses, grabbed the donation jar and fled the business. The group was last seen leaving the parking lot; one of the vehicles being a light colored SUV, possibly a Toyota Rav 4.



Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect, any of the other subjects, or about this crime in general is asked to call DFC S. Terpak at 301-475-4200 ext. *8051 or by email at Sheena.Tirpak@stmarysmd.com CASE #47348-17.



Callers may also call CRIME SOLVERS at 301-475-3333 or TEXT a TIP to "TIP239" plus your message to "CRIMES" (274637). Calls to CRIME SOLVERS are NOT RECORDED and callers can remain ANONYMOUS. St. Mary's County CRIME SOLVERS offers REWARDS of up to $1,000 for information about a crime that leads to an arrest or indictment.
Cynthia Taylor Dunn, age 59, of Prince Frederick Elizabeth Ashley Dunn, age 29, of Leonardtown Joshua Alexander Mason, age 33, of Clements Justin Ray King, age 35, of Hollywood Kara Kristine Casey, age 33, of Waldorf Melvin Scott Rawlings, age 31, of no fixed address Rhoda Melissa Cradle, age 49, of Lexington Park Robert Allison Graves, age 48, of Leonardtown Sherri Ann Newman, age 39, of Lexington Park Walter Jerome Ford, Sr., age 50, of Lexington Park Previous Next

LEONARDTOWN, Md.

Sherri Ann Newman, age 39, of Lexington Park

Sherri Ann Newman, age 49, of Lexington Park

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme.

(Sept. 25, 2017)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.ASSAULT: On 9/13/2017 Deputy Holdsworth responded to the St. Marys County Detention Center in Leonardtown for a reported assault. Inmate, assaulted another inmate by grabbing the inmate by the head. The victim sustained a laceration to the head. Casey was charged with two (2) counts Second Degree Assault DOC employee. CASE #48467-17.BURGLARY: On 9/13/2017 deputies responded to the Rite Aid Pharmacy located in the 21000 block of North Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park for multiple motion alarms. Upon arrival, Corporal T. Snyder located suspect, attempting to exit two sets of front doors. Once Rawlings was apprehended, Corporal Snyder determined he had tried to break into the pharmacy main door where medications are stored. Rawlings was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Marys County Detention Center. He was charged with Second Degree Burglary, Fourth Degree BurglaryStorehouse, Fourth Degree BurglaryTheft, and Property Destruction. CASE #48564-17.ALTER DRUG SCREEN: On 9/13/2017 Corporal J. Kirkner responded to the St. Mary's County Detention Center in Leonardtown for a reported fraudulent urine specimen. A detention center employee collected a pre-trial urine sample from suspect. After noting something wrong with the sample, a plastic container was located in Mason's clothing, which he used to transport a fraudulent urine sample into the facility. Mason was charged with Altering a Drug Screen Test. CASE #48568-17.ASSAULT: On 9/13/2017 Corporal J. Kirkner responded to MedStar St. Mary's hospital for a reported domestic assault which had occurred at a residence in Leonardtown. The victim alleged suspect, pushed the victim causing visible injury. Dunn was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE #48552-17.HOME INVASION/BURGLARY: On 9/14/2017 Deputy T. Payne responded to the 43000 block of Drum Cliff Road in Hollywood for a reported assault. Two (2) victims alleged suspect, entered the residence through an unlocked basement door and confronted the victims in the kitchen. Dunn struck one of the victims in the face with her fist. Dunn was placed under arrest and charged with Home Invasion, Third Degree Burglary, and Second Degree Assault. CASE #48721-17.VIOLATION PROTECTIVE ORDER: On 9/15/2017 Corporal K. Nelson responded to the St. Mary's County Circuit Court House in Leonardtown. The victim alleged suspect, contacted the victim via social media and by phone call in violation of an active protective order. King was subsequently located inside the residence also in violation of the order. He was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. He was charged with two (2) counts of Violation of a Protective Order. CASE #48864-17.ASSAULT: On 9/16/2017 Deputy P. Henry responded to the 41000 block of Newman Way in Leonardtown, for a reported domestic assault. The victim alleged suspect, pushed the victim into a table causing injury to the victim's face. Graves was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. He was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE #48993-17.ALCOHOL VIOLATION: On 9/20/2017 DFC A. Beishline observed suspect, in possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in the 46000 block of South Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park. Ford was charged with the violation by criminal citation. CASE #49899-17.ASSAULT: On 9/21/2017 DFC R. Steinbach responded to the 21000 block of Birdseye Court in Lexington Park for a reported assault. The victim alleged suspect, struck the victim in the face. The victim had visible sign of injury. Newman was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE #50215-17.ASSAULT: On 9/22/2017 DFC R. Steinbach responded to the 21000 block of Castaway Circle in Lexington Park for a reported domestic assault. The victim alleged suspect, pushed the victim causing visible injury on the victim's neck and chin. Cradle was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE #50243-17.VIOLATION PROTECTIVE ORDER: On 9/24/2017 DFC J. McGuire responded to the 21000 block of Birdseye Court in Lexington Park. The victim alleged suspect, contacted the victim by phone and text message in violation of an active protective order. Newman was located and placed under arrest. She was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Violation of a Protective Order. CASE #50678-17.8/16/2017, was charged with First Degree Burglary, and two (2) counts of Fourth Degree Burglary by DFC M. McCuen. CASE #43199-17.8/24/2017, was charged with two (2) counts of possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance by Corporal M/. Worrey. CASE #14260-17.8/24/2017, was charged with Second Degree Assault by Corporal M. Worrey. CASE #44023-17.8/24/2017, was charged with Second Degree Assault by DFC R. Steinbach. CASE #43059-17.8/31/2017, was charged with Second Degree Assault by Deputy Edwards. CASE #44031-17.9/21/2017, was charged with Theft Under $1,000 by Deputy P. Henry. CASE #43105-17.9/20/2017, was charged with First Degree and Second Degree Assault by DFC A. Schultz by warrant. CASE #47938-17.9/20/2017, was charged with First and Second Degree Burglary, Theft $1,000 to $10,000, Two (2) counts Theft Less $1,000, Property Destruction, and Theft Scheme $1,000 to $10,000 by Deputy P. Robinson. CASE #33995-17, 35200-17, 37517-17.
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The month of September has been busy at Winbak. The farm has hosted two events with more than 30 people who are new to the Standardbred breeding business and harness racing.

On September 5, Delaware Senator Stephanie Hansen (who represents the Middletown district), Dave Hansen (her husband), Sal DiMario (executive director of the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association), Rebecca Kidner (counsel for Delaware Standardbred Owners Association and Lobbyist) and Judy Davis-Wilson (executive administrator for Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund), visited Winbak of Delaware and Maryland. The guests learned about the breeding business, harness racing and the yearling season. For those who already knew about the business, they learned more about Winbak Farm. The tour guests also enjoyed a Clydesdale wagon ride.



Members of the Senator tour stop for a photo while at Winbak (Image courtesy Winbak Farm)

On September 16, Marylands World Trade Center Institute (WTCI) held its third annual Edge Retreat at Winbak Farm. The farm was the host to 25 rising business leaders representing major companies in Maryland. The Edge program is made up of candidates from Marylands leading companies who are selected for their future potential in global business.

On the first night of the event, the attendees held leadership activities at the farm. The following day, Joe Thomson, owner of Winbak Farm, spoke to the retreat attendees about harness racing, Winbak Farm and its global business. The guests were given a tour of Winbak Farm of Maryland, including the racing and yearling divisions. James Ladwig, Winbak Farm yearling manager, gave a demonstration on what to look for in a yearling and how to pick the best athlete possible. Guests also learned the impact that harness racing and breeding has on the economy. They were then treated to a Clydesdale wagon ride.



Members of the Edge Retreat pose for a picture at Winbak Farm (Image courtesy Winbak Farm)

Joe believes it is important to use the farm as a tool to promote the industry. The Edge program is one of the most forward thinking ideas for U.S. and International business Ive seen. It is indeed a privilege to allow Winbak to be a setting for their retreat. It is also a great backdrop to introduce theses candidates to the Standardbred industry, said Thomson.

(Winbak Farm)
Have you ever thought about owning a racehorse? Do you love horses, love harness racing and maybe felt owning a racehorse was too expensive? Well, with fractional ownership, racehorse ownership can be very affordable.

On Friday, October 6, in co-operation with the London Selected Yearling Sale, a free racehorse ownership seminar with the focus on fractional horse ownership will be hosted at The Raceway at Western Fair District. The seminar will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The seminar will feature presentations from ownership groups LandMark Racing Stables, thestable.ca and the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association (SBOA).

All three groups offer an affordable and easy way to become involved in owning a Standardbred racehorse.

Anyone attending the workshop will receive an entry* into the Win A Share in A Racehorse contest, sponsored by the Ontario Sires Stakes and presented in conjunction with the London Selected Yearling Sale hosted at the Metroland Media Agriplex at Western Fair District on October 14 and 15. The contest winner will receive a share ($2,000 value) in LandMark 11 Stable which will include an Ontario-sired horse.

Live racing will begin that evening at 7:00 p.m.

To reserve a spot, or for more information on the seminar, email [email protected] or contact Kathy ([email protected]) or Hailey ([email protected]) at Standardbred Canada at 905-858-3060.

(* - Entry is available to any resident of Ontario, 18 years of age and over, who has never owned a Standardbred, or resided in the same household as someone who owned a Standardbred. Contest is not open to employees or officials of Standardbred Canada, Ontario Racing, OLG, or any Ontario racetrack.)
This passage on how to write a headline is fantastic.

And it cuts to the heart of the issue.

For concise clarity should be the main issue in writing.

Actually, it should be the main issue in any form of communication.

Noise, noise, noise  and people are easily confused.

Be clear with people. What is the take-away they need to know?

Political analyst preach this need for clarity, marketers preach this, heck pastors preach this.

Ill let Greg McKeown tell the story:

Charlie O. Simms taught a Journalism 101 class in Beverly Hills High School. He started the first day of the class Ephron attended much the same way any journalism teacher would, by explaining the concept of a lead. He explained that a lead contains the why, what, when, and who of the piece. It covers the essential information. Then he gave them their first assignment: write a lead to a story. Simms began by presenting the facts of the story: Kenneth L. Peters, the principal of Beverly Hills High School, announced today that the entire high school faculty will travel to Sacramento next Thursday for a colloquium in new teaching methods. Among the speakers will be anthropologist Margaret Mead, college president Dr. Robert Maynard Hutchins, and California governor Edmund Pat Brown. The students hammered away on their manual typewriters trying to keep up with the teachers pace. Then they handed in their rapidly written leads. Each attempted to summarize the who, what, where, and why as succinctly as possible: Margaret Mead, Maynard Hutchins, and Governor Brown will address the faculty on ; Next Thursday, the high school faculty will  Simms reviewed the students leads and put them aside. He then informed them that they were all wrong. The lead to the story, he said, was There will be no school Thursday.

Greg McKeown, Essentialism
South China city of Guangzhou, the host city of 2017 Fortune Global Forum, held a promotion seminar in Silicon Valley on Sept 21, the fourth roadshow in the US following New York, Washington and Chicago.

Cai Chaolin, director of the 2017 Fortune Global Forum Executive Committee; Diao Ailin, deputy secretary-general of Guangzhou Municipal Party Committee and Gong Hongwu, secretary of party leadership group of Guangzhou Science Technology and Innovation Commission attended the seminar. Distinguished guests included Stephen Ciesinski, president of Stanford Research Institute International, Lenny Siegel, vice mayor of Mountain View city in California and Hau Lee, professor of Stanford Graduate School of Business and enterprise representatives from Guangzhou and the finance industry of Silicon Valley.

Guangzhou held a promotion seminar for the 2017 Fortune Global Forum in Silicon Valley on Sept 21. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Similar to San Francisco's world famous high-tech center Silicon Valley, Guangzhou also boasts an agreeable environment, inclusive culture and transport services including world-class ports and a favorable key position as a part of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"Guangzhou has 83 higher education institutions and 140,000 technology enterprises; Over 11,000 businesses are nurtured by various incubators and group innovation space (GIS) and a daily average of 386 new enterprises are registered in Guangzhou, five of which are foreign-owned," noted Gong.

With the surge of the internet, the bond between Guangzhou and Silicon Valley is becoming increasingly close. The roadshow aimed to provide a platform for enterprises of the two places to exchange ideas and seek business opportunities.

Prior to the road show, a 60-second video clip promoting the Guangdong capital was unveiled. The video will be broadcasted on channels of Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC) to more than 400 million people from Sept 20 to 25.

Guangzhou will surely become the top investment hub in the world and the best place for enterprises to expand their businesses, according to Max Raven, senior vice president of CNBC who watched the video that introduced Guangzhou in areas including economy, special industries and future planning.

Cai Chaolin, director of the 2017 Fortune Global Forum Executive Committee gives a speech at the promotion seminar. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This is the fourth time a promotion seminar has been held in America, showing the increasing close relationship between Guangzhou and the US. From January to July this year, 32 American invested enterprises were set up in Guangzhou, with contract investment reaching $21 million. By the end of July, America had set up 1,019 companies in Guangzhou, with the contract investment amount reaching $2.3 billion.

Moreover, many companies including consumer product giant Procter & Gamble and daily necessaries provider Amway have set up headquarters in Guangzhou. In March, the $800-million biotech park, jointly invested by General Electric Company and Guangzhou Development District (GDD) was launched in Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City; in April, the intelligent-manufacturing-centered project of CISCO (Guangzhou) Smart City started construction and in August, GDD signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the world leading research institute on cancer, neuroscience, quantitative biology, plant biology, bioinformatics and genomics in the US.

Lenny Siegel, vice mayor of Mountain View city in California gives a speech at the promotion seminar. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]


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KHULNA: Sheikh Harun-ur-Rashid, Chairman, Khulna Zilla Parishad distributing cheque among the poor and distressed people donated from Prime Minister\'s Relief Fund on Sunday.
BRU inks deal with Pollisree

Prof Dr Nazrul Islam, Chairman of Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Begum Rokeya University and Pollisree Executive Director Shamim Ara Begum signing an agreement for women empowerment in favour of their respective organizations at the Un

Jannatun lucky, BRU :

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Begum Rokeya University (BRU), Rangpur signed a one-year agreement with Pollisree, Dinajpur on Thursday for research and development of women empowerment in Dimla, Nilphamari.

Chairman of the MCJ Dept Prof Dr Nazrul Islam and Pollisree Executive Director Shamim Ara Begum signed the agreement in favour of their respective organizations.

Noted that, Vice Chancellor of BRU Prof Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, BTFO and Md. Selim Reja, in charge of the Executive Director of Pollisree signed the main agreement between BRU and Pollisree for 5 year on August 3, 2017.

Pollisree Executive Director Shamim ara Begum said, "Pollisree is a local NGO. It works with social issues in seven district of North Bengal."

Prof Dr Nazrul Islam said, "BRU and Pollisree signed the agreement and it will be implemented as soon as possible. He thanked the Pollisree. Ferdous Rahman, the Dean of Business Faculty congratulated Pollisree for the agreement.

Besides, Dr Abul kalam Md. Foridul Islam, Proctor of BRU, Prof Dr Sarifa Salowa Dina Administrator, Public Relation, Information and Public Division, BRU, Tabiur Rahman Prodhan, Assistant Professor of MCJ Dept, among others, were present in the signing ceremony.

Human-chain to protest Rohingya torture

Meanwhile, students of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Begum Rokeya University (BRU), Rangpur early on Tuesday formed a human-chain for protesting atrocities on Muslim Rohingya in Mayanmer." Save Rohingya, stop genocide" was the slogan of the human-chain.

Chairman of the Dept, Prof Dr Nazrul Islam, the members of different social, political, and cultural organizations and students of the Departments were present there.

Dr Nazrul Islam said, " Rohingya crisis has resounded the whole world. We want the genocide be stopped and solved it permanently."

He also said, we should ensure all caste and religion to build democracy for a state. He urged the Mayanmer to take necessary steps regarding Rohingya and to give them citizenship.

The students of the Dept, Monowar Hossain, Shihab Uddin, Suzan, Morshedul Alam and other speaks on the occasion to establish stable peace in Mayanmer.
Law teachers, students of Dhaka Intl Univ protest torture on Rohingyas

Campus Report :

The students and teachers of Department of Masters of Human Rights Law of Dhaka International University held a meeting on the University premises condemning barbarous behavior and tortures on Rohingya Muslims by the Myanmar Government and Myanmar Army on Monday, said a press release.

This is an act of violation of human rights. The speakers strongly demanded support from the world community to stop this inhuman acts of Myanmar Govt. led by Nobel award recipient Shu Kyi. Over four hundred thousand innocent people mostly mother and children have to flee to Bangladesh for shelter leaving behind all their belongings.

They are totally helpless, they require food and shelter which Bangladesh govt. cannot provide alone without the support of International agencies and friendly countries. Myanmar Govt. must take them back and allow them to stay peacefully in their home country.


BAF assisting in relief management for Rohingyas

Chittagong Bureau :

Bangladesh Air Force members are assisting in relief management which are arriving from foreign countries for Rohingya refugees.

A Relief Management Centre (RMC) has already been formed consisting BAF members. Senior Traffic Control Officer of BAF Base Zahurul Haque Wing Commander Md Jahangir Hossain was appointed as Chief coordinator of RMC.

Members of the local Base are working in unloading and despatching relief goods arrived from overseas countries.

Relief goods included rice, atta, salt, fishes, biscuits, chocolate, coconut oil, generator, family kits, lungi, medicine, powder milk, sugar, dates, tents, blankets, ready made garments etc.

Mentionable that foreign relief goods have been pouring in Bangladesh for Rohingyas since 9 September. So far a total of 467.66 tones relief goods were arrived, by air from Morocco, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh Air Force arranged necessary ware house for keeping relief goods at Shah Amanot Air port, Chittagong. After taking necessary actions in airport BAF members are handing over relief materials to Army personnel.
Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sayeed Khokon speaking at a views exchange meeting with the leaders of the Hindu community on Holy Durga Puja in the auditorium of the corporation on Monday.
Preventing Rohingya killings by International Genocide Law

Barrister M. A. Muid Khan :

"Any time you find the government involved in a conspiracy to violate the citizenship or the civil rights of a people, then you are wasting your time going to that government expecting redress. Instead, you have to take that government to the World Court and accuse it of genocide and all of the other crimes that it is guilty of today"

(Malcolm X (1925-1965) was an African - A,erican Muslim Minister and Human Rights Activist).

My hairs were raised after reading a report published on 4th September 2017, in the Independent Newspaper UK, confirming that Myanmar's armed forces are allegedly 'burning bodies of Rohingya Muslims' to conceal evidence. I was shocked to learn that the Myanmar's armed forces were involved directly in the mass killings and gang rapes of ethnic Rohingya minorities. On 20th September 2017, I could not absorb the shock in my heart watching several untold stories of Rohingya Muslims published in several newspapers confirming that more than 160,000 of Myanmar's 1.1 million ethnic Rohingya minorities have fled to Bangladesh. I felt very shocked to learn that almost 400 Rohingya Muslims' have died in the recent unrest. In several national and international newspapers, More than a dozen Rohingya from Tula Toli described their untold horror stories, what appeared to be devastating carnage as Myanmar's armed forces swept through the village from Tula Toli on 30 August and allegedly murdered scores of people. Satellites have recorded images of whole villages burnt to the ground.

Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has accused Burma's forces of genocide. A United Nations Report published this year described the mass killings and gang rapes by the Myanmar's armed forces in actions that "very likely" amounted to crimes against humanity Unfortunately this barbaric and heinous crime (Crime against Humanity & Genocide) was committed by the very people (Myanmar's armed forces) whose duty was to protect the lives of Myanmar's 1.1 million ethnic Rohingya minorities.

Was it the dream for which the framers of the UN Convention on Genocide in December 1948, introduced International law against genocide prohibiting any acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group?

Was it the dream for the Contracting Parties to confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and punish? Wasn't it the dream of the founding fathers of the Convention that it will impose a general duty on states that are signatories to "prevent and to punish" genocide?

In this article, an attempt will be made to establish whether the acts of 'burning bodies of Rohingya Muslims' to conceal evidence, mass killings and gang rapes of ethnic Rohingya female minorities, widespread systematic attacks destruction of their house and business, burning down their business etc. directed against Rohingya Muslims would be considered as crimes against humanity and Genocide.

It is to be noted that the Crimes against humanity are not codified in an international convention, although there is currently an international effort to establish such a treaty.

The law of crimes against humanity has primarily developed through the evolution of customary international law. Under the Customary International Law, Crimes against humanity are certain acts that are deliberately committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack or individual attack directed against any civilian or an identifiable part of a civilian population.

Unlike genocide and war crimes, which have been widely recognized and prohibited in international criminal law since the establishment of the Nuremberg principles, there has never been a comprehensive convention on crimes against humanity.

It is also to be noted that Genocide is understood by most to be the gravest crime against humanity it is possible to commit. It is the mass extermination of a whole group of people, an attempt to wipe them out of existence. If we look at the history of the term Genocide, we would be able to see that the term "Genocide" a combination of the Greek word genos ("race, people") and the Latin term suffix meaning cide ("act of killing"). The term was coined in 1943 by the Jewish-Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin who combined the Greek word "genos" (race or tribe) with the Latin word "cide" (to kill). After witnessing the horrors of the Holocaust, in which every member of his family except his brother was killed, Dr Lemkin campaigned to have genocide recognised as a crime under international law.

Article 2 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948), defines genocide as "any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such (a) Killing members of the group, (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group & (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

In the light of the above definition of Genocide, acts of 'burning bodies of Rohingya Muslims' to conceal evidence, the mass killings and gang rapes of ethnic Rohingya minorities by the Myanmar's armed forces due to their ethnicity clearly amounts to genocide in accordance with the clear definition of UN convention.

This is clearly an intentional action by the Myanmar's armed forces to destroy Myanmar's 1.1 million ethnic Rohingya minorities.. As the Myanmar's military are involved in committing crimes against humanity and Genocide; therefore an international legal war should be waged by the International Criminal Court against the perpetrators of this Crime to establish international justice.

The UN convention introduced International law to wage international legal war against the perpetrators of genocide to prevent and punish genocide.

Article I of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime ofGenocide: "The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and punish." Therefore, the convention also imposes a general duty on states that are signatories to "prevent and to punish" genocide.

Since 2002, the International Criminal Court can exercise its jurisdiction if national courts are unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute genocide, thus being a "court of last resort," leaving the primary responsibility to exercise jurisdiction over alleged criminals to individual states.

It is also to be noted that the UN convention on Genocide is under immense fire as there is no body of international law to clarify the parameters of the convention. The difficulty of defining or measuring "in part", and establishing how many deaths would equal genocide. In addition, UN member states are hesitant to single out other members or intervene, as was the case in Rwanda. The question arises, would the member states of the UK feel hesitant to intervene in the mass killing of Rohingya minorities and bring the perpetrators before justice?

Legal Precedents

If we look at the legal precedents we will be able to see that the first case to put into practice the convention on genocide was that of Jean Paul Akayesu, the Hutu mayor of the Rwandan town of Taba at the time of the killings. In a landmark ruling, a special international tribunal convicted him of genocide and crimes against humanity on 2 September 1998. More than 30 ringleaders of the Rwandan genocide have now been convicted by the International Criminal

In Bosnia, the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica has been ruled to be genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). General Radislav Krstic, the first man convicted by the ICTY of genocide in Bosnia, had appealed against his conviction for his role in the killing of more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica. Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic remains on trial at the Hague.

In another Legal Precedent, the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashi is accused of waging a campaign against the citizens of the Sudanese region of Darfur. Some 300,000 people are said to have died and millions have been displaced in seven years of fighting there.

The International Criminal Court in 2010 issued an arrest warrant for the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, on genocide charges.

However, there are serious limitations of International law on Genocide to penalize the perpetrators of Genocide. The Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is currently on trial at The Hague accused of war crimes and genocide. He denies the charges. President Bashir continues to travel outside Sudan, to countries who are signatories to the International Criminal Court, without being detained as ordered by the arrest warrant. If his case is ever brought to trial it will be the first time that genocide charges are brought against a serving head of state.

Despite the fact that there are limitations under the international law to bring the perpetrators of Genocide before justice, that should not deter the nations of the world to take united steps to take International legal action against Myanmar's armed forces for committing crimes against humanity and Genocide.

If we continue to allow Myanmar's armed forces to get away with these crimes against humanity through a lack of international legal enforcement, we tacitly encourage more of these crimes to occur as perpetrators will assume that they may not be held accountable.

International Criminal Court should issue arrest warrants immediately against the leaders of Myanmar's armed forces who are actively involved in the mass killings and gang rapes of ethnic Rohingya minorities. Victims of Myanmar should be given a chance to see justice being brought upon perpetrators of atrocities by the International Community by applying the International Law.
IFIL launches new logo

Business Desk :

Islamic Finance and Investment Limited (IFIL) launched its new logo on Monday. Abul Quasem Haider, Chairman, Board of Directors and Managing Director and CEO of the company AKM Shahidul Haque along with Directors and Sponsors of the institution formally unveiled the new logo in a colorful ceremony at a city hotel.

Abul Quasem Haider said that the company enters into a new phase after successfully completion of 16 years of its operations. We have changed the logo with a new promise to serve the customers better. He further expects that the new logo will make our brand name "IFIL" stronger as a first Shariah based NBFI in Bangladesh.

A K M Shahidul Haque said that recently the company has undergone a thorough internal restructuring. Our main focus was Human Resources Management and Risk Management. IFIL has achieved manifold success in all areas of business. Organization's deposits, investments and profits have increased significantly. He acknowledged his debts to the customers of IFIL for their continued support since its commencement of business in 2001.

Vice-Chairmen of the Board Mr. Afzalur Rahman, Directors, Sponsors, Deputy Managing Director Mr. Mohammad Ruknuzzaman and senior executives were present in the program.
Angela Merkel wins Fourth Term

ANGELA Merkel creates history by winning election fourth time. Her Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) had maintained a double-digit lead over the Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by Martin Schulz in opinion polling since the 2013 election. Merkel's conservative bloc won 32.5 percent of the vote, making them the largest parliamentary group. However, that was down from 41.5 percent in the last election, in 2013.







An interesting fact is that, Alternative for Germany (AfD), who were previously unrepresented in the Bundestag for not having required 5% vote; have taken 13% of the vote this time. Founded in April 2013, this party is known to have a similar ideology of that of NSDAP or otherwise known as Nazi party. They are anti-immigrant and anti-Islam, so their growing popularity is a matter of concern. They are set to enter the Bundestag for the first time as the third largest party of Germany. The AfD promised "constructive opposition" in parliament but the Greens have already complained that "Nazis have returned to parliament".





Merkel said in her post-election speech that the CDU had hoped for a better result but had faced an "extraordinary challenge" (referring to the 2015 migrant crisis) and had still managed to remain Germany's largest party. She pledged to listen to AfD voters and win back those she could with "good politics". Whatever the make-up of her coalition she is about to face four years of government in a fragmented parliament after the return of the FDP, which was unrepresented at national level for the last four years and the arrival of the AfD. The AfD has morphed into an anti-immigration party that has profited from Merkel's 2015 decision to leave German borders open to over 1 million migrants, most of them fleeing war in the Middle East.







Merkel, known as a friend of the migrants, mostly Muslims, in her fourth term shall have to face more challenges from the rising far-right forces in the coming years. However, it is also true, Merkel is a long serving matured politician possessing all the traits of quality leadership. Similarly, Germany itself is a matured and free democratic society and knows well how to allow democracy to work. Thus, the far-right forces will not enjoy hey-days.





We would like to congratulate Merkel on her win and hope she will deal swiftly with all the challenges she face. After the Brexit Germany will be the one to lead Europe. So she is about to face several challenges both inside Germany and internationally.






China urges restraint amid war of words

Beijing/Seoul (Reuters) :

China on Monday called for all sides in the North Korea missile crisis to show restraint and not "add oil to the flames" amid an exchange of increasingly bellicose rhetoric between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after "Mr Evil President" Trump called Pyongyang's leader a "rocket man" on a suicide mission.

"Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" Trump said on Twitter late on Saturday.

North Korea, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programmers in defiance of international condemnation, said it "bitterly condemned the reckless remarks" of the U.S. president, saying they were an "intolerable insult to the Korean people" and a declaration of war, the North's official news agency said on Monday.

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim described Trump as a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard" whom he

would tame with fire. Kim said the North would consider the "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history" against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed his nuclear programs was "the correct path".

Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address on Tuesday to "totally destroy" the country of 26 million people if North Korea threatened the United States or its allies.

Asked how concerned China was the war of words between Trump and North Korea could get out of control, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described the situation as highly complex and sensitive.
Stay alert against evil acts during Puja: Khaleda

Greeting the Hindu community members on the occasion of Durga Puja and Bijoya Dashami, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday urged all, irrespective of their religion and colour, to remain alert about any type of evil act against the country's religious harmony.

In a message issued on the occasion, the BNP chief said, "Bangladesh is a country of religious harmony. All, regardless of their religion and race, will have to remain alert against any evil act."

The Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of Hindus, begins on Tuesday and ends with the immersion of the goddess on September 30.

Khaleda alleged that the incidents of attack on worship places of religious minority communities and damaging of their idols and communal provocation have marked a sharp rise under the rule of the current government.

She voiced concern that the temples of Hindus and their houses came under attacks at many places of the country this year ahead of the Durga Puja. "Ruling party men have involvement in such incidents for destroying the country's religious harmony. I strongly condemn the evil incidents."

Khaleda said her party is committed to protecting the religious freedom of every citizen of the country. "We don't believe in (religious) minority and majority theory. We all are Bangladeshis and this is our biggest identity," she observed.

The BNP chief said any religious festival makes people's fraternity even stronger and awaken their spirit of brotherhood. "The main message of all the religions is peace and welfare of human being. It's the duty of all of us to devote ourselves towards establishing peace and equality in society shunning jealousy."

She wished an all-out success of the Durga Puja.
India can`t mistreat refugees, says HRW

Staff Reporter :

Human Rights Watch on Monday condemned the Indian authorities for "mistreating" the Rohingya refugees and said that the country had no rights to conduct such behaviour.

"If India had not signed the Convention against torture, would Indian authorities have carte blanche to torture and ill-treat anyone in custody? Of course, not," said Bill Frelick, HRW's refugee rights programme director in a statement on Monday.

India's Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, said in a tweet that his government was "not violating any international law" if it deports Rohingya refugees "as we are not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention."

He said, India knows well that certain principles of international law are considered customary international law - they are unlawful because states have long prohibited the practice as a matter of law. "It doesn't matter whether or not the country has ratified a treaty on the subject," Bill Frelick said adding and, if it is wrong to torture or persecute someone, forcing someone to return to a place where they face these abuses is also unacceptable.

Rajnath Singh correctly cites the 1951 Refugee Convention as a source of law for the principle of "nonrefoulement," which prohibits the return of refugees "in any manner whatsoever" to places where their lives or freedom would be threatened.

"He (Rajnath Singh) could also have cited the 1984 Convention Against Torture, which prohibits the return of anyone to another country where there are substantial risk of torture."

There are also other regional conventions and declarations that endorse the principle, such as the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, the 1969 American Convention on Human Rights, and the 1966 Bangkok Principles on Status and Treatment of Refugees.

"But that's not the end of the story."

Certain rules of customary international law are so important that no government can violate them, even if a treaty existed that would allow them to do so.

The prohibitions on torture and slavery are such "peremptory norms." As early as 1982, the executive committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which is composed of 101 countries including India, affirmed that the principle of nonrefoulement was "progressively acquiring the character of a peremptory rule of international law."

The Indian government says it is worried about the entry of refugees with links to Rohingya militants.

If that's the case, they should produce evidence and prosecute individual suspects.

While a Rohingya militant group attacked security posts in Myanmar, it is the campaign of ethnic cleansing by the Myanmar military that has caused Rohingya to flee, most to Bangladesh but some to India.

"When your neighbor flees his burning house, you are not at liberty to push him back into the flames because you consider him a trespasser," Bill Frelick said.

"The Rohingya are literally fleeing their burning homes. The obligation not to push them back stems less from a signature on a piece of paper than from the fundamental principles of our shared humanity."
Origin and solution of Rohingya crisis lie on Myanmar: Grandi

Staff Reporter :

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Monday said that Rohingya refugee crisis has originated in Myanmar and the country must resolve it with safety and dignity of the Rohingyas.

"Only Myanmar has the solution to the Rohingya crisis as the issue has started from the country. It has to be decided by the Myanmar government. Otherwise, the Security Council's intervention will be required, which he describes as a "complex exercise," Grandi said this at a press briefing in a city hotel following a visit on Sunday to Kutupalong refugee camp and other areas along the border.

The UNCHR chief said, "We want safety in general in Rakhine State. Without that, the people will not be able to go back. People have lost everything. If there is no such guarantee of safety, they will not go back."

Grandi said, "I agree with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's proposals to resolve the Rohingya crisis, but it is skeptical on a safe zone inside Myanmar for the Rohingyas.

Replying to a question of how the safety and dignity will be ensured, Grandi said, "There is no access of humanitarian organization in Myanmar. After return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar access of the humanitarian agencies must be ensured." He also hoped that recommendations of Kofi Annan Commission will help resolve the crisis permanently.

The UNHCR chief called upon the global community to rapidly step up aid for Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar after brutality in the Rakhine State.

"More than 400,000 Rohingya refugees are living in Bangladesh with scarcity of food. Many Rohingyas are yet to get food from any quarter. They are also suffering from health problem. Sufficient aids are necessary for the Rohingyas,"

he said, adding: "Their (Rohingyas) situation remains desperate, and we risk a dramatic deterioration if aid is not rapidly stepped up." "The people I met were deeply traumatized, and despite having found refuge in Bangladesh, they are still exposed to enormous hardship," Grandi said on the final day of his visit to the country.

"The spontaneous outpouring of support from the local community and people, companies and associations across the country has been phenomenal," he said, nothing that the government had mobilised efforts at all levels, and that UNHCR and other partners are also scaling up.

"Despite every effort by those on the ground, the massive influx of people seeking safety rapidly outpaced capacities to respond, and the situation has still not stabilised. More is needed, and fast, if we are to avoid further deterioration," Grandi said. UNHCR has now airlifted four planes loaded with relief items into the country, and is distributing emergency shelter kits, kitchen sets and solar lamps. Our experts are working closely with the government to set up an organised site with water, sanitation and other facilities, and to register the new arrivals. Other international agencies and NGOs are also on the ground and playing an important role.

Grandi arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday to see conditions for himself after discussing the situation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whom he met last week in New York at the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly. In Dhaka he met with the foreign minister as well as the ministers for home affairs, and disaster management and relief.

"I thanked Sheikh Hasina and I thank Bangladesh for keeping its borders open to receive these refugees," Grandi said.

Grandi visited the area around Cox's Bazar, where the UN Refugee Agency has been supporting the government in running two official camps since 1992. Over the years the number of registered refugees in the two camps has fluctuated and now stands at some 33,000.

There were also an estimated 300,000 unregistered Rohingya refugees living in the area who fled Myanmar over the years, even before the 429,000 began fleeing the latest round of violence exactly a month ago. Grandi met families who have lived in Kutupalong since 1992 and who newly arrived into their makeshift homes.

"I talked to people who had experienced the most unimaginable horrors,"

"They had seen villages burned down, families shot or hacked to death, women and girls brutalised. Many of the refugees said they would like to go home, but that needs an end of violence, and a restoration of rights inside Myanmar," Grandi said. "The report issued in August by the Rakhine Advisory Commission, led by Kofi Annan, provides an important road map for addressing the root causes that have contributed to the current crisis"

Grandi discussed the importance of working towards solutions with Bangladeshi authorities and they agreed that a proper registration conducted by the government and supported by UNHCR will be crucial. A registration system would document where each individual refugee comes from and could help ensure everyone is eventually able to exercise the right to return when the time is right. The UNHCR has maintained an international presence inside Northern Rakhine State, from where these refugees fled, although access has been restricted since the end of August.

"Solutions to this crisis lie within Myanmar," Grandi said. "But for now our immediate focus has to be to dramatically increase support to those who are desperately in need," he said.
Myanmar proposes flag meeting in Nov

We're actively considering the offer: BGB DG

Two Rohingya refugee girls react as some others scuffle while waiting to receive aid in Cox\'s Bazar on Monday.

The Myanmar authorities have proposed Bangladesh a flag meeting to settle the ongoing bordering issues of the two neighbouring countries, especially the Rohingya influx.

Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh Major General Abul Hossain on Monday said,

"We've got a proposal to hold a flag meeting with the Border Guard Police [BGP] of Myanmar in the coming November month.We're actively considering the offer and planning to take part in the flag meeting. "

The BGB Chief disclosed the information after distributing relief among the Rongingya people at Putibunia camp of Hoaikong under Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar district.

About Myanmar's provoking attitude, the BGB DG said, "At present, the situation in the border is good.. We're always showing tolerance. We'll not go against anybody

until we are under attack. You know, the war and negotiation can go altogether. If there is no relation with other side, the war cannot continue for an unlimited period."

About 4,50,000 Rohingya people - an estimated 80% of them women and children - have crossed into Bangladesh since 25 August, when ethnic Muslim militants attacked 24 police posts and one army base. Apart from them, about 5, 00,000 Rohingyas are staying in Bangladesh since 1982, officials said.


Power tariff hike move opposed

Staff Reporter :



The consumer rights groups, business bodies and left leaning political parties strongly opposed the government entitys power tariff hike proposal at the public hearing on Monday.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) began the public hearing at the TCB Auditorium in the city.

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) have threatened to go for tougher movement if the price of power is hiked again.

The leaders of the two left parties came up with the announcement while staging a sit-in programme in front of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) protesting power price hike move.

Speaking on the occasion, the leaders of the left parties said it is possible to reduce Tk 1.50 per unit from the existing price of power but the government did not take any step rather they arranged public hearings on power tariff hike proposal.

If the price of power is increased again they will go for tougher movement including enforcement of hartal and blockade, said the leaders.

BSD General Secretary Khalequzzaman presided over the programme while CPB general secretary Shah Alam, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque, United Communist League general secretary Mosharraf Hossain Nannu,, among others, spoke at the programme.

However, on the first day of the hearing state-owned Power Development (PDB) placed its proposal to raise power tariff by 22.24 percent or Tk 1.09 per unit at bulk level.

Currently, the bulk tariff of per unit electricity is Tk 4.90. The PDB seeks to raise it to Tk 5.99 per unit at the bulk level.

A technical evaluation committee of the regulator, which thoroughly examined the PDB proposal, found gross inconsistency in the PDBs accounting statements and recommended a rise by only 11.78 percent to Tk 5.41per unit.

However, the BERC, headed by its chairman, will take the final decision on the tariff hike proposal on conclusion of the current series of hearings.

BERC chairman Monwar Islam, also a former power secretary, presided over the public hearing session while other members of the regulatory body Rahman Murshed, Mizanur Rahman, Abdul Aziz Khan, and Masudul Haque Bhuiyan were present on the occasion.

PDB chairman Khaled Mahmood and other top officials formally submitted their bulk power tariff hike proposal while consumer right group-Consumers Association of Bangladesh (Cab) advisor Prof Shamsul Alam, CNG Association joint secretary Hasin Parvez, Workers Party general secretary Fazle Hossain Badsha, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) leader Ruhin Hossain Prince, Gonosonghoti Andolon chief coordinator Jonayed Saki, Jahangirnagar Universitys associate professor Dr Begum Zebunnesa and energy expert Saleque Sufi spoke at the hearing to oppose the proposal.

The regulator will gradually hold the hearing on the proposals of power entities.

Earlier, as per the directives of the Power Division, six government entities - PDB, DPDC, Desa, Desco, REB, WZPDC, and NWZPDC-have submitted their proposals for raising power tariff.

Of these, the PDB urged the regulator to raise the power tariff both at the bulk and retail levels while the distribution companies called for enhancing tariff at the retail level only.

In Mondays hearing, PDB chairman Khaled Mahmood, while placing the bulk tariff hike proposal, said the entity needs to raise the bulk tariff because of its huge loss being incurred by the lower selling price against higher production cost.

Weve to buy electricity from private power producers at higher rates while the PDB has to buy fuel at higher rates than the private producers due to the existing policy, he said.

Khaled also informed that the PDB has to pay a huge amount as interest to the government for repayment of loans which it received as subsidy.

Opposing the PDBs proposal, CAB adviser Prof Shamsul Alam raised a volley of questions about the justification of the proposal saying it is mysterious that why PDB does not supply gas to generate power at low cost. But that gas is diverted to private power plants and PDB is forced to buy power at much higher rates.

He said liquid fuel is supplied to PDB at much higher rates which the private plants are getting at much lower rates.

Shamsul Alam said if such discriminations, distortions and irregularities are removed, the PDB will not need to raise power tariff at the bulk level. If the bulk level price is up, the retail level will go up.

Ruhin Hossain Prince said if power tariff is raised it will ultimately affect the whole economy and the common people will be the ultimate victim.

CNG Association joint secretary Hasin Parvez said one of the main costs of CNG pumps is electricity. If the electricity cost goes up, it will affect the public transport fare as those are run by CNG, he said.

The BERC will hold a public hearing on retail tariff proposal of PDB on Tuesday.




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Jessica Jean Williamson(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) -- Hurricane Irma hit the Florida Keys hard earlier this month, completely leveling one bride's wedding venue -- so she decided to take the food prepared for her reception to those most affected by the storm.



Jessica Jean Williamson told ABC News she had planned to wed her boyfriend of eight years, Alex Arteaga, on Sept. 9 -- just one day before Irma made landfall in the Keys. The couple had planned to wed in front of 75 guests at a friend's beachside home.



"We were watching the weather and we found out the weather was going to put a damper on our wedding," the bride recalled. "So we said, 'What do we do?'"



The two ended up canceling their wedding. Instead, they boarded up their home in West Palm Beach, Florida and waited out the storm.



Nearly two weeks later, Williamson, 27, wrote in a Facebook post that she decided to take the taco bar meant for her wedding reception to those most affected in Big Pine Key, Florida.



"It felt good bringing people who have been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for over a week some REAL food," she wrote Friday. "To see the look on their faces as they lined up for literally anything and got authentic street tacos this was so worth it."



The insurance agent tapped who was meant to be her "man of honor," Dominick Famularo, to take the nearly five hour trip -- thanks to traffic.



Famularo, 25, told ABC News the two have been serving those who really needed help. They've also been working with local relief organizations, such as Humanity Road.



"We've been serving food and handing out supplies and going around, making sure everyone's OK," he said. "Everyone is just happy to be alive, basically."



Although Famularo said their West Palm Beach community was also devastated, it was nothing like this," he said, referencing the Keys.



The two hope that sharing their trip will encourage others to make the trek as well. Especially since Williamson said she has to return home to tend to Alice, her 6-year-old daughter with Arteaga.



Williamson added that it "feels weird" to even think about rescheduling her wedding.



"It feels selfish," she explained. "I want to do it, but the Keys is so close to my heart that I think wed rather wait and help rebuild, and still try to do it here than just move it somewhere else."



"Weve been together eight years. Whats another couple of months?" Williamson quipped, laughing.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
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Two people are dead after a head-on crash Sunday in Saline County.

According to a news release from the Illinois State Police District 19, at about 6:42 p.m., Brenda L. Ward, 51, of Harrisburg, was driving her GMC Sierra southbound on U.S. 45 while Bill Ghent, 69, of Harrisburg, was driving his GMC Canyon northbound. The report said the two crashed at Rays Road. Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch on the northwest side of U.S. 45.

The report stated Ward and Linda Ghent, 70, of Harrisburg, Bill Ghents passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Saline County coroner. Bill Ghent was initially transported by ambulance, but, the report said, he was later airlifted to a regional hospital for injuries suffered in crash.

Charges have not been made as the investigation is still pending.

 The Southern
The organic movement is no longer an organic movement. Its become an anti-technology movement.

The organic industrys multibillion dollar revenues are driven entirely by negative marketing, stoking fear of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). A handful of consumers might still buy organic groceries believing them to be purer, more nutritious and easier on the environment. But the majority buy organic out of fear of technologies that have proven completely safe and beneficial.

Fearmongering has now become a self-fulfilling prophecy in the food industry, the sine qua non of every organic advertising campaign, sanctioned and in many cases funded by the very regulatory bodies that are supposed to keep the organic industry honest. Even if activists were to abandon their unfounded attacks on modern farming, they can no longer return to the positive messaging that launched their enterprise. Alas, the basis of that message no longer exists.

Imagine being so focused on destroying your competition that you fail to uphold the integrity of your own product line. In America, the most lucrative organic market in the world, organic imports from countries like China and Turkey now dominate, leaving just 0.7 percent of American farmland registered as organic, a rise of only 2 percent over the last eight years. Organic sales meanwhile account for 4 percent of food sales, meaning grocery retailers are selling imported organic food 80 percent of the time! An unprecedented shift considering American organic farmers enjoyed 100 percent market share just a decade ago.

Adding insult to injury, this shift coincides with an astonishing increase in organic food-borne illness outbreaks. While American organic sales account for 4 percent of grocery sales, theyre responsible for 7 percent of food recalls, almost double what one would expect, 10-times Americas flatlining organic acreage, strongly suggesting that imports are not being scrutinized.

How could this be? Simple. First, President Bush doubled budget and staffing at the USDAs National Organic Program (NOP), then President Obama tripled what Bush left him. But both failed to require field testing as outlined in NOP Standards, while turning a blind eye as Americas organic leadership attacked modern, science-based farming.

On top of Americas deplorable organic trade imbalance and the rise in organic food-borne illnesses, this lack of field testing has also resulted in more than 40 percent of all organic food testing positive for synthetic pesticides at the store shelf. Some blame spray drift from neighboring conventional fields, but this is scientifically impossible, leaving fraud as the only possible explanation. Multibillion-dollar, tax-subsidized fraud.

And what has been the Trump administrations response? Thus far, nothing. Not one person has been retired, fired or reassigned at the NOP. To be fair to President Trump and his Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue, its got to be difficult to make sound agricultural policy when youre being accused of collusion with the Russians and war-mongering, to say nothing of the constant barrage of charges of racism. But whatever your politics, try seeing this from the perspective of those who feed us.

Whether were talking about a small-scale domestic organic farmer, or a large-scale conventional farmer, the promise to Drain the Swamp in Washington came as a welcome relief after 16 years of disinformation, wasteful spending, and zero oversight and enforcement. For anyone not blinded by conspiracy theories, the fundamental priority of feeding a nation is second only to defense and infrastructure. Yet Trump and Purdue find themselves distracted, and there seems no end in sight to the USDAs contradictory support for modern farming right alongside its well-funded organic office that stands opposed to science and technology, almost without exception.

If America provides any lesson to the rest of the world, it would be that this multibillion-dollar, global-organic ruse is guaranteed to continue for years to come. Being organic used to mean something. But now, grocery retailers that profit from organic food sales do so thanks to a combination of ineptitude, ignorance and fraud, aided and abetted by the authority of governments throughout the developed world.

Farmers and consumers are trapped. Food production now stands alone as the only sector of a developed economy that rejects technology instead of embracing it. And so far, theres no way out.
Cameron farmer Drake Perrow's roots run deep in agriculture.

He and his son, John, farm land that has been in the family since the middle 1700s.

Technology has changed over the years and the Perrows have had to change with it to remain efficient.

The latest for the Perrows is drone technology. The men expanded their company, Crop Companions Inc., to include a drone consultancy about five years ago.

"My father looked at me and said, 'You are doing what?,'" Drake Perrow told about 30 members of the Orangeburg County Farm Bureau Sept. 20 during its annual meeting. "You hear about Army drones and all of this. I said, 'Nope, I am going to get one.' What drones do is they give you a whole other picture of what a field looks like."

"You ride by a field and say that looks pretty good," he said "When you fly over the top of it, you really see some different things."

A presentation of the drone's capabilities shows how the tool can save a farmer time, trouble and money by an increase in efficiency when it comes to planting, cultivating and harvesting crops.

Perrow noted a drone can identify where soil compaction may be heavy, where soils are too sandy, where fertilizer applications are not sufficient and even where a field may be in the process of being eaten by wildlife. The drones can even identify crop varieties.

He said comparative images can be taken of the same field as well as infrared pictures that can identify crop health and quality. Drones can also be used outside of crop scouting and help detect equipment problems.

"You see a problem you may not be able to fix it this year, but you can work on it next year," Perrow said. "I can save this on Google Earth, put it on my phone and walk to the center of that bad place."

The drone can also use Normalized Difference Vegetation Index imaging, which reveals the health status of crops based on how they reflect and absorb light.

"Red is bad, yellow is fair and green is good," Perrow said. "The more you focus on it, the more you learn about what is really out there. I am in business to help the farmer and the farmer needs to see what is going on in his field."

Perrow also noted the images caught on the drone match up with eventual yields.

In one case, the drone was able to identify a 6-foot-deep gully in a field.

"A cotton picker would have dropped in it unless we had flown over it like we did," he said. "It saves a lot of money."

Perrow said before being able to fly the drone commercially, he had to take a pilot's test and will need to continue to do so every year.

"It is dangerous," Perrow said. "The only danger we face around here are crop dusters and guys who are spraying our crops. It is a communication thing between them and me with that."

Perrow said special software on his computer will show him where crop dusters are located during any given time.

"We don't fly over 400 feet legally," he said. "With the drone I am using now, I can cover about 400 acres with one flight."

Perrow said before going to a field, the night before he will map the field out and the program generates the parameters.

"All I do is hit a button and it goes up and does its thing and comes back and sits right in front of me," he said.

In other matters at the Farm Bureau meeting, mention was made of the main issue of concern for local farmers in the upcoming year being new South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control groundwater usage regulations.

The DHEC board will take up the matter next month on whether to impose groundwater controls in the region.

A part of the regulation would require large agricultural water users (3 million gallons of water a month) to get permits and go through a review period. The public would be allowed to comment, a process that does not now exist in the region.

The regulation comes on the heels of concerns and some studies that have shown that some "megafarms" have impacted water levels in the upper Edisto River basin of eastern Aiken and Barnwell counties. The farms have stirred community unrest since they first arrived about four years ago following major land purchases by out-of-state agribusinesses.

In other business:

New Orangeburg County Farm Bureau officers for 2018-20 will be President Jeffrey Axson, Vice President Dean Hutto and Secretary-Treasurer Hayne Turner. Landrum Weathers will serve as the state director (the county's representative on the state level), and Jonathan Berry will serve as the alternate state director.

St. Matthews resident Alyssa Bukszar, 13, was the contest winner of the Senior Talent Division for the Orangeburg County Farm Bureau and was scheduled to perform a dance to the 1950s hit "Witch Doctor." But she was unable to attend. She will represent Orangeburg County Farm Bureau at the S.C. Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Talent show in Myrtle Beach in December.
A woman has received $350,000 in a case involving a former Orangeburg County deputy who admitted engaging in a sex act when he responded to a domestic dispute.

Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said the settlement was paid through the South Carolina Insurance Reserve Fund and did not include any money from the county's general fund.

Dereck Johnson, 36, of Elloree pleaded guilty on Sept. 13 to misconduct in office, a felony charge.

Circuit Judge Ed Dickson sentenced Johnson to five years in prison, suspended to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service work.

The plea stemmed from a June 12, 2016 incident. Then-deputy Johnson and his training officer responded to a domestic incident involving a couple at a Cordova home.

Johnson had been working at the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office for only two months at the time.

When the two deputies arrived, the training officer spoke with the boyfriend outside. Johnson spoke with the girlfriend inside the residence. A child was also in the home, asleep.

The woman alleged Johnson told her to perform a sex act or she would go to jail.

Johnsons attorney claimed he was seduced and the sheriffs office training manual doesnt provide guidance in such situations.

Rep. Justin Bamberg, the woman's attorney, said, "We have settled the impending civil action against the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office and former Deputy Johnson for what happened to this young woman. I am hopeful that even with such an unfortunate event occurring, we can continue to improve the system as well as law enforcement-citizen relations.

"Most officers and the departments in which they serve are amazing, and we should be grateful that they have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting us all; however, we must continue to fight against any abuse of power. And we will play an important role in addressing that issue."

Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office spokesman Richard Walker said via email, "It is our position that if there is any pending litigation, it would be inappropriate to make a comment. Likewise, there are also rules that would prohibit any comment on any adjudicated case."

The civil matter was settled through the Orangeburg County Court of Common Pleas in February.

A total settlement of $350,000 was made, with $349,000 allocated to the woman and $1,000 allocated to her child.

As part of the settlement, the parties and their attorneys agreed not to comment concerning the facts of the case's resolution other than to say it was resolved for an undisclosed amount.

The S.C. Insurance Reserve Fund provides property and liability coverage to more than 1,000 state and local government entities in South Carolina. It is a part of the S.C. State Fiscal Accountability Authority.

The T&D received a copy of the settlement through the S.C. State Fiscal Accountability Authority.
The entire politico-media complex had a nervous breakdown over President Donald Trump's position on DACA.

Lawmakers, journalists and activists jumped to all sorts of conclusions when Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced that over dinner at the White House on Sept. 13 they reached an "agreement" with the president over the future of 700,000 illegal immigrants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

There was reason to be skeptical -- after all, the story was coming from just one side. But skepticism was in short supply, and even some of those who realized the information was sketchy couldn't keep themselves from speaking up. Some Trump supporters instantly assumed the president had sold them out. Some Trump opponents instantly mocked Trump supporters for ever believing his promises. Democrats wondered what Schumer and Pelosi were doing with the hated president.

Many spoke without enough knowledge to draw any conclusions, or even early conclusions.

The two parties most to blame were Schumer/Pelosi and The Associated Press. After the White House dinner, the Democratic leaders released a statement saying of their meeting with the president, "We agreed to enshrine the protections of DACA into law quickly, and to work out a package of border security, excluding the wall, that's acceptable to both sides."

A reasonable reader would conclude that the two sides had reached a deal on DACA, with just the border security measures to be worked out later. But the AP took things a step further, suggesting a done deal. At 9:55 p.m. Sept. 13, the news agency tweeted: "BREAKING: Schumer, Pelosi announce deal with Trump to protect young immigrants; will include border security, but no wall."

That was ahead of where things actually stood, but, coming from the AP, it was instantly accepted as fact. All hell broke loose.

Writing on the basis of the AP tweet, Republican Rep. Steve King, an immigration hawk, tweeted, "If AP is correct, Trump base is blown up, destroyed, irreparable, and disillusioned beyond repair. No promise is credible."

By 11 p.m., Breitbart News ran the headline "AMNESTY DON" above "REPORT: Trump caves on DACA."

Sean Hannity was skeptical, but still jumped in. Responding to a Twitter follower who said Trump is "really pissing off his base right now," Hannity rushed to point the finger at the Republican Party. "If reports true 100%," Hannity tweeted. "I blame R's. They caused this. They wanted him to fail and now pushed him into arms of political suicide--IF TRUE."

Meanwhile, as Twitter lit up, Pelosi sent a relatively subdued note to her House Democratic colleagues. At the White House meeting, she said, "We agreed to a plan to work out an agreement to protect our nation's DREAMERs from deportation."

"Agreed to a plan to work out an agreement." That's a classic Washington way of saying the parties haven't agreed on anything but agree to keep talking in hopes of eventually reaching an agreement. Beyond that weak formulation, Pelosi, in her note, did not claim the two sides had agreed on anything.

That didn't stop the ruckus. Nor did much change when, the next morning, Trump made an attempt to quiet things down. "No deal was made last night on DACA," he tweeted. "Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent. Would be subject to vote."

Seeking to mollify supporters who saw him caving to Schumer and Pelosi, Trump added: "The WALL ... will continue to be built."

At the same time, Trump sounded positively Schumer-esque with another tweet asking, "Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!" But even then, Trump said "BIG border security" would have to accompany legalization.

Later, more members of Congress chimed in with reminders that a DACA deal, if there is to be one, will be made by lawmakers, and not just the president. What Schumer and Pelosi and Trump laid out were positions in a negotiation that will take place between House, Senate and White House.

But on the night of Sept. 13 and the morning of the 14th, when hair was on fire across Washington and social media, there was no deal and nothing had been decided, except that everyone said they wanted a deal, which is what negotiators always say.

In other words, the whole episode changed pretty much nothing. Anyone who followed Trump during the campaign knows he is headed toward some sort of accommodation for DACA recipients. And anyone who follows the Trump administration and Congress knows there will be showdowns on Capitol Hill over the wall and other border security and enforcement measures. That is where the DACA issue stood before the freakout of Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and that is where the issue stood afterward.

All that panic for no reason. People are on hair trigger these days. They go off before they know what is going on. The DACA fiasco should be a lesson.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Works of the outstanding master of the brush, Tahir Salakhov, are presented at the Beijing Art Festival.

Chinese art lovers had an opportunity to get acquainted with 20 works of the artist in various styles, Azertac reported.

Beijing Art Festival provides exhibitions of famous artists, sculptors, designers and other artists, master classes, lectures and seminars.

Being China's main center for contemporary art, Beijing has the countys highest concentration of art galleries.

The exhibition, which became a great contribution to cultural cooperation between Azerbaijan and China will last one month. The similar exhibition will be held in Taiwan.

Tahir Salakhov, one of the most prominent representatives of the Azerbaijani art, is the vice-president and honorary president of the International Association of Plastic Arts of UNESCO, the vice-president of the Russian Academy of Arts, People's Artist of the USSR, Azerbaijan and Russia, and is the winner of a number of high awards, including the State Prize of the USSR and Azerbaijan.

The world-renowned artist, who sensitively catches the rhythms of life and able to listen and hear the time, Salahov is the master of portraits, landscape pictures, still-life paintings and large many-figured paintings.

His paintings such as Oilmen, Portrait of Gara Garayev, Woman of Absheron and Aydan have become the most beloved works of the artist.

Today Salakhov lives in Moscow, where he is a professor and has a studio at the Moscow Art Institute.




By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

Armenian delegation participating in the International Gastronomy Festival in Paris tried to commit another provocation against Azerbaijan.

General Secretary of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France and the head of the Azerbaijani House in Paris Mirvari Fataliyeva, who represented Azerbaijanis at the festival, informed that Armenians put the flag of the illegal regime created in the occupied Azerbaijani territories along with the Armenian flag in their tent.

However, after the protest of the head of the Azerbaijani Diaspora, the flag of the illegal regime was removed.

This is not the first attempt of Armenian provocateurs to present the Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh, invaded by the Armenians in early 1990s, as an Armenian territory. However, every time Azerbaijani diplomats and citizens who participate at these festivals thwart the Armenian provocations.

The International Gastronomy Festival in Paris lasted for three days, where city residents and tourists acquainted with samples of the rich cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in the country's stand at the event.

Hot dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine, sweets and drinks were presented at the festival.

Moreover, the Azerbaijani stand featured handwork, samples of national art, clothes and jewelry reflecting the history and culture of the country.

The festival was attended by 40 countries.








By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

Baku keeps in focus the issue of releasing Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, taken hostage by Armenian militaries.

Three years have passed since three Azerbaijani civilians, Dilgam Askerov from the occupied Kelbajar region, Shahbaz Guliyev from the occupied Terter region and Hasan Hasanov from the occupied Jebrail region of Azerbaijan, were captured by the Armed Forces of Armenia.

They were detained by the Armenian armed forces in July 2014 while visiting their native places and graves of loved ones in the occupied Azerbaijani Kalbajar region. Hasan Hasanov was murdered under unknown circumstances.

The issue of the releasing Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev was recently raised at OSCE summit in Warsaw by Dilgam Asgarovs son Kurdoglu.

We had fathers Russian passport. We addressed Russian MPs there, asking why no steps are taken on the case of Dilgam Asgarov, who is a citizen of Russia, he said addressing a press conference in Baku on September 25.

At the summit, we provided information about the conditions of detention of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, their illegal detention by Armenians, and we could attract the attention of the summit participants to this issue, Dilgam Asgarovs son added.

The European MPs said they would raise this issue in their countries as well. We managed to attract the attention of European MPs. We separately met with them and provided them with detailed information. The European MPs promised to keep the issue in the spotlight, Kurdoglu Asgarov noted.

Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev were judged illegally by the unrecognized courts of a separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh. Following an expedited judicial process in December 2015, Asgarov was sentenced to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years. Attempts of Azerbaijan to provide justice and to free the hostages are still unsuccessful.

Azerbaijans State Committee on Affairs of Refugees and IDPs, the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons and other agencies have repeatedly urged international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to assist in release of Guliyev and Asgarov, but the problem remains topical yet.
By Azernews





By Amina Nazarli

Relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are an example for the entire Islamic world, said Bekir Bozdag.

Speaking at the international conference on Islamic solidarity and Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship in Istanbul, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister said that Turkey and Azerbaijan are one nation - two states.

Bozdag stressed that all Muslim countries should develop relations among themselves in order to become stronger.

The conference, co-organized by the Caucasus Muslims Office, State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate, Islamic History, Arts and Cultural Studies Center (IRCICA) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Marmara University, kicked off in Istanbul on September 25.

Azerbaijan`s delegation at the event include chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli, MPs, scientists and religious figures.

Addressing the event Pashazade said Islamic Solidarity plays an important role in the fight against terrorist organizations like ISIL.

Events which are not timely and properly assessed lead to further and more serious crimes. If the genocide committed by Armenians in Khojaly town of Azerbaijan, 20 percent of whose territory is under occupation, was properly evaluated, no other genocides would have been committed against Muslims, he noted.

Khojaly genocide, a bloody crime committed against the Azerbaijani citizens on February 26, 1992, claimed the life of 613 civilians, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly, while 1,000 people were wounded and 1,275 people were taken hostage. The fate of 150 of them remains yet unknown.

With regard to the Kurdistan Regional Government's referendum, the CMO chairman said, Azerbaijan, as a country suffering from separatism, is resolutely against the KRG referendum on independence.

For his part, Gurbanli, said that the organization he represents successfully promotes the idea of religious unity in order to counteract religious extremism and terror.

He noted that these efforts will be continued on a global scale.








By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

Voting has started in a controversial referendum on the secession of northern Iraqs Kurdish region amid regional and international opposition to the referendum.

The September 25 independence referendum is taking place in areas under the control of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq.

The KRG Independent High Electoral Commission announced that over 5 million people are expected to vote in the ballot, which is boycotted by Turkmens and Arabs.

Iraqs central government has threatened to intervene militarily if the vote leads to violence, while Turkey, the U.S., Iran and the UN have warned that the vote would distract from operations against Daesh and lead to greater instability in the region.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has said that results of the referendum are "null and void".

The referendum in the KRG, is null and void in terms of its consequences, the statement reads. We do not recognize this initiative, which lacks legal basis and legitimacy with regard to the international law and the Iraqi constitution.

The Foreign Ministry added that the National Security Council has already outlined the sanctions to be imposed on the Kurdish region in the event of a vote for independence, which were later agreed by the Cabinet.

We stress one more time that we will take every measure that emanates from the international law and from the authority granted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, in the event that some radical elements and terrorists, which may seek to exploit the circumstances that will emerge following the referendum, attempt to carry out acts that target our national security.

The ministry also extended a travel ban for Turkish citizens to Iraqs Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah provinces.

Meanwhile, mass protests are underway in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and other major cities of Turkey against the referendum in Kurdistan, Turkish media outlets reported.

Protest actions against the referendum also take place in such Turkish provinces as Aydin and Osmaniye.

Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim previously emphasized that a planned independence referendum in northern Iraq as "illegitimate".

"Any status change, any new formation on the southern frontiers of Turkey will never be tolerated," Yildirim said.

The head of Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, previously threatened war if the central government in Baghdad interferes with the holding of the referendum.

Barzani later added that a Yes vote would not result in an automatic declaration of independence but would simply lead to further negotiations with Baghdad.

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.




By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

Energy-rich Kazakhstan intends to increase the export and transit of gas to China up to 100 billion cubic meters per year.

This was announced by Erkanat Temirkhanov, Deputy General Director for Transformation and Development of KazTransGas JSC, who spoke at the 16th ERRA conference on investments and energy regulation, Kazinform reported.

"In connection with the commissioning of Beiney-Bozoy-Shymkent at full capacity, we are building a powerful compressor station. We want to increase the export and transit of gas to China to 100 billion cubic meters per year, and maybe even more," he said.

Kazakhstan holds 0.8 percent of the worlds natural gas proven reserves, and produces 0.6 percent of the worlds total gas output, according to the BPs statistics 2015.

The country serves as a major transit country for gas exports from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan that are destined to Russia and China. Volumes from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are transported through the Central Asia-China gas pipeline network that links with CNPC's Second West-East Pipeline in western Xinjiang province at the border with Kazakhstan.

The volume of gas exports rose by 7.9 percent in 2016 to 13.7 bcm.

In a bid to increase the country's gas industry in 2018-2024, the government is considering the Amangeldy deposit not only as a resource base, but also storage.

The Amangeldy gas field in Jambyl region of Kazakhstan will be used as a large gas storage facility, according to Temirkhanov.

KazTantransGas has a subsidiary company Amangeldygas, through which it is planned to bring the volume up to 500 million tons a year. It's our subsidiary located in Jambyl region, he said.

Temirkhanov added: "For now, we are ready to transport 10 billion cubic meters of gas only to China. But we are working with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Russia - its Gazprom.

Today, together with our scientists and other investors, we are developing a project for using Amangeldygas as a large gas storage facility. The available capacities for us are already not enough. We are thinking about the prospects for the growth of gas transportation to China, we will need a large gas storage facility in the south," Temirkhanov explained.

KazTransGas JSC is the largest gas supply company in the Republic of Kazakhstan, representing the interests of the state on domestic gas market and worldwide. KazTransGas operates natural gas transport via main gas pipelines, sales natural gas on domestic and foreign markets, develops, finances, constructs and maintains pipelines and gas storages.

KazTransGas operates a huge gas transportation system, which includes more than 30,000 kilometers of gas distribution networks, more than 15,000 kilometers of main gas pipelines, 56 compressor stations that have installed 316 gas compressor units and 3 underground gas storage.

Currently, KazTransGas is represented in 10 regions of Kazakhstan which are Almaty, Aktobe, Atyrau, East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan, Kostanai, Kyzylorda, Mangystau and South Kazakhstan regions.

Kazakh gas is expected to face strong competition from Turkmen, Uzbek and Russian gas supplies under long-term contracts with China.

A majority of Kazakhstans proved natural gas reserves and natural gas production is possible thanks to the Karachaganak field. The Karachaganak field's gas reserves are estimated at 1.35 trillion cubic meters while oil and liquid condensates around 1.2 billion tons.

About 49 percent of Kazakhstan's gas production and 18 percent of its produced oil are extracted from this field.
By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

Air Astana has warned over possible air traffic disruptions due to lack of fuel.

Regular air traffic in Kazakhstan is under threat due to the termination of deliveries of aviation kerosene from Russia and the forthcoming suspension of the Shymkent oil refinery, Kazinform reported referring to Air Astana.

This scenario is possible despite the State Program for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2010-2016 developed upon the presidents decree dated May 15, 2009, according to the company.

One of the priority areas of the Program was the comprehensive development of the oil refining industry. The ultimate goal was to provide the domestic market with domestic aviation kerosene, gasoline and diesel fuel in 2016.

However, the situation with aviation kerosene supply exacerbated in 2017, Air Astana said.

The main companies exporting aviation kerosene in Kazakhstan are PJSC Gazprom Neft, PJSC Rosneft, PJSC Lukoil and PJSC Tatneft. The aggregate average monthly volume exported by those companies in 2017 decreased to 15,000 tons compared to 44,000 tons in 2016. Moreover, for October those companies have not confirmed the supplies due to high demand in the Russian market.

In particular, PJSC Gazprom Neft notified about the resumption of aviation kerosene export not earlier than May 2018.

In 2017, the Kazakh civil aviations demand is 800,000 tons of aviation kerosene, of which 241,000 tons are produced by the Shymkent Oil Refinery, which is the only stable producer of aviation kerosene in Kazakhstan. However, this plants activity will be stopped for maintenance in autumn 2017, the company added.

Shymkent oil refinery is located in the Sayramskiy region of Kazakhstan, and is currently undergoing a modernisation to upgrade the site's processing performance from its current 5.25Mt to 6Mt of fuel a year.

The oil refinery is operated by PetroKazakhstan Oil Products LLP, a joint venture between operators KazMunaiGas (KMG, 50%) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC, 50%).

Shymkent refinery produces various grades of petrol, diesel, aviation kerosene, liquid gas, vacuum gas oil and fuel oil.

The Energy Ministry of Kazakhstan has refuted the report, saying that Air Astana had better contacted the ministry before making such statements.

We always discuss any problematic issue. No major repairs planned [at Shymkent] that will affect the activity of the plant, Deputy Minister of Energy Aset Magauov said at a press conference.

Air Astana was established in 2002 as a joint venture between Kazakhstans Samruk Kazyna National Welfare Fund and BAE Systems.

Its main bases are Astana International Airport and Almaty International Airport. The Airline's network comprises of over 40 international and 22 domestic destinations.
Merck, one of the leading science and technology companies, has appointed Paolo Carli as head of Middle East, Africa & Turkey (MEA) region for its healthcare business.



In his new role, Paolo will be responsible for leading the commercial operations for Merck across MEA.



Merck prepares to celebrate its 350th year in the pharmaceutical business in 2018. Being a strategic region for Merck, we are committed to excel innovation and create value for patients across this region. I am delighted to lead the MEA team. Our innovative treatment options and sustainable commitment for patients will move us to the next level, Carli said.



Paolo Carli has decades of business and pharmaceutical experience demonstrating a proven track record of continuous success under his leadership. His expertise and industry knowledge will be critical in MEA as Merck builds on strategic innovation to elevate the healthcare standards, improve patient programs and prepares launches of new products.



Paolo Carli joined Merck in 2008, as the member of the Mergers & Acquisitions team in Darmstadt, Germany. In that role, he actively participated in the execution of key transactions for the Merck Group. He successfully led Middle East and Egypt in the last 5 years and now expands his responsibilities to Turkey and Africa.



Prior to joining Merck, Carli worked with Deutsche Bank, both in Italy and in Germany, where he successfully contributed to the regional expansion of the retail franchise in Europe and in several emerging markets such as India, China, Turkey, and Vietnam.



Carli holds a degree in Economics from the University of Turin and an Executive MBA from Ashridge Business School in the UK. Paolo is settled in Dubai, UAE with his wife and two children.  TradeArabia News Service
Dubai-based Topaz Energy and Marine, a leading offshore support vessel company, has announced a new contract with global energy giant, Total, to support its operations in the Azerbaijani market.

A leading international offshore support vessel company, Topaz provides logistics support and marine solutions to the global energy industry with primary focus on the Caspian Sea, the Middle East, West Africa and Subsea operations in the North Sea and the Pacific.



Total E&P Absheron (TEPAb) is operating on behalf of Jocap (Joined Operating Company for Absheron Project, a joint venture between State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Socar) and Total.



As per the deal, Topaz will supply its anchor-handling vessel Topaz Triumph to TEPAb to service one work-over and one development well in the Absheron offshore field.



The work is estimated to take more than one year.



First discovered in 2011, the Absheron Field is being developed under an early production scheme, reflected in the development programme agreed by Socar and contractor parties.



The contract win results from Topazs global relationship with Total established through successfully supporting TOTALs operations in both West Africa and the Middle East.



The Republic of Azerbaijan has been an important market for Topaz over several decades, with its commitment to the Azerbaijani market being demonstrated through the companys continued investment in the region and its high levels of localization, said a top official.



"This is a significant contract for Topaz and we are humbled that Total and Socar have trusted us to support them in such an important development," reamrked Rene Kofod-Olsen, the CEO of Topaz Energy and Marine.



"Our record of providing solutions with focus on safety and value across our operations has helped us secure this nomination and we look forward to delivering our consistent and world-class service for the development of the Absheron field," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The three-day biennial Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats Middle East conference and exhibition (SOMWME) was inaugurated today (September 25) by Sheikh Dhiyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of the Transport Authority and member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.



The event is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).



Following the official opening ceremony, Sheikh Dhiyab was given a personal tour of more than 100 exhibiting companies taking part at the event. He was accompanied by Riyad Abdulrahman Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Finance, and Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, chairman of Department of Economic Development, and senior officials.

Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, delivered the keynote presentation at the SOMWME conference, about the business outlook for Abu Dhabi and the wider region and the implications and prospects for the offshore marine sector - setting the tone for three days of in-depth, informative and productive dialogue.

The finance session Taking stock - how to make the most of your company assets was another highlight of the first day of the conference programme and allowed delegates to debate the issues surrounding the shipping industry, which faces a capital shortfall of tens of billions of dollars, this year alone, as European banks restructure products and scale back ship financing operations, said the statement.

SOMWME is the regions leading event for the workboat and offshore marine industries with a focus on the challenges and opportunities facing owners, operators and regional governments involved in the offshore marine and workboats sector.

Through a series of dedicated conference and networking sessions delegates can debate and discuss the viability for new commercial developments and exciting technological innovation.

Since its first chapter in 2008, Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats has continued to be an important platform for attendees to network and do business. We look forward to welcoming more than 5,000 attendees from across 65 countries over the three days, said Emma Howell, group marketing manager, Seatrade Portfolio.  TradeArabia News Service


Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company, today announced that it plans to open an infrastructure region in the Middle East based in Bahrain by early 2019.



The new AWS Middle East (Bahrain) Region will consist of three Availability Zones at launch. Currently, AWS provides 44 Availability Zones across 16 infrastructure regions worldwide, with another 14 Availability Zones, across five AWS Regions in China, France, Hong Kong, Sweden, and a second GovCloud Region in the US expected to come online by the end of 2018.



AWS today also announced it will launch an AWS Edge Network Location in the UAE in the first quarter of 2018. This will bring Amazon CloudFront, Amazon Route 53, AWS Shield, and AWS WAF to the region and adds to the 78 points of presence AWS has around the world. For more information on AWSs global infrastructure.



As countries in the Middle East look to transform their economies for generations to come, technology will play a major role, and the cloud will be in the middle of that transformation, said Andy Jassy, CEO, Amazon Web Services. Some of the most gratifying parts of operating AWS over the last 11 years have been helping thousands of new companies get started, empowering large enterprises to reinvent their customer experiences, and allowing governments and academic institutions to innovate for citizens again. We look forward to making this happen across the Middle East."



Countries across the Middle East are looking to innovate, grow their economies, and pursue their vision plans, such as Saudi Vision 2030, UAE Vision 2021, and Bahrain Vision 2030, and cloud technology will be key in helping them achieve this, the statement said.



His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain, First Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, commented: Todays announcement is a significant moment for Bahrain and the region. For the Kingdom, the expansion of regional cloud capacity builds upon a business environment that is already driving innovation and entrepreneurship, using technology to accelerate economic diversification in Bahrain. Through improved efficiencies, access to new career opportunities, and helping to enhance the delivery of government services, this marks further realization of the principles of sustainability, fairness, and competitiveness that form the core of Bahrains 2030 Vision.



Khalid Al Rumaihi, chief executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said: AWSs commitment to expanding its presence into the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, from Bahrain, is a major enabler for technology and data-driven business across the GCC. This will benefit global corporates, SMEs, entrepreneurs, and governments alike. The ability to store and share data at speeds the Gulf has never experienced before has the potential to help companies gain competitive advantage, allowing them to compete more effectively at a global level. Amazon Web Services is delivering the Middle East a world class service. With such a young, technologically adept, and growing population, the Gulf is well positioned to drive innovation in mobile applications and digital services. I am very eager to see how our regions entrepreneurs will make use of this exciting opportunity.



AWS Investing in the Middle East

AWS is growing its presence in the Middle East bringing offices, staff, education, training, startup support, and other investments to the region. In January 2017, AWS opened offices to serve its rapidly growing customer base with a presence in Dubai, UAE and Bahrain. These offices have been established with teams of account managers, solutions architects, partner managers, professional services consultants, support staff, and various other functions for customers to engage with AWS.



Another investment AWS is making for its customers in the Middle East, and around the world, is to run its business in the most environmentally friendly way. An important criteria in launching the AWS Middle East (Bahrain) Region is the opportunity to power it with renewable energy. AWS chose Bahrain in part due to the country's focus on executing renewable energy goals and its proposal to construct a new solar power facility to meet AWSs power needs. The Bahrain Electricity and Water Authority expects to bring the 100 MW solar farm online in 2019, making it the countrys first utility-scale renewable energy project. For more information on AWSs commitment to sustainability.



AWS also announced that it is supporting the advancement of technology education across the Middle East making AWS Training and Certification programs available to customers. In the education sector, AWS is supporting the development of technology and cloud computing skills at local universities through the AWS Educate program, providing students and educators with the resources needed to accelerate cloud-related learning. This program is now available for students attending institutions such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, the Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE, Bahrain Polytechnic, University of Bahrain, as well as Oman College of Management and Technology, the Jordan University of Science and Technology, and many others across the region.



To support the growth of new business, AWS works with incubators and accelerators in the Middle East to provide resources to startups through the AWS Activate program. In Saudi Arabia, AWS works with the Badir Program for Technology Incubators and Accelerators at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to provide startups with access to technology resources as well as expert advice, education, and training to help promote Saudi youth entrepreneurship and grow new businesses in the Kingdom. To help new businesses across the Middle East go global, AWS also works with a number of local and international accelerators and incubators active in the region such as AstroLabs in the UAE, Cloud 10 Scalerator in Bahrain, as well as 500 Startups, Startupbootcamp, and Techstars, providing training, AWS credits, in-person technical support, and other benefits.



Middle Eastern Organizations Increasingly Moving to AWS

Organizations across the Middle East  in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, and other countries  are increasingly moving their mission-critical applications to AWS. Startups in the region choosing AWS as the foundation for their business include Alpha Apps, Anghami, Blu Loyalty, Cequens, DevFactory, Dubizzle, Fetchr, Genie9, Mawdoo3.com, Namshi, OneGCC, Opensooq.com, Payfort, Tajawal, and Ubuy as well as Middle Eastern Unicorn Careem, the leading ride-hailing service in the MENA region. Careem runs all of its operations on AWS and over the past five years has grown 10 times its current size each year.

It is great news that AWS is opening a Region in the Middle East, said Magnus Olsson, chief experience officer and co-founder of Careem. We have been all-in on AWS since we launched in 2012 and using the scalability of the cloud has helped us to cope with rapid growth.



Some of the Middle Easts most historic and established enterprises are moving mission critical applications to AWS. Enterprises such as Actel, Al Tayer Group, Batelco, flydubai, Hassan Allam, Silah Gulf, Union Insurance, and the United Arab Shipping Company are using AWS to drive cost savings, accelerate innovation, and speed time-to-market. One successful business that used AWS to grow is eCommerce provider SOUQ.com.



Government organizations are also working with AWS to lower costs and better serve citizens in the region, including the Bahrain Institute of Public Administration which has moved their Learning Management System to AWS, reducing costs by over 90 percent. Another government organization using AWS is the Kingdom of Bahrain Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA). The iGA is in charge of moving all government services online and is responsible for ICT governance and procurement for the Bahrain government. Earlier this year the iGA launched a cloud first policy, requiring all new government ICT procurement to evaluate cloud-based services first.  TradeArabia News Service


The fifth edition of the Lifestyle Expo opened today (September 25) in Dubai, UAE showcasing a range of trendy products from about 110 Hong Kong and mainland companies to an expected 1,300 buyers from the UAE, Iran and Africa.



The exhibits at the two-day event at the Hyatt Regency Dubai include consumer electronics, information and communications technology (ICT) products, household products and electrical appliances, fashion and fashion accessories, gifts and premiums, as well as watches and clocks.



Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China, the Lifestyle Expo in Dubai is being held to foster business collaboration between Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and the UAE as well as the rest of the Middle East-Africa (MEA) region, helping companies seize the enormous business opportunities emerging from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative and Expo 2020 Dubai.



HKTDC assistant executive director Stephen Liang said: The Lifestyle Expo in Dubai serves as an ideal platform for suppliers from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland and buyers from the Middle East and Africa to forge business partnerships. This cooperation between Hong Kong, the mainland and the UAE creates synergy to our mutual benefit.



He said such collaboration is especially important in view of the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect markets in more than 60 countries spanning Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, including Hong Kong and the UAE. These economies represent about 4.6 billion potential consumers and accounting for over 30 per cent of global merchandise trade.



Hong Kong is Asias business hub and the ideal gateway to the region, especially the Chinese mainland, a huge market with buoyant growth, said Liang. Meanwhile, we at the HKTDC have long recognised the importance of the UAE, not just as a market, but also as a springboard to the promising Middle East and Africa markets.



Both Hong Kong and the UAE have what it takes to be a key commercial hub for the Belt and Road Initiative. Working together, we can build new business-to-business links along the Belt and Road and gain access to new markets, Liang added.



Business ties



The Belt and Road, together with the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai, is expected to boost demand for trade, logistics, infrastructure, real estate and financial services in the UAE. Hong Kong and mainland companies can help fill the need by providing services and investment.



The UAE is Hong Kong's largest trading partner and export market in the Middle East. Bilateral trade between the two places grew at an average annual rate of 14 per cent from $4.80 billion in 2010 to $10.6 billion in 2016.



Hong Kongs exports to the UAE grew 13 per cent to US$6.8 billion last year, led by exports of pearls, precious and semi-precious stones (40.6 per cent of total, up 32.1 per cent), telecom equipment and parts (32.3 per cent of total, up 23.8 per cent), and jewellery (5 per cent of total, up 36.5 per cent).



Business matching and networking



The Lifestyle Expo in Dubai 2017 features various networking events and activities, including the third Hub-to-Hub Business Meeting with business leaders from Hong Kong, the UAE and Africa discussing ways to capitalise on the latest market developments. Customised one-to-one business-matching services are being arranged to connect exhibitors and buyers.



Products from 11 exhibitors are spotlighted at the hktdc.com Small Orders showcase, where buyers can place orders of between five and 1,000 pieces. The HKTDC Frequent Buyer Awards 2017 were presented yesterday to UAE companies that frequently visit the Councils trade fairs in Hong Kong and Dubai.



Business mission to explore opportunities



Liang is in Dubai with a Hong Kong business mission representing a range of sectors, including electronics, fashion, housewares, gifts, stationery, packaging, toys and wellness products. The delegates are exploring collaboration opportunities with UAE companies, and will make a day trip to Sharjah and Ajman in the North Emirates region tomorrow.



Highlighting Hong Kongs position as Asias lifestyle trendsetter, the Lifestyle Expo is among the HKTDCs signature international promotion events with a successful track record in fostering trade between companies from Hong Kong and emerging markets worldwide, including Russia, Poland, Turkey, India and Indonesia.  TradeArabia News Service


The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry honoured 14 companies for their corporate social responsibility and sustainability efforts during a ceremony held at its premises yesterday (September 24).



The Dubai Chamber CSR Label was presented to Emirates Gas for the seventh time, Alpen Capital (ME) Limited for the sixth time, while Six Construct and Union Cooperative earned the label for the fifth time.



HORECA Trade received the label for the fourth time, and TIME Hotels was honoured for the third time. ASGC Construction, Centena Group, Dulsco, RSA Logistics, and Dar Al Tawreeq were awarded the label for the second time, while Al Tayer Insignia, NMC Hospital  Dubai Investment Park, and Xpress Money were recognised for the first time.



Majid Saif Al Ghurair, chairman, Dubai Chamber, explained the importance of the CSR Label as a symbol of recognition and inspiration, in addition to an effective development tool that has enabled so many companies to improve their CSR and sustainability strategies.



Al Ghurair said: We are very encouraged by the growing number of honourees that we meet each time we host this ceremony, as it demonstrates the labels ability to encourage others in the business community to adopt responsible practices.



The honourees lauded the role of Dubai Chamber in providing them with a framework to boost their CSR performance, and an opportunity to enhance their reputation as leaders in achieving sustainability.



Since its launch, the Dubai Chamber CSR Label has provided a Diagnostic Model, as well as a learning and development tool that help companies of all sizes, sectors, and operations define and improve their corporate sustainability and responsibility strategies, policies, and management practices.



The label covers the main impact areas of Sustainability and CSR: Environment, Community, Workplace, and Marketplace, and it provides recognition for companies that implement outstanding CSR and sustainability practices.  TradeArabia News Service
Ring, a leader in home security, has signed a value-added distribution (VAD) agreement with Arab Business Machine Middle East (ABM) for the Mena region.



As per the agreement, ABM will promote and distribute Rings innovative home security products and solutions and offer value-added services through its extensive channel partner network. Ring is expanding its global presence and operations in response to the region witnessing a positive growth of the property sector with many developers focusing on building master-planned communities and the increasing demand for home security solutions.



Your home is not an asset  your home is a place that has much more meaning to it and it is something you want to protect and also monitor. Ring believes in keeping homes and communities safe rather than just comfortable and we hope to change the way home owners view security by keeping an eye on their family and property, even when they can't, said Mohammad Meraj Hoda, managing director of Ring.



Ring re-imagined the doorbell so consumers could respond  using a smartphone  to someone at their front door from anyplace, anytime while simplifying the technology with the combination of App, Cloud and Security hardware. ABM is very well placed in the MENA region to position our smart home security products with its broader reach across key retailers, Internet Service Providers and online stores. ABMs experience in selling Apple products for more than a decade gives us further confidence of its capabilities on best in class retail execution for Rings range of the products and solutions.



Ring has evolved as the leading brand in the Smart Home Security Space represented by 16000 plus stores across North America and Rings products globally have been hailed as dependable second set of eyes and ears to deter would-be thieves from entering homes and communities. It has been proven that Ring doorbells can reduce crime by up to 55 per cent in neighbourhoods, and the goal is to bring the same convenience and security to the Middle East neighbourhoods.



As the VAD, ABM will distribute Rings latest suite of smart home security products such as Ring Video Doorbell, Ring Video Doorbell Pro, Video Doorbell Elite, Ring Floodlight Cam and the new Ring Spotlight Cam and conduct channel engagement, training and activation programs for partners. ABM will also set up go-to-market strategies with key retail partners and provide the needed infrastructure for micro-channel to engage with the Ring brand.



We are continuously evaluating new and innovative technologies and emerging trends to add to our portfolio, which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the home security industry in the residential security sector in the Mena region. This makes our partnership with Ring a perfect fit. We see exciting new possibilities in this partnership with Ring across the MENA region and it will help ABM to better address our customers needs in todays environment of ever-increasing demand for home security solutions, said Ghassan Bendali, general manager of ABM Middle East.



ABM will distribute Rings best-of-breed home security solutions in the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Iraq.  TradeArabia News Service
The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy has announced incentives to encourage community members to use electric and hybrid vehicles, and promote the use of sustainable transport, which will have a lower average annual energy consumption rate.



The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Armani hotel, Dubai, attended by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).



The Supreme Council of Energy issued directive number 1 of 2016 to set a target for government institutions. Therefore, at least 10 per cent of all newly-purchased cars will be electric or hybrid from 2016 to 2020. The proportion of electric and hybrid cars will rise to 2 per cent by 2020, and 10 per cent by 2030, said Al Tayer.



Under the umbrella of the Supreme Council, Dewa is working on implementing the Dubai Green Mobility Initiative to promote the use of electric and hybrid vehicles. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, for Dubai to have the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050, and the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy to cut carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2021, added Al Tayer.



In support of the Smart Dubai initiative, to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world, and according to Dewas vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility, Dewa launched the Green Charger initiative in 2014, to build the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations all over Dubai. This works to promote Dubais environmental, social and economic development as a strategic goal by launching initiatives, programmes and projects that contribute to efforts to reduce the carbon footprint and protect the environment in Dubai, noted Al Tayer.



During the second quarter of 2014, Dewa began implementing the Green Charger initiative, which included the installation of 100 charging stations. This stage was successfully completed by the end of 2015, in coordination with the relevant parties, including the public and private sectors. Dewa is currently working on installing 100 more charging stations to bring the total number to 200 in 2018. Dubai Government has set the tariff for charging electric vehicles by Green Chargers at a cost price of 29 fils per kilowatt. This is a significant saving, compared to fuel-powered cars. Due to these efforts, the electric car sector has grown by about 30 per cent between 2014 and 2016.



Today, I am pleased to announce that Dewa and the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) will provide incentives to encourage the public use of electric vehicles in Dubai, to help protect the environment, said Al Tayer.



As an incentive, Dewas registered users will be able to have their electric vehicles charged by Dewas Green Charger electric vehicle charging stations, completely free. This incentive will last until the end of 2019. This will be exclusive to public charging stations, and does not include home charging stations.



The RTA will also provide incentives for electric vehicles, including free assigned parking, exemption from RTA electric vehicle registration and renewal fees, exemption from Saliks tag fee, and arranging a special sticker for number plates. This is based on the plans and programmes we have implemented, and the strategy to encourage customers to use electric cars and hybrid vehicles, and promote the use of sustainable transport, which will lead to a reduced annual energy consumption rate, concluded Al Tayer. - TradeArabia News Service
District cooling and tri-generation will play an increasingly vital role in the storing and integration of intermittent renewable energy sources in the future, said an engineering consultancy expert.



We are all aware that renewables are on the way to becoming the dominant source of energy. But because of the intermittent nature of renewables particularly solar and wind as a power source, the biggest challenge facing all of us is going to be energy storage, remarked George Berbari, the chief executive of UAE-based DC Pro Engineering.



Interest in district cooling is increasing in Asia and the Middle East, especially in the Gulf region where its use has grown exponentially since the 1990s, he pointed out.



According to him, the United Nations Development Programme (UNEP) is taking an active role in promoting District Energy in cities via publications and financing studies and borrowing worldwide.



Berbari was giving his keynote address at the American Society for Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (ASHRAE) regional conference, titled District Energy and Sustainable Development at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.



He told Ashrae, which boasts more than 55,000 members worldwide, that as renewables move towards becoming the dominant source for power in the decades ahead, the biggest challenge facing the industry is energy storage.



If we are to allow for stored renewable electricity to be used for building heating and cooling that represents 60 per cent of the total buildings energy, the implications are that it will be costly, inefficient and require replacement every few years. There is also the cost of distributing it to the final user via the electricity grid, which will need upgrading in many cases, explained Berbari.



However, the challenge presents a plethora of opportunities for District Energy as it provides the best technology to store and integrate intermittent renewable energy sources, with chilled or hot water stratified thermal storage tanks, that adopt district energy and tri-generation technologies, offering better value for money, greater operational efficiency and longevity than traditional power plants and storage facilities, he noted.



In addition, tri-generation offers the fastest response to grid stability and fluctuating production and consumption where a generator can kick in in less than 30 seconds, compared with a couple of days for nuclear or clean coal power plants and two hours for combined cycle power plant, he added.



According to Berbari, the countries in the GCC and wider Mena region expect all cooling capacities to double by 2030 with the majority of the increase expected to incorporate district cooling.



"This would signal an increase of cooling demand from about 5 million tonnes currently to more than 20 million tonnes by 2030. One example of the increase in demand is the new planned Cairo City district, which will require about 1 million tonnes in the next decade," said the top expert.



It is crucial that city and municipal officers and residents of every city, town and village are educated on energy through awareness, stated Berbari, who is also author of The Energy Budget, which maps out a plan for sustainability and accountability for energy consumption in major towns and cities.



"Investing in district energy is just as important for towns and cities as investment in infrastructure such as public transport systems, because it promotes sustainability and reduces the number of industrial AC units, heat pumps and boilers," he added.



DC PRO Engineering is a major player in the fields of district energy, co-generation and tri-generation, with more than 3 million tonne of cooling capacity which represent 60 per cent of the GCC capacity and 200 MW of power generation designed till date. The firm is also a renowned sustainability leader in Green Building MEP Designs.-TradeArabia News Service
Dubai's Municipality has signed an agreement with Emirates airline to offer discounts on ticket fares for municipality employees, a report said.



Under the agreement, Emirates will offer municipality employees and their family members (wife and children) a 10 per cent discount on economy class tickets and a 4 per cent discount on business class fares on all its destinations, said a report in Gulf News.



An additional 10kg luggage per passenger will be allowed for municipality employees, as well as any additional privileges agreed between the two parties.



Marwan Bin Bayat Al Falasi, director of human resources department, Dubai Municipality and Mausouma Al Mohsen, director of sales, Emirates airlines, signed the agreement, the report said.



Dubai Municipality employees will receive offers and privileges of Emirates through email, informing them of the booking process and reservation channels available for the privileges offered by Emirates.
The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty in Kazakhstan has welcomed Can Goktas as the new general manager of the hotel.



Goktas will be responsible for the overall hotel performance and continue to grow the hotels prominence within the international markets.



Goktas holds a Bachelors Degree in Tourism and Management at Bosporus University and a Master of Business Administration from the NEOMA Business School in Paris, where he specialized in luxury brand marketing.



With a career in hospitality spanning from more than two decades, Goktas has previous experience as the regional sales director at Kempinski Hotels for Turkey and South Europe where he was recognized with the CEO Award in 2013 for his contribution to the companys development and the Best Sales Awards for achieving the highest profit. He was most recently appointed as the general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul, where he led the operations for more than two years.



I am delighted to join The Ritz-Carlton family in a region that is new for me. I am confident that with the support of a strong and diligent team of professionals  our ladies and gentlemen  who create indelible memories for every guest each day, we will achieve even greater heights. I see significant opportunities for the hotels further development on the market and I am truly inspired by the prospects we have here, said Goktas. - TradeArabia News Service


The UAE has signed MoUs with Vanuatu, Saint Lucia and El Salvador to exempt UAE nationals and citizens from these countries from obtaining pre-entry visas for travel to the respective countries.

The MoU with Vanuatu was signed by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, and Bruno Leingkone, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu, on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York, a Wam news agency report said.



The MoU shall enter into force 30 days after the date of its formal signature.

Dr Al-Zeyoudi also signed the MoU with Saint Lucia's Prime minister, Allen Chastanet, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The MoU with El Salvador was signed by Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State, and Hugo Martinez Bonilla, Foreign Minister of El Salvador.

The agreement will take effect from the date of completion of constitutional procedures in both countries.
Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait, the Quorvus Collection flagship hotel in Kuwait, has welcomed Joy Lacuesta to the position of director of human resources.



With more than 15 years experience in senior HR roles in the hotel and hospitality sector, Lacuesta will be a valuable addition to the Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait team in one of its primary goals to provide an inspiring work environment for the ambitious team of professionals working in Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait and to attract passionate talents seeking to join a fast-growing, constantly-evolving industry.



After graduation, Lacuesta started her HR career with the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah. After more than 10 years with the Hilton, Joy moved to the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort in 2011 to take up the position of deputy director of human resources, before being promoted to director of HR, a position she held until her appointment at Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait.



"With a passion for employee engagement and people development, and encouraging customer-focused teams, Lacuesta represents the ideal choice to help realise the senior management teams vision of continually exceeding customer expectation, which sets Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait apart from the competition," the hotel said in a statement. - TradeArabia News Service


Qatar Airways is taking its passenger experience to a whole new level with the unveiling of the world's first double beds in business class, said a report.



Passengers flying from London to Doha in the airline's QSuite will be able to create a fully flat double bed by reclining two middle seats. For those who prefer a little privacy, the QSuite features stow away partition panels to create a private bedroom, said a report in Doha News.



The QSuite design also features adjustable panels and movable TV monitors on the centre four seats to allow those travelling together to transform their space into a private suite, giving them the opportunity to work, dine and socialise together.



"Qatar Airways is known the world over for setting the highest possible standard in customer experience, and it is with much anticipation that I look forward to sharing this new experience with our customers, said Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker.

After London, Paris and New York's JFK are the next routes to carry the QSuite option, the report said.
Monday support meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A St.; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m, 917 N. Beech; 5:30 p.m., 328 E. A; 6 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200; 6 p.m., 456 S. Walnut; 7 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 8 p.m., 328 E. A. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back). Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688.

Al-Anon: Noon, 701 S. Wolcott, St. Marks Church, main entrance, left to library.

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 7 p.m., 302 E. 2nd, Methodist Church; 8 p.m., 4700 S. Poplar (church basement). Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

Teen Addiction Anonymous: 3:30-4:30 p.m., Boys & Girls Club Teen Center. Info: 258-7439.

Adult Children of Alcoholics: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 12-24 Club, 500 S. Wolcott St., Suite 200.

TOPS Weight Loss: 5:30 p.m., Weight Loss Support Group TOPS #246, Wyoming Oil & Gas Building, 2211 King Blvd. Use NE door entry. Info: 265-1486.

Mended Hearts Sept. 25

The Casper Mended Hearts chapter will resume its regular meeting schedule on the fourth Monday of the month, at 7 p.m., on Sept. 25, in the Board Room of Wyoming Medical Center, located in the Support Services Building, off the second floor hospital lobby. The program for September will be presented by president Alan Quigg and his wife, reporting on the latest news from our national organizations recent convention, which they attended. For further information, you may contact Alan at 259-0922.

Senior Stompers meet Mondays

Join Joyces Senior Stompers at 10:50 a.m. Mondays and exercise your mind and body. Its free for seniors 60-plus. Call Joyce for more information: 237-4908.

Tween Book Club

The Natrona County Librarys Tween Book Club will meet at 4 p.m. on Monday. Students in grades 4-6 will discuss Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley. Please register in advance by calling 577.READ x5 or sign up when you stop by the Childrens Department to pick up a copy of Circus Mirandus.

Casper Dance club meets weekly

The Casper Dance Club has classes on Monday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. in the ballroom at the Casper Senior Center, 1831 E. Fourth. This is for beginners and experienced dancers. Fee is $3 and we do two-step, waltz, East and West coast, cha cha, etc. Come join us.
CHEYENNE  A growing number of grizzly bears are moving outside their established habitat in and around Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, causing more conflicts with humans, according to wildlife managers.

In 2016, Wyoming recorded 223 cases of conflicts between grizzly bears and humans outside Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and the Wind River Indian Reservation.

It was by far the highest number of conflicts among the three states in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Montana had 118, and Idaho just two last year.

Its a potential human safety risk and its not conducive to the long-term conservation of grizzly bears to have them in an area where theyre getting in trouble, said Dan Thompson, large carnivore section supervisor with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

A wildlife advocate says grizzlies shouldnt be penalized for roaming into areas where they are native.

When theres suitable habitat in forested areas and public lands, in our view there shouldnt be a limit on where they can expand, said Andrea Santarsiere, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.

The conflicts in Wyoming resulted in 39 grizzly bears being captured by state game managers in 2016. Twenty-two were killed for various reasons, such as a history of problems.

Federal protection of the bears was lifted earlier this year and management of the species was turned over to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

At the end of 2016, there were an estimated 690 grizzlies in the area that includes northwestern Wyoming, southwestern Montana and eastern Idaho, leading the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conclude that the population had recovered.

The Center for Biological Diversity and other wildlife advocacy groups are seeking to restore federal protections.

One thing that were worried about with management returning to the states is that they will be looking to lethally remove grizzly bears that are outside what they consider suitable grizzly bear habitat more so than they were doing when grizzly bears were federally protected, Santarsiere said.

Thompson said the state has initiated programs to minimize grizzly bear conflicts, such as erecting electric fences around bee hives and giving away bear spray.

But as bears move beyond the suitable habitat areas it makes that more difficult, he said.
The line between church and state will be kept firm in Casper.

Earlier this month, Dale Zimmerle addressed Casper City Council and urged them to start their meetings off with a prayer.

The Casper resident explained that other councils across the country have found ways to incorporate God into their weekly meetings without legal repercussions, and said he felt Casper should follow suit.

Mayor Kenyne Humphrey said council would consider his suggestion, and Councilman Dallas Laird told the Star-Tribune that he supported Zimmerles idea as long as no one was required to pray.

However, Councilwoman Amanda Huckabay confirmed Friday that council members discussed the matter prior to their official meeting Tuesday night, and determined that prayer should not become a part of council meetings.

It got a thumbs down, she recalled.

Huckabay said the issue was dealt with quickly since council had already discussed the topic on other occasions.

Former city attorney Bill Luben previously cautioned council members against praying at meetings, explaining it could make the city vulnerable to a lawsuit.

Will Chambers, the interim city attorney, has not offered any new advice on the matter, said Huckabay.

In other council-related news, council members authorized the purchase of five new pieces equipment for the Public Services Department this week, coming in at an estimated total cost of $771,103.

Its equipment that supports services that we are required to provide for our citizens, explained Jolene Martinez, the special projects coordinator for the Public Services Department.

A front end loader and a tandem axle truck with a dump body and plow will be purchased for the Streets Division to help with snow clearing, and three trucks will be purchased for the Solid Waste Division to use for trash pick-up.

Four of the items are replacing equipment that has worn out due to age and usage, but one truck is being added to the Solid Waste Divisions fleet, said Martinez.

Cynthia Langston, the manager for the Solid Waste Division, explained that an additional truck was needed for trash pickup because they need a back-up truck to use when the other ones are being worked on and repaired.
Bonnie Foster is the development director of the St. Anthony Tri-Parish School Foundation. The foundation concentrates on endowment funding to sustain the school. Three benefactors, John and Mari Ann Martin, Susie and the late Mick McMurry and Joe Scott started the 777 campaign  because of the seven glories of God, with the aim of raising $7 million in seven years. February will be the end of seven years and there is $498,000 remaining to be raised. The school is celebrating its 90th year of educating students in Casper this school year.

What is the Joy Breakfast? This year it is 7 to 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, in the commons area of the school. It was started about six years ago to honor some fabulous people who have done wonderful things for the foundation or who are members of the Catholic community. Past honorees are Msgr. James ONeill, Margo Bean, Brian and Marcy Martin, Father August Koeune, and last year, Dr. Martin Ellbogen Sr. The Knights of Columbus provide the food for the breakfast, the school kitchen staff cooks it and the middle school students serve the breakfast. One of the personal touches that makes this breakfast different besides its size (capacity is 156) is that parents, staff, and foundation board members decorate the tables so that every table is done differently. Im doing two, one will be Wyoming Cowboys-themed and one will be Notre Dame for the Murphy family. So its fun to see what beautiful tables people come up with.

Who are the honorees and how were they chosen? Don and Rita (Murphy) Galles were chosen basically because both the Galleses and Murphys have donated to the school and to the foundation for years and both are longtime strong Catholic families. All 12 of the Murphy children went to St. Anthonys and some of the Galleses did. Rita just turned 88 and Don is 91 and we want to honor them this year. At the breakfast, Pat Murphy will present the award for the Murphy side and Karla Dundas Galles will present for the Galles side.

And this is the 90th anniversary of the school? Weve had an alumni mass and reception as the school year started and there were probably about 200 who attended. Because it is our 90th year, we have a special Cardinal Club, and anyone who donates $25,000 or more becomes a member and has their name on a plaque. We have one name already on it. Our goal is to finish the matching funds. The school has to raise $3.5 million and if we do, the three benefactors who started the 777 match it dollar for dollar.

How can folks get involved? There is no charge to attend the breakfast, but because of space, we require a reservation. All supporters of Catholic education are welcome and they can RSVP by Oct. 4 by calling 234-2873, ext. 305 or emailing foundation@sascasper.com.
The state must wait for a judge to determine whether the city of Casper is liable for the Cole Creek Fire before being reimbursed by the federal government for fighting the 2015 blaze.

The state requested grant money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency the day after the fire ignited in a wood chip pile at the Casper landfill. The federal agency approved the grant, but state authorities now need to tally how much they spent fighting the fire that burned almost 10,000 acres of land, destroyed 14 homes and killed livestock and pets. FEMA is now determining how much of that spending is eligible for reimbursement.

But the grant program requires that applicants exhaust all other sources for reimbursement, including entities that could be liable for the fire, before asking FEMA. In the case of the Cole Creek Fire, a judge has yet to determine whether the city of Casper could be held liable. A FEMA reimbursement is stalled until that decision is made.

The city of Casper filed an action in Natrona County District Court in April 2016 asking that a judge determine whether it is liable for the fire. Its unclear when that decision could come, though it will have to wait until after the Oct. 11 deadline for homeowners whose property was damaged or destroyed to file governmental claims with the citys insurance. However, its possible lawsuits could be filed beyond that date.

In emails obtained by the Star-Tribune through records requests, the Wyoming State Forestry Division estimated it spent about $15,000 fighting the fire and that the city spent about $331,000. The state later reimbursed the city for its costs through an account meant for emergencies.

States that want FEMA reimbursement money do not ask for a specific amount of money during the application process, said Megan Floyd, a spokeswoman for FEMA. Instead, state and federal officials work together to determine what costs are eligible for reimbursement. In the case of the Cole Creek Fire, the state could be reimbursed for the $346,000 total, Floyd said.

But some of that spending could become ineligible for reimbursement if a Natrona County District Court judge determines that the city is liable for the fire.

In an April 2016 letter to FEMA meant to supplement the grant request, a Wyoming assistant attorney general stated that the fire was accidental and that the state had not been able to identify a potential liable suspect.

But FEMA officials wanted a little more information.

The federal officials noted that the fire investigation deemed the cause accidental, but also cited the part of the report explaining how city employees pushed formerly smoldering debris back into a wood pile after they believed it was extinguished. The debris was still smoldering and ignited wood in the brush pile. That fire would jump outside the confines of the landfill during high winds the next day, despite efforts to contain it.

FEMA also cited a Star-Tribune article published in December 2015. In that story, a fire investigator with the states Fire Prevention Department stated: Obviously, there is a little bit of negligence there.

Based on these circumstances, we ask that you clarify the States position on the employees duty of care, including whether there were applicable industry codes or standards at the time of the fire, wrote Thomas Carroll, recovery division director for the region.

State attorneys responded in a June 2016 letter and said they had no stance on whether the city of Casper could be held liable for the fire and reiterated that the fire investigation deemed the cause to be accidental.

The State does not have a position on whether the City employees breached their duty of care, Wyoming Senior Assistant Attorney General Megan Nicholas wrote in the letter to FEMA officials.

Until the Court determines liability, the City has no supporting information or analysis to provide demonstrating that the Station Fire was not attributable to its own negligence other than the fire investigation report that was previously provided to you ... in that report, the fire was deemed to be an accident, Nicholas wrote in a later letter.

Nicholas declined to comment for this story and referred all questions to Attorney General Peter Michael, who did not return a request for comment.

The issue is further complicated by a 2015 Wyoming Supreme Court ruling that found the state could only recoup the cost of fighting fires if it was protecting state land. Of the 9,516 acres that burned in the Cole Creek Fire, only 948 acres were state land.

That means that even if city employees were found negligent, the state may be blocked from reimbursement by the city.
The University of Wyomings freshman enrollment grew by 145 students compared to last fall, when the states only public, four-year institution experienced a nearly 200-student drop.

The universitys 15-day numbers showed 1,696 freshman enrolled for fall 2017, a boost of 9.3 percent compared to last year. Transfer students also saw a 12.3 percent increase, from 967 to 1,086. Seven hundred and seventy one of those transfer students are from Wyoming.

The freshman enrollment is short one single student from tying the universitys record for largest incoming class, said Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Kyle Moore. Officials had predicted this class would break the record.

Still, the 9.3 percent increase year of year is significant for a school that saw several years of stagnant growth, bottoming out last fall with a drop of nearly 200 freshman compared to fall 2015.

When President Laurie Nichols arrived on campus in spring 2016, she learned the school faced a 600-student drop heading into the fall semester.

I about had a stroke, she told the Star-Tribune in July.

Eventually, officials were able to trim the loss down to less than 200.

Moore said this years growth will continue into the future.

I think this is just beginning of students understanding and recognizing how the University of Wyoming is a great partner for long-term student success and students are going to respond in the semesters to come, Moore said.

Boosting enrollment

There are a total of 12,397 students at UW as of fall 2017, a total increase of 31 students. The university graduated its largest-ever senior class over the past year, according to a press release.

The boost can be at least partially attributed to two overlapping moves the university has made in recent months: The board of trustees passed a strategic plan in July that placed a heavy emphasis on boosting enrollment. The university also hired a Chicago firm to help officials build a five-year enrollment plan and identify short-, middle- and long-term objectives.

That plan calls for strengthening ties with community colleges and increasing financial aid communications.

Moore said both of those played a role. He also said faculty reaching out were a significant part of the increases.

As Nichols discovered the severity of the universitys enrollment situation in spring 2016, UW was told that its budget would be cut by $41 million  part of statewide reductions in the midst of an economic downturn.

Nichols blamed the enrollment decrease on a lack of a strategic plan at UW. It had been years since such a blueprint was drawn up, she said, and that essentially left the school rudderless.

Moore, whose position was created under the strategic plan, agreed.

If you dont have that kind of guiding documentation or that guiding vision, youre certainly liable to not be unified in your progression toward that achievement, he said. Not having a strategic plan absolutely has a huge impact on where we go.

Thats since been rectified: The universitys board of trustees approved a five-year plan in July that placed a heavy emphasis on boosting UWs overall enrollment. By 2022, officials hope to have 13,500 students enrolled.

It appears the university is off to a good start: Moore said the school wants to increase freshman enrollment by 2 percent annually and transfers by 5 percent. Both of those figures were easily met heading into this fall, though whether those rates can continue or are the result of a full-court press by the university is unclear.

Moore said he couldnt predict growth in coming years but was confident students would flock to the university.

The strategic plan also calls for freshman-to-sophomore retention to grow from 76 percent to 80 percent by 2022. From 2016 to 2017, 78 percent of underclassmen stayed at UW, a record.

The schools average ACT score also saw a small increase, from 24.4 to 24.7. Students typically need a 21 to be admitted to UW.
The presidents of Wyomings seven community colleges and the University of Wyoming released a letter in support of DACA, calling on the states congressional delegation to support the DREAM Act.

The young adults enrolled in our colleges who are in jeopardy of being deported are Wyomings youth, the presidents wrote. Their hopes and dreams include futures in Wyoming. We know them and we know their stories.

The letter  sent to the Star-Tribune late last week  cites not only the young peoples ties to Wyoming but also what they can add to a state with an aging population and a labor force thats been depleted recently as workers leave to escape a struggling economy.

Wyomings two senators and one U.S. representative have all said they support ending DACA, which allows undocumented immigrants brought to the United States before the age of 16 to pursue higher education, obtain lawful employment and enlist in the military.

President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced earlier this month that the federal government would eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals  which was instituted under President Barack Obama  in six months. Days later, Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi said they reached a deal with Trump to put the DACA protections into law, though that is yet to happen.

In seven bullet points, the educators explain their support for DACA and the DREAM Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children.

The growing minority population (in Wyoming) helped offset the labor force who moved out of the state, they wrote. (Economist Wenlin) Lieu reported that nearly two-thirds of the states population growth from 2010 to 2016 was attributed to addition in the minority population.

On top of a declining labor force, Wyoming has an aging population, a trend thats picked up speed and is one of the fastest in the nation, Lieu said.

Supporting our students and their needs was the incentive for signing the letter, said Casper College spokesman Chris Lorenzen.

There are 800,000 DACA recipients nationwide. More than 620 are in Wyoming. But how many are enrolled at UW or one of the community colleges isnt clear. The University of Wyoming and Casper College officials have said they arent sure how many they have on their campuses. But both schools have sent out notes to their student bodies, advising them on resources available to students who may be affected by a rollback of the measure.

UW followed that up with another note sent to the campus last Monday, describing repercussions of the Trump administrations announcement. For instance, the Department of Homeland Security will no longer accept first-time applications.

The email told concerned students to contact the University Counseling Center or Adam Severson, a Colorado attorney who teaches at UWs College of Law.

Chad Baldwin, a spokesman for UW, said that though exact numbers are unclear, hes heard that a significant number of students are receiving some kind of assistance.

Baldwin said he doesnt believe UW President Laurie Nichols has spoken officially with any of the three members of Wyomings congressional delegation. But he called the letter, which was published in part in the Star-Tribune, an indirect communication to them.

The letter is the first firm stance taken on the issue by UW. After the Trump administrations initial announcement, school officials said they were monitoring the situation. Baldwin said that letter wasnt intended to take a position but was used to inform the campus population.

The UW chapter of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan decried the proposed rollback and called it the end of achieving the American Dream.

Past activism

Its not the first time the leaders of Wyomings institutions of higher learning have released an op-ed opposing government action. Earlier this year, the same group  minus, at first, the signature of Casper College President Darren Divine  penned a letter opposing a Wyoming bill that wouldve allowed people to carry guns on college campuses.

Divine told the Star-Tribune in February that he was in support of the op-ed when it was written. But when he told the colleges board that he intended to sign on, they told him they would not take a position on the bill.

Eventually, the board was asked to take a stand at a board meeting by biology instructor Will Robinson. They held an impromptu vote to oppose it, which passed 4-2. The bill died in the Senate two days later.
POWELL  This past winter, after she fell, Susan Ahalt got on the phone and called a couple volunteers from her short list. Ahalt rarely needs help, but at 74, the the list of chores she can no longer do is growing. The broken kneecap only slowed her down. She knows if she cant do the work, many will suffer.

Theres no one to take my place, Ahalt said.

For 30 years, Ahalt has served northern Wyoming as one of only three wild bird rehabilitation facilities in the state. Dont recognize the name?

Nobody knows my name. They just know me as The Bird Lady, Ahalt said.

Ahalt started Ironside Bird Rescue, Inc., a nonprofit that gives long-term care to injured birds, in 1987. She has cared for thousands of birds and even a few critters in the past 30 years  in her own home, if needed. In early September, Ahalt and Marion Niedringhaus released a male kestrel after rescuing it with a badly broken leg.

It was so excited to be free, Niedringhaus said.

The bird circled twice before landing in a nearby bush to get its bearings. Niedringhaus brought the kestrel to Ahalt in June. The bird needed reconstructive surgery and a safe place to recover. The gregarious bird took a liking to Ahalt, often landing on her head during feeding time. He was released near the Trout Creek Ranch.

It is covered in cottonwood, buckbrush and lots of mice, Niedringhaus said. We didnt think he could make it, but the surgery went really well. I was so happy to be a part of this.

Niedringhaus drove from Sheridan for the chance to see the bird go free.

Dr. Malcom L. Blessing, former owner of the Lifetime Small Animal Hospital in Cody, is one of the few community members who actually knows Ahalts name. He has worked with her for three decades and hes a big fan.

She has been the voice for raptors in this entire area, even as far away as Idaho, for years, Blessing said. Shes amazing.

About 25 years ago, an eagle was brought to Blessing with a gunshot. Half of its beak was blown off. Blessing fashioned a prosthetic beak and delivered the bird to Ahalt.

She cared for that bird intensely, Blessing said. Shes like a bird nurse.

Blessing started taking in birds in the 70s and now the hospital sees more than 100 raptors a year.

Ahalts contributions allow us to help more birds, Blessing said. Blessing still works at the hospital part-time after a recent sale of the business.

Ironside doesnt receive financial support from state or federal agencies, but they often call on her help.

When two juvenile Coopers hawk were shot last month near Greybull, Bill Robertson, game warden with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, called on The Bird Lady.

Shes a critical element in our operation, Robertson said, adding, Shes all in  24/7, 365. It takes a special kind of person to do that.

One of the two hawks, thought to be siblings, perished. But the other quickly healed and has already been released.

The best part of my job is seeing the south side of a bird going north. Its why I do this, Ahalt said.

She has learned to take the good with the bad and, after all these years, is rarely surprised. Her big jobs included caring for eagles, hawks, owls and other birds of prey. Last year she cared for 37 great horned owls. Her shelter is still full this year  the more people who learn of her service, the more birds are brought to her.

Shes currently rehabilitating a juvenile bald eagle, seven great horned owls, a Coopers hawk, several red-tailed hawks, and peregrine and prairie falcons.

Shes also met some rare customers.

Ive cared for birds that arent supposed to be here (in Wyoming), she said.

Pacific Loons, a lesser frigatebird and a wood stork  all birds that are very rare in the state  have ended up in her care. Ahalt has also cared for other critters. People have brought her deer, badgers, rabbits  almost anything that needs caring for. On top of all of her duties, Ahalt is also a foster parent for kittens from the Cody animal shelter.

When Ahalt finally calls it quits  something shes not likely to do voluntarily  there will be a huge void needing to be filled. Becoming certified to care for wildlife is harder now than it was 30 years ago and the cost to build a facility is too much for many to do on their own.

If I wanted to build another eagle barn it would cost me $100,000 to $150,000 now, she said. With donations and help with construction, her current eagle barn cost one tenth as much.

Ahalt has some good corporate donors, including Rocky Mountain Power/PacifiCorp. She receives a big break on vet bills at Lifetime Small Animal Hospital in Cody. But her entire operation is run on donations and vet bills, even with the discounts, run in the thousands per month.

The birds are self-sufficient thanks to grants and our donors, Ahalt said.

As she does her chores shes wearing a new heart-rate monitor, a concern of hers. If she is forced to quit, having someone take over the operation will be tough. Ahalts home is built around the facility. She even has an aviary attached to her bedroom for all the unwanted pet birds people bring her  everything from parrots to pigeons. Ironside is the only bird rescue in the state that will take any kind.

Ive never turned down a bird, she said. Ill raise birds in my living room if I have to.
Is it any wonder that a place as wondrous and unique as Wyoming would be the site 40 years ago for the filming of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

We traveled across the state recently in a grand loop that took us to Devils Tower, the countrys first national monument, which was the reason that movie was filmed there.

This tower, called Bear Lodge by the Indians, is just plain odd. It looks like a giant tree trunk (made of hardened lava) that juts out of the ground to over 800 feet high in the middle of the Wyoming Black Hills.

It became the countrys first national monument back in 1912. And of course a huge Facebook rumor went out this year where it was claimed that archaeologists discovered it really was a tree trunk with petrified roots deep underground. Alas, not true.

But first, let me tell you about our latest road trip. Our drive took us through Wind River Canyon to Thermopolis and Worland and over the Big Horn Mountains to Buffalo and Gillette before getting to Devils Tower. Our trip home was through Hulett, Moorcroft, Gillette, Wright, Casper, Shoshoni and Riverton.

That route took me through some of the best viewing areas of the recent eclipse.

Melissa Neylon, who works at the Washakie Museum and Culture Center in Worland, was at Boysen for the eclipse and said 39,000 cars were counted all over the park.

Wyoming native Alan OHashi, who made a video on Vimeo about the eclipse, said Glendo hit 50,000  that magic number of people it was expecting for the eclipse.

Not sure Shoshoni got the 40,000 visitors it were expecting, but it did get something permanent about the event.

At the extreme northeast part of town is a unique monument built by some odd visitors who build these things where eclipse epicenters are located. The only other one is in Namibia.

A fringe group with some serious money behind it built this edifice. Members believe there are actually two moons and during an eclipse, an alternate universe comes into play. The group is headed by Eames Demetrios of Greece, and quite a little group gathered at the Shoshoni site during the eclipse. Not sure if they tore their clothes off or sacrificed any animals during the event, but based on seeing this concoction of strange objects  well, they must have had a really good time.

One of Wyomings greatest photographers is Dewey Vanderhoff of Cody, and he was telling me about this site. He provided some of this research on it.

He also took some wonderful eclipse photos from his vantage point in Shoshoni.

Dewey was also impressed by the bumper-to-bumper traffic from Shoshoni to Casper. Here is how he described it:

Try to imagine a solid caravan of cars all the way from Shoshoni to Casper and beyond after the eclipse. This is 100 miles of unbroken, solid traffic. If each car is a dot and the space between them a dash, it spelled out SOS over and over again. Allowing for a generous average of 50 feet per vehicle, that works out to 10,560 cars at any one time during the mass exodus from Wyoming. The real total was probably much more than this, as it went on all afternoon and early evening.

Huge numbers of people left the next day, and they were not included in the record counts compiled by the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Also on the list of wingnuts: There was the report of a man jumping off a cliff in central Wyoming at an abandoned uranium open pit mine.

Apparently there was water in the bottom, but he missed and scratched the heck out of himself. Luckily, a passerby saw the leap and called 911.

Meanwhile, the partying continued back at Devils Tower as they celebrated the 40th anniversary of the famous movie. Among the contests was one to see who could make the best replica of the tower out of mashed potatoes. Now that could be a real test.

With the country and the world focused on hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and Florida, there really is not much interest in what is happening here in Wyoming. But I thought it important to document some of the oddball events that have going on here in the last month.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico  Puerto Ricos nonvoting representative in the U.S. Congress said Sunday that Hurricane Marias destruction has set the island back decades, even as authorities worked to assess the extent of the damage.

The devastation in Puerto Rico has set us back nearly 20 to 30 years, said Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez. I cant deny that the Puerto Rico of now is different from that of a week ago. The destruction of properties, of flattened structures, of families without homes, of debris everywhere. The islands greenery is gone.

Engineers on Sunday planned to inspect the roughly 90-year-old Guajataca Dam, which holds back a reservoir covering about 2 square miles in northwest Puerto Rico. The government said it suffered a large crack after Maria dumped 15 inches of rain on the surrounding mountains and that it will collapse at any minute. Nearby residents had been evacuated, but began returning to their homes Saturday after a spillway eased pressure on the dam.

Puerto Ricos National Guard diverted an oil tanker that broke free and threatened to crash into the southeast coast, said Gov. Ricardo Rossello, and officials still had not had communication with nine of 78 municipalities.

This is a major disaster, he said. Weve had extensive damage. This is going to take some time.

The death toll from Maria in Puerto Rico was at least 10, including two police officers who drowned in floodwaters in the western town of Aguada. That number was expected to climb as officials from remote towns continued to check in with officials in San Juan. Authorities in the town of Vega Alta on the north coast said they had been unable to reach an entire neighborhood called Fatima.

Across the Caribbean, Maria had claimed at least 31 lives, including at least 15 on hard-hit Dominica.

Mike Hyland, a spokesman for the American Public Power Association, which represents the Puerto Rican power agency, said Sunday that restoration is a long way off.
BERLIN  Chancellor Angela Merkels conservative bloc won a lackluster victory in Germanys national election Sunday, while the anti-migrant, nationalist Alternative for Germany party managed a triumphant entry into parliament, projections showed.

Merkels main center-left rivals, the Social Democrats, were set for their worst result since World War II. The party, led by Merkels challenger Martin Schulz, vowed immediately to leave her coalition government and go into opposition.

The outcome puts Merkel on course for a fourth term as chancellor  but means that she has a tricky task in forming a new coalition government.

Projections for ARD and ZDF public television, based on exit polls and early counting, showed Merkels Christian Democratic Union and its Bavaria-only allies, the Christian Social Union, winning around 33 percent of the vote  down from 41.5 percent four years ago. It was one of their worst postwar showings.

Schulzs Social Democrats were seen trailing far behind, with 20-21 percent support. That would be the outright worst postwar result for the party, which has served since 2013 as the junior partner in a grand coalition of Germanys biggest parties under Merkel.

Merkel was greeted at her partys headquarters by supporters applauding and chanting Angie!

Of course, we would have preferred a better result, that is completely clear, she said. But we mustnt forget that we have had an extremely challenging parliamentary term behind us.

We have a mandate to form a new government, and no government can be formed against us, Merkel added.

We want to win back AfD voters by solving problems, by taking account of their concerns and fears, and above all with good policies, Merkel added.

Smaller parties were the chief beneficiaries of the erosion in support for Germanys traditionally dominant parties  above all the right-wing Alternative for Germany, or AfD, which was set to win up to 13.5 percent of the vote. AfD capitalized on discontent with established politicians, but particularly targeted those angry over the influx of more than 1 million mostly Muslim migrants into Germany in the past two years under Merkel.

AfD co-leader Alexander Gauland vowed that we will take our country back and promised to chase Merkel.

This is a big day in our partys history. We have entered the Bundestag and we will change this country, Gauland said.
PHOENIX  Arizona taxpayers are on the hook for more than $2 million in legal costs stemming from a series of anti-abortion laws the state Legislature has passed over the last eight years.

These court-ordered payments were from five cases that the state has lost, settled or been nullified by legislative repeal and came despite lawmakers repeatedly being warned that the measures were on shaky ground, the Arizona Capitol Times reported on Friday.

Democratic lawmakers and abortion providers have often placed the blame for legislation targeting abortion access on the Center for Arizona Policy, which is a conservative policy group that has supported anti-abortion candidates and pushed Republican lawmakers to sponsor and vote for anti-abortion measures in the state.

Cathi Herrod, the centers president, said the number of state anti-abortion policies still in effect outweigh the losses in court. The 37 policies she referred to range from a 2011 policy requiring women to receive an ultrasound before an abortion to a 2016 policy prohibiting the research, experimentation or trafficking of fetuses.

You have to first look at what is in effect. And then you need to look at what the court cases were, Herrod said. And the question is, why does the abortion industry oppose women being given information about abortion pill reversal? Why does the abortion industry file lawsuits on some of these bills?

Abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood, and Democratic legislators who have voted against Center for Arizona Policy-supported bills said the lawsuits are filed because the policies are unconstitutional and harmful.

Since 2009, Arizona has successfully defended two laws out of the six lawsuits filed against the state over Center for Arizona Policy-backed bills.

Jodi Liggett, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Arizona, said that lawmakers understand these bills are unconstitutional, which leaves her to question the motives of these lawmakers and of the policy group.

Are we really trying to create good public policy? Is this really about  in particular, is this really about womens health and safety? Liggett said. Or is this just about making it as hard as possible (to have an abortion), which is actually harmful to womens health and safety?
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Sept. 25 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.
@bdaviskc/Twitter(WASHINGTON) -- Protesters in wheelchairs were removed from a hearing on the Republican health care bill Monday afternoon after disrupting the session with chants of "No cuts to Medicaid! Save our liberty!"



The disruption prompted Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to adjourn the session until the protesters could be cleared out.



"If you want a hearing -- if you want a hearing, you better shut up," Hatch said.



Capitol Police officers struggled to remove people, with some sliding out of their wheelchairs and onto the floor.



Eva Malecki, a spokesperson for Capitol Police, told ABC News they are still "processing the arrests."



People from all over the country and all of walks of life lined up as early as 5 a.m. ET, to urge lawmakers to oppose the latest Republican health care bill, known as the Graham-Cassidy bill.



The chambers of Finance Committee is set to consider health care legislation proposed by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis.



This is the one and only open hearing scheduled on the Graham-Cassidy bill, an unusual process that opponents of the bill, like Sen. John McCain, have objected to.



An army veteran who came all the way from Atlanta called the hearing a fake" and a "facade," accusing lawmakers of not listening to real Americans.



Through tears, Pam Willis of Wyoming told ABC News Mary Bruce that this is a matter of life and death.



My daughters coming in a wheelchair and it means her life, the insurance. And my daughter in law has cancer, her fourth cancer and it means her life too, Willis said. It means a lot.



Graham and Cassidy will speak in favor of their bill and are expected to discuss the latest revised version of their health care legislation. The newest draft rearranges how changes in federal funding provided to the states for health care would be phased in over time.



Republicans are hoping to push the Graham-Cassidy bill quickly through the Senate as the Sept. 30 deadline that allows them pass health care on a party-line simple majority vote is rapidly nearing.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz wont face a jury in his murder trial until at least March.

In a court filing Friday, Sean Chapman, his attorney, said he has asked federal prosecutors and they have no objection to scrapping the proposed Oct. 24 trial start date. The new date remains in the air.

The parties have conferred regarding their various trail schedules and jointly request that the trial be set no earlier than the month of March 2018, Chapman wrote to U.S. District Court Judge Raner Collins in Tucson.

He said prosecutors provided him a significant amount of information within the past 30 days.

Much of the information involves witnesses and evidence critical to key issues in the case, he told Collins.

That includes exactly which injury was fatal to Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, the teen Swartz shot through the border fence at Nogales, and whether Mexican authorities may have contaminated the crime scene by removing evidence from Elena Rodriguez, Chapman wrote. He provided no additional specifics.

Given the disclosure of this new information, the defense needs additional time to discuss its impact with several defense experts and conduct additional investigation, he said.

Swartz has admitted to killing the teen in October 2012, firing multiple shots. But Chapman contends his client is innocent of the charge of second-degree murder. He claims the teen was involved in drug smuggling and had been throwing rocks at Swartz  the latter point is not disputed by prosecutors meaning the agent was justified in his action.

Meanwhile, the separate civil suit against Swartz remains on hold awaiting the outcome of a legal dispute over a similar cross-border killing. In that 2010 case, a Border Patrol agent in Texas shot and killed a Mexican teen playing in a culvert that separates El Paso from Juarez.

In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court directed a federal appellate court to consider the issue of whether someone killed in a foreign country can file a civil suit in United States federal courts. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments this past week, with no deadline for a ruling.

Its virtually certain that whichever side loses will seek Supreme Court review.

That is significant in the Swartz case because the appellate judges hearing the civil claim by Elena Rodriguezs mother said their decision on whether she can seek wrongful death damages in U.S. courts will depend on what the nations high court ultimately rules in that Texas case.
TUSD superintendent to host regular forums

Tucson Unified School Districts new superintendent Gabriel Trujillo is holding a community forum Thursday, Sept. 28, at Ochoa Community School, 101 W. 25th St., from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Trujillo, who was officially appointed to the position last month, will meet with community members and talk about his plans for TUSDs future. This will be the first of his planned monthly forums. Dates and locations for future forums will be announced at tusd1.org and on the districts Facebook page, facebook.com/tucsonunified.

Amphi district gets new board member

The Pima County School Superintendents Office appointed Susan Zibrat to fill the Amphitheater Public Schools Governing Board vacancy.

Zibrat will replace longtime board member Jo Grant, who resigned in early August. State law requires that the Pima County School Superintendent, Dustin Williams, fill any vacancy on a school governing board.

Zibrat formerly served on the Amphitheater Governing Board from January 2011 through December 2014.

TUSD seeks applicants for committee spots

The Tucson Unified School District is seeking applications to fill community and student member positions on the Technology Oversight Committee.

Committee members review district plans to help ensure they support educational objectives, are cost-effective and are compatible with realistic projections of future needs and investments.

Applications will be accepted until the vacancies are filled. Applications should include a resume, references, a letter that describes your interest in working with this volunteer committee and a letter certifying that you have no material financial or immediate family relationship with current Tucson Unified School District staff or vendors.

Applications may be submitted online at tusd1.org/Information/TechnologyOversightCommittee, by e-mail to maryalice.wallace@tusd1.org. or in person at the Governing Board Office in the Morrow Education Center at 1010 E. 10th Street, Building A.
Employees of Hughes Federal Credit Union have donated $3,225 to aid victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

The employee initiative resulted in a donation of $1,225, which was matched $1,000 each by the company and the companys charitable arm, Hughes Helps.

The donation is being made through the disaster relief system of the National Credit Union Foundation and will go toward aiding credit union employees, members, and volunteers who were affected by the recent devastation.

In 2016, Hughes Federal Credit Union provided more than $80,000 in support to over 100 different local organizations.
Time is of the essence if we do not want to harm families.

The Stars editorial on Sept. 17 in opposition to the current proposal requiring the poor to work in order to receive Medicaid benefits through our state Arizona Health Care Containment System or AHCCCS is sound and good policy for the state.

The draft proposal, which is being finalized by the state before being sent to the federal government for consideration, would allow Arizona to require able-bodied low-income residents who receive medical care through AHCCCS to work or be in a job training program.

The majority of the poor are not in the labor force because they are: children (35 percent), senior citizens (10 percent), people with disabilities (10 percent) or students (7 percent). The vast majority of the working-age poor are in the labor force.

This proposed legislation affects the 8 percent of the poor who have the most important job any of us will have, being a caregiver to a loved one. The proposal is asking caregivers to make a choice: Get a job, or leave your loved one alone.

Without access to health care, these individuals will use hospital emergency rooms as their primary health-care provider driving up the cost for all of us. More importantly, the proposal is anti-family and will negatively impact countless caregivers throughout our state.

Nobody chooses their birth family and nobody chooses to be poor. We live in one of the poorest regions of the Unites States. Each day these families face difficult choices. Should I get medical or dental care for my child, or purchase the educational materials they need for school? Can I afford to lease a car to get to work, or pay for the diapers and child care?

Take a moment to think of facing this trade-off every day. The Medicaid proposal does not need to add another no-win daily decision that will pull families apart.

As the Family Caregiving Alliance explains, caregiving often creeps up on you. You start by dropping by your moms house and doing her laundry, or taking your dad to a doctors appointment. You find yourself doing the grocery shopping and refilling prescriptions.

Gradually, you are doing more and more. At some point, you realize you have made a commitment to take care of someone else.

Sometimes, caregiving is triggered by a major health event, such as a stroke, heart attack or accident. Maybe you suddenly realize that dads memory lapses have become dangerous. Life as you know it stops, and all your energy goes to caring for your loved one. Caregiving has become your new career.

Gov. Doug Ducey needs to hear from you about this proposal to require employment in order to receive AHCCCS benefits. We urge you to contact him today and ensure that we make the right decision for our families and our community.

The proposal will impact thousands of Arizona families by potentially moving them off health care and branding us as an anti-family state.

Arizonas proposal wants people to make a choice between health care and caring for a loved one who depends on you. Ask yourself: Could you?
Editor's note : A number of English teachers have responded to a Tuoi Tre News call for opinions regarding the Ho Chi Minh City education department's recent regulation that prohibits native speakers from employing smart boards and CD players in the classroom.

The regulation, which is applied in primary schools throughout the city, includes a ban on using audiovisual aids while teaching.

According to the guideline, native English teachers should call their students by their Vietnamese names and under no circumstance address them by Western names.

It is also dictated that English-speaking teachers refrain from using audiovisual tools including cassette players, CD players, and smart boards to play music or videos for students during their lessons.

Instead, teachers are expected to create conditions for students to practice English through social interaction.

Entirely ridiculous

Im currently teaching 9 classes a week at a primary school in Ho Chi Minh City and I find the ban on using audiovisual tools like cassette players, CD players, and smart boards entirely ridiculous. While there are bad teachers who abuse these tools because they're too lazy to teach, most teachers use them appropriately. By banning these tools, they're effectively removing a lot of content from the curriculum of the same books they use themselves (the Family and Friends books for example, which contain a lot of audio and video resources in order to make the lessons more dynamic).Besides that, there is dialogue in the books used in schools that sometimes require more than four voices. It's absurd to expect the teacher to read multiple characters' dialogue. Then there's the case of teaching through music. There have been studies that have proven that learning through music (especially at a young age) is one of the most effective ways of learning a language.

Audiovisual learning makes the whole lesson more interesting and fun, encouraging students to learn more and have fun while doing so, as opposed to boring lessons comprised entirely of the teacher's speaking.

I usually use music, videos, and a smart board when teaching very young learners (grade 1 to grade 3). When teaching older students (grade 4 to grade 12 and beyond), I would only occasionally use audio (usually for a conversation from the book) and very rarely video (usually to give them more information about a topic we're learning).

Especially for young learners, audiovisual tools are extremely effective. They get easily distracted and bored. So the use of music, video, and a smart board really improves the environment. They're definitely good tools when used well.

I agree that there should be a balance when using these tools (instead of just playing music and videos during the whole lesson) and class time shouldn't be wasted on these things, but I think it's foolish to ban it completely. Playing a song at the beginning of the class is a very easy and fun way to wake up students and get them using English. Playing a related song after they learn new vocabulary or grammar is a fun and effective way to help them practice and remember it.

In the case of the smart board, I don't agree at all about having a balance. For the early grades, not including games or activities I organize for the class, I teach exclusively on the smart board because first-grade and second-grade students have very short attention spans and have limited understanding when I give instructions on doing exercises in their books. By using a digital copy of the books they learn on the smart board, I can create more focused and interactive lessons that get the kids excited to learn English, and I can save a lot of time by easily instructing the whole class on how to do certain exercises in their books by demonstrating them first on the smart board, instead of going around the classroom and explaining to one student at a time. I also reward students who do their work quickly with the chance to demonstrate their work on the smart board to the whole class, which really motivates the class to do their work well.

Lily Kruger, South African

Confusing

Working for a primary school in Da Nang, I find the ban on using audiovisual tools like cassette players, CD players, and smart boards to be confusing more than anything. It has been proven in numerous academic studies that all students learn through different methods. Some respond to structured speaking, some respond to listening, or writing, or through art. The idea of trying to force ALL students to learn through one manner is not only ineffective, but also possibly damaging to some students. The ban seems to be driven by concerned parents who dont seem to understand that not all students are the same, and that different students require different mediums to learn.

Kit Davidson in a photo he provided Tuoi Tre News

In addition to that, many of the curricula used by English centers and schools require chanting, songs, and videos to help with the lessons. So removing these elements from teaching can actually prevent students from learning the entire lesson, or learning to their potential. This ban seems to be trying to create an environment where all students are required to learn in the same way, which is not that effective when it comes to ensuring all students are learning the material. Learning is not the same as wearing a uniform.

Almost every English teacher in Vietnam has used, or uses, audiovisual aids to assist with teaching. As I said above, many lessons have chants or songs built into them, or even short videos. It is very rare to find a teacher who does not use a single bit of audiovisual in their lessons. Now, I do know some teachers who use what might be considered an excessive amount of audiovisual content, and perhaps this ban comes as a result of some of those teachers. However, teachers should be encouraged to find a happy balance between all methods of teaching, as opposed to simply using one system, so that they may effectively reach all students.

Living in Vietnam, my social network is one of many teachers, with plenty of history and experience across many different countries, and almost all of those teachers are as confused as I am, as they have used audiovisual aids in learning throughout the world. If many other countries around the world were finding this proposed system successful, then it would be possible to understand why this is desirable. Unfortunately, Vietnam seems to be relatively alone when it comes to this, which could ultimately hold Vietnamese students back in the future, rather than encourage them to learn in any way they can.

Kit Davidson, American

No change

Some primary schools also simply don't have the Internet or lack electronic equipment in the room - so again CD/cassette players/Internet are not generally an issue. So, for me, these rules don't actually change anything.Personally, these rules don't affect me. As for the smart boards, I have been teaching in public schools for 3 years and have never yet been to a school where the smart boards actually work. They are either broken or more often simply unplugged. In 3 years I have never used one.

Mark Young, Australian
Check out the news you should not miss today, September 25:

Politics

-- There are great potentialities for cooperation in such fields as electricity-electronics, auto mechanics and hi-tech agriculture between Ho Chi Minh City and South Korea localities, deputy chairman of the Vietnamese metropolis Tat Thanh Cang told Kim Hack Yong, chairman of the South Korea-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, on Sunday.

-- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday commenced his three-day official visit to Vietnam, aimed at elevating ties between the two countries.

-- Minister of Defense Ngo Xuan Lich led a Vietnamese delegation in several exchange activities in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan on Sunday, as part of the three-day Vietnam-China border defense friendship exchange program, during which both sides are committed to working together to maintain a peaceful border.

Society

-- A magnitude-2.5 earthquake occurred in the northern province of Dien Bien on Sunday, causing no damage to households or infrastructure due to its small scale and short aftermath.

-- Police in Bien Hoa, the capital of the southern province of Dong Nai, said on Sunday they had arrested 18 people on charges of "organizing gambling" following a raid on a major Chinese-run gambling den last week.

-- A tropical depression forming off the Chinese island of Hainan is moving toward the Gulf of Tonkin and is expected to bring strong winds and rains to Vietnams Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province later today, September 25.

-- Separate groups of Vietnamese and Japanese engineers on Sunday held ceremonies to pay tribute to 55 workers who died in the collapse of the road to the Can Tho Bridge abuilding then in the eponymous city in Vietnams Mekong Delta a decade ago, September 26, 2007.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City transport department has approved the construction of a VND429 billion (US$18.9 million) road to help ease chronic congestion on streets leading to the local Cat Lai Port.

Business

-- Even though most Vietnamese organizations and businesses started paying employees via bank transfer nearly a decade ago, local consumers are still not familiar with cashless payment but tend to withdraw all of their incomes in cash for use.

-- China could overthrow the U.S. to become the biggest importer of Vietnams catfish, according to the Vietnam Pangasius Association.

Lifestyle

-- Some 2,000 members of the Vietnamese LGBT community joined an annual march at Nguyen Hue Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday afternoon.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed opposition after a Filipino coast guard vessel opened fire on a Vietnamese fishing boat, resulting in the death of two fishermen.

On the sidelines of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke with Filipino Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano, expressing his objection to the shooting.

Vietnam has requested the Philippines announce the results of an investigation into the case and impose stern punishment if the Filipino coast guard is confirmed to commit any violation.

The fishing ship was carrying crew members hailing from the south-central Vietnamese province of Phu Yen, Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an announcement on Monday.

The Embassy of Vietnam in the Philippines has been ordered to work with local authorities to verify the case and assure necessary protection for the fishers.

According to relevant agencies in the Philippines, the Vietnamese boat, numbered PY 96173 TS, was fishing illegally in the sea area off Pangasinan Province from 8:30 pm on September 22 to 1:00 am the following day.

As vessel PS19 of the Filipino coast guard was pursuing the Vietnamese ship, the latter tried to obstruct and attack the coast guard vessel.

The PS19 opened fire on the PY 96173 TS when it intended to ram the vessels front.

Two Vietnamese fishermen were killed while several others were arrested following the incident.

Representatives from the Embassy of Vietnam in the Philippines have visited the arrestees to seek further information.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Retired TV presenter Mike Munro returns to television for History channels 4 part series Lawless: The Real Bushrangers.

From Genepool Productions, the series combines investigative input from Dr Kiera Lindsey (historian), Adam Ford (archaeologist) and Professor Roger Byard (forensic Pathologist) together with re-enactments.

With bushrangers in my own family tree, Lawless was the chance of a lifetime to sort fact from fiction in these great yarns that have been handed down through the generations and find out what really happened, said Munro.

Working on this series for the last two years has been an absolute highlight of my career. It has been wonderful working with the terrific teams at both Genepool Productions and Foxtel. Its about Australians, for Australians and I could not be more proud.

Jim Buchan, General Manager  Factual said The bushranger is an iconic character looming large within Australias history as well as national consciousness. This lawless era spanned an entire century, far longer than the 30 years of the American Wild West thats been so amplified by Hollywood film and television. Australians, however, collectively know very little about these infamous individuals and the circumstances that created them.

Lawless: The Real Bushrangers series will for the first time bring a completely new and contemporary perspective to one of the most fascinating eras in the story of Australia. I am therefore delighted that Mike Munro along with Genepool Productions will be bringing this new exciting series to the History channel audience for the first time.

Sonya Pemberton, Executive Producer, Genepool Productions said We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Foxtel on this landmark series.

Its a remarkable opportunity to investigate our iconic bushranger stories in ways never before attempted in this country. Using archaeology, forensic science and taking a fresh view of history, Lawless: The Real Bushrangers will go behind the myths and offer evidence-based insights into events that shaped our nation.

Munro previously developed The Last Bushrangers with Eyeworks Productions in 2014.

Hosted by respected journalist Mike Munro (himself a descendant of bushrangers) we follow investigations into the past and deliver the findings to living descendants of both bushrangers and those who fought against them.

In each fascinating episode, the team focuses on a single bushranger legend; Ned Kelly (Vic), Ben Hall (NSW), Captain Moonlite (NSW) and the last of the wild colonial boys  Patrick & James Kenniff (QLD). All are larger than life characters involved in infamous events heavily shrouded in mystery and folklore. The bushrangers are heroes to some, villains to others and for their descendants who carry their legacy today; they are a cause of either pain and shame, or pride and glory. There are always two sides to every story. But how do we separate fact from fiction?

Enter Mike Munro and the specialist Lawless investigation team; Dr Kiera Lindsey (historian), Adam Ford (archaeologist) and Professor Roger Byard (forensic Pathologist). Together they use their skills to apply an objective and rigorous analysis of these pivotal events.

Revisiting existing and new historical evidence they use 21st century high-tech science to get beyond the myths. Using archaeology to literally break new ground and the latest forensic methods to test the historical evidence, the team illuminates a fact-based version of our history. In each case the key question they seek to answer is  what really happened?

Lawless  The Real Bushrangers is produced by Emmy Award-winning Australian science television specialists Genepool Productions (part of the CJZ Group) with the support of Screen Australia, Film Victoria and Screen Queensland and will premiere on Foxtels History channel on Tuesday, October 24 at 8.30pm (AEDT).

Tuesday, October 24 at 8.30pm on History.
An email phishing scam has been hitting Netflix users, warning that their Netflix account is on hold because of a problem with payments.

A link in the email takes users to a fake Netflix page where users are invited to input bank details.

The scam is said to look realistic and has been circulating in the US and UK.

As malwarebytes.com advises, Remember that the green padlock is not the sole condition, but it is a must before you proceed.

Another telltale sign is spelling errors, but again, the lack of them is not a definite green light to proceed. Scammers have learned that their efficiency goes up if they pay attention to their spelling.

Also never judge a site by its looks, because phishers are masters in the art of copying the layout and images from legitimate sites. In fact, they usually link to the actual layout and images of the website they are pretending to be.
Foreign Correspondents Middle East correspondent Matt Brown was awarded the 2017 Lowy Institute Media Award on Saturday night.

The Walkley winner was recognised for his coverage of the military campaign against Islamic State in Iraq, and in particular the battle to recapture Mosul. He was awarded a cash prize of $20,000 along with a trophy.

The award from the independent think tank is given to a journalist or team who has deepened the knowledge or shaped the discussion of international policy issues in Australia.

Foreign Correspondent dominated the awards with other wins to Sophie McNeill and Eric Tlozek while Four Corners was recognised for a joint investigation with Fairfax.

Beirut-based Brown has spent most of the past decade reporting from the Middle East and served as the ABCs Indonesia Correspondent and National Security Correspondent.
At this rate Michael Portillo will be getting his own channel.

Not content with Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (at various times), SBS is adding trains to Sundays.

It will show repeats of travelogues with Michael Portillo late afternoons, leading into primetime from this Sunday. This replaces repeats of Tony Robinsons World War I.

Sunday October 1

5:30pm Railways Of The Great War: A Railway War Begins

Michael Portillo travels through Britain and northern Europe uncovering railway stories from the Great War. In this first episode, Michael begins his quest in Metz on European tracks built with war in mind, charts the birth of the railway war at a small station in Luxembourg and discovers how

Britains railways coped with the challenge of sending thousands of troops to join the conflict from Southampton. Finally, he returns to France to learn how the early war of movement gave way to the stalemate of the trenches. Rpt.

6:00pm Railways Of The Great War  Railways And Railwaymen Called To Action

Michael travels to the north east to find out about the brave railwaymen who paid the ultimate

sacrifice. Then its on to Banbury where the railways manufacturing expertise turned a crisis into a victory. In Hampshire, Michael meets the proud son of a railwayman who, as a Royal Engineer, taught soldiers to be railwaymen and trained railwaymen to be soldiers. Finally, on the south coast he meets the big guns that turned the tide of war. Rpt.

It continues Sunday October 8 and concludes Monday October 9.
Help India!

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

Social activist Teesta Setalvad was detained by the Police in Varanasi today soon after she landed in Varanasi. She was coming to Varanasi to speak up in an event organised at Rajghat, an issue which is totally different than the one in Banaras Hindu University.

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When Setalvad landed on Varanasi airport, security personnel escorted her to the Police line area, where she has since been detained.

When contacted about this, administrative officials suspected possible disruption due to Teestas presence.

Setalvads visit to Varanasi was scheduled almost a month back when the dates were announced for an event at Samajwadi Jan Parishad at Rajghat. Police suspected that Teestas presence in Varanasi may fuel the already tense situation in Varanasi which happened after girls protest at Banaras Hindu University.

However, the organisers of the event and the people with Setalvad showed every evidence to the administration for the legitimacy of their claim. But the administration paid no heed to this request and kept Setalvad detained.

Official sources informed that Teesta Setalvad might be in detention until the late evening when police will find the good time to release her.
In June of 2016, more than a year ago, Britain voted to leave the EU. Since then various experts and not so experts have been trying to figure out what could be the consequences of this action.

How did we get this far?

One of the main faces of the leave campaign, Boris Johnson was claiming that not less than 350 million pounds out of 17.8 billion pounds a year could be saved in what is the cost the UK has to pay in return for the membership. Since then the figure was corrected after Johnson was publicly rebuked for this misleading information which had helped him win a campaign.

The correct figure is almost half of it, 8.4 billion. This is still a lot of money, which according to Johnson could be much better distributed. Another claim that the leave campaigners liked to highlight is that the UK pays more than most of the EU members. Which is true, in terms of contribution the UK is second after Germany. But the situation is different if you divide this amount by the number of people living in the country. On the per-head contribution list, the UK is in the 8th position out of 12, while the Netherlands is in the first place, paying four times as much as Britain.

And while experts estimate a 4% GDP loss, that's 75 billion pounds with the country's leaving, it looks like the UK might need to pay another 18 billion pounds in a two-year transition period after March 2019.

Teresa May's aim is to have a successful final agreement with the EU which would make the leaving as smooth as possible. She says;

"If we can do that, then when this chapter of our European history is written, it will be remembered not for the differences we faced, but for the vision we showed; not for the challenges we endured but for the creativity we used to overcome them; not for a relationship that ended but a new partnership that began."

She's got some expectations, I have to say, after being put in a position where a whole country and its people's future is on the table.

Nobody would have thought that back then when a childish political game was started.

Why did the majority of people vote to leave?

One could say it's because they supported the idea that the UK could control who comes in the country, this from what the media was saying was because of the migrant crisis. Others, like Gordon Brown former Prime Minister, says that it's because of globalisation.

A survey by the Washington Post at the time agreed with him. In places which were more affected by foreign products - mostly Chinese - the percentage of voters on the leave side was systematically bigger than on the other side.

We shouldn't forget that the UK will need to open up other markets and the most desirable candidates are China and the US.

To summarise

An elected leader, who was supposed to represent the people who voted for him was so busy playing political games that he put a whole country's future into the public's hand to make a decision that even a well-educated economist would have struggled with. The majority of people voted to - as it turned out - save their country from the merciless teeth of globalisation and saw a future as an independent country.

Now the same government is trying to make deals with even bigger economies than the EU, all this with the person in the prime minister's chair who wasn't much bothered they won a campaign with a lie. Can't wait for the next step...
The Mayor of London claims that Britain may not leave the European Union's (EU) Single Market.

On the eve of the Labour Party Conference, which is being held at Brighton this week, Sadiq Khan said in an exclusive interview with The Guardian that people "shouldn't speak too soon" about a "hard" Brexit, which would result in the UK leaving the EU's Single Market and Customs Union.

He condemned Prime Minister Theresa May for failing to achieve a mandate to pull Britain out of the EU in its entirety during this year's general election. He urged her to "re-position the goal posts" in the face of a humiliating result.

The Tories may not provide the British people with the sort of EU exit people voted for

The Mayor of London said that it is Labour's job to provide credible opposition to the Government's "hard" Brexit plans.

He said he does not understand what the Prime Minister means by the phrase "Brexit means Brexit" and hinted the Tories may not provide the British people with the sort of EU exit they voted for during last year's referendum.

Criticising the Conservatives' plans to curb EU immigration once the UK has left, he said he is glad that the one million European citizens living in London will remain here.

Labour will fight for the Tories' plans for a "hard" Brexit

Meanwhile, Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said that Labour will fight the Tories' plans for a "hard" Brexit, calling for a general election before negotiations are complete.

He said he wants to replace his opposite number, David Davis, and negotiate an EU exit that protects workers' rights and Single Market access.

He said the "penny has finally dropped" for the Government after they had got stuck in the first phase of discussions, with the Brexit talks likely to end after March 2019.

Mr. Starmer said he wants his party to continue to fight for the kind of relationship with Europe that Labour has always believed in, adding that his colleagues have united on a single position of a transitional period before Britain fully leaves the trading bloc.

He said Labour will continue to campaign for retaining the benefits of Single Market membership.

Chuka Umuna called his party to support permanent Single Market membership

Speaking at the same conference event the Shadow Brexit Secretary made his remarks, Chuka Umuna called for his party to support permanent Single Market membership.

He thanked Mr. Starmer for attempting to provide clear red water between Labour and Eurosceptic Tories, adding he understands the former lawyer does not have an easy job pleasing all wings of the Labour Party.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell weighed into the Brexit debate unfolding in Labour, saying that his party could be in favour of a "changed Single Market" with reforms to the free movement of people. He said European leaders may agree to changes which retained some benefits of EU membership.

The Shadow Chancellor said he understood that the current rules regarding the free movement of people were unfair as they allowed employers to underpay workers'. Mr. McDonnell's comments come as Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn prepares to open up a debate at his party's conference on arguments from Labour members about what his party's Brexit position should be.

The Corbyn ally told ITV's Peston on Sunday that he sympathises with the reasons why thousands of Labour voters chose to leave the EU last year, adding that if his party can persuade Brussels to amend existing rules on the Single Market and the free movement of people, voters may change their minds on leaving.

He is optimistic that Labour could push for transforming the Single Market in its entirety, adding that his party could change the current four freedoms of service, capital, goods and people in its entirety.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott told Sky News she welcomed Mrs May's plans for a transitional Brexit, commending her for ignoring pressure from "hard" Brexiteers in her own Cabinet and party. She said she was content with the Prime Minister's plans.
Australia has played a crucial role in the exploration of space dating back to the Apollo program, as anyone who saw the film The Dish is aware of. However, the country has not had its own Space Agency, something even New Zealand has had, until a recent announcement held at the 68th International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide. The new Australian space agency is designed to coordinate aerospace policy for the country and to make it a player for international cooperation, notes the Australian newspaper.

What would an Australian space agency do?

Australia is not likely to launch its own astronauts, at least for a while. Only Russia and China have that capability, though the United States is due to regain it in 2018. However, a homegrown agency will be a single point to coordinate aerospace policy for Australia. The new agency will also will also be a focus for cooperation with other countries, which the country already does with its deep space tracking network. Look for that collaboration to expand. Finally, a homegrown agency will assist in using aerospace assets to manage Australias resources and enhance her security.

Australian astronauts?

The closest Australia has to astronauts have been two men born in that country who served with NASA.

Philip Chapman was part of Americas space agency during the Apollo program but never flew. Andy Thomas was part of NASA during the shuttle era and flew on a number of missions, including a stint on the Russian Space Station Mir. Thomas has been a moving force in persuading Australia to develop its own space agency. An Australia agency will allow the country to develop its own homegrown astronaut corps, similar to Canadas and the European Union.

Australian astronauts will be able to participate in the space programs of other countries, such as the International Space Station and future deep space plans being developed by NASA and the ESA,

Commercial space will help bring more capabilities to countries like Australia

One of the less mentioned developments is how commercial space will shortly be able to provide space capabilities to countries that hitherto not had any.

Vehicles being developed for ISS servicing such as SpaceXs crewed Dragon and Boeings Starliner will also allow countries such as Australia to mount their own space missions, should they care to. Cooperation with commercial space companies would help make Australia a significant player in space, an increasingly important venue for the economic vitality and the security of nations on Earth.
Fox News is potentially in even more legal trouble as a former female network contributor has filed a lawsuit against the network. This time a male host on the Fox Business Channel is being accused of raping the woman in question.

Fox News trouble

In recent years, the Fox News brand has taken a hit and for more than just the network's conservative viewpoint. It all started back in July 2016 when Roger Ailes, the channel's founder and former CEO, was forced to step-down after an onslaught of allegations claiming he sexually harassed several female employees.

The network once again came under fire earlier this year when news broke that Fox News mainstay Bill O'Reilly had been paying off multiple women who claimed the host had sexually harassed them. In addition, host Sean Hannity was also hit with similar allegations, but those have since been unfounded as of press time. Another example is in the form of Eric Bolling, the one time co-host of "The Five," who was let go after allegations that he sent lewd text messages and pictures to female colleagues. The latest issue comes from a report in The New York Times on September 18, where ex-network contributor Scottie Nell Hughes is alleging she was raped by Fox Business host Charles Payne.

Political commentator Scottie Nell Hughes has filed suit against Fox News, alleging rape and retaliation. https://t.co/z0YHSXjg6c  Emily Steel (@emilysteel) September 18, 2017

Charles Payne is a contributor to Fox News, as well as being the host of "Makin' Money" on the Fox Business Channel.

In July, Payne was suspended by the network after Scottie Nell Hughes accused him of sexual harassment. Payne denied the allegations against him, but admitted that the two had a "romantic relationship" for three years, which reportedly ended in 2015. After an internal investigation, Payne returned to programming earlier this month.

#BREAKING: Ex-Fox News commentator alleges anchor raped her, network retaliated against her in new lawsuit https://t.co/w6rYsPoVAH pic.twitter.com/d6gDZ0YFf2  The Hill (@thehill) September 18, 2017

Despite this, Scottie Nell Hughes has decided to file a lawsuit, doing so on Monday and claiming that she was raped by Charles Payne.

"In July of 2013, I was raped by Charles Payne. In July of 2017, I was raped again by Fox News," Hughes told the paper, while adding, "Since then, I have been living an absolute hell." As of press time, neither the company nor Payne have offered a comment in response to the lawsuit in question.

Next up

While yet another lawsuit is directed at the conservative network, the network continues to struggle to re-brand themselves when it comes to the culture behind and in front of the camera. As another allegation of sexual assault and harassment is brought forward, only time will tell if Fox News can survive.
A family in New Jersey is mourning their family dog after a hunter killed the one-year-old Alaskan Shepherd with a crossbow. Elizabeth Mongno was returning home with Tonka, walking behind her Readington Township home when the dog suddenly chased a deer into the woods. Mongno said she suddenly heard a pop sound and her dog yelping and on approaching the Alaskan Shepherd, found the dog lying on the ground just 50 feet from her property.

Dog owner screams as she finds her shot dog

Mongno said as soon as she found Tonka, she started screaming, demanding to know who killed her dog.

The hunter was later identified by state officials as being a coyote hunter, Romeo Antonucci, of Kenilworth, NJ. Antonucci is now facing charges of careless discharge, a deer-tagging violation and damage to property. According to authorities, Antonucci is a licensed hunter with the correct permission to be in some of the wooded areas, but not in the area where the family pet was killed.

Family dog shot by hunter in Readington Township in woods near the family home. https://t.co/65cYXLlKGs pic.twitter.com/hsYkIez8EM  Hunterdon Review (@HunterdonReview) September 23, 2017

Hunter claims he thought the dog was a coyote

While Antonucci claims he believed the Alaskan Shepherd dog to be a coyote, Mongno disputes this claim, stating the large size of the dog, plus his white color and the fact he was wearing a collar clearly does not make him look like a coyote.

She also said at the time the hunter shot the dog, she was calling Tonkas name. Mongno added that her husband is a hunter, and she doesnt support a ban on hunting. However, she said Antonucci is no hunter and doesnt represent them in any way  she told NJ.com that the man rather represents bad decision-making.

Family dog mistaken as a coyote, shot by hunter https://t.co/c2HvYKcZ1V pic.twitter.com/CX8TiVLvlw  Animal Rights (@AnimalRRights) September 22, 2017

Mongno said hunters should abide by the rules, which require them to keep at least 150 feet away from peoples residences.

She said her children, a nine-year-old boy, and a three-year-old girl, who is deaf, play in that area and she is concerned about their safety after the incident. She also said her neighbors children were playing on tricycles in the area when Tonka was killed.

As reported by the New York Daily News, Mongno said she has the right to know who is in the woods surrounding her property, or near her children, adding if she had known someone was out there with a weapon, she would have been more cautious.

She also added that the whole family is mourning the loss of the beloved family pet and that her son has stayed away from school since it happened.

Montgo headed to Facebook to make a post announcing Tonkas death, saying they are in mourning and that everyone in the Mongno house is broken. In the post, she mentioned that a witness had seen Tonka running after the deer when he suddenly stopped, probably about to turn around and head home, when the hunter shot and killed him.

Mongno went on to describe Tonka's lovable, goofy personality that made everyone happy, adding he was a one of a kind dog that they miss so much.
There's been no bigger issue facing the American people in recent years like what the future holds on the topic of health care. As the Republican Party attempts to get on the same page to repeal and replace the affordable care act (Obamacare), Donald Trump is speaking out after Sen. John McCain announced he would not support the GOP's most recent bill to do just that.

Trump on McCain

It all started back in January 2010 when former President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. During the remainder of his presidency, Obama faced massive backlash from conservatives and the Republican Party who voted over 60 times in Congress to repeal Obamacare, despite the obvious threat of a veto by the commander in chief.

When the 2016 presidential election rolled around, repealing Obamacare became the one issue all Republicans could get behind, with Donald Trump making the most convincing argument which helped propel him to the party's nomination. Despite vowing to erase Obamacare from law as part of his campaign message, the former host of "The Apprentice" has struggled to do just that, as in-fighting within the GOP has become commonplace. Despite this, GOP senators Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham put forward their bill, which appeared to have enough support to pass through the Senate, until Arizona Sen. John McCain decided he would be voting "no." In response, Trump lashed out at the veteran senator during a string of tweets on September 23.

John McCain never had any intention of voting for this Bill, which his Governor loves. He campaigned on Repeal & Replace. Let Arizona down!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Taking to his Twitter account on Saturday morning, Donald Trump wasted no time ripping in to John McCain for refusing to support the Cassidy-Graham health care bill.

"John McCain never had any intention of voting for this Bill, which his Governor loves," Trump tweeted, before adding, "He campaigned on Repeal & Replace. Let Arizona down!"

Arizona had a 116% increase in ObamaCare premiums last year, with deductibles very high. Chuck Schumer sold John McCain a bill of goods. Sad  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

"Chuck Schumer sold John McCain a bill of goods.

Sad." Donald Trump tweeted out. As the president continued to send out tweets in support of the GOP bill, he also doubled down his attacks on John McCain while highlighting the senator's friendship with Lindsey Graham, tweeting, "McCain let his best friend L.G. down!"

Large Block Grants to States is a good thing to do. Better control & management. Great for Arizona. McCain let his best friend L.G. down!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

I know Rand Paul and I think he may find a way to get there for the good of the Party!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Donald Trump didn't stop there, as he went on to tweet to Rand Paul in an attempt to patch things up with the senator who previously came out against the Republican alternative to Obamacare.

Trump's morning tweetstorm doesn't come as a surprise, as the president venting on social media has become commonplace for the commander in chief. In addition, Trump has a well-documented feud with John McCain dating back to the early day of the 2016 election cycle when the president mocked the senator for being captured as a POW during the Vietnam War. Despite McCain recently going public with having brain cancer, Trump shows no signs off holding back his criticism.

Next up

Alaska had a 200% plus increase in premiums under ObamaCare, worst in the country. Deductibles high, people angry! Lisa M comes through.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

As has been the case over the last nine months, the Affordable Care Act is hanging in the balance, with its future being determined by a select few in the United States Senate. While John McCain's opposition makes it more difficult for Donald Trump and the GOP to strip the current law from the books, only time will tell if it gets done.
Insurance joint ventures in China are gathering steam, morphing into important industry players as their market shares and total assets increase, experts said.

As at July-end, total assets of insurance joint ventures reached a little over 1 trillion yuan ($153 billion), with a collective market share of 5.53 percent.

This contrasts with 3 billion yuan and only 1 percent share when they entered China a few years back, according to data from the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.

At present, 57 insurance joint ventures from 16 countries and regions have been set up in China. Overseas insurance companies from the world's top 500 players have entered the Chinese market.

But they are facing some problems too, like relatively slow growth.

"The Chinese regulator will further optimize the regulatory environment for foreign insurers and encourage them to enter health, pension and catastrophe insurance sectors," said Chen Wenhui, vice-chairman of the CIRC.

For foreign insurance institutions that have not yet entered the Chinese market, the regulator will further optimize the access policy and promote orderly competition, he said.

In August, the State Council, China's Cabinet, issued a notice to further open up the local market to the world's leading players in banking, securities and insurance.

The business performance of foreign life insurers is obviously better than that of foreign non-life insurers. From January to July, the former accounted for 6.47 percent of the total market share, while the latter had only 1.95 percent.

There were 28 insurers with foreign capital in China at the end of July. The top threeICBC AXA Life, Evergrande Life and BoComm Lifeaccount for almost half of the total share of the foreign insurers in China.

Cooperation with overseas shareholders is one of the main routes taken by Chinese commercial banks to enter insurance.

ICBC AXA Life is a joint venture between Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and AXA, one of the world's largest insurers.

Other joint venture insurers backed by banks include BoComm Life, backed by Communication Bank of China and Cigna & CMC, in which China Merchants Bank has invested.

The operations of most bank-backed insurance joint ventures are generally not weak, because the banks, as shareholders, sell insurance products through their own comparatively mature channels, said Wang Xujin, director of the Insurance Research Center, which is part of Beijing Technology and Business University.

"The customers trust insurance joint ventures more, especially those having the support of large banks, even State-owned banks," Wang said.

In China, most short-term insurance products are sold through banks whose clerks do not need to spend too much time to introduce new products to customers, and sales tend to be a simple and quick process.
The headquarters of technology company Imagination Technologies is seen on the outskirts of London on June 22, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Canyon Bridge, a China-backed private equity firm, officially acquired British chip-making giant Imagination Technologies for about 550 million pounds ($744 million), the Financial Times reported Saturday.

The company's 182 pence-per-share offer on Friday, a 42 percent premium on the closing share price, is little more than a quarter of Imagination's 2012 price peak of 712.5 pence, which valued it at close to 2 billion pounds, according to the report.

Canyon Bridge's acquisition of Imagination excludes the company's US unit, MIPS, which is being bought by Tallwood Venture Capital, a Silicon Valley investment group, for $65 million, the report said.

The investment group pledged to continue to invest in Imagination's UK research and development capabilities and said it had "no plans" to cut staff or move the business to another country.

Canyon Bridge's investment strategy is not to take businesses to China but to make them more competitive there, offering access to the largest market in the world, the investment group said Friday.

The transaction is in line with Canyon Bridge's strategy of providing equity and capital enabling technology companies to reach their full growth potential. The purchase can accelerate Imagination's expansion into the Asian market, where its technology platform will lead the continued globalization of British-developed innovation, said Ray Bingham, a partner at Canyon Bridge.

Andrew Heath, Imagination's chief executive, considered the acquisition a good one, as it would ensure Imagination an independent IP licensing business with strong growth prospects.

In early September, Canyon Bridge, which is backed by State-owned Chinese fund Yitai Capital, saw its $1.3 billion attempt to acquire American chipmaker Lattice Semiconductor blocked by US President Donald Trump over national security concerns.

Canyon Bridge then turned to Imagination, one of the world's top three makers of mobile graphics processors and a leader in the semiconductor IP field, sharing the market with Qualcomm and ARM.

The Hertfordshire-based maker of mobile graphics processors put itself up for sale in June soon after breaking up with Apple, its largest customer and one of its biggest shareholders.
Guangzhou has issued more than 8,000 dogs licenses in the past month during a push to get owners to register their pets.

The figure was eight times more than an ordinary month before the city's public security and urban management authorities launched their licensing campaign in mid-August.

Urban patrol officers, known as chengguan, and police officers expanded patrols in major housing estates, parks, squares and other public places to see whether the owners had obtained or applied for dog licenses, according to the Guangzhou public security bureau.

Those who had not registered their dogs were ordered to apply for a license within three days or face fines of up to 2,000 yuan ($303) if they are caught a second time, as provided by city rules.

In addition to keeping their pets on a leash, dog owners are required to clean up the animals' waste.

The city government has empowered 250 agencies - mostly veterinary clinics and pet stores - citywide to issue dog licenses in recent months.

A clinic owner surnamed Chen in Tianhe district said his clinic now issues licenses for five or six dogs a day, compared with that many in a month in previous years.

"Poor awareness of the law, plus lax enforcement, have been blamed for the large number of residents who failed to register their dogs in the city in previous years," Chen said. "In the past, I saw few officers patrolling in public places to check up on dog registrations."

A white-collar worker surnamed Huang said she was issued a license for her pet dog after registering the animal at a nearby pet clinic last week.

"I immediately registered my pet after hearing through WeChat that the city had launched a campaign to fight illegal dog raising," she said. "Relevant departments should further promote legal dog raising."

The application procedure for a license is simple. The owner pays the annual fee, after which an written application is required. Vaccination of the animal is required. The application must include a photograph of the dog. The license is sent to the owner within one or two weeks, after police approval.

In addition to basic information about the dog - date of birth, health condition and vaccination history - the blue license includes data about the owner.

The fee for registering a dog is 500 yuan in Guangzhou for the first year, and 300 yuan per year from the second year onward.

To better serve dog owners, police are considering online services for applications and registrations in the near future. Residents would be able to register their pets and pay annual fees through WeChat or another online platform.

According to Peng Peng, vice-chairman of the experts committee of the Guangdong-based South Nongovernmental Think-Tank, those who fail to register their dogs are in violation of the law and regulations.

"The fight against illegal dog raising in Guangzhou helps further improve the management of the city," he said.

Gu Caijuan contributed to this story.
A zero-sum mentality about China-US relations is reflected not only in the thinking of some US politicians, but also in a new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.

The survey released on Sept 21 bore a title saying people in the Philippines still favor the United States over China, but that the gap is narrowing. It clearly suggests that one's gain is another's loss.

The report finds that people in the Philippines still like the US and have confidence in its leader, President Donald Trump.

But Filipinos also share positive views of China and its leader, President Xi Jinping. And overall, the perception gap between the US and China in the Philippines is narrowing.

According to the survey, 78 percent in the Philippines have a positive view of the US as of this spring, down from 92 percent who expressed positive sentiments in 2015. And despite the Philippines being the most pro-Trump nation in Pew's spring 37-country survey, confidence in Trump now is lower than it was in then-President Barack Obama in 2015.

Meanwhile, two-thirds say having a strong economic relationship with China is more important for ties between the two nations, while only 28 percent say being tough with China on territorial disputes is more vital. This represents a dramatic shift since that question was last asked in 2015.

And on global economic status, about half of Filipinos (49 percent) say that the US is still the leading economic power, but that is down from 66 percent who said so in 2015. A quarter now name China as the world's leading economy, up from 14 percent the last time the Philippines was surveyed.

By comparing these figures, Pew seems to suggest that China and the US are engaging in a popularity contest in the Philippines. But the Philippines, and indeed all the countries in the region, should be encouraged to have good relations with both China and the US, a real win-win situation for not just the three countries involved, but for the region and the world.

That was certainly not the policy under Obama when he launched the US pivot-to-Asia policy, trying to gang up US allies on China.

The Obama administration had done everything it could to internationalize the South China Sea issue and had used the Philippines, a US ally, to advance the American strategy.

The US was believed to be fully behind the scenes when the Philippines, under President Benigno Aquino III, filed the arbitration suit in 2013 against China in a tribunal in The Hague, a case in which China had refused to participate.

Since becoming Philippines president in June 2016, Rodrigo Duterte has refused to be used by the US to advance its strategy. His tough rhetoric on the US and softened rhetoric on China, especially compared with his predecessor Aquino III, has worried many in the US.

The US government, lawmakers and pundits have generally expressed negative views of Duterte since he took office last June. Some even believe that he would not able to serve the full six-year term.

However, the Pew survey finds that Duterte and his policies are widely popular at home despite concerns expressed by some governments, in particular the US, over Duterte's clashes with drug cartels and alleged human rights violations.

Fully 86 percent have a favorable view of Duterte himself; 78 percent support his handling of the illegal-drugs issue; and 62 percent say that the Philippines government is making progress in its anti-drug campaign.

At the same time, 78 percent believe the current economic situation is good, and 57 percent are satisfied with the direction of the country, a 21 percentage-point increase from 2014, the last time this question was asked in the Philippines. In 2014, the Philippines was still led by Aquino III.

The Philippines under Duterte has tried to develop an independent foreign policy rather than being a US puppet most of the time. Such an independent policy is dealing a heavy blow to those who still view the relationship between the three countries as zero-sum.

Contact the writer at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
The 19th Communist Party of China National Congress will convene in Beijing on Oct 18. The Congress will review the Party's work over the past five years, discuss and set the future direction for the Party and the nation, as well as elect a new central leadership.

As all eyes are on the upcoming Congress, let's take a look at what international media said about the developments and achievements of China.

A photo taken on June 14, 2017 shows a poverty alleviation relocation site in Leibo county, Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Sichuan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Poverty relief

An ambitious poverty reduction campaign is seeking to change this, ensuring by 2020 that no one is living in poverty - defined by the government as less than 2,300 yuan ($349) a year.

China has lifted hundreds of millions of its citizens out of poverty over the past few decades, but doing the same for groups like the Yi poses a different set of challenges.

From road building to subsidies, the central government has spent large amounts of money on poverty relief in places like Liangshan.

-- Reuters: "China's ethnic Yi struggle against poverty" (Aug 10, 2017)

China lifted 13.91 million people out of poverty each year from 2012 to 2016, according to a report from the State Council on Tuesday. Similarly, the annual per capita income in impoverished rural areas has grown to 10.7 percent every year.

About 775,000 officials have been sent to impoverished areas for poverty relief work, said the report.

China has set 2020 as the target year to complete the building of a "moderately prosperous society," which requires the eradication of poverty. To achieve the target, China needs to bring more than 10 million people out of poverty every year, meaning nearly one million people per month or 20 people per minute.
Yong-soo Lee (center), 89, a South Korean "comfort women" survivor, poses with Julie Tang, co-chair of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition, at the ceremony on Friday for the San Francisco "comfort women" memorial at St Mary's Square. LIA ZHU / CHINA DAILY

San Francisco has installed a statue dedicated to the "comfort women" who were forced into prostitution by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.

This statue is the latest of dozens such statues worldwide but the first in a major US city. It is also the first project that involved the efforts of 13 communities, including Chinese, Korean and Filipino, activists said.

On Friday, hundreds of people attended the ceremony on St Mary's Square Annex, where the statue was raised.

The life-size bronze statue includes four figures - Hak-soon Kim, the late "comfort woman" who was the first to break the silence in 1991, as she looks at three girls in traditional Korean, Chinese, and the Filipino dress holding hands on top of a cylinder.

Among the speakers was Yong-soo Lee, 89, a "comfort women" survivor who came from South Korea for the ceremony. She told the gathering through a translator that the world needs peace and that Japan must apologize.

Japan has not apologized and has been pushing back against efforts to set up memorials honoring "comfort women".

The Japanese government interfered with a lawsuit against a "comfort women" statue in Glendale, California, saying the statue disrupted the US government's foreign policy and relationship with Japan.

The latest effort by the Japanese right wing was to "kill" the San Francisco memorial from the beginning by lobbying the San Francisco government at every level, according to the Comfort Women Justice Coalition (CWJC), a San Francisco-based rights group that spearheaded the project two years ago. The project was unanimously approved by the city's Board of Supervisors on Sept 22, 2015.

Early this year, the San Francisco Arts Commission said it had received more than 200 emails, mostly from Japan, in opposition to the statue's installation. The most prominent objection was from then mayor of Osaka, a sister city of San Francisco.

"We need join efforts to remember history, cherish world peace and safeguard dignity of the human beings," said Luo Linquan, Chinese Consul General in San Francisco.

The monument is dedicated by the coalition, which seeks to honor the victims. ERIC RISBERG / AP

Eric Mar, who was a city supervisor at the time, proposed a resolution supporting the installation of the memorial. He said visitors can easily relate the statue to their sisters, daughters and grandmothers.

Mar said the small effort that Hak-soon Kim made in 1991 was "an incredible power to transform us and make us more human".

He said the statue also will serve as an educational object for the next generation to never forget a dark chapter of history, and he hoped the statue could serve as a "catalyst" for other cities in the US and the world.

Locally based British sculptor Steven Whyte's work - Comfort Women's Column of Strength - was chosen from more than 20 applicants.

"It's easy to do a piece that is shocking and blatant, but we want to do something about the strength of the young girls and the how they managed to carry on through the sufferings they had," said Whyte.

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com
Although Wyoming is well known for its prairie land and wide, sweeping plains, the western half of the state is densely populated with mountains. From the famous Grand Tetons to the Wind River Range and the Bighorn Mountain Range, there are hundreds of beautiful mountains in Wyoming. Some of them, like the Missouri Buttes, require only an afternoon and a sturdy pair of shoes to conquer, but others, like Gannett Peak, take days or even a week to complete, and require a full range of climbing and trekking equipment. A diverse cast of wildlife, ranging from bison to bears to wolves, complete the scene here, as a mountain hike in Wyoming will never fail to impress.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1. Gannett Peak  Courtesy of Maik Siemionek - Fotolia.com

At 13,804 feet elevation at the summit, Gannett Peak is the tallest mountain in the state of Wyoming, beating out the more famous Grand Teton by a mere 34 feet. This isolated peak, which has a 5,000-foot prominence, is located in the Wind River Range, and while it is accessible for hiking and sport climbing, Gannett Peak is considered very difficult and the summit should not be attempted by amateurs. Most hikers require about 3 to 5 days round trip to summit this peak, and the standard approach from the west is about 40 miles round trip.



2. Cedar Mountain  Courtesy of Romuald - Fotolia.com

Cedar Mountain, which also goes by Spirit Mountain, is located just west of Cody, Wyoming, in the Absaroka Range. With 7,890 feet at the summit, its far from the tallest mountain on this list, but its isolation and prominence of almost 2,500 feet makes the view from the top a great one, with panoramic views of Shoshone Canyon, Buffalo Bill Reservoir, and the town of Cody. Cedar Mountain is also home to the Spirit Mountain Cave Complex, which lies beneath the mountain and, while gated off to the public, is accessible with a permit.

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3. Hoyt Peak  Courtesy of romas_ph - Fotolia.com

Hoyt Peak, located inside Yellowstone National Park, is a Class 2 or Class 3 peak that takes about half a day to summit. From the Avalanche Peak Trailhead, the journey to the top of Hoyt Peak winds through woods, a bowl-like basin, and along a ridge. Near the summit, there is a large rock formation that can either be climbed or hiked around. From the summit, hikers can head back down the way they came or continue along the saddle to bag a second mountain, Avalanche Peak, which is just a few miles away. The trail for both peaks is about 6 miles long.



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4. Wyoming Mountains: Trout Peak  Courtesy of larshallstrom - Fotolia.com



With a summit of 12,244 feet, Trout Peak is the highest mountain in the Absaroka Range. Most people take 2 days to summit Trout Peak, as the shortest route to the top is 12 miles one way, though it can technically be done in one very long day of hiking. From the top, views in all directions are stunning, and summiters can see a number of other peaks, including Rattlesnake Mountain, Pat OHara Mountain, and Robbers Roost as well as the Buffalo Bill Reservoir in the distance. Hikers should be aware that Trout Peak, although beautiful and secluded, is home to many grizzly bears, and caution should be taken before attempting this peak.

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5. Mountains Near Me: Wapiti Ridge  Courtesy of lms_lms - Fotolia.com



Wapiti Ridge, in the Absaroka Range, is a gorgeous and secluded mountain chain that is rarely climbed, so hikers looking for some solitude will enjoy this beautiful peak. The climb can be dangerous due to not only animals like grizzlies, mountain lions, and wolves, but also because some of the rock on Wapiti Ridge is unstable and prone to being loose. Wapiti Ridge is made up of over 30 miles of mountains, connected by a long ridge that can be treacherous in places, and there are a number of trail options for reaching the summit of the ridge. The views from the summit are spectacular, with a seemingly endless sea of ridges, mountains, and rocks in all directions.

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6. Wyoming Mountains: Mount Fryxell  Courtesy of htrnr - Fotolia.com



There is no official name for this peak, which is one of the best-kept secrets in Grand Tetons National Park, but several guides refer to it as Mount Fryxell, after the very first ranger of the park. Unlike most of the other peaks in Grand Tetons, Fryxell does not require technical gear to climb, although hikers can choose to make this journey anything from a Class 2 to a Class 5 in difficulty if they wish. Its a long hike, and not an easy one, with about 16 to 20 miles of hiking round trip, but once at the top, hikers will be rewarded with some of the finest views in the park, which usually requires a lot more skill and equipment to achieve.

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7. Rattlesnake Mountain  Courtesy of westwindgraphics - Fotolia.com

Like Cedar Mountain, Rattlesnake Mountain also borders the town of Cody, Wyoming, a place made famous as it was founded by Buffalo Bill. Rattlesnake Mountain offers some amazing views of Shoshone Canyon from its southern slopes and its peak, as it rises over 3,000 feet above the canyons northern edges. Mountaineers can also spot an amazing vertical rock formation known as The Palisades, which is located on the northwest face of the mountain and is great for climbing. Via the Monument Hill Trail, the trip to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain is about 7 miles, one way. As the name suggests, Rattlesnake Mountain is home to a number of predatory or poisonous species of animal, so hikers should exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings.



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8. Wyoming Mountains: Buck Mountain  Courtesy of htrnr - Fotolia.com

Buck Mountain, located in Grand Tetons National Park, is the tallest mountain in the park south of Garnet Canyon, at 11,938 feet elevation, and due to this it is a great climb because it affords some gorgeous views of the peaks to the north. On the east and northeast faces of the mountain there are several options for a Class 3 hike to the top, but on the north and west sides, a trip to the summit will require a climb. The most challenging route is the west face of the mountain, with climbs rated up to 5.8. Because this mountain is not nearly as popular as some of the other big peaks in Grand Tetons National Park, a hike up Buck Mountain will most likely be very peaceful, with views for miles.



9. Mount Owen  Courtesy of Tom - Fotolia.com

The picturesque rocky crags of Mount Owen are some of the most beautiful within Grand Tetons National Park, and as the second highest peak in the park, the view from Mount Owen is breathtaking. Every single approach to the summit requires climbing, with the easiest bits rated at 5.1 and increasing in difficulty to a 5.10, so this is not an ascent meant to be attempted by amateurs. The best time of year to climb Mount Owen is from June to September, as any other parts of the year are likely to mean snow, which makes the climb much more difficult.

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10. Mount Crosby  Courtesy of homank76 - Fotolia.com

The Washakie Wilderness in Wyoming is some of the most remote land in the lower 48 states, home to wolves, grizzlies, and an abundance of beautiful plateaus, tundra, and mountains. From the summit of Mount Crosby, hikers will gain sweeping, panoramic views of the Washakie Wilderness and other surrounding areas. The trip to the top of this remote mountain is not a difficult one, with about 3,300 feet of elevation gain over the 4 mile journey (one way). It is considered a Class 1 trail, with some steep ascents along the way, which is mostly made of gentle, sloping switchbacks, but it is still very walkable and rewarding.



11. Mountains Near Me: The W  stock.adobe.com

The W is another peak that has no official name. On maps, it is usually referred to as Peak 6856 in the Big Horn Range, but locally it is known as The W because of the triangular formations near the peak, which look very much like the letter W when viewed from a distance. Although its summit doesnt even reach 7,000 feet, The W is an excellent one for climbers. It is not considered a technical climb, and it is generally quite safe to summit, even for beginning climbers, but visitors should still exercise care when attempting this climb.

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13. Windy Mountain  Joseph Kirsch/stock.adobe.com

The snow-dusted peak of Windy Mountain is the only peak within the low Sunlight Basin that is tall enough to be seen from outside the basin. The journey to the summit of Windy Mountain is a fairly easy Class 1 hike, which will lead through forests, creeks, and gulches, on twisting switchbacks to the summit. There is no register at the summit of Windy Mountain, however there is a wooden outhouse that has become an iconic symbol of this peak, and many hikers choose to write or etch their names into the wood of the outhouse by way of registry.



14. Heart Mountain  lemanieh/stock.adobe.com

Located in the Big Horn Basin, Heart Mountains distinctive shape  of a person pointing west  is recognizable from miles away. Hiking to the summit of Heart Mountain is a Class 1 trail that is about a 7.6-miles round-trip from the Heart Mountain Trailhead. This is the only trail that does not cross private property, though some of the other approaches offer opportunities for rock climbing if permission is gained. Due to the unique weather patterns in Big Horn Basin, Heart Mountain is usually accessible all year round because it tends to be snow free, even in winter.



15. Mount Nystrom  nblxer/stock.adobe.com



Mount Nystrom is located on the Continental Divide, and is one of the more easily accessible peaks of its height (12,000 feet or higher) in the Wind River Range. A round trip to the summit of Mount Nystrom is about 10 to 14 miles long, depending on the approach, with peaceful, rarely used trails and a beautiful hike all the way up. From the summit, hikers will see views of the surrounding mountains as well as meadows, glades, and forests below. Nystrom is also populated by deer and elk, and many hikers may spot these animals and more during their hike.

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16. Mountains Near Me: Static Peak  skiserge1/stock.adobe.com



For intermediate hikers looking for an introduction to summiting, or advanced mountaineers looking for a pretty view, Static Peak offers some beautiful sights in the Tetons without the technical knowledge needed for some of the other peaks within the park. Although this hike is only rated a Class 1, it does have a steep elevation gain of over 5,000 feet, and is almost 20 miles round trip, but once at the top, hikers will have a beautiful view of neighboring Buck Mountain, and behind it, Grand Teton. Below Static Peak, visitors will find Timberline Lake, a glacial lake that remains frozen for most of the year.



17. Wyoming Mountains: Mount Norris  Peakstock/stock.adobe.com



Mount Norris can be climbed in a single day, and on its slopes is a remote and beautiful slice of nature. Hikers on Mount Norris might spot bighorn sheep, bison, elk, and grizzlies, to name just a few of the animals in the area, and the trees, rocks, and scrambling to be found on the trail makes for a pretty hike. Located in the Lamar Valley, Mount Norris requires some trailblazing, as the summit is about 5 miles from the nearest trail, but those who brave the wilderness will be rewarded with views of snowcapped mountains and the beauty of the Lamar Valley.

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18. Eagle Nest  flowertiare/stock.adobe.com



One of the more remote summits on this list, Eagle Nest lies within the secluded Washakie Wilderness and is a quiet spot even for that region. This peak is a difficult one to tackle, and it is not recommended to try and complete the hike in a single day. The trail will take hikers past the scenic Flora Lake, and then after some Class 5 rock climbing comes the rocky, bare summit of Eagle Nest. Camping on Eagle Nest is allowed, but campers should be aware that grizzlies are common in the area, and should come with bear canisters and bear mace.



19. Mountains Near Me: Buffalo Fork Peak  Pecold/stock.adobe.com



The Brooks Lake Cliffs are a group of sheer cliffs located to the west of Togwotee Pass, and are easily visible from US 26/287. For a more up close and personal look at these cliffs and mountains, one need only climb Buffalo Fork Peak, which is one of the Brooks Lake Cliffs. This mountain is not at all far from the road or civilization, but after a few steps onto the rugged wilderness of this trail, its easy to forget the world outside Buffalo Fork. Summiting this peak requires an 11-mile round trip that is mostly Class 1 and 2 hiking, with one or two sections that fall under Class 3 due to steep scree fields.

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20. Mountains in Wyoming: Hazelton Pyramid  Krzysztof Wiktor/stock.adobe.com



Powder River Pass, in the Bighorn National Forest, is home to a quartet of mountains at its southern edge. The tallest of these four is Hazelton Pyramid, at 10,534 feet. The trail to the summit of Hazelton Pyramid is not difficult, but in certain places it is not marked very well and can prove challenging to find, but from the top you can see the other mountains in the quartet as well as views of the Bighorn National Forest and the Cloud Peak Wilderness. As the peak lies within the Bighorn National Forest, camping is allowed anywhere on Hazelton Pyramid.



21. Peak Angeline  Ondra/stock.adobe.com



Peak Angeline is not the most difficult mountain on this list, nor is it the most beautiful or well known in Wyoming, but it is a great climb nonetheless. Situated in the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area, Peak Angeline is 12,100 feet at its summit, and the hike up is done almost entirely in the wilderness. There is no official trail, nor are there cairns or a summit registry at the top, so the journey up Peak Angeline feels very wild, as though you are the first person to ever traverse those slopes. The way up leads past some picturesque lakes, including Mirror Lake and Lost Twin Lakes, and at the ridge of the summit, there are views of Cloud Peak Wilderness Area and the nearby Mather Peaks.



22. Wyoming Mountains: Missouri Buttes  mimagephotos/stock.adobe.com



Located just a few miles from the more famous Devils Tower, the Missouri Buttes are a group of four buttes with rocky sides that are much less sheer than their famous neighbor. But from the summit of these rock formations, especially from the tallest of the four, the northwest butte, visitors can see the famous Wyoming prairie stretch on for miles in all directions, and gain some great views of Devils Tower. Getting to the top doesnt require too much time or skill, and only involves a little bit of scrambling over some rock fields.

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23. Mountains in Wyoming: Mount McDougal  vaios karalaios/stock.adobe.com Mount McDougal is a major peak in the Wyoming Range; at 10,780 feet at its highest point, McDougal has four major summits and a smattering of minor summits as well. Hiking the entire mountain and all four of its bigger summits can be done on a 9-mile loop, and hiking just the main summit can be achieved in about 2 miles, one way. There is about 2,000 feet in elevation gain from the trailhead, and McDougal is classified as Class 1 hiking, through woods, ridges that remain snowy well into the summer and, near the top, a band of scenic cliffs.



24. Wyoming Mountains: Sepulcher Mountain  Reimar/stock.adobe.com At the northern edge of Yellowstone National Park, right against the border with Montana, two tall peaks dominate the skyline. One of these is Sepulcher Mountain, which draws its name from the tall, eerie rock formations at its summit, which looked to early explorers a lot like sepulchers, or gravestones. In all directions there is a fantastic view from the summit of Sepulcher Mountain, like Electric Peak to the west all the way to the Tetons down to the south. There are two approaches to the summit of Sepulcher Mountain, and they are both very different. One, from Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone, leads up through forests until it reaches a ridgeline, and the other, which starts from the Fawn Pass Trail, follows a creek through a wooded canyon until it ascends with switchbacks up the side of the mountain.



25. Wyoming Mountains: Druid Peak  Reimar/stock.adobe.com Druid Peak, located in Yellowstone National Park, is not a particularly difficult or technical mountain to summit. But this peak, which summits at 9,584 feet, offers a secluded, peaceful hike through some truly gorgeous nature. Hikers on Druid Peak will pass through Lamar Valley, also known as Americas Serengeti for its abundance of different wildlife, such as bison, moose, bear, elk, and wolves. Because most of the hike is through low brush and plains, Druid Peak also offers a near endless supply of views of the surrounding area, so visitors to this little-traveled but very beautiful place are likely to see not only the beauty of the land surrounding it, but lots of animal life as well.



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BA RIA-VUNG TAU  IREX Energy Joint Stock Company (JSC), a member of the Bach Khoa Solar Energy Group (SolarBK), has won orders to provide comprehensive solutions on solar power for customers during the Solar Power International Exhibition at the Mandalay Bay Conference Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was held from September 10 to 14.

Executive Director of IREX, ong Van Sen told Viet Nam News that the orders were taken during the exhibition. He said IREX was the only Vietnamese company taking part in the biggest solar power exhibition in the world.

The company will offer a One-Stop-Shop package, including solar power cells, panels, installation, a smart monitoring system (Solar System Operation Centre) and guarantees for customers in North America.

Sen said orders would reach a capacity of 300MWp (photo-voltaic cells), 40 per cent of total capacity of the companys high-tech renewable energy device factory in the southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

Its the first time we have joined in the world solar-power exhibition attended by 18,000 members and 650 businesses from 80 countries. We believe our made-in-Vietnam renewable energy industry will enter deeper into the market in the coming years, Sen said.

He said the company has opened a representative office in the US to provide service and guarantees for customers in the tough market.

He added IREX solar panels had been exported to many countries, including the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey and the US market.

IREX Energy JSC, founded in 2012, began construction of a high-tech renewable-energy device factory complex in Ba Ria-Vung Tau costing US$17 million last year.

The complex, which includes a renewable energy factory and a research and development centre aims to boost development of the solar industry in Viet Nam and exports to the US and European markets.

The company has been developing solar-powered water heaters, wind power turbines, solar power-driven sea water filter systems and renewable use solutions.  VNS
HA NOI  The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has allowed Vietnam Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VietBank) to change 11 savings funds into transaction offices in HCM City.

This was established under Document No 7541/NHNN-TTGSNH issued by the SBV last week.

VietBank was also permitted to establish two branches in HCM City.

The SBV requires VietBank to be responsible for implementing the procedures of inaugurating, registering and publicising the branches and transaction offices, in line with Circular No 21/2013/TT-NHNN dated September 9, 2013, on the operational network of commercial banks and other applicable legal texts.

The approval will cease to be effective if VietBank does not inaugurate the offices within 12 months from the date of signing, SBV noted.

VietBank currently has 100 transaction offices located at the main economic regions of the country.

It last year also successfully converted 19 savings funds into transaction offices in HCM City, Ha Noi, Khanh Hoa and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.  VNS
Viet Nam will adopt multiple solutions to reach its target of US$200 billion in total export value for the year, a year-on-year increase of 13 per cent. Photo vneconomy.vn

HA NOI  Viet Nam will adopt multiple solutions to reach its target of US$200 billion in total export value for the year, a year-on-year increase of 13 per cent, officials said.

The target, which would mark a new record, if successful, is based on the countrys success with exports over the first eight months of this year.

Officials said the national export value would have high growth potential this year because Viet Nam has advantages in exporting certain key products, such as farming products, seafood, telephone components and garments. The most important aspect is that local exporters must reform themselves and make use of good opportunities in export markets around the world.

For example, in terms of market structure, the United States has maintained its position as the largest export market for Vietnamese goods. However, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, local exporters greatest challenge in exporting their goods to this market is technical barriers, with strict standards for quality and food safety.

The barriers include regulations on inspections for pesticide residue in rice and regulations on testing for chemical and antibiotics residue in fisheries or catfish. These barriers have had a considerable impact on Vietnamese farming and seafood exports in recent years.

Therefore, the ministry said, for the long term, enterprises processing and producing goods for export should improve their competitiveness and the quality of their products to meet food-safety standards to maintain and expand their export market in the United States.

Meanwhile, ASEAN members and China are expected to continue being Viet Nams key export markets. ASEAN has imported a large volume of Vietnamese goods, but Viet Nam has faced difficulties in exporting its goods to this region due to the structural similarity of the exported goods.

The ministry said local enterprises would need to improve their production and processing capacity as well as their competitiveness in terms of quality and price to further penetrate the ASEAN market. In addition, they must take advantage of their geographic distance to reduce transportation costs and delivery time.

For other important export markets, such as Japan, South Korea and the EU, experts suggested that local exporters should ensure the quality of their goods, especially for the safety of consumers.

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh also warned enterprises, departments of industry and trade and their affiliated units to strictly implement major tasks and solutions on rolling out the socio-economic development plan and state budget plan for this year, while the ministry executes the governments resolutions on improving the investment environment, competition and enterprise development.

In addition, minister urged relevant authorities to address the tax and fee problems for businesses to help them cut costs, ensure market development and promote efficient competition, leading to growth in production. In particular, the state agencies should promote export market development and take advantage of free trade agreements to address technical barriers in global markets.

Exports over eight months

At present, Viet Nam has exported its goods to some 200 countries and territories. Besides some high-potential markets such as the United States, the EU, Japan and South Korea, as well as China and the ASEAN, Viet Nam has successfully entered new export markets in Africa and Latin America.

The ministrys statistics show that Viet Nams export value in August reached $18.2 billion, bringing the total national export value over the past eight months to $133.5 billion, up 15.7 per cent over the same period last year.

The domestic enterprises gained a year-on-year increase of 15.7 per cent in export value, reaching $37.8 billion, while foreign-invested enterprises achieved $95.7 billion in export value (including crude oil exports), 18.9 per cent higher than the same period last year.

Duong Duy Hung, director of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Planning Department, said for agricultural and seafood products, vegetables and fruits had the strongest growth in export value, reaching $2.35 billion, a year-on-year surge of 48 per cent. The growth was partly due to the efforts of expanding export markets for local vegetables and fruit across the world.

Vietnamese fruits have been marketed in many countries with strict quality requirements. Of these, the United States has permitted the entry of Viet Nams dragon fruit, rambutan, longan and litchi; South Korea, Japan and New Zealand have licensed imports of Vietnamese dragon fruit and mango; and Australia has imported litchi, mango and dragon fruit.

According to the ministrys Import and Export Department, during the first eight months of this year, the major export markets have seen strong growth in export value. The Asian market was one of the traditional markets but gained a strong increase of 24.5 per cent year-on-year and accounted for 50.5 per cent of total national export value.

Meanwhile, the export value of Viet Nams goods to European markets saw a year-on-year growth of 12 per cent. Therefore, according to the Import and Export Department, local exporters should take advantage of free trade agreements signed between Viet Nam and its partners to promote exports to the European market in the future.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese shares were mixed on Monday with low trading liquidity as investors remained unsure of the stock markets prospects.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange inched down 0.19 per cent to close at 805.58 points, retreating from Fridays gain of 0.4 per cent.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX Index gained 0.77 per cent to end at 107.34 points, extending its positive direction for a fourth session with total growth of 2.5 per cent.

More than 213.4 million shares were traded on both stock markets, worth VN4.05 trillion (US$180 million).

Mondays trading numbers were down 21 per cent in trading volume and 18.6 per cent in trading value compared to the previous session.

The market breadth was negative as declining stocks outnumbered gaining ones by 269 to 191 while 108 others closed unchanged.

Large-cap stocks performed badly with 19 of the 30 largest stocks on the VN30 Index declining. The VN30 Index tracks the performance of the 30 largest listed companies by market capitalisation and liquidity.

Decliners on the VN30 Index included FLC Faros Construction (ROS), Thanh Thanh Cong Tay Ninh Sugar JSC (SBT), brewer Sabeco (SAB) and Binh Minh Plastic JSC (BMP).

Among those stocks, ROS, SBT and BMP were hit by investor selling after they had made strong gains in previous sessions.

ROS slumped 6.5 per cent after it had enjoyed a seven-day rally of total 12 per cent, SBT dropped 4.2 per cent following its two-day increase of 2 per cent and BMP fell 1.6 per cent.

Among speculative stocks, KLF Joint Venture Global Investment JSC (KLF) plunged 9.7 per cent after it posted strong growth last week. KLF had soared more than 52 per cent in the previous seven sessions.

On the positive side, gaining stocks included Sacombank (STB), consumer goods producer Masan Group (MSN) and DHG Pharmaceutical JSC (DHG).

MSN jumped 4.8 per cent to extend its gains for a second session after the company announced on Thursday that it would buy back maximum 10 per cent of the shares that are available on the stock market.

Bao Viet Securities Company (BVSC) said in its daily report that the benchmark VN Index is forecast to move narrowly around the level of 806 points in the next few sessions.

Investor sentiment was weak, proven by the trading liquidity that remained lower than the average of the previous 21 sessions while losing stocks continued to outnumber gaining ones, BVSC said, adding that investors were clearly cautious and were running out of patience with the markets prospects.  VNS
HA NOI  Energy, high-tech agriculture and information technology are the new investment fields discussed yesterday at the Viet Nam-Hungary Business Forum held within the framework of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans visit to Viet Nam.

Hungarian business representatives expressed interest in varied investments in Viet Nam, ranging from bio-fungicides for agriculture to transmission lines protection.

Jamniczky Zsolt, representative of Hungarys E.ON company, said his company looks forward to exploring the Vietnamese market for investment and cooperation opportunities in energy production and equipment, especially of solar power.

Total bilateral trade turnover between the two countries reached US$266 million in 2016, up 35.7 per cent from 2015. Viet Nams exports to Hungary reached $93 million, a 41 per cent increase, including textiles and garments, footwear, computers, electronic components, transportation vehicles and spare parts. Viet Nams main imports from Hungary include pharmaceutical products, machinery, spare parts, chemicals, and animal feed.

Computers, electronic products and components make up a major part of the total traded value at nearly $20.6 million, accounting for 40.7 per cent of total exports. Automobiles and accessories account for 3.9 per cent of bilateral trade, reaching nearly $2 million, albeit down by 13.3 per cent from 2015. Textile and garment products are new additions to the list of exports to Hungary, reaching over $1 million, followed by the footwear segment at $0.3 million, a sharp increase of 106 per cent year on year.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, trade turnover in the first six months of 2017 between the two countries reached $145 million, up by more than 60 per cent from the same period last year.

In terms of investment, Hungary has installed 15 valid foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in Viet Nam with a total registered capital of $50.66 million, ranking 55th among 105 countries and territories with direct investment in the country.

Nonetheless, Nguyen ang Bela, a Hungarian-Vietnamese businessman with many years experince in high-tech agriculture, said at yesterdays forum that the biggest difficulty of joint ventures between Viet Nam and Hungary is the lack of established brand names in foreign markets.

At the moment, the majority of Vietnamese products, such as coffee, sold in supermarkets in Hungary are not traded under the brand name of any Vietnamese company, which does not satisfy Hungarian consumers demand for Vietnamese trademarked goods and needs improving at the earliest, said Bela.

The forums discussion was attended by representatives of 50 leading Hungarian enterprises in the fields of agriculture and agricultural mechanical engineering, agri-food processing, agricultural waste treatment, medical healthcare, information technology, banking, architecture, and construction.

It was organised by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Hungary Trade House, and the Hungarian Embassy in Ha Noi.  VNS
HA NOI  As Viet Nams wealth and population have increased, so, too, has something altogether less pleasant: the amount of the countrys waste.

With current technology for treating and storing the waste still far behind the countrys needs, dump sites are starting to pose a threat to the environment and to public health, according to Mai Thanh Dung, vice director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE), in a workshop held last week on the management of waste storage sites in Viet Nam.

The most popular method of solid waste treatment is still burial, thanks to its relatively low cost, little initial investment and ability to handle most types of solid waste. However, the increasing amount of waste, lax management and disregard for technical protocols are rapidly making this method unsustainable.

According to the Ministry of Construction, the total amount of household waste generated each day in Viet Nam stands at 38,000 tonnes, with the rate of collection and treatment only reaching 85 per cent.

By 2016, there were about 600 landfills in the country  excluding small and scattered ones at the commune level  with a total area of 4,900 ha. Only 29 to 31 per cent of these landfills, or 200, are actually considered to have met required sanitary standards.

In big cities, where treatment by burial accounted for 69 per cent of all waste management, the resulting degradation of water, land, and air quality has been a growing concern.

According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, in many provinces of the south-central coastal and Central Highlands regions, industrial waste and household waste are still buried together in subpar landfills. Especially in the Central Highlands, open dump sites are often located in the valleys close to headwaters, putting downstream populations at serious risk of health problems from contaminated water.

Similarly, in the Mekong Delta region, many landfills are constructed without proper embankments. In the rainy season, the pits are filled with water that can spill over and contaminate surrounding areas.

The MoNREs report pointed out other problems with landfill design. For example, there is a lack of planning for landfills at the local level, limited mobilisation of investment into landfill projects and the continued use of outdated technical standards in the design of new landfills.

An ISPONRE representative said that the national goal of having certified 90 per cent of landfills by 2020 is looking unlikely, based on the current situation.

Associate Professor Vu inh Hieu, from the Ha Noi University of Mining and Geology, also delivered a sobering report on mine waste dumps. According to Hieu, the waste produced by mining activities in Viet Nam  a staggering 312 to 403 million cu.m a year  is concentrated in the northeast region, where most of the countrys mineral resources are located. Mine waste dump sites might easily deform a whole areas geological features, including rivers and forests, he said. In some cases, the size of each dump site might be as large as the actual mining site, eating up large land areas.

Numerous acute disasters can also result from these dump sites, like dust pollution, desertification, or potential soil erosion and mud floods, especially during monsoons. The country has already witnessed such floods in the cases of Phan Me mine in Thai Nguyen Province (2012) or in Hon Gai of Quang Ninh Province.

Hieu urged proper planning of these industrial dump sites. They must also follow environmental standards requiring the planting of 3,000 trees per hectare and the installation of an appropriate and capable drainage system and stable embankments to minimise risks of disasters, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  Talented Vietnamese and foreign classical musicians living in Viet Nam and abroad are invited to audition to join the Sun Symphony Orchestra (SSO)  a newly founded private orchestra based in Ha Noi.

With the ambition of establishing an international-standard orchestra in Viet Nam, founding members said they want to bring classical music  often regarded as elite  closer to the public. At the same time, they want to attract talented musicians, especially Vietnamese, to be involved. Presenting Vietnamese classic music to the world someday is another goal of the SSO, which is sponsored by one of Viet Nams leading real estate developers, Sun Group.

The SSO introduced its management board last Thursday. French conductor and winner of the 2015 Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition Olivier Ochanine is the music director and principal conductor. Famous TV emcee, concert producer and contrabassist Vu Anh Tuan is executive director.

The five-member board also includes President Tran Khanh, Vice President Le Thi Bich Tran, and general director Nguyen Thi Quynh Anh  all are successful businesspeople with a great passion for classic music.

As a non-profit orchestra, revenue is not our main goal, General Director Quynh Anh said at the launching of the SSOs management board last week. We focus only on how to create a proper environment to nurture and develop Vietnamese music talents, then we can offer audiences nationwide regular opportunities to enjoy classical concerts.

Especially, we have a long-term plan to bring world-famous artists to Viet Nam to perform with the SSO, she added.

Aiming to offer the best possible resources for the SSO to develop as an international-standard orchestra, the management board also has revealed a costly plan to build a new Opera House near West Lake to serve as a home for the orchestra.

Temple of music: The Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome designed by architect Renzo Piano. The international award-winning architect has been invited to design the new Opera House, which will be home to the Sun Symphony Orchestra.  Photo pinterest.com

The future Opera House will be the first project in Viet Nam by Italian architect Renzo Piano. Piano is well-known for his delicate and refined approach to building, displayed in museums and other structures around the world including the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris, the Shard in London, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Auditorium Niccolo Paganini in Parma, and the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome.

When awarding Piano the Nobel of Architecture Pritzker Prize in 1998, the Pritzker Jury compared him to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Brunelleschi, highlighting "his intellectual curiosity and problem-solving techniques as broad and far ranging as those earlier masters of his native land".

Speaking at the press conference, CEO of the Sun Group ang Minh Truong said: With this building project, we expect our new Opera House will be a new temple of art. We hope it will be an iconic building of Ha Noi, like the durian-shaped Esplanade Theatre in Singapore or the sail-designed Sydney Opera House."

Commenting on the establishment of the SSO, Chairman of the Viet Nam Musicians Association composer o Hong Quan said he was touched by the idea of building a new Opera House that will be home to new generations of talented classical artists. So far, we dont have any Opera House dedicated only to the classical music yet, he said.

Musicians who wish to be SSO members should visit the website https://sunsymphony.vn/ for further recruitment information.  VNS
HA NOI  The best dance performances by Vietnamese and international artists won gold medals at the closing ceremony of the International Dance Festival in the northern province of Ninh Binh last Friday.

The winners were Chinese Henan Art Troupe, Russian Vezelitsa Dance Troupe, Malaysian Ask Dance Troupe and Singaporean Chinese Dance Theatre, as well as Colombian Periferia Dance Troupe, South Korean K-Arts Traditional Dance Troupe and dance troupes of the host country.

Vietnamese dancers pocketed four out of a total of 10 gold medals. The winners were Military Culture and Arts College, Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB), northern mountainous Ha Giang Art Troupe and Sao Bien Folk Dance and Sing Theatre.

"Through the festival, we saw choreographers make good use of folk material to stage the dances," Pham Anh Phuong, head of the jury panel, said.

"It is a good sign that a combination of folk and modern dance is being promoted. Jurors highly appreciated the quality of each dance performed at the festival. The dances do not only make an impression on the audience, but they also promote creativity of the form."

"The jurors also recognised the development of Vietnamese dancers, who contributed to the recognition and preservation of folk dance," Phuong said.

In addition, the six-member panel awarded 20 silver medals and three best dancer titles to the dancers. The best dancers were Filipino Nicole Barroso, Chinese Lu Peng and Vietnamese Nguyen Van Nam.

Dancer Barroso of the Philippines Ballet Manila won the jurors hearts with his role in Don Quixote grand pas de Deux, while the dance Snow forest earned Lu Peng from Henan Art Troupe a gold medal.

VNOBs Nam grabbed the gold medal for his role in The rite of spring by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. The performance depicts a pagan spring ritual, where a group of elders observe a dance in preparation for the death of a girl whom they are offering as a sacrifice to the god of spring for his benevolence.

It was staged by choreographer Pham Minh, who has been a soloist at Frances Ballet du Capitole for 10 years. Minh has modified the work to suit the body shape, rhythm and customs of Vietnamese people, Nam said.

The physical movements as well as the story behind this piece are presented in Vietnamese style. The mysterious tale combined with Stravinskys beautiful compositions makes for a fascinating ballet."

Child dancers from the Japanese Mariko Tosa Modern Ballet Academy were awarded Promising Dancers for their performance Hirosima sevens summer days.

Nearly 100 dance performances of traditional folk, contemporary, classical and modern ballet were enacted by over 500 dancers from 15 countries and territories. The dancers also performed in Ha Noi and the central province of Thanh Hoa as part of the festival.  VNS
HA NOI  Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his spouse arrived in Ha Noi yesterday, beginning an official three-day visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Representatives of the two countries will discuss measures to promote bilateral collaboration in trade, investment, education, healthcare, environment, security-defence, culture and tourism.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties on February 3, 1950, Hungary has given Viet Nam valuable support in its struggle for independence and national construction.

In recent years, the two countries have deepened political ties based on mutual trust and understanding, laying a firm foundation for cooperation in a variety of fields. Two-way trade reached US$266 million in 2016, up 36 per cent compared to the previous year. In the first half of this year trade hit $145 million, a year-on-year increase of over 60 per cent.

Viet Nam mainly exports garments, footwear, computers, electronic products, transport vehicles and spare parts to Hungary, while importing medicine, machines, chemicals and animal feed from the European country.

As of the end of 2016, Hungary had 15 valid foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in Viet Nam with total registered capital of $50.66 million, ranking 55th among 105 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam and Hungary have signed a number of agreements, protocols and memoranda of understanding on boosting cooperation in science-technology and environmental protection, avoiding double taxation, encouraging investment and agricultural collaboration.

Hungary is home to more than 4,000 Vietnamese.  VNS
Defence Minister Gen Ngo Xuan Lich (R) yesterday meets with Vice Chairman of Chinas Central Military Commission, Gen Fan Changlong, as part of the fourth Viet Nam-China border defence friendship exchange. VNA/VNS Photo An ang

LAI CHAU  Defence Minister Gen Ngo Xuan Lich held talks yesterday with Vice Chairman of Chinas Central Military Commission, Gen Fan Changlong, as part of the fourth Viet Nam-China border defence friendship exchange.

The three-day event starting Saturday was aimed at promoting friendship and solidarity between local administrations, people and border guard forces of the two countries, in order to enhance political trust and enable sustainable relations between the two countries and armies.

Fan hailed the success of the fourth exchange, which took place concurrently in Chinas Yunnan and Viet Nams Lai Chau provinces. He noted that solidarity between the border forces has helped ensure stability and development in border areas and exchanges between communities on both sides.

Through border exchanges, the trust between the Vietnamese and Chinese armies and people has been reinforced, he said, stressing that trust is a foundation for relations between the Parties and armies, helping to solve disagreements and boost bilateral ties.

He suggested the two sides reform border defence exchanges and organise them in more diversified forms, such as experience sharing and military skills competitions, turning the exchanges into cooperation activity of the Vietnamese and Chinese armies.

The officers signed the minutes of the fourth Viet Nam-China border defence friendship exchange. The exchange programme is due to end today.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held talks with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban following a welcoming ceremony in Ha Noi yesterday, affirming that Viet Nam always strives to develop ties with traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary.

In response, PM Orban stated that Hungary always prioritises its relationship with Viet Nam and wishes to boost all-around ties with the country.

PM Phuc praised Hungary for considering Viet Nam a priority partner in its official development assistance (ODA) policy by granting total preferential loans of 535 million euro (US$635.6 million), 440 million euro of which was set within the framework agreement on financial co-operation signed in January 2017.

He spoke highly of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the framework agreement on financial co-operation.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese leader thanked the Hungarian government for assisting Viet Nam in building Can Tho Oncology Hospital via its preferential loans.

The two PMs agreed to further improve the efficiency of the Inter-Committee on Economic Cooperation mechanism, increase trade and investment by making it easier for the two countries businesses to network and navigate each others market, especially in fields of Hungarys strength and Viet Nams demand such as the exploitation of water resources, environmental protection, pharmaceuticals, animal husbandry, food processing and renewable energy.

They reached a consensus on specific measures to reinforce links across education-training, culture-tourism, labour, health care, natural resources-environment and national defence-security.

The host thanked the Hungarian government for offering 200 scholarships to Vietnamese students each year, and suggested increasing scholarships for those majoring in health care, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and information technology.

Host and guest lauded mutual support between the two countries at global and inter-regional forums. The Vietnamese PM thanked the Hungarian government for supporting Viet Nams bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-21 tenure and welcomed Hungarys active role in the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Mekong-Danube cooperation mechanism.

Hungary supports Viet Nam in enhancing ties with the European Union, including the early signing and ratification of the European Union  Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement, he said.

Vietnam asks the European Union and Hungary to pay attention to issues related to the East Sea and raise a strong voice for the respect for international law.

The Hungarian PM committed all possible support to Vietnamese nationals living in the country, thus making it easier for them to serve as a bridge for bilateral friendship and collaboration.

Following the talks, the two PMs held a press conference, issued a joint statement and witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements on finance, culture, education, agriculture, labour, information technology and communications, and a twining agreement between the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and a Hungarian city.

Meeting with Viet Nams leaders

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hailed the visit to Viet Nam by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as marking a new step in the development of the two countries relations while welcoming him to Ha Noi.

He took the occasion to thank the Hungarian people for their valuable assistance to Viet Nam in the cause of liberation and nation building, affirming that Viet Nam always treasures the traditional friendship with Hungary as well as its current role and position in Europe.

He hailed the European countrys active support and practical cooperation with Viet Nam in recent years, especially in training personnel and helping the Vietnamese community in Hungary.

PM Viktor Orban stated that Hungary treasures its traditional relations with Viet Nam and defines the country as an important partner with the longest term potential in Southeast Asia.

He spoke highly of the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two ruling parties and expressed his hope for furthering the ties with the Communist Party of Viet Nam and heightening the bilateral relations in the future.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban also had a meeting with Viet Nams National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Ngan pledged that Viet Nam is completing its legal framework and will regularly supervise the implementation of signed deals between the two Governments, thus contributing to further bolstering bilateral ties.

He spoke highly of the Vietnamese community in Hungary, who always respect the law of the host country. With about 3,000 Vietnamese people who live and study in Hungary, Viet Nam is considered one of the important partners of the European country in the region.

PM Viktor Orban said many Hungarian businesses accompanying him during this visit are interested in seeking investment opportunities in Viet Nam

Preferential loans

President Tran ai Quang has called on Viet Nam and Hungary to continue close co-ordination to select which projects will be funded by Hungarys preferential loans.

At a meeting with visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Ha Noi yesterday, the President applauded Hungarys choice of Viet Nam as a priority partner in its development co-operation policy.

Noting with joy the strong friendship between Viet Nam and Hungary over the past 67 years, President Quang stressed that Viet Nam places importance to developing relations with traditional friends in East-Central Europe, including Hungary.

He described PM Orbans visit as a milestone in the relationship, helping to open up new co-operation prospects for the two countries.

The President hailed the two countries collaboration at international forums, particularly within the UN, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Mekong-Danube co-operation mechanism.

He suggested Hungary promote relations between Viet Nam and the EU, including the early official signing and ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement.

President Quang also thanked Hungary for creating favourable conditions for more than 4,000 Vietnamese to live in the country and called on Hungary to continue supporting them.

For his part, PM Viktor Orban congratulated Viet Nam on its socio-economic achievements over the years.

With the participation of many Hungarian ministers and more than 40 businesses, the visit is considered a new start for the bilateral relationship, the PM said.

Hungary wishes to take part in a number of Viet Nams development programmes and open its door for Viet Nam to participate in Hungarys development, he said.

The PM told his host that Hungary has carried out several projects in Viet Nam in fields of agriculture and healthcare.

He stressed that Hungary welcomes Vietnamese businesses to invest in the country and stands ready to link Viet Bam with other countries in East-Central Europe.

Hungary will be the first EU nation to approve the EU-Viet NamFree Trade Agreement, he pledged.  VNS
The HCM City Peoples Procuracy has asked the municipal Peoples Court to abolish the ruling in the VN Pharma case due to possible signs of failures" in bringing some suspects to court. Photo laodong.vn

HCM CITY  The HCM City Peoples Procuracy has asked the municipal Peoples Court to abolish the ruling in the VN Pharma case due to possible signs of failures" in bringing some suspects to court.

The city chief prosecutor Nguyen inh Trung said on Friday that the court would have to reinvestigate and retry the case.

Earlier on August 25, former top executive Nguyen Minh Hung and an associate of the pharmaceutical company Viet Nam Pharma were sentenced to 12 years in prison for smuggling 9,300 boxes of H-Capita 500mg Caplet, a cancer treatment drug. They were also convicted of counterfeiting seals and documents of the drugs origin to deceive the authorities and improperly obtain an official import licence.

According to the procuracy, the verdict was too light, incomprehensive and not matching the nature and the danger of the crimes.  VNS
HCM CITY  High investment costs and low parking fees have made investors less interested in building automated car parking lots in HCM City, experts said at a workshop held on Friday.

To cope with the problems of increasing automobiles and an overloaded car parking system, since 2006, the Ministry of Science and Technology has instructed Nippon Mechanics and Crane Co, Ltd (NMC) to undertake the project of designing and building elevators or automated parking systems in the country.

The system has a lifting device and storage spaces inside to store vehicles efficiently and its capacity is 2-20 times higher than a traditional parking lot if they are built on the same area of land.

Due to the lack of car parking spaces, many car drivers park on roadsides or drive around to find a place to park their vehicles, which worsens congestion in the city.

Therefore, automated parking systems are considered an ideal solution for major cities in Viet Nam, especially Ha Noi and HCM City.

However, according to Nguyen Thi Bao Quynh, general director of NMC, despite many benefits, it is difficult to implement such systems in the city due to unreasonable regulations.

One of them is the one-price rule for fares.

It was introduced in January by the citys administration in an attempt to control parking lots that previously forced customers to overpay.

Because the automatic parking system needs huge investment, if the price is too low, investors can hardly realise a profit from their investment.

The monthly charge for cars in the city is currently VN1.5 million (US$66) per month or VN10,000 per entry, while in Ha Noi, it costs VN3.5 million per month or VN30,000-40,000 per entry, respectively.

The unreasonably low fares have caused the number of investments for automated parking systems in HCM City to be six times lower than in Ha Noi, Quynh said, adding that if the low fare is still being applied, the city cannot even build a traditional public parking lot, not to mention an automated parking system.

Experts at the workshop agreed with Quynh, saying that increasing the automobile parking fee would not only encourage investors to invest in building more parking zones but also help limit the use of personal vehicles.

Sungwon Lee from Korea Transport Institute told Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper that a hike in prices for vehicles or petroleum would not affect drivers as much as a hike in parking fees.

Car-owners might consider using public transport if they were charged with a large amount of money for car parking, he said.

Charging more and using the money to build a traffic infrastructure and encouraging the use of public vehicles instead of owning personal vehicles are among the methods that many countries have applied, including South Korea. And they have proved to be effective, he added.VNS

Of eight underground parking space projects that the city called for ten years ago, only two are ongoing.

The first one is located in Trong ong Stage and is being invested in by the ong Duong Group.

The second project is under Le Van Tam Park and the Investment Development for Underground Space Corp. is the investor.

The two are set to begin construction sometime this year and are expected to be operational in 2019.

The remaining six are now put on hold as their investors have withdrawn from the projects after completing the technical study.VNS
HCM CITY  Public hospitals in HCM City will be allowed to employ doctors and other health staff members without the citys household registration book starting in November, helping them solve a shortage of medical staff, according to the city Department of Health.

The current regulation which allows state offices, departments and public establishments including hospitals to employ only staff with an HCM Citys household registration book, had caused difficulties for them in hiring.

The Department of Health said that public hospitals, such as Pham Ngoc Thanh Hospital, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Cu Chi and Can Gio District hospitals, have not been able to hire doctors and other medical staff due to this regulation in spite that they were in a severe shortage of the staff.

Dr Huynh Van Luyen, head of the Can Gio District Hospital, told Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper that the Department of Health had sent doctors of city hospitals to work turn-by-turn at the hospital to help ensure enough doctors to serve local demand for health examination and treatment.

The hospital also has signed short-term contracts with retired doctors, Luyen said.

Nha Be District Hospital has not employed enough doctors to meet demand, Dr Nguyen Huu Tho, the hospitals head, said, adding that it needs to hire 10 additional doctors each year, but only two or three doctors have been employed.

Moreover, representatives of public hospitals said that many qualified medical graduates who come from other provinces and want to work at public hospitals in the city are not allowed to.

On August 24, the city Peoples Committee issued the decision on abolishing the regulation.

According to Luyen, the new decision will help his hospital hire enough qualified doctors.

However, managers of public hospitals in provinces are worried because they will face a shortage of qualified doctors.

They are worried about whether qualified doctors, who are working at their hospitals, will quit working and go to work at public hospitals in the city.

Nguyen Thanh Tung, head of Hau Giang Province Department of Health, said that most medical students wanted to stay in the city to work after graduating because of higher income and better incentives as well as chances for accessing advanced medical techniques to improve their skills.

"Only a few of them go back to their native province to work," Tung said.

Dr Nhan To Tai, head of the District 12 Hospital, said that if hospitals in provinces failed to have enough doctors, local residents would continue going straight to health facilities in HCM City for health examination and treatment, leading to more overcrowding of patients, which the city has tried to solve many times.

According to Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, chief of the city Department of Healths Secretariat, public hospitals should develop good working environments and provide better incentives to help doctor have chances to improve their skills in order to avoid the doctors quitting. VNS
HA NOI  Ha Noi streets are getting a facelift: authorities have begun paving degraded streets with natural stone as part of a project to beautify the city and improve safety for walkers and dirvers.

The city will pave 936 streets with natural stone in 12 districts across Ha Noi from now until 2020.

The move comes as the citys pavement continues to degrade, hindering pedestrians and other commuters as well as worsening the citys image, according to local authorities.

By choosing only one material to pave all across the city, the city hopes to ensure consistency and avoid the current mix of stone materials around the streets.

According to experts, the natural stones biggest asset is its reliability. They say it should remain strong for 50 to 70 years.

The funds to implement the project will be from the city budget and mobilised from other social sources.

The materials reliability will hopefully put an end to the rounds of replacements and repairs required every few years on the current pavement material.

Twelve companies have been selected to provide the stone for the construction and the project is estimated to cost not more than VN500,000 (US$22) per square metre.

Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Construction Association Pham Sy Liem told Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper that the use of natural stones to pave sidewalks was better than the current practice of using cement blocks or standard bricks.

However, the paving should be undertaken with careful consideration towards ease of walking for pedestrians and maintaining smooth traffic flow for vehicles.

Stricter management and more comprehensive infrastructure development were needed to ensure that newly-paved streets would not be dug out again by electricity or cable sectors to put electric lines or cables underground, he said.

He noted that natural stones should only be used to pave streets that already have comprehensive infrastructure development such as streets around Hoan Kiem Lake or Ba inh Square. Otherwise, the new sidewalks could be at great risk of being dug up again.

The municipal Construction Department said the department would co-ordinate with relevant agencies to make surveys and appropriate designs on infrastructure projects to ensure development proceeds but does not result in the destruction of newly paved sidewalks.

A worker of the Construction and Environment Ltd.Co, which is working on paving pavements along Nguyen Trai Street in Thanh Xuan District, told the newspaper that his team of 20 workers would pave around 200sq m of pavements each day at a cost of VN500,000 ($22) per metre, more expensive than paving streets with normal bricks.

A resident in Giai Phong Street in Hai Ba Trung District said the replacements of all pavements by natural stones was unnecessarily costly because many sidewalks were still in good condition. Moreover, "it is quite slippery to walk on natural stones when it rains," he said.

Nguyen Thi Lan, a resident of Le Trong Tan Street, said the use of natural stones would make the pavements bright, beautiful and clean. However, she was concerned about potential waste if the pavements are dug again for the repair or construction of water pipes or telephone cables.

Pavements of Le Trong Tan Street were paved with natural stones on a trial basis beginning in May last year. However, natural stones on some parts of the pavements cracked or broke into small pieces, Tien Phong newspaper reported.

Nguyen inh Nghi, former Deputy Head of the Viet Nam Institute for Construction Materials, said apart from natural stones, other kinds of absorbent materials could also be used for pavements to prevent flooding.

Many developing countries chiefly use terrazzo, a composite material, to pave streets in urban areas. Terrazzo consists of chips of marble, quartz, granite and glass or other suitable material. One advantage of this material is preventing slips, according to Nghi.

Terrazzo made strictly following European standards are beautiful, high quality and reliable, as well as much cheaper than natural stones, he said.

A representative from Construction Material Production and Trade Co.ltd, one of the companies chosen to provide natural stones for the project, told the newspaper that using natural stones is more expensive than terrazzo. Terrazzo costs around VN70,000-100,000 ($3-4.4) per square metre, one-fifth the price of natural stones. VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Transport has agreed to a proposal to reduce toll fare at Build-Transfer-Operate (BOT) tolls stations on the Phap Van-Cau Gie Expressway by 25 per cent.

The proposal was made by the Directorate for Roads of Viet Nam and expressway investor Phuong Thanh Transport Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company. They explained that the proposal was made following an increase in the number of vehicles on the route, which led to high turnover.

Fee reduction will be applied for all types of fares on the expressway, a key route south of Ha Noi, from October 15.

At present, the rate for cars is between VN45,000-180,000 (US$2-8), depending on the kind of vehicle.

Pham Van Khoi, CEO of Phuong Thanh Transport Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company, told Dan tri online newspaper that the reduction was aimed at ensuring the harmonisation of interests between business and transport participants, as well as to fall in line with Government policy.

According to the plan submitted to the transport ministry, toll fee on the route will increase from 2021 at a rate of 18 per cent. It will then increase 18 per cent every three years.

The BOT project began collecting toll fee from October 2015. It is expected to collect enough money to gets its investment capital back in 17 years.  VNS
HA NOI  The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention on Monday requested its subordinate agencies not to underestimate and proactively prepare to respond to a tropical depression.

A tropical depression was formed on Monday in the waters near the Philippines. It moved in the northwest direction at 20-25km per hour and hit coastal Quang Ninh Province and the port city of Hai Phong yesterday afternoon.

It is expected to cause downpours of 50-150mm in the Northeast region and the North Central Coast, and then revert to a low-pressure area. Heavy rainfall is expected to cause floods and landslides in the mountainous provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Bac Kan, as well as Thai Nguyen and Tuyen Quang.

Tran Quang Hoai, director general of the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), warned concerned authorities not to underestimate the tropical depression even though it is not strong.

Localities must closely collaborate to follow and respond to the tropical depressions developments, especially those that are still recovering from the aftermath of Storm Doksuri, he said.

The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention yesterday sent official telegrams to the steering committees for natural disaster prevention and control, as well as search and rescue teams in localities, requesting their preparedness to respond to the tropical depression.

It also requested leaders of the coastal localities from Quang Ninh to Ha Tinh and concerned authorities to call fishermen fishing offshore back home, count and provide moorings for fishing vessels, and relocate aquaculture cages, as well as residents in landslide-prone areas and mineral mines and pits, to safer areas.

All fishing, transport and tourism activities at sea must be halted. Tourists on islands and in coastal areas must be informed of the tropical depressions developments and provided shelter to avoid accidents due to flash floods and landslides.

Media agencies should provide constant reports on the tropical depressions developments, as well as updates on rains and floods, so that local authorities and residents can proactively respond to the situation.

By 6am yesterday, some 27,400 fishing vessels and tourist boats, 90,000 labourers and 2,600 owners and workers at 1,900 fishing cages and guard huts in Quang Ninh and Ha Tinh provinces had been informed of the tropical depressions location, Colonel Tran Duong Kien of the Border Guard Command, said.

Authorities of coastal Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City have refused permission to fishing vessels and tourist boats to travel to adjacent islands and vice versa yesterday morning.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Trade and Industry has confirmed mistakes and wrongdoings were found in personnel appointments at the Viet Nam National Chemical Group (Vinachem).

The conclusion was made following the ministrys inspection of reports on the mistakes and wrongdoings at Vinachem, a representative from the ministry has told vietnamnet online newspaper.

According to reports, just a short period after Nguyen Anh Dungs appointment by the Prime Minister as chairman of the Groups Council of Members in 2012, many of Dungs relatives were allegedly elected to important positions at affiliates of Vinachem, including his wife, younger brother and younger sister-in-law.

His younger brother Nguyen Van Minh, for example, was appointed deputy director general of the Ninh Binh nitrate fertilizer plant in 2013. Vinachem owns 100 per cent charter capital in the fertilizer plant.

The appointment was believed by many officials of Vinachem to be in violation of the Business Law. The law does not permit the appointment of Minh as head of the Ninh Binh fertilizer plant as his brother heads the plants mother company and is a representative of the State capital at the plant.

Two other related cases were also believed to violate the Business Law -- the appointment of his wife Le Thi Thai Huong as head of Vinachems Finance and Accounting Department and his younger sister-in-law Le Thi Tan Hoas appointment as head of the Accounting and Financial Office of the Ha Bac nitrate fertilizer plant, another affiliate of Vinachem.

The appointments were not previously planned by Vinachem and its affiliates.

The representative of the ministry told Vietnamnet that the ministry asked for these decisions to be revoked.

Earlier, the Government Office requested the ministry to inspect the wrongdoings allegedly reported at Vinachems personnel appointment.

The Secretariat of the Party Central Committee on September 20 imposed penalties on Vinachem leader Dung for this serious violation of Party rules and lax management resulting in significant losses to State assets.

The Secretariat said he must bear responsibility for wrongdoings of the Standing Board of the Party Committee of Vinachem during the 2010-2015 tenure because he served as vice secretary of the groups Party Committee since August 2012 and secretary since October 2013, and chairman of the Council of Members since April 2012.

According to the Secretariats report, Dung showed a lack of responsibility and lax management without proper supervision and inspection, resulting in mistakes and wrongdoings in personnel work and the management of Vinachems capital, assets, land and investment, resulting in serious consequences, including loss of State capital of about VN4.2 trillion ($188 million).

His negligence in supervision and inspection allowed serious wrongdoings to occur in the implementation of four key projects -- the Ninh Binh nitrate fertilizer plant, expansion of he tHa Bac nitrate fertilizer plant, the DAP fertilizer plant No. 2 in Lao Cai and the DAP fertilizer plant in Hai Phong.

Taking into account the seriousness of Dungs mistakes, the Secretariat reached a consensus to dismiss Dung from all Party posts, including membership of the Party committee of the Central Business Bloc and as secretary of the Party Committee of Vinachem.

The Secretariat required the Party committee of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to quickly order the imposition of administrative disciplinary measures against Dung in line with the law and regulations.  VNS
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump issued a new travel ban on Sunday that saw North Korea, Venezuela and Chad among a list of eight countries cited for poor security and lack of cooperation with US authorities.

Trump ordered the new restrictions to replace an expiring measure that had locked him into political and legal battles over what critics alleged was an effort to block Muslims from entry into the country since he took office in January.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump said in a tweet.

Sudan, one of the six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list. Under the new restrictions, eight nations now have complete or partial blocks on travel to the United States.

Full travel bans were placed on nationals from North Korea and Chad, while the restrictions for Venezuela were limited to officials from a long list of government agencies and their families.

Other countries included in the ban were Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

In a presidential order, Trump said the action was needed to press the countries to improve procedures for identifying their nationals and sharing information with the United States.

In addition, he said, the list was created to "advance foreign policy, national security and counterterrorism objectives."

"These restrictions are both vital to national security and conditions-based, not time-based," a senior administration official said, noting that countries can be removed from the list if they can rise to US traveler vetting standards.

Officials stressed that while Iraq was not included on the new list, it was deeply deficient in security vetting of immigrants and travelers to the United States.

But Baghdad is a close ally and supports the presence of large numbers of US troops and civilian officials. But acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke recommended tough restrictions on travelers to the United States.

Not a Muslim ban

Speaking on background, government officials said the addition of North Korea and Venezuela demonstrated that the measure was set on the basis of security and was not a "Muslim ban," as detractors have argued.

"Religion, or the religious origin of individuals or nations, was not a factor," a senior government official told reporters.

"The inclusion of those countries, Venezuela and North Korea, was about the fact that those governments are simply not compliant with our basic security requirements."

Chad was added to the list even though Trumps order called it "an important and valuable counterterrorism partner."

But the order noted the presence in Chad of several designated terror groups like the so-called Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.

Nevertheless, "Chad does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information," it said. And, the order added, the country failed on one "key" but unspecified criterion used in a broad review of countries for the travel ban.

North Korea, locked in a dangerous face-off with Washington over its nuclear weapons programme, was added, the order said, because Pyongyang "does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect."

Venezuela, in a political and economic crisis due to its embattled, increasingly oppressive regime, was listed for a limited ban.

The order placed a prohibition on officials from state agencies responsible for weak security vetting and lack of cooperation with the United States, including the interior and foreign ministries and the main police and intelligence services.

The bans for the five countries from the previous 90-day order, which expired Sunday, would immediately continue under the new order. For North Korea, Chad, and Venezuela, the restrictions will be implemented starting October 18.  AFP
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly breaking an infants leg while changing a diaper.

Court records allege that after the incident, Toyreon Keandre Foster-Stevensen waited at least a week before taking the 7-month-old girl to the hospital.

Waterloo police arrested Foster-Stevensen, 21, of 1036 Langley Road, on Friday for child endangerment causing serious injury. He was taken to the Black Hawk County Jail, and bond was set at $50,000.

Authorities have requested a no-contact order in the case.

According to court records, the child was taken to Covenant Medical Center on Sept. 15, and doctors found a broken right femur. They also found a bone in the shoulder that had been broken at a different time.

Foster-Stevensen told police that he had been drinking and was upset when he discovered the girls diaper had leaked, records state. During the diaper change, he put the infants right foot by her head and then jerked it back down, which caused her to cry, court records state.

The defendant advised that he heard a pop when he was doing this and then tried to hide this from the mother, who was working at the time, police said in court records.

Foster-Stevensen said the incident happened a week before the emergency room visit, but doctors told investigators that the injury happened weeks ago, court records state.
The first lecture will feature Winnifred Sullivan, professor of religion and affiliate professor of law at Indiana University, at 7 p.m. Tuesday in McCollum Science Hall, Room 137. Sullivans lecture, Death  Qualifying the Jury, Constituting the People, will describe the jurys distinctive role in the administration of the death penalty in the U.S. She will consider the effect of efforts by U.S. courts to secularize and rationalize the process by banning both the Bible and biblical words from the death penalty trial and insisting on an entirely individualized decision by each juror.
HUDSON  City leaders here are looking to the future in asking voters to consider adopting a hotel-motel tax.

This is a proactive measure, said Mayor George Wessel, noting Hudson currently doesnt have any hotels or motels to collect the tax. As weve been discussing the future with developers, the topic of hotels has come up.

Hudson City Council members voted to hold a public referendum during the Nov. 7 municipal election on whether to adopt a 7 percent surtax on overnight lodging stays in the city.

The ballot language calls for a 12 percent hotel-motel tax, which is actually the maximum 7 percent tax allowed to be collected by a city or county on top of the 5 percent excise tax the state collects on room rentals.

Powersports dealership makes big move to highway interchange HUDSON  The weather hasnt exactly been what the doctor ordered for DR. PowerSports.

Wessel said the city is suggesting the 7 percent local tax because it would be consistent with the rates charged on hotels in Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Evansdale. They are among the 155 Iowa cities and 17 counties currently collecting the lodging tax.

Hotels collected the tax from guests and remit it to the Iowa Department of Revenue, which then sends it to the host city.

Iowa law requires cities to use at least half of the hotel-motel tax revenue for the promotion and encouragement of tourism-related activities.

Hudson is proposing to use the other half of the tax money for neighborhood housing and infrastructure revitalization, including road repairs, neighborhood stabilization and parkland or green space acquisition, maintenance and operation and for any other lawful purpose.

Hudson, which once had a hotel south of its downtown area, is actively working with developers interested in building near U.S. Highway 20, which is the citys northern city limits.

Neighboring Cedar Falls has seen several hotels north of U.S. 20 interchanges at Iowa Highway 58 and Hudson Road.

The referendum requires a simple majority for approval.
WATERLOO  Kampha Sourivong was a slight-of-frame 19-year-old who was quite shy. But put him in front of a microphone and he could rap with the best of them.

From Iowa City, he was among the youngest solders in C Company of the Iowa Army National Guards 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry regiment.

Scott Nisely, a Marshalltown postman in his late 40s, was among the oldest guys in the outfit. He had already been an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, but never flaunted his prior service record to his buddies. He was sure to attend weekend religious services if at all possible.

Both were killed in a firefight ambush with al-Qaida forces in Iraq on Sept. 30, 2006. Their surviving comrades will rally in their memory Saturday on the 11th anniversary of their deaths. This year is the 10th anniversary of their units return from a nearly two-year deployment during the Iraq war.

The soldiers, many of whom have since left the military, will meet 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Syracuse, Neb., cemetery where Nisely is laid to rest in the town where he was raised. Sourivongs family also has been invited. A dinner is planned after the observance, courtesy of the Syracuse American Legion post.

Its turning into a big deal, said Iowa Army National Guard Maj. Garrett Gingrich, a Waterloo firefighter who was a lieutenant and platoon leader in C Co. of the 1/133rd, serving with Nisely and Sourivong when they were killed.

Soldiers in the unit who have passed away since the Iraq deployment also will be remembered, including Des Moines police officer Carlos Puente-Morales, formerly of Ackley, one of two officers killed there in a traffic accident last year.

Its going to fill that cemetery, because its not a very big cemetery and its not a very big town, said 1/133rd veteran Dennis Boge of Dubuque, a staff sergeant and squad leader during the Iraq deployment. Syracuse is a town of about 2,000 people, located between Omaha and Lincoln.

Niselys and Sourivongs comrades have quietly observed the anniversary for years  alternately at Niselys grave, at Sourivongs in Iowa City, or both. But the soldiers and veterans are making this years gathering more of a formal event, on the anniversary of their return from a 22-month deployment that included 18 months in Iraq as part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division. Normally Guard and reserve unit deployments last about a year, but theirs was extended as part of President George W. Bushs surge initiative during the war. The 1/133rd is headquartered in Waterloo and C Co. is based in Iowa Falls.

Boge kidded that he broke in the younger, then-less-experienced Gingrich as a platoon leader, and he wasnt the only one.

I had great squad leaders that were able to point me in the right direction a lot of times and Scott Nisely was one of those guys, Gingrich said. He was a major in the Marine Corps. If you can imagine this, as a fresh butter-bar (second) lieutenant, I had a squad leader who had already commanded Marine infantry company in the first Gulf War. Scott could have took this attitude that hes not going to have respect for me based on my lack of experience. But he would never do that. He was not that kind of person. He was just a great all-around person.

Gingrich was promoted to first lieutenant by the end of the deployment.

Sourivong was a funny kid, Boge recalled. He recalled an instance in which their armored vehicle blew a tire at a dangerous intersection. Sourivong, temporarily assigned to Boges vehicle, took the gunner position. A superior officer called to check on their position but Sourivong, unfamiliar with the radio equipment in Boges command vehicle, did not know how to answer the call. The superior officer, fearing the worst, sent a Cobra attack helicopter to the scene, ultimately unnecessary. The captain gave Boge a tongue lashing and directed him to teach Sourivong how to use that vehicles radio system.

We sat there after everybody was racked out having a nighttime class by flashlight on how to run radio systems, Boge said, laughing. He recalled another occasion when, in riding over rough terrain, he grabbed the diminutive Sourivong by the leg to make sure he didnt fall out.

He was fun. Everybody loved to be around him, Gingrich said of Sourivong. He was kind of shy. You could tell he was a shy kid. But once he lost the shyness, he would rap in front of his friends and stuff. It was kinda cool.

In contrast to Sourivong, Nisely was a guy that just has all kinds of experience, Gingrich said. Hes a guy thats got a heart of gold. Great family man. Strong mentally, physically, spiritually. All the guys in the platoon looked up to him.

He was the oldest guy in the platoon. Youd never have known it, Boge said.

He could run circles around most of the guys in the platoon, Gingrich said.

He was in incredible shape, Boge said. Spiritual guy. Theres not too many guys who go to church every Sunday. But if we were not on a mission, Scott was at church if at all possible. He also played drums at church services. The post office in Marshalltown was named for him.

The 1/133rd and its Iraq deployment, including Niselys and Sourivongs deaths, were the subject of an Emmy Award-winning CBS News documentary, Fathers, Sons and Brothers. It was the Ironman Battalions longest deployment since World War II.

Members of the unit wear metal bracelets in honor of Nisely, Sourivong, Puente-Morales and others who served.

Other deceased soldiers of or working with the 1/133rd who will be remembered Saturday are: Sgt. Andrew Connolly; Pfc. Ben Croson; Sgt. Daniel Doc Hampton; Staff Sgt. Lindsay Stupp; U.S. Navy Chief Petty officer Paul Darga, an explosive ordnance disposal expert from Michigan who died of wounds from an improvised explosive device in August 2006, and two soldiers who died during a subsequent deployment to Afghanistan, Sgt. Jacob Doc Hutchinson and Sgt. Donny Nichols of Shell Rock.
CEDAR FALLS - A retired assistant Cedar Falls fire chief says the city should take some of the money its saved up for a new public safety building to hire more career firefighters.

Public safety officers are not the answer, Bill Bell said in remarks delivered to the City Council over the past couple of meetings. Time limits prevented him from delivering his full remarks during those meetings, but he provided a copy to The Courier.

Bells comments are concurrent with a letter from spouses and significant others of Cedar Falls firefighters, submitted by retired Cedar Falls Fire Capt. Sharon Regenold and appearing on the opinion page of todays Courier.

The full-time fire department is severely understaffed, and the Public Safety Officer cross-training program is not adequately preparing public safety officers for medical and fire emergencies ... . This puts everyone in danger  firefighters, PSOs and citizens, firefighter spouses wrote, adding theyre concerned about the citizens of a growing community whose fire department isnt growing proportionally.

Regenold, recently retired, said she submitted the letter on behalf of the spouses due to the potential ramifications of speaking out.

In response, Cedar Falls Public Safety Director Jeff Olson said, by using a combination of career firefighters, cross-trained public safety officers and paid on-call city staff, the city is able to bring more firefighters to a fire scene than before, and sooner.

Cedar Falls firefighters' wives worry about safety Dear Citizens of Cedar Falls, I urge you read the following letter from my friends, who cann

Bell noted city officials have stated they have been able to save enough money from operations to pay for an $11 million public safety building without a referendum. If the city has been able to save that kind of money why wasnt some of it used to keep fire protection up to national standards? he asked. PSO (public safety officer) is not the answer... PSOs are like putting a Band-aid on a broken arm.

Bell, 81, served as assistant fire chief under late longtime Fire Chief Dale Holmes prior to Holmes retirement in the mid-1980s. He was a finalist to succeed Holmes but opposed the creation of a public safety department at that time in a city government reorganization by then-Mayor Doug Sharp.

Bell said the city had 38 full-time firefighters at that time and has 27 now, while the city has grown significantly to the south and west since then. However, in a recent presentation to the City Council, Olson noted adding the number of full-time firefighters, public safety officers in place or being hired and paid on-call staff the city has a total firefighting force of 52, which meets or is close to the number of recommended in the standards Bell cited in his presentation to the council.

Consequently, Olson said, Weve recently had more firefighters responding to scenes ... . Weve made a lot of changes recently. I think were very, very safe and probably better than we were just a few years ago.

Olson also noted the firefighters themselves are training the public safety officers. A training book has been prepared and they have to be checked off in all those areas before they begin operating as a PSO, Olson said.

Olson and Fire Chief John Bostwick also noted public safety officers typically can arrive at the scene quicker than an engine company, assess the severity of the fire, locate hydrants and other valuable work before a fire truck arrives. Some also are equipped with compressed air foam units in their police vehicles to suppress or control some smaller fires.

Bell maintained full-time career firefighters are needed.

Additional compensation, minimum fire education, fire protection clothing dont make a fireman, Bell said A fireman is made by working every duty day with the same men forming a team, educated by a certified training officer on a daily basis.

Fire staffing has been a recurring political issue in Cedar Falls for several years. Bell also said the Lone Tree Road fire station in the north part of the city, utilized now only during emergencies like the September 2016 flood, should be reopened permanently, and the city should return to separate police and fire departments.

The people who are paying the taxes are not getting the protection theyre paying for, Bell said.

In their letter, firefighter spouses said Cedar Falls regularly relies on Waterloo, Janesville and other smaller communities to support them because of inadequate staffing. Olson and Bostwick noted that happens in fires in rural areas where water has to be hauled to a fire scene when hydrants arent available.

This is what weve been doing for 40 years and all of a sudden its the PSOs fault? Its not logical, Olson said.
DES MOINES  The Iowa Army National Guard is sending 24 security forces personnel today to support response operations for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

The 185th Air Refueling Wing from Sioux City will provide eight security forces personnel and will also transport the security team to Puerto Rico via KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft.

The 132nd Wing from Des Moines will provide an additional 16 personnel for the mission.

The airmen will provide supplemental security to civilian law enforcement personnel and operations in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico has requested support from Iowa under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, an agreement executed previously between all 50 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia, to assist one another in times of crisis.
Honor Flight

J.Russ Walker

DUNKERTON  I want to thank the Honor Flight board, Hy-Vee and all the people who made this trip available for veterans to go to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials.

The welcome home was awesome. Its something us veterans will always remember.

Above and beyond

JULIE GALLMEYER

WATERLOO  It is said good news is not newsworthy. My daughter, Sheila, was to fly home to California on Aug. 1 from the Waterloo Airport. She was ready to board when I received a call from my stepdaughter: An ambulance is taking dad to Allen Hospital. Sheila went to the counter and told (them) about the emergency and that she needed to change her flight. The gal named Justina said, Ill change it to the same time tomorrow; dont worry about anything. Ill take care of it. Good luck to your stepfather. Now get out of here.

After spending seven and a half hours in the emergency room, everything was OK, and my husband was sent home. The next day Sheila returned to the Waterloo Airport. Justina asked Hows your stepfather? Everything is ready for you to board.

I sent letters to Justinas supervisor at the airport, to Justina and to American Airlines about her professionalism and compassion. I received a letter from the airline thanking me and saying Justinas outstanding effort deserves commendation.

Conflict of interest

JUDY CIESIELSKI

WATERLOO  In response to Bill Kammeyers letter Sept. 20, I totally agree. In my opinion, it was a conflict of interest to sell land for $1 for the upscale housing development to Sunnyside South Addition LLC when our (former) city attorney was a member of that partnership.

That agreement was approved Jan. 7, 2013. I would like to know the specifics of why it is not a conflict of interest.

40 Days for Life

MARCENE NIEHAUS

CLARKSVILLE  Did you know that abortions are performed right here in Cedar Falls? Many people are not aware of this, thinking abortion is something that happens someplace else.

From Sept. 27-Nov. 5, local Christians will take part in 40 Days for Life  an international pro-life project that consists of prayer and fasting, constant vigil and community outreach. 40 Days for Life asks all Christians to pray and fast to end abortion.

Abortion being present locally has a negative impact on the community. The campaign will be a 40-day prayer vigil from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week at 2520 Melrose Drive on the sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood, the abortion center.

We see abortion as a spiritual challenge, not a political one. It is not a protest or a demonstration. 40 Days for Life is a peaceful, prayerful outreach. We pray this campaign will lead to a significant decline in the number of abortions in the Cedar Valley. Learn how to get involved by visiting www.40daysforlife.com/cedarfalls.
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by Mikhail Leontyev

Mikhail Leontiev devoted his column on the first Russian television channel to Thomas Barnetts theory. What appeared to be an intellectual lucubration in 2001 is currently being realized. Everyone must now rethink their vision of the wars of the past sixteen years.

However, hello!

Trump delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly. As Saltykov-Shchedrin [1] pointed out once: Kind folk awaited bloodshed and massacres from him, instead, he ate a doughnut.

Strong sovereign nations allow citizens to flourish in the fullness of life provided for by God. We in America do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone. And we want ours to be so brilliant as to serve to the rest as an example, said US President Donald Trump.

Hooray! He is giving a slack. In the past he would have aspired to impose a resplendent image to follow! But now he has given up all the aspiring. At the same time, note, to erase from the face of the Earth and to overthrow is still in fashion. Trump threatens to destroy North Korea, Iran, overthrow the regime in Venezuela  But to try to impose an image nowadays is a big no-no.

The war should not be conducted against individual states with a mobile political situation, but against regions of the world, because those states are coded in this program of destruction. Of course, they will start from one country or another, then the infection will spread until everything collapses, as we can see today in the example of the Middle East. Of course, this is a policy, the implementation of which began after September 11, 2001, and we failed to grasp the significance of the events of September 11. None of the wars that have been fought since then has been concluded, said French political scientist, journalist (Syria, Damascus) Thierry Meyssan.

And it is true. For 15 years, none of the wars came to an end! Thierry Meyssan, a well-known conspiracy theories specialist, scholar and Orientalist, claims that we did not notice a radical change in the American strategy since the September the 11th.

Neo-imperialism of the United States does not intend to offer anything for those states that are among the stable, nor for those that are a source of natural resources. Stable states will have access to resources, and the sources of natural resources will be completely destroyed, plunged into chaos, continues Thierry Meyssan.

Here is this map from Hell, to which Meyssan refers, from the book of geostrategist and publicist Professor Barnett, who served as an assistant to Admiral Cerbowski, who directed the Department of Transformation of the Armed Forces at the Pentagon. Virtually all of Africa, Central and Latin America, except Brazil and Argentina, fall into the zone of non-integrable states doomed to chaos.Then, naturally, the entire Middle East with Turkey, the Persian Gulf, Iran and Pakistan, all Middle and South-east Asia and all The Balkans, except Greece. At the same time, Russia, India and China are prudently surgically removed out of the nightmare zone.

The power of Leviathan must be released only occasionally. But heres what you can promise the American people, our citizens, and the whole world. If we release this Leviathan, then we promise, we guarantee that immediately, immediately afterwards we will install the functional governance. You should not plan a war if you do not expect to find peace, states US political analyst Thomas Barnett.

And they will inherit the Kingdom!  For the slow-witted: the functional governance is just an administration of occupational forces. American ones. For those in the know: what kind of American administration can be offered for non-integrable territories? The key is in the name-Non-integrable. You have been told! And why on Earth anyone would want to create a perfect imagefor them? Let them wallow in squalor.

Let me quote Meyssan once again : none of the wars that started after September 11 is over.

However, goodbye!

Voltaire Network , 23 September 2017, Source : The US Grand Strategy, by Mikhail Leontyev, Translation Deimantas Steponavicius, 1tv (Russia) ,, 23 September 2017, www.voltairenet.org/article198024.html

WtR
A Lincoln Police officer underwent surgery on Sunday after being assaulted by a suspect in downtown Lincoln on Friday.

LPD said authorities were called to a disturbance near 10th and 'Y' streets at about 9:30 p.m.

That's where they found 18-year-old Kevin Estrada pushing over motorcycles and running around screaming.

When authorities attempted to detain Estrada, he punched the 24-year-old officer in the face, breaking his nose, causing a sinus fracture, and an orbital blowout fracture.

The officer underwent surgery on Sunday afternoon, and was released from the hospital.

Estrada was arrested for first-degree assault of an officer, resisting arrest, and vandalism.

Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said this is the 35 assault on an officer in 2017, resulting in two LPD workers being out of work.

That number is slightly down from this time last year.

"This is not an expectation of their job, and I am certain the majority the citizens of Lincoln would agree that those responsible for these assaults should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Bliemeister said.
ABC News(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- A 22-year-old church usher was heralded as a hero after he confronted a masked gunman who opened fire at a Tennessee parish on Sunday as services were ending.



Police said Robert Engle, an usher at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee, engaged in a struggle with the suspected shooter, Emanual Samson, 25, after he allegedly opened fire at the church on Sunday morning, killing one woman and wounding six others.



"He's the hero, Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson said at a news conference on Sunday. He's the person who stopped this madness."



Samson allegedly entered the churchs parking lot around 11 a.m. and fatally shot 39-year-old Melanie Smith as she walked to her car after service, police said.



The suspect is believed to have been there for at least several minutes before church service let out, according to police.



Samson, who was wearing a neoprene half-mask, then entered the church and began to shoot "indiscriminately," wounding six people who were later treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.



Engle confronted the gunman in an effort to keep him from shooting more people and was pistol-whipped in the process, police said, adding that the suspect accidentally shot himself in the chest while struggling with Engle.



Engle eventually ran out to his car to retrieve his own pistol, which he used to hold the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived, officials said.



The young usher, who said he has attended the church since he was a small child, does not consider himself a hero.



I do not want to be labeled a hero," Engle said in a statement Sunday. "The real heroes are the police, first responders and medical staff and doctors who have helped me and everyone affected.



He also asked for people to pray for those who were affected by the shooting.



"I ask everyone to pray for the victims, family members of the victims, our church community. Please pray for healing, Engle said in another statement. Also, please pray for the shooter, the shooters family and friends. They are hurting as well.



One witness, Minerva Rosa, said the situation could have been worse if Engle had not intervened.



"He's amazing," Rosa told reporters on Sunday. "Without him, I think it could be worse. He was the hero today."



Rosa, who has been a member of the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ for eight years, said the suspect was silent as he fired shots inside the church. She said she heard the pastor shout "Run! Run! Gunshots!" as the gunman made his way down the aisle.



Engle's grandmother, 69-year-old Rheta Engle, told a local newspaper that she was proud of him.



"Thats like him. Hes just someone who cares about a lot of people. He has all their feelings at heart," she told the Tennessean on Sunday afternoon. "It would make any parent, grandparent very, very proud of him."



Blake Langford, Robert Engle's friend, described him as a gentle giant.



He's just a great guy, Langford told the Tennessean. Just one of the kindest human beings you'll ever meet.



Robert Engle was released from a local hospital on Sunday night and is back home with his family, according to local news outlets.



Samson, who police said had attended the church within the past two years, was treated at a local hospital for a gunshot wound and is expected to be charged with one count of murder, with additional charges pending, according to police.



The motive for the shooting is unclear.



The Memphis FBI Field Office's Nashville Resident Agency, the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee have opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Sep 25, 2017 | By Benedict

The European Space Agency (ESA) has come up with a bold prediction regarding the future of the Moon, Earths only natural satellite. It says a small number of settlers could start building a 3D printed village there by 2030, adding that there could be 1,000 moon citizens by 2050.

Moon landings are something of a hot-and-cold topic for scientists. While NASA is much more interested in Mars and the possibility of life there, some still believe the Moon to be an incredibly important area of study. Why? They think humans could live there.

You can file the European Space Agency as a firmly pro-Moon organization, because the ESAs Bernard Foing thinks humans could be settling on the dusty satellite as soon as 2030.

Foing leads the ESA-backed Moon Village project, whichas its name suggestsis focused on creating a colony for the Moon. Speaking at a European Planetary Science Congress in Riga this week, the scientist set out a bold vision for the future of the Moon, suggesting human babies could be born there in just a few decades.

Excitingly, Foing thinks 3D printing could have an important role to play in the development of the Moon Village, with additive technology potentially being used to fabricate buildings using local materials. (Its not the first time that additive manufacturing has been earmarked as the future of space construction, with scientists also advocating 3D printing on Mars.)

Crazy as it sounds, a settlement on the Moon is probably more achievable in the short term than one on Mars, considering the much further distance to the Red Planet.

Accordingly, the Moon Village timeline could be roughly as follows: by 2030, an initial settlement of six to 10 pioneers would be formed. These scientists and engineering experts would lay the groundwork for future settlement, with a further 100-odd humans potentially joining them by 2040. Ten years later, the Moon Village could be hugely populated.

In 2050, you could have a thousand and then...naturally you could envisage to have family joining crews there, Foing said.

This would ultimately allow for the possibility of human birth on the Moon, resulting in a whole generation of lunar babies. Just imagine their passports being checked at airports!

And its not just Foing going out on a limb with these predictions. ESA boss Jan Woerner has argued that a permanent lunar colony could actually replace the International Space Station. The ISS is being decommissioned in 2024, so having a ready-to-go human settlement on the Moon in 2030 would offer a viable alternative to the orbiting man-made structure. (That station, of course, has an in-space 3D printer called the Additive Manufacturing Facility.)

Unfortunately, theres a big obstacle in the way of an international lunar base: politics. While businesses are keen to invest in the project, global political tensions appear to be preventing any firm interest from big space nations like the U.S. and Russia. Physicist Vidvuds Beldavs called the situation highly frustrating.

But if the project is eventually given the green light, the ESA thinks the benefits could be huge. For example, the Moon could be used to launch satellites into orbitsomething that is much easier to do than it is from Earth, which is burdened with large gravitational forces.

The Moon could even be mined for helium-3, an isotope that is rarely found on Earth but is common on the Moon, and which could theoretically be used to generate safe nuclear energy.

Foing himself is so excited by the idea of the Moon Village, 3D printed houses and all, that he even envisages going there himself. He hopes to visit by 2040, and may even consider bringing his family.

He admits, however, that bringing the other Foings will depend on the price, with tickets to the Moon currently costing around 100 million euros ($119 million).

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Sep 25, 2017 | By Tess

Design is all around us, from the buildings we inhabit, to the clothes we wear, and even to the toothbrushes we rely on to keep our mouths healthy. Think about, how long do you find yourself standing at the toothbrush aisle deciding which one looks the best and looks like it will feel the best?

Even if you personally havent thought of your day-to-day toothbrush as a piece of ergonomic design, Italian manufacturing company Zare and design studio Nussbaumer Design certainly have.

Together, the two Italian companies have conceived of and created an impressive piece of functional design: a metal 3D printed toothbrush.

Dubbed MIO (the Italian word for my), the 3D printed toothbrush is the result of over a year and half of product design and prototyping. Amazingly, it is more than just an example of what metal 3D printing can accomplish, as people can actually purchase a customized metal toothbrush for themselves.

The MIO's holder and case are also made using 3D printing technologies

The project was born through a collaboration between Zare, a Boretto-based manufacturing company, and Michael Nussbaumer, the founder of his own design company. Zare has been working with additive manufacturing technologies since 2009 (when it bought its first plastic 3D printer), and has specialized in metal 3D printing.

As the company explains, it purchased its first metal 3D printer, the M2 Cusing by Concept Laser, in 2013. Now, the Italian company boasts three more M2 Cusing Multilaser units and an X Line 2000R printer, which it uses to produce a variety of different parts for its clients.

Nussbaumer, for his part, is an Italy-based designer who has been recognized with various awards and whose specialities include applied ergonomics, biomechanics in sports, and branding. Nussbaumber says the toothbrush project came to fruition after a brainstorming session with Zare co-founder Andrea Pasquali.

I still remember when Andrea Pasquali and I met in my office the first time regarding a new project, he says. We reflected on a product that could highlight the extreme, formal design freedom afforded by additive manufacturingWe knew that we wanted to create a product that served a function. A product used every day, like a toothbrush.

Ultimately, we transformed a common object into a valuable, personalized jewel that accompanies its owner every day, but still remains timeless, he adds.

The 3D printed MIO toothbrush comes in two different designs, both of which are available in right-handed and left-handed versions. Consumers can also choose what type of metal they want their 3D printed toothbrush made from, as Zare is producing the dental device in both stainless 316L and titanium (two commonly used materials in the dental industry).

The patented toothbrush design can be customized further, as Zare and Nussbaumer Designs offer MIO in several different finishes, including a matte, polished, galvanized, or MioRaw finish.

If youre wondering what the point would be to invest in a stylish metal toothbrush, especially when you replace your brush every few months, MIO does actually come with a changeable head made from silver, which means you can keep your bristles fresh.

The 3D printed toothbrush launched officially on September 1, and interested consumers can inquire about purchasing a customized MIO toothbrush through the products website. If the project is a success, Zare says it will think about further expanding the MIO brand with more innovative, beautiful, and functional pieces.

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by Thomas R. Wells

A natural disaster is a disaster because it involves a lot of human suffering, not because the event itself is especially big or spectacular. The destruction of an uninhabited island by a volcano is not a natural disaster, because it doesn't really matter to humans. A landslide doesn't matter, however enormous, unless there is a town at the bottom of it.

So what does the word natural' add? We use it to demarcate the edges of responsibility. We don't use it very well.

Man-made disasters, like Chernobyl or Deepwater Horizon or Bhopal or Grenfell Tower, are ones acknowledged to have been brought about by human decisions. These disasters could have been avoided if certain people had made different choices. The suffering of a man-made disaster is therefore the responsibility of particular persons and institutions. They can be held answerable for their decisions: required to justify them and judged  and punished  if they cannot. For example, the investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire will scrutinise in forensic detail the reasoning behind the key decisions that permitted a containable danger to be transformed into mass death; such as the installation of a flammable cladding, the absence of sprinklers; and refuge in place instructions for residents. Some decision-makers may face criminal charges for negligence. They will certainly be vilified in the tabloid press and hate-mobbed on social media. Organisations like the local council and the company running the building will likely receive an official shaming, fines, and compulsory reorganisation or dissolution.

In contrast natural disasters are supposed to have been caused entirely by forces outside human control. They were inevitable. No one can be held responsible.

However, very few disasters these days meet the requirements for a natural disaster. It's not enough that a natural event was necessary to the disaster, i.e. that the disaster wouldn't have happened without it; that all those people couldn't have been killed by falling buildings if the ground hadn't been violently shaking. The natural event must also have been sufficient to bring about the disaster.

To understand the idea of a sufficient cause, it may help to think about imaginary but plausible worlds besides our own actual one. These are worlds in which everything operates by the same laws of physics, but particular histories may be different. For example, Hillary may be president instead. For one event to be the necessary cause of another, there must be no possible worlds in which event B (e.g. thousands of schools collapse) occurs without event A (e.g. magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Sichuan) also occurring. For one event to be the sufficient cause of another, it has to be the case that there must be no possible worlds in which event A (8.0 earthquake) occurs without event B (school collapses) also occurring. Only if it is true that in all possible worlds, if event A happens then event B also happens, is the language of inevitability justified.

Let's put that abstract point in the context of a real disaster. If the earthquake in Haiti had been the sufficient cause of the 200,000 deaths and vast infrastructure destruction that would mean that in any possible world in which an earthquake of that size had struck at that time and place, such massive destruction of human life would always occur.

We can't test this claim directly by studying alternative worlds, of course. But we can analyse it by what we know of how this world works. It is clear that earthquakes of the same size affect humans very differently depending on where in the world they live. For example, an even more powerful earthquake off the coast of Chile a month after Haiti's killed only a few hundred people. Thus, there is a gap between the occurrence of the exciting natural event and the outcome we actually care about: all that human suffering. Specifically, earthquakes don't kill people; falling buildings do, and whether buildings fall on people depends on which polity they live in more than it depends on whether they live near an earthquake fault line. It was not inevitable that an earthquake of scale 7.0 striking 25km from Port au Prince at 5pm on 12 January 2010 would result in the kind of devastation that actually occurred.

The best explanation of that gap is that people in different countries do some important things differently, and that this determines how similar natural events affect them. In other words, it is the decisions of human beings, including the institutions and rules their decisions set up, that decide whether a dangerous natural event produces a disaster. Poor quality building codes, zoning rules and enforcement seem particularly significant; together with poor logistical planning and preparation of residents to respond to the dangers raised by such natural events. The difference in death rates associated with similar scale natural phenomena demonstrates the difference that human choices make. It is a crude measure of how man-made a disaster really was.

At this point I should add a caveat. When Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompei that was a genuine natural disaster. The Romans simply didn't know that such a thing could happen, and so they could not have been expected to have set up monitoring stations by the volcano and rehearsed plans for mass evacuation (or just moved the city somewhere safer). Some such genuine natural disasters may still occur, such as an asteroid strike, or an earthquake where that has never been known to occur. But these are remote possibilities. These days almost all disasters are man-made. Wilful ignorance is no excuse.

What is the upshot of this fact? Recognising a disaster as man-made initiates a search into the bad decisions that made it possible. Part of that is holding relevant agents responsible for culpable negligence and deterring such negligence in future. But it is also an opportunity to ensure that systematically better choices are made in future. This kind of investigation goes wider and deeper than we are used to. President Bush's administration was widely condemned for its response to hurricane Katrina, as were local government agencies such as the New Orleans city government and police. But that missed the deeper causes of the disaster: institutional incompetence in water engineering and urban development going back decades and applying far beyond the specific case of New Orleans. Those are the problems you have to fix if you want to stop the next Katrina.

These problems are not necessarily that difficult to address, even by relatively poor governments. Cuba treats hurricanes as a civil defense issue and has a death rate from them that is a fraction of America's. Bangladesh's government has set up a sophisticated early warning and evacuation system. Cyclones as powerful as those of 1970 or 1991, in which hundreds of thousands died, now kill a hundred times fewer.

Now it is true that many people already assume that all weather related disasters are man-made because of climate change. But this is lazy thinking. The fact that we have so many more newsworthy weather related disasters than we used to mainly reflects the vast increase in the number of people living in vulnerable places. Any contribution made by climate change is marginal: possibly increasing the statistical frequency of very large storms, making historically one in a hundred year events more common. But Houston drowned itself by expanding so recklessly: paving over the bayous that used to absorb the water from big storms, and building non-flood-proofed buildings in vulnerable floodplains. Thanks to bad human decision-making, a disaster was guaranteed whenever the next big storm came along. Likewise famines in the horn of Africa have far more to do with the overpopulation of marginal arable lands and government failures and wars than with changing rainfall patterns.

The problem of using climate change to explain everything bad that happens is that it blinds you to the real  sufficient  causes of these disasters. Raising such claims in the aftermath of a disaster reflects a morbid fatalism rather than scientific objectivity. We are all responsible, but not in a way that can help. It returns us to the unhelpful place we began, in which natural disasters are inevitable. Only now they are the inevitable outcome (punishment?) of humanity's fallen state of selfish overconsumption.

***

We should stop using the phrase natural disaster'. (Almost) all such disasters are the outcome of an interaction between extreme natural events and human decisions. As humans we can review such interactions and recognise decisions that magnify or contain the inherent dangers of natural phenomena  like fire. And because we can make better decisions we are responsible for doing so. When a run of the mill fire in a fridge causes an inferno in which 80 people die, we demand answers about how it was allowed to happen so that it never happens again. We should do the same when government incompetence allows our cities to be flooded or shaken to the ground. And we should accept our own share of the responsibility not to be satisfied with easy answers  like flood insurance subsidies  and go back to business as usual.
by Ali Minai

A few years ago, while introducing my class of electrical engineering students to information theory, I said that we lived today in a world created by Faraday, Maxwell, and Shannon. Even as I said this, I was aware that, in my zeal for effect, I was omitting the names of many who had made seminal contributions in the fields of electrical engineering and telecommunications, but one name that did not occur to me then was that of Oliver Heaviside. Basil Mahons book, The Forgotten Genius of Oliver Heaviside: A Maverick of Electrical Science, is a valiant  and, one hopes, successful  attempt to remedy this situation where even those immersed in the field of electrical engineering do not know the achievements of one of its founding figures. To be sure, Heavisides name does live on in the simple but surprisingly important Heaviside step function H(x), which takes value 0 if x is less than 0 and 1 if it greater. This function, along with Diracs delta function, allows the calculus of discrete variables to be unified with the classical calculus of continuous ones  a fact of great utility in an age where everything is increasingly digital and thus discrete. Forgotten in all this is the fact that Heaviside invented the step function as part of a larger enterprise: An operational calculus that sought to solve the problems of calculus in a purely algebraic form. Though that calculus has left its imprint on many methods used by engineers to solve mathematical problems today, it is not taught explicitly in any curriculum and its name has mostly been forgotten by practitioners  a situation symbolic of the fate that has befallen Oliver Heaviside himself.

A vivid portrait of Heaviside emerges from the book. We see a brilliant and curmudgeonly character  willful but not unkind, except to those who challenge his well-founded theories with half-baked notions. After rather brief coverage of Heavisides background and childhood, the book moves to the beginning of his professional career as a technician in the telegraph service. Lacking a formal advanced education, Heaviside was fortunate to get this opportunity, in part through the efforts of his brother, Arthur, who was already employed in the service and  very importantly  the recommendation of the great inventor, Sir Charles Wheatstone, who was Heavisides uncle by marriage. For all the struggles that Heaviside had to go through to gain recognition of his genius, he was fortunate in one thing: He got into the field of electrical communication  the telegraph  at exactly the right time for a person of his aptitude. It was then a new technology, but had already established its utility. The desire to connect the world through telegraph was a major effort into which private investors and governments were willing to sink resources. And yet, everything in the field was being done through trial and error, without the benefit of established theory. The field was dominated by technicians rather than scientists, and the leading engineers of the time  such as Heavisides nemesis, William Preece  saw theoreticians as little more than ivory tower wonks with little to contribute to engineering practice. Heaviside was the first person to bridge this divide.

He began as a practitioner at the very lowest rung of the ladder, helping to lay cable in the sea and troubleshooting the many practical problems that arose in this great effort. But, with an obviously analytical mind, Heaviside did not remain content simply to discover and apply rules of thumb; he tried to turn them into systematic theories of how current was conducted in cables. To do this, he taught himself mathematics, and  as was the case throughout his life  immediately set out to apply his self-acquired knowledge to a task of extreme complexity: Understanding and organizing James Clerk Maxwells newly formulated theory of electromagnetism, which was then understood by few people beside Maxwell himself (who was still alive). Not only did Heaviside understand the theory by reading through Maxwells immense treatise on the subject, it was he who first expressed it in the elegant mathematical form that we know today as Maxwells Equations. This alone would have been enough to establish him as a great scientist, but it is characteristic of Heavisides prodigious genius that this turned out to be only one among his many accomplishments. As the book lays out in well-crafted narrative, Heaviside helped establish the nature of electromagnetic fields, theorized about how the field allowed conductors to carry current, developed vector analysis as a method to describe fields mathematically, defined such fundamental quantities as impedance and inductance, discovered the method for distortion-free communication through cables, took the initial steps towards developing the Lorentz-FitzGerald Equation which is central to Einsteins theory of special relativity, correctly predicted the existence of a conducting layer in the atmosphere, and laid the groundwork for mathematical methods such as Laplace transforms which remain fundamental to the work of electrical engineers to this day. In a real sense, Oliver Heaviside is the true father of modern electrical engineering with its deep theoretical bent and highly mathematical formulations. That all this could be done by one self-taught individual of very limited means establishes Heaviside as one of the most interesting characters in the annals of science, and the fact that much of this has been forgotten makes him among the most tragic. Mahons book attempts to demonstrate the former and mitigate the latter.

One of the best features of this book is the insight it provides into the sociology of science. The process is much different today than it was in the 19th century when a few great men tended to dominate each field, but the role of human nature  including human failings  in the growth of knowledge is still just as important. Indeed, a study such as this one on Oliver Heaviside provides a clearer view of these processes by focusing in on a very specific topic and on a small dramatis personae  almost like a well-observed laboratory experiment. It certainly helps that educated Victorians were such inveterate writers of letters and keepers of journals, and that the English press, even at that time, was keenly interested in reporting on intellectual matters. Mahon makes extensive use of this source material to create a picture of the times and the heady process of discovery in what was even then becoming the foundation of a whole new technological world. We glimpse the great James Clerk Maxwell in the final years of his all-too-brief and brilliant life. We see the giant figure of William Thomson  Lord Kelvin  looming like a benevolent demigod over the landscape of Victorian science. We encounter Lord Rayliegh contemplating the obstinate Heaviside with bemused exasperation. We look into the mind of William Preece  the doyen of British communication engineers who never reconciled himself to Heavisides insights and hounded him through most of his life. Best of all, we get nuanced portraits of the Maxwellians  Oliver Lodge, George Francis FitzGerald, and Heinrich Hertz  three distinguished scientists who recognized Heavisides genius and participated with him in the great enterprise of establishing a science of electromagnetics, and thus of telecommunications. And at the end, we find G.F.C. Searle, eminent Cambridge physicist and the closest friend Heaviside ever made. Heaviside quarreled all his life with a scientific establishment that repeatedly offered to recognize his contributions at the price of a little formality, which Heaviside invariably refused to provide. That he still became a Fellow of the Royal Society, won the first Faraday Medal, and was short-listed for the Nobel Prize is a testimony more to the sincerity of his admirers than any concession to custom on his own part. And yet one cannot help but admire the strength of character that caused him to refuse almost every honor and monetary reward where he caught the slightest whiff of patronization or pity.

Heavisides combative, irreverent, self-confident style is captured well in Mahons description (pp. 169-173) of his quarrel with the eminent physicist Peter Guthrie Tait on the matter of quaternions  a generalization of complex numbers invented by the great Irish scientist William Rowan Hamilton, and considered useful in the analysis of mechanical systems. Tait was a close friend of Maxwells, and had developed an almost religious zeal for quaternions. Heaviside  ever the practical iconoclast  thought that vector analysis (which he had helped develop) was much more useful than quaternions, and proclaimed this loudly in his writings. Tait took umbrage at this, which prompted Heaviside to label him a consummately profound metaphysico-mathematician, and to say that

 Quaternion was, I think defined by an American schoolgirl to be an ancient religious ceremony. This was, however, a complete mistake. The ancients  unlike Prof. Tait  knew not, and did not worship Quaternions.

When Tait responded, with the help of a colleague, Dr. Knott, Heaviside became even more merciless:

The quaternionic calm and peace have been disturbed. There is confusion in the quaternionic citadel; alarms and excursions, and hurling of stones and pouring of boiling water upon the invading host. It would appear that Prof. Tait, being unable to bring his massive intellect to understand my vectors, or [Josiah Willard] Gibbs, . Has delegated to Prof. Knott the task of examining them, apparently just upon the remote chance that there might possibly be something in them that was not utterly despicable.

This response by Heaviside was published in no less a journal than Nature! This is how he wrote not only his letters and opinions, but also his technical papers, and even his textbooks. It is not surprising that he should have spent his entire professional life at odds with the establishment, and it was only the sheer brilliance of his work that compelled others to return repeatedly with accolades, which he almost always disdained.

In a sense, the real heroes of the book  besides Heaviside, of course  are the editors of The Electrician who continued to publish Heavisides prodigious output of technical papers in the face of stern opposition from the establishment and the general incomprehension of their readership. In more than one case, they paid a stiff personal price for this, but without their dedicated promotion of Heavisides work, it would probably have been consigned to oblivion, with dramatic consequences for the progress of technology. Indeed, though Oliver Heavisides contributions may have largely been forgotten today, it is clear from the book that he led a very fortunate life. The main reason why his genius was able to flower at all given his disadvantages of social class and formal education was because, throughout his life, he had remarkably strong support and friendship from so many  including such illustrious figures as Wheatstone, Lord Kelvin, FitzGerald, Hertz, Lodge, Searle, his editors, and many others  and that this support continued in spite of Heavisides difficult nature. Even his family, with all their constraints, went far beyond the call of duty to support his unusual and, one is sure, often infuriating lifestyle. Clearly, there was something in the man  perhaps the spark of genius or the fire of intellect  that attracted others to him, and compelled their loyalty even in very trying circumstances. It must also be said that Heaviside did not waste any of this support and affection on frivolities, but used it entirely to do great work that changed the world in profoundly beneficial ways. All in all, it was an excellent bargain on both sides.

The writing in The Forgotten Genius of Oliver Heaviside is engaging and skillful. The narrative moves at a rapid pace across the terrain of Heavisides life. Some readers may feel a certain lack of storytelling because the book does not get too deeply into Heavisides personal life. That criticism would be justifiable in a comprehensive biography, but this volume is clearly intended as a history of Oliver Heaviside as a scientist and engineer. His person comes through strongly only because the quirks of his personality were so inextricably intertwined with his professional work, but most of the specific events of his personal life were of little significance, and Mahon has wisely skirted around them. However, even from the material included in the book, it is clear that Oliver Heavisides life would make for great storytelling in the hands of a skilled novelist or film-maker. Here is clearly another beautiful mind, or, as his friend Searle said, A first-rate oddity.

* * *

"The Forgotten Genius of Oliver Heaviside: A Maverick of Electrical Science" by Basil Mahon has been published in 2017 by Prometheus Books, Amherst, NY. (ISBN 978-1-63388-331-4)
by Emrys Westacott

On September 19, Donald Trump spoke before the UN general assembly. Addressing the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons program, he said that the US "if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, . . . will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea." And of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, he said, "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime."

There is nothing new about the US president affirming a commitment to defend itself and its allies. What is noteworthy about Trump's remarks is his cavalier talk of totally destroying another country, which implicitly suggests the use of nuclear weapons, and his deliberately insultingas opposed to just criticizingKim Jong-un. He seems to enjoy getting down in the gutter with the North Korean leader, who responded in kind by calling Trump a "frightened dog," and a "mentally deranged dotard." Critics have noted that Trump's language is closer to what one expects of a strutting schoolyard bully than a national leader addressing an august assembly. And one could ask interesting questions about the psychological make-up of both men that leads them to speak the way they do. From a moral and political point of view, though, the only really important question regarding Trump's behavior is whether or not it is sensible. Is it a good idea to threaten and insult Kim Jong-un.

As a general rule, the best way to evaluate any action, including a speech act, is pragmatically: that is, by its likely effects. This is not always easy. Our predictions about the effects of an action are rarely certain, and they are often wrong. Moreover, even if we agree that one should think pragmatically, most of us find it hard to stick to this resolve. How many parents have nagged their teenage kids even though they know that such nagging will probably be counterproductive? How many of us have gone ahead and made an unnecessary critical comment to a partner that we know is likely to spark an unpleasant and unproductive row? And if one happens to be an ignorant, impulsive, narcissist, the self-restraint required in acting pragmatically is probably out of reach. Which is worrying when one considers how high the stakes are in the verbal cock fight between Trump and Jong-un.

There can be various motives behind issuing a threat. You could be signaling something to a third party (e.g. that you are a dangerous enemy, or a loyal friend). Or you could be looking to bolster your own confidence. But insofar as you are thinking about the party you are threatening, a threat is usually intended to have one of two consequences.

1. Cause a conflict through provocation.

2. Forestall a conflict by instilling fear.

Every reasonable person agrees that a war between the US and North Korea would be catastrophic. It could very easily and quickly lead to millions of deaths in both North and South Korea. Even if one is callous enough to discount the consequences to North Koreans, the proximity of Seoul to the border, with a population in the greater metropolitan area of 24 million, means that North Korea could almost certainly wreak havoc even if it only used conventional weapons.

So a threat that risks provoking a conflict is horribly irresponsible. Threatening Kim Jong-un is thus only sensible if it makes war less likely by instilling fear. Is it likely to do this? We don't know. To know how the recipient of a threat will react, you have to understand that person's mindset. But Kim Jong-un's mind is fairly opaque, at least to most Western observers.

In the absence of good information about what Kim Jong-un is really thinking, one naturally falls back on general principles that supposedly describe human nature, and therefore apply to him just as they apply to us all. Most people, it is said, are rational and self-interested; therefore, they won't normally act in ways that is wildly opposed to their own self-interest. And the same can reasonably be assumed of Kim Jong-un. But can it? The problem here is that the inference just drawn is invalid. From the fact that people are rational and self-interested, all that follows is that they won't usually act in ways that they perceive to be against their own interests. If their perceptions are mistaken, they may very well accidentally screw themselves over. So to predict how Jong-un will react to Trump's threats, we need to know not what will actually benefit him, but what he thinks will. Which brings us back to the opacity problem.

Dictator's minds are often hard to fathom because their view of the world is likely to be somewhat distorted. There are several reasons for this.

 They tend to be arrogant and hubristic, with an exaggerated sense of their own ability and power. (Think of Hitler invading the Soviet Union in June 1941 and six months later declaring war on the US.)

 They are often suspicious going on paranoid, so they don't trust good information. (Think of Stalin in 1941 ignoring all those who told him that Hitler was about to attack.)

 They are typically surrounded by sycophants who tell them only what it is assumed they want to hear.

These factors also explain why dictators often fail so spectacularly to do what would best serve their own interests. It's common for them to be portrayed, even by people who loathe them, as fiendishly shrewd and cunning. But this shrewdness is often quite narrow in scope. Plato got this right over two thousand years ago in the Republic. Tyrants, he argued, are pitiable rather than enviable. They think they know what is in their interest, but they don't.

Take Saddam Hussein, for example. He could have forestalled the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. But believing, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that there would be no invasion, he chose not to quash once and for all reports that he had weapons of mass destruction. By the end of the year, his sons were dead and he was in prison awaiting trial and eventual execution.

Or consider the Syrian dicatator Bashar al-Assad. Between 2000, when he assumed power, and 2010, he presided over a relatively stable country. But his brutal treatment of dissidents and his intransigent resistance to reform eventually led to a civil war which since 2011 has killed over 400,000 people, rendered millions homeless, and caused over five million people to flee the country, much of which now lies in ruins. Assad may be indifferent to the fate of ordinary Syrians, but his life and reputation would surely be much better had he pursued policies that didn't lead to this national disaster.

So one can't be certain that Kim Jong-un will only ever do what is (as opposed to what he believes to be) in his rational self-interest. For that reason, Trumps childlike posturing and sabre rattling are fantastically irresponsible. The uncontroversial bedrock principle that should underlie and inform US policy is that war would be catastrophic. Just about anything would be preferable. With respect to US foreign policy, therefore, war would represent an absolute failure. But it is not clear that Trump grasps this. A recent tweet read: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer! The casualness of this reference to people not being aroundthat is, to them and countless others being wiped out through military actionis numbing.

On another occasion, Trump declared that when it comes to North Korea, "talking is not the answer." That is as wrong as it gets. The only acceptable long term future is one in which the parties involved sit down and negotiate. Instead of offering deliberately provocative threats and insults, the US should do the following:

 State clearly that while they will always defend themselves and their allies, the US will not initiate any military action against North Korea.

 Express a desire for an improved relationship between the US and North Korea, with the long-term goal of full diplomatic relations.

 Propose, and work hard to achieve, both one-on-one talks between the US and North Korea, and multilateral talks involving South Korea, China, Japan and Russia to reduce military tension on the Korean peninsular.

 Propose similar talks to explore the development of economic activity linking North Korea and other countries.

Some people will object that these proposals amount to rewarding North Korea's "bad" behavior. They argue instead for economic sanctions rather than talks, preferring sticks to carrots. It is possible they are right. Yet in the history of international relations, economic sanctions have rarely achieved their purpose. More importantly, in this case it is quite possible that tighter economic sanctions could make things worsethat is, make war more likely if they make the North Korean government feel weaker and more desperate. What matters isn't what someone "deserves," but what works. To say it again, when the stakes are so high, pragmatism should be the order of the day.
Artist Megan Wilson and her 'Flower Interruption' brought colorful blooms to the steps of Asian Art Museum on Sunday. (Photography by Jen Woo)


Annual Report

Perth, Sep 25, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Directors present their report on Ironbark Zinc Limited ( ASX:IBG ) ( IRBGY:OTCMKTS ) (the "Company" and "Ironbark") and its controlled entities (together the "Consolidated Entity") for the financial year ended 30 June 2017.



BUSINESS ACTIVITIES



The principal achievement was the grant of a 30 year Mining Licence for the Citronen Zinc Project.



The Company obtained a 30 year Mining Licence (Exploitation Licence) and immediately commenced work on updating the Feasibility Study to meet Western World banking standards and at the same time entered into an agreement with China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd (NFC) to complete its due diligence and engineering work with a view to having the Feasibility Study in a Chinese bank friendly format. The NFC study is expected fairly soon and will be reported to the market in due course.



As part of NFC's work Ironbark concluded a site visit to Citronen with the Greenland Government Minister for Mines, Mute Bourup Egede and the Deputy Minister, Jorgen T. Hammeken-Holm as well as Vice President of China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd ("NFC"), Mr. Qin Junman. NFC has a Memorandum of Understanding with Ironbark for the potential funding and construction of the Citronen Project, and Mr. Junman led a team of engineers and experts from NFC and the Nerin Group in the site visit as part of NFC's ongoing project assessment. In addition Ironbark was supported by a senior engineer from CPC Project Design ("CPC"), a senior Ironbark geologist and a support crew. The site inspection formed part of the NFC project review and a Feasibility Study update being compiled by NFC for the purpose of preparing the project to access Chinese financing and development with current costs, pursuant to the MoU.



The site inspection was successful in introducing the Greenland Government Mines Minister and Deputy Minister to the Vice President of NFC and his selected team. It provided a solid understanding around the construction requirements and operating conditions for the Project. Presentations and reviews were conducted on the mineralisation, site locations of the open pit and underground mine, the process plant and tailings location, the port location and water supply among many other aspects of the Project.



As an event subsequent to the reporting period for this Annual Report Ironbark announced the updated Feasibility Study. The Feasibility Study Update (2017) was based on the original Feasibility Study but has incorporated a recent review of capital and operating costs.



To view the full report, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/126W4H69





About Ironbark Zinc Limited





Ironbark Zinc Limited (ASX:IBG) (OTCMKTS:IRBGY) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and is seeking to become a base metal mining house. Ironbark has an undrawn US$50M funding facility provided by Glencore to expand its project base through acquisition.

Ironbark seeks to build shareholder value through exploration and development of its projects and also seeks to actively expand the project base controlled by Ironbark through acquisition. The management and board of Ironbark have extensive technical and corporate experience in the minerals sector.

The wholly owned Citronen base metal project currently hosts in excess of 13.1 Billion pounds of zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb). For full details refer to ASX announcement 25 November 2014 Citronen Project Resource Update  JORC 2012 compliant resource.


Mereenie Joint Marketing Agreement

Brisbane, Sep 25, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Central Petroleum Limited ( ASX:CTP ) ( CPTLF:OTCMKTS ) ("Central") announces a Mereenie Joint Marketing Agreement ("JMA") which will facilitate the upgrading of Mereenie Reserves to coordinate with the commissioning of the Jemena NGP link to the East Coast gas network.



The JMA terms have been agreed today by the Mereenie Joint Venture participants (Central Petroleum Mereenie Pty Ltd as trustee for the Central Petroleum Mereenie Unit Trust ("CPMUT") and Macquarie Mereenie Pty Ltd ("Macquarie Mereenie").



The commencement of joint marketing under the JMA remains subject to satisfaction of a condition precedent, being the grant of authorisation by the ACCC (or Australian Competition Tribunal on review of an ACCC decision) for joint marketing under the JMA. (see Note below) A public submission for interim approval is planned to be lodged shortly.



The Supplementary Scheme Booklet distributed during the recent Scheme of Arrangement proposal by Macquarie MPVD Pty Limited, Central outlined to shareholders the complexities the company needed to address before further development of the Mereenie Gas Field. These arose particularly due to Mereenie being a 50:50 joint venture, with each party having a veto on the joint venture budget other than those expenditures required by law.



With joint marketing in place, budget approvals to commercialise future Mereenie gas reserves can be sought with parties being able to feasibly and efficiently progress various joint production and appraisal activities, including appraisal and development of the Stairway as a commercial production zone. Additionally it provides the certainty of being able to pursue sales for additional gas produced by allowing both parties to approve the capital investment required for any appraisal and development work to expand production.



Central is progressing plans for the drilling of two Mereenie wells using the funds raised in the successful A$27.2 million (before costs) equity raising, announced on 10 August 2017.



Additionally, on commencement of joint marketing, Macquarie Mereenie, as ultimate recipient of the $15m NEGI Bonus has agreed to cause the removal and/or indemnification of CPMUT of these payments, subject to such payment obligations being reinstated if the JMA is terminated prior to 3 June 2018.



Central Managing Director, Mr Richard Cottee, said "The Mereenie JMA provides independence and certainty to both of the joint venturers clearing the way for either of us to upgrade Mereenie Reserves so that the first delivery of gas can coincide with the NGP becoming operational.



"If approved by ACCC, it will signal a significant new supplier in the East Coast Gas Market at a time when the country urgently needs new competitors in the domestic gas market.



Importantly, Central retains full marketing rights to its existing Palm Valley and Dingo Gas Fields.



Once interim authorisation is granted the Stairway Development Programme ("SDP") will be put for joint venture approval. Ideally full authorisation of the joint marketing may be able to be obtained before the first appraisal well is drilled under the SDP which is expected in January."



Note:



1 Whilst a different type of joint marketing could occur without ACCC authorisation due to CPMUT and Macquarie Mereenie already being parties to an existing joint venture for the Mereenie Gas Field, it was considered prudent to seek ACCC authorisation in the circumstances





About Central Petroleum Limited





Central Petroleum Limited ( ASX:CTP) is a well-established, and emerging ASX-listed Australian oil and gas producer. In our short history, Central has grown to become the largest onshore gas producer in the Northern Territory (NT), supplying industrial customers and senior gas distributors in NT and the wider Australian east coast market.

Central is positioned to become a significant domestic energy supplier, with exploration and development plans across 180,000 km2 of tenements in Queensland and the Northern Territory, including some of Australia's largest known onshore conventional gas prospects. Central has also completed an MoU with Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) to progress the proposed Amadeus to Moomba Gas Pipeline to a Final Investment Decision.

We are also seeking to develop the Range gas project, a new gas field located among proven CSG fields in the Surat Basin, Queensland with 135 PJ (net to Central) of development-pending 2C contingent resource.


OtherLevels Wins Leading U.K. Wagering Affiliate and Publisher

Brisbane, Sep 25, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - OtherLevels Holdings Limited ( ASX:OLV ) ("OtherLevels") has announced that it has signed a leading U.K. wagering affiliate and publisher.



The company is a leading publisher of reviews of other wagering sites, and also through its affiliate operations is a source of traffic for major wagering operators.



OtherLevels will initially work with the company to deploy three message types - Web Push, Interstitials, and Inbox messaging within OtherLevels Intelligent Messaging for Conversion framework. OtherLevels digital marketing strategists will work with the in-house team to build conversion journeys for site visitors to increase conversion and reduce acquisition costs. This will be supported by campaigns to drive uplifts in user engagement, and returning user traffic.



Brendan O'Kane, OtherLevels Managing Director, commented, "We are very pleased to be working with this new client. Publishers and affiliates have traditionally relied on brand spend, and advertising based acquisition to fuel growth. OtherLevels with Intelligent Messaging for Conversion, enables publishers and affiliates to convert more unknown site visitors into known users, hence increasing conversion, and reducing acquisition costs. We are confident that success with this client, together other recent wins, will lead to further success across the publishing and affiliate sectors."



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.


Toronto Trip...

Rouyn-Noranda, Sep 25, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - I spoke with Dupont at lengths yesterday morning. He was about to leave for Montreal when I caught up with him. He's been in Toronto since last Saturday, & basically tied up since then meeting with, in his words, 'a variety of groups, & individuals'. Other than displaying his usual enthusiastic optimism, he would not provide me any details of any of the meetings he attended. However, he did indicate that every property on Explor's books is for sale, at the right price. I found that a very interesting unsolicited comment. So, speculating for a moment, did Dupont meet with Tahoe, or Goldcorp in regards to the Timmins Porcupine West GOLD Resource, and/or the Ogden properties? Or, did he meet with Kirkland Lake in regards to the PG-101 properties? Did he meet with Osisko, or McEwen?



All of those outfits would have a keen interest in many of Explor's properties. Some may recall the spectacular drill results at the company's Eastford Lake property a few years back, which blew the stock into $1.00 plus territory on the news. Maybe we have a potential buyer for that property block? Ultimately, the main purpose of his trip is to fund a $1million fall drilling campaign at the TPW, and fund a $1million fall drilling campaign at the Chester Copper property in New Brunswick. Any property sale, or Earn-In Agreement, could easily achieve those objectives.



Speculating some more, it strikes me as somewhat odd that the fully funded 3,000meter drilling campaign at East Bay still hasn't started. Last time Dupont & I spoke about that, he seemed to be very anxious to get the program underway. I've heard the geologists have completed their work relative to the site, and I know for a certainty, mobilization of crew & equipment wouldn't take but a few minutes. So, what's changed? Did he meet with IAMGOLD, bringing new considerations into that objective?



All the large, & intermediate GOLD producers in the Timmins, & Duparquet Camps are actively seeking out sensible, & ultimately profitable property acquisitions to ensure feed for their hungry mills. With GOLD holding around $1,300, and our variety of GOLD & Base Metal properties, are my speculations really that much of a stretch?



Lastly, office staff are busy with quarterly results, & an updated Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) should be available in the near future.



NOTE: This forum commentary was published from a third party source. It has not been verified by the company.





About Explor Resources Inc.





Explor Resources Inc. (CVE:EXS) (OTCMKTS:EXSFF) (FRA:E1H1) is a Canadian-based natural resources company with mineral holdings in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Explor is currently focused on exploration in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The belt is found in both provinces of Ontario and Quebec with approximately 33% in Ontario and 67% in Quebec. The Belt has produced in excess of 180,000,000 ounces of gold and 450,000,000 tonnes of cu-zn ore over the last 100 years. The Corporation was continued under the laws of Alberta in 1986 and has had its main office in Quebec since 2006.
Abt Associates is an industry pioneer of data-driven technology solutions and digital transformation. Our technology teams deliver digital solutions with the power to transform systems, policy, and lives.

Our nearly 60-year record of solving tough program and policy challenges stems from creative use of emergent technologies. From gaming and modeling for decision simulation to geospatial mapping, AI and cognitive computing, we understand how data can be used to build a better world and the questions technology can help us answer. And we cross disciplines, methods and geographic borders to improve the lives and economic well-being of people worldwide.

Our goal is to make data accessible and equitable for collaborative, transparent decision-making. To that end, our teams design digital solutions using agile, human-centered design practices to make data insights memorable, persuasive, and engaging. Our delivery of digital solutions is coupled with robust change management practices, a large partner ecosystem, and embedded security policies to drive adoption of digital services and move the needle on improving human lives.
Space alumni discuss Australia's future place in space

Monday, 25 September 2017



Four of the University of Adelaides most distinguished alumni involved in the global space industry, including former NASA astronaut Dr Andy Thomas, AO, will this week help the University celebrate its past and present involvement in the space industry.



Fifty years ago, University of Adelaide physics researchers worked with Australias Weapons Research Establishment to design, build and launch Australias first satellite, WRESAT, and earlier this year a University of Adelaide-built miniaturised satellite was launched by NASA, one of three Australian CubeSats and the first Australian satellites launched in 15 years.



In Adelaide for this weeks International Astronautical Congress  the worlds largest annual gathering of space professionals  the four University alumni will discuss their experiences in the space industry and Australias potential space future at a special University of Adelaide public lecture.



Dr Andy Thomas, the worlds first Australian-born astronaut, retired in 2014 after 22 years with NASA, four space flights, 177 days in space, a spacewalk, and four months living in zero gravity on the Mir space station. Dr Thomas graduated from the University of Adelaide with a degree and PhD in mechanical engineering.



Dr Kimberley Clayfield is Executive Manager of Space Sciences and Technology at CSIRO where she is responsible for the coordination and support of CSIROs space-related activities, and helps to guide Australias space technology agenda. Dr Clayfield graduated from the University of Adelaide with a degree and PhD in mechanical engineering.



Dr Justin Hardi leads the Combustion Dynamics Group at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Germanys national research centre for aeronautics and space. He is a highly experienced rocket propulsion research engineer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace) and a PhD in propulsion engineering.



Andrea Boyd is an International Space Station (ISS) Flight Operations Engineer, based at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany. She is the only Australias on the ISS flight control team and is based at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany. She graduated from the University of Adelaide with degrees in engineering and economics.



The University of Adelaide has a long history with space research and development, and is very proud of its distinguished alumni who continue to make their mark in the global space industry, says University of Adelaide Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Mike Brooks.



Today we continue to produce highly talented graduates and postgraduates in aerospace and other engineering as well as generating leading-edge research in areas from aeronautics and high-pressure combustion through to new developments in space law.



We welcome todays announcement of the new space agency and look forward to contributing strongly to this important sector.





The public lecture, Making our place in space: opportunities for Australias space future, is booked out but can be watched by livestream on the Universitys facebook site at www.facebook.com/uniofadelaide on Wednesday 27 September, 5.306.30 pm.

Contact Details

Media Release
Get AfricaFocus Bulletin by e-mail! Format for print or mobile Africa/Global: How Women Lose from Tax Injustice AfricaFocus Bulletin

September 25, 2017 (170925)

(Reposted from sources cited below) Editor's Note A new report from the Association for Women in Development (AWID), authored by Dr. Attiya Waris in Nairobi, makes a powerful case that women lose disproportionately from illicit financial flows, which reduce the tax base and deprive states of the resources to invest in critical public goods, and that addressing this issue is key to efforts to combat gender inequality. The point should not be surprising, but too often the impact of tax evasion and tax avoidance is cloaked in jargon that makes it less visible than cases such as overt discrimination against women in employment and wages. In contrast, this report stands out for its clarity. AfricaFocus strongly recommends the full version, which is available on-line at http://tinyurl.com/ych3zce3 This AfricaFocus Bulletin contains selected excerpts, as well as a short set of background notes prepared by AfricaFocus on the context of related debates in the United States. Two other examples highlighting the impact of illicit financial flows through tax avoidance by multinational companies are reports by Action Aid (2010) on SAB Miller in Ghana (http://tinyurl.com/ych3zce3) and on Associated British Foods (2013) in Zambia http://www.africafocus.org/docs13/tax1302.php). ActionAid also has a short (3.5 minute) animated video highlighting the impact of this in the Zambia case (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijtOErKjPMg). [Whether or not you have time to read the reports, you can watch and share this video!] For previous AfricaFocus Bulletins on tax injustice, illicit financial flows, and related issues, visit http://www.africafocus.org/intro-iff.php ++++++++++++++++++++++end editor's note+++++++++++++++++ Illicit Financial Flows: Why We Should Claim These Resources for Gender, Economic and Social Justice by Dr Attiya Waris Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) July 28, 2017 http://www.awid.org  Direct URL: http://tinyurl.com/ych3zce3 Editor's note: The conceptual distinction between a narrow and wider definition of illicit financial flows is often confusing. This paper begins with a very clear short explanation and justification for using the wider definition. For an earlier slightly longer discussion, prepared by AfricaFocus Bulletin in November 2015, see "Defining Illicit Financial Flows" http://tinyurl.com/yamhlajc Concept and Scale of Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) The concept of illicit financial flows (IFFs) is characterised by a lack of a unique consensual definition. Cobham, for example, explains the difference between a narrow and wider definition as follows: "There are two main definitions of illicit financial flows (IFF). One equates 'illicit' with 'illegal', so that IFFs are movements of money or capital from one country to another that are illegally earned, transferred, and/or utilized. This would include individual and corporate tax evasion but not avoidance (which is legal), and other criminal activity like bribery or the trafficking of drugs or people. The other relies on the dictionary definition of 'illicit' as 'forbidden by law, rules or custom'  encompassing the illegal but also including the socially unpalatable, such as the multinational corporate tax avoidance". This Venn diagram shows the overlap between illegal and illegimate

financial flows. Almost all illegal flows are also illegitimate, with exceptions

such as family remittances which may bypass legal foreign currency laws. For the purpose of this brief, we will use the broader definition that encompasses tax evasion, particularly by multinational corporations (MNCs). This is because the strong corporate lobby has largely shaped the very design of tax laws around the world. Exercising their economic and political influence on countries, they can define what type of tax avoidance is considered legal or illegal in different countries according to their profit interests. Illicit financial flows can be broken down into three main types: Proceeds from corrupt dealings: For example, bribes by corporations to secure public contracts/permits or false declaration of corporate profits in order to evade tax payment, especially by extractive industries such as mining and oil exploration. Proceeds from criminal activities: A system of bank secrecy is necessary to conceal the origins of illegally obtained money (e.g. from human trafficking or sale of illegal arms), typically by means of transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses  a process known as "money laundering". Proceeds from commercial tax abuse: tax abuse includes both tax evasion and tax avoidance by corporations and wealthy elites by using, for example, anonymous shell companies in secrecy jurisdictions 4 that hide who the beneficial owners really are and/or obscure information from tax authorities. Another form of commercial tax abuse by MNC's is to over quote imports or under quote exports, to hide the real value of products, and therefore profits  a process known as "trade mispricing". The exact amount of money being transferred through these systems is hard to calculate, because IFFs can only be traced through the international banking system. This does not account for money that simply moves from one place to another, within or across to states, without the aid of the banking system, for example, cash in exchange for political favors or ivory in exchange for small arms. While estimating just how much money is lost through IFFs can be a difficult task due to the inherent secrecy involved in their movement, there is consensus that they represent a tremendous problem. The Financial Transparency Coalition (FTC) released an infographic (http://tinyurl.com/yde4gqsa) summarizing the different existing estimates. For example, using data of trade misinvoicing, the Global Financial Integrity estimates, that as much as 7.8 trillion was lost by developing and emerging countries to IFFs from 2004 to 2013, and that this loss is getting bigger. The landmark report of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa (also known as the Mbeki report) estimates Africa to be losing more than $50 billion annually in IFFs. This reality is having severe consequences to the development of the continent. "Their economies do not benefit from the multiplier effects of the domestic use of such resources, whether for consumption or investment. Such lost opportunities impact negatively on growth and ultimately on job creation in Africa", 6 states the report. To illustrate the effects on development, the same report cites a study (O'Hare and others 2013) on the potential impact of IFFs on under- five child and infant mortality in the region. "Without IFFs, the Central African Republic would have been able to reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 on child mortality in 45 years compared with the 218 years at current rates of progress. Other striking examples are Mauritania, 19 years rather than 198 years; Swaziland, 27 years rather than 155 years; and the Republic of Congo, 10 years rather than 120 years. Perhaps most striking is the finding that if IFFs had been arrested by the turn of the century, Africa would reach MDG 4 by 2016" . The sheer amount shows that these lost' resources could have assisted states nationally and regionally to achieve the unmet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Moving forward, this could play a crucial role in financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and mobilizing the maximum available resources to ensure the realization of human rights and social justice. Efforts to quantify the gendered impact and implications of IFFs across the African continent are needed more than ever. The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) in partnership with Trust Africa, set out an important path in 2016 to strategically discuss with other organizations, how to effectively address this problem and propose political solutions supported by global processes to curb IFFs. The Disproportionate Impact of IFFs on Gender Justice Gender impacts of IFFs tend to be understood and studied at the national and even local level, with scarce literature that focuses on the global impact of IFFs as an obstacle to the realization of women's rights and gender justice. We take a look at some specific impacts here: Impact on delivery of social services An inadequate tax collection system has a direct impact on a country's budget deficit. The result has commonly been a reduction in key areas such as education, health care, cares facilities, which has a direct impact on women and women-headed households that are more vulnerable to national budget constraints. Despite external constraints, decisions on budget spending at the national level are highly political and gendered. The decision to choose between privileging certain areas like militarization and propaganda over social spending on people's needs in the areas mentioned above, is part of maintaining the status quo of power by local and global elites. The lower the investment in education, the easier to control a population kept on survival mode. The feminisation of poverty is a persistent phenomenon in which women are overrepresented amongst the most poor, with low-paid and poor-quality jobs. Because of unequal gendered power relations and entrenched cultural stereotypes that define women and girls identities and social roles, they predominantly do unpaid care work across the world. This situation has an impact on the advancement of women and girls' human rights It perpetuates their impoverishment, acting as an obstacle to women and girls participation in the paid economy, political life and bodily and sexual autonomy. For these reasons, women tend to be more dependent on public social services, which have the capacity to shift the unpaid care burden that falls disproportionately on their shoulders. Failure to mobilize public resources therefore robs women and children of the much-needed public services, which reflects a lack of recognition of the role of the care economy in subsidizing the entire economy. Unemployment and under investment in the economy When monies are illicitly transferred out of developing countries, the loss of public resources impacts negatively the economic development of a country and ultimately job creation. Similarly, when profits are illicitly transferred out of developing countries, reinvestment and the concomitant economic expansion to create local jobs are not taking place in these countries. Lack of public investment has consequently led to lack of employment creation and greater unemployment, hitting women particularly hard. According to 2016 ILO figures, in many regions in the world, in comparison to men, women are more likely to become and remain unemployed. They have fewer chances to participate in the labour force and  when they do  often have to accept lower quality jobs. Women are typically the first to lose their jobs and/or accept shorter hours and bad working conditions to keep jobs. Regressive fiscal policies IFFs often trigger regressive tax policies  countries facing budget deficit tend to cover that through increased consumption taxes rather than taxing the wealthy. Neoliberal assumptions that taxing the wealthy would result in the withdrawal of private investment in a given economy have permeated so deeply in economic policy decision-making, that putting profit over people has become an unquestionable reality worldwide, even as it remains fundamentally a political decision. Increasing consumption taxes is in many cases the less costly of options for governments (both economically and politically). After all, media corporations will not attack them as they would if they tax the wealthy and also because, unfortunately, in most cases there is not enough of a 'counter-power' / people power to stop them. A great way to get middle and even working class people to support governments that will not invest in social welfare, is the argument that the impoverished don't pay taxes and live off benefits that formalized workers sustain with their contributions. The invisibility of consumer taxes, and of who pays them the most in proportion to their income, is an effective tool for preserving the status quo. Countries that refuse to put into place mechanisms to efficiently tax those with greater wealth and income (both individuals and corporations) typically resort to indirect tax mechanisms  such as high rates of value added tax (VAT)  that collect taxes from consumer goods or services rather than from individuals or companies. These have a particularly negative effect on informal workers and people living in poverty  the majority of whom are women  as they spend a large part of their income on taxes for the essential goods and services they consume to sustain livelihoods, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and aid dependence. Marta Luttgrodt, 48, sells SABMiller beer from her stall in the shadow of the

company's Accra Brewery, Ghana. Photograph: Jane Hahn/Jane Hahn/ActionAid A poignant example is the SAB Miller Case in Ghana where Marta, who sells beer at her small stall in Accra, Ghana outside the SAB Miller factory, was paying more tax than the factory right next to her informal stand. This situation does little to encourage informal workers to register as formal workers, as this would further increase their tax burden. As a result, this perpetuates a situation in which informal workers are ineligible to receive social services like health and pension benefits; yet corporations and large businesses with huge profits are not pushed to contribute to building and sustaining the infrastructure for these same basic services. Principles of Equality and non-discrimination Tax policies can play a crucial role in reducing inequality and redistributing resources in order to level the playing field as much as possible. The failure to prevent corruption and the fact that tax amnesties continue to be granted to large corporations, fuel the desire among common taxpayers to be part of those that outwit the state and its tax administration. Equitable and progressive tax policies, based on human rights, have the potential to reduce inequalities and redistribute resources to achieve development goals and end impoverishment. Yet the wealthy few access legal and financial advice and services to better exploit tax loopholes, or open undeclared foreign bank accounts in low-tax jurisdictions. Reliance on debt and development cooperation Hidden wealth also increases inequality between developed and developing countries. For instance the African Tax Administration Forum estimates that up to one-third of Africa's wealth is being held abroad. This wealth and its associated income are beyond the reach of African tax authorities. It deprives countries of resources that could be used to mitigate inequality, and further enrich donor countries, where it is stored. This income could address the over-dependence on overseas development assistance (ODA), and shift the balance of power between donor and recipient countries; and enable self-determined development priorities and outcomes, rather than those imposed by ODA conditionality, including trade conditions. Threat to Women's Peace and security Lost resources through IFFs often cannot be used legitimately and end up fuelling criminal activity, including illegal arms trade, human trafficking  of which 49% of victims are women and 21% are girls 24  and other activities undermining peace and human rights. The data is patchy given the illegal nature of IFFs, but evidence gathered by many including Cobham, the Tax Justice Network and the report of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows out of Africa, noted that "IFF thrive on conflict and insecurity and also exacerbate both, undermining the financial and political prospects for effective states to deliver and support development progress." Considering the well-documented impact that war and conflict has on women and girls, the issue of IFFs is of outmost importance to tackle the financial enablers behind conflict and militarization. Resourcing for women's rights and gender justice One of the biggest challenges facing the implementation of long agreed commitments on human rights, women's rights and gender equality and related goals, like those contained in Agenda 2030, is ensuring that resources are sufficiently allocated. States have an obligation to mobilize the maximum available resources for the realization of human rights. Progressive taxation plays a key role in mobilizing public resources and is a key tool for addressing economic inequality, including gender inequality. The hidden resources of illicit financial flows must be unlocked and returned to bolster domestic resourcing of development goals and gender equality. Editor's note: The following notes were prepared by AfricaFocus Bulletin as background for the visit of a delegation to the United States by representatives of African trade unions & civil society organizations, organized by the Solidarity Center and ITUC-Africa on September 20-30, 2017. The delegation, which is visiting Washington, DC and the San Francisco Bay Area, is meeting with activists and policymakers to exchange views on strategies to combat inequality, tax injustice, and illicit financial flows. The delegation includes Joel Odigie, Coordinator Human and Trade Union Rights, African Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa); Caroline Mugalla, Executive Secretary, East African Trade Union Confederation; Luckystar Miyandazi, Policy Officer African Institutions Program, European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and former Africa Coordinator for Africa for ActionAid's tax justice program; and Gyekye Tanoh, head of the Political Economy Unit at Third World Network Africa. The United States and the International Debate on Illicit Financial Flows In Africa, the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows (https://www.uneca.org/iff) and the Stop the Bleeding Campaign to End Illicit Financial Flows from Africa (http://stopthebleedingafrica.org/) have put this term and this issue on the agenda for African governments and civil society organizations around the continent. In contrast, the term is not very familiar even among policy analysts in the United States, but the issues of tax justice, tax evasion, and tax avoidance are central to debate in both political circles and among social justice organizations. The focus is primarily on the domestic issue of how the rich do not pay their fair share. There is also an understanding that this has an international dimension, but there is little awareness of how the United States itself contributes to illicit financial flows. The challenge is to make these connections. This background note provides several resources useful for doing so. Financial Secrecy Index, Tax Justice Network http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/ The Financial Secrecy Index ranks jurisdictions according to their secrecy and the scale of their offshore financial activities. A politically neutral ranking, it is a tool for understanding global financial secrecy, tax havens or secrecy jurisdictions, and illicit financial flows or capital flight. An estimated $21 to $32 trillion of private financial wealth is located, untaxed or lightly taxed, in secrecy jurisdictions around the world. Secrecy jurisdictions - a term we often use as an alternative to the more widely used term tax havens - use secrecy to attract illicit and illegitimate or abusive financial flows. Illicit cross-border financial flows have been estimated at $1-1.6 trillion per year: dwarfing the US$135 billion or so in global foreign aid. Since the 1970s African countries alone have lost over $1 trillion in capital flight, while combined external debts are less than $200 billion. So Africa is a major net creditor to the world - but its assets are in the hands of a wealthy elite, protected by offshore secrecy; while the debts are shouldered by broad African populations. Top 15 countries: 1. Switzerland, 2. Hong Kong, 3. USA, 4. Singapore, 5. Cayman Islands, 6. Luxembourg, 7. Lebanon, 8. Germany, 9. Bahrain, 10. United Arab Emirates (Dubai), 11. Macao, 12. Japan, 13. Panama, 14. Marshall Islands, 15. United Kingdom Fact Sheet on Offshore Corporate Loopholes, Americans for Tax Fairness https://americansfortaxfairness.org/ - direct URL: http://tinyurl.com/y7kmqs8x "Many U.S. corporations use offshore tax havens and other accounting gimmicks to avoid paying as much as $90 billion a year in federal income taxes. A large loophole at the heart of U.S. tax law enables corporations to avoid paying taxes on foreign profits until they are brought home. Known as "deferral," it provides a huge incentive to keep profits offshore as long as possible. Deferral gives corporations enormous incentives to use accounting tricks to make it appear that profits earned here were generated in a tax haven. Profits are funneled through subsidiaries, often shell companies with few employees and little real business activity. Effectively, firms launder U.S. profits to avoid paying U.S. Taxes." Background notes on tax justice and illicit financial flows in U.S. political context Prepared by AfricaFocus Bulletin for

Solidarity Center Mini-Symposium, September 28, 2017 Africa & the U.S.: Illicit Financial Flows, Tax Justice, and Economic Inequality The "tax reform" debate "The big battle throughout the fall will be taxes. The Republicans are trying to decide whether to go for massive tax cuts--particularly for corporations, which are awash in cash, and the rich--or massive tax cuts plus an overhaul of the tax system that will permanently favor the wealthy and the corporations (and probably hurt the middle class)." - Brooklyn College political scientist Corey Robin, Facebook post, September 2, 2017 https://www.facebook.com/corey.robin1/posts/1488929127839470 "It's a Myth That Corporate Tax Cuts Mean More Jobs," by Sarah Anderson The New York Times, August 30, 2017

http://tinyurl.com/y8fqapyq "The arithmetic for us is simple," AT&T's chief executive, Randall Stephenson, said on CNBC in May. If Congress were to cut the 35 percent tax on corporate profits to 20 percent, he declared, "I know exactly what AT&T would do -- we'd invest more" in the United States. Every $1 billion in tax savings would create 7,000 well-paying jobs, Mr. Stephenson went on to say. The correlation between lower corporate taxes and more jobs, he assured viewers, runs "very, very tight." As Congress prepares to take up tax legislation this fall, including an effort to reduce the corporate tax rate, this bold jobs claim merits examination. Notably, it comes from the chief executive of a company that's already paying comparatively little in federal taxes. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, AT&T enjoyed an effective tax rate of just 8 percent between 2008 and 2015, despite recording a profit in the United States each year, by exploiting tax breaks and loopholes. (The company argues that it pays significant taxes, at a rate close to 34 percent in recent years, but that includes deferred taxes and state and local levies.) Despite the enormous savings AT&T has realized, the company has been downsizing. Although it hires thousands of people a year, the company, by our analysis at the Institute for Policy Studies, reduced its total work force by nearly 80,000 jobs between 2008 and 2016, accounting for acquisitions and spinoffs each involving more than 2,000 workers. Institute for Policy Studies report: "Corporate Tax Cuts Boost CEO Pay, Not Jobs" http://www.ips-dc.org - Direct URL: http://tinyurl.com/y7fdkovy 3-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIdOkaeqe2E House Speaker Paul Ryan is proposing to cut the statutory federal corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent. President Trump wants to slash the rate even further, to just 15 percent. Their core argument? Lowering the tax burden will lead to more and better jobs. To investigate this claim, this report is the first to analyze the job creation records of the 92 publicly held U.S. corporations that reported a U.S. profit every year from 2008 through 2015 and paid less than 20 percent of these earnings in federal income tax. Did these reduced tax rates actually lead to greater employment within the 92 firms? The data we have compiled give a definitive -- and sobering -- answer. The money-laundering debate and the Trump investigation Dan Froomkin, "Trump's World of Luxury Real Estate is Fueled by Money-Laundering" American Constitution Society Blog, August 31, 2017 Brief excerpt. Full article at: http://tinyurl.com/y93w93f8 The ultra-high-end real estate business, where Donald Trump made a lot of his money, is the easiest place for oligarchs and others to launder large amounts of illicit cash. And because several of the lawyers on special counsel Robert Mueller's team investigating Russian connections with the Trump presidential campaign are specialists in money-laundering and other financial crimes, some observers are speculating that he may be looking into Trump's past business dealings to see if any of those connections are relevant to the matter at hand. The fact that money-launderers flock to luxury real estate is nothing new, and isn't much of a mystery either. It's the direct result of a major loophole in U.S. government rules that require banks to report cash deposits over $10,000 -- but allow property owners to accept $10 million in cash for a condo without divulging who gave it to them. ... For fraudsters, drug cartels, oligarchs and corrupt foreign government officials looking for a way to launder huge sums of illicit cash -- and park it somewhere safe -- high-end real estate is the investment of choice. "You can put a lot of money in one place at one time, without raising any eyebrows," says Heather Lowe, legal counsel for the dirty-money watchdog group Global Financial Integrity. The Treasury Department explains it this way: "The real estate market can be an attractive vehicle for laundering illicit gains because of the manner in which it appreciates in value, 'cleans' large sums of money in a single transaction, and shields ill-gotten gains from market instability and exchange-rate fluctuations." A New York Times series in 2015 found that more than half of the $8 billion spent each year on New York residences that cost more than $5 million comes from shell corporations that mask the real owners' identities, one possible sign of moneylaundering. Global Witness, "Undercover in New York," January 2016 https://www.globalwitness.org/shadyinc/ "We went undercover and approached 13 New York law firms. We deliberately posed as someone designed to raise red flags for money laundering. We said we were advising an African minister who had accumulated millions of dollars, and we wanted to buy a Gulfstream Jet, a brownstone and a yacht. We said we needed to get the money into the U.S. without detection. To be clear, the meetings with the lawyers were all preliminary. None of the law firms took our investigator on as a client, and no money was moved. Nonetheless, the results were shocking; all but one of the the lawyers had suggestions on how to move the funds. To see what some of them said, watch [this 3-minute video]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8pgI60GrvU Current Congressional Legislation related to Illicit Financial Flows and Tax Justice Corporate Transparency Act of 2017

A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to ensure that persons who form corporations or limited liability companies in the United States disclose the beneficial owners of those corporations or limited liability companies, in order to prevent wrongdoers from exploiting United States corporations and limited liability companies for criminal gain, to assist law enforcement in detecting, preventing, and punishing terrorism, money laundering, and other misconduct involving United States corporations and limited liability companies, and for other purposes. S. 1717: Sponsor Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), 1 cosponsor, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s1717 H.R. 3089: Sponsor Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), 10 cosponsors (5R, 5D) https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3089 Related background on beneficial ownership https://thefactcoalition.org/issues/incorporation-transparency Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act

A bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes. Summary: This bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to impose restrictions on foreign jurisdictions or financial institutions to counter money laundering and efforts to significantly impede U.S. tax enforcement. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand reporting requirements for certain foreign investments and accounts held by U.S. persons, and amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to: (1) require corporations to disclose certain financial information on a country-by-country basis, and (2) impose penalties for failing to disclose offshore holdings. S. 841: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), no cosponsors https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s851 H.R. 1932: Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), 59 cosponsors, all Democrats https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1932 Related background on country-by-country reporting https://thefactcoalition.org/resources/country-by-country-reporting Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2017

A bill to impose a tax on certain trading transactions to invest in our families and communities, improve our infrastructure and our environment, strengthen our financial security, expand opportunity and reduce market volatility. S. 805: Sen. Bernard Sanders (D-VT), no cosponsors https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s805 H.R. 144: Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), 23 cosponsors, all Democrats https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1144 Related background on financial transaction ("Robin Hood") taxes http://www.robinhoodtax.org/how/everything-you-need-to-know AfricaFocus Bulletin is an independent electronic publication providing reposted commentary and analysis on African issues, with a particular focus on U.S. and international policies. AfricaFocus Bulletin is edited by William Minter. AfricaFocus Bulletin can be reached at africafocus@igc.org. Please write to this address to suggest material for inclusion. For more information about reposted material, please contact directly the original source mentioned. For a full archive and other resources, see http://www.africafocus.org
Every time terror strikes India, there is the usual wailing and breast beating. Debates follow on how to hit back. Our selfish politicians have relegated national security to the back benches. All they are interested in raising their pay, creating controversies for vote banks and ways to loot the nation. The armed forces have been continuously degraded and humiliated in various ways. Every pay commission has systematically improved the status of the exalted civil services. There has not been any knowledgeable debate on national security.

We are saddled with two very hostile neighbours over on the look out to needle us. Hardly any politician is aware of the nitty-gritty of defence matters. The entire defence ministry is manned by the civil service gang which has never seen even the back end of a gun. Every defence procurement is riddled with swindle, scandal and scam. Vital requirements are stalled by ill informed selfish leaders. In such time of crisis, we have our political clan letting out a lot of hot air from both the ends. A dynasty fighting to keep control of UP failed in their last attempt miserably and lost out the rat race. Two southern states are embroiled over water sharing. The GOP is always out to downplay the government in power with their Hamlet shouting gibberish.

The mighty USA, now shedding crocodile tears on recent terror attacks, is indirectly responsible for creating a terror state. Right from the very moment, US has been mollycoddling Pakistan. The US was also instrumental in Pakistan becoming a nuclear power. It turned a blind eye to the interchange of technology between China and North Korea. As per latest notification Donald Trump says US may have to totally destroy North Korea as it is a threat to the world.

Just for the sake of it, the US keeps warning Pakistan during such incidents, which is never heeded to and this renegade nation continues its nefarious agenda, unhindered. For a long time the much wanted Osama bin Laden was kept well hidden by the Pakistan Army and ISI. Only now it has been realised how untrustworthy is its ally. India should have retaliated after the 2008 Mumbai massacre. Isolation hardly matters to them. The only answer is for the US to completely stop bank rolling a terror state and impose sanctions. Pakistan is totally subsidised for misplaced American generosity. Once this dries up, the terror activities will dwindle and eventually come to halt.

US should withdraw all their military bases, all over the world, stop immediately holding live fire exercises along with the North/South Korean/Russia border and finally keep their noses out of every other countrys business and we might at last get some peace on Planet Earth. Warmongering is good for business and that is why the Americans have been perfecting it since world war and it made them very rich. India needs to handle both US and Pakistan tactically. In a sharp escalation of its attack, India slammed Pakistan at the UN for its support of terrorism, calling it a terroristan. Pakistans contribution to the globalisation of terror is unparalled. It is time to stop the terror tactics of Pakistan for its survival and condemn US for all its unwanted activities and actions.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Nowadays rumours have sparked about Shiv Sena pondering to call off alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); anyways the break up will not affect the latter. BJP has always tried to cater Shiv Senas demands but the latter has always concocted needless objection. In the last one to one-and-a-half years, it has become a habit of Sena to oppose developmental works, and stop the Chief Ministers works despite being a part of the alliance. All the MLAs of Sena those working under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are happy with governments functioning, they will not hesitate to join BJP than continue with Sena which is on the verge of getting distorted in state. If Sena ditches the alliance, a huge number of its MLA`s will join hands with BJP. On the other hand, Maharashtra government has already welcomed the recently resigned Congress leader Narayan Rane.

BJP is playing it brilliant, they approached NCP Supreme Pawar and also tried to offer ministerial berth to his daughter and Narayan Rane, the old timer of Sena may join BJP. So all grassroots level Maharashtra leaders are coming under the umbrella of BJP. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena is losing its own leaders and elected MLAs because of their impractical approach. The party has already begun its muscle flexing and is behaving as if it is in the opposition.

Sena needs to realise that, gone are the days when Vajpayee was happy being a junior partner to Balasaheb Thackeray in Maharashtra. Ever since Modi took over, the party wants 100 per cent control. But even after intensely fighting the Assembly polls against each other in 2014, Shiv Sena had to join the BJP government led by Devendra Fadnavis. After the 2014 Vidhan Sabha elections, Sena did not join the Fadnavis government immediately. Influenced by the Modi wave and the growing charts of the BJP, there were buzzes that some Shiv Sena MLAs were in touch with the BJP. Out of power and with no signs of immediate relief, Uddhav would have found it difficult to keep the flock of 63 MLAs together.

Congress has always been the number one enemy of Shiv Sena and Balasaheb Thackeray. Sena has grown by attacking Congress policies. For years altogether, right from the time Shiv Sena-BJP alliance began, the former always tried to be the elder brother. Their leader, then Balasaheb Thackeray, had an upper hand over Maharashtra politics, than its alliance partner BJP, though not better than what Congress and NCP managed to. Shiv Sena still lives in those days and is in a state of denial that BJP is very much stronger than them. They dont even accept that their party is in this position today because of the Modi wave and their alliance. Otherwise, it is not even a state party, but a municipal party, which has minimal reach beyond Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

If we closely notice, present Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackerays leadership has been dared by its own voters of the state, Uddhav do not have that grip that Balasaheb had. The Bharatiya Janata Partys giant strides in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls was another example to prove how Sena is losing its hold. After the death of Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray in 2012, Uddhav gained complete control of the party. However, he managed to gain success in the Assembly polls with 63 MLAs, as BJP had snapped ties at the last minute. Despite the Modi wave, Uddhav managed to get his MLAs elected, emphasising his leadership skills or sympathy votes of Balasaheb. Since they came to power, the approach of Uddhav changed drastically and gradually he is hedging towards political suicide. If not BJP then Uddhav has only one option, but that also he had earlier refused to join hands with MNS, so its up to both cousins to iron out their differences. As both the cousins have their egos and differences which will never settle because of women behind these two men. There are gossips that the Sena-MNS politics is decided most of the time in their kitchens.

Anyways, Uddhav Thackeray is now doing what every 2nd ranker student will do. Call the 1st ranker a bad person, cheater, make allegations and waffle nonsense. His statements have nothing to do with governance or any real issue for that matter. He is just getting personal against a rival, whom he couldnt take down politically. Such ill-advised statements however are nothing to be worried about, as no one listens to him except for his own supporters. He thinks he can replace Balasaheb, he forgets two things  Uddhav is not Balasaheb and Amit Shah is not Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The alliance won 1996 Maharashtra legislative assembly elections. Shiv Senas Manohar Joshi was elected the CM and BJPs Gopinath Munde as the Deputy CM. The NDA govt of 19961999 was the same as the UPA govt of 20042014, in the sense that, as Sonia Gandhi remote controlled the UPA government, Balasaheb remote controlled the NDA government. Further, when NDA lost in 1999, and then again in 2004 and 2009, BJP remained the younger brother in the alliance, with Shiv Sena dominating the opposition alliance. Important decisions of the alliance took place at Matoshree, where BJP leader Pramod Mahajan used to visit to discuss matters. Time has changed. Leaders have changed. Sena lives under the illusion that it could still be the elder brother. BJP showed Sena its real place, by not only winning the elections with twice as much seats, but also by not giving the position of Deputy CM to Sena, a position which remains vacant till date. 2017 Legislative Assembly Elections were also swept by BJP. The cherry on the top was UP, with BJP gaining 78 per cent seats. Shiv Sena couldnt simply digest BJPs victory. Sena is afraid to see that its chair of Maharashtra dominance has become rickety. It cannot make demands or order its alliance partner anymore. However, for a party which has long been used to this status, it is impossible to accept this fact that it no longer can demand that respect that it earlier used to.

For two years it has threatened BJP, that they will collapse the Maharashtra State govt by withdrawing support, but it hasnt had the guts to do so. And now after BMC elections, even the hollow threats have stopped, now that BJP supports its government in the civic body. If they were genuine, they could have simply moved out, took the support of NCP and Congress, and made BJP sit in the opposition. Also, they can manage with support of Congress in BMC. Shiv Sena insiders are sure that they will not continue in the government for a full 5 years, but this is not the right time to give up, they feel.

Uddhavs boycott is a clear signal of his unhappiness. Headlines of his party mouthpiece Saamana are even clearer. It attacks almost every BJP leader from Amit Shah to Modi almost every day. The Shiv Sena is clearly scratchy in an alliance with a now-expansionist BJP. Still, it will continue to be a part of the government for some more time. Sena has been out of power for 15 long years. That power is also a source of income for political parties, is an open secret. For a small regional party like Sena, its necessary to recharge itself before locking horns with a mighty BJP for upcoming time.

But, despite the differences, both need each other for the time being. The Sena does not want to leave the government right now  it will calculate when a parting suits it best. The BJP needs the Sena even more  though the Fadnavis government will not fall immediately if the Sena withdraws, the BJP will have to depend on Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party, which would demolish the BJPs claim of being against corruption. Maharashtra is not a state the BJP wants to let go of, especially as there are massive infrastructure projects in the offing in Mumbai. The Sena knows that the BJP needs it more than it needs the BJP and consequently loses no opportunity to push it around.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 46F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 46F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Iraqi Minorities Face a Dilemma in Kurdish Independence

After gaining control of much of Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State jihadist movement (IS) and other Sunni extremists committed grave atrocities and international human rights violations against non-Sunni minorities, including perhaps the most extreme crime of all, the genocide that was perpetrated against Yazidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims. As IS is gradually defeated on the battlefield, another fear looms ahead for these persecuted groups. Despite the overwhelming objection of many international and local parties, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) will mostly likely hold a referendum for independence on September 25 in the KRI's official governorates of Erbil, Suleimaniyah, and Dohuk, as well as in the disputed territories of Kirkuk, Nineveh Plain, and Sinjar. Ethnic and religious minorities inhabit the disputed territories, which are heterogeneous in population and present different concentrations of Iraqi minorities including Christians, Yazidis, Turkmen, Shabak, and Kakai--minorities that have long suffered threats and persecution. But today, they face another dilemma. The minorities face two challenges: the potential for immediate danger ignited by the process of independence itself, and secondly, their rights being jeopardized under future separate states of Kurdistan and Iraq. In the KRI, religious extremism has expanded significantly in the past ten years, paralleling the general increase in religiosity. The number of mosques in the region now exceeds the total number of schools, universities, and hospitals combined. Concerns that religious extremism could increase in the future causes alarm for non-Muslim groups. Studies have shown that around one thousand Kurdish youth joined IS, suggesting that Kurdish societies have serious issues with radicalism that must be addressed. While the KRI is mainly ruled by nationalist parties that are not ideologically invested in Islamic beliefs, non-Muslim minorities fear that this might not hold in the future and that, as in other Middle Eastern countries, religious attitudes will eventually become dominant. More importantly, the process of independence itself could be threatening to minorities, especially since the primary areas inhabited by minorities are located almost exclusively on the borders of the KRI, meaning that if Kurdish independence were to be resolved through military means, these areas would be the first to be hit by war. Not only would this delay the return of IDPs to Yazidi areas, but it could even make their return impossible. Minorities in Kurdistan often claim that they are being used by the Kurdish political parties for political advantages. The referendum was designed to take place without input from the KRI minorities and their political opinions were not solicited. However, some groups have gone ahead and submitted written recommendations or demands. Assyrians, Armenians, and Turkmen have submitted a paper with fifty demands to the High Committee of the Referendum. These demands mainly ask that religious and ethnic rights to be preserved in the new state and emphasize that autonomous administration of their areas should be granted. Yazidis, the largest ethno-religious minority, will also be participating in the referendum according to the KRG's plans. Yazidis, like others, are divided on the issue of Kurdistan's independence; however, most Yazidis will probably stay away from voting. The Yazidi political elite close to the KDP have been involved in promoting the referendum; however, the general Yazidi public appear to be highly disengaged from the process and to largely reject the referendum on an emotional level. The disconnect between the Yazidis and the KRG, specifically the KDP, is the result of widespread mistrust. Many Yazidis believe that when the KDP security forces withdrew from Sinjar in August 3, 2014, they abandoned their military obligation and civic responsibility to protect the area, thereby making it easy for IS to commit genocide against Yazidi civilians. Yazidi support for Kurdistan independence will not be free; if the Kurdish leadership want Yazidis to be on their side, they must commit to serious steps including bringing those who abandoned Sinjar to justice, assuring Yazidis of their rights under the constitution, accepting Yazidis as a group with a full set of rights as an ethnicity and a religion, and guaranteeing autonomy for Yazidi areas in Sinjar and Sheikhan. Religious groups are also concerned about the demographic changes to their homeland. Many areas that were once considered homelands for Christians, Yazidis, Shabak, and Kakai in the Nineveh Plain have been altered over the past ten years. Kurdish Muslims have systematically settled in these areas, pushing out the indigenous people. These changes continue today. For example, the percentage of Yazidis in the total population of the Sheikhan district, north of Mosul, was around 85 percent 30 years ago. Today, the ratio of Yazidis to Muslims has significantly decreased, with the percentage of Yazidis now estimated to be below 30 percent with Kurdish Muslims around 70 percent. The Yazidi town of Bashiqa is experiencing similar demographic changes and other Yazidi areas have been (and will continue to be) impacted, as well. The Master Plan for the City of Dohuk, designed in 2010 by the Ingenieurb
Freight volumes continued to increase in July, said Airports Council International (ACI) in its latest figures. Traffic was boosted 8.4% by strengthening global trade and industrial production, the trade group commented.

Year-to-date global volume growth reached 8.4%, a particularly stark contrast with July 2016, where this number stood at 0.9%, commented ACI.

Most regions posted strong freight growth in July, with Africa leading at 18.1%, followed by Europe (11.2%), the Middle East (10.6%) and Asia-Pacific (9.3%). North America and Latin-America and Caribbean were more muted, increasing 6.5% and 3.8% respectively, in line with their year to date numbers.

South Africa and Kenya both posted growth rates of more than 20%. Most countries in Europe grew in July, with the two largest freight markets in the region, Germany and the UK, making a significant contribution, at 9.3% and 12.5% respectively.

Istanbul Ataturk Airport freight volume rose 32.2% year on year and, continuing a trend started in March, London Heathrow also made a significant contribution, growing 15.1% in July. Despite a decrease in passenger traffic at Doha International Airport due to the ongoing diplomatic row with neighbouring countries, freight continued its sustained growth, reaching 14.5% year on year.

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September 25, 2017

Lebanese author Khalil Gibrans masterpiece The Prophet and Arabic protest art lie at the heart of the Beirut Art Fair (BAF), an international exhibition that was held for the eighth time Sept. 21-24. For the first time, there is also a parallel event, the Beirut Design Fair (BDF).

Beirut has always been seen as one of the capitals of art and design in the Middle East as well as the meeting place of curators, artists, culture operators and art fans from all over the world. One of the pillars of the art scene is BAF founder Laure dHauteville. The number of local, regional and international galleries and artists who join the fair increases every year; this year there were 51 galleries from 23 countries.

The first edition of the BDF brought together 44 Lebanese designers, from young and unknown to globally renowned. The co-founder and director of BDF, Guillaume Tasle dHeliand, told Al-Monitor that he wants this first edition to reassure the unique representation of Beirut as an international platform for design.

Beirut is already very important, but not everyone is aware of it, he said. Events like the Beirut Design Week have a local and regional audience, and the role of fairs is to take it to the next level, which is creating an international platform. He said that, unlike many fairs around the world, there was no theme given to the artists. It would frame the artists, and we want them to be free to create, BDF co-founder Hala Moubarak said to Al-Monitor.

There were several focal points at the BAF. The first was Arab national identity through the exhibition Ourouba, The Eye of Lebanon, curated by Lebanese-Iranian author and curator Rose Issa and featuring loans from private and public collections of Lebanon. Considered to be the main exhibition of BAF 2017, it explored the notion of Arabicity through 62 installations, videos, paintings, photographs, sculptures and calligraphy by 39 artists.

I wanted for a long time to do this subject, but the country wasnt ready yet, dHauteville told Al-Monitor. Its also an exhibition that is not possible to do in the other countries of the region because it would be censored. Here, you have protest artists politically and socially involved in whats going on the region. At the same time, Lebanon is a country where each family has a collector and an artist; people do know about art. For me, Beirut Art Fair is a kind of platform to understand, see and discover through an innovative approach of contemporary and modern art, which is very present in the region.

Lebanon is certainly one of the only countries where you can have a portrait of former US President George W. Bush surrounded by shoes  a reference to an Iraqi hurling his shoe at Bush in 2008, or a picture of the commercialization of Mecca.

One of the artists exhibiting in Ourouba, The Eye of Lebanon, Abdulrahman Katanani, is a Palestinian refugee born in Lebanon. He presented a wave made of wires to illustrate the evolving idea of borders and how they are used to keep people out. I always work for the cause of refugees, Katanani told Al-Monitor. People fleeing by sea  thinking they would have a better and safer life  are in fact swallowed by the sea. I used to have such a romantic representation of the sea, of the waves, but now it has become a border, blocking us from freedom. I think of it as a protest against all kinds of borders, physical and psychological.

Rose Issa was contacted by dHauteville for this project, and the two of them together selected the work to exhibit. Their only criterion was that the work be made in the last decade. It is better to have the pulse of the region, Issa said. It is also a good chance for people to see what artists create and collectors gather nowadays.

The exhibition touched a very sensitive cord: the anger and preoccupations of all generations of artists taken in the tumult of social, economic and political changes in the region. What we can feel out of all this work is the need to have an identity, Issa added. They have a lot to say, notably their disappointment of the world we live in. You can see annihilated cities and history, very abrupt critics of despotism, of religion as a weapon of war. Through them, we see where we are in the region and it speaks to people. The audience really admires the artists bravery and determination.

The other main focus of the BAF is on Khalil Gibrans The Prophet, the most widely read Arabic book, translated into 50 languages and with dozens of millions of copies sold worldwide. This exhibition juxtaposes for the first time the illustrations and drawings made by Gibran for the first English edition of The Prophet with those created for the recent edition by Rachid Koraichi, an Algerian engraver and illustrator. Koraichi presented 49 drawings to reinterpret Gibrans message in Arabic and Sufi calligraphy.

It came to me in July 2016, Koraichi told Al-Monitor. There was the attack in Nice, the killing of Priest [Jacques] Hamel in Normandy and I was undergoing surgery at a personal level. A very bad month. I had read 'The Prophet' as a child during Algerias war, and I re-read it at that time. It struck me: How can a man talk about peace, respect and humanity when we are in the middle of a volcano? And why dont men love peace? Why cant they accept the other? We already have sickness and death as limits to our lives; why would you want to cause more pain or death to people?

Working on the text was therapeutic for the artist, but he considers it a gift from both Gibran and him to the people. Today more than ever, we need this voice of peace and especially love," Koraichi said.
September 25, 2017

WASHINGTON  European envoys to the United States said today that US President Donald Trump has already succeeded in changing the conversation on Iran and that he doesnt need to rip up the nuclear deal.

In a sense, this administration has changed the climate on Iran, British Ambassador Kim Darroch said at a panel of four European ambassadors at the Atlantic Council. It is succeeding.  But lets keep the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action].

Darroch said he has noticed an intensification of contacts over the past couple of months between the Europeans and experts within the US administration on how to increase the pressure on Iran. The Western allies broadly share Washingtons concerns about Irans support for militant proxy groups in the region such as Lebanons Hezbollah and Yemens Houthi rebels, Iran's support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iran's ballistic missile testing.

The ambassadors from France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union spoke ahead of an Oct. 15 deadline for Trump to certify to Congress whether the Iran nuclear deal advances US national security interests. Trump has hinted he is unlikely to do so. If he decertifies, Congress has 60 days to decide whether to vote to reimpose nuclear-related US sanctions waived under the accord in exchange for Irans rollback of its nuclear program.

The European envoys said Trumps certification decision is technically a domestic American issue. Their concern is if the US reimposes sanctions, that would be a material breach of the deal that threatens to unravel it.

Whether or not Trump certifies next month is basically a domestic issue, French Ambassador Gerard Araud said. What matters will be the consequences. We are not going to criticize the president for certification or decertification. That is your problem.

All parties, even the Trump administration, have previously acknowledged that Iran is technically complying with the deal. The European envoys warned that Washingtons threat to undermine the accord, which Iran is widely seen as honoring, could have devastating strategic consequences for nuclear nonproliferation around the world, including efforts to try to reach a diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear threat.

Reopening the negotiation is a non-starter, Araud said. There is also a question of credibility. How do we get an agreement with North Korea if we renege on our agreements?

German Ambassador Peter Wittig warned that the six world powers that reached the nuclear deal with Iran after years of complex and grueling negotiations would not pull together again if the United States leaves now.

We can never get a deal with this group of countries again, Wittig said. Anyone thinking that is just dreaming.

Those who advocate renegotiation have to make the case whether renegotiation is possible and whether renegotiation will deliver better results, he said. We dont think renegotiation is possible.

The European envoys said the Trump administration does not need to threaten to reimpose sanctions or gin up a crisis to get them to discuss prospects for dealing with Irans other destabilizing actions. But they stressed that collaboration to address those threats needs to build on the 2015 nuclear accord, not undermine it.

One tool the Europeans use to raise their concerns with Iran is dialogue, they said.

We share a lot of the American concerns about Irans regional behavior, Germanys Wittig said. What had not been mentioned is, we are talking with the Iranians about that in a pretty robust way. We have contacts across the board with a pretty diverse spectrum of Iranian society. We all have embassies there.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, asked by Al-Monitor if Iran would be open to possible talks on an additional or follow-on accord, insisted Iran wont renegotiate the JCPOA, but is always happy to talk.

It is the JCPOA in its current form. End of the story, Rouhani said at a press conference in New York last week. It must be implemented as such.

So for the Europeans to tell America to remain in the JCPOA in exchange for convincing and bringing Iran to the table to negotiate about other topics? Rouhani said. That is not founded in reality.

Now the JCPOA is being implemented, Rouhani said. If our friends in the European Union are keen on speaking with us about something, we are happy to talk with them about anything. We speak with them on a daily basis.  We have no issue with speaking or talking about one [thing or] another. But never can the JCPOA be a condition or precondition to or for anything.
September 25, 2017

Iraqi Kurds headed to the polls Sept. 25 to vote on an independence referendum despite continued strong opposition from neighboring Turkey and Iran, the broader international community and the Iraqi central government in Baghdad. Iran had long made its opposition to the referendum known, although how exactly Tehran would respond remained in doubt. It seems that the first step has been taken with the closing of Iranian airspace to the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

With the request of Iraqs central government, all Iranian flights to Sulaimaniyah and Erbil as well as flights passing through our airspace to the Kurdistan region have been suspended, said Kayvan Khosravi, the spokesman for Irans Supreme National Security Council, on Sept. 24. He said the council had held a special meeting on the referendum and Baghdad's request.

Hasty decisions by some of the officials of Iraqi Kurdistan limit Kurd's power to act through constructive dialogue in Iraqs government and pose challenges to the security of Kurdish people and the country of Iraq, Khosravi further remarked. The referendum, he added, poses serious challenges for the region.

The vote on independence was the top story in the majority of Iranian newspapers. Both Reformist and conservative papers took a critical stance on the vote. In Iran, the division of Iraq is viewed within the broader context of the possible further disintegration of Middle Eastern states. That Israel, Irans biggest foe in the region, has supported the independence vote, has played no small part in Tehrans calculus.

Comments by an adviser to Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani to Al Jazeera discussing the need for Israels continued support was the top story in the hard-line Kayhan, whose editor is appointed by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The article asserted that the referendum and a future independent Kurdistan will create a link with Israel and that this relationship will be a fatal blow to Barzani. The article also noted that ahead of the vote, a number of Kurdish demonstrators had carried the Israeli flag alongside the Kurdish flag in northern Iraq.

The newspaper Iran, the official daily under the supervision of President Hassan Rouhani's administration, condemned the referendum in two front-page stories. One of the articles, by the analyst Majid Kousha and headlined, One Referendum and an Endless Crisis, held that despite the referendum, Turning Kurdistan into an independent country is still very far off. Kousha wrote that with the Islamic State in retreat, the vote could plunge Iraq into more war, especially over the fate of disputed Kirkuk, which is controlled by the Kurds and also has significant Arab and Turkmen populations.

Kousha noted that the vote on independence is not just a domestic issue, but could spark further fighting among Kurds and the central governments in Syria and Turkey, which could lead to a broader regional war. Iran has a Kurdish population, but they have not experienced the same level of violence as Kurds in Turkey and Syria have in recent years.

The Kurdish referendum was preceded by a flurry of diplomatic contacts and phone calls. Rouhani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conversed on Sept. 24, during which, according to Rouhani, they stressed the importance of Iraqs territorial integrity. The Iranian president also spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Barzani told reporters on Sept. 24 that he had in the preceding days met with Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.

Iran held military drills on Sept. 24 along its western border, which abuts Iraqi Kurdistan.
September 25, 2017

Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, the most experienced minister in the Islamic Republic of Iran, has yet again been entrusted with one of the most challenging portfolios in the Hassan Rouhani administration: the Ministry of Petroleum (MoP). Experts agree that in the past four years, Zanganeh and his team have managed to rehabilitate the petroleum sector after the damaging years under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejads (2005-2013) trial and error mentality and external sanctions. Now, Zanganeh and the MoP have new ambitions in the next four years, which will most probably be his final term as petroleum minister.

In his presentation to parliament prior to his latest vote of confidence in early August, Zanganeh outlined the following plans for the non-gas subsectors in the next four years:

Development of shared oil fields.

Signing of new contracts with the goal of developing shared fields and increasing the rate of recovery from the countrys oil basins using the latest technologies and foreign investment in order to generate employment.

Increasing the production capacity of oil with the goal of surging or at least maintaining Irans share of the global trade and improving Irans position in OPEC with the goal of empowering Iran economically, politically and securitywise.

Renovating the old and degenerated segments of the oil industry.

Constructing an oil terminal in the Sea of Oman.

Completing the value chain in the petrochemical sector.

Shifting away from exporting crude oil and emphasizing the export of petroleum products.

Technological promotion in the oil sector and completion of the projects for local manufacturing of equipment.

This is an ambitious list for a four-year term, but the Iranian government will certainly manage to pursue and materialize some of these goals. Some of the objectives are driven by political stakeholders (such as the focus on shared fields), some by security considerations (such as the oil terminal in the Sea of Oman) and others by technocrats (such as the introduction of the latest technologies). At the same time, the core challenge in achieving all of the listed targets will be to attract the needed foreign investment and technology. There is no doubt that the signing of the deal with the French Total-led consortium has generated a momentum in the interest of international oil companies (IOCs) to engage the Iranian market.

Notwithstanding, the current political atmosphere and rising tensions between Tehran and Washington may compel a number of IOCs to delay their investment plans for Iran. Indeed, the petroleum sector will require more than $200 billion in investments in the next five years to achieve the mentioned goals. This, in turn, will necessitate massive foreign investment as well as the transfer of technology. What will help Iran in this process is the fact that it is one of few low-cost oil-producing countries that is offering its projects to IOCs. Low costs, as well as negligible geological risk, are benefits that could overcome the current political risks, but the government has to make sure that all other challenges faced by IOCs in Iran (such as corruption, legal uncertainties, etc.) are reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, one main bottleneck for IOCs has been the financing of projects due to the reluctance of first-tier international banks to engage the Iranian market. This means that the MoP and other Iranian authorities will have to offer suitable solutions to facilitate the financing and banking transactions related to major investments.

Irans understandable insistence on the maximization of local content (i.e., the obligation of IOCs to subcontract the maximum possible level of the project components to Iranian companies) will require substantive qualitative capacity building in the local industry. In some cases, the desire to deploy the latest technologies in upstream projects may clash with the utilization of local content. Consequently, the MoP and its subsidiaries need to find the right balance between foreign and local technological content. The guiding principle should be one of the stated objectives, i.e., increasing the rate of recovery, which will enhance Irans national wealth and empower the country to invest more to create needed jobs.

From a national economic perspective, the most significant objectives are those that promote local value creation, i.e., the completion of the petrochemical value chain as well as the focus on exporting petroleum products rather than crude oil. The more value is generated in Iran, the more wealth will be created and the less dependent Iran will be on the dynamics of the international crude market. However, in achieving additional value in the petroleum sector, the MoP needs to think of strategic partnerships not only with technology providers but also with other partners that can help finance projects and also offer access to international markets. In other words, the MoP needs to develop a new mindset that has to go far beyond simply producing and selling crude oil. The shift in mindset could go hand in hand with a demand from some of the stakeholders who request that younger managers be promoted in the petroleum sector. In fact, the current leadership in the petroleum sector has been around for the past three decades, and the time has come for the empowerment of younger managers.

Another technological game-changer is the growing significance of energy efficiency. The government has passed a law that authorizes the MoP to guarantee investments of up to a total of $100 billion that are designed to improve energy efficiency and save energy resources. This is also a new experience that the technocracy in MoP needs to adjust to, i.e., the realization that it may actually be cheaper to save a barrel of oil than to produce one.

There are also other challenges that Zanganeh is facing. Energy sector expert Mehdi Assali believes that adjusting the political economy of oil will be one of Zanganehs challenges  deciding about production levels, how to distribute the resulting oil rent among influential stakeholders in the political sphere and policies toward foreign investment that will be needed to optimize the utilization of the countrys vast oil and gas reserves. It is no secret that the rents emerging from the petroleum sector have corrupted significant layers of the state structure. The case of the corrupt network around jailed businessman Babak Zanjani is only one example of the shady structures and dealings around petroleum sector interests in Iran. The only viable path to reduce the potential of corruption is to introduce the highest level of transparency into the sector  a process that will require legal and political reforms.

All in all, Zanganeh and the MoP will continue to face major challenges in achieving their stated goals. However, in the absence of major political upheavals, Zanganeh is the right politician to pursue these objectives and elevate the countrys most important economic sector to new highs.
September 25, 2017

ERBIL  Defying pressure from the United States and regional powers Turkey and Iran, millions of Kurds cast their ballots today in a historic referendum on long-fought Kurdish independence.

Massoud Barzani, president of Iraqi Kurdistan, who is leading the independence drive, exuded confidence after voting at a polling station close to the presidential compound overlooking Erbil, where the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) sits. As election observers looked on, his eldest son, Masrour, chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, was up next, dipping his index finger in the indelible indigo ink meant to prevent repeat balloting.

At a polling station in Salahuddin, the mood was festive, with citizens taking selfies while lined up outside classrooms where ballots were being cast. I am so happy, said Shermin, a 20-year-old student who had come with her family to vote. I want independence, right now.

The jubilation expressed by the red, green and yellow Kurdish tricolor festooning streets, homes, cars and shopping malls was tinged with trepidation amid angry threats, thus far largely hollow, from Turkey and Iran. Both countries, which are home to large and restive Kurdish populations, have voiced stiff opposition to the referendum. Turkey deployed tanks along its border with the de facto Kurdish state, where Turkish units carried out drills. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ankara views the results of the referendum as null and void. On Saturday, the Turkish parliament extended the mandate for Turkish troops stationed in Iraq and Syria by a year.

Today, Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, threatened crippling economic sanctions against Iraqi Kurdistan. These include sealing the Habur border crossing, Iraqi Kurds sole exit to the West. Erdogan also talked about shutting down a pipeline that carries Iraqi Kurdish crude to export terminals on Turkeys Mediterranean shore.

After this, let's see  who they sell [their oil] to. The valve is with us. It's finished the moment we close it, Erdogan said. If there is a threat against us in Iraq and Syria, all options are on the table.

Iran said it had canceled commercial flights to Iraqi Kurdistan and began shelling Iranian Kurdish fighters on the Iraqi Kurdish side of the border in Haj Omran. Qasem Soleimani, fabled head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, has been shuttling between Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, where Barzanis rivals from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Movement for Change (Gorran) reside over the past week in a bid to drive a wedge that would force a cancellation of the referendum. Yet after a period of wobbling, both the PUK and Gorran encouraged their supporters to vote.

Both parties see the referendum as a power grab by Barzani, whose grip has been weakened by a prolonged economic downturn triggered by the fall in global oil prices. In addition, Baghdad has been refusing to deliver to the Kurds their share of the national budget since it began selling oil independently. Meanwhile, rampant corruption has alienated ordinary Kurds, as they see their standard of living plunge.

Oil remains the main source of income for the cash-strapped quasi Kurdish state. Some 550,000 barrels per day are exported via a pipeline running to Turkish terminals on the Mediterranean Sea in defiance of Baghdads claims that the sales are illegal. If Turkey were to shut the spigot, the KRG would be on its knees. So far it has not, and revenues from oil sales continue to reach the KRG, allowing it to keep the economy running, at least for now.

In a further boost, Russian energy giant Rosneft signed a multibillion-dollar deal this month to produce and transport Iraqi Kurdish gas and oil. It seems highly improbable that the Russians would have proceeded without guarantees from Ankara for Rosneft to pump the oil and gas through and to Turkey, all part of a burgeoning Russian-Turkish alliance calculated to balance American influence in the region.

Indeed, the prevailing consensus among KRG leaders is that economic dividends will likely trump Turkeys fears that an independent Kurdistan on its borders will inspire its own Kurds to break away. That would leave Iran loathe to be left holding the can, relinquishing Iraqi Kurdistan to Turkish economic and political influence. Iraqi Kurdish leaders reckon, therefore, that any Iranian sanctions will be more bark than bite.

Still, Erdogans comments suggest that the KRG may be underestimating the degree of Turkish anger. It may well be that Iran and Turkey both deem it imperative to nip Kurdish independence in the bud and act forcefully to do so.

Baghdad has threatened to take unspecified action to preserve Iraq's unity. Closing Iraqi airspace to flights headed to the Kurdistan Region's two main cities, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, is said to be on the table.

Unusually, and unfortunately, for the Iraqi Kurds, their most critical military ally, the United States, has made common cause with Iran and Turkey in pushing Barzani to scotch the referendum as well. This is because of its potential effects on the political fortunes of its close ally, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Administration officials speaking to Al-Monitor on strict condition of anonymity aired worries that the referendum could even lead to the collapse of Abadi's government ahead of Iraq-wide parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2018. Barzani may well be calculating that the Kurds can only benefit from the ensuing chaos, allowing them to declare full independence.

While it seems unlikely that the Pentagon would freeze funding for Kurdish peshmerga battling the Islamic State (IS), some administration officials speculate that senior US officials will not be taking calls from the KRG leadership for a while. KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee believes the United States arguments for a unified Iraq are full of holes. He told Al-Monitor in an interview, The United States has lost 4,500 soldiers in Iraq, pumped hundreds of billions of dollars into it, and what emerged is a country immersed in sectarian violence. The only success story that can be promoted by the United States is that of the Kurds.

Another worry is the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, which fell under Iraqi Kurdish control after Iraqi forces retreated before an IS onslaught in June 2014. Arabs and Turkmens also stake claims to the area, and the potential for conflict between peshmerga forces and Shiite-led militias is real. In a last-ditch attempt to halt the referendum, the United States reportedly asked Barzani to exclude the so-called disputed territories, notably Kirkuk, from the referendum. Some PUK leaders  including Hero Talabani, wife of the ailing PUK leader Jalal Talabani, and their son Pafel  appeared ready to accept this, but not Barzani.

His resolve and brinkmanship in the face of the barrage of international pressure to halt the referendum have elevated Barzanis status among Kurds worldwide. Abdul Kader Hevidili, deputy commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, told Al-Monitor in a recent interview at his headquarters near Raqqa that the Syrian Kurds fully supported Barzanis bid for full independence. A group of Kurdish fighters sitting around him nodded vigorously in agreement. We respect Barzani for his resilience, Hevidili said.

Dizayee said that the day after the referendum, the KRG will set about negotiating a smooth divorce from Baghdad. We hope to discuss boundaries, sharing of natural resources, diplomatic representations abroad, all with a view toward full independence. And what if Baghdad were to refuse? We will cross that bridge when we get to it, Dizayee said. The same holds true for all of the undeniably big challenges that lie ahead.
September 25, 2017

Even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus opponents were forced to admit that his Sept. 19 speech before the UN General Assembly in New York was a true masterpiece. It was a polished performance that included all the elements on which Netanyahu built his leadership: national pride, reprimanding non-Jews and Israels enemies, preaching ethics to the entire globe, and even quite a few punchlines that coaxed smiles and even ripples of laughter from the audience. But above all this in importance, the Iran issue was supreme.

Two years after the signing of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1, Netanyahu has brought the nuclear threat back to center stage. Or at least, he is trying to do so. An end-of-the-Jewish-year poll by Maariv newspaper showed that contrary to last year, when Iran did not appear on the list of threats that worry the average Israeli, the issue has clearly made a comeback, thanks to Netanyahu. In the poll, Iran lags behind on the list of threats with only 4% support, but this is only the beginning. We can count on Netanyahu that by next year, Iran will occupy a much-advanced place at the top of the list of important strategic threats to the existence of the Jewish state.

Netanyahus speech came after his historic tour of Latin American countries, which no other Israeli prime minister had ever officially visited. The visit with its various official receptions was leveraged by Netanyahus associates and widely displayed in the media. Even his trip to New York for the UN General Assembly meeting was part of a well-thought-out strategy in which Netanyahu presented himself as a rare super-diplomat, to which all the worlds palaces are open and for whom the leaders of the free world wait in line to see. After all, he is the only one able to invite himself over to Russian President Vladimir Putin on short notice, to call President Donald Trump my friend and to mix with European leaders to his hearts content.

During the Jewish New Year (right after the Latin American tour and the UN speech), the foreign media announced that Israel had conducted another assault on Syrian territory against ammunition stockpiles intended for Hezbollah. Immediately after the holiday, Haartz newspaper published that Netanyahu revealed to his Cabinet ministers on Sept. 24 that Trumps peace initiative is alive and well. All those who eulogized the presidents bombastic peace declarations and believed that Israel was facing a calm, quiet period, free of annoying peace issues was mistaken. Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, despite internal political problems in the United States, continues to diligently work on the peace program. The indefatigable US envoy Jason Greenblatt is expected to return again soon to the region, for a series of additional talks.

All this sends a clear and focused message: Israel has no justification to rest on its laurels and take it easy. Everything is on fire: the front between Syria and Lebanon is more fragile than ever; the Iranians are practically sitting on our fences; and a dangerous peace initiative is on its way.

Usually we say that when Netanyahu speaks to the UN General Assembly or the US Congress, his real audience is Israel. And this audience includes not only the prime ministers right-wing political base, but all the other Israelis who watch their brilliant presenter with sparkling eyes. But this time we can add to this working premise two more types of audiences:

The first are the Likud people and the parties that are members of the coalition. Netanyahu is trying to demonstrate his greatness to them, his command of the issues and the fact that no one else (in Israels current situation) is capable of stepping into his shoes. Therefore, he is bringing up again the threat of Trumps peace initiative, even though no one really knows whether anything will come out of it. Netanyahu knows that the Likud members know that only he is capable of exhausting and manipulating Trump, should the latter insist on trying to make peace between Israel and the Palestinians. That is how he manipulated President Bill Clinton in his time, and that is how he exhausted President Barack Obama over eight long years. Netanyahu is sending signals to all those plotting to replace him in the governing party to take it easy. Not one of them has hands that are capable of steering the Israeli ship, which is currently navigating these stormy waters.

An additional audience, and perhaps even the most important audience of all, are the officials running Israels legal system and law enforcement apparatus. These include Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan and the prosecutor in charge of the Netanyahu investigations portfolio Liat Ben-Ari. Next to them are also Israel Police Chief Roni Alsheikh, seconded by the heads of the police investigation departments. Netanyahu is also sending them a clear message: I am the only leader capable of leading Israel, at this time. No one can replace me. This is an era in which Israel must maneuver the tight spaces between Putin and Trump, between North Koreas Kim Jong Un and Irans Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. In this day and age, Israel needs an experienced, cunning and cruel diplomat like me, Netanyahu. All your attempts to oust me because of a few Champagne bottles my spouse received, or a few cigars that I smoked, will fail miserably.

This is Netanyahus survival strategy in a nutshell. He knows that the moment of truth is approaching, when the Israeli police must decide whether to file one indictment (or more) against him. He knows that next in line, after the police, is the attorney general, who will have to decide what to do: whether to reject the indictment recommendation and close the file or adopt it and file a severe indictment against a prime minister in active office.

Given this state of affairs, Netanyahu must preserve the coalition and close ranks in the Likud. He wants to act in advance to avoid coming to the same fate as former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. In 2008, Olmert was given an ultimatum by then Defense Minister Ehud Barak, his main coalition partner, in light of the media-covered police investigations that were taking place against Olmert. Netanyahu swore that this wouldnt happen to him. He already announced that he would remain prime minister even if he is indicted. To make sure that this will pass the reality test, Netanyahu needs total loyalty in the Likud and tight discipline in the coalition.

Netanyahu is using psychological pressure against Mandelblit, who had served as Netanyahus Cabinet secretary. His goal is to convince him that the various issues under investigation are dwarfed by the appalling dangers faced by the Jewish people and its state. Netanyahu knows Mandelblit very well and understands the inner doubts that the attorney general will face when he has to make his fateful decision. So the prime minister is trying to affect the results. His chances of success are unclear.

In the coming days, former US ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, will testify to the Israeli police. Shapiro will be asked about the pressures that Netanyahu inflicted on previous Secretary of State John Kerry to give billionaire Arnon Milchan a long-term visa to the United States (the one he had was revoked). These facts, together with additional testimonies recently taken from billionaires Milchan and Len Blavatnik, turn Netanyahus chances of emerging unscathed from the File 1000 investigation (on benefits allegedly received from businessmen) to be very slim.

One way or the other, he will fight until the last minute, and even afterward. That is Netanyahu: He never admits defeat.
September 25, 2017

Kurds in northern Iraq are casting their ballots in a referendum that moves the region closer than ever before toward full independence. But outrage in Turkey over the measure cast a pall over the historic vote.

Turkey, like other neighbors, has made it clear it will no longer be business as usual with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which called the plebiscite to crown a quarter-century of autonomy for what is considered the worlds biggest ethnic group without a state.

Just hours after polls opened, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the vote illegal and illegitimate and threatened to close the border and cut oil flows. Chillingly, he left open the possibility of military action.

This referendum is unacceptable. We stood by them during their most difficult times, Erdogan said in a televised speech, referring to the close economic and political ties Ankara and Erbil have cultivated over the last decade. He then alluded to a potential Turkish military operation in Syria, adding, We will not shy away from doing the same in Iraq.

Turkey sees a new Kurdish state, even a friendly one, as an existential threat amid fears it will stoke separatism among its own estimated 16 million Kurds, by far the world's largest population of the ethnic group found in a crescent spanning Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran. Turkey has spent 33 years and hundreds of billions of dollars fighting the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has, variously, sought independence or autonomy within Turkey at a cost of more than 40,000 lives.

Voters are expected to overwhelmingly approve the referendum in polls closing at 1500 GMT, but KRG President Massoud Barzani has said the enclave will not immediately declare sovereignty.

That promise has not tempered Turkish opposition. Turkey's parliament held a special session on Sept. 23 to extend a one-year mandate for the military to deploy troops to Iraq and Syria, moving up the extension of the mandate, first introduced for Iraq in 2007, to coincide with the referendum and serve as rebuke to the KRG.

Only the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party voted against the mandate, with lawmaker Osman Baydemir telling the assembly it was a declaration of hostility against 40 million Kurds.

The Turkish legislature acted one day after the National Security Council, chaired by Erdogan and attended by top generals, deemed the referendum a direct threat to Turkeys national security." In a statement, the council wrote, Should this referendum take place despite our warnings, Turkey reserves its rights borne out of bilateral and international agreements  Grave consequences are inescapable, it concluded without elaborating.

Turkey's armed forces are already conducting military exercises just kilometers from the Iraqi border. On Monday, Erdogan said the show of force was not in vain.

Still, military action against the KRG remains a remote possibility, especially as Erdogan used the same speech to warn Turkey would suddenly come one night across the Syrian border to stop PKK-linked Kurds from further advances toward their own self-rule in a region they call Rojava.

You can only go to war with so many Kurdish statelets on your southern border, and currently Rojava still seems like the priority, Nicholas Danforth, a senior policy adviser at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, told Al-Monitor.

Turkey is not alone in pressuring the KRG on the vote. The United States, Iran and the central government of Iraq have also called on Barzani to postpone or cancel, to little effect.

But Ankara has poured billions of dollars into the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, building it a gleaming new airport and importing more than a half-million barrels of Kurdish oil every day, underpinning the regions economic independence.

Erdogan has personally embraced Barzani, seeing him as a counterbalance to the PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and Europe for its insurrection against the Turkish state. The PKK is based in a remote corner of northern Iraq, and Barzani has turned a blind eye when Turkish troops pursue the militants there.

A prosperous, semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan at odds with Baghdad, with which Ankara has repeatedly sparred, has also suited Turkish geopolitical calculations in recent years.

Ironically, Barzani is one of Turkeys closer partners in the Middle East, said Danforth. But between increased concern over Kurds growing strength in Syria and Erdogans nationalist turn domestically, he was forced into a corner on this.

Now, Ankara has joined Baghdad as well as Tehran in saying it is considering coordinated counter-measures against the Kurdish-run territory, according to a joint statement from the foreign ministers of the three countries on Sept. 21.

Yet the saber rattling did little to dampen Kurdish enthusiasm for the referendum, with witnesses in the regions two largest cities of Erbil and Sulaimaniyah describing the mood as calm, even buoyant.

It has solidified their will to stick together, to not give up on their dream, Akeel Abbas Al-Khakani, an analyst based in Sulaimaniyah, told Al-Monitor. Should the vote trigger outright fighting with neighbors, he said, The mountains are always there as their refuge. I am more often hearing the old Kurdish saying, Kurds have no friends but the mountains.
Lower Peach Tree is a place time forgot. It is weathered, like the road that leads to it. Situated just within the southeast corner of Wilcox County there are parts of it that seems to spill over into Monroe County, Clarke County, and the Alabama River.

Monroe Intermediate School has a Lower Peach Tree address, but is actually located in Packard's Bend which is just within Monroe County. It is a K-8 school and from there most students move on to Clarke County High School in Grove Hill.

Monroe Intermediate is one of the most rural schools in the nation. It gained attention in April of 2016 when a Washington Post article featured the struggles students and teachers were having with the lack of high speed internet. Even in classrooms equipped with Chromebooks for every student, limited bandwidth made them unusable.

Driving thru now, there is only a whisper left of the plantation south that once dominated Lower Peach Tree. Now there are mostly tired houses and trailers. It is home to families who are of there and from there who have no interest in living anyplace else.

Some of the finest hunting and fishing opportunities Alabama has to offer is located in the far remote spots deep in the woods and waters of Lower Peach Tree and Packard's Bend. But they have little else to offer.

There are no gas stations, no stores, and no restaurants. Drugs are present. Alcohol is popular. Most of the just over 900 residents who work, earn their living driving trucks or working within the logging industry.

After the Washing Post article raised awareness about the problem of lack of quality internet service in economically-deprived schools, Monroe Intermediate was again chosen to be included in a new documentary, "Without a net: The Digital Divide in America."

LaTonya Eaton-Norwood, a teacher at Monroe Intermediate, is featured in the film and explains how she and other teachers were composing two sets of lesson plans on a daily basis. One if there was internet access and another for if service was lagging or too slow to connect.

The documentary will premiere Tuesday night at 9:00 pm and will re-air. The one-hour film, narrated by Jamie Foxx, illustrates the issues of equipping students for the digital world in poor school districts.

The silver lining, is that between the start of filming the documentary in mid-May and it's airing Tuesday night, Monroe Intermediate has had their broadband expanded and students are no longer forced to wait, start over, or change lessons due to lack of connectivity.

"It was something we were almost ashamed of," Norwood said. "We were embarrassed by it. We did not want to admit to the public - to the world - the difficulties we were dealing with. But in doing so it was as if we revealed it and everyone came together to fix the problem."

"I thought it was just by chance that Monroe Intermediate was selected to be featured. By luck, if you can describe it that way, or destiny, if you prefer to look at it that way. But it has sure given us hope, a whole lot of hope for a brighter future for our students, for our school, and for our community. We are indeed closing the educational divide."

Amanda Walker is a blogger and contributor with AL.com, The Thomasville Times, West Alabama Watchman, Alabama Gazette and Wilcox Progressive Era. Contact her at Walkerworld77@msn.com or at https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWalker.Columnist.
Three state prison inmates were hospitalized over the weekend in two separate assaults at the Easterling Correctional Facility in Clio.

The assaults happened Friday, said Alabama Department of Corrections spokesman Bob Horton.

The first incident happened about 12:30 p.m. Correctional officers responded to a fight in the prison yard between several inmates that left two of them with stab wounds, Horton said.

Chandler Lavecus Boone, 24, is charged with first-degree assault with a possible attempted murder charge pending. The two inmates injured in the assault were taken to a local hospital where they are listed in stable condition.

Boone is serving a 50-year sentence on a 2013 murder conviction in Montgomery County. Officers recovered a makeshift knife used in the stabbing.

About 8:15 p.m. Friday at the same facility, and an inmate was attacked and stabbed in the prison yard while returning from the evening meal. Prison officials have identified three suspects in the stabbing, but are not releasing their names because of an ongoing investigation. The victim in the stabbing was treated at an offsite medical facility for non-life-threatening injuries.

Initial reports by investigators indicate the two incidents at the facility on Friday are unrelated. As a precaution, the facility remains locked down while DOC continues to investigate the assaults.

Easterling Correctional Facility is a medium custody level prison with an inmate population of 1,259, or 193 percent of the facility's design capacity of 652 inmates.
The accomplice of an intruder shot and killed during a reported home invasion in northern Jefferson County has been identified and charged in the death of his friend.

Horace D. Stokes, 38, is charged with murder, said Jefferson County sheriff's Chief Deputy Randy Christian. He is charged in the Sept. 15 shooting death of Stephen Douglas Crump in Mulga's Bayview community.

Jefferson County sheriff's deputies were dispatched just before 10:30 p.m. that Friday on a report of a disturbance at a home in the 200 block of Bayview Drive. A woman called 911 to tell authorities that her husband had yelled from the back of the house for her to call 911 and then she heard what she believed to be a gunshot.

Once on the scene, deputies found the 38-year-old Crump dead on the floor in the house. The homeowner, Christian said, was taken to the hospital for treatment of a cut to the head.

Information at the scene was that the male homeowner and a friend were in a side room of the home visiting. Two armed men forced their way into the door and tried to rob them. The homeowner and his friend began fighting with the suspects. The homeowner was struck in in the head with a handgun.

During the struggle, a shot was fired. Crump was struck and fell to the floor. The second suspect - now identified as Stokes - fled to a waiting vehicle and was driven away by a third unknown suspect. The suspect vehicle was described as a full sized gray Ford pickup.

Crump was pronounced dead on the scene.

Christian on Monday said detectives developed information that identified Stokes at the second man who entered the home. He was found Sept. 20, and taken into custody on outstanding warrants for probation violations. On Friday, they obtained a murder warrant against him for his role in the Crump's death.

Under Alabama law, a person can be charged with murder if they are participating in a felony crime that results in death, whether or not that person actually pulled the trigger.

Court records show Stokes has a lengthy criminal history including drug, gun and theft charges. At the time of his death, Crump was awaiting trial on charges of drug possession and receiving stolen property. He was arrested last year by deputies after he fled from them on a motorcycle. After being stopped and arrested, deputies found 54 tablets of Clonazepam on him, records state.

In 2015, he was arrested on a felony charge of receiving stolen property. A Jefferson County grand jury indicted him on that charge last year but it appears the case has not yet gone to trial. He pleaded guilty to drug distribution in 2009 and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison.

Stokes is being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. Authorities have not yet determined whether any of the men involved knew each other.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact sheriff's investigators 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A man died early Monday after he was shot late Sunday night in Fairfield.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Rodrequis Antwon Green. He was 26, and lived in Bessemer.

Authorities said the shooting happened at 10:50 p.m. at the Chevron gas station on Lloyd Noland Parkway. Green was taken to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:27 a.m. today.

Police Chief Nick Dyer said a suspect has been identified they are seeking arrest warrants this morning.

He was one of two weekend homicides in Jefferson County. Birmingham police responded about 3:15 a.m. Saturday to the 3000 block of 44th Avenue North to a report of someone shot, said Sgt. Bryan Shelton. Once on the scene, they found the man in a white pickup truck suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The victim was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities have not yet been able to confirm the victim's identity, saying only that he is a black male in his 20s or 30s.

Green's slaying in Fairfield marks the city's sixth homicide victim this year and the 112th countywide.
Brighton could have a new mayor after a judge ordered Brandon Dean to vacate that office.

Retired Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff Circuit Judge Eugene Verin issued an order Monday morning, stating "a vacancy exists" as Brighton's mayor, because Dean did not receive the required number of votes to win the 2016 election. Verin ordered a run-off election, but no date has been set.

In the civil lawsuit filed by former mayoral candidate Eddie Cooper against Dean, Cooper claimed Dean was not eligible as the city's mayor because Dean did not have a permanent residence in Brighton within the required 90 days prior to the election, and because illegal absentee votes were cast for Dean and Dean did not have the majority of valid votes.

The court ruled Monday Dean's primary residence was in Brighton within the required time frame, and was located in the 4500 block of Letson Street. He was eligible to run for office, the order states.

While Dean said during testimony last month that he entered a short-term lease on a condominium in Atlanta to "facilitate his work there," court records show he lives at his Brighton address for 10-15 days per month.

The judge denied Cooper's allegations regarding Dean's residence in the order; however, the court ruled a total of 46 absentee votes were fraudulently cast for Dean during the 2016 election.

Of those, Verin ruled 21 ballots were not signed by the voter; 22 were sent to Dean's address instead of the voters' home addresses or where they regularly received mail; 2 ballots were submitted by voters who were actually present at city hall on election day; and one did not live in Brighton city limits. Those 46 vote deductions leave Dean with a total of 330 votes. To avoid a run-off, Dean would have needed 336.

"Of course Mayor Dean is disappointed, but nevertheless we must respect the process. Dean intends to ask for a review of those ballots that were considered in the courts decision," Dean's lawyer Arthur Lee said.

Dean was sworn into office in November 2016 at the age of 24, becoming Brighton's youngest mayor.

Allegations against Dean erupted after the election last year, when the secretary of state's office and the Jefferson County district attorney's office began investigating claims Dean had absentee ballots mailed to addresses where homes were abandoned.

The order Monday cited testimony from a hearing last month in the case, where Dean, his family members, absentee voters, and a forensic document and handwriting analysis expert testified.

This post will was updated at 7:40 p.m. with comments from Dean's lawyer.
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill increased his turnout estimate for Tuesday's Roy Moore-Luther Strange showdown because of President Trump's involvement in the race, but only slightly.

John Bennett, press secretary for Merrill, said the estimate has gone from 12 percent to 12 to 15 percent.

Former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Moore and Sen. Strange square off in Tuesday's runoff for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat vacated when Jeff Sessions became attorney general. Strange has held the seat on an interim basis since his appointment by former Gov. Robert Bentley in February.

The Moore-Strange winner faces Democratic nominee Doug Jones on Dec. 12.

Turnout for the Aug. 15 primary was 18 percent, with 589,175 voters going to the polls, according to unofficial results from the secretary of state's office. Of those, 72 percent voted in the Republican primary.

Moore led a nine-candidate field in the primary with 164,524 votes, 39 percent, to 138,971 for Sen. Strange, 33 percent.

Jones trounced a seven-candidate Democratic field, getting 66 percent of the vote to win the nomination without a runoff. Jones got 109,105 votes, fewer than Moore or Strange.

President Trump, who endorsed Strange before the Aug. 15 primary, backed up that endorsement with a campaign speech for Strange on Friday night in Huntsville. Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Alabama to campaign for Strange today. A super political action committee controlled by the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has spent heavily on television ads attacking Moore.

Moore has drawn some big-name supporters, too, including former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who led a rally in Montgomery on Thursday night, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, and others.

A poll released Monday showed Moore leading with 52 percent, Strange at 41 percent and 7 percent undecided.

Richard Fording, a political science professor at the University of Alabama, said the split among national Republican figures on the Alabama race could reduce turnout.

"Mitch McConnell's involvement in backing Luther Strange has undoubtedly resulted in some degree of backlash due to the fact that he is tied to the Washington 'swamp,'" Fording said in an email. "However, the backlash is at least partially cancelled out, I think, by Trump's endorsement of Strange. This has no doubt left some voters confused as to whether Strange is truly a member of the establishment. These conflicting signals may very well serve to depress turnout (above and beyond what would normally be low turnout, anyway)."

Fording said there are probably several reasons Moore is ahead in the polls.

"If I had to guess, the bigger factors driving Roy Moore's lead in the polls leading up to the race would be (1) his name recognition and association with Christian values, (2) his history of standing up to the federal government, (3) his perceived integrity for doing so. Also, I believe that Strange's appointment to the Senate by our unpopular governor has been interpreted by many voters as kind of a sleazy deal to ease the pressure on the investigation into Governor Bentley's ethics violations.

"As for turnout effects, I would expect that Moore will have a decided advantage due to his popularity among Evangelical Christians, who often turn out at higher rates than other voters."

A new state law that bans crossover voting in party primary runoffs will be in effect for the first time Tuesday.

Voters who voted in the Democratic primary on Aug. 15 will not be allowed to vote in the Republican party runoff.

The law makes no changes on how people can vote in general elections.
More than 1,000 high school students attending Birmingham City Schools will receive free wireless internet hotspots and free internet service in their homes thanks to Sprint's 1Million Project.

The students will receive the service for free for the duration of their high school careers.

"Learning should never consist of interruptions or inconvenience, but yet many kids in Birmingham and across Alabama do not have internet access at home and unfortunately have to find other alternatives for connectivity just to get assignments done," Brian Miller, Sprint president for Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, said in a press release. "Sprint is helping to level the playing field for these students by eliminating the need for them to have to stay late at school or to find a public place after school hours just to use public Wi-Fi."

Through the 1Million Project, Sprint is providing 1 million low-income high school students who don't have home internet access with free wireless connectivity or a free device that includes connectivity during high school. Students will have access to 3GB of high-speed LTE data per month. Unlimited data is available at 2G speeds if usage exceeds 3GB in a month.

The 2017-2018 school year marks the first year of the initiative with more 180,000 students in 1,300 schools across 30 states.

Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring is working to harness the power of technology to increase student achievement.

"It is our goal in Birmingham City Schools to aggressively and strategically work to close the opportunity gap," Herring said in a statement. "This initiative serves as a major step in moving closer to our work with innovation and closing the gap."
Attorney Tony Riley of Tuscumbia will seek the Republican nomination for the seat representing the northwest corner of Alabama in the House of Representatives.

Riley will run in District 18, which includes Franklin, Colbert and Lauderdale counties. Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, has represented the district since 1990 but is running for the state Senate next year.

Riley has worked as human resources director and general counsel for Tiffin Motorhomes for 10 years, according to a news release from his campaign. Before that, he practiced law in Colbert County for 18 years.

Riley said his main priorities will be economic growth in northwest Alabama and improving education.

"With the unprecedented economic growth that parts of Alabama have experienced over the past few years, it is now more important than ever that we, in the more rural areas of the state, concentrate on improving education," Riley said in the news release. "This must be our goal so that our children have the advantage for opportunity, success, and the ability to stay and thrive in their hometown."

Jamie Glenn Kiel of Russellville is also running for the Republican nomination in District 18, the Times-Daily reported. Kiel owns Kiel Equipment, which sells and leases tractors, mowers and other products.

Next year's primary is June 5.
The Madison County Sheriff's Office has a message for anyone involved in today's threats at the Career Technical Center: We will find you.

The center was put on lock down twice today after threats were emailed to the school and a person made a hoax call to 911 reporting a student with a gun on campus. Both times Huntsville police and Madison County deputies searched the center at 1275 Jordan Road and cleared the building.

"There is no evidence right now that would tie the two incidents today together," said sheriff's Lt. Donny Shaw.

All career tech classes have been cancelled and the center remains closed for the remainder of the day. Students were bused from the center to their home campuses across the county.

Update on Madison County Tech school threats with sheriff's office and school officials Posted by Ashley Remkus on Monday, September 25, 2017

Shaw said his message to those who made the threats or hoax call is: "Don't call anymore."

"We are going to find out who you are and you will be put before the justice system," Shaw said at a news conference outside the Madison County Schools Central Office.

The incidents

Law enforcement first responded to the center around 9 a.m. when a person called 911 to report "a student wearing black and carrying a long black gun had been seen in one of the buildings across the street," Shaw said.

Police searched the campus, found "no evidence" to verify the caller's report and classes resumed.

Minutes later, shortly before 11 a.m., the school received the emailed threats. Superintendent Matt Massey said he isn't yet releasing details about the contents of the email.

"I'm not going to go into the specifics of that," Massey told reporters. "It was just a general threat. We take those threats very seriously. Safety is our top priority."

Shaw later added: "The second threat was threatening enough that the school decided to evacuate the school."

As the father of a 7-year-old, Shaw said he can guarantee other parents law enforcement and school officials are doing everything they can to keep children safe.

"The most important thing is that we provide a safe environment for our students and our faculty and that our students learn and grow up and graduate and go on to better things," Shaw said.

"I can guarantee investigators will find a trail to the person who did this today or the two persons that did this today," the lieutenant added. "They will do what has to be done to them in order to encourage them not to do it again."

Those responsible could face a felony charge of making a terrorist threat. For the hoax call, a suspect might also be charged with making a false emergency call.

Today's incidents come less than a week after a 'prank' caller reported a shooting at a Huntsville elementary school, as reported by AL.com's Leada Gore.

Updated at 2:14 pm.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Huntsville will make an "exciting announcement" on Tuesday at the Rocket City Plant.

Details of the announcement were not immediately available. The announcement is believed to deal with the Toyota Huntsville plant, and not the announced $1.6 billion Toyota-Mazda plant that at least 11 states are jockeying for.

Toyota officials on Monday declined to provide additional information about the announcement.

Still, given the guest list, it would indicate the announcement would carry some significance.

Gov. Kay Ivey is scheduled to attend as well as Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley and Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama President David Fernandes will be in attendance as well.

The Toyota plant in Huntsville has 1,450 employees in its $864 million facility. The north Huntsville facility produces 4-cylinder engines for the Camry, Highlander and RAV4; V6 engines for Highlander, Tacoma and Tundra and V8 engines for Sequoia and Tundra.

The plant has an annual production capacity of 710,000 engines.

The plant, which has 1.1 million square feet, has expanded four times since opening in 2001.

AL.com reporter William Thornton contributed to this report.
Bob Gathany

Nov. 18, 2016 - President-elect Donald Trump nominates Jeff Sessions for the post of US Attorney General. Sessions was serving his fourth Senate term and was the first sitting senator to endorse Trump. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@AL.com)

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Staff and wire reports

Feb. 8th - Jeff Sessions confirmed as 84th Attorney General of the United States by a 52-47 vote in the Senate and is sworn in on Feb. 9th. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Feb. 9, 2017 - Gov. Robert Bentley signs document officially appointing Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange to the U.S. Senate to replace Jeff Sessions during a press conference in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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Kim Chandler Associated Press

Feb. 9th - Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah administered the Senate oath to Luther Strange. Senator Strange was to serve as the interim senator from Alabama until November 2018, when a special election was to be held to fill the seat for the remainder of Sessions' term, which ends in January of 2020.(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

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Sen. Luther Strange for AL.com

April 7th - Sen Luther Strange votes to confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

April 18th - Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey changes the date for the election to fill the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Jeff Sessions to August 15th. Luther Strange reacts to Ivey's announcement - . "As I've said for months, I'm a candidate and I'm ready to run whether the election is next month or next year. As the only announced candidate for this office, I will spend the next several months being the best Senator I can be, upholding Alabama values and working with President Donald Trump to drain the swamp and help make America great again. The people of Alabama deserve nothing less and ultimately it will be up to them to decide who will represent them in Washington."

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Julie Bennett

April 26th - Roy Moore announces he is resigning from his position as the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court to run for the United States Senate. "My position has always been God first, family then country," Moore said. "I share the vision of President Donald Trump to make America great again," Moore said. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

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Bob Gathany

May 14th - Mo Brooks announces he will run in Alabama's special Senate election with media events in Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile (Bob Gathany/bgathany@AL.com)

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

May 17, 2017 - 11 Republicans and 8 Democrats qualify for Alabama Senate special election race - Republican candidates U.S Senator Luther Strange, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, Dr. Randy Brinson, Dominic Gentile, Bryan Peeples, Trip Pittman. James Beretta, Mary Maxwell, Joseph Breault, & Karen Haiden Jackson Democrats Doug Jones, Michael Hansen, Robert Kennedy Jr., Jason Fisher, William Boyd, Vann Caldwell, Brian McGee, &Nana Tchienkou

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Aug. 8th - President Trump tweets his endorsement for Alabama Sen. Luther Strange ahead of the GOP primary

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Aug. 15th - Judge Roy Moore and Senator Luther Strange vote in primary election.

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Aug 15th - Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore (38.9%) and incumbent Sen. Luther Strange (32.8%) are headed to a Sept. 26 runoff in Alabama's Republican Senate primary after finishing atop the field in Tuesday's election. Doug Jones won the Democratic primary

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Julie Bennett

Sept. 16th - Moore and Strange agree to a "Lincoln-Douglas style" debate ahead of the GOP Senate runoff.Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

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Bob Gathany

Sept. 16th - Mo Brooks announces his endorsement for Judge Roy Moore displaying a copy of his absentee ballot showing he had already voted for Moore in the Sept. 26 runoff. Brooks won 19.7% of the vote in the August primary election.(Bob Gathany/bgathany@AL.com)

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Sept. 21st - U.S.Senator Luther Strange and former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore square off in a debate in Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

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Bob Gathany

Sept. 22nd - President Donald Trump comes to Huntsville, Ala. for a Luther Strange for Senate Rally at the Von Braun Center Propst Arena. (Bob Gathany / bgathany@AL.com)

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

The GOP runoff election is scheduled for Tuesday Sept. 26th If you voted in the Democratic primary on Aug. 15th, you will not be allowed to vote in the GOP runoff.
A primary win by "Ray" Moore would open Alabama's U.S. Senate seat to Democrats, President Donald Trump told radio-hosts "Rick and Bubba" this morning.

Trump called the popular syndicated radio show on Monday, just days after appearing at a Huntsville, Alabama rally for Republican Senate candidate Luther Strange.

"Luther Strange is going to be a great Senator," Trump said. "He loves Alabama, he loves the state and he loves the country. He will absolutely win against the Democrat. Ray will have a hard time. If Luther wins, the Democrats will hardly fight. If Ray wins (Democrats) will pour in $30 million."

When host Rick Burgess clarified that Moore's first name was Roy and not Ray, Trump came back with why it's "not a good sign" when the president doesn't know your name.

"I don't know that much about Roy Moore," Trump said, using the correct first name. "Roy Moore is going to have a very hard time getting elected against the Democrat. Against Luther, they won't even fight."

Strange, Alabama's former Attorney General, faces former State Supreme Court Chief Justice Moore in tomorrow's Republican primary. The winner will meet Democrat Doug Jones in the Dec. 12 election. Democrats are pushing to flip the seat to blue after long-time Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions was named U.S. Attorney General by Trump and Strange was appointed to the seat by ex-Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley.

During his Huntsville campaign stop, Trump promised to campaign for Moore should be victorious over Strange.

"I told Luther, and I have to say this, if his opponent wins, I'm going to be here campaigning like hell for him," Trump said.

The president is confident, however, Strange will hang on to the seat.

"I'm 5-0 in these races. I want to make it 6-0," Trump said Monday.

Correcting the president?

After the call, Burgess said he corrected the president after he called Moore the wrong name twice.

"If he had only said Ray one time I wouldn't have corrected him," Burgess said. "But when he said it twice, I had to say something."

"That may have been your best two-point turnaround in 24 years, when you have to correct the president," joked co-host Bill "Bubba" Bussey, who emceed the Friday night Trump rally.

Speaking about the interview, Burgess said the call was "like interviewing your uncle."

"He just says what he's thinking and that can be good or bad," he added.

According to Trump, the Alabama interview was his first radio appearance since he took office in January.
Police have identified the gunman they said killed a woman and injured six more after he opened fire at a Tennessee church today.

Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, has been released from the hospital and faces charges of murder and attempted murder, the Metro Nashville police said. The incident occurred at Burnett's Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee when Samson alleged opened fire around 11:15 a.m. in the parking lot, fatally wounding Melanie Smith, 39, of Smyrna, Tenn. He then went inside the rear of the church and began shooting in the building, wounding six people.

Police said a church usher, identified as Robert Engle, 22, confronted Samson and was pistol whipped. Engle then went to his vehicle and retrieved his own weapon and confronted Samson again. At some point, Samson shot himself in the leg.

Engle is being treated at a local hospital for injuries he sustained from the pistol whipping. Two of the other victims are listed in critical condition; four are in stable condition.

Samson, who wore a half-mask during the attack, attended the church within in the last two years, police said. He is a native of Khartoum, Sudan, arriving in the U.S. as a child and is a legal resident but not a citizen, police said.

The Department of Justice and the FBI have opened a federal civil rights investigation of the into the shooting. Samson's motive is not yet known.
Nigel Farage, who orchestrated the successful June 2016 Brexit vote in the United Kingdom, will speak during a pro-Roy Moore rally at 7 p.m. Monday in Fairhope. Joining him on stage will be former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon and "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson. Here are reasons why these three public figures are coming to Alabama to campaign with Moore and other interesting tidbits.

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Special guests backing Moore in Fairhope

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore's campaign is touting the appearances of Bannon and Robertson at tonight's final pre-election rally in Fairhope. The campaign also says a "special guest" will be in attendance. Moore, on Twitter, confirmed that right-wing British politician Nigel Farage will also be there.

Tickets for tonight's rally are free and are available at eventbrite.com. The rally is scheduled to run from 7 to 9 p.m. at Oak Hollow Farm, 14210 S. Greeno Road in Fairhope.

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Former leader of the UK Independent Party

Farage led the UK's Independence Party from 2006-2009, and again from 2010-2016. He founded the party in 1992. Farage was a prominent figure in the United Kingdom's successful vote in 2016 to leave the European Union, triggering a wave of international nationalistic fervor.

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Gerald Herbert

Southern appearances

Farage's attendance during the pro-Moore rally will be his second notable public appearance in the Deep South.

On Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, Farage joined Donald Trump on the campaign trail in Jackson, Miss. Trump had praised Farage's efforts to push forward the Brexit movement. Farage had drawn comparisons to Trump for his harsh, outsider style and for his anti-immigrant rhetoric. In Mississippi, Farage encouraged voters to back Trump: "If you want change in this country, you better get your walking boots on, you better get out there campaigning. And remember, anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment."

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Opposes same-sex marriage

Farage is an opponent of same-sex marriage, which is the closest in ideology the British politician may have with Moore. In 2014, as the head of the UK Independence Party, Farage said about same-sex marriage: "I think we are opening up a very big can of worms here, and I think there are some very, very big risks."

Moore was suspended last year as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court for ordering probate judges to not issue same-sex marriage licenses. Moore's order came after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Conservative commentator

Farage, after the 2016 U.S. election, was hired by conservative media outlet Fox News and the Fox Business Network. Farage also hosts "The Nigel Farage Show" is broadcast from London on the digital site, LBC. Farage has drawn controversy. Fox News apologized in June for an on-air discussion Farage had regarding internment camps for Muslims.

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Former White Chief Strategist

Stephen Bannon, until Monday, had played a more behind-the-scene role in the Alabama Senate race. He served as the chief strategist of the White House until Aug. 18, when he resigned following controversial statements President Donald Trump made following violence in Charlottesville, Va. Trump said "both sides" were to blame for a deadly violent clash between white supremacists and counter-protestors, and critics blamed Trump for channeling Bannon when he equated the two sides.

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Jabin Botsford/Washington Post

Eyes on 2018 congressional midterms

In the weeks after Bannon left the White House, media reports surfaced that Trump's confidant was planning an aggressive effort to unseat McConnell-backed candidates in the Deep South and elsewhere during the 2018 congressional midterms. The objective, for Bannon, is replace them with insurgents who are loyal to Trump's nationalist agenda. The first stop is in Alabama, where Bannon is backing Moore who is opposed by Senator Luther Strange, whose campaign is largely funded by the McConnell-backed Senate Leadership Fund.

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Breitbart's backing of Moore

Bannon return to Breitbart News as its chief executive immediately after he left the White House. Since then, the far-right website has published a host of pro-Moore articles, even some which questioned Trump's endorsement of Strange. The Washington Examiner reported that Breitbart writers were denied entry into Trump's rally Friday in Huntsville because the website is backing Moore.

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Great American Alliance

The "Great American Alliance," an organization connected to the Great American PAC - which raised about $30 million for Trump's election last year - bankrolled a pro-Moore bus trip in Montgomery Thursday. Former Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin spoke at a post-debate rally.



The Great American Alliance's senior adviser is Andy Surabian, who served as Bannon's political adviser when the two were in the White House together. On the organization's website, the group claims to be the "most active independent ally" of the president determined to see that his "America First" agenda succeeds.

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

'Bunch of dykes'

Bannon's past statements have drawn criticism from the LGBTQ community, and it's no secret that the LGBTQ crowd are no fans of Roy Moore.

In a 2011 interview, Bannon said women like Ann Coulter and Michele Bachmann threaten the progressive narrative: These women cut to the heart of the progressive narrative. Thats one of the unintended consequences of the womens liberation movement  that, in fact, the women that would lead this country would be feminine, they would be pro-family, they would have husbands, they would love their children. They wouldnt be a bunch of dykes that came from the Seven Sisters schools up in New England.

On the Target debate over transgender use of bathrooms, Bannon said the retail giant was "trying to exclude people who are decent, hard-working people who don't want their four-year-old daughter to have to go into a bathroom with a guy with a beard in a dress."

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Alex Brandon

Pence vs. Bannon?

Vice-President Mike Pence is in Huntsville and Birmingham today stumping for Senator Luther Strange, while Bannon is in Fairhope supporting Moore.

CNN, the cable TV news network which Trump has unleashed furious criticism about, noted the opposite ends of the former allies support in the Alabama race in a headline that reads, "It's Pence vs. Bannon in final day of Alabama Senate race."

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Hannity to interview Bannon

Bannon's second televised interview since he left the White House will take place on the Fox News Network outside of the Moore rally in Fairhope. Bannon was previously interviewed on CBS's "60 Minutes."

Fox News host Sean Hannity, a Moore supporter, will conduct the interview. In a statement to Politico, Hannity said: "The battle of the Alabama senate race has now become a referendum on the establishment and Mitch McConnell's inability to get anything done."

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Duck Dynasty star backs Moore

Ahead of the Aug. 15 GOP primary, which Moore finished as the top vote-getter, Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson tossed his support behind the ex-judge.

"He judged with a good understanding of the Constitution and the law, but he also understands natural law and who gave us our rights to begin with, Almighty God. Roy Moore will stand up for truth and what's right, no matter who opposes him, and that is sorely needed in Washington DC. I fully endorse his run for the Senate and pray for he and his family."

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John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Robertson and North Carolina bathroom bill

The bearded patriarch of the reality television clan backed Donald Trump's bid for the White House last year. He is also, in 2016, raised money to support groups backing a North Carolina law that requires people to use the bathroom that matches the gender they were born.

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NonStaff

Suspended by A&E

Duck Dynasty was a hit show for A&E but in 2013, but the network opted to suspend Robertson for controversial statements he made about homosexuality during an interview with GQ.

Robertson, who has been outspoken about his religious beliefs, said one sin -- homosexuality -- could open the door to other sins.

"Sin becomes fine. Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there," he told GQ. "Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men."

Moore was suspended as a state judge last year for ordering state probate judges to deny same-sex couples of receiving a marriage license in Alabama.
unemployment93.jpg

Wayne Curtis

By Wayne Curtis, Ph.D., a former superintendent of Alabama banks, is a retired Troy University business school dean.

The economy finally appears to be gaining traction. GDP grew by a robust 3.0 percent during the second quarter after inching along at a much slower pace (1.2 percent) in the first quarter. At the same time, the official unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.4 percent.

While lower unemployment is viewed as a sign of progress, there is a caveat with respect to the August rate. And it is a noteworthy one, known as the labor participation rate. The labor participation rate -- the share of the working-age population employed or seeking a job -- remained steady at 62.9 percent. Prior to the Great Recession, the rate was in the range of 66 percent.

The variation in the two rates may seem insignificant. But with the current labor force of 160.6 million people, the difference is about 5 million people who have dropped out of the labor force by not looking for work. That is, if the participation rate were at pre-recession levels, five million additional people would be in the labor force.

The quandary partially lies in the measurement of unemployment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently calculates six alternative measures of unemployment. The "official" rate (U-3) -- the figure the media and others talk about when the numbers are published -- is criticized by many economists. This is because it includes only those who are without jobs and have actively looked for work within the past four weeks.

One level beyond the official rate is the measurement (U-4) that adds workers who have become discouraged. They want to work, are available for employment, and have looked for employment in the past twelve months. But they are not counted as unemployed because they have not searched for employment within the previous four months. They specifically state they believe no jobs are available for them. This rate was 4.7 percent.

The next measurement (U-5) merges those who are "marginally detached" into the unemployment calculation. BLS defines them as discouraged workers who cited other reasons for not seeking employment in the prior four weeks. The U-5 was 5.4 percent.

The final calculation (U-6) incorporates individuals who are employed part-time. They want to work full-time and are available to work but have been unable to find full-time employment. For the month of August, the U-6 rate was 8.6 percent.

The U-6 rates are much more dramatic for some states. State data are reported on a quarterly basis. At the end of the second quarter, Alaska had the highest rate in the nation at 13.1 percent, followed by New Mexico (12.6 percent) and Nevada (11.5 percent). Several states had U-6 rates of 10.0 percent or greater: California (10.6 percent), Louisiana and Mississippi (10.4 percent), Connecticut (10.3 percent), West Virginia (10.1 percent), and Florida (10.0 percent). Alabama's rate was 9.8 percent.

As the broadest measure of labor underutilization, the U-6 has received increased attention in recent years. A number of labor experts contend it would be more appropriate to focus on it rather than the more restrictive official rate. As presently used, the U-6's main contribution may be to remind the nation that those whom the BLS defines as the officially unemployed are not the only ones who suffer when labor markets are weak.

To put the matter in perspective, the unemployment rate as we have come to know it is not the authoritative statistic that it is often portrayed to be. That is, the 4.4 percent unemployment rate for August does not fully describe the complete jobs situation in the nation. In view of this, policy makers may find it advisable to look to the U-6 -- or perhaps one of the other BLS calculations -- for a more inclusive picture of labor underutilization.
Why are women trading a life in the tropics for a treeless, windswept country on the edge of the Arctic circle?

When I told people I was going to the remote Faroe Islands to film women from Asia whod moved there to marry men they met online, many would assume they faced some kind of exploitation or trafficking.

Tiresome jokes, like the one about a guy clicking twice and getting two wives would inevitably follow, along with comments like, is it legal?

What other reason could possibly explain trading a life in the tropics for a treeless, windswept country at the door of the Arctic circle that is cloaked in darkness for six months of the year?

I am not Asian, but having lived in several Asian countries over many years, I know women who fight the assumption that they are victims no matter where in the world they move. Especially if they marry a white man.

It was the same for many of the 300 Thai and Filipina women who have become the largest ethnic minority on the Faroe Islands, an archipelago that is home to only 50,000 people and 80,000 sheep.

Truth be told, the Faroes need these women more than the women need the Faroes. For decades, local women have been leaving the islands in search of better jobs and more exotic husbands.

Now, with 1,500 more men than women between the ages of 18 and 60 on the islands, finding a wife can be tough. So many local men have been turning to Asia.

The myth of the subservient Asian bride

At first, the Thai and Filipina women were reluctant to talk to me out of fear of how they would be portrayed. Visiting journalists whod come and gone had left a less than favourable impression, broadcasting stories that did little to break down the myth of the subservient Asian bride.

So I dug a little deeper.

All of the women I spoke to had jobs. Granted, most of those jobs were lower qualified positions than what they had studied at home, but they paid much better wages and that made them happy. All of them mentioned safety as the number one attraction of life in the Faroe Islands. And all of them described themselves as strong, independent women because they had chosen to live here.

As one explained, women who marry a European and stay in the Philippines or Thailand often have household help and a high standard of living. Not so on the Faroes. Women have to go it alone to earn money, raise children, learn one of the worlds most difficult languages and survive the long dark winters.

They described the thrill of getting their drivers license, succeeding at job interviews, having their own bank accounts.

Whats more, they described their husbands as less patriarchal than men in their home countries. This was the most surprising revelation to me. My encounters with Faroese men left me with the impression that they were highly traditional. Im sick of all this feminism stuff, one told me. It makes sense to get a wife from Asia, they know their role.

So how could the women see themselves as living these emancipated lives while the men see them as fulfilling their ideal of a traditional wife?

Ive come to the conclusion that both are probably right. Somehow, these women have found space for themselves to live the life they want, even within the confines of a conservative society.

All too often in the media, we portray Asian women as victims. We see pictures from refugee camps, stories about exploitation of every kind.

Of course, a light needs to be shone on these grave abuses. But for every one of those stories, there are also stories of proud, resourceful Asian women, choosing lives in faraway places and doing so on their own terms.
Years after the LRA was subdued, reconciliation between communities and returning former LRA fighters remains elusive.

Lukodi, Uganda  For more than two decades Acholiland in northern Uganda suffered at the hands of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA fighters, led by Joseph Kony, stand accused of killing 100,000 civilians, and forcing nearly two million people to flee their homes and seek refuge in overcrowded IDP camps.

The most distressing characteristic of the conflict was the fact that the LRA filled 90 percent of its ranks through the systematic forced-conscription of children. The United Nations described the conflict as a war fought by children on children.

Although Acholiland has been free from LRA attacks for 11 years, survivors still struggle to overcome the legacy of the conflict. There are no official reconciliation programmes in place to help the communities heal, and many have been left with a sense of abandonment and injustice as perpetrators of war crimes remain unpunished and at large, as Kony himself is.

Dickens Omara was six years old when the LRA captured him and his father during an armed raid on his village in the Oyam district in northern Uganda in 2002.

He was blindfolded, handed a knife and forced to stab his father to death.

According to UNICEF, 35,000 school-aged boys and girls were abducted by the LRA to serve as child soldiers, porters, spies, cooks or sex slaves.

Living through trauma

The LRA put Dickens through two months of military training and then forced him to join a unit of around one hundred child soldiers.

Rebels teach you how to fight using a gun. They train you to kill. This is [the] childrens job, he says.

In Oyam district, the LRA rebels would not shoot [captured] people, but would boil water and kill them by putting them in that hot water. I was afraid. I wanted to survive, he recalls.

Dickens was rescued from captivity by government troops in 2005. But witnessing the LRAs atrocities left Dickens deeply traumatised.

He has terrible nightmares and becomes unknowingly violent at school. He sees dead people coming to talk to him. I cant explain this because he is a very social boy, says Genesis Latigo, the manager for family-based care at the SOS Childrens Villages in Gulu. In Uganda, this internationally active NGO provides care and protection for vulnerable children.

Former child soldiers face multiple obstacles on their road to recovery, Latigo stresses. These include coping with psychological scars, reintegration with families and communities and also developing life skills that would enable them to become independent. They are lost and they dont know where to begin their lives. Because of too much trauma, these kids fail to fit in any setting.

Latigo says that there is a limit to what organisations like his can do to rehabilitate former child soldiers. We make sure that we support them through different programmes which help them to change their mindset. We make them believe in themselves that they can achieve [goals] in life, Latigo explains.

But ultimately, the programmes can only be successful if the former child soldiers return to communities that have found some measure of reconciliation and will accept them instead of stigmatising and rejecting them.

There is a lot of silence around what happened in the past. People are moving on with their lives, but the violence that they experienced, the crimes that were committed against them or [which] they perpetrated themselves are left on the back burner, explains Oryem Nyeko, Communication and Advocacy Team Leader at the Justice and Reconciliation Project, a non-governmental organisation in Gulu working for justice and reconciliation with grassroots communities.

The government has been slow to facilitate reconciliation efforts. A final draft of a transitional justice policy underlining the responsibilities of the government in providing reparations to the victims, establishing truth-telling mechanisms and accountability measures has been pending approval by the office of President Yoweri Museveni since 2013.

Nyeko thinks this delay may be due to the as yet unresolved question of who is to bear the financial burden of paying reparations to victims who have organised themselves into groups to advocate for redress in the form of reparations.

Some have called for financial compensation, like survivors of the 1991 government-led military operation in Burcoro village on the outskirts of Gulu. Other communities have called for symbolic reparations in the form of memorial schools, like the schools built in Mukura and Atiak, Nyeko explains.

But most ask for a combination of both forms  expecting the government to bear this responsibility, Nyeko adds.

According to Nyeko, the cost of the reparations remains unclear, because the process of collecting the data required to make that assessment  the number of victims across northern Uganda and what they require  has not yet been done comprehensively.

Margaret Ajok, technical adviser on Transitional Justice at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in Uganda, declined to provide a comment to Al Jazeera regarding the Ugandan governments approach to transitional justice and measures undertaken to reconcile the victims and perpetrators, saying, some of the questions are very sensitive and may need particular institutions heads to respond.

In the meantime, local and international NGOs have stepped in to offer what they can to help the victims. One of the things we have done is to pilot reconciliatory processes with communities, Nyeko says. We have tried to show that if you provide means, then you can engage people in truth-telling and other peace processes, then you could also achieve this on [a] national scale.

Nyeko argues that a consequence of delayed government action to establish these mechanisms is that survivors instead of healing their wounds are keeping their emotions bottled up.

I wouldnt call that reconciliation. I call it a grey, negative peace that exists today and I think it can potentially manifest into official conflict if it is not addressed now.

Justice and amnesty

The process of creating a meaningful dialogue between the perpetrators and victims became more complicated with the enactment of a law, the Amnesty Act, in the year 2000, which offered amnesty for any fighters who abandon LRA ranks and renounce violence.

Over 13,000 former LRA combatants have taken up the offer, according to official figures. The law also allows high-ranking commanders a means by which to avoid prosecution for the wartime crimes they may have orchestrated.

Maria Burnett, Africa Division Associate Director at Human Rights Watch, explains that this kind of approach to conflict resolution can be problematic for reconciliation efforts. When commanders who have committed serious crimes against their own communities receive amnesty, a sense of injustice lingers.

One of Joseph Konys former top commanders was one of the LRA fighters who left its ranks to return to his home village. He was a military strategist who spent 24 years in the LRAs top ranks.

The former top commander, who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, says he carried key responsibilities in his time as a fighter, such as arranging weapons transfers from Sudan for the LRA. The 50-year-old Acholi native left the LRA in 2012.

He admitted that LRA fighters were abducting school-aged children in Uganda and training them at military camps in Sudan. He himself had child soldiers under his command.

[The conscription of children] really wasnt right, he admits, but claims to have treated child soldiers well.

Testimonies of former child soldiers, however, speak to an environment of extreme violence.

One former child soldier tells Al Jazeera that he was 10 years old when the LRA kidnapped him along with his three brothers from the Kadagu district in 2003.

From his first day in its ranks, he learned that the LRA had no mercy, that he would face the most barbaric and inhuman punishment for every action they saw as misbehaviour or disobedience.

I thought they were going to register me in the sense of writing down my name. But to my surprise, I saw some of them bringing canes. They caned me 160 strokes and even right now I have scars on my back and some other parts of my body, he says, adding that his two brothers never returned from captivity.

The thin line between victim and perpetrator

In northern Uganda, the line between victim and perpetrator is sometimes very, very thin. Many people were abducted as children [and] forced to do horrific things. They are perpetrators in a classic sense, but are also victims, explains Burnett.

Dominic Ongwen is the only LRA high-ranking perpetrator on trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC), facing 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. But Ongwen had been a child soldier, captured by the LRA at the age of 13 while on his way to school, and the case has raised many questions regarding whether commanders who were themselves captured as children should be held responsible for war crimes.

Although many commanders have taken advantage of the Amnesty Law provisions, the legal representatives in the country insist that there is no blanket amnesty extended to all commanders. Instead, they explain that Uganda is working with a dual conflict response model that seeks to pursue peace alongside accountability.

In the case of Thomas Kwoyelo, for instance, also a commander who was recruited as a child soldier, and who is currently facing accusations of war crimes at the International Crimes Division (ICD) of Ugandas High Court, amnesty was rejected.

In his ruling, in response to the legal challenge that denying amnesty to Kwoyelo was discriminatory, Justice Galdino Okello said any crimes willfully committed against innocent civilian populations do not qualify for grant of amnesty under the Amnesty Act as they stand separate from crimes committed in furtherance of the war or rebellion carried out against government targets or the peripheral results of such attacks.

Oumar Ba, political scientist at Morehouse College, who has conducted research on the International Criminal Court and the LRA, argues that the Ongwen case at the ICC will influence how Uganda handles the Kwoyelo case.

If Ongwen is standing trial in The Hague for similar crimes, why would Uganda grant amnesty for Kwoyelo? he asks.

In his opinion, the prosecution of former child soldiers, either domestically or at the ICC, poses many legal and ethical challenges.

But we should also ask ourselves, what is being done for the other children who were abducted? What is being done for the communities that were victimised? How to balance the accountability with rehabilitation, stresses Ba.

According to Ba, the priority for the victims of the more than two-decades-long civil war in northern Uganda is to see accountability for both sides of the conflict.

As long as this is not done, reconciliations will be elusive. Beyond the prosecution of Kwoyelo, there is [a] lack of any real effort from the government of Uganda towards reconciliation, transitional justice, post-conflict reconstruction and responding to psychological and medical needs of former combatants and refugees, Ba says.

Read this article to learn more about Dominic Ongwen and his trial at The Hague

Elusive reconciliation

Hellen lost her husband and two children in an attack on the Lukodi community in May 2004, known as the Lukodi massacre, in which more than 60 people were killed. I am unable to do anything but to carry my sadness deep inside myself. I feel hopeless. The trauma of what happened  will never go away, says the 53-year old.

Hellen says she feels marginalised and forgotten. No justice has been done because the rebels have not been held accountable.

Calvin Dcora, a 52-year-old man, lost one child and 18 relatives in the attack.

I have not forgiven rebels because none of them ever came to ask for forgiveness. I am still grieving, says Dcora, who knows one former LRA corporal who participated in the Lukodi killings and returned to the community, but never engaged in dialogue.

In his opinion, Acholi cultural leaders could play a primary role in reuniting victims and perpetrators by arranging the traditional reconciliatory ceremony called Mato Oput during which both parties to the conflict drink a mixture made from the root of the oput tree in a sign of forgiveness.

The survivors of the conflict simply wish to close the painful chapter of their lives and move on.

Nothing will replace the lost lives. However, the government of Uganda should come up with a programme of compensating the local people for the property that they have lost and for the relatives that they have lost. It would never be equivalent, but at least people would feel comfortable and become a sense of justice being delivered for them, says Kennedy Caymoi, who lost many relatives during the attack and is now taking care of a memorial in Lukodi village.

Follow Natalia Ojewska on Twitter: @Natalia_Ojewska
Patrik Hermansson, a gay anti-fascist activist, would seem like an obvious target for the white supremacists, far-right populists and neo-Nazis who make up the alt-right movement.

Yet the 25-year-old was able to successfully infiltrate the alt-rights ranks as part of a year-long undercover investigation for Hope Not Hate, a UK-based organisation that monitors hate groups.





Posing as a graduate student researching censorship of right-wing political speech, Hermansson documented the alt-rights growing influence in the US and Europe.

The report that followed  The International Alt-Right: From Charlottesville to the White House  exposes the movements connections to the administration of US President Donald Trump and the impact of alt-right ideas on far-right European political currents.

Hermanssons findings detail a movement rife with racism, anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial, neo-Nazism and conspiracy theories.

Richard Spencer, a white supremacist activist who heads the Virginia-based National Policy Institute, is credited with first coining the term alt-right in 2008. The alt-right advocates for a white ethno-state based on shared European heritage.

The movement became a household name in the US owing to its vocal support for Trumps campaign and electoral victory.

The alt-right has been the subject of widespread public backlash since August 12, when it held the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest against the citys decision to remove a Confederate statue.

During that rally, alt-rightists clashed with anti-racists, anti-fascists and local community members.

By the end of the day, a Unite the Right participant, 20-year-old James Alex Fields, had been charged with second-degree murder for ramming his car into an anti-racist march and killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer.

READ MORE: What is the alt-right and what does it stand for?

Hermansson witnessed the days events, including the fatal attack.

Hermanssons investigation also delves into a more moderate group known as the alt-light that promotes several similar ideas. The alt-light, however, generally eschews the openly white supremacist politics of the alt-right. Instead, the alt-light has focused on cultivating broader support for Trump and promoting American civic nationalism.

Although both political movements have participated in clashes with anti-racists and anti-fascists across the country, in the months leading up to Charlottesville, the two camps grew increasingly at odds with one another, often engaging in public quarrels over their political differences.

Al Jazeera spoke to Hermansson about his experiences and observations while embedded in the alt-right.

Al Jazeera: How did the alt-right evolve over the year that you were undercover?

Patrik Hermansson: The broader far right developed in several ways. Brexit, Trumps election and terrorist attacks in Europe have all been significant drivers of recruitment for the broader far-right movement.

Trumps election has been the strongest driver for the alt-right. They really perceive themselves as having brought Trump into the White House and have been emboldened. Many of them feel that their ideas have been normalised.

They feel like their ideas are gaining influence in the mainstream. There is a range of different opinions towards Trump, and it is quite interesting. There are online forums that will call him Emperor Trump, but there have been periods in which hes fallen out of favour with many of them over the deep state or various conspiracies.

But after Charlottesville, he gained much more support again after he compared the alt-left (a widely disputed term the president used to characterise anti-fascists) to the alt-right. Generally, although they disagree with his policies at times, they usually blame the disagreements on outside influences.

You can listen to YouTube or read their articles and they say very racist things, but I can promise you what they say behind closed doors is much worse. by Patrik Hermansson, undercover researcher at Hope Not Hate

Al Jazeera: How did your own perception of the alt-right change from the time you started your investigation?

Hermansson: I learned a lot about them. I wasnt aware of how internationally connected they are. Im more afraid of them now than when I started. Their opinions behind closed doors are genocidal in many cases. You can listen to YouTube or read their articles and they say very racist things, but I can promise you what they say behind closed doors is much worse.

Their perception of their opponents [leftists and anti-fascists] differs from person to person. They like to be victimised and portrayed as the underdog. They like to say that the left is there to repress their freedom of speech.

Al Jazeera: You mention in the investigation that an influential member of Swedens alt-right was present in Charlottesville. How much do we know about the international connections of American alt-rightists?

In different ways, we know that Nordic Resistance Movement [in Sweden and elsewhere] members go to some of the same conferences [as alt-rightists] and speak on the same podcasts and interview each other. Ive met people in the US who know a lot about the Nordic Resistance Movement and follow them closely as well as their news. It is widely read by American far-right activists, who are not necessarily National Socialists [like the Nordic Resistance Movement, or NRM] themselves. They communicate regularly. National Action (a neo-Nazi outfit), which is labelled a terrorist group, in the UK is in direct contact with some of the people in the alt-right.

Al Jazeera: Were there any instances in which you thought your cover had been blown?

Hermansson: I was using a fake name and filming undercover. It really put a lot of stress on me. I had a constant sense of paranoia that they would find me out, or that I would accidentally say my actual name. They are suspicious, and theyve always been suspicious. Youre sort of always afraid youll be found out.

Actually, I accidentally once said my real name as instinct. I was afraid for a few days that they would kick me out, but I managed to get away with it through some creative explanations.

Al Jazeera: What was it like to be undercover and witness the violence during the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville?

Hermansson: I was standing there at a crossroad on a corner  I saw shoes flying in the air, people falling. You dont really understand what youre seeing in a situation like that. My immediate reaction was to wonder why the car came there, why shoes were flying in the air. It was terrifying, and the whole crowd panicked.

READ MORE: Witnessing the monstrous attack in Charlottesville

Yet, people came together and helped. They used protest banners to give shade to injured people. They were bringing water. Everybody did practical small things to support each other, and that was powerful to see.

Al Jazeera: Will the alt-right be able to recover from the backlash following the deadly attack in Charlottesville?

Hermansson: I think that in the long term, Charlottesville wont have a [lasting negative] impact on the alt-right. Even though the divisions are clear between the alt-right and the alt-light  If you look at social movements, there is usually a more extreme radical side and a more moderate side. They work together even though they may not do it in a formal sense. The moderate side helps normalise ideas. So, the alt-light is probably more dangerous because they are normalising these ideas and bringing them into the mainstream  and they have the ear of politicians.

Al Jazeera: Do you expect to see them back in the streets of the US in large numbers? And should we expect more violence?

Hermansson: Predicting the future is always difficult. I wouldnt be surprised by more violence. When you have these groups with young men and violent ideologies, the group dynamic means they need to prove themselves [to each other] and distance themselves from the left. It leads to dehumanisation of their opponents. There will always be people in the alt-right who will take that to its logical extreme like they did in Charlottesville.

Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_
The death of Muhammad Mahdi Akef, the former general guide of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood, behind bars on Friday has finally liberated him from the shackles of Egypts authoritarian military regime.

The 89-year-old top leader was the first to win the title of ex-supreme guide since no other leader of the Muslim Brotherhoods top post left office while still alive. Yet, despite his old age and multitude of health problems the military-led government incarcerated him soon after the military coup in July 2013 that toppled the first elected civilian president.

The coup authorities had since refused to heed repeated calls by lawyers and human rights organisation that demanded Akefs release. The military court that sent him to jail alleged that he was found guilty of showing contempt for the countrys judiciary that was said to be his crime.

Akef was born in 1928, the same year in which Hassan al-Banna founded the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. He joined the group at the age of 12 in 1940 and remained a loyal member until he passed away on Friday, September 22, 2017.

READ MORE: What is the Muslim Brotherhood?

He knew Al-Banna and worked closely with him. When the groups founder first met Akef, he was impressed with this young mans special talents; he encouraged him to pursue university studies in the field of sport. He was well-built physically and had been an eager sportsman. Al-Banna selected him when he was still 17 years old to become part of what was known as the special organisation, a secretive quasi-military organisation designed to perform special missions, primarily against the British troops occupying Egypt and in Palestine against the Zionist occupation.

He was jailed by all successive governments in Egypt since the movement was first persecuted in 1948.

In 1954, he was among hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members who were rounded up by former president Gamal Abdel Nasser. Akef was among the few who were sentenced to death but his sentence was soon commuted to life with labour.

He remained in prison for 20 years and was only released in 1974. Despite the length of his incarceration and the torment, he experienced while in detention, this was hardly a man who bore any grudges. And this was to become more clearly evident in the coming years.

Three years following his release, he travelled to Saudi Arabia where he worked until 1983 for the World Association of Muslim Youth (WAMY). He was responsible for the organisation of Muslim youth camps around the world.

He left for Europe in 1983, where he spent a few years in Germany heading the Islamic Centre in Munich. While in Germany, Akefs involvement with the Brotherhoods International Organisation deepened. This was a loose body coordinating cooperation among the various chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood around the world.

Muslim Brotherhood observers believe that the time Akef spent in Europe exposed him to aspects of Western life, such as democracy and civil liberties, that impressed him and impacted his thinking, eventually playing a role in determining the direction taken by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt a decade later.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Mahdi Akef speaks to Al Jazeera in 2005

Upon his return to Egypt in 1987, he was elected to the groups top leadership body known as the Guidance Bureau. During that same period, he won a parliamentary seat and served for three years as part of a sizable Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc numbering 37 MPs. The Brotherhood had still not been allowed to run for parliamentary elections but did so through a special arrangement with the opposition socialist Labour Party.

In March 2004, under Akef, the Muslim Brotherhood issued for the first time a political reform initiative which gave insights into the thinking of the group regarding issues like democracy, human rights and womens rights.

The role played by Akif in this process is well-known and has come to cause concern for the authorities. The movement seemed to be receiving a facelift, one showing it to be tolerant and engaging. That was bound to embarrass a regime bent on banning it and others from engagement in all forms of politics.

In the mid-1990s, the Muslim Brotherhood suffered a series of major blows. The first was an internal dispute that led to the split of a group of middle-rank members who had been actively involved in the trade unions. Akef was associated with that dispute because he was commissioned by the Guidance Bureau to instruct a group of young Muslim Brotherhood members in the organisation to explore the prospects of setting up a political party. He was strongly in favour of the idea of creating and registering a political party to be used as the platform for political activities while the group remains focused on religious and educational missionary activities.

Enthusiastic about the project, and rather than submit their findings to the groups leadership as required, the young men instead applied for the registration of a political party. They were told they had not been given the mandate to do so and were instructed to withdraw the application.





Apparently, the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood acted this way because it did not want to be drawn into a confrontation with the regime that banned the formation of new political parties. Nevertheless, the Mubarak regime accused the Brotherhood of playing games and of embarking on some sort of a division of labour.

Insisting that the dispute within the group was not genuine, the regime was bent on curtailing the movement before legal proceedings end up in granting it a licence for the practice of politics.

Indeed, in 1996, the regime launched a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood accusing it of plotting against the government. Akef and several of his comrades were tried before a military court and given jail sentences of various terms. He served three years and was released in 1999.

Although he sympathised with the young men who eventually split and formed Al-Wasat Party, he disagreed with their action. He was adamant that it would do them no good and that working from within to change things for the better was their best option. Nevertheless, he maintained good relations with the group and provided the channel through which communication between the young men and the movement was later resumed and developed into cooperation.

In January 2004, Akef was elected as general guide following the death of his predecessor Mamun Al-Hudaibi. But rather than remain in his post until he died, as had been the case with all previous guides, Akef refused to be nominated for another term and left his post in January 2010 to be replaced by Mohammad Badi.

Akefs vision for the Muslim Brotherhood was revolutionary. This was a man already in his 80s but was speaking with the zeal and ambition of a young man. Young members in the movement respected him because of his approach. They felt he related to them and understood their needs and grievances. He always spoke to them about the need for what he called renewing the blood of the movement and delegating responsibilities to those who are apt and able.

Akef was already 85 years old when he was detained by the current military-led regime four years ago. His health had already been deteriorating and continued to do so until his death. Without the wisdom and vision of leaders like Akef, the Muslim Brotherhood organisation was left orphaned, in distress and in a mess.

Akefs death, or his assassination by denying him medical treatment, could play its role in reviving the movement and inspiring sympathisers and fans across the world.

Like Mandela in South Africa, whose iconic image was created by the Apartheid regime he fought against form many decades, Akef has been turned into an icon by one of the most brutal regimes of our times.
Kurdish bid for independence from Iraq will be problematic amid ongoing internal disputes, residents of the region say.

Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq  Walk into a cafe in the capital of Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region, Erbil, strike up a conversation about the referendum, and you will find customer after customer waxing lyrical about voting yes to the regions bid for independence.

Finding a no voter, or someone who will boycott the vote altogether is near impossible in the Kurdish regions capital of Erbil, controlled by President Masoud Barzanis Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).





In the city, voters largely see the referendum as history in the making and an opportunity to rid the region of a fraught and deadly shared history with Iraq.

Much of the Iraqi-Kurdish minoritys animosity stems back to an Arabisation campaign led by late Iraqi President Saddam Husseins Baathist government, which aimed to shift the demographics in favour of the countrys Sunni population.

As a result, the decades-long campaign displaced hundreds of thousands of minorities, including Kurds, Turkmen, Christians and Yazidis.

International rights groups including US-based Human Rights Watch classified the Anfal campaign  an operation launched in the late 1980s against the Kurds in Iraqs north  as a genocide for the use of chemical weapons. Some 4,000 villages in the Kurdish region were destroyed, and up to 100,000 civilians were killed.

September 25 is a historic day for all the people of the Kurdistan region, Baxtiyar Goran, a 25-year-old Erbil-based journalist, told Al Jazeera.

An independent Kurdistan would put an end to all the catastrophes, opening the door for the people of Kurdistan to build up their own country and shine as a beacon of democracy and stability in a volatile Middle East, Goran, who plans to vote in favour of independence, added.

The result of living in Iraq has only been genocide, chemical bombardment, displacement, and the destruction of our homes, villages and towns.

But not all Kurds are in agreement with the likes of Goran. In the regions second-largest city of Sulaymaniyah, opinions on the referendum vary.

Im voting no, 28-year-old Dilshad Abdul, a Kurdish government employee, told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Iraq parliament votes to remove Kirkuk governor

According to Abdul, the conditions for a referendum must include political and economic stability. He says that the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), which is embroiled in such crises that have crippled the region, must resolve these issues before a fair referendum takes place.

We still dont have a united administration, Abdul continued, referencing the KDP-controlled Erbil and Duhok governorates and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) controlled Sulaymaniyah and Halabja.

The long-time rivalry between the KDP and PUK, which saw both Kurdish parties face-off against each other on opposite sides of the Iraqi-Kurdish civil war, has seen some scepticism from voters in PUK-controlled Sulaymaniyah over the intentions of the largely KDP-led referendum process. The three-year civil war, which began in 1994, resulted in both parties controlling different areas of the Iraqi Kurdish region.

Like Abdul, a number of voters in PUK controlled areas see the referendum process as undemocratic, carried out without the backing of the KRG Parliament. For the first time in two years, the legislative body convened on September 15, officially supporting the referendum and its scheduled date.

The institution has been in recess since a parliament speaker, who is a member of the Sulaymaniyah-based political party Movement for Change, was refused entry to the regions capital by KDP-affiliated security forces in 2015.

Although more than 60 members of parliament called on the parliament meeting to approve the referendum date, the Gorran Movement, which is the second largest party in the parliament, and the Kurdistan Islamic Group, have yet to join other political parties and officially endorse the referendum.

Instead, both parties have been lobbying for the reactivation of parliament, and for political factions to resolve internal disputes, before such a vote takes place.

A joint statement by both groups released this week reaffirmed the belief that while self-determination was a natural right of the Kurdish people, holding the referendum under the current political conditions and without solving internal crises in the KRG is a dangerous step to take.

The debate that has sprung up in Kurdish society has not merely revolved around which way to vote, or around whether the vote should take place altogether.

The debate has also included a discussion about the inclusion of the disputed territories  such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk and parts of the Nineveh and Diyala provinces. These are controlled by the Kurdish military and lie outside of KRGs defined borders, but are regarded by Kurdish leaders as integral parts of any independent Kurdish state.

The inclusion of Kirkuk, in particular, has incensed Turkmen in the ethnically mixed region, who dubbed the decision of partaking in the upcoming vote unconstitutional.

Kirkuk, regarded as part of the state of Iraq by Baghdad, and part of the autonomous Kurdish region by the KRG, officially announced its participation in the referendum last month.

Similarly, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other government officials have repeatedly said that the referendum would violate the Iraqi constitution.

We will not allow the partition of Iraq, Abadi said.

READ MORE: The looming question of Kurdish independence in Iraq

The potential of an independent Kurdistan is also perceived as a threat by neighbouring Turkey and Iran, who fear that an independent state will influence their own Kurdish populations.

Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union have both advocated for the postponement of the vote, fearing the referendum could distract from the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) by rising tensions between the Kurds, Turkmen, and Arabs.

International Crisis Groups Iraq senior analyst, Maria Fantappie, told Al Jazeera that the referendum was already creating uncertainty in Iraq and that the power struggle afterwards would determine what effect the vote would ultimately have on the region.

Its [the referendum] impact on Iraq will depend less on its turnout and results, and more on how Kurds and Iraqis will react to the vote and manipulate its results to achieve their political aims in the power struggle unfolding after the defeat of [ISIL], Fantappe said.

Those who will vote in favour of independence say they are well aware of the problems that exist within the region and around the referendum. However, with the Kurdish region on the international radar following the Peshmergas contribution in the fight against ISIL, Yes voters say the time is right for a separation from Iraq.

We all admit that not everything is perfect, but waiting for the right time where everything is perfect would be too risky, and we might never have another opportunity where we can freely practise our rights and determine our future, said Goran.

While an overwhelming majority of social media users utilised platforms to voice their support for independence, a countermovement led by a group of activists, entrepreneurs, and politicians in the region advocated for a postponement of the referendum under the slogan of No for Now.

Still, the countermovement did not succeed in convincing voters like Najwa Abbasi to vote in opposition to independence.

If we go back 100 years, Iraq has tried to debilitate civil Kurdish [society], Abbasi said from her hometown of Sulaymaniyah.

I know they [voters who are voting in opposition to independence] are hesitant and I want to tell them  look back at what they did to us, we are the owners of our land. Every Kurdish house has lost a member in war, she added.

Mondays referendum is neither binding nor the first. In 2005, a similar referendum held by Kurdish parties revealed a desire for independence.

However, Kurds have become far more divided since the 2005 ballot, with the region engulfed in a financial crisis that has been blamed by some Kurds on the war against, as well as political mismanagement and corruption.

Barzanis continued presidency term, which had expired in 2013, has also driven a wedge between civilians in the KDP and PUK-controlled areas, with some voters saying that they see the referendum process as a hijacking of the Kurdish independence movement  which almost all Kurds support  by Barzani.

Rebaz Jaza Abdul Qadir, a university student from Sulaymaniyah, said he would boycott the vote altogether because of his views on Barzani.

Holding the referendum is an agenda which has been put forward by Barzanis family in an effort to postpone presidential elections and extend Barzanis illegal presidential term, the 24-year-old told Al Jazeera.

Qadir said he believed the referendum was also being used to obscure failures in governing the region committed by both the KDP-led Barzani family, and the PUK-led Talabani family.

New political unrest will occur among the parties after the referendum, I hope it wont reach civil war, Qadir added.

While it is expected that the vote in favour of independence would ultimately win, Kurds on both sides agree that for the referendum to be a success  regardless of what side tops the ballot  internal disputes have to be resolved and potential instability staved off in its aftermath.

The Kurdish region, made up of three governorates  Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah  has enjoyed broad autonomy since the 1991 Gulf War, and has since then expanded their territory by 40 percent. It has been seeking independence since the conclusion of the first world war.

Additional reporting by Hawbash Abu Bakir.
On the night of February 20, gunshots and explosions rang throughout the night in Malis northern town of Gao. The Malian military said that the checkpoint leading to Bourem had been attacked  the very same checkpoint that saw two suicide bomb attacks in the past two weeks.

The next morning, members of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), a radical rebel group with links to al-Qaeda, had taken over the mayors office and city hall, and engaged in a fierce firefight with the Malian and French military. The ensuing battle lasted for five hours in the downtown Gao area.

The battle was the second one to rock Gao since the French military intervened last month to drive out al-Qaeda linked groups from the region.

France intervened in its former West African colony on January 11 to stop a southward offensive by the rebels who seized control of vast swaths of the north in April last year.

While things have calmed down in Gao in the days after, its almost certain that the rebels are regrouping in neighbouring towns that have not been yet secured by Malian and French forces, preparing for more guerrilla-style attacks.

For now, the residents of Gao are holding their breath.
All betrayals are not made equal. In recent weeks, a political disaster of epic proportions has befallen upon Somalia. The Somali government has committed what many  including some of its staunchest supporters  consider a treasonous act.





Somalias National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has extradited a Somali citizen, a highly decorated military officer, a war hero who was wounded in the 1977 war against Ethiopia and an officer of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) to Ethiopia without any due process.

Initially, the government denied and dismissed all information related to the illegal rendition as vicious rumours intended to undermine governments credibility; claiming their objective is Qaran dumis or to destroy the nation.

Once the truth hit the streets that Abdikarim Sheikh Muse (Qalbi-Dhagax) was handed over by his brethren to a brutal regime with a long record of human rights violations, it unleashed a collective public fury the likes of which Somalia had never seen. The public space became saturated with songs, poems, and skits expressing extreme disillusionment on a popular president  Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo  who only a few months earlier was celebrated as the long-awaited saviour of the nation.

Making Matters Worse

Desperate to shake off this scandal, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire convened a Council of Ministers emergency meeting. To the utter dismay of many who were still hopeful that their government will do what is right, the Council of Ministers made the problem even worse. They accused Qalbi-Dhagax of being a terrorist who committed serious crimes in Somalia and who was in cahoots with al-Shabab to further sabotage the nation. Furthermore, they declared ONLF, which is an internationally recognised liberation movement that has offices throughout the West, Middle East and Africa, a terrorist organisation.

To understand the foreign-dominated, self-refuelling system that propels the Somali political process one should think of an aircraft carrier with a massive flight deck where the Somali president is granted the discretion to walk, march or even run to any direction he wishes as that will neither alter the carrier's course nor its destination. by

While irredentism or Somalias historical struggle to reclaim all five parts of its nation as partitioned by the colonial masters is, for all intents and purposes, dead; the loyalty, the commitment to advocate for the rights of all Somalis in the region to live freely and off the chains of oppression is alive and well. It is in that spirit of solidarity that Somalis of all walks of life support the ONLF cause and the groups right to work towards liberating their homeland.

Let us hypothetically assume that all allegations against Qalbi-Dhagax were true and that he was a ruthless terrorist who carried out clandestine operations to sabotage Somalia and has killed and committed rape as the cabinet (no judge or jury) has declared, how do such allegations justify his rendition to Ethiopia? Why would the government not prosecute him in Somalia?

If he is guilty of these serious crimes, why he was living in Mogadishu for years as an ONLF officer without ever being arrested? Qalbi-Dhagax was not an anonymous figure. He was not in hiding. Clearly, the cabinets decision to hand him over to Ethiopia is not a well-thought-out one.

If the cabinet does not withdraw the politically motivated charges directed at Qalbi-Dhagax and implant them into the law instead, anyone who supports him or the ONLF either verbally, in writing, by marching or even by simply rejecting the charges government directed at them could get charged with aiding and abetting terrorism and subsequently could be renditioned to Ethiopia.

Lies and deception

To understand the foreign-dominated, self-refuelling system that propels the Somali political process one should think of an aircraft carrier with a massive flight deck where the Somali president is granted the discretion to walk, march or even run to any direction he wishes as that will neither alter the carriers course nor its destination.

For over a decade, the same strategy has been used to lure each Somali president into a glorified failure. I call it the 3F seduction: False security, false esteem, and false authority. That is to say, while he, the president, in on the deck of the aforementioned aircraft carrier, he can dress for the part and quixotically claim to be in charge. Meanwhile, the system continues its course.

The Qalbi-Dhagax case is not only good for Ethiopia, it is good for all other failed institutions: UNSOM, AMISOM, other clandestine operatives and economic predators who perpetuate the status quo in Somalia -the overtly most-aggressive beneficiaries being the UAE and Erik Prince of Blackwater port management partnership.

Can Farmajo be rescued?

Most of those who knew the new president (this author included) were confident that he would prove himself the right catalyst for a genuine Somali-led reconciliation process and revitalise Somalias decaying sense of nationhood. Unlike his predecessors, President Farmajo came in with a certain level of experience and a significant political capital and public trust.

READ MORE: Somalia chides its regions for cutting ties with Qatar

He knew any substantive reform would have to be instituted and implemented within the first year. He was not to waste time or to squander opportunities. The expectation was to reclaim Somalia by pushing for the establishment of an Independent Reconciliation Commission, made of credible citizens of good character with no political affiliation or ambition; by pressuring the Parliament to establish a constitutional court; by establishing an Anti-Corruption Commission composed of trustworthy patriotic citizens; by creating a Somali military counterintelligence branch that keeps track of all foreign militaries, paramilitaries and mercenaries in the country and their activities; and by reaching out to Somaliland.

Back in February, I described the newly Parliament-elected president as a champion of enlightened patriotism that is optimistic and relies on itself to restore the corroded dignity of a self-destructive nation. Two weeks later, after he appointed a man who was an employee and part-owner of Soma Oil and Gas as prime minister, I saw the writing on the wall but opted to give one last chance to the new president.

Seven months of dazzle have only proven that President Farmajo and his team have mastered how to seduce public sentiments  mainly overenthusiastic youth  with glittering generalities such as justice, peace, and accountability, without any specifics. It is common to hear President Farmajo make assertions such as: Ours is a government of the people. We are accountable to the people. But, when the masses were outraged by the governments decision and demanded answers, the president of the people sought refuge in silence. He is yet to make a single statement regarding the Qalbi-Dhagax fiasco. Farmajo seems to have plunged into that old too familiar cesspool of presidential betrayals. He has succumbed to a system that was designed to perpetuate failure and keep Somalia where it is or worse. And in doing so, he has written his legacy in the pages of infamy by becoming the first ever president to commit betrayal of such magnitude against the Somali people.

At this point, aside from divine intervention, the only remaining conceivable game-changer is the Somali Parliament. The speaker of the parliament has appointed a committee to review this grave matter. The Somali people are now waiting to see whether its representatives are going to do the right thing.

Abukar Arman is a Somali political analyst, writer and former diplomat.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Foreign minister criticises boycotting neighbours and points to greater desire of President Trump to resolve crisis.

Qatars foreign minister has criticised Arab neighbours for their continued economic blockade of the country, while stating that US President Donald Trump is stepping up efforts for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani made the remarks on Monday in Paris, where he attended a discussion organised by the French Institute of International Relations.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt cut political and trade ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of supporting terrorism and their regional rival, Iran. Qatar vigorously denies the allegations.

Kuwait has been leading the mediation efforts between Qatar and the blockading countries, without success so far.

READ MORE: All the latest updates on the Qatar-Gulf crisis

But with the dispute now into its fifth month, Qatar has sought alternative trade routes and sources.

Countries, like Iran and Turkey, have been sending cargo planes with tonnes of food supplies since the start of the blockade.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said last month that Qatar has acted effectively in protecting its economy against the Gulf sanctions, in part because of rerouting trade and establishing new sources of food supply.

Political differences

The blockade is having the effect of pushing Qatar into closer economic ties with Iran despite their political differences, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman said.

They said Qatar was now closer to Iran. By their measures they are pushing Qatar to Iran. They are giving Iran, or any regional force, Qatar like a gift.

Is that their objective, to push one country, a GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) member state towards Iran? This is not a wise objective.





Mohammed bin Abdulrahman also said he had seen from the US president a greater desire to fix the crisis.

The foreign minister, along with Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, was in New York for the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, which concluded on Monday.

He has stated very clearly that he doesnt want to see conflict among friends, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman said, referring to Trump.

So there is a determination by the US to solve this by dialogue.

In Trumps initial comments in June, he suggested he had helped plan the Qatar action with Arab leaders, though last week he said he expected the dispute to be solved quickly.

Addressing the Paris audience, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman said Qatar still had political differences with Iran, including over Syria.

After eight months, after the militarisation of the [Syrian] revolution, this is when Qatar decided to take a side. We decided to stand with the people, he said.

Our position  will it be changed because blockading nations have a dispute with us? That would mean our principles that we are fighting for our worthless.

INSIDE STORY: Is dialogue still possible to end Gulf dispute? (25:00)

Our position and the values which we have stuck to from the beginning have remained the same. War criminals need to be held accountable.

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman reiterated that Qatars stance that it is being falsely accused of supporting terrorism because its progressive policies have differed from those of the blockading nations.

We believe that to resolve these differences, we all need dialogue and discussion based on respecting our choices and independence.

He also said Qatar is willing to discuss any demand from critics, but they must not infringe on sovereignty or international law.

He said Qatar is doing well economically despite the sanctions.
Frauke Petry says she will not take her parliamentary seat citing disagreement over content within far-right party.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party will adopt an increasingly right-wing approach as it prepares to enter the German parliament for the first time, experts say.

AfD, which won 12.6 percent of the vote in Germanys federal election on Sunday, appeared to suffer a setback on Monday after Frauke Petry, the partys co-chair, announced she would not join the party in the Bundestag despite winning a parliamentary seat in Saxony.

Petry, who has co-chaired the AfD since July 2015, said the party was ideologically split.

I think we should be open today that there is a disagreement over content in the AfD and I think we shouldnt hush this up because society is calling for an open debate, she said.

The AfD of 2013  had the clear aim of becoming able to govern quickly. An anarchical party, as witnessed in the past few weeks, can be in opposition but cannot offer the voter a credible platform for government.

READ MORE: Who are Germanys far-right AfD?

Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel, the partys leading candidates during the campaign, were present as Petry gave her statement before walking out of the conference without further comment.

Martin Seeleib-Kaiser, a professor of comparative social policy and politics at Britains Oxford University, told Al Jazeera that Petrys decision demonstrated the partys increasingly far-right political direction.

What seems to be clear after her [Frauke Petrys] announcement is that the more extreme nationalists will be dominating the AfD in the future, he said.

Petry lost a contest in April to lead the AfDs election campaign after party members decided against her vision of a realpolitik approach, opting for Gauland and Weidel instead.

AfD, whose manifesto includes pledges to close the European Unions external borders and ban the full Islamic face veil, will be the Bundestags third-largest party with 94 seats.

They are the first far-right party to enter the German parliament since World War II.

READ MORE: German election  Angela Merkel wins fourth term

Ulrike Franke, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told Al Jazeera that Petrys decision indicated the party is now in the process of adjusting to its new legislative status.

It shows that this is a party entering parliament for the first time, they will have to sort some things out, she said.

[But] The AfD is consolidating in a more right-wing and nationalist way.

The party has been beset by infighting since its founding in April 2013. Originally formed as an anti-euro party, the AfD had since shifted its focus to immigration and Islam.

READ MORE: What Germanys refugees think about the elections

Franke told Al Jazeera the party will now have to broaden out its policy thinking after running a campaign overwhelmingly focused on a small number of key issues, including immigration and terrorism.

Once in parliament they will have to deal with a lot of other issues such as pension schemes, demographic change and ecological politics, she said.

Their [policy] programme was one of the shortest of all the parties [campaigning], so we can expect a lot of soul searching when it comes to things they havent really thought about yet.

Without achieving this, the party may struggle to recreate, and build upon, its electoral achievement on Sunday, Seeleib-Kaiser said.

As the first right-populist party represented in the Bundestag, it is an open question whether they will last as a parliamentary party, he told Al Jazeera.
ISIL camp hit in the first American attack in Libya since President Donald Trump took office in January.

Six US air strikes on an ISIL desert camp in Libya killed 17 fighters and destroyed three vehicles, the first American attack in Libya since President Donald Trump took office in January.

US Africa Command said in a statement on Sunday that strikes on Friday targeted a camp 240km southeast of Sirte, a city that was once the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant stronghold in Libya.

The camp was used to move fighters in and out of Libya, plot attacks and store weapons, the statement said.

ISIS and al-Qaeda have taken advantage of ungoverned spaces in Libya to establish sanctuaries for plotting, inspiring and directing terror attacks, it said, using another acronym for ISIL.





The strikes were carried out in coordination with Libyas Government of National Accord, it added.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the air raids were carried out by armed drones.

The last-known US strike in Libya was on January 19, a day before Trumps inauguration, when more than 80 ISIL fighters, some believed to be plotting attacks in Europe, died in US air strikes on camps outside Sirte.

That attack was led by two B-2 bombers, which dropped about 100 precision-guided munitions on the camps.

Jonathan Cristol of the World Policy Institute told Al Jazeera it is somewhat surprising that it took the Trump administration this long to act militarily in Libya compared to his predecessor, Barack Obama, who ramped up air strikes in his final few months as president.

I think he [Trump] has been not as eager to get into a fight in Libya, but he will listen to what the military says. I think we will probably see more strikes, said Cristol.

It really represents a target of opportunity where it can be done with little risk to the US. But I certainly dont anticipate boots on the ground or a broader escalation even if one might become warranted.

READ MORE: Trump looking to loosen Obama limits on drone strikes

ISIL took over Sirte in early 2015, turning it into its most important base outside the Middle East and attracting large numbers of foreign fighters to the city. The group imposed its hard-line rule on residents and extended its control along about 250km of Libyas Mediterranean coastline.

But it struggled to keep a footing elsewhere in Libya and was forced out of Sirte by last December after a six-month campaign led by brigades from the western city of Misrata and backed by US air strikes.

ISIL has shifted to desert valleys and inland hills southeast of Tripoli as it seeks to exploit Libyas political divisions after their defeat in Sirte.

The United Nations launched a road map on Wednesday for a renewed international effort to break a political stalemate in Libya and end the turmoil that followed the countrys 2011 uprising.

The UN-backed Government of National Accord established under a December 2015 deal never fully materialised in Tripoli, leaving Libya with three competing governments aligned with rival armed alliances.
Rights group says India uses security threat to justify plans for mass deportation of approximately 40,000 Rohingya.

Amnesty International has initiated an online campaign and petition calling for peoples support to stop Indias plan to deport thousands of Rohingya refugees living across India.

Characterising Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers as illegal immigrants and deeming them security threats will expose them to grave risks if forcibly returned, the rights group said on Monday, while pushing the #istandwithrohingyarefugees campaign online.

Last week, Indias government said it had evidence showing that some Rohingya in the country have ties to terror organisations and pose a security threat that justifies a mass deportation of the approximately 40,000 Rohingya.

In terms of Indias position, it is their legal and moral obligation to not allow the expulsion from happening, Arijit Sen, project manager at Amnesty International India, told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Coxs Bazar  Chaos all around at Rohingya camps

They have been in India for a while, taking small steps, living their lives with dignity. If India has any security concerns, they should understand that not all of them can be viewed through one lens.

These people are in danger back in Myanmar and need support.

Indias Supreme Court is hearing an appeal lodged on behalf of Rohingya against the deportation plan proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist government.

Al Jazeera tried to reach out to the ruling party office for a comment but a spokesperson declined to speak on the issue.

A majority of the Rohingya are Muslim, who have often been described as the worlds most persecuted minority.

READ MORE: Inside the hospital treating Rohingya refugees

They have lived for centuries in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where they have faced growing violence, with hundreds of thousands being forced to flee to neighbouring countries.

The Rohingya are denied citizenship in Myanmar and regarded as illegal immigrants, despite claiming roots that date back centuries.

More than 800,000 Rohingya currently live in Bangladesh, nearly 600,000 arrived in the last year.

Muslims deported?

In a previous Al Jazeera story, Rohingya refugees in India said they were being targeted because they were Muslim.

It fits into the larger policy that any Hindu coming from anywhere is welcome and can get a long-term visa, but if a Muslim is coming then there is a difficulty, Mohammad Haroon, who runs a small grocery store, told Al Jazeera.

Rights activists have criticised the government over a controversial citizenship law that includes a provision for welcoming refugees facing persecution. This provision specifies Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, but notably excludes Muslims.

The Citizen Amendments Bill allowed persecuted people from the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faiths to get Indian citizenship, but Muslims were not allowed even if they were persecuted, Apoorvanand Jha, an academic and activist based in the Indian capital, New Delhi, had told Al Jazeera.

Modi visited Myanmar in the first week of September  his second visit in three years  and held talks with Aung San Suu Kyi in the capital Nay Pyi Taw.

A joint statement issued at the end of their talks failed to mention the brutal military crackdown on the Rohingya.








Saying that the Turkish military stands ready, president threatens to cut the Kurds oil exports through his country.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced the Kurdish independence referendum, and will not rule out a potential military action to stop efforts to usurp his countrys territory.

The warning came as people in the Iraqi autonomous region voted on Monday in an independence referendum, amid rising tensions and international opposition.

Balloting took place in the disputed areas between the northern city of Erbil and the capital Baghdad, as well as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, which is ethnically mixed.

Our armed forces are on the borders with Iraq to do whatever it takes, Erdogan said, adding that Turkey could block key oil exports of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) over the vote.

We will never allow anyone or anything to go from Turkey to Iraq. This week we will adopt so many other measures. We will close the borders. Nothing will go across the borders.

READ MORE: Regional implications of the Kurdish independence vote

Entrance-exit will be closed at the Habur border crossing, Turkeys sole land border crossing with Iraq, Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.

He said there were currently crossings allowed to the Iraqi side only but travel would be closed in both directions this week.

After this lets see through which channels they will send their oil through  and who they will sell to. The valve is with us. Its finished the moment we close it, he said.

Iraqi Kurdish oil is exported through Turkey and its southern Ceyhan port, a key economic lifeline for the region.

Null and void

Erdogan said irrespective of the result, we see this [referendum] as null and void and say it is illegitimate.

He also said Turkey was ready to take all the steps needed on political, economic, trade and security fronts and appeared not to rule out military action.

Last week the Turkish armed forces began a military drill in the region around the border town of Silopi, including 100 military vehicles, which continued with reinforcements this weekend.





Erdogan warned the KRG of a cross-border operation by the Turkish army similar to that taken in northern Syria last year against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group and Kurdish armed fighters.

Aside from Turkey, the Iraqi central government and Iran also strongly oppose the referendum.

There are fears it could increase the separatist aspirations of Kurds in the region.

Five million people across northern Iraq are eligible to vote in Mondays referendum.

Al Jazeeras Andrew Simmons, reporting from Habur in Turkey near the Iraqi border, said that while Turkey is ratcheting pressure on the KRG, there is very little action so far on the ground.

He said it will take a few days before it would be clearer what kind of action Turkey makes, adding that there have been reports that Baghdad has asked Ankara to halt flights between Turkey and the Kurdish region.
Reports say an estimated 78 percent of the more than five million eligible voters turned out to cast their ballot.

Voting stations set up for the Iraqi Kurdish referendum have closed their doors and counting of ballots has begun, according to the official supervising body.

Voting closed at 6pm local time (16:00 GMT) on Monday, and the final results were expected to be announced within 72 hours.

Erbil-based Rudaw TV, citing the Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission, said 78 percent of the more than five million eligible voters turned out to vote.

In Kirkuk, authorities declared a curfew an hour and a half before polls closed as jubilant Kurds started to celebrate.

READ MORE: Tensions rise in Iraq ahead of Kurdish referendum

Kurds in the northern Iraqi city flocked to polling stations, but there has been lingering opposition to the vote among the Arabs and Turkmen who live alongside them.

Voters were asked to tick either Yes or No on the ballot asking them just one question in Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic and Assyrian: Do you want the Kurdistan Region and Kurdistani areas outside the (Kurdistan) Region to become an independent country?

The referendum is opposed by the Iraqi central government in Baghdad as well as the neighbouring countries of Turkey and Iran, and international powers.

UN chief concerned

Against this backdrop, Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, expressed concern on Monday about the potentially destabilising effects of the referendum, calling on Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to resolve differences through dialogue and compromise.

He also told Iraqi Kurd authorities to ensure that the work of the UN mission in Iraq will be allowed to continue unhindered.

However, KRG President Masoud Barzani defended the non-binding vote, saying it was only through the referendum that Kurds could secure their future.

He also pledged to start negotiations with Baghdad officials as soon as the result of the vote is known.

The Kurds are likely to approve the referendum, but they are not expected to result in any immediate declaration to separate Iraq.

Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, KRG representative to the US, says that while the result is non-binding for the Iraqi government, it is binding for the Kurdish leadership to follow the will of the people.

The Kurdish leadership now has the mandate to negotiate with Baghdad on an amicable separation, on a new relationship between Erbil and Baghdad, she told Al Jazeera from Washington, DC.

The referendum has raised alarm in Iraqs neighbours  Turkey, Iran and Syria  over concerns it could encourage their own Kurdish minorities to break away.

Turkey is home to the largest Kurdish population at an estimated 14 million.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that his country would do whatever it takes to block efforts against the Turkeys territorial integrity.

The US and the UN have also condemned the referendum.

Iraq and other neighbours of the Kurds have to understand that we have done this step by step, Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman told Al Jazeera.

We are taking this very seriously; we want to engage in dialogue. We dont want to destabilise Iraq or Kurdistan  but certainly, our aim is an independent Iraqi Kurdistan in the near future.
Polls open in northern Iraq as Kurds cast ballots in referendum on whether to support separation from Baghdad.

People in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq are voting in a controversial referendum, amid rising tensions and international opposition.

Polls opened at 05:00 GMT with balloting also taking place in the disputed areas between the northern city of Erbil and the capital Baghdad, as well as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, which is ethnically mixed.

The central government in Baghdad, which strongly opposes the referendum, sought control of the regions international border posts and airports on Sunday, in anticipation of Mondays vote.

READ MORE: Tensions rise in Iraq ahead of Kurdish referendum

Iraqs government has also called on foreign countries to stop importing oil from the Kurdish region and to deal with them instead.

In a televised address on Sunday, Iraqs Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned of the dire consequences of the vote and vowed to never accept the disintegration of Iraq.

This is an unconstitutional decision against the social fabric of our citizens. We will not recognise the referendum, nor its results, Abadi said.

We will take follow-up steps to protect the unity of the country and the interests of every citizen living in a unified Iraq.

Meanwhile, the President of Iraqs Kurdish regional government, Masoud Barzani, has defended the decision to hold the referendum.

Is it a crime to ask people in Kurdistan to express in a democratic way what they want to have for the future? he asked in a speech on Sunday.

The Kurdish leader also said he would seek talks with Iraqs central government on how to implement the outcome of the vote.

If we have a constructive dialogue, then we can give it even more time, in order to secure better relations between the Kurds and Baghdad, he said.

Proud to cast my vote earlier this morning and partake in this historic day, the day of the #KurdistanReferendum pic.twitter.com/aDP16ZQiud  Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) September 25, 2017

About 2,065 polling stations are open for 10 hours. A total of 5.6 million people are eligible to vote in the Kurdistan Regional Government area and other Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Iraq, according to the election commission.

Voters will be asked: Do you want the Kurdistan region and Kurdish areas outside the region to become an independent state?

Official results are expected on Tuesday.

Al Jazeeras Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting from the Kurdish capital of Erbil, said despite the tug of war between the politicians, there is an upbeat atmosphere.

The Kurds say that this is their time to express their opinion and to take their future into their own hands, she said.

Opposition to vote

The Kurds are likely to approve the referendum, but the non-binding vote is not expected to result in any formal declaration of independence.





The referendum has raised alarm in Iraqs neighbours  Turkey, Iran and Syria  over concerns it could encourage their Kurdish minorities to break away.

Turkey is home to the largest Kurdish population at an estimated 14 million.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Ankara would close the Habur border crossing with northern Iraq over the plebiscite and also threatened the Iraqi Kurds with blocking their key oil exports.

After this, lets see through which channels the northern Iraqi regional government will send its oil, or where it will sell it, Erdogan said in a speech at a forum in Istanbul.

We have the tap. The moment we close the tap, then its done.

Hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil a day flow through the pipeline in Turkey from the northern Iraq region.

READ MORE: Uncertainty among Kurds as polls open

Meanwhile, Iran closed its border with northern Iraqs Kurdish region on Monday, the foreign ministry said.

At the request of Iraq, we have closed the airspace and ground borders with the Kurdistan Regional Government, ministry spokesman Behram Qasimi said at a news conference in Tehran.

A day earlier, Iran halted flights to airports in the Kurdish region at the request of the central government in Baghdad, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Feisal al-Istrabadi, former Iraqi ambassador to the UN, said the Kurdish government risks throwing the region into turmoil for no clear gain.

For the Turks and the Iranians, but particularly for Turkey, this [referendum] is an existential threat, he told Al Jazeera, speaking from Bloomington, Indiana. How Turkey will deal with an independently Iraqi Kurdistan, but deny their own Kurds independence is a problem requiring Solomonic wisdom.

The US and UN have also condemned the referendum.

The UN has warned of the votes potentially destabilising effect, while the US has said it could fuel regional unrest and distract attention from ongoing campaigns to rout the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group in Iraq and Syria.
Shinzo Abe says he will dissolve the lower house of parliament and call elections in October.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will dissolve the lower house of parliament and call fresh elections in October.

Abe said at a news conference on Monday that he would dissolve the more powerful house in Japans two-chamber parliament on Thursday when it convenes after a three-month summer recess.

I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th of September, Abe told reporters, a precursor to a general election.

The prime minister did not give a date for the election, but local media reported it would likely take place on October 22.

READ MORE: Abe denies favours for friend Kake amid falling support

Surveys suggest voters approve of the hardline stance taken by the nationalist Abe on North Korea, which fired two missiles over the country within a month and has threatened to sink Japan.

According to a weekend poll in business daily Nikkei, 44 percent of voters plan to vote for Abes conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), while only eight percent favoured the main opposition Democratic Party.

Nevertheless, one-fifth of those polled said they were still undecided, potentially opening the door for gains by a new party formed by allies of the popular mayor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike, which will field dozens of candidates.

Koikes Tomin First no Kai (Tokyo Residents First) party humiliated Abe and the LDP in local elections in July, but analysts say the new grouping has not had time to lay a national foundation that can mount a serious challenge to the prime minister.

In an apparent bid to steal Abes limelight, Koike went before the cameras just hours before his announcement to announce she was creating a national political party called Kibo no To (Party of Hope).

Japan is facing a difficult time considering the situation in North Korea. Economically, the world is making a big move while Japans presence is gradually declining, said Koike.

Can we continue letting (the existing lawmakers) handle politics?

READ MORE: North Korea missile test angers Japan, South Korea

But Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University in Japan, said there was no opposition worthy of the name in Japan.

The winner of the expected snap election faces a daunting in-tray of challenges ranging from an unprecedented crisis with North Korea to reviving the once world-beating Japanese economy.

In addition to threats to destroy Japan, Pyongyang has fired two missiles over the northern island of Hokkaido in the space of less than a month.

However, the North Korea crisis appears to have given the hawkish Abe a welcome boost in the polls following a series of scandals, including allegations he improperly favoured a friend in a business deal.

Abe, the third generation of a powerful political family, appeared to be groomed for power from an early age. He was the countrys youngest prime minister when he first won the top job.

Abe was the first world leader to cultivate close relations with US President Donald Trump, meeting the tycoon in Trump Tower even before he was inaugurated.
US university grappling with budget cuts and layoffs spends sum on security for far-right speakers 15-minute rally.

After student organisers of the Berkeley Free Speech Week cancelled their events, far-right media personality Milo Yiannopoulos vowed to hold a rally of his own.





Yiannopoulos appearance at the steps of the University of Californias Sproul Plaza on Sunday was brief.

After 15 minutes, Yiannopoulos security guards drove him off, local media reported.

The university said security precautions for the cancelled Free Speech Week, which involved officers from eight different law enforcement agencies, cost $800,000.

Along with far-right author Mike Cernovich and anti-Muslim figure Pamela Geller, Yiannopoulos addressed around 150 supporters who had gathered to hear him speak.

It feels like probably the most expensive photo op in the universitys history, said UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof, according to The Mercury News.

The sum spent on security for Yiannopoulos is likely to anger some members of the UC Berkeley community.

In August, Carol Christ, chancellor of the university, announced budget cuts to the tune of more than $20m for the 2017-2018 academic year.

In April 2016, Nicholas Dirks  who was then chancellor  disclosed that at least 500 staff members would be laid off over a two-year period.

Last minute cancellation

Sundays small rally was announced a day after Berkeley Patriot, the right-wing student group behind Free Speech Week, cancelled the larger, four-day event.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon, right-wing pundit Ann Coulter and British media personality Katie Hopkins, among others, had earlier been slated to speak.

The cancellation followed a string of speakers pulling out and accusations by the university that Berkeley Patriot had missed deadlines to secure some of the requested venues.

It is extremely unfortunate that this announcement was made at the last minute, even as the university was in the process of spending significant sums of money and preparing for substantial disruption of campus life in order to provide the needed security for these events, UC Berkeleys Mogulof said in a statement provided to Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: US anti-fascists hope to make racists afraid again

Berkeley Patriots lawyer, Marguerite Melo, has accused the university of viewpoint discrimination and provided Al Jazeera with a copy of a letter to the universitys interim vice chancellor, Stephen Sutton.

In the letter, Melo alleged that the student group has been subjected to extraordinary pressure and resistance, if not outright hostility, by the UC Berkeley administration and your employees.

Milo spoke only for a few moments in Berkeley, lambasting Kaepernick as a spoiled millionaire, before he was escorted away by police. pic.twitter.com/t8Suoap8v5  Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) September 24, 2017

It also stated that Berkeley Patriot was considering legal action against the university for what it considers a violation of its members civil rights.

Opponents of Free Speech Week had planned to hold several protests against the far-right.

Outrageous

The furore over Free Speech Week comes after months of soaring tensions in Berkeley  now a regular venue for clashes between the far right and their political opponents  and elsewhere in the country.

In February, anti-fascists and anti-racists rallied outside a UC Berkeley auditorium where Yiannopoulos was scheduled to give a speech. As fires were lit outside and protesters clashed with police, police evacuated Yiannopoulos from the building, and the event was cancelled.

Following that incident, US President Donald Trump threatened to strip the university of its federal funding.

In April, clashes broke out in the streets of Berkeley between anti-fascists and far-right activists.

In late August, a far-right rally in Berkeley, which was dubbed Say no to Marxism, was met with large counter-protests by community members, anti-racists and anti-fascists. Several brawls broke out, and police arrested 13 people.

Sunsara Taylor, spokesperson for Refuse Fascism, a left-wing activist group, dismissed far-right speakers claims of coming to UC Berkeley to promote free speech.

READ MORE: Threats and attacks as white supremacists target campuses

Its outrageous, and people are right to raise their voices and protest against [far-right events], Taylor told Al Jazeera by telephone.

We are living in a time when reprehensible ideas like white supremacy and fascism are being reasserted violently both through the power of the state and through [far-right] mobs.

Elsewhere, in August, hundreds of far-right protesters assembled in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the largest white supremacist rally in recent decades.

By the end of the day, one of the far-right rallys participants had allegedly ploughed his car into a crowd of anti-racist marchers and killed 32-year-old Heather Heyer. The assailant, James Alex Fields, was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and several felonies.
Ri Yong-ho, foreign minister, says declaration of war means all options will be on the table for countrys leadership.

North Koreas foreign minister says President Donald Trump had declared war on his country and that Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down US bombers even if they are not in its airspace.

The increasingly heated rhetoric between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is raising fears of a risk of a miscalculation by one side or the other that could have massive repercussions.

The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country, Ri Yong-ho said in New York City on Monday.

Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.

In a direct reference to a Twitter post by Trump on Saturday, Ri said: The question of who wont be around much longer will be answered then.

US stocks fell sharply in late morning trading on Monday after Ris comments. The five tech companies  Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Alphabet  were down between 3.7 percent and 1.05 percent.

Mr Evil President

Ri told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the US mainland with its rockets was inevitable after Mr Evil President Trump called Kim a rocket man on a suicide mission.

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at UN. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they wont be around much longer! Trump said on Twitter on Saturday.

WATCH: Inside the war of words  Covering the North Korean threat

Al Jazeeras Diplomatic Editor James Bays, reporting from New York, said the latest comments by Ri represent a real ramping up of language against the US.

He said if US bombers were to fly near North Korea even in international waters, North Korea will shoot them down. The ministers comments on Saturday at the UN General Assembly were a blistering attack, but hes gone even further now.





North Korea, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programmes in defiance of international condemnation and economic sanctions, said it bitterly condemned the reckless remarks of Trump.

They were an intolerable insult to the Korean people, and a declaration of war, North Koreas official news agency said on Monday.

Pyongyang accuses Washington, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies.

The US and South Korea are technically still at war with North Korea because the 1950s conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

Kims broadside

In a rare direct statement on Friday, Kim described Trump as a mentally deranged US dotard whom he would tame with fire.

Kim said North Korea would consider the highest level of hardline countermeasure in history against the US and that Trumps comments had confirmed his nuclear programme was the correct path.

Trump threatened in his maiden UN address last Tuesday to totally destroy North Korea if it threatened the US or its allies.

For its part, China called on Monday for all sides in the North Korea missile crisis to show restraint and not add oil to the flames.

Asked how concerned China was the war of words between Trump and North Korea could get out of control, Lu Kang, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman, described the situation as highly complex and sensitive.

It was vitally important that everyone strictly, fully and correctly implemented all North Korea related UN resolutions, Lu said, resolutions which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

All sides should not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present, Lu told a daily news briefing.

We hope all sides do not continue doing things to irritate each other and should instead exercise restraint.

Hydrogen bomb threat

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear bomb test on September 3. Pyongyang said on Friday it might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

While China has been angered by North Koreas repeated nuclear and missile tests, it has also called for the US and its allies to help lessen tension by scaling back their military drills.

US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on Saturday in a show of force the Pentagon said indicated the range of military options available to Trump.

In response to a question about the exercises, Chinese spokesman Lu said: A continued rise in tensions on the peninsula, I believe, is not in the interests of any side.

Wang Jingdong, president of the worlds largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), said during a briefing the bank would strictly implement UN Security Council decisions related to North Korea and carefully fulfil relevant international responsibility.
Monday marks one month since recent crisis began in Rakhine forcing 430,000 people to flee their homes to Bangladesh.

Hundreds of people continue to cross the border into Bangladesh one month since the start of the Rohingya crisis in Myanmars Rakhine state where raids by Rohingya fighters prompted a major army crackdown.

Since August 25, Bangladesh has been facing the unenviable dual task of looking after 430,000 wretched people while trying to persuade Myanmar to take them back. At least 240,000 of them are children.

The influx adds to about 300,000 Rohingya, already located in camps around the Bangladeshi city of Coxs Bazar.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has earned praise for opening up the frontier to the desperate stream of humanity, but diplomats and experts say she cannot expect much international help in either campaign.

READ MORE: Myanmar  Who are the Rohingya?

They also warn that Bangladeshs warm welcome so far could easily cool if solutions are not found.

Bangladesh cant deal with this crisis alone, Champa Patel, head of Asia Programme at the Chatham House international affairs institute in London, told AFP news agency.

It is densely populated, poor and already home to a historically displaced Rohingya community. While currently welcoming, this could change if the situation becomes protracted without any clear end in sight.

There is not enough food, water or medicine to go around. Roads around the camps are littered with human excrement, exacerbating UN fears that serious disease could quickly break out.





A shortage of basic sanitation means the ever-present risk of disease, and aid efforts are only starting to meet their needs, said Al Jazeeras Jonah Hull, reporting from Coxs Bazar, near Bangladeshs border with Myanmar.

The country has reacted with compassion to the horrific tales of rape and murder which refugees have brought with them. Scores of trucks carrying aid donated by the public arrive each day in Coxs Bazar. But it is not enough.

The UNs refugee agency chief has warned that the crisis may be long.

We need to be ready for a problem that could last for some time, Filippo Grandi, head of UNHCR, told Al Jazeera. But we also need, as the prime minister of Bangladesh has said many times, to invest in a solution.

We cannot ignore that these people have a right to return.

At the UN General Assembly last week, Hasina sought global help to solve the problems of the Rohingya, left stateless by Myanmars refusal to give them citizenship.

She called for the establishment of safe zones for the Rohingya. Myanmar has not responded.

Will Myanmar take them back?

Hasina wants pressure on Myanmar to force it to take back a group that has been in Rakhine for generations.

But neither Bangladesh nor the western countries who have been shocked by events in Myanmar have any real clout with its de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi or the generals who hold the effective power.

The Myanmar army holds the key to resolve the crisis, in the immediate and short term, Ali Riaz, a professor of Illinois State University in the United States and an expert on Bangladesh-Myanmar relations, told AFP.

An extremist Buddhist nationalist political force has thrived in past decades in Myanmar, Riaz said.

Bangladesh has few effective instruments of statecraft at its disposal to make Myanmar take back the refugees, according to Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington and a specialist on Southeast Asian security.

No regional group has shown a desire to get involved either. There have been demonstrations in Indonesia and Malaysia for the Rohingya. Both are members with Myanmar of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

READ MORE: Coxs Bazar  Chaos all around at Rohingya camps

Bangladesh could try to work with Malaysia and Indonesia to pressure Myanmar through ASEAN. But that is not going to work. The Rohingya issue is very divisive within ASEAN, said Abuza.

China and India are the keys to influencing Myanmar, but neither seems likely to step in.

Both have supported the Myanmar government out of economic interest, said Patel at Chatham House.

They have investments in the country that they would not want to be undermined because of the current crisis.

The Myanmar generals are not listening to anyone anyway, according to Abuza.

The Burmese military leadership has factored in the diplomatic costs of its actions. I think it is important to understand that they have been itching to do this for a long time, he said.

Rohingyas Muslims have long been ostracised in Myanmar, where they are considered illegal immigrants and face severe restrictions.
Officers killing by ISIL ascribed to two-faced US policy amid reports of civilian deaths in Russian strikes in Idlib.

A senior Russian official has denounced what he called the two-faced policy of the US, saying it was to blame for the death of a Russian general, Valery Asapov, in Syria, according to an RIA news agency report.

The Russian defence ministry has said Asapov was killed in shelling by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group near Deir Az Zor.

The death of the Russian commander is the price, the bloody price for the two-faced American policy in Syria, Sergei Ryabkov, Russias deputy foreign minister, said on Monday, according to RIA.

Separately, Russia denied carrying out an air strike that a US-backed Syrian force said killed one of its fighters and injured several others.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said a Russian air strike on Monday killed one of its fighters and injured two others in a gas field in eastern Syria that they had recently captured from ISIL, also known as ISIS.

Major-General Igor Konashenkov, a Russian defence ministry spokesman, said in a statement that Russia is continuing to target ISIL in the area, and that its surveillance does not show SDF forces fighting ISIL.

Konashenkov said neither the SDF nor the US-led coalition has approached it about the reported attack.

On September 16, the SDF said a Russian air strike wounded six of its fighters, but Russia denied carrying out the attack.

Civilians killed in Idlib

Elsewhere in Syria, Russian air strikes on Monday killed at least 37 civilians, including 12 children, in northwestern Idlib province, a Britain-based monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said it was the highest civilian death toll in Idlib since the region was designated in May as one of Syrias de-escalation zones under an accord between government allies Russia and Iran with Turkey.

The air raids struck several locations and villages in the district of Jisr al-Shughur, leaving 37 dead among civilians, including 12 children, SOHRs Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP news agency, updating an earlier toll of 27 dead.

After several months of calm, Idlib has for the past two weeks been the target of heavy air strikes by President Bashar al-Assads government and its Russian allies.

The air strikes follow an assault in neighbouring Hama province also covered by the de-escalation accord for Syrias war, which has cost more than 330,000 lives since 2011.

ISIL has no fighters in Idlib.

Syrias exiled opposition blamed Russia and the Assad government for what it called the criminal bombing, according to a statement.

The Istanbul-based National Coalition said hospitals, medical installations, schools and civil defence facilities were hit in what it branded as war crimes.
At least 80 percent of buildings on the tiny island damaged and most communication lines destroyed in Marias wake.

Dominica  Hurricane Maria has killed at least 33 people so far, with the bulk of those deaths happening on the tiny island of Dominica.

At least 80 percent of the buildings there have been damaged and most communication lines cut.

The people of this island nation of 71,000 are desperate, and some are still in shock.

The floodwaters took out the islands power lines, so there has been no electricity for a week.

Aside from the homes, schools, and other buildings, markets were also flattened, leaving little food for the population.

A 78-year-old man told Al Jazeera he had not eaten in days.

When it hit I was in my house, and I stood outside to see it. It was getting so strong so I moved and then a roof collapsed right where I was, he said.

Aid operations are still in their early phases, but what cannot wait is water supply.

Given the magnitude of the destruction, many parts of Dominica no longer exists.

Once a bustling island full of life, music and culture, the country of Dominica has been reduced to being one giant debris field.

Officials and aid workers said it could take months, if not years to rebuild what has been destroyed.
Critics have accused the president of discriminating against Muslims in violation of US guarantees of religious liberty.

President Donald Trump slapped new travel restrictions on citizens from North Korea, Venezuela and Chad, expanding the list of countries covered by his original travel bans that have been derided by critics as targeting Muslims.

Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia were left on the list of affected countries in a new proclamation issued by the president on Sunday. Restrictions on citizens from Sudan were lifted.

We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country, Trump said in statement. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation.

Iraqi citizens will not be subject to travel prohibitions but will face enhanced scrutiny or vetting.

The current ban, enacted in March, was set to expire on Sunday evening.

WATCH: The Ban

The new restrictions, slated to take effect on October 18, resulted from a review after Trumps original travel bans sparked international outrage and legal challenges.

Unlike the first ban  which sparked chaos at airports across the country  officials said they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from the original, mostly Muslim-majority list.





Critics have accused the president of discriminating against Muslims in violation of constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and equal protection under the law, breaking existing US immigration law and stoking religious hatred.

Trump had called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States during his election campaign.

Speaking on background, government officials said the addition of North Korea and Venezuela demonstrated the measure was set on the basis of security and was not a Muslim ban, as detractors have argued.

Religion, or the religious origin of individuals or nations, was not a factor, a senior government official told reporters.

The inclusion of those countries, Venezuela and North Korea, was about the fact that those governments are simply not compliant with our basic security requirements.

Rights group Amnesty International USA condemned the new measures.

Just because the original ban was especially outrageous does not mean we should stand for yet another version of government-sanctioned discrimination, it said in a statement. It is senseless and cruel to ban whole nationalities of people who are often fleeing the very same violence that the US government wishes to keep out. This must not be normalised.

The American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement the addition of North Korea and Venezuela doesnt obfuscate the real fact that the administrations order is still a Muslim ban.

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) denounced the new proclamation as nothing but an extension of the same discrimatory policy first rolled out in January.

The Trump administration has now taken steps to make its Muslim ban targeting Iranians and other nationals permanent, NIAC said in statement.

Absent additional intervention from the courts, and a long-overdue intervention from the Republican-controlled Congress, the Trump administration will cement a racist and discriminatory campaign promise into official US policy.

OPINION: How Muslim Ban incites vigilante Islamophobic violence

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on October 10 on whether the current ban discriminates against Muslims in violation of the US Constitution, as lower courts previously ruled.

Now the nine-justice court could skip deciding the case altogether, legal experts said.

With the travel restrictions expiring, the court has an easy way out because it could simply say the case is no longer a live issue and therefore, in legal parlance, moot.

If the court can avoid entering into the fray, that may be appealing to them, said Anil Kalhan, an immigration law professor at Drexel University School of Law.
Editors note: This film is no longer available online.

Were the generation thats been abandoned since the end of communism.

Like many other former gold and jade hunters in Mongolia, Lagva is struggling to make a living since mines across the country have been shut down.

Lagva is sitting on a treasure  owning jade stones worth between $14,000 and $19,000  but he has yet to receive permission to sell the precious stones.

Mongolias nomads * Mongolias vast steppe is home to one of the worlds last surviving nomadic cultures. * One in three Mongolians are nomads and many of them live in often-inhospitable regions. * Every spring, the nomadic families drive their herds across the steppes to fresh pastures. * They take almost hundreds of animals and all their worldly goods on a risky journey. * The herds live off the land, and the nomads live off the milk and meat of their animals.

I hide the stones in the basement; its where we used to hang the meat before, says Lagva.

While waiting for the governments permission, Lagva scrapes a living, renting his small, 35-year-old truck to nomadic herdsmen.

Mongolias vast steppe is home to one of the worlds last surviving nomadic cultures. Herding is a way of life for over a third of Mongolians, with many of the nomads living in often-inhospitable regions.

The Darkhad (craftsmen) nomads are some of the worlds most self-sufficient people, leading a gruelling life in the north of Mongolia. The herds live off the land, and the nomads live off the milk and meat of their animals.

Their life revolves around finding pasture for the herds, and every spring, in the region of Lake Khovsgol, Minjbayar and his family take almost 250 animals  sheep, goats, yaks  and all their worldly goods on a risky journey.

During the so-called transhumance, entire families play a game of chance with their animals and their health, as they cross iced rivers and travel on narrow roads at an altitude of 2,000 metres. In the icy mountains, the temperature can reach -40C and there is always the threat of wolves attacking the herd.

The transhumance will take four or five days. Its long and strenuous, but we cant stay here. Theres no snow this year. I think its because of climate change. Theres less water, and there will be a drought later on. So therell be less grass. Since thats what the animals eat, they could be at risk, explains 20-year-old Aza.

The way of life for nomadic herdsmen on the plains of Mongolia has changed little in centuries and life has always been challenging.

My father was a herdsman, says 60-year-old Minjbayar. In those days he led his herds towards the USSR. I went along on these journeys from a very young age. Sometimes there were as many as 1,400 animals to move along. There was some really bad weather. Wed sometimes lose our cattle, and they would die of cold or because of the storms.

Born to Ride: In Mongolia, child jockeys are dying and suffering painful injuries in some of the worlds longest horse races (25:01)

But while Minjbayar and his family continue to brave the transhumance and Mongolias extreme weather each year, other nomads have taken a different route in their attempt to find a better life for themselves, nearer to the city.

In the past three decades, around 600,000 former herders have migrated to the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar  mainly due to the end of Soviet state support and climate change.

Increasingly dry summers have made it harder to grow and harvest grass for the herds, so the animals cannot put on enough weight to survive the winter cold.

More than one million animals died during last years dzud, a Mongolian term for a severe winter. The 2009-2010 dzud killed about eight million animals in Mongolia, putting the livelihoods of thousands of nomads under threat as well as harming the countrys food supply.

If their livestock die during the harsh winters, herders are often forced to move to the city to survive. Many families who live in remote areas also head to the capital in search of better education for their children.





Ive never been to Ulaanbaatar, says Aza, But Id like to go to see what a citys like. Ill definitely send my child there to study. I dont want him to be a herdsman. Its too tough.

In response to the deteriorating situation, Mongolias National Emergency Management Agency partnered with the UN development programme and NGOs to support Mongolias struggling nomads.

In January 2017, the UN announced that it has allocated $1.1m to help herders access essential items such as food, fuel and basic medications by providing cash grants as well as animal feed packages and veterinary first aid kits to minimise the loss of livestock as their main source of food and income.
Eight veterans, family members and volunteers anxiously looked at the hogs testicle placed on the plate in front of them Saturday.

The extreme food-eating contest was one of the fundraising efforts by a faith-based veteran and family nonprofit during the third annual 10 CAN Inc. Banquet & Wild Florida Feast from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Fort Clarke United Methodist Church, located at 9325 W. Newberry Road. The eight participants in the contest chowed down on a serving of hog testicles, smoked grasshoppers, smoked cow tongue, squirrel brains and raw fish eyes while about 364 attendees of the banquet watched.

Andrea Reddick, a 32-year-old mother of five, gulped down the raw fish eyes faster than her competitors and told the crowd she would spend her $200 cash winnings on groceries.

Matthew Burke, founder and executive director of 10 CAN, said the idea for the contest stemmed from the organizations use of outdoor recreational therapy to rehabilitate veterans and their families.

When I was hurt in Afghanistan, I was told by one of the mentors that you gotta trim off all the bad stuff, focus on your roots and itll help you grow in your life, Burke said. Like pruning a peach tree.

The banquet also featured a raffle and live auction with outdoor-themed items like a 75-pound bucket of honey bought for $150, a miniature bat house purchased for $140 and decoy ducks for hunting for $100.

Before the other activities, at about 6 p.m. 10 CAN served the attendees barbecue, and veterans and family members exchanged stories over dinner.

The first banquet held in 2014 was a Christmas potluck. Burke said he wanted to make the events theme revolve around the overall theme of the organization, which is to provide an outdoor experience to veterans and their families.

That is something that will never go away. The outdoors will always be there, he said.

Crystal Walter, a 32-year-old Gainesville resident, served for four years in the U.S. Air Force in New Mexico and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Walter, who moved to Florida from Tennessee in March, attended the banquet to meet other veterans.

Im excited to make those connections and hopefully to interact with (other veterans) on a more regular basis so that were not just stuck at home all the time, Walter said.

Andrea Reddick, 32, eats a mullets eye during an eating contest at the 10 CAN Banquet & Wild Florida Feast on Saturday.

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Little Marco, Crooked Hillary, Lying Ted and now Rocket Man. President Donald Trump distances himself from his opponents using creative terms on a daily basis.

These are all insults made up by Trump in an attempt to discredit his opponents  but has it gone too far now that these insults have been brought on an international stage?

At his U.N. speech last week, Trump called North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Rocket Man.

Kims response? Trump is a Dotard  a word which peaked in usage in the 1800s and has since been on a steady decline. According to a Google search, the term means an old person, especially one who has become weak or senile.

Although Trumps statements about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were often misogynistic or just untrue, at least there was no risk she would unleash a nuclear attack. The risk of these attacks was low, and the risk of attacking his own party was even lower. His statements may have gained him voters who wanted someone who wasnt politically correct. In American society, theres nothing Trumps opponents could have done about this.

When insulting a foreign leader who doesnt have to respect American laws, the stakes are higher. In a dictatorship like North Korea, military action could be decided simply by the leaders feelings that day. North Korea has already launched a missile over Japan, and their weapons could easily reach Guam, an American territory. Rather than focusing on maintaining the distant relationship we have with North Korea, Trump antagonized them, putting everyone at risk.

The language of international affairs has been lowered to that of grade-school bullies in the way that Trump made American politics childish during the 2016 election. What does this say about the U.S. that our president resorts to playground taunts to get his point across?

In the past, the U.S. has successfully negotiated the trade of certain prisoners in North Korea. Despite the tense relationship between the U.S. and North Korea, the prestige of being visited by former President Bill Clinton helped patch things up by giving Jong-un the legitimacy he craved.

In many ways, U.S. diplomacy with North Korea was all about playing their game. As long as the U.S. gave them some legitimacy, negotiations were possible. Who knows what would happen if a similar situation were to arise today?

The U.S. has always taken pride in the fact the American dream is something many aspire to have. But this behavior on an international stage might make people think the U.S. isnt as welcoming as it lets on.

Trumps childlike rhetoric might put Americans and all other nations that fall within North Koreas trajectory in danger.

The insensitivity to global norms embarrasses the U.S., and its not as if Trumps staff is completely behind him either. Theres an image of White House chief of staff John Kelly with his head in his hands during Trumps U.N. speech. It speaks to the embarrassment even those in Trumps inner circle feel. The U.S. doesnt have to be friends with North Korea, but open taunts to a country that possesses nuclear weapons probably arent wise either.

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The U.S. needs to step up and become the international leader it once was instead of resorting to childish taunts. The international community, many of whom have already denounced Trump, might soon leave the U.S. in the dust as it makes unwise decisions that will impact the worlds future.

Nicole Dan is a UF political science and journalism senior. Her column appears on Mondays.
Growing up, I always loved school. I loved my teachers, and I loved my friends; I loved putting my pencil case on top of the laminate desk, tearing paper out of spiral notebooks and filing my assignments away in pronged folders. It all just made sense to me. Now that Im a senior in college, Ive had to consider more seriously what school means to me. With nearly 17 years of public education under my belt, how will I use what Ive learned?

Public education is still what makes sense to me. Now, I think about the strengths and weaknesses of our public education system, a system full of dedicated and determined teachers and staff yet ripe for improvements, change and support. Currently, about 90 percent of American students attend public elementary and secondary schools rather than private schools. This amounts to 50.7 million students entering public elementary and secondary schools across the country this past semester.

With this many children and teenagers affected by public education, we must seriously consider the knowledge and values we instill in each coming generation. Public schools dont just introduce us to American history, algebraic expressions and science experiments. Our schools also attempt to teach us positive character traits as we grow up through the system. We are taught to speak honestly and complete our assignments with integrity, to always try our best and to learn from our mistakes.

However, I believe our lessons lack one important trait we gloss over in our quest to be the best student and make the top grades: empathy. In an increasingly competitive academic and professional national culture, it can prove challenging to remain considerate and respectful. Its a constant race to the top in which only a select few can ever win.

I believe we see the consequences of this mindset quite clearly in our public schools. A lack of compassion for our fellow human beings results in bullying, especially on social media, when children and teens fail to understand how their actions impact others. Further, when we dont encourage students to practice mindfulness  to think before acting, to stay in the present instead of dwelling on the past or the future  we miss out on teaching kids effective, healthy coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety and feelings of negativity.

One summer while volunteering with a local educational program for elementary schoolers, I watched as each morning the lead instructor would put on a Sesame Street music video featuring the iconic trio of Elmo, Common and Colbie Caillat. The song, Belly Breathe, will forever be engrained in my memory. For one, its catchy and probably etched into my neurons at this point. But more importantly, the song focused on calming down in the face of anger or sadness. It taught children to take a few moments before reacting to breathe deeply. Essentially, it broke down a major element of mindfulness into musical, bite-sized chunks for kids.

Watching the kids mimic the choreography of the video, placing their palms on their stomachs as they inhaled and exhaled to the music, I was reminded of how useful mindfulness techniques are in practicing empathy and compassion. Instead of immediately lashing out at someone, pausing for a few deep breaths requires kids  and adults to respect other people and deal with emotions in more constructive ways.

With so many children and teens entering public schools each year, we should take advantage of the enormous opportunity we have to teach them the often-neglected value of empathy. In the face of so much national division  including our political, social and economic differences  a little more empathy built into the next generation of leaders and scholars certainly couldnt hurt.

Mia Gettenberg is a UF criminology and philosophy senior. Her column appears on Mondays.

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Silk Way West Airlines, a growing cargo operator based in Azerbaijan, and Alaska Airlines on Thursday signed contracts with Boeing for two freighters apiece  but that is where the similarities ended. Silk Way West said it will take two 777-8s, the largest plane available from Boeing (NYSE: BA) and one so modern it isnt []
As expected, Angela Merkel has convincingly won her fourth term as chancellor of Germany and unofficial, but no less real, leader of the European Union. The mainstream media will again erupt into an orgy of adulation for the new leader of the free world; the slayer of populism; and last, but most, the anti-Trump. While the adulation-cum-E.U. triumphalism is a given, few will notice that it is taking place as both Merkel and the E.U. enter a period that will bring ruin to Merkel's reputation and the fantasy of an E.U. super-state that will finally prove the superiority of Europe over Trump's America. For her reputation is built on the fake assumptions of the European socio-political model, which is doomed.

An inkling of what's coming was revealed a day before the elections, when jurists of the German parliament issued a Gutachten (expert opinion) accusing Merkel of never providing legal arguments for opening the borders in 2015 and doing so without parliamentary approval as required by law. In short, she broke the law  and not just German law, because she opened not just Germany's borders, but those of the E.U. as well. She then compounded her error by having the subservient and unelected European Commission force reluctant Eastern European nations to take migrants in what was perceived as a German diktat. This serious misdeed is unlikely to be swept under the rug, since two of the parties that have now entered the Bundestag (FDP and AfD) insist on a parliamentary investigation.

Nor is this Merkel's only big political misjudgment. After persuading her party to extend the life of German nuclear power plants in Nov. 2010, she then did an about-face in June 2011 and ordered them phased out by 2022 on the absurd assumption that, like Japan, Germany can also suffer a catastrophic earthquake and a tsunami. There was neither a scientific nor an economic rationale for this hasty decision. In between, one of the taxes she imposed on the nuclear industry has already been declared unconstitutional by Germany's highest court.

The nuclear phase-out, which will take decades to resolve in the courts, pales in comparison to the enthusiastic support Merkel provided to having Germany, a country not well endowed with either much sun or wind, transition fully to renewable energy and, in the process, become a paragon of international environmental virtue to the left-wing ecological claque. Alas, it is already clear that the Energiewende is a recipe for disaster, and a hugely expensive one at that. It has already made it impossible to achieve not just German, but E.U. global warming targets. The officially promised 40% German cut in greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2020 has fallen by the wayside, as has Brussels's mandate to source 18% of energy from renewable sources. It is easy to see why. The much ballyhooed German progress to date was achieved because of huge subsidies paid by the rate payer and disproportionately by the poor, which forced the subsidies' dismantling. Frau Merkel has also been busy protecting the disingenuous German automobile industry from its disastrous Dieselgate cheating scandal that may yet devastate this vital German industry.

In the meantime, Merkel's foolish migrant policies are wreaking havoc in German society, as it was all too easy to predict. Crime by migrants, much of it sexual in nature, spiked by 52.7% in 2016 compared to 2015, despite efforts by the government to hide it. Worse is to come. In the first six months of 2017 alone, Berlin issued 230,000 visas for family members of the migrants, and another 390,000 are expected. Moreover, a recent Pew Foundation study shows that no more than 3% of the migrants are ever sent back, while European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker claims that 720,000, or nearly three fourths, have received asylum even though few of them have been persecuted. Official German figures show that by 2020, the government will have spent 93.6 billion euros on migrant welfare, proving yet again the wisdom of Milton Friedman, who long ago warned that open borders and the welfare system do not mix. And cost may not be the worst of it. The counter-terrorism coordinator of the E.U., Gilles de Kerchove, stated in a recent interview that 50,000 jihadists have entered Europe under the guise of migrants.

So what has Mrs. Merkel accomplished that has made German voters so enamored in her? To answer this probably requires an expert in German mass psychology, but here are some of the relevant facts. During her 12 years as chancellor, Merkel has moved the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) sharply to the left and has run the country in a way barely distinguishable from her socialist coalition partners. This probably explains the rise of the populist right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD). The legendary Bavarian politician Franz-Joseph Strauss once said that the conservatives should never allow a legitimate party to the right of themselves if they want to stay in power. Merkel has now done that and will sooner or later suffer the consequences.

This apart, the German political landscape is full of parties (SPD, Greens, Die Linke) that are openly pro-Russian and anti-American, in stark contrast to Eastern Europe. Indeed, German media are so stridently anti-American as to prompt a comparison with Nazi propaganda of yesteryear. Merkel herself has sided with Putin on the key issue of European energy independence from Russia and the Nord Stream 2, a project she quite disingenuously calls "commercial." This new and growing fault line between Germany and Eastern Europe may be the real threat to NATO, apart from the fact that Germany refuses to seriously boost its defense capabilities.

On the positive side, Germany is prosperous and enjoys a huge surplus with all its partners in the E.U. This one-sided relationship was ushered in by the euro, and it may not be long before Germany's Eurozone partners realize that and demand change.

Alex Alexiev is chairman of the Center for Balkan and Black Sea Studies (cbbss.org). He tweets on national security at twitter.com/alexieff and can be reached at alexievalex4@gmail.com.
Let me tell you a quick story. My father's younger brother left Cuba and ended up in Puerto Rico, where he set up an architectural firm. Therefore, two of my cousins were born there. So I have a close connection to that island that gave us Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, and more recently Ivan Rodriguez.

The damage suffered by Puerto Rico in the recent hurricane is awful, but Cuba could be worse. Unfortunately, the state-run media in Cuba do not allow the same kind of exposure of the damage that we see in Puerto Rico or even in Mexico. All we know is that Irma sat over Cuba for days, and the pictures tweeted are awful.

Naturally, the Cuban government is looking for money. However, we warn you to think before you donate a penny, as we see in this report in the Miami Herald:

After Hurricane Irma's devastating 72-hour pass through northern Cuba, the Cuban government took a novel approach to storm relief: It posted a Cuban bank account number on social media where humanitarian donations can be sent. Even though the Cuban Foreign Ministry helpfully provided the SWIFT transfer code to facilitate donations to an account at the government Banco Financiera Internacional, U.S. humanitarians should think twice. While people around the world can use the bank transfer method, it isn't advisable for U.S. citizens. "The embargo would make this unavailable to U.S. citizens," said Robert Muse, a Washington lawyer. Embargo law is designed "to prevent direct contributions of money to the Cuban government."

And that's the problem. We don't know how the Cuban government, or Castro family, will use these funds. They may use some token amount to build a bridge here or there and then put the rest into Castro Inc.!

My suggestion is that you avoid direct payments to Cuba and rather donate to churches or international relief organization with a good reputation. I'm not going to give any names, but you can do your due diligence.

Most of all, do not send money to the Cuban government.

Irma the hurricane was devastating to resorts and Castro Inc. joint ventures with international companies. Let these companies and Castro Inc. put their money into restoring the hotels.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
Zach Gibson - Pool/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- White House adviser and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has used a private email account to communicate with White House staffers, his attorney confirmed to ABC News.



"Mr. Kushner uses his White House email address to conduct White House business. Fewer than a hundred emails from January through August were either sent to or returned by Mr. Kushner to colleagues in the White House from his personal email account," Kushner attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement.



Lowell said the emails were "usually forwarded news articles or political commentary" and "most often occurred" when someone "initiated the exchange by sending an email to his personal" account.



The news of Kushner's personal email account was first reported by Politico.



The statement makes no mention of classified information, but does say that copies of the emails were sent to his official account for recording.



"All non-personal emails were forwarded to his official address and all have been preserved in any event," Lowell said.



A White House official conducting business on a personal email account is not unprecedented.



During the campaign and even as president, Trump eviscerated his opponent Hillary Clinton for handling classified information on a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Nazi cards are being played all over the world's media this morning, in the characteristic response of elites when voters increase their support for populists. The dominant media throughout the Western world are horrified that Angela Merkel, just re-elected to a fourth term as chancellor of Germany with weakened support, will face a rising-force conservative party in the Bundestag, Alternative fur Deutschland (the Alternative for Germany), or AfD.

AFP reports:

Merkel, who after 12 years in power held a double-digit lead for most of the campaign, scored around 33 percent of the vote with her conservative Christian Union (CDU/CSU) bloc, according to preliminary results. It was their worst score since 1949. Its nearest rivals, the Social Democrats and their candidate Martin Schulz, came in a distant second, with a post-war record low of 21 percent. But in a bombshell for the German establishment, the anti-Islam, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) captured around 13 percent, catapulting it to become the country's third biggest political force.

Despite continuing efforts to tar as racists and Nazis all who protest the flood of Muslim immigrants transforming life in Germany, enough Germans voted AfD to give the party a prominent role going forward. It is that legitimacy and ongoing prominence the AfD now will maintain that is driving the progressive globalists nuts. Something very similar to the reaction to the election of President Trump  ongoing harassment by progs  is underway:

AfD supporters gathered at a Berlin club, cheering as public television reported the outcome, many joining in a chorus of the German national anthem. Hundreds of protesters rallied outside, shouting "Nazis out!" while smaller AfD demonstrations were held in other cities across the country.

I have yet to see any evidence that AfD has Nazi affiliations, yet the smear has influenced elites throughout the world. Reuters reports:

Jewish groups in Europe and the United States expressed alarm on Sunday at the far-right Alternative for Germany's success in Germany's parliamentary election and urged other parties not to form an alliance with the AfD. ... Ronald Lauder, president of the New York-based World Jewish Congress, called Chancellor Angela Merkel a "true friend of Israel and the Jewish people" and decried the AfD's gains at a time when anti-Semitism was increasing across the globe.

Lauder obviously has not looked into the surge of anti-Semitism in Europe, which has been driven by Islamic immigration, not by "far right" Germans. Merkel, by bringing a million people into Germany who have been nurtured on the vilest anti-Semitism imaginable, is fanning the flames of anti-Semitism in a real and tangible fashion. Public opinion surveys in Arab Muslim communities consistently reveal that Jew-hatred is embraced by majorities of around 80%. Tolerating the influx of people from a background steeped in anti-Jewish sentiment is the equivalent of promoting violence against Jews.

Yet Lauder, with hiss ultra-prominent role, blames the people attempting to save German Jews from predictable assaults (and worse) at the hands of people whose sacred scripture is full of Jew-hatred and derision and tells them to search out and kill Jews. There is plenty of evidence that such passages are being used by Islamic radicals in Europe to motivate terror attacks on Jews.

Any political party with the support of millions undoubtedly has a few dodgy characters among its supporters. I cannot guarantee that the motivations of all AfD voters are pure, but until someone shows me that the party itself advocates policies that target Jews, I would not play the Nazi card. Lauder should examine Merkel and the AfD more closely before he says anything foolish again.
Iraq's Kurdish minority is voting today on whether to declare itself an independent state. Opposing the move is not only the Iraqi government, but Turkey, Iran, and Syria  countries where other Kurdish minorities long for their own homeland.

NBC News:

Experts say the result will almost certainly be a resounding "yes"  but what that will actually mean in reality is still unclear. For the Kurds, the vote presents an opportunity to finally break away from Iraq. "We have the right to choose our destiny and fulfill our dream," Dallo Mohammed, a 32-year-old accountant from the town of Khanaqin, told NBC News. "I am a Kurdish citizen, this is how I was born, and this is how I would die." But opponents of the vote  a list of countries that includes the U.S.  say the ballot could provoke destabilization, ethnic violence, and hamper the fight against ISIS.

The Kurds were one of the few national entities not to receive their own country following the destruction of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. There are complex reasons for this having to do with where the Kurdish majority areas are located and the fact that the Kurds themselves are divided.

Parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Armenia are populated with Kurds. But while ethnically similar, there are cultural and political differences among the Kurds that make a union problematic.

The Iraqi Kurds have always enjoyed more autonomy than their brothers and sisters in other countries. Now, with Iraq fractured by ISIS and a Shia government in Baghdad that barely holds the country together, Iraqi Kurds have sensed an opening.

Monday's referendum is asking people whether they want to expand this autonomy and become a fully fledged, independent country. More than 3 million people are expected to participate, according to The Associated Press "They see this as a once-in-a-century opportunity to begin the process of forming their own state," said Gareth Stansfield, a senior associate fellow at London's Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. The Kurds have threatened to break off from the rest of Iraq for years. They accuse the central government of violating its constitutional obligations toward them and withholding their share of the federal budget. "From World War I until now, we are not a part of Iraq," Kurdish President Masoud Barzani told the Guardian on Friday. "Its a theocratic, sectarian state. We have our geography, land and culture. We have our own language. We refuse to be subordinates." Right now may be their best shot at independence thanks to a confluence of events  namely the weakening of political systems surrounding them following two decades of violence and the rise of ISIS in 2014. But even in the event of a "yes" vote, the government says it won't separate right away. Rather, it sees the vote more as a statement of intent, a springboard from which to launch dialogue with the central Iraqi government. The vote will cover not only areas in the official, semi-autonomous region but also disputed regions where the Kurdish forces, known as the peshmerga, have pushed into following their largely successful campaign against ISIS. These peshmerga  whose name means "those who face death"  have been fighting alongside the Iraqi army in the U.S.-led coalition, but it is the Kurds who have proved the far more effective fighting force.

The U.S. administration is conflicted on this issue. The friendly and close relations the U.S. has enjoyed with the Kurds in Iraq makes the U.S. their natural allies. They have done more than any nation-state to help defeat ISIS in both Syria and Iraq, which the Kurds naturally feel makes them entitled to U.S. support.

But while the U.S. would probably reluctantly accept a Kurdish state in Iraq, NATO ally Turkey is terrified of such a prospect. Under no circumstances will the Turks allow an independent Kurdish state on their border. The government of President Erdogan fears that the low-level civil war being fought in Turkey by the Kurdish minority would explode as Turkey's Kurds would seek to break away and join their brethren in Iraq.

Iran and Syria, too, are nervous about an independent Kurdish state for the same reason. Iran's Kurds, like some of Turkey's Kurdish population, have taken to terrorism to advance their cause, while Syria's Kurdish population has been oppressed by President Assad to the point that they were early and strong supporters of the opposition in the civil war.

The U.S. probably wishes there were a way to support the Kurds. They would prove to be an invaluable and reliable ally in a region where such allies are few and far between. Eventually, we may get to the point where we can acknowledge the inevitable and support a Kurdish state.

Perhaps the biggest problem with uniting the Kurds across such a huge area of land is that other minorities have moved in since World War I, and the ethnic makeup of these Kurdish areas are more diverse than before. The U.S. fears that some of these ethnic minorities may not like being governed by an alien culture and would fight. A blow-up across the Middle East like that could spread, igniting other ethnic clashes. Think the Iraq and Syrian civil wars on steroids.

We'll have to see what develops after the referendum, but sometime in the future, an independent Kurdistan is a distinct possibility. Whether it can be achieved peacefully is the question facing the governments in the region.
Enter the 340B Drug Discount program, a government initiative passed as a component of the Veteran Health Care Act in 1992. Originally designed to help veterans in need, 340B effectively forces pharmaceutical companies to sell drugs to health care organizations at discounted prices.

However, some groups, such as the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), contend that many health care organizations are abusing the program, which notably expanded under the Obama administration.

In a September 8 letter addressed to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, COA president Dr. Jeffrey Vacirca wrote, "In short, the 340B program is out of control in the hospital sector."

"What was originally intended in 1992 as a small-scale program to ensure patients in need did not fall through the 'treatment cracks' at a contained number of safety-net hospitals, has mutated into a grossly-abused profit generator for more than half of the nation's hospitals," Vacirca continued.

When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed in March 2010, it granted critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural referral centers, free-standing children's hospitals, and free-standing cancer hospitals to discounted 340B drugs  normally at 25-40% of the average manufacturer's price, while the patient's insurance company pays full price for the drug.

"Bad actors in the 340B program have realized that they can make substantial profits by buying deeply discounted cancer drugs, which are then reimbursed by Medicare and private insurers at full cost," a COA brief echoes.

The expansion of 340B was widely interpreted as a way to placate hospitals and other health care organizations, which stood to lose large amounts of revenue due to the ACA. And here lies the crux of the issue: hospitals have no legal obligation to assist patients by lowering costs through 340B savings, or even to disclose how 340B profits are being utilized.

Now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are looking to cut payments for certain drugs purchased through the 340B program by a whopping 27 percent. Per McDermott, Will & Emery, an international law firm, the move is explained as "necessary to slow growth in the 340B program, shift trends of growing amounts paid by Medicare for outpatient hospital drugs and reduce Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing."

The inevitable consequences of these price controls have taken the form of routine abuse by chain drugstores and Wall Street investors. Veterans, who risk injury and even death in close combat for our nation, deserve to be cared for through the 340B program, but this sort of abuse undermines the program's true intent and the free market as a whole.

Bringing the full force of the federal government to bear so health care companies can enjoy a higher profit cheapens the institution. It's time to enact reforms to the 340B Drug Discount program, returning it to its original purpose.

Mitchell Gunter is a contributor to publications such as the Daily Caller, Heat Street, and FEE. His work has been cited by national outlets, including Tucker Carlson Tonight, National Review, and the Washington Times. Follow him on Twitter at @rMitchellGunter.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, September 24, 2017 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister)  St. Kitts and Nevis became the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to offer in kind and monetary support to the storm-ravaged island of Dominica in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Maria, the 13th named hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, became a category 5 hurricane near the Leeward Islands on Monday, September 18, as it pummeled the Commonwealth of Dominica as an extremely strong hurricane with catastrophic wind speeds.

In an address to the nation on Saturday evening, Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said in spite of its own significant damages, particularly as it relates to public sector infrastructure, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has pledged EC$1 million to assist the neighbouring island of Dominica in its recovery and rebuilding efforts.

It should be noted that we have also declined the EC$500,000 pledged by Dominica, after Hurricane Irma, to St. Kitts and Nevis. This sum for the record was never received by St. Kitts and Nevis. We nonetheless thank Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit for his kind consideration, Prime Minister Harris disclosed.

The St. Kitts and Nevis prime minister said the Governments assistance to the Commonwealth of Dominica goes beyond its financial commitment.

As was extended to Anguilla and other islands that were previously impacted by Hurricane Irma, we have offered the use of the RLB International Airport as a staging platform for relief efforts into Dominica in the wake of Hurricane Maria. In addition to this, all four hospitals on St. Kitts and Nevis will be made available should the need for health services be required. Places will also be made available to accommodate displaced students in Dominica who are registered for upcoming CXC exams. They will be offered free enrollment into our schools until their own high schools are ready to accommodate them. Furthermore, our Federation will assist in the restoration of electricity supply to Dominica, and our Coast Guard vessels will assist with transportation when and where possible.

Prime Minister Harris also revealed in his national broadcast that his Government has pledged financial support to other neighbouring islands that were significantly impacted by the recent hurricanes.

To the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis approved an amount of EC$500,000; EC$400,000 to Anguilla; EC$400,000 to Antigua and Barbuda; and another EC$200,000 to St. Maarten.
(ANSA) - Rio de Janeiro, September 25 - The Italian government has asked Brazil to review the status of political refugee granted Italian former leftist militant Cesare Battisti under the Lula government in 2010, Brazilian daily O Globo said Monday, saying the request had been sent "in a confidential manner". The daily said the request has been subjected to a preliminary technical analysis and has been endorsed by two ministers in President Michel Temer's government.

From a legal standpoint, O Globo said, the Brazilian government has found a precedent in a 1969 supreme court ruling.

On the basis of that ruling, the paper said, "the administration can quash its acts" over a technicality or revoke them "for reasons of convenience and opportunity".

Therefore, the daily said, Lula's no to extradition could be reversed by Temer.

But the president is currently disinclined to take up the Battisti case, O Globo said. Justice Minister Andrea Orlando has said Italy wants the former terrorist back to serve two life terms for four murders in the 1970s 'Years of Lead'.

Italy has the "clear political will" to bring Battisti back, Orlando has said.

Battisti, 63, was arrested in Brazil in April 2007, some five years after he had fled to that country with the help of false documents to avoid extradition to Italy from France after the end of the Mitterrand doctrine which gave sanctuary to fugitive leftist guerrillas.

He had lived in France for 15 years and become a successful writer of crime novels.

In January 2009 the Brazilian justice ministry granted Battisti political asylum on the grounds that he would face "political persecution" in Italy.

Then in one of his last acts in office, former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva declined Rome's request to extradite Battisti in December 2010, sparking outrage in Italy.

The families of Battisti's four victims have been lobbying hard for Italy to try to overturn Lula's ruling.

Alberto Torregiani, son of a Milanese jeweler, Pierluigi Torregiani, gunned down by Battisti's leftist militant group in 1979, said: "those politicians and judges should be hauled onto a plane and brought to Italy to understand the nonsense they have said".

Torregiani, left wheelchair-bound by the attack at the age of 13, said he was "angry and upset" at the news and reiterated he would try to organise street protests with the other relatives - something he has since done.

Alessandro Santoro, the son of a prison guard, Antonio Santoro, shot dead in Udine in 1978, said he was "very bitter for us and all the other families who have suffered for so long only to see ourselves humiliated yet again".

The relatives of the other two victims in 1978 and 1979, Milan security police officer Andrea Campagna and Mestre butcher Lino Sabbadin, also expressed their unhappiness with Lula's decision.

Sabbadin's son Adriano branded Lula "an accomplice" of Battisti's.

photo: Battisti in Brasilia in 2011
(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, SEPTEMBER 25 - The great majority of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza said they thought that President Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) should resign, according to a new survey carried out by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR), quoted by Maan news agency. According to the poll, 67% of those interviewed would like Abu MAzen to step down, compared to 62% three months ago, while 27% would like him to stay on. The center stressed that the percentage recorded in the West Bank was 60% and rose to 80% in the Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas.



Distrust towards the PNA president has been on the rise over concerns the Palestinians polled expressed for civil freedoms in the Territories after recent legislation promoted by Abu Mazen on cyber crime and interventions against journalists and activists who had criticized the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).



According to the poll, Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, would beat Abu MAzen in case of an election. However, Fatah would remain the most popular party in the West Bank, the survey said.



(ANSAmed).


(ANSAmed) - ROME - Italian association Charter of Rome, which monitors the correct information on migrants and refugees in Italy, has drafted a list of six rules it believes are fundamental for journalists to interview refugees in a correct manner. ''Propaganda, bad information and fake news describe a reality that doesn't exist and foster an inflammatory climate in the public opinion'', stressed journalist Alessandro Lanni, who drafted the list of recommendations for Carta di Roma.



The recommendations were written with the help of Gavin Rees and Gill Moreton, respectively the director and a psychologist at the Dart Center, a project of the journalism school of Columbia University to raise reporters' awareness on people affected by trauma. The rules are the following:

1.UNDERSTANDING YOUR INTERLOCUTOR. According to Carta di Roma, ''interviewing a migrant also means knowing with precision who our interlocutor really is to avoid simplifications and stereotypes. The migrant's country of origin, personal history and religion are key in this process. Also, the interviewer has to know the migrant's judicial status in Italy, whether he or she has applied for asylum or is a trafficking victim.



2.DEFINING THE PERSON IN A CORRECT WAY. The association stressed how choosing a certain word to describe the interviewed migrant ''can strengthen prejudice''. Talking about an ''illegal migrant'' is degrading, for instance. The association instead called for neutral words like ''migrant'', ''asylum seeker'' and ''refugee''.



3.GIVING REASSURANCE. The Carta di Roma cited research by UNHCR to say that migrants are often reluctant to talk to journalists because they fear they will have to go back home. In order to reassure them, the UN Refugee Agency suggested to be clear on the journalist's intentions, be sensitive if the migrants asks not to be identified and ask for information on the country of origin.



4.WHAT THE STORY OF THE INTERVIEWED PERSON REPRESENTS. A journalist's job is to ''put in the right perspective the interview we are carrying out'', understanding the interviewed person, what he or she represents and giving ''the right weight to the words of the migrant or refugee''.



5.UNDERSTANDING WHEN TO STOP. A journalist should stop the interview and not insist to continue, giving the person who is being interviewed the opportunity of taking a break or ending the interview, stressed Gillian Moreton of the Dart Center. She stressed the importance of recognizing when someone is overcome by emotion or suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.



''It is important to help a person focus on their current security'', also with the help of a friend or family, she noted.



6.AVOIDING THE 'PORNOGRAPHY' OF PAIN. According to Gavin Rees, director of the Dart Center, there is a risk that a journalist can transform pain into a product rather than a key to understand the situation, while the reader should understand ''what is going on''. The reporter should instead focus on the story, without using high-impact sentences or commonplaces. (ANSA).


Jordan allow Syrians without papers access to schools

(ANSAmed) - AMMAN, SEPTEMBER 25 - Jordan has allowed Syrians without documentations to enter public schools in a bid to cut down on children without education within the refugee community, officials said today.



Education Minister Omar Razzaz said, quoted by the Jordan Times, "we do not want anyone to lose their right to education".



In total, there are at least 80,000 Syrian children without access to education due to various reasons, including lack of proper documentation, access to education facility or school dropouts to help families make a living. Burdened with high pressure on education sector, the government has been fighting an uphill battle to provide suitable space for Syrian children in public schools.



The government said it will enrol the children in afternoon shifts to avoid overcrowding and allow children proper access to education. (ANSA)


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The meeting was held at the headquarters of Middle East Airlines by Mohamad Al-Hout, Chairman and Director General of Middle East Airlines with the participation of all the members of the committee that gathers Chief Executive Officers of nine Arab airlines, and AACO Secretary General.



The committee discussed strategic air transport issues pertaining to Aeropolitical affairs and the latest proposed and/or imposed regulations on air transport around the world which have an effect on the expansion and growth of AACO member airlines. The committee addressed aviation security issues as well and the latest updates in that regard in addition to strategic issues related to cooperation between AACO member airlines. Current joint projects between members were also reviewed in addition to some administrative and financial issues specific to AACO in preparation for the AACO 50th AGM that will be held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on 20-22 November 2017.



At the end of the meeting, the CEOs of the Arab airlines toured the Beirut Training Center and Aviation Academy that Middle East Airlines will be opening next month, whereby the CEOs expressed their great admiration to the global standards of the academy that rise above whats available at the best academies around the world.


ER-ABE has already been painted in the Libyan cargo specialist's livery ahead of deployment into service.

Global Aviation and Service Group (GASG) is a privately owned airline founded in 2003.
The emergency response teams led by Senior Manager, Safety and ERP Captain Waheed Al Subhi were mobilised and the exercise was overseen by Deputy CEO Abdulrahman Al Busaidy and supported by the executive management team.

Abdulrahman Al Busaidy, Deputy CEO of Oman Air said: Despite Oman Air having an exemplary safety record we need to ensure that we are prepared in the event of an emergency. We adhere to the strictest standards when it comes to emergency response planning and activation and it was gratifying to see all the procedures correctly put in place last Thursday. All the teams worked together seamlessly to ensure that the simulation exercise ran in textbook fashion and I am confident that we have everything in place should, God forbid, an unlikely emergency event happen.
For Exercise Eastern Bridge IV, the RAFO deployed five Block 50 F-16C/D Air Defence Fighters from No 18 Squadron at Thumrait to Air Force Station Jamnagar in Gujarat, India.

The Omani F-16s exercised with IAF Sukhoi Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighters, MiG-27 fighter-bombers and SEPECAT Jaguar maritime strike aircraft.

The Eastern Bridge series of exercises began in October 2009, when India and Oman were the last operators of the SEPECAT Jaguar, and when six Indian Jaguars, crewed by pilots from Flaming Arrows and Cobras, at Gorakhpur, deployed to Thumrait.

For Eastern Bridge II, six RAFO Jaguars deployed to Jamnagar in October 2011, where they worked with IAF Jaguars and MiG-29s.

Eastern Bridge III, in October 2013, saw a return to Oman, and six IAF Jaguars from No 6 Squadron deployed to Masirah, where they exercised with RAFO Jaguar, Hawk and F-16 aircraft.

Eastern Bridge survived the retirement of the Middle East Jaguars in August 2014, with the RAFO F-16 force picking up the mantle.

The RAFO views Eastern Bridge as an important tool in maintaining its operational effectiveness and readiness.

Eastern Bridge IV marked the second exercise in India, and the RAFO F-16 contingent arrived in Jamnagar on January 14 prior to the start of the exercise two days later. This was the first time that RAFO F-16s had participated in an exercise outside the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The Omani contingent was led by RAFO commander, Air Vice Marshall Mattar Bin Ali Al Ubaidani, a former Jaguar pilot, who met his opposite number, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, who was himself a former frontline Jaguar pilot.

Though Oman was the first Gulf Cooperation Council country to establish a regular series of bilateral exercises with the Indian Air Force, the success of Eastern Bridge has led to a similar series of exercises between the Indian Air Force and the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence.


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On Friday afternoon, at Berlins Volksbuhne theatre, a group of left-wing activists moved into the building and proclaimed they were occupying the institution with the aim of turning it into a collectively run theater. The actors left a newly built stage at the disused Templehof theatre for their ostensible director, Chris Dercon.
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It said that in view of certain pending issues, the deadline for filing GST returns should be further extended by up to a couple of months.

New Delhi: The apex industry body CII on Sunday asked the government for six months of amnesty from penal action on GST by tax authorities till the system stabilises.

It said that in view of certain pending issues, the deadline for filing GST returns should be further extended by up to a couple of months.

CII pointed out that GSTN is a single platform bringing together suppliers, buyers and tax authorities. The ministry has taken cognisance of the glitches being faced in online filing of invoices and extended dates for GST returns. CII has now requested for further extension to resolve certain system issues, it said.

For example, Tran1 form is filed for July to carry forward the closing balance of credits of June 2017, including data of issue and pending C/H/F forms. Accordingly, Tran1 calculates the liability of pending forms; however, in many cases, carry forwarded amount has been calculated in negative figure, it said.
This seems to be sending a misleading signal and therefore sources privy to developments said that a relook may soon be initiated.

Highly-placed sources have indicated that the Union power ministry may look into the possibility of declaring a village fully electrified once all its households receive power supply.

New Delhi: The Centre may soon have to work on changing the definition of an electrified village, as despite its aggressive push towards ensuring power supply to all households of the country, there are still more than 4 crore households which are yet to be electrified, even though there are 99.4 per cent electrified villages in the nation.

Highly-placed sources have indicated that the Union power ministry may look into the possibility of declaring a village fully electrified once all its households receive power supply.

With the NDA Government aggressively pushing its 24x7 Power for All agenda, the technicality seems to have put it on the backfoot and therefore a relook at the definition seems imminent.

According to the official definition of an electrified village, a village with only 10 per cent households getting power supply is declared as electrified. In other words, despite 90 per cent of households in a village getting no electricity, it is considered as fully electrified.

What seems to have put the Centre into a quandry is that according to the current definition, 99.4 per cent villages are electrified, but at the same time more than 4 crore households in the country are still deprived of electricity connection.

This seems to be sending a misleading signal and therefore sources privy to developments said that a relook may soon be initiated. It has been brought to the notice of the Power Ministry through stakeholders that the present definition does not reflect the true picture of universal access to electricity status in the country.

Thus, only when all the households in a village start receiving power supply, should a village be declared as fully electrified.

The anomaly needs to be rectified soon as the power ministry has already signed 24x7 Power for All documents with all the states, which makes them beneficiaries of the Centres ambitious Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, or rural electrification scheme.

This scheme, along with a slew of other such initiatives, is aimed at helping states provide uninterrupted power supply to every households. Only when the definition of a fully electrified village will be properly defined, that the objective of providing power to rural households, will be fully achieved.
Funds in Odisha diverted to projects that were not high on priority.

Bhubaneswar: Odisha, one of the worst Maoist-hit states in the country, has always been found wanting in taking measures to fight Red terror and provide a peaceful atmosphere to the citizens, especially those living in interior southern and western parts of the state.

All-pervading corruption, misappropriation and gross misuse of government allocated funds, interference by political bosses and top officers have defeated the mission to make the state free from Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

According to official sources, the state government failed on more than one occasion in the past four years to prepare annual action plans (AAPs) on time to contain LWE. This resulted in a loss of not only central funds, but also hampered execution of development works.

Also, inclusion of inadmissible projects and giving least priority to skill development and livelihood projects in the backward districts provided fodder to the Maoists to spread their wings. The rebels targeted to recruit unemployed and unskilled youths.

The sources said that some of the projects were not on priority, indicating misuse of funds. Some of the funds spent were on construction of staff quarters of government officials, repair and revival of lift irrigation projects, construction of mini stadiums, boundary walls, distribution of solar lanterns, fencing of mango plantations, helipads and rest shade for police and replacement of burnt transfer.

According to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) which inspected 43 out of 238 projects, found many of them lying idle.

Against the norm of executing projects worth Rs 493.74 crore in the LWE-hit districts, projects worth Rs 329.86 crore had only been included in the annual action plans. In the five test-checked districts, 1,107 inadmissible projects worth Rs 44.49 crore were included in the AAPs, the CAG said.

What has ailed the governments execution of development works in the LWE-hit areas is inefficient fund management. There has been diversion of funds, non-refund of savings and interest earned by the executing agencies. This led to a loss of central assistance worth Rs 504.30 crore and non-adjustment of advances for years together.While unemployment is a major problem in LWE-hit districts, no livelihood projects were launched under the AAPs between 2011-16.

More than Rs 3 crore was allocated for execution of 46 livelihood projects, including flyash brick unit and handmade paper unit, niger oil production unit etc, but they could not be implemented successfully, the sources said. Not only this, if the sources are to be believed, there was gross misuse of the helicopter meant for security purposes.

During February 2013 to September 2015, out of 341 sorties conducted by the Dauphin helicopter, only 53 sorties were on security related purposes and the rest were for surveillance and monitoring by various officers. These were outside the purview of the Security Related Expenditure scheme guidelines. The Centre did not spend Rs 18.03 crore towards hiring charges of helicopter due to non-obtaining prior approval, the report said.

Under the integrated action plan, each LWE-affected district was entitled to receive Rs 30 crore per annum and, therefore, the state was entitled to Rs 545 crore during 2011-15. The state government had to fulfill the conditions prescribed by the Centre in September 2014 and October 2014. However, only Rs 582 crore was released as against Rs 1,080 crore for 18 districts.

It may be mentioned here that LWE has emerged as one of the greatest challenges to the internal security of the country.

Odisha assumes strategic significance in the tackling LWE as the corridor of Maoist activities extend from Jharkhand to Andhra Pradesh. During 2011-16, 429 LWE incidents were reported in the state.

Ex-maoists unhappy with rehabilitation package

Odisha government appears to have failed with regard to rehabilitation of those Maoists who gave up arms responding to appeals by the state administration to join the mainstream.

According to reliable sources quoting official data in state home ministry, around 100 of the 171 Maoists who surrendered between January 1, 2014, and February 1, 2016, have availed the governments rehabilitation package. The remaining did not avail the benefits as they did not meet the minimum criteria laid down by the state government.

The deprivation of surrendered Maoists from availing government benefits has come as a discouragement for other radicals who wanted to lead a peaceful life away from violence.

The sources said that to speed up the surrender process of the Maoists, the state government, with an eye on the coming Assembly elections, is contemplating to amend the rehabilitation guidelines to extend the benefits to a larger number of persons that would contribute to the waning of the Maoists activities.

Illiteracy and ignorance of the surrendered the Maoists often prevent them from availing their rightful rehabilitation entitlements.
Singh will also address IAS and IPS probationers at the Lal Bahadur Shas-tri National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie.

New Delhi: Union home minister Rajnath Singh will visit the Indo-China border in the Uttarakhand region later this week. The region is considered sensitive as it has witnessed incidents of transgression by the Chinese troops in the past.

During his visit, the home minister will hold discussions with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police at Barahoti, which is close to the one of the highest border outpost at a height of 14,311 feet.

Following the resolution of the Dokalam stand-off, this is the first visit by any senior minister to the China border and Mr Singh will also go to ITBP border outposts at Rimk-him, Mana and Auli, all of which are at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet during his four-day visit starting on September 28.

During the visit, Mr Singh will also address IAS and IPS probationers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie. He will also interact with senior Central government officials of the rank of additional secretary during the visit. It is reported that Chinese troops had come 800 meters inside Indian territory in the Barahoti sector and even stayed there for w while before going back.

In addition, the home minister will also review security along the Indo-China border, progress development of different infrastructure projects and is also expected to address a Sainik Sammelan.
Linking driving licences with the 12-digit unique number will help regional transport officials identify a driver or a rider easily.

This is the first time the ministry has proposed to tighten the rules to check fake driving licences to ensure road safety in the country.

New Delhi: Obtaining a driving licence will no longer be childs play in the coming days. A draft plan prepared by the Union transport ministry proposes that anyone who wishes to obtain a driving licence must provide full details about the institute from which he/she has learnt driving. The draft says anyone seeking a licence should not only give details of the date and enrolment number with the driving school, but also information about the training period, certificate number and date of issuance of driving school certificate to the motor licensing officer. It is learnt that the draft was readied in the wake of the Accidents in India 2017 report by the police suggesting that drivers fault was the single biggest factor responsible for 84 per cent of accidents, 80.3 per cent deaths and injuries to 83.9 per cent.

Earlier, the transport ministry had also linked driving licences to Aadhaar to check fake and multiple licences being issued across the country. Linking driving licences with the 12-digit unique number will help regional transport officials identify a driver or a rider easily. The ministry also decided that candidates must undergo a two-day training session for renewal of old driving licences.

This is the first time the ministry has proposed to tighten the rules to check fake driving licences to ensure road safety in the country. With the new rule in place, the nature of driving licences will change, and it is hoped it will also help to reduce accidents. A transport sector expert said: Those who have not learnt driving from training schools but do know how to drive will have to fill out Form 5 to get a training certificate from the authority.

The expert, who sought anonymity, said: This is being done to end fake and multiple licences. As of now, theres no way for the government to identify if more than one licence is being processed by any individual. The driver can have more than one licence that can be procured through various means.

The transport ministry is also in the process of getting the licence database ready, which will then be put up on a common platform to avoid duplication. This platform can be accessed by any RTO or traffic police unit to check if the driver or the rider already has a driving licence issued in any other state. This will also help officials to check if the licence was impounded or suspended for any reason.

The Accidents in India 2017 report stated that as many as 17 people died in 55 road accidents per hour on an average last year, with nearly half in the 18-35 age group. A total of 4,80,652 road accidents took place in India last year, causing the loss of 1,50,785 lives and 4,94,624 people facing serious injuries.
Two Hurriyat leaders also summoned to Delhi by NIA; traders calls for strike today.

NIA sources said it is also likely to summon Kashmir Bar Association president Mian Qayoom again as some issues in his statement are yet to be verified. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned a Ph.D. student of Kashmir University, two leaders of Hurriyat and chief of a traders organisation for questioning in connection with a case of terror funding.

Aala Fazil, a Ph.D. student from Kashmir University, Yaseen Khan, who heads Kashmir Traders and Marketing Federation, and Abdul Hameed Magrey and Wali Mohammed of Geelani faction in Hurriyat have been asked to appear for questioning on Monday.

The Kashmir traders organisation has called for a strike on Monday to protest the summons. NIA sources said it is also likely to summon Kashmir Bar Association president Mian Qayoom again as some issues in his statement are yet to be verified.

Officials claimed that those summoned would be questioned in connection with incidents of stone-pelting in the Valley.

The National Investigation Agency had lodged an FIR case on May 30 in connection with a case of terror funding which named Hafiz Saeed, some Hurriyat leaders and terror organisations like Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The FIR also names organisations such as the two factions of the Hurriyat, one led by Geelani and the other by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, an all-women outfit of separatists. The case was registered for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and for causing disruption in the Valley by pelting the security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India, the probe agency said in the FIR.

So far, the NIA has managed to get confessional statements from two of the accused in the case. These statements were recorded before a judicial magistrate and can thus now be used as evidence. The investigating agency has arrested 10 people in connection with the case which includes Altaf Ahmed Shah, son-in-law of Syed Ali Shah Geelani along with noted businessman Zahorr Watali.

Others arrested include Geelanis close aides Ayaz Akbar, who is also the spokesperson of the hardline separatist organisation Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Peer Saifullah, Shahid-ul-Islam, spokesperson of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Nayeem Khan, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, photo-journalist Kamran Yusuf and Javed Ahmed Bhat.
MP Mukul Roy had visited Delhi last week and met a few senior BJP leaders in the national capital.

Kolkata: Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Member of Parliament Mukul Roy quit the party on Monday, fuelling speculation that he might join the BJP.

Roy also said he was leaving the party with a heavy heart, since he no longer held a post in the party.

Trinamool Congress has suspended Mukul Roy for six years.

The once-trusted lieutenant, Roy was sidelined by Mamata Banerjee recently and stripped of all posts. He was removed as the partys vice president and also thrown out of two parliamentary panels.

The difference between Roy and Mamata grew after Roy was grilled by the CBI in the multi-crore Sharada chit fund scam. The party leadership suspected he had revealed a few secrets to the investigators.

Roy was also under the partys watch for his frequent meetings with the BJP leadership in Delhi.

Addressing the media in Kolkata, Roy said: Today is Mahapanchami. The people of Bengal are celebrating Durga Puja. They would not like to hear about political issues at this time. I will reveal my future plans after the Pujas.

He added: My association with the Trinamool began in 1997. With a heavy heart, I inform you that I no longer have any post in the party. I am only a primary member and I belong to the working committee. I am resigning from the working committee today and have sent an email to the party leadership. As soon as Durga Puja ends, I will resign from the Rajya Sabha MP's post."

Roy, however, did not disclose the reason behind his resignation.

State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury welcomed Roy's decision. "Mamata Banerjee has not reached the peak of success on her own or within a day. There were many others, including Mukul Roy, who worked tirelessly for the party. But Mamata Banerjee cannot tolerate the rise of anyone else. In all these years, Roy remained silent despite all humiliation. It is obvious he could not bear it anymore. I would welcome Roy if he joins our party," Mr Chowdhury added.

On Sunday evening, Roy inaugurated a Durga Puja pandal in the neighbourhood of suspended Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh's home in north Kolkata. He was contemptuous of party general secretary Partha Chatterjee and referred to him as a kid.
DMK working president M K Stalin stated that it was also the responsibility of the Centre to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Chennai: Opposition parties led by the DMK on Sunday pressed for a CBI probe into the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, citing a state ministers recent remarks that AIADMK leaders lied about Jayalalithaas health during her hospitalisation last year.

The Opposition called for unravelling the mystery behind the death of the AIADMK supremo, who passed away on December 5 last after 75 days of hospitalisation.

Forest minister Dindigul C. Srinivasan, whose comments about the lies have drawn flak from the opposition, sought to make light of Mr Stalins demand by stating it was not new for him to seek such a probe.

Addressing a public meeting in Madurai on September 22, Srinivasan had claimed that party leaders had lied about Jayalalithaas health, fearing her aide V.K. Sasikala, and sought the pardon of the public.

No one was allowed to meet the late chief minister. Whoever came, would be briefed by Sasikalas relatives that she was all right, he had said. We were afraid of Sasikala at that time and lied about Jayalalithaas health condition, he had claimed.

As the Opposition latched onto his statement, the Tamil Nadu minister said they (AIADMK leaders) conveyed to the outside world whatever was told to them by Sasikala.

Sasikala and her family would tell us she (Jayalalithaa) ate idly, had coffee, was given sweets, did that and this... we told what she (Sasikala) said, he said. Speaking to reporters at his native Dindigul, Mr Srinivasan said, I do not care even if a CBI inquiry is ordered.

The minister also urged sidelined AIADMK leader and Sasikalas nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran to release video proof of the treatment given to Jayalalithaa as being claimed by him.

The enquiry commission ordered by chief minister K. Palaniswami in the matter would soon start its probe, and Dhinakaran would have to submit whatever proof he had in his possession on the matter before the commission, hke said.

DMK working president M K Stalin stated that it was also the responsibility of the Centre to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Since the central government had assisted in the treatment of Jayalalithaa, it has a responsibility to unravel the mystery surrounding her death. Therefore, using its authority, it should immediately order a CBI probe into the matter, he said.
In political rallies and speeches the BJP has often asked as to what the Congress has done for the country since independence.

New Delhi: After the external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj mentioned IITs and IIMs in her address to the UNGA, the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi thanked her acknowledging the contribution of the Congress party in nation building.

In a tweet Mr. Gandhi said, Sushma ji, thank you for finally recognising Congress governments great vision and legacy of setting up IITs and IIMs.

Since the coming of the NDA government in 2014 the Congress has been complaining that the BJP wants to erase the legacy of former Prime Ministers Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

A controversy also broke out when in 2014 October the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was a low key affair instead the government celebrated birthday of Sardar Patel.

In political rallies and speeches the BJP has often asked as to what the Congress has done for the country since independence. Interestingly last week BJP National President Amit Shah in Dehradun asked Mr. Gandhi to give account of the work done by his generations.

Mr. Shah said, Now Rahul Gandhi should give an account of the works of his three generations.

Congress MP and former UN diplomat, Shashi Tharoor too lauded Swarajs statements and said, Sushma Ji was quite justified in turning the tables. Her response was fitting and strong. I appreciate hearing a member of this government acknowledging the great accomplishments of last 60-70 yrs.

The utterances of Ms. Sushma Swaraj in the UNGA has given ammunition to the Congress to blunt the attack which is launched by the saffronites against the Nehru-Gandhi family. After Mr. Gandhi took to Twitter the Congress leaders and its social media team took to online platforms to attack the BJP leadership for negating the work done by successive Congress governments.
The letter containing the claim was addressed to one of Prince Charless closest mentors.

Display to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Britain's Diana, Princess of Wales, a recreation of the desk where Princess Diana worked in her Sitting room at Kensington Palace, on display at Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday, July 20, 2017. (Photo: AP)

Many tributes have been made this year to mark Princess Diana's 20th death anniversary.

Her sons Prince William and Prince Harry for the first time opened up about their last conversations with her and personal memories they treasure.

From her charity work to the way she used clothes as a powerful communication tool, Diana's life was once again in the spotlight to be scrutinised and became cause for speculation.

The latest news about Diana making headlines is revelations from a letter recently uncovered that doctors and a few members of the Royal Family believed the princess might have had a "congenital condition" and they worried it could be passed on to future generations, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

The contents of the letter portray the doctors as more worried about the royal house's future well-being than a young woman in need of help. Royal physicians worried Diana was suffering from a mental disorder which for the House of Windsor was dangerous spelled dynastic disaster.

The letter was written, in February 1983 by psychotherapist Dr Alan McGlashan to Sir Laurens Van der Post, one of Prince Charless closest mentors. It was Charles that had asked Dr McGlashan to see his wife, according to the letter. Diana by then had steered away from royal medical specialists, their views and treatments prescribed for her.

The letter was found while researching about Van der Post. McGlashan used code when he referred to the royal couple. Charles he called "the Young Man" and Diana he referred to as "D".

At the time of the letter, Diana was just 21 suffering from bulimia, anxiety, low self-esteem and post-natal depression. Diana was prescribed sleeping drugs and anti-depressants and attempted behavioural therapy, according to the letter. She was "surrounded by an army of doctors" who feared her symptoms and "overawed by the possibilities of dynastic disaster", Dr McGlashan wrote, the report reveals.

Sir John Batten, head of the Queens medical household at the time, Dr Michael Pare, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Michael Linnett, apothecary to the Waleses household and behavioural expert. Dr David Mitchell was part of the Princesss medical team.

"She is a very unhappy girl facing situations on various fronts which she finds difficult to deal with, though making a courageous effort to do so," McGlashan stated. He went on to say, the doctors "had been treating her as a patient with an obscure and dangerous illness which baffled them . . . She complained to me that they all treated her 'as if I were made of porcelain'".

It would seem that nobody came close to understanding what she was truly suffering.

In a BBC Panorama interview, years later Diana talked about her eating disorder and the difficulties she had faced. "It was a symptom of what was going on in my marriage," she said. "I was crying out for help, but giving the wrong signals and people were using my bulimia as a coat on a hanger. They decided that was the problem: Diana was unstable."
Rain and increased humidity provide an ideal environment for the growth and spread of disease-causing viruses and bacteria, she said.

The other eye infections, which are most common in this season like, red eyes and watery discharge can be attributed to due to conjunctivitis, styes, dry eyes and corneal ulcers.

Mumbai: The city has witnessed a spurt in the cases of eye infections, such as conjunctivitis membranous conjunctivitis (MC) and microsporidiosis, a rare disease caused by a parasite called microsporidia. According to ophthalmologists at the state-run J.J. Hospital, the changes in temperature as well as the intermittent rains are the reason behind the increase in the number of cases reported.

Speaking to The Asian Age, Dr. Ragini Parekh, head of the opthalmology department at J. J. Hospital says, There are 25 people walking in every day with viral infections, whereas last year it was just 10 to 12 per day. High humidity levels and the intermittent rains have led to a rise in cases. Rain and increased humidity provide an ideal environment for the growth and spread of disease-causing viruses and bacteria, she said.

The other eye infections, which are most common in this season like, red eyes and watery discharge can be attributed to due to conjunctivitis, styes, dry eyes and corneal ulcers.





According to eye specialists, this is an ideal time for these micro-organisms to thrive as the temperature is perfect for their growth and multiplication. Hence it is important to be cautious and use clean water to wash the eyes, otherwise the bacteria in that water could give you a serious infection. As soon as symptoms like redness, swelling, water discharge or any kind of discomfort is experienced, the patient should be rushed immediately to an ophthalmologist. Self-medication could prove to injurious to your eyes, said Dr. T. P, Lahane, ophthalmologist and dean of J. J. Hospital.

Use an antibiotic eye drop to treat infections prescribed by an ophthalmologist. Also the use of contact lenses should be avoided during any kind of infection in the eye, he said. Close your eyes when they get soaked in the rain or rainwater falls into your eyes as it is a carrier of atmospheric pollutants, which are harmful for the eyes, he added.
Amit and Arpita Brahmbhatt Bhandari donate amount to Mayor Sylvester Turner, on behalf of Greater Houston Community Foundation.

Bhandari is the owner and CEO of the BioUrja Group, an energy and agricultural commodity trading company based out of Houston (Photo: Facebook/ Anupam Ray)

Houston: An Indian-American couple donated USD 250,000 to the Houston mayor's fund for Harvey relief, set up in the aftermath of the tropical storm that wreaked havoc in the US state of Texas early this month.

Houston residents Amit Bhandari and his wife Arpita Brahmbhatt Bhandari donated the amount to Mayor Sylvester Turner, on behalf of the Greater Houston Community Foundation for #HurricaneHarvey relief at a private event.

Bhandari is the owner and CEO of the BioUrja Group, an energy and agricultural commodity trading company based out of Houston with offices around the world.

The Indian-American community has united in its fund raising efforts to carryout relief and rehabilitation after the catastrophic damage caused by hurricane Harvey.

In a four-day period, many areas received more than 40 inches (100 cm) of rain as the system meandered over eastern Texas and adjacent waters, causing catastrophic flooding. With peak accumulations of 64.58 in (164.0 cm), Harvey is the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the United States. The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, displaced more than 30,000 people, and prompted more than 17,000 rescues and killed over 70.

Leading members of the community congregated at the event to thank the Bhandaris and pledge more funds. The community is well on its way to raising USD 1 million for the governors and the mayor's funds.

At the privately held event yesterday, Turner appreciated the Indian-Americans for their generosity and voluntary aid toward Hurricane Harvey relief.

"The contributions of the Indian-American community did not just start with Hurricane Harvey. They have been contributing to this city for a long, long time. The Indian community is vital to the city and helps make Houston the great city that it is," he said.

"I want to thank the Indian-Americans for what you have done prior to Hurricane Harvey. I want to thank you for what you are doing now, and I want thank you for what you will be doing to help rebuild this great city. We will rebuild, we will be stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for next time around," the mayor added.

Bhandari said volunteers from the community helped rescue 700 people through various means.

The community in Houston has also contributed USD 1.5 million to various charitable organisations associated with Hurricane Harvey relief, he said.

Consul General of India in Houston Dr. Anupam Ray also thanked the Indian-American community for their efforts.

"Your generosity makes India proud. A community is great if it rises above its suffering. Through your contributions toward Hurricane Harvey relief, you've demonstrated that as a community, you've risen above your sufferings." he said.

Another presentation made to Mayor Turner was a newly developed mobile app titled 'DisasterConnect' which will help victims and donors make direct contact with each other to streamline relief efforts. The app was created under the direction of Gaurav Khandelwal, CEO of ChaiOne, a Houston- based developer of mobile apps.
The people of India, however, will have to decide in a little over a year if Trump or Roosevelt should be the preferred guide on diplomacy.

World leaders make the annual pilgrimage to New York to address the high-level segment of the new session of UN General Assembly in September, which poet Alfred Tennyson presciently called in the 19th century the Parliament of Man. Over the years the rostrum has seen theatre, fireworks and sometimes genuine vision. US President Donald Trump with his trademark barbs, calling Kim Jung-un, the overgrown adolescent leader of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (as North Korea is officially known), the Rocket Man, or levelling extremely tendentious charges against Iran would fall into the category of bizarre theatre than statesmanship. In 2006 Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, speaking soon after President George W. Bush, stood at the rostrum saying the smell of Diablo, or the devil, still lingered. Then there was the year Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev took off his shoe to stomp the lectern with it.

In reality, the main action is on the first two and a half days as the heads of state, who get precedence and speak first, are followed by the heads of government. By the time the foreign ministers get the stage the hall is generally half-empty or occupied by junior diplomats taking notes, except for ministers who are listed to speak. Thus, often the UNGA podium is used for domestic audiences hanging onto each nuance and phrase. This has become an art form with the BJP as the lectures are delivered in Hindi, which in translation for the international community loses much of its oratorical flourish. Sushma Swarajs address must be seen in that context.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was prompt to tweet his acclamation. The speech was well constructed and began by listing global challenges like violence and terrorism, climate change, freedom of navigation on the seas, poverty, nuclear proliferation, cyber security, etc. She then shrewdly linked the UNs goals of sustainable development, targeted to be achieved by 2030, to Narendra Modi governments development schemes. Ms Swaraj picked up three  the Jan Dhan Yojana, or financial inclusion of 300 million people; Mudra Yojana, or funding the unfunded, particularly women; and Ujvala Yojana, or providing free cooking gas cylinders to eliminate smoke inhalation and eye injuries. She, of course, then cleverly slipped in demonetisation, on which a crescendo of expert opinion is negative, and GST, the implementation of which is as yet of questionable efficiency.

Her address then turned to Pakistan. Everyone was waiting to see how India would respond to the extremely provocative speech of Pakistans new Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Ms Swaraj put her finger on the problem by saying while India fights poverty, Pakistan fights India. Thereafter, she was more addressing the audience back home than across the world. There is not a note she missed that would not bring cheer to any BJP election rally in India. It was in keeping with the new rallying of opinion on issues like Rohingyas to get the BJP base behind the leadership that is concerned about the increasingly negative economic news.

Contrariwise, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made a choice, when reacting to President Trumps diatribe calling the Iranian regime a corrupt dictatorship, to not succumb to conservative opinion at home urging him to reply in kind. He characterised Mr Trumps speech as ignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric. Then he added that in the portals of UN such language must not be used. He confidently asserted that Iran was confident in the depth of our culture, the truth of our faith and the longevity of our revolution.

This was a leader speaking to a global audience, despite extreme provocation and pressure from conservatives at home. The Indian government also has to think through its insistence on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which India has been pushing since 1996. The whole approach to dealing with terror changed in 2001 when following the 9/11 attacks the UN Security Council adopted a number of Chapter VII resolutions on curbing terrorism, its financing and abetment. These are binding directly on all members of the UN and still have elicited partial compliance by countries like Pakistan. What is it that a new convention will do, which will be without an enforcement mechanism? Thus the Indian strategy must evolve with changing times, instead of carrying around a proposal that is anachronistic.

India also needs a new Pakistan policy which is calibrated to isolate those elements that are inimical to India instead of painting the whole of Pakistan with one brush. Moreover, the international community is little interested in India-Pakistan bickering and switches off when exchanges become rhetorical. Ashley Tellis, a profound US thinker on South Asia, in a recent piece has even advised Western analysts to not keep pushing for dialogue between India and Pakistan as no peace process will work unless the Pakistani Army overcomes its India phobia and its desire for equivalence and revenge for the 1971 defeat. To help people like Mr Tellis develop this further, India must not succumb to trading charges with electrifying statements like the coinage Terroristan, which play well on television and the social media, but reduce India to the level of Pakistan.

Teddy Roosevelt voiced the best prescription for a rising power like India facing a troublesome neighbour to the west, using terror asymmetrically, in league with another powerful foe to the north. He suggested speaking in a soft voice and carrying a big stick. The BJP leadership obviously does not think that is useful domestically. The people of India, however, will have to decide in a little over a year if Trump or Roosevelt should be the preferred guide on diplomacy.
Trump while announcing his new Afghan policy had asked India to do more to help Afghanistan with its developmental needs.

Washington: US defence secretary James Mattis will seek to take the India-US defence ties to the next level during his two-day visit to India beginning Monday, with discussions on F-16 and F18A fighter planes and the security situation in the region likely to dominate the agenda.

Firmly of the view that a stronger India  both in terms of military and economy  is in Americas national interest, Mr Mattis will meet his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Advisor Ajit K. Doval and also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the first Cabinet-level visit to India under the Trump administration.

Informed sources familiar with the preparations of the visit told PTI that the trip will be used to develop new institutional mechanisms to elevate the status of Indo-US defence relationship, showcase enhanced strategic cooperation in Afghanistan and strengthen maritime security and rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region.

While no specific defence trade deal is likely to be announced during Mr Mattis India visit on September 26-27, sources said there would be discussions on two specific proposals of F-16 and F-18A fighter planes under Mr Modis Make in India campaign, along with efforts to identify new projects under the ambitious Defence Technology and Trade Initiatives (DTTI).

The Trump administration wants to sell F-18A and F-16 fighter planes to India, built by American companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin, respectively. Both companies have offered to assemble these planes in India.

Ahead of his visit, Mr Mattis met Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Singh Sarna at the Pentagon. In a rarest of the rare gesture, Mr Mattis came down to the River side entrance of the Pentagon to receive Mr Sarna. And after the meeting, the defence secretary came down to see him off.

The Indian envoy said the meeting was very positive and cordial.

Mr Mattis India trip is also the first follow up visit by a US cabinet official after Mr Modis June trip to the US. During the visit, the two countries are expected to review the defence and strategic decisions taken by Mr Modi and US President Donald Trump in June.

Mr Trump while announcing his new Afghan policy had asked India to do more to help Afghanistan with its developmental needs.

According to officials, Mr Mattis is interested in accelerating the pace of India-US defence co-operation and making it an effective tool in achieving the goal of peace and stability in the entire region ranging from South Asia to Indo-Pacific region.

Mr Mattis coming with him some of his own ideas in this regard, which he would like to discuss with the Indian leadership and get their feedback.

And to take the relationship to the next level, including sale of high-tech defence equipment, the Pentagon instead of the foundational agreements is now looking for some India-specific documentation that will provide institutional mechanisms, address Indias concerns and meet the Congressional-mandated legislative requirements.

This could be seen as a major climbdown, as India had been resisting foundational agreements for the past several years because of sovereignty concerns.

In his interaction with the Indian leaders, Mr Mattis is also expected to discuss how to advance and Major Defence Partnership, a designation given to India by the previous Obama administration which has been continued by the Trump administration.

Mr Mattis India visit comes in less than a week after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj held her first bilateral meeting with US secretary of state Rex Tillerson in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
PML-N leaders said that Shahbaz was being considered for the top job to settle differences in the party.

Islamabad: Ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs younger brother Shehbaz Sharif  the incumbent Punjab chief minister  is one again being considered for the premiership, sources said.

Ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leaders who attended a meeting in London with the senior Sharif said that Mr Shehbaz might be appointed as the Prime Minister to replace Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

It was also told that Mr Sharifs wife Kulsoom Nawaz  who won a by-election in Lahore this month  will not return to Pakistan for the coming six months due to her recent surgeries and treatment.

Current PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also paid a visit to Mr Sharif in London upon his return from the United States where he attended UN General Assembly session.

Politicians from the ruling party including foreign minister Khawaja Asif, Maryam Nawaz, Mohammed Safdar and others met at the office of Hassan Nawaz.

PML-N leaders said that Mr Shahbaz was being considered for the top job to settle differences in the party. Mr Shehbaz was named as Mr Sharifs successor in August but dropped later in favour of Mr Abbasi keeping in view the general elections in 2018.

The members included finance minister Ishaq Dar, whose Islamabad residence was recently raided by a Lahore-based team of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amidst corruption references in accountability court.

PML-N leaders said that Mr Shahbaz was being considered for the top job to settle differences in the party. Mr Shahbaz was named as Mr Sharifs successor in August but dropped later in favour of Mr Abbasi keeping in view the general elections in 2018.

Later, Prime Minister Abbasi said that democracy won in NA-120 by-election in which PML-N candidate Kulsoon Nawaz regained the constituency vacated after her husbands judicial ouster.

Mr Sharif is expected to stay in London for three to four months. It was told that doctors had advised Kulsoom Nawaz against travelling for at least four to six months after the series of surgeries.

It is possible that Kulsoom Nawazs medical recovery will result in another NA-120 by-election that will be contested by Shahbaz Sharif who could then be appointed as the premier after PM Abbasis resignation. On Saturday, Nawaz Sharif said he had a principled stance over his disqualification and the people supported his stance during the recently conducted by-polls in NA-120.

Referring to his homecoming rally, he said that the people of Pakistan all along the Grand Trunk Road from Islamabad to Lahore supported his stance and expressed confidence in his leadership.
IFA president Nihal Agar said on Sunday the MLA had not listened to the Indian communitys earlier concerns when the ad initially screened.

Hindu Council of Australia called on MLA to voluntarily take the advertisement off air. (Photo: Youtube grab)

Sydney: Hundreds of people attended rallies in Australias major cities on Sunday to protest an advertisement the Indian community described as highly insulting in its depiction of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha.

The India Forum Australia (IFA) arranged the protests in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in response to a Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) advertisement, aired earlier this month.

The ad featured various religious figures including the Hindu god, considered vegetarian by followers, sitting down to a meal of lamb.

IFA president Nihal Agar said on Sunday the MLA had not listened to the Indian communitys earlier concerns when the ad initially screened.

To say something is legal is one thing, but its something else to touch the heart and that is how MLA has failed our community, he said.

This is not the multicultural Australia that we truly love.

Earlier this month, Indias High Commission in Canberra lodged a complaint with the Australian government asking for the ads removal.

The Advertising Standards Bureau dismissed complaints, saying Lord Ganesha was depicted positively and that the advertisements intent was to be inclusive.

Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs, Zed Seselja, told Reuters on Sunday that he had met Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and leaders of Australias Hindu community because of the genuine hurt that had been caused.

Seselja said organisations needed to consider the impact on people of faith when they exercised their freedom of speech but cautioned against censorship.

An MLA spokesman said in a statement after the ad first aired that the organisation had undertaken extensive research and consultation while making the advertisement.

The industry association has a history of controversial campaigns, geared at generating discussion and promoting meat consumption. Another advertisement this year featuring indigenous Australians welcoming boat arrivals to a barbecue on a beach was described as insensitive while a previous campaign was criticised for promoting violence against vegans.
The vast majority -- more than 430,000 -- are Rohingya Muslims who fled across the border to Bangladesh.

On Sunday, Myanmar's army said it had discovered two mud pits filled with 28 Hindu corpses (Photo: AFP)

Yangon: Myanmar troops on Monday searched for dozens of missing Hindu villagers feared dead after the discovery of a nearby mass grave of 28 corpses in Rakhine state, evidence of what the army says is a massacre by Rohingya Muslim militants.

Northern Rakhine was plunged into crisis after Rohingya militants raided police posts last month, unleashing an army crackdown that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The vast majority -- more than 430,000 -- are Rohingya Muslims who fled across the border to Bangladesh from a military campaign the UN says likely amounts to ethnic cleansing.

But tens of thousands of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, and the region's small population of Hindus, have also been internally displaced, saying they were attacked by Rohingya militants.

On Sunday, Myanmar's army said it had discovered two mud pits filled with 28 Hindu corpses, including women and children, outside a village in northern Rakhine.

Hindu villagers from the area told AFP last week Rohingya militants stormed into their communities on August 25, killing many and taking others into the forest.

"The security troops continue searching for remaining Hindu people around the places of the pits," said a statement posted on army chief Min Aung Hlaing's Facebook page.

Displaced Hindus from the area have shown AFP a list of 102 people from two villages who relatives and community leaders fear are dead.

A police officer in northern Rakhine said authorities are trying to verify that figure as they look for more bodies.

"We will continue searching together with villagers," the officer told AFP, requesting anonymity.

With the government blocking access to the conflict zone, it is difficult to verify the maelstrom of accusations.

But the army has steadfastly blamed the Rohingya -- a stateless Muslim minority it has been trying to eject from Myanmar for years.

The focal point of the unrest, northern Rakhine's Maungdaw district, was once home to a fragile mosaic of ethnic groups, dominated by the Rohingya.

Vast swathes of the border region are now completely emptied of Muslims residents, with nearly 40 percent of Rohingya villages abandoned in under a month.

On Sunday the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees called the influx of Rohingya into Bangladesh the "fastest and most urgent refugee emergency in the world".

The vast needs of the hungry, wounded and traumatised Rohingya swarming into Bangladesh have created a separate humanitarian crisis on that side of the border.

But there is little sympathy for the Muslim minority inside Myanmar, where many in the Buddhist majority loathe the group and insist they are foreign invaders.

The Rohingya has faced decades of persecution from a Buddhist nationalist army and discrimination under laws that stripped them of citizenship and restrict their movements.

Analysts say that matrix of repression helped give rise to the the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the rag-tag group who plunged the region into crisis with its August 25 attacks.
Polls opened at 8 am local time in the three provinces of the autonomous region. First results expected tomorrow morning. Baghdad has already announced "measures" to defend the unity of the country, including a Kurdish oil blockade. Iran stops flights to and from Kurdistan. Ankara extends the mandate of Turkish troops to Iraq (and Syria).

Erbil (AsiaNews / Agencies)  Polls opened this morning in the controversial Kurdistan independence referendum, which has no binding value and is intended to be overwhelmingly vote in favor. The Iraqi government and the Supreme Court have repeatedly intervened against the electoral consultation, calling it unconstitutional and threatening to peace in the region, and promises "measures" to defend the unity of the country. Among them is the blockade of proceeds from oil, an essential resource for the local economy.

The vote for Kurdish independence - which also frightens Christians, yazides and Turkmen - has raised tensions with the local executive and many of the governments of the region with the singular exception of Israel. At the request of Baghdad, Iran has blocked all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan. Ankara endorsed prolongation of the presence of its troops in Syrian and Iraqi territory for another year to protect the country from external "threats".

Western Chancellors also fear that it may cause new conflicts and weaken Arab-Kurdish forces in the common struggle against the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis).

The vote - strongly demanded by Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani  will be held in 12,072 polling stations, with over 5,3 million people eligible to vote having registered in the past few weeks. The operations started this morning at 8 am local time and concern three provinces of the Kurdish autonomous region: Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk, as well as in the controversial oil rich Kirkuk region.

Local sources report that the first results should arrive within 24 hours of the beginning of the vote. However, it is already possible to imagine the overwhelming victory of "yes"; all the main streets and squares of the region, as well as houses and public buildings, are decorated with flags and coats of arms of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Meanwhile, he central Iraqi government has already made its opposition felt. Prime Minister al-Abadi reports that all "necessary measures" will be taken to defend national unity. The referendum, continues the Iraqi leader, affects both the country and the region with destabilizing effects, and is "anti-constitutional and against civil peace".

Baghdad has also invited all foreign governments to "deal with him alone [central executive] for oil and border issues." Iraqi Kurdistan exports an average of about 600,000 barrels of oil per day through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

The Christians of Alqosh, a small town on the plain of Nineveh among the few to escape the control of the Islamic state in the summer of 2014 are also highly critical of the vote. Over the past few weeks, the Kurdish government has removed the local mayor from office, replacing him with an exponent of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan (Pdk), in power in the region. A move that has raised the protests of the local community that, in recent days, has targeted posters and letters calling for "yes". The fear is that, once the danger of Isis has passed, the new "Kurdish" threat may preclude the future of Christians on the plain.

Behind the reasons of the referendum illustrated by Barzani, what he calls the failure of "partnership with Baghdad" since the fall of former dictator Saddam Hussein following the 2003 American invasion. Hence the decision to summon his people and impose his designs through the vote for the regions detachment from the central government. "The referendum - concluded Barzani - does not want to define boundaries or impose an accomplished fact. We want a dialogue with Baghdad to resolve our problems, negotiations [for controversial issues, such as Kirkuk] can last even one or two years. "
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The "Foreign Minister" of the Moscow Patriarchate points to the religious crisis of the old continent. With migrations and secularism, Europe is heading towards the total suicide of its identity. The responsibilities of intellectuals. "The present weakening of Christianity in the Western world recalls the situation of the Russian Empire before 1917." In Russia, only 13% declare themselves atheist and non-believers. Unite church efforts.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - On 22 September, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), the "Foreign Minister" of the Moscow Patriarchate, delivered an important speech at a conference organized by the Russian Embassy in London in front of diplomats, politicians, entrepreneurs and exponents of the major religious confessions.

The Metropolitans address developed the main theses that have marked the positions of the Russian Orthodox Church in recent years, especially Patriarch Kirills (Gundjaev), calls to Europe and the West. These are the positions which largely inspired President Putin's policy, at least in terms of the ethical aspects of relations between Russia and the superpowers of the globalized world.

The speech focused on the future of Europe, and in particular on the conditions of Christianity in the old continent. According to Hilarion, who cited several recent statistics, Christianity today is the most persecuted religion in the world, and also faces new challenges that question the "moral foundations of people's lives, their faith, and their values."

Migration and secularization

Among these challenges, which are "changing the ethical and religious landscape of Europe", is first and foremost the migration crisis seen as the most serious and impressive in numerical terms since the end of World War II, caused by "military conflicts and economic problems in the Middle East ".

The Russian prelate cited the official data of the Frontex agency, according to which 1.8 million migrants arrived in the European Union alone; according to the UN, the number of migrants in European countries increased from 49.3 million in 2000 to 76.1 million in 2015. Again referring to the studies of the UN organization for migration around the world, 1.3% of the adult population (66 million people) are planning to move definitively from their country mainly towards to the most affluent European nations.

Along with this data, the metropolitan focused on what he considers to be the main problem of the continent: the "secularization of European society". Again citing various sources and statistical studies, he pointed out that as far as Britain is concerned, more than half of the citizens claim they do not follow any religion, and a similar percentage can be reported in many other Western European countries. In the eastern part of the continent, and in Russia in particular, the percentages show the opposite trend: According to the Levada center, one of Russia's largest research institutes, atheists and non-believers in the country have dropped from 26% in 2015 to 13% in 2017. The remaining 87%, although it cannot be cataloged as a group that practices religion, remain "under the influence of one of the traditional confessions", while the number of those who describe themselves as " very religious" is growing.

Fleeing from Faith

Recalling the centenary of the Bolshevik Revolution, the head of the Department for Foreign Relations of the Patriarchate said that the catastrophe of 1917 had "destroyed the best categories of the population: the nobles, the Cossacks, the clergy, the wealthy landowners ... the Church counted in those years a great number of martyrs and witnesses to the faith. " Comparing today's times with the conditions of Russia in the revolutionary period, Hilarion stated that "the present weakening of Christianity in the Western world recalls the situation of the Russian empire before 1917," when over the course several years it was observed that there was "an abandonment of the faith by the aristocracy and intelligentsia, followed by that of much of the population. " It is the evaluation of the same Patriarch Kirill, who in recent interventions has attributed the major responsibility of revolutionary tragedy to the sins of the Russian intellectual and social elite.

After the wars of the world that have overthrown the geography and institutions of the European continent, Hilarion continued, the West tried to stop the expansion of atheist propaganda and communist ideology, led mainly by the Catholic Church: "The Vatican based its anti-communist struggle on European unity, thanks to the action of the Christian-democratic parties of Western Europe ... Pope Pius XII supported the creation of a European Community as a historic mission of Christian Europe. "

The suicide of Christian identity

Recalling the founders of united Europe, such as Schumann, Adenauer and De Gasperi, the Russian bishop remarked that their inspiration was subsequently completely disregard, to the point that Christian roots of Europe was completed negated in the same constitutive documents. Today, in his opinion, "the monopoly of the secular idea has affirmed itself in contemporary Europe. Its manifestation is the discrimination of religious vision in the social sphere. " On the ethical issues of the family, the defense of life and the natural conception of sexual orientation, according to Hilarion, Europe is beginning to commit suicide of its own identity, moving towards a demographic and social crisis: "Other peoples will live in Europe in the future, with other faiths, other cultures, and other paradigms of values . " The cause of all this is the extravagance of liberal ideology, which leads to the exclusion of religion in favor of "the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields of civil, economic, political, social and cultural life" .

Concluding his speech, metropolitan Hilarion appealed for a united effort by Churches to counter the definitive disappearance of Christian Europe: "In the current conditions of oppression by power groups that propose ideas incompatible with the traditional views of Christian morality, it is indispensable to unite Church efforts to counter these processes, to act together in the field of information and legal support, and in the propagation of common Christian values at all levels ... Christians in Europe must strive to defend their values on which the continent has been built for centuries, and listen to the lamentations and sufferings of Christians from all over the globe, feeling them theirs. "

Holy Russia, in which Christianity is re-emerging, therefore feels not only part of Europe but again called to lead a mission of salvation on the continent and on the whole world.
by Paul Wang

Because of persecution, he had to delay his priestly ordination for nearly 30 years. Subjected to seven years of forced labor. He contributed to the rebirth of the diocese. He was an official bishop, recognized by the Holy See and the Chinese government.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Bishop Mathew Hu Xiande of Ningbo (Zhejiang), died today at 2.35 am (local time). He was forced to delay his priestly ordination for decades and spent seven years in forced labor camps because of his fidelity to the faith.

The Ningbo diocese has indicated that bishop's funeral will take place on September 28; the bishop's body may be honored by the faithful from 25 to 28 in the Jiangbei Church. The bishop is highly respected and loved by the faithful because he contributed with great energy to rebuilding community life, which almost became extinct during the persecution of the Cultural Revolution.

Msgr. Hu was born on 27 August 1934. Between 1950 and 1958 he studied at the seminaries in Ningbo and Shanghai. With the tightening of the campaign for an independent Church from the Vatican, from 1958 to 1965 he was subjected to forced labor (reform through labor). In 1978, after being rehabilitated, he continued to work as a farmer until 1984 when he was able to study at the Shanghai Seminary in Sheshan. He was ordained in 1985 by then bishop Jin Luxian and worked as a pastor in the diocese. In December 1987 he began pastoral work at Cixi, about 60km northwest of Ningbo, where there is a lively Catholic community.

Ordained bishop coadjutor of Ningbo on May 14, 2000 by Msgr. Giuseppe Ma Xuesheng, he succeeded in leading the diocese until his death in 2004. Msgr Hu, recognized by the government, was a bishop approved by the Holy See.

The life of the Ningbo Church was virtually wiped out during the Cultural Revolution. At present there are 30,000 faithful served by 31 priests and 31 sisters. There are also 14 seminarians.
The bodies of 20 women and eight men, including six boys under 10, were found. For the military, they were cruelly and violently killed by ARSA extremist Bengali terrorists. About 30,000 displaced Hindus and Buddhists are in refugee camps. They say the United Nations and foreign organisations help only Rohingya Muslims. The exodus towards Bangladesh has slowed down, but thousands are still stuck in Myanmar.

Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies)  As the Myanmar military announces the discovery of a mass grave with the bodies of 28 Hindus, including women and children, the exodus of Rohingya refugees towards Bangladesh continues but at a slower pace. Still, media reports note that tens of thousands are still trapped in the beaches and forests of Myanmar, waiting to flee.

The Myanmar military announced yesterday said they found a mass grave in Ye Baw Kya, a village in Kha Maung Seik, a cluster of Hindu and Muslim communities in northern Rakhine.

In total, 20 dead women and eight men were lying in two graves, including six boys under the age of 10. Security members found and dug up 28 dead bodies of Hindus who were cruelly and violently killed by ARSA extremist Bengali terrorists in Rakhine State, a statement on the army chiefs website said.

Around 30,000 Hindus and Buddhists based in the area have also been displaced by the violence, and are now in government-run camps. Members of both communities claim Rohingya militants terrorised them, killing their co-religionists, and taking women and children into forests.

The discovery of the mass grave could spur even more hatred among Rakhines various communities. At the same time, humanitarian workers are saying that they are becoming the object of growing hostility by ethnic Buddhists who accuse the United Nations and foreign organisations of helping only Muslims Rohingya, ignoring the needs of other groups.

So far, the Myanmar government has granted access to the area only Red Cross groups. The United Nations suspended its activities and evacuated non-critical staff after the government suggested that it had supported Rohingya insurgents.

Meanwhile, the massive exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to Bangladesh appears to be slowing down. However, those refugees who managed to cross the border say that tens of thousands of their coreligionists are still huddled near beaches or in forests, waiting to flee.

Some Rohingya who fled said that Myanmar Army soldiers were shooting at those trying to cross into to Bangladesh. Others are saying that thousands are still stuck in Myanmar because most boatmen have already crossed the Naf River, whilst soldiers burnt the remaining boats.
by Nirmala Carvalho

Catholics, Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims demonstrated against the Jharkhand Freedom Religious Bill 2017 and the Land Acquisition Act 2013 amendments, the rule that protected tribal lands. Now these lands will be sold out to the best bidder. The anti-conversion law "used to divert attention" from economic interests.

Ranchi (AsiaNews) - About 5,000 faithful of various confessions gathered in Ranchi to protest the anti-conversion law approved by the Jharkhand State Assembly and the land law amendments that the local government wants to dispose of tribal property to the best bidder. At the event participated p

Fr. Michael Kerketta, a Jesuit theologian was at the protest and told AsiaNews: "Members of various religious communities expressed their dissent in a peaceful manner. Catholics, Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims marched together against the Jharkhand Freedom Religious Bill 2017, which directly affects religious minorities. We are united against the divisive forces of this country. In fact, anti-conversion laws are tools to curb religious freedom. "

The event took place on 23 September. 22 social and civil organizations participated. Among those who spoke on stage, several opposition members and a Protestant bishop. No Catholic prelate intervened at the event, most likely to avoid exacerbating an already tense climate.

Fr. Amrit Tirkey, among the organizers, argues that the population "must be aware of what is happening in society and that it divides us all." The Jesuit reiterates that the demonstrators wanted to march together to see themselves "united against the forces they want to divide."

Participants oppose the anti-conversion law passed in August by the state authorities. It provides for up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 rupees [600 euros] for anyone who is caught in committing a crime, that is, an attempt to convert by force or by material coercion. Card Telesphore Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, also opposes the law and told AsiaNews: "Forced conversions do not exist. We are free people, with a free will and a free consciousness and intelligence. "

But because of the fact that he had publicly spoken against the law, the cardinal was harassed by the radical Hindu nationalists of Jharkhand who circulated photos of an effigy of the cardinal being set on fire. While denouncing the incident with a letter-appeal addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Msgr. Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Indian Bishops' Conference (Cbci), highlighted a worrying aspect: the fact that the anti-conversion law was approved to divert attention from another law issued in August, the amendments to the Land Acquisition Act 2013, the law protecting the tribal lands.

The opinion of Msgr. Mascarenhas is shared by Fr. Kerketta, who explains: "Changes to the law were voted on August 12. The State Assembly has consented to the sale to the state of land plots for use in projects such as schools, universities and hospitals. The original version of 2013 provided that before a land could be acquired, a 'social impact assessment' would have to be carried out and the village council had to leave. The amendments, on the other hand, have canceled these forecasts. " According to the Jesuit theologian, "the new law on lands wants to divide the tribal population along religious lines, on the example of 'divide et impera'. In this way, the properties would be expropriated from tribals and sold to large business groups. All this, of course, goes against the best interests of tribals. "
by Willy Wo-Lap Lam

At the next Congress, Xi Jinping's thinking will be included in the party's constitution, just like Mao Zedong's was. But this thought seems only to be made of rhetoric, nationalism, and an emphasis on China's greatness. Xi's much-vaunted contribution to Chinese-style communism tends to stop reforms to maintain power in the hands of the party and his own. Mao looked to the future; Xi is trying to hold onto the status quo. Courtesy of the Jamestown Foundation.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  Ahead of the 19th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), scheduled to begin on October 18, media attention has focused on top-level personnel changes. While the selection of Chinas new group of leaders is certainly important, recent announcement that current CCP General Secretary Xi Jinpings political philosophiesXi Jinping Thought ()are to be enshrined in the Party Constitution will have a tremendous impact on the political development of the Party and country (Xinhua, September 18). Since late 2016, President Xi, who is also Chairman of the Partys Central Military Commission, has given himself the titles of core leader of the Party and supreme commander () of the countrys military forces. The promotion of Xi Thought as the official guiding principle of the party and state will mark another milestone in the presidents agenda of relentless self-aggrandizement (Radio Free Asia, August 17; HKO1.com, July 15).

Resistance to the elevation of Xi Thought to party-and-state dogma seemed evident from the communique of the Politburo meeting on August 31. The Politburo meeting, which was chaired by General Secretary Xi, indicated that the Party would abide by and carry out the essence of General Secretary Xis series of important remarks and the new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies of the central party authorities (). On previous occasions, Party mouthpieces often attributed governance concepts, thoughts and strategies to Xi, the core of the leadership. By pointing out that these concepts, thoughts and strategies were those of the central party authorities, the Politburo seemed to endorse collective decision-making rather than the personal contributions of paramount leader Xi (BBC Chinese, September 1; Apple Daily [Hong Kong], September 1).

It is important to note, however, that changes in either personnel or dogma are still possible until the last one or two weeks before the Congress opens. Xi Jinping Thought has been cited officially or unofficially by top-ranked Xi proteges such as Politburo member and Director of the General Office of the Central Committee Li Zhanshu () as well as the newly promoted Beijing party secretary Cai Qi (). Moreover, the authoritative journal Party Construction Research () stated in July that the partys ideological and policy-related innovations since 2012 can be summarized as Xi Jinping Thought (Ming Pao [Hong Kong], August 5; Beijing Daily, August 4; HK01.com, July 15). Equally important is the fact that Xi has again asserted his formidable grip over power by engineering a reshuffle at the top echelons of the Peoples Liberation Army. In August, he installed proteges and allies, Generals Li Zuocheng, Han Weiguo, Miao Hua, Ding Laihang as respectively the Chief of the Joint Chiefs Department, Commander of Ground Forces, Director of the Political Work Department, and Commander of the Air Force. Xi also sacked two top generals promoted by his predecessor, ex-president Hu Jintao. Former Chief of the General Staff Department Fang Fenghui and Director of the General Political Department Zhang Yang, were last month put under investigation for alleged disciplinary violations (Ming Pao, September 2; SingTao Daily [Hong Kong], September 1; South China Morning Post, August 23).

For a leader core who seems to be pulling out all the stops to consolidate his powers, the enshrinement of Xi Jinping Thought in the CCP Charter is a long-cherished goal. In the CCPs 96-year history, the dictums and aphorisms of leaders ranging from Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai to Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin have invariably been praised in the state media as great, brilliant and monumental contributions to official dogma as well as guiding principles for the partys future. Yet only Maos ideas and pronouncements have been put together as Mao Zedong Thought, which is deemed on par with Marxism-Leninism. While Deng, the Great Architect of Reform deserved much of the credit for the Chinese economic miracle, his sayings were compiled as Deng Xiaoping Theory. In Party parlance, theory is at least one rung below thought in terms of authoritativeness and weight. While ex-president Jiangs theoretical innovations, particularly the admission of private businesspeople into the party, are referred to in the party charter as the important thought of the Three Represents, Jiangs name did not show up in the document. The Three Represents was thus considered to be a product of the collective leadership under Jiang. Ex-president Hu Jintaos governance philosophy was cited in the CCP Constitution as the Scientific Outlook on Development but his name was also omitted. Also significant is the fact that while the theoretical contributions of various leaders are put into the CCP Charter only after their retirement, Xi Jinping Thought has been given this high honor at the end of his first five-year term (Citizen News [Hong Kong], August 23; Apple Daily [Hong Kong], August 19).

But what, exactly, is Xi Jinping Thought? And will its elevation the loftiest set of guiding principles for the Party-State spell a significant direction for major policies? Xi Thought is a compendium of dictums and slogans that the supreme leader has given since he took power at the 18th Party Congress in late 2012. Official medias first summation of Xis ideology and statecraft, the Essence of General Secretary Xi Jinpings Series of Important Remarks (hereafter Important Remarks), provides some useful insights. The authorities indicated at the Fourth Plenum of the Central Committee that party members must deeply implement the spirit of General Secretarys Important Remarks. Important Remarks, said Party mouthpieces, encompass new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies in areas including political, economic and social construction, party and army construction as well as the cultivation of environmental civilization. But what exactly is new? Xinhua has noted that Important Remarks comprise one core idea, and two fundamental points. The core idea is Xis Chinese dream, which is a super-nationalistic narrative about China becoming a superpower. The two fundamental points refer to comprehensively deepening reform and upholding the mass line (China.com.cn, November 6, 2015; Peoples Daily, July 17, 2014). Given the lack of concrete political or economic reforms in the past five years, as well as the gaping rich-poor divide among the populace, it is difficult to avoid the impression that Xis publicists are merely regurgitating hackneyed slogans. For example, the Chinese dream about the renaissance of the Chinese nation has been talked about by intellectuals since Chinas first effort at Western-style political reform in the 1890s. Upholding the mass line or similar slogans such as serving the people, were first coined by Mao in the 1950s (Sichuan Daily, May 25; Thepaper.com [Shanghai], October 24, 2014).

Befitting a leader with no formal higher education and who likes to talk in populist tones, Xis words of wisdom are often expressed as catchy rallying cries. Specifically, Xi Dadaas he is fondly identifiedlikes to encapsulate his instructions in terms of four-fold criteria or objectives. In the wake of the Chinese Dream and Important Remarks, the propaganda machinery has since 2015 gone into overdrive extolling Xis Four Comprehensives: comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively governing the nation according to law, and comprehensively governing the party in a strict manner. While this simple-to-remember dictum has been praised by the Peoples Daily as a strategic scheme for spearheading the renaissance of the [Chinese] people, it breaks no new ground in Party ideology (Outlook Weekly, August 20; Peoples Daily, September 8, 2015).

Instead of advocating new-fangled and sometimes controversial goals such as Dengs revival of private enterprise or Jiangs decision to seek fast-track accession to the World Trade Organizations, Xi is more interested in ways and means to preserve the partys perennial ruling status. The core leader has repeatedly underscored the imperative of party cadres possessing Four Self-confidences (), namely self-confidence in the path, theories, systems and culture marked by socialism with Chinese characteristics. Apparently inspired by the Maoist principle that the quality of cadres and soldiers was a matter of life and death for the Party, Xi demanded that officials must be cadres with Four Iron Qualities () (Peoples Daily, September 26, 2016; CCP News Net, December 14, 2015). This means that their faith and belief [in Chinese-style socialism] must be hard as iron; they must have ironclad discipline and a sense of responsibility as unshakeable as iron. In addition to the anti-corruption campaign, Xi has launched an ideological crusade against the Four Evil Winds or aberrant lifestyle among officials. This is a reference to combating formalism, bureaucratic work style, hedonism and a decadent lifestyle (Xinhua, September 9, 2016; Peoples Daily, May 3, 2013).

Xis latest edict for strengthening the party and the country is described by official mouthpieces as the Four Greats (). This is a reference to waging great struggles, building great projects, promoting great enterprises, and realizing great dreams. While the focus on great projects, enterprises and dreams are somewhat platitudinous, waging great struggles is reminiscent of Chairman Maos famous saying that it is great fun to struggle against heaven, struggle against earth, and struggle against human beings. According to Han Qingxiang, a professor at the Central Party School, the four greats are a major theoretical innovation at the critical historical juncture of [China] developing a moderately prosperous country and launching a new great leap forward in socialist modernization (Nanfang Ribao, August 21; Peoples Daily, July 28).

According to a group of propagandists who use the collective pen-name of Notes on Studying Xi () waging struggles is nothing less than the quintessence of the supreme leaders worldview regarding both Party and foreign affairs. Thus, Xi has raised the moral level of officials through his anti-graft operations and through political movements consisting of ideological struggles among senior cadres. In yet another genuflection to Mao, the leadership core also wants to wage struggles against colonialists and imperialists as well as against trade protectionism. Equally significantly, the Xi administration is committed to struggles against separatism, which includes pro-independence movements in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang (Qiushi [Beijing], August 17).

The emphasis on great strugglesor what Xi himself repeatedly calls brandishing the swordcould mean that the CCP administration might adopt more aggressive tactics toward handling its disagreements with the United States, Japan and ASEAN members which have territorial disputes with the PRC. Moreover, the new-found emphasis on fighting Hong Kong separatism, which was first mentioned by Xi when he visited the Special Administrative Region on July 1 to mark the 20th year anniversary of the handover of sovereignty to China, could mean that Beijing would redouble efforts to muzzle dissent in Hong Kong (Post852.com [Hong Kong], August 24; South China Morning Post, November 11, 2016).

Overall, it is not expected that the elevation of Xi Jinping Thought to official state dogma would augur well for political, economic or social reforms. The personality cult being built around the core leader as well as the emphasis on ideological purity among party cadres go against basic tenets of Deng Xiaoping. After having absorbed the lessons of the Cultural Revolution, the Great Architect of Reform insisted in the early 1980s that the party and country be run by a collective leadership, and that ideological hair-splitting should take a back seat to economic construction. Xi, however, has reiterated that ideological and thought worka reference to brainwashing and Mao-style ideological campaignsis an extremely important task of the party (BBC Chinese, June 27, 2014; Peoples Daily, August 21, 2013).

Even more disturbing for reformers is Xis warning against subversive errors in the political or economic field. This was a reference to Gorbachev-style liberalization that might end up vitiating the power of the Communist Party. The fear that an overly reformist policy could indirectly lead to the partys demise is behind Xi Dadas famous Theory of the Titanic. Xi said in 2013 that a country as big as China could be compared to the Titanic: if the Titanic really sinks, it will sink just like that. On another occasion, Xi and his advisers were at pains to point out that irrespective of how effective or perspicacious a new idea or policy is, it could not be adopted if it was proven to be detrimental to the CCPs monopoly on power. If our Party becomes weak, scattered and [if it were to] even break down, what good will policy achievements do? asked Xi (Southern Weekend, December 4, 2015; Jinghua Times, October 9, 2014).

Perhaps the biggest difference between Mao Zedong Thought and Xi Jinping Thought is that the former is oriented toward the future, and the latter is consumed with self-preservation. Mao, who compared himself to the proverbial foolish man who wants to move the mountain, wanted to open up new heaven, new earth. It is a supreme irony that despite Chinas having emerged as a fire-spitting quasi-superpower, Xis obsession is to preserve the perennial ruling party status of the CCP as well as his status as undisputed leader. One of Xis most significant speeches was made in 2008, one year after his unexpected induction to the Politburo Standing Committee. The heir-apparent told a graduating class of the Central Party School, of which he was president, that the CCPs ruling party status cannot be taken for granted. Xi had this to say about the fickleness of power: Whatever we possessed in the past we may not no longer possess them now; and whatever we have now doesnt mean we will have them forever (Southern Metropolitan Daily, September 9, 2008). Instead of speeding up thorough-going reforms, Xi Jinping Thought could mainly serve as a rationale for the party to uphold its Leninist roots, and for its supreme leader to tighten his grip on power. Thus, while the enshrinement of Xi Thought in the CCP Charter testifies to his ever-expanding power, it could also significantly bolster the essentially conservative nature of the strongmans statecraft.
by Rasika Pieris*

Sister Rasika Pieris expresses her thoughts about the Preparatory Paper of the Synod of Bishops on Youth, set for October 2018. The Church is Euro-centric in its thinking, she writes. The challenges faced by young people in Asia are different from those in Europe.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Sr Rasika Pieris is a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family, Colombo Province, and a youth activist.

Speaking about the forthcoming 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Youth, faith, and vocational discernment in October 2018, she writes that "there is a void that the Church feels. In view of this, the Church has the obligation to lead the youth choosing the path based on the scripture.

With respect to its Preparatory Paper, Sr Rasika says that the text addresses the challenges posed by modernity and postmodernity. Young people have a growing need to understand the meaning of life. The Church's task is to guide them by re-reading of scripture texts". Her thoughts follow.

Post-modernity has its impact on youth due to which there is a void that the Church feels. Youth, a group that still feels left out from the institutional Church due to its own approach and the preparatory document on Youth, faith and vocational discernment articulates the need for the Church to get them involved and design the mission.

The youth who are influenced by market-driven-neo-liberal educational values where, the experts portray hegemony of scientific-technical reason as the solution, is the status quo. The new orthodoxy in education remains a challenge to long held values of education rather public education. The search for meaning in life among the youth is an increasing phenomenon where the Church feels that it has the obligation to lead the youth choosing the path based on the scripture. Re-reading of scripture texts in the light of new challenges posed is the need of the hour.

The document spells out various challenges that the modernity and post-modernity have constructed from different blocs as the challenges too differ geographically. The Church being Euro-centric in its thinking has been a long-held accusation and is again projected in the document as one read in between the lines. Perhaps the Church under the current pontiff need to reflect the world as it is where the challenges faced by the youth in Europe and America may not be same that are faced by the youth in Asia or Africa or Latin America.

It is true that neo-liberalism has its tentacles throughout the globe thus promoting globalised citizenship where heterogeneity is not appreciated. The youth now is being sandwiched between the culture of being homogenous and local surroundings and their unique cultural settings that they live in, poses a dilemma in terms of their identity and socialisation.

Exclusivism and extremism that emerges as it did recently in Charlottesville, America reflected elsewhere in different pockets throughout the world is of a grave concern. The document that speaks of only three types of vocations, the marriage, ordained ministry, and consecrated life may exclude the others who do not fall under the these quarters and re-visiting these in the light reading the signs in order not to exclude a group is inevitable as the document talks about mission.

Take a risk. Whoever does not risk does not walk is normative in neo-liberalism and the youth is ready to risk in the areas where they look for meaning. The vulnerability is an opportunity to explore new avenues as the document presents uncertainties and vulnerabilities as opportunities for mission.

Leading the youth in the foot-steps of disciples need re-reading the scripture anew considering the signs of the time. Discernment in terms of making choices in life in the light of the gospel is essential but the mission is not to baptize the youth rather to find a mission to work with the youth who feels out of the flock by being open to learn from them instead of instructing them, listening to them thus trying to listen to the Jesus who is young now in order to understand the mission.

Glorifying suffering may not hold water now and most of the feminist theologians do not buy the arguments as they feel it is oppressive based on gender. Glorification of suffering is a tool that was used in the oppressors to justify suppression. Linking mission to that of suffering may not attract the youth as they fight for equality.

Interpreting mission using the old tools available will be using the old medicine to treat new illness.

* a member of the Holy Family Sister of the Colombo Province and a young human rights activist

(Melani Manel Perera contributed to this article)
by Mathias Hariyadi

Islamic wedding between rich men and women in difficulty is promoted. The "nikah siri and virginity on sale" are ways to "help the government reduce poverty," promoter says. Membership requires women to be Muslim and at least 14. Police detained creator. For women rights advocate, the ultimate goal is to sell sexual service. Both are practices of violence and a grave abuse of womens human rights, said Justina Rostiawati, head of a Catholic women's group

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  A website now allows young Indonesian women to sell their virginity. It offers women the possibility of an nikah siri Islamic marriage without government recognition.

Such a practice is often performed by wealthy men and senior officials who marry a woman with the consent and approval of their "first and official" wife.

After the site was officially launched on Friday, the creator Aris Wahyudi was detained by police and charged with violating the countrys Internet legislation, as well as favouring prostitution and human trafficking.

The website promoter denied all the charges, claiming that his creative services are made available to "help" people in need of each other, and that they merely help them to connect. In his view, the site was "just business".

Through the website, young virgins can "advertise" themselves, happy to "sell" their virginity for money as long as certain requirements are met. Still, for most Indonesians, this service is just "online prostitution".

"It's not the same thing," Wahyudi said before his arrest. "A prostitute gets paid what the client and her procurer agree upon. In this case, the deal is between two consenting adults. I'm not involved over prices."

In his view, the "nikah siri and virginity for sale" are designed to help the government reduce poverty by "creating good economic opportunities" linking wealthy people and those in difficulty.

The service is aimed at widows and female students who need to pay for their studies. Women who want to join the service must be Muslim and at least 14.

The National Women's Rights Association (Komnas HAM Perempuan) has slammed this initiative. "Whatever the reason behind the good intentions of reducing poverty and improving incomes, the ultimate goal is to sell sexual service," said Masruchah, one of the associations officials.

She opposes nikah siri, a practice that violates Law n. 1/Year 1974, which provides for the "registration" of marriages at the Civil Registry Office.

In nikah siri divorce cases, women and their children have no rights and often find themselves in situations of serious economic distress.

Speaking to AsiaNews about this controversy, former member of Komnas Ham Perempuan Justina Rostiawati, said that what Aris Wahyudi created is just a sensation.

"This is an example of how logic is not used. I am stunned if Wahyudi really thinks his service can reduce poverty."

For Rostiawati, now president of the Indonesian Catholic Women's Organisation (WKRI), "nikah siri and virginity for sale" are practices of violence and a grave abuse of womens human rights.
Aussie farmers look for alternative ways to handle carrot glut





A Queensland carrot farm is inviting the public to come pick their own carrots as a unique way to deal with an Australian-wide oversupply in carrots.

Kalfresh, located in Kalbar near Brisbane, are running a special event on 7 October 2017 called CARROT(astrophe) Day where the public can come and pick their own carrots to help prevent them from going to waste.

Rob Hinrichsen, Director of Kalfresh, said after 25 years in the vegetable business he has never seen such a large oversupply of carrots.

It seems theres been a perfect storm of events which have led to an absolutely flooded Australian carrot market, Hinrichsen said.

Blaming a number factors, Hinrichsen attributed the carrot glut to optimal Australian growing conditions, big crop yields and a Russian ban on European imports which are flooding the world market with carrots.

Our regular customers continue to support us but there are only so many carrots they can take, Hinrichsen said.

Despite supplying charities with free carrots and providing Woolworths with value-added pre-cut carrots, Hinrichsen said there is still leftover carrots.

Even with all of these initiatives, we are still having to plough in carrots, something no farmer wants to do. And thats where the idea for the Carrot Day came from  lets turn a negative into a positive, he said.

The CARROT(astrophe) Day will also provide the public a chance to meet the farmers and buy other carrot products like carrot cake, carrot bread and carrot sausages.

Those wishing to attend the day need to purchase tickets via the Kalfresh website. Tickets are AUD $5.00 for adults and AUD $2.50 for children.

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Costco plans for business delivery in Melbourne





Costco Australia has plans to start delivering to businesses in the Melbourne metropolitan area.

The US grocery wholesaler has established a dedicated Australian business delivery website with the sites home page saying Costco will deliver within 10 kilometres of its Docklands warehouse. Orders must total at least $1, 000 excluding GST, and the businesses must have a Costco membership.

Categories listed for delivery include grocery, beverages and office supplies. It is stated on the site deliveries can be made as early as the next business day if placed before 3pm.

Australian Food News contacted Costco about the website and delivery service but Costco said it had no comment.

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IIHS President Adrian Lund

The Governors Highway Safety Association paid tribute to this past years traffic safety leaders and handed out its most prestigious award to Adrian K. Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in recognition of his career at IIHS.

The awards ceremony was part of GHSAs annual meeting held last week in Louisville, Ky.

Lund, who is retiring in January, received GHSAs James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award.

Throughout his 36-year career at IIHS, Dr. Lund led projects contributing to policy changes, business changes, and behavioral changes that have saved tens of thousands of lives and spanned a wide range of issues that impact the safety of all road users, IIHS said in a released statement about the awards. Under his leadership, IIHS changed the new vehicle marketplace to make safety a selling point and provided the research that directly impacted state highway safety programs.

Other notable winners at the awards ceremony included William L. Hall, a senior research associate with the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, and Trenda McPherson, the state bicycle and pedestrian safety program manager at the Florida Department of Transportation. Hall and McPherson both won Kathryn J.R. Swanson Public Service awards.

GHSA also presented Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement awards to the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office in the state of Washington, the Teen Driver Impact Program in Mississippi, and the "Watch for Me NC" bicycle and pedestrian safety program in North Carolina.

Sponsors of the ceremony included the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility and the National Road Safety Foundation.
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A Chinese prestigious collector and connoisseur released a public service advertisement (PSA) on protecting rhinos to call for an end of collectables rooted in killing during a ceremony to mark the World Rhino Day in Beijing on Friday.

Ma Weidu, who recently traveled to South Africa with WildAid to learn about rhino conservation efforts, spoke on his travel experiences and launched his new campaign to eliminate demand for carved rhino horn products in China.

Hosted by National Geographic's Traveler magazine along with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and WildAid, the "Travel for Earth" event focused on ecotourism, highlighting experiences to see rhinos.

Rhinos around the world are endangered, primarily due to poaching as a result of demand for their horns. Rhino populations have plummeted 95% in the last 40 years. In addition to demand for rhino horn use in medicine, there is also significant demand for collectables carved from rhino horns.

According to a 2013 survey of 1,800 respondents in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, 11% expressed interest in investing in rhino horn collectables. All sales in rhino horn have been illegal in China since 1993, and rhino horn was removed from the Traditional Chinese Medicine handbook. And since 2011 all rhino horn items have been banned from any auction house sales as well.

Ma Weidu attends a ceremony to release a PSA show to mark the World Rhino Day in Beijing on Friday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"If we lose rhinos because of poaching driven in part as a demand for rhino horn collectables, this would be a tragedy not only for wildlife but also to China's culture of collectables," noted Steve Blake of WildAid. "This campaign with Ma Weidu will help reduce demand for rhino horn in this key market."

AWF Trustee Gordon Cheng welcomed the campaign and called for more global efforts to stop trade in rhino horn.

"Today marks the new milestone for our Rhino Protection Initiative as we are now going to make changes relating to the fundamental misunderstandings on the demand and usage of rhino horns which have existed for thousands of years. We hope our program can help to convey the right messages for many existing collectors and users, and most importantly for younger generation in Asia and around the world. I will dedicate my life efforts to make this right," Cheng said.

Ma is the premier antique collector and appraiser in China. He is also an esteemed author and opened China's first private museum,Guanfu Museum. In the new PSA, Ma shows the brutal truth behind these beautiful collectables, and that antique collectables should be an extension of culture, not a force of destruction.

Ma Weidu at the Jabulani Camp in South Africa. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Ma noted that "in the course of collecting cultural items, I've realized that though these items are historical, they can have a significant impact on the world today. I have not only pledged to no longer purchase any ivory or rhino horn items, I'm also persistently conveying the message that if we must choose between protecting wildlife or cultural collectables, wildlife is far more important."

He also spoke of his recent trip to South Africa with Investec's "Rhino Lifeline" program and WildAid to view rhino conservation efforts first hand in the country where 80% of the world's rhinos are found. It is likewise, also one of the countries hit worst by rhino poaching. In South Africa, Ma saw rhinos being rehabilitated from poaching injuries and also orphans whose parents were taken by poachers.

"Rhino-based tourism is hugely important for protecting rhinos," said Yu Hui of Traveler magazine. "As one of the flagship wildlife species in Africa, tourism to view them generates revenue for both local communities and conservation efforts."

Ma Weidu's new rhino campaign is a partnership of the African Wildlife Foundation and WildAid, and supported in part by Investec Rhino Lifeline. Its video and print materials will appear on TV, online, airports, and other outdoor media in China beginning in October, 2017.
Intercapital Property Development ADSIC, a company incorporated and conducting business in the Republic of Bulgaria, registered with the Commercial Registry by the Bulgarian Registration Agency under number EIK 131397743, having its seat and registered address in Sofia, 7a Aksakov Street, floor 4 (hereinafter referred to as "ICPD") informs the public of the following:On 19.09.2017, the Company received a disclosure notification for share participation of Alpha Trading Limited, pursuant to which the share participation of the company (direct and indirect) in the capital of the Company, respectively in the voting rights that it can exercise at the General meeting of the Companys shareholders, amounts to 12.33% as of 13.09.2017. The direct share participation of Alpha Trading Limited is 7.34% and the indirect through Titan Bulgaria OOD (where Alpha Trading Limited has controlling participation) is 4.99%. On the other side, the person who controls Alpha Trading Limited, is Charles John Bennett.In its notification to ICPD Alpha Trading Limited clears out that the company is the successor of the assets of two companies including 828 624 shares of the capital of Intercapital Property Development ADSIC. All of those shares at the time when Alpha Trading Limited became successor of the assets have been delivered as a collateral in repo transactions with third parties. On 13.09.2017 two of the repo transactions for 387 428 shares were closed (i.e. the shares being repurchased and transferred to the account of Alpha Trading Limited in Central Depository AD). On the same date Alpha Trading Limited sold these 387 428 shares and holds directly the remaining 441 196 shares of the capital of Intercapital Property Development ADSIC, however those shares being collateral in repo transactions.Legal Basis:  17 Section 4 of the Alternative Trading System Rules NewConnect
Here are 15 anesthesiologists that made headlines in August 2017.

New York City-based NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center named anesthesiologist Laureen Hill, MD, senior vice president and COO.

The U.S. Congress confirmed anesthesiologist Jerome Adams, MD, as the country's 20th surgeon general

The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine selected Michael Stanton-Hicks, MD, as its 2017 John J. Bonica Lecture Award winner.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists selected Rene Przkora, MD, PhD, to serve on its pain medicine committee.

Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine appointed Andrew Rosenberg, MD, its inaugural systemwide CIO.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists granted Gainesville-based University of Florida anesthesiologists Greg Janelle, MD, and Tim Martin, MD, fellow designation.

Orlando, Fla.-based Physician Partners of America hired Taufiq Ahmed, MD, to practice out of its Orlando location.

The American Health Council named Joseph Pergolizzi Jr., MD, one of America's Best Doctors.

Houston-based Physician Partners of America added Chau Uong, DO, to its staff.

Anesthesiologist and entrepreneur Ted Stanley, MD, 77, died from prostate cancer complications on July 13

Richmond, Va.-based The Coleman Institute added Peter Klim, DO, to its Indianapolis location.

The International Association of HealthCare Professionals profiled Steven Lasker, MD, for its The Leading Physicians of the World publication.

Allied Anesthesia physician Armen Chalian, MD, was part of a mission trip to Yerevan, Armenia in May 2017.

The International Association of HealthCare Professionals profiled Jeff Lee Buchalter, MD, in the The Leading Physicians of the World publication.
Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network is planning to build a new medical campus to replace St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne.

The decision to replace St. Joseph Hospital comes after more than a year of discussions between administrative leaders, board members and physicians at LHN. Although the current hospital has undergone renovations over the years, LHN said the new facility will help improve the patient experience.

"The existing hospital was built for the way medical care was delivered decades ago and we owe it to our medical staff and team members to build and equip them with the latest advancements in the industry," said Tom Kintanar, MD, family care physician at Lutheran Medical Group and director of medical education and board member of St. Joseph Hospital.

The replacement campus will include a multi-story hospital, ancillary medical buildings and a parking lot. The process to finalize a location and develop design plans for the medical campus in downtown Fort Wayne is currently in the works.

"A brand new, state-of-the-art medical campus in the heart of Fort Wayne will be a tremendous boon for our community, both in terms of enhancements for patients and caregivers, and for economic development," said Jerry Henry, chairman of St. Joseph Hospital's board of trustees. "The investment we're talking about is a concrete demonstration of commitment to Lutheran Health Network and to Fort Wayne."

The announcement to replace the hospital comes after numerous board members and top executives left Lutheran Health Network earlier this year. Tensions have flared between Lutheran Health Network and its parent company Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems since May, when CHS rejected a buyout offer from a group of LHN physicians.
Disproportionate Share Hospital payments  allotments established under Medicaid and Medicare to offset a portion of uncompensated care at hospitals that serve a disproportionate share of low-income patients  will be cut by $2 billion Oct. 1 without legislative action, according to STAT.

With the expectation of lower uninsured rates and lower levels of hospital uncompensated care, the ACA adjusted the available amounts of DSH funding. With the Supreme Court ruling that threw out the mandate for Medicaid expansion and the uncertainty regarding the ACA's future, safety-net hospitals are stuck in an unintended policy gap, according to STAT.

The ACA calls for aggregate reductions to DSH payments annually from fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2020. Subsequent legislation delayed the start of the reductions until fiscal year 2018, which begins Oct. 1, and pushed the end date back to fiscal year 2025. DSH payments would be gradually reduced by a total of $43 billion over the eight-year period.

"If these cuts move forward, it's be going to be very hard for safety-net hospitals to continue to offer services to those in their communities who otherwise don't have access to everything from primary care visits to emergency care services," Beth Feldpush, senior vice president of policy and advocacy for America's Essential Hospitals, which advocates for safety-net hospitals, told STAT.

While the Oct. 1 deadline looms, three congressmen are attempting to delay the DSH payment cuts by circulating a letter urging the House to delay cuts again. More than 150 members of congress signed the letter as of Friday, according to STAT.
Fond Du Lac, Wis.-based Agnesian Healthcare is suing Cerner, claiming issues with its revenue cycle management software caused the system to lose $16 million.

In its complaint, filed Sept. 15, Agnesian alleges it began experiencing "pervasive errors" in patient billing immediately after going live on Cerner's RCM system in August 2015. Agnesian says the problems caused it to spend time and money to manually process patient billing statements and resulted in a significant backlog of patient claims for reimbursement.

Although Cerner allegedly told Agnesian officials in 2016 that all major issues with the billing software were resolved, Agnesian claims it discovered additional coding errors this year, which resulted in a large amount of undetected write-offs. Cerner then determined the billing software needed to be rebuilt.

If Cerner is able to rebuild the software, Agnesian claims it will take "many months" for its billing and collections processes to return to normal. "In the interim, stale charges will be required to be written-off. Moreover, as a result of these flaws, Agnesian may not be able to meet federally-mandated billing requirements," the lawsuit states.

Agnesian is suing Cerner for breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation and fraud. The health system claims it has suffered at least $16 million in damages due to the problems with the billing software and continues to suffer damages of at least $200,000 per month.

In an emailed statement to the Kansas City Business Journal, a Cerner spokeswoman said the company "disagrees with the allegations and will aggressively defend the case."

On Sept. 21, Cerner asked the court to dismiss the case due to the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties. If the court does not dismiss the lawsuit, Cerner requested the court transfer the case from U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin to U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, which Cerner argues is the appropriate court to compel arbitration under the agreement with Agnesian.

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New York Mayor Bill de Blasio nominated Mitchell Katz, MD, to serve as president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health system in the nation. Dr. Katz, who is currently director of the Los Angeles County Health Agency, will assume his new role once the health system's board votes on and approves the nomination.

Dr. Katz leads Los Angeles County Health Agency, a newly established agency that combines the county's departments of health services, public health and mental health into a single entity. Prior to the formation of the health agency, Dr. Katz was director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, where he spearheaded the creation of an ambulatory care network and eliminated the department's deficit.

Dr. Katz previously served as director and health officer for the San Francisco Department of Health. An internal medicine physician by training, he serves as deputy editor of JAMA Internal Medicine. He is also an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Katz will replace Stanley Brezenoff, who took over as interim president and CEO following the departure of Ramanathan "Ram" Raju, MD, in November 2016. Dr. Katz is inheriting a health system that recorded an operating loss of $673.3 million, for the three months that ended March 31. The health system cut 476 management positions in June, a move it hopes will yield $60 million in savings in fiscal year 2018.

The health system's board is expected to vote on the nomination this week or in early October, a spokesperson from New York City Hall told Becker's Hospital Review.
When Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., announced his opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill Friday, it appeared the proposal might be dead before it was ever brought to a vote. However, the bill's authors leaked a revised version of the legislation Sunday night to the media, according to The Washington Post.

Here are the five biggest changes to the Graham-Cassidy 2.0 bill, which were made as Senate Republicans face a Sept. 30 deadline to pass the measure.

1. Though the amount of funding given to states through block grants remains the same, tweaks to different formulas have resulted in Maine, Arizona, Alaska and Kentucky receiving boosts in federal funding from 2020 through 2026. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mr. McCain were the only three Republicans to vote against GOP healthcare reform efforts in July. Sen. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has previously voiced his opposition to the legislation as initially drafted.

2. Under the new version of Graham-Cassidy, Maine would see a 43 percent increase in federal funding, with Arizona seeing 15 percent, Kentucky 4 percent and Alaska 3 percent. Arizona, Kentucky and Alaska each would have seen declines in funding under the previous version of the bill, according to Politico. The bill combines subsidies for private coverage and Medicaid expansion and redistributes it to states in the form of block grants.

3. Analysis of the bill has been criticized by independent analysts because it does not account for cuts to Medicaid spending and per capita caps instituted by the proposal. Caps on Medicaid effectively slash future Medicaid funding, and if these cuts were considered in the new funding algorithm, pundits say several states, such as Alaska, would still lose funding.

4. According to analysis by the HHS, which supports Graham-Cassidy, the new formulas would lower the funding disparities of past versions of the bill. Under the new version, South Dakota would see the largest funding increase of 88 percent while Oregon would experience the greatest loss at 17 percent. Previous calculations performed by CMS, which took into account Medicaid caps, estimated that Mississippi stood to increase funding 347 percent while Maryland's funding would decrease by 51 percent

5. The revised bill contains a series of carveouts for Alaska, according to a summary of the new legislation obtained by an industry lobbyist and reported by NBC News. The legislations would grandfather Native Alaskans into Medicaid so they would retain coverage after the expanded Medicaid program is rolled back in 2020. The update would also carve out a special provision for states with low population densities so 5 percent of federal funds would be guaranteed for rural states, including Alaska.

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Six individuals were transported to Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center after an alleged gunman opened fire at Antioch, Tenn.-based Burnette Chapel Church of Christ Sunday morning, according to NPR.

Here are six things to know about the incident.

1. One person was killed and at least seven others were injured during the incident, police said. The alleged gunman, Emanuel Samson, 25, was among the injured. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified the female victim as Melanie Smith, 39, according to NPR.

2. Mr. Samson allegedly entered the church from the rear entrance after fatally shooting Ms. Smith outside, police said. He injured six more victims before a church usher, Robert Engle, 22, reportedly tackled Mr. Samson to the ground, according to the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Samson allegedly shot himself during the incident, though police said it is unclear if he did it on purpose or not.

3. Mr. Engle, who also sustained injuries during the altercation, reportedly retrieved a gun from his own vehicle and held Mr. Samson until police arrived, the Chicago Tribune reports.

4. Police charged Mr. Samson with one count of murder, among other charges, later Sunday evening. He is being held without bond. Federal investigators also opened a civil rights investigation into the incident.

5. Police said Mr. Samson waived his rights and admitted to arriving at the church and conducting the shooting, according to the Chicago Tribune. He will appear in court Sept. 27.

6. VUMC, which treated six individuals, including Mr. Samson, said it will not release any statements on the shooting citing privacy concerns, Fox-17 News Nashville reports.
A judge has allowed Morehead Memorial Hospital, a 108-bed nonprofit hospital in Eden, N.C., that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July, to begin selling off its assets, according to WFMY News 2.

Morehead Memorial President and CEO Dana Weston told WFMY News 2 the hospital is looking for a strategic partner to maintain operations.

Interested parties can submit proposals for the hospital this month. Once all proposals are received, hospital officials will have a better understanding of how they will move forward with the bankruptcy process, according to the report.

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Nearly 800 Pittsfield, Mass.-based Berkshire Medical Center registered nurses will go on strike Oct. 3 after roughly a year-long negotiation with the hospital, according to The Berkshire Eagle.

The nurses, represented by the Canton-based Massachusetts Nurses Association, delivered the required strike notice to the hospital Friday. The nurses said they plan to strike for 24 hours beginning Oct. 3.

"BMC nurses have been bargaining in good faith for a year, seeking to ensure that their patients are able to receive the safest and most effective nursing care possible. The hospital has refused to negotiate over concrete improvements to patient care and RN staffing. BMC management has also refused to provide information necessary for nurses to negotiate quality, affordable health insurance," MNA said in a statement Sept. 22.

David E. Phelps, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems and Berkshire Medical Center, and Diane Kelly, RN, COO of Berkshire Medical Center, said in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review they believe MNA misrepresented BMC's handling of the negotiations and they are disappointed by the nurses' plan to strike.

"We have bargained in good faith, offering a strong contract for our nurses  We of course hope that the union will not go through with its strike threat, which would result in a great financial cost to the health system," they said in a joint statement.

The hospital officials told Becker's their most recent bargaining offer granted nurses a 10 percent raise during the next three years, and starting RN salaries would rise from $73,000 during the first year of employment to $75,000 in year three. "Mid-scale" and "maximum-scale" RN nurses would make $116,000-plus per year beginning in their third year. Officials also said the pact included additional support for education and a higher pay differential.

Mr. Phelps and Ms. Kelly told Becker's following MNA's decision to hold a strike authorization vote several months ago, the hospital hired replacement workers for a minimum five-day contract to ensure the facility would remain operational. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health also approved the hospital's strike plan.

Should BMC nurses continue with their plan to strike, they would be out from Oct. 3 through Oct. 7, even if the planned strike only lasts for 24 hours, according to the report.

The next bargaining session between hospital officials and nurses is reportedly scheduled for Sept. 27.
Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott's office reportedly deleted four voicemail messages left by Hollywood, Fla.-based Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills detailing Hurricane Irma's impact on the facility. The phone calls took place roughly 24 hours prior to the initial deaths of eight residents two weeks ago, according to the Miami Herald.

According to a timeline released by the governor's office, the governor's aides received the initial call from the rehabilitation facility Sept. 11 at 7:35 p.m. Florida Department of Health Chief of Staff Alexis Lambert reportedly returned the call two hours later. The nursing home's last call to the governor's office took place Sept. 12 at 12:50 p.m. State health administrators allegedly returned the call later the same day, according to the report.

Mr. Scott provided nursing homes and assisted living facilities with his office number ahead of Hurricane Irma's landfall to assist with any issues or concerns. A spokesperson for Mr. Scott told the Miami Herald Sunday the "transitory messages" were deleted because "the information from each voicemail was collected by the governor's staff and given to the proper agency for handling. Every call was returned."

Under state law, transitory messages may be deleted after they become obsolete or lose administrative value. The governor's office reportedly forwarded the content of each message to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the DOH.

Eight residents died after the nursing home facility lost air conditioning Sept. 10 due to a transformer malfunction. Police confirmed the death toll has risen to 11 people, according to USA Today. Alice Thomas, 94, a resident of the facility died Sept. 21  one day after another female resident perished.

The exact causes of death for the 11 victims have not been reported. However, a number of residents evacuated from the facility were treated for heat-related issues, according to the report. Broward County police said the deaths are being probed as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration suspended the nursing home's license Sept. 20. The order prohibited the facility from operating as a nursing home or admitting patients and terminated the facility from the Medicaid program.

State officials also penned legislation to change the way nursing facilities in the state operate as a result of the incidents.
Workplace injuries pose numerous clinical and financial consequences for healthcare facilities nationwide.

In 2011, the American Nurses Association surveyed more than 4,614 nurses and found 62 percent were worried about experiencing a disabling musculoskeletal injury  a fear that surpassed concerns of contracting infectious diseases like AIDS or Ebola. Fifty-two percent of nurses also complained of chronic back pain and for 38 percent, the pain was severe enough to leave work, according to ANA1.

"It's a real crisis. Nurses and healthcare professionals are really worried about these injuries," said Miki Patterson, PhD, president of Optimizing Performance Solutions, during a Sept. 14 webinar hosted by Becker's Hospital Review and sponsored by Olympus, a provider of minimally invasive therapeutic and diagnostic technologies.

The cause of workplace injuries

Many of the injuries nurses experience stem from unsafe patient handling practices, which are exacerbated by an increasingly heavier patient population. Clinicians who work in the operating room are especially vulnerable to injury, since they regularly perform numerous high-risk tasks, such as standing in one place for long periods of time, repositioning patients on the OR table, lifting surgical supplies, moving heavy equipment and holding patient limbs.

The risk of injury is further heightened due to an aging healthcare workforce. The average age for a registered nurse is 50, and the average age of an OR nurse is 53, according to ANA.

"These older staff members have been exposed to repetitive stress and injury throughout their entire careers," said Dr. Patterson. In some circumstances, injury can force clinicians to end their careers early, a trend that fuels the ongoing nursing shortage.

The cost of workplace injuries

Workplace injuries pose serious financial consequences for healthcare providers in both direct and indirect costs, according to Dr. Patterson. The direct cost of a staff injury can range from $27,000 to $83,000 per claim. Some staff injuries can also have adverse effects on patients, and may result in patient injuries. Patient injuries can surpass $1 million per claim.

These costs add up. Dr. Patterson cited a 2010 case study published in Nursing Economic$ involving a U.S. hospital that reported an average of 20 staff injuries per year. The hospital's direct costs were $27,206 per claim or an average of $548,040 annually. In three years, the hospital spent more than $1,644,120 on workplace injuries2.

Indirect costs can be three times greater than direct costs, considering lost work time, worker's compensation fees and the price of hiring replacement staff. The loss of a highly skilled and experienced OR clinician can also lead to increased setup times, longer case times and a subsequent reduction in margins, according to Dr. Patterson.

"Imagine if a surgeon is injured," she said. "The lost revenue would be exponential."

Promoting safer patient handling

Healthcare providers can implement numerous strategies and technologies to promote safer patient handling.

By adopting maximum weight requirements for lifting patients or holding limbs, hospitals can help ensure staff safety. Some hospitals even implement no-lift policies for staff, instead relying on lift technology to help clinicians safely transfer, turn or reposition patients, according to Dr. Patterson.

Boom-integrated patient lifts in the OR are able to perform many of the tasks considered high risk for surgical staff. These lifts can transfer patients laterally, reposition the patient on the OR table, lift and hold patient limbs and hold manual retraction in place of the clinician.

By implementing this technology, hospitals can reduce clinician fatigue, decrease workman's compensation rates and achieve fewer patient injuries, among other benefits.

To compare the upfront costs of installing lift technology in the OR with the potential savings associated with reduced injuries, Olympus offers a return-on-investment calculator. Hospitals can input their own figures into the calculator to evaluate their costs and potential savings.



Other simple fixes involve the use of comfort mats in the OR to limit clinicians' pain from standing in one place for prolonged periods of time.

"We know preventing injuries is the right thing to do," said Dr. Patterson. "Evidence shows it's also a good return on investment with most hospitals seeing a return in just one to three years. This is the wave of the future and we have to start protecting our healthcare workers."

To view a recording of the webinar, click here.

To download a PDF of the presentation slides, click here.

Citations:
Hurricane Maria, which made landfall in Puerto Rico last week, has halted operations at nearly 50 drug plants on the island, reports USA Today.

The island lost power during the storm, and electricity is not expected to be restored for three to six months. Most drug plants in Puerto Rico contain backup power generators, but lack employees to resume operations.

Major drugmakers like Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca are assessing the damage, which could cause national short-term drug shortages if they cannot shift manufacturing capacity to other production sites.

Jennifer Dooren, acting deputy director of operations for the Food and Drug Administration, said the agency coordinated with drug companies before Hurricane Maria "to evaluate the [storm's] potential."

"In the aftermath of the storm, we continue to work closely with pharmaceutical companies [that have] manufacturing facilities located in Puerto Rico to prevent shortages of medically necessary drug products," she said in an email to USA Today.

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Children's National and College Park-based University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering hosted the FDA-funded "Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!" competition at the Fifth Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium, held in San Jose, Calif.

Here are five highlights:

1. Six companies earned a total of $250,000 in grants Sept. 24. The National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation sponsored the competition.

2. The organizations gave $50,000 each to four teams and $25,000 each to two teams. The competition received 98 submissions from five countries.

3. Fort Collins, Colo.-based Green Sun Medical was one team awarded $50,000. The company develops a device for spinal deformity, delivering pressure for correction as well as real-time feedback.

4. The panel of judges included:



 Susan Alpert, MD, of SFA Consulting; former FDA Office of Device Evaluation director; and former Medtronic senior vice president and chief regulatory officer

 Charles Berul, MD, co-director of Children's National Heart Institute

 Andrew Elbardissi, MD, of Deerfield Management

 Rick Greenwald, PhD, of New England Pediatric Device Consortium (NEPDC);

 James Love of Oblon

 Josh Makower, MD, of NEA

 Jennifer McCaney, PhD, of MedTech Innovator

 Jackie Phillips, MD, of Johnson & Johnson

 Tracy Warren of Astarte Ventures

5. The symposium focused on the lack of funding for pediatric innovation.
Neurosurgeon Kadhya David Muballe, MD, is returning to Port Elizabeth, South Africa to create a neurosurgery department at the Livingstone Hospital, according to the Herald Live.

Here are five points:

1. Previously, Dr. Muballe served as a neurosurgeon at Seattle-based Washington School of Medicine, where he underwent fellowship training.

2. Dr. Muballe served as chief of neurosurgery at the Nelson Mandela Academy Hospital in South Africa before moving to the U.S.

3. Throughout his career, Dr. Muballe frequently traveled to the Livingstone Hospital to operate on patients unable to be transported.

3. He holds a bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery degree, two masters of medicine degrees in surgery and neurosurgery, a PhD, a diploma in neurosurgery and post-graduate qualification in neurosurgery from the South African College of Medicine.

5. Dr. Muballe's goal is to create an independent department of neurosurgery with a training unit to do research.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 25th September 2017 - Vernon Hunte, government affairs director at the British Hospitality Association, Nigel Dodds MP, and Colin Neill, CEO of Hospitality Ulster, at the launch of an independent report into the benefits of a tourism VAT rate cut for Northern Ireland's hospitality sector. The report says more than 2000 jobs would be created in 5 years. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 25th September 2017 - Vernon Hunte, government affairs director at the British Hospitality Association, Nigel Dodds MP, and Colin Neill, CEO of Hospitality Ulster, at the launch of an independent report into the benefits of a tourism VAT rate cut for Northern Ireland's hospitality sector. The report says more than 2000 jobs would be created in 5 years. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye

A report has found that slashing Northern Ireland's tax on accommodation and visitor attractions by 15% could add more than 2,000 jobs to the regional economy.

EU law prevents member states from setting different levels of the charge for different regions. That power will be repatriated to the UK after Brexit and the DUP is pressing for a speedy cut.

The findings come from an report commissioned by Cut Tourism VAT, a campaign group that represents businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector from across the United Kingdom, and carried out independently by economic research firm Nevin Associates Ltd.

This comes as a precursor to a forthcoming report on cutting VAT and and Air Passenger Duty committed to as part of the DUP's confidence and supply agreement with the Conservatives.

As it stands VAT on visitor accommodation and attractions in Northern Ireland sits at 20%.

In the report it finds cutting this to 5% would create 2,094 jobs across the province over a period of five years, with this number rising to 2,713 over a 10-year period.

While there would be a loss to the Treasury income in the first year of 4.2 million, the gains from the subsequent five years would amount to 32 million, with this rising to 109 million over a 10-year period.

One major point made in the report looks at Northern Ireland's competitiveness in comparison to the Republic of Ireland, where total tourism revenues were eight times those achieved in Northern Ireland, despite only having 2.6 times the population.

VAT on travel and tourism in the Republic of Ireland is set at 9%, something that the report credits with drawing in a larger number of overseas visitors.

In 2016 the Republic of Ireland pulled in 6.5 billion (5.3 billion) in tourism revenue, around 80% of which was generated by overseas visitors and visitors from Northern Ireland.

In the same year Northern Ireland pulled in just 0.6 billion in tourism revenue from out-of-state visitors, with the bulk of these coming from mainland Great Britain.

Nigel Dodds, the DUP's senior MP at Westminster, said: "A cut in VAT in the tourism sector would boost that sector enormously - it would attract more visitors, create more jobs and be a massive boost to the economy in the long run.

"This is a win-win; a win for the Treasury and a win for Northern Ireland and win for people's employment prospects."

Speaking about the findings, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster Colin Neil said: "Whilst existing research shows a cut in tourism VAT across accommodation, food and visitor attractions would create more than 200,000 jobs across the UK, this report is the first one that has looked in depth at the impact of a VAT cut on accommodation and visitor attractions in Northern Ireland.

"It demonstrates the significant benefits that come from a VAT cut and shows a very short period before the Treasury benefits. At this point we can only extrapolate from previous UK-wide research what the benefits of a cut to VAT on food would be, but even modest estimates would see an additional 4,000 jobs added."
A new estate agency is being set up in south Belfast.

Chartered surveyor Ursula Mayers has launched Mayers Real Estate, Northern Ireland's newest real estate agency, based in Wellington Park.

The business is an 'alternative model' in the sector as it doesn't have a retail front and operates as a consultancy online, Ms Mayers explained.

"I reached a point in my career where I wanted to drive forward my own brand, my own style and one-to-one service that would allow my clients to have a good robust experience from someone who watches and understands the market," she added.

"The beauty of Mayers Real Estate operating in the digital sphere is it's a 24/7 model that allows fees to remain competitive."

Among its services Mayers will offer personal servicing, surveying, residential sales and advising on commercial opportunities.

The mum-of-three has more than 10 years' experience in asset management, strategic planning, residential selling and managing commercial schemes in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, where she worked for some of the leading agencies in the industry.

Ms Mayers said she will deal directly with all sellers and vendors and will build her team as the business grows.

"Although we're operating in one of the most unprecedented periods of austerity that our industry has experienced, I believe it's a really exciting time for the property sector," she said.

"It's the right time for me to leave behind employment and embark on self-employment, raising the bar for the industry now as an independent practitioner.

"I'm committed to driving results for vendors and purchasers based on exceeding any expectations they might currently have in relation to their property journey at extremely competitive rates."

Ms Mayers has opened her own venture just as she has been shortlisted for this year's RICS Young Surveyor of the Year Awards in London.

She is the only female from Northern Ireland to win a place on the shortlist of the event, hosted by the global governing body for the sector.

"I feel very privileged to be the only female from Northern Ireland named as a finalist ... in a year when the RICS is appealing for more females to consider a career in the land, property and construction sectors," the chartered surveyor said.

"I have been juggling my career with motherhood for the past six years and I love the challenge and variety to my performance and career development that each new property listing brings."

Looking at the future of real estate, Ms Mayers said: "There are a lot of challenges ahead, including Brexit.

"There are so many things going on in the market that have presented challenges to buyers and sellers and I want to be a part of supporting people through this uncertainty.

"We need to keep a positive attitude about the direction the market is going," she added.

The Young Surveyor of the Year Awards will be held in London in November.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will ask the UK Government to publicly outline "a clear and satisfactory" proposal for how the Irish border will operate after Brexit.

Mr Varadkar will meet with Prime Minister Theresa May in Downing Street today to discuss the reaction to her Florence speech, in which she said Britain wanted a two-year transition period after leaving the EU.

Ahead of the meeting, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said he will use the opportunity to "emphasise that Ireland will continue to negotiate as part of the EU27 remaining member states, represented by Michel Barnier and his task force".

"The EU has made clear to the UK that there must be sufficient progress on the three issues of citizens' rights, financial settlement and Irish issues before the negotiations can address the future EU-UK relationship," they said.

In last Friday's speech Ms May reaffirmed her commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, as well as ensuring no physical infrastructure is put in place along the border.

It comes as the EU Commissioner for Taxation refused to rule out custom checks at Irish ports and airports.

Pierre Moscovici said it was up to the UK to provide a roadmap before his office can begin to prepare for the post-Brexit environment.

"But the only thing I can say is that we are really watching this question of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, that we don't want to backtrack, we don't want to go back to the past," he said.
Police at the scene of the assault

Press Eye - Police in Derry are investigating an assault that occurred in William Street, Derry at approximately 2am this morning, in which a 19 year old man died.

Press Eye - Police in Derry are investigating an assault that occurred in William Street, Derry at approximately 2am this morning, in which a 19 year old man died.

Press Eye - Police in Derry are investigating an assault that occurred in William Street, Derry at approximately 2am this morning, in which a 19 year old man died.

Press Eye - Police in Derry are investigating an assault that occurred in William Street, Derry at approximately 2am this morning, in which a 19 year old man died.

Press Eye - Police in Derry are investigating an assault that occurred in William Street, Derry at approximately 2am this morning, in which a 19 year old man died.

An 18-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a teenager in Londonderry.

Jordan McConomy (19), a former St Brigid's High School student from the Rossnagalliagh area of Derry, was seriously injured in a fight.

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The fracas happened in the William Street area, near the Bogside, shortly after 2am yesterday.

He was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital by ambulance but died of his injuries later.

Police said the 18-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of murder following Mr McConomy's death.

He was last night in custody at Strand Road PSNI Station.

Officers received a report of an assault at around 2.15am yesterday and attended the scene with paramedics from the Ambulance Service.

Police said they believed the victim was involved in an altercation with another male and was seriously injured during an assault before he died.

Foyle SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan, who has spoken to those close to the victim, said they had been left shocked by the loss of a young man described as a gentleman.

"They are devastated, as one could imagine," he said.

"This is awful news for anyone to wake up to.

"It's every family's worst nightmare and our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family and anyone affected by this tragedy.

"People are shocked and disgusted and most of all saddened by the fact that a young man could be out socialising and not come home.

"It really doesn't bear thinking about.

"As a father, it's every parent's worst nightmare, seeing their son going out for the night and just not coming home."

Foyle Sinn Fein MP Elisha McCallion also expressed her condolences.

"The city woke up this morning to the sad news that a young man lost his life in an incident in the city centre last night," she said.

"My thoughts at this time are with the family and friends of this young man, who will no doubt be devastated at this tragic news.

"There is a great sense of shock and sadness in the community following this death.

"I would call on anyone with information on what happened to bring it forward to the PSNI."

Friends yesterday took to social media to pay tribute to the popular teen.

"This place is one cruel place, rest in peace Jordan," wrote one.

"You'll be missed so much. Look over all of us at this hard time. God only takes the best. Love you bro. Gone but not forgotten."

Another friend wrote: "Mad to be writing this Jordan lad. Never did anyone expect news like this. Not nice at all man. Was only chatting to you last week about the cars and how much you loved your wee motor and that. Rest in peace Jordy and fly high lad".

Another wrote: "Can't believe it. Full life ahead of you. One of the nicest lads I ever met. Sleep tight kid."

Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton also expressed his shock.

"Londonderry has been plunged into sadness at this very tragic news. I want to pass on my sympathies to the family and friends of this young man," he said.

"I understand that the 19-year-old lost his life due to an altercation last night.

"It serves as an important reminder to everyone, to be mindful of their actions and the ramifications they can bring."

Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Boyce appealed for witnesses to contact police.

He said: "We know that many people were socialising in William Street early this morning and we would like to hear from members of the public who witnessed an altercation in the area between approximately 1.45am and a 2.15am to get in touch with detectives at Strand Road on telephone number 101, quoting reference number 228 of 24/9/17.

"Police would particularly like to hear from motorists who were either parked on or travelling along William Street during these times and who had a dash cam fitted to their vehicle.

"Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Three Carrickfergus men accused of attacking a pub bouncer as part of a suspected loyalist feud are no longer to be charged with his attempted murder, a court heard on Monday.

Lawyers disclosed that Glen McCullough and brothers Brian and Ian Sinclair will instead be prosecuted for allegedly causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

A hearing to determine if they are to stand trial has been listed for November.

The three defendants were arrested after the doorman was allegedly beaten with a fire extinguisher at the Royal Oak Bar in the Co Antrim town.

He suffered a blood clot to the brain, along with multiple skull and facial fractures during assault in March this year, according to police.

Detectives also revealed at a previous hearing how he had to undergo physiotherapy for walking and talking skills.

Ian Sinclair, 37 and from Elizabeth Avenue; 51-year-old Brian Sinclair, from O'Rorkes Row; and 53-year-old Glen McCullough, of Castlemara Drive - all in Carrickfergus - are accused of launching the attack after being refused entry to the pub.

Police have linked the incident to ongoing tensions between rival factions in the town.

High-profile loyalist George Gilmore was murdered days after the alleged pub attack.

The 44-year-old had been in the public gallery when Sinclair and his co-accused made their first appearance at Belfast Magistrates' Court.

At a review hearing in the same courtroom today it was announced that the attempted murder charges will not be pursued.

Ian Sinclair's solicitor, Seamus Leonard, told District Judge Fiona Bagnall that the prosecution will now be for alleged grievous bodily harm with intent.

All three accused are expected back in court in six weeks time to establish if they have a case to answer.
The DUP last night welcomed an apparent change of tone in Sinn Fein's attitude to the Stormont talks, as Gerry Adams pledged that he was prepared to do business with Arlene Foster's party.

The further thawing in relations between the two parties comes as politicians meet today to continue negotiations to restore power-sharing.

If they don't reach agreement within a fortnight, Secretary of State James Brokenshire will move in the House of Commons to pass a budget for Northern Ireland.

Mr Adams yesterday rejected as "a lie" claims that his party had no interest in reaching a deal with Mrs Foster's party.

He said: "So, in order that there is no doubt, let me make it clear to everyone, including republican grassroots - our leadership is up for doing a deal with the DUP and the other parties, and of moving back into the Executive on that basis."

The Sinn Fein president's words were welcomed as a move in the right direction by DUP MLA Simon Hamilton.

"Gerry Adams' change of tone is a step forward. The DUP has no preconditions and stands ready to re-establish an Executive immediately. We will be engaging with Sinn Fein this week. We want to see government restored," he said.

"We want to see culture and language matters fairly addressed. We will not accept cultural supremacy for one section of our community. There is enough space in Northern Ireland for mutual respect and a shared future."

However, despite the softening of tone by Mr Adams, DUP insiders remain pessimistic about an imminent deal, citing Sinn Fein's "unrealistic demands" on the Irish language.

"Sinn Fein has drawn a lot of red lines and, unless these are removed, a deal by next month will be hard to reach," a party source said. "Gerry Adams' more moderate language is to be welcomed, but it's a change in approach by Sinn Fein that we need."

A standalone Irish Language Act remains the major obstacle to an agreement. DUP insiders said Sinn Fein's demands include road signs in Irish, a language commissioner with the powers of a High Court judge, and positive discrimination for Irish speakers in the Civil Service.

Addressing a republican commemoration in west Belfast yesterday, Mr Adams said: "Sinn Fein is fully committed to the power-sharing institutions and we are working to restore them.

"However, the lesson of recent years is clear. As Martin McGuinness reminded us, the political institutions can only work if they are based on equality, respect and integrity.

"Our opponents, including elements in the DUP, the Fianna Fail leadership and others claim Sinn Fein is no longer interested in the Assembly. They know this is a lie.

"The DUP leadership in particular know this. They also know the conditions that are required for sustainable institutions to deliver for all our people on education, health, housing and anti-poverty needs, as well as the necessary work of reconciliation."

In response, Mr Hamilton claimed government in Northern Ireland had been "held to ransom" by republicans for "narrow political reasons" over the past six months.

"Whilst language and culture are important, so too are decisions on health, education and infrastructure," he added.

Last month the DUP offered to legislate for the Irish language within a time-limited period if devolution was immediately restored. Mr Hamilton said: "We made a reasonable offer which would have seen government restored and negotiations on cultural matters take place in parallel. Disappointingly, SF rejected this offer within 90 minutes."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are due to meet in Downing Street today. They will discuss Brexit developments including the future of the Irish border, the common travel area, and provisions to protect the peace process.
Gloria with Caron and Russ on their wedding day at St Peters Church at Hever

Northern Ireland television presenter Gloria Hunniford has revealed she was once on an IRA "death list" and had to be "smuggled" out of the BBC because of threats made against her.

The broadcaster (77) made the revelations in her new autobiography My Life by Gloria Hunniford, which is serialised in The Mirror.

Gloria also reveals how she was stalked by a man every day for five years.

While in Germany recording messages from families of British soldiers serving in Northern Ireland during the Troubles for her radio show Ulster Calling on the British Forces Broadcasting Service.

Just ahead of setting off home, a senior Army commander informed her she and her co-presenter were on an IRA "death list".

"I was stunned," she said.

She was offered the opportunity to stop the programme which she did consider given her three young children at the time.

"But wed been doing the programme for the British Forces Broadcasting Service since 1969 and any damage had already been done.

So we both shrugged and said Whats the point in stopping now?"

Gloria reveals the Army visited her home for a security briefing and instructed her on how to check for bombs under the car and how she had to keep the curtains shut.

"I did all that for two weeks - then I forgot and got on with my life."

In the book she also talks about working in Troubles-ravaged Northern Ireland covering the news. She talks about witnessing the devastation of the Abercorn bombing in 1972 and how she continued on with her BBC radio show despite the building being evacuated after a bomb went off.

In another attack, she recalls how she got a call at home to say a bomb had gone off in Derry and she raced to the scene with daughter Caron, who was off school sick.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Gloria Hunniford in her BBC radio studio Gloria Hunniford in her early career Gloria Hunniford with husband Stephen Early days: Gloria Hunniford Sir Cliff with Gloria Hunniford Gloria Hunniford in a DeLorean during her UTV heyday Gloria Hunniford with grandsons Charles and Gabriel Getty Images / Facebook

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It seems crazy now. We arrived in the middle of a street riot and had to get into an Army Saracen as bricks and bottles landed all around. Poor Caron was terrified and I woke up to the fact that my everyday life was far from normal.

Gloria received more death threats in the immediate aftermath of the London Hyde Park and Regents Park bombings in 1982 which happened during her Radio 2 show.

She said she felt "odd" having to play music in-between news bulletins on the atrocity.

"Unbeknown to me, threats were coming in saying Get that Irish b**ch off the air or we will," she said.

When I finished the show I realised the control room was full of very serious-looking men in suits. They said an extremely serious threat had been made against me.

I had to be smuggled out of by a back door and taken home by car. I was very shaken up as Id only recently moved to London. From then on I was allowed to drive right up to the back of the building and park out of sight.

In the book, out on October 5, she also reveals for the first time how she was plagued by a stalker while working in London. The man waiting outside her work every day for her for five years.

She says how he once tried to kiss her and would send her messages about meeting in hotels when she played romantic music on the radio only to receive angry messages later when she never appeared. He even showed up at her home after she broke her shoulder.

Court injunctions didn't put an end to the torture and she was forced to increase security at her home. She said he was later charged over sending hoax bomb threats to Margaret Thatcher and others and is undergoing mental health treatment.
IRA victims are furious at a decision by Google to continue selling T-shirts online which glorify the terrorist group.

In a move that's been met with disbelief, Google is refusing to halt the sale of the items because the IRA doesn't appear on a list of US foreign terrorists, despite the organisation being banned in the UK.

A Mail on Sunday investigation found the technology firm had also been selling clothing branded with the insignia of other terror groups including Lebanese militants Hezbollah, which have subsequently been removed, and Sri Lankan terror group the Tamil Tigers, which the paper says the company has also pledged to take down as both organisations feature on the US foreign terrorists list.

But the IRA isn't on the list, prompting Google's refusal to remove the T-shirts and sparking anger among victims of IRA violence.

Kenny Donaldson, spokesman for Innocent Victims United, is calling for urgent regulation, describing the position as "sickening".

"The IRA are a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK and this is a matter on which the UK Government needs to exert its pressure," he said.

"Google needs hit financially through its very favourable taxation deal if it insists on being a facilitator for the promotion of terrorism idolatry."

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, former Conservative minister Norman Tebbit accused Google of lacking morality and said the trade must stop.

"Effectively, the company is saying that just because the IRA does not appear on the official US list, it is not a terrorist group," he said.

"Maybe Google needs some help. The company could try talking to the widow of Ian Gow MP, who was murdered in July 1990 outside his home.

"Perhaps Google should also try talking to the relatives of the five people killed when Brighton's Grand Hotel was blown up during the 1984 Tory Party conference.

"The bomb left my wife Margaret paralysed."

In a statement, Google said: "While we want Google Shopping to help connect people with advertisers and products, there are certain products that we don't allow.

"We have strict advertising policies in place and when we find violations we work quickly to remove them."

It's unclear whether the policy regarding the sale of items will be reviewed.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 25th September 2017 The scene outside Woodbourne PSNI station after police closed off surrounding roads due to a security alert.

PACEMAKER BELFAST Police are currently in attendance at a security alert in Horn Drive in west Belfast following the discovery of a suspicious object in the area. Horn Drive has been closed to traffic and a number of homes in the area evacuated.

PACEMAKER BELFAST 25 September 2017: Police are currently in attendance at a security alert in Horn Drive in west Belfast following the discovery of a suspicious object in the area. Horn Drive has been closed to traffic and a number of homes in the area evacuated.

A security alert has now ended in west Belfast where homes had been evacuated.

A viable device was found at the alert in Horn Drive and will be sent for forensic examination.

Detective Sergeant Kelly said: "This device was initially discovered by a member of the public and during the security operation a number of residents had to be evacuated from their homes for their own safety. We would like to thank them for their assistance during this.

"Those responsible have shown a complete disregard for the safety of residents in this community.

"Anyone with information should contact Detectives at Musgrave quoting reference 699 of 25/9/17, or if they wish to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, the Detective Sergeant added.

Earlier SDLP West Belfast Councillor Tim Attwood said that the discovery of a suspicious object in the Horn Drive area had caused significant disruption for local people.

He said: "A number of homes around Horn Drive have been evacuated following the discovery of a suspicious object. This is causing significant disruption for local people trying to go about their daily lives.

"This should not be part and parcel of daily life in this city. People have the right to expect to be able to live free from the threat of violence."
Flowers at the scene on the Taughey Road

Tributes have been paid to a Co Antrim teenager who died after the scrambler motorbike he was riding was in collision with a car.

Marcus Forsythe (15) from Seacon died following a crash on the Taughey Road in Ballymoney on Saturday afternoon.

Another person on the scrambler was treated at hospital for injuries not believed to be life threatening.

The occupants of the car were treated at the scene for shock.

The Ballymoney High School student was described as one in a million by Sandra Gibson from the NI Car Mania club.

She said Marcus was often on hand to take photographs of rallies and cruises organised by the car club.

He was a wee gem who would have done anything for anybody, she added. Marcus was a great photographer and cars were his passion.

The club is planning a convoy of the modified cars that Marcus was so fond of to accompany his funeral procession.

He was the 43rd person to die on Northern Irelands roads this year, compared to 49 for the same period in 2016.

A Facebook post announcing his death was inundated by messages of condolence for the family of the popular Ballymoney teen.

Ryan Tweed wrote: RIP Marcus Forsythe you will be missed, you were a good friend.

Cathy McBride posted: So sad, another young life taken so tragically.

Donna Rodgers said her thoughts were with Marcus siblings: Thinking of you and your parents at this time. A life took far too young, he will be watching over you. Here if you need anything. RIP Marcus.

UUP councillor Darryl Wilson said the death was devastating news for the local community.

Today the entire town will mourn the loss of such a young life, he said.

He was a lovely young lad, very happy-go-lucky and carefree and well liked by all his peers.

This is beyond devastating for his family, and has impacted across the entire borough.

Theres a dark cloud hanging over the area because this young man has lost his life, and my thoughts and condolences go out to his family and young school friends at this terribly sad time.

North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey said the death was yet another tragic accident on our roads.

Sadly, another family has been plunged into sadness as a result of a fatal accident on the Taughey Road outside Balnamore. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the young man who has tragically lost his life.

We trust that the other young man involved in the accident will make a full recovery.

Unfortunately this year we have had too many lives lost as a result of accidents. It is a sad reminder to us all that we do not know what a day holds for us.

Police in Coleraine are appealing for anyone who was on the Taughey Road on Saturday afternoon at around the time of the collision to contact them.
SDLP MLA Pat Catney will go on trial next month accused of careless driving, a judge said on Monday.

The recently elected Lagan Valley MLA was not present at Lisburn Magistrates Court where District Judge Rosie Watters scheduled his contest for October 23

Mr Catney, with an address in the city, faces a single count of driving without due care and attention on Batchelor's Walk on June 21 last year.

In court a prosecution lawyer and defence solicitor Billy McNulty said they could agree one police witness in relation to photographic evidence but that two further witnesses, a police officer and a civilian, would be called to testify for the prosecution.

Mr McNulty said he would be calling two witnesses to give evidence at the trial.

The former owner of the Kitchen Bar in Belfast city centre, Mr Catney was elected to Lisburn City Council in 2011 and re-elected in 2014, before being elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in March 2017.
Brexit divorce talks have so far made insufficient progress to allow starting negotiations on a post-withdrawal trade deal, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said after meeting Theresa May in Downing Street.

But Mr Varadkar stressed that there was still time for the situation to be resolved before the 27 remaining EU members make a decision on the matter in October.

He said: "I don't think, at this stage, it would be possible to say that sufficient progress has yet been made, but it may well be possible by the end of October when we meet in Brussels."

Mr Varadkar said that the decision would be shaped by the views of chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier.

"Certainly, we will be very much guided by the report that Michel Barnier will make to the prime ministers and also the report that the European Parliament will make."

Mr Varadkar also urged the Government to be "more specific" about the future relationship between the UK and Ireland after Brexit.

Following a working lunch in No 10, Mr Varadkar said the Prime Minister's decision to rule out a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland was "very important".

Mr Varadkar, who is the first EU leader to visit the PM since her keynote address in Florence last week in which she set out her hopes for a post-Brexit relationship with Brussels, also urged the DUP and Sinn Fein to find a solution to the deadlock over powersharing.

"I have always encouraged the British Government to be more specific about how they see the future relationship between Britain and Ireland and between the United Kingdom and the European Union," he said.

Downing Street said the Government is working on a "practical solution" to deal with the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland.

A No 10 spokesman said: "The Prime Minister made clear how the UK will be the strongest friend and partner to the EU after we leave the EU and how maintaining the reciprocal arrangements for the Common Travel Area and the citizenship rights guaranteed by the Belfast Agreement were at the heart of our approach.

"On the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, the Prime Minister reaffirmed how we will not accept any physical infrastructure at the border and how we are working on delivering a practical solution that allows for the most seamless possible movement of goods between the UK and EU.

"The Prime Minister thanked the Taoiseach for his welcome of her Florence speech and they discussed the period of implementation which would enable people and businesses, both in the UK and in the EU, to adjust to the new arrangements in a smooth and orderly way."

Labour's former Northern Ireland Secretary Lord Hain, a supporter of the Open Britain campaign for a soft Brexit, said: "Months on from the triggering of Article 50, it is obvious that the Government has achieved nothing whatsoever in solving the problems Brexit poses for the island of Ireland.

"It is an indictment of the Government's Brexit strategy that with the clock ticking and just a year to go until the negotiations are supposed to be completed, the Taoiseach is clear that not enough progress has been made.

"Theresa May's hard Brexit policies will create serious difficulties for Northern Ireland, sabotaging the Good Friday Agreement, putting jobs at risk by restricting cross-border trade and complicating the rights of Northern Irish citizens who travel to the Republic for work and to visit relatives."
Garda have launched an appeal for anyone who may have come across a bloodstained location, car or clothing

Detectives have still not located the bloody scene where a man was viciously stabbed to death before his body was dumped along an isolated Dublin road eight weeks ago.

Gardai investigating the murder of 34-year-old Michal Kurek admitted on Monday that they had yet to find the spot where the Polish national was killed in a frenzied knife attack.

They have launched an appeal for anyone who may have come across a bloodstained location, car or clothing to contact them.

Mr Kurek had lived and worked in Ireland for a number of years, but at the time of his death he was homeless.

His body was found by the side of a road in Grange, Ballyboughal, north Dublin, on August 4 at around 10.40am.

Detective Inspector Eddie Carroll said police had been able to piece together some of Mr Kurek's last known movements and were hoping it would help bring in new information.

His last known location was Clonsilla railway station at 8.51pm on August 3 - just over 24 hours before his body was discovered.

"We have tracked his movements for most of the day before he died. On the morning of August 3 he was at Drumcondra train station at 10.30am.

"He was then at Blanchardstown shopping centre in the evening time and I know he got a train from Coolmine Train Station to Clonsilla train station at 8.51pm on the evening of the 3rd.

"I don't know his movements after that and we are anxious to find out," Mr Carroll told the Press Association.

"We would like to make an appeal for anyone who spoke to him on August 3 or 4 or who may have known his intentions to come forward.

"Also we would like to hear from anyone who may have seen someone with bloodstained clothing on August 3 or 4, blood staining in any vehicle or if anyone noticed a bloodstained location.

"We would be anxious to identify where that location might be because we don't know where the murder occurred."

Mr Carroll said several hundred lines of inquiry had been followed up in relation to the murder. He said however that a motive had not yet been established.

The detective added that it was not known if Mr Kurek had an appointment to meet anyone on the day of his murder.

"We are anxious for someone to come forward and say if he had an appointment or what he was doing," he said.

According to Mr Carroll, the victim was only known to gardai for a minor road traffic matter a number of years ago.

He said Mr Kurek was an educated man and had been living and working in Ireland since 2010. He had only recently become homeless.

"Based on Michal's last known movements, we are particularly keen to hear from people residing in the areas of Ongar, Clonsilla, Coolmine, Hartstown and Huntstown," he said.

"We are also appealing to members of the Polish community. There is definitely someone out there who can help us find who was behind this."

Anyone with information can contact gardai at Balbriggan garda station on 016664500.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said Theresa May should be "utterly ashamed" of her record on law and order (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Theresa May should be utterly ashamed of her record on law and order, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said as he hit out at cuts to the emergency services.

In his Labour conference speech, Mr Khan highlighted 1 billion of real-terms cuts to Scotland Yard between 2010 and 2021 and claimed that police funding for counter-terrorism is set to fall by 7% over the next three years.

The mayor  who was initially denied a speech at the gathering in Brighton before a late change of plan  used his address to praise Jeremy Corbyn after clashing with the Labour leader in the past.

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Mr Khan used his speech to praise the response of the emergency services to the terrorist attacks in the capital and the Grenfell Tower disaster.

But he accused the Tory government  led by former home secretary Mrs May  of overseeing a rise in crime after seven years of cuts to the emergency services, including the police, fire service, NHS and transport network.

He urged the Government to increase overall police funding in real terms at the Budget in November.

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He said: The Tories used to describe themselves as the party of law and order well that sounds like a bad joke today. And frankly, as a former home secretary, Theresa May should be utterly ashamed of her record.

Labour leader Mr Corbyn was notably absent when Mr Khan was inaugurated as London mayor in 2016 and backed Owen Smiths leadership challenge.

But at the conference the mayor said: We made huge progress in the general election and the credit for that goes to one person  the leader of our party  Jeremy Corbyn.

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Comparing Mrs Mays administration to the Conservative infighting at the end of Margaret Thatchers rule, he said: This all feels very familiar  a weak and divided Tory Government refusing to face up to the challenges ahead.

Bickering and infighting over Europe putting our jobs and economy at risk. Chronic underinvestment in public services causing a crisis in our schools and hospitals. And crime on the rise. But conference, this isnt the 1990, this is now. Its like Back to the Future, but it isnt funny.
David Davis has insisted there are no excuses for standing in the way of progress over Britains exit from the European Union as the fourth round of talks resumed in Brussels.

The Brexit Secretary said Theresa Mays speech in Florence on the strategy for quitting the bloc had set out concrete proposals and a breakthrough was now needed.

But the EUs chief negotiator insisted real progress on the divorce bill, citizens rights and the Irish border was essential to move on the discussions.

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Michel Barnier said he was keen and eager to understand how the Prime Ministers speech would be turned into a negotiating strategy.

We do not need to remind ourseves that we are six months into the process. We are getting closer to the UKs withdrawal and I think that this moment should be a moment of clarity.

Mr Davis said the latest citizens rights would be incorporated fully into UK law, progress had been made on resolving the Irish border and insisted the UK would honour commitments made during its EU membership.

Expand Close Mr Davis says "pragmatsim on both sides" is needed to make progress (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mr Davis says "pragmatsim on both sides" is needed to make progress (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP)

The UK is absolutely committed to work through the detail. We are laying out concrete proposals and there are no excuses for standing in the way of progress, he said.

It will take pragmatism on both sides to make headway and I hope we can achieve that this week.

After a meeting earlier of the European Parliament Brexit steering group, Mr Barnier insisted Britain must defer to European courts during any Brexit transition period.

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He said: If the UK is asking for a transitional period, well its the UK asking for it. We are not asking for it.

If the idea is that during this period they will still participate in the single market and the customs union and the policies of the single market then it is quite clear that all European regulations, enforcement, financial conditions, supervision, all of that has to be maintained during the self-same period without any exceptions.

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The Prime Minister offered to continue paying into EU coffers during a two-year transition after Britain leaves in 2019 to ensure the bloc is not left with a budget black hole when she made her speech on Friday.

Under her plans, EU nationals will be free to settle in the UK during the transition period while the rights of those living in the country would be written into British law.

Britain and the EU would continue to enjoy the same access to each others markets while the Prime Minister also held out the prospect of a comprehensive new treaty on future security co-operation.

Mr Davis confirmed the UK would pay in roughly 10 billion a year during the transition  although he played down claims that the final divorce bill once pensions and other liabilities were taken into account could be 40 billion.
Oxford University student Lavinia Woodward was given a 10-month suspended jail sentence for stabbing her boyfriend with a bread knife (Andrew Matthews/PA)

A promising Oxford University medical student who stabbed her boyfriend during a drunken assault with a bread knife has avoided prison  meaning she could return to her studies.

Lavinia Woodward, 24, received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for stabbing her then partner with the knife.

Woodward, a student at the universitys Christ Church college, was to be sentenced earlier this year after admitting unlawful wounding, but the judge gave her four months to prove herself and stay out of trouble.

Expand Close Judge Ian Pringle QC said there were many mitigating circumstances in the case (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Judge Ian Pringle QC said there were many mitigating circumstances in the case (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Oxford Crown Court heard Woodward was later admitted to a clinic for treatment for addictions to Class A drugs and alcohol, and an eating disorder.

The stabbing happened on December 30 last year when Woodwards partner, a Cambridge University student, visited her in Oxford.

He realised she had been drinking and when Woodward discovered he had contacted her mother she became extremely angry and began throwing objects, before stabbing him in the leg.

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Whatsapp Ms Woodward after leaving Oxford Crown Court (Andrew Matthews/PA)

At a previous hearing Woodward, of Christ Church, St Aldates, Oxford, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

James Sturman QC, defending, said she was a different woman since she last appeared in court and would be returning to a clinic for continued treatment.

What she has done since May is do everything Your Honour asked of her, he said.

In my respectful submission the words you used on the last occasion gave her a great motivation to behave herself, keep out of trouble and stay off the drugs.

The tone in May was to see whether she could prove herself, you could take a truly exceptional course. Its not truly exceptional because she goes to Oxford, its because she has gone into rehab.

Mr Sturman criticised the media coverage of Miss Woodwards case, saying she had been photographed while living with her family in Milan and fired from a retail job after being recognised.

After the last occasion it was said she was too clever to go to prison. I have no idea where this came from, he said.

She cant even go into a nightclub in London because she will be recognisable. She is not being treated leniently because she is intelligent  she is a very vulnerable, damaged young woman who will do all she can to put it right.

She will be going back into rehab to get over the trauma and get over the issues that bedevilled her since she was nine years old.

Mr Sturman said Woodward remained in a dilemma as to her future career but had already had articles published in medical journals.

She could return to Oxford, take an academic research job or begin a PhD at another university.

The university remains supportive. Lavinia knows that returning this year would be impossible with the press interest. If she was coming back to Oxford everybody would know all about it, he said.

Passing sentence, Judge Ian Pringle QC said: There are many mitigating features in your case. Principally, at the age of 24 you have no previous convictions of any nature whatsoever.

Secondly, I find that you were genuinely remorseful following this event and indeed, it was against your bail conditions you contacted your partner to fully confess your guilt and your deep sorrow for what happened.

Thirdly, whilst you are a clearly highly intelligent individual, you had an immaturity about you which was not commensurate for someone of your age.

Fourthly, as the reports from the experts make clear, you suffer from an emotionally unstable personality disorder, a severe eating disorder and alcohol-drug dependence.

Finally, and most significantly, you have demonstrated over the last nine months that you are determined to rid yourself of your alcohol and drug addiction and have undergone extensive treatment including counselling to address the many issues that you face.
A national radio presenter was furious after a caller to his show suggested the IRA were not terrorists.

Darren Adam, presenter on LBC, was discussing Google's decision not to remove t-shirts celebrating the IRA from its shopping pages.

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Irishman John called the show to say he believed the IRA was not a terrorist organisation and indeed it was only the British state that were terrorists because of its "appalling anti-Irish racism which demonised them and called them terrorists".

He was asked if he wasn't confusing the IRA with Sinn Fein.

He said he was not and that the IRA was set up as a "democratically elected organisation" which "indulged in military activity".

"I am not being moronic," he said adding he had been involved in the Irish peace process.

"Look at the bombing the RAF did in the Iraq war. I know the IRA was responsible for killing about 1,700 people in the last conflict. I don't believe in killing or in violence. I am not defending [violence] I am pointing out it is anti-Irish and racist [to call them terrorists]."

"What the hell is wrong with you," presenter Darren Adam hit back.

"You are saying the IRA have never been involved in terrorism, that is the single most ludicrous thing I have heard on this programme.

He added: "Have you ever actually heard your own words said back to you? Have you ever actually heard the noises that your yabbering, flapping mouth makes in your own ears?

"When you wake up in the morning this stupid, how do you get through the day without falling over?"
Donald Trump has imposed strict restrictions on travellers from eight countries, three of which were not included in his original travel ban.

Heres what you need to know.

Whos affected?

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Indefinite restrictions apply to citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and North Korea.

And as part of the presidential proclamation signed on Sunday the US will also bar the entry of certain Venezuelan government officials and their immediate families.

The changes will take effect on October 18.

How does it differ to the original ban?

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White House officials said they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various government agencies and in conversation with foreign governments  something that didnt happen the first time around.

Unlike previously, valid visas will not be revoked  and the order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers for citizens of the affected countries.

The new rules include the suspension of all immigrant visas for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, and the suspension of non-immigrant visas, such as for business and tourism, to nationals of Chad, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Yemen.

Citizens of Iran will not be eligible for tourism and business visas, but remain eligible for student and cultural exchange visas if they undergo additional scrutiny. Somali citizens applying for all non-immigrant visas will face the same extra scrutiny.

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The US presidents temporary ban on travel, which affected people from six majority-Muslim countries for 90 days, came to an end on Sunday.

That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lacked a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States from entering the US.

The new ban also affects people from six majority-Muslim countries, with Chad replacing Sudan.

What is the reason for the restrictions?

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The restrictions are targeted at countries that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims fail to share sufficient information with the US or havent taken necessary security precautions.

The DHS has been developing a new security baseline, which includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information, report lost or stolen passports to Interpol  an international law enforcement body  and share information about travellers terror-related and criminal histories.

Citizens of countries that dont meet the standard will face restrictions until they make changes to bring them into compliance.

According to the Washington Post, senior administration officials said Sudans co-operation on these issues showed it was appropriate to remove it from the list.

What is being said about it?

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Critics have accused Trump of violating the US Constitutions protections against religious bias each time he has ordered new travel restrictions.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been challenging Trumps bans in court, believes this one is no different.

ACLU executive director Anthony D Romero said: Six of President Trumps targeted countries are Muslim. The fact that Trump has added North Korea  with few visitors to the US  and a few government officials from Venezuela doesnt obfuscate the real fact that the administrations order is still a Muslim ban. President Trumps original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries on to his enemies list.

The Iranian foreign minister described the restrictions as even more offensive.

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The ban does have a lot of support from Trump supporters, with the president calling during his election campaign for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.

And with North Korea and leftist Venezuela joining the list, some people are happy.

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Tweets on the ACLU feed, with the hashtag #NoMuslimBanEver, suggest the organisation will continue challenging the ban.
German chancellor Angela Merkel celebrate at the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Union in Berlin (AP)

German chancellor Angela Merkel has defended an election campaign which left her conservative bloc significantly weakened despite finishing in first place, as she embarked on what could be a lengthy quest to form a new government.

Mrs Merkel said the success of the nationalist, anti-migrant party AfD, which finished third in Sunday's election, will not influence her Christian Democratic Union's foreign, European and refugee policies.

She once more defended her decision to let in nearly 900,000 migrants and refugees, saying Germany would not again face the humanitarian crisis which led to it.

She said: "I can't see what we should have done differently.

"I thought this campaign through well."

The centre-left Social Democratic Party has been Mrs Merkel's partners in a "grand coalition" since 2013.

The party finished second, but leader Martin Schulz said its tremendously weak showing would require the Social Democrats "to be a strong opposition" going forward.

Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has no tradition of minority governments, and Mrs Merkel has made clear she does not want to go down that route.

This would be a tall order in any case, as her bloc only holds 246 of the new parliament's 709 seats.

The most politically plausible option so far is a three-way coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats and the traditionally left-leaning Greens.

The combination, called a "Jamaica" coalition because the parties' colours match those of the Caribbean nation's flag, has never been tried before in a national government.

Mrs Merkel said she will seek talks with the two parties, as well as with the Social Democrats.

There is unlikely to be much movement before a state election October 15 in Lower Saxony, one of Germany's most populous states.

The chancellor said in Berlin: "It is important that Germany gets a good, stable government.

"All parties ... have a responsibility that we get a stable government."

Mrs Merkel will have to bridge differences between the Free Democrats and Greens.

The parties have a tradition of mutual suspicion as well as differences on issues including environmental policy, European financial policy and the car industry's future.

Mrs Merkel also faces pressure from conservative allies for an effective response to the third-place finish of the nationalist Alternative for Germany, or AfD.

That party won entrance to parliament for the first time Sunday after a campaign that centred on harsh criticism of Mrs Merkel and the migrant influx.

However, the election results left no other party or bloc besides Mrs Merkel's able to lead a new government, and Mrs Merkel herself lacks an obvious internal challenger. She dismissed the idea of seeking a new election.

The chancellor's campaign focused squarely on her 12 years' experience leading Germany through a period of international turmoil, but offered few ideas for the future.

Oskar Niedermayer, a political science professor at Berlin's Free University, said he "wouldn't want to bet" on a Jamaica coalition coming together, saying the parties appear so far apart in many areas that solid compromises are hard to imagine.

If the talks fail, he told n-tv television, the Social Democrats will face the question: "Do they want to take the blame for early elections or will they let themselves be forced into a coalition?"

The talks "will certainly be very complicated and very difficult", said the Greens' co-leader, Katrin Goering-Eckardt. "We will negotiate with great responsibility and great seriousness."

Mrs Merkel's outgoing government took office nearly three months after Germany's 2013 election, a post-Second World War record that could now be exceeded.

Mrs Merkel said she will not be able to tell fellow European Union leaders at a summit this week when her new administration will be in place.

She noted, though, that the Netherlands has still to form a new government after an election in mid-March.

"I'm not the most urgent case yet," Mrs Merkel said.

"I will assure my colleagues that Germany will act responsibly in the phase in which we are in transition."

AP
September has been a troubling month for Sinn Fein. First there was the resignation of Limerick councillor Lisa Marie Sheehy, who said she had been forced out of the party after she was undermined, bullied and humiliated.

Tipperary councillor Seamus Morris then went public in her support, telling his local newspaper that he had been driven to contemplate suicide because of an intense, nine-month hate campaign of harassment and slander.

June Murphy, one-time Sinn Fein East Cork councillor, then weighed in with an interview on local radio discussing the nightmare period before she resigned in 2015 and became an independent who refused the party demand that she vacate her seat.

It just amazes me, for a party that talks about transparency, justice, democracy, all those words. None of it exists in the part, she told local radio just over a week ago.

And to cap it all, last week Sinn Fein expelled three councillors from Wicklow County Council whom it alleged had failed to attend council team meetings over 18 months.

That statement, said one of them, Gerry ONeill, was a barrage of lies and codology and obscured long-standing differences of opinion relating to the imposition of candidates and the extreme use of the party whip even on trivial issues.

Councillor ONeill added that 50 members had resigned over the previous two years.

I often reflect on the complexities Gerry Adams has to deal with as president of a psychologically partitioned party and figurehead of a republican movement dominated covertly by Northern Irish veterans of the IRA.

If he vanished tomorrow, who could replace him?

How would his middle-class, expensively educated, well-travelled Dublin protege and deputy Mary Lou McDonald  who gives the IRA enthusiastic retrospective endorsement but has no republican credentials  really go down in south Armagh?

Even the more thuggish elements there must have had a good laugh when she said she had met Thomas Slab Murphy perhaps twice or three times and had found him very nice, very approachable, a very typical rural man of that age and a staunch supporter of the peace process.

And how would Adams unexpected appointee to the leadership of the party in Northern Ireland, that biddable but intellectually unimpressive politician Michelle ONeill  best known for her enthusiasm for the would-be assassins of Loughgall  play in middle-class Dublin?

The gap between the two Sinn Fein jurisdictions has been highlighted recently by the spate of resignations in the Republic: there has been occasional trouble in Northern Ireland with disillusioned members, but mostly its well below the radar.

When youve been schooled up north in a culture of violence, intimidation and tribal hatred, youre much easier to control than if youre a starry-eyed idealist down south who joined the party because it seemed to have high-sounding aspirations about equality, social justice, peace and love, and discover the reality is very different.

Matt Tracey, one-time adviser in the Dail to Sinn Fein convicted gunrunner Martin Ferris, has written A Tunnel To The Moon: The End Of The Irish Republican Army, an illuminating book on hitherto concealed divisions.

He calculates that having won 264 council seats in elections north and south in 2014, Sinn Fein lost more than 10% to resignation or expulsion  the vast majority in the Republic  in rows over its totalitarian approach to procedures, policies and the handling of dissent.

Councillors investigate councillors and make the findings required by the Dublin leadership.

Its really aggressive and no one is stopping them, said June Murphy, discussing the systematic abuse that had culminated in the promotion of the man she accused of bullying.

It is a culture of men, it gives you the illusion that they support women, they do not; they tell the women what to do. McDonald, she stressed, was no exception: She does what she is told.

Ms Murphy reacted strongly to an assertion of journalist Vincent Browne that Sinn Fein have a very democratic way of electing their party leader.

They do in their a**e, she said. You are told who to vote for all the time and he (Adams) is always the only name. What is democratic about that?

Will any Northern Ireland party members back up their southern counterparts, or are they still too frit?
US Ambassador Terry Branstad, Hebei Party chief Zhao Kezhi (second from left) and Qu Dongyu (third from left), vice-minister of agriculture, are among officials at the launch ceremony of a demonstration farm in Hebei on Saturday. ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY

Expertise from Iowa will be put to use in Hebei, officials explain

Agriculture is especially important to the people of China and the United States, and agricultural cooperation contributes to stronger ties between the two countries, the US ambassador to China said at a launch ceremony of a demonstration farm on Saturday.

The China-US Friendship Demonstration Farm, in Luanping county, Hebei province, covers an area of about 1,330 hectares. It's modeled after a farm near Maxwell, Iowa, owned by Rick and Martha Kimberley and their son Grant.

"The farm  stands as an example of how we can exchange information and ideas, and maintain a growing and improving trade relationship," said Ambassador Terry Branstad, a former governor of the US state of Iowa.

In his speech, Branstad recalled his interactions with President Xi Jinping dating to 1985, when Xi led an agricultural delegation from Hebei province to Iowa when Branstad was governor.

In 2012, invited by Branstad, Xi visited Iowa a second time. He visited the Kimberleys' farm, which he said Chinese farms should be modeled after, according to documents provided by the Luanping government.

The Kimberley farm has an area of about 1,600 hectares, similar to the demonstration farm being built in Hebei. Yet the farm only employs three people due to its use of technology and management, Rick Kimberley said.

"We have monitors that can make records of what we are planning.  The records decide the planting rates and when we harvest we know the yields all through the field.  We use GPS to make sure that we don't over plant, overuse chemicals or over-fertilize," Kimberley said, adding that every step is monitored and standardized in the farm operation.

In Luanping, farms are operated on smaller scales by each household, usually 0.09 hectare per person.

Chen Shuping, a local farmer in her 50s, works on 0.35 hectare of corn farms with her husband, like many local couples do. From planting to harvest, they use their hands and sometimes machines, such as sprayers and cultivators.

Her daughter and son, who are going to school and working in the city nearby, decided not to come home to help take care of the farmland, Chen said.

"If we manage the farmlands together and apply machinery and technology, and more importantly develop the production mode and additional industries, we can improve the efficiency in many aspects," said Zhang Yueyong, president of the agricultural industry of RiseSun, the demonstration farm project's main investor in Hebei.

Zhang said they will explore more possibilities in cooperation with the Kimberley farm and based on the local situation.

"We'll train the farmers to use machines, learn technologies, so they can work and even manage the farm and factories," Zhang said.

Kimberley said he'd love to bring the technology and equipment from his farm to Hebei, help train people and show how to adapt to the changes as farmers, including how to manage the farm, dry and store the grains, and use machinery.

"I am a farmer, and I have great passion for Chinese farmers. I know how hard it is to be a farmer. I want to help the farmers and make a better life for them and make more profits," he said.

The agricultural cooperation between China and the US has made positive progress in recent years, cooperative mechanisms have been improved, agricultural technology exchanges have been strengthened and agricultural trade has been developed rapidly, according to Qu Dongyu, China's vice-minister of agriculture.
A soldier moves amid debris inside a building taken by Philippine government forces during fighting with Islamic State-linked militants in the southern city of Marawi, Sept. 14, 2017.

With its battle space in Iraq and Syria shrinking, the Islamic State (IS) is developing a grand strategy of global expansion.

As part of that strategy, ISs al-Hayat media center released a propaganda video on Sept. 23 that featured Singaporean Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad urging Muslims to immigrate to East Asia for jihad. The three-minute video, the fourth episode in the Inside the Caliphate series, identified Shahdan as Abu Uqayl. He rallied fighters in East Asia and called on Muslims elsewhere to join them, if not in East Asia, then in Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, West Africa or Libya.

In anticipation of their return from Syria and Iraq, IS fighters are calling for creating bridgeheads in their home countries and regions. As IS creates a capability in the Philippines with a view of targeting Southeast and Northeast Asia, the threat cannot be contained without the collaboration of regional governments.

Unless regional military, law enforcement and national security agencies work together, the threat will grow.

With its decline in Iraq and Syria, Islamic State is focusing on building its provinces in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the Caucasus. With the creation of the East Asia division in the Philippines and its siege of Marawi, IS plans to deepen its ideological and operational influence in Southeast Asia.

To destabilize the region, IS strategy is to radicalize and militarize Southeast Asians, including Singaporeans. Shahdan, 39, was recruited in the Middle East by IS and serves in Syria today.

Video message

O mujahideen in East Asia, you have raised the structure of the Khilafah, brought joy to the hearts of the believers, and angered the enemies of Allah. Jazakumullahu khayran [May Allah reward you]. Bear in mind that right now you are grasping very hot coals and marching on the path of the prophets, Shahdan said in the video.

And likewise the prophets were tested. So continue upon this path, and sacrifice all that is precious. Show Allah what he loves from you, for he has promised you one of the two great outcomes  victory or shahadah [martyrdom]. So glad tidings to you, O muwahhid [monotheist], he went on to say.

And to the believers in the four corners of the world, hijrah [immigration] and jihad will not cease until the hour. For those who fear Allah, he will surely provide them a way, so answer the call of Allah subhanahu wa taala [Great and Almighty] and march forth, heavy or light.

Join the ranks of the mujahidin in East Asia, and inflict black days upon the crusaders. Otherwise, make your way to Sham, Khurasan, Yemen, West Africa, or Libya. By Allah, the fighting there is only beginning to intensify.

The video in English is designed to reach out to Singaporeans and others in the region who speak the language.

Strategy 3.0

Shahdans statement is consistent with IS strategy 3.0. Strategy 1.0 was to create a solid base in the IS heartland of Iraq and Syria and strategy 2.0 is to create provinces (wilayat).

IS strategy 3.0 is to empower like-minded threat groups, existing wilayat and support divisions to spread ideology and enhance operations.

In preparation for strategy 3.0, IS harnesses nationals in theater to recruit from their own homelands and regional neighborhoods. These nationals are called to implement ISs grand strategy of global expansion. They support regional conflicts by empowering groups, standing up divisions and declaring wilayats to fight their enemies worldwide.

First for Singapore

This is the first time a Singaporean has been featured in IS propaganda. The news should be a warning to the region of future IS intentions.

The propaganda video will not alarm Southeast Asians, but will make them vigilant. It will strengthen the resolve of regional governments to work together to secure the region.

Unlike some leaders in the Middle East, Southeast Asian leaders have taken a firm stand against IS. In addition, home affairs and defense ministers are preparing the intelligence and direct action capabilities needed to contain, isolate and eliminate the IS threat.

IS is expanding in regions with significant Muslim populations. Its strategy always has been to use locals to recruit locals and dupe them into joining.

The nationals who have traveled to theater are persuaded to reach out to others in their countries with the intention of facilitating their travel to conflict zones to fight or precipitate attacks at home.

Singapore is a prized target of both IS- and al-Qaeda-centric terrorists. Nonetheless Singaporeans are raised to treasure harmony and are resilient to IS propaganda, so the message has no wide appeal.

Singaporeans value moderation, toleration and coexistence. Having understood the harm IS has caused elsewhere, Singapores government and community leaders, especially Muslim leaders, have responded decisively to the threat.

Rohan Gunaratna is professor of Security Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the Nanyang Technology University and head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and not of BenarNews.
Children account for about 60 percent of the Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh, the U.N. says

Nearly one-quarter million Rohingya children have fled to the relative safety of Bangladesh in the last month, but they are sheltering amid precarious conditions and some are alone, according to the U.N. and NGOs focusing relief efforts on an unprecedented wave of refugees from Myanmar.

A UNICEF cargo plane carrying 100 tons of supplies including water purifying tablets, hygiene kits and sanitary materials, arrived in Dhaka from Copenhagen on Sunday. The supplies were to be transported by truck to southeastern Cox Bazar district to provide aid to the 429,000 refugees who have crossed into Bangladesh since Aug. 25 to escape violence in Myanmars Rakhine state.

The U.N. agency estimates that six of every 10 refugees who fled Rakhines latest cycle of violence are children.

Ensuring that children and families have safe water for drinking and washing is absolutely essential in order to protect them against diarrhea and other waterborne diseases, said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh. This is a very real threat given the current situation in the camps and makeshift settlements where the Rohingya are now living, especially amid the current heavy rains.

In Teknaf last week, a 6-year-old girl told a BenarNews reporter that she hoped to be able to eat.

I havent had any meals in the last four to five days so I am waiting beside the street to get some food, she said, adding her mother was elsewhere, begging for food.

A 9-year-old boy echoed her plight. I am from Gojobil in Myanmar. I havent had a meal in the last four days, after crossing the border to escape from the torture in Rakhine, he told BenarNews.

Save the Children estimated that as many as 1 million Rohingya, including 600,000 children, could arrive in Bangladesh by years end even though reports showed that the influx of refugees had slowed in recent days.

Beneath the hardship and suffering faced by the Rohingya whove arrived in Bangladesh, there is a child protection crisis on our doorstep. Were seeing numbers of children arriving alone and in desperate need of help, said Mark Pierce, the director of Save the Children in Bangladesh.

Exposed to criminal exploitation

Even as aid trickles into refugee camps, rights activists expressed concern that many Rohingya women and children could be exploited by human traffickers and others.

This is a real concern as these children are in an especially vulnerable position, being at increased risk of exploitation and abuse, as well as things like child trafficking, Pierce said in a statement.

Those risks are real, said Afrozul Haque Tutul, an additional superintendent of police in Coxs Bazar. He said a group of criminals had been actively trying to exploit Rohingya.

I just caught a person who was trying to traffic a Rohingya girl. The man has a Bangladeshi national identity card. He hails from Teknaf. We are examining whether his national identity card is genuine, Tutul told BenarNews.

Since Aug. 25, police had arrested more than 200 brokers who were trying to exploit Rohingya, he said. The suspects were involved in different types of criminal activities, including human trafficking.

Salma Ali, chief of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, said she witnessed gangs and human traffickers catching unattended children and young girls at the Shahporirdwip entry point along the Myanmar border two days ago.

I saw no checking, no obstruction either from the Border Guard Bangladesh or the police, she told BenarNews.

I saw three women crying at Shahporirdwip. As I asked, they informed me that the human trafficker took away three young Rohingya girls as they got on board the fishing boat to cross into Bangladesh, she said.

These women and children will be trafficked to India, Pakistan and beyond for sexual servitude and slavery, no doubt, Ali added.

Large number pregnant, breastfeeding

Pregnant women face a different set of hardships. More than 15,000 pregnant Rohingya women were among the new refugee arrivals in Bangladesh, and the government has faced the challenge of ensuring that they receive proper reproductive health services, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malik told BenarNews.

Women do not stop getting pregnant or having babies just because an emergency hits, said Iori Kato, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) activing representative in Bangladesh.

Earlier this month UNFPA announced that it had deployed dozens of midwives, many with special training in humanitarian response, to Coxs Bazar to support health personnel already there.

Thirteen percent of the newly arrived women were pregnant or breastfeeding, UNFPA said in a news release.

The women who are coming for check-ups all have a terrified and exhausted look, Sumaya, a UNFPA-supported midwife posted at the Nayapara refugee camp, said. We keep hearing stories from them of walking through jungles and across hills for days without food, their children carried over their shoulders. Theyve lost their homes.

Aid arriving, more needed

In Dhaka on Monday, Filippo Grandi, the U.N.s high commissioner for refugees, held a news conference on the humanitarian situation in southeastern Bangladesh, where he briefed reporters about his visit to refugee camps in Coxs Bazar.

The people I met were deeply traumatized, and despite having found refuge in Bangladesh, they are still exposed to enormous hardship, Grand said.

Despite every effort by those on the ground, the massive influx of people seeking safety rapidly outpaced capacities to respond, and the situation has still not stabilized. More is needed, and fast, if we are to avoid further deterioration, he added.

Also on Monday, India brought in about 900 tons of relief materials aboard the ship INS Gharial. The food, clothing and basic medical supplies were to be delivered to the port in Chittagong on Thursday.

Indias relief to Rohingyas would not only ease the financial burden on Bangladesh struggling to maintain the Rohingya refugees but would also earn sympathy among the Rohingya Muslims. Its a win-win situation, Dushyant Nagar, a political analyst, told BenarNews.

UNICEF, meanwhile, announced that it was seeking U.S. $7.3 million in funding to provide aid in southeastern Bangladesh over the next three months. Officials expect that figure to grow as the refugee population increases.

The United States plans to provide nearly $32 million in new humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees, bringing the total commitment to nearly $95 million in this fiscal year, the U.S. State Department announced last week.

Akash Vashishtha in New Delhi contributed to this report.
Jo bin Muhammad Aceng Kurnia (alias Juhanda), a defendant in a church attack that killed one child last year, smiles after receiving a life sentence from the East Jakarta District Court, Sept. 25, 2017.

An Indonesian militant linked to the Islamic State (IS) group smiled after a court in Jakarta sentenced him on Monday to life in prison for a church attack that killed a toddler and injured three other children last year.

Jo bin Muhammad Aceng Kurnia (alias Juhanda) threw a Molotov cocktail at Oikumene Church in Samarinda, capital city of East Kalimantan province, in November 2016, killing toddler Intan Olivia Banjarnahor, and injuring three other children.

Surung Simanjuntak, presiding judge of East Jakarta District Court, emphasized the defendants lack of remorse and previous conviction.

Whats incriminating is that defendant (Juhanda) does not regret his action, and he was a former prisoner convicted for book-bombs terror, the judge said Monday, referring to a terror attack in 2011 where explosive devices hidden in books were delivered through the mail to activists.

The defendant deliberately attacked the church, although he knew there were many children in the churchyard, the judge said.

Juhanda, 32, was convicted in 2011 for terrorism offenses, but was paroled in July 2014, police said.

Police said Juhanda learned bomb-making techniques in Aceh from the group led by Dulmatin, a senior figure in the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and one of Southeast Asias most-wanted terrorist until he was killed in a police raid in March 2010.

The judge ruled Juanda was guilty of violating Indonesias anti-terror law.

The explosion also damaged several motorbikes and caused casualties, one of them is the (death of) a 2-year-old toddler, so the criminal act as indicted is fulfilled legally and convincingly, Simanjuntak said.

The sentence matches the prison term sought by prosecutors.

We are satisfied, prosecutor Yuhana Nurhisyam said.

Juhandas attorney, Tri Saupa Angkawijaya, said he would consider whether to appeal or accept the sentence.

Ill think about it, we will discuss it with the team, he said.

Four of the defendants in the Samarinda Church attack case  (from left) Rahmad, Ahmad Dani, Joko Sugito and Supriyadi  leave the East Jakarta District Court, Sept. 25, 2017. [Arie Firdaus/BenarNews]

Co-conspirators sentenced

In a separate trial, Simanjuntak also sentenced four co-conspirators who were arrested on the same day with Juhanda, not long after he attacked the church on Nov. 13, 2016.

The four men, Supriyadi, Ahmad Dani, Rahmad and Joko Sugito, together with Juhanda, had pledged to IS and discussed about their terror plan in a mosque in Samarinda, according to a document read in court.

The four men received prison terms ranging from six to seven years. The verdicts were lighter than what the prosecutors sought.

Indonesia, home to the worlds largest Muslim-majority population, has been wracked by terror attacks targeting police and houses of worship since the 1970s, but none have caused major casualty figures.

But a bomb attack on Oct. 12, 2002, killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, in the tourist district of Kuta on the island of Bali.

Last year, at least 160 people with alleged ties to IS were arrested in Indonesia, according to National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman gives an opening statement at the ASEAN-U.S. Ministerial meeting in suburban Manila, Aug. 6, 2017.

Tensions between Malaysia and fellow ASEAN states have deepened over the blocs handling of the Rohingya Muslim crisis in Myanmar and Bangladesh, with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman rebuking ASEANs latest statement on the issue.

The minister issued an unusually sharp statement on Sunday night saying Malaysia disagreed with and was detaching itself from a separate statement sent out earlier in the day by the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who spoke on behalf of the 10 ASEAN foreign ministers.

Anifah let it be known that the Malaysian government was angry because the ASEAN statement made no mention of the word Rohingya, members of a stateless Muslim minority group who allegedly have been targeted in atrocities in Myanmars Rakhine state.

During the past month, more than 400,000 Rohingya have crossed into southeastern Bangladesh as they fled the latest cycle of violence in Rakhine.

Malaysia would like to dissociate itself with the chairmans statement as we are of the view that it is a misrepresentation of the reality of the situation. In this regard, Malaysia has made known its concerns but they were not reflected in the chairmans statement, Anifah said.

Hence, the chairmans statement was not based on consensus. The statement also omits the Rohingyas as one of the affected communities, Malaysias foreign minister added

He was referring to one of ASEANs founding principles stipulating that all collective statements be agreed to unanimously by its 10 members.

Myanmars military and local Buddhist militia in Rakhine have been blamed for targeting Rohingya civilians in atrocities such as killings and the burnings of hundreds of homes and villages belonging to the minority. Authorities in Myanmar, which is a member of ASEAN, have instead accused an insurgent group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), of fomenting violence in Rakhine.

The cycle of violence began on Aug. 25, when ARSA insurgents launched deadly attacks on Myanmar police outposts in Rakhine.

The word Rohingya is a controversial in Myanmar, whose government has refused to grant citizenship to members of this minority group. The Buddhist majority refers to Rohingya pejoratively as Bengalis, because of their physical similarities with people from neighboring Bangladesh and to imply they are undocumented immigrants.

In his statement, Anifah said Malaysia condemned the ARSA attacks on police, but that the clearance operations by Myanmar authorities were disproportionate in that [these have] led to deaths of many innocent civilians and caused more than 400,000 Rohingyas to be displaced.

He also called on Myanmar to end the violence in Rakhine and stop destruction to lives and properties.

Out of respect for its position

On Monday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that the Philippines respected Malaysias stance on the Rakhine issue and its decision to disavow its participation in the wording that went into Cayetanos official statement as the ASEAN chairman.

ASEAN is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the northern Rakhine State and since Malaysia has different views on some issues, out of respect for its position, we decided that instead of a foreign ministers statement, we would issue a chairmans statement that would reflect the general sentiments of the other foreign ministers, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in its statement on Monday.

The ASEAN statement was issued after extensive consultations with Malaysia, the DFA added.

The Philippines as chair tolerates the public manifestation of dissenting voices, the department said. This demonstrates a new level of maturity on how we implement ASEANs consensus principle when confronted with issues affecting national interests.

The Philippines is this years holder of ASEANs chair, which rotates among its 10 members.

Anifahs statement was the second this month criticizing ASEANs handling of the crisis in Rakhine state.

In early September, Anifah said the Malaysian government had lost confidence in the regional bloc over its response to the Rakhine issue.

Malaysia has voiced concern to Myanmar and other ASEAN countries in meetings and they have pledging to solve the matter but the issue has not been addressed and what we see now is the violence against Rohingya Muslim has increased, Anifah said after meeting with the Brazilian foreign minister in Putrajaya on Sept. 6.

In my opinion, ASEAN is no longer able to address this issue. I am no longer hoping for the organization to solve the problem of Rohingya Muslims, he added.

Felipe Villamor in Manila contributed to this report.
Members of Malaysia's counter-terrorism tactical unit take part in the 60th National Day celebrations at Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 31, 2017.

A Malaysian court Monday charged an alleged mastermind and three fellow suspected members of the Philippine-based Abu Sayyaf (ASG) militant group in connection with a foiled terror plot against the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur last month.

Hajar Abdul Mubin, 25, (alias Abu Asrie), the alleged mastermind who has been identified by the Philippine military as the right-hand man of a senior leader of ASG, was charged on suspicion of being a member of a terrorist group, according to court documents. Under Malaysias Penal Code, membership with a terrorist group carries life imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.

The court also charged three other ASG suspects  Malaysians Ahmad Omar, 52, and Jaffar Ahmad, 26, and 25-year-old Filipino Abdul Syamir Dabili  after they intentionally omitted information about their terrorist activities, documents show. The charge is punishable with seven years in prison or a fine, or both.

The four men worked in the construction sector and were among 19 terror suspects arrested by Malaysian police between early July and Aug. 31.

Hajar, who was involved in kidnappings and clashes with soldiers in the southern Philippines, had slipped into Malaysia through Sandakan in the state of Sabah, before making his way to Kuala Lumpur in December 2015, Malaysian Police Chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun said in a statement early this month.

He also had reportedly met with several suspected Malaysian Islamic State (IS) militants, including Mahmud Ahmad, who allegedly served as a conduit for IS funds coming from the Middle East. Mahmud was actively involved in the siege of the southern Philippine city of Marawi together with ASG leader Isnilon Hapilon, the acknowledged regional IS leader.

In Mondays proceedings, all four suspects nodded when asked if they understood the charges, after these were read out in Malay at the Kajangs Sessions Court in the state of Selangor. They were not represented by lawyers.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Noorhafizan Zakaria did not offer bail since the suspects were arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) 2012.

Police arrested eight of the 19 suspects between July and August when they raided the hideouts of terror suspects in the states of Selangor, Johor, Kelantan and in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Police said the raids were launched to thwart a terror plot during the closing ceremony of the Southeast Asian games, and the country's Independence Day on Aug. 31, in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Police did not provide details on the terror plot and did not mention if any weapons or explosives were recovered during the series of raids.

Intelligence shows the suspect planned to launch attacks during the SEA Games closing ceremony in National Stadium (Bukit Jalil) and during the National Day celebration, Fuzi said in a statement earlier this month, describing Hajar as the plots mastermind.

Eleven nations and thousands of athletes participated in the 29th edition of the SEA Games, from Aug. 19 to 30.

ASG is notorious for abducting civilians from different countries and executing foreign hostages when ransoms are not met. Some of the groups fighters are linked with IS and have also been involved in occupying Marawi since May 23.

Since the beginning of the year, 41 foreigners classified as foreign terrorist fighters have been captured in Malaysia, Fuzi told reporters on Thursday.

During the past four years, Malaysian authorities have arrested 339 people suspected of having links to terrorism organizations, including IS. Sixty-six of those suspects have been freed, according to government figures compiled by BenarNews.
The Philippine military voiced optimism Monday that it would soon clear the southern city of Marawi of Islamic State-backed militants, as its forces recovered a third bridge vital to the rebels defensive positions and rescued four more hostages.

In Marawi on Sunday, regional military chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez presented to the press ex-hostages Abdul Naser Ergas Mangondaya, Kiram Datu Dakula Ampatua, Abdullah Nixon Rakiin and Lordvin Acopio.

All of them were rescued last week by soldiers on the frontline here, with Acopio freed along with Father Teresito Soganub, the vicar general of the citys small Catholic Church.

We cannot provide exact details of how they were rescued because there are still 46 of them and it might compromise our operations, Galvez said when asked to provide circumstances surrounding the rescue.

It was also not clear how they came about the number of the hostages, considering that President Rodrigo Duterte and Soganub had earlier said that as many as 200 to 300 hostages, including children, were being held by the gunmen.

Neither did he divulge the fate of the IS leader in Marawi, Isnilon Hapilon, who, according to military intelligence data, was fighting with as many as 80 other fighters here, including militants from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

However, he predicted that the fighting would be finished soon.

Ten days or two weeks. Thats our timeline, Galvez said, declining to give specifics even as he voiced optimism that Marawi, the only Islamic city in the mostly Catholic Philippines, would soon be fully liberated.

Since May 23, at least 670 militants, 149 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed in the fighting, the biggest security challenge to President Rodrigo Dutertes year-old government. Some 1,182 people who had been caught in the crossfire have also been rescued.

Anything can happen when the (gunmen) become desperate. The focus of the operation is still to rescue the remaining hostages, he said, describing the situation on the ground as very volatile.

In the coming days, he said more forces were expected to augment the troops in Marawi and tighten the noose around the battle area.

So the instruction is, no way in and out. And we have a very small risk that our enemies can get out from the battle zone, he said.

While the military made significant progress over the past two weeks, the gunmen still controlled about 10 hectares of the city.

Apology to evacuees

Earlier on Monday, Galvez apologized to people displaced by the fighting and who were staying in evacuation camps in the town of Saguiran, not far from Marawi.

We wanted to finish it early. We know the evacuees have been suffering. But I really apologize for the delay. Hopefully within a few days its over, he said.

He promised them that the rehabilitation phase would begin by October.

The clashes flared up when soldiers and policemen moved to arrest Hapilon, the acknowledged head of the Islamic State in Mindanao who is on the list of terrorists wanted by the United States.

Last week, during his fifth visit to troops here, President Duterte said the end of the combat operation is just around the corner.

Richel V. Umel contributed to this report.
Vietnamese fishermen, who were arrested after allegedly trespassing in Philippine waters, wave as they prepare to depart during a send-off ceremony led by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (not pictured) in Sual town, Pangasinan province, north of Manila, Nov. 2, 2016.

The Philippines on Monday assured Vietnam that it would carry out an impartial probe into the deaths of two Vietnamese fishermen who were gunned down after a local navy ship fired warning shots during a sea chase at the weekend.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said a thorough investigation was being carried out two days after the incident, which occurred about 34 miles off the coast of Cape Bolinao in northern Pangasinan province.

The area was well within (Manilas) exclusive economic zone, Abella said in a statement issued in Manila.

The incident led to the death of two Vietnamese nationals and the DFA [foreign office] is closely coordinating with the officials of the Vietnamese Embassy in Manila to update them on the developments and to facilitate their access to the five other Vietnamese fishermen taken into custody by the Philippine Navy, Abella said.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano also extended the Philippines condolences to his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Bin Minh, during an informal meeting in New York, where Southeast Asian ministers were attending a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly.

He said the Philippine Navy, the coast guard, as well as the local maritime police have conducted an investigation into the incident.

We would like to offer our sympathies over the unfortunate loss of life and give you our assurance that we will conduct a fair and thorough investigation into this matter, Cayetano said.

The police, in a report, said the Vietnamese fishing vessel was allegedly engaged in illegal fishing in Philippine waters.

A joint team from the police, the coast guard and the navy saw six Vietnamese fishing vessels in the area. But one of the fishing vessels immediately turned off its lights and sped off, triggering a chase and prompting the local authorities to fire warning shots, the police report said.

Despite numerous and repeated orders through marine-band radio and megaphone to stop fleeing, the Vietnamese vessel initiated a dangerous maneuver and subsequently rammed the Philippine Navy patrol boat in an attempt to escape, the report said.

When the Philippine ship caught up with the Vietnamese boat, Philippine sailors saw two dead bodies lying on its deck, it said, adding that the two bore gunshot wounds to the head and body, although no contraband were seen inside the Vietnamese vessel.

An initial investigation by the maritime police showed that the Vietnamese vessel had seven crewmen on board.

Cayetano said the five other arrested Vietnamese fishermen would be treated fairly and that Vietnamese Embassy officials would not be barred from visiting them.

However, the foreign office also said, the Vietnamese boat was clearly at fault and by initiating very dangerous maneuvers that led to the incident.

Forty-nine people aboard the Filipino naval vessel, the BRP Malvar, were placed under investigation. It was not clear whether they were restricted to the ship or were apprehended.

In August, the Philippine Coast Guard detained 10 Vietnamese fishermen on suspicion of poaching off a remote southwestern Philippine island after they found 70 dead sharks in their boat.

The Philippines and Vietnam are among six nations that have territorial claims in the South China Sea. The others are Brunei, China, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Frequent arrests of fishermen have often been the cause of tension in the South China Sea, a strategically important and potentially mineral-rich region that straddles vital commercial and fishing lanes.

Felipe Villamor in Manila contributed to this report.
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For Immediate Release, September 25, 2017 Contact: Gary Bobker, The Bay Institute, (415) 272-6616, bobker@bay.org

Jeff Miller, Center for Biological Diversity, (707) 604-7739, jmiller@biologicaldiversity.org

Erica Maharg, SF Baykeeper, (510) 735-9700 x 106, Erica@baykeeper.org Lawsuit Challenges California Permits for Delta Tunnels to Harm Endangered Salmon, Smelt SACRAMENTO, Calif. Conservation groups have sued the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to challenge the legality of a state permit that would allow the controversial Delta tunnels project to kill endangered salmon and other imperiled fish protected by the states Endangered Species Act. The tunnels project known as California WaterFix would divert massive amounts of fresh water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California, doing significant harm to Central Valley salmon runs, declining Delta fish populations and the Bay-Delta ecosystem. Salmon and smelt populations are already on the verge of extinction, and the states own science shows that exporting even more water from the Delta by approving the tunnels project would hasten extinction, said Gary Bobker, program director at the Bay Institute. Its clearly illegal to permit WaterFix when doing so places the future existence of these species at risk, and unnecessary too, since there are better ways to meet our states water supply needs than approving this project. The lawsuit was filed Friday in California Superior Court in Sacramento by the Bay Institute, Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council and San Francisco Baykeeper; theyre represented by the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice. The suit challenges Fish and Wildlifes July 2017 issuance of a take permit for the tunnel operations. The agency improperly authorized the California Department Water Resources to kill and harm state-protected fish species, including winter-run and spring-run chinook salmon, longfin smelt and Delta smelt. You cant just give a permit to decimate Californias remaining salmon runs and drive critical fish species in the Bay Delta to extinction, said Jeff Miller with the Center for Biological Diversity. Its time to kill this misguided tunnels project once and for all and focus on improving fresh water flows to restore the Delta. California WaterFix is the latest in a long line of water diversion projects intended to remove vast quantities of water from the Delta before it reaches San Francisco Bay. On the scale of the English Channel Tunnel, the $17 billion to $67 billion project would build two 30-mile tunnels, each four stories high, to route water from the Sacramento River in the north Delta to central and Southern California. The water diversions would degrade habitat conditions for declining runs of salmon and smelt, kill young fish at diversion points, disrupt the estuarys food chain and increase salinity in the Delta. "Construction and operation of the tunnels will devastate California's native fisheries, threaten thousands of fishing jobs, and leave the Bay-Delta estuary worse off than today," said Doug Obegi, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "It will also divert critical funding away from cost-effective water supply solutions. The Bay ecosystem needs freshwater inputs to survive and be healthy, said Erica Maharg, managing attorney at San Francisco Baykeeper. By allowing the proposed tunnels to export too much freshwater for central and Southern California, the Department of Fish and Wildlife is shirking its duty to protect the already threatened and endangered fish of San Francisco Bay. State officials from the governor on down falsely claim that WaterFix would improve conditions for critically endangered native fish, including Californias once abundant chinook salmon, said Trent Orr, Earthjustice staff attorney. But disrupting a vast area with decades of construction to take even more fresh water from an already degraded Delta would hasten these species demise, not restore them to healthy populations. Background

The proposed WaterFix diversion of Delta water would dramatically degrade habitat and water quality conditions for chinook salmon, longfin smelt and Delta smelt by decreasing flows into and through the Delta, placing already fragile and declining fish populations in serious jeopardy of extinction. All of these fish species are protected under the California Endangered Species Act. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife cannot legally issue a permit to kill or take these protected species because operation of the tunnels would jeopardize the continued existence of the protected fish species. Although the Act requires that any take of protected species must be minimized and fully mitigated, the Department failed to include mitigation measures that could successfully prevent these fish species from declining. The Department also violated the Act by failing to use the best available science on the impacts of the tunnels and associated water diversion. Last week conservation groups challenged the legality of proposed bonds to pay for the construction of the tunnels project. Earlier this week Westlands Water District, the largest supplier of irrigation water to California farms, voted to not participate in the Delta tunnels project. A court ruling against the bonds or rejection of the project by major water districts could be fatal to WaterFix because the projects success hinges on funding commitments by the recipients of the project water. Public funds cannot legally be used to pay for the project. Conservation groups have also challenged the adequacy of the environmental review for WaterFix under Californias Environmental Quality Act. In addition to driving endangered species toward extinction, the project would devastate Delta farmers, Sacramento Valley communities and what is left of Californias salmon fishing economy. In response, a large array of organizations, public agencies and municipalities have now filed multiple lawsuits challenging the project on a wide variety of legal grounds, including 21 conservation and fishing groups, 30 water agencies, and 12 counties and cities, as well as Delta famers and the Winnemem Wintu Indian tribe.
For Immediate Release, September 25, 2017 Contact: Elise Bennett, Center for Biological Diversity, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org

Glen Hooks, Sierra Club, (501) 744-2674, glen.hooks@sierraclub.org Ban Sought on Wild Turtle Trapping in Arkansas 14 Types of Turtles Can Be Caught, Sold in Unlimited Numbers LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The Center for Biological Diversity and several Arkansas-based environmental organizations petitioned the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission today to end commercial collection of the states wild turtles. Currently turtle trappers can legally collect unlimited numbers of 14 types of turtle to sell domestically or export to Asian food, pet and medicinal markets. If Arkansas bans collections, it would join a growing number of states preserving important wildlife and natural resources. In just the last week, New York banned commercial collection of diamondback turtles and Nevada halted commercial reptile collection. And last year Missouri agreed to consider turtle-trapping regulations. All of these actions were in response to work by the Center for Biological Diversity. Arkansas precious turtles shouldnt be sacrificed so a few trappers can make a quick buck, said Elise Bennett, a Center attorney dedicated to protecting rare reptiles and amphibians. Its time for the state to adopt common-sense measures to protect its turtles from unchecked exploitation. Arkansas allows turtle harvesting from waters across roughly half the state, including the entirety of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers. According to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission harvest report records, 126,381 freshwater turtles were harvested from 2014 to 2016. This harvest was geographically concentrated, with two-thirds of those turtles taken from only five counties. Scientists have repeatedly documented that freshwater turtles cannot sustain any significant level of wild collection without population-level impacts and declines. For example, a study of common snapping turtles demonstrated that a modest harvest pressure of 10 percent per year for 15 years could result in a 50 percent reduction in population size. And an Arkansas study found that turtles from populations in heavily harvested areas were significantly smaller than those from areas where harvesting is not permitted. Unlimited commercial turtle harvesting is bad for our rivers and bad for Arkansas, said Glen Hooks, director of the Arkansas Sierra Club. The science clearly points to the need to protect our states delicate resources. We call on our Arkansas wildlife regulators to join other states in our region and end this practice immediately. The wholesale exploitation of aquatic turtle populations in Arkansas threatens the health of our water bodies, said Cindy Franklin, president of the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas. Aquatic turtles, from formidable snapping turtles to diminutive map turtles, serve an important purpose as the principal scavengers of our aquatic ecosystems. Without turtles to consume dead fish and debris on the bottoms of our waterways, water quality can decline and become unpleasant for wildlife and people alike. Historically, Arkansas had one of the highest levels of aquatic biodiversity in the nation, but that abundance is rapidly declining because our native species are not protected, said Debbie Doss, director at Arkansas Watertrails Partnership. Arkansas second largest economic engine is tourism, and much of that tourism depends on opportunities for wildlife viewing here in The Natural State. Turtles are popular on our water trails and can always be counted on to put in an appearance. But now we are seeing fewer and fewer turtle species on our rivers. The last thing we need is to have our diversity raided from the outside. I hope we will do the right thing and ban the taking of these special creatures. All research on commercial turtle harvesting shows that profitable levels of capture success are unsustainable, said Bruce Kingsbury, director of the Environmental Resources Center at Indiana-Purdue University. The reason for this is that turtles naturally have low levels of reproductive success, leading to a greater need for the persistence of adults over time so that they can keep trying to reproduce. Large-scale turtle trapping can also be disruptive to the natural habitat where the trapping occurs. Todays petition was submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity, Arkansas Sierra Club, Arkansas Watertrails Partnership, Audubon Society of Central Arkansas, Environmental Resources Center, Kory Roberts and John Kelly, a biologist who recently studied Arkansas turtle harvest. Background

Life-history characteristics such as delayed sexual maturity, dependence on high adult survival and high natural levels of nest mortality make turtles vulnerable to rapid declines from exploitation. As part of a campaign to protect turtles in the United States, the Center has been petitioning states that allow commercial turtle collection to improve their 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 March, Iowa adopted new regulations setting closed seasons and possession limits for commercial turtle trappers.
The former chairman of China Insurance Regulatory Commission, Xiang Junbo, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and dismissed from public office for corruption and violating the Party's code of conduct, according to a statement released by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Saturday.

Xiang violated the Party's eight-point frugality code, attended lavish banquets and had long engaged in superstitious activities, the CCDI said.

He refused to cooperate with the Party's investigation, failed to report personal information, traded power for sex and was engaged in for-profit activities, the statement said.

Xiang, who is suspected of taking bribes, took advantage of his position for the profit of others and accepted a large amount of property in return, it said.

As a senior official, Xiang lost his faith in the Party, and his wrongdoings were of a grave nature. He should be punished severely, the statement said.

Xiang's illegal gains will be confiscated and the matter will be transferred to judicial authorities, it added. In a separate case, Mo Jiancheng, a former member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Finance, was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for violating the Party's code of conduct. Mo acted against the Party's eight-point frugality code, attended lavish banquets, and took bribes to help other people gain promotions, according to a statement by the CCDI, the country's top anti-graft watchdog.

Mo took advantage of his position to benefit others and also accepted a large amount of property, the statement said.

While a senior official, Mo lost his faith in the Party, it said, noting that even after the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, he still showed no restraint. His wrongdoings were also of a grave nature, the statement said.

Mo's illegal gains will be confiscated and his case will be transferred to the judiciary, it added.

Mo, who was born in 1956, led the disciplinary inspection team sent by the CCDI to the Finance Ministry.

Xinhua
Aldi has seen sales jump to record heights despite profits slipping by nearly a fifth as the supermarket drove investment into cutting prices and expanding its reach.

The German discount grocer said annual sales in the UK and Ireland rose 13.5% to 9.8bn in 2016, with the firm enticing more than one million new customers into its stores over the period.

However, operating profit was down 17% to 23.2m due to an ongoing investment drive, which saw it commit 500m to opening new stores and improving its UK and Ireland distribution centres.

The supermarket group plans to plough further funds into launching another 70 UK stores in 2018 in a push to open 1,000 stores by 2022.

Matthew Barnes, chief executive of UK and Ireland, said: "Our growth is accelerating, thanks to the hundreds of thousands of new customers switching their shop to Aldi.

"This is happening right across the UK and is all down to a simple, straightforward commitment - products comparable to the leading brands and supermarket premium ranges at the lowest prices in Britain.

"We're doing everything we can to insulate customers from those cost increases, making sure our prices are the lowest in the UK, every day of the year.

"At the same time, we've been improving the quality of our range and introducing the new products our customers have asked for."

Aldi said it secured bumper sales growth despite the wider grocery market expanding by just 0.5% over the period, according to industry figures from Kantar Worldpanel.

Its sales were partly boosted by a strong Christmas period, with December sales climbing 15% in 2016.

However, gross profits fell 7% to 367.4m, down from 396m in 2015.

As part of its investment, Aldi said it would launch another 150 stores under its 340m Project Fresh strategy, which aims to carve out more space for its fresh, chilled and food-to-go ranges.

It said Britain's vote to leave the European Union had no impact on its investment plans and it would push 519m back into the business during 2017.
Consumer goods giant Unilever has struck a 2.27bn deal to buy South Korean cosmetics firm Carver Korea.

The Anglo-Dutch company has bought the entire business from Bain Capital Private Equity, Goldman Sachs and the firm's founder, strengthening its foothold in the Asian beauty market.

Carver Korea secured sales of 321m and earnings of 137m last year, with sales of its AHC brand making it the fastest growing skincare business in South Korea.

The tie-up is subject to regulatory approval.

Alan Jope, Unilever president of personal care, said: "We are delighted to be acquiring Carver Korea. It is an impressive business that is completely aligned to our personal care strategy.

"It will significantly strengthen our position in north Asia, the largest skincare market in the world, and will complement our existing portfolio, enabling us to offer luxury skincare products at attainable price points.

"AHC has been strongly gaining popularity thanks to its efficacious, innovative and premium products, and it therefore offers great opportunities for growth."

Unilever, which employs 169,000 people worldwide, announced in April that it would offload some of its best-known brands - including Flora and Stork - after fending off a $143 billion (119bn) takeover attempt from Kraft Heinz.

It plans to sell or de-merge its underperforming spreads business, which could yield up to 6.8bn.

The Marmite and Pot Noodle maker cut loose a portion of the spreads division on Friday when it secured a deal to take full control of its South African subsidiary from Remgro in exchange for its spreads unit and cash.

Unilever revealed in July that pre-tax profits had climbed 27% to 4.6bn for the first half of 2017, up from 3.6bn the year before.

Focusing on the Carver Korea deal, Ed Han, Bain Capital Private Equity managing director, said: "This has been a great opportunity for us to partner with a leading Korean company in an exciting segment of the cosmetics space and to help support its brand, operations and growth around the world.

"Unilever is a strong partner to help the company in its next phase of growth and development."
A shortage of workers means the Government will likely miss a key target to build new social homes next year, the group for surveyors has warned, writes Eamon Quinn.

The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) said tender costs are set to rise by 6.2% this year amid skills shortages and increases in building materials. And rising construction costs will inevitably be passed on to home building costs, it said.

While this tender price index relates to non-residential construction, the findings raise questions about the capacity of the sector as a whole to cater for an increased level of house building and the cost of delivering those houses.

Recently it was announced that 3,000 new social housing units would be built by next year, but given the supply constraints we are seeing on the ground, its still not clear who is going to build them, said Kevin James at the SCSI.

Dublin tender prices rose by almost 3%, and by over 2.6% in Munster, in the first six months, and will rise again through the year, he said.

Separately, Bank of Ireland said demand for housing meant people and firms expect rents and house prices to rise further. Its latest Economic Pulse index, which surveys Irish consumers and businesses for the European Commission, dropped in September for a second month. Slow progress in the Brexit talks affected both firms and consumers.

The rebound in consumer confidence lost some steam this month, and with business sentiment also subdued, the Economic Pulse posted its lowest reading of the year to date. This months reading was also the weakest since last November when the outcome of the US election, coming on top of the Brexit-vote, rattled households and firms, said chief economist Loretta OSullivan.

She said: This months data shows many firms consider the housing infrastructure in their region to be inadequate. Firms in Dublin, the rest of Leinster and Munster also cited it as the priority area for investment  to help strengthen local economies and the business environment.

Consumers are worried about bills, taxes, rents and house prices, the survey found.

This story first appeared in the Irish Examiner.
In March 2016, journalist Valerie Cox and her husband Brian journeyed to Greece to offer their help during a refugee crisis.

After spending some time there, Brian contracted a rare virus which lead him into a coma.
It's claimed Islamist extremists are using unsuspecting college students in Ireland to transfer the proceeds of internet fraud abroad.

The scam works when ISIS sympathisers pay people to open up bank accounts and hand over their PIN codes.
by Liam Heylin

The Bishopstown Bar will have to close for two days by court order as punishment for serving two pints of Beamish to a 17-year-old.

Community guard for the area, Garda Brian White visited the pub in Cork at 10.35 p.m. on January 5 when an 18th birthday party was taking place.

Were you concerned about the premises, about underage drinking? Judge Olann Kelleher asked.

Garda White confirmed that he was concerned.

Defence solicitor, Aoife McCann, said the defendant company White Chestnut Taverns Ltd was pleading guilty to selling intoxicating liquor to a named person under the age of 18.

That young person was since dealt with by gardai through the juvenile liaison scheme.

Garda White testified that he presented himself to manager Niall Murphy in order to carry out an inspection of the premises in relation to suspected underage drinking.

I observed a young male drinking out of a glass. He said he was 17. He was drinking a pint of Beamish. He said it was his second pint of Beamish. I asked him did her purchase it at the premises and he said he did, Garda White said.

The barwoman who admitted serving him said it was her presumption that security staff at the door had checked him for an identity card on his arrival at the premises.

Judge Olann Kelleher said underage drinking was a serious problem and he commended Garda White for investigating it.

Ms McCann, solicitor, said the teenager was not attending the 18th party at the premises and that someone had admitted him through a security door. Mc McCann said management at the premises had no similar previous conviction and at considerable expense had put a camera on the emergency door and taken steps to ensure that young people would not gain access in this manner again.

He has taken it seriously, Ms McCann said on behalf of the manager.

Judge Kelleher fined the defendant 850 for permitting the sale of alcohol to a person under 18 and he ordered the mandatory closure of the pub on October 24 and 25. The judge said a sign would have to be put up on the premises on those dates explaining the reason for the two-day closure.
Plant and animal species could become extinct in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland because of Brexit, environmentalists warned.

A fifth are already threatened and a hard environmental border could undermine common standards and water down protection of those most at risk, campaigners added.

Lobby groups from Northern Ireland and the Republic visited Brussels on Monday to voice concern.

Chairman of Northern Ireland Environment Link, Patrick Casement, said: "Our small island forms a single and unique unit in terms of our natural environment and our plant and animal species do not recognise the existence of a border.

"Many of these species are currently at risk of extinction on the island of Ireland and any dilution of protection will place them in further danger.

"Any future divergence or lowering of standards on either side of the border would be bad for the environment, bad for citizens, and also bad for business."

More than 650 pieces of EU legislation aid environmental protection in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The north/south green coalition said the island has benefited hugely from this common set of environmental standards.

They created a more coordinated and consistent approach to addressing cross-border environmental issues like the conservation of species and habitats on an all-island basis, the lobbyists added.

Coordinator of Ireland's Environmental Pillar, Michael Ewing, said: "It is only by avoiding a hard environmental border that we can ensure our joint efforts to protect and enhance the environment for the benefit of all is not undermined."

Negotiations and discussions have been focused solely on the economy, with little mention of the potential negative impact on natural heritage, he warned.

"Our time in Brussels gives us the perfect chance to highlight the challenges Brexit brings for environmental protection and to articulate how these issues can be averted through continued cross-border cooperation and the maintenance of high environmental standards both North and South."
Update 9.30pm: Gardai say that a post mortem will determine the course of an investigation after the body of a man was found in suspicious circumstances in west Cork.

The remains of the English man in his late 40 was found in a house in Skibbereen by his partner this morning.

The man has a number of injuries but officers have not ruled out the possibility that he may have suffered them in a fall.

A preliminary examination of the scene showed no sign of forced entry even though there was some disarray in the house.

Update 5.45pm: Gardai are treating the death of a man in Skibbereen, West Cork, as suspicious.

The man has a number of injuries, but officers have not ruled out the possibility that he may have suffered them in a fall.

Gardai say the post-mortem will determine the course of the investigation.

Update - 1.06pm: Gardai have said that the man is from England and has a number of injuries.

Officers say that they are treating the death of the English national as "suspicious" pending the outcome of a technical examination and post-mortem later today..

His body was found around 9am this morning by the man's partner in the living room area of the house that they were renting at High Street.

The man has a number of injuries but gardai have not discounted the possibility that he may have fallen and are hoping the post-mortem will establish exactly how he died.

A preliminary examination of the scene revealed no sign of forced entry even though there was some disarray in the house.

The man, who has been living in West Cork for many years, has only been living in the rented, two-storey, terraced house for a number of months.

Earlier: Gardai have launched an investigation following the discovery of a man's body in West Cork this morning, writes Eoin English.

A scene in Skibbereen has been sealed off and a full forensic investigation is underway following the discovery earlier today.

It is understood the man is in his late 40s, and is not an Irish national.

There are early reports that the man may have been involved in an altercation in the early hours of this morning.

The body is expected to remain at the scene for some time to facilitate a preliminary investigation by the assistant state pathologist before it is removed to Cork University Hospital for a post mortem to establish the exact cause of death.

The outcome of the post mortem will determine the course of the garda investigation.
The Government is considering new measures to help students to find accommodation.

As the colleges return students have had difficulty finding somewhere to live, with some resorting to couch surfing or staying in hostels.

Earlier the Housing Minister launched 79 new social homes at an apartment block on Charlemont St in Dublin.

There Eoghan Murphy encouraged people with a spare room to consider renting it to students.

He said: "We're looking at a couple of things that may be announced next week that might help students, but the room release scheme, the 14,000 tax free is a really good scheme.

"We've been pushing that, and we're going to push it more, because there is an opportunity there for students to get safe and secure accommodation.

"It also incentivizes the use of what might be spare bedrooms in people's house, so there are a couple of more things we can do, but I recognise it is difficult for them at the moment."

Along with the 79 housing units opened today, a range of community facilities were also unveiled.

These include a large community centre featuring a sports hall with indoor five-a-side pitch, changing rooms and stage facilities - as well as office space with kitchen area and reception area.

The complex will also feature a private courtyard and play area for residents.

All remaining residents of Tom Kelly Road flats, some of whom have lived there since they opened in 1969, will move to new and upgraded homes.

Work on the project has been proceeding ahead of schedule, and Department of Housing says the units will be ready in the coming weeks.

Minister Murphy said: "This is a very welcome milestone in the regeneration of the Charlemont Street area, delivering 79 much needed homes along with vital community amenities for residents.

"This Government is determined that the State will fund more direct-build schemes. We have ring-fenced over 5bn between 2016 and 2021 to increase the total number of social houses in the State by a third over that five-year period.

"We currently have 63 developments on site which are delivering 2,400 social homes, and there are over 10,000 new homes in the programme to be delivered over the next few years."
by Tom Tuite

Irish Water has been fined 10,000 over levels of sewage pollution at a treatment plant in Co. Laois and a popular headland in Co. Wexford.

The water company was prosecuted at Dublin District Court by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

It pleaded guilty to two charges connection to excessive emissions in water at Portarlington, Co. Laois from October 31 until December 31 last year.

It also faces a charge that between January and November last year it allegedly failed to complete improvements, which were set out in a licence granted by the EPA in 2013, at Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford. Another charge alleges that waste water had excessive emissions between January and November at the same location.

Judge John Brennan heard that the company had five prior convictions for environmental protection offences.

He was told that at Kilmore Quay a sewage pipe which discharged into the Irish sea was particularly close to a beach.

Upgrading work there had been due to be completed by the end of 2015 but that deadline was passed, and now it will not be completed until 2021. The licence had been granted by the EPA to Wexford County Council in 2013 and months later it passed to Irish Water which then became responsible.

EPA inspector Eimear OKeeffe agreed with prosecuting solicitor Maeve Larkin that it was close to a beach and there was a risk to bathers in the area. On November 3 last she witnessed raw sewage going into the sea.

One beach to the west of the headland was blocked off with rocks and a warning sign that it was not suitable for bathing. There were excessive levels of ammonia, suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand found in the water there.

Judge Brennan noted that it was possible that a strong swimmer coming from the eastern beach area which had been unaffected could have also come into contact with the pollutants.

Defence counsel Eoghan Cole said that for reasons unknown the original licence to complete improvements at the treatment plant only dealt with domestic waste in the area and did not take into account waste from industrial activity in the area, and a lot of it was a bi-product of fish processing which had a serious affect on the levels of sewage in the water.

That will be taken into account in Irish Waters improvements works, he said, adding that there was no attempt to mislead the EPA.

He also said that Irish Water could have moved to shut down a local business but did not pursue that option.

Judge John Brennan imposed fines totalling 5,000 for these two charges.

Fines totalling another 5,000 were also imposed for the offences of failing to properly operate a waste water treatment plant at Portarlington and the level of emissions in the water there.

Judge Brennan noted that Irish Water is now fully compliant and had spent 1m in upgrades there.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary is 'very contrite' over the airline's rolling flight cancellation programme, Transport Minister Shane Ross said in London yesterday, but the problem 'should have been foreseen,' writes Daniel McConnell in London.

Mr Ross revealed that he had spoken to Mr O'Leary on both Saturday and Sunday last.

"I expressed the Government's concerns about passengers. Mr O'Leary said to me that Ryanair had come out publicly with its hands up, and was absolutely determined to compensate people fully and properly.

"There was no question of them not complying as rapidly as possible. It was a surprise, it was a shock, and the passengers who have been inconvenienced will be fully compensated," he said.

"'We have been on contact of course with the regulator, the Commission on Aviation Regulation and with the IAA (Irish Aviation Authority) to ensure this happens, and Michael O'Leary is cooperating fully.

"He was contrite, and he was quite adamant that they had had a very good run up to this, but he was contrite in a very colourful way. And he was contrite before I spoke to him. He is doing very seriously what is absolutely necessary."

But Minister Ross added: "You've got to remember that Ryanair has done Ireland and consumers a very great service in the past. I am sure that its reputation and Ireland's reputation will be fully restored as soon as possible.

"But my view is that it should have been foreseen, and what happened was unacceptable."
More than three quarters of Irish voters want Michael D Higgins to serve a second term as President.

Some 76% said they would back him, with 24% opposed. President Higgins was elected to office in 2011.
Citizens of eight countries, including North Korea and Venezuela, will face new restrictions on entry to the US under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump that will replace his expiring travel ban.

The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, will come into effect on October 18.

The restrictions range from an indefinite ban on visas for citizens of countries such as Syria to more targeted restrictions. A suspension of non-immigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela, for instance, will apply only to certain government officials and their immediate families.

The announcement comes the same day as Mr Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire 90 days after it went into effect. That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the US. Only one of those countries, Sudan, will no longer be subject to travel restrictions.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Mr Trump tweeted late on Sunday after the new policy was announced.

Unlike the first iteration of Mr Trump's travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges, officials stressed they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.

To limit confusion, valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers for citizens of the affected countries who meet certain criteria.

That includes: having previously worked or studied in the US for a lengthy and continuous period of time activity; having previously established "significant contacts" in the US; and having "significant business or professional obligations" in the US. Still, officials acknowledged the waiver restrictions were narrower than the exemptions for people with bona fide ties to the United States that he Supreme Court mandated.

The restrictions are targeted at countries that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says fail to share sufficient information with the US. or have not taken necessary security precautions.

Over the course of the last three months, DHS worked to developed new security baselines, which includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information, report lost or stolen passports to Interpol, and share information about travellers' terror-related and criminal histories. The US then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

A total of 16 countries did not comply with the rules at first, officials said, but half worked with the US to improve their information-sharing and security practices. The remaining eight are now subject to the new restrictions until they are deemed in compliance.

The includes a suspension of all immigrants visas for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, and the suspension of non-immigrant visas, such as for business and tourism, to nationals of Chad, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Yemen.

Citizens of Iran will not be eligible for tourism and business visas, but remain eligible for student and cultural exchange visas if they undergo additional scrutiny. Such additional scrutiny will also be required for Somali citizens applying for all non-immigrant visas.

AP
Iraqi Kurds were going to the polls on Monday to vote on whether to support independence from Baghdad in a historic but non-binding referendum that has raised regional tensions and fears of instability.

Millions were expected to vote across the three provinces that make up the Kurdish autonomous region, as well as residents in disputed territories - areas claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurds, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

The ballot is being held despite mounting regional opposition to the move and the United States has warned that it is likely to destabilise the region amid the fight with the Islamic State group.

Baghdad has also come out strongly against the referendum, demanding on Sunday that all airports and borders crossings in the Kurdish region be handed back to federal government control.

In a televised address on Sunday night, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said "the referendum is unconstitutional. It threatens Iraq, peaceful coexistence among Iraqis and is a danger to the region."

"We will take measures to safeguard the nation's unity and protect all Iraqis," he added.

Earlier on Sunday, the Kurdish region's president, Masoud Barzani, said during a press conference in Irbil that he believed the voting would be peaceful, though he acknowledged that the path to independence would be "risky".

"We are ready to pay any price for our independence," he said.

In a strongly worded statement, Turkey said on Monday that it does not recognise the referendum and declared its results would be "null and void".

Turkey's Foreign Ministry called on the international community and especially regional countries not to recognise the vote either and urged Iraq Kurdish leaders to abandon "utopic goals", accusing them of endangering peace and stability for Iraq and the whole region.

The ministry reiterated that Turkey would take all measures to thwart threats to its national security.

On Saturday, Turkey's parliament met in an extraordinary session to extend a mandate allowing Turkey's military to send troops over its southern border if developments in Iraq and Syria are perceived as national security threats.

Initial results from the poll are expected on Tuesday, with the official results to be announced later in the week.

Iraqi Kurds have long dreamed of independence - something the Kurdish people were denied when colonial powers drew the map of the Middle East after the First World War. The Kurds form a sizeable minority in Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq. In Iraq, they have long been at odds with the Baghdad government over the sharing of oil revenues and the fate of disputed territories like Kirkuk.

The Kurds have been a close American ally for decades, and the first US air strikes in the campaign against IS were launched to protect Irbil, the Kurdish regional capital. Kurdish forces later regrouped and played a major role in driving the extremists from much of northern Iraq, including Mosul, the country's second largest city.

But the US has long been opposed to Kurdish moves towards independence, fearing it could lead to the break-up of Iraq and bring even more instability to an already volatile Middle East.

Voting was also under way on Monday morning in Kirkuk. The oil-rich city has large Kurdish, Arab, Turkmen and Christian communities and has seen some low-level clashes in the days leading up to Monday's vote.

An Iraqi Kurdish man casts his ballot during the referendum on independence from Iraq in Irbil, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Iraq's Kurdish region vote in a referendum on whether to secede from Iraq. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

"I feel so great and happy, I feel we'll be free," said Suad Pirot, a Kirkuk Kurdish resident, after voting. "Nobody will rule us, we will be independent."e visited the pub in Cork at 10.35 p.m. on January 5 when an 18th birthday party was taking place.

Were you concerned about the premises, about underage drinking? Judge Olann Kelleher asked.

Garda White confirmed that he was concerned.

Defence solicitor, Aoife McCann, said the defendant company White Chestnut Taverns Ltd was pleading guilty to selling intoxicating liquor to a named person under the age of 18.

That young person was since dealt with by gardai through the juvenile liaison scheme.

Garda White testified that he presented himself to manager Niall Murphy in order to carry out an inspection of the premises in relation to suspected underage drinking.

I observed a young male drinking out of a glass. He said he was 17. He was drinking a pint of Beamish. He said it was his second pint of Beamish. I asked him did her purchase it at the premises and he said he did, Garda White said.

The barwoman who admitted serving him said it was her presumption that security staff at the door had checked him for an identity card on his arrival at the premises.

Judge Olann Kelleher said underage drinking was a serious problem and he commended Garda White for investigating it.

Ms McCann, solicitor, said the teenager was not attending the 18th party at the premises and that someone had admitted him through a security door. Mc McCann said management at the premises had no similar previous conviction and at considerable expense had put a camera on the emergency door and taken steps to ensure that young people would not gain access in this manner again.

He has taken it seriously, Ms McCann said on behalf of the manager.

Judge Kelleher fined the defendant 850 for permitting the sale of alcohol to a person under 18 and he ordered the mandatory closure of the pub on October 24 and 25. The judge said a sign would have to be put up on the premises on those dates explaining the reason for the two-day closure.

An Iraqi Kurdish woman shows her inked finger after casting a vote during the referendum on independence from Iraq in Irbil, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Iraq's Kurdish region vote in a referendum on whether to secede from Iraq. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has warned of the "potentially destabilising" effects of the referendum.

In a statement Mr Guterres said "all outstanding issues between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government should be resolved through structured dialogue and constructive compromise".
A welfare officer has been stabbed in a secondary school by a pupil using a kitchen knife.

A 16-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident in an office at Winterton Community Academy, near Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, on Monday morning, Humberside Police said.

The 61-year-old support worker was taken to hospital but her injuries are not life-threatening, officers have said.

Please be reassured that everyone is safe at Winterton Academy after an incident this morning. The school is still open @Humberbeat pic.twitter.com/FbmPKdljNo  Ch Supt C Wilson (@CSuptCWilson) September 25, 2017

Speaking outside the school, which is at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in the rural village of Winterton, Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson said staff had told her the weapon involved was a small kitchen knife which was "highly likely" to have been taken in.

Ms Wilson said the school had no history of violent incidents and it remained open.

But a steady stream of parents took up an invitation from headteacher Gareth Morris to collect their children following the incident, which happened just before 9am.

Ms Wilson said her officers responded to a "fight" in an office in the school and stressed the incident did not happen in a class.

"It happened in an office in the school, so all of the rest of the children were completely safe," she said. "They were all in their separate classrooms.

"And it is, obviously, a very rare and isolated incident.

"I can't think of another incident that's happened like this in my time as a police officer.

"We want to reassure parents that their children were safe at all times."

Ms Wilson said she did not yet know the exact injuries the woman suffered.

She said a police community support officer would be present in the school for the rest of the week.

She said: "We've not ever been to an incident at the school before. The school has never had a teacher assaulted by a pupil before.

"So it is extremely rare. It was reacted to very quickly by the school and also local officers."

Headteacher Mr Morris said: "We are keen to reassure parents and the community that this is an isolated incident and that the school remains open.

"We will support our staff directly affected and will be keeping parents updated throughout the day."

Mr Morris is quoted on the website as saying: "Our pupils live in Winterton and a number of surrounding villages.

"Many of them travel some distance to school because parents have chosen our school instead of one more local to their home. The school is, therefore, popular.

"We are also a caring community, recognising that each child is an individual whose needs must be attended to and whose talents must be developed."

According to the school's website, the academy has "made an incredible leap forward over the past couple of years", citing an Ofsted report which progressed from a rating of "special measures" to "good with outstanding features".

The incident will again raise questions about staff safety in schools.

Spanish teacher Ann Maguire was fatally stabbed by 15-year-old Will Cornick as she taught a class at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds in 2014.

And Vincent Uzomah was stabbed in the stomach by a 14-year-old boy in a racially motivated attack in front of pupils at Dixons Kings Academy in Bradford in 2015.
German chancellor Angela Merkel has won a fourth term, but now faces the tricky prospect of forming a coalition with two disparate new partners after voters weakened her conservatives and a nationalist, anti-migrant party surged into parliament.

Ms Merkel's centre-left challenger, Martin Schulz, conceded his Social Democrats had suffered a "crushing election defeat", with projections showing the party's worst performance in post-Second World War Germany.

He vowed to take his party, the junior partner in Ms Merkel's outgoing "grand coalition" of Germany's traditionally dominant parties, into opposition.

"We have a mandate to form a new government, and no government can be formed against us," Ms Merkel told cheering supporters. She added that it wasn't a "matter of course" to finish first after 12 years in power, and that the past four years were "extremely challenging".

Stressing that "we live in stormy times" internationally, she declared: "I have the intention of achieving a stable government in Germany."

The biggest winner was the four-year-old Alternative for Germany (AfD). It finished third after a campaign that centred on shrill criticism of Ms Merkel and her decision in 2015 to allow large numbers of migrants into Germany, but also harnessed wider discontent with established politicians.

One of AfD's leaders, Alice Weidel, said it will provide "constructive opposition". But co-leader Alexander Gauland struck a harsher tone, vowing that "we will take our country back" and promising to "chase" Ms Merkel.

Final results showed Ms Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and their Bavaria-only allies, the Christian Social Union, winning 33% of the vote - down from 41.5% four years ago.

Mr Schulz's Social Democrats were trailing far behind, with 20.5% support, down from 25.7% in 2013 and undercutting their previous post-war low of 23% eight years ago.

AfD won 12.6% of the vote. It was followed by the election's other big winner - the pro-business Free Democratic Party, which returned to parliament after a four-year break with 10.7%.

The Left Party took 9.2% of the vote, coming slightly ahead of the traditionally left-leaning Greens who won 8.9%, completing a parliament that now has six caucuses rather than the previous four.

Thousands took to the streets to protest outside its headquarters in Berlin and in other cities across Germany last night.

People protesting the AfD in Berlin chanting "Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here." pic.twitter.com/e0hDGMHu4P  kassy (@kassy) September 24, 2017

All mainstream parties have ruled out working with AfD and Ms Merkel's conservatives will not form a coalition with the Left Party. That means two politically plausible governments are mathematically feasible: continuing the "grand coalition" or a combination of Ms Merkel's Union bloc, the Free Democrats and Greens.

That alliance is known as a "Jamaica" coalition because the parties' colours match those of the Caribbean nation's flag.

It's still absolutely mental in Berlin right now #btw2017 pic.twitter.com/b1ijt5SPEI  Ryan Broderick (@broderick) September 24, 2017

The Social Democrats were adamant on Sunday night that they would no't continue to serve under Ms Merkel. "It is completely clear that the role the voters have given us is as the opposition," Mr Schulz said.

Referring to AfD's third-place finish, he said "there cannot be a far-right party leading the opposition in Germany".

Reiner Haseloff, the conservative governor of eastern Saxony-Anhalt state, said it would be wrong to ignore AfD's strong result.

"We need an answer - there must be no democratic alternative to our right," he added. "As long as it is there, we haven't completely done our homework."

Anti AfD protest outside its post election party pic.twitter.com/dmqqYgQYAA  James Rothwell (@JamesERothwell) September 24, 2017

AfD is the first party to the right of the conservatives to enter parliament in 60 years. Hundreds of demonstrators descended upon the club where the nationalist party's leaders were celebrating their third-place finish. Several protesters threw bottles as police kept them away from the building in Berlin.

AP
The US House intelligence panel will interview two of US president Donald Trump's associates behind closed doors this week as congressional committees step up their investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Trump associate Roger Stone and former staffer Boris Epshteyn are scheduled to talk to the House panel this week.

Mr Stone confirmed his interview will be held on Tuesday. Mr Epshteyn will also speak to the committee this week, according to a source.

The interviews come as the House and Senate intelligence panels examine meddling and scrutinise the spread of false news stories and propaganda on social media.

The Senate intelligence committee will speak to officials from Twitter on Wednesday, also behind closed doors.

Mr Stone is a Republican strategist who has known Mr Trump for many years and informally advised him during the 2016 campaign.

He has said he communicated during the presidential campaign with Guccifer 2.0, the unnamed hacker who has taken credit for breaking into Democratic National Committee email servers.

But Mr Stone has denied that he worked with Russian officials to influence the presidential election.

Mr Stone has been outspoken in his own defence and asked for his appearance to be public. But he said the House panel insisted on holding the session behind closed doors.

California representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, suggested in March that Mr Stone had a direct line to Russian hackers based on his comments predicting the release of former Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails.

Mr Stone said then that Mr Schiff had "slimed me in public, and I'd like to have an opportunity to defend myself in public".

Last week, Mr Stone continued his criticism of the California Democrat, saying the committee is "full of Schiff".

Mr Epshteyn, who grew up in Moscow, worked a short time in the White House press office. He left in March and now works as a political analyst for right-leaning Sinclair Broadcasting.

Beyond this week, the committees plan for a busy October, with the Senate intelligence panel bringing Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in for a public hearing on October 25.

Senate committee leaders have also said they want Facebook and other social media outlets to appear publicly next month.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify on October 18 before the Senate Judiciary Committee - the first time since he was confirmed in February.

Mr Sessions has recused himself from Russia investigations, and the Justice Department has appointed special counsel Robert Mueller to investigate the involvement of Russia in the US election.

But Mr Sessions is still likely to face questions about Russia and the firing of former FBI director James Comey.

Mr Sessions also has been subpoenaed by House Intelligence chairman Devin Nunes, who is asking the Justice Department and the FBI for documents related to a dossier of salacious allegations involving President Trump and possible ties to Russia.

If the documents are not produced, the committee is seeking to compel Mr Sessions and FBI director Christopher Wray to testify in an open hearing.

AP
The widespread use of brokers has led to a number of positive outcomes including increased industry competition, greater lending efficiency and consumer access to a wider range of products, the Reserve Bank of Australia ( RBA ) has acknowledged.In its submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Competition in the Australian Financial System, the RBA listed the many benefits that brokers had on lenders, small businesses and consumers.A reduction in the funding cost differential between the major banks and other ADIs, increased use of brokers and consolidation among smaller lenders (which has improved their efficiency) have likely boosted competitive pressures over recent years.Increasing use of the broker market to originate loans by smaller lenders and consolidation among credit unions and building societies over recent years are also likely to boost the efficiency of these entities.As the third party channel comes with lower financial costs than branch networks, smaller lenders have made greater use of brokers, the RBA said.Brokers also reduce search costs for consumers by efficiently comparing deals across lenders and assessing the benefits of switching providers, they added.Two of the major banks also used their submissions to acknowledge the role brokers play in improving competition in the Australian financial system.Some smaller lenders find brokers particularly useful, as these companies may offer competitive rates and quality products, notwithstanding that they may lack the presence (including physical footprint), size and marketing of bigger institutions, Westpac said.An increasing broker market share offers customers a greater variety of choice and has supported market penetration of smaller lenders, the bank added.The Commonwealth Bank of Australia ( CBA ) said it believed brokers should and will continue to play an important role in the mortgage market.Competition is in part facilitated by the role of mortgage brokers, the bank said.CBA said it welcomed proposals in the ASIC broker remuneration review and Sedgwick report and remained committed to making changes that deliver better customer outcomes and [promote] competition in the home lending market.
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They are not required to meet any entry standards

ASIC cannot exclude them from the market

They can recommend credit products without conducting a customer assessment

There are limited options for consumers dealing with vendor misbehaviour

The point of sale (POS) exemption for vendor introducers enhances the likelihood of risky commercial finance and, as a policy, should be reconsidered.This is the view of the Commercial Asset Finance Brokers Association of Australia (CAFBA) who has called upon the Productivity Commission to examine this broken policy and the risks it entails.In a submission on the commissions inquiry into competition in the Australian financial sector, CAFBA said that exemptions exclude POS vendor introducers from both the credit licencing regime and responsible lending obligations.The outcome is brokers of business finance fall into two broad classes; those who are required to be licensed and those who are not, simply because they are vendor introducers.This policy  originally introduced as an interim exemption of 12 months  had now been in place for seven years, offering deep distinct business and competitive disadvantages, the association said.The negative consequences of this policy are that the exemption provides an opportunity for high-risk commercial finance to be provided to consumers. It opens a window of opportunity for inexperienced individuals with limited training to provide low-quality services to businesses.CAFBA also brought up a number of further concerns around POS exempt introducers in that:These characteristics are at odds with the requirements of finance brokers, such as many CAFBA members who are licensed to arrange consumer finance, complying with the [NCCP] Act and applying responsible lending practices.The exemption, therefore, does not provide any means of adequately regulating or controlling the activities of POS vendor introducers who may cause loss or damage to consumers, despite their linked credit providers/lessors being responsible for their conduct.Risks are compounded, CAFBA warned, when the POS vendor introducer chooses a financier on the basis of commissions received, especially where these commissions increase the cost for the consumer.The exemption also means that there is a lack of competitive neutrality between POS vendor introducers and other businesses, like licensed CAFBA members, which are performing similar functions.With these anti-competitive consequences in play, the POS vendor introducer exemption is bad public and competition policy, CAFBA said.CAFBA does not see competition law public benefit in keeping the current POS vendor introducer exemption.
Latest News Clawbacks, commissions discussed at FBAA conference Over 700 brokers attend successful Gold Coast event

CBA becomes an official partner of FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Bank's sponsorship boosts its strong support of female sport in Australia

Patrick Tuttle, former co group CEO of Pepper Money , is one of a group of investors who have acquired asset-based finance firm Little Lease Company (LLC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wholesale Rental Finance (WRF).Tuttle, along with former Pepper COO David Holmes and former Virgin Australia group treasurer Philip Sullivan, have paid an undisclosed amount commensurate with the credit quality of the combined LLC and WRF portfolio, the companys lengthy 18-year history, and its experienced staff who will remain with the business.The acquisition was completed in Sydney on Friday (22 September) and sees LLC change hands for the first time in nearly 20 years. WRF was established in the 1970s to provide asset finance to consumer rental businesses.We are genuinely excited by this unique opportunity to acquire what has been a highly successful specialty finance company in small-ticket asset finance to Australian SME businesses over the past 20 years, Tuttle said.Along with WRF which specialises in the provision of wholesale asset-backed finance to the consumer rental finance sector, both businesses are leaders in providing niche financing solutions to Australia's underserved small and medium enterprises (SMEs).The trio intends to position LLS as the go to provider of small and micro-ticket asset-backed financing solutions to small businesses, Tuttle said.For too long, SMEs looking to acquire small-ticket, business critical equipment have been overlooked and ignored by traditional bank and finance company providers. We intend to break that trend by offering bespoke, risk-based pricing solutions for business-critical needs  delivering fast, customer-focused outcomes for Australian SMEs who are the engine room of our economy.Holmes added that LLS fills a niche in the SME lending market by providing flexible funding against a business assets and cash flow instead of through a commercial banks approach to lending which typically requires residential property as security.LLC is backed by a highly-experienced management team with intimate knowledge of both the operational and funding needs of the SME sector.The credit quality of the loan book is very strong, providing us with a solid foundation from which to further industrialise the platform and grow market share through diversified distribution channels, particularly our national finance broker network and through the establishment of a small number of bespoke vendor financing arrangements.Sullivan said that LLC existing corporate bank funded facility would be refinanced through a more traditional asset-backed warehouse facility provided by a major Australian commercial bank.In our view, this will provide both the LLC and WRF businesses with long-term stable funding from which to drive organic volume growth and future product innovation to support our core small business customers.
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...
The competition has only just begun on Dancing with the Stars season 25, but its already time to say goodbye to one couple. The premiere scores and votes are tallied and one pair will be eliminated on Mondays show. But they wont have to wait long for company as a second elimination will occur on Tuesday.

DWTS Recap: The First Dances>>>

So whos in danger? Heres a look at the week 1 leadeerboard.

THE LEADERBOARD

22: Jordan Fisher, Lindsey Stirling

21: Vanessa Lachey

20: Nikki Bella

19: Frankie Muniz, Victoria Arlen

18: Sasha Pieterse, Nick Lachey, Derek Fisher

17: Debbie Gibson

16: Drew Scott

15: Terrell Owens

14: Barbara Corcoran

The first elimination is usually pretty easy to predict. In 24 seasons of the show, the first person eliminated was in the Bottom 2 of the week 1 leaderboard 20 times. The last time the first eliminated pair wasnt one of the two lowest scores was Shannen Doherty and Mark Ballas way back in season 10.

That means it comes down to Barbara and T.O. And if you look at their pro partners, the pattern becomes obvious. In 19 seasons, Cheryl Burke has NEVER been the first one eliminated. In fact, shes never even gone home in the first two weeks. Meanwhile, in Keo Motsepes five previous seasons, he was the first one eliminated twice and the second one eliminated twice, with Jodie Sweetin as the lone exception.

Watch Barbaras Embarrassingly Bad Dance>>>

In other words, Barbara and Keo are doomed. They delivered an embarrassingly bad performance, earned a 4 from Len Goodman and its almost too obvious that they will be going home.

Terrell could be a surprise exit based on the fact that he performed so early and was severely underscored. If youre looking for an even darker horse, I would think that maybe Debbie Gibson or even Sasha Pieterse could be in danger. Debbie has a first-time pro, which could be an issue, while Sasha could be too young to appeal to the voters (a la Jake T. Austin).

But really, its going to be Barbara and Keo going home first and the drama will come with the second elimination on Tuesday. Hopefully next time Keo will get a better, younger partner, though at this point Im starting to think hed lose even if he was paired with Beyonce.

Dancing with the Stars airs Monday at 8/7c and Tuesday at 9/8c on ABC.

(Image courtesy o ABC)
Campus News

Social Work part of statewide collaboration to build sustainable village in Haiti

SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson (wearing hat and striped shirt) listens to a presentation during a recent visit to Arcahaie, Haiti, site of the proposed sustainable village and learning community.

By BERT GAMBINI

There is a lot of need in Haiti and SUNY has the resources that can be beneficial. 

Faculty members from UBs School of Social Work (UB SSW) will join colleagues from 10 SUNY campuses in various disciplines and five not-for-profit organizations to work on an innovative project to create a sustainable village and learning community in the town of Arcahaie, Haiti.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded the statewide collaboration an $800,000 grant for the project that will address multiple community needs and develop a range of valuable services for the nearly 200,000 residents of Arcahaie, including education and economic and social programs and services, while also providing hands-on training and education for students.

We are thrilled that we can bring UBs social work, human rights and trauma expertise to the project in Arcahaie, Haiti, says Nancy Smyth, dean of the School of Social Work. This SUNY-Kellogg Foundation partnership highlights the broad range of knowledge and skill that we have in SUNY, and the UB School of Social Work is honored to be part of this important work.

SUNYs Learning through Development program provides service learning, and research and development opportunities for SUNY students and faculty through guided and supported placements in the developing world.

We became involved because of the overlap with what we do at UB SSW, says Laura Lewis, assistant dean for global partnerships and director of field education. Our mission is to link social work research and practice through community partnerships. We prepare students to make a positive difference, whether it be in local communities or abroad.

Social work has knowledge and expertise around advancing human rights and social justice, providing direct service to people, engaging with communities and beneficial approaches to community development, she says.

But the project is also an applied learning environment for students, and Lewis sees potential contributions on many levels.
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.
Air India CMD Rajiv Bansal on Monday urged the airline's staff to be physically fit, saying it would make the organisation healthy.

Bansal took charge of the disinvestment-bound airline last month.

"Today, the company needs us more than ever before to give our best to it in body, mind and spirit. The purpose of workouts is to tighten the slack, toughen the body and polish the spirit. Let us give our best to keep ourselves fit and make the company, in turn, healthy," Bansal said in a message addressed to Air India employees.

Ever since, Bansal took over he has been initiating steps to improve the carrier's on-time performance and the airline crew has been told that there will be zero tolerance for delays on first flights of the day.

Measures are also being taken to cut costs, enhance passenger yields as well as improve customer satisfaction.

"In the airline industry, alertness and response-level of the personnel, especially those on the frontline, are tested round the clock.

"The frontline employees, who interact with customers on a regular basis, require to be not only physically fit and healthy but also have a presentable appearance and a pleasing demeanour," Bansal wrote.

Earlier this year, cracking the whip on its overweight cabin crew, Air India had temporarily removed 57 crew members from flying duty.
Corporation, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), is looking to sell map data to local for building highways, and help truck operators firm up routes and car-service providers map cities.
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It started out as the cheapest car of the Indian market. As it struggles to find takers, the Tata Nano might become a Made in Bangladesh car. So could the Tata Tiago and the Tigor, or any entry-level passenger car from the Tata Motors stable.
Aditya Birla groups takeover bid of aluminium parts maker Aleris depends on the fate of Chinese companys Zhongwangs takeover offer for the company. Both Aleris and Zhongwang have announced a merger plan and have extended their talks till this month-end.
Company's debt-to-market value stood at 16.8 per cent while the gross asset value of the portfolio increased by 3.3 per cent over March 2022 to ...
India is evolving into one of the top global export bases of certain car models made by multinational automobile companies. This is true in case of bigger models, too, and not only in small cars, considered a speciality of the Indian auto industry. The trend is increasingly visible among global brands. Take the case of Germanys Volkswagen. The Vento is produced only in India and Russia. And, India is the larger of the two.
On a day the markets fell for the second consecutive session, Mumbai-based was up three per cent after the company acquired a 60-acre land parcel in Thane (total saleable area of 8.3 million square feet) for Rs 550 crore from GlaxoSmithKline Pharma. The pharma multinationals stock ended flat.
After nearly a decade of actors engaging in a range of activities to promote their films, from shaving peoples heads and travelling incognito (Aamir Khan) to refuelling old controversies (Kangana Ranaut) and adopting causes (several actors), the industry is taking a long hard look at how it must use actors as movie ambassadors.
Army chief General said on Monday that surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) could be repeated, if necessary, seeking to send a stern message to Pakistan.
Acharya Balkrishna, the head of Baba Ramdevs Patanjali Ayruveda, has made it to the Hurun India Rich List this year, while Damani, the founder of D-Mart stores, was the biggest gainer.
A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the varsity's vice-chancellor at his residence on Saturday night, according to the police and BHU sources.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A BHU spokesperson said some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students, he said.

The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathicharge, the varsity sources said.

The police sources said some of its personnel were injured in the clashes during which the students allegedly indulged in arson.

Rajiv Singh, the station officer of the Lanka police station here, said that 16 students, who had been detained after the incident, were released this evening.

Following the violence, the district administration declared holidays from tomorrow till October 2 in all colleges and universities in Varanasi. The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from September 28.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), criticised the government and condemned the police action.

"I have sought a report from the divisional commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident," Adityanath said in Lucknow.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted, "Only a barbaric govt unleashes male police with lathis on women students. Why is BJP-RSS so scared of students?"



The baton charge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some scribes staging a sit-in near the chief minister's residence. They later submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty."

                 Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) September 24, 2017

Congress leaders Raj Babbar and P L Punia, along with scores of party activists, were detained on Sunday when they tried to visit the BHU. They were later released.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi also slammed the BJP over the alleged lathicharge on female students.





BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU https://t.co/2XWIG5CG2q  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 24, 2017 Attaching a link to a video of the students who alleged that they were beaten up by male policemen on the campus, Gandhi tweeted, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU."

The BHU issued a statement last night saying that the 'dharna' by the students just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university.

The alleged eve-teasing incident had occurred on Thursday night after which the students started the protest.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police had been sought to maintain peace in the campus.

Senior officials, including District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and Superintendent of Police (City) Dinesh Singh, have visited the campus and police presence outside it beefed up.

Nearly 1,500 police personnel, including contingents of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), have been deployed to maintain law and order on the campus.

BHU students said that they undertook the protest near the university's main gate against rising incidents of alleged eve-teasing on the campus.

A woman student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel, triggering the dharna.

According to the complainant, the men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts.

The woman alleged that security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop them.

She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel.

The warden's response angered the students who sat on a 'dharna' at the main gate midnight Thursday.

BHU students have alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants.

The police and BHU professors tried to pacify the students yesterday, but they refused to end their protest and sought assurance from the university vice-chancellor.

A press release issued by the information department of Varanasi said that a case has been registered against a Facebook page under the cyber law for allegedly posting provocative photos and videos relating to the violence.
Congress Vice-President will begin his three-day campaign for the Gujarat Assembly elections on Monday from the crucial Saurashtra region with the state police refusing him permission to hold an open-jeep roadshow, but leaving him with a consolation to take out a bullock cart yatra.

Over a fortnight after he held a lively interaction with thousands of party workers at Ahmedabad Sabarmati Riverfront, the 47-year-old Congress scion is going out on a whirlwind tour of the Saurashtra region, which sends one-third of the legislators in the 182-member State Assemly, from the famous religious town of Dwarka.

He will begin his day by offering prayers at the Dwarkadheesh Krishna temple, from where he is expected to drive down to Jamnagar, interacting with locals at various educational institutions, women and businessmen.

With the police refusing him permission to cover the 135 km stretch from Dwarka to Jamnagar by an open jeep and stage roadshows citing security reasons, Gandhi would now be taking a specially done up luxury bus for him equipped with CCTV cameras. The open-jeep connect with the people might not be possible for now.

However, this does not seem to have dampened the spirits of the Congress workers, for instance, in Hanjrapar village some 25 km from Dwarka, Gandhi will enter in a traditionally decked up bullock-cart.

"Not only his welcome, but we have also made all sitting arrangements for everyone here, including that of Rahulji, in typical Saurashtra cultural style," Palbhai Ambaliya told IANS on Sunday night.

There are three levels of seating, says Ambaliya, who is also the party's ticket aspirant to the Dwarka Assembly seat represented at present by the Congress' Meraaman Ahir.

"The first level is people sitting on the ground, just like the beginning of our civilisation when there were no cots or chairs.

"Then at the next level are the traditional cots, just as our civilisation progressed. The last level of the seating for the people will be chairs, as is the modern world. For Rahulji, we have this special traditional cot when he interacts with us," Ambaliya said.

From the village of Hanjrapar which has a voter population of 1,107 from the Ahir caste, the Congress Vice-President is scheduled to meet bullion traders and representatives of Jamnagar's widely known brass parts industry.

After a night halt at Jamnagar, on Tuesday morning he will drive down to Rajkot, the hometown of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and also the key nerve centre of the Saurashtra region.

Gandhi would also offer prayers at the Khodaldham Temple, the deity of Patidar community.

On Wednesday, the Congress leader will reach Surendranagar. Here, he is expected to climb the long-winding stone stairs to the popular hilltop Chotila Temple.

He will wrap up his tour at Viramgam on the entry to Ahmedabad district, which incidentally happens to be the native home town of the young Patidar (or Patel) agitation spearhead Hardik Patel.

The Saurashtra region has been electorally tough for the Congress for the last two decades and it won only 12 of the 52 seats here in the 2012 assembly elections.

This time the party is looking at significantly improving the tally given the Patidar sentiment against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the overall farmer distress owing to various issues.

Congress hopes that Rahul Gandhi's staying put in the region for the first time for three days at a stretch will pep up the party cadres and energize them to work for victory sinking all their differences.

The Congress Vice-President is also scheduled to make similar appearances in north, central and south Gujarat regions before the December elections.
Jailed Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief on Monday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging his rape conviction by the CBI special court.

The petition was filed by counsel of the disgraced self-styled godman here.

The matter is not yet listed by the court for the hearing.

In a separate development, the CBI court in Panchkula on Monday rejected a plea by Khatta Singh, a former driver of the sect chief, who wanted to record a fresh statement in the murder cases against the sect chief.

Ram Rahim, who is currently lodged in the District Jail at Sunaria near Rohtak, was convicted by the CBI court in Panchkula on August 25 on two counts of rape of female disciples in 1999.

He was later awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (10 years in each rape case) by the CBI court, and a fine of over Rs 30 lakh.

His conviction led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana, leaving 38 people dead and 264 injured. Isolated incidents of violence were also reported from Delhi and several other places in Punjab.

The CBI court in Panchkula is hearing two more cases against the sect chief.

These pertain to the murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh in July 2003 and murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in October 2002.
Amid rumours of floating a new party and leading a joint front of Opposition parties, the founder of Samajwadi Party (SP), Yadav, on Monday said he would remain in the party. He called upon all socialist forces to come on a common platform. Mulayam asked like-minded people to strengthen the party.
Congress vice-president on Monday offered prayers at the Dwarkadhish temple before starting his three-day campaign in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat where the Assembly polls are due later this year.


Chief of Army Staff General on Monday asserted that surgical strike conducted by India along the Line of Control (LoC) will be repeated if adversary does not mend its ways.

While addressing amasses at a book launch event in the capital, General Rawat said that the terrorists on the other side of the LoC are ready to infiltrate in India and so is the Indian Army to strike them down.

"Surgical strike was conducted to send a message and if adversaries do not understand, it will be repeated," General Rawat said.

"We are ready to receive the terrorists that come this side of the LoC and will send them to their right place, their graves," he added.

India carried out surgical strike on September 29 2016, eleven days after Pakistan carried out Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Apart from this, Pakistan has been continuously violating ceasefire along the LoC.

(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.)
A year ago, the army was planning surgical strikes across the India-Pakistan Line of Control (LoC) to avenge the killing of 19 Indian soldiers near Uri, on September 18. But Pakistani retaliation was anticipated and a key Indian Air Force (IAF) base, protected only by aging Soviet-era missiles, was vulnerable to Pakistani air strikes.
On a day that Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was expected to announce a stimulus for the economy, Finance Minister said the government was in the process of addressing challenges. He termed the decline in gross domestic product (GDP) growth as a little dip in the last quarter.
The government is likely to dump a proposal for setting up a fiscal council, which is aimed at monitoring the governments fiscal announcements for any given year and providing its forecasts and analysis for the same.
India has decided to upgrade its existing trade pact with South Korea, despite the domestic industry expressing concerns over the agreement disproportionately favouring that country. This follows Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhus visit to Seoul last week to review the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was signed between the two countries in 2009. Both countries have decided to finalise the CEPA upgrade negotiations at the earliest, possibly before the end of 2018.
Strengthening the case for fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya's extradition from the United Kingdom, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are reported to be preparing a charge sheet alleging the former liquor baron laundered a major chunk of the Rs 6,027-cr loan taken for the defunct Kingfisher Airlines.
An 18 year old from Srinagar becomes an ambassador for Swachhata Hi Seva

Bilal Dar, a young boy from Srinagar has become the brand ambassador for Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Dar has been contributing to the Swachhta Abhiyan since the age of 12. He found a mention in the Honble Prime Ministers recent Mann Ki Baat.

Continuing the shramdaan wave by VIPs the Union Minister of State for Railways, Rajen Gohain took part in a Shramdaan programme at Guwahati railway station.

CAF and PD Minister Karam Shyam launched Swachhta Hi Seva campaign in Manipur. Officials of Chandigarh Administration also participated in the Swachhta hi Seva drive at UT Secretariat, Chandigarh.

The Indian Coast Guards also conducted a special Shramdaan and Clean Up drive along with tree plantation at their premises as part of Swachhta Hi Seva, Pakhwada. Garbage was collected by organising clean ship drive and disposed.

Adding a new dimension, Swachhta Hi Sewa campaign has turned out to be monetarily beneficial for residents and scrap buyers/dealers, besides helping in enhancing preventive measures against vector-borne diseases.
PM launches Pradhan Mantri Saubhagya Yojana; dedicates Deendayal Urja Bhawan to the nation

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, or Saubhagya, at New Delhi. The aim of this scheme is to provide power to all homes. .

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On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, the Prime Minister also dedicated a new ONGC building - the Deendayal Urja Bhawan. .

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The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation, the Booster Compressor Facility in Bassein Gas Field. .

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Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister gave examples of the success of Jan Dhan Yojana, insurance schemes, Mudra Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and Udan, to highlight how the Union Government is implementing schemes which benefit the poorest of the poor. .

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In this context he mentioned the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, which would provide power connections to all the estimated four crore households which currently did not have a power connection. The outlay for this scheme would be over Rs. 16000 crore. These connections would be provided free of cost, the Prime Minister said. .

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Speaking to the accompaniment of a presentation, the Prime Minister recounted how he had set a target of electrifying over 18000 unelectrified villages within 1000 days. He said less than 3000 villages are now left to be electrified. .

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He explained how coal shortages have become a thing of the past, and capacity addition in power generation has exceeded targets. .

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The Prime Minister also spoke of an increase in renewable power installed capacity, towards the target of 175 GW by 2022. He mentioned how the power tariff in the case of renewable energy has been reduced significantly. A considerable increase has also been made in transmission lines. .

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The Prime Minister mentioned how the UDAY scheme has brought down losses of power distribution companies, describing it as an example of cooperative, competitive federalism. .

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Explaining the impact of economies of scale in the UJALA scheme, the Prime Minister said that the cost of LED bulbs has come down significantly. .

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The Prime Minister said that New India will require an energy framework that works on the principle of equity, efficiency and sustainability. He said the change in work culture in the Union Government is strengthening the energy sector. This in turn, will positively impact the work culture of the entire country, he added. .

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PMs challenge to ONGC on the occasion of Deendayal Upadhyays birth anniversary

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today invited the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation the ONGC to take up a challenge, on the occasion of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyays birth anniversary. Addressing officers and staff of the ONGC at a function to mark the launch of the SAUBHAGYA Yojana, the Prime Minister exhorted them to work towards making an efficient electric chulha (stove), which would enable cooking through the use of electricity. .

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The Prime Minister said this innovation would, in one stroke, significantly impact the nations dependence on imported fuel. He said that while the world is working towards electric cars, in India, in addition to electric cars, electric stoves would go a long way in meeting the needs of the people. He asked ONGC to invite startups and youth to innovate in this field. .

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Prime Minister to address Valedictory Session of Assistant Secretaries (IAS Officers of 2015 Batch) tomorrow

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address Valedictory Session of the Assistant Secretaries (IAS-2015 batch) here tomorrow. This is the third batch of IAS Officers to have commenced their career with a stint in the Central Government.

All the 175 Officers were designated and posted as Assistant Secretaries by the Government of India in 42 Ministries (58 Departments) of the Central Government for three months from July 03, 2017 to September 29, 2017 after their Phase-II training at the Lal Bahadur Shashtri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.

During their three-month central deputation they were provided a holistic overview of the functioning of the Central Government through individual projects, group projects, concurrent review of projects suggested by earlier batches with a view to providing exposure of office functioning of Government of India to the young IAS officers at a very early stage in their career.

The Officers were assigned important desks related to Policy and Flagship Programmes of the concerned Ministries and Departments. They were groomed by mentoring from nine sectoral Groups of Secretaries.

The Assistant Secretaries made presentations of the key learning before their Mentor Groups where 35 presentations were shortlisted. Eight of the shortlisted 35 have been selected for presentations to be made before the Prime Minister.

The objective of this Initiative is to provide exposure of Government of India functioning to the IAS officers at a very early stage in their career. As primary implementers in the field, this exposure also facilitates a broader macro-perspective when they work in the field.
Angela Merkel won a fourth term as chancellor in elections on Sunday, placing her in the front ranks of Germanys postwar leaders, even as her victory was dimmed by the entry of a far-right party into Parliament for the first time in more than 60 years, according to preliminary results.
Angela Merkel will continue as chancellor of Germany. But following an election that saw the rise of smaller parties  most notably the far right  her fourth term will probably be an eventful one in ways she would not wish for.
An old refrain often used about Spain is that in the country everything is politicised. This became apparent following the terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils in mid-August 2017.
Within hours of the death of Guineas president in 2008, four officers trained by the German military launched a coup detat. Led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who proudly wore the red beret and insignia of a German paratrooper, the plotters communicated discreetly in German. Following an assassination attempt, Camara was replaced in power by a French-trained paratrooper who had been his vice-president.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD), the right wing upstart of German politics, will enter the national parliament for the first time after taking more than 13% of the vote in the 2017 election.
When President Trump gave a fiery campaign speech in Huntsville, Ala., on Friday evening, he drew a rapturous roar by ridiculing Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, as Little Rocket Man.

Among diplomats and national security specialists, the reaction was decidedly different. After Mr. Trump repeated his taunt in a tweet late Saturday and threatened that Mr. Kim and his foreign minister wont be around much longer if they continue their invective against the United States, reactions ranged from nervous disbelief to sheer terror.

Mr. Trumps willingness to casually threaten to annihilate a nuclear-armed foe was yet another reminder of the steep risks inherent in his brute-force approach to diplomacy. His strengths as a politician  the ability to appeal in a visceral way to the impulses of ordinary citizens  are a difficult fit for the meticulous calculations that his own advisers concede are crucial in dealing with Pyongyang.

The disconnect has led to a deep uncertainty about whether Mr. Trump is all talk or actually intends to act. The ambiguity could be strategic, part of an effort to intimidate Mr. Kim and keep him guessing. Or it could reflect a rash impulse by a leader with little foreign policy experience to vent his anger and stoke his supporters enthusiasm.

His new chief of staff and his national security team have drawn a line at trying to rein in his more incendiary provocations, fearing that their efforts could backfire with a president who bridles at any effort to control him. What remains unclear  and the source of much of the anxiety in and out of the government and on both sides of the Pacific  is whether they would step in to prevent the president from taking the kind of drastic action that matches his words, if they believed it was imminent.

Veterans of diplomacy and national security and specialists on North Korea fear that, whatever their intended result, Mr. Trumps increasingly bellicose threats and public insults of the famously thin-skinned Mr. Kim could cause the United States to careen into a nuclear confrontation driven by personal animosity and bravado.

It does matter, because you dont want to get to a situation where North Korea fundamentally miscalculates that an attack is coming, said Sue Mi Terry, a former intelligence and National Security Council specialist who is now a senior adviser for Korea at Bower Group Asia. It could lead us to stumble into a war that nobody wants.

And while his bombast may be a thrill to Mr. Trumps core supporters, there is evidence that the broader American public does not trust the president to deal with North Korea, and is deeply opposed to the kind of pre-emptive military strike he has seemed eager to threaten.

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 37 percent of adults trust Mr. Trump a great deal or a good amount to responsibly handle the situation with North Korea, while 42 percent trust him not at all. By contrast, 72 percent trust American military leaders, who have largely avoided combative language on North Korea even as they have said publicly that a military option is possible.

Two-thirds of respondents opposed launching a pre-emptive attack against North Korea, while about three-quarters supported using tougher economic sanctions on Pyongyang as a way of pressuring the country to surrender its nuclear arsenal.

Some senior administration officials acknowledge privately that Mr. Trumps rhetoric on North Korea is not helpful, although they question whether it will alter the discussion, given how far Mr. Kim has come in his quest to develop a nuclear weapon that could reach the United States.

The three current and retired generals advising Mr. Trump  Jim Mattis, the defense secretary; Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, his national security adviser; and John F. Kelly, his chief of staff  as well as Rex W. Tillerson, the secretary of state, have all chosen their words on North Korea more carefully, emphasizing the role of diplomacy and the grave stakes of any military confrontation.

All three of the generals fully realize the carnage that would result from a war on the Korean Peninsula, James G. Stavridis, the former NATO commander and current dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, said on Sunday.

Knowing each of them personally, I am certain they are counseling operational caution, measured public commentary and building a coalition approach to dealing with Kim Jong-un, Mr. Stavridis, a retired admiral, said in an email. But controlling President Trump seems incredibly difficult. Lets hope they are not engaged in mission impossible, because the stakes are so high.

 The New York Times
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany recoils from the idea that she is now, almost de facto, the leader of the Western world, the defender of trans-Atlantic alliances and multilateralism. But like it or not, she and the country she will lead for a fourth term have become global actors.
Germanys Angela Merkel began the tough task of trying to build a government on Monday after securing a fourth term as chancellor, urging the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) not to shut the door on a rerun of their grand coalition.
Business leaders in Tucson, Arizona, have tried to mail Amazons chief executive, Jeff Bezos, a 21-foot cactus. The largest conference room in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, mayors office has been converted to a war room, with 50 volunteers poring over videos of Bezos.
Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif today returned to the country from the UK to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal.

He was in London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

Sharif, 67, decided to return after consultations with senior party leaders including his younger brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London, party officials said.

The aircraft carrying him landed here at around 7.30 AM and a confident Sharif came out, waved to his supporters and left in official protocol, TV news reports showed.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials said that he would stay in Punjab House in Islamabad and hold meetings with party leaders today and tomorrow.

"He (Sharif) would appear before the accountability court tomorrow (September 26) to defend himself in three corruption cases," the officials said.

Sharif stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons -- Hassan and Hussain, daughter -- Maryam, son-in-law -- Safdar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Accountability Court in Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

The anti-graft body last week froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court.

Earlier, Sharif skipped a court hearing last week to defy the cases. His family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated.

Maryam said that Sharif was returning to face cases for the sake of his people.

"Knowing what he faces is not accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about this person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million (Pakistanis)," she said in a tweet.

Sharif last month went to London to see Kulsoom who has undergone three successful surgeries for her cancer.

Kulsoom contested on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won.

Their children are still in London as he prepares to appear before the court in Islamabad tomorrow.

The court has also summoned Maryam, Hussain, Hasan and Safdar but it was not immediately known if they would appear before the court tomorrow.

Meanwhile finance minister Dar, who also returned from London, appeared today in an anti-corruption court.

The court had issued a bailable arrest warrant against him for failing to appear before it.

Dar's lawyer had deposited surety bonds worth Rs one million to avoid his arrest.

The court, after brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income.
President Donald Trump has issued a new travel ban that saw North Korea, Venezuela and Chad among a list of eight countries cited for poor security and lack of cooperation with US authorities.

Trump ordered the new restrictions yesterday to replace an expiring measure that had locked him into political and legal battles over what critics alleged was an effort to block Muslims from entry into the country since he took office in January.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump said in a tweet.

Sudan, one of the six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list. Under the new restrictions, eight nations now have complete or partial blocks on travel to the United States.

Full travel bans were placed on nationals from North Korea and Chad, while the restrictions for Venezuela were limited to officials from a long list of government agencies and their families.

Other countries included in the ban were Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

In a presidential order, Trump said the action was needed to press the countries to improve procedures for identifying their nationals and sharing information with the United States.

In addition, he said, the list was created to "advance foreign policy, national security and counterterrorism objectives."





"These restrictions are both vital to national security and conditions-based, not time-based," a senior administration official said, noting that countries can be removed from the list if they can rise to US traveler vetting standards.

Officials stressed that while Iraq was not included on the new list, it was deeply deficient in security vetting of immigrants and travelers to the United States.

But Baghdad is a close ally and supports the presence of large numbers of US troops and civilian officials. But acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke recommended tough restrictions on travelers to the United States.

Speaking on background, government officials said the addition of North Korea and Venezuela demonstrated that the measure was set on the basis of security and was not a "Muslim ban," as detractors have argued.

"Religion, or the religious origin of individuals or nations, was not a factor," a senior government official told reporters.

"The inclusion of those countries, Venezuela and North Korea, was about the fact that those governments are simply not compliant with our basic security requirements."



Chad was added to the list even though Trump's order called it "an important and valuable counterterrorism partner."



But the order noted the presence in Chad of several designated terror groups like the so-called Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.

Nevertheless, "Chad does not adequately share public- safety and terrorism-related information," it said. And, the order added, the country failed on one "key" but unspecified criterion used in a broad review of countries for the travel ban.

North Korea, locked in a dangerous face-off with Washington over its nuclear weapons program, was added, the order said, because Pyongyang "does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect."



Venezuela, in a political and economic crisis due to its embattled, increasingly oppressive regime, was listed for a limited ban.

The order placed a prohibition on officials from state agencies responsible for weak security vetting and lack of cooperation with the United States, including the interior and foreign ministries and the main police and intelligence services.

The bans for the five countries from the previous 90-day order, which expired Sunday, would immediately continue under the new order. For North Korea, Chad, and Venezuela, the restrictions will be implemented starting October 18.
Republican tax negotiators are targeting a corporate tax rate of 20 per cent, according to two people familiar with the matter. That would be higher than President wants setting up a key decision for the president on a top legislative priority.
An accused who had opened fire on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA house has escaped from police custody on Monday.

Anoop Sharma dodged police and fled while he was being taken to district hospital for medical check up.

Sharma was arrested for firing at Firozabad MLA Manish Asija's home on September 20.

Police are trying to nab the absconding accused.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
British actor Colin Firth has accepted honorary Italian citizenship and is now a citizen of both Britain and Italy.

According to The Independent, Firth, who is married to Livia Giuggioli, reportedly made the initial application in response to the UK leaving the European Union.

Firth has offered an official statement, which read, "A connection with Italy has existed for more than two decades now. I was married there and had two children born in Rome. My wife and I are both extremely proud of our own countries."

The statement continued, "We never really thought much about our different passports. But now, with some of the uncertainty around, we thought it sensible that we should all get the same. Livia is applying for a British passport. I will always be extremely British (you only have to look at or listen to me)."

Recently, while talking to a local Australian publication, the Oscar-winning actor said, "Brexit does not have a single. positive aspect for me. Many colleagues, including Emma Thompson, are - like me - enthusiastic Europeans. And we still cannot believe it."

His official statement, concluded with, "Britain is our home and we love it here. Despite the enticements of my profession to relocate to more remunerative climes, I've always chosen to base my career out of the UK and pay my taxes here. That hasn't changed.

A statement has also been issued from the Italian interior ministry, which read, "The very famous actor, who won an Oscar for the film The King's Speech, is married to a citizen from our country and has often declared his love for our land."

Firth and Giuggioli currently live in Chiswick with their two sons, and own a house near the Italian town of Citta della Pieve.

Firth's announcement came just hours after Theresa May's speech in Florence, in which the Prime Minister conceded that Britain would have to accept EU free movement and stay in the single market for at least two years after Brexit.

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At least 15 Taliban insurgents were killed and 12 others injured after Afghanistan security forces conducted an operation in central Logar province on Sunday.

The provincial police chief, Esmatullah Alizai said the operation was launched in Barak-e-Barak district after the Taliban insurgents attacked the security check posts, the Tolo News reported.

However, the Taliban has not commented on the incident so far.

Earlier, at least 43 Taliban insurgents, including a top commander got killed in air strikes conducted by the United States in the Afghan province of Faryab bordering Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan security forces had to call for aerial support from the U.S. forces after a convoy of over 300 security forces made up of members of a special Afghan commando force, soldiers, and policemen came under heavy attack from the Taliban.

General Janat Gul, a commander of the Afghan National Army's 209 Shaheen Corps on Sunday said that a convoy of over 300 security forces made up of members of a special commando force, soldiers, and policemen came under attack from the Taliban, the Anadolu news reported.

Aerial support called in from U.S. forces hit the militants, killing 43 and leaving 20 others wounded, he added.

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Afghanistan's Senate Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar has dubbed the recent remarks by Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Afghan-Indian relations as 'foolish'.

"We denounce Pakistan's Prime Minister's remarks. Along with the condemnation, I must say it is very rude and foolish," Tolo News quoted Muslimyar, as saying.

He added that Pakistan politicians do not have independence and they are the loud speakers of Pakistan's military.

A number of senators also condemned the remarks by Prime Minister Abbasi on Sunday.

According to reports, Abbasi had last week said at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York that Islamabad did not have any problems with New Delhi's financial support to Afghanistan, but Pakistan would never condone India's political or military role in Afghanistan.

Senator Shir Mohammad Akhundzada said it is good if Pakistanis want to have good relationships with Afghanistan but Kabul will not accept Islamabad's influence on the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former United States Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for sexting with a school girl.

In addition to the prison term, Weiner has also been sentenced to three years of supervised release where he will be subjected to online supervision.

Weiner, who was aware of the fact that the girl was 15-year-old, had asked teen 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," reported CNN quoting prosecutors.

Judge Denise Cote told court, " This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment and there is an opportunity to make a statement that can protect other minors".

Weiner this year, in May, pleaded guilty to one count of the transfer of obscene materials to a minor.

In his guilty plea, he, despite knowing that these acts were wrong, his illness compelled him to do so.

"I knew this was as morally wrong, as it was unlawful," Weiner said in his guilty plea in court.

Weiner, the estranged husband of Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton's former adviser, broke down when the sentence was handed down.

Weiner had resigned from Congress in 2011, after a lewd photo of him emerged online.

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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a harsh blow to the nation's economy by introducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The Congress vice-president while addressing the public on his three-day campaign for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections said that the Indian youth wants to work and wants to make the country but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is however unable to give them employment.

While asserting that unemployment and farmer distress are two major issues for Gujarat and the nation Gandhi said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without anyone's consent dealt a severe blow to the country's economy. The Prime Minister went on to further hurt small businessmen by introducing the GST. They have no space in heart for the weak and poor sections of the society but they open all the doors for the rich people of the society. Unemployment and farmer distress are two important challenges before India and Gujarat.

He added that Prime Minister Modi had falsely assured that he would provide jobs to two crore youth every year.

"We asked the concerned minister in the Parliament that how many jobs were provided to the youth this year. The reply was: the BJP led Centre could only provide one lakh jobs to the youth in one year. Every day 30,000 youth search for job and the government provides jobs to only 400. The young generation of this country wants to contribute in the development of the nation but the BJP led NDA government doesn't provide them jobs," Gandhi said.

He further said that if Congress comes to power in Gujarat then it would be the government of poor, farmers and youth.

"If you go to any district in India and ask the farmers whether they get right price of their yield, you'll get answer as 'No'. Don't know what happened to Prime Minister Modi last year that he imposed demonetisation which worsened the lives of farmers and labourers who deal in cash. This government doesn't have empathy for poor," Gandhi asserted.

He asserted that the Congress feels that the most funding should go towards development of education and health at all levels.

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The Congress Party on Monday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is "rattled" with Congress' recent victory in the Delhi University.

"BJP is already rattled with the kind of results that are coming out of universities," Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan told ANI.

He added that 2019 is not too far saying that BJP's preparation is missing.

"You can't sustain propaganda without action, planned at the ground and when you fail on the economic front, have not delivered the job you have talked about, the black money has not arrived, these become very serious issues, and people are going to ask you questions and you will have to answer them."

He said that promises have not been delivered and BJP has to now set its agenda to tell people why it was so.

Speaking on the upcoming Gujarat elections and the preparations, Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad said that people of India have uneasiness towards BJP.

"One reason for that is demonetisation, then unemployment, and problems created by Goods and Services Tax (GST) and because of this people are pretty upset with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is visible quite openly," he told ANI.

He said that Congress party's performance amidst all this will be very good and they will create the government.

"Ahmed Patel's win was the start of PM Modi's and Amit Shah's losing in public," Ahmad said.

The assembly elections in Gujarat, at the end of the year, or the beginning of the next year, are already creating a buzz among the people.

Meanwhile BJP, with its thirteen Chief Ministers, 1400 legislators, 280 Parliamentarians - in all around 2,500 delegates, will be holding a Executive committee meeting at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium on Monday.

Chaired by BJP President Amit Shah, the day-long session will be the first-ever televised Executive meet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to deliver a speech that might shape the political discourse in the run-up to the winter session of Parliament, and assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

With election season round the corner, preparations for the upcoming state polls and the 2019 general election will be part of the agenda.

The meeting will focus on arming the delegates with an array of arguments against the critics of the government's economic policy.

The meeting will also serve as the closing ceremony of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya birth centenary programme.

On Sunday, the party began the two-day event with an internal meeting to finalise the programme.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday poked fun at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in wake of violence which occurred in BHU and said though Centre's policy is 'beti bachao -beti padhao' but when a girl stands up for her rights, her voice is curbed.

Gandhi also sought Prime Minister's apology in the regard, he said, "All this is happening in Prime Minister's constituency and he should apologise to the BHU girls and should act immediately. This is not the way to work."

Slamming the Prime Minister over the police lathi-charge on protesting BHU students against the alleged molestation, Rahul said, "The philosophy of Bharatiya Janata Party is- 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' (save daughters, teach daughters), and thrash the daughter when she asks for her right."

Earlier in the day, it was confirmed that a FIR has been registered against 1000 the BHU students for arson and other charges, retorting to which Gandhi said, "Whatever is happening in BHU is very wrong. It is so shameful that FIR is being registered against the protesting students. These girls have done nothing wrong. What is wrong is the government's approach in the matter."

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday lathi-charged the BHU students, who were protesting since three days against the alleged molestation of a varsity girl.

The students alleged that the police thrashed them and dragged them through hair.

The ongoing protests and clashes outside the BHU campus triggered when a first-year female student of BHU alleged that she was molested by three bike-borne men outside the varsity campus on Thursday.

The victim in the matter has claimed that she went to the university administration for complaining about the incident but the administration in lieu of taking any action against the molesters, shamed the victim for her awkward hostel timings.

Angered over the laid back attitude of the administration and lack of action from the side, the varsity students staged protests outside the campus on Friday and blocked entry to the campus through the main gate.

The protests here coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A British freelance writer and photographer currently based in Pakistan has questioned Islamabad's hypocrisy over the Rohingya issue and said that the crisis in Myanmar has brought into focus the deplorable plight of Pakistan's own Rohingya population.

"Most Rohingyas in Pakistan have been unable to obtain citizenship and many do not even have a national identity card, preventing them from access to public schools, government run healthcare and such everyday things as opening a bank account," Usman Ahmad said in an opinion piece published in The Diplomat.

Explaining about Rohingyas living in Pakistan, he said an estimated to number 500,000 Rohingya families first settled in the port city of Karachi in 1962 after the coup d'etat which marked the beginning of authoritarian rule in the country and their numbers increased during the 1980s as the military regime of General Zia ul Haq brought them over to study in madrassas and participate in the Afghan jihad.

Highlighting the plight of Rohingyas in Pakistan, the writer said the visceral effects can be seen in the slummy neighborhoods of Karachi which the Rohingya mainly inhabit and which are deprived of the most basic facilities forcing the community to live in squalor.

"There are other frequent hostilities: one of the chief complaints of Karachi's Rohingya is the routine harassment they face from the city's police for their lack of valid documents and local crime," he said.

Ahmad questioned as to what tolerance can Pakistan expect from Myanmar for its Muslim minorities when it is unwilling to apply similar levels of tolerance back homw?

"In truth, this question possesses little value as few if any in Pakistan will be able to recognize its legitimacy. The vast majority of Pakistanis have given over to an entrenched and self-perpetuating narrative that mirrors the same notions of identity which the Burmese use to justify their oppression of the Rohingya," he said.

" Driven by the idea that Pakistan is a bastion of Islam, the rights and needs of Muslims trump all others as any potential sympathy for minorities is removed lest it undermine the wider Muslim cause. The real danger though lies in this way of thinking and Pakistan would do well to remember the extremism bred from its own culture when it champions the rights of oppressed people elsewhere," he further said.

Rohingyas are trying to fled Myanmar due to violence in the Rakhine state that has claimed lives of at least 100 people and displaced more than 2, 00,000.

Myanmar troops launched a crackdown in the Rakhine state in response to attacks on three border posts on October 9 that killed nine police officers, since then many Rohingya Muslims have tried to move into Bangladesh illegally.

Following a Rohingya rebel attack that killed 12 security forces last month, the military launched "clearance operations" that left 400-3000 dead and many more injured and over 400,000 Rohingyas fleeing to Bangladesh.

Rohingyas are not recognised by Myanmar as its citizens and are called Bengali by them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday downplayed opposition's comment on dynasty politics and said that if his party follows dynasty politics then his wife Dimple Yadav would not contest next elections.

"If there is dynastic politics, then I decide that my wife will not fight election for the next time. Now, BJP will tell about their dynastic politics, he told the media.

Yadav further said that he mulling to expand Samajwadi Party in Chhattisgarh as well.

"We believe that we will soon try to spread Samajwadi Party here (Chhattisgarh) as well. We will surely work for the poor people, farmers and youth like our Samajwadi Party supporters did in Uttar Pradesh," he added.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Beijing's Tabula Rasa gallery has held an Almost Art exhibition project since 2015 to encourage the creativity of amateur artists who didn't train at art schools.

The third exhibition, which is currently underway until Sunday, features dozens of paintings and sculptures produced by more than 40 self-taught artists who come from different walks of life.

They include housewives from rural areas, former shop owners, office workers and people suffering mental health issues. They are termed "outsider artists" internationally.
Panic apparently seems to have gripped several schools in India and their respective teaching communities after some incidents resulted in the surfacing of an irrational fear psychosis leading to them being highlighted.

Recently, The Millenium School, Panipat, Haryana, was in the news over an alleged case of sexual misbehaviour with a Class IV student by a cleaning attendant. The incident took a new turn when the school authorities claimed that they had proactively shared information regarding the incident with the child's parents and other authorities, besides offering all assistance from the moment the incident was reported.

School Principal Ms. Amita Kochhar claimed she moved swiftly after receiving the first qualified indication from the parents. But when there was no clarity on the identity of the culprit, it was decided to involve the police.

The school prepared an incident report based on what the child and his parents said and spelt out the steps the school has taken and supplied the same to the authorities.

Police were accordingly provided access to the entire premise and given immediate access to the CCTV recording, which has since been placed in the custody of the police.

Reacting to numerous versions of the incident, the school management has now issued a clarification detailing the proactive steps taken, including nomination of a staff member to respond to all parental queries round the clock.

Principal Kochhar said, "We have moved swiftly and proactively. We have offered all cooperation to the authorities. In fact, it was the school that called in the police. We have no reason to protect anyone - least of all someone who may have hurt any child of our school."

Many concerned parents have also come out in support of the school and demonstrated in front of the SDM and DC.

In this particular incident, the district administration has played an admirable role in keeping the situation calm . Further the district administration has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter .

"Our child has been studying here for a number of years. One incident cannot make the teachers, staff and management villains for the actions of one employee," said Pramanjeet Singh Roha , whose child studies in Class VI.

Rajesh and Bindu Jaglan, whose child studies in Class 5 at TMS Panipat, said, " It is now the responsibility of the authorities not to create a fear psychosis for other children, parents and school employees. Shutting down the school is not a solution and it is playing havoc with our child's education."

TMS staff members said that they are concerned over the broad based maligning of schools and their teaching staff, adding that this is creating a lot of uncertainty for everyone.

"Staff members wonder if every teacher in town will be under suspicion and or arrested for the mistake of one deviant school employee," said one cynically, but refusing to reveal his name.

It is being allegedly reported that some politicians and vested interests are using such incidents to make schools bend and meet their requirements.

Some parents have demanded the arrest of the school principal, but others and teachers have launched a counter protest. They assembled as a group and met the sub-divisional magistrate of Panipat to demand the principal's reinstatement. They claimed that the latter had been removed by the management under pressure.

One of the parents said, "The police should take action only after the report of the SIT comes out. Any coercive action will only create panic among both parents and teachers and no one will be want to take up the profession of teaching or become a principal of a school".

Another parent who declined to be named said " These teachers are our Gurus and they deserve our respect for the contribution they are doing. We should be very concerned about the values that we are instilling in our children if we openly speak against them. It will threaten the very fabric of our society.

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Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh on Monday said that the government has sought a report in connection with the incident of lathicharge on students of Varanasi's Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

"We have sought a high level report on it," Singh told media.

The UP Minister further added that severe actions will be taken against the miscreants once the reports come.

"I'll also state that no one can take laws into his/her own hands and if need be, we will take the severest action," Singh further added.

Earlier in the day, a Station House Officer (SHO) of Lanka area, Circle Officer (CO) of Bhelupur and one Additional City Magistrate (ACM) were removed after held prima facie responsible for imposing lathicharge at BHU.

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday lathi-charged the BHU students, who were protesting for three days against alleged molestation of a University girl.

It has been reported that the protesting students took to violence on Saturday when they were stopped by the deployed security forces from entering the residence of the Vice Chancellor; it is then when the security forces resorted to lathi-charge to disperse them.

"There are chances that outsiders might have come and used the matter within the university (to create violence)," Varansi Divisional Commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokarn told ANI on Sunday.

The students alleged that the police thrashed them and dragged them through hair, but DM Varanasi, who was present on the spot, denied all such claims.

The ongoing protesters outside the BHU campus triggered when a first-year female student of BHU alleged that she was molested by three bike-borne men outside the campus on Thursday.

The victim in the matter has claimed that she went to the university administration to complain about the incident but the administration in lieu of taking any action against the molesters, shamed the victim for her awkward hostel timings.

Angered over the laid back attitude of the administration and lack of action from their side, the students staged protests outside the campus on Friday and blocked entry to the campus through the main gate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On the second day of his three-day Gujarat visit, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will interact with the rural dairy farmers as well as the intellectuals, businessman, and entrepreneurs of the state.

The Gandhi scion will begin his day with a meeting with workers and supporters at Rampur Patia in Jamnagar district at 10:15 a.m, followed another meeting with workers and supporters at Gandhi Chowk, in Dhrol municipality, at 11:00 a.m.

After the two meetings in Jamnagar district, Gandhi will then proceed to Morbi district to attend a Kisan Sabha in Tankara at 12:30 pm, followed by an interactive session with dairy farmers at Pipalia Raj village at 1:45 p.m.

At 4;30 p.m., he will hold a meeting with elected cooperative representatives at Milk Plant, near Amarsar Railway crossing.

The day will end with an interactive session with intellectuals, businessmen, and entrepreneurs at Hemu Gadhavi Hall in Rajkot, scheduled to be held at 7:30 p.m.

Arriving on Monday, the Congress VP kick-started his three-day election campaign at Saurashtra.

After offering prayers at the Dwarkadhish Temple, Gandhi went on to address a road show in the city where he castigated the Democratic Alliance (NDA)- led government over a range of topics including unemployment, agrarian distress, demonetisation, and goods and Services Tax (GST).

Gandhi's election campaign in Gujarat is part of the Congress party's poll campaign ahead of the assembly elections slated to be held later this year.

The much awaited assembly elections in Gujarat will be held towards the end of 2017 or January, 2018. The dates will be announced officially by the Election Commission few months prior to it.

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The Kerala High Court on Monday rejected the bail plea of Pulsar Suni, the main accused in connection with the Malayalam actress assault case.

Earlier on July 31, another accused, actor Dileep's manager Appunni, surrendered before the Aluva police.

The Kerala High Court had also rejected his anticipatory bail.

Earlier in July 26, actress and wife of actor Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, has been interrogated by the investigation team in the same case.

Meanwhile, Pulsar Suni had told the investigation team that after committing the crime, he had come to Lakshya, an online marketing firm run by Kavya at Kakkanad in Kochi.

Upon his statement, the police had conducted a raid at Lakshya.

The Kerala High Court had earlier rejected the bail plea of actor Dileep, who was arrested on conspiracy charges in the molestation case of a Malayalam actress.

Bail was denied on the grounds that the actor could possibly influence the witnesses in the case.

On July 11, Dileep was expelled from the primary membership of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) after being arrested. He was also sent to 14-day judicial custody.

Earlier, the two main accused - Sunil Kumar and Vigeesh, in the abduction and assault of the Malayalam actress, were brought to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu for evidence collection.

This came after a court of Aluva in Ernakulam district granted nine-day police custody of the two accused.

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Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday congratulated and praised a class nine student Ravisha for her essay on ways to keep India clean.

Parrikar took to Twitter saying, "Congratulations Ravisha. Let your essay be the leading light for all Goans as we move towards a #SwachhGoa."

Congratulations Ravisha. Let your essay be the leading light for all Goans as we move towards a #SwachhGoa. https://t.co/XufKIFQP8n  Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) September 25, 2017

Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded the student and said, "In her prize winning essay, Ravisha from Goa writes about what should be done for a @swachhbharat. I compliment her for her work."

While addressing the 36th edition of monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat,' Prime Minister Modi expressed his happiness over the widespread support for 'Swachhata Hi Seva' movement and thanked media for furthering the message of cleanliness.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a campaign by the Government of India to keep the streets, roads and infrastructure of the country clean. The mission is bifurcated into sub-missions as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Gramin), under Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Urban), under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It includes ambassadors and activities such as a run, real-time monitoring and updates from NGOs.

The campaign was officially launched on October 2, 2014 by Prime Minister Modi.

It is India's largest ever cleanliness drive with 3 million government employees, especially school and college students from all parts of India, participating in the campaign.

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Former Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday ruled out forming a new party for now.

Ahead of Mulayam's press conference, speculation was rife that he would announce his own party. However, no such announcement was made by him as he denied forming his own party any time soon.

Addressing media here, he said, "I am not forming a new party as of now. I would make more announcements in the coming days."

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, however, expressed dissent over the decisions taken by the Samajwadi Party chief and his son Akhilesh Yadav.

"He is my son so my blessings are with him but I don't agree with his decisions. What those decisions are is something I will talk about in the coming days," he added.

The ex- Samajwadi Party president further trained guns at the Centre and the Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government over several issues including Banaras Hindu University (BHU) molestation, petrol prices, farmer loan waivers.

"None of the promises made by the Centre were fulfilled in three years of its governance. Petrol-diesel prices are skyrocketing. Girls are not safe in BHU. The law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh has become worse. The situation of farmers has also deteriorated. Farmers have been sufferers under the Yogi government," he said.

Mulayam also asked the Opposition to come together and unite against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said the United States President Donald Trump has declared war and Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down the US strategic bombers.

After hearing Ri's speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump appeared to threaten regime change over the weekend, tweeting to say if the country's foreign minister echoed the thoughts of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un they "won't be around much longer."

"The whole should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country," the independent.co.uk quoted Ri, as saying to reporters in New York.

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country," he added.

Earlier on Saturday, terming the US President "a mentally deranged person full of megalomania," the Foreign Minister told the United Nations General Assembly as the Pentagon announced that it had flown bombers escorted by fighter jets over waters east of .

This development assumes much significance as US Air Force B-1B Lancer taking patrol flight over waters east of North Korea, is the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone any US aircraft has flown off North Korea's coast in the 21st century.

has warned that Trump's bellicose remarks against the Asian country and its leader will make the US mainland an "inevitable" target for rocket strikes.

"Through such a prolonged and arduous struggle, now we are finally only a few steps away from the final gate of completion of the state nuclear force," Ri told the annual gathering of leaders in New York.

Trump had announced on Thursday that the new US sanctions will allow targeting the companies and institutions, which finance and facilitate trade with .

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted its ninth round of sanctions on Pyongyang to counter its nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes.

Recently, North Korea conducted its sixth most powerful nuclear test on September 3, attracting UN sanctions and criticism from the international community.

Under Kim Jong Un's leadership, Pyongyang carried out several intercontinental ballistic missile tests, including 20 missile tests in 2016.

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Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a brief meeting with his close aides after returning back to the country from London on Monday.

Sharif had gone to London about a month ago on account of his wife's Kulsoom Nawaz's treatment.

She was undergoing a cancer treatment in London.

Sharif's daughter Maryam and sons Hussain and Hassan did not accompany the former prime minister on his return as they are still in London.

Sharif was received by the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, PML-N information secretary Senator Mushahidullah Khan and Prime Minister's Adviser on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Abbasi at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

"He is the leader of PML-N and the people of Pakistan and is returning to country to play the very important role," the Dawn quoted PML-N spokesman Mushahidullah Khan as saying.

Earlier, the National Accountability Court (NAB) in Pakistan issued summons to Nawaz Sharif and his family members at their London address, asking them to appear on September 26 after they had failed to appear on September 19 hearing in connection with the Supreme Court-mandated corruption references.

The court will most likely issue bailable or non-bailable arrest warrants against the former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and his family members if they do not turn up in court after receiving the summons.

On July 28, a five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court, while disqualifying Sharif under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution had asked the NAB to file four references in the Rawalpindi accountability court within six weeks on the basis of the material collected and referred to by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) as well as that already available with the Federal Investigation Agency and the NAB.

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At least one person was killed and seven others were wounded on Sunday in a shooting at a church service in Antioch, Tennessee.

The shooter, described as a Rutherford County man in his mid 20s, shot himself after he was confronted by an armed member of the congregation, reported the local media quoting the Metro Nashville Police.

The shooter is being treated at the hospital.

The gunman wore a neoprene ski mask when he shot a woman in the parking lot of Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, a neighbourhood in Davidson County, governed by Nashville.

Earlier, the Nashville Fire Department said, "This is a mass casualty situation,"adding, "All of the wounded have been transported to area hospitals. The majority are older adults."

More details are awaited.

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Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq on Monday said Pakistan is Afghanistan's enemy as it has established large insurgent training camps on both sides of the Durand Line, the border area between the two countries.

Pakistan have stationed militants along the de facto border, Raziq told the Tolo News.

"They (Pakistan) have positioned terrorists on both sides of the Durand Line; they train them there and want to have control over the southern region and along Afghanistan's shared borders with Iran and Pakistan. They want to weaken government and are involved in drug smuggling, the control of mines and with the money they earn in this way, they create terrorist centers here and finance them," Raziq further said.

He accused Pakistan of transferring the Quetta Council, known us Quetta Shura, to southern Helmand province where Taliban leaders and their families will be based.

"Pakistan is our enemy and we should not expect Pakistan to let us live peacefully. The world's policy that has been made against Pakistan should be implemented," Raziq said.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah who was in Kandahar to launch a new solar power project said that the insurgent safe havens should be destroyed in the region.

"All the insecurity in the region is because of the insurgent safe havens. Any country that has incorrect judgment in this regard, will pay the price," said Abdullah.

Earlier, while rolling out the new strategy for South Asian countries, especially Afghanistan, the United States President Donald Trump had criticised Pakistan for providing "safe haven" for terrorists and had exhorted Islamabad to exhibit more commitment to fight terror.

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Special Forces of Pakistan and Russian armies started a two-week long joint counter-terrorism exercise in in Russia's Minralney Vody on Monday.

Pakistan army's media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the opening ceremony of the DRUZBA 2017, which was attended by senior military officials of special forces of both countries.

"The joint exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations, hostage and rescue, Cordon and Search Operation. The joint exercise will enhance and further strengthen military ties between both the countries and share Pakistan Army's experience in war against terrorism," the statement further said.

Moscow and Islamabad have broadened their defense and economic cooperation in the recent years, possibly giving a rise to a new regional alignment following strained relations between Pakistan and the United States, mainly on Afghanistan.

Earlier, Russia had delivered Mi-171E non defence helicopter in a convertible option to the representatives of Pakistan's Balochistan province.

Russian Helicopters, a helicopter manufacturing company, had signed its first contract with the government of the Balochistan province in December 2016 for civil products supply.

This is already the second Mi-171E helicopter delivered to Pakistan this year. A total of over 12,000 Mi-8/17s are in service in over 100 countries.

The helicopter comes in a convertible option, which can be converted from a freight one to a VIP cabin with 13 seats and a flight attendant at customer's option within the short period.

Mi-171E can carry up to 27 passengers and up to four tonnes of cargo inside the cabin or on the external suspension in its transport version.

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Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said that the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is spoiling country's image on the international level.

"The Government of India is relentlessly working in the interests of the poor. Rahul Gandhi has been undermining India during his foreign trips but Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah gave a befitting reply with facts. Amit Shah during the executive meet said that the Congress believes in dynasty and politics of appeasement. Today India is a growing economy and pro-poor schemes have led to the fact that 60 crore poor feel that they are safe," Goyal said while briefing the media about the BJP Executive Meeting.

Thirteen Chief Ministers of the BJP ruled states, 1400 legislators, 280 Parliamentarians - in all around 2,500 delegates, are attending the Executive committee meeting at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium.

He added that Shah has condemned the political violence in Kerala and West Bengal and said that from October 3-October 17, the BJP workers will do a 'padyatra' in Kerala and connect with the people.

"Amit Shah spoke on rural development programmes. He said everyone has a dream of new India which is free of dirt, hunger, corruption and communalism. The work of every BJP?worker is to pursue that dream. He has also appealed everyone to stand by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda of a Clean India," Goyal said.

He added that the BJP chief said that no matter how much the mud of violence is spread, the lotus of the BJP will always be glorified. The election symbol of the BJP is blooming lotus.

"In his speech, Shah appealed all the activists to come together to fulfill the dream of New-India. After 70 years of independence, India is still grappling with several issues. The dream of New India is a dream of 125 crore Indians. India should be rid of communalism and terrorism," Goyal asserted.

He added that India is one country where the President, Prime Minister and vice-president all of them have reached to this point all because of their merit and the BJP will make politics of performance a success.

"BJP will register a historic win in the upcoming Gujarat polls. The politics which Rahul Gandhi wants to give to the country is what we condemn," Goyal said.

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Home Minister Rajnath Singh will start his four-day visit to Uttarakhand on Monday. He will also be visiting India-China border area.

Various transgressions by China's People's Liberation Army have been reported in the area in the past.

Rajnath is expected to visit Bara Hoti, which is manned by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. He will interact with the border security forces to understand the behavior of Chinese troops in the area.

In July this year, the Chinese troops had reportedly come into as much as one kilometre in Bara Hoti.

Last year, also in July, two soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) entered 200 metres into the Barholi area of Uttarakhand.

The visit will be a significant one as it will be the first such by a senior minister in the NDA government after the resolution of the Doklam issue.

Doklam standoff started when on June 16, 2017 Chinese troops with construction vehicles and road-building equipment began extending an existing road southward in Doklam, a territory which is claimed by both China as well as India's ally Bhutan. Indian troops objected to Chinese aggression.

Finally on August 28, both India and China announced that they had withdrawn all their troops from the face-off site in Doklam.

Singh will also visit ITBP border outposts at Rimkhim, Mana, and Auli during the four-day trip.

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.

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Senior journalist Sajeev Gopalan was allegedly assaulted by the police on Sunday here.

Gopalan works with 'Kalakaumudi' newspaper.

He was immediately hospitalized in the nearby hospital.

An investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, a number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in lathi-charge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) which witnessed violence on September 23, in an ugly turn to a protest against an alleged eve-teasing incident.

The lathi-charge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some journalists staging a sit-in near Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence.

They later gave a memorandum to the District Magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

In the wake of the violence, the university has announced "holidays" from tomorrow till October 2, advancing it from September 28.

Also, senior journalist Lankesh was shot dead on September 5 at her residence in Bengaluru's Rajarajeshwari Nagar by some unidentified assailants at around 8-8:30 p.m.

As per the reports, three bullets were pumped in her body.

Her last rites were held at Bengaluru's Chamrajpet Cemetery earlier in the day.

Lankesh was the editor of the Gauri Lankesh Patrike, a tabloid described as an "anti-establishment" publication.

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed condolences on the passing away of renowned journalist and writer Arun Sadhu.

Sadhu passed away at the age of 76 in Mumbai on Monday.

Acknowledging Arun Sadhu's contribution to English, Hindi and Marathi literature through his novels, Congress president said that he will be remembered for his path of literature and journalism with equal elan.

Sonia Gandhi conveyed her sympathies to the family and friends of Sadhu.

Sadhu was suffering from the condition of Cardiomyopathy since long.

Yesterday, Sadhu was admitted in Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital a.k.a. Sion hospital at around 10 a.m. in the morning.

He won Sahitya Academy award and also several awards such as Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad, NC Kelkar and Acharya Atre award.

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Two fishermen were killed while two others were rescued after their boat sunk near Hazira in Gujarat's Surat district.

In the accident which occurred on Sunday, four fishermen from Rajgari village of Surat had gone for fishing, where their boat suddenly started drowning in the seawater.

Two people lost their lives here while the others were rescued with help of Surat fire department and a chopper of a private company.

The two deceased have been identified as Nilesh Jalubhai Patel and Dharmesh Hansji Patel and the two others who were saved have been identified as Manhar Patel and Geerish Patel.

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Synup, a SaaS-based solutions provider on Monday announced it has completed a USD six million worth Series A round of financing, led by Vertex Ventures and Synup's existing investor, Prime Venture Partners.

The investment is projected to help the company rapidly expand its sales and marketing efforts as well as broaden and accelerate product development.

"There is an undisputed need for an automated marketing solution for millions of local businesses across the globe. We are fortunate to have partnered with two top tier investors such as Vertex and Prime, who bring both a deep understanding of our as well as operational expertise. We have built a unique and cost effective solution and have seen some excellent growth so far and aim to take this to other geographies soon with a wider product offering," said founder and CEO Synup, Ashwin Ramesh.

Following its inception in 2015, Synup achieved USD one million in ARR in the first nine months, and since then, over 50,000 locations in the U.S and Canada have used its solutions. The company has already started to generate a positive cash flow and aims to grow ten-fold in the next three years.

"Synup has been able to solve a difficult problem in a market that is largely underpenetrated. Their strong early customer traction is a testament to the efficacy of their approach to address this massive market opportunity. We have been impressed with the experience of their team and the thoughtful design of their product, and look forward to helping scale this company," said Ben Mathias, Managing Partner, Vertex Ventures.

Currently, local businesses are getting discovered in hundreds of fragmented consumer platforms on the web and mobile. Most of these listings have to be manually updated across all the platforms and it takes approximately eight hours a week for a store manager to just update location data. The listings also do not provide the with any analytics or insight into user reviews.

Synup offers a complete local marketing solution that makes it easy for businesses to manage their location data, presence, reputation and analytics. Synup tracks hundreds of thousands of profiles and monitors millions of interactions to provide businesses with automated marketing as well as insights that they would otherwise not get. It also manages and boosts local SEO efforts for agencies, enterprises and small businesses with multiple locations.

Synup works with both digital agencies and businesses directly to manage their listings on over 50 of the most important local search destinations. Additionally, it tracks customer reviews and analyses rankings on different search engines.

In the next six months, the company wants to go beyond location data management and offer a wider breadth of products to its customers. The company is bullish on its growth as out of the total 28 million local businesses in the US, only about a million (3.57 percent), use automated location-marketing services like Synup.

Currently, the company has over 40 employees and is looking to hire across all sections of the business. Synup plans to expand into Europe and United Kingdom by mid-2018.

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Aslam Wani, close aide of separatist Shabir Shah, withdrew his bail application in connection with terror funding case on Monday.

Earlier on Saturday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a Delhi court that Shah has admitted to receiving funds from Pakistan's terror outfits to spread terror in Jammu and Kashmir and others parts of India.

His close aide, Mohammad Aslam Wani also admitted to his complicity in the crime, the ED said.

The Enforcement Directorate filed the charge sheet in a Delhi Court against Separatist leader Shabir Shah in connection with a decade-old money laundering case against terror funding.

In the charge sheet, the ED states that Shabir Shah has admitted that he talks to Hafiz Saeed on phone on the issue of Kashmir, and last spoke to him in January 2017.

Shah also confessed to have received funds from terror outfits from Pakistan to promote terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir and others parts of India.

With no source of income of his own, Shah admitted that he does not file any Income Tax Return regarding his income, and that he only receives donations in cash from locals and his well-wishers towards party fund which amounts to Rs eight to ten lakhs per annum.

Meanwhile, Shah's close aide, Mohammad Aslam Wani admitted to receiving Hawala money from Pakistan's Hawala operative Shafi Shayar, on behalf of Shabir Shah, in Delhi.

On September 7, ED opposed the bail plea of Aslam Wani in a Delhi court, saying that he had a key role in bringing money from Pakistan for terror activities in Kashmir.

Wani was arrested by the earlier on August 6 from Srinagar with the help of the Jammu and Kashmir police.

The agency had registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Shah and Wani.

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Two women, aged between 22 and 24, were stabbed to death in North Delhi's Timarpur area on Monday.

The husband of one of the women is absconding and police are seeing him as a prime suspect.

The investigation is in progress by the police, further details are awaited.

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At least 43 Taliban insurgents, including a top commander got killed in air strikes conducted by the United States in the Afghan province of Faryab bordering Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan security forces had to call for aerial support from the U.S. forces after a convoy of over 300 security forces made up of members of a special Afghan commando force, soldiers, and policemen came under heavy attack from the Taliban, the Anadolu Agency reported.

General Janat Gul, a commander of the Afghan National Army's 209 Shaheen Corps on Sunday said that a convoy of over 300 security forces made up of members of a special commando force, soldiers, and policemen came under attack from the Taliban, the Anadolu news reported.

Aerial support called in from U.S. forces hit the militants, killing 43 and leaving 20 others wounded, he added.

However, the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A) have not commented on the incident so far.

Earlier, at least 60 Taliban insurgents were killed and 20 others were wounded after Afghan National Defence and Security Forces retaliated the attacks launched by the Taliban insurgents in northern Faryab province.

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The United States on Monday denied North Korea's claims that President Trump's tweet amounted to declaration of war.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders dubbed the claim "absurd" and clarified that Washington had not "declared war" on Pyongyang.

The Trump administration also asserted that North Korea misconstrued US President's tweet that Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer," as declaration of war.

The escalating rhetoric comes at a time when the tensions between the two countries are all-time high.

The denial comes post North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho's words.

The minister said that the United States President Donald Trump has declared war and Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down the U.S. strategic bombers.

Trump added North Korea to the list of countries in the new travel ban order announced on Sunday.

Trump had announced on Thursday that the new U.S. sanctions will allow targeting the companies and institutions, which finance and facilitate trade with North Korea.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted its ninth round of sanctions on Pyongyang to counter its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs.

Recently, North Korea conducted its sixth most powerful nuclear test on September 3, attracting UN sanctions and criticism from the international community.

Under Kim Jong Un's leadership, Pyongyang carried out several intercontinental ballistic missile tests, including 20 missile tests in 2016.

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The United States has expanded the controversial travel ban by slapping the restrictions on eight countries - North Korea, Iran, Chad, Libya, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Somalia, read a statement released by the White House on Monday.

Sudan has been dropped off the list from the banned countries, whereas Chad, North Korea and Venezuela are new to the list of affected countries.

The new travel ban will come into effect on October 18.

"As President, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," said the US President Donald Trump in a statement.

Last week, President Trump alluded a "tougher" travel ban, post partially explosion of a bomb on a London subway.

For the last three months, the Trump administration used an executive order to ban foreign nationals of six Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.

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Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals rose 2.14% to Rs 2,480 at 9:18 IST on BSE after the company said its board approved sale of 60-acre land in Thane to Oberoi Realty for Rs 555 crore.

The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 22 September 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 187.87 points, or 0.59% to 31,734.57.

On the BSE, 504 shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 891 shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 2,490 and a low of Rs 2,445 so far during the day.

The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 2,999.90 on 28 October 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 2,309.05 on 30 May 2017.

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals said the proposed sale of land is subject to receipt of all statutory and regulatory approvals from the concerned authorities and signing of the definitive documents between the company and Oberoi Realty in this regard.

Net profit of Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals declined 63.44% to Rs 26.42 crore on 14.4% decline in net sales to Rs 586.79 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016.

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals is a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline plc, one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

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Crude oil production falls 0.3% in April-August 2017

India's crude oil production declined 1.6% to 3.02 million tonnes (mt) in August 2017 over August 2016. Crude oil output of ONGC increased 1.8% to 1.90 mt, while that of Oil India also improved 6.0% to 0.29 mt. However, the crude oil production of private and joint venture (JV) companies dipped 10.5% to 0.83 mt in August 2017. ONGC's offshore output moved up 1.8% to 1.38 mt, while onshore production increased 1.8% to 0.51 mt.

Crude oil output fell 0.3% to 15.10 mt in April-August period of the fiscal year ending March 2018 (April-August 2017), in addition to 3.1% fall recorded in the corresponding period of last year. Output of ONGC rose 2.5% to 9.46 mt, while that of Oil India moved up 5.5% to 1.42 mt. However, the crude oil production of private companies fell 7.6% to 4.23 mt in April-August 2017 over April-August 2016.

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A weak start to trade was witnessed on the bourses as key benchmark indices were trading with modest losses sighting drop in Asian stocks. At 9:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex lost 203.84 points or 0.64% at 31,718.60. The Nifty 50 index fell 66.70 points or 0.67% at 9,897.70.

The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 1.4%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index lost 1.54%. The losses in both the indices were higher than the Sensex's slide in percentage terms.

The breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On the BSE, 1,279 shares fell and 342 shares rose. A total of 82 shares were unchanged.

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (down 1.5%), Reliance Industries (down 1.36%) and Lupin (down 1.3%) dropped from the Sensex pack.

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals gained 2.42% after the company said that its board approved sale of 60 acre land in Thane to Oberoi Realty for Rs 555 crore. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 22 September 2017.

Departmental store chain Shoppers Stop surged 18.02% after the company said that its board approved a proposal to sell 5% equity in the company for Rs 179.25 crore to Amazon NV Holdings LLC, the investment arm of the world's largest online retailer Amazon Inc. Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings, a foreign portfolio investor, will subscribe to about 43.95 lakh shares in Shoppers Stop at Rs 407.78 each on a preferential basis.

Usha Martin gained 1.77% after the company clarified that it is indeed considering the sale of its wire and wire rope business with a view to reduce its debt. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 22 September 2017.

VST Tillers rose 2.42% after the company said that it entered into an agreement with Kukje Machinery Co., Korea to avail the required technology for manufacture of higher horse power tractors. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 22 September 2017.

Overseas, most Asian stocks dropped as investors digested elections in Germany and New Zealand over the weekend. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party looked set to remain the largest party in the next German parliament, according to a Sunday, 24 September 2017, exit poll. Elsewhere, the New Zealand election saw Prime Minister Bill English's National Party win the most votes, although it came short of securing a majority in parliament.

Japanese manufacturing activity expanded in September at the fastest pace in four months. The Markit/Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to a seasonally adjusted 52.6 in September from a final 52.2 in August.

US stocks bounced late in the session, paring early losses and ending little changed on Friday, 22 September 2017, as investors shook off the latest bellicosities between North Korean and US leaders. In the latest economic data, a read on manufacturing inched higher in September, while a read on the services sector was down slightly.

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Matrimony.com lost 2.91% to Rs 800 at 10:45 IST on BSE, with the stock extending slide following a poor debut on the bourses and selling of bulk shares by BNP Paribas Arbitrage.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 190.90 points or 0.6% at 31,731.54.

On the BSE, 36,000 shares were traded on the counter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 825 and a low of Rs 784.10 so far during the day.

Shares of Matrimony.com had opened at Rs 985 on 21 September 2017, matching its issue price on debut. The stock settled at Rs 901.20 on BSE, a discount of 8.51% compared with the issue price of Rs 985.

Shares of Matrimony.com have fallen 11.22% in two trading sessions from its close of Rs 901.20 on 21 September 2017.

BNP Paribas Arbitrage sold 1.34 lakh shares of Matrimony.Com at Rs 957.47 per share in a bulk deal on the NSE on 21 September 2017. It sold 1.40 lakh shares at Rs 817.73 per share in a bulk deal on the NSE on 22 September 2017.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Matrimony.com had received strong response from the investors. The issue was subscribed 4.44 times.

Matrimony.com's consolidated net profit rose 53.25% to Rs 14.62 crore on 17.1% rose in total income to Rs 84.79 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016.

Matrimony.com is the leading provider of online matchmaking services in India in terms of the average number of website pages viewed by unique visitors in June 2017. Company's brand, BharatMatrimony.com and other matchmaking brands such as CommunityMatrimony.com and EliteMatrimony.com are well- established in India.

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Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram inaugurated the National Workshop organized by TRIFED on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produces (MFP) scheme - Taking it to the next level for a Fair and Equitable Deal to the Tribals.

Shri Jual Oram, Minister of Tribal Affairs said that this workshop is a step to expand the horizon of the scheme of providing Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest Produce. This scheme is already implemented in 9 States and today it is expanded nationwide. This workshop will help to expand the scheme Nationwide. He also said that MFP collection centres should also be depots of daily requirements to sell items of daily need to the tribals. He said that after minerals, MFP could be the largest generation of revenue. He emphasised on the use of social media and new technology to help the tribes to sell their produces at best prices.

Shri Sudarshan Bhagat, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs said that Minimum Support Price provided to Kisans have helped them overcome the vagaries of the market price fluctuations for their produce. Similarly providing Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest Produce will help Tribals for their progress and development. At present Minimum Support Price will be given for 24 Minor Forest Produce but gradually efforts will be made to increase the number of Minor Forest Produce.

Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs said that he is very happy about these type of workshops and this step will help tribals to develop in all their fields. Similar efforts were made by this Government for developing vulnerable people like women, villagers and poor.

Ms. Leena Nair, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India said that This workshop is a clarion call for understanding the gaps in the scheme of providing Minimum Support Price to Minor Forest Produce and making course correction. She also said that this Scheme should be implemented through women's self help group because women play important role in this business. She emphasized that Haat Bazars must be strengthened.

Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED said that This workshop aims at expanding the horizon and taking it to all the States. MoU with Amazon is a step towards expanding the reach of the 'Tribe India' brand to next level to National & International markets through e-commerce.

TRIFED Signs MoU with Amazon: Marketing of Tribal Handicrafts Scaled-up for Empowerment of Tribals

In order to have institutional support to marketing initiatives, TRIFED has formally signed an MOU with M/s Amazon Seller Services Pvt. Ltd for sale of tribal products through leading e-commerce giant www.amazon.in at a mutually agreed terms & conditions.

As a part of the MOU, exquisite authentic tribal art and craft items crafted and sculpted by tribal artisans from all over the country will be showcased on the online portal www.amazon.in for sale. The aim is to promote tribal handicrafts like handloom products, cane and bamboo products, tribal jewellery, Dhokra craft, tribal weaves and embroidery, tribal paintings etc by cashing in on the online retail space reach to boost sales.

All customers on www.amazon.in and the Amazon mobile shopping app have easy and convenient access to over 65 million products across hundreds of categories. They benefit from a safe and secure ordering experience, convenient electronic payments, Cash on Delivery, Amazon's 24x7 customer service support, and a globally recognized and comprehensive 100% purchase protection provided by Amazon's A-to-Z Guarantee. They can also enjoy Amazon.in's guaranteed one-day, two-day delivery, Sunday and Morning delivery on products fulfilled by Amazon

TRIBES INDIA showrooms managed by TRIFED, offer a wide range of Tribal Products from different parts of the country, which include Metal Craft, Tribal Textiles, Jewellery, Tribal Paintings, Cane & Bamboo, Pottery, Gifts and Novelties, Organic and Natural products sourced from tribals at their places of habitats from higher Himalayas (Bhutia tribes in the Uttrakhand, Bodh & Kinnaura tribes in Himachal Pradesh) in the North and (Toda & Irula Tribes in Nilgiri Hills) in the South and from North Eastern States (Tangkhul Naga, Bodo, Konyak & Dimasa Tribes) to the desert of Rajasthan and Rann of Kutch (Bhil, Garasia, Rathwa, Gamit Tribes ) in the West. There is fabulous collection of tribal paintings mainly Saura from Orissa, Gond from Madhya Pradesh, Warli from Maharashtra and Pithora from Gujarat.

From a single store in 1999 at Delhi, now TRIFED has established a chain of 42 retail outlets and tie-ups with 13 State level Emporiums. The idea is to provide opportunities to the tribal artisans of the country to market their products on a sustained basis. TRIFED plans to expand this network to other cities as well so as to provide a larger market for tribal products.

Background:

A National Workshop on Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest Produce Scheme was organised by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED). Tribals constitute 8.6% of our population. Minor Forest Produce is very important to tribals economy. There is lack of proper storage facility and logistics. It is, therefore, important for the Government to intervene for supporting them. The MSP for MFP Scheme provides a safety net for these tribals. Although the Scheme was launched in 2014 it had mixed result for various reasons. Some states did well but in several other States the Scheme is yet to take off. The State has to play the role of as active player and not remain a mere spectator.

The Scheme needs to be taken to the next level through value addition and synergy with the programmes of other departments.

Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is a major source of livelihood for tribals who belong to the poorest of the poor section of society. The importance of MFPs for this section of the society can be gauged from the fact that majority of 100 million tribals depend on MFPs for food, fodder, shelter, medicines and cash income. It provides them critical subsistence during the lean seasons, particularly for primitive tribal groups such as hunter gatherers, and the landless. Tribals derive 20-40% of their annual income from MFP on which they spend major portion of their time. This activity has strong linkage to women's financial empowerment as most of the MFPs are collected and used / sold by women. MFP sector has the potential to create about 10 million workdays jobs annually in the country.

Government of India has taken a number of initiatives for socio economic development of tribals like introduction of Forest Rights Act, PESA Act and has been implementing schemes for development of MFP by providing financial support to State TDCCs and TRIFED for market development of MFPs. Recognizing the critical importance which MFP hold for tribals and its potential to create large scale employment opportunity thereby, helping in reducing poverty and increasing empowerment of tribals particularly women and poor people of the poorest and backward districts of the country, Govt. of India has now decided to introduce an ambitious scheme of providing fair price for the MFP collected by tribals through Minimum Support price (MSP).

The scheme has been started with the objective of providing fair price to MFP gatherers, enhance their income level and ensure sustainable harvesting of MFPs. The MSP scheme seeks to establish a framework to ensure fair prices for the produce collected by them, assurance of buying at a particular price, primary processing, storage, transportation etc while ensuring sustainability of the resource base. It is a holistic scheme for development of MFP trade and covers 24 non-nationalized / non-monopolized MFPs namely:

Karanj Seed, Mahua Seed, Sal Leaf, Sal Seed, Lac (Rangini & Kusumi), Chironjee, Wild Honey, Myrobalan, Tamarind, Gums (Gum Karaya), Kusum Seed, Neem Seed, Puwad Seed, Baheda, Hill Broom Grass, Shikakai, Guggul (exudate), Bael (dried & without crust), Nagarmotha, Palash Kesuda (Flower), Shatavari (dried), Madhunashini, Kalmegh, Tamarind (de-seeded).

The scheme is applicable for implementation in all the States across India. Any de-nationalized MFP / items removed from the purview of monopoly procurement in future will also qualify for coverage under the Scheme. Similarly, any nationalized / monopolized procurement MFP will disqualify for coverage under the Scheme. However, if any State willingly wants any nationalized items to be included in MSP, then it shall have to change its nationalized status accordingly.

Government of India has extended financial support for part of working capital requirement of State Implementing Agencies and also share losses, if any, with the State Governments in the ratio of 75:25. It is expected that State level agencies which were not participating in procurement process due to fear of incurring losses will now aggressively pursue procurement and marketing of identified items under MSP as they are assured of financial support as well as substantial sharing of losses. It is expected to increase quantum of MFP procurement substantially thereby benefitting tribal people. The Scheme also envisages training of tribal MFP gatherers on sustainable harvesting and value addition activities including facilitation for marketing of the produces so that natural resources can be optimally utilized in a sustainable manner.

The scheme seeks to institutionalize various medium & long term aspects of sustainable collection, value addition, market infrastructure development, knowledge base expansion of MFPs, market intelligence development etc. Strengthening the bargaining power of Gram Sabhas / Panchayats and their involvement shall also be addressed and taken care of during implementation of the scheme.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India is the Nodal Ministry for implementation of the scheme which will announce Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the selected MFPs with the technical support from TRIFED. TRIFED will act as the Central Nodal Agency for implementation and monitoring of the scheme through State level implementing agencies. State designated agencies will undertake procurement of notified MFPs directly from MFP gatherers (individual or collectives) at haats notified procurement centers at grass root level at prefixed Minimum Support Price and ensure full & timely on the spot payment to MFP gatherers.

Value Addition assumes critical importance in ensuring remunerative prices to the tribals in the renewed approach. Two stage value addition would be the cornerstone for enhancing livelihood income of the tribals under the scheme. The grassroot level procurement is proposed to be undertaken through SHGs associated with Implementing Agencies. Convergence and Networking with other Govt departments / scheme shall be undertaken to utilise the services of existing SHGs, Aajivika etc. These SHGs shall be appropriately empowered to undertake the procurement operations on a scientific and systematic lines. The SHG members shall undertake preliminary value addition like cleaning, grading, drying & home level primary processing under the direction and supervision of State Implementing Agency. The stock after preliminary processing shall be supplied by these SHGs to the storage of State Implementing Agencies. For higher value addition of MFPs, Big Corporates shall be involved under PPP model. This PPP model will be based on utilising Private entrepreneur skills in undertaking processing as well as marketing of the produce and Central / State Government support in terms of creating infrastructure and providing enabling environment for undertaking value addition of systematic scientific lines. These will be sophisticated large value addition hubs managed by Private entrepreneur.

The entire operation shall be monitored through State level committee headed by Chief Secretary and district level committees headed by District Collector for effective implementation of the provisions of the scheme. The scheme will touch the lives of tribal people involved in collection of MFPs across all the States and help optimum utilization of natural resources in a sustainable manner. This scheme will be an important milestone in economic development of tribals.

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Novartis India fell 7.56% to Rs 631 at 14:28 IST on BSE after the company said it approved proposal for share buyback worth up to Rs 231 crore.

The announcement was made during trading hours today, 25 September 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 347.56 points, or 1.09% to 31,574.88.

On the BSE, 1.30 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 16,376 shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 695.10 and a low of Rs 626 so far during the day.

The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 758 on 18 April 2017. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 579 on 11 August 2017.

Novartis India said that its board approved a proposal to buyback upto 34.50 lakh equity shares of Rs 5 each, representing 12.26% of the total paid-up equity capital, from the existing equity shareholders of the company on the record date. The company will buyback shares at Rs 670 per equity share, aggregating to Rs 231.15 crore.

The board noted the intention of the promoter of the company to participate in the proposed buyback.

The buyback price of Rs 670 is 6.18% premium to the ruling market price of Rs 631.

Net profit of Novartis India declined 63.14% to Rs 7.03 crore on 32.98% decline in net sales to Rs 114.81 crore in Q1 June 2017 over Q1 June 2016.

Novartis India has core businesses in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, consumer health, generics, and eye care. Novartis AG holds 73.4% stake in Novartis India (as per the shareholding pattern as on 30 June 2017).

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Encouraged with the success of campaign launched by Railway Protection Force (RPF) to rescue distressed children, Ministry of Railways has now decided to implement this campaign in 47 additional Railway stations in addition to existing 35 stations. With these additional stations, the RPF campaign to rescue children will be implemented from 82 Railways stations. In this way, all A1 Category stations numbering 75 will be covered under this campaign.

'Operation Muskaan', an initiative of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to rescue/rehabilitate missing children. It is a dedicated campaign where several activities are taken up by Police organizations to trace and rescue missing children and reunite them with their families.

The Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force are required to take preventive measures and also take action in case children in need of care and protection are found in trains and Railway Premises.

During the years 2014, 2015 & 2016, Railway Protection Force personnel have been able to rescue 20,931 children including 1,317trafficked children (944 Boys & 373 Girls) over Indian Railways. In the current year 2017, upto August, 7,126 children have been rescued by RPF including 185 trafficked children (124 Boys & 61 Girls).

The Railway Protection Force rescue 20-25 such children daily from trains and Railway premises and hand them over to the safe and secure hands of their parents, relatives, NGOs, Child Welfare Committees or other legal rehabilitation institutions established by Law and thereby bring smile on the faces of thousands of aggrieved parents/relatives of missing children every year.

As a result of tireless, vigilant and prompt action with compassion and humane touch, RPF has been conferred with the 'Service of Excellence Award' by the Ministry of Home Affairs for our efforts in rescue of missing children under the drive of operation MUSKAN''.

Special Kiosks/Child Help Desks are set up at the designated stations which are manned round the clock by the staff of Childline/NGO nominated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. This entire exercise is being undertaken as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Railways to ensure care and protection of children in contact with Railways jointly developed by Ministry of Railways , National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) AND Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Background:

A large number of run-aways, unaccompanied and trafficked children travel to different parts of the country. The Railways carry significantly large proportion of such children and many use railway premises for shelter and livelihood. These children are highly vulnerable to all forms of abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation.

With the aim to prevent the plight of millions of children, who lose their way and get separated from their parents in Railway network, Railway Protection Force is dedicated to prevent trafficking of children and take appropriate action to rehabilitate destitute children found in Railway areas

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Former Congressman Anthony Weiner who pleaded guilty in May to sexting with a 15-year-old girl, was sentenced on Monday to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

"The difference here is that this is a very strong compulsion," said Judge Denise Cote in handing down the sentence, saying that compulsion was evidence by "the destruction of his career on two occasions".

Weiner, who was unaccompanied by his wife Huma Abedin, buried his face in his hands on hearing the sentence.

The sentencing was delivered in US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Weiner, 53, also faces spending the rest of his life as a registered sex offender for his lengthy and lurid social media contacts with the North Carolina teen, the USA Today reported.

Weiner cried as he read from a written statement in Manhattan federal court, saying he has hit "rock bottom." He said he was "a very sick man for a very long time."

Weiner was first elected to Congress in 1999 and easily won re-election in his Brooklyn district six more times. His star rose in the Democratic Party in 2010 after a short but dramatic speech before Congress blasting Republicans for voting against an aid bill for first-responders to the 9/11 terror attacks.

A year later he was out, resigning his seat after admitting to exchanging "messages and photos of an explicit nature with about six women" over a period of about three years.

Abedin, who stood by her husband through much of the scandal, finally filed for divorce in May, the same day Weiner pleaded guilty. The two have a young son.

--IANS

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The BJP National Executive on Monday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for showing political maturity in the amicable resolution of the Doklam military standoff with China.

"The most important thing that was discussed during the National Executive meeting was the Doklam military standoff with China, as a rift was created between India and China," Nitin Gadkari told reporters at a press conference briefing about the political resolution that was passed in the National Executive meeting.

The National Executive meeting of the BJP was attended by over 13 Chief Ministers and over 1,400 legislators and 334 parliamentarians.

He said that many people were worried what would happen and even "internationally people thought that there might be a war between India and China".

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave an example of "political maturity and diplomacy" as he went to China and held talks with the Chinese President.

Hailing Modi's policy of having cordial relations with the neighbouring countries, Gadkari said, "He always prefers the neighbourhood first policy."

He also said that the people now visiting any country in the world feel that respect for India has increased under Modi. "Modiji has shown diplomacy and patience to sort out the Doklam issue," Gadkari added.

Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a standoff at Doklam in the Sikkim sector for two and a half months, which was resolved on August 28 ahead of the BRICS summit hosted by China.

Earlier in the day, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that party President Amit Shah also hailed Modi on the Doklam issue.

Briefing reporters, Goyal said, "Shah also hailed Modi on how the Doklam issue was sorted out through positive dialogues and diplomatic measures."

"Shah also said that political will was demonstrated by the BJP government to solve the Doklam standoff," Goyal said.

--IANS

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Including bestselling author Chetan Bhagat's novel "Five Point Someone" in Delhi University's syllabus was "arbitrary" and did not follow the usual procedure of consultation among the concerned committees, stakeholders say of the decision that has now been put on hold.

Teachers have alleged that "vested interests" are at play and the credentials of the University's English department are being diluted. A review committee has now been formed to take a call on whether Bhagat's book can be included in the syllabus from the next academic session.

"It was a very arbitrary decision. Whatever modifications and changes are made in the syllabus of Delhi University, it is done through widespread consultations and discussion. But the decision to include this book was made almost secretly and only a handful of people were involved in the process," Prashanta Chakravarty, a senior professor at the English department, told IANS.

"Delhi University's English department is the premier seat of English learning in the country and over the past few years, we have seen constant attempts to dilute it. There are vested interests and a lot of things like selling of books, favour to some authors and publishers... Now that it has been put on hold until the next academic session, it will allow for a larger discussion on the subject," Chakravarty added.

The minutes of the meeting at which the review panel was formed show that the teachers felt there was "there is arbitrariness in framing and modification of the syllabus. It has also come to light that the department has been in practice of favouring some authors and publishers, even by going out of the way of normal practice and justification".

The meeting also took into account the considerable negative reporting by national dailies on the inclusion of the novel and the hostile reception it garnered on the social media.

Another English professor, Ira Raja, said it was a "thoughtless decision" to include "Five Point Someone" in the syllabus.

"I do not think Chetan Bhagat is a great writer and while I believe that even popular literature should be a part of the syllabus, his book is certainly undeserving. We also have to see the context in which his books are read and there is a lot of good work by other contemporary, popular writers as well. He is such a polaris(ing) figure, wearing his political opinions on his sleeves and exhibiting them on television channels. I do not think he deserves to be in the syllabus," Raja told IANS.

Just days ago, Bhagat, in an interview to IANS, had referred to the inclusion of his book in the syllabus as "a huge honour".

"It is obviously a huge honor, and validates my work's value even in academia, something elitists have tried to deny me for long. Dozens of PhD's have already happened on my books, and now it is great that DU will add my books to their popular fiction course. I guess it shows you the biases that exist, and the mentality that wants to bring people down. It also shows that many who claim to be experts in literature have no idea about what literature is meant to be," Bhagat had said.

The proposal to include Bhagat's book was originally made by the university's Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) committee. Some other authors in the section are Louisa M. Alcott, Agatha Christie and J.K. Rowling.

(Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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The Congress on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the BHU violence where girl students were thrashed by the police as they protested against the molestation of a colleague.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said while Modi is vocal on almost all issues, his silence over the violence on girls in his own parliamentary constituency Varanasi is questionable.

On Saturday, police resorted to a baton charge injuring some protesting students outside their hostel.

The students had been protesting since Thursday after a first-year student alleged that she was molested by three men on bikes within the campus.

"Our Prime Minister, who is vocal on every issue, takes on Twitter and also does his 'Mann ki Baat' is silent on the incident where girls are beaten up by the state police," Tewari said.

"There's a big difference between his (Modi) words and actions... On one side he calls for educating and protecting the girl child and when girls go to study, they are molested," he added.

Tewari said: "Instead of taking strict action against the culprits, Uttar Pradesh police rather resorted to baton charge on the girls. What kind of administration is this?"

He also took on Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Vice-Chancellor G.C. Tripathi, stating its shameful on his part to have suggested that girl students not step outside the hostel after 6 p.m.

--IANS

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Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on the BHU violence, the Congress on Monday demanded sacking of the university Vice Chancellor and an enquiry by a sitting High Court judge.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said that while Modi is vocal on almost all issues, his silence over the violence on girls in his own parliamentary constituency Varanasi is questionable.

On Saturday, police resorted to a baton charge in Banaras Hindu University injuring some protesting students outside their hostel.

"What has been happening in this centre of learning over the last two days is absolutely preposterous and shocking. Varanasi is the parliamentary constituency of the Prime Minister and his government runs a campaign 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'.

"What is playing itself out in his own constituency is the perpetration of the most unspeakable atrocities on girl students who were protesting against eve-teasing and alleged molestation and demanding a safer campus," said Tewari.

He also took on Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Vice-Chancellor G.C. Tripathi, stating that it was shameful on his part to have suggested that girl students not step outside the hostel after 6 p.m.

"We would like to ask the Prime Minister that does such a person deserve to be the Vice Chancellor of one of India's most premier universities.

"One who is so insensitive to the genuine concerns of women students and rather than empathising with them, the university goes and colludes in the most barbaric lathi-charge," he added.

"There's a big difference between his (Modi) words and actions... On one side, he calls for educating and protecting the girl child and when girls go to study, they are molested," he added.

Calling the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh insensitive, Tewari said: "Instead of taking strict action against the culprits, Uttar Pradesh police rather resorted to baton charge on the girls. What kind of administration is this?"

Terming the BJP government in the state "fascist in nature" and "undemocratic", Tewari said an FIR should be lodged against the official who ordered the cane-charge.

The party demanded that President Ram Nath Kovind, who is the Visitor of the University, should immediately take cognisance of what has happened in BHU and sack the Vice Chancellor.

"We also demand that there should be an enquiry by a sitting High Court judge, who should go into all the facts and circumstances as to how this atrocity was perpetrated and hold all those people who were responsible for ordering the cane-charge to account," he added.

"We would like to know from Modi where does he stand on this atrocity which has been perpetrated on women students in his own parliamentary constituency," Tewari also said.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit out at the BJP government by uploading a news report and tweeted: "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU".

--IANS

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A local court on Monday rejected a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea seeking custodial interrogation of retired Orissa High Court judge I.M. Quddusi and two others and remanded them to judicial custody.

The CBI told Special Judge Manoj Jain that it required three more days for further quizzing of Quddusi, B.P. Yadav and Biswanath Agrawala. But the court rejected the plea and remanded the three accused to 14-day judicial custody.

The probe agency also told the court that the accused was not co-operating in the investigation.

Quddusi, B.P. Yadav, Palash Yadav, Biswanath Agrawala and Ram Dev Saraswat were arrested on September 20 by the CBI on charge of helping an educational trust barred from admitting medical course students.

The sixth accused in the case, Bhawana Pandey, was arrested here on the next day - September 21.

The CBI had sought extension of custody on the ground that they were required to be confronted with each other to unearth the entire conspiracy and involvement of other public servants in the case.

The court also remanded the other three accused -- Palash Yadav, Saraswat and Pandey -- to 14-day judicial custody as the CBI did not seek their further custody.

All of them were presented on the expiry of their four-day CBI custody.

The agency had registered a case of criminal conspiracy and under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the accused on September 19 and conducted raids at eight locations in Delhi, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar.

During the raids, including at Quddusi's residence in south Delhi's Greater Kailash area, the CBI seized Rs 1.91 crore, including Rs 1 crore from middleman Agrawala, and Rs 91 lakh from others.

The CBI FIR said B.P. Yadav and Palash Yadav were managing the Lucknow-based Prasad Educational Trust, which runs the Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences.

The institute is among 46 colleges barred by the government from admitting medical course students for two years (till 2019) because of substandard facilities and non-fulfilment of criteria.

--IANS

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The Delhi High Court on Monday acquitted "Peepli Live" co-director Mahmood Farooqui, accused of rape by an American woman, giving him benefit of doubt in the case.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar set aside the trial court order convicting Farooqui and sentencing him to seven years jail in August last year.

The court ordered Superintendent, Tihar Jail, to release him.

"But, it remains in doubt as to whether such an incident, as has been narrated by the prosecutrix (victim), took place and if at all it had taken place, it was without the consent/will of the prosecutrix and if it was without the consent of the prosecutrix, whether the appellant could discern/understand the same," the court said.

The court said the explanation regarding the delay in lodging the FIR may be bleak but not totally unacceptable.

"The explanation that only after the victim could garner the support of her family and the people of the department, back in the US, gave her support for her to muster courage to come back to India to lodge the FIR, is not wholly unacceptable," the court said.

Farooqui had challenged the trial court order in the High Court claiming his innocence.

Farooqui was accused of raping a 35-year-old woman from Columbia University who was in India for research on her doctoral thesis.

The woman, who moved to Delhi in June 2014, was looking for contacts for her work in Gorakhpur and came in contact with Farooqui through a common friend.

The alleged incident occurred on March 28, 2015 when Farooqui invited her for dinner at his house.

The police had on June 19, 2015, lodged the FIR against Farooqui on the woman's complaint after which he was arrested.

According to the police chargesheet, the woman, who reached his house at 9 p.m., found Farooqui was very intoxicated, and he asked her to go to the other room which was his office.

After 20 minutes, she left the office room to smoke in the porch when he told her to come in and sit down, it said. After talking with her for a while, he suddenly kissed her and forced himself on her, the prosecution said, adding that the woman was scared after the incident.

During the trial, the American researcher stood by her complaint and alleged that Farooqui had raped her, while he denied the allegations, and claimed he was falsely implicated.

--IANS

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Jailed Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Monday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging his rape conviction by the CBI special court and also sought stay against his imprisonment.

The petition was filed by counsels of the disgraced self-styled godman here. The matter is not yet listed by the court for hearing.

Ram Rahim's counsel Vishal Garg Narwana said: "We have filed an appeal in the Punjab and Haryana High Court today. We have challenged the verdict of the CBI court in the rape case. We have also sought a stay on imprisonment."

In a separate development, the CBI court in Panchkula on Monday rejected a plea by Khatta Singh, a former driver of the sect chief, who wanted to record a fresh statement in the murder cases against the sect chief.

Ram Rahim, who is currently lodged in the District Jail at Sunaria near Rohtak, was convicted by the CBI court in Panchkula on August 25 on two counts of rape of female disciples in 1999. He was later awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (10 years in each rape case) by the CBI court, and a fine of over Rs 30 lakh.

His conviction led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana, leaving 38 people dead and 264 injured. Isolated incidents of violence were also reported from Delhi and several other places in Punjab.

The CBI court in Panchkula is hearing two more cases against the sect chief.

These pertain to the murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh in July 2003 and murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in October 2002.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hitting out at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah over his criticism of party Vice President Rahul Gandhi on dynasty politics, the Congress on Monday said "BJP should look inwards as to who follows the practice".

The party slammed Shah for criticising Gandhi over his criticism of the government during his visit abroad, saying the precedent for that had been set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

The party also reminded Shah of the "series of scams" under the BJP-led government.

Referring to Shah's criticism of Rahul Gandhi, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said: "I do not know whether to laugh or cry. The BJP president is perhaps not aware of the millions of statements which were made by PM Narendra Modi in different forums all over the world, which demeaned this country.

"There was an unspoken consensus in this country till 2014 that when you leave the shores of India, you leave your behind. That consensus was broken by PM Modi when he made the domestic of India open to global contestation. Therefore, the BJP is reaping what they have sown."

"I don't think Amit Shah should be shedding crocodile tears on it. When you sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind. This tradition of dragging domestic to foreign shores was consecrated by none other than Modi. Amit Shah would be advised to revisit his statements."

Tewari added: "Speaking the truth is not falling low. What Gandhi has stated in the US is based on facts and truth. There is not a grain of untruth in any of those statements."

Attacking Modi, he said the Prime Minister chose to break the unspoken consensus in the most partisan manner. "Unfortunately for him history starts in May 2014. So, this course is a two-way street."

On the issue of dynasty politics, Tewari said: "Those who talk about dynasty, if they don't believe in dynasty then why are Prem Kumar Dhumal's son Anurag Thakur and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vansundhara Raje's son Dushyant Singh in Parliament? What are they doing in Lok Sabha?

"Chhattishgarh CM Raman Singh, on whom there are charges of PDS scam, what is his son doing in Parliament. Before pointing fingers at others, BJP president should look inwards," he added.

Tewari lambasted the BJP for being selective in their approach. "They seem to suffer from permanent amnesia when it comes to their own corruption."

Attacking the government, he said: "We would like to ask the BJP who facilitated the escape of Vijay Mallya, who gave travel documents to Lalit Modi, what is happening in Madhya Pradesh with regard to Vyapam, where are all the accused and people connected with the case seem to be dying?

"what about the Chhattisgarn PDS scam? What about Srijan in which their latest ally (JD-U) and their own Finance Minister (Sushil Kumar Modi) of their party is allegedly involved?"

He said in the past 40 months the NDA-BJP government under Prime Minister Modi had "completely disrupted the social harmony" in the country. "They have subverted the federal structure, played havoc with internal security, demolished the economy."

"The track record of this government is indicative of the fact that they do not know how to govern. Every economic indice is in a free fall and is reflective of the policy paralysis," he added.

He said: "They failed to deliver on all the commitments made to people and this frustration is making them fall back upon the politics of polarisation, divisiveness and subversion."

--IANS

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As major e-commerce platforms -- Flipkart, Amazon India, Jabong, Myntra and Paytm Mall -- concluded their festive season sales, segments like mobiles, electronics, and large appliances, followed by fashion, witnessed huge traction.

According to CashKaro, the overall e-commerce industry GMV (gross merchandise volume) rose by over 1,000 per cent during the sale period.

In online retailing, GMV indicates total sales in terms of dollar value for merchandise sold through a particular marketplace over a certain time frame.

"Mobiles and electronics saw an increase of over 2,000 per cent, while a 950 per cent surge in sales of TVs and large appliance was recorded within this five-day period," CashKaro said in a statement.

"Fashion as a category grew 800 per cent, while Home and Kitchen saw a 500 per cent increase," it added.

Data shared by e-commerce giant Flipkart revealed that while the company did sales equivalent to 70 per cent of the entire online e-commerce market in India during their five-day-long "Big Billion Days" sales from September 20-24, its sales shot up by 100 per cent as compared to last year.



"Flipkart created history in the smartphones segment within the first 20 hours of the category opening for sale. 1.3 million smartphones were sold, higher than the total number of smartphones sold across India in a single day, both through online and offline," the company said.

Flipkart has a 70 per cent market share in the country's online smartphones market.

In addition, Flipkart Fashion, along with the online retail platforms it owns -- Jabong and Myntra -- holds 80 per cent of the entire online market for fashion.

Amazon India in its "Great Indian Festival" from September 21-24, witnessed over 2.5 times growth in the smartphones segment led by Samsung, Redmi and OnePlus.

"Large appliances grew 4X (four times) in the first two days of the Great Indian Sale vs last Diwali led by LG (5X) Bosch (6X) and Whirlpool (6X)," Amazon India said in a statement.

"Washing machines and refrigerators grew 4X and ACs (air conditioners) grew 3X respectively. Televisions grew 2X backed by sales in TCL, Sanyo, BPL, Sony, LG, Panasonic, and Samsung," the company said.

Amazon India's Smart TV sales doubled over last year Diwali, the statement added.



"We are humbled that the latest version of the Great Indian sale was our biggest shopping event ever, with remarkable growth across categories led by smartphones and large appliances growing multiple times versus last year. We are especially excited about growing e-commerce in India with more than 85 per cent of new customers from small towns," said Manish Tiwary, Vice President - Category Management, Amazon India.

Paytm Mall, owned by Paytm Ecommerce, which launched its first ever festive season sale -- "Mera Cashback Sale" -- from September 20 to 23, said it witnessed 12 times growth in smartphone sales, eight times in laptops and cameras, 10 times in home appliances, 10 times in apparel, footwear, and fashion accessories, and seven times in fast moving consumer goods.

"Apple iPhones, Samsung smartphones, MacBooks, Lenovo Laptops and HD LED TVs from major brands like Sony have registered highest traction. Small cities and towns have bought branded apparel," said the company.

"We have also witnessed a large number of consumers buying Patanjali ghee, dry fruits, festival-related gift items and daily need products during the sale period... Customers from over 839 cities and towns ordered products from sellers across 270 cities during our recently concluded 'Mera Cashback Sale'," it added.



E-commerce player Snapdeal is still on with its sales ending on September 25. Online marketplace ShopClues' "Maha Bharat Diwali Sale" will run until September 28, while LimeRoad's "The Festive Love Affair" will end on September 26.
With an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced four crore free power connections to the rural poor even as he declared that his battle against corruption was "uncompromising" and those indulging in graft cannot escape.

The announcement was made at a function after taking the BJP National Executive into confidence as over 2,000 delegates endorsed the government's fight against terror and black money, GST, its pro-poor programmes and lauded the handling of the Doklam military standoff with China.

The day-long meeting of the BJP's National Executive, attended by Chief Ministers, MPs, MLAs and state unit chiefs, adopted a political resolution in which the vision of a "New India" was unveiled that included freeing India of poverty, terrorism and separatism, casteism, appeasement and corruption while focusing on cleanliness.

Significantly, at the meeting held at a time of economic slowdown and concern over the lack of jobs, the political resolution nor any leader made any mention of these issues. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the macro economic indicators during the last three and a half years have been fine but acknowledged that there has been a dip in growth in the last quarter and measures to address it are being taken.

From the Executive, Modi drove to the venue of a function where he announced a Rs 16,000 crore scheme under which free connections will be provided to rural households by March 2019. The connections will be provided at their door steps for which they need not to go after government officials.

In his valedictory address at the National Executive, Modi said the battle against terrorism would continue and disclosed that 90 hardcore wanted terrorists have been deported to India from other countries.

"My battle against corruption will be uncompromising. Anybody caught in this cannot escape. I have no relatives," Modi said.

At the meet, the Prime Minister was hailed for bringing international focus on the role of Pakistan in sponsoring terrorism against India and for the resolution of the Doklam military standoff with China.

The resolving of the Doklam crisis reflected the political and diplomatic maturity of Modi who had talked to Chinese President Xi Jinping and hailed his policy of neighbourhood first, according to the party's political resolution.

"It was an extraordinary success of the government," Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said, briefing the media on the political resolution.

The resolution hailed several decisions the government took in the last three and half years on economy, agriculture, terrorism and international relations.

The one nation, one tax GST regime was hailed as the biggest economic reform since independence.

Modi took on the opposition for criticism of his government saying "harsh language cannot be a substitute for any substantive charge against the government".

"The opposition used power for consumption. They do not know how to sit in the opposition," he said.

Briefing the media on the Prime Minister's closed door speech, Jaitley quoted Modi as saying that the BJP was not a conventional party just to fight and win elections but an instrument of serving people.

"Democracy is beyond that. For a political organisation, elections is only a part but the main attempt is to make it as an instrument of mass participation. Till a political worker does not participate in it, it would not be a success," Modi said.

Jaitley said these two were the basic points of the Prime Minister's speech.

Modi referred to the expectations and aspirations of the people and the atmosphere that was prevailing now.

Coming down heavily on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, BJP President Amit Shah said his party totally opposes of dynasty and appeasement and only believes in of performance.

In his presidential address, Shah said the government was working towards ending the suffering of the people of the country and fighting corruption and terrorism.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, who briefed the media on Shah's closed-door address, said the party President noted that Gandhi had hurt the dignity of the nation by saying on foreign soil that dynastic politics was the way in India.

"The BJP rejects the politics of dynasty and appeasement. Condemning Gandhi's statement, the BJP President said the party believed in politics of performance and not appeasement or dynasty," Goyal said, citing Shah.

Shah also questioned Gandhi over scams during the UPA rule which he said were to the tune of Rs 12 lakh crore.

"What did he do against his corrupt government. They (Congress) kept the nation poor, deprived of development. Why did Rahul Gandhi allow the policy of appeasement to grow," Shah asked.

Amid concerns over slowing economic growth, Shah lauded the government's efforts to boost the economy and hailed its actions like demonetisation and introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Shah said fundamental changes in the economy would make India a world leader.

Gadkari acknowledged that there were "some problems" with the economy but assured that the government was correcting them on a "war footing".

He attributed the slowing down of India's economic growth to the "big reforms" undertaken by the government and said that the crisis was temporary.

"When big reforms take place, some problems arise in the beginning. The government is working on a war footing. We are taking steps in this direction," 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.)
A judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday refused to hear the anticipatory bail plea moved by the trustees of Ryan International School in light of the CBI taking over investigation in the case.

Justice Inderjeet Singh refused to hear the matter with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) taking over probe into the murder of seven-year-old Pradhyuman Thakur at the Gurugram branch of Ryan International School in Haryana.

Counsels Sushil K. Tekriwal and Anupam Singhla, appearing for Barun Chandra Thakur, father of Pradhyuman Thakur, opposed any stay on the arrest of the Pintos.

Tekriwal said the "diabolical and cold blooded" murder of the Class 2 student is of the rarest of rare in nature. He added that the Pintos should not be given any interim relief in view of the above fact.

Tekriwal said that no next date of hearing has been fixed by the bench. Hence, the likelihood of arrest of the Pintos continues.

The High Court bench had last week issued notice to the Haryana government to submit a report on the probe into the September 8 murder. The court refused to stay the arrest of the Pinto family -- Augustine F. Pinto, his wife Grace and their son Ryan -- while taking up their application for anticipatory bail.

The Haryana Police was investigating the crime. But Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, following a demand from the victim's family, announced last week that the CBI will probe the case.

The Pinto family's anticipatory bail plea was earlier rejected by the Bombay High Court, citing jurisdiction issues. The Bombay High Court had granted conditional interim stay on the arrest of the Pintos till 5 p.m. of September 15 to enable them to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The district administration in Gurugram has taken over the Ryan School management for three months.

Birbal Jha, Chairman of Mithilalok Foundation, which is providing legal assistance in the case, said the crime has shaken the conscience of the nation. He said this case is not limited to one child only and concerns the safety of lakhs of children.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and South Korea have reviewed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during the visit of Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu here, official sources said on Monday.

Prabhu visited South Korea from September 21-23 to participate in the 7th Asia-Europe Economic Ministers (ASEM) meeting and the 3rd Joint Ministerial Review of CEPA.

"The Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea Hyun Chong Kim and Prabhu reviewed the progress of CEPA upgradation negotiations and also held extensive discussions on trade and economic corporation issues between the two countries," India's Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

Both Ministers affirmed that both countries should endeavour to finalise the CEPA upgradation negotiations at the earliest, within 2018 to the extent possible, it said.

"The Ministers agreed on the importance of cooperation in the field of standardisation and conformity assessment and developing mutual recognition agreements on arrangements for conformity assessment between the two countries," it added.

They agreed to establish a joint future strategy group to identify areas of high-end technological cooperation between the two countries, as a way to realise the vision of co-leadership in an era of Fourth Industries Revolution.

"The Ministers agreed to continue discussions at the working level, about the detailed mandate of the strategy group, with the aim of launching the group preferably within 2017," the statement said.

They commended the two countries' dedication to the expansion of power generation from renewable resources and agreed to cooperate to mutually support the national goal of renewable and reliable energy expansion.

"The Ministers agreed that, to attract foreign investment, it is critical to create pioneering success stories to nudge second movers and increase by a more diverse range of entrepreneurs. In this regard, both sides agreed to consider favourably the requests made in the Joint Committee meeting, with regard to investment cooperation of the two countries," it said.

--IANS

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Iraqi Kurds started casting their ballots in a controversial independence referendum on Monday as tensions began to escalate between the country's largest ethnic minority and the government in Baghdad.

Voting got underway at 8 a.m. and will end at 6 p.m. The first results will be out within 72 hours, reports CNN.

Voters must respond with either a "yes" or "no" to the question of whether they want the region to become an independent state. The question has been translated into Kurdish, Arabic, Turkmen and Assyrian.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) which administers a semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq says the referendum will give it a mandate to achieve independence from Iraq.

Ballot boxes were spread throughout Iraq's Kurdish regional areas, in addition to the city of Kirkuk -- a flashpoint claimed by both the KRG and the Iraqi government.

On Sunday, Iran closed its air space to the autonomous Kurdistan region after issuing several condemnations against the vote.

Both Iran and Turkey have sizable Kurdish minorities and fear a vote for independence in Iraq might galvanise movements in their countries, CNN reported.

As polls opened on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling the vote "illegitimate, null and void".

The ministry also warned that it would take legal measures to prevent "radical elements and terrorists" from attempting to exploit the situation to target its national security.

The US, UK and the UN have also warned the KRG against holding the referendum, citing fears that it could detract from the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

The Kurdish diaspora began electronic voting on September 23. According to the Electoral Commission, some 150,000 Kurds will vote from abroad.

Iraqi Kurdistan has enjoyed considerable autonomy since the early 1990s, a status bolstered in the 2005 constitution that defined Iraq as a federal state.

--IANS

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The 'White Revolution' in Haryana is set to get an Israeli boost.

A leading state in milk production, Haryana would now benefit from the techniques and experience of Israel, leader in milk production in the world, for increasing the average milk production, a minister said on Monday.

Haryana's Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Om Prakash Dhankar, who is leading a delegation from Haryana to Israel, was speaking in Tel Aviv after meeting Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel, Uri Ariel.

Speaking on the occasion, Ariel said cooperation with Haryana was a priority.

"Israel is already working on five centres of excellence in Haryana. In future, work and cooperation between Haryana and Israel will increase and benefit former," he said.

The average milk production of milch animals in Israel is 32 kg per day and it leads the world in milk production.

"Haryana would now adopt techniques and experience of Israel to increase average milk production in the state," Dhankar said.

The agriculture ministers of both Haryana and Israel agreed on further cooperation in the fields of horticulture, dairy and exchange of research among students and specialists in universities of agriculture, horticulture and animal sciences.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday called an early election as he seeks to secure a stronger mandate to overcome "a national crisis" amid rising threats from North Korea.

Abe's decision comes amid rebounding approval ratings after a record low over the summer and with the opposition largely in disarray. In a national address, the leader said he would also dissolve Parliament's Lower House on Thursday, the Japanese media reported.

"Elections are the basis of democracy, and they should not be affected by threats from North Korea. Rather, I think this is an appropriate time to hold an election and seek the mandate of the people for how I am dealing with North Korea," Abe was quoted as saying by Japan Broadcasting Corporation NHK.

Abe did not set a date for the vote but Japanese media suggest it will be on October 22.

The move comes one year before scheduled elections and amid a stronger showing in opinion polls for Abe who has seen gains for his response so far to North Korea. Pyongyang has fired two ballistic missiles over northern Japan in recent weeks, as it steps up missile tests amid a deepening regional crisis.

"We must not give in to the threat of North Korea. I hope to gain the confidence of the people in the upcoming election and push forward strong diplomacy," he said.

The country's 48th General Election comes after a shaky time for Abe and his government, which was wracked by two corruption scandals linked to the Prime Minister and his wife, and the resignation of Defence Minister Tomomi Inada over an alleged cover-up.

Abe, who has held power for five years, has seen his popularity fall significantly in the wake of the scandals. His decision to call a snap election, analysts say, is aimed taking advantage of a recent uptick in ratings.

The Prime Minister also announced a $17.8 billion stimulus package on education and social spending. He said a fresh stimulus was needed for programmes to prepare Japan for the future.

Abe also said he would continue on his path of fiscal reform and would use the revenue from the recently introduced sales tax to balance the budget and reduce debt.

--IANS

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Filmmaker Vijay says his upcoming Tamil-Telugu horror drama "Karu", which features Sai Pallavi in the lead, will talk about the sensitive topic of abortion.

"The film focuses on the bond between a mother and her four-year-old daughter. Sai Pallavi plays the mother. The film touches upon the rarely spoken about issue of abortion. I can't say anything more at the moment," Vijay told IANS.

The film marks the Tamil debut of Sai Pallavi, best known for starring in Malayalam films "Premama and "Kali".

On signing her, Vijay said: "Ever since I saw 'Premam' and 'Kali', I knew she could pull off this intense role. In 'Karu', she has done a phenomenal job and audiences are going to love her."

The film, which has been titled "Kanam" in Telugu, also stars Naga Shaurya.

"Karu" is currently in post-production.

Meanwhile, Vijay has announced he reunites with Prabhudheva for a yet-untitled Tamil project.

Remaining tight-lipped about the genre of the project, he said it will be an interesting film.

The duo had worked together in last year's Tamil horror hit, "Devi".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In line with UN's theme for this year's World Tourism Day, the Ola mobile app for transportation and Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) have come together to promote offbeat locations and raise awareness about responsible tourism.

Ola has rolled out a 14-day campaign, which will see actress Shenaz Treasury travel to seven states, re-discovering 21 lesser-known locations, with Ola Outstation -- cab service for inter-city travel.

The campaign that was flagged off from Bengaluru in Karnataka on September 16, has now entered its fifth leg with Shenaz arriving in Kerala on Sunday where she will be at Fort Kochi, Kodungallur (Muziris) and Kumarakom, before heading to Maharashtra.

"I am certain, this will be an exciting journey of exploring Kerala's palm-lined beaches and backwaters by road with Ola Outstation," said the actress.

Jafar Malik, Additional Director, Kerala Tourism, said it is good to see that corporates like Ola are building commuting solutions that are helping citizens as well as tourists.

Vijay Ghadge, Vice President of Operations at Ola, said that with a solution like Ola Outstation, "we are aiming to make outstation travel as convenient and reliable without having to worry about driving themselves or hassle of looking for conventional taxi-tour operators".

--IANS

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RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Monday again skipped questioning by the CBI, the second time in a month, in a case against him and his son Tejashwi Yadav over alleged irregularities in issuing contracts for two IRCTC hotels in 2006 to a private company.

Lalu Prasad's advocate, through a letter, informed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday afternoon that his client would not be able to join the investigation in response to the summons issued on September 22 seeking his presence at the CBI headquarters here.

"His advocate submitted a letter to us on behalf of the leader seeking two weeks' time to appear before the investigators in the IRCTC case," a CBI official said.

The CBI on September 22 issued fresh summons to Lalu Prasad and his son to appear before the agency on September 25 and 26.

Earlier, the CBI summoned the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and his son, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, on September 7 to report at its headquarters in Lodhi Road area of south Delhi for questioning on September 11 and 12.

The CBI had on July 5 filed a corruption case against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav for alleged irregularities when Lalu Prasad was the Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.

The contracts for two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels at Ranchi and Puri were handed over to Sujata Hotels company owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochhar in lieu of an alleged bribe in the form of a plot of prime land in Bihar, the CBI said.

According to the CBI, Lalu Prasad allegedly granted illegal favours to Sujata Hotels through the IRCTC, and the tender process for the development, maintenance, and operation of the two hotels was manipulated in exchange for the three-acre plot in Patna where a mall is coming up.

The CBI, which registered the case under charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating under the Indian Penal Code and sections of Prevention of the Corruption Act, claimed that the kickbacks were paid through a 'benami' company owned by Sarla Gupta, wife of RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta.

The CBI FIR alleged that Vinay Kochhar sold three acres of land in Patna through 10 sale deeds on February 25, 2005, for Rs 1.47 crore to Delight Marketing Company in which Sarla Gupta was a Director.

The FIR alleged that the land was sold at a price below circle and market rates and was falsely shown as agricultural land to evade substantial stamp duty.

During the CBI's preliminary inquiry, the agency purportedly found that the said land was sold by the Kochhars to Delight Marketing, and payment was arranged through Ahluwalia Contractors and its promoter Bikramjeet Singh Ahluwalia.

The Enforcement Directorate, which is also probing the financial irregularities in the case, have questioned Ahluwalia and also summoned Sujata Hotels owners for questioning.

The ED had, on July 27, registered a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the CBI FIR and is probing allegations against Lalu Prasad and others for alleged transaction of money through shell companies.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Director B.R. Vijayalakshmi says the lip-lock sequence in her upcoming bilingual romantic drama "Abhiyum Anuvum" is not being used as a promotional ploy, but because the script demanded it.

The film stars Tovino Thomas and Pia Bajpai in the lead. They share an intense lip-lock.

"It's been a long time since we've had an intense romantic film. The lip-lock in our film captures the intense romance between the lead actors. The script demanded it and we didn't shoot one just to market our film," Vijayalakshmi told IANS.

The actors didn't have any qualms about shooting the scene, she added.

Produced by Yoodle Films, the film has been made in Tamil and Malayalam.

Renowned cinematographer Santosh Sivan is the executive producer of the film.

"Abhiyum Anuvum" also stars Prabhu, Suhasini, Rohini and Manobala.

--IANS

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Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan says she is waiting excitedly to join the team of her next movie "Fanney Khan".

Aishwarya is a part of "Fanney Khan", an upcoming musical comedy film directed by Atul Manjrekar, with Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.

At the Vogue Women of the Year Awards here on Sunday night, the actress was honoured with the Vogue Influencer Of The Decade Award.

Looking gorgeous in a black gown, she spoke about joining the set of "Fanney Khan" soon.

"Good luck to the entire team of 'Fanney Khan'. I am looking forward to joining the team and enjoying the process of filmmaking. I would talk more about the film in the course of time," she said at the red carpet.

"Fanney Khan" is the Hindi adaptation of the Dutch film "Everybody's Famous". Produced by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the film is scheduled for a worldwide release on April 13.

Aishwarya also spoke about instilling the same qualities in her daughter Aaradhya as the actress got from her mother.

"My mother, I'd say, is the most important woman in my life. Your relationship with your mother is the most real, impactful, the most personal and intimate.

"I love my mother, I respect her immensely. I am who I am because of my mother and I naturally pass that down to my daughter Aaradhyaa," added Aishwarya.

--IANS

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There is a high probability of girls getting married below the legal age of 18 when there is preference for male offspring at birth, according to a study conducted by the Gender Alliance for Bihar using modified methodology of the World Economic Forum for Census 2011.

Blocks in Bihar where the sex ratio is low have a higher probability of child marriage.

"Indexing Gender Parity and Estimation of Child Marriage: A comprehensive study of 534 Blocks in Bihar", released by Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Chaudhary last week, contains detailed analysis of 534 blocks of the state using Census 2011 data.

Gender Alliance Bihar has over 270 civil society organisations supported by the UN Population Fund. Since its inception last year, it has done political advocacy in mainstreaming the agenda of adolescent girls in development in the state through its study of the demographic shift in Bihar.

The report has information on two fronts that would bring focus to the government's commitment to end child marriage in the state.

The compendium, on the one hand, ranks 534 blocks in terms of gender parity across three key dimensions of women empowerment (social, literacy and economic participation) -- while predicting child marriage in these blocks, on the other hand.

"Talk about child marriage in Bihar will, from now, not be based on speculation," say noted economist Shaibal Gupta and Demographer Prabhat Ghosh of the Asian Development Research Institute, which collaborated with Gender Alliance for the research.

Nilay Bipul, an economist at Erasmus University in the Netherlands, explained the phenomenon. He said it probably explains why girls are dropping out from school and are working but market opportunities restrict their access due to lack of employable skills, adding they are not able to participate in the main workforce.

The corresponding increase in marginal workforce participation is probably high for the blocks where sex ratio is low because the girls are not able to participate as main workers due to household and childbearing and rearing responsibilities, thereby having high probability of child marriage.

The reverse of this phenomenon is also true. Blocks with high social value have low marginal workforce values and less probability of child marriage, explained Prashanti Tiwari, who leads Gender Alliance.

Lahladpur block in Saran district has more than parity index value under social index which means apparently there is no preference for male offspring and has corresponding low economic index value, meaning the girls continue their education and, therefore, participate less in the marginal workforce. This block has the lowest probability of child marriage in Bihar at 11.89 per cent against the state's average of 39.1 per cent.

The reverse of this is true for Ghoswari block in Patna district which has a very high probability of child marriage at 66.81 per cent.

"We are now doing qualitative research to compare the two blocks and see what has worked in Lahladpur and where things did not go right for Ghoswari as our research is a work in progress and we will continue to bring more insights into our work to better support the Bihar government," Tiwari said.

Women Development Corporation Managing Director N. Vijayalaksmi also lauded the findings and declared it will work with the Gender Alliance in their endeavour to end child marriages.

"The findings have been affirmed by earlier research into the subject but in the current time, the study has helped the government tremendously to concentrate its action on endemic blocks rather than through an umbrella strategy that would take much time and resources," Vijayalakshmi said.

(Imran Khan can be contacted at imran.k@ians.in)

--IANS

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The army on Monday said a militant was killed in an ongoing security operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri town in which three Pakistani terrorists died on Sunday.

Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said: "A fourth terrorist was killed in the ongoing Uri operation on Monday.

"The body of the terrorist has been recovered and the operation is still ongoing."

The three Pakistani militants were killed by the security forces in the Kaghi forest area.

State Police chief S.P. Vaid said on Sunday that all the slain militants in this operation were planning a suicide attack.

They infiltrated into the Valley from across the Line of Control (LoC), Vaid added.

--IANS

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Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay is planning to return home after the Dashain festival to contest the upcoming federal Parliament elections from his home town Kapilvastu, a media report said.

Upadhyay confirmed his intent to the Kathmandu Post on the telephone.

"I have already informed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba about my interest to contest in the elections. He has responded positively," Upadhyay said.

Appointed from the Nepali Congress quota during the Sushil Koirala-led government, Upadhyay was recalled from the Delhi mission by the subsequent government headed by the CPN-UML's K.P. Sharma Oli in May 2016 on charges of working against the country's interest.

Upadhyay was reappointed by the next government, this time led by CPN (Maoist Centre)'s Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Upadhyay said he decided to run in the elections to honour the request of the people in his hometown.

"I will be holding discussions with the senior Nepali Congress leaders before tendering my resignation," he told the Post.

--IANS

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The NIA here on Monday questioned a Kashmir University PhD student and the head of Kashmir Traders' and Marketing Federation in connection with its ongoing Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.

The student Aala Fazili and the traders body chief Yasin Mohammad Khan were questioned at the National Investigation (NIA) headquarters here, an official said.

They were summoned by the agency last week to appear before the investigators in the case, he said.

Informed sources said they were questioned about alleged funding to various groups which pelted stones on security forces on several occasions.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir traders' body staged a protest in the Valley over over the summons issued to its chief in connection with the case.

The NIA had registered a case on May 30 against separatist and secessionist leaders, including unknown members of the Hurriyat Conference, who have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other outfits and gangs, officials said.

The case was registered for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and for causing disruption in the Valley by pelting security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India, the probe agency said in its FIR.

Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the front of the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been named in the FIR as an accused.

The FIR also names organisations such as the two factions of the Hurriyat, one led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the other by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Hizbul Mujahideen and Dukhtaran-e-Millat, an all-women outfit of separatists.

The NIA, so far, has arrested 11 persons in the case.

--IANS

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Popular host Oprah Winfrey assembled a group of voters to examine the US' political and cultural divide on the show "60 Minutes" for a channel.

Winfrey held a roundtable session with 14 voters from West Michigan, evenly split between President Donald Trump supporters and detractors. She pressed the group on Trump's track record as President, whether his tweets are "modern presidential", the need for limitations on free speech, and their perceptions of Trump vs. Hillary Clinton voters, reports variety.com.

The group also debated the question of whether Trump's response to the white supremacist violence last month in Charlottesville, Virginia, was appropriate or whether he wrongly sought to draw a moral equivalency between far left protestors and the hate groups that organised the rally.

Participants included a farmer, a former General Motors factory worker, a drug counsellor, a speech therapist and a sales manager.

At one point, a few participants agreed tensions are so fraught that there are genuine fears that civil war could break out.

--IANS

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The Pakistan and Russian militaries are currently holding a two-week long joint exercise, the Pakistani Army said here on Monday.

The opening ceremony of the exercise codenamed as "DRUZBA 2017" in Mineralnye Vody in Russia was attended by senior military officials of the special forces of both countries, the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

The joint exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations, hostage and rescue, cordon and search operations, reports Xinhua news agency.

It will enhance and further strengthen military ties between both countries and share the Pakistan Army's experience in the war against terrorism, the statement said.

Last September, a contingent of 100 Russian troops had taken part in joint exercises in Pakistan.
US Vice President Mike Pence is set to visit NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre in Alabama on Monday which is building the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket along with the other technologies and systems needed to send astronauts into deep space.

The visit will give Pence an update on the progress of the SLS rocket and International Space Station science operations as the agency prepares for missions to deep space, around the Moon and ultimately to Mars, NASA said in a statement on Sunday.

NASA has set its goal of sending humans to the Red Planet in the 2030s.

"The Vice President will tour Marshall's Payload Operations Integration Centre, where all scientific research aboard the station is managed around-the-clock, 365 days a year. This research is helping people learn how to live and work in space for long periods," the US space agency added.

The Vice President will see a test with the engine section of the SLS core stage - the largest rocket stage ever built for the world's most powerful rocket.

The four RS-25 engines and the two solid rocket boosters that attach to the engine section will produce more than eight million pounds of thrust to help send the Orion crew vehicle farther than any human-rated spacecraft has ever traveled before.

While at Redstone Arsenal, where Marshall is located, Pence will visit the US Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Centre for briefs from Army leaders on current missile defence projects and Army initiatives, the statement added.

--IANS

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The Tamil Nadu government on Monday said it has set up an inquiry commission headed by retired High Court Justice A. Arumugaswamy to go into the death of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami had announced the government's decision to set up an inquiry commission to be headed by a retired High Court judge to go into the death of the AIADMK supremo.

Ever since Jayalalithaa's death, there have been hints of foul play in her death, with critics pointing fingers at the now jailed V.K. Sasikala.

The AIADMK camp of Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam had laid down a probe into the death as one of its demands before merging the faction with that led by Palaniswami.

--IANS

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The Tamil Nadu government on Monday said it has set up an inquiry commission headed by retired High Court Justice A. Arumugaswamy to go into the death of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Chief Minister K. Palaniswami had announced the government's decision to set up an inquiry commission to be headed by a retired High Court judge to go into the death of the AIADMK supremo.

Ever since Jayalalithaa's death, there have been hints of foul play in her death, with critics pointing fingers at her aide, the now jailed V.K. Sasikala.

The AIADMK camp of Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam had laid down a probe into the death as one of its demands before merging the faction with that led by Palaniswami.

Meanwhile, sidelined AIADMK leader and Sasikala's nephew T.T.V. Dinakaran told reporters that his aunt has taken a video of Jayalalithaa as she was watching television in her hospital room.

Dinakaran said it was only Jayalalithaa who had asked Sasikala to take the video.

According to him, the video could not be released to the media as Jayalalithaa was wearing a nightie after she was shifted from intensive care unit to a room.

The government's decision to set up an inquiry commission comes couple of days after Forests Minister C. Sreenivasan had sought people's apology for "lying" about the health condition of Jayalalithaa when she was admitted in Apollo Hospital.

At a public meeting in Madurai, around 500 km from here, on Friday night, Sreenivasan said: "We would have told lies that she (Jayalalithaa) had idlis and people met her. The truth is that nobody saw her."

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss in a statement said only a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation could bring out the truth in Jayalalithaa's death and urged the state government to issue orders for that.

According to him, the inquiry commission or the video taken by Sasikala side will not bring out the truth in Jayalalithaa's death.

Ramadoss said there was no visible indication about Jayalalithaa losing weight in Apollo Hospital.

--IANS

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Sony India on Monday expanded its premium device portfolio with "Xperia XZ1" -- the first smartphone with a 3D Creator -- for Rs 44,990.

XZ1 is now available at Sony Centres and major electronic stores in black colour.

The device has an industry-first 19MP "MotionEye" camera that has predictive "Hybrid AutoFocus Burst" which clicks 10 photos in a second, predictive capture with face expression features (like Smile Predictive Capture) and super slow-motion video.

The "Hybrid AutoFocus Burst" intelligently follows the subject, adjusts the focus to make sure the action shots stay sharp.

The 3D Creator is Sony's in-house algorithm built on the strength of "MotionEye" technology that enables users scan objects and people and then share on social media.

The device -- with a loop surface finish that is strong against any twist and bend -- has 13MP front camera with a display flash for low-light selfies.

The device features 5.2-inch full-HD Sony's "Triluminous" display that incorporates High Dynamic Range (HDR) and "X-Reality" technology for sharp, detailed and brighter images on screen. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

"Xperia XZ1" comes with 64GB inbuilt storage which can be expanded up to 256GB.

The smartphone runs Android 8.0 Oreo operating system and houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 System on Chip (SoC), 4GB RAM with X16 LTE for smooth performance and provide Gigabit LTE downloads speeds.

It packs 2,700mAh battery and is water and dust resistant with an IP68 certification.

"Smart Stamina" feature will estimate how long the current battery would last based on how a user uses his or her phone.

Its charging technologies "Battery Care" and "Qnovo Adaptive Charging" help users get a longer battery lifespan.

The device has a Digital Noise Cancelling (DNC) technology that cuts 98 per cent of noise for undisturbed listening.

--IANS

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Russia is committing "grave human rights violations" in Crimea, the UN human rights office said in a report on Monday.

The UN human rights agency said Russia had documented arbitrary arrests, torture and at least one extra-judicial execution in the region, BBC reported.

"There is an urgent need for accountability for human rights violations and abuses and for providing the victims with redress," UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine after the country's pro-Russian leader was overthrown in 2014. There was no immediate response from Russia to the report's accusations.

"Grave human rights violations, such as arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, ill-treatment and torture, and at least one extra-judicial execution were documented," the report said.

It added that there had been "intrusive law enforcement raids of private properties" which "interfered with (the) right to privacy".

The report, which said the human rights situation had "significantly deteriorated" in the region, noted that hundreds of prisoners and pre-trial detainees were illegally transferred from Crimea to Russian jails.

It said civil servants were forced to renounce their Ukrainian citizenship or face losing their jobs, and condemned Moscow's decision to replace Ukrainian laws with Russian ones.

Crimea, which has a Russian-speaking majority, voted to join Russia in a referendum that Ukraine and the West deem illegal.

The UN said Crimea's Turkic-speaking minority, the Tatars, who make up 12 per cent of its population, had been targeted.

The Tatar Parliament, the Mejlis, boycotted the referendum on joining Russia. Moscow said it was an extremist organisation and banned it last year.

"While those human rights violations and abuses have affected Crimean residents of diverse ethnic backgrounds, Crimean Tatars were particularly targeted especially those with links to the Mejlis", the UN report said.

It added that the ban on the Mejlis "has infringed on the civil, political and cultural rights of Crimean Tatars".

The UN rights chief accused Russia of failing to investigate alleged human rights violations.

Hussein said: "Failure to prosecute these acts and ensure accountability has denied victims of proper remedy and strengthened impunity, potentially encouraging the continued perpetration of human rights violations."

The report urged Russia to "effectively investigate" alleged torture, abductions and killings in the peninsula and called the international community to support push for that access.

--IANS

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Days after actress Deepika Padukone's royal look from "Padmavati" was unveiled, the makers of the upcoming film have shared an image of actor Shahid Kapoor, who looks every inch of a warrior king in the poster.

Shahid will be seen playing the role of MahaRawal Ratan Singh, husband of Deepika's character in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial.

In the poster shared on Monday morning, Shahid, whose face is slashed with battle scars, is seen sporting a heavy bearded look, twirled moustache, kohl filled eyes, a red 'tika' on his forehead and pearl jewellery adding to his royal look.

Another poster features the actor sporting a bloodied white angarkha standing in battle field holding a sword. In the background several soldiers are seen fighting in the war field.

Sharing the posters, Deepika, Shahid and actor Ranveer Singh, who will be playing the role of Alauddin Khilji tweeted: "Saahas, samarthya aur samman ka prateek."

"Padmavati", which will release on December 1, 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 difficulties.

In January, activists of Shri Rajput Karni Sena had assaulted Bhansali and vandalised the movie's Jaipur set over alleged distortions in the film's script.

After Bhansalimoved the film's shoot to Maharashtra, an outdoor set of the historic period drama in Kohlapur was burnt down after two dozen unidentified persons torched it in March.

--IANS

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Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor was on Monday announced brand ambassador of Reebok India at an event here. He is joining Bollywood's "Queen" Kangana Ranaut -- his co-star from "Rangoon" -- to endorse it.

Shahid, along with Silvia Tallon, Senior Marketing Director, Reebok India, inaugurated a new store of the brand at Brigade Road here.

"Bangalore (Bengaluru) has a great electrifying vibe and it is always amazing to be back here. I am thrilled to associate with Reebok India as their brand ambassador and join them here today for the launch of their flagship store," Shahid said in a statement.

"I think my synergies with Reebok match as we both understand and endorse the need to be fit -- physically, socially and mentally. I can tell you all from my experience that that fitness is not a one-time thing, it's a lifelong commitment to yourself and your body," he added.

The actor captivated audiences through his performance, which consisted of high energy fitness routines and some engagement with the crowd present.

According to Tallon, Shahid makes a perfect fit to endorse the brand as he "is someone who truly understands the meaning and importance of fitness in one's life".

"His commitment to fitness is unmatched and he is an inspiration to one and all," he added.

--IANS

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Some 35,000 people were evacuated from their homes near an active volcano in Bali, Indonesia, as authorities warned that it could erupt soon, authorities announced on Monday.

The area around Mount Agung has seen hundreds of tremors and signs of magma rising to the surface since last week, the national volcanology centre said.

Authorities have imposed a 12 km exclusion zone around the mountain and had issued their highest level alert on September 22.

The island's main tourist areas and flights remain unaffected for now.

The centre said on Sunday night that the mountain's "seismic energy is increasing and has the potential to erupt".

It said shallow tremors were detected late August, and first raised the alert from "normal" to the second-tier "vigilant" level on September 14, reports the BBC.

Mount Agung, which is more than 3,000m above sea level, lies in the eastern part of Bali.

Several countries including Britain, Australia and Singapore have issued travel advisories for their citizens, warning of possible flight disruptions and evacuations.

More than 1,000 people died when Mount Agung last erupted in 1963.

Mount Agung is among about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia - an archipelago prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes as it sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

--IANS

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The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday suspended its founding member and Rajya Sabha member Mukul Roy for six years for "indulging in anti-party activities".

TMC Secretary General Partha Chatterjee told media persons here of the party's decision hours as Roy announced that he would quit the party after Durga Puja.

"We have heard the news of Mukul Roy. He has decided to quit the party after puja. For the last few years, he has been indulging in anti-party activities and trying to weaken the party from within," Chatterjee told reporters.

"Trinamool Congress disciplinary committee has recommended punishment against Mukul Roy to the party's leader and chairperson Mamata Banerjee. Accordingly, Roy has been suspended for six years from the party."

He said Roy desired to resign from the Rajya Sabha after the puja. "We have only wanted that he should resign (now)... if he has decided to resign after puja, let him resign right now."

Ruling out any concern over Roy's decision to quit the party, Chatterjee said: "We have no concern. The party and the state is united. We have full confidence on (the leadership) of Mamata Banerjee."

Earlier in the day, Roy said he would resign from the party working committee on Monday.

He also said he would resign as the primary party member and from his Rajya Sabha seat after the Durga Puja, which concludes on September 30.

Chatterjee, who alleged Roy has been "playing for a particular political party", said the TMC kept a close watch on Roy. "He has surrendered to Central agencies," Chatterjee added.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump has announced new travel restrictions for eight countries including North Korea, replacing the previous ban on six Muslim-majority countries, citing threats to national security posed by letting their citizens into Washington.

Starting next month, most citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad, Venezuela and North Korea will be banned from entering the US, Trump said in a proclamation released on Sunday night.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted just after the proclamation was released.

In a statement, the White House called the new restrictions a "critical step toward establishing an immigration system that protects Americans' safety and security in an era of dangerous terrorism and transnational crime," CNN reported.

"We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country.

"My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation," Trump said in the White House statement.

For the last three months, the administration used an executive order to ban foreign nationals from six Muslim-majority countries -- Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan -- from entering the US unless they had a "bona fide" relationship with a person or entity in the country.

Individuals with that "bona fide" exception, such as a foreign grandparent of a US citizen, can still apply for visas until October 18. After that date, the new restrictions will begin.

According to the new list, travel will be broadly suspended, while in other cases, travellers will have to undergo enhanced screening and vetting requirements.

For instance, foreign nationals from North Korea are banned, but a student from Iran will be allowed in, subject to "enhanced screening and vetting requirements", CNN quoted the White House statement as saying.

However, no current validly issued green cards, visas or travel documents will be revoked.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that with the new restrictions, "the President is carrying out his duty to protect the American people.

"The State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner... We will continue to work closely with our allies and partners who share our commitment to national and global security."

A revised travel ban effecting those from six-Muslim majority countries officially expired earlier on Sunday, reports CNN.

Trump signed the initial travel ban during his first week in office, but it was met with immediate legal challenges, which have continued to hinder implementation of the full scope of the executive order.

The administration released a second version in March, which included substantial changes.

The US Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the legality of the travel ban next month.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump has issued a new order banning almost all travel to the country from seven nations, including North Korea and Chad, saying that the citizens of these countries pose a threat to the US national security.

According to a New York Times report on Sunday, the new order is more far-reaching than the President's original travel ban, imposing permanent restrictions on travel, rather than the 90-day suspension that Trump authorised soon after taking office.

From the next month, most citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea will not be allowed in the US, Trump was quoted as saying.

Also, Iraqi citizens and some groups of people in Venezuela visiting the US will face heightened scrutiny.

Earlier this year, Trump's original travel ban evoked widespread criticism and caused chaos at airports. The order expired on Sunday and the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments about its constitutionality next month.

The new order will take effect October 18.

"As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the US and its people," Trump said.

According to the officials, the new order is more targeted effort than the President's earlier one.

"Each of the countries will be under its own set of travel restrictions, though in most cases citizens of the countries will be unable to emigrate to the United States personally and most will be barred from coming to work, study or vacation in America," the report noted.

Trump restricted only the travel of government officials and their families in Venezuela, saying the ban was focused on that group because they were "responsible for the identified inadequacies" in sharing information about travelers.

"This is an apparent effort to paper over the original sin of the Muslim ban, especially when just last week Trump said he wanted a 'larger, tougher, more specific' ban," said Anthony D. Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Unlike the earlier travel ban, officials said the new policy was the result of months of deliberation with State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the White House and other agencies responsible for security and the border.

--IANS

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The fourth round of Brexit talks will begin here on Monday, a first opportunity for the European delegation to respond to British Prime Minister Theresa May's proposal of a two-year transition period for Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

However, European Union negotiators will be expecting more details on, for example, what payments the UK is prepared to make as it departs, informed sources told the BBC.

Next month, EU leaders are due to decide on separation issues, including the rights of citizens, the Irish border and the "divorce bill" or financial settlement, to allow talks to move on to the future of the bilateral trade relationship, as the UK would like.

In her speech on September 22, May offered to continue paying into the EU for a two-year transition after the UK leaves in 2019 to ensure the bloc is not left with a budget black hole.

She sought to reassure member states that they would not lose out financially during the current EU budget period, which runs to 2020.

However, UK's Brexit Secretary David Davis has insisted that May's speech was not influenced by a 4,000-word article by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, in the run-up to the event, setting out his own vision for the withdrawal, the BBC reported.

The speech "had been coming for a long time", he said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the UK and Scottish governments are due to hold a fresh round of talks on Brexit in London on Monday.

--IANS

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The US has sent large shipments of military gears to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to help them in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria's, the SDF said on Sunday.

The large quantities of weapons aim to help the SDF in their fight to completely clear Raqqa from IS, said the group.

Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS, is almost liberated and people started returning to their homes, Xinhua reported.

On Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said the SDF fighters were mopping up the last IS holdouts in Raqqa.

The Observatory, which says it relies on a network of activists on ground, said the IS had lost its main stronghold in Syria by losing Raqqa to the Kurdish-led SDF, adding that the remaining IS fighters are hiding in basements and underground shelters in the city centre.

The anticipated victory comes following a 110-day battle by the SDF and allied fighters to drive out IS from Raqqa, which the terror-designated group self-declared as its capital in 2014.

The SDF fighters, backed by US special forces, are combing the city to defuse the bombs left by IS, said the Observatory.

The London-based watchdog also said the SDF will declare the full capture of Raqqa once the city is fully cleared of IS militants.

According to the monitor group, 80 per cent of the city has been destroyed, and about 3,100 including IS militants have been killed during the months-long offensives in the city.

--IANS

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Veteran journalist and a left-of-centre liberal Marathi writer Arun Sadhu passed away after prolonged illness here on Monday.

He was 76 and is survived by his wife Aruna, a renowned social worker, and daughters Shefali and Suvarna, a relative told IANS.

Suffering from heart disease since long, he was rushed to the Sion Hospital on Sunday afternoon in a critical condition and admitted to the ICU there.

Sadhu, who was put on ventilator, was ailing with a muscular heart condition, cardio-myopathy, and breathed his last around 4.45 a.m. on Monday.

As per his last wish, there will be no funeral services and his body will be donated.

Born on June 17, 1941, in Paratwada, Amravati district of eastern Maharashtra, Sadhu acquired his B.Sc. degree from Nagpur University in 1961.

In his journalistic career spanning over four decades since 1962, he started as a freelancer and later worked with Times of India, Indian Express, Statesman and Kesari before taking over as editor of the Free Press Journal (1987-1989), besides writing for or heading several other Marathi publications.

For six years, he was also Professor and head of Department of Journalism of University of Pune till 2001, and earlier visited the US, France and Afghanistan to participate in media-literary events.

Sadhu strode the world of both journalism and literature with flair and wrote in Marathi, English and Hindi on news stories, edits, articles, short stories and novels, folk writings, translations of renowned literary works and various issues of international importance.

He shot to prominence with his first Marathi novel, "Mumbai Dinank" (Mumbai Dateline - 1973) and later his political blockbuster book, "Simhasan" (The Throne - 1977) which was adapted into an acclaimed Marathi film by Jabbar Patel with scripting by Vijay Tendulkar.

The film -- viewing the struggle for the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister from the eyes of a journalist and discussing the mafia-politician nexus in the 1970s -- is often listed among the best Marathi films in its genre and had achieved peaks of popularity after its release in 1979.

Later came Sadhu's musical play "Padgham" (Drumbeats - 1985), which was adapted and directed into a grand stage presentation by Jabbar Patel's Theatre Akademi.

In 2000, he co-scripted the film "Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar" along with Sooni Taraporevala and Daya Pawar.

Through his writings encompassing a wide range of topics -- crime, politics, the lives and struggles of ordinary mortals in complex societies, revolutions, caste systems, human relations vis-a-vis technology and the like -- Sadhu explored in a humane manner the rich-poor, rural-urban and caste divides.

Over the years, he was conferred several honours, including the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Rachana Award (2009), Kaumi Ekta Foundation Award, New Delhi, Kolkata, and N.C. Kelkar Award, Acharya Atre Award, and Padmashri Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Award for Lifetime Achievements in Literature, all Maharashtra.

In a prestigious honour, Sadhu was elected President of the 80th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held in Nagpur, 2007.

Among his other major works include novels: Maharashtra; Kakasaheb Gadgil; Fidel, Che Ani Kranti; Ani Dragon Jaga Jhalya; Dragon Jaga Jhalyawar; Mukhawta; Shodhyatra; Sfot; Bahishkrit; Trishanku and Tisri Kranti.

His short stories comprise: Manoos Udto Tyaachi Gosht; Mukti; Mantrajagar; and Ziprya, among other collections.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan, members of the top literary and fraternity recalled his services to journalism and literature, and mourned the demise of Sadhu.

A large number of people from various walks of life paid homage to Sadhu at his Bandra residence in the afternoon before his body was donated.

--IANS

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Veteran journalist and a left-of-centre liberal Marathi writer Arun Sadhu passed away here on Monday after prolonged illness.

He was 76 and is survived by his wife Aruna, a renowned social worker, and daughters Shefali and Suvarna, a relative told IANS.

Suffering from heart disease since long, he was rushed to the Sion Hospital on Sunday afternoon in a critical condition and admitted to the ICU there.

Sadhu, who was put on ventilator, was ailing with a muscular heart condition, cardiomyopathy, and breathed his last around 4.45 a.m. on Monday.

As per his last wish, there were no funeral services and his body was taken in a procession and donated to the Nair Hospital this evening.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on the demise of noted writer and journalist Arun Sadhu. He extends deepest condolences to his family and admirers," the PMO tweeted.

Born on June 17, 1941, in Paratwada, Amravati district of eastern Maharashtra, Sadhu acquired his B.Sc. degree from Nagpur University in 1961.

In a career spanning 45 years, he started as a freelancer in 1962 and later worked with The Times of India, The Indian Express, The Statesman and Kesari before taking over as editor of The Free Press Journal (1987-1989), besides writing for or heading several other Marathi publications.

For six years, he was also Professor and Head of Department of Journalism at University of Pune till 2001, and earlier visited the US, France and Afghanistan to participate in media-literary events.

Sadhu strode the world of both journalism and literature with flair and wrote in Marathi, English and Hindi on news stories, edits, articles, short stories and novels, folk writings, translations of renowned literary works and various issues of international importance.

He shot to prominence with his first Marathi novel, "Mumbai Dinank" (Mumbai Dateline - 1973) and later his political blockbuster book, "Simhasan" (The Throne - 1977) which was adapted into an acclaimed Marathi film by Jabbar Patel with scripting by Vijay Tendulkar.

The film -- viewing the struggle for the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister from the eyes of a journalist and discussing the mafia-politician nexus in the 1970s -- is often listed among the best Marathi films in its genre and had achieved peaks of popularity after its release in 1979.

Later came Sadhu's musical play "Padgham" (Drumbeats - 1985), which was adapted and directed into a grand stage presentation by Jabbar Patel's Theatre Akademi.

In 2000, he co-scripted the film "Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar" along with Sooni Taraporevala and Daya Pawar.

Through his writings encompassing a wide range of topics -- crime, politics, the lives and struggles of ordinary mortals in complex societies, revolutions, caste systems, human relations vis-a-vis technology and the like -- Sadhu explored in a humane manner the rich-poor, rural-urban and caste divides.

Over the years, he was conferred several honours, including the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Rachana Award (2009), Kaumi Ekta Foundation Award, New Delhi, Kolkata, and N.C. Kelkar Award, Acharya Atre Award, and Padmashri Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Award for Lifetime Achievements in Literature, all Maharashtra.

In a prestigious honour, Sadhu was elected President of the 80th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held in Nagpur, 2007.

Among his other major works include novels: Maharashtra; Kakasaheb Gadgil; Fidel, Che Ani Kranti; Ani Dragon Jaga Jhalya; Dragon Jaga Jhalyawar; Mukhawta; Shodhyatra; Sfot; Bahishkrit; Trishanku and Tisri Kranti.

His short stories comprise: Manoos Udto Tyaachi Gosht; Mukti; Mantrajagar; and Ziprya, among other collections.

Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Education Minister Vinod Tawde, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, state Congress President Ashok Chavan, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, NCP leaders Praful Patel, Nawab Malik, Jitendra Awhad, and members of the top literary and fraternity recalled his services to journalism and literature, and mourned his demise.

A large number of people from various walks of life paid homage to Sadhu at his Bandra residence in the afternoon before his body was donated to a government hospital, said a relative.

--IANS

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North Korea reserves the right to shoot down US warplanes flying outside its airspace, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said on Monday.

"Since the US declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures," Efe quoted Ri as saying.

Those measures, the North Korean minister said, include "the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country."

The declaration was made by the Northeast Asian regime two days after the Pentagon announced that military aircraft had flown near North Korea's coast with the aim of sending a "clear message" to Pyongyang.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country," Ri said.

The foreign minister said that North Korea drew this conclusion from the speech US President Donald Trump delivered before the United Nations General Assembly last week.

In that address, Trump said that although the US has great strength and patience, if it is forced to defend itself and its allies "we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."

Ri said that those words were clearly a "declaration of war" against Pyongyang, and he noted that the UN Charter authorises the international body's member states to defend themselves.

He said specifically that all measures were on the table for North Korea to defend itself.

On Saturday, during his participation in the top-level debates in the General Assembly, Ri announced that North Korea is in the "final phase" of developing its nuclear arsenal, including ballistic missiles that could potentially deliver nuclear warheads to US territory.

He said, however, that Pyongyang will use atomic weapons only as a "last resort," adding that North Korea has no intention of using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against any country that remains aloof from US military action.

Tensions have been steadily rising since Trump's UN speech, which was delivered in the wake of North Korean missile and nuclear tests, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a rare television appearance calling Trump "mentally deranged," whereupon Trump responded by once again mockingly calling Kim "Rocket man."

--IANS

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Actress Mehreen Pirzada shot for a song for forthcoming Telugu romantic comedy "Mahanubhavudu" with an injured back, a source from the film's unit said.

Mehreen injured her back in a fall while shooting in Croatia.

"The team was shooting for the song 'Kiss Me Baby'. Mehreen had an accidental fall and she injured her back. We were staying in a place where there no hospitals close by and we couldn't afford to miss the shoot and travel far," the source told IANS.

"She was in tremendous pain but she popped a few painkillers and shot for the song. The director was really impressed with her commitment," added the insider.

Slated for release on Friday, "Mahanubhavudu" also stars Sharwanand, who plays a person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

--IANS

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was and is not a solution to check the menace of black money. The hasty and unplanned decision to demonetise the high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, comprising 86 per cent of the total currency in circulation on November 8, 2016, by PM Narendra Modi was outrageous, and not courageous as claimed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her address to the United Nations General Assembly. Probably, Swaraj and her fellow party leaders are oblivious to the sufferings of the public waiting for hours in queue for the exchange of notes including the untimely deaths of about a 100 people.
The Whispers section had reported that the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated economic think tank, has launched a campaign against goods manufactured in China. It has appealed to people to boycott goods because, among other things, China supports Pakistan, which exports terrorism to India. So one was a bit baffled to note the disclaimer on the flip side of the identity cards distributed at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive to its delegates: They said, Made in China. They also had the Mandarin versions of the words name, post and unit.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Executive on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to support Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of making a New India by 2022, even as it conceded the teething troubles with the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and recognised the need for the government to take steps to meet the challenges of economic slowdown.
Title: How the BJP Wins; Author: Prashant Jha; Publisher: Juggernaut Books; Pages: 235; Price: Rs 399

Barring a hic-cup or two, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, has been winning election after election since its 2014 Lok Sabha poll win.

Here is a book that takes you through the saffron party's victory path, illustrating how the blend of Modi's charisma and Shah's organisational skills, coupled with their political willingness to sharpen the Hindu-Muslim divide, have seen the BJP home most recently with a thumping win in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

"How The BJP Wins", authored by senior journalist Prashant Jha, also focuses on how the party has succeeded in consolidating the Hindu vote beyond its traditional upper caste vote bank.

"Anyone who sees the BJP as an upper caste party is living in the past. The BJP is becoming an inclusive Hindu party, winning the support of various communities, including the subaltern, which inhibit the broad Hindu fold," says the book.

It is a must read for the new generation of leaders across ideologies and also for all the parties opposed to the BJP to understand its strategy of election victories. It will also be helpful for those keen on understanding contemporary Indian .

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 282 of the 428 seats it contested and, with the help of allies, formed a government with two-thirds majority. It was also the first time in the 67-year history of independent India that a non-Congress party won a simple majority on its own.

After the historic victory, the BJP won assembly elections in Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh.

In Haryana, Assam and Uttar Pradesh, the BJP formed governments on its own while in Jammu and Kashmir it tasted power for the first time with the state's Peoples Democratic Party. In Manipur also, the party formed its government with the help of some junior allies.

However, the BJP lost heavily in Delhi in 2015 against Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party and in Bihar against Nitish Kumar-led Grand Alliance of Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress. That it managed to break the alliance and formed the government with Nitish Kumar is a different story.

The book describes in detail how the BJP transformed itself into a more inclusive Hindu party, open to all castes, which led to its victory in Uttar Pradesh  despite the risky decision of demonetisation.

"In recent Indian economic history, no move has been as disruptive to the everyday lives of ordinary citizens as demonetisation. No move has caused job losses or logistical inconvenience to such a degree. Yet, there was palpable enthusiasm for the move.

"From the expectation that the move would clean the economy to the pleasure at assuming that the well-to-do were suffering more, from hopes that the additional resources would be transferred to the poor to the desire for an equal society, a range of motivations drove the support.

"Over subsequent months, this enthusiasm slowly dissipated, but it never translated into outright hostility," says the book.

Dedicating a chapter to the future of the BJP, the book explains how "Modi's mass charisma and Shah's tremendous organisational skills together laid the foundations for the new BJP in the middle of its most ambitious experiment of social engineering".

The book notes that apart from these two main factors, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)  the BJP's mentor supplemented and contributed to its phenomenal success.

"How the BJP acquires power is now clear. But winning is easier than ruling. How the BJP uses the political power it has acquired so successfully will determine whether Modi's dream of a 'New India' is fulfilled," the book says.

It speaks about how the issue of Muslim appeasement by non-BJP governments was exploited by the BJP's top leadership. Shah during his rallies in Uttar Pradesh clearly gave the message that the Samajwadi Party favoured the Muslims.

Shah's not-so-subtle polarisation efforts included describing the opposition parties (Congress, SP and BSP) as KASAB, while Modi spoke about the of appeasement while mentioning "Kabristan and Shamshanghat" at a rally in Uttar Pradesh to polarise the elections.

The book contends the relationship between Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is smooth, citing it as one of the reasons for the BJP's success and a key factor that did not exist during the time of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and then RSS chief K C Sudarshan.

If you have an interest in contemporary Indian politics, the book is worth a read.

(Brajendra Nath Singh can be contacted at brajendra.n@ians.in)

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Mulayam Singh Yadav, the veteran socialist leader, on Monday once again checkmated the rival Samajwadi Party (SP) faction opposing his son and SP President Akhilesh Yadav by announcing there was no proposal to float a new political party or coalition at the moment.
The Tamil Nadu government constituted today an inquiry commission headed by a retired high court judge to probe the death of then Chief Minister nearly 10 months ago.

"To conduct an inquiry and submit a report on the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, an inquiry commission headed by retired high court judge, Justice Arumugasamy, has been constituted," according to an official release here.

A government order has been issued for this purpose, it said.

On August 17, Chief Minister K Palaniswami had announced that a commission of inquiry would go into the death of Jayalalithaa.

The 68-year-old AIADMK supremo died following a cardiac arrest on December 5 after being in the hospital for 75 days.

A probe into Jayalalithaa's death was one of the demands made by the rebel leader and now Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for the formal merger of his faction with that of Palaniswami.

The two factions had merged on August 21.

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The 188-year-old Kerala State Central Library here, one of the oldest book houses in the country will soon have a separate wing for visually challenged bibliophiles.

An exclusive 'Braille wing' will be opened soon adjacent to the main library building, located in the heart of the state capital, as part of the authorities' plans to make the 19th century institution differently-abled friendly.

Popularly known as 'Trivandrum Public Library,' the heritage structure, housing one of the finest collections of rare titles starting from 16th century, was established in the year 1829.

According to authorities, steps are already on to convert a room of the three-storey new building, being set up in front of the heritage Gothic style main structure, into the Braille wing.

The Braille wing is envisaged to provide all modern amenities to help make visually impaired visitors comfortable.

State librarian P K Sobhana said they would join hands with various outfits and organisations including Dehradun-based National Institute for the Visually Handicapped and Kerala Blind Association for the initiative.

"Our new building is getting ready.. One of the major features of it will be the Braille section.. We are planning to open it in a room in the ground floor of the building," she told PTI.

Besides books in Braille format, the new wing would also have an impressive collection of talking and audio books in various languages including English and Hindi besides Malayalam.

"We think, the audio books will be more useful for the visually challenged people.. Not only that, it will also be a solution for the space constraints issues.. Usually Braille books will consume more space which we cannot afford," she said.

The official said she would soon visit institutions including the National Association for the Blind in New Delhi which offer advanced facilities before giving a final shape to the plan.

"In future, we also have plans to prepare audio books in Malayalam with the support of outfits in this regard," Sobhana added.

An integral part of the state's cultural landscape, the Central Library has over five lakh titles and subscribe 300 periodicals.

The book house had amazed several people including world renowned English writer William Somerset Maugham.

Astonished by seeing the wide collection of world classics and continental literature, including his own works there, the writer, during his visit to the princely state of Tranvacore in 1938 had scribbled in the visitors' book that he was 'pleased and flattered.'



Historians say, the library was ordered to be set up in 1829 by the Travancore royal Swathi Tirunal and renamed as State Central Library in 1958.

Interestingly, the visionary ruler took the initiative to build one of the first public libraries in India, before even the famed Imperial Library of Calcutta was established.

The task of organising the library was assigned to Col Edward Cadogan, the then British Resident and the grand son of Sir Hans Sloan, the founder of British Museum.

The library was shifted to the present building in 1900 under the reign of Sri Moolam Thirunal, who built a structure of architectural beauty in the Gothic style in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

While the Public Library was handed over to University of Travancore in 1938, it was taken over by the government in 1948 after a resolution was passed by State Legislature.

The library, in the year 1988, was granted the status of a minor department under the administrative control of Higher Education Department with the State Librarian as its head.

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Two suspected conmen, who targeted security forces personnel, have been arrested from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, the police said today.

Azad Khan (24) and Tamanne (19) were nabbed from near the domestic terminal on September 22 when they were trying to dupe an Army jawan, said Sanjay Bhatia, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Airport).

Giving details of a case involving the duo, a police officer said that Manoj Kumar, a constable with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), had recently taken an autorickshaw from Aerocity Metro Station to the domestic airport, along with two other passengers.

One of Kumar's co-passengers showed him "a bundle of currency notes" and told him that he had stolen the money.

The co-passenger said that the police were after him and he could not take the bundle with him, the police said.

He told Kumar that he required just Rs 6,000 to reach Patna and offered to hand him the "bundle worth lakhs of rupees".

The other co-passenger offered Rs 3,000 to the man. It was decided that the money would be split between Kumar and the second co-passenger.

Kumar was made to believe that the bundle contained Rs 3 lakh, and he agreed with the proposal given by the duo.

Kumar's co-passenger handed him the bundle of notes. The second person told him that he would drop the first person at the bus stop and took Rs 33,000 and ID card from Kumar so that he did not flee with Rs 3 lakh, the police said.

When the accused persons did not come back for a long time, Kumar realised that he had been conned and approached the police.

During investigation, it emerged that a specialised gang, that targeted defence personnel at railway stations, metro stations and airport, was behind the incident, Bhatia said.

The police scanned CCTV footage from the area and identified the two accused. Staff was deployed in plain clothes near Aerocity Metro Station to nab the duo, the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) said.

On September 22, a police personnel spotted the two accompanying a person in uniform. They were nabbed.

This second victim later turned out to be an Army jawan.

The accused confessed to having committed 50 to 60 such offences this year, the DCP said.

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Two suspected members of an inter-state narcotic cartel were arrested and drugs worth more than Rs 20 crore were seized from one of them, the police said today.

The Special Cell sleuths had received an information about one Vinay Jain (46) of Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, procuring contraband from Manipur and transporting it to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab with the help of truck drivers, they said.

Jain used the help of the truck drivers to transport drugs since he thought that the trucks are not thoroughly checked, the police said.

On September 22, the police learnt about one Sukhwinder Singh (58), a suspected member of the drug cartel and a truck driver, was coming here with a huge consignment.

"It was learnt that Singh would be coming near Azadpur Sabzi Mandi with a huge consignment of contraband," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.

The consignment was to be delivered to a buyer near Fruit Mandi, Azadpur. The driver was arrested and his truck was searched, he said.

The police seized four kilograms of heroin and 10 kilograms of opium worth more than Rs 20 crore from a secret cavity in the truck driver's cabin, the police said.

During interrogation, Singh revealed about Jain being the kingpin of the cartel.

Jain was held yesterday from near his house in Ratlam. The police recovered cell phones with four SIM cards used by him to manage and operate the syndicate, the DCP said.

Singh told police that as per the directions of Jain, he used to procure narcotic drugs, including heroin and opium, from Manipur and hid them in a secret cavity of his truck.

He then delivered the drugs to various states. He used to receive Rs one lakh per trip as his share, Yadav said.

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A blaze in an illegal fire cracker unit in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district today left 20 persons injured, four of them seriously.

Police said the incident took place at Bhaluka village in the early hours today and was doused by eight fire engines which rushed to the spot.

The tin roof of the illegal cracker factory was blown off under the impact of the fire and the injured included two fire brigade personnel, the police said.

The rest of the injured were workers of the cracker unit.

The police said the seriously injured were rushed to a Kolkata hospital, while the rest were admitted to J L Nehru Hospital at Kalyani.

The reason for the fire is being investigated, the police added.

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The Special Investigation Team (SIT) today requested the judge, who is hearing the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case, to visit the site of the incident to understand topography of the area.

Special SIT judge P B Desai agreed to visit the site on an application filed by prosecutor Suresh Shah. Desai asked the lawyers of the accused and the victims to submit a joint application with the SIT regarding the same, which they did.

The court is likely to pass order on the application tomorrow.

The court had last week concluded recording of testimonies of 187 witnesses, including BJP chief Amit Shah who appeared as a witness for BJP leader Maya Kodnani, an accused in the case.

The SIT said that it wanted the judge to visit Naroda Gam on the outskirts of Ahmedabad where the riot took place on February 28, 2002, so that he gets a better idea of its topography.

The visit will help the judge verify the claims made by the witnesses, it said.

The SIT has filed a charge sheet against 82 people including Kodnani in the case.

The judge asked the lawyers to specify the places he will need to visit.

The lawyers suggested that the judge may visit areas including Muslim Mohalla, the gram panchayat office, a lane near Bank of India, Mayur Hotel and Nandu Miya's shop near the mosque which have figured in the descriptions given by the witnesses.

Naroda Gam massacre is one of the nine major 2002 communal riots cases which were investigated by the Supreme Court-appointed SIT.

Eleven Muslims were killed in Naroda Gam during a bandh call given to protest the Godhra train burning incident of February 27, 2002.

Kodnani, who later became a minister in (then) chief minister Narendra Modi's government, has been sentenced to 28 years in jail in the Naroda Patiya riot case.

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Nearly 620 tonnes of food material were today shipped from the Kakinada Deep Water Port in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district for distribution among the in Bangladesh.

Faced with an onslaught of the Myanmar army, scores of Rohingya people have recently fled the Rakhine state of that country and taken refuge in Bangladesh.

On the directions of Narendra Modi government, the Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) has arranged for 62,000 food packets, each containing five kg of parboiled rice, two kg of dal, edible oil, sugar, salt, tea and milk powder, East Godavari district's Collector Kartikeya Misra said.

The packets also contain a mosquito net each.

"As per the suggestions of the NAFED, we have arranged for the food material and got it packed at two different locations in the district. The cargo is being shipped to Chittagong (in Bangladesh) and is expected to reach there in two days," Misra said.

The assistance to the in Bangladesh is being provided by New Delhi as part of its humanitarian aid.

Earlier this month, a heavy-lift transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force had ferried around 55 tonnes of relief material for the in Bangladesh.
Telugu film star and Jana Sena Party founder K Pawan Kalyanhas been chosen for the Indo- European Business Forum's Excellence Award this year in recognition of his commendable work in various fields.

The 46-year-old has been given the award in recognition of his commendable work "as an actor, politician, philanthropic and social work".

The award will be presented to him during the Global Business Meet-2017 at the House of Lords in London On November 17.

Theme of the meet will be 'Invest in New India', according to IEBF leader Sunil Kumar Gupta.

He met Kalyan today and announced the award and also invited him to be the guest of honour at the event.

IEBF, an independent non-profit organisation in the UK, has appreciated Kalyan's espousal of the cause of chromic kidney patients in Uddanam of Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra.

The actor's role as brand ambassador for handlooms and 'Jeevan Daan', an organ donation programme, have also been appreciated, according to a letter from IEBF.

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Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has invited Pakistan for a comprehensive dialogue, warning that if Islamabad does not avail this opportunity, it will pay a "high price".

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense for months, with the two sides accusing each other of turning a blind eye towards certain militant outfits.

"What I'm offering the Pakistan government, the Pakistan security apparatus, is the invitation to a comprehensive dialogue," Ghani said during CNN's GPS Sunday talk show.

"So here is the opportunity. If Pakistan does not take this opportunity, I think there will be - they will pay a high price. So I hope that it's their interest to engage," he said.

In his UN General Assembly address last week, President Ghani had sought dialogue with Pakistan to build strained ties and address raging militancy.

Kabul says Pakistan provides safe havens to terrorists who launch cross-border attacks, while Islamabad complains Afghanistan and its intelligence services provide support to militant groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"The examination of Pakistan has never been as thorough, and the message for the need for Pakistan to engage and become a responsible stakeholder in the region and in the fight against terrorism has never been this clear," Ghani told the channel.

He said the Afghans are determined to fight and no one should underestimate their wish for a secure region.

"Afghanistan is - our tragedy is we are potentially one of the richest countries on earth, given our size and population, with our natural resources, natural capital, you know, mining, and potentially oil and gas, et cetera. But the cost of war is intense and immense," the president said.

Responding to a question, Ghani claimed that the Taliban are becoming less and less popular.

"It's a sign of weakness to attack a mosque. It's a sign of weakness, not strength, to kill people, soldiers who are praying. It's a sign of weakness to attack civilians in broad daylight. Blowing bombs, track bombs particularly, does not make you popular," he said.

The president said the Taliban should understand that society does not support violence, particularly a society that has suffered 40 years of violence.

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Chief of the Air Staff Birender Singh Dhanoa will visit the US from September 26-28 to attend the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium at Hawai, an official release said today.

The visit is intended to further strengthen the existing defence cooperation between the air forces of the participating countries in the Pacific region, it added.

In addition to the hosts, there would be Air Chiefs from 18 countries, including Australia and Japan, attending the symposium.

During his stay at the Joint Base Pearl Harbour, Hickam, Hawai, Dhanoa would address air chiefs attending the event.

In his talk, he will delve on the Indian Air Force's perspective on the challenges to regional security, the release said.

The symposium is aimed at strengthening relationships, enabling engagement in productive exchanges and promote understanding of joint issues and challenges.

Discussions would also take place on air perspective in the maritime domain along with issues like counter-insurgency.

The visit of the Indian Air Force Chief would provide further impetus towards increasing defence cooperation between the Pacific region air forces and pave the way for greater interaction and cooperation in future, the release said.

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The ongoing joint training drill by the Chinese and Pakistan air forces have deterred terrorists in China's troubled Xinjiang province, a top Chinese military official has said.

Xinjiang bordering Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Afghanistan is located in China's north western region. The province has seen protests by majority Uygur Muslims over increasing settlements of the Han community from other parts of China.

China is battling East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) militants in Xinjiang, who had bases in the Pakistan's tribal areas.

The air forces of China and Pakistan have deterred terrorist forces with joint training exercise in northwest China, said Zhan Houshun, air force commander of the Western Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

The drill maintains national security and protects people of the two countries, he was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua agency.

The annual drill codenamed "Shaheen VI" began on September 7 and will end on September 27 as per the original schedule.

Under pressure from China to destroy the ETIM bases, Pakistan Army and air force have carried out a series of operations in recent months.

Earlier, the Chinese air force said this year's drill included pilots from each other's countries operating their planes together.

The pilots sat in the same aircraft to build mutual trust, a Xinhua report said on Friday.

Li Wengang, head of China-Pakistan joint training command office, said the sitting of pilots in the same aircraft to fight was a reflection of the deep mutual trust between the two countries and their militaries, the report said.

Chen Lei, a leader of a Chinese pilot team, said the drill improved trainees' skills and friendship, adding that individuals from both sides have become "buddies" after more than 10 days' of training, the report said.

In this year's drill, the Chinese air force has deployed surveillance radar planes like AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System besides J-11 fighters, JH-7 fighter-bombers, KJ-200 ground forces including surface-to-air missile and radar troops.

Pakistan has sent JF-17 Thunder fighter jets being jointly manufactured by both the countries and early warning aircraft to join the exercise.

The joint training between the two militaries was launched in March 2011.

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The ED today attached assets worth Rs 1.16 crore of former finance minister P Chidambaram's son Karti and a firm allegedly linked to him in connection with its money laundering probe in the Aircel-Maxis deal.

The agency issued a provisional attachment order, signed by Joint Director and investigating officer of the 2G spectrum allocation cases Rajeshwar Singh, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for attaching the assets.

"Enforcement Directorate has attached movable assets held by ASCPL (Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited) in the form of fixed deposits to the tune of Rs 26 lakh and movable assets held by Karti P Chidambaram in the form of fixed deposits and balance in saving bank account to the tune of Rs 90 lakh approximately," the central probe agency said.

The firm ASCPL is allegedly linked to Karti and the ED said it was "controlled" by him through another person, identified as S Bhaskararaman, whom Karti had described to the agency as his Chartered Accountant and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the agency said.

In his reaction, the senior Chidambaram called the ED action "a crazy mixture of falsehoods and conjectures".

"The press note is intended to intimidate me and to silence my voice. I will not be intimidated," he said.

Official sources in the ED said while P Chidambaram states that the "only" charge sheet in the case has been quashed, the FIR still stands and that Karti was not named in that complaint.

"This is a fresh probe against Karti in connection with the Aircel-Maxis case," a source said.

The case pertains to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval granted in 2006 by P Chidambaram.

The agency said it is investigating "the circumstances of said FIPB approval granted by the then finance minister (P Chidambaram)".

The ED also alleged that Karti has "disposed" of a property in Gurgaon, which he had allegedly rented out to a multi national company "to whom foreign direct investment (FDI) approval had been granted in 2013".

It charged that Karti had "also closed certain bank accounts and attempted to close other bank accounts in order to frustrate the process of attachment" under the PMLA.

The CBI has recently told the Supreme Court that Karti was prevented from travelling abroad as he was allegedly closing several of his foreign bank accounts.

The hearing in the apex court was in connection with another CBI FIR, lodged on May 15, where it has been alleged that irregularities in FIPB clearance to INX Media had occurred, for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007.

The agency said FIPB approval in the Aircel-Maxis FDI case was granted in March, 2006 by the then FM even though he was competent to accord approval on project proposals only up to Rs 600 crore and beyond that it required the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

"In the instant case, the approval for FDI of 800 million USD (over Rs 3,500 crore) was sought. Hence, CCEA was competent to grant approval.

"However, approval was not obtained from CCEA," it alleged.

The agency said its probe revealed that the case of the said FDI was "wrongly projected as an investment of Rs 180 crore so that it need not be sent to the CCEA to avoid a detailed scrutiny."



It added that a payment of Rs 26 lakh was made by Aircel Televentures Limited to ASCPL, the firm allegedly linked to Karti, within a few days of the FIPB approval.

The agency also charged



that a firm promoted by Karti and senior Chidambaram's nephew A Palaniappan-- CMSPL--received a sum of about USD 2 lakh from the Maxis group allegedly for procuring a legal compliance software.

It said probe revealed that the "software was designed only for use in India and hence was of no use to a Malaysian company."



The ED said further probe to "identify" other proceeds of crime as well as indirect benefits derived from them is "continuing" in this case.

The agency is probing the Aircel-Maxis deal under the PMLA after taking cognisance of a 2011 CBI FIR in the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
State owned Allahabad Bank today said it has raised up to Rs 100 crore Basel III compliant additional tier-I capital through private placement of bonds.

The bank's board gave its approval to raise up to Rs 2,000 crore in tranches during 2017-18 that will go into its additional tier-I capital.

"We have to inform you further that the bank has on date successfully raised additional tier-I capital of bank through private placement of additional tier-I perpetual bonds aggregating to Rs 100 crore," it said in a regulatory filing.

The bondholders will get a coupon rate of 11.85 per cent per annum.

In view of implementation of global standard Basel III Capital Regulations, banks need to improve and strengthen their capital planning processes.

The norms are being implemented to mitigate concerns on potential stresses on asset quality and consequential impact on performance and profitability of banks.

Being implemented in phases since April 1, 2013, India is expected to fully implement Basel III standards by March 2019 a little behind from the internationally agreed date of January 1, 2019.

Stock of Allahabad Bank today closed 2.17 per cent down at Rs 67.55 on BSE.

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today ruled out installation of meters on agricultural tubewells and attacked Akalis for spreading "false propaganda" over the issue.

The subsidy on power in the farming sector would continue, as already promised by the government, he said in a statement issued here today.

There was no question of withdrawing the subsidy or connecting tubewells with meters, the Chief Minister said.

The chief minister had announced continuation of power subsidy for the agriculture sector in the state Assembly in June.

Amarinder lashed out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP for allegedly misleading people with "baseless" statements with an eye on the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by-election.

He said rumours were allegedly being spread by SAD and BJP leaders, particularly in the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency region, about installation of tubewell meters.

The chief minister said these parties were "notorious" for indulging in false advocacy to further their vested political interests.

The SAD and BJP had indulged in large-scale "rumour mongering" even during the Assembly elections but had failed to fool the people of Punjab, he pointed out.

Amarinder said his government was committed to the welfare of the farming community and had already initiated several measures, including waiver of loans, to protect the interests of the farmers.

After trying to "mislead" farmers on the issue of loan waiver, which they themselves had failed to announce during their decade-long rule in Punjab, the SAD-BJP combine was trying to spread "misapprehensions" in the minds of the farmers on other issues, such as power subsidy, he added.

Far from doing away with such subsidy, his government was, in fact, striving to rescue the beleaguered farmers, Amarinder said.

His government would ensure that the farmers are brought out of the current crisis and also put them back on the path of progress, the chief minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amazon has formed a joint venture with the Ashok Patni Group -- Frontizo Business Services -- that will offer customer support services to the Indian consumers of the US-based e-tailing giant.

According to documents submitted to the Corporate Affairs Ministry, Delhi-based Frontizo Business received Rs 196.16 crore between June and August this year.

Amazon Asia Pacific Holdings contributed Rs 94.15 crore, while Zodiac Wealth Advisors (investment fund managed by Ashok Patni and family) pumped in over Rs 100 crore into the entity.

US-based Zaffre Investments contributed the remaining amount, the documents showed.

When contacted, an Amazon India spokesperson declined to comment, but a spokesperson for Frontizo Business Services confirmed the development.

"The JV has commenced its operations in Bangalore and offers multi-channel customer support services, including e- mail assistance, customer outreach and contact on the phone as well as chats... Amazon is one of the first customers of Frontizo," the spokesperson said in an emailed response.

The spokesperson added that there is a tremendous and a unique opportunity for the JV as majority of new e-commerce customers will come from small towns and rural areas and have different needs like vernacular language support and alternate operating models to serve them.

Patni Group is the majority partner in the JV and Vinod Kumar is the CEO of the JV, the spokesperson said.

Frontizo has been created out of another entity, Capricorn Business and Trade Services that was established in 2012.

According to regulatory filings, Zodiac Wealth Advisors holds 51 per cent stake in the JV, while Amazon Asia Pacific Holdings and Zaffre hold 48 per cent and 1 per cent share, respectively.

Frontizo has three representatives of Patni and two of Amazon on its board.

Amazon, which is locked in an intense battle for leadership in the Indian market with SoftBank-backed Flipkart has committed investments of USD 5 billion in the country.

It has been aggressively investing in strengthening its logistics and delivery operations, as well as payment operations.

Last week, Amazon's investment arm Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings bought five per cent stake in Indian brick-and-mortar retail chain Shoppers Stop.

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BJP chief Amit Shah today criticised Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on dynastic politics and said the BJP believed in the politics of performance while the Congress banked on the "politics of appeasement and dynasty".

In his inaugural address at the BJP national executive, Shah said President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached their position due to their work, despite their humble origins.

It was a closed door event but Union minister Piyush Goyal briefed the media about the speech.

Taking on Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on dynasty in the country during his recent visit to the US, Shah said the Congress vice president had undermined India.

"The Congress believes in the politics of appeasement and dynasty, whereas BJP follows politics of performance," Goyal quoted Shah as saying.

"Both the Congress and Gandhi disapprove of the politics of performance, but BJP will continue to work for the country on the basis of such politics," Shah said.

Discussing the economy, Shah said it had become stronger under the Narendra Modi-led government than it was under the UPA. He also elaborated on the benefits of both demonetisation and GST and explained that both the measures would curb black money and bring more transparency in the system.

The BJP chief cited various figures to make his point about economy, Goyal told reporters while briefing them on Shah's speech.

Shah's comments came amid the opposition's criticism of the government's handling of the economy.

The Rs 60,000 crore per year the government would save through the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme would be used for welfare schemes for the poor, he said.

Praising the government over its handling of Naxalism and terrorism, Shah said more terrorists were killed in its three years of rule than any other spell of three years.

The BJP president also discussed the recent stand-off with China in Dokalam near Sikkim and said India displayed its perseverance and decisiveness to the entire world.

The party chief appreciated External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's speech at the United Nations said she had exposed Pakistan.

Attacking the TMC government in West Bengal and the Left government in Kerala for alleged political violence targeting BJP workers, Shah announced that he would launch a 15-day padyatra in Kerala from October 3.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the meeting in the evening and is expected to counter the opposition's criticism of the state of the economy.

Modi will also launch a new scheme for providing electricity connections to poor in the evening, Goyal said.

A key highlight of this extended national executive meeting, which began yesterday, is the presence of the party's elected lawmakers -- close to 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs and all MLCs -- and its core group leaders from states.

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The Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau today raided the houses of two officials of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department and unearthed assets worth crores, which they suspect are disproportionate to their known sources of income.

While the book value of the assets in both the cases is around Rs 30 crore, the actual market value could be about Rs 150 crore, according to ACB sources.

Raids were conducted simultaneously by 20 teams of the ACB officials on the properties of Director of Town and Country Planning, G V Raghu, and Junior Technical Officer in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), N V Sivaprasad, at Mangalagiri, Vijayawada, Gannavaram, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Chittoor, and in Shirdi (Maharashtra).

According to sources, Sivaprasad was benami (a conduit) for Raghu and operated several real estate firms in Vijayawada.

Sivaprasad worked under Raghu when the latter was City Planner in VMC in 2002.

Interestingly, many of the assets were in the name of Sivaprasad and his wife Chintamaneni Gayatri, who too previously worked as an assistant engineer in VMC.

Several parcels of land, many residential flats and houses, a convention centre in AP and Telangana and a lodging house (in Shirdi) were among the assets discovered, sources said.

Raghu, who joined government service in 1988, served in key positions like City Planner and Chief City Planner in the top three cities in undivided AP Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad.

The real estate boom in those periods that saw the springing up of several apartment complexes, commercial buildings and malls enabled him to strike it rich through dubious deals, a top official revealed.

"Countless number of illegal structures came up in a city like Hyderabad and obviously this man was at the helm, overseeing building permissions and regulations. He, thus, amassed a lot of wealth in collusion with unscrupulous builders," the official added.

Sivaprasad opened at least four real estate firms in the name of his wife, who took voluntary retirement in 2015, in Vijayawada and purchased several tracts of land in Krishna, Guntur and East Godavari districts.

As much as eight kgs of gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 4 crore was found in Sivaprasad's possession, besides Rs 43 lakh in cash. Also, 23 kg of silver was also seized.

ACB Director General RP Thakur said in Vijaywada that they recovered Rs 8.20 lakh in cash, gold worth Rs 4 lakh, and a four-wheeler from Raghu's residence.

The two officers were arrested and the investigation is on.

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Australia today committed to creating a national space agency as it looks to cash in on the lucrative and fast-evolving astronautical sector.

The announcement came at a week-long Adelaide space conference attended by the world's top scientists and experts including SpaceX chief Elon Musk.

It brings Canberra -- which already has significant involvement in national and international space activities -- into line with most other developed nations, which already have dedicated agencies to help coordinate the industry and shape development.

"The global space industry is growing rapidly and it's crucial that Australia is part of this growth," acting science minister Michaelia Cash said in statement.

"A national space agency will ensure we have a strategic long-term plan that supports the development and application of space technologies and grows our domestic space industry."



According to the government, the global space sector -- encompassing innovation, defence, and telecommunications -- has been growing annually since the late 1990s at almost 10 percent, driving revenue each year of USD 323 billion.

Thousands of the world's top scientists and space experts are attending the week-long International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide.

SpaceX chief Musk is set to give an update on his ambitious vision of establishing a Mars colony.

Also among those presenting is defence giant Lockheed Martin, which is working with NASA on plans to reach the Red Planet.

Australia's commitment to an agency follows the government in July ordering a review of the country's space industry capability, with a fuller strategy to underpin the work of the new body to be unveiled next year.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Australia launching its first satellite, the only country at the time to achieve the feat after the United States and Russia.

It has played a vital part in many space missions in the decades since then, with its Deep Space Communication Complex outside Canberra one of only three sites in the world capable of tracking NASA's deep space assets.

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Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has told a delegation of visiting journalists he will "discuss" their demand for an SIT probe into the killing of Shantanu Bhowmick with senior police officials, the government said today.

A delegation of the Agartala Press Club had called on Sarkar yesterday and demanded that an SIT be formed to probe Bhowmick's death and the trial be held in a fast-track court.

Bhowmick, who worked with a TV channel in Agartala, was covering an agitation by the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura in Mandai area on September 20 when he was hit from behind and abducted. He was later found with serious stab injuries and died before he could be admitted to a hospital.

"The chief minister has assured the delegation that he will discuss their demand to form a Special Investigation Team with top police officials," said a statement issued by the information and culture department.

Sarkar also assured the delegation he would look into the demand for setting up a fast-track court, the statement said.

The opposition Congress party has demanded a judicial inquiry into the case by a sitting high court judge.

BJP's state unit has demanded a CBI inquiry.

"The state police cannot investigate impartially as the incident had occurred in the presence of police personnel," BJP spokesperson Ashok Sinha told reporters on Thursday.

Three persons have been arrested in connection with the killing, police said.

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The Congress on Monday hit out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over a lathi-charge on women students of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and demanded the immediate sacking of the vice chancellor and a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge into the incident.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over the "preposterous and shocking" incident, and asked what his stand was on the "atrocity" perpetrated on the students in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency.

Describing the VC as "incorrigible" and "insensitive", Tewari asked Modi if such a person could head an institute of academic excellence like the BHU.

"We demand that the President of India, who is the visitor of the university, immediately take cognisance of what has happened in BHU and sack the vice chancellor," he told reporters here.

Attacking the BJP and its rule in Uttar Pradesh, Tewari said the government had been been a "failure" on all fronts and accused it of "shedding crocodile tears".

"We demand an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge that should go into all the facts and circumstances as to how this atrocity was perpetrated and hold all those persons who were responsible for ordering this lathi-charge to account," Tewari said.

The former Union minister recalled the words of nationalist leader and BHU founder Madan Mohan Malviya, saying those who set up the university created a very secular and pluralistic centre of learning that catered to all communities.

He said at the time of its creation, Malviya had said, "India is not a country of the Hindus only; it is a country of the Muslims, the Christians and the Parsis, too. The country can gain strength and develop itself only if people of different communities in India live in mutual goodwill and harmony".

The Congress leader, while questioning Modi's silence, asked, "We would like to know from the Prime Minister of India where does he stand on this atrocity which has been perpetrated on women students in his own parliamentary constituency".

He also asked Modi whether a person who is "so insensitive" to the genuine concerns of students deserved to be the university VC.

"The incorrigible vice chancellor of this university, rather than being sympathetic to the students, turned around and told the girls that if you are so conscious of your modesty, why do you step out after 6 O'clock in the evening," Tewari claimed.

He said rather than empathising with them, the university "colluded in the most barbaric lathi-charge".

He also took a dig at the BJP's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign and said the incident was the "perpetration of the most unspeakable atrocities" against the students who were protesting against alleged molestation and were seeking a safer campus.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a baton-charge by the police in BHU where a protest against alleged sexual harassment turned violent on Saturday night.

(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 program is expected to be launched in October for participants in the Free and Secure Trade (FAST), a commercial clearance program for known low-risk shipments entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).



U.S. Customs and its Mexican counterpart are eliminating separate inspections at the cargo facility south of San Diego on the US-Mexico border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says that it plans to partner with Mexicos Servicio de Administracion Tributaria (SAT) and begin conducting joint cargo inspections at Customs Otay Mesa Cargo Facility next month.

Under the Unified Cargo Processing pilot program, Customs and SAT will eliminate separate inspections at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility, located south of San Diego on the US-Mexico border, thereby reducing wait times.

The pilot program, which has already been implemented in other parts of the US, is expected to be launched at Otay Mesa sometime in October for participants in Free and Secure Trade (FAST), a commercial clearance program for known low-risk shipments entering the United States from Canada and Mexico.

It is envisioned that the program will aid in the reduction of wait times and create more efficient inspections that will lower the cost of doing business in the region, Customs & Border Protection explained in a Sept. 20 statement. It will also enhance national security for both countries demonstrating both the United States and Mexicos shared commitment in facilitating cross-border commerce.

Pete Flores, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego, said he envisioned that the program would help enhance Americas global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel, and that the pilot program would provide a more efficient inspection process while upholding our mission to protect the borders.

The tentative hours of operation for the program are set for 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from; and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The joint Unified Cargo Processing Pilot Program originated in Nogales, Arizona in July, 2016 and is currently implemented at five locations across the U.S., with plans to expand elsewhere, according to Customs.
The BJP today adopted a six-point agenda, seeking to rid the country of poverty, terrorism, casteism, communalism and corruption, to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a new India by 2022, said Union minister Nitin Gadkari.

The political resolution, passed at the party's national executive meeting, also sought to dispel concerns over the state of the economy and praised measures like GST and demonetisation.

The party supported the government's stand on the Rohingya issue, saying it fulfilled its responsibilities by providing humanitarian relief to Bangladesh for Rohingya refugees while ensuring that internal security was not compromised for its 125 crore citizens.

The resolution, Gadkari told reporters, also regretted the opposition to the Modi government's move to grant constitutional status to the OBC commission and asserted that the BJP would achieve it.

It claimed the government had "delivered" on its promise on corruption and black money, adding that demonetisation, a move which invited sharp criticism from opposition, "broke the backbone of black market as well as the black money hoarders".

"The overwhelming public support for demonetisation needs to be underscored," the resolution said, adding that it paved the way for strengthening the foundations of a transparent economy.

The Central government's policies had brought rewards for honesty in public life and the government deserved rich compliments for bringing in a transparent economic system, the resolution stated, praising the roll out of the GST which led to "one nation, one tax".

The resolution also heaped praise on Modi over the government's handling of the Doklam stand-off with China and the way he has highlighted the issue of terrorism globally, isolating Pakistan and exposing terrorist organisations like Hizbul Mujahiddin.

The national executive welcomed the fruitful dialogue between between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping and referred to the success of the government's foreign policy due to which terrorism was at the forefront in the resolution passed at BRICS summit 2017.

The BJP government with its humane and sensitive diplomacy has improved and strengthened bilateral relations, it said.

Discussing the party's six-point agenda, Gadkari said, "The party has decided that working towards six goals will be its mission to help realise the prime minister's vision of a new India by 2022."



Having a clean India free of litter is one of them, he added.

Asked about concerns over the economy following the fall in GDP growth rate, Gadkari, a former BJP president and one of the government's most senior Union ministers, said some "teething problems" happen when major reforms are undertaken.

"The government is consistently resolving difficulties being faced by the people and the traders during the initial period of the implementation of this tax," the resolution said.

On the Kashmir issue, it said the government had achieved a "remarkable balancing act" by showing no mercy to terrorists while displaying a marked degree of sensitivity towards the common man being used by terrorists.

It referred to the announcement of a Rs 80,000 crore development package, two AIIMS, IIMs, IITs, five medical colleges and an engineering college for Jammu and Kashmir, which, it said, would give an impetus to the state's development.

The national executive also hailed the government for its efforts for the "upliftment" of women, enabling them to live a life of dignity.

Women-centric schemes like 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao', 'Sukanya Samaridhi Yojana' and 'Ujjwala Yojana' had directly benefited more than three crore women.

The resolution condemned violence against BJP workers and cited attacks on the party's activists in Kerala and West Bengal.

The government's initiatives for welfare of farmers and youth development for nation building found mention too.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Security forces recovered the body of another militant near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri area of Kashmir, taking the number of ultras killed in an anti- militancy operation to four, an Army official said today.

"We have recovered the body of another militant, which takes the number of militants killed in the operation to four," the Army official said.

The operation was launched yesterday and it was resumed this morning following reports that more militants were hiding in the area, the official said.

He said the area of operation was expanded to ensure that no militant get away from the security forces' cordon.

Three Pakistani militants were killed yesterday in the gunbattle with security forces in Kalgai area of Uri.

Three civilians and a soldier were injured in the operation.

Director General of Police S P Vaid had said the militants were planning a suicide attack like the one carried out on an Army base in Uri last year that left 19 soldiers dead and several others injured.

"A big tragedy has been averted. Like the suicide attack on the Army base last year, they (militants) had similar plan this time also but police and Army got information before hand," Vaid told reporters.

Meanwhile, an Army officer giving details about the operation said that all the militants were killed in the firefight yesterday.

"Specific information was received by the Army from the sources about the presence of suspected terrorists in the adjoining area of Kalgai camp late in the night of 23 September. The Army set up a cordon in the area by midnight and intercepted the terrorists while they were moving.

"On exchange of fire, the terrorists took shelter in a house where civilians were there and they took the residents hostage," Deputy Commandant of Army's 12 Infantry Brigade Harpreet Singh said.

The civilians were rescued safely, he added.

"After the daylong fire-fight, four likely foreign terrorists were eliminated and large quantity of warlike stores was recovered from them, including IEDs," Singh said.

He said theterrorists had infiltrated, well equipped with explosives, and intended to carry out a major attack on an Army camp at Kalgai.

"The alertness and resilience of Army troops who engaged and neutralised the terrorists resulted in foiling another devastating terror strike in Uri sector," he added.

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Actor Zoe Kravitz says she has had to "pull" her friend Cara Delevingne away from people on night-outs because of the model-turned-actor's fiery temper.

The "Big Little Lies" star says loves hanging out with Delevingne but admits that her temper can get them into trouble, reports Vogue magazine.

"Cara? That girl is the bomb. She's fiery, she might be more fiery than I am. I've had to pull her off people," says Kravitz.

The 28-year-old actor says she can also get a little angry, which sometimes offends fans.

"I have a fiery side. I can be confrontational. Like, it's nice to meet you but if I'm having a bad day or I'm eating a burrito on my way back from the gym and you're not aware of my space and not treating me like a real person, then, 'No, I don't want a photo with you' doesn't mean I'm an a******," she says.

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Amid raging tension on the Korean peninsula, China today asked the US and North Korea to exercise restraint and avoid provoking each other, saying it was "very concerned" over their escalating war of words.

Tensions have dramatically risen on the Korean peninsula after North Korea early this month conducted its biggest nuclear test, which its state-run KCNA agency described as a hydrogen bomb.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have traded increasingly threatening and personal insults as Pyongyang races towards its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the US.

"Indeed, the Chinese side is very concerned about the escalation of the situation in Korean peninsula," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here.

"We think the parties should refrain from escalating words and deeds to avoid adding fuel to the fire. Parties should not provoke each other, exercise restraint and do not vent their emotions but find way out for this issue," he said.

A way out can be found when the parties stop the provocative statements, he added.

He was reacting to statements by North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho at the UN that firing rockets at the US has become inevitable.

Trump responded with a warning, saying if North Korean foreign minister was echoing thoughts of his leader Kim in his speech at the UN, "they won't be around much longer."



"We think the situation remain highly complex. The pressing concern is to fully implement all the UNSC resolutions concerning Korean Peninsula including the latest one," Lu said.

His comments came as experts called on China to workout contingency plans, either on its own or with Washington and Seoul in case the crisis on the Korean peninsula escalates into a conflict.

In the eventuality of a conflict, China has to grapple with North Korea's nuclear arsenal, an influx of refugees, restoration of social order, and post-crisis political arrangements on the peninsula, according to Peking University professor Jia Qingguo.

"So far Beijing has resisted the idea for fear of upsetting and alienating Pyongyang. But, given recent developments, Beijing may have no better choice than to start talking with Washington and Seoul. When war becomes a real possibility, China must be prepared," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted him as saying.

He said that if the regime of Kim falls, most likely as a result of a US military strike, either China or the US should be ready to manage North Koreas nuclear facilities to prevent the spread of the weapons, he said.

China has put an immediate ban on imports of North Korean textiles and a tighter cap on oil supplies from next year as part of efforts to implement UN sanctions.

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China today said 74 countries and international organisations have signed up to join its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) indicating "positive response and wide support" from the global community.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) is the latest signatory to join the multibillion dollar BRI, the pet project of Chinese President Xi Jinping, a senior official said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and UN Secretary General Antnio Guterres had attended the signing ceremony of the agreement on BRI at New York on September 22, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told media here.

So far 74 counters and international organisations have signed the cooperation document on BRI with China, he said.

"This indicated that the BRI has won more positive response and wide support from the international community," he said.

The BRI aimed at building a vast network of infrastructure projects expanding China's expertise and capital to different parts of the world also includes USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) over which India has protested as it traversed through Pakistan- occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

India boycotted the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) organised by China in May this year to highlight its concerns over Beijing pushing projects through the the PoK.

There were also concerns of debt burden brought in by the BRI projects after Sri Lanka opted for long-term lease of its Hambantota port for USD 1.12 billion debt swap.

Earlier, China managed to include the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (the components of BRI) as development projects in a resolution related to Afghanistan passed by UN Security Council in March this year.

The report released by the UNs Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) may create "geo- political tensions" with India and "ignite" further political instability besides fuelling separatist movement in Pakistans Balochistan province.

"The BRI will serve the interests of China and the countries along its corridors more effectively if it is shaped as a collective endeavour and is well integrated into existing regional cooperation initiatives," it had said.

Lu said in the press briefing that the BRI is important platform for China to conduct cooperation with relevant countries.

"It is an open and inclusive development platform. The reason why it increased support and participation from more countries and international organisations is that during the process of building the BRI, we adhered to the idea of wide consultation, joint contributions and shared benefits," he said.

China is committed to promoting a "fair, equitable and transparent international trading" and investment rule system" with countries along the BRI, he said.

"We believe this initiative will inject new impetuous to the global and regional economies and help various countries to achieve common development and prosperity," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The first social and people-to- people dialogue between China and the United States will be held in Washington later this week, a Chinese Foreign ministry official said today.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, on September 28, will co-chair the dialogue with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told a media briefing here.

The two sides will exchange views on bilateral issues and cooperation in relevant areas, he said.

"China would like to work with the United States for a positive outcome from the dialogue," Lu said.

The meeting is one of the four high-level dialogues established during the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Florida in April.

At that meeting, the two sides agreed to establish high- level dialogue mechanisms, including the diplomatic and security dialogue, the comprehensive economic dialogue, the law enforcement and cybersecurity dialogue, and the social and people-to-people dialogue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Civil society groups, trade unions and political parties - including the AAP and Swaraj India - today joined hands against what they described as the onslaught of "right wing fascism".

The forum, calling itself a "democratic coalition to rescue democracy", has announced that it will take out a rally on October 5 in the national capital protesting issues such as the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh and lynchings in the name of cow protection.

The coming together of Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP and Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj Abhiyan assumes significance, considering their bitter parting of ways in the past, but this is not the first time that they are backing the same cause.

"Now is the time to respond. We earnestly appeal to all citizens who have shown the courage to say no to perpetrators of terror to build a broad, democratic coalition to rescue freedom and democracy from the onslaught of right wing fascism," a statement released by the forum said.

The October 5 rally will take place between Mandi House and Jantar Mantar at 1 pm, it said.

In the recent past, these parties unitedly backed the Narmada Bachao movement. AAP leader Dilip Pandey, Swaraj India's Yadav, Dalit rights activist Jignesh Mewani, CPI(ML) Red Star's K N Ramachandran, and social activist Harsh Mander made the announcement at a press conference here.

"We should stop being in denial that all this violence is happening by chance. It is taking place by design.

"Symbols of dissent are being silenced. AAP leader Ashish Khetan has received threats from Hindu extremist groups. The solution lies in struggle and we will back all such movements," Pandey said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BJP today alleged that the Amarinder Singh government's failure to implement the promised farm debt waiver has led to a "steep" rise in the number of farmer suicides in Punjab.

BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh accused the chief minister and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal of ensnaring farmers by promising loan waivers.

But the Congress reneged on its promise after people voted it to power, he said.

"Farmers are feeling cheated and there is a steep rise in the number of suicides," Chugh alleged and added the people were in no mood to forgive the Congress in the upcoming Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll.

He said the state cabinet's decision to notify the debt waiver scheme was a "farce" and the ruling party was "playing games" with farmers.

No one is going to believe them now. The Congress promised a complete loan waiver and now it talks of waiving Rs 10,000 crore of farm debt only, he claimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Uttar Pradesh government today removed three additional city magistrates and two policemen in connection with the baton-charge on students in the Banara Hindu University during a protest over an alleged eve-teasing incident.

Station Officer of Lanka Police Station Rajiv Singh has been removed and sent to police lines. Station officer of Jaitpura Police Station Sanjiv Mishra has been posted in his place, police officials said.

Also the Circle Officer of Bhelupur, Nivesh Katiyar has been removed and Circle Officer of Kotwali AyodhyaPrasad Singh posted in his place



A release from Varanasi's District Information office said three additional city magistrates, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh have also been removed.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the varsity's vice chancellor at his residence.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A BHU spokesperson had said that some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students, he said.

The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathicharge.

The police sources said some of its personnel were injured in the clashes during which the students allegedly indulged in arson.

Following the violence, the district administration has declared holidays from today till October 2 in all colleges and universities in Varanasi. The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from September 28.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), criticised the government and condemned the police action.

"I have sought a report from the divisional commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident," Adityanath said in Lucknow yesterday.

The baton charge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some scribes staging a sit-in near the chief minister's residence. They later submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty."



Congress leaders Raj Babbar and P L Punia, along with scores of party activists, were detained yesterday when they tried to visit the BHU. They were later released.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP over the police lathicharge allegedly on woman students.

Attaching a link to a video of the students who alleged that they were beaten up by male policemen at the campus, Gandhi had tweeted, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU."



The BHU had issued a statement saying that the 'dharna' by the students just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university.

The alleged eve-teasing incident had occurred on Thursday night after which the students started the protest.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police had been sought to maintain peace in the campus.

Nearly 1,500 police personnel, includingcontingents of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), have been deployed to maintain law and order in the campus.

BHU students said that they undertook the protest near the university's main gate against rising incidents of alleged eve-teasing on the campus.

A woman student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel, triggering the dharna.

According to the complainant, the men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts.

The woman alleged that security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop them.

She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel.

The warden's response angered the students who sat on a 'dharna' at the main gate midnight Thursday.

BHU students have alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress leader and former chief minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan today said the state government should spend the entire amount earmarked for waiver of farm loans though the number of beneficiaries is expected to be lower than the earlier estimates.

The government had announced a mega agri loan waiver of Rs 34,022 crore on June 24 after a state-wide agitation by farmers earlier that month. The government had set a cap of Rs 1.50 lakh for the loan waiver.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had then said 89 lakh farmers would benefit from the scheme. However, it now appears only around 58 lakh farmers have applied for loan waiver.

Chavan said the original loan waiver amount should not be trimmed and suggested the entire sum be used to write off debts of agriculturists.

"I demand the Rs 34,000-crore figure be maintained and 58 lakh farmers be given benefit without any limit (on loans taken by them)," the Congress leader said.

Chavan was speaking to the media during his visit to the city.

He said since the BJP-led government has set aside a particular amount for implementing the scheme, it should stick to that figure though the number of applicants has come down.

"I will strongly protest if the government reduces the waiver amount and tries to save money. They made a provision for Rs 34,000 crore and advertised it throughout the country.

"Now they should make good on their promise and spend the entire amount to waive loans of farmers," the former Union minister said.

To a question, Chavan said the Fadnavis government is shielding ministers Prakash Mehta and Subhash Desai who, he maintained, are facing "very serious" corruption charges.

These ministers should be removed from their posts and an inquiry under a retire High Court judge be initiated against them, the former CM demanded.

"We demand a judicial inquiry (commission) be set up to probe charges against the ministers and also (IAS officer Radheshyam) Mopalwar," Chavan said.

In early August, Mopalwar was removed as managing director of the state government undertaking MSRDC after surfacing of audio clips in which he was purportedly heard fixing a deal for a plot of land in Mumbai.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today accused the security forces in Myanmar of waging a "Buddhist terror" against the Rohingya Muslim minority in the country, hundreds of thousands of whom have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Erdogan, who has repeatedly highlighted the plight of the Rohingya, again accused the Yangon government of carrying out a "genocide" against the people in Rakhine state.

In a speech in Istanbul, Erdogan lamented the failure of the international community to lay sanctions against the Myanmar government over its campaign.

"There is a very clear genocide over there," Erdogan said.

Erdogan, who has held talks by phone with Myanmar's key leader the Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung Sang Suu Kyi, added: "Buddhists always get represented as envoys of goodwill."



"At the moment, there is a clear Buddhist terror in Myanmar... I don't know how you can gloss over this with yoga, schmoga. This is a fact here. And all humanity needs to know this."



More than 430,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled across the border to Bangladesh from a military campaign which the UN says likely amounts to ethnic cleansing of the stateless minority.

Before the most recent surge of violence, there were over one million Rohingyas in Myanmar's restive Rakhine state in the west of the overwhelmingly Buddhist country.

Erdogan, himself a pious Muslim, takes a sharp interest in the fate of Muslim communities across the world and notably sees himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause.

Returning for a key personal theme, he lambasted the international community for being quick to denounce "Islamic terror" but not "Christian terror", "Jewish terror" or "Buddhist terror".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today that Ankara would close its border with Iraq's Kurdistan region over an independence referendum and threatened the Iraqi Kurds with blocking their key oil exports.

Despite enjoying strong ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Turkey fears today's vote could stoke separatist aspirations among its own Kurdish minority. Erdogan also hinted the Turkish military were ready to act if needed.

"Entrance-exit will be closed" at the Habur border crossing, Turkey's sole land border crossing with Iraq, Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.

He said there were currently crossings allowed to the Iraqi side only but travel would be closed in both directions this week.

He added: "After this let's see through which channels they will send their oil through... and who they will sell to. The valve is with us. It's finished the moment we close it."



Iraqi Kurdish oil is exported through Turkey and its southern Ceyhan port, a key economic lifeline for the region.

Erdogan said "irrespective of the result, we see this (referendum) as null and void and say it is illegitimate".

Erdogan said Turkey was ready to take "all the steps" needed "on political, economic, trade and security fronts" and appeared not to rule out military action.

Last week the Turkish armed forces began a military drill in the region around the border town of Silopi including 100 military vehicles, which continued with reinforcements this weekend.

"The armed forces did not take necessary steps in Silopi for no reason. There is no compromise," Erdogan promised.

Erdogan warned the KRG of a cross-border operation by the Turkish army similar to that taken in northern Syria last year against the Islamic State group and Kurdish militants.

Dubbed Euphrates Shield, Ankara supported Syrian opposition fighters in northern Syria clear territory from IS and stop Syrian Kurdish militia from joining up their northern cantons. The operation -- begun in August -- was completed in March.

Turkey views the YPG and the PYD as "terror groups" linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a separatist insurgency inside Turkey since 1984 and has its rear bases in northern Iraq.

"The northern Iraqi administration must take a step backwards. We will absolutely not allow a federal state. In the same way, we will not allow a terror state formed in Syria," said Erdogan.

Recalling the lighting offensive that kicked off Euphrates Shield, he added: "As I said, we can come unexpectedly in the night."



"We did this with Euphrates Shield. All the options are on the table right now," Erdogan said, adding: "In Iraq, when necessary, we will not shy away from taking these types of steps.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An FIR has been registered against over 1,000 students in connection with the violence in the Banaras Hindu University here and also against policemen involved in the baton-charge on protestors.

Seperate FIRs have been registered at the Lanka Police Station in connection with the violence on the campus, the police said today.

Besides the students, an FIR has been filed against unidentified policemen involved in the baton-charge.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the varsity's vice chancellor at his residence.

The baton-charge on protesting students today triggered protests in the city with Samajwadi Party workers holding a dharna.

Over 200 Samajwadi Party activists were detained while they were going to meet the injured students as well as protestesting students



Samajwadi Party's state spokesperson Manoj Rai Dhoopchandi said a special commitee comprising senior party leaders was heading to BHU to meet the injured students and also enquire about the incident from protesting students when the police detained them.

"Unfortunately, the police stopped us from going to BHU, so we sat on dharna at the Singhdwar (in front of BHU main gate)," the SP leader said.

Policedispersedthe SP workers staging dharnaand detained over 100 SP workers and sent them to police lines.

The SP leaders raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Also social activist Teesta Setalvad was detained by police when she arrived in the city to attend a program.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three former presidents of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students' union have demanded a visitorial inquiry into the incident of police lathicharge on students and the restoration of the union.

The President of India is the Visitor of all the central universities.

Supporting the "democratic and peaceful movement" of the students, Anand Kumar, Mohan Prakash and Anand Pradhan, the three former students' union leaders, expressed a "serious concern" over the assault on the protesters.

Senior Congress leader Karan Singh, who was a BHU chancellor in the past, also issued a statement terming the police lathicharge on students as "most deplorable" and demanded that the vice-chancellor ordered an enquiry to ascertain the causes which led to the situation, so that remedial steps were taken "without delay".

Meanwhile, the BHU alumni have decided to hold a candlelight vigil at Jantar Mantar here from 4.30 pm tomorrow.

"It is our duty as concerned citizens and proud alumni to respond to the recent events on the campus. It is our way of saying, 'We are with you'," it said in a statement.

The police action took place on Saturday night after the students, agitating against an alleged eve-teasing incident, wanted to meet the vice chancellor at his residence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Foreign investors will require prior approval from the Reserve Bank for purchasing stocks of JSW Holdings Ltd as the permitted limit for them under the rules has reached a trigger point.

The foreign shareholding through Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs)/Foreign Portfolios Investors (FPIs) in JSW Holdings Ltd has reached the trigger limit, RBI said.

"Hence further purchases of equity shares of this company would be allowed only after obtaining prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India," it said in a notification.

Foreign portfolio investors held 17.50 per cent in the company as on June 30, 2017, according to data on BSE.

FIIs, NRIs and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origins) can invest in primary and secondary capital markets in India through PIS.

RBI monitors ceilings on FII/NRI/PIO investments in Indian companies on a daily basis. It has fixed the cut-off points two percentage points lower than the actual ceiling.

Stock of JSW Holdings closed 1.88 per cent down at Rs 1,870.50 on BSE today.

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Union minister Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate highway projects worth Rs 1,928.46 crore in Andhra Pradesh on October 3, the road, highways and transport ministry said today.

Gadkari will also lay foundation stone of highway projects involving investment of around Rs 2,540 crore in the state, the ministry said in a release.

The minister will also lay the foundation stone for the development of Muktyala to Vijaywada stretch of Krishna River (National Waterways - 4), it said.

The release said about 415 km of National Highways would be inaugurated by the minister while he will lay the foundation for another 250 km NH.

The projects include rehabilitation and upgradation of existing National Highways, besides construction of a 4-lane bypass to Vijayanagaram Town on NH 43 (New NH 26).

It said as per the agreement with Andhra Pradesh government National Waterways No 4 in Andhra Pradesh is proposed to be developed in three phases - Muktyala to Vijayawada (Krishna River) (82 Km), Vijayawada to Kakinada (Eluru canal & Kakinada canal) and Rajahmundry to Polavaram stretch of Godavari (233 Km) and Commamur Canal, Buckingham canal and balance stretches of Krishna & Godavari Rivers (573km).

Gadkari will lay the foundation stone for Phase- I on October 3.

Work on this phase, that is development of the 82 km from Muktiyala to Vijayawada stretch has already commenced.

The government said dredging began in the shallow areas in May this year, and the work is expected to be complete by June, 2019.

The project is aimed at providing an efficient logistics solution to boost the economic growth of the region and facilitate the development of the capital city Amravati during its early development stage as substantial construction material is expected to be transported on this stretch of NW- 4.

A proposal for Phase-II has been recommended by IWAI board for the Cabinet.

Also, a proposal for formation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for implementation of the project is under consideration for the approval of Cabinet. The SPV is expected to be formed by November 2017.

National Waterway No 4 was declared in November, 2008 for a total length of 1078 km. This length was extended to 2890 km by NW Act-2016. NW 4 comprising stretches of River Godavari, River Krishna, Kakinada Canal, Eluru Canal, Commamur Canal, North Buckingham Canal, South Buckingham Canal and kulaluvelly Tank.

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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today offered prayers at the Dwarkadhish temple before starting his three-day campaign in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat where the Assembly polls are due later this year.

After his arrival at the Mithapur airstrip near here, Gandhi went straight to the famous Dwarkadhish temple to offer prayers. He was accompanied by Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki and state party in-charge Ashok Gehlot.

The Patel quota agitation leader, Hardik Patel, welcomed Rahul Gandhi to Gujarat with a tweet.

"Congress ke rashtriya upadhyaksh Rahulji ka Gujarat mae hardik swagat hai..Jay Shri Krishna (a warm welcome to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat...)," Hardik tweeted.

Gandhi will later visit some of the villages near Dwarka before reaching Hanjrapar, where he is scheduled to lead a rally on a bullock cart.

After the rally, Gandhi would interact with villagers through the platform of 'gram sabha'. Several wooden cots have been arranged at Hanjrapar, so that Gandhi and other leaders can have a dialogue with villagers, a release issued by the Gujarat Congress said.

On his way from Dwarka to Jamnagar city during the day, Gandhi will address the public at different locations and interact with locals, farmers and fishermen.

In Jamnagar, Gandhi is also scheduled to hold a meeting with traders and business community, the release said.

Tomorrow, Gandhi will cover towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot. He is also scheduled to meet local milk producers as well as cooperative leaders.

He will interact with traders and businessmen at Hemu Gandhvi hall in Rajkot tomorrow evening.

On September 27, he will cover Chotila, Jasdan, Virpur, Jetpur and other towns before concluding his campaign at Khodal Dham at Kagvad village.

Party sources said Gandhi is expected to campaign in north, central and south Gujarat at later dates as part of the party's poll campaign ahead of the assembly elections slated to be held later this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A special court today rejected the CBI's plea to interrogate retired Chhattisgarh High Court judge Ishrat Masroor Quddusi and two others in custody for three more days in an alleged medical college corruption case.

Special Judge Manoj Jain sent Quddusi, B P Yadav, a medical college chairman, and Biswanath Agrawala, an alleged middleman, to 14-day judicial remand.

Three others who were sent to jail after their custody was not sought by the probe agency were B P Yadav's son Palash Yadav of Prasad Institute of Medical Science in Lucknow, alleged hawala operator Ramdev Saraswat and one Bhawna Pandey.

During the proceedings in a packed court room, the CBI sought the custody of Quddusi, B P Yadav and Agrawala alleging they were not cooperating in the probe and had to be quizzed regarding similar cases involving the 46 medical colleges debarred by the government from admitting students due to sub-standard facilities.

Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences is one of the 46 debarred institutes.

The probe agency alleged that Quddusi had obtained an instalment of gratification from B P Yadav and it needed to investigate how it was paid.

Opposing the CBI plea, advocate Vijay Aggarwal, appearing for Quddusi and Saraswat, argued that there were illegalities in the arrest.

He argued that Quddusi, who has also served as a judge in Orissa High Court, was arrested on September 19 but was not produced in court within 24 hours of arrest.

Alleging that the CBI had falsely implicated the accused, advocate S K Sharma, counsel for B P Yadav, submitted that no new facts have emerged and no progress has been made by the agency during the 4-day custody of all the accused.

Adding to this, Aggarwal, on behalf of the former judge, said the accused was being forced to speak when he had nothing to say or reveal. "He has the right to remain silent under Article 20(3) of the Constitution," the advocate said.

Bail applications for Quddusi and Pandey were moved in the court which will be heard on September 27.

Seeking their remand, the CBI submitted that the accused were required to be interrogated in order to unearth the names of public servants involved in this case as well as in other instances of similar 45 colleges which were debarred.

In the last hearing, the CBI had alleged that Rs 1.86 crore were recovered and "a larger nexus needed to be considered as 46 colleges were debarred".

According to the CBI, the arrests were made on September 20 after a detailed search operation at eight locations, including the residence of Quddusi in Greater Kailash area of South Delhi, while searches were also carried out in Bhubaneswar and Lucknow.

It said that a case was registered against them for allegedly trying to settle an ongoing matter relating to a medical college barred from admitting new students.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala has accused the BJP-led government in Haryana of neglecting progress, development and employment opportunities in the state.

Surjewala, an MLA from Kaithal, was addressing a rally organised by party leader Randhir Khatkar in Naguran village yesterday.

The Congress national spokesperson said that Jind has been neglected of progress, development and employment opportunities under the BJP government. He urged the public to bestow in him their trust and give the Congress a chance.

Surjewala said if the Congress was voted to power, he would make sure that the district faces no discrimination in issues of development and employment generation.

He accused the state government of not fulfilling the promises it made to the farmers. He urged the local Congress leaders to cite the problems faced by the common people and expose the "anti-people" policies of the government.

Later speaking to reporters, Surjewala claimed that the state government has failed in every aspect.

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "liar", he accused the BJP of coming to power by falsely promising to abolish income tax and reduce the prices of petrol and diesel.

He called Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar a "mere puppet" and the weakest CM the state has seen.

"Under the leadership of Khattar, the development of the state has come to a standstill and law and order has gone to waste," Surjewala said.

He said that there was an atmosphere of fear in the state that is fuelled by the issue of reservation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Veteran actor Harrison Ford has said that he has resolved the issue that his character Rick Deckard from the 1982 film "Blade Runner" was an android replicant or not with its director Ridley Scott.

The 75-year-old actor, who reprises his role in the sequel to the film "Blade Runner 2049", however did not reveal the mystery, reported DigitalSpy.

"We're not (arguing over Deckard). It was resolved. I cannot tell you! Because then that question will go away and people will not have that pleasure of debating it," Ford said in an interview with Vice.

Actor Ryan Gosling plays a new Blade Runner called Officer K in the film, who tracks down Deckard after his disappearance 30 years ago.

"Blade Runner 2049", directed by Denis Villeneuve, opens on October 5 in the UK and October 6 in the US.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Madras High Court has directed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to reinstate a sub inspector, holding that his termination was "arbitrary".

Justice V Pathiban, in his recent order, set aside the January 9, 2012 termination of SI (Executive) Thiyagarajan, who contended that the action against him was "vindictive in view of him approaching the court earlier over service matters".

Allowing his plea, the judge directed the CISF to re-instate him within two weeks from the receipt of the order.

"The order of termination passed by the authority without giving any opportunity to the petitioner is, therefore, per-se unreasonable, arbitrary and the same suffers from colourable exercise of power. The termination is founded on malafide intention and cannot be sustained in law," the judge said.

Thiyagarajan had joined the CISF as constable in 1999. He had appeared in the examination for the post of sub inspector in 2010. However, he was not selected citing imposition of some penalty against him in 2005, following which he moved the court and got a favourable order.

He was appointed as sub inspector in 2011. But, he was served termination order on January 9, 2012 without mentioning any reason, following which he moved the high court.

He submitted that no reasons were spelt out for terminating his services.

The petitioner also submitted that the authorities had taken vindictive action as he had approached the court on earlier occasions.

He submitted that even if the department found him unsuitable for the post of SI, he could only be reverted to the post of constable as per CISF rules.

The CISF submitted that Thiyagarajan suffered from contumacious conduct and had not followed the orders passed by superiors on some occasions.

Such behaviour was not in consonance with the discipline expected form uniformed service personnel and therefore, his services came to be terminated.

The judge said the personnel's termination was on the basis of certain allegations and no opportunity had been afforded to the petitioner for disapproving the charges.

"It has to be seen that the authority with a malafide intention slapped the order of termination on the petitioner without spelling out any reason," the court added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Kerala High Court today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of actor Kavya Madhavan after the police gave an assurance that she will not be arrested in an abduction and sexual assault case in which her actor-husband Dileep was arrested in July this year.

Justice P Ubai also adjourned the anticipatory bail application of Malayalam actor Nadirshah, a close friend of Dileep, to October 4 for further consideration.

The court recorded the statement of the police that they have no intention to arrest Kayva.

Dileep was arrested for allegedly plotting the abduction and sexual assault of a Malayalam actress.

Kavya met Dileep for the first time in two months on September 6 when he was let out of jail to attend his father's death anniversary rites.

The Malayalam actor's wife had filed the anticipatory bail plea in the high court on September 16.

In her petition, Kavya had alleged that the officers in the probe team "made open threats of arraigning" her as an accused to "cover up lacunas in the unfounded allegations against her husband and intimidate" all persons associated with him.

Nadirshah was questioned by the police on September 17 in connection with the actress abduction case.

Last week, a magistrate court in Angamaly had rejected the bail plea of Dileep for a second time.

The high court had also rejected his bail plea twice.

Dileep has been lodged in the Aluva sub-jail after being arrested in the case on July 10.

In his bail plea, Dileep had submitted that he had completed 60 days in judicial custody and therefore, he was entitled to statutory bail.

The prosecution had opposed his bail plea on the ground that the investigation into the case was still not completed.

The Angamaly court had extended the judicial remand of Dileep till September 28.

Six persons, including key accused 'Pulsar' Suni, were arrested in connection with the incident.

The high court had dismissed Dileep's second bail petition that came up on August 29 after considering the evidence against the actor. The prosecution had submitted the evidence to the court in a sealed cover.

The police have claimed that a conspiracy to abduct and assault the actress in a moving car and film the act was hatched by Dileep.

The actress, who has worked in Tamil and Telugu films, was abducted and allegedly molested inside her car for two hours by the accused who had forced their way into the vehicle on February 17 night. They later made their escape.

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'Peepli Live' co-director Mahmood Farooqui will walk free from Tihar Jail, with the Delhi High Court today acquitting him in a rape case involving a US researcher, saying it remained doubtful whether any such incident took place.

The high court, which analysed the case, gave the film- maker the benefit of doubt and set aside the trial court order that had awarded a seven-year jail term to Farooqui after convicting him for the alleged rape of a 30-year-old American researcher at his south Delhi residence in March 2015.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar asked the Tihar jail authorities to forthwith release Farooqui, who has been in custody since August 4, 2016.

While reading out the operative portion of the verdict, the judge said "the testimony of the victim is not reliable and there are discrepancies."



In the 82-page judgement, the court said though Farooqui's mental condition of bipolar disorder may not be a ground to justify any act which is prohibited under law, it can be taken into consideration while deciding whether he had the correct cognitive perception to understand the exact import of any communication by the other person.

It, however, said since no evidence has been led on this aspect, any foray into this field would only be fraught with speculative imagination, which this court does not intend to undertake.

"But it remains in doubt as to whether such an incident, as has been narrated by the prosecutrix, took place and if at all it had taken place, it was without the consent/will of the prosecutrix and if it was without her consent, whether the appellant (Farooqui) could discern/understand the same.

"Under such circumstances, benefit of doubt is necessarily to be given to Farooqui," the court said in its judgement.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, who represented the woman, said they will appeal against the high court order acquitting Farooqui.

Farooqui had challenged his conviction and the sentence given by the trial court.

The woman's counsel had claimed on March 30, 2015 that Farooqui in his email reply to the woman, had admitted the crime and apologised to her for having committed the act without her consent and against her will.

The high court, however, brushed aside her contention and noted that "what the appellant has been communicated is, even though wrongly and mistakenly, that the prosecutrix is okay with it and has participated in the act.

"The appellant had no opportunity to know that there was an element of fear in the mind of the prosecutrix forcing her to go along."



It noted that Farooqui's wife had read the communication between her husband and the American woman and, after coming to know about the alleged incident, she had corresponded with the prosecutrix and informed her that he had been under a rehabilitation regime for his bipolar mental condition.

The prosecutrix had rubbished such an explanation by stating that the occurrence had to do more with the physical power of the appellant than the mental condition, it noted.

Bipolar disorder, one of the most severe of mental illnesses, is a brain disorder which impairs a person's mood, energy and the basic ability to function.

A trial court had on August 4 last year sent him to jail for seven years, observing that he had taken advantage of the situation when the victim was alone in his house.

The court, which on July 30, 2016 had held Farooqui guilty of raping the woman in 2015 in a drunken state, had also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him.

The police had onJune 19, 2015, lodged the FIR against Farooqui on the woman's complaint after which he was arrested.

On July 29, 2015, the police had filed its charge sheet against Farooqui alleging he had raped the research scholar from Columbia University at his Sukhdev Vihar house in South Delhi on March 28, 2015.

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Punjab and Haryana High Court today impleaded CBI as a respondent in a petition seeking bail filed by the three Ryan International Group trustees following the recent killing of a student in the group's Gurgaon school.

Justice Inderjit Singh observed that since the investigation in this case had been taken over by the CBI, therefore, this case be listed as per roster after obtaining orders from the High Court Chief Justice.

In view of the oral request of the counsel for the petitioner, Central Bureau of Investigation is impleaded as a respondent, Justice Singh said.

CBI counsel, who was present, said that he had no objection if the CBI was impleaded as a respondent.

The Haryana government had recommended a CBI probe in the student's killing earlier. The premier investigating agency took over the probe in the case on Friday.

"The case will be listed as per roster after obtaining orders from the High Court chief justice. In the High Court, there is a special bench which takes up CBI matters and the order of the single bench today is that this case be listed as per roster...The case will now be heard by a separate bench," counsel of the trustees, Arshdeep Singh Cheema, said.

He said the court today did not pass any order to provide any relief and the status quo remains for the time being.

The group's CEO Ryan Pinto and his parents Augustine Pinto, the founding chairman, and Grace Pinto, the group's managing director had approached the High Court recently, seeking anticipatory bail.

Last week, Justice A B Chaudhari had recused himself from hearing anticipatory bail plea of three trustees of Ryan International Group.

On September 14, the Bombay High Court had rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of three trustees of Ryan group in connection with the killing of the 7-year-old.

The Pintos, who are based in Mumbai, had approached the Bombay High Court as they apprehended arrest after the school faced allegations of negligence in the death of Pradhuman Thakur.

A class 2 student, Thakur, was found with his throat slit in a school washroom in Gurgaon on September 8. Schoolbus conductor Ashok was arrested in connection with the crime.

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The Delhi High Court today directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the local bodies to formulate a policy for allocating land for the work of artisans who come here to make and sell their wares like idols during festivals.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said the authorities, while coming out with such a plan, will also have to consider providing temporary housing and sanitary facilities to these workers.

It directed the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development department of the Delhi government to hold a meeting with senior officials of municipal bodies to come up with a scheme.

The court further said the deliberations of the meeting should be placed before it on the next date of hearing on December 5.

The bench also directed the payment of Rs 2,500 as token damages to eight artisans who had suffered loss due to the SDMC's alleged act of demolishing and confiscating some of the effigies of Ravana and others which are set ablaze as part of the Dussehra celebrations.

The corporation had also allegedly demolished the temporary shelters set up by the workers.

The affected artisans were identified by advocate Ashok Agarwal who was appointed as a local commissioner by the court to visit the Titarpur area in west Delhi, where the craftsmen were working and to assess the losses suffered by them.

The order came on a PIL initiated by the court on its own after it came across a report saying that several Ravana effigies, built by artisans who came here from Rajasthan for Dussehra, were destroyed or confiscated by the south Delhi municipal corporation (SDMC) for allegedly encroaching on public land.

The bench on the last date of hearing had observed that while the authorities permit construction of unauthorised buildings by the "rich", they remove the "poor" by calling them encroachers.

It had said that the authorities should have anticipated that the artisans would come here during Dussehra to make effigies and ought to have made appropriate arrangements for them to work and stay.

Defending its action taken between September 15 and 18, the SDMC had claimed that it had received a letter from the Delhi Metro that the artisans had taken over land and were blocking the main road in the Titarpur area.

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India and the US have a "historic" opportunity to set a refreshed partnership built on shared values of democracy, freedom of expression and human dignity, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said as he embarked on his visit to New Delhi.

Mattis, the first Cabinet Minister of the Trump Administration to visit India from tomorrow, said that for America India was clearly a pillar of regional stability and security.

"We have a historic opportunity to set a refreshed partnership between our nations, and it's a partnership built on respect, trust and the shared values of democracy, freedom of expression and human dignity. And our vision aims to support an open, just and rules-based global order," Mattis told reporters travelling with him to India.

He said he will discuss the joint efforts to advance common goals through a broader strategic exchange of views during his visit from September 26-27.

"Basically putting meat on the structure, not only in terms of US-India partnership, but how the United States and India can work together to build partnerships across the region," he said.

"India, from our perspective, is clearly a pillar of regional stability and security. We share a common vision for a peaceful and prosperous vision in the Indo-Pacific region, one that's based on that strong, rules-based international order, and the peaceful resolution of disputes and territorial integrity," he said.

Mattis said the two countries shared vision of partnership was neither based on narrow interests nor to the exclusion of any other nation.

"In particular, I want to applaud India's invaluable contributions, significant contributions, to promote Afghanistan's democracy, stability and security in the fight against terrorism. Plus, we have a host of other issues to work with more vigour as well, as we look toward the future," he said.

During his India visit, Mattis will lay a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and inspect tri-service guard of honour at the South Block lawns. He will also hold talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

"I will meet with Minister Sitharaman for the first time," he said.

Noting that the US-India defence cooperation has steadily expanded in recent years, underpinned by their common objectives and goals in the region, Mattis said this relation will benefit both economies while reducing any legacy and trust issues.

He said the Department of Defence's designation of India as a major defence partner reflected the progress made in strengthening the two countries' security cooperation.

Mattis said the goal of his trip was to promote pragmatic progress between the two countries' defence partnership, delivering defence interoperability aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump's direction as security is on of the key strategic pillars.

"We will continue this discussion in the future with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Modi, a discussion that will continue to broaden and deepen in the months ahead, when Secretary Tillerson and I meet together with our counterparts. Steady engagement will be our watchwords for the path ahead," he said.

"We will be working on this trip and in the future to bring our bureaucracies up to speed by underlining our commonalities in our approaches and our objectives," he said.

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Pakistan's Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said today that "hostile agencies" were trying to destabilise his country.

General Bajwa made his remarks while visiting the family of 22-year-old Lieutenant Arsalan Alam who was killed when militant fired at his post from across the border in Afghanistan on Saturday.

"Hostile agencies from abroad are trying to destabilise our country," Bajwa said, but stopped short of naming any country.

"They (hostile agencies) fear the Army for being a hurdle to achieving their nefarious designs," Bajwa said.

This terminology was traditionally used for India but now Afghanistan's intelligence agencies are also branded as hostile.

Bajwa said the armed forces would continue to perform in Pakistan's best interests and would restore peace and rule of law in the country.

He said the Army will continue to work for defeating militants.

"Pakistan's enemy is our enemy. Use of force is the prerogative of the state alone," he said.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense for months, with the two sides accusing each other of turning a "blind eye" towards certain militant outfits.

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The Haryana government has decided to take the help of drones to monitor and put an end to all illegal constructions in the urban areas, and their peripheries.

In the first phase to be launched on pilot project basis, monitoring would be done through drones in Karnal, and through satellite imaging in Gurgaon and Faridabad, Urban Local Bodies minister Kavita Jain said here today.

Based on the results, it would be made mandatory in urban areas throughout the state, she said.

The Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC) has been made nodal agency for conducting the monitoring survey and gathering data, and submit a special report to the departments concerned to take further action.

In Gurgaon, the data on unauthorised constructions would be gathered by the GIS Lab established by the HARSAC, she said in an official release.

The entire monitoring process of unauthorised constructions in Gurgaon and Faridabad would be carried out by the Science and Technology Department whereas the Urban Local Bodies Department would do it in Karnal.

Jain said a coordination committee had been constituted under the chairmanship of the chief secretary which would meet every 15 days.

It would take prompt action on any information pertaining to unauthorised constructions and also ensure their demolition, Singh added.

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Veteran actor Ian McDiarmid said he does not want the makers to rope in anyone else to play Emperor Palpatine in the "Star Wars" franchise.

The 73-year-old actor is known for playing the villainous role in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi", as well as an earlier version of the character in the three prequel movies, reported BBC.

Even though Emperor Palpatine is dead in the timeline of the new trilogy, Ian noted that the character is referenced in the spin-off movie "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", and he hopes the film bosses are keeping him as a "surprise", rather than hiring another actor to take over the role.

"I suppose there must be a chance but I think you'd find out about it more quickly than I would. As far as the new films are concerned, I'm dead. There is no question about that.

"But there is what they call the anthology series and actually the most recent one, 'Rogue One', was about the time when I was in charge. I was referred to a few times, Darth Vader popped up, but you did not see me. Maybe they are keeping me as a surprise for later but I have no idea. Of course, I don't want anyone else to play him," McDiarmid said.

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A suspected gunrunner was arrested here with four firearms procured from Siwan in Bihar, police said today.

Police had set up a special team to look into the illegal trade of firearms in outer Delhi after it came to their notice that weapons were being procured from UP and Bihar and were being sold to criminals in the national capital.

Khajanchi Singh (50) is an illegal arms dealer. He was arrested on September 21 from Prem Nagar here, Joy Tirkey, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said



Two 7.65 bore pistols, three magazines, ten 7.65 bore rounds, two .315 bore country-made pistols, four .315 bore rounds and ten 12 bore rounds were seized from him, he added.

During questioning, Singh told the police he had procured the weapons from Siwan in Bihar in January.

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Congress vice-president on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over note ban, GST and the 'Gujarat model' of development as he started a three-day tour of the poll-bound state where his party has been out of power for over two decades.

The 47-year-old Congress leader, who started the day by offering prayers at the famous Dwarkadhish Temple here, interacted with people during a roadshow.

He also had a bullock cart ride on the Dwarka-Jamnagar route in Saurashtra where he was welcomed at several places.

Gandhi was greeted by Hardik Patel, quota stir spearhead and a bitter critic of the BJP dispensation in the state. Hardik welcomed Gandhi to Gujarat, the home state of Modi, through a tweet this morning.

"Congress ke rashtriya upadhyaksh Rahulji ka Gujarat mae hardik swagat hai..Jay Shri Krishna (a warm welcome to Congress vice-president in Gujarat...)," Patel tweeted.

In his short speeches at various places, Gandhi assailed Modi over demonetisation and a host of other issues.

He highlighted the issue of unemployment under the NDA rule and promised to solve the problems being faced by Gujarat farmers if his party is voted to power in the state.

Gandhi, travelling in a specially-designed bus, sought to connect with villagers by interacting with them at regular intervals.

From Dwarka, Gandhi headed to Hanjrapar, where he was accorded a traditional welcome by villagers. He even took a bullock cart ride to show solidarity with the farming community.

At Hanjrapar, he interacted with villagers and responded to some of their questions.

Gandhi came down heavily on Gujarat's BJP government on the issue of privatisation. He alleged the government has snatched the right of affordable education and health from the poor by introducing privatisation.

"Privatisation is happening in every sector under this government, be it education or health sector. Due to this policy of the BJP government, poor people are not getting education or health services.

"The government must make sure that people are not deprived of these basic facilities," Gandhi said in his brief speech.

He promised to provide free medicines and medical treatment if the Congress is voted to power in Gujarat.

Accusing the BJP government of being "anti-farmer", Gandhi demanded that the government announce complete farm loan waiver for cultivators in Gujarat.

"If the government can waive loans given to businessmen, why not farmers? The Indian government gave away Rs 1.30 lakh crore to 15 large business houses while Rs 7 lakh crore in loans were not returned to banks. They (businessmen) will get all the benefits, while you (farmers) will be jailed for not repaying loans," said Gandhi.

The Congress MP also posed questions to the media on the issue of farm loan waiver.

"The media questions my demand for farm loan waiver, claiming it will spoil farmers. I want to ask them whether the same applies to businesses or not. How come they do not get spoilt? I firmly believe if business houses are given relief, the farmers must also get relief by way of waiver."



Before visiting Hanjrapar, Gandhi made several halts along the route, including at Bhatia village. In his address there, Gandhi slammed the Modi government for "failing" to address basic problems of people.

He said around 20,000 educated youths come out of institutes every day in search of jobs but the central government manages to give employment to only 400 of them.

"You go to any corner of this country and ask farmers whether they get proper price for their produce. All of them will promptly say, no," Gandhi said.

When the Congress vice president asked people gathered outside his bus whether farmers in Gujarat are getting remunerative prices for groundnut produced by them, they responded with a resounding "No".

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji declared demonetisation without consulting anyone. This was a massive blow to our economy.

"Farmers were badly hit, as they do not do the transaction through phone or debit card. They use cash to buy seeds or pay to farm labourers," said Gandhi.

He claimed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has broken the back of small traders and shopkeepers.

Gandhi said though the Congress told the government to keep only one tax rate under the GST, it introduced five different slabs. He claimed lakhs of businesses have been shut due to the GST.

He alleged the poor have no place in the 'Gujarat model' of development, which according to him, benefited only a handful of businessmen.

"Business houses get everything, be it water, land or electricity. But, the poor are always neglected. This is the difference between them (the BJP) and us (the Congress). I promise our government will be of the poor, farmers and the youth."



After Bhatia, Gandhi reached Nandana village, where he addressed school children.

"Our country has made huge progress in the last 70 years. When we got independence, we did not have many good schools, big universities or companies. Whatever exists today is because of the hard work of your parents as well as grandparents," he said.

Gandhi was accompanied by Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki and AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Ashok Gehlot.

Tomorrow, he will visit towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot. Gandhi is also scheduled to meet local milk producers and leaders of the cooperative movement.

Party sources said Gandhi will campaign in the north, central and south Gujarat later as part of the campaign ahead of the Assembly elections to be held later this year.
India is expected to be the seventh largest source market for visitor arrivals into Australia by 2025, a senior Tourism Australia official today said.

The country is already on the way of achieving its 2020 target of three lakh visitors from India in 2017.

"India is expected to be among top seven inbound markets for Australia by 2025. It could be the seventh largest source market for arrivals by 2025," Tourism Australia Country Head India and Gulf Nishant Kashikar told PTI.

India currently is the ninth top source market for Australia in terms of visitor arrivals, he added.

"In terms of spend, India could be the fifth top inbound markets by 2025. Currently average spend per person per visit from India is close to 5,200 Australian dollars", Kashikar said.

Average length of the stay of visitors from India is close to two months, he added.

"Leisure including visiting friends and relatives and holidays constitutes close to 68 per cent of the total arrivals from India. The other categories include people visiting the country for business, education and employment", Kashikar said.

On being asked about the initiatives, Tourism Australia is taking to promote Australia in India, Kashikar said as air connectivity is a major game changer as far as tourism is concerned they are in talks with various airlines including Air India, Jet Airways and Qantas Airways for increased connectivity.

The other initiatives include "the focus on content both on the traditional mediums and on the digital medium. We are also engaging with travel trade partners including around 3,500 Aussie specialist travel agents", he added.

Online submission of visa applications for Indian passport holders is another very important step that has been recently taken, Kashikar said.

Tourism Australia is the Australian government agency responsible for attracting international visitors to Australia, both for leisure and business events.

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India today raised the issue of market access and regulatory barriers that its companies are facing in Indonesia in sectors such as pharma, dairy and bovine meat, the commerce ministry said today.

The issues were discussed during a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and his Indonesian counterpart Enggartiasto Lukita here.

The ministry in a statement said that the Indonesian side has agreed to conduct inspection visits for registering dairy products, fresh food of plant origin and meat processing facilities.

"The issue of market access to automotive and auto components manufactured in India was raised, along with the greater investment opportunities for joint ventures, textile machinery manufacturing, textile parks and Special Economic Zones," it said.

It added that the ministers agreed to deepen economic cooperation by having greater cooperation of stakeholders, including government, business and entrepreneurs.

Both the ministers "agreed to hold a meeting of regulators to resolve issues concerning the pharma and health sectors, it said.

Further the ministers agreed for convening early meeting of the working groups on trade and investment; and trade facilitation and remedies to address the issues impeding trade.

"These working groups will also look into facilitation of services and areas of mutual interest between both the countries," it said.

"We agreed to promote business on both sides which will benefit our citizens. We also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation," Prabhu said in a tweet.

Talking to reporters, he said both the sides agreed to work together to promote business, exports and imports.

"We have already identified areas where there are certain issues ... so we have decided to set up working groups to address those issues immediately," he said.

Lukita said that he had a frank and open meeting with the Indian trade minister.

He said that working groups can discuss issues over video calls. If there is anything to resolve at minister's level, "we can call each other also," he added.

The bilateral trade between the countries increased to USD 16.92 billion in 2016-17 from USD 15.95 billion in the previous fiscal. The trade is highly in the favour of Indonesia.

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With an aim to accelerate Japanese investments in India, the Centre would ask states to strengthen single window clearance system for fast-tracking approval processes, the DIPP said today.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) also said that the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will pursue collaboration with states to deepen partnership.

These are part of the several steps being jointly identified by the DIPP and METI to accelerate Japanese investments in India.

The other focus areas include creation of enabling environment for Japanese investments in collaboration with central ministries and states as well as JETRO.

"The state governments have informed that they will provide incentives for Japanese Industrial Townships as per their industrial policies," according to Japan-India Roadmap for Investment Promotion.

This road map was signed between DIPP and METI on September 14 in Gandhinagar.

On human resource development, Indian students' internship to Japan will be expanded and promoted. Japanese language certificate courses will be set up at 100 higher educational institutions in India.

"The Indian state governments will be requested to further strengthen single window clearance systems for fast- tracking various permission and approval processes for facilitating increased investment in India," it added.

Further Japanese investments may be invited to four industrial cities of DMIC.

It added that Embassy of India in Japan along with JETRO will conduct outreach programmes for promoting Japanese companies' investments in India.

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The government has initiated an anti-dumping probe on imports of straight length bars and rods of alloy steel from China following complaints from the domestic industry.

Six domestic companies, including JSW Steel, Sunflag Iron and Steel, Usha Martin and Gerdau Steel India, had submitted an application with the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) for initiation of anti-dumping investigation and imposition of the duty on these steel items exported from China.

The DGAD, under the commerce ministry, said it has prima facie found "sufficient evidence" of dumping of these products from China.

"The authority hereby initiates an investigation into the alleged dumping, and consequent injury to the domestic industry," the DGAD has said in a notification.

In its probe, the directorate will determine existence, degree and effect of alleged dumping and recommend the amount of anti-dumping duty, which if levied would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.

These steel products are used in several sectors, including automobiles, cement, power plants, turbines, ship- building, railways, capital goods, and construction machinery.

The period of investigation for the present investigation is 2016-17. However, for the purpose of injury investigation, the period will also cover data of 2013-16, it added.

While the DGAD recommends the duty, the finance ministry imposes the same.

Anti-dumping duties are levied to provide a level-playing field to the local industry by guarding against cheap below- cost imports.

Increasing imports and dumping of goods from China have always been an area of concern for Indian companies.

India's exports to China were only USD 10.17 billion in 2016-17, but imports aggregated USD 61.28 billion during that fiscal.

The DGAD is also probing dumping of several other products such as certain chemicals from the neighbouring country.

India is one of the most attractive markets for global producers due to its large middle class population.

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An Indian-American couple here donated USD 250,000 to the Houston mayor's fund for Harvey relief, set up in the aftermath of the tropical storm that wreaked havoc in the US state of Texas early this month.

Houston residents Amit Bhandari and his wife Arpita Brahmbhatt Bhandari donated the amount to Mayor Sylvester Turner, on behalf of the Greater Houston Community Foundation for #HurricaneHarvey relief at a private event yesterday.

Bhandari is the owner and CEO of the BioUrja Group, an energy and agricultural commodity trading company based out of Houston with offices around the world.

The Indian-American community has united in its fund raising efforts to carryout relief and rehabilitation after the catastrophic damage caused by hurricane Harvey.

In a four-day period, many areas received more than 40 inches (100 cm) of rain as the system meandered over eastern Texas and adjacent waters, causing catastrophic flooding. With peak accumulations of 64.58 in (164.0 cm), Harvey is the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the United States. The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, displaced more than 30,000 people, and prompted more than 17,000 rescues and killed over 70.

Leading members of the community congregated at the event to thank the Bhandaris and pledge more funds. The community is well on its way to raising USD 1 million for the governors and the mayor's funds.

At the privately held event yesterday, Turner appreciated the Indian-Americans for their generosity and voluntary aid toward Hurricane Harvey relief.

"The contributions of the Indian-American community did not just start with Hurricane Harvey. They have been contributing to this city for a long, long time. The Indian community is vital to the city and helps make Houston the great city that it is," he said.

"I want to thank the Indian-Americans for what you have done prior to Hurricane Harvey. I want to thank you for what you are doing now, and I want thank you for what you will be doing to help rebuild this great city. We will rebuild, we will be stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for next time around," the mayor added.

Bhandari said volunteers from the community helped rescue 700 people through various means.

The community in Houston has also contributed USD 1.5 million to various charitable organisations associated with Hurricane Harvey relief, he said.

Consul General of India in Houston Dr. Anupam Ray also thanked the Indian-American community for their efforts.

"Your generosity makes India proud. A community is great if it rises above its suffering. Through your contributions toward Hurricane Harvey relief, you've demonstrated that as a community, you've risen above your sufferings." he said.

Another presentation made to Mayor Turner was a newly developed mobile app titled 'DisasterConnect' which will help victims and donors make direct contact with each other to streamline relief efforts. The app was created under the direction of Gaurav Khandelwal, CEO of ChaiOne, a Houston- based developer of mobile apps.

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US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis today said the strengthening of strategic relationship with India is not at the expense of others as he praised New Delhi for supporting the fight against terrorists in Afghanistan.

"The relationship that we are building with India is not to the exclusion of other countries," Mattis told reporters.

"It is specifically designed for inclusion using a rules- based order that any nation that is living by the traditional rules of non-interference in other states in today's age of anti-terrorism, they will not find this relationship in any way adversarial," Mattis said in response to question.

India, he said, has been a constant supporter of the fight against terrorists in Afghanistan.

He lauded India for contributing tens of thousands of dollars for building infrastructure in Afghanistan and training Afghan officers.

"They've been a great asset, and we would see them continuing along the lines they have already chosen, and looking for any other areas that they may believe appropriate to the relationship with Afghanistan," he added.

In the security sphere, India has been providing training to the Afghan security forces.

"It's building the underpinnings of the government that actually builds the affection and respect of the people of Afghanistan to a government that delivers. It's absolutely critical to security that the people of Afghanistan feel hope for the future. No nation has probably contributed more bilaterally than India in building that hope," he said.

During his India visit from September 26-27, the defence secretary will hold talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Responding to a question on Pakistan, Mattis said it has come out recently again saying that they are fighting the terrorists. "I think Pakistan will find nothing out of line with India and the US alignment in the same fight," he said.

Mattis said the new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy started from a regional point of view. "We did not start it with Afghanistan and work out. We actually started with South Asia, as a region, and worked to refine how we would deal with the terrorists problem in Afghanistan," he explained.

"So, the message would be that we continue to work the regional aspect as we come up with a mutual, wide-ranging counter-terrorism campaign, because terrorism is a bane to any country out here, and a lot of countries have paid a stiff price to the terrorists," he said.

"So, that is the message, one of inclusion, not one of exclusion, of rules-based order, of a broad mutual cooperation against terrorists, and certainly of strategic convergence right now with India, between India and the United States," the top American defense official said.

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An Indonesian extremist who carried out a deadly attack on a church with a group of militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group was jailed for life today.

Juhanda, who like many Indonesians goes only by one name, was found guilty of an act of terrorism that killed a toddler and hurt three other small children on Borneo island last November.

"The defendant has been proven guilty of committing a terrorism act," Judge Surung Simanjuntak, from the East Jakarta Court, said.

Prosecutors said Juhanda travelled to the Protestant church in the city of Samarinda by motorbike, intending to carry out the attack.

But instead he fell from the bike and detonated a Molotov cocktail in front of the church where the youngsters, aged between two and four, had been playing.

Two-year-old Intan Olivia Marbun was killed in the blast.

Juhanda was arrested along with four others, with all five accused of belonging to the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah group (JAD), a local militant outfit that supports IS.

One of his co-conspirators, Joko Sugito, was jailed on Monday for seven years for his part in the attack.

The three other defendants involved in the case have received sentences ranging from six years to six years and eight months in prison.

Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, has long struggled with Islamic militancy and has suffered a string of extremist attacks.

In 2002, a bomb in Bali exploded killing 202 people and, more recently, a suicide bombing and gun attack claimed by IS in the capital Jakarta killed eight people in January 2016.

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Haryana's main opposition party, the INLD, today upped the ante on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal issue, saying it will fight a "decisive battle" if the Union government fails to take up its construction soon.

Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leaders raised the issues delaying the linking of the two rivers through the canal and focused on the distressed farm sector at a rally to mark the 104th anniversary of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal.

Ajay Chautala, who is serving a 10-year term in the teachers' recruitment scam case and currently out of Tihar Jail on a parole, addressed the 'Samman Divas Sammaroh' rally.

He was attending the annual rally after five years.

His brother and opposition leader in Haryana assembly, Abhay Chautala, said the Supreme Court made it clear that the canal has to be built and Punjab "must give the due share of water to Haryana," yet the construction has not begun.

"If the Centre fails to take up its construction soon, we will launch a decisive battle and a massive stir," he said.

He said the agitation this time would be like 'Nyaya Yudh', a protest launched in 1987 to seek justice for Haryana.

He attacked the BJP government in Haryana for failing to exert pressure on the Centre to take up the canal issues, saying the party made tall promises before the state polls, but it failed to fulfil them.

Abhay Chautala also hit out at the stat government for allegedly failing to tackle the matters related to the Dera Sacha Sauda and its head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Ajay Chautala said farmers, traders and students, "every section is fed up and has lost hope" in the state government.

"During past three years, hollow slogans and false promises were made and attempts were made to play with people's sentiments," he said.

Dushyant Chautala, MP from Hisar, and INLD's state unit chief Ashok Arora also attended the rally, apart from JD(U) leader K C Tyagi.

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Iraqi Kurds started voting in an independence referendum today in defiance of Baghdad which has warned of "measures" to defend Iraq's unity and threatened to deprive their region of lifeline oil revenues.

The non-binding vote on the Kurds' long-cherished dream of independence, initiated by veteran leader Massud Barzani, has angered not only the federal government but also neighbouring Turkey and Iran, concerned it could stoke separatist aspirations among their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.

Polling stations are scattered across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan -- Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk -- as well as in disputed bordering zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

In Sulaimaniyah, second city of the autonomous region, 40-year-old Diyar Omar came to cast his vote wearing traditional Kurdish clothes.

"We will seize our independence through the polls. I'm delighted to be the first voter," he said as he arrived at a polling station in the city.

"I'm so happy I could take part in this independence vote during my lifetime," he added.

Outside a polling station in regional capital Arbil, voters formed a long queue from early morning, most dressed in traditional clothes for the occasion.

"I came very early to be the first to vote for a Kurdish state," Diyar Abubakr, 33, said.

"It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion," he said.

One voter even brought a cow to slaughter before the start of the referendum.

"I brought this cow as today the state is born and it's tradition to slaughter a cow for a birth," Dalgash Abdallah, 27, said.

A total of 12,072 polling stations for the more than 5.3 million registered voters are to stay open for 12 hours.

Barzani, smiling and wearing a traditional outfit, cast his vote early in the morning, Kurdish agency Rudaw said.

In disputed Kirkuk, mosque loudspeakers blared out calls for residents to take part in the vote.

Initial results are expected to be announced 24 hours after the vote but an overwhelming "Yes" outcome is not in doubt, with Kurdish flags festooned in all the streets, on cars and outside homes across Iraqi Kurdistan.

As Barzani pledged yesterday to go ahead with the historic referendum after having resisted a barrage of international pressure to call it off, Iraq's leader pledged to take all the "necessary measures" to protect the country's unity and his government targeted the Kurds' oil sales.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that taking the Kurds' unilateral decision to stage a referendum affected both Iraqi and regional security, and was "unconstitutional and against civil peace".

"We will take the necessary measures to preserve the unity of the country," he said, without elaborating.

Hours later, the Iraqi government at a meeting of its security cabinet called on all countries "to deal only with it on matters of oil and borders".

The Iraqi Kurds export an average 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

Tehran also upped the pressure yesterday, saying it had blocked all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan at Baghdad's request.

Washington and many Western states had opposed the vote, saying it would hamper the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group in which cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurds has been key.

But Barzani said the Kurds' "partnership with Baghdad" since the ousted of dictator Saddam Hussein in the 2003 US-led invasion had failed and urged his people to turn out and vote.

"We expect reactions from one side or another but we are convinced that whatever the risk and the price, it's better than waiting for a dark outcome," he said.

"The referendum is not for defining borders or imposing a fait accompli. We want a dialogue with Baghdad to resolve the problems, and the dialogue can last one or two years," Barzani said of zones such as Kirkuk.

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A Singaporean member of the dreaded ISIS group has challenged Britain's Prince Harry to fight the jihadists and threatened to send him to "hellfire".

The man identifying himself as Abu Uqayl, appeared in a three-and-a-half minute video in which he encourages would-be terrorists to fight for ISIS in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

"To Harry, you come to Singapore and tell such stories to gain sympathy for the London terror attacks. Why don't you come here and fight us if you're man enough, so that we can send you and your Apaches (helicopters) to hellfire," says Uqayl in the video.

The reference is to the fact that the 33-year-old prince flew Apache attack helicopters in Afghanistan when he served as a soldier in the British Army in the past.

The fifth in line to the British throne had visited Singapore soon after an ISIS-claimed terror attack in London in June during which three knifemen had used a van to ram pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing people in restaurants and pubs around Borough Market area of London.

In his speech, Harry had made a reference to the attack, which had claimed eight lives and injured 48 others.

Singaporean authorities have identified the man in the video as 39-year-old Megat Shahdan bin Abdul Samad, who left the city-state to work in the Middle East in 2014.

"Our security agencies have been aware for some time now of the presence in Syria of a Singaporean, Megat Shahdan bin Abdul Samad, 39, and have been monitoring his activities," the country's Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

"It is believed that the person in the video calling himself 'Abu Uqayl' is Shahdan."



Prince Harry is currently in Toronto, Canada, at the Invictus Games a sporting event he founded for injured war veterans.

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A special MCOCA court ordered police protection for four witnesses in the case of killing of journalist J Dey, after one of them claimed that he was threatened by four unidentified persons at his house in the city.

Gangster Chhota Rajan is the prime accused in the 2011 killing of the scribe.

"The court (last week) ordered police protection for four witnesses," special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said today.

The prosecutor had sought police protection under section 19 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA).

The witnesses will depose before the court in due course. Over 100 witnesses, including Dey's wife, have deposed so far.

Dey, who was working with a city-based English tabloid, was shot dead in suburban Powai on June 11, 2011.

The court on August 31 last year framed charges against Rajan.

As per a supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI, Rajan allegedly had the veteran crime reporter killed because he was miffed over some articles written by him. Rajan was also allegedly angry with the scribe as he believed that Dey has portrayed him as a "chindhi" (petty) criminal in his upcoming book.

The book titled "Chindhi -- Rags to Riches" was about 20 gangsters who rose from humble origins.

Rajan was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on October 25, 2015, and deported to India.

The first charge sheet filed in 2011 had named Satish Kaliya, Abhijeet Shinde, Arun Dake, Sachin Gaikwad, Anil Waghmode, Nilesh Shendge, Mangesh Agawane, Vinod Asrani, Paulson Joseph and Deepak Sisodia (all arrested) as accused in the case.

A separate charge sheet was filed against local journalist Jigna Vora for allegedly instigating Rajan against Dey due to her professional rivalry with the slain scribe.

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Senior BJD MLA Pravat Ranjan Biswal, who was arrested by the CBI in a chit fund scam, was today shifted to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack for better treatment, officials said.

The Cuttack-Choudwar legislator was admitted at the state-run Capital Hospital on September 22, after he was arrested by the CBI for his alleged link with the multi-crore Seashore Group chit fund scam.

Biswal was shifted to SCB Medical College Hospital for better treatment on neurosurgery, Dr C R Das, director of Capital Hospital said.

He was admitted at the intensive care unit (ICU), in the Trauma Care unit of SCB Medical College Hospital, hospital sources said.

Biswal, who was taken on remand by the investigating agency on September 20, was produced before the special CBI court two days later.

Following this, the court sent Biswal to jail.

It had ordered the jail authorities to conduct a medical check up of the legislator after his lawyer Anup Senapati informed the court that his client should be shifted to a hospital, due to his post-operative illness.

The investigating agency is probing alleged payment of Rs 25 lakh by Seashore Chairman-cum-Managing Director Prasanta Kumar Dash to Biswal in two instalments as "protection money", for allowing smooth operations of the company in his constituency, CBI sources had said.

Meanwhile, Biswal today moved the Khurda District and Sessions Court seeking bail. Earlier, the Special Court, designated as CBI Court, on September 23, had rejected Biswal's bail plea.

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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati today demanded strict action against police and administration officials for lathicharging and detaining several persons in Jalaun who were protesting the alleged desecration of a statue of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

"Strict action should be initiated against officials of police and administration. They lathicharged and detained people protesting against the desecration of Dr Ambedkar's statue in Jalaun yesterday. This shows the anti-Dalit mentality of the state government," Mayawati said in a statement issued here.

Some persons had desecrated a statue of Dr Ambedkar in the night on September 23 in Kashikheda village in Jalaun. The matter came to fore yesterday morning after which people protested.

Mayawati also condemned the lathicharge on students on the BHU campus in Varanasi and demanded justice and security for them.

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Japanese Prime Minister today called a snap election, seeking a fresh term at the helm of the world's third-largest economy as tensions with nearby North Korea reach fever-pitch.

Abe hopes to capitalise on a weak and fractured opposition to sweep back into power, as polls show him regaining ground after a series of scandals.

"I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th" of September, Abe told reporters, a precursor to a general election.

The prime minister did not give a date for the election but it will reportedly be on October 22.

Surveys suggest voters approve of the hardline stance taken by the nationalist Abe on North Korea, which fired two missiles over the country in the space of a month and has threatened to "sink" Japan.

According to a weekend poll in business daily Nikkei, 44% of voters plan to vote for Abe's conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), while only 8% favoured the main opposition Democratic Party.

Nevertheless, one-fifth of those polled said they were still undecided, potentially opening the door for gains by a new party formed by allies of the popular mayor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike, which will field dozens of candidates.

Koike's Tomin First no Kai (Tokyo Residents First) party humiliated Abe and the LDP in local elections in July, but analysts say the new grouping has not had time to lay a national foundation to mount a serious challenge to the prime minister.

In an apparent bid to steal Abe's limelight, Koike went before the cameras just hours before his announcement to announce she was creating a national political party called "Kibo no To" (Party of Hope).

"Japan is facing a difficult time considering the situation in North Korea. Economically, the world is making a big move while Japan's presence is gradually declining," said Koike.

"Can we continue letting (the existing lawmakers) handle "



But Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University in Japan, said there was "no opposition worthy of the name in Japan".

"The LDP is a giant among dwarves. It would take a major scandal to derail the Abe express," said the analyst.

The winner of the expected snap election faces a daunting in-tray of challenges ranging from an unprecedented crisis with North Korea to reviving the once world-beating Japanese economy.

In addition to threats to destroy Japan, Pyongyang has fired two missiles over the northern island of Hokkaido in the space of less than a month.

However, the North Korea crisis appears to have given the hawkish Abe a welcome boost in the polls following a series of scandals, including allegations he improperly favoured a friend in a business deal.

Despite a recent run of growth, the election winner will also have to contend with a sluggish economy, as the heavily indebted country grapples with a low birth rate and a shrinking labour force.
A journalist of a regional Malayalam daily was allegedly manhandled by the police at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, the latest in a series of attack on media persons across the country.

Sajeev Gopalan (49) was allegedly beaten up by two police personnel at his house last night, triggering protests from media fraternity.

Gopalan, local correspondent of 'Kerala Kaumudi', was admitted to a private hospital here with injuries.

His family members alleged that the journalist had recently published a item on the abduction of a girl and the alleged involvement of some police officials in protecting the accused.

This must be the reason for the attack against the journo, they claimed.

The incident took place when Gopalan was standing in front of his house to see off his two friends who had come for dinner.

Police have started a probe into the incident, P Asok Kumar, Thiruvananthapuram rural police chief, said.

"Based on media reports, Attingal ASP has been asked to conduct an inquiry," he said.

Thiruvananthapuram district unit of Kerala Union of Working Journalists condemned the incident and submitted a memorandum to DGP Loknath Behera seeking speedy action.

Senior Kannada journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, known for her left-leaning outlook and forthright views against Hindutva politics, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at her residence on September 5.

Senior journalist K J Singh and his mother were found dead in Mohali on September 23.

In another incident, unidentified gunmen had shot dead a journalist at Bihar's Salkhani village earlier this year.

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Justice M B Lokur would continue to head the Supreme Court's e-committee for digitisation of the courts across country, with Chief Justice Dipak Misra reposing faith in the decision of his predecessor Justice J S Khehar.

Justice Lokur's continuance in the job assumes significance as, after taking over as the e-committee head for the first time in 2012, he had taken up the ambitious task of making the apex court paperless.

This July, the e-panel had equipped the first five courts with large tablet computers which also serve as horizontal writing pads.

The complete digitisation of case records of the apex court is likely to be completed next year.

As per a Supreme Court notification earlier this month, Chief Justice Misra, who is the patron-in-chief of the panel, has decided to continue with Justice Lokur as the judge-in- charge of the crucial committee.

Besides Lokur, other members of the panel are Justice A M Khanwilkar, Justice D Y Chandrachud and four others. The invitee members include Attorney General K K Venugopal, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir B D Ahmed, among others.

Justice S H Kapadia as Chief Justice of India had appointed Lokur for the first time as the head of the e-panel in 2012, a post he continued to hold till last year.

However, he was replaced during the tenure of Chief Justice T S Thakur in November 2016 by former Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court Sunil Ambwani.

But when former chief justice J S Khehar took over the mantle from Justice Thakur, he reversed the decision and reinstated Lokur to the position, which he has been holding continuously during the tenures of CJIs including Justices S H Kapadia, Altamas Kabir, P Sathasivam, R M Lodha and H L Dattu.

Justice Lokur is now the third senior-most judge in the apex court hierarchy and is set to demit office on December 30, 2018.

The e-Committee set up in 2004 is a body constituted by the government under the Supreme Court for policy formulation and implementation of information and communication technology in the courts across the country.

The process of digitisation was started during the tenure of former CJI H L Dattu, who had entrusted the task to Lokur as the head of the e-panel.

Under his leadership, the e-committee this May had also overseen the launch of ambitious integrated case management information system (ICMIS) of the Supreme Court, in which various high courts in the country are in the process of uploading large number of case files.

The ICMIS, also described as "a next generation hybrid database", helps the litigants and lawyers by disseminating information online about the status of cases, the next date of hearing and objections in defective matters.

The panel has also successfully launched the National Judicial Data Grid for district courts across the country and is now working on a similar grid for High Courts.

The grid gives data of pendency of cases (both civil and criminal) of district courts in every state. It also gives details of cases pending over 10 years and five years, besides cases filed by senior citizens, women and other related data.

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The Karnataka government today launched 'Vision-2025' project aimed at evolving a draft policy for development of the state in next seven years by seeking the opinion of the public.

Under the project, the government would seek public opinion on how they want their dream state to be in the next seven years, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said.

Officials will collect the required information after discussing with public representatives and the general public. They will then bring out a draft vision policy for the year 2025, portions of which would be incorporated in the manifesto of ruling Congress.

Launching the website 'www.navakarnataka2025.in', the chief minister said, "This vision document will help us decide the manifesto of our party. We will also incorporate portions of the vision document in our manifesto. This document will be an echo of the public voice. It will be our motto and commitment".

Executive officer of the project, Renuka Chidambaram, and other officials will tour various parts of the southern state for three months starting from next month and speak to the masses and experts to gather public opinion to build a state of their dream, he said.

Siddaramaiah stated that the various measures taken by the government in the past four-and-half years and how he was able to fulfil most of the promises will be included in the manifesto.

"Today I can tell you with confidence that no one goes to the bed hungry in the state as we are providing 7 kg rice to each family free of cost.

"We have started mid-day meal programme and free milk distribution programme to counter malnutrition. Despite a drought situation for six successive years, migration in the drought-prone areas were almost nil because of the measures taken by the government," the chief minister said.

Siddaramaiah also told the gathering about the steps taken to improve the agriculture sector under the 'Krishi Bhagya' scheme.

He said the NITI Ayog had lauded the online auctioning of agriculture produce that helped many farmers.

Karnatataka will face the Assembly elections early next year.

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RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has sought two weeks to appear before the CBI for questioning in connection with a case of alleged graft in giving the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels to a private firm, sources said today.

The contracts were given when Yadav was railway minister.

Yadav, who was summoned by the CBI for the second time to appear before the investigating team, sent his lawyer who submitted the request seeking two weeks time for questioning, the CBI sources said.

They said the agency was processing the request and would take a call on future course of action.

The lawyer did not say anything about Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD leader's son and former deputy chief minister of Bihar, who is summoned in the case tomorrow, they said.

They had been called on September 11 and 12. Lalu Yadav did not turn up, citing an ongoing court case in Ranchi where his presence was required, while Tejashwi claimed he had political commitments to take care of.

The case pertains to allegations that Lalu Yadav, as railway minister, handed over the maintenance of two hotels run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotel, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, in return for a prime plot of three acres in Patna through a benami company.

The FIR alleged that the RJD leader, as the railway minister, abused his official position for extending undue favours to the Kochhar and acquired a "high value premium land" through a benami firm Delight Marketing Company. As a quid pro quo, he "dishonestly and fraudulently" managed award of leasing of the two hotels.

The CBI has registered the case against Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, a former Bihar chief minister, son Tejashwi, who was deputy CM until a few months ago, and Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, a former union minister.

Others named as accused in the FIR include Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar, both directors of Sujata Hotels and owner of Chanakya Hotel, Delight Marketing Company, now known as Lara Projects, and then IRCTC managing director P K Goel.

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The license of a senior pilot and a first officer of the Pakistan International Airlines have been revoked by the country's civil aviation regulator for carrying more passengers than the maximum allowed on a flight to Saudi Arabia in January, according to a media report today.

Warning letters have also been issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the ground staff including the terminal manager and the flight supervisor of Pakistan's flag carrier, Dawn newspaper reported.

The PIA had allowed seven passengers to travel standing in the aisles all the way from Karachi to Madina on January 20, prompting a probe into the serious breach of security regulations by the loss-making airline.

Senior pilot Anwer Adil and first officer Adeel Javed had operated the flight in which excess number of passengers had to stand throughout the over three-hour-long flight which was a serious threat to air safety, the newspaper quoted highly- placed sources as saying.

The Boeing 777 aircraft has a seating capacity of 409, including jump seats for staff, while flight PK-743 carried 416 passengers.

The CAA directive, issued on August 30, ordered that the pilot's license of Capt Adil be revoked for a year, while that of first officer Javed for three months.

"Terminal manager Shah and flight supervisor Shahani are issued with a letter of warning under intimation to the CAA.

"Senior purser Hina Turab be awarded a letter of advice," stated the directive sent to PIA's director of flight operations.

Earlier it was reported that the senior purser (flight attendant), Hina Turab, had informed the captain about "chaos" in the cabin because the passengers were "over and above" the configuration, but the captain told her to "adjust" those passengers as the aircraft was on the taxi way.

The boarding passes issued to the extra passengers were hand-written and not computer-generated, reports had said.

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A man was today arrested by the customs officials for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold worth Rs 43 lakh at the international airport here by hiding it inside an LED television.

The accused was intercepted after his arrival from Jeddah via Dubai.

"On his personal and baggage search, 14 gold bars collectively weighing about 1.5 kg were recovered. The gold bars were concealed inside the LED television carried by him," a customs official said.

The gold bars, valuing about Rs 43 lakh, have been seized, he said, adding the accused, who hails from Rajasthan, has been arrested.

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India's Manav Thakkar bagged the junior boys singles gold medal at the 2017 Slovenia Junior and Cadet Open after defeating Japanese Takeru Kashiwa 11-6 11-3 11-5 11-6 in the final at Otocec.

Not only did he claim the singles crown but also emerged as the most successful player of the tournament, having won the doubles gold as well as a silver in the team event earlier.

The second-seeded India was in no mood to relent in the final as he got the better of the 15th seeded Japanese, who had earlier accounted for India's Parth Virmani in the quarterfinals, without conceding a game.

Incidentally, the Japanese had upset Chinese Taipei's Feng Yi-Hsin, the top-seed, 11-7 11-9 9-11 3-11 13-11 4-11 11 -9 in a tough semi-final.

A completely drained out Japanese failed to find his rhythm in the final against Manav, who attacked right from the word go.

Considering his silver-winning effort in the Thailand Open earlier this year, the outing in Slovenia Open has proved to be a great success for the 17-year-old from Surat.

Manav had earlier beaten sixth seed Tai Ming-Wei 11-5 11 -4 10-12 11-7 13-11 in the quarter-final before overcoming ninth seed Egyptian Youssef Abdel-Aziz 11-4 11-8 11-9 11-9 in the semis.

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A 31-year-old man, a member of the notorious Neeraj Bawana gang and wanted in a case of robbery, has been arrested, the police said today.

Ravinder, who holds an MBA degree, is a resident of Pahargan area of Delhi. He was arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police last week.

"Ravinder was wanted in a case of robbery at gun point in Janakpur on August 10, in which he, along with his associates Bhola, Hunny and Kaku had robbed gold chain and cash from rival gang members after firing gunshots in order to maintain supremacy in the area," a senior police officer said in a statement.

The police also stated that a secret information was received on September 18 that Ravinder would come to Janakpuri near J J Colony, adding that a trap was laid and he was then arrested.

In 2010, Ravinder came in contact with dreaded criminal Bhola, who was an active member of the Neeraj Bawania gang and joined it.

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A 58-year-old Muslim doctor in the UK was stabbed in his neck on his way to a mosque by two men who shouted "abusive" comments, media reports said today.

Nasser Kurdy, was attacked yesterday with a knife from behind near the Altrincham Islamic Centre in Greater Manchester.

Two men, aged 32 and 54, were arrested within an hour of the attack, which the force is treating as a hate crime but not terrorism related, Greater Manchester Police said.

"This is a very nasty and unprovoked attack against a much-loved local man," Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said



Police are treating the incident as a hate crime, the Manchester Evening reported.

Kurdy was rushed to hospital but has since been discharged, the report said.

He has been discharged from hospital, according to his colleague Khalid Anis, a spokesman for the Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association, who said he was "very lucky".

"It could have been very, very serious," Anis said.

"He said he noticed someone cross the road and then somebody just attacked him from behind," Anis added.

"It's not just a criminal act against the Muslim community or one individual, it's the people living in Altrincham, I think we all feel that," he said.

Members of the congregation spoke of their shock following the attack which they say is out of character for the area, the report said.

"Shocked and saddened to hear of stabbing of Dr Nasser Kurdy outside Altrincham mosque. Thoughts with him and his family," Labour Councillor Andrew H Western for Priory Ward, Sale, said.

"Nothing like this has ever happened before and it does not reflect the community. In my experience community relations are very good and it is a very safe area; it is shocking for all of us," a spokesperson from the Altrincham Islamic Centre said.

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Under opposition's attack over demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today power was a means of enjoyment for them when they were in government, asserting that his battle against graft was "uncompromising" and no one will be spared.

Addressing the BJP's national executive and its law- makers from across the country, Modi asked them to take the party beyond elections and make it an instrument of mass participation to improve quality of people's lives.

Modi's comments at the closed-door meeting, attended by 13 chief ministers, six deputy chief ministers, over 60 union ministers besides party's MPs and MLAs among others, were shared with the media by senior party leader Arun Jaitley.

"When opposition was in government, power was a means of enjoyment for it. Now they do not know how to behave as opposition," Modi told the meeting, according to Jaitley.

The prime minister also underlined his resolve to fight corruption, saying his "battle against it is uncompromising. No one will be spared. I have no relatives".

Taking a dig at opposition parties, Modi said their use of harsh language cannot be a substitute for substantive charges against the government.

Opposition parties have been attacking the Modi government over demonetisation and cited the recent RBI figures to corner it.

The BJP, he said, has become central to people's hopes and ambitions as he asked party's leaders to become a link between people's problems and government.

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Former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane, who has quit the Congress, met BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi today.

Rane quit the Congress earlier this week amid speculation that he was keen on joining the BJP.

Rane met several Maharashtra BJP leaders, including state BJP chief Raosaheb Patil Danve, earlier in the day before meeting Shah, sources said.

"Rane met Shah this evening. There was no political discussion during the meeting," state BJP sources said here.

Rane had gone to Delhi to invite Shah for inauguration of a hospital at Padwe in Kudal in Sindhudurg district, a source close to the Maratha leader said.

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, when asked recently about the possibility of Rane joining the saffron party, had said that a decision in this regard would be taken by Shah, as Rane is a senior leader and a former chief minister.

Announcing his decision to quit the Congress in his home turf of Sindhudurg district in the coastal Maharashtra, Rane had accused the Congress of reneging on the promise of making him the state's chief minister when he joined the party 12 years ago after leaving the Shiv Sena.

He was the chief minister of Maharashtra in 1999 while in the Shiv Sena.

"I have not yet decided where to go," he said while announcing his exit from the Congress, adding that he would make an announcement before Dussehra, which falls on September 30.

The former firebrand Sena leader had joined the Congress in 2005.

Speculation about Rane joining the BJP was triggered by reports suggesting that he had met Shah in Ahmedabad a few months ago.

During the recent Ganesh festival, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had visited Rane's residence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A suitcase-sized NASA radar instrument, that can detect heartbeats, is helping disaster relief workers save lives of people trapped under rubble after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook Mexico City last week.

The called Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response (FINDER) was developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Directorate in the US.

"Our hearts go out to the people of Mexico. We are glad to know our is being used to make a difference there," said Neil Chamberlain, task manager for FINDER at JPL.

FINDER sends a low-powered microwave signal - about one- thousandth of a cell phone's output - through rubble. It looks for changes in the reflections of those signals coming back from tiny motions caused by victims' breathing and heartbeats.

In tests, FINDER has detected heartbeats through 30 feet of rubble or 20 feet of solid concrete.

It was also used in Puerto Rico last week to search for survivors of Hurricane Maria.

While radar can not search through water, it is useful for detecting heartbeats through rooftops. People trapped in flooded buildings often run to the upper floors.

The technology evolved from JPL's efforts to develop low-cost, small spacecraft radios, using signal processing developed to measure small changes in spacecraft motion.

FINDER is used alongside a variety of other techniques, including trained dogs, acoustic sensing devices and thermal imagers. All these techniques are usually deployed together.

When FINDER was deployed to Nepal after a major earthquake in 2015, it helped find four men trapped under a collapsed textile factory.
Commodore Simon Mathai today assumed command of Indian Navy's premier Gunnery and Missile Training Establishment INS Dronacharya, at Veli, Fort Kochi, today.

A ceremonial handing/taking over parade was held at the Fort Kochi base to mark the occasion, a Defence press release said.

The officer is an alumnus of the premier military feeder institution Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune.

He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1990.

The officer is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Ooty in 2005, and has attended the Naval Higher Command course in 2012-13.

Mathai, a native of Karuvelipadi, Kochi has held various command and staff appointments in his 27 years of service.

The officer has also commanded IN Ships Chamak, Magar, Rana and Rajput.

He was previously posted at Kochi as the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Kerala) in 2013-15, during which period, the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) for co-ordination of all agencies involved in coastal security was operationalised.

His staff appointments include Joint Director in Directorate of Staff Requirements at Naval Headquarters and 'Command Gunnery Officer' at Eastern Naval Command.

He is a recipient of the Nao Sena Medal and the Chief of the Naval Staff Commendation in 1997 and 2003 respectively.

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The NHRC has issued notices to the governments and police chiefs of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh over the alleged inhuman treatment being meted out to girls and women who are forcibly taken to temples as part of an old ritual that resembles the banned 'Devadasi' system.

The girls and women are taken to temples of Goddess Mathamma for "offering" in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu and adjoining places, the Commission today said, while observing that allegations made in the complaint as well as a media report about the continuance of this practice are "serious in nature".

Accordingly, it has issued notices to the chief secretaries and the director generals of police of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and to the district magistrates and superintendents of police of Thiruvallur and Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, and sought reports in four weeks.

"Allegedly, as part of the ritual, the girls are dressed up as a bride and once the ceremony is over, their dresses are removed by five boys, virtually leaving them naked.

"They are denied to live with their families and have education. They are forced to live in Mathamma temple deemed to be like a public property and face sexual exploitation," the National Human Rights Commission said.

The rights panel has also observed that if the allegations are true, these amount to violation of human rights, including the right to education, rights to life and dignity besides the children's rights.

This practice is allegedly "another form of Devadasi system", which is still practiced in some parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, it said in a statement.

Devadasi system is a banned religious practice in some parts of India whereby parents marry a daughter to a deity or a temple. The marriage usually occurs before the girl reaches puberty.

There have been allegations that Devadasis are often subjected to sexual exploitation in the name of religion.

The Union Home Ministry in December 2015 had asked all states to take strong action against those involved in the heinous practice which is against the dignity of women.

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Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd (NMIPL) on Monday announced senior management changes with current Managing Director Arun Malhotra being assigned the role of corporate advisor.

He will report to Peyman Kargar, Chairman of Nissan's Africa, Middle East and India (AMI) region and interim president of Operations, and to Thomas Kuehl, incoming President of Operations, effective October 1, 2017, the company said in a statement.

Besides, it said, NIMPL Vice President, Marketing and Datsun Business Unit, Jerome Saigot will now be responsible for sales and marketing for both Nissan and Datsun brands of the company.

Under the new structure, Saigot will report to Kuehl and will continue to be based at NMIPL's office in Gurugram, the company added.

NIMPL further said Peter Clissold, currently, General Manager, Marketing, AMI (Africa, Middle East India region) will take up the role of Vice President, Marketing in the company/

He will be responsible for both Nissan and Datsun brands in India and will report to Saigot.

All the changes in the senior management team will be effective October 1, the statement said.

Kargar said, "We expect these appointments will bring the right balance of experience and new thinking to accelerate our momentum as we strive to achieve our ambitions for the Indian market.

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Samajwadi Party patron today ruled out forming any new party "as of now", putting a lid on speculation that he could part ways amid the continuing battle for supremacy in the party.

Blowing hot and cold, the Samajwadi patriarch said his blessings were with his son Akhilesh Yadav though he did not agree with the decisions made by him.

"I am not forming any new party as of now," Mulayam said at a crowded press conference here, responding to a volley of questions from media persons as to whether he was parting ways with the party he had formed 25 years ago.

Speculation was rife in political circles that the 77-year-old SP patriarch was likely to announce a new outfit at the press conference along with virtually defunct Lok Dal while retaining the 'Samajwadi' tag in its name.

Despite the bitter battle for supremacy in the party, Mulayam said, "My blessings are with him (Akhilesh Yadav) as he is my son, though I don't agree with his decisions."



"Baap bete me kab takmatbhed rah sakta hai, koi nahikehsakta" (No one can say for sure how long differences will remain between father and son)," he said answering a question.

Interestingly, Mulayam's brother and comrade-in-arms Shivpal was not present at the press meet.

When asked about his absence, Mulayam said he was away in Etawah-Mainpuri -- the Yadav bastion -- for some important work.

Both Mulayam and Shivpal have been sidelined by Akhilesh ever since he snatched the crown of SP chief from his father at the party's national convention here on January 1.

Mulayam said his son had promised to leave the post of party president after staying at the helm for three months, but he did not do so.

"People who cannot stand by their words cannot succeed," he said, adding, "Jo baap ka nahuawokiskahoga" (one who cannot side with his father, will be of no one)," he said.

Asked as to whether he was with Akhilesh or Shivpal, his warring uncle, Mulayam parried a direct reply saying, "I am with Samajwadi people."



He said that in the present circumstances when people were suffering from back-breaking price rise and the BJP has "failed" to fulfil its promises in the past three years, "it is the high time all like-minded people should unite".

On being asked to comment on Akhilesh terming disgruntled leaders as "fake Samajwadi", Mulayam said, "only he can tell who he is talking about."



As soon as Mulayam's press conference ended, Akhilesh tweeted, "Netaji zindabad, Samajwadi Party zindabad".

Ahead of the press meet, strains were palpable as Mulayam and Shivpal had stayed away from a state convention of the party on Saturday, saying they were not invited.

Posters at the SP convention here did not have pictures of Mulayam and Shivpal, giving ample hints about their place in the party.

Mulayam had last week replaced Akhilesh-loyalist Ram Gopal with Shivpal Yadav as the secretary of the Lohia Trust, the venue of today's press conference.

Shivpal had announced in June that he would float the Samajwadi Secular Front "to fight communal forces".

Saturday's convention saw a realignment of forces within the SP as senior leader Azam Khan attended the event and lashed out at the "people who have betrayed the party", in an apparent reference to Shivpal, his one-time friend and confident.

Another surprise presence was that of SP MP Beni Prasad Varma, whose inclusion in the party last year was said to have triggered the battle within the family.

To top it all, SP president Akhilesh Yadav in his address yesterday cautioned his supporters against "fake samajwadis".

As in the past, Akhilesh had, however, struck an emotional note when he said, "Netaji (Mulayam) is my father and his party (SP) belongs to him. His blessings are with us and we will carry forward his legacy. My father has always been with us and will remain with us."



Taking full control of the party after being crowned as its head and allowed the 'bicycle' symbol by the EC on January 16, Akhilesh has been going full throttle consolidating his grip over the party.
North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho today accused US President Donald Trump of declaring a "war", saying that gives his country the right to shoot down US bombers even if they were outside its airspace.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country," Ho, who is here to attend the annual UN General Assembly Session, told reporters.

"Since the US declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country," he added.

North Korea has no diplomatic relationship with the US.

Tensions have dramatically risen on the Korean peninsula after North Korea early this month conducted its biggest nuclear test, which its state-run KCNA agency described as a hydrogen bomb.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have traded increasingly threatening and personal insults as Pyongyang races towards its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the US.

Trump on Saturday warned North Korea, saying if the country's foreign minister was echoing thoughts of his supreme leader Kim Jong-Un in his threatening speech at the UN, "they won't be around much longer."



"Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at UN. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" Trump tweeted.

Responding to Trump's tweet, the top North Korean diplomat said the question of "who won't be around much longer will be answered then."



Ro had attacked Trump at the UN General Assembly, deriding him as a "mentally deranged" leader whose threats had increased the chances of military confrontation.

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The National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged demonstrations here today against the baton-charge on students in Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

The RSS-affiliated ABVP condemned the police action against the students and demanded constitution of a fact- finding committee, while the Congress-backed NSUI demanded an inquiry under a sitting high court judge and resignation of the BHU vice-chancellor.

The two student organisations had separately announced their plans to stage demonstrations outside the office of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) here.

However, the NSUI claimed that it supporters were detained much ahead of the venue, while ABVP activists were allowed to reach the site.

The Congress-affiliated student body accused Delhi Police of favouring the ABVP.

"Despite having all permissions, we were detained without citing any reason. This shows how Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to use the police for curbing and stopping protests against him and his government," NSUI media in-charge Neeraj Mishra.

Mishra also criticised the ABVP and said its protest was "always about symbolism".

Rejecting the NSUI's charge, ABVP national media convener Saket Bahuguna said on Twitter, "Those wondering why a protest at MHRD, should remember @ABVPVoice works for student community, not for any political party and we are proud of it."



When contacted, the Parliament Street police station SHO said permission was not granted for any protest near the ministry and that both parties were detained.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in BHU where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve- teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the varsity's vice-chancellor at his residence.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A BHU spokesperson had said that some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students, he said.

The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them.

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The Goods and Services Tax rate on handicraft and handloom products has been slashed by the GST council due to demands of Odisha government, official sources said.

Odisha Finance Minister S B Behera said the GST on Sabai ropes and cups and plates stitched from Sal/Soali leaves has been reduced from 18 per cent to 5 per cent while the tax rates on idols made of clay which was 28 per cent, have been exempted.

Behera said that Khadi fabric sold through Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC) and KVIC certified institutions/ outlets have also been exempted from tax.

The tax rate on idols of stone has also been reduced from 28 per cent to 12 per cent. The tax rates on different handicraft goods were 28 per cent, 18 per cent or 12 per cent under GST.

Behera said that Odisha had been demanding tax exemptions for handicraft and handloom goods. "In this regard, Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to exempt handicrafts and handloom goods from GST," Behera said.

Behera himself had also written a letter to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to exempt handicraft and other goods under GST.

Behera said he had also put forth arguments in favour of exempting these goods in the meetings of the GST Council since the livelihood of the tribal and poor artisans depend on these goods.

The finance minister said the demand of Odisha was also discussed in the 21st meeting of the GST Council held in Hyderabad.

Considering the demands of Odisha, the GST Council reduced the tax rate on other handicraft goods from 18 per cent to 12 per cent, he added.

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A local official says 34 prisoners have escaped a prison in eastern Congo after breaking through brick walls during heavy rains.

South Kivu provincial justice minister Pasaline Basezage said yesterday that at least 27 of the prisoners who escaped late Sunday had been convicted of sexual crimes and other violent offenses.

The prison in Mwenga, a territory about 130 kilometers (81 miles) south of Bukavu, was holding 42 inmates at the time.

Mwenga administrator Desire Masumbuko said security forces have captured four of the escaped prisoners. He called on residents to be cautious and to cooperate in the search for the remaining inmates.

Thousands of prisoners have staged successful escapes all over Congo since May, when Christian sect members stormed a prison in Kinshasa. Witnesses say thousands escaped.

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National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today welcomed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her first tweet, three years after she joined the microblogging site.

She yesterday took to Twitter to share a short promotional film of the state's tourism department.

Today, Omar wrote tweeted, "25,000 followers later @MehboobaMufti finally broke her silence on twitter with a tourism promotion video. Welcome to Twitter CM Sahiba."



The five-minute film titled 'Warmest Place on Earth', which aims to to counter the negative perception about the Valley, has drawn over 1.6 million views in less than 48 hours after its release



The opposition leader, had hit out at the chief minister yesterday for terming the situation in Kashmir as peaceful.

"There is something disconcerting about the CM claiming this just days after her minister survived an attack that killed 3 people!," Omar had tweeted.

He was reacting to a report which quoted Mehbooba saying that the situation in Kashmir was peaceful and it was the media which was creating negative perception about the Valley.

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Media mogul Oprah Winfrey's first segment as a "60 Minutes" correspondent saw a heated debate on US President Donald Trump.

The 63-year-old host, along with CBS News' Frank Luntz, talked to 14 Americans in Michigan about what they feel about the POTUS and the results turned out to be mixed, reported Variety.

One of the panelists named Tom said that Trump is a good leader, although he does not "like his Twitter attacks", calling them "inappropriate".

"But, at the same time, his actions speak louder than words. And I love what he's doing to this country," he added.

On the other hand, a woman named Jennifer called him a "horrible president" and argued that he has divided America even more today.

Winfrey also raised the investigation into Russian collusion in the election. Another member, Paul, said he is tired of hearing about the issue, while another named Tim argued that it was a "foreign attack on our country."



Trump's comments on tragic events in Charlottesville rally, ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and discrimination towards LGBTQ and African-American were also among issues that were discussed in "60 Minutes" premiere.

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Over 90 private schools of Delhi today claimed in the Delhi High Court that they have complied with its order to deposit 75 per cent of the excess fees charged by them.

Another 20-odd schools said they would deposit 75 per cent of the amount within a period of two days to two weeks, as recommended to be refunded to the students by the Justice Anil Dev Singh Committee set up by the high court.

A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Najmi Waziri protected the schools, which claimed they had deposited the money with the high court registry, from any coercive action subject to their claims being verified by the Delhi government.

It also said that those schools which deposit the money within the time stated before the court, will also be protected from any coercive action after their claims are verified by the Directorate of Education (DoE).

The bench asked the DoE of the Delhi government to verify the claims of deposit in all the matters and inform the court on October 27, the next date of hearing.

Meanwhile, the Action Committee, an association representing several hundred private schools which had challenged the Dev Singh committee's recommendations, withdrew its plea after the court said that several of its members have raised similar grievances in their respective petitions.

"There is no need for multiplicity of proceedings," the bench said.

During the hearing, Delhi government standing counsel Ramesh Singh told the bench that till September 22, around Rs 60 crore were deposited by 61 private schools.

The court had on September 6 directed the private schools which have failed to refund the excess fee charged by them despite a government order, to deposit 75 per cent of the principal amount within 14 days to avoid any coercive action.

It had directed the schools to deposit the amount in the form of "cash, fix deposits receipts or bank guarantees favouring the Registrar General" in the High Court Registry.

The court had taken strong exception to the fact that the schools had failed to comply with the committee's recommendations to refund the excess fees on some pretext or the other, even after over five years since 2011 when the panel was set up and gave its recommendations.

Apart from the committee's recommendations, the private schools have also challenged a May 29 notice of the DoE ordering refund of the excess fees charged by them, failing which the institutions could face derecognition or takeover by the department.

The committee was set up to look into the excess fees charged by city private schools on the pretext of implementing the 6th Pay Commission.

After examining 1092 private schools, the panel had said that 531 among them had charged excess fee and recommended that it should be refunded with nine per cent interest. It had also recommended special inspection of 247 schools.

The panel, which was set up on a plea by an NGO, Delhi Abhibhavak Mahasangh, had later moved the court claiming that over 500 private schools were yet to refund Rs 350 crore of excess fee taken from students on the pretext of implementing the 6th Pay Commission.

It had also sought initiation of contempt proceedings against all such institutions.

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Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar today appeared before an accountability court here in connection with the Panama Papers scandal and submitted surety bonds worth Rs 1 million to secure his bail.

The court, which is hearing graft cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on September 8 against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his children and Dar, had issued a bailable arrest warrant against the minister on September 20.

Dar, 67, returned from London this morning along with Sharif who is expected to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal tomorrow.

Dar's lawyer deposited surety bonds worth Rs 1 million to avoid his arrest.

The court, after a brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income.

The NAB has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons -- Hassan and Hussain, daughter -- Maryam, son-in-law -- Safdar, and Dar in the accountability court.

The Supreme Court on July 28 disqualified Sharif from the prime minister's office in the Panama Papers scandal.

The court's ruling stated that Sharif had been dishonest in not disclosing his earnings from a Dubai-based company of his son in his nomination papers during the 2013 general election.

According to the Supreme Court, the accountability judge should decide the cases within six months.

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Pakistan and Russia are holding two-week long joint military drill focussing on counter- terrorism operations to enhance military ties between the two countries.

The joint exercise DRUZBA 2017 between special forces of Pakistan and Russia Armies started in Minralney Vody, Russia.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior military officials of special forces of both countries, the Pakistan army said in a statement.

The joint exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations, hostage and rescue, cordon and search operation.

The joint exercise will enhance and further strengthen military ties between the two countries and share Pakistan Army's experience in war against terrorism, it said.

Pakistan's ties with Russia have moved past the bitter Cold War hostilities in recent years and the chill in the relations between Pakistan and the US, especially after President Donald Trump warned Islamabad for providing safe havens to terrorists, has further pushed the country towards Russia and China.

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Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah will travel to the Gaza Strip on October 2 as part of reconciliation efforts with Hamas, which runs the enclave, his government said today.

The visit follows concessions by Islamist group Hamas after discussions with Egypt, which has urged it to take steps toward reconciliation with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank.

Fatah and Hamas have been divided for a decade, with separate administrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

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Nearly a hundred Indian Christian pilgrims from Goa and Kolkata celebrated the unveiling of prayer tablet in Konkani language at the famous Church of Visitation in the Ein Kerem area here.

The unveiling is part of a tradition which honours the visit paid by Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.

Many Indian pilgrims were in tears of joy as the Arch Bishop of Goa, Daman and Diu Reverend Father Filipe Neri Ferrao unveiled the plaque of Magnificat, also commonly referred to as Mary's Song of Praise.

"This is a great honour and matter of joy for the Konkani speakers", Father Ferrao said.

A Konkani Christian Nancy, living in Qatar, said that six of them joined the group on the flight from Doha to Amman and for her this ceremony is going to be the highlight of the trip.

"We Konkani's have a deep faith in Mother Mary. Mother Mary and Mother Teresa are two figures most respected in the community and i can't express my pride at the fact that we have been able to put a prayer tablet in Konkani at this church", she told PTI.

"I can't express my joy. This is a great privilege bestowed on us by the authorities of the Holy Land. I hope the last remaining spot on the wall sees a plaque in Bengali", said Father Raju from Barrackpore near Kolkata.

Several Christian shrines in Israel are managed by the Vatican outside the administrative jurisdiction of the State of Israel through the organisation known as Custodia De Terra Sancta (Custody of the Holy Land).

The organisation has the authority to allow space in various shrines in Israel to install prayer specific to that shrine in various vernacular languages of the world.

Magnificat plaques in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada have already found a place on the walls of the Visitation church.

Scopus World Travel Ltd, a travel agency in Israel owned by Indians, recently applied to the Custodia De Terra Sancta to allot one of the two left spaces for plaques at the Visitation church in Konkani language.

"This is a great achievement for us and for India in general and the Konkani speaking people in particular", said Ashok Ravindran, CEO of Scopus.

The travel agency has been bringing about eight to nine thousand Christian pilgrims from India to Israel every year and hope to multiply the numbers as interest among Indian tourists for the Holy Land continues to grow, he said.

"We can't express our joy at being here and going through places Jesus walked. We decided to renew our marriage vows after 42 years of being together at the Cana Church in Nazareth", said Derek and Gilda Gomez, an elderly couple from Behala in Kolkata.

The Goan tourists recited prayers and Magnificat in Konkani and all the participants stood up to sing India's national anthem at the end of the ceremony.

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Scientists have discovered sizable chunks of plastic near the North Pole, raising fears that melting ice will allow more of the material to be released into the Arctic Ocean - with detremental effects on wildlife.

A team of scientists drawn from the US, Norway and Hong Kong and headed by marine biologist Tim Gordon of Exeter University in the UK found polystyrene chunks 1,609 kilometers from the North Pole in the area that was previously inaccessible because of sea ice.

They found two large pieces on the edge of ice flows between 77 degree and 80 degree north, in the middle of the international waters of the central Arctic Ocean.

It is one of the most northerly sightings of such debris in the world's oceans, which are increasingly polluted by plastics and confirm just how far plastic pollution has spread, 'The Guradian' reported.

The finding has prompted fears that as the ice melts, because of climate change, plastic that has long been trapped in it is flowing into the Arctic.

"Finding pieces of rubbish like this is a worrying sign that melting ice may be allowing high levels of pollution to drift into these areas," said Gordon.

"This is potentially very dangerous for the Arctic's wildlife," he said.

More than five trillion pieces of plastic are estimated floating on the surface of the world's oceans. It has been claimed that there is now enough plastic to form a permanent layer in the fossil record.

A significant concern is that large plastic pieces can break down into "micro plastics" tiny particles that are accidentally consumed by filter-feeding animals.

The particles remain in animals' bodies and are passed up the food chain, threatening wildlife at all levels from zooplankton to apex predators such as polar bears, researchers said.

"Many rivers that are often a source of plastic pollution lead into the Arctic Ocean, but plastic pollution has been literally trapped into the ice. Now the ice is melting we believe microplastics are being released into the Arctic," said Ceri Lewis from University of Exeter.

Some projections indicate that the entire Arctic Ocean will be ice-free in summer by 2050, allowing human exploitation such as commercial fishing, shipping and industry of the newly opened waters.

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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for police action against students at Banaras Hindu University during a protest over an eve-teasing incident.

Gandhi, on a three-day tour of poll-bound Gujarat, said the PM should tender apology as the incident took place in his constituency, Varanasi.

"The incident at BHU is BJP's version of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. And, when they (girls) demand their rights, beat them up. This incident happened in the PM's constituency. Modiji should apologise to the students of BHU and take immediate action," Gandhi told reporters here.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi slammed the BJP over police baton-charge on woman students through a tweet.

Attaching link to a video of woman students, who alleged they were beaten up by policemen, Gandhi tweeted, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU".

A number of students including women and two journalists were injured in a baton-charge after a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

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Alleged hawala dealer Mohammad Aslam Wani, arrested along with Kashmiri separatist Shabir Shah in connection with a decade-old money laundering case for alleged terror funding, today withdrew his bail plea from a Delhi court.

36-year old Wani told Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma that since the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recently filed a charge sheet against him, he may move a fresh plea after going through the contents in the probe report.

The ED had on Saturday filed its charge sheet against Wani and Shah, whose bail application was dismissed on August 22 in the 2005 case.

Wani was arrested by the ED from Srinagar on August 6 with the help of the state police and is currently in judicial custody. Shabir Shah was arrested by the agency from Srinagar on July 26.

The ED action against the two was in pursuance of an August 2005 case in which the Delhi Police's Special Cell had arrested Wani, who had claimed he had passed on Rs 2.25 crore to Shah.

In 2010, a Delhi court had cleared Wani of terror funding charges but convicted him under the Arms Act. The ED had registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Shah and Wani.

On August 26, 2005, Wani was arrested allegedly with Rs 63 lakh, which was allegedly received through hawala channels from the Middle East, besides a large cache of ammunition.

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Jharkhand Director General of Police D K Pandey today said Rs three lakh will be given to police personnel as reward for the killing of three militants of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) yesterday.

PLFI chief Dinesh Gope was also injured in the encounter with police, who acted on a tip-off, at Kullatuttu jungle in Simdega district of Jharkhand.

Pandey, who reached the spot on a chopper today, handed over a cheque of Rs three lakh to Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan Singh as reward for the police personnel engaged in the encounter.

The DGP said police had information that three other naxalites, including Gope, had sustained bullet injuries during the encounter, and search is on to nab them.

The senior police official said that a state-announced reward amount on the head of these militants would be also given to the informer.

Extremist activity was a hindrance in the path of development, and the PLFI would be wiped out from its root, Pandey said during an address to the police personnel.

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Power Minister R K Singh on Monday said India will achieve the target of power for all by December next year, while all villages will be electrified by the end of this year, much ahead of the schedule.

The government had set the deadline for electrifying all villages by May 1, 2018. Similarly, it was aiming to provide 24X7 power to all by March 2019.

"Prime Minister has said December 2018 is the target. We will do it. This is a tight target but we will do. Every household will get electricity by December 2018," Singh said at the launch of 'Saubhagya' scheme for providing power to all households.

"One more important target we have got, that is 24X7 power, reliable and quality power. We will take a proposal to the Prime Minister," he said.

Singh also talked about the pre-paid model to be adopted for electricity to all households as per government plans.

He stressed on the need for developing skills for the power sector and said that "there is need for skill development for grid and feeder maintenance".

He called upon the industry to invest in the power sector saying that in the coming year, the demand for electricity is going to increase in view of high growth economy.

"I appeal to the industry to come and invest. India's energy requirement is going to quadruple. You please come and invest," he added.

The government has been working hard to electrify all the villages in the country and also want to achieve 24X7 Power for All by March 2019.

In the 2015 Independence day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the government will electrify the remaining 18,452 unelectrified villages in 1,000 days. However, the power ministry is expected to electrify all the inhabited villages by December this year.

According to GARV portal, out of the 18,452 villages, 14,483 villages have been electrified so far. The electrification work is in progress for 2,981 villages while 988 villages are uninhabited.

The portal also indicates that out of the 17.92 core households in the rural areas, 13.87 crore families have got electricity connection. As many as 4.05 crore families are yet to provided electricity connection.
President Ramnath Kovind is likely to inaugurate the newly-built Shirdi airport in Ahmednagar district in the state on October 1, which secured the aerodrome licence from the DGCA for commercial operations last week.

Located at 238 kms from the country's financial hub, Mumbai, Shirdi has the famous shrine of Sai Baba and is one of the prominent pilgrimage centres in the country.

Significantly, the centenary Sai Baba Samadhi Mahotsav, being organised by the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, will also kick start from October 1.

Owned and developed by Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop airports in the state, the aerodrome is set for a final trial run tomorrow before launching the commercial operations.

"We are conducting the final trial run at the Shirdi airport tomorrow with an ATR 72 aircraft. We have invited President Ramnath Kovind to inaugurate the new airport on October 1," MADC vice-chairperson and managing director Suresh Kakani told PTI here.

Kakani said that Alliance Air, which is the regional arm of the national carrier Air India, will operate the inaugural flight on October 1 and it will be a non-scheduled operation.

"However, the commercial operations will begin only from October 2," he said.

As of now, Alliance Air and Hyderabad-based regional carrier TruJet have filed the schedule for flights to Shirdi from Mumbai and Hyderabad, respectively, Kakani said.

"Budget carrier IndiGo has also applied for launching air services to Shirdi," he added.

The Director General of Civil Aviation had, on September 21, granted aerodrome licence to the airport in the temple town for public use for day operations "after ensuring compliance of all relevant standards."



The Ministry of Civil Aviation had granted 'in principle' approval to the construction of the airport in Rahata tehsil of Ahmednagar district in 2011.

According to an estimate, about 60,000 pilgrims visit Shirdi every day, out of which the airport authorities plan to tap at least 10-12 per cent.

Constructed at an investment of around Rs 350 crore, including Rs 50 crore from the Shri Saibaba Sasthan Trust, the airport is capable of handling single narrow-body aircraft, such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737s with a 2,500 meter long runway.

The 2,750 sqm terminal building has been designed to handle a total of 300 passengers, including the arriving ones.

Once the new airport operations start, the travel time to Shirdi from Mumbai is expected to reduce to 40 minutes as against five hours by road at present.

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President Ramnath Kovind is scheduled to launch the Saibaba Samadhi Shatabdi Mahotsav (centenary celebrations) on October 1 here, an office-bearer of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) said today.

Kovind is also likely to inaugurate the newly-built Shirdi airport in Ahmednagar district on that day.

"The president will arrive at Shirdi and inaugurate Saibaba Samadhi Mahostav around 11 am on October 1," Dr Suresh Haware, chairperson of SSST told reporters here today.

Kovind will also hoist a flag atop a 51-feet high flag-post, raised on the Saibaba temple premises, he said.

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister, Devendra Fadanvis, Leader of the Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Ahmednagar guardian minister Ram Shinde will be present at the function, Haware said.

"During the year-long Samadhi Mahostav, 4.5 crore devotees from different parts of the country and abroad will visit the shrine. Several religious, cultural and social events have been planned as part of the celebrations through the year," he said.

Meanwhile, a Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) official informed that on the same day, Kovind is likely to inaugurate the newly-built Shirdi airport, which secured the aerodrome licence from the DGCA for commercial operations last week.

"We are conducting the final trial run at the Shirdi airport tomorrow with an ATR 72 aircraft. We have invited President Kovind to inaugurate the new airport on October 1," MADC vice-chairperson and managing director Suresh Kakani told PTI in Mumbai.

Located at 238 kms from the country's financial hub, Mumbai, Shirdi has the famous shrine of Sai Baba and is one of the prominent pilgrimage centres in the country.

Owned and developed by Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop airports in the state, the aerodrome is set for a final trial run tomorrow before launching the commercial operations.

Kakani said that Alliance Air, which is the regional arm of the national carrier Air India, will operate the inaugural flight on October 1 and it will be a non-scheduled operation.

"However, the commercial operations will begin only from October 2," he said.

According to an estimate, about 60,000 pilgrims visit Shirdi every day, out of which the airport authorities plan to tap at least 10-12 per cent.

Constructed at an investment of around Rs 350 crore, including Rs 50 crore from the Shri Saibaba Sasthan Trust, the airport is capable of handling single narrow-body aircraft, such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737s with a 2,500 meter long runway.

The 2,750 sqm terminal building has been designed to handle a total of 300 passengers, including the arriving ones.

Once the new airport operations start, the travel time to Shirdi from Mumbai is expected to reduce to 40 minutes as against five hours by road at present.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Moderate Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today said he favoured unconditional dialogue with the Centre, but said the best chance of success would be if it followed the Vajpayee government's doctrine of the early 2000s.

Farooq, who is the Mirwaiz or the religious head of Kashmiris, noted that in the Vajpayee formula "all parties were involved," referring to the simultaneous communication that the Kashmiri separatist leaders were allowed to have with New Delhi as well as with Islamabad and counterparts in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir(PoK).

"We want a mechanism to be prepared for talks where everyone is involved. We dont want it to be just a photo opportunity," the Mirawaiz told PTI in an interview at his home. "Lets start the process of the talks. Lets not bother about the results. But the process has to be sincere."



The 44-year-old Mirwaiz had welcomed talks suggested recently by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. However, this is the first time he has elaborated on what he thinks would make the talks successful to resolve the 70-year-old problem.

Still, his suggestion that the government go back to the Vajpayee formula is unlikely to go down well with the government because it brings Pakistan into the mix. The Mirwaiz made it clear that "all stakeholders" in Kashmir -- which the home minister said the government will talk to -- should include the Pakistanis and all regions of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"All the government needs is to study the old files of that time (Vajpayee government. You can give it any name: tripartite, triangular or three way mechanism. But it is the key," said Farooq, who became the Mirwaiz at the age of 16 following the assassination of his father Mirwaiz Farooq by Hizbul Mujahideen militants in 1990.

Vajpayee's approach towards addressing the Kashmir issue came to be called 'Vajpayee Doctrine'. The doctrine called for peace, progress and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir by imbibing the spirit of 'Insaniyat' (Humanity), 'Jamhuriyat' (Democracy) and 'Kashmiriyat' (Identity of the people of Kashmir).

The Mirwaiz, who in his Friday sermons has usually advocated non-violence, also emphasized that Kashmir issue is a political problem and cannot be solved militarily.

The Mirwaiz noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech last month had said the Kashmir issue can only be solved by embracing Kashmiris and not by "gaalis" (abuses) or "golis" (bullets).

"It was a welcome statement and we thought the government is rethinking its Kashmir policy. However, there is no shift. In fact it has become more hardline. Vilification campaign (against separatist leaders) continues," he said.

He said the moderate separatists biggest problem is that India sees the Kashmir problem as being entirely driven by Pakistan and through the prism of cross-border terrorism. It is very difficult to get the rest of India to see the Kashmir problem through the eyes of Kashmiris who have their own aspirations, he said.

"There is no scope to engage with people of India. Even liberals in Delhi are afraid to call us. We are called stone- pelter Kashmiris Boys are picking up guns without going to Pakistan. We need to find the cause behind it rather than blame it on Pakistan," he said.

"There is so much pain, agony, dissatisfaction which needs to be addressed. Otherwise Kashmir will be pushed back to the 1990s when militancy was at its peak," he said.

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Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over note ban, GST, farm policies and 'Gujarat model' of development, Rahul Gandhi today voiced confidence about winning the upcoming Assembly elections, claiming there is a strong undercurrent in favour of Congress in Gujarat.

Talking to journalists on arrival in Jamnagar for a road show on the first day of his three-day tour of Gujarat, Gandhi said people are regretting having voted for the BJP.

"There is a strong undercurrent in favour of Congress in Gujarat. People want change and Congress will definitely come to power this time. People of Gujarat are unhappy with the ruling party as they feel cheated after giving their votes to the BJP," said Gandhi, adding that Congress will help Gujarat develop.

The Congress is out of power in Gujarat for over two decades.

The 47-year-old Congress leader, who started the day by offering prayers at the famous Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, interacted with people during his trip from the holy city to Jamnagar, passing through Saurashtra region.

In his short speeches at various places, Gandhi assailed Modi over demonetisation and a host of other issues.

He highlighted the issue of unemployment under the BJP dispensation and promised to solve the problems faced by Gujarat's farmers if his party is voted to power in the state.

Travelling in a especially-designed bus, he interacted with villagers at many places.

From Dwarka, Gandhi headed to Hanjrapar, where he was accorded a traditional welcome by villagers. He even rode a bullock cart and interacted with villagers.

Gandhi came down heavily on Gujarat's BJP government on the issue of privatisation.

"Privatisation is happening in every sector under this government, be it education or health sector. Due to this policy of the BJP government, poor people are not getting education or health services," Gandhi said.

He promised free medicines and medical treatment if the Congress is voted to power in Gujarat.

Accusing the BJP government of being "anti-farmer", Gandhi demanded that the government announce complete farm loan waiver in Gujarat.

"If the government can waive loans given to businessmen, why not farmers? The Indian government gave away Rs 1.30 lakh crore to 15 large business houses while Rs 7 lakh crore in loans were not returned to banks. They (businessmen) will get all the benefits, while you (farmers) will be jailed for not repaying loans," said Gandhi.

Before visiting Hanjrapar, Gandhi made several halts along the route, including at Bhatia village. In his address there, Gandhi slammed the Modi government for "failing" to address basic problems of people.

Around 20,000 youths pass out of educational institutes every day but the Central government manages to give employment to only 400, he claimed.

"You go to any corner of this country and ask farmers whether they get proper price for their produce. All of them will promptly say, no," Gandhi said.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared demonetisation without consulting anyone. This was a massive blow to our economy.

"Farmers were badly hit as they do not do transaction through phone or debit card. They use cash to buy seeds or pay farm labourers," said Gandhi.

He claimed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has broken the back of small traders and shopkeepers.

Gandhi said though the Congress told the government to have a single tax rate under the GST, it introduced five slabs. He claimed lakhs of businesses have shut down due to the GST.

The poor have no place in the 'Gujarat model' of development which has benefited only a handful of businessmen, the Congress leader said.

"Business houses get everything, be it water, land or electricity. But the poor are always neglected. This is the difference between them (the BJP) and us (the Congress). I promise our government will be of the poor, farmers and youth," he said.

After Bhatia, Gandhi reached Nandana village, where he addressed school children.

"Our country has made huge progress in the last 70 years. When we got independence, we didn't have many good schools, big universities or companies. Whatever exists today is because of the hard work of your parents as well as grandparents," he said.

Tomorrow, Gandhi will visit towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot.

Notably, Gandhi was greeted by Hardik Patel, leader of the Patel quota agitation, on his Gujarat visit. "A warm welcome to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat," Patel tweeted in Hindi this morning.

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Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh has summoned the ninth session of the Legislative Assembly, an official release said today.

The session will start on October 23, the release said.

The Rajasthan Assembly secretariat has received the notification, it said.

The eighth session of the Assembly was adjourned on April 26.

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Kriti Sanon is proud that her "Bareilly Ki Barfi" co-star Rajkummar Rao's latest "Newton" is India's official selection for the Oscars and says the actor's success is well deserved.

In the black comedy, currently in theatres, Rajkummar plays the role of an honest government clerk, who tries to run a free and fair election in a conflict area in Chhattisgarh.

"I congratulated him. I am really happy and proud. I think he is a fantastic actor. He is super talented... I am so happy he is getting everything he deserves," Kriti told reporters here last night.

She was speaking at Vogue Women of the Year Awards.

Post "Bareilly Ki Barfi", Rajkummar had "Newton" and her other co-star from the film, Ayushmann Khurrana had "Shubh Mangal Saavdhan" as their next releases.

While there is speculation about Kriti's next from doing Raj & DK's "Farzi" to being a part of Vishal Bhardwaj's forthcoming production opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui the actor is tight lipped about her future project.

"I have signed a film but unfortunately I can't speak anything about it. I can only say it's a script that I have genuinely loved. I have never ever played anything close to that character and the look is also going to be very different from what I have done so far," she said.

"All those films that are being speculated about, it's none of them. It's different," the actor added.

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The Reserve Bank on Monday amended the statutes making it possible for lenders to invest in Reits and InvIts capping such exposures to 10 per cent of the unit capital of such instruments, and also to regulate their commodity derivatives play.

In amendments to the Master Direction- Reserve Bank of India (Financial Services provided by banks) Directions, 2016, the central bank said banks should not invest more than 10 per cent of the unit capital of a real estate investment trust (Reit) or an infrastructure investment trust (InvIt) subject to overall ceiling of 20 per cent of its net worth.

The master directions first issued in May last year did not provide for investments in the Reits and InvIts, both newly introduced instruments.

The RBI also prohibited banks from becoming a professional clearing member of commodity derivatives segment of Sebi-recognised exchanges unless it satisfies certain prudential criteria.

These include bank satisfying membership criteria of the exchanges and complying with the regulatory norms laid down by Sebi and the respective stock exchanges and putting in place board-approved risk control measures, among others.

The RBI also prohibited banks from offering broking services for commodity derivatives segment of Sebi recognised stock exchanges except through a separate subsidiary set-up for the purpose or one of its existing subsidiaries.

Laying down the conditions for allowing broking services, it said there should be an effective risk control measures, including prudential norms on risk exposure, in respect of each of its clients, taking into account their net worth and business turnover.

The central bank also barred the subsidiary from undertaking proprietary positions in commodity derivatives.

The amendments also remove references to corporate debt restructuring and strategic debt restructuring in the earlier master directions.
Tamil Nadu government today set up an inquiry commission headed by a retired high court judge to probe AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa's death, amid renewed demands for a thorough investigation after a state minister claimed their party leaders had lied about her health condition.

Justice (Retd.) Arumugasamy will head the inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Jayalalithaa on December 5 last year after 75 days of treatment at corporate Apollo Hospitals here.

An official release said: "To conduct inquiry and submit a report on the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, an inquiry commission headed by retired high court judge Justice Arumugasamy has been constituted."



A government order had been issued for this purpose, it added.

Doubts have been raised over the events leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation on Sept 22, 2016 and her death by various quarters with opposition parties including the DMK demanding a CBI probe.

The probe into the AIADMK supremo's demise was a key pre-condition of rebel leader and now Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for the merger of two factions led by him and Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

Four days ahead of the merger, Palaniswami had on August 17 announced that a commission of inquiry would go into the death of Jayalalithaa.

After Panneerselvam had made a demand for a probe claiming there were doubts in the minds of people, the Apollo Hospitals had arranged a media conference in February last seeking to put to rest any such apprehensions.

A team of doctors, including UK-based specialist Richard Beale, who had treated Jayalalithaa, had explained in detail the medical attention given to her during hospitalisation.

Today's announcement by the government came amid renewed demands by opposition parties for a probe after Forest Minister Dindigul C Srinivasan last week told a public meeting in Madurai that AIADMK leaders had lied about Jayalalithaa's well being during her hospitalisation.

He had claimed that they had only repeated what Jayalalithaa's close aide V K Sasikala wanted them to state.

The minister had also demanded that the Sasikala camp make public the video evidence which it claimed to possess on the treatment of the late leader.

The government's announcement came even as sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran earlier in the day asserted he would submit before any probe agency a video of Jayalalithaa shot by his aunt Sasikala.

He also sought an inquiry commission headed by a serving senior judge.

Dhinakaran said his family was in possession of a video of hospitalised Jayalalithaa shot by Sasikala and was ready to submit it before any probe agency, including the CBI.

He claimed it had not been released so far since Jayalalithaa at that time was clad in a "nightie".

"Amma (Jayalalithaa) had lost a lot of weight... it was a video shot by my aunt (Sasikala) herself. You all know none would have seen Amma in a nightie, not any functionary.

"Even when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Amma following her accident in 1989, she was fully attired... she always maintained that dignity," Dhinakaran said.

The video of Jayalalithaa, attired in a "loose nightie", was shot by Sasikala after the former was shifted from the ICU to a room in the hospital, he told reporters here.

According to Dhinakaran, when the opposition had earlier raised doubts over Jayalalithaa's treatment and death, Sasikala had suggested that "we ourselves should seek a judicial probe" into the matter.

"If that video is released by us now, there would be a debate on its authenticity," he said, adding it could be given to the probe panel.

"We are ready to submit it at an appropriate forum, whether the CBI or even Interpol. We have nothing to fear," he said.

Srinivasan had also claimed that out of fear of Sasikala, they had publicly stated that Jayalalithaa ate idlies, consumed tea and was given sweets.

No one was allowed to meet the late chief minister. Whoever came, would be briefed by Sasikala's relatives that she was "all right", he had said seeking the pardon of public.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals for fever and dehydration on September 22, 2016. After a prolonged hospitalisation, she had died on December 5, 2016 following a cardiac arrest.

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Armed criminals looted Rs 20 lakh from an United Bank of India branch in Bihar's Begusarai district while the money was being carried to another branch of the same bank today.

Six men on two motorcycles waylaid a Scorpio vehicle on which three bank employees of Rajendra Road, Barauni branch of United Bank of India were taking the cash to another branch at Alapur, Phulwaria police station Officer-in-Charge Vivek Bharti said.

In scare the bank staff, the criminals fired on the bonnet of the Scorpio and also in the air and then decamped with the cash, the OC said.

A search for the culprits is on, he added.

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Russian investigators said today they have detained a couple on suspicion of murdering a woman and eating her flesh after finding selfies with the victim's body parts.

The Investigative Committee in the southern Krasnodar region arrested the 35-year-old man and his wife after a lost phone containing the photographs was handed in to police.

They believe the man killed the woman in a drunken fight in wasteland on September 8 and then cut up her body while his wife was present.

"After carrying out the crime, the man took photographs of himself with some fragments of the dead woman's body with his cell phone camera," investigators said.

The phone was traced to the couple living in a hostel at a nearby military facility, where a raid uncovered body parts in a salt solution.

A source in the law enforcement authorities told RIA Novosti agency these included "a jar containing a preserved hand".

In the kitchen, officers said they also found "bits of food and frozen pieces of meat of unknown origin," which they are now testing to find out whether it is human or animal flesh.

The man claimed he found the body parts in a forest park.

Investigators said they were giving the case top priority and would check information about the suspects' possible involvement in other crimes.

Police have uncovered numerous cases of cannibalism in Russia in recent years.

In June 2010 a court delivered long jail sentences to three homeless men who killed and ate a man and then sold his body parts to a kebab stall in a region of the Urals mountains.

Cannibalism is not a separate criminal offence under Russian law.

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Search teams are still digging in dangerous piles of rubble hoping against the odds to find survivors at collapsed buildings, while officials say they have so far cleared only 103 of Mexico City's nearly 9,000 schools to reopen today.

The need to inspect 98 per cent of the capital's public and private schools nearly a week after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake killed at least 182 people in the city and 138 in nearby states was a stark indicator of just how long the path back to normalcy will be.

Federal Education Secretary Aurelio Nuno said yesterday that it could take a couple more weeks to inspect all of the schools. As school inspections progress, the government will announce each day which schools have been cleared to resume classes. For schools found to have structural damage, students could be put in temporary classrooms.

"For the safety of the boys, the girls, the teachers and for the peace of mind, of course, of all the fathers and all the mothers, all schools will be inspected," Nuno said.

Rescue operations remained active in at least three sites in Mexico City -- two apartment buildings and an office building -- but hope dimmed every time rescuers had to retreat due to instability of debris. But no one has been found alive since Wednesday, when a woman was pulled from debris.

As darkness fell yesterday, prayers were held by families who have been gathered near the collapsed office hoping missing relatives will be found. A crowd of onlookers watching swelled, and so did the number of volunteer workers. Teachers at one corner tried to entertain children of some of the waiting families. There also appeared to be more people offering psychological support.

Hugo Luna, whose cousin Erika Gabriela Albarran was believed trapped in the fallen building, complained that officials had not immediately informed families when two bodies were removed on Saturday night. "There is a lot of distrust of authorities," he said.

His aunt, who was also inside the building when the quake hit but escaped, is traumatised, he said.

"Nothing happened to her, but now she has panic attacks," Luna said. "You open the door, she hears a noise and she gets scared."



For the family of Adrian Moreno, a missing 26-year-old human resources worker at an accounting firm, the emotional roller coaster is getting to be too much. Moreno's mother had a look of anguish and largely stopped being able to speak. His boyfriend, Dario Hernandez, also looked lost, his gaze tear- stained and unfocused.

"Just hearing the earthquake alarm was horrible," Hernandez said of a siren that rang during a 6.1 quake on Saturday morning that was an aftershock of an even bigger temblor that struck in southern Mexico on September 7.

Looking at the huge pile of rubble, Hernandez started to comment. "Something moves and ...," he said, his voice trailing away at the unspeakable thought that the whole pile could suddenly collapse.

"There is a lot of nervousness, a lot of desperation," he finally said. "... This is the worst thing I have ever seen in my life, the worst."



A total of 38 buildings in the Mexican capital -- mostly apartment blocks or office buildings -- collapsed in Tuesday's earthquake.

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Self-styled godman Swami Kaushlendra Prapannachari Falahari Maharaj, who was arrested on charges of raping a law student, has undergone a virility test, the police said today.

The samples will be sent to a forensic laboratory for confirmatory tests, SHO of Aravali Vihar police station Shishram Meena said.

The self-styled godman was arrested on Saturday by the Alwar Police after a 21-year-old women from Chhattisgarh, whose parents were his followers, filed a rape complaint earlier this month.

Police have seized laptops, CDs, other gadgets and CCTV footage from Falahari Maharaj's room and sent it for forensic examination, Meena said.

His judicial remand will end on October 6, he said.

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BJP chief Amit Shah today spoke against "selective" intolerance, saying it was "hotly debated" during elections but not taken up when his party workers were killed in Kerala and West Bengal.

Selective intolerance was not good for democracy, he told the party's national executive here.

Shah's remarks come against the backdrop of political violence in Kerala and West Bengal and the killing of journalists in Bengaluru and Tripura.

Certain acts of intolerance were glossed over and some others were passionately debated, a party statement quoted Shah as saying.

"When our workers are killed in Kerala or West Bengal, when atrocities take place against them, when Kashmiri Pandits are evicted, then intolerance is not talked about. But whenever we approach elections, intolerance is hotly debated.

"If there's no consistency in raising the issue of intolerance then no one has any right to raise it," he said.

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The PNGUoT is a case in point. In 1965 in colonial times, the PNGUoT was founded as an Institute by an Act of the House of Assembly, and in 1969 the 220 hectare campus in Lae was opened by the Paul Hasluck, the Governor General of Australia.

Many of these universities are now decrepit, their curriculum sclerotic, and their operations have atrophied. How to transform them into functional institutions producing employable graduates is a major challenge.

Many of these universities have not developed further, have completely run-down infrastructure, and produce substandard graduates.

LAE - The Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT or UNITECH) was modelled on similar institutes or universities of technology set up all over the commonwealth during the 20th century.

This article originally appeared in the Bulletin of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, No 191, August 2017

It was set up on a grand scale for about 3,000 students, which coincidentally is its current student population.

Papua New Guinea became independent in 1975, but in the subsequent 36 years the state did not invest any funding in maintaining, expanding, refurbishing or building new academic buildings or infrastructure.

When I arrived on the campus of the PNGUoT for the first time in June 2011, I could see there was something fundamentally amiss: all campus roads were riddled with potholes, there was barely any usable internet, the staff restaurant had been closed for years, there was no ATM, the library had no recent books, there were no projectors in the classrooms, there were no IT systems to support University operations, PCs were old and operating without UPS or virus protection, etc.

Moreover, students were often standing outside under the trees in groups, because classes were cancelled whenever there was a power cut, and there were many power cuts every day. Unsurprisingly, later clear evidence of fraud and mismanagement of funds was identified.

Later, I found out the Registrar, who was also Pro Vice Chancellor Administration, was running the university in an arbitrary fashion, since the Vice Chancellor was hardly ever there, preferring to stay in a hotel in the capital, Port Moresby.

The principle of shared governance and decision-making through committees had been abandoned. The Vice Chancellor had a closed door policy, isolating himself from staff and students, and was manipulated by gatekeepers.

Much has changed now. With support of the new University Council and the hard work of a management team chosen by myself, we have been able to lead several transformative initiatives.

From the start, we put basic command and control technology in place: we connected all heads of department to email and internet through a mobile phone closed user group. We repaired the roads, reopened the staff restaurant, had ATMs installed, built 23 new staff houses so as to be able to hire fully qualified Faculty. Most departments have a website now, and an informative video.

With the new management team we achieved a second communications revolution. In 2014, we started to build a new website, which is now coming close to completion. We have been able to provide broad band internet through a campus wide wifi network and through the O3b satellite system. We are the first university in the world to use this system, which is the only option for us due to decrepit national network infrastructure and our remote location.

We started to provide laptops with Ubuntu open source operating system for all the incoming 1st years students, so that all teaching materials can be distributed electronically rather than through unreadable photocopies. Lecturers have started to use Google Classroom and Moodle as learning management systems. We received some infrastructure funding most years, but many investments we made by achieving internal savings.

Our approach can be summarized in four elements (GASB): Governance; Accounts; Strategy Implementation; Building Blocks.

Governance

You cannot run a university if Council keeps interfering in management affairs, and if you don't have a good understanding between the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor. In addition, an honest Bursar and internal Auditor, a University lawyer, and a competent Human Resources person are required.

Most of my first term was devoted to re-appointing Sir Nagora Bogan the legitimate Chancellor, who subsequently reconstituted a new legitimate Council for the University, and appointed essential officers. Sir Nagora had been appointed in 2007, but was kept from chairing the Council by frivolous court action.

In the process of dismissing the University Council, the former Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor unsuccessfully tried to dismiss me after barely two months, and when unsuccessful, were able to keep my out of the country for over a year making all kinds of baseless allegations in my regard.

After a class boycott of five weeks in 2014, however, I was able to come back to my office on 4 April, one day after the legitimate Council of the University has been convened by the new Chancellor. This episode was dubbed by the press the UNITECH saga and Times Higher Education devoted an article to it in 2013.

Sir Nagora, the new Chancellor was keen on separating management matters from Council matters. He also successfully kept politicians out of the Council and the management, and increased the role of the private sector in Council. He focused the University's attention on its primary mission of producing highly employable graduates or competent entrepreneurs.

Finally, Council started to hold management accountable, and I became the first Vice Chancellor to have a performance review. The management team has individual Key Performance Indicators and are held accountable each year.

The principle of dual governance and the independence of the Academic Board is now again respected. The independent AB has been able to achieve important academic quality improvements, changing the culture from trust me to show me concerning teaching.

Rather than one quality Czar, we chose to have an Academic Quality Assessment Team, which performs internal academic audits each semester. After 2 years over 50% of subjects now have auditable subject files. With the support of ExxonMobil these audits will be followed through with external assessors.

Accounts

The accounts of the University were a mess, and the Bursary was populated by people who created the problem in the first place, but had no idea of how to take corrective measures. The first step was to appoint an internal auditor, and a competent deputy Bursar. Council started hiring a new Bursar.

In addition, we engaged a financial consultant who during the transition period prepared all financial reports. While in 2012, the last available audited account was from 2006 and received an adverse opinion, in 2017 we have caught up with our accounts and the 2014 account received only a mildly qualification.

Strategy Implementation

Anyone can formulate a vision or produce a glossy strategy booklet. The vision thing is the easy bit. The two key concepts in our strategy process were to keep it simple, and to see strategy as learning. If you can't say what your strategy is in a few sentences, you will be unable to implement it. Bad strategy or waffle must be avoided.

A good strategy is a game plan, it communicates how the organization can be successful in a new environment. For our University, it means first leveraging our geographical proximity to the main industries and the port, and developing close and warm relationships so as to continuously receive feedback on our programs.

Secondly, we want to develop unique IT capabilities and apply technology in all our mission critical processes: operations, teaching, research, and outreach. We introduced new IT systems for payroll and human resource management, and are considering options for open source university management system such as Kuali.org.

Thirdly, it means that the expansion of the University on the main campus had to be guided by a Master Plan. In addition, we opened the first provincial satellite campus on 7 April 2017.

The Master Plan was approved in November 2015, and includes a Uni-City smart city development in the South of the campus, an Innovation Hub, Great Hall, Sport Centre, and a Dining Hall in the academic core, and office and residential development in the North of the Campus. The Master Plan also assures there will be level playing field for all companies who wish to participate in a tender.

Building Blocks

Building blocks means that first basic facilities need to be provided, such as library facilities, modern functional lecture halls, and campus wide internet through Wifi. This is a major struggle, because of a difficult operating environment, and not having the right managers and staff on board.

Secondly, a framework for academic quality improvement was established through an institutional audit done by the Department of Higher Education in 2014. The University's commitment, and our commitment to obtain international accreditation for all engineering programs by 2019 has been guiding academic quality improvement and the introduction of a competence based curriculum.

The ingroup/outgroup boundaries must be explicitly defined. With good students and good Faculty, good learning will be take place. Therefore, clear criteria for appointment and promotion of academics must be established, then student selection must be based on merit only.

Thirdly, sensible human resource policies were streamlined and implemented. Academics are now appointed based on publication points and years of teaching experience. While hiring qualified academics on the international market, we consistently increased the number of graduates and staff doing higher degrees abroad to more than a dozen per year.

We made arrangements for tuition waivers with universities in Australia and New Zealand, and have tapped into various scholarship programs offered by Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Japan, Korea and the European Union. Students are now selected on basis of academic merit and potential only.

In 2016, we were able to have an independent organization (Australian Council for Educational Research ACER in Melbourne) submit all our candidates to STAT-P a standardized aptitude test. We saw immediate effects in terms of the self-confidence of the first year students, and absence of stragglers.

Thirdly, all executives, managers and all support staff are being trained in the basics of financial and administrative procedures. This last building block must not be underestimated. When transforming a university, the executives usually trained as academics can not afford the luxury of focusing exclusively on academic matters but must all be versed in principles of good administration.

A lot was achieved by the PNGUoT in the last five years, but we still struggle with structurally insufficient funding, and attempts at interference by politicians.

A new higher education act passed in 2014, for example, envisages the direct appointment of the Chancellor and Pro Chancellor by the government, and requires its approval of the Vice Chancellor's appointment. Evidently, this erodes institutional autonomy and academic independence.

With strong strategic leadership by Council and a committed management team, and ample support from industry, however, we are confident the transformation of the only University of Technology in the South Pacific will be achieved before the end of my final term in 2020.
An illegal Bangladeshi entrant who had been shot at by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Kisanganj district died at a hospital here today.

BSF men opened fire on the illegal entrant from Bangladesh near Phulwaria border outpost last evening, Deputy Commandant of 146th BSF battalion Kamlesh Meena said.

The Bangladeshi was shot at when he did not stop despite warning by the border guards, he said.

The injured man was taken to Kisanganj Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries today, Meena said.

The man has been identified as Mohammad Razzak (25), a resident of Baliayadangi district of Bangladesh.

Videography of post-mortem of the dead was done today in presence of Block Development Officer and Circle Officer.

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Engineering and technology firm on Monday said it has sold its Worli office property for Rs 610 crore to Whispering Heights Real Estate Pvt Ltd, a joint venture of Reco Solis Pte Ltd and K Raheja Corp Group.

The company said in a BSE filing that it has transferred and assigned its leasehold interest in the property to Whispering Heights.

Reco Solis Pte Ltd is an affiliate of GIC, Singapore.

Last December had entered into a pact with Whispering Heights to sell the Mumbai property.

" Ltd and Whispering Heights Real Estate Pvt Ltd, have today executed a MoU for the transfer and assignment of the Company's leasehold interest in the Property located at Plot No 130, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai - 400018 for a total consideration of Rs 610 Crore in favour of the Proposed Assignee," it had said in a regulatory filing in December.

(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.)
Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia today urged Lt Governor Anil Baijal to put on hold a recruitment process for lawyers being carried out by the services department, saying it suffers from legal infirmities.

In his letter to Baijal, Sisodia, who also holds the services portfolio, alleged that officials had refused to show the file on the recruitment process to him, citing the LG's orders.

Sisodia, in the letter, asked why the LG had directed officers not to show any files to ministers.

Sisodia's letter comes just days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to the LG, urging Baijal to send him the file on empowering heads of government hospitals to hire contractual staff.

Kejriwal had also alleged that officials had refused to show the file to him citing the LG's orders.

An official said that on September 14, the services department had issued a notice inviting applications for the posts of standing counsels and additional counsels despite the fact that the government already a set of such lawyers.

"Their appointments were done by the Lt Governor after an elaborate process of advertisement, interviews and selection. These advocates cater to the needs of all Delhi government departments.

"Then why does the services department need a separate set of advocates?," Sisodia said in the letter.

The deputy chief minister also said he was all the "more shocked" because he was minister in-charge of services and he had completely been kept in the dark about the matter.

In the letter, Sisodia alleged that when he called for the file, officers concerned refused to show it to him, saying the Lt Governor has directed them not to do so.

"I understand that the whole process suffers from serious legal infirmities. I am told that the law department had strongly opposed this proposal.

"Therefore, I would urge you (LG) to kindly put the process of recruitment on hold till I have seen the file and given my opinion," the deputy chief minister said.

As per the August 4 Delhi High Court order last year, the Lt Governor is the administrative head of Delhi.

Land, law and order and services directly come under the control of the LG.

The law department had opposed the services department's proposal, saying, "The proposal of the services department is not in consonance with the aforesaid (laid down rules) statutory position."



"Therefore the services department may be informed to reconsider their proposal in the light of above factual and statutory position. Being a matter of policy, the law minister may also like to see (the proposal) for inputs if any.

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Russian conglomerate Sistema JSFC in association with Saamag Group is planning to bring 'Acoola' branded kids retail outlets to India.

Acoola is a clothing, footwear, and accessories brand for kids aged between 2-14 years in Russia and is coming to India through Sistema JSFC's subsidiary company Concept Group, a statement said.

The company is planning to open at least 10 stores in India over the next one year, it added.

Commenting on the development Concept Group CEO Emin Rustamov said: "With over 260 Acoola stores already operational in Russia, the company has now drawn extensive plans to go international, with India being one of the key markets for the brand."



The first would be opened at Noida and at least 10 stores will be opened by the end of 2018 across Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, the statement said.

Besides, the company has also plans to tap the ecommerce platforms like Myntra, Jabong etc.

Headquartered in Moscow, Sistema Joint Stock Financial Corporation of Russia (SISTEMA JSFC) is one of the largest conglomerates in Russia and has business interests in a range of sectors including telecommunications, utilities, retail, high tech, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, railway transportation, agriculture, finance, mass media and tourism.

The consolidated revenues of the group as in 2016 stood at approximately USD 12 billion.

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Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold talks with her US counterpart James Mattis here tomorrow with the focus on taking bilateral military ties to the next level.

During his India visit from September 26-27, the US Defence Secretary will also meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.

This is the first Cabinet-level visit from the US to India under the Trump administration.

Prior to holding talks, Mattis will lay a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and inspect tri-service guard of honour at the South Block lawns.

Discussions between the two sides are expected to focus on developing new institutional mechanisms to elevate the status of India-US defence relationship, the sources said.

The focus will also be on taking the ties to the next level and the sale of high-tech defence equipment.

Mattis is also expected to discuss how to move forward on India's major defence partner designation, the sources said.

The two leaders are likely to discuss the US' new Afghan strategy and the developments in the Indo-Pacific, amid increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

Trump, while announcing his new Afghan policy, had asked India to do more to help Afghanistan with its developmental needs.

While no specific defence trade deal is likely to be announced during Mattis' India visit, the sources said there would be discussions on two specific proposals of F-16 and F- 18A under Modi's Make in India campaign, along with efforts to identify new projects under the ambitious Defence Technology and Trade Initiatives (DTTI).

The Trump administration wants to sell F-18 and F-16 fighter planes to India, built by American companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin respectively. Both companies have offered to assemble these planes in India.

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Hindustan Copper Ltd's Surda mine in Jharkhand, which resumed production this month following trouble with the previous contractor in June, is nearing 80 per cent capacity and headed towards full capacity by October, a top official today said.

"Production was in doldrums since last April due to former contractor. It is in process of ramping up and is currently close to 80 per cent utilisation and by October, it is expected to be close to full-capacity," a senior Hindustan Copper official told PTI.

With production coming back on track with 200-210 tonnes, the monthly impact on revenue will be around Rs 6-7 crore, the official said.

The Perth-headquartered contractor India Resource Limited (IRL) had terminated the contract of the mine.

Hindustan Copper appointed Sriram EPC, an Indian company, to operate the Surda mine on a short term contract of six months till the copper refiner was able to finalise a long-term contract.

IRL terminated the Surda mine contract in June this year citing significant cash flow issues following industrial unrest and Hindustan Copper's failure to reimburse a 40 per cent statutory increase in wages.

Hindustan Copper had said that IRL had arbitrarily terminated the contract in June but since April, production was less than one-fourth of the capacity.

The company has maintained that the notice for termination was unilateral, wrongful and in breach of a contract for which Hindustan Copper was entitled to claim liquidated damages from IRL.

In the wake of a face-off with IRL, the Hindustan Copper board has decided that, going forward, it would be mandatory for a foreign contractor to tie-up with an Indian entity to become eligible to bid with the state-owned copper major.

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The administration today extended the suspension of Internet services in the Darjeeling Hills, imposed on June 18, till October 4, District Magistrate Joyoshi Das Gupta said.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), spearheading the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state in the hills, has repeatedly demanded the resumption of Internet services.

A senior police officer said there were no reports of violence or any untoward incident in the Darjeeling Hills, where an indefinite shutdown entered day 103rd day today.

"We are maintaining a strict vigil," the officer said.

Several shops and markets in the hills opened during the day despite threats and intimidation by activists of the GJM.

Das Gupta said that over 80 per cent of the shops in the hills remained open.

Asked about the threats and intimidation to traders and shop owners by the GJM, Das Gupta said, "Actually, the municipalities are controlled by the GJM and the trade licenses are issued by municipalities. The GJM has threatened that it will keep a tab on those shops which defy the strike call and try to open and that in the next one to two years it will cancel their trade licence."



For the 14th day in a row, the civil and police administrations appealed to the locals over public address systems to open shops and restore normalcy in the hills.

Peace rallies were taken out by residents in Kurseong, Darjeeling and Mirik, while GJM supporters took out rallies in support of a separate Gorkhaland and the ongoing shutdown in parts of Darjeeling, Sonada and Kalimpong, the police said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the agitators in Darjeeling to withdraw their strike and restore normalcy.

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Actor Taron Egerton bought his mother a house to thank her for helping him get through drama school.

The "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" star said his family helped him in realising his acting dreams, reported People magazine.

"I bought my mother a house last year, I'm very proud to say... My mother especially, they were all very excited about it. My auntie, my father, my mother, my stepfather, it's about 40-50 pounds (to audition), probably USD 90 or something like that, and they each gave me the money to go and audition.

"And they each helped me get accommodation down there when I wasn't able, I stayed with friends and things, it was a real family effort to pay for me to audition for drama school



when I got this place at RADA, and I was very lucky - I (auditioned) at a couple other places, but it felt like something that we'd achieved and it's still, the success I've had still very much feels like my family's success," Egerton said.

The actor said his family wanted him to do something that made him happy.

"I'm not from an affluent background in any way, so there was never that (directive from my family) to, 'Go and be a lawyer because you'll make more money.'



"There was never any expectation I would make money so it was (encouragement) to go and do what makes you happy and I think they felt I was good at it, and that was lovely to have that support," he said.

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Iraq's Kurds defied widespread opposition to vote in a historic independence referendum, sparking fresh tensions with Baghdad, threats from Turkey and fears of unrest.

The vote in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq and some disputed areas is non-binding and will not lead automatically to independence, but is seen by the Kurds as a major step towards a long-cherished dream of statehood.

Voters flocked to the polls, eager to show off their ink-stained fingers after casting their ballots, and an overwhelming "Yes" outcome is expected.

Polling stations for the five-million electorate closed at 7:00 pm (GMT) after voting was extended for an hour. Results were expected within 24 hours, with an overwhelming "yes" vote not in doubt.

The vote took place peacefully and in a festive atmosphere, but signs of potential trouble mounted as the day progressed.

In New York, UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed concern about the "potentially destabilising effects" of the referendum.

Expressing respect for "the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Iraq", he called for differences to be resolved through "structured dialogue and constructive compromise".

Lawmakers in Baghdad, which has declared the vote unconstitutional, demanded the government send troops to disputed areas where the referendum was taking place.

In Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkey -- which fears the effects of the vote on its own sizeable Kurdish population -- would shut its border with Iraqi Kurdistan and threatened to block key exports.

And in Kirkuk, a disputed city where the vote controversially went ahead, security forces deployed on the streets after a curfew was imposed in parts of the city.

Soon after voting began in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, many men headed to polling stations dressed in traditional Kurdish dress of brown shirt and billowing trousers.

"I came very early to be the first to vote for a Kurdish state," said Diyar Abubakr, 33.

"It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion."



One voter even brought a cow to slaughter before the start of the referendum.

Veteran Iraqi Kurd leader Massud Barzani, who initiated the vote, smiled as he cast his ballot early in the morning, wearing a traditional headscarf.

He pushed ahead with the referendum despite the opposition from Baghdad and Ankara, but also from Iran which has its own large Kurdish minority, and Western countries who fear the vote could hamper the fight against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in which cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurds has been key.

Polling stations were scattered across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan -- Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk -- as well as in disputed border zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

A total of 12,072 polling stations were open for more than 5.3 million registered voters.

As voting progressed, Iraq's parliament ordered Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to "deploy forces" in areas disputed with the Kurds.

Asked about the risks of armed conflict, Abadi's spokesman Saad al-Hadithi told AFP: "If there are clashes in these zones, it will be the job of federal forces to apply the law."



Karim al-Nuri, a head of the Badr Brigade which forms part of the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units, suggested the group was ready to deploy to "Kirkuk and the disputed zones occupied by armed gangs, outlaws who do not respond to the army command."



Kirkuk, home to Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, has been a particular point of concern and late yesterday police said a curfew was being imposed in the centre of the city and in Arab and Turkmen areas "to ensure security, monitor the situation and protect the citizens of Kirkuk".

A senior official in Kirkuk later said the situation was stable and that the curfew would be lifted within hours. "Tomorrow will be a normal work day in Kirkuk," he said.

Abadi on Sunday pledged to take all the "necessary measures" to protect the country's unity, as his government urged all countries to deal only with it on oil transactions.

The Iraqi Kurds export an average 600,000 barrels per day through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

Erdogan yesterday threatened to halt these lifeline oil exports, angrily denouncing an "illegitimate" referendum.

The Turkish president also said Turkey's Habur border crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan would be closed.

Tehran has also increased pressure, announcing on Sunday it had blocked all flights to and from the region at Baghdad's request.

However, the referendum sparked celebrations in the Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli, in solidarity with their brethren across the border.

"We've been waiting for this moment for more than 100 years, to celebrate the independence of Kurdistan," said one of the revellers, Rezkar Pigeot, 40, as young Kurds sang and danced in the streets.

Left without a state of their own when the borders of the Middle East were redrawn after World War I, the Kurds see themselves as the world's largest stateless people.

The non-Arab ethnic group number between 25 and 35 million people spread across Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria.

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A nearby school has raised questions about how it would be impacted by the state's decision to reopen the Harriet Tubman Residential Center in Sennett as a limited secure facility for youth offenders.

The Montessori School of the Finger Lakes is on Pine Ridge Road not far from the vacant center. The school moved to its existing building in 2010.

Amanda Gould, assistant head of school at the Montessori campus in Sennett, said the biggest concern about the state's plans for the center is the safety of the school's 55 students. She worried that parents could be "a little bit apprehensive" about having their children attend a school within close proximity to a facility housing youth offenders.

"Our property is not fenced in and there is no barrier between our property," she said, adding that the Tubman center can be seen from the school's parking lot and playground.

The state Office of General Services is seeking bids for $12 million in improvements at the center, which has been shuttered since 2011. The state Office of Children and Family Services, which will manage the site, said the facility's main building and its outdoor recreational space will be surrounded by a 12-foot-tall chain link, alarmed fence topped with razor wire.

The fence will be equipped with 20-foot-high pole-mounted exterior LED lighting fixtures. A closed-circuit camera system will be used to monitor the property.

Two of the buildings on the Tubman center's campus will house 22 residents between the ages of 16 and 21, according to the state Office of Children and Family Services. These buildings will be equipped with administrative offices, dining and kitchen areas, classrooms and medical facilities.

Two other buildings on the campus will be used for maintenance and vehicle garages.

"Under New York's therapeutic model of care, youth in OCFS facilities receive services that are educational, vocational and recreational," the agency said in a statement. "Youth are also provided medical, mental health, counseling and substance abuse services as needed. This array of services is designed to prepare and equip youth for a successful life upon their release."

The need for additional limited secure facilities stems from the decision to raise the age of criminal responsibility in New York. Before the change, 16- and 17-year-olds could be charged as adults for crimes.

Raising the age of criminal responsibility will be phased in beginning with 16-year-olds in 2018 and 17-year-olds in 2019. Limited secure facilities, such as the Tubman center, will house youth offenders convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses.

Until the Tubman center closed in 2011, it was used as a detention center for girls. The new use of the facility and the upgrades planned at the site has Gould and others at the Montessori school concerned about how it may affect enrollment.

While there's uncertainty about the project and what it would mean for the school, Gould didn't rule out the possibility of relocation.

"We're growing and we're becoming popular within the community," she said. "If we would have to uproot, I don't think it would be beneficial to anyone involved ... If our enrollment is affected greatly because of that then yes, we may have to move."
Three Bangladeshi soldiers on a peacekeeping mission have been killed in a militant attack in strife-torn Mali, the country's military said here.

Four others, including a major, were injured yesterday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, the Inter-Service Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), the Banladeshi military's media wing, said in a statement.

Those injured were being treated at a hospital in Gao city of Mali, BDnews24.com reported.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack.

The Secretary-General extended his condolences to the government of Bangladesh and to the bereaved families, and wished swift recovery to the injured, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Guterres reaffirmed the UN's determination to support efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and security in Mali and urged the government and the signatory armed groups to expedite the implementation of the peace agreement, it said.

The UN deployed peacekeepers in Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, in 2013 after the Malian and French forces launched an operation in response to territorial gains by Islamist rebels.

According to the UN, 15,209 uniformed personnel are working in the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The number of Bangladeshis working in the UN peacekeeping missions is 7,636.

Until August 31 this year, 129 Bangladeshis have lost their lives in UN peacekeeping missions, and six of those casualties have been in MINUSMA, the report said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Comedy series "Transparent" has been renewed for a fifth run at Amazon, ahead of its fourth- season premiere.

The new installment of the Emmy-winning series will begin production next year and is expected to premiere later in 2018, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The half-hour-long show stars Jeffrey Tambor as Mort, the patriarch of the Pfefferman family, who comes out as transgender and begins to live life as Maura.

Judith Light plays Maura's former wife Shelly, with actors Gaby Hoffman, Jay Duplass and Amy Landecker playing their children.

The entire Pfefferman family is expected to be back for the fifth season.

Confirming the news, Amazon Studios' head of comedy, drama and VR, Joe Lewis, said in a statement, "Over the past few seasons the Pfeffermans have gone across the world, back in time and made many, many trips to the deli.

"We're so excited to see what magic Jill and the incredible team bring to this always groundbreaking series in season five."



The fourth season of Jill Soloway's show will release its 10 episodes on September 22.

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US President Donald Trump has issued a new order to impose travel resctrictions on citizens from eight countries including North Korea, expanding the list of nations covered by his original travel ban that has been widely labelled a 'Muslim ban' by critics.

Trump unveiled a revamped travel ban as his controversial immigration order covering six Muslim-majority nations was coming to an end.

The new rule, which will come into effect on 18 October, will continue to target travellers from Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Iran, but also adds North Korea, Chad and Venezuela to the original list of targeted countries.

Trump's original travel ban had been signed as an executive order in the first days of his presidency.

Sudan has been dropped from the administrations new list and Iraqi citizens will be subjected to "additional scrutiny" but will not face any blanket ban.

"Following an extensive review by the Department of Homeland Security, we are taking action today to protect the safety and security of the American people by establishing a minimum security baseline for entry into the US,"Trump said.

"We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation," he said.

The White House said that for the first time in history there has been establishment of enhanced national security measures, aimed at creating minimum requirements for international cooperation to support visa and immigration vetting and adjudications for individuals seeking entry to the US.

This is a critical step toward establishing an immigration system that protects Americans' safety and security in an era of dangerous terrorism and transnational crime, it said.

The White House said North Korea did not co-operate with the US government "in any respect" and failed all requirements - and so all travel to the US by its citizens has been banned.

Tensions have flared up between the US and North Korea over the the latter's ballistic missile programme.

Trump's original ban that included Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia was highly controversial. It was subject to a range of legal challenges.

Critics have accused the president of discriminating against Muslims in violation of constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and equal protection under the law, breaking existing US immigration law and stoking religious hatred.

Trump had called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" during his election campaign.

Noting that all countries share responsibility to prevent terrorist attacks, transnational crime, and immigration fraud, the White House said if nations do not meet the US Governments traveller vetting and information sharing requirements, their nationals may not be allowed to enter the United States or may face other travel restrictions, with certain exceptions.

The new restrictions being imposed on eight countries are conditional and may be lifted as they work with the United States Government to ensure the safety of Americans.

In a statement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and National Immigration Law Center (NILC) condemned the new presidential proclamation.

"This new nonsensical ban continues to discriminate against immigrants, refugees, and visitors from a group of majority Muslim countries. We will continue to stand up for our communities and fight against any attempt at a Muslim Ban," said Elica Vafaie, Staff Attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

The new proclamation marks the administrations third move to limit travel into the US. The first one, which was chaotically rolled out in January, targeted refugees and seven Muslim-majority countries..

It was subsequently abandoned by the administration after a series of federal courts blocked it on grounds it violated the US constitutions protection of religious freedom.

The second order, issued in March, targeted six of the same countries. A limited version of the ban was allowed to come into effect over the summer following a temporary ruling by the supreme court.

The new policy is likely to throw a major hurdle in front of the ongoing supreme court challenge to Trumps second order. The nations highest court was due to hear arguments in that case on October 10.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The new chief executive of American taxi-hailing app company Uber today apologised for "mistakes" made by the firm and vowed to fight the city's decision to not renew its licence to operate in the British capital.

Dara Khosrowshahimade the apology in an open letter addressed to Londoners today, days after Uber had been deemed not "fit and proper" to operate in London by Transport for London's (TfL) last week.

"While Uber has revolutionised the way people move in cities around the world, it's equally true that we've got things wrong along the way," he wrote.

"On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologise for the mistakes we've made."



"We won't be perfect, but we will listen to you; we will look to be long-term partners with the cities we serve; and we will run our business with humility, integrity and passion".

Khosrowshahi's letter seems to mark a decisive shift in Uber's strategy and an attempt to present a more conciliatory approach.

"We will appeal (against) the decision on behalf of millions of Londoners, but we do so with the knowledge that we must also change," the letter adds.

Earlier today, London Mayor Sadiq Khan had accused Uber of adopting an agressing stance and putting "unfair pressure" on TfL.

Khan, who is also chairman of TfL, had said: "What you can't do is have a situation where unfair pressure is brought on a quasi-judicial body, where there are officials working incredibly hard.

"I appreciate Uber has an army of PR experts, I appreciate Uber has an army of lawyers they've also made aggressive threats about taking us to court."



Uber's licence to ride in London runs out on September 30 but the company can continue to operate as it appeals against TfL's decision not to renew the licence, a process that is likely to take months.

A petition calling on the London mayor to reverse the ban on Uber has now gathered more than 750,000 signatures.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The new chief executive of American taxi-hailing app company Uber today apologised for its "mistakes" but vowed to fight the London city's decision to not renew its licence to operate in one of the company's largest markets.

Dara Khosrowshahi, 48,made the apology in an open letter addressed to Londoners today, days after Uber had been deemed not "fit and proper" to operate in London by Transport for London's (TfL) last week.

The TfL deemed the US-based Uber unfit citing the firm's approach to reporting serious criminal offences and background checks on drivers.

"While Uber has revolutionised the way people move in cities around the world, it's equally true that we've got things wrong along the way," he wrote.

"On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologise for the mistakes we've made."



"We won't be perfect, but we will listen to you; we will look to be long-term partners with the cities we serve; and we will run our business with humility, integrity and passion".

Khosrowshahi's the letter seems to mark a decisive shift in Uber's strategy and an attempt to present a more conciliatory approach.

"We will appeal (against) the decision on behalf of millions of Londoners, but we do so with the knowledge that we must also change," the letter adds.

Khosrowshahi was appointed as the new CEO of the California-based company in August.

Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked the city's transport regulator to be available to meet Uber's boss after the firm apologised.

"I welcome the apology from Dara Khosrowshahi, the Uber CEO. Obviously I am pleased that he has acknowledged the issues that Uber faces in London," Khan was quoted as saying by the BBC.

"Even though there is a legal process in place, I have asked TfL to make themselves available to meet with him."



Earlier, Khan had accused Uber of adopting an aggressing stance and putting "unfair pressure" on TfL.

Khan, who is also chairman of TfL, had said, "What you can't do is have a situation where unfair pressure is brought on a quasi-judicial body, where there are officials working incredibly hard."



"I appreciate Uber has an army of PR experts, I appreciate Uber has an army of lawyers they've also made aggressive threats about taking us to court."



Uber's licence to ride in London runs out on September 30 but the company can continue to operate as it appeals against TfL's decision not to renew the licence, a process that is likely to take months.

A petition calling on the London mayor to reverse the ban on Uber has now gathered more than 750,000 signatures.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari here today, amid a deadlock over the ambitious Ken-Betwa river interlinking project.

Though Adityanath did not comment on what transpired in the meeting, ministry officials said the talks largely revolved around the stuck project.

India's first interlinking of rivers project between the Ken in Madhya Pradesh and the Betwa in Uttar Pradesh ran into trouble after the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh demanded tweaking of the Phase-I plan of the ambitious project.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had to step in to resolve the deadlock between the water resources ministry and Madhya Pradesh.

The Madhya Pradesh government had written to the Centre demanding a review of the water-sharing pact signed in 2005 between MP, UP and the Union water resources ministry, and inclusion of some new components in the Rs 16,000-crore Phase-I plan.

Uma Bharati, who was earlier the water resources minister, had said in Parliament earlier this year that the project would take off soon, and expressed unhappiness over this last minute demand from the MP government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If Mukul Roy proposes to join the BJP, a decision will be taken after discussions with the party's West Bengal leaders, a BJP leader today said after Roy announced that he will quit Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Amid speculation over Roy joining the BJP, Kailash Vijayvargiya, the party national general secretary who is in- charge of West Bengal, said "no such proposal" has come from Roy as yet.

"Mukul Roy is free to take any decision. We have not got any proposal from him yet. If any proposal comes, we will discuss with the state leaders before taking any decision on him," Vijayvargiya told PTI.

Roy today announced he would resign as Rajya Sabha MP as well as from the Trinamool's primary membership after Durga Puja following which the party suspended him for six years.

The TMC had last week censured Roy for allegedly hobnobbing with BJP leaders.

Top BJP leaders from West Bengal, who are in Delhi for the party's national executive meet, claimed that Roy's exit will certainly "split" the ruling party in West Bengal.

Talking to PTI, Rahul Sinha, BJP national secretary and a prominent state leader, said since Roy was one of the founding members of the TMC, it is a big blow for that party.

"Roy leaving the TMC or splitting the party will prove to be advantageous for the BJP," Sinha claimed.

He also thanked the BJP's central leadership for discussing the political situation in West Bengal at the national executive meet.

BJP president Amit Shah, in his speech at the meeting, strongly condemned the "politics of violence" unleashed by the Mamata Banerjee government in the state and said that the BJP will fight against the TMC democratically.

Sinha also accused the chief minister of creating a rift between communities in the state.

"Mamata Banerjee wants riots in Bengal so that she can blame it on the BJP and play politics in the state," Sinha alleged, adding, "we will not let this happen".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Insolvent German airline Air Berlin hopes to conclude talks with Lufthansa and easyJet on a carve-up of its assets by the middle of next month as it races to secure jobs and keep flying.

Air Berlin, which has around 8,000 employees, filed for insolvency in August after major shareholder Etihad said it would stop providing funding.

The German government stepped in with a 150 million euro ($178 million) loan, due to last until the end of October, to prevent the airline being grounded so that talks could be held on selling its assets.

Lufthansa has bid for units including leisure airline Niki and regional carrier LGW plus around 13 A320 jets, while easyJet has bid for 27-30 planes, Air Berlin administrator Frank Kebekus said on Monday. Talks will run until Oct 12.

Those two bids, beating out rivals such as British Airways parent IAG, Thomas Cook's Condor and other investors, offered the best prospects financially and in terms of securing jobs for Air Berlin's 8,000 staff, he said.

Lufthansa has said it will need 3,000 new employees to grow as a result of the gap left by the Air Berlin insolvency.

Its budget unit Eurowings on Monday extended a recruitment drive, saying it now had over 1,000 open positions, including for 300 pilots, 500 cabin crew and more than 200 ground staff jobs.

EasyJet's offer also involves crews and slots associated with the 27-30 planes, including a large share of Air Berlin's slots and crews at Berlin Tegel airport, Air Berlin CEO Thomas Winkelmann said. EasyJet currently flies from Schoenefeld airport in Berlin.

A source has said Lufthansa's bid is for around 200 million euros ($237 million), plus a further 100 million to meet operating costs during a transition phase.

Air Berlin said the parties had agreed not to disclose financial details but that the bidders had put forward proposals on financing the winter flight plan from the end of October. It hopes the EU will approve the carve-up by the end of the year.

Lufthansa shares hit 23.485 euros on Monday, their highest level since early 2001, on hopes it would pick up some of Air Berlin's most attractive assets and strengthen its position in Germany.

Speaking as union Verdi staged a demonstration outside, blowing whistles and waving placards, Winkelmann said Air Berlin was "fighting for every job."

Administrator Frank Kebekus said flight operations had to be kept stable to bring talks to a successful conclusion, repeating comments made after the airline's operations were hit by a wave of sickness-related absences among pilots this month.

However, Air Berlin said Monday it was halting long-haul flights from Oct 15 after lessors recalled planes. It is also stopping flights from Munich to Hamburg and Cologne/Bonn from Sept. 29 and said more would follow. ($1 = 0.8423 euros)

(Reporting by Victoria Bryan and Klaus Lauer; Editing by Keith Weir)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Taro Fuse

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp told its main banks on Monday it has not signed the $18 billion sale of its semiconductor business because Apple Inc, a member of the buyer group, has not agreed on key terms, two people involved in the deal said.

The struggling Japanese conglomerate announced last Wednesday it had chosen a consortium led by U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital LP to buy the prized chip unit - a move that would end a nine-month sale process and plug a vast hole in Toshiba's finances, preventing it from being removed from trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

But the signing of the deal to sell the world's No. 2 producer of NAND memory chips, initially expected the following day, has dragged on, forcing Toshiba to explain the predicament to its bankers on Monday, the people said.

They told that Toshiba asked the lenders to roll over 680 billion yen ($6.1 billion) in credit lines set to expire on Sept. 30.

The lenders have been demanding that Toshiba sign a definitive agreement with the Bain-led group, which also involves South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix Inc, as a condition for the funding.

Details of the issues with Apple couldn't immediately be ascertained.

Toshiba said in a statement to Reuters: "While we cannot comment on the detail of the deal procedure, we aim to sign the agreement with the purchaser as early as possible."

Apple didn't immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.

Press representatives for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp and Mizuho Bank, the biggest of Toshiba's seven main lenders, couldn't immediately be reached outside office hours.

Apple, which is considering investing in the unit through preferred shares, has not submitted the necessary commitment letter, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the talks were private.

The consortium also has not received approval from the lenders on 600 billion yen ($5.4 billion) in financing for the sale, due to legal challenges posed by unsuccessful bidder and joint-venture partner Western Digital Corp, the people said.

California-based Western Digital has taken Toshiba to court to stop any sale without its consent.

($1 = 112.0300 yen)

(Reporting by Taro Fuse; Writing by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by William Mallard and Ian Geoghegan)

(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.)
Low levels of harmful algal bloom toxins were detected in the city of Auburn's drinking water, which comes from Owasco Lake, on Friday, Sept. 22, according to the latest results posted Monday on the Cayuga County Department of Health's website.

The department reported levels of 0.17 micrograms per liter, which is still considered safe to drink.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 10-day health advisory guideline for vulnerable populations is 0.3 micrograms per liter of microcystin, the toxin most commonly found in Owasco Lake's harmful algal blooms. Should drinking water levels be detected at 0.3 or higher, local municipalities who purchase water from Auburn have emergency plans in place to provide water to residents.

Despite the result for treated water, the untreated lake water entering the plant showed no signs of toxins in the Friday morning test. Cayuga County Health Department Director Kathleen Cuddy said based on the EPA's guidelines for detection, test results are considered more accurate at 0.3 micrograms per liter or greater.

As a result of the Friday morning result, a second sample was taken in the afternoon and results showed toxins came back with non-detect levels in the raw and drinking water. Cuddy said results from the Friday morning test came in around 5 p.m. that same day, and to make sure it was a likely anomaly, the department took a second sample. Results from the state Department of Health's Wadsworth Center in Albany came back Saturday morning showing no detection.

"The two samples were taken within 12 hours of each other," Cuddy said. "It just reinforces what we suspected was likely an anomaly."

What is harmful algae and what can it do to your health? Harmful algal blooms are a kind of bacteria that usually crop up in water bodies during late

With state funding, the city installed a temporary powder activated carbon treatment system, which is supposed to keep algae toxins at bay. The system is still up and running, Cuddy said.

The town of Owasco's water treatment plant continues to show no signs of toxins in the untreated and treated water. It too, has been running its algae toxin treatment system, which uses granular activated carbon.

The department will continue its testing of the water three times per week.

"We certainly would give consideration to doing more if the information appeared some sort of a detection or more frequent detection, but even the raw water has been really good for non-detect in microcystin," Cuddy said.

Meanwhile Skaneateles Lake water continues to be clean. Test results released on Sunday and Monday showed no detection of toxins "at all points of sampling including those that are representative of drinking water reaching customers of the system," according to a joint statement from the Onondaga County Health Department and the City of Syracuse Department of Water.

State and local officials will continue daily testing of the Skaneateles Lake water until samples return non-detect consistently.
LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC's compliance with an agreement among oil producers to reduce output has been acceptable, Iran's oil minister said on Monday, adding that some changes were needed if participants seek to balance the market.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and several other producers have cut production by about 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) since the start of 2017.

Oil prices have risen by 15 percent in the past three months.

Participants have been considering extending the deal beyond the end of March 2018 when it is due to expire.

"OPEC's compliance has been acceptable overall. However, some changes are needed," Iran's oil minister Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying by SHANA, the oil ministry's agency.

"Firstly, all members should commit 100 percent to the production cut agreement and secondly, the production level of Nigeria and Libya should be brought into consideration," he said.

OPEC members Libya and Nigeria have been exempted from supply curbs as their oil industries recover from years of unrest.

OPEC also let Iran have a small output increase so it could recover market share lost while under Western sanctions.

(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, editing by Louise Heavens and Jason Neely)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reliance Jio started shipping 6 million JioPhone from Sunday. The company had revealed the device in July during its annual general meet and had promised to start the delivery in early September. Despite running late on the schedule, the company is expected to be ready with 6 million JioPhones, which should easily meet the demand of the device.

The device was unveiled at Reliance Industries Annual General Meet which also celebrated the one year launch of Reliance Jio. JioPhone is expected to disrupt the telecom sector by its aggressive pricing, similar to what happened with Jio's 4G services. In a bid to stay prepared for competition, incumbent telecom operators like Airtel, Idea-Vodafone and even BSNL are planning to launch 4G phones or smartphones at ultra-cheap prices.

However, currently only Reliance Jio is dominating the 4G feature phone market with JioPhone. According to a report by PTI, the company will start giving out devices in rural areas first as per a channel partner of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL).

According to this report, the company will be delivering these 6 million devices in a span of 10-15 days.

The company witnessed millions of pre-bookings within a few days of commercially launching the device. Currently, pre-bookings have been halted but interested buyers can register for the device and will be informed by the company when JioPhone is made available for pre-booking.

Those who have already pre-booked the device can track their delivery status. There are three ways to track the delivery status of your device.

Here's how you can track the device:

1. You can track it via the official website: On the company's website go to the track order page and enter the order number to know the latest update on your device.

2. Downnload MyJio app, if you haven't already, and using your registered number log in to the application. Users can track their respective orders from within the application.

3. The buyer can also contact 18008908900 for more details regarding their delivery date for JioPhone.

The company will also send updates regarding the device on the registered mobile number once it becomes available at a Jio store near you.

The stores will be allotted according to the pincode provided during the pre-booking. The following text is sent on registered numbers after pre-booking: "Congratulations. Pre-booking of India ka smartphone JioPhone is successful. Payment of Rs 500 received. On availability of JioPhone, you will receive an SMS with store details."

The users will also have to carry their Aadhaar card for verification and will have to pay the remaining Rs 1,000 to the allotted store to receive the device.

The device comes with a 2.4-inch QWVGA display. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz Spreadtrum SPRD 9820A/QC8905 dual-core processor that is assisted by 512MB of RAM.

The device offers 4GB of storage, which should be ample in terms of feature phones. It also has a 2Megapixel camera and a VGA front camera. The device packs a 2000mAh battery which the company claims will deliver 12 hours of talk time.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person who has embarked on a long flight must be in want of a good companion. However, seldom are we successful in our quest. Even if we are already in good company, we dare not divulge our secrets for fear of prying ears.

However, Qatar Airlines has just made our lives much easier, almost transforming a flight into a lounge.

They have introduced something called the quad, which is basically a private space for a group of friends, colleagues or family. The movable panels allow passengers to rearrange the space in a way that they end up facing each other, creating a room-like area.

Passengers can use that area for business meetings or simply to enjoy the company of their family. That space is also furbished with a media panel that has power ports, USB and HDMI.

Although that is pretty much impossible to top, passengers of Qatar Airlines will be able to rearrange the panels to create a double bed, complete with a luxurious duvet, mattress and pillow. They also offer sleepwear and slippers for the complete experience. Moreover, this space also has a door and a Do Not Disturb indicator, according to their website .

This cabin, called the Qsuite is currently present on its Boeing 777 from London to Doha. They are also planning to unveil this cabin on their fleet to London and Paris.
The Auburn Police Department is encouraging people to take the civil service exam  the first step to becoming a police officer in the city.

Last week, the police department announced there would be an exam Dec. 2, 2017. Auburn Police Chief Shawn Butler said he hopes residents of Cayuga County and its surrounding counties will take the test, expanding the list of eligible candidates.

Butler said the current list contains 132 eligible candidates; however, the department has begun to "whittle through" that list for various reasons.

"We are currently towards the bottom of the list of eligible candidates, hence the reason we're giving another test," he said, noting that some candidates do not pass the following exams and requirements while others simply do not respond to the department's inquiries.

One reason candidates may not respond to the city is because another agency got to them first, Butler added. He said there is often competition between city and state police, as the state typically pays more than local municipalities.

Then, there are agencies from other states, which have also begun recruiting efforts in central New York. The Gwinnett County Police Department  located near Atlanta, Georgia  will be visiting Watertown, Syracuse, Utica and Rochester next month to publicize their own hiring event in Rochester Oct. 14 and 15.

"It's competitive within the region, let alone other states," Butler said. "But pay up north is substantially higher than southern states, so I think that gives us an advantage. ... What we're trying to do now is make it a nicer list."

The Auburn Police Department would like to have a list of 200 to 300 candidates to choose from, Butler said, as around 20 sworn officers are eligible to retire. As of Friday, the department employed 66 sworn officers; full staff is 67.

"Right now we do have some turnover because of retirements ... so it's very competitive," Butler said. "We're making sure we have the highest quality candidate we're looking for."

Candidates must score a 70 or higher on the civil service exam to be eligible. According to Butler, much of the exam is focused on reading comprehension.

In order to help candidates prepare for the exam, the department will offer two educational seminars  one Oct. 17 and another Oct. 28. The final day to register for the exam is Nov. 2.

"These informational seminars are to help people sign up for the test and give them tips and skills and lead them in the direction to get extra help for the exam," Butler said. "We'll explain the process as well and all the intricacies of how someone is selected."

For more information about the civil service exam, call the Auburn Police Department at (315) 255-4717 or visit auburnpolice.com or auburnny.gov/public_documents/AuburnNY_CivilService.
Whereas the Armenian government cautiously seeks opportunities to maintain and develop its relations with the West, the incumbent administrations main priority is to maintain its own political and economic interests. It therefore strives to avoid internal instability or hostile reactions from Russia that could jeopardize the administrations continued rule, as well as reforms that could endanger the oligarchic systems grip on the economy. Despite the governments official statements, the signing of a pivotal partnership agreement with the EU still depends on these priorities.

BACKGROUND: The EU and Armenia initialed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement in March 2017. Armenia has also taken some steps aimed at continuing its cooperation with NATO, including the process of approving the Individual Partnership Action Plan for 2017-2019 and participation in NATOs Noble Partner exercises in Georgia in July (see the 06/22/17 and 07/11/17 Issues of the CACI Analyst). These developments gave rise to a cautious optimism that the Armenian government would seek a gradual diversification of its foreign policy, although without questioning its strategic alliance with Russia.

Most analysts are rather optimistic regarding the chances that the EU-Armenia agreement will be signed in November as planned. President Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan stated on different occasions in August that the government was determined to sign the agreement.

However, just a few weeks earlier, Minister of Justice David Harutyunyan, Deputy Chair of the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov and other top representatives of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) engaged in a protracted dispute with the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski. The EU representative spoke at a conference on the experiences gained during the recent parliamentary elections and possible further developments, and questioned the credibility of Armenias Central Election Commission (CEC). Furthermore, Switalski recommended changes to the composition of the CEC, implying the need to restore public trust in the elections.

Armenian officials responded not only by rejecting the EU representatives suggestions, which allegedly constituted an interference in Armenias internal affairs, but also with a personal attack on the ambassador. The harsh reaction was unexpected not only because of the extent of argument, but also because the EU had shortly before provided over US$ 7 million upon the governments request for purchasing election observation equipment. In addition, the government representatives certainly welcomed the EUs budgetary support, which amounted to over US$ 30 million in 2016.

Simultaneously, the intensity of anti-EU (and more generally anti-Western) propaganda has been growing since the initialing of the EU-Armenia agreement. Similar extensive propaganda campaigns could previously be observed in 2013, in the months preceding President Sargsyans decision to refuse the EU-Armenia Association Agreement and to instead join the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), as well as in 2015 after the EU Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, when it was agreed that the abandoned Association Agreement could be replaced by another framework agreement.

IMPLICATIONS: Despite the official assurances concerning the planned signing of the EU-Armenia agreement and the further development of relations, overt optimism is premature until the agreement is signed and ratified. It should be recalled that just two weeks before the decision to join the EEU in 2013, then Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and other top officials also made confident statements about the planned signing of the Association Agreement with the EU. As noted previously, the outcome of the current attempts to advance Armenias relations with the EU still depend on Moscows reaction (see the 06/09/17 Issue of the CACI Analyst).

According to the head of the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center Richard Giragosian,

President Sargsyans recent statement about the upcoming signing of the EU-Armenia agreement contained obvious inaccuracy and falsehood, since Sargsyan claimed that in 2013 his administration had negotiated with both the EU and the EEU, and blamed the EU for the impossibility of signing both agreements.

The latest wave of anti-Western propaganda has mainly focused on themes common to similar defamatory campaigns in Armenia and other post-Soviet countries, including the Wests alleged immorality, which by extension would imply the loss of traditional family values, legalization of gay marriage and other sinful consequences. It also points to alleged economic and demographic decline in countries that have implemented Association and free trade agreements with the EU  Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, as well as the Baltic States and other EU members that used to be part of the Soviet bloc. Some more specific details of the current campaign include allegations, particularly by media outlets openly controlled by Russia, such as Sputnik-Armenia news agency, about the dangers of further developing cooperation with NATO as well as potential benefits for Armenia if the country agrees to participate in Russias military campaign in Syria.

Significantly, the same media outlets also attempted to launch a personal attack against the U.S. Ambassador in Armenia, Richard M. Mills, following statements he made on August 25. Mills praised Armenias recent participation in the Noble Partner exercise and noted that the U.S. would continue to avoid selling offensive weapons to any of the parties to the Karabakh conflict: I think that is one area where we differ from Russia, he said. Yet the most hostile reaction came in response to the ambassadors mention of the need to ensure that Armenia is capable of making its own sovereign decisions: we want to help give Armenia the tools to continue making sovereign choices and to make sure that its not overly influenced or forced by others to follow certain paths that perhaps Armenia doesnt want to follow.

A week later, Armenia cancelled its participation in the Agile Spirit exercises, which began in Georgia on September 3, at the last moment. The Defense Ministry issued a statement saying that it had not even planned to take part, but Georgias Defense Ministry reconfirmed that the Armenian side had attended the final planning conference in July, and confirmed its intention to join the exercise. Significantly, Eduard Sharmazanov, who is also the RPA spokesman, said that Armenia could not participate in exercises aimed against our ally. Russian media, which had previously expressed strong disapproval of Armenias participation in the Noble Partner exercise, praised the decision.

CONCLUSIONS: Armenias political leadership may be willing to continue the gradual development of relations with the EU and NATO unless it faces strong pressure from Russia, which could ultimately amount to removing Sargsyans administration. As Russias economy is likely to decline, with potentially grave consequences for Armenias economy due to its dependence on remittances, even a limited opening towards the West may provide additional opportunities to develop the economy and preserve internal stability.

However, the reluctance of Armenian officials to even acknowledge certain possibilities of economic diversification, such as the proposed investments in renewable energy (see the 06/09/17 Issue of the CACI Analyst), suggests that the development of cooperation with the West will continue to face internal obstacles in addition to external ones. Even with Russias influence put aside, the oligarchic system itself opposes to major reforms. As Laure Delcour and Kataryna Wolczuk aptly noted in an article in the Journal of European Integration in 2015, the political regime (a non-competitive political system dominated by oligarchic groups) would probably not survive the reforms which Armenia would be required to introduce. Furthermore, EU requirements related to human rights, the rule of law and good governance are unattractive to the incumbent authorities.

Overall, the administrations future actions will presumably focus essentially on avoiding internal and external threats to regime stability, as well as possible threats to the oligarchys economic interests. That is likely to be President Sargsyans personal goal as well, keeping in mind that the final transition from a presidential to a parliamentary system will be completed in spring 2018.

AUTHORS BIO: Armen Grigoryan is an Armenian political scientist, and the author of several book chapters, journal articles, and policy papers. His research interests include post-communist transition, EU relations with Eastern Partnership countries, transatlantic relations, energy security, and conflict transformation.

Image source:kremlin.ru accessed on 09.25. 2017
Fight the Bite!

This slogan was on a handout on diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes from the Wayne County Public Health Department. It grabbed my attention while I was touring the Wayne County Fair back in August. It offered some helpful tips for avoiding these diseases and protecting yourself when you are outdoors  tips such as wearing long sleeves to reduce tick and mosquito bites, using tick and mosquito repellents containing DEET, treating your clothing with permethrin to repel ticks, wearing light-colored clothing to see ticks and remove them, and doing daily tick checks on yourself and your children.

These are all great things for individuals and families to do to prevent illnesses such as Lyme disease, but I couldnt help thinking that there is more that we as a society can and should do to prevent Lyme and other tick-borne diseases  a problem that is spreading around the Finger Lakes region and throughout New York State. We need more funding for research on prevention and testing methods and better diagnosis and treatment standards.

Shortly after I took office in January, I became a member of the New York State Senate Task Force on Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases and joined my fellow Senators in this important work. With New York in the epicenter of this nationwide epidemic, this group strives to disseminate verified, fact-based information on Lyme and tick-borne diseases to at-risk communities throughout the state as well as advocate for more funding and research. This year, we achieved $400,000 in funding in the state budget - $200,000 for Cornell University and its cooperative extensions around the state for prevention and outreach work and $200,000 to support continued research.

We as a task force held a public hearing at the end of August in Albany to hear testimony from a variety of experts  public health professionals, patients, physicians, professors, health insurance company representatives, and scientists  on how we can come together to address this problem and come up with a solution. I found that meeting very productive and informative in giving the task force direction in its mission and shaping my own perspective on Lyme and tick-borne diseases. We learned about the difficulty of obtaining an accurate diagnosis, the possibility of co-infections, and the diseases impact on mental health, as well as other important related topics.

The task force will continue to hold public hearings and gather information, emphasizing prevention and awareness. In the meantime, I am bringing the conversation on Lyme and tick-borne diseases right here to the Finger Lakes region by hosting an informational forum. This forum will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26 in the student center of Finger Lakes Community College, located at 3325 Marvin Sands Drive in Canandaigua.

There will be a series of speakers  experts on these diseases  discussing tick identification, tick bite prevention, Lyme disease and co-infection awareness, impact on pets and livestock, and health resources that are available for individuals who experience a tick bite. We will also have tick removal kits that people can take home with them, as well as informational tables with more resources, and audience members will be able to ask questions.

I hope that you will join us as we Fight the Bite by raising awareness of Lyme and tick-borne diseases. Together, we can work on putting out the correct information in hopes of solving this problem.
CAMEROUN :: Cameroon: Hon. Joshua N. Osih: Biya Should Step Down Immediately

President Biyas inadequate response to the Anglophone crisis has only aggravated the situation

YAOUNDE, Cameroon, September 25, 2017/ -- The Social Democratic Front (SDF) for the Republic of Cameroon strongly condemns curfews, restrictions on movement of the population and all forms of violence perpetrated by the Government in the South-West and North-West regions of the country. Cameroon is now at a crossroads. President Biyas inadequate response to the Anglophone crisis has only aggravated the situation and caused further instability. The governments failure to stem social unrest has compromised its leadership. It is time for President Biya to resign immediately.

Freedom of movement in Cameroon is a constitutionally guaranteed right. By prohibiting the mobility of people in the heavily militarized North-West and South West regions, the Government is treating our compatriots like second-class citizens. We warn that these inflammatory actions only breed new resentments and embolden those who espouse secession. Even at the height of the war against Boko Haram, no such extreme measures were applied as like now on the Anglophone citizens.

The SDF has repeatedly voiced strong condemnations for bad governance, dysfunctional state institutions, endemic corruption, blatant disregard of the rule of law and free press, and non-application of the 1996 constitutional requirements with regards to decentralization and reform of state institutions. President Biyas government is responsible for continuous state-sponsored electoral fraud, has disregarded any proposals from national and international communities to reform government, and has closed all avenues to inclusive national dialogue. This has led to an irreversible escalation of violence in Cameroon for which the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement is solely responsible. The President has failed to meet with any civil society leaders or visit with the Anglophone regions since the crisis started nearly one year ago. His inability to draw the conflict to a close has risked more bloodshed and violence. The SDF calls for the military to show restraint and to protect all Cameroonians from abuse.

Cameroonians now have a choice to make between a free, inclusive and democratic Cameroon or stick with President Biyas current regime. The SDF clearly chooses a free, inclusive and democratic Cameroon where its people can come and go in peace.

Hon. Joshua N. Osih

1st National Vice-President
President Biyas inadequate response to the Anglophone crisis has only aggravated the situation

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YAOUNDE, Cameroon, September 25, 2017/  The Social Democratic Front (SDF) for the Republic of Cameroon strongly condemns curfews, restrictions on movement of the population and all forms of violence perpetrated by the Government in the South-West and North-West regions of the country. Cameroon is now at a crossroads. President Biyas inadequate response to the Anglophone crisis has only aggravated the situation and caused further instability. The governments failure to stem social unrest has compromised its leadership. It is time for President Biya to resign immediately.



Freedom of movement in Cameroon is a constitutionally guaranteed right. By prohibiting the mobility of people in the heavily militarized North-West and South West regions, the Government is treating our compatriots like second-class citizens. We warn that these inflammatory actions only breed new resentments and embolden those who espouse secession. Even at the height of the war against Boko Haram, no such extreme measures were applied as like now on the Anglophone citizens.



The SDF has repeatedly voiced strong condemnations for bad governance, dysfunctional state institutions, endemic corruption, blatant disregard of the rule of law and free press, and non-application of the 1996 constitutional requirements with regards to decentralization and reform of state institutions. President Biyas government is responsible for continuous state-sponsored electoral fraud, has disregarded any proposals from national and international communities to reform government, and has closed all avenues to inclusive national dialogue. This has led to an irreversible escalation of violence in Cameroon for which the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement is solely responsible. The President has failed to meet with any civil society leaders or visit with the Anglophone regions since the crisis started nearly one year ago. His inability to draw the conflict to a close has risked more bloodshed and violence. The SDF calls for the military to show restraint and to protect all Cameroonians from abuse.



Cameroonians now have a choice to make between a free, inclusive and democratic Cameroon or stick with President Biyas current regime. The SDF clearly chooses a free, inclusive and democratic Cameroon where its people can come and go in peace.



Hon. Joshua N. Osih 1st National Vice-President

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| BY Lynchy |

Melbourne-based brand consultancy PUSH Collective has recruited Mark Hobart to a newly created role of Strategy Director, to support the business in its continued expansion.

Hobart joins from Kantar TNS in Melbourne, where he led the innovation practice, consulting to clients including Coca-Cola, LOreal, Mars, AGL and Telstra. Previously, Hobart was the Global Account Director for Vodafone at Kantar TNS in London.

Our focus at PUSH is on leveraging data and consumer insights into robust brand strategies that can drive business and even cultural change,  said Erminio Putignano, managing director and founding partner of PUSH. Were delighted to have Mark onboard because he combines three important skills: he is a creative problem solver, he has international experience in market research, and he approaches brands as catalysts for innovation.

As Strategy Director, Hobart will take a lead role in overseeing the delivery of market research and brand strategy for client projects, and will work closely with PUSHs partners and senior team on business development and the expansion of the firms offering. His first projects will be in the travel, public transport and financial services sectors.
| BY Lynchy |

RACQ has today launched RACQ Bank, along with a new brand platform, more for members, developed with Clemenger Brisbane and UM, and produced by Kiosk and Alt.vfx.

The campaign uses a 3D Google Tilt Brush effect to visualise the more we want in life  the more that RACQ makes happen. More for members will incorporate brand, product and retail campaigns, and will roll out across all channels.

Says Renee Davidson, General Manager Marketing at RACQ: RACQ is a much-loved and trusted Queensland brand. As a mutual organisation everything we do is for the benefit of our members and our Queensland community.

With the launch of RACQ Bank, we needed a brand platform that would not only help to demonstrate our mutuality in a meaningful way, but also deliver on our vision of a fresh approach to banking.

The launch of RACQ Bank is a world-first for autoclubs and represents a two year journey for RACQ, QT Mutual Bank and our members.

Adds Marianne OBrien, Creative Director of Clemenger Brisbane: Mutuality is a complex thing to try to explain. But the platform, more for members says it simply and connects to the human desire to want more in life. RACQ offers more savings, more peace-of-mind, more for your home, your car and now with RACQ Bank, more for your money.

Agency: Clemenger Brisbane

Creative Directors: Cristian Staal & Marianne OBrien

Art Director: Chris Connolly

Copywriter: Rosie Double

Strategy Director: Gay Chinchen

Managing Director: Rob Hudson

Client Services Director: Christine Gannon

Account Director: Emilie Almond

Account Coordinator: Brooke Howatson

Agency Producer: Robyn Dodd

Production Company: Kiosk

Director: Ryan Renshaw

DoP: Joel Betts

Producer: Sara Taghaode

Music: The Jungle Giants

Sound: Ack Kinmonth & Rosco Audio

Photographer: Elisabeth Harvey, Compadre

Post Production & Visual Effects: Alt. vfx

Vfx Supervisor: Colin Renshaw

Post & Vfx Producer: Celeste Fairlie

Vfx Co-Ordinator: Jayce Attewell

Offline Editor: Matt Bennett

Colourist: Andrew Clarkson

Illustrator/VR Artist: Harry Gold

Illustrator: Kat Bak

3D Animation: Jay Loanzon, John Trudgian, Chris Rentoul

3D Rigging/TD: Jordan Mcinnes

3D Lighting & Rendering: Martin Kindl, Chris Gardner 2D Compositing: Murray Smallwood, Matt Chance, Phil Outen

Online Editor: Ant Newton

Shoot Supervisor: Jonathan Dearing

Client: RACQ

General Manager Marketing: Renee Davidson

Manager Member Acquisition Marketing: Kyra Dunstan

Senior Marketing Specialist: Helen Dearling

Senior Marketing Specialist: Kylie King

Senior Marketing Specialist: Kelly Gorry

Senior Marketing Specialist: Kelly Tam

Senior Marketing Specialist: Kristin Fairley

Marketing Specialist: Blaze Montgomery

Marketing Specialist: Tamara Browning
| BY Lynchy |

Global cruise line Royal Caribbean International has launched a new brand campaign in Australia and New Zealand, attempting to set the brand apart from competitors by inviting consumers to come seek the Royal Caribbean difference.

The Come Seek campaign will launch with a 30 second TVC in NSW and Queensland during primetime evening viewing tonight, and will be followed by a 360 degree brand campaign rollout incorporating a mix of outdoor, press, digital and social amplification.

Come Seek was inspired by Royal Caribbeans US and UK positioning, and the localised campaign was created for the Australasian market by the cruise lines long-standing brand and creative agency partner, Hulsbosch. The campaign was delivered across multiple channels by Blue449, Royal Caribbeans media agency.

Come Seek is an invitation to Australians and New Zealanders to re-consider everything they think they know about cruising, said Kathryn Valk, Director of Sales & Marketing, Royal Caribbean.

The TVC will open both new-to-cruise and existing cruisers to the possibilities and imagination of a holiday on Royal Caribbean, and to holiday experiences around the globe which simply cant be matched anywhere else, on land or sea, she continued.

These are features and technologies which are uniquely Royal Caribbean  like the 90 metre tall North Star viewing platform, the ice-skating rink and iFly skydiving simulator  symbols of the Royal difference, and of just how far the cruising industry has come in the last decade.

Its fitting that as we launch this new campaign, we mark our 10th anniversary of bringing our game-changing ships down under.

Each year for the past 10 years, we have been lifting the bar even higher and taking the cruise experience to a new level, by bringing newer and larger award-winning ships to Australian and New Zealand waters and helping to drive the incredible growth in cruise nationally, Valk concluded.

The Come Seek brand campaign will herald the start of the 2017/18 summer cruise season down under. As the market nears the peak wave summer booking period for cruise in December/January, the Hulsbosch tactical approach will target Australians who are new to the Royal Caribbean brand and those who are new to the cruise category, but who are increasingly seeking exciting, imaginative travel experiences.

Hans Hulsbosch, Executive Creative Director said that Hulsbosch has successfully partnered with RCI for the past 10 years, building the brand over many successful campaigns.

Says Hulsbosch: This time, I am very excited we have been able to work with the US and UK positioning to create a unique campaign for our market. Come Seek will cement Royal Caribbean Internationals leadership position in the market.

This summer cruise season, Royal Caribbean, the countrys single largest cruise line in terms of capacity, will operate four of the most incredible megaliners sailing down under, including Australias newest, largest and most technologically advanced ship ever to sail here, the USD$1 billion Ovation of the Seas.

Agency: Hulsbosch

Hans Hulsbosch  Executive Creative Director

Chris Round  Copywriter

Bettina Clark  Art Director

Sharif Monem  Senior Account Director
| BY Lynchy |

New York residents were greeted by an unusual flying object on Saturday when The U.S.S. Discovery blasted off into the night sky to promote the premiere of CBS show Star Trek: Discovery.

But while diehard Trekkies may have thought science fiction had finally become science fact, the U.S.S Discovery was in fact a visual illusion created by Australian owned aerial media and experiential company Remarkable Media.

To mark the reboot of the hugely popular series which launched in the US on Sunday, CBS which recently acquired Network Ten, commissioned Remarkable Media to recreate the iconic saucer shaped space ship.

The illusion used LED lights attached to a two-ton exoskeleton which was flown by a Black Hawk helicopter over the Hudson River and along the New York City skyline ahead of last nights US premiere.

Star Trek: Discovery takes place 10 years before the five-year mission of the original 1960s hit Star Trek, and stars Sonequa Martin-Green as First Officer Michael Burnham. The show will stream on Netflix internationally.

Says Remarkable Media CEO Simon Powell: Star Trek is such an iconic TV and film series that is loved by many, so we were thrilled to be asked by CBS to bring the U.S.S Discovery to life and take it to the skies of New York to promote its latest incarnation.

It was one of the most challenging aerial executions we have done, but the effect of it flying across the New York skyline at night was stunning.
| BY Lynchy |

Edelman has announced that Mazuin Zin will join as Managing Director, Edelman Malaysia, in mid-October. Zin will report into APACMEA Chief Operations Officer, Bob Grove.

Zin (pictured left) joins from MullenLowe Malaysia, where as Managing Director she was recently awarded the CMO Asias coveted CEO of the Year Award 2017 for leading transformation both in terms of the agencys growth and industry reputation. During her 20-year career, which also spans Leo Burnett Group (including PR teams at Arc Worldwide), she has led teams that have won more than 100 Effectiveness awards, regionally and locally.

Mazuin is a transformational leader. She leads from the front and understands how to partner with clients on their overall marketing and communications strategy at the most senior level, said Grove. She is a proven business leader who cares deeply about the growth and development of her teams. She is a perfect addition to our company, as we embark on our next phase of growth.

At MullenLowe, Zin helped reshape a 40-member team, almost doubling in size, setting a clear offer as a creatively integrated, consultancy based, content-led offering.

I continue to believe that clients and businesses will not need to choose between compelling storytelling and creative/ad tech solutions that take these brand stories forward, said Zin. In my view, Edelman successfully demonstrated at a global level how these two worlds can be seamlessly connected with earned at its core. Im thrilled to be part of the company that is giving clients holistic creative business solutions bringing in the best and proven practices from the worlds of digital, data, analytics, brand and reputation building. I look forward to partnering with both our Malaysian and international clients on creating brand stories that connect and resonate across their stakeholder systems.

She replaces Rob Kay, who has decided to expand his horizons beyond Malaysia outside of Edelman.
| BY Lynchy |

Kingdom Digital Malaysia has launched a social media contest called Chapati in the USA to promote EVA Airways flight routes from Malaysia to multiple destinations in North America. With just one-stop in Taipei, the airline currently operates over 80 flights per week from Kuala Lumpur to Chicago, New York, San Francisco and many more gateways.

The concept behind Chapati in the USA is to portray the message of connecting Malaysia to USA. To join the contest, all contestants need to do is to snap a photo of themselves doing Malaysian things but in an American way (for example, eating durian with fork and knife, or putting ketchup on roti canai) and post it in the comment section of the contest post on EVA Airways Facebook page, along with the hashtags #ChapatiintheUSA and #EVAAirMY.
While you may not necessarily know him by name, if you were a fan of '90s R&B, you would know Nobody Knows by The Tony Rich Project.
In doing so it laid claim to being just the third nation to build and launch a satellite on its own soil, following in the footsteps of the United States and the Soviet Union at the height of the Space Race.
Mr Morris is likely to face questions on his negotiations with the Land Development Agency over the sale of his Glebe Park block, at least part of which is earmarked for use by the casino. The land was valued in 2014 at about $1 million, an amount that didn't satisfy its owners and stalled the sale until Colliers suggested $3.6-$3.8 million a year later. The auditor found the Colliers advice was closer to market value but was nevertheless an unsupported opinion rather than valuation advice. Dr Cooper also questioned why a negotiation between the land agency and the Glebe Park owners was arranged by Colliers and held on the Colliers premises.
"After more than 10 years of effort and spending more than $12 million the property is to become little more than what the community has called a glorified day camp, running a very expensive, non-residential day program for people in their final stage of drug and alcohol dependence," Mr Milligan said.
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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Photo: Wayne Moore

West Kelowna's contingent at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver has a busy week ahead.

Council members have lined up meetings with five provincial ministers on topics ranging from rural policing, to transportation and health. And one resolution on photo radar is expected to raise eyebrows.

Mayor Doug Findlater says West Kelowna is hoping to get answers on at least one project currently on the books plus one that came up as an election issue during this year's campaign.

Findlater says meetings have been scheduled with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on issues to do with the city's transportation corridor, specifically interchanges, bypasses and lighting along Highway 97.

And, they are hoping to get a meeting with the minister of energy to make sure there is a political will to go ahead with the second BC Hydro line into the Westside.

"Christy Clark and Bill Bennett supported that politically, and we want to make sure the NDP is going to see it through. It's one of the most important things we can do for the Westside, to create a redundant transmission line," said Finddlater.

Meetings are also scheduled with the minister of health to again press for more health services in the city.

"That came up during the election when the NDP candidate was saying they would do it. We'll test that mettle."

The city will also continue to push for a back-door route into Glenrosa and the continued lack of maintenance of Jackpine Lake Forest Service Road. That route, says Findlater, could be an important evacuation route for Glenrosa.

City officials will also be speaking with the minister of public safety about the expected legalization of marijuana.

"We are asking for revenue to deal with the negative side-effects, the enforcement side of things. We want to ensure we have a revenue stream for that."

The city has also prepared three resolutions to be introduced on the convention floor. Resolutions concerning staffing of rural RCMP detachments and a province-wide rat-reduction strategy are not expected to produce a lot of discussion.

Findlater expects one concerning photo radar to be contentious.

The mayor says the city wants the ability to be able to use photo radar as a traffic-calming tool.

"We don't seem to be able to get anywhere with the traditional calming measures, such as speed bumps and traffic circles," says Findlater. "It's scary as ever out there."

West Kelowna believes a number of locations with rotating cameras might slow people down.

He says the city would administer the system, but revenues would go to the province to be distributed along with other traffic violation revenues.

The UBCM convention runs all this week.
Photo: Rick Fargo/UnSplash

From CCleaner crises to Equifax hacks to Kaspersky confusion, its been an interesting couple of weeks for privacy.

Update your CCleaner right now

CCleaner, a popular utility for cleaning up computers, clears out unnecessary temporary files, removes browsing history and cookies, and streamlines your computers registry.

CCleaner is made by Piraform, which was recently acquired by Avast, the antivirus company.

In a blog post on Sept. 18, Piraform announced that CCleaner had been compromised with rogue code that could allow malicious software to harvest personal information and send it out to bad people with bad intentions.

They further stated that the problem was corrected and the situation is being investigated by law enforcement. Read the announcement here.

If yours is one of the 2.7 million computers with CCleaner installed, you should either uninstall it completely, or immediately update it to the newest version which you will find here.

Monitor the heck out of your credit, even in Canada

Equifax, one of the Big Three U.S. consumer credit reporting agencies, was hacked, exposing personally identifiable information for roughly 200 million people in the United States and the U.K.

We know that because privacy laws in the United States and Europe require people to be notified when theres a problem like that with personal data.

How many Canadians are now vulnerable to identity theft resulting from this security breach? We have no idea. Theres no requirement in Canada for companies to notify the people affected by a security breach, or even disclose that a breach occurred.

Canadas federal privacy commission found out about the Equifax breach just like the rest of us: from media reports.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) has received a number of complaints and calls from individuals concerned about a data breach at Equifax Inc.:

"After learning about the breach via media reports, our office contacted Equifax to seek information, including details on how Canadians were affected. Discussions with Equifax are ongoing and the company is cooperating with our office."

Consumers in the U.S. can request the credit bureaus not provide their information to anyone. This would theoretically stop an identity thief from obtaining a loan or buying a car or getting a credit card with a stolen identity.

Apparently, thats not exactly possible in Canada. I dont know a way out of this except to monitor the heck out of your credit. Services that do that dont prevent identity theft, but might catch it sooner.



The U.S. government banned Kaspersky products

This seems a little weird. On Sept. 13, the Department of Homeland Security issued a directive to its departments and agencies to get rid of Kaspersky products"

"The department is concerned about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies, and requirements under Russian law that allow Russian intelligence agencies to request or compel assistance from Kaspersky and to intercept communications transiting Russian networks.

"The risk that the Russian government, whether acting on its own or in collaboration with Kaspersky, could capitalize on access provided by Kaspersky products to compromise federal information and information systems directly implicates U.S. national security."

Kaspersky denies inappropriate ties to Russian intelligence and other government agencies.

The DHS order affects all computer systems in the Executive Branch. The Senate passed a bill on Sept. 18 to extend the ban to all government computers.



What do you do to protect your data? Are you happy with the results? Comment here: [email protected].

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Darren Handschuh Vernon politicians want to discuss low cost housing and homelessness with B.C. ministers.

Low cost housing, shelter and homelessness are three main topics of concern for Vernon politicians attending this week's Union of BC Municipalities Convention in Vancouver.

We have a shortage of affordable housing, safe shelter and women's transitional housing, said Coun. Juliette Cunningham. The City of Vernon really has no transitional housing for women coming out of addictions treatment.

Cunningham, along with Mayor Akbal Mund and other councillors, will be meeting Monday with Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and on Tuesday with Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

It's a brand new ministry, said Cunningham of Darcy's brief.  We want to talk about the integration of services.

Cunningham said it is difficult to treat mental health and addiction issues when those suffering don't have stable housing.

She said a number of people amongst Vernon's homeless population were dealing with one or both problems.

There must be a poverty reduction and homeless action plan....We need a plan.

The city councillor said if all ministries worked on an integrated plan then hopefully we'd see some meaningful changes.

Wearing another hat, Cunningham will be among regional politicians who will meet with Environment Minister George Heyman to discuss the threat quagga and zebra mussels will bring to the Okanagan if they make it into local waters.
Photo: Wikipedia

A group of family members and advocates of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls will walk along the so-called Highway of Tears today into Smithers, where a national inquiry is set to hold hearings.

Gladys Radek organized the walk along the notorious stretch of Highway 16 where dozens have disappeared or been killed in honour of the 12th anniversary of the disappearance of her niece, Tamara Lynn Chipman.

She and other relatives of lost loved ones left Prince Rupert on Thursday and commissioners of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls are set to join them on the final part of the journey today.

More than 40 people, including family members and survivors of violence, have signed up to speak during the hearings, which run from Tuesday through Thursday.

The inquiry has been dogged by controversy, including the resignation of commissioner Marilyn Poitras, and last week Chief Commissioner Marion Buller told a Senate committee that its work has been hampered by federal bureaucracy.

The commissioners are set to hold hearings in nine communities this fall, with stops in Winnipeg, Halifax, Edmonton, Yellowknife and Saskatoon, among others.
Photo: CTV Vancouver Crash closes Highway 10

At least one person has died after a head-on crash in Cloverdale that closed Highway 10.

A witness said a silver Toyota crossed three lanes of traffic and hit a red Honda head-on.

The collision, which happened around 11:30 p.m. Sunday night just east of 176 Street, closed the highway in both directions for more than five hours.

The impact of the crash forced the red Honda over the curb off the westbound lanes.

Both vehicles had severe damage and the highway was covered in debris.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

The driver in the silver car was taken to hospital by police.

-with files from CTV Vancouver
I am a resident of Centennial Crescent and a next door neighbour to four duplex homes containing 40 men who are in an addiction recovery program known as Freedom's Door. I have lived here for two years and I have never experienced any problems as a result of being near a recovery home. My experience with these neighbours have always been positive.

I understand that Freedom's Door has a proposal to construct a 49 unit apartment on McCurdy Road in Rutland for the graduates of Freedom's Door. I can assure the neighbours of that property that their experience is likely to be as positive as mine has been. My best wishes to all of you.

Kyle Abbott
Photo: Twitter Andrew Wilkinson

The race to replace Christy Clark as leader of British Columbia's Liberal party is getting crowded, with as many as eight candidates including four former cabinet ministers expected to be in the contest by the end of the week.

Former Liberal cabinet ministers Andrew Wilkinson and Mike Bernier announced their candidacies Monday, with longtime Liberal finance minister Mike de Jong and past transportation minister Todd Stone indicating they are seriously considering leadership bids.

Conservative MP Dianne Watts, well known in the Metro Vancouver area as a former mayor of Surrey, entered the race Sunday and is seen as a strong candidate despite never being elected to the legislature.

Backbencher Sam Sullivan, a former Vancouver mayor, entered the race last week and recently elected legislature member Michael Lee of Vancouver-Langara and Terrace businesswoman Lucy Sager are also seen as a potential candidates.

The absence of a clear front-runner could get messy for the Liberals, says David Black, a political communications expert at Royal Roads University in Victoria.

"There's no heir apparent," Black said. "When you lack the heir apparent, you open the door to a lot of fractiousness."

He said the Liberals need a leader who appeals to urban voters without cutting the party's roots in rural areas. In May's election, the Liberals lost votes and seats in Metro Vancouver and won only one of 14 ridings on Vancouver Island.

The party also needs to find someone to bridge its economic prudence with new social policies, Black said.

"It's a hard thing to engineer those two paths politically, but it's trying to find the sweet spot."

The party will elect its new leader in February.

Wilkinson, a lawyer, doctor and former party president, said the Liberals needs a leader who knows the ropes of B.C. politics without requiring a learning curve.

"We have to select a leader who is ready on Day 1," Wilkinson said. "We've got to have someone who can take on (Premier) John Horgan and the NDP in that very first question period and someone who can take on the role of running an election at any time."

Bernier said he wants to lead a Liberal party that helps those who are struggling.

The former mayor of Dawson Creek said his proudest moment as education minister was including sexual orientation in anti-bullying rules. He said his daughter is gay and he wished he could have helped her more to prevent her getting bullied in school.

Bernier said voters have told him the Liberals stopped listening.

"The message I've heard has actually been kind of harsh," he said.
Photo: Leona Carter

The Finlay Creek fire that broke out Sept. 2, briefly displacing hundreds from their homes, remains 100 per cent contained, but it most likely won't be officially out until the first snowfall.

"Crews are continuing to patrol and mop up the area, it could still be several weeks until it's called out," says fire information officer Max Birkner with the BC Wildfire Service.

"It was a 2,224-hectare fire, so they just want to make sure that they have done all their assessments on danger trees and put out all the hot spots."

The mop-up phase takes quite a long time, Birkner added.
Warning: Graphic content

A teenager from a Las Vegas suburb remained on the loose Wednesday amid a national manhunt and charges he killed his mother and 9-year-old brother just a day after celebrating his 16th birthday with them.

Photo: Facebook Adrian Navarro-Canales (top right) is on the run. It's alleged that he killed his mother and younger brother after celebrating his 16th birthday.

The search for Adrian Navarro-Canales entered its sixth day, and police said they were also searching at the Mexican border for the southern Nevada teen. Police discovered the bodies of his mother and younger brother in the bathroom of their Henderson apartment on Friday.

Navarro-Canales initially was named by police as a possible victim, then identified Monday as the prime suspect in the slayings. An arrest warrant said he would be prosecuted as an adult.

Henderson police investigators think the killings happened Tuesday, but the bodies weren't discovered until Friday  the fourth time a relative and the mother's boyfriend called to say they were worried about whether he, Elvira Canales-Gomez and Cesar Navarro were OK.

Henderson police spokesman Keith Paul said officers "found no cause to break in" during the first three visits.

"On Friday, we had family members saying they tried several times to contact (Canales-Gomez) and couldn't reach her," he said.

A Henderson police officer fetched a key from property managers and was hit as he entered the apartment by the pungent smell of decomposing bodies, the police report said.

The mom was found dead on the bathroom floor with multiple stab wounds and a butcher knife in her chest. Cesar, 9, was found in the bathtub. He had been stabbed once.

Adrian Navarro-Canales  who celebrated his 16th birthday Sept. 16 with his mother, brother and mother's boyfriend at the apartment  was nowhere to be found.

Paul said investigators think Navarro-Canales acted alone, and authorities didn't know Tuesday where he was. The Associated Press typically doesn't identify minors accused of crimes, but is naming Navarro-Canales because of the seriousness of the crime and the manhunt for him.

"We're still searching," Paul said. "We are doing everything possible to find him."

The police spokesman said Navarro-Canales' name had been entered in a national crime database and authorities on the Mexico border were notified.

The police report said the teen's passport and border documents were found in the apartment in the quiet complex off Eastern Avenue and Sunridge Heights Parkway. The mother's vehicle was found parked outside.

Police went to the apartment Wednesday afternoon and twice on Thursday  after calls from Canales-Gomez's boyfriend, Carlos Rubio-Villanueva, and the niece, 23-year-old Ana Martinez. Paul said officers found the front door locked and windows secure.

According to the police report, investigators think the mother and boy were stabbed to death Sept. 17, after Canales-Gomez drove home from work about 3:40 p.m., and Cesar was last seen at school.

Police said Navarro-Canales might have stayed in the apartment at least one night before fleeing.

Rubio-Villanueva told investigators he noticed a kitchen light was off when he visited the apartment late Sept. 17; when he stopped on his way to work Wednesday afternoon and summoned Henderson police to the apartment; and off again when he checked after work shortly before midnight Wednesday.

Police said it appeared Navarro-Canales texted his father on Wednesday, telling him the others were fine and couldn't talk because they were asleep.

The teen's father, Adrian Navarro Soto-Mayor, flew Friday from San Jose. Calif., to Las Vegas and issued a weekend plea in Spanish for his son to contact him or other family members.

Martinez later told police she thought her cousin might have returned at least once to the apartment after the bodies were taken away on Friday.
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
Unveiling of Jackson Chapel Cemetery marker. From left, Mary Stagg Johnston, NSCDXVIIC honorary president general; David Nelson; Jim Moore (holding blue drape); and Pauline Moore, Chapter president. Tammera Hicks sings The Lords Prayer in Cherokee language with interpretation accompanied by husband Jimmy Yellowhorse Webster Great-grandchildren (5th through 7th generations) of Nancy Ward-Cherokee prophetess and Revolutionary heroine, from left, Rebecca Hobbs, Oklahoma; Jack Vincent, Chattanooga; Debra S. Yates, St. Petersburg, Fl.; Kim Gaston, Dalton; Nancy Carmony, Ooltewah; and Nancy V. Watts, Pharm D., Chattanooga. David Nelson with new marker, and Pauline Moore Jackson Chapel Cemetery marker Previous Next

Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century, Prudhomme Fort Chapter of Chattanooga, held ceremonies at Jackson Chapel Cemetery in Hamilton County, inside the entrance to Chester Frost Park on Chickamauga Lake. The oldest known cemetery date at the cemetery is 1810.

Mary Stagg Johnston, NSCDXVIIC honorary president general, was the speaker at the luncheon held prior to the marking ceremonies. Other honored guests at the luncheon included Cindy Waters TNSCDXVIIC state president; Cherokee great-granddaughters of Nancy Ward, (prophetess and Tennessee Revolutionary heroine), and dignitaries from other societies.

Ceremonies at Jackson Chapel Cemetery began with a welcome by Pauline Moore, Chapter

president, stating that the new marker for the cemetery was placed in honor of David and Bernice Pitts Nelson. Amazing Grace was sung by Rebecca Hobbs, fifth generation great-granddaughter of Nancy Ward. Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger brought greetings, recognizing the unique history of the cemetery. A commentary on the history of the cemetery was given by Lavonne C. Jolley, honorary TNCDXVIIC state president and historian. Ceremonies concluded with The Lords Prayer, sung by Tammera Hicks (Tennessee State American Indian Council chairman) with Cherokee interpretation, accompanied with a flute melody by her husband, Jimmy Yellowhorse Webster.

The history of Jackson Chapel Cemetery states that the land was owned by Cherokees for hundreds of years. The first county seat of Hamilton County was located on the reservation of Cherokee Fox Taylor (grandson of Nancy Ward), land being confirmed to him by the Treaty of 1819; and was later sold to Asabel Rawlings, an early pioneer, who is buried in the cemetery with wife, Phoebe Rawlings. Historic crypts, stones, and arrowhead markers reflect the early founders of Hamilton County.
Theres a tradition that a state flag waves high above the second-floor balcony outside the state Capitols west side whenever the Legislature is in session.

This coming session, you can also look for the banner of public safety being hung out by elected officials, especially when the Legislatures Judiciary Committee is in session or lawmakers are discussing bills from that committee.

While not literal, its a figurative favorite of those who claim that changes to the prison system or the laws used to send people there compromise public safety. Take recent testimony before a Judiciary Committee interim study of mandatory minimum sentencing. Prosecutors say they dont want the law changed. Supporters of change say it could help the state address prison overcrowding.

The change supporters say they want judges to be able to sentence an offender based on individual circumstances of both the criminal and the crime, rather than following a prescribed sentence.

The chief criminal prosecutor of the Nebraska Attorney General's Office told the committee that modification of mandatory minimum sentences compromises public safety and potentially promotes disrespect for the law. Gov. Pete Ricketts and Attorney General Doug Peterson are also quick to wave the public safety flag in discussing various criminal justice measures.

Ricketts said that a recent lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union to deal with prison overcrowding was a threat to public safety.

So, just what is public safety? Blacks Law and a variety of sources say it refers to the welfare and protection of the general public. It is usually expressed as a governmental responsibility. The primary goal  is prevention and protection of the public from dangers affecting safety such as crimes or disasters.

Help me understand something here. How does sentencing a convicted drunken driver to prison instead of treatment impact public safety? In some cases, it takes an otherwise productive citizen out of the workforce, causes them to lose a job and face a life of substandard employment following release because of a felony conviction.

Heres the one that really gets me. Lets lock up somebody who is behind on child support payments. That will allow them to have meager prison wages garnished and work the afore-mentioned substandard job on release. That will get the payments made, eh?

How ridiculous is it to keep filling a prison system that is now the second-most-crowded prison system in the United States. Alabama is number one.

In his annual report, Inspector General for Corrections Doug Koebernick says Nebraskas prison population has reached 162 percent of design capacity overall. Seven out of 10 Nebraska prisons individually stretch well beyond that mark, with one at 294 percent of capacity.

As for disrespecting the law, Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers has said mandatory minimums do not protect the public or deter crimes. Those who commit crimes don't know what the penalty is and they don't plan or expect to get caught.

Mandatory minimum sentencing laws require a minimum prison term of a particular length. With such laws, judges have no discretion to go lower than the minimum sentence and probation is not an option. In Nebraska, an inmate serving a mandatory minimum sentence will not earn or receive good time credit for his or her behavior while serving the mandatory sentence. Read that as continued prison overcrowding.

Change supporters suggest judges be given the option of not imposing the mandatory minimum if there are certain mitigating factors. Officials say that 19 percent of the 5,295 people currently in prison are serving mandatory minimum sentences and 84 percent of them were previously convicted of a felony, while 69 percent were previously in prison. Does that speak to the value of mandatory minimums or is the recidivism rate indicative of other problems?

Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks said we're all fighting for the safety of our communities. But now were quibbling about whether we trust the judges and want to go forward and give them the authority to set the standards, or whether we want to just mandatorily say every case is the same.

Painting with a broad brush never works, unless youre painting a barn.
Health coverage for about 131,000 children from low-income families in Illinois could be in jeopardy if Congress doesnt act soon to renew a program. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Health coverage for more than 100,000 children from low-income families in Illinois could be in jeopardy if Congress doesn't act soon to renew a program that health advocates say is being overshadowed by debate over Obamacare.

In Illinois, about 131,000 kids receive health care coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Program, a state- and federally funded program for children whose families make too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to pay for private insurance. The program is set to expire Saturday.

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There's broad bipartisan support in Congress for reauthorizing the program, and Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have introduced a bill to do just that.

But the impending expiration is making children's health care advocates nervous, especially as congressional Republicans focus on trying to pass another bill to repeal and replace Obamacare  officially known as the Affordable Care Act  before the end of this month.

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Dr. Frank Belmonte, chief medical officer for Advocate Children's Hospital, said he's worried lawmakers might try to use reauthorization of the children's program as leverage for passing the latest Obamacare repeal and replace bill, known as the Graham-Cassidy bill.

"I know there's debate still over the Affordable Care Act, but let's not cut health care for kids," Belmonte said.

In Illinois, about 88 percent of the funding for the children's program comes from the federal government  about $218 million in fiscal year 2017, according to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

If Congress fails to renew that program, many states have said they will run out of federal funding by early next year, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey. Illinois did not supply information about when it might run out of funds for that survey, and a spokesman for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services was not immediately able to say Monday when Illinois would run out of federal funds.

But some advocates say the state might run out of funding for the program as early as March if it's not renewed.

If the program ends, those kids might end up uninsured, which could mean they get less preventative care, fewer vaccinations and only see doctors in emergencies, advocates say.

"So many of those children will end up in our emergency rooms and not get the preventative care they need," said Mike Farrell, president of Advocate Children's Hospital. Hospitals would likely have to eat the costs of treating those children, potentially putting their own plans for expansions of services in question, he said.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said at a news conference Monday that a renewal of the children's health program is "being held hostage in this conversation about repealing Obamacare."

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Hatch is in discussions with members of the Senate Finance Committee about how to proceed when it comes to the Children's Health Insurance Program.

"I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Finance Committee to advance CHIP and other critical health care provisions within the committee's jurisdiction in a fiscally responsible manner and as quickly as possible," Hatch said in a statement Monday.

Durbin said the children's health program isn't the only program seemingly on hold while Republicans push a plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Federal funding for community health centers is also set to expire Saturday. Federally funded community health centers serve mostly low-income people in areas where it might otherwise be difficult to access basic services.

Like the children's health program, funding for community health centers has enjoyed bipartisan support, and a bill has already been introduced to extend funding. But so far, it has not yet been reauthorized.

If Congress doesn't reauthorize that funding, community health centers across the country could lose about 70 percent of their federal grant funding, according to researchers at George Washington University.

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Access Community Health Network, which has 36 health centers in Cook and DuPage counties, would lose about $10 million a year if the program isn't reauthorized, said Donna Thompson, Access CEO. If it loses that funding, she estimates the centers will have to serve about 23,000 fewer patients. Now, Access sees more than 180,000 patients a year.

"We would have to close sites and pull back on the number of people we serve," Thompson said.

lschencker@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lschencker
A new University of Illinois at Chicago study aims to examine the public health and economic impact of the penny-per-ounce tax on sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages over a period of three years. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spent millions on advertisements touting the public health potential of Cook County's controversial sweetened beverage tax.

Now, thanks to about $2.5 million in funding from his Bloomberg Philanthropies, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago will study whether the tax actually improves public health over an extended period of time.

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Though the study's funded by Bloomberg's charity, UIC researchers and officials at Bloomberg Philanthropies say the research will be rigorous in method, free of Bloomberg's influence and, ultimately, peer-reviewed by independent experts before being published.

"Regardless of what they find, if it shows a public health benefit or not, it will be published either way," Dr. Kelly Henning, an epidemiologist who runs the public health program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. "The more we know, the better."

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The study aims to examine the public health and economic impact of the penny-per-ounce tax on sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages over a period of three years. The idea is to better understand the consequences, intended or otherwise, of the tax to inform future policymakers, said Lisa Powell, director of health policy and administration at UIC's School of Public Health.

"Taxes like this may be good at raising revenue, but do they have an impact on public health?" said Powell, lead investigator on the study. "The whole point is to look at this objectively, over time, in order to understand its true impact on all fronts, from public health to effect on the economy.  At the end of the day, you want the best policy possible."

The Bloomberg grant totals about $4.9 million, about half of which will be used to conduct similar analysis of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Oakland, Calif., which was approved by voters last year.

Powell's team began collecting baseline data in April and will compare data at incremental time periods  six months, one year and two years  following the Aug. 2 implementation of the tax, Powell said. The researchers also will compare Cook County to St. Louis city and county, where there is no such beverage tax, to better understand the impact.

The study will examine changes in the data over time to better understand how the tax affects public health, employment, prices, and cross-border shopping, among other topics, Powell said.

For example, shoppers may initially buy their sweetened beverages across the county line in reaction to the tax, but eventually decide to shop closer to home and pay the added cost. Or, Powell said, they may continue cross-border shopping. Either way, the study will shed some light on unintended consequences, she said.

To understand the public health impact, the UIC researchers have surveyed 2,500 people aged 18 to 64 on consumption and health issues in Cook County and another 2,500 in St. Louis, Powell said. Researchers also hope to determine what, if any, public health impact Cook County's sweetened beverage tax will have on low-income people receiving federal food stamp benefits. The county's sweetened beverage tax does not apply to food stamp purchases.

The UIC study isn't the first time Bloomberg Philanthropies has funded research on the impact of a soda tax. The organization also funded a study on the sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Berkeley, Calif. That study, conducted by researchers at the Oakland-based Public Health Institute and University of North Carolina and published in PLOS Medicine earlier this year, found a sharp decline in volume sales of sugary drinks sold was largely offset by an increase in sales of healthier beverages.

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Separately, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is funding another study that examines how such taxes affect children's consumption of sugary drinks. The nonprofit awarded $2.5 million to the New Jersey-based Mathematica Policy Research to study Cook County, Oakland and Philadelphia.

While it's not uncommon for nonprofit foundations or industry groups to fund research, medical journals have increasingly sought greater transparency in disclosing potential conflicts of interests.

Before any study is published in PLOS Medicine, for example, it's subject to a rigorous vetting, typically by two topical experts and one methodology expert, a process that can take months, said Larry Peiperl, the journal's chief editor. In addition to that, researchers have to disclose funders and roles of funders in the research, Peiperl said. Even after all that, there's no guarantee it will be published.

"It's rare to see a study where nothing can be declared as competing interests. It's our goal to make sure competing interests are declared," Peiperl said.

Outside money on both sides has poured into Cook County in the ongoing debate over the so-called soda tax. Bloomberg has spent millions on television and radio advertisements in support of the tax, countered by millions spent by the American Beverage Association, the industry group that represents the Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo.

Of course, should Cook County's sweetened beverage tax be repealed, there would be no study of its results. Cook County's commissioners are expected to vote on repeal Oct. 10, though it's unclear at this point if there are enough votes to overturn the controversial measure.

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"If it gets repealed, unfortunately I don't think we'd be able to say much about two months of post-tax data," Powell said.

gtrotter@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GregTrotterTrib

[ Bloomberg to spend 'whatever it takes' to re-elect Cook County soda tax backers  ]

[ How Preckwinkle's pop tax backfired  ]

[ Editorial: Welcome to Cook County, Mayor Bloomberg. You're getting played on the soda tax.  ]
A container manufacturer in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood faces more than $500,000 in fines after federal inspectors discovered several employee injuries, including amputations and a crushed hand.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the manufacturer, called Bway, after receiving four separate reports of injured workers at the facility, according to a news release from the federal agency.

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One worker had two bones broken in his hand after it was crushed by a piece of equipment. Three others suffered amputations, according to the release.

In the past five years, 15 workers have had amputations as a result of injuries sustained at Atlanta-based Bway's Chicago facility, the release said. OSHA repeatedly cited the manufacturer for failing to disable machines and failing to train workers on how to do so.

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Bway makes containers including food and paint cans and ammunition boxes. It employs about 3,000 people at 27 facilities in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, according to its website. At the Little Village plant, it manufactures metal paint and food cans, among other products. It also has two facilities in Elk Grove Village and an executive office in Oak Brook.

There are about 500 employees at the Little Village facility, the release said.

OSHA placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement program, "a fairly rare designation given to only the most serious offenders," said OSHA spokesman Scott Allen.

The company was cited with five repeated violations, meaning it has received a similar violation in the past five years, and five serious violations, meaning the violations could have caused death or serious harm, according to the release.

The agency has inspected Bway's facilities 32 times in the last five years, Allen said. The company received citations in 18 of those inspections.

Bway has a settlement conference with the federal agency scheduled for Wednesday at which they could reach an agreement on the citations and penalties, Allen said. Representatives from Bway did not respond to requests for comment.

amarotti@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @AllyMarotti
Arne M. Sorenson, chief executive of Marriott International, says he won't cancel a conference at one of the company's hotels for what critics say is an anti-Muslim group. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Should a hotel chain make a judgment on the groups that hold conferences at one of its properties?

That is the question that was raised this week after the world's largest hotel chain, Marriott International, announced it won't cancel a conference next month for what critics say is an anti-Muslim hate group.

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The Bethesda, Md., hospitality company with about 600 hotels worldwide said it will allow a conference next month at an Arlington, Va., hotel for a self-described grass-roots security organization known as ACT for America.

"We are a hospitality company that provides public accommodations and function space," a Marriott spokesman said. "Acceptance of business does not indicate support or endorsement of any group or individual."

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Muslim Advocates, a legal advocacy group, and the Southern Poverty Law Center both describe ACT as an extremest anti-Muslim hate group. Muslim Advocates wrote to Marriott's chief executive, Arne Sorenson, urging the company to cancel the Oct. 2-3 gathering.

ACT denies being a hate group and instead says it is advocating to protect the U.S. from terrorists and their supporters. The Washington-based organization was founded in 2007 by Brigitte Gabriel, a Lebanese-born Christian immigrant who has appeared on Fox News as a commentator.

The group, which claims 750,000 members, has supported President Trump's restrictions on refugees and travel from Muslim-majority countries. It organized protests throughout the country this summer against sharia law, which the group says is incompatible with Western culture.

In an online video promoting the October conference, Gabriel warns "The leftist Islamic coalition is raging war against the rule of law and against you and me. That's why I need you by my side as we descend on Washington, DC."

Although Marriott said it does not make a judgment on groups who use Marriott hotels, the Washington Dulles Marriott hotel was one of three hotels that in 2010 canceled a contract to host a conference of a white nationalist group, American Resistance.

A Marriott spokesman declined to comment on the 2010 cancellation, saying he didn't have sufficient information on it.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.
Crocs, perhaps the most polarizing shoe of our time, is making a comeback.

The company's signature foam clog fell out of favor a decade ago, but now it is a star reborn on Twitter and beyond: On the runway, in the pages of Vogue and on feet of people who feel a little funny about it but can no longer resist.

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The turnaround is no accident, analysts say, but rather the result of four years of strategic changes, following a $200 million investment by private-equity giant Blackstone Group in 2013. Since then, Crocs has closed hundreds of under performing stores, done away with unpopular styles and shifted its focus back to its classic foam clog, which sells for about $35 and accounts for nearly half of the company's sales.

"The classic clog has re-emerged as our hero," said Terence Reilly, chief marketing officer of Crocs. "Certainly in 2017, there's been a resurgence."

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Annual sales have exceeded $1 billion for six consecutive years, and profits rose 54 percent in the most recent quarter. Analysts say there are signs that the company is reaching new customers again.During back-to-school season, Crocs stores had a 12 percent increase in foot traffic, marking the largest jump among national retailers, according to inMarket, a California-based firm that collected data from 50 million customers to come up with the results.

"Crocs is starting to turn itself around, even in these very difficult times," said Steven Marotta, an analyst for CL King & Associates. "This is a company that has successfully gone back to the basics."

The company has sold more than 300 million pairs of shoes to date. Crocs now come covered in glitter and emblazoned with Minnie Mouse, Spider-Man and Batman. The company - which markets its shoes as slip-resistant and easy to clean - has also found a niche among medical and restaurant workers. Its Bistro line, for example, includes clogs covered with eggs and bacon, sushi and chili peppers.

"New colors and prints are selling well," new chief executive Andrew Rees said in an earnings call last month. "We're striking the right balance of comfort and style, and consumers are responding favorably."

But that doesn't mean it's been an easy slog for Crocs, which has weathered its share of hard times. In March, the company announced it would close 160 stores and bring on a new chief executive after posting a $44.5 million fourth-quarter loss.

In recent quarters, the company has become profitable again. Crocs has also benefited, analysts say, from a larger trend toward comfortable - and even ugly - shoes. Tevas, Uggs and Birkenstocks are all enjoying a resurgence, as shoppers eschew high heels in favor of less glamorous footwear.

And, analysts said, it probably doesn't hurt that celebrities like the actress Drew Barrymore and wrestler John Cena have signed on as spokespeople. Crocs have also made three appearances at London Fashion Week in the past year - most recently on Monday, when designer Christopher Kane outfitted models in rhinestone-encrusted Crocs.

"Now that consumers have gotten very comfortable wearing their athleisure gear, they want to be comfortable all the time," said Beth Goldstein, a footwear analyst for research firm NPD Group. "At the same time, [Crocs are] now a classic, and classic is cool."

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Crocs, founded 15 years ago in Niwot, Colo., originally marketed its signature clog as a boating shoe.The company found fast success in the early 2000s. Among its customers: Former president George W. Bush, actor Al Pacino and former model Brooke Shields.

But by 2008, Crocs had hit hard times. The country was in recession, and sales plunged. The company lost $185.1 million that year, and laid off roughly 2,000 workers.

"The company's toast," Damon Vickers, who manages an investment fund at Nine Points Capital Partners, told The Washington Post in 2009. "They're zombie-ish. They're dead and they don't know it."

But, it seems, Crocs have come back from the dead.

Company executives recently began noticing that people were buying a dozen pairs of clogs at a time, all in the same color. It turned out, they said, that high school and college sporting teams were buying them to wear before and after competitions. Many of those students had worn Crocs as children, and were now rediscovering them.

"Whether or not they're actually cool - well, that's up for debate," said Cameron Peebles, chief marketing officer of inMarket. "But our data shows that they're popular again, especially with the back-to-school crowd."






What to expect at Chicago Gourmet? Check out the 2017 festival, the 10th annual, which took place Sept. 23-24 in Millennium Park. (Roger Tino Morales / Chicago Tribune)

Another year, another love fest.

The 10th annual Chicago Gourmet, a food festival presented by Bon Appetit, kicked off Saturday in Millennium Park under cloudless skies and soaring, 90-plus temperatures that had patrons mopping their brows well before the 11:30 a.m. opening ceremony.

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"Who'd have thought we'd have July weather at the end of September?" announced the ever-ebullient Sam Toia, Illinois Restaurant Association president and CEO. "But," he added, "we'll take it over rain."

"I'm schvitzing up here," joked Mayor Rahm Emanuel, "and now I'd like to lay out my 14-point health care program."

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The mayor took a moment to urge the audience to donate to relief efforts for Puerto Rico and Mexico, after which a number of speakers extolled Chicago's culinary prowess and general awesomeness, laying particular emphasis on Bon Appetit's recent proclamation of Chicago as the "restaurant city of the year."

After a Champagne toast (Ace of Spades brut gold) and cheesecake from Eli's Cheesecake, the two-day event was underway.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 39 Who knew the normally staid tartare would be so much fun on fried pork skin dusted with powdered cheese?  Nick Kindelsperger (Nick Kindelsperger / Chicago Tribune)

The Millennium Park grounds were laid out with a dozen food pavilions, each featuring three to five chefs at once, and dozens of stations dispensing wine, sake and spirits. The sheer number of options helped keep lines moving and manageable, except, as always, at the Supreme Lobster pavilion, where lines reached as long as 80 people, eager to sample bites from Joe's Seafood, Dos Urban Cantina and Cherry Circle Room.

As has been the case for years, there was more food available than could possibly be consumed in the allotted time. Veteran patrons, in packs of two or more, employed the you-go-here, I'll-go-there, meet-in-the-middle strategy. One woman nimbly combined two lobster-roll-and-fries combos onto a single plate and headed back to the lawn.

Some of the attendees were still buzzing over the ancillary events that had occurred earlier in the week, including a Rick Bayless-led "Farm2Table" dinner that took place Wednesday along the 606 Trail; a dinner the same night at Robie House, led by Matthias Merges (Billy Sunday) and Carrie Nahabedian (Naha); and Friday night's eighth annual Hamburger Hop, pitting 15 chefs in a friendly burger-making competition (won by River Roast's John Hogan and Tony Mantuano; Martial Noguier of Bistronomic took People's Choice honors).

Though the event featured a number of first-name-basis food celebrities (Rick, Stephanie, Carla, Graham), Chicago Gourmet was an opportunity for every chef to shine. Joe Rosetti of Harry Caray's impressed with a Berkshire pork-cheek ragu over mascarpone polenta. Band of Bohemia's Michael Carroll's lightly smoked sturgeon and bourbon-peach jam, on housemade sourdough toast, was a light yet complex bite. Luca Corazzina of 312 Chicago dished up duck-filled spinach dumplings with a mushroom-cherry sauce.

Some chefs served signature dishes. Brent Balika offered the same Grand-Marnier-glazed duck wings that are a staple at Margeaux Brasserie; Brian Fisher of Entente served his popular Carolina-gold risotto with duck egg, winter truffle and Parmesan.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

John Shields and Karen Urie Shields brilliantly anticipated the high temperatures with their dish: ice-cold oysters with seaweed, topped with radish granita. More than a few patrons went back for seconds.

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U.S. Foods' Foster Deadman fashioned an upscale version of Frito pie (typically chili spooned into a bag of Frito chips); his creation ladled lobster and lobster cream into each bag.

Sunday, at the always-crowded Supreme Lobster pavilion, Alisha Elena of mfk dished up a perfect-for-summer shrimp and cucumber aguachile, and Ryan Kikkert of Roanoke created a delicious smoked-salmon rillettes with house-made salt-and-vinegar potato chips.



Kevin Hickey of The Duck Inn produced a slightly smaller version of his restaurant's duck-fat hotdogs, smeared with what he called "kim-cheese," a Korean-spiced cheese sauce.

In addition to the food, there were numerous cooking demonstrations and cocktail seminars. Pork & Mindy's Jeff Mauro and "The Chew's" Carla Hall yukked it up while creating a pork-loin version of Nashville hot chicken. Southern Glazer's Egor Polonskiy led a hands-on agave-cocktail class. In Saturday's final seminar, Master Sommeliers Serafin Alvarado and Eric Entrikin led a wine tasting consisting of 2008 vintages, a nod to Chicago Gourmet's inaugural year.

"Congratulations," Entrikin said to the class. "It was really hot out, and you're still standing."

Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.

pvettel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @philvettel






Goose Island is getting a new boss, and it's a homecoming.

Todd Ahsmann, a friend of former Goose Island brewmaster Greg Hall's since childhood, has been tapped to take over as the brewery's president and general manager. The man currently in that role, Ken Stout, is stepping into the newly created role of president of Goose Island International, a new division to guide Goose Island's growing international footprint.

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Goose Island's parent company, Anheuser-Busch, also announced Monday that it has bought the entirety of Virtue Cider, the cider company started by Greg Hall after Anheuser-Busch bought Goose Island in 2011. In 2015, three years after launching Virtue, Hall sold 51 percent of his Michigan-based cider company to Anheuser-Busch for an undisclosed sum.

Ahsmann assumes day-to-day responsibilities for both Goose Island and Virtue Cider, whose Chicago team will move into Goose Island's headquarters on Fulton Street. Greg Hall and his Virtue co-founder Steve Schmakel will remain active in the company, Anheuser-Busch said in an email sent to employees this morning.

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Ahsmann, who worked as a bartender at Goose Island when it opened as a Clybourn Avenue brewpub in 1988, worked in the music industry before returning to Goose Island in a marketing role. He ascended within the company after its sale to Anheuser-Busch and in 2015 was named president and general manager of Blue Point Brewing, just outside of New York City. Anheuser-Busch, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest beer company, bought Blue Point in 2014 as part of its strategy to penetrate the growing American craft beer industry. Anheuser-Busch has bought 10 American craft breweries since 2011; Goose Island was the first.

In recent years, Anheuser-Busch has launched Goose Island pubs in London, Toronto, Sao Paolo, Shanghai, Seoul and Monterrey, Mexico. Stout will oversee those operations, reporting to the company's global vice president of craft and specialties, "to further strengthen the brand and culture of Goose Island abroad," the company said.

jbnoel@chicagotribune

Twitter @hopnotes






A Chicago mural by artist Sam Kirk depicting Dolores Huerta of United Farm Workers is seen on East 13th Street between South Wabash and South Michigan avenues. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago is embracing iconic civil rights and labor leader Dolores Huerta this fall through a series of film screenings and art exhibitions honoring her life's work.

Huerta, 87, launched what is now the United Farm Workers union with Cesar Chavez in 1962 and is best known for organizing California farm workers to demand improved labor rights.

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The mother of 11 worked as an organizer, lobbyist and negotiator who helped secure financial assistance to children whose families had low or no income and disability insurance for farm workers in California.

"She really hasn't gotten enough recognition for all the great contributions she's made to labor rights and equity and more recently, with getting Latinas to run for office and be involved in politics," said Emily Dreke, vice president of development at the Chicago Foundation for Women. "It would be remarkable today and it is remarkable, but in the '60s and '70s, even more so."

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Huerta helped enact the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, which granted farm workers in California the right to collectively organize and bargain for better wages and working conditions.

In 2012, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, who borrowed her "Si se puede" or "Yes we can" slogan with her permission during his senatorial and presidential campaigns.

As a vocal leader of the labor movement, Huerta broke gender stereotypes but is often overlooked in conversations about the civil rights movement, Dreke said.

"I'd like to see streets and holidays names after her just like Cesar Chavez," she said. "She's just remarkable."

The Gene Siskel Film Center is screening a documentary about Huerta called "Dolores" through Thursday. In the film, director Peter Bratt highlights Huerta's work as a lifelong champion of social justice for Latinos, migrant workers, immigrants and women. He also details her high-profile alliances with Coretta Scott King, Robert Kennedy, Angela Davis and Gloria Steinem and the complicated relationship she has with her 11 children.

Columbia College is hosting Si, Se Puede!, an art exhibition in the university's Glass Curtain Gallery that connects the legacy of Chavez and Huerta and their work with the United Farm Workers Movement to current artistic practices centering on education, history, acts of resistance and community work in Chicago.

For the exhibition, five artists immersed themselves in United Farm Workers archives to use the documents, images and publications they found as springboards for creating new works, according to Meg Duguid, curator of the exhibit.

"Right now, Chicago is interested in Huerta and those activities because everyone is trying to figure out what was done before because so much needs to be done now," Duguid said referring to the current political climate. "Huerta has been an amazing advocate, but she's not taught about in public school education the way Cesar Chavez is. We're talking about a society that doesn't always see women's voices as equal to men's."

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A selection of photographs by Victor Aleman, Chavez's personal photographer, is also included to provide historical context of the United Farm Workers movement.

Artist Nicole Marroquin recreated what the Chicago office of the UFW Illinois Boycott looked like in the 1970s, originally located two blocks south of the Glass Curtain Gallery at 1300 S. Wabash Ave.

"Chicago was integral in a lot of the boycott efforts," Duguid said. "Every call to action was a call for collaboration. There's something really clear in the way that Huerta and Chavez and the UFW ran the organization to make sure people were involved and were able to leave their mark."

Participating artists also include William Estrada, Ian Kerstetter, Victoria Martinez and Gloria "Gloe" Talamantes.

Two new murals by Hector Duarte and Sam Kirk are being painted along the Wabash Arts Corridor and stretches west to partners in Pilsen and Little Village. Duarte will complete a mural on 11th Street near Michigan Avenue by Oct. 10.

On Thursday, Kirk finished painting the final touches of a Huerta-inspired mural, which depicts a young woman of color wearing a red United Farm Workers shirt, her fist in the air, on 13th Street near Michigan. Huerta's "Si se puede" quote is written at the bottom in bright yellow paint.

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Kirk said she wanted to honor Huerta's legacy on a "grand scale" in order to spark conversations about women and their accomplishments.

"I don't think women are recognized enough. That's the reason I do a lot of public work, it's to get people to talk about things that we're not talking about enough," Kirk said. "The image does one thing but putting words or quotes down helps bring that conversation forward."

The Chicago Foundation for Women will honor Huerta and Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza during their 32nd annual luncheon and symposium Oct. 19.

Huerta and Garza will discuss ways to bring women from diverse backgrounds with different priorities together in a meaningful and authentic way to improve the lives of women and girls.

"It's going to be a unique opportunity to do something that we need to be doing more of  sitting down and having conversations about all the wonderful things that make us different and where we can join together to see some opportunity for change," Dreke said. "We're really polarized in this country, and we need to figure out how to break down some of those divides."

Dreke said it's important for people, and especially young girls, to have role models like Huerta.

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"Women are at the forefront of social change," she said. "It's really important for women who are achieving things to claim the credit that's due to them. If they don't do it, than what are young girls going to see? Who are they going to take after?"

nmoreno@chicagotribune.com

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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)
Laura Meagher hosts an episode of "Body Parts" on Sept. 11, 2017 from Lurie Children's Hospital for patients both in the studio and in their own rooms watching on the hospital television channel. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella)

At any given moment between 3 and 4 p.m. on some Mondays, Laura Meagher can be found holding in her hands a heart or some other human organ, muscle or bone.

She is doing this as the host of a television program called "Body Parts" that is intended to delight and comfort the children and families who are spending time in Lurie Children's Hospital.

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She is lively and energetic and sincere as host of this interactive, bingolike game show. The kids fill out game cards, matching the organs/muscles/bones that Meagher displays with squares on sheets of paper. A few children and family members watch live in studios on the 12th floor but most are watching from their rooms. When they have filled in their game cards they can raise their hands or connect to Meagher by phone. They then select a prize from a huge pile on the set, including books, games, art supplies, dolls and stuffed animals.

"It is so wonderful," says Meagher. "Everybody gets a prize."

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This shows airs on Skylight TV, the hospital's closed-circuit television station. But watching Meagher in action, it is possible to feel the years slip away and remember her when she was a TV star in Chicago.

That was a long time ago when she was the co-host (with local actor Will Clinger) of the immensely popular "Wild Chicago" on WTTW-Ch. 11. That show's creator and original host Ben Hollis, citing the need to recharge after 400 "WC" segments, announced in May 1992 that he would be leaving the show. There was a lengthy audition process for new hosts. More than 250 applied, including local actors, high school students and one hematologist, sending in tapes of themselves, and Clinger and Meagher won the jobs.

Before "Wild Chicago," Meagher had been working as a freelance stage manager and associate director for most of the television stations in town, something she continued to do even during her "WC" run. She was working at Channel 5 on the fateful May 5, 1997, night that Jerry Springer began appearing as an on-air commentator, a move that precipitated the quick exit of co-anchor Carol Marin and later co-anchor Ron Magers. "It was my professional responsibility to seat Springer in his chair on the set the night Ron and Carol refused to sit in theirs," she says.

After her "WC" years (she won two local Emmys), she did some feature reporting for WFLD-Ch. 32 and hosted radio programs for WLS-AM and WLUP-FM. She then took off for Miami where she spent two years on-air for a TV station (winning another local Emmy for a story about typewriters). Then she was off to New York and more on-air work for a station there.

She was there on Sept. 11, living close to the carnage of the Twin Towers. "That was unreal, surreal, an indescribable tragedy for all of us" she says. "The windows in the building across the street from mine were shattered. I felt frozen. I couldn't move. I couldn't talk. I lost my apartment and I knew it was time to go and I had my whole life wanted to live in Paris."

And so she went, not knowing a soul there and not speaking the language.

But she made friends, learned French well enough to start teaching, married for a second time and pieced together a successful do-it-yourself career.

"I started teaching English as a second language at corporations and eventually found my way into the French media," says the 62-year-old. "I worked with print and television journalists and executives in need of developing their skills in English to write and conduct interviews, attend or participate in press conferences or give interviews and speak publicly. And I also taught TV news production and had some amazing private clients, including an 80-year-old Iranian attorney who had once been imprisoned by the Shah."

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She would return here about once a year to see her parents, who lived in Skokie, where she was raised. But she was in Paris on Jan. 7, 2015, when two armed brothers/terrorists forced their way into the offices of the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people and injuring 11 more.

"I lived a short walk away and a fear mushroomed inside me and I tried to carry myself as strongly as I could," she says.

Her marriage was starting to unravel and early in 2016 she came back home for the funeral of her 88-year-old father and realized "that I was able to get so much more emotional support here than in Paris. This was a comfortable place for me."

She moved back to Chicago last November and since then has found a lovely, loftlike apartment in the South Loop, been reconnecting with old friends and beginning her latest chapter.

"I do think I am on more websites for dating than for work," she says.

She had a great time at a recent reunion/party for former television colleagues.

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"Laura is like lightning in a bottle," says Joan Esposito, the former TV anchorwoman. "She is bolder and braver than just about anyone I know, and that is true personally and professionally. I can't imagine moving to Paris with no command of French and no job. But Laura made it work."

Laura Meagher hosts an episode of "Body Parts" with contestant Kimistry Cooper, 3, on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 from Lurie Children's Hospital. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Body Parts came her way when she noticed an online ad for a producer/director for Skylight TV. She emailed her resume and, understandably, it impressed the folks at Lurie.

Laura has been a wonderful addition to our team of hosts for the show, says Susan Ruohonen who, as senior director/family services at Lurie, runs its Skylight network. Our longtime host Tracey Ellert, who had been with the show for 17 years, has been living in Los Angeles for the past year and so we are so appreciative of Laura, and other local talents, who are sharing their time and positive energy.

It is hardly a full-time job but the experience  Meagher has hosted the weekly show six times  has been revelatory.

"This is the most highly formatted show I have ever done, and the only live show," she says. "I know that I am talking to some very sick children but I love it. I really think of this as a great gift to me.

"Before, my television work was all about me. Now I have to be so present, focused on my feelings knowing that I am trying to bring good feelings to other people. It's about trying to bring the children and families an experience that will allow them to forget that they are in a hospital."

She has a few private clients to whom she teaches all manner of communication skills, especially verbal communication skills (www.parisfromher.com). She has been talking with radio and television stations about possible work. She seems happy, content, a star reborn without the glitter and the hey-I-know-you-from-"Wild Chicago" recognition.

"I have a great life," she says. "I would be the last person to ever complain."

rkogan@chicagotribune.com

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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)
If audiences turned out to the Auditorium Theatre over the weekend expecting to see an Olympic-style spectacle, they surely left disappointed. While Shen Wei, the MacArthur "genius"-award winning director of the New York-based company Shen Wei Dance Arts did, indeed, choreograph the opening ceremonies for the 2008 games in Beijing, the Chinese choreographer's Chicago debut was anything but that.

One half, the first, was methodical and benign, while the other half was filled with visceral and visual delights. The irony here is the first half was Shen's 2003 "Rite of Spring," set to Igor Stravinsky's iconic original score of the same name (often known by the French "Le Sacre du Printemps"). When Stravinsky premiered "Le Sacre" for the Ballets Russes in 1913 (famously reconstructed by the Joffrey Ballet in 1987, and again in 2013 for the ballet's centennial), opening night erupted with audience members jeering the performers, hurling vegetables onstage in shock over the atonal, bizarre notes backed up against Vaslav Nijinky's grotesque, turned-in dancing about a Pagan ritual ushering in spring with a sacrificial maiden. Shen opts for a more subdued piano score in lieu of the full orchestration, which points to his careful attention to the music itself, leaving the narrative behind for an embodiment of the music, note by note.

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The dancers enter one at a time, while the house lights are still near full and the audience is still buzzing, and line up on either side of a wide open stage with its soft goods pulled back. They then walk slowly, methodically, into the starkly lit space, scattered like chess pieces, the last dancer eventually replacing the first  as if the knight has replaced the rook  all before the music begins. Once it does, each twinkling note on the piano in the piece's opening section is mimicked by tiny, quick bourees, the dancers gingerly tiptoeing to every last keystroke. When the music begins to swell, so do they, not with reckless abandon as one might expect, but with spritely jumps and falls to and from the floor, from which they recover so fast one barely notices.

In a way, Shen neuters the "Sacre" score, rendering it a choreographic exercise. He removes any hint of Nijinsky's "Rite" in a non-narrative manifestation of Stravinsky's notes on the page. David Ferri's sterile lighting casts a glow on the chalky floor, which has white lines drawn here and there that travel up the dancers legs and torsos in random stripes across their gray scale costumes. The lines of the body in the work are pure, hinting at classical modern dance  I thought, at times, that Martha Graham could have made this. It's beautiful, when we expect Rites of Spring to be ugly. This "Rite" is radical in its calculative restraint, and that was unexpected. Furthermore, the most exciting and adventurous moments were the ones in which very little was happening; a shoulder-to-shoulder line of dancers downstage with eyes closed, standing still but for tiny pulses and twitches traversing each body  like a mental rehearsal of what is to come  happens when Stravinsky expected a climax  and it is, indeed, that.

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Another of Shen Wei's signature works, "Folding" (2000), took up the program's second half. "Folding" is equally as measured and methodical as "Rite of Spring," but the work's sensual palette in the costumes, set, and movement allude to a subtextual allegory left out in the evening's first half. Shen's hand-painted recreation of an 18th century watercolor and ink canvas by Bada Shanren depicts a shark and two minnows; Chinese calligraphy caps two corners of the massive backdrop, giving the work context and meaning, perhaps, though Shen's intention is clear enough to those of us who are unfamiliar with the painter or the painting.

The dancers walk heel-toe, gliding so smoothly they appear to be floating, legs and feet hidden by massive garnet colored skirts, with pale torsos and domed caps contrasting their blood red bottoms. There is a lot of this gliding, though by midway through the piece, it's performed with heads tipped back, elbows bent with wrists dangling at the waist, exalting the chest toward the heavens. After what felt like a long time, duets emerged from the wings donning billowing black skirts, longer and fuller than the red, which make room for two bodies to stack and intertwine every which way.

These duos change configurations within the skirts' waistlines, moving so slowly and methodically one barely notices a change in position (or the immense physicality of these acts) until one of the two bodies emerges to perch regally on the skirts, dragged across the stage by the other. They could be monks, I thought, guiding us through a long and ominous meditation accompanied by a gold, spear-shaped pendulum tick-tocking to and fro downstage, and by John Tavener's score combining Tibetan bells with string quartet music. But Shen Wei's premise is the act of folding  bodies, fabrics, sounds  and this feels far too sexy for it to be about monks. Ferri's lighting is so dim that, in some moments, we are left to fill in the blanks with our imaginations, guessing if what we think we see is what's actually happening on stage.

This is especially true at the beginning and end, at which point the backdrop has risen and the dancers appear to levitate against a vast, dark upstage space, hovering over the ground as if ascending from the monotony of a peaceful, but seemingly unending purgatory.

Lauren Warnecke is a freelance critic.

ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com

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Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
"Bluebird, Bluebird" by Attica Locke, Mulholland, 320 pages, $26

Texas Ranger Darren Mathews knows he's exposing himself to a world of trouble when he heads into rural East Texas, where he has deep family roots, to investigate a pair of seemingly connected murders: that of a black lawyer from Chicago and a local white woman. The meth-dealing Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is staining Highway 59 with its hate crimes. The local police and FBI barely tolerate Mathews, who's African-American. As his law professor uncle would say, "The law is a lie black folks need protection from." But Mathews presses on, even as his wife, an attorney, urges him to quit so he can complete the law degree he gave up on to become one of the few black Rangers. He believes he owes it to the victims and the state he loves to penetrate the mess of secrets and lies enveloping matriarchal cafe owner Geneva Sweet and the long-ago murder of the musician who was the love of her life. Named after a John Lee Hooker song, Attica Locke's stupendous fourth novel is suffused with the blues. Pushing her classic noir plot deep into history and culture, the Houston native sings her own unshakable, timeless lament. Streaked with wit and hard-earned wisdom, "Bluebird, Bluebird" soars.

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"Lightning Men" by Thomas Mullen, Atria, 384 pages, $26

In "Lightning Men," Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith are black police officers  two of the 10 blacks on the Atlanta force in 1950  who have the unenviable job of patrolling the city's hate-filled streets. They work at an unsettling disadvantage in that the city's black cops are not allowed to arrest white people, much less lay their hands on them.Even Ku Klux Klan members mobilizing against the handful of black families who moved into white neighborhoods are untouchable. Meanwhile, standup white cop Denny Rakestraw must deal with a sniveling brother-in-law Klansman and a racist wife. As he did in last year's acclaimed "Darktown," Mullen expands the boundaries of crime fiction, weaving in eye-opening details drawn from our checkered history. A young black man serves five years in prison for "aiding and abetting the enemy" by stealing cigarettes from a military train. Boggs' birth father, whose existence he wasn't aware of until he was 16, was lynched for wearing his World War I uniform at a parade in his rural town. Nazi brown shirts post "the symbols of the very country we'd just won a war against" in targeted neighborhoods. How familiar does that sound?

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"The Readymade Thief" by Augustus Rose, Viking, 384 pages, $26

Not every character in a contemporary thriller, much less a 17-year-old runaway, goes around citing stuff like unified field theory. But Lee Cuddy is far from typical, and Augustus Rose's brainy "Readymade Thief" is far from standard. A loner from a broken home who becomes popular in high school by shoplifting, then makes a ton of money dealing drugs, Lee lands in juvenile detention when her new, well-off best friend betrays her. Eight months in, Lee escapes juvie and with nowhere to go  home is out now that a new age-y loser lives with her mother  squats in a shabby retreat for runaways. After sussing out the scary designs of the creeps who operate it, she runs off with Tomi, a young Czech hacker and art freak. He exposes her to an underworld of shuttered hotels, abandoned aquariums, unattended homes  and Marcel Duchamp. After unknowingly taking possession of one of the French artist's works, she is targeted by a cutthroat cult that believes they contain blueprints to immortality. A literary cousin of "Special Topics of Calamity Physics" with its wide range of allusions and intellectual gamesmanship, "The Readymade Thief" is sometimes a bit too discursive. But Rose, a California native who teaches fiction at the University of Chicago, keeps you involved with the liveliness of his writing and the likability of his heroine.

Lloyd Sachs, a freelance writer, is a regular contributor to the Chicago Tribune.
A website for a Texas-based company that provides canine blood products for veterinary transfusions nationally says it sources its blood "primarily from volunteer donors" and aims to "operate in a completely ethical, humane manner." But an animal rights group contends it has evidence that the Pet Blood Bank does the opposite, procuring its supply from a colony of about 150 greyhounds that live in squalor in dirt-floored pens.

Photographs of the facility, which People for the Treatment of Ethical Treatment of Animals says a former blood-bank employee took between February and June, show kenneled dogs with open wounds, rotting teeth and toenails curling into their paw pads. The organization sent a letter Wednesday to the sheriff of San Saba County, where the company is located northwest of Austin, urging the seizure of dogs "being cruelly confined or unreasonably deprived of necessary food, care or shelter." A dispatcher said Friday that an investigation is underway.

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The former employee's accusations could not be independently confirmed. In an interview Thursday, Pet Blood Bank owner Shane Altizer did not deny that the images were taken there, but said they predated his 2015 purchase of the company or were "moment snapshots" unrepresentative of overall conditions now.

The allegations provide a window into an industry that helps to save thousands of animals each year, although one that critics say needs more regulation. As the U.S. pet population grows and owners increasingly opt to treat injuries and other conditions with procedures requiring transfusions, animal blood banks are struggling to meet demand. Yet no federal standards exist, and only one state, California, regulates such operations and requires annual inspections.

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Veterinarian Anne Hale, former CEO of the nation's first and largest commercial animal blood bank, said she visited the Pet Blood Bank this summer and was "pleasantly surprised" to find dogs that appeared healthy and happy. After viewing the photos and video circulated by PETA, however, Hale said Friday that her assessment had changed.

"It appears that the facility was 'cleaned up' before our touring," Hale said in an email. "I agree that this facility should be addressed. This certainly suggests that regional, state and/or federal regulation is warranted."

Experts say sanitary conditions and veterinary care are critical to ensuring that animals are healthy enough to donate blood and that they do not transmit blood-borne pathogens.

No one keeps count of animal blood banks, which take various forms. Commercial operations like the one in Texas sell their products to veterinary clinics or supply companies. But many veterinary hospitals run small-scale versions that usually get blood from staff-owned pets or from patients whose owners may volunteer them in exchange for discounted services.

And many university vet schools also have blood banks, some of which maintain in-house colonies of dogs or cats. These facilities are typically regulated and inspected by the institutions, said veterinarian Sarah Musulin, president of the Association of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine.

The "vast majority of veterinary blood banks are overseen by veterinarians and veterinary technicians who have devoted their careers to the well being of animals," said Musulin, who directs the blood bank at North Carolina State University. And many, she said, are eager to "create best-practice guidelines." Those include using young, healthy animals that are vaccinated and on preventive medications and that undergo regular health screenings and assessments for stress behaviors.

One point of debate, particularly when it comes to dogs, centers on what donors to use. Many blood banks rely on a humanlike system, sponsoring blood drives and recruiting volunteers. Others use captive colonies, often made up of retired racing greyhounds, a breed that frequently has a universal blood type. Some use a mix of the two.

Colonies limit exposure to communicable diseases and keep dogs from having to travel for blood draws, but they require ample space and staff to keep the dogs fit and stimulated, Musulin said. Ideally, dogs are used for a short time and then placed up for adoption, she said.

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Critics of the colony model say it is inhumane when volunteer programs are viable.

"We don't have a problem with greyhound blood donors. We have a problem with captive greyhound blood donors," said David Wolf, director of the National Greyhound Adoption Program. He cited the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary hospital as a model for having abandoned its colony in favor of a bloodmobile-based program. "Having blood donors is wonderful as long as they go home and sleep on their soft bed," Wolf said.

California requires closed colonies, and Jean Dodds, the founder of Hemopet, a nonprofit commercial blood bank there, is adamant that it is the best way to ensure the safety of blood products and a regular supply. Hemopet's website shows dogs resting in crates in brightly colored "bungalows" alongside a courtyard used for daily walks. It houses about 200 greyhounds that, depending on their weight, donate twice or three times a month before being made available for adoption after no more than one year, Dodds said.

"It should be standardized throughout the country," she said of animal blood banking. "It's basically a hole, and it should be filled."

In Texas, the Pet Blood Bank has mostly used a colony model. It was founded in 2004 by Austin entrepreneur Mark Ziller, who said he initially sought volunteers and used a bloodmobile. When that did not turn up enough dogs, the company began using retired greyhounds housed in a kennel on a private farm northwest of Austin. Ziller said he sold the company in November 2015 to Altizer, whose family owns that farm in Cherokee.

"The Pet Blood Bank had a noble mission: It provided blood for veterinarians to use in lifesaving transfusions," Ziller wrote in an email, saying that during his ownership the dogs had monthly flea, tick and heartworm medications and regular veterinary care.

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After viewing the photos PETA obtained, he added, "To see the animals in that state is beyond depressing."

Bill Larsen, 60, is the former employee who took the images. He said he first worked at the facility several years ago and that conditions were better then. He was shocked when he was rehired for several months earlier this year, he said.

He described the dogs' quarters as pens in a former turkey shed that were frequently soiled with feces and urine. The animals had many ticks and were not allowed outside for exercise, he said. Many were what he called "cringe hounds."

"When they see you touch the gate handle, they run into their [dog] house and hide," said Larsen, who recounted how he'd unsuccessfully sought help from local animal shelters and a state agency before contacting PETA. "I just like dogs," he said, and "hate for any animal to get treated like that."

Altizer said he has tried to make rapid changes since taking over the company. A tick treatment program this summer "wiped out" that problem, he said, and he gave other explanations for other images shared by PETA: Greyhounds commonly have poor teeth; skinny, elderly dogs can get bedsore-type wounds that are hard to resolve. The pens are cleaned daily, and a local vet cares for the dogs, he insisted.

"If a dog isn't healthy, they don't produce a product," Altizer noted. "And if they don't produce a product, they're an expense. It's cheaper to keep a dog healthy."

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The company's website is being updated and will no longer refer to donors being volunteers, he said.

Hale said Altizer seemed eager for advice and she saw no red flags during her visit this summer. Record-keeping seemed solid, she said, and dogs seemed relaxed in their quarters and during blood draws.

"The dogs really can't put their paw on the paper and agree to their donorship," she said Thursday. "We have a higher level of responsibility than even the human blood bankers, because we have to really pay attention to making sure the donors are well cared for."

According to Daphna Nachminovitch, a senior vice president at PETA, the photos showed tattoos on some of the greyhounds that traced them to racetracks in Florida, Texas and Arkansas. Greyhound adoption programs are ready to take the dogs, she said.

"They were born into an industry that's cruel," Nachminovitch said. "But even if these animals are going to be kept for being bled and solely for that purpose, at the very least there are minimal standards of sanitation and veterinary care that they are due and are required by law."






Philadelphia  Independence Hall may be one of America's top tourist attractions, but there was a time in Philadelphia when it played second fiddle to a prison.

A massive fortress that opened in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary, then on the outskirts of the city, began admitting the curious not long after the convicts.

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"In the 1830s and 1840s, you could buy a ticket and come visit Eastern State Penitentiary," said Sean Kelley, director of interpretation and public programming at what is now a historic site.

"For a couple of years, it was more popular than Independence Hall," Kelley added. "When Charles Dickens traveled to the United States, he said the two things he most wanted to see on this continent were Niagara Falls and Eastern State Penitentiary."

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The last prisoners left in 1970. The paint is peeling, and some walls are crumbling. But once again, Eastern State is welcoming tourists to what was an experiment in incarceration  one that failed miserably.

The "pen" was the brainchild of a group of 18th-century activists who called themselves the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons. They met at the home of one of their founders, Benjamin Franklin.

The civic leaders believed that, at their cores, all men had good hearts and that they would be redeemed through penitence, hence the name of the world's first penitentiary. Prisoners were kept in solitary confinement to consider their misdeeds. Their only reading material was the Bible.

Yet over the decades, in Pennsylvania and across the nation, prison populations soared. Many were repeat offenders.

"In hindsight, it was naive," Kelley said.

As aging prisons are replaced by more modern institutions, a handful of the old ones, scattered from San Francisco's Alcatraz to Philly's Eastern State, welcome both thrill-seekers and the curious. One prison-turned-museum even puts visitors within the same walls as real inmates.

Outsiders can, of course, leave the bars behind at the end of their tour. But the memories of sitting inside a gas chamber will never leave many of those who visit Missouri State Penitentiary.

Less than a mile from the state Capitol in Jefferson City, the prison offers historic tours in the daytime and paranormal tours at night, all with stops at the rusting gas chamber fitted with two metal chairs. On several occasions, two condemned convicts were executed at the same time.

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Photos of 39 men and one woman are displayed on a wall just outside the chamber where all of them drew their last breaths.

"People go into there. Some feel an immense sadness. Some feel nothing," tour coordinator Sheila Sanford said. "You can sit in the chairs, (but) some people say that's a little morbid."

Prison folklore is filled with the stories of those who attempted escape, and sometimes succeeded. Visitors to Mansfield, Ohio, hear about a couple of characters  literally  who were successful: Andy Dufresne and Red Redding. They're better known by the names of the actors who played them, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. The actors spent plenty of time inside the Ohio State Reformatory while filming the 1994 movie "The Shawshank Redemption."

The prison had closed four years earlier and was in disrepair when Hollywood folks first set eyes on it.

"'Shawshank' really helped save the building," spokesman Dan Smith said of the prison-turned-museum. "Without that film, the reformatory probably would have been fully torn down."

On guided and self-guided tours, visitors learn about the history of the reformatory as a working prison and see props from the acclaimed film, based on a Stephen King short story.

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"It's very interactive. You can sit at the warden's desk. You can go into Brooks' room," he said of the cell occupied by "Shawshank" character Brooks Hatlen, played by the late actor James Whitmore.

The reformatory hopes to have an entire "Shawshank" wing  with movie sets and memorabilia  completed in time for the film's 25th anniversary in 2019.

That same year is expected to bring the Ohio prison back to the big screen with the release of "Escape Plan 3," starring Sylvester Stallone.

"Probably 90 percent of the film will be (shot) at the reformatory," Smith said.

In the fall, both Ohio State Reformatory and Eastern State Penitentiary turn into giant haunted houses, with the former hosting "Escape From Blood Prison" (Oct. 12 to Nov. 5) and the latter putting on "Terror Behind the Walls" on select dates through Nov. 11.

Two hundred miles from the Ohio facility, in Jackson, Mich., tourists wander near where inmates are still serving their sentences. Until 10 years ago, Cell Block 7 was the evaluation center for all inmates entering the state prison system. It's now a museum surrounded by two working prisons.

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"You don't have any contact with current inmates," museum spokesman Erik Lyman said. "They're a ways off, but they're there."

While incarceration is never considered fun, mobster Al Capone made the most of his time behind bars in Philadelphia.

Captivated by Scarface's infamy following the St. Valentine's Day massacre, guards at Eastern State made Capone's cell downright homey. As modern-day visitors discover, it was furnished in finery  from Oriental rugs on the floor to oil paintings on the walls. He even had an expensive radio.

Nearly 90 years earlier, following Charles Dickens' visit in 1842, the author wrote of the gloom faced by a typical prisoner: "He is led to the cell from which he never again comes forth, until his whole term of imprisonment has expired. He is a man buried alive, to be dug out in the slow round of years."

Fast forwarding to the present, Eastern State features an engaging exhibit about modern-day imprisonment.

The theme  that mass incarceration isn't working  resonates with many, Kelley said.

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"I thought that Bill O'Reilly would be stopping by and calling us out, and it's been just the opposite," Kelley said. "A lot of people on the political right and the left want to have this conversation."

Jay Jones is a freelance writer.

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Jennifer Philbin, dean of nursing at Ivy Tech Community College, shows off an anatomage table, which uses high-tech 3-D imagery, rather than human cadavers, for instruction in human anatomy. The curriculum will incorporate the tables in the future. ( Ivy Tech Community College )

As interest in health care careers, and particularly nursing, continues to grow, so does Ivy Tech Community College's academic program.

The college's nursing programs in Crown Point and Valparaiso recently saw a record number of applicants, 270 for fall and 210 for spring. This is due in part to the large numbers of baby boomers retiring from the health care field, according to Jennifer Philbin, dean of nursing.

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Ivy Tech ensures its courses prepare future nurses well by keeping up to date with equipment like labs with manikins simulating actual patients, hiring well-qualified instructors and forming partnerships with area medical facilities.

"Our goal is to provide quality nurses to meet the needs of the community," Philbin said.

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Randee Marinaro, department chair of Ivy Tech's School of Nursing at the Valparaiso campus, points to this year's 96 percent student pass rate for state boards as proof of the program's quality.

Future plans call for the curriculum to incorporate anatomage tables, which use high-tech 3-D imagery, rather than human cadavers, for instruction in human anatomy.

Kris Shebel, a 47-year-old wife and mother working as a CNA while earning an associate degree in nursing, thoroughly enjoys the program.

"I absolutely love it!" said Shebel, who was drawn to nursing after losing her best friend to breast cancer and watching her father recover from thoracic surgery. "The professors are simply amazing. They make every effort possible to help students achieve the high standards set by the school."

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Shebel credits Ivy Tech with helping her develop critical thinking skills, noting she often hears her instructor's voice in her head as she goes about her job at Porter Regional Hospital.

"Ivy Tech's program allowed me to work with the kids I've grown to love while still obtaining a degree in a field I am excited about," said Haley Brooks, 24, of Highland, who currently works as a nanny.

"I want to work as a pediatric nurse so I can combine my two passions together. The instructors continually find ways to make class interesting."

Becoming a nurse had been a long-deferred dream for Janice Witkowski, 47, of Hammond.

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"The clinical and simulation lab experiences are excellent," Witkowski said of Ivy Tech. "I was once in a simulation where the patient was crashing and my fellow students and I were all trying so hard to save him. We were all going quite crazy trying all kinds of interventions. When it was over, I only then realized how we were all so caught up in the moment. It felt very real.

"I feel honored to have had experienced nurses as instructors. While taking that first nursing job will be scary, I'll know I am capable of the work because I have not only been taught the skills but told by the Ivy Tech nursing staff that I can do it, and that's what really counts."

Donna Kiesling is a marketing assistant for Ivy Tech Community College.
The funeral for Kenneka Jenkins, the Chicago teen found dead in a hotel's walk-in freezer in Rosemont, will be held this weekend on the Far South Side, church administrators said Monday.



The death of 19-year-old Jenkins has drawn national attention, with her family asking the FBI to investigate the circumstances of her final hours. Jenkins disappeared from a room at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center early on Sept. 9.



Her body wasn't found until nearly 24 hours later after repeated pleas to the hotel and police by the family. Surveillance videos released by police days later show Jenkins, alone, wandering through a kitchen area near the freezer not long after she disappeared.



The Rosemont Police Department has classified the case as a death investigation. The Cook County medical examiner's office has said the cause and manner of Jenkins' death is pending both additional police work and toxicology results.



Jenkins' mother, Tereasa Martin, posted on Facebook that the visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Salem Baptist Church, a 15,000-member church at 752 E. 114th St. in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side.



Funeral services are to follow, presided over by the Rev. James T. Meeks, from noon to 1 p.m., Martin said on Facebook. "All are welcome if you come in peace," she said.



Church administrators confirmed the arrangements.



Police have said Jenkins had been at a party with as many as 30 other people on the hotel's ninth floor. A number of videos on social media, appearing to show the party and some of Jenkins' friends, has led to speculation that Jenkins was attacked.



After Jenkins talked to her sister about 1:30 a.m. Sept. 9, her friends lost track of her and called Martin, who lives on the Near West Side, saying they were driving Martin's car back to her.

Martin said she arrived at the hotel about 5 a.m. but she was told to wait to file a missing persons report. The information was entered into a police system after 1 p.m. that day and it was almost 12 hours after that when Jenkins was found.



Hours of surveillance videos were turned over to the family, police and the media, but Martin has said on Facebook Live and during peaceful demonstrations outside the hotel that she will not be satisfied until she sees a video that shows her daughter walking into the freezer of her own volition.
Ishmael Reed, 27, is charged with breaking into his ex-girlfriend's place early Sept. 23, 2017, and shooting her boyfriend, prosecutors said. (Cook County sheriff's office)

A South Shore man broke into his ex-girlfriend's home, pistol-whipped her and shot her new boyfriend, leaving the couple's infant covered in blood, then was fired on by police after he pointed his gun at them, prosecutors said Sunday.

Ishmael Reed, 27, of the 7500 block of South Kingston Avenue, appeared Sunday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, charged with attempted murder, home invasion, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault of a police officer.

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The charges follow a violent attack early Saturday by Reed on the mother of his two children at her home in the 8100 block of South Maryland Avenue in the East Chatham neighborhood, according to Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Elizabeth Brogan.

Around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, the woman, 25, was asleep in a bedroom with her current boyfriend and their 2-month-old daughter when she was awakened by a noise from the kitchen, Brogan said. When she went to check it out, she found Reed standing outside the kitchen window with a screen in his hand, Brogan said.

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Reed climbed through the window and hit the woman with the handgun several times, Brogan said.

Still in the bedroom with their baby, the woman's current boyfriend, 27, heard arguing and locked the bedroom door, Brogan said. Reed fired two shots at the door to enter the bedroom before turning the weapon on the man.

Reed "shot him in the left shoulder and he fell," Brogan said. Reed "stood over the (man) and shot him once more in the left shoulder and the right arm while the baby was still nearby. After the defendant emptied the clip, he reloaded the firearm."

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Before Reed took aim at the man again, Chicago police arrived at the home, prompting Reed to flee onto the back porch. Reed raised his gun at a Chicago police sergeant, who fired one shot in his direction but missed.

Reed went back into the home, and police soon found him hiding near a pile of clothes in the kitchen. Investigators discovered a .40-caliber handgun in the freezer.

Officers found the 2-month-old in the bedroom, splattered with blood.

The baby's father was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious condition, while the woman refused medical treatment, according to police.

Judge Sophia Atcherson ordered Reed held without bail. His next scheduled court date is Friday.

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tbriscoe@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @_tonybriscoe
A woman pepper-sprayed staff at multiple Billings stores after trying to steal chain saws, a leaf blower, meat and other items, according to charging documents.

Sabrina Greybull, 29, appeared on two felony robbery charges in Yellowstone County Justice Court on Monday. She was booked into the county jail on Friday on bond of $254,435.

According to charges, Greybull was at the West End Albertsons, 3137 Grand Ave., on July 11 when a store employee saw her pushing a cart with a cooler, steaks and other meat out the door, seemingly without paying. He followed her outside and confronted her. Greybull could not produce a receipt when asked, and when the store employee tried to take the cart, Greybull pepper-sprayed him, he told investigators.

On Aug. 19, Greybull had a similar run-in at Lowes, 2717 King Ave. W., where she tried to steal a leaf blower and two chain saws, pepper-spraying two employees who tried to stop her, according to charges.

Charging documents say Greybull also pepper-sprayed staff at Target after being confronted about a possible theft there.

Greybull had been wanted by the U.S. Marshals Montana Violent Offender Task Force on an outstanding warrant.
Pueblo Union Depot to host seminar series on Italian American history

'Topics in Italian American Studies' is a two-part seminar hosted by Marianna Gatto, executive director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles.
ELLSWORTH, S.D.  Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers from the Ellsworth Air Force Base launched from Guam flew into international airspace over waters east of North Korea in a show of American military might.

The bombers and fighter escorts flew on Saturday to the farthest point north of the border between North and South Korea by any such American aircraft this century. The Pentagon said the mission in international airspace showed how seriously President Donald Trump takes North Korea's "reckless behavior."

Three-hundred-fifty airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing at the South Dakota base are among military personnel on Guam, the tiny Pacific island that's been the focus of recent global attention with escalating tensions between the U.S. and North Korea.

Ellsworth's 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron deployed to Guam in July.
China introduced the biggest changes to its individual income tax (IIT) system since at least 2011 with the pa...
South Africans and foreigners living in the country on Sunday converged in different parts of the country to celebrate the Heritage Day through music, songs and dance.

The day is celebrated every year on September 24 to showcase diverse culture and traditions. The Gauteng Province Premier, David Makhura, encouraged people of different nationalities living in the country to live peacefully.

"Today our African brothers and sisters are showcasing their diverse culture and food. The day like this shows what we are as a continent. We want to send a strong message today, this our continent, and our world. We have to embrace diversity and live side by side as equals," he said.

Makhura also welcomed the Chinese, Argentinians, Peruvians, and Indians among mother nationalities who took part in the Heritage Day carnival. They were given a chance to perform and they showcased different regalia and dance moves.

"Gauteng was built by migrant workers from various parts of the continent. Many came here to work in the mines from various parts. Without African migrant workers, we could not have these beautiful buildings we live in," he said.

He also stated that South Africans should live peacefully with foreigners to make it easy for South Africans to also go and work in various parts of the continent.

People from 54 African countries attended the carnival putting on their different traditional dress. Different types of foods were prepared and served during the carnival for free.

Marc Gbaffou, chairperson of the African Diaspora Forum (ADF) representing over 35 African nationalities living in South Africa hailed the carnival. He said the carnival show the rich cultural diversity Africa has.

"When we are here, we don't talk about nationalities, people are here because they want to celebrate different cultures. This is a platform to talk about Ubuntu (humanity) and embrace each other. Gauteng is a cosmopolitan society and we are happy to be here and show unity in our diversity."

Gbaffou called for those living in South Africa to unite and fight challenges facing them all like poverty, corruption and social problems. He said people should not allow social problems to divide them. He said they support the Heritage Day celebrations.
The 2018 Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition will be held from Aug 10 to Sept 1 in the Chinese metropolis.

The biennial event, named in honor of the late American violinist who built connections with China in the 1970s, is Shanghai's first world-class violin competition targeted at young musicians in China and abroad.

With a grand prize of 660,000 yuan ($100,000), it offers one of the highest monetary awards among international music competitions.

The inaugural biennial took place in 2016 in Shanghai, with the top prize going to Japanese musician Mayu Kishima.

Yu Long, a celebrated conductor and the artistic director of competition organizer, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, says China is developing rapidly in the global classical music scene, and the competition was launched to "pay attention to the development of young artists", as well as "promoting China's cultural influence in the world".

For next year's competition, applicants in the age range 16 to 32 can participate. Earlier, the start age was 18.

"Quite a number of talented musicians are able to achieve exceptional technique and understanding for music at an early age," says Zhou Ping, director of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. "So, the extension of two years will make a great difference."

The new jury for the competition will be co-chaired by David Stern, son of Isaac Stern, and Chinese maestro violinist Vera Tsu Wei-ling. The 13 jury members include not only well-known violinists and educators but also managers of leading theaters and performing agencies.

"My father cared very much about the arts in China, and Shanghai is a city that responded to his feelings about music," Stern, who is also an acclaimed conductor, says in a video message for the launch of next year's competition.

"The Shanghai Isaac Stern competition is important because it underlines how important it is to be (an) individual, not to play like the others and not even to think about playing better than the others but playing like oneself.

"When a musician is honest, and is playing with all his passion, and all his sincerity, then his musicality comes through. That's what my father felt and that's what this competition represents."

The competition highlights not only the personal playing technique of artists but also their ability to play in a chamber ensemble.

The semifinal contestants for next year will collaborate with the popular chamber group Shanghai Quartet.

Musicians will be required to perform a Chinese piece in the final round of the 2018 contest, accompanied by SSO.
Chinese automakers are gaining an increasingly larger market share of their home market, but industry insiders said they should not be overly optimistic as there is still a long way to go.

More than 6.38 million China-branded passenger cars were sold from January to August, 4.8 percent growth year-on-year. That's more than double the growth rate of the passenger car sector as a whole, according to statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Chinese brands seized 43.2 percent of the market share in the period, far higher than the runner-up, as German carmakers' products accounted for 20.5 percent of the market.

Yang Xueliang, vice-president of Geely Group, believes the upward trend will go further.

"If the momentum continues, Chinese brands are likely to have a 50 percent or even 60 percent market share in the long run," Yang said at a Chinese brands-themed automotive forum in Shandong province last week.

Geely is one of the fastest-growing Chinese automakers in China. In the first eight months this year, it sold 718,000 new cars, surging 88 percent year-on-year.

Geely now owns Swedish brand Volvo and Malaysia's Proton, and has unveiled its own brand Lynk & Co, aiming to compete with international brands such as GM and Volkswagen.

At Changan Automobile, which has partnerships with Ford, Suzuki and Mazda, the international brand cars accounted for roughly 45 percent of the group's total sales last year, according to Li Wei, its vice-president.

"Our Changan-branded cars took 55 percent. Our own brand is rising within the group, so we feel that Chinese brands as a whole are full of hope too."

Wang Xia, chairman of the Automotive Industry Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said Chinese brands have seized the opportunity and realized rapid growth, but they should not be complacent about what they have achieved. "Instead, they should prepare for a tug of war with international brands over a long period of time," he said.

Wang was echoed by Lu Qun, chairman of Qiantu Motor, an electric carmaker. Lu said he believes that Chinese brands could even raise their market share to 50 percent, but there is a long way to go before really getting established.

"How do we make our brands more attractive? How do we offer customers good value for money? And how do we offer them better experiences? We need to find out answers to those questions," Lu said.

Zhang Xiyong, general manager of BAIC Group, said Chinese carmakers still lag behind international big names in the industry in terms of quality and other competitive factors.

He said there were six automotive companies in the list of the 2016 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands but none of them were Chinese.

Zhang suggested that Chinese companies should try to go global if they want to become global brands.

China sold 800,000 cars overseas last year, a meager 3 percent of what it sold in the domestic market.

As the Belt and Road Initiative has become widely accepted, there is huge potential overseas, said Zhang.

However, he suggested that in China, Chinese automakers should shift their focus from large cities to smaller ones, as people there are becoming major consumer groups.

Xiang Xingchu, general manager of JAC Motors, said Chinese companies should each create their own individual features to appeal to their target customers.

"It is not possible to sell your cars to everyone. Find your target customers and they will be large enough," said Xiang.

"Some say their cars are sporty, some say they excel in safety and some others say they offer premium cars. But aren't premium cars safe? Yes they are. But as a company you have to map out a different route of development."

Xiang said now is one of the best times for Chinese brands, as customers are becoming more reasonable, with growing confidence in Chinese brands.

In addition, the authorities are promulgating stricter requirements in fuel consumption and quality, which are forcing Chinese carmakers to do a better job, he said.

Fu Yuwu, chief of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China, believes new energy cars and connected cars could prove to be sectors where Chinese carmakers can gain an upper hand.

"We have the absolute advantage in smart and connected cars. China is strongly addicted to the internet, even more so than the United States. So I think that if we can make breakthroughs in electric cars as well as smart and connected cars, and if we can introduce business model innovations, then we will have the chance of creating miracles for the Chinese car industry."
Company names should not contain the words "China," "Chinese" or "Central" unless approved by the State Council, according to a proposed rule publicized Friday by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce to invite public feedback.

Companies would also be forbidden to have names that include the words "National," "State" or "International."

Nor should company names contain the names of administrative divisions, industries or jargon indicating the characteristics of business operations, professions, job titles, academic degrees, military or police ranks, or their abbreviations, unless they have "other connotations" or do not mislead the public. But the rule does not specify what "other connotations" it referred to.

Company names are also forbidden from containing words contradictory to company goals or indicating that the company offers services beyond its allowed operational scope, unless laws and regulations have otherwise stipulated.

The new rule bans companies from applying for names similar to already registered names with malicious intent. Companies are forbidden from using other people's names, initials or special titles as part of company names, unless there are investment relations or authorization. Company names must not contain the names of other companies, legal persons or non-legal person organizations, unless there are investment relations or authorization.
There are two back-to-back months of June this yeara quirk of a leap year in the Chinese lunar calendarbringing Shanghai its hottest summer since the city started recording weather 140 years ago. The double Junes have also propelled residents to a five-year record for the number of mooncakes consumed.

A worker displays Disney-themed mooncakes at a store in Shanghai earlier this month. Tang Yanjun/China News Service

The mooncake industrytraditionally dominated by gift buyershas experienced a 20 percent sales decline nationally each year since 2013, when the central government introduced an anti-corruption measure. That law strictly bans the use of public money to buy the pastries or other gifts considered luxuries, such as Moutai, the specialty baijiu liquor.

Thanks to the double Junes, which postpones Mid-Autumn Festivalthe primary season for mooncake-eatingby a month to Oct 4 this year, sales of mooncakes in Shanghai are likely to be back on track with significant growth. Projections by the Shanghai Confectionery Industry Association place the increase at 15 percent.

The city is expected to consume 22,000 metric tons of mooncakes this year.lu

"On one hand, the late festival is giving consumers more time to buy and enjoy the pastry; on the other, restaurants and bakeries are taking advantage of the occasion to develop diversified products to boost sales and make up for the massive losses since 2013," said Chen Fengwei, secretary-general of the association.

The association calculated that there are more than 200 types of mooncakes available this year, up from 150 last year.

Among the new offerings, more than two-thirds are the Su-style cakeswith flaky and crispy shells and savory fillingsbaked to order at a low price. This means they are catering to the "real consumers", according to Chen.

By contrast, mooncakes for gifts are usually the sweet types that have a preservation date extending for months and are luxuriously packaged with liquor and sometimes even gold bars.

Zhang Wen, the manager of Shanghai First Food Mall, said the newly introduced mooncakeswith fried bullfrogs and pickles as fillingshave been so popular that they are usually sold out by noon. Because of the capacity of the kitchen, bakers manage to provide about 10,000 cakes per day, which makes them even more appealing.

"The new types are what get people back to our stores. And once they are coming, the traditional types, like pork-filled mooncakes, also sell better," Zhang said.

Chef Tang Chi-keun of the Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Yi Long Court at the Peninsula Hotel in Shanghai, said the mooncake scene in the city has been so competitive in recent years that even though the restaurant's pricey egg-custard mooncakes were barely affected by the anti-corruption law, his team has to keep introducing new offerings to keep up the momentum.

Even the most unlikely companies are joining the competition. Disney, for example, has introduced a variety of mooncakes themed around its cartoon characters, and a popular Chinese astrologer is partnering with the century-old Wufangzhai, which used to dominate the rice dumpling market for the Dragon Boat Festival, to launch a pack of 12 mooncakes centered on the zodiac.
Shanghai made a major breakthrough last year toward its goal of becoming an internationally influential science and technology innovation center, as an annual innovation index registered a record high of 224.9 points in 2016, according to a report released on Saturday.

The 2017 Shanghai Science and Technology Center Index report, released by the Shanghai Institute for Science of Science during the Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai, which ends on Monday, has measured Shanghai's innovation quotient for seven years. The index uses a weighted formula that takes into account a number of developmental factors. An index value of 100 represents no change year-on-year.

Shanghai saw a fruitful 2016, the report said. About 30 percent of China's top science and technology achievements have come out of Shanghai. More than a third of the national-level awards have been won by people and institutions in the city, and more than 30 percent of new Category 1 drugs were produced there, it said.

The city has also seen an improvement in its ability to export technology and high-value-added products. The report said about 69 percent of technology contracts last year involved transfers to domestic and overseas companies.

A total of 729 technologies were transferred last year, with transaction volume reaching 20.3 billion yuan ($3.1 billion), up 9.7 percent year-on-year. About 90 percent of that went to Asia, North America and Europe. Electronic information, advanced manufacturing and advanced pharmaceutical industries registered the most transfers.

Automatic data processing equipment and components, and integrated circuits were the two leading exports from Shanghai in 2016, accounting for more than 20 percent of the city's total.

Investment in research and development reached 104.9 billion yuan in 2016, up 10 percent from a year earlier. However, companies in Shanghai only contributed 64.5 percent to the total R&D amount, which was significantly below the national average of 78 percent.

However, according to Chang Jing, deputy director of the innovation policy research office at the Shanghai Institute for Science of Science, the companies "have become more outbound, making direct investments in overseas markets in the science and technology sector".

Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang said during his keynote speech at the Pujiang forum that investment in basic scientific research coming from companies in China is not yet adequate when compared with leading developed countries.

"It is basic scientific research that has provided strong support to mass innovation and entrepreneurship," he said.
The 5th Nanchang International Military Tattoo kicked off in Nanchang, the capital city of China's eastern Jiangxi Province, on Sept. 24.

The 5th Nanchang International Military Tattoo opens on Sept. 24, 2017, with a grand opening ceremony to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the 90th anniversary of the Aug. 1 Nanchang Uprising. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

More than 2,500 players from 11 international military bands and 10 domestic bands participated in the event.

The foreign military bands hail from the U.S., Russia, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Canada, Sweden, Egypt, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Mexico.

A grand opening ceremony was held to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the 90th anniversary of the Aug. 1 Nanchang Uprising, an armed resistance led by the Communist Party of China on Aug. 1, 1927 in Nanchang in order to fight back against the anti-communist purges by the Nationalist Party of China (Kuomintang).

The 5th Nanchang International Military Tattoo is a part of the activities to honor the history and celebrate this anniversary.

A marching parade was held after the opening ceremony. According to the organizers, the marching parade attracted nearly 300,000 attendees.

The festival consists of the opening ceremony and parade performances, a military music evening party, a special concert, a carnival for military music cultural performances, the closing ceremony and a military music party. The whole event will last for six days until Sept. 29.
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A fugitive suspected of contract fraud returned to China Monday to turn himself in, according to the Communist Party of China's disciplinary authority.

Xu Xuewei, who was the actual controller of a science and technology company and a chemical fiber company based in Jiangyin City in east China's Jiangsu Province, fled to the United States in November 2012, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said.

He was number 91 on China's top 100 fugitives listed in an Interpol "red notice," and the 46th to return so far.

Xu's return shows there is no safe haven abroad, said the CCDI, urging fugitives to turn themselves in as soon as possible.
Iraq's Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani attends a press conference in Erbil, Iraq, on Sept. 24, 2017. Iraq's Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani on Sunday reconfirmed holding the referendum on the independence of the Kurdish semi-autonomous region as scheduled on Sept. 25. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday reiterated his rejection to the referendum. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

Undeterred by strong opposition from several quarters, the decision by Iraqi Kurds to hold a referendum is a calculated move to determine the ultimate political future of their ethnic community.

The stakes are high, and there is a real danger of bloody consequences in the region, still seeking to escape ISIS-inspired violence.

The referendum is not meant to immediately trigger separation of 6 million Kurds, accounting for 20 percent of the total population, but it has pushed tension with Baghdad to new heights. The country's top court and parliament have come out against any popular vote aiming to seek independence.

However, for the majority of Kurds, it is "now or never." The Iraqi government is mired in several problems and too weak to stop a powerful section of the country from moving in a different political direction. Military power has certainly been exposed in the fight with ISIS.

It was the Peshmerga, a military force formed by young Kurds, that stood against the Islamic State at its peak following the taking of Mosul. Iraqi troops were on the run in the region before the ISIS onslaught. Indeed, Mosul was only re-taken through the active support of several countries led by the military might of the U.S.

Kurds can be termed a most unfortunate ethnic community who, despite having numerical strength, geographical concentration, resources, culture, history and a desire for a free life, have been denied an existence as a separate country. There are over 30 million Kurds divided between Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey.

They are the fourth largest regional ethnic people in the region after the Arabs, Turks and Iranians. They have a rich history with powerful rulers like Salahuddin (Saladin), the 12th century ruler of Egypt and Syria who founded the Ayubi dynasty. He still has magical appeal for many Muslims due to his heroics against the Crusaders.

Kurds had a chance to emerge as a nation after the First World War, but were denied their right by the big European powers. Another such possibility was also ignored after the Second World War. A Kurdish state emerged in Iran after the latter conflict, known as the Republic of Mahabad, but, despite Russian support, it lasted less than a year.

Kurds have enjoyed more freedom in Iraq than anywhere else and have had an autonomous status under a regional government since 1992. It was reward for supporting the U.S. when it decided to drive Iraq out of Kuwait after invasion of 1990.

Post-Saddam Iraq saw Kurds consolidating their hold on regional affairs. They now control the border with Iraq, Turkey and Syria, and run their local affairs almost free of any interference from Baghdad. Their strong army has proved its grit in the fight against ISIS.

The problem with the referendum vote, as an effort to seek independence, is that it would lead to the unraveling of the entire post-war arrangement in the Middle East. After parting ways from Iraq, the Kurds could embark on a project to unite all Kurds into one state.

Any unification effort along these lines would mean the breaking up of Iran, Turkey and Syria. It is dangerous and would serve as model for all ethnic communities to seek independence. It could herald death for the modern nation-state system which stands for a political entity where different sub-nations can live together for common political and economic objectives.

That is why all regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, are opposing the referendum. All major powers including the United States have asked Kurd leaders to postpone the process on the grounds that it was not the right time. Only France has recently announced a kind of tacit support .

However, Israel has come forward openly in support. The reasons are obvious as Israel wants a reliable friend and ally in the region dominated by Arab rivals. Israel might also be looking at a bigger picture and long term goals to use the Kurdish issue as bargaining chip with Iran.

Theoretically, every nation and people has absolute and inalienable right to seek freedom. But sometimes political decisions bring more disaster than benefits. Hence, it is important that Kurdish leaders make wise long-term calculations before putting the entire group in the life of fire.

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm
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U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday expanded a travel ban to include visitors from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in East Asia, Venezuela in Latin America and Chad in central Africa.

Meanwhile, Trump kept the controversial travel ban which was set to expire Sunday on five of six Muslim-majority countries, namely Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, and lifted restrictions on Sudan.

The new travel restrictions are expected to take effect on Oct. 18 and will be indefinite, according to a president's proclamation, in which the White House said has the same force as an executive order.

Such a grace period may prevent mass confusions and chaos across U.S. airports seen in late January, when the initial travel ban took effect immediately upon Trump's announcement.

"The State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement.

Unlike the previous versions of Trump's travel ban, which sparked nationwide protests and lawsuits, the new standards are based on factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with embedded traveller information or share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories, the administration said.

The United States then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

Moreover, as the DPRK and Venezuela included, the new travel restrictions will no longer be seen as a "Muslim ban," analysts said.

However, these limits will have little practical impact on the two countries as few DPRK visitors travel to the United States and the new restrictions on Venezuela apply only to government officials, not to the broader population, according to local experts.

"As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," Trump said in the proclamation.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted on Sunday evening.

Trump said in the proclamation that Iraq also did not meet requirements for identity-management protocols and other risk-mitigating factors, but entry restrictions were not warranted given Iraq's relations with the United States and its efforts to combat terrorists.

The U.S. president issued his first travel ban order one week after taking office on Jan. 20, barring U.S. entry to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen with immediate effect.

Facing nationwide protests and an array of lawsuits, Trump introduced a revised order on March 6, dropping Iraq from the list of targeted countries while excluding existing visa and green card holders from the impact of the suspension.

The revised order was also challenged by several federal judges and set for an argument at the Supreme Court on Oct. 10. It's unclear how the latest restrictions will impact that case.

Days ago, the U.S. president called for a "tougher" travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.

"The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!" Trump tweeted last week.
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With all votes counted, official results on early Monday confirmed that Germany's far-right Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) was elected in the federal parliament for the first time.

The anti-immigration populist party netted 12.6 percent of votes in Sunday's federal election, pinning itself as the third strongest party in the Bundestag, or German federal parliament, official results suggested.

It is also the first far-right populist party in the Bundestag since WWII.

Official results also showed AfD has won the most votes in the German eastern state of Saxony, by gaining 27 percent of votes, just slightly ahead of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

The CDU and their Bavarian-based Christian Social Union (CSU) allies secured its leading position in the Bundestag with 33 percent of the votes, 8.5 percentage points less than that of the 2013 and the worst performance since 1949.

The shrunken yet still commanding margin of the CDU/CSU conservative alliance is set to herald a fourth term for Merkel as Chancellor, with the support of other parties.

The Union's major rival Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by Martin Schulz tumbled to 20.5 percent, while the Green and Left parties won about 8.9 percent and 9.2 percent, respectively.

The pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) enjoyed a remarkable 10.7 percent of votes and was re-elected into the Bundestag after its failure in 2013.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday held a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Theresa May on bilateral ties and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

A prosperous, stable and open Britain and European Union conform to the interests of all parties, Xi told May, adding that China is willing to promote further development of China-Britain and China-EU relations.

Xi also said the Korean Peninsula issue should be solved through peaceful means including dialogue and consultation, which needs joint efforts by the international community.
If your 22-year-old daughter thought about the prospect of dying more than living, you would be worried. Twenty-two-year-olds should be thinking about how they'll find their place in this world, rather than how theyll leave it.

I was not like most young adults. Born with a genetic lung disease that made me cough worse than the last Marlboro man, I was tethered to an oxygen supply before my sophomore year of high school. By 22, my lease on life was set to expire.

A double-lung transplant was the last resort. As my lungs failed and my blood turned black for want of oxygen, my family searched for a hospital to perform the risky procedure. Hospital is a misnomer in this case; only the most advanced medical centers take on lung transplants.

The miracle of advanced medicine came with a steep price tag that my middle-class family could never afford. When we reached out to medical centers in Minnesota and California, they declined my case, largely due to coverage limits in my insurance.

My parents had to switch insurers to get a policy with a higher limit. Even then, only Duke University Medical Center would take my case.

Since you are reading this, you know that the transplant worked for me. I now have a husband, a good-paying job, and most importantly, I still have a place in this world.

My transplant was nearly a decade ago, and it cost more than a half-million dollars. That doesn't include the countless pills, tests, and doctor visits I'll need for the rest of my days. For me, a lifetime cap on coverage is the same as a cap on my lifetime.

My transplant gave me an additional nine years (and counting), but I still have a pre-existing condition that no insurer would want to cover. Fortunately, the law won't let insurance companies deny me coverage just because I lost the genetic lottery.

If Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester vote for the latest attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act, we'll lose all of the good things about the law. The replacement, known as the Graham-Cassidy bill, would turn back the clock to the days when insurers would deny coverage to folks who have had health problems and cap annual and lifetime benefits.

Insurance makes my life possible. If I can't get insurance, I can't get the medical care I need to survive. But even healthy folks would be worse off under Graham-Cassidy. Cuts in federal support for programs like Medicaid mean the state will have to raise taxes to fill the gap.

The Affordable Care Act needs work, but Congress partisan proposals over the last three months have been worse than the current law. The Graham-Cassidy bill is a new low. I hope Sens. Daines and Tester will vote no on this bill and start working together on a reasonable, responsible solution.
China Aviation Daily | Sep. 25, 2017

The role of Helsinki Airport as a hub between Europe and Asia strengthens as Chinese Lucky Air commences flights to Finland in winter 2018. Finavia, the Finnish airport operator, has invested heavily in serving Chinese passengers and improving the customer experience at Helsinki Airport.

The new Lucky Air route will bring two major cities in China within reach of Finnish people and passengers travelling via Helsinki Airport. Lucky Air will fly a triangular route: When flying from China to Finland, the airline will first fly from Kunming to Chengdu and, after a brief stop, continue to Helsinki. The airline will then follow the same route back.

"Having the first Chinese airline in Finland supports our goal to develop Helsinki Airport as an important air traffic hub between Europe and Asia. Measured by the number of flight connections, Helsinki Airport is number one in Northern Europe and, according to passenger surveys, one of the best airports in the world. We wish the new airline warmly welcome to Finland and Helsinki Airport," says Joni Sundelin, Senior Vice President at Finavia, the Finnish airport operator.

The route is expected to open on 17 January 2018, and it will be flown by wide-bodied Airbus A330 aircraft twice a week. Chengdu and Kunming are both Chinese metropolises. Once this route is opened, people living in these cities will have excellent connections to Finland and to the rest of Europe via Helsinki Airport. Lucky Air is part of the Chinese HNA Group.

Finavia works closely with, for example, Visit Finland and different tourist service providers in order to develop the routes offered by Finnish airports.

After the new routes flown by Finnair and Lucky Air, Helsinki Airport offers excellent connections to China: Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu/Kunming, Hong Kong.

Finavia's Helsinki Airport set an all-time passenger record in 2016: 17.2 million passengers. It is about to set a new record. According to estimates, the passenger volume at Helsinki Airport will be more than 18.5 million in 2017.

"This growth is based on an increase in international transfer traffic. At the same time, the exotic and northern Finland has become an attractive destination. In recent years, Finavia has invested heavily in serving Chinese passengers and improving the customer experience at Helsinki Airport in order to make a good first impression," Sundelin says.

Finavia has a EUR 900 million development programme under way at Helsinki Airport. The expansions enable the airport to serve 30 million passengers a year in the future.

Contributed by Finavia
China Aviation Daily | Sep. 25, 2017

AviaAM Leasing, a Warsaw Stock Exchange listed aircraft leasing company, is delighted to announce that its joint venture with the Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Company (HNCA) - AviaAM Financial Leasing China - has brought a US$500 million-worth aircraft delivery project to a conclusion. Eight brand new aircraft were delivered to Aeroflot-Russian Airlines in total with the last aircraft - Airbus A321 - joining the carrier's fleet on Thursday last week.

"The project, which started back in May, has now reached the finish line and we can unquestionably say it has contributed to a partnership between AviaAM Financial Leasing China and Aeroflot. We continue to observe a clear trend in demand for the most popular narrow-body aircraft worldwide as well as under the One Belt One Road initiative, thus we anticipate conducting more similar projects in the nearest future," comments CEO and Chairman of the Board of AviaAM Leasing, Tadas Goberis.

The recent delivery of Airbus A321-211 (MSN 7782), equipped with CFM56-5 engines, took place at Airbus' facilities in Hamburg, Germany on the 21st of September. Aircraft is fitted with 16 business and 167 economy seats and joins the growing fleet of Aeroflot, where it will be operated on regional and international flights for at least 12 years.

The delivery ceremony was attended by the top management of both parties as well as partners and was concluded with a traditional red ribbon cutting.

"We are delighted to have completed one of the smoothest projects of this magnitude. This of course wouldn't be possible without AviaAM Leasing's support and insight into the peculiarities of these types of projects. More aircraft deliveries together with a trusted partner are definitely in our future plans," comments Chairman at HNCA, Zhang Mingchao.

AviaAM Financial Leasing China has delivered 8 brand-new Airbus aircraft that supplemented Aeroflot's fleet over the 5 month period - 6 Airbus A320s and 2 Airbus A321s. The leasing company is formed as a joint-venture between AviaAM Leasing and HNCA. The latter is a government-owned company promoting, upgrading, and transforming economic development of Henan aviation. While AviaAM Leasing is ranked amongst world's TOP50 aircraft leasing companies according to AirFinance Journal.

Contributed by AviaAM Leasing
With the world facing a lot of challenges and uncertainties, the re-election of Angela Merkel on Sunday will instill confidence and certainty in not just the European economy, but also global growth.

As the head of government for 12 consecutive years, Merkel has been a leading figure in guiding Germany, and Europe, through a turbulent period when one crisis has been followed by another, and while doing so, she has managed to ensure her country has been able to sustain its role as a locomotive of the global economy.

Although she has challenges to deal with at home, as shown by the rise in support for the AfD, her fourth term in office means a reassuring continuity in Germany's international policies, including its stance toward China.

Having visited China 10 times during her previous tenures, Merkel is well known for her cordial and close working relationships with Chinese leaders. So her re-election is being viewed as a boon for bilateral relations, as it is expected that she will seek to work with the Chinese leadership to inject new vitality into ties that are already in good shape.

The two sides have set a valuable example for ties between countries with different political and cultural backgrounds. Their strategic partnership was lifted to a comprehensive strategic one during President Xi Jinping's first state visit to Germany in 2014, and China became Germany's largest trading partner last year, while the latter has long been China's largest importer in Europe.

The world's second- and fourth-largest economies are also highly complementary and there is much potential still to be tapped. China's economic restructuring and booming market present many opportunities to German enterprises, while Germany's advanced facilities and managerial experience can help with China's ongoing industrial upgrading.

And as an astute and experienced political leader, it is expected that Merkel will oppose trade protectionism raising its ugly head in Germany and the rest of Europe, as well as the blocking of investments from China.

On the international front, China and Germany's resolve to expand their common interests will not only contribute in a favorable way to China-Europe relations, but also to global efforts to build a more just and balanced world, as both countries are staunch supporters of fairer globalization and international cooperation to address global challenges such as climate change.

As such, there is every reason for China and Germany to remain committed to ever deepening bilateral cooperation during Merkel's fourth term.
Liu Jie, vice-president of Carestream Health Inc. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Carestream Health's VP Liu Jie leads his team's efforts to help modernize China's medical services

Liu Jie, vice-president of the US-based Carestream Health Inc, a provider of medical imaging systems and information technology solutions, is passionate about digital technologies and experienced in adapting quickly to a fast-changing market environment.

"There are many areas in China that allow us to maintain robust growth. One distinctive trend is the shift in focus of the country's healthcare sector toward technical and service innovations," said Liu, who has been working in the medical equipment business for 23 years.

Eager to promote its healthcare industry, China will invest 400 billion yuan ($61 billion) by 2020 in a number of medical-related projects.

These include establishment of a digital information network for public health service, innovations in medical devices, development of traditional Chinese medicine or TCM, and training for general practitioners.

All that spells big opportunities for Carestream whose largest market is China. So, the company plans to focus on building the country's digitalization capability over the next three years.

Its strategy this year is to bring more technical resources and funds to China to enhance its research and development facilities, and provide comprehensive aftersales service and technical support.

As data is the most important factor in production in developed markets, Liu said Carestream will pay close attention to medical information and bring in internationally advanced research results.

It will also continue to develop localized solutions to meet the demand of patients as well as hospitals.

The government has been encouraging foreign businesses to invest in China's medical services industry, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

Spending in the consumer healthcare sector has surged in China since 2015. The market expects double-digit growth in the next decade, according to a July research report of China International Capital.

"Competition from the rapid development of homegrown brands, multinationals and those who have entered this field from other industries in recent years is normal. It's not a bad idea to goad the players to perform better, to generate new growth points," said Liu, who is also the president of Carestream's Greater China cluster.

Liu said the market and customers have the final say when it comes to assessing the quality of products and services. In particular, customers from the medical sector demand high-quality and efficient products, service continuity and collaboration.

The company has provided products and services including medical imaging, collaborative diagnosis, remote consultation and imaging cloud to more than 35,000 medical institutions throughout China over the past decade.

"Independent innovation is most important for us to stay competitive. Through research and innovation, we will develop products that suit diversified requirements," said Liu.

"By increasing inputs in IT applications and exploring the value of data, we will gain insights, thereby propelling the development of precision medicine and population health."

The company operates a global research and development center in Shanghai with more than 400 employees. It spends around 10 percent of its sales in research and development every year.

By strengthening inputs in the market, Carestream has set goals to serve the primary medicine and non-public markets with quality products, services and new channels, as well as stepping up cooperation with domestic companies and paving the way for implementing digital applications.

Liu, who joined the company in 2004, said medical services being provided in China's remote towns and villages, especially in the country's central and western regions, are comparatively less developed.

To improve the situation, the company has been working with the National Health and Family Planning Commission for five years now, offering training to doctors at the grass-roots level where healthcare consumers are poor.

The goal is to improve local medical and health conditions and lower costs for rural residents seeking a diagnosis.

The project covers 832 counties in 22 provinces and regions that are under the country's poverty alleviation program. The focus is on county-level administration of healthcare services and management of personnel and medical officials.

On June 23, the State Council issued a circular regarding application and development of big data in the health and medical sectors.

By 2020, a big data system should be created, highlighting a unified and interconnected public health information platform.

"The initiative won't just help improve related public health services, it will play a big role in economic and social development," said Jin Xiaotao, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Liu said, "We will serve our customers with latest medical experience for the era of big data, based on advanced international technology and local requirements.
Seamstresses at work at a sewing factory in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

URUMQI  Gulnisa Ali's five-person tailor shop has grown into a company with more than 50 employees.

"My shop expanded from 30 square meters to some 500 square meters in just five years. That's an incredible change," said Ali, manager of a company that produces ethnic costumes in Turpan, a tourism-driven city in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Born into a poor rural family of six children, Ali got her sewing skills from her mother. Her grandmother and great-grandmother were also skilled seamstresses.

Ali moved to Turpan in 1996 and started her own business. Monthly turnover was 3,000 (about $462) to 4,000 yuan before 2013. Now it is more than 100,000 yuan with a net profit of some 30,000 yuan.

"I was adept at needlework, but I had no idea about running a company ... I didn't have a proper place and assistants to do that," said the 50-year-old Ali.

Business took off after local officials provided her a free workshop and helped her recruit apprentices.

As a Xinhua reporter walked around one of her workshops, some 10 young women deftly operated electric sewing machines. Gorgeous ethnic costumes hung on the walls, neat and tidy.

"Look at those costumes. I was inspired by grapes and applied them to my designs," said Ali. "You know, more than 200 species of grapes grow here in Turpan."

"Without the support from the government, I could not have made it. I mean, the government is really like a bridge linking me with employees and the market," she said, adding that the Asian Development Bank has also supported her business.

Paritan Gapal, head of the Women's Federation in Turpan's Gaochang District, told Xinhua that the bank introduced a project to boost cultural development and tourism in ethnic minority regions and support local people, especially women.

The project included nine training sessions on topics including entrepreneurship and sewing skills, benefiting 450 women in total.

The bank sponsored 30 women who were willing and able to start their own businesses, giving them 3,000 yuan each in funding. It also offered them electric sewing machines and embroidery machines.

"Aid from the ADB has injected great impetus into women's businesses. Apart from that, the local government has provided them interest-free loans and given them advice, which has helped build their confidence," said Gapal.

The beneficiaries have not let them down. They are helping others now. Gulnisa Ali, for example, helped all five of her sisters open their own costume shops. Her company trains more than 300 local women a year and has hired women with physical disabilities.

"I'd like to roll up my sleeves and work hard for five more years," said Ali. As her business grows, Ali is considering expanding her workshop and hiring more people.

"Also, I want to do business via online platforms like Alibaba. Should it work out, my products may go all over the world," she said.

Her dream may come true soon, as the local government has increased its efforts to facilitate trade, especially online business.
The booth of Allianz at the International Education Expo. Allianz offers a number of medical insurance policies for overseas students in China. [Photo by A Jing/For China Daily]

Allianz Worldwide Partners Group, an insurance subsidiary of Allianz Group, is taking advantage of China's economic and digital transformation to quicken its expansion in the Chinese mainland, the company's top management said.

The French company, which specializes in assistance and insurance solutions in road rescue, care and automotive, is betting on the great opportunities brought by China's fast digitization, according to Christophe Aniel, CEO of AWP Greater China.

Sylvie Ouziel, the company's Group CEO for Assistance, who is also responsible for the Asia-Pacific region, said, "It is very easy to build a profitable business in China but hard to continue. You have to keep on renovating to keep up with latest advances in the industry."

According to AWP Group's annual report for 2016, the company launched some 20 new apps in areas such as travel, roadside assistance and health across nine countries and three lines of business, in order to grasp the business opportunity brought by digitization.

"China is one of its most targeted markets," Aniel said.

Ouziel said that driven by technological innovations and new customer behaviors, the assistance industry has definitely changed.

"Facing the new challenges brought by cyber risks, our company is working closely with major partners from the mobile device and online retailer sectors, such as Huawei, to help better protect customers' digital life," said Ouziel.

She said, "These partnerships materialize our positioning in this market, offering Chinese consumers access to more comprehensive online protection."

Three months earlier, it introduced Cyber Shield, a solution combining insurance and services, helping consumers lower their digital risks as much as possible.

Specifically, it offers five fields of expertiseonline shopping, online banking, e-reputation and cyber-bullying, data recovery and legal advice, all key concerns of Chinese consumers.

Meanwhile, the Belt and Road Initiative and the country's tightened regulation in the financial sector are seen as potential new opportunities.

"We are partnering with economies related to the Belt and Road Initiative on corporate risk, liability, property, and health sectors, to assist Chinese customers along the route by offering local services," said Aniel.

"In our business plan to 2020 around 30 percent of business will be related with the cross-border business on "One Road One Belt" initiative, and digitalization."

During the two-day National Financial Work Conference held in July, President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of tightened regulation to prevent systemic risk in the financial sector.

The China Insurance Regulatory Commission, for instance, recently issued a note on the motor insurance sector, further regulating the market by forbidding cash-equivalent discounts while allowing value-added services like roadside assistance in insurance policies.

"This new regulation demonstrates the value of roadside assistance, which is one of the core businesses of us in Greater China. And we believe it will bring positive impact on our business growth," said Aniel.

According to the company's annual report, AWP Greater China's revenue was roughly 215 million euros ($257 million) last year, up 25 to 30 percent year-on-year.
AIA Life Insurance executives explain their products to visitors to the Money Fair Shanghai 2014. [Photo by Yan Daming/China Daily]

Risk-aversion seen as potential opportunity to launch new cover products

The rapid development of sharing economy in China brings big opportunities for the insurance industry, according to experts.

That's because sharing economy is characterized by solid demand for certain products and services from risk-averse, cost-conscious consumers.

"For both users and providers of products and services in sharing economy, there are problems of risk, which can be solved reasonably through insurance mechanisms," said Yuan Yong, a consultant with Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co Ltd, a joint venture between Aon Corp and COFCO Corp.

The concept of sharing economy was introduced to China in the early 21st century. All kinds of products are shared through innovative services. Bicycles, umbrellas, accommodation, books, cars, jewelry, expensive fashion, office space ... all these have come to constitute sharing economy in the last four years.

In 2016, the market transaction volume of sharing economy hit 3.45 trillion yuan ($520 billion), up 103 percent year-on-year. The new economic segment also received about 171 billion yuan in funding last year, up 130 percent year-on-year, data showed.

More than 600 million Chinese people are involved in sharing economy. According to the China Sharing Economy Development Report 2017, sharing economy will grow at a high 40 percent annually to reach about 20 percent of GDP by 2025.

China's GDP was 74.4 trillion yuan in 2016, and is projected to surpass that of the United States by 2025, according to Niu Li, director of the economic forecast department under China Information Center.

"By providing conveniences to more people, sharing economy separates the ownership and usage of products, which is hard to define in terms of responsibilities of both parties," said Lu Wenhui, a consultant with Aon-COFCO, a Shanghai-based insurance broker.

Lu stressed that new insurance products should be created to guarantee healthy development of the new economic segment.

Insurers have already provided cover solutions and innovative products to the sharing economy sector. For example, liability insurance and personal accident cover target users of shared bicycles.

It is estimated that by the end of the year, the shared-bicycle sector may have 50 million users, potentially increasing the scope for accident insurance.

"Insurers compensate in time for the actual losses, helping enterprises reduce the loss of profits and eliminate disputes and friction with the parties concerned," said Yuan.

Several shared-bike platforms have already introduced commercial insurance, reducing risks like responsibility and moral hazard to their business.

Online insurer Zhong'an is the first to provide insurance for shared-bike users. According to data from Alibaba Group's financial affiliate Ant Financial, rider insurance against accidents has settled more than 100 claims in the last three months.

Insurance can help companies in the sharing economy sector to mitigate risks in advance, said Yuan, adding that the sharing model not only influences people's mobility choices but changes their social life, entailing new risks.

Using a risk database, the insurance industry provides data support for enterprises to identify and prevent risks effectively, through extraction of some related data, said Yuan.

Insurers can set up better data systems for sharing economy.
Hong Kong is well equipped to be an international hub of innovation and technology, Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang said on Sunday at the InnoTech Expo 2017.

In his speech at the opening of the expo, Wan said Hong Kong, equipped with a clear edge in the field, holds a key position in global innovation and technology development.

Wan's remarks were supported by Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Tung Chee-hwa.

This is the second time that the InnoTech Expo, taking place in the Wan Chai area through Oct 2, has being held in the SAR by Our Hong Kong Foundation, a think tank founded by Tung. Exhibits include 130 inventions and technologies from ancient to modern China. Most are being exhibited in Hong Kong for the first time. Some 100,000 people are expected to visit.

In order to deepen the cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland, Wan suggested both seize the opportunity to build a network of innovation and technology together. He also said that the focus should be on young people, while encouraging entrepreneurship in innovation and technology and improving cross-border cooperation.

Lam said Hong Kong has everything in place to make full use of its advantages to drive high-end manufacturing in its reindustrialization effort. The city has many strengths, including its well-established legal and financial systems, world-class universities and researchers, and advanced infrastructure, she said.

Lam, who assumed office in July, has visited numerous cities on the mainland and overseas. Summing up a key impression of these visits, she said that innovation and technology will provide a new, enormous, economic engine spurring Hong Kong's development.

"To advance the development of innovation and technology, timing is crucial. And now, we are presented with a golden opportunity," said Lam, referring to the nation's plan to build an international innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In January, Hong Kong took the initiative to join with Shenzhen in building a cross-border science park in the Lok Ma Chau border loop. Much progress has already been achieved on the project, Lam said.

In the meantime, Hong Kong also actively works with renowned scientific research institutions to build collaboration platforms.

On Sunday, the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology opened its first innovation and technology center in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, after a year of preparation.

A total of 16 national key laboratories have established partner labs in six of Hong Kong's higher education institutions, setting the stage for deeper cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland, according to Tung.

Tung urged Hong Kong to make full use of "one country, two systems" and the mainland's gigantic market to develop the innovation and technology sector.
SHANGHAI  Chinese enterprises have positive expectations on investment in BRICS countries.

"The investment in Brazil will reach 70 percent of our company's overall overseas investment, after the completion of the acquisition," Ge Junjie, chairman of Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming, said in Shanghai Saturday at a seminar on overseas investment.

Ge, whose company is based in central China's Hunan province, said that this June the company's strategic investor, Shanghai Pengxin Group, and its wholly owned subsidiary abroad DKBA, had acquired a 53.99 percent stake in Belagricola, a company specializing in agricultural equipment sales in Brazil.

In 2016, the group bought a 57 percent stake in Fiagril, a Brazilian trading company.

More Chinese companies are seeking investment opportunities in BRICS countries.

Huang Qingfeng, president of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, said that the company started investment in Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa in 1996, 2005, 2006 and 2008 respectively, seeking cooperation partners. The company is now negotiating a fully automated wharf project with Indian customers.

Earlier this year, Beijing Gas Group bought a 20 percent stake in a Rosneft subsidiary.

Chinese companies are now investing in more countries and diversified industries, according to Cline Zhang, branch manager of Citibank (China) Shanghai Branch.

Zhang said that Chinese companies are behaving in more robust fashion, focusing on sustainable development and risk aversion.

The potential that BRICS members will expand investment to each other is large. Overall foreign investment by BRICS has reached $200 billion, accounting for 12 percent of total global investment, yet bilateral and mutual investment among BRICS accounted for only 6 percent of their overall investment.

According to Huang Qingfeng, a stable domestic economic policy is a major prerequisite to attract overseas investment. Meanwhile, BRICS countries can improve their standard of service and guarantee for overseas investors.

"Using the renminbi as a settlement currency, as well as providing more convenient tax and visa facilities, can prompt more Chinese companies to invest in BRICS," Huang said. "More financial and consulting services are needed to help lower risks."

China Economic Information Service and PricewaterhouseCoopers China published a BRICS Investment Environment Report on Saturday, which provides information on macro-economics, the investment environment and the latest investment policies.

In the future, the upgrading of domestic demand and the industrial complementarity among BRICS will be the main factor driving Chinese companies to invest in BRICS, according to industry insiders.

Ge Junjie said that the future integrated operation of Belagricola and Fiagril would enhance his company's global competitiveness and lower the risks of overseas operation.

"Agricultural products from Brazil, such as sugar, coffee and fruit juice are expected to enter Chinese market with better quality and lower prices in the future," Ge said.
CHONGQING  A giant wind turbine developed by China has rolled off the production line in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing.

The turbine, coded H140-3MW, has a diameter of 140 meters, according to HZ Windpower, a subsidiary of the State-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

The turbine has the longest diameter among all the turbines of the same level. It can generate 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per hour at a wind speed of 9.6 meters per second, the company said.

Besides its sheer size, the turbine is quite adaptable to the environment. It can operate between 40 degrees Celsius and minus 30 degrees Celsius, and can work in high, windy, salty and frosty environment.

The turbine is a breakthrough for the company, and it will contribute to the development of the wind power market, said a staff with the company.
STUNG TRENG, Cambodia  The 400-megawatt Lower Sesan II Hydropower Plant, which is Cambodia's biggest hydropower dam so far, will start operation in November after almost four years of construction.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo presided over a ceremony to close the dam's water gates on Monday.

According to a report by Cambodian Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem, the plant has eight turbines and each turbine has installed capacity of 50 megawatts.

The construction of the whole project is almost completed, as the first turbine will be put into operation in November, and all of the 8 turbines will be fully operational in October 2018, he said.

The project is a joint venture among China's Huaneng Hydrolancang International Energy holding 51 percent of the stake, Cambodia's Royal Group owning 39 percent and Vietnamese EVN International Joint Stock Company possessing 10 percent.

The project is a concessional contract of a 45-year build-operate-transfer (BOT), of which, 5 years for construction and 40 years for operations, the minister said, adding that the plant is estimated to produce 1.9 billion kilowatt-hour per year and the electricity will be sold to the Electricity of Cambodia at the fixed price of 6.95 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The plant could generate tax revenue about $30 million per year when it is fully operational.

Speaking during the closure ceremony of the water gates, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said the project is a new achievement in the development of energy sector in Cambodia.

"I can say that it is the biggest-ever hydroelectric power dam in Cambodia," he said.

Hun Sen said since the past until the present, Cambodia's northeastern region, including Stung Treng, Kratie, Ratanakkiri and Mondolkiri provinces, had relied on electricity mainly imported from neighboring Laos.

"But from now on, especially when the first turbine starts operating, residents in these provinces will have access to long-term and reliable electricity with cheap prices," he said.

The Lower Sesan II Hydropower Plant is 56.5 meters tall and covers a 36,000 hectare plot. The project has affected 860 families in six villages. To date, 752 families, or 88 percent of them, have accepted compensation and relocated to new villages.

"There is no any development in the world that does not affect environment; it's just small or big impact only," the prime minister said. "This project will provide great benefit to socio-economic development and poverty reduction, especially in the northeastern region."

Meanwhile, Hun Sen expressed his gratitude to China for always supporting Cambodia in socio-economic development.

Huang Yongda, president of China Huaneng Group, the parent company of Huaneng Hydrolancang International Energy, said the project was a testament to the fruitful cooperation between China and Cambodia under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"This is also a key achievement in energy cooperation between China and Cambodia," he said.

China is the largest investor in developing hydroelectric dams in Cambodia. According to the Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy, Chinese enterprises have invested for seven dam projects in Cambodia.

The ministry said the total capacity in Cambodia last year was 2,008 megawatts, including 1,592 megawatts taken from hydropower plants, coal-fired power plants, oil-fueled power plants,and solar power plants.

By June 2017, the Cambodian government had expanded electricity to 11,195 villages nationwide, or about 79 percent of the kingdom's total villages, the ministry said, adding that a total of 1.98 million households were also connected, or 60.4 percent of the kingdom's 3.28 million households.
An employee counts yuan banknotes at a bank in Huaibei, Anhui province, June 22, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Bank of China (BOC) was ranked the first among banks of BRICS countries in the newly modified Bank Internationalization Index (BII), according to a report jointly released by the Academy of Internet Finance (AIF) of Zhejiang University and the International Monetary Institute (IMI) of Renmin University of China on Sept 23.

Based on the new index in the report, titled East or West, Home is Best?  Are banks becoming more global or local?, the Standard Bank of South Africa took the second spot, India's Bank of Baroda the third, VTB Bank of Russia the 4th and Bank Bradesco of Brazil the 16th rank.

The report said the four big State-owned banks, BOC, China Construction Bank (CCB), Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) have proven to be more influential and better recognized globally than their peers from developing economies. The ICBC occupied the fifth spot, the report said.

"2016 has witnessed the sluggish recovery of the world economy and increasing policy uncertainty risks across the globe. China's economy maintained a slower but stable performance. With the supply-side structural reform pushing forward domestically, the Belt and Road Initiative, and cooperation with the BRICS economies were also strengthened," said Professor Ben Shenglin, dean of AIF.

Within the BRICS, India and South Africa each had three banks in the top 10; while both China and Russia had two banks. But the disparity is less obvious among the developing economies with BRICS economies receiving a mean BII value of 10.38, according to the report.

Three indicators: stock of overseas assets; performance of overseas operations; and global market layout were studied in the BII. The banks included not only multinational banks with a large number of overseas assets, but also medium- and small-sized shareholding commercial banks just starting to expand overseas. The report drew from a diverse data set including 49 international banks in Europe, America, Asia and Africa.

The dynamics of BII index can be "a good reflection of the development of bank internationalization over the past decade, Ben said.

The BII index has been fluctuating within a 23-26 range over the past decade, trending downward in the aftermath of the financial crisis around 2009 but started picking up in 2013, followed by a slowdown in 2015 due to the sluggish global economy, according to the report.

Banks from developed economies have maintained a stable and high level of internationalization, the report said. However, as developing economies have been catching up with remarkable achievements, the gap has been narrowing gradually year-on-year.
BEIJING -- China Unicom announced Monday the establishment of a big data unit in its latest effort to seek new growth as traditional business shrinks.

The new subsidiary will make full use of the telecom carrier's advantage in cross-industry data collection and integration to offer a variety of services in information sharing, transactions, government management, risk control and travel.

Jiang Zhengxin, vice general manager of China Unicom, said the company welcomes external investment and wants to expand cooperation with strategic investors participating in China Unicom's mixed-ownership reform.

The State-owned telecom firm unveiled a plan to bring in private investors, including IT giants Alibaba and Tencent, to improve competitiveness more than a month earlier.

An agreement was signed between China Unicom and China UnionPay Monday to jointly use data resources, further technological cooperation and strengthen product research and development.

In the face of challenges in the broadband market and shrinking revenue from fixed-line voice services, China Unicom is swiftly expanding its business territory, with more energy channeled into sectors such as cloud computing, Internet of Things and big data.

Its 4G services, which once lagged behind China Mobile, the country's largest telecom operator, have been given priority and have contributed to substantial increases in business.

China Unicom's net profits surged more than 70 percent in the first half of 2017, mainly due to the transformation in business patterns, according to its mid-year report.
Visitors are attracted by products at Huawei stand at the International Funkausstellung (IFA) 2017, the world's leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances, in Berlin, Sep 2, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd has officially launched its first quad-camera full-screen smartphone Huawei Maimang 6 in Beijing, marking its first attempt to embrace the full-screen handset era.

The Maimang brand, a joint effort by both Huawei and China Telecommunications Corp, the country's third-largest mobile carrier, is targeting the younger generation.

Featuring a 5.9-inch full screen, the new gadget offers an aspect ratio of 18:9. Also boasting a 3,340 mAh large battery, the phone comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM.

The Maimang 6 is Huawei's first quad-camera smartphone, featuring 13MP and 2MP dual cameras on the front and 16MP and 2MP dual-rear cameras, which can add virtual effects to photos. Priced at 2,399 yuan ($362.5), the product will be on sale on September 28.

He Gang, head of the smartphone division of Huawei, said the full-display design is deemed a revolutionary evolution in the smartphone's development.

"A good quality full-screen smartphone should enhance users' experiences," he said. "And I believe we will usher in a new trend in the market."

Li Hua, general manager at Tianyi Telecommunications Terminals Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Telecom, said the company would arrange needed marketing resources for the new product.

"The Huawei Maimang 6 smartphone will be a key part of our push for all-network access smartphones," Li added.

At present, the bezel-free design is a new trend in smartphones, with leading brands such as Apple and Vivo releasing a series of full-screen products.

James Yan, research director at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, said smartphone vendors are making a big push to generate more full-screen products, as they attempt to create new momentum in the fiercely competitive field.

"As Apple Inc recently unveiled their new full-screen iPhones, more smartphone vendors will join the race to catch up with the new trend in the next half of this year."
A cross-border commodity exhibition and trade center, featuring products from countries and regions related to the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, will be built in Dongguan in Guangdong province, according to organizers of the province's Silk Road International Expo.

"The center will become an important platform to strengthen trade and investment cooperation between countries and regions related to the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road," said Wu Jun, deputy director of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong.

According to Wu, organizers have signed strategic agreements with several overseas business associations to build the commodity trade center during the expo.

A total of 758 investment and trade agreements, worth 219 billion yuan ($33 billion), were signed during the four-day event, which concluded in Dongguan on Sunday.
Two Chinese companies announced on Monday that Didi Chuxing will invest $200 million in Renrenche.com, besides directing more than 400 million users in the hope of further promoting the latter's fast growth.

The country's leading mobility service platform, Didi Chuxing, also will work with the used car trading website in product, technology, operation, business planning. And Renrenche.com may have its trading service provided to Didi mobile app users.

"Renrenche will enjoy a significant user advantage in future competitions, and the company will speed up development with the target on users' word of mouth," said Li Jian, CEO of Renrenche.com.

"We are going to forge China's largest and most trustworthy auto trading platform," Li said confidently.

The companies refused to disclose the share transfer detail.

Renrenche.com also announced the commencement of its used car festival, featuring a series of services, including fast sales service within three days.
SHANGHAI - Shanghai wants to build an industrial cluster for producers of unmanned vehicles.

Hu Weiguo, head of the Jinshan district government in Shanghai, said on Saturday at the opening of the 2017 World Unmanned System Conference, that the district government had planned to push for the building of such a production base.

He said the government would encourage the research, production, testing and system integration of drones, self-driving vehicles and vessels, as well as intelligence robots in the industrial base.

China's unmanned system industry is still in an early stage of development, said Sun Baiyuan, secretary general of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems of China.

He said the industry needed strategic development, network safety protection and research on market application.

During the meeting, there were drone shows for fire fighting and automated delivery, unmanned vehicles for digging and demolition, as well as self-driving boats for testing water quality.

Industry representatives from the United States, Britain and Germany among others attended the meeting.
A visitor looks at an Iconiq Seven multi-purpose vehicle at the Shanghai auto show on April 19, 2017. [Photo provided to China Daily]

As technology improves, drivers expect more miles per charge, more selections, better prices

Guo Lingyu, a Beijing office clerk, is in love again and her familyincluding her husbandfeel she has made a good choice.

Her new "sweetheart" is a BYD Song EV 300 model, an electric SUV, which she drove home last month after luck failed her family for six straight years to win a gasoline car license plate in Beijing's lottery system.

"You know electric car plates are easier to win and such cars are subsidized," Guo, 37, said of her reluctant decision back then.

The electric SUV, which cost about 220,000 yuan ($33,390) after a 66,000 yuan government subsidy, is 40 percent more expensive than the gasoline version from the same company, but Guo said the decision was a correct one, because the car is a lot more efficient and economical.

On most occasions she charges the car in her garage, for which she pays 0.5 yuan for a kilowatt hour, or 24 yuan for her car to get fully charged and drive 300 km.

The same mileage would cost seven times more if she drove her family's gasoline car, a 2011 Nissan Teana sedan, Guo said.

She said public charging facilities cost more, some as much as 1.7 yuan per kilowatt hour, but that is merely around 40 percent of what a gasoline car would cost.

Guo nevertheless complained about the limited number of available public charging stations and the time charging takes. "Even fast charging takes 40 minutes and, to make it worse, sometimes you queue up for hours to wait for your turn."

But the positives outweigh the negatives for many like Guo. In Beijing, 60,000 license plates appropriated for electric cars and plug-in hybrids this year ran out in April, with a long list of applicants now waiting for the quota in 2018.

World's largest market

Nationwide 68,000 such cars were sold in August, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Though still much fewer than gasoline cars, that was an increase of 76.3 percent year-on-year.

So far this year, 320,000 such cars have been sold and the association expects the figure to reach 700,000 by the end of 2017.

Easier license plates, government subsidies, lower maintenance costs and environmental benefits are major reasons behind the popularity, said a joint report earlier this year by KPMG China and consulting firm Automotive Foresight.

China is one of the first countries to develop new energy vehicles, often called NEVs, to cut emissions and build a competitive car industry. It started to subsidize the sector in 2009 and 33.4 billion yuan had been earmarked by the end of 2015, according to statistics from the Ministry of Finance.

The efforts paid off and in 2015 China became the world's largest market of new energy cars.

It was home to 1 million such cars by the end of 2016, about half the global total, and a survey by KPMG China and Automotive Foresight shows nearly half of current owners would like to buy a second, despite concerns like short distances between lengthy charging times.

As the sector becomes established, authorities are cutting subsidies and shifting the money to areas such as research and development and building charging facilities, said Song Qiuling, a senior official at the Ministry of Finance.

In April, China set a goal to become a global power in terms of new energy cars, with major breakthroughs to be made in key technologies like batteries and electric motors by 2020.

Subsidies going away

Things are going fast. Chinese battery maker CATL has become a supplier of BMW. BYD, BAIC and Denza are offering car models with a range of 400 km.

On average, electric cars in the country have a mileage of 252 km per charge this year, up from 164 km in 2016, according to Nielsen China, a marketing research and analytics company.

Yet some industry insiders warn against too much optimism, worrying that Chinese automakers may lose ground to foreign rivals when subsidies, which are eligible only to Chinese cars, stop by 2020.

"Subsidies have been a double-bladed sword. They have helped foster the market, while some are becoming too dependent on subsidies," said Wang Binggang, a senior expert on China's national new energy car program.

International big-name companies are busy preparing for the market. Around 2020, when domestic subsidies end, Volkswagen expects the cost of its electric cars will fall to the level of gasoline cars.

The carmaker expects to sell 400,000 new energy cars in China in 2020 and 1.5 million in 2025, half its global target, said its China chief, Jochem Heizmann, at the just concluded Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.

That is part of Volkswagen's bigger global electric mobility campaign, which involves launching 50 electric cars and 30 plug-in hybrids worldwide by 2025.

Technologies to 'coexist'

Yet Matthias Mueller, Volkswagen's chief executive, admitted that major breakthroughs are yet to be made in electric cars, and traditional cars will not disappear overnight.

"As I have said on previous occasions, gasoline cars and new energy cars are to coexist for a long time to come," Mueller said when commenting on some European countries' proposals on banning sales of traditional cars.

Many industry observers agree. They also call for more effort to build charging infrastructure and more attention paid to used battery disposal, which would prove to be grave environmental challenges if not handled properly.

But the trend of electrification is clear worldwide, especially in China. Volkswagen, Ford and Nissan are each building joint ventures dedicated to producing electric cars in the country, as Chinese authorities are opening a wider door in the sector.

Mercedes-Benz is to produce electric cars with Chinese partner BAIC Group by 2020. GM is introducing at least 10 new energy vehicles into China by 2020.

Even more carmakers?

John Zeng, managing director of LMC Automotive Shanghai, believes more new energy carmakers, especially joint ventures, will emerge soon, saying they will help create a more competitive environment and boost the whole industry.

Some others call for more caution because partnerships in gasoline cars over the past two decades have largely failed to achieve the intended goal of bringing Chinese automakers up to international standards.

"I hate to see the same happen again in the new energy car sector," said Wang, with China's national new energy car program, at a forum in Jiangsu province in late August.

Chinese customers, however, seem to care little about the issue. Guo, the BYD electric car owner, said, "I would not mind. We customers would like to have more models and more brands to choose. The more the better, to be frank."
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recommends the Trump administration shrink four of our national monuments and open six other ones to logging, mining, drilling and commercial fishing. Monuments on Zinke's chopping block include Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Katahdin Woods and Waters, which he promised to leave alone.

Bears Ears in Utah protects hundreds of pre-Columbian Native American cultural sites along with the stunning high desert of Cedar Mesa. Maine's Katahdin Woods and Waters, our newest monument, was bought and donated to the government for a national monument. Now Zinke wants to log it!

This spring my wife, my brother-in-law, a friend and I spent most of a week backpacking in the spectacular red rock canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante. We had a fantastic time and came out refreshed, relaxed and more connected with the land and with each other.

Why does Zinke want to steal these experiences from us? He would sacrifice our well-being and the future of wild places to appease his industrial masters. Zinke has zero integrity and is nothing but a poser in a cowboy hat.

Is this what you Trump voters wanted? To have our natural heritage, the heritage of all Americans now and for generations to come, sold off to extractive industry? If so, you should be ashamed. If not, you need to tell Trump and Zinke to back off and leave our national monuments alone.

Phil Knight

Bozeman
Workers assemble auto parts destined for Geely models at a production line of an engine company in Zhejiang province. [Photo by Lyv Bin/For China Daily]

Chinese automakers are gaining an increasingly larger market share of their home market, but industry insiders said they should not be overly optimistic as there is still a long way to go.

More than 6.38 million China-branded passenger cars were sold from January to August, 4.8 percent growth year-on-year. That's more than double the growth rate of the passenger car sector as a whole, according to statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Chinese brands seized 43.2 percent of the market share in the period, far higher than the runner-up, as German carmakers' products accounted for 20.5 percent of the market.

Yang Xueliang, vice-president of Geely Group, believes the upward trend will go further.

"If the momentum continues, Chinese brands are likely to have a 50 percent or even 60 percent market share in the long run," Yang said at a Chinese brands-themed automotive forum in Shandong province last week.

Geely is one of the fastest-growing Chinese automakers in China. In the first eight months this year, it sold 718,000 new cars, surging 88 percent year-on-year.

Geely now owns Swedish brand Volvo and Malaysia's Proton, and has unveiled its own brand Lynk & Co, aiming to compete with international brands such as GM and Volkswagen.

At Changan Automobile, which has partnerships with Ford, Suzuki and Mazda, the international brand cars accounted for roughly 45 percent of the group's total sales last year, according to Li Wei, its vice-president.

"Our Changan-branded cars took 55 percent. Our own brand is rising within the group, so we feel that Chinese brands as a whole are full of hope too."

Wang Xia, chairman of the Automotive Industry Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said Chinese brands have seized the opportunity and realized rapid growth, but they should not be complacent about what they have achieved. "Instead, they should prepare for a tug of war with international brands over a long period of time," he said.

Wang was echoed by Lu Qun, chairman of Qiantu Motor, an electric carmaker. Lu said he believes that Chinese brands could even raise their market share to 50 percent, but there is a long way to go before really getting established.

"How do we make our brands more attractive? How do we offer customers good value for money? And how do we offer them better experiences? We need to find out answers to those questions," Lu said.

Zhang Xiyong, general manager of BAIC Group, said Chinese carmakers still lag behind international big names in the industry in terms of quality and other competitive factors.

He said there were six automotive companies in the list of the 2016 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands but none of them were Chinese.

Zhang suggested that Chinese companies should try to go global if they want to become global brands.

China sold 800,000 cars overseas last year, a meager 3 percent of what it sold in the domestic market.

As the Belt and Road Initiative has become widely accepted, there is huge potential overseas, said Zhang.

However, he suggested that in China, Chinese automakers should shift their focus from large cities to smaller ones, as people there are becoming major consumer groups.

Xiang Xingchu, general manager of JAC Motors, said Chinese companies should each create their own individual features to appeal to their target customers.

"It is not possible to sell your cars to everyone. Find your target customers and they will be large enough," said Xiang.

"Some say their cars are sporty, some say they excel in safety and some others say they offer premium cars. But aren't premium cars safe? Yes they are. But as a company you have to map out a different route of development."

Xiang said now is one of the best times for Chinese brands, as customers are becoming more reasonable, with growing confidence in Chinese brands.

In addition, the authorities are promulgating stricter requirements in fuel consumption and quality, which are forcing Chinese carmakers to do a better job, he said.

Fu Yuwu, chief of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China, believes new energy cars and connected cars could prove to be sectors where Chinese carmakers can gain an upper hand.

"We have the absolute advantage in smart and connected cars. China is strongly addicted to the internet, even more so than the United States. So I think that if we can make breakthroughs in electric cars as well as smart and connected cars, and if we can introduce business model innovations, then we will have the chance of creating miracles for the Chinese car industry."
A road test conducted by Ford to find out what signals work best between autonomous cars and pedestrians. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Autonomous cars are gradually driving out of science-fiction books into realityas auto part suppliers, automakers and dotcom companies come up with continuously updated solutions.

Continental AG is working on a highly automated driving function called Cruising Chauffeur.

Ready for production in 2020, the function gives vehicles the ability to take over the driving task on highways in accordance with traffic regulations, and the system will alert the driver to take over driving again at the end of the stretch of highway.

The German company said even if the driver fails to respond when prompted to take overfor health reasons, for examplethe vehicle is automatically able to stop safely.

Continental started testing highly automated systems such as this on public roads back in 2012 in the United States' Nevada.

The technology company now has a global fleet of development vehicles in Germany, the US, Japan and China.

French carmaker Renault Group will make available its highly autonomous driving technology by 2018.

The Renault Nissan and Mitsubishi Alliance has a plan to launch more than 40 models by 2020, capable of different levels of autonomous driving, including eyes-off, hands-off and even minds-off.

Renault said it will join hands with Chinese partners on autonomous driving as the brand pins great hope on the Chinese market.

Chinese car users have a tradition of having a long drive back home during holidays and the authorities are mulling an intelligent connected vehicle development road map, according to Jacques Foulquier, Dongfeng Renault's vice-president responsible for research and development.

GM CEO Mary Barra said the carmaker is planning to introduce its Cadillac models with Super Cruise functions into the Chinese market.

According to Boston Consulting Group, China is expected to have a fleet of 8.6 million autonomous cars of different levels by 2035, the largest in the world.

The US-based consulting firm found 76 percent of Chinese are open to riding in autonomous driving vehicles, higher than the global average of 58 percent.

Chinese companies are accelerating their pace of development on autonomous driving technologies.

In late August, JAC Motors said it will produce autonomous cars with the country's internet giant Baidu Inc, with the first mass-produced model scheduled to roll off the assembly line in 2019.

By then the models will be technologically prepared for hands-off autonomous functions.

The agreement came within two months of Baidu's launching its Apollo plan, which aims to provide open, comprehensive, and reliable software for the development of autonomous vehicles.

Baidu will offer a comprehensive solution that covers high-definition maps as well as location, sensing, planning and decision-making technologies.

Chinese carmakers Changan Automobile, Geely Automobile and GAC Motor are working with NXP Semiconductors, a top global chipmaker, on self-driving technology.

Autonomous driving technology means more than driving itself, and some are bracing themselves for more potential problems. Black-Berry Ltd is helping Delphi Automotive PLC to improve the safety of its autonomous driving software, according to a deal the two signed recently.

In 2019, Delphi is to launch its fully integrated automated driving solution, called Centralized Sensing Localization and Planning, and the Black-Berry QNX OS for Safety will facilitate Delphi's proprietary Ottomatika software algorithms and middleware, to enhance performance and safety.

"There is no safety without security," said John Wall, senior vice-president of Black-Berry QNX, in a news release.

"With cyber attacks and threats to connected vehicles on the rise, it is imperative that auto manufacturers are provided with software that is safety certified, reliable and secure," he said. Ford is testing what signals work best between autonomous cars and pedestrians.

It is also working on ways to communicate with those who are blind or visually impaired as part of a separate work stream.

A common visual communications interface most people can understand across all self-driving vehicles in all locations will help ensure safe integration into transportation systems, the US carmaker said.

"We need to solve for the challenges presented by not having a human driver, so designing a way to replace the head nod or hand wave is fundamental to ensuring the safe and efficient operation of self-driving vehicles in our communities," said John Shutko, Ford's human factors technical specialist.
Cars are assembled at a Ford India plant in Chengalpattu, on the outskirts of Chennai, India. [Photo/Agencies]

Automaker rekindles agreement with Mahindra & Mahindra to step up lagging operations in expanding local market

Ford Motor, looking to give its lagging Indian operations a boost, has rekindled a partnership with local SUV-maker Mahindra & Mahindra that executives hope will put it in the fast lane to sustained profitability in the expanding market.

Ford and Mahindra have formed a partnership for three years to cooperate in areas including electric cars, connected vehicles and distribution within India, which is set to become the world's third-biggest car market.

The work begins later this week when teams from Ford and Mahindra will meet to discuss ways to jointly improve parts purchasing and cost cuts, Peter Fleet, head of Ford's Asia Pacific operations, said in an interview.

"There is an immediacy to this," Fleet said. "What can we do with real urgency to improve our business here in India as a result of this collaboration?"

The partnership is an about-face for Ford after previous CEO Mark Fields put the business in India under review.

Jim Hackett, who became CEO after Ford's board ousted Fields in May, found a way to stay in India while sharing costs with an automaker that Ford has worked with before. The two companies parted ways in 2005 from a venture that mostly made sedans.

The India plan is one of the most significant Ford has made in the first four months under Hackett, who had said he would conduct a 100-day review of Ford's business.

The former CEO of office-furniture maker Steelcase Inc is scheduled to lay out his strategy to investors on Oct 3 in New York.

Collaboration scope

Every area of the businessselling SUVs, developing electric cars, coming up with new mobility methods like autonomous autoswill be examined by both companies for ways to collaborate and boost profit, said Jim Farley, Ford's president of global markets.

"When you look at Mahindra's success in India and their profitable business here, there's a lot to learn from them," Farley said in an interview from the southern city of Chennai. "And for a company like Mahindra, Ford has expertise technically and also distribution networks in other emerging markets that could be beneficial to them."

Ford re-entered India in the mid 1990s, when the country opened its car market for foreign investment, by partnering with Mahindra. The two companies set up a factory near Chennai and started making the Escort sedan.

The Ikon, Fusion, Fiesta, Figo and other models followed, but the Dearborn, Michigan-based carmaker lagged behind companies including Suzuki Motor Corp and Hyundai Motor Co in India. Ford and Mahindra ended their partnership in 2005.

Ford's market share in India was 3 percent while Mahindra had about 7.8 percent in the financial year ended March 2017, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Suzuki led with 47 percent share and Hyundai ranked second with 16.7 percent. In May, GM announced it was stopping sales in the Indian market.

While Ford shares have risen modestly since the company changed CEOs, the stock is still down 3.8 percent this year, trailing GM and the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

Asia growth

The first major decision Ford announced after Hackett, 62, became CEO also involved the automaker's operations in Asia.

In June, the company scrapped a controversial plan to move production of Focus compact cars from Michigan to Mexico. Ford will instead export the Focus from an existing factory in China to North America, forgoing a $500 million investment.

Ford earned pretax profits of $143 million in Asia-Pacific region in the second quarter, up $151 million from a year earlier.

The company's gains in the region came from growing sales and market share in China, especially of its SUVs and Lincoln luxury models. The automaker said it expected profits to continue to grow in the region this year.

A flood of new models are slated to enter India over the next five years, intensifying competition in the country's $30 billion auto market, which is expected to rank behind only China and the US in sales by 2020, the Indian automakers association said earlier this month.

"We certainly see, in the near term, opportunities for us to improve our business results and make our business stronger and that's our intention as a team with this," Farley said. "We see a lot more opportunity in terms of our financial performance in the near term. This will be a key part of achieving those."

BLOOMBERG
BEIJING  Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor and its partner Nissan China Investment Co will recall 1,635 vehicles over defects in the air bag restraint systems, China's top quality watchdog said.

Dongfeng plans to recall 1,132 vehicles of China-made Infiniti Q50L model manufactured between Oct 23, 2014 and May 5, 2017, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement.

Dongfeng will also recall 455 vehicles of QX50 model manufactured between Jan 26, 2015 and March 25, 2017, according to the statement.

The Nissan recall involves 48 of imported Infiniti Q50 produced between March 17, 2014 and Jan 9, 2017.

The flawed side airbags in the cars could be less effective than qualified products in possible collisions and potentially pose danger to drivers, said the statement.

The recall will start on Sept 28, with the companies promising to replace faulty parts for affected car owners for free.
Toshio Fukuda, a member of the Science Council of Japan. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Seeking to be at the forefront of the next technological revolution, China is committed to cooperate with more countries and will be able to lead the world in several fields of robotics in the next five to ten years, said a member of the Science Council of Japan.

Toshio Fukuda is a professor of robotics and a renowned authority on the subject. He also works under the 1,000 Talent Plan for High-level Foreign Experts at the Beijing Institute of Technology. He said after years of booming development, China's robotics market is now growing at a decent speed, and remains faster than other major countries.

"China is a gold mine for innovation and technologies and has large markets for robotics," he said. "With the supportive policies, abundant resources provided by both the government and the companies and more forms of cooperation, China will catch up within a few years and then overtake other developed countries to take the top spot in many fields of robotics."

With expertise in micro-and nano-robotics and bio-robotics, Fukuda is recognized globally as a top robotics expert and a pioneer in multi-locomotion robots and simulator. He is also the director of Division X Systems & Control of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and has won dozens of key academic awards, including the Chinese Government Friendship Award.

He said during the World Robot Conference in Beijing last month that China is now at a new phase with the ability to produce its original robots, and will be able to lead the world in manufacturing robots and making service robots in the future.

"Particularly in China, there will be a huge market for services robots that assist people in improving the living conditions, such as the cleaning robots, caring robots for elderly people and kids and the data logging robots for healthcare.

"After decades of economic boom and development, Chinese people now are sufficiently affluent to be able to afford a better quality of life. And I believe that in the near future, those service robots would be able to cater to people's specific needs and bring much more value than we thought today."

In 2015, China introduced the Made in China 2025 strategy, a 10-year national plan to transform the country into a world-class high-tech manufacturing power. The plan aims to move manufacturing up on the value chain, developing several key sectors, including robotics.

With the rapid development in robotics in recent years, China is becoming an increasingly important market for robotics.

The International Federation of Robotics estimates that China's shipments of robots rose 27 percent to around 90,000 units in 2016, almost a third of the global total. And the number is expected to almost double to 160,000 in 2019.

Fukuda said Japan and China should cooperate together in developing and producing the necessary robots for consumers. Chinese robot companies should grasp the opportunity, he said.

"The competition in robotics will be very fierce. Instead of being locked in a competitive environment in first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai, companies should find new niche markets and even target small towns," he said.
BANGKOK  About 84 percent of the Chinese people can accept going out without any cash, according to a report of mobile payment usage in China released by Chinese mobile payment solution Wechat Pay.

The report 2017 Mobile Payment Usage in China was released Friday during the 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Forums on Smart Cities and e-Government which was held in the north suburb of Bangkok.

Based on statistics collected from 6,596 users around 324 Chinese cities, the report said 40 percent of Chinese go out with less than 100 Chinese yuan ($15.2) of cash, even 14 percent of Chinese have already began their cashless life.

Asked whether they can go out of their home without cash, 84 percent said they are "calm" with it while only 4 percent cannot and 12 percent feels concerned.

The report, conducted by Tencent, that developed the famous Chinese social media Wechat and Wechat Pay, said China is a good example in terms of mobile payment development.

"Tech companies in China today have built a holistic eco-system covering financial services including third-party payments, monetary funds, insurance, online banking, credit rating, and consumer loans," the report said, adding that these tools and services would offer a better and more convenient payment experience to consumers, and offer more inclusive financial services, thereby creating a more productive society.

"We are beginning to see both Chinese solutions and models for digitalized financial services increasingly adopted worldwide. Beginning with mobile payments, Chinese FinTech companies will contribute to the global development of financial technologies, and bring digital inclusive finance to all those who are in need," the report put forward.
DUBAI  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will launch the China-Arab Center for Technology Transfer under a deal signed Saturday, the state-run news agency WAM reported.

The memorandum of understanding was signed between the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SCTR) and the China-Arab Technology Transfer Company, the report said.

Hussein Al-Mahmoudi, CEO of the SCTR, and Louis Zhang, founder and CEO of the China-Arab Technology Transfer Company, attended the signing ceremony.

The center aims to boost the partnership between UAE research institutions and Chinese companies.

It will also turn the SCTR into a regional platform for Chinese companies in the areas of water technology, renewable energy, environment technology and more.

Zhang lauded the Sharjah research park for its contribution "to the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship, typically for incubating projects, supporting innovation and encouraging startups."

He expressed the hope that the planned center will achieve the desired goal of promoting joint innovation, as well as knowledge and technology transfer between China and the Arab region.
Children interact with Mento. [Photo/China Daily]

When Shenzhen-based robot maker Zige got its cute creation Mento to perform on the catwalk at this year's London Fashion Week, it attracted lots of interest.

Yet, behind the fun initiative is an emerging trend of China-United Kingdom collaboration in artificial intelligence. And, while it is still in its early days, analysts expect to see tremendous growth because of the complementary nature of the two countries' AI industries.

"China and the UK are natural partners to advance the AI sector," said Dai Jian, chairman of mechanisms and robotics at King's College London. "The UK leads on creativity and cutting-edge niche-sector technology ... and China's AI sector enjoys huge market access, available financing, and great commercializing capability."

Dai was speaking at the first China-Britain AI Summit in London on Friday, which attracted around 100 Chinese and British representatives from tech companies, consultancies and regulators.

Organized by the London-based consultancy China-Britain Business Fusion, delegates considered topics including bilateral investment and technology collaboration and saw live demonstrations of robotics technology.

Research is a key part of bilateral AI collaboration. Shenzhen-based drive-system maker Best Motion (formerly Nowforever Technology) established a 1.2 million pound ($1.62 million) research and development center at the University of Nottingham in 2014 to develop high-quality servo drive systems. The product is being prototyped, and will soon be mass-produced and launched.

"The servo drive system is a crucial component for AI robotics technology, but Chinese AI companies have relied on imported servo drive systems. The collaboration between Best Motion and the University of Nottingham has created a high-quality cost-efficient product," said Zhang He, who heads the R&D center in Nottingham.

Chinese AI companies also see the UK as a strategically important market. Zige, which plans to formally launch Mento in China in November, also will launch it in the UK in 2018. Mento was developed to teach language and general knowledge to children aged 4-12.

Jerry Huang, CEO of Zige, said his team is looking for UK universities and education consultancies to become partners in helping his team improve Mento's performance and to localize the product for the UK.

"Although China's domestic market is already huge, we eyed global growth from day one. Being able to succeed in the UK's mature market motivates us to set the bar high, and creates a strong base for our further international expansion," Huang said.

Earlier this year China's State Council unveiled a national AI guideline to grow the sector to a value of more than 150 billion yuan ($22.15 billion) by 2020.
China-backed investment company Canyon Bridge, which acquired chip manufacturer Imagination Technologies for 550 million pounds ($744 million), has given assurances the company will remain in the United Kingdom.

Hertfordshire-based Imagination, one of the world's leading makers of mobile graphics processors, was put up for sale earlier this year after it lost its biggest client, United States tech giant Apple.

San Francisco-based Canyon Bridge, which is backed by Chinese fund Yitai Capital, first held talks with Imagination in July.

In August, UK government officials reportedly made enquiries about the involvement of foreign bidders in the auction.

In its manifesto, the Conservative Party has promised "greater scrutiny" of the sales of UK companies to foreign investors.

Ray Bingham, a partner at Canyon Bridge, gave assurances on Monday that Imagination's headquarters and its research and development operations would all remain in the UK. The company employs around 1,700 people.

"We have limited partners today that are primarily Chinese," Bingham told the BBC Radio 4 Today program. "They are investing in opportunities outside of China to help drive products and services into China, not to bring those technologies and the people with them."

China is the world's largest electronics market in both manufacturing and consumption, Bingham said. He said Canyon Bridge's strategy was not to relocate the British company to China, but to aid Imagination in terms of capital and broadening its channels into the Asian market.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump blocked Canyon Bridge's attempt to acquire US chipmaker Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3 billion.

"The American experience was very disappointing," Bingham said. "While those decisions are quite situation-specific and sometimes driven by the winds of policies and politics, we didn't understand in any way how that was a concern for national security."

Canyon Bridge's acquisition of Imagination does not include the tech company's US unit, MIPS, which is being sold to Tallwood Venture Capital, a Silicon Valley investment group, for $65 million, according to the Financial Times.

angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com
A U650 unmanned amphibious aircraft undergoes tests in Central China at the end of 2016. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A Chinese company has produced the world's first unmanned, amphibious commercial aircraft, with plans to use it to deliver goods, transport supplies to islands and detect submarines, according to the manufacturer.

Liu Jiandong, founder and chairman of UVS Intelligence System, a privately owned drone-maker in Shanghai, said mass production of its U650 seaplane has begun and will enter commercial operation this year with a Chinese express delivery company and a client in Southeast Asia.

He declined to name the buyers, citing business confidentiality, but said both contracts had "considerable value".

"We are working with the domestic client to apply for approval from air traffic management authorities of our plan to open a freight route next year using the amphibious drone," he said.

The U650 was developed based on Spain's Colyaer Freedom S100 amphibious ultralight aircraft, whose intellectual property rights were wholly acquired by the Shanghai company, according to UVS.

The amphibious drone carried out its maiden flight from waters in Central China in December 2015, the company said.

The 5.85-meter-long unmanned seaplane, made of carbon fiber, is able to stay aloft 15 hours with a cruising speed of 180 kilometers per hour and a flight range of 2,000 km. It is capable of takeoffs and landings from short unpaved airstrips, grassland or water.

The drone can carry up to 250 kilograms of cargo and its wings can also carry four payloads, such as inflatable life rafts.

Liu said his company sees domestic and foreign couriers as the U650's primary users. It expects the model to be a commercial success because "it is the only civilian drone in the global market that is capable of ferrying cargo with a total weight of 200 kg or even heavier".

Express delivery enterprises along China's eastern and southern coastal regions will find the U650 useful, he said. Those areas are densely populated and have busy airline operations that lead to many restrictions when it comes to drone flights.

"Our aircraft can fly above, and land on, water. Its range is much longer than those of small types, so it doesn't need to make stops during a delivery mission. It will not risk the safety of people or airliners," Liu said.

Almost all of China's large couriers, such as China Post and SF Express, have begun to invest in research and development on delivery drones. Analysts have said drones will play an increasingly important role in the country's skyrocketing online shopping industry.

Globally, Amazon and DHL Express have deployed drones for delivery service on a small and experimental scale, and are continuing to design new models.

In addition to couriers, U650 will also be able to benefit Chinese troops and residents on islands and reefs in the South China Sea, Liu said.

"It can be used to transport supplies to those islands and reefs many times a day at a low cost while ships and manned planes are subject to weather and expenditure considerations," he said. "Meanwhile, the deployment of such drones will make it possible for those living there to have access to online shopping, which they are unable to do now because of the absence of delivery service."

The U650 is capable of carrying out reconnaissance and strikes for the military thanks to its ability to carry radar, sonar or missiles.

"For instance, the drone can remain afloat at sea to tow sonar to detect submarines and move rapidly to other areas to continue the search," Liu said.
In 2013, Shaanxi Iron and Steel (Group) Co had begun to talk with Chongqing's Guoyuan port about setting up a bulk trading center in western China to reduce costs and risks in the iron ore market. The port, a gateway to a vast inland area, lies near the headwaters of the Yangtze River.

But the project remained in talks until Communist Party of China General Secretary Xi Jinping visited in January 2016. The two sides sped up the project and started construction of the trading center on June 22.

"Xi's visit gave us a lot of confidence about the future of the port," said Yang Huabin of the Shaanxi company, who is based in Chongqing to lead the project. "Our trading center will change the landscape of the country's iron ore trade."

Xi saw the potential. "This is full of promise," he said while inspecting Guoyuan port. The comprehensive transportation hub includes railways, highways and waterways and is home to 16 ship berths that can handle vessels that can carry 5,000 metric tons.

Having received investment of 10.5 billion yuan ($1.6 billion), it can handle 30 million tons of bulk cargo and 1 million commercial vehicles every year.

During his visit, Xi said the Belt and Road Initiative will provide a bigger platform for Chongqing to "go out", and the development of the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone, composed of Shanghai and surrounding areas near the river's mouth, will assist connections with central and coastal areas of China.

Xi also said Chongqing should become an inland international logistics hub.

"The instructions from President Xi are the guidelines for our work," said Huang Ji, vice general manager of Chongqing Port Affairs Logistics Co.

It is now planning to improve intermodal transport and transshipment efficiency.

Thanks to the port connecting the Yangtze and the railway, logistics costs are much lower than for the previous rail route.

"Our company has bought 600,000 tons of iron ore and saved about 24 million yuan from January to August this year," Yang said.

The cost is expected to be further reduced by 70 yuan per ton after the Chongqing-Lanzhou high-speed railway opens on Sept 29, trimming distances.

"When the bulk trading center at Guoyuan port starts to operate in the near future, the logistics cost via the Yangtze River to northwest China will be cut by half."

Guoyuan port already is a major hub to transfer bulk cargo from neighboring provinces to Shanghai. Guoyuan port also has formed partnerships with overseas logistics companies to boost connectivity with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road.

On Aug 31, Chongqing launched the "1+1" Multimodal Transport & Logistics Demonstration Project. It is a key element of cooperation with the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity, which aims to pilot cooperation across the fields of financial services, aviation, transportation, logistics and information communication technology.

The port also will build a platform for China Railway Express to connect Chongqing with Europe. "The intercontinental train will start right from our port," Huang said.
The Kubuqi Desert in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is rapidly becoming covered with trees. [Photo/Zou Hong]

Life in a desert is the polar opposite of depictions in movies and photo collections in which groups of merchants swathed in white robes sit on the backs of camels and sway gracefully back and forth across golden sand dunes.

In most instances, living in a desert means a constant struggle against hunger and poverty, maybe for an entire lifetime. However, in one small village in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in North China, the people of the desert have refused to accept this fate. In the past 40 years they have achieved a mission impossible"greening" the desert to make it habitable for generations to come.

Li Hua is village head of Udon Qaidam in Ejin Horo Banner, Ordos. The 55-year-old has never forgotten how tough life was during his childhood on the edge of the Maowusu Desert. In the 1970s, nearly all of the village land1,130 hectareswas covered by sand. Just 8 percent was green and suitable for cultivation.

The residents found it difficult to develop any form of agriculture, so their staple foodstuffs were powdered corn and sweet potatoes. No one in Udon Qaidam ate cucumbers or cabbages until the early 1990s.

A harsh life

In the 1970s, strong winds hit the village frequently. "Most of the cottages were about 3 meters high. Sometimes, after a windy night, we couldn't even open the door because it was blocked by the sand outside," Li said. "It was hard to feed a family, not to mention earn any money. I have a younger sister and a brother, and they wore clothes passed down from me. None of us had shoes."

More than half the village's residents gradually moved to other places, but Li's fatherLi Minglianginsisted on staying. "My father was the head of the village. He said that if we all left, the only area of vegetation would rapidly disappear," Li Hua recalled.

In the 1970s, Li Mingliang led a tree-growing drive among the villagers, using a national policy that provided subsidies of 30 to 50 yuan for every 0.01 hectares planted with trees. By 1984, 24 percent of the land had been reclaimed from the desert and was green with vegetation.

In 2000, the villagers elected Li Hua to succeed his father as village head. He immediately started using innovative measures to expand the area of greenery and raise people's incomes. "Used rationally, trees and other desert plants can also be turned into sustainable resources," he said. In recent years, he has continued to expand the area of greenery and has brought in a number of companies that process the plants into raw materials for furniture and other items.

In 2005, Li Hua launched a pilot project to plant 0.6 hectares of Mongolian Scots pine trees. By 2012, the trees, which had grown to 3 meters, were sold for 200 yuan each. The sale generated 1 million yuan, a sum the villagers found hard to comprehend.

Between 2000 and 2008, the annual per capita income in the village was 1,300 yuan. By last year, the figure had soared to 13,000 yuan, and the forest covered 75 percent of the land, while grass covered 95 percent.

Li Hua has a bigger plan for next year; he wants to consolidate each family's land rights and attract companies to use it further. The villagers will become shareholders in, and workers for, the companies.
A worker displays Disney-themed mooncakes at a store in Shanghai earlier this month. Tang Yanjun/China News Service

There are two back-to-back months of June this yeara quirk of a leap year in the Chinese lunar calendarbringing Shanghai its hottest summer since the city started recording weather 140 years ago. The double Junes have also propelled residents to a five-year record for the number of mooncakes consumed.

The mooncake industrytraditionally dominated by gift buyershas experienced a 20 percent sales decline nationally each year since 2013, when the central government introduced an anti-corruption measure. That law strictly bans the use of public money to buy the pastries or other gifts considered luxuries, such as Moutai, the specialty baijiu liquor.

Thanks to the double Junes, which postpones Mid-Autumn Festivalthe primary season for mooncake-eatingby a month to Oct 4 this year, sales of mooncakes in Shanghai are likely to be back on track with significant growth. Projections by the Shanghai Confectionery Industry Association place the increase at 15 percent.

The city is expected to consume 22,000 metric tons of mooncakes this year.lu

"On one hand, the late festival is giving consumers more time to buy and enjoy the pastry; on the other, restaurants and bakeries are taking advantage of the occasion to develop diversified products to boost sales and make up for the massive losses since 2013," said Chen Fengwei, secretary-general of the association.

The association calculated that there are more than 200 types of mooncakes available this year, up from 150 last year.

Among the new offerings, more than two-thirds are the Su-style cakeswith flaky and crispy shells and savory fillingsbaked to order at a low price. This means they are catering to the "real consumers", according to Chen.

By contrast, mooncakes for gifts are usually the sweet types that have a preservation date extending for months and are luxuriously packaged with liquor and sometimes even gold bars.

Zhang Wen, the manager of Shanghai First Food Mall, said the newly introduced mooncakeswith fried bullfrogs and pickles as fillingshave been so popular that they are usually sold out by noon. Because of the capacity of the kitchen, bakers manage to provide about 10,000 cakes per day, which makes them even more appealing.

"The new types are what get people back to our stores. And once they are coming, the traditional types, like pork-filled mooncakes, also sell better," Zhang said.

Chef Tang Chi-keun of the Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Yi Long Court at the Peninsula Hotel in Shanghai, said the mooncake scene in the city has been so competitive in recent years that even though the restaurant's pricey egg-custard mooncakes were barely affected by the anti-corruption law, his team has to keep introducing new offerings to keep up the momentum.

Even the most unlikely companies are joining the competition. Disney, for example, has introduced a variety of mooncakes themed around its cartoon characters, and a popular Chinese astrologer is partnering with the century-old Wufangzhai, which used to dominate the rice dumpling market for the Dragon Boat Festival, to launch a pack of 12 mooncakes centered on the zodiac.
Cho Sung-hye talks with her students at Hefei University in Anhui province. Wang Xun/China Daily

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 a prominent South Korean teacher to talk about her experiences in promoting educational improvements, business cooperation and people-to-people understanding in her native country and her adopted home.

Over the last 21 years, South Korean teacher Cho Sung-hye has contributed much to the friendship between the people of her country and China.

A teacher of Korean at Hefei University in Anhui province, Cho has helped to boost the two countries' ties in multiple aspectsnot just in education.

In 2002, she became the first person from her country to receive China's Friendship Award, the highest honor given to foreigners by the central government. And she was the first South Korean citizen to gain permanent residency in China in 2006. In 2010, she was listed as one of the most influential women of the century in Hefei.

"My husband and I came to Chinato Hefeito fulfill my elder son's dream. We didn't expect that we would come to love the country as much as we do," said Cho, who speaks fluent Mandarin.

Cho was born in Seosan, South Korea. Before coming to China as an adult, she worked at Soon Chun Hyang University as a teacher.

"When the eldest of my two sons was in the third year of middle school, his history teacher, who had some experience in China, suggested the students go to live there and have a close look at the old country," Cho said.

The boya great fan of Chinese history who was able to give the names of more than 900 figures in the Chinese classic Romance of Three Kingdomswas inspired and wanted very much to follow the suggestion.

"He wanted to go to the inland provinces, and he had some knowledge of Anhui, so he chose Hefei as his destination," Cho said. She herself knew little of the province or its capital at that time, so she decided to have a look before taking her family there.

"On the visit to Hefei, I found it was not very developed but thought it would have great potential. Dozens of universities are located here, including the University of Science and Technology of China, one of the country's best," she said.

Within a year, she moved to the city with her husband, Park Nam-gyu, and her sons. The couple found employment quickly at Hefei University and began teaching Korean the next year. The university was the first in the province to have such a course.

After finishing middle school and high school studies in the city, Cho's elder son was admitted to Peking University for undergraduate studies, and then returned to Hefei later for his MBA at the University of Science and Technology of China. The younger one attended Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and earned bachelor's and master's degrees there.

After about a year in Hefei, Park took a job in the United States and tried to persuade Cho to give up Hefei.

"I told him that we had just started here and we should at least spend five years in the city before judging whether we should move to another place," Cho said.
Armed police officers participate in a funeral ceremony to bury the bones of Red Army martyrs found in Guanyang, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Sunday. Zhou Linlu/China News Service Wounded men thrown into a well by Kuomintang troops in 1934

The skeletal remains of 20 males recently found in a well in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, were identified as Red Army soldiers who were killed by Kuomintang troops during the Long March period (1934-36).

The Guanyang county government, in Guilin city, held a grand funeral ceremony on Sunday as the bones were buried in a local memorial park dedicated to Red Army martyrs.

The well, known as "the jiuhai well" by residents in the county's Xinxu township, marks the area where the Red Army launched a blocking action in 1934 to safeguard the crossing of its main force over the Xiangjiang River, thus evading encirclement by Kuomintang troops.

Historical evidence shows that the Red Army managed to fulfill its mission in the Xinxu battle, but it paid a heavy price: 2,000 lives. When the battle ended, the army evacuated in a hurry, leaving more than 100 wounded soldiers at a medical station for treatment. The living men, some of them weighted with stones, were later cast into the well by the enemy.

Liu Laibao, a Red Army veteran who witnessed the incident at Xinxu, said it remains the most painful memory of his life.

A few bones were found in the 1970s by residents who were extracting water from the well, but the local government didn't attempt to excavate it until August this year because it lacked the necessary equipment and skills.

A dig was finally undertaken on Aug 13 by experts specializing in relics preservation and archaeology.

Twenty individual skeletons have been found so far. A report on Sept 22 confirmed that the bones belonged to the soldiers the Red Army left behind in 1934.

"Now we can say that all the individuals are males ranging in age from 15 to 25," said Li Fangjun, a professor at Guangzhou-based Sun Yatsen University, who was engaged in the identification work.

In 2003, a memorial park was established to remember the history and honor the soldiers. It includes a monument to the Red Army martyrs.

Speaking of the recently recovered remains, Lu Song, head of Guanyang county, said: "Given the many bones of martyrs that are scattered over the county, what we have done this time is just the beginning.

"In the next two years we will carry on with the task and try our best to have all the remains buried in the memorial park, because the heroes should rest in peace and the spirit of the Long March should always be kept alive in our minds."
Editor's note: In the lead up to the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress, which begins on Oct 18, chinadaily.com.cn is focusing on delegates to the congress.

Chen Xia'na, a bus driver of Line 36 of the Ningbo Public Transportation Corp, wipes a seat on her bus. [Photo by Shui Guixian via Zhejiang Online]

Her self-created service rule has been adopted as the golden rule by the whole industry, and her kindness has been captured in a poem by one of her passengers. Chen Xia'na, a 42-year-old bus driver who has devoted 21 years of her life to the profession, is regarded as a ray of sunshine by her passengers in and outside the vehicle.

Role model of the industry

Many passengers of Line 36 are senior citizens. "Grandpa, please mind the stairs," Chen reminded in Ningbo dialect. "Thank you," the grandpa replied while smiling at her. After lending a hand to an elderly who was carrying a trolley and making sure that the last passenger was seated, Chen started the journey smoothly.

During scorching heat, Chen places summer mats on reserved seats, and changes them into warm cushions in winter. She pays for all this from her own pocket. The disposable raincoat, medicines to prevent heatstroke, and bottled water in the first aid kit always reassure passengers during emergency situations.

"The next stop is Waitan Bridge West," Chen kindly reminded a passenger. She always keeps in mind the destinations of senior citizens and non-local passengers, and reminds them in advance. Although not allowed to talk while driving, she always answers passengers' questions while waiting for the traffic lights or at the stops.

"Be caring to senior citizens, be careful with children, be compassionate to physically challenged people, be circumspect to non-locals, and be considerate of ordinary passengers." The "Five C" service rule created by Chen has been adopted as a golden rule by the whole industry in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province.

Outstanding Party member

"Bus driver Chen Xia'na, loving, caring, and kind hearted. Drive safely, work hard, she has earned the praise of everybody. Umbrella, fan, and sewing box, her loving heart fills the first aid box. She is like a ray of sunshine to passengers, and a role model for Communist Party members." The poem written by an elderly passenger vividly sketches an outstanding Communist Party member.

She Shangfeng, her sponsor to the Party membership, and also her colleague for a decade, regards Chen as an outstanding representative of the Party members of the public transportation industry.

"I will never forget April 17, 2007. On that day I officially became a Communist Party member," she said with great enthusiasm.

Because of her exceptional performance at work, Chen has been elected as a delegate to attend the national congress of the Communist Party of China this October in Beijing. "I am grateful that I was born in this great era. An ordinary person like me can also be outstanding in an ordinary position," she said.

Chen has never forgotten her oath and kept her faith during the past 10 years. Under her influence, young bus drivers of her team also learned to take care of elderly passengers and perfect their skills.

She extends her ray of sunshine from the bus car to the outside. One day she realized that Zhu Qingfa, a regular senior passenger who lives alone, had not shown up for a while. Chen was worried and asked around, and finally learned that Zhu had been sent to a nursing home. She then visited Zhu and met him from time to time, until he passed away later.
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A live-broadcasted class by a primary school teacher was suspended after drawing a mixed response.

Huang Chao, a teacher at Fuli West Road Primary School in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu province, started broadcasting his Chinese class for second-grade students using a mobile phone app on Sept 4.

He said he began the stream because he learned that some parents were keen to know the performance of their children at the classroom.

"The classroom [stream] has proved a success. Students become more devoted to the class because they feel the attention from their parents," Huang said.

During the first live-streamed class, more than 300 spectators watched it on the online broadcasting platform Yingke, which translates into "broadcaster".

After the news was posted online by netizens, there were people who praised Huang for his innovative teaching approach.

A netizen on Sina Weibo said: "Considering the huge gap in education between urban and rural areas in China, the stream is beneficial in bringing quality education resources to underprivileged students."

However, the movement also drew criticism.

A parent told China Youth Daily, "There might be a security risk if the children's photos were captured by people with bad motives."

Another parent said he feared the students would feel pressure under close watch by their families.

There were others who criticized Huang for profiting from the live-broadcasting. In response, Huang said he only received 12 yuan ($1.8) as gift money from parents during the three lessons streamed online.

To prevent more negative reaction, on Sept 6, the primary school suspended the streaming of the Chinese class, claiming Huang's intentions were good and the decision was made after a discussion with him.
Elderly students take lessons in Harbin Elderly University.[Photo by Zhou Huiying/China Daily]

Since the beginning of September, Harbin Elderly University welcomed its new students, as well as the old ones returning to campus.

Almost all seats are occupied in the popular courses, such as calligraphy, vocal music and painting.

There are also some innovative courses for the elderly, such as advanced photography and smartphones.

"In order to satisfy the diversified demands of the elderly, we set up some brand new courses, including bridge, children's adjuvant food, and so on," said a teacher in the enrollment office. "We have received more than 10,000 registrations since the middle of August."

"Few of them chose only one course," he added. "And I know one old man submitted 8 registration forms."

Tian Rui, 59, has been studying here since 2015.

"I chose Latin, vocal music and painting," she said. "In the university, we can spend time on what we are interested in. Furthermore, we have lots of good friends here, which has greatly enriched our retirement lives."
An Italian cultural festival held recently in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, aimed to increase local people's understanding of Italian products, culture and style.

Forty exhibitors showcased Italian food, handmade ice-cream, motorcycles, singing, fashion and cooking during the first Italian Cultural Festival, held at the Feng Lake Imperial Territory, a luxury villa project in Huangpu district.

"I was so glad to see plenty of Italian brands and items  from food, fashion, wine and arts to motorcycles  at the event, showcasing the spirit of what 'made in Italy' is," said Laura Egoli, Italian consul general in Guangzhou.

Egoli said the festival was to increase local people's understanding of Italian products, and boost cooperation in trade and cultural exchange.

Paolo Quattrocchi, chief representative of the Italian Trade Commission, said he hoped that through the products, ideas, designs and technologies showcased at the event that people in Guangzhou could gain a better understanding of Italian style and creative capital.
Despite its smallness, North Dakota's population and caring instincts are assets for recovery from addiction.

So says first lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum, whose platform of addiction treatment and recovery rolls out Recovery Reinvented on Tuesday. The event will bring together speakers and professionals over topics ranging from sober living to Native American recovery to re-entry into the workforce after incarceration.

"We thought we could get started right away on the addiction issues in our state, just starting down the path of talking about addiction as a disease and not a moral failing," Helgaas Burgum said.

In recovery for 15 years, the first lady added that she and Gov. Doug Burgum wanted to work together with others to reduce the shame and stigma often associated with addiction.

Pamela Sagness, director of the North Dakota Department of Human Services' Behavioral Health Division, agreed.

"I think the key conversation around that is every community can be doing something, and part of that is reframing the way we think about recovery and treatment," she said.

From the state's prisons, where 75 percent of inmates have addiction, to rural communities lacking big city resources, Helgaas Burgum said Tuesday's event will address treatment efforts down to the individual level.

"We have a culture of caring about our neighbors," Sagness said. "That's actually a protective factor. A lot of rural areas have the benefit of that connectiveness."

Peer support services, connecting with local faith organizations and educating small communities about outside resources are all possible, Helgaas Burgum and Sagness concurred.

"It's so important that we also connect with our faith communities in being part of that recovery support," Sagness said.

"The church could become that resource for peer-to-peer support," Helgaas Burgum said. "They can really in their community do a lot to reduce the shame and stigma."

On the state side of things, every agency is making some effort to improve treatment practices, according to Sagness, adding, as an example, that Game and Fish and Parks and Recreation are addressing drug use on their lands.

The health department and state corrections are taking obvious steps, she also said, but so is the National Guard on improving behavioral health care for military families.

"It's something that is completely cross-cutting, and every agency has every opportunity to be part of the solution," Sagness said.

Helgaas Burgum has ventured outside North Dakota, studying addiction resources in Arizona, Vermont, Kentucky and elsewhere to examine progress.

"We like to look at those best practices," she said.

Recovery Reinvented is an appetizer of sorts to the state's annual behavioral health conference, running Wednesday to Friday. Sagness said the two events go hand in hand for behavioral health professionals, particularly with principles and practices that Recovery Reinvented will highlight.

About 800 people had registered for Recovery Reinvented as of Friday, with space limited once the number approaches 1,000.

"Every individual has the opportunity to become an advocate for recovery and talking about the disease of addiction," Sagness said.

Recovery Reinvented is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Bismarck Event Center. Participants may register online at recoveryreinvented.com.
WUHAN -- Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, has joined other cities by installing facial recognition equipment at major intersections to encourage road safety.

On Monday, the equipment detected a middle-aged man crossing an intersection in Jiefang Road on a red light. The photographs appeared on the screen beside the intersection immediately to shame him.

Meanwhile, the high-definition pictures were transferred to the provincial police department database, where it was compared with a data base of images and the jaywalker was identified.

According to Wu Gang of Wuhan traffic management bureau, the equipment will be used on more roads soon.

For frequent offenders, the system will add them into a list connected with credit-based services of government departments and banks.

Facial recognition is becoming increasingly common in China, where it has been installed in ATM machines, KFC restaurants and university dorms.

A number of Chinese cities use the technology to catch jaywalkers.
The cartoon camel shown during the Second Silk Road International Cultural Expo. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A cartoon camel logo was unveiled at the second Silk Road International Cultural Expo, which opened on Wednesday in Dunhuang, Gansu province, to make local tourism and traditions more appealing to young people.

Visitors can see the cartoon figure everywhere in the expo venues, and also purchase products bearing the logo, including umbrellas, T-shirts and postcards.

"The camel is the first image that comes to most peoples minds when they think of Gansu, and it is a typical figure of Chinese northwestern culture, which is why I decided to take it to the expo," said Wu Xian, the logos designer from Beijing.

"In the past, many souvenirs from the province, such as handicrafts, were too expensive for travelers, while T-shirts with the words 'Gansu' or 'Dunhuang' printed in Chinese were boring, so I think its time to change the cultural image."

The 29-year-old designer combined provincial culture and natural beauty in a cartoon, "because it is what young people are interested in", he added.

Guo Yijun, 26, from Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu, said she was impressed by the cartoon camel.

"I like the figure, it is cute and shows our provincial culture and traditions," she said. "Maybe next time I introduce my hometown and its culture to travelers from other regions or foreign countries, Ill share the camel and give the related products as gifts."

In addition to the cartoon, Wu also staged an exhibition of art and culture during the expo. "What I want is to make a contribution to the nation's travel and cultural industries, to showcase Dunhuang, a key point on the ancient Silk Road," he added.

The exhibition will end on Oct 10, according to Wu.
He Xirui plays his handcrafted San-yuan violin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Difference and failure can often be key motivators inspiring craftsmen to create perfection. And nowhere is this true than for what inspired He Xirui, a 72-year-old master carpenter from Rongchang district in Chongqing.

Working with wood his whole life, He started out producing high-quality traditional Chinese instruments, such as the huqin and pipa, to serve local opera and dance troupes.

He's musical instruments quickly became popular, and eager to ever expand his knowledge and repertoire, in 1979, He sought to make a classical western instrument - the violin. After several months'toil, He's stringed fiddle was complete.

Seeking to find out if his violin was up to scratch, He took it to a professor at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, eager to hear a professional opinion. He recalls the professor not saying much, and instead, taking out his exquisite European violin to expound the quality difference between the two.

Taking defeat in stride, He set out to best European contemporary violins and create an instrument truly worthy of embodying the "craftsmanship spirit".

"The sound made such a world of difference compared to mine," He said, adding that hearing the two instruments side-by-side gave him the inspiration to make China's most outstanding violin.

He went back to his workshop and set out to change the world. It would take him another 24 years, but He achieved his goal, creating the San-yuan violin, a violin capable of hitting three note ranges, from base and alto to treble.
There's a new rail route to ship goods from Zhengzhou to Europe, building upon an earlier routeand encouragement from President Xi Jinping during a visit in 2014 to turn Henan province into a transportation and logistics hub that can serve the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Zhengzhou-Europe Block Train, which has had service to Hamburg, Germany, since 2013, now can transport goods to and from Munich, Germany. The Hamburg line generally serves Eastern Europe and Russia while the new line to Munich which launched service last month, serves Western Europe, officials said.

On May 10, 2014, Xi traveled to Zhengzhou's rail hub and spoke during his inspection tour of Henan province.

Xi called for the transformation of Henan, located ideally in Central China, into a national transport and logistics hub linking the north and south while connecting the east and west to take advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative.

An Chunlei, 35, a train driver who drove the first Zhengzhou-Europe Block Train, said he still felt excited to recall the moment he shook hands with Xi. "His hand was warm and powerful," he said.

"Xi's inspection encouraged many people, including me," said Yang Wenjun, vice-president of Zhengzhou International Hub Development and Construction Co Ltd. "My colleagues were proud of working for the Zhengzhou-Europe International Block Train. It serves both Zhengzhou as a modern comprehensive transportation hub and the Belt and Road Initiative."

Since its launch in 2013, the Zhengzhou-Europe Block Train had completed 784 one-way trips through July and delivered cargo with total value of $4.08 billion, according to Zhengzhou's bureau of commerce.

The service began with one trip per month to Hamburg and gradually built up to daily trips in August. Its shipments come from a radius of 1,500 kilometers.

The 10,214-km Zhengzhou-Hamburg line services companies in Europe and Russia. The new Munich line service businesses in France, Italy, Spain and Austria, Yang said.

"Munich in the south of Germany also has an industrial area, home to well-known enterprises such as BMW, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, which benefits the imports of those brand automobiles into the Chinese market aboard the train," Yang said.

Helmut Vollmers, managing director of EMONS Multi-transport Gmbh, explained, "The transit time is cut to nearly 12 days, compared with 35 days in the past by ship."

EMONS is a German company that has been working with Zhengzhou International since 2016.

He said goods such as auto parts and clothes coming to Henan province from other cities across China were sent to Hamburg, where his company dispatched them across Europe.

Besides nearly 1,300 types of goods being shipped to Europe from China, more and more global suppliers are providing shipments for the return trip.

"There are more than 50 foreign companies joined in, providing more cargo for the online and offline stores in China, and the new line's launching also formed an important supplement for the freight, " Yang said.

The Zhengzhou-Europe Block Train so far has made eight one-way trips to Europe and six return trips to Zhengzhou, packed full with merchandise.

Li Yuan, 34, a Shenzhen resident who lived in Germany for six years, said he preferred the imported cars along with more and more imported goods flooding into Henan.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2012, President Xi Jinping has put forward a series of major discourses on promoting the inheritance and innovation of excellent traditional Chinese culture, which shows the Party's strong confidence in traditional Chinese culture and high regard for archaeological work.

In the last five years, cultural heritage conservation has become no longer just the duty of certain government departments, but the responsibility of society as a whole.

The first national survey of movable cultural relics was launched in 2012 and will be completed by 2020, and a database containing identity tags for State-owned artifacts will be established. Let's take a look at what the nation has achieved in protecting Chinese culture during the last five years.

[Photo by Shi Yu/China Daily]

1. Related policies and regulations:

The State Council released Regulation on Museums, which was effective March 20, 2015. The regulation asked museums to properly conserve and manage collections, and laid down specific rules for the establishment, change of management and closure of museums.

In 2015, the Ministry of Culture formulated a job specification on the rescue record of the national-level intangible cultural heritage representative inheritors, as a support to the rescue record of 268 inheritors.

In February 2016, the Ministry of Culture issued a regulation on the blacklisting of "harmful cultural products" in China. The blacklist will target content such as pornography and the "cultural products" include live performances, visual arts, computer games, publications, movies, and TV and radio programs. No application for licenses or permits for blacklisted products will be allowed.

In March of 2016, the State Council issued Guiding Opinions of the State Council on Further Strengthening the Work relating to Cultural Relics, which has made arrangements in implementing responsibility, strengthening protection, expanding utilization and strict enforcement of law.

In October 2016, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage issued a suggestion on promoting the rational utilization of cultural relics, which brings forward many specific measures to make cultural relics come alive. It also announced a notification on strengthening revolutionary-related cultural relics work, which launched a three-year action plan on the maintenance and protection of previous revolutionary sites.

In March 2017, The Plan on Revitalizing China's Traditional Crafts was approved by the State Council, and was drafted by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Ministry of Finance. The plan aims to inject momentum into the protection of Chinese culture and heritage. It calls for better management of the industry and increased market competitiveness, with substantial improvements to be made by 2020.
Italian Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso (1st L) addresses the launch ceremony of the Italian version of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China in Rome, Italy, Sept 20, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Italian government officials hailed President Xi Jinping's view that development must be conducted in a "peaceful, civilized and harmonious way", calling it the foundation for global development, as the Italian edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China was presented at the Italian Senate recently.

The book now has been translated into 23 languages, with its Italian and Albanian editions launched, respectively, in Rome and Tirana. According to the publisher, the Chinese Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, the book has sold more than 6.5 million copies in 160 countries and regions since it was first published in Sept 2014.

President of the Italian Senate Pietro Grasso praised Xi's vision based on "reforms, sustainable development, fighting corruption, diplomatic relations and so on."

According to Li Ruiyu, the Chinese ambassador to Italy, Sino-Italian relations are at their best time in history, making it perfect timing to release the book, which is expected to help Italians get to know China better.

In the launch ceremony for the Albanian edition held on Friday in Tirana, Albanian President Illir Meta attended the ceremony and said that the book can help Albanian scholars, diplomats and other professionals, as well as general readers, to better understand China

"Sino-Albania relations are becoming increasingly close and with mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields", said Meta, emphasizing that Albania and China attach great importance to strengthening cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"The publication of the Albanian edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China will promote Albanians' understanding of China and enhance the cooperation between China and Albania under the Belt and Road Initiative," Chinese ambassador to Albania Jiang Yu agreed.

The 566-page book outlines the political ideas of China's top leadership, contains 79 speeches, talks, interviews, notes and letters of the top Chinese leader between November 2012 and June 2014.

The launch ceremonies in Rome and Tirana were hosted by the Chinese State Council Information Office, Chinese Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, the Italian Senate and the Chinese embassies in Italy and Albania.
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LUXOR, Egypt - The country of pyramids is eager to tap into the Chinese market to revive its ailing tourism industry, said Mohamed Badr, governor of Luxor governorate, Egypt.

In an interview with Xinhua, 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, and the attendant media coverage helped attract more Chinese tourists to Luxor, he said.
If the relationship between humankind and nature can be called a success because it benefits both parties, the greening of the Kubuqi Desert should be hailed as a miracle.

In the past three decades, Wang Wenbiao - a 58-year-old entrepreneur and a native of the desert - has led the way in bringing greenery via a combination of eco-restoration work and solar technology.

The Kubuqi is China's seventh-largest desert. Located north of Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, it covers 18,600 square kilometers and was once the source of frequent sandstorms that plagued North China.
A burgeoning forestry sector is helping to provide jobs for people battling 'cancer of the land', as Yang Wanli reports from Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Life in a desert is the polar opposite of depictions in movies and photo collections in which groups of merchants swathed in white robes sit on the backs of camels and sway gracefully back and forth across golden sand dunes.

In most instances, living in a desert means a constant struggle against hunger and poverty, maybe for an entire lifetime. However, in one small village in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in North China, the people of the desert have refused to accept this fate. In the past 40 years they have achieved a mission impossible - "greening" the desert to make it habitable for generations to come.
FARGO -- A bicyclist who was struck and dragged by a vehicle has died several days after the accident.

Fargo Police Sgt. Jim VanLith confirmed that Randy Bryson West, 19, died sometime Saturday at Fargos Sanford Medical Center, 5225 23rd Ave. S.

West was riding a bike shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday when he was hit by a BMW as it turned left onto 45th Street South from 17th Avenue South, according to police. Officers said West and the bike were dragged under the vehicle for about a block before the driver stopped in the parking lot of HuHot Mongolian Grill, 1801 45th St. S.

Police said after the accident that the driver, 71-year-old Fargo resident Theodore William Kleiman, didnt realize he hit West until he stopped in the parking lot. Firefighters lifted the car there to remove West and the bike.

VanLith said Saturday that the case is still under investigation.

A Police Department news release on Wednesday said West was in stable condition at Sanford.

But several posts in recent days to a Facebook profile with the name Crik N Jess Jessop, apparently a shared account between Wests parents, Christopher and Jesseca Jessop, in Utah, suggest the mans recovery from the accident was unlikely even several days ago.

A Saturday evening post to that account said West has now gone with the angels, and went on to thank the 19-year-old for choosing me to be your mommy.

Another post two days earlier said the parents of West had decided to say goodbye and let him go by removing him from life support rather than letting him remain in a vegetative state.

His dad and I ask for privacy at this time so we may mourn the loss of our beloved son and prepare for his return home for burial, Jessop said in the post.

Other posts included a video of a flag-raising ceremony at Sanford to celebrate Wests gift of life through organ donations, followed later by a list of four people who would receive Wests lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys.

Due to the extreme amount of damage done to Randys body, these are the only organs that he can gift, the post read.
SYDNEY - Refugees have left one of Australia's offshore detention centres on Sunday for the United States, an asylum seeker and a refugee advocate said, as part of a swap brokered by former US president Barack Obama last year.

Refugee Action Coalition's Ian Rintoul said he had spoken with some of the group by phone and that 22 men were in Port Moresby on Sunday night. Rintoul said the group had been told they would be flown to the US via the Philippines on Wednesday.

"They're happy they're going, and they never want to hear about Australia again," he said, speaking from Sydney.

Kurdish-Iranian journalist Behrouz Boochani, who has been held at the Manus Island detention center in Papua New Guinea, said in a Facebook post that "about 25 men" had left the centre around 8 am local time.

Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Control did not respond to requests for comment on the move on Sunday.

The move comes days after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gave the first official timetable for when the 1,250 people in the centers on Manus Island and Nauru would be resettled in the US.

Turnbull said Australia would begin resettling several dozen Central American refugees within weeks under the deal that US President Donald Trump described as "dumb" but has nevertheless said Washington will honor.

"There will be about 25 from both Manus and Nauru (that) will be going to the United States and I just want to thank again President Trump for continuing with that arrangement," Turnbull said in a video statement.

While Trump has said he would honor the swap agreement, concerns remain about how many asylum seekers will be resettled from the Australian-run centers.

Reuters

(China Daily 09/25/2017 page11)
The Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, has set a quota for the number of visitors to its ongoing popular exhibition of landscape paintings to avoid long queues.

The policy, on a first-come-first-served basis, was adopted on Sunday for the exhibition, A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains: Bluegreen Landscape Paintings from Across Chinese History, which opened on Sept 15.

Under the plan, 150 people will be allowed to enter the central exhibition hall of Meridian Gate (Wumen) Gallery every half-hour from 8:30 am to the closing at 4:30 pm, which means a daily cap of 2,400 people.

The entry ticket costs 60 yuan ($9), but the extra tickets for this exhibition are free. Visitors are able to reserve them for a particular time span of their visiting day at the entrance of the Meridian Gate Gallery.

The exhibition, which includes 86 masterpieces rotated in two phases, is named after A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains, a zenith in China's blue-green landscape painting. It was created in the early 12th century by Wang Ximeng, then an 18-year-old genius at the imperial painting academy of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and is Wang's only known surviving work.

This 11.9-meter-long scroll painting portrays the grandiosity of nature and encyclopedic human activities in detail and is known by the public as one of the 10 most precious ancient Chinese paintings they must see.

Consequently, long queues appeared in front of the exhibition halls when the exhibition opened and many visitors complained that they were not able to have a glimpse of the painting after waiting for hours.
[Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

The Civilizations of Qin and Han, the exhibition now on at the National Museum of China, celebrates the glory of the two dynasties (221 BC-AD 220) in terms of politics, economy, arts and culture.

More than 300 artifacts from 30 museums and institutions across the country are on show through Nov 30.

Part of the display were previously shown at Age of Empires held earlier this year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the rest are on loan from the permanent displays at prestigious museums in cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing and Xian.

The exhibits include objects that people are quite familiar with, including the Terracotta Warriors and a jade stem cup.

Also there are lesser-shown pieces which, however, bear even more important information, such as a small piece of map on paper dating to the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 24), while paper is traditionally known as an invention of Cai Lun of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220).
Jackie Chan [Photo provided to China Daily]

Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan's latest film premiered in Beijing on Sunday at an event.

The film, The Foreigner, follows Quan's (played by Chan) journey to seek revenge after his daughter is killed in a terrorist attack in London. Quan, a former member of special forces, also exposes the dirty side of British politics in the film.

Chan, who is best known for his action comedy films, is seen in the very serious role of Quan in The Foreigner.

"I want to present a different Jackie Chan, but I want my action film to continue its popularity," Chan said. "It's not the time to talk about retirement yet."

The film has been directed by New Zealand action veteran Martin Campell, who earlier directed James Bond films such as Golden Eye and Casino Royale.

Campell attended the film's Beijing premiere alongside Chinese actress Liu Tao and Irish actor Michael McElhatto  both members of cast.

Pierce Brosnan, who plays a British politician in the film and Quan's opponent, was not present at the event.

The film will be released for general screening on the Chinese mainland on Sept 30.
Song of Earth: Chapter IV the Farewell [Photo provided to China Daily]

Exhibition Next Generation, now on at Beijing's Whitebox Art Center exhibits six contemporary German artists. Shown works span from painting, photography, installation to mixed media, and reflect on the German history and reality from the perspective of globalization.

Alicja Kwade uses daily objects such as glass, wood and marble to produce installations that present a minimalist quality.

David Schnell's oil paintings show a mixture of natural and man-made landscapes and a confusion of different time and space.

Michael Sailstorfer brings three sculptures, in which he explores the possibilities of industrial objects, such as engines and tires, as a part of art creation.

Matthias Weischers oil works demonstrate a style of the New Leipzig School, in which he layers thick layers of oil paint to depict daily scenes.

Jorinde Voigt exhibits her abstract paper works, in which she constructs a poetic, rhythmic world.

And Sebastian Riemer shows photos, which blur the boundary between photography and painting.

The exhibition through Oct 31 is part of an ongoing art project called German 8: German Art in China, which includes seven exhibitions at seven art venues in Beijing. Its an answer to China 8, a similar project that exhibited contemporary Chinese art in eight German cities in 2015.
The background used when President Xi Jinping met with former US president Barack Obama aned leaders of BRICS at the state guesthouse of West Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chen Jialing is hailed a versatile artist who has formed a distinctive style when seeking a connection between Chinese and Western art, and who has demonstrated excellence in industrial design.

The 80-year-old artist now holds an ongoing solo exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing. He shows dozens of ink paintings which exhibit an influence of impressionism and expressionism. Also on display include his designs of decorative works for daily use, such as ceramic bowls, furniture pieces and silk scarves.

A graduate of Hangzhou-based China Academy of Art, Chen studied under the guidance of ink masters including Pan Tianshou and Lu Yanshou.

He says the current exhibition, which runs through Oct 15, is a celebration to the glorious landscape of his homeland and his hometown of Hangzhou, and a blessing for peace and life.
Students at a primary school attached to Shandong Normal University in Jinan, Shandong province, make traditional snowy mooncakes with their parents on Sept 24, 2017, to welcome the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. They also recited poems about the age-old festival to carry forward the traditional culture. The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Oct 4 this year. [Photo/IC]
China Federation of Literary and Art, China Association for Science and Technology and French embassy in China join hands to launch a campaign to promote green lifestyle and eco-development.

Artists, authors from the federation and French writer Emmanuel Delannoy attended the event in Beijing on Sept 20.

China Federation of Literary and Art Publishing House releases a series of 40 "green development" books.

The federation also calls on artists to create products on green themes and use their influence to raise people's awareness to protect our planet.
Editor's Note: Transnational companies based in the Republic of Korea, including Lotte Mart, are retreating from the Chinese market, possibly to cut their losses. Four experts share their views on Beijing-Seoul economic ties with China Daily's Cui Shoufeng. Excerpts follow:

Separate economic ties from security concerns

ROK Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon met with foreign investors in New York on Wednesday, in a move to reassure prospective investors that the country's economy remains solid despite heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He is right to stay positive, as the ROK has forecast its economic growth will be 3 percent this year, the fastest since the 3.3 percent in 2014.

Unfortunately, the trade and investment exchanges between China and the ROK, once close trade partners, appear to nosedive after the ROK decided to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system on its soil.

Fearing their Chinese operations might suffer, some prospective ROK investors have canceled plans to explore the Chinese market while looking to the United States, Russia and Vietnam instead. The ROK's Lotte Group has closed about 80 percent of its 112 stores in China in more than six months and is expected to shut down more. For years China has been home to nearly a quarter of ROK exports, but the figure is likely to fall to 23 percent, or even less, this year.

It is critical that Beijing and Seoul disconnect economic issues from security concerns, a prerequisite for the normalization of bilateral trade ties. The deployment of THAAD has a lot to do with Washington's Asia-Pacific maneuvering and Seoul's worries over the nuclear threat posed by Pyongyang. It is not and should not be an exclusive problem between China and the ROK. The US and the DPRK's respective concerns should be heeded, which can pave way for resumption of talks.

Beijing and Seoul still have time to separate their economic ties from their security concerns. They could start doing so by engaging in candid dialogue only on security issues, which they did not do enough before THAAD was deployed. Grassroots exchanges and public diplomacy should be deepened and diversified to avoid wider distrust between the two peoples. There is also room for reciprocal coordination between China's Belt and Road Initiative and the New Northern Policy, which was proposed by ROK President Moon Jae-in earlier this month with a focus on building a Eurasian economic community through cooperation with Russia.

Kim Sang-soon, president of the ROK-based Institute for East Asia Peace Studies, and a senior researcher at the Charhar Institute in China
How to deal with the threat from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea may be one of the campaign planks of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party for a possible snap election. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will reportedly dissolve the lower house of parliament within a week and announce the general electionlikely on Oct 22.

As the DPRK continues its missile and nuclear tests, Abe may find it easier to sell his idea of building a strong Japanese military and revising the Constitution to the electorate. An official of the prime minister's office has said the LDP will make constitutional revision to legally transform the Japan Self-Defense Forces into a military one of its poll promises.

Abe has argued that the SDF can officially become Japan's military by adding a new clause to Article 9 while keeping intact the renunciation of war and the ban on Japan maintaining the potential for war. Abe hopes to enforce the amended Constitution in 2020.

In this context, US President Donald Trump's maiden speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday could be seen as a kind of pep talk for Abe who has adopted a tough DPRK policy. Trump vowed to "totally destroy" the DPRK if the US is forced to defend itself or its allies against Pyongyang.

On Wednesday, Abe urged all UN member states to block the DPRK's access to "the goods, funds, people and technology" necessary for its nuclear and missile programs. Ruling out dialogue with the DPRK, Abe said in his UN address that Japan supports the US position that "all options are on the table".

The day before Trump's UN speech US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis hinted that Washington had "many military options" against Pyongyang. But expertseven Mattis himselfhave said a conflict on the Korean Peninsula would be "catastrophic" not only for US and ROK citizens, but potentially for the Japanese.

The DPRK has threatened to "sink" Japanese islands with nuclear weapons. Its missile and nuclear tests have triggered anxiety and fear in Japan. In recent years, a total of six DPRK missiles have passed over Japan, which, as the Yomiuri Shimbun said, may become routine.

Japan issued its J-Alert, designed in 2007 to quickly inform the public of various threats, in 12 prefectures, including Hokkaido, encouraging people to shift to a sturdy building or basement when the DPRK fired missiles over Japan on Aug 30 and Sept 15. The alert covered the largest area since its inception. But since many people complained that they couldn't find a shelter, some Japanese have decided to be self-reliantthey have built air-tight nuclear bunkers under their houses. And residents in many parts of Japan have held evacuation drills for a simulated DPRK missile attack.

Anxiety, therefore, has prompted many Japanese to favor Abe's hard-line approach to Pyongyang. The Japanese public's attitude toward their pacifist Constitution, too, has begun to change in recent years. A poll conducted by Kyodo News in April showed 49 percent of the respondents said Article 9 should be updated, compared with 47 percent preferring status quo. In December 2012 when Abe became prime minister for the second time, 51 percent of the public was against changes to Article 9, compared with 45 percent in favor of revisions.

Japanese opposition parties have criticized Abe for creating a political vacuum by deciding to dissolve the lower house when tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high. In fact, the Asahi Shimbun has termed Abe's likely move self-serving opportunism.

Latest polls show the approval rating of Abe has rebounded. But with the current political landscape in which the LDP is not necessarily the voters' favorite choice and opposition parties have no clear vision for governance, people in Japan may not be prepared for a general election next month. So if the LDP wins the snap election, the victory would not represent a public mandate for amending the Constitution.

The author is China Daily Tokyo bureau chief.

caihong@chinadaily.com.cn
GRAND FORKS  Justin Mead has spent all of August and much of September in Grand Forks County, the longest hes ever been away from his western North Dakota ranch. But now hes heading home, well-satisfied with his long sojourn.

For me, being a 33-year-old guy, its something I really enjoyed and benefited from, said the Grassy Butte, N.D. rancher on Sept. 19, a few days before he expected to make the 370-mile trip home.

Mead was one of many western North Dakota ranchers who came to Grand Forks County this summer to hay Conservation Reserve Program acres. Much of northeast North Dakota avoided the drought that ravaged the western part of the state, so Mead and other ranchers hoped to bale enough CRP hay and crop straw here to supplement their sparse hay crop at home.

Mission accomplished, at least for Mead. He doesnt have final numbers yet, but he expects that hell take home about 1,000 CRP bales and about 1,200 wheat straw bales.

It really helps, he said of the bales.

CRP is a voluntary federal program that pays landowners to take environmentally sensitive land out of production and plant grass and other vegetation on it. Because of the drought, the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowed emergency haying and grazing on CRP land in North Dakota, Montana and South Dakota.

Though most of Grand Forks County is in the fertile Red River Valley, some of the countys farmland isnt well-suited to crops and has been in CRP for years. The county now has about 74,000 CRP acres.

Reliable numbers arent available yet, but thousands of CRP acres in Grand Forks and several adjacent counties were hayed by western North Dakota ranchers, said Paul Sproule, a Grand Forks farmer who helped to connect ranchers and CRP landowners. Grand Forks is the name of both the county and its dominant city.

Haying CRP requires paperwork to be completed and filed at a county office of the Farm Service Agency, the arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the program. Sproule praised the efficiency and hard work of county FSA staff members who helped with paperwork.

They deserve so much credit. This couldnt have happened without them, he said.

Jason Kusmenko of Kusmenko Kustom Farming of Zap, N.D., was another western North Dakota agriculturalist haying in Grand Forks County. He and his 10-person crew have been making bales and hauling it home since early August.

There have been a few glitches, primarily the challenges of moving bales from wet fields to roadsides, where they can be loaded on trucks for the trip to western North Dakota, Kusmenko said.

But the overall haying effort has gone well, he said.

He plans to stay in the Grand Forks area for at least six more weeks to bale soybean straw and corn stover.

Were still plugging away. And then there will be another few months of hauling to get it all back home, Kusmenko said.

August and September rains in parts of western North Dakota boosted some pastures and hayfields, reducing  but definitely not eliminating  the need to bring in CRP hay and straw from eastern North Dakota, Kusmenko said.

Meads Seven Cross Ranch, which has has 400 cow-calf pairs, was hurt by a massive wildfire in July, increasing his need to get hay elsewhere. So, apart from one short trip home earlier this month, Mead has been living in a camper in Grand Forks and making hay since early August.

His extended stay in the Grand Forks area has provided him with more than hay; its given him a better understanding of farmers and ag here, too.

Western North Dakota agriculture and eastern North Dakota ag have major differences in climate, soil types and crops. That inevitably leads to differing perspectives and sometimes to disagreements on ag policies and practices.

But the east-west collaboration on CRP haying fostered personal ties and experiences that help to bridge that regional divide, farmers say.

We are they, Sproule said of the stronger ties.

Mead said he had some great experiences here in eastern North Dakota and made some good friends. I cant tell you how much that means to me.

And he may return next year. Hes leaving his haying equipment in the Grand Forks area, in case he needs to harvest more hay here in the 2018 growing season.
A GUIDELINE by China Alliance of Radio, Film and Television and three other organizations stipulates that the total remuneration of actors should account for 40 percent or less of the total production costs of a television series, and the leading actors cannot be paid more than 70 percent of the total remuneration paid cast and crew. ThePaper.cn commented on Saturday:

The latest guideline on actors' pay is in response to the concerns over overpaid young actors, whose popularity has skyrocketed to a point where payment fairness is being compromised. Budget limitations mean overpaying a few big names could spoil the whole work, since the rest of the cast and crew need paying.

Many of the "fresh meat", as the teenage celebrities are known, are often paid more than veteran actors. Despite their lack of acting skills and professionalism, the young stars have scores of diehard young fans, who will almost unconditionally watch a movie or television series as long as their beloved idols are in it or pay for any derivative product they endorse regardless of the cost.

Investors are naturally tempted to grab a share of this "fan economy" and will go to great lengths to get young celebrities on board, from overly generous pay to giving them the leading roles. It is unfair to say the youngsters are not working hard, but their presence in a production is often only because they can attract a large number of enthusiastic fans. The new trend is that the more highly rated films do not use stars and their quality and reputations are built on talented, little-known actors and good scripts.

That an increasing number of young actors are willing to showcase their talents rather than their appearance, to some extent, proves that their overpayment can neither sustain nor grant the young stars lasting popularity. But capping their remuneration is hardly enough to dissuade speculative investors from hyping up the "fan economy".
The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and National Development and Reform Commission jointly released a "Double Top" plan on Thursday, with the aim of developing a batch of world-class higher education institutions and disciplines.

Peking University, Renmin University of China and Tsinghua University are among the 42 universities listed, and another 95 institutions have been designated to develop world-class courses.

The new plan replaces the"211" and "985"projects launched in the 1990s. The 211 project aimed to raise education standards in about 100 colleges and universities during the 21st century, hence its name, and the 985 project, named after its launch date in May 1998, endeavored to select the cream of the crop from those institutions.

The institutions for the new plan were selected after a process of peer competition, expert review and government evaluation.

According to the authorities, being world class is not a fixed status, thus the universities will receive dynamic monitoring and management.
Grahame poses a photo with his female Chinese friend and her son in China on September 21, 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

I suppose that all laowai experience China and the Chinese people in quite different ways, but I can only give my limited experiences from my brief visits to China over the past 12 years. I had said in a previous article I was rather reluctant to come to China when initially asked  a hang-up from the early 1950s and the days of the Korean War, when I was an impressionable school kid and China was at war with Australia, as well as many others. I was very impressed with the real China when I did arrive in 2005. Now I return, usually twice a year, to stay with my Chinese friends.

What has changed in the ensuing years? So much that it is hard to know where to start. Most of my friends were young, single girls when I first knew them, who are now married with kids and living in their own homes. I am thus a foreigner grandpa to several of these kids, so am often asked, "When are you coming to visit me, Grandpa?" You may ask, "How come most of your friends were young single girls?" The answer is simple: they have much better English than most guys, and also, being women, are much better talkers.

I believe I have been lucky, in that some of these friends were prepared to show me parts of China that I would have been reluctant to visit alone, as my knowledge of the Chinese language is not much more than zero. Often new QQ or WeChat friends will ask "which cities have you visited in China?" They are envious when I tell them just where I have been fortunate to visit.

The cities, and the transport infrastructure that links them, never cease to amaze me. I like to wander around the older parts of cities and also around country villages, to get a reasonable understanding of the old and the new. What I see happening over the years really highlights the difference in progress that can be made  by necessity, perhaps  in a country with a huge population compared to my own. As a useful yardstick, I tell friends here that the population of Shanghai is a little more than the population of the whole of Australia.

My knowledge of China from my school days was extremely limited, based on history prior to the New China days. I knew only of Peking, Nanking (and the massacre), Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, as well as Jiangsu province. When I finally came here, it was a real eye-opener. Plus I had to learn many new names. It is still an amazing place, and I enjoy exploring new areas, even close to my many homes here. I always believe that feet were discovered a long time before motor vehicles.

I have always been keen to learn about the foundation structures of the high-rise apartment buildings here, so have been fortunate to watch the construction of some new buildings in the South Xi'an complex where I am now staying. As a series of buildings are built sequentially, with work teams moving from one to the next, I have been able to observe many phases of the process. It is wonderful to see everything involved, the things you never see at completion.

As an example of progress in transport infrastructure, I watched the duplication of the Huning Expressway  now G42  from two to four lanes each way in 2005 and 2006. I saw the rail services between Shanghai and Nanjing go from diesel hauled in 2005 to electric traction in 2006, and the gradual introduction of CRH high-speed multiple unit trains, initially on the existing rail lines. I was then fortunate to watch the construction of not one, but two, high-speed double track rail lines between Shanghai and Nanjing, and the demolishing of existing buildings to make way for new stations on these lines.

The network now is most impressive, and makes me feel ashamed when Chinese friends visit me in Sydney. It takes an hour by suburban train to travel the 50 kilometers from the airport to my home. I have been really fortunate and happy so many of my Chinese friends have visited my humble home in Sydney over the years, six of them having visited twice. One is now planning to stay in Sydney longer, to further her studies.

As for factories and warehouses, they sprout like mushrooms after a rain shower, just as the apartment high-rises do. I sometimes ponder on what will happen to all these construction workers when the building frenzy must inevitably slow down. Perhaps they can go to Australia, to help increase the population, and to put their skills to good use.

What of the future of China and the Chinese people? No one can ever be really sure, but my wish is for a peaceful co-existence with her neighbors and trading partners. China has had good leadership up to now, and I hope that it can stay that way. Of course, there are still many challenges ahead, both short- and long-term, at home and abroad. My hope is they will be met sensibly.

The author is a senior blogger with China Daily website.
Mehran Idris Khan waits for the flight to Qingdao at Shanghai International Airport. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Life itself drives us where we deserve to be. All you need is to have a plan, commit to your goals, prepare, be consistent and have faith. My story is one example. After graduating with a law degree from Pakistan, I planned to continue my postgraduate studies with a Ph.D in international law.

The question arose: Where to go for this? It is true that China is a symbol of ambition, hard work and success around the globe. Pakistan-China relations over the years show China is an ideal place for Pakistani students. In fact, the amazing academic and research developments in China have made the country first choice for Pakistani students. Chinese educational institutions have made their mark globally, attracting students and professionals from around the globe.

My decision to study in China was based on the amazing academic facilities, global standards of education and research, friendly Pak-China relations and above all, the love and hospitality of the people of China. China without a doubt has become a second homeland for the people of Pakistan. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor project has further strengthened and promoted our bilateral relations, opening windows for education, research, trade, economic and social exchange. I am convinced that China is the best place for studying international law for Pakistani students.

In my search, I looked for the best universities with high rankings and renowned faculties, learning the procedure to apply for China Scholarship Council. After reading about the faculty and the school's research achievements, I shortlisted Shandong University. I was inspired by the research of Professor Yen-Chiang Chang at the university; I sent an email to him requesting the acceptance letter, he appreciated my work and granted it.

Thereafter I started making arrangements about traveling to the university. There were many questions: What to bring along with me? Where to buy the airline ticket? And so on. On Sept 11, I flew from Lahore Pakistan to Bangkok, then Shanghai and Qingdao. I reached the airport at midnight. It was like entering a new planet, where I had no contacts or references, nor was I familiar with the local language.

At first, I felt like a fish who'd jumped into a dry boat, trying to find a way out. I reached the university an hour after leaving the airport, but couldn't find where the international students' office was located. After asking many local students, none of whom knew about the ISO, I found two Chinese female students, also from the law school. At last, someone from my school who can also speak English! They tried their best, taking me to two or three offices but they all said, "Sorry, you are in the wrong place." They took me to the law school afterward, carrying my baggage by themselves the whole way. They were very caring, responsible and cooperative girls. After talking with the staff, they took me to the dormitory in the car of a staff member there. They didn`t move from there until I found the keys to my room, and even after that they asked if I was OK or still had any questions. It was touching to be helped in such a selfless way.

China has earned research prestige in almost all fields of science and the humanities. The country's achievements have attracted a large number of students across the globe to start their academic careers in China. The China Scholarship Council has, without a doubt, left no stone unturned to treat foreign students with care. For me, it was a turning point in my life when I earned a CSC scholarship to pursue my international law Ph.D in China. Moreover, the 2020 mission statement of the Chinese president regarding economic targets and achievements has made it more interesting to study the success and well-beings not only of the people of China, but all the individuals who have concerns in the country.

All that has happened to me after arriving in China has made an impression on my heart. The Chinese people are full of hospitality, genuinely cooperative, wise-hearted, with a welcoming nature. All concerns I had in my mind about the language barrier, or other difficulties were proved wrong once I arrived in China, the products of misperceptions and misinformation. After coming here, I feel at ease and comfortable being here with the most loving and helpful people in the world. While I will study international Law here at SDU, I also hope I will better understand humanity, hospitality and ethics while living and learning at Shandong. I believe this new understanding will polish and shape me into a brand new human being.

Mehran Idris Khan is a Ph.D graduate and a scholar of international law at Shandong University.
UN Women and Global Goodwill Ambassadors jointly announced a fundraising event to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

With the theme of "Join Hands for Gender Equality", the charitable event will take place in Beijing in December. A similar function was organized last year in partnership with a Chinese UN office to help promote gender equality.

The gala will include various performances and an auction of valuable art. The organizing committees will also present appreciation certificates to benefactors and supporters of this endeavor.

"We are excited about the partnership, and about the fundraising event. The collaboration with Global Goodwill Ambassador will contribute to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in China," said Julia Broussard, country program manager of the UN Women China Office.

Anna Li, president of Beijing Liu Jiu Culture Development, the host of the upcoming fundraising gala in December, said, "I'm elated that we are able to once again organize this fundraising event to support UN Women and its ongoing and relentless work in China".

The partnership has successfully brought together entrepreneurs and individuals who share similar aspirational goals through charitable fundraising. It also serves as a call for action to encourage more organizations and individuals to support gender equality.

"We need businesses to understand their roles in advancing social responsibilities," said Yen Chou, president of Chinese-American Parent-Student Council (CAPSC), a non-governmental organization and a special consultant with the UN Economic and Social Council. "CAPSC is honored to be a part of this important fundraiser, which will be sustained for many years to come and have a distinct impact on the lives of women and girls in China," she said.
Misbahul Ferdous [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Life is full of challenges and hurdles, but hard work, resilience and consistency is the key to success. In our lives, some moments are unforgettable and some accomplishments mark history forever. The first of any field cannot be replaced, and I have the honor to be the first PhD in medicine from Bangladesh.

One September day in 2009, I landed at the Yaoqiang International airport in Jinan. I was not at all familiar with the new environment. The plane arrived and no one was there to welcome me. Unfamiliar with the Chinese language and surrounded by unfamiliar faces, an unfamiliar land was welcoming me instead. I had a most precious paper in my hand  my admission letter and the JW202 of Shandong University, with the universitys address written on. All I knew was there was a shuttle bus going from the airport to city center. Despite the confusion, I managed to arrive at Shandong Universitys international office, where I started my school life.

For the next 8 years, Guo Wenbin, my first mentor and Cui Lianqui, my PhD mentor, helped me to excel in the field of medicine as a doctor. They paved the way for me to prosper. In 2010, Guo attended an international conference in Wuhan where he let me join the conference, where I met with NC Nanda, a professor of medicine and cardiovascular disease at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Nanda pioneered the development of echocardiography, discovering techniques that have revolutionized the way we practice cardiology in the world today.

I had the privilege to work under his supervision as a research fellow in at a university-affiliated hospital for five months in 2011. This fellowship changed my life, broadening my view of medicine, especially interventional cardiology and echocardiography. I learned advanced techniques from him, along with basic skills. In the same year I went to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Indias most prestigious, for 5 months training in percutaneous coronary intervention. Upon my return to China, I worked more efficiently, and the following year I got my masters degree in medicine. I was awarded the excellent graduate award from the Shandong University School of Medicine. During this period I came to know some pioneering professors in their respective fields, including Professor Liu Zhiyu, an innovator in lymphology and oncology. He was an important guide for my future career.

In July 2012, I graduated and was among the few continuing students given an award by the China Scholarship Council. Here I met with Professor Cui Lianqui, who changed my perspective on interventional cardiology. I accompanied him to many conferences to improve my confidence level. Wherever he went, I was with him. He took me to the American College of Cardiologys 2016 conference. He taught me how to hold an interventional PCI wire and instrument like a father holding their baby's hand. He helped with each and every step of percutaneous coronary intervention.

One of the biggest achievements in my life was meeting with cardiology pioneers. Cooperation between the Mayo Clinic and my hospital department was a big success in this regard. The Singapore General Hospital professor Tan Huay Cheem has been one of my role models, my inspiration as a cardiologist from the beginning. He is a hero in my eyes. Every day I tell myself, Misbah, you must be like Tan Huay Cheem.

On June 18 this year, it was little hot, and the school of medicine was little crowded compared to normal days. People were preparing for a graduation party in the evening. I was wearing my red graduation gown and my son and my wife were with me. Someone took a picture and put it online with a caption: Happy Fathers Day from the PhD father for his son. One of the happiest days of my life.

From childhood I kept a small piece of paper in my wallet with important wishes written on it. Every night, before I went to sleep, I looked at this paper and encouraged myself, saying come on Misbah, you can do it. I have had the paper in my wallet all these years, including when I was on the stage to get my PhD.

During this whole journey I relied on support from my family. Without their help and prayers, it would have been impossible to achieve my goals. It would have been impossible without my best friend, Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz, and Shandong University as well.

The day after graduation, a farewell party was held at the main campus, where I was given the excellent graduate award and had the honor to give a short speech. The concluding words of my speech were, Whenever people ask me, Do you like China? my answer is always the same: I dont like China, I love China.

Among the professions in the world, I believe the medical profession is the best and among the different specialties, cardiology the most important. I am proud to be a cardiologist, proud to be a doctor and proud to be the first PhD in medicine from Bangladesh to graduate in China at Shandong University.

Dr. Misbahul Ferdous is a PhD graduate from the Shandong University School of Medicine and a China Scholarship Council award recipient.
Cho Sung-hye talks with her students at Hefei University in Anhui province. WANG XUN/CHINA DAILY

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 a prominent South Korean teacher to talk about her experiences in promoting educational improvements, business cooperation and people-to-people understanding in her native country and her adopted home.

Over the last 21 years, South Korean teacher Cho Sung-hye has contributed much to the friendship between the people of her country and China.

A teacher of Korean at Hefei University in Anhui province, Cho has helped to boost the two countries' ties in multiple aspectsnot just in education.

In 2002, she became the first person from her country to receive China's Friendship Award, the highest honor given to foreigners by the central government. And she was the first South Korean citizen to gain permanent residency in China in 2006. In 2010, she was listed as one of the most influential women of the century in Hefei.

"My husband and I came to Chinato Hefeito fulfill my elder son's dream. We didn't expect that we would come to love the country as much as we do," said Cho, who speaks fluent Mandarin.

Cho was born in Seosan, South Korea. Before coming to China as an adult, she worked at Soon Chun Hyang University as a teacher.

"When the eldest of my two sons was in the third year of middle school, his history teacher, who had some experience in China, suggested the students go to live there and have a close look at the old country," Cho said.

The boya great fan of Chinese history who was able to give the names of more than 900 figures in the Chinese classic Romance of Three Kingdomswas inspired and wanted very much to follow the suggestion.

"He wanted to go to the inland provinces, and he had some knowledge of Anhui, so he chose Hefei as his destination," Cho said. She herself knew little of the province or its capital at that time, so she decided to have a look before taking her family there.

"On the visit to Hefei, I found it was not very developed but thought it would have great potential. Dozens of universities are located here, including the University of Science and Technology of China, one of the country's best," she said.

Within a year, she moved to the city with her husband, Park Nam-gyu, and her sons. The couple found employment quickly at Hefei University and began teaching Korean the next year. The university was the first in the province to have such a course.
American journalist Erik Nilsson herds sheep with a slingshot while living with nomads in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Qinghai province. [Photo by Erik Nilsson and Tseringbum/China Daily]

American journalist Erik Nilsson milks yaks, collects dung and herds sheep with slingshots to discover firsthand what it's like to survive on the frosty Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Erik Nilsson Yaks buck. I learned this when I mounted one year ago while camping with a nomad beneath a glacier in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture's Qumarleb county.

I clutched the creature's wool and held on for dear life.

Yaks also buck when you try to milk them.

I learned this when I returned to the region in Qinghai province this summer to not only live with but also like the herders who survive by grazing livestock on the frosty plateau.

I also learned I'm not good at milking yaks.

Steaming streams hissed into the bucket when my 46-year-old host Gyayang Tsomao massaged their udders.

When I tried, a few drops dripped into the container.

"Plunk. Plunk. Plunk."

It was like the sluggish staccato of a clock's tick-tock.

And that was only after several minutes of nothing.

Then, the yak tried to kick the pail over.
US free market absolutist ideologists pump out more irrelevant and confusing rhetoric than a giant squid pours out ink - the wave of criticism for China's anti-corruption policies being a case in point.

Critics claim China's economic slowdown is primarily due to President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign, which has been carried out nationwide over the past five years, and that the country needs a drastic reduction in free private sector regulation to restore the sky-high annual growth rates it enjoyed for so many years.

Nothing could be further from the truth. These critics are mistaking a positive process of economic transformation and the maturing of China's economy and society as signs of terminal structural weakness. This is similar to a doctor looking at the hormonal change and other physical changes of growing teenagers and diagnosing them as dying of terminal cancer or old age.

While it is certainly true that China's export-driven growth has slowed in relative terms in recent years, it continues to enjoy massive surpluses, and China's economic growth and dynamism continue to dwarf those of other major Asian nations.

Japan especially has still to shake off the dire effects of more than 25 years of economic stagnation. The simplistic pump-priming infusions of cash favored by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have failed to remedy the situation.

Were it not for massive spending on high-tech defense industries using know-how bought from the United States that is driving Japan's public sector even further into the red, the state of the Japanese economy would be even worse.

The massive scale and achievements of China's anti-corruption program are willfully misunderstood in much of the Western media. Far from slowing growth, the anti-corruption campaign is preventing or at least greatly reducing the incidences of corruption that if left unattended would divert the benefits of growth to a handful of people at the top of the national pyramid.

Correctly interpreted, the anti-corruption campaign should be seen not as the enemy of growth or as disrupting the benefits of growth, but rather as being essential to the growth process.

It is a universal truth that as societies generate more wealth, a handful of oligarchs at the top, if left to their own devices, will seize for themselves all the economic and political power and administer it narrowly and selfishly.

This was the pattern in the US during the half century of gigantic industrialization that followed the Civil War. The first two-thirds of the 20th century then saw long, slow and usually far too delayed efforts to slow down and eventually reverse this process.

However, in the four decades since the election of president Ronald Reagan, the US government has increasingly abandoned its crucial role as a moderator of economic concentrations of power in the country.

The result has been the devastating destruction of well-paying industrial jobs and the consequent growth of social pathologies across the US heartland, especially the current hard-drug pandemic.

That is why in my book, Cycles of Change, which tracks the patterns in US politics from Thomas Jefferson to Barack Obama, I entitled the political era launched by Reagan in 1980-81 as "Evening in America" - since it heralded decline, not growth.

The same US pundits who flatly refuse to acknowledge the corruption, unfair concentration of wealth and abdication by government of its responsibility to enforce economic and criminal justice have committed precisely the opposite error in the case of China. They look at policies that are both the consequence and necessary correction to economic success and industrial growth, and falsely mislabel them as signs of decline.

The idea that any anti-corruption campaign, if energetically prosecuted, will make government departments inefficient, complacent and lazy is absurd fantasy. Observed experience and recorded history show that the opposite is invariably the case. Indeed, the biggest achievement of China's anti-corruption campaign in the past five years is the clean working style that it has instigated in the ruling Party and government.

There are many reasons why China's growth in absolute terms has slowed, and Chinese leaders and economic planners have been coping with the impact of climate change patterns across Eurasia.

China has been energetically investing in land and maritime communications networks across Asia and in cultivating vast quantities of land across sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

These policies are proving immensely beneficial in raising the living standards and professional opportunities for hundreds of millions of people across China, and for billions more around the world.

The economic history of all prosperous industrial nations shows that a society needs more anti-corruption monitoring and restraint as an economy grows, not less. It also shows that the central government must not abdicate its responsibilities to protect its own people from such forces, and must also be vigilant in ensuring the industrial base and economy as a whole do not suffer from unfair patterns of international trade.

China's government has proven to be highly successful and responsible in carrying out these core obligations.

On the contrary, it is US growth rates that have remained at miniscule levels for decades.

According to Wall Street analyst Gerald Celente, median US income is now at 1999 levels; 51 percent of all people working full time in the US now earn only $30,000 or less and household ownership is at a 50-year low.

China's economic policies have raised a larger number of people out of poverty in a shorter period of time than any other recorded period in history.

The current slowing of overall growth rates and the success of the anti-corruption campaign therefore need to be recognized as inevitable and desirable outcomes of this remarkable success.
Despite only arriving in China three years ago, Australian professor Jeffrey Reimers has already had a significant impact on Shanghai's scientific community.

Since taking charge, his research center has published a series of academic papers in major scientific journals, including Nature, which has helped raise Shanghai University's international profile. He has also forged greater cooperation between the university and the University of Technology Sydney, where he is also a faculty member.

He is currently working on a project that involves protein crystallography, a vital element in drug design, and is collaborating with prominent Chinese scientist Hong Guo on research into silicon electronics.

"Hopefully when I'm done with my work here, the connection between the two universities will be further strengthened, and through that I will leave a legacy," Reimers said.

"I'm very happy to work on the advancement of science in China. It's all part of developing a better world."

The scientist was awarded the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award on Sept 6 for his contribution to the city's efforts to build a global science and technology hub. Earlier in his career, he also received the Royal Australian Chemical Institute's H.G. Smith Memorial Award and the prestigious David Craig Medal for Chemistry.

What do you feel has been China's biggest achievement in recent years?

I read a report that about 95 million people were taken out of poverty in China over the past decade, and that's a really significant achievement that reflects 40 years of amazing achievements in China. To see that happening and to be a part of it in my own little way is very special.

I find China to be an extremely friendly place. Three or four years ago, when my family and I were on the subway or a bus in Shanghai, people around would talk to us. But what I have found disturbing is that this happens rarely today, as everyone is glued to their phones. Society has become much more insular, and people are more focused on themselves and their toys.

Traffic is also becoming much more pleasant. When we first came it was chaos. I once had a student come visit me and he was almost in tears after having to cross a road. But all that is changing for the better due to efforts from the Shanghai government. Similarly, the ban on car horns happened overnight, and it made life so much more pleasant.

What three words would you use to describe China?

Unified, together, vision. People have very different incomes, but everyone you talk to is interested in building a better China, and they see that as their job. People moving together as one and with a vision is a great strength to have indeed.

What's the biggest challenge China faces today, and how do you think the country can overcome this?

People focusing too much on themselves and the building of wealth, instead of interest for the community and the country. That is a great problem in the West, and I feel it is becoming more prevalent in China.

In terms of challenges in the field of science, environmental damage and sustainability would be core issues. Coming up with better, cleaner methods for creating chemical reactions when generating power is going to be important. All these things are global issues that affect China, and China is doing its share to address these key issues.

To have real development in the applied scientific fields, we need to continue funding the core science underpinning it. To turn your back on that and just focus on applications is the demise of science and technology.

You have met President Xi Jinping. What was your impression of him?

It was a wonderful meeting. President Xi is very learned in many areas. He showed interest in the recommendations and comments that were put together by the foreign experts and even described how the recommendations would be looked at by the appropriate committees. He made you feel valued. Being at that meeting made us scientists feel like we were contributing to China and, in turn, to the world. President Xi came across as someone who cares for his people, his country, and the world.

How do you view China's role in today's world?

China needs to become a world leader and inspire other countries, particularly in terms of friendship and cooperation to show countries how not to be bullies, but how to be friends. China needs to expand its reputation and abilities in these areas.

Do you believe some of China's experiences or practices could be used to solve pressing global problems?

Many countries are in the position China was 40 years ago, and the lessons learned here in China are certainly appropriate for them.

China needs to teach people in these countries how to go about managing certain issues, such as ensuring good government, how to prevent corruption, and how to focus on development in a sustainable way with clear end goals. China's five-year plans provide a purpose and focus, and any developing country needs such plans to have a long-term future. China needs to teach other countries how to do this.

What's the most memorable experience you've had in China?

The friendliness of the people. When we arrived from Sydney a few weeks ago and got into a taxi, the driver was talking to us for an hour and a half. That happens to me at least once a week. Taxi drivers are always happy to talk about lots of different topics.

My family is critical to my time here in China. My daughter came here when she was only 4 years old. She now speaks perfect Chinese and even has a Beijing accent.

She was recently on the stage making the pledge to the Party on behalf of all the students who were receiving honglingjin (the red scarves worn by Chinese Young Pioneers). That just shows how accepted we have been here in China.
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 prominent company executives to provide their views on economic developments here and the country's global leadership role. The first two are Jeremy Hunter, president for Henkel Greater China, and Thierry Garnier, president and CEO of Carrefour China.

What has been China's biggest achievement during the past five years and what is its most notable change?

Jeremy Hunter: It has to be China's transformation toward becoming an innovation-fueled economy. China is upgrading its manufacturing industry to become more high-end, environmentally friendly, intelligent and service-based. This is shifting focus from "productivity expansion" to "productivity enhancement".

Thierry Garnier: During the past five years, I was deeply impressed by the energy, speed and innovation of China. The rapid economic development demonstrates the vitality of China's market.

The past five years saw the emergence of services designed to help consumers. The introduction of shared bicycles solves "the last mile "problem. The development of O2O (online to offline businesses) makes life more convenient.

For enterprises like us, this offers a wide spectrum of reference data, based on the purchasing habits of customers. This enables us to have a sharper insight into their needs.

What three words would you use to describe China today?

Hunter: Innovative would be one. China is shifting toward an innovation-driven economy. For example, the country is arguably the world's leader in e-commerce and mobile payment, as well as the home of leading internet companies such as Alibaba (Group Holding Ltd) and Tencent (Holdings Ltd).

Sustainable would be another. China has prioritized sustainable development as an important part of its national agenda.

Finally, I would say collaborative. China is becoming an increasingly important force to foster regional and international cooperation.

Garnier: Innovation, openness and happiness represent the feature of China today. Entrepreneurs are seeking to propagate Chinese culture, commodities and concepts worldwide with innovations.

Meanwhile, they also modestly absorb technologies and cultures from around the world, and actively communicate and cooperate with nations worldwide.

What is the biggest challenge China faces and how can the country overcome it?

Hunter: As continued economic expansion exerts an increasing strain on the environment, one of China's biggest challenges will be to balance economic growth with sustainability. This is not limited to China, but applies to all countries around the world.

To overcome this, we need innovative solutions to optimize our processes and reduce, if not eliminate, environmental impact. We also need policy and societal support to achieve our goals together. China is already making progress in overcoming this challenge.

Garnier: China has been confronted with the issue of balancing its eastern and western economic development. Recent years witnessed the efforts of the Chinese government to narrow the gap between its western and eastern regions, with significant success. The rapid progress of China's digital and transport technologies will help transfer the resources of rich areas to western regions in a better way.

For Carrefour, we cooperate with the government to construct a more complete retailing system, while developing new technologies and launching new projects. These include Direct Purchase and China Quality Line with QR codes.

We prioritize natural fruit and vegetable production areas, including those in western regions. We are delighted to see income growth of farmers in central and western regions increasing through this cooperation and technical exchange. The project also enables eastern and western consumers to experience high quality produce at better prices through our store network and online business.

What are your expectations for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and what key issues will you be watching for?

Hunter: There is huge global attention on the Congress, especially around the composition of the new Chinese leadership. Regardless of any changes, I expect the Congress to reaffirm China's development agenda and strategic priorities.

Garnier: Carrefour has been in China for 22 years and our exploration and innovation of various formats are inspired and supported by national policies. We have grown together with the country and we change together.

As for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, I'm looking forward to the policies to maintain fast economic growth. A fast-growing economy in China will offer us a more stable environment and will influence the future development of the retail industry.

What is your impression of President Xi Jinping?

Hunter: I think he is a very visionary leader. The Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are great examples of his forward-looking proposals. On the domestic front, he has also advocated for China to carry out industrial upgrading by developing smart manufacturing.

Garnier: President Xi Jinping has unique political wisdom. We can see China is leading the world in many aspects, such as the digital economy, culture and industry under the leadership of President Xi.

His globalization (views) at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year was of considerable significance for economic development, cultural integration and resource-sharing worldwide.

How do you view China's role in the world today?

Hunter: The country is already playing an indispensable role as it takes a more proactive part in shaping the future of the global economy. China is vital for the stability of the global economy and is also increasingly creating value for the world through its innovation.

Garnier: As the second largest economy in the world, China shoulders important missions in the globalization process. This is not only about trade and economic exchanges with different countries, but also about export values and culture.

The country today demonstrates an overwhelmingly rapid development trend in terms of culture and economics."Made in China 2025" is gradually transforming into "Innovated by China", with new brands, new products, and new technologies.

Could China's experience and practices be used to solve pressing global problems?

Hunter: In a world where we are seeing an unprecedented tide of rising anti-globalization, China has shown the path forward for forging closer international trade and collaboration. Initiatives such as the Belt and Road and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are based on sound fundamental principles of inclusiveness, mutual benefit and common prosperity for all participants.

Garnier: China sets an example in solving global problems with its experience and practices as the world's most populous country. At present, the government prioritizes anti-corruption and has achieved significant results.

In addition, the sustainable development strategy of Beijing exerts a far-reaching impact on the world. Sustainable development was discussed as an important topic at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou last year.

By promoting stable and comprehensive reforms, China seeks to improve its domestic development model and realize sustainable development. It also provides assistance for developing countries to cope with an international financial crisis.

What will China be like in five years time and what is the country's long-term future?

Hunter: I see China as taking on an increasingly important leadership role in promoting international trade and economic cooperation. Domestically, I anticipate that the rising middle class will continue to provide impetus for sustained economic growth.

Also, I would not be surprised if the country pioneers new technologies and innovations in critical sectors, such as healthcare or renewables. Overall, I am highly upbeat about China's long-term future, and eager for Henkel to be a part of it.

Garnier: I believe the country will be able to maintain its healthy development trend. The friendly and open environment in China provides enterprises with a solid foundation for development. This in turn means that there will be great potential in the future for all sectors, including retail.

What is the most unforgettable experience you have had in China or is related to the country?

Hunter: The most unforgettable experience has been my visit to the Great Wall last year. This is a symbol of China which represents the country's long history and splendid culture.

It was even more magnificent than I had thought, especially with the sunshine and blue sky we had that day. During my visit, I stopped by Henkel's memorial stone, which was built to memorialize the group's donation for the renovation of the Mutianyu section in 1988.

It reminded me of how Henkel started and how much we have accomplished here. I felt very proud.

Garnier: There are two moments that are unforgettable. The first one was in 2015, which marked the 20th anniversary of Carrefour's development here. By then, we had 230 hypermarkets and 10 convenience stores in 58 cities.

I have witnessed the exploration and reform of Carrefour since it entered the market in the 1990s, blazed a trail with Chinese characteristics. Such a remarkable accomplishment was based on stable development and the fast economic growth in China.

The second one was last year and covers reforms in the retail sector. The central government proposed the integration of "offline and online" channels in a bid to support the development of the real economy. Now, with the prosperous development of e-commerce in China, physical retailers are accelerating diversification with the help of big data and new technology.

What will boost growth in the country this year and in 2018?

Hunter: China's clear development agenda and strong leadership bring focus and stability that create a favorable environment for growth, now and in the future. As China transforms to become an innovation-driven economy and upgrades its manufacturing industry, I firmly believe that it will achieve more "quality" growth, to become a true manufacturing power.

Again, in my opinion, the challenge currently facing the Chinese economy is the balance between economic development and sustainability.

Garnier: Openness, cooperation and innovation are the most favorable factors for China's growth. Great efforts have been made by China to develop domestic industries and create a very stable domestic environment. After experiencing staggering growth, China has entered a stable development period. How to use innovation during this period before the next development peak is the biggest challenge faced by the economy.

Honestly, I have my own opinions. Although the economy is developing rapidly, it still suffers from unstable structures in some fields.

For example, with the real estate economy serving as a growth engine in recent years, the structure remains unbalanced. In addition, the country's aging society, education and health will become topics of significant importance.

As a leader with a Fortune 500 company, which sectors do you think offer the most opportunities for development?

Hunter: I see great opportunities for the development of the manufacturing industry. China is fostering smart manufacturing, which is similar to Industry 4.0 in Germany. Both seek to embed automation and digitalization to optimize the manufacturing process, and drive economic growth.

At Henkel, we have consistently grasped the great opportunities provided by digitalization and Industry 4.0. We have successfully piloted the smart factory concept at 10 sites across Asia. We want to accelerate digitalization along the entire value chain to achieve faster decision making, higher productivity, and greater safety and sustainability.

In addition, e-commerce in China is leading the world and will provide tremendous opportunities in the future. We have been taking this opportunity to cooperate with e-commerce platforms. For example, our beauty care business achieved great success on Alibaba. Our adhesive business also launched its flagship store on Alibaba.

Garnier: I think there are two. The first are innovation-based industries with new technology and high quality services. With the rise of the middle class, people's consumption demands have been transformed gradually from prices and costs to the pursuit of lifestyle.

That is why we launched the "multi-format and multi-channel strategy". Scientific innovation has become a driving force for development. In the future, high quality produce, will be extremely popular with customers.

Secondly, sustainable industries such as health, cultural and environmental protection will promote China's status on the global stage. After all, sustainable development is a topic that the entire world is concerned about.

What opportunities will the Belt and Road Initiative throw up for China and the rest of the world?

Hunter: The Belt and Road Initiative creates considerable demand for products, investment and economic cooperation. It stimulates the expansion and upgrading of China's manufacturing industry, as well as providing greater market opportunities for the development of China's economy.

As a multinational company, we are delighted to help facilitate the upgrading of China's manufacturing industry and grasp the market opportunities generated by cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative has also set a great example for international cooperation. This will strengthen the foundation for the long-term stable growth of the world's economy.

Garnier: China has developed economic partnerships with economies along the Belt and Road Initiative. I see it as a 21st century "Silk Road "and an extremely admirable project. China always embraces societies with openness and inclusion.

The country has established friendly relationships with neighbors and promotes cooperation and collaboration with major nations.

What are the most innovative trends or products in China?

Hunter: The country is implementing the "Internet Plus" initiative, which aims to transform and upgrade industries through the internet and digitalization. At Henkel, we have a similar agenda to leverage digitalization and Industry 4.0 to accelerate our business growth, better serve our customers, optimize our processes and transform the entire company.

Garnier: I believe there will be strong growth in electronic products. With accelerated upgrading and improved quality of electronic devices, prices become increasingly affordable for consumers.

Electronic products that were expensive and seldom available in supermarkets in the past can now be found in our stores, as living standards here rise and prices fall.

China is known as a manufacturing giant, but what will be the country's "calling card" in the future?

Hunter: As it transforms into an innovation-driven economy, innovation will be the country's core competency. China has already demonstrated its potential for innovation in areas such as the internet, and there will be more in the future. The scale of its economy and the availability of investment capital provide fertile soil for more innovation to take root and blossom.

Garnier: I believe it will eventually become the world's No 1 market because of stable growth and global strategic cooperation. With a consumer market of 1.3 billion people, China has become the world's largest import and export market.

Such a huge market will definitely attract the investment of overseas resources and bring a great number of opportunities. This will significantly contribute to enhancing China's competitiveness.
A Chinese prestigious collector and connoisseur released a public service advertisement (PSA) on protecting rhinos to call for an end of collectables rooted in killing during a ceremony to mark the World Rhino Day in Beijing on Friday.

Ma Weidu, 62, who recently traveled to South Africa with WildAid to learn about rhino conservation efforts, spoke on his travel experiences and launched his new campaign to eliminate demand for carved rhino horn products in China.

Hosted by National Geographic's Traveler magazine along with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and WildAid, the "Travel for Earth" event focused on ecotourism, highlighting experiences to see rhinos.

Rhinos around the world are endangered, primarily due to poaching as a result of demand for their horns. Rhino populations have plummeted 95% in the last 40 years. In addition to demand for rhino horn use in medicine, there is also significant demand for collectables carved from rhino horns.

According to a 2013 survey of 1,800 respondents in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, 11% expressed interest in investing in rhino horn collectables. All sales in rhino horn have been illegal in China since 1993, and rhino horn was removed from the Traditional Chinese Medicine handbook. And since 2011 all rhino horn items have been banned from any auction house sales as well.

Ma Weidu attends a ceremony to release a PSA show to mark the World Rhino Day in Beijing on Friday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"If we lose rhinos because of poaching driven in part as a demand for rhino horn collectables, this would be a tragedy not only for wildlife but also to China's culture of collectables," noted Steve Blake of WildAid. "This campaign with Ma Weidu will help reduce demand for rhino horn in this key market."

AWF Trustee Gordon Cheng welcomed the campaign and called for more global efforts to stop trade in rhino horn.

"Today marks the new milestone for our Rhino Protection Initiative as we are now going to make changes relating to the fundamental misunderstandings on the demand and usage of rhino horns which have existed for thousands of years. We hope our program can help to convey the right messages for many existing collectors and users, and most importantly for younger generation in Asia and around the world. I will dedicate my life efforts to make this right," Cheng said.

Ma Weidu with the rhino. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Ma is the premier antique collector and appraiser in China. He is also an esteemed author and opened China's first private museum,Guanfu Museum. In the new PSA, Ma shows the brutal truth behind these beautiful collectables, and that antique collectables should be an extension of culture, not a force of destruction.

Ma noted that "in the course of collecting cultural items, I've realized that though these items are historical, they can have a significant impact on the world today. I have not only pledged to no longer purchase any ivory or rhino horn items, I'm also persistently conveying the message that if we must choose between protecting wildlife or cultural collectables, wildlife is far more important."

He also spoke of his recent trip to South Africa with Investec's "Rhino Lifeline" program and WildAid to view rhino conservation efforts first hand in the country where 80% of the world's rhinos are found. It is likewise, also one of the countries hit worst by rhino poaching. In South Africa, Ma saw rhinos being rehabilitated from poaching injuries and also orphans whose parents were taken by poachers.

Ma Weidu at the Jabulani Camp in South Africa. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Rhino-based tourism is hugely important for protecting rhinos," said Yu Hui of Traveler magazine. "As one of the flagship wildlife species in Africa, tourism to view them generates revenue for both local communities and conservation efforts."

Ma Weidu's new rhino campaign is a partnership of the African Wildlife Foundation and WildAid, and supported in part by Investec Rhino Lifeline. Its video and print materials will appear on TV, online, airports, and other outdoor media in China beginning in October, 2017.
US Ambassador Terry Branstad, Hebei Party chief Zhao Kezhi, second from left, and Qu Dongyu, third from left, vice-minister of agriculture, are among officials at the launch ceremony of a demonstration farm in Luanping county, North China's Hebei province on Saturday. ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY

Expertise from Iowa will be put to use in Hebei, officials explain

Agriculture is especially important to the people of China and the United States, and agricultural cooperation contributes to stronger ties between the two countries, the US ambassador to China said at a launch ceremony of a demonstration farm on Saturday.

The China-US Friendship Demonstration Farm, in Luanping county, Hebei province, covers an area of about 1,330 hectares. It's modeled after a farm near Maxwell, Iowa, owned by Rick and Martha Kimberley and their son Grant.

"The farm  stands as an example of how we can exchange information and ideas, and maintain a growing and improving trade relationship," said Ambassador Terry Branstad, a former governor of the US state of Iowa.

In his speech, Branstad recalled his interactions with President Xi Jinping dating to 1985, when Xi led an agricultural delegation from Hebei province to Iowa when Branstad was governor.

In 2012, invited by Branstad, Xi visited Iowa a second time. He visited the Kimberleys' farm, which he said Chinese farms should be modeled after, according to documents provided by the Luanping government.

The Kimberley farm has an area of about 1,600 hectares, similar to the demonstration farm being built in Hebei. Yet the farm only employs three people due to its use of technology and management, Rick Kimberley said.

"We have monitors that can make records of what we are planning.  The records decide the planting rates and when we harvest we know the yields all through the field.  We use GPS to make sure that we don't over plant, overuse chemicals or over-fertilize," Kimberley said, adding that every step is monitored and standardized in the farm operation.
German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union Angela Merkel votes in the general election in Berlin, Germany, on Sunday. FABRIZIO BENSCH / REUTERS

Veteran politician says Europe needs to work with China on new solutions

With Germans casting their ballots on Sunday to elect the country's new government, veteran French politician Jean-Pierre Raffarin said Chancellor Angela Merkel's expected victory will form a "perfect duo" with new French President Emmanuel Macron to deepen Europe's strategic partnership with China.

Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian counterpart the Christian Social Union have been leading the opinion polls, though the final results of the federal parliamentary election were still unavailable by press time.

Former European Parliament president Martin Schulz, the leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party, the oldest political party in Germany, has been Merkel's main rival.

"I think, she (Angela Merkel) will win and she is a very good friend of China. She understands why China is important for us (Europe)," Raffarin, former prime minister of France, told China Daily in an exclusive interview in Paris prior to the Sunday election.

"Merkel will work in a perfect duo with Macron, who was elected as French president in May, to cooperate with China."

If Merkel wins the fourth-term election, she will outlast nearly all the Western politicians as a state leader. Since 2005, she has visited China more than 10 times.

Raffarin said Macron, who recently said he planned to visit China early next year, has also shown a great interest in deepening the traditional relationship with China.

Special envoy

Raffarin was sent to China as Macron's special envoy in May to attend the Belt and Road Initiative Forum for International Cooperation.

He said Macron is keen on working with China to explore cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

In recent days, President Xi Jinping had telephone conversations with Merkel and Macron respectively amid the Democratic People's Republic of Korea nuclear issue.

"We need China and of course, it's because of business, but above all, it's because of peace," said Raffarin.

"The world is dangerous, and in the history of China, you have the thinking of a balanced world. And we need that for the peace of the planet."

Raffarin said Europe, aiming to be a responsible global player, needs to work with China to provide new solutions to global problems across the Eurasian continent, and so the leaders should form a better working and personal relationship.

Raffarin said Europe's relationship with the United States has not been in good shape since President Donald Trump took office.

He urged Merkel and Macron to work together to rebuild Europe, which badly needs "change and reform". But Raffarin warned that if Europe chooses to weaken relations with China, "it will lose", while if Merkel wins the election, Europe will be in a far better position.

"If Merkel wins, we will have a stronger Europe and good partnership with China. And we need that," said Raffarin.
Yong-soo Lee (left), 89, a South Korean "comfort women" survivor, poses with Julie Tang (center) and Lillian Sing (right), both co-chairs of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition, at the ceremony on Friday for the San Francisco "comfort women" memorial at St Mary's Square. [Photo by LIA ZHU / chinadaily.com.cn]

San Francisco has installed a statue dedicated to the "comfort women" who were forced into prostitution by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.

This statue is the latest of dozens such statues worldwide but the first in a major US city. It is also the first project that involved the efforts of 13 communities, including Chinese, Korean and Filipino, activists said.

On Friday, hundreds of people attended the ceremony on St Mary's Square Annex, where the statue was raised.

The life-size bronze statue includes four figures  Hak-soon Kim, the late "comfort woman" who was the first to break the silence in 1991, as she looks at three girls in traditional Korean, Chinese, and the Filipino dress holding hands on top of a cylinder.

Locally based British sculptor Steven Whyte's work  Comfort Women's Column of Strength  was chosen from more than 20 applicants.

"It's easy to do a piece that is shocking and blatant, but we want to do something about the strength of the young girls and how they managed to carry on through the sufferings they had," said Whyte.

Among the speakers was Yong-soo Lee, 89, a "comfort women" survivor who came from South Korea for the ceremony. She told the gathering through a translator that the world needs peace and that Japan must apologize.

Japan has not apologized and has been pushing back against efforts to set up memorials honoring "comfort women".

The Japanese government interfered with a lawsuit against a "comfort women" statue in Glendale, California, saying the statue disrupted the US government's foreign policy and relationship with Japan.

The latest effort by the Japanese right wing was to "kill" the San Francisco memorial from the beginning by lobbying the San Francisco government at every level, according to the Comfort Women Justice Coalition (CWJC), a San Francisco-based rights group that spearheaded the project two years ago. The project was unanimously approved by the city's Board of Supervisors on Sept 22, 2015.

Early this year, the San Francisco Arts Commission said it had received more than 200 emails, mostly from Japan, in opposition to the statue's installation. The most prominent objection was from then mayor of Osaka, a sister city of San Francisco.

Eric Mar, who was a city supervisor at the time, proposed a resolution supporting the installation of the memorial, He said visitors can easily relate the statue to their sisters, daughters and grandmothers.

Mar said the small effort that Hak-soon Kim made in 1991 was "an incredible power to transform us and make us more human".

He said the statue also will serve as an educational object for the next generation to never forget a dark chapter of history, and he hoped the statue could serve as a "catalyst" for other cities in the US and the world.
Christian Democratic Union CDU party leader and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacts on first exit polls in the German general election (Bundestagswahl) in Berlin, Germany, Sept 24, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term in office on Sunday but Europe's most powerful leader will have to govern with a far less stable coalition in a fractured parliament after her conservatives haemorrhaged support to a surging far right.

Two years after Merkel left German borders open to more than 1 million migrants, the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by becoming the first far-right party to enter parliament in more than half a century.

The AfD won 13.0 percent of the vote - more than expected and one of many shocks on a night of drama that saw Merkel's conservatives get their worst result since 1949, and her main Social Democrat (SPD) rivals their worst since 1933.

Describing the far right's success as a test for Germans, Merkel insisted she had a mandate to govern - a formidable challenge as she has little choice but to cobble together a three-way coalition with a pro-business group and the Greens.

"Of course we had hoped for a slightly better result," a humbled Merkel said after her conservative bloc slumped to 32.9 percent of the vote - down from 41.5 percent at the last election in 2013.

But she added: "We are the strongest party, we have the mandate to build the next government - and there cannot be a coalition government built against us."

The euro slipped around 0.4 percent in early Asian trading as it became clear the results would make forming a coalition tricky for Merkel.

Coalition building could take months as Merkel's only straightforward path to a majority in parliament would be a three-way tie-up with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens - an arrangement untested at national level.

The Social Democrats, who have served with Merkel's conservatives as junior partners in a "grand coalition" for the past four years, won just 20.6 percent of the vote, as nearly half of voters repudiated the two parties that have dominated Germany since World War Two.

SPD leader Martin Schulz said the party would refuse to rejoin a coalition and instead take up its position as the main opposition. The Social Democrats appear to have been hurt badly by being in government, making it difficult to distinguish themselves from Merkel's conservatives.

After shock election results last year, from Britain's vote to leave the EU to the election of US President Donald Trump, leaders of Europe's establishment have looked to Merkel to rally the liberal Western order.

A pastor's daughter who grew up in East Germany, she has acted as an anchor of stability in Europe and beyond. Now, she faces an unstable situation at home as she must form a coalition, an arduous process that could take months.

Reuters
A remarkable South Korean teacher took up residence in Hefei, Anhui province, at the urging of her young son and never looked back. She has played a prominent role in education, business development and friendship.

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 a prominent South Korean teacher to talk about her experiences in promoting educational improvements, business cooperation and people-to-people understanding in her native country and her adopted home.

Over the last 21 years, South Korean teacher Cho Sung-hye has contributed much to the friendship between the people of her country and China.

A teacher of Korean at Hefei University in Anhui province, Cho has helped to boost the two countries' ties in multiple aspects - not just in education.

In 2002, she became the first person from her country to receive China's Friendship Award, the highest honor given to foreigners by the central government. And she was the first South Korean citizen to gain permanent residency in China in 2006. In 2010, she was listed as one of the most influential women of the century in Hefei.

"My husband and I came to China - to Hefei - to fulfill my elder son's dream. We didn't expect that we would come to love the country as much as we do," said Cho, who speaks fluent Mandarin.

Cho was born in Seosan, South Korea. Before coming to China as an adult, she worked at Soon Chun Hyang University as a teacher.

"When the eldest of my two sons was in the third year of middle school, his history teacher, who had some experience in China, suggested the students go to live there and have a close look at the old country," Cho said.

The boy - a great fan of Chinese history who was able to give the names of more than 900 figures in the Chinese classic Romance of Three Kingdoms - was inspired and wanted very much to follow the suggestion.

"He wanted to go to the inland provinces, and he had some knowledge of Anhui, so he chose Hefei as his destination," Cho said. She herself knew little of the province or its capital at that time, so she decided to have a look before taking her family there.

"On the visit to Hefei, I found it was not very developed but thought it would have great potential. Dozens of universities are located here, including the University of Science and Technology of China, one of the country's best," she said.

Within a year, she moved to the city with her husband, Park Nam-gyu, and her sons. The couple found employment quickly at Hefei University and began teaching Korean the next year. The university was the first in the province to have such a course.

After finishing middle school and high school studies in the city, Cho's elder son was admitted to Peking University for undergraduate studies, and then returned to Hefei later for his MBA at the University of Science and Technology of China. The younger one attended Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and earned bachelor's and master's degrees there.

After about a year in Hefei, Park took a job in the United States and tried to persuade Cho to give up Hefei.

"I told him that we had just started here and we should at least spend five years in the city before judging whether we should move to another place," Cho said.

Half a year later, Park returned to Hefei University and has been there ever since.

Cho's brothers and sisters also brought their children to Hefei. "At the peak, I had 21 relatives living here, and there are still 12 of them now," Cho said.

Impressed by how the history teacher had influenced her son, Cho has encouraged Chinese students to go to South Korea. She has helped more than 3,000 students from Anhui to study in her country, and more than 1,000 were given job opportunities there. And she has brought even more students from South Korea to China.

To better promote the educational exchanges, Cho and her husband founded the Handa Cultural Exchange Co in Hefei in 2006, with Cho as president. Her son is general manager.

In 1998, when she was back in her hometown, Cho delivered a three-hour speech to 82 heads of primary schools, trying to persuade them to offer Chinese courses.

"China is developing very fast and will play more important roles in the world. The two countries must promote cooperation in many areas, but how can cooperation go well if our next generation doesn't understand Chinese?" Cho asked.

In 2000, with Cho's help, the Banyang Elementary School - in which she had studied - began teaching Chinese. It was the first primary school in the country to do so.

"Nowadays all the primary schools in my country have made Chinese-language courses available to students," said Cho, who was believed by some local media to have given the strongest push to the achievement.

Cho's reputation is not limited to education, however. It also extends to boosting Sino-South Korean economic ties and helping the province's poverty-stricken areas.

She also serves as an economic counselor for the Hefei Economic and Technological Development Area, where Hefei University is based, and the Hefei High-Tech Industry Development Zone.

Some of the South Korean companies based in the two zones, the largest in the province, were attracted through Cho's efforts.

She is now helping the development area build a China-South Korea Industry Park, and she has already brought in three South Korean companies to invest in the city's high-tech zone.

"Now I often accompany Hefei officials to South Korea for business recruitment and students for educational exchanges," Cho said. "In the early years, transportation between Hefei and South Korea was not convenient. Travelers had to change flights in Shanghai or Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

"There were even South Korean businessmen who intended to invest in Hefei but decided to invest in Shanghai and Nanjing instead, as they found the two cities to be more developed," she added. "Nowadays, flights connecting Hefei with Incheon in South Korea are available five days a week, and the situation is improving."

Cho and her husband have also donated hundreds of thousands of yuan to help prevent the children of poverty-stricken rural families in Anhui from dropping out of school.

The latest example was a 2016 donation of 20,000 yuan ($3,000) to four high school graduates in Hefei's Feidong county who had been enrolled at universities but were about to give up for lack of money.

Cho said the number of the poverty-stricken students is declining, and they can now get more financial support from the government, rather than relying on occasional social donations.

"In the five years since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has invested more than ever before in poverty relief, and President Xi Jinping has vowed to eliminate poverty by 2020," Cho noted.

"In the past 21 years, I have witnessed great development achievements in China, and I believe the five years to come after the pending 19th CPC National Congress will bring the country a more prosperous future."

What do you feel has been China's biggest achievement over the past five years? What's the most notable change you've observed?

China has achieved much in many aspects over the last five years. One of the results is that the Chinese people are more confident than ever about their country's development.

The improvement of the people's confidence itself is one of the biggest achievements.

What three words would you use to describe China today?

Revitalizing, changing, confident.

What's the biggest challenge China faces, and how do you think the country should go about overcoming it?

The biggest challenge could come from the changes. First, China is playing an increasingly important role in the world, so some neighboring countries, and especially some developed Western countries may regard China as a challenger to the power they have maintained for many years. How to make the other countries believe a rapidly developing China is not a threat is really a tough issue.

I think China should attract even more foreigners, because from my own experience, having a look at the real China, not just the view from overseas, makes a big difference. More policies should also be made to attract more foreign talent to work in China. Letting them work here can make better use of their contribution, and also working in a country can give the foreigners more opportunities to develop a more profound understanding of the country.

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 think China loves peace more than some of the developed countries. I hope it can play a more important role in world peace in the future.

What is your impression of President Xi Jinping?

I think he is a determined man. He has been trying his best to achieve what he has vowed to do. One of the examples is environmental protection. In the urban area of Hefei, there is a hill called Dashu Hill. When we were living in a community about 10 kilometers away, we could seldom see the hill from the window. For the last five years, the air has been clearing up. We now can see the hill from home in most days. President Xi puts a lot of emphasis on environmental protection. It's not what you say; it's what you do.

Also, Xi has been very good at choosing the right people to work with him. China is a big country, so officials have to collaborate with each other well.

Do you believe that some of China's experiences or practices could be used to solve pressing global problems? If so, what are they?

China has a very mature and comprehensive system to foster leadership. Officials should all start from basic positions and get promotions gradually. Before they became major officials, dozens of years should have passed and they should have collected enough experience to tackle seemingly tough problems.

I don't believe the Western countries' political practices could work in China, though many of them are considered successful by the Westerners themselves. Some of China's practices are also worth learning, such as how it trains its officials.

What do you think China will be like in five years' time? How do you view China's longer-term future?

Chinese people's incomes have increased significantly in recent years and they will become richer in the next five years. Opening up to the world has brought dramatic changes to the coastal regions, which have been more developed that the inland areas. I believe that in the coming five years, the gap between coastal and inland regions will be narrowed.

It's hard to make long-term predictions, but I hope China can keep its own development pace and have its own development patterns.

What's the most memorable experience you've had in China, or related to China?

Unforgettable experiences in China are many. I became the first South Korean person to receive the Chinese Central Government's Friendship Award in 2002 and the first from my country to get permanent residency in China in 2006.

I was one of the torchbearers for the Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Hefei in 2008. It was unforgettable because my family watched the relay in South Korea in 1988 but didn't get the chance to participate.

In recent years, I have received numerous awards from the Chinese government. The awards and torch are precious to me.

zhulixin@chinadaily.com.cn
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech to mark the 500th anniversary of Protestant Reform at the Hotel de Ville City Hall in Paris, France, Sept 22, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron's upstart centrist party suffered its first electoral blow Sunday, as traditional conservatives dominated Senate elections amid mounting disenchantment with Macron's leadership.

The results damage Macron's legitimacy as he seeks to make his mark on Europe's future and embarks on a divisive labor law overhaul that he hopes will invigorate the moribund French economy. Truckers plan to block highways and fuel depots Monday in the latest show of anti-Macron defiance.

Macron could still pass his reforms despite the election result, however. That's because the lower house of Parliament has the final say in legislation over the Senate, and because lawmakers from the conservative Republicans party support many of Macron's pro-business policy plans.

Official results from voting across mainland France showed the Republicans clearly winning Sunday's vote for about half the chamber's 348 seats, followed by the Socialists, traditional centrists, and Macron's 17-month-old Republic on the Move! party.

A final count including France's overseas territories is expected in the coming days.

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Front, struggling with internal strife and muddled strategy since her second-place showing in the May presidential race, failed to land a single Senate seat.

French broadcasters' projections forecast the Republicans having between 146 and 156 seats in the new Senate, while Macron's party is set to have just about 22. That's especially devastating after Macron overwhelmingly won May elections and his party clinched a large majority in June elections for the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.

Macron himself didn't comment on Sunday's Senate embarrassment, but Republic on the Move! tried to look at the bright side.

It noted that the party won Senate seats for the first time since Macron founded it last year, in an attempt to attract voters tired of traditional parties and their failure to end chronic double-digit unemployment.

Republic on the Move! blamed the indirect voting system for its weak showing Sunday: Senators aren't chosen by the public but by some 75,000 elected officials across the country. Since Macron's party was only created in 2016, it has scant representation among those officials. Also, many of them are upset by Macron's plan to slash the budgets of local authorities.

Macron's party said Sunday's elections were "by nature more difficult for a young political movement like ours," and said that those casting ballots Sunday "have not yet acknowledged that the French have already moved beyond (traditional political) divides."The lower house has the final say in French lawmaking, but Macron also needs support in the Senate to follow through quickly on other major changes he has promised, notably to unemployment benefits, the pension system and the French Constitution.

While Macron has charmed President Donald Trump and other international allies, the 39-year-old French leader has struggled at home.

Tens of thousands of people protested Saturday in Paris over Macron's labor law changes, which they fear are dismantling the French way of life. More protests and strikes lay ahead.

Macron insists the changes - which reduce union powers and give companies more freedom to lay off workers - are need to create jobs and compete globally.

Macron's team is hoping Sunday's election results don't dent France's influence as he pushes his vision for a post-Brexit Europe in a sweeping policy speech Tuesday. After months in the spotlight as the vibrant new champion of European unity, Macron now risks being overshadowed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, bolstered by her party's re-election Sunday.

AP
Law enforcement continues their investigation around the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ on September 24, 2017 in Antioch, Tennessee, US. One person was killed and seven were wounded when a gunman opened fire in the church. [Photo/VCG]

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  A masked gunman opened fire at a Nashville church in Tennessee, US on Sunday, walking silently down the aisle as he shot unsuspecting congregants. At least one person was killed and seven others wounded, authorities said.

An usher confronted the shooter, who apparently shot himself in the struggle before he was arrested, police said.

The FBI said Sunday night it has opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ.

No motive was immediately determined. Church members told investigators that the suspect had attended services a year or two ago, said Don Aaron, a spokesman for the Metro Nashville Police Department. Nashville police did not immediately comment on several bizarre posts on the suspect's Facebook page in the hours before the shooting.

The gunman pulled into the church's parking lot as services were ending. He fatally shot a woman who was walking to her vehicle, then entered the rear of the church with two pistols and kept firing, hitting six people, Aaron said.

Authorities identified the attacker as Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, of Murfreesboro, who came to the United States from Sudan in 1996 and was a legal US resident.

It was unclear whether the self-inflicted wound to the chest was intentional, Aaron said.

The gunman was discharged hours later from Vanderbilt University Hospital but remained in police custody. Warrants charging him with murder and attempted murder were pending, Aaron said.

Witness Minerva Rosa said the usher was "a hero.""He's amazing," said Rosa, a member of the church for eight years. "Without him, I think it could be worse."The suspect said nothing as he fired. While the gunman made his way down the aisle, Rosa said, the pastor started shouting, "'Run! Run! Gunshots!'"Aaron called the usher, 22-year-old Robert Engle, "an extraordinarily brave individual."The woman who was killed in the parking lot was identified as Melanie Smith, 39, of Smyrna, Tennessee.

The gunman and six others were treated for gunshot wounds at nearby hospitals, along with Engle, who was pistol-whipped, Aaron said.

Among the wounded was Joey Spann, who is the church's pastor and is a Bible study teacher at Nashville Christian School.

After the attack, the nearby New Beautiful Gate Church opened its doors to Burnette Chapel churchgoers as they reunited with loved ones. New Beautiful Gate Pastor Michael Mosby said he is neighbors with Spann.

"As a pastor myself, you come with the expectation of sitting down and having a service and not thinking about what can happen around you," Mosby said. "You never know who is going to come to the door or what reasons they would come to the door, come to your church and do something like that. We're always on guard. We just thank God many more weren't hurt."Forty-two people were at the church at the time of the shooting, and all victims were adults, Aaron said.

The small brick church describes itself on its website as a "friendly, Bible-based group of folks who love the Lord and are interested in spreading his word to those who are lost."Photos on the church's Facebook page show a diverse congregation with people of various ages and ethnicities.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said in a statement that the shooting was "a terrible tragedy for our city." She said her administration "will continue to work with community members to stop crime before it starts, encourage peaceful conflict resolution and promote non-violence."Raby reported from Charleston, West Virginia.

AP
FARGO  A North Dakota State University engineer looks like Inspector Gadget in the historic test fields west of campus. He is studying a blinking, high-tech probe that someday may be deployed via drones to scout crops for things like disease and insect pests.

John Nowatzki, an NDSU engineer, is just learning about the probe, which looks like a glistening light saber, with colored blinking lights emanating from around its end.

The high-tech probe ultimately may look very different and could be deployed on an aerial drone to collect data under a crop canopy.

High resolution images would be fed into a computer to determine whether theres a nitrogen deficiency on a leaf, or a certain kind of disease or insect, Nowatzki says.

Talking plants

The probe is really about integrated pest management, says Orlando Saez (pronounced size), chief executive officer of Aker Technologies Inc., with offices in Chicago and Winnebago, Minn., the company that is building the technology and is working with the university to validate its results.

Aker has been around since 2014 and is in the high-tech crop data business. We like to think we are in the agricultural intelligence sector, Saez says.

If the technology pans out as hoped, an agronomist or crop scout could identify 20 places of interest on a field and just send the drone out there, get the data and come back, Nowatzki says.

Saez says the tool could empower agronomists to do more. The goal is to help more economically scout a field for such things as soybean aphids, whose numbers can change quickly and hit economic thresholds.

Every plant has a voice. We just help tell that story, Saez says.

In its test phase, Nowatzki will use an experimental prototype probe that is hand-held by a researcher, walking through a field. The device in its current form is about 3 feet long and weighs about 2 pounds, including a missile-shaped end. The throat of the device encases three sensor cameras and other sensors which may or may not be on the final probe.

It is controlled by a smartphone app and 360-degree imagery, with several millimeter pixel size. The images are referenced to a location with GPS.

They certainly intend to mount this on a drone so it would no longer be hand-held, Nowatzki says.

The logistics and engineering of the technology might be easier to ultimately solve than the agronomic science and verification by plant pathologists and entomologists, Nowatzki says.

The question is, does it correlate to ground data, Nowatzki says. Thats the key. Thats always the key. Our objectives are not to see whether the technology will work, but to see if technology can accomplish something as well or better than a human can do it.

Economic goals

Nowatzki was approached by Terry Sando, business manager of Unmanned Aerial Systems Operations at eSmart Systems in Grand Forks, N.D. Aker asked Nowatzki about research possibilities. Nowatzki in August applied for a $50,000 matching grant through the Research North Dakota program of the North Dakota Commerce Department. A decision on the grant will come in November, and the company has already raised funds for a potential match, Saez says.

The grant would support NDSU research, but also could lead to value for farmers and economic activity related to unmanned aircraft systems, which the University of North Dakota and the state already are known for. Any actual agronomic research will be done at one of NDSUs research stations throughout the state.

One of the questions would be how much downward air pressure  wind  would be generated by a roto copter drone of adequate size. The answer may be a drone that lowers the probe mechanically, electronically, Nowatzki says

I think wed have to have a distance of 10 to 12 feet, so its not a lot, Nowatzki says.

Saez says more testing would determine that: Thats why were excited to work with NDSU.

Up in the air?

Todays small roto copter drones often fly for about 30 minutes, and adding weight might cut its time capacity, but Saez says Aker is working with companies including Skyfront copters that can fly for about five hours.

If everything worked out, Nowatzki theorizes that a 160-acre field might be scouted in about 15 minutes, with the drone deploying a probe in a new location once every minute. Saez says the plan is to fly fast enough to be efficient enough to cover large acres of row crops.

Its only going to take a few seconds to take the image, and then you move it onto another location, Nowatzki says.

Nowatzki says he thinks the equipment will work. You can certainly see aphids, clearly, from the imagery weve seen so far. The question is, can we use a computer program to analyze these images and quickly count them?

Akers free software options are in used in 19 countries. The company already is in standard data collection and analytics with Winfield, BASF, Bayer and Helena Chemical Co. The Winfield system distributes Akers service through their cooperative partners.
5-Star new leader Luigi Di Maio talks during a gathering in Rimini, Italy, Sept 23, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

RIMINI, Italy - The new leader of Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star movement says it is not a populist party and will make cutting waste and reducing debt its priority.

5-Star, which leads most opinion polls ahead of national elections due early next year, has been trying to shed its maverick, populist image and reassure foreign capitals that it can be trusted with power.

Luigi Di Maio, the 31-year-old lawmaker picked on Saturday to lead the movement, told Reuters on Sunday that 5-Star stood for "post ideological" common sense, and was opposed to right-wing and left-wing extremism.

"I reject populism as a label for 5-Star," he said in an interview on the sidelines of the party's annual gathering in Rimini, on the Adriatic coast.

5-Star, founded by comedian Beppe Grillo nine years ago as a protest movement, bases its appeal mainly on opposition to corruption and vested interests.

Boyish-looking and usually immaculately turned out in suit and tie, Di Maio presents a more moderate image than Grillo, who is famous for raucous tirades against the ruling elite.

He had been groomed for the leadership by Grillo, who is 69 and now plans to withdraw gradually from his figurehead role.

Di Maio said many of the party's proposals, such as a public bank to fund investments, had been adopted with success by mainstream parties in Northern Europe which he wanted to emulate.
A girl hugs a Mexican marine officer as she offers hugs to people near the site of a collapsed building after an earthquake, in Mexico City, Mexico September 23, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

MEXICO CITY - Mexicans packed churches on Sunday to pray for the victims of the country's deadliest quake in 32 years as rescue teams searched against the odds for any survivors trapped under rubble since Tuesday's tremor shook Mexico City and nearby states.

As another aftershock jolted southwestern Mexico on Sunday, the death toll from Tuesday's 7.1 magnitude earthquake climbed to 320 people. With thousands of buildings damaged, survivors slept on the street outside their homes and estimates of the cost of the earthquake ran as high as $8 billion.

Many have been traumatized by the second major quake to strike Mexico City in their lifetime after a devastating 1985 tremor killed an estimated 10,000 people.

In the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the national shrine of the majority Roman Catholic country, thousands of people gathered to pray.

"I came to ask God for strength for those who lost loved ones and for the Virgin to watch over us and keep us safe," said 69-year-old Maria Gema Ortiz. "Thanks to all those who came from other countries to help. Thanks to all and long live Mexico!"

Makeshift places of worship have popped up next to the crumbling cement and mangled steel of collapsed buildings in the deeply religious country.

In upscale Roma, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods of the capital, a priest led mass for nearly two dozen people under a blue tarp while a nun handed out small cards with an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who according to the Catholic faith first appeared to an Aztec convert in 1531.

More than 44,000 public schools in six states were due to reopen on Monday, but only 103 of the 4,000 public schools in Mexico City would open so as not to impede rescue and relief efforts.

In addition, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, with 350,000 students at campuses in and around Mexico City, will resume classes on Monday.

Like many Mexicans, 36-year-old Claudia Avila was determined to return to some semblance of normality.

"We are afraid, but life must go on," said Avila, whose sons are 9 and 16. "Tomorrow I will take my children back to school. They know that if something happens, they must protect themselves. It has been a rude awakening."

Rescuers narrowed their search to a handful of buildings in the sprawling metropolitan area of 20 million people, using advanced audio equipment to detect signs of life beneath tonnes of rubble, with help from teams from as far afield as Israel and Japan.

"The search and rescue in Mexico City continues as a priority, with cooperation from national and international groups," tweeted Miguel Angel Mancera, Mexico City's mayor.

The search for survivors continued in a ruined office building in the Roma neighborhood and in a five-story apartment building in historic Tlalpan.

Authorities called off efforts in the upper-middle class Linda Vista zone after pulling 10 bodies from the rubble, while work at the Tlalpan building was briefly halted on Saturday by a magnitude 6.2 aftershock.
The first round of the China-US Social and Cultural Dialogue will be held in Washington on Sept 28. Vice-Premier Liu Yandong and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will co-chair the dialogue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang announced on Monday.

China and the United States will exchange in-depth views on people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. China is willing to work with the US to achieve positive results from the dialogue, Lu said.

China and the US have agreed to establish four high-level dialogue mechanisms on diplomacy and security, the economy, social and cultural issues, and law enforcement and cybersecurity, according to the consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump during their meeting in April at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The first round of the diplomatic and security dialogue, as well as the economic dialogue took place in June and July separately.

Contact the writer at mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn
New gravestones will be erected to mark the British burial sites of 31 Chinese sailors who served on Dutch ships during World War II.

The mariners were laid to rest in Liverpool's Anfield Cemetery between 1942 and 1945 and the Dutch War Graves Commission paid for headstones to be installed in the 1950s. Only six remain today.

Roel Broer, deputy director-general of the Dutch War Graves Commission, has arranged for replacement headstones to be unveiled at a ceremony on Nov 27.

Broer said he hopes the ceremony will attract the attention of historians and relatives who may have information about the sailors' histories.

"Being involved in war graves, I see the impact that World War II still has on people," Broer said. "It's important that these men are remembered."

During the war, Liverpool served as an important port for the allies, including the Dutch. The sailors served on several ships, and death certificates indicate that many of them died from illnesses, including tuberculosis, thrombosis, cancer and bronchitis.

Most of the men served as stokers or in other roles in the engine room while some worked as cooks in the galleys.

Differing translations of Chinese sounds by the Dutch and British authorities mean the sailors' names were often spelled incorrectly in documentation.

Many of the death certificates do not list birthplaces, though at least eight of the men were born in the same village, listed as Ting Tow Si Pien, near Fuzhou, the capital of Southeast China's Fujian province.

Wong Yeung, who died of tuberculosis at Liverpool's Walton Hospital in 1943, served on the MV Macuba, a ship built by Shell Tankers Rotterdam in 1931. In 1942, the Macuba's crew rescued 49 sailors from the wreckage of the West Ira, a United States cargo vessel. The West Ira sank 220 kilometers southeast of Barbados after being torpedoed by a German submarine.

Broer said it is likely that several of the Chinese sailors joined the Dutch ships in Indonesia, a former Dutch colony.

"We don't know too much about these specific sailors, but a lot of men in Asia joined these merchant navy vessels in Indonesia," Broer said.

Documents indicate this may have been the case for at least one of the sailors. Chan Choy, also listed as Chan Chor, died of thrombosis at the age 58 in 1945. The mariner worked as a cook on the HMHS Tjitjalengka. The ship provided a transport link between Indonesia and Japan before being converted into a hospital ship during the war.

The ceremony in November will be attended by representatives from the UK Chinese Freemason Association, the Liverpool Chinatown Business Association, the Society for Anglo Chinese Understanding, and other members of Liverpool's sizeable Chinese community.
A tribal court injunction will prevent members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe from voting on seven proposed constitutional amendments in Wednesdays election.

Tribal members will go to segment polls starting at 8 a.m. to weigh in on tribal council positions, from tribal chairman to segment representatives. However, a series of proposed revisions to the constitution will not be included on a newly printed ballot.

Tribal court judge Michael Swallow ordered the injunction Friday, finding that the tribal council had failed to follow the tribal custom and tradition of using eyapahas, who would go through villages and spread important news.

Swallow found that even though the tribal council had properly placed the constitutional revisions on the ballot with a three-fourths quorum of the council earlier this month, it had failed to follow a preamble to its constitution, namely: The tribe shall as a matter of right recognize the traditional laws and customs of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

The judge said tribal member Verna Bailey and other elders in the courtrooms agreed it is customary and traditional for people to be informed and consulted on matters of great concern.

Failure to follow customs and traditions destroys who we are as a people causes irreparable harm and destroys who we are, the judge wrote.

Tribal chairman Dave Archambault II said he thought the amendments had merit and were the result of a lot of work. He said the tribal council wouldnt appeal the injunction because of the timing so close to the election.

It will be up to the upcoming council whether to bring it back around and work on it, or continue to accept the judges ruling, Archambault said.

The proposed changes were recommended by a Constitution Reform Committee that was authorized to meet from September 2015 to September 2016.

Among constitutional revisions that were removed was one to make the tribes constitution gender neutral and another to refer to individuals as tribal citizens rather than tribal members. A third proposed amendment changed how elections for constitutional amendments could be called by requiring signature of 50 percent of those who voted in the previous election for chairman, replacing a less clear requirement of 20 percent of qualified voters. It also would have required a two-thirds, rather than simple majority, of voters to approve constitutional changes.

Other amendments would have increased maximum court penalties from one to three years imprisonment and fines from $5,000 to up to a maximum of $15,000. Another amendment would have made a tribal council candidate ineligible if he or she was dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces or been found guilty by the tribal council of misconduct in tribal affairs. Yet another would have given the tribal council more flexibility in where it could deposit tribal funds by removing a requirement to deposit funds only in a state or national bank.

Lastly, a revision would have allowed the tribal council to continue four-year reappointments of tribal judges rather than open the position for election at the end of the term.

The request for an injunction was filed by Chase Iron Eyes, former Congressional candidate, on behalf of the Long Soldier (Fort Yates) segment, along with the Cannon Ball and Porcupine segments.
A Christian filmmaking couple must shoot gay weddings, despite their religious convictions, a Minnesota court has ruled.

According to The Christian Post, Carl and Angel Larsen who own Telescope Media Group, a small Christian film business which aim[s] to make God look more like He really is through our lives, business, and actions, believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and to shoot a gay wedding would contradict their beliefs.

"For us as storytellers, we want to tell the truth as we see it through the Bible. From the beginning to the very end," said Carl Larsen.

However, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim ruled against the Larsens. In his ruling, Tunheim stated, "Posting language on a website telling potential customers that a business will discriminate based on sexual orientation is part of the act of sexual orientation discrimination itself. As conduct carried out through language, this act is not protected by the First Amendment."

The Larsens, along with Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) which is representing them, say they will appeal the ruling.

"Tolerance is a two-way street. Creative professionals who engage in the expression of ideas shouldn't be threatened with fines and jail simply for having a particular point of view about marriage that the government may not favor," said ADF Senior Counsel Jeremy Tedesco.

"Public officials can't censor filmmakers or demand that they tell stories in film that violate their deepest convictions."

Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/KAlan Cotton

Publication date: September 25, 2017
International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on September 14, a Muslim mob in the village of Tawa in Minya attacked the local Coptic Christian community. Homes, businesses, and cars were destroyed and three Copts suffered minor injuries. These attacks were in retaliation against a Facebook post which was widely shared among Christians. The author, a 22-year-old Christian resident of Tawa named Bassem, had written the post in May following the deadly attack by Islamic extremists against a caravan of Coptic Christians traveling to the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor.



Bassem wrote on May 27: "Are we (Copts) Egyptians not from Egypt? No matter that you try to hurt us, one day all your ways will fail. Do you think that I cry? Never! I don't cry because I trust in Jesus very much, I prostrate to him and he loves me. He never leaves me one day. When you demolish the homes of his children, you attack himself. I ask Jesus to touch your heart and change you. Our Lord knows and see what is happening to us. Continue and increase your terrorism, but I'm not afraid because it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God."



At the end of the post, Bassem shared photos of Salafi Sheikhs whom he believed bore responsibility for inciting extremist violence against Christians. Bassem deleted the post the next day, on May 28, but not before it had spread across social media. It wasn't until four months later that a Muslim villager in Tawa saw the post on the Facebook page of Bassem's friend, Mena. The post then spread among some of the Muslim villagers, who considered the post an insult to Islam.



Essam, a Christian resident in Tawa and an eyewitness to the mob's violence, told ICC, "Many Muslims gathered and the mob began to attack Christian homes and shops. They were pelting stones at the homes while shouting, 'Allah Akbar.' They hurled bricks and stones at Mar Girgis (St. George) Coptic Orthodox Church despite the presence of some security guards who had been assigned to guard the church, but the guards couldn't confront the huge number of the mob. The police then arrived in the village, controlled the situation, and arrested Muslim villagers. The security forces have now deployed across the streets of the village."



On September 15, the governor of Mina and the security director toured the village while accompanied by a number of parliamentarians as well as Islamic and Christian clerics. The same day, the prosecution detained 19 Muslims pending an investigation into the violence. The prosecution also ordered the arrest of Bassem and Mena, charging them with insulting Islamic figures and inciting sectarian strife. Both Christian men have fled the village.



Claire Evans, ICC's Regional Manager, said, "Egypt's Coptic Christian community has greatly suffered at the hands of Islamic extremists. In Tawa, Christian men, women, and children were once again terrorized by those who have no desire for peace. This violence is unacceptable. We are relieved to learn that Bassem and Mena were not injured by the mob, but alarmed about the prosecution's decision to charge them although they were clearly targets of the mob's violence. We pray for their safety and that of their fellow villagers. The authorities need to be more intentional in protecting the lives and property of Egypt's Christians."

To read more Christian persecution news, visit www.persecution.org

Publication date: September 25, 2017
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.
Masterworks from the Collection of Antoni Tapies

Offered in October 2017 and February 2018  and featuring pieces by Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and Mark Rothko  these passionately cherished works were closely affiliated to Tapies own artistic practice

Antoni Tapies (1923-2012) was celebrated for his exploration of the spirituality of the material world. Born in Barcelona in 1923, he grew up amid the violence of the Spanish Civil War and from destruction succeeded in forging one of the greatest bodies of abstract work of the 20th century. He was also one of the four founding members of the Art Informel movment alongside Willem de Kooning, Jean Dubuffet and Lucio Fontana. In Spain, my country, says Christies specialist Guillermo Cid Pardo, his life and work epitomises the cultural genome of the post-war years. Tapies has come to be associated with our way of being and with the way the world looks at us.

As well as being one of the leading post-war artists of his generation, Antoni Tapies was also an avid collector. His personal collection spans vastly different eras and cultures: alongside examples of Khmer statuary there are abstract modernist paintings, dream-like compositions from the Surrealists, striking African idols and artefacts from antiquity. The collection was built on his desire to understand lifes unfathomable mysteries, and offers a unique insight into the powerful bond that existed between the artist and the paintings and sculptures he encountered over the course of his lifetime. Masterworks from the Collection of Antoni Tapies will appear in the Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction (6 October, London), the Up Close sale (3 October, London) and forthcoming Impressionist and Modern sales in February 2018. Including works by Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and Mark Rothko, these highly intimate objects were closely connected to Tapies own artistic practice, often acting as a catalyst for his creative impulses. Tapies chose these works carefully, building within his collection a group of exceptional artworks from the 20th century, says Olivier Camu, Deputy Chairman, Impressionist and Modern Art at Christies. Of course, his interests extended far wider than this period, but each of the works presented here reveal something interesting about Tapies as an artist and a collector. They speak to his Catalan heritage, to his roots in the Surrealist movement, to his place as a leading figure within the Post-War art world. It is fascinating to be reminded through this small selection how sharp, sophisticated, informed and sensitive his eye was.





Gathering together artworks that were epochs and cultures apart, Tapies collected passionately, and in a unique and idiosyncratic manner

Tapies first came to prominence in the late 1940s, working in a Surrealist idiom that shared much with the ideas of artists such as Paul Klee and Tapies fellow Catalonian, Joan Miro. A scholarship to Paris in 1950-51 led to a meeting with Pablo Picasso. Informed by his interest in Zen philosophy as much as by the privation of post-war Spain, Tapies deliberately chose commonplace materials to infuse with new significance, invoking a transformative alchemy that prefigured the Italian movement of Arte Povera.

Following his first American exhibitions in 1953, Tapies represented Spain at the Venice Biennale in 1958. A celebrated solo show at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum followed in 1962, and another toured Europe in 1973-74. In 1984 he created the Tapies Foundation, which holds his archives and more than 2,000 of his works, and which continues to this day to promote the interdisciplinary study of modern and contemporary art. Major retrospectives were held at the Jeu de Paume in Paris in 1994, at the Guggenheim in 1995, and at Madrids Reina Sofia Museum in 2000. Gathering together artworks that were epochs and cultures apart, Tapies collected passionately, and in a unique and idiosyncratic manner. The eclectic collection was formed in the Tapies family home, built by the Catalan architect Jose Antonio Coderch in the early 1960s to the artists designs. Within this elegant, atmospheric setting, these artworks came to life, creating an immersive, kaleidoscopic environment in which the artist lived and worked.

These are the objects that captured his imagination, comforted him, inspired him and obsessed him on a daily basis

Each room was carefully curated by Tapies and his beloved wife Teresa, the selection of objects within each of them chosen for their ability to imbue the space with a mysterious, enigmatic energy, and for the effect they created when seen in combination with one another. These are the objects that captured his imagination, comforted him, inspired him and obsessed him on a daily basis. Highlights of the collection include Untitled (Orange and Yellow), a luminous vision dating from Mark Rothkos celebrated final period. Executed in 1969, the year before the artists death, it belongs to the remarkable series of large-scale works on paper that number among his last and most poignant achievements. Conceived in 1929, during one of the most exciting and experimental periods in the life of Alberto Giacometti, Homme (Apollon) belongs to a series of sculptures that brought the young artists work to the attention of Pariss Surrealists. From this moment onwards, Giacomettis sculptures would evolve to embrace an abstract, geometric style and a deeply haunting vision of humanity. Tapies Homme (Apollon) is one of an edition of six casts, of which others now reside in museum collections including the Kunstmuseum Basel and the Hirshhorn Museum, Washington DC.
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing San Antonio-based Whataburger Restaurants for allegedly retaliating against a manager in Florida after she refused to hire only white employees.

Vanessa Burrous, who worked at a Whataburger in Tallahassee, says she was pressured by her superiors in April 2015 to hire only white workers, according to a lawsuit filed Friday by the EEOC in federal court in Florida.

The EEOC is seeking a permanent injunction to force Whataburger to pay Burrous damages and back pay and to institute policies that protect employees from retaliation for refusing to follow racially discriminatory hiring practices, according to the lawsuit.

Employees who oppose unlawful practices should feel secure in exercising that right, Michael Farrell, district director for the EEOCs Miami district office, said in a news release Monday.

Whataburger denied the allegations after conducting its own thorough internal investigation, the company said in a statement Monday.

We value diversity in our teams and proudly employ family members of all races, the company said.

Whataburger sent a follow-up statement at 9:18 p.m. Monday, saying: We did not retaliate against this employee nor did we ask her to use the alleged discriminatory hiring practices. The company added that approximately 75 percent of our workforce identifies as non-white.

According to the EEOC, general manager Johanna Risk allegedly told Burrous to only interview candidates with names that sounded white, the lawsuit says.

Burrous proceeded to hire eight employees  seven who were black and one who was white, according to the lawsuit. Risk repeatedly reprimanded Burrous for not following her orders, leading Burrous to seek a transfer to another location from area manager Misa Levin, the EEOC said in its complaint.

Levin chided Burrous during a joint meeting with Risk, explaining the hiring directive came from upper management, according to the lawsuit. All employees named in the lawsuit are white.

Whataburgers customer base is white and we want the faces behind the counter to match the customer base, Levin allegedly told Burrous during the meeting, the EEOC said.

After the meeting, Risk began subjecting (Burrous) to ongoing retaliatory conduct designed to intimidate and upset (Burrous) and cause her to resign, the complaint alleges.

Risk engaged in emotional and verbal abuse, belittling Burrous in front of customers and encouraged employees to write negative letters about her, the lawsuit says.

Risk also changed Burrous schedule to overnight shifts, forced her to work without pay on her days off and reprimanded her for other managers incomplete work, according to the lawsuit. Burrous was eventually forced to resign, the lawsuit says.

I have suffered endless gossip, threats and abuse, both verbal and emotional making the work environment intolerable for a reasonable person, Burrous wrote in an undated resignation letter. I can no longer suffer the effects this abuse is having on my self-esteem, my confidence and my sense of self-worth.

Whataburger has 817 restaurants in 10 states including 668 in Texas, according to its website.

The San Antonio burger company isnt the only restaurant chain in the EEOCs cross hairs.

The federal agency sued 10 IHOP franchises in New York and Nevada on Thursday for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation against employees who complained about the harassment. Earlier in the week, the EEOC filed a lawsuit against two IHOP franchises in Illinois after a general manager and two cooks allegedly sexually harassed several female employees, including a 17-year-old high school student.

The EEOC also sued Chipotle Mexican Grill Sept. 18 after a female general manager in San Jose, California, allegedly sexually harassed a 22-year-old male shift manager and retaliated against him when he reported her behavior to her supervisors.

This story was updated to reflect an expanded statement from Whataburger sent at 9:18 p.m. Monday.

jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports
Hundreds gathered Friday at North Main Baptist Church in Liberty to say goodbye to the 'Fireman Cowboy' Brian Sumrall, who was killed Sept. 17 in a tragic accident near his home in Batson.

Sumrall was a 15-year veteran firefighter with the Houston Fire Department and senior captain of Batson Volunteer Fire Department. He was 39.

According to reports from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Sumrall was riding a tractor along FM 770 about two miles south of Batson and had veered off the road and back on again when he was struck by a pickup truck, ejected from the tractor and killed.

Chief Fred Yust of Batson VFD said Sumrall had been attempting to help a Hurricane Harvey victim who needed hay for his horses and cows.

"Brian would have done anything for anybody. It didn't matter who it was," Yust said. "He would give you the shirt off his back. He was just that kind of guy."

During Harvey, Yust said Sumrall helped pull people from their flooded homes in the Batson area and assisted drivers who were cut off by water and stranded in Batson.

The funeral Friday was attended by dozens of firefighters representing Houston FD, Batson VFD and other surrounding agencies, his cowboy friends and people whose lives had been affected by the Fireman Cowboy.

During eulogies, his friends described him as a person who exemplified the best of humanity -- always willing to help a friend or stranger, respectful to others, a loving husband and father, and a good steward of the American way of life, particularly the old cowboy traditions.

With his dark, thick moustache, black cowboy hat, boots and chaps, Sumrall often had the appearance of an Old West cowboy, characteristics he shared with one of his dear friends, Dr. Joe Gotti, agriculture professor for Stephen F. Austin, who delivered one of a half-dozen eulogies at the funeral.

"What a great show of love and support for my very good friend," Gotti said, looking out at the packed sanctuary. "Brian was a wonderful man but he had two chinks in his armor. We all know the first -- Copenhagen. He tried to quit dipping a number of times but never could."

"The second chink is only known to a few of us. Brian had moustache envy," said Gotti, drawing laughs.

Gotti then read a couple of cowboy poems -- "Take Care of Your Friends" by Baxter Black and "Cowboy Way" by Catherine Devine.

Friend and fellow firefighter T.J. Graf said Sumrall was such a blend of cowboy and fireman that it was "often hard to tell which was which."

"Brian was a true friend and mentor," he said. "He was always willing to listen and offer advice. At the fire department or on our days off, you never knew when the School of Sumrall was going to be held. There was always a life lesson to be learned and coming from somewhere behind that Sumrall 'stache."

Looking down at the casket, Graf said, "Rest easy, my friend. We'll take it from here."

After the funeral, Sumrall's casket was loaded into the back of a Houston fire truck, accompanied by members of the Houston Fire Department's Honor Guard, and carried the 20-mile journey to Guedry Cemetery in Batson for internment.

Ladder trucks from Cleveland and Livingston fire departments, assisted by Hardin VFD, draped an American flag across Texas 146 to greet the funeral procession as it passed through Hardin. At Hardin High School, a group of somber-faced students stopped their homecoming festivities to stand next to the road and show respect. Along the way, other people stepped out of their vehicles to pay tribute, some holding American flags and some holding their right hands over their hearts.

Several of Sumrall's friends were waiting on horseback for the procession as it arrived at the cemetery. Sumrall's horse was saddled and a boot was placed backward in the stirrup, symbolizing a lost rider. As the graveside ceremony began, each of the cowboys stepped forward to honor Sumrall by relinquishing one of their most cherished possessions - a branding iron - some family heirlooms. These irons were placed alongside Sumrall's casket to be buried with him. Holding his grandfather's branding iron, Gotti explained that his grandfather came to the United States when he was 9 and died when Gotti was just 2.

"I sent my best horse to heaven just seven years ago. I am going to put this branding iron with Brian so he can get my horse legged up and ready. I'll be along soon enough," Gotti said.

Sumrall leaves behind a wife, Rana, and son, Gavin, of Batson; parents, Joe and Carla Jannise, of Raywood; parents-in-law, Myrtle and Raymond Fregia, of Hull; and numerous other relatives and friends.
The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President

By Bandy Lee (ed.)

Thomas Dunne Books. 360 pp. $27.99.

---

Twilight of American Sanity: A Psychiatrist Analyzes the Age of Trump

By Allen Frances, MD

William Morrow. 326 pp. $27.99

---

Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History

By Kurt Andersen

Random House. 462 pp. $30

---

Gone are the days when euphemisms about President Trump's mental health insulated the man like so many padded walls. Erratic. Unpredictable. Unstable. Unmoored. Temperamentally unfit. This was what politicians and commentators said when they wished to question Trump's state of mind but feared the consequences of a more colloquial assessment. Yet the deeper we plunge into this presidency, the more willing people become to call it like they see and hear it.

"I think he's crazy," Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) confided to his colleague Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in a July exchange inadvertently caught on a microphone. ("I'm worried," she replied.) CNN's Don Lemon, flabbergasted after a Trump speech last month, concluded that "he's unhinged. ... There was no sanity there." Even some Republicans have grown more blunt, with Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.) recently suggesting that Trump "has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence" to succeed as president.

More for you Trump: White House invitation to Warriors is withdrawn

Now, some psychiatrists and other mental-health professionals are shedding long-held norms to argue that Trump's condition presents risks to the nation and the world. "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" features more than two dozen essays breaking down the president's perceived traits, which the contributors find consistent with symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, sociopathy and other maladies. "Collectively with our co-authors, we warn that anyone as mentally unstable as Mr. Trump simply should not be entrusted with the life-and-death powers of the presidency," Judith Lewis Herman of Harvard Medical School and Bandy X. Lee of the Yale School of Medicine write in the book's prologue.

If so, what should we make of the nation that entrusted him with precisely such powers? In his new book, "Twilight of American Sanity," psychiatrist Allen Frances asserts that Trump is not mentally ill - we are. "Calling Trump crazy allows us to avoid confronting the craziness in our society," he writes. "We can't expect to change Trump, but we must work to undo the societal delusions that created him." And those delusions, Kurt Andersen contends in "Fantasyland," have been around for a long time. "People tend to regard the Trump moment - this post-truth, alternative facts moment - as some inexplicable and crazy (BEGIN ITAL)new(END ITAL) American phenomenon," he writes. "In fact, what's happening is just the ultimate extrapolation and expression of attitudes and instincts that have made America exceptional for its entire history."

So, depending on which of these books you trust - and their persuasive powers vary considerably - you might conclude that Trump is of unsound mind, or that we're the deranged ones for electing him, or that America has always been disturbed, with Trump's presidency just the latest manifestation.

And here's the really crazy thing: These options are not mutually exclusive.

Mental illness hardly disqualifies one from the presidency. Abraham Lincoln is thought to have suffered from severe depression, but he held himself together and the union, too. "Equating mental illness with incapacity merely stigmatizes the mentally ill," clinical psychologist Craig Malkin writes in "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump." But Malkin and other contributors argue that Trump's behavior - his political statements and actions as well as his interviews, books and social-media activity - suggest more ominous possibilities.

Trump displays signs of "extreme present hedonism,"the tendency to live in the moment without considering consequences, seeking to bolster one's self-esteem no matter the risk. Or he exhibits "narcissistic personality disorder," which includes believing you're better than others, exaggerating your achievements and expecting constant praise. Combine hedonism, narcissism and bullying, and you get "an impulsive, immature, incompetent person who, when in the position of ultimate power, easily slides into the role of the tyrant," Philip Zimbardo (of the famous Stanford prison experiment) and Rosemary Sword write. Others suggest that Trump shows indications of sociopathy, including lack of empathy, absence of guilt and intentional manipulation. Put it all together and you have "malignant narcissism," which includes anti-social behavior, paranoid traits, even sadism.

"Mr. Trump's sociopathic characteristics are undeniable," retired Harvard psychiatry professor Lance Dodes concludes. "They create a profound danger for America's democracy and safety. Over time these characteristics will only become worse, either because Mr. Trump will succeed in gaining more power and more grandiosity with less grasp on reality, or because he will engender more criticism producing more paranoia, more lies, and more enraged destruction." And when the president stands before the U.N. General Assembly and threatens to "totally destroy" an enemy country of 25 million people, enraged destruction seems on point.

The writers emphasize that they are not, technically, diagnosing the president. "Assessing dangerousness is different from making a diagnosis," Herman and Lee argue. "Signs of likely dangerousness due to mental disorder can become apparent without a full diagnostic interview." Even so, these mental-health professionals run afoul of the American Psychiatric Association's Goldwater Rule, which deems it unethical to offer a professional opinion on a public figure without conducting a personal examination and without authorization to release the conclusions. (The debate dates to the 1964 presidential campaign, when a magazine published a survey of psychiatrists' views on Republican nominee Barry Goldwater.)

The volume's contributors take solace in Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California, a 1976 case in which the California Supreme Court held that mental-health experts have a responsibility to speak out when they determine that someone poses a physical danger to others. Nevertheless, all these distinctions can be a bit fine. "Am I making a diagnosis of President Trump?" psychiatrist Henry J. Friedman asks. "Well, yes and no - and even maybe."

The stand these psychiatrists are taking takes courage, and their conclusions are compelling. But it's hard to read "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" as simply the dispassionate insights of well-trained experts. "The majority of mental health professionals tend to be liberal in their leanings," admits clinical psychologist Jennifer Contarino Panning, while psychiatrist David M. Reiss cautions that "those who speak out must do so carefully, not without risk, and to a populace that (BEGIN ITAL)should(END ITAL) be reasonably skeptical." Comparisons between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler abound in this volume. "History will not be kind to a profession that aided the rise of an American Hitler through its silence," clinical psychologist John D. Gartner writes in a typical passage. MIT linguist Noam Chomsky makes an odd cameo in the book's epilogue, warning that the Trump administration may stage a fake terrorist attack. And clinical psychologist Michael Tansey suggests, with disdain and needless vulgarity, that "there is considerable evidence to suggest that absolute tyranny is DT's wet dream."

In the final chapter, psychiatrists Nanette Gartrell and Dee Mosbacher call for an independent panel to evaluate Trump's fitness for office, and they urge Congress to pass legislation ensuring that future presidential and vice-presidential candidates undergo evaluations. I would not want Tansey, for one, serving on that body. Wouldn't dream of it.

Allen Frances wrote the criteria for narcissistic personality disorder used in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and he doesn't think Trump qualifies. In "Twilight of American Sanity," Frances says the diagnosis requires the patient to experience significant distress because of his condition. But throughout his life, Trump "has been generously rewarded for his Trumpism, not impaired by it," Frances writes. "Trump is a threat to the United States, and to the world, not because he is clinically mad, but because he is very bad."

I appreciate this focus on Trump as a political rather than psychoanalytic problem. There is something too simple about dismissing his misdeeds as signs of mental illness; it almost exonerates him, and us. But Frances' judgment proves even more damning. He trashes Trump as a "secular antichrist," a "two-bit, would-be Mussolini," even an instrument of divine vengeance. "If you were assigned the task of punishing humanity for its original sins," he thunders, "you could do no better than invent a Donald Trump and give him extraordinary power."

After a while, you almost forget Frances is a psychiatrist at all. America is delusional not just because it elected Trump, but because it doesn't conform to Frances' views on climate change, population growth, technology, privacy, war, economics and guns. "We've lost touch with the reality of starkly obvious existential threats," he asserts. And when Frances strays into political strategizing, he is not only predictable but generic. "We must find a crossover AntiTrump president," the author writes, "someone who can bring out our better angels on both sides of the polar gaps and who can replace buzzwords with common-sense solutions." (Yes, please, especially buzzwords such as "common-sense solutions.")

Frances worries that Trump has "a particular gift for bringing out all the worst irrational thinking and impulsive actions in his followers." But "Studio 360" host Kurt Andersen is here to tell us that America has featured magical thinking and nutty impulses for centuries. Thanks to our mix of religiosity and Enlightenment values - plus the do-your-own-thing vibe of the 1960s and the super-powered distribution channel known as the Internet - Americans have developed a "promiscuous devotion to the untrue," Andersen writes. In "Fantasyland," he chronicles those he considers purveyors of secular and religious pipe dreams, from Cotton Mather to P.T. Barnum, from Walt Disney to Oprah Winfrey. And, of course, from Donald Trump the real estate huckster to Donald Trump the commander in chief.

"Fantasyland" reads like the work of an author who comes up with a catchy idea and then Dumpster-dives his way through history for anything supporting it. The Salem witch trials, the Gold Rush, Scientology, Civil War re-enactors, the tech bubble - all are evidence of Fantasyland, a place where reality and make-believe are blurred and exploitable. It's all quite clever, but if ever a 462-page book felt fleeting, this is it. Andersen rushes through so much, and it's not always clear why. Hip-hop rates a random paragraph; so does the pill. Some variant on the word "fantasy" appears on virtually every page, just in case we didn't get it. And the author's contempt for people of faith grates. From the Puritans on out, almost any religiously inclined community resides in "Fantasyland," save American Jews, whom he considers "religiously reasonable," and American Catholics, whom he finds at least "more reality-based than Protestants."

The story concludes, inexorably, with the American president. "Donald Trump is a pure Fantasyland being, its apotheosis," Andersen writes, describing Trump's personal reality as "a patchwork of knowing falsehoods and sincerely believed fantasies." Still, Trump gets some credit for keeping a firm grasp on the nation's unhinging. "Trump waited to run for president until he sensed that a critical mass of Americans had decided politics were (BEGIN ITAL)all(END ITAL) a show and a sham," Andersen explains.

At that point, Trump fit right in.

There is an addendum to the speculation over Trump's mental health and our own. Whether or not the American mind was already long gone, the Trump presidency may be adding to its frenzy, even prompting mental-health professionals to reconsider their approaches. One of the psychiatrists in "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" warns of the rise of "Trump Anxiety Disorder." (Feeling helpless? Stressed about politics? Binging on social media? Ask your doctor about T.A.D.) Another contributor proposes the notion of a "citizen therapist" who "works with people in the office and the community on coping productively with public stress and becoming active agents of their personal and civic lives." And even Frances writes sympathetically, if still condescendingly, about how opposing politicians can reach Trump voters. Rather than confront them with fact-based arguments aimed at proving them wrong, "you must first gain [their] trust as a precondition for exploring the fears, feelings, fancies, stressors, legitimate beefs, and experiences that have made the false beliefs so believable."

Of course, writing books lamenting America's generalized insanity - and the delusions of Trump supporters in particular - may not be the ideal first step to win that trust. For all their expertise in human behavior, these psychiatrists don't seem well-equipped to coax us out of our current political madness. Perhaps the Trump era also requires new therapy for America's shrinks. To use another euphemism: They seem a little on edge.
Welcome to Banned Books Week, our annual opportunity to celebrate the freedom to read whatever we want to read.

It's also a chance to focus on censorship, because books are challenged and banned every day.
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Police narrowly dodged bullets late Sunday as an irate customer at a southwest Houston Tex-Mex restaurant opened fire, the second time violence has broken out at the eatery this month.

Officers first headed about 9:30 p.m. to the 24-hour restaurant, a Chacho's Grill and Cantina in the 2700 block of South Loop 610, after reports that a customer inside of the business was upset and damaging property, said Troy Finner, executive assistant chief with the Houston Police Department.

The customer - described only as a man between the ages of 25 and 30 - appeared to have found some way to leave the building undetected by the time police arrived.

As officers stood outside of the restaurant at about 9:50 p.m., the customer drove by on the Loop 610 feeder road and fired half a dozen times at the police, Finner said.

Officers took cover. One bullet hit a police vehicle.

No officers or restaurant patrons or employees were injured, Finner said.

"It's very hardening when anybody sees a group of police officers anywhere or citizens standing out front of an establishment and just shoots," Finner said, after the gunfire. "Whoever the suspect is, a word to him: We're coming after you."

It was not clear early Monday why the customer opened fire that evening, or what caused his initial anger inside of the restaurant earlier that morning, Finner said.

Police lacked a detailed description of the customer apart from his approximate age. After the gunfire, he left the restaurant in a white vehicle.

The shooting marked the second time police have headed to the restaurant after reports of violence. Police were called Sept. 12 to the Chacho's following reports of a fight. One woman was stabbed during the brawl.
Brent crude rose to the highest in more than seven months after OPEC and Russia said they were well on the way to clearing a global glut, while traders eyed the potential for supply disruption from the Kurdish independence vote.

Futures rose as much as 1.4 percent in London to the highest since Feb. 2. The OPEC-led group implemented more than 100 percent of its agreed cuts last month and fuel stockpiles have been massively drained, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said Friday in Vienna. Kurdistan oil is at Turkeys mercy and would have nowhere to go if it chose to close the valves, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday as residents of the Iraqi region went to the polls.

Oil has advanced this month on forecasts of strong demand and as U.S. Gulf Coast refineries resume operations after Hurricane Harvey. Meanwhile, drillers in America have continued to reduce activity, with rigs targeting crude falling for a third straight week to the lowest since June, according to Baker Hughes Inc. Yet even as declining rigs and inventories support the price, an extension of the OPEC-led deal beyond March will be required to rebalance the global market, according to BP Plc.

Continued declining U.S. oil rigs and continued declining inventories is giving support to oil, said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB in Oslo. At the same time, without any firm plans for after March 2018, discussions will start about the end game of the OPEC deal and erode confidence.

Brent for November settlement gained 72 cents to $57.58 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange at 12:16 p.m. local time. It rose 2.2 percent last week. Total volume traded was about 20 percent above the 100-day average.

West Texas Intermediate for November delivery was up 1 percent to $51.19 at about 8 a.m. Central. Brent traded at a premium of $6.63 to WTI.

The outlook for the global oil market is improving and OPEC members will keep pressing onward until it balances, Barkindo said in a video message at a conference in Singapore on Monday. However, its not possible to say whether the deal will need to be extended until closer to expiry, Kuwaits Oil Minister Issam Almarzooq said.

The Kurds, which make up about one-fifth of Iraqs 38 million people, have longstanding grievances against the government in Baghdad. They won a large degree of autonomy under the post-Saddam Iraqi constitution adopted in 2005, and nationalism has deepened since Kurdish troops scored battlefield successes against Islamic State and brought the city of Kirkuk under their control. Turkey fears the independence vote could set back its own campaign to stamp out a Kurdish insurgency its been battling for three decades.

Oil-market news:

Iraqs goal to boost production capacity to 5 million barrels a day wont affect markets and not all new output will be exported, Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said in Baghdad.

Compliance to agreed cuts is acceptable, but OPEC needs to address rising supply from Libya and Nigeria, which are exempt from the curbs, Irans Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said in Tehran.

U.S. shale oil is absolutely sustainable at $50 a barrel, said Ryan Krogmeier, Chevron Corp.s vice president of crude supply and trading. Output in the Permian could rise to 2.9 million barrels a day by the end of 2018 from 2.4 million a day this year.

Asia will be the primary outlet for OPEC and Middle East oil in the future, Barkindo said. Crude exports from the Middle East to Asia will rise 7.5 million barrels a day between 2016 and 2040, he said.

--With assistance from Ben Sharples

To contact the reporter on this story: Rakteem Katakey in London at rkatakey@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Herron at jherron9@bloomberg.net, Amanda Jordan
For those fond of long-range plans, Ed Sheeran has set dates for a 2018 tour that will bring him to Houston next Fall. Per Rolling Stone, Sheeran will play Minute Maid Park on Nov. 3. Tickets go on sale Oct. 20.

The memory of his most recent visit is likely still fresh in the minds of Sheeran's local faithful. He played a sold out show at the Toyota Center on Aug. 19. You can read music critic Joey Guerra's account of Sheeran's one-man show here.
District 22 U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, will host a Harvey Disaster Recovery Workshop in Katy on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Monty Ballard YMCA, 22807 Westheimer Parkway.

The workshop will run from 1-5 p.m. and will include representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
Houston rodeo season is in the spring, but on the outskirts of town the fun arrives with fall.

Last weekend, bull riding fans and carnival lovers headed to New Caney for the East Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo.
This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up and thumbs down on the issues from the past week.

Up

When natural disasters strike, North Dakotans are more than willing to help. The recent hurricanes are an example of that caring attitude. Here are a few examples of how state residents have assisted battered areas. North Dakotas Emergency Management Assistance Compact medical response team deployed to the Florida Keys and may go to Puerto Rico. The Bakken Paws animal rescue organization in Dickinson went to Texas to save 40 dogs. Students at Dickinson High are raising money for a school in Dickinson, Texas.

Down

Vandals are at it again in Bismarck. Windows in vehicles, a church and at businesses have been broken. These are senseless crimes that achieve nothing. Hopefully, the police with the help of the public can catch the offenders. The best way to stop the stupid crime spree and discourage others in the future is to solve the vandalism.

Up

North Dakota got some more good economic news last week. For the first time in eight quarters the states taxable sales and purchases increased. April, May and June saw a 6.8 percent increase over the same period last year, according to the North Dakota Tax Department. Our new normal is emerging and it is comparable to pre-oil boom levels," said Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger. We hope hes right.

Down

The Grand Forks County Jail has been found in noncompliance by the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The order comes after an inmate died and it was found that staff didnt send the prisoner to the hospital despite medical staff opinions. The jail needs to take a close look at its policies and make the needed corrections.

Up

Glance Spa and Salon and artist Melissa Gordon have added some beauty to Bismarck. The spa hired Gordon to paint a mural at 407 N. Fourth St. Gordon created a 150-foot-long, 15-foot-high mural depicting a variety of cultures. Its a colorful work that Gordon and Andrea Birst, owner of Glance Salon, hope will inspire others to do similar creations in downtown Bismarck.

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It was thoughtful of Gov. Doug Burgum and his wife, Kathryn Helgaas Burgum, to invite former governors and their families for a final visit at the governors residence. The residence will be demolished in November after a new home for governors is completed. Thursday was an opportunity to share stories and take a final look at a place many called home for a number of years. Its also the peoples house, so the families who lived there had to surrender a little privacy to visitors who wanted to see the official home of governors. Sen. John Hoeven, who served as governor from 2000 to 2010, noted when his family lived in the residence the neighbors didnt treat them any differently than anyone else. That sums up how most North Dakotans treat their government leaders.
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HONOLULU - As North Korean missiles soar over the Pacific and seismographs keep vigil for tremors in the vicinity of Pyongyang, officials in Hawaii are doing what they must: preparing for the possibility of a nuclear attack.

But it's a delicate task, especially when word gets out, as it did this week, about a "secret meeting" in which officials and legislators looked at slides on the likely impact of a nuclear blast "at various altitudes above" Pearl Harbor, as Honolulu Civil Beat reported.

After all, it's one thing to be sitting in New York or Washington and looking at those maps showing the range of North Korea's ICBMs, and another entirely to be sitting in Honolulu and seeing "Hawaii" in small type just a smidge beyond the outer circle of destruction.

The only reason the meeting on Tuesday was closed said one of the attendees, Republican State Rep. Gene Ward, was to avoid worrying the public. On the other hand, he told The Washington Post, talk of nuclear preparedness is "probably more surreal to younger generations" who don't remember a time when people had fallout shelters in their backyards.

"Now it's time to take it seriously," he said, "not to be an alarmist but to be informing people."

What's going on in Hawaii does have a whiff of the 1950s when school children drilled for nuclear attack by ducking under their desks, a useless refuge in the event of a thermonuclear bomb. Americans didn't panic in the streets then and Hawaii residents aren't panicking now. Indeed, it's not even a subject of daily conversation.

Still, Democratic State Senate President Ronald Kouchi, who also attended the meeting, said: "It's very unsettling. There are people who are concerned. . . . The best way to deal with it is to be prepared for any scenario."

If nothing else, education on preparedness - reminding them to keep a 14-day food and water supply - will come in handy when Hawaii gets socked with one of its famous hurricanes.

A public briefing scheduled for Thursday will indeed encourage the public to consider preparation for nuclear attack as a hazard just like hurricanes and tsunamis.

But a nuclear attack is no hurricane.

For anyone who confuses the two, the document passed around at the meeting, called "Summary of Major Preparedness Response Initiatives," which was obtained by Hawaii Civil Beat, makes that terrifyingly clear.

"Nuclear Detonation Phase I" is the first line of the planning document, which details the tasks completed and those ahead for state officials. That's followed by: "Enhance missile launch notification process between U.S. Pacific Command and the State Warning Point."

Then comes the truly petrifying, "Prepare a planning scenario focused on a 100-kiloton nuclear weapon detonated 1,000 feet above the city of Honolulu (completed)" and "Publish a new 'Ballistic Missile Threat Annex' to the State Emergency Operations Plan (underway)."

Here's a few samples from the document's list of "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS with ANSWERS:"

Q: I have heard that planning for a nuclear attack from North Korea is futile given most of the population will be killed or critically injured. Is that true?

A. No. Current estimates of human casualties based on the size (yield) of North Korean nuclear weapon technology suggests an explosion less than 8 miles in diameter. More than 90 percent of the population would survive the direct effects of such an explosion. Planning and preparedness are essential to protect those survivors from delayed residual radiation (fallout) and other effects of the attack such as the loss of utilities and communication systems, structural fires, etc.

Q. Are there public shelters (blast or fallout) designated in our communities?

A. No. There are currently no designated shelters in the State of Hawaii at this time. The short warning time (12 to 15 minutes) would not allow for residents or visitors to locate such a shelter in advance of the missile impact.

Q. Are the neighbor islands safe?

A. We do not know.  Although most analysts believe the desired target will be Oahu given the concentration of military and government facilities, a missile may stray and impact the open ocean or even a neighbor island. All areas of the State of Hawaii must consider the possibility of missile impact.

And everyone knows that an atomic blast is not just a terrible storm, but a potential holocaust.

"It seems to me that primal instincts are just going to overwhelm nearly everybody," Democratic State Sen. Gil Riviere told Civil Beat. He noted that the state emergency management agency had already adopted the mantra "get inside, stay inside, stay tuned."

But, he added, "people are just going to be fleeing, they're not going to stay in."

---

Teague, who reported from Honolulu, writes for Honolulu Civil Beat and did a story on this subject for its news site.
The foundations of former first ladies Laura and Barbara Bush have pledged a combined $2 million to help support education in schools and public libraries after Hurricane Harvey.

The Laura Bush Foundation announced Monday it would dedicate nearly $1 million for school grants for campuses affected by Harvey and other storms through the 2017 Disaster Relief Initiative. The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation on Monday pledged $1 million to public libraries and to purchase supplies and books for classroom teachers and students in Houston.

Laura Bush, the daughter-in-law of Barbara Bush, said it was an obvious decision to contribute after witnessing the devastation wrought by Harvey and other storms.

We are committed to rebuilding school libraries that have been damaged during this years hurricane season so that our nations children have the resources they need to be successful in the classroom and beyond," Laura Bush said, according to a news release.

Both foundations will also raise funds to help rebuild schools and community libraries damaged by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, as well as help mobilize volunteers.

It's not the first time that one of these foundations has come to the aid of storm-ravaged schools.

In 2006, the Laura Bush Foundation's Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative gave nearly $6.5 million to school libraries affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The foundation said in a statement that with its goal to raise additional funds to combine with the initial pledge, this years Disaster Relief Initiative will provide larger grants to schools in Texas and across the southeastern United States.

Former first lady Barbara Bush, who calls Houston home with former President George H.W. Bush, said she was called to help the region after seeing the selflessness displayed by Texans and Houstonians during the storm.

As heartbroken as George and I were watching Hurricane Harvey engulf our beloved Texas with unprecedented floodwaters, so too were we moved by the selfless heroism of the first responders and neighbors who risked their own safety to help others, Barbara Bush said. Seeing Texans reaching out and coming together is why I am so proud to join Laura and her foundation to equip our childcare centers, schools and libraries with resources they need to help children and their families continue on the path to recovery.

All the living former U.S. presidents recently joined together in an online campaign, OneAmericaAppeal.org, to raise money for those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The idea for the joint appeal arose from discussions between George H.W. Bush and his son George W. Bush, both of whom live in Texas, but was immediately embraced by former Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, according to a spokesman for the elder Bush.

The campaign, titled "One America Appeal," allows individuals, foundations and institutions to make tax-deductible donations to assist a specific recovery effort or all three of them.
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A former Houston woman is suing the City of Houston and a long list of current and former mayors and police chiefs for failing to investigate a backlog of more than 6,000 untested rape kits, and not identifying her attacker as a man who had been in a national police database for decades.

In one of several cases brought by victims against officials around the country in recent years, the victim of a 2011 sexual assault in Houston claims in a federal civil rights lawsuit this week that her perpetrator could have been apprehended and prosecuted for earlier crimes if officials had kept on top of the massive backlog of DNA samples in the city's possession.

DeJenay Beckwith, 35, who now lives in Milam County, contends city officials failed to pursue a serial offender in her case, or investigate rape kits for other victims, because they don't take women or child victims seriously. She is seeking damages, saying city officials violated her rights to due process and equal protection, and officials illegally took her property and violated her personal privacy and dignity under the Fourth Amendment.

Now Playing: At a recent town hall meeting, Rep. Buddy Carter said he would only test the backlogged rape kits in Georgia if they were not from sanctuary cities, Jezebel reports. Video: NowThis News

The class action status, if upheld by a judge, could presumably extend to other women or child victims whose rape kits were left untested during the backlog at the crime lab managed by the Houston Police Department, a topic the Houston Chronicle has reported on.

"To not test the rape kits of a serial rapist who also raped children is beyond unconscionable," said Beckwith's lead attorney Randall Kallinen. "It didn't take them long once they knew who he was."

Mayor Sylvester Turner's spokesman, Alan Bernstein, referred a request for comment to the city's crime lab.

Peter Stout, CEO and president of the Houston Forensic Science Center, among more than a dozen officials named as defendants in the suit, declined to comment on the pending lawsuit. However, Stout said in a statement that the lab is "keenly aware" of how vital it is to process sexual assault evidence in a timely fashion, noting that untested rape kits are a nationwide problem.

"Since taking over management of the Houston Police Department's forensic operations in 2014, HFSC has eliminated legacy and incoming backlogs of sexual assault evidence," he said. "A legacy backlog inherited from HPD that dated back to the 1980s has been eliminated. HFSC's goal is to have a sustainable, average 30-day turnaround time for all evidence, including that which is related to sexual assault."

He noted that the lab recently hosted a symposium on testing and tracking sexual assault evidence promptly featuring state Rep. Donna Howard, former state Sen. Wendy Davis and participants from Joyful Heart Foundation, a nonprofit working toward ending the national rape kit backlog.

Joyful Heart cites Texas on its website as once having nearly 19,000 untested rape kits, more than any other state, although the foundation notes the state has passed comprehensive reform efforts. As of Aug. 31 of this year, data maintained as a result of Texas law reports there are 2,138 untested kits submitted by 161 Texas law agencies.

Houston tackled the backlog of rape kits in early 2013 under former Mayor Annise Parker and ex-Chief Charles McClelland, drawing on $4 million in federal grants to outsource DNA testing with private forensic labs. Parker led the initiative to remove the crime lab from HPD management in April 2014 - although it remains in the HPD headquarters building - after the creation of an independent city-funded lab now overseen by civilian forensic experts.

According to court documents, Beckwith met her assailant on April 2, 2011, when he pretended to be a mechanic and offered to fix her broken down car. He asked to come inside her Southwest Houston home for a glass of water.

According to the lawsuit, he proceeded to throw her to the floor, strike her repeatedly and rape her. She chased him on foot, and a neighbor joined the chase, but he escaped in his car.

A rape kit taken at Memorial Hermann Southwest as a result of her police report was taken to the city's crime lab.

Beckwith's lawyers say the kit went untested for five years. During that time, she got one phone call from a detective who wanted to know what she was doing wandering on Bissonnet when she met her assailant, implying she was a prostitute and saying, "These things happen."

The detective discouraged her from filing a report, telling her it was unlikely the suspect would be caught, according to the lawsuit.

She next heard from Houston police in 2016, when they contacted her to say they tested the DNA and they had a suspect. She later learned the man's name was David Lee Cooper. Cooper had prior sexual assault convictions, including one from 2002 involving minor child. His DNA had been in the Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS and managed by the FBI, since 1991.

Cooper also had convictions for burglary, theft, DWI and attempted kidnapping.

Cooper was charged with rape in 1991 but the case was dismissed, according to the lawsuit. In 1994, he was found not guilty in another rape, but her lawsuit claims the facts of that case were similar to what happened with Beckwith in 2011 and during an attempted kidnapping in 2005.

On December 14, 2016, Cooper pleaded guilty to a 2002 sexual assault of a child, a 2009 sexual assault and the 2011 sexual assault of Beckwith.

The federal lawsuit claims that if Houston officials had tested Beckwith's and other victims' rape kit evidence in their possession and entered it into CODIS, Cooper could have been apprehended before he could rape and sexually assault Beckwith.

Under former Mayor Annise Parker and ex-Chief Charles McClelland, the crime lab was moved from the police department in April 2014 to an independent city lab.

The lawsuit was brought against Turner and his police chief Art Acevedo, but it also names five former mayors going back to Kathy Whitmire and six former police chiefs.
A 14-year-old's tragic slaying, the first part of a series on growing fear in immigrant communities and more problems with the city's public housing - all in this week's long-form and investigative reporting.

Family pushes for answers in death of 14-year-old Houston-area girl

By Margaret Kadifa and Brooke A. Lewis

@margaretkadifa and @brookelewisa

Alana Mock jolted awake about 2:30 a.m. Her 14-year-old daughter, Layla Ramos, hadn't come home, so Mock grabbed her cellphone. "Where are you at?" she texted. "Please come home I'm worried." An hour later, Layla sent a cryptic reply. She was at Walmart.

Mock tried to call her daughter, but Layla's phone was dead. She'd find her in the morning, she thought, as she fell back asleep.

But the morning would be too late.

Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle

DEEPER UNDERGROUND: Fear drives mistrust between police, immigrant communities

By Ileana Najarro and Monica Rhor

@Ileanajarro and @monicarhor

The black and white Chevrolet SUV rolled into the Home Depot parking lot in southeast Houston. Day laborers huddled under slim trees, their bicycles on the ground nearby. Raindrops from an early morning shower dripped through the leaves. Al Yanez stuck an arm out his window and waved hello. Some of the men, recognizing the Houston police officer, responded with a nod. Others crossed their arms, avoiding eye contact. A few months ago, Yanez could count on friendly exchanges.

But the growing presence of anti-immigrant sentiment in new political forces has sparked a change, and now some immigrant communities are retreating into the shadows, shying away from police.

Bonus: Houston's undocumented immigrants pen their thoughts on postcards

Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle

Housing authority charges tenants rent for flooded units

By Rebecca Elliott

@rfelliott

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.

After hurricanes, climate change resurfaces in Washington

By James Osborne

@Osborneja

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are revving up a climate change debate that had gone quiet in Washington. The sheer scale of the destruction forces political leaders to again confront the question of its role in the increasing frequency of violent storms.

Republicans and Democrats seem to be falling into familiar positions around the issue. But the one-two punch of those storms, which cost more than 100 lives and well over $100 billion in estimated damage, is at least prompting more debate about Washington can or should do, political observers said.

Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle

City of Liberty claims new unofficial Harvey rainfall record: 55 inches

By John D. Harden

@jdharden

Bruce Johnson knew it all along. While the Houston area shuddered at a record-setting 51 inches of rain recorded during Hurricane Harvey, Johnson knew his rural community was hit with even more.

"Houston didn't get the most rain," said the Liberty resident. "We did."

Meteorologists now agree. New hour-by-hour rainfall data collected by the National Weather Service shows a gauge in the city of Liberty northeast of Houston recorded 55 inches of rain during Harvey - a new record that surpasses even the 52 inches recorded in Hawaii in 1950.
In 2004, a sheriff's deputy in Oregon put together mug shots of people booked for methamphetamine use as a warning to others: Don't be those people.

The Faces of Meth project, operated by Oregon's Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, aims to educate people about the dangers of drug abuse. Others claim the project unnecessarily shames people while others say it further cements rich and poor class divisions.
Burglary and theft reports last week in Pearland included the swiping of copper wire, groceries and a motorcycle as well as a dognapping, authorities said.

BURGLARY

Burglary of a building was reported Sept. 11 in the 2800 block of Business Center Drive, police said.

Police filed a motor vehicle burglary report Sept. 11 in the 13600 block of Wild Lilac Court.

Burglary of a habitation was reported Sept. 11 in the 11700 block of Broadway Street, police said.

A burglary report was taken Sept. 12 in the 2500 block of Alexander Lane, police said.

Items were taken from vehicles without permission Sept. 13 or Sept. 14 in the 1900 block of Hatfield Road, police said. Vehicle burglaries also were reported nearby in the 5600 block of Walker Drive and the 2400 block of Walker Court at about the same time.

Items were reported stolen from a detached garage Sept. 14 in the 2400 block of Business Center Drive, police said.

Police completed a motor vehicle burglary report Sept. 15 in the 5600 block of Tyler Street.

A business was burglarized between Sept. 12 and Sept. 14 in the 1100 block of Main Street, according to a Sept. 15 police report.

A motor vehicle burglary was attempted Sept. 15 in the Pearland Town Center parking lot, 11200 Broadway St., police said.

Police investigated a burglary of a building report Sept. 16 in the 2500 block of Pearland Parkway.

Burglary of a motor vehicle was reported Sept. 16 in the 2300 block of Smith Ranch Road, police said.

A vehicle was burglarized Sept. 17 in the 3400 block of Kendall Street, police said.

Two suspects reportedly were observed opening car doors Sept. 17 in a parking lot in the 2700 block of Main Street, police said.

Police filed three motor vehicle burglary reports Sept. 17 in the 11200 block of Armstrong Lane.

THEFT

Several feet of copper wire were taken Sept. 11 from a pump station in the 4900 block of Main Street, police said.

Theft was reported Sept. 11 in the 11500 block of Shadow Creek Parkway, police said.

Police completed a theft report Sept. 11 in the 7900 block of Fite Road.

A theft report was completed Sept. 11 in the 3700 block of Banyan Wood Way, police said.

Batteries were stolen out of heavy machinery at a construction site Sept. 12 in the 2900 block of Old Chocolate Bayou Road, police said. Ten pipes also were taken.

Police arrested a Pearland man, 20, for theft of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop Sept. 12 in the 1600 block of Main Street. A 20-year-old Houston man also was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Theft of service occurred Sept. 12 in the 10000 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Police arrested a Pearland woman, 36, for shoplifting Sept. 12 in the 2700 block of Pearland Parkway.

A wallet was reported stolen between Sept. 8 and Sept. 12 in the 2600 block of Pearland Parkway, police said.

Shoplifting occurred Sept. 13 in the 2000 block of Main Street, police said.

The front license plate was taken from a vehicle between Aug. 25 and Sept. 9 in the 2900 block of Oak Road, according to a Sept. 13 police report.

Police filed a shoplifting report Sept. 13 in the 9500 block of Broadway Street.

A dog was taken from a business Sept. 13 in the 3700 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Theft was reported Sept. 14 in the 3000 block of Meadowmist Court, police said.

A male suspect stole a shopping cart full of groceries Sept. 14 from Walmart Neighborhood Market, 12631 Broadway St., police said.

A cellular phone was reported stolen Sept. 14 at Wendy's, 11630 Broadway St., police said.

Theft was reported Sept. 15 in the 2000 block of Main Street and the 2700 block of Green Tee Drive, police said.

A motorcycle was reported stolen Sept. 15 in the 3800 block of Skylark Way, police said.

A Pasadena man, 39, was taken into custody for unauthorized use of a vehicle Sept. 15 in the 1000 block of Main Street, police said.

A vehicle was taken without permission Sept. 15 in the 1700 block of Sleepy Hollow Drive, police said.

Three juveniles reportedly shoplifted Sept. 16 at Macy's, 11200 Broadway St., police said.

Theft of a motor vehicle was reported Sept. 16 in the 3400 block of Trelawney Drive, police said.

A wallet was stolen Sept. 16 in the 2800 blocK of Pearland Parkway, according to a Sept. 17 police report. The victim later discovered her credit card had been used without permission, police said.

Police arrested a Houston woman, 18, for shoplifting Sept. 17 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street.

Theft occurred between Aug. 13 and Sept. 9 in the 1700 block of Sleepy Hollow Drive, according to a Sept. 17 police report.

Police conducted a theft investigation Sept. 17 in the 10000 block of Broadway Street.

Shoplifting was reported Sept. 17 in the 6100 block of Broadway Street, police said.

FORGERY, FRAUD

Police completed a forgery report Sept. 11 in the 11100 block of West Broadway Street.

An unknown suspect used a victim's identity information to obtain credit and make withdrawals from personal bank accounts between May 16 and Sept. 11, according to a police report filed Sept. 11 in the 2900 block of Veva Drive.

An unknown male offender passed a counterfeit check Aug. 10 at a business in the 4200 block of Broadway Street, according to a Sept. 12 police report.

Forgery occurred between Sept. 6 and Sept. 11 in 3100 block of Laurel Bend Lane, according to a Sept. 12 police report.

A complainant's identity information was used to open an account at a business without authorization Sept. 9, according to a police report filed Sept. 14 in the 2300 block of Scarlatti Drive.

An unknown suspect used a victim's debit card to make online purchases without authorization Sept. 8, according to a police report filed Sept. 14 in the 3400 block of Cactus Heights Lane.

Credit card abuse took place between Aug. 22 and Sept. 17, according to a police report filed Sept. 17 in the 16600 block of Ewing Lane.

NARCOTICS

A juvenile male student was found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia Sept. 11 at Pearland High School, 3775 S. Main St., police said.

A Pearland man, 19, and a Fresno man, 20, were found in possession of marijuana during a traffic stop Sept. 11 in the 2000 block of Mykawa Road, police said.

Police issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop Sept. 12 in the 4500 block of West Walnut Street.

Police took a male suspect into custody for marijuana possession Sept. 12 in the 2600 block of Cullen Parkway.

A Pearland man, 19, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia Sept. 12 in the 7300 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Police took a Baytown man, 38, into custody for possession of a controlled substance Sept. 13 in the 13500 block of Texas 288.

A Pasadena woman, 33, was arrested for marijuana possession Sept. 14 in the 2400 block of South Texas Avenue, police said.

Police cited a Houston man, 27, for possession of drug paraphernalia Sept. 14 in the 16500 block of Texas 288.

A Houston man, 38, received a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia Sept. 14 in the 2700 block of Cullen Parkway, police said.

A Houston man, 23, was arrested for marijuana possession Sept. 14 in the 2200 block of Main Street, police said.

Police arrested a 20-year-old Pearland man and two 18-year-old Pearland men for marijuana possession Sept. 15 in the 2800 block of Main Street.

A Houston man, 38, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia Sept. 16 in the 3500 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Police arrested a Houston man, 20, for marijuana possession Sept. 17 in the 2400 block of Cullen Parkway.

ASSAULT

Police charged a male suspect with assault, family violence Sept. 11 in the 13400 block of Harborside Lane.

Family violence occurred July 21 in the 3800 block of Somerville Lake Court, according to a Sept. 11 police report.

Police arrested a Pearland man, 40, for assault Sept. 11 in the 5100 block of Lockhart Drive.

Assault, family violence was reported Sept. 12 in the 12100 block of Shadow Creek Parkway, police said.

Assault was reported Sept. 15 in the 14600 block of Kirby Drive, police said.

Assault reportedly occurred between Sept. 14 and Sept. 15 in the 10100 block of Olive Mount Street, police said.

Police completed an assault report Sept. 15 in the 2900 block of Oak Road.

Police arrested a Pearland woman, 31, for assault, family violence Sept. 17 in the 2400 block of Laura Lane.

Assault was reported Sept. 17 in the 11000 block of Shadow Creek Parkway, police said.

Police filed an assault report Sept. 17 in the 2100 block of Country Place Parkway.

Assault took place Sept. 17 in the 11200 block of Broadway Street, police said.

ROBBERY

Robbery was reported Sept. 11 in the 3200 block of Broadway Street, police said.

THREATS, HARASSMENT

Threats were reported Sept. 12 in the 1500 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Threats reportedly were transmitted via text message Aug. 18, according to a police report filed Sept. 13 in the 2200 block of Business Center Drive.

Harassment occurred between Sept. 8 and Sept. 13 in the 1900 block of Winding Creek Drive, according to a Sept. 13 police report.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

Police filed a criminal mischief report Sept. 12 in the 5200 block of Magnolia Road.

Police arrested a Pearland man, 59, for criminal mischief Sept. 15 in the 4800 block of Linden Place.

A vehicle was reported damaged Sept. 16 in the 2700 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Criminal mischief was reported Sept. 16 in the 3400 block of Bailey Springs Lane, police said.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

Police arrested two Galveston men, 20 and 21, for public intoxication Sept. 12 in the 6100 block of Broadway Street.

Police took a Houston woman, 40, into custody for public intoxication Sept. 13 in the 2800 block of Business Center Drive.

A report of gambling led to the arrest of a Friendswood man, 78, for public intoxication Sept. 14 in the 4400 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Police took a 27-year-old Prairie Village, Kansas, man into custody for public intoxication Sept. 17 in the 4000 block of Spring Brook Court, police said.

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED

Police arrested an Alvin woman, 39, for DWI Sept. 12 in the 5000 block of Main Street.

A Pearland woman, 45, was arrested for DWI Sept. 13 in the 4400 block of Broadway Street, police said.

Police arrested a Pearland man, 48, for DWI Sept. 13 in the 7000 block of Broadway Street.

A Houston man, 22, was arrested for DWI and narcotics possession Sept. 14 in the 8600 block of McHard Road, police said.

A Pearland woman, 26, was taken into custody for DWI Sept. 14 in the 5700 block of Magnolia Road, police said.

Police arrested a Pearland man, 52, for DWI Sept. 15 in the 3700 block of Main Street.

A Houston man, 27, was arrested for DWI Sept. 16 in the 6400 block of Broadway Street, police said.

A Pearland man, 38, was arrested for DWI Sept. 16 in the 3900 block of Dixie Farm Road, police said.

Police arrested a Pearland man, 39, for DWI Sept. 16 in the 4700 block of Scott Lane.

A Galveston man, 28, was arrested for DWI Sept. 17 in the 8900 block of Broadway Street, police said.

A 34-year-old Pearland woman was arrested for DWI Sept. 17 in the 7200 block of Broadway Street, police said.

An Alvin man, 29, was arrested for DWI Sept. 17 in the 1900 block of Main Street, police said.

FAILURE TO IDENTIFY

Police arrested a Fresno woman, 46, for failure to identify Sept. 13 in the 16600 block of Texas 288. A 43-year-old Fresno man also was arrested for outstanding warrants.

TRAFFIC

Police arrested a Baytown man, 33, for driving while license invalid Sept. 14 in the 16600 block of Texas 288.

A Brazoria County man, 27, was arrested for driving while license invalid and warrants Sept. 14 in the 2000 block of Business Center Drive, police said.

A pedestrian was struck during a hit-and-run incident Sept. 14 in the 3500 block of Whitestone Drive, police said.

Police arrested a Houston man, 25, for operating a vehicle with a fictitious or altered license plate Sept. 16 in the 14700 block of Texas 288.

A Houston man, 33, was arrested for driving while license invalid and fictitious license plate Sept. 16 in the 14700 block of Texas 288, police said. A 37-year-old Houston woman also was arrested for a traffic warrant.

A traffic stop Sept. 17 in the 3200 block of Broadway Street led to the arrest of a Pearland man, 35, for no driver's license.

ENTICING A CHILD

An attempted enticing of a child was reported Sept. 14 in the 2100 block of Tipperary Drive, police said.

WEAPONS

Police completed a report for unlawful possession of a firearm Sept. 16 in the 3400 block of Veterans Drive.

EVADING ARREST, DETENTION

An unknown male on an off-road motorcycle evaded detention Sept. 16 in the 3000 block of McLean Road, police said.
A man who lost his life in an attempt to rescue his sister's cat during Hurricane Harvey will be honored by PETA Friday.

Andrew Pasek, who died Aug. 29 after being electrocuted by a live wire hidden by Harvey's floodwaters, will be honored on the Tree of Life at PETA's headquarters in Norfolk, Va.
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A Houston City Council member who asked people not to donate to the Red Cross said that after several meetings with members of the organization this month, he stands by his original comments.

District E Councilman Dave Martin has met directly with the Red Cross' administrative team three times since the Sept. 7 council meeting in which he accused the organization of being inept, and referred to them as the "Red Loss."

"I stand 100 percent behind my initial comments regarding the Red Cross," District E councilman Dave Martin told the Houston Chronicle in an email.

INKING HARVEY: Tattoo enthusiasts get inked to remember Hurricane Harvey

Martin said his meetings with the Red Cross were to discuss the needs of constituents in his district, many of whom at this stage of rebuilding don't need food or shelter but rather an influx of emergency funds -- particularly for senior citizens who did not have flood insurance.

Now Playing: Houston Chronicle Photojournalist shares stills of Meyerland before and after. (Mark Mulligan) Video: Houston Chronicle

On Thursday the Red Cross rebooted their emergency funds program for Harvey victims after a week of being down because of issues with their web servers being overloaded. The program allows for those affected by Hurricane Harvey to apply for $400 in emergency funds.

Martin said that along with temporary housing, him and the Red Cross discussed the distribution of $400 emergency funds to those affected in his district, as well as a second round of funds to provide assistance further down the line.

HARVEY MAPS: Maps show what Harvey's impact would look like in other U.S. states

Though he is unsure whether his comments earlier in the month affected the amount of donations coming into the Red Cross for Harvey relief, Martin wasn't alone in his condemnation of the organization.

Mayor Sylvester Turner criticized the Red Cross in mid September after Houstonians came forward with allegations that they had not yet received promised emergency funds from the organization.

"If you promise people something, you got to make it happen because, otherwise, don't promise at all," Turner said.

Martin said that though he may revisit his "perceived inefficiencies within the organization" right now his current focus is on how the Red Cross will be assisting his district moving forward.

Instead of donate to Red Cross, Martin said he will donate directly toward the repair efforts for Kingwood High School, which was flooded during Harvey and pointed toward a relief fund created by the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce as a place Houstonians can donate to.

"I encourage Houston residents to seek out local funds and organizations to donate to in lieu of national organizations," said Martin.
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While some people would rather forget Hurricane Harvey, more than a few Texans are opting for a more permanent reminder that a hurricane can't wash away.

Showing Texas pride via a tattoo is not a new thing by any means, but since Texas endured the devastation of Harvey, more people are getting Texas-related tattoos.

RELATED: Pro-Houston Harvey T-shirts raising money for storm victims

The rallying cries "Texas Strong" and "Houston Strong" became common on social media, shirts and other merchandise. It didn't take long for the sentiment to move into a more permanent direction, Texans being the brave breed that we are.

Soon, tattoo artists and tattoo shops were cranking out sheets of designs for customers to choose from, using nautical imagery, yellow roses and other traditional Texas motifs.

Now Playing: Owners of 5th Ward t-shirt printers struggle to overcome damage from flooding from Hurricane Harvey. Video: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

In the days after the storm, a few tattoo shops in Houston and around the rest of the state began offering up special Texas tattoos with portions of the proceeds, if not all, going to Harvey relief. The designs are simple, mainly the outline of the state and some script.

Prices started at $40 at most shops for the designs. Depending on time available, artists did outline-only tattoos without color, while others went all out with color and shading.

RELATED: Shop with purpose to help Hurricane Harvey relief efforts

Some shops, like Awesome Tattoos in Montrose, made sure that proceeds went to the charity of the customer's choice like the Houston SPCA or the Houston Food Bank.

Texas Body Art, with two locations in the Houston area, raised close to $18,000 from doing 266 tattoos with the funds from the ink going to the J.J. Watt Hurricane Harvey fundraiser.

These Texas tattoo collectors will always have something to remember Hurricane Harvey by and hopefully the proceeds will go to improve the lives of fellow Texans.

Click through the slideshow above to see some of the best Hurricane Harvey tattoos that Texans are sporting...
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WARNING: Video contains graphic language

AUSTIN  Brawls broke out toward the end of a rally against Confederate monuments at the Capitol on Saturday, resulting in state troopers arresting and loading two demonstrators into police cruisers, as other protesters swarmed the sidewalk hurling insults and chanting.

We got into a big scuffle. The police grabbed a bunch of people, said Nicolas Ortiz, an advocate with the Brown Berets who was handcuffed and briefly detained by a state trooper.

Two protesters were arrested. One, charged with assaulting a peace officer, was taken to the hospital for injuries sustained during the arrest, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman said. His condition was unknown Saturday night.

Now Playing: Tensions erupting as Austin police ask protestors to stay on sidewalk, now protestors chanting "cops and klan go hand in hand." Video: Allie Morris, Express-News

The afternoon event was initially planned as a counter-protest to a Confederate heritage rally. The Dixie Freedom rally was canceled but the counter-protest continued as planned, starting at a city park and marching to the Capitol a few blocks away.

In the face of a heavy police presence, which included two state troopers on horseback, a dozen more on foot and roughly 10 Austin police officers on bikes, the counter-protest against white supremacy quickly took on an anti-law enforcement tone.

Antifacists or antifa were part of the more than 100 people protesting, and started chanting cops and Klan go hand in hand during the march to the Capitol as the Austin police officers made a barrier with their bicycles to keep protestors out of the street. The aggressive tone turned off some protesters, who opted to leave the event early.

It was supposed to be equal rights against white supremacy, and it turned into anti-fascism, said David, an Austin resident who declined to give his last name. That is their style, with megaphones and chanting, it gives the entire event a flavor I dont appreciate.

The clashes didnt start until the rallys end on the Capitol grounds, when a bystander grabbed a bullhorn from one of the protesters and used it to thank the police.

As attendees sought to take back the bullhorn, a scuffle ensued that ended with Ortiz being handcuffed. Ortiz and the bystander, who was not handcuffed, much to protestors anger, were taken into the Capitol. Soon after, another clash broke on out the lawn, ending with several demonstrators being held down by state troopers on the pavement.

At one point, the crack of a stun gun rang out. The Department of Public Safety confirmed a trooper unholstered a Taser and pulled the trigger, but said it wasnt used on a person.

Now Playing: Dozens of Austin police tried to manage a rally Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, as protesters shout "f*** the police" and "thanks for wasting our tax dollars." Video: Allie Morris, Express-News

One of the men arrested, Andrew J. Alemao, of Iowa City, Iowa, is accused of assaulting a trooper and attempting to flee, according to the department. His girlfriend, Michelle Molnar, said Alemaos face was bloodied after he was held on the ground by two troopers.

They took him in the cop car. I did not see them giving him any medical attention, she said.

Austin resident Angelica R. Clark, 24, was charged with interfering with Alemaos arrest.

Within about 30 minutes of the ruckus, the crowd began to disband. Some protestors blamed police for the contentious clashes.

I thought the cops were unnecessary and repeatedly escalated situations for no good reason, said attendee Antonio Buehler.

Austin Police Commander Michael Eveleth said his officers were protecting protestors.

Our presence out there is for their safety, he said. Were not going out there against them. Were out there to help them express their First Amendment right and to provide them a safe atmosphere.

Fourteen groups coordinated the event, according to the Facebook page, but far fewer than the 1,600 people who registered actually showed up, likely because the Dixie rally had been canceled.

After marching from the nearby park, the group rallied at each of the three confederate monuments on the Capitol grounds with chants of tear it down.

We wanted to make it clear white supremacists are not welcome in Austin, said Lisa Fithian, a woman who led the calls for pulling down the monuments.

Efforts to remove Confederate symbols at the Capitol have accelerated in recent months.

This week, House Speaker Joe Straus called for the removal of a blatantly inaccurate Confederate plaque at the state Capitol that denies slavery led to Texas secession.

The whole concept of white supremacy is offense to any true American and why its such an issue here is unfathomable to me because we are a nation of immigrants, said Connie Kosmas, an Austin woman who showed up for the protest.

amorris@express-news.net
A Boerne man is so fed up with what he calls "the mainstream liberal media," he's put up a second billboard calling attention to the issue.

The billboard, off Interstate 10 in Boerne, reads: "Do you think premeditated acts of subversion against the United States of America are protected by the first amendment?"
AUSTIN -- A day after his close political ally Ted Cruz said he is still a 'no' on a proposed health-care reform bill in Washington, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday hinted he thinks the bill should pass.

"With health care premiums skyrocketing and access to affordable insurance shrinking, it is irrefutable that Obamacare is broken, and must be repealed," Abbott said in an afternoon statement. "The question is whether our health care system evolves into a Bernie Sanders style government-run single-payer health care system, or we empower states with the flexibility to craft patient-driven health care plans that meet the unique needs of their citizens.

"The Graham-Cassidy bill aspires to the goal of reducing the role of the federal government in health care decisions and giving states more flexibility to help their citizens make health care decisions better tailored to their unique needs," Abbott's statement reads, stopping just short of saying the bill should pass. "I trust Texans know better how to address their health care needs than bureaucrats in Washington."

On a panel discussion in Austin on Sunday, Cruz, a conservative Texas Republican and steadfast opponent of the Affordable Care Act -- commonly referred to as "Obamacare" -- told sudience members: "Right now, they don't have have my vote."

The bill pending in the Senate was slated for a vote later this week in Congress, dealing a blow to Republicans' latest effort to kill Barack Obama's signature healthcare law.

After promising for seven years to repeal Obamacare, Republicans have just six days to pass legislation with a vote in the Senate, where the GOP has a 52-to-48 majority. At least five Republicans including including Cruz have saidthey either won't vote for, or are leaning against, supporting the Graham-Cassidy bill.

Authored by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the legislation would provide federal health care funding to the states in block grants -- which Abbott supports.

Saturday is the last day Senate Republicans can pass repeal legislation with a simple majority, rather than the usual 60 votes.

Both conservative Republicans, Cruz and Abbott have been close friends for years. Cruz worked as solicitor general for Abbott when the latter was attorney general, and before Cruz was elected as Texas' junior U.S. senator in 2012 -- the first Hispanic to serve in that office.

Abbott supported Cruz when the latter ran for president in the 2016 primaries, though the governor later endorsed Donald Trump after he became the party nominee.
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AUSTIN  Local law enforcement agencies across Texas will have to honor federal immigration holds for people who are in the country illegally but will not be penalized for failing to help enforce federal law, an appeals court ruled Monday in allowing parts of Texas' so-called "sanctuary city" law to take effect temporarily.

In a mixed ruling that allowed both sides to claim partial victory, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals let stand a lower court ruling that had temporarily halted portions of the law that required local agencies to provide enforcement help to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The unanimous decision allows the controversy over the law  known as Senate Bill 4  to continue for weeks or longer in Texas, where protests against the provisions have been ongoing for months.

The court set a hearing for Nov. 6 to hear arguments from Houston, San Antonio and other cities, counties and Hispanic advocacy groups that claim the law is unconstitutional because if violates the Fourth Amendment right requiring probable cause for a person to be held behind bars.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had asked the appeals court Friday to allow the full law to take effect, insisted Monday's ruling was a victory.

"We are pleased today's 5th Circuit ruling will allow Texas to strengthen public safety by implementing the key components of Senate Bill 4," Paxton said in a statement after the 3-0 decision was filed Monday.

"Enforcing immigration law helps prevent dangerous criminals from being released into Texas communities. I am confident Senate Bill 4 will be found constitutional and ultimately upheld," he said.

Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel of the Los Angeles-based Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a leading voice for Latino civil rights, said Texas' request for a fast ruling by the appeals court  before it hears arguments  reflects the "mean-spiritedness of Texas state officials."

"While that is a disappointment, the court only lifted two portions of the injunction," Saenz said. "Because the court panel limited the scope of local police cooperation with enforcement that must be permitted, one portion of the stay would be of limited effect."

'Likely to succeed'

In its decision, however, the court noted that the state is "likely to succeed" on some of its arguments that the new law is constitutional.

Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 4 to require local law enforcement to cooperate with the federal government in enforcing the nation's immigration laws. But a U.S. District Court in San Antonio granted an injunction on on Aug. 30, just two days before it was scheduled to take effect.

In that order, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia blocked the state from enforcing or implementing five key parts of the law, ruling they are likely unconstitutional. The state had asked the New Orleans-based appeals court to overrule the district court until the case is argued in court in November.

The state on Friday had asked the appeals court to allow it to begin enforcing the provisions of the new law, called Senate Bill 4 after the title of the legislation that was signed into law in June.

The Texas Civil Rights Project, an Austin-based group that represents two of the groups that filed the suit, said the Monday decision could cause unnecessary turmoil because it does not leave all parts of the lower-court order in effect.

"We are disappointed and disagree with the panel's decision to allow additional provisions of SB4 to go into effect and stand against Texas immigrants and families," said Efren Olivares, racial and economic program director with the civil rights group.

TCRP represents the Texas Project Organizing Education Fund and MOVE San Antonio, and has joined with attorneys representing El Paso officials.

The cities of Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, El Paso and El Cenizo, along with Bexar, Travis and Maverick counties and several Hispanic organizations, filed the court challenge to the new law.

Partisan divide

Among those who are suing to overturn the new law is Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, whose refusal to honor the detainers touched off a high-profile fight with Gov. Greg Abbott that sparked the drive by conservative Republicans to enact SB4 over the objections of Democrats and Hispanic leaders.

State Rep. Rafael Anchia, chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, which has opposed SB 4, said the court did not approve a provision allowing the state to punish cities and counties for limiting their officers on immigration questioning and enforcement assistance.

"We trust our local police  and not state politicians  to keep us safe," said Anchia, a Dallas Democrat. "The court's decision (Monday) recognizes those concerns and stops the most dangerous provisions contained in SB4 from taking effect. The fight is not over, however. We will continue to resist any law that aims to divide our great state and makes our constituents less safe."

Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, an Austin Democrat who is policy chair of the caucus, said he is disappointed in the decision.

"No part of SB 4 should be allowed to take effect before its legality has been affirmed by the courts or the law has been struck down as the trial court deemed likely," he said. "SB 4 is unlike any legislation currently on the books in Texas or elsewhere in the nation, and experts have serious reservations regarding its infringement upon the freedom of speech and the right to due process under the law."
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The destructive floodwaters of Superstorm Sandy receded quickly, but some storm victims are still neck-deep in a battle over insurance payouts. And many victims of this years storms in Texas, Florida and elsewhere should brace themselves for a similar fight, lawyers involved in Sandy insurance battles say.

As Sandys fifth anniversary approaches Oct. 29, more than 1,000 families in New York and New Jersey are still fighting with the Federal Emergency Management Agency over their flood insurance claims, according to government statistics.

The FEMA-run National Flood Insurance Program paid out $8.2 billion to about 144,000 policyholders after Sandy, a critical safety net that saved many homeowners from financial ruin.

But many storm victims also complained that they were shortchanged by the private insurance companies hired to administer the program and left with too little money to repair the damage.

Under pressure from Congress, FEMA reopened the Sandy claims process in 2015 and since then has paid out an additional $396 million, but some property owners continue to argue in that they are owed more.

In the barrier island city of Long Beach, New York, Jamilyn Spellman is among those still fighting, even though her Sandy-damaged home has long since been demolished, the land beneath it sold, and its original owner  her mother  has died of cancer.

She just wanted to die at home, said Spellman. But she died displaced  literally, in the hospice, talking about FEMA.

After nearly every major storm, lawyers for Sandy victims said, disputes arise over fair payouts that can be maddeningly difficult to resolve.

It has been a struggle every step of the way, said August Matteis, a Washington, D.C., lawyer whose firm is representing about 1,200 policyholders going through the FEMA review. FEMA is still fighting us tooth and nail for every penny.

Amy Bach, executive director of the advocacy group United Policyholders, said the lessons of Sandy and other past storms show that victims of this years hurricanes need to take an aggressive approach to their claims, too.

Among other things, she said, victims should thoroughly photograph their homes condition, inside and out, before making even temporary repairs or cleaning out debris.

You need to be proactive in documenting and valuing your losses if you want to get a fair, full and timely settlement, she said.

The National Flood Insurance Program was created to protect homeowners unable to buy insurance in the private sector because they live in high-risk flood zones.

While many homeowners with Sandy policies settled claims quickly, more than 2,000 sued over what they said was sloppy work by some of the insurance adjusters and structural engineers who were rushed into the disaster zone to evaluate the damage.

After some homeowners and their lawyers uncovered evidence that at least two engineering companies hired by insurers had a practice of rewriting reports turned in by field inspectors, FEMA took the unprecedented step of allowing all Sandy victims to have their claim re-examined. About 19,500 policyholders asked for a review.

According to the last FEMA update, released Sept. 8, most of those reviews had been completed. But about 1,100 policyholders were still in an appeals process, with a neutral reviewer going over their claim.

FEMA officials have said their priority is getting claims paid fairly as quickly as possible. It has set a target of Oct. 25 for completing arguments in the Sandy claim review process.

The agency has also undertaken a series of reforms since Sandy. Among other things, it has already decided to give victims of Hurricane Harvey a year to document their losses. Sandy victims were initially told they had just 60 days, though deadlines for many were later extended.

The Spellmans insurance fight is similar to a lot of the other insurance disputes that have dragged out.

Sandys storm surge inundated the property with 3 1/2 feet of water, opened a small sinkhole under part of the house and put a hole in the foundation.

An engineer hired by the insurance company said the building could be saved and FEMA awarded the family about $104,000 for repairs. Contractors hired by the family said the damage was bad enough that it would cost at least $300,000  more than the familys $250,000 policy.

The house was eventually razed in hopes the family could put up a modest modular home. And finally, the lot was sold last December because the family could no longer afford the mortgage and taxes.

Jamilyn Spellman says she is holding out hope that when the fight with FEMA ends, shell end up with what her mother was rightfully entitled to and fought for.

It would help so much  but the damage is already done, she says. My mothers gone. The house is gone. For me, I feel like Ive already lost whats important.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A dispute over a multi-million dollar insurance claim for a suburban Cincinnati mansion that burned down in 2014 has been settled weeks before a scheduled trial.

Jeffrey and Maria Decker sued Chubb National Insurance Company after it declined to pay their $14 million claim for a January 2014 fire at their mansion in Indian Hill, which had nearly 15,000 square feet of living space. The Deckers say they cooperated with the investigation.

Chubb countersued and accused them of intentionally misrepresenting information during the investigation. It sought repayment of $700,000 the Deckers received before their claim was denied.

The insurance company and investigators questioned where Jeffrey Decker was when the fire broke out. Chubb has claimed investigators have told the company that cellphone tower records showed he was near his 5-acre property at the time. Decker said he was seven miles away at a construction site in suburban Cincinnati.

Jeffrey Deckers former business partner testified in a deposition that Decker told him the night of the fire that his wife would have killed me if the familys two dogs, who were outside during the fire, had been killed. Decker has said he stopped at home earlier in the day to let the dogs out.

The business partner committed suicide last year, his body found on the Deckers property.

Chubb also has claimed that the Deckers were planning to sell their house because they would soon not be able to afford it based on their lifestyles. The Deckers have said they had no plans to sell. A real estate agent testified in a deposition that Maria Decker called her three weeks before the fire about showing the house.

Settlement talks for both lawsuits broke down last month. The company insured the home built in 2006 for $5 million. The Deckers claimed it would cost $10.7 million to rebuild and were seeking $60 million in their lawsuit.

The cause of the fire investigated by the State Fire Marshals Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has yet to be determined.

A federal court filing says attorneys for Jeffrey and Maria Decker and their insurer informed the judge the matter was settled, but the document doesnt offer details. The settlement hasnt been finalized.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Hackers broke into Equifaxs computer systems in March, two months earlier than the company had previously disclosed, according to a Wall Street Journal report .

That gave the intruders months to probe vulnerabilities and eventually gain access to the data of 143 million Americans. The Journal cited a report from the Mandiant unit of security firm FireEye that was sent to some Equifax customers this week.

The breach on March 10 came two days after security researchers at Cisco Systems warned of a flaw in an open-source software package called Apache Struts. One expert told the Journal that hackers probably found the Equifax server by spamming the internet for computers with that flaw.

The attackers then essentially cased the Equifax system for several weeks, the Journal reported. They eventually gained access to Equifax usernames and passwords, as well as documents and sensitive information stored in databases, between May and late July, according to the Mandiant report, according to the Journal.

In an update last Friday , Equifax said only that hackers gained access to certain files containing personal information between May 13 and July 30. It did not mention earlier activity.

An Equifax spokesperson contacted by email said the companys investigation found that someone had interacted with the companys server on March 10. But the representative characterized that as part of a common pattern of probing of systems on the Internet to find vulnerabilities. There was no evidence that this probing was related to the more serious compromise of sensitive information, the spokesperson said.

This is completely consistent with what Equifax has previously released on the subject, the company representative said.

A spokeswoman for FireEye declined to comment.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Allstate expects insurance losses of about $593 million in August after Hurricane Harvey left a path of destruction along the Gulf Coast.

The initial accounting Thursday follows warnings from other insurers that are tallying the damages from a hurricane season that is nowhere near being over.

The key thing is that were in the peak of an extremely active hurricane season, said Dr. Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Allstates monthly losses, which likely have not been fully accounted for, are more than three times the $181 million recorded in July before hurricanes devastated islands in the Atlantic and began to strike the U.S.

Harvey made landfall in Texas on August 25. More than half the losses from that storm are related to vehicle damage.

The insurer, based just outside of Chicago, says that because of widespread damage and the inability of people to get to their homes or cars, its estimated losses may grow. Hurricane Irma slammed into Florida this month and Allstate has not released its estimates for that storm.

Last week, German reinsurer Munich Re, which covers losses from insurers, was the first to warn that it may not meet previous financial goals following the one-two punch of Harvey and Irma, which made landfall in Florida September 8.

Others have issued more pessimistic outlooks. Travelers Companies Inc. suspended its stock buyback plan to raise cash. German reinsurer Hanover Re, like Munich Re, said it could miss profit targets.

The Insurance Council of Texas, the nations largest state insurance trade association, estimates overall insured losses from Harvey at nearly $19 billion. That includes an estimate from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in which Harveys flooding will result in $11 billion in payments to homeowners with flood insurance. Those flood losses would be the second highest on record, trailing only Hurricane Katrinas $16 billion.

Harvey flooded a vast area stretching from Houston to the Louisiana border. The storm caused 70-plus deaths and damaged or destroyed more than 250,000 homes and hundreds of thousands of automobiles. Irma carved a path of destruction through the Caribbean and then enveloped Florida.

CoreLogic, a property data company, expects damage to commercial and residential property from Irma to range from $42.5 billion to $65 billion. That estimate includes insured and uninsured losses.

The damage, particularly from Irma, was expected to be much worse and stock in insurance companies, while down, has remained fairly flat over the past month, and many are up sharply for the year.

Yet the hurricane season runs through November and on Thursday, the entirety of Puerto Rico was without power and besieged by landslides and floods after Hurricane Marie slammed into the island as the third-strongest recorded storm to make landfall in the U.S.

In an updated forecast last month, NOAA said there could be up to 19 named storms and up to nine hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico this year. Half of those hurricanes could be major, according to NOAA.

So far there have been 13 named storms, with four major hurricanes.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Johnson & Johnson trained its employees to reassure anyone concerned about whether the companys talcum powder contained asbestos that the cancer-causing substance has never been found and it never will in its iconic baby powder, according to an undated memo unsealed in a lawsuit against the drugmaker.

But plaintiffs say other unsealed documents indicate that J&J has known for decades that its talc products include asbestos fibers and that the exposure to those fibers can cause ovarian cancer. The talc used by J&J to make its products is not now, nor has it ever been, free from asbestos and asbestiform fibers, according to the lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 50 women in St. Louis.

The unsealed documents add another dimension to the claims against J&J as it defends itself from more than 5,000 suits across the U.S. blaming its baby powder products for causing women to develop ovarian cancer. While five juries have ruled against J&J, the company has won one case and had some other claims thrown out.

One of the documents unsealed Sept. 6 indicates that in May 1974, an official at J&Js Windsor mine in Vermont recommended the use of citric acid in the depression of chrysotile asbestos from talc extracted from the site.

The use of these systems is strongly urged by this writer to provide protection against what are currently considered to be materials presenting a severe health hazard and are potentially present in all talc ores in use at this time, the mines director of research and development wrote then.

Documents provided by J&J show tests of its talc stretching back to at least 1972 found no traces of asbestos, though the two minerals often occur naturally near each other. In a 1983 worldwide study of its talc products, the drugmaker found all talcs in this report were found to be free from asbestiform minerals and to conform to cosmetic talc requirements.

FDA Requirements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires specific testing to ensure that cosmetic talcum powder is free of asbestos, Ernie Knewitz, a spokesman for J&J, said in an emailed statement.

We are confident that our talc products are, and always have been, free of asbestos, based on decades of monitoring, testing and regulation, Knewitz said. Historical testing of samples by the FDA, numerous independent laboratories, and numerous independent scientists have all confirmed the absence of asbestos in our talc products.

J&J was little changed at $131.81 in New York Stock Market composite trading at 11:19 a.m.

Talc Verdicts

Lawyers representing the women can use the documents in court to allege the possibility of a link  it can take decades from asbestos exposure to illness  as well as suggest a pattern of J&J ignoring and covering up the risks of using its products. They also are claiming asbestos continued to be present in talc after the tests.

Five juries have held the drugmaker liable, including a California panel that ordered it to pay $417 million to a woman whod been using J&Js talc products since the 1960s. J&J is appealing the verdicts, which didnt reflect asbestos claims.

New Brunswick, New Jersey-based J&J has said the plaintiffs allegations arent supported by valid scientific evidence, pointing to a New Jersey state court decision last year tossing out two cases.

The unsealed files were used as part of an April pre-trial deposition given by Joanne Waldstreicher, J&Js chief medical officer since 2013. Under questioning by plaintiffs lawyer Mark Lanier, Waldstreicher maintained that J&Js baby powder products are asbestos free. We have experts that assure theres no asbestos in our talc, she told the lawyer.

Consumer Safety

According to the undated training memo, J&J representatives continued to reiterate at medical conferences that there wasnt any asbestos in the companys talc-based products.

Though there will never be a problem with Johnson & Johnson talc, we also endeavor vigorously to keep an eye on all the sources of talc worldwide, which might be used by other powder manufacturers and sold here, officials said.

In 1973, a company report about J&Js Windsor Materials talc mine in Vermont noted that officials were working with federal officials to check for fibers that could indicate the presence of asbestos at the site.

A J&J official said in that report that the companys baby powder contains talc fragments classifiable as fiber. Occasionally sub-trace quantities of two types of asbestos are identifiable and these might be classified as asbestos fiber.

Concerned that asbestos may have tainted talc used in the companys products, a J&J official suggested the company move toward using corn starch in its consumer products rather than talc, according to the report.

According to the unsealed documents, J&J also pushed to stop the distribution of a booklet revealing the discovery of trace amounts of asbestos in the talc the company bought from an Italian mine. Owners of the Val Chisone mine near Turin produced the booklet in 1974 to market the sites talc.

The business threat with the Italian publication, according to a J&J research scientist, is that it can raise doubts on the validity of the documentation of purity and safety of talc.

The scientist persuaded the mines owners to stop distributing English-language versions of the booklet until J&J officials could rewrite it, according to the unsealed documents.

Trace Amounts

J&J contends that testing at the Val Chisone mine two years before the marketing pamphlet was written showed no evidence of asbestos at the site. Dr. F.D. Pooley of University College, Cardiff, Wales, said in a 1972 report that no chrysotile was found at the mine or in the samples taken.

Some tremolite was located, but was not asbestiform in character and has not been detected in talc imported into Great Britain for the past year, Pooley said, according to documents provided by J&J, nor in shipments dating back to 1949.

Even trace amounts of asbestos in talc products pose a cancer risk, said Dr. Barry Castleman, a consultant hired by government agencies and health groups to gauge the health effects of the once-commonly used insulation material. He has testified for plaintiffs in asbestos cases, not in talc cases.

It is a problem even if its found in small amounts in talc, especially because its used by children and women, Castleman said in an interview. He added that he wrote J&J in 1972 pointing out that asbestos in talc consumer products could cause serious health problems. They responded that there was no asbestos in their talc, Castleman said.

Lanier, the plaintiffs lawyer, asked Waldstreicher during her deposition if shed seen the rewritten version of the mine booklet in which all references to asbestos were stricken. I dont see that here, she said.

Lanier also pointed to some studies of J&Js talc products that he said found asbestos, and questioned whether the company should have warned consumers about those findings. He asked her specifically about the Windsor mine testing, and she said 40 years ago, there could have been different types of testing that may not be as accurate as the testing we have today.

Would you agree that if asbestos is in the product, you all ought to be warning people? Lanier asked. At first, Waldstreicher responded that it was a hypothetical question. Eventually, she conceded.

I would like to be warned before I were around any cancer-causing substance, she said.

The case is Ingham v. Johnson & Johnson, No. 1522-CC10417, Circuit Court, City of St. Louis, Missouri.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
The cleanup of a northwest Montana community where health professionals say hundreds of people have been killed by asbestos exposure entered a new phase Thursday as officials turn their focus to keeping residents safe over the long term.

The five-member Libby Asbestos Superfund Advisory Team met for the first time after being established by the Montana Legislature earlier this year.

The advisory team of state and local officials and one citizen selected by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock will work with environmental agencies to come up with ways to prevent further exposure to asbestos that remains beneath the soil and in the walls of many houses in the small towns of Libby and Troy.

The contaminated material can cause fatal lung diseases and other health issues. It came from a W.R. Grace and Co. vermiculite mine that operated for decades just outside Libby, a town of about 2,700 people near the Idaho border.

Since 1999, a cleanup by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has removed more than a million cubic yards of dirt and building materials from almost 2,500 properties in the area. That work  conducted under the agencys Superfund program for the cleanup of highly contaminated sites  is expected to be largely finished by next summer, EPA spokeswoman Lisa McClain-Vanderpool said Thursday.

The price tag for the cleanup reached $575 million last year, she said.

As the EPA gets ready to take much of the area off the Superfund list, state and local agencies must come up with ways to handle future asbestos discoveries, such as when a house is renovated or an underground vermiculite deposit is found during excavation work.

Thursdays discussion among advisory team members centered on the hiring of a superfund liaison to help steer the states efforts. Montana Department of Environmental Quality Director Tom Livers said the liaison would need communication and crisis management skills along with technical knowledge about the cleanup process.

Were looking for a skill set you dont always find in one person, he said.

Money potentially available for future operation and maintenance of the cleanup includes $11 million in EPA funds and $5.2 million in state funds that came from settlements in W.R. Graces bankruptcy case, said DEQ spokeswoman Karen Ogden.

Theres been no attempt to quantify how much asbestos will remain when the cleanup is finished.

Health workers have estimated that as many as 400 people have died and almost 3,000 have been sickened from exposure in Libby and the surrounding area.

The W.R. Grace mine was shuttered in 1990. The company agreed in a 2008 settlement to pay the EPA $250 million for cleanup work.

There is not yet a cleanup plan for the highly-contaminated mine site and surrounding portions of the Kootenai National Forest  a nearly 16-square mile (41-sq. kilometer) area that also includes some state and private land.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AKRON, Ohio -- A 6-month-old boy may have overdosed on an unidentified opioid Friday in Akron, police said.

The boy was having trouble breathing when police officers and paramedics were called about 4 p.m. at a house on Boulevard Street near West Thornton Street. He was revived after paramedics took him to Akron Children's Hospital, police said.

The boy and a 1-year-old boy, who was also living in the house, are now in the custody of Summit County Children's Services, police said.

No charges have been filed in the case, police said Monday afternoon. Investigators are awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

The Akron Police Department has reported at least three other overdoses involving children this year. Tymaine Thompson, 1, died June 4 after he overdosed on an opioid at a house on Gale Street, police said.

Two other children survived after they overdosed this year. On March 6, a 2-year-old child likely ingested or came into contact with an opiate before he overdosed, police said. On March 14, a 6-year-old girl became dizzy and appeared to have a seizure while she was in the shower at a house on Popham Street near Winston Street, police said.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Does your high school excel at showing school spirit? Does it have special and unique ways of supporting its teams and achievements? Do the students go above and beyond to show pride in their alma matter? If so, we have the perfect contest for your school.

cleveland.com is launching its next "Best of" contest -- Northeast Ohio's High School with the Best School Spirit. We're starting off by seeking nominations, which means now is the time to let us know about your pride-filled school. Nominations will be accepted through Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.

Nominating your school is easy. Send an email to best@cleveland.com with your name, the name of your school, city and why you think it has the best school spirit in all of Northeast Ohio. High school must be located in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Summit, Medina or Lorain County.

Along with this information we need to see the spirit for ourselves. Please include photos or videos of the following. Please note incomplete nominations will not be entered.

School pep rally

Spirit displayed at varsity games

Displays of spirit throughout the school

Cheerleading squad/ dance team/ majorettes/flag team

Band/drill line

Spirit days

Any other unique displays of school spirit

How the contest will work:

cleveland.com "Best of" reporters Hannah Drown and Yadi Rodriguez will select participants from the pool of nominations sent in.

Then it's all up to the readers, who will determine the ultimate winner of Greater Cleveland's High School with the Best School Spirit in online polls.

Readers will vote in the first round Oct. 4-12, and the finals Oct. 13-19. A live reveal will take place that week announcing the winner.

We can't wait to see all the ways you show off your school spirit.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland's police headquarters will remain in the downtown Justice Center for at least two years under a revised agreement to sell the building to Cuyahoga County.

County Council is expected to approve several resolutions to finalize the deal on Tuesday.

According to the revised agreement, the county will buy the police headquarters for $9.25 million and the title of the building will be transferred on Oct. 2, 2018. Until then the county will pay the city $1 to lease three floors of the building and half the parking spaces in the underground garage.

The county, which is beginning budget discussions and expects to impose cuts, will have a year to pay for the building from its general fund and reserves.

Once the deal closes, the city can lease the building from the county until Oct. 1 2019 for $10 per square foot per year plus parking fees, according to the resolution. The city will also pay a share of utilities.

The agreement was reached after months of discussions following the announcement in June that the county would take over the city's jail operations and purchase the headquarters building.

The city had issued a request for proposals to relocate its headquarters. The request said it was seeking to move by the end of March 2018.

Under the original agreement the county had planned to move employees in several departments located in the Marion Building on West 3rd Street into the Justice Center. The county wanted to relocate the employees by Oct. 31, when the Marion lease expires.

Instead, a resolution will be introduced Tuesday to extend the lease another year for $1.2 million.

The other two aspects of the city/county deal remain unchanged.

County Council is expected to approve a resolution charging Cleveland $99 per day to provide board and care for 160 prisoners. That rate could be increased up to two percent a year.

The county will begin overseeing operations, but the payment won't begin until the end of a 270-day transition period.

The resolution also includes a provision that calls for the city to pay $5.6 million to the county to cover nine months of operational costs during the transition period and improvements to the Bedford Heights Jail.

The County Council also is expected to approve a resolution to lease the Bedford Heights Jail for $1 a year for 10 years. The county will spend about $500,000 for improvements.

About 160 inmates in the city jail and House of Correction will be transferred to county facilities.

The county wants to own the entire Justice Center complex. The county is currently studying the future of the 40-year-old building, which is on prime downtown land.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A guard for a private company that provides security for the Cleveland Browns was robbed at gunpoint near the stadium as he tried catch a bus to Indianapolis for Sunday's game against the Colts.

The robbery happened about 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

Darnell Hurt, an employee at Contemporary Services Corporation, which provides security for the Browns, said he was walking to the stadium to catch a bus that would take him and other employees to Indianapolis where they would provide security for the team.

Hurt left his other security job at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and went downtown to catch the bus. He was walking along West 3rd Street when he noticed a blue SUV slow down.

The 22 year old became suspicious and tossed his cellphone into the grass. The SUV stopped and five men got out, according to Hurt and police reports.

The group surrounded him and one man pointed a gun at him, police reports say. Hurt said the men smelled like liquor and appeared drunk.

The gunman told Hurt: "Where you from? I need everything," according to police reports.

The gunman stole the Hurt's backpack that had his work clothes and work identification card and took his wallet and $100 out of his front pocket, police reports say. Hurt picked up his phone and called police.

"I was so mad," Hurt said. "I needed that money."

The group jumped back into the SUV and sped north on West 3rd Street, police reports say.

Hurt was not injured during the robbery. No arrests have been made in the case.

"I'm just trying to work and live my life," Hurt said. "I can't even enjoy that."

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
PAINESVILLE TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- A Painesville man died and a Huron man was seriously harmed Sunday in a rollover crash in Painesville Township, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators suspect drunken driving was a factor in the crash that happened just after 4 p.m. on an Ohio 2 exit ramp to Ohio 44, the sheriff's office said Monday in a news release.

Michael P. Corrigan, 57, was critically injured when he was thrown from an SUV during the crash. Corrigan, who was a passenger in the SUV, died after paramedics took him to TriPoint Medical Center in Concord Township.

The 57-year-old driver was flown to MetroHealth in Cleveland. The man's condition was not immediately available Monday morning.

A 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee went off the left side of the exit ramp before it swerved back to the right. The Jeep then crossed to the right shoulder and rolled over, the sheriff's office said.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation, the sheriff's office said.

Investigators have not announced any criminal charges in connection with the crash.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
TOD TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- A jet ski crashed into another jet ski on a farm pond Sunday evening in central Ohio, killing one of the drivers, reports say.

The Crawford County Sheriff's Department did not release the name of the 18-year-old victim, 10tv.com reports.

A statement from the sheriff's department says the teen was taken to Bucyrus Community Hospital but she died of her injuries, according to the Mansfield News Journal.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff's department are investigating the accident.

Tod Township is located about 110 miles southwest of Cleveland, near Upper Sandusky, Ohio. It has a population of just under 700 people.

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.comcrime and courts comments section.
We begin a new series of personal articles written by Dennis Tucker, publisher of Whitman Publishing and a member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, providing insight to the CCACs deliberations as its members review designs for U.S. coins and medals. As way of introduction, Dennis explains: My intent is to educate the hobby community; there are a lot of collectors who just dont get it when it comes to how coin programs come about, how coin designs are made, etc. I think a behind-the-scenes look will be very helpful for the hobby.

This past Tuesday, September 19, 2017, I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with fellow Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee members Thomas Uram and Erik Jansen on H Street in downtown Washington, D.C. We were in the nations capital for a meeting of the CCAC. The committees main agenda item: to review design proposals for five upcoming America the Beautiful quarter dollars and one Congressional Gold Medal.

U.S. Mint welcomes a fourth metal to the American Eagle bullion program. Also in this weeks print issue of Coin World, we teach our readers about what a weak-fatty gold coin is and why you dont want one in your collection.

Breakfast was relaxed because wed started the morning early, well before our 8:30 administrative meeting, giving us time to visit and catch up over eggs, bacon, and steel-cut oats. Tom, a financial adviser by trade, showed us photos of a large silver 1935 Met Life medal that hes going to research. It was awarded to a life-insurance agent who sold a remarkable $100,000 worth of policies six years into the Great Depression. Erik had shown us some condition rarities from Ecuador  U.S. Presidential and Sacagawea dollars in very worn circulated grades. These coins are rarely spent as cash in the United States, so here we typically see them in nothing less than lustrous Mint State or About Uncirculated condition. In Ecuador and El Salvador theyre actually used as day-to-day currency, so they get worn down like any other pocket change. I shared with my breakfast companions the story of a small collection of Franco-Prussian War satirical tokens I recently bought. They lampoon the defeated French emperor Napoleon III, showing him wearing a German spiked helmet, or chained with a collar marked SEDAN (the scene of his military defeat and capture). Some of the tokens depict him with a cigarette in his mouth  the emperor was a notorious chain-smoker, said to have been seen nervously puffing tobacco as his armies were routed by the Germans.

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After coffee we walked a couple blocks down to United States Mint headquarters on Ninth Street. The entire committee (except for member Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had a schedule conflict) assembled with Mint acting deputy director David Motl, Mint counsel, program managers, and others in the eighth-floor board room, for our 8:30 to 9:30 admin meeting. At 10:00 we moved to the second-floor conference room where we were joined by members of the press and public, with Mint medallic sculptors Phebe Hemphill and Joseph Menna on the phone line from Philadelphia, and several National Park Service and other liaisons present as well.

After some introductory business, we jumped right into our review of the America the Beautiful coin design proposals for 2019. The sketches were made by Mint artists (and Artistic Infusion Program artists) based on earlier guidance from the CCAC, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and liaisons from the national parks and other sites involved.

The first portfolio we reviewed was for Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts.

This site was established as a national park in 1978 to protect local history and interpret Lowells important role in U.S. industry. In the 1820s and 1830s the recently incorporated mill town grew into the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution. Its waterways and canal systems provided the power to run textile mills  innovative integrated factories that housed their entire operations under one roof, instead of spread out in several buildings or locations. New machinery was developed. Cloth manufacturing was revolutionized at Lowell, moving away from its cottage-industry origins into a new world of mass production. Providing the manpower  or womanpower  to run the machines were the so-called Mill Girls, most of them from the nearby farms of New England, recruited to Lowell to work in the factories. They stayed in company-owned boarding houses, with supervised educational and cultural opportunities and organized living. The Mill Girls became a social force in America, encouraging labor reform and education for workers.

Interpretive Park Ranger David Byers, who joined us in person at the meeting, discussed three important components for the coin design: It should include the human element, telling the story of the Mill Girls; it should capture the idea of technological innovation; and it should feature the built environment of the mills. The National Historical Parks preferred design was MA-04.

In my own review of the Lowell portfolio, which included 18 sketches, I discounted those designs that dont feature the Mill Girls, because their specialized labor was such an important transition from the artisanal hand-work of the past to the full automation of today. That took MA-02, 03, 05, and 06 off the table. They each have their strengths and weaknesses; these are the notes I made as I studied them:

? In MA-02, I like the bold legend of AMERICAN INDUSTRY, and the use of the factory buildings to represent the new age of industrialization moving away from the cottage industries of the past. But the absence of the human element is a detraction for this design.

? In MA-03, as with MA-02, the bold legend (AMERICAN INDUSTRY) and the architecture tell the viewer what theyre looking at. These arent warehouses or office buildings, but industrial factories. However, the absence of the Mill Girls leaves an important part of the story untold, or at most just hinted at.

? MA-05 tells the story of textiles from cotton farm to factory, but I discount it because it lacks the human element of a worker in action.

? MA-06: Yes, the raw cotton is important, and the shuttles and bobbins are important. But take the worker out of the equation and you end up with threads  you dont get whole cloth.

Among those designs that do feature the Mill Girls, I preferred those that give an expansive view of their work in the mills, showing more of the textile machinery (rather than focusing on individual elements such as shuttles and bobbins).

MA-01 and 01A feature a Mill Girl, and also textile machinery, but to my eye her stance is too posed and static. She appears to be displaying the loom, rather than working at it. The design looks like an old-fashioned museum diorama and not a living, breathing activity. There has been a lot of CCAC discussion recently about avoiding pictures on coins and moving toward more symbolism in American coinage art.

Design MA-04 has a storytelling combination of machinery and humanity. Its also one of only two designs that include a text reference to spindles, which adds another layer of understanding for 21st-century viewers looking at 19th-century technology. My only concern was that the spinning machine might be too finely detailed for a quarter-sized coin. On the silver three-inch coin the design would enjoy greater depth and more visible detail, but the circulating quarter offers less than a one-inch canvas.

MA-07 and MA-08 use the same Mill Girl figure  07 as the coins main motif, and 08 as part of a bigger scene. The figure of the woman handling a bobbin and shuttle is well drafted, but without a legend to accompany it (as with AMERICAN INDUSTRY in some of the other designs), it would be ambiguous and mysterious to a 21st-century viewer. Modern Americans wont recognize the threaded bobbin or the shuttle, especially reduced in size to fit on the quarter dollar. On a one-inch canvas, it would look like the Mill Girl is shucking an ear of corn. Design MA-08, however, is an improvement with its combination of the human and machine aspects of Lowells textile industries. The loom gives context. Also, the Mill Girl isnt just pressing levers, but shes interacting with the machinery in a very intimate, literally hands on way. This is a good depiction of the transition from artisanal cottage-industry work to mass production. The machinery might be finely detailed, but weve seen fine detail work in some recent America the Beautiful quarters, for example, the 2017 Frederick Douglass and Ellis Island coins. It would be up to the Mints engraver to make MA-08 work, but I think it could be done. MA-08 was my #1 preference from the Lowell portfolio of designs.

Committee member Jeanne Stevens-Sollman (representative of the general public, and herself an accomplished sculptor) noted the importance of showing Lowells architecture, and called out designs MA-16 and 17A. Member Dr. Herman Viola (specially qualified in American history) supported our liaisons preferences and brought attention to the quote in MA-14: Art is the handmaid of human good.

Conversation quickly centered around MA-10, 11, and 12. These designs (three variations of the same motif) show a Mill Girl with thread stylized as if it were being spun from water, symbolic of the importance of Lowells canal system in powering its textile mills. These eye-catching designs ultimately were the ones that won the committees recommendation. Personally, I appreciate the artistry of the water being turned into thread, and I like the intervening force of the Mill Girl in that transformation (shes literally the central figure in the designs), but to me this is too stylized of a depiction of the textile production process. It captures the importance of the waterworks, but reduces the loom machinery to a single element (the bobbin and shuttle). I feel that reduction goes too far. Committee member Robert Hoge, our member specially qualified as a numismatic curator, agreed, saying that the water and thread doesnt work and critiquing the halo or nimbus effect of the water-wheel in MA-12.

Other committee members, however, were quite taken with the artful nature and symbolism of MA-10, 11, and 12. Mike Moran, a numismatic researcher and published author, said he was drawn to them as a civil engineer who appreciates that water power drove these mills. He did rhetorically ask, though, if they would resonate with the man on the street.

Heidi Wastweet, our member specially qualified in sculpture and medallic arts, called this suite of three designs what weve been asking for in the CCACs recent push for more symbolism and less literalism. She called them beautiful, symbolic, but representational. In contrast, she addressed design MA-04 as one that is adequate, informative, very literal, utilitarian, and asked, Is that the bar we want to set?

Member Thomas Uram also spoke about MA-10 and 11 as being among his preferences, noting that they would really let you see more than just a machine.

Member Erik Jansen noted that the face imparts emotion on a coin, and for that reason MA-17 and 17A can be discounted, since the Mill Girls faces are turned from the viewer. MA-10, 11, and 12 dont have that problem.

Member and former committee chair Mary N. Lannin, an expert in ancient coinage, was emphatic: My heart is with number 11. She praised the way MA-11 actually shows the water turning the mill wheel, and spoke about the stance of the Mill Girl: Shes proud. This is her work.

Acting Chair Donald Scarinci, a specialist in art medals, called MA-11 clearly the nicest. It gives us everything weve been asking for in terms of a movement toward artistic symbolism on American coinage. The artists are listening to us. He pointed out that the design has all three elements desired by our liaisons at Lowell National Historical Park. It focuses on the individual Mill Girl, it makes use of negative space, and it has a hint of abstraction in the thread depicted as water. It shows motion rather than photography, Scarinci said.

Our Vote for Lowell, and Our Recommendation to the Treasury

The mission of the CCAC is to study and review coinage design proposals and make our recommendations to the secretary of the U.S. Treasury, who ultimately decides what designs will be used. In our first round of voting for the Lowell sketches, each candidate could earn up to 30 points  10 members of the committee were present, and each member could assign 1, 2, or 3 points to each design. Our voting was thus:

? MA-10, 11, and 12, grouped for the purpose of voting, got 18 points.

? MA-15 and 16, grouped, got 12 points.

? MA-04, our liaisons first preferred choice, got 11 points.

? MA-07, 08, 13, and 14 each got 4 points or fewer.

? MA-01, 1A, 02, 03, 05, and 06 each got 0 points.

Since our most points were voted in a block, to MA-10, 11, and 12 as a general motif, we voted in a second round among the three. In the second vote:

? MA-10 earned 0 votes.

? MA-11 earned 6 votes.

? MA-12 earned 1 vote.

This voting is not a final act itself, but a springboard for further conversation as we circle in on final. A bit more discussion led to a closer study of the wheel buckets shown in MA-11s machinery, at the left of the design. Our recommendation to the secretary of the Treasury: adoption of MA-11, with the wheel buckets modified, as the reverse of the 2019 Lowell National Historical Park quarter.

Mr. Byers from Lowell agreed with our recommendation, appreciatively noting that MA-11 interprets the textile story from left to right, starting with the force of moving water, then the Mill Girl holding machine parts, and finally to woven thread.

Next: the American Memorial Park (Northern Mariana Islands) quarter dollar.
By Stephen Sawchuk, Alyson Klein, and Andrew Ujifusa

This week, Education Week is bringing its trademark analysis to the remaining state plans for fulfilling requirements of the Every Student Succeeds law. On Monday, we had a look at the states proposed school quality indicatorsthe required but nonacademic portion of each states plan to judge schools . Today, were going to take a look at states goals for raising student achievement and their timelines for doing so in the plans awaiting federal approval.



One thing well keep stressing again and again this week: how far federal policy has moved since the days of the No Child Left Behind Acgt (ESSAs predecessor). Read on.

So, what kinds of goals are states setting?

Some states chose fixed goals that aim for all students, and all subgroups of vulnerable students, such as those qualifying for subsidized school lunches or English-language learners, to reach the same target (such as 80 percent proficiency). Whats nice about this kind of goal is that it sets the same endpoint, making it easier to see over time how achievement gaps are expected to close. States in this category include: Arkansas, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, (grades 3-8 only), Ohio, Minnesota, New York, Rhode island, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Did any state brave 100 percent, which was the goal for all states under NCLB? That would be South Dakota, which aims for all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2030-31.

Other states picked relative goals, which means that schools endpoint is relative to their starting point, and can differ among groups of students. Even though this approach expects more progress of further-behind subgroups, they dont have the same end target as the higher-achieving groups within the plans timeline. Falling into this camp are: Alaska, California, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, (grad rate only), Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wisconsin.

This is one of the big choices for states that advocates like the Education Trust, a group that works on behalf of needy students and students of color, have weighed in on . The group prefers the fixed-goals approach, assuming that the goals are ambitious but achieveable, because with relative goals states need to do a lot of messaging to demonstrate that theyre not lowering expectations for some students.

The state has to be really clear about the fact that different targets are requiring greater improvement on behalf of kids who are starting further behind, and that meeting them will be putting those students on the path to reaching that same goal in the future, said Natasha Ushomirsky, the Ed Trusts director of P-12 policy.

What happens to schools dont meet these goals?

Mark this in bold: States dont face any particular penalties for failing to reach their goals . All the law requires is that the state uses its indicators to identify the bottom 5 percent of schools for comprehensive support, and then another set of schools where particular groups of students have been underperforming for targeted assistance. Some states work progress toward the goals into their indicators, but many of them do not.

This lack of connection between goal-setting and consequences is, arguably, the biggest difference from NCLB. Under that law, not meeting annual performance targets triggered very specific school interventions, like having to offer free tutoring for students.

How difficult are the goals? How long do states have to meet them?

By law, those goals are supposed to be ambitious, but theres no definition in ESSA for what constitutes an ambitious goal. And as the U.S. Department of Education uncomfortably found out in a back-and-forth with Delaware , pushing states too hard on their goals could invite the wrath of hawk-eyed lawmakers, who want to be sure the agency doesnt overstep whats in the law.

So, the goals the states have set are probably the ones theyre going to live by. Even then, most of the states noted in their plans that they will reset goals from time to time.

Its borderline impossible to make an objective determination about ambitiousness without more detail: Most of the states provided little information on their schools rate of improvement over the last few years in their plans.

States also picked a wide range of timelines for their long-term goals. They range from just five years, in Iowa, which expects one-half to 1 percent annual growth in proficiency rates for schools and subgroups, to timelines spanning more than a decade. Georgia, for instance, wants its schools and subgroups proficiency rates to increase by 3 percent annually for the next 15 years.

Cut to the chase. Whats my big takeaway?

States are truly diverse both in the schools goals they set under ESSA and how long they plan to take to reach them. If thats what Congress had in mind when it crafted a law that was more flexible than NCLB, it got it.

On the other hand, this wide range of goalscoupled with different indicators and weighting schemesis definitely going to make implementation more challenging for analysts and watchdog groups to track.
UPDATED

President Donald Trump is calling on the U.S. Department of Education to put a new focus on STEM education, especially computer science educationeven as his budget seeks to scrap federal grants that schools can use for those programs.

This administration is committed to building the workforce of tomorrow, Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter and adviser, told reporters Monday, according to a White House pool report.

The White House wants U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and her team to steer more competitive-grant money from programs like the Education Innovation and Research fund toward recipients that have a STEM focus. And the administration wants DeVos to set a goal of directing at $200 million a year in grant funds to STEM and computer science.

Ironically, though, the Trump administrations proposed budget for fiscal 2018 eliminates one of the main federal programs in the department that districts can use for computer science : The Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, which can be used for health, safety, arts, technology programs and more, and are supposed to get more than $1.5 billion under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Congress didnt take the administration up on its suggestion to scrap the program, but lawmakers arent seeking to fund it at nearly the level ESSA recommended. The House of Representatives wants $500 million for the program , and a Senate bill would include $450 million .

The Obama administration pitched a new $4 billion computer science program last year , but Congress never provided the funding for it.

Our understanding is that they want to reach across multiple grant programs at the Education Department, said Cameron Wilson, the chief operating officer at code.org, which advised both the Obama and Trump administrations on their computer science proposals. Hes not anticipating, though, that there would be new money for the initiative.

Wilson noted the Obama administrations proposed investment in computer science and said hes glad that both Republicans and Democrats are focused on this issue. Its just right for the future of students in the United States, he said. Wilson would love to see Congress and the White House provide money for Title IV as well as Title II, a teacher-quality program the administration wants to eliminate.

Ruthe Farmer, the chief evangelist at the CSforAll Consortium, is also glad to have the White House shine a spotlight on computer science. But she has some big questions about what the initiative will look like going forward. Shes wondering, for instance, how much of the focus will be on computer science specifically, as opposed to other STEM subjects that are already getting attention in schools.

Obviously, the president can signal that something is a priority and its super valuable and awesome, she said. But she wants to know: Is this added money additional funding? ... At what level does it prioritize computer science?

More details may be available down the line.

We look forward to working with the White House and Congress on identifying grant funds to use for this important initiative, said Liz Hill, a spokeswoman for the education department.

Photo: Ivanka Trump, second from right, speaks with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., right, before President Donald Trump signs a memorandum in the Oval Office of the White House on Sept. 25 to expand access to STEM education. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
People who went to college say that advice from mentors in the working world is the kind that was most helpful in choosing a majormore valuable than advice from counselors, teachers, or family members. But its also the type of advice that students get the least, according to a study released Tuesday.

The report, by Gallup and the Strada Education Network , found that minority and low-income students, and students who are the first in their families to attend college, are at a particular disadvantage in getting advice on college majors. Those groups of students have less access to the informal work, social and school networks that can yield helpful advice about what to study in college, the study found.

The findings led Gallup and Strada to call for stepped-up efforts to link students with the world of work, through experiences such as apprenticeships and internships, so they can connect to people who can offer helpful guidance about college majors.

This is especially true for first-generation, low-income and minority students who depend the most on sources of advice beyond their informal personal network, but have the least access to these resources, William D. Hansen, the president and CEO of Strada Education Network, a nonprofit that focuses on helping students find purposeful pathways through college, wrote in a message accompanying the report.

The study is the second in a series of reports by Gallup and Strada about college decisions. The first, in June, found that more than one-third of those who went to college regretted their choice of major . The second report was designed to dig into those regrets by exploring how students made their decisions about what to study.

The new report is based on telephone interviews with about 22,000 adults who completed associate or bachelors degrees, or finished some college courses without earning a degree. Researchers asked those adults what resources or people they had sought out for advice, and how helpful they found that advice.

The researchers grouped peoples responses into four categories. Here they are, in order of most-frequently-cited as a source of advice:

Informal social network : Family, friends, community leaders (55 percent)



: Family, friends, community leaders (55 percent) Formal : Sources focused on providing college advice, including high school and college counselors, and print and online resources (44 percent)



: Sources focused on providing college advice, including high school and college counselors, and print and online resources (44 percent) Informal school-based : High school teachers and coaches, college faculty or other staff not typically focused on a counseling role (32 percent)



: High school teachers and coaches, college faculty or other staff not typically focused on a counseling role (32 percent) Informal work-based: Employers, coworkers, people with experience in the field, military sources (20 percent)

First-generation students were much less likely than those with college-educated parents to seek advice about their major from an informal social network, the study found. That puts them at a disadvantage; students whose parents went to college can make use of their parents college experience, and are more likely to be exposed to others who have gone to college, the report said.

Only 47 percent of first-generation students sought advice from informal social networks, but 60 percent of those whose parents earned bachelors degrees, and 65 percent of those whose parents earned graduate degrees, did so, according to the study.

When it comes to advice from people in the working world, the researchers found its the most helpful to students, but the type they use least often.

Those who got advice from people with work experience were least likely to regret their choice of major. Only 31 percent of those who got that kind of guidance said theyd had second thoughts about their major, but more than one-third, and as many as 4 in 10, of those who got advice from other areas reported doubts.

For more information about college decisions, see also:

Five Things to Remember When Planning for College, by People Who Study It

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Stingray Roundup: Courts Requiring Warrants for Secret Cell Phone Tracking

There's little doubt that police will use the latest and greatest technology to track down suspected criminals. One such technology is a cell-site simulator -- often referred to as a Stingray, based on a leading brand.

There's also little doubt that law enforcement tends to use these technologies first, and then worry about whether it was legal later. And Stingray use has become quite controversial, due to its widespread use and later questions regarding its legality. Here's a look at Stingray technology and some recent court rulings on the matter.

How It Works

In essence, a Stingray imitates a cell phone tower, transmitting cellular signals. Because cell phones are designed to locate and connect with the strongest cell phone tower, they will locate and connect to the Stingray. Law enforcement can limit the cellular transmissions to a target phone, then, once the Stingray is communicating with only the target phone, officers can follow the signal and direction of the target phone until they locate it. The question has become whether these connections constitute a search under the Constitution, and therefore whether law enforcement needs a warrant to use a Stingray device.

How Courts Have Ruled

State Courts

Last year, Maryland joined California, Minnesota, Utah, Virginia, and Washington in requiring warrants for Stingray use. Under the ruling officers must also fully explain what exactly the device does and how it is and will be used to the court.

Federal District Courts

A U.S. District Court judge in Manhattan also ruled the Drug Enforcement Administration violated the Fourth Amendment by using a stingray without a warrant, writing, "Absent a search warrant, the government may not turn a citizen's cell phone into a tracking device."

Federal Circuit Courts

Last year, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals sidestepped the issue a bit: while not saying a warrant was required for Stingray use specifically, the court instead ruled that a warrant the police had for gaining similar information from the cell service provider also covered use of a Stingray. The D.C. Circuit was a little more forceful last week, holding that "the government violated the Fourth Amendment when it deployed the cell-site simulator against [a defendant] without first obtaining a warrant based on probable cause."

And while the FBI had asserted that it does not need a warrant to use Stingray devices, the Department of Homeland Security says it will obtain them before use.

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CORNWALL, Ontario  The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) payed respect to those lost in the Battle of Britain this Sunday, Sept. 24.

Often described as the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces, the 1940 battle amassed over 40,000 fatalities in a six-month period. Members and dignitaries were present at the RCAF Associations Wing 424 to honour the Royal Air Force (RAF) for their service in British airspace.

If it was not for the RAF, and the commonwealth forces that fought on behalf of good, the war would have been lost to the Germans, said Lt.-Col. Christopher Horner, guest speaker and Aerospace Control Operations at the Nav Centre.

Discussing the impact of aerospace control on military strategy, Horner said that the average interceptive mission percentage went from 25 percent to 70 and over once RAF observers were introduced.

Honouring the feat of fellowship and bravery, Horner noted that it was their finest hour. Addressing member of the RCAF, Horner stated that it was their duty to carry the torch

Those individuals are the guardians of your sovereignty. It will continue to be their finest hour for the rest of their careers as they continue to defend and protect this great nation, said Horner. That is what won the Battle of Britain, and they are what will keep Canada safe in the future.
CORNWALL, Ontario  This weekend, 26 locations from Morrisburg to Alexandria played host to the celebrated Apples & Art Studio Tour.

Now in its 26th year, the tour has since grown to include a multitude of different art forms, from oil on canvas to costume and textile. In addition to the art portion of the event, the tour also revels in the history of the McIntosh Apple, which originated in Eastern Ontario.

This year, the ladies at OBO Studios had more to celebrate than their love of art. Having recently announced that they will be moving to their new location at 204 Second Street East in the coming months, owners Tracy-Lynn Chisholm and Emily MacLeod took the opportunity to share their excitement with visitors.

These are people we see once a year at this event, said MacLeod. So, its nice to catch up when they come in for Apples & Art. The event mostly attracts art lovers from around the area.

With a moving sale chock-full of lovely artwork, MacLeod says that while they have enjoyed the years of art and friendship at 44 Pitt, it was time for a change.

I think people are kind of surprised because this is such a great space, said MacLeod. It was a big decision, and there were a lot of different considerations we took into account.

Hoping to be fully moved in by the new year, the new space will allow for better visibility, and above all, more space.

Its going to be great to have a dedicated space for showing, said MacLeod. Its a great big chunk the chew, but were very excited.
UNITED COUNTIES OF SD&G, Ontario  Environment Canada has issued a Heat Warning for Monday, Sept 25, 2017.

Hot and humid conditions will continue early this week, the Environment Canada warning reads. Mostly sunny skies will allow daytime temperatures to reach the low thirties, with humidex values approaching forty again today. A cold front is expected to move across Southern Ontario through the day Wednesday bringing cooler temperatures for the remainder of the week.

The statement goes on to warn of the dangers of being out in extreme heat.

The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors, the statement reads. Reduce your heat risk. Schedule outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day. Seek a cool place such as a tree-shaded area, swimming pool, shower or bath, or air-conditioned spot like a public building. Never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle. Outdoor workers should take regularly scheduled breaks in a cool place.
Small Business Owners Also Suing Equifax Over Data Breach

The Equifax data breach, wherein the credit information for 143 million people was exposed, is potentially catastrophic. Hackers were able to gain access to full names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and even driver license numbers -- everything they would need to steal a person's identity, take out loans or credit lines in their name, and ruin their credit history.

And that credit history is especially important to small business owners, many of whom have financed their business using their personal credit. So naturally, small business owners are pretty mad about Equifax putting their business credit at risk by not securing their personal credit information. Mad enough to file a class action lawsuit on behalf of some 28 million small businesses.

Small Business Breach

The lawsuit was filed by Atlanta-based attorneys at Doss Firm LLC, and claims that, because the availability of small business credit is often directly linked to its owners' creditworthiness, small business owners could be disproportionally affected by Equifax's data breach. "[A]bout 60% of small businesses use loans to finance their operations," the suit asserts, "and use the loan capital for a variety of purposes, ranging from maintaining cash flow and working capital to purchasing equipment and financing real estate purchases":

Therefore, as it relates to the continued viability of small businesses being able to obtain business credit, for small businesses to grow and for our nation's economy to flourish, it was/is imperative that Equifax honor its responsibility to protect the PII of consumers and business owners so that individuals and businesses can continue to exist without the threat of being a victim of identity theft, fraudulent loans and other financial frauds.

Small Business Security

The lawsuit alleges Equifax failed to comply with federal law regarding consumer data, and that the plaintiffs "suffered imminent and impending injury arising from the substantially increased risk of future fraud, identity theft, and misuse" of their exposed personal information.

The small business owners, noting that Equifax makes over $1 billion a year on its credit reporting products, is asking for damages to cover "reimbursement of out-of-pocket losses and other compensatory damages," as well as "further and more robust credit monitoring services with accompanying identity theft insurance, and injunctive relief including an order requiring Equifax to implement improved data security measures."

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The reason for that change could serve as the basis for a whole other movie. According to director Penelope Spheeris, Led Zeppelin and Warner Music Group told the producers that they could only play two notes from "Stairway" before they'd have to pay $100,000 for the rights. However, in order for the gag to work, they needed people to recognize what song is being played, and it's pretty hard to do that with only two notes -- Wayne could be trying to play "Baby Got Back" for all we know. So in the theatrical release, Wayne ended up playing three notes. WMG wasn't amused, because it's not like this silly little comedy could lead to a classic rock band's chart-topping revival or something. And so, when the movie went to home video, WMG refused to license the song, leading to a hasty do-over that made the joke about 2,000 percent more nonsensical.

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There's another layer of irony here, of course. While Zep is notoriously tightfisted with the rights to their songs, they tend to take a much more light-fingered approach to other artists' music. In 2016, the band was sued by members of the band Spirit, whose song "Taurus" contains a riff which sounds shockingly similar to the intro of "Stairway." Led Zeppelin ultimately won the lawsuit, but if we were Spirit, here's what we'd do: License "Taurus" to Wayne's World (25 years after it came out) for free. After all, it sounds nothing like "Stairway To Heaven," so we're sure Robert Plant and Jimmy Page won't mind at all if they put it in this scene.

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When he's not playing "Sweet Home Alabama" in guitar stores, Chris can be found on Twitter.

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Raytheon Loses Troll-ish Texas Patent Venue Shopping Battle

Ever wonder why so many patent cases get filed in the Federal Eastern District Court of Texas? It might be that wild wild west Texas mindset, or it might be the fact that over 70 percent of patent holders win their cases in that judicial district.

While you might think that reputable companies like Raytheon might rise above the troll-ish act of venue shopping, you should never underestimate the desire of corporations to save money and to get a leg up in litigation. Unfortunately for Raytheon in their patent infringement case against Cray Inc. over supercomputer patent stuff, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals just shipped the case out of the Texas district that has become the most popular for patent holders, and into Cray's home state of Washington.

Patent Venue Is as Easy as 1-2-3

Raytheon's loss at the appellate level helps to provide some guidance on the recent SCOTUS decision in TC Heartland v. Kraft which set the precedent for interpreting venue in patent cases pursuant to section 1400(b). Unlike the test for personal jurisdiction in a tort or contract action where sufficient contact with a jurisdiction renders jurisdiction and venue proper, patent infringement cases are controlled by a separate statute: 28 U.S.C. Section 1400.

Basically, there are three main factors that must all be met for venue to be deemed proper:

The defendant's business must be a physical place in the district; That place must be a regular and established place of business; and That place must be the place of the defendant.

In the Raytheon v. Cray case, it was argued that a single Cray salesperson who worked out of their home within the district satisfied the above elements. While the district court agreed, the appellate court found that the one employee was not enough. It considered the fact that the employee worked out of their personal home, was supported by an out of state office, and no products or even product literature was stored in his home. Cray did not pay rent, or own the home, or any other property in the district. The court also strongly considered the fact that the one employee did not hold out their home as a regular or established place of business.

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Cloud News

HPE Partner Invested In And Helped Shape Greenqloud, Before It Was Acquired By NetApp

Joseph F. Kovar

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One Hewlett-Packard Enterprise solution provider played a key role in the development of a company NetApp recently bought: enterprise-scale cloud management technology developer Greenqloud.

Greenqloud, which NetApp acquired in the second quarter, counted among its investors and board members Kelly Ireland, founder and CEO of CB Technologies, a Kirkland, Wash.-based solution provider.

Ireland (pictured) told CRN that she was introduced to Jonsi Stefansson, CEO of Reykjavik, Iceland-based Greenqloud, by a mutual acquaintance at Microsoft in 2015. Greenqloud was originally founded to sell public cloud computing services based on its facilities powered 100 percent by renewable energy, but in 2014 had changed course to focus on software.

[Related: NetApp Bought Iceland's Greenqloud To Fill Data Fabric Need For Cloud Automation, Orchestration]

That software is Qstack. Launched in 2015, Qstack can be deployed in multiple private cloud locations and to share resources between those private clouds extend them to another remote Qstack cloud environment, any EC2-based public cloud, or AWS or Microsoft Azure.

"Jonsi had a concept that really resonated with me," Ireland said. "While everyone else was going down the OpenStack path, Jonsi said a true cloud platform is not just OpenStack, but also CloudStack and others."

Ireland sent four engineers to Iceland to visit Greenqloud in order to understand the company better, and they were impressed, she said.

"Greenqloud was exactly what its name implied: A green cloud," she said. "The company operated off thermal energy, and is completely green."

While Greenqloud's original investors came from the IT industry, Stefansson over the course of a year told Ireland that he needed someone who could talk to the company's board of directors about the IT market, and about the U.S. market.

"We had seen lots of starts and struggles in the cloud," she said. "And I've been in IT for 30 years, and felt I could bring in a lot of information."

That eventually led Ireland to take an equity stake in the company in 2016. She declined to discuss details regarding the value of her stake in Greenqloud.

Greenqloud's talent was a big part of Ireland's interest in the company, especially that of Stefansson who was well-known for his work in developing the Opera browser, Ireland said. "He knew what he was creating, and knew where he wanted to go," she said. "And he had a great group of people."

Ireland said she was excited about NetApp's acquisition of Greenqloud and the support NetApp is giving Stefansson, who is now that company's vice president of cloud services.

"NetApp is letting him continue to be an innovator, and expanding his team," she said.

Once the acquisition closed, Ireland's role as a part of Greenqloud's board of directors ended. However, her journey with Stefansson is continuing as her company, CB Technologies, signed with NetApp as one of its newest channel partners.

"NetApp liked the idea of working with a solution provider with cloud experience and with experience within Qstack," she said.

NetApp's technology, in general, fits well with CB Technologies' business, Ireland said. "Signing with represents an expansion of our business," she said. "But there's no lessening of our HPE relationship. The industry today needs a lot of collaboration and partnerships. NetApp made a lot of great acquisitions in the last year. We see a lot of upside in what they're doing."

Greenqloud was a one-off investment for Ireland. She has also purchased a software application that is targeted at helping high school graduates entering the workplace learn creativity, collaboration, and communication. It is slated to launch in 2018. "A lot of students really can't communicate after they leave high school," she said.
Security News

Deloitte Hit By Data Breach, Customer Information Reportedly Exposed

Sarah Kuranda

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When it comes to data breaches, solution providers themselves are becoming a target, with a report Monday that consulting giant Deloitte, No. 18 on the 2017 CRN Solution Provider 500 list, had been hacked.

A Guardian report Monday said a Deloitte global email server was hacked, which gave hackers access to emails to and from the company's staff, as well as customer information on some of the company's top federal and private sector clients. The report said the hackers could have also accessed other information, such as usernames, passwords, IP addresses and architectural design diagrams.

The report said Deloitte discovered the attack in March. It said the hackers had been in the company's systems for months, stretching back to October or November 2016.

[Related: Solution Providers: Equifax Breach Shows Incident Response Needs To Include The 'Nontechnical' As Well]

The report said Deloitte was not using two-factor authentication on the email server, which it said was hosted on the Azure cloud service. It said the server was compromised through an admin account.

Deloitte confirmed the hack to the Guardian, but said only a few clients were impacted by the attack. It said it has engaged in a "comprehensive security protocol," investigation, and notified clients at risk. The Guardian said it appears that Deloitte has also engaged with an outside legal firm around the issue.

Deloitte has not yet replied to CRN requests for comment on the breach, and to what extent it impacted the company's consulting and services customers.

The breach adds to a growing trend around third-party breaches, in which hackers attack a company with the ultimate goal of hacking a company they do business with or are integrated with. The classic example of this type of attack is the hack of an HVAC vendor, which led to the mega data breach at Target in 2013.

A key set of companies in that third-party breach ecosystem is the solution provider channel. Companies like Deloitte, which offers audit, tax consulting, technology consulting and cybersecurity services, are a tantalizing vector of attack for hackers looking to get information on their clients, especially given the deep technical integration and company information required for things like consulting and managed services.

Alton Kizziah, vice president of global managed services at Kudelski Security, said data breaches, like this one, are particularly concerning for managed security services providers.

"It's shocking and scary and we're definitely worried about it," Kizziah said. "We do a lot of things to specifically prevent this type of attack.  It is very stressful and very worrying when you see these things to think we could be a conduit for an attack on one of our clients."

A report earlier this year highlighted that trend, finding that managed service providers are increasingly being targeted by a major APT group, as they serve as a third-party vector of attack into end-target customer accounts. The report, by the National Cyber Security Centre, BAE Systems and PricewaterhouseCoopers UK, found that China-based hacking group APT10 has been targeting managed service providers and others with "common as well as custom malware."

A blog post by BAE Systems said MSPs offer a tantalizing target for attacks because while they offer a way for companies to enable their businesses around technology, the "network connectivity which exists between MSPs and their customers also provides a vector for attackers to jump through."

"Successful global MSPs are even more attractive as they become a hub from which an intruder may access multiple end-victim networks," the blog post said. The post said companies have been tracking attacks at "several major MSPs" since late 2016, attributing them to this APT10 group. It said activity by this group increased in the middle of last year.

FireEye also issued a blog post following the PwC and BAE Systems report, saying its own iSight threat intelligence had seen a "resurgence" in APT10 activity in June 2016, targeting universities, construction, engineering, aerospace and telecom firms. It said it had also seen APT10 activity at "multiple IT service providers worldwide."

Kizziah said Kudelski does see "a lot of stuff" coming after its own business, especially phishing attacks. However, he said the company is "constantly working" to test its own systems to find weaknesses. He said Kudelski also takes measures to protect client privacy and data, saying it limits the amount of client data it keeps and puts multiple steps in between client systems and its own to make it much harder for hackers to use Kudelski as a jumping-off point for an attack. He said the company does not store and cannot even read client passwords, which were one of the pieces of information reportedly exposed in this breach.

Kizziah said that was a particular focus for the managed service provider when it rebuilt its managed service practice last April. He said the company made a "significant investment" and had many people on the team focusing on how to prevent attacks on Kudelski being used as a vector to attack clients.

"I feel pretty good about where we are, but that doesn't mean we aren't worried," Kizziah said. "We spent a lot of time when we started up getting everything set up to serve our clients. One of the things you hear a lot is that we want to be an extension of the team and clients' security partner, instead of just a provider."

Kizziah said he expects existing clients will ask questions of Kudelski following the Deloitte attack to see what security measures are in place. He said the company, which competes with Deloitte, doesn't usually see an uptick in new business inquiries around this type of data breach.
Nadella's View

During his opening keynote Monday at Ignite, Microsoft's conference for IT professionals and developers, CEO Satya Nadella gave a glimpse into how Microsoft is seeking to revolutionize nearly every industry with technologies including cloud, artificial intelligence and mixed reality. Nadella said Microsoft is also looking beyond current technology paradigms and into frontiers such as ultra-powerful quantum computers, which may be capable of immensely faster computations than today's computers.

What follows are five key takeaways from Nadella's Ignite 2017 keynote.
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A have-a-go hero in his seventies used a suitcase as a shield to his family when a machete-wielding moped gang targeted them.

The 73-year-old man has spoken about his brave actions and how he tried to defend his wife and relatives from the frightening attack in Thornton Heath.

He revealed that he and his wife were on the final day of their holiday visiting his brother and sister-in-law, and they had just been out shopping to get a new suitcase for their journey home.

Footage filmed by a neighbour showed what happened next, as they were approached by a man dressed in black, waving a foot-long knife and demanding jewellery from the two women, aged 66 and 67.

In the video, an elderly man can be seen trying to protect his family from the group who pushed him to the ground. After this, the men snatched three gold necklaces that were worth thousands of pounds, before getting away on mopeds.

The family, who have asked not to be identified, have spoken about the ordeal on Bensham Manor Road, at 3.20pm last Wednesday (September 20).

The 73-year-old man told the Evening Standard: I tried to use [the suitcase] to shield the ladies from the man with the knife. Sometimes offence is the best defence.

But they pushed me to the floor hard and I hit my head on the footpath. Blood was oozing from my head and my glasses broke.

My wife handed her chain to him and they got on the two mopeds and drove off.

He added: It is a shame because the suitcase was bought to take all these sweet memories of London home, but this has marred everything.

The mans wife said: I was screaming so loud but no one came to help. He grabbed my chain from behind and I was crying, Help me.

My sister-in-law was panicked and he then demanded her chain too and she gave it him.

The chains are like wedding rings and I have had mine for 47 years. Its the sentimental value. Im numb by whats happened.

Police have confirmed there have been no arrests since the attack.

Any witnesses or anyone with information has been asked to call Croydon CID on 101 or contact them via Twitter @MetCC.
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When someone is murdered in their own home, the community living in the area will understandably be wanting the killer to be caught as soon as possible.

For 40 years the murder of Coulsdon mum-of-two Joy Sweatman has gone unsolved - despite police offering a 2,500 reward.

Mrs Sweatman, 25, died after being attacked in her own home in front of her young daughter in 1977 and a person was reportedly seen wiping blood off a hammer .

Police were called to the address, in St Andrew's Road, after Mrs Sweatmans lodger, 53-year-old Vernon Patton, made the gruesome discovery of her bloodied body when he returned home at 1.30pm on Wednesday, June 1, according to reports in the Coulsdon and Purley Advertiser at the time.

The paper reported in the June 17, 1977, edition that Mrs Sweatman was killed on the same day of the Queen's Silver Jubliee celebrations. Neighbours were just 100 yards away at the time, watching her Majesty pass through Woodmansterne Station by train from their front gardens.

Mrs Sweatman was reported to have been hit while standing up and then beaten with the hammer. Then as she fell to the floor the killer stamped on her body, leaving her dead with a pillow and a plastic bag over her head.

What makes the crime even more gruesome is that the report states that Mrs Sweatmans two-year-old daughter Sarah was set upon by the murderer, and that Mr Patton's two children were upstairs while their landlady was killed in cold blood.

In the report it said Sarah was beaten so badly that she was taken to Queen Mary's Hospital, in Carshalton, with several head wounds and she remained unconscious for four days.

The Advertiser reported on June 24 that she had been discharged and gone to live with her grandparents in West London.

A man, wearing a fawn coat and flat cap, was seen leaving the scene with either red paint or blood on his face while wiping a hammer on his coat, according to the True Crime Library website.

It states that the suspect was reportedly seen getting into a white, R-reg white Austin Maxi saloon at the scene of the crime.

Police were reported to have checked all of the 3,500 people in Britain who owned a white Austin Maxi saloon vehicle at the time of the killing, but were unable to trace the suspect.

A 20-man squad interviewed hundreds of local people in the hopes of catching the attacker, The Advertiser reported on June 24, including all of Mrs Sweatman's known contacts and all male patients at Cane Hill Psychiatric Hospital - but were unable to trace him using this method.

Their first port of call for questioning was Mrs Sweatman's estranged husband, Gerald Sweatman, 28, who lived in Purley with the couple's five-year-old son Simon, but the case against him was promptly dropped.

Forensic evidence including hair and woolen fibres were also collected from the scene by detectives, but none of the samples tested provided a match, leaving officers hoping that blood found at the scene would identify the murderer.

However, the blood proved to be Mrs Sweatman's, leaving detectives no choice but to conclude that the killer did not spill any of his own blood during what The Advertiser dubbed a "frenzied" attack.

The Advertiser reported officers "needed a break" on June 24 after a laboratory test on blood tests came back negative, with a murder squad spokesman telling the paper at the time that the unit "needed a lucky break in the hunt".

With no photo or video leads, no forensic evidence and no confirmed motive, the squad hit a brick wall.

However, as officers could find no signs of forced entry at Mrs Sweatman's semi-detached home, they believe her killer was someone she knew.

A front-page report in the June 10 edition of The Advertiser said: "[Mrs Sweatman] was a frequent visitor to clubs and discotheques in Croydon - particularly Cinatras at Broad Green.

"It is possible that she met her killer at one of these clubs, police believe."

Left desperate by the news from the forensic team, Mrs Sweatman's adoptive parents offered a 2,000 reward to anyone with information that would lead to the killer being brought to justice.

The Advertiser added 500 to this sum in the hopes that a reader would come forward and identify the killer to police.

Sadly, this did npt happen and the whereabouts and identity of the killer have never been found.

A current resident of on St. Andrews Road, who moved in in 1980 but wanted to remain anonymous, said: "Before we moved here, we had never heard of Joy's name - but once we got here our new neighbours were quick to warn us about what had happened.

"I remember being shocked to hear about the murder it because I thought it was such a nice area."

The 65-year-old woman added: "I still think about it often.

"Even though I wasn't here when it happened, it affected everyone. We were all concerned for our safety and worried the man might come back.

"It doesn't worry me nowadays, though, because I'm sure they would be able to catch the man with the new technology we have now."

The Metropolitan Police are encouraging anyone who may have any information on this unsolved murder which they think could help officers look into the case, to call 101.

Alternatively ring Crimestoppers anonymous on 0800 555 111.

If you knew Joy or her family and would like to get in touch, please email sarah.george@essnmedia.co.uk
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A bar in Croydon is looking for a glass collector and one of the staff perks is discount on food and drink.

Slug & Lettuce, located on Park Lane, is looking for a "hard-working, reliable and driven" individual to join its team as a glass collector.

Successful applicants of the full time position, which closes on October 17, can expect a wage of 5.60 to 7.20 an hour.

The job advert, which was posted on September 19, says: "As a glass collector, you do not necessarily need any experience but you do need to be able to demonstrate that you are a great team player as well as being able to work unsupervised during busy times and you are passionate about service and standards."

The advert adds that successful applicants will improve their communication skills as a result of working at the pub, as well as developing an understanding of customer needs and building a commercial awareness.

Slug & Lettuce is part of Stonegate Pub Company, the largest privately held pub and bar operator in the UK.

Those who are employed by Stonegate will also benefit from a 25 per cent discount on food and drink in all their pubs and venues.

An employee benefits scheme, which gives workers discounts across hundreds of brands and services, and a contributory pension scheme are further perks.

To apply for the role click here .

For more job opportunities, visit the Fish4Jobs platform by clicking here .
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Harare West MDC-T legislator Jessie Majome has urged the government and local authorities to take urgent action to sort out the sorry state of roads which have claimed a lot of lives in the country.This was after the death of a member of her constituency Washington Mandebvu in an accident."I am saddened that a Harare Westerner - Mr. Washington Mandebvu was tragically and avoidably killed in a head on collision along Lomagundi Rd between Girton Rd and Drayton Ave, when a commuter omnibus driver tried to overtake when there was oncoming traffic and rammed into the deceased's car. May his soul rest in peace. I went to extend my condolences to his family before they left to bury his remains in Mutoko. I am also upset that the ambulance and police rescue services arrived an hour after the horrific crash," Majome said."I visited the accident site because a business proprietor who works near that stretch of Lomagundi Rd alerted me of the fatal crash and the high accident area, with collisions happening every week, and summoned me to the site. I thank the business owners for such compassionate social responsibility In fact it was one of the business owners there who alerted me of the fatal accident. I noted that out of the 4 small tributary roads Girton, Ely, Fordham and Drayton which connect directly to the busy and curving Lomagundi Rd, only Girton (Stop sign) and Fordam(Give Way sign) have road signs, while there are no speed limit signs."She said road signs are needed to alert drivers to lower their speed, as well as placing Stop signs on all the feeder roads and grid lines must be strategically placed."Last year in Parliament I pinned down the Ministry of Roads to gazette the new SADC standard road signs so it doesn't have an excuse anymore not to sign out roads. The Lomagundi highway is very busy as it links Harare West suburbs of Bluffhill, Sunridge, Westgate, Good Hope to the CBD. It also links Harare with other towns i.e. Chinhoyi and Kariba. The traffic police should enforce the law at death traps like this instead of being a resource mobilisation unit of government," Majome said."While I was still at the site I witnessed reckless driving by the Kombis which blocked traffic already in the highway and vehicles turning into the main road. On either side of Loma gundi on that dangerous section of road is a primary school - Hallingbury School (on the Greencroft side) and Avonlea School (on the Avonlea side), and we must make it safe for young learners to cross the road. The pedestrian crossing repainted at my insistence is now faint due to poor quality paint and is a death trap all of its own. I understand that police officers erratically assist at the crossing. I will continue pushing and also ask for community volunteers to help school children cross."She said apart from following up prosecution of the errant combi driver (if he survived) she is going to engage the Harare City's Traffic Department, again, the Traffic Safety Council, the and the police for solutions."I will also ask the Minister of Transport to respond to my motion for him to restore car licence revenue to Harare from ZINARA so it can afford to maintain our roads and therefore make them safer. Bad policy decisions by the Executive arm of government are killing us! -on and off our roads," she said.
Cuba and Belarus sign Agreement on Economic Cooperation

Submitted by: Juana

Havana

international

Politics and Government

09 / 25 / 2017



The population of the coastal areas of the central Cuban province of Ciego de Avila affected by Hurricane Irma received, at subsidized prices, mattresses and kerosene stoves as an example that the Revolution will not leave anyone unprotected.

The two articles distributed in Jucaro, community in Ciego de Avila flooded by the sea that caused loss of homes and furniture of a number of families in the region.

Prioritizing families with children, some 200 mattresses and 465 stoves were distributed.

The floods inflicted by the ocean in the fishing town reached the Casa de la Cultura (Culture Center) located some 370 meters of the coastal strip.

A store was created for the distribution of construction materials and charcoal at a lower price in Jucaro and Punta Alegre both fishing towns north of Ciego de Avila devastated by Irma.

The defense zones of the province are creating commissions to control each of the damages and list the needs of those that will receive construction materials as soon as possible.

The Cuban government announced that the State Budget will finance 50 percent of the price of the construction materials that will be sold to the population affected by the hurricane with total or partial destruction of their homes. (acn)
Barbara Demick

Los Angeles TimesSeptember 23, 2017It was a spectacle nobody in this sleepy New Jersey town would forget.Early one Monday morning, police and FBI agents in bulletproof vests bounded up the steps of suburban townhouses and split levels, threatening to break down the doors, hauling out in handcuffs husbands and wives in the distinctive clothing of ultra-Orthodox Jews. One was a prominent rabbi and head of a synagogue.It was the dramatic kickoff of a series of well-publicized raids that since late June have netted 26 suspects on charges of stealing $2 million in government benefits. Prosecutors say that the suspects understated their income to get free healthcare, food stamps, rental subsidies and other benefits.All of those arrested  13 men and 13 women  were ultra-Orthodox Jews. The charges have tapped into a well of festering hostility toward an insular and eccentric minority.Once a backwater at the edge of New Jerseys Pine Barrens, Lakewood is now home to one of the largest concentrations of ultra-Orthodox Jews outside of Israel. They are a fast-growing population with a high birthrate; the population of Lakewood has exploded from 45,000 in 1990 to more than 100,000 today. Many of the newcomers are from large families priced out of Brooklyn by gentrification.At first glance, little sets Lakewood apart from any number of other suburban communities on the fringes of the New York metropolitan area. But the differences are there. Signs are commonly in Hebrew and Yiddish. The Shop-Rite has closed and was replaced by Glatt Gourmet, a kosher supermarket. New subdivisions have Jewish-themed street names, like Hadassah Lane.Like the Amish, these strictly observant Jews are instantly recognizable by their modest dress  the women in long skirts and wigs that cover their hair, and the men with yarmulkes or black fedoras and tzitzit, the strings hanging out of their shirts that remind them of their religious obligations. Instead of buggies, though, they mostly drive SUVs or minivans to fit large broods of children.Around New York, there are a handful of similar towns that are dominated by ultra-Orthodox Jews, but only in Lakewood have federal and state authorities laid down the gauntlet so definitively.Many young families are heavily dependent on government benefits. Couples marry and bear children young, usually in their early 20s while the fathers are full-time students in religious schools, the mothers working part-time doing office work.With five or more children, many of them with special needs  a result attributed to women having multiple births until late in life and genetic disorders in a relatively closed population  families cannot survive without government assistance, especially to buy health insurance.In Lakewood, 65,000 people  more than half the towns population  are on Medicaid , the government health program for low-income families, according to state data. Lakewood has more children with two parents receiving government benefits than any other municipality in New Jersey, including large, chronically depressed cities such as Newark and Camden. A report by the Asbury Park Press found that Lakewood had received 14% of the money from a $34-million state fund for catastrophic illnesses in children, despite having only 2% of the states children. It also found that the town had 29 times more grant recipients than any other town in New Jersey.In 2015, the New Jersey state controllers office flagged the disproportionate sums of government money being absorbed by Lakewood. The town didnt look poor by any conventional yardsticks of poverty.You have a family or six or seven or eight, somebody is paying the mortgage, somebody is paying the taxes, they have two cars in the driveway, theyve got food for all the kids  and theyre reporting their total income at $10,000, said Joseph Coronato, the Ocean County prosecutor who took the lead in the case. You have to ask  what is going on here?In one case unsealed by the court in June, a couple with six children are alleged to have reported their income at $39,000 per year  low enough to qualify for Medicaid  when in fact they were getting more than $1 million annually from a limited liability corporation.Members of the religious community say that cases of deliberate fraud are rare. For the most part, they say, the couples caught up in prosecutions had failed to report money theyd gotten from parents who were either paying the tuition for children in private schools or helping with the mortgage.The rules are very confusing. You have to be a Talmudist to figure out which program treats gifts from family as ordinary income, said Rabbi Moshe Weisberg, the Lakewood head of what is called the Vaad, a self-governing council for the ultra-Orthodox community.People most often got in trouble with their Medicaid applications, motivated by their inability to afford market-rate health insurance, which he said ran as high as $30,000 annually for a large family. Several of the families have disabled children, he noted.None of these people used any of this welfare money for an extravagant lifestyle. They were struggling to make ends meet and trying to pay medical bills, said Harold Herskowitz, a businessman who runs a toy store in Lakewood. He believes the prosecutions were motivated by hostility toward the ultra-Orthodox.Im the child of Holocaust survivors; I dont appreciate Jewish people dragged out in public early in the morning, Herskowitz said.The initial arrests in June received extensive news coverage, with television crews tipped off in advance to film the scenes of couples in handcuffs being led away. Following complaints, the prosecutors have made subsequent arrests more discreetly, but still the publicity rankles.The case has tapped into a wave of hostility toward the community. Last month, somebody hung an anti-Semitic banner on a Holocaust memorial in Lakewood, and fliers were distributed on the windshields of cars with photos of those arrested under the caption, Thieving Jews Near You.Under fire from many sides, the observant Jews of Lakewood are trying to burnish their reputation in New Jersey. Theyve hosted outreach programs between the community and the police  Bagels, Lox & Cops, as the meetings have been called. Other public programs have been designed to advise ultra-Orthodox families on how to stay on the legal side of public assistance programs.Lakewood, about 50 miles from New York City, was a resort town for the New York elite beginning in the late 19th century, attracting luminaries such as Mark Twain and members of the Rockefeller family. Their fancy retreats were later turned into kosher hotels catering to working- and middle-class Jews, the town becoming an extension of the Catskills Borscht belt across the border in New York state.In 1943, the Rabbi Aharon Kotler, a Holocaust survivor who fled Lithuania, picked the town for his Beth Medrash Govoha, a yeshiva  religious school  that is now one of the worlds largest with 6,500 students, all men. That would in turn attract other yeshivas, along with Jewish primary schools, kosher delicatessens and shops.It was an idyllic little town with a strong Jewish flavor, said Aaron Kotler, the founders grandson and current head of the yeshiva, in an interview in his sprawling suburban ranch house, the walls proudly displaying oil paintings of previous generations of bearded rabbis. My grandfather chose Lakewood because it was quiet, which is ironic because people complain the yeshiva has ruined the quiet.Kotler describes Lakewood today as one of the most attractive destinations for young religious Jews to study and raise families, making the demographics similar to other university towns.I like to think of Lakewood as poor by choice, said Kotler.The community has shown itself to be unusually adept at navigating the intricacies of politics and government.Their lives depend on knowing everything about how Section 8 [subsidized rental housing] works and getting into WICs, the government Women, Infants and Children food assistance program, said Samuel Heilman, a sociology professor at Queen College who has written several books on the community.Politically speaking, the ultra-Orthodox wield clout beyond their numbers, with adult members almost always turning out for elections and voting as a single bloc.They tend to vote like the Christian right, and they have learned to make their votes very important, said Heilman.In all of New Jersey, Lakewood had the highest concentration of Donald Trump voters in last years presidential election  74.4%. With their children all in private religious schools, they are strong supporters of Betsy DeVos, the education secretary who has called for school vouchers. Charles and Seryl Kushner, the parents of Trump aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner, are benefactors of the Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva, and the rotunda of the schools 2-year-old main building is named for them.Ultra-Orthodox votes are even more important in local political races. They have installed candidates who favor their interests on the Lakewood school board, township committee and zoning board.Lakewoods 30,000 ultra-Orthodox children are ferried to 130 private religious schools on public school buses  boys and girls separately, since they attend single-sex schools  while public schools with only 6,000 children, mostly Latino and African American, have been gutted by a lack of funding. (This is in part due to a quirk in New Jerseys school financing formula that requires busing for private school students but reimburses the districts based on public school enrollment.)Some 4,000 new units of housing have been approved in Lakewood in the last two years, making the township the fastest-growing municipality in New Jersey. Real estate developers catering to the ultra-Orthodox are carving new subdivisions lined with four- and five-bedroom townhouses for large families.When I moved here, there were trees. Now I wake up and Im surrounded by high-density townhouses, said Tom Gatti, a retiree who heads a coalition of senior citizens opposing the pace of new development in Lakewood. Anytime you try to challenge anything the ultra-Orthodox are doing, they drop the anti-Semitic card on the table.They are not looking to assimilate into the community; they are trying to take over, Gatti said.The ultra-Orthodox Jews also face criticism from less religious and secular Jews.Being observant should, first and foremost, involve living and working ethically, complained a hard-hitting editorial in the Forward, the Yiddish- and English-language Jewish publication based in New York. The editorial called the welfare fraud cases a desecration of Gods name.Its too simple to say that this is a problem with Jews, said Heilman, the sociology professor. It is not their Jewishness that has created the problems; it is the way they interpret the demands of being Jewish.
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 ...
News / National

by Staff reporter

PASTOR Evan Mawarire was Sunday afternoon charged with subverting a constitutional government before being locked up indefinitely.The charges emanated from a video the cleric circulated on Saturday on social media over Zimbabwe's worsening economic crisis. #ThisFlag 's Mawarire also urged the police not to arrest him, saying he had the constitutional right to comment on the economic crisis.Mawarire' lawyer Harrison Nkomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights told NewZimbabwe.com that on Monday he was going to approach the High Court and appeal against his client's indefinite detention."They have locked him up and have not given us a date to appear before the court and tomorrow I am going with him to the High court where we would make an appeal," said Nkomo.Mawarire was arrested during a sermon by armed police officers on Sunday.
News / National

by Staff reporter

MDC-T's suspended national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe continues to convene district meetings throughout the Matabeleland region.In a clear defiance of his suspension, Bhebhe, last week, co-signed a memo with party vice-president Thokozani Khupe and party chairperson Lovemore Moyo to all party structures in the Matabeleland region advising them of the meetings which the trio had organised.Bhebhe was suspended from the party early this month over accusations of claiming to the media that president Morgan Tsvangirai sent youths to attack him, Khupe and Moyo during intra-party clashes saw the three whacked at the MDC-T Bulawayo offices.According to the memo which was signed by Bhebhe, Moyo and Khupe, the purpose of the provincial visits of the three was to appraise members on the current voter registration exercise and "other relevant and emerging issues".Khupe, Bhebhe and Moyo are not happy with the formation of the MDC Alliance especially the allocation of constituencies among parties.The trio, recently, boycotted the launch of the alliance in both Harare and Bulawayo.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The widow of former Vice President Joseph Musika, Gogo Maria Msika, who died on Friday, has been declared a national heroine.The national heroine status bestowed on Gogo Msika was announced by Zanu PF Politburo member and Defence Minister, Dr Sydney Sekeramayi at the Msika residence in Borrowdale, Harare this evening.Earlier, the First Lady and Zanu PF Women's League National Secretary, Dr Grace Mugabe had requested the party to consider conferring with the national heroine status to Gogo Msika.Speaking at the Harare International Airport soon after arrival from New York where she had accompanied President Robert Mugabe to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Dr Mugabe said the late Gogo Msika contributed a lot to the struggle by supporting her husband when he was in prison and the children during the liberation struggle.Meanwhile, relatives and those who knew Gogo Msika, have described her as a humble and loving person who loved unity and exhibited this important role even during the liberation struggle.Her son, Mr Maxwell Taguma Msika said during the liberation struggle, her mother used to look after extended families, among them, freedom fighters.Other family members said Gogo Msika was a God fearing woman of virtue.The liberation struggle saw different families living together and the effort of mothers as unifiers contributed to the success of the liberation struggle.Gogo Msika died last Friday and mourners are gathered at house number 11, Nigels Lane, Coln Valley near Borrowdale Primary School.
Dinner for two at Michelin-starred restaurant would typically cost around 150

The restaurateur shared email on Twitter, saying he had 'had enough' of requests

Garrett Byrne, owner of Campagne in Kilkenny, is regularly targeted by bloggers

The exasperated owner of a Michelin-starred restaurant has hit out a bloggers who asked him for a free meal - worth 150 - in exchange for 'exposure'.

Garrett Byrne, who runs Campagne restaurant in Kilkenny, Ireland, shared an email he had received from a 'brazen' unnamed blogger asking him for two free vegan meals in exchange for 'exposure'.

The blogger offered a specific date when the meal would be required and said they would tweet about their experiences at Campagne.

Freeloaders need not apply! Garrett Byrne, owner of Campagne restaurant in Kilkenny, Ireland, blasted a vegan blogger who asked for a free luxury meal in exchange for 'exposure' by an unnamed writer

The blogger said they could offer exposure in exchange for free food, and might even give the restaurant its own separate review outside of their planned 'Vegan Guide to Ireland'

Garrett Byrne, owner of the Campagne restaurant in Kilkenny, Ireland, pictured, said he regularly gets requests from bloggers asking for free meals in exchange for publicity

Alongside an eye-rolling emoji, Garrett shared a screenshot of the email on Twitter, which has now been liked over 2,000 times.

The email read: 'We will be in Kilkenny specifically on 10 October.

'In exchange for a vegan meal for two (we would ideally like to try several items on the menu), we would be happy to provide significant online exposure on both our blog and social media accounts.

The blogger said they could promise the restaurant's inclusion in a 'Vegan Guide to Ireland and/or N Ireland' with links and pictures of the website.

They also said they might even give them their own review and would post on social media about the establishment.

Byrne told The Telegraph: 'I don't normally tweet about them, but this one just struck a chord. We get about 10 per year on average.

'I don't think they are exploitative for the most part, it's just I don't think restaurants should entertain them.

Twitter users were shocked by the cheeky request, with many bloggers saying they'd never approach their business in this way

'I see these requests throughout the year and I've had enough of them, so I decided to tweet it and it has pretty much gone crazy yesterday and today.'

The restaurant has few vegetarian options, with prices ranging up to 33 (29) for a dish fillet of Hereford beef, cvennes onion, swiss chard, parmesan croquette and bearnaise.

Byrne didn't respond well to the blogger's request, sharing it on Twitter with the caption: 'The start of another week in paradise.'

He also questioned how the blogger's followers would be able to trust their opinion if give positive reviews in turn for free food.

The Campagne restaurant in Kilkenny, Ireland (pictured), has a number of vegan options but is better known for its locally-sourced meats

His tweet has gained lots of attention on the social network, with many users shocked at the request.

One person tweeted: 'Urgh. They are giving the rest of us travel writers an awful name. Trust, we aren't all THIS bad - and idiotic.'

'This makes me mortified to be a blogger! I never announce that I'm coming! If I like the place, I'll have my photos and do my own thing!' another posted.

A third wrote: 'Everyone and their mum is at this these days, in most cases it would be cheaper to spend the money on ads! Barefaced cheek.'

'This really embarrasses me as a food blogger. On behalf of the good ones I apologise,' a fourth agreed.
Dancer and choreographer Arlene Phillips CBE, 74, is a former judge on Strictly Come Dancing. She lives in London with her partner, Angus Ion, and has two daughters, Alana, 38, and Abi, 26.

My parents took me to the ballet when I was very small, and I was desperate to go to a dance school. But there wasnt money to spare on classes. We lived in Manchester. Dad was a barber and Mum worked in a school.

Arlene Phillips shared how financial difficulties set her apart growing up as she couldn't afford the same uniform and as many classes as some of the other children

Eventually, when I was eight, an uncle decided he would pay for my ballet lessons. We could only afford half-price green ballet shoes, rather than pink ones, so I knew Id have to be brave: no child likes to be the odd one out.

I quickly learnt that it was only the best who got on the front row. And I definitely wanted to be in the front row. I had to work hard to catch up with those who had been having lessons much earlier than I had. They had three lessons a week  I had only one. I got to the front by sheer hard work.

By the time I was 15, I was about to audition to go to ballet school in London when my mother died of leukaemia. I needed to stay in Manchester to be with my family and settle with applying for a general dance course there. Eventually, I moved to London to assist top U.S. dancer Molly Molloy and attend her lessons, but unlike the other students, I had to do three jobs to support myself.

After assisting her for a while, Molly left for Paris, and I inherited her teaching and choreography work. I put together an experimental dance group, Hot Gossip, and dressed them in dyed lingerie. We got a lucky break after a producer saw a picture of the group. An invitation to appear on The Kenny Everett Video Show followed  all the hard work and long hours had paid off.

I know how fortunate I am to have a creative job that I love. But I always tell dancers that the only way to succeed is to work as hard as you can and never give up. As one of the original judges on Strictly Come Dancing, I was the only female, definitely the odd one out!

Sometimes, standing up for yourself and what you believe in is the only way.

Arlene supports Macmillan Cancer Supports Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning, sponsored by M&S, on Friday. Visit macmillan.org.uk/coffee
A $389 perfume, a lightweight foundation and an eye-popping glitter eyeshadow palette have all made it into the top 25 best-selling products at Mecca Australia.

The beauty hub, which offers more than 100 global brands to women across the country, recently revealed their current best-selling list across all products - with some very surprising results.

Here, FEMAIL looks at the top 12 products in detail and what it is that makes them stand out in the increasingly saturated beauty market.

Here, FEMAIL looks at the top 12 products in detail and what it is that makes them stand out in the increasingly saturated beauty market

1. URBAN DECAY NAKED HEAT EYESHADOW PALETTE, $83

This chic new palette is one of many palette's by Urban Decay that have sent beauty guru's into a frenzy of late.

The relatively affordable eyeshadow palette is described as an 'amber-hued collection of 12 on-trend neutrals that you won't be able to put down' and is made up of warm browns, burnt oranges and glitter-injected tones.

'My brother gave me this for my birthday and it's now what I want to put on my eyes every day. Like another reviewer below I've found that it makes my green eyes pop wonderfully, and the quality of the shadows is next level,' one woman wrote.

The downside?

'I love Urban Decay so much, however this is just for the women who wear and can wear warm tones. I'm a cool base and this palette does nothing for me,' a woman wrote.

This chic new palette is one of many palette's by Urban Decay that have sent beauty guru's into a frenzy of late

The relatively affordable eyeshadow palette is described as an 'amber-hued collection of 12 on-trend neutrals that you won't be able to put down' and is made up of warm browns, burnt oranges and glitter-injected tones

2. TOO FACED BETTER THAN SEX MASCARA, $33

This popular mascara is no stranger to the best-seller list, with the affordable product topping lists since it was first made available to the Australian public.

The curved brush has been a hit around the world and it is described overall as a brush that 'separates, coats and curls each lash to voluptuous perfection!'

According to those who have used it, just one coat of the black, collagen-fuelled mascara formula leaves the lashes full, defined and stretched to great lengths.

Thousands of women have reviewed the product, with one of the most recent reviews praising the product for its ability to keep lashes black, curled and lengthened throughout the day.

The downside?

Some have taken issue with the large size of the wand and others have found the formula clumpy and slow to dry.

This popular mascara is no stranger to the best-seller list, with the affordable product topping lists since it was first made available to the Australian public

According to those who have used it, just one coat of the black, collagen-fuelled mascara formula leaves the lashes full, defined and stretched to great lengths

3. TOO FACED BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION, $57

Since beauty YouTubers discovered this foundation, it has been flying off shelves.

The perfecting foundation claims to provide natural looking medium to full coverage, is oil free and is known to be hydrating for the skin.

Others have claimed it leaves an 'undetectable' finish, with the product enriched with coconut water to replenish moisture levels, alpine rose to brighten the skin's appearance and boost elasticity and hyaluronic acid to smooth skin.

'I have dry acne prone skin, so this product is the perfect balance between dewy and matte. It is also oil free, it hasn't caused me to break out. It also has excellent coverage and one pump goes far on my face,' one reviewer wrote.

The downside?

'I have combination skin and found it looked patchy as soon as I left the store, and didn't last 2 hours!' One woman wrote previously.

Since beauty YouTubers discovered this foundation, it has been flying off shelves

4. NARS SHEER GLOW FOUNDATION, $68

Following closely behind was this hydrating foundation, which is known to brighten and even the skin tone, whilst providing all day coverage with a natural, radiant finish.

This foundation is an artistry favorite backstage at Fashion Week, with Nars claiming the silky liquid foundation 'delivers immediate hydration, evens skin tone and leaves the skin brighter and more radiant'.

'I have oily skin, hyperpigmentation and the occasional redness but I still love this foundation. I found it very easy to build up the coverage in areas where I need it,' a customer wrote.

The downside?

'If it manages to stick to my skin, it's sliding off before I've finished doing my makeup,' a customer wrote previously.

Following closely behind was this hydrating foundation, which is known to brighten and even the skin tone, whilst providing all day coverage with a natural, radiant finish

This foundation is an artistry favorite backstage at Fashion Week, with Nars claiming the silky liquid foundation 'delivers immediate hydration, evens skin tone and leaves the skin brighter and more radiant'

5. URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER LONG LASTING MAKE UP SETTING SPRAY, $49

This product is said to 'lock down complexion, eyes and lips' for the night.

The cult-favourite, bestselling setting spray promises an 'invincible makeup look' and the formula includes Skindinavia, a highly advanced mist that prevents melting, fading or settling into lines and 'keeps makeup looking fresh and flawless for up to 16 hours'.

It also features Developed with Temperature Control Technology that 'regulates the temperature of your makeup so your eyes, lips and complexion is on point no matter the weather'.

' It gets rid of all powdery/cakey looks, locks in makeup for all day long wear and just makes everything sit nice and matte. Buy it, you will not regret it,' a customer wrote.

The downside?

'I feel like this was the one that every beauty guru on YouTube talked about. Not only did it disappoint me it made my skin way more dry and did not make my make up last throughout the day,' a woman wrote of her experience.

This product is said to 'lock down complexion, eyes and lips' for the night

6. NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER, $44

While some may think that $44 for a concealer is a little steep, the reviews speak for themselves.

The creamy concealer promises 'perfect coverage and long lasting results' and a 'beautiful, luminous lightweight finish that is a favourite among makeup artists'.

It also promises to 'diminish the appearance of fine lines and signs of fatigue'.

'This is the best concealer for covering up spots and evening out pigmentation,' a customer wrote.

The downside?

'I couldn't dislike a concealer more if I tried. It settles into my fine lines, it was dry, it didn't blend nicely,' an unhappy customer wrote.

While some may think that $44 for a concealer is a little steep, the reviews speak for themselves

The creamy concealer promises 'perfect coverage and long lasting results' and a 'beautiful, luminous lightweight finish that is a favourite among makeup artists'

7. TOO FACED GLITTER BOMB EYESHADOW PALETTE, $66

Glitter is the must-have make up product of the moment, so it comes as no surprise that this palette has shot into the best-selling list.

The product is described as 'insanely pigmented' and consists of two base shades to make colour pop and 'create eight multi-dimensional prismatic pans!'

Using the white and black matte bases, customers can transform textures and shades to create limitless looks.

'Oh my gosh, if you are a glitter junkie like me you NEED this palette in your life. For the price, it is pretty reasonable for the quality of shadows, also having the white/black under shadows transforms the colour,' a woman wrote.

The downside?

Many customers have agreed that fall out does occur with this product so experience in application is necessary.

Glitter is the must-have make up product of the moment, so it comes as no surprise that this palette has shot into the best-selling list

The product is described as 'insanely pigmented' and consists of two base shades to make colour pop and 'create eight multi-dimensional prismatic pans!'

8. MARIO BADESCU FACIAL SPRAY WITH ALOE, HERBS AND ROSEWATER, $9

This popular product is described as 'a refreshing, hydrating mist to use anywhere, anytime'.

The refreshing mist is formulated with fragrant herbal extracts and rosewater and is ideal for dehydrated, tight and uncomfortable skin.

'This is one of the best facial sprays that I've ever purchased, whenever I run out I always go back to it every time because of how hydrating and fresh it feels on the face,' a happy customer wrote.

The downside?

Some have complained of breakouts and dryness after using.

This popular product is described as 'a refreshing, hydrating mist to use anywhere, anytime'

9. MARIO BADESCU DRYING LOTION, $24

This product was one of the beauty industry's best kept secrets before Kylie Jenner publicly announced her love for the lotion on her Instagram page.

The brand's best seller, the Drying Lotion is a spot treatment made with a blend of calamine and salicylic acid to 'clear up and soothe unsightly whiteheads overnight'.

Just one dab promises to 'heal and dry pimples quickly'.

'At this price point you wont be disappointed. I have my whole family using this product,' one customer wrote.

The downside?

'For me it just didn't work and I have no idea why. I just have the usual red pimples and when I used this product they look the exact same in the morning,' a woman wrote.

This product was one of the beauty industry's best kept secrets before Kylie Jenner publicly announced her love for the lotion on her Instagram page

The brand's best seller, the Drying Lotion is a spot treatment made with a blend of calamine and salicylic acid to 'clear up and soothe unsightly whiteheads overnight'

10. GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD CLEARING TREATMENT, $98

This famous mask is beloved among Hollywood A-listers.

Described as the 'World's most Scientifically Advanced SUPERMUD Clearing Treatment', the mask was developed to 'fight all common skin concerns for clearer looking skin'.

'New technologies for deep pore extraction, to eliminate the look of pores and a Patent Pending release technology with real Eucalyptus Leaf in our formula for Magical Glowing Skin. SUPERMUD for the New Gorgeous You,' they write.

'Absolutely amazing! I usually use a clearing mask on my nose once a week to pull out oil and blackheads and this one worked better than any others I've tried,' a customer wrote.

The downside?

Some have reported breakouts, dryness and redness following purchase while others have taken issue with the hefty price tag.

This famous mask is beloved among Hollywood A-listers

11. DR. DENNIS GROSS HYALURONIC MOISTURE CUSHION, $84

This oil-free moisturiser locks in hydration and promises to 'firm the skin for a younger looking complexion'.

While not cheap, the product is said to seal in 'time-released hydration as it helps firm and smooth skin's appearance for a more even, younger-looking complexion'.

'Since using this moisturizer my face stays matte all day! I usually have the feeling of having moisturizer on but I don't even notice this one,' one reviewer wrote.

The downside?

'This moisturiser would be good for the oily skin people as I have normal skin and dried my skin out. Did not enjoy this purchase at all,' one customer wrote.

This oil-free moisturiser locks in hydration and promises to 'firm the skin for a younger looking complexion'

12. LE LABO SANTAL 33, $389

This unisex fragrance is described at having 'notes of iris, spice and violet'.

It was created in collaboration with Frank Voekl, the nose behind Musk 25, Iris 39, Baie Rose 26 and Santal 26 candle.

Those behind it do say, however, that it is 'not for the faint of heart' and describe it as being an 'intoxicating scent' that 'sets apart the boys from the men'.

The fragrance is also laced with 'heady notes of cardamon', Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, leather and musk. It is also blended by hand.

'It goes on with a very strong woody and sandalwood tone. But gets sweeter and warmer on your skin, the longer you wear it,' one reviewer wrote.

The downside?

Many are not impressed with the scent after spending so much money on it, with one writing 'I smell like wood'.

The full list can be found here.
A mother who makes a living creating 'realistic' dolls with flaws and human-like features has shown her support for same-sex marriage using her own painted figurines.

Betty Strachan-Otter, the mastermind behind repainted doll business All The Little Dolls, first arrived in the public eye after her breastfeeding and pregnant 'Barbie' dolls went viral.

And like many other Australians she has decided to share her opinion on the country's controversial gay marriage debate - by crafting her own same-sex doll family.

Betty Strachan-Otter showed her support for same-sex marriage by using her repainted dolls

The Brisbane mother-of-two found online fame for her breastfeeding 'Barbie' (pictured)

'I like to use my dolls to depict scenes containing positive affirmations to those who can relate to them,' Betty told Daily Mail Australia.

'Personally, Im saddened that there even needs to be a debate on same sex marriage. Nobody worries about who you love when youre in a committed straight relationship so why should same sex couples need to be treated any differently?'

The Brisbane mother-of-two began repainting dolls for her sons before her honest re-imagination of the humble Barbie doll became wildly popular online.

Betty revealed her stance on gay marriage on her public Instagram page by using two dolls as same-sex partners and parents, fashioning the pair into doting mothers.

'I like to use my dolls to depict scenes containing positive affirmations to those who can relate to them,' Betty told Daily Mail Australia

The Brisbane mother-of-two began repainting dolls for her sons before her honest re-imagination of the humble Barbie doll became wildly popular online

Betty (pictured) revealed her stance on gay marriage on her public Instagram page by using two Barbie dolls as same-sex partners and parents, fashioning two dolls into doting mothers

In the heartwarming photo, one blonde doll can be seen tenderly embracing the other as three smaller dolls sit on their laps.

The dolls, which are all wearing clothes painstakingly hand-made by Betty, represent the unconventional same-sex family which is a hotly debated ideology in Australia's political landscape.

Alongside the picture included the hashtags: #loveislove. #gaymarriage and #samesexcouples, with a call to her followers to 'post your yes'.

The Etsy entrepreneur also described the dolls as 'my precious gay babies' while several others expressed their pleasure at the doll family.

Betty's repainting hobby soon became a worldwide phenomenon last year after she refashioned several Barbie dolls into pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

The dolls, which are all wearing clothes painstakingly hand-made by Betty, represent the unconventional same-sex family which is a hotly debated ideology in Australia's political landscape

The Etsy entrepreneur also described the dolls as 'my precious gay babies' while several others expressed their pleasure at the doll family

She called the dolls 'Mamas Worldwide Barbie' and started selling them online - a business venture which proved wildly popular for mums and young children alike.

Her dolls are also known for portraying realistic and flawed complexions, as Betty paints over the glossy faces to create human-like imperfections such as freckles or dark-circles.

By scrubbing off the classic makeup, the young mother hopes to educate young children that not all women look the same.

By scrubbing off the classic makeup, the young mother hopes to educate young children that not all women look the same

'Not every child is born with blonde hair and blue eyes. Some have freckles, some have gaps in their teeth,' Betty said

'Not every child is born with blonde hair and blue eyes. Some have freckles, some have gaps in their teeth,' Betty said.

'A girl with brown skin and dark eyes may look at a light skinned doll and wonder why it's classed as beautiful and she is not.

'I enjoy creating unique faces most because its easy to rely on muscle memory when repainting the same dolls over and over but theres a sort of challenge in creating something new with the same canvas and tools.'
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The light has once again been shone on the sartorial hits and misses of AFL players' significant others thanks to the 2017 Brownlow Medal red carpet.

The event at Crown Palladium in Melbourne on Monday dazzled (and baffled) audiences as WAGs strutted their stuff in an array of daring, dashing and downright eye-popping numbers on the red carpet ahead.

One of the standout winners on the night was Jessie Murphy nee Habermann, wife of Marc Murphy of Carlton, who ensured all eyes were on her in her jaw-dropping glittery number by Ogliar Loro Couture.

Not all attendees had eyes on them for the right reasons, however, with Rachael Finch, Danielle Orlando and Rudy Keddie all missing the sartorial mark with their gowns on the night.

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Glowing: Jessie Murphy nee Habermann looked simply glowing as she dressed her burgeoning baby bump in a glittering silver number by Oglia Loro Couture - her hair scraped up into an effortlessly chic up-do

Glitter girls: Brit Davis, Alex Davis and pregnant Sarah Roughead opted for stunning white and silver numbers ensuring all eyes were on them as they stormed the contentious carpet

Pretty in pink: Jess Jafer, Kate Lawrence and Mardi Dangerfield proved that pink is the colour of 2017, the pastel hue reared its head in a variety of shades as a many women opted for the feminine tone

The carpet kicked off with a bang with Jessie Murphy absolutely glowing in her silver gown as she showed off her burgeoning baby bump - the glamorous mother-to-be all smiles as she posed for the cameras.

As always, glittering dresses were all the rage this year as women vied to be the centre of attention as they sashayed their way down the carpet - both Brit Davis and Alex Davis choosing mesmerising and glitter-stamped gowns for the occasion.

Brit's kilowatt smile matched her beautiful. glittering gown which she matched perfectly with a silver strappy heel and a bouffant hairstyle.

Natalie Cini and Sam Lane turned heads in very similar pink gowns

Racy in lace: Heidi Higgins and Jerri Jones were on trend with their form fitting lace gowns which they both matched with their tumbling locks

All that glitters: Kelly Beams, wife of Dayne Beams, showed off her beautiful dress by MXM Couture while Jessie flaunted the back detail of her shimmery number

The colour of the moment, millennial pink, was also a recurring theme on the carpet with a variety of WAGs looking dashing in a variety of pink, blush and pastel hues on the night.

Interior designer, Kate Lawrence, made a statement in a pink lace number from Alex Perry which complemented her tanned complexion.

She kept the dress modest with the high neckline and flowing skirt but added a twist to her look with sheer lace sleeves.

The colour showed itself on the night in a variety of shades varying from soft peaches, cloudy pinks and more brilliant and bright hues.

Ladies in red: Anthea Sidirpolous and Kimberley Lonergan chose to opt for the daring red hue which turned heads as they sauntered down the carpet

Logan Shine's unusually cut gown failed to complement her curves and the bizarre sleeves and cuff additions were unnecessary for the whole look

Both Heidi Higgins and Jerri Jones showed that they know what's on trend as they stepped out in form fitting gowns with cut out detailing.

They both matched their gowns with soft cascading locks and simple make up which let their dresses do all the talking.

Rachael Finch diverted from her usual style on the night, leaving viewers at home scratching their heads as her choice divided social media.

Eye-popping: Rachael Finch diverted from her usual style on the night, leaving viewers at home scratching their heads as her choice divided social media

Jordan Ablett opted for a couture gown by popular designer J'Aton Couture - but the neutral shade clashed with her skin tone and the unusual cut made it awkward for the stylish brunette to pose for photos

While many criticised the look and claimed she missed the mark with her peach peasant dress, others adored her creativity and praised the bold move on social media.

Her Pallas Couture gown was created from scratch and reminded people of the regency era that Jane Austen is known for - though the dress didn't do anything to show off her incredible frame.

Oglia Loro Couture has proven to again be a popular choice amongst the women, with many choosing to wear their custom designs.

Fairy princess or meringue? Isabella Carlstorm also embraced a fairytale vibe in a very revealing dress by Con Ilio (posing with partner Moana Hope)

Violet hues: Ana Cale opted for a white gown that faded into a different shades of violet, the multi-tiered skirt adding weight to her enviable frame

Sheer disaster: Brie Abernethy's very sheer dress revealed much more than she bargained for when she stepped into the bright flashing lights on the red carpet

Philippa, the partner of Gavin Wanganeen, channeled gothic vibes in her bizarre sheer black mini dress

Ana Cale opted for a white gown that faded into different shades of violet, the multi-tiered skirt overwhelming her slight, enviable frame.

Although the white bustier showed off Ana's assets, the bouffant princess skirt was a little too much.

Lauren Tscharke, the partner of Carlton player Bryce Gibbs, opted for a daring black gown from that featured a daring neckline and playful tulle princess skirt.

The dress also featured a thigh high split as she bared all, ignoring the less is more approach.

Pops of colour: Linda Weatherlake and Ellie Thornycroft chose gowns that caught peoples attention for the wrong reasons as their overly bright gowns did little to flatter their figures

Interesting choices: The partner of Joe Daniher, Adelle, and Kahlia Ashton both ditched black and white in favour of bolder green and turquoise numbers - each of them taking a risk with their daring, unique numbers

Pregnant WAGs Lauren Kennedy and Annabel Gray went a little OTT with their gowns - neither of them choosing gowns that neither flattered nor accentuated their figures

Danielle Orlando also opted for a daring black gown with a dress that left little to the imagination with its sheer material and exaggerated her gorgeous curves.

The strategically placed beading sparkled and shone as she hit the carpet, but the intensity of the dress did quite match the demure setting and Danielle was left crossing her legs as she posed to protect her modesty.

Rudy Keddie opted for an old school cut - her dress' power shoulders reminiscent of 80s shoulder pads.

But the enormous shoulders were too much for her slight frame and drew eyes away from her incredible figure.

Lauren Tscharke, Danielle Orlando and Charlotte Ennels dared to bare in very sheer black numbers - each of them leaving very little to the imagination as they stormed the carpet ahead of the ceremony

OTT: Madeline Ryan, partner of Stefan Martin of the Lions, pulled some exaggerated, amusing moves as she posed for photos

Dark and daring: Madeline Ryan all went for an all black dress with criss-cross off the shoulder detailing and a large split down the side - she raised eyebrows with her over the top posing on the carpet

Rudy Keddie left some people scratching her heads with her white gown, with its power shoulders reminiscent of 80s shoulder pads and Eleanor Brawshaw kept it simple with a dress that reminded viewers of a year 12 formal

Simple: Danielle Hardwick, Laura McLachlan and Ruby Sweeney played it safe in simple black numbers - although Laura and Ruby did shake things up with a daring split up the side of her get-up

Although black and white were some of the most popular palettes options on the night, some WAGs chose to stand out and rock bright pops of colour.

Proving again that the 80s have made a comeback pops of neon also made appearance, but Linda Weatherlake and Ellie Thornycroft chose gowns that captured attention for the wrong reasons.

Although most WAGs choose the Brownlow Medal to try and stand out from the crowd there are also those who chose to play it safe.

When in doubt, black is always a safe bet, with Danielle Hardwick, Laura McLachlan and Ruby Sweeney choosing to show a minimal amount of skin and opt for old school elegance in their charcoal gowns.
A comatose mother-of-two who was staring death in the face has revealed the three words that gave her already-grieving husband hope that she would live.

Doctors had turned off the life support machine of Lyndee Brown Pellettiere-Swapp, 47, after fearing she wouldn't come out of the coma she'd been in for 12 days.

However, Pellettiere-Swapp, who is from Arizona, had other ideas. Shortly after her life support was turned off, she uttered the words 'I'm a fighter' at her husband.

Miracle: Lyndee Brown Pellettiere-Swapp, 47, was in a coma but woke up and spoke to her husband after life support was pulled

About two weeks before, Pellettiere-Swapp had been found unconscious by her husband and was rushed to the hospital, where she suffered seizures and was mostly unconscious.

Doctors had said that there was 'no response' from Pellettiere-Swapp, determining that she'd never come out of her coma and there was nothing else they could do for her.

But Pellettiere-Swapp wasn't brain-dead. Though she couldn't move or speak, she was sometimes aware of some of what was going on around her  a phenomenon known as being 'locked in'.

Doctors and nurses had no idea that Pellettiere-Swapp was conscious and could could hear them talking to her family about her condition.

'I remember people talking to me,' she told CBS5. 'I remember when people came to visit, my niece reading to me.'

Nightmare: She spent 12 days in a coma, and while she had seizures for the first few days, she was soon 'locked in' and aware of visitors, like her children

She added to Mirror Online: 'I remember a doctor shining a light in my eyes and telling my family that there is no response. I also remember the doctor explaining what is going to happen when they turned the life support off. '

With her organs failing, doctors removed the vital tubes keeping her alive. Pellettiere-Swapp is an organ donor, so her family made the decision to help save some of those organs.

'They gave one more day for everyone to come and say their goodbyes. On October 29, they turned my life support off. The entire time my husband kept whispering in my ear "I need you to fight,"' she said.

An organ team was on standby and the doctor was waiting for her to pass when something changed. Pellettiere-Swapp started trying desperately to get their attention.

'In my head it was very clear what I was saying, but it wasn't to them. I was finally able to get out "I'm a fighter," which is what my husband was whispering in my ear,' she told CBS5.

Wow! When doctors pulled life support and her organs were failing, the Arizona resident (left) managed to tell her husband she was a fighter, and she began to work toward recovering

Pellettiere-Swapp has taken a while recovering. She had to learn to walk and feed herself again, and she has been hospitalized seven more times since leaving the first time in November of 2015.

She's had four surgeries due to complications, including having blood clots removed. She also suffers from anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD.

But her husband and two children are beyond thrilled that she woke up.

'I don't consider it a miracle but everybody else, that's how they reference it,' she said

After her own experience being locked in, she also wants to remind others to be patient and not lose hope that their loved ones are lost just because they're irresponsible.

'Just because you are not conscious does not mean you cannot hear,' she said. 'So you should talk to your loved ones if you are in that situation. They hear you.'
Ivanka Trump made a very chic return to the White House on Monday morning, stepping out in style in a short black mini dress, looking delighted to be back at home after spending much of the past week in New York City.

The 35-year-old flashed a wide smile at the cameras as she left the Washington, D.C. home she shares with husband Jared Kushner, 36, and their three children, adding a touch of Hollywood glamour to her monochrome ensemble with a bright red lip.

It is the first time that Ivanka has been seen at home since returning from her stay in the Big Apple, where she and Jared were both on-hand to support her father, Donald Trump, as he made his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

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Back in town! Ivanka Trump was pictured heading into the office in Washington, D.C. on Monday morning, having spent much of the previous week in New York

Style queen: The 35-year-old put on a chic show in a thigh-skimming mini dress from her own fashion line, and a pair of polka-dot slingback heels

Happy as can be: The first daughter smiled happily at the cameras as she left her home, having added a touch of Hollywood glamour to her outfit with a bright red lip

Back to the grind: Jared Kushner, 36, was also seen returning to work on Monday morning

White House work: Ivanka later joined Donald Trump in the Oval Office, as well at Betsy DeVos who appeared to be appraising the first daughter's ensemble

Proud father: Ivanka watched her father sign a memorandum on increasing access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education

Happy as can be: Ivanka flashed a bright smile during the ceremony held in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon

And she certainly seemed keen to make a style statement on her first day back in the office, looking incredibly glamorous in her black-and-white smock-style dress, from her own fashion line, which she paired with some matching monochrome polka-dot slingback heels.

She accessorized with a pair of white flower-shaped earrings - and a beaming smile, no doubt thrilled to be back at home after a busy week away.

After leaving her home, Ivanka headed to the White House, and she was by her father's side when he signed a memorandum on increasing access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the Oval Office.

The memorandum, which was spearheaded by Ivanka, directs the Education Department to invest in a minimum of $200 million in grant funding per year to expand STEM and computer education in schools.

Before the president signed the memorandum, Ivanka spoke a few words in front of the group, which included Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Rep. Virginia Foxx.

During her stay in her former hometown, Ivanka also found time to fit in several appointments of her own, attending a few meetings, and taping an interview for Dr. Oz in which she discussed her ongoing role within her father's administration, as well as her life in D.C.

White House meeting: Ivanka spoke in front of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos (center) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (right)

All smiles: Ivanka seemed happy to be back to work at the White House on Monday

Suiting up: Ivanka put on a very stylish display each day that she was in the Big Apple, wearing this chic pantsuit for her last appearances in the city

Daring: On Tuesday, Ivanka opted for a unique leather skirt with funky floral embellishments

Out on the town! She also found some time in between appointments to head out for an evening, opting for another monochrome outfit, this time with bright red shoes

Edgy: For her Dr. Oz interview on Monday, she picked a black ensemble with a red floral design and peplum while debuting a new hairstyle

Ivanka looked overjoyed as she arrived on set for the sit down with Mehmet Oz, 57, exclaiming: 'It's so good to be here. Hi everyone!' as the audience cheered.

She added: 'And it is very nice to be back in New York.'

However, despite her apparent excitement at being back in the city where she has spent much of her life, Ivanka insisted during the interview that she has no desire to return to New York, explaining that she and her family are 'loving' their new life in Washington.

The host immediately asked her about her new life in D.C., where she has moved with her husband Jared, and their children Arabella, six, Joseph, three, and Theodore, one.

'How has the family adapted to it?' Mehmet asked.

'Actually very well,' Ivanka replied. 'My kids are happy, which as a parent means I'm very happy. And that would be sort of a gating threshold issue for me if they weren't adjusting well. But thankfully they're loving their life down there.

'We live in a house, which growing up in New York City and always having lived in apartment buildings we had never done before, so... We have a little backyard and a swing set. They love their schools, their beautiful parks. I get to take them to really explore Washington, D.C. and all the different museums and the monuments.

'So it's been an incredible adventure for the last eight months for them, and they're very much enjoying it.'

Ivanka also opened up about a number of other very personal topics, revealing for the first time during the interview that she suffered from postpartum depression after the births of all three of her kids.

'With each of my three children I had some level of postpartum,' she said.

After Dr. Oz asked her to clarify her statement, she confirmed that she had suffered from postpartum depression.

Auntie: Ivanka shared this picture of herself cuddling with her new nephew Luke, Eric and Lara's newborn son on Monday afternoon, on what she deemed 'an incredible day'

Full house: Ivanka revealed during an interview with Dr. Oz that she suffered from postpartum depression after the births of all three of her children with husband Jared Kushner, 36

'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.

Ivanka also spoke out about her role within the White House, revealing that she doesn't believe 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.'

Making her opinion clear: Ivanka spoke openly about her family being scrutinized over their appearances during her interview on The Dr. Oz show, which aired on Thursday

Opening up: She admitted that is 'really' bother her to hear criticisms about her family's clothing choices, especially when it involves her half-brother, Barron

Snaps: Ivanka also found time to fit in a meeting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who was in town to attend Bill and Melinda Gates' Goalkeepers conference

Ivanka, along with husband Jared, also had the opportunity while in New York to meet her newborn nephew Luke, the first child of her brother Eric and his wife Lara.

Eric and Lara welcomed Eric 'Luke' Trump into the world two weeks ago, however Ivanka and Jared were in Washington, D.C. at the time and weren't there to see the tiny tot.

The proud aunt took to Instagram to share a photo of herself holding the newborn. 'Cuddling my little nephew Luke... my favorite part of an incredible day!' she added.

Ivanka also sparked controversy during her stay when she was revealed to have taken an SUV to travel less than two blocks from her apartment on Park Avenue to the Regency Hotel, where she is thought to have met with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.

The trip, which takes just two minutes on foot, was a whopping 20 minutes long thanks to the city's one way systems, and the additional traffic caused by road closures for the UN General Assembly.

Ivanka then returned to her apartment after the meeting in the same SUV, with the trip taking just 10 minutes on this occasion.
News / Press Release

by Tendai Ruben Mbofana

The Zimbabwe Network for Social Justice (ZimJustice) has expanded its legal team, in a drive to increase its capacity in offering free legal services to unfairly treated workers.This was necessitated by the need to assist more workers than what the network had currently been able to offer.Additionally, the expansion in the legal team will result in cases brought to the network been handled faster.ZimJustice had, of late, been overwhelmed by the large number of cases that unfairly treated workers had been bringing forward.This led to a compassionate appeal for more lawyers to volunteer their expertise for this worthy cause - resulting in a very positive response.However, ZimJustice still requests for more volunteer lawyers from outside the capital Harare, so as to enable unfairly treated workers from all across the country to have easier access to free legal services.As Zimbabwe continues in an economic downward spiral, a disturbingly increasing number of workers find themselves receiving the short end of the stick from their employers - resulting in most of them living on the fringes of abject poverty.Most workers are failing to provide the very basic necessities for their families, due to their employers' unwillingness to pay them their dues.Thousands of Zimbabwean workers have not been paid their salaries for months - if not years - whilst, at the same time expected to regularly report for duty.Employers have dismissed thousands more - most of the time with scant regard for the law - yet, without paying such employees their terminal benefits.To add insult to injury, numerous employers had been - and still are - deducting money from their employees' salaries oestensibly for pensions and other funds - yet, reports reaching ZimJustice from these fund managers suggest that these employers never remitted the money.A number of senior managers, at most companies that were apparently shutdown due to financial challenges, are receiving hefty salaries, whilst dismissed workers are left out in the cold.The huge economic divide between the rich and the poor in Zimbabwe is not solely a result of national governance issues, but also due to preditory owners of capital who are sucking their workers dry - thereby, destroying a once vibrant middle class.Workers have deligently toiled for these employers - some for over 4 decades - whilst, faithfully contributing to their companies' pension funds, yet, after retirement they suddenly find themselves without even a cent to their names.Employers' miserly tendencies of hiding behind the prevailing economic meltdown in Zimbabwe hardly holds water any longer, as most of them still manage to live lavish lifestyles, at the expense of the very people who made that money for them.This callous, and downright illegal behaviour by employers can not, and shall not, be allowed to fester.ZimJustice will ensure that such issues are not only brought before the courts, through our legal team, but as social justice activists - who include investigative journalists - will strive to expose the shenanigans occuring in these companies that are resulting in the unfair treatment of workers.As activists, we go beyond merely taking cases to the courts, but are also involved in lobbying relevant authorities and stakeholders, so that companies violating workers' rights are dealt with beyond the courts.Thus, ZimJustice has been involved in lobbying the International Labour Organisation (ILO), as well as other institutions as the Kimberly Process, against several companies that have abused their employees, or disregarded certain international and national statutes.The time for the continued treatment of workers as second class citizens is over.Workers are the pillars of any economy, and need the dignity they richly deserve restored.Even a malignant economy such as Zimbabwe's is still surviving - albeit, on a life support system - due to workers, be they in the formal or informal sectors.As the saying goes: render to Ceasar what is Ceasar's, let every worker be paid what they are owed - and only then can we boldly claim to be a civilised society, and not some medieval serfdom.* Tendai Ruben Mbofana is ZimJustice Programmes Director. Please call +263782283975, or email zimjustice@gmail.com. Please also 'Like' the ZimJustice page on Facebook for more.
A New York State assembly woman bravely opened up about being raped aged 14, and how the ordeal fueled her fight for survivors' rights years later.

Amy Paulin, 61, who has been a member of the state assembly for almost 17 years, detailed her harrowing experience in two new videos published today as part of the Real Women Real Stories project, which gives visibility to hardships experienced by women in a wide array of professions and settings.

The assemblywoman, who grew up in Brooklyn in a 'very poor' family but has been based in Westchester, New York, for most of her adult life, explained she became involved in politics as a teenager, and was returning from a local Democratic club when she was sexually assaulted.

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New York State assembly woman Amy Paulin, 61, bravely opened up about being raped aged 14, and how the ordeal fueled her fight for survivors' rights years later

Past: The assemblywoman, based in Westchester, New York,, explained she was returning from a local Democratic club when she was sexually assaulted as a teenager

Paulin would typically go to the politics club with another teenage friend as well as two older pals in their twenties, and the group would go out for coffee at the diner after the meetings.

One night, her 'two buddies' didn't come, and Paulin couldn't recall where her other 14-year-old friend had gone.

But someone who went to the club 'on a frequent basis', whom Paulin knew, offered her a ride home.

'He pulled up in aI don't know if it was an alley. I just remember it was dark and it felt spacious,' Paulin said.

'So it could have been a schoolyard. I don't really know where we pulled up but it was very dark and very secluded and there was nobody there.

'And he sexually assaulted me. My first sexual experience was being sexually assaulted.'

Paulin didn't disclose the rape until many years later, when she was advocating in favor of a bill to get rid of the statute of limitations for rape cases in New York State, which passed in 2006.

'I don't even know how long it took to heal,' she said in another clip. 'I don't know what healing is exactly. Going on with your life. I guess I could have fallen apart. I could have had all kinds of diseases.

'It's hard to know what could have resulted, but the resolve I had to just go forward with my life, because I didn't want anyone to say you can't do that, overpowered everything else.'

Speaking out: Paulin didn't disclose the rape until many years later, when she was advocating in favor of a bill to get rid of the statute of limitations for rape cases in New York State

'I was very proud to have changed the law in New York,' Paulin (pictured during the Women's March in January) said of the bill, which the assembly passed in 2006

The assemblywoman had been in the state legislature for six years when she was approached to defend the new bill.

At the time, she said, it didn't even occur to her that she had a personal experience connected to the proposed change in legislationbut her past ended up playing a key part when she made the case in favor of the bill during a public session.

Paulin's time to speak came after a man told the story of his sister, who had been raped and then committed suicide, and after a woman opened up about her own daughter, who had been raped by her brother.

'And then it was my turn,' Paulin recounted. 'And all of a sudden, inside myself, somewhere came my story. I had never shared it with a soul, and I shared it with the conference.'

In what she called an 'amazing coincidence', one of her two friends who used to take her out for coffee all those years ago after the club meetings was sitting right opposite her.

'Instead of advocating for the bill with all the talking points that I had I told my story. I told my story to all of my colleagues,' she said.

Activism: Paulin (pictured discussing legislation to train hotel staff to recognize trafficking victims) has also supported legislation against child marriages

That session marked the first time Paulin opened up about being raped to anyone at all. Her husband, with whom she has had three children, found out that day.

Paulin, who didn't name her attacker in the two videos, opted not to identify him in front of her colleagues either, because she was afraid he would deny assaulting her.

'I didn't even reveal his name at that moment. Now I'm sorry, but at that moment I couldn't do it,' she said.

'I didn't want him out there saying it didn't happen. It would have taken something away from me. I didn't reveal his name. I now talk about him a little better, but there's still a hesitancy.'

The assembly passed the bill passed in June of 2006a milestone for Paulin, who has also supported legislation against child marriages and once directed an agency supporting battered women.

'I was very proud to have changed the law in New York,' she said. 'It's the only State in the entire country that has eliminated the statute of limitations for rape. It's a very important bill for women or law. I feel very gratified that I took something that was such an awful experience and now I can think about it positively.'
Kylie Jenner fans are freaking out over the possibility that the 20-year-old's pregnancy was discovered by a Peruvian shaman back in May.

One professional writer and superfan named Mariah Smith has put forward the theory, pointing to a clip from Life of Kylie in which the reality star visited a shaman in Peru on May 9. During the session, the shaman tells Kylie that there is a man who is very interested in her  in fact, she says, 'he's inside, looking at you'.

Looking back on the episode, several fans are now speculating that the shaman had figured out that Kylie was carrying Travis Scott's baby.

Hint, hint! Fans are now speculating that a shaman predicted Kylie Jenner's pregnancy when she visited Peru in May

Hmm... On May 9, Kylie was suffering from 'altitude sickness' and also visited a shaman who told her she'd already met a 'very interested man' who was 'inside' her

Mariah, a New Yorker who seems to have spent a bit of time investigating this, shared her theory on Twitter on Sunday.

'So, remember when Kylie Jenner got altitude sickness in May?' she began.

Kylie had been visiting Peru with her mom Kris and some friends, and the scenes from the trip appeared in the Life of Kylie finale, which just aired on September 17 (though a preview was on the internet earlier in the month).

On May 9, she was visited by a doctor, who gave her oxygen to help her adjust to the high altitude  which can cause nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. That same day, she and her crew also visited a local shaman, who the girls say is a psychic.

In a clip that aired, the shaman tells Kylie: 'There is one person that is very interested, you can see, he's already talking with you. Yes, he has good intentions.'

At that point, Kylie was already dating Travis Scott.

All the details: New Yorker Mariah Smith, an entertainment writer and superfan, worked out the theory on Twitter

Math: She figured it made sense that she would have been newly pregnant on her trip to Peru, based on the fact that sources are speculating she is four to five months along

Nausea, dizziness: Her TV show, Life of Kylie, documented her time in Peru  including the altitude sickness she suffered on May 9, which may have been morning sickness

Stretch? That same day a shaman gave Kylie a cryptic message about her boyfriend Travis Scott, which could be interpreted to mean she was pregnant

Deep dive: Mariah also looked into Kylie's menstrual cycle to explain that Kylie wouldn't have even known she was pregnant herself at that stage

Changes: Kylie once denied she'd had a boob job, saying her breasts looked bigger because it was that time of the month

Details: Mariah figured that if Kylie's cycle was regular, it would still have been too early for her to know she was pregnant on May 9

New relationship: Kylie has been dating Travis for only a few months

Supporters: Though the theory can hardly be proven, several other fans are latching on

'He's inside, looking at you,' the shaman continues, to which Kylie says with a smile: 'Inside of me.'

Looking back with the knowledge that Kylie may have been newly pregnant at the time  since sources are speculating that she is four to five months along now  some fans think that the shaman had figured out that Travis' child was 'inside' her.

Mariah pointed out that some of the 'altitude sickness' Kylie was feeling may also have been morning sickness.

But that's not all. Mariah also speculates that Kylie did not yet know she was pregnant  and maps out a schedule of the star's menstrual cycle to back it up.

'When Kylie was accused of having a boob job last year, she said her enlarged chest was due to her period. This was around the 26th of the month,' she tweeted.

In 2016, Kylie had fired back at rumors of an augmentation, saying it was 'that time of the month' and her breasts were simply enlarged because she was menstruating.

Mum: Kylie has not publicly confirmed that she is pregnant, though sources have reported that she is expecting to TMZ, Page Six, and People, among other outlets

A few months: Kylie was pictured with Travis at a Huston Rockets game on April 25

Wow: Fans and critics alike have been shocked by the reports of her pregnancy

Hiding? She has yet to show any sort of baby bump and has been posting several older photos on social media

Peek: Today, she shared a snap on Instagram teasing some of the skin of her stomach

'Do u want to feel them to validate?' Kylie tweeted at the time. 'They will deflate soon. And it will be a sad sad day.'

Mariah, then, figured out the math. Assuming that Kylie's cycle was regular, on May 9 she might not yet have known she was pregnant (because she would have yet to miss a period).

'PLUS she was with Travis for almost a solid week in late April-early May (Boston, NYC, Miami),' Mariah went on, 'soooooo I would hedge a bet that the shaman knew Kylie was pregs before Kylie and tried to tell her during their session! Wow!'

Though the theory will undoubtedly seem far out to some, others seem to be convinced.

'Nancy Drew is shaking,' quipped one believer. 'You are a hero. People will write books about you one day. Move over, Sherlock,' wrote another.
Slouchy boots were seen at multiple fall/winter 2017 fashion shows, including Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors, so it comes as no surprise that the relaxed silhouette is replacing last year's sleek styles.

Whether they were dressed up or down, trendsetting celebs Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 30, Olivia Culpo, 25, Chrissy Teigen, 31, and Lily Aldridge, 31, all accessorized their sleek ensembles with the loose-fitting footwear.

Up the cool factor to your fall wardrobe by shopping FEMAIL's edit of the chicest slouchy boots on the market now.

SLOUCHY BOOTS SEEN ON THE FALL/WINTER 2017 RUNWAYS Fall trend: Slouchy boots were seen at multiple fall/winter 2017 shows including Marc Jacobs, (left) Saint Laurent, (center) and Michael Kors (right) Advertisement

Style stars: Trendsetting stars Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 30, (left) and Olivia Culpo, 25, (right) were among the first to start rocking slouchy boots

Trendsetting stars Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Olivia Culpo were among the first to start rocking slouchy boots.

Rosie dressed up her casual denim ensemble with a brown pair by Saint Laurent, as she headed to dinner in Los Angeles last week.

Meanwhile Olivia rocked the same pair of slouchy boots in black as she headed to the Marc Jacobs show during New York Fashion Week.

Model behavior: Lily Aldridge, 31, (left) and Chrissy Teigen, 31, (right) both completed their all-black ensembles with over-the-knee slouchy boots

Models Lily Aldridge and Chrissy Teigen both completed their all-black ensembles with over-the-knee slouchy boots.

Earlier in the month Lily paired her Saint Laurent mini-dress with a pair of suede boots by the same designer as she headed to a fashion week event in New York City.

Chrissy paired an oversized sweatshirt with patent leather stunners while in London recently.

SHOP SLOUCHY BOOTS NOW
King Felipe of Spain looked bewitched by his stunning wife Letizia on a state engagement today.

Queen Letizia, 45, looked radiant in a feminine floral dress as the royal couple attended the inauguration of the new Congres Palace of Palma de Mallorca on Monday.

Felipe, 49, looked lovingly at his wife as the pair appeared deep in conversation at the official engagement.

Queen Letizia, 45, looked radiant in a pretty blue dress on an official engagement with her husband

Letizia wore a blue dress for the occasion, which was decorated with pretty floral detailing from top to bottom.

The stunning frock had semi-sheer sleeves, allowing the royal to flaunt just a hint of her toned arms.

She teamed the look with a simple coral clutch bag, which complimented the flowers in her dress pattern.

Letizia tied the outfit together a pair of nude courts, which elongated her legs in the modestly cut dress.

Letizia's dress featured a pink and red floral pattern and fell to just above the knee

King Felipe of Spain, 49, looked besotted with his stunning wife as they attended the inauguration of the new Congres Palace of Palma de Mallorca on Monday

Letizia paired her pretty dress with a coral clutch bag, which complimented the pattern on the frock

She kept her accessories minimal with a delicate pair of silver earrings, with no bracelets or necklaces adorning her wrists or neck.

Letizia wore her caramel locks loose on her shoulders and kept her makeup minimal with a touch of purple eye shadow and a touch of lip gloss.

Felipe looked dapper in a black pinstripe suit, which he wore with a light blue dotted tie.

The royal couple mingled with state officials at the opening of the new conference hall

Letizia was the centre of attention in her glamorous dress as she stayed by her husband's side

Letizia stood dutifully by her husband's side as he mingled with high powered Spanish officials

The royal couple were deep in conversation as they attended the ceremony surrounded by state officials.

They both looked animated as they made their way into the event's proceedings, sharing a joke between them.

With a demanding schedule, she has attended several royal visits this month.

The royal couple appeared to be having fun at the event as they shared an animated conversation

Felipe looked dapper in a black pinstripe suit, which he matched with a blue tie that complimented Letizia's dress

Queen Letizia had showed off her maternal side when she met with children at 'San Matias' School Centre in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife earlier this month.

Last week the royal looked sensational as she attended a charity day at El Padro museum in Madrid.

Known for her fashion-forward style, Queen Letizia looked elegant in a floral printed day dress.
Dorm rooms are notoriously drab. Even with some decorating and sprucing up  usually care of some posters and a fun comforter  they never exactly make for 'stylish' living spaces.

That is, unless somebody's mother is an interior designer. Moving into Southern Methodist University this fall, college freshman Meredith Welborn and Sarah Hooton went all out in transforming their shared dorm room.

The teenagers have quickly become the envy of dorm-dwelling young women across the US thanks to their perfectly coordinated room, which they outfitted with chic headboards, matching linens, and even a coffee bar.

Ta da! Meredith Welborn and Sarah Hooton transformed their Southern Methodist University dorm

Meant to be: They're both freshmen from Nashville and met through mutual friends

Lots of effort: They started planning their shared dorm room over the summer

Caffeine is a must: They even used a gold bar cart for coffee and snacks

Meredith showed off the fruits of their labor on her blog, As Told by Meredith. Both from Nashville, they met through mutual friends and decided to room together.

They texted back and forth in the months leading up to their August move-in, picking out pieced and planning out what their room would look like.

'Our main goal was to make it super home-y, and I definitely think we accomplished that!' Meredith wrote. 'We both love spending time and relaxing in here.'

It helped a lot that Sarah's mom is a professional interior designer, who helped them get good prices on pieces for their room.

They also have similar tastes: 'We both are super girly, so we decided on a theme of white, gray, pink, and mixed metals. It is very important to be communicative with your roommate during this process if you decide to match. We knew each other before-hand, so that part was easy.'

Speaking to Teen Vogue, Meredith explained that they pulled ideas from Pinterest, where they'd each been compiling dorm decor ideas for years.

Thanks ma! The teens got some help from Sarah's mom, an interior designer

In sync: They said that luckily they both have similar tastes

'Our main goal was to make it super home-y, and I definitely think we accomplished that!' Meredith said

All in the details: They bought matching lamps and Sarah got the curtains custom-made

Matchy-matchy: They also bought the same poufs, bedskirts, and linens

Glam: The walls were decorated with cute accents and gold picture frames

'We also would just text back and forth about different pieces we were thinking of getting for the room to see if the other one liked it or not. We were very communicative which truly is key for creating your perfect dorm room!' she said.

Each teen headed out shopping with her mom to pick up stuff for the room. They put their beds on risers and draped bedskirts over the bottom to cover the storage space underneath.

They bought matching Casatex duvets, blankets, and throw pillows from West Elm, as well as matching printed headboards from Not Just Dorms  typically, college dorms come with basic wood extra-long twin beds.

There are matching gold lamps from Elk, a Surya throw rug, gold picture frames, and decorative accents on the walls.

Sheer white curtains (which Sarah had custom-made) hang from the window between the two beds  in front of which is an adorable gold bar cart from Target. The cart is stocked with a Keurig and kettle, mugs and other flatware, coasters tea, and coffee.

Perfect: They also bought matching headboards to make the place feel homey

'We both are super girly, so we decided on a theme of white, gray, pink, and mixed metals,' said Meredith

Becoming close: They texted back and forth before moving in to coordinate

So impressive: Meredith, a blogger, shared the results online

'It was very stressful but also so fun and exciting!' Meredith said

The rest of the room is expertly accents with more picture frames, jewelry, and make-up displays. There is even a gray accent wall they didn't discover until they moved in, but are happy is there.

'It definitely adds dimension to our room, and lucky for us, it matches our color scheme perfectly,' said Meredith.

It was all definitely a challenge, especially working within a limited space. Meredith felt extra pressure to make her room picture-perfect for her blog.

Ultimately, though, they seem please with how it turned out  and the interest is impressed, too.

'It was very stressful but also so fun and exciting!' Meredith concluded on her blog.
Fizzy milk could soon be on supermarket shelves in a bid to make the dairy drink 'cooler' - and it's set to be pink.

Dairy company Arla will trial a 'sparkling fruit and milk drink' in the UK, Singapore and the UAE before being rolled out across the world.

Scientists have come up with the carbonated creation as the company tries to find ways of making milk more appealing to teenagers.

It comes after the rising popularity of non dairy milks, such as nut or soy-based milks.

Milk contains several important nutrients, such as calcium, protein, iodine, potassium, phosphorus and vitamins B2 and B12 - which is why it's perfect for growing children and teenagers

Arla hopes the new fizzy milk drink will help the company, which is owned by 12,500 farmers, triple the money it currently makes from milk-based drinks by 2020.

The new creation has been dreamed up by the so-called 'terrible twins of innovation' at Arla: German biochemist Sven Thormahlen, 60, and Matt Walker, 39, from Harrogate, who invented the Snap pots for its baked beans.

It is not yet clear when the pink fizzy milk drink will launch exactly.

Mr Walker told The Guardian this year: 'One of the challenges we have is teenagers not drinking milk.

Plant-based milks are becoming increasingly trendy, with the most popular being almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk and rice milk

'The insight we've found is that milk is not that cool.'

Developer Anne Evers Nikolajsen said the new fizzy milk drink would be made with a 'type of whey with no fat' in an interview.

'It contains a certain level of dairy protein and amino acids, but won't curdle when mixed with the fruit juice that gives it its pink colour; it is then carbonated.

'You could use it in a cocktail in the evening,' she added.

But fizzy milk hasn't always been successful in the UK.

Britvic launched the 'Tango Strange Soda' in the UK in 2014 but was withdrawn after less than a year due to poor sales.

In 2009, Coca-Cola trialled Vio carbonated milk drinks in the US, and they were launched in India last year.

However the fizzy milk drinks never made it to Europe.

According to The Grocer, sales of milk dropped by 240 million between 2014 and 2016.
Jaclyn Baxter was looking for her family medical history, and maybe some ancestral trivia, when she sent a sample of her saliva to 23andMe. When she got her results back, she found two half brothers and a half sister.

She was an only child until she decided to do the genetic test at age 33.

Finding her siblings led Baxter to discover that her beloved father was not biologically related to her, but she says that 'changes nothing between me and him.'

Baxter, who lives in California, looks like her brother, Loren, thinks like her brother Tim, and she can't wait to find out what she shares with her new-found sister, Andrea, whom she spoke to for the first time last week.

Jaclyn Baxter (center) found two half brothers, Loren (right) and Tim (left) when she sent in a saliva sample to 23andMe for genetic testing. The three had their first 'sibling reunion' in July 2017

Baxter grew up in a two-parent household. She is a self-described 'daddy's girl,' through and through.

Her relationship with her mother was a source of pain, so when she was 18 and her father, Gary Ralph, passed away, Baxter fled home, leaving the blood family she'd known behind.

Twenty-three years later, her children's pediatricians were asking Baxter questions about her medical history that her own parents had never answered. She didn't know what kinds of health problems she might have inherited from her father.

She turned to DNA analysis service 23andMe.

The service gives its customers a profile of more than 80 genetic traits that determine everything from the most trivial traits - like the ability to smell asparagus- to the most momentous, like a predisposition for Alzheimer's.

On its purchase page, 23andMe says that ordering its 'Health+Ancestry' package, for $199, is 'recommended'.

The combination package is 'certainly the most popular,' among 23andMe's 2 million customers, according to Andy Kill in the company's media relations department.

You have to 'opt in' to get information about genetic relatives, and 23andMe cautions that 'in rare cases, participation in DNA Relatives may reveal that you are related to someone unexpected, or that you are not related to someone in the way that you expected.'

Baxter was one of those rare cases.

Baxter (left) found her half brother, Loren Chase (right), through 23andMe's relative-matching service and met him for the first time in June 2017

She bought the combination package from 23andMe's website, because it was 'the most popular, basic option,' and she had no idea what her heritage was. She didn't even pay attention to the relatives section.

Baxter found out that she has very healthy genes, she is British, Irish, German, French, has more than a thousand relatives, and is 18 percent genetically matched to a half brother named Loren Chase.

Facebook turned up three men with that name. As soon as she clicked on his profile picture, Baxter knew in her gut which one was her brother.

'Holy sh*t, that's my smile,' she remembers thinking.

23andMe gives customers an option to request to contact their relatives. Baxter wrote to Chase, who lives in Santa Rosa, California, through her results, asking if he was comfortable communicating with her.

He soon replied, 'Jaclyn, Wow! Yes, I am definitely open to connecting. I have so many questions!' according to her blog.

Baxter and Chase found out that they shared many traits beyond the genetic ones that 23andMe revealed, some of them downright uncanny.

The half-siblings were both born on March 5, though four years apart; they are both married, with two children, they have the same brown eyes, both hitchhiked through Africa, and both have another half brother, Tim.

Chase knew his whole life half of his genes came from a sperm donor. Seven years ago, he contacted an agency that helps the children of donors connect with their siblings, and found Tim McNulty of Irvine, California.

Upon discovering one another, a long email chain ensued between the three siblings, and Baxter says they all connected instantly.

'We were understanding of each other, and the security and comfort was already here because we had so much in common and got along so well,' she says.

Some of the commonalities between Baxter and her brothers are easy to explain, like hair or eye color.

Baxter (right) sits on the lap of her beloved father, Gary Ralph, around age five. Ralph died when Baxter was 18, before she knew he was not her biological father

But, Baxter says McNulty's 'deep personality traits are very similar' to her own.

The explanation for these more nuanced similarities probably has a lot to do with 'nurture,' but there are some surprising genetic correlations too.

Last year, scientists at the University of California, San Diego analyzed data from 23andMe (as well as from the Genetics of Personality Consortium)to identify the genes linked to 'the big five' personality traits: extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience.

Baxter shares a 'deeply adventurous spirit' and exact travel destinations with Chase, and she and McNulty 'process things in the same way and our emotions are so much alike, the way that we both worry, and are open,' she says.

But the siblings share important 'nurture' or environmental factors too.

Both of her brothers' mothers were artificially inseminated, using donor sperm, apparently from Baxter's father.

Baxter, Chase and McNulty all sent their DNA to a lab which confirmed that they were all siblings.

Baxter was overjoyed. She couldn't wait to meet them and search their faces for signs of the father they shared and whom she missed so much.

But she knew that something wasn't quite adding up.

Baxter (right) met her half brother, Tim McNulty, for the first time in July 2017. She says that the two share 'deep personality traits' in common, in addition to their genes

Finding her father: How one mail-order test revealed her dad was NOT biological

A cousin on her father's side, Kelly, knew nothing about him fathering any other children or donating sperm, and Baxter just couldn't imagine that her father, 'the best man' she'd known wouldn't have had a relationship with her brothers if he'd known about them.

Then Kelly made an off-hand comment that rewrote part of Baxter's story.

Kelly's daughter had taken the 23andMe 'Health+Ancestry' test too. But she didn't even make Baxter's top 2,000 'relative' matches.

She had father's sister send her DNA into the specialist too.

Baxter and her father's sister were a zero percent genetic match. They weren't even distantly related. According to genetics, two strangers were Baxter's brothers and the aunt she'd known her whole life wasn't even related to her.

And the man that raised her, her 'one and only,' was not her biological father.

Baxter reeled from the shock, but took the news in stride.

'My dad is still my dad, and now I have three siblings, and family,' she says.

Baxter grew up with a loving father, but has long been estranged from her mother.

Both of her brothers, and her newfound sister grew up with two parents, like she did, but had poor relationships with their fathers, and have long lost touch with the men who raised them.

Baxter and her husband, Colin (right) wanted to know what genetic predispositions her children, four-year-old Zoey (center) and one-year old Jack (left) had inherited from her, so she sent a DNA sample to 23andMe. Her family grew even larger when she got her results and found out she had three half-siblings

Sadly, 'this is really common in the donor-conceived world,' Baxter says.

Research on the families with donor-conceived children has yielded very mixed and inconsistent results. But some studies suggest that fathers have a more difficult time bonding with children of artificial insemination - not, therefore, biologically related to them - than do mothers of children conceived with a donor egg.

Baxter stresses that she does not resent her parents for not telling her that she was donor-conceived. She and her siblings have only enjoyed discovering a bigger family than they knew existed.

'It was lonely being an only child, with both my parents being gone out of my life, and my brothers and I share a bond in common that most can't relate to.'

Baxter met Chase for the first time in June, then McNulty in July, and the three had their 'first sibling reunion' shortly thereafter.

Together, the three decided to submit their DNA to Ancestry.com, which has a database of 4 million users. 'I'm going to be surprised if we don't find more relatives,' Baxter says.

In fact, she already found another sibling, a 35-year-old half-sister named Andrea Hugel Knosp, who lives in Ft. Polk, Louisiana.

Baxter spoke to her sister for the first time last week.

Baxter and her brothers wondered if they might have even more siblings they'd never met. They found a sister 35-year-old Andrea Hugel Knosp, through MyHeritage.com. Baxter and Chase both spoke to her for the first time last week, and Hugel Knosp plans to come from Louisiana to California to meet her three half siblings in November

'Conversation flowed so easily [and] we had no problem sharing anything and everything with each other,' said Baxter. Hugel Knosp had apparently spent hours on the phone with McNulty just the night before.

'She told me that she felt an instant connection to us,' Baxter says of her sister, who will fly out to California to meet her siblings for the first time in November.

Baxter and her brothers are contemplating whether or not they want to take their genetic exploration a step further, and try to find their sperm donor.

She worked out that since she and her brothers are four years apart in age, their donor would have been donating sperm for at least four years, between 1979 and 1983. All they really know about their donor is that, according to Chase, he went to University of California Berkeley.

If Baxter and her siblings try to find their donor father, 'there are a million possible outcomes,' she says.

'Sometimes I feel safest just trying to stay in a place where he's a great guy, and our siblings are so alike and are great, good, kind people, so that's what he must be like.'

But there's always the possibility that her donor father would be nothing like the father that raised her.

'Either way it could be sad,' Baxter says. 'If he's a bad guy, or if he's a great guy, I'd feel really guilty,' not wanting to feel any betrayal of her father.

As it happens, Baxter has been working with a family with adopted children for 10 years. In a role-reversal, she's found herself asking the 16-year-old, Emma, 'what is it like to not know your birth parents?'

Regardless of her curiosity, 'I believe that you can have everything that you need from a relationship without DNA, but also that you can have that with DNA too,' Baxter says.

Baxter's husband, Colin, and children Zoey (four) and Jack (one) have been happy to see their family grow. 'The children haven't questioned it, they're just super excited to have more aunts and uncles,' she says.

Whether or not she finds her donor father, Baxter says she has no regrets and would take the 23andMe test and find out all she has about her father and siblings again in a heartbeat.

'I'm living the nature and the nurture,' she says, 'and both are beautiful.'
A handyman was suspected to have cancer after doctors found a mass in his lungs - only to discover it was a toy cone he inhaled as a child.

The 47-year-old patient, whose name is unknown, complained of coughing up yellow mucus and feeling unwell for little over a year. He sought help from doctors.

Scans showed a mass in his lungs, which consultants assumed was a sign of cancer due to him having smoked for three decades. They urgently referred him to hospital.

During a procedure to inspect his airway, medics discovered the mass to be a traffic cone from a Playmobil set, which the British man ingested 40 years ago.

Doctors writing in BMJ Case Reports have dubbed him a medical mystery, due to the length of time that passed without him displaying any symptoms.

A handyman was suspected to have cancer after doctors found a mass in his lungs - only for them to discover it was a toy cone (pictured next to a syringe for size comparison) he inhaled around 40 years ago

The 47-year-old patient, whose name is unknown, complained of coughing up yellow mucus and feeling unwell for little over a year. He sought help from doctors. Scans showed a mass in his lungs, which consultants assumed was cancer due to him having smoked for three decades

They wrote: 'To our knowledge this is the first reported case of a tracheobronchial foreign body that was overlooked for 40 years.'

The bronchoscopy was performed at the Royal Preston Hospital after the patient was referred due to concerns the lump was a sign of bronchogenic carcinoma.

Soon after having the procedure, the patient revealed he regularly played with and even swallowed pieces of Playmobil growing up.

He remembered being given this specific Playmobil set as a present on his seventh birthday, doctors reported.

How did it not cause symptoms?

WHO SWALLOWS FOREIGN OBJECTS A paper published in the journal BMJ Case reports said swallowing foreign objects is mostly reported in children younger than three years of age. Coins and bones are the objects most commonly ingested. Normally, the objects are passed naturally, but there is a high risk thin, sharp objects can perforate parts of the body such as the bowel. If the object is too big to be removed in an endoscopy, doctors may have to operate. Surgery such as a laparotomy - where medics make an incision into the abdomen to remove the object from the bowel - is required in less than 1 per cent of cases where people ingest foreign bodies. Advertisement

Experts said it's likely he went symptomless for so long because of how young he was when he inhaled the toy cone.

They suggested that as he grew older, his airways moulded and adapted round the presence of the foreign body.

Four months after removal of the tiny traffic cone, his symptoms had lessened, the doctors revealed.

They added: 'He finally found his long lost Playmobil traffic cone in the very last place he would look.'

A similar case earlier this week

It comes just days after it was reported a Russian woman 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.
One-fourth of cancer patients in the US have used marijuana as a treatment within the past year, a new study has found.

And 75 percent are investigating the drug - but most are turning to less-official sources to find out about the benefits, rather than asking their doctors.

Researchers are warning that it is dangerous for these patients to consult people outside the medical profession about the use of drugs.

The news comes at a time when consumers are closely watching marijuana markets given the drug's legalization in 30 US territories.

The report's researchers are calling for a societal shift in the way patients view marijuana and urging cancer doctors to be able to speak with their patients about the drug's benefits.

A new report from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that about 25 percent of cancer patients use marijuana as a medical treatment (file photo)

HOW ARE CANCER PATIENTS USING MARIJUANA? Among the 220 study participants who said they consistently turned to marijuana as a treatment, 40 percent said they used it by both inhaling and ingesting it. Thirty percent said they solely ingested it, and 29 percent reported only smoking it. Among those who ate the drug, 47 percent said they did so in the form of candy or edibles. Other methods for eating it included doing so through butters and oils, though baked goods and through beverages. Multiple beverage companies in California are now offering carbonated drinks laced with the drug. These 'weed cocktails' are currently only available for medical marijuana use, but they are expected to be made available for recreational use in 2018. Advertisement

For the study, researchers spoke to 926 cancer patients at the Seattle Cancer Center Alliance. The center is located in Washington State, which has legalized both medical and recreational marijuana use.

The median age of the participants was 58 years old, and the majority of them were men.

The research team found that 66 percent of the patients had used marijuana for medical purposes at some point.

Twenty-four percent had done so in the past year, 21 percent within the last month and 18 percent within a week of their participation in the study.

Among those who said they consistently used marijuana as a treatment, 74 percent said they used it at least once a week.

Most of the participants used marijuana to combat the physical symptoms they were experiencing.

Chemotherapy and radiation treatments that cancer patients undergo are often extremely painful, inducing vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, mouth sores, hair loss, fever and other unpleasant side affects, which marijuana can ease.

Other participants turned to the drug for help alleviating the psychological effects of a cancer diagnosis, including stress, depression and insomnia.

The researchers obtained urine samples from the participants and found that those of 14 percent of the patients tested positive for recent cannabis use.

While almost three-quarters of the participants said that they wanted to hear more information on how marijuana can help them with the side effects of cancer, most of them said that they likely would not turn to their doctors for this knowledge.

Instead, they said they would utilize resources outside of their healthcare system.

Study researcher Dr Steven Pergam said: 'Cancer patients desire but are not receiving information from their cancer doctors about marijuana use during their treatment, so many of them are seeking information from alternate non-scientific sources.'

He continued, saying: 'If we do not educate our patients about marijuana, they will continue to get their information elsewhere.'

Dr Pergam warned that marijuana could be dangerous for some cancer patients so it is important that they feel comfortable speaking with medical professionals about it.
These heartbreaking pictures reveal the plight of a two-year-old boy with protruding eyes who is slowly losing his eye sight because his parents are too poor to afford medical treatment.

Jailian Kaipeng is in 'constant pain' and may be suffering from a rare disorder that inflames his eyes or even a type of children's eye cancer.

But there is little hope of his suffering being alleviated because his labourer father earned just Rs 150 (1.70) a day and is now jobless.

Jailian was born a healthy baby but his eyes began to swell when he was just two months old. His condition now pushes his eyes forward so much that the lids of his eyes cannot even close.

His mother Chengmaite, 25, from a remote village in Tripura, north eastern India, said: 'All the doctors have said we should take him to the big hospitals but they are beyond our affordability.

'People stare at him and are shocked by his condition which breaks my heart. All we can do it wait for a miracle to happen. We are in desperate need of help.'

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Jailian Kaipeng from rural India is in 'constant pain' and urgently needs medical treatment

The two-year-old may be suffering from an inflammatory eye condition or cancer of the eye

Local doctors are baffled

Jailian's father, Neirbanglal Kaipeng, 28, said explained that his son's right eye started swelling a couple of months after his birth.

'A red line would appear and disappear on his eye ball and it would cause his eye to swell,' he said.

'We were very shocked when we first saw it, we had no idea what to do, or who to turn to.'

The family consulted local doctors but none could diagnose his condition.

'We took him to see our local doctors,' Neirbanglal said. 'But they were baffled. They gave him some medicines and sent us home but his eyes just got worse.'

His labourer father Neirbanglal, pictured with wife Chengmaite, earned just Rs 150 (1.70) a day and is now jobless

The toddler's right eye started swelling a couple of months after he was born

Eventually the condition spread to his left eye and the swelling became permanent.

For the last two years his parents have watched helplessly as their baby's condition worsened.

It is suspected that Jailian may have orbital pseudotumour, which is the inflammation of the eye muscles or even worse he has a type of eye cancer called retinoblastoma.

Bu without consultations with experts and tests, no one can be sure.

We sat there staring and crying

In desperation Neirbanglal sold some of his land for Rs 30,000 (340) and the family cow for Rs 10,000 (110) to pay for further consultation fees, travel expenses and medicines.

But Jailian's condition continued to worsen and the family have not been able to afford the best care  and have now lost their home.

'We were shocked and helpless by the visibility of his condition. I had no idea where to take my son,' said Neirbanglal.

A local doctor suspects the boy has orbital pseudotumour but an expert says he needs a biopsy to rule out cancer

WHAT IS RETINOBLASTOMA? Retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer that can affect young children (usually under five years of age). If it's picked up early, retinoblastoma can often be successfully treated. Cchildren treated for retinoblastoma diagnosed at an early stage have a survival rate of more than 95 per cent. Retinoblastoma can either affect one or both eyes. If it affects both eyes, it's usually diagnosed before a child is one year old. If it affects one eye, it tends to be diagnosed later (between the ages of two and three). In about 4 out of 10 (40 per cent) of cases, retinoblastoma is caused by a faulty gene, which often affects both eyes (bilateral). The faulty gene may be inherited from a parent, or a change to the gene (mutation) may occur at an early stage of the child's development in the womb. It's not known what causes the remaining 60 per cent of retinoblastoma cases. In these cases, there's no faulty gene and only one eye is affected (unilateral). Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

'We do not have that kind of knowledge or know how best to help him.

'We had no money to take him to the city hospitals. But we wasted time, just sitting and staring at him all day, crying.

'And in that time we could see his eyes getting worse.'

Eventually, the family  including Jailian's brother Ringdamte, 10, and nine-month-old sister Naote  had to leave their rented accommodation and move in with Chengmaite's parents.

'This child needs immediate attention'

A nearby Christian Missionary helped the family see a doctor in July who diagnosed his condition as orbital pseudotumour.

But no treatment was carried out and experts say the boy needs a second opinion and a biopsy to rule out cancer.

Neirbanglal said: 'There's a Christian missionary near my in-laws' house so we asked them for help and they kindly found us a good doctor.

'The doctor has given my son's disease a name but he's done nothing else because we have no money. We have no idea what it is, whether it can be cured or what to do next, we've had no guidance.

'I have no idea how long we can stay here. I am now jobless as we've had to move home.

'My wife is always crying. We can't sleep for worrying about him. It has started affecting our health too.'

Dr Shashidhar Tatavarthy, a paediatric at Artemis Hospital, in Delhi, said: 'We need to do a biopsy immediately to confirm the condition and differentiate it from a malignant tumour.

'The boy has not lost his sight yet but if he's left untreated any longer he could lose his sight completely.

'It is extremely rare to have this condition in a child of two years old. Surgery would be very complex but essential. This child needs immediate attention and treatment.'

Neirbanglal added: 'It is devastating to see my child suffering like this. He cannot see properly and it kills me to see him like this.

'I am possibly the most useless father who is not able to help his son.'

Due to the amount of donation requests, press agency Cover Asia Press has set up a donation page to raise money for Jailians cause here.
News / Press Release

by MDC T South Africa Province

The student community remains one of our undistinguished pillars of the Movement for Democratic Change. In fact, they are the founding fathers of our movement. The constituency has remained faithful to the founding ideals of the struggle.The Limpopo University public meeting yesterday, was organized by the MDC T South Africa Provincial Organizing department, led by Trust Ndlovu. The meeting was a platform to engage the Zimbabwean students currently studying at the University of Limpopo. Focusing mainly on the Zimbabwean politics, the diaspora perspectives and the role of of the youth in 2018 elections.In the panel making up the guest speakers was Tino Mumbeu, an Independent political analyst, Advocate Gabriel Shumba of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, a civic organization and the MDC T National Youth Assembly Commander, Happymore Chidziva, leader Cde Bvondo.The topic politics in the context of Zimbabwe was touched by Tino Mumbeu, a scholar and an independent political commentator. He started by expressing regret in the nature of the polarized and very violent nature of the Zimbabwean politics. "Violence which is mainly the making of the State and state machineries...." he said, " has developed a culture of resurfacing every time when the Zimbabwean regime is cornered or when the country is preparing for general elections". He noted recent attack metered against the MDC T VP's business premises, the arson attack on MDC T youth Assembly's vehicle, abductions and persecutions of dissent, as the yard sticks that Zanu pf has remained faithful to its modus operand.Advocate Gabriel Shumba of the Zimbabwe exiles forum(ZEF)detailed the work his organization is pursuing in regards to the diaspora perspectives and aspirations. He said as an organization they are not going to give up the fight for a diaspora vote. He gave a highlight of the work they are doing mainly in support of millions exiles leaving in South Africa. One student challenged Advocate Shumba and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum to also mount a court challenge to make sure that students and Zimbabweans in general, currently residing outside Zimbabwe are not left out in the current Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) program. The students argued that if it was possible for a Zanu pf Minister to register in Harare for a Matabeleland ward polling station, then it should be possible for exiles to register to vote at embassies and consulate across the globe. Advocate Gabriel Shumba assured the students that's the challenge is going to be a top priority for his organization.The atmosphere at the University campus was self explanatory that Bvondorization was in town. The MDC T National youth Assembly Commander, leader cde Bvondo left the student completely Bvondorized. The National youth Chair urged the students to define,secure and defend the future. "Students are people of influence" he said,and that as students they should not be passive but utilize that influence in urging their families and communities, not only to register to vote but to vote for President Morgan Tsvangirai.In their interaction with Chair Bvondo, the students expressed their full support to the wisdom of Dr Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC Alliance. They said, even though they are far from home, such developments like the MDC alliance always put a smile on their faces and keeps their hopes for a better Zimbabwe within reach.Students expressed reservations on the failure by the regime to realign the country's laws to the current constitution. Especially devolution, as the current centralization of power is negatively affecting service delivery in almost all local authorities across the country.Responding to fears of vote rigging of the 2018 elections among the students, the youth commander assured the students that, just like the Kenyan NASA coalition, the MDC alliance has established an anti rigging team that will ensure the rigging system is defeated. "Zanu pf is a minority party and it will not be allowed to rig elections in Zimbabwe again" said the youth Chair.What inspired us as MDC T SA province,is the continued regional and International recognition of our cause. The presence of the EFF student command in the meeting, who came in solidarity with Zimbabwean students, is a positive development in fighting dictatorship across the African continent. Dictatorship and authoritarian remains the modern day threat to Africa's peace,development and prosperity.Salutations to University of Limpopo Students!!!MDC T South Africa ProvinceInformation Department
Smoking super-strength cannabis or spice may trigger life-threatening seizures, researchers have warned.

Trials on mice showed seizures can be induced by both THC - which causes the 'high' in marijuana, and JWH-018 - the main component of spice.

The rodents also suffered from a shortness of breath and impaired walking after being given both compounds, the scientists discovered.

Japanese researchers warned the results should act as a wake-up call, given how widely high-potency and synthetic weed is used.

The findings contradicts pro-cannabis campaigners who have long argued that cannabis can help to tackle seizures and highlighted research which shows weed can prevent and control seizures in epileptic patients.

However, lead researcher Dr Olga Malyshevskaya, based at the University of Tsukuba, said the latest findings show cannabis is not a soft drug and warned of its dangers.

Trials on mice showed seizures can be induced by both THC - which causes the 'high' in marijuana, and JWH-018 - the main component of spice

She said: 'Our study is quite important. Unaware of the particularly severe effect by those cannabinoids, people see marijuana as a soft drug, without dangerous health effects.'

She added: 'It is critically important for health-care professionals and policy makers to be aware of the serious adverse effects, as shown in this report.

'Clinicians in the emergency departments should always suspect seizure activity in patients who have a history of cannabinoid intoxication.

WHAT IS THC? THC is found in all forms of cannabis, but is abundant in skunk - a super-strength form of the drug that dominates Britain's illegal market. Some 80 per cent of what is available on the streets is believed to be skunk, which is created by growers aiming to make the most potent strain of the drug possible in order to maximise their profits. They remove high amounts of CBD from the plant, allowing the modified herb to contain only THC. It is unsure how much THC was in the strain of cannabis used in the new study. Over the years, a host of previous research has pointed to a link between the popular recreational drug and mental health conditions. Last October, University College London researchers found that skunk may be twice as addictive as normal strains of cannabis. Similar health concerns have been raised about synthetic cannabis spice, which can slump users and turn them into 'zombies'. It was previously known as a legal high before it was banned last year following a surge in its use. Now it has reached epidemic levels in prison. Advertisement

'The number of clinical cases involving marijuana intoxication has been steadily increasing due to increase in cannabis potency over the last two decades.'

What do other experts think?

Ian Hamilton, a cannabis researcher at York University, cautioned the results, which are published in Scientific Reports.

He told MailOnline: 'We don't know if people who use cannabis are using something as potent as this.'

For the study, researchers measured the brain activity of the mice after giving them both compounds and recorded them.

Research that claims to show cannabis can control seizures

The findings contradict a body of research which shows weed can prevent and control seizures in epileptic patients.

Campaigners have long argued that cannabis has the opposite effect to the new findings and can help to tackle seizures.

Researchers have previously suggested that CBD - the other compound in cannabis which produces no 'high', binds to a receptor in the brain that calms down the electrical activity in the brain which causes a seizure.

First Briton to be prescribed liquid cannabis oil on the NHS

Their case was strengthened when an 11-year-old on the brink of death from a severe form of epilepsy made an 'incredible' recovery from taking marijuana.

Billy Caldwell, from Castlederg, Northern Ireland, made headlines in April when he became the first Briton to be prescribed such a drug on the NHS.

And 10 months since he was first given the liquid cannabis oil, he hasn't had any seizures. He used to suffer up to 100 a day.
The rate of Americans dying from lung disease has rocketed 30 percent since 1980, new figures reveal.

Researchers at the University of Washington analyzed death records stretching back 34 years from the US Census Bureau.

They found the national rate of deaths increased from 40.8 per 100,000 to 52.9 per 100,000, despite recent successful measures to curb lung-related deaths in some areas.

Most states have seen an increase in deaths: decreases in the mortality rate have been confined to the most privileged seven percent of the country.

But the driving force behind the increase in national death rates comes from the impoverished South. Some counties along the Appalachian Trail have seen the mortality rate increase by as much as 224 percent.

Lung disease deaths: A report published by JAMA today revealed an increase in the rate of lung deaths in America. This map shows how deaths from pneumoconiosis (including those exposed to asbestos) were mainly confined to mining towns in Appalachia

The report, published today by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) focused on five main conditions: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary sarcoidosis, and pneumoconiosis (including those exposed to asbestos), as well as other conditions.

By far the most lethal was COPD, accounting for almost four million deaths between 1980 and 2014, compared to 403, 168 from interstitial lung disease and 157,066 from asthma.

Chillingly, most COPD deaths were confined to Appalachia, the impoverished belt in the south that snakes through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and West Virginia.

Most asthma deaths were also seen in Appalachia, particularly around the southern half of the Mississippi River, Georgia and South Carolina.

Meanwhile, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis were more common in the Southwest as well as New England and the northern Great Plains (such as North Dakota).

Unsurprisingly, the highest proportion of deaths from pneumoconiosis (Caused by concrete and asbestos inhalation) were seen in mining towns, particularly in Appalachia.

The report also detailed other chronic respiratory diseases, which accounted for 56,994 deaths since 1980. These were most commonly seen in Mississippi and South Carolina.

The study is the first to estimate mortality rates on an annual basis during an extended period for any chronic respiratory disease, enabling comparison of temporal trends among counties and examination of changes in geographic disparities over time.

It shows a clear correlation between smoking rates or smoke-exposed occupations (such as mining) and lung diseases.

Nonetheless, the authors add that this unprecedented account of death rates shines a light on the growing disparities in healthcare between privileged regions of the West and Northeast, compared to the South.
Dutch designer Anouk Wipprecht has a vision for a world in which people stop telling themselves little lies about their emotions  and she believes high-tech fashion is the key.

Her creations, which combine digital technology with haute couture, play with social norms and aim to engineer a cold-turkey solution to our dearest deceptions, she told AFP on the sidelines of Milan Fashion Week.

The 32-year-old has already seen her stuff worn by former Black Eyed Peas star Fergie during a performance at the Super Bowl. She has also created 3-D printed outfits for Canadian super troupe Cirque du Soleil.

Yet one of her most deviously disruptive designs is a piece she is developing with crystal-maker Swarovski that uses built-in sensors to blink in time with the wearer's heart beat.

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The new Synapse dress from fashion designer Anouk Wipprecht has sensors that detect you heartbeat and signal the dress to light up in time with year heart

It sounds simple, and maybe even poetic to put one's vital force on display, but it also is incredibly revealing.

Imagine wearing the thing while talking to a special someone you'd like to be more than just friends with or how about a job interview? They'll be able to see that your heart is pounding with fear or excitement.

'It's sort of almost like you are having goosebumps, you cannot control it or you start to be red in your face. So in a really pure sense, you are able to broadcast your emotions,' she said.

'If you are wearing your heartbeat on your sleeve it is a really pure thing. It also gets you in a lot of really awkward situations that for me are super interesting.'

This fascination with where human behavior and digital couture meet has already led Wipprecht to conjure similarly striking experiments.

One of the most famous is called, appropriately enough, the 'Spider Dress.' The 3-D printed garment is topped with a collar that is studded with robotic spider legs.

The legs jump out, or 'attack' as Wipprecht says, when someone moves too far into the wearer's personal space. Yet, after showing off the dress in Europe, China and the United States, she has made some interesting discoveries.

'People in the Netherlands, they go very fast, very close by, while in America they are more gentlemen... they stand further away.' she said.

Wipprecht's cutting edge designs have found their ways into the spotlight, worn by celebrities like Fergie, who wore a Wipprecht piece for her 2011 Superbowl performance

The Synapse dress uses Intel's new Edison chip, which the company designed specifically for use in responsive, high tech fashion like Wipprecht's designs

'I sometimes need to push people into the person's space a little bit... because they really have the notion of respect.'

Her journey to a creator's life, lived mostly in New York and California's Silicon Valley, started early for Wipprecht.

She was about 14 years old when she fell in love with fashion because it's 'expressive and you can communicate with it' and began to study design. Then came her discovery of robotics.

'For me the robots had basically a brain and a heartbeat. That's what I wanted my fabrics and garments to have,' she said.

In the mid-2000s when she was still strapping big computers to the body, she discovered the so-called Arduino community.

Named for a bar where its founders met in the northern Italian town of Ivrea, Arduino is an open source computer hardware and software company.

But it is also a collection of people who use its kits to build their own digital devices, like Wipprecht.

She is optimistic that her work will one day lead to a ready-to-wear collection coming down the catwalk, but at the moment she is focused on pushing boundaries.

'The things I do are out there to provoke and to be more experimental,' she said. 'If we would all just make dresses that light up and change color it would be super... boring.'
A new study has laid bare the reality that American doctors do not know how to properly treat minorities because they are underrepresented in clinical trials.

The report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) said that 83 percent of participants in clinical trials are white, which means that the effects of new treatments on minorities are not being documented.

And the problem is worsening: the number of black and Hispanic participants has decreased during the last two decades, the report said.

Reasons for this gap include language barriers and the fact that minorities tend to be more distrustful of healthcare providers.

Researchers are warning that minorities could be more heavily impacted by fatal diseases if they are not more widely included in clinical trials for drugs that treat them.

A new report from the American Association for Cancer Research has found that participants in clinical trials are usually overwhelmingly white. The study's researchers concluded that this could skew a doctor's understanding of a drug's effectiveness (file photo)

UNETHICAL TREATMENT OF MINORITIES WITHIN US HEALTHCARE RESEARCH Clinical trials are held so that researchers can evaluate the effectiveness of new drugs. However, if these drugs are only tested on white people, the unknown effects of the drugs on minorities could hinder a doctor's ability to effectively treat them. The new study reveals that the problem is getting worse, as black and Hispanic people are less represented in trials than they were 20 years ago, but the problem is not new. One infamous example of the inequality reflected in American medical research is the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, in which an experimental syphilis treatment was administered to nearly 400 black men in Alabama. The men told they were being treated even though researchers did not know what the treatments they were administering to them would do to their bodies. The unethical experiment is often pointed to as the reason minorities are still underrepresented in clinical trials today. Advertisement

For the study AACR researchers looked at the ethnic profiles of 55,689 clinical trial participants from 2003 to 2016. They found that about six percent were black, about five percent were Asian and less than three percent were Hispanic.

These figures were compared with data from 1996 to 2002, and researchers concluded that the percent of black and Hispanic people included in trials has decreased since then.

The percentage of black participants has gone down about three percent and that of Hispanic people has decreased about half a percentage point.

As of 2011, black people accounted for about 12 percent of the US population, while Hispanic people made up almost 16 percent.

Additionally, the study found that patients aged 65 and older accounted for only 36 percent of patients in clinical trials, despite research showing that most cancer diagnoses occur among people in that age group.

And the issue is not specific to the American healthcare system. A 2016 report from the University of Bristol in the UK found that less than one-third of clinical trials include a sizable portion of minorities.

In Australia, about one-fifth of clinical trials during a period of time in 2015 excluded potential participants who had a low English proficiency, a study concluded.

One of the AACR study researchers, Dr Narjust Duma, said that these results should concern the medical community because they reveal that clinical trial results are not equally applicable.

'Clinical trials are crucial in studying the effectiveness of new drugs and ultimately bringing them to the market to benefit patients,' Dr Duma said.

But 'despite minorities growing, the recruitment [of them] has gone down less and less,' she explained.

Dr Duma added: 'Many clinical trials lack appropriate representation of certain patient populations. As a result, the findings of a clinical trial might not be generalizable to all patients.'

And she said the issue could prove fatal because it results in certain populations being treated with drugs that will not necessarily help them.

She explained that black people and white people tend to metabolize chemotherapy drugs at different rates.

Therefore, if an elderly black women is given the same chemotherapy treatment regimen as a middle-aged white man, the results likely will not be the name. 'It can't be released as universal,' Dr Duma said, referring to clinical trial results.

She spoke of suggestions that she thinks could lessen the ethnic participation gap in clinical trials.

One such recommendation is the involvement of Spanish interpreters in clinical trials, which could potentially make the experiments easier and more approachable for Hispanic people.

Additionally, she said healthcare providers need to be aware of the fact that many groups are underrepresented in trials and they need to encourage members of such groups to participate more often.

Lastly, Dr Duma said that cancer centers and satellite hospitals should partner to produce clinical trials. For this to work, patients would undergo treatments at their local hospitals, but their data would be sent to the major cancer center for analysis.

This could increase diversity among clinical trial patients, Dr Duma said.

And she pointed out that one of the limitations of the study, which was funded by the Mayo Clinic, is that participants' race and ethnicity in the clinical trials the data came from were self-reported.

Dr Duma said that companies funding clinical trials need to act quickly to include more participants from minority groups in their studies immediately. 'Every trial recruiting today can change recruitment,' she said.
For the past four years it has been possible to vaccinate dogs against Lyme disease, the infection caught from a contaminated ticks bite, but the same protection has not been available for humans.

However, scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Boston have now developed a jab that, during tests on mice, was 100 per cent effective  completely halting the transmission of infection-causing bacteria from ticks into the bloodstream. They plan to run human trials over the next two to three years.

Although labelled a vaccine, the new jab does not work like normal inoculations  which prime the immune system to recognise a virus or bacteria as foreign by exposing it to tiny amounts of the bug itself.

University of Massachusetts Medical School scientists have developed a jab: Lyme PReP

Instead, the Lyme disease jab  called Lyme PReP  actually contains a specific antibody (a type of protein) designed to target the harmful bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, that causes the condition.

As soon as an infected tick bites, the antibody  which floats around in the bloodstream  detects the bacteria and binds to, and destroys, each bacterial cell.

But because the antibody itself only has a lifespan of six to nine months, the jab would be given annually before the high-risk summer months, when the chances of being bitten by ticks lurking in long grass are greatest.

Dr Mark Klempner, an expert in infectious diseases, who helped to develop the jab, says mice were injected with the antibody and bitten by up to seven infected ticks each  a far higher exposure than humans would ever be likely to encounter.

None of the mice developed Lyme disease in the six-month trial. Dr Klempner says: We think giving a person a comparable amount of antibody to the mice will provide protection during the tick season.

Its hoped the jab, costing around 150 each, could prevent many cases of Lyme disease in the UK, where official figures state that 3,000 people a year are infected. Some charities argue the real figure is nearer 15,000 as many people affected dont seek medical help for the achy joints and flu-like symptoms it can cause.

Common culprit: Although labelled a vaccine, it does not actually work like normal inoculations - instead it targets the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, passed on by ticks

Symptoms typically develop between two and 30 days after being bitten, usually starting with a bull-eye-shaped rash which signals the bacteria from the tick are spreading round the site of the bite. The bugs then pass through the bloodstream, attacking the joints and nervous system, before spreading to the brain or heart.

WHILE antibiotics can stop the spread of the bacteria, if left untreated, Lyme disease can cause severe damage by triggering a powerful attack by the immune system, which leads to harmful inflammation that damages the hearts rhythm.

Earlier this year, former England rugby union star Matt Dawson, 44, revealed that he needed specialist heart treatment after being bitten by a tick while exercising in a park in Chiswick, West London, in 2015. The bite led to a condition called Lyme carditis, causing Matts heart to beat an extra 30,000 times a day and putting it under added stress.

Doctors at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London treated it using tiny electrodes fed into the heart to destroy the cardiac tissue causing the extra beats.

WHAT IS LYME DISEASE? Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It's usually easier to treat if it's diagnosed early. Many people with early symptoms of Lyme disease develop a red, circular skin rash around a tick bite. This can appear up to 30 days after being bitten by a tick. Not everyone with Lyme disease gets the rash. Some people also have flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as: a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery headaches muscle and joint pain tiredness and loss of energy SOURCE: NHS Choices Advertisement

Now healthy again, Matt will nevertheless need regular heart checks for the rest of his life. But if it sounds like science is heroically dashing to the rescue, the truth is a Lyme disease vaccine has been a long time coming.

UK dog owners have been able to get their pets immunised since 2013, but not themselves. Merilym 3, an annual jab costing around 70 and available to puppies from 12 weeks old, is thought to work in a similar way to the one being developed for people. But the dog jab has never been tested in humans and is not judged safe for humanuse.

However, a human vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration almost 20 years ago. Lymerix, developed by SmithKline Beecham (now part of GSK), was on the market for four years before the company withdrew it voluntarily after a series of lawsuits (none of them successful) from patients alleging that it caused severe arthritis.

But interest in Lyme disease vaccines has been reignited thanks to an estimated 300 per cent increase in UK cases since 2011, believed to be caused by milder winters and damper summers  the perfect breeding conditions for ticks.

Professor Hany Elsheikha, an expert on veterinary parasitology at Nottingham, warns it is too soon to say if the jab will work and even if it does, it may not be the best approach.

These are promising early results but we dont know if it will have the same effect in humans, he says. It would be more cost-effective and clinically effective to encourage people to protect against bites, with simple prevention measures that are much better than resorting to drugs.

According to NHS Choices, these include long-sleeved shirts and tucking trousers into socks while walking in long grass or woods, keeping to footpaths where possible and using an insect repellent on exposed skin.
Time-sensitive: 36 years of research helped US academics reach the conclusion that reduced sleep could improve mental health

Sleep deprivation may offer a new treatment for depression.

An analysis of 36 years of studies by the University of Pennsylvania suggests temporarily depriving patients of sleep can be effective in the short-term.

Their research, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, looked at 66 studies on people with depression who were deprived of sleep in a clinical setting.

Sleep deprivation was found to temporarily improve symptoms in 50 per cent of patients. The review also found that partial sleep deprivation (three to four hours sleep, followed by 20 to 21 hours of staying awake) and total sleep deprivation (being deprived of sleep for 36 hours) were equally effective.

The results were the same whether or not the participants were also taking medication. Patients reported improvement in as little as 24 hours.

The idea that depression can be helped by sleep deprivation has a long history.

Nearly 200 years ago, a German psychiatrist, Johann Christian August Heinroth, successfully experimented with it as a treatment for what he described as melancholia, while wake therapy  a combination of long periods of wakefulness interjected with long recovery sleeps  is a technique used by some U.S. psychiatrists and sleep doctors to help treat chronic depression.

However, the researchers involved in the latest study say that it is a temporary solution and more work needs to be done to identify exactly how sleep deprivation helps depression.

Less is more? The University of Pennsylvania say depriving patients is effective short-term

We still do not have an effective grasp on precisely how effective the treatment is and how to achieve the best clinical results, says Philip Gehrman, an associate professor of psychiatry and senior author of the study.

One theory is that people with depression have disturbed circadian rhythms  the bodys internal clock  and skipping a sleep cycle can reset this and temporarily relieve symptoms.

Commenting on the research, Dr Nik Gkampranis, a consultant psychiatrist and sleep specialist at Spire Healthcare, says: Many people with depression have more REM sleep  where your brain is more active and you tend to dream vividly  than those without the condition.

IS LACK OF SLEEP CAUSING PAIN? Meanwhile, a University of Warwick study has found people who sleep badly may be more likely to develop chronic pain. Researchers reviewed 16 studies from ten countries, evaluating the long-term effects of changes in sleep patterns on pain. The study, published in the journal Sleep Medicine, found that less sleep led to inflammation in the body, higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol and other biomarkers relating to pain. The researchers didnt find that increasing sleep improved pain (in this case, arthritis pain), but found getting enough sleep led to better physical functioning. Advertisement

Restricting this kind of sleep in these patients can improve their symptoms. My theory is that, in REM sleep, you can end up going through your problems from the day due to more brain activity.

This can leave you feeling more depressed and unrefreshed when you wake up.

He adds: In my opinion, partial sleep deprivation would be better for depression patients than total, as a full lack of sleep can exacerbate symptoms.

Evidence also suggests that this is only a temporary fix, so if it is implemented as a therapy, Id advise it to be used in conjunction with other treatments, for example antidepressants or CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). Professor Jim Horne, of Loughborough Universitys Sleep Research Centre, warns: This treatment should only be done under inpatient medical supervision  not by yourself at home  which means it could be costly for the NHS to implement.
Prescription: Jen Hider has suffered benzo withdrawal symptoms and felt suicidal when she came off the drugs

Benzos have stolen the best years of my life, says Neil Evans. They were supposed to be a temporary solution for an anxiety attack, but Ive been on them for ten years and theyve made me feel far worse  much more anxious and agitated.

But when Neil has tried to come off the drugs, he has experienced crippling withdrawal symptoms.

Your brain goes into meltdown: its worse than the drugs side-effects that youre trying to get rid of, says the 50-year-old former journalist from Bristol. Id curl up in a ball on my bed and just cry all the time. Neil admits that, at times, he felt so desperate, he thought about ending his life. He even considered going to Dignitas, the assisted dying organisation in Switzerland.

Several times in the past couple of years, Ive found myself browsing their website, even though I dont have a terminal illness, says Neil.

Ending my life was something I felt very serious about. This was completely out of character. Before benzos, my life wasnt perfect, but my future held promise.

But now, I wanted to die. Thats how desperate you can get. And there is so little support to help you come off them. Neil is one of a number of patients Good Health spoke to whove considered this desperate measure, rather than live with the unbearable effects of their prescription benzodiazepines.

These patients had placed their trust in doctors, taking the medication in good faith, but have then effectively been abandoned by the NHS as the pills took over their lives.

Benzodiazepines are a type of tranquilliser used to treat anxiety, but also as a muscle relaxant for pain. The drugs can be very effective in the short-term, but are highly addictive, so under official guidelines, they are meant to be prescribed for only four weeks.

Yet many doctors hand them out for longer. And the longer that patients take the drugs, the harder it is to come off them. But staying on the drugs can leave patients unable to function normally  and yet they cant come off them because of the terrible withdrawal effects.

Its a catch-22 that can leave patients desperate.

Innocent beginning: In May 2016, she was prescribed lorazepam for ten days to help with depression relating to a thyroid problem

Jen Hider, a 54-year-old former nurse, is another patient who says benzodiazepines made her suicidal. In May 2016, she was prescribed lorazepam for ten days to help with depression relating to a thyroid problem.

Almost immediately, the drug made her feel zonked out. She told her mental health team, but they said to stick with the pills. Despite this, she decided to stop taking them and, almost immediately, her brain stopped functioning, she says, leaving her unable to do basic tasks.

Eight weeks after I stopped taking the drugs, I sat in my car planning how I was going to die. Jen Hider

These symptoms were very different from depression, she explains. Jen now believes they were signs of benzo withdrawal.

Jen recalls: Eight weeks after I stopped taking the drugs, I just sat in my car in a car park planning how I was going to die, recalls Jen. Even then, I didnt really want to die  I just couldnt face coping with the symptoms.

I was on my way to drown myself in the river, but my daughter saved me by phoning the police, who found me.

Despite guidelines on benzos, a new study published by the Public Health Research Consortium (partly funded by the Department of Health) has found, shockingly, that even more benzo prescriptions are being written for longer periods (more than 110 days).

Theres also been a worrying rise in the length of time patients are prescribed opioids, painkillers that can be highly addictive, from 64 days on average to 102.

Life-changing: Neil Evans and Jen Hider suffered dramatic side-effects to Benzodiazepines

Health Service support for patients who unwittingly become hooked on their prescription pills is virtually non-existent, unlike for illegal drug users. And if these innocent addicts do manage to access a drug addiction service, they are often not set up to help them properly  prescription pill dependency needs to be treated by gently reducing or tapering the dose, not by cold turkey, to avoid lasting withdrawal symptoms.

Barbara Bell, 67, a former medical market research interviewer, has been off benzos prescribed to her for five years after a close family bereavement but still suffers a drilling nerve pain, as well as problems with memory and concentration.

After being put through a brutal cold turkey detox over five weeks in a residential detox unit in 2011, I was left with agonising nerve pain all over my body, says Barbara, who lives with her husband Paul, a retired assistant chief fire officer in Stone, Staffordshire.

When I came home I suffered uncontrollable shaking. I called the detox unit  I must have phoned there 20 times  but the staff just laughed when I told them I was in so much pain and hadnt slept for months.

I was bedridden for two years after that as the pain was so bad.

Detox treatment in a residential unit is the wrong type of help. Its savage and dangerous and it ended up causing me lasting damage. Gradual tapering down is the only safe way to come off these drugs.

In the absence of official help, most patients are left trying to fend for themselves. With just two small charities, Battle Against Tranquillisers and the Bristol Tranquilliser Project, offering a helpline for benzo patients, staff are overwhelmed by the volume of calls, says Luke Montagu, spokesman for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Prescribed Drug Dependence and founder of The Council for Evidence-Based Psychiatry.

Its often impossible to get through, leaving people unable to access any support and in a state of complete desperation.

Desperate:' Ending my life was something I felt very serious about. This was completely out of character,' confesses Mr Evans

According to another campaigner, Home Office figures suggest there have been as many as 20,000 benzo-related deaths since the 1960s, including suicides. People are dying while politicans delay taking any action, claims Barry Haslam, a retired accountant from Oldham who has suffered health problems after being prescribed benzos for ten years.

Claire Hanley of the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition adds: Twenty people on our forum have died this year due to problems coming off benzos.

The only NHS help Ive had is a prescription from a psychiatrist every three months, but I never get any advice about how to deal with the withdrawal side-effects. Neil Evans

Such is the concern about the prescription pill dependency (some estimate that hundreds of thousands of Britons are affected), campaigners and experts, including the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and backed by the Mail, have been calling on the Government to provide a national 24-hour helpline for them.

As Luke Montagu explains, these are people whove been grievously harmed by simply taking their medication as prescribed.

Fifty-four-year-old Catherine Marshall, an administrator, says her benzo withdrawal symptoms were so unbearable that she, too, was driven to consider Dignitas.

Catherine, who is divorced and lives with her two teenage children, in Wakefield, Yorks, was prescribed diazepam for anxiety and depression for two years after her sister died in 2012. The pills turned me into a shell of the person I was, she says.

I was so emotional and lost my confidence. Then I started suffering panic attacks and ended up in hospital.

Determined to come off the drugs, she reduced the dose over several months.

Looking back, I realise it was still too fast. Ive been off the pills for over three years now but Im still suffering withdrawal symptoms  anxiety, suicidal thoughts, muscle pain, a constant burning down one side and unbearable stiffness in my neck. These are down to the benzos. Theyre not a recurrence of my depression but a direct result of coming off the pills too quickly, with no support.

Statistics: Home Office figures suggest there have been as many as 20,000 benzo-related deaths since the 1960s, including suicides

I looked at the Dignitas website last year and thought, yes, I want to end this purgatory in comfortable surroundings. But then I thought of my children and the life I hope to be able to lead again.

Neil Evans has gradually reduced diazepam dose from 80mg a day to 1.5mg but its taken more than three years.

The only NHS help Ive had is a prescription from a psychiatrist every three months, but I never get any advice about how to deal with the withdrawal side-effects.

The good news is that hes not had any suicidal thoughts for five months, but I have known of several people who sadly took their own lives because of their intolerable withdrawal symptoms, he adds.

After Jens suicide attempt, she was admitted to a mental health hospital and put on 3mg a day of lorazepam. When she refused to take it, doctors agreed she could take half the dose.

That first day back on lorazepam I initially felt slightly better, but I knew right away my body was craving more, so I started reducing the dose, recalls Jen. I suffered withdrawal symptoms, electrical zaps in my brain and blotches all over my body.

When discharged, I stopped taking the pills completely. I had no idea that it was dangerous. The brain zaps continued and some days I could barely speak. I went to my GP several times a week, but she just kept telling me to go back on benzos.

The withdrawal symptoms lasted eight months, but Im back at work now and getting my life back together.

Malcolm Lader, professor of clinical pharmacology at Kings College London and world expert on benzos, says although withdrawal symptoms after less than two weeks on the medication are highly unlikely, never say never. Its a poorly researched area and its possible some people become sensitised to benzos.

Jen just feels so lucky to be alive: So many others have died because no help was available.

For more information, visit: beatingbenzos.com
Clashes broke out between protesting students and police inside the BHU campus on Saturday and Sunday when students, mostly women, reportedly tried to force their way into the vice-chancellor's house.

The women were protesting against an incident of so-called 'eve teasing' and assault that took place on September 21 when a girl was molested by a group of boys outside the the Bharat Kala Bhawan.

According to the girls, they raised a alarm but the security guards standing barely 20 meters from the incident over heard them.

Clashes broke out between protesting students and police inside the BHU campus

Akansha Singh, a student of BFA, reportedly, shaved her head in protest.

'We tried to meet the VC, but the administration did not gave heed to our complaints asking us to keep quite as the prime minister was to visit Varanasi on Sept 24', a student said.

It is to be mentioned that the girls were sitting on a protest since September 21 (after the incident) and even met the proctor and the warden.

However, the girls alleged that no action was taken.

The women were protesting against an incident of so-called 'eve teasing' that took place on September 21

'The incidents are common as our hostels are located at secluded place. We had handed over a number of applications to the administration requesting proper security but it falls on deaf ears', said a girl.

The girls also alleged that no women force was present and that girls were man handled and beaten by cops.

The protest took a violent turn when over 100 girls reached the VCs house to meet him to raise the issue of security for girls. According to reports, male students also joined the protest and about half a dozen vehicles were set on fire.

Police wearing cricket helmets try to calm the students

As the trouble intensified, more forces and PAC was roped in. Over a dozen girls were injured and were rushed to the hospital. A curfew like situation prevailed in the campus and tensions further intensified after a cell phone video emerged on Sunday showing two policemen raining blows on girl students.

The video shows policemen thrashing a girl outside the hostel with batons and no women cops was seen in the footage. BHU VC G C Tripathi claimed that it was an act of outsiders.

'We own the responsibility and accept that we did not reach on time. The hooligans were mostly outsiders and it was a conspiracy to tarnish the image of the University.

The injured are being treated in the hospital and we have identified some of the trouble makers.

Strict action will be taken and the complaints of the girls will be handled effectively', Tripathi said.

Meanwhile the chief minister took cognizance of the incident and sought reports. Principal Secretary (Home) and police officers are also directed to keep a round the clock eye on the developments.

An FIR was registered and 14 persons were arrested in the connection by Sunday evening.

'BHU is a haven for sex predators'

The Babaras Hindu University (BHU) administration that ordered a closure of the university, has extended it till October 5, just after a day it witnessed on-campus disturbances and violence.

Three additional city magistrates of Varanasi and two police officers were on Monday removed in connection with the lathi-charge on students in the university and a high-level probe was ordered into the incident that has spiralled into a major controversy.

Several students, mostly girls, besides outsiders were injured in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday when the police resorted to a lathi charge when hundreds of youths tried to barge in the V-C's house to put forward their demand.

'Eve teasing' is the making of unwanted sexual remarks or advances by a man to a woman in a public place (pictured - a protester detained)

'Our hostels are located at secluded place on the campus and the roads are also open for public movement. We cannot move outside hostels after sunset and incidents like eve teasing and molestation are routine,' Nivedita Kumari said.

Another girl added: 'The V-C avoids meeting students. We do not remember when we saw him last. We demand his removal.'

The V-C later on Sunday however had confronted the media and accepted loop holes. 'We accept that we did not reach on time. The trouble makers were mostly outsiders and it was a bid to tarnish the image of the varsity,' V-C GC Tripathi said.

As opposition parties targeted BJP over the police action on the campus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah spoke to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and asked him to address the issue at the earliest.

'An FIR has been filed against unidentified policemen in connection with the lathicharge on Saturday night. A case has also been registered against over 1,000 students in this connection,' a police official said.

A press release from Varanasi's District Information office said additional city magistrates, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh have been removed. Circle officer of Bhelupur, Nivesh Katiyar has also been removed and has been replaced by circle officer of Kotwali, Ayodhya Prasad Singh, cops said.

Station officer of Lanka police station, Rajiv Singh has been removed and sent to police lines. Station officer of Jaitpura police station, Sanjiv Mishra has been posted in his place, officials added.

A committee has been constituted under the chief secretary. Necessary action will be taken on the basis of its report.

'The committee will see as to how the police had behaved and examine other aspects,' governor Ram Naik said in Lucknow on Monday. with inputs
Pakistan's representative to the UN made a crucial error when she dramatically raised aloft a picture of a woman at the General Assembly.

The girl's face, riddled with wounds, Maleeha Lodhi claimed was the picture that represented the true face of India.

However, the picture was either a resounding lie, or an embarrassing mistake for Pakistan on the global stage.

Maleeha Lodhi said the Narendra Modi government is 'racist and fascist'

The woman was not a Kashmiri. She was not a victim of pellet fire. She was 17-year-old Rawya abu Jom'a, a Palestinian woman who was injured in air strikes in Gaza, according to a report in the Guardian.

The tragedy in Rawya's life dates back to 2014  two years before unrest broke out in Kashmir after Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter by security forces.

At that time, injuries and cases of partial or complete blindness caused by pellet guns did attract strong criticism, with the Home Ministry even asking security forces to use plastic bullets instead.

But the woman in the picture Lodhi used was not one of the victims. The photograph used in the Guardian report was taken by Heidi.

Soliders run for cover during an encounter with militants after they attacked an Army convoy at Hyderpora in Srinagar

The incredible part is that Maheela Lodhi is a former journalist. All wondered why she did not feel that a basic fact-checking was necessary.

The website of Pakistan's Mission to the UN says she was 'the founding editor of Pakistan's leading English daily, The News,' and 'the first woman in all of Asia to become the editor of a national daily newspaper.'

At least two Pakistani websites participated in this failure of journalistic ethics. Pakistan Defence, a website which claims to be the nation's 'largest digital forum' and purports to disseminate news, retweeted the Pakistani UN Mission's message without bothering to do a fact-check.

Maleeha Lodhi said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had spread a 'litany of falsehoods' in her blistering takedown of Islamabad on Saturday.

In her reply, Lodhi said the Narendra Modi government had a 'racist and fascist' ideology, and called Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath a 'fanatic.'

To top it all, Pakistan now wants the UN to declare India a'state sponsor of terrorism'.

India counters Pakistan's fakes

by Geeta Mohan

India tore into Pakistan's lies at the United Nations (UN) on Monday.

Exercising its 'Right of Reply', India gave a stinging response to Pakistan envoy Maleeha Lodhi on the issue of Kashmir, and her attempts to use a photo of a Palestinian victim as an example of India's actions in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a response that stunned the General Assembly, Paulomi Tripathi, a young Indian diplomat handling Human Rights issues at the Permanent Mission of India in New York, dramatically displayed Lodhi's photo holding up the photograph of the Palestinian girl and termed it as a fake depicting a false narrative.

In a response that stunned the General Assembly, Paulomi Tripathi, a young Indian diplomat handling Human Rights issues at the Permanent Mission of India in New York

The junior-most Indian diplomat thrashed Pakistan in an unprecedented manner, contrasting Pakistan envoy Maleeha Lodhi's fakery with harsh reality of the havoc that Pakistan sponsored terrorists are causing in Jammu and Kashmir.

India exercised its 'Right of Reply' (RoR) on the last day of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This was in response to the RoR exercised by Pakistan to respond to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj where Pakistani envoy Maleeha Lodhi, in a sharp attack against India, accused it of adopting a 'predatory' approach in the region.

The Pakistani ambassador, acting in haste to corner India, used the picture of Palestinian victim to pass off as a Kashmiri woman who was allegedly injured in pellet firing by Indian security forces.

A lie that was caught and widely reported across the media in India and abroad. The picture which she confidently displayed is actually of 17-year-old Rawya Abu Jom'a, who was injured when two Israeli airstrikes hit her family's apartment in Gaza during the 2014 war.

India waited patiently to formulate its 'Right of Reply' against the Pakistani tirade.

Pakistan now stands accused of misleading the world body by producing evidence on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly that has proven to be false.
Foreign investors have pulled out nearly Rs 5,500 crore (625,721,614) from Indian stock markets so far this month due both to geopolitical concerns and booking profit on their investments which has led to the bear phase setting in during the last week.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) had also withdrawn Rs 12,770 crore from the stock markets during August in a reversal of the trend which saw them pumping in over Rs 62,000 crore in the six months to July this year.

FPIs withdrew a net Rs 5,492 crore (USD 855 million) during September 1-22, the latest depository data shows.

Brokers observe the market reactions at BSE in Mumbai during the Union budget (file pic)

However, there was some consolation in the fact they had invested Rs 4,430 crore in debt markets during this period as a result of which there was no sudden outgo of foreign exchange from the country which could have destabilised the rupee.

After the outflow in September, the total investment by FPIs in equity markets works out to Rs 40,253 crore (about USD 6 billion) this year.

'Indian markets have corrected as the local and global news flows has been negative. Globally, Fed's almost certain rate hikes next month as well as the Chinese downgrade and rising geopolitical tensions between the US and North Korea hit investor sentiment,' said Vaibhav Agrawal, head of research at Angel broking.

'Investors may have also used this correction to book profit,' he added.

Steel is one of India's biggest and most profitable industries

The first and foremost reason for the FPIs pulling out is rising geopolitical tension between the US and North Korea, which has triggered the sell-off across global markets, said Himanshu Srivastava, senior analyst at Morningstar. Another reason for the exit of FPIs could be profit booking as Indian stock markets have done significantly better over the last few years.

This coupled with rupee appreciation has given overseas investors a good profit booking opportunity, Srivastava said. Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services, said: In recent times, the Indian market was the best performer among emerging markets due to strong reform agenda and stable policies.

However, any meaningful uptick in corporate earnings and normalisation of global markets will be the key for supporting the current premium valuation. The approaching F&O expiry is also reported to have added to liquidation pressure.
News / Press Release

by Moses Chamboko

Innocent Ndibali

Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters.

Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters deplores the arrest of Pastor Mawarire. Any citizen of Zimbabwe has a constitutional right to peacefully protest. As such Mawarire and other democratic forces have a right to protest. All Zimbabweans are free to be spokes persons of the economically oppressed and exploited.This will enable all of us to ask and answer questions: where have we come from? And where are we going economically, socially and politically? These are questions of the moment and demand clear, resolute answers from all of us including Pastor Mawarire and other opposition parties, if we are to march boldly to economic recovery and greatness.ZEFF stands with those seeking economic freedom, democratic change in our country. Like us who were arrested for expressing the right of freedom of expression, Mawarire is indeed a victim of similar undemocratic and unjust practices by this government. We say to the authorities Stop it!!
How does one kill an old and protected natural habitat? The Okhla Bird Sanctuary on the Delhi-Noida border seems to have achieved this frightful objective.

Once a prized haven for resident and migratory birds - including gulls, geese, ducks and flamingoes that came from as far as Europe and Russia in their thousands - the sanctuary has not witnessed any birdsong of late.

Experts blame the buzz emanating from high-tension electric lines, poor maintenance of floating water plants, heavy sewage inflow at Kalindi Kunj, excessive construction and traffic on all sides, the chopping away over 10,000 trees for BSP leader Mayawati's Prerna Sthal, and 24x7 light and noise pollution.

Habitats at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary have been disturbed by heavy constructions and traffic in its immediate vicinity

Experts say that the number of birds at the haven is in decline due to the noise and pollution

And if these were not enough, the site is going to be drained of all water this season.

'It is unfortunate,' said Ishwar Chandra Singh, forest ranger with additional charge of the Okhla sanctuary. 'The UP Irrigation Department is going to change 18 of the 27 gates in the barrage which are in a rusting and collapsible situation.'

Singh said while the replacement of gates was necessary, it should have taken place at a period not coinciding with the migratory period. But the tardy process of government clearance will ensure no winged visitors this year.

The sanctuary on Delhi-Noida border was once thriving with resident and migratory birds

Experts blame destruction of habitat, 24x7 light and noise pollution, excessive traffic and heavy sewage inflo at Kalindi Kunj

'The irrigation department had applied, in fact, much earlier for the work to be completed between April and June, when it would not have coincided with the birds' season, but they received the permission only now.

'The birds are most likely to fly away to nearby Delhi Zoo, Surajpur wetland, Yamuna Biodiversity Park, but not come here at least till next winter now,' Singh said.

Nature lovers describe the draining of water as merely the last nail.

'The sanctuary exists only in name now,' said well-known birder KB Singh. 'First, it was the Dalit Prerna Sthal which took away so many trees that provided nesting spots to terrestrial birds. Then came the high-tension wires which make a constant humming sound and distract the birds.

A group of migratory birds are seen frolicking at Okhla Bird Sanctuary in January last year

'The birds are most likely to fly away to nearby Delhi Zoo, Surajpur wetland, Yamuna Biodiversity Park, but not come here at least till next winter now,' said forest ranger Ishwar Chandra Singh

'Now, there is the continuously flowing traffic and a number of townships coming up on Sarita Vihar side. Birds are peace and quiet-loving species, how do you expect them to roost here?'

The other issue pertains to the maintenance of the sanctuary.

'It is baffling that the sanctuary management doesn't care to clean up the floating plants, water hyacinth, and typha reed grass despite influx of huge funds from the government,' Vikrant Tongad, an RTI activist and nature lover, told Mail Today.

'As per an RTI reply received by us, a total of Rs 1.22 crore have been allocated by the UP government just for this task in last three years. It is essential for these plants to be cleared. For, birds flying overhead will be able to see the water and creatures beneath, which are food for them, only when this foliage is removed.'

Anand Arya, who has been visiting the Okhla sanctuary for decades now, told Mail Today: 'There are housing societies coming up right up to the water's edge. Plus, birds which come from the west and north direction use the Yamuna as a guiding map. In a lot of these stretches of the river, agriculture or mining is going on now. This had harmed the migratory influx.'

'Even five-10 years back, we used to spot up to 100 species of birds. I have seen flocks of 500-600 flamingoes at a time here, but they hardly come here now. There's nothing to see and I doubt a revival is on the cards,' he added.

The sanctuary was declared protected by the UP government in 1990 after the formation of a large wetland due to creation of the Okhla barrage where the Yamuna leaves Delhi and enters Noida.

It is one of the state's 15 wildlife sanctuaries. Several rare species of birds like ferruginous pochard, black-bellied tern, grey-headed fish eagle, Baikal teal, Baer's pochard and sarus crane, among others have been seen here before.
Pakistan has excelled itself this year in its compulsive propaganda blast against India at the annual UNGA sessions.

Just as its friendship with China is all-weather, its hostility towards India is decidedly all-season.

In the last 70 years the international landscape has transformed, countries - including Pakistan - have broken up, the enemies of yesterday have become friends of today, nations have adjusted their policies to changed conditions.

Border Security Force personnel patrolling on the fence at International Border from Jammu

But Pakistan's animus towards India has not subsided.

Strife

Rather than explore ways of making peace it has focused on newer ways to continue the strife with India.

To religious antagonism it has added to its arsenal nuclear capability and then terrorism.

Even when its quest to wrest Kashmir or damage India internally has failed, its determination to pursue its confrontation with India, no matter what the cost to its own well-being, has not flagged.

US President Donald Trump's speech on Afghanistan has further agitated the Kashmir issue

Through the US decision to designate HuM chief Syed Salahuddin as an international terrorist and later the HuM itself as a terrorist organisation - an act that has delegitimised the supposed 'Kashmiri struggle for independence' - the message to Pakistan on its duplicitous conduct on terrorism has become clearer. (The BRICS declaration naming Pakistan-based terrorist organisations like LeT and JeM would have shaken Pakistan too.)

India and Pakistan at the border

More importantly, after President Donald Trump's Afghanistan speech that summoned Pakistan to immediately cease providing safe havens to 'agents of chaos' under threat of unstated US retribution, an unnerved Pakistan seems to have concluded that offence being the better part of defence, it should go all out to agitate the Kashmir issue vociferously on the international stage.

This would be a show of defiance towards the US as well as India, besides being consistent with Pakistan's well worn tactics of creating an atmosphere of growing tensions with India so that the West feels concerned about the possibility of worsening India-Pakistan ties triggering a nuclear conflict.

Predictably, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has used US think tank forums to brandish a nuclear threat against India by citing Pakistan's possession of short-range nuclear weapons.

He avoided making this threat from the UN podium as this would have been counterproductive in view of international concerns about the nuclear dimensions of the ongoing North Korean crisis.

Abbasi's lurid rant on Kashmir should be seen in this background.

In it he referred to the 700,000 Indian troops in Kashmir as constituting 'the most intense foreign military occupation in recent history', characterised the use of force in Kashmir as 'war crimes', demanded that the UN Secretary General and the High Commissioner of Human Rights send an enquiry commission to Kashmir to investigate human rights violations by India and accused India of 'using rape as an instrument of state policy'.

Indian Police clash with youths over the arrest of 7 Pro-Freedom leaders in Kashmir in July

Terrorism

He also called on the UN Secretary General to appoint a Special Envoy on Kashmir for implementing the defunct UN resolutions on J&K.

Finally, he accused India of state-sponsored terrorism against Pakistan, including from across its western border.

This sweeping attack on India elicited an equally no holds barred response from a junior Indian diplomatic officer, followed by a scathing attack by Sushma Swaraj.

Even by Pakistani standards, Abbasi's diplomatic assault on India at the UN went too far.

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India meet in Washington

Pakistan's attitudes have become so rogue in nature that it has lost the capacity for self-restraint, of recognising its own vulnerabilities, of being able to judge properly whether the positions it takes have credibility in the eyes of others, much less support. (China's subsequent statement that Kashmir is an issue left over by history and should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan should not have been lost on Pakistan.)

Rogue

It is not surprising that, speaking at the UN, Pakistan's envoy Maleeha Lodhi should have passed off the photograph of a Palestinian girl with her face pock marked by shrapnel from an Israeli bomb in 2014 as that of a Kashmiri girl suffering from pellet gun injuries.

Clearly, her colleagues, sharing the same degree of bile against India as hers, wanted to choose the most dramatic picture to make a point about the face of Indian democracy and tripped.

Just as North Korea, by acquiring nuclear and missile capability, has carved out space for itself for defying international norms with a sense of impunity, Pakistan too - but much earlier - has created space for its rogue conduct on terrorism and nuclear issues by acquiring nuclear and missile muscle.

The other aspect of Abbasi's raw diplomacy at New York was his remarkable statement at a think tank that India had a zero political and military role in Afghanistan.

That Pakistan claims the right to control Afghanistan's foreign relations shows how blighted Pakistan's thinking has become.

Abbasi is a transitional figure, a Nawaz Sharif loyalist, put in place by the latter until the elections in 2018.

With Sharif under duress, the military is in fuller control of Pakistan's India policy, and Abbasi has followed the script given to him. From all this, the inevitable conclusion flows: that India-Pakistan relations will remain frozen for the foreseeable future.
Who was Farooq Ahmad Dar, the man tied to an Indian Army jeep in Srinagar by Major Leetul Gogoi?

Was he just a man out to vote in the April 9 Srinagar byelection, as Dar claimed in news interviews? Or was he an 'instigator', provoking protesters to pelt stones, as claimed by the army?

The Jammu and Kashmir police, which is conducting an investigation into the 'human shield' incident, has contradicted the Army and backed Dar.

Major Leetul Gogoi provoked global outrage when he tied Farooq Ahmad Dar to his jeep

This is according to a J&K Police report, which was submitted by the Senior Superintendent of Police (Budgam) to Jammu and Kashmir Police's chief SP Vaid last month. The report was recently seen by India Today TV.

In the report, the J&K Police has contradicted the army finding that not only was Dar a voter, he was 'lifted' by Army personnel and kept under 'wrongful confinement'.

The report states that Dar had indeed gone out to vote on April 9, as was claimed by him later.

'During investigation it came to surface that Dar cast his vote at [a] polling booth installed in his village of Chill [and] after casting his vote left... for a condolence to village Gampora,' the report says.

Children still wearing their school uniform throwing stones at police after class in J&K

A tear gas shell fired by an Indian policeman explodes behind Kashmiri protesters during a protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir

The report also says that Dar was with one Ahmad Magray.

The April 9 incident caused a nationwide furore after images and videos of Dar being driven around an Army jeep while tied to its bonnet went viral.

The incident came at a time of heightened tensions in the divided region, one of the world's most heavily militarised spots, where anti-India sentiment runs deep.

The Army, however, stood by Major Gogoi though chief General Bipin Rawat did clarify that using human shields was not a standard operating procedure for the force.

Gogoi had later said that Dar appeared to be 'instigating' a mob of stone pelters that had gathered around a polling booth in Utligam during the Srinagar by-election.

But Dar, who works as a weaver, repeatedly said he had no involvement in anti-government protests and does not know why he was singled out.
Hindu Rohingyas living in Bangladesh relief camps have become a soft target for those looking to enforce religious conversions on those vulnerable and alone, fighting for survival in Cox's Bazar.

Both Hindu and Muslim Rohingya have taken shelter after fleeing from Myanmar, but with far more Muslims than Hindus seeking refuge, the women from the community - who have already lost their homes and loved ones - are now faced with the real danger of losing their identity, dignity, and way of life.

Hindu Rohingya women are reporting that they are being forced to remove sindoor (a traditional vermilion red powder worn by married women along the parting of their hair) break their bangles, and marry Muslim men, converting religion in the process.

Many of women are allegedly forced to give up their Hindu traditions and read namaz (pray) five times a day.

Puja Mullick is among those targeted and she speaks of the trauma she has gone through for almost three weeks. Puja calls herself Rabia now: the change happened this month.

Rabia is a Hindu Rohingya who left Myanmar in hope of a refuge. But circumstances turned her life upside down.

Puja, now Rabia, lost her husband to violence in the last week of August in Myanmar.

She says he was not killed by the army, but by men clad in black with their faces hidden, who were acting in the name of their religion.

Cox's Bazar: A Rohingya woman carries a child after crossing a stream on a small boat, Bangladesh

Rabia is not alone. Theoman says her husband and entire family were shot in front of her but she was left alive to live as a captive.

'They took us to the forest and said I would have to read namaz or they would release me... My sindoor was removed and my religious shakha pola bangles broken.

'I was told I would be allowed to live only if I changed my religion. I was made to wear burqa and stay with them to learn their traditions for almost three weeks.

'I was made to read namaz... I had to say Allah, but my heart was beating for Bhagwan... My family started searching for me and came to know that I was living in a Muslim camp.'

The red saree is the only one she has now and her three-year-old son has no clothes at all.

Mail Today's team met many more such women in the Hindu Rohingya camp in Kotupalong area of Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh.

If Puja became Rabia, Rica was being turned into Sadia. Twenty-eight-year-old Rica Dhar adjusted her orange saree to feed her year-old son as she narrated a similar tragic tale.

'On Friday (August 25) they entered all the Hindu residences and attacked. First the mobile phones were taken away and then men were tied and beaten brutally. My husband worked as a goldsmith.

'They took away all my jewellery and began beating me. All Hindus were identified and taken to a nearby hill. They were then killed in a row. Only eight women were allowed to stay among them mostly young and beautiful.

'They were told ''You will have to turn Muslim and marry us''... We had no option but to surrender and go with them... We were taken to the forest and left without food to weaken us mentally also Then we were brought to a camp in Bangladesh... Once my Hindu relatives heard about it...they brought me to this place...''

Both Rica and Puja say there were six more women besides them who shared their fate.

After they could not be traced anywhere in Myanamar or Bangladesh, they were identified at the Kotupalong Rohingya camp where they were kept under close watch by those who were allegedly executing this forcible conversion.

When asked, government officials were clueless about what was going on. 'We do not have any such information,' said Md. Ali Hossain, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar.

'If it has occurred, we will take necessary action.'

Men hailing from the same Rakhine state went out in search of these women and allegedly faced torture themselves. Vijay Ram Pal says he was assaulted during his quest.

'We are victims of Burma army and now we are being tortured here also. Eight women who were here from Myanmar....they were forcibly taken to another camp and were asked to convert to Islam.

'Thankfully, a person here in the camp came to save them,' he said.

Puja alias Rabia can now breathe easy. 'I am back in the Hindu camp for the past three days after being rescued by my some women,' she says.

Around five lakh Rohingyas have entered Bangladeshi territory and are scattered in different parts of this district.

Among them, are a significant number is of Hindus. When this reporter apprised Bangladesh's information minister Hasanul Haq Inu about the situation, he promised action.

'The news is very bad and astounding... we have taken all measures to put Rohingya Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist families in separate camps,' he said.

'We will be investigating this and we will be very tough.'
The Steyn and Enthoven families control 92% of Comparethemarket's parent company BGL Group

The South African families behind the price comparison website Comparethemarket.com have been handed a 138million payout.

Douw Steyn and his family  who are worth 850million  will share the cash with the Enthoven family, owner of Nandos restaurants.

The dynasties control 92 per cent of Comparethemarkets parent company BGL Group, with the rest belonging to management.

The bonanza follows talk that the firm might attempt a 2billion float on the London Stock Exchange.

Profits climbed 16 per cent to 126.4million in the year to June 30. Customer numbers at the website, which is known for its adverts featuring talking meerkats, jumped 10 per cent to 5.6million.

Steyn, 64, lives in a vast house called Palazzo Steyn on a 2,000-acre estate between Johannesberg and Pretoria.

The seven-bedroom mansion is believed to be the nations largest private residence, and has a marble-floored garage for 33 cars.
The disgraced bankers who brought Lloyds to the brink of collapse through its catastrophic takeover of HBOS are being hauled before the High Court to explain themselves.

Bosses including former chief executive Eric Daniels and chairman Sir Victor Blank will be forced to detail how they came to buy HBOS for 12billion as the financial crisis raged in 2008.

The weight of bad debts at HBOS almost sank Lloyds  forcing British taxpayers to step in with a 20.5billion bailout.

Furious investors whose shares tumbled in value as a result of the disastrous deal are now suing the lender for up to 700million over claims they were misled.

Ex-chief exec Eric Daniels,66, left, and ex-Chairman Victor Blank, 74, right, will be forced to detail how they came to buy HBOS for 12billion as the financial crisis raged in 2008

Other witnesses will include ex finance- chief Helen Weir, 55, left, and ex director Truett Tate, 67, right

Lawyers for the shareholders will call the banks former bosses as witnesses  and their testimony could shed fresh light on how Lloyds came to make its offer, as well as the political manoeuvring behind the scenes.

In addition to Blank and Daniels  who has begun his own court action against his former employer over 500,000 in unpaid bonuses  other witnesses will include former finance director and retail bank boss Helen Weir, who now oversees the finances of Marks & Spencer.

Ex-investment bank chief Truett Tate and one-time insurance executive Archie Kane, who now governs Bank of Ireland, are also expected to give evidence, as is former top regulator Sir Hector Sants, who was in charge of the Financial Services Authority at the time of the deal.

As markets plunged and the financial system came within hours of total collapse following the failure of Lehman Brothers in 2008, speculators turned on HBOS and caused wild swings in its share price.

Lloyds, which had long considered a tie-up with the bank, was seen as a white knight able to rescue it. The Labour government even changed competition law so the deal could sail through.

Gordon Brown, who was prime minister at the time, is said to have told Blank at a cocktail party in Spencer House, an 18th century mansion in central London, that he would help.

Lloyds had been seen as a reliable dividend-producing machine, run far more sensibly than its free-wheeling, risk-taking rivals.

Many ordinary savers invested in the stock as a result.

But in October 2008, bosses were forced to beg the Government for support  triggering years of losses and a prolonged slump in the share price.

This led to the formation of Lloyds Bank Shareholder Action, a group of 5,700 retail investors and 300 institutions, which brings the civil case next month.

A Lloyds Banking Group spokesman said: The groups position remains that we do not believe there to be any merit to these claims and we will robustly contest this legal action.

The bank is likely to argue that it gave detailed disclosures to investors about HBOSs finances before they voted on whether the takeover could go ahead.

Insiders say a similar case in the US courts was dismissed.
Concerns: Doncasters is sitting on a debt of 1.2bn

BORROWING FEARS One of Britain's oldest engineering companies is sitting on debt of 1.2bn, accounts reveal  12 times earnings at Staffordshire aerospace firm Doncasters.

Auditor PwC said it meant the 239-year-old, Dubai-owned firm's ability to raise credit was uncertain.

MORTGAGE BUYER Credit-checking firm Experian is reportedly eyeing a chunk of mortgage broker London & Country.

L&C is understood to be seeking to sell a 25 per cent stake privately, following this up with a float likely to value it at up to 300million.

BUILDING SELL-OFF Builder Carillion could sell some Middle East operations to raise cash. Its stock fell 70 per cent this year after it revealed an 845million profit hit due to contract problems, replaced its boss and axed the dividend.

BOSS THREAT Shareholders have told the boss of miner BHP Billiton to improve performance in six months or face the sack, sources say.

They reportedly warned chief executive Andrew Mackenzie he faced a 'flashpoint' in spring if progress wasn't made.

BOOKIE TIE-UP Ladbrokes Coral is said to be considering a sale to online rival GVC Holdings ahead of a curb on fixed-odds terminals  a vital part of Ladbrokes' business.

It was reported that talks over a 3.2billion tie-up with GVC stalled over regulation fears.

FURNITURE SALE Midlands furniture tycoon Charles Wade may sell two firms to turnaround experts. He is understood to have hired KPMG to flog Feather & Black and Multiyork.
Aldi will open an extra 70 stores this year - and 274 more in total over the next five years - as bargain-hunting British shoppers send sales soaring.

The German-based discount supermarket said UK sales increased by 1billion or 13.5 per cent to 8.7billion in the last year.

This is the first time the supermarket's sales have topped the 8billion mark and means the retailer's sales figures have more than doubled in the last four years. However, it also revealed today that profits have fallen.

Investment: Aldi is investing 300million in a scheme called 'Project Fresh', which will see stores with more space and wider isles

Aldi plans to go from its current 726 stores to 1,000 by 2022 - and as part of that it will throw open the doors to a further 70 this year.

In recent years, British shoppers have flocked to buy the combination of quality food, simple choice and low prices that Aldi - and rival Lidl - claim to offer. At the same time, the traditional big supermarket guns of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons have all suffered their own troubles,

Aldi is gearing up for its crucial Christmas sales period, looking to lure in customers with its new offerings including sirloin of beef with porcini, shallot and white truffle stuffing and a dressed side of salmon .

During its last Christmas period, Aldi's sales rose 15 per cent on a year earlier.

But, while battling to keep costs low for customers and ploughing 450million into new stores and improved distribution centres, the supermarket's operating profits fell by 17 per cent to 211.2million.

The group said its operations had been 'entirely unaffected' by Britain vote to leave the EU last June, adding it planned to go ahead with its 459million investment scheme.

The supermarket's gross profits fell 7 per cent from 349.7million to 324.5million.

Matthew Barnes, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: 'Our growth is accelerating, thanks to the hundreds of thousands of new customers switching their shop to Aldi.

'This is happening right across the UK and is all down to a simple, straightforward commitment - products comparable to the leading brands and supermarket premium ranges at the lowest prices in Britain.

'We're doing everything we can to insulate customers from those cost increases, making sure our prices are the lowest in the UK, every day of the year.

'At the same time, we've been improving the quality of our range and introducing the new products our customers have asked for.'

Matthew Barnes, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: 'Our growth is accelerating, thanks to the hundreds of thousands of new customers switching their shop to Aldi'

The supermarket chain is also investing 300million in a scheme called 'Project Fresh', which will see stores with more space for 'fresh, chilled and food-to-go ranges as well as simpler layouts, improved fixtures and brighter, wider aisles.'

By the end of next year, a total of 250 stores will have launched in the new format.

Family-owned Aldi, which employs 29,000 staff across the UK, said it secured bumper sales growth despite the wider grocery market expanding by just 0.5 per cent over the period, according to Kantar Worldpanel data.

Last week, Kantar's research revealed that Aldi's market share had increased to 6.9 per cent, which is its highest ever.

Aldi is currently Britain's fifth biggest supermarket, below Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons. All are embroiled in a price war with one another in a bid to attract customers and boost sales.

According to Kantar's recent set of data, the average Briton spends 4,200 a year on groceries in supermarkets every year.
Global consumer goods giant Unilever has struck a deal to acquire South Korean cosmetics company Carver Korea for 1.9billion.

The deal, which remains subject to regulatory approval, will give Unilever a boost in the Asian beauty market.

Investor reaction appears subdued, with Unilever's share price up 0.16 per cent to 4,271p.

Deal: Global consumer goods giant Unilever has struck a deal to acquire South Korean cosmetics company Carver Korea for 1.9billion.

Alan Jope, Unilever's president of personal care, said: 'We are delighted to be acquiring Carver Korea. It is an impressive business that is completely aligned to our personal care strategy.

'It will significantly strengthen our position in north Asia, the largest skincare market in the world, and will complement our existing portfolio, enabling us to offer luxury skincare products at attainable price points.'

'AHC has been strongly gaining popularity thanks to its efficacious, innovative and premium products, and it therefore offers great opportunities for growth.'

Under the deal, Unilever has acquired Carver's entire business from Bain Capital Private Equity, Goldman Sachs and the firm's founder.

Ed Han, Bain Capital private equity managing director, said: 'This has been a great opportunity for us to partner with a leading Korean company in an exciting segment of the cosmetics space and to help support its brand, operations and growth around the world.

'Unilever is a strong partner to help the company in its next phase of growth and development.'

Carver, which was founded in 1999, makes face masks and lotions, as well as lightening creams. The South Korean firm made sales of 282million last year and earnings of 120million.

Carver's ATC brand has proved particularly popular, making the company the fastest growing skincare business in South Korea.

Earlier this year, Unielver, which employs 169,000 people worldwide, said it planned to offload a number of its best known brands, including Flora and Stork.

The Anglo-Dutch group plans to sell or de-merge its underperforming spreads business, which could potentially rake in 6billion for the group.

In the first half of 2017, Unilever's profits increased by 27 per cent to 4.1billion, up from 3.2billion a year earlier.

In February, US-based Kraft Heinz made a 115billion takeover bid to Unilever. Unilever's share price jumped over 13 per cent and the group rejected the offer.

Just two days after the bid announcement was made, Unilever and Kraft published a joint statement saying: 'Unilever and Kraft Heinz hereby announce that Kraft Heinz has amicably agreed to withdraw its proposal for a combination of the two companies.'
It's the quiet suburb that's a jewel in the crown of Sydney's lavish northern beaches.

But despite being one of the most picturesque parts of the city, even the small town of Avalon Beach has been affected by a reported major spike in drug use in the area.

Lanell Latta was last week allegedly stabbed to death by her son Joel Woszatka in a home she rented from international supermodel Gemma Ward.

The horrific killing of the 50-year-old left the community in shock, leaving her family and partner Geoff Robson-Scott to remember her as 'a beautiful and kind woman'.

However, with claims Woszatka was battling drug and mental health problems at the time, the shocking incident raised concern among the community about an increase in the spread of ice.

Lanell Latta (left) was this week allegedly stabbed to death by her son Joel Woszatka (right) in a home she rented from supermodel Gemma Ward at on Sydney's northern beaches

The horrific killing of the 50-year-old left the community in shock, while her family and partner Geoff Robson-Scott (centre) told how she'd 'had a lot of trouble' with her youngest son Joel

Ice use was up 60 per cent on the northern beaches (pictured) in 2017, while by comparison cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy were all steady

New statistics released by the Bureau of Crime show ice use in the area rose by 60 per cent last year alone, with experts telling Daily Mail Australia the worrying numbers aren't in line with national trends.

Matt Noffs, drug expert and CEO of the Noffs Foundation, said methamphetamines and ice pose as much of a problem in Australia now as heroin did back in the 1980s.

'If you look at our data and data from other treatment centres, we continually see an increase in ice use,' Mr Noffs told Daily Mail Australia.

'But why it's shifting out to places like Dee Why and Avalon is that as our country gets wealthier, the middle class increases and we don't have a disparity from poor to rich.

'With ice, what we know is that people who become addicted to it often come from a background of trauma or poverty, and as the middle class grows drug use spreads.'

Statistics released by the Bureau of Crime revealed that in 2017 some 20 people on ice in Dee Why were charged with offences, an increase of 12 on the previous year.

By comparison cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy use was steady across the northern beaches on the year earlier.

While figures are up in what is one of the most lavish parts of Sydney, according to Mr Noffs ice use is trending down at a rate of knots across the rest of the country.

'We've seen a huge reduction in heroin use compared to the 80s and that's because when we talk to kids these days about why they don't use it, they say: 'It's dirty',' he said.

'We did very well under John Howard behind the scenes pushing really strongly with programs to help and turn it into a health issue, which took away from its sex appeal.

Drug expert Matt Noffs (pictured) said the rise of cocaine in areas on the northern beaches was likely due to an ever growing middle class of society in Australia

Figures show ice use in parts of the northern beaches increased 60 per cent in 2017, compared to the year prior (stock image)

Mr Noffs said he believes ice may decrease in popularity within the next decade, much in the way heroin use dropped off in the 1980s

'But with ice we're trying to also make it not sexy, in the very same way we're trying to move away from terrorism, we're pushing how you'll end up in jail or very poor.

'And we're getting there way sooner than I thought. If we can be strategic and not let politics run our drug policy, I think within a decade we can knock ice on the head.'

Tom Carroll, a former surfing world champion born on the Northern Beaches, came clean on the ice addiction he battled for years during an ABC documentary in 2013.

The now 51-year-old told the four-part series 'Ice Wars' he thought he had his drug problem under control, but was unknowingly watching his life be torn apart.

'It wasn't me that started to emerge,' Carroll told the ABC of his start on the drug.

'It was someone very angry, someone who was toxic, someone who was falling apart emotionally and trying to hold up.

Tom Carroll (pictured), a former surfing world champion born on the Northern Beaches, came clean on the ice addiction he battled for years during the ABC 'Ice Wars' documentary in 2013

'It doesn't just tear the family, but the ripple effect goes right out to the whole community and it just destroys us from the inside out.'

Speaking outside the home where the shocking incident occurred a day earlier, Ms Latta's current and former partners told of the battle she faced raising her son Joel.

'She had a lot of trouble with her youngest son, he had a number of mental health issues,' her current partner Mr Robson-Scott, who witnessed the incident, said.

Earlier, her former partner Guy Crawford revealed: 'Recreational activities were a part of it, but a report has to come from police in due course.'

Woszatka's arrest was the culmination of what locals regard as being a dark time for the young man.

Family friends said he habitually wandered the suburban streets at dawn and dusk with a long neck beer in his hand.

The current and former partners of Ms Latta (far left) said her son had mental health problems and had also been involved in 'recreational activities'

Taking to Facebook on Friday, Mr Robson-Scott (right) paid tribute to his partner and claimed he'd heard her voice telling him: 'I'm OK Geoff'

In response to the touching post, Ms Latta's daughter Rebecca Crawford said Mr Robson-Scott had made her mother feel 'the happiest she'd been in years'

People had been 'trying to help Joel for a while, but it was having very little effect,' a man told Daily Mail Australia.

'Neighbours would see him walking along the street at 9am with a long neck in a paper bag, and he would do the same in the evening,' he said.

Taking to Facebook on Friday, Mr Robson-Scott paid tribute to his partner and claimed he'd heard her voice telling him: 'I'm OK Geoff'.

In response to the touching post, Ms Latta's daughter Rebecca Crawford said: 'Mum was the happiest I've seen her in years since she met you... Thank you for loving her, looking after her and for making her so happy.'

Mr Woszatka did not make an application for bail this week and will appear in Central Local Court on Tuesday, September 26.
Opinion / Columnist

As Zimbabwe sinks deeper into economic crisis and problems in Africa as a whole persist, Rumbidzai Musuna-Munochiveyi interrogates the continent's love for prayer.Can prayer save Africa?Please don't kill me. I come clothed in peace and love.But I've been wondering, a lot, about all that's going on in Zimbabwe. You read the news, you hear from friends and relatives, and you get the picture. And, naturally, you start imagining the kinds of solutions that could end the cyclical pain and sufferingPrayer, prayer, prayerThen you come to Facebook, or even in talking to other Zimbos, and everyone is saying, "let's pray for our country. Oh, we need prayers. Haa, this time we must really pray."Everyone sharing Bible verses, reciting God's promises to one another. Prayer things.And we go on and on about "praying" and how God shall rescue us. Now, let me ask you a question.The big questionWhy does God put Zimbabwe through all kinds of sh*t time and time again? Are Zimbabwean prayers not powerful enough? Does He love Zimbabwe less than the countries He feeds sufficiently?I honestly do not know of a more prayerful continent than Africa. And yet in many people's minds, the word "Africa" is now almost synonymous with the phrase "poverty, pain, and suffering". Wars, mudslides, disease and famine.Where do Zimbabwean prayers go?I could go on and on trying to paint a clearer picture of what I need to show here, but we all know what I'm talking about. Zimbabwe has prayed and prayed and prayed to God since prayer was kindly brought to us.Do Zimbabwean prayers not find their way to God? Or, do prayers not work? No, let me rephrase that. Does prayer work?What prayer can do to usLet's think about it a bit, without getting emotional or attacking each other here. But is all the talk about prayer not just some pacifist stuff that gets us blinded and contented with mediocrity, in our lifestyles, government, and just about everything? Sitting back and always waiting for the magic of prayer.Interrogate yourselfImagine this. If there weren't an option to pray, if you did not know that you could pray about the situation in your country, ask yourself, what would I really do? Because the instinct to try and survive is natural, do ask yourself, what would I really do if God was not in the equation?I am very sympathetic to our plight. And with our history, it is understood by everyone that we lost a lot, and it takes a lot to recover. But I hope prayer is not the thing that has rendered us helpless.Do feel free to curse me in your mind, to pray for me if you wish to, but when you're alone sometime, do think about these things. I'm sure it's no sin to do so.Does prayer work? Think hard! Would we really be worse off if we didn't have it?
Anthony Weiner gasped and broke down on Monday as he was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sending sexually explicit material to a minor at New York federal court.

The sobbing former congressman covered his face with his hands and gripped the desk for support as Judge Denise Cote imposed a jail sentence followed by three years of supervised release.

The 53-year-old must surrender to a designated prison facility, which has not yet been determined, on November 6. He will also have to register as a sex offender.

The distraught man was still wearing his wedding band after he was seen heading to court from the apartment he shares with wife Huma Abedin, who is divorcing him. His brother, mother and father sat behind him in court but Abedin was not present.

Weiner's sexting relationship with the underage girl, where he asked her to strip naked and touch herself for him on Skype, was first revealed by DailyMail.com last September and immediately prompted a federal investigation.

The case led the FBI to reopen its probe into Hillary Clintons private email server after investigators found messages between Clinton and Weiners wife on the former congressmans laptop.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Anthony Weiner gasped and broke down as he was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sending sexually explicit material to minor on Monday at New York federal court

The 53-year-old had shown a 'dangerous level of denial' and 'lack of self-control' that could put other teenagers at risk, prosecutors had earlier said. He was ordered to surrender by November 6 and to pay a $10,000 fine

Weiner was accused of asking the high schooler to strip naked and touch herself for him on Skype. The girl has not been named but has agreed to have her face shown (pictured)

Horror revealed: Weiner sent his victim obscene images and messages about what he would do to her if she was 18 in messages revealed by DailyMail.com

Weiner appeared gaunt and shaken, smiling occasionally as he spoke with his attorneys ahead of the hearing, before reading from a prepared sheet of remarks.

With his hand and voice shaking, Weiner said that he had hit his 'rock bottom' but was grateful for it as it had led to his recovery.

'I focus on how I live my new, smaller, healthier life one day at a time. I was a very sick man for a very long time. I have a disease but no excuse.'

He also said that he was 'profoundly sorry' to the victim.

He described his five-year-old son Jordan as his 'salvation' and said that he has betrayed Jordan's 'amazing mother', Huma Abedin.

Weiner said that he understood the prosecutors skepticism to whether he had changed. 'I blamed others,' he said. 'I convinced myself that I wasnt the problem.'

He added: 'Im an addict', referencing how he had seen the qualities in his late brother, Seth, who passed away in 2000 but was unable to recognize them in himself.

The disgraced congressman said that he was going to therapy twice a week and attending meetings every day.

He shook and clutched a tissue as he said he had saved his remarks about his son until the end, knowing how emotional he would become. He said that he was finally teaching his son Jordan the right lessons. 'I am living in amends to him,' he said.

Weiner continued: 'I victimized a young person who deserved better' but added that he 'know[s] my recovery is real'.

He acknowledged that through his actions he had 'forfeited the right to the benefit of the doubt'.

Weiner shook and clutched a tissue as he said he had saved his remarks about his son until the end, knowing how emotional he would become. He said that he was finally teaching his son Jordan the right lessons. 'I am living in amends to him,' he said

Weiner looked visibly shaken as he left the New York courtroom to head home to his apartment that he shares with his estranged wife

Weiner was pictured returning home with his attorneys after he was sentenced. The failed politician looked somber as he waited for the elevator. He bowed his head as a young woman looked on

WHAT A SOBBING ANTHONY WEINER TOLD THE COURT 'I am profoundly sorry. The crime I committed was my rock bottom. I live a different and better life today. 'I focus on how I live my new, smaller, healthier life one day at a time. 'I was a very sick man for a very long time but Im also responsible for the damage I have done. 'I blamed others. I convinced myself that I wasnt the problem. 'I have a disease but no excuse. 'I was the adult ... if I had done the right thing, I would not be standing before you today. 'Im an addict. I victimized a young person who deserved better. I am not asking that I be trusted. 'I ask you for the opportunity on probation to keep my sworn oath.' Advertisement

Judge Cote said that she had read letters from the victim, her father and grandmother, along with two letters from the public, including one from a concerned New Yorker. Judge Cote described the letters as 'extraordinarily brave'.

Amanda Kramer, of the U.S. Attorneys Office, made the case for the prosecution as to why Weiner should serve jail time and his request for probation be rejected. Kramer said that Weiner had 'asked a real 15-year-old to show him her naked body and perform sexually', calling his crime a 'serious felony'.

She said that although the victim initially contacted Weiner, 'her conduct doesnt undermine his crime'. Judge Cote responded that she didnt believe that Weiner was attempting to shift blame on to the victim.

Kramer continued: 'What is required to pierce his denial and break the tragic cycle is a meaningful term of imprisonment.'

Weiners defense attorney, Arlo Devlin-Brown, said that the former congressman was 'filled with regret' for himself, his victim and his family members.

He said that after Weiners first indiscretions in 2011 forced him to give up his congressional seat, that he failed to realize there was a problem in his life. He went on to run for mayor of New York City.

'New York is a forgiving place,' Devlin-Brown said. However when it emerged in 2013 that Weiner had continued to have sexual contact with women online, his attempt at resurrecting his political career was over. 'There are second acts  no third acts,' Devlin-Brown added.

Devlin-Brown said that his client had a sickness and was highly compulsive in his sexual behavior. 'Ending up here today was perhaps foreseeable, the attorney said  'to everyone but Anthony Weiner.'

When Judge Cote declared his sentence, Weiner bowed his head and put his face in his hands, as he heard the devastating news. After the judge left the bench, he sat in his seat for several minutes, continuing to cry

Weiner told the court: 'Im an addict. I victimized a young person who deserved better. I am not asking that I be trusted. I ask you for the opportunity on probation to keep my sworn oath'

The lawyer said that around the time he was in contact with the 15-year-old, he was also having contact with 19 other women online. Devlin-Brown emphasized that Weiner did not have an abnormal sexual interest in teenagers  and Judge Cote agreed with that finding.

The attorney asked the judge that Weiner be granted probation to continue with the treatment he was taking so seriously.'His sickness was a driver and hes in recovery,'Devlin-Brown said.

In the end, Judge Cotes disagreed with probation. In sentencing Weiner, Judge Cote said: 'This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment.'

She also said that the victims motives were 'irrelevant'.

'She is a minor, she is a victim,' she said. 'She is entitled to the laws full protection.'

Cote acknowledged how committed Weiner was to recovery and said that his support of others with sexual problems could become a 'true public service'.

'He has made great strides but it will remain a struggle for years to come,' she said.

When Judge Cote declared her sentence, Weiner bowed his head and put his face in his hands, as he heard the devastating news. After the judge left the bench, he sat in his seat for several minutes, continuing to cry.

His lawyer asked if Schuylkill in Pennsylvania could be considered because they don't want him to be in maximum security, even if it is New York.

The judge asked if his defense attorneys wanted to recommend he stay in New York.

After a short discussion with Weiner, they said no.

The disgraced former congressman was seen leaving the garage of the apartment he shares with his wife Huma Abedin, who is divorcing him and was not present in court

His lawyer asked if Schuylkill in Pennsylvania (pictured) could be considered because they don't want him to be in maximum security, even if it is New York

Weiners friend, Tom Duane, a former New York State Senator, gave him a hug in the hallway following the court hearing.

After Weiner's sentence is served, he must undergo internet monitoring and must have no contact with his victim. He must also enroll in a sex-offender treatment program.

The government had 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 described his five-year-old son Jordan as his 'salvation' and said that he has betrayed Jordan's 'amazing mother', Huma Abedin. Pictured: The family in August

Huma's plea: Hillary Clinton's top aide asked for the judge's sentencing not to have 'negative impact' on their son when he sentences her pervert husband

Weiner said in a submission 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.

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.

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 (pictured)

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

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

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.

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.

The 15-year-old girl told DailyMail.com about her online affair with Weiner and described how he asked her to dress up in school girl outfits and participate in 'rape fantasies.'

The former congressman told her in messages that she made him 'hard' and said he wanted to 'bust that tight p***y so hard and so often that you would leak and limp for a week.'

The sexting scandal has been toxic not just for Weiner but for Abedin, who is now divorcing him and seeking custody of their son, Joshua, five.

The judge hearing their contested divorce case told the couple: 'I certainly would encourage you to try to work out a plan together with your attorneys' assistance.

'It certainly would be better for your son if you could do that. It would save you a lot of stress. Hopefully the financials can be worked out amicably as well.'

The couple's divorce is consented as Abedin is seeking full custody of their child. A judge told them that he 'encourages' them to 'try to work out a plan together' for the sake of their son

Weiner's messages 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.

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

Both of their lawyers asked for privacy in the matter, but their attempts to keep their separation under wraps has not been successful.

Abedin stood by Weiner through recurrent sex scandals that destroyed his career.

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.

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.

Abedin was said to be devastated after hearing the news of the re-opened investigation.

'When we heard this, Huma looked stricken,' wrote Clinton in her new book What Happened. 'Anthony had already caused so much heartache. And now this.'

Abedin told Clinton: 'This man is going to be the death of me,' before bursting into tears.

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.

The failed presidential candidate said her long-time aide's anguish 'broke my heart' and made her determined to stand by Abedin despite the damage to her campaign.

But despite a mounting list of who she blames for her loss, Clinton 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 United States military says it struck an ISIS camp in Libya that killed 17 militants and destroyed three vehicles.

The six 'precision airstrikes' were carried out on Friday near the coastal city of Sirte, but were not announced until Sunday, marking the first time American forces bombed a target in the country since Donald Trump took office in January.

In a statement, US Africa Command said that in coordination with Libya's internationally recognized Tripoli-based government, it struck a camp in the desert, some 150 miles southeast of Sirte.

US forces carried out six airstrikes against an ISIS camp 150 miles southeast of Sirte Friday, killing 17 militants

It marks the first time American forces bombed a target in Libya since Donald Trump took office in January

FULL STATEMENT FROM US AFRICA COMMAND ON LIBYA AIRSTRIKES In coordination with Libyas Government of National Accord and aligned forces, U.S. forces conducted six precision airstrikes in Libya against an ISIS desert camp on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7:06 p.m. local time, killing 17 ISIS militants and destroying three (3) vehicles. The camp was located approximately 150 miles southeast of Sirte. The camp was used by ISIS to move fighters in and out of the country; stockpile weapons and equipment; and to plot and conduct attacks. ISIS and al-Qaeda have taken advantage of ungoverned spaces in Libya to establish sanctuaries for plotting, inspiring and directing terror attacks; recruiting and facilitating the movement of foreign terrorist fighters; and raising and moving funds to support their operations. These terrorists have sought safe haven and freedom of movement in Libya to launch external terror attacks in neighboring countries, and their operatives in Libya have also been connected to multiple attacks across Europe. Prime Minister Sarraj, the GNA, and their aligned forces have been stalwart and valued partners against terrorism. While Libya has made considerable progress against ISIS, most notable by dislodging ISIS fighters from Sirte last year, the terrorists have tried to take advantage of political instability there to create safe havens in parts of the country. Left unaddressed, this would allow for this violent terrorist organization to inspire attacks against America, our allies and American interests around the world. The United States will track and hunt these terrorists, degrade their capabilities and disrupt their planning and operations by all appropriate, lawful, and proportional means, including precision strikes against their forces, terror training camps and lines of communication, as well as partnering with Libyan forces to deny safe havens for terrorists in Libya. The United States stands by our Libyan counterparts and supports their efforts to counter terror threats and defeat ISIS in Libya. We are committed to maintaining pressure on the terror network and preventing them from establishing safe haven. Advertisement

It says the camp was used by ISIS to move fighters in and out of the country, stockpile weapons and conduct attacks.

'The United States will track and hunt these terrorists, degrade their capabilities and disrupt their planning and operations by all appropriate, lawful, and proportional means, including precision strikes against their forces, terror training camps and lines of communication, as well as partnering with Libyan forces to deny safe havens for terrorists in Libya,' the command said.

Libya sank into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed leader Moammar Gadhafi. It is split between rival parliaments, governments and militias in the east and west.

ISIS and al-Qaida have taken advantage of the power vacuum to seize territory and set up hideouts.

In early 2015, ISIS took over Sirte, turning it into its main stronghold outside the Middle East and attracting large numbers of foreign fighters to the city.

The group imposed its hardline rule on local residents and extended its control along about 155 miles of Libya's Mediterranean coastline.

ISIS took over Sirte in 2015, turning it into its main stronghold outside the Middle East. Pictured: smoke rises after an airstrike in Sirte on September 28, 2016

ISIS was forced out of Sirte (pictured during a bombing on September 29, 2016) after a six-month campaign backed by US airstrikes

But it struggled to keep a footing elsewhere in Libya and by last December was forced out of Sirte after a six-month campaign led by brigades from the western city of Misrata and backed by US airstrikes.

The last known US airstrikes were carried out in early January under then-president Barack Obama, targeting two ISIS camps where militants were suspected of actively planning operations in Europe.

ISIS militants have shifted to desert valleys and inland hills southeast of Tripoli as they seek to exploit Libya's political divisions after their defeat in Sirte.
Postal votes in Australia's $122million same-sex marriage survey have been sent out to people who have died.

Households in Canberra have reported receiving forms addressed to former tenants who are deceased, some who passed almost a decade ago.

The Australian Electoral Commission is responsible for the survey's roll and is meant to receive updates from the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry to remove those who had died.

Postal votes in Australia's $122million same-sex marriage survey have been sent out to people who have died, including this one to a home in Canberra

The organisation said that 'an update on recent deaths was obtained by the AEC to account for the close of rolls for the marriage survey,' according to the Canberra Times.

Catherine Beasley was among those who discovered their homes had been sent the form of a prior tenant who had passed, taking to Facebook to share one such letter.

'Got our postal surveys. Including one for the former owner of the house... who died eight years ago,' she captioned a photo of the unopened letter.

Her post drew a slew of responses online, with one annoyed user responding: 'Oh ffs! Good to see the ABS are on top of things.'

Catherine Beasley was among those who discovered their homes had been sent the form of a prior tenant who had passed, taking to Facebook to share the letter (stock image)

It follows numerous problems that have plagued the survey since the votes were sent out earlier this month, including letters sent to former occupants and envelopes that had been stolen and opened (pictured)

Numerous problems have plagued the survey since the votes were sent out earlier this month, including letters sent to former occupants and envelopes that had been stolen and opened.

On Friday residents in the northern Sydney suburb of Mona Vale were left frustrated after 40 survey envelopes were found dumped in a rubbish bin.

The forms and their return envelopes were missing, with items of personal mail also found torn in half.

Similarly, many voters took to social media to report they had received extra mail, from residents who had moved out and failed to update their details.

While multiple forms had also been sent to some residents including Bruno Antunes who told Fairfax he had been sent two votes, both of which were addressed to him.

'I posted one of them, I still have the other in a sealed envelope... I don't think it's very fair to vote twice, so I haven't,' he said.
Pictured is former University of Miami dean William A. 'Tony' Lake, who is accused of telling an alleged rape victim to simply 'avoid' her rapist in 2013

A former University of Miami student is suing the school for violating Title IX, which governs instances of sexual assault and gender discrimination.

The student, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, alleges that the former dean of students, William A. 'Tony' Lake, told her to simply 'avoid' her alleged rapist and that she should 'feel bad' for him because he had few friends, reports the Miami New Times.

The lawsuit filed September 15 alleges that the woman was raped on August 23, 2013 and that she was stalked and harassed by her rapist at least 10 times before he was expelled from the school in December of that year.

The alleged rapist, who was a resident adviser for a campus dormitory, allegedly yelled at her at a fraternity party in September 2013.

The lawsuit details the victim's interactions with Lake throughout the Fall 2013 semester.

'Dean Lake advised Plaintiff to "avoid those situations" in which Assailant would come in contact with her,' the suit reads, detailing a September meeting.

'This was nearly impossible without Plaintiff's avoiding all campus facilities and activities, including classes, therapy appointments, the library, the student center, or any other facilities on campus.'

A woman is suing the University of Miami, her alma mater, for its handling of her 2013 rape case. She is alleging that the university's response to her case failed to meet Title IX guidelines

Describing a meeting in October: 'Dean Lake suggested to Plaintiff that perhaps Assailant had inserted his fingers and not his penis into Plaintiff's vagina, and that this was not rape.'

It continues: 'He told Plaintiff that she should "feel bad" for Assailant because he did not have many friends and that Assailant may not have meant to be violent toward her during the September 13, 2013 fraternity party.

'He suggested that Plaintiff withdraw the rape allegations since the Assailant would likely be punished regardless. Instead of investigating Plaintiff's allegations, Dean Lake attempted to sweep them under the rug.'

The student also allegedly told Lake of her concern that her alleged rapist was threatening other women as well, a concern that he allegedly ignored.

She took her concerns about his alleged stalking to the police, and on December 16, 2013 received an emergency restraining order against him from Miami-Dade County.

Six days prior, a university board found the alleged rapist guilty of 'sexual assault and battery, intimate partner/dating violence, underage drinking, physical assault, and sexual harassment.'

He had been allowed to remain on campus but was expelled after the restraining order was obtained.

The lawsuit reads: '[Lake] told Plaintiff that she should "feel bad" for Assailant because he did not have many friends.' Lake also allegedly told the victim that she had not been raped. Pictured is another view of the university

While navigating the university's response to her alleged rape, the plaintiff says she suffered trauma and anxiety. Her grades fell and she attempted suicide. University officials allegedly did not communicate with her professors about her struggle.

The student graduated from the university in May 2015 with a degree in microbiology and immunology.

She is saying that her grade point average fell from a 3.8/4.0 to a 3.5/4.0 due to failing grades she received while dealing with the alleged rapist and the school's response.

She is currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Houston.

Lake left the university in May 2016.
Anthony Weiner is to be sentenced tomorrow for sexting a 15-year-girl and persuading her to get naked for him on Skype.

The scandal-hit politician, 53, could face more than two years in jail for sending obscene material to the teen in a case that may have also have played a role in costing Hillary Clinton - former boss of Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin - the presidential election.

'This is not merely a 'sexting' case,' prosecutors wrote to the judge. '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.

Anthony Weiner (pictured in Manhattan Civil Court for a divorce hearing with wife Huma Abedin on September 13) is due to sentenced tomorrow in his teen sexting case

Prosecutors are demanding Judge Denise Cote sentence him to between 21 and 27 months in prison (in court on September 13 for his divorce hearing)

The scandal-hit politician, 53, could face more than two years in jail for sending obscene material to the teen (pictured)

'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'.

Federal prosecutors have asked for a sentence of between 21 and 27 months behind bars because of the seriousness of the crime.

The prosecutors' note reveals that Weiner 'has acknowledged an interest in legal, adult, teen-themed pornography'.

But Weiner's attorneys contend he is a changed man who has finally learned his lesson, calling his compulsive sexting a 'deep sickness' best treated without time behind bars.

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.

The memo also suggested Weiner himself was a victim of the scandal, saying the North Carolina high school student initiated contact with him because she 'hoped somehow to influence the U.S. presidential election' and write a tell-all book.

Some legal observers doubt the wisdom of the defense in questioning the girl's motivations.

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, 15, obscene images and messages about what he would do to her if she was 18 in messages revealed by DailyMail.com

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

The strategy 'is fraught with peril since an attack on a victim can be read by the judge as undermining the defendant's claim that he has accepted full responsibility,' said Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor.

He added that he expects Weiner to get jail time, 'given the nature of the charges and the lack of any real mitigating factors here.'

Incredibly, despite his infidelities, his estranged wife Huma Abedin is now asking the court to go easy on Weiner in order to reduce the impact on their five-year-old son, Joshua.

Abedin, who filed for divorce last May, told the federal court a light sentence would be in the best interests of the couple's young son Joshua.

'I hope the Court will take [our son] into consideration as it weighs all it has to in considering Anthony's sentence,' wrote Abedin in a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Denise L. Cote. 'As would any parent, if there has to be a negative impact on [our son], I would like it to be as small as possible.'

Abedin said that despite Weiner's faults  including his repeated 'sexting' relationships that destroyed his political career and reputation  her estranged husband has always been a devoted father to their son.

'Anthony and I have a wonderful son, [Jordan], who is [five] years old and is the light of our life. It is for [our son] that I write this letter,' she wrote.

'Whatever else Anthony has done, he loves [our son].'

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

The sentencing will be the latest chapter in the spectacular downfall of Weiner, a once-promising politician and half of an up-and-coming Washington power couple.

The trouble began in 2011, when an explicit photo of Weiner, then a congressman representing part of New York City, sent from his Twitter account became public.

He first claimed his account had been hacked but later resigned after admitting he'd had explicit online contact with at least a half-dozen women.

Weiner tried to resurrect his career by running for mayor in 2013 and surged to the lead in the polls. But once again, more racy online messages, where he used the cheesy moniker 'Carlos Danger,' surfaced to doom his candidacy and open the door for the then-little-known Democrat who would go on to win, Bill de Blasio.

His stunning downfall in that campaign was captured in the behind-the-scenes documentary 'Weiner,' which featured a memorable scene of Weiner and his wife alone in a conference room staring at each other in what a New York Times review called 'the longest and most painful onscreen marital silence this side of an Ingmar Bergman film.'

Abedin finally announced that she was separating from Weiner last summer, after it was revealed that the former congressman sent another woman a lewd photo of his crotch while he was in bed with his son.

A few weeks later, DailyMail.com reported on Weiner's sexting relationship with the 15-year-old girl. Although the girl told Weiner she was in high school, the former congressman told her in messages that she made him 'hard' and said he wanted to 'bust that tight p***y so hard and so often that you would leak and limp for a week.'

The teenager said in an interview that Weiner would also chat with her on a video messaging program, during which he asked her to dress up as a school girl and talked about his 'rape fantasies.'

Weiner is also being divorced by his wife Huma Abedin, who wants full custody of their son and is still a top aide to Hillary Clinton

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 Joshua, five

During the relationship, which started in January 2016 and carried on for several months, Weiner also sent her photos of him shirtless and posing provocatively.

The girl, who showed her face publicly for the first time earlier this month, said she initially decided to come forward about Weiner because she was disturbed he had sent women photographs of him posing with his young son.

After the scandal broke, Weiner spent several weeks at a rehab center for sex addiction in Tennessee.

Although Abedin and Weiner were technically separated last summer, they continued to live together in their $3.3million Manhattan apartment.

There were reports that Abedin and Weiner were working to repair their relationship as recently as last spring. But that possibility was dashed on May 19, when Weiner appeared in a New York court to face federal charges.

Weiner pleaded guilty to sending obscene material to a minor, a charge that could land him in prison for up to 10 years when he is sentenced later this month.

In the end, the most significant impact of Weiner's woes may have been on the 2016 presidential contest.

More than any other factor, Clinton has blamed her loss on FBI Director James Comey's decision to reopen an investigation into her private email server in the campaign's final days.

Comey's decision came after FBI agents investigating Weiner's sexual misdeeds discovered that her emails had been forwarded to Weiner's laptop, apparently by his wife.

Investigators looked at Huma's laptop as part of their probe into her husband's affair. It crossed over into a separate FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server

In a matter of days, the FBI concluded there was nothing new in the emails, but Clinton has said the damage was done. Some political analysts suggested the issue may have indeed been a factor in tilting the election in Donald Trump's favor, particularly across Midwestern battlegrounds such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In her new book 'What Happened,' Clinton revealed the moment that Abedin burst into tears after learning her husband had triggered Comey's 'October surprise.'

'When we heard this Huma looked stricken,' Clinton wrote. 'Anthony had already caused so much heartache. And now this. 'This man is going to be the death of me,' (Huma) said, bursting into tears.'

In a letter to the court, Weiner expressed his 'profound' sorrow for endangering the welfare of a girl he admits knowing was underage. The fallout included news his wife had filed for divorce in May on the same day he pleaded guilty.

'My continued acting out over the years crushed the aspirations of my wife and ruined our marriage,' he said. His young son, he added, 'will forever have to answer questions about the public and private failings of his father.'
The victims of a horrific kidnapping in South Australia have sought to have suppression orders on their identities overturned so they can give paid interviews worth millions about their ordeal.

A German woman and a Brazilian woman, who were attacked on a remote beach at Salt Creek by Roman Heinze early last year, are calling for all statutory and suppression orders on their names lifted, The Advertiser reported.

Both women were reportedly approached by producers for Channel Seven's Sunday Night and Channel Nine's 60 Minutes during the trial, and the German victim accepted a six-figure sum.

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The victims of Salt Creek kidnapper Roman Heinze (pictured) have asked for suppression orders on their identities to be lifted

A Brazilian woman and a German woman have reportedly asked for their case to be heard in the Supreme Court so they can complete television interviews on their ordeal worth millions

Sexual assault victims have their identities automatically suppressed in South Australia.

But during their trial, Justice Trish Kelly imposed a suppression order on the German woman, despite her not having endured any sexual assault, as her identity was so intertwined with that of the Brazilian woman, who was sexually assaulted.

Heinze's legal representation are expected to request suppression orders stay in place as the 61-year-old attempts to appeal his 'manifestly excessive' sentence of 22 years.

Heinze met his victims through the Gumtree website, where the Brazilian and German women had sought a ride to Melbourne.

He drove them to the isolated dunes at Salt Creek in South Australia's Coorong National Park, and launched his violent assaults after setting up camp.

He tied up and sexually assaulted the Brazilian woman and hit the German woman in the head several times with a hammer before trying to repeatedly run her over with his 4WD.

Heinze answered an ad the women posted on Gumtree requesting a lift from Adelaide to Melbourne last year (pictured: camp site at Salt Creek)

The 61-year-old took the women to a remote beach in Salt Creek where he tied up and sexually assaulted one and hit the other over a head with a hammer (pictured: part of the crime scene)

The women managed to escape the frightening ordeal, and Heinze (pictured) was found in his car further down the beach

Both managed to escape and Heinze was found in his bloodstained car further down the beach.

Police found a box of Viagra, condoms and a bottle of Passion Pop inside. Prosecutors said his iPhone had two pornographic videos on it.

He saved still images from the videos, which he accessed on February 7, 2016  the day he answered the Brazilian woman's Gumtree ad.

He also confessed to assaulting another woman, also a backpacker, in Hackham in September 2014.

Between that incident and the Salt Creek attack, he contacted 13 other backpackers on Gumtree, and had also accumulated depraved pornography on his computer and phone.

Justice Kelly said Heinze had not shown the slightest remorse or contrition for any of his crimes and there was no reasonable prospect of rehabilitation as she handed down his sentence.

'In fact, the totality of the evidence convinces me, that if undetected, your offending would have continued and quite probably escalated,' she said.

In sentencing, Justice Trish Kelly said the man had shown no remorse for his actions and gave him 22 years behind bars
The big four banks have scrapped ATM withdrawal fees but there are concerns other charges could be hiked and systems may be shut or cut.

Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ and NAB all dropped the unpopular $2 fee to withdraw cash from another bank's ATM on Sunday.

The change will cost Australian banks about $500 million a year.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said the change was due to pressure from the government, and said they will be watching closely on possible ATM closures.

All of the big four banks - Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ and NAB - have dropped fees for withdrawing cash from a rival's ATM

'I don't know why they'd want to withdraw services to customers because I think their customers would respond appropriately to that,' he told ABC Radio.

Mr Morrison has asked parliament to approve new laws allowing authorities to cap executive salaries, delays bonuses and remove directors if they are found guilty of wrongdoing.

'Australians want us to do something now,' he said.

Australian Bankers' Association chief executive Anna Bligh said banks would take the costs on the chin and wouldn't raise other charges.

'It's a hit to the bottom line... they have to be prepared sometimes to take pain in order to keep those customers,' she said.

She was critical of the short timeframe banks have been given to consult on the changes requested by Mr Morrison.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said they will be watching closely on possible ATM closures

'This is not good public policy making.'

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority recently launched an inquiry into Commonwealth Bank after concerns regarding its governance, culture and accountability.

Labor finance spokeswoman Katy Gallaher said ATM fees were unfair, and had impacted on people's savings for years.

'There is no doubting that Labor's calls for a royal commission has led to this decision.'

Australian Bankers' Association chief executive Anna Bligh said banks would take the costs on the chin

Australia's Commonwealth Bank was the first to get rid of its ATM fee, making it free for people to withdraw money from its machines, regardless of which bank they are with.

The major bank rolled out the change across its 3400 ATMs Australia-wide on Sunday, which was then followed by Westpac, NAB and ANZ.

The shock move is expected to cost Australia's big banks tens of millions of dollars each year.

Commonwealth Bank rolled out the change across its 3400 ATMs Australia-wide

The axed fee will save consumers $500 million annually.

Consumer group Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey welcomed the decision.

'Accessing your money from a bank account is an essential service that should be free for everyone, rather than an inconvenience with a penalty attached,' he said.

'The move by the Commonwealth Bank to stop charging non-customers to withdraw money is a win for consumers and sends a clear message to other banks that it's time to axe these fees.'

Consumer group Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey (pictured) said the bank's decision could mark the beginning of the end for the $2 ATM withdrawal fee

Australians reportedly spent $500 million in ATM fees in the past year alone.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia's group executive of retail banking services Matt Comyn said the move to axe the fee was prompted by consumers' disapproval.

'It's very unpopular and I'm sure people will be happy that they no longer have to pay it and to have access to the largest ATM network in the country for free has to be a good thing,' he said in a statement on Sunday.

'As Australia's largest bank, with one of the largest branch and ATM networks, we think this change will benefit many Australians and hopefully demonstrate our willingness to listen and act on customer feedback.'

Mr Morrison has asked parliament to approve new laws capping executive salaries, delaying bonuses and removing directors if they are found guilty of wrongdoing (stock image)

The move follows a string of scandals for the bank, including its newly offloaded life insurance, which was revealed to put profit before sick and dying people.

The bank was revealed to be selling life insurance policies with outdated medical definitions, which made it difficult for its customers to make claims.

The bank also faced forgery and fraud accusations, sparking a senate inquiry and royal commission into the bank's planning division.

Labor finance spokeswoman Katy Gallaher said ATM fees were unfair, and had impacted on people's savings for years (stock image)

The Australian government accused the bank of widespread breaches of money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules, according to reports in August.

Financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC said it had initiated civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court against CommBank for 'serious and systemic non-compliance', in the biggest case of its kind in Australia and the first against a major bank.

'The effect of CommBank's conduct in this matter has exposed the Australian community to serious and ongoing financial crime', AUSTRAC said in a court filing.

Australia's biggest mortgage lender failed to report suspicious matters 'either on time or at all involving transactions totalling over A$77 million ($61 million)', AUSTRAC said.

The agency alleged 53,700 contraventions of the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing Act, particularly with regards to so-called intelligent deposit machines, or IDMs.
A new-born whale has been euthanized after it became stranded on a Queensland beach.

Wildlife authorities said the baby humpback whale would not be able to survive in captivity without its mother after it washed up on Dundowran Beach on Sunday - because the animals need to learn behaviour off other whales.

Crews from Queensland Parks and Wildlife, ORCA Whale and Seal Rescue, Blue Dolphin Whale Watching and the Pacific Whale Foundation kept the six-week old calf comfortable until it was euthanised.

A new-born whale has been euthanized after it became stranded on a Queensland beach

It was deemed by authorities that the baby humpback whale would not be able to survive with its mother after it washed up on Dundowran Beach on Sunday

Vicki Neville from Tasman Venture whale rescue told the Fraser Coast Chronicle locals had seen the whale near the shoreline and hopes it would reunite with its mother.

Natalie Richadson from Wildlife Rescue Fraser Coast said euthanasia was the most humane option for the calf.

'It is an extremely sad situation, but people need to take into account that there's many reasons as to why the calf has become stranded and unless it can be successfully and quickly reunited with its mother, the only humane option is euthanasia,' she said.

'Humpback whales are not a species that can be taken into care for raising or rehabilitation.

'Trying to keep it alive in a facility somewhere would be unkind and impractical and would simply cause more distress to the animal and additional suffering to it.'
Jeremy Corbyn revealed his true colours on Brexit yesterday as he warned membership of the single market could scupper his socialist vision of renationalised British industries.

The Labour leader also raised the prospect of effectively staying in the EU for years as he said it was impossible to put a time limit on any transition period.

But Mr Corbyn, who faced accusations from his party of not campaigning wholeheartedly for Remain ahead of the referendum, said it was essential in the long term to leave the single market.

His remarks came as a group of Labour MPs, lords and campaigners called for the party to do whatever it takes to stay in the single market and customs union.

Jeremy Corbyn revealed his true colours on Brexit yesterday as he warned membership of the single market could scupper his socialist vision of renationalised British industries

Mr Corbyn told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show: We need to look very carefully at the terms of any trade relationship because at the moment were part of the single market, that has within it restrictions in state aid and state spending, that has pressures on it through the European Union to privatise rail, for example.

Giving an example of his concerns about EU rules on state assistance, Mr Corbyn said he would have wanted to intervene when the Redcar steel works was closed two years ago with the loss of 3,000 jobs.

He added: The Government claimed there were issues of state aid. We disputed that  we would want to be able to invest in industries.

Pushed on whether he was suggesting the renationalisation of the steel industry, he replied: If necessary, in order to make sure we have a strong steel industry as the basis of a manufacturing economy.

But its also about a mixed economy  so for example I want to see a much bigger renewable sector.

Face-off: A masked anti-Brexit activist marches in Brighton yesterday as the demonstration heads towards the Labour conference

He said a Brexit transition period  during which Britain would remain in the single market and customs union  should last as long as necessary.

Asked whether it could be as long as a decade he said, no, I dont think so, but added: I think its impossible for anyone to put an absolute figure on that.

How tides ruined plan for 'JC to walk on water' Labour officials wanted Jeremy Corbyn to walk on water and address supporters from a floating platform in the sea. Organisers of an eve-of-conference rally planned to hold it on Brighton beach with the Labour leader on a raft off shore. But the idea  which may have drawn comparisons to Jesus walking on water and preaching to crowds from a boat  was scrapped after concerns about tides. Instead, the event was held in a skate park in Brighton on Saturday evening. An MP who told the Daily Mail about the beach rally plan said: They got as far as looking at tide times. They thought it would make a great picture  JC literally walking on water, sort of. A source close to the Labour leader said: Were inventive but were not that inventive. Mr Corbyn, 68, said at the weekend he wanted to serve ten years in No 10  which could keep him in power until the age of 83. Advertisement

Mr Corbyn was also pressed on the issue of illegal strikes, but refused ten times to give a straight answer on whether he would back industrial action called on a ballot of less than 50 per cent. He told the programme: I will be supporting those workers in getting a decent pay rise.

Labour avoided a potentially divisive conference clash on Brexit after delegates last night agreed not to hold a vote on whether its policy should be to stay in the single market and customs union permanently. The pro-Corbyn Momentum group had urged its members not to support a conference motion on Brexit.

When Corbyn ally and campaigns chief Andrew Gwynne was asked whether wrangling between Remain and Leave supporters could tear Labour apart, he told a fringe meeting: It could, if were not careful.

Hundreds of anti-Brexit protesters marched outside the conference venue yesterday waving EU flags.

Meanwhile, 30 senior figures  including former shadow cabinet members Chuka Umunna and Heidi Alexander, and one of Mr Corbyns closest allies in his early days as leader, Clive Lewis  wrote that the party should commit to staying in the single market and customs union, ruling out no options for how to achieve this.

The letter, in the Observer, added that Labour should work to put an end to the exploitation of workers, not freedom of movement.

Labour is facing a fresh backlash over plans to raise taxes for companies with annual profits under 300,000 to 21 per cent by 2020.

Representatives from the Federation of Small Businesses are set to confront shadow chancellor John McDonnell over the plans today.
A snake catcher who was called after a family found a python in their garage was stunned to find it was part of a breeding pair.

Dan shared a picture of the scene after one of the snakes had been removed on the Sunshine Snake Catchers 24/7 Facebook page.

He said he had arrived at a home in Cooroy, Queensland, and removed the snake - and it was only then that he realised there were actually two.

A snake catcher arrived at a Queensland home after a resident found a python in their garage

'Breeding season is in full swing at the moment!' he wrote in a post alongside the picture.

'I was called to a Cooroy home, where the resident had noticed a snake in their garage.

'Upon arrival, there seemed to be a lot of scales for one snake. Further investigation revealed what was a breeding pair!

'This photo was taken after one snake was removed, as I didn't realise there was 2 until I started to move the 1st one.'

Hiding in plain sight, the reptile was curled up inside a green cardboard box on the shelf

His picture sparked a wave of comments from people who struggled to spot the snake in the snap.

But some eagle-eyed viewers noted that the reptile was curled up inside a green cardboard box.
Opinion / Columnist

Ordinarily, September is the month of jacaranda blooms, the arrival of summer in Zimbabwe - but this year, it was the month of Zodwa Wabantu. In his usual humorous style, Jera reflects on the month dominated by Zodwa.I like thunder thighs. I like women in general, particularly those of the scantily clad genre. This declaration is essential for the point I am about to make. Now that we have that out the way, we can discuss the meatier subject.Unless you have been living in a mole burrow for the past month, you will know the whole Zodwa furore. In fact, the name Zodwa Wabantu has been unavoidable, even with the most high-tech junk filter installed on your internet device. But for the benefit of those who have been in some peaceful place where pantiless women do not intrude on social media, here is the Zodwa Wabantu summary.Zodwa Wabantu versus Anne NhiraA woman called Anne Nhira, citing moral reasons, wrote to Honourable minister Patrick Zhuwao, demanding that Zodwa be barred from the Harare carnival, an event modeled around Brazil's world famous flesh fest. Nhira and people like her felt that Zodwa's dressing would have offended their sensitive minds - at an occasion where Brazilian guest dancers wear next to zero. For the benefit of those who may not know Nhira, here she is dressed in her Sunday best. What a choir girl!Minister Zhuwao, being the nephew of a devout Catholic - a religious man who has never caused the deaths of over 20,000 Matebeles, who has never caused the rape of over 60,000 women during Gukurahundi genocide which never occurred in this deeply "Krishen" state of ours - did the only thing that a morally astute minister would do. He barred Zodwa Wabantu's tawdry open legged dance.Outcry over Zodwa Wabantu banZimbabweans - 95% of whom write monthly letters to the Diaspora, asking for money because they are jobless - were up in arms. Anne Nhira was called all sorts of names, most of which cannot be printed in this respectable publication. Photographs of Nhira, such as the one above, were exhumed from the recesses of the unforgiving and non forgetful internet. Beneath such photographs, the people asked just who the hell she is to stand in judgement of Zodwa. Zimbabweans who cannot agree on the Grand Coalition, cannot agree to come together and pick up litter from the revolting streets of their cities, Zimbos who cannot unanimously agree on anything at all, fully agreed that Anne Nhira is not a nice person and that Zodwa should be allowed to smile at the camera lenses through what part of her anatomy she chooses.Censorship board discusses national issueThe matter subsequently went to the censorship board. I imagine the board members drove all the way to the office in US$30,000 Ford Rangers. I imagine around the oval boardroom table was a neat row of mineral water and Mazoe Orange bottles, complete with polished glass tumblers for them to sip cool beverages, while discussing Zodwa's weighty matters.After hours of heated deliberation - I imagine these important matters take hours - the board emerged from the conference room to meet a mob of expectant reporters, newsmen and women who had abandoned stories of floods, diseases and falling living standards. There before these reporters, the board announced their decision. Zodwa is free to part her knees in Zimbabwe, in her usual state of inadequate dress. Zodwa wins. Bottom power trumps dreadlocks and Gushungo connections.Who is the loser?But who is the loser, really? Where there is mention of a winner, there must be a loser somewhere licking their wounds. The losers are the 95% jobless Zimbabweans. The losers are the citizens who now find themselves in long, winding, energy sapping fuel queues. The losers are people paying $18 for a $4 bottle of lotion. The vanquished are those who live in the only country on earth where the American dollar - the world's most popular store of value - loses its worth overnight. The defeated are those whose economy is shredded like Zodwa's leather sleeves. The real losers are children whose parents wrangled over Zodwa but still haven't paid September school fees.Brenda Dube, on Twitter, sums up Zimbabwe rather eloquently - "they were caught napping with Zodwa's breast in their mouth."You lose Zimbabwe. Again.I like thunder thighs. I like women in general, particularly those of the scantily clad genre. But I love my country more. I cherish the future of my grandchildren a lot more than Zodwa's undergarments, or any other trivial matters that might trend on social media tomorrow.My pen is capped.
Police are searching for a man believed to be linked to several indecent assaults in Sydney's north.

CCTV footage was released Monday showing the man of Asian appearance with a slim build and short black hair, with detectives hoping he can assist in their inquiries.

It is in relation to a series of indecent assault incidents that occurred in 2014 in the cities northern suburbs.

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Police are searching for a man wearing a grey hoodie and cargo shorts who they want to speak to over a number of indecent assaults in Sydney's north

Earlier this year, police from the State Crime Commands Sex Crimes Squad established Strike Force Nerada to investigate a number of indecent assaults in Sydney between 2014 and 2015.

The investigation includes two incidents in 2014 that investigators believe are linked.

The first took place in May 2014, with an 18-year-old woman indecently assaulted on Lindfield Avenue, Lindfield.

A man came to the woman's aid during the attack, with the unknown assailant fleeing from the location.

Police wish to speak to the man (pictured) in relation to a series of indecent assault incidents that occurred in 2014 in the cities northern suburbs

The second incident saw a 30-year-old woman be grabbed from behind after getting off a bus on the Pacific Highway in Killara.

It occurred in late November 2014, with the man pushing the woman to the ground and indecently assaulting her.

Both incidents were later reported to local police with Strike Force Nerada detectives now releasing video of a man they are looking to speak with.

In the clip he is seen wearing a grey hoodie and dark-coloured t-shirt, with cargo shorts and black sneakers.

Police are urging anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The United States will prohibit entry of citizens from North Korea to the nation as part of a sweeping new travel ban that also slaps restrictions on Iran, Chad, Libya, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Somalia, the Trump administration said on Sunday.

The bans and restrictions do not have any time limits; in effect, they are indefinite.

The new restrictions, slated to go into effect on October 18, resulted from a review after President Donald Trump's original travel bans were challenged in court.

Trump tweeted Sunday: 'Making America safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet.'

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from the original, mostly Muslim-majority list.

Donald Trump's presidential administration has issued a new country-specific travel ban and restriction that affects eight countries: North Korea, Iran, Chad, Libya, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Somalia. The bans and restrictions vary by country and the proclamation is slated to go into effect on October 18

After the announcement, Donald Trump tweeted: Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet'

North Korea, which is governed by Kim Jong Un, will be subject to a total travel ban for an indefinite period of time beginning on October 18. It should be noted, however, that very few North Koreans travel to the United States to begin with

Venezuela (pictured at left is its president, Nicolas Maduro) and Chad (pictured at right is its president, Idriss Deby) are, along with North Korea, subject to a revised travel ban (or restriction). None of the three countries were on the original six-country ban that Trump tried to push through in January

'North Korea does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements,' the proclamation said.

An administration official, briefing reporters on a conference call, acknowledged that the number of North Koreans travelling to the United States now was very low.

The White House press release reads: 'As President, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people.

'I am committed to our ongoing efforts to engage those countries willing to cooperate, improve information-sharing and identity-management protocols and procedures, and address both terrorism-related and public-safety risks.

'Some of the countries with remaining inadequacies face significant challenges.

'Others have made strides to improve their protocols and procedures, and I commend them for these efforts.

'But until they satisfactorily address the identified inadequacies, I have determined, on the basis of recommendations from the Secretary of Homeland Security and other members of my Cabinet, to impose certain conditional restrictions and limitations.'

Linda Sarsour, a Palestinian-American political activist, tweeted about the revised ban: 'Don't be distracted. The travel ban was always rooted in bigotry and racism. Trump doesn't have me fooled'

Spencer Ackerman, a journalist at The Daily Beast, tweeted: 'Guessing Chad is listed in the new Travel Ban because Trump got mad this weekend at someone named Chad'

Mark Berman, a Washington Post reporter, tweeted about how previous terrorist attacks in the United States were not committed by people from countries affected by the ban

Justifying the inclusion of Chad, the release reads: 'The government of Chad is an important and valuable counterterrorism partner of the United States, and the United States Government looks forward to expanding that cooperation, including in the areas of immigration and border management.

'Chad has shown a clear willingness to improve in these areas.

'Nonetheless, Chad does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information and fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion.

'Additionally, several terrorist groups are active within Chad or in the surrounding region, including elements of Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb.

'At this time, additional information sharing to identify those foreign nationals applying for visas or seeking entry into the United States who represent national security and public-safety threats is necessary given the significant terrorism-related risk from this country.'

Pictured is a supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holding a sign that reads: 'Trump, out of Venezuela,' during an 'anti-imperialist march'. Protests have rocked the country recently

Pictured are opposition activists holding a protest against the newly inaugurated Constituent Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela on August 4. The other five countries subject to either bans or restrictions are Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Syria

Pictured are 'anti-imperialist' demonstrators, one of whom is holding up a cutout of former president Hugo Chavez, who died in 2013. Two countries appear to be subject to a complete travel ban. They are North Korea and Syria

Regarding Venezuela, the proclamation reads: 'Its government is uncooperative in verifying whether its citizens pose national security or public-safety threats.

'Venezuela's government fails to share public-safety and terrorism-related information adequately, fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion, and has been assessed to be not fully cooperative with respect to receiving its nationals subject to final orders of removal from the United States.

'There are, however, alternative sources for obtaining information to verify the citizenship and identity of nationals from Venezuela.

'As a result, the restrictions imposed by this proclamation focus on government officials of Venezuela who are responsible for the identified inadequacies.'

Not all of the eight countries on this revised list will see a full travel ban.

Iranians with valid student or exchange visitor visas will be able to come to the United States, although they will 'be subject to enhanced screening and vetting requirements'.

For Venezuela, the ban appears to apply specifically to government workers in specific agencies, such as the Ministry of the Popular Power for Interior and the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service.

The release reads: 'Nationals of Venezuela who are visa holders should be subject to appropriate additional measures to ensure traveler information remains current.'

Pictured is an anti-United States rally at Kim II Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. The photo was released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on September 23

Pictured is another view of the rally. Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un have publicly criticized each other quite intensely in recent weeks

This undated photo shows Jim Jong Un at center. Whether or not North Korea's nuclear capabilities extend to the United States remains unknown

The Somalia ban affects those wishing to immigrate to the United States. Those who want to enter with a visa may still be able to enter the country.

Non-immigrants from Yemen who enter the United States with a non-business or non-tourist visa will still be able to enter the country. The same goes for people from Libya and Chad.

The other two countries: North Korea and Syria, appear to be subject to a total travel ban.

The announcement comes the same day that Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries is set to expire.

That ban, which went into effect 90 days ago, had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who 'lack a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States' from entering the U.S.

Refugees from those countries were to be banned for 120 days. It is not clear how this new proclamation will affect refugees.

Of the six, Sudan is the only nation no longer affect by a ban or restriction.

A previous executive order issued by Trump on January 27 also included Iraq, which is no longer subject to a ban or restriction but is subject to 'vetting'.

The White House press release reads: 'The Secretary of Homeland Security recommends...that nationals of Iraq who seek to enter the United States be subject to additional scrutiny to determine if they pose risks to the national security or public safety of the United States.

'In reaching these conclusions, the Secretary of Homeland Security considered the close cooperative relationship between the United States and the democratically elected government of Iraq, the strong United States diplomatic presence in Iraq, the significant presence of United States forces in Iraq, and Iraq's commitment to combating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.'

Trump's attempt at travel bans have been marred in legal difficulties and have been met with protests at airports and in city streets across the United States.

The surprise travel ban comes amid Trump's battles with professional athletes - notably of the National Football League and the National Basketball Association.

Trump gave an impromptu press briefing while boarding Air Force One on Sunday evening to address his criticism of NFL players who took a knee during the national anthem.

He insisted that that his criticism has 'nothing' to do with race, telling reporters: 'I never said anything about race.

'This has nothing to do with race or anything else. This has to do with respect for our country and respect for our flag.'

After Trump initially issued a travel ban on seven Muslim-majority nations, mass protests erupted against the ban across the United States. Pictured is a January 28 protest at New York City's John F Kennedy International Airport

Pictured is another view of a January 28 protest at New York's JFK airport

During Sunday's NFL games more than 130 players defiantly reacted to Trump's criticism by kneeling, sitting linking arms, giving black power salutes and not even showing up for the singing of the anthem.

Trump took to Twitter to respond - writing: ''Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!'

He quickly followed up to say: 'Courageous Patriots have fought and died for our great American Flag - we MUST honor and respect it! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!'

The tweets doubled down on comments he made during a speech in Alabama Friday night.

During the speech he said any player who protests racism by kneeling during the national anthem is a 'son of a b****'. The protests were started before the 2016 season by quarterback Colin Kaepernick - who used his public platform to protest police violence.

Trump also withdrew an invitation to NBA champions Golden State Warriors to visit the White House.

After Curry declared, 'I don't want to go', President Trump tweeted Saturday morning: 'Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!'
Wreckage: Damaged boats on Virgin Gorda - one of the British Virgin Islands - after Irma

Britain has handed 5million of aid to a Caribbean island  even though the UK is banned from giving foreign aid cash to its own overseas territories devastated by hurricanes.

International Development Secretary Priti Patel announced the handout for Dominica  hit by Hurricane Maria  a week after it emerged the UK could not officially give aid cash to the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla or the Turks and Caicos.

The UK has given 57million to the territories for hurricane damage but, because the OECD economic group says they are too wealthy to qualify for foreign aid, the cash cannot count towards the aid spending target of 0.7 per cent of GDP  about 13billion.

Tory MP James Duddridge, who sits on the Commons international development committee, said the 5million was a great help to Dominica but rules needed to be changed so territories such as the British Virgin Islands could receive foreign aid when disaster hit.

He added: 'If people are without food and water, historic statistics of GDP should not stop us from helping.'

Miss Patel arrived in the Caribbean yesterday to see the damage to overseas territories from two major storms in close succession.

Hurricane Maria ravaged Dominica after making landfall last Monday, leaving 98 per cent of buildings damaged and thousands without power  affecting almost all of the 70,000 population.

Miss Patel announced the Government support as she visited HMS Ocean, which on Friday delivered 60 tons of aid to the Caribbean.

She said: 'The UK has pledged to give 5million to the people of Dominica, the island worst hit by Hurricane Maria  on top of the 57million already promised to the region  to strengthen recovery following these relentless disasters.

'I have come to the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla to see first-hand UK aid in action, helping families whose lives have been ripped apart first by Hurricane Irma and then Maria.'

After the storm: People were seen queuing to board on a boat to depart Roseau on the island of Dominica

Dominica is an independent island nation, which is on the OECD's list of eligible countries. It is listed as an 'upper middle income country' along with Argentina, China and Brazil.

Miss Patel met families in the British Virgin Islands whose lives were torn apart by Hurricane Irma, and she will visit Anguilla to see UK efforts to get schools and businesses up and running.

The 5million pledge brings the UK's financial support for islands hit by Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma to 62million.

The Government is also doubling donations from the public to the British Red Cross's Irma and Maria appeals, a pledge which has so far raised more than 2million.

The 5million in aid comes after the prime minister of Dominica requested international support. It will go on restoring health services in the worst-affected areas.

Dominica was the first Caribbean island directly hit by the category-five force of Maria. At least seven died as trees were stripped bare, houses torn to pieces and cars smashed into the road.

While the British Virgin Islands escaped a direct hit from Maria, Hurricane Irma caused devastation and killed five. Thousands of homes lost roofs and many lost electricity and water supplies.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan was last night under growing pressure to reverse the decision to banish Uber from the capital.

Nearly 700,000 people have signed a petition set up by the controversial taxi-hailing smartphone app urging him to back down.

Campaigners yesterday warned that banning Uber in London would make women less safe by forcing them to take public transport and unlicenced taxis late at night.

And Uber tried to back Mr Khan into a corner by signalling it is keen to strike a peace deal and could be willing to offer concessions to improve its drivers' rights.

The US tech firm pleaded to sit down around the negotiating table with the mayor and officials at Transport for London (TfL), which ruled on Friday that Uber is 'not fit and proper' to hold a taxi licence.

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan was last night under growing pressure to reverse the decision to banish Uber from the capital

Uber also claimed that Mr Khan and TfL have refused to meet it for detailed talks, and have not been clear about what it needs to do to ensure its licence is renewed.

Tom Elvidge, Uber's general manager in London, said; 'We'd like to know what we can do... to sit down and work together to get this right.'

Speaking to the Sunday Times, he added: 'We haven't been asked to make any changes. We'd like to know what we can do. But that requires a dialogue we haven't been able to have.'

TfL declined to comment. A source close to Mr Khan claimed he was not involved in the decision to suspend Uber's licence, arguing this was made by officials working in TfL's licensing section.

But this received short shrift from Croydon South Tory MP Chris Philp, who said: 'It is disgraceful that Sadiq Khan took away Uber's licence without even bothering to sit down with them and discussing what needs to change first.

'Clearly there are things that Uber needs to do to improve. But if Mr Khan is serious about improving safety he should have sat down with Uber and told them what they needed to change.

'He appears to have put narrow political interests ahead of the interests of the wider general public.'

The criticism came as it emerged that Mr Khan's successful campaign to become London Mayor was backed with a 30,000 donation from cab drivers' union GMB, which has spearheaded the fight to ban Uber.

Last night a source close to TfL and the mayor offered hope to those who have signed the petition, and suggested talks to reach a peace deal with Uber are a possibility.

In a personal response to the petition, Mr Khan said: 'I suspect it will take some time before the situation with Uber fully plays out.'

Uber - which has 40,000 drivers and 3.5 million users in London - is thought to be prepared to offer concessions such as sick pay for drivers and limits on their working hours.

But Labour's leadership yesterday heaped pressure on Mr Khan to hold firm and claimed they had never taken an Uber taxi.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell branded the firm a 'disgrace', stating: 'Hand on heart, I don't think I've ever used Uber.' Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also said he did not think he had used the service.

But Mr Khan faced awkward criticism from a women's rights campaigner, who argued that banning the taxi-calling app could endanger females in the capital who rely on Uber as an affordable method of travel late at night.

Nimco Ali, the co-founder of Daughters of Eve  which campaigns against female genital mutilation  warned that things were going to 'get nasty' for the London Mayor.

Miss Ali, who spoke at the Labour party conference in Brighton yesterday, wrote on Twitter: 'The Mayor of London talks about public safety while knife crime is at a record high, and we women use Uber for safety [be]cause the buses are not [safe].'

Uber also claimed that Mr Khan and TfL have refused to meet it for detailed talks, and have not been clear about what it needs to do to ensure its licence is renewed

In another post, she wrote: 'Uber has 40,000 drivers in London, and 3.5 million customers. This is going to get nasty for Sadiq Khan and I am backing Uber on this.'

Dame Esther Rantzen, who spent years leading safety campaigners, also voiced concerns that banning the app would put people in danger late at night.

She said: 'In the past, when young people were desperate late at night and somebody stopped for them , many were tempted to jump into unlicenced black cabs which can be very dangerous. I'm extremely worried that may happen again.'

A key reason cited by TfL for not renewing Uber's licence was its failure to report serious criminal offences.

This was flagged up last month by the head of Scotland Yard's taxi unit, Neil Billany, who said the firm was not alerting the authorities about sex attacks and other serious crimes by drivers  and was prioritising its reputation over protecting the public.

Users have to download the Uber app onto their smartphone and activate it to hail one of its drivers. The company operates in over 600 cities and towns around the world, including more than 40 in the UK.

The firm's London licence expires next Saturday, but has already said it intends to appeal against the ban. It will be able to continue to operate while the appeal is processed.
Johnathan McDonnell was driving 78-80mph when he collided into an SUV in Albuquerque, New Mexico and killed a young boy

A police officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico was traveling at least twice the speed limit when he collided into another vehicle, resulting in the tragic death of a six-year-old boy.

However, investigators have not recommended Johnathan McDonnell face charges for the April 17 deadly crash that involved his police cruiser and an SUV carrying the boy, Anthony Suina, his mother, Antoinette Suina, and her nine-year-old daughter.

Officer McDonnell was driving 78-80mph north in a 40mph zone on Eubank Boulevard in Albuquerque with his rotating lights flashing at the time the collision occurred.

Suina has told investigators she never saw the police cruiser and did not hear sirens.

Mom Suina suffered injures as well as her unidentified daughter - who suffered a head injury, pelvis fracture and lung, liver and kidney contusions, a KRQE 13 report said.

The boy, Anthony Suina, 6, died in the crash on April 17 on Eubank Boulevard in Albuquerque

The child's mother Antoinette Suina, and her nine-year-old daughter were also injured

Suina has told investigators she never saw the police cruiser and did not hear sirens

Investigators have not recommended McDonnell face charges for the April 17 deadly crash as he was 'authorized to operate his vehicle in an emergency response,' the report read

Officer McDonnell suffered a broken femur, foot and other bones.

According to the crash report, McDonnell's computer monitor proved he attempted to brake and veer the steering wheel away from the SUV before it was too late.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department released documents following the investigation, which included reports from witnesses near the scene of the deadly accident.

'The little boy was non-responsive, we couldn't get a pulse on him,' witness Monica Cullins said, who tried to assist the family. 'I'm not used to little ones like that.'

'The little boy was non-responsive, we couldn't get a pulse on him,' witness Monica Cullins said, who tried to assist the family

According to the crash report, McDonnell's computer monitor showed he attempted to brake and veer the steering wheel away from the SUV

Charges were not recommended against McDonnell because he was traveling with his lights on and 'authorized to operate his vehicle in an emergency response', the report read.

Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputy G. Gallegos said he does 'not feel charges are warranted at this time for either driver'.

'Officer McDonnell was authorized to operate his vehicle in an emergency response.'

The investigation has been going on for months. The Bernalillo County District Attorneys office will determine whether or not there will be charges

The report said further: 'I feel his (McDonnell's) intentions were to proceed to the call in an expedited manner as to preserve the safety of human life. As stated in the call details that ('subject was swinging knife [machete] in direction of caller').

'Witness accounts stated he was traveling at a high rate of speed, however there were no witness account stating he was driving in a manner as to be reckless and he was not under the influence.'

McDonnells attorney, John DAmato, said his client declined a voluntary statement to investigators.

The Bernalillo County District Attorneys office will ultimately determine whether or not McDonnell will face charges for the deadly April collision.
William G.Stewart made 2,265 episodes of 15 to 1, met nearly 34,000 contestants and asked 350,000 questions

From 1988 to 2003, Channel 4s 15 To 1 was the hardest quiz show on TV. I should know. I was fortunate enough to take part three times, but never reached the last round.

Every time I was defeated by the planet-brained questions posed by quizmaster William G. Stewart, who died last week, aged 84. A former Butlins redcoat, Stewart also produced the show after hed paid its creator, BT salesman John M. Lewis, 200 in 1986.

This was an age before Dumbed-Down Britain. OK, it wasnt quite Mastermind but for a teatime quiz show the questions were properly challenging  and so cleverly compiled that even if you were baffled or got it wrong, you kicked yourself when you heard the answer.

The quiz worked like this: 15 players, each starting with three lives, faced Stewart in a semi-circle to do combat over three rounds.

The winner at the end of the show was either the last contestant standing, or the one with the most points.

The ruthless and tactical brilliance of the programme lay in the fact that you had to nominate others to answer questions  the ones you thought looked pretty stupid  in order to knock them out. (I clearly looked pretty stupid as I was frequently nominated.)

Stewart said the contestants always thought I was like a severe teacher. I didnt think so  he took the time to chat away to me after every show, behaving more like a favourite uncle. He made 2,265 episodes, met nearly 34,000 contestants and asked 350,000 questions.

Here are 50 of the trickiest.

1. Who in the 17th century asked Sir Peter Lely to paint his portrait with pimples, warts and everything as you see me?

2. The name of which town in Mali has come to stand for any distant or outlandish place?

3. Which of the Queens children was born in 1950?

4. How many heads had the mythical dog Cerberus?

5. From where did the first British TV broadcasts start transmission in London in 1936?

6. Which of the five inhabited continents has the largest population?

7. Norman Foster, Richard Seifert and Richard Rogers are famous names in which profession?

8. In which European capital city is Oscar Wilde buried?

9. When George W. Bush was sworn in as President, he and his father became the second father and son to be U.S. Presidents. What is the surname of the first father and son to achieve that distinction?

10. Henry VIII, on finding one of his wives so different from her picture, swore they had brought him a Flanders mare. Which wife?

Apart from Charles, the Prince of Wales has three other Christian names. What are two of the three?

11. Which of the four British patron saints is the only one who was an apostle?

12. Which part of speech modifies or describes a verb?

13. Apart from Charles, the Prince of Wales has three other Christian names. What are two of the three?

14. The Crimean War was fought by Britain, France, Sardinia and Turkey against which country?

15. On a sesqui-centennial anniversary, how many years would you be celebrating?

16. The Beautiful And The Damned, Tender Is The Night and The Great Gatsby were all written by which U.S. author?

17. Sinophobia is the fear of which race or nation?

18. What does the girls name Verity mean?

19. Only one Prime Minister of the 20th century was in office for a complete, uninterrupted decade. Which one?

20. If you sailed east from Newcastle, which would be the first country you would reach?

21. Formerly part of Yugoslavia, but now an independent state, of which European country is Ljubljana the capital city?

Formerly part of Yugoslavia, but now an independent state, of which European country is Ljubljana the capital city?

22. The oldest person to have ascended the British throne did so in 1830 aged 64. Who was he?

23. Which university, founded in 1636, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S?

24. What is the English meaning of the Latin phrase primus inter pares with which Jeffrey Archer titled one of his novels?

25. Which English potter developed a black stoneware called basaltware, and a white stoneware stained blue or other colours, called jasperware?

26. What was the British battleship, launched in 1906, that had ten 12in guns and gave its name to a new class of warship?

27. The murder of which ruler and his family took place in Yekaterinburg in 1918?

28. In Germany, World War Is chief naval battle is called the Skagerrak. How is it known in Britain?

What does it mean if a racehorse is described as a maiden?

29. Which is the only continent whose mainland is one country?

30. Who was John Merrick in the film starring John Hurt?

31. Who, in a Shakespeare play, after the death of her lover, brings about her own death with the bite of an asp?

32. In Britain, how often is there a national census?

33. Which fictional character, created by Washington Irving, is a cheerful neer-do-well who falls asleep for 20 years?

34. How is Alice Liddell, daughter of the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, now remembered in literature?

35. What does it mean if a racehorse is described as a maiden?

36. Which Channel port is the most northerly town in France?

37. In which Devon town is the Britannia Royal Naval College based?

38. On what date does Burns Night fall?

39. In the Christmas carol which begins O Little Town of Bethlehem . . ., what is the next line?

In which Devon town is the Britannia Royal Naval College based?

40. What nickname was given to the period between the German invasion of Poland in 1939 and the invasion of Denmark and Norway in 1940, during which there were few hostilities?

41. What is the more common name for pollinosis?

42. Ingrid Bergmans last role was as a world leader. Which one?

43. Ni is the chemical symbol for which metallic element?

44. A 20th-century U.S. President shared a common surname with a British PM. Who were they?

45. Puckle, Gatling and Mauser are all types of what?

46. Cartesian geometry, also called analytical or co-ordinate geometry, is named after which 16th/17th century French mathematician and philosopher?

47. Which famous English sailor and explorer died on January 28, 1596, and was buried at sea off the coast of Panama?

A former Butlins redcoat, Stewart also produced the show after hed paid its creator, BT salesman John M. Lewis, 200 in 1986

48. What are the colours of the flag of the Republic of Ireland?

49. What name is given to clauses in a sentence that are introduced by the conjunctions if or unless?

50. Name the ship that sank off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, in the 19th century, and which is said to have inspired the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Harry Mount is the author of How England Made The English (Penguin, 8.28).
A former spy chief has demanded action on Chinese takeovers amid fears the sale of a top British technology firm could put military secrets at risk.

Imagination Technologies is being bought for 550million by private equity company Canyon Bridge, which is secretly backed by Beijing-controlled Yitai Capital.

Experts including former MI6 deputy head Nigel Inkster said Britain lacks a clear policy on China and called for deals to be carefully examined to protect national security and business.

Hertfordshire-based microchip maker Imaginations technology is used in billions of devices worldwide, including many smartphones and computers.

Imagination Technologies, which among other things creates chips for iPhones (pictured), is being bought for 550million by private equity company secretly backed by Beijing-controlled Yitai Capital

Critics warned that its sale was part of an effort by the Communist dictatorship in Beijing to create a microchip monopoly that could endanger Western technology. They said this might force the British military to rely on Chinese components that could incorporate hidden features.

Earlier this month, the US government blocked Canyon Bridge from buying American chipmaker Lattice Semiconductor on grounds of national security. Pressure will now be piled on Theresa May to follow suit with Imagination.

Mr Inkster said Britain needs far more scepticism when approaching such deals. The former spy chief, who is now a director at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: Quite a lot of UK policymakers have a somewhat Pollyannaish [over-optimistic] view of China.

There needs to be some recognition of this issue, and some systematic way of looking at these deals. When youre dealing with a very powerful state like China thats a practitioner of state corporatism rather than a genuine proponent of free trade, you dont have a level playing field and you need to make allowance for that.

Chips in millions of phones Imagination Technologies has long been a jewel in Britains technology crown  making microchips for billions of products from Apple smartphones to wireless speakers. Founded in 1985, it is one of the few firms outside Silicon Valley to play a leading role in the global computing industry. Apple, the companys biggest customer, uses many of the 1.2billion chips produced every year in its iPhones and iPads. But this year Imaginations share price crashed when the US tech giant said it wanted to make its own chips instead. It set the scene for a legal case that could drag on for years. Apple is also said to have poached several key staff from Imagination, which employs more than 1,000 people in 20 countries and has its HQ in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. Ministers have powers to block the Chinese takeover under the 2002 Enterprise Act, which lets the Business Secretary refuse bids that could damage national security. Advertisement

John Hemmings, of The Henry Jackson Society think-tank, said the deal has all sorts of implications in the military sphere.

If the military suddenly has to start buying semiconductors from China, there are very serious concerns, he said. Chinese firms might build back doors into their chips which allow devices to be hacked into by the state. Consumer electronics could also be at risk, he added.

Mrs May has pledged to stand up to overseas predators. However, no objections were raised when British tech giant ARM Holdings was sold to the Japanese, and Chinese involvement in the Hinkley Point nuclear power station was allowed to proceed as planned after a short pause. Dr Hemmings said it was as if George Osborne  who wooed the Chinese while Chancellor  was still in power. Osborne has gone, but its as if his ghost was still at the wheel of the ship, he said.

We need trained lawyers and civil servants to really have time to look into these deals and to make sure were not selling the future of defence.

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, a former business secretary, said the government has done nothing to put in place a more satisfactory regime for corporate takeovers.

Labour MP Wes Streeting, a member of the Treasury select committee, said: Its something the Government ought to take a close interest in. A spokesman for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said it could not comment on the commercially sensitive case. Imagination could not be reached for comment.
A university has banned a study on transgender people who regret changing sex, calling it politically incorrect.

Bath Spa University blocked the project because it feared a backlash on the internet could damage its reputation.

Psychotherapist James Caspian had wanted to examine cases of people who had surgery to reverse gender reassignment. But the proposal was rejected by the universitys ethics sub-committee on the grounds that it could come across as transphobic.

Mr Caspian, 58, accused the institution of failing to uphold the most basic tenets of academic and intellectual freedom of inquiry.

Bath Spa University (pictured) blocked the project because it feared a backlash on the internet could damage its reputation

In the rejection letter, the university told him: Engaging in a potentially politically incorrect piece of research carries a risk to the university.

Attacks on social media may not be confined to the researcher but may involve the university. The posting of unpleasant material on blogs or social media may be detrimental to the reputation of the university.

The project would have counted towards Mr Caspians masters degree in counselling and psychotherapy. He has 16 years experience as a counsellor.

Although it was initially given the go-ahead by Bath Spa, it was rejected after Mr Caspian amended his proposal in a bid to find more people to participate in the study.

Mr Caspian had wanted to post a request on an online trans forum for people working in the field.

He also asked if his study could include women who had transitioned to men and reverted to living as women without reversing their surgery. But both requests were denied.

Mr Caspian said: Its ridiculous. Im in my late fifties, Im an expert in my field and Im not even on social media. Im not frightened at all. Asking questions is not a hate crime.

Speaking to The Times, he added: Where would stand the reputation of a university that cannot follow the most basic tenets of academic and intellectual freedom of inquiry? Bath Spa University said it was unable to comment while Mr Caspians complaint was being investigated.

A private school headmistress no longer calls female pupils girls out of respect for trans students. Sally-Anne Huang, head of 17,265-a-year James Allens Girls School in South London, said: I try not to say girls, but when youve been teaching for 20 years its very hard. Instead, she uses the term pupils and the pronoun they.
Australia is set to shoot for the stars as it establishes its own national space agency.

The announcement comes as the government aims to cash in on the $420 billion aeronautical industry and create thousands of jobs.

Acting Science Minister Michaelia Cash said it was crucial Australia was part of the rapidly growing industry.

Australia has announced the establishment of its own national space agency (stock image)

Australian astronaut Andy Thomas called for Australia to set up its own space agency

A national space agency will ensure we have a strategic long-term plan that supports the development and application of space technologies and grows our domestic space industry,' she said.

The agency will be the anchor for our domestic coordination and the front door for our international engagement.

The announcement comes after calls from the International Astronautical Federation and Australian astronaut Andy Thomas for the country to start its own space agency.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham speaks at the International Astronautical Federation conference in Adelaide

Mr Thomas was in attendance at the IAF conference being held in Adelaide, South Australia

The International Astronautical Federation is currently holding its annual conference in Adelaide, South Australia.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham spoke to the conference regarding the new agency, while Mr Thomas was in attendance.

Almost 200 written submissions on the new agency have been received by a reference group, while more than 400 people have been consulted across Australia.

Acting Science Minister Michaelia Cash said it was crucial Australia was part of the rapidly growing industry (stock image)

The reference group, chaired by former Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation head Dr Megan Clark, will now turn its attention to a charter for the national space agency.

A broader strategy is expected by the end of March.
The detailed flower - just under 6in high- is one of only 80 surviving pieces in the world and could be valued above 1million

For months its history was a closely guarded secret, known only to the programmes top producers.

But now one of the Antiques Roadshows most valuable items ever has been revealed - as a delicate 1million Faberge flower owned by a British army regiment.

The detailed flower - just under 6in high- is one of only 80 surviving pieces in the world.

In June, it was taken to a BBC filming event near Birmingham by two British soldiers.

Simon Shaw, the shows executive producer, described it as one of the most significant jewellery finds in 40 years of the programmes history with suggestions it may be worth more than 1 million.

It features a delicate pear blossom sprig sat in a crystal vase, with QOWH South Africa 1900 engraved across it.

Ahead of the shows anniversary special, the BBC has been tight-lipped about the find.

But after rumours of the piece circulated around the art world, its origins were finally revealed by a Faberge expert.

Tatiana Faberge (left) the Swiss based great-granddaughter of Faberge founder Peter, said the piece was a gift from an aristocrat to a British army regiment.

Tatiana Faberge, the Swiss based great-granddaughter of Faberge founder Peter, said the piece was a gift from an aristocrat to a British army regiment.

She said: In the book Faberge Flowers there is the exact same flower which is in the Queens Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry Charitable Trust.

She said it was part of a botanical study created by Faberge in Imperial Russia.

Society aristocrat Georgina Ward, Countess of Dudley, presented the flower to the Queens Own Worcestershire Hussars (QOWH) in the early 1900s.

Reed Swezey's Faberge Flowers

It was intended to be a regimental trophy for their service in the Boer War, and has stayed in the Army ever since.

In 1956, the regiment was amalgamated with the Warwickshire Yeomanry to form the Queens Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry.

The countess was a close friend of Queen Alexandra - the wife of Edward VII.

Her late husband had been the regiments commanding officer, and she was known for giving sprigs of pear blossom to the soldiers for good luck.

A spokesman for Faberge said: Only about 80 of Faberges botanical studies are known to have survived.

They are among the most beautiful objects produced by the company.

We can reveal more about the piece taken to the Antiques Roadshow.

Its engraved gold stem is placed in a rock crystal vase, carved so it appears to be half full of water.

The six flowers of blossom are gold with white enamel and shades of pale pink.

Their stamens are oxidised silver with a diamond at the centre, while the leaves are carved nephrite.

The episode featuring the flower is due to be screened this autumn.
Opinion / Columnist

Karanga people are clever. Korekore people are uneducated. All Ndebeles want to do is drink, burn meat over fire and dance, if they are not stabbing people. Manyika people learn a few English words and think they know every word in the Oxford Dictionary. And that's not my handwriting.My sheltered childhoodTelevision shows that contain sexual scenes, violence and profanity come with a warning and almost every parent I know endeavours to shield their children from Hollywood's corrupting influence. Growing up, I remember whenever a love scene came on during Dallas or Dynasty, my parents would say "chiindai munovata!" which is Karanga for "go to bed". What they didn't know is that I had seen blue movies on VHS at a friend's house so if my mind was corrupted, it wasn't by JR and Sue Ellen kissing. Children are literally blank VHS cassettes that will record everything in their environment. But nobody ever thinks to protect their children from exposure to the bigotry of their parents.Karanga superiority"Korekore people are uneducated. All Ndebeles want to do is drink, burn meat over fire and dance. Manyika people learn a few English words and think they know every word in the Oxford Dictionary."If I had a gobstopper for every time I had those tribal slurs in my childhood, I probably would have lost all my teeth from tooth decay.The history of Karanga arroganceI am Karanga. I grew up believing in the myth of Karanga superiority. This is a notion that firmly set its roots in all of Karangaland. The Karanga intellectual superiority myth can be traced back to the arrival of the European settlers, who established a settlement at a place they named Fort Victoria, after the British monarch. Following colonisation, black men from the surrounding areas were the first to serve as policemen. I assume that this would have felt like the revenge of the nerds, because Gutu and Masvingo were closest to the Ndebele Empire. They must have been on the sharp end of Lobengula's spear quite often. Suddenly these relatively docile people had power in the form of constabulary whistles, handcuffs and truncheons. It must have warmed the Karanga hearts to know that their land had been named after the Queen, because countrywide we became known as "MaVhitori. We felt like little princes and princesses, as if we had, by osmosis, become relatives of the monarch.The Karanga would later enhance these notions of superiority when the Dutch Reformed Church printed the first Bible in vernacular, using - what else - ChiKaranga. To this day, Karanga people believe all Shona culture to be "ChiKaranga". Perhaps the descendents of Rhodes were fond of their learned subjects, because it was again rural Masvingo where the colonists first laid a tarred road into the tribal trust lands. The result was decades of bragging"by Karangas - Masvingo netara (Masvingo by tarred road, we boasted). Eventually, the tarred roads arrived in other parts of Zimbabwe, rendering the line "Masvingo netara" meaningless. But Karangas are a brainy, learned bunch and we weren't about to let go off our status as the prime province. If the Korekores were going to have Hurungwe netara, we would have to upgrade to Masvingo neCarpet (Masvingo via the carpeted highway). Even though the motorway that stretched from Beatrice to Mupandawana was, like roads everywhere else in the country, an amalgam of bitumen, gravel and concrete, ours was to be known as a carpet. The reign of the Karangas continued - in our deluded heads, at least.Whenever anyone pointed out that the President is from Zvimba, we natives of Masvingo would not hesitate to remind them that the entire country is named after our stone monument - the ruins of Great Zimbabwe.Revenge of the inferior tribesBut throughout August, the tribes that we Karangas believe to be inferior finally had their revenge. Facebook has burned, without let up, like the Pomona dumpsite fire, with jokes, memes and the most irreverent mockery of people from Gutu and Masvingo provinces. Personally, I have been both tickled and impressed by Zimbabwean creativity, even though the blood in my veins is Karanga. But while I chuckled from behind my computer screen, some of my Vhitori kith and kin were unimpressed. The most notable outrage came in the form of a tirade captured on the video below.Angry Karanga womanWhat stands out of course is the first punch my angry Karanga homegirl threw: vanhu vasina kudzidza! (Uneducated hoi polloi). That line made me smile. Not because I agree with her, but because it is a familiar refrain, one which I grew up with. The cherry on top was her blaming Zezuru people (read Robert Mugabe) for the collapse of Zimbabwe's economy which has resulted in millions of Zimbabweans who now live "all over."Zodwa rescues MasvingoMercifully, the blitz on Karangas ended when the fickle minds of Facebook found other things to fritter away their irrecoverable time. First came Grace Mugabe's violent attack on Gabriella Engels - a woman she found in the hotel room of her two sons, Chatunga and Robert Junior. Following Grace' electric cord attack came Zodwa's knickers. And the Karanga people of Masvingo were delighted to take cover under her micro skirt.How I overcame tribalismIs any Zimbabwean tribe more superior to others? Time and lots of bath water have enabled me to wash off the prejudices that were poured over my fontanel from the moment the doctor smacked me on my butt. I have lived in different parts of the country, made friends with people whose dialects differ from my own. My lengthy bachelorhood and living in Harare - which like most capital cities is a cultural melting pot - enabled me to date women from different backgrounds. Although Ndebele women generally make cook tastier mopani worms, I can't say I found Karangas to be better kissers than Ndebeles. With the lights dimmed and the Marvin Gaye CD rotating, Karanga, Korekore, Matebele and Zezuru lips possess the same texture and taste. I have sipped a few cold ones and played darts with Ndebele friends. I'm pleased to report that, in spite of the Matebele blood thirst myth, none of them ever attempted to spear me with their darts. And confession; I used to copy maths homework from my Korekore classmate - so much for Mashonaland West daftness.How Africa was conqueredWhen the Europeans first coveted Africa, our downfall was not their superior firepower. Karangas didn't care if Ndebeles were slaughtered by the British South Africa Police. The Korekores were probably lolling on the grass, herding cattle or whatever they did every day, unconcerned about the seizure of Zezuru territory. It was neither the Bible nor the gun that conquered Africa. It was tribalism. It's time to see beyond accents, beyond the geographical location of the grass huts to which the oppressive Rhodesian government confined our ancestors.My pen is capped
Critics have accused Wiltshire Police of denigrating Sir Edwards reputation by launching a witch-hunt against him

The police chief in charge of the Sir Edward Heath sexual abuse investigation is facing growing pressure to publicly apologise for launching the inquiry outside the dead prime ministers house.

Mike Veale, Wiltshire Polices chief constable, is thought to have privately admitted it was a mistake to appeal for victims outside his home.

The stunt at the Grade II-listed home in Salisbury led to dozens of child sex abuse allegations being made against the former prime minister and sparked a two-year police inquiry costing 1.5million.

Critics have accused Wiltshire Police of denigrating Sir Edwards reputation by launching a witch-hunt against him.

Mr Veale is understood to be considering whether to include an apology in a summary report of the investigation which will be published on October 5  the day after the Tory party conference ends.

He may choose instead to accept the mistake at a press conference when the report will be released.

The appeal for victims was made by Superintendent in August 2015, two months after Mr Veale was appointed the forces chief constable.

Mike Veale, Wiltshire Polices chief constable, is thought to have privately admitted it was a mistake to appeal for victims outside his home

As a result, about 40 people made child sex abuse claims against Sir Edward, who died in 2005.

Mr Veales report will say seven of the alleged victims are credible and describe the same pattern of behaviour by their abuser, according to Whitehall sources.

The report will say testimonies by around a dozen more victims cannot be relied on because they may have been damaged by their experiences.

A further dozen involve so-called third party allegations, where people have come forward to describe the alleged abuse of others. A number of claims have been dismissed as bogus or fantasy.

Among the evidence examined by Wiltshire Police was that of the witness known as Nick, whose false claims of a VIP paedophile ring at Westminster sparked a major Scotland Yard inquiry.

The Crown Prosecution Service is deciding whether Nick should be prosecuted for fraud and perverting the course of justice.

Lincoln Seligman, Sir Edwards godson, said it was time Mr Veale made a public apology for the appeal.

The stunt at the Grade II-listed home in Salisbury led to dozens of child sex abuse allegations being made against the former prime minister (pictured in his Albany flat) and sparked a two-year police inquiry costing 1.5million

That appeal invited a torrent of allegations which was bound to happen, he told The Sunday Telegraph. It was a terrible way of besmirching his reputation without any evidence.

It was irresponsible and cowardly given Sir Edward was dead and could not defend himself. The appeal was based on minimal information that turned out to be untrue.

The appeal, which led to the launch of Operation Conifer, was in response to a claim that a previous allegation of child abuse involving the former prime minister had been hushed up.

That claim was investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and shown to be unsubstantiated.

By the time the IPCC showed there was no cover up, Wiltshire Police was already nine months into its own inquiry.

Mr Veale has also been criticised for being in personal email contact with a campaigner who was jailed for harassing people he falsely accused of paedophilia.

Sir Timothy Kitson, who knew Sir Edward (pictured) for 35 years and was his parliamentary private secretary during his time in Downing Street from 1970 to 1974, said he had not been questioned by the police

The police chief emailed Robert Green, of Warrington, two weeks ago in response to an email Green had sent him. Mr Veale wrote: As ever thank you Robert.

The words suggest the pair had communicated previously and will cast fresh doubt on the evidence that Wiltshire Police has gathered.

Green is an activist closely involved with fraudulent allegations in the so-called Hollie Greig case, in which claims that a Downs syndrome girl had been abused in Scotland were found to be false. He was jailed for 12 months in 2012 for harassment.

Lord Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions, said: It seems strange that, during a live sex-crime investigation, the chief constable is communicating with someone who has previously been jailed for making false sex-crime allegations against people.

Other witnesses interviewed by Wiltshire police include those who believe in Satanic ritual abuse, a convicted sex offender and internet conspiracy theorists  but officers have not spoken to one of Heaths closest aides.

Sir Timothy Kitson, who knew Sir Edward for 35 years and was his parliamentary private secretary during his time in Downing Street from 1970 to 1974, said he had not been questioned by the police.

Wiltshire Police declined to comment on the claim that Mr Veale had admitted privately the appeal outside the house was an error.

A spokesman said: As a result of the announcement by the IPCC naming Sir Edward Heath, Wiltshire Police made an appeal to the public for any information. As a result of the appeal a number of people came forward with information.

Chief Constable Veale or a member of his team have responded to most if not all of the questions or concerns from the public when it is appropriate to do so.
Fears that illegal migrants are finding a new route to Britain have been borne out by new figures yesterday.

Officials said 1,251 had been caught trying to board ferries from Bilbao in northern Spain to Portsmouth in the first eight months of this year.

That compares to 436 in the whole of 2016.

Brittany Ferries, which runs the ferry route, has called on port security in Spain to be tightened to stop offenders repeatedly trying to board ships.

Brittany Ferries, which runs the ferry route, has called on port security in Spain to be tightened to stop offenders repeatedly trying to board ships

A company spokesman said most of those involved are young, male Albanians who are 'well-organised' and repeatedly target the port's perimeter in Bilbao.

An increasing number of migrants are taking the short route from northern Africa to southern Spain and then working their way north. Others are avoiding northern French ports as security is harder there.

Portsmouth City Council is looking after more than 40 asylum-seeking teenage boys who arrived unaccompanied.

There are two Brittany sailings each way each week between Portsmouth and Bilbao and the company also runs freight services between Bilbao and Poole.

Brittany Ferries revealed 99 detentions have also been made in Bilbao, Portsmouth or Poole, in the first two weeks of this month.

The spokesman added: 'Bilbao remains an attractive target for criminal gangs.

'In neighbouring Santander, those who repeatedly target port facilities are sent to a detention centre near Madrid before being deported.

'In Bilbao, a port infraction is treated as a civil misdemeanour and offenders are simply released to try again.'

According to Brittany Ferries, most offenders try to get into a sealed container or trailer before it boards a ship, rather than trying to get on to a ferry indirectly.

People may target routes into Bilbao where drivers stop and they then try to jump into the back.

Curtain-sided vehicles - with tarpaulin sides - are easier to get into and people can slash the covers with a knife to get inside.

The Road Haulage Association has previously advised members not to stop too close to ferry ports in France and Spain.

Officials said 1,251 had been caught trying to board ferries from Bilbao in northern Spain to Portsmouth (pictured) in the first eight months of this year

If stowaways are discovered upon arrival in the UK, gas detectors are usually used to identify high levels of carbon dioxide inside a trailer, indicating that there may be a person inside.

Last month Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that a major factor in the increase in detainments was the dismantling of the so-called 'Calais Jungle', where many foreign nationals had set up camp.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'Working with our law enforcement partners at home and abroad we use intelligence to keep our borders secure.

'We have also invested in new detection technology and are working with port operators to improve the controlling, screening and processing of unauthorised arrivals.'

Portsmouth City Council leader Councillor Donna Jones said: 'We are very grateful for the efforts made by Brittany Ferries and Border Force to tighten security around ports to ensure people are not entering the UK illegally.

'The council has the responsibility to look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children so any entering the country illegally, without a genuine need for asylum, place an additional burden on our already limited financial resource.'
Dr Justin Welby (pictured) has conducted the wedding of a divorcee in a sign of support for those who wish to remarry in church

The Archbishop of Canterbury has conducted the wedding of a divorcee in a sign of support for those who wish to remarry in church.

Dr Justin Welby presided over the ceremony at Lambeth Palace where one of his senior staff, Ailsa Anderson, married journalist Simon Cole.

Miss Anderson, Dr Welby's head of media relations and former press secretary to the Queen, is believed to be the first divorcee to be married by an archbishop of Canterbury in recent times.

Church of England rules state that remarriage of a divorcee whose former spouse is still living is 'exceptional'. It insists divorcees are asked a series of questions designed to ensure their previous marriage has been fully resolved and 'past hurts' have been healed.

The wedding comes 12 years after Dr Welby's predecessor Rowan Williams refused to let Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles marry in church because of their adulterous history, and because her ex-husband was living. Charles's future role as Supreme Governor of the Church was also considered a factor.

Instead, they had a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall and a prayer service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Miss Anderson's wedding did not go entirely smoothly, as Dr Welby momentarily lost the bride's ring. 'We looked around for a little while, and saw it had rolled under a chair,' she told the Sunday Telegraph.

But the archbishop's involvement  his first wedding since his daughter's in 2014  is a symbolic gesture. His parents divorced when he was three and in a sermon last year he said it is 'important to remember the golden age mythology of stable Victorian values was just that, mythology'.

It is estimated divorcees remarrying account for as many as one in ten church weddings.

Dr Justin Welby presided over the ceremony at Lambeth Palace in London (pictured)

CofE guidance states: 'The Church accepts that in exceptional circumstances a divorced person may marry again in church during the lifetime of a former spouse.' But it warns clergy may refuse to officiate 'on grounds of conscience' and divorcees will face questions about their past.

The Rev Gavin Ashenden, a former chaplain to the Queen, said the wedding showed 'the moment you make a concession to progressive opinion, you can find yourself being pushed into radical change'.
More than 35,000 people have fled the largest volcano on the Indonesian island of Bali, fearing it will erupt for the first time in more than half a century.

A natural disaster has been declared in parts of Bali as authorities imposed an exclusion zone around Mount Agung following increasing volcanic activity on Sunday.

Strong tremors rippled through areas in the eastern part of the one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, packed with Australian families enjoying the school holidays, sparking authorities to order people to leave a 12 kilometre (8 mile) zone around the mountain.

The numbers from disaster officials on Sunday are more than double previous estimates and are continuing to rise, they say.

It includes people who left voluntarily as well as those told to evacuate from the exclusion zone as increasing tremors rattle the region.

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More than 35,000 people have fled a menacing volcano on the Indonesian island of Bali

Authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Friday following a 'tremendous increase' in seismic activity. Its last eruption in 1963 killed 1,100 people.

Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, a senior Cabinet minister, said Sunday that the districts surrounding the volcano 'must be prepared for the worst.'

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency has praised the welcoming response of local communities on Bali to the flood of evacuees.

The agency has sent food and logistical supplies to the area, while also calling for public donations.

Thousands are living in temporary shelters, sport centers, village halls and with relatives or friends. Some return to the danger zone during the day to tend to livestock.

Thousands are living in temporary shelters, sport centers, village halls. Above, evacuees in a temporary shelter

Children play in an evacuation shelter after authorities raised the volcano's alert status to the highest level on Friday

Some evacuees return to the danger zone around the volcano in the day to tend to livestock

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency has praised the welcoming response of local communities on Bali to the flood of evacuees

Authorities imposed the exclusion zone around the crater as increasing volcanic activity on Sunday sent strong tremors through areas in the eastern part of the island

The last eruption of Mount Agung (pictured) at Klungkung in Bali, in 1963 killed 1,100 people

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 14 tons of aid has been sent, including tents, blankets, mattresses and portable communications equipment.

Truck driver Wayan Suparta said he and his family left their village 5 kilometres (3 miles) from the mountain several days ago, bringing just clothes and blankets to a temporary camp in Rendang.

The 35-year-old said he sold the family's cow because they don't know when they'll be able to return.

Officials have said there is no current danger to people in other parts of Bali, a popular tourist island famous for its surfing, beaches and elegant Hindu culture.

Hoaxes have proliferated online, with videos of previous eruptions in Indonesia circulated as current events at Mount Agung.

Officials urged the public to remain calm amid false reports and videos circulating online of an eruption.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency has sent food and logistical supplies to the area, while also calling for public donations

Women and children are seen taking refuge in an evacuation shelter after authorities imposed an exclusion zone around the volcano

'The latest analysis indicates that Mount Agung's seismic energy is increasing and has the potential to erupt,' the National Vulcanology Center said in a statement.

'However, no one can predict exactly when there will be an eruption,' it added.

Flights at Bali's international airport were operating normally on Sunday as were tourist spots across the rest of the island.

Meanwhile, Australian flights to Bali continued as scheduled on Sunday.

Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas flights to Denpasar International Airport remained unaffected but the airlines said they were monitoring warnings.

Virgin Australia warned of possible flight delays and said some Bali bound flights would be making fuel stops in Darwin as a precautionary measure.

'This ensures that if an eruption occurs while the aircraft is en route, we will be able to get guests back to their originating port safely and quickly,' the airline said in a statement.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 14 tons of aid has been sent, including tents, blankets, mattresses and portable communications equipment

Indonesia, made up of thousands of islands, is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'

All Jetstar flights were operating as scheduled and passengers would be notified individually if changes occurred, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

'Our pilots and meteorologists will continue to monitor the latest information from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre,' the statement said.

Qantas flights were also operating as scheduled, a spokeswoman told AAP on Sunday.

The government's Smart Traveller website urges visitors to monitor local media reports and follow instructions of local authorities.

Australians are also advised to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia and to contact their tour operators to confirm travel plans.

In 1963, the 3,031-meter (9,944-foot) Agung hurled ash as high as 20 kilometres (12 miles), according to volcanologists, and remained active for about a year.

Lava traveled 7.5 kilometres (4.7 miles) and ash reached Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) away.

The mountain, 72 kilometres (45 miles) to the northeast of the tourist hotspot of Kuta, is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia.

The country of thousands of islands is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
A police chief has hit out at spending cuts to the force. Chief constable Jon Boutcher claims cuts have left him without enough officers to respond to 999 emergency calls

A chief constable has hit out at spending cuts to the police force's budget admitting 'we cannot keep people safe anymore'.

Bedfordshire chief constable Jon Boutcher claims the cuts have left him without enough officers to respond to 999 emergency calls.

The top cop said: 'We do not have the resources to keep residents safe. My officers cannot cope with the demand and no-one seems to be listening.'

Speaking to a local newspaper he said: 'The position is a scandal. At some point officials have got to sit up and take notice before something happens.'

Mr Boutcher said the number of 999 calls in the country had risen 18 per cent in the past two years, while non-emergency 101 calls were up a similar 15 per cent.

His Bedfordshire force is one of the smallest in the country but contains Luton - a town previously described as a 'hotbed of terrorism' - as well as the busy airport.

Mr Boutcher added: 'Officers are now attending 500 extra urgent calls a month compared to 12 months ago - 20 of which are to trace looked-after children who are at risk of exploitation by gangs or paedophiles.

'I do not have enough offices to keep those children safe or protect vulnerable people.'

Adding: 'My officers cannot cope with the demand and no-one seems to be listening. Something is going to give. Things cannot go on as they are. My officers are exhausted.'

The chief constable, claimed the Government is refusing to properly fund the police, hindering their ability to keep people safe.

He said: 'Every force is struggling but out of the 43 forces, Bedfordshire Police is getting the worst end of the stick.

'I have written to three police ministers now and evidenced the lack of funding for Bedfordshire and met with each one. We do not have the resources to keep out residents safe. I have the greatest concerns about the safety of Bedfordshire.'

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary gave the Bedfordshire force the worst rating in the country after the last inspection this March.

His Bedfordshire force is one of the smallest in the country but contains Luton - a town previously described as a 'hotbed of terrorism' - as well as the busy airport. A report recently deemed Bedfordshire's police provisions 'inadequate'

The report identified some 'systemic failings', and questioned Bedfordshire Police's ability 'to protect some of the most vulnerable children and young people'.

While the force's overall level was deemed 'inadequate', which constituted a drop from the previous year's assessment of 'good'.

But Mr Boutcher defended his force from the criticism, adding: 'Every year I write and tell them the challenges we are facing with regard to funding.

'Every time they simply criticise us for our lack of resources and tell us to focus our resources in the areas if high demand.

'I can't tell you why they aren't listening. I can only assume it is political.'
Angela Merkel may have won a fourth term as Germany's Chancellor, but she was a weakened and hobbled figure on Sunday night as the election results rolled in.

Her first task will be to form a new government as her former partners the SPD announced they were retiring from coalition having received a drubbing at the polls.

Mrs Merkel, whose own CDU party also lost vote share but remained the single largest party, will now likely have to forge a messy three-way arrangement with the liberal FDP and Greens.

Angela Merkel will remain German Chancellor but will likely be forced into a messy three-way coalition after her former partners, the SPD, announced they will not be returning

Christian Lindner, leader of the FDP party which made gains at the election, is now in the position of king-maker alongside the Greens

Voters flocked away from the CDU and SPD, which have dominated German politics since the Second World War, and towards fringe parties such as the AfD and FDP

The Chancellor has already vowed not to work with the far-right AfD, who are now the second largest party in German politics after the SPD.

The CDU earned 32.5 per cent of the vote on Sunday, far short of the 40 per cent they had been hoping for and markedly less than the 37 per cent that late polls suggested they could expect.

Meanwhile the SPD garnered just 20 per cent, their lowest standing since the Second World War in what was dubbed a 'difficult and bitter day' by party leader Martin Schulz.

Between them, those two parties have dominated German politics since the fall of the Third Reich - but voters deserted them in their millions, instead flocking to fringe politicians and parties.

Martin Schulz, leader of the SPD, said Mrs Merkel's decision to let in millions of migrants had divided the country and caused a voter backlash

An anti-Merkel protester in Berlin holds a sign reading 'not my mother' in reference to the Chancellor's nickname of 'Mutti Merkel'

The largest gainer was the AfD, which is now guaranteed seats in the Bundestag for the first time ever, marking the first time in 60 years that a far-right party has held such power in Germany.

Meanwhile the left-leaning FDP and Greens, also outside candidates, gained in voter share as the loss of faith in traditional parties crossed the political aisle.

The Greens immediately sought to set out their stall in the new balance of powers, accusing the AfD of being 'Nazis' back in government.

That sentiment was echoed by thousands of protesters who took to the streets of Berlin and Frankfurt as news of the AfD's success rolled in.

Marchers chanted slogans about 'Nazi pigs' while carrying banners denouncing the party and throwing middle-finger gestures in a display of raw emotion.

The party's rise came as voters chose to punish Mrs Merkel's decision to allow millions of migrants into the country over the last two years.

Mrs Merkel has already ruled out working wit the far-right AfD (pictured, candidate Bjoern Hoecke), who are now Germany's second-largest party after the SPD
A man charged with blowing up a van packed with gas cylinders outside the Canberra headquarters of the Australia Christian Lobby has committed suicide.

Jaden Duong, 36, had been accused of loading the van with four bottles and ramming the offices of the anti-gay marriage group in December 2016.

Officers were reportedly called to the scene of his 'non-suspicious' death around 4.30pm Sunday, the Canberra Times reports.

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Jaden Duoing (pictured), who was charged with attempting to blow up the Canberra headquarters of the Australia Christian Lobby, has committed suicide

The 36-year-old had been accused of loading up a van (pictured) with gas bottles and ramming the offices of the anti-gay marriage group in December 2016

In a statement ACT Policing said investigations are ongoing, with a report to be prepared for the coroner.

Mr Duong was charged in April after allegedly driving a white van into the Australian Christian Lobby's Eternity House building, near Parliament House.

The van had been loaded with four gas cylinders and was set on fire by the then 35-year-old, with the resulting explosion causing almost $100,000 in damage.

Mr Duong suffered severe burns in the incident and walked to Canberra Hospital, around five kilometres away, where he was questioned by police and treated.

Officers were reportedly called to the scene of the alleged gay supporter's 'non-suspicious' death around 4.30pm Sunday

The van (pictured) was packed with gas cylinders and was set on fire by the then 35-year-old and caused almost $100,000 in damage

In court in August he plead not guilty to arson and property damage, instead claiming mental impairment.

'This event compounds that this has always been a mental health issue - and nothing more that that,' Mr Duong's lawyer told Fairfax on Monday.

Documents tendered to court reportedly showed Mr Duong had told police after the incident that it had been a 'suicide attempt'.

However, at a media conference following the explosion officers said it was not known if the man's actions were 'politically, religiously or ideologically motivated'.

The burnt out van caused significant damage to the front of the Lobby's offices, with petrol and shattered glass littering the pavement outside.

Director Lyle Shelton (pictured) said security had recently been heightened at the offices prior as the group had received death threats

At the time Mr Shelton (pictured inspecting the damage) said they could not speculate on the motives, but said they 'never thought we would have our office bombed'

There were no members of the group inside the building at the time of the attack, but director Lyle Shelton said security had been heightened after death threats were received.

'We can't speculate as to the motives but it would appear that someone didn't like what we have been saying in the public square,' Mr Shelton said.

'We have received death threats for our advocacy [against legalising same-sex marriage] over the course of this year.'

'We have upgraded security at the office but we never thought we would have our office bombed,' he added.

Mr Shelton also tweeted two pictures of the van writing: 'A vehicle has rammed our office in Canberra and exploded. All staff are safe. I do not know the condition of the driver. Prayers appreciated.'

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

The concrete outside the conservative group's office was scorched and the windows were blown out in the attack, which police were told was a 'suicide attempt' by Mr Duong
A customer who bought a can of rotten sliced Golden Circle pineapple was left stunned when he received an apology with a gift card for less than he paid for the fruit.

Stay-at-home dad Paul said he had received 'the rough end of the pineapple' from Golden Circle's parent company Kraft Heinz when they sent him a $5 Coles voucher for the spoilt slices - which cost $6.38.

'Thank you for taking the time to contact us about your experience with our Golden Circle Unsweetened Pineapple thins,' a Kraft Heinz consumer services team member wrote.

'The trouble you have taken in contacting us is very much appreciated and as a result of your report our technical and production staff have been advised of this incident.

Paul described the fruit (pictured) he found inside the can of Golden Circle unsweetened pineapple he bought from a Coles supermarket in Melbourne as 'putrid', 'rancid' and 'rotten'

Father-of-two Paul (pictured) said he understood mistakes could be made in food canning but he was flabbergasted to be offered $5 as reimbursement for a product which cost $6.38

Kraft Heinz, the parent company of the once Australian-owned Golden Circle, wrote to Paul to apologise for his experience buying a can of their unsweetened sliced pineapple 'thins'

'Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. We are concerned that you were dissatisfied with our product and, as a gesture of goodwill, we have enclosed reimbursement for your purchase.

'We trust your confidence in the quality of our products has not been affected.'

Paul bought the 825 gram can of Golden Circle sliced pineapple at Richmond in Melbourne's inner-city late last month and realised the fruit had gone off when he opened it.

The 47-year-old said the slices were 'putrid', 'rancid' and 'rotten'.

He contacted Kraft Heinz via Messenger then was directed to a call centre in New Zealand which was closed. After four more phone calls over several days Peter heard nothing more for a month.

Then last week the letter and gift card arrived.

'It's fair to say I've been given the rough end of the pineapple by Heinz regarding their lousy offer of "reimbursement",' Paul told Daily Mail Australia.

'I'd like to say to Heinz: fair suck of the sauce bottle.'

The father-of-two felt nostalgia for the Golden Circle brand because his mother had worked at the company's Northgate cannery in Brisbane and he had visited there on school excursions.

Golden Circle's parent company Kraft Heinz sent Paul a $5 gift card to reimburse him for buying a $6.38 can of spoilt sliced pineapple from a Coles supermarket in Melbourne

An 825g can of Golden Circle's Australian pineapple thins, for which Paul received a $5 gift card from Kraft Heinz because the one he bought was spoilt, can be bought at Coles for $6.38

'I'll still buy Golden Circle because I'm a Brisbane boy and I appreciate the cannery's social and commercial heritage,' he said.

'And my kids are crazy for ham and pineapple pizza and those "thins" are perfect for that.

'I understand mistakes happen and things go wrong.

'I was happy to get the letter but I was flabbergasted at the tight-a**ed offer. It's less than what the product actually cost and then it probably took up a couple of hours of my time.

'I'm firmly tongue-in-cheek with all of this but sometimes when businesses get so big they lose common sense.'

Golden Circle began canning fruit in Queensland in 1947, was bought by Kraft Heinz in 2008 and now produces 150,000 tonnes of pineapple, fruit juices and cordials per year.

Kraft Heinz has been contacted for comment.
Australians have been left outraged after it was announced 70 children of ISIS fighters could be returning to the country as the terror organisation begins to disintegrate.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan told Fairfax the children would be given counselling and welfare, and their transitions would be closely monitored, but for many it was not enough to allay their fears.

'These foreign trained little f***ers are going to be so lethal, the politicians are putting our children at risk' one woman said on Facebook.

Others shared concerns that the move would only encourage more people to go overseas, as their children could be protected.

Children of dead ISIS fighters could return to Australia and be resettled with welfare, outraging Australians who say it is a dangerous move

It is currently understood that 110 Australians are still in Syria and Iraq fighting for IS. At least 65 people have lost their lives fighting alongside the terrorist group

Former Israeli Defence Force member Avi Yemini said decision makers needed to stop 'thinking with your bleeding heart instead of your brain'.

'It is outrageous to bring them here,' he said.

Avi Yemeni, who fought in the IDF, said paying for the children of foreign fighters to return to normal life would only encourage them

'To put Aussies, everyday Aussies, hard working Australians, people who care about our country and way of life, in danger, because you're thinking with your bleeding heart instead of your common-sense brain.'

Mr Yemini said setting a precedent of welcoming back the children of foreign fighters could also encourage others to travel overseas.

Some social media users questioned where the money would come from to rehabilitate and fund the return of the children, and why it wasn't being spent on regular Australians who were struggling.

Mr Keenan said each child who returns will be individually case-managed and will receive an education.

They will also be offered anonymity to distance themselves from the terror organisation.

By law anyone who is born overseas and has at least one Australian parent is allowed to apply for citizenship - a notion that may be taken up on among the 70 children returning.

There are believed to be about 110 Australians in Syria and Iraq fighting for ISIS. At least 65 Australians have died fighting with the Islamic terrorist group.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan said that each child will be case-managed and the states will be working together to ensure they have access to an education

Khaled Sharrouf, who fled overseas to Syria from Sydney with his wife and children, is believed to still have at least three children still in Syria.

A picture taken of one of his children in 2014 shows his seven-year-old son holding up a severed head, and others show the children in military uniform holding guns.

Many Australians were particularly concerned that the three remaining children would be able to return to Australia after multiple years in Syria.

Levi West, a lecturer in terrorism and national security at Charles Sturt University, has previously opened up to the ABC about the threat children raised around ISIS may pose.

'At what age do we assess the children to be too much of a risk, given that they may have been exposed to and substantially influenced by - if not committed to - an ideological framework that is going to cause an enormous problem when we bring them back here,' he said.

In 2014, the seven-year-old son of Khaled Sharrouf was pictured holding a severed head after the family left Sydney to fight alongside ISIS in Syria

Khaled Sharrouf and his family fled to Syria from Sydney. It is believed three of his five children are still alive

But there are others, like UNICEF Australia's director of policy and advocacy Amy Lamoin, who say Australians should look at them first and foremost as children before they are considered a threat.

If the children were to return, it is not immediately clear how that would be facilitated.

When previously questioned by Daily Mail Australia about the future of Khaled Sharrouf's children, a spokesperson from the Department of the Attorney General said the Government 'cannot facilitate safe passage out of conflict zones'.

'We know some Australian foreign fighters have taken their families into the conflict zones and exposed them to the barbaric practices of Islamic State,' they said.

'Should any children return to Australia, our agencies will first and foremost identify and mitigate any potential security risks in order to protect our communities. This will be carefully managed by our agencies.

'Our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited in Iraq and non-existent in Syria, both of which are do-not-travel destinations in DFAT travel advice.'
Experts have questioned claims that phone numbers targeted by unsolicited 'Vote Yes' texts over the weekend were 'randomly generated'.

Australian Marriage Equality said the messages were sent using a 'technology platform' which has been used by political parties in election campaigns for years, according to the ABC.

But mobile industry insiders have slammed the idea, with one claiming they had 'never heard of that product'.

Experts have questioned claims that phone numbers targeted by unsolicited 'Vote Yes' texts over the weekend were 'randomly generated'

The unsolicited message (pictured) was sent out randomly to people across the country on Saturday, asking them to 'vote YES for a fairer Australia'

It comes as thousands of phones across Australia were bombarded with texts Saturday encouraging them to 'Vote Yes' in the gay marriage postal survey.

The messages were sent by a user known as 'YesEquality' and told people the forms had arrived and that they could now 'help make history.'

But the move sparked outrage from people online, with many users calling it an invasion of their privacy and saying they felt 'violated'.

'Excuse me but did anyone else get a "vote yes for marriage equality" text message? How did they get my phone number? I feel violated,' one person wrote.

Australian Marriage Equality said the messages were sent using a 'technology platform' which has been used by political parties in election campaigns for years (stock image)

The move sparked outrage from those online, with many flocking to social media to express their concern and claim they felt 'violated' (pictured)

Experts told News.com.au that even if such a device did exist to generate the numbers randomly though, it would not have been 'cost-effective'.

'I dont know where theyve got their budget from but thats a very significant spend if theyve sent out millions of messages,' one person said.

'One of the reasons we dont get spam in Australia is not just because of the law but because its not cheap to send out.'

They also pointed out the volume of texts that had been sent claiming there had been 'quite high penetration'.

Alex Greenwich from the Equality Campaign said following the messages' distribution that they were 'using every resource available'.

'This weekend thousands of Australians volunteered to door knock in their local area because they want everyone to have the same dignity and respect,' he said.

Mobile industry insiders slammed the idea of the technology platform, with one claiming they had 'never heard of that product,' according to News.com.au

Alex Greenwich (pictured) from the Equality Campaign said following the messages' distribution that they had been 'using every resource available'

Dozens of outraged people took to social media when they received the text, concerned over how the organisation got their numbers

'The campaign has a responsibility to encourage every Australian to post their survey and we have done this through door knocking, media, advertising, social media and SMS messaging.

'It's so important to reach as many Australians as possible and remind them this is a vote about fairness and ensuring every Australian is equal under the law.'

While the Australian Consumer and Media Authority also released a statement on the messages, telling people they did not constitute 'spam'.

A spokesperson told News Limited that despite receiving hundreds of complaints an investigation would not be launched.

'Some Australians may be contacted by phone, email or SMS in relation to the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey,' their online statement read.

'If these calls, emails or SMSs are not commercialthat is they do not have a commercial purposethey are generally allowed.'

'Communications about political matters do not usually include a commercial element.'

The Australian Consumer and Media Authority also released a statement about the texts, telling people they were not commercial and therefore allowed

Experts also queried the cost of the messages and how widespread they were to be 'randomly generated'

Dozens of other people sent the message took to social media over the weekend, frustrated and concerned at the 'bullying' tactics.

'Not sure how the voteyes.org.au got my mobile number to text me with a message to vote yes. Not sure if I'm cool with that...' one person wrote.

Another angered social media user added: 'Wish the YES campaigners would back off!'

While one woman wrote: 'Just received a text message from the vote yes campaign... how dare they force their opinions on me.'

'I didn't give them my number or my permission to contact me. More bullying from the LGBTQI community,' she added.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Australian Marriage Equality for comment.
Opinion / Speeches

Speech delivered on the 24th September 2017 at the Zoo Lake in South Africa

On behalf of the 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement, a Movement that embraces all Mthwakazi citizens regardless of organizational affiliation, cultural and religious affiliation, l take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to Magoba for taking time to present my speech to you all on my behalf and on behalf of the Movement on this important Cultural Heritage Day gathering day in South Africa.I also express my deepest gratitude for your attendance and for your expression of unity and love for one another as Mthwakazi citizens on this day. Long may the spirit of sisterhood, brotherhood, love, unity and ubuntu continue!Bakwethu, we all know that Matebeleland/Mthwakazi is a Nation weaved of diverse histories, cultures, customs, beliefs and religions and that these cultures form a melting pot of peaceful co-existence as one people and one Nation.Our diversity is our strength and we must never allow external forces of destruction to use our diversity as a weakness. Our diversity makes our Nation rich and strong. It makes our Nation resolute.Because of our diversity, our Nation has been able to stand the test of time under very trying conditions up to this day.In our rich diversity, we have together weathered various ugly storms, cyclones and tsunamis as one people, one Nation and one Human Mthwakazi Movement on this planet.But today it is a Cultural Heritage Day here in RSA. But we must be in the know that culture is exercised and lived daily alongside history. The two are lived experiences passed from generation to generation for continuity's sake. They are part of human experience and identity. As such, they are a cornerstone of any Nation's existence. They are foundational pillars of pride and identity of any Nation. Mthwakazi is no different from any other Nation on this earth. Diversity fortifies our Nation rather than weaken it.However, knowledge of one's history and culture and the continued practice and living of both are very important in any thriving and developing Nation. Some of our histories, cultures, beliefs and religions have been lost overtime due to colonial forces superimposing their history narratives and cultures on our Nation. Such is the behaviour, nature and conduct of imperialists of all shapes, sizes and colours in the advance of their exploitative ulterior motives.History narratives, cultures, customs, beliefs and religions are transmitted through language from one generation to another in various forms that include storytelling, music and other forms of art and religious practices.History narratives, cultures, customs, beliefs and religions are also protected, in today's world, through history books and education in general, particularly its syllabi.A syllabus crafted by colonial forces of a Nation is dangerous syllabi and must be resisted and an alternative be given. We must begin to craft our own syllabi for our own children and for our own Nation and deploy it among our people.It must therefore be noted that colonial forces or forces of oppression and supremacy always target language for destruction to destroy our histories and cultures. Language is the medium for expression of one's history and culture and therefore without language one loses knowledge of their history, their culture, and how to express and practice it. This is happening in Matebeleland/Mthwakazi as we speak. We must therefore unite to push back the frontiers of our occupation and destruction of our Culture and by extension our Nation.Our children who are our future generations are experiencing vagaries of language and cultural genocide from external forces as we speak. It is not acceptable. Their human right to learn and acquire their language and by extension learn their history and culture is being violated daily! We must make a resolution today to work towards arresting the agenda of our colonial forces in Matebeleland/Mthwakazi. It is our generational mandate to do so. Every generation is saddled with a mandate. Ours is to Restore our Nation and defend it on all fronts.Loss of language and knowledge is indeed a destruction of one's Nation and its identity. It is no wonder that language destruction becomes the target of imperialists via miseducation in the education sector of all targeted Nations today. It is due to this fact that Marcus Garvey had this to say and I quote, "A people without a knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots".But Marcus Garvey must have gone further to explicitly say a Nation that allows its languages, history narratives and cultures to be destroyed by other Nations is a dead Nation. Mthwakazi must not be a dead Nation. It must awaken. The 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement is here to re-awaken the sleeping giant of our diverse histories and cultures as a Nation. We must restore our sovereignty in everything including our culture.Part of the reason why the 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement was formed is the aspect of the Restoration of Mthwakazi history and cultures in their diversity and the restoration of the important pillars of our diverse cultures.Therefore, Mthwakazi omuhle we have a serious patriotic duty to revisit and restore our cultures in various ways. The establishment of a Cultural Heritage Day in Matebeleland is key and fundamental to our Agenda and is long overdue. And Friday may fit the bill where we all observe it by putting on our cultural attires and assertively be proud of who we are.As we observe Cultural Heritage Day in this country, Mthwakazi's/Matebeleland's languages are targeted and are under heavy assault from the forces of supremacy and hegemony practices.The assault on our languages is an assault on our history and cultural heritage and by extension our National heritage. An assault on our history and cultural heritage is an assault on our existence as a people and as Mthwakazi Nation. We must no fail to defend our being, let history judge us harshly in the future.Our languages, histories and cultures are sacrosanct and therefore we must defend their destruction by resuscitating all the pillars that preserve our cultures including our own education system and ensuring we develop our own human resources in various fields (socially, artistically, educationally, economically, developmentally, religiously and overall culturally) to offer a buffer-zone against imperialists of all shapes and sizes.Fellow Mthwakazi citizens, our Restoration Agenda is therefore no small feat. It is a powerful call to patriotic duty in the best interest of our Nation.I must hasten to observe that the destruction of our history and cultures began in 1893 when Rhodes and his pioneer column invaded and destroyed our Kingdom. This destruction led to Matebeleland's unification with Mashonaland thereafter to form Southern Rhodesia in 1894, then Rhodesia-Zimbabwe in 1979 and then Zimbabwe in 1980.The colonial destruction of our Nation was fortified and indeed consolidated in 1983 via the Gukurahundi Genocide perpetrated by Robert Gabriel Mugabe's government.A lot of our history and cultural heritage was further destroyed during this period. It is therefore our patriotic duty as a Nation to reverse the pogrom of the destruction of our histories and cultures and indeed our Nation in Matebeleland through the unifying 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Agenda.1893, as a year, is therefore an important in our history as uMthwakazi. It on this basis that we and compatriots in the Diaspora via umthwakazireview network established and named this organization 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement.Our Restoration Agenda is traced from 1893 up to the present day and therefore the Restoration Agenda begins with restoring that which existed from that time with of course a reformist agenda in it.Therefore bakwethu, we have got some great work to do as Mthwakazi people in this organization, defined in this organization by our Mthwakaziship and nothing else. We must therefore, with contempt, reject any other definitions other than our Mthwakaziship in this movement apart from celebrating our Mthwakaziship in diversity and using this as powerful tool to unleash our Restoration Agenda among our people in their local villages, communities, growth-points and townships.And if things were well, we should be celebrating this day in Matebeleland today. But we know our situation very well and why we are all here. Therefore, we must, as the 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement and as a Ndebele Nation, begin to urgently set up the Mthwakazi Cultural Heritage Day back home and Internationally as soon as possible alongside other Restoration programmes at play in Mthwakazi as we speak. We must champion it. We have already started here but our day must be different from RSA. And Friday may be the best as other efforts are already underway in that direction.Importantly, as we engage in all Restoration programmes in our Nation, we must be peaceful and be guided by the fact that Self Determination/Restoration is a principle acknowledged by International law that allows us to determine our status and the exercise of our God-given rights freely in this world.Lastly, I strongly believe that our all-embracing and all-encompassing 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement offers hope and the best future for our Nation that we dearly love. Let us go out there and get more of our kith and kin to join the Movement. Most importantly, let us enjoy our Cultural Heritage Day and be safe as we do so and look after one another.God Bless!I thank YouMr Vusani Maqeda NgwenyaPresident, 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement
A Border collie club has smashed the world record for the most dogs gathered in a park.

Nearly 600 pooches were at Willaston Oval in Adelaide on Sunday to raise money towards animal charities.

While the record of 576 dogs is unofficial because the Guinness Book of Records does not accept breed-specific attempts, organisers said it was the biggest ever gathering of border collies that were not restrained by their owners.

Nearly 600 pooches gathered at Willaston Oval in Adelaide on Sunday to raise money towards animal charities

Organisers said it was the biggest ever gathering of border collies that were not restrained by their owners

The Border Collie Owners of South Australia organised the charity event to beat TV Vet Dr Katrina Warren's 2013 attempt of 534 dogs.

Yvonne McGrath, who helped organise the fundraiser said the animals were very well behaved.

'I couldn't believe how good they were,' she said.

The world record attempt also included food, activities and demonstrations.

'One of the girls did pilates with her dog, Ms McGrath told The Daily Telegraph.

The $6,000 raised on the day will go to SA Dog Rescue, Scruffer Lovers and Guardian Angel.

A Border collie club has smashed the world record for the most dogs gathered in a park
A giant giraffe statue stolen from a Perth pet shop has been returned to its rightful owners after a resident spotted its head sticking over the top of the burglars' fence.

The 3.6m fibreglass giraffe was nicked from The Bird and Fish Place in the early hours of Saturday morning, prompting the owner to offer a $3,400 reward for its return.

The next day police received a call from a local resident who noticed the replica giraffe, nicknamed Gerry, standing in his neighbour's yard.

Tall order: Police were able to return a giant giraffe statue to its owners after it was stolen during the middle of the night

The 3.6m fibreglass giraffe was nicked from The Bird and Fish Place in the early hours of Saturday morning

Cannington police officers executed a search warrant at the Beckenham home on Sunday and seized the giraffe (wire fence at pet store pictured)

Cannington police officers executed a search warrant at the Beckenham home on Sunday and seized the giraffe.

Police held on to Gerry at their station until the pet shop's owners were able to come and pick it up and take it back - just in time for school holidays.

Worker Jason O'Meara told Perth Now he was glad the giraffe - considered a bit of an to be a bit of an icon in the region - had been returned in time for the holiday period.

'There is some good left in the world. We're very pleased. especially because it's the school holidays,' he told the publication.

Manager Connie Stevens said the thieves had cut through the wire fencing to steal the giraffe under the cover of night.

Police have not laid any charges and the investigation is ongoing.

Police held on to Gerry at their station until the pet shop's owners were able to come and pick it up and take it back - just in time for school holidays
'Employees should remember their responsibility to Unilever continues' it read

Employees of Streets ice-cream have been banned from using emojis to react to negative information about their jobs

Streets ice-cream employees have been banned from talking to friends and family or using emojis to express dissatisfaction with their job, according to a bizarre letter issued to staff.

Employees at the Minto factory, where iconic ice-creams such as Magnum, Golden Gaytime and Paddle Pop are created, are in the middle of a pay dispute with the company.

They were warned through a letter of 'official answers' to questions that 'employees should remember their responsibility to Unilever continues' in their personal use of social media and in conversations they have outside of work.

According to the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Streets have applied to Fair Work to terminate their employees' enterprise agreement.

The union says this will result in a pay cut of up to 46 per cent for workers, who will also face cuts to their overtime penalties and redundancy entitlements.

Pictured: The letter given to staff from Streets and Unilever which bans them from speaking negatively about the company to friends and family and from using emojis to express dissatisfaction

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union have been negotiating a new agreement for workers with Streets and Unilever for 16 months but negotiations recently fell through

Steve Murphy, the state secretary for AMWU in NSW, says the problems started with union posts on Facebook.

'The workers were liking and sharing them, and the reach was bigger than we expected,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'People started commenting on the Magnum Facebook page they would boycott the company.

'One of the workers was then told they were not to comment on the AMWU's page, so he asked for it in writing. What they've done, is anticipated some questions and in bright red writing responded by saying "if you act in any of these ways we will take action against you".'

Employees at the Minto factory, where iconic ice-creams such as Magnum (right) and Golden Gaytime (left) are created, are in the middle of a pay dispute with the company

Iconic Bubble O'Bill ice creams are also created at the Minto factory where employees are in the middle of a pay disptute

He said on top of the current dispute, which is 'leaving workers to choose between poverty and getting sacked', employees of the Minto factory were left 'pretty angry' by the letter.

Unilever, who own Streets ice-cream, strongly rebuked the claim of the extensive pay cut as having 'no basis in fact'.

'The facts are that the costs of production at the Minto site remain high and not competitive when compared with other ice cream manufacturers,' the company said in a statement.

'That is not a sustainable position.'

Level four workers at the Minto factory (pictured) under the current agreement are earning more than $80,000 a year, but could see their wages fall to $43,928

The statement continued to say the company and employee delegates had been in negotiations for 16 months before they fell through at the last minute.

'An agreed position on certain terms and conditions was reached earlier this year and reflected in a revised EA put to all employees. That was ultimately voted down by the employees at Minto in July,' it read.

Mr Murphy claimed that the existing enterprise agreement workers had in place allowed them to use loading, overtime and penalty rates to earn a decent salary.

Workers would work 12 hour shift five days a week, but only three weeks a month - earning a level four worker $81,779 a year.

Under the award agreement, an employee would work shorter hours more often and earn $43,928.

'With summer approaching and weather warming up - customers are going to start deciding what ice-cream they're going to buy, and streets workers will be deciding between poverty and being sacked,' Mr Murphy said.

'We're urging Unilever to come back to the bargaining table and treat workers with respect and dignity.'
A young woman has been left 'frozen with fear' after her Brisbane home was pelted with rocks in a terrifying homophobic attack.

Olivia Hill was at home alone in her Brisbane house on Sunday night when a man started shouting obscenities and hurling large rocks at the home, which was decorated with rainbow flags in support of same-sex marriage.

Ms Hill said she woke up about 11.40pm on Sunday when she heard banging sounds at the front of the house, which she shares with roommate Larissa Baldwin.

'A man was yelling 'Oi what the f*** is this. You f**ing f****ts, you poofters' before large rocks started flying in through the windows.

Ms Hill (left) said she woke up about 11.40pm on Sunday when she heard banging sounds at the front of the house, which she shares with roommate Larissa Baldwin (right)

Ms Hill told Daily Mail Australia she was 'frozen with fear'.

'I was so scared. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my entire life. I was thinking, "this is it, this is how I'm going to die in this house, with this homophobe",' she said.

'I heard two bangs with glass shattering and then I called the police.

'We had three rocks through our front windows, spreading glass everywhere.'

Ms Hill's housemate Larissa Baldwin, said the attack left her outraged.

'I'm so angry, this is so f***ed,' she said.

'We had three rocks through our front windows, spreading glass everywhere,' Ms Hill told Daily Mail Australia

Ms Hill said she woke to the sound of large rocks (pictured) being pelted at the home

While she said the attack was horrific, Ms Baldwin said it was nothing compared to the daily struggle many faced during the controversial postal plebiscite debate.

'To be honest, this violence doesn't compare to what many people within the LGBTQIA community have gone through  at the end of the day this is a house, not a person,' she said.

Ms Baldwin said the attack was especially devastating because she and Ms Hill tried so hard to spread positivity with their rainbow decorations.

'Knowing how harmful this whole postal vote is for many, we really just wanted to make a positive statement of solidarity to cut through the ugliness,' Baldwin said.

'Everyday people are going to work, uni, school, even just out in public and are constantly being bombarded with hate, bigotry and ignorance.

Ms Baldwin (right) said the attack was especially devastating because she and Ms Hill (left) tried so hard to spread positivity with their rainbow decorations

Ms Hill said she feared for her life during the attack, which left windows across the house shattered (pictured)

Ms Baldwin said the house created positive experiences from 'people stopping to take selfies, yelling out thank you and leaving love letters in our mailbox', but she said the good was tainted by the bad.

While the rock attack was the worst, Ms Baldwin said it was not the first.

'We've copped some cr** too. We've had someone screaming out the f word as they walk by, some angry screaming guy trying to rip the yes sign off the fence, and another guy with a 'vote no' sign standing next to our mailbox,' she said.

Olivia Hill (pictured) said the late night attack on Sunday left her fearing for her life

Ms Baldwin (pictured) said the house decorations created positive experiences too, from 'people stopping to take selfies and yelling out thank you' to 'leaving love letters in our mailbox'

Ms Baldwin said the attack would not deter her and Ms Hill from sharing their message.

'We can fix the windows. We're not taking our signs down,' she said.

'Please post your Yes. Love will win.'

Queensland Police said they were called out to the Brisbane home before midnight and were now investigating.

The police appealed for anyone with information relating to the incident to phone Crime Stoppers.
Rondell Veal, 36, tried to slit his wrists before attempting suicide at Grand Central Station in New York Sunday

A murder suspect from Newark, Delaware was captured by police and paramedics after he attempted suicide at New York City's Grand Central Terminal station.

Police confirmed Rondell Veal, 36, tried to slit his wrists and throat before initiating a leap while standing near the tracks of the No. 6 train around 5:30 p.m.

After the alarming incident, Veal was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated for injuries and underwent surgery for tracheobronchial damage.

Police later discovered Veal was wanted in Delaware for charges of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon while committing a felony, after his wife, Sherrie Campbell was found dead by stabbing in the family's home Friday during a welfare check, according to The News Journal.

Newark Police initially believed Veal was headed to New York City, and contacted the NYPD to aid in the search for him, before he was identified after closer investigation.

He was captured by police and paramedics after the attempted suicide

Veal was found near the tracks of the No. 6 train around 5:30 p.m Sunday

'We're still very early in the investigation,' Sgt. Gerald Bryda told the Newark Post Online, as Newark police fled to the city following the incident.

Officials are still searching for the knife Veal used during the suicide attempt Sunday to see if it matches Campbell's stab wounds.

The homicide is said to be the first to happen in Delaware in three years.

The Newark Police Department shared further details on the horrifying matter to their Twitter page Sunday night.

'The Newark Police obtained arrest warrants for Rondell Veal for Murder 1st,' the tweet read.

'Investigation by detectives quickly focused on Campbells boyfriend, Rondell Veal. Detectives and Crime Scene Officers were able to gather evidence linking Veal to the crime.

'At approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 23rd, detectives obtained arrest and search warrants focusing on Veal,' the press release read.

'On Sunday, September 24th, Veal was located in a hospital suffering from self-inflicted injuries, after being struck by a train in an apparent suicide attempt.

'Chief Paul Tiernan commended the efforts of the responding officers and detectives who worked tirelessly to bring this case to a successful resolution.'
The man accused of murdering Korean woman Eunji Ban almost four years ago told police he was troubled by a 'demon' and 'felt like he was possessed', a court has heard.

Alex Reuben McEwan, 23, pleaded not guilty to Ms Ban's murder as his Brisbane Supreme Court trial began on Monday morning.

His barrister, John Allen QC, later made a formal admission that his client caused her death on November 24, 2013.

Alex Reuben McEwan, 23, pleaded not guilty to Ms Ban's murder as his Brisbane Supreme Court trial began on Monday morning

A forensic pathologist would tell the trial Ms Ban died from 'significant facial injuries' as a result of separate 'blunt impacts', the court heard

But he said the trial was necessary to determine his mental state at the time and whether or not relevant legal defences applied.

He briefly alluded to evidence of Mr McEwan telling detectives he 'felt like he was possessed' and having been plagued by 'a demon'.

Mr Allen said important evidence on these issues would not be heard in the prosecution case and urged jurors to keep an open mind.

The parents of murdered Korean student Eunji Ban outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane

It came after crown prosecutor David Meredith said the 22-year-old woman was walking from her unit near the Roma Street Parkland to a shift as an overnight hotel cleaner at about 4am.

'Unfortunately, her path crossed that of the accused, Alex McEwan, who later told friends and police that he'd gone out looking to kill someone,' he said.

The jury heard a casino worker spotted what looked like a young man 'dragging' something upstairs at Wickham Park before discovering Ms Ban's body and calling triple-zero shortly before 5am.

A forensic pathologist would tell the trial Ms Ban died from 'significant facial injuries' as a result of separate 'blunt impacts', the court heard.

The jury were shown an interactive digital version of the crime scene, which displayed blood-stained steps

He told jurors Mr McEwan 'almost immediately' called a number of friends upon returning home at about 5am and confessed 'he killed a girl by bashing her'.

The apprentice spray painter also allegedly told his sister something 'really bad' had happened and police may be looking for him.

There was evidence Mr McEwan had drunk half a bottle of rum and six shots of other spirits over two-and-a-half hours that night, Mr Meredith said.

The jury were shown an interactive digital version of the crime scene, which displayed blood-stained steps leading up into Wickham Park from the corner of Albert and Turbot streets.

The trial, which is expected to run for two weeks, continues before Justice Jean Dalton.
An 18-tonne humpback whale carcass that has been decomposing since it was buried at a NSW mid-north coast beach last week has been exhumed.

The 12-metre whale died after being beached and its carcass was buried at Port Macquarie's Nobbys Beach because it was too big to be moved.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council started the removal early Monday morning and by lunchtime had dug up the carcass with only its liquid remains left on the beach.

An 18-tonne humpback whale carcass that has been decomposing since it was buried at a NSW mid-north coast beach last week has been exhumed

The 12-metre whale died after being beached and its carcass was buried at Port Macquarie's Nobbys Beach because it was too big to be moved

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council started the removal early Monday morning and by lunchtime had dug up the carcass with only its liquid remains left on the beach

'We're pleased with how smooth it has gone,' council's development and environment director Matt Rogers told reporters on Monday.

'We are now going through the process of removing the liquid whale.'

The liquids are being pumped into big thousand litre containers which are craned up the beach escarpment and then sucked out by a liquid waste truck before they will be put into the sewerage system.

The carcass was removed by an excavator which used its claws to cut the whale into pieces as it was placed in skip bins and then transported to a nearby tip.

The council decided to remove the whale after copping community backlash because of concerns of heightened shark activity.

Within two days of being beached last Sunday, the carcass had attracted 21 great white shark movements, Port Macquarie Marine Rescue senior skipper Geoff Shelton said.

The carcass was removed by an excavator which used its claws to cut the whale into pieces as it was placed in skip bins and then transported to a nearby tip

The state government has coughed up $50,000 for the exhumation process

But Mr Rogers says council didn't make a mistake when it decided to bury the whale and he doesn't agree the carcass would attract sharks.

'There's no admission of mistakes been made,' he said.

'(We) responded to concerns raised.'

The state government has coughed up $50,000 for the exhumation process.

Nobbys Beach will remain closed until the whale and any contaminated sand is removed.
The hunt for Madeleine McCann could come to an end this week as funding in the 10-year long investigation runs out.

More than 11 million has been spent on the probe to find Madeleine, who vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, aged three.

Her parents Gerry and Kate McCann now face an agonising wait to find out if the Metropolitan Police will be granted more funds to continue the search, after the force admitted it was set to run out of money.

Gerry and Kate McCann (pictured in 2012) now face an agonising wait to find out if the Metropolitan Police will be granted more funds to continue the search for their daughter

The Met Police has spent some 11million searching for Madeleine - but the money funding the investigation is running out

With funding for the investigation, known as Operation Grange, in place until the end of this month, the Metropolitan Police have requested more money from the Government.

The Home Office confirmed the application would be considered, and a decision is expected to be made this week.

Kate and Gerry McCann, from Rothley in Leicestershire, have vowed to never give up hope of finding their daughter.

The couple have ploughed 500,000 of their own money into the search fund.

More than 11 million has been spent on the probe to find Madeleine, who vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, aged three

Kate and Gerry McCann have vowed to never give up hope of finding their daughter and have ploughed 500,000 of their own money into the search fund

British police officers visited the area where Madeleine went missing in 2014, but failed to find any evidence on a patch of land which was searched

The family spokesman said: 'Naturally, Kate and Gerry hope the Met request is granted.

'They are encouraged that there remains work to be done that requires extra funding and they remain very grateful to all Operation Grange officers who are continuing to look for their daughter.'

It is unclear how much extra cash police chiefs are applying for, although Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley insisted earlier this year that there are still 'critical' leads, which are of 'great interest' to detectives.

Since 2011, the Met Police have been assisting with the search for clues about what happened to Madeleine, with officers visiting the holiday resort in 2014.

The Met Police have been assisting with the search for clues about what happened to Madeleine, with officers visiting the holiday resort in 2014

The British police inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance has cost 11million, since it was launched in May 2011. Pictured, UK detectives at the scene in Praia da Luz, Portugal

In March, the Home Office granted officers 85,000 to cover 'operational costs' to continue with the investigation, between April and September this year.

A freedom of information request showed that, in 2014, Operation Grange officers spent almost 16,000 on 67 return flights to Portugal.

But officers on the operation made just two flights to Portugal last year, prompting claims the investigation was being scaled down.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Funding is in place until the end of September. Any details about future funding will be released when appropriate.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The Home Office has provided funding to the Metropolitan Police for Operation Grange and the resources required are reviewed regularly with careful consideration given before any new funding is allocated.'
It's time to check down the back of the sofa and piggy banks as Britons have just three weeks left to spend the old 1 coins.

Shoppers have been reminded by the Royal Mint that the deadline for using the round pounds is October 15, before they are replaced forever by a 12-sided coin.

Punters can spend, bank or donate their old 1 coins to charity - with around 500million-worth believed to be still in people's possession.

The new 12-sided pound coin, the shape of which resembles the old threepenny bit, entered circulation in March and boasts new high-tech security features to thwart counterfeiters.

Punters can spend, bank or donate their old 1 coins to charity - with around 500million-worth believed to be still in people's possession

The new 12-sided pound coin, the shape of which resembles the old threepenny bit, entered circulation in March and boasts new high-tech security features to thwart counterfeiters

By mid-July there were more new coins in circulation than old, the Treasury said.

Adam Lawrence, Royal Mint chief executive, said the new coin is the 'most innovative and secure coin' it has ever created.

He told the Daily Star: 'We would encourage you to spend, bank or donate your round 1 coins before October 15.

'We have urged businesses and their frontline staff to, where possible, prioritise the new coin when giving customers their change.

'Customers are entitled to ask for their change in any way they wish, but until October 15, businesses can continue to give out the old coin.'

People who have rare old 1 coins including Edinburgh City 2011 and the 2011 Cardiff City 1 have sold them on eBay for 35.

One pound coins were first launched on April 21 1983 to replace 1 notes.

The Royal Mint has produced more than two billion round pound coins since that time.

Self-service checkouts, ticket machines, lockers, vending machines and shopping trolleys are all being upgraded so they can accept the new 12-sided 1 coins.

Shoppers have been reminded by the Royal Mint that the deadline for using the round pounds is October 15, before they are replaced forever by a 12-sided coin

It boasts a gold-coloured outer ring and a silver-coloured ring along with high-tech features including a hologram.

The production of the new coins follows concerns about round pounds being vulnerable to sophisticated counterfeiters.

Around one in every 30 1 coins in people's change in recent years has been fake.
The Chancellor, pictured in Dundee today, pointedly declined to endorse the PM to carry on beyond 2022

The Tory civil war was raging today as Philip Hammond refused to back Theresa May as leader for the next election.

The Chancellor pointedly declined to endorse the PM to carry on beyond 2022 amid increasing signs of friction between top ministers.

Supporters of Mr Hammond and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have been trading blows despite desperate efforts to broker a truce in the run-up to Mrs May's crucial speech last week.

There were claims that Mr Hammond had made a major concession by agreeing the UK would only seek a two-year transition period in Brexit negotiations, rather than much longer.

But friends of Mr Hammond, seen as the champion of 'soft' Brexit in the Cabinet, have reacted with fury to the jibes, accusing Mr Johnson of being 'simple minded'.

Mr Hammond was in Scotland today to meet with business leaders and the oil and gas sector, before holding talks with Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.

During a meeting with journalists, he dodged a series of questions about Mrs Mays leadership and when asked who the optimum person to lead the Conservatives into the next election would be  he refused to endorse the Prime Minister.

Speaking to journalists in Dundee, Mr Hammond was pressed four times on whether Mrs May was the best person to lead the party at the next election.

Im not going to get into a conversation about the future Conservative Party leadership, he said. Im completely behind her, shes making an excellent job of managing the Brexit negotiations. All of us need to focus on delivering a Brexit that works for Britain.

Instead of throwing his support behind Mrs May, he said he would not get involved in discussions about future Conservative party leadership and claimed the Prime Ministers has made it very clear she has a job to do.

Mr Hammond then claimed to be completely behind her in managing Brexit negotiations, but when asked again if he believes she should continue as Tory leader for 2022  he refused to say.

Boris Johnson, pictured on a visit to Prague today, is risking a fresh Cabinet meltdown over Brexit as relations with Chancellor Philip Hammond deteriorate

Mr Johnson was meeting Czech Republic counterpart Lubomir Zaoralek in Prague today

He instead again suggested that Mrs May would remain as Prime Minister to deliver Brexit which is the primary focus over the next couple of years.

Asked another two times if he believes Mrs May should stay on, and why he had so far refused to back her Mr Hammond said Theresa May is clearly the best person to lead the Conservative party, to lead the government, through this very complex process of Brexit.

Mr Hammond added: Im not going to talk about future Conservative leadership. I want to talk about the job in hand. Shes been very clear that [Brexit] is the job in hand, that is the job she considers she was elected to do and shes going to get on with it.

When asked if he expects another leader to be in place for the next General Election, he said: these are not issues for today. We are focused entirely on delivering a Brexit that works for Britain.

Mr Hammonds comments come as speculation continues to grow over the future leadership of the Conservatives.

At the weekend it was reported that the Chancellor had sent a text message to Mr Johnson pledging to support him in a leadership race if Mrs May did walk away from the job following her disastrous election result.

Newspaper reports claimed Mr Hammond had offered his support in exchange for remaining as Chancellor.

Mr Hammond was shown drug development technology by Professor David Gray during a visit to Dundee University's School of Life Sciences

The PM and Leo Varadkar discussed the prospects for a Brexit deal at No10 today - with the Taoiseach saying he believed progress was 'possible'

Yesterday, he refused to deny the messages instead claiming: There was an awful lot of communication going on during the early hours of that morning - texting, telephone calling - between all sorts of colleagues.

He said that he did not recognise some of the material reported in the Sunday papers.

Mr Hammond said: What I do know is that the most important conversation I had on that night was with Theresa May when she told me she had decided to seek to form a government. She asked me to serve in it and I committed to do so and to back her.

Speculation over a Conservative leadership challenge was reignited last week after Mr Johnson published a 4,300 word newspaper article on Brexit just days before Mrs May was set to lay out her vision in a speech.

And as a feud between cabinet ministers over Brexit, he denied thinking Mr Johnson is simple-minded as reports claimed, saying: I dont think Boris is simple-minded on anything.

Mr Hammond also claimed he was quite happy with a Brexit transition of around two years, despite suggestions he favours stalling the process until after the next General Election.

'The bottom line is that this is not going to be easy, something that's overlooked by simple-minded Brexiteers like Boris,' one ally told the Telegraph today.

'Philip isn't being ideological about it, he is pragmatic.'

The latest damaging spat threatens the delicate balance that was struck over the PM's speech in Florence last week.

In a bid to revive stalled talks with the EU, Mrs May made a series of concessions on money, citizens' rights and law.

She said the UK was ready to cover the huge hole left inBrussels' finances for another two years after we formally leave in 2019 - contributing potentially another 20 billion euros - and meet other liabilities that could total tens of billions more.

She also said the European court could help enforce the rights of EU nationals - easing back a previous red line - and admitted that bringing in tougher immigration measures would take time, raising the possibility that free movement rules could essentially stay in place for longer.

But Mrs May said in return for the 'generous' offer the UK must have full access to the single market during a two-year 'transition' period.

Mr Johnson praised the speech as 'positive, optimistic and dynamic'. But he had thrown the Cabinet into chaos the previous week with a bombshell article seen as an attempt to push the PM into a harder stance on Brexit.

He even made an apparent resignation threat to maximise his leverage, before backing off on the eve of the speech.

More context was given to the warring between Mr Johnson and Mr Hammond's allies over the weekend when it was claimed that the Chancellor offered to back the Foreign Secretary for the Tory leadership in the aftermath of the disastrous election result.

Mr Hammond is reported to have texted his Cabinet rival at 4am on the morning after the election to offer his support when it looked like Mrs May could be forced from office.

It is believed May faced plots from four minsters to oust her from leadership, including one for Boris and another in support of David Davis.

Mr Hammond is said to have proposed a deal in which he remained as Chancellor, with David Davis handling Brexit while Mr Johnson could 'run the shop'.

The proposal was put as Mr Johnson sat with friends digesting the fallout from the disastrous election result in the early hours of June 9.

Theresa May delivered her Brexit speech in Florence on Friday making a series of concessions to the EU but calling for a two-year transition deal

Boris Johnson hailed the speech in a tweet afterwards, saying it 'rightly' disposed of the 'Norway option' of staying in the EU single market

Mr Johnson is now thought to be agitating on the issue of whether Britain should have to adopt EU rules and regulations after formally leaving the bloc in March 2019.

Ministers are hoping they can skate over the topic of new regulation, even though we will not be able to vote on the substance of rules during the transition.

Many point out that due to the glacial speed of legislation in the EU, any new rules that come into force during the two years will in reality have been approved by the UK while it was still a member of the bloc.
A father-of-one was duped out of 1,600 by a Ukrainian con woman who left him waiting for her at Edinburgh Airport.

Colin Orr, 40, started chatting with Olga Marchenko after signing up to a website for penpals and quickly fell for her.

Within a month Miss Marchenko claimed she had fallen in love with him and he began making plans for her to move to Edinburgh with him.

He told MailOnline he paid 1,600 for her and her two-year-old daughter to fly from Ukraine through Russia to London, and finally to the Scottish capital.

But when he excitedly went to meet her in the arrivals lounge of Edinburgh Airport in July she failed to show up, leaving him devastated.

Olga Marchenko (pictured) tricked Colin Orr, 40, from Edinburgh into sending her money

Colin Orr, 40, (left) started chatting with Olga Marchenko (right) after signing up to a website for penpals and quickly fell for her

Mr Orr was so worried about her he even reported her as a missing person.

However police later informed him she had been found living outside the UK - and he realised he had been taken for a ride.

The 40-year-old had started chatting with Miss Marchenko after meeting on the Interpals website.

Speaking to MailOnline he said: 'I tried to do what people do, I hadn't done dating sites before but I thought I would try Interpals as it was free.

'Olga was the first person I met. She asked if I would like to exchange email addresses so we could write to each other, so I said yes and it went from there. We started writing every day.

Mr Orr was duped into spending 1,600 to fly Miss Marchenko from Ukraine to Edinburgh

Miss Marchenko told Mr Orr she loved him and wanted to move from Lugansk in eastern Ukraine with her young daughter to live with him in Edinburgh

Miss Marchenko exchange 800 emails as well as thousands of Whatsapp messages with the Scottish chef, who has been left heartbroken

The 32-year-old Ukrainian convinced Mr Orr to pay for her flights from her home country to UK

'We started exchanging photos and at that point it was all casual and it was just nice. She told me she was a widow in Lugansk, which is on the frontline, and it was hard to meet Ukrainian men as they were either in the Army or didn't want to raise someone else's child.

'I was taking it all with a pinch of salt but it was getting more serious...she was saying "I love you" and then said she wanted to meet me in Scotland but there was still no mention of money at that point. It was never anything sleazy.

'She then told me she needed to raise money to buy a Ukrainian passport for her and her daughter, who was two years old. She said that would take six months but if she wanted to get it quicker, it would cost more money, around 260. She asked me for help and I agreed and then after that I put myself in a spiral.

'She got the passports for her and her daughter. She had won my trust. I had to stop thinking about my own private dining company I was hoping to set up and I had to go back to working for other people. I also had two hernias but had to work through that.'

The pair started exchanging hundreds of messages after meeting on the Interpals website

He went on: 'It was nice getting the letters every day and we exchanged more than 800 emails plus thousands of messages on Whatsapp. We also spoke on the phone. It all seemed real.

'We eventually decided to meet on July 1 in Edinburgh and it was a rush getting it all sorted and I was up against it but I managed to get it all paid for.

'Because she lived all 10km from the frontline she had to fly from Lugansk to Rostov in Russia to Moscow to Heathrow and finally onto Edinburgh. That cost 1,600.

'Olga had emailed saying she would be wearing a bright pink t-shirt and her daughter would be wearing a red cap so I would recognise them when I saw them. Everything felt real and believable.'

Mr Orr was so worried about her he even reported her as a missing person

But the chef was left heartbroken when she never turned up.

He reported her missing to police, concerned for her well-being as she was coming from a dangerous part of the world.

He said: 'I might have been naive but it felt like a relationship and I was taking a chance.

'I wasn't being asked for my life savings and that's why I so believed it.

'She is definitely who she says she is because there is a money trail through Western Union that shows it was picked up in Lugansk by an Olga Marchenko. She said she worked as a nursery worker and whenever I called I could hear children in the background.

'The police said the passports for her and her daughter were real as well so I wasn't really catfished. I just don't want her to now do the same thing to someone else.'

He wants Action Fraud  the UK's national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre  to bring charges against her. He has gone public with his story as a warning to others not to fall into the same trap.

Mr Orr is now struggling financially after he was duped by the Ukrainian mother-of-one

He is still struggling to understand why she targeted him.

'Why me? Why not go after someone rich? I'm just a working-class man and she knew that.

'She knew about how hard I was working and that I'd sold my guitar and laptop for her when she needed money. I am now struggling to stay on an even keel and my hernias have grown so much I have been told I can't work.

'When she didn't turn up at the airport I messaged her on Whatsapp to say "you are horrible for doing that". She got that message as I saw it had a double tick and for the next couple of days I tried to contact her on Whatsapp but I never got any reply.

'It was commitment to the cause on her part as she basically spent six months writing letters every day, having conversations on Whatsapp and telephone calls. I have been a victim of crime. What she did was calculating.'

A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Police in Edinburgh were called to an address in Oxgangs following a report of concern for a 32-year-old woman.

'The matter was reported to police on Thursday, July 6. Officers conducted inquires and it was quickly established that the woman was living outside UK.

'Officers have explained the circumstances to the complainer and appropriate advice has been given.'
The RFS said it is now too late for residents in the area to take shelter

Multiple bushfires are burning near West Nowra, near Filter Rd and Cavanagh Ln

Parts of the area have been evacuated, including an Early Learning Centre

The Rural Fire Service has issued an emergency warning for NSW south coast

A childcare centre has been evacuated as a massive out-of-control bushfire threatens scores of homes on New South Wales' south coast.

Multiple blazes are burning south of Sydney, with the Rural Fire Service telling residents near West Nowra to take shelter.

It issued the emergency warning after 12.30pm on Monday saying: 'People are advised to take shelter as the fire front approaches'.

Several fires are burning near Filter Rd and Cavanagh Lane, West Nowra and it's too late for residents to leave, the RFS says.

Scroll down for video

Multiple bushfires are burning out-of-control in West Nowra, on the NSW south coast

The fires are being treated as suspicious after RFS crews spent much of the weekend extinguishing three separate blazes near Filter Road, an RFS spokesman said.

'Residents in those areas need to understand there is a threat,' an RFS spokesman told AAP on Monday.

'They're moving quickly because of wind and the dry fuels in the area.'

Thor, the large air tanker, has been deployed to assist firefighters working to protect properties in the area but are battling hot, dry and windy conditions.

The fires are being treated as suspicious after RFS crews spent much of the weekend extinguishing three separate blazes near Filter Road

Thor, the large air tanker, has been deployed to assist firefighters working to protect properties in the area

'Erratic fire behaviour at West Nowra. Avoid (the) area completely unless you need to be there,' NSW RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers tweeted.

The blaze is moving in a northeasterly direction with nearby resident Lisa Pearson saying the threat in West Nowra is reducing as it moves towards the township.

'Thank goodness for the wonderful volunteers at the NSW RFS whose hard work means my neighbours and I should have homes to go home to tonight,' she posted on Facebook.

Parts of the area have been evacuated, including an Echidna Early Learning Centre.
A brazen thief was caught on camera returning to the same house three times in one hour to raid its valuable contents while a family were asleep inside.

CCTV footage shows the balaclava-clad man scale a high wall and squeeze through a tiny bathroom window to get into the property in Balsall Heath, Birmingham at 5.30am on Tuesday.

He returned twice more and stole a number of items including the keys to a getaway vehicle - the homeowner's luxury 4x4.

The burglar riffled through everything 'again and again' and stole a 'hand bag full of money, cards and valuables along with the keys to the Volvo XC60' which he left in.

Facebook user Mub Shaikh posted a video of the CCTV footage online to warn neighbours about the thief who he said 'had no fear and is a danger to everyone in the area.'

He later thanked everyone who had shared the post and confirmed that the culprit and the car had both been found.

'He has been arrested and everything is sorted, the police are dealing with it. Please be careful and wary, these streets are not safe,' he wrote on Facebook.

Police confirmed they had been called to the address at around 8.25am on Tuesday, the Birmingham Mail reports.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: 'We were called to reports of a break-in at the property.

'An arrest has been made but investigations are ongoing.'

The thief climbed over a high wall and scoped the outside of the building before he found a small bathroom window which was open on the ground floor of the home

The burglar then pulled himself up onto the window ledge and squeezed through the tiny window at the house in Birmingham

The man could then be seen disappearing head first through the small window in the CCTV
Six puppies were yesterday found alive after being tied up in a grain bag and thrown in a river.

Police are hunting the 'lowlife' who left them for dead in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.

Officers posted a heart-wrenching picture of the puppies, which are being looked after until adoption, on Facebook.

Officers posted a heart-wrenching picture of the puppies, which are being looked after until adoption, on Facebook

They wrote: 'Earlier today, six puppies were found by a kayaker. These puppies were tied up in a grain bag and left for dead after being dumped in the river near River Rd.

'If you have any information that could lead us to the low life that could commit such a heinous act, contact Officer Benjamin Smoot at Uxbridge PD.

'Uxbridge Animal Control Officer responded to the scene and took possession of the puppies. They are all doing well, considering the circumstances, and we believe they will all survive.

'The puppies are currently being kept together, and are being cared for by a professional until they are able to be adopted.'
The search for the body of British adventurer Emma Kelty in the Amazon River has been scaled back amid fears her remains have been eaten by piranhas.

Fire service divers ended their eight-day hunt of the murky water on Friday and her family now faces the prospect her body may never be found.

Ms Kelty, 43, was 42 days into a 4,000-mile solo kayaking trip from the source of the Amazon to the sea, when she was allegedly murdered by seven pirates who shot her twice, stabbed her and then threw her into the murky and muddy river.

The gang have allegedly confessed to killing Emma as they wanted to steal her belongings - some of which have been displayed by police during a press conference.

The search for the body of British adventurer Emma Kelty in the Amazon River has been scaled back amid fears her remains have been eaten by piranhas

Ms Kelty, 43, was 42 days into a 4,000-mile solo kayaking trip from the source of the Amazon to the sea, when she was allegedly murdered by seven pirates who shot her twice, stabbed her and then threw her into the murky and muddy river. Pictured: Four of the suspects arrested after her death

Pictured: The canoe used by the suspects and the kayak belonging to Emma Kelty, which police presented at a press conference

Detective Jose Barradas said: 'Emma was bleeding from wounds inflicted by the suspects.

'They apparently cut her near the shoulder and neck so she would bleed out and attract carnivorous fish like piranha and candiru that would be attracted by the smell of blood and devour the flesh from her body when they threw her into the water.

'It was a ruthless and calculating move to get rid of the evidence.

'We found that the kayak's covering was sliced open in several places by the suspects who we believe were looking for hidden items in the body of the boat.

'The suspects also admitted they cut up the kayak with a knife belonging to the victim in an effort to sink it but it is a vessel made from material that does not sink.

Her belongings, including this drone, were displayed by police at a press conference on Saturday

Detective Jose Barradas said it appeared Kelty's murderers had stabbed her with the intention of making her bleed in the river, thereby attracting carnivorous fish

'We found some nutritious superfood packages in Emma's kayak. This food was seen in videos recorded on the sportswoman's memory card found in her camera.'

Police are still searching for the body of the former headteacher from Finchley, North London, but the navy also suspended their operations on the Solimoes River last Wednesday.

Deputy chief of Amazonas civil police Ivo Martins said: 'Since Friday 15 September, three fire brigade divers have been carrying out depth dives in and around the area where the body was apparently thrown by the criminals.

On Saturday, the kayak belonging to the British woman (pictured) and the canoe used by the suspects were put on display as Amazon cops said they plan to examine it for traces of blood

'The recovery mission faced tremendous difficulties as there is zero visibility beneath the surface. The diving search effort was ended on Friday afternoon and the navy river patrol boat returned to Manaus to resume its normal operations. We have not found the victim's body.

'Police from the cities of Coari, Codajas and Anori will now continue with the hunt for Emma's remains along the river's shores and its surface.'

On Saturday, the kayak belonging to the Briton and the canoe used by the suspects were put on display as Amazon cops said they plan to examine it for traces of blood.

Investigators reported they have already recovered a number of items belonging to the victim including the drone, mobile phones, camera, GPS and sim card.

Seven suspects were involved in the crime. Four are in custody, one was shot dead in a rival gang attack and two are still at large.

Cops believe the two fugitives, named as Erimar Ferreira da Silva, known as 'Chico', and Nilson Ferreira da Silva, known as 'Ze Preto', have escaped to neighbouring states.

Police said: 'We found some nutritious superfood packages in Emma's kayak. This food was seen in videos recorded on the sportswoman's memory card found in her camera'. Pictured: Some more of her possessions

Amazonas civil police detective Frederico Mendes revealed that Brazil's interstate police bureau (Polinter) has been alerted.

He said: 'The goal is to close in on the suspects and catch them even if they have fled to other states. We have also called on local residents to alert us to the whereabouts of the two escapees.

'Polinter has been issued with arrest warrants and pictures of the suspects who are believed to have committed this barbaric crime,' he said.
The gender pay gap at management level is being fuelled by bonuses with male bosses receiving an average of 89,230 in bonuses compared to 14,945 for women (file picture)

The gender pay gap at management level is being fuelled by bonuses with male bosses receiving an average of 89,230 in performance-related payments compared to 14,945 for women.

According to analysis of managers salaries, new gender reporting regulations found the pay gap stands at 26.8 per cent, with men earning 11,606 a year more than women.

This includes salary and bonuses, as well as perks such as car allowance and commission.

It means the gap at management level is worse than previously feared, according to a study by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and XpertHR.

Last year, analyses of managers basic salaries had put the gap at 23.1 per cent, or 8,964.

Chief executive of CMI, Ann Francke, described businesses as like 'glass pyramids' with too few women reaching the top.

She said: 'We now see those extra perks of senior management roles are creating a gender pay gap wider than previously understood. The picture is worst at the top, with male CEOs cashing-in bonuses six times larger than female counterparts.'

Under the Governments reporting regulations that came into effect in April 2017, large employers (250+ employees) must now publicly disclose the size of their gender pay gap.

The BBC was embroiled in a gender pay row earlier this year after their stars' salaries were revealed. BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker gets paid up to 250,000 per year, while fellow presenter Louise Minchin, who has been on the show for 11 years,makes less than 150,000

To date, just 72 out of the 7,850 UK companies to which the new law applies have fulfilled their obligations.

This is the first time that pay gap data has been published taking into account the new rules.

This is based on analysis of salary data of 118,385 managers from 423 organisations over the past year.

The Management Gender Pay Gap Year 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 Men 43,342 38,817 39,136 39,461 38,169

Women 31,637 29,853 30,612 30,392 29,667 *Based on average salaries and not considering bonuses and perks such as car allowance and commission Advertisement

XpertHR Content Director Mark Crail said: 'Some people have tried to explain the gender pay gap away as being the result of different working hours or individual career choices.

'But when the analysis is based on the pay of more than 100,000 individuals in well over 400 organisations, it is clear that the pay gap is a very real fact of life for UK managers.'

Earlier this year the BBC was embroiled in a huge gender pay gap row after their salary bill was made public.

The top seven earning stars were all men, as were 62 of the 96 on the list, there were no female names in any category above 500,000 and half of all the women in the list were in the lowest band.

There were also some remarkable discrepancies between male and female presenters on individual shows.

Radio 4's Today host John Humphrys earns up to 650,000 for his BBC roles, considerably more than colleague Sarah Montague (under 150,000).
A statue in Moscow built to honour the inventor of the AK-47 assault rifle has attracted scorn after it was found to feature a German gun.

Workers had to cut out part of the new monument to Mikhail Kalashnikov, the inventor of the Soviet Union's legendary assault rifle, after eagle-eyed Russians noticed it mistakenly depicted a Nazi weapon from the Second World War.

Just last week, the monument - which reportedly cost 450,000 - was unveiled with much fanfare in central Moscow.

Just last week, the monument - which reportedly cost 450,000 - was unveiled with much fanfare in central Moscow

Soon after Moscow-based historian Yuri Pasholok blasted Shcherbakov for the statue, pointing out in a Facebook post that it featured a German StG 44 assault rifle

Workers had to cut out part of the new monument to Mikhail Kalashnikov, the inventor of the Soviet Union's legendary assault rifle, after eagle-eyed Russians noticed it mistakenly depicted a Nazi weapon from the Second World War

A metal bas-relief behind a statue of Kalashnikov depicts the AK-47 and other weapons said to have been designed by the engineer, who died in 2013.

But on Friday, embarrassed sculptor Salavat Shcherbakov had to admit that among them was the Sturmgewehr 44 (StG 44) assault rifle used by Nazi troops.

'We will rectify this,' Shcherbakov said in comments broadcast by state-run Rossiya 24 channel. 'It looks like this (mistake) sneaked in from the Internet.'

He added: 'This is a very small background thing. I even wonder how they noticed it. We took it from a source where it was written "Kalashnikov assault rifle".'

But this is not the first time the sculptor has put a German gun on a Russian statue.

In 2014, a Mauser 98 rifle appeared on a monument he designed showing a Soviet soldier heading to fight the Nazis.

By Friday evening, a square hole gaped where the German StG 44 had been depicted in the bas-relief.

The Moscow statue is pictured before and after workers removed a fragment showing an StG 44 assault rifle

The AK-47, the small-arms mainstay of Russia's armed forces for over 60 years, is called by some experts the most effective weapon ever made

Mikhail Kalashnikov's weapon (pictured being held by its owner), created in 1947, does have a striking resemblance to German arms designer Hugo Schmeissers's StG 44 rifle, created in 1942, although they have major design differences

It came a day after Moscow-based historian Yuri Pasholok blasted Shcherbakov for the statue.

In a Facebook post, he said: 'Just don't say that this was an accident. You should be beaten, painfully and publicly, for something like this. These are boy-sculptors, dammit.'

Scherbakov acknowledged the discrepancy the same day, admitting that it was a mistake.

In 2014 the sculptor was embroiled in scandal after a German Mauser 98 rifle was mistakenly depicted on his monument of a Soviet soldier leaving for the front.

In 2014 sculptor Salavat Shcherbakov (pictured) was embroiled in scandal after a German Mauser 98 rifle was mistakenly depicted on his monument of a Soviet soldier leaving for the front

Kalashnikov's weapon, created in 1947, does have a striking resemblance to German arms designer Hugo Schmeissers's StG 44 rifle, created in 1942, although they have major design differences.

Kalashnikov was known to have said he had heard speculation that he had copied the German rifle.

Vladislav Kononov, executive director of the Russian Military and Historical Society, was cited by Russian media as saying that the fact that angry Russians had spotted the error in the relief disproved that. Many had earlier vented their disapproval on social media.

'Every cloud has its silver lining - thanks to this mistake ... a myth has been destroyed that Kalashnikov borrowed some elements of his invention from his foreign colleagues,' he said.

The AK-47, the small-arms mainstay of Russia's armed forces for over 60 years, is called by some experts the most effective weapon ever made.

Every fifth firearm in the world is a Kalashnikov, with more than 70 million of the assault rifles produced over the past 60 years, the Kalashnikov Concern manufacturer said on its website. Kalashnikovs are in service in 50 foreign armies, it added.
A mother who stopped to breastfeed her hungry baby in a hotel car park was left furious when she was fined 60 for doing so.

Gemma Clark, 38, of Hull, was on her way back from Lincoln when her four-month-old baby, Holly, started crying to be fed.

Miss Clark and her partner decided to find a safe place to stop and pulled into the car park at the back of the Royal Britannia Hotel, operated by Smart Parking Limited.

She told the Hull Daily Mail: 'We had got into town and the traffic was absolutely horrendous.

'Holly was screaming the car down so we needed somewhere safe to pull over where I could feed her.

'Ferensway was completely rammed and we thought this would be the safest option.

Gemma Clark pulled into the car park behind the Royal Britannia Hotel in Hull to breastfeed her crying, hungry baby (image posed by model)

Miss Clark, 38, says she was only in the car park (pictured) for 15 minutes and was shocked to receive a 60 fine

'We pulled into the car park. My partner stayed in the car and I got out with Holly to calm her down and then fed her.

'We were there less than 15 minutes and then we left and didn't think anything of it.'

But Miss Clark was shocked to receive a 60 fine notice through the post a few days later.

The mother tried to appeal the decision and contacted Smart Parking Limited but had no response.

She says she was forced to pay the 60 fine because she had not heard back from the company within the 14 grace period.

Miss Clark added: 'The fine goes up to 100 if not paid within 14 days.

'I couldn't leave it any longer. 60 is bad enough when you are on maternity pay.'

The frustrated mother wants to warn other breastfeeding women of what happened to her so they do not fall foul of similar fines.

She said: 'I just want people to be aware.

'I thought we were being safe and pulling over in a safe place, but obviously not. All this has made me feel pretty terrible to be honest.

'It has also made me more aware of where I can pull over to feed her. I thought it would be fine and a safe place to be, but obviously not.

'It is a massive shame. It has ended up being an expensive meal to say I was breastfeeding.'

The Royal Britannia Hotel's (pictured) car park is run by Smart Parking Limited. They have been approached by MailOnline for a response

MailOnline has contacted Smart Parking Limited for a response.

The parking company came under fire in August for fining a mother-of-three 100 for parking unpaid for 38 seconds while she struggled to get her children out of the car.

Claire Porter, of Newquay, was left fuming after the incident at Fistral Beach.

Speaking at the time, a Smart Parking Limited spokesman said: 'At Fistral Beach there is free parking from 6.30pm.

'In the case of Ms Porter she arrived before 6.20pm, and did not pay for any parking. In light of this she correctly received a charge.

'Smart Parking are members of the British Parking Association and strictly follow its guidelines.

'At Fistral Beach we use a state of the art ANPR parking enforcement system, and there are numerous signs across the car park that highlight this and clearly state our terms and conditions of use.

'Most motorists use the Fistral Beach car park without any problems, however when parking on private land we would always remind motorists to read the terms and conditions of use before they decide to park.'
Celia Hollingworth (pictured) made a frantic final phonecall to her family moments after she had been fatally wounded in a savage attack by a pack of stray dogs in Greece

This is the retired Oxford University professor who made a frantic final phonecall to her family moments after she had been fatally wounded in a savage attack by a pack of stray dogs in Greece.

Celia Hollingworth, who had been staying at a guest house in the nearby town of Maroneia, phoned her family in Britain on Thursday to say she was injured.

Her phone lost signal shortly after and her family called police to raise alarm about the attack.

Authorities found the 62-year-old, from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, dead on Saturday, with marks suggesting she had been savaged by animals in the northern region of Rodopi.

Ms Hollingworth had apparently been attacked after returning from a visit to the Mesimvria archaeological site near Petrota Beach by foot.

After she alerted her mother and brother about the dog attack, they called local authorities in Greece to try to get help finding the woman, according to ERT Television.

Ms Hollingworth had been missing since Thursday after returning from a visit to the Mesimvria archaeological site by foot

Ms Hollingworth's family then called the British Embassy in Greece, who liaised with police to launch a search.

When the search began, Ms Hollingworth had last been seen by swimmers on Thursday afternoon.

Her body was found by police and firefighters at 10.45am local time on Saturday.

It was taken via ambulance to the General Hospital of Komotini, where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Neighbours at Ms hollingworth's home in Bradford in Avon, Wiltshire, said the 'kind and friendly' woman was active in her community.

Andrew Otto, 54, said: 'Celia was always very friendly. I've only lived here for a year but when we moved in she offered to store boxes for us.

Authorities (pictured during the search) found the 62-year-old tourist dead on Saturday, with marks suggesting she had been savaged by animals in the northern region of Rodopi

'She told she was going to Greece about five weeks ago. That was the last we heard from her. 'She didn't give a lot away about herself but she was always active in the community and would often go round with petitions.'

Alan Clifford, 74, added: 'She was a quiet person, and always doing things for other people.

'There is a lot of people who you can say they were kind or friendly, but Celia had the works to prove it.'

Human rights campaigner Ms Hollingworth was an active member of community groups in Bradford-on-Avon and Bath.

The Foreign Office said: 'We are in contact with Greek Police about a British woman missing in northern Greece since Thursday.' Pictured: Petrota Beach, near where a body was found

A member of the West Wilts Amnesty Group, Celia was also the University and College Union representative at Bristol University.

She was a long-standing member of the Bristol Greece Solidarity campaign, supporting those struggling with austerity following the European financial crisis.

Celia was a member of Bristol Anti-Cuts Alliance and took part in a protest against BNP leader Nick Griffin when he was due to speak at Bath university.

Just a month ago, she was one several campaigners who handed in a petition to Wiltshire Council against the erection of a mobile phone mast in the town.

The Foreign Office is providing assistance to her family, who are believed to be travelling to Greece.

There are more than a million stray dogs in Greece after many were abandoned by their owners following the financial crisis.
Sadiq Khan last night accused Donald Trump of using ISIS-style language by calling for a 'total and complete shutdown' of Muslims entering the United States.

The Mayor of London said the American President is playing the same 'game' as the terror group by painting the world as a clash between civilizations.

And he insisted he is an 'unwilling participant' in his long-running feud with the US leader, who berated the London Mayor over Twitter for his response to the Westminster terror attack.

Speaking at a fringe event at the Labour Party conference, Mr Khan tore into the US President over his attempt to impose a Muslim travel ban.

And he dismissed assurances that he would be exempt from the ban if it is imposed, saying it is insulting to be singled out as exceptional.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, pictured at a Labour fringe event yesterday, compared Donald Trump to the terror group ISIS, saying the US President's Muslim travel ban adopts the same clash of civilizations world view as the extremists

Sadiq Khan reignited his feud with the US President by tearing into his travel ban policy. And he said he is happy to 'educate' Donald Trump on Islam

He told the Guardian Live event: 'My view was firstly "I'm not exceptional" and secondly "think about what you are saying".

'Because what you are saying is not dissimilar to what Daesh or so-called IS says.

'They say that there is a clash of civilisations, it is not possible to be a Muslim and a Westerner, and the west hates us. And you are inadvertently playing their game, you are helping them.'

He said Mr Trump's ban on travellers gave the 'wrong impression' of the religion and plays into the terror group's bid to divide the community.

He said: 'I'm a Westerner, but also a very proud Muslim. There are some people who want to divide our communities  I'm not going to let them.

The Labour mayor said Mr Trump is 'ignorant' about Muslims and repeated his call for his state visit to Britain to be cancelled.

Theresa May extended the invitation soon after Mr Trump moved into the White House, but it has been long delayed amid reports the US President does not want to be greeted by mass protests.

Mr Khan said: 'I think at a time when the President of the United States is doing and saying so many things that we disagree with, the idea of just rolling out the red carpet and having a state visit is wrong.'

He said he is happy to 'educate' the US President about Islam.

The US President, pictured yesterday outside the White House, has called for a total and complete shut down on Muslims travelling to America

In the same fringe event, the London Mayor admitted Brexit would not be a disaster for London as he told Labour members 'don't believe the hype'.

The London Mayor appeared to dismiss his own dire warnings about the impact of the historic vote to quit the EU.

Mr Khan has been a vocal advocate of a second referendum and claimed repeatedly Labour could derail last year's vote.

He claimed today the 'goalposts have moved' and said he doubted whether Theresa May's version of Brexit would ever come to pass.

Asked if he believed London was in 'real trouble', Mr Khan replied 'no' and later added: 'Don't believe the hype'.

Asked if Brexit means Brexit, Mr Khan said: 'Let's wait and see. I think the goalposts have moved.'

Do you ever feel London is in real trouble because of Brexit? 'No' and later added: 'Don't believe the hype.'
A close ally of Jeremy Corbyn today complained that the Left is being 'demonised' over vile trolling of BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg.

Chris Williamson denied that Labour activists were responsible for abuse that has forced the journalist to get a bodyguard for the party's conference in Brighton this week.

The bodyguard deployed by the BBC, thought to be an ex-soldier, has been photographed with Ms Kuenssberg over the past two days.

As Labour faced pressure to act to curb the vitriol today, shadow chancellor John McDonnell vowed to step in.

Asked about the situation on LBC radio this morning, Mr McDonnell said the abuse was 'unacceptable' and any activists found to be dishing it out would be disciplined.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, pictured at Labour conference in Brighton today, has been pictured with a man thought to be her bodyguard (left)

He said the journalist should tell anyone who hassled her that 'John McDonnell will sort them'.

But Derby North MP Mr Williamson rejected the idea that any Labour supporters were to blame.

He told TalkRadio it was 'appalling' that Ms Kuenssberg felt she needed protection.

But he took issue with presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer saying the Left were behind the abuse.

'It is a convenient thing to say, to try to demonise people on the Left,' Mr Williamson said.

Mr Williamson said it 'certainly' was not Labour members responsible because they were 'caring' people and would not 'indulge' in threats of violence.

Ms Kuenssberg, pictured at Labour conference in Brighton today, has suffered a wave of abuse from Corbynista trolls. Her bodyguard is thought to be a former soldier who works for a security firm used by the BBC

Ms Kuenssberg was with Mr McDonnell this morning as he was interviewed by the BBC during his broadcast round

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, pictured during a round of broadcast interviews today, has vowed to 'sort' the activists abusing Ms Kuenssberg

Challenged by the presenter to explain why Ms Kuenssberg only required a bodyguard at Labour conference, Mr Williamson said she was 'implying that reasonable criticism is the same as threat of violence'.

It is at least the second time in the space of a year Ms Kuenssberg has had extra security measures placed upon her, as she was reportedly given more bodyguards during this years general election.

Derby North MP Chris Williamson denied that Labour activists were responsible for abuse that has forced Ms Kuenssberg to get a bodyguard for Labour conference

She has received a barrage of abuse for her coverage of Mr Corbyn, dating back to his dismal cabinet reshuffle at the start of 2016, which was later criticised for her coverage of Labour's performance shocking performance at the local elections later that year.

And in the lead-up to the EU referendum last year, Labour supporters hissed at the BBC political editor when she asked Mr Corbyn a question about the workers rights.

Deputy leader Tom Watson, who hard-left supporters have reportedly targetted for his alleged disloyalty to the party leader, said he was 'embarrassed' by the hissing.

In a tweet last year, Mr Watson wrote: 'I feel embarrassed that @bbclaurak was hissed in the course of doing her job today. It was rude and inappropriate.'

Mr Corbyn himself has previously claimed the BBC were 'obsessed with trying to discredit him' during a Vice News documentary.

He said: 'There is not one story on any election anywhere in the UK that the BBC will not spin into a problem for me. It is obsessive beyond belief. They are obsessed with trying to damage the leadership of the Labour party.'

More than 35,000 people signed a petition calling for Ms Kuenssberg to be sacked by the BBC before it was taken down by campaign group 38 Degrees.

The group said: 'That is totally unacceptable and, with the agreement of the petition starter, we've taken the petition down to prevent it being used in this way.

'There is no place in the 38 Degrees family for sexism or any form of discrimination or hate speech.'
Muhammad Rabbani, who worked for the controversy-dogged group Cage, appeared in court charged over a terror search today

The director of controversial advocacy group Cage has been convicted of an offence under the Terrorism Act after refusing to hand over the pin code to his mobile phone at Heathrow Airport.

Muhammad Rabbani, 36, was stopped under Schedule 7 on November 20 last year after returning home from a wedding in Doha.

He refused to give his pin number or the password to his laptop, saying he had been stopped many times under the schedule before and had never been required to give these details.

Rabbani said he had highly confidential information on his device and that handing it to police would be a breach of his 'personal and professional' privacy.

But on Monday he was convicted at Westminster Magistrates' Court of one count of wilfully obstructing a stop-and-search under Section 7 of the Terrorism Act.

Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot sentenced him to one year conditional discharge.

She said: 'The defendant was stopped by first one and then the second officer. Certainly the first officer had only the vaguest idea of what Cage did.

'As part of the stop the defendant was asked for the pin number and password for his iPhone and Apple computer.

'He said it was like handing over his home keys which he would rather not do.

'His main qualm he said was that there was a lot of information that had already been collected.

'What he did not say to them was that some of the information in his devices was excluded material.

'I accept he was trying to protect confidential material on his devices. The defendant took a calculated risk not to give the pin codes.

'You took a risk, it happened before, you thought you might get away with it again but you didn't.'

Before the trial started, Rabbani said: 'I'm not guilty of a crime and I'm doing what any other professional would've done in my place - the police included.

'We are quite confident that the law is on our side and the court will recognise that I'm actually innocent of any wrongdoing and was protecting an important principle: client confidentiality and legal privilege.

Rabbani claimed stop and searches at airports were 'deeply intrusive' as part of his defence

'We need to protect national security, but we need an intelligent and measured response.'

He added: 'Only five people were charged last year out of 19,000 stop-and-searches at the border and one of those was me.

'It is clear that the overwhelming majority of people are totally innocent and are being subjected to a deeply intrusive process for no reason.'

Rabbani, of Bethnal Green, east London, spoke to identify himself in the dock in front of a public gallery packed with reporters and supporters at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Cage campaigns against anti-terror policing against Muslims which it says is oppressive.

The group caused controversy in 2015 when Kuwaiti-born London extremist Mohammed Emwazi man was named as ISIS executioner 'Jihadi John'.

Hours after he was unmasked, the group's then-director Asim Qureshi described Emwazi as a 'beautiful young man'.

Cage provoked anger in 2015 when they claimed ISIS killer Jihadi John was a 'beautiful man'

The court heard that Rabbani refused to tell officers what he did for a living or give out his Pin saying 'it won't help you in any way' and that it breached his privacy.

Pc Tariq Chaudhry, the officer who conducted the search, said: 'I asked him questions about his occupation and he said he was a director of a company but wouldn't go any further - he kept saying 'You don't need to and it won't help you in any way'.'

Pc Chaudhry said that Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act gives officers their right to stop and search people 'with or without suspicion'.

Rabbani was repeatedly warned that he would be arrested if he failed to give his Pin codes, but said he had never been asked to give this information during previous stop-and-searches.

In a prepared statement given at his second police interview in May this year, Rabbani said: 'I considered that although the police were in law entitled to ask questions so that they could satisfy themselves I was not engaged in terrorist activity, that did not justify my in addition being required to expose all the sensitive contents of my phone to being copied and undoubtedly disseminated not just to police but to intelligence services and possibly elsewhere in the world - an unjustifiable, uncontrolled acquisition of material.'

The group caused controversy in 2015 when Kuwaiti-born London extremist Mohammed Emwazi man was named as ISIS executioner 'Jihadi John', pictured left and right

Giving evidence on Monday, he said that he had a large volume of documents relating to a Qatari client allegedly tortured in the US on his devices.

'It was a case involving the US against an individual who was allegedly tortured over the course of 12 or 13 years in US custody,' he said.

'There were around 30,000 (documents) which I was especially uncomfortable handling and I felt an enormous responsibility to try and discharge the trust that was given to me.'

But Judge Arbuthnot rejected his defence, finding he had taken a 'calculated risk' in not providing the information despite being warned of the consequences by police.

He was handed a conditional discharge, ordered to pay 600 costs and 20 victim surcharge.

Speaking outside court Rabbani vowed to launch an appeal against the verdict as he said the Schedule 7 powers amounted to a 'digital strip search'

Rabbani, pictured, was repeatedly warned that he would be arrested if he failed to give his Pin codes, but said he had never been asked to give this information during previous stop-and-searches

He also claimed to have been racially profiled by the officers that stopped him.

Rabbani said: 'I was prepared from the outset to pay the ultimate price, even if that meant imprisonment.'

He continued: 'At no point was I under suspicion and this was a matter of being profiled at the airport. There are important implications for our collective privacy as Schedule 7 acts as a digital strip search.

'I took the decision not to raise the details of an important torture case before my arrest and ultimately I have been convicted of protecting the confidentiality of my client.

'If privacy and confidentiality are crimes, then the law stands condemned.'

Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'Today's verdict is an important one.

'It's crucial that police are able to use the legislation that exists to help keep the public safe.

'Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is a vital tool in the fight against terrorism and we are committed to ensuring the power is used appropriately and proportionately, as it was in this case.

'The Met has retained Rabbani's phone and laptop and is continuing its efforts to examine the contents.'
A woman and a baby were trapped in a lift in central China for over an hour last Friday after the machine had malfunctioned.

The woman, who had been holding the baby, had her legs jammed between the lift and the lift shaft after the platform suddenly shot up when she stepped in.

Firefighters freed the pair after breaking the doors and took them to the hospital.

The woman, who had been carrying a baby, was trapped by her legs after the lift had shot up

Firefighter used two electric hydraulic cutting pliers to free the woman and the crying child

According to China News, the woman and the baby were stuck in a building in Yichang, Hubei Province, on September 22.

Reports suggested that the lift went up suddenly when the woman got in, with the baby in her arms.

The woman's legs were trapped by the lift doors and were unable to move.

Firefighters told the reporter that there were two difficulties in rescuing the pair.

The building had no lift doors from the first floor to the ninth floor, which meant the rescuers could not gain access from the floor above.

Firefighters also noticed that the woman's legs had been stuck in the tiny gap firmly.

The woman was freed by the firefighters who broke the lift doors. She sustained leg injuries

Firefighters spent over an hour to free the woman and a baby who had been trapped in the lift

Xiling firefighters decided to open the lift door on the ground floor using two electric hydraulic cutting pliers.

The woman, who has not been named, was saved after being stuck for over an hour.

The baby also survived from the incident.

The pair were taken to the hospital at 4:56pm.

The age of the woman or the baby has not been revealed.

It's also unclear if the woman is the baby's mother.
A British businessman who travelled to France to pay his respects to a fallen World War One soldier told how he got home from his trip and found an Ethiopian illegal immigrant hiding in the boot of his car.

Construction company boss Paul Edmunds, 59, had made the journey to the Continent with wife Jan, 57, and their friends, Duncan Bennett, also 59, and his wife Kate, 55, to see the grave of Kate's great uncle in Arras in northern France.

But when the group returned to their home town, Caersws in mid Wales, as they were unpacking the boot of Mr Edmunds' Nissan pick-up, they spotted a man's trainers poking out from among their bags.

The stowaway turned out to be a 22-year-old Ethiopian who had climbed in to the back of the vehicle, probably while Mr Edmunds took a quick nap at Calais after passing through customs prior to the journey home.

A migrant sneaked into a British tourist's car at the Channel Tunnel terminal in France before jumping out of the back when he got home to Wales

Paul Edmunds discovered the stowaway in the back of his Nissan pick-up after the trip

When the Ethiopian found out he was in Wales he made a prayer gesture and smiled.

Mr Edmunds, who runs an oak frame business with his wife, said : 'He asked if he was in England. I said 'Yes  well Wales, actually.'

He made a prayer gesture and smiled.' Mr Edmunds believes the man must have crept in to his vehicle as the group waited to board the Eurotunnel shuttle back to Britain.

'I needed a nap so we parked up and the other three went for a cup of coffee while I slept in the driver's seat. I'd left the car unlocked while I slept..

'This guy must have silently crept in and hidden beneath the suitcases. He would have had to have passed through French and UK customs before he got to us because we'd cleared customs ourselves.'

Mr Edmunds said he spotted the man as he unpacked his Nissan Navara at home following a 4 hour drive from Folkestone.

He said: 'When I saw a face I asked 'Where do you come from, Calais?'

'He didn't speak English but was able to ask if he was in England. I said 'Yes  well Wales actually' and he made a prayer sign and smiled.

Mr Edmunds (left) said the man asked whether he was in England, before he was arrested

He said the illegal immigrant had a phone and was trying to contact someone in England.

The four British friends had been on a four-day trip in France before boarding the shuttle in Calais.

Mr Edmunds said: 'Kate lost a great uncle in the First World War at Arras and we all wanted to visit his grave out of respect.'

He said the refugee was 'friendly'. He added: 'I gave him a bar of chocolate and a bottle of water.'

Lorry drivers face fines if stowaway migrants are found but holidaymakers do not. On seeing the immigrant, Mr Edmunds called police and the 22-year-old was handed over to immigration officials.

He said cops arrived at their home within 15 minutes of his 999 call.

The Channel Tunnel has previously been targeted by the many migrants in Calais hoping to get to Britain

The Home Office has said that the man will be dealt with according to immigration rules.

Mr Edmunds said: 'I asked him again where he was from and he said "Africa". He had a phone and was trying to contact someone here.

'I've never seen my wife's mouth open so wide as when she saw him step out of the boot.' The man was arrested and handed to immigration officials.

In 2015, the Channel Tunnel terminal in Coquelles, near Calais became a flashpoint as migrants attempted to charge onto the site to board trains and lorries.

Trouble flared at the nearby ferry port this weekend when migrants ran down the side of the fenced off motorway leading to the ferry terminal.

Trouble flared this weekend when migrants walked down the side of the fenced off road leading to Calais's ferry port, pictured last Thursday

Police fired tear gas and three officers were injured on Saturday in clashes with migrants, authorities said.

'Our British colleagues had opened only nine out of 14 lanes this weekend though we expected 9,000 vehicles in the Eurotunnel and 7,500 at the port,' local deputy police chief Jean-Philippe Vennin told AFP.

Around 50 migrants 'took advantage of the bottleneck to board a few trucks' and police engaged 'in a game of cat and mouse' to disperse them, said Vennin.

Three officers were injured in the clashes, a union source said, but gave no information on whether any migrants suffered injuries.
A 20-year-old man has become the seventh suspect arrested over the Parsons Green terror attack.

The man was apprehended at a 'halfway house' for asylum seekers in Cardiff, during a police swoop at 6am today, Scotland Yard said.

He has been taken to a south London police station where he is being quizzed by detectives.

Police stand outside a property in Cardiff, where a 20-year-old man was arrested in relation to the Parsons Green terror attack, this morning

The suspect was apprehended in the Welsh capital, during a swoop at 6am today and is being held a south London police station, Scotland Yard said (pictured, the scene)

The man is the fourth Wales-based suspect to be arrested in relation to the incident, on September 15.

Last week a raid on another half-way house for immigrants and a separate residential property, in Newport, saw three men taken into custody.

Today's arrest was executed by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and South Wales Police. Police are also searching another property in Cardiff.

Residents near the home told how the large terraced house in the Roath area of the city, was sealed off when a fleet of police vehicles arrived at 6am.

Barber Joseph Case said: 'I saw four Jeeps and a few vans pull up and officers get into the house.

'I saw them bring a guy out - he was in his twenties, dark Middle-Eastern appearance and about 6ft tall in a blue jumper.

A police officer stands outside the raided property in the Roath area of Cardiff this morning

'I've seen him around a lot in the last few months. It is used for asylum seekers and there are groups of maybe 10 to 15 people turning up at the house at a time. A lot of them are wearing Islamic dress.

'I saw this guy arguing with his landlord about rubbish being dumped outside. He was angry and he shouted: ''Get out of the house.''

Peter Millier, a church officer at the independent Tabernacle Cardiff, which is opposite the house, said he had had contact with a number of residents from the address previously.

He said an asylum seeker from Nicaragua and another from Iran would regularly go to services but that he thought both had since left.

The crude homemade bomb (pictured) failed to fully detonate in the tube carriage at Parsons Green, west London, during the attack on September 15

Counter-terror Police have made arrests in Dover, London, Cardiff and Newport, in south Wales. Pictured, officers outside the home of Ahmed Hassan, 18, in Sunbury, Surrey

Mr Millier said he understood that it was asylum seekers who lived in the house and that he met a third resident, who he believed was from Sudan, about two to three months ago.

He said all of them had been 'very friendly'.

He said: 'All these houses down here, or a significant number of them, are used by asylum seekers and also probably people who have been granted asylum.'

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said that four or five people lived in the property.

He said he saw the police take 'some guys' away who were 'probably the new occupants'.

Other neighbours in the Victorian street told how the rented house is used by asylum seekers.

One said: 'It is very worrying. This is a decent area but a lot of houses have become flats over the years.'

Seven people have been arrested in swoops across Britain, in the 10 days since the attack

So far only one person has been charged in relation to the Parsons Green attack, which injured 30 when a home-made bomb partially detonated on a Tube train in west London.

Three people remain in police custody and three people have been released with no further action.

Ahmed Hassan, 18, from Sunbury in Surrey, was charged with attempted murder and an explosives offence.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, where he was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday, 13 October.

He was arrested in Dover, Kent, at around 07:50am, just a day after the attack.

Police apprehended Hassan after spotting him in departures waiting for a ferry to France.

The teen allegedly built the explosive device at his home, where he lives with foster carers Ron and Penelope Jones.

Ahmed Hassan, 18, sketched in the dock when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court

He then got a train from Sunbury-on-Thames to Wimbledon, where he switched and boarded the District line and planted the bomb, the court heard.

Along with the 20-year-old man, a 25-year-old man, and a 30-year-old man also remain in police custody in connection with the investigation.

A 17-year-old male arrested on Thursday, 21 September was released from police custody with no further action on Friday, 22 September.

Two men  aged 48 and 21  were released from police custody on Thursday, 21 September, with no further action.

Searches are ongoing at one address in Surrey and one address in Cardiff.

Searches at other addresses in Surrey, Hounslow and Newport have all been completed.
A drug dealing escort was caught trafficking meth and ecstasy because she was using fake police lights to get to court on time.

Ebony Lerra Holland-Harris was jailed for more than three years in the Adelaide District Court after pleading guilty to five counts of drug trafficking.

Her 'well-organised' operation, which included a ledger detailing $50,000 in drug debts, was uncovered in bizarre circumstances.

The 31-year-old was running late for an appearance in the Adelaide Magistrates Court last May and got her co-accused Benjamin Michael Stacey to give her a lift.

Police spotted the car speeding down Main North Road with blue and red emergency lights flashing and pulled them over.

They noticed a Samurai sword protruding from the boot through the back seat centrefold, prompting a full search of the car.

The search found 12.35g of MDMA in various forms, including powder and tablets, and 5.34g of meth in two bags she was carrying.

Officers also seized the sword, a loaded air rifle and stolen tools along with $4,760 in cash.

The pair were arrested and a search of Holland-Harris' home in Elizabeth Park uncovered 48.5g of ecstasy and 9.28g of meth.

She was jailed for more than three years and will serve at least 18 months after sentencing in the Adelaide District Court

Police also found a paper notebook labelled 'debts' which she claimed were merely loans to friends, at times including drugs they had also taken.

But Judge Simon Stretton was unconvinced, noting the buyers were from all over Adelaide and totalled more than $50,000.

'It had a number of references to drugs through slang and shorthand ... a police declaration states that the format and entries of this notebook indeed are consistent with a drug dealers tick list,' he said in sentencing.

The ledger also noted items such as jewellery, including bracelets, rings and watches, small electronics such as tablets, phones and laptops, or weapons such as tasers.

'The potential inference is that you took these items for payment or somehow on account, in some way, for the drugs,' Judge Stretton said.

He slammed Holland-Harris for extending as much as $10,000 to addicts, which he said placed them in 'particularly desperate situations'.

'Trafficking drugs such as these are a blight on our community and cause carnage in our society. They wreck lives, destroy families and they are at the root of much related crime,' he said.

Holland-Harris claimed the cash found in the car was from pokies winnings, her work as an escort, and Centrelink payments.

But the judge found her evidence to be 'entirely unconvincing' and said the 'overwhelming inference' was the cash was gained from dealing drugs.

'You were vague, evasive and regrettably at the end of the day the court cannot accept your evidence as to the legitimate sources of those funds as even a reasonable possibility,' he said.

'The quantities, the tick lists and the cash indicate that you were undertaking a substantial street level trafficking operation with a view to profit.'

Judge Stretton detailed her troubled childhood said it had played a role in her drug addiction, which led to her to begin dealing and trafficking.

Holland-Harris will serve at least 18 months behind bars before she is eligible for parole.
China on Monday called for all sides in the North Korea missile crisis to show restraint and not 'add oil to the flames' amid an exchange of increasingly bellicose rhetoric between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after 'Mr Evil President' Trump called Pyongyang's leader a 'rocket man' on a suicide mission.

'Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!' Trump said on Twitter late on Saturday.

China is calling on the U.S. and North Korea not to irritate each other. Trump has continued to rule North Korea's Kim Jong-un as 'Rocket Man'

North Korea, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programmes in defiance of international condemnation, said it 'bitterly condemned the reckless remarks' of the U.S. president, saying they were an 'intolerable insult to the Korean people' and a declaration of war, the North's official news agency said on Monday.

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim described Trump as a 'mentally deranged U.S. dotard' whom he would tame with fire.

Kim said the North would consider the 'highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history' against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed his nuclear programme was 'the correct path'.

North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un called President Donald Trump 'deranged' and said that he will 'pay dearly' for his recent threats, Pyongyang's official state-run media reported on Thursday

Tough message: 'As president of the United States I will always put America first,' Trump told the United Nations

Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address on Tuesday to 'totally destroy' the country of 26 million people if North Korea threatened the United States or its allies.

Asked how concerned China was the war of words between Trump and North Korea could get out of control, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described the situation as highly complex and sensitive.

It was vitally important everyone strictly, fully and correctly implemented all North Korea related U.N. resolutions, Lu said, resolutions which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

All sides should 'not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present', Lu told a daily news briefing.

'We hope all sides do not continue doing things to irritate each other and should instead exercise restraint.'

Speaking to British Prime Minister Theresa May by telephone, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated the North Korean issue should be resolved peacefully via talks, state media said.

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho speaks outside the U.N. Plaza Hotel, in New York, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017

Grand setting: Trump stood in front of the world leaders assembled at the United Nations General Assembly in New York

China hopes Britain can play a constructive role in easing the situation and pushing for a resumption in talks, Xi added. May, like some other U.S. allies, has pushed for China to do more on North Korea.

Downing Street said the two leaders agreed there was a particular responsibility for China and Britain, as permanent Security Council members, to help find a diplomatic solution.

'They agreed the U.K. and China should continue working closely together to increase pressure on the North Korean regime to abandon its nuclear programme,' a spokesman said.

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear bomb test on Sept. 3, prompting another round of U.N. sanctions. Pyongyang said on Friday it might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

While China has been angered by North Korea's repeated nuclear and missile tests, it has also called for the United States and its allies to help lessen tension by dialling back their military drills.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on Saturday in a show of force the Pentagon said indicated the range of military options available to Trump.

'A continued rise in tensions on the peninsula, I believe, is not in the interests of any side,' Lu said, responding to a question about the U.S. air force exercises.

For its part, China says it is committed to enforcing sanctions against North Korea.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi finishes speaking during a U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the acute threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, on the sideline of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly. His office is calling for the two sides to show restraint

Wang Jingdong, president of the world's largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), told reporters during a briefing the bank will 'strictly implement U.N. Security Council decisions related to North Korea and carefully fulfil relevant international responsibility'.

The North accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies.

The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with North Korea because the 1950-53 conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said his decision to call a snap election would not distract his government from responding to North Korean threats, pledging to increase pressure if Pyongyang failed to halt its missile and nuclear weapons development. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Christine Kim in Seoul; Additional reporting by Shu Zhang in Beijing, Elizabeth Piper in London and Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Writing by Philip Wen; Editing by Nick Macfie)
A surfer was bitten by shark on a Florida beach yesterday.

Witnesses saw the man get bitten on the arm after washing over a school of fish where the shark was feeding off Lake Worth beach at 2pm.

The man managed to paddle to shore where lifeguards wrapped his arm in a shirt and kept him conscious with oxygen.

A surfer was bitten by shark on a Florida beach yesterday. Pictured: The man's injuries

Witnesses saw the man get bitten on the arm after washing over a school of fish where the shark was feeding off Lake Worth beach at 2pm

The man managed to paddle to shore where lifeguards wrapped his arm in a shirt and kept him conscious with oxygen

The unidentified man was then taken to hospital where he is recovering. Pictured: Lake Worth beach

Witness Peter Pereira told Sun Sentinel: 'He started going white, which was really really scary. It was just a ghastly thing to see.'

The unidentified man was then taken to hospital where he is recovering. The species of shark is unknown but it's thought to have been four to five feet long.

It comes after a father-of-three who almost died after having his leg ripped off by a monster shark gets back in the water just months after he was savagely mauled.

Since Glenn Dickson survived a savage shark attack in February, the young father has been thinking about getting back in the water.

Glenn Dickson was spearfishing off Hinchinbrooke Island, North Queensland on February 18 when he was attacked by a bull shark

Seven months since a three-and-a-half metre bull shark nearly ended Mr Dickson's life, he is back in the water

And seven months since a three-and-a-half metre bull shark nearly ended Mr Dickson's life, he is finally back where he is happiest.

The 25-year-old was spearfishing off Hinchinbrooke Island, North Queensland, on February 18 when he was confronted by the vicious bull shark.

The creature repeatedly attacked Mr Dickson and left him fighting for his life in hospital, where doctors had to amputate his right leg.

Speaking to 60 Minutes on Sunday night, the young father-of-three relived his horrific ordeal and shared his journey since the attack.

'You can't stop living life just because you get knocked down,' he said.

'You've gotta get back up and keep trying, and I love the ocean and I knew what I was doing that day.'

Mr Dickson said he was 'as close as you can get' to dying but miraculously pulled through, even after a 45-minute boat ride back to shore, where he was flown to Cairns Base Hospital.

The creature repeatedly attacked Mr Dickson and left him fighting for his life in hospital, where doctors had to amputate his right leg
A 16-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a school welfare officer was stabbed this morning.

Police and ambulances were called to the Winterton Community Academy in North Lincolnshire after a 61-year-old woman, named locally as Joy Simon, was injured with a black-handled kitchen knife before 9am.

A schoolgirl was arrested and Mrs Simon was rushed to hospital. Police say her wounds are not life-threatening.

Georgina Corney, who went to the school to pick up her younger brother, said: 'A female student from year 11 came into the school and approached the safeguarding room where Mrs Simon was.

'She dropped her bag outside the door before going in and attacking Mrs Simon, who was defenceless.'

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Police closed off Winterton Community Academy in North Lincolnshire this morning after a school welfare officer was stabbed and a 16-year-old schoolgirl was arrested

Parents were sent this text message this morning informing them that pupils were safe

Ms Coney added: 'Cleaners who were finishing their morning of cleaning heard screams and cries for help and rushed down to the room and then were followed by other staff members, who held the attacker while emergency services arrived.'

Headteacher Gareth Morris, whose office is close to where the attack happened, said: When I arrived I could see a female member of staff was already been dealt with and being administered first aid.

'Another member of staff had already restrained the pupil while we waited for the emergency services to arrive.

'The incident was both horrific and very calm at the same time. Staff were there talking to a number of different emergency services at the same time.

'They acted almost instinctively. The injured member of staff was very distressed.'

Staff said the weapon was a small kitchen knife which was 'almost certainly' brought into the school by the pupil.

Mr Morris sent a text to all parents advising them they could collect their children if they wished but the school remained open for the rest of the day.

'This is a rare occurrence for something like this to happen in this locality or nationally,' he added.

'The school will be open tomorrow and everyone will be expected to be in school.

'PCSOs will be here for the rest of the week and the local authority will be providing on-site support for pupils.'

Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson, of Humberside Police, added: 'The alarm was raised through witnesses hearing a disturbance which was in a room where the teacher and the student themselves were.

A woman police officer stood at the gates of the school this afternoon after the incident

'Staff responded to raised voices and called police upon finding her having been stabbed. We were on-hand quickly at the site and she was arrested.

'The teacher has non-life-threatening injuries and is in hospital with family. She will make a full recovery.

'Incidents like this are extremely rare - I can't think of another like this in my time as a police officer. We will have a police presence in the school for the rest of the week.'

Mrs J. Simon is listed as working as an inclusion support officer at the school on its website. Mervyn Smith, 85, a neighbour, confirmed Mrs Simon worked as a welfare officer at the school.

Jack Clixby wrote on Facebook: 'Absolutely f***ing shocked at this! How could anyone do this to Joy! Such a lovely lady! Wishing her a speedy recovery!'

Samantha Threadgold added: 'Miss Simons has been attacked by a young lass.'

Parents of children at the school wrote online that they believed no other youngsters were present when the alleged attack took place.

They praised the school worker injured, saying: 'She's lovely. I hope she is okay.'

Trudi Chapman, whose 11-year-old daughter Sophie is in Year Seven at the school, said she found out what was going on through Facebook.

She said: 'My daughter told me that the children were not allowed out of class.

'I texted my daughter asking 'is everything okay, you need to talk to me now' and she told me that children aren't being allowed out of their classrooms and that the children don't know what they are meant to do.

'I was shaking like a leaf - all I was thinking about was my daughter.'

A girl has been arrested after a welfare officer from this school near Scarborough was stabbed

The school is situated in a small village to the north of Scunthorpe in north Lincolnshire

Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson said: 'We attended a serious incident just before 9.00am this morning at Winterton Community Academy, and a 61 year old woman is being treated in hospital for serious but not life threatening injuries.

'Staff at the school and police officers responded to this isolated incident very quickly, and one person is currently in custody as a result.

'There was no disruption to any other children, none of whom witnessed the incident. Children at the school have not been directly affected by this.'

Police confirmed the girl arrested is a student at the school.

Winterton Community Academy is a mixed-sex school with 518 students on its rolls.

It converted to an academy from comprehensive status in 2012 and was rated as Good during its last Ofsted inspection in 2016.

The school is based in Winterton - a small town in north Lincolnshire about five miles away from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.

The incident will raise questions about teacher safety in schools, following similar cases in recent years, like that of Ann Maguire.

The Spanish teacher was fatally stabbed in the back by 15-year-old Will Cornick as she taught a class at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds in 2014.

And in Bradford, Vincent Uzomah was stabbed in the stomach by a 14-year-old boy in a racially motivated attack in front of pupils at Dixons Kings Academy in 2015.
Beachgoers were left stunned when a mysterious creature washed up in the surf.

The enigmatic seabeast was found in the shallows off Maasin City, on the island of Leyte in the Philippines.

Julius Alpino, from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said the corpse could not be identified because it was already decomposing.

The enigmatic seabeast was found in the shallows off Maasin City, on the island of Leyte in the Philippines

But Julius Alpino, from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said the corpse could not be identified because it was already decomposing. The city reportedly decided to tow the 32ft-long creature back out to sea, saying it could not be buried because of its size and its smell was already a health hazard

Local man Nujnuj Capistrano, 42, photographed the beast after spotting it as he was passing the beach. He said: 'The smell was too bad. I can't describe it, but it was a bad smell.'

However, he said there was a chance that the creature, which was the length of a fighter jet, could have been a whale.

Local man Nujnuj Capistrano, 42, photographed the beast after spotting it as he was passing the beach.

He said: 'I was just passing by the beach and took some photos but I don't know about the details.

'I was surprised because it's too big and it's the first time I saw that kind of creature.

'I don't know what they did with it but one thing is for sure, the creature was already dead when I saw it.

'The smell was too bad. I can't describe it, but it was a bad smell.'

Local man Nujnuj Capistrano, 42, photographed the beast after spotting it as he was passing the beach

The city reportedly decided to tow the 32ft-long creature back out to sea, saying it could not be buried because of its size and its smell was already a health hazard.

Photos from the beach show rescue workers at the scene and a vessel towing the creature away from the beach.
A pair of lederhosen worn by Edward VIII on his honeymoon with Wallis Simpson has been put on sale.

The Duke of Windsor, who abdicated the throne to marry the divorced American socialite, is believed to have bought the traditional German clothing in Austria in 1937.

During the trip the former King controversially met Adolf Hitler, attended a Nazi rally and was photographed giving a Nazi salute.

Front and back: A pair of lederhosen worn by Edward VIII on his honeymoon with Wallis Simpson have been put on sale

Edward VIII, pictured here in his lederhosen on his honeymoon with Wallis Simpson (middle) and Nazi sympathiser Fern Beedeaux (right), was photographed giving a Nazi salute

The trip was arranged by Charles Bedeaux, a French millionaire who had hosted the couple at one of his French chateau for their wedding on June 3, 1937.

Bedeaux had connections with the Nazi party and even rented a villa near Hitler's Alpine retreat at Berchtesgaden. He and his wife Fern joined the newly-weds for part of their honeymoon.

A black and white picture being sold with the lederhosen shows Edward wearing them with Wallis and Fern at one of the Bedeauxs other properties, Borsodivanka Castle in northern Hungary.

A similar picture of Edward in the lederhosen was used in December that year on the cover of Look magazine.

The outfit previously belonged to the Duke of Windsor's estate but for the past 20 years it has been in the hands of a private collector who has decided now is the right time to sell it.

The pale grey chamois lederhosen, which have leather shoulder straps and lacing to the sides, are tipped to sell for 7,500 ($10,000).

During the unofficial royal visit, Edward had a private meeting with Hitler at his retreat in Berchtesgaden and gave a public speech declaring the Nazi economic model to be 'a miracle' and was photographed giving Nazi salutes.

Darren Julien, of US-based Julien's Auctions, which is selling the lederhosen, said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Windsor spent many holidays in Austria, including a portion of their honeymoon in 1937.

Edward appeared on the front cover of Look magazine in 1937. Stood beside Wallis Simpson, he was wearing the lederhosen

The auction takes place on November 17 and the lederhosen is tipped to sell for 7,400

'Their fondness for the region was reflected in his style.

'He was photographed in lederhosen on the cover of the December 7, 1937 issue of Look magazine where he wears this exact pair.

'Anything from the Duke and Duchess have become highly sought after therefore increasing their collectability with collectors, museums and admirers of the history for the royal family.'

Edward became King in January 1936 but only months into his reign he caused a constitutional crisis by proposing marriage to Simpson, who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second.

When it became apparent that he could not marry Simpson and remain King, Edward abdicated after just 326 days on the throne.

Earlier this year it was revealed that Winston Churchill tried to block the release of secret documents revealing Nazi plans to put Edward back on the throne.

Captured telegrams showed a German plot to allow the former king to become monarch again if Britain was forced to make peace in the Second World War.

According to files released by the National Archives, in the aftermath of the war historians sought to publish the telegrams but Churchill intervened to protect Edward's reputation.

The documents also revealed Germany's Foreign Minister believed Edward strongly favoured peace with the Nazis.

The auction takes place on November 17.
Teenage pregnancy can be good for women by helping them turn their lives around, the shadow education secretary said today.

Angela Rayner, who left school pregnant at 16 with no qualifications, criticised the way young mothers were dismissed as 'failures' with 'nothing in their lives'.

The frontbencher - tipped as a future Labour leader - said she was 'shouting at the screen' during a recent parliamentary debate on the issue because MPs were only seeing it as 'terrible'.

While stressing she was not endorsing teenage pregnancy, she said it 'saved' her from going down another path on the Greater Manchester council estate where she grew up because she wanted to prove she was not 'the scumbag' people thought.

Angela Rayner, pictured with Jeremy Corbyn last year, pointedly refused to scotch rumours about her leadership ambitions during an event at Labour conference today

Speaking at a Times Red Box fringe event at Labour's party conference in Brighton, Mrs Rayner also pointedly refused to scotch rumours about her leadership ambitions.

In an apparent jibe at Mr Corbyn, she said her constituents were not that interested in what was happening in socialist Venezuela - long an obsession of the Left - and just wanted politicians to improve their living standards.

Speaking about her back story, Mrs Rayner said she had been 'saved' by becoming pregnant at 16.

'Even though getting pregnant at 16 and having no qualifications is not the best start for anybody, you've got to understand that where my life was, it actually saved me from where I potentially could have been,' she said.

'Because I had a little person that I had to look after and I wanted to prove to everybody that I wasn't the scumbag that they thought I was going to be, and I could be a good mum, and that somebody was finally going to love me as much as I deserved to be loved.

'And that's what pregnancy was for me, it saved me.

'I'm not suggesting that we should advocate it, but to suggest that these young women are just failures and that they've got nothing left in their lives, I was really quite cross that actually they couldn't understand the complex reasons and some of the advantages we can have in terms of changing people's lives around.

'And it did for me, and my children are in a much better position than I ever had, and my mum could only have dreamt of having a daughter that got to where I am today.

'That's social mobility.'

Mrs Rayner carefully dodged questions about her leadership ambitions, without ruling out a bid in future.

In an apparent jibe at Mr Corbyn (pictured at Labour conference today) Mrs Rayner said her constituents were not that interested in what was happening in socialist Venezuela - long an obsession of the Left - and just wanted politicians to improve their living standards

But asked if she often chanted 'Oh Jeremy Corbyn', she pointedly noted that some people had been chanting 'Oh Angela Rayner' at her.

Ms Rayner also attacked both Tory and Labour governments for ignoring the north of England, suggesting politicians think of northerners as 'inbred' and not worth hearing.

The Ashton-under-Lyne MP called for economic investment for 'left behind' communities, arguing that the lack of opportunities in the North led to the Brexit vote.

'Some of the mess we've got ourselves in, in terms of, you know, we're leaving Europe and people are feeling pretty uncertain about the future, the reason for that is because successive governments have ignored people in the North,' she said.

'They think that we're sort of a bit Luddite, and dare I say it, inbred.

'They genuinely think we're all a bit weird with three eyes and that we're downwind from Sellafield so we clearly haven't got an opinion that's worth listening to and that somehow, that we just don't understand what's good for us.

'Well we understand that for decades we've felt left behind and we've not had the structural investment in our communities - not a new hospital, because we've all got diabetes and we're overweight.

'That's not what we're talking about, we actually want our children to not have to go to London if they manage to get a decent education and leave, we want our young people with amazing minds to do things in our constituencies.'
The 20-year-old is said to have been snatched by a group calling itself Black Death after being lured to a fake modelling shoot in Milan in July

One of the alleged kidnappers of British model Chloe Ayling is fighting extradition to Italy as his lawyer claims the entire case could be a 'sham' invented as a 'publicity stunt'.

The 20-year-old is said to have been snatched by a group calling itself Black Death after being lured to a fake modelling shoot in Milan in July.

Lukasz Herba, 30, is in custody in Italy, having been arrested after delivering Ms Ayling to the British Embassy on July 17 - six days after she was allegedly kidnapped. He has said he did not knowingly take part in any crime.

His 36-year-old brother, Michal Herba, was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Italian authorities last month.

He appeared in custody at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court today to fight extradition, having been in custody since he was apprehended in the Tividale area of Sandwell in the West Midlands.

In court today, his lawyer made the claim that the case could be a 'sham' and 'publicity stunt'.

But Ms Aylings former manager Phil Green told MailOnline: Of course it wasnt a sham!

'I said six weeks ago that Chloe was genuinely kidnapped and I still stand by that.

'Herba's lawyer is in cloud cuckcoo land if he thinks he is going to successfully defend his client by suggesting it was staged.

Prosecutor Florence Iveson said Herba has been requested by the court of Milan in relation to a single offence of kidnapping arising from events between July 11 and 17.

'The allegation is that Mr Herba acted in complicity with his brother, Lukasz Herba, and other unidentified persons to kidnap the victim in Milan,' she said.

'It is said she was drugged and kidnapped and a 300,000 euro ransom was demanded. The allegation is one of kidnap with drugs. Particularity is not required as it is on an indictment.'

But Herba's lawyer, George Hepburne Scott, raised questions over the account given by Ms Ayling, of Coulsdon, south London, who claims she was drugged and bundled into the boot of a car after being tricked into attending the bogus photoshoot in Milan on July 11.

'There is a real risk that the entire case is a sham,' he said.

Referring to 'open source material', Mr Scott said: 'The same complainant, it seems, generated publicity from the fact she was nearby the scene of a terrorist attack at the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Michal Herba (left, with with brother Lukasz in Milan in July) was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Italian authorities last month

Kidnap plot: Police in Italy say Lukasz Herba, pictured, 'kidnapped and tried to sell a British model on the dark web for 270,000'

The 20-year-old model told police she had been lured to a fake photoshoot in Milan where she was drugged, stripped and handcuffed before being bundled into a suitcase in the boot of a car

Herba's lawyer, George Hepburne Scott, raised questions over the account given by Ms Ayling, of Coulsdon, south London, who claims she was drugged and bundled into the boot of a car after being tricked into attending the bogus photoshoot in Milan on July 11

Picture of the mountain house where Chloe Ayling was allegedly held in the village of Borgial near Turin

Pictured is the room where 'kidnapped' British model Chloe Ayling was allegedly held by captors

'Prior to the release of the complainant, the kidnapper apparently issued a press release to a tabloid newspaper setting out that this lady was being held for auction.'

The lawyer also pointed to an alleged incident during which Ms Ayling and her captor went shopping for shoes, calling it a 'wholly anomalous feature of a hostage situation'.

She also went to breakfast with the kidnapper before her release when the pair found the British consulate was closed, Mr Scott added.

'It would amount to an abuse of process of the court if there was any evidence to suggest this was a publicity stunt,' he told the judge.

Ms Ayling said she will be releasing a book about her time in captivity

'This case has a unique set of anomalies which might lead to the conclusion that the Italian authorities have been duped and that their process has been abused.'

District Judge Paul Goldspring pointed out much of the material relied on by Mr Scott came from press reports, which he said did not prove any of the theories in the case. He will give his ruling on Friday.

The judge added: 'You understand what's going to be argued is that your family life should prevent your extradition?

'For example you could have served medical notes showing your partner is pregnant. But all I have is your word for it.'

The court heard the Italian authorities had DNA, video and tapped telephone evidence.

Herba has been kept at HMP Wandsworth while awaiting the hearing.

Florence Iveson, representing the judicial authority, asked Herba: 'You say you have a partner but you have not provided her name, she is not here to give evidence today.

'We have no information about your relationship with her, how do we know she exists?'

Lukasz Herba said he was paid 500,000, but when he found out the Romanians intended to kidnap and sell her as a sex slave, he backed out of the plan.

These pictures were emailed to her agent and used to advertise her 'for sale' on the dark we

The Italian press has questioned why alleged kidnapper Herba would accompany Miss Ayling into the British consulate in Milan

Mother-of-one Ms Ayling was said to be drugged handcuffed and dumped in the boot of a car by the gang who called themselves Black Death and then tried to sell her on the Dark Web, possibly to Middle Eastern buyers.

Lukasz Pawel Herba has said his involvement stems from wanting to raise money to treat his leukaemia and that he was hired by a group of Romanians to rent properties around Europe to store garments they were selling.

Mr Hepburne Scott added: 'The judicial authority has failed to provide any particularity whatsoever about what the allegations Mr Herba has done.

'We simply don't know what the conduct alleged is.

'We don't know if the authorities are alleging he was the one who drugged her, grabbed her or drove a car or was a look out.'

Ms Ayling said she will be releasing a book about her time in captivity.
The boss of Uber has issued an apology for 'mistakes made' after the firm was sensationally denied a new operating licence in London.

Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi accepted that the company 'got things wrong', as he made an impassioned vow to fight for the company to remain in the capital.

His admission comes days after Transport for London (TfL) announced the firm would be barred from working in the city from next month due to its failure to report crimes carried out by its drivers.

Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi accepted that the company has 'got things wrong'

Transport for London ( TfL ) sensationally announced the firm would be barred from working in the city from next month

In a letter to the London Evening Standard, he wrote that although Uber will launch an appeal against the decision by TfL not to renew its licence, it will do so 'with the knowledge that we must also change'.

Mr Khosrowshahi, who took over at the firm last month, added: 'We won't be perfect, but we will listen to you; we will look to be long-term partners with the cities we serve; and we will run our business with humility, integrity and passion.'

The issues raised by TfL include Uber's approach to reporting serious criminal offences, how drivers' medical certificates are obtained, how criminal record checks are carried out, and its use of technology which allegedly helps it to evade law enforcement.

The Silicon Valley firm - which boasts more than 5billion passengers in over 630 cities worldwide - fears the decision by regulators in London may now encourage authorities in other countries to launch their own crackdowns.

Passengers are outraged by the bombshell announcement last Friday, which they say will leave them unable to afford late-night lifts home and will put thousands of drivers out of work.

Ahead of a planned appeal, which will see the dispute dragged into court, at least 760,000 Londoners have signed a petition calling for the decision to be reversed.

Drivers of black London cabs held a protest earlier this year against the minicab app. The app was seen as unfairly undercutting black cabs due to the lack of adequate regulation of drivers

Uber enables users to book cars using their smartphones across more than 40 towns and cities across the UK, with some 3.5 million passengers and 40,000 drivers using the app in London.

Mr Khosrowshahi took over at Uber last month after predecessor Travis Kalanick resigned following a series of scandals.

In an open letter in the Standard, Mr Khosrowshahi wrote: 'While Uber has revolutionised the way people move in cities around the world, it's equally true that we've got things wrong along the way.

'On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologise for the mistakes we've made.

'We will appeal this decision on behalf of millions of Londoners, but we do so with the knowledge that we must also change.

'As Uber's new CEO, it is my job to help Uber write its next chapter.

'We won't be perfect, but we will listen to you; we will look to be long-term partners with the cities we serve; and we will run our business with humility, integrity and passion.

'You have my commitment that we will work with London to make things right and keep this great global city moving safely'.

TfL said that the minicab app is 'not fit and proper' to operate in the capital due to concerns which have 'public safety and security implications'

Uber said in a statement that the decision would 'show the world that, far from being open, London is closed to innovative companies'.

The firm's current licence expires on September 30.

As part of their fightback, they are emailing all of their members individually to urge them to sign the petition.

But the firm has faced a barrage of criticism in recent years over the safety of customers, working rights for drivers and opposition from black cab drivers.

TfL concluded that the minicab app is 'not fit and proper' to operate in the capital due to concerns which have 'public safety and security implications'.

Transport for London said: 'TfL considers that Uber's approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications.'

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has now asked Transport for London (TfL) officials to 'make themselves available' to meet the boss of Uber.

Mr Khan said: 'I welcome the apology from Dara Khosrowshahi, the Uber CEO. Obviously I am pleased that he has acknowledged the issues that Uber faces in London.

'Even though there is a legal process in place, I have asked TfL to make themselves available to meet with him.'
Two people have been arrested over a man who was found with fatal head injuries after allegedly falling from a fourth floor balcony.

Officers are still at the scene in Liverpool city centre this morning, after a man in his 30s, named locally as James Balshaw, was found lying inside a gated courtyard yesterday evening.

An area below the luxury Elysian fields complex in Colquitt Street, Liverpool, is still cordoned off with a green tarpaulin sheet covering a car and another hanging over the fourth floor balcony.

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James Balshaw (pictured), known as Jay, is believed to be the man who died after allegedly falling from the fourth floor balcony in Liverpool city centre yesterday

He was found with fatal head injuries inside a gated courtyard near a luxury block of flats (pictured) in Liverpool city centre at around 7.30pm yesterday

Police are still on scene this morning after two people were arrested in connection with the incident. The man is believed to have fallen from the fourth floor balcony (pictured)

The man who died has been named locally as James Balshaw who was in his 30s and lived in Litherand until recently

A full police investigation is being carried out after Mr Balshaw was rushed to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital but pronounced dead shortly after.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: 'A 26-year-old woman from Netherton and a 30-year-old man from Litherland have been arrested after a man was found with serious head injuries in Liverpool city centre last night, Sunday, September 24.

'The man was pronounced deceased a short time later and a Home Office post-mortem will take place to establish the cause of death.

'His next of kin have been informed and specialist family liaison officers will be supporting the family.

'The man and woman were arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of controlled drugs and have both been taken to a police station for questioning by detectives.'

Tributes have been paid to Mr Balshaw, who was known as 'Jay' by his friends and worked for a concrete company.

One woman told the Liverpool Echo: 'He was the nicest lad, who would go out of his way to help anybody.'

Mr Balshaw (pictured) was in his 30s and believed to have been living in Litherand, Merseyside until recently

His Facebook page reveals he worked for a concrete company and lived in Litherand, Merseyside

Mr Balshaw is pictured on his Facebook with a young baby. He was living in Liverpool but had moved from Litherand

Mr Balshaw is pictured on his Facebook page in a garden holding a young girl in his arms

Jake Beattie, a former neighbour of Mr Balshaw, added: 'He was well known around here and popular.'

Others commented on Facebook 'R.i.p jay gone to soon. Thinking of all family and friends,', while another said 'The saddest news such a lovley lad with a lovley family!'

Officers are carrying out house-to-house and CCTV enquiries in the surrounding area.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Jeremy Corbyn finally managed to land a successful high five with Emily Thornberry at Labour conference today.

The Labour leader looked delighted to have pulled off the celebration after he faced mockery for accidentally slapping her breast when he missed the move on election night.

The senior MPs embraced on stage in Brighton today after Ms Thornberry's main address to party delegates.

She used her speech to condemn Theresa May for cosying up to brutal regimes in return for arms sales and mocked Boris Johnson.

But the shadow foreign secretary also took a dig at Mr Corbyn with a warning Labour in government would also have to stand up to ideological allies like Venezuela when they abuse human rights.

Jeremy Corbyn finally managed to land a successful high five with Emily Thornberry at Labour conference today (pictured this morning)

The Labour leader looked delighted to have pulled off the celebration (pictured) after he faced mockery for accidentally slapping her breast when he missed the move on election night

It all went horribly wrong in the early hours of June 9 as Mr Corbyn messed up his chance at a high-five with his close friend and ally (pictured)

In a warning to both sides of the political divide, Ms Thornberry said: 'In dark, dangerous times for our world Britain must be equally strong and equally committed to defence, development and diplomacy.

'That is what we offer on this stage. And that is what Labour in government will guarantee.

'From Venezuela to The Philippines we see the rule of law ignored and originally democratic governments turning into increasingly autocratic regimes.

THORNBERRY MOCKS JOHNSON OVER 'PATERNITY TESTS' Emily Thornberry mocked Boris Johnson for his colourful love life with jokes about paternity tests today. The shadow foreign secretary claimed he owed 350m a week in 'maintenance' payments for delivering Brexit to Britain. Mr Johnson fathered a daughter during an extra marital affair in 2010. He tried to cover up the story with a privacy action in court. In her main conference speech, Ms Thornberry said: 'Please let's just take a second to sympathise with poor old Boris. 'He's not been happy lately. Apparently he's sick of being blamed for the way Brexit is going and all the broken promises of the Leave campaign. 'I'm sorry, Conference? I'm sorry? Who does he think made all those promises? Who does he think was in charge of the Leave Campaign? 'I know Boris doesn't like paternity tests, but we might need one for Brexit. We need to get him in a studio with Jeremy Kyle.' She quipped: '''Yes, I'm sorry, Mr Johnson We've got the results back It looks like this one is yours It must have been that wild night out you had with Michael Gove. I've calculated your maintenance payments That'll be 350 million a week''.' Advertisement

'From Myanmar to Yemen we see human rights ignored and flagrant attacks against ordinary civilians all too often using British-made weapons.

'From Kashmir to Israel and Palestine we see efforts at diplomacy ignored and actions taken on both sides which will make peace harder to achieve.

'From Syria to Sudan, we see the Geneva Conventions ignored and despots committing war crimes with total freedom and impunity.'

In a sharp attack on Mrs May and her defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon, Ms Thornberry contrasted the pair's actions over Myanmar and Yemen.

She said: 'How else do they explain why - last week - Theresa May was in New York, finally announcing the suspension of cooperation with the military in Myanmar because of their actions in Rakhine.

'While on the very same day, Michael Fallon was in Jeddah, signing a deal to increase our cooperation with the military in Saudi Arabia wantonly ignoring their actions in Yemen.

'It is rank hypocrisy.'

Ms Thornberry said the incidents showed a 'basic fact' that the world would not be governed by 'ethics and values' while politicians choose the rules that apply to them.

She said: 'The world we want will never exist when governments like Theresa May's think it's perfectly OK to loudly condemn those they regard as enemies but then fall utterly silent when it is their friends in Bahrain rounding up, torturing and executing civilian protestors or their friends in Saudi Arabia dropping cluster bombs on innocent children in Yemen.'

Mr Johnson (pictured at Theresa May's Florence speech last week) was mocked by Ms Thornberry at the Labour conference today

Mrs May (pictured at church with husband Philip yesterday) was condemned for cosying up to brutal regimes in return for arms sales

She added: We will be a Government that will never put the interest of the rich and powerful above human Rights, The Rule of Law, and the lives of innocent children in Yemen.

'A Government that will never put our principles up for auction.'

Ms Thornberry mocked Boris Johnson for his colourful love life with jokes about paternity tests today.

The shadow foreign secretary claimed he owed 350m a week in 'maintenance' payments for delivering Brexit to Britain.

Mr Johnson fathered a daughter during an extra marital affair in 2010. He tried to cover up the story with a privacy action in court.

Mr Corbyn was touring the exhibition at Labour conference in Brighton today as delegates debated a series of policy motions

The Labour leader is enjoying his most successful conference as leader after unexpected election gains united the party behind him

In her main conference speech, Ms Thornberry said: 'Please let's just take a second to sympathise with poor old Boris.

'He's not been happy lately. Apparently he's sick of being blamed for the way Brexit is going and all the broken promises of the Leave campaign.

'I'm sorry, Conference? I'm sorry? Who does he think made all those promises? Who does he think was in charge of the Leave Campaign?

'I know Boris doesn't like paternity tests, but we might need one for Brexit. We need to get him in a studio with Jeremy Kyle.'

She quipped: '''Yes, I'm sorry, Mr Johnson We've got the results back It looks like this one is yours It must have been that wild night out you had with Michael Gove. I've calculated your maintenance payments That'll be 350 million a week''.'
A Romanian fraudster, who used sleight-of-hand magic tricks so steal jewellery worth 24,000 fro under the noses of shopkeepers, has been jailed.

Mircea Rostas, 26, who has conviction for crimes abroad, began a theft spree within months of arriving in the UK in October last year.

He targeted eight small jewellery shops around the country with an accomplice, who is still at large, between January and April this year.

Mircea Rostas, 26, who has conviction for crimes abroad, began a theft spree within months of arriving in the UK in October last year

They got away with almost 24,000 in rings, bracelets and necklaces in less than four months by showing staff how they wanted them wrapped.

Gemma Gordon, prosecuting, said the pair would handle the items and then say they only had euros and leave a 10 deposit.

They would leave saying they were going to get the money changed but not return.

It was only when staff checked the bags or boxes believed to contain the proposed purchases that they realised the valuables were missing.

Rostas was jailed for 26 months. Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that none of the stolen jewellery had been recovered and his accomplice was still wanted.

Between January and April this year the pair hit stores in Bristol, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Durham, Newark, Ely near Cambridge and Oxford.

In almost every case the thefts were captured on CCTV but the pair evaded capture by putting distance between the shops.

Rostas was eventually identified from some of the security footage and he admitted theft.

He targeted eight small jewellery shops around the country with an accomplice, who is still at large, between January and April this year

They got away with almost 24,000 in rings, bracelets and necklaces in less than four months by showing staff how they wanted them wrapped

The court heard that came to the UK a year ago and lived with his wife and young child in Birmingham working for a car valeting company.

He has a fraud conviction in the Czech Republic in 2015 which he got a suspended sentence for and was also fined for shoplifting in Germany in June 2016.

Defending, Lisa Hancox said Rostas had shown remorse but was under pressure to repay loans he had taken out.

Judge Jonathan Gosling told Rostas: 'It was planned and sophisticated and you were aware other jewellers would be tipped-off after each theft.

'You were therefore prepared to travel across the country to steal where people would not be suspicious.'

They got away with almost 24,000 in rings, bracelets and necklaces in less than four months by showing staff how they wanted them wrapped

Bristol victim Teresa Tremlett, who owns East Street Jewellery with her husband Gary, said: 'It really is a professional job.

'We have had someone run out before, but never something like this.'

She said her staff didn't even notice anything was wrong until the conmen had not returned the following morning - and they unwrapped the jewellery to find it missing.

She said: 'We watched the footage for ages to try and work out what they had done. We have to take our hats off to them, because it is so hard to see.

'It is very frustrating as we're a small business and for us it pays our mortgage,' she added.
A grandmother who bashed and stabbed her husband to death after he demanded group sex claims she should not be deported.

Eileen Mary Creamer argued she'd earned the right to stay in Australia because she washed laundry for Australian Defence Force personnel while behind bars.

The 60-year-old was jailed for 11 years, with a non-parole period of seven, in 2011 for killing her husband John in their home in the Victorian town of Moe in 2008.

Eileen Mary Creamer, 60, bashed and stabbed her husband to death after he demanded group sex but claims she should not be deported from Australia

She bashed him with a traditional African weapon called a knobkierie before fatally stabbing him in the stomach after he threatened to urinate on her.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton cancelled her visa last April, meaning she would be deported back to South Africa, where she was born, upon release.

He said in his decision she contributed little to the community in the nine months after she arrive din Australia and and cost taxpayers money while in jail.

Creamer appealed her deportation to the Federal Court, saying the minister did not consider her contribution to society while in prison.

'She's doing laundry for the Australian Defence Force,' her lawyer Greg Hughan told the court on Monday.

'There's something that's she's done that's given no weight. The positive contribution gets dragged down.'

Mr Hughan said 'the minister has erred' as the costs of her incarceration were not relevant give her contribution as a prisoner.

'Let's say there was a fire in prison, and one steps forward and saves many lives, including prison officers,' he said.

'Would you say they had not made a contribution to the community?'

Creamer was jailed for 11 years, with a non-parole period of seven, in 2011 for killing her husband John in their home in the Victorian town of Moe in 2008

Lawyer for the minister, Graeme Hill, replied that work in prison should not be counted on the positive side of the ledger.

'If the minister can validly consider a positive contribution made by someone, then the minister can validly consider a detriment, including a cost that someone has imposed on the community,' he said.

In any case a decision on deportation does not come down to 'arithmetic', he added.

'It isn't about how many dollars you bring in verses how many dollars you cost the community,' Mr Hill said.

'It is a serious example of defensive homicide.'

Creamer was the first person in Victoria to be convicted of defensive homicide after claiming she killed him in self-defence in an abusive 11-year open marriage.

During her 2011 trial she told the court Mr Creamer constantly harassed her to have sex with other men while he watched and even posted sexually-charged photos of her online to attract partners for her.

He taunted her after sleeping with another woman and they argued over his demands for groups sex, she told the court.

Creamer appealed her deportation to the Federal Court, saying the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton did not consider her contribution to society while in prison

Justice Mark Weinberg, in rejecting an appeal of her sentence, said her crime fell outside the parameters of murder 'only by a narrow margin'.

He said her argument that she believed she needed to kill him to defend herself was unreasonable 'almost to the point of being fanciful'.

'It must not be forgotten that the appellant acted upon that belief by viciously bludgeoning the deceased to the head and body, and stabbing him to the upper abdomen,' he said.

'This was grossly disproportionate, as well as being objectively unnecessary in order to defend herself.'

Federal Court Judge Bernard Murphy will decide whether to reverse Mr Dutton's deportation ruling at a later date.
A 46-year-old man has died after being fatally gored by a bull during a Spanish festival.

The victim, only named as Amadeo A.C., was participating in a bull run at the Bous al Carrer festival in the town of Pucol, in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia, when he was cornered by one of the animals.

Video footage filmed by a bystander in a nearby house, shows Amadeo and several other participants running away from a bull in a street.

Scroll down for video

Don't do the crime: The victim, only named as Amadeo, was fatally gored and trampled by an animal while he participated in a bull run

He takes refuge in a doorway but the bull scrapes him out with its horns.

The animal proceeds to gore and trample him in the street, ignoring the efforts of other men trying to distract it.

By the time the bull ran off, Amadeo had been seriously injured and was rushed by ambulance to the nearby Port of Sagunto Hospital.

It was discovered that the bull had punctured femoral artery,

The father-of-two was then was transferred to the Hospital Clinico de Valencia half an hour away because of the seriousness of his condition.

Horrible: In a video filmed by a bystander, the bull can be seen dragging the father-of-two around in a circle in the street

Sad end: The 46-yer-old was rushed to hospital, but the animal had punctured his femoral artery, and he died on the same day

However, he died shortly after arriving, the Civil Guard said.

The City Council has announced that next Sunday will be an official day of mourning in memory of him.

According to local media, Amadeo was keen bullfighting and bull running fan, and the celebrations have been suspended as a mark of respect.

A bull run is a Spanish tradition associated with bullfighting and used to take place when the animals had to be transported to the arena.

Normally six bulls are released in a cordoned off area of a town, and participants show their 'bravery' by running in front of - and harassing - the animals.
A bizarre video has emerged of a man in Belfast 'fighting' with a lamp post in the middle of the day.

The footage, shot at the end of December 2014, shows the man hitting and fighting with the inanimate object before eventually kissing it and making up.

According to the filmer, the man had previously been seen talking to a drink bottle before kissing the lampost, falling out and fighting with it then kissing it again.

The filmer, an employee at the cafe it was shot from, later wrote online: 'There is an off-licence beside my work and this man got a bottle of some sort from there.

'He stood outside laughing at the bottle. And talking to it.

'This all went on for 45 minutes. Then he set down his drink. And started laughing at the lamp post. And started to hug it and kiss it.

'Then he fell out with it. 'I saw him doing karate moves so I decided to start recording.'

It is not known what happened to the man after this incident.
12 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week



Image courtesy of Las Minas Puerto Flamenco.

Food, food and more food (and a little cocktail action) tops our favorite events in Chicago this week.



MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25

FLAMENCO: Add a little Spanish flavor to your Monday with Las Minas Puerto Flamenco at Harris Theater at 7:30 p.m. The music and dance show will explore the history of flamenco through trade portshighlighting how the roots of flamenco were brought to different parts of the world via boats and trade routes. Tickets start at $25.



TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26

WPB FALL DINNER CRAWL: The 6th annual Wicker Park Bucktown Fall Dinner Crawl from 6 to 9 p.m. gives neighbors and friends and opportunity to taste what the neighborhood has to offer. The crawl will be organized into three different routes featuring restaurants like Doves Luncheonette, Antique Taco, Umami Burger and Fonda Frontera. Tickets are $45 in advance ($55 day of).



WPB Fall Dinner Crawl 2016. Photo by Lydia Hoover.



WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27

SAKE TASTING: Learn about the Japanese rice wine at Slurping Turtle at 6:30 p.m. The tasting and class will break down any confusion about sake, serving 15 varieties paired with passed appetizers as well as some Japanese whiskies. Tickets are $25.

CARNIVALE UNIVERSITY: Carnivale University is back with Caipirinhas at 6:30 p.m. The hands-on class led by master mixologist, Daryl Freeman, will guide guests through making, shaking, and of course sampling these classic Brazilian cocktails. Tickets are $40.



Image via Imperial Lamain's Facebook page.

DUMPLING MAKING CLASS: Learn to make your very own colorful dumplings from the pros at Imperial Lamian at 6 p.m. Dimsum Head Chef Lim Kee Tiong will lead the Combination Xiao Long Bao, or rainbow soup dumplings class. And then once youve posted pics of your creation, enjoy the result with beverage pairings included. Tickets are $37.

360 PAINT PARTY: The 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck is throwing a Paint Party and youre invited. You know the drill; sip on some wine while painting the skyline at sunset with an instructor. Take home your 16x20 canvas work-of-art and enjoy a free ride on TILT while youre up there. Tickets are $50 and include a complimentary drink ticket.



THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 28

ACTIVATE: The alley art party ACTIVATE returns with Hideaway: Retreat from the Street from 5 to 10 p.m. Enjoy an evening filled with live music, dancing and anonymity curated by Salonathon inside Arcade Place Alley downtown. Admission is free, and and advance RSVP will get you a free drink ticket.

MUSIC SPEAKS LOUDER: Foundations of Music hosts their 29th annual fall benefit, Music Speaks Louder from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Prudential Plaza Club House & Roof Deck. The nonprofit that provides free music education to CPS students in the classroom. Locally based musician Jon Langford is the events honorary host, and will also perform among a silent auction, cocktails and apps. Tickets are $75.



FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29



Image via Lincoln Park Zoo's website.

LP ZOO FALL FEST: Lincoln Park Zoo 3rd annual Fall Fest kicks off this Friday with autumn themed-animal enrichment and so much more. Theres a corn maze, a tractor themed carousel, a ferris wheel, bounce houses, pumpkin carvers, and more. Admission is free and some activities are ticketed. Check the zoos website for the full schedule through Oct. 29.

REVBREW OKTOBERFEST: Revolution Brewing is taking Oktoberfest to the streets. Theyre throwing a two-day street fest outside the brewpub location complete with their own craft beer, eats from DAnerman and The Radler and live music. Theyve snagged Real Estate and Jeff Rosenstock to headline the celebration. Entry is a $5 suggested donation benefitting programs of Friends of Goethe School.

INTL LATINO THEATER FESTIVAL: The very first Chicago International Latino Theater Festival: DESTINOS will take place for the next month at venues across the city. See many US premieres including Medea and The Mirror at Steppenwolfs 1700 Theatre and I, the Worst of All at the National Museum of Mexican Art. See the full schedule on CLATAs website.

EATALY SEPTEMBERFEST 2.0: SeptemberFest is back at Eataly from 6 p.m. to midnight. The all-access party steps it up this year for its second version inviting local favorites to join the food halls own chefs. Enjoy food and drink from spots like Big Star, Billy Sunday, Osteria Langhe, Revolution Brewing and Yusho. Tickets are $85.
Ms Goodall is still trying to get in contact with the Good Samaritan

She was shocked to have it returned to the letterbox of her former home

It contained earnings from her hand cleaner sales at a motoring exhibition

Kerrie Goodall misplaced her purse in Melbournes inner-west in May

An unimaginable act of kindness has reunited a Melbourne woman with her wallet with $1,000 worth of earnings still inside after four moths of it being lost.

Kerrie Goodall misplaced her purse while running errands around Yarraville in May, and subsequently came to terms with the likely reality of never seeing her hard-earned cash again.

So when she was contacted by her former real estate agent, Dee Gibson, and told her purse had been found in the letterbox of her old home, Ms Goodall was understandably amazed.

Kerrie Goodall (pictured) was reunited with her purse containing $1000 after she lost it in Yarraville four months ago

'I was a little but shocked actually, I was thrilled and I really wanted to share it with people to give them hope that there's great people out there,' she told Nine News.

She had been selling hand cleaner to mechanics at a recent motoring exhibition and hadn't yet had the chance to bank her earnings.

While she admitted she felt 'pretty upset for quite a while' over the loss, she had tried to put it out of her mind.

Ms Goodall had moved properties since losing her wallet, making its return to her possession even more of an unlikely surprise.

She'd come to terms with the likely reality of never seeing her purse and hard-earned cash again

Ms Goodall had been selling hand cleaner to mechanics at a recent motoring exhibition and hadn't yet had the chance to bank her earnings

Mr Gibson explained how the new buyers had contacted him asking if he could help them return the lost item after they found it in their Spotswood letterbox.

'I received a call from the purchaser of Ms Goodalls previous home, and he said, "I've got her wallet, I'd love to pass it on, can you help me out?,' he said.

Ms Goodall hopes to get in touch with the honest stranger and show them how grateful she is.

'I'd love to say thank you so much and they can private message me, I'd love to know the circumstances of why (they handed it back) and maybe share a bit of a reward,' she said.


John McDonnell vowed to take Britain into a 'new era' of hard-Left government today as he set out plans to nationalise utilities at below the market rate.

The shadow chancellor fleshed out his goal of bringing rail, energy and water back into public ownership, insisting that parliament - not the market - would decide how much shareholders would be paid.

Mr McDonnell also signalled that Labour could borrow tens of billions to end PFI contracts to provide public services, reiterated Labour's determination to enforce caps on high pay, and vowed to strengthen unions.

John McDonnell vowed to lead Britain into a 'new era' as he set out a hard-left agenda

Mr McDonnell was congratulated by Jeremy Corbyn after delivering his speech to conference in Brighton today

But business reacted with alarm at the vision set out in the Corbyn ally's speech to Labour conference in Brighton - warning that it would send investors 'running for the hills' and leave the economy crippled.

Hailing the party's better-than-expected performance on June 7, which saw the Tories stripped of their overall majority, Mr McDonnell said: 'We have proved that we are an effective campaigning Party.

'We now have to prove that we will be an effective governing party. A Government that can set the political agenda for a generation.

'If you study the history of our Party, you will see that it's always been the role of Labour Governments to lead our country into each new era.'

Mr McDonnell siad it was a 'scandal' that PFI deals will see nearly 200 billion paid to private companies from the public sector over the next few decades.

Under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, Labour has already promised not to sign any new PFI deals.

But Mr McDonnell won loud applause as he told delegates: 'We will go further. I can tell you today, it's what you've been calling for. We'll bring existing PFI contracts back in-house.'

The PFI scheme was introduced in 1992 by former Conservative prime minister John Major, but was stepped up significantly under Tony Blair's administration, when it was used to fund the construction and operation of public sector infrastructure like hospitals.

Veteran left-winger Dennis Skinner said Labour should be honest about its plan to fund a spending splurge by borrowing billions of pounds

Mr Skinner was cheered to the rafters by delegates at the conference as he praised Labour's hard-left programme

Unite chief Len McCluskey, one of Mr Corbyn's closest allies, used his speech to taunt 'traitor' moderate MPs and insisted Labour had won the election

Under PFI, a private sector consortium funds, builds and maintains a facility on behalf of a public agency, then receives payments over the term of the contract, typically lasting 25-30 years.

The scheme has led to complaints that the NHS and other public bodies are forced to pay many times the original value of the property over the course of decades, while the contracts are frequently sold on by the original consortium.

John Appleby, chief economist at health charity the Nuffield Trust, warned that buying out PFI contracts would 'cost a lot of money'.

'Of course, it will cost a lot of money to do this. A big question is, is that an opportunity cost worth bearing? There are plenty of other things that we may want to spend our scare health money on,' he told BBC raido 4's World at One.

MAIN POINTS IN MCDONNELL'S CONFERENCE SPEECH Banning any further PFI deals in future, and potentially borrowing tens of billions of pounds to bring previous contracts back into the public sector.

Forced nationalisation of utility companies, with parliament - rather than market value - deciding how much the government will pay.

A cap on credit card interest, which would limit total charges to 100 per cent of the original amount borrowed, as a means of helping three million people in persistent debt.

Pledge to be more 'radical' to take Britain into a 'new era' with a shift to the left to make society 'fairer'. Advertisement

'In the NHS in England, it is paying around 2billion a year in repayments, and they will peak in about 2028, 2030.

'And I suppose if you add those up from now to the end of those contracts - the contracts end at different period - we could be looking at something like 56billion by 2048 in terms of payments.

'That's a huge figure of course. That's getting on for half of what we spend on the NHS today.

'Of course, taking these back into public ownership, as it were, doesn't come free. And the money would have to come from somewhere, either taxes or borrowing or reprioritising other public spending.'

Earlier, veteran left-winger Dennis Skinner told the conference that Labour should be honest about where it would get the money to pay for a spending splurge.

'We will borrow the money!' he told activists to cheers.

Mr McDonnell fleshed out his plans for nationalising swathes of utilities - which experts have said will mean borrowing tens of billions of pounds more.

'Building an economy for the many also means bringing ownership and control of the utilities and key services into the hands of people who use and work in them. Rail, water, energy, Royal Mail- we're taking them back,' he told activists.

Earlier, he was pressed on whether the government was ready to pay market value for the companies that are currently providing services. But he insisted parliament would decide how much would be paid by the government.

Business leaders voiced alarm at the hard-left plans in Mr McDonnell's speech.

CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn said it would send companies 'running for the hills'.

'The shadow chancellor's vision of massive state intervention is the wrong plan at the wrong time,' she said.

'WE'LL BORROW THE MONEY!' SKINNER SAYS LABOUR SHOULD BE HONEST ABOUT SPENDING SPREE Labour should be honest about its plans to finance a huge spending spree through borrowing, a veteran left-winger said today. Dennis Skinner, known as the 'Beast of Bolsover', told his party's conference that was what the private sector did. He cited former Labour health minister Nye Bevan who, when faced with questions about how to fund a national health service, answered 'we're going to borrow it'. 'When the private sector expands, where do you think they get the money from? They borrow it. 'And they don't take it out of their own safe when Tesco's expands. Do you think for a minute they go to Tesco safe and get the money out? Of course they don't - they go in someone else's safe and borrow the money.' He added: 'So all those people that stick a camera in your face every day of the week as you enter this building - tell them we'll do what the private sector do: we'll borrow the money.' Advertisement

'It raises a warning flag over the British economy at a critical time for our country's future.

'Business and politicians share a determination to create a fairer society in which everyone benefits.

'But the trickle of stalled investments caused by Brexit uncertainty could become a flood if these plans were to become reality.

'This would threaten the living standards of the very people that need help, from pensioners to students.

'Forced nationalisation of large parts of British industry will send investors running for the hills, and puts misplaced nostalgia ahead of progressive vision. Where Labour has engaged with business  from Brexit and skills to infrastructure and innovation  solutions have been found to deliver an economy that is both more prosperous and fairer.'

Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: 'Business communities around Britain will welcome Labour's recent efforts to deepen engagement on the big issues around economic growth, trade and Brexit.

'However, with the UK's departure from the EU on the horizon, businesses will be concerned by the Shadow Chancellor's proposals for widespread and deep intervention across the economy. Proposals to nationalise key industries would put business investment in the deep freeze at precisely the time that it is needed most.

'While we can agree that we want a productive and innovative economy, and better infrastructure, the role of government is to get the fundamentals of the business environment right  not to direct every aspect of economic life in the UK.'

In his speech, Mr McDonnell also announced plans for a cap on credit card interest, which would limit total charges to 100 per cent of the original amount borrowed, as a means of helping three million people in persistent debt.

He called on the Government to apply the cap in the same way currently used with payday loans, adding: 'If the Tories refuse to act, I can announce today that the next Labour government will amend the law. You can call it the McDonnell amendment.'

And he announced plans for a Strategic Investment Board, made up of the Chancellor, Business Secretary, Governor of the Bank of England and the new National Investment Bank, to channel funding into keeping Britain up to speed with the 'fourth industrial revolution'.

The shadow chancellor was cheered as he confirmed that a Labour government would scrap university tuition fees, overturn Conservative trade union legislation and nationalise rail, water, energy and the Royal Mail.

Buoyed by Labour's performance at the June 8 general election, Mr McDonnell said that the party was ready to be 'a government that can set the political agenda for a generation'.
Faith Jenkinson, 45, has been spared jail again after breaching her court order by falsely claiming benefits while living with her new husband

A bigamist has been spared jail again after falsely claiming benefits while living with her new husband.

Faith Jenkinson, 45, was given a four month suspended jail sentence in September 2015 when she tied the knot with company boss Andrew Asher despite the fact she was already married.

The health and safety consultant avoided prison after a judge accepted she was 'confused' about her marital status rather than acting for financial or immigration purposes.

She appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday after it was found she had breached her court order by falsely claiming benefits while living with her new partner.

The court heard Jenkinson was found to have wrongly pocketed more than 8,000 in housing benefit and income support after officials found her living with her new partner Steve Robinson at an address in Gainsborough.

Jenkinson, who appeared in court under her new surname of Robinson, admitted two charges of failing to disclose a change in her circumstances relating to income support and housing benefit.

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, told the court Jenkinson falsely claimed 3,223 in housing benefit and 5,672 income support between May 2014 and November 2015.

Miss Leonard said: 'The investigation began with Mr Robinson being observed coming and going from the property, and there were then investigations in to her bank account.

'The breach of the suspended sentence is in relation to an offence of bigamy. That bigamist marriage took place on 17 October 2010.'

The court heard Jenkinson, who has now remarried, pleaded guilty to the benefit offences when she appeared before Lincoln Magistrates Court on August 24.

Miss Leonard added: 'Clearly the matter would have remained in the magistrates court if it wasn't for the breach of the suspended sentence.'

David Eager, mitigating, told the court Jenkinson had already paid back much of the over payed benefits.

Mr Eager said the breach of the suspended sentence only applied to a few months between September and November 2015.

'They both related to partners, but it would be unjust to activate the suspended sentence,' Mr Eager argued.

Faith Jenkinson (pictured) swerved jail for bigamy in 2015 after claiming she was unsure of her marital status

Passing sentence Recorder Jacob Hallam QC sentenced her to five months imprisonment suspended for 24 months but warned her: 'Don't come back.'

Jenkinson was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Recorder Hallam explained: 'For somebody who has taken what you did the starting point is a medium level community order, some unpaid work.

'You have to your credit paid back quite alot of the money already.

Jenkinson and Andrew Asher, pictured on their wedding day, considered themselves married - but the union was officially voided

'But you know for a small period of this offence you were subject to a suspended sentence of imprisonment for a different kind of offence, although there was some overlap relating to your domestic situation.

'Baring in mind the period of time and your otherwise good character, balancing the competing factors I can pass a sentence that does not mean you will go to prison today.'

Jenkinson avoided jail in 2015 after she was discovered to be bigamist.

She had married Andrew Asher in 2010 in a 20,000 country hotel ceremony.

He lavished her with luxurious gifts, including a honeymoon in Bali.

But after three years he found she was already married to Michael Ulatowski - and had been since 1999 after she failed to finalise a divorce.

Mr Asher said he initially became suspicious after Jenkinson, a former police worker, did not talk about her past.

Jenkinson was questioned by police and admitted divorce proceedings to her first husband had never been formally completed.

Following a trial in 2015, she was sentenced to a suspended four-month prison term and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Two kindergarten teachers in China have been arrested after allegedly binding their pupils with duct tape.

The two female teachers were said to be educating the children when the shocking incident took place on September 23.

The school in Dezhou, Shandong Province, has apparently been shut down as it was found to be operating without a license.

A surveillance video circulating online apparently showed the teachers tying up one child with adhesive tape.

Around a dozen other pupils witnessed the punishment as they sat in the classroom.

According to Chinese news website The Paper, the two educators are named Song and Dong and they work at the Duo Lai Mi Child Education Centre.

Two kindergarten teachers in China have reportedly been wrapping their pupils with duct tape

A video circulating online claims to show one pupil being punished in class on September 23

Police started investigating the education centre after parents reported to them that their children had been given physical punishment.

Song and Dong were said to be teaching the second grade in the centre. The pupils in that class should age between three and four.

The viral video also showed a number of parents had vented their anger towards the school by putting a banner outside its gate.

The banner claimed the teachers had hit, scolded, insulted and threatened their children.

Angry parents put a banner outside the kindergarten, which accused the teachers of hitting, scolding, insulting and threatening the pupils. The school had been running without a license

The kindergarten was shut down by the authority of the township on September 24.

According to a notice posted by the authority outside the kindergarten, the school had not obtained a license and its teachers were deemed unqualified.

Song and Dong have been arrested by the local police.

Case is under further investigation.
Robert J. Wilson (pictured here), 23, who was under the influence of LSD and naked, was arrested by police Friday after attacking a woman in southwest Fort Worth, Texas

Police arrest man who allegedly attacked a woman around 11 p.m. at the Coventry at Cityview Apartment Homes in southwest Fort Worth, Texas Friday.

The man being identified as the attacker is 23-year-old Robert J. Wilson, who was reportedly under the influence of LSD and naked at the time of the incident, according to Dallas News.

The woman was assaulted in the 5200 block of Bryant Irvin Road and now Wilson faces several charges of assault including criminal mischief, resisting arrest, harassment of a public servant and assault causing bodily injury.

After his arrest Wilson was sent to the Mansfield city jail, where his combined bail was set at $5,500.

Officer Brad Perez, a spokesman for the Fort Worth Police Department, revealed Wilson had to be shocked with a stun gun several times.

A similar incident occurred last weekend where a naked cyclist attacked a jogger about seven miles away.

The woman was assaulted in the 5200 block of Bryant Irvin Road (pictured here) and now Wilson faces several charges of assault including criminal mischief, resisting arrest, harassment of a public servant and assault causing bodily injury

Police don't believe the two attacks are related but they are still investigating the situation.

'So far everything that is gathered is not leading to a connection,' Perez said Sunday.

'But they are still going to do some more investigating just to be absolutely certain.'

The attack happened on September 16 around 5:45 p.m. when a woman was jogging near the 4800 block of Edwards Ranch Road.

She was then approached and attacked by the naked individual who police are describing as: 'white, 16 to 19 years old, and about 5-10 with a thin, fit build. He has short brown hair  but no body hair.'

The attacker was waiting near a low-water crossing when he saw the woman and consequently started chasing and attacking her.

She managed to get away by running to a nearby town where she asked for help.

A police report described the incident as a 'sexual assault', according to Star Telegram.
An inmate was stabbed to death and eight others injured when a prison riot involving 160 convicts broke out in California.

Guards were forced to fire rubber bullets and use pepper spray to quell the violence which erupted shortly before 11am at the California Men's Colony near San Luis Obispo on Sunday.

It took less than 10 minutes to bring the fracas under control, said Lieutenant Monica Ayon, the prison spokeswoman, and inmates who suffered stab wounds were transported to a hospital for medical treatment where one died.

He was identified as Matthew Cook, who was serving a sentence of 13 years and eight months for burglary.

California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, California, where the riot broke out Sunday (file image)

The condition of the eight others was not immediately known, but Lieutenant Ayon said two of the injured were expected to be discharged and returned to the prison last night.

At least three of the wounded inmates required trauma-level care, said Ron Yukelson, a spokesman for Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, where the prisoners were taken.

Ayon said the cause of the disturbance was under investigation.

She said it was the largest riot, and the first fatal incident, she could recall in her 22 years at the facility.

The California Men's Colony, opened in 1954, houses nearly 4,200 minimum and medium-security inmates near San Luis Obispo, about 190 miles (305km) north of Los Angeles.

Sunday's riot occurred in a medium-security yard where some 600 inmates were present, but the disturbance involved between 160 and 170 of the prisoners, Ayon said.

The entire facility was placed under special restrictions after the incident, with virtually all inmates confined to their cells as the yard was being cleared, she said.
Gerard Whelan, 46, from Paddington in London, was jailed for 18 years

A burglar, who carried out a series of 'horrifying' acid attack robberies which left one 69-year-old woman scarred for life, has been jailed for 18 years.

Gerard Whelan, 46, from Paddington, London, squeezed acid from a white bottle onto the pensioner during a night-time burglary in Ilford on December 13, 2016.

When she woke up he was holding a screwdriver over her as she lay in her bed saying: 'If you don't be quiet I will kill you.'

He took a bangle and rings from her hand and arm and made her sit downstairs while he searched kitchen cupboards.

When she tried to escape he stopped her and squeezed a substance onto her from a white bottle causing her serious injuries. He also broke her little finger in a struggle for the screwdriver.

She suffered burns to a quarter of her body and had to undergo skin grafts and surgeries, with permanent scars to her arms, legs, body and face.

The acid was found to be of the same strength as sulphuric acid.

The day before, Whelan had broke into another home in Ilford - the first of a series of offences on the same day.

He threatened his 89-year-old victim with a screwdriver, sprayed a substance he said was acid on the wall, and demanded money. His victim handed over 190.

Later he assaulted a 62-year-old man in an attempted robbery during which he poured liquid from a container onto the man but as he was wearing a jacket the liquid did not touch his skin and he ran to his house.

Whelan also tried to rob a 39-year-old woman of a car as she was dropping her daughter off at school, attempting to spray her with liquid but missing.

Another man, aged 40, was squirted with liquid after he lowered the window of his car experiencing a burning sensation to his mouth and eyes. Whelan climbed into the car and demanded the car keys, but the victim took the keys and ran.

Acid injuries to Gerard Whelan's victim (left) and the toxic substance on the floor (right)

Finally, that day, he assaulted a 38-year-old woman to try and steal her handbag, throwing over her face what she thought was acid, but later said smelt more like ammonia, from a small aerosol with the spray nozzle removed.

She could feel liquid burning and stinging her skin and was unable to see out of her left eye. Although there was no permanent damage the cells on the surface of her eye had completely gone. He also attempted to throw the liquid at her husband when he tried to intervene.

On Christmas Day, Whelan pretended to be an undercover police officer to talk to a 36-year-old man sitting in a car in north London before squeezing from a bottle what the victim thought was acid into his eye but which was later cleaned with saline wash with no lasting damage to his face or eye.

He also threatened him with a screwdriver but was unable to drive the car away.

Acid injuries to one of Gerard Whelan's victims

He then assaulted a second man, aged 62, in nearby Moffatt Road with the butt of a screwdriver four times while trying to get the keys to a car. DNA from a crutch which Whelan was carrying linked him to the offence.

Whelan also assaulted a 58-year-old woman, throwing her to the ground after she had started the engine of her car, hitting her with his crutch.

The thug was jailed today at Wood Green Crown Court.

He admitted grievous bodily harm with intent at the same court on 14 July. Whelan, also admitted aggravated burglary at the same hearing.

Senior Investigating Officer, DS Brett Hagen, said: 'The length of the sentence today reflects the gravity and callous nature of these acid attacks.

'Whelan embarked on a series of horrifying offences against a raft of innocent and vulnerable members of the public, many of whom were lucky not to incur serious injury.

'Unfortunately several of the victims did sustain life changing injuries as a result of being sprayed with a noxious substance. One of these elderly ladies spent over eight weeks in hospital and now, some nine months later, still hasn't returned to work or regained full mobility of both arms.

'The attached pictures show the extent of the injuries Whelan inflicted on her, after he had threatened to kill her and she had tried to escape.'

Detective Superintendent Mike West, leading the response to corrosive attacks for the MPS, said: 'This was a truly terrible series of offences, resulting in long lasting injuries to the victim's and having an ongoing impact on them and their families.

'I would like to praise the victim's for ensuring that Whelan got the sentence that met the seriousness of the crimes he has committed, and for Detective Sergeant Brett Hagen's and DC Kevin Rowley dedication to the case and the families involved.

'This is a message to anyone who seeks to cause another person harm with a corrosive substance who thinks we don't have existing laws to tackle such attacks.

'We will put everything we have in to supporting members of our communities who report these crimes, we will track you down and we will make sure you have the same severe sentences, as Gerard Whelan got today, using the CPS and courts.'

SECOND WORLD WAR VETERAN'S HEROIC STAND AGAINST SERIAL ACID ATTACKER

A plucky 90-year-old today told how he helped detectives bring a serial acid attacker to justice after being robbed in his own home over breakfast.

Second World War veteran Albert Fox, 90, was confronted by maniac burglar Gerard Whelan, 45, in his kitchen in December last year.

Despite being threatened with a 12 inch screwdriver and a bottle of acid Mr Fox kept his cool and struck up a conversation with Whelan.

Whelan was jailed for 18 years for a string of burglaries and robberies using acid, including one in which a 69 year old woman was left with 25 per cent burns, requiring eight weeks in hospital.

Mr Fox said: 'It was about quarter to eight in the morning and I was sat here ready to eat my breakfast.

Whelan, of Paddington, west London, was jailed at Wood Green Crown Court after he admitted grievous bodily harm with intent

'I heard a thud at the front door and looked through the hall to see a man's shadow. Before I knew what was going on he was in the kitchen.

'I told him to get out, but he shouted he wanted money and pulled out this 12 inch screwdriver and a bottle, which he said was filled with acid.

'I said "there's no money down here pal", so he marched me upstairs and said "we'll have a look".

'I took the 40 I had out of my wallet and handed it over, but he said he wanted 100, - if he had that he would leave.

'I keep some money in the next room so we went through into there and he grabbed it all before I had chance to count it.

'I said 'look mate I need to know how much there is so I can tell my insurance'.

'I had 150. He let me count it out and then grabbed it back. I said 'look I ain't got any money now'. He gave me 25 back, so he must have a bit of a conscience.

'He was going through some of the cupboards and I said to him are you Irish, he said yeah, I told him my mum was and I asked if he was Catholic, again he said yeah.

'I asked if he had any children, he said yeah five and two are dead.

'While he was looking through the cupboards I managed to get downstairs and outside, I started shouting help, burglar and he left.

'He walked up the street, but someone tried to confront him and he sprayed the bottle at their face.'

Mr Fox said that detectives told him that when they picked Whelan up with acid and a screwdriver they decided to ask him the same questions he had asked.

He said: 'He answered the exact same and the police realised it was connected.

'I am glad he is behind bars, I didn't think he would get that long but I am happy he is off the streets.'

Whelan, of Paddington, west London, was jailed at Wood Green Crown Court after he admitted grievous bodily harm with intent.
New South Wales Police have apologised for a 'lighthearted' State of Origin meme posted through the force's Facebook page mocking a referee.

The force made an apology on Monday for a meme posted during the NRL's marquee series between NSW and Queensland.

The photoshopped image showed head referee Matt Cecchin wearing a Maroons jersey while sending a Blues player to the sin bin.

NSW famously blew a 1-0 series advantage and a strong first-half display in game two to hand another series to their bitter rivals.

'NSW Police uncover QLD's plan to replace Johnathan Thurston in game three,' the cheeky post read.

The photoshopped image showed head referee Matt Cecchin wearing a Maroons jersey while sending a Blues player to the sin bin

NSW Police have publicly apologised to NRL referee Matt Cecchin for a 'lighthearted' Facebook post at his expense

New South Wales Police have apologised for a 'lighthearted' State of Origin meme posted through the force's Facebook page mocking a referee

Despite consistent banter between police forces, politicians, athletes and fans, NSW Police took to their Facebook page to apologise to the referee.

'In the lead up to Game 3 of the 2017 State of Origin, the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) posted on the NSWPF Facebook page a meme featuring a photograph of State of Origin referee, Matt Cecchin, with Mr Cecchin pictured wearing a Queensland jersey. The NSWPF has since removed this post from the NSWPF Facebook page,' the apology reads.

'The NSWPF wishes to make clear it did not intend to make any serious assertion that Mr Cecchin was biased as a referee and only intended for the meme to be a lighthearted joke.'

Despite consistent banter between police forces, politicians, athletes and fans, NSW Police took to their Facebook page to apologise to the referee

In 2015, New South Wales Premier Mike Baird lost a bet to his Queensland counterpart Annastacia Palaszczuk meaning he would have to wear a Maroons jersey in Parliament.

Despite the playful fun, NSW Police decided they needed to apologise for the post.

'The NSWPF acknowledges that, in posting the meme, Mr Cecchin has suffered hurt and damage to his reputation. The NSWPF wishes to make clear it does not think Mr Cecchin is biased as a referee and withdraws any such suggestion unreservedly,' the apology continues.

'The NSWPF apologises to Mr Cecchin for any hurt or damage caused.'

The reaction to the statement was predictable, with fans surprised with the public apology and decrying its 'political correctness'.

'Fair dinkum. People need to lighten up,' one person commented on the NSW Police Facebook post.

'This post is a bigger joke than the original meme!!' another said.
Union boss Len McCluskey today raged against critics of Jeremy Corbyn as he hailed the left-wing takeover of the Labour Party.

The hard-left Unite chief insisted Labour did win the General Election and said the party now stood at the 'threshold of power'.

And he recited an adapted version of the socialist anthem The Red Flag to warn party members the hard-left's grip on the leadership is here to stay.

He told the party conference: 'Let's make it clear today. Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we'll keep the Corbyn flag flying here.'

His words sparked a standing ovation among the Corbyn-supporting activists who were packed into the Brighton conference hall this morning.

Unite boss Len McCluskey, pictured today at the Labour Party conference, hailed Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the party and warned critics the left-wing takeover is here to stay

The unite boss - dubbed 'Red Len' - was part of a left-wing line up who dominated the conference stage, which included Dennis Skinner and John McDonnell.

Delivering a rabble-rousing speech, Mr McCluskey said the election was a 'huge advance for socialist policies', even though Labour lost to the Tories.

And he boasted about his hopes to install Mr Corbyn and his left-wing policies into Downing Street' and the heart of national life.

He said: 'Let me say this to those merchants of doom, the whingers and whiners who say we should have done better, we didn't win.

'I say we did win. We won the hearts and minds of millions of people, especially the young.

'We won the arguments that radical policies can stir the imagination and support of the British people.

'And perhaps most of all, we won back our dignity and pride, making Labour a noble cause.'

He said the election on June 8 was a 'triumph' for Mr Corbyn and the party now stands at the 'threshold of power'.

Mr McCluskey said: 'It was also a triumph for our leader Jeremy Corbyn. During the campaign the public got a chance to see the real man - his decency and is conviction.'

He accused the media at sneering at Mr Corbyn and accused Labour MPs of panicking by deserting walking out on their leader in bid to oust him from the leadership last summer.

The Livepudlian said: 'We were proud to nominate Jeremy Corbyn in 2015 because we knew our party needed something different.

Len McCluskey is a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, pictured today at the Labour Party conference. The trade union boss recited word from the socialist anthem, The Red Flag, to take a swipe against 'cowards and traitors'

'We were proud to give 100 per cent of our full throttled support to Jeremy and our Labour Party this election.'

He said that very little now stand between Labour's socialist vision and Downing Street.

Mr McCluskey said: 'We are on the threshold of power. In my 47 years in our party I've never looked forward to a Labour government like I'm looking forward to this one.

''To a time when so much of what our parents and grandparents fought for - community, solidarity - can be installed in Downing Street and take its place at the heart of our national life.'

And he rounded of his speech with a rally-cry fro Corbynistas - and a warning to moderates not to try to oust the left-wing which have seized control of the party leadership.

With his voice rising to a shout, he told the conference hall: 'Let's make it clear today. Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we'll keep the Corbyn flag flying here.'
Vanessa MacCormack, 30, was found unresponsive inside her home in Boston on Saturday afternoon when police responded to a 911 call

Police are investigating the death of a married second grade teacher after she was found inside her Boston home with signs of trauma to her body.

Vanessa MacCormack, 30, was found unresponsive inside her Revere home on Saturday afternoon when police responded to a 911 call.

Police said the mother of one's body bore signs of trauma but they would not reveal how she died.

A medical examiner is still investigating the cause and manner of her death.

'While the facts and circumstances do not immediately suggest a random incident, authorities said the investigation is still in its early stages,' Revere Police said in a statement.

Police said MacCormack's young daughter was not at home when her body was discovered.

Her husband, Andrew MacCormack, was spotted crying at their home on Sunday when he returned to pick up a baby chair and other belongings.

Police said Vanessa's body bore signs of trauma but they would not reveal how she died. Her husband Andrew (above) was spotted returning to their home on Sunday to collect belongings

Vanessa was a married mother-of-one and she had worked as a second grade teacher for seven years

No arrests have yet been made.

The principal of William P. Connery Elementary School - where MacCormack had worked for five years - said the school community was devastated over her death.

'Vanessa taught at Connery for five years and was in the district for seven years. She was a talented, dedicated and passionate educator and a loyal, kind and compassionate friend and colleague,' Dr. Mary Dill said.

'Our school community is heartbroken. Vanessa was loved by students, parents and colleagues. She was involved in every aspect of the school and a great friend to everyone on the staff. She will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.'

Police are now seeking help from the public regarding MacCormack's death. They are asking to speak to anyone who may have seen people, vehicles or activity near her home on Saturday.

Revere Police can be contacted at 781-286-8340 or State Police at 617-727-8817.
Police Investigate After More Hateful Graffiti Found In Lincoln Square

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 25, 2017 3:22PM

Hateful graffiti was found at multiple homes over the weekend in Lincoln Square.

Jeff Zacharias discovered the vandalism in his front yard on Sunday morning. "Anti-White" and "Cuck" were spray-painted on the pathway directly in front of the home where he and his husband live. A sign in their front yard, which read "Here We Believe Love is Love, No Human is Illegal, Black Lives Matter, Science is Real, Women's Rights are Human Rights, Water is Life, Kindness is Everything," had also been spray-painted over.

The family cleaned up the offensive graffiti but was left rattled by the incident. "I think it was very healing to get rid of it, but I think it was, it's still on our mind," Zacharias told WGN. "Its very scary; we feel real uneasy tonight."

The man's husband, Bradd Easton, also found a "Black Lives Matter" yard sign spray-painted over with white paint elsewhere on their street, according to Windy City Times.

A home a few blocks away was also reportedly the target of offensive vandalism. A sign that read "Hate Has No Home Here" was affixed to the front door of the home that Kat Hindmand shares with her wife and young son. She discovered on Sunday morning that it had been spray-painted over, Windy City Times reports.

Another resident posted in a neighborhood social-media group that she filed a police report after her "Black Lives Matter" sign had been slapped with a "Kek" sticker, an alt-right meme, with "You Will Not Replace Us" scrawled across it.

Police are reportedly investigating at least two incidents of criminal damage and criminal defacement in the neighborhood.

More than 100 community members rallied in Lincoln Square last month after racist graffiti was found scrawled on a garage and sidewalk in the neighborhood.
A third GOP senator, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she will vote against the GOP 'Graham-Cassidy' health care bill, likely killing the measure  and any Obamacare repeal hopes  for good.

Releasing a statement Monday evening, the moderate Collins had a laundry list of concerns about the legislation, from a shrinking Medicaid budget to fewer protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.

What put Collins in the nay column, however, was the preliminary Congressional Budget Office score.

'So it was that final piece of the puzzle that I had been waiting to confirm,' the Maine Republican said, speaking to CNN.

Shortly before Collins made her announcement, the nonpartisan scorekeeper reported that while the Graham-Cassidy proposal would reduce the budget deficit by $133 billion, millions fewer people would be insured.

Scroll down for video

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Monday that she would not be voting for Graham-Cassidy, derailing any hopes that the GOP might get a bill across the finish line this week

Bill sponsors Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. (left) and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. (right) were both on hand at a Senate Finance Committee hearing as they make a last-ditch effort to get their Obamacare replacement passed

Two Capitol Police officers drag a blind protester out of a congressional hearing room Monday as Republicans try for a final time, this fiscal year, to pass an Obamacare replacement bill

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. (center) huddles with colleagues Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio (left) and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. (right), at a Senate Finance Committee hearing Monday, which was interrupted by activists

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. (left) closes his eyes in frustration as protesters filled the hearing room where senators were supposed to discuss his health care bill

Collins called this a 'substantially negative impact' that she could not support.

As a sweetener on the deal, bill authors Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., had retooled the bill early Monday, giving some states more money if those states happened to be where a hold-out senator lived.

Instead of endearing her to the legislation, that ultimately turned Collins off.

'But even more important, if senators can adjust a funding formula over a weekend to help a single state, they could just as easily adjust that formula in the future to hurt that state,' Collins pointed out in her statement, which expressed her no vote.

'This is simply not the way that we should be approaching an important and complex issue that must be handled thoughtfully and fairly for all Americans,' she said.

Republicans only have a two-seat majority in the Senate, though have the tie-breaking power of Vice President Mike Pence, meaning they could only ever afford to lose two votes.

Two of those slots were already filled by Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky. and John McCain, R-Ariz., with Collins making it a third.

Collins' decision capped a dramatic day on Capitol Hill surrounding health care.

Protesters clogged the halls of Capitol Hill Monday, expecting to be arrested, as senators held the one and only hearing on the GOP's health care bill

A woman in a wheelchair carrying the sign, 'I'm not Bon Jovi, I can't live on a prayer, I need Medicaid,' is wheeled out of a Capitol Hill office building by the U.S. Capitol Police

Another activist, opposed to the latest GOP health care plan, is hauled away Monday by the U.S. Capitol Police

In the afternoon, protesters shouted down senators and clogged up the hallways of a Senate office building, as the Senate Finance Committee held the sole hearing on the Graham-Cassidy plan.

'If you can't be in order, then get the heck out of here,' griped Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the committee's chairman, as he continued to be interrupted, despite having earlier called a 15-minute recess to clear some of the protesters out of the room.

While opponents, including some in wheelchairs, were being arrested on Capitol Hill, Republicans had been making changes to the health care bill, as a last-ditch effort to get an Obamacare repeal passed before the end of the fiscal year.

Monday started out with Graham and Cassidy doling out additional funds to the trio of states where several GOP hold-outs live.

More federal dollars would go to Kentucky, Arizona and Alaska in one revision, Politico reported, in an attempt to bring Paul, McCain and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on board.

Paul, speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper Monday afternoon, confirmed that he's still a firm no.

President Trump told reporters Sunday that the Republicans would 'eventually' win on health care, though said taxes has been a bigger priority for his presidency anyway

On Sunday night, President Trump tried to urge the senators to move to the yes column, tweeting, 'Alaska, Arizona, Maine and Kentucky are big winners in the Healthcare proposal.'

Trump also distanced himself from the success or failure of the health care push.

Talking to reporters Sunday, Trump said he believed 'eventually' the GOP would pass an Obamacare repeal, though he suggested tax reform, which he is just getting to this week, has always been his bigger concern.

'Eventually we will win on that,' Trump said from the tarmac as he boarded Air Force One to head back to D.C. 'My primary focus, I must tell you, it has been from beginning, as you might imagine is taxes.'

Trump seemed miffed that Republicans were once again fouling up an opportunity to nix Obamacare, as he ticked off the benefits to the states the GOP hold-outs represent.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., released a statement Friday saying he would vote no on the Graham-Cassidy plan. Now they're throwing more money at Arizona to get him to reconsider

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, photographed as she's mobbed by reporters last week, hasn't publicly announced how she plans to vote on Graham-Cassidy

Republican bill sponsors are throwing more money to states, including Kentucky, to try and get hold-outs, like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., on board

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Sunday at the Texas Tribune Festival that he doesn't support the Graham-Cassidy 'right now,' which further hinders Republican plans to kill Obamacare

Critics of the plan suggest that even an increase in dollars to particular states represents a cut, as Medicaid will be put on a budget.

'Every state youre talking about it happens to be particularly good for. So I dont know what theyre doing,' Trump argued.

Trump was even angrier by Monday morning, as he appeared on the Alabama-based Rick & Bubba radio show and lashed out at McCain.

'You look at McCain, what McCain has done is a tremendous slap in the face to the Republican Party,' Trump said, suggesting it was entirely the Arizona senator's fault for derailing the Republicans' 'skinny' Obamacare repeal bill in July and then following it up this month with a pledged no vote again.

But it was Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who was the surprise GOP senator to suggest he could be a no vote on the Graham-Cassidy bill.

'Right now, they dont have my vote and I don't think they have Mike Lees vote either,' Cruz said at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sunday, suggesting his fellow conservative Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, could also be a no vote, according to Politico.

Cruz's comments came as Collins indicated on Face the Nation and State of the Union that she'd likely be a no vote as well.

'Well, it is hard for me to envision getting to yes on this bill, because my concerns are so fundamental,' Collins told CBS' John Dickerson on Sunday morning.

It was always going to be difficult for Republicans to thread the needle on a health care reform bill, with their margins in the Senate so thin.

Paul had always been a no.

On Meet the Press Sunday, the Kentucky senator argued that the Graham-Cassidy bill 'basically keeps most of the Obamacare spending  almost all of the spending  and just reshuffles it and block grants it to the states.'

Paul has long wanted to fully repeal Obamacare and implement various market reforms, such as allowing Americans to buy health insurance across state lines.

On Friday, Paul was joined in the no column by McCain. This time around, McCain said he couldn't 'in good conscience' support the Graham-Cassidy proposal, even though Graham is his longtime Senate friend.

'I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried,' McCain said.

The leaders of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., had made an effort to work with one another on an Obamacare fix.

Then Republicans became skeptical of Democratic motives when Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced a Medicare for all bill, which received support from about one-third of the Democrats in the Senate, of both moderate and progressive bent.

At the same time, Democrats saw Republicans continuing to work on the Graham-Cassidy proposal, which Graham and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., first spoke publicly about in July.

Thus, bipartisan efforts were derailed.

McCain also said he couldn't support the Graham-Cassidy bill without a full score from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, worrying about the cost of the measure, how it will impact insurance premiums and how many Americans could be helped or hurt by it.

The score the CBO produced Monday was not a full report, as the scorekeeper said it wouldn't be possible to get a full reading of the bill's effects by the critical September 30 deadline, which Republicans were aiming for so they could use reconciliation to pass the bill, meaning they would just need majority support.

'Without a full CBO score, which won't be available by the end of the month, we won't have reliable answers to any of those questions,' McCain said in a statement Friday.

A day before she made her decision, Collins voiced concerns about the CBO score as well.

'CBO's analysis in the past has been very helpful to me in evaluating bills such as the previous bills that I opposed,' she said.

The Maine Republican had also voted no on the 'skinny' repeal, alongside Murkowski.

'The problem is, CBO may have a very difficult time analyzing the bill because it still seems to be a moving target, even over the weekend,' Collins continued. 'The sponsors were making changes in it, and I think that's part of the problem, you can't  when we're dealing with a sixth of our economy and millions of people  you can't do sound health insurance policy this way.'

'You need to have extensive hearings,' she added.

Instead there was just one hearing, before the Senate Finance Committee, which had been booked as a way to give McCain some cover, before he announced he was voting no anyway.

'If the hearing is going to devolve into a sideshow or a forum simply to put partisan points on the board, there's absolutely no reason for us to be here,' Hatch said as lawmakers finally got it under way on Monday.

Shortly after that, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called the bill a 'health care lemon' and blasted Republicans for not booking a bigger room, pointing out it 'only has space for about 30 members of the public.'
American woman went home but returned to India to report attack to police

The incident took place at Farooqui's home in an upscale area of New Delhi

to India to seek Farooqui's help with her PhD

A Bollywood director who was jailed for raping an American research scholar in 2015 has had his conviction overturned by an Indian judge ruling that the victim had not protested strongly enough.

Mahmood Farooqui, 39, was found guilty of the attack in March 2015 by a fast-track court hearing the case in New Delhi.

This week, a judge in Delhi ruled that despite verbal and physical protests, it may not have been clear to the Farooqui that the victim did not consent as 'a feeble no may mean yes' - especially among 'academically proficient' people.

Mahmood Farooqui was found guilty of the attack by a fast-track court hearing the case in New Delhi in 2015 but the conviction has now been overturned and he could soon walk free from jail

The victim, then aged 35, had traveled to India to seek Farooqui's assistance with her research when the attack took place at his home in an upscale area of the capital.

But now the Delhi High Court has questioned the victim's account and whether Farooqui understood the lack of consent, according to the Indian Express.

'Instances of woman behaviour are not unknown that a feeble no may mean a yes,' Justice Ashutosh Kumar said.

The director, who had served just over two years of his seven year sentence, had long denied the allegations against him

He said that a 'feeble no' would be enough if the parties were strangers or if one of them was 'a conservative person'.

However, he argued, 'But [the] same would not be the situation when parties are known to each other, are persons of letters and are intellectually/academically proficient, and if in the past there have been physical contacts,' he said.

'In such cases, it would be really difficult to decipher whether little or no resistance and a feeble no was actually a denial of consent.'

Farooqui has now been acquitted of the crime.

The director, who had served just over two years of his seven year sentence, had long denied the allegations against him.

During the appeal trial, his lawyer challenged the victim's rape claim and suggested that the two were in fact in a relationship.

'In a relationship when people are attracted to each other, things do happen. But it does not mean it's rape,' the lawyer said.

Farooqui was married at the time of the assault and was found guilty of rape in 2016.

Farooqui (pictured here with his wife Anusha Risvi) had become 'close family friends' with the then 35-year-old woman, who is of Indian origin, after helping her with her thesis

The woman returned to the US shortly after the incident but came back to report the matter to police.

The case was hailed as a landmark decision that tested the nation's modified rape statute to include forced oral sex.

India introduced tough laws against sex offenders in the wake of the fatal gang-rape of a Delhi student in the capital in December 2012 that sparked mass street protests.

Farooqui is best known for his film Peepli Live, which explores the divide between urban and rural India. It was produced by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan.
Dr Alice Weidel stormed to victory last night with Germany's far-right AfD party

One of the key figures in Germany's resurgent far-right party Alternative fur Deutschland party is a lesbian mother-of-two who has faced claims she employed an illegal immigrant as a cleaner - and is against gay marriage.

Dr Alice Weidel, 38, stormed to victory last night with the AfD claiming almost 13 per cent of the vote and due to hold 94 of the 709 seats in the Bundestag, the first time a right-wing party will sit in the Bundestag since the defeat of the Nazis in 1945.

The dynamic former Goldman Sachs banker, who speaks Chinese, has used her sexuality on the campaign trail as an example of how her party is misunderstood, telling a rally in Viernheim last week: 'I am homosexual. I waited on purpose to see, but nobody seems to have got up and walked out. Which is of course a surprise as the AfD is a homophobic party. I read this everyday!'

She is on record as an opponent of gay marriage, tweeting that a 'marriage for all' debate while millions of Muslims illegally immigrate to Germany is a joke.'

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has warned Chancellor Angela Merkel that they will put a stop to what they call an 'invasion of foreigners', after becoming the third largest party in parliament last night.

Far-right star: The dynamic former Goldman Sachs banker, who speaks Chinese, has used her sexuality on the campaign trail as an example of how her party is misunderstood

Family first: German tabloid Bild used this picture of Dr Alice Weidel with her partner Sarah Bossard, with whom she has two children

Dr Weidel lives with the mother of her two children, Sarah Bossard, in Biel, Switzerland.

She has faced damaging allegations - which she denies - that she employed a Syrian women to work in her house without reporting it to authorities.

The weekly magazine Did evZeit claimed that Weidel employed a student and then a Syrian refugee to work in her house in Biel, Switzerland in 2015.

According to the report, Weidel never offered the women work contracts, nor were they asked for invoices for the work they had done. Payment was also always in cash.

The AfD leader's lawyer told Die Zeit that she had 'friendly relations' with a Syrian woman, who was also a guest in her house on occasion.

'That the asylum seeker was employed in our client's house, or that she had worked for a wage is false,' the lawyer stated.

AfD spokesman Christian Luth claimed on Tuesday that certain payments to people who work in one's house are legal according to Swiss law.

'Household employees only need to be registered with local authorities if the yearly salary is higher than 750 francs. Payments under this sum do not needed to be registered,' he said.

Garlanded with flowers: AfD top candidate Alice Weidel was widely praised during an election party after the party stormed to success in the German elections

Poster girl: Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has warned Chancellor Angela Merkel that they will put a stop to what they call an 'invasion of foreigners', after becoming the third largest party in parliament last night.

'Lesbian - but nevertheless AfD front woman' was a recent headline in the Merkur newspaper about the woman now guaranteed a parliamentary seat who seems a paradox to many.

Her partner is called Sarah Brossard, 35, a Swiss citizen with Indian roots who works as a movie and TV producer.

Economist Dr Weiden declared in the election campaign that she was in favour of maintaining the legal status quo and was also in favour of the registered partnership for homosexual couples.

When the Bundestag decided at the end of June to introduce same-sex marriage, Weiden made her negative stance clear.

' As if it were Germany's most pressing problem, the coalition now whips up the ' marriage for all ', ' she said. The AfD is opposed to gay marriage.

When it was legalized in June, the AfD website posted: 'In deep sorrow, we say goodbye to the German family, whose constitutional protection was buried by the 'representatives of the people' at the German parliament.'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel shakes hands with her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party's secretary general Peter Tauber as they arrive for a meeting in Berlin one day after general elections

You can't sit with us! AfD co-leader Frauke Petry storms out of a press conference after announcing that she will serve as an MP but not sit with her party in parliament

Anger: Opponents of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) protest against the result of the AfD after reaching a better-than-expected 13 per cent and third place finish in German federal elections

The anti-immigration AfD won 12.6 per cent in an election which saw both Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and her coalition partners hemorrhaging millions of voters to the far-right.

However the AfD's celebrations came to an abrupt end on Monday morning when one of their leaders announced that she was refusing to join them in parliament.

Frauke Petry, co-leader of AfD, stormed out of a news conference after saying she would take up her seat but would not be part of AfD's parliamentary group.

'I've decided I won't be part of the AfD's group in the German parliament but will initially be an individual member of parliament in the lower house,' Petry said.

Petry branded the AfD an 'anarchistic party' that could be successful in opposition but would not be able to offer voters a credible option as a government. For this reason, she had decided not to take up her seat as part of the AfD group.

She declined to answer further questions, including whether she would remain the AfD's co-leader, but said the public would hear from her in the coming days.

Alexander Gauland, one of the AfD's top candidates, said neither he, nor the other top candidate Alice Weidel nor co-leader Joerg Meuthen knew why Petry left.

Speaking during the conference, Mr Gauland said the one million refugees and migrants who have entered Germany since 2015 were 'taking a way a piece of this country'.

Alexander Gauland, one of the AfD's top candidates, said the one million refugees and migrants who have entered Germany since 2015 were 'taking a way a piece of this country'

The German Green party was among the first to react to the AfP's gains, accusing the country of failing to learn from its Nazi past. Jewish groups from around the world also expressed concern

Marchers in Berlin who had been gathered in a public square moved to surround the club where the AfD were holding their victory party after news of the election result spread

He said the reason why the party had won such a large part of the votes was due to the way they 'uncompromisingly addressed' the aftermath of the migrant crisis.

'One million people, foreigners, being brought into this country are taking away a piece of this country and we as AfD don't want that,' Mr Gauland was quotes as saying by the BBC.

'We say, I don't want to lose Germany to an invasion of foreigners from a different culture. Very simple.'

The news that the AfD had become the third largest party in parliament led to protests across Germany on Sunday evening.

Activists chanting anti-Nazi slogans and waving banners surrounded the Berlin nightclub being used by the AfD to celebrate their win on Sunday night.

More marchers were pictured in Frankfurt, holding a banner which read 'Frankfurt hates the AfD'.

And their success is the first time in 60 years that the far-Right has garnered enough votes to secure such a show of strength in the Bundestag. The Greens said the shock result meant that the Nazis were in parliament again.

One report said that in parts of the former East Germany, the AfD had polled 45 per cent of the vote.

The AfD's strong showing could see them taking as many as 90 seats.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) took 33 per cent of the vote, down 8.5 points from the last election, and its former coalition partners the Social Democratic Party (SPD) only nabbed 20 per cent - meaning both parties saw their worst results since since 1949.

Mrs Merkel will now likely have to forge a messy three-way arrangement with the liberal FDP and Greens.

However, Merkel's party is still the biggest parliamentary bloc and Europe's most powerful leader said her conservatives would set about building the next government, adding she was sure a coalition would be agreed by Christmas.

'There cannot be a coalition government built against us,' she said.

The anti-immigration party had waged a virulent campaign against Mrs Merkel's decision to let in some one million people by operating an 'open doors' policy to refugees during and after the 2015 migrant crisis.

Protesters took to the streets of Berlin angry that the far-right AfD won 13.5 per cent support during Germany's election, meaning they will get seats in parliament for the first time (pictured, a banner that reads 'Smash the AfD')

While Mrs Merkel's party came out of the election the largest, she did worse than most polls had projected as the far right gained a huge amount of support, causing alarm and protests across the country

Election hangover: German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a meeting of her Christian Democratic Union party, CDU, at their headquarters in Berlin on Monday morning

Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term as her party emerged as the largest, but now faces controlling a country that is deeply divided over her response to the refugee crisis

Merkel acknowledged the rise of the AfD as demonstrators took to the streets, saying she would try to win votes back by focusing on security and prosperity for Germans

Two activists carried a banner which reads: 'Germany is not full. Your identity crisis is nationalism. Your homeland is racism'

Mrs Merkel's coalition partner, the SPD, returned its smallest share of support post-war at 20 per cent, and announced it will not be rejoining Mrs Merkel in government.

Martin Schulz, leader of the SPD, said his party will go into opposition following the result, leaving Mrs Merkel to search elsewhere for support.

Having vowed not to work with the AfD, Mrs Merkel now faces the prospect of cobbling together a tricky three-way agreement involving the FDP and Greens.

Mr Schulz told despondent supporters: 'Today is a difficult and bitter day for social democracy in Germany.

'Particularly pressing for us tonight is the strength of the AfD party. For the first time, with them, there will be a far-right party in the German Bundestag.

'The acceptance of one million migrants it was almost guaranteed to divide our country and it has divided us too much.'

Mrs Merkel acknowledged as much in her own speech to party faithful, acknowledging that the last four years had been 'extremely challenging'.

She spoke of wanting to regain votes lost to the AfD and said 'prosperity and security' will be at the centre of her thinking once a new government is formed.

'We need to work for a just and free country, she said 'that of course means we need to bring together all of the European Union counties.

'That means we need to fight against the causes of migration and we need to find legal ways to fight against illegal migration.'

The AfD vowed to 'reclaim our country and our people' following the Sunday election result as protesters took to the streets

Marchers also gathered in Frankfurt waving a banner which reads 'Frankfurt hates the AfD'

Protesters with their middle fingers raised, in a sign of defiance against the AfP, march in Berlin on Sunday night

A young protester give a middle finger to the camera as she marches against the rise of the AfD in Germany

An anti-Merkel protester with a sign that reads 'not my mother', a reference to the Chancellor's nickname of Mutti Merkel

Commentators called the AfD's strong performance a 'watershed moment' in the history of the German republic. The top-selling Bild daily spoke of a 'political earthquake'.

Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, a Social Democrat, has warned that 'for the first time since the end of the second World War, real Nazis will sit in the German parliament'.

The AfD will be a pariah in parliament as all mainstream parties have ruled out working with it, but the populists could still be vocally disruptive from the opposition benches.

Thorsten Benner, head of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin, said the AfD's rise shows that 'our population is no more virtuous than the French population,' and that 'even Le Pen pales in comparison'.

The presence of the AfD 'will very much change the tone of debate in parliament,' Benner warned.

The election has been closely watched by Brussels, and there is now fear that the result may have an effect on EU policies.

One casualty of Merkel's weakness may be a rapid move to deepen integration of the euro zone along lines that new French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to outline in a speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris on Tuesday.

Macron ran for the French presidency on a pledge to 'relaunch' Europe, in tandem with Germany, after years of economic and financial crisis and the new shock dealt by Britain's vote last year to leave the bloc.

Macron has called for a finance minister and budget for the single currency bloc, ideas that Merkel has tentatively supported even though scepticism in her own party runs high.

Those plans, as with reform proposals floated this month by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, may run into increased scepticism in Berlin, where many are wary of what they see as more demands for German bailouts of states like Greece.

Resistance may come both from Merkel's Christian Democrats, spooked by the surge on their right flank, where Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered parliament as the third biggest party, and from the Free Democrats (FDP), whose leader Christian Lindner ruled out Germany contributing to a shared euro zone budget.

The liberal leader in the European Parliament, committed federalist and former Belgian premier Guy Verhofstadt, said he hoped for a 'pro-European' coalition to push EU integration.

The FDP leader in the EU legislature, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, said it was 'an open-minded, pro-European party'.

The European Greens' German co-chair Reinhard Butikofer said his party wanted to strengthen the European Union, 'making use of the window of opportunity that exists ... between Paris, Brussels and Berlin'. He was referring to a keynote speech by Juncker 10 days ago in which the EU chief executive said anti-EU populists were in retreat and called for deeper EU integration.

But Guntram Wolff, the German director of the Brussels think-tank Bruegel, questioned Juncker's thinking. He forecast a rightward shift in Germany due to the AfD and resistance from the FDP that would stymie Macron and Juncker's grand visions.

'Populism definitely not dead,' Wolff tweeted. 'Juncker speech completely miscalculated the situation.'

Merkel's CDU party won the largest share of votes at the German election, with exit polls reporting 32.5 per cent support

Mrs Merkel's first task will be to find a new coalition partner after the SPD, her former partner, announced it would go into opposition after polling just 20 per cent

Alexander Gauland (left) of the AfD vowed to 'go after Merkel' while Alice Weidel said the party will push for a committee to investigate 'legal breaches' by Mrs Merkel's government

Marine Le Pen was quick to congratulate the AfD on their historic poll result, saying it was 'a new symbol of the revival of the European peoples'

Meanwhile Alexander Gauland, a top candidate of the AfD, vowed to 'go after Merkel' saying his aim is to 'reclaim our country and our people.'

Who are the AfD? Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) was founded in 2013 as a eurosceptic party. It drew minimal support until Germany's refugee crisis, when it broadened its base with anti-Islamist and anti-immigrant rhetoric. In recent times it has gone further, with leader Alexander Gauland claiming Germany had much to be proud of during the Second World War and that the word 'volk'  people  should be 'rescued' from its Nazi connotations. In May 2016 it adopted an explicitly anti-Islam policy, saying that 'Islam does not belong to Germany'. It would ban the burka and the Muslim call to prayer, and wants to stop foreign funding of mosques in Germany. All imams should go through a state vetting procedure, it says. AfD chairman Frauke Petry once advocated border guards opening fire on unarmed refugees to protect Germany's frontiers. Last year one of its founders announced plans to forge links with the far-Right National Front in France. The party has capitalised on middle-class disenchantment with bailing out failing eurozone states such as Greece with taxpayer money. It harked back to the rhetoric of the Nazis with 'hearth and home' propaganda about paying for ordinary German families instead of foreigners. It also stands against same-sex marriage and same-sex couples adopting children, and has a platform of climate change denial. It also wants to bring in conscription into the army for all men when they reach 18 Advertisement

Alice Weide, another of the AfD's most prominent candidates, vowed that her part is 'here to stay' during a victory speech on Sunday night.

She told supporters that the party's first move will be to establish a committee to look into 'legal breaches' by Mrs Merkel's government.

Ms Weide also vowed to focus on content and political positions, and vowed to live up to the trust that voters have placed in the party.

Mrs Merkel said she had hoped for a 'better result' and pledged to listen to the 'concerns and anxieties' of AfD voters in order to win them back.

The result is also a blow for Theresa May, who had been banking on an emboldened Mrs Merkel helping her reach a good deal on Brexit.

Now it appears Mrs Merkel could be bogged down in coalition talks for weeks or even months  meaning she will have little time to bolster her British counterpart.

A worst-case scenario is that Mrs Merkel may now have to take an even harder line against the UK.

The German election is just the latest shock result to stun political observers, following last year's vote for Brexit, the election of President Trump and Mrs May's general election disaster in June.

Beatrix van Storch, one of the AfD's leaders, told the BBC the result was 'a huge success ... it will change the political system in Germany, and it will give back a voice to the opposition'. She added: 'We will start debates on migration, we will start debates on Islam, we will start debates on ever closer [European] union.'

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was quick to congratulate the AfD after they made massive gains in the election.

Le Pen, who lost France's presidential election to Emmanuel Macron earlier this year, wrote on Twitter: 'Bravo to our allies from AfD for this historic score! It's a new symbol of the awakening of the peoples of Europe.'

Elswhere Jewish groups from around the world reacted to the news of the AfP's strong showing with dismay and concern.

German Central Council of Jews President Josef Schuster says the party, known by its German initials AfD, 'tolerates far-right thoughts and agitates against minorities.'

He said he expects Germany's other parties will 'reveal the true face of the AfD and unmask their empty, populist promises.'

The head of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, congratulated Chancellor Angela Merkel on securing a fourth term, calling her a 'true friend of Israel and the Jewish people.'

'It is abhorrent that the AfD party, a disgraceful reactionary movement which recalls the worst of Germany's past and should be outlawed, now has the ability within the German parliament to promote its vile platform,' Lauder said.

Mrs Merkel's CDU and the SPD, the two most established political parties in Germany, both took a hammering at the polls compared to the last election in 2013, as the public looked to fringe parties to provide answers

Mrs Merkel shakes hands with Martin Schulz, leader of the SPD party which served as her junior coalition partner in the last parliament, but will now leave and go into opposition

Supporters of the AfD cheer after receiving the news that their party will enter the German parliament for the first time

Martin Schulz, leader of the SPD, told supporters that 'the acceptance of one million migrants it was almost guaranteed to divide our country and it has divided us too much'

Support for Mrs Merkel's party fell by almost 9 per cent, and was lower than the 34 to 37 per cent that late polls had suggested she would get as she was punished over migration

The election was fought on the tense backdrop of surging support for far left and far right parties across Europe.

The German election: How does it work? On Sunday, 61million Germans voted to decide the future of their country using a mixture of first-past-the-post voting, as we have in this country, and proportional representation. Each voter gets two votes: The first cast for a local candidate, and the second cast for a national party. The German parliament will then be made up of a mixture of victorious local candidates, and other candidates selected by the party on a list system. The listed seats are allocated based on the proportion of the vote the party received - if they received 25 per cent of the vote, they must end up with 25 per cent of the seats. Because it is possible for a party to win more seats through local candidates than they are strictly entitled to, the parliament can expand to balance this advantage out. Officially the Bundestag has 598 seats, but can grow as large as 800 and currently has 631 members. Advertisement

Germany in particular is coping with the arrival of more than 1 million refugees and other new migrants, with tension with Russia since Moscow's incursions into Ukraine, and with doubt about Europe's future since Britain voted to quit the EU.

After shock election results last year, from the Brexit vote to the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, leaders of Europe's establishment have looked to Merkel to rally the liberal Western order.

But after acting as an anchor of stability in Europe and beyond, she now faces an unstable situation at home as she must now form a coalition, an arduous process that could take months.

Immediately after the release of exit polls, the deputy party leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in a 'grand coalition' with Merkel's conservatives for the last four years, said her party would now go into opposition.

'For us, the grand coalition ends today,' Manuela Schwesig told ZDF broadcaster. 'For us it's clear that we'll go into opposition as demanded by the voter.'

Without the SPD, Merkel's only straightforward path to a majority in parliament would be a three-way tie-up with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens, known as a 'Jamaica' coalition because the black, yellow and green colours of the three parties match the Jamaican flag.

Such an arrangement is untested at the national level in Germany and widely seen as inherently unstable. Both the FDP and the Greens have played down the prospect of a three-way coalition, but neither won enough seats on Sunday to give Merkel a majority on its own.

Whatever the make-up of her coalition, Merkel, 63, faces four years of government in a fragmented parliament after the return of the FDP - unrepresented at national level for the last four years - and the arrival of the AfD.

Founded in 2013 by an anti-euro group of academics, the AfD has surged as an anti-immigrant group in the wake of Merkel's 2015 decision to leave German borders open to over 1 million migrants, most of them fleeing war in the Middle East.

The party's entry into the national parliament heralds the beginning of a new era in German politics that will see more robust debate and a departure from the steady, consensus-based approach that has marked the post-war period.

The other parties elected to the Bundestag all refuse to work with the AfD, which says it will press for Merkel to be 'severely punished' for opening the door to refugees and migrants.

After the AfD hurt her conservatives in regional elections last year, Merkel, a pastor's daughter who grew up in Communist East Germany, wondered if she should run for re-election.

But with the migrant issue under control this year, she threw herself into a punishing campaign schedule.

Despite losing support, Merkel, Europe's longest serving leader, will join the late Helmut Kohl, her mentor who reunified Germany, and Konrad Adenauer, who led Germany's rebirth after World War Two, as the only post-war chancellors to win four national elections.

She has campaigned on her record as chancellor for 12 years, emphasizing the country's record-low unemployment, strong economic growth, balanced budget and growing international importance.

That's helped keep her conservative bloc well atop the polls ahead of Sunday's election over the center-left Social Democrats of challenger Martin Schulz.
Ecclesiastical Denzel Washington said his cellmate at Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron exacerbated his asthma symptoms by smoking heavily

A man who is serving life in prison for double murder won court judgment ordering the state of Missouri's prisons to be smoke-free.

Ecclesiastical Denzel Washington, 53, sued the state claiming his heavy-smoker cellmate at Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron had exacerbated his asthma symptoms.

He was placed with his cellmate despite doctor's orders that he be held somewhere smoke free.

Last week, a federal judge ruled in Washington's favor and demanded all Missouri prisons be smoke-free by April 2018.

Missouri already bans smoking inside prison buildings, but it allowed it in designated areas outside.

The evidence at trial showed some inmates ignore these rules and are commonly written up for smoking in their cells.

Missouri currently allows inmates buy tobacco and lighters to keep in their cells.

Missouri prisons now have to ban smoking in its 21 prisons. The state has not announced how it will implement this by April (Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron, pictured)

Attorney Phillip Zeeck, who helped represent Washington, said the ruling may save Missouri taxpayers money because of the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses for the state's more than 30,000 inmates.

'This is a win ultimately for the people who work and live in Missouri's correctional facilities,' Zeeck told the Kansas City Star.

State officials haven't announced details of their plan to eliminate smoking at 21 correctional facilities.

Washington, who used to be known as Willie Simmons, was sentenced to death in 1989 for the murders of two St. Louis women. His sentence was later reduced to life in prison.
A California couple, who went to a bar Friday night, allegedly left their one-year-old son home alone.

Alex Morawhitehurst, 30, and Krystal Williams, 27, went to the Keg Room bar on Oro Dam Boulevard in Oroville around 9pm.

While at the bar, Morawhitehurst, 30, got into a fight and police arrived to arrest him along with Williams around 9.35pm on suspicion of public intoxication, according to Fox 40.

Alex Morawhitehurst (left), 30, and Krystal Williams (right), 27, were arrested and charged with child endangerment after they allegedly left their one-year-old son at home alone while they went to party at the Keg Room bar Friday night

Police didn't find out about the child being left alone until they took the couple into custody at the Butte County Jail.

While at the jail, Morawhitehurst told officers his one-year-old son had been left behind at their home on Argonaut Avenue.

When officers from the Oroville Police Department arrived at the home, they found the boy asleep in the living room.

Police said a sliding glass door had also been left open at the home, according to the station.

Children's Services took the child into custody.

Morawhitehurst and Williams were both charged with felony child endangerment.
Barbara Blaine, the founder and former president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, has died in Utah at the age of 61.

Barbara founded the non-profit organization, SNAP in 1988 years after she was abused as an eighth grader by a priest who taught at her Catholic school in her hometown, Toledo, Ohio.

When she realized that her pleas for help from Toledo's bishop weren't a concern, she realized that other survivors of clergy abuse could help each other.

Barbara Blaine, the founder of Survivors Networks of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), speaks during the presentation ceremony of Women of the Year Awards in 2002. She died Sunday at the age of 61

SNAP, which is comprised of volunteers, survivors and supporters, run and attend group meetings, meet with survivors and answer phone calls and emails from victims, according to the SNAP website.

In 1991, the very first SNAP Meeting was held at the Holiday Inn, Chicago.

Barbara died Sunday from SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection) which is when a tear forms in a blood vessel in the heart.

Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal: By the numbers 3,400 sexual abuse cases That's how many credible cases of abuse had been referred to the Vatican from 2004 to 2014 2,572 priests sentenced to a lifetime of penance Another 848 over the last decade had been defrocked. The others were sentenced to penance and other mild religious sentences. $150,747,387 That's how much the Catholic Church in the U.S. spent between July 2013 and June 2014 on costs 'related to child protection efforts and to allegations of clergy sexual abuse of minors'. 85 percent American Catholic priests were shown to have a distinct pattern of sexual abuse, with 64 percent of all allegations of abuse made against a priest by a male only, according to a detailed report by the John Jay Institute investigating child abuse in the Catholic Church from 1950 to 2002. Those males were young and more than 85 percent of them were 8 to 10 years old. Source: Vocativ Advertisement

She was surrounded by her husband, Howard and sisters Marcia and Marian.

SNAP managing director, Barbara Dorris, said in a statement that 'few people have done more to protect kids and help victims than Barbara Blaine'.

'Her relentless advocacy enabled millions to eventually accept a long unbelievable reality: that tens of thousands of priests raped and fondled hundreds of thousands of kids while bishops hid these heinous crimes.'

'She started - and for almost 30 years -worked extremely hard to help build the world's most successful organization of child sex abuse victims. Her contributions to a safer society would be hard to overstate.'

The group gained prominence in 2002 after the Boston Globe's stories on the sexual abuse scandal in which the newspaper uncovered that the Catholic Church was hiding years of the molestation carried out by priests.

In an 2002 interview conducted by the Boston Globe, she said: 'A major part of the problem has been the desire of the bishops and church leaders to protect their image and to avoid scandal. In doing this, they are really creating a lot more scandal.'

She continued to say that before she and other members of SNAP were molested, church leaders knew.

'Hundreds of us would not have been molested if the church authorities had removed these priests after the first allegations against them.'

SNAP was founded in 1988 years after Barbara was abused by a priest at her Catholic school in Toledo, Ohio. The organization now has more than 20,000 members

Barbara's abuse went on until 1974 but her church knew as early as 1971, after some of the other girls had come forward and told about being molested by him.

'I didn't tell anyone about it until I was 29. He had total control and power over me, such that I didn't tell my teachers or my friends. I'm a twin and I didn't even tell my twin.'

Barbara Blaine displays childhood photographs of adults who say they were sexually abused in March 2011

The priest, Chet Warren, who molested Barbara was defrocked after she went after him and won a legal settlement, according to the Huffington Post.

Barbara resigned as president in February but the organization now has more than 20,000 members and support groups that meet in more than 60 cities across the US and the world.

Today it is the largest, oldest and most active self-help group for clergy sex abuse victims, whether assaulted by ministers, priests, nuns or rabbis.

The group gained prominence in 2002 after the Boston Globe's stories on priest sexual abuse. Defrocked priest John Geoghan, pictured above, is escorted into Norfolk Superior Court in Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 22, 2002, for an appeal for a reduction of his nine-to-10-year sentence for groping a 10-year-old boy
Rakim Dwayne Braithwaite, 27, arriving at Isleworth Crown Court in April

A man threatened to stab his pregnant girlfriend with a bottle, throw acid in her face and abort their unborn child using an umbrella and a kitchen knife, a court heard.

Rakim Dwayne Braithwaite, 27, allegedly attempted to perform an abortion on his partner, who was four months pregnant with their child.

Isleworth Crown Court heard a horrified neighbour called police to the property in Greenford, London, in May 2016 when they heard his alleged victim scream out in pain.

Braithwaite inserted the knife as his 26-year-old partner screamed, then approached her with the umbrella before a neighbour called 999, the jury were told.

He has pleaded not guilty to using an instrument, with intent to procure a miscarriage on May 16 last year and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between December 29, 2015 and November 21, last year.

Braithwaite threatened to 'beat' the baby out of his girlfriend and stab her with a bottle.

He donned plastic gloves and played an internet video of a home-abortion on his television while ordering his girlfriend to lie down and remove her trousers, the court was told.

Prosecutor Mr David Markham told the court: 'She screamed out and he put a pillow on her face to stop the screams.

'He came at her with an umbrella and then came at her with a kitchen knife, with a condom on it and the tip was inserted into her vagina.'

Isleworth Crown Court heard a horrified neighbour called police to the property in Greenford, London, when they heard his girlfriend, 26, scream out in pain

A neighbour heard her screaming: 'Please stop. You're hurting me,' explained Mr Markham, but his partner refused to talk to officers when they arrived.

Incredibly, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy in October last year.

The alleged victim claims Braithwaite threatened her with violence if she did not contact an abortion clinic, made phone calls in her presence to arrange violent attacks on her and punched her in the face.

She says he also threatened to stab her in the womb, threatened to visit her at work and 'smash' her face and 'beat the child out of her' and said he would kill her and throw acid in her face.

'His intention at the time, we say, was while in temper to end the pregnancy,' said Mr Markham.

'His girlfriend stayed with him throughout the period out of love and loyalty to him. She was scared to lose him, such was the grip he exerted over her.'

They met in 2014 and the court heard Braithwaite vowed to post a video of her performing oral sex on him over the internet.

'He threatened to throw her off a tall building and would hit her across the face, giving her a black eye,' said Mr Markham.

Braithwaite has pleaded not guilty to using an instrument, with intent to procure a miscarriage and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour

Braithwaite tried to exploit the pregnancy to obtain a council property for them and concocted the fake eviction of his partner from her mother's home, the trial heard.

Eventually she reported Braithwaite to the police on November 26, last year and he was arrested on December 11.

'He denied trying to harm the unborn child. He said she had a problem with drugs and had been taking drugs and self-harming and said she did not want the baby.

'He said there was a custody battle and the accusations were made to destroy his chances of having his son.'

The trial continues.
An education chief in Saudi Arabia has been sacked after high school students opened their textbooks to find an image of Yoda sat next to a Saudi king.

The Photoshopped image, produced by Saudi artist Abdullah Al Shehri, known as Shaweesh, shows the late King Faisal, who was foreign minister at the time, signing the United Nations Charter in 1945 with the diminutive green Jedi master seated to his right.

Education minister Ahmed al-Eissa described it as an 'unintended mistake' and said new versions of the textbook are being printed.

The state-linked Okaz news website said under-secretary for curricula and educational programmes Mohammed al-Harthi was dismissed from his post today for the Star Wars blunder.

The image of Yoda was recently superimposed next to a 1945 photo of Faisal, from when he signed the UN Charter in San Francisco while serving as his country's foreign minister

The original picture was taken in 1945, but the Star Wars update was added more recently.

Faisal VS Yoda Faisal From 1964-1955 he is credited with saving his country's finances

He also won praise for implementing a policy of modernization and reform, including the abolition of slavery

The king's other achievements include the introduction of TV to his country and making education more widespread Yoda Credited with almost single-handedly training Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker

In the course of his 800-year life he served as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order and as a high ranking general

His race and home world are a mystery which is why many have designated him 'species unknown' Advertisement

Ahmed al-Eissa apologised for the mistake on Twitter last week, and said: 'We have formed a legal committee to determine the source of the error and to take the proper measures.'

Exactly how the picture ended up in the textbooks is shrouded in mystery.

All that is clear is that the image was created by Saudi artist Abdullah al-Shehri, as part of a montage in homage to King Faisal and Yoda.

Al-Shehri, 26, makes no secret of his enjoyment creating images in which icons of popular culture are juxtaposed alongside momentous historical events.

The artist said that he holds both King Faisal and Yoda in equally high esteem - but he has absolutely no idea how it ended up where it did and that he definitely did not mean to cause offence to the royal family.

The setting of the picture is the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco in 1945.

In it King Faisal can be seen solemnly signing the paperwork - with Yoda looking on approvingly.

'All the pictures [I created] were very sad, you know, refugees and war,' he told The New York Times.

But things changed when he found a photo of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat - who was assassinated in 1981 - meeting Mickey Mouse during a trip to Disneyland shortly before he was murdered.

Yoda - who lived for 800 years - is revered by Star Wars fans for almost single-handedly training Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker

In the course of his 800-year life Yoda served as the Grand Master of the Jedi Order and as a high ranking general

'This is what the archive needs,' he recalled thinking at the time. 'Something fun, something that makes it less depressing.'

He later came across a black and white photo of King Faisal, who was foreign minister at the time, at the signing ceremony and thought it could be enlivened by the appearance of Yoda.

The Jedi master like the king was renowned for his intelligence, he said, and was popular among Saudis.

And he had the additional benefit of being the same colour as the Saudi flag.

'He was wise and was always strong in his speeches,' al-Shehri said of the king. 'So I found that Yoda was the closest character to the king.

'And also Yoda and his light saber  it's all green.'
Lavinia Woodward, who stabbed her boyfriend, smiled as she walked free from Oxford Crown Court today after a judge who previously praised her academic ability agreed to suspend her prison sentence

The boyfriend stabbed with a bread knife by Oxford student Lavinia Woodward made a panicked 999 call in which he told the operator: 'She's definitely on cocaine at least'.

Lavinia Woodward - a medical student who hoped to become a surgeon - admitted stabbing her Tinder lover Thomas Fairclough in the leg during a clash at Christ Church college.

Audio of Mr Fairclough's desperate call to police reveals the moment he was stabbed by the student, who he had met on dating app Tinder.

During the recording, in which Woodward can be heard shouting incoherently in the background, Mr Fairclough says: 'I think my girlfriend has taken a lot of drugs and is throwing a lot of stuff around the house.'

When the operator asks if she is on drugs, he replies 'yes, shes definitely on cocaine at least', causing Woodward to shout 'I'm not!'

Mr Fairclough is then heard shouring: 'My hand! Ive been stabbed by my girlfriend. Please come down here.'

Woodward's case caused outcry when judge Ian Pringle failed to jail her and instead postponed sentencing, suggesting it would be 'too severe' to stop her following her dreams.

Woodward returned to court to discover her fate today and wept as the judge handed her to a 10-month sentence but, crucially, suspended the term for 18 months.

It came after her lawyer told the court she was now so 'recognisable' she is unable to going nightclubbing in London.

The suspended sentence means she will remain free unless she commits another crime.

Critics have argued that someone working on a supermarket checkout might not have attracted the same level of sympathy from the courts.

When the judge told her she was free to go, Woodward mouthed the words 'thank you' and hurried from dock in floods of tears.

Woodward's lawyers said the student - who was supported by university staff at the hearing - had undergone a 'sea change' since coming off drugs during the wait to be sentenced and was now a 'different woman'.

Woodward (pictured left and right) looked relieved as she left Oxford Crown Court this afternoon with a suspended sentence

The judge previously took the 'exceptional' step of delaying sentencing for four months and ordered her to remain drug free while she stayed at her mother's villa in Milan, Italy.

He suspended the term after James Sturman QC, defending, had urged the judge to give Woodward a conditional discharge due to her 'unique vulnerability, remorse and good character'.

He said: 'She can't even go to a nightclub in London, she's so recognisable.'

Woodward's barrister said in an earlier hearing that her dreams of becoming a surgeon were 'almost impossible' as her conviction would have to be disclosed.

If she qualified as a doctor and applied for registration, the General Medical Council could consider her application.

However the body would have to pass Woodward as 'fit to practice', which it is unlikely to do, according to many health experts, regardless of her avoiding a custodial sentence.

The case caused outcry, with critics saying she would have been treated differently were she not a wealthy Oxford student

Woodward (pictured here on a night out) returned to court to discover her fate today and wept as the judge handed her to a 10-month sentence suspended for 18 months

Woodward (circled) posed naked with her fellow students to raise money for the university's LGBTQ society

The court heard Woodward would not be returning to Oxford this year due to her notoriety.

Her lawyer, James Sturman QC, said she was considering whether to do a PhD abroad or to look for a research role at another university.

Mr Sturman said: 'She has a dilemma; the university remain supportive, they are here today. If she had gone back to Oxford, everyone would have known all about it.'

Describing the crime, Judge Pringle said: 'Having met a few months before, in October 2016 you began a relationship with a student from Cambridge University.

'Sadly, you were still suffering from the effects of a very damaging previous relationship with another who had introduced you to Class A drugs.

'On December 30, 2016, your partner paid you a visit in your accommodation in Christ Church college. It rapidly became clear to him you had been drinking. He tried to discourage your drinking without success.'

The 24-year-old (shown left in an explicit picture sitting on the lap of a naked man) is seen arriving at court this morning

Woodward's lawyers said the student (seen leaving court) - who was supported by university staff at the hearing - had undergone a 'sea change' since coming off drugs

Woodward (looking glum as she arrives for her hearing) was previously freed and her sentencing delayed

The judge continued: 'As the evening progressed, you became increasingly volatile. At one stage your partner contacted your mother over Skype in order to seek her assistance over what to do about you.

'When you discovered this you became extremely angry, starting to throw objects around. It is clear from the transcript of the 999 call that your partner summoned the help of the police before you picked up a bread knife which was in the room and struck a blow with it to his lower leg.

'In the course of the incident two of his fingers also received cuts. Your partner managed to partly restrain you, albeit you then started to turn the knife on yourself and he had to further disarm you to prevent further self-harm.

'When the emergency services arrived it was abundantly clear that you were intoxicated, deeply distraught and mentally disturbed. You were taken to the police station in a very distressed state.

'Fortunately the wounds your partner received were relatively minor. The two one-centimetre cuts to the fingers were treated at the scene and the cut to the leg was closed with three stitches.

The court heard she attempted suicide in police custody on the night of her arrest and was fired from a job she took at a shop in London 48 hours after being hired when she was recognised by a customer.

Suspending her sentence, Judge Ian Pringle QC told her today: 'There are many mitigating features in your case. Principally, at the age of 24 you have no previous convictions of any nature whatsoever.

'Secondly, I find that you were genuinely remorseful following this event and, indeed, it was against your bail conditions, you contacted your partner to fully confess your guilt and your deep sorrow for what happened.'

Judge Pringle added: 'Thirdly, whilst you are a clearly highly-intelligent individual, you had an immaturity about you which was not commensurate for someone of your age.

'Fourthly, as the reports from the experts make clear, you suffer from an emotionally-unstable personality disorder, a severe eating disorder and alcohol drug dependence.

The court heard Lavinia had been recovering at her mother's villa in Italy since the last hearing

Miss Woodward (pictured) has spent much of her time at her mother's Italian villa near Lake Como since her first court appearance

'Finally, and most significantly, you have demonstrated over the last nine months that you are determined to rid yourself of your alcohol and drug addiction and have undergone extensive treatment including counselling to address the many issues that you face.

'In particular, you have demonstrated to me since I adjourned this matter in May a strong and unwavering determination to do so despite the enormous pressure under which you were put and which has been referred to me by your counsel.

It emerged after her initial court hearing that she had already been warned by her college just two weeks before the September assault, following the discovery she had been taking drugs.

The 24-year-old posted on social media earlier this year that she had entered The Priory addiction treatment centre in Woking, Surrey, and is understood to be tackling her use of cocaine.

She was studying at Christ Church (pictured), one of Oxford's most prestigious colleges

Woodward, who has an older brother was educated at The British School of Milan, formerly known as The Sir James Henderson School, where fees can top 16,000 a year and which is close to her mother's 1 million villa in the Italian village of Sirtori.

College dean the Very Rev Professor Martyn Percy, said afterwards: 'We are concerned for the welfare of all our students and it is clearly a matter of regret and sadness when any young person blights a promising career by committing a crime.

'Ms Woodward is not currently studying at Oxford, having voluntarily suspended her medical studies.

'The question of her future will now be decided by the university, which has procedures in place when a student is the subject of a criminal conviction.'

The court's controversial decision caused outrage on Twitter, with many claiming it was an example of 'white privilege'.

User @MrTuxed0 wrote: 'Lavinia Woodward gets 0 jail time as it "might hurt her career"? Maybe there's a good reason why drug addicted psychos shouldn't be surgeons.'

@anttmcdermottx said: 'If Lavinia Woodward wasnt a privileged white girl she would be in prison by now. you can ignore the facts but its true.'

Another user added: 'Can we all just agree that if Lavinia Woodward was a man she'd be in jail for domestic violence with no prospect of being a doctor ever?'
A civilian drone damaged a multi-million dollar military helicopter after it crashed into the aircraft over a residential neighborhood in New York.

According to authorities, a UA60 helicopter soaring 500 feet above Midland Beach in Staten Island Thursday evening was struck by an illegally flying drone, causing damage to its rotor blades.

The incident occurred between 7.30pm and 8.15pm, according to The New York Post.

A civilian drone crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter of the same class as this aircraft on Thursday, causing damaging to its blade

The aircraft, known as a Black Hawk helicopter, was forced to land at nearby Linden Airport in New Jersey. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Army Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino, spokesman for the 82nd Airborne, said the unnamed aerial vehicle 'struck on the left side of fuselage.'

'There were no adverse impacts to the flight,' he continued. 'One blade was damaged [and] dented in two spots and requires replacement and there is a dented window.'

Buccino added: 'Our paratroopers from the 82nd are the best trained and they were able to act very quickly and very appropriately.'

The Post reported that the helicopter was accompanied by another UA60 and had traveled from Fort Bragg, North Carolina for the United Nations General Assembly this week.

Drone use is prohibited within five miles of an airport and is not allowed to fly above 400 feet in New York City

The NYPD and military police are seeking to speak with the pilot of the drone, but so far no arrests have been made.

The law prohibits drones from flying within a 5 mile radius of an airport, and restricts unmanned aerial vehicle usage to five model aircraft fields spread throughout the five boroughs.

'Drones can pose a definite risk to aircrafts, especially helicopters. If they smash into a windshield they could cause copter to crash,' said a law enforcement source told the Post.

'Drones can also distract pilots causing them to lose control.'

'Last night, an out of control helicopter could have crashed into residential homes causing numerous injuries and even fatalities,' the source added.

Drone use has been a nuisance for city officials over the past several years, with at least half a dozen reported incidents of UAVs causing damage to buildings and private property.
Acclaimed British actress Vanessa Redgrave brought her directorial debut film "Sea Sorrow" on the refugee crisis for a special screening in Athens on Friday evening.

British actress Vanessa Redgrave attends a press briefing on her directorial debut film "Sea Sorrow" on the refugee crisis in Athens, Greece, on Sept. 21, 2017. Vanessa Redgrave brought her directorial debut film "Sea Sorrow" on the refugee crisis for a special screening in Athens on Friday evening. (Xinhua/Lefteris Partsalis)

It is a part of the 23rd Athens International Film Festival "Opening Nights" which runs from September 20 to October 1.

Inspired by the photo of Alan, the little Syrian boy whose body was washed up on a Turkish shore in 2015 while his family was struggling to cross the Aegean sea to Greece, along thousands other refugees, Redgrave wrote the script for a documentary which chronicles the story of refugees in Europe since the 20th century.

The film is a personal and empowering reflection on today's global refugee crisis, as seen through the eyes of children and the voices of activists and artists in France, Britain, Italy and Greece.

Risking their lives, thousands of refugees have abandoned their war-stricken countries in search of a better future.

Since September 2015, more than 8,500 refugees and migrants have died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean alone, according to the UN refugee agency.

Redgrave criticized European governments over their response to the refugee crisis during a press conference held on the eve of the screening in the Greek capital.

She praised Greek people for setting an example to the world by showing solidarity to refugees arriving on the shores of the Aegean islands, despite the economic crisis that has hit their country.

In 2016 she visited refugee centers in Greece where she had the opportunity to talk with refugees and migrants. "I did say, and I say it in the film that the Greek people gave a lesson in humanity," she said.

During the film, Redgrave recounts moments from her own past as a war child when she was relocated away from London at the start of World War II.

"We have a poster by the Ministry of Health showing a British woman with a headscarf at the times carrying a baby in her arms, a little boy in one hand, a young girl in the other hand. She is walking through streets that had been bombed and it says, "It could be you" in large letters and underneath "Helping the evacuees is a national duty"," Redgrave said, noting that this is not the case today, as some countries turn their back on refugees.

Dedicating this film to the thousands of refugees who have died in lack of support and protection, the award-winning actress hopes to support the humanitarian groups who do their utmost to support the refugees who have survived, most especially children.

"I cannot live peacefully without doing something for refugees, especially for refugee children. It's as simple as that," she said during the press conference.

During the festival film-goers will have the chance to choose among 108 full feature films and 57 short films.

The Athens Film Society which founded and organizes the festival aiming to highlight genres of independent cinema and introduce Greeks to some of the best productions of the year. It is estimated that more than 60,000 people will pack the cinemas this year.

"The festival's motto this year is Films for All... The major tribute this year is entitled Cinema and Disability. We hope that we will launch a discussion between people with disabilities and the state so that the latter will help them enjoy movies, theatre plays and music concerts as we enjoy them," Loukas Katsikas, the festival's artistic director, told Xinhua.

For first time this year Greek people with disabilities will have the chance to attend a foreign film screening with audio description. In previous years during the festival, organizers introduced the subtitles for Greek movies.
Dash cam footage has captured the moment a P-plater crashed into a 4WD in Sydney's inner west on Monday.

In a video uploaded to Dash Cam Owners Australia, a Kia 4WD can be seen waiting to turn right at the corner of Bexley Road and William Street in Earlwood.

While the Kia has a green light to turn, the green arrow is not illuminated.

As the 4WD begins the turn from a standstill, the P-plater travelling towards the intersection slams on his brakes.

The Kia 4WD can be seen waiting to turn right at the corner of Bexley Road and William Street in Earlwood

As the 4WD begins the turn from a standstill, the oncoming P-plater smashed into the rear of the vehicle

Both cars collide with a deafening screech of tires as the red P-plate driver smashes into the rear of the 4WD.

According to the man who uploaded the video, known as Utsav, there was a child in the backseat of the Kia.

'There was a child in Kia and was so lucky that the other car actually hit the rear axle and it took all the impact,' he wrote.

'If it would have hit the rear door then it would have been a very serious injury to the child.'

As the 4WD spins out from the impact, the spare tire under the car flies out and narrowly misses hitting a Vespa rider in the head

The bike rider can be seen falling onto the road in shock as the Kia knocks the Vespa over

As the 4WD spins out from the impact, the spare tyre under the car flies out and narrowly misses hitting a Vespa rider in the head.

The bike rider can be seen falling onto the road in shock as the Kia knocks the Vespa over.

Following the crash, Utsav can be seen exiting his own vehicle and checking on the P-plate driver who appeared to be in shock.

The driver of the Kia can be heard yelling at the P-plater, asking: 'Why were you going so fast mate?'

The P-plate driver appears to be in shock as he recovers from the impact of the crash

Other drivers and pedestrians begin crowding around and tell the two men to calm down.

Social media comments have criticised the Kia for turning without enough time and praised Utsav's actions for checking on both drivers.

'How could you even think the P-plater was at fault? There was no green arrow. Other car turned when it wasnt safe,' one comment said.

Another wrote: 'SUV asks "why you going so fast, mate?!" after he, himself guns it from a standstill 90 degrees.'

'The guy with the dash cam. Legend. Went straight to driver, checked to make sure ok then looked like he isolated car,' another said.
A Ghanaian asylum seeker accused of raping a woman in a nature reserve in Germany while forcing her boyfriend to watch has denied any involvement in the case.

On the first day of the trial in Bonn, the 32-year-old man said 'I don't understand why I should remain silent when I don't know anything about the case' after his lawyers advised him not to speak.

The man - whose identity cannot be revealed because of strict German privacy laws - allegedly spotted a young couple camping in the nature reserve where the River Sieg flows into the Rhine in western Germany.

An e-fit of the accused which was put out by the police. He was captured after a passer-by recognised him from the e-fit. Pictured right: The Siegaue Nature Reserve

He is said to have forced his way into the couple's tent, threatened them with a tree saw and ordered them to hand over their valuables.

After robbing them he is said to have told the 23-year-old woman to come outside, where he raped her and forced her boyfriend to watch.

The suspect was arrested soon after in nearby Siegburg after a man recognised him from a composite picture of the sex attacker.

German media have reported that the boyfriend's call to police was initially considered a joke.

According to Suddeutsche Zeitung, he explained that he was the son of a rich plantation owner in Ghana.

But it emerged earlier this year that the man had been served notice by the German authorities ten days before the attack informing him he would face deportation to Italy as his asylum application had been rejected.

He arrived in Italy in January and his asylum application was immediately rejected but by then he had made the journey to Kassel in Germany.

The refugee was arrested after being accused of dragging a young woman from her tent and raping her while she was on camping with her boyfriend at in the Siegaue Nature Reserve (pictured)

The suspect lived for a time in asylum seeker housing accommodation in the town of Sankt Augustin, near Bonn.

But local media have questioned why he was not immediately deported.

Vanessa Nolte, of the Cologne district authorities, said: 'On 23 March he received the order, on 24th March he appealed it.'

Bonn police spokesman Robert Scholten said: 'As well as from the rape, we found a lot of DNA samples at the crime scene, which are clearly from the arrested man.'

The trial is expected to last eight days.
A beauty queen contestant participating in Miss Universe Spain was filmed in an embarrassing fall into a pool as she strutted her stuff in a dress and high heels.

Pilar Magro was representing the central Spanish province of Caceres in the competition when she made the humiliating gaffe.

A clip shows Magro among a line-up of young women walking beside a pool at an undisclosed location in Spain.

Oops! A clip shows Pilar Magro among a line-up of young women walking beside a pool at an undisclosed location in Spain. She attempts an elegant twirl and falls into the pool

She attempts an elegant twirl but the effect is ruined when she twirls herself off the edge and into the pool, disappearing under the surface with a shriek.

A lifeguard is on hand to help her get to the side and the only thing injured looks to be her pride.

After recovering her composure, Magro slips off her shoes and swims over to the pools steps.

The slip-up may have cost Magro the title, as it was eventually taken by Sofia del Prado of the central autonomous community of Castilla La Mancha.

Splash! The other models on the catwalk can be seen screaming in shock as Magro falls into the pool

After recovering her composure, Magro slips off her shoes and swims over to the pools steps

Beauty queen: Pilar Magro was representing the central Spanish province of Caceres in the competition

New Miss Universe Spain Miss del Prado will now go on to represent her country in the Miss Universe competition, where Iris Mittanaere will hand over her crown.

She will be up against around 100 other contestants including Britains Anna Burdzy from Leicester.
President Donald Trump will unveil his tax-slash plan on Wednesday that's expected to be a windfall for corporations and a boon for wealthy Americans.

The proposal will reportedly include across-the-board cuts for individual earners and a reduction in the number of tax brackets from seven to three.

His administration has waffled on tax benefits for the rich, proposing to drop rates in a blueprint, then back track once a majority of Senate Democrats sent a letter to the White House drawing a line in the sand at a cut for the wealthy.

The president will pump the deal the White House made with leading House and Senate Republicans on Wednesday in Vice President Mike Pence's home state of Indiana.

President Donald Trump will unveil his tax-slash plan on Wednesday that's expected to be a windfall for corporations and a boon for wealthy Americans

Trump said this month that the rich would not be gaining under his plan and that he'd be willing to sacrifice a proposed upper-tier cut to earn the support of reticent Democrats.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin famously pledged, 'Any reductions we have in upper income taxes will be offset by less deductions, so that there will be no tax -- absolute tax cut for the upper class.'

Mnuchin told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday, 'What it was and it is still, it is what the president's objective was.'

'And as it relates to the high end, you know, there's lots of changes. We're getting rid of lots of deductions. We're trying to get rid of state and locally deductions to get the federal government out of subsidizing it,' he said. 'And yes, I can tell you the current plan for many, many people, it will not reduce taxes on the high end.'

The Republican proposal is said to includes a drop in both the corporate rate and a the top tax bracket, although negotiators are still haggling over the details.

Corporate taxes would go down to 20 percent from 35 percent, sources told the Washington Post. The upper-income bracket would top off at 35 percent, a shift downward from 39.6 percent.

'Itll be the largest tax cuts in the history of our country,' Trump declared Monday on an Alabama radio show.

Trump told reporters yesterday evening that the plan his White House crafted with Republicans on Capitol Hill had been finalized.

'I think it will be terrific. I think it's going to go through, and it will be the largest tax cut in the history of our country,' he said just before he boarded Air Force One for a flight to Washington.

He went on to suggest that the proposal was not actually finished, saying it is his 'hope' the corporate rate would be 15 percent.

'I hope the corporate rate is going to be 15 percent,' he said. 'We'll see what happens, but I hope it's going to be 15 percent. But it's going to be substantially lower so we bring jobs back into our country.'

Trump has doggedly pursued a 15 percent rate for big businesses.

The existing rate is a drag on job creation and economic growth, he's said, and has allowed countries like China to get ahead.

'I can tell you the current plan for many, many people, it will not reduce taxes on the high end,' Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on Sunday said, even thought the plan currently calls for a tax slash for the rich

When it comes to individual rates, Trump has proposed a 10 percent floor. House Republicans have said they want to lock in a 12 percent rate. The president said Sunday evening that it would be one of the two, saying that whatever they offered it would be 'much lower than it is right now.'

'This is a plan for the middle class and for companies so they can bring back jobs,' he stated.

To pass tax reform, the president will need all but two Republicans in the Senate to jump on board or he will need the support of moderate Democrats. He's explictly targeted four that are up for reelection next year in states that he won, including North Dakota's Heidi Heitkamp.

Trump said Sunday that he believes the plan - that he's been advocating in road show events - will pass.

'I believe we will be successful in the largest tax cut in our country's history,' he said.
A Mormon church has been defaced with 'Vote Yes' graffiti even though it hasn't even told its parishioners how to vote in the gay marriage postal survey.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Leura, west of Sydney, was sprayed with slogans in red and black.

The mess was cleaned up on Saturday morning but Blue Mountains parishioners are baffled as to why they were targeted, considering Mormons are declining to take a position on same-sex marriage.

This Mormon church at the Blue Mountains west of Sydney was spray painted with 'Vote Yes'

They are instead asking their worshipers to vote according to their conscience, The Australian reported.

The graffiti attack on the architecturally-significant church has sparked outrage across Facebook, with several former parishioners particularly upset.

'Disgusting bullying tactics. Where's the 'love' and 'anti discrimination' that the Yes side are all about?,' one woman wrote.

However, the 'Yes' side hasn't had a monopoly when in comes to menacing graffiti.

This home at Dutton Park, in inner Brisbane, was defaced with Nazi swastikas on the fence

This inner-city Queenslander home in Brisbane had swastikas sprayed on the front fence

In Brisbane a home at Dutton Park, near the city, had a rainbow flag defaced with a Nazi swastika by a likely opponent of gay marriage.

Jessica Lette-Garvey and her neighbours also found large black swastikas spray-painted on their fences on Sunday morning.

Another home decorated with rainbow flags and pro-gay marriage slogans, in nearby Woollongabba, allegedly had a rock thrown threw the window.

The reports of graffiti harassment are occurring as households receive ballots from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Voters are urged to post them by October 27 to ensure they are received by the November 7 deadline as part of the $122 million postal vote survey on gay marriage.
A British ISIS terrorist with links to the Manchester bombings has been caught on film for the first time alongside other notorious jihadis form this country.

Raymond Matimba, who was born in Zimbabwe but lived in Manchester before joining ISIS, was filmed in a cafe in Raqqa, Syria, talking with the likes of Mohammed Emwazi, aka Jihadi John, ISIS hacker Junaid Hussain, and recruiter Reyaad Khan.

The footage seems to show that Matimba, long thought to be a fringe figure in the terror group, is actually a key figure and is now likely to be the UK's most wanted terrorists - if he is still alive.

Remarkable video shows four of the most notorious British jihadis together in a cafe in Raqqa charging their phones at some point in 2014, when ISIS was in full control of the city

Among them is Raymond Matimba - caught on tape for the first time - who was recruited into ISIS by the same man as Manchester Area bomber Salman Abedi

The video seems to show Matimba, long thought to be a fringe figure in ISIS, is actually a key player and may have helped organise the Manchester attack

The video was captured by a source in Raqqa in 2014 who gave it to The Telegraph after the area of the city he lives in was liberated by US-backed SDF forces, who now have the city surrounded.

Matimba is known to have links with Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi, as the pair were recruited to join ISIS by the same man, Raphael Hostey.

They are also thought to have visited the same mosque together in south Manchester before Matimba, who also goes by the name Abu Qaqa al-Britani al-Afro, left the UK - first going to Barcelona and then to Turkey where he crossed into Syria.

The recorder of the video told The Telegraph that Matimba was a key figure in the Manchester attack, telling ISIS commanders that he hated the city and wanted it to become a target.

He is then thought to have exchanged messages with Abedi in the months leading up to the attack, which killed 22 people, though what was said is unclear.

The source also said Matimba was known for his skills with a rifle and trained ISIS snipers. In every photo and the video he is shown with an AK at his side.

Matimba's fate is currently unknown. His family say he updated them on his life in Raqqa until last year, when he stopped responding.

It had been reported he was killed in fighting, but his death has never been confirmed.

Also in the footage is now-deceased ISIS executioner Emwazi, who is shown sitting in the centre.

He was born in Kuwait but raised in west London, where he was reported to have enjoyed a typical childhood and schooling.

ISIS claims he was radicalised some time in 2005, after the London bombings, before making several trips to the Middle East over the next few years.

It is thought he left the UK for good in 2013 when he travelled to Syria and joined forces with ISIS.

There he became part of the infamous terror cell known as 'The Beatles', because it was comprised of four men who all spoke in British accents.

Emwazi took on the role as ISIS's executioner-in-chief, beheading British and American captives before the footage was uploaded online.

Just a few weeks before the footage was captured in this cafe, he is thought to have killed fellow Britons David Haines and Alan Henning.

He was killed by a US airstrike in Raqqa in 2015 as he left a building to get into a car.

Hussain, seen on the left, also went under the name Abu Hussain al-Britani. He was born in Birmingham to Pakistani parents in 1994.

He gained notoriety in 2012 as part of hacker group Team Poison after he manged to steal and release the address book of former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

For that, Hussain was jailed for six months before ending up back in police custody the following year on suspicion of violent disorder, before being bailed.

Mohammed Emwazi (pictured left), the vicious murderer who beheaded two of his fellow Britons on camera, can be seen looking at his phone while occasionally chatting to Reyaad Khan (pictured right)

To the cameraman's left is Junaid Hussain, known as the murderous organisation's hacking expert and as the husband of the terrorist Sally Jones. He was killed in a drone strike on Raqqa in August 2015

Shortly afterward he fled to Syria alongside new wife Sally Jones, a mother-of-one and former singer in a punk band who he converted to radical Islam.

Once in Syria he became a potent terror recruiter and is believed to have helped plan attacks in Europe and the US, alongside Jones.

Hussain was killed in 2015 at a petrol station in Raqqa by a US airstrike while occupying the number 3 spot on America's 'kill list' - behind only ISIS spiritual leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Emwazi.

Khan was born and raised in Cardiff, and before falling into the hands of jihadi recruiters was a straight-A student who dreamed of becoming Britain's first Asian Prime Minister.

But he turned his back on that life in 2013 when he fled to Syria, where he is thought to have worked with Hussain to orchestrate terror plots in the UK and allied nations.

He was also very active on social media which he used as a recruiting tool, posting pictures of bloodied corpses and joking 'does anyone want to sponsor my suicide belt?'

Khan featured in a prominent ISIS recruiting video alongside friends Nasser Muthana, also from Cardiff, and Abdul Raqib Amin, from Aberdeen, in which they encouraged other young people to join the fight in Syria.

He was killed in an RAF drone strike in Syria in 2015, marking the first time an RAF drone was used to attack a British national in a country in which it is not at war.

Raymond Matimba's role in ISIS is less clear. He lived for a time in Manchester before moving to Barcelona in 2014, before he travelled to Turkey and on to Syria.

Friends confirmed he had made it to Raqqa where he adopted the name of Abu Qaqa Britani Afro.

Pictured: Sally Jones, wife of Hussain. She once played in a female punk band but ran away from her home in Chatham, Kent to help wage jihad. She is still alive

The cafe is located in Raqqa, for years the group's de-facto capital in Syria and now its last stronghold as US-backed SDF fighters try to recapture it

He sent several pictures back home posing with AK47 rifles, and one can be seen beside him in the new footage.

Family say Matimba kept them updated on his whereabouts until some point in 2016, when he stopped responding.

He was previously reported as having been killed during the conflict, but his death has never been confirmed.

In the video, these four men can be seen chatting casually as they sit or lie in armchairs while charging their phones.

Their topics of conversation include banal topics such as bank accounts, though this was not always the case.

According to the Telegraph's source, who the paper did not name, the cafe was a haunt for Europeans who had decided to abandon their old lives in the West and take up the call of jihad.

From 2013 when ISIS captured the city, until recently when it came under siege from US-backed SDF forces, the source said discussions in the cafe ranged from where in Europe to attack next, to the best methods for killing as many people as possible.

Back in 2015 the source said he heard French and Belgian jihadis discussing methods of attack, just months before the attacks on Paris and Brussels which left hundreds of innocents dead.

The source was only able to release the information recently after his home was recaptured by the SDF.
The disaster year has seen multiple deaths and 137,500 reported cases

She fought the illness alongside her seven-year-old daughter, Estella

Australia's disastrous influenza season claimed another victim over the weekendmother-of-two, Jennifer Thew.

The Canberra medical receptionist from Gungahlin passed away following a week-long battle with the virus, which she fought alongside her seven-year-old daughter, Estella.

She tragically died from acute respiratory distress syndrome amid the worst flu season the Australian Capital Territory's seen in five years.

Australia's disastrous influenza season claimed another victim over the weekendmother-of-two, Jennifer Thew (pictured)

Ms Thew was reportedly known throughout the community to have always put the needs of her children first, even in the week leading up to her heartbreaking death.

'She always went above and beyond for those around her,' someone close to the loving mother told the Daily Telegraph.

Her daughter's dance school has established a Go Fund Me account in support of the family and offered Estella free tuition for the final term.

The horror season has swept the nation with more than 137,500 influenza cases confirmed up to the start of September.

The Canberra medical receptionist from Gungahlin passed away following a week-long battle with the virus, which she fought alongside her seven-year-old daughter, Estella (pictured)

The amount is more than double the 53,159 cases of the same time last year and more than the total amount, 83,092, for the entire season of 2016.

New South Wales has the most reported cases nationwide by the September 1, with 70,000 people affected.

More than 35,000 cases had been confirmed in Queensland, and at least 13,000 cases have been reported in Victoria, leading to a national shortage in the anti-viral drug, Tamiflu.

An eight-year-old girl passed away in the Melbourne suburb of Upper Ferntree Gully earlier in the month.

An eight-year-old girl passed away in the Melbourne suburb of Upper Ferntree Gully at the Angliss Hospital (pictured) earlier in the month

Her death followed the passing of a 30-year-old Victorian bottle shop worker, who died on what was to be his first Father's Day as a parent.

Ben Ihlow tragically died on September 3 after a week-long battle with the flu, leaving behind his wife, Samantha and 10-month-old son, Andrew.

The father-to-be was suffering from a 'bit of a bug' in the week beforehand, then was taken to hospital on Friday before tragically dying on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a 33-year-old is in a critical condition at Alfred Hospital, Victoria, and is yet to hold her baby boy, who was born August 28.

Ben Ihlow (pictured) tragically died on September 3 after a week-long battle with the flu, leaving behind his wife, Samantha and 10-month-old son, Andrew

The father-to-be was suffering from a 'bit of a bug' in the week beforehand, then was taken to hospital on Friday before tragically dying on Sunday

Sarah and Rob Hawthorn's son was delivered six weeks early to give Mrs Hawthorn a fighting chance at survival.

The Cobram mother, north of Victoria, caught the flu in her later stages of pregnancy, which has lead to other serious medical conditions.

The Australian Medical Association says cases of influenza could be expected for at least the next two months.

Australians exceeding 80-years-old, along with children between ages five to nine, have been the worst affected.

33-year-old Sarah Hawthorn (pictured) is in a critical condition at Alfred Hospital, Victoria, and is yet to hold her baby boy, who was born August 28
Theresa May insisted a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit would be 'unacceptable' today, as she held talks with her Irish counterpart in Downing Street.

The PM and Leo Varadkar discussed the prospects for a deal at No10 - with the Taoiseach saying he believed progress was 'possible'.

Mr Varadkar is the first EU leader to visit Mrs May since her crucial speech in Florence last week, where she made a series of concessions in a bid to kickstart talks with the EU.

The PM and Leo Varadkar discussed the prospects for a Brexit deal at No10 today - with the Taoiseach saying he believed progress was 'possible'

After the meeting today, a Downing Street spokesman said the leaders had stressed the importance of maintaining the fluid border and sticking to the Good Friday Agreement.

'On the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, the Prime Minister reaffirmed how we will not accept any physical infrastructure at the border and how we are working on delivering a practical solution that allows for the most seamless possible movement of goods between the UK and EU,' the spokesman said.

'The Prime Minister thanked the Taoiseach for his welcome of her Florence speech and they discussed the period of implementation which would enable people and businesses  both in the UK and in the EU  to adjust to the new arrangements in a smooth and orderly way.'

Speaking as he left No10, Mr Varadkar said 'at this stage' he could not say sufficient progress had been made on the border issue to clear the first stage of talks with the EU.

But he did say it was 'possible' a solution could be found by an October deadline - when EU leaders will asses whether they believe the threshold has been met on the Northern Ireland border, divorce settlement and citizen's rights.

In her speech last week, Mrs May said the UK was ready to cover the huge hole left in Brussels' finances for another two years after we formally leave in 2019 - contributing potentially another 20 billion euros - and meet other liabilities that could total tens of billions more.

Mr Varadkar is the first EU leader to visit Mrs May since her crucial speech in Florence last week, where she made a series of concessions in a bid to kickstart talks with the EU

She also said the European court could help enforce the rights of EU nationals - easing back a previous red line - and admitted that bringing in tougher immigration measures would take time, raising the possibility that free movement rules could essentially stay in place for longer.

But Mrs May said in return for the 'generous' offer the UK must have full access to the single market during a two-year 'transition' period.

Mr Varadkar said the two leaders were in a 'shared space' on trying to get the Northern Ireland Executive up and running again.

He said Dublin wanted to make sure that the close relationship built up between the two countries in recent years is maintained after Brexit, as well as the common travel area.

Mr Varadkar said he hoped to keep free trade between the two countries 'because we share the view that free trade makes everyone better off'.
Police revealed a 34-year-old man from Piscataway, New Jersey died on Saturday after swimming in the dangerous waters off Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch.

A surfer attempted to rescue the man and pull him from the rip current, according to NJ.com.

The currently unidentified man was at the beach with his family when he decided to go swimming.

Police revealed a 34-year-old man from Piscataway, New Jersey died on Saturday after getting trapped in a rip current off Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch (pictured here)

However, once in the water the currents overpowered him and he got caught in a rip current.

He was taken to Monmouth Medical Center once pulled from the water but he died there shortly after.

Additionally, almost 35 swimmers had to be rescued near Belmar Beach on Sunday, according to NBC New York.

A surfer attempted to rescue the man and pull him from the rough waters by the beach in New Jersey but he was pronounced dead when he arrived at hospital

Mayor Matt Doherty was frustrated that people were still going into the water despite warnings and the dangerous conditions.

'Today Belmar PD told children not to go into the water because [its] dangerous only to have some parents override & tell their kids to go in,' Doherty tweeted earlier in the day.

He revealed that at least 35 people were rescued near Belmar over the weekend.

Officials up and down the Jersey Shore have warned beachgoers to stay out of the dangerous surf (Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch pictured here)

Mayor Matt Doherty tweeted his frustration with people as they were still going into the water despite warnings and the dangerous conditions

Warning flags were put up and there was a water rescue team patrolling the beach but people still ignored and went swimming anyway, Doherty said.

The magnitude of the waves are a result of hurricane Jose, which has spawned dangerous rip currents.

Police have warned people to not go in the water near the Jersey Shore due to the dangerous surf.

Officials have also warned that the rip currents will continue to amplify as hurricane Maria makes its way up the East Coast.
Kim Jong-un's Foreign Minister has made the shock claim that President Donald Trump has declared war on North Korea.

Ri Yong-ho insisted all options are on the table for Pyongyang and that his nation now reserves the right to shoot down US planes even if they are not in Korea's air space.

The official, talking to reporters in New York, said: 'The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country.

'Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.'

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, centre, speaking through an interpreter, left, talks outside the UN Plaza Hotel in New York today

US President Donald Trump listens to members of the media on the South Lawn after returning to the White House in Washington DC

Kim Jong-un's Foreign Minister has said President Donald Trump has declared war on North Korea. The dictator is pictured here delivering a speech last week addressing the US leader

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho gets into a car before heading to the US last week

Ri added: 'Trump claimed our leadership would not be around much longer. He declared a war on our country.'

The remarks from the rogue state's Foreign Minister is in reaction to comments made by the President of the US in which he questioned how long the North Korean leadership would be in power.

'Trump claimed our leadership would not be around much longer,' Ri said, threatening to shoot down American aircraft from international airspace.

'The question of who will be around much longer will be answered then,' he added.

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho arrives to address the 72nd session of the United Nations General assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 23

Ri, who made the comments before leaving New York where he had attended last week's UN General Assembly, made the statement then returned from his car to the press microphones to add: 'In light of the declaration of war by Trump, all options will be on the operations table of the supreme leadership of the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea).'

His words echoed warnings from the Trump administration that all options were on the table in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile development and its threats to have a weapon capable of reaching the continental United States.

And this afternoon the Pentagon gave reassurance to Donald Trump to say he will be provided with options to deal with Pyongyang if North Korea does not stop with its 'provocative actions'.

On Saturday, Ri told the UN General Assembly that targeting the US mainland with its rockets was inevitable after 'Mr Evil President' Trump called Pyongyang's leader a 'rocket man' on a suicide mission.

Trump tweeted: 'Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at UN.

'If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer.'

North Korea has pursued its missile and nuclear programs in defiance of international condemnation and sanctions.

US stocks fell sharply in late morning trading on Monday as news of the statements filtered through and a selloff in technology stocks accelerated.

The five tech giants - Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Alphabet - were down between 3.7 percent and 1.05 percent, weighing on the three major indexes.

Amid bitter wrangling between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, US bombers and jet fighters flew off the North Korean coast on Saturday in a show of force.

In response, the dictator released a propaganda video depicting North Korean missiles blowing up US aircraft carrier and a plane in response to Donald Trump's perceived aggression.

The clip was released on Sunday by the state-run DPRK Today and shows the USS Carl Vinson going up in flames after a Pukguksong missile is launched.

Korea's video brands the American President a 'mad man' and states any attack on the country would see US forces 'head to the grave'.

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim described Trump as a 'mentally deranged US dotard' whom he would tame with fire.

Kim said North Korea would consider the 'highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history' against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed his nuclear programme was 'the correct path'.

Trump threatened in his maiden UN address last Tuesday to 'totally destroy' the country of 26 million people if North Korea threatened the United States or its allies.

Asked how concerned China was the war of words between Trump and North Korea could get out of control, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described the situation as highly complex and sensitive.

It was vitally important everyone strictly, fully and correctly implemented all North Korea related UN resolutions, Lu said, resolutions which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

All sides should 'not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present', Lu told a daily news briefing.

'We hope all sides do not continue doing things to irritate each other and should instead exercise restraint.'

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) pose prior to a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, July 8, 2017

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Theresa May to the G20 Summit on September 4, 2016 in Hangzhou, China

Speaking to British Prime Minister Theresa May by telephone, Chinese President Xi Jinping repeated Beijing's position that the North Korean issue should be resolved peacefully via talks, state media said.

China hopes Britain can play a constructive role in easing the situation and pushing for a resumption in talks, Xi said.

May, like some other U.S. allies, has pushed for China to do more on North Korea.

US President Donald J Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May walk the colonade of the White House in Washington, DC, US, earlier this year

Downing Street said the two leaders agreed there was a particular responsibility for China and Britain, as permanent Security Council members, to help find a diplomatic solution.

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear bomb test on September 3 Pyongyang said on Friday it might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

While China has been angered by North Korea's repeated nuclear and missile tests, it has also called for the United States and its allies to help lessen tension by dialling back their military drills.

US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on Saturday in a show of force the Pentagon said indicated the range of military options available to Trump.

In response to a question about the exercises, Chinese spokesman Lu said: 'A continued rise in tensions on the peninsula, I believe, is not in the interests of any side.'

Wang Jingdong, president of the world's largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), told reporters during a briefing the bank will 'strictly implement UN Security Council decisions related to North Korea and carefully fulfil relevant international responsibility'.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said his decision to call a snap election would not distract his government from responding to North Korean threats.
Digital Dunhuang, an online resource database, became available in English from Sept. 20, 2017, marking a giant leap towards global sharing of the stunning Dunhuang resources.

Digital Dunhuang, an online resource database, became available in English from Sept. 20, 2017, marking a giant leap towards global sharing of the stunning Dunhuang resources. [Photo / China.org.cn]

More than 120 scholars and artists from Britain, France, Italy, America, South Korea, Japan, and Brazil, as well as Chinas mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan attended the launch ceremony, after which they also discussed the Dunhuang school of painting, its heritage and innovation.

The Dunhuang Caves, included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, are a treasure house of ancient Chinese civilization.

The goal of Digital Dunhuang is to pool massive amounts of data related to the Dunhuang Caves, famous for their grottoes with ancient wall paintings, that have already been available or will be in the near future, including images, videos, and archaeological and protection materials.

Based on more than 20 years of arduous work in digitalizing the artworks, Digital Dunhuang is a large and integrated digital resource and service platform for Dunhuang wall paintings and research results.

Stored in a structured and orderly way, these resources are permanently preserved for sharing with scholars and the public around the world. This is another effort to inherit and promote the splendid ancient Chinese civilization.

Dunhuang Academy has so far completed digitalizing wall paintings of 150 caves and accumulated more than 300 TB of data. The amount will continue to increase as the work continues. Dunhuang documents and related research are also abundant.

A great quantity of literature scattered around the world also needs to be linked or included in Digital Dunhuang.

Digital Dunhuang in Chinese, which went online on May 1, 2016, provides high-resolution digital resources and virtual tours of 30 Dunhuang caves carved during the Northern Wei (386-534), Western Wei (535-556), Northern Zhou (557-581), Sui (581-618), Tang (618-907), Five Dynasties (907-960), and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties.
Emily Thornberry today mocked Boris Johnson jibing that he should go on the Jeremy Kyle show and take a Brexit paternity test to face up to his responsibilities.

She joked that the Foreign Secretary was denying responsibilty for the promises made by the Leave campaign.

'I know that Boris doesn't like paternity tests but maybe we need one for Brexit,' she said. 'Maybe we should take him into a studio with Jeremy Kyle: 'Sorry, Mr Johnson, we got the results back and it looks like this one is one of yours'.

And Labour's shadow foreign secretary compared Donald Trump to a 'rogue dictator' as she tore into the US President for ramping up the threats against North Korea.

Ms Thornberry said his threat to 'totally destroy' the Communist country 'is not what we need from the leader of the free world'.

Emily Thornberry, pictured today at the Labour Party conference, slammed Donald Trump and Boris Johnson during her fiery speech at the Labour Party conference

She accused Theresa May of 'pathetically' trying to cosy up to the US President in 'sycophantic and spineless' display.Ms Thornberry, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, laid into the men as she delivered her speech at the party conference in Brighton today.

She said the world is facings its biggest challenges since the 1930s - pushed to the brink by the war in Syria and Yemen, human rights violations in Mayanmar and civil unrest in Venezuela.

US AMBASSADOR TO THE UK BACKS BREXIT The new US ambassador to Britain has backed Brexit. Robert Johnson, known as Woody, said, said he trusts the British people to decide their own destiny. Mr Johnson , who has recently been appointed to the diplomatic role by Donald Trump, told the Telegraph he supports the UK leaving the Brussels club. He said: 'I trust the British people to make the right decision and I feel comfortable that you made the right decision.' And he said Britain is one of Europe's most important trading partners and it is in the interests of the bloc to strike a good trade deal. He said: 'The UK is a great customer of Europe. 'It is one of the best customers, and you need to treat your customer right. It is pretty logical once you get over all the emotions.' He added: The UK should have the freedom to control movement over its borders. I think it can be worked out. I am pretty optimistic.' Advertisement

And she said the growing threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea has 'terrifying consequences' for the world.

But she lashed Mr Trump, accusing the President of believing he can flout international rules which help foster peace.

Reeling off a list of White House policies she disagrees with, Ms Thornberry said: 'imposing a travel ban on Muslims, equivocating over illegal settlements, reneging on the Paris climate treaty, imperilling the nuclear deal with Iran.

'And threatening to totally destroy North Korea. A country of 20 million men and women. And 5 million children - this is not what we need from the leader of the free world.'

She added: 'To be honest, it's more like what we would expect from a rogue dictator.'

In a fiery speech, the Labour frontbencher then turned her fury on the Prime Minister, slamming her for trying to strike a close a close working relationship with him.

She said: 'And what makes it even worse is to see this Tory government and this Tory Prime Minister pathetically going along with it all walking hand-in-hand with Trump at the White House, supine, sycophantic and spineless.

'And why? All in the vain hope that Trump will ride to the rescue after Brexit with some fantasy free trade deal.

'Because, for this Tory government that's what their foreign policy has come down to no values or ethics, no rules or principles just a simple case of what works best for the bottom line.'

The shadow foreign secretary also mercilessly mocked Mr Johnson, joking that Labour should 'sympathise with poor old Boris' who she said had 'not been happy lately'.

Labour's shadow foreign secretary, pictured at the Labour Party conference today, said the world is facing its biggest challenges since the 1930s

Emily Thornberry slammed Donald Trump, pictured (left) today on the White House lawn, comparing him to a rogue dictator. She also mocked Boris Johnson (right), pictured today in Prague, saying he should go on the Jeremy Kyle show to have a Brexit paternity test

She said: 'Apparently he's sick of being blamed for the way that Brexit is going and all the broken promises of the Leave campaign.

'I'm sorry - what? Who does he think made all those promises? Who does he think was in charge of the Leave campaign?

'I know that Boris doesn't like paternity tests but maybe we need one for Brexit.'

She continued: 'Maybe we should take him into a studio with Jeremy Kyle: 'Sorry, Mr Johnson, we got the results back and it looks like this one is one of yours'.

''It must have been that wild night out you had with Michael Gove... I've calculated your maintenance payments and that'll be 350 million a week'.'
Arizona Sen John McCain said that President Donald Trump has never apologized for questioning his heroism during the Vietnam War.

As a Navy pilot, McCain was imprisoned and tortured in a Hanoi prison for five years during the Vietnam War after being shot down.

During a campaign speech in July 2015, then-GOP hopeful Trump said that McCain, 81, was 'not a war hero', adding that he liked 'people who weren't captured'.

'I'd be glad to converse with him,' McCain told Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes. 'But I also understand that we're very different people. Different upbringing. Different life experiences.'

McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, said that an apology might help repair the relationship between him and Trump

During a campaign speech in July 2015, then-GOP hopeful Trump said that McCain, 81, was 'not a war hero', adding that he liked 'people who weren't captured'

McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, said that an apology might help repair the relationship between him and Trump.

'If I took offense at everybody who has said something about me, or disparaged me or something like that - life is too short. You've got to move on,' he added. 'And on an issue of this importance to the nation, for me to worry about a personal relationship, then I'm not doing my job.'

McCain survived a fire that killed 134 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War.

He was captured after his plane was shot down during a bombing mission over Hanoi and spent five years as a prisoner of war, refusing early release.

While McCain suffered in a North Vietnamese cell, Trump received both student deferments and a medical deferment for 'bone heel spurs' on both of his feet.

During his sit-down with 60 Minutes, McCain also opened up about his brain cancer diagnosis, saying that doctors have given him a 'very poor prognosis'.

McCain, a Navy fighter pilot, was imprisoned and tortured in a Hanoi prison for five years during the Vietnam War after being shot down. Pictured above shaking President Richard Nixon's hand after his release in 1973

In this fall 1967 file photo, John McCain is administered to at a Hanoi, Vietnam hospital as a prisoner of war. The injuries he sustained while a prisoner of war have left the senator unable to raise his arms above his head

The cancer that McCain is suffering from is the same type of cancer that took the life of his former Senate colleague Edward M. Kennedy in 2009.

He told CBS' 60 Minutes that he thinks about Kennedy a lot. McCain said Kennedy continued to work despite the diagnosis and 'never gave up because he loved the engagement'.

McCain said he has 'feelings sometimes of fear of what happens,' but counters that with gratitude for having lived 'had a great life'.

He added: 'it's not that you're leaving, it's that you  that you stayed.'

The interview, in which McCain's wife of 37 years Cindy also spoke, comes two days after the senator was the target of a scorching Twitter attack from President Donald Trump.

In a series of messages posted to Twitter, Trump slammed McCain for his lack of support in nullifying the Affordable Care Act, accusing the former Republican presidential nominee of going back on his word.

'John McCain never had any intention of voting for this Bill, which his Governor loves. He campaigned on Repeal & Replace. Let Arizona down!' the President tweeted Saturday morning.

On Thursday, McCain announced that he could not 'in good conscience' support the Republican party's likely last effort to repeal the ACA, a bill sponsored by his close friend Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
Sir Keir Starmer today admitted the Brexit deal could offer a better settlement between Britain and Europe than exists today.

The shadow Brexit secretary, who campaigned for Remain, has repeatedly warned the Government's plan will damage the country.

But he insisted he remained optimistic of the chance of getting a deal that could improve on EU membership.

The intervention, at a fringe meeting at Labour's Brighton conference, will be seized on by Brexiteers eager to claim Labour's opposition to Brexit is opportunist.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured today making his main address to the Labour conference) admitted the Brexit deal could offer a better settlement between Britain and Europe than exists today

Sir Keir said: 'I hope we can reach a new arrangement that works for both of us.

'I say that because I do not want to get in to the approach that says: ''It will never be as good as it was on the 23rd of June 2016.''

'I fundamentally reject that, I think if we work hard we can do better than that.

'And I'll tell you why I think that, I've got a six-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy and I am not going to let them grow up with their dad saying to them: ''It will never be as good as it was.''

'I will work to make this as good as it can be and to prosper in the future outside the EU and that is hugely challenging.

'But we need some grown-ups in the room, we need to take our time and we need to have options on the table.'

Sir Keir's intervention came as London Mayor Sadiq Khan today suggested Britain could stay in the EU despite last year's historic Brexit referendum.

Sir Keir's intervention came as London Mayor Sadiq Khan (pictured today running on Brighton sea front) suggested Britain could stay in the EU despite last year's historic Brexit referendum

He said the 'goal posts have moved' and called for the capital to be given special treatment in talks with the bloc on the free movement of people.

His comments ratchet up tensions as the Labour Party's splits over the crucial withdrawal talks have burst into the open again over the decision not to hold a vote on Brexit policy.

Labour MPs slammed the move - spearheaded by Jeremy Corbyn supporters - to gag the party by refusing to hold a substantive vote on the floor of the conference in Brighton today.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell dismissed the fury of moderate MPs, telling the party the decision was 'democracy at work'.
Enrique Moreno, 37, was arrested on two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a controlled drug on Friday

Police arrested a New Hampshire man on Friday for allowing an 11-year-old boy to drive an SUV with the child's three-year-old brother in the back seat.

The officer who stopped the vehicle Friday in Manchester allegedly removed the keys from the ignition and placed the boy in the back seat.

Enrique Moreno, 37, was arrested on two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a controlled drug - cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

An officer on Putnam Street reportedly saw 'several motor vehicle infractions.'

'Moreno, who was seated in the passenger seat, exited the car and attempted to speak with the officer before he made his way to the drivers window,' according to Lt. Brian OKeefe of the Manchester Police Department.

The officer pulled over a 2002 Acura MDX over near Blucher Street after the driver broke several traffic violations, according to OKeefe.

Moreno is pictured here with his wife (Jessica Moreno) in a photo taken from his Facebook page in 2016 - it is unknown as to whether the duo are still married or not

'The officer ordered him back to his vehicle as he approached the driver of the Acura,' he continued.

The Manchester resident was sitting in the passenger seat of the car when this happened.

Police revealed that the mother of the children, Moreno's girlfriend, came to pick up the young kids.

Moreno is not related to either the 11-year-old or the three-year-old.

He was scheduled to appear at Hillsborough County Superior Court on Monday but it is not certain whether he has a lawyer or not.
Three Royal Marines have been thrown out of the military and now face jail after admitting carrying out sex acts in a depraved 'initiation ceremony' in a nightclub.

Luke Bowen, Jordan Coia and Ben James admitted public indecency after taking part in the lewd behaviour which was caught on CCTV in the smoking area of DeVitos club in Arbroath, Scotland.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard the trio urinated in public, smacked each others bare buttocks and committed graphic sex acts in front of horrified customers.

Ben James (left) and Luke Bowen (right), pictured outside Forfar Sheriff Court today

Jordan Coia (left) and Craig Lynch (right), pictured arriving at court. The group all admitted public indecency

The court heard Luke Bowen urinated in the mouths of Jordan Coia and Ben James then placed his penis in the pair's mouths.

Bowen then drank his own urine as well as that of others before shaking his penis in front of onlookers.

A fourth man, Craig Lynch, who is not in the military, then performed a sex act on another person during the incident.

Lynch, 42, from Aberdeen, James, 22, from Thirsk, Bowen, 25, from Chichester, and Coia, 22, of RM Condor, pleaded guilty on summary complaint to a charge of public indecency.

Jacob Holt, 21, Ryan Fowler, 23, Michael Byrne, 26, all of RM Condor in Arbroath, had their not guilty pleas to a charge of public indecency accepted.

It is understood Holt, Fowler and Byrne remain serving Royal Marines.

A court source said: 'This is a massive embarrassment for the Marines - it's not the image they want to give off.

'Initiations of some kind have existed in the military for decades but they want to eradicate this kind of behaviour, especially when it is in public.'

The group took part in sex acts which was caught on CCTV in the smoking area of DeVitos club in Arbroath, Scotland

Ben James has been thrown out of the military and faces jail after admitting taking part in the depraved 'initiation ceremony'

Solicitor Nick Whelan, defending Coia, said: 'This resulted in the ending of service for a number of these young men, including Mr Coia.

'What he thought would be a lifetime relationship with the military has come to an end after two-and-a-half years of service.

'The case has been hanging over these individuals and has prevented him obtaining employment as it is still pending.'

Nick Markowski, defending James, said: 'He was also discharged from the Royal Marines.'

And Lynne Sturrock, for Bowen, added: 'He's been discharged and now lives with his parents.'

None of the men will face being placed on the sex offenders register after the Crown accepted there was 'no significant sexual element' to the crime.

Sheriff John Rafferty deferred sentence on the four men for social work background reports and released them on bail.
Mothers should teach their daughters as young as 12 about how to check their breasts for signs of cancer, according to the McGrath Foundation.

The recommendation follows research pointing to new risk factors, as the organisation warns women should learn to distinguish them from common myths.

The foundation's second annual McGrath Breast Health Index revealed a variety of factors could increase women's chances of getting breast cancer, including taking the contraceptive pill.

Mothers should teach their daughters as young as 12 about how to check their breasts for signs of cancer, according to the McGrath Foundation (file picture)

Women who were overweight after menopause were also highlighted as being at risk, along with those who weren't physically active, had a previous breast condition or used combined menopausal hormone therapy.

The index reported one in six women were prone to believing common myths about factors contributing to breast cancer, like wearing an underwire bra.

While one in five thought simply wearing deodorant could put them at risk.

Research found women were more likely to conduct regular self-checks if they were taught about breast health from an early age by their mother.

'It's really vital and important we are talking about this and mothers feel responsible for teaching their daughters,' McGrath Foundation director Tracy Bevan told the Daily Telegraph.

The recommendation follows research pointing to new risk factors, as the organisation warns women should learn to distinguish them from common myths (file picture)

'Children are told about slip, slop, slap and looking after their teeth and mothers need to also include in those conversations about getting to know your breasts.'

Ms Bevan says the earlier the conversation about breast health is started the better, and believes taking to girls from age 12 is appropriate.

'It's not about scaring young women...but about having an open conversation,' she said.
Christopher Wimmer, 35, was sentenced to six months in jail and three years probation for taking selfies of patients in his ambulance

A Florida paramedic has been jailed for six months after taking pictures of incapacitated patients for his own amusement.

Christopher Wimmer, 35, of Crestview, was charged in July 2016 in what prosecutors described as a 'sick, sick game.'

Wimmer admitted that he competed with a fellow paramedic Kayla Renee Dubois, 24, to take the most disgusting selfie picture with patients who were totally powerless to stop it happening.

'I think it was a sick, juvenile game,' Okaloosa Sheriff Larry Ashley said the time. 'I don't know any other way to describe it. Who can be the most gross? Who can be the most vile? Who can I get a picture with? It's humiliation.'

Dubois was sentenced to two years of probation last month but Wimmer started his jail sentence this weekend.

He will also have three years of probation and have to perform 100 hours of community service and pay court fees.

Okaloosa County Circuit Judge William Stone barred Wimmer, 35, from working as a paramedic while completing his sentence, the News Herald reported.

'When I see ambulances drive by every single time in Boston, it reminds me of the mistakes that I've made and how it affected everyone else that was involved,' Wimmer said to the judge.

'To all the patients and their families, I want you to know how sorry I am for the things that I did and the crimes I committed.'

Kayla Renee Dubois (left) and Christopher Wimmer (right) were engaged in a 'selfie war' where they took pictures with incapacitated patients for their own amusement, authorities said

Assistant State Attorney Clifton Drake said that none of the victims was willing to speak in court because they were humiliated from the ordeal.

'I read these letters (from the victims) and the nightmares the victims are having,' Drake said. 'When these victims see an ambulance, they panic and they question whether they should even call 911. When you call 911 you ... trust that the people that are sent will not take advantage of you.'

Wimmer pleaded no contest to seven felony counts of interception and disclosure of oral communications and one misdemeanor count of battery.

The pair took a total of 41 photos of incapacitated patients including one where Wimmer held open the eyelid of a sedated patient.

He also posed with an elderly women with her breast exposed.

Wimmer (pictured) apologized for his actions in court. 'To all the patients and their families, I want you to know how sorry I am for the things that I did and the crimes I committed.'

The selfies were often taken inside ambulances with many of them either intubated, sedated or unconscious at the time. Some of the patients died shortly afterwards.

The patients ranged in age from 24 to 86 and included 19 women and 17 men.

The sheriff's office began investigating after complaints from three other emergency workers about pictures and videos taken as part of a 'competition'.

Dubois was fired a week later on May 20, and Wimmer resigned the same day.

The investigation found that the pictures and videos were sent to other EMS personnel and friends  but only a 'very small' number of emergency workers received them.
A Michigan man left behind 17 children, and was expecting two more, after he was shot and killed on Sunday.

Rickey Dempsey, 34, was gunned down around 3am in a parking lot across the street from the Boogie Down motorcycle club, according to WLIX.

An acquaintance took him to the nearby Henry Ford Allegiance Health, where he was soon pronounced dead, Jackson police reported.

An investigation has revealed there was a party in parking lot that Jackson was attending. No arrests have been made yet.

Rickey Dempsey, 34 (pictured), left behind 17 children and was expecting two more, after he was shot and killed on Sunday around 3am at a party in Jackson, Michigan

Dempsey's girlfriend, Allie Navarre (right, with Dempsey), who was not at the party, said the shooting had nothing to do with him. Rather, he was trying to break up a fight up and 'was just caught in the crossfire'

She and Dempsey have three children together - ages seven, five and 10 months - and Navarre is pregnant with their fourth, a baby girl due in December (pictured, two of Dempsey's three children with Navarre)

Dempsey's girlfriend, Allie Navarre, who was not at the party, told Michigan Live the shooting had nothing to do with him. Rather, he was trying to break up a fight up and 'was just caught in the crossfire'.

She and Dempsey have three children together - ages seven, five and 10 months - and Navarre is pregnant with their fourth, a baby girl due in December.

She described Dempsey as playful, nurturing and caring with his children.

His oldest is 15 years old while his youngest is nine months old.

'He left a lot of them behind,' LaToyia Dempsey said of her brother. 'He did do for all of them...the best way he could.

According to Dempsey's sister, he was excited to be working and had been employed in the construction trade.

According to Dempsey's sister, he (pictured, left) was excited to be working and had been employed in the construction trade after earning a forklift license

Last year, Dempsey (left) was released from federal prison. In March 2012, he'd been sentenced to four years for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He had a history of felony convictions - mostly for drugs crimes and one for felonious assault -and a long list of arrests

The shooting occurred at a parking lot across the street from the Boogie Down motorcycle club (pictured)

Last year, Dempsey was released from federal prison. In March 2012, he'd been sentenced to four years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The 34-year-old had a history of felony convictions - mostly for drugs crimes and one for felonious assault -and a long list of arrests.

In 2011, after being arrested, he admitted to police he was selling crack cocaine and indicated he was a member of the Vice Lords gang, but was no longer active, according to a court document.

In prison, he earned his GED and various certificates, including a forklift license, and called every day, Navarre said.

'He just really tried to change his life around and do for the better, focus on his kids,' she said.
President Trump ultimately blamed Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for any health care reform failings, as the president appeared on the Alabama-based Rick & Bubba radio program Monday morning.

'You look at McCain, what McCain has done is a tremendous slap in the face to the Republican Party,' Trump said, as he vented his frustrations over killing Obamacare, suggesting the Arizona senator was 'the reason' nothing had passed.

In late July, McCain returned to the upper chamber on the heels of receiving a grim brain cancer diagnosis and cast a key no vote, derailing the Republicans' 'skinny' Obamacare repeal bill.

Now, with five days left to get Graham-Cassidy passed using reconciliation, McCain is poised to undo that effort again, announcing Friday that he was a no vote.

It's Sen. John McCain's (left) fault that an Obamacare repeal hasn't passed, President Trump (right) said Monday during an appearance on the Alabama-based Rick & Bubba radio show

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. (left), derailed a Republican effort to pass a 'skinny' Obamacare repeal bill in July and on Friday he announced he's voting against another bill too, co-authored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. (right)

On the show, Trump suggested that voters had the right to be angry, as his fellow Republicans were not living up to their campaign promises.

'It's disgusting,' Trump said. 'When I ran I was told I'd have a bill on my desk to sign day one.'

President Trump pointed to Republicans' repeated efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare, voting for bill after bill in the House, when President Obama was still in office.

'Was it 61 times?' Trump asked, pointing out it 'didn't matter' because Obama was never going to sign away his signature piece of legislation, and Republicans were outnumbered in the Senate until the Democrat's waning years.

'I would take those bills right now,' Trump said, adding, 'But now, when it matters, because you have a president who is actually going to sign it, they don't do it and they pander and they grandstand.'

That's when he set his sights on McCain.

'He was good to go all week long, all month long, and then all of the sudden he goes thumbs down,' Trump scoffed. 'You can call it what you want, but ... that's the only reason we don't have it because of John McCain  nobody thought he was a negative vote.'

The president told the radio hosts he was given a list of 10 GOP senators to work on and that list didn't include McCain.

'I turned every one of them around, the ones I spoke to,' Trump explained. 'But then John McCain, some place after 1 a.m. in the morning, late, late in the evening, he all of the sudden goes thumbs down.'

'Without John McCain, we'd already have the health care, and it would be very good, by the way,' the president added, hitting the Arizona senator again.

The president praised the most recent Graham-Cassidy effort, which takes Obamacare funding and pushes it to the states in the form of block grants, calling it 'really a Republican thing,' as the party has preached smaller and more localized government.

'It would be a great bill,' Trump added.

McCain isn't the only Republican who's putting his foot down when it comes to the bill, with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., saying no first.

Paul was followed by McCain, who was then followed by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who voiced concerns yesterday on the Sunday shows, along with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who outed himself and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, as potential no votes when Cruz appeared Sunday at the Texas Tribune Festival.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who voted against the 'skinny' repeal alongside Collins and McCain, also expressed doubts.

During a 60 Minutes special that aired last night, McCain expressed an openness to sitting down and talking with President Trump who, McCain revealed, never apologized to him after saying he 'wasn't a war hero' for being captured and imprisoned when serving in Vietnam.

'I'd be glad to converse with him, but I also understand that we're very different people, different upbringing, different life experiences,' McCain said.

Interviewer Lesley Stahl asked McCain exactly what he meant by that comment.

'He is in the business of making money and he has been successful both in television as well as Miss America and others,' the Arizona senator replied. 'I was raised in a military family. I was raised in the concept and belief that duty, honor, country is ... the lodestar for the behavior that we have to exhibit every single day.'
China has installed over 20 million cutting-edge security cameras in what is believed to be the world's most advanced surveillance system.

The camera system, facilitated with artificial intelligence technology, is part of the 'Sky Net' operation, which is China's anti-corruption programme mainly aimed to track down fugitives.

Such technology can identify a pedestrian or a motorist, which can help policemen in their search for criminals.

China has launched AI-equipped security system on 20 millions cameras across the country

The new technology can identify a person's age, gender and colour of clothes (left). It can also scan on vehicles and identify the types and colours (right)

Video footage posted by China Central Television in a documentary today displays what a real-time CCTV captures on screen.

It has then been shared and re-posted by the local media including k618.cn.

A number of boxes pop up next to a person with details of their age, gender, and colour of the clothes.

The same technology can apply on vehicles as well, identifying the type of vehicles and its colour.

K618.cn reported that the pedestrian-scanning function used computer vision technology to pinpoint passersby on the road.

It allows GPS tracking and facial recognition to help policemen locate criminals on the loose.

A signal will be alarmed to the police if the recognition matches any criminals in the database.

It can provide gps tracking and facial recognition to help locating criminals on the loose

China claimed to have the world's most advanced security system with 20 million CCTV cameras across the country

Over 20 million CCTV cameras equipped with AI technology have been installed in China, crowning to be the world's most advanced surveillance system.

Operation 'Sky Net' was launched in 2015 as the Chinese central government aimed to hunt for corrupt fugitive officials, crack down on underground banks and confiscate misappropriated assets, according to Bloomberg.

It has now extended to catch fugitives in local community in different cities across China.

In April, China has started to use facial recognition technology to catch jaywalkers in Shenzhen.

Portraits of offenders will be uploaded to a LED screen displayed on the side of the road immediately.

The new surveillance system had feared the citizens that the techonology was a use to monitor their daily lives.

'Why are there so many child abductors around if the Sky Net is really working?' wrote web user 'xianzaihe_89'.

'We don't have any privacy anymore under the watch of the Chinese government!' said web user 'neidacongmin'.
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A bulk carrier freighted with goods on a pier in Lianyungang, East China. (Xinhua file photo)

China will roll out a negative list for foreign investment, which has been tested in pilot free-trade zones.

The negative list model, which states the sectors and businesses that are off limits to foreign investment, will be adopted nationwide as early as 2018.

"Introduction of the negative list is a creative approach at home and abroad. It lays an important foundation for market to play a decisive role in resource allocation," said Xu Shanchang, with the National Development and Reform Commission.

The approach had an initial test run in Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian, before expanding to other places, including Zhejiang and Hubei, for further testing.

"It is rather important to be prepared before making it a nationwide practice," Xu said.

On Aug. 16, the State Council issued a document saying that China would make its foreign investment environment "more law-based, internationalized and convenient" to promote growth and raise the quality of foreign investment.

"The country should continue to reduce market access restrictions for foreign capital," the document said.

China will expand market access to allow foreign capital in sectors including new-energy vehicle manufacturing, ship design, aircraft maintenance and railway passenger transport, it said.

On July 28, China began to implement a revised foreign investment catalogue, which included a negative list as well as sectors and industries in which the government wants to encourage foreign companies to invest.

"Instead of trying to guide industrial adjustment, the negative list is to coordinate the relationship between government and market, aiming to improve the market's role of regulation, make enterprises the major investment sources and lift government restrictions," said Guo Guannan, with China Academy of Macroeconomic Research.

"The resilience and competitiveness of China's investment management system would be enhanced by implementing a negative list," said Gao Yuwei, a Bank of China researcher.

The negative list will help China develop an open economy and lead to comprehensive reforms to the country's economic and social management, according to Gao.

China will introduce more fiscal and taxation support policies to encourage overseas investors to expand investment, the State Council said in August.

The country could make use of overseas investors to optimize the service trade structure.

China encourages multinationals to set up regional headquarters in the country and wants more investment in western areas and the old northeastern industrial bases.

The investment environment in national-level development zones will be improved by giving the zones more authority in investment management and raising their ability to provide industrial services, according to the State Council.

Foreigners will find it easier to get work permits as the government aims to facilitate the cross-border flow of professionals.

Before the end of the year, China will release detailed new rules for granting visas to foreign professionals, including extending the validity period, the State Council said.

Efforts should also be stepped up to improve foreign capital-related laws, provide better services to overseas investors and ensure the free outward remittance of their profits.

China will improve the protection of intellectual property rights, raise the competitiveness of the research and development environment and maintain continuity in foreign investment policies, it said.
The pastor at Word of Faith Fellowship church in Spindale, North Carolina, strongly encouraged members to file fraudulent unemployment claims so they could keep paying their tithes to the church, a former member has claimed.

This happened after Randy Field asked Jane Whaley, 77, to reduce the amount of money he was required to hand over every week.

The evangelical church was founded in 1979 by Jane, a former math teacher, and her husband, Sam Whaley but it is Jane who maintains ultimate control of the church members.

Randy said Jane proposed a divine plan that would allow him to continue tithing at least ten percent of his income to the church while helping his company survive.

Word of Faith Fellowship church leader Jane Whaley talk to members of the media as husband Sam listens during a news conference in Spindale, North Carolina in March 1995. The church is under investigation for filing fraudulent claims, abuse and providing unlawful working conditions to foreign members of the church

That plan involved him filing fraudulent unemployment claims on behalf of his employees.

He said she called it 'God's plan.'

Randy and ten other former congregants said that they and dozens of employees who were church members filed bogus claims at Word of Faith Fellowship leaders' direction so that they would then be able to still give money to the church.

Randy said he knew the plan was not legal but went along with it because of intense pressure from Jane.

The price of the refusal could be beatings administered by fellow church members and public shaming by Jane.

They were interviewed at length about the false claims by investigators with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the US Department of Homeland Security.

The unemployment allegations were uncovered as part of the Associated Press' ongoing investigation into Word of Faith, which has about 750 congregants and a total of nearly 2,000 members in its branches in Brazil and Ghana and its affiliations in Sweden, Scotland and other countries.

The former members estimated the fraudulent claims, some filed by the business owners' wives and other family members, would have drawn payments totaling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of six years.

Over the years, church leaders have owned and operated more than two dozen businesses and at least six companies owned by leaders were involved with filing fraudulent unemployment claims between 2008 and 2013 with most of those businesses' employees being congregants.

Randy, who spent 24 years in the church before leaving in 2015, said his employees kept working without pay while collecting unemployment benefits. 'Basically, their unemployment checks would become their paychecks,' he said.

It is illegal for employers or employees to knowingly file fraudulent unemployment claims. If investigators believe employers or employees were involved in a conspiracy, they could be charged with serious state and federal felony charges.

The church is located in Spindale, North Carolina. There are allegations that Jane knew about the abuse and encouraged filing the fraudulent claims

'You knew it was wrong, but you knew you couldn't say a word,' Rick Cooper said, who acknowledged falsely filing for unemployment from April 2011 to April 2012.

During the recession, laid-off North Carolina workers could receive state and federal extensions increasing unemployment to 99 weeks with a maximum weekly check of $535.

Currently, laid-off workers can receive up to 26 weeks of unemployment, with a maximum payment of $350 a week.

The former congregants said that not only were they coerced into continuing to work while collecting unemployment, the money fell short of what they needed to pay their bills.

'I was making about $700 a week, but I only collected $235 a week in unemployment. It was devastating for my family,' Rick said, who worked for Diverse Corporate Tech Inc., a manufacturing company owned by church leader Kent Covington.

Rick Cooper, pictured above this month, acknowledged falsely filing for unemployment from April 2011 to April 2012. He said: 'You knew it was wrong, but you knew you couldn't say a word'

'Jane was heavily involved. She was always asking questions about it,' Rachael Bryant said, who calculated that she had received unemployment benefits of about $200 a week for 18 months while still working for a Word of Faith minister.

'I remember after I was on unemployment for a few months and Jane said, 'You're still on unemployment, right?'

When Rachael said that she was, Jane responded: 'Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!'

The church is also under investigation for abuse and forced labor allegations.

In February, the Associated Press cited more than three dozen former Word of Faith Fellowship members who said congregants were regularly punched and choked in an effort to beat out devils.

Former Word of Faith Fellowship church member Rachael Bryant poses for a photo with her tax records at her home in Charlotte on Tuesday, September, 19, 2017. She and ten other members of the evangelical church said they were coerced by their leader, Jane Whaley into filing false unemployment claims

And over the course of two decades, followers were also ordered by church leaders to lie to authorities investigating reports of abuse.

Congregants were regularly abused ranging from being slammed to the floor to thrown into walls in an attempt to 'purify' sinners.

Victims of the violence included preteens and toddlers and even crying babies, who were vigorously shaken, screamed at and sometimes smacked to banish demons.

'I saw so many people beaten over the years. Little kids punched in the face, called Satanists,' said Katherine Fetachu, 27, who spent nearly 17 years in the church.

Several former followers said some congregants were sexually abused, including minors. On one recorded conversation, Jane admitted to being aware of the sexual assault of three boys but not reporting it to authorities.

According to court records, a church leader was convicted in 1995 of molesting a 13-year-old girl placed in his home. Of that victim, Whaley said on the 2012 recording, 'She was 13, but she looked 20'.

In the past, Whaley has strongly denied that she or other church leaders have ever abused Word of Faith members and contended that any discipline would be protected by the First Amendment's freedom of religion tenets.

Jane in an undated photo with kids at the Word of Faith Fellowship church. Victims of the violence included preteens and toddlers and even crying babies, who were vigorously shaken, screamed at and sometimes smacked to banish demons

There have also been allegations against the church saying that it used its two church branches in Brazil to bring members from the churches in Latin America to America as young laborers forced to work for little or no pay.

Luiz Pires said he was 18 in 2006 when he was encouraged by ministers in the Sao Joaquim de Bicas church to travel to North Carolina for his spiritual betterment.

Luiz said that upon arrival he found 'horrific' living conditions, with eight people crammed in the basement of a church leader's house, forced to work long hours at church-related businesses.

Any payment went to living expenses, despite the fact that he and others cleaned and did yard work at the member's house where they lived.

'There was never time to sit down. We were worked like slaves,' he said.

And if you spoke up or didn't do your work properly, there was a risk of being beaten or publicly shamed.

The Department of Homeland Security referred questions to the US attorney's office in Charlotte, which cited an 'ongoing investigation into allegations against Word of Faith Fellowship.'

The State Bureau of Investigation said the agency would not comment 'due to the overall investigation' involving the church.
David Davis today told Brussels there are 'no excuses for standing in the way of progress' on Brexit talks after the Prime Minister's landmark speech in Florence.

The Brexit Secretary said Britain is laying out 'concrete proposals' on the crunch issues of citizens rights, the Irish border and paying into the EU budget.

And he said that after Theresa May laid out the UK's offer it is now up to negotiators in Brussels to respond with 'pragmatism' and make headway on thrashing out a deal.

He spoke out in Brussels as he embarked on the fourth round of Brexit talks with the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

Mr Davis said: 'The UK is absolutely committed to working through the detail.

David Davis, pictured in Brussels today, said there is no excuse for the EU to stall in Brexit talks after Theresa May gave her landmark speech in Florence

The Brexit Secretary is in Brussels for the fourth round of negotiations with the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier

'We are laying out concrete proposals and there are no excuses for standing in the way of progress.

'It will take pragmatism on both sides to make headway, and I hope we can achieve that this week.'

It comes after the PM's crucial speech in Italy last Friday when she set out the UK's plans to guarantee the rights of EU nationals.

KEY POINTS OF MAY'S FLORENCE SPEECH Transition phase: Britain wants to have a transition period of 'around two years' to provide reassurance to businesses. During this phase, the UK will have 'full access' to the EU single market. EU citizens In a major concession, the PM said the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will help guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in Britain after Brexit. Immigration: During the two-year transition period, EU nationals will still be able to come and live and work in the UK. But they will have to sign up to a new 'registration system', which the PM said was 'essential preparation' for new post-Brexit system. Security: The PM spelled out plans for a 'new strategic agreement' on security. But she faced accusations that she has thrown away Britain's trump card in the negotiations by saying the UK is 'unconditionally committed to maintaining Europe's security'. Irish border: Stressed Britain's commitment to protecting the Belfast Agreement and the Common Travel Area which would keep a soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Payments into EU budget: The PM said the UK will 'honour commitments we have made during the period of our membership'. Future relationship: The PM dismissed going for a model based on the free trade deal struck with Canada or one amounting to European Economic Area membership. Instead she wants a bespoke deal. Advertisement

She also also laid out plans for a two-year transition deal during which Britain will pay the EU around just shy of 20billion.

The Brexit Secretary said he expects the fourth round of talks to be a 'buy week' as the two sides put their spats behind them and get down to negotiating the detail.

He said the outcome of the next few days will 'set us on the important path towards our future partnership'.

He added: 'The Prime Minister's speech on Friday set out clearly the leadership and flexibility needed to make a success of these negotiations.

'This round, for me, will be about building on the technical work done in previous rounds and the concrete proposals provided by the speech in Florence.

'It will now be for our teams to thrash through those details this week.'

Spelling out the offer Britain has made, he said that the Government has promised to incorporate the rights of EU citizens into British law.

But he said that the details of the Brexit divorce bill can only be fully discussed alongside talks on what a new trade deal will look like.

He added: 'We both want to avoid changes to the way citizens enjoy their rights, and our proposals will deliver that.

'On Northern Ireland and Ireland we made good progress at the last round, with a common desire to maintain the Common Travel Area and protect the Good Friday Agreement.

'This week will now be about crunching through the technical detail of how we, together, make that happen.

'On the financial settlement, as part of a smooth and orderly exit, we do not want our EU partners to worry that they will need to pay more or receive less over the remainder of the current budget plan as a result of our decision to leave.

'The UK will honour commitments we have made during the period of our membership.

'But it is obvious that reaching a conclusion on this issue can only be done in the context of and in accordance with our new deep and special partnership with the EU.'

David Davis with Michel Barnier in Brussels today, said that Britain has set out its proposals to settle the crunch issues of EU citizens rights, the Irish border and paying into the EU budget

David Davis, pictured in Brussels with Michel Barnier today, said it is now up to Brussels to be willing to be 'pragmatic' and thrash out the details of a deal and move forward

Appearing alongside Mr Davis briefly before the press in Brussels, Mr Barnier welcomed Mrs May's speech in Florence.

He repeated his warm words, saying the speech struck a new 'constructive spirit' and said the EU is 'keen and eager to understand better how the UK will translate the Prime Minister's speech into a negotiating position.'

But he said EU will not discuss Mrs May's call for a post-Brexit transition deal until there is progress on key divorce issues including money and citizens' rights, negotiator Michel Barnier said Monday.

He said: 'For me, we cannot discuss a transition period without reaching a preliminary agreement on an orderly withdrawal.

'That's the mandate I have, and no other.'

The Frenchman said 'real progress' on the three main issues is essential to move forward for trade talks.

And he also insisted that 'we will not mix the discussion on the debts and commitments of the past, we will not mix these subjects which involve an orderly withdrawal, with a discussion on future relations.'
This is the moment a car wash owner appears to tie his apprentice to a chair and jet spray him with a pressure washer.

Turkish police are said to be investigating the incident after the video went viral upsetting locals who filed complaints about the unfair disciplinary procedure.

The unnamed businessman reportedly carried out the punishment at his car wash in Sivas, central Turkey because the young staff member was not working quickly enough.

Scroll down for video

This is the moment a cruel car wash owner in Turkey tied his lazy apprentice to a chair and jet sprayed him with a pressure washer

A witness with a smartphone filmed the incident and later shared the footage of video sharing platforms.

The footage begins with the apprentice tied to the chair and a man using a brush to cover him in foam.

A second man then walks over with the jet wash and sprays hoses him down with the powerful jet spray.

Local officials launched an investigation after they were made aware of the footage online.

A local police spokesperson said: 'A legal and administrational investigation has been launched after the video was seen in the media and on social media of the car wash owner tying his apprentice to a chair and washing him with pressure water.'

The car wash owner said that the incident was only intended as a joke but the footage has been widely criticised online.

Turkish police are investigating the incident after the video went viral upsetting man locals who filed complaints about the unfair disciplinary procedure

One person, Ozcan Sahin, said: 'Dirtbag, he should be arrested immediately'.

While another added: 'Nothing good is going to happen anymore, there is no hope.'

Another said: 'We have lost our humanity, this shameful case is enough. But most probably in a couple of days we will hear another story just like this.'
A worker trimming trees in Florida was electrocuted by a power line that was hanging low because of Hurricane Irma's winds.

Emergency medical response units pronounced the man dead at the scene.

The incident occurred on the 600 block of Freeling Drive on Siesta Key, according to The Herald Tribune.

Sarasota County Emergency Services said the victim was working in a bucket and couldn't be reached until Florida Power and Light could come and turn off the grid.

A utlity worker in Florida was killed after cutting a low-hanging power cord in the wake of Hurricane Irma (Pictured: Sept. 14, 2017)

The man was working to restore power back to the state and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency response units

Hurricane Irma affected nearly every part of the state, and some two dozen deaths in Florida are attributed to the storm.

'They had to de-energize the grid before they could get to the patient,' Emergency Services spokeswoman Ashley Lusby said.

Police cut off traffic to the area following the accident, where several houses still had low hanging cables exposed following the storm.

Those houses still had piles of debris and fallen tree branches lining the roads that had yet to be collected, the Herald noted.

Earlier in the week, a lineman from a Pennsylvania power company was injured after being electrocuted in Engelwood.

Earlier in the week, a lineman from a Pennsylvania power company was also injured after being electrocuted

West Penn Power employee Tracey Slaugenhaupt, 53, was part of a crew of thousands sent to Florida to help restore power to the state in the wake of Hurricane Irma which struck earlier this month.

Slaugenhaupt was airlifted to a nearby Brandenton hospital where doctors performed surgery the same day.

Slaugenhaupt's condition remains unknown.

West Penn Power currently has 60 employees working in the Gulf Coast.
A 17-month-old little girl was run over and killed by her mother's SUV while she was attending her big sister's 10th birthday party.

Lewiston police said Taneisha Thomas, 27, accidentally struck her daughter, Tiannah Sevey, with her 2004 Mercury Mountaineer around 5pm on Saturday.

Little Tiannah was treated at the scene before being transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Seventeen-month-old Tiannah Sevey (pictured) was accidentally run over and killed by her mother, Taneisha Thomas, 27, as she was backing up her SUV. The child was attending her big sister's 10th birthday party on Saturday when she tragically died

Little Tiannah was treated at the scene (pictured) before being transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where she succumbed to her injuries

Police believe Thomas was backing up when the vehicle hit the child.

Lewiston Police Department spokesman, Lt David St. Pierre, told the Press Herald that investigating officers gave Thomas a blood test following the accident outside the mother-of-three's apartment at the Pleasant View Acres housing complex.

'This is going to be a long investigation,' St Pierre told local media. 'We still have a long ways to go.'

The blood test is a standard procedure in fatal car crashes and is given to determine whether the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Authorities said the results of the test could take several weeks to process.

As of Monday morning, no charges have been filed against Thomas, who also has a four-year-old daughter.

But the Maine Attorney General's Office and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services have been notified.

In 2013, Thomas was convicted of operating under the influence after hitting a parked car in front of her home. Her blood alcohol level at the time was 0.27 per cent.

Family and friends gathered outside the apartment complex, where the little girl died, and created a makeshift memorial (pictured). A GoFundMe account was also set up by a friend of the family in order to offset funeral costs for the child

She was driving a 2000 Subaru owned by the child's father, Michael Sevey, at the time.

Thomas is also facing a more recent OUI charge. According to the Sun Journal, Thomas' license was suspended on August 17 after she was charged with the second OUI.

On Saturday, Thomas was still driving with a conditional license when she struck her daughter. The license is set to expire on October 7.

She is scheduled for a hearing on the license suspension on Thursday.

Family and friends gathered outside the apartment complex, where the little girl died, and created a makeshift memorial.

Photos showed balloons, candles, stuffed toys and flowers all sitting near a lamp post outside the complex.

A GoFundMe account was also set up by a friend of the family in order to offset funeral costs for the child.
Reality Winner, the former NSA contractor accused of leaking classified documents, is seeking her release from jail before her case goes to trial.

Winner, 25, has been remanded in Lincoln County Law Enforcement Center in Georgia, after it was decided that she was too much of a flight risk to be allowed out on bail during her arraignment on June 9.

She was charged with 'willful retention and transmission of national defense information,' after allegedly leaking documents about Russian hacks on the US presidential election to a media company.

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Reality Winner, the former NSA contractor accused of leaking classified documents, is seeking release from jail before her case goes to trial (Pictured in June)

On Sunday, Winner and her mother Billie Jean Winner-Davis, both submitted letters to the court asking for her release.

In her plea, Reality states she has 'great respect for the United States of America,' having turned down a full engineering scholarship at the University of Texas A&M to serve in the Air Force for six years.

As a self-proclaimed vegan who eats Kosher, Winner revealed in her letter that she has 'suffered health problems' and is taking medication to aid in her digestion of prison food.

The former Airwoman, who served as a linguist fluent in Farsi and Arabic, also made note of her active lifestyle, stating she intends to continue to teach yoga and spinning class if she is released.

In June, she was photographed practicing yoga and doing exercises in the prison yard.

If released, she has agreed to 'not possess any electronic device capable of accessing the internet,' and to avoid communication with 'any media outlet.'

Winner has also agreed to 'reside in her home in Augusta, Georgia, with a third-party custodian - which her mother has agreed to serve as - not travel beyond Richmond County without permission, and have regular contact with her Pretrial Services Officer.

Winner, (pictured with her mother Billie Jean) 25, a former NSA contractor and former member of the Air Force was charged with willful retention and transmission of national defense information,' after allegedly leaking documents about Russian hacks on the US presidential election to a media company

If released, Winner has agreed to live under the custody of a 'third-party custodian' and give up using electronic devices with access to the internet. As a vegan who eats Kosher, she has also revealed she has 'suffered health problems' from eating prison food

In a separate letter, Billie Jean Winner-Davis told the court she has retired early in order to relocate to Augusta to live with her daughter and is willing to post her and her husband's Texas home as bond for Reality's release. The home is valued at $135,000.

Winner is scheduled to ask for her release during a hearing in Augusta on Friday morning.

She could potentially spend an extended amount of time behind bars as her trial date was set to October 23, but was postponed to March 19, according to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Winner faces up to ten years in prison, $250,000 in fines and three years of supervised release.

Her defense lawyers argued in a court filing Saturday that prosecutors have not accused Winner of any additional crimes more than three months later. They noted several other cases in which defendants accused of leaking multiple secret documents were freed on pre-trial bonds.

'Ms. Winner is accused of leaking a single document a single time to a single source,' Winner's attorneys wrote. '... Detention should not be presumed. It is not the norm. It is not appropriate here.'

Prosecutors had not yet filed a response Monday afternoon.

Jennifer Solari, an assistant U.S. attorney, warned the judge in June that investigators had not found the portable hard drive Winner plugged into an Air Force computer and didn't know what might be on it.

Winner's lawyers included an email from Solari in their latest court filing in which the prosecutor noted she was mistaken when she previously told the judge that Winner was recorded in a jailhouse phone conversation saying, 'Mom, those documents. I screwed up.'

Solari wrote the recording shows Winner actually told her mother: 'I leaked a document.'

Authorities haven't described the classified report Winner is accused of leaking or named the news outlet that received it.
Edgar Smith, a murder convict who got off New Jersey's death row with the help of columnist William F. Buckley only to later confess to the crime, died in a California prison hospital. He was 83.

Smith died March 20, a spokesman for the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation told The Associated Press on Monday.

The death was first reported by The Washington Post on Sunday.

Convicted killer Edgar Smith died in a California prison at the age of 83 after suffering from a number of illnesses

Prison officials told the newspaper that Smith had been suffering from diabetes and heart disease.

Smith, originally of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, spent 14 years on death row for the 1957 murder of 15-year-old Victoria Zielinski.

He gained national attention while on death row for his writings, most notably the best-selling 'Brief Against Death.'

Smith was convicted in the murder of 15-year-old Victoria Zielinski (pictured) in 1957

Buckley, the conservative columnist and editor of National Review, became convinced Smith didn't receive a fair trial and profiled him for a piece in Esquire magazine.

He also helped him establish a defense fund to retain the lawyers who engineered a 1971 plea bargain that led to Smith's release on parole for time served.

Over the next few years, Smith maintained his innocence. Buckley invited him to appear on his television program after his release, and Smith made speeches around the country about what he billed as his unjust treatment.

Then, in 1976, Smith abducted and stabbed a San Diego woman.

He was arrested after he called Buckley, who told the FBI where he was hiding out in a Las Vegas hotel, The Associated Press reported at the time.

Conservative columnist William F. Buckley (pictured) later became convinced that Smith didn't receive a fair trial

The following year, Smith was on trial in San Diego for attempted rape and attempted murder when he shocked the courtroom by confessing to killing Zielinski.

'For the first time in my life, I recognized that the devil I had been looking at the last 43 years was me. I recognized what I am, and I admitted it,' he told the judge.

He went on to describe the crime in detail.

Buckley later expressed regret for supporting Smith.

He wrote in his nationally syndicated column that he first became involved with Smith when he 'became convinced that he had not been fairly tried and that he could not have committed the murder. ... I believe now that he was guilty of the first crime.'
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Puerto Rico's governor has called for a greater federal response to Maria as desperate tourists and locals crowd the airport in the hope of getting a seat out of the hurricane ravaged island.

Governor Ricardo Rossello begged the White House and Department of Defense to fast-track disaster relief funds after the category four hurricane wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico last week, leaving millions without cell service and electricity.

Rossello warned of a looming 'humanitarian crisis' and said residents could potentially flood the US mainland if the island couldn't recover quickly from the devastating hurricane.

'We need more resources from the Department of Defense so we can get helicopters and resources,' Rossello told Politico.

'My fear is we're going to have some side effects that are devastating both for Puerto Rico and the United States. Mainly massive migration that would deteriorate our [economic] base here in Puerto Rico and would provoke significant demographic shifting in other areas of the United States.'

His plea for help comes as hundreds of stranded tourists and Puerto Ricans filled the sweltering halls of San Juan International Airport on Monday anxious for a seat on one of the few flights out.

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Passengers wait at International Airport Luis Munoz Marin in Carolina, near San Juan, Puerto Rico on Monday

Airlines workers assist passangers in getting tickets to leave the island at International Airport Luis Munoz Marin in Carolina, near San Juan, Puerto Rico on Monday

Crystal Garcia and Evelyn Torres (L-R) wait in line to get a United Airlines flight out of the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport as they try to escape the conditions after Hurricane Maria

Desperate tourists and locals crowded San Juan International Airport on Monday in the hope of getting a seat out of the hurricane ravaged island

San Juan airport is operating with barely electricity. Some waiting in the sweltering terminals said they had been stranded for days with limited food and no water

Personnel of an airline work on the floor as a passenger tries to get a ticket to leave the island at International Airport Luis Munoz Marin in Carolina, near San Juan, Puerto Rico

Passengers wait at International Airport Luis Munoz Marin in Carolina, near San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday

More from inside airport where it's a sweat box pic.twitter.com/KD5Ucn03Mq  David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 25, 2017

The airport is operating with barely any electricity and badly damaged air-traffic control systems. Some waiting in the sweltering terminals said they had been stranded for days with limited food and no water.

Some tourists were fearful of checking out of hotels in case they could not get on the few flights available and waited in long lines for news of outgoing flights.

'Everything is hearsay at the moment because there is no communication,' said 31-year-old Rene Kessler, a medical student from Baltimore, Maryland, preparing to spend the night in the terminal ahead of what he hoped would be a flight home.

San Juan airport is a top priority in efforts by Puerto Rico's cash-strapped government to rebuild after Maria. Experts say the work will take months and likely cost tens of billions of dollars.

The screens above American Airlines' desks were dark, while JetBlue's displays flowed with red rows of cancellations. Staff called out the names of passengers who won seats on the few departing planes.

'Everyone is in the same boat, trying to get out,' said Leyla Colon, standing in line with her 4-year-old daughter at the JetBlue terminal. Without internet or cell service, she was unable to buy tickets before reaching the airport.

'At this point I'll buy a ticket on any flight to get out of here,' Colon said.

Yancy Leon who has been waiting in line for two days to get an American Airlines flight out of the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport continues to wait as she tries to escape the conditions after Hurricane Maria

Airlines workers assist passengers in getting tickets to leave the island at International Airport Luis Munoz Marin in Carolina, near San Juan

People are waiting more than five hours to fill gas jugs for their generators at home on Monday in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Nearly one week after hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, residents are still trying to get the basics of food, water, gas, and money from banks

People sit in their apartment on Monday after the window was blown out by the winds of Hurricane Maria as it passed through San Juan, Puerto Rico

Maria left widespread damage across Puerto Rico, with virtually the whole island without power or cell service and many streets still flooded

Hundreds of people waited in line to go into a bank in San Juan on Monday as they deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria

Residents line up gas cans on Sunday as they wait for a gas truck to service an empty gas station in Loiza, Puerto Rico

Members of the Massachusetts Task Force 1 conduct a search operation after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Yauco, Puerto Rico

People carry water in bottles retrieved from a canal due to lack of water following passage of Hurricane Maria

A line of people wraps around the Banco Popular in San Juan as people are desperate to get cash

A combination NOAA Satellite images taken at night shows Puerto Rico before and after Hurricane Maria - Hurricane Maria knocked out power grid

Carriers said downed infrastructure had caused operations to be scaled back sharply. In some cases, airlines used a nearby hospital to print flight manifests. And some customers were given handwritten boarding passes.

Mike Henderson, a construction firm superintendent, was trying to return to his family in Detroit after his wife paid $2,000 dollars for a seat on a Delta flight. But airline staff were unable to tell him if he was on the passenger list, he said. 'I'm drained,' Henderson said with a sigh.

Airlines on Sunday were restricted to one or two flights a day, and Transportation Security Administration workers manually inspected bags and patted down passengers.

Outside the airport, rows of diesel generators roared in the heat. They have been life-savers but have had their side effects too.

Jessica Negron, a resident of Orlando, Florida, said she had been in the airport since Friday waiting for a Frontier flight. 'They keep changing the story,' she said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan promised Monday that Washington will make sure that the people of hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico will "have what they need."

The top Democrat in the House, Nancy Pelosi, called upon President Donald Trump to deploy the military to help with the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico. She said the island territory, which has more than 3 million US citizens, is in desperate need of resources for search-and-rescue operations, maintaining order, and help with transportation.

The California Democrat also said that the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 'deserve to know that their government will be there for them, without question or hesitation.'

The devastation in Puerto Rico has received relatively little media coverage compared to Harvey and Hurricane Irma, and President Donald Trump hasn't brought much attention to it.

Karlian Mercado, seven, plays on the foundation of her destroyed home. The family clean up rubble after hurricane Maria devastated a rural neighborhood

A man tries to repair a freezer during nightfall outside his home on September 25, 2017 in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico

A woman prepares food during nightfall outside her house, destroyed by Hurricane Maria, in Toa Altaa, Puerto Rico

A man bulldozes furniture damaged and debris following Hurricane Maria on a street in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico

A house destroyed by hurricane winds is seen in Corozal, west of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The scale of destruction is just now emergint as 95 percent of the island remains without cell phone service

Iris Vazquez washes clothing at an open road drainage ditch in Puerto Rico. Officials describe conditions as 'apocalyptic'

People affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria wait in line at Barrio Obrero to receive supplies from the National Guard

National Guardsmen arrive Sunday at Barrio Obrero in Santurce to distribute water and food among those affected by Maria

The Trump administration said on Monday it is not planning to waive federal restrictions on foreign ships' transportation of cargo to Puerto Rico and other areas affected by Hurricane Maria, as it did following hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security says officials believe there is sufficient capacity of U.S.-flagged vessels to move goods to Puerto Rico. Spokesman David Lapan said most of the humanitarian shipments to Puerto Rico will be through barges, which make up a significant portion of the U.S.-flagged cargo fleet.

Officials in Puerto Rico had earlier described conditions there as 'apocalyptic' in the wake of Maria, with widespread destruction and looting and electricity and cell phone service cut off for much of the island.

Residents (left) line up for clean water after hurricane Maria left shortages, including gas and power. Right, a dress hangs in a devastated home

Hurricane Maria left a path of destruction in a rural neighborhood

On Saturday, Governor Ricardo Rossello met with more than 50 local mayors and representatives from across the island, who relayed reports of commercial and residential looting, CNN reported.

At least 10 people have been confirmed killed by the storm, according to Rossello's office.

On Sunday, Puerto Rico's nonvoting representative in the US Congress said that Hurricane Maria's destruction has set the island back decades, even as authorities worked to assess the extent of the damage.

'The devastation in Puerto Rico has set us back nearly 20 to 30 years,' said Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez.

'I can't deny that the Puerto Rico of now is different from that of a week ago. The destruction of properties, of flattened structures, of families without homes, of debris everywhere. The island's greenery is gone.'

Damaged homes and vegetation during the passage of Hurricane Maria, are viewed on a mountain southwest of San Juan

Some areas of San Juan, Puerto Rico (above) remain flooded after Hurricane Maria passed last week

Danger: The Guajataca Dam in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico (above on Saturday) is in danger of failing as it was heavily damaged by rains from Hurricane Maria

Engineers on Sunday planned to inspect the roughly 90-year-old Guajataca Dam, which holds back a reservoir covering about 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) in northwest Puerto Rico.

The government said it suffered a large crack after Maria dumped 15 inches (nearly 40 centimeters) of rain on the surrounding mountains and that it 'will collapse at any minute.' Nearby residents had been evacuated, but began returning to their homes Saturday after a spillway eased pressure on the dam.

Puerto Rico's National Guard diverted an oil tanker that broke free and threatened to crash into the southeast coast, said Rossello, and officials still had not had communication with nine of 78 municipalities.

'This is a major disaster,' he said. 'We've had extensive damage. This is going to take some time.'

The death toll from Maria in Puerto Rico was at least 10, including two police officers who drowned in floodwaters in the western town of Aguada.

That number was expected to climb as officials from remote towns continued to check in with officials in San Juan. Authorities in the town of Vega Alta on the north coast said they had been unable to reach an entire neighborhood called Fatima, and were particularly worried about residents of a nursing home.

Across the Caribbean, Maria had claimed at least 31 lives, including at least 15 on hard-hit Dominica.

Mike Hyland, a spokesman for the American Public Power Association, which represents the Puerto Rican power agency, said Sunday that restoration is a long way off.

The organization is working with US Energy Department crews as well as New York Power Authority workers sent down by Governor Andrew Cuomo to fly over the island and assess damage.

Crews hoped to get helicopters and drones in the air over the next two days to assess the damage, but Hyland said they need to be patient and let the military continue rescuing people before focusing on restoring power.

'We are trying to get an understanding of the extent of the damage over the next 48 hours to then begin to work with our federal partners to get the right crews and equipment down to Puerto Rico,' Hyland said.

Large amounts of federal aid have begun moving into Puerto Rico, welcomed by local officials who praised the Trump administration's response but called for the emergency loosening of rules long blamed for condemning the US territory to second-class status.

An airplane themed restaurant is seen damaged by mudslides and winds in Barranquitas, southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico

Hundreds of people wait in line since the morning to buy gasoline three days after the impact of Maria in Puerto Rico

The opening of the island's main port in the capital allowed 11 ships to bring in 1.6 million gallons of water, 23,000 cots, dozens of generators and food. Dozens more shipments are expected in upcoming days.

The federal aid effort is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is in charge of the relief effort, said they would take satellite phones to all of Puerto Rico's towns and cities, more than half of which were cut off following Maria's devastating crossing of Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

The island's infrastructure was in sorry shape long before Maria struck. A $73 billion debt crisis has left agencies like the state power company broke. As a result the power company abandoned most basic maintenance in recent years, leaving the island subject to regular blackouts.

A federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico's finances authorized up to $1 billion in local funds to be used for hurricane response, but the governor said he would ask for more.

'We're going to request waivers and other mechanisms so Puerto Rico can respond to this crisis,' Rossello said. 'Puerto Rico will practically collect no taxes in the next month.'

US and Puerto Rico National guard control the admission and distribution of aid in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday

Inhabitants receive supplies from authorities in San Juan Sunday. Puerto Rico hopes that the arrival of aid from the United States, in the form of food, supplies and technical personnel, will help improve the situation

U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York said she will request a one-year waiver from the Jones Act, a federal law blamed for driving up prices on Puerto Rico by requiring cargo shipments there to move only on U.S. vessels as a means of supporting the U.S. maritime industry.

'We will use all our resources,' Velazquez said. 'We need to make Puerto Rico whole again. These are American citizens.'

A group of anxious mayors traveled to the capital to meet with Rossello to present a long list of items they urgently need. The north coastal town of Manati had run out of fuel and fresh water, Mayor Jose Sanchez Gonzalez said.

'Hysteria is starting to spread. The hospital is about to collapse. It's at capacity,' he said, crying. 'We need someone to help us immediately.'

Across Puerto Rico, more than 15,000 people were in shelters, including some 2,000 rescued from the north coastal town of Toa Baja. Many Puerto Ricans planned to head to the mainland to temporarily escape the devastation.
Disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner emerged from his Manhattan apartment in jogging clothes and a Mets cap to catch a subway train just hours after getting sentenced to 21 months in federal prison on Monday.

The former politician ignored questions about his prison sentence from the press but paused briefly on the sidewalk to allow photographers to snap pictures and made a grim face at the cameras.

The 53-year-old declined to comment on his feelings about his prison sentence or where he would like to serve out his 21 months of jail time.

Weiner will have to register as a sex offender but declined to comment on how his family was handling the news. 'Alright?' he said, after a few seconds. 'Okay, I dont have anything to say.'

Weiner and his brother Jason, a Manhattan chef, ducked into the nearby subway station where the Weiner put on sunglasses before catching a train uptown.

The former congressman, who was convicted of sending obscene material to a 15-year-old girl, had changed out of the suit he wore to court and into a New York Citibikes t-shirt, an orange Mets cap and shorts.

Just a couple of hours earlier, Weiner sobbed in court as Judge Denise Cote handed down the sentence and ordered him to turn himself over to prison authorities on November 6 and pay a $10,000 fine.

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Anthony Weiner was spotted hours after his sentencing on Monday emerging from his Manhattan apartment with his brother Jason, who is a Manhattan chef. The 53-year-old was sentenced to 21 months in jail for sexting a 15-year-old girl earlier that day

The former politician wore his wedding ring although he is in the midst of a contested divorce with his wife Huma Abedin, who is fighting for sole custody of their five-year-old son

Weiner ignored questions about his sentence but paused briefly for photos before putting on sunglasses to catch a train uptown with his brother Jason

WHAT A SOBBING ANTHONY WEINER TOLD THE COURT 'I am profoundly sorry. The crime I committed was my rock bottom. I live a different and better life today. 'I focus on how I live my new, smaller, healthier life one day at a time. 'I was a very sick man for a very long time but Im also responsible for the damage I have done. 'I blamed others. I convinced myself that I wasnt the problem. 'I have a disease but no excuse. 'I was the adult ... if I had done the right thing, I would not be standing before you today. 'Im an addict. I victimized a young person who deserved better. I am not asking that I be trusted. 'I ask you for the opportunity on probation to keep my sworn oath.' Advertisement

One passerby on the sidewalk shouted 'Weiner!' and reached out to shake his hand, but most pedestrians seemed to ignore the one-time frontrunner for New York City mayor.

In the courtroom earlier that day, Weiner told the judge that he had hit rock bottom last year when he decided to exchange sexually charged messages online with a 15-year-old high school sophomore.

Weiners relationship with the teen girl, which included explicit video chat sessions during which he encouraged the minor to undress and touch herself, was first reported by DailyMail.com last September.

The news prompted an FBI investigation into Weiner, during which investigators found emails on his computer between Hillary Clinton and his wife Huma Abedin.

This led the FBI to reopen its investigation into Clintons private email server just days before the election, a move that Clinton has blamed in part for her loss.

Weiner pleaded guilty to sending obscene material to the minor last May. His wife Huma Abedin filed for divorce the same day.

His attorneys had asked the court to sentence him to probation without jail time, arguing that he had suffered extrajudicial punishment because his crime had turned him into a political pariah.

They also said he has been in therapy for sex addiction and has seen an improvement in his behavior.

'I focus on how I live my new, smaller, healthier life one day at a time. I was a very sick man for a very long time. I have a disease but no excuse,' said Weiner in his statement to the court on Monday.

He also apologized to the victim and dabbed his face with tissues.

Just hours earlier, Weiner gasped and broke down as he was sentenced for sending obscene material to the minor as he looked teary eyed as he left court

Weiner shook and clutched a tissue as he said he had saved his remarks about his son until the end, knowing how emotional he would become. He said that he was finally teaching his son Jordan the right lessons. 'I am living in amends to him,' he said

The 53-year-old had shown a 'dangerous level of denial' and 'lack of self-control' that could put other teenagers at risk, prosecutors had earlier said. He was ordered to surrender by November 6 and to pay a $10,000 fine

Weiner was accused of asking the high schooler to strip naked and touch herself for him on Skype. The girl has not been named but has agreed to have her face shown (pictured)

Horror revealed: Weiner sent his victim obscene images and messages about what he would do to her if she was 18 in messages revealed by DailyMail.com

The distraught man was still wearing his wedding band when he was seen heading to court from the apartment he shares with estranged wife Abedin.

His brother, mother and father sat behind him in court but Abedin was not present.

Weiner appeared gaunt and shaken, smiling occasionally as he spoke with his attorneys ahead of the hearing, before reading from a prepared sheet of remarks.

With his hand and voice shaking, Weiner said that he had hit his 'rock bottom' but was grateful for it as it had led to his recovery.

'I focus on how I live my new, smaller, healthier life one day at a time. I was a very sick man for a very long time. I have a disease but no excuse.'

He also said that he was 'profoundly sorry' to the victim.

He described his five-year-old son Jordan as his 'salvation' and said that he has betrayed Jordan's 'amazing mother', Abedin.

Weiner said that he understood the prosecutors skepticism to whether he had changed. 'I blamed others,' he said. 'I convinced myself that I wasnt the problem.'

He added: 'Im an addict', referencing how he had seen the qualities in his late brother, Seth, who passed away in 2000 but was unable to recognize them in himself.

The disgraced congressman said that he was going to therapy twice a week and attending meetings every day.

He shook and clutched a tissue as he said he had saved his remarks about his son until the end, knowing how emotional he would become. He said that he was finally teaching his son Jordan the right lessons. 'I am living in amends to him,' he said.

Weiner continued: 'I victimized a young person who deserved better' but added that he 'know[s] my recovery is real'.

He acknowledged that through his actions he had 'forfeited the right to the benefit of the doubt'.

The former congressman, who was convicted of sending obscene material to a 15-year-old girl, had changed out of the suit he wore to court and into a New York Citibikes t-shirt, an orange Mets cap and shorts

Weiner will have to register as a sex offender and declined to comment on how his family was handling the news. 'Alright?' he said, after a few seconds. 'Okay, I dont have anything to say'

In the courtroom earlier, Weiner told the judge he had hit rock bottom when he decided to exchange sexually charged messages online with a 15-year-old high school sophomore

Weiner was pictured returning home with his attorneys after he was sentenced on Monday. The failed politician looked somber as he waited for the elevator. He bowed his head as a young woman looked on

Judge Cote said that she had read letters of support for Weiner written by his father and grandmother, along with two letters from the public, including one from a concerned New Yorker. Judge Cote described the letters as 'extraordinarily brave'.

Amanda Kramer, of the U.S. Attorneys Office, made the case for the prosecution as to why Weiner should serve jail time and his request for probation be rejected. Kramer said that Weiner had 'asked a real 15-year-old to show him her naked body and perform sexually', calling his crime a 'serious felony'.

She said that although the victim initially contacted Weiner, 'her conduct doesnt undermine his crime'. Judge Cote responded that she didnt believe that Weiner was attempting to shift blame on to the victim.

Kramer continued: 'What is required to pierce his denial and break the tragic cycle is a meaningful term of imprisonment.'

Weiners defense attorney, Arlo Devlin-Brown, said that the former congressman was 'filled with regret' for himself, his victim and his family members.

He said that after Weiners first indiscretions in 2011 forced him to give up his congressional seat, that he failed to realize there was a problem in his life. He went on to run for mayor of New York City.

'New York is a forgiving place,' Devlin-Brown said. However when it emerged in 2013 that Weiner had continued to have sexual contact with women online, his attempt at resurrecting his political career was over. 'There are second acts  no third acts,' Devlin-Brown added.

Devlin-Brown said that his client had a sickness and was highly compulsive in his sexual behavior. 'Ending up here today was perhaps foreseeable, the attorney said  'to everyone but Anthony Weiner.'

When Judge Cote declared his sentence, Weiner bowed his head and put his face in his hands, as he heard the devastating news. After the judge left the bench, he sat in his seat for several minutes, continuing to cry

Weiner looked visibly shaken as he left the New York courtroom to head home to his apartment that he shares with his estranged wife

Weiner told the court: 'Im an addict. I victimized a young person who deserved better. I am not asking that I be trusted. I ask you for the opportunity on probation to keep my sworn oath'

His lawyer asked if Schuylkill in Pennsylvania (pictured) could be considered because they don't want him to be in maximum security, even if it is New York

The lawyer said that around the time he was in contact with the 15-year-old, he was also having contact with 19 other women online. Devlin-Brown emphasized that Weiner did not have an abnormal sexual interest in teenagers  and Judge Cote agreed with that finding.

The attorney asked the judge that Weiner be granted probation to continue with the treatment he was taking so seriously.' His sickness was a driver and hes in recovery, Devlin-Brown said.

In the end, Judge Cotes disagreed with probation. In sentencing Weiner, Judge Cote said: 'This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment.'

She also said that the victims motives were 'irrelevant'.

'She is a minor, she is a victim,' she said. 'She is entitled to the laws full protection.'

Cote acknowledged how committed Weiner was to recovery and said that his support of others with sexual problems could become a 'true public service'.

'He has made great strides but it will remain a struggle for years to come,' she said.

When Judge Cote declared her sentence, Weiner bowed his head and put his face in his hands, as he heard the devastating news. After the judge left the bench, he sat in his seat for several minutes, continuing to cry.

His lawyer asked if Schuylkill in Pennsylvania could be considered because they don't want him to be in maximum security, even if it is New York.

The judge asked if his defense attorneys wanted to recommend he stay in New York.

After a short discussion with Weiner, they said no.

INSIDE THE LUXURY PENNSYLVANIA PRISON ANTHONY WEINER HOPES TO SERVE HIS 21-MONTH PRISON SENTENCE By: James Gordon for DailyMail.com Anthony Weiner has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for sending sexually explicit material to a minor at New York federal court, but his time in prison may not be as bad it sounds. Weiner's lawyer has asked if his client can be spared the ordeal of a maximum-security jail in New York and instead be sent to Schuylkill Federal Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania. Schuylkill is a minimum security facility and has a way of life for its prisoners so relaxed it has been nicknamed 'Club Fed'. There's plenty to do a Schuylkill Prison Camp with pool tables, a weight room, full equipped gym, a law library and TV & video room Such facilities are often known as federal prison camps and are where disgraced CEO's and and other white-collar criminals end up. If Weiner is seen as a 'low-risk' inmate who is unlikely to escape or become violent, he stands a good chance of being placed at the Schuylkill Prison Camp, a mere three hour drive from New York. Former inmates have described the prison as being more like a holiday camp than a harshly-run state penitentiary. Among numerous perks, other perks, Schuylkill has a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio and the felons do not live in locked cells but in dormitory-style housing with rows of bunk beds like an army barracks. They are served three meals a day starting with continental breakfast at 6am. Even more surprising, if the inmates wanted, they could walk right out of jail because there is no perimeter fence. Those who do, however, face severe consequences when recaptured with loss of privileges. Inmates sleep in open dormitories on bunk beds rather than in cells Prisoners have their choice of any number of outdoor recreational activities including baseball, racquetball or just sitting in landscaped wooded areas to enjoy lunch Advertisement

Weiners friend, Tom Duane, a former New York State Senator, gave him a hug in the hallway following the court hearing.

After Weiner's sentence is served, he must undergo internet monitoring and must have no contact with his victim. He must also enroll in a sex-offender treatment program.

The government had 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 described his five-year-old son Jordan as his 'salvation' and said that he has betrayed Jordan's 'amazing mother', Huma Abedin. Pictured: The family in August

Huma's plea: Hillary Clinton's top aide asked for the judge's sentencing not to have 'negative impact' on their son when he sentences her pervert husband

Weiner said in a submission 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.

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.

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 (pictured)

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

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

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.

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.

The 15-year-old girl told DailyMail.com about her online affair with Weiner and described how he asked her to dress up in school girl outfits and participate in 'rape fantasies.'

The former congressman told her in messages that she made him 'hard' and said he wanted to 'bust that tight p***y so hard and so often that you would leak and limp for a week.'

The sexting scandal has been toxic not just for Weiner but for Abedin, who is now divorcing him and seeking custody of their son, Joshua, five.

The judge hearing their contested divorce case told the couple: 'I certainly would encourage you to try to work out a plan together with your attorneys' assistance.

'It certainly would be better for your son if you could do that. It would save you a lot of stress. Hopefully the financials can be worked out amicably as well.'

The couple's divorce is consented as Abedin is seeking full custody of their child. A judge told them that he 'encourages' them to 'try to work out a plan together' for the sake of their son

Weiner's messages 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.

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

Both of their lawyers asked for privacy in the matter, but their attempts to keep their separation under wraps has not been successful.

Abedin stood by Weiner through recurrent sex scandals that destroyed his career.

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.

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.

Abedin was said to be devastated after hearing the news of the re-opened investigation.

'When we heard this, Huma looked stricken,' wrote Clinton in her new book What Happened. 'Anthony had already caused so much heartache. And now this.'

Abedin told Clinton: 'This man is going to be the death of me,' before bursting into tears.

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.

The failed presidential candidate said her long-time aide's anguish 'broke my heart' and made her determined to stand by Abedin despite the damage to her campaign.

But despite a mounting list of who she blames for her loss, Clinton 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.
A female soldier made history on Monday by becoming the first women to complete the United States Marine Corps' infantry officer training program in its 250 year history.

The soldier, who has chosen to remain anonymous, graduated from the Marines' infantry officer coarse in Quantico, Virginia, according to ABC News.

The servicewoman is the first to complete the officer's training program since it opened all military occupational specialties (MOS) to women in Spring 2016.

A soldier made history by becoming Marine Corps' first female infantry officer on Monday

It is the first time in the Marine's 250 year history a woman has graduated from the coarse in Quantico, Virginia

Three other women have attempted and failed to graduate from the program.

'I am proud of this officer and those in her class who have earned the infantry officer MOS,' Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said in a press release Monday.

The 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton will now be headed by the female soldier, marking her first assignment.

'Infantry officer course is the MOS-producing school for Marine Corps infantry officers and the prerequisite course for ground intelligence officers,' the release said.

'The grueling 13-week course trains and educates newly selected infantry and ground intelligence officers in leadership, infantry skills and character required to serve as infantry platoon commanders in the operating forces.'

Before Monday, three other women had attempted to complete the required training coarse

Of the 133 prospective applicants, 88 finished the training, according ABC News.

Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter decided to lift a ban barring women from serving in military combat roles in 2015, opening the door for female soldiers to fight on the front lines ever.

At the time, only the Marine Corps recommend that women still be prevented from serving in combat units, despite every other branch of the militray taking the opposite view.

'We are a joint force, and I have decided to make a decision which applies to the entire force,' Carter said in 2015.
Huang Xingguo, former acting Communist Party chief and mayor of Tianjin Municipality, was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday for taking bribes of over 40 million yuan (US$ 6 million).

He was also fined 3 million yuan, according to a court in the city of Shijiazhuang in north China's Hebei Province.

Between 1994 and 2016, Huang took advantage of his various posts to seek benefits regarding land using and personnel promotion for others.

He also used his power and status to seek illegal benefits for others through other officials, the court statement said.

In return, he accepted gifts and money worth 40 million yuan by himself or through others, it said.

The statement said the court handed down the sentence with consideration of Huang's confessing to his crimes, showing repentance and providing reliable evidence of others' violations. Huang has been cooperative in returning all his illegal gains.
A bloodthirsty murderer who stabbed his lover in the heart after telling her to drink his blood could face life behind bars.

Ivan Griffin seemed to be 'possessed by evil' when he knifed Sabrina Mullings at her flat in Upper Norwood, south London.

The 24-year-old killer cut his own chest open before he stabbed the 38-year-victim to death and placed her naked corpse on a pink dressing gown in her kitchen.

Ms Mullings's daughter Hayleigh and her boyfriend Chaise Gore were woken up by the brutal attack, where they found Griffin yelling how he was 'releasing demons' during the attack at 5.30am on March 13.

Hayleigh said she heard screams from her mother urging her to call the police after Griffin. As she walked downstairs she described that the scene was like 'something out of a horror film' when she saw blood and saw her mother's blood dripping under the doorframe.

Ivan Griffin, 24, is facing life behind bars for stabbing his girlfriend Sabrina Mullings at her home in Upper Norwood, south London

The court was also played footage of Griffin dancing intimately with Ms Mullings the evening before the attack.

Griffin, who had been dating Ms Mullings since September last year, told Hayleigh's mother to 'drink his blood because it would cleanse her soul' and cut himself so he could 'join their blood together'.

Hayleigh said: 'I could make out what she was saying but it was very, very strained, you could hear she was in pain.'

Hayleigh told jurors Griffin sounded 'possessed by evil', describing the incident as 'something you would get from a horror film'.

Griffin fled 'in a panic' and asked Hayleigh 'you know I loved her, right?', before fleeing the house when he saw Mr Gore pick up a screwdriver.

'He pulled up his shirt and told me he had stabbed himself and showed me his wound,' said Hayleigh.

Sabrina Mullings was killed on March 13 by Griffin. She was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering from to stab wounds inflicted with 'severe force'

After Griffin had fled the scene, Hayleigh rushed to help her naked mother, whose body was 'very neatly placed' on a dressing gown.

She was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering from to stab wounds inflicted with 'severe force' - one which fractured her ribcage and delved into her heart, while the other tearing through her abdomen and liver.

Griffin was found wandering the streets by officers, where he claimed he had been involved in a scuffle with friends. After noticing blood beneath his jacket, they tried to apprehend him where he began shouting he was the son of God.

Griffin was deemed to have been trying to pass off his crimes and trying to convince jurors he was not fully in control of his actions, but it was ruled by psychiatrists that there was no evidence of mental illness.

He was convicted of murder and is due to be sentenced.
Methamphetamines were found in the soft drink, 7Up, in Baja California 'several days ago' sickening at least eight and killing one - Jose Maria Soto Gastelum, 37.

An investigation is underway to determine how the drinks were contaminated according to a Banner Health press release.

The health department of Baja California has issued a statement confirming that 7Up products in the Mexican state, where the contaminated soft drinks had originally been reported, have been pulled from stores as a precaution, according to Fox News.

The manufacturers have also been notified of the issue, and more than 77,000 individual containers of 7Up have been secured at a Mexican plant belonging to PepsiCo.

At least eight were sickened and one died from tainted 7Up laced with Methamphetamines in Baja California

At least five people who drank the tainted soda have improved and been released from the hospital of as last week.

Symptoms of the soft drink contamination may include: Irritation of, or abnormal taste in, the mouth or throat Burning to the esophagus or abdomen Nausea or vomiting Difficulty breathing Fast or irregular heart beat Source: Banner Health Advertisement

Health officials in Arizona have also issued a warning to those traveling to Mexico, advising them to be aware of any possible symptoms.

'It is important to check that the seal for any food and drink consumed is still intact and show no signs of tampering,' Dr. Daniel Brooks, the medical director of Banner Poison and Drug Information Center, said.

'If you notice any difference in color, taste or smell, throw it out.'

He continued to say anyone who experiences such symptoms should promptly contact poison control.

Health officials in Arizona have issued a travel warning to Mexico, advising those going to be aware of any possible symptoms

But American consumers have nothing to worry about, according to the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group who manufactures 7Up in the US.

'None of the 7Up products sold in the US are affected by the issue being reported in Mexico,' spokesman Chris Barnes told AZ Central.

'Dr. Pepper Snapple owns and licenses the 7Up brand only in the US and its territories. We do not market, sell or distribute the brand internationally.'

News of the meth-laced 7Up comes just a few months after the US State Department warned travelers to Mexico about reports of tainted alcohol at certain Mexican resort destinations.

An investigation is underway to determine how the drinks were contaminated according to a Banner Health press release

That warning came after a 20-year-old student from Wisconsin was found dead after consuming alcohol on a family trip to Playa Del Carmen in July.

Toxicology reports showed that Abbey Conner had a blood alcohol level of 0.25 when she was admitted to a local hospital.

A lawyer for the family now believes that tainted alcohol caused the tragedy, a claim the resort vehemently denied.
The White House says North Korea's claim that President Trump declared war on the isolated regime is 'absurd'.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump's press secretary, threw cold water on Pyongyang's claim that the regime could now legally fire at U.S. bombers.

Kim Jong-un's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters in New York earlier Monday, 'The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country.

'Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.'

But hours later Sanders, at the White House's daily press briefing, said: 'We have not declared war on North Korea. Frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd.'

Push back: Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, called the claim that Trump had declared war on Kim Jong-un 'absurd'

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho speaking through an interpreter, was at the United Nations when he claimed the countries were at war thanks to Trumps use of Twitter

Stand firm: Donald Trump, who was signing a memo on access to science, technology, engineering and math, has attacked North Korea repeatedly on Twitter - especially 'little Rocket man' Kim Jong-un

Firepower: The Air Force released an image of one of the B-1B Lancers which was used to fly a mission, escorted by F-15Cs, off North Korea's coast this weekened

She added, 'Its never appropriate for a country to shoot down another countrys aircraft when its over international waters.

'Our goal is still the same: We continue to seek the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula -- that's our focus -- doing that through both the most maximum economic and diplomatic pressures as possible at this point.'

Over the weekend, the U.S. flew B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters off the coast of North Korea.

The Pentagon said B-1B bombers from Guam, along with F-15C Eagle fighter escorts from Okinawa, Japan, flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on Saturday.

The U.S. characterized the flights as extending farther north of the Demilitarized Zone, than any U.S. fighter or bomber had gone off the North Korean coast in the 21st century.

B-1 bombers are no longer part of the U.S. nuclear force, but they are capable of dropping large numbers of conventional bombs.

Ri justified his claim that the countries were at war by saying that Trump's tweets were the method of declaring war.

'Trump claimed our leadership would not be around much longer. He declared a war on our country,' the minister said.

The U.S. president raised the issue on Twitter last weekend.

'Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!' Trump said in a Saturday tweet.

Ri threatened to shoot down American aircraft from international airspace in response.

'The question of who will be around much longer will be answered then,' he added.

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho arrives to address the 72nd session of the United Nations General assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 23

Ri, who made the comments before leaving New York where he had attended last week's UN General Assembly, returned from his car to the press microphones explicitly to add: 'In light of the declaration of war by Trump, all options will be on the operations table of the supreme leadership of the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea).'

His words echoed warnings from the Trump administration that all options were on the table in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile development and its threats to have a weapon capable of reaching the continental United States.

The Pentagon says Trump will have multiple options to deal with Pyongyang if North Korea does not stop with its 'provocative actions'.

A close friend of the president's told DailyMail.com on Monday that he believes there's a 'growing consensus' in the White House that a preemptive strike on North Korea is the best way to deter Kim.

'I think there's a growing consensus among people in the White House for a preemptive attack, because they don't really see what the third option is. How do you get Kim to actually agree to let's say, freeze his weapons without us having to agree to a freeze. Trump's not going to agree to any freeze on our side,' the friend, Chris Ruddy, said.

Couching his comments, Ruddy, the CEO of Newsmax said: 'My gut feeling, no one has told me this, is that by next year, if all options fail, you could see a military action within six months to stop Kims nuclear and missile development.'

'But Trump's also ready to go if Kim does something crazy,' he added.

On Saturday, Ri told the UN General Assembly that targeting the US mainland with its rockets was inevitable after 'Mr Evil President' Trump called Pyongyang's leader a 'rocket man' on a suicide mission in his UNGA remarks.

The rogue government released a propaganda video depicting North Korean missiles blowing up US aircraft carrier and a plane in response to Trump's perceived aggression.

The state-run DPRK Today released the clip Sunday that shows the USS Carl Vinson going up in flames after a Pukguksong missile is launched.

North Korea's video brands the American President a 'mad man' and states any attack on the country would see US forces 'head to the grave'.

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim described Trump as a 'mentally deranged US dotard' whom he would tame with fire.

Kim said North Korea would consider the 'highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history' against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed his nuclear programme was 'the correct path'.

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear bomb test on September 3. Pyongyang said on Friday it might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

Trump threatened in his maiden UN address last Tuesday to 'totally destroy' the country of 26 million people if North Korea threatened the United States or its allies.
A woman was the victim of a hit and run mugging when two men on a moped snatched her phone and sped off.

Shocking CCTV footage shows the woman using her phone on a quiet London street stood near a bank of Santander bicycle stands when the robbers struck.

The footage captures the moment the criminal duo race up the street before slowing down for a split second while one of the muggers grabs her phone.

Scroll down for video

Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a woman in London was the victim of a hit and run mugging when two men on a moped snatched her phone and sped off

The clip lasts just 16 seconds and shows the woman chasing after the two frantically.

Moped related crimes have spiked in recent years with muggings and smash and grab jewellery raids linked to scooter gangs.

Moped gangs are robbing 54 times a day across London and are even holding training sessions on how to snatch phones before they hit the streets.

Shocking figures show police are facing unprecedented numbers of organised scooter crimes with incidents up a staggering 1766 per cent since 2014.

Up until the end of May there were 8,192 crimes involving scooters - almost as many recorded in 2016.

If crooks continue to offend at the same rate, 2017 will see around 19,710 thefts in total - up 116 per cent from last year.

The footage captures the moment the criminal duo race up the street before slowing down for a split second while one of the muggers grabs her phone

And with criminals acting unpredictably - police say they are concerned about the rise in acid attacks in conjunction with moped riders.

Police facing massive spike in scooter crime with incidents up 1766% from 2014, according to stats reported on in July.

Superintendent Mark Payne, of the Metropolitan Police, said thieves were mainly after mobile phones and would practice training before striking.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'The thieves practice snatching phones from each other on stolen mopeds before heading on to the streets.

Police facing massive spike in scooter crime with incidents up 1766% from 2014, according to stats reported on in July .

'They aim to snatch a phone while a victim is talking so the device is unlocked and they can reset it and sell it on.

'Or they will steal a phone which is locked and sell it for its parts. It is a big market.

'A large proportion of thefts are carried out around train stations where people will look at their phone for emails and messages before and after journeys.'

The rise in moped crime contributed to a seven per cent rise in overall theft in England and Wales last year.
Television bosses in Serbia have been criticised after a 24-hour-long play featuring nudity, simulated sex and gore was broadcast live on TV for the entire duration.

Mount Olympus, a critically acclaimed work by Jan Fabre, was used to open the Belgrade International Theatre Festival in Serbia last week.

But it was simultaneously broadcast on state TV, ruffling the feathers of some viewers who felt it was inappropriate to show such graphic content during the day.

The performance features nudity, simulated sex acts and gore from the start as it depicts twisted versions of classic Greek myths

One critic, named online only as Ana, wrote: 'How much does it cost citizens of Serbia to broadcast this live for 24 hours on a public service station?'

Another going by the name of Master wrote 'I will never ever understand who this culture is for', while 'Dinja' exclaimed: 'C***s on national TV!'

Mount Olympus is set in antiquity and features 27 actors performing almost solid for a full day, with only three short breaks in the production.

The performance combines dance, physical theatre and dialogue to tell stories based on ancient Greek myths, but twisted and distorted to grotesque extremes.

While the performance was critically acclaimed, others questioned whether it was appropriate to show it on a public broadcaster during the day

Others took issue with the play itself, saying the didn't understand it and questioning how much it cost taxpayers to show on television

Fabre, 58, is a Belgian multidisciplinary artist, playwright, stage director, choreographer and designer whose career had sparked a string of controversies.

Previous works have included throwing live cats in the air, burning banknotes and writing the word 'money' in the ashes, and making drawings with his own blood.

The Belgrade International Theatre Festival is renowned for its experimental performances and takes place annually in the Serbian capital.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has found another way to stay on President Trump's good side, with a Tuesday speech planned where he will rip into campus PC culture as a 'a shelter for fragile egos.'

Sessions, whose job was on the line during the summer following the president's fury over his decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation, has found himself on more solid ground after intervention by Republican allies.

Since then, Sessions has bolstered his standing with a vow to require federal prisoners to face tough sentences and his announcement that DACA would be rescinded.

On Tuesday at Georgetown University, he takes up another cause dear to President Trump: political correctness, and what he terms a 'cottage industry' of protesters.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to blast PC culture at a university speech Tuesday

A source close to Sessions told DailyMail.com another line in the speech will call out protesters tho force administrators to 'capitulate' to their demands.

'But who is to decide what is offensive and what is acceptable, what is odious and what is good? The university is supposed to be about the search for truth, not the imposition of truth by a government censor,' Sessions will say.

The AG will add: 'This has allowed a cottage industry of protestors to crop up who understand school administrators will capitulate to their demands and are now routinely shutting down speeches and debates across the country in an effort to silence voices that are insufficiently orthodox on their pet issues,' according to the source close to Sessions.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to call out campus political correctness and censorship in a Tuesday speech. 'Who is to decide what is offensive and what is acceptable, what is odious and what is good?' he plans to say

Demonstrators rally for the removal of a Confederate statue, coined Silent Sam, on the campus of the University of Chapel Hill on August 22, 2017 in Chapel Hill North Carolina. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

An anti-Trump protester holds up a sign after conservative commentator Milo Yiannopoulos spoke to a crowd of supporters on the University of California, Berkeley campus on September 24, 2017.

Although a student group cancelled plans for Free Speech Week, Yiannopoulos was able to speak on campus surrounded by a heavy police presence

A woman stomps on a free speech sign after conservative commentator Milo Yiannopoulos spoke to a crowd of supporters on the University of California, Berkeley campus on September 24, 2017.

Although a student group cancelled plans for Free Speech Week, Yiannopoulos was able to speak on campus surrounded by a heavy police presence

A source told Axios will slam U.S. colleges as an 'echo chamber' of political correctness.

'Whereas the American university was once the center of academic freedom  a place of robust debate, a forum for the competition of ideas  it is transforming into an echo chamber of political correctness and homogenous thought, a shelter for fragile egos,' the attorney general plans to say.

It wasn't clear from advanced remarks which campus protests Sessions would target.

Antifa and other protesters managed to stop an appearance by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos at a 'Free Speech Week' events at the University of California at Berkeley in February. The event led to violent protests.

Yiannopoulos held his own forum on Sunday after organizers nixed an event.

'We are unable to hold an official UC Berkeley speaking event, Yiannopoulos said amid intense security. So were going to host an unofficial one,' the LA Times reported.

In July, Trump tweeted that his attorney general was 'beleaguered' and in a 'VERY week' position, asking why investigators weren't looking into 'Crooked HIllarys crimes & Russia relations.'
A New Jersey woman is fighting for her life in hospital after she was shot twice in the head while vacationing in Guatemala with her husband.

Sara Inman and her husband James were visiting her family in Guatemala on September 19 when a mob ran their car off the road and opened fire on them.

The mother-of-two suffered two gunshot wounds to the head during the attack.

She was rushed to a hospital in Guatemala City fighting for her life and has remained heavily sedated for the past week.

Sara Inman, of New Jersey, remains in a hospital in Guatemala City after she she was shot in the head twice on September 19

Doctors say one bullet remains lodged in Sara's head and fear it is inoperable, according to her husband of 20 years.

The bleeding and swelling on her brain stopped over the weekend and Sara started to wake on Monday.

Doctors removed her breathing tubes and she has now started communicating with her husband.

It is not clear when she will be able to return to the US.

The couple's two teenage daughters, Elicia and Ashley, are staying with relatives while their mother continues to recover.

The mother-of-two was vacationing with her husband James when they were ambushed, run off the road and shot at by a mob

The bleeding and swelling on her brain stopped over the weekend and Sara started to wake on Monday

James told NJ.com that he has been struggling to communicate with doctors due to the language barrier.

'My wife was my translator, my rock and my world,' he said.

James started a GoFundMe page, Saving Sara, to help cover the rising costs of her medical bills. It has already raised more than $22,000.

'The constant barrage of well wishes, prayers and aid from total strangers keeps me strong for her and allows me to get through this,' James said.

'It restores my faith in humanity when I thought all was lost.'
Two Afghan stowaways had to be airlifted from a passenger ferry off the British coast when they were found unconscious in a fridge where they had been hiding for 13 hours.

A coastguard helicopter was scrambled to the ship which raised the alarm around 20 miles off the coast of Devon.

The two men were found inside the fridge on board the car ferry Epsilon, operated by Irish Ferries, which was sailing from Cherbourg in France to Dublin, Ireland.

The distress call was sent from the ship off Start Point at 7.30pm on Sunday.

A coastguard helicopter was scrambled to the ship which raised the alarm around 20 miles off the coast of Devon (stock photo)

The men were flown to hospital in Devon where they later recovered and were arrested before being handed over to the UK Border Force.

Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'They have been seen by medical staff and their condition is not as serious as originally thought and have made a full recovery.'

The incident has prompted a warning from ferry companies that numbers of migrants trying to sneak into Britain on their vessels has soared this year.

Migrants blocked from gathering near Calais are now trying to flee Europe from other ports in Northern France and Spain.

Already this year 1,251 illegal immigrants have been caught trying to board a ferry to the UK in Bilbao - three times the number for the whole of 2016.

There have been more than 100 detentions already this month.

A group of 40 children who have arrived in Portsmouth without adult supervision are currently being cared for by Portsmouth City Council.

Brittany Ferries said: 'Those who repeatedly target port facilities [in Santander] are sent to a detention centre near Madrid before being deported.

'In Bilbao, a port infraction is treated as a civil misdemeanour and offenders are simply released to try again.'
Two kids demonstrated perfect teamwork as they worked together to save a kitten who was trapped in a drainage system in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, earlier this month.

The kitten was trapped in the dirty water but two young boys didn't let that stop them from saving the cat.

In the video, the pair work as a team to lower each other into the drainage system to reach the kitten.

After one of the boys tries but fails to reach the cat, they trade off and the other kid attempts to save it.

About 25 seconds after the second boy is lowered into the drainage system, he is able to grab the kitten and return it to safety, despite the resistance.

He then returns the young cat to solid ground and it quickly runs away from the scene.

One of the boys lowers his friend into the drainage system to get to the kitten

He is able to reach the cat despite some resistance from the small animal
A South Carolina couple has been arrested after the remains of a baby missing since July were found.

The remains of 9-month-old Aaliyana McCoy were found Saturday in a plot of land in the Socastee area, Horry Counter Deupter Coroner Darris Fowler said.

The babys mother, 19-year-old Ladasha Harriett, has been charged with homicide by child abuse.

Police said Harrietts boyfriend, 22-year-old Daquan Jamal Simmons, is also charged with homicide by child abuse.

Ladasha Harriett, 19 (left), and Daquan Jamal Simmons, 22 (right), have been charged with homicide by child abuse after the remains of Harriett's daughter, 9-month-old Aaliyana McCoy, were found in a plot of land in Socastee, South Carolina. Investigators believe Simmons killed the child around July 15, and Harriett helped cover up the crime

Simmons is accused of beating the baby to death, while Harriett is accused of helping to conceal the crime, reports WBTW.

Initially, the mother was identified as a victim.

Fowler said he thinks the girl died around July 15.

Her body has been sent to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston to determine the cause of death.

Myrtle Beach police started an investigation last week after receiving word the baby had not been seen since July.

A social worker conducting a welfare check on Harriet learned that the baby had not been seen since July.

It was not known if Harriet and Simmons have attorneys yet.
 Flash

German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel (Front) is applauded after the preliminary exit poll at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party's headquarters in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)

The conservative union led by German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday defended its commanding role in the Bundestag (German parliament) with 32.5 percent of the vote, falling short of expectations with a 9-percentage-point gap compared with the election four years ago.

In the last Bundestag election of 2013, Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party with its sister Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) party secured 41.5 percent of the vote.

LESS VOTES FOR MERKEL'S PARTY

The lower-than-expected margin will still offer a decent chance for Merkel to claim her fourth term as Chancellor.

Senior official of the CDU Volker Kauder told reporters after the election that the CDU had reached its expectation in the election, and Merkel will remain in office as chancellor and will be granted the mandatory to form the new cabinet.

In a televised speech after the election, Merkel told her supporters that "we have clear government mandate, and no government can be formed without us", admitting that her bloc had reached strategic goal in election though she had hoped for better results.

She also promised to win back voters of far-right party Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) with good policies, vowing to fight against illegal immigrants while protecting interests of legal citizens.

Despite Merkel's bitter victory, Andreas Quebbemann, member of the state parliament in Niedersachsen, said he was very disappointed with the result.

"We lost so many voters because they dissatisfied with CDU's policy, such as the refugee policy. But they switched to AfD not because they believed AfD can provide solutions, but an expression of their dissatisfaction to us," Quebbemann told Xinhua.

"As to the coalition cabinet, there is only one option left for CDU -- joint FDP and the Green Party. But we have many differences with the Green Party. The coalition is bound to be a difficult one, but I believe the final compromise will be reached. Because this is politics," Quebbemann added.

SPD'S HISTORICAL LOW

Meanwhile, the Union's main rival, Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by former European Parliament president Martin Schulz, also suffered a big setback and took just 20 percent of the vote, marking the lowest vote since World War II, according to a preliminary exit poll.

For his part, Schulz said the election marked a "historic crash" for the SPD. But Thomas Oppermana, a senior official of the party, said Schulz will continue to be the president of the party despite the "crash" and led the renovation of the party.

According to local media ARD, Schulz said his party had no intention to form a coalition government with the conservative union and "will go to the opposite".

He said his party is a "strong bulwark" against would-be lawmakers from the right-wing AfD.

"We are a strong bulwark against the enemies of democracy that we now have in parliament," Schulz said in a television interview.

He referred to the AfD's result as "depressing", saying that widespread fears about the refugee crisis had fuelled support for the right-wing party.

"This is a turning point," said Schulz. "It's clear that the decision to welcome refugees has divided our society. What is a great act of humanity to some seems threatening to others. We didn't manage to convince people that Germany is strong enough to leave no one behind."

Lisa Price, official of SPD's state commission in Brandenburg, told Xinhua that refusing the grand coalition (CDU/CSU plus SPD) is SPD's victory, because "SPD will finally have the opportunity to prove itself".

"Staying out the grand coalition will make SPD more distinctive and could focus on such issues as the interests of the low-income groups as an opposition party," she told Xinhua.

AFD CELEBRATIONS MEET WITH PROTEST

In another development, the AfD crossed the five-percent-vote threshold on Sunday came into the new parliament for the first time with about 13.5 percent of votes, becoming the third strongest party in the Bundestag.

It is also the first far-right populist party in the Bundestag since WWII.

"We will hunt Merkel! We want to bring our country and people back," said Alexander Gauland, one of the two candidates of the AfD in this election who always accuses Merkel's policies in refugees and euro crisis.

"It's a historical and outstanding result for AfD. We will experience more pluralism in the Bundestag, and we will experience a lively democracy through the AfD," said AfD's politician Bjoern Hoecke.

However, Hoecke's joyful words met with protests and demonstrations against AfD shortly after.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Berlin's Alexanderplatz on Sunday evening, bearing umbrellas to keep dry and waving anti-AfD signs to protest AfD's election result.

Later, the crowd shouted as one, "The whole of Berlin hates the AfD."

Police were monitoring the situation and prohibiting the protesters from drawing close to the building housing the AfD's party.

According to security authority, AfD supporters were cleared off the building's balcony after demonstrators on the ground threw objects in that direction.

Similar anti-AfD protests also took place on the other side of the country in Cologne. Demonstrators met in front of the west German city's central train station before marching through the streets with a banner reading "Whoever is silent, is complicit".

Founded in 2013, the eurosceptic and anti-immigration party -- which welcomed Brexit, missed the Bundestag with 4.7 percent of votes in the same year.

The party gained momentum during the Euro and the refugee crisis. It was polling at around 10 percent before Sunday's federal election.

About 73,500 polling stations across the country opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) and closed at 6:00 p.m. (1600 GMT).

Official statistics showed that Sunday's turnout of the election stood at 75 percent, higher than the 71.5 percent in 2013.
Eagle-eyed motorists got an early festive treat after catching a glimpse of the Coca Cola truck speeding up the motorway.

The famous red truck, which signals to many in Britain that Christmas is around the corner, was spotted motoring around East London ahead of its annual UK tour.

Motorist Stewart Power filmed the big red truck on the A406, and says it made him feel festive.

Scroll down for video

Eagle-eyed motorists got an early festive treat after catching a glimpse of the Coca Cola truck speeding up the motorway near East London on Monday

Posting online, he wrote: 'Just seen the Coca Cola truck on the A406. Does this mean it's officially ok to talk about Christmas now?

'This truck gives everybody that warm feeling inside from when they were younger.'

The famous red truck has featured in the soft drink brand's festive advertising since 1995, with the tag line 'The holidays are coming.'

Since 2011, the truck has toured the UK, handing out free drinks and drawing people from nearby to revel in the Christmas festivities.

The famous red truck is a often used as a signal for when Christmas is around the corner was spotted motoring around East London ahead of its annual UK tour

In 2015, Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, warned the advertising campaign to steer clear of his constituency/

The MP said the promotion of sugary drinks is the 'wrong thing' for Leicester where a third of children have tooth decay at a time of record obesity levels among children in Britain.

The Labour MP for Leicester East, who has cut out sugar since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, criticised Coca-Cola as many including Jamie Oliver are calling for a tax on sugary drinks and food.
Jonathan Tuan-Anh Tran, 27, (pictured outside court over the summer) scaled the White House fence in March

A White House fence jumper who spent 15 minutes on the grounds armed with two cans of mace will not be sent to jail.

Jonathan Tuan-Anh Tran, 27, of Milpitas, California, scaled the fence of the president's executive residence on March 10 and made it to the doors of the White House before he was intercepted by Secret Service agents.

Tran told arresting officers he was a friend of Donald Trump and had an appointment with the president.

On Monday, Tran was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to stay away from the White House, Mall and Trump hotels and properties worldwide, the Washington Post reports.

On Monday, Tran was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to stay away from the White House, Mall and Trump hotels and properties worldwide.

He'd plead guilty to one, misdemeanor count of knowingly entering and remaining on restricted grounds in July.

Prosecutors had warned the court that Tran - a diagnosed schizophrenic and suffers from suicidal thoughts - was obsessed with Trump and leaped the fence to 'warn President Trump of fake news.'

They say he was carrying two cans of mace, one of which was in his jacket pocket, a US passport, an Apple laptop, a book written by Trump, and a letter to the president, the report states.

Tran was seen walking from the south grounds of the White House, then jumping a fence and approaching the South Portico entrance during the incident last March

Tran, 27, of Milpitas, California made it to the doors of the White House before he was intercepted by Secret Service agents (file photo)

In the letter, 'Tran mentioned Russian hackers and said he had information of relevance. Tran alleged that he had been followed, and his 'phone and email communications (had been) read by third parties,' and that he had 'been called schizophrenic,' ' Secret Service officer Wayne Azevedo said in the complaint.

Tran's 19-year-old brother told CNN the suspect had been fired from his job at an electrical engineering company and was 'troubled'.

He was living in his car, the sibling added, before calling Tran a 'very good brother'.

Prosecutors had said the defendant's 'obsession with the president and the urgency with which he feels he must discuss his concerns with the president make him a continuing threat and appears to be too strong to be checked by a non-incarceratory sentence.'

Prosecutors also said in a memo to the court that Tran's fence jumping inspired at least one copycat to breach security.

They added that Tran's 'discussion of the incident on social media appears to be, at least in part, an act of reinforcing his self-esteem, as if he values the incident as means of interacting with persons he perceives as followers.'

Despite President Trump (pictured before signing a memorandum on Monday, Sept. 25) commending the Secret Service for its 'fantastic job', two agents were fired over the breach

However, U.S. District Court judge James E. Boasberg decided to sentence Tran to probation with this warning: 'If you do it again, you're going to jail.'

Security footage of the incident had showed Tran jumping a fence near the Treasury Building, which adjoins the White House, according to the arrest report.

Tran at one point can be seen hiding 'behind a White House pillar before proceeding to the South Portico Entrance,' according to the document.

The suspect then saw a Secret Service officer in uniform and went towards the South Lawn, the affidavit reads.

That is when the officer stopped him, after which Tran said: 'I am a friend of the President. I have an appointment,' the complaint states.

When asked how he managed to get here, Tran replied: 'I jumped the fence,' authorities said.

Despite President Trump commending the Secret Service for its 'fantastic job', two agents were fired over the breach; an agent based at the guard house near the Treasury Building, and another at the East Executive Avenue entrance.

In 2015, a man named Joseph Caputo was arrested after jumping over a White House fence while the Obamas were celebrating Thanksgiving.
A 28-year-old has been charged over the 'race hate' mosque attack which left a heroic surgeon with a stab wound on his neck.

Dr Nasser Kurdy helped treat victims of the Manchester bombing and was rushed to hospital after he was attacked by a man who made 'anti-Muslim comments'.

Police have now charged Ian Rook in connection with the stabbing outside the Altrincham Islamic Centre in Greater Manchester on Sunday.

Andrew Western, Labour councillor for Sale, Greater Manchester, said his thoughts were with Dr Kurdy and his family.

Dr Kurdy, 58, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, and some people had already made their way into the mosque when he was attacked at around 6pm.

Speaking about the horrific incident, he said: 'It's shocking something like this can happen within our community.

Police have launched an investigation after Dr Nasser Kurdy was attacked with a knife outside the Altrincham Islamic Centre in Greater Manchester on Sunday

'I was just going to the centre on Sunday evening on my own for mid-afternoon prayers. I was a couple of minutes late and only just entered the grounds when it happened.

'It happened from behind me. I was told later it was a knife in my neck. It was painful. As a surgeon, I could tell immediately none of the vital structures were affected. I just put pressure on my neck. I probably only bled a little bit.

'Looking back I was pragmatic about it because of my profession and my age.

He has been discharged from hospital, according to his colleague Dr Khalid Anis, a spokesman for the Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association, who said he was 'very lucky'.

A video posted on Facebook following reports of the stabbing purportedly shows the victim immediately after the attack.

He can be seen sitting on a bench clutching at his neck and appears to be in some pain as people attend to him.

The imam was named on Twitter as being Dr Nasser Kurdy (pictured) and he was rushed to hospital

The footage shows them asking him about his attacker. At first he appears unable to answer and another person is overheard saying he was 'hit' by something in a man's hand: 'I don't think it was that sharp.'

On Monday the father of three, from a Syrian Jordanian family, was preparing to go back to work to treat his patients as the police investigation continued.

He said: 'God was merciful to me yesterday. It could be a nerve, an artery, a vein, the gullet. The neck is the contact between the body and your head, but fortunately it was just the muscle.

'As I entered the grounds of the premises, I felt that pain and the blow to my neck.

'I turned around and saw this gentleman in a threatening pose. I did feel threatened, I did feel vulnerable.'

He rushed inside and, fearing the attacker may follow, grabbed a chair and dashed outside, but his attacker had fled.

'Police later made two arrests and said they were treating the incident as a hate crime.

Mr Kurdy has worked as a doctor for four decades, after coming to Britain to study medicine in 1977 and working in Perth, Dundee and Northampton before settling in Manchester in 1991.

He has been discharged from hospital, according to his colleague Dr Khalid Anis, a spokesman for the Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association, who said he was 'very lucky'

He was going to the Islamic Centre for mid-afternoon prayers and a committee meeting, as he is a lay imam, sometimes giving sermons, and vice chairman of Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association.

Mr Kurdy said, ahead of giving a police statement, that he could not say what his attacker said to him, but was in 'no doubt' he was attacked because he was entering the Islamic Centre.

But he added he feels no anger towards his attacker.

He said: 'He is not representative of what this country stands for. I have absolutely no anger or hate or anything negative towards him. I have declared it, I have totally forgiven him.

'He could be a marginalised person within his own community.'

But Mr Kurdy said he felt hate crimes against Muslims were escalating on the back of terror incidents including the Arena bombing and the Parsons Green tube attack.

Mr Kurdy said he felt hate crimes against Muslims were escalating on the back of terror incidents including the Arena bombing and the Parsons Green tube attack

'The climate is very threatening, very worrying. Something could have happened, horrible, yesterday. The atmosphere that is around has allowed for that.

'There needs to be acknowledgement that hate crimes against Muslims are on the increase and they are becoming more physical.

'It's not just someone saying something verbally, or somebody pulling a headscarf or what have you, it is now taking that extra step and I think that extra step is what has started worrying and frightening people.

'There are very senseless acts of insanity taking place, which can only fuel anger and hate.

'We can't hide away from what happened in Manchester, what happened around the country and the recent Tube incident. That will fuel hatred and anger.

'People need to know there are Muslims like myself. I've worked hard, I'm a surgeon, I treat people. I have a wonderful community. My colleagues at work respect me and value my contribution.

'I don't think I can see anybody more integrated than I am. I get invited to sit on services in the synagogue, service on Remembrance Sunday, I'm always in the church at All Saints.

'I'm sure people don't get to see that, all they get to see is those crackpots.'

Mr Kurdy said Muslims at the Islamic Centre were now frightened and security will be reviewed.

The centre has suffered a brick through its windows, graffiti and a rubbish bin set alight in the past.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said: 'This is a very nasty and unprovoked attack against a much-loved local man.'

Dr Anis, who was with his friend moments after the attack, said: 'It could have been very, very serious.

'He said he noticed someone cross the road and then somebody just attacked him from behind.

'There were definitely abusive comments made - obviously he was in shock at the time, he had just been stabbed so the detail of those comments I don't know but there were definitely abusive comments made by the attackers at the door of the mosque.

'We understand it was a knife - he is very lucky. It's obviously out of the blue, it's shocked the whole community.

'It's not just a criminal act against the Muslim community or one individual, it's the people living in Altrincham, I think we all feel that.

'The fact they attacked an orthopaedic consultant who devoted his life to helping others is really quite poignant.'

Officers arrived at the Altrincham Islamic Centre after Dr Kurdy was stabbed in the neck on Sunday

Police confirmed they are treating the incident as a hate crime and said they have made two arrests

Councillor Western tweeted: 'Shocked and saddened to hear of stabbing of Dr Nasser Kurdy outside Altrincham mosque. Thoughts with him and his family.'

Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, Miqdaad Versi, added: 'Muslim orthopaedic surgeon stabbed in neck outside Altrincham Mosque. Reports that perpetrator (now arrested) made anti-Muslim comments.'

A spokesman for the Altrincham Islamic Centre told the Manchester Evening News: 'Nothing like this has ever happened before and it does not reflect the community.

'In my experience community relations are very good and it is a very safe area; it is shocking for all of us.

'I would like to invite anybody to come to talk to us and if they harbour any ill will then to come and find out more about us.

'My message to the congregation is to not be deterred from coming here.

'One thing that our scripture tells us is to repel evil with kindness.'

They told the paper: 'He is a lovely guy, very gentle, loved by the community Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

'He needs stitches and will be kept in hospital overnight, he is incredibly lucky.

'This incident has really shaken us.'

Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: 'Officers have arrested two people after a hate crime in Hale.

'At around 5.50pm on Sunday 24 September 2017 police were called to reports that a man had been stabbed outside the Islamic Cultural Centre, Grove Lane.

'Emergency services attended and a man in his 60s has been taken to hospital with a stab wound to the back of his neck.

'Two men aged 54 and 32 were arrested nearby in connection with the incident and remain in custody for questioning.

'Officers are treating this as a hate crime and are appealing for people with information to come forward.'

Dr Kurdy treated victims of the Manchester bomb attack earlier this year. Pictured are doctors and emergency treating the injured after the terrorist incident

Police arrested two men aged 54 and 32 in connection with the incident and remain in custody for questioning

The imam was stabbed outside Altrincham Islamic Centre (pictured) on Sunday and police have now launched an investigation

Greater Manchester Police rushed to the scene (pictured) after Dr Kurdy was stabbed in the neck

GMP's Detective Inspector Ben Cottam, said: 'As with any investigation, our primary concern is for the victim and, thanks to the quick response from our colleagues in the ambulance service, he is currently receiving treatment for his injuries.

'He was attacked in broad daylight as he made his way to the mosque and while we are yet to gather all the evidence, we can be sure that there is no place for hate crime on our streets and we will do all that we can to take action against those who jeopardise the safety of others.

'We have two people in custody who were arrested a short time after the call came in but need people who witnessed the attack or those who have information to contact us.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1646 of 24/09/17 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Chuka Umunna (pictured) has been the MP for Streatham since 2010

Are moderate Labour MPs, denied a voice on the conference platform, now wooing donors to build up a war chest to fund a break-away political party?

I ask only because the latest Register of MPs' interests reveals some intriguing donations made to the office of Chuka Umunna, an ex-shadow business secretary.

Many frustrated Labour MPs believe he is best placed to deliver them from the political wilderness.

The register shows that Umunna received 25,000 from Sir Victor Blank, the former chairman of Lloyds TSB, who has been a generous supporter of Labour in the past. He gave 150,000 in the run-up to the 2015 election when Red Ed Miliband was leader.

Umunna was also handed 15,000 by property tycoon Sir David Garrard, who gave around 700,000 to Labour  before Corbyn was leader. And he's garnered 5,000 from Lord Myners, the former M&S chairman who was City minister under Gordon Brown.

The MP for Streatham since 2010, Umunna ran  briefly  for the Labour leadership in 2015. He withdrew citing a desire to protect his private life from scrutiny.

In public he insists he's loyal to Labour, telling the New Statesman: 'I'm quite tribal about this. The only way you're going to have progress in this country is through the Labour Party.'

But he's more estranged than ever from the leadership after tabling a rebel amendment in June to the Queen's Speech on Brexit which would keep Britain in the single market should the Prime Minister fail to negotiate a deal.

Forty-nine Labour MPs, including four frontbenchers  who were later sacked by Comrade Corbyn  backed it.

Umunna will not be forgiven by the Corbynistas, which is why he might just be tempted to jump ship.

Corbyn's fan club!

Sitting side by side at the Labour conference were the shadow home secretary Diane Abbott and Laura Alvarez, who is Jeremy Corbyn's third wife.

Abbott and Mrs Corbyn, who imports fair trade coffee from her native Mexico, are bonded not just by their Left-wing beliefs.

Abbott became Corbyn's lover after discussing socialism over cups of tea and tins of cold baked beans in the Seventies. Teetotal Corbyn's pet cat, named Harold Wilson after the former Labour Prime Minister, kept them company. The lovers later took a motorbike holiday to East Germany, led at the time by hardline communist Erich Honecker.

'Their politics were probably not dissimilar,' says one veteran Labour MP tartly.

Sitting side by side at the Labour conference were the shadow home secretary Diane Abbott and Laura Alvarez, who is Jeremy Corbyn's third wife (pictured)

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry was cheered for saying: 'Labour can and will do things differently . . . Our mission must be to put Labour values at the heart of the world order.'

One architect of her speech was Gordon Brown's old spin doctor, Damian McBride, sacked after being exposed for inventing smears against Tory MPs. So much for Labour values. . .

Trotskyist former Newsnight reporter Paul Mason, who's perfectly at home with the Corbynistas, is giddy with the far-Left conference rhetoric. 'It's a breath of fresh air and reminds me of 1980,' he said. Just 17 years until a Labour government, then.

Former shadow cabinet member Michael Dugher, who quit in despair at Jezza's fantasy politics, mocked union paymaster Len McCluskey after he claimed it was Labour wot really won the General Election.

'Rumours that Labour MPs sit on the opposition benches & that Jeremy doesn't live at No 10 are FAKE NEWS,' Dugher tweeted.

Steering clear of dreary Keir

As Sir Keir Starmer was boring delegates with his lacklustre Brexit speech, a man he sent to prison was doing a roaring trade in the conference bookshop.

Starmer was Director of Public Prosecutions when Labour MP and former Europe Minister, Denis MacShane, was charged with fiddling 12,900 in parliamentary expenses. In November 2013, he was sentenced to six months (and served six weeks).

MacShane, who never benefited personally, used the money to fund EU research trips.

He was in the bookshop signing copies of his new book Brexit, No Exit. They were flying off the shelves.
Police charged Lonnie Belt with the murder of five-year-old James Spoonamore (pictured)

A Kentucky man allegedly murdered a five-year-old boy by throwing him off a cliff because he thought the child's stepfather had stolen $200 from him.

Lonnie Belt, 41, thought James Spoonamore's stepfather David Durham had stolen the cash from him, according to Kentucky State Police detective Charles Brandenburg who testified, Monday, during a preliminary hearing in Jackson County District Court.

Durham has denied the accusation.

Belt is also accused of throwing Spoonamore's mother, Jessica Durham, over the cliff on September 9. She is still recovering at a Lexington hospital.

According to Bradenburg's testimony, Belt had planned to hold the two hostage until the money was paid.

Durham survived the fall off the 80ft cliff and was found by two hikers who alerted police, prompting a two-day search that ended on September 11 when the boy's body was discovered near where his mother was left for dead.

Belt is also charged with kidnapping and tampering with evidence. He is accused of assaulting Spoonamore's mother Jessica Durham who was found at the bottom of an 80-foot cliff by two hikers Saturday

Detectives said that Belt beat the 28-year-old on the back of the head with a metal object before throwing her off the cliff.

Brandenburg added that Belt said during questioning that he killed the boy for being a witness.

It's unclear if Belt has an attorney. According to the Washington Post, Belt and Jessica Durham were not romantically involved.

Belt is charged with the murdering the boy and also faces charges of assault, kidnapping and tampering with evidence.

More than 200 people searched for the boy on Saturday and Sunday. He was found about 180 feet off the road in Jackson County, about 65 miles southeast of Lexington

Video courtesy of WYMT

More than 200 people took part in a search which involved police dogs, aircraft from the National Guard and lots of volunteers. Sanders said authorities found the boy at 9.31am on September 11 about 180 feet off the road in Jackson County, about 65 miles southeast of Lexington.

The news was devastating for Durham and her family, which includes some relatives in Florida who were enduring Hurricane Irma while authorities were searching for the boy.

'Honestly, it's been hell. That's the only way to describe it,' said Mary Batson, Durham's sister.

Cynthia Wallace, Durham's mother and the boy's grandmother, said she is still without power at her home near Winter Haven, Florida.

She described James as a sweet boy who loved playing with cars and trucks and being in the water. He recently started kindergarten, and Wallace said she enjoyed looking at photos Durham sent her of the boy's first day at school.

'He was so happy, he loved school and he even wanted to go on the weekends,' Wallace said. 'It's hard. It hurts. I just went through a hurricane and all of this here on top of me, I'm just hurt.'
Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) was facing a row about the intimidation of the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg

Labour was branded the 'new nasty party' last night after an outbreak of intimidation and anti-Semitism at its annual conference.

Jeremy Corbyn was urged to act after activists applauded panellists at a fringe meeting who likened supporters of Israel to Nazis.

One speaker even suggested Labour should be free to debate whether the Holocaust had happened.

Mr Corbyn was also facing a row about intimidation of Laura Kuenssberg. The BBC's political editor has been given a bodyguard following threats from Left-wingers at the conference.

A Labour shadow minister yesterday claimed using an ex-soldier for protection was a 'ploy' to demonise hardliners.

Chris Williamson, who is a close ally of Mr Corbyn, refused to say whether party members who abused Miss Kuenssberg should be expelled.

And he questioned whether anyone in Labour was involved, saying: 'People join the Labour Party because they are caring individuals. They are not the sort of people that indulge in intimidation and violence.'

But Andrew Percy, a former Tory minister who has also been the target of anti-Semitic abuse, last night described Labour as the 'new nasty party'.

He said Labour appeared to be in the grip of a 'frightening' cult. 'What we are seeing is really dangerous,' he added. 'The idea that the political editor of the BBC would need a bodyguard to attend the conference of the official opposition should appal all decent people in politics.

'The kind of anti-Semitic abuse we are seeing is also something that has not been part of our political system until the past couple of years.

'There is a cult of personality around Jeremy Corbyn that will not allow any questioning of him or his views.

Mr Corbyn (pictured with Emily Thornberry in Brighton) was urged to act after activists applauded panellists at a fringe meeting who likened supporters of Israel to Nazis

'It is deeply sinister, nasty and quite frightening. These people are genuinely extreme.' Sheryll Murray, a Tory MP who had swastikas daubed on her general election posters, said: 'From what we've seen today at the Labour conference, it feels like things are getting worse rather than better.

'I worry it's putting good people off from working in politics. It's hardly the kinder, gentler politics that Jeremy Corbyn promised.'

Yesterday's events horrified moderate Labour MPs. Former deputy leader Harriet Harman urged Mr Corbyn to condemn the abuse of Miss Kuenssberg. In a message on Twitter she said: 'Is this from the Left? If it is, it's even worse as the Left is supposed to be for equality and women's rights and online trolls is about silencing women.'

Fellow Labour MP Jess Phillips said: 'Let's clean up our act please. Women's safety is the reason we champion the Uber action for example. Let's walk the walk.'

Senior Labour MPs last night urged Mr Corbyn to take action against rising anti-Semitism in the party.

John Cryer, who is chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, said some social media postings from supporters were 'redolent of the 1930s' and 'made your hair stand on end'. Labour denies building a personality cult around Mr Corbyn.

But criticism of the party leader is so frowned on that senior figures yesterday refused to accept he had even lost the general election.

Senior Labour MPs last night urged Mr Corbyn to take action against rising anti-Semitism in the party

Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite trade union, yesterday rounded on 'traitors' in the party, telling cheering activists at the Brighton conference: 'Let me say this to those merchants of doom, the whingers and the whiners who say we should have done better, we didn't win. I say we did win.'

Cat Smith, a member of the Shadow Cabinet and close ally of Mr Corbyn, said: 'We didn't win the general election, but we didn't lose the general election either.'

Mr Corbyn has previously faced criticism for failing to deal with anti-Semitism  including failure to expel former London mayor and ex-Labour MP Ken Livingstone for claiming that Adolf Hitler supported Zionism.

A Labour spokesman last night said Mr Corbyn was now tightening up the rules on those who make anti-Semitic comments.

He said the party 'condemns anti-Semitism in the strongest possible terms' and 'will not tolerate Holocaust denial'.

Corbynistas' applause for vile anti-Semitic rants amid calls to expel Jewish group

By Daniel Martin, Policy Editor for the Daily Mail

Pro-Corbyn activists applauded speakers who delivered vile anti-Semitic rants at the Labour conference yesterday.

Delegates at a fringe event demanded the expulsion of the Jewish Labour Movement from the party for supporting the state of Israel.

One compared 'Zionists' to the Nazis and claimed it was part of free speech to be able to ask the question: 'Holocaust: yes or no.'

Pro-Corbyn activists applauded speakers who delivered vile anti-Semitic rants at the Labour conference yesterday

The event, which took place outside the main Labour conference venue but was listed in its official handbook, was titled: 'Free speech on Israel: why we oppose the witch hunt.'

Several attendees said claims of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party were part of a plot by the pro-Israel lobby and the Labour right to stop Jeremy Corbyn from becoming prime minister. And some spoke up in favour of former London mayor Ken Livingstone who remains suspended from the party for claiming that Hitler supported Zionism.

The statements exposed that anti-Semitism is still a big problem in Mr Corbyn's party more than a year after he pledged to get to grips with the issue. It came as:

 A leaflet was circulated at the conference from 'Labour Party Marxists' discussing the 'commonality between Zionists and Nazis' and quoting Reinhard Heydrich, the architect of the Final Solution, saying 'National Socialists had no intention of attacking Jewish people'.

'Legal loan shark' backs lending talk Labour was last night accused by its own MPs of letting a 'legal loan shark' to sponsor a lending event at the party's conference. The talk was hosted by Amigo Loans, which charges interest rates of about 50 per cent  about twice that of a typical credit card. Applicants must provide a guarantor, such as a family member, meaning the firm can offer loans to people with terrible credit records who are saddled with debt. Consumer champion Martin Lewis has said the adverts describing its loans as affordable have left him feeling 'slightly sick'. Labour MP Stella Creasy, who called for a crackdown on lending to the vulnerable, said she refused an invitation to the event. She said: 'I can't believe this firm has the gall to run a meeting at the Labour conference on credit scoring and responsible lending.' Fellow Labour MP Wes Streeting said delegates should be under no illusions over the 'exploitative business practices'. But Tory MP Charlie Elphicke said the move 'smacks of rank hypocrisy' by Labour. Amigo said the session was to help consumers with low credit scores. Advertisement

 The chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, John Cryer, said he had seen tweets from party members which made his hair stand on end and were 'redolent of the 1930s'.

 Another Labour MP, Wes Streeting, criticised Mr Corbyn, saying there were 'too many people in our party, including at the top of the party, who have adopted an ostrich strategy' on anti-Semitism.

 Fellow MP John Mann said 200 Labour members had forwarded him links to a US white supremacist site to back up Mr Livingstone's claims about Zionism;

 The Holocaust Educational Trust suggested that in the two years since Mr Corbyn was elected there was a 'fertile ground' for people to express such views.

 Analysis released last night by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism found the problem is worse in Labour than any other party. The group looked at 4million social media posts of 2,000 parliamentary candidates and found that 61 per cent of anti-Semitic posts were written by Labour candidates  eight times higher than any other party.

The controversial meeting on 'free speech on Israel' was chaired by Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, who said there was a 'vicious campaign that's been directed at the Palestinian cause, misusing anti-Semitic allegations'. Although described as a free speech event audience members were told not to record it or tweet.

Miko Peled, an Israeli-American who sat on the panel, said 'they'  an apparent reference to Israel or the pro-Israel lobby  did not want Mr Corbyn to enter Number 10. 'This is about free speech, the freedom to criticise and to discuss every issue, whether it's the Holocaust: yes or no, Palestine, the liberation, the whole spectrum. There should be no limits on the discussion.'

He added: 'It's about the limits of tolerance: we don't invite the Nazis and give them an hour to explain why they are right; we do not invite apartheid South Africa racists to explain why apartheid was good for the blacks, and in the same way we do not invite Zionists  it's a very similar kind of thing.'

Michael Kalmanovitz, from the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, was applauded for calling from the audience for the expulsion from Labour of the Jewish Labour Movement and the Labour Friends of Israel.

A Labour spokesman said: 'Labour condemns anti-Semitism in the strongest terms. We will not tolerate anti-Semitism or Holocaust denial.'
Former Dukes of Hazzard star Tom Wopats legal troubles continue to mount.

The actor, who pleaded not guilty last month to grabbing the buttocks of a woman during a local production of 42nd Street, is now being accused of poking a 16-year-old girl co-star in her stomach with his finger on the set of the same play, it was reported on Monday.

Wopat was arrested in Massachusetts on August 2 by police and charged with indecent assault after he allegedly put his finger between a womans butt cheeks.

Two weeks later, police interviewed the second alleged victim, who says he did the same to her, TMZ reported.

Actor Tom Wopat's (pictured in court last month in Massachusetts) legal troubles continue to mount. The actor, who pleaded not guilty last month to grabbing the buttocks of a woman, is now being accused of poking a 16-year-old girl co-star in her stomach with his finger

Authorities also charged Wopat with possession of cocaine.

The 65-year-old actor, who played Luke Duke in the television series, has denied the allegations.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Wopat told the young co-star: Im a creepy old man, youre really talented and really cute.

The teenager told police that she ignored his advances, which made her uncomfortable.

Shortly after the comment, she alleges that he took a copy of the script and whacked her in the butt.

Wopat then allegedly took his finger and touched her midriff, which was exposed because she was wearing a cropped top.

The actor was told by an adult on-set: Dont flirt with this girl, shes only 16.

The girl claims that Wopat replied to him: Dont worry because my wife is 17 years younger than me so Im good.

Wopat pleaded not guilty last month to forcibly sticking his finger up the buttocks of a female on the set of his play. The actor's rep said Wopat is seeking help for substance abuse, though he has denied the allegations of assault

Authorities are now charging him with an additional count of indecent assault and battery.

Wopat will also be charged with accosting and annoying a person of the opposite sex.

After his arrest last month, the actor said he would take time to address his ongoing struggle with substance abuse.

A statement issued by his rep on read: 'Mr. Wopat will be taking personal time to address his ongoing struggle with substance abuse.

'Tom definitely understands that sobriety is the sole course for a successful future and will take immediate steps to achieve it.'

The actor apologized to all those affected by the incident but still 'firmly denies' the allegations of inappropriate touching.

'Mr. Wopat urges everyone to keep in mind that these are allegations; he's alleged to have improperly touched an adult female performer during rehearsal in the presence of the entire cast and directing staff,' his rep. said.

'Tom has faith that the truth will be revealed and his good name will be restored.'

The statement also hinted at 'death and illness in the family' combined with the 'intensity of his recent schedule' contributed to the misstep.

The 65-year-old Tony Award-nominated actor played Luke Duke on the 1980s television show The Dukes of Hazzard.

The 65-year-old Tony Award-nominated actor played Luke Duke on the 1980s television show The Dukes of Hazzard

Wopat was supposed to play Julian Marsh in 42nd Street at the Waltham-based Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston but has been replaced since he was alleged to have inappropriately touched the woman July 23.

According to the police report, on July 23 during rehearsals, Wopat walked behind a woman on set.

She claims she felt his hand grab her butt and felt his fingers go between her butt cheeks.

Wopat was released on $1,000 bail and was told to stay away from the woman.

Police said they searched him and his vehicle and found two bags of white powder believed to be cocaine.

He told police he buys cocaine 'in large quantities and uses it over time,' the court documents said.
A spy satellite atop an Atlas V rocket blasted off on a classified mission Saturday night from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

US officials have not revealed what the spacecraft will be doing or what its orbit will be.

Some have suggested it will use sensors to gather data on an enemy's electronic defence network, including radars, surface-to-air missile systems and aircraft.

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A spy satellite atop an Atlas V rocket blasted off on a classified mission Saturday night from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. US officials have not revealed what the spacecraft will be doing or what its orbit will be

SPY SATELLITES US officials have not revealed what the spacecraft will be doing or what its orbit will be. Very little is known about the function these particular eyes in the sky perform, but spy satellites can provide a range of services. These include missile early warning, nuclear explosion detection, photo surveillance, electronic-reconnaissance and radar imaging. Some have suggested its purpose will be to gather electronic signals intelligence, which uses electronic sensors to gather data. Advertisement

All systems were going well when a webcast of the launch of the NROL-42 satellite concluded about three minutes into the flight, which took place on Saturday, September 23.

NROL-42 is the latest in a secretive fleet of craft constructed and operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NR0).

Very little is known about the function these particular eyes in the sky perform, but spy satellites can provide a range of services.

These include missile early warning, nuclear explosion detection, photo surveillance, electronic-reconnaissance and radar imaging.

In a prelaunch statement Air Force colonel Gregory Wood, 30th Space Wing vice commander at Vandenberg, said: This launch is the culmination of many months of work by United Launch Alliance, the National Reconnaissance Office and the 30th Space Wing.

'All of Team Vandenberg is dedicated to mission success and proud to play a part in delivering these capabilities to our nation.'

The launch was conducted by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

It took place at the base's Space Launch Complex-3 at 10.49 pm PDT (1.49 am ET / 6.25 am BST September 24).

Speaking after the launch Laura Maginnis, ULA vice president of government satellite launch added:'Congratulations to the entire team for overcoming multiple challenges throughout this launch campaign.

'From Hurricane Irma schedule impacts to replacing to a first stage battery this week  the team maintained a clear focus on mission success.

NROL-42 marks the 25th ULA-launched NRO mission.

It is part of a wider campaign by the United States to ensure their dominance in space.

Part of that effort is the X-37B orbital test vehicle programme, which has seen unmanned space drones launched into orbit.

Some have suggested the satellite's purpose will be to gather electronic signals intelligence, which uses electronic sensors to gather data

The Mobile Service Tower at Vandenberg Air Force Bases Space Launch Complex-3 in before the launch of the Atlas V rocket (left). The moment of the launch on Saturday, with the rocket carrying the NROL-42 satellite into orbit (right)

Earlier this month, the US Air Force announced it was launching a robotic mini-shuttle from Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for the first time.

The Orbital Test Vehicle-5 mission lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on September 7.

Four previous X-37B missions have been launched by United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rockets.
Red admirals have had a record summer despite wet weather conditions causing problems for other butterflies, conservationists have said.

Results from the Big Butterfly Count show the striking red admirals saw numbers rise by 75per cent compared to 2016.

More than 73,000 were spotted by the public during the three-week survey.

It is the highest number since the citizen science count began in 2010, and as many as were counted in the last three years put together, the scheme's organisers Butterfly Conservation said.

More than 73,000 Red Admiral butterflies were spotted by participants in Big Butterfly Count, an increase of 75% on 2016

The boom in numbers saw it come second in the overall rankings for most commonly seen butterflies, behind the gatekeeper which also saw its numbers up 24 per cent on 2016.

Other widespread butterflies did well this year, including the comma which saw numbers rise 90 per cent on last year's count, and the small copper saw a 62 per cent increase.

But the UK's common white butterflies all declined by more than a third on last year's numbers, making it one of the worst years for the three species.

Overall people taking part in the Big Butterfly Count saw the lowest number of butterflies per count since the scheme began, with an average of just 11 individuals.

A mild winter and warm spring meant some species emerged earlier than normal so that some were past their peak by the time of the summer count and the wet summer.

But red admirals were helped by the mild winter and warm spring, which followed a good year in 2016 for the species.

Red admirals used to be just a summer visitor which migrated from warmer parts of Europe in the spring and summer, but while many still migrate, many now overwinter in the UK.

Other widespread butterflies did well this year, including the comma, pictured, which saw numbers rise 90 per cent on last year's count

This year red admirals which had overwintered in the UK and fresh immigrants arriving in the spring enjoyed an early and successful breeding season, leading to a big summer brood.

Butterfly Conservation's head of recording Richard Fox said: 'It hasn't been a vintage summer for butterflies, but there have been some real positives.

'The flurry of red admirals on buddleia bushes; vivid golden commas holding territories along the hedgerows; and beautiful flecks of blue and orange among the long grass as common blues and small coppers made the most of the sunshine before the next shower.'

He added: 'Above all, the highlight of Big Butterfly Count 2017 has been the huge number of people that have got involved, spent time enjoying and counting our native butterflies and moths and done something useful and important in the face of so much wildlife decline.'

The count's results help Butterfly Conservation find out how common UK species are faring, against a background of long term declines for three quarters of British butterflies, and how best to help them in the future.
Alexander the Great's 'lost city' was a magical place where people drank wine and naked philosophers imparted wisdom, ancient accounts claim.

Now, nearly 2,000 years after the great warrior's death, archaeologists believe the city may have finally been discovered in Iraq.

Experts first noticed ancient remains in the Iraqi settlement, known as Qalatga Darband, after looking at declassified American spy footage from the 1960s.

The images were made public in 1996 but, due to political instability, archaeologists were unable to explore the site properly for years.

Now, using more recent drone footage and on-site work, researchers have established there was a city during the first and second centuries BC, which had strong Greek and Roman influences.

They believe Alexander the Great founded it in 331 BC, and later settled in the city with 3,000 veterans of his campaigns.

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Nearly 2,000 years after Alexander the Great's death, archaeologists believe his 'lost city' has been found in Iraq's Qalatga Darband. Shown here is the Darband-i Rania pass from the northeast. The site of Qalatga Darband is the triangular land beyond the bridge on the right

WHO WAS ALEXANDER THE GREAT? Alexander the Great is arguably one of history's most successful military commanders. Undefeated in battle, he had carved out a vast empire stretching from Macedonia and Greece in Europe, to Persia, Egypt and even parts of northern India by the time of his death aged 32. Only five barely intact accounts of his death at Babylon in 323 BCE survive to the present day. None are from eyewitnesses and all conflict to varying degrees. According to one account from the Roman era, Alexander died leaving his kingdom 'to the strongest' or 'most worthy' of his generals. In another version, he died speechless in a coma, without making any plans for succession. Advertisement

Undefeated in battle, Alexander had carved out a vast empire stretching from Macedonia and Greece in Europe, to Persia, Egypt and even parts of northern India by the time of his death aged 32.

Researchers believe Qalatga Darband - which roughly translates from Kurdish as castle of the mountain pass - is on the route Alexander of Macedon took to attack Darius III of Persia in 331 BC.

The city may have served as an important meeting point between East and West.

It is 6 miles (10km) south-east of Rania in Sulaimaniya province in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Researchers at the British Museum first explored the site using spy footage of the area from the 1960s.

An archaeological dig was not possible when Saddam Hussein controlled Iraq.

But more recently improved security has allowed the British Museum to explore the site as a way of training Iraqis to rescue areas damaged by Islamic State.

As well as on-site work, the Museum has also been able to capture its own drone footage of the area.

'We got coverage of all the site using the drone in the spring  analysing crop marks hasn't been done at all in Mesopotamian archaeology', lead archaeologist John MacGinnis told The Times.

'It's early days, but we think it would have been a bustling city on a road from Iraq to Iran.

'You can imagine people supplying wine to soldiers passing through', he said.

'Where there are walls underground the wheat and barley don't grow so well, so there are colour differences in the crop growth'.

A graphic of what the 'lost city' would have looked like, with a temple, inner fort and wine press facilities. Farmers in the area had found remains of big buildings and a large fortified wall in the area

Researchers first noticed apparently ancient remains in the Iraqi settlement, known as Qalatga Darband (pictured) after looking at declassified American spy footage from the 1960s. However, an archaeological dig was not possible when Saddam Hussein controlled Iraq

From the excavation work, they discovered an abundance of terracotta roof tiles and Greek and Roman statues, suggesting the city's early residents were Alexanders subjects.

Among the statues they found was a female figure believed to be Persephone, the Greek goddess of vegetation, and the other is believed to be Adonis, a symbol of fertility.

They also discovered a coin of Orodes II, who was king of the Parthian from 57 BC to 37 BC.

On its western flank, the city was protected by a large fortification which ran from the river to the mountain.

It is situated on a large open site around 60 hectares (148 acres) large on a natural terrace.

The 1960s Corona spy satellite footage showed a large square building, potentially believed to be a fort, according to aBritish Museum blog.

More recently improved security has allowed the British Museum to explore the site as a way of training Iraqis to rescue areas damaged by Islamic State. The findings suggest, Qalatga Darband, may be on the route Alexander the Great took to attack Darius III of Persia in 331 BC

An abundance of terracotta roof tiles and Greek and Roman statues suggests the city, which now has a thriving wine trade, could have been created by Alexander. Statue of a nude male (left) which could possibly be Adonis and a Coin of Orodes II (right)

WHAT DID THEY DO? There were rumours there was an ancient city at the site three years previously and farmers had found remains of big buildings and a large fortified wall. Experts processed their drone footage and increased the colour contrasts to show rectangular buildings hidden beneath fields of crops. An abundance of terracotta roof tiles and Greek and Roman statues also suggests the city, which now has a thriving wine trade, could have been created by Alexander. They found two key statues - one a female figure believed to be Persephone, the Green goddess of vegetation, and the other is believed to be Adonis, a symbol of fertility. Advertisement

Farmers in the area had also found remains of big buildings and a large fortified wall.

There were a number of limestone blocks, believed to be wine or oil presses.

Meanwhile, excavation of a mound at the southern end of the site revealed a monument which could have been a temple for worship.

Fieldwork started in the autumn of 2016 and is expected to last until 2020.

The project, which was part of the government-funded Iraq Emergency Heritage Management Training Programme, has been possible due to improved security in the country.

It is part of a 30 million ($40 million) government plan to help Iraq rebuild historical sites destroyed by Islamic State.

This fund is designed to counter the destruction of heritage in cultural zones from Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The programme involves bringing groups of Iraqi archaeologists to London for eight weeks of training at the British Museum.

They are then sent to excavations in the field for six additional weeks where they learn how to do drone surveys and 3D scanning.

Archaeologists at the British Museum have found a number of statues and coins and have established there was a city during the first and second centuries BC which had strong Greek and Roman influences

Archaeologists also found terracotta roof tiles, such as this antefix (pictured) - which suggested Greek and Roman influences

Experts believe Qalatga Darband is on the route Alexander the Great (pictured) took to attack Darius III of Persia in 331 BC

Qalatga Darband is six miles (10km) south-east of Rania in Sulaimaniya province in Iraqi Kurdistan, just next to Dukan Lake. Using drone footage, experts have now established there was a city during the first and second centuries BC

CULTURAL PROTECTION FUND The project, which was part of the government-funded Iraq Emergency Heritage Management Training Programme, has been possible due to improved security in the country. It is part of a 30 million ($40 million) government plan to help Iraq rebuild historical sites destroyed by Islamic State. This fund is designed to counter the destruction of cultural heritage in cultural zones from Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The training programme involves bringing groups of Iraqi archaeologists to London for eight weeks of training at the British Museum. They are then sent to excavations in the field for six additional weeks where thy will learn how to do drone surveys and 3D scanning. The plan is to provide training for more than 50 Iraqis over a period of five years. Advertisement

The team now want to find linguistic evidence to confirm their findings.

Earlier this year archaeologists believe they found the last will and testament of Alexander the Great - more than 2,000 years after his death.

A London-based expert David Grant claimed to have unearthed the Macedonian king's dying wishes in an ancient text that has been 'hiding in plain sight' for centuries.

The long-dismissed last will divulged Alexander's plans for the future of the Greek-Persian empire he ruled.

It also reveals his burial wishes and discloses the beneficiaries to his vast fortune and power.

Evidence for the lost will can be found in an ancient manuscript known as the 'Alexander Romance', a book of fables covering Alexander's mythical exploits.

Likely compiled during the century after Alexander's death, the fables contain invaluable historical fragments about Alexander's campaigns in the Persian Empire.
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South Korea's presidential Blue House said Monday that the country had consulted with the United States in advance on the flight of U.S. strategic bombers and fighter escorts in the international airspace last weekend near the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

A Blue House official told local reporters that President Moon Jae-in was briefed on consultations on the flights on a real-time basis during his stay in New York last week, saying the close consultation between South Korea and the United States was reported to President Moon.

B-1B strategic bombers from the U.S. Pacific island of Guam and F-15C fighter escorts from Okinawa, Japan flew in the international airspace over the waters off the east coast of the DPRK Saturday night, according to media reports.

It was an apparent show of force to the DPRK as the war of words was resumed between Pyongyang and Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump said in his debut speech to the United Nations that his country would have no choice but to "totally destroy" the DPRK if Pyongyang continues to threaten the United States and its allies.

The Blue House official was quoted as saying that the flight operation of U.S. bombers and fighter jets were closely consulted on by South Korea and the United States in advance, and that it was conducted in close cooperation, which means an agreement between the two sides.

President Moon made a four-day trip to New York last week to attend the UN General Assembly and held summit meetings with Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

After coming back to South Korea, Moon on Sunday convened a National Security Council (NSC) meeting attended by ministers of foreign affairs, defense and unification as well as key presidential secretaries and spy agency chief.
The first colonists on the moon and Mars could live in underground caves created by volcanic activity, according to new research.

The caves - known as lava tubes - would provide a natural shelter from cosmic radiation and meteorite strikes for astronauts who set up colonies on our nearest celestial neighbours in the future.

Experts hope the research will help the European Space Agency to realise its dreams of an initial lunar base in 2030, which could house 'thousands' of colonists by 2050.

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Lava tubes, underground caves created by volcanic activity, could provide protected spaces large enough to house streets or even towns on the moon and Mars. Astronauts from the European Space Agency explore one such 'lava tube' in Lanzarote in 2016

HOW DO LAVA TUBES FORM? Lava tubes can form in two ways. 'Overcrusted' tubes form when thinner lava flows fairly close to the surface, developing a hard crust that thickens to create a roof above the moving lava stream. When the eruptions end, the channel created by the lava is drained leaving a tunnel a few metres beneath the surface. 'Inflated' tubes are complex and deep structures that form when lava is injected into existing fissures between layers of rock or cavities from previous flows. The lava expands and leaves a huge network of connected galleries as it forces its way to the surface. Advertisement

Two separate teams of researchers have been working on ways to exploit these lava tubes.

They are found in many volcanic areas on Earth, including Lanzarote, Hawaii, Iceland, North Queensland in Australia, Sicily and the Galapagos islands.

Previous research identified the potential for the underground networks of tubes, which can stretch up to 40 miles (65 kilometres), as habitats for future space dwellers.

Researchers from the University of Padova and the University of Bologna carried out the first comparison of lava tube locations here on Earth with those on the moon and Mars.

To do so, they used high-resolution Digital Terrain Models created using data from spacecraft instrumentation.

Their model shows the tunnels that are revealed by collapses or meteorite strikes.

The tunnels, such as this example in Lanzarote, would provide a natural shelter from cosmic radiation and meteorite strikes for colonists

But a next generation of space craft, under development by scientists at the University of Trento, could penetrate the surface using radar to find the location of previously hidden lava tube tunnels.

RESEARCH ON EARTH The work done by the Italian team is already being used in the European Space Agency's astronaut training programme. They lead a planetary geology training course called Pangaea for the European Space Agency's astronauts and engineers. The Pangaea project has included a field trip and a test campaign in lava tubes in the Canary Island. This familiarises the astronauts with geological research they could carry out during future missions to the moon or Mars, as well as to test technical and operational systems. In particular, Pangaea has focused on using laser technologies to characterise the Corona lava tube, an eight kilometre (five mile) long tunnel on Lanzarote. Advertisement

Both teams' findings were presented at the European Planetary Science Congress, held in Riga, Latvia, from September 17 to 22.

Dr Riccardo Pozzobon, from the University of Padova, said: 'The comparison of terrestrial, lunar and martian examples shows that, as you might expect, gravity has a big effect on the size of lava tubes.

'On Earth, they can be up to 30 metres (100 feet) across.

'In the lower gravity environment of Mars, we see evidence for lava tubes that are 250 metres (820 feet) in width.

'On the moon, these tunnels could be a kilometre (0.6 miles) or more across and many hundreds of kilometres in length.

'They are potentially large enough for quite significant human settlements  you could fit most of the historic city centre of Riga into a lunar lava tube.'

'These results have important implications for habitability and human exploration of the moon but also for the search of extraterrestrial life on Mars.

Lava tubes can form in two ways.

'Overcrusted' tubes form when thinner lava flows fairly close to the surface, developing a hard crust that thickens to create a roof above the moving lava stream.

When the eruptions end, the channel created by the lava is drained leaving a tunnel a few metres beneath the surface.

'Inflated' tubes are complex and deep structures that form when lava is injected into existing fissures between layers of rock or cavities from previous flows.

The work done by the Italian team is already being used in the European Space Agency's astronaut training programme to familiarise them with geological research they could carry out during future missions to the Moon or Mars

The lava expands and leaves a huge network of connected galleries as it forces its way to the surface.

Conventional remote sensing instruments cannot detect and characterise the lava tubes, as they cannot acquire measurements beneath the surface.

But Leonardo Carrer and colleagues at the University of Trento have developed a concept for a radar system specifically designed to detect lava tubes on the moon from orbit.

The radar probes beneath the lunar surface with low frequency electromagnetic waves and measures the reflected signals.

Next generation orbital space craft could use radar to locate these tunnels, created under the surface of these celestial bodies early in their formation, hidden under the surface of the moon

Experts currently use high-resolution Digital Terrain Models created from data from spacecraft instrumentation. They model tunnels that are revealed by collapses or meteorite strikes, as in this Nasa image

This instrument could determine accurately the physical composition, size and shape of the caves and obtain a global map of their location.

Dr Carrer said: 'The studies we have developed show that a multi- frequency sounding system is the best option for detecting lava tubes of very different dimensions.

'The electromagnetic simulations show that lava tubes have unique electromagnetic signatures, which can be detected from orbit irrespective of their orientation to the radar movement direction.

'Therefore, a mission carrying this instrument would enable a crucial step towards finding safe habitats on the moon for human colonisation.'
Last month, nearly a dozen army contractors took to the desert in New Mexico to test a range of new technologies to take down enemy drones.

While some of the tests were successful, Pentagon officials have warned that many of the technologies are 'still immature' and require 'further development.'

In response, the Pentagon has launched a $700 million (517 million) cash programme to combat ISIS' lethal fleet of drones.

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The Pentagon has launched a $700 million (517 million) cash programme to combat ISIS' lethal fleet of drones. Pictured is one of the ISIS drones that was recently captured

THE $700 MILLION PROGRAMME ISIS is increasingly using drones on the battlefield, and the Pentagon hopes that the new cash programme will help to combat these weapons. Some of the $700 million (517 million) will go towards other events such as the one at White Sands Missile Range, where large contactors will take on smaller speciality technology companies, in testing new technologies. Contestants are being told to develop technologies that can defeat drones with a 'fly-swatter approach,' according to the New York Times. Advertisement

ISIS is increasingly using drones on the battlefield, and the Pentagon hopes that the new cash programme will help to combat these weapons.

The tests last month at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico saw firms including Lockheed Martin and Boeing test technologies including laser guns and high-tech nets to take down enemy drones.

Lockheed Martin's approach was a laser weapon system called 'Athena' that can deliver an invisible killing blow to take down an enemy drone.

Athena is a ground-based system that can be mounted atop tanks and other vehicles.

But, one day, it could even be installed on military planes, helicopters, and ships.

Last month's tests saw Athena up against five Outlaw unmanned drones, each with a 10.8-foot wingspan.

Using its advanced beam control technology and fiber laser, it managed to take down all five in an invisible attack from below.

'The tests at White Sands against aerial targets validated our lethality models and replicated the results we've seen against static targets at our own test range,' said Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin's Chief Technology Officer.

LOCKHEED MARTIN'S LASER Lockheed Martin's laser is a beam combined fiber laser, meaning it brings together individual lasers, created through fiber optics, to generate a single, intense laser beam. This allows for a scalable laser system that can be made more powerful by adding more fiber laser subunits. Athena uses Lockheed Martin's company's 30-kW Accelerated Laser Demonstration Initiative (ALADIN). It's powered by a compact Rolls-Royce turbo generator. Army bosses hope the radical weapon will give protection against threats such as swarms of drones or large numbers of rockets and mortars. Advertisement

'As we mature the technology behind laser weapon systems, we're making the entire system more effective and moving closer to a laser weapon that will provide greater protection to our warfighters by taking on more sophisticated threats from a lower range.'

But while Lockheed Martin's test went well, the results weren't all positive.

Speaking to the New York Times, a spokesperson from the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organisation said: 'Threat targets were very resilient against damage.

'Bottom line: Most technologies still immature.'

The spokesperson added that some of the technology will need 'adjustments and further development.'

Some of the $700 million (517 million) will go towards other events such as the one at White Sands Missile Range, where large contactors will take on smaller speciality technology companies, in testing new technologies.

The tests last month saw firms test technologies including laser guns and high-tech nets to take down enemy drones. Lockheed Martin's approach was a laser weapon system called 'Athena' (pictured) that can deliver an invisible killing blow to take down an enemy drone

The hair-raising footage of Lockheed Martin's test shows the moment flames burst from the tails of the flying drones one by one before they plummet toward the ground, as the silent attack causes both loss of control and structural failure

Contestants are being told to develop technologies that can defeat drones with a 'fly-swatter approach,' according to the New York Times.

Earlier this year, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) revealed its plans to buy and test 600 'Skynet' anti-drone rounds from AMTEC Less Lethal Systems (ALS), according to The Drive.

These 12 gauge shotgun shells release a five foot net to trap the drone's propellers causing it to fall from the sky.

And, the shells can be fired from standard Remington Model 870 shotguns.

The move came as a result of the Department of Defense (DoD) tasking the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell (JRAC) 'to provide a solution to counter an immediate unmanned aerial system (UAS) threat to vital national assets,' according to the 'Justification and Approval' document.

The US Air Force is getting a new weapon to take down devious commercial drones. Called Skynet, these anti-drone 12 gauge shotgun shells release a five foot net to trap the drone's propellers causing it to fall from the sky

WHAT IS SKYNET? The US Air Force has contracted AMTEC Less Lethal Systems to use their technology to take down drowns. Skynet is a 12 gauge anti-drone round designed to be rapidly deployed against commercially available drones being utilized for illegal purposes. The Air Force are able to shoot the shells from standard Remington Model 870 shotguns. However, for the cartridge to function properly, shooters will first need to install a 'choke tube' to the gun's muzzle  this is the only way to rotate Skynet once it is released. Upon firing through a choke barrel, the five tethered segments separate with centrifugal force and create a five foot wide capture net to effectively trap the drones propellers causing it to fail. Advertisement

As well as launching the $700 million (517 million) programme, the Pentagon has also sent drone experts to Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria to help train US troops.

Some of the drones used by ISIS are as small as model airplanes, meaning they're extremely hard to detect.

J.D. Johnson, head of Army programmes for Raytheon, told the New York Times: 'These things are really small and hard to detect, and if they swarm in groups, they can overload our ability to knock them all down.

'The threat is very resilient and well-resourced, and we have to be looking one or two moves ahead to defeat it.'

Current technologies used to combat ISIS drones include an array of jammers, cannons and other devices to disrupt, disable or destroy the enemy weapons.
Britain's new digital train signalling system could be attacked by cyber criminals, an expert has warned.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling last week unveiled plans to install digital signalling on the line between Manchester and York to try to increase capacity and reliability.

However, a cyber security expert has warned criminals could potentially gain access to the system and interfere with signalling and train tracking.

This could cause mayhem on the UK's rail network, and increases the risk of high-speed collisions.

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A cyber security expert has warned criminals could potentially gain access to the system and interfere with signalling and train tracking (stock image)

WHAT COULD HAPPEN? Dr Alexeis Garcia-Perez warned if cyber criminals tried to gain unauthorised access to location, train tracking, signalling or other rail infrastructure data from the digitally-controlled trains it could compromise the safety of passengers, staff and the community. He said the cyber security challenges ahead must be fully considered. He said a cross-industry approach to the secure capture, communication, storage and processing of railway data is important. Advertisement

Digital train signalling enables trains to run closer together and is already used on the London Underground.

But Dr Alexeis Garcia-Perez, a reader in Cyber Security Management at the University of Coventry, said the cyber security challenges ahead must be fully considered.

He said if cyber criminals tried to gain unauthorised access to location, train tracking, signalling or other rail infrastructure data from the digitally-controlled trains, it could compromise the safety of passengers, staff and the community.

'A coherent, cross-industry strategy and a robust and realistic delivery plan are essential so that challenges associated to the use of data for the management of signalling and traffic are fully considered for the safety of railway passengers, staff and communities in general.

'Such challenges are related not only to the required railway infrastructure but to large-scale data collection and management and the resulting cyber-security risks', said Dr Garcia-Perez.

Mr Grayling has allocated 5 million ($6.75 million) of funding to Network Rail to develop plans for installing digital signalling on the line between Manchester and York in a bid to increase capacity and reliability.

This will come from a 450 million ($607 million) fund for digital railway development announced in the Autumn Statement last year.

The technology enables trains to run closer together and is already used on the London Underground (stock image)

DIGITAL SIGNALLING Transport Secretary Chris Grayling last week unveiled plans to install digital signalling on the line between Manchester and York to try to increase capacity and reliability. The technology enables trains to run closer together and is already used on the London Underground. Mr Grayling has allocated 5 million ($6.75 million) of funding to Network Rail to develop plans for installing digital signalling on the line between Manchester and York in a bid to increase capacity and reliability. This will come from a 450 million ($607 million) fund for digital railway development announced in the Autumn Statement last year. Advertisement

'Running digitally controlled trains is a significant milestone in the journey towards a digital railway in the UK', said Dr Garcia-Perez.

'It could bring substantial benefits to both passengers and the rail network.

'A cross-industry approach to the secure capture, communication, storage and processing of railway data is important, so that the risk of intentional attempts to bypass the security controls of any railway information system by cyber criminals is minimised during the operation of digitally controlled trains.'

The Transport Secretary sparked anger in July by supporting a new 30 billion ($40 billion) Crossrail 2 scheme in London and the South East days after a series of rail electrification projects in Wales, the Midlands and the North were axed or downgraded.

But speaking in Manchester  which hosts the Conservative Party Conference from October 1  Mr Grayling claimed he is committed to electrification where it benefits passengers.

A spokesperson from Network Rail said: 'Britain has the safest major railway in Europe and cyber security is a key part of our plan for introducing digital train control technology.

'Safety is our top priority, which is why we work closely with government, the security services, our partners and suppliers in the rail industry and security specialists to combat cyber threats.'
It looked like the giant panda was bouncing back from being 'endangered'

But despite growing numbers, the bear's natural habitat is 'shrinking and becoming more fragmented' due to roads and other infrastructure, warns new research.

The study shows that the creature's habitat still covers less area and is more fragmented than when it was first listed as an endangered species in 1988.

Scientists have discovered the average size of habitat patches for giant pandas has decreased by 23 per cent from 1976 to 2001.

Habitat loss is believed to be one of the most serious threats to future survival of the animal.

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While numbers of the iconic giant panda have increased recently, the study shows that the species' habitat still covers less area and is more fragmented than when it was first listed as an endangered species in 1988

PANDA HABITATS While numbers of the iconic giant panda have increased recently, the study shows that the species' habitat still covers less area and is more fragmented than when it was first listed as an endangered species in 1988. The research team used satellite imagery to examine changes across the panda's entire geographic range from 1976 to 2013. Banning commercial logging in natural forests, establishing nature reserves and helping residents in the reserve change behaviours that damaged habitat has been beneficial, researchers said. But conservation is a dynamic process with humans and nature in a constant push and pull to survive and thrive, so new solutions always are in demand, they said. Advertisement

Animal groups hailed the recovery of the bamboo-munching, black-and-white bear that has long been a symbol of China and the global conservation movement.

'The International Union for Conservation of Nature has recently changed the status of the giant panda from 'endangered' to the less threatened 'vulnerable'', according to Professor Stuart Pimm, of Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment.

'This was based on the increasing numbers, which are a very encouraging sign, of course.

'But what my colleagues and I wanted to know was how the panda's habitat has changed over the last four decades, because the extent and connectivity of a species' habitat is also a major factor in determining its risk of extinction.'

The research team used satellite imagery to examine changes across the panda's entire geographic range from 1976 to 2013.

Study co-leader Weihua Xu, of the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: 'We found complex changes.

'Habitat decreased nearly five per cent from 1976 to 2001, but has increased since.

'However, the average size of the habitat patches decreased by 23 per cent from 1976 to 2001. It has increased only slightly since.'

Study co-author Jianguo Liu, of Michigan State University who began studying the human and natural forces driving habitat loss in the panda's habitat in 1996, noted that some of the changes that have occurred in the region are encouraging.

Professor Liu said: 'Banning commercial logging in natural forests, establishing nature reserves and helping residents in the reserve change behaviours that damaged habitat has been beneficial.

Other changes, though highly beneficial to the region's human population, present challenges from a conservation standpoint, according to the researchers (stock image)

'But conservation is a dynamic process with humans and nature in a constant push and pull to survive and thrive, so new solutions always are in demand.'

Other changes, though highly beneficial to the region's human population, present challenges from a conservation standpoint, according to the researchers.

Professor Pimm said: 'The most obvious changes in this region since Professor Liu and his colleague Professor Zhiyun Ouyang first visited it together in 2001 have been the increase and improvement in roads and other infrastructure.

'These have been the major factor in fragmenting the habitat. There was nearly three times the density of roads in 2013 than in 1976.'

Experts suggest one of the most important solutions will be establishing protected corridors through which pandas can move to prevent their isolation into small and unsustainable populations.

With average global temperatures climbing, scientists expect the animal's habitat and main source or food - bamboo forests - to shrink in the coming decades in response to the shifting climate.
Less than two years after the project began, the highest capacity subsea cable ever to stretch across the Atlantic Ocean is complete.

The system, developed through the collaboration of Microsoft, Facebook, and telecommunication infrastructure firm Telxius can transmit 160 terabits of data per second  or, the equivalent of streaming 71 million high-definition videos at once.

Its now expected to begin operations in early 2018, connecting Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Bilbao, Spain across 4,000-miles of fiber optic cables.

The 4,000-mile cable runs from Bilbao, Spain, to Virginia Beach, as illustrated above. It can transmit 160 terabits of data per second. That's 16 million times faster than the average home internet connection

THE 'MAREA' CABLE The cable is initially designed to carry 160 terabits of data per second. This is around 16 million times the bandwidth of your home internet connection. It aim to meet growing demand for high-speed cloud and online services. The 4,100 mile (6,600 km) cable will be the first to connect the US with southern Europe. It will be operated and managed by Telefonica SA's telecoms infrastructure unit Telxius. Construction began in August 2016 and finished in September 2017, ahead of the targeted completion scheduled for October 2017. Typically, companies like Microsoft and Facebook join larger consortiums of technology companies to create cables. The latest move means that the two technology giants can sell their excess capacity to third parties. Advertisement

Marea comes at a critical time, said Brad Smith, president of Microsoft.

Submarine cables in the Atlantic already carry 55 percent more data than trans-Pacific routes and 40 percent more data than between the US and Latin America.

There is no question that the demand for data flows across the Atlantic will continue to increase and Marea will provide a critical connection for the United States, Spain, and beyond.

Representatives from Facebook and Microsoft joined with Virginia's governor and two senators in Williamsburg to celebrate the cable's completion on Friday morning.

The 4,000-mile cable runs from Bilbao, Spain, to Virginia Beach.

It can transmit 160 terabits of data per second.

That's 16 million times faster than the average home internet connection.

Put another way, it could stream 71 million high-definition videos at once.

The cable is named Marea, which is Spanish for 'tide.'

It's a joint project between Microsoft, Facebook and global telecommunication company Telxius.

Microsoft and Facebook revealed their plans to build the massive cable back in May 2016. Construction then began in August 2016

The system, developed through the collaboration of Microsoft, Facebook, and telecommunication infrastructure firm Telxius can transmit 160 terabits of data per second  or, the equivalent of streaming 71 million high-definition videos at once

The cable will help to meet growing demand for internet infrastructure across the globe.

It will also make the network more reliable.

Everyone expects that whenever they turn on their computer or their tablet or their phone, theyre going to work, said Frank Rey, director of global network strategy for Microsofts Cloud Infrastructure and Operations division.

Thats what this cable is going to help enable.

'Taking a step to improve the resiliency of the internet infrastructure was something we saw as a positive for the entire global network, and a positive for people who rely on their digital devices for so many aspects of their daily lives.

The cable is named Marea, which is Spanish for 'tide.' It's a joint project between Microsoft, Facebook and global telecommunication company Telxius

The cable will help to meet growing demand for internet infrastructure across the globe. It will also make the network more reliable

Microsoft and Facebook revealed their plans to build the massive cable back in May 2016.

Construction began in August, and was initially expected to be completed in October 2017.

But, Marea appears to have been finished a bit ahead of schedule.

The 4,100 mile (6,600 km) cable, the first to connect the US with southern Europe, will be operated and managed by Telefonica SA's telecoms infrastructure unit Telxius.

It will be the highest-capacity subsea cable to ever cross the Atlantic, running from the data hub of Northern Virginia to Bilbao, Spain and then to network hubs in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Its now expected to become operation in early 2018, connecting Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Bilbao, Spain across 4,000-miles of fiber optic cables

'[It will meet] growing global demand for our more than 200 cloud services, including Bing, Office 365, Skype, Xbox Live and the Microsoft Azure platform,' said Christian Belady, General Manager, Datacenter Strategy, Planning & Development, Microsoft Corp.

'The MAREA transatlantic cable we're building with Facebook and Telxius will provide new, low-latency connectivity that will help meet the increasing demand for higher-speed capacity across the Atlantic.'

The move comes nearly four years after Google, which is now Alphabet, agreed with five Asian companies to invest about $300 million to develop and operate a trans-Pacific cable network connecting the US to Japan.
High-tech weapons that the Secret Service is not trained to cope with pose a grave threat to the White House, a former agent has warned.

Swarms of weaponized drones or even 3D printed plastic guns could be used to launch unforeseen attacks on the president, according to Dan Bongino, author of Protecting the President.

While drones have long been on their radar, recent technological developments could allow for spectacular swarm attacks that exploit the agencys ground-based approach, the Washington Examiner reports.

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High-tech weapons that the Secret Service is not trained to cope with pose a grave threat to the White House, a former agent has warned. One of ISIS's recently captured drones is pictured above

PENTAGON LAUNCHES $700 MILLION DRONE-FIGHTING PROGRAM ISIS is increasingly using drones on the battlefield, and the Pentagon hopes that the new cash programme will help to combat these weapons. Some of the $700 million (517 million) will go towards other events such as the one at White Sands Missile Range, where large contactors will take on smaller speciality technology companies, in testing new technologies. Contestants are being told to develop technologies that can defeat drones with a 'fly-swatter approach,' according to the New York Times. Advertisement

This threat is grave, Bongino told the Washington Examiner.

According to Bongino, the Secret Service is largely trained to stop ground attacks, meaning airborne threats create additional security complications.

And, 3D printed guns may not be detected by traditional magnetometers, he warned.

The warning comes as Pentagon officials say many of the current drone-fighting technologies are 'still immature' and require 'further development.'

Just last month, nearly a dozen army contractors took to the desert in New Mexico to test a range of new technologies to take down enemy drones.

But, the officials say there is much work to still be done.

In response, the Pentagon has launched a $700 million (517 million) cash programme to combat ISIS ' lethal fleet of drones.

Lockheed Martin released footage last week from tests with its laser weapon system, revealing how Athena can deliver an invisible killing blow to take down an enemy drone.

In the tests conducted last month at New Mexicos White Sands Missile Range, the prototype weapon successfully shot down five unmanned Outlaw aircraft.

The hair-raising footage shows the moment flames burst from the tails of the flying drones one by one before they plummet toward the ground, as the silent attack causes both loss of control and structural failure.

Lockheed Martin released footage from tests with its laser weapon system, revealing how Athena can deliver an invisible killing blow to take down an enemy drone. In the tests, the prototype weapon successfully shot down five unmanned Outlaw aircraft

LOCKHEED MARTIN'S LASER Lockheed Martin's laser is a beam combined fiber laser, meaning it brings together individual lasers, created through fiber optics, to generate a single, intense laser beam. This allows for a scalable laser system that can be made more powerful by adding more fiber laser subunits. Athena uses Lockheed Martin's company's 30-kW Accelerated Laser Demonstration Initiative (ALADIN). It's powered by a compact Rolls-Royce turbo generator. Army bosses hope the radical weapon will give protection against threats such as swarms of drones or large numbers of rockets and mortars. Advertisement

Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command conducted the tests in August, using the 30-kilowatt class Advanced Test High Energy Asset (Athena) system.

Athena is a ground-based system that can be mounted atop tanks and other vehicles.

But, one day, it could even be installed on military planes, helicopters, and ships.

Last months tests saw Athena up against five Outlaw unmanned drones, each with a 10.8-foot wingspan.

Using its advanced beam control technology and fiber laser, it managed to take down all five in an invisible attack from below.

The tests at White Sands against aerial targets validated our lethality models and replicated the results weve seen against static targets at our own test range, said Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martins Chief Technology Officer.

As we mature the technology behind laser weapon systems, were making the entire system more effective and moving closer to a laser weapon that will provide greater protection to our warfighters by taking on more sophisticated threats from a lower range.

Athena uses Lockheed Martins company's 30-kilowatt Accelerated Laser Demonstration Initiative (ALADIN) to optimize efficiency and lethality, according to the firm.

The hair-raising footage shows the moment flames burst from the tails of the flying drones one by one before they plummet toward the ground, as the silent attack causes both loss of control and structural failure

This also allows the system to be scaled up to higher power levels.

Its powered by a compact Rolls-Royce turbo generator.

Back in 2015, the company used the 30kW fiber laser weapon to disable a truck from a mile away.

And, this past March, Lockheed Martin completed the design, development and demonstration of a radical 60 kW laser weapon for the U.S. Army.

In testing earlier that month, the Lockheed Martin laser produced a single beam of 58 kW, representing a world record for a laser of this type.

Last months tests saw Athena up against five Outlaw unmanned drones, each with a 10.8-foot wingspan. Using its advanced beam control technology and fiber laser, it managed to take down all five in an invisible attack from below

Athena uses Lockheed Martins company's 30-kilowatt Accelerated Laser Demonstration Initiative (ALADIN) to optimize efficiency and lethality, according to the firm

Army bosses hope the radical weapon will give protection against threats such as swarms of drones or large numbers of rockets and mortars.

Lockheed Martin began shipping the laser to the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command in Huntsville, Alabama for more testing in March.

And in June, the US Army revealed it successfully hit an unmanned target using a high-powered laser mounted on a Apache AH-64 helicopter.

The demonstration was the first time a laser was 'fired on a target from a rotary-wing aircraft over a wide variety of flight regimes, altitudes and air speeds,' the company said.
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It is currently a region in flux.

But, long before the referendum caused Catalonia to make the headlines, the northeastern Spanish spot enjoyed much simpler times - as a rare collection of stunning images have proved, this week.

Unearthed ahead of the much-publicised independence vote, which is set to happen on 1 October, a collection of postcards from the 1980s and beyond depict a more sedate era.

The twelve snapshots - which have been colourised for greater detail - illustrate the famous Spanish pastime of bull fighting in Barcelona, the region's biggest city, and the majestic landscape of the Fachada de la Catedral between 1890 and 1906.

Another exposes the elaborate architecture of Arco de Triunfo y Palacio, while one shows tourists gathering in the Plaza de la Paz.

Barcelona is one of the four provinces of Catalonia; an autonomous community of Spain. The four provinces consist of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona.

Destination point: Tourists flock to Plaza de la Paz in Barcelona, many of whom travel by horse and cart

Iconic: The stunning Arco de Triunfo y Palacio de Justicia stands tall in Barcelona

A bygone era: The sparsely-populated beach in San Sebastion

Still life: A man works in the road near Principal gate, Fuentarrabia, in Spain's popular Basque Country

Famous pastime: Crowds are entertained by a ferocious bull fight in Barcelona

Historic: Fachada de la Catedral (left) and Calle Mayor, Fuenterrabia, as they were back in the day

Timely: The images have been unearthed ahead of the much-publicised independence vote on 1 October

As it was: A snapshot of everyday life in Bilbao, the largest city in the province of Biscay and the Basque Country as a whole

Picturesque: Seamen gather at the harbor of San Sebastion in the 1890s

Sail away: A view from the Hendaye, Fuenterrabia, shows a collection of fishing boats and sea workers
'Some of this flight might be intense, but trust your guide and be brave. The words of warning came from Dr Jackie Ogden as our group gathered in the Link Chamber of the Pandora Conservation Initiative.

We had already been through the Genetic Matching Room and been decontaminated for micro-parasites, and were now on the final sequence of instructions before being let loose on the alien planet.

With the final message of Rise to the challenge! we were swooping off across the otherworldly terrain and lush foliage of Pandora on the back of a Mountain Banshee, the gigantic dragon-like beast from Alpha Centauri that eats people for breakfast.

Pandora: The World Of Avatar at the Disney Animal Kingdom

Fortunately, all this excitement was purely man-made. Or, we should say, Disney-made. Because we were in the Animal Kingdom theme park in the heart of Walt Disney World, Orlando.

Pandora: The World Of Avatar is the latest attraction built by the House of Mouse  with the help of film-maker James Cameron  in its vast Florida resort. It has taken seven years.

While some Disney die-hards doubted such an obvious film franchise being shoe-horned into this most naturalistic of parks, the end result is a 12-acre immersive environment so packed with features and special effects it would take pages to list them all.

It starts with the Floating Mountains that seemingly hover over the area  gigantic, 156ft-tall rockworks complete with vegetation, creatures and waterfalls  and continues through a jungle-like panorama of immense complexity, studded with the bioluminescent plants from the 2009 movie that are recreated in painstaking detail, including examples that react to touch and movement using specially developed sensors.

Cleverly hidden among the alien terrain  which mixes artificial plants with real ones from Hawaii and Africa  are two contrasting rides that take the story of Avatar into the future, 100 years after the war between Earths Resource Development Administration and the indigenous Navi people.

Avatar: The smash-hit film that inspired Disney

The Navi River Journey is a meandering boat ride through the Pandoran jungle, using a mix of animatronics and screen projections to create a realistic series of encounters with the flora, fauna and people, taking an eco-friendly approach highlighting conservation principles and real-world issues such as habitat destruction.

TRAVEL FACTS Virgin Holidays (virginholidays.co.uk, 0344 739 0025) offers seven nights in Orlando from 1,089pp, including return flights from Gatwick to Orlando, room-only accommodation at Disneys All Star Music Resort and car hire. It also includes Disneys Seven Day Ultimate Ticket with Memory Maker. Attraction Tickets Direct (attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk) also offers tickets. Advertisement

Then, Avatar Flight Of Passage kicks things up several notches with the aforementioned simulator ride in the company of Dr Ogden. Sitting astride a kind of stationary bike (and equipped with 3-D glasses), riders seemingly dive, twist and turn in through a long whirl over Pandora, taking in the sights and sounds that made the film such a visual extravaganza.

There also ought to be a special award for the Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse with its neon blue and yellow hues. If there is such a thing as alien-looking food, this is it.

The final word, though, deserves to come from Disneys Zsolt Hormay: We had to use a lot of experts to help us with the technology. It needed a lot of different skills. It melds art and engineering. It is like finishing a painting, only in three dimensions  and with a lot of engineering.

lit up: The glowing World Of Avatar comes to life at night

jungle jaunt: Water snails in the Avatar park. Inset below: The film that inspired Disney

INSPIRATION: A scene from the 2009 film Avatar

Disney spent seven years recreating the incredible land of Avatar, so now try...
Life goes on for Fergie and her son.

The Black Eyed Peas songstress, 42, showed off a video Sunday documenting her night out with son Axl Jack, four, in the wake of announcing her separation from Josh Duhamel, following eight years of marriage, earlier this month.

'Date night with Axl Jack seeing @aladdin,' the Grammy-winner tweeted from backstage at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City, as she and her son attended the Broadway musical adaptation of the Disney classic.

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Big night out! Fergie, 42, showed off her four-year-old son's Axl Jack big night out on Broadway as he rummaged through the golden treasures backstage at the Aladdin musical. The tot posed with Major Attaway, the entertainer who plays the role of The Genie

She included a clip in which she and her son rummaged through the golden props backstage at the musical.

In one adorable instance, Axl rubbed on the genie's magic lamp, even using both hands at one point. At the end of the clip, Axl got his wish, as the performer playing The Genie, Major Attaway, posed alongside him.

The tot - who participates on her new track Enchante (Carine), which is heard playing in the clip - was dressed in a black puffy jacket with black pants.

The multi-platinum artist recently called Axl 'the literal sun I revolve around' in a chat with People as she promotes Double Dutchess, her first solo record in more than 10 years, which also features collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and YG.

She also featured Axl in her video for the track A Little Work, a casting decision she said was unplanned and organic.

Fun time: Axl smiles as he played with a genie's lamp backstage at the production

Early start: Fergie features her four-year-old son on her on her new track Enchante (Carine), from her latest album Double Dutchess

'It was just really natural,' the I Gotta Feeling performer said. 'We had planned to just film it whether he wanted to come or not - I just missed my son and wanted him to come to set!'

She said that the decision to include Axl was contingent on his mood when the clip was filmed at a church.

'I was like, "Well, we can walk out of the church with him or not, depending on what mood Axl is in. If hes crying and he doesnt want to do it, then we wont do it!"' she told the publication.

Magical memories: Axl looked to be having a wonderful time at the musical with his mom

All that glitters: The singer showed off the opulent props incorporated into the Broadway musical

'But he was completely into it, we just made it like a play date. We play all the time at home in several costumes per day, so for us it was just another activity.'

The songstress and Duhamel, 44 - best known for his roles in the Transformers films - announced in a statement to the publication earlier this month they 'decided to separate as a couple earlier this year' and did so 'with absolute love and respect.

'To give our family the best opportunity to adjust, we wanted to keep this a private matter before sharing it with the public,' the duo said. 'We are and will always be united in our support of each other and our family.'
She's currently trying to find love on dating series The Bachelorette.

And according to reports by New Idea magazine, Sophie Monk has proved rather difficult, making diva demands on set.

An insider reportedly told the publication the 37-year-old 'needed cigarette breaks all the time,' delaying production and costing thousands.

'She needed cigarette breaks all the time': Magazine claims The Bachelorette's Sophie Monk, 37, made diva demands on set of dating reality series, delaying production

'A spy on set' told New Idea: 'Sophie needed cigarette breaks all the time and it really caused a lot of issues with the crew.

'Filming ended up being weeks behind where it should be, and that cost thousands,' the source reportedly went on to say.

The magazine also claimed that the former Bardot songstress felt she did not have enough airtime, after her own spin-off show, and smitten with 'millionaire' contestant Jarrod Woodgate.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Network Ten for comment.

'A spy on set' told New Idea: 'Sophie needed cigarette breaks all the time and it really caused a lot of issues with the crew. 'Filming ended up being weeks behind where it should be, and that cost thousands,' the source reportedly went on to say

Reports: The magazine also claimed that the former Bardot songstress felt she did not have enough airtime, after her own spin-off show, and smitten with 'millionaire' contestant Jarrod Woodgate (pictured)

This is not the first time reports have emerged of Sophie's alleged diva demands.

In May this year, Woman's Day claimed that the model's antics had 'producers freaking out.'

The publication reported that Sophie required the biggest pay cheque, an on-call assistant and elaborate meals, and more.

Any truth? This is not the first time reports have emerged of Sophie's alleged diva demands. In May this year, Woman's Day claimed that the model's antics got 'producers freaking out'

'Producers are freaking out,' an insider reportedly told the publication at the time, going on to say: 'She has demanded her own personal runner to be on hand solely to deliver her special meals.'

Woman's Day went on to list the radio personality's extensive list of requests, including regular smoke breaks and an on-call assistant.

The Bachelorette Australia airs on Network Ten at 7.30pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Reports suggested: 'Producers are freaking out,' an insider reportedly told the publication at the time, going on to say: 'She has demanded her own personal runner to be on hand solely to deliver her special meals'
She's better known in recent years for her appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, Rip Off Britain and Loose Women.

But Gloria Hunniford, 77, has revealed the serious side to her lengthy broadcasting career when she described the moment she was discovered she was on an IRA hitlist.

The TV and radio presenter received the shocking news after recording various messages for her radio show, Ulster Calling, from families to British troops sent to serve in Northern Ireland during the sectarian violence in the 1970s.

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Death threats: Gloria Hunniford, 77, has revealed the serious side to her lengthy broadcasting career when she described the moment she was told she was on an IRA hitlist

Gloria, who went on to have a popular show on Radio 2 where she struck up a close friendship with late star Sir Terry Wogan, described the moment she and her a co-presenter were told the staggering news in her candid new autobiography called My Life, serialised in The Mirror.

She wrote: 'I was stunned. We just sat there, staring blankly at each other. Then the brigadier said: "We quite understand if you want to stop doing the programme  we dont want you to be in danger."'

Despite having three young children with her then husband, Don Keating, Gloria decided she was in no more danger at that moment than when she first started work on the programme in 1969 - and that if she showed fear she would be giving in to terrorism.

Wanted: Gloria (pictured in 1981) received the shocking news after recording various messages for her radio show, Ulster Calling, from families to British troops sent to serve in Northern Ireland during the sectarian violence in the 1970s

Stellar: Gloria, whose success in broadcasting led to close friendships with Sir Terry Wogan (left) and Sir Cliff Richard (right), described the moment in a candid new autobiography, My Life

She wrote: 'It was still shocking to hear your name was on a terrorist hit list, but I was determined to carry on. If you let the fear get to you, life would close down. You can't let terrorists win.'

Gloria survived a car bomb that shook the radio studio she was in and had to learn to check her own car for trip bombs before she drove anywhere.

But she said perhaps her most terrifying scare came after she moved to London, when she had death threats while doing her Radio 2 lunchtime show after the Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings of 20 July 1982.

Ballroom fun: In 2005, Hunniford appeared in the third series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. She was eliminated from the competition with Darren Bennett in the third week

Panelist: Gloria is known in recent years for appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, Rip Off Britain and Loose Women (above, with Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan and Janet Street-Porter)

She wrote: 'I was live on air and we were linking to hourly news bulletins but then I'd carry on playing music, which felt odd. Unbeknown to me, threats were coming in saying, 'Get that Irish b***h off the air or we will."'

The Loose Women panellist persevered through the Troubles - as well as through the heartbreak of losing her daughter, former Blue Peter presenter Caron Keating, to breast cancer in 2004 - and has been awarded an OBE in recognition of her contribution to the broadcast industry.

Gloria, who is now married to Stephen Way, was born in Portadown, County Amagh, into a Protestant family.

She was the presenter of Good Evening Ulster and on the ITV Network Sunday Sunday before joining Rip Off Britain in 2010.
Jennifer Garner brought along her eldest child, daughter Violet, to the local farmer's market near their Brentwood mansion on Sunday.

The 45-year-old Golden Globe winner - who relies on stylist duo Jill Lincoln and Jordan Johnson - dressed her 5ft8in figure in a grey T-shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers.

Meanwhile, the Wakefield actress' 11-year-old princess opted for a summery white tank top, pink-patterned shorts, and white Ipanema flip-flops for their outing.

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Just the two of us: Jennifer Garner brought along her eldest child, daughter Violet, to the local farmer's market near their Brentwood mansion on Sunday

Little Violet clearly inherited Jennifer's famous dimpled grin, among other affable traits.

It's no wonder Garner shopped for fresh greens and fruits having announced she co-founded Once Upon a Farm a little more than a week ago on Instagram.

The Houston-born Texan's company sells squeezable, cold-pressed baby food that's advertised as 'organic, non-gmo, and made with healthy fats.'

Missing from the mother-daughter bonding was Jennifer's younger children - Seraphina, 8; and Samuel, 5 - with second estranged husband Ben Affleck.

All-American: The 45-year-old Golden Globe winner - who relies on stylist duo Jill Lincoln and Jordan Johnson - dressed her 5ft8in figure in a grey T-shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers

Natural blonde: Meanwhile, the Wakefield actress' 11-year-old princess opted for a summery white tank top, pink-patterned shorts, and white Ipanema flip-flops for their outing

Mini me: Little Violet clearly inherited Jennifer's famous dimpled grin, among other affable traits

Yum! It's no wonder Garner shopped for fresh greens and fruits having announced she co-founded Once Upon a Farm a little more than a week ago

Mompreneur: The Houston-born Texan's company sells squeezable, cold-pressed baby food that's advertised as 'organic, non-gmo, and made with healthy fats'

Family fun: Missing from the mother-daughter bonding was Jennifer's younger children - Seraphina, 8; and Samuel, 5 - with second estranged husband Ben Affleck

The two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker recently went public with his SNL-producing girlfriend, Lindsay Shookus, at the Emmy Awards.

At 45, the Accountant actor is eight years older than the blonde Emmy winner, and neither of them are technically divorced from their respective spouses.

Jen and Ben - who separated in 2015 - requested joint legal and physical custody of their three children, but they're still negotiating a financial settlement, according to TMZ.

The Daredevil co-stars' announcement came a month after Affleck revealed he'd completed his second stint in rehab for alcohol abuse.

Eight-year age difference: The two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker recently went public with his SNL-producing girlfriend, Lindsay Shookus, at the Emmy Awards (pictured September 17)

Amicable: Jen and Ben - who separated in 2015 - requested joint legal and physical custody of their three children, but they're still negotiating a financial settlement

On Thursday, Garner shared a touching tribute to her father William in honor of his birthday on social media.

'My dad's birthday = the 21st night of September = #earthwindandfireday,' the Save the Children trustee and ambassador - who boasts 1.2M followers - wrote on Instagram.

'We always knew you were the coolest, Dad! Happy Birthday!'

In one shot, the former f Pi Beta Phi sorority sister could be seen wearing a grey sweatshirt from her alma mater, Denison University in Ohio.

Short hair! On Thursday, Garner shared a touching tribute to her father William in honor of his birthday on social media

The Save the Children trustee (2-L) wrote on Instagram: 'My dad's birthday = the 21st night of September = #earthwindandfireday We always knew you were the coolest, Dad!'

College years: In one shot, the former f Pi Beta Phi sorority sister could be seen wearing a grey sweatshirt from her alma mater, Denison University in Ohio

Acting: Jennifer also shared a behind-the-scenes on set snap of the retired Union Carbide chemical engineer starring in Capital One commercial with her last November

Jennifer also shared a behind-the-scenes on set snap of the retired Union Carbide chemical engineer starring in Capital One commercial with her last November.

Bill even got to utter the credit card company's tagline as his 'middle child' embraced him.

Garner will next attend the October 6 world premiere of her movie, The Tribes of Palos Verdes, at the Hamptons International Film Festival.

The Planned Parenthood activist plays wife and mother Sandy in IFC Films' coming-of-age surf drama - hitting US theaters December 1 - alongside Alicia Silverstone, Maika Monroe, and Justin Kirk.

In costume: Garner will next attend the October 6 world premiere of her movie, The Tribes of Palos Verdes, at the Hamptons International Film Festival (pictured in 2016)
The Block is a solid fan favourite, with the latest series proving a ratings success.

And while fans undoubtedly can't get enough of the drama on the show, Woman's Day reported on Monday that a lot more goes on behind the scenes.

In addition to contestants dobbing in their rivals, making their opponents cry and accusations of stealing, cheating and bullying, there have also been death threats, interactions with police and tension between the competing couples claims the magazine.

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Frenzied: While fans undoubtedly can't get enough of the drama on The Block, Woman's Day reported on Monday a lot more goes on behind the scenes

The publication states that Jason has been the subject of death threats on social media.

'It's sad what some people say, but we're doing our best to not listen,' his wife Sarah is quoted as saying.

The controversial reality star was also recently asked by Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic what it was like to be 'hated' after the show's 'kitchen-gate scandal.'

'It's sad what some people say, but we're doing our best to not listen,' his wife Sarah reportedly said about the public negativity the couple has faced

According to the report, security issues on the set of the renovation series have been 'rife.'

'A neighbour last week claimed to Woman's Day that police had been called over a mystery incident,' the article read.

Aspiring contestant Elyse Knowles allegedly acknowledged she was afraid of staying overnight in her apartment with boyfriend Josh due to fear of 'creeps.'

Worried: Aspiring contestant Elyse Knowles allegedly acknowledged she was afraid of staying overnight in her apartment with boyfriend Josh due to fear of 'creeps'

'If you were dressed in tradie gear you could walk in. It's quite brutal. There are so many creeps in this world,' she reportedly stated.

The 24-year-old's relationship with Josh is allegedly on the rocks due to the competitive pressure of the show.

Fans on social media have taken to encouraging the model to leave her boyfriend, writing: 'Girl you are too much of a beautiful person to deal with someone like him.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Nine Network for further comment.

Challenging: The 24-year-old's relationship with Josh is allegedly on the rocks due to the competitive pressure of the show
Benicio del Toro is lending his celebrity status to help the people of Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

In a video recorded for People on Sunday, the 50-year-old Puerto Rico-born actor urged the community to dig deep for his devastated homeland.

'I want to read a little excerpt of a message from a family member, one of the 3.5 American citizens that experienced the devastation of Hurricane Maria from the island of Puerto Rico,' he began.

Helping out: Benicio del Toro is lending his celebrity status to help the people of Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria, appealing to fans to donate in a video

'Saturday, September 23, 2017. Three days after Hurricane Maria crossed through the island. Finally the sun came out today and for the first time we can clearly see the aftermath.'

'Nothing youve read or watched on TV compares to the destruction we see with our very eyes. End of quote.'

The Star Wars: The Last Jedi actor then went on to urge fans to make a donation to Unidos for Puerto Rico.

The charity was set up by Puerto Rico's First Lady Beatriz Rossello and local businesses, to help the devastated island territory following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Destruction: Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, leaving all 3.5 million residents on the 100-mile-long island without electricity

Desperation: Hurricane Maria is believed to have killed at least 10 people, with rescue workers describing the conditions as 'apocalyptic'

'Hurricane Maria has left a path of destruction and loss of life, the full extent of which has yet to be determined. Please help me help our people,' Benicio said in the video.

Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, leaving all 3.5 million residents on the 100-mile-long island without electricity.

The island was still recovering from Hurricane Irma, which had hit two weeks earlier, leaving three people dead.

Appeal: 'Nothing youve read or watched on TV compares to the destruction we see with our very eyes,' said the actor

According to a report by CNN, Hurricane Maria is believed to have killed at least 10 people, with rescue workers describing the conditions as 'apocalyptic'.

Making the current situation even worse, a dam is in danger of collapsing.

However, authorities are urging families in the United States not to panic if they are yet to hear from their loved ones in the area, with many communication signals still down.

'This is going to be a long road,' Governor Ricardo Rossello told CNN.
They're two of Australia's most popular TV stars.

And in a flashback photo shared with fans on Monday, these brothers look a little different in their younger years.

Both rock mop tops and one looks a lot like Tom Cruise  can you guess who these media personalities are?

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Can you guess who these famous brothers are? Two of Australia's most popular TV stars have mop tops while one bares a striking resemblance to Tom Cruise in sweet flashback photo

Pictured are Channel Nine stars and journalists, Karl Stefanovic, 43, and brother Peter.

The pair are pictured with their other brother Tom Stefanovic and a blonde woman, believed to be their sister Elisa.

The snap was revealed by Peter's wife, Sylvia Jeffreys, on Today on Monday morning.

Family: Pictured in the flashback are Channel Nine stars and journalists, Karl Stefanovic, 43, and brother Peter, with their siblings Eliza and Tom (seen above in December last year)

Looking back: The snap was revealed by Peter's wife, Sylvia Jeffreys, (R, pictured with Lisa Wilkinson) on Today on Monday morning

Sylvia said she had been raiding her mother-in-law Jenny Stefanovic's photo boxes all weekend.

Sylvia called Peter a 'cute kid' and said Karl looked like a 'movie star.'

Karl's Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson said Karl looked like Tom Cruise in the black and white family snap.

Familiar face: Karl's Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson said Karl looked like Tom Cruise (pictured) in the black and white family snap

'He's Tom Cruise in the front there, I didn't appreciate that you had a Tom Cruise face,' Lisa said.

Karl joked: 'That was before I found pies and Foster's Gold. I'm much happier now,' he said with a laugh.

Karl is the Today show co-host and a regular on 60 Minutes.

He's hosted Today since 2005 and this year he presented Nine's This Time Next Year.

Peter meanwhile, appears on Weekend Today and 60 Minutes and has written a book called Hack in a Flak Jacket: Wars, Riots and Revolutions - Dispatches from a Foreign Correspondent.
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It was a day of beauty, bliss and blessedness.

Jenelle Evans on Sunday shared a series of shots from her outdoor wedding Saturday to David Eason in North Carolina, with the 25-year-old star of MTV's Teen Mom 2 looking beautiful as she exchanged vows with her handsome new husband.

'Yesterday was magical,' she wrote on a shot of the newlywed couple walking down the aisle after getting married under a flowery canopy, adding the hashtags, '#EvansToEason #ForeverAndAlways.'

Soon after more images from her nuptials surfaced, revealing a TV crew was there to take in the vows.

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Here comes the bride: Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans wed David Eason in Wilmington, North Carolina on Saturday; here they are seen kidding at the altar

A cheer for marriage: The 25-year-old reality TV star beamed as her new husband held her hand up

In the shot, the couple held hands while flanked by Jenelle's two older children, son Jace, eight, with ex Andrew Lewis; and Kaiser, three, with ex Nathan Griffith. (Evans and Eason share a seven-month-old daughter named Ensley.)

In another adorable shot, Kaiser walked down the aisle barefoot in his role as ring bearer, wearing a tux top with a bow tie and black pants.

Evans wrote, 'My bubba did such a great job! He carried our rings to us very safely!' adding the hashtags, '#RingBearer,' '#Wedding' and '#EvansToEason.'

A long train and a viel: She stood out in her lace dress as here it is revealed her nuptials were filmed for TV with two camera men and a boom operator nearby

She also posed with Jace in a trio of indoor shots snapped at the wedding, as her oldest son was clad in a black suit with a bolo tie.

Jenelle wrote that she 'was extremely honored to be walked down the [aisle] by this little man' who 'did a great job and was super excited for the wedding to start!

Hand in hand: Jenelle looked smitten during the beautiful ceremony with family and friends

Sealed with a kiss: The newlyweds shared a romantic smooch at their nuptials

Too cute: Jenelle's son Kaiser, three, walked down the aisle barefoot in his role as ring bearer, wearing a tux top with a bow tie and black pants

Happy day: Jenelle posed with her oldest child Jace in a room at the event

She added that Jace's happiness was 'all that mattered for [her] big day,' taking a pointed dig at her mother Barbara, who was not invited amid their ongoing custody battle revolving around Jace.

'None of my family attended my wedding and I do not care,' she wrote, 'this boy is who mattered in the end.'

Evans told People in July that 'its very painful' that she's not invited to her daughter's wedding.

Momma knows best: The reality star primed her first-born on the sentimental day

Joy: Evans walked down the aisle with her new husband at their outdoor wedding in North Carolina on Saturday (Photo from Twitter)

'Shes been saying shes having her wedding, running around with her family of friends, but you know what she says? "My mother Barbara is not invited,"' Barbara said. 'Jenelle is Jenelle. Shes all about Jenelle.'

Jenelle looked stunning as she walked down aisle in a ivory sweetheart gown, as the mother-of-three kept her raven-colored locks curled while wearing a white veil on the crown of her head.

David wore black trousers and a white tuxedo coat over a black dress shirt. The newlywed husband wore black sunglasses.

The nuptials were likely filmed for a Teen Mom spinoff.

The beauty has appeared on Teen Mom 2 since 2011; her last episode aired in February.

The Teen Mom 2 star and her new husband announced they were engaged a few weeks after Ensley was born in February. Jason also has two children from a previous relationship, daughter Maryssa and son Kaden.

Tying the knot: The newlywed husband kept the sun out of his face by wearing black sunglasses (Photo from Twitter)

Just married: The duo looked happier than ever as they exchanged their vows under a flowery canopy (Photo from Twitter)
Dolce & Gabbana proved to be one of the most exciting shows of Milan Fashion Week, as it debuted the brand's SS18 collection with a host of famous attendees.

And leggy Hailey Baldwin, 20, looked incredible as she donned a sultry lace mini dress to arrive at the fashion house's after party in Milan on Sunday.

She was joined by Lady Amelia Windsor, 22, who walked the catwalk for the show after being hand picked to front their latest campaign.

Leggy lady: Hailey Baldwin, 20, looked incredible as she donned a sultry lace mini dress to arrive at the Dolce & Gabbana after party in Milan on Sunday

Hailey left little to the imagination in her lace dress, which displayed her toned physique and lithe pins.

She preserved her modesty by wearing a pair of large black undergarments, and shrugged a long black coat over her shoulders.

The offspring of actor Stephen Baldwin kept comfortable in a pair of trainers, and styled her honey blonde tresses in waves.

Dare to bare: The catwalk star threatened to spill out of her plunging bustier dress

Raunchy: Hailey left little to the imagination in her lace dress, which displayed her toned physique and lithe pins

Going places: Lady Amelia, who is the 36th in line to the throne, was picked to star in Dolce & Gabbana's fashion campaign last year, where she fittingly donned a crown

Lady Amelia, who is the 36th in line to the throne, was picked to star in Dolce & Gabbana's fashion campaign last year, where she fittingly donned a crown.

She donned an ab-flashing crop top and red jacket to attend the party, and finished off the look with a pair of leopard print trainers.

Having already walked the runway for Dolce & Gabbana - and been hailed as the 'most beautiful' member of the royal family - Lady Amelia has become a firm fixture in fashion circles.

She already took up a prime seat in the front row at the Tommy Hilfiger show and also attended the Love Magazine x Miu Miu party at Mayfair nightclub Loulou's.

Fashion favourite: Having already walked the runway for Dolce & Gabbana - and been hailed as the 'most beautiful' member of the royal family - Lady Amelia has become a firm fixture in fashion circles

Risque: She preserved her modesty by wearing a pair of large black undergarments, and shrugged a long black coat over her shoulders

Leopard print: She donned an ab-flashing crop top and red jacket to attend the party, and finished off the look with a pair of leopard print trainers

Victoria's Secret Angel Sara Sampaio looked sensational in a form-fitting black mini dress, which featured a plunging design to tease at her ample bust.

She elongated her slim legs with a pair of strappy heeled sandals, and tossed her raven tresses over her shoulder.

The beauty added a pop of colour to her all-black ensemble with red lipstick, and carried her belongings in a stylish tweed handbag.

Gorgeous: Victoria's Secret Angel Sara Sampaio looked sensational in a form-fitting black mini dress, which featured a plunging design to tease at her ample bust

Classy: She elongated her slim legs with a pair of strappy heeled sandals, and tossed her raven tresses over her shoulder

Stylish: The beauty added a pop of colour to her all-black ensemble with red lipstick, and carried her belongings in a stylish tweed handbag

Socialite: It girl Brea Fresson was also in attendance, wearing a pair of black satin tracksuit bottoms and a silk shirt

His dad's son! P Diddy's Christian Combs attended the after party in a leopard print blazer

Coordinating: His mum Kim Porter matched him in a leopard print dress

Suave: He showed off his dapper style in loafers and fitted black trousers
They confirmed their sizzling new romance in July after enjoying a romantic holiday to Greece together.

Now Lucy Mecklenburgh, 26, and Ryan Thomas, 33, have hinted that they've taken their relationship to the next level with the TOWIE star meeting his eight-year-old daughter Scarlett - who he shares with ex Tina O'Brien - on Sunday.

Both TV stars inconspicuously shared similar Instagram posts from London's Backyard Cinema and gushing about nineties film favourite Mrs Doubtfire that was playing.

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Getting serious: Lucy Mecklenburgh, 26, and Ryan Thomas, 33, have hinted that they've taken their relationship to the next level with the TOWIE star meeting his eight-year-old daughter Scarlett - who he shares with ex Tina O'Brien - on Sunday

Snapping a photo of the idyllic Miami Beach setting, Lucy shared a colourful post of the theatre's lightbox board which read: 'Now showing Mrs Doubtfire last entry 12:00'.

The brunette beauty captioned the vibrant image with: 'It has to be in my top 5! Robin Williams is just an absolute legend! What a talented man'.

While Corrie star Ryan shared an almost identical image of the same surroundings, with his adorable daughter posing with palm tree shaped glass and shades for the camera.

Sharing the photo with his 395,000 followers, he wrote alongside it: 'How did you spend your Sunday? #robinwilliamslegend'.

MailOnline have contacted Lucy Mecklenburgh and Ryan Thomas' reps for comment.

Picture perfect: While Corrie star Ryan shared an almost identical image of the same surroundings, with his adorable daughter posing with palm tree shaped glass and shades for the camera

Near identical: Both TV stars inconspicuously shared similar Instagram posts from London's Backyard Cinema and gushing about nineties film favourite Mrs Doubtfire that was playing

Continuing to hint at their fun day out, the pair both separately snapped from inside the cinema with Ryan's sweet offspring being the focus of his Instastory while Lucy continued to profess her love for the Robin Williams classic.

The next step in their relationship comes after they enjoyed idyllic trips to both Panama and Mykonos in June , during which they shared near identical snaps on their Instagram feeds throughout the whole holidays - yet never posed together.

They then set tongues wagging when they were spotted kissing in London City airport while waiting for their bags.

Attention: Continuing to hint at their fun day out, the pair both separately snapped from inside the cinema with Ryan's sweet offspring being the focus of his Instastory while Lucy continued to profess her love for the Robin Williams classic

Cinematic magic: Lucy shared a clip from inside the cinema as the geared up for the main event

Having fun: She couldn't contain her love for the film while at the daytime event with her beau and his daughter

The loved-up pair went public with their romance in July as they attended the men's semi-final at Wimbledon together.

There relationship has only gone from strength-to-strength as Lucy accompanied him to his fashion CEO pal Adam Kamani's lavish nuptials in Lake Como, Italy last month.

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.

Going public: The loved-up pair went public with their romance in July as they attended the men's semi-final at Wimbledon together

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 went public with their relationship during Wimbledon in July after sending tongues wagging after uploading photos from the same destination while on holiday.
They were at one point the biggest beasts in the world of reality television.

So it is perhaps understandable Deena Cortese broke down in tears after her Jersey Shore cast mates surprised her at a special party to celebrate her engagement in Atlantic City on Saturday.

Such big names as Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, Jennifer 'JWoww Farley, Pauly D, Vinny Guadagnino and Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola were there to celebrate their chum and her fiance Christopher Buckner.

OMG: Deena Cortese broke down in tears after her Jersey Shore cast mates surprised her at a special party to celebrate her engagement in Atlantic City on Saturday

Round of applause: He old pals were thrilled she had finally gotten engaged

As the 30-year-old walked into the restaurant was completely shocked to hear all her friends, who had been lying in wait, yell, 'Surprise!'

She grabbed her face, started crying, and then joyfully hugged her fiance.

Conspicuous by his absence was Mike 'the Situation' Sorrentino, who is currently embroiled in tax problems.

Addressing his absence in her Instagram message, Deena said: 'I love all these people so much. What an amazing surprise. We miss you Mike.'

She later posted a group photo, which she captioned: 'My roomies future hubby and best friend surprised me tonight! Celebrating our engagement and having a roomie reunion tonight while Pauly DJS at @poolafterdark @harrahsresort.'

Why you little: She gave her fiance Christopher Buckner a knowing look

Big hug: The emotional couple then shared a warm embrace

Something in her eye: The bawling beauty put her fingers in her eyes

Snooki also shared a shot of the ladies, which she captioned: 'MY MAWMAS! Jennis mid fall , hot mess she couldn't even order her food she was slurring. #HotMessMawmas #deenasgettingmarried.'

And JWoww was quick to remind people The Situation and Ronnie Magro-Ortiz had missed the evening of revelry.

She said: 'Reunited and it feels so good Mini #jerseyshore reunion tonight at @harrahsresort #largestindoorpoolparty #deenasgettingmarried.'

Weeping with joy: She struggled to hold it together during her emotional moment

Food for thought: The conversation was surely sparkling between Deena and her fiance

In September 2014 Sorrentino was charged with tax fraud for allegedly avoiding paying taxes on $8.9 million.

He and his brother, Marc are accused of establishing S corporations that paid for personal expenses, but failed to report income

In addition, back in April, he was further accused of tax evasion and the structuring of bank deposits to avoid reporting thresholds.

All the gang: The Jersey Shore mini reunion reached new heights when they posed together

Just the ladies: The classy women looked resplendent as they posed together
Hollywood silver fox Harrison Ford surfaced in Los Angeles on Saturday while dropping off two pairs of shoes to be repaired at a shop.

The Oscar nominee easily defied his 75 years while sporting tortoiseshell shades, a light-blue T-shirt, darker blue jeans, and brown sneakers.

The Chicago-born action star - who pilots seven private planes - gave his Blade Runner 2049 co-star Ryan Gosling a vote of confidence ahead of his gig hosting SNL's 43rd season premiere next Saturday.

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On a 'Solo' mission: Hollywood silver fox Harrison Ford surfaced in Los Angeles on Saturday while dropping off two pairs of shoes to be repaired at a shop

All-American: The Oscar nominee easily defied his 75 years while sporting tortoiseshell shades, a light-blue T-shirt, darker blue jeans, and brown sneakers

'He's very funny,' Harrison - who's never hosted the NBC sketch show - told Extra on Sunday.

'And it's a tough thing to do.'

Much ado has been made over Ford unintentionally punching the 36-year-old Oscar nominee on the set of Ridley Scott's long-awaited sci-fi sequel, which hits US/UK theaters October 6.

'Yeah, he's smiling and I'm going, "Oh, my God,"' the Lego Star Wars funnyman sarcastically recalled.

Live from New York! The Chicago-born action star gave his Blade Runner 2049 co-star Ryan Gosling a vote of confidence ahead of his gig hosting SNL's 43rd season premiere

Harrison - who's never hosted the NBC sketch show - told Extra on Sunday: 'He's very funny. And it's a tough thing to do' (pictured Thursday)

Hits US/UK theaters October 6! Much ado has been made over Ford unintentionally punching the 36-year- old Oscar nominee on the set of Ridley Scott's long-awaited sci-fi sequel

Return of Rick Deckard! The Lego Star Wars funnyman sarcastically recalled, 'Yeah, he's smiling and I'm going, "Oh, my God." I told him, "I don't hit everybody!"'

'I told him, "I don't hit everybody!"'

But in all seriousness, the Star Wars veteran admitted 'it's a pleasure hanging out' with the La La land heartthrob, even at their mutual gym.

Fans can also catch Harrison discussing his Indiana Jones director's epic 50-year career in the HBO documentary Spielberg, which premieres October 7.

Premieres October 7! Fans can also catch the Star Wars veteran discussing his Indiana Jones director's epic 50-year career in the HBO documentary Spielberg

Missing from Ford's side on Saturday was his much younger third wife Calista Flockhart, with whom he celebrated seven years of marriage on June 15.

The 52-year-old Golden Globe winner adopted 16-year-old son Liam in 2001, and the Age of Adaline actor has four adult biological children with ex-wives Mary Marquardt and Melissa Mathison.

The Rutgers University grad will reprise her role as 'the Queen of Media' Cat Grant, now White House press secretary, in the third season premiering October 9 on The CW.

Met at the 2002 Golden Globe: Ford and his much younger third wife Calista Flockhart celebrated seven years of marriage on June 15 (pictured in 2016)
They had earlier formed somewhat of an alliance while competing to win The Block.

But it appears husband-and-wife teams Ronnie and Georgia Caceres and Clint and Hannah Amos have now become rivals.

Ronnie, 41, and Georgia, 33, spoke with TV Week on Monday and had harsh words for their fellow competitors, accusing them of being 'fence-sitters'.

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Tension: It appears husband-and-wife teams Ronnie and Georgia Caceres (left) and Clint and Hannah Amos have become rivals as The Block heats up

'They just sit on the fence and see what happens. I think they're playing everyone,' Ronnie told the magazine.

'But the reality is they're broke and can't renovate a house,' he continued.

Tension between the teams arose after Ronnie and Georgia reportedly asked Clint and Hannah if they could access their backyard for a crane to deliver their pool.

'They just sit on the fence and see what happens. I think they're playing everyone,' Ronnie told the magazine

Things came to a head when arguing between Georgia and Hannah allegedly continued off-camera.

Ronnie 'hinted' to the publication that Hannah had even sent his wife 'an abusive text' during their disagreement.

Hannah appeared to be more optimistic about the spat, telling TV Week that her and Clint have 'no personal feelings or ill intent' towards Ronnie and Georgia.

Girl fight? Things came to a head when arguing between Georgia and Hannah allegedly continued off-camera

Good sport: Hannah appeared to be more optimistic about the spat, telling TV Week that her and Clint have 'no personal feelings or ill intent' towards Ronnie and Georgia

The pressure of hallway and laundry week got to Georgia on Sunday, where she was seen crying after realising their renovation wasn't coming together as planned.

In tears, she exclaimed: 'I'm really tired and I'm about to cry.'

She added: 'I don't think I love my hallway. It's just not coming together as expected.'

Her and Ronnie weren't able to completely finish their room for the first time ever, leaving co-stars Sticks and Wombat to take out the number one spot.

High stakes: The pressure of hallway and laundry week got to Georgia on Sunday, where she was seen crying after realising their renovation wasn't coming together as planned

Failure: Her and Ronnie weren't able to completely finish their room for the first time ever, leaving co-stars Sticks and Wombat to take out the number one spot
Kevin Hart addressed his sextortion scandal Saturday during a performance in Georgia.

The 38-year-old comedian candidly opened his set at the River Center for the Performing Arts in Columbus by acknowledging his personal life, according to an article Sunday by TMZ.

'We got a lot of s*** to talk about, people,' Hart told the audience at the venue south of Atlanta.

Sextortion scandal: Kevin Hart, shown performing in June in San Francisco, addressed his sextortion scandal during a performance Saturday in Georgia

The comic also thanked his fans for their support amid his current 'drama'.

Hart later promised his fans that he would improve himself.

'I'm going to be a better man,' he told the crowd.

Hart was secretly recorded last month in a sex tape and last week took to Instagram to publicly apologize to his pregnant wife Eniko Parrish and his two children.

Pregnant wife: The Get Hard actor is shown with his pregnant wife Eniko Parrish in August in Beverly Hills

The Ride Along star in the September 16 social media video said he made 'a bad error in judgment' that 'hurt the people closest' to him.

The Get Hard actor said he refused to pay unnamed parties who 'attempted' to reap a 'financial gain off of [his] mistakes,' adding that he'd 'rather fess up to [his] mistakes.'

Hart also wrote in the caption: 'Sending so many apologies to my wife & kids. I gotta do better and I will. I'm not perfect and have never claimed to be ...I love you all.'

Fan favorite: Kevin, shown in July in New York City, has two children with ex-wife Torrei Hart

Montia Sabbag who was recorded with Hart in the sex tape has denied being involved in the extortion attempt.

Actress-model Sabbag said she and Hart were in an 'intimate relationship' last month, but denied having anything to do with the alleged extortion attempt last week during a news conference.

'I'm not an extortionist,' said Sabbag, who was flanked by her attorney Lisa Bloom. 'I've not broken any laws. I had nothing to do with these recordings.'

Public apology: The Ride Along star, shown on September 19 in Los Angeles, apologized to his wife and children in an Instagram video

Hart and Parrish last month celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary.

The comedian also has 12-year-old daughter Heaven and nine-year-old son Hendrix with ex-wife Torrei Hart.

Police investigating the seven-figure sextortion case have identified several people connected to the crime and were confident of arresting the culprits, according to TMZ.
She's the convicted drug smuggler who is finding her way in the real world since her release from Kerobokan Prison in May this year.

And Schapelle Corby continues to make headlines, particularly with her latest Instagram post on Sunday.

The 40-year-old staged a mock 'proposal' with Josh Wade backstage at a Gold Coast show, with the comedian joking: 'It's been a few months...but she said yes!'

'It's been a few months...but she said yes!' Schapelle Corby, 40, staged a mock 'proposal' with comedian Josh Wade backstage at a Gold Coast show. Bent down on one knee and beaming for the camera, Josh presented Schapelle with a bottle opener for her alcoholic beverage

A photo shared to both Schapelle and Josh's Instagram accounts saw the comedian dressed in casual clothing and bent down on one knee.

Beaming for the camera, Josh presented Schapelle with a bottle opener for her alcoholic beverage.

The former felon sported smart casual attire, offering just a hint of cleavage in a plunging black top with patterned detailing.

Historic: Schapelle served nine years behind bars in Kerobokan Prison, and returned to Australia in May this year. The former beautician's life was forever changed when a customs officer lifted 4.2kg of marijuana from her boogie board bag on October 8, 2004 in Indonesia

New chapter: However, since her return to Australia following three years on parole in Bali, it appears the brunette has put the past behind her

She appeared ecstatic, pulling a very content expression for the camera.

Schapelle joked in her caption: 'Don't mind if i do Thanks for a great night @joshwadee' while Josh posted to his page: 'It's been a few months, but #SheSaidYes' alongside love heart, engagement ring and beer emojis.

Schapelle served nine years behind bars in Kerobokan Prison, and was released on parole in February 2014.

After three years in Bali, she returned to Australia in May this year.

Taste of freedom: Sharing snaps with her 201,000 Instagram followers, Schapelle has been seen sipping champagne for her 40th birthday

The former beautician's life was forever changed the moment a customs officer lifted 4.2kg of top-quality marijuana from her boogie board bag the afternoon of October 8, 2004 in Indonesia.

However since her return to Australia, it appears Schapelle has put the past behind her - and established herself as a social media influencer.

Sharing snaps with her 201,000 Instagram followers, she has been seen sipping champagne for her 40th birthday and soaking up the sunshine in coastal locations.
Nicki Minaj is just as well known for her bombshell curves as her spitfire rhymes.

And on Sunday the 34-year-old rapper gave followers a generous glimpse of her figure on Instagram.

The Get On Your Knees songstress donned sheer-as-can-be-lace while covering her most intimate bits with her hand and captioning the saucy shot 'Here's looking at you kid.'

Bare bombshell! Nicki Minaj gave followers a generous glimpse of her bombshell body through Instagram Sunday, captioning the sultry photo 'Here's lookin at you, kid'

The Pink Print starlet looked picture perfect in the sexy self portrait, where she sported sleek black tresses and a classic cat eye.

Nicki put her full chest on display in a totally sheer top, only masking her nipples with a carefully placed hand.

The Anaconda hitmaker flaunted her curves in a more covered up photo earlier in the day.

Covering up a bit: The Anaconda hitmaker flaunted her curves in a more covered up photo earlier in the day

Suprise appearance! Nicki flaunted her surgically-enhanced assets during an unscheduled performance at The Meadows Music & Arts Festival in Manhattan last Saturday

The mirror selfie shows the Rake It Up beauty sporting a grey Chanel sweater and form-fitting black pants with lace up boots.

In the photo, the Only rapper slung her 'new fave' Gucci bag over her arm, while captioned the picture saying '[The bag] gon run u like 5 or 6 racks but it's fly, get it.'

Never one for minimalism, Nicki also displayed a limited edition Louis Vuitton weekender adorned with the Mona Lise and hardware reading 'DaVinci,' which retails for a clean $3500.

Stealing the stage! The Superbass diva crashed Future's headlining set on the Citi Field mainstage to spit her Rake It Up verse alongside Yo Gotti

Last Saturday the surgically enhanced stunner made a surprise appearance at day two of The Meadows Music & Arts Festival in Manhattan.

The Superbass diva crashed Future's headlining set on the Citi Field mainstage to spit her Rake It Up verse alongside Yo Gotti.

Nicki was also there to support beau Nas, who was playing the fest on Sunday.

Stand by your man! Nicki was also at The Meadows to support beau Nas, who was playing the fest on Sunday

It's official! On Friday, Nicki's long rumored romance with rapper Nas (together on September 13 above) was confirmed via E!

This Friday, Nicki's long rumored romance with rapper Nas was confirmed via E!.

There, a source close to the starlet revealed the duo has been together since May but are 'still getting to know each other.'

Nicki was previously linked to rapper Meek Mill, who she split from in January. Nas was married to Milkshake songstress Kelis from 2005 to 2010 and the pair have a son together.
Working on The Block is no easy feat and accidents can happen.

And on Monday's show, villain Georgia took a tumble as she kicked in a wall.

The 33-year-old was left red-faced as she spoke about getting rid of a wall in her and Ronnie's spare bedroom, when she kicked it and her foot went through the gyprock.

What happened to safety first? The Block's Georgia is left with a 'limp' after falling to the floor while kicking in a WALL

Georgia luckily was not seriously hurt in the incident, but got her foot stuck, and fell to the ground.

Ronnie had to pick her up and help her, as he giggled.

Georgia brushed off the incident, saying: 'I don't realise my own strength sometimes!'

Brushing it off: Georgia luckily was not seriously hurt in the incident

She then went shopping, with host Scott Cam saying in a voice over 'off you hobble!'

Later during the show, turmoil was brewing for her and Ronnie, over their pool.

Ronnie was told by foremen Keith and Dan that he only had one way to crane in his pool - over Josh and Elyse's home and using a bigger crane with Wombat and Sticks, if they allow it - which left the boys sniggering that they could stop his plans.

He and Georgia had a number of fights with their co-stars and even blocked Josh and Elyse from starting on their pool weeks ago, which doesn't put them in good stead.

Too much force: The 33-year-old was left red-faced as she spoke about getting rid of a wall in her and Ronnie's spare bedroom, when she kicked it and her foot went through

Josh and Elyse can say no to letting the pair crane over their house, where they would have to stop work and possibly fall behind in their backyard.

'We can't work under a crane...Dave's not going to let f***ing anyone go over, stop us,' Josh said about his landscaper.

'We've got a pretty tight schedule, I don't think that's going to happen, just quietly,' he added about Ronnie craning his pool over, smirking.
Mum-of-five Katie Price is talking about giving one of her lungs to her dying mother.

The 39-year-old is desperate to find a solution for mum Amy's terminal illness plight, for which she has been given a life expectancy of three to five years.

Katie is said to have made the revelation that she is considering the life changing surgery during her one-woman tour this weekend, but conceded that she's unsure whether it will help her mother's lung condition.

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Making a sacrifice: Katie Price has reportedly said that she's considering giving her lung to her mother Amy (here on September 5, 2017) during her terminal battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary

'We're talking about me giving her one of my lungs,' she told a Stevenage crowd, The Sun reports. 'But I'm not sure it will save her.'

A representative for Katie Price has been contacted by MailOnline for further comment.

In a lung transplant procedure, the affected lung is removed and replaced with a healthy human lung.

A donor is usually a person who has died, but in rare cases a section of lung can be taken from a living donor.

Trying to save her: Amy has a life expectancy of three-to-five years and Katie is not sure whether the lung will save her mother

Lung transplants are particularly rare in the UK, but this is mainly owing to a lack of donors.

A lung transplant is accepted within patients who have a life expectancy of two to three years.

It's been three weeks since Katie confirmed that mum Amy has Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult.

Katie herself is a mother of five children, 15-year-old Harvey Price, whose father is Dwight Yorke, as well as Junior, 12, and Princess Andre, 10, with first husband Peter Andre, and Jett, four, Bunny,three with third husband Kieran.

Getting candid: Katie is said to have told a crowd in Stevenage (here in Staffordshire) that she is considering the life-changing surgery

The pair appeared on Loose Women on Tuesday, when Amy, 64, insisted she was determined not to pass away until her daughter's turbulent life is 'settled'.

Currently, Katie is dealing with a separation from her husband Kieran Hayler, who she has recently found to be unfaithful once again.

Kieran has recently admitted that he has been cheating on Katie with the family's nanny, three years after she took him back for sleeping with her best friend Jane Pountney for seven months.

It won't be Katie's first time under the knife though previously this has been for cosmetic reasons.

She recently revealed that she has plans for a breast reduction, her ninth boob job in two decades.

Battles: Katie is simultaneously dealing with the revelation that her husband Kieran Hayler (left, together in February) has been cheating with the family nanny

Over: Katie announced her split from third husband Kieran this month (pictured in February)

After shocking fans by returning to her natural 32B cup size in 2015, Katie shot back up to a whopping 32GG last year, following an operation in Belgium.

It was only last year that she went under the knife to increase her famous assets back to a 32GG cup.

Speaking to The Sun, the mother-of-five said she was keen to remove her implants as her chest felt 'so big' at the moment - but was quick to blast anyone who claimed she was addicted to surgery.

She told the paper: 'They are so big at the moment, I might go smaller.

Up and down: Katie has recently revealed her plans to undergo another breast reduction, marking her ninth boob job since 1998 (pictured with her 32GG implants in June)

'They always say be sensible but you get used to them being that big and then they shrink.'

However she was quick to hit out at any haters who criticise her for going under the knife so much - with the next potential reduction marking her ninth boob job in two decades.

Standing by her decision, she added: 'If people want to say I'm addicted they can say it but I'm not.'

The Sunday People previously reported in May that Katie was keen to have the reduction before her 40th birthday in May next year.

Step-by-step guide: The mum of five is also learning to be a paramedic, on the side

Katie has also been taking more interest in medicine in recent weeks, after making the decision to train as a paramedic for the love of 'helping people'.

'I've started the course and I'm 5 years on from being qualified. I like helping people. I was doing nursing before I got into modelling.'

Katie revealed last month that she had signed up for a paramedic course, which she would complete around her existing work obligations.

'I'm training to be a paramedic,' she told Heat magazine. 'Yes, I am. It's a five-year course and you can work and do it at the same time. I had started training to be a nurse when I left school and I love all that kind of stuff.'

Her revelation on Monday came amid reports she is signing up for a second series of My Crazy Life.

A TV insider told The Sun: 'Katie knows that her life has once again played out in the public eye and there's nothing she dislikes more than rumours.

'She couldn't turn down the opportunity of filming a second series so fans can have direct access to her personal life and she can set the record straight.

'Filming starts next month and she is over the moon that the first series was such a success.'

Changes: Admitting she is not comfortable with the current size of her assets, Katie said this week: 'They are so big at the moment, I might go smaller' (pictured in September)

Au rev-bra? It was reported earlier this year that the TV personality was keen to shrink her bust in order to achieve a more 'demure' look (pictured right before breast implant surgery in 1995)

Getting it together: The Sunday People reported that Katie was keen to have the reduction before her 40th birthday in May next year

New woman: Back in 2015, she shocked fans by announcing she was going all natural, and debuted her 32B chest on the London Fashion For Relief catwalk (above)
CAUTION: MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD

Diehard fans of Outlander are mourning after Sunday night's episode which featured the shocking death of a major character.

The third episode of the third season of the Starz series - titled All Debts Paid - featured many ups-and-downs in addition to jumps in time as it hit a tragic crescendo.

Both Caitriona Balfe and her character Claire Randall were also both able to react to the unexpected departure in their own way.

Sad times: Caitriona Balfe and her character Claire Randall were also both able to react to the shocking death on Sunday night's episode of Outlander

Earlier in the episode Claire and husband Frank (Tobias Menzies) are celebrating her graduation with friends in family in 1956 Boston.

At the gathering Frank's mistress shows up unexpectedly which results in a rift between husband and wife.

Claire criticizes her partner for not being discreet about his extracurricular activities but Frank reminds her that it was actually her idea to have separate lives.

Chipper: At the beginning of the episode Claire celebrates her graduation from Harvard

Full house: Many of she and husband Frank's (Tobias Menzies) friends and family were in attendance

Uh oh: At the gathering Frank's mistress shows up unexpectedly which results in a rift between man and wife

The wife and mother demands that Frank divorce her but he will not consent to it as he couldn't bear the thought of not seeing their daughter Brianna.

Claire says she would never keep him from seeing their child as Frank retorts that she isn't exactly good at keeping promises.

To add insult to injury Frank then says that Claire is not as good an actress as she thinks she is.

Not pleased:Claire criticizes her partner for not being discreet about his extracurricular activities

Hitting back: Frank reminds her that it was actually her idea to have separate lives

Family first: The wife and mother demands that Frank divorce her but he will not consent to it as he couldn't bear the thought of not seeing their daughter Brianna

Later on in the episode and in the timeline, the two are both present and happy as they watch their daughter Brianna graduate from high school in Boston.

More time has passed as Frank informs Claire that he would like to take their daughter to England as he has been offered a job in Cambridge.

Claire is not happy as the news and says she cannot leave Boston, however, her husband replies that he does not actually want her to come and he is planning on marrying Sandy as soon as they divorce.

Proud:Later on in the episode and in the timeline, the two are both present and happy as they watch their daughter Brianna graduate from high school in Boston

Approval: Their daughter looks at them as she accepts her diploma

'I want to live my life with a wife who truly loves me,' Frank tells her. 'You couldnt look at Bri without seeing him.'

Frank then leaves the house as Claire receives a call to come to the hospital in order to do surgery.

Later on while Claire is at the hospital she receives a message that Frank had been involved in a car accident.

Still contentious: More time has passed as Frank informs Claire that he would like to take their daughter to England as he has been offered a job in Cambridge

Getting ugly: Claire is not happy as the news and says she cannot leave Boston, however, her husband replies that he does not actually want her to come and he is planning on marrying Sandy as soon as they divorce

Taking a stand: 'I want to live my life with a wife who truly loves me,' Frank tells her. 'You couldnt look at Bri without seeing him'

Moving on: Frank then leaves the house as Claire receives a call to come to the hospital in order to do surgery

Panicked she finds him in the hospital's morgue, breaks down, and tells him: 'I did love you, very much. You were my first love.'

The emotional episode ends with her kissing him.

Caitriona later talked to TVLine about the sad moment and even compared it to the novels written by Diana Gabaldon.

Bracing herself: Later on while Claire is at the hospital she receives a message that Frank had been involved in a car accident

Sad find: She finds her dead husband

Emotional: She is overcome with sadness as she sees his lifeless body

Keeping close: She rested her head on his neck

Goodbye: She kisses him at the end of the episode

She explained: 'Its great material. That was stuff I was really looking forward to, because even in the books, its such beautiful material. Its such a tragic story, because if you understand the circumstances, neither of them are wrong.

'What it does is it gives you great empathy for people in general, because you realize that a lot of times, peoples actions come out places of pain People like to judge. People like to be like, Oh, Im team this or team that. But really, given any set of circumstances, how different would any of us act, you know?'

The latest episode also followed Jamie (Sam Heughan) back in 1755 as he has yet to reunite with Claire because he is stuck in Northern Scotland's Ardsmuir Prison.

Other storyline: The latest episode also followed Jamie (Sam Heughan) back in 1755 as he has yet to reunite with Claire because he is stuck in Northern Scotland's Ardsmuir Prison

Leading the way: In the episode Sir John William Grey - who is the brother of Lord Melton and snuck Jamie back into Lallybroch - plays a pivotal role as he is Jamie's new jailer

Kind gesture: Grey delivers Jamie to Hellwater personally to be a new host giving him his freedom at the end of the episode

In the episode Sir John William Grey - who is the brother of Lord Melton and snuck Jamie back into Lallybroch - plays a pivotal role as he is Jamie's new jailer.

The two have a storied past and later on in the episode, the prison closes and prisoners were sent to colonies.

Grey delivers Jamie to Hellwater personally to be a new host giving him his freedom.

Outlander airs Sunday nights on Starz.
He is making a shocking return to Albert Square after the criminal went to prison for the rape of Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).

In an upcoming EastEnders' episode, James Wilmott-Brown (William Boyde, 64) breaks into Kathy's cafe as he pursues on a dangerous path of bitter revenge.

New haunting pictures reveal the terrifying moment the 80s super villain stalks around the small establishment - which is set to get soap fans' hearts racing.

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Blast from the past! James Wilmott-Brown (William Boyde, 64) breaks into Kathy's cafe as he pursues on a dangerous path of bitter revenge in the latest episode of EastEnders

The evil soap character takes one of the cafe's aprons into his hands when he snoops about the place in heart-stopping scenes.

With revenge on his mind, the businessman makes a haunting appearance in the empty eatery.

No doubt Kathy is first in the firing line on James' hit list as he unleashes his reign of terror on the residents of Albert Square.

Unable to accept any blame himself, the seedy soap villain is motivated by his thought that everyone and everything around him destroyed his life.

Terrifying: Haunting pictures reveal the moment the 80s super villain stalks around the small establishment

Horror: The evil soap character takes one of the cafe's aprons into his hands when he snoops about the place in heart-stopping scenes

James' return to the BBC soap was teased on Thursday night when Kathy received some flowers, a sinister undertone as it was implied that James was spying on her and Ian.

He was tangled up in the horrific storyline which saw the businessman brutally rape Kathy.

The serial rapist was later imprisoned and banished from Albert Square for his crimes.

Chilling: No doubt Kathy is first in the firing line on James' hit list as he unleashes his reign of terror on the residents of Albert Square

Awful: James is making a chilling return to Walford to carry out a revenge plan to hurt all of the residents he feels has wronged him

The businessman was first introduced to the show as the manager of the Queen Vic in 1986.

He later opened an upmarket wine bar which suffered from its rivalry to the Vic and interference from shady company The Firm.

After James hired Kathy, his obsession with her grew and he subjected her to a horrific rape ordeal.

After his release he tried to come back to Albert Square but was later forced out again.

Awful: Kathy Beale will be one of the faces on James' shocking hit list, and although his plans aren't yet known, they are sure to be awful as he blames her for destroying his life after she stood up to him and sent him to jail

WILLIAM BOYDE: LIFE AFTER EASTENDERS 'Orrible (2001) Continuing his brushes with the law, Boyde most recently played Tim in a BBC comedy about a small-time criminal Lucia (1999) A small movie part as Lord Ravenswood saw Boyde turn to mystery amongst an opera company A Dance to the Music of Time (1997) Dramatised for television, this 12-volume novel sequence featured one episode with Boyde in character as Edward VIII Dempsey and Makepeace (1985) Boyde played a small part in the three-series TV show, starring Glynis Barber and Michael Brandon Advertisement

Kathy will be one of the faces on James' shocking hit list, and although his plans aren't yet known, they are sure to be vile as he blames her for destroying his life after she stood up to him and sent him to jail.

James owns shady company Weyland & Co and his brother in law Hugo, who was the sibling of his first wife Elizabeth Browning, is the Chairman.

Max Branning, Fi Browning, Josh Hemmings and James' son Luke are all working for the company.

Max met Luke when he was in prison, and after he revealed his own hatred towards Albert Square, Luke recruited him into his father's suspicious company.

Weyland & Co is designed to bring Albert Square to its knees by having as much control over the area as possible.

They want to buy all of the businesses and properties to slowly destroy its inhabitants.

The main target at this stage is the Vic. After the explosion, James wants to send in assessors to land massive repair costs on the Carters, which they won't be able to afford, in order to drive them out.

Since EastEnders, actor William Boyde has worked on TV miniseries, commonly starring in just one episode.

In 2001, he enjoyed a longer run on BBC show 'Orrible, which starred Johnny Vaughan and Boyde in similar brushes with the law, as Tim.

Revenge: Weyland & Co is designed to bring Albert Square to its knees by having as much control over the area as possible. They want to buy all of the businesses and properties to slowly destroy its inhabitants

Recruited: Max met Luke when he was in prison, and after he revealed his own hatred towards Albert Square, Luke recruited him into his father's suspicious company

Terrible: The seedy character is motivated by his thought that everyone and everything around him destroyed his life - and he is not willing to accept any of the blame himself
She organised designer shoes, jewellery, a couture Silvana Tedesco gown, and even got a spray tan for the 2017 Brownlow Medal ceremony.

But Natalie Sady, who appeared on the first season of The Bachelor back in 2013, told the Daily Mail Australia on Monday evening that she was left 'out of pocket' after a ticketing bungle saw the allocated spot she'd been promised go to somebody else.

'Somebody screwed up and allocated our tickets elsewhere,' said the distraught 38-year-old.

'Somebody screwed up and allocated our tickets elsewhere': Former Bachelor star Natalie Sady told Daily Mail Australia she was told at the last minute she wouldn't be able to attend the Brownlow Medal ceremony due to a ticket bungle

'Like any woman does when going to an event like the Brownlow's, I made some calls, organised a gown, tracked down shoes and jewellery,' she explained.

'I had my make-up artist and everything ready to go until 10.30 this morning when I found out there was an issue.'

She continued: 'There's also a sense of anger though because I'm out of pocket now quite a bit after spending money getting ready for the event.

'There's also a sense of anger though because I'm out of pocket now quite a bit after spending money getting ready for the event,' said the 38-year-old

Flashback: The glamorous brunette appeared on the first season of The Bachelor

'It's just one of those incredibly disappointing things. It's such a coveted event that everyone wants to go to and I thought this was my year and my chance.'

She added: 'Instead I'll be sitting on the couch having a glass of wine.'

On Monday, Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell), Rebecca Judd and Nadia Bartel all confirmed to AAP that they would not attend the ceremony either.

Multi-talented: The 38-year-old aspiring actress often documents her pole dancing classes on social media

Ms Bartel, wife of past Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel and regular on the best-dressed lists, told AAP the couple would not attend on Monday night, offering no reason for their absence, while indicating they 'will be there in the future.'

Ms Judd's management also said she will not be attending this year's awards.

Jesinta, wife of Swan's player Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, will be another no-show for the annual ceremony because she's unwell.
She hit the headlines earlier this week, amid swirling reports she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Travis Scott

But Kylie Jenner remained tight-lipped on the rumours, as she hid her rumoured 'baby bump' in a skintight black top during a Snapchat video.

The reality star, 20, sent fans into overdrive as she larked around in the clip with best friend Jordyn Woods - who she threw a lavish Malibu birthday party for over the weekend.

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Tease: Kylie Jenner remained tight-lipped on the pregnancy rumours, as she hid her rumoured 'baby bump' in a skintight black top during a Snapchat video on Monday

Kylie seemed to be in great spirits as she smiled at the camera while posing with Jordyn at the extravagant bash.

Remaining quiet on the pregnancy rumours, Jenner gave equally little away on social media as she hid under several layers in the clip.

Going casual for the fun outdoor affair, the make-up free TV personality wore a simple black top layered under a low-key grey hoodie - unzipped to reveal just a hint of her tummy.

Another clip saw Kylie pan the camera down to her midsection while posing in her car on the way to the bash.

Rumour has it: Another clip saw Kylie pan the camera down to her midsection while posing in her car on the way to the bash

Having fun? The reality star, 20, sent fans into overdrive as she larked around in the clip with best friend Jordyn Woods - who she threw a lavish Malibu birthday party for over the weekend

Claims: Kylie added further fuel to the pregnancy speculation as she showed off her tummy in a skintight black top

Meanwhile over the weekend, Kylie ensured Jordyn took centre-stage as she threw her a lavish birthday party in Malibu.

The TV personality, 20, treated her BFF to a gorgeous outdoor affair on Saturday, complete with fairy lights and plenty of baby photos of Jordyn.

The outdoor bash was attended by a whole host of their nearest and dearest.

BFF: Kylie Jenner threw her best pal Jordyn Woods a lavish birthday party in Malibu on Saturday - amid swirling rumours she is pregnant

Lavish: Kylie, 20, treated her BFF to a gorgeous outdoor affair, complete with fairy lights and plenty of baby photos of Jordyn

In celebration of her pal's big day, Kylie set up a sprawling outdoor eating area in a picturesque part of Malibu, where the pair could relax with all their friends.

The set-up saw a number of long tables, lined with bright pink table cloths, arranged into a square around an outdoor kitchen.

Making the bash a more personal affair however, Kylie then decorated the al-fresco occasion with large purple balloons spelling out Jordyn's name, to keep her the centre of attention.

Packed: The bash was attended by a whole host of the pair's nearest and dearest

Stunning: In celebration of her pal's big day, Kylie set up a sprawling outdoor eating area in a picturesque part of Malibu

Vibrant: The set-up saw a number of long tables, lined with bright pink table cloths

Feast: The tables were arranged in a square around an outdoor kitchen

They see me rolling! Guests were seen getting around the site in golf buggies

All about me: Making the bash a more personal affair however, Kylie then decorated the al-fresco occasion with large purple balloons spelling out Jordyn's name

She then hung a number of photos of Jordyn as a baby, as well as more recent snaps with her friends, on streamers above the tables - interspersed between twinkling fairy lights.

Lining the whole area with heaters, the group first dined in the outdoors before relaxing late into the night.

Not stopping with the surprise party however, Kylie was also seen giving Jordyn a 2017 black metallic Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 Coupe, in an additionally luxurious present.

Personal: She then hung a number of photos of Jordyn as a baby, as well as more recent snaps with her friends, on streamers above the tables

Sparkling: The photos were interspersed between twinkling fairy lights

Keeping warm: The whole area was also lined with heaters

Mini festival: There were also a number of purple gazebos set up

Party all night: Kylie (above) alongside her friends relaxed late into the night

Beautiful: The outdoor setting looked gorgeous with the fairy lights as darkness fell

In awe of her generous friend, the model could be heard crying 'Oh my God' as Kylie presented her generous gift for all to see on Snapchat, during their trip to the Malibu Wine Safari earlier that day.

Kylie and Jordyn are known for their close bond, and even embarked on a 'commitment ceremony' last month.

During the final episode of the beauty's own reality show Life of Kylie, the pair were seen celebrating their relationship in Peru with a marriage-style celebration, complete with the country's traditional grab and llamas.

Catching up? Kylie was seen chatting on her phone as the party got into full swing

Having a ball: Both girls heavily documented the bash on social media

Devoted BFF: Kylie was even seen giving Jordyn a new car as gift, along with the lavish party

Busy: The pair had celebrated at Malibu Wine Safari earlier that day

Casual: Guests appeared to keep casual at the bash, with Kylie seemingly clad in black leggings and a grey jumper

Further affirming their bond, Kylie was heard admitting during the event: I want people to know that were more than that. Shes my girlfriend. I care for her like I care for my girlfriend and I want to support her.

The birthday bash however comes amid wide speculation that Kylie is expecting her first child with boyfriend Travis Scott.

However the brunette, who has been dating the rapper since April, has kept tight-lipped on the claims, and has continued to share a number of snaps on social media.

Relaxing: Kylie appeared to continue with her busy social life at the bash, amid rumours she is pregnant

Keeping quiet: The beauty covered her frame in baggy clothing, after remaining tight-lipped on the rumours so far

Worried: However Kylie's inner circle are reportedly 'very concerned' about the young star becoming a mother

Party girl: Her family are thought to believe she is 'too young' to have a baby, known for having a busy social life

My girl: Meanwhile Kylie and Jordyn (L) are known to be close friends - and even embarked on a 'commitment ceremony' on Kylie's reality show

She even gave a flash of her stomach in her latest photo, posted to celebrate Jordyn's birthday - causing fans to comment in their droves over the mystery of her missing 'bump'.

However, Kylie's inner circle are reportedly 'very concerned' about the young star becoming a mother.

A source told People that her family 'think Kylie is too young to have a baby.'

'She's more than that': Kylie even once said about her pal (L): 'Shes my girlfriend. I care for her like I care for my girlfriend and I want to support her'

Parents-to-be? Kylie is reportedly expecting her first child with boyfriend Travis Scott (pictured in April)

The insider's said of the reality star, whose baby-daddy is purportedly her boyfriend Travis: 'Kylie is very naive.'

As this source pointed out: 'Spending time with other peoples kids is obviously completely different than being a mom 24/7. Kylie of course has no idea about all the hard work and sleepless nights.'

The source said that during her relationship with her ex 'Tyga, whenever things were good, Kylie said she wanted a baby. Between spending lots of time with her nieces and nephews, and being around Tygas son, she claimed she was ready.'

Carrying on: However the brunette has kept tight-lipped on the claims, and even flashed her stomach in her latest photo, posted to celebrate Jordyn's birthday (above)

Can't wait: A source had gossiped then that Kylie and Travis 'started telling friends a few weeks ago. The family has known for quite some time. She is really excited and so is Travis'

However they went on: 'Her family would beg her to protect herself. They were very concerned.'

The pregnancy story was broken on Friday, and People claimed that day that Kylie's baby - allegedly a girl - is due in February.

A source had gossiped then that Kylie and Travis 'started telling friends a few weeks ago. The family has known for quite some time. She is really excited and so is Travis.'

Kylie, who owns two lavish homes in Hidden Hills, has yet to publicly confirm the pregnancy herself, as has Travis.
Her youngest daughter is reportedly expecting a baby girl with her boyfriend of five months Travis Scott.

And Caitlyn Jenner is reportedly 'shocked and disappointed' with the news of Kylie Jenner's alleged pregnancy.

A source told Hollywood Life: 'She thinks Kylie is way too young to have a baby, and that she should have waited until she was in a long term committed relationship.

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Claim: Caitlyn Jenner is reportedly 'shocked and disappointed' with the news of Kylie Jenner's alleged pregnancy, saying at 20 she is 'too young' for the responsibility of a baby

Bumping along? A source said: 'She thinks Kylie is way too young to have a baby, and that she should have waited until she was in a long term committed relationship (above, Kylie sheathed her stomach as she stepped out at the iHeart Radio Festival in Las Vegas on Saturday)

'Obviously, Kylie has more than enough money to ensure that she can pay for help but Caitlyn still thinks that having a baby will take a huge toll on Kylie's life.'

The source added that the reality star is worried about the future of Kylie and Travis' relationship and would have preferred her to wait for children.

They said: 'Caitlyn is concerned that Kylie and Travis really haven't been dating very long, and that a baby will put a big strain on their relationship, but Kylie believes the opposite - that she and Travis will be together forever.'

A source added to Us Weekly in a Tuesday article that Caitlyn was 'excited' and 'supportive' of Kylie's pregnancy but also was concerned about how young she is and how it could hurt her lucrative makeup business.

Drama: The source added that the reality star is worried about the future of Kylie and Travis' relationship and would have preferred her to wait for children (pictured with sister Kendall in June)

Concern: They said: 'Caitlyn is concerned that Kylie and Travis really haven't been dating very long, and that a baby will put a big strain on their relationship, but Kylie believes the opposite - that she and Travis will be together forever'

MailOnline has contacted her representatives for comment.

Only adding to the fraught situation, it was then reported that Caitlyn was not told of the news personally, and instead read about it online - which she immediately denied.

A source revealed to The Sun Online: 'Caitlyn had to find out that Kylie was pregnant just like everyone else  from the internet.

'She was heartbroken that her own daughter wouldn't confide something so serious to her first.'

Close: Only adding to the fraught situation, it was then reported that Caitlyn was not told of the news personally, and instead read about it online - which she immediately denied

Upsetting: A source had reported: 'She was heartbroken that her own daughter wouldn't confide something so serious to her first', but her reps confirmed this as untrue

Yet, the source added that Kylie had delayed telling Caitlyn as she was concerned about how she would take the news.

The insider added: 'The fact is, Kylie was just worried about Caitlyn's reaction and then the news leaked out much quicker than she expected - before she had the chance to speak to her.'

However a representative for Caitlyn confirmed this story as untrue, when approached by MailOnline.

Tease: Kylie Jenner stole the limelight again on Monday, as she flashed a peek of her rumoured 'baby bump' in a skintight black top in a Snapchat video

Having fun? The reality star, 20, sent fans into overdrive as she larked around in the clip with best friend Jordyn Woods - who she threw a lavish Malibu birthday party for over the weekend

No official confirmation of the Lip Kit founder's pregnancy has been given as yet with sister Kim Kardashian and mother Kris Jenner dodging the subject

Kylie appeared to tease her millions of followers on Sunday as she shared a snap of her flashing her stomach on Instagram as the rumour mill continued to churn.

Kylie- who has been dating Travis since April - shared the tummy-teasing photo alongside her BFF Jordyn Wood and a giraffe as she marked her pal's birthday.

Hitting back: Kylie appeared to tease her millions of followers on Sunday as she shared a snap of her flashing her stomach on Instagram as the rumour mill continued to churn

According to TMZ, the E! reality star is said to be four-months pregnant yet her latest social media posting kept fans guessing.

Looking in admiration towards her bestie - who turned 20 on Saturday - the raven-haired beauty held onto her waist while her red joggers were slung low on her hips to display what appeared to be a flat stomach according to her 97.9million followers.

Captioning the picture, she wrote: 'Yesterday was cute. hope you had the happiest of birthdays Jordy. Love you forever ever and beyond...'.

Later, the social media sensation posted a shot of her fresh face from the interior of one of her many luxury rides, keeping her controversy churning belly out of sight.

Riding high! Later, the social media sensation posted a shot of her fresh face from the interior of one of her many luxury rides

Out of sight, out of mind! In the car selfies the teen dream kept her controversy churning belly out of sight

Claims: Kylie added further fuel to the pregnancy speculation as she showed off her tummy in a skintight black top

MailOnline have contacted Kylie Jenner's rep for comment.

Unable to contain their suspicions, many of her loyal fanbase flooded her comments declaring that her latest photo meant she was far from expecting in five months time.

One simply posted under the photo that was taken on Friday: 'I don't see no bump.'

According to TMZ , the E! reality star is said to be four-months pregnant with her rapper-beau Travis Scott

'Where's the baby?' another shared. 'Guess she wanted to prove she's not preggo'.

Another fan passionately wrote: 'Doesn't look like Kylie's pregnant to me! Knew she wasn't all along...'.

While many shared: 'She's not pregnant', 'she's not preggo' and 'she ain't pregnant'.

Other's questioned whether she was playing up to the speculation: 'She be playing with us'.

Speculation: Unable to contain their suspicions, many of her loyal fanbase flooded her comments declaring that her figure looked far from that of a pregnant woman in her new snap

'Belly?????? Idk!!!! Why does she play us like this?' a fan posted. 'She is not that dumb to get get pregnant, she fooling y'all and laughing at everyone'.

Despite the outcries of fans insisting she isn't with child, others claimed the photo was old while another claimed that you don't show in the first four months.

'This picture is a old stop fronting show the belly,' one claimed. 'This picture is from a while back'

'At 4 months you don't show very much. It's still possibly.'

Suspicion: Despite the outcries of fans insisting she isn't with child, others claimed the photo was old while another claimed that you don't show in the first four months

Before another shared: 'Ah! Well would you look at that! A glimpse of the tummy...but only TIME will be the truth folks!'

The picture comes after she surprised her best gal pal Jordyn with an over-the-top celebration which included gifting her a 2017 black metallic Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 Coupe.

In awe of her generous friend, the model could be heard crying 'Oh my God' as Kylie presented her generous present for all to see on Snapchat during their trip to the Malibu Wine Safari.

Surprise: The picture comes after she surprised her best gal pal Jordyn with an over-the-top celebration which included gifting her a 2017 black metallic Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 Coupe

Celebrations: In awe of her generous friend, the model could be heard crying 'Oh my God' as Kylie presented her generous present for all to see on Snapchat during their trip to the Malibu Wine Safari

Meanwhile, Kylie's furore online comes after her inner circle are reportedly 'very concerned' about her having a child.

A source told People that her family 'think Kylie is too young to have a baby.'

The insider's said of the reality star, whose baby-daddy is purportedly her boyfriend Travis Scott: 'Kylie is very naive.'

'Too young to have a baby': The furore online comes after her inner circle are reportedly 'very concerned' about her having a child

As this source pointed out: 'Spending time with other people's kids is obviously completely different than being a mom 24/7. Kylie of course has no idea about all the hard work and sleepless nights.'

The source said that during her relationship with her ex 'Tyga, whenever things were good, Kylie said she wanted a baby. Between spending lots of time with her nieces and nephews, and being around Tyga's son, she claimed she was ready.'

Meanwhile, 'Her family would beg her to protect herself. They were very concerned.'

Seen this April: The insider's said of the 20-year-old, whose baby-daddy is purportedly her boyfriend Travis Scott: 'Kylie is very naive'

Tyga, 27, has a four-year-old son called King Cairo by none other than Blac Chyna, who's since also had a daughter by Kylie's half-brother Rob Kardashian.

Travis, 25, has been dating Kylie since this April - the same month she and Tyga had publicly announced that they'd broken up.

The pregnancy story was broken on Friday by TMZ, which reported that Kylie's boyfriend Travis Scott is the father.

People claimed that day that Kylie's baby - allegedly a girl - is due in February.

Spotted in May: Kylie, who owns two lavish homes in Hidden Hills, has yet to publicly confirm the pregnancy herself, as has Travis

A source had gossiped then that Kylie and Travis 'started telling friends a few weeks ago. The family has known for quite some time. She is really excited and so is Travis.'

Kylie, who owns two lavish homes in Hidden Hills, has yet to publicly confirm the pregnancy herself, as has Travis.

Nor have Kylie's parents Kris and Caitlyn Jenner - as well as Kylie's sister Kendall Jenner and four Kardashian half-siblings - confirmed the rumor outright.
Over the weekend, she was caught in the middle of embarrassing social media storm, as fans accused her of mistakenly referring to Scottish bagpipes as Irish.

But Chloe Grace Moretz was spotted getting back to work on Sunday, as she shot scenes for her upcoming thriller The Widow in Dublin, Ireland.

The 20-year-old actress, who portrays a waitress called Frances in the film, wore a pristine white shirt as she peered onto the city's bustling Dawson Street - styled to looked like New York's downtown Manhattan - from the large window of an eatery.

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Back to work: Chloe Grace Moretz was spotted shooting scenes for her upcoming movie The Widow in Dublin, Ireland, on Sunday

Chloe, who recently reunited with her British boyfriend Brooklyn Beckham, appeared to be in good spirits as she filmed scenes alongside Isabelle Huppert, 64, for the thriller, which is being helmed by Oscar-winning director Neil Jordan.

The thriller, which is penned by Ray Wright, follows the journey of Frances (Chloe) who embarks on an unlikely friendship with the much older widow Greta (Huppert) - whose intentions soon turn out to be sinister.

Things get dramatic once their seemingly happy and healthy relationship turns menacing, thanks to Greta's threatening actions.The movie will also star Maika Monroe, Zawe Ashton, Colm Feore and Stephen Rea.

Smart: The 20-year-old actress looked smart in waitress uniform as she got into character

Crisp: She donned a crisp white shirt and grey apron with suspenders as she shot the scenes

Peer: She peered out onto the city's bustling Dawson Street from the large window of an eatery

Plotline: In the thriller, she stars as Frances, who sparks up an friendship with an older woman

Light: She was illuminated by one of the outdoor street lights as she looked out of the window

Missing somebody? The actress appeared to have a few pensive moments in between takes

NYC: Dublin's Dawson Street has been styled to look like New York City's downtown Manhattan

Chloe's day at work came several hours after she was accused of confusing Scotland and Ireland in an apparent Twitter fail that sparked hilarious reactions from fans.

On Saturday, the actress took to the micro-blogging platform to gush about her surroundings as she wrote: 'I can hear bagpipes out my window. Oh Ireland.'

Bagpipes are a wind instrument commonly associated and popularised by the Scottish Highlands - a point many fans swiftly pointed out to the star.

While the bagpipes have long been played throughout Europe, western Asia and the Persian Gulf, it is most commonly referred to as a Scottish hallmark.

Bun: The blonde beauty's hair was swept back in a neat bun for her moment before cameras

Thrilling shoot: The upcoming thriller has been shooting in Dublin since earlier this month

Release: The film, which has been penned by Ray Wright, is expected to be released next year

Crew: A camera crew was seen capturing all of the action both in and outside of the building

Break: The screen beauty enjoyed a brief break in between takes during her busy day on set

On-again: Her on-again boyfriend Brooklyn Beckham is currently studying in New York City

Dramatic: They appeared to be shooting a dramatic scene, as a police car was seen arriving

And hoards of her fans commented on her tweet to express their confusion.

A selection of her more than 3million followers replied: 'Bagpipes are Scottish no?... you sure you're not in Scotland?'

'If you come to Australia than you would probably hear a didgeridoo playing out the window. Jokes.'

'Oh Ireland oh Scotland hahahaha' and 'I think you've confused the country you're in.'

On set: Award-winning actress Isabelle Huppert was also spotted shooting scenes on the set

Elegant: The 64-year-old screen star looked typically elegant in a grey coat with navy hat

Chatting away: She was seen chatting away with director Neil Jordan, who is helming the film

Sinister: The film follows the journey of Frances (Chloe) who embarks on an unlikely friendship with the much older widow Greta (Huppert) - whose intentions soon turn out to be sinister

Glam: Isabelle was spotted getting her makeup touched up as she waited for her next take

Calling the shots: Auteur Neil donned a patterned sweater as he took charge of proceedings

Watchful eye: Neil, who wrote and directed the Oscar-winning 1992 film The Crying Game, kept a watchful eye on the set as he chatted with the sizeable crew

Puffing away: He also enjoyed a cigarette as the large cast and the crew worked into the night

Big cast: The movie will also star Maika Monroe, Zawe Ashton, Colm Feore and Stephen Rea

'I thought that was a Scots thing?' and 'We don't have bagpipes here unless the Scottish are invading?'

However, there were a few people who came to her defence - drawing on the vast history of the bagpipe.

One wrote: 'If I'm not mistaken they are both since both are Celtic, plus I've heard bagpipes originated in Ireland.'

Added another: 'When I was growing up there was an old man who every Saturday played bagpipes in the park across from my house..this was in Australia.'

Red-faced: on Saturday, Chloe was accused of confusing Scotland and Ireland in an embarrassing Twitter fail

'Oh Ireland': The American actress took to her social media platform to reveal she could hear bagpipes through her window

History: Bagpipes is a wind instrument commonly associated and popularised by the Scottish Highlands - prompting a hilarious reaction from fans (file picture)

'You sure you're not in Scotland?' Chloe was met with a wave of tickled responses from her 3.28 million followers

Meanwhile, her beau Brooklyn Beckham shared a cute black and white snap of the pair which he had captioned: 'Thinking of this one xx'.

Brooklyn and Chloe were seen cosied up to one another as they snapped a selfie outdoors.

Now that the British teenager has moved overseas to study, he's been able to meet up with the beauty regularly.

His post was yet further confirmation that the pair have rekindled their romance, after splitting last year.

Popular instrument: While the bagpipes have long been played throughout Europe, western Asia and the Persian Gulf, it is most commonly referred to as a Scottish hallmark

'This was in Australia': However, there were a few people who came to her defence - drawing on the vast history of the bagpipe

Keeping coy about their relationship, however, the duo decided to cryptically play out their love story on social media, with Brooklyn recently being caught complaining that he was 'missing [his] girl'.

Underneath a throwback shot of one of their favourite pastimes, watching TV together, his message read: 'These nights are my favourite [love heart]. Missing my girl.'

Chloe then very much confirmed that she was the girl he was pining for, when she left her comment beneath it - a love heart and a wilting flower emoji/

The black and white post, which was liked by Joanne and David Beckham, appears to show Brooklyn stroking Chloe's leg.

Cute couple: Meanwhile, Brooklyn Beckham proved he only had one lady on his mind as he shared a sweet Instagram snap pining over his girlfriend Chloe on Wednesday

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 Game of Thrones

'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
He recently made his runway debut at New York Fashion Week, following in his supermodel mother's footsteps.

And Mingus Reedus showed where he got his flawless genes as he stepped out with mum Helena Christensen in New York on Sunday.

The budding model, 16, towered over his model mother, 48, who put on a leggy display as they talk their dog Kuma out for a walk.

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He got it from his mama! Mingus Reedus showed where he got his flawless genes as he stepped out with mum Helena Christensen in New York on Sunday

Showing her son how it's done, Helena strutted down the street in a pair of thigh-skimming blue shorts, making the most of her supermodel proportions.

And still boasting a slender frame, Helena teased a glimpse of her bronzed decolletage in a button-up lace vest, covering her pretty face with oversized sunglasses.

She was joined by Mingus, dressed in an action hero t-shirt and white shorts as he held onto their beloved pooch.

Making the sidewalk their catwalk: The budding model, 16, towered over his model mother, 48, who put on a leggy display as they talk their dog Kuma out for a walk

Helena, who lives in New York City with Mingus, shares the teenager with ex Norman Reedus, of The Walking Dead fame.

The celebrity duo were together for 5 years from 1998 to 2003 and now co-parent Mingus, who was born in 1999.

The former Victoria Secret model, who shot to fame alongside Tyra Banks and Cindy Crawford, has proudly watched her teen son follow in her model footsteps, recently walking for Calvin Klein during New York Fashion Week.

Leggy: Showing her son how it's done, Helena strutted down the street in a pair of thigh-skimming blue shorts, making the most of her supermodel proportions

Following in his mum's footsteps: Mingus recently made his catwalk debut, walking for Calvin Klein during New York Fashion Week

The photogenic beauty recently admitted that she is very liberal with her son.

'I would say it's a mix of old-fashioned values,' explained Helena of her trilingual teenager.

'Discipline, love, respect, loyalty and honesty - but they're definitely mixed in with a very progressive form of upbringing.'

Christensen continued: '[Mingus has] definitely taught me how deeply uncool I am. He's like: "I'm going to ask you something, Mum, but please promise me you won't turn it into one of your lessons about life - I'm doing quite well without them."'

Whilst Helena has made a successful career from her stunning good looks, she recently revealed that she hadn't always felt so confident with her appearance.

The original: Helena is one of the most iconic supermodels of the eighties and nineties

Speaking about being scouted in her teens, the supermodel revealed she was shocked that anyone looked twice as she had 'chubby cheeks'.

Talking to Red magazine, she said: 'I had a horrible perm, chubby baby cheeks and frosted pink lipstick!'

However while she is one of the most iconic supermodels of all time, Helena admitted at this year's London Fashion Week she is glad she was a model in the nineties rather than now - thanks to the social media movement.

Helena is one of the most iconic supermodels of the eighties and nineties, and shot to fame for her steamy appearance in Chris Issak's Wicked Game music video way back in 1991- where she heated up the screen by baring all in the sand while sensually smooching the rock-and-roller.

Former flame: Helena, who lives in New York City with Mingus, shares the teenager with ex Norman Reedus, of The Walking Dead fame
It's the night to celebrate achievements of AFL's best sport stars but it was the WAGs who were really turning heads at the Brownlow Medal in Melbourne.

Thigh splits were the order of the night, with a number of glamorous women dialling their style factor up a notch with the racy frock feature.

Stepping out on the red carpet with their partners on Monday night, WAGs like Brit Davis and Lauren Tscharke all dared to bare.

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On display! As AFL WAGs stepped out for the Brownlow Medal in Melbourne on Monday night, glamorous women like Lauren Tscharke (pictured left with partner Bryce Gibbs) and Brit Davis (pictured right with partner Joel Selwood) dared to bare in dresses with thigh splits

Accompanying her man to the lavish event, Bryce Gibbs' partner Lauren Tscharke donned a lacy black frock with a netted skirt but made her trim pins the focal attraction with a flesh-baring thigh split.

Brit Davis, the girlfriend of Geelong Cats's Joel Selwood, had similar ideas and put one of her tanned and slender legs on display in a sparkly silver number.

The stunner's figure-hugging number effused hints of old Hollywood glamour, with Brit complementing the look by styling her caramel locks in voluminous waves.

Dazzling! Brit Davis (pictured), the girlfriend of Geelong Cats's Joel Selwood, put one of her toned and tanned legs on display at the lavish event

Beautiful! Brit's sparkly silver ensemble effused hints of old Hollywood glamour

Turning heads: Lauren Tscharke (pictured) donned a lacy black frock with a netted skirt but made her trim pins the focal attraction with a flesh-baring thigh slit.

Also having her own personal Angelina Jolie moment was Eleanor Brawshaw, the partner of Fremantle player Nathan Fyfe.

Eleanor was a delight in white as she wore a sheer strapless number with floral detailing for the event.

But it was the dark-haired beauty's thin pins that stole the show as they emerged from underneath the frock.

Angelic! Eleanor Brawshaw (right), the partner of Fremantle player Nathan Fyfe (left), enjoyed her own personal Angelina Jolie moment

Delight in white! Eleanor wore a sheer strapless number with floral detailing for the event

While Eleanor went for angelic attire, Madeline Ryan channelled gothic-chic in striking black dress.

The partner of Brisbane player Stefan Martin, Madeline put on a show as she lifted up the flowing silk skirt to unveil her slender leg and strappy charcoal pumps.

Also selecting the classic shade for AFL's night of nights was Luke Shuey's other half, Danielle Orlando, who dazzled in a sheer black number with silver detailing and matching heels.

Putting on a show! Madeline Ryan (pictured) was the centre of attention as she lifted up the flowing silk skirt of her dress to unveil her slender leg and strappy charcoal pumps

Gothic chic: Madeline, the partner of Brisbane player Stefan Martin, was a beauty in black

Showing some leg! Luke Shuey's (left) other half, Danielle Orlando (pictured), selected a sheer black number with silver detailing and matching heels

Bucking the black dress trend was Gary Ablett's wife Jordan, who bypassed a thigh-split feature to show off her slender legs in a side-swept nude ensemble.

The brunette's svelte frame was accentuated by the stylish outfit, which clung to Jordan's curves in all the right places.

Meanwhile, Kate Turner, who accompanied her partner Dyson Heppell, rocked the red carpet in a flowing dress which featured a sheer bodice and high neckline.

Doing it her own way! Gary Ablett's wife Jordan (pictured) bypassed a thigh-split feature to show off her slender legs in a side-swept nude ensemble
He's never been one to mince his words, and first thing on Monday morning was no exception.

Piers Morgan took things a step further as he appeared on Good Morning Britain, shocking co-stars Susanna Reid and Charlotte Hawkins with a playful joke about Prince Harry's sex life with Meghan Markle.

The cheeky presenter, 52, questioned why a couple 'who have sex' were sat 50 metres apart from each other at the Invictus Games opening ceremony in Toronto, Canada on Sunday night, leaving his co-stars stunned.

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Awks! Piers Morgan (centre) shocked co-stars Susanna Reid (right) and Charlotte Hawkins (left) with a playful joke about Prince Harry's sex life with Meghan Markle on GMB on Monday morning

The famously private couple enjoyed their first official engagement over the weekend, appearing together at the Games - but sitting separately as royal protocol dictates that because they are not engaged, they cannot sit next to one another at official events - they sat four rows apart.

And pondering over their appearance, Piers quipped on live TV: 'It's common sense. It's ridiculous. When have you ever been to a sporting event when you're 50m from the person you're having sex with?'

His comments left his co-stars dumbstruck, as they laughed awkwardly, chiding him over his crudeness.

Sitting separately: The cheeky presenter, 52, questioned why a couple 'who have sex' were sat 50 meters apart from each other at a recent event, leaving his co-stars stunned (Prince Harry pictured taking to the stage at the event in Canada)

Low key: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured) enjoyed their first official engagement over the weekend, appearing together at the Invictus Games - but sitting separately, but next to Markus Anderson, who is thought to have set the couple up last July

Scolding him jokingly , Susannah hit back with: 'How come we've got to 12 minutes passed 7.00 and you're saying that on the television.'

But defiant Piers turned things around on the stunned brunette, branding her 'ridiculous' for not admitting that couples 'get intimate' in the bedroom.

'They've done it apparently to avoid attention, all they've done is get ten times more attention,' he concluded.

Why? Pondering over their appearance, Piers quipped on live TV: 'It's common sense. It's ridiculous. When have you ever been to a sporting event when your 50m from the person you're having sex with?'

The famous couple were not seated together at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, but she was sat just a few feet away from the Queen's grandson, who was accompanied by US First Lady Melania Trump.

Wearing a purple dress and a matching $690 Mackage leather jacket slung over her shoulders, Meghan was escorted by her close friend Markus Anderson who introduced her to Prince Harry last year.

Her low key presence marks the first time she has joined the Royal for an official event and will intensify speculation that an engagement announcement is imminent.

Turning heads: Wearing a purple dress and a matching $690 Mackage leather jacket slung over her shoulders, Meghan was escorted by her close friend Markus Anderson who introduced her to Prince Harry last year- while the Royal mingled with Melania Trump

Harry was seated a quarter of a stadium away, occupying a VIP box alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US First Lady Melania Trump and Ukraine's President Poroshenko.

And it seems the couple were also keen to keep the limelight on the stars of the event- which honoured injured military personnel, with this years event featuring 550 competitors from 17 nations.

The distance - 18 seats and four rows - did nothing to dampen the actress's excitement or pride.

What a wake-up call! Piers' co-stars appeared unimpressed with his awkward joke first thing on Monday

Unimpressed: Scolding him jokingly , Susannah hit back with: 'How come we've got to 12 minutes passed 7.00 and you're saying that on the television.'

The stunning actress beamed as Harry gave an inspiring and humble speech on stage during which he told the 550 athletes gathered: 'You are all winners. You are Invictus.'

Meanwhile Harry seemed unable to keep his eyes off his radiant girlfriend and was spotted glancing down towards her seat on a number of occasions.

Low key: Harry was seated a quarter of a stadium away, occupying a VIP box alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US First Lady Melania Trump and Ukraine's President Poroshenko
They have been married for five years, and welcomed their second daughter together in March.

But Rochelle and Marvin Humes proved they were as loved-up as ever on Monday, as they shared a sweet throwback snap from their Ibiza holiday on Instagram.

The former girl band star, 28, showed off her slender frame in a skimpy orange bikini just six months after giving birth, as she cuddled up to her husband, 32 - before poking fun at their 'cringe' relationship in the caption.

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Summer love! Rochelle and Marvin Humes proved they were as loved-up as ever on Monday, as they shared a sweet throwback snap from their Ibiza holiday on Instagram

The pair put on a very cosy display in the photo, which sees them cuddling for the camera aboard a boat in the sunshine.

Slipping into a skimpy peach two-piece, mother-of-two Rochelle displayed her enviably womanly figure and peachy derriere for all to see - just six months after welcoming her daughter Valentina Raine.

Despite their surroundings the TV presenter only had eyes for her husband, who showed off his muscular frame in floral swim shorts, as he wrapped his arms around his wife in return.

Serenading him: Now back in the UK, the couple did not stop with their loved-up displays on social media - with Marvin sharing a clip of Rochelle singing at the dinner table on Sunday

However, Rochelle was quick to poke fun at the sickly-sweet snap in her playful caption, which read: 'Obligatory cringe couple on a boat 'not posing' pic'

The shot was shared as a throwback from their holiday to Ibiza last week, where they were celebrating two of their close friends' engagement.

However now back in the UK, the couple did not stop with their loved-up displays on social media.

Dynamic duo: They then went on to document their first day back at work

Slick: In a video posted on Monday, the pair were seen dolled up in their finest clothing for a formal appearance - with Rochelle in a black ensemble, and Marvin in a tux

Marvin took to his Instagram story on Sunday to share a clip of Rochelle singing at the dinner table, before documenting their first day back at work.

In a video posted on Monday, the pair were seen dolled up in their finest clothing for a formal appearance - with Rochelle dazzling in a form-fitting black ensemble, while Marvin looked typically suave in a tux.

The former JLS star revealed to his followers the pair were filming in a court room, to which Rochelle responded playfully: 'Yep, I'm suing his a**!'

Playful: The former JLS star revealed to his followers the pair were filming in a court room, to which Rochelle responded jestingly: 'Yep, I'm suing his a**!'

The duo tied the knot in 2012 during a lavish ceremony at Blenheim Palace, and welcomed daughter Alaia-Mai the following year.

The couple celebrated their fifth anniversary at the end of July, just four months after welcoming their second child Valentina Raine.

Known to be doting parents, Rochelle caused something of a stir on Instagram last week, after admitting she had used her own mouth to clear her youngest child's nose.

Still going strong: The duo tied the knot in 2012 at Blenheim Palace, and have welcomed daughters Alaia-Mai and Valentina Raine together (pictured at LFW last week)

Happy family: The couple celebrated their fifth anniversary at the end of July, just four months after welcoming their second child Valentina Raine (above)

Using the hashtag #MUMLIFE, the brunette said on her Instagram story: 'Just put Valentina to bed, she's not been very well actually the past couple of days, she's teething, and got a cold and everything.

'So bunged up that last night, wait for it, I sucked the snot out of her nose. Yeah.'

Then, in a second clip with the tag 'SAVAGE' emblazoned across the screen, the pop star added: 'The joke of it is is that she actually looked at me like, "Mum, what on earth are you doing to me? Get off me, this is disgusting."
The Brownlow Medal is the chance for glammed-up AFL WAGs and women in the industry to shine as they make their way down the red carpet.

And on Monday night, many of the stunning ladies appeared to have a penchant for pink.

Rocking the ruby rug at the elegant event, a swathe of attendees opted for the feminine hue as they posed in their stylish frocks.

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Pretty in pink! Red carpet host Rachael Finch (left) led the charge at the Brownlow Medal red carpet as a swathe of attendees donned the feminine hue

Red carpet host Rachael Finch, 29, flaunted more than a hint of cleavage in an eye-popping pastel pink chiffon dress which featured a low-cut corset and a boned bodice.

Natalie Cini, the partner of Blues player Sam Docherty, went for a slightly brighter shade as she showed some skin in an elegant strapless number.

AFL writer Sam Lane gave the WAGs a run for their money in the style stakes, dazzling in a figure-hugging pink frock which she teamed with a YSL clutch in a similar shade.

Flirty display! WAG Natalie Cini (left) and AFL writer Sam Lane (right) bared some skin in the colour of the night

What a star! Accompanying her husband Robbie, the pregnant Annabel Gray (pictured) dressed her baby bump in a pink dress with a floral hemline

Accompanying her husband Robbie, a pregnant Annabel Gray dressed her baby bump in a darker hue as she slipped into a frock emblazoned with metallic stars.

The floor-skimming hemline was just as elaborate as it was decked out in baby pink floral detailing.

Also in attendance was Robbie Tarrant's girlfriend Jess Jafer, who radiated beauty in a sleeveless bubblegum pink ensemble with ruffles.

Dressed in similar attire was Mardi Dangerfield, the wife of Patrick, who accessorised with gold hoop earrings and a metallic clutch.

Radiating beauty: Robbie Tarrant's partner Jess Jafer (left) and Patrick Dangerfield's wife Mardi (right) both opted for sleeveless frocks in bubblegum pink

Style maven! Kate Lawrence (right) joined her AFL partner Luke Parker (left) for the red carpet and was dressed to impress in a bold pink lace frock

Joining her significant other Luke Parker, Kate Lawrence was dressed to impress in bold pink lace frock with sheer sleeves and complemented the look with plum lipstick and a dusting of bright eyeshadow.

Elsewhere, Josh Kennedy's partner Ana Calle appeared to only want a hint of the colour of the moment.

She was dressed in an OTT white voluminous dress which was gifted a touch of colour with a hemline that had purple and pink hues.

Also stepping out in pink was Moana Hope who attended the glam occasion on the arm of partner Isabella Carlstorm.

OTT glam! Josh Kennedy's partner Ana Calle (pictured) didn't blend in with her white sleeveless dress with touches of fuchsia and purple
She's no stranger to cosmetic surgery after having lip implants, botox and several breast enlargements.

And after her latest surgical upgrade, getting Brazilian bum implants, Ex on the Beach star Jemma Lucy was keen to show off her investment as she hit the town on Sunday.

The 29-year-old reality star rocked a skimpy LBD for her first night out since the procedure, joined by fellow EOTB star Zaralena Jackson, 25.

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First night out: Former Ex on the Beach star Jemma Lucy, 29, showed off the results of her Brazilian bum lift on her first night out in Manchester with fellow EOTB star Zaralena Jackson on Sunday

The Celebrity Big Brother star showed off her tattooed physique in the strapless belted dress which gave her chest a boost, as well as clinging to her enhanced derriere.

Keeping her raven tresses combed back and voluminous Jemma went for power brows and a pink lip gloss which showed off her pumped pout.

Teaming her frock with peeptoe boots, Jemma turned heads as she headed to the Manchester clubs.

Vixen: Jemma looked every inch the gothic queen in a skimpy LBD which showcased her tattooed physique

Going for a contrast effect, Zaralena chose a white ensemble which showed off her deep tan, with frilly top and skirt combo teamed with strappy silver sandals.

Jemma was spotted hitting the Turkish beaches with TOWIE star Bobby Norris and friend Charlie Docherty with a bandaged waist after her surgery last week.

The inked beauty sported an abdominal binder after her bum lift - the process of injecting fat from areas of the body such as the abdomen and chin into the buttocks.

Holiday: Jemma relaxed poolside with TOWIE star Bobby Norris (far left) and friend Charlie Docherty (far right) last week after jetting off to Turkey to have the procedure done

Bikini babe: Jemma happily put her surgically-enhanced assets on display in the perilously plunging swimwear, which proved to be heavily sequinned

Perfection: Charlie jetted to Turkey in the summer where she received three procedures overseas to get her 'summer body'

Before jetting off for the procedure, Jemma told The Sun Online she had always dreamed off having a bigger rear, despite having her first bum lift just four months ago.

She said: 'Ive always had an obsession with having a bigger bum.

'I only had the last fat transfer four months ago but as soon as I woke up from the surgery I knew I wanted a second one.'

Revealing that she hopes to emulate Khloe Kardashian's curvaceous shape, she said: 'Really Ive only just recovered from the last one as it takes about three months before you can sit and lie down properly but Im ready to go back in.'
She is following in the star-studded supermodel footsteps of her mother, so it's no surprise the pair were out in full force for Paris Fashion Week.

And Kaia Gerber looked the spitting image of her glamorous mother Cindy Crawford, 51, when they put on a fashion parade on arrival, on Monday.

The young model, 16, who is making her debut at Fashion Week this month, showcased her statuesque figure in a deep purple floral dress, which featured a pink oriental design.

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Looking lovely: Kaia Gerber, 16, looked the spitting image of her glamorous mother Cindy Crawford, 51, when they put on a fashion parade in the picturesque streets of Paris on Monday

Kaia - who is also the daughter of 55-year-old Rande Gerber - threw a leather jacket over her shoulders, which had studs on the collar for an edgy effect.

On trend as ever, the supermodel's daughter proved she had genuine style when she sashayed through the French capital in chunky army-style boots.

The fashionista tucked her poker straight brunette tresses behind her ears to showcase her pretty features, accentuated by light touches of make-up.

Model like daughter! The young model (L) showed it is in her genes as she stepped out for Paris Fashion Week looking like her glamorous mother Cindy (R)

How to accessorise: Kaia channelled a French look as she carried her French Beret in a deep purple and brown tinted sunglasses

Toting a denim bag, Kaia channelled a French look as she carried her French beret in deep purple, and peeped behind brown tinted sunglasses.

Cindy, however, opted for a casually glamorous style in a slinky black blouse teamed with slim-fit jeans.

The catwalk queen - who is also mother to 18-year-old son Presley - injected drama into her attire with sky-high platform sandals.

On trend as ever: The supermodel's daughter proved she had genuine style when she sashayed through the French capital in chunky army-style boots

She's a beauty: The fashionista tucked her poker straight brunette tresses behind her ears to showcase her pretty model features, accentuated by light touches of make-up

Age-defying Cindy proudly showed her beauty has stood the test of time, letting her caramel coloured tresses loose and pulling on a pair of sunglasses.

Kaia made her New York Fashion Week catwalk debut in September before walking her first catwalk with her mother for Versace in Milan.

Cindy quit full-time modelling in 2000 to focus on her children, with whom she shares with husband of almost 20 years Rande, but came out of retirement for a one-off show on Friday.

Edgy effect: Kaia - who is also the daughter of 55-year-old Rande Gerber - threw a leather jacket over her shoulders

Follow your heart: She's following in the footsteps of her glamorous mother Cindy

Age-defying: The supermodel proudly showed her beauty has stood the test of time, letting her caramel coloured tresses loose and pulling on a pair of sunglasses

The all-American beauty is said to have featured on around 500 magazine covers.

She has also walked for shows including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, DKNY and Valentino.

The model, whose net worth is an estimated $100million according to The Richest, moved on to acting after her success on the runway.

She has also ventured into business with her eponymous furniture range.

Lookalikes: The mother and daughter showed they were closer than ever as they headed out into the French capital

Going strong: Kaia made her New York Fashion Week catwalk debut in September before walking her first catwalk with her mother for Versace in Milan

The mother-of-two recently gushed about her overwhelming pride for her children and their accomplishments.

Cindy told Vanity Fair: 'You know what, it's been really fun for me to see my kids get their feet wet in the fabulous world of fashion.

'The advice I give them is more about reminders - like be on time, be prepared, be professional, don't be on your phone, talk to people, and have fun.

'They both have good heads on their shoulders, and I'm not worried.'
Caitlyn Jenner has confirmed her youngest daughter, Kylie Jenner, is pregnant.

The former athlete, 67, was the first member of the family to formally confirm the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is expecting her first child.

While it's believed the make-up entrepreneur is expecting a baby girl with her boyfriend of five months, rapper Travis Scott, 25, she is yet to publicly comment on the news.

Thanks! Caitlyn Jenner has confirmed her youngest daughter, Kylie Jenner, is pregnant. The former athlete, 67, was the first member of the family to formally confirm the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is expecting her first child

Together: Here Kylie is seen with Caitlyn in October 2016 during King Cairo's birthday

A representative for Caitlyn - formerly Bruce - told The Sun when asked how she found out about her daughter's pregnancy: 'All I can tell you is that it was some time ago.'

On Monday Ryan Seacrest, who is a producer on the family's E! reality show, reached out to momager Kris Jenner on air when he was co-hosting Live With Kelly And Ryan from New York City to ask about the beauty's condition. He didn't get a no.

It was during the opening of the morning talk show when Ryan reached for his cell phone and texted the mother of Kylie.

He was hoping she would confirm that Kylie was pregnant. But what he got back, 'Kylies not confirming anything.'

His attempt: On Monday Ryan Seacrest, who is a producer on the family's E! reality show, reached out to momager Kris Jenner via text on air when he was co-hosting Live With Kelly And Ryan from New York City to ask about the beauty's condition

Well, she didn't say no: What he got back was, 'Kylies not confirming anything'; here they are seen on Sunday's KUWTK 10 year anniversary special

But Kylie has shown off her tummy on social media.

Over the weekend she pulled up her shirt and touched her tummy as she posed with her friend Jordyn Woods. It was too difficult to tell if she had a bump or not.

The star was also seen with Travis going to his iHeart Radio performance. Again she wore a baggy T-shirt.

On air: Ryan was seen on Sunday interviewing Kylie for the KUWTK 10 year anniversary special, but the show was taped in the spring; here are Kendall, left, and Kylie, right, from the show

He has known the family forever! Ryan and the clan seen in 2007 in LA; here is Caitlyn, far right, when she was Bruce Jenner

And she was also at her best friend Jordyn Woods' birthday party in Malibu; again she was covered up.

Ryan was seen on Sunday interviewing Kylie for the KUWTK 10 year anniversary special, but the show was taped in the spring, before she likely got pregnant.

The reality star and her rapper boyfriend are said to have broken the happy news to friends earlier this month at the Day N Night Fest in Anaheim.

Jenner is pregnant: Reality star, 20, 'expecting a baby with boyfriend Travis Scott' friends claim; the two are seen here in April, soon after they started dating

Multiple outlets are reporting that the youngest member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan is expecting her first child with her boyfriend of five months.

It is even claimed that Kylie and 25-year-old Travis know the sex of the child - and are having a girl.

A source confirmed the news to DailyMail.com, adding that the young star was around four months pregnant.

TMZ first broke the news, with a report stating that Travis was telling friends his life was about to change.

Hiding her bump? The star shared this photo on Thursday, but it is not know when it was taken

A further source told People magazine that Kylie was overjoyed about her pregnancy.

'It is an unexpected but completely amazing turn of events that she could not be more excited or thrilled about,' they said.

Kylie began dating Travis back in April following her split from former long-term boyfriend Tyga, who has a child, son King Cairo, with Blac Chyna (Rob Kardashian's ex).

As news broke of the pregnancy on Friday the rapper added his own thoughts to the mix - Snapchatting, then deleting, the comment: 'hell nah that's my kid!'

Four months ago - around the time she fell pregnant - Kylie went on a charity trip to Peru. Keeping Up With The Kardashians viewers were watching as a private jet made a pit stop in Miami to collect her, after she spent a romantic few days with Travis.

Oh Tyga! As news broke of the pregnancy on Friday Tyga added his own thoughts to the mix - Snapchatting, then deleting, the comment 'hell nah that's my kid!'

In the months since the two have since proved inseparable, and even have matching butterflies tattooed on their ankles.

In recent weeks social media savvy Kylie has been unusally restrained in her posts.

Not normally one to be shy, she has refrained from any full body shots, instead posting cropped selfies of her head and shoulders, while skipping any public events.

On Thursday she shared one full-length shot with a group of friends, but hid her body under a baggy T-shirt.

'Day 1s' she captioned the post - a term commonly used to refer to old friends.

She also shared a few images to promote her latest clothing line for Kendall + Kyle - which launched on Friday.

On Sunday: The star shared this image with her best friends over the weekend

Something to tell us? On Thursday she shared a shot with a group of friends, in which she wore a baggy T-shirt

Kylie has previously spoken of her yearning to have a child, even confiding in her grandmother MJ on an episode of I Am Cait that she planned to be a 'young mom'.

Indeed there was wide speculation that she was expecting a child shortly before her break-up with Tyga back in April.

And while the rumor later proved to be untrue, Kylie made it clear she was keen on the idea of starting a family.

'I feel like 30 is too late!' she said on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. 'Every psychic said that Im only going to have two kids.'

Her brand: Kylie released new designs for Kendall + Kylie this week; here she is seen in one of the ads shared on Friday

On Life Of Kylie back in July she claimed was ready to get out of the spotlight and have a more normal life.

'I can't do it forever,' Kylie said.

'There is an image I constantly feel pressure to keep up with,' Kylie confesses. 'And then there's the real Kylie.'

The sister of Vogue model Kendall Jenner added: 'I do feel pressure to not let anybody down. Nobody has a perfect life.'

While Kylie may be young to start a family, she certainly has the means to provide for any child.

Already a multi-millionaire in her own right, thanks to her reality career and make-up business, Kylie also owns several huge mansions.

And any new child will have plenty of ready-made playmates.

Kylie's big sister Kim Kardashian and husband Kanye West are currently awaiting the arrival of their third child. The baby - a girl - is being carried by surrogate and is due in January.

The family: The show comes back for another season in October, and news of her pregnancy will certainly be a part of the show

She will join Kim's older children (four-year-old North and one-year-old Saint), Kourtney's three children (Mason, seven, Penelope, five, and two-year-old Reign) and ten-month old Dream, the only child of Kylie's brother Rob.

As soon as news of the rumored baby hit the Twitter world, fans and critics of the Kardashians and Jenners went wild.

Memes and gifs with hilarious captions were soon tweeted out.

One Twitter user, @KhaiMarcus wrote: 'Kris Jenner leaving TMZ after telling them Kylie Jenner is pregnant the day before the KUWTK premiere....'

Pictured with it was a gif of a woman in disguise rushing out of a building - in this case representing Kris Jenner.

The KUWTK reunion special airs this Sunday.

Another used a picture of Kylie's sister Kim Kardashian.

It said: 'How do people claim to hate Kardashians but literally stop what they're doing to talk about Kylie Jenner being pregnant? Talk about power.'

It was followed with a photo of Kim as she said: 'Not bad for a girl with no talent.'

Having a blast: While Kylie Jenner became one of the top hashtags trending on Twitter around the world, the star herself enjoyed a more relaxed Friday

One person had an interesting theory - involving Kylie, Kim and Kanye.

While Kylie Jenner became one of the top hashtags trending on Twitter around the world, the star herself enjoyed a more relaxed Friday.

She took to Snapchat to share clips from her best friend Jordyn Woods' birthday.

Kylie kept it casual in a baggy red hoodie layered over a black T-shirt with her long brunette locks loose.

The group appeared to be at Malibu Wine Safari at Saddlerock Ranch.

She was joined by Jordyn, Heather Sanders, Anastasia 'Stassi' Karanikolaou and Harry Hudson to name a few.

Longtime friends: She posed with Jordyn and Stassi during the bash
She is one of France's most celebrated actress, who has boasts an Oscar, BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe and two Cesar Awards among her haul of accolades.

But Marion Cotillard proved that she's also a winner in the sartorial stakes on Monday afternoon, when she stepped out in a breathtaking shimmering green trouser suit while enjoying the festivities around Milan Fashion Week.

However, as the 41-year-old actress strolled the Italian city's streets she also caught the eye thanks to her normally raven locks, which were lightened to a new shade of blonde and plaited in four parts.

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Spotted: Marion Cotillard was spotted out and about during Milan Fashion Week on Monday

She teamed her suit - which featured billowing trousers and a perfectly tailored blazer - with towering black heels and a matching handbag for her excursion.

With an array of gold jewellery adoring her decolletage and wrist, the chic Parisian let her natural beauty shine through as she wore a light dusting of subtle makeup.

On the same day, she was seen sporting another more casual look, as she stepped out in a white layered top, which she tucked into a pair of black jeans and teamed with leather slip-ons.

Tress-ed to impress: The French actress wowed as she showed off her newly-blonde hairstyle

Stark contrast: Her lighter locks stand in stark contrast to her signature raven tresses, left

Suits you, madamoiselle! The screen star turned heads as she stepped out in a breathtaking shimmering green trouser suit

Shielding her eyes with a pair of circular framed sunglasses, she was seen chatting with pals - while also using her phone - as she sported the same plaited hairstyle.

Her new hair debut comes after she was seen displaying her incredible physique in the French movie Les Fantomes d'Ismael, which translates to Ismael's Ghosts.

The actress looked sensational as she stripped off for co-star Mathieu Amalric, who famously starred in 2008's Quantum Of Solace, in the sizzling scene which follows a filmmaker whose life is overturned by the reemergence of an ex.

Marion no doubt sent shockwaves in the movie as she left nothing to the imagination by boldly stripping down and leaving the entirety of her frame on show.

Passion for fashion: She teamed her suit - which featured billowing trousers and a perfectly tailored blazer - with towering black heels and a matching handbag for her excursion

Natural beauty: With an array of gold jewellery adoring her decolletage and wrist, the chic Parisian let her natural beauty shine through as she wore a light dusting of subtle makeup

Glamourous: The star effortlessly oozed glamour during her stylish outing in the Italian city

The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May before the theatre release in Russia last month, in which it was met with mixed reviews.

Marion plays Carlotta Bloom, the ex-wife of Mathieu's character Ismael Vuillard, who vanished mysteriously 20 years previously - leading to a decade of searching for her before he was forced to declare his beloved wife dead.

In the scene, depicting her shocking return, which sends shockwaves through Ismael's entire life, as she stands brazenly in front her former love before pulling off her clothes while gazing intently at the handsome star.

Casual: On the same day, she was seen sporting another more casual look, as she stepped out in a white layered top, which she tucked into black jeans and teamed with leather slip-ons

All about the hair! Shielding her eyes with a pair of circular framed sunglasses, she was seen chatting with pals - while also using her phone - as she sported the same plaited hairstyle

Puckering up: She exchanged kisses with pals as they prepared to part ways on the sunny day

Upon the movie's release at Cannes, The Guardian awarded the film just two stars in its review - while claiming 'even Marion can't save this silly, self-indulgent ragbag'.

Aside from her nudity in Ismael's Ghosts, Marion also bravely appeared in a naked scene in 2016's Allied, in which she starred opposite Brad Pitt.

Speaking about the scene, she said: 'Lets imagine youre with your wife, in bed or anywhere, like here and then all those people are watching . . . cameras, like 50 people are watching. Do you still find it sexy? But it's a beautiful love scene.'

During filming, the esteemed acting duo were hit with rumours that they were conducting an extra-marital affair yet she dismissed the claims.

Oh my! Marion recently showcased her incredible physique as she took the lead role in French movie Les Fantomes d'Ismael, which translates to Ismael's Ghosts

Ahem! The 41-year-old looked incredible as she stripped off for co-star Mathieu Amalric, who famously starred in 2008's Quantum Of Solace

She said: 'I never take anything personally when it doesn't concern me. So, I didn't take it personally because I had nothing to do with those rumours or situation.'

Once again touching on their Allied nude scenes, she said: 'We rehearse and had a very determined choreography, and then it allows you freedom.

'When you know exactly what your body will do, then you can act and you can be free to give the emotions and give the feelings because you wont think, What am I going to do next? Am I going to go on top of him? Its an awkward situation...

'We laughed because you need to get it out because this is so weird. And so you get this time of looking at each other and saying: "OK, this is so weird." And then we go into this and then Im going on top of you and then we are going to kiss.'

Another one: Aside from her nudity in Ismael's Ghosts, Marion also bravely starred in a naked scene in 2016's Allied, where she starred opposite Brad Pitt
She jetted out of the UK last week following a jealous bust-up with beau Chris Hughes at a single launch.

But Olivia Attwood has broken her silence for the first time since she fled to Germany following the explosive row, but did not confirm whether or not the pair have split

Posting a message on Twitter, Olivia thanked fans for all of their support, but kept mum on the current status of her relationship.

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Breaking silence: Love Island star Olivia Attwood, 26, returned to social media on Monday after jetting to Germany to escape the storm surrounding her row with beau Chris Hughes, 22

She said: 'Sorry I have been so quiet, sometimes in life you just need a minute to disconnect and remember what's important.

'But thank you so much for all your lovely comment and messages. I can't replay to them all but I do see them and they feed my soul... I love you guys. (sic)'

Olivia has been quiet on social media since leaving the UK as a result of the 'tearful' bust-up with Chris.

Get away: Olivia was spotted looking 'tearful' leaving London's Ministry of Sound on Friday after a massive row with boyfriend Chris (pictured, in late August)

Speculation mounted that their romance was on the rocks following the 'jealous nightclub row' in the early hours of Friday

Olivia jetted out of the country and landed in Germany following her tearful bust-up with beau Chris after she 'flirted' with a mystery man.

According to The Sun Online, Chris flew into a jealous rage after he spotted her dancing with a 'group of gay male dancers' while supporting him at London's Ministry of Sound.

The publication reported that ITV2 starlet Olivia was left so alarmed by his behaviour at the club - where he performed his new single Little Bit Leave It with his pal Kem Cetinay - that she left the UK to gain perspective on their relationship.

Had enough? It was reported that Olivia jetted out of the country and landed in Germany following her tearful bust-up with beau Chris after she 'flirted' with a mystery man

A source close to the blonde bombshell said: 'Chris asked Olivia to come to Ministry of Sound rather than work a job she'd been offered. She went to support him and looked like she was having a great night hanging out with Amber [Davies], her mates and Chris's family.

However things reportedly took a sour turn when Chris - who is set to launch his own reality show Chris & Kem: Straight Outta Love Island - 'flipped and flew into a jealous rage' when he saw Olivia dancing with Amber's gay pals.

Despite Amber doing the same, Chris was left 'furious' as watched on and was restrained by security at the venue while the furore grew as he 'hates seeing her near other guys'.

MailOnline has contacted Olivia Attwood and Chris Hughes' reps for comment.

Reports: According to The Sun Online, Love Island's Chris flew into a jealous rage after he spotted her dancing with a 'group of gay male dancers' while supporting him at London's Ministry of Sound

Jetting off: Olivia shared an image of her in Germany on her Instastory in the midst of the furore on Sunday

The reports come after Olivia shared a cryptic note with her 280,000 followers after the 'row 'reading: 'And sometimes you can do everything in your power to make something work, and it's still not enough', however swiftly deleted the note.

But Chris then sparked confusion as he took to Instagram to share a loved-up snap of the pair with their 'baby' Cash on Saturday.

In the images obtained by The Sun, Olivia was seen storming out of The Ministry Of Sound after Chris performed his single with Kem Cetinay - Little Bit Leave It.

It is claimed the duo fell out over the attention he received inside the club culminating in her storming out of the venue in a rage.

'It's still not enough': Olivia's since-deleted note read, 'And sometimes you can do everything in your power to make something work, and it's still not enough'

Speculation: During the week, there was speculation that Olivia and Chris Hughes had split

The latest drama in their relationship comes after Chris and Kem revealed that he can't talk about their other halves as they check their phones.

The pair - who's bromance on ITV2's Love Island captured the nation - admitted to the Sunday Times Style magazine that their girlfriends have no qualms about routing around their personal devices.

Speaking to the publication, Kem shared: 'Thing is, our girlfriends go through our phones so there's no point in chatting about them on text.'

In the villa, Chris and Olivia were plagued with strife after a very rocky start in which she chose co-star Michael Thalassitis over him and went on to get up close with him although soon returned to her beau's arms.

Defiant: When they left the villa, some compromising photos of Olivia chatting to a former flame outside a club sparked infidelity reports yet the duo defiantly remained together

When they left the villa, some compromising photos of Olivia chatting to a former flame outside a club sparked infidelity reports yet the duo were as defiant as ever when they continued to put on a united front.

Thursday evening's tweet is the latest in the ongoing saga of their romance as fans swiftly asked if it was anything to do with Chris.

In messages obtained by Mirror, fans wrote: 'Have u and Chris split? Is everything OK Liv? What has happened are you and Chris ok.'

Despite being rocked by rumours of cheating and a subsequent split shortly after their exit from Love Island, Olivia last month emphasised how the pair were still 'obsessed' with each other after spending so much time together in the villa.

Public display of affection: Just one month ago, the reality TV lovebirds were seen putting on a very public display of affection in London (pictured)

Speaking to MailOnline, the beauty admitted Chris had been staying at hers ever since the series finale in July, and that the pair were 'more in love than ever'.

She admitted: 'Chris chucked his suitcase at mine the day we got back from the island, and hasn't left since. We haven't had an official 'moving in' thing, but he's pretty much at mine full time now.'

Discussing their hectic schedules, she explained: 'We're obsessed with each other to the point where we're killing ourselves trying to keep to the routine of staying together every night. Which isn't feasible, but we're doing a pretty good job.'

Adding she could not handle their heights of fame without Chris, she continued: 'We're more in love now too, because we've been thrown into this crazy world, so we're holding each other's hands through it.'
Jeremy Meeks, who has been dubbed the Hot Felon after looking handsome in his mug shot, was charge with possession of firearms in 2014.

Since the California native was released from prison in March 2016, he has blossomed into an international model, even hitting the catwalk in Milan and striking up a romance with 26-year-old heiress Chloe Green.

But instead of playing down his bad boy image, the 33-year-old seems to be playing it up as he was spotted making a gun pose while standing shirtless in Malibu on Sunday. The star also made what appeared to be gang hand signs.

Hands up! Jeremy Meeks, who was charge with weapon possession in 2014, looked to be making a gun pose during a photo shoot in Malibu on Sunday

Not a friendly look: The 33-year-old had a black bandanna on his face and he had both his hands in fists

There was no mistake Meeks wanted to come off as a gangster in the shoot that looked to take place just off the Pacific Coast Highway.

He had a black bandanna tied around his face as if he was about to rob a bank while he stretched out an arm looking like he could have a gun in his hand.

His expression was tense and serious.

And Meeks made gang hand signs to the shutterbug.

Le look: The California native wore a khaki pair of shorts with a black belt

Not sure what this means: The former prisoner also made what looked to be gang sings; in July he said he had quit the gang 'to a certain extent'

With no shirt on, his several tattoos were on display. It is not known if he has an Crips inkings. In July he said he had quit the gang 'to a certain extent.'

Jeremy was nearly bald and oiled up.

Meeks had on no shirt and wore his cut-off khaki shorts low on his waist with a black belt.

Black sneakers with white laces looked brand new.

Behind the Philipp Plein model was a vintage light blue car that looked to be in mint condition.

Topless: With no shirt on, his several tattoos were on display. It is not known if he has an Crips inkings. Here he pointed a finger

When he was not posing with his hand out, he pointed a finger at the photographer and also leaned on the car.

At one point he seemed to be running into the street with both hands made into a fist as if he was about to get into a fight.

Jeremy was initially propelled into the spotlight after his mug shot in June 2014 went viral, receiving more than 33,000 likes and 10,400 comments on Facebook.

Change of clothes, but still no shirt: He went from khakis to jeans

Another look: Here he had a bandanna tied around his head Tupac Shakur style

He got his look down: The Vogue model has been working in front of the camera only since March when he was released from prison

At the time, he had been arrested on felony weapon charges in Stockton, California.

Also on Monday Green shared several Instagram images where she looked close with Meeks.

In one photo they are in bed and she calls him her 'number one.'

Ready to rumble? At one point he seemed to be running into the street with both hands made into a fist as if he was about to get into a fight

Born to run: The star looked very fierce and determined during the shoot

The day before Jeremy said he had 'found the one' in a revealing social media post.

In the first intimate image, a shirtless Jeremy is seen capturing a selfie of the pair in bed, with Chloe reclining behind him in a pair of printed silk pyjamas.

Holding a peace sign while her beau smoldered for the camera, Chloe captioned the snap: 'Goodnight world', alongside an affectionate love heart emoji.

A star is born: Jeremy was initially propelled into the spotlight after his mug shot in June 2014 went viral, receiving more than 33,000 likes and 10,400 comments on Facebook

Back story: Here the magazine shoot staple showed off part of his backside

A-OK: Meeks looked into the camera as the photographer seemed proud of his work

Not stopping there however, the heiress went on to share a second snap of the duo relaxing in bed - proving her love for Jeremy in the caption, which read: 'My number 1 @jmeeksofficial'

Jeremy also shared a selfie of the pair at a rooftop location - with Chloe planting a kiss on his cheek in front of the stunning LA backdrop.

Declaring his love for her, following the breakdown of his marriage to wife Melissa, the model gushed to fans: 'My #1 @chloegreen', which Chloe later posted to her own page, adding the comment: 'I am his and he is mine!'

Bad boy, bad boy: He was arrested on felony weapon charges in Stockton, California, in 2014

Jeremy has had a very public breakdown of his marriage to Melissa, who was fiercely loyal to the convict during his lengthy prison sentence.

He is step-father to her two children from other marriages Robert, aged 11, and Ellie, aged 16.

In September, mother-of-three Melissa discussed her husband's infidelity before she stormed offstage briefly in a televised interview with Inside Edition.

He's in love! Here Meeks is seen with Chloe Green, who he called 'the one'

'I was in shock. I didn't really know what to do,' she said.

Their eight-year marriage came to an end when pictures of Jeremy locking lips with his Chloe surfaced in the summer.

The felon and the daughter of Sir Philip Green were initially photographed canoodling on a yacht in Bodrum in May, while he was still married.

Though she has been seen with an engagement ring on, her reps have denied she is engaged to Meeks.
She plays the feisty wife of the hunky Captain Ross Poldark in the hit BBC period drama.

But Eleanor Tomlinson was very much in the 21st century as she stepped out onto set with on-screen husband Aidan Turner in Cornwall on Monday.

The red-headed beauty, 25, was shielded from the typically British weather as she sheltered under a bright pink umbrella held by an assistant, while walking to film more dramatic scenes for the show.

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Under my umbrella: Poldark star Eleanor Tomlinson was very much in the 21st century as she stepped out onto set and sheltered under an umbrella during filming in Cornwall on Monday

Smouldering: Her hunky co-star Aidan, who plays the titular character, sent pulses racing as he donned his dashing Georgian attire of his famous tricorn hat, chocolate coat and pantaloons, paired with hessian riding boots to film scenes on a horse

Eleanor, who plays Demelza, looked stunning as she covered her head from the rain, clad in a mint green dress and tan hat with bow detail.

Her flame-red locks were styled into an elegant chignon and she sported a light dusting of make-up on her pretty face.

Wrapping up against the seaside chill, she slipped into a purple velvet dressing gown.

Work it: The talented 34-year-old was seen striking some smouldering poses as he jumped onto the horse

Talented; The star proved how comfortable he was in any situation as he rode the horse

Hi: Handsome Aidan waved at someone in the distance as he filmed

Stride: The star looked serious as he marched along a bridge with intent

Giddy up: Aidan looked calm and professional as he posed up on the horse

Her hunky co-star Aidan, who plays the titular character, sent pulses racing as he donned his dashing Georgian attire of his famous tricorn hat, chocolate coat and pantaloons, paired with hessian riding boots to film scenes on a horse.

The talented 34-year-old was seen striking some smouldering poses as he jumped onto the horse, before waving at someone in the distance.

They were joined on-set by Eleanor's rumoured boyfriend Harry Richardson and Tom York, who play Demelza's brothers Drake and Sam.

Harry, who was spotted kissing Eleanor earlier in the summer, pulled some animated expressions while he sat down clad in a waistcoat and tan jacket and trousers while Tom looked serious in a silver waistcoat

Over here: Aidan looked typically handsome in his Georgian attire

Hunky: Aidan looked into the distance as his horse trotted forwards

Heartthrobs: They were joined on-set by Eleanor's rumoured boyfriend Harry Richardson and Tom York, who play Demelza's brothers Drake and Sam

Animated: Harry, who was spotted kissing Eleanor earlier in the summer, pulled some animated expressions (above) while he sat down clad in a waistcoat and tan jacket and trousers while Tom looked serious in a silver waistcoat

Jack Farthing, who plays nasty George Warleggan, was also spotted filming, cracking a cheery smile as he sheltered under an umbrella.

The star was wearing a top hat and maroon dress coat as he prepared to film.

Anticipation is hotting up for the new series of the period drama, with Ross and Demelza seen filming blissful scenes on the beach earlier in the month.

The couple were seen sharing a passionate kiss on a windswept beach, as the beautiful redhead held onto their toddler daughter Clowance.

The Poldark family looked to have moved on from the dramas of last series, which saw Demelza seek solace in the arms of naval office Lieutenant Hugh Armitage, played by Burberry model Josh Whitehouse and frolic with him in some sand dunes while her husband headed into battle.

Happy: Jack Farthing, who plays nasty George Warleggan, was also spotted filming, cracking a cheery smile as he sheltered under an umbrella

Chat: Harry and Jack enjoyed a catch-up as they waited to begin filming

There may have been an element of revenge to the smooch, as it came after Demelza was informed that Ross had only recently kissed Elizabeth Warleggan, his first love and former fiance.

The secret affair followed an impassioned declaration of love by former prisoner of war Lt Armitage, who has been pursuing Demelza over the last few weeks in secret and who asked her if she would make love with him after revealing his eyesight was deteriorating.

Viewers saw the scorned wife returning home to Poldark's bed after her tryst with Lt Armitage.

Both looked shaken and slightly ashamed as he took her into his arms - knowing where she'd been, who with, and what they'd been doing.

The fourth series of the hit drama is expected to air in summer 2018 and will take in the period up until Christmas 1799.
Jared Leto received a rock star welcome when he stepped onto Ipanema Beach on Monday.

The 45-year-old multi-hyphenate is currently in Brazil to promote his new movie, Blade Runner 2049, and to perform with his band, Thirty Seconds To Mars at this year's Rock In Rio music festival.

Having taken to the festival stage just a day earlier, the Suicide Squad star hit Rio's famous beach to take in the sights in between promo duties for Blade Runner 2049.

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Center of attention... Jared Leto received a rock star welcome when he stepped onto Ipanema Beach on Monday

But just moments after stepping onto the world-famous beach, the covered up star found himself mobbed by fans.

Seemingly taking it all in his stride, Jared was seen happily chatting with the locals as his security team tried in vain to hold back the crowd.

At one stage, a bikini-clad beauty stepped in front of the star to shamelessly snap a photo of him as he made his way towards her.

But rather than being put out by all the attention, the good-natured actor happily positioned himself at the center of the crowd to snap an animated selfie with his fans.

Up close and personal... At one stage, a bikini-clad beauty stepped in front of the star to shamelessly snap a photo of him as he made his way towards her

Keeping busy: The 45-year-old multi-hyphenate is currently in Brazil to promote his new movie, Blade Runner 2049, and to perform with his band, Thirty Seconds To Mars

Snapping selfies: The good-natured actor happily positioned himself at the center of the crowd to snap an animated selfie with his fans

Earlier in the day, Jared had attended a photo call for his highly-anticipated new movie, which also stars Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright and Harrison Ford.

Dressed in the same clothes from earlier, Jared added a black leather biker jacket and bright pink beanie when he took to the beach.

The Oscar-winning actor put on a colorful sartorial display as he posed for photos against an idyllic blue sky in the South American country.

Checking it out... Having taken to the stage just a day earlier, the Suicide Squad star hit Rio's famous beach to take in the sights in between promo duties for Blade Runner 2049

Saying hello: Seemingly taking it all in his stride, Jared was seen happily chatting with the locals as his security team tried in vain to hold back the crowd

In need of space... Just moments after stepping onto the world-famous beach, the covered up star found himself mobbed by fans

Pushing the fashion boundaries, he slipped on a pair of vibrant red sweatpants which featured a striking pink stripe down the side and showcased his hiking trainers.

He complemented the vivid trousers with a striking pyjama-inspired shirt from Gucci, which boasted a floral pattern throughout.

The silk garment showcased his torso and long gold chain, while the city's Copacabana Beach commanded attention in the background.

Sporting a long hairstyle, Jared shielded his eyes with a pair of aviator shades, which drew attention to his trademark beard.

Fashion forward: The actor continued to be hard at work as he soaked up the sun during a photocall for his new cinematic offering Blade Runner 2049 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday

Picture perfect: The Oscar-winning actor put on a colourful sartorial display as he posed for photos against an idyllic blue sky in the South American country

His appearance comes after he 'went blind' for the entire shoot of Blade Runner 2049, director Denis Villeneuve has revealed, and needed an assistant to bring him on set and help him get around during filming.

'We all heard stories about Jared, how he transforms into the characters. But even this didn't prepare me for what was to come,' the French filmmaker says in a profile of Leto in the new issue of WSJ magazine.

Leto plays replicant creator Niander Wallace in the highly-anticipated follow-up to Ridley Scott's groundbreaking 1982 original.

For the part, he decided to fit himself with opaque contact lenses that made it impossible for him to see anything.

Floral feeling: He complemented the vivid trousers with a striking pyjama-inspired shirt from Gucci which boasted a floral pattern throughout

'He was walking with an assistant, very slowly. It was like seeing Jesus walking into a temple. Everybody became super silent, and there was a kind of sacred moment,' Villeneuve stated.

Adding: 'Everyone was in awe. It was so beautiful and powerful - I was moved to tears'.

The gambit worked, Villenueve said, adding that while 'it was insane', Leto 'really created something'.

Leto himself tells the publication that his immersion in the role didn't take him 'as deep down the rabbit hole' as he's gone previously for his art, but opting not to have vision helped him stay 'really focused'.

'I'm crazy but I'm not insane,' he proffered.

Sun soaked: The silk garment showcased his torso and long gold chain while the city's Copacabana Beach commanded attention in the background

It's not the first time he's shown extreme commitment to a film part.

He dropped more than 30 pounds while filming Dallas Buyer's Club, a role that won him a best supporting actor Oscar.

He lost the same about the same amount of weight for his performance as a heroin addict in Requiem For A Dream.

In contrast, he packed on 60 pounds to play John Lennon's killer Mark Chapman in the independent film Chapter 27.

Leto, who balances his acting career with rock gigs, reveals to WSJ that one movie offer that never comes his way is to do a comedy.

Attention-grabbing: Sporting a long hairstyle, Jared shielded his eyes with a pair of aviator shades which drew attention to his trademark beard

'I might not be at the top of the list for, like, a funny dude. But if someone is dying or suffering greatly, I'll get a call,' he joked.

'I got calls about [playing] Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, David Koresh and Jim Jones, all within two weeks, he said.

'I'm not doing them but I thought for a second, "Oh, my God, I should do them all." Just put them together like a Criterion Collection box set. And then retire.'

Blade Runner 2049 is set to hit movie theaters in October.
With her long red hair reaching down to her waist, she could have been auditioning for Disney's classic movie The Little Mermaid.

Newly scarlet-haired Farrah Abraham showcased her figure in a simple blue bikini as she frolicked on the beach in Greece on Monday.

The former Teen Mom OG star strutted down a steep flight of the steps to the ocean, where she got her feet wet splashing in the waves.

True blue! Farrah Abrahams was using her curves to turn heads as she hit the beach in a bikini on Monday

Rear-ly nice: The former Teen Mom OG star showcased her impressive curves as she stepped out in Greece in a skimpy bikini

The mother-of-one seemed to be enjoying a solo beach trip, not that this fact dented her enjoyment.

Under the Grecian sun the 26-year-old strutted her stuff on the coastline, as she sunbathed.

The star was rear-ly enjoying her splash around on the beach as she made sure to reveal her figure from every angle.

Busting out! The reality television star left little to the imagination as she squeezed her ample cleavage into a pale blue two piece

Lady in red: She flaunted her hourglass figure, and hard-to-miss hair colour

Splashing out: The star was rear-ly enjoying her time on the beach as she made sure to reveal her figure from every angle

Her vibrant red extensions were worn loose and she went barefoot as she headed for a splash about in the crystal Aegean waters.

Farrah has been enjoying a lavish European vacation, bragging on Twitter about her time in Italy before hitting up Greek party island hotspot Mykynos.

It comes after the reality star underwent vaginal rejuvenation last month - which she documented on social media.

Taking the plunge! She headed for a splash about in the crystal Aegean waters

Hard to miss! Her vibrant red extensions were worn loose

Having fun: Farrah has been enjoying a lavish European vacation, bragging on Twitter about her time in Italy before hitting up Greek party island hotspot Mykynos

Curvy: The star made her way over the rocky ground underfoot

The MTV starlet also created a profile on her website with a list of expensive treats potential suitors can send her.

Members can choose gifts such as trips to Thailand, Greece, Monaco or Brazil, pay for Farrah to have a pricey $200 mani/pedi or fork out $3000 so she can have her hair done.

Farrah also lists a Louis Vuitton purse, travel bag and carry-on luggage on her wish list as well as a $1000 shopping spree.
The grocery store tabloids are usually filled with speculation about everything from her weight to her love life.

But while Angelina Jolie might normally be expected to skip the magazine rack, she rushed to grab a copy of one particular publication as she shopped on Sunday.

The actress grinned with undisguised delight when she spotted her old friend Jane Goodall on the front cover of this month's National Geographic.

Fancy seeing you here! Angelina Jolie grabs a copy of National Geographic magazine covered by her pal Jane Goodall, toting an Everlane handbag on her shoulder

She played the iconic primatologist in the 2011 movie Jane's Journey.

And Angelina gave a rare public smile as she picked up a copy of the magazine and flicked through the pages while doing her grocery shopping with an assistant in Los Feliz.

The copy was covered by the iconic female scientist, famed for her landmark studies of chimpanzees in the wild.

Link: She played the iconic primatologist in the 2011 movie Jane's Journey

A new documentary, Jane, scored by composer Philip Glass, draws from more than 100 hours of previously unseen footage filmed by Hugo van Lawick, a National Geographic filmmaker who later married Goodall.

The movie also includes new interviews with Goodall.

The documentary premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, where Angelina was present promoting her movie about the Cambodian genocide First They Killed My Father, now showing on Netflix, which she directed and co-wrote.

Healthy dinner: Angelina, 42, wore her usual black as she shopped, with the mother-of-six filling her trolley with a selection of food - vegetables, fruit, eggs and juice

Angelina, 42, wore her usual black as she shopped, with the mother-of-six filling her trolley with a selection of healthy food - vegetables, fruit, eggs and juice - carrying a handy Everlane Day Tote on her shoulder.

Following her split from husband Brad Pitt last year, Angelina recently told People magazine she felt 'stronger'.

The actress turned director has children Maddox, 16, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and nine-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne with Brad.

Speaking to People magazine, she said: 'I have had my ups and downs. I guess I am a little bit stronger.

Plenty of mouths to feed: The actress turned director has children Maddox, 16, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and nine-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne with Brad

'We all have our difficult times, but as a mother you also have a responsibility first and foremost towards the kids. They are going through their formative years and everything else comes second to that.

'I havent worked for over a year now because they needed me home. Weve all been a bit in lockdown. I think theyre itching to get out in the world again.'

The Maleficent stars comments come after she returned to work after taking a break in 2016 when her divorce meant she was 'needed' at home to support her brood.

Out and about: The actress turned director only recently returned to work after taking a year off to tend to her children after her marriage split

She said: 'Right now I don't have anything to direct that I feel passionate about like this, so I'll do some acting. I've taken over a year off now, because of my family situation, to take care of my kids.

'When they can have - when I feel it's time for me to go back to work, I'll be able to go back to work. I've been needed at home. I hope [to work again] in the months to come.'

Asked what she'll be working on, she added: 'Maleficent [sequel], we're working on, most likely. And I look forward to having some fun with that. Cleopatra, there is a script. There's a lot of different things floating around. But I haven't committed.'
He's one of the oldest new fathers in showbusiness.

But Ronnie Wood, 70, looked every bit the doting dad when he arrived in Barcelona for the next stint of his The Rolling Stones tour with his 15-month-old twins Alice Rose and Gracie Jane on Monday.

The veteran rocker - a father of six - gave a wry smile as he carried one baby out of the airport, while his wife Sally, 39, cuddled the other.

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Doting dad: Ronnie Wood, 70, carried his 15-month-old daughter as he arrived in Barcelona for the next stint of his The Rolling Stones tour on Monday

Anybody Seen My (other) Baby? The second twin (right) was left to her own devices in the car for a moment as Sally took sister number one (left) off Ronnie

The celebrated guitarist looked dapper in a statement grey-patterned blazer which he paired with an open-necked ivory shirt in a bid to stay cool in the Spanish sunshine.

Ronnie, who had an operation in May to remove a cancerous lung tumour, looked happy and healthy as he scooped one of the babes in front of him with his right arm, supporting her legs with his left hand.

He smiled behind his trademark dark glasses and mop of spiky brown hair as he hit the pavements outside the Spanish capital's airport.

Team of four: The guitarist scooped one twin up in his arms as Sally cuddled the other

Going places: The family hit Barcelona for the next stint of The Stones' European tour

That's rock n' roll, baby! Ronnie laughed behind his trademark dark glasses and mop of spiky brown hair as he hit the pavements outside the Spanish capital's airport

Family unit: Ronnie, who had an operation in May to remove a cancerous lung tumour, looked happy and healthy as he scooped one of the babes in front of him with his right arm

Happy times: Keith Richards laughed as he strolled out of the airport with crowds of adoring fans hoping for a glimpse of the 1960s band

For the fans: Drummer Charlie Watts (left) and Keith (right) both acknowledged the cheering crowds outside the airport on Monday

Quite a dynasty! The Stones have had 20 children between them, with the newest addition being Deveraux Jagger, son of Mick Jagger (pictured) and his ballerina girlfriend Melanie Hamrick, 30, who was born in December last year

Sally, a West End theatre producer, beamed as she stepped out of the car before handing the tot to her beau so that she could scoop up the second one, who wore an adorable pink dress.

The mother of two, Ronnie's third wife, looked sophisticated in a scarlet blouse and dark trousers as her daughter wrapped a loving arm around her neck.

Ronnie and his family were accompanied by Stones bandmates Mick Jagger, 74, Keith Richards, 73, and Charlie Watts, 76, ahead of their concert in the city's Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.

Jovial: The rocker appeared to be in jovial spirits as he made his way through the terminal

Chatting away: The star chatted away with fellow passengers as he waited to be whisked away

Admiration: Passengers at the terminal appeared to be star-struck as they met the musician

Guitarist Keith laughed as he strolled out of the airport with crowds of adoring fans hoping for a glimpse of the 1960s band.

The four of them have had 20 children between them, with the newest addition being Mick's son Deveraux with his ballerina girlfriend Melanie Hamrick, 30, who was born in December last year.

The rockers kicked off their European tour at the start of September in Germany, with no sign of slowing things down.

Watchful eye: Local officers kept a watchful eye on the comings and goings at the terminal

You've got to hand it to him: He kept his hands wrapped around the tot as they waited outside

Centre of attention: Others looked on as they realised they were in the company of a rock star

The band wowed a packed stadium of 82,000 fans at the Stadtpark stadium in Hamburg, with Ronnie receiving what could only be described as a hero's welcome after his cancer battle.

To add to the joy, fans were left cheering as the boys declared they weren't ever going to stop performing.

Keith told fans: 'We haven't finished yet. It's still too early for me to talk about the Stones' legacy. There's one thing that we haven't yet achieved, and that's to really find out how long you can do this.'

Jetting in: The 1960s band flew in to the Spanish capital in this private jet

Tribute: Ronnie looked happy and healthy on tour with The Rolling Stones in Germany earlier in September just four months after beating cancer

Every stone needs his rock: Ronnie says his wife Sally is his rock
She stormed the catwalk for Fendi during her Milan Fashion Week debut.

And Kaia Gerber, 16, was back to her stylish ways as she stepped out in Paris alongside her model mum Cinday Crawford, 51, on Monday night.

The model teen cut a sartorial figure in a charming black denim Alice McCall coords that showcased her natural flair for fashion in the French capital.

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Model behaviour: Kaia Gerber, 16, was back to her stylish ways as she stepped out in Paris for Fashion Week on Tuesday

The style star's choice of ensemble was sure to wow the style brigade with it's high-waisted silhouette and cropped flare leg.

Kaia added a kitsch touch to her Parisian look in the form of eye-catching gold studding around her pockets and complementing button-detail.

She teamed her chic jeans with a matching crop top that featured similar gold accents.

The teenager completed her fashionable display with her backless leather loafers from Freda Salvador and a vibrant cross body bag draped over her shoulder.

In her jeans! The model teen cut a sartorial figure in a charming black denim Alice McCall coords that showcased her natural flair for fashion in the French capital alongside her model mum Cinday Crawford, 51, on Monday night

Style star: The style star's choice of ensemble was sure to wow the style brigade with it's high-waisted silhouette and cropped flare leg

Going for gold: Kaia added a kitsch touch to her Parisian look in the form of eye-catching gold studding around her pockets and complementing button-detail

The California based catwalk star accentuated her likeness to her supermodel mother by working her brunette tresses into a straight style.

Bringing a vibrant pop of colour to the evening, Cindy sizzled in her multi-coloured silk shirt, days after she made a shock return to the catwalk for the Versace SS18 show.

Showcasing her enviable figure, the nineties star slipped on a pair of skintight denims that hugged her slender pins.

She added inches to her statuesque height with her strappy heels while holding onto her sleek leather clutch.

Fashion forwatf: The teenager completed her fashionable display with her backless leather Freda Salvador loafers and vibrant cross body bag draped over her shoulder

Vibrant: Bringing a vibrant pop of colour to the evening, Cindy sizzled in her multi-coloured silk shirt, days after she made a shock return to the catwalk for the Versace SS18 show

Age-defying: Beaming for the outing, she neatly blow-dried her glossy locks for the occasion while plumping up her pout with a slick of pink lipgloss

Snap happy: Kaia happily posed for photos with fans while Cindy watched on

Star-studded: The pair later posed in front of the La Reserve restaurant with fellow supermodel Naomi Campbell (L), who was typically chic in a fluffy coat

Beaming for the outing, she neatly blow-dried her glossy locks for the occasion while plumping up her pout with a slick of pink lipgloss.

The pair were seen happily signing autographs and taking photos for fans, before they joined fellow supermodel Naomi Campbell for a few snaps.

Earlier that day, the Croydon-born model had been seen shopping with a friend in the same ensemble - a form-fitting black maxi skirt and striking white belt.

Chic: Earlier that day, the Croydon-born model had been seen shopping with a friend in the same ensemble - a form-fitting black maxi skirt and striking white belt

Kind: Enjoying a relaxing day in Monte Napoleone, the beauty was later even seen showing her more charitable side by giving a homeless woman some money on the street

Enjoying a relaxing day in Monte Napoleone, the beauty was later even seen showing her more charitable side by giving a homeless woman some money on the street.

Meanwhile Cindy and Kaia had put on another fashion parade upon arrival in Paris, earlier in the day.

The young model - who is making her debut at Fashion Week this month - showcased her statuesque figure in a deep purple floral dress, which featured a pink oriental design.

Following suit: Cindy's son Presley Gerber, 18, was spotted with his girlfriend Cayley King, 19, in the city

Getting chic done: The model sported an all black look while his other half worked an oriental-print silk mini dress

Having a laugh: Cayley couldn't contain her laughter as she held onto her beau's arm through the City of Lights

Kaia - who is also the daughter of 55-year-old Rande Gerber - threw a leather jacket over her shoulders, which had studs on the collar for an edgy effect.

On trend as ever, the supermodel's daughter proved she had genuine style when she sashayed through the French capital in chunky army-style boots.

The fashionista tucked her poker straight brunette tresses behind her ears to showcase her pretty features, accentuated by light touches of make-up.

Looking lovely: Kaia looked the spitting image of her glamorous mother when they put on a fashion parade in the picturesque streets of Paris on Monday

Model like daughter! The young model (L) showed it is in her genes as she stepped out for Paris Fashion Week looking like her glamorous mother Cindy (R)

How to accessorise: Kaia channelled a French look as she carried her French Beret in a deep purple and brown tinted sunglasses

Toting a denim bag, Kaia channelled a French look as she carried her French beret in deep purple, and peeped behind brown tinted sunglasses.

Cindy, however, opted for a casually glamorous style in a slinky black blouse teamed with slim-fit jeans.

The catwalk queen - who is also mother to 18-year-old son Presley - injected drama into her attire with sky-high platform sandals.

On trend as ever: The supermodel's daughter proved she had genuine style when she sashayed through the French capital in chunky army-style boots

She's a beauty: The fashionista tucked her poker straight brunette tresses behind her ears to showcase her pretty model features, accentuated by light touches of make-up

Age-defying Cindy proudly showed her beauty has stood the test of time, letting her caramel coloured tresses loose and pulling on a pair of sunglasses.

Kaia made her New York Fashion Week catwalk debut in September before walking her first catwalk with her mother for Versace in Milan.

Cindy quit full-time modelling in 2000 to focus on her children, with whom she shares with husband of almost 20 years Rande, but came out of retirement for a one-off show on Friday.

Edgy effect: Kaia - who is also the daughter of 55-year-old Rande Gerber - threw a leather jacket over her shoulders

Follow your heart: She's following in the footsteps of her glamorous mother Cindy

Age-defying: The supermodel proudly showed her beauty has stood the test of time, letting her caramel coloured tresses loose and pulling on a pair of sunglasses

The all-American beauty is said to have featured on around 500 magazine covers.

She has also walked for shows including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, DKNY and Valentino.

The model, whose net worth is an estimated $100million according to The Richest, moved on to acting after her success on the runway.

She has also ventured into business with her eponymous furniture range.

Lookalikes: The mother and daughter showed they were closer than ever as they headed out into the French capital

Going strong: Kaia made her New York Fashion Week catwalk debut in September before walking her first catwalk with her mother for Versace in Milan

The mother-of-two recently gushed about her overwhelming pride for her children and their accomplishments.

Cindy told Vanity Fair: 'You know what, it's been really fun for me to see my kids get their feet wet in the fabulous world of fashion.

'The advice I give them is more about reminders - like be on time, be prepared, be professional, don't be on your phone, talk to people, and have fun.

'They both have good heads on their shoulders, and I'm not worried.'
She's been top billing for the SS18 runway season, strutting her stuff in New York, London and Milan.

But Bella Hadid looked like she may have fashion fatigue as she arrived at London's St Pancras station on Monday.

The model kept a low profile as she made her arrival into the train station to head to Paris, after jetting out of Italy on Sunday.

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Worn out: Bella Hadid, 20, kept a low profile as she arrived at London's St Pancras station on Monday night as she wearily made her way to Paris for her third fashion week

Despite the casual setting, Bella still looked stylish in an embroidered pink stain blazer which she teamed with frayed jeans, a simple black polo neck and black suede ankle boots by Sol Sana.

Pulling her suitcase through the station, Bella wore sunglasses to hide her tired eyes, with very little makeup, allowing her flawless complexion to shine through.

Keeping her brunette tresses loose, Bella looked chic as she arrived in the capital.

Low profile: Bella kept it stylish while travelling in a embroidered pink satin blazer with frayed blue jeans and a simple black polo neck jumper

City-trotting: Bella wore sunglasses to hide her tired eyes and little make-up allowing her flawless complexion to shine through

Bella joined her sister Gigi in walking the Milan Fashion Week runways, with both stunning in Versace show on Friday.

Designers and luxury brands, including Prada, Armani, Cavalli, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana, showcased a total of almost 160 collections for spring and summer 2018 during the six-day extravaganza.

After walking in the Versace show with her sister, Bella gushed that the experience was something she would 'never forget.'

Model life: Bella has been travelling around the world after appearing in fashion weeks for London, New York and Milan

First class? Bella kept her headphones in as she headed to her train, accompanied by a male bodyguard

Which platform? Bella seemed in good spirits as she boarded her train, pulling along a small silver suitcase with a quirky design; she added Sol Sana shoes

Model Maven: Bella looked worn out after rocking the runways in three different cities, including Milan where she walked the Salvatore Ferragamo show (left)

Quick hug: Bella looked pleased to see her bodyguard as she arrived at London's St Pancras station

Tired: Bella flashed a smile to her male companion as he accompanied her to the waiting train

Travel in style: Bella still looked fashion-ready while travelling, with her look being both comfy and stylish

Famous sis: Bella walked the Versace runway in Milan on Friday with sister Gigi. She gushed the experience was something she would 'never forget'

Bella joked about her city-trotting on Instagram on Monday, posting a photo with the caption: 'Another time zone.'

She was accompanied on her trip to Italy by proud mother and Real Housewives of Beverley Hills star Yolanda Hadid.

The pair were spotted heading to the airport on Friday after Bella wowed in the Italian city.
Caitlyn Jenner seemed to confirm on Monday that daughter Kylie Jenner is pregnant with her first child - a girl due in February.

But the 20-year-old Lip Kit founder has yet to say anything.

Instead, the raven-haired beauty shared an old flashback photo to Instagram on Monday where her tummy looked very flat.

Old news: Kylie Jenner shared a throwback photo to Instagram on Monday instead of addressing rumours she's pregnant with her first child

Kylie looked like a size 00 in her skimpy white top that came off the shoulders and looked pulled up around her ribs.

The star added acid washed jeans. She was standing outside and was heavily made up with red lipstick.

The first Kar-Jenner to speak out: On Monday Cait, 67, confirmed Kylie was pregnant. She is seen here in May

Her caption read: 'Throwback. Mary Jo is the perfect red @kyliecosmetics.' And she added a heart. Mary Jo is not just the name of one of her lipsticks; it's also the name of her grandmother.

That same day a source told People how mom Kris Jenner is feeling.

'Of course, Kris will support Kylie being a mom. But she is still adjusting to the surprise news.'

And the insider added that Kris is doing 'whatever she can' to make sure her Kylie's cosmetics empire thrives.

'Kris is just trying to control what she can and make sure no one forgets Kylie is also a businesswoman. She wants to set Kylie Cosmetics up to sell,' said the friend.

Shocked lady: Also on Monday People claimed her mother Kris Jenner is still 'adjusting to the surprise news.' Here she is seen last week in Milan

The company is expected to have $386 million in sales in 2017, according to WWD.

'Kylie has worked so hard to build that empire. Kris doesnt want to see the pregnancy affect how that is perceived,' the source added.

A representative for Caitlyn - formerly Bruce - told The Sun when asked how she found out about her daughter's pregnancy: 'All I can tell you is that it was some time ago.'

Together: Here Kylie is seen with Caitlyn in October 2016 during King Cairo's birthday

On Monday Ryan Seacrest, who is a producer on the family's E! reality show, reached out to momager Jenner on air when he was co-hosting Live With Kelly And Ryan from New York City to ask about the beauty's condition. He didn't get a no.

It was during the opening of the morning talk show when Ryan reached for his cell phone and texted the mother of Kylie.

He was hoping she would confirm that Kylie was pregnant. But what he got back, 'Kylies not confirming anything.'

His attempt: On Monday Ryan Seacrest, who is a producer on the family's E! reality show, reached out to momager Kris Jenner via text on air when he was co-hosting Live With Kelly And Ryan from New York City to ask about the beauty's condition

He has known the family forever! Ryan and the clan seen in 2007 in LA; here is Caitlyn, far right, when she was Bruce Jenner

Kylie has been seen since the news broke.

Over the weekend she pulled up her shirt and touched her tummy as she posed with her friend Jordyn Woods. It was too difficult to tell if she had a bump or not.

The star was also seen with Travis going to his iHeart Radio performance. Again she wore a baggy T-shirt.

On air: Ryan was seen on Sunday interviewing Kylie for the KUWTK 10 year anniversary special, but the show was taped in the spring; here are Kendall, left, and Kylie, right, from the show

And she was also at her best friend Jordyn Woods' birthday party in Malibu; again she was covered up.

Ryan was seen on Sunday interviewing Kylie for the KUWTK 10 year anniversary special, but the show was taped in the spring, before she likely got pregnant.

The reality star and her rapper boyfriend are said to have broken the happy news to friends earlier this month at the Day N Night Fest in Anaheim.

Jenner is pregnant: Reality star, 20, 'expecting a baby with boyfriend Travis Scott' friends claim; the two are seen here in April, soon after they started dating

TMZ first broke the news, with a report stating that Travis was telling friends his life was about to change.

A further source told People magazine that Kylie was overjoyed about her pregnancy.

'It is an unexpected but completely amazing turn of events that she could not be more excited or thrilled about,' they said.

Kylie began dating Travis back in April following her split from former long-term boyfriend Tyga, who has a child, son King Cairo, with Blac Chyna (Rob Kardashian's ex).

As news broke of the pregnancy on Friday the rapper added his own thoughts to the mix - Snapchatting, then deleting, the comment: 'hell nah that's my kid!'

Four months ago - around the time she fell pregnant - Kylie went on a charity trip to Peru. Keeping Up With The Kardashians viewers were watching as a private jet made a pit stop in Miami to collect her, after she spent a romantic few days with Travis.

Oh Tyga! As news broke of the pregnancy on Friday Tyga added his own thoughts to the mix - Snapchatting, then deleting, the comment 'hell nah that's my kid!'

In the months since the two have since proved inseparable, and even have matching

On Sunday: The star shared this image with her best friends over the weekend

Something to tell us? On Thursday she shared a shot with a group of friends, in which she wore a baggy T-shirt

Longtime friends: She posed with Jordyn and Stassi during the bash

Kylie has previously spoken of her yearning to have a child, even confiding in her grandmother MJ on an episode of I Am Cait that she planned to be a 'young mom'.

Indeed there was wide speculation that she was expecting a child shortly before her break-up with Tyga back in April.

And while the rumor later proved to be untrue, Kylie made it clear she was keen on the idea of starting a family.

'I feel like 30 is too late!' she said on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. 'Every psychic said that Im only going to have two kids.'

Her brand: Kylie released new designs for Kendall + Kylie this week; here she is seen in one of the ads shared on Friday

On Life Of Kylie back in July she claimed was ready to get out of the spotlight and have a more normal life.

'I can't do it forever,' Kylie said.

'There is an image I constantly feel pressure to keep up with,' Kylie confesses. 'And then there's the real Kylie.'

The sister of Vogue model Kendall Jenner added: 'I do feel pressure to not let anybody down. Nobody has a perfect life.'
She recently made waves as she donated $1 million to hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

And after doing great Jennifer Lopez was spotted looking great on her latest outing.

The 48-year-old star looked absolutely fantastic in an all-black casual cool look in New York City on Monday.

Wow factor: Jennifer Lopez looked absolutely fantastic in an all-black casual cool look in New York City on Monday

She put her famous curves on display in a pair of clinging black jeans which hugged her hips and showed off her pert derriere.

J-Lo teamed the trousers with a matching flowy top short sleeved top and black leather footwear featuring a metallic gold heel.

She accessorized with a pair of large mirrored aviator designer shades and an oversized black leather designer bag featuring red, leopard, and studded detailings.

Her blonde locks were put in a bun as she let her natural and evergreen looks show with minimal make-up on her face.

Simply stunning: The 48-year-old actress put her famous curves on display in a pair of clinging black jeans which hugged her hips and showed off her pert derriere

Wow: J-Lo teamed the trousers with a matching flowy top short sleeved top and black leather footwear featuring a metallic gold heel

She's got style: Her blonde locks were put in a bun as she let her natural and evergreen looks show with minimal make-up on her face

The solo outing comes just a day after her very generous donation.

As the stunner is very proud of her Puerto Rican heritage she donated $1 million to provide the island with relief from Hurricane Maria.

She showed her love and support for her family's native country as she spoke alongside New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Jennifer took a break from her Las Vegas residency to make the announcement in The Big Apple.

'What's foremost in my mind and many others, is trying to figure out the best way to help,' she said in a statement.

Good deed: Just the day prior J-Lo announced her generous donation of $1 million to provide the island of Puerto Rico Hurricane relief efforts

Anything helps: The singer howed her love and support for her family's native country as she spoke alongside New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

'Our island of Puerto Rico has been hit by the two most devastating hurricanes we've ever seen Irma and Maria. Today, Puerto Rico needs our help. I urge you to support and donate to the efforts of the first lady of Puerto Rico, Beatriz Rossello.'

The Shades Of Blue star also encouraged the public to do their part to donate whatever they can.

She ended: 'Together we can help rebuild our island and the Caribbean.'

J Lo previously revealed in a heartfelt video that she still hasn't heard from her family living on the U.S. territory.

She explained: 'Me and my cousins still haven't been able to hear from our families over there.'

Helping hand: Days earlier the Shades Of Blue star encouraged the public to do their part to donate whatever they can
His mother is one of the most famous supermodels in the world.

And Presley Gerber, 18, appeared to take after his mother's good looks as he strolled out of the Georges V Hotel in Paris on Monday.

The budding model appeared loved-up with his girlfriend Cayley King, 19, who looked gorgeous in a pink satin mini dress.

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Model behaviour: Presley Gerber, 18, appeared to take after his mother's good looks as he strolled out of the Georges V Hotel in Paris on Monday

Presley looked handsome in a navy blue polo neck top and dark wash jeans, and kept comfortable in a pair of trainers.

Cayley looked extremely leggy in her thigh-skimming dress, and added an edgy touch to her look with a pair of heavy black boots.

She scraped her blonde tresses back into a bun, and sported minimal, peachy make-up to bring out her stunning features.

Loved-up: The budding model appeared loved-up with his girlfriend Cayley King, 19, who looked gorgeous in a pink satin mini dress

Dapper: Presley looked handsome in a navy blue polo neck top and dark wash jeans, and kept comfortable in a pair of trainers

Pink to make the boys wink: Cayley looked extremely leggy in her thigh-skimming dress, and added an edgy touch to her look with a pair of heavy black boots

Cayley went braless under the dress, which exposed her bronzed decolletage, and clutched her phone in her hand as she strolled down the Champs-Elysees.

The pair have been romantically linked since May as they attended the 2017 Met Gala together.

The couple were joined by Presley's famous mother Cindy, 51, who courted attention in a colourful silk shirt.

Natural beauty: She scraped her blonde tresses back into a bun, and sported minimal, peachy make-up to bring out her stunning features

Romantic: Cayley went braless under the dress, which exposed her bronzed decolletage, and clutched her phone in her hand as she strolled down the Champs-Elysees

Happy: The pair have been romantically linked since May as they attended the 2017 Met Gala together

Jet set: The family are in Paris ahead of Paris Fashion Week, which begins on Tuesday, after jetting in from Milan to storm the catwalk for Milan Fashion Week

Kaia, 16, also attended the family outing, and wore a crop top and black skinny jeans.

The family are in Paris ahead of Paris Fashion Week, which begins on Tuesday, after jetting in from Milan to storm the catwalk for Milan Fashion Week.

Milan Fashion Week was extra special for Cindy because she was able to share the runway with daughter Kaia for the first time ever.

Stunning: The couple were joined by Presley's famous mother Cindy, 51, who courted attention in a colourful silk shirt

Keeping it casual: Kaia, 16, also attended the family outing, and wore a crop top and black skinny jeans

Kaia catwalked the Spring Summer 2018 Versace Fashion Show, while her doting mother paid tribute to iconic designer Gianni Versace with other renowned models, such as Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni, and Helena Christensen.

Cindy herself quit full-time modelling in 2000 to focus on her Kaia and her 18-year-old male model brother Presley, both of whom Cindy shares with husband Rande Gerber.

The all-American beauty is said to have featured on around 500 magazine covers and walked for shows including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, DKNY, and previously, Valentino.
"Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel.They are also working with North Korea.Not much of an agreement we have!" Trump tweeted

President Donald Trump gave a stark warning Saturday that cast growing uncertainty over whether a nuclear deal clinched with Iran would survive after the Islamic republic tested a new medium-range missile.

State television carried footage of the launch of the Khoramshahr missile, which was first displayed at a high-profile military parade in Tehran on Friday.

It also carried in-flight video from the nose cone of the missile, which has a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) and can carry multiple warheads.

"Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel.They are also working with North Korea.Not much of an agreement we have!" Trump tweeted.

The test comes at the end of a heated week of diplomacy at the UN General Assembly in New York, where US President Donald Trump again accused Iran of destabilizing the Middle East, calling it a "rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos."

"As long as some speak in the language of threats, the strengthening of the country's defence capabilities will continue and Iran will not seek permission from any country for producing various kinds of missile," Defense Minister Amir Hatami said in a statement.

Previous Iranian missile launches have triggered US sanctions and accusations that they violate the spirit of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers.

A TV grab taken on September 23, 2017 from the Iranian Republic Islamic Broadcasting (IRIB) shows a Khoramshahr missile being launched from an undisclosed location as Iran said it had successfully tested a new medium-range missile

An "extremely concerned" French foreign ministry, warned the launch violated the United Nations Security Council resolution that endorsed the accord.

"France demands that Iran halt all destablizing activities in the region and to respect all provisions of Resolution 2231, including the call to halt this type of ballistic activity," a statement read.

"France will consider ways, with its European and other partners, to get Iran to stop its destabilizing ballistic activities."

Iran, which fought a war with neighboring Iraq in the 1980s, sees missiles as a legitimate and vital part of its defense -- particularly as regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Israel import huge amounts of military hardware from the West.

Trump has threatened to bin the nuclear agreement altogether, saying Iran is developing missiles that may be used to deliver a nuclear warhead when the deal's restrictions are lifted in 2025.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman denounced the test as a "provocation" aimed at the United States and its allies, including the Jewish state.

- European support -

President Hassan Rouhani vows to boost Iran's missile capabilities in defiance of US warnings as he inspects a medium-range Zelzal missile at a military parade in Tehran on September 22, 2017

Trump is due to report to Congress on October 15 on whether Iran is still complying with the deal and whether it remains in US interests to stick by it.

If he decides that it is not, that could open the way for US lawmakers to reimpose sanctions, leading to the potential collapse of the agreement.

Trump said Wednesday he had made his decision but was not yet ready to reveal it.

The other signatories to the deal -- Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and the European Union -- have all pushed for it to continue.

They point out that abandoning the agreement will remove restrictions on Iran immediately -- rather than in eight years' time -- and that the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly confirmed Tehran is meeting its commitments.

Iran says all of its missiles are designed to carry conventional warheads only and has limited their range to a maximum of 2,000 kilometres, although commanders say they have the technology to go further.

That makes them only medium-range but still sufficient to reach Israel or US bases in the Gulf.

"The ballistic missile which Iran fired is a provocation of the United States and its allies, including Israel," the Israeli defense minister said.

"It is also a means to test our reactions as well as new proof of Iran's ambition to become a world power in order to threaten the countries of the Middle East and democratic states around the world."

In addition to carrying out missile tests, Iran has also launched a space satellite and fired missiles at Islamic State group targets in eastern Syria in recent months.

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Japanese owned horse Satono Diamond takes part in a training session at Chantilly on September 6, 2017, ahead of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Satono Diamond lines up in next weekend's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe attempting to end years of Japanese heartbreak in European racing's crown jewel.

Since El Condor Pasa's gallant second to Montjeu in 1999 the lure of the Arc has become an obsession in Japanese racing circles.

In 2006 Deep Impact was memorably backed through the roof by a 3,000-strong army of ardent supporters at Longchamp.

The betting surge saw the colt start at a prohibitive 1-10 only to finish third to master Arc trainer Andre Fabre's Rail Link.

Four years later it was the turn of Nakayama Festa to carry the nation's hopes.

Agonisingly he got to within a head of the holy grail, the head belonging to Michael Stoute's Workforce.

French jockey Christophe Lemaire rides Japanese owned horse Satono Diamond during a training session at Chantilly on September 6, 2017, ahead of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Orfevre was sent over in 2012 and 2013 and on both occasions had to settle for second best, beaten by 33-1 outsider Solemia and then the mighty Treve.

Deep Impact's son Makahiki failed to figure last year leaving Satono Diamond, another son of the 2006 third, seeking to finally scratch Japan's Arc itch.

Partnered by French jockey Christophe Lemaire Satono Diamond has appealing claims on Sunday's five million euro ($5.98mn) showpiece.

After narrowly missing out on Japanese Derby glory last year to Makahiki he went on to capture the St Leger before landing the celebrated Arima Kinen on Christmas Day with Lemaire on board.

Satono Diamond arrived in France a few months ago to fine tune his bid, setting up temporary home in Chantilly, where the Arc is being run for the second year as its traditional home Longchamp gets a makeover.

He ran in one of the traditional big race trials the Prix Foy over the Arc trip of 2400m this month, and on the surface his modest fourth of six hardly enhanced his standing as a serious Arc candidate.

That surprisingly muted display saw his odds pushed out from 6-1 third favourite to around 16-1 behind odds-on favourite Enable.

Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, who looked after Orfevre, believes his 2017 charge was hampered by two key factors in the Foy.

"In terms of whether the soft ground or the horse's condition were the main factor in Satono Diamond's defeat, I would say they both contributed equally," Ikee told The Racing Post.

"It's good he's gained experience of racing in European conditions with horses much closer together."

Lemaire reported: "Satono Diamond took three or four good gulps of air on the way round, which suggests he was short of race fitness on such soft ground.

"He tied up a bit in the last furlong and, against Group 1 winners, we finished where we deserved to."

Before the Foy, Ikee had highlighted his colt's plus points.

"Satono Diamond is a very intelligent horse and can adapt to any situation in a race," he told The Racing Post.

"If there's no pace then you can take him forward and make the running. If they go quick up front you can ride more of a waiting race and accelerate at the finish.

"He can handle any change of pace during a race and he's much better suited to the Arc (than Orfevre) in that he can adapt to all kinds of races. That was the main reason I chose to bring him."

His disappointing prep performance aside, Satono Diamond has a lot going for him.

But in a high quality year the formbook suggests Japan may be left short-changed once again by the world's fifth richest race.
Polls suggest voters approve of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's tough line on North Korea

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was widely expected to call a snap election Monday, hoping to capitalise on rising support as tensions with nearby North Korea reach fever pitch.

Voters in the world's third-largest economy could go to the polls as soon as October 22, more than a year earlier than expected, as Abe seeks to take advantage of a political opposition in disarray.

According to a weekend poll in business daily Nikkei, 44 percent of voters plan to vote for Abe's conservative LDP party, while only eight percent said they would side with the main opposition Democratic Party.

Nevertheless, one fifth of those polled said they were still undecided, potentially opening the door for gains by a new party formed by allies of the popular mayor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike, which will field dozens of candidates.

Koike's Tomin First no Kai (Tokyo Residents First) party humiliated Abe and the LDP in local elections in July, but analysts say the new grouping has not had time to lay national foundations to mount a serious challenge to the prime minister.

Seeking to steal his limelight, Koike went before the cameras just hours before Abe's expected announcement to tell reporters she was creating another new national political party called "Kibo no To" (Party of Hope).

"Japan is facing a difficult time considering the situation in North Korea. Economically, the world is making a big move while Japan's presence is gradually declining," said Koike.

"Can we continue letting (the existing lawmakers) handle politics?"

But Jeff Kingston, Director of Asian Studies at Temple University, Japan, said there was "no opposition worthy of the name in Japan."

"The LDP is a giant among dwarves. It would take a major scandal to derail the Abe express," said the analyst.

- 'Political vacuum' -

The winner of the expected snap election faces a daunting in-tray of challenges ranging from an unprecedented crisis with North Korea to reviving the once world-beating Japanese economy.

Pyongyang has threatened to "sink" Japan into the sea and fired two missiles over the northern island of Hokkaido in the space of less than a month.

Surveys suggest voters approve of nationalist Abe's firm line on North Korea and the crisis appears to have given him a welcome boost in the polls following a series of scandals, including allegations he improperly favoured a friend in a business deal.

Despite a recent run of growth, the election winner will also have to contend with a sluggish economy, as the heavily indebted country grapples with low birthrates and a shrinking labour force.

At a press conference planned for 6:00pm (0900 GMT) where Abe is expected to call the snap election, he is also set to announce that proceeds from a planned sales tax hike in 2019 will be ploughed into education rather than paying down the country's enormous debt.

Although Abe is expected to triumph in the vote, there are question marks over whether he will retain a two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to reform the constitution to strengthen Japan's military, a stated priority of his.

"Despite the seemingly favourable backdrop for Abe, there are risks in calling a snap election," said Yoel Sano, an analyst at BMI research.

At a time of national crisis over North Korea, Japanese voters may see it as a "cynical and opportunistic move" designed to divert attention from a series of scandals that weighed on Abe's popularity, warned Sano.

Commentator Masao Yora said the election will "create a political vacuum" just when the country needs strong leadership in the face of the threat from Pyongyang.

This "may seem normal in Japan but from abroad, it is difficult to understand," Yora told AFP.

If re-elected, it would be Abe's fourth term at the helm of the world's third top economy.

The third-generation of powerful politicians, Abe appeared to be groomed for power from an early age and he was the country's youngest prime minister when he first won the top job.

He was the first world leader to cultivate close relations with US President Donald Trump, meeting the tycoon in Trump Tower even before he was inaugurated.
The EOS Space Systems Satellite Laser Ranging Facility tracks space debris at Mount Stromlo near Canberra

Australia on Monday committed to creating a national space agency as it looks to cash in on the lucrative and fast-evolving astronautical sector.

The announcement came at a week-long Adelaide space conference attended by the world's top scientists and experts including SpaceX chief Elon Musk.

It brings Canberra -- which already has significant involvement in national and international space activities -- into line with most other developed nations, which already have dedicated agencies to help coordinate the industry and shape development.

"The global space industry is growing rapidly and it's crucial that Australia is part of this growth," acting science minister Michaelia Cash said in statement.

"A national space agency will ensure we have a strategic long-term plan that supports the development and application of space technologies and grows our domestic space industry."

According to the government, the global space sector -- encompassing innovation, defence, and telecommunications -- has been growing annually since the late 1990s at almost 10 percent, driving revenue each year of US$323 billion.

Thousands of the world's top scientists and space experts are attending the week-long International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide.

SpaceX chief Musk is set to give an update on his ambitious vision of establishing a Mars colony.

Also among those presenting is defence giant Lockheed Martin, which is working with NASA on plans to reach the Red Planet.

Lee Spitler, from Macquarie University's astronomy department in Sydney, said Australia's space industry currently operated "as a grassroots movement across a small number of companies, university groups and the defence sector".

"It will help bring to the forefront all the great work that has been going on in Australia in the space sector, and increase the potential for our country to play a key role in the international space scene in the future," said Spitler.

Australia's commitment to an agency follows the government in July ordering a review of the country's space industry capability, with a fuller strategy to underpin the work of the new body to be unveiled next year.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Australia launching its first satellite, the only country at the time to achieve the feat after the United States and Russia.

It has played a vital part in many space missions in the decades since then, with its Deep Space Communication Complex outside Canberra one of only three sites in the world capable of tracking NASA's deep space assets.

Australian National University's Penny King, who worked on the Mars "Curiosity Rover", mission, said the agency would improve opportunities for local scientists.

"Australians will be on the world stage, asking questions such as: How can we best care for Earth? How should we look for life beyond Earth? Where should we go?," she said.
President Donald Trump has blamed Canada's dairy import restrictions for the economic woes of dairy farmers in New York and Wisconsin

Canada is facing pressure to open up its protected dairy market to more US milk and cheeses in talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement that resumed Saturday in Ottawa.

US President Donald Trump has called Canada's supply-managed dairy sector, which is not included in the current NAFTA, "a disgrace."

The Canadian government effectively sets production quotas and the price of milk, which ends up costing consumers a bit more but provides farmers with a stable income.

The system has been in place since the 1970s, and has survived several attempts to quash it -- as well as the prohibitive tariffs that limit foreign imports.

"Its compatibility with trade agreements is unclear, but to date neither the WTO nor NAFTA have been able to push Canada to dismantle it," dairy experts Richard Ouellet and Erick Duchesne of Laval University in Quebec wrote recently.

Every so often, notably when Canada negotiates a new trade deal, the system comes up again, Mathieu Ares of Quebec's University of Sherbrooke told AFP.

Ottawa opened up a small share of its domestic dairy market to Europe in its latest trade agreement with the EU, which provisionally took effect Thursday.

It could do the same, if pressed, for the United States and Mexico as part of the renegotiation of NAFTA - but the Americans "have not yet made a formal request on dairy," a source close to the talks told AFP.

- Global milk glut -

Trump blamed Canada's restrictions on dairy imports for the economic woes of dairy farmers in New York and Wisconsin.

But experts point to a global oversupply of milk as consumers cut purchases in favor of alternatives such as soy or almond milk.

With several small US dairies looking to emulate Canada's supply management system, it is unlikely US negotiators will launch a full frontal attack on Canadian dairy.

What's more, the powerful American farm lobby does not want to upset its agricultural trade surplus with Canada and Mexico over this issue, according to Ares.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has passionately defended Canada's dairy industry.

He pointed out that the United States has a surplus in dairy trade with Canada, with Can$110 million ($89 million US) in Canadian dairy exports to the US last year versus Can$550 million in imports from the US.

Over the long term, as more and more trading partners chip away at roadblocks to gain access to the Canadian market "it won't be viable," Ares said.

"This cartel ensures that Canadians pay slightly more for milk than Americans," he added, "while Canadian producers are prevented from exporting to other countries."

The system also makes it harder for young Canadians to enter the industry, he said, because "a good dairy cow costs about Can$2,000 but the right to sell its milk costs Can$27,000 annually."

"So unless you're a farmer's son it's almost impossible to get into the business," Ares said.

Even if there was a political will, however, dismantling the quota system would not happen overnight -- as it would cost Ottawa an enormous sum to buy back quotas for 1.4 million dairy cows on 11,000 farms across the country.
Foreign fishermen have often been caught trespassing in Philippine seas

Two Vietnamese fishermen were found dead with gunshot wounds and five others were arrested after the Philippine navy chased suspected poachers in the South China Sea at the weekend, authorities said Monday.

A Philippine patrol ship pursued six Vietnamese fishing boats 56 kilometres (30 nautical miles) off the northern coastal town of Bolinao before dawn Saturday, a regional military spokesman told AFP.

The bodies of the two men were found after a Vietnamese boat slammed into the Philippine vessel, said Lieutenant Jose Covarrubias.

The five fishermen in custody would face poaching charges as they were within Philippine waters, he added.

"The navy ship spotted the six fishing boats (which were) using bright lights to attract fish. While it was chasing the boats, one boat manoeuvred and hit our vessel," said Covarrubias.

"The officers boarded and searched the boat, resulting in the apprehension of the five and they found the two dead bodies."

The Philippine foreign affairs department said navy personnel had fired warning shots after the Vietnamese vessel had initiated "very dangerous manoeuvres".

Covarrubias said he could not confirm this.

A police report released Monday said it found gunshot wounds on the bodies of the two fishermen while their vessel sustained six bullet holes.

The fishermen's bodies would undergo an autopsy, the report said.

Foreign fishermen have often been caught trespassing in Philippine waters. Last year President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the release of 17 Vietnamese fishermen caught in his nation's waters.

In 2013 the Philippines apologised to Taiwan over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by Filipino coastguards who said his vessel had illegally sailed into local waters.

Taiwan suspended the hiring of Philippine workers and recalled its de facto representative to Manila in protest.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines would conduct a "fair and thorough" investigation into the deaths of the Vietnamese, according to a foreign department statement.

"We would like to offer our sympathies over the unfortunate loss of life," Cayetano told Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Vietnam's foreign ministry urged Philippine authorities to "take strict action" if any mistakes by Philippine forces were found.
Nancy Stiegler has helped Pakistan devise awareness campaigns aimed at persuading civil society groups, religious figures, and politicians to endorse the census

Nancy Stiegler has participated in the counting of nearly half a billion people, in African deserts, Pacific archipelagos and the teeming megacities of Asia.

She is one of just a handful of technical experts -- and only two women -- travelling the world to advise countries on obtaining solid census data in troubled regions.

"You have to fight for a month (for them to understand) that you're not a dumb blonde," said Stiegler, who argues that reliable census data is a foundation of democracy.

"But once you make yourself heard, it becomes an advantage (to be female as) a relationship of trust is better established."

In Pakistan, where she has been assisting the militancy-struck nation with its first census in almost two decades, the ash blonde is hard to miss among the burly beards and covered heads at the Bureau of Statistics office.

In the deeply conservative Muslim-majority country, she has helped train officials to ensure that the population is as accurately assessed as possible -- especially making sure that all women were counted.

In Pakistan, women can be reluctant to respond to census officials who are almost always male, while some men are hesitant to name female family members to a stranger.

"Statistically, we can correct... the underestimation of women but only to a certain point," Stiegler said.

She has helped the country devise awareness campaigns aimed at persuading civil society groups, religious figures, and politicians to endorse the census.

The weeks-long surveying process kicked off this spring, a challenge that required a team of more than 300,000 people and involved 55 million forms.

Following the completion of the survey in May, Stiegler is now helping oversee the detailed data analysis of the census results, which could take months.

But not all have welcomed the survey, with politicians nervous about electoral maps being redrawn and militants threatening violence.

In April, a Taliban suicide attack targeting a census team killed seven people and wounded 19 others in Lahore.

Such challenges are nothing new for 40-year-old Stiegler.

"The census is a very sensitive exercise, a political and economic tool that can prevent politicians from doing whatever they want," says Stiegler, who has also worked on projects during delicate transition periods in Myanmar, Sudan and Timor Leste.

"The census has all the more impact because it affects the electoral map... and the redistribution of resources are often based on the population," she explains.

- 'Adrenaline' -

Stiegler was first attracted to challenging environments during her childhood as she watched broadcasts of Biafra refugees fleeing violence during the Nigerian civil war on television.

Nancy Stiegler has helped train enumerators in Pakistan to ensure that the population is as accurately assessed as possible -- especially making sure that all women were counted

Inspired to make a difference, she pursued demography studies in Bordeaux and at the Max Planck Institute in Berlin, one of the most recognised research centres in the field.

In 2003 she moved to South Africa where she founded the Institute of Population Studies at the University of the Western Cape, which she still runs.

Stiegler juggles university life and fieldwork, returning to South Africa during holidays to teach intensive courses on social demography and survey methods.

"I like this fieldwork... perhaps it's because I have a bit of a taste for risk," she smiled, recounting an incident when she was surrounded by a crowd of enraged enumerators in Nigeria who threatened her over unpaid wages.

"The best time is when the adrenaline kicks in on the first days of the census, when we see the first problems emerge."
A Bangladesh soldier stands guard at the Jalpatoli refugee camp for Rohingya Muslims in the no-man's land area on the border with Myanmar on September 16, 2017

One month after the latest influx of Rohingya Muslims began, Bangladesh faces the unenviable dual task of looking after 700,000 wretched people and trying to persuade Myanmar to take them back.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has earned praise for opening up the frontier to the desperate stream of humanity, but, diplomats and experts say, she cannot expect much international help in either campaign.

And, they warn, Bangladesh's warm welcome so far could easily cool if solutions are not found.

"Bangladesh can't deal with this crisis alone," said Champa Patel, head of the Asia Programme at the Chatham House international affairs institute in London.

"It is densely populated, poor and already home to a historically displaced Rohingya community. While currently welcoming, this could change if the situation becomes protracted without any clear end in sight."

About 430,000 people -- mainly Muslims -- have trudged into Bangladesh since August 25 when attacks by Rohingya militants in Rakhine state unleashed a blitz by the Buddhist-majority Myanmar's military.

Rohingya refugees reach up for relief supplies at the Kutupalong refugee camp on September 24, 2017

The influx adds to about 300,000 Rohingya already in camps around the Bangladesh town of Cox's Bazar.

There is not enough food, water or medicine to go around. Roads around the camps are littered with human excrement, exacerbating UN fears that serious disease could quickly break out.

The country has reacted with compassion to the horrific tales of rape and killing refugees have brought with them. Scores of trucks carrying aid donated by the public arrive each day in Cox's Bazar. But it is not enough.

At the UN General Assembly last week, Hasina sought global help to solve the problems of the Rohingya, left stateless by Myanmar's refusal to give them citizenship.

She called for the establishment of safe zones for the Rohingya. Myanmar has not responded.

- Zero influence -

Hasina wants pressure on Myanmar to force it to take back a group that has been in Rakhine for generations.

But neither Bangladesh nor the Western countries who have been shocked by events in Myanmar have any real clout with its de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi or the generals who hold the effective power.

A Rohingya Muslim refugee and child look on as they sit in a school housing new refugees from Myanmar in Kutupalong refugee camp in the Bangaldeshi district of Ukhia on September 23, 2017

"The Myanmar army holds the key to resolve the crisis, in the immediate and short term," Ali Riaz, a professor of Illinois State University in the United States and an expert on Bangladesh-Myanmar relations, told AFP.

"An extremist Buddhist nationalist political force has thrived in past decades in Myanmar," Riaz said.

Bangladesh has "few effective instruments of statecraft at its disposal" to make Myanmar take back the refugees, according to Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington and a specialist on Southeast Asian security.

No regional group has shown a desire to get involved either. There have been demonstrations in Indonesia and Malaysia for the Rohingya. Both are members with Myanmar of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Bangladesh could try to work with Malaysia and Indonesia to pressure Myanmar through ASEAN. But that is not going to work. The Rohingya issue is very divisive within ASEAN," said Abuza.

Aung San Suu Kyi said on September 19 she "feels deeply" for the suffering of "all people" caught up in conflict scorching through Rakhine state, her first comments on a crisis that also mentioned Muslims displaced by violence

China and India are the keys to influencing Myanmar, but neither seems likely to step in.

Both have supported the Myanmar government out of economic interest, said Patel at Chatham House.

They "have investments in the country that they would not want to be undermined because of the current crisis."

The Myanmar generals are not listening to anyone anyway, according to Abuza.

"The Burmese military leadership has factored in the diplomatic costs of its actions. I think it is important to understand that they have been itching to do this for a long time," he said.
A Chinese patrol boat sails into waters near the disputed Senkaku islands in the East China Sea in November 2016

Chinese coast guard vessels sailed near disputed islands claimed by Japan and China in the East China Sea on Monday, marking the second such incident in less than a week.

The four ships entered the waters surrounding the island chain, controlled by Japan and known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in China, at around 10:00 am (0100 GMT) and were moving in a southwest direction, according to the Japanese coast guard.

An online statement from China's State Oceanic Administration only said the four Chinese coast guard vessels were "patrolling in Chinese waters off the Diaoyu Islands."

Japan's coast guard said it was the second time since Thursday that four Chinese ships had entered its waters.

Japan has routinely complained that China is escalating regional tensions by regularly sending ships to the island chain despite repeated protests from Tokyo.

The two countries have been locked in a long-running dispute over the islands, which are believed to harbour vast natural resources below their seabed, with China claiming them as its own.

Beijing is also involved in maritime disputes in the South China Sea. It asserts sovereignty over most of the area despite rival partial claims by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

A UN-backed tribunal last July ruled that Beijing's claims were invalid. The US Navy regularly conducts "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea to challenge China's claims, angering Beijing.
Refugee camps in Bangladesh are facing dire shortages of water, food and medicine and thought to be on the brink of a public health disaster

The World Health Organisation warned Monday of a growing cholera risk in the makeshift refugee camps in Bangladesh where more than 435,000 Rohingya Muslims have sought shelter from unrest in Myanmar.

A month after the exodus began, those dispersed in some 68 camps and settlements along the border do not have safe drinking water and hygiene facilities, according to the WHO.

The camps also face dire shortages of food and medicine in what has quickly become one of the world's largest refugee settlements.

"Risk of water borne diseases is high, especially there is very high risk of cholera and this is why everyone is concerned," the WHO said in a statement.

"Interventions are being scaled-up, however, the situation remains critical and challenging."

The latest influx has overwhelmed the camps around Cox's Bazar, which previously housed at least 300,000 people who had fled earlier violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

The WHO says mobile medical centres have been set up, while Bangladesh health authorities say they have treated some 4,500 Rohingya for diarrhoea in a month and vaccinated some 80,000 children for measles and polio.

"We are trying our best to face the challenges. But we are concerned," Enayet Hossain, deputy head of Bangladesh's health services department, told AFP.

The department said that at least 10 Rohingya have died in Bangladesh since the influx, most from bullet and blast wounds suffered in Rakhine.

Two elderly Rohingya men died of diarrhoea at a charity clinic more than a week ago, said Misbah Uddin Ahmed, a health department official at Ukhia, where most of the camps are located.

"They were also suffering from old age complications and gastroenteritis," he told AFP.

Two Rohingya women, aged 50 and 60, were shifted to a hospital in the port city of Chittagong after they were diagnosed with HIV, police said.

Ahmed said specialists from Bangladesh's International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDRB) and government scientists had visited camps to take samples.

"They are going to set up two field stations here," he told AFP.

- 'Situation under control' -

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) group said last week the camps were on the brink of a public health disaster as filthy water and faeces flow through shanties.

It said a "massive scale-up of humanitarian aid" was needed, with adults on the cusp of dying from dehydration.

But Ahmed said the situation was improving as hundreds of latrines and tube-wells were being dug by government services and local charities.

The army, which has taken over aid management, says it has made sanitary facilities the "highest priority" in an effort to stave off a health emergency.

"The situation is still under control," Ahmed said.

More than 436,000 refugees have crossed the border from Rakhine since August 25 when a military crackdown was launched following attacks by Rohingya militants, according to UN figures on Monday.

The refugees have given shocking accounts of killings and mass rapes by Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs. The Myanmar military says they have only targeted Rohingya militants.
When Xiang Xiang the cub was born, she could fit in a human hand

A panda cub born in a Japanese zoo three months ago has been christened "Xiang Xiang" to evoke the image of a blooming flower, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike said Monday.

After showing a video clip of the baby panda being hugged by proud mum Shin Shin, Koike explained that the name Xiang Xiang -- derived from the Chinese character for "fragrance" -- was chosen from among more than 320,000 suggestions from the public.

The naming of Xiang Xiang threatened to overshadow strong speculation that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would call a snap election. It provided welcome light relief after weeks of tension over North Korean nuclear tests and missile launches.

Shin Shin gave birth at Tokyo's Ueno zoo on June 12, when Xiang Xiang weighed a fragile 100 grams and was tiny enough to fit into a human palm.

Shin Shin, who mated with Ri Ri in February, had previously given birth in 2012 -- the zoo's first panda delivery in 24 years -- only for the cub to die from pneumonia six days later.

Zookeepers have since given the pandas some private space in a bid to create an environment for the bashful creatures to mate successfully -- a notoriously difficult process.

Until recently considered an endangered species, it is estimated that around 2,000 giant pandas remain in the wild, in three provinces in central China.
Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike annouces the name of her new political party

Popular Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike announced on Monday she would lead a new political party into national elections expected next month, hoping to repeat her success in local polls.

Former TV anchorwoman Koike, 65, launched the new party called "Kibo no To" (Party of Hope) just hours before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was expected to call a snap election for as early as October 22.

"I'm launching a new party and I want to be directly involved in it," Koike told reporters, adding that she will remain as Tokyo governor while becoming the head of the new party.

"Japan is facing a difficult time considering the situation in North Korea. Economically, the world is making a big move while Japan's presence is gradually declining," said Koike.

"Can we continue letting (the existing lawmakers) handle politics?"

Koike, who spent nearly two months as defence minister in Abe's first cabinet in 2007, quit the LDP in June to lead the newly-formed Tomin First no Kai (Tokyo Residents First).

This party humiliated Abe and the LDP in local elections in July but commentators say she has not had time to create the necessary foundations at national level.

Abe's conservative LDP party is seen as clear winner of a national vote, with a recent survey showing 44 percent would vote for the current prime minister compared to eight percent for the main opposition Democratic Party.
Human Rights Watch says civilians were killed in a March air strike by the US-led coalition on a bakery in the Syrian town of Tabqa, shown here in September 2017

US-led coalition strikes near the Islamic State group's Syrian stronghold Raqa in March killed at least 84 civilians, including dozens of children, Human Rights Watch alleged Monday.

The group said the strikes hit two sites: a school housing displaced families in the town of Mansourah, and a market and bakery in the town of Tabqa.

It said witnesses acknowledged IS fighters had been present at both sites, but that large number of civilians were also there.

"These attacks killed dozens of civilians, including children, who had sought shelter in a school or were lining up to buy bread at a bakery," HRW deputy emergencies director Ole Solvang said.

"If coalition forces did not know that there were civilians at these sites, they need to take a long, hard look at the intelligence they are using to verify its targets because it clearly was not good enough."

HRW said the first of the two strikes was on March 20, and killed at least 40 people including 16 children at the Badia school in Mansourah. The second was on March 22 and killed at least 44 people including 14 children at the Tabqa market and bakery.

The US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes in support of anti-IS operations in Syria since September 2014, after expanding its existing campaign in neighbouring Iraq.

Since last November, it has been supporting the Kurdish-Arab alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as it battles to capture Raqa province, including its capital Raqa city.

The SDF broke into Raqa city in June and is on the verge of capturing the former jihadist bastion.

But activists have criticised what they say are disproportionately high civilian death tolls in the campaign.

The coalition says it take all possible precautions to avoid civilian casualties and investigates credible reports of civilian deaths in its strikes.

In August, it acknowledged the deaths of 624 civilians in its strikes in Syria and Iraq since 2014.

But rights groups say the real figure is much higher, and HRW criticised the coalition's methodology for assessing civilian casualties.

It said the coalition reported having assessed the Mansourah and Tabqa strikes, but it appeared they carried out no site visits nor witness interviews even though both places have been under SDF control for weeks.

"If the coalition had visited the sites and talked to witnesses they would have found plenty of evidence that civilians were killed in these attacks," Solvang said.

"The coalition should follow our lead, conduct full investigations, and find ways to make its civilian casualty assessments more accurate."

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.
An Emirati man stands in front of a pipeline at the oil terminal of Fujairah during the inauguration ceremony of a dock for supertankers on September 21, 2016

OPEC will discuss extending production cuts that have boosted oil prices and imposing output quotas on all cartel members at a November meeting in Vienna, an Emirati minister said Monday.

United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suheil al-Mazrouei said the oil market had rebalanced after OPEC and non-OPEC producers agreed to cut output in a historic deal last year.

The deal has boosted prices, which currently hover at around $55 a barrel, the minister said.

"The next OPEC meeting will discuss whether there will be a need to extend the output cuts deal and for how long," Mazrouei told reporters.

Major crude producers -- OPEC and non-OPEC countries -- agreed late last year to cut production by about 1.8 million barrels per day for six months.

The agreement was then extended for an additional nine months until March 2018.

"The meeting will also discuss adding new producers to the cuts deal," the minister said.

Mazrouei said OPEC will also discuss imposing the quota system to countries that have so far been exempted.

OPEC members Libya, Iran and Nigeria have been spared in the current deal.

He said the United Arab Emirates, OPEC's fourth largest producer with around 2.7 million barrels per day, has "cut 10 percent of its production in the past two months" and is prepared to do more to boost the market.

The oil market is rebalancing as inventory levels are dropping and the number of drilling rigs is falling, Mazrouei said.

But inventory levels have not reached the average of the past five years, he said.

Oil prices collapsed starting in mid-2014 as a result of a production glut and weak demand.
Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah, seen here in March, will travel to the Gaza Strip on October 2 as part of renewed reconciliation efforts with Hamas

Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah will travel to the Gaza Strip on October 2 as part of renewed reconciliation efforts with Hamas, which runs the enclave, his government said Monday.

The visit follows concessions by Islamist group Hamas after discussions with Egypt, which has urged it to take steps toward reconciliation with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank.

Fatah and Hamas have been divided for a decade, with separate administrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"Prime minister Rami Hamdallah has decided after consulting with president Mahmud Abbas that the government will hold its weekly meeting in Gaza next week," government spokesman Yusuf Al Mahmoud said in a statement published on official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

"Hamdallah and members of the government will arrive in Gaza next Monday to start taking over government responsibilities after Hamas announced its agreement to dissolve the administrative committee and enable the government to assume its full responsibilities."

Hamas said a week ago that it had agreed to steps toward resolving the split with Abbas's Fatah, announcing it would dissolve a body seen as a rival government -- known as the administrative committee -- and was ready to hold elections.

The statement came after Hamas leaders held talks with Egyptian officials and with the Gaza Strip facing a mounting humanitarian crisis.

It remains unclear whether the steps will result in further concrete action towards ending the deep division with Fatah.

Hamas for now continues to run a de facto separate administration in the Gaza Strip and is in charge of the security forces there.

Previous attempts to resolve the split have repeatedly failed.
Giant pandas have a famously low reproductive rate and births in captivity are rare

A giant panda couple struggling to produce cubs in an Australian zoo have been given a helping hand by vets who hope to overcome the bears' notorious breeding difficulties with three artificial inseminations.

Fu Ni and Wang Wang arrived in Adelaide from China in late 2009 as part of a programme aimed at breeding the Southern Hemisphere's first baby pandas.

But attempts at mating and artificial insemination have so far failed to impregnate Fu Ni, with the species' short annual breeding period -- typically just 36 hours between February and May -- proving too small a window.

Vets at Adelaide Zoo worked feverishly over the weekend with a reproductive specialist from China to complete the three procedures, which they say have given the couple their best-ever chance of having a cuddly cub.

"Weve had a busy couple of days working round the clock to maximise the chance of a positive result," senior vet Ian Smith said Monday.

This is the fourth attempt to artificially inseminate Fu Ni and it will not be known until about two weeks prior to her potentially giving birth if it has been successful. Gestation can take between 50 and 160 days.

Giant pandas are notoriously clumsy at mating, with males said to be bad at determining when a female is in the right frame of mind and often befuddled at knowing what to do next.

In the event the animals do feel compatible, sex is frequently over too quickly to impregnate the female.

Only some 1,864 pandas remain in the wild, mainly in China's Sichuan province. A further 370 live in captivity in breeding programs around the world.

Giant pandas have a famously low reproductive rate, a key factor along with habitat loss in their status as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of threatened species.

Births in captivity are rare, but a cub was born at a Japanese zoo in June, while a French zoo welcomed its first-ever baby panda last month.
An Arizona man has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Chippewa County Judge Steven Cray, former Judge Roderick Cameron and several others, seeking $69 million.

Willie R. Pettengill filed the lawsuit over the placement of his child with a woman Aug. 30 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. Other plaintiffs include Christopher L. Pettengill, Bridget P. Pettengill and Willie R. Pettengill. Christopher and Bridget Pettengill are grandparents to the child.

Besides Cray and Cameron, defendants named in the lawsuit include attorneys Rita Raihle, Lauren Otto, Pamela Veith and Robert Thorson, along with court appointed guardian Gail Prock, Natasha Henning, Teresa Nanstad and the estate of David Nanstad. David Nanstad, of Eau Claire, died on July 18, according to the lawsuit.

The suit also names as defendants up to 20 others, which the suit says are Chippewa County social workers and employees who protect neglected minor children.

Cameron retired in December after serving 33 years on the bench. Pettengills federal lawsuit misspells Camerons first name.

This is not the first time Willie R. Pettengill has gone to court over the courts placement of the child with Natasha Henning, the childs mother.

On Nov. 25, 2016, the Wisconsin Third District Court of Appeals upheld Camerons ruling. In that case, Pettengill alleged Cameron held a secret, off-the-record phone conference on the matter and that judge intimidated Pettengills then lawyer, who withdrew from the case.

These arguments are undeveloped, (make conclusions) and lacking citation to the record on appeal. We shall not consider unsupported arguments nor search for evidence to support a partys argument. ... In any event, Pettengills disparaging remarks directed at the circuit court are unwarranted and will not be further addressed, the appeals court said.

According to the 43-page federal lawsuit:

Willie R. Pettengill and Natasha Henning had a child in Wisconsin and were never married. Both had joint legal custody.

Pettengill got a management job in Phoenix, Arizona, and moved there. Theresa Nanstad, a grandmother to the child, filed a legal action in Lafayette County seeking grandparental rights. A later court hearing awarded Natasha Henning with the primary placement of the child.

Pettengill makes several accusations against Henning, questioning her fitness to be a mother. He alleges she lived for a time with a man convicted of second degree sexual assault of a child in Wood County. A 2011 court order said Henning could no longer live with the man.

The lawsuit says Judge Cray in 2015 ordered Pettengill to return the child from Arizona to Wisconsin by Aug. 2, 2015.

Defendants, in combination, conspired to deny the father his constitutional right to parent, deny the paternal grandparents their grandparental rights, and terminate the fathers parental rights, the lawsuit alleges.

Willie R. Pettengill is represented by attorney Eliyahu Yuli Kaplunovsky of Sunnyvale, California.
Cambodia National Rescue Party chief whip Son Chhay speaks at a press conference at the party's headquarters in Phnom Penh

Cambodia's opposition party on Monday began erecting banners nationwide calling for the release of its leader Kem Sokha, ahead of a bail ruling for the politician who was arrested three weeks ago.

The opposition leader was shunted into a remote prison on treason charges, which his allies have described as part of Premier Hun Sen's sweeping crackdown on dissent in the run-up to 2018 elections.

The self-described strongman has held power for 32 years in the impoverished democracy.

But his popularity slipped in a 2013 election and he has since moved deftly -- often leaning on pliant courts -- to silence critics in politics, the media and NGOs.

On Monday, a day before a court rules on the legality of Kem Sokha's detention, politicians from his embattled Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) erected a large banner outside their headquarters in Phnom Penh.

The mobilisation comes despite Hun Sen's threats to dissolve the party if they continue to "protect" their leader.

The banners show Kem Sokha waving to a sea of supporters during mass protests organised by the CNRP after the 2013 election, which the party accused Hun Sen of manipulating in his favour.

"We will erect the banners at all our offices in other provinces," deputy CNRP leader Pol Ham told reporters.

The goal was to "find justice for president Kem Sokha", added party whip Son Chhay.

Kem Sokha has been charged with conspiring in a "secret plan" with foreign entities that began in 1993.

Hun Sen has accused Washington of backing the alleged plot, sending relations into a tailspin, with the US ambassador denying the allegation as "absurd".

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met his Cambodian counterpart in Paris Monday to express concern at Kem Sokha's arrest, the ministry said in a statement.

Le Drian also expressed fears over the closure of several media outlets in Cambodia.

"He stressed the importance for Cambodia, in the run-up to the forthcoming parliamentary elections, to resume the path of a pluralistic democracy, respectful of human rights and fundamental freedoms," the ministry said.

If Kem Sokha is found guilty, the new banners will have to be taken down under legislation banning parties from "using the voice, images or written documents" of anyone convicted of a crime.

That law, passed earlier this year, was aimed squarely at Kem Sokha's predecessor Sam Rainsy, who is living in exile to avoid a string of convictions he says are politically motivated.

The move was the latest in a long list of legal attempts to box the CNRP in, and sent the party scrambling to paint over Sam Rainsy's face on thousands of signs around the country.
Hong Kong does not recognise gay marriage and only decriminalised homosexuality in 1991

A British lesbian on Monday won the right to live and work in Hong Kong with her partner in a landmark legal decision that could reduce more hurdles for same-sex couples in the city.

QT, as she is referred to in court, entered into a civil partnership in Britain in 2011 and moved to Hong Kong the same year after her partner was offered a job in the city.

But she was denied a dependant visa and has instead stayed in Hong Kong on a visitor visa, which does not allow her to work.

The Court of Appeal overturned a lower court's decision last year, which rejected her efforts to secure a visa to settle in Hong Kong.

Monday's decision, reached unanimously by a panel of three judges, said immigration authorities "failed to justify the indirect discrimination on account of sexual orientation that QT suffers".

"Whilst one-ness, together-ness, joint-ness and mutuality are hallmarks of a heterosexual marriage relationship, they are not, or no longer, exclusive to such a relationship," the judgment added.

Campaigners have described the case as a landmark for the socially conservative southern Chinese city, which does not recognise gay marriage and only decriminalised homosexuality in 1991.

- 'Big win' -

Activists and members of the LGBT community applauded the decision.

Ray Chan, a pro-democracy politician and first openly gay lawmaker in Hong Kong, called the case a "big win for same-sex dependents to apply for visa to stay in Hong Kong".

Some say the decision could pave the way for broader equality and LGBT rights in the former British colony.

"The judgement is a step towards greater rights for same-sex couples in Hong Kong and is a recognition of same-sex couples as valid relationships," Geoffrey Yeung, member of Progressive Lawyers Group, told AFP.

The court also made an economic case, saying that preventing a partner from joining a foreign worker is "counter-productive to attracting the worker to come to or remain in Hong Kong to work in the first place."

Twelve top financial institutions including Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley submitted their views to the court earlier this year, saying that diverse hiring practices were crucial to attracting and retaining top talent.

Last year HSBC placed rainbow-painted LGBT-friendly installations in front of its iconic building in the heart of the city, earning support from some groups but also drawing the ire of conservatives and anti-gay campaigners.

Hong Kong's immigration department said it was studying the judgment carefully and would seek legal advice before making a decision on whether to appeal.
Polls suggest voters approve of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's tough line on North Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday called a snap election, seeking a fresh term at the helm of the world's third-largest economy as tensions with nearby North Korea reach fever-pitch.

Abe hopes to capitalise on a weak and fractured opposition to sweep back into power, as polls show him regaining ground after a series of scandals.

"I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th" of September, Abe told reporters, a precursor to a general election. The prime minister did not give a date for the vote but it is widely expected to be October 22.

Surveys suggest voters approve of nationalist Abe's hardline stance on North Korea, which fired two missiles over the country in the space of a month and has threatened to "sink" Japan.

"The election, which is the core of democracy, should not be influenced by the threats of North Korea," stressed Abe, 63.

"Rather, by holding an election, I want to seek a public mandate regarding (the government's) handling of the North Korean issues," he added.

- 'Difficult time' -

According to a weekend poll in business daily Nikkei, 44 percent of Japanese plan to vote for Abe's conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), while only eight percent favoured the main opposition Democratic Party.

Nevertheless, one fifth of those polled said they were still undecided, potentially opening the door for gains by a new party formed by the popular mayor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike which will field dozens of candidates.

Koike's Tomin First no Kai (Tokyo Residents First) party humiliated Abe and the LDP in local elections in July, but analysts say the new grouping has not had time to lay a national foundation to mount a serious challenge to the prime minister.

Popular Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike annouces the name of new political party "Kibo no To (Party of Hope)."

In an apparent bid to steal Abe's limelight, former TV anchorwoman Koike went before the cameras just hours before his news conference to announce she was creating a national political party called "Kibo no To" (Party of Hope).

"Japan is facing a difficult time considering the situation in North Korea. Economically, the world is making a big move while Japan's presence is gradually declining," said Koike.

"Can we continue letting (the existing lawmakers) handle politics?"

But Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University in Japan, said there was "no opposition worthy of the name in Japan".

"The LDP is a giant among dwarves. It would take a major scandal to derail the Abe express," he said.

- 'Political vacuum' -

The winner of the expected snap election faces a daunting in-tray of challenges ranging from an unprecedented crisis with North Korea to reviving the once world-beating Japanese economy.

North Korea has fired two missiles over the northern island of Hokkaido in the space of less than a month

The North Korea crisis appears to have given the hawkish Abe a welcome boost in the polls following a series of scandals, including allegations he improperly favoured a friend in a business deal.

Despite a recent run of growth, the election winner will also have to contend with a sluggish economy, as the heavily indebted country grapples with a low birth rate and a shrinking labour force.

Abe said Japan's "biggest problem" was a declining number of children in an ageing society.

He pledged to use some of the proceeds of a planned hike in sales tax to fund education and childcare, rather than drawing down Japan's massive debt, resulting in an effective stimulus package of around two trillion yen ($18 billion).

"I want people's support. I plan to compile a new economic package by the end of the year," the prime minister said.

Although Abe is expected to triumph in the vote, there are question marks over whether he will retain the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to reform the constitution to strengthen Japan's military, one of his stated priorities.

"Despite the seemingly favourable backdrop for Abe, there are risks in calling a snap election," said Yoel Sano, an analyst at BMI research.

Shinzo Abe has cultivated close relations with US President Donald Trump

At a time of national crisis over North Korea, Japanese voters may see it as a "cynical and opportunistic move" designed to divert attention from the scandals that weighed on Abe's popularity, warned Sano.

Commentator Masao Yora said the election would "create a political vacuum" just when the country needs strong leadership in the face of the threat from Pyongyang.

This "may seem normal in Japan but from abroad, it is difficult to understand", Yora told AFP.

If re-elected, it would be Abe's fourth term.

Abe, the third generation of a powerful political family, appeared to be groomed for power from an early age. He was the country's youngest prime minister when he first won the top job aged 52.

Abe was the first world leader to cultivate close relations with US President Donald Trump, meeting the tycoon in Trump Tower even before he was inaugurated.
Kurdish Peshmergas place their ink-stained fingers on a Kurdish flag after voting in the Kurdish independence referendum in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, on September 25, 2017

Iran has shut its border with Iraqi Kurdistan in response to its independence referendum, the foreign ministry said Monday.

"At the request of the Iraqi government, we have closed our land and air borders" with Iraqi Kurdistan, foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said at a press conference.

The referendum is "illegal and illegitimate," he added.

Iran had already announced on Sunday that it was stopping all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan in response to the vote.

President Hassan Rouhani spoke overnight with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, saying: "The Islamic republic of Iran fully supports the central government of Iraq."

The referendum went ahead on Monday despite strong opposition from Baghdad and its neighbours, as well as Western governments including the United States.

Iran fears the vote could encourage separatists in its own Kurdish region, and said last week that independence could mean an end to all of border and security arrangements.

Iranian security forces have faced regular attacks by militant Kurdish separatists, primarily based across the border in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The impoverished Gaza Strip, where Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah will visit next week, has suffered from severe electricity shortages

Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah will travel to Gaza on October 2 as part of a fresh push to end a decade-long split between Fatah and Hamas, which runs the enclave, his government said Monday.

The visit follows concessions by Islamist group Hamas after discussions with Egypt, which has urged it to take steps towards reconciliation with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank.

Fatah and Hamas have been divided for more than a decade, with separate administrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"Prime minister Rami Hamdallah has decided after consulting with president Mahmud Abbas that the government will hold its weekly meeting in Gaza next week," government spokesman Yusuf Al Mahmoud said in a statement published by official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

"Hamdallah and members of the government will arrive in Gaza next Monday to start taking over government responsibilities after Hamas announced its agreement to dissolve the administrative committee and enable the government to assume its full responsibilities."

Hamdallah, who is not believed to have travelled to Gaza since 2015, also wrote about the visit on his Facebook page.

"I am heading to the beloved Gaza Strip next Monday with the government and all bodies, authorities and security services," he wrote.

"We hope all parties and all Palestinians will focus on the national interest to enable the government to continue carrying out all of its functions in a way which serves the Palestinian citizens first."

Hamas said a week ago that it had agreed to steps towards resolving the split with Abbas's Fatah, announcing it would dissolve a body seen as a rival government -- known as the administrative committee -- and was ready to hold elections.

The statement came after Hamas leaders held talks with Egyptian officials and with the Gaza Strip facing a mounting humanitarian crisis.

The UN envoy for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, urged the two factions not to "miss this last opportunity to bring unity".

UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov speaking to reporters in Gaza City on September 25, 2017

"Everybody recognises that the situation in which Gaza's humanitarian problems risk exploding is extremely dangerous for everyone," he said on a visit to Gaza on Monday.

"If we miss this opportunity, I don't think another opportunity will come anytime soon."

- Egyptian pressure -

It remains unclear whether the steps will result in further concrete action towards ending the deep division with Fatah.

Hamas for now continues to run a de facto separate administration in Gaza and is in charge of the security forces in the enclave.

Previous attempts to resolve the split have repeatedly failed. The last attempt at forging a unity government fell apart in 2015, with the two sides exchanging blame.

Both Hamas and Fatah are signalling caution.

On Monday, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said "we welcome the arrival of the government of consensus to the Gaza Strip, but it must reassure the Palestinian street through practical steps".

Ahmed Majdalani, a senior figure in the Fatah-dominated Palestine Liberation Organisation, said Egyptian officials will also travel to Gaza to monitor how the government assumes its duties there.

Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah, seen here in March, will travel to the Gaza Strip on October 2 as part of renewed reconciliation efforts with Hamas

Hamas has run Gaza since 2007, having seized it in a near civil war from Fatah following a dispute over parliamentary elections won by the Islamist movement the previous year.

It formed the administrative committee in March, and since then Abbas has sought to put further pressure on the Islamist movement, reducing electricity payments for the Gaza Strip and cutting salaries for public employees.

The West Bank and Gaza have not participated in an election together since 2006.

Abbas, whose term was meant to end in 2009, has remained in office with no election held.

The Gaza Strip has meanwhile faced deteriorating humanitarian conditions, including a severe electricity crisis and a lack of clean water.

The coastal enclave of some two million people also has one of the world's highest unemployment rates and has seen three wars with Israel since 2008.

It has been under an Israeli blockade for around a decade, while its border with Egypt has also remained largely closed in recent years.

Facing those conditions, Hamas has turned to Egypt for assistance, particularly for fuel to produce power and with hopes of opening the border -- and has faced pressure to take steps toward Palestinian reconciliation in return.
An Iraqi Kurdish man shows his ten ink-stained fingers after casting his vote in the Kurdish independence referendum in the city of Kirkuk

Iraq's Kurds defied widespread opposition to vote Monday in a historic independence referendum, sparking fresh tensions with Baghdad and threats from Turkey while Washington warned it would "increase instability".

The vote in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq and some disputed areas is non-binding and will not lead automatically to independence, but is seen by the Kurds as a major step towards a long-cherished dream of statehood.

Voters flocked to the polls, eager to show off their ink-stained fingers after casting their ballots.

Turnout was 72 percent, with 3.3 million of the 4.58 million registered voters taking part, election commission spokesman Shirwan Zirar said late Monday. Prior to the vote, the commission had put the electorate at 5.3 million.

Results were expected within 24 hours, with an overwhelming "yes" vote not in doubt.

The vote took place peacefully and in a festive atmosphere, but signs of potential trouble mounted as the day progressed, with Washington saying it was "deeply disappointed" that the ballot went ahead.

"The United States' historic relationship with the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region will not change in light of today's non-binding referendum, but we believe this step will increase instability and hardships for the Kurdistan region and its people," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

In New York, UN chief Antonio Guterres also expressed concern about the "potentially destabilising effects" of the referendum.

Expressing respect for "the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Iraq", he called for differences to be resolved through "structured dialogue and constructive compromise".

The Kurds

Lawmakers in Baghdad, which has declared the vote unconstitutional, demanded the government send troops to disputed areas where the referendum was taking place.

In Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkey -- which fears the effects of the vote on its own sizeable Kurdish population -- would shut its border with Iraqi Kurdistan and threatened to block key exports.

And in Kirkuk, a disputed city where the vote controversially went ahead, security forces deployed on the streets after a curfew was imposed in parts of the city.

- 'Day of celebration' -

Soon after voting began in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, many men headed to polling stations dressed in traditional Kurdish dress of brown shirt and billowing trousers.

"I came very early to be the first to vote for a Kurdish state," said Diyar Abubakr, 33.

Iraqi Kurds wait to check their identities before voting in the Kurdish independence referendum at a stadium in Arbil on September 25, 2017

"It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion."

Veteran Iraqi Kurd leader Massud Barzani, who initiated the vote, smiled as he cast his ballot early in the morning, wearing a traditional headscarf.

He pushed ahead with the referendum despite the opposition from Baghdad and Ankara, but also from Iran which has its own large Kurdish minority, and Western countries who fear the vote could hamper the fight against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in which cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurds has been key.

Polling stations were scattered across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan -- Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk -- as well as in disputed border zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

As voting progressed, Iraq's parliament ordered Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to "deploy forces" in disputed areas.

Asked about the risks of armed conflict, Abadi's spokesman Saad al-Hadithi told AFP: "If there are clashes in these zones, it will be the job of federal forces to apply the law."

Karim al-Nuri, a head of the Badr Brigade which forms part of the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units, suggested the Shiite group was ready to deploy to "Kirkuk and the disputed zones occupied by armed gangs, outlaws who do not respond to the army command."

- Curfew in Kirkuk -

Kirkuk, home to Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, has been a particular point of concern and late Monday police said a curfew was being imposed in the city centre and in Arab and Turkmen areas "to ensure security, monitor the situation and protect the citizens of Kirkuk".

Members of SWAT affiliated to the Iraqi interior ministry deploy on the streets after a curfew was imposed on the disputed northern city of Kirkuk, during the vote on the Kurdish independence on September 25, 2017

A senior official in Kirkuk later said the situation was stable and that the curfew would be lifted within hours. "Tomorrow will be a normal work day in Kirkuk," he said.

Abadi on Sunday pledged to take all the "necessary measures" to protect Iraq's unity, as his government urged all countries to deal only with it on oil transactions.

The Iraqi Kurds export an average 600,000 barrels per day through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

Erdogan on Monday threatened to halt these lifeline oil exports, angrily denouncing an "illegitimate" referendum.

He also said Turkey's Habur border crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan would be closed.

Tehran has increased pressure, announcing Sunday it had blocked all flights to and from the region at Baghdad's request.

However, the referendum sparked celebrations in the Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli, in solidarity with their brethren across the border.

Iraqi Kurdish girls celebrate with the Kurdish flag in the northern city of Kirkuk on September 25, 2017 during a historic independence referendum

"We've been waiting for this moment for more than 100 years, to celebrate the independence of Kurdistan," said one of the revellers, Rezkar Pigeot, 40, as young Kurds sang and danced in the streets.

Left without a state of their own when the borders of the Middle East were redrawn after World War I, the Kurds see themselves as the world's largest stateless people.

The non-Arab ethnic group number between 25 and 35 million people spread across Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria.
A vendor displays a window cleaning product at the Pyongyang trade fair

It was a tale of just two economies when the 13th Pyongyang International Trade Fair opened in the North Korean capital on Monday, with two-thirds of the exhibitors domestic firms, and almost all the others Chinese.

Eight sets of progressively tighter United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes have left its economy progressively more isolated.

The latest, passed earlier this month after its sixth atomic test -- which it said was a hydrogen bomb -- bans all joint ventures with North Korean entities, with just a few exceptions, and requires existing ones to be closed within 120 days.

The only European firm at the show was Italian shipping company OTIM, which in 2001 was the first EU freight forwarder to open a representative office in Pyongyang.

Initially business was good, said company president Mario Carniglia, but "then the sanctions came and it became more and more difficult".

The fair was held in a cavernous hall on the outskirts of the capital

Now the firm mostly handles inbound humanitarian shipments under UN and European Union aid programmes, with its commercial cargoes "practically nil at this stage".

Chinese customs inspections were becoming increasingly strict, a colleague added.

Among the few North Korean items still being exported to Europe, said Carniglia, were spare parts for accordions, a musical instrument that is unusually popular in the North.

"Just parts because if it is a complete accordion it is considered a luxury good and you cannot import it in Europe."

Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora told AFP that unlike in the past, there were no Russian companies taking part. "Maybe they have not much interest in this market."

Some foreign firms were doing business with North Koreans, he said, but "most of those companies are of Chinese origin".

- Cooking pots, health tonics -

Organisers said there were 253 exhibitors at the fair, held in a cavernous hall on the outskirts of the capital, with 81 from overseas.

Pride of place at the entrance went to an official Syrian stall displaying a small selection of famous Damascene Aghabani cloth and a few bars of green laurel soap from war-torn Aleppo.

Cuba and Indonesia were the only other embassies to take exhibition space.

Most of the Chinese firms were traders bringing cooking implements and domestic appliances to sell to retail buyers, rather than manufacturers looking for long-term deals or state-owned enterprises promoting infrastructure projects.

Li Likun, of Shenyang Xiangbo Trading Company, offered a selection of belts and electric massage machines.

Buyers at the fair paid in US dollars

It was his fifth or sixth visit, he said, and business was good. "Every time I come here it's getting better and better."

North Korea has quietly engaged in some market reforms under leader Kim Jong-Un, and Seoul believes it enjoyed its fastest growth since 1999 last year.

However, officially it insists that it is sticking to the orthodoxy of Kim's father and grandfather Kim Jong-Il and Kim Il-Sung, the founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Buyers at the fair paid in US dollars and some products were aimed squarely at Pyongyang's growing middle class -- two bottles of New Zealand green-lipped mussel extract capsules supposed to help joints from Australian food supplements firm Koast cost $110.

For now trade was "okay", said Kim Kum-Ran, from its local agent, "but it will get tougher".

"I wish the Americans will stop torturing us with useless sanctions and recognise us as a nuclear state so that all trade can be done freely and there will be peace in the world."

- Leadership 'under pressure' -

The North does not publish any official trade statistics of its own, regarding them as a state secret -- shrouding the exact details of its commerce in mystery.

But according to the Souths Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the North had exports of $2.8 billion and imports of $3.7 billion last year, with China accounting for more than 90 percent.

Televisions are displayed at the stall of a Korean electronics company at the Pyongyang trade fair

"The trade with China of course is continuing and ongoing," said Peter Ross, who works for an EU development programme in Pyongyang. "That is a fact and a reality that sustains most of the business here."

Sanctions, he said, were "definitely making it more and more difficult for this country" particularly against a backdrop of popular expectations for growing personal prosperity.

"That's a challenge which the government has to meet," he added. "Sanctions are making this harder and harder, so in that indirect way they are putting pressure on the government."
A member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US backed Kurdish-Arab alliance, holds a position in Raqa on September 4, 2017. The SDF is battling jihadists in Raqa and Syria's Deir Ezzor province

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces militia Monday accused Russia of killing one of its fighters and wounding others in strikes on a gas facility it captured two days earlier from the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.

"Russian air strikes and mortar fire hit the Conoco gas plant where a large number of our forces are stationed," SDF spokeswoman Lilwa Abdallah told AFP.

A statement issued later by the militia said one fighter had been killed and six wounded in the bombing.

Moscow neither confirmed nor denied the report, noting only that Russian warplanes were carrying out strikes on "terrorist sites" in support of regime operations against the jihadists in Deir Ezzor province.

Abdallah said Syrian regime forces carried out additional bombardment of SDF positions after the initial Russian bombing.

"We reserve the right to respond," she added.

The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, captured the Conoco plant in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province on Saturday.

The militia is fighting a campaign against IS on the eastern side of the Euphrates River that cuts diagonally across Deir Ezzor, a resource-rich province that borders Iraq.

Syria's regime, backed by its ally Russia, is carrying out its own campaign against IS in Deir Ezzor, largely on the western side of the Euphrates, including in provincial capital Deir Ezzor city.

A "de-confliction" line is supposed to prevent the two campaigns from clashing, but Monday's alleged bombardment is the second time the SDF has accused Russia and the regime of hitting its fighters.

On September 16, the group said six of its fighters were wounded in air strikes by regime and Russian warplanes in the Al-Sinaaiya area around seven kilometres (four miles) from the eastern bank of the Euphrates.

And on September 21, Moscow warned Washington of reprisals after accusing the SDF of firing on Syrian regime forces in the province.
Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, has long struggled with Islamic militancy and has suffered a string of extremist attacks

An Indonesian extremist who carried out a deadly attack on a church with a group of militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group was jailed for life on Monday.

Juhanda, who like many Indonesians goes only by one name, was found guilty of an act of terrorism that killed a toddler and hurt three other small children on Borneo island last November.

"The defendant has been proven guilty of committing a terrorism act," Judge Surung Simanjuntak, from the East Jakarta Court, said.

Prosecutors said Juhanda travelled to the Protestant church in the city of Samarinda by motorbike, intending to carry out the attack.

But instead he fell from the bike and detonated a Molotov cocktail in front of the church where the youngsters, aged between two and four, had been playing.

Two-year-old Intan Olivia Marbun was killed in the blast.

Juhanda was arrested along with four others, with all five accused of belonging to the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah group (JAD), a local militant outfit that supports IS.

One of his co-conspirators, Joko Sugito, was jailed on Monday for seven years for his part in the attack.

The three other defendants involved in the case have received sentences ranging from six years to six years and eight months in prison.

Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, has long struggled with Islamic militancy and has suffered a string of extremist attacks.

In 2002, a bomb in Bali exploded killing 202 people and, more recently, a suicide bombing and gun attack claimed by IS in the capital Jakarta killed eight people in January 2016.
Wilbur Ross (L) met with Li Keqiang (R) in Beijing ahead of Trump's trip to China, which is expected to take place in November

The visiting US commerce secretary told China's premier on Monday that the warm reception he received in Beijing "augurs very well" for Donald Trump's upcoming visit, amid tensions over trade and North Korea.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross met with Premier Li Keqiang at the headquarters of Communist Party leaders ahead of the US president's trip to China, which is expected to take place in November.

"China and the United States are the largest trading partners with each other, so I think it is fair to say that our common interests far outweigh our differences and divergences," Li told Ross.

"I hope your current visit will be conducive to further deepening the existing economic and trade relations between China and the United States," he said.

Ross's visit comes a month after Trump ordered a trade investigation into China's intellectual property practices, which prompted Beijing to warn of potential retaliation.

The world's two top economies have also been at odds over how to handle North Korea's nuclear threat, with Beijing repeatedly calling for peace talks and the United States pressing for massive economic pressure on China's ally.

But Ross and Li only had praise for each other during the public portion of their meeting.

"We have been greeted very warmly by your associates here during the two days that we've been in town and we think that augurs very well for the forthcoming visit between President Trump and President Xi (Jinping)," Ross told Li.

He voiced hope that the meetings would result in "some very good deliverables" for the two presidents.

Trump called Xi a "friend" for whom he has "great respect" after they met at the US leader's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in April.

But relations have soured over North Korea since then, with Trump repeatedly pressing Xi to do more to squeeze Pyongyang.

China has since agreed to a slew of United Nations sanctions against North Korea, including a new package of measures restricting some oil shipments following Pyongyang's sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
China's One (Now Two) Child Policy Turns 37; Chinese Woman Dies After Husband Pressures Her to Abort Four Girls

Contact: Reggie Littlejohn, Women's Rights Without Frontiers, 310-592-5722



WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- China's coercive population control policy turns 37 this week (September 25). The news media touted the Two Child Policy as having "abandoned," "ended" or "ditched" the One Child Policy. However, forced abortion, involuntary sterilization, the monitoring of women's menstrual cycles, and the sex-selective abortion of baby girls continue.



Over the summer, for example, it was reported that a Chinese woman from Anhui Province died after her husband pressured her into aborting four pregnancies in a year, because he wanted a son. The couple already had a four-year-old daughter. After the Two-Child Policy was instituted on January 1, 2016, they decided to have a second child, which the husband determined would be a boy. When the woman became ill because of the repeated abortions, her husband divorced her. She used the divorce settlement money (approximately U.S. $2500) to seek hospital treatment, but then died. Her husband did not visit her in the hospital and was planning on marrying another woman at the time of the report.



Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women's Rights Without Frontiers, stated, "My heart breaks for this woman, pressured into four abortions by her husband, then left to die from the trauma  all because he wanted a son! Brutal son preference remains in China, and as I had predicted, the sex-selective abortion of baby girls continues under the Two-Child Policy. Second daughters are still aborted or abandoned."



In an ineffective effort to stem the tide of sex-selective abortions, the Chinese government has made it illegal for a doctor to inform a pregnant woman of the gender of her child. Nevertheless, people can learn the gender for a price, either by illicit ultrasounds or other means. Indeed, because of the demand, an "Underground Railroad" is carrying on a "roaring trade" to smuggle the blood of pregnant women from mainland China into Hong Kong, where it is tested for gender.



Government enforced abortion continues under China's new Two Child Policy. For example, on July 22, 2016  more than six months after the institution of the Two Child Policy -- a Guangdong couple was told they must have an abortion or both lose their government jobs. The wife was eight months pregnant.



Forced sterilization is still employed under the Two Child Policy, usually against women, but at times against men as well. A Yunnan man's ex-wife was sterilized for having three children. He remarried and had a fourth child, at which point he was sterilized earlier this year.



Meanwhile, the shift to a Two Child Policy has not yielded the number of new births needed to support China's swiftly aging population. According to a study by researchers in China and England, the Two Child Policy "will bring only a small increase in population growth." In 1965, just 3.3% of China's population was over the age of 65. Under the One Child Policy, it was projected that by 2050, 29% would have been over 65. This percentage is only slightly reduced to 25% under the Two Child Policy.



Littlejohn added, "China's population problem is not that it has too many people. It is that it has too few young people to support its rapidly aging population. Senior suicide is on the rise, as many elderly find themselves abandoned by their families and the Chinese government provides no safety net for them. China desperately needs more babies, so much so that they are considering paying couples to have a second child.



So why does China continue coercive population control in any form? Reggie Littlejohn states:

"As I have long said, I believe the Chinese Communist Party will never abandon coercive population control, because coercive population control is keeping the regime in power. Although every couple is allowed to have two children, single women are still forcibly aborted, as are third pregnancies. Women of childbearing age still have to go in for mandatory pregnancy checks several times a year. Two Child Policy violators are still forcibly sterilized. All this instills terror. The Chinese Communist Party is a brutal, totalitarian regime, which reigns with terror. The Two Child Policy is social control, masquerading as population control.



"We applaud the Trump administration's decisive action of defunding the UNFPA, an action for which we have long advocated, because of UNFPA's complicity with coercive population control in China.



"We call for the immediate, unqualified end to all coercive population control in China. One out of every five women in the world lives in China. The women of the world will not be free until the women of China are free."

In addition to advocating against coercive population control, WRWF's "Save a Girl" Campaign has saved hundreds of baby girls from sex-selective abortion or abandonment.


At least four people have died since August during protests in Togo that have seen unprecedented numbers of people take to the streets calling for political reform

Togo's opposition on Monday cancelled its latest wave of planned anti-government street protests and instead called for a nationwide shutdown.

Three days of demonstrations against President Faure Gnassingbe's regime had been scheduled to take place from Tuesday.

But 14 opposition parties instead called on the public to "stop all professional and economic activity" on Friday and to "pray for the memory of the martyrs".

At least four people have died and dozens more have been injured since August during protests that have seen unprecedented numbers of people take to the streets calling for political reform in the tiny West African nation.

Gnassingbe, who has been in power since the death of his father in 2005, is the scion of Africa's oldest political dynasty, which has ruled Togo since 1967.

Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe has been in power since the death of his father in 2005

The opposition said it welcomed the public support in the face of the "illegal and heavy-handed" reaction of the authorities, which also saw mobile internet networks suspended.

Calls are mounting for Gnassingbe to step down despite the government having proposed changes to the country's constitution limiting a president to a maximum two, five-year terms.

A referendum is due to take place in the coming months but the opposition wants the measure to be retroactive, as it allows Gnassingbe to stand in the next two elections.

That means he could still be president until 2030.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the weekend called on both sides to engage in "constructive dialogue" about institutional and constitutional reform.

Nathaniel Olympio, head of the opposition Togolese Party, said no-one was against dialogue but there needed to be clarity about the nature of the discussions.
US defense secretary James Mattis says stronger military ties with India should not affect Pakistan

Stronger military ties between India and the United States should not affect relations with neighbours such as Pakistan, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said ahead of a visit to New Delhi.

The Pentagon chief arrived Monday for a 48-hour trip -- the first to India by any member of President Donald Trump's cabinet.

"This is a historic opportunity for our two democracies at a time of strategic convergence," Mattis told reporters on his flight. He is to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new defence minister in New Delhi.

The trip comes weeks after Trump unveiled a new Afghanistan strategy and urged India to increase assistance to the war-torn nation's economy.

The US president also chided Delhi's arch-rival Pakistan for offering safe haven to "agents of chaos".

When asked how he would balance the India-Pakistan dynamic, Mattis stressed that the relationship the United States is pursuing with India is "not to the exclusion of other countries".

"Any nation that is living by the traditional rules of non-interference in other states in today's age of anti-terrorism, they will not find this relationship in any way adversarial," he said.

India has long vied with Pakistan for influence in Afghanistan, building dams, roads and a new parliament in the troubled country. Last year it offered some $1 billion in aid.

Trump's new Afghan strategy includes the deployment of more than 3,000 additional US troops.

- Defence cooperation -

In 2016 the United States designated India a "Major Defence Partner" with the aim of improving military cooperation, increasing information-sharing and cutting red tape to ease defence deals.

Mattis's predecessor Ash Carter pushed hard for stronger defence ties and the Trump administration has the same aim.

The two sides will be "discussing joint efforts to advance common goals through a broader strategic exchange of views", Mattis said.

"India from our perspective is clearly a pillar of regional stability and security: we share a common vision for a peaceful and prosperous future in the Indo-Pacific region."

Trump has praised India for contributing to regional stability and for buying US military equipment.

India is contemplating buying Lockheed Martin's F-16 Block 70 aircraft in a deal potentially worth $15 billion.

The US firm has offered the most upgraded version of the jet fighter to India, the world's largest weapons importer.

It is competing with Swedish defence giant Saab, whose Gripen E made its maiden flight in June.

A drone deal for the Indian Navy will also likely be up for discussion, a source familiar with the negotiations told AFP.

"Since Chinese assets have started to dominate the Indian Ocean region, the Trump administration is keen on fast-tracking the acquisition of the drones," the source said.

Many commentators have said US-India cooperation could act as a counterweight to an increasingly assertive China, which has been developing its military capabilities.

But Afghanistan will dominate talks when Mattis meets Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who will host her highest-level foreign delegation since being appointed this month.
A woman flashes "grey wolf" nationalist sign as protesters wave Turkish and Iraqi Turkmen flags on September 24, 2017 in Istanbul, during a demonstration against Kurdish independence referendum in northern Iraq

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Ankara would close its border with Iraq's Kurdistan region over an independence referendum and threatened the Iraqi Kurds with blocking their key oil exports.

Despite enjoying strong ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Turkey fears Monday's vote could stoke separatist aspirations among its own Kurdish minority. Erdogan also hinted the Turkish military were ready to act if needed.

"Entrance-exit will be closed" at the Habur border crossing, Turkey's sole land border crossing with Iraq, Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.

He said there were currently crossings allowed to the Iraqi side only but travel would be closed in both directions this week.

He added: "After this let's see through which channels they will send their oil through... and who they will sell to. The valve is with us. It's finished the moment we close it."

Iraqi Kurdish oil is exported through Turkey and its southern Ceyhan port, a key economic lifeline for the region.

Erdogan said "irrespective of the result, we see this (referendum) as null and void and say it is illegitimate".

- 'All options on table' -

Erdogan said Turkey was ready to take "all the steps" needed "on political, economic, trade and security fronts" and appeared not to rule out military action.

The Kurds

Last week the Turkish armed forces began a military drill in the region around the border town of Silopi close to Habur.

The army said that a third phase of the exercises would begin on Tuesday with units of the Iraqi army, who have already arrived in Turkey, joining in. It gave no further detail on numbers.

"The armed forces did not take necessary steps in Silopi for no reason. There is no compromise," Erdogan promised.

He also warned the KRG of a cross-border operation by the Turkish army similar to that taken in northern Syria last year against the Islamic State group and Kurdish militants.

Dubbed Euphrates Shield, Ankara supported Syrian opposition fighters in northern Syria clear territory from IS and stop Syrian Kurdish militia from joining up their northern cantons. The operation -- begun in August -- was completed in March.

Turkey views the Kurdish YPG fighters and Syria's Kurdish PYD party as "terror groups" linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a separatist insurgency inside Turkey since 1984 and has its rear bases in northern Iraq.

Iraqi Kurdistan's oil wealth

"The northern Iraqi administration must take a step backwards. We will absolutely not allow a federal state. In the same way, we will not allow a terror state formed in Syria," said Erdogan.

Recalling the lighting offensive that kicked off Euphrates Shield, he added: "As I said, we can come unexpectedly in the night."

"We did this with Euphrates Shield. All the options are on the table right now," Erdogan said, adding: "In Iraq, when necessary, we will not shy away from taking these types of steps."

- 'Protect the Turkmen' -

Voting also took place in the city of Kirkuk -- shared with Arabs and Turkmen -- where control is disputed between the Kurds and the federal government in Baghdad.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later warned any intervention against "our Turkmen brothers" would lead to an immediate military operation by Ankara.

"It is our most natural duty to protect the rights of the Turkmen," he said quoted by state-run news agency Anadolu.

The Turkish parliament on Saturday had approved overwhelmingly a one-year extension of a mandate to use troops abroad in Syria and Iraq.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was ready to take "all the steps" needed "on political, economic, trade and security fronts" and appeared not to rule out military action

But Premier Binali Yildirim said: "Our citizens should not worry, we are not going into a war. They (Turkish measures) are pinpoint operations."

In another related move, Turkey's broadcasting watchdog RTUK ordered the removal of three Iraqi Kurdistan-based TV channels from Turkey's main satellite operator Turksat.

They included Rudaw, a channel considered close to Iraqi Kurd leader Massud Barzani.
Bukavu, the regional capital of South Kivu province, lies on the border with Rwanda.

A teenager was killed on Monday in protests against instability in Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a local official said.

The 14-year-old student died after being hit by a bullet. A further seven people were treated in hospital, an AFP correspondent said.

Protestor Robert Njangala accused police of firing bullets in the area where the teenager was killed, after attempts to disperse the crowd with tear gas failed.

Education minister Ladislas Muganza said protesters who attempted to carry the student's body to the town hall were blocked by a police cordon.

Protestors in the poor neighbourhood of Panzi ransacked local offices and a police station before setting them on fire.

Locals are protesting against chronic instability, including a spate of armed robberies, in Bukavu, the regional capital of South Kivu province which lies on the border with Rwanda.

The east of the country has been prey to attacks by rival armed groups for more than 20 years.

Local authorities were not available for comment when contacted by AFP.

Meanwhile 34 prisoners -- including 27 convicted rapists -- escaped from a prison in Mwenga, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) from Bukavu, on Sunday.

It was the latest in a series of violent incidents at prisons in the troubled country.

The prisoners, some serving sentences for murder and robbery, fled in the pouring rain after cutting through the iron bars.

Local authorities said three of the prisoners had since been found.

In June 900 prisoners in the neighbouring province of North Kivu broke free and more than 4,000 fled from a jail in the capital Kinshasa in May.
Image grab created on August 16, 2016, from footage released by the Russian defence ministry reportedly shows a Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3 conducting an air strike in Syria

Russian air strikes on northwest Syria's mainly jihadist-controlled province of Idlib on Monday killed at least 37 civilians including 12 children, a Britain-based monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was the highest civilian death toll in Idlib since the region was designated in May as one of Syria's "de-escalation" zones under an accord between regime allies Russia and Iran, and rebel backer Turkey.

"The air raids struck several locations and villages in the district of Jisr al-Shughur, leaving 37 dead among civilians, including 12 children," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, updating an earlier toll of 27 dead.

After several months of calm, Idlib province has for the past two weeks been the target of heavy air strikes by the regime and its Russian allies, following a jihadist assault in neighbouring Hama province also covered by the de-escalation accord for Syria's war that has cost more than 330,000 lives since 2011.

The Islamic State group has no fighters in Idlib.

Syria's exiled opposition blamed Russia and the Syrian regime for what it called the "criminal" bombing, according to a statement.

In what the Istanbul-based National Coalition branded "war crimes", hospitals, medical installations, schools and civil defence facilities had been hit, it said.
Anthony Weiner, a former Democratic congressman and estranged husband of a top Hillary Clinton aide, is sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexting a 15-year-old girl

Anthony Weiner, the disgraced former US congressman and estranged husband of one of Hillary Clinton's closest aides, was sentenced to 21 months in prison on Monday for sexting a school girl.

The 53-year-old had pleaded guilty in May to sending explicit photographs and messages to a 15-year-old high school student last year as his wife worked on Clinton's presidential campaign.

The one-time rising star in the Democratic Party and former candidate for New York mayor must now surrender to prison authorities on November 6. He was also sentenced to three years supervised release.

"The crime I committed was my rock bottom," the father of one told the court, reading from a prepared statement and breaking down in tears.

Weiner, whose wife Huma Abedin is divorcing him, found himself in the eye of a major political storm last October when then FBI director James Comey effectively reopened an investigation into Clinton's email scandal just days before the presidential election.

The FBI acted after finding a batch of her emails on a computer belonging to Weiner, forwarded by Abedin. Clinton says the effective reopening of the investigation into the long-running email scandal played a key role in her shock defeat to Donald Trump.

"I was a very sick man for a very long time," Weiner told the court on Monday, appearing thin and gaunt. Abedin, Clinton's senior adviser during her election campaign, did not attend the hearing.

"I fully accept responsibility for what I did," said Weiner, dressed in a navy suit.

In a nod to a string of earlier sexting scandals, he called himself an "addict" and said he was getting treatment. As part of his guilty plea, Weiner registered as a sex offender.

"I live a better life today," he told the court.

- 'Serious crime' -

But US prosecutors sought a prison term of between 21 and 27 months.

Judge Denise Cote said there was no evidence Weiner targeted underage girls and conceded he had progressed with treatment for his addiction. But she said it was important to send a message to society at large.

"This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment," she told the court. "There is an opportunity to make a statement that can protect other minors".

Between January and March 2016, Weiner used online messaging and video chat to communicate with the girl via Facebook messenger, Skype and Snapchat, despite knowing that she was 15 years old.

In video chat sessions he asked her to display her naked body and engage in sexually explicit behavior. US prosecutors said he also sent her a link to pornography.

"Justice demands that this type of conduct be prosecuted and punished with time in prison," said acting Manhattan US Attorney Joon Kim. "Anthony Weiner received a just sentence that was appropriate for his crime."

Weiner was forced to resign his seat in Congress in 2011 after a similar scandal in which he admitted to exchanging sexually explicit pictures and messages with at least six women. His wife stood by him at the time.

He was the subject of a fly-on-the-wall 2016 documentary, entitled simply "Weiner," that traced his New York mayoral election campaign over a period during which another sexting scandal broke. Abedin stood by him again.

In her tell-all memoir about the 2016 presidential campaign published this month, Clinton revealed Abedin's torment at learning that her husband was implicated in the FBI's decision to revisit her boss's email scandal.

"This man is going to be the death of me," she quoted Abedin as sobbing of Weiner.

Clinton hugged and stood by her aide, whom she has often compared to a daughter.
The first female Marine to become an infantry officer takes aim during training

A female US Marine on Monday became the first woman to complete the Corps' notoriously rigorous training course for infantry officers.

Many women serve in the Marines and other branches of America's armed forces but the woman, who has requested that her name not be released, is the first to make it through the Marine Corps' 13-week infantry officer training course.

"I am proud of this officer and those in her class," Marine Corps commandant General Robert Neller said.

"Marines expect and rightfully deserve competent and capable leaders, and these (Infantry Officer Course) graduates met every training requirement as they prepare for the next challenge of leading infantry Marines; ultimately, in combat," Neller added.

As an infantry officer, the woman, a lieutenant, will be assigned to lead a platoon of around 40 Marines. She will join the 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California, the Marines said.

The first female Marine to become an infantry officer is seen here during a training exercise

A total of 131 Marines started the infantry officer training course in July and 88 graduated on Monday in Quantico, Virginia, the Marine Corps said.

Three dozen female Marine Corps officers had previously signed up for the infantry training program but failed to finish, according to the Marine Corps Times.

On its Twitter feed, the Marine Corps released a video showing the woman taking part in exercises in the mountains alongside male infantry officer candidates.

Women make up about 15 percent of the nearly 1.4 million active duty troops in the US armed forces.

Former president Barack Obama opened up all military positions to women, including combat units, in March 2016.

Women were previously technically barred from combat, but thousands of American servicewomen saw fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq nonetheless.

The Marines have been seen as the branch of the US military that has been the least accepting of women in combat roles and the infantry plays a special role in the lore of the Corps.

Earlier this year, the Marine Corps was rocked by the revelation of a secret Facebook group called "Marines United" where nude pictures of female Marines were posted without their consent.

In 2015, two women became the first to graduate from the US Army's elite Ranger School.

In July, a woman reportedly applied to become a member of the celebrated Navy SEALs but dropped out before completing the selection program.
Boko Haram continues to wage attacks in northeastern Nigeria despite government and military claims that the jihadists are a spent force

At least 10 people were arrested after thousands of people uprooted from their homes by the Boko Haram insurgency protested in northeast Nigeria, march organisers said Monday.

Some 3,000 people from the Dalori camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) on the outskirts of Maiduguri took to the streets on Sunday, demanding improved conditions.

They also called for permission to return to their homes in the second-largest town in Borno state, Bama, but were blocked from heading to the governor Kashim Shettima's office.

Ibrahim Bukar, from protest organisers the Bama Youth Development Association, said they were told to disperse and return to the camp.

"But surprisingly, the police arrested eight people among us and took them to the police headquarters," he told AFP by telephone.

"Our leaders (chairman Kazalla Grema Kyari and secretary Mohammed Hassan) went to the police station to bail them out but they were also detained.

"They have been there since yesterday (Sunday). We have made several attempts to be allowed to see them but this is an order from above."

Bukar's account was backed by two other people from the protests. There was no immediate comment from the police when contacted by AFP.

At least 20,000 people have been killed and more than 2.6 million others forced to leave their homes in the eight-year insurgency, which has devastated remote northeast Nigeria.

Most of the displaced have been living with distant relatives and friends, many of them in Maiduguri, with the remainder forced into camps.

They have become reliant on aid agencies for food, water, shelter and healthcare, with the dire humanitarian situation leaving hundreds of thousands on the brink of famine.

Boko Haram has also shown no let-up in attacks in hard-to-reach rural areas, despite government denials, but many IDPs say the risks of returning are worth taking.

Bama -- once a major trading hub on the way to Cameroon -- has been virtually completely destroyed since it was captured by Boko Haram in September 2014 and liberated last year.
Security force members affiliated to Iraq's interior ministry have deployed on the streets of Kirkuk after a curfew was imposed on the disputed northern city during the vote on the Kurdish independence on September 25, 2017 The non-binding vote, initiated by veteran Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, has angered not only Baghdad, following which Iraq's federal parliament demanded that troops be sent to disputed areas in the north controlled by the Kurds since 2003, but also neighbours Turkey and Iran who are concerned it could stoke separatist aspirations among their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.

Authorities imposed a curfew Monday on parts of Iraq's Kirkuk amid fears of unrest as the ethnically mixed city took part in an independence referendum organised by the country's Kurds.

"A total curfew has been imposed until further notice" in the city centre and in Arab and Turkmen areas "to ensure security, monitor the situation and protect the citizens of Kirkuk," police Colonel Afrasiyao Kader told AFP.

An AFP photographer saw security force members affiliated to the Iraqi interior ministry on the streets of the city soon after the announcement was made.

Voting took place in the oil-rich Kirkuk province despite it not forming part of the three-province Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq.

According to a police source, the curfew was decided to prevent incidents between the Kurdish, Turkmen and Arab communities which share the city.

It was not enforced in Kurdish districts of Kirkuk where voting was extended until 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) as for Iraqi Kurdistan.

Enthusiastic voters turned out in large numbers in mainly Kurdish areas, waving the national flag to the sounds of ethnic music, in contrast to quiet streets in Turkmen and Arab districts.

The non-Arab Kurds say that historically Kirkuk belongs to them, arguing that the late dictator Saddam Hussein chased them out and replaced them with Arabs.

Kirkuk governor Najm Eddine Karim, a Kurd, was fired by authorities in Baghdad last week after his provincial council decided to take part in the poll but has refused to vacate the post.
Ethiopia is divided into ethnically-based federal regions and the Oromo and Somali people have for years argued over who controls arable land along their shared border

Clashes that erupted in Ethiopia this month between two of the country's largest ethnic groups have killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands, the government said Monday.

The killing of two local administrators coupled with long-running land disputes led to an outbreak of fighting between the Oromo and Somali peoples in the south, government spokesman Negeri Lencho said.

"We can say hundreds of the Oromo ethnicity were killed... and there were also deaths from the Somali side, we don't know exactly how many," Negeri told a press conference.

The fighting that started along the border between the regional states belonging to the two ethnic groups has since been quelled, Negeri said.

Ethiopia is divided into ethnically-based federal regions and the Oromo and Somali people have for years argued over who controls arable land along their shared border.

A 2004 referendum decided the issue, but clashes have persisted with officials from both sides trading accusations that local armed forces are involved.

In April, the presidents of the two regions signed an agreement to settle the unrest.

Negeri said two officials from the Oromia region were arrested by Somali regional forces and killed on September 11, provoking violent protests by the Oromos.

A national task force has been set up to address the needs of the displaced -- which Oromo president Lemma Megersa last week put at 50,000 people -- and mediation efforts were underway with community elders.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government is a target of a revised US travel ban

Venezuela accused the United States on Monday of "psychological terrorism" designed to bring down the government after it was included in a list of eight countries targeted by a travel ban.

"These types of lists....are incompatible with international law and constitute in themselves a form of psychological and political terrorism," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Venezuela was added Sunday to a new list of countries targeted by the US ban, due to what it called poor security and a lack of cooperation with American authorities.

The restrictions on Venezuela were limited to officials from a list of government agencies and their families, while full travel bans were placed on nationals from the other seven countries, including North Korea and Chad.

The Socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro said Washington was using the fight against terrorism for its own political ends.

The foreign ministry statement said the ban was seeking to "stigmatize" Venezuela "under the pretext of combating terrorism, by including it in a unilaterally drawn-up list and accusing other states of being alleged promoters of this terrible scourge."

It rejected "the irrational decision of the United States government to once again catalog the noble Venezuelan people as a threat to their national security."

Venezuela has been rocked by months of economic chaos and deadly protests as Maduro tries to consolidate control, including through a new Constituent Assembly that has wrested power from the opposition-dominated legislature.

Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza last week accused US President Donald Trump of being "racist and supremacist" after Trump told the UN General Assembly that the US was ready to act to restore Venezuela's democracy.

Most of the nations affected by the ban were part of an original travel ban on Muslim countries that Trump authorized shortly after taking office. Sudan was removed from the original list, after recent praise from US officials for Khartoum's efforts in fighting terrorism.

The new restrictions replace an expiring 90-day measure that had locked Trump in political and legal battles since he took office in January over what critics alleged was an effort to bar Muslims from the country.
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Many people turned to exploring local nature paths for their daily exercise when lockdown closed gyms and group sports took a hiatus amid the pandemic.

Amateur photographers who captured stunning images of animals in their natural habitat were quick to submit their snaps to Weekend magazine's annual Wildlife Photography Challenge in the hopes of winning a package worth over 1,000.

The entrants were split into five categories - Birds; Mammals; Insects; Under-18s; and Reptiles, Fish, Amphibians & Molluscs.

While each category winner received a Nikon mirrorless digital camera kit and a year's subscription to Nikon Owner magazine, the overall winner also received a trip to the Camargue with wildlife photographer Simon Stafford, courtesy of Create Away, for a four-night masterclass in photographing the region's wild horses, flamingos and bulls.

Judges David Suchet, Clare Balding, Lucy Cooke, Steve Brown, Kelly Brook and Michael Eleftheriades were impressed with Lee O'dwyer, 67, a retired engineer from Lancashire, who was awarded the overall winner for his shot of a long-tailed tit.

These runner-up snaps taken by talented amateur photographers prove choosing an overall winner was a tough decision...

BIRDS

PUFFIN: Taken by Joseph Bristow, 23, a retail supervisor from Llantwit Major. 'Arriving at 3am and queueing for the 6am ticket office to open. First in line I caught the boat over to Skomer Island. With only a few hours permitted on the island I had no time to waste. Surrounded by the Puffins was an amazing spectacle and allowed me to capture some amazing photos. I found this one puffin who seemed very tame and loved posing for the camera. As he stared down the barrel of my lens I took my shot and was pleased with the result. I found the black background really provides a provocative and striking image highlight the vibrant colour of the Puffins.'

KESTREL CHICKS: Taken by Jayne Kirkby, 20, from Braintree, Essex. 'Beautiful pair of Kestrel chicks, taken at Wrabness on 20th June 2020.'

KINGFISHER: Tim Clifton, a 59-year-old from, St Leonards on Sea, snapped this captivating photo of a kingfisher hunting for small fish

MALLARD: William Watson, 64, a semi retired HGV driver from East Dunbartonshire. 'Taken on the Forth & Clyde canal (December '19') Bishopbriggs, As I went to take this photo of this female Mallard it stretched creating a nice reflection....'

INSECTS

BUTTERFLY: Adam Lane, a 27-year-old host at Legoland, from Slough, captured a butterfly perched on a purple flower in specular detail

WASP: Shelia Moth took this captivating photo of a wasp on a thistle, capturing the insect and plant in immense detail

SPIDER: Taken by Geoffrey Wells, 67, a maintenance caretaker from North Yorkshire. 'This picture was taken in my back garden during the recent lockdown.'

REPTILES

MATING FROGS: Taken by Steve Jellett, 64, from Essex, who is retired. 'Taken in small garden pond when 21 frogs descended to mate.'

MAMMALS

ROE DEER: Tim Cliffton, a 75-year-old from St Leonards on sea, took a photograph of two roe deer spotted in a field

MOUSE: Taken by Cameron Parfitt, 20, a student at the University of Brighton, from Worthing. 'I would love to highlight that even in your back garden there are images to be had. This image is of a cheeky wood mouse that keeps stealing food from what we have now dubbed the mouse feeder. It's not unheard of for this little guy to be found inside the feeder without a care in the world stuffing himself with the bird seed.'

JUNIORS

FOX CUB: Billy Evans-Freke, 15, a secondary school student from East Sussex. 'It wasn't a long wait in the hide before the first fox cub woke up from its nap and came out into the open. It was soon followed by another cub. At first they stayed in the shadows of the bushes near the den. But once they gained their confidence they started coming closer. This cub in particular was very curious and came very close to the hide.'
Rights groups say US President Donald Trump's modified travel ban is "still a Muslim ban"

US rights groups on Monday pledged to keep fighting the new, open-ended version of President Donald Trump's controversial travel restrictions, insisting they remain a disguised Muslim ban.

Despite the removal of Sudan from the block on travelers from six mainly-Muslim countries, and the addition of Chad, Venezuela and North Korea to the list, activists and legal experts said Trump's intent remained the same, to sharply cut off the flow of Muslim visitors and immigrants into the United States.

"This ban is not any better than the previous one," said Zahra Billoo of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"The fact that Trump has added North Korea -- with few visitors to the US -- and a few government officials from Venezuela doesn't obfuscate the real fact that the administration's order is still a Muslim ban," said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"President Trump's original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list."

- Open-ended ban -

On Sunday, the White House issued a new executive order to replace the expiring 90-day temporary ban on travelers from Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Somalia and Libya.

The White House says the ban is necessary to prevent potential terrorists from entering the United States. The eight countries covered in the new order were chosen based on a Department of Homeland Security review of their immigration vetting and security cooperation, officials said.

The new list places full bans on travelers from North Korea, Chad, Syria, Yemen, and Libya.

For Iran, an exception to a full ban was made for students and exchange visitors.

For Somalia, new immigrants are blocked but visitor visas will be allowed for business, official and personal reasons, though subject to tougher vetting.

With Venezuela, officials from certain key ministries and government agencies, and their families, are banned.

The new ban came after Trump fought for five months to get the temporary ban in place. Immigration advocates were able to block its implementation repeatedly on the grounds that it illegally singled out Muslims, as Trump had promised to do during his election campaign.

After it was watered down, the Supreme Court allowed its implementation at the end of June, together with a 120-day ban on refugees. Meanwhile the highest court agreed to review whether it amounted to an unconstitutional Muslim ban on October 10.

But, in a sign that the new order could shape the way the issue is addressed, possibly even mooting the case, the Supreme Court on Monday postponed the hearing to be able to review new arguments.

On Sunday a senior government official told reporters that the new order, with two non-Muslim countries included, could not be construed as a Muslim ban.

"Religion, or the religious origin of individuals or nations, was not a factor," he said.

"The inclusion of those countries, Venezuela and North Korea, was about the fact that those governments are simply not compliant with our basic security requirements."

- 'Rewriting the law' -

But critics called that "window dressing." One noted there were only eight visitors last year from North Korea, which does not have diplomatic relations with the United States.

Adding Chad, North Korea and Venezuelan government officials "does little to undercut the argument that the government is imposing a ban based on religion," said Carl Tobias of the University of Richmond School of Law.

In addition, lawyers say Trump has over-extended his executive powers on placing limits on immigration.

"He's basically rewriting the immigration law, entirely," said Justin Cox, an attorney at the National Immigration Law Center and one of the lawyers making the arguments against the travel ban at the Supreme Court.

"If he can indefinitely ban people from these countries, he can indefinitely ban guest workers, he can indefinitely ban Mexicans, do basically whatever he wants," Cox said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, seen here giving a March 2017 speech at a camp near Mosul for Iraqis displaced by fighting with jihadists, has expressed concern that a Kurdish referendum on indepedence could further destabilize the region

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday expressed concern about the potentially destabilizing effects of a referendum held by Kurds on independence from Iraq.

The referendum on Monday was proceeding peacefully but there were fears of potential unrest, especially after lawmakers in Baghdad demanded that troops be sent to disputed areas where voting was taking place.

Guterres again called on Baghdad and the Kurdistan regional authorities to resolve differences through dialogue and compromise.

The UN chief also told Iraqi Kurd authorities to ensure that the work of the UN mission in Iraq "will be allowed to continue unhindered."

More than 5.3 million people were registered to vote in the referendum, which has been opposed by the United States and major regional powers.

The UN Security Council also warned last week that the referendum could destabilise the region.

Guterres said he was "concerned about the potentially destabilizing effects of todays referendum in the Kurdistan region of Iraq," in a statement from his spokesman.

The UN chief added that he "respects the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Iraq" and considers that all differences "should be resolved through "structured dialogue and constructive compromise."
South Korea urged the United States to help dial down tensions with the North on Monday, after Pyongyang accused President Donald Trump of declaring war.

"It is very likely that North Korea will conduct further provocations," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said in a speech in Washington.

"It is imperative that we, Korea and the US together, manage the situation... in order to prevent further escalation of tensions or any kind of accidental military clashes which can quickly go out of control."
Diane Rwigara laughs during a press conference in Kigali, Rwanda on May 3, 2017

Police have charged Rwandan opposition leader Diane Rwigara, who was detained at the weekend along with her mother and sister, with "offenses to state security and forgery," according to a statement issued Monday.

Rwigara, who was blocked from challenging President Paul Kagame in August elections, is one of several opposition figures arrested earlier this month.

Police said the three women were detained Saturday, having already been held and released earlier in September on suspicions of tax evasion.

"During ongoing investigations, police uncovered credible evidence linking the trio to offenses against state security," a spokesman said in the statement.

It also cited a "refusal to cooperate" and the public disclosure of confidential information, without providing further details.

In an interview with AFP the day before her arrest, Rwigara said she was the victim of political persecution.

"I am being punished for standing against oppression and speaking my mind. My family is suffering because of this; otherwise it would be an amazing coincidence that such charges are coming up after I decided to speak out," she said.

Rwigara is the daughter of Assinapol Rwigara, an entrepreneur who made a fortune in industry and real estate, and a main backer of Kagame's Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) during its efforts to topple the Hutu extremist regime in 1994, ending the Rwandan genocide.

Diane Rwigara later distanced herself from the FPR after her father's death in a car accident in 2015, which she has claimed was an "assassination".

The refusal to allow her to run against Kagame, who won the August 4 election with 99 percent of the vote, on claims of procedural irregularities was widely criticised by Western governments and rights groups.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 25: U.S. Capitol Police arrest protesters from handicap advocacy organizations who disrupted a U.S. Senate hearing about the latest Republican effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.

Police forcibly removed disabled protesters Monday at a US Senate hearing on Republican efforts to replace Obamacare, pulling some disruptors from their wheelchairs as the health bill stood on the brink of failure.

"No cuts to Medicaid! Save our liberty!" protesters shouted for several minutes, forcing the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Orrin Hatch, to suspend the hearing shortly after calling it to order.

With lawmakers facing a September 30 deadline to pass the legislation along a simple majority vote, and with insurance companies and several health, doctor and patient groups opposed to the plan, tensions burst into the open in what is scheduled as the only public hearing on the contentious bill.

A dozen members of the public were expelled from the hearing, including at least one who was pulled from his wheelchair and carried out by officers after refusing to leave.

Several dozen protesters lined the halls, chanting "Kill the bill, don't kill us!" At least 50 US Capitol Police were on hand to maintain order, a rare scene in Congress.

Republicans, who control 52 seats in the 100-member Senate, can afford just two defectors.

Rand Paul and John McCain have already signaled their opposition, and a third Republican, Susan Collins, said Monday it would be "very difficult" for her to support the bill.

After a suspension of more than 15 minutes, and with the hearing room finally clear of vocal protesters, Hatch returned.

"If you can't be in order, then get the heck out of here," warned Hatch, the longest-serving Republican currently in the Senate.

The bill's authors, Senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy, defended their legislation, which preserves some of the federal funding of Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act but converts the ACA to a system of block grants to the US states.

"This is not the last chance, this is the best chance" to preserve health care for millions, Graham said.

"If you don't find a way to stop the bleeding, then it's going to basically collapse before our eyes."

Democrats stand united against the measure.

"What you're talking about is a disaster," Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said.

"Health care is a right, not a privilege for those who can afford it," Senate Democrat Mazie Hirono, who was invited to testify, said as she described being diagnosed earlier this year with stage four kidney cancer.

"Millions of lives are at stake."

While an Arkansas health department official who testified praised the bill as an improvement over Obamacare, several witnesses slammed the measure, including Teresa Miller, Pennsylvania's acting secretary of the department of human services.

The bill would lead to a "staggering cut to federal funding," said Miller.

Critics say the plan would dramatically slash funding of Medicaid, the federal health program for the poor and disabled, and allow states to decide whether insurance companies can hike insurance rates for people with expensive medical conditions.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos vowed Saturday to hold a rally at the University of California, Berkeley after a student group that planned a week of events with him called it off.

His announcement only added to a confusing turn of events surrounding "Free Speech Week," a four-day campus event slated to begin Sunday featuring right-wing firebrands.

The conservative student group Berkeley Patriot, which had been organizing the event, told university administrators Saturday that they would cancel it, the university said. The group's representatives told the San Francisco Chronicle they feared for their safety.

CORRECTS TO OMIT ANN COULTER- -In this Sept. 21, 2017 photo, a group has put up flyers and a booth on Sproul Plaza calling for protesters to "Shut Down Milo Yiannopoulos," at the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif. Right-wing showman Milo Yiannopoulos is holding a "Free Speech Week" at the University of California, Berkeley with a planned lineup including conservative firebrands Steve Bannon. The university says it has no confirmation the headline acts will appear but is preparing strong security to head off any more violent protests at the liberal campus. (AP Photo/Jocelyn Gecker)

"It is extremely unfortunate that this announcement was made at the last minute, even as the University was in the process of spending significant sums of money and preparing for substantial disruption of campus life in order to provide the needed security for these events," UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said in a statement.

Yiannopoulos said he was blindsided and "personally irritated" by the news, but he insisted on holding a rally with fellow right-wing commentators Sunday on Sproul Plaza, the center of activity on campus during the 1960s Free Speech Movement.

"We are going to be hosting an event come hell or high water tomorrow," Yiannopoulos said in a live video on Facebook. He made his comments from a hotel room after cancelling a news conference on San Francisco's Treasure Island.

"We will be expressing our constitutional rights to free speech, free expression, on Sproul Plaza, the home of the Free Speech Movement, tomorrow as planned, with or without student help, with or without the cooperation of UC Berkeley itself."

University officials said they had worked around-the-clock and spent more than $1 million to ensure there would be adequate security for the "Free Speech Week" events.

Berkeley's reputation as a liberal stronghold and the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement has made the city and campus flashpoints for the country's political divisions since the election of Republican President Donald Trump. Since February, four political demonstrations have turned violent with masked anarchists rioting on campus.

"Claims that this is somehow the outcome desired by the campus are without basis in fact," Mogulof said. "The University was prepared to do whatever was necessary to support the First Amendment rights of the student organization."

Campus police Chief Margo Bennett said authorities were "going to be prepared and handle things that may happen when a speaker can just show up." She said anyone can come to the open plaza to speak, but they can't use amplified sound without permission or interfere with the business of the university.

Her address to the media Saturday afternoon was halted by a demonstrator who railed against the "Fascist assault" on the university and announced a counter protest against Yiannopoulos on Sunday.

Over the last few days, student bulletin boards on Sproul Plaza were papered with fliers calling on counter-protesters to "Shut Down Milo Yiannopoulos," saying his brand of inflammatory speech against Muslims, immigrants, women and transgender people was hateful and should not be allowed. The fliers advised supporters to bring bandannas to cover their faces in case police fire tear gas.

In anticipation of Free Speech Week, several hundred people marched on the streets of Berkeley to Sproul Plaza on Saturday in a protest dubbed "No Hate in the Bay." They chanted "say it loud, say it clear, Nazis are not welcome here" and halted traffic at several blocked intersections.

Speakers included Chelsea Manning, the 29-year-old transgender woman known as Bradley Manning when she was convicted in 2013 of leaking a trove of classified documents.

One group carried a large banner that read "An injury to one is an injury to all."

____

Balsamo reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Jocelyn Gecker contributed to this report.

CORRECTS TO OMIT ANN COULTER- FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2017 file photo, Milo Yiannopoulos speaks during a news conference in New York. Right-wing showman Milo Yiannopoulos is holding a "Free Speech Week" at the University of California, Berkeley with a planned lineup including conservative firebrands Steve Bannon. The university says it has no confirmation the headline acts will appear but is preparing strong security to head off any more violent protests at the liberal campus. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

In this Sept. 21, 2017 photo, a group has put up flyers and a booth on Sproul Plaza calling for protesters to "Shut Down Milo Yiannopoulos," at the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif. Right-wing showman Milo Yiannopoulos is holding a "Free Speech Week" at the University of California, Berkeley with a planned lineup including conservative firebrands Steve Bannon and Ann Coulter. The university says it has no confirmation the headline acts will appear but is preparing strong security to head off any more violent protests at the liberal campus. (AP Photo/Jocelyn Gecker)

CORRECTS TO OMIT ANN COULTER- FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2017 file photo, University of California, Berkeley police guard the building where Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos was to speak. Right-wing showman Milo Yiannopoulos is holding a "Free Speech Week" at the University of California, Berkeley with a planned lineup including conservative firebrands Steve Bannon. The university says it has no confirmation the headline acts will appear but is preparing strong security to head off any more violent protests at the liberal campus. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
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Thousands of people packed a stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia for a concert intended to raise money for charity and promote unity in the aftermath of this summer's white nationalist rallies.

Pharrell Williams, before launching into a rendition of his hit song 'Happy', took a knee during his performance in a pointed criticism of President Donald Trump - despite not referencing the president by name.

Williams told the crowd: 'If I want to get on my knees right now for the people of my city, for the people of my state, that's what this flag is for.'

Dave Matthews, whose band got its start in the Virginia college town, hosted the Sunday show, called the 'Concert for Charlottesville'.

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Pharrell Williams got down on both knees during 'A Concert for Charlottesville,' which was organized to promote unity in the aftermath of white supremacist rallies that rocked the Virginia college town last month

Williams' action and words were a swipe at President Donald Trump, who is feuding with the NFL over how many of its players are staking knees or sitting during the national anthem in protest of him and his policies

Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band organized the concert. He introduced Susan Bro to the assembled crowd. Bro is the mother of Heather Heyer, who died on August 12 in Charlottesville after a driver plowed into a crowd of counter-protesters amid the white nationalist rallies being held in the town

'I'm here in her place to sing with all of you in her place,' Bro told the crowd. 'By raising our voices against hatred, you make Heather's death count'

Thousands descended on the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium for the free concert. Concertgoers were encouraged to donate to a charity benefiting victims of the violence that plagued the city

Ariana Grande performed at the concert. She told the crowd: 'Keep using your voices and making this a safer space for each other'

He thanked the attendees and performers for coming together on short notice and billed the concert as standing for 'music and unity'.

Matthews introduced Susan Bro, the mother of Heather Heyer, 32, who was killed when a driver slammed into a crowd protesting the white nationalists on August 12.

Bro told the crowd the concert was a 'powerful and peaceful' way to come together and turn anger into action and understanding.

'I'm here in her place to sing with all of you in her place,' she said. 'By raising our voices against hatred, you make Heather's death count.'

Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland of Coldplay made a surprise appearance.

Also performing were Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, The Roots, Pharrell Williams, Stevie Wonder, Cage the Elephant, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes and Chris Stapleton, reports Billboard.

Williams referenced the controversy between the National Football League and President Donald Trump.

Trump is currently criticizing players who take a knee or sit during the national anthem in protest of his presidency.

'I'm in Virginia right now I'm home. Can't nobody tell me what to do,' Williams said, to much applause.

He continued: 'If I want to get on my knees right now, if I want to get on my knees right now for the people of my city, for the people of my state, that's what this flag is for.'

Getting down on both knees, he said: 'And when I think about the potential of this country, the potential of this state, the potential of these people, the potential of this amazing, amazing university, there's only one word that I feel.'

He then sang his hit song, 'Happy'. Williams is from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Film director Brett Ratner, who filmed the concert, told the Huffington Post: 'I think theres a synergy and the connection to whats happening now with football and whats happening in Charlottesville.

'Theres a reason why its all happening, because I think the positivity and the love are becoming viral. People want to make a change.'

Justin Timberlake brought concertgoers back to 2002 when he performed 'Cry Me a River,' among other songs from his more-than-20-years-long career

Making a surprise appearance at the concert were Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland of Coldplay

Ariana Grande also performed a benefit concert in Manchester, England this year after a terrorist attack occurred at her originally scheduled concert in the city

Grande is pictured with friends praying backstage before she goes on to perform at the free concert

Fans hold up their cell phones with the lights on during the concert in Charlottesville, Virginia

Justin Timberlake, who took the crowd all the way back to 2002 when he sang 'Cry Me A River', told concertgoers that he was going to be proud to tell his newborn son about the unifying nature of the concert.

He also said 'love trumps hate,' the Huffington Post reports. He also sang a cover version of 'A Change Is Gonna Come'.

During her set, Ariana Grande said: 'Keep using your voices and making this a safer space for each other,' reports the Daily Progress.

Tickets to the concert were free, but concertgoers were asked to donate to a charity fund for victims of the white nationalist rallies in August.

The concert was held at the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium.

Some members of the Oakland Raiders sit on the bench during the national anthem on Sunday night .The whole team and the coaches were in solidarity, either sitting or linking arms during the singing

Washington Redskins tight end Niles Paul (84) and linebacker Ryan Anderson (52) and Washington Redskins linebacker Chris Carter (55) kneel with teammates during the playing of the national anthem. Every member of the team and the coaches either took a knee or linked arms during the singing

Major Thompson completed his last flight as pilot was introduced by Trump to reporters. Trump is pictured greeting Lynel Thompson, wife of the Marine pilot, and their two children on Sunday, the same day as the concert

In August, a rally was held by a group called Unite the Right that protested the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Charlottesville's Emancipation Park.

The planned removal was a focal point for a number of white supremacist protests since the council voted to remove the structure in April.

Counter-protesters showed up in droves to demonstrate against white supremacy and Nazism.

Consequent clashes resulted in dozens of injuries and Heyer's death.

She died after James Alex Fields Jr, of Maumee, Ohio drove his Dodge Challenger into a crowd.

President Trump admonished the day's tragic events and claimed that 'many sides' were to blame for what had occurred.

He said in a press conference: 'We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, violence, on many sides... The hate and division must stop, and must stop right now.'

His initial refusal to condemn white supremacists attracted widespread criticism.

Matt Shultz of Cage the Elephant is pictured performing before the sun went down on the unity concert held on the University of Virginia's campus

Chris Stapleton (left), a country singer, is pictured performing with his band at the concert

Brittany Howard performed with The Roots at the concert, which was attended by thousands of people

The Roots (pictured) were formed in 1987 by Tariq 'Black Thought' Trotter and Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson

The band has served as the house band for Jimmy Fallon's various late-night talk shows since 2009

Pictured are Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland performing during the day at the concert. Temperatures climbed into the 90s in the college town on Sunday

Pictured are Martin and Buckland enjoying themselves while performing at the concert

Dave Matthews, the concert's organizer, is pictured with a raised fist. His band got its start in the Virginia college town

Pictured is Justin Timberlake performing at the concert. He told the crowd that he would be proud to tell his newborn son about how the concert reflected unity in the face of violence

Timberlake has one son with his wife, Jessica Biel. Their son was born in April 2015

Pictured backstage are Dave Matthews and Justin Timberlake amid a crowd of smiling onlookers

Pictured is a scene from the night of August 11, when a group of white supremacists participated in a torch lit march through the University of Virginia campus ahead of the United the Right Rally in Charlottesville

Pictured is a now-iconic photo of Peter Cvjetanovic, a student at the University of Nevada, protesting the removal of a statue of Thomas Jefferson after marching through the University of Virginia campus

'Jews will not replace us' and 'white lives matter' were among chants heard at the rally, according to witnesses
NEW YORK (AP) - Anthony Weiner's sexting compulsion cost him his seat in Congress, his shot at becoming New York mayor and his marriage, and may have even denied Hillary Clinton the presidency. On Monday, it cost him his freedom.

Weiner, 53, dropped his head into his hands and wept as a federal judge sentenced him to 21 months behind bars for illicit online contact with a 15-year-old girl, his tears flowing long after the gavel came down on a case he called his "rock bottom."

As his parents but not his wife looked on in the courtroom, the New York Democrat was given until Nov. 6 to report to prison for misconduct that included getting the North Carolina high school student to strip and touch herself on Skype and Snapchat.

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) leaves federal court following his sentencing, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in New York. Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in a sexting case that rocked the presidential race. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote cited a need in such a highly publicized case to "make a statement that can protect other minors."

The judge said Weiner's habit of exchanging sexually explicit messages and pictures with young women shows a "very strong compulsion" - so strong that "despite two very public disclosures and the destruction of his career on two occasions, he continued with the activity."

Calling himself "a very sick man for a very long time," Weiner tearfully apologized to the teen and sought to assure the judge he had finally learned his lesson. He has been undergoing therapy.

"I stand before you because I victimized a young person who deserved better," he said, adding, "Your Honor, I'm not asking that you trust that my recovery is real. I ask you for the opportunity to prove that it is real."

Wearing a wedding band, he also spoke of his devotion to the 5-year-old son he has with his wife, Huma Abedin, formerly Clinton's closest aide. The couple is going through a divorce.

But prosecutor Amanda Kramer urged the judge to give Weiner a significant prison sentence to end his "tragic cycle" of getting caught sexting.

Weiner's habit led him to resign his House seat in 2011, doomed his 2013 run for mayor, and rocked Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign during the closing days of the race, when FBI agents investigating his contact with the teen came across emails on his laptop between Abedin and Clinton.

That discovery prompted then-FBI Director James Comey to announce in late October 2016 that he was reopening the probe of Clinton's use of a private computer server.

Two days before Election Day, the FBI declared there was nothing new in the emails. But in a recent interview, Clinton called Comey's intervention "the determining factor" in her defeat.

Weiner, once he has completed his prison sentence, must undergo internet monitoring and enroll in a sex-offender treatment program. He also was fined $10,000.

After the sentencing was over, he sat crying for several minutes in the courtroom. He left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

Weiner's behavior in all its lurid detail - including his online alias "Carlos Danger" and a selfie of his bulging underwear - turned him and his last name into an irresistible punchline for late-night comics and mortified his wife again and again.

Weiner attorney Arlo Devlin-Brown said his client probably exchanged thousands of messages with hundreds of women over the years and was communicating with up to 19 women when he encountered the teenager.

He cited the nation's capacity to forgive, recalling that Weiner, even after resigning from Congress in disgrace, was leading the New York mayoral primary race when new sexting disclosures emerged.

"In America they say there are second acts, but there are no third acts," the attorney said, "and after that Anthony was finished."

___

Associated Press writer Colleen Long in New York contributed to this story.

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) leaves federal court following his sentencing, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in New York. Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in a sexting case that rocked the presidential race. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner leaves federal court following his sentencing, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in New York. Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in a sexting case that rocked the presidential race. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner leaves federal court following his sentencing, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in New York. Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in a sexting case that rocked the presidential race. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) arrives at federal court for his sentencing hearing in a sexting scandal, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) arrives at federal court for his sentencing hearing in a sexting scandal, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) arrives at federal court for his sentencing hearing in a sexting scandal, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
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AKRON, Ohio (AP) - A man convicted of killing three down-and-out men lured by bogus Craigslist job offers is appealing his death sentence to Ohio's highest court.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports (http://bit.ly/2fAPduF ) the Ohio Supreme Court will hear the appeal of 58-year-old Richard Beasley Tuesday morning.

Beasley was convicted of partnering with a teenage boy in 2011 to lure victims with promises of jobs on a southeast Ohio farm. The job offers were posted on Craigslist.

FILE - In this April 4, 2013, file photo, Richard Beasley addresses the court after sentencing in his capital murder case by Summit Common Pleas Judge Lynne S. Callahan in Akron, Ohio. Beasley, convicted of killing three down-and-out men lured by bogus Craigslist job offers, is appealing his death sentence to Ohio's highest court Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. (Paul Tople/Akron Beacon Journal via AP, Pool, File)

One would-be victim escaped and notified police after the pair's gun jammed. He ended up testifying at Beasley's trial.

Beasley says national media coverage prevented him from getting a fair trial in Summit County.

The attorney general's office says pretrial publicity barely made an impact on the jury pool.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - U.S. President Donald Trump's new restrictions on visitors from several nations are largely symbolic in North Korea's case, because not many of its citizens visit the United States.

North Korea's authoritarian government doesn't allow most of its 24 million people to travel abroad, except in special cases such as for jobs that bring in foreign currency or participation in sporting events. North Korea has tens of thousands of workers abroad, but none are believed to be in the United States.

Reports say there is a dwindling number of North Koreans visiting the United States amid the standoff over the North's nuclear and missile programs.

FILE - In this June 27, 2015, file photo, passengers board an Air Koryo plane bound for Beijing, at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea. A proclamation President Donald Trump signed Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, would suspend all immigrant and non-immigrant visas for North Koreans. But the measure is largely symbolic since most North Koreans in the U.S. are based at the United Nations and certain North Koreans are banned from traveling due to sanctions. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

"It's a symbolic measure," Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said of including North Korea in the latest U.S. immigration restrictions. "North Korea won't probably make any response."

According a report last month by broadcaster Voice of America, the United States issued 100 visas to North Koreans last year. VOA, citing its analysis of visa records, said 52 of them were business or tourist visas while the rest were diplomats. From March to June this year, the U.S. issued 18 visas to North Koreans, according to the report.

The figures were a sharp decrease from the period of 1997-2001, when more than 1,200 North Koreans acquired business or tourist visas each year, VOA said.

The broadcaster said there's no record of the whereabouts or activities in the United States of those on business or tourism visas. North Korean government officials are based at the country's diplomatic mission to the United Nations in New York.

In addition to North Korea, Trump's presidential proclamation, signed Sunday, places indefinite restrictions on citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. The U.S. will also bar the entry of certain Venezuelan government officials and their immediate families. The changes are to take effect Oct. 18.

The U.S. ban came on the day that Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire, 90 days after it went into effect. The inclusion of Venezuela and North Korea appeared to be an attempt to block challenges from advocacy groups and others who have called the restrictions a ban on Muslims.

The suspension of immigrant and non-immigrant visas for North Koreans comes amid an escalating war of words between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Last week, Kim called Trump a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard" in response to Trump's threats to "totally destroy" the North. Trump later said Kim is "obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people."

North Korea last month described the outgoing ban as a measure that revealed "American ferocity, lack of judgment and extreme recklessness." But as of late Monday, the country's state media hadn't made any comments on the new ban.

The United States and North Korea don't have diplomatic relations because they remain technically in a state of war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. Starting Sept. 1, the Trump administration has barred Americans from traveling to the North, after a U.S. student was sent home in a coma and later died after more than a year in detention in the North.
IRBIL, Iraq (AP) - The latest on the Iraqi Kurdish referendum on support for independence from Baghdad and the tensions surrounding the vote (all times local):

5 a.m.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expressing regret that Iraq's Kurds have gone ahead with an independence referendum.

Election officials count ballots after the polls closed in the controversial Kurdish referendum on independence from Iraq, in Irbil, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. The vote is not binding and is not expected to result in independence any time soon, but was hailed as historic by Kurdish leaders spearheading the campaign. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres noted the referendum was "unilaterally declared, included disputed areas" and was opposed by Iraqi authorities and the global community. The spokesman said Guterres regretted that opportunities for negotiations were not seized and viewed the decision to hold the vote as potentially destabilizing.

The vote held Monday was billed by the Kurdish leadership as an exercise in self-determination. To Baghdad, the vote threatens a redrawing of Iraq's borders, while leaders in Turkey and Iran fear the move would embolden their own Kurdish populations.

___

3 a.m.

The United States says it's "deeply disappointed" that Iraqi Kurds held a referendum on independence Monday, calling the vote "unilateral."

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says the move will "increase instability and hardships" for the Kurdish region of Iraq. She says it will also complicate the ability of the regional Kurdish government to work with Iraq's central government and neighboring countries.

Still, Nauert says the U.S. won't alter its "historic relationship" with Iraqi Kurds because of the referendum.

Nauert also says the U.S. opposes moves by any parties to change boundaries in Iraq. She says the Islamic State group and other extremists are hoping to "exploit instability and discord."

The vote has deeply alarmed Iraq's government as well as neighboring Turkey and Iran. The nonbinding vote is expected to pass overwhelmingly.

___

9:05 p.m.

The United Nations warns of the "potentially destabilizing" effects of the referendum carried out in Iraq's Kurdish region Monday.

The statement from the organization's secretary general released after polls closed Monday says "all outstanding issues between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government should be resolved through structured dialogue and constructive compromise."

The vote in a referendum on support for independence Monday has rattled the region's relations with Baghdad and regional powers.

The vote is non-binding and not expected to result in immediate independence, but Kurdish leaders say it will open the door to negotiations with Baghdad for greater autonomy.

9 p.m.

Turkey's military has confirmed that Turkey and Iraq will conduct joint military drills in Turkey, along an area bordering Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

A military statement on Monday announced a new "phase" in the military exercises that were launched last week in a clear warning to Iraqi Kurds, saying units from Iraq's armed forces would arrive in Turkey later in the evening to join Turkish troops.

The joint drills are set to kick off Tuesday, the military said, without providing details.

The Turkish military also published photographs of Iraqi troops, including one showing them holding the flags of Turkey and Iraq and posing in front of an Iraqi Air Force plane.

___

8 p.m.

Iraq's ministry of defense says it's launching "large scale" joint military exercises with Turkey along their shared border.

The announcement Monday night followed the closing of polls in the controversial Kurdish referendum on independence from Iraq that both Baghdad and Ankara spoke out against.

Earlier Monday From Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened military intervention in Iraq in response to the vote, stressing that Kurdish independence was unacceptable to his country.

___

7:30 p.m.

Polls have closed across Iraq's Kurdish region and in disputed territories where residents cast ballots in a referendum on support for independence, according to local television broadcasts.

The vote is not binding and is not expected to result in independence any time soon, but was hailed as historic by Kurdish leaders spearheading the campaign.

The vote is widely expected to be an overwhelming "yes" in support for independence and initial official results are expected on Tuesday.

___

6:45 p.m.

The head of the Kirkuk police department says the governor has imposed a curfew in the Iraqi city following the closing of polls in a controversial referendum on Kurdish independence.

Brig. Sarhad Qader says the curfew was imposed Monday night to "protect the civilians and the communities" in the city claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurdish region.

Iraqi Kurds voted in a referendum on support for independence Monday despite calls from Baghdad and the international community to call off the vote, fearing it could lead to instability and the outbreak of violence.

Qader says the curfew will be lifted at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

___

3:15 p.m.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia's Vladimir Putin have spoken over the phone about the contentious Iraqi Kurdish vote in support for independence and stressed the importance of Iraq and Syria's territorial integrity.

Erdogan's office said after Monday's phone call that Putin would visit Ankara on Thursday to discuss developments in the region, including the Kurdish referendum. There was no immediate confirmation from Moscow.

Turkey, which has a large Kurdish population of its own and is fighting insurgents on its territory, strongly opposes any moves toward the creation of a separate Kurdish state.

Erdogan earlier in the day threatened the Iraqi Kurds with military action as well as sanctions, including cutting the Iraqi Kurdish region's oil exports.

___

2:55 p.m.

An Iraqi lawmaker says the country's parliament has approved several tough measures in response to the Iraqi Kurds' contentious vote on support for independence from Baghdad.

Shiite lawmaker Hakim al-Zamili says the measures will force Baghdad to act to "protect Iraq's unity and to deploy troops in all areas" where they were before the 2014 blitz by the Islamic State group.

Al-Zamili says measures approved on Monday also call for closing all border crossings with the Kurdish region.

He says the parliament considers the Kurdish referendum unconstitutional and calls for taking legal measures against all Kurdish officials and employees who took part in the vote.

The referendum on independence is non-binding, but it has strained tensions with Baghdad and regional powers. The United States has strongly opposed the move, saying it could destabilize the region.

___

2:20 p.m.

Syria's foreign minister says his country doesn't recognize the Iraqi Kurdish referendum on support for independence from Baghdad, saying Damascus rejects any measure that could break up neighboring Iraq.

The Syrian state news agency SANA says Walid al-Moallem spoke on Sunday in New York. Syria's has a large Kurdish minority that last week had its own vote as part of a move toward a federal system within Syria.

Syria, like Turkey and Iran, opposes the vote in Iraq, fearing that Kurdish communities within Syria might eventually do the same.

Al-Moallem described the Iraqi Kurdish vote as a "step that we do not recognize" and stressed that the government in Damascus only recognizes a "sole, united Iraq. He says: "We reject any measure the leads to dividing Iraq."

___

1:40 p.m.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is threatening a military intervention in Iraq in response to the Iraqi Kurdish region's referendum on independence from Baghdad.

Erdogan, speaking at a conference in Istanbul as Iraqi Kurds voted in their region on Monday, said that Kurdish independence was unacceptable to his country and that this was a "matter of survival."

He pointed to Turkish military exercises currently taking place on Turkey's border with the Iraqi Kurdish region.

Erdogan said: "Our military is not (at the border) for nothing." He also added: "We could arrive suddenly one night."

Erdogan also said Turkey would take political, economic as well as military measures against Iraqi Kurds' steps toward independence and also suggested that Turkey could halt oil flows from a pipeline from northern Iraq.

Erdogan said: "Let's see where - and through which channels - will they sell their oil. We have the valve. The moment we shut the valve, that's the end of it."

Erdogan said a border crossing with Iraq had been closed in one direction and that Turkey would shut it entirely.

___

12:10 p.m.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says his country is considering closing down its airspace as well as a border gate to northern Iraq, in response to a referendum on independence in Iraq's Kurdish region and disputed territories - a vote that Turkey strongly opposes.

Yildirim also said on Monday that officers and experts from Iraq's army would join military exercises that Turkey launched along the border in an apparent warning to the Iraqi Kurds.

The Turkish premier said Ankara would from now on "enter a strong" dialogue with Baghdad, saying it regarded the central government in the Irai capital as the legitimate authority over border crossings, airports and oil trade in the Kurdish region.

He says Turkey had received a formal request from Baghdad requesting the closure of the airspace and border crossing. Yildirim also suggested that Turkey would take action if the Turkmen population came under attack or if Turks encountered "obstructions or problems" at the border crossing.

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11:55 a.m.

Iran has described the Iraqi Kurdish referendum on support for independence from Baghdad as "untimely and wrong" and reiterated its support for Iraq's territorial integrity.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told reporters on Monday that the vote could "lead to developments and happenings that could affect all people of the region and especially Kurdish people."

Ghasemi reiterated that Iran supports the "territorial integrity and democratic process" in Iraq.

Since Sunday, Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard has been having a military exercise in its northwestern Kurdish region bordering Iraq in a sign of Tehran's concerns over the Iraqi Kurdish vote.

Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency reported that on Sunday that the Supreme National Security Council closed Iranian airspace to the Iraqi Kurdish area at the request of the central government in Baghdad.

Iran and Iraq have been close allies since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. Both are opposed to Kurdish independence.

In June, the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, that Iraq "should remain integrated" and that advocates of Kurdish independence are "opponents of the independence and identity" of Iraq.

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11:50 a.m.

The prime minister of Iraq's northern Kurdish region says the referendum on independence that is underway there doesn't mean "redrawing borders" and will not result in immediate independence.

Nechirvan Barzani says that even if the result of the vote is a "yes," the region will resolve its disputes with Baghdad peacefully. He spoke at a press conference on Monday morning in Irabil, the Kurdish regional capital.

Voting is taking place across the region and in disputed territories claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurds, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

The referendum on independence, while non-binding, has strained tensions with Baghdad and regional powers. The United States has come out strongly opposed to the move, cautioning that it could distract from the ongoing fight against the Islamic State group.

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11:35 a.m.

In Baghdad, residents have strongly criticized the Iraqi Kurds' independence referendum, saying it would raise sectarian tensions and create an "Israel in Iraq."

An Arabic newspaper headline on Monday said "Kurdistan into the unknown," a reference to the name Kurds use for their region.

Journalist Raad Mohammad said the vote represents a "division of Iraq," and added that it was "unacceptable for the Iraqi people as well as many other countries."

Another Baghdad resident, Ali al-Rubayah, described the referendum as a "black day in the history of the Kurds," adding that "today, the Kurds are trying to make an Israeli state in the north of Iraq."

Lawyer Tariq al-Zubaydi said the referendum was inappropriate amid the "ongoing threat of terrorism and Islamic State" and that a "unified country is better for all."

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9:35 a.m.

Turkey says it doesn't recognize the Iraqi Kurdish region's referendum on support for independence from Baghdad and insists its results will be "null and void."

Turkey's Foreign Ministry released a statement as polls opened in Iraq's Kurdish-run provinces and disputed territories on Monday, with Ankara calling on the international community - and especially regional countries - not to recognize the vote either.

It also urges Iraq Kurdish leaders to abandon "utopic goals," accusing them of endangering peace and stability for Iraq and the whole region. The ministry reiterated that Turkey would take all measures to thwart threats to its national security.

On Saturday, Turkey's parliament met in an extraordinary session to extend a mandate allowing Turkey's military to send troops over its southern border if developments in Iraq and Syria are perceived as national security threats.

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8:15 a.m.

Polls have opened in Iraq's Kurdish-run provinces and disputed territories as Iraqi Kurds cast ballots in support for independence from Baghdad in a historic but non-binding vote.

Millions are expected to vote on Monday across the three provinces that make up the Kurdish autonomous region, as well as residents in disputed territories - areas claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurds, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

The vote is being carried out despite mounting regional opposition to the move. The United States has warned the vote will likely destabilize the region amid the fight with the Islamic State group.

Baghdad has also come out strongly against the referendum, demanding on Sunday that all airports and borders crossings in the Kurdish region be handed back to federal government control.

An Iraqi Kurdish man takes a picture for his wife as she shows her ballot during the referendum on independence from Iraq in Irbil, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Iraqi Shiite lawmaker Hakim al-Zamili, says parliament has approved several tough measures in response to the Iraqi Kurds' contentious vote on independence from Baghdad, though the referendum on independence is non-binding. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Iraqi Kurdish men celebrate as they wave Kurdish flags in the streets after the polls closed in the controversial Kurdish referendum on independence from Iraq, in Irbil, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. The vote is not binding and is not expected to result in independence any time soon, but was hailed as historic by Kurdish leaders spearheading the campaign. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting in Istanbul, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Erdogan is threatening military intervention in Iraq in response to Iraqi Kurdish region's referendum on independence. Erdogan on Monday said Turkey would take political, economic as well as military measures against Iraqi Kurds' steps toward independence and also suggested that Turkey could halt oil flows from a pipeline from northern Iraq. (Pool photo via AP)
BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union on Monday ramped up pressure on Britain ahead of a new round of Brexit talks, warning again that time is running out for Prime Minister Theresa May to clinch a deal.

"There has been some progress but we really need to move forward now. Time is of the essence," said Estonian deputy EU affairs minister Matti Maasikas, whose country holds the bloc's rotating presidency.

He was speaking before hosting a meeting of European affairs and foreign ministers, to be attended by EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Barnier and his team also meet their British counterparts in Brussels in the afternoon to kick off four days of talks.

May said Friday that her government would keep paying the EU and following its rules during a two-year transition period after Brexit in March 2019, but the Europeans want to see how her offer and others made in a speech in Florence translate into concrete proposals.

EU leaders meet on Oct. 19-20 to assess whether Britain has made "sufficient progress" on the terms of the divorce arrangements for negotiations to move on to future relations and trade.

Britain says all issues are intertwined and should be discussed together. Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but any deal must be sealed by October 2018 to leave time for parliaments to endorse it.

EU officials are pessimistic about expanding the talks as little headway has been made on the key issues of Britain's financial settlement, the status of the Ireland-Northern Ireland border and the rights of citizens hit by Brexit.

Denmark's foreign minister, Anders Samuelsen, on Monday was more upbeat than most, although he conceded that money is "always" the problem.

"We are about to reach the first deadline and hopefully we will see that the negotiations move forward," he said.

Britain's minister of state at the Department for Exiting the EU, Joyce Anelay, declined to answer reporters' Brexit questions, saying little more than "we remain committed to all the continuing business, and also maintaining our rights and obligations as a strong EU member" until March 2019.
The woman dubbed 'the heaviest in the world', has died in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates aged 37.

Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, from Alexandria, Egypt, once weighed 1,100lbs, and before her surgery earlier this year had not left her bed since her pre-teens.

Doctors at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi said Miss Ahmed Abd El Aty had died due to complications from her weight, including heart disease and kidney dysfunction.

Scroll down for video

The late Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, once dubbed 'the fattest woman in the world', waves during a press conference in July in Abu Dhabi

Complications: Before the surgery, pictured here, she was a massive 1,100lbs and had to be flown to India from Egypt on a specially-modified cargo plane

The hospital said: 'Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to her family.'

Doctors blamed her weight on a thyroid condition, while her family claimed she suffered from elephantitis, a parasitic infection which causes extreme swelling in a person's limbs and arms.

Her family has said that she has been heavy all her life, even as a baby. By the time she was 11 she was too heavy to walk, and had to crawl to get around.

Not long after, she suffered a cerebral stroke, which left her bedridden, causing her to pile on the pounds.

After a desperate plea for help, a doctor in Mumbai offered to take on her case free of charge.

This photo, taken earlier this month, sees Eman receiving a piece of cake from Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil during her 37th birthday party at the Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi

Tragedy: Miss Ahmed Abd El Aty is pictured after her bariatric surgery in India in March

Issues: Doctors blamed her weight on a thyroid condition, while her family claimed she suffered from elephantitis, a parasitic infection, from birth

Growing up: As a child, Miss Ahmed Abd El Aty suffered a stroke which left her bedbound in her pre-teens

In March Miss Ahmed Abd El Aty was flown Mumbai on a modified plane designed to deal with her sizeable 1,100lb frame.

After first losing more than 220 pounds in order to fit onto the operating table, she successfully underwent a gastric sleeve surgery and was reported in April to have lost 660 lbs - more than half of her bodyweight.

Miss Ahmed Abd El Aty arrived in the UAE in May, receiving care from a team of 20 doctors at Burjeel Hospital.

The plan was for her to be monitored and receive physiotherapy to try to help her regain use of her limbs, however she died shortly after 4.30am on Monday morning.
WUHAN, China (AP) - U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens and runner-up Madison Keys were knocked out of the Wuhan Open in the first round on Monday.

In their first matches since the final at Flushing Meadows, the 17th-ranked Stephens lost to Wang Qiang of China 6-2, 6-2, while the 12th-ranked Keys was beaten by fellow American Varvara Lepchenko 6-2, 7-6 (4).

The last time Grand Slam finalists lost their next match was after 2005 Wimbledon, where Venus Williams beat Lindsay Davenport.

Also, defending champion Petra Kvitova lost for the first time in Wuhan on her third visit. Kvitova won in 2014 and last year, when she dropped just one set. It took Peng Shuai 3  hours to knock her out 7-6 (7) 6-7 (5) 7-6 (3).

Stephens' serve was broken early in both sets. Wang closed out the victory on her sixth match point.

"I wasn't moving that great, just was a tough day for me," Stephens said.

Keys, seeded 10th, broke Lepchenko early in the second set, but the qualifier rebounded. Lepchenko was broken while serving for the match at 6-5 but rushed to 5-1 in the tiebreaker.

Kvitova had won all seven previous contests against Peng, but China's best player began by taking her first set off the Czech in four years. Kvitova evened the set score, and they kept breaking each other's serve in the decider until Peng held for 4-3. Peng served for the match at 5-3 but Kvitova rallied and saved a match point at 6-5 down. Peng finally won in the tiebreaker on her fourth match point.

They weren't the only upsets.

Seeds No. 5 Johanna Konta and No. 12 Angelique Kerber, and former U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur were also sent packing.

Konta lost to Ashleigh Barty of Australia 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (3) in the second round, and Kerber lost her opener to Caroline Garcia of Spain 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Stosur fell to Swiss wild card Jill Teichmann 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Konta, who occupies the last spot in the Race to Dubai, served for the match, but Barty broke back to force the tiebreaker and earned her career-best win. Konta has lost her last four matches.

"I don't think there's anything wrong, I just think these new challenges are very important for my development as a player," Konta said.

Garcia dropped the first set to former No. 1 Kerber but broke early in the second and asserted control from there, to the point she won seven straight games and led 5-0 in the third set.

"Some games were very tough, very long, but I kept winning," Garcia said.

Also advancing were Agnieszka Radwanska, who plays Barty next, Lauren Davis of the U.S., Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic, Alize Cornet of France, and Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.
GENEVA (AP) - The U.N. human rights office says Russia is violating international law in Crimea, including by imposing Russian citizenship on its people and deliberately transferring hundreds of prisoners and detainees to prisons in Russia.

The report Monday chronicles alleged rights violations and abuses in Crimea 3 years since Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine, to international outrage and biting U.S. and European Union sanctions against Moscow.

It calls on Russia to "effectively investigate" alleged torture, abductions and killings in Crimea, while decrying denials of access to its own team - and urges the international community to support push for that access.

U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said the imposition of Russian citizenship can be equated to forcing people to "swear allegiance to a power they may consider as hostile."
WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Poland's president proposed changes Monday to the laws regulating top judicial bodies in a bid to prevent a power grab of the courts by the nation's ruling party.

President Andrzej Duda put forward legislative revisions that would strengthen the president's role but also could address the European Union's concerns that the governing party plans to put Poland's courts under its political control.

Duda's proposals could ease the conflict with the EU, but it also could put him on a collision course with the ruling Law and Justice party, which presented its own plan for overhauling Poland's legal system earlier this year.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda announces his proposals for reorganizing the Supreme Court and a top judicial body at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Poland's most powerful politician, ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski says they vary on the proposals. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Duda's proposals give the president the power to appoint and dismiss judges. They call for a large majority of lawmakers to choose members of a key judicial body, the National Council of the Judiciary. They also reject the justice minister's plan to immediately fire the country's current Supreme Court judges.

Duda also recommending giving Poles a way to make official complaints about final court verdicts they consider unjust.

His proposals need to be debated and approved by the parliament, which is currently controlled by the ruling party.

Legal experts said Duda's proposals were an improvement on the party's draft, but they had questions about individual provisions.

"It is a good thing that the president has put a halt to something that could have led to bad consequences on the EU forum," judicial council spokesman Waldemar Zurek said. He stressed that he needed to see the full bill in writing before he could assess it.

Following consultations with party leaders later Monday, the president backed away from a proposal that would have required changes to Poland's Constitution but that got little support.

In July, prompted by street protests and EU criticism, Duda vetoed two bills proposed by the ruling party and promised to hammer out his own plans. Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said the president was delaying reforms the courts needed to be more efficient and fair.

Duda argued at the time that the party's bills on the Supreme Court and a top judicial body gave the party and the justice minister, who is also prosecutor-general, too much power over judges.

Earlier Monday, Kaczynski said that recent talks with the president over his proposals exposed a "far-reaching difference of views."

Kaczynski's remark suggested a growing rift between the ruling party and Duda, who won the presidency in 2015 on the Law and Justice ticket and had fully supported the party's policies until July.

EU authorities held a debate in Brussels Monday on ways of ensuring that Poland observes the rule of law.

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said officials would study Duda's proposals "very carefully."

"There's still a lot, a lot, we need to do before we can say that the problem has been solved," Timmermans added.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda announces his proposals for reorganizing the Supreme Court and a top judicial body at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Poland's most powerful politician, ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski says they vary on the proposals. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's President Andrzej Duda leaves after announcing his proposals for reorganizing the Supreme Court and a top judicial body at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Poland's most powerful politician, ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski says they vary on the proposals. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's President Andrzej Duda announces his proposals for reorganizing the Supreme Court and a top judicial body at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Poland's most powerful politician, ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski says they vary on the proposals. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's President Andrzej Duda announces his proposals for reorganizing the Supreme Court and a top judicial body at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Poland's most powerful politician, ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski says they vary on the proposals. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Poland's President Andrzej Duda announces his proposals for reorganizing the Supreme Court and a top judicial body at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Poland's most powerful politician, ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski says they vary on the proposals. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

In this Sept. 22, 2017 photo, people hold a Polish national flag as they demonstrate in front of the presidential palace to remind President Andrzej Duda he promised to make changes to controversial legislation, in Warsaw, Poland. Duda on Monday Sept. 25, 2017 proposed his own changes to the nation's top judicial bodies and the constitution in a dispute that is at the heart of a standoff with the European Union. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Syrian state media say two people have been killed in shelling on President Bashar Assad's ancestral village of Qardaha.

Syria's state broadcaster said Monday the village has been shelled by "terrorists" for two days straight. It says two people were wounded Sunday.

Qardaha is located in the coastal mountains of northwest Syria. Assad's father, the late president Hafez Assad, was born in Qardaha. He was buried there in 2000.

The village has been largely spared from the violence of Syria's civil war, which grew out of demonstrations in 2011 against the Assad family's four-decade rule.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the shelling, saying two civilians have been killed.
LONDON (AP) - British engineers are studying ways to dispose of yet another oversize "fatberg" threatening London's aged sewers.

Stuart White of Thames Water says the latest fat blob is located in a busy area beneath Chinatown near London's famed Leicester Square.

He said Monday it's not causing problems yet but must somehow be broken up and removed from the sewer, which was built in 1852.

The unwholesome fatberg is made up of congealed wet wipes, diapers, fat, oil and other detritus.

The disconcerting find comes two weeks after Thames Water reported finding a fatberg that was 250 yards long and weighed as much as 11 double-decker buses.

The company is using high-powered jet hoses to try to break up that fatberg so it can be sucked out into tankers for disposal.
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The Palestinian prime minister says he will travel from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip next week in a step toward reconciliation with the rival Hamas militant group.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah says he will convene his Cabinet in Gaza next Tuesday.

Hamas has controlled Gaza since ousting Fatah-led forces of the Palestinian Authority in 2007.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017 file photo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. Overshadowed by last week's showdown at the U.N. between the U.S. and North Korea, Abbas issued an ominous warning in his address to the world body. With hopes running out for an independent Palestinian state, the Palestinian leader said he may have no choice but to seek a single, binational state with Israel. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

The takeover has left the Palestinians torn between two governments, with President Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority in charge of autonomous areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reconciliation attempts have repeatedly failed.

Hamas welcomed Hamdallah's announcement on Monday, and the United Nations offered to help.

Hamas offered this month to cede control to Abbas' government. But many thorny issues, including the fate of Hamas' armed forces, remain unresolved.
BEIJING (AP) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Monday that Washington is hoping for concrete progress during President Donald Trump's planned trip to China amid rising trade tensions.

Ross met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the country's top economic official, during a three-nation Asian tour. Trump is due to visit Beijing later this year and meet President Xi Jinping, who visited the United States in April.

"We hope there will be some very good deliverables," Ross said at the start of a meeting at the Zhongnanhai compound where Chinese leaders live and work in central Beijing. That "would be the best single outcome for both countries," Ross said.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross meets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Zhongnanhai state guesthouse in Beijing, China, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (Thomas Peter/Pool Photo via AP)

Ross gave no details, but Trump has criticized China's large trade surpluses with the United States and threatened to raise tariffs on steel. He has ordered an investigation into whether Beijing improperly pressures companies to hand over technology in exchange for market access.

Chinese leaders have tried to head off punitive U.S. action by emphasizing the benefits of the world's biggest trading relationship.

"I think it is fair to say that our common interests far outweigh our differences," said Li, the premier. "This important trade and economic relations has benefited enormously our two peoples as well as the whole world."

Ross met Sunday with his Chinese counterpart, Zhong Shan.

He was due to visit Hong Kong on Tuesday and then travel to Thailand and Laos.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, left, meets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Zhongnanhai state guesthouse in Beijing, China, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (Thomas Peter/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross meets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Zhongnanhai state guesthouse in Beijing, China, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (Thomas Peter/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, right, speaks next to U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang at the Zhongnanhai Leadership Compound in Beijing, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool)
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - The Latest on the Syrian conflict (all times local):

4 p.m.

Russia has denied carrying out an airstrike that a U.S.-backed Syrian force said killed one of its fighters.

The Syrian Democratic Forces said a Russian airstrike on Monday killed one of its fighters and wounded two others in a gas field in eastern Syria that they had recently captured from the Islamic State group.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement that Russia is continuing to target IS militants in the area, and that its surveillance does not show SDF forces fighting IS.

Konashenkov said neither the SDF nor the U.S-led coalition has approached it about the reported attack.

On Sept. 16, the SDF said a Russian airstrike wounded six of its fighters, but Moscow denied carrying out the attack.

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3:15 p.m.

The main U.S-backed Syrian force fighting the Islamic State group says a Russian airstrike on a gas field it recently captured from the extremists killed one of its fighters.

A statement issued by the Syrian Democratic Forces said two other fighters were wounded in Monday's strike in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour.

It says the attack occurred on the Conoco gas field, which the SDF captured from IS on Saturday.

On Sept. 16, the SDF said a Russian airstrike wounded six of its fighters, but Moscow denied carrying out the attack. Russian officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest allegation.

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1:30 p.m.

Syrian state media say two people have been killed in shelling on President Bashar Assad's ancestral village of Qardaha.

Syria's state broadcaster said Monday the village has been shelled by "terrorists" for two days straight. It says two people were wounded Sunday.

Qardaha is located in the coastal mountains of northwest Syria. Assad's father, the late president Hafez Assad, was born in Qardaha. He was buried there in 2000.

The village has been largely spared from the violence of Syria's civil war, which grew out of demonstrations in 2011 against the Assad family's four-decade rule.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the shelling, saying two civilians have been killed.
Senator Luther Strange and challenger Roy Moore made their final push Monday to sway voters ahead of Alabama's Republican runoff for US Senate, a race that's pitted President Donald Trump against his former strategist, Steve Bannon.

Trump called an Alabama radio show Monday to urge support for Strange in Tuesday's runoff for the GOP nomination, and Vice President Mike Pence campaigned for Strange in Birmingham while Bannon spoke at a Moore rally at the coast.

Taking the stage to prolonged applause, Bannon said Alabama can show the world 'that this populist, nationalist, conservative movement is on the rise.'

Bannon lashed out at negative ads funded by allies of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon appeared in Fairhope, Alabama on Monday to stump for Roy Moore, an Alabama Republican who is fighting to take the US Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Bannon's former boss, President Donald Trump, has endorsed Moore's GOP rival, current Senator Luther Strange. Vice President Mike Pence (right) and Strange are seen above at a rally in Birmingham on Monday

Wearing a white cowboy hat and a black leather vest, former chief justice Moore repeated the conservative Christian themes that he has used his entire public career, quoting Bible passages and Colonial leaders at length

At one point, Moore, seeking to burnish his credentials as a staunch advocate of the Second Amendment, took out his revolver and displayed it to his enthusiastic supporters

Bannon said Republican 'elites' had put millions of dollars into the Alabama race 'to destroy a man.'

'Now is that going to work?' Bannon asked. 'No!' the crowd roared.

Bannon added that those same GOP leaders 'think you're a bunch of morons' and 'rubes.'

Wearing a white cowboy hat and a black leather vest, former chief justice Moore repeated the conservative Christian themes that he has used his entire public career, quoting Bible passages and Colonial leaders at length.

'All of Washington is watching to see what Alabama does tomorrow,' Moore said.

At one point, Moore, seeking to burnish his credentials as a staunch advocate of the Second Amendment, took out his revolver and displayed it to his enthusiastic supporters.

Saying he was invited to the Moore rally by Bannon, Brexit leader Nigel Farage cast the Republican's campaign as a continuation of a string of events that included the British vote to exit the European Union, Trump's election and a never-ending fight against the 'global liberal media.'

Saying he was invited to the Moore rally by Bannon, Nigel Farage cast the Republican's campaign as a continuation of a string of events that included the British vote to exit the European Union, Trump's election and a never-ending fight against the 'global liberal media'

Trump, who held a rally Friday in Huntsville for Strange, continued his efforts Monday, calling a popular Alabama radio show to campaign.

Trump predicted that Moore, whom he mistakenly called 'Ray,' would have a 'hard time' in the December election against Democrat Doug Jones.

'Luther Strange is going to be a great senator. He already has, and he has already helped me,' Trump said on the 'Rick & Bubba' radio show.

Strange, Alabama's former attorney general, was appointed to the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in February.

Moore was twice removed from the office of chief justice because of stands for the public display of the Ten Commandments and against gay marriage.

Propelled by his support from evangelical voters, Moore led Strange by about 25,000 votes in the crowded August primary and runoff polls have shown him leading, or in a dead heat with, Strange.

Strange looked to help from the White House to try to avoid another second-place finish Tuesday

On Monday evening, Pence spoke to several hundred Strange supporters in at airplane hangar in Birmingham, praising Strange's record of helping the Trump administration.

Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty speaks at a rally for Moore. He is seen above quoting from the Bible

'Luther Strange is a real conservative. He's a leader and a real friend to President Trump. I got to tell you, Big Luther has been making a big difference in Washington,' Pence said before exiting the stage to the tune of 'Sweet Home Alabama.'

'Tomorrow, there's a lot on the line,' Strange said, speaking in front of a large American flag to introduce Pence.

'For the vice president and the president and of the United States to come here on my behalf means more than I can possibly say.'

Walking into the humid hangar to hear Pence, 57-year-old Randy Beasley of Springville said he had been undecided in the race but was swayed to vote for Strange because of his backing from the National Rifle Association.

Beasley said he also had concerns that the twice-ousted chief justice 'might have more of a negative image for the state.'

Although Trump has endorsed Strange, many in the crowd at the Moore rally wore Trump T-shirts or 'Make America Great Again' hats.

Chu Green, 71, of Mobile said she arrived five hours early to snag a front row spot just feet from the speaker's microphone.

She held up a sign reading: 'Mr. President and Mr. V.P. I love you but you are wrong! America needs Judge Moore.'

'It's how I feel in my heart,' Green said. 'I think (Trump) knows he made a mistake. He had an obligation to Strange.'
LOS ANGELES (AP) - James Corden will return as host of the Hollywood Film Awards later this year.

Dick Clark Productions, which produces the awards, made the announcement in a press release Monday.

This is the third straight year that the "Late Late Show" host has helmed the ceremony, scheduled to take place Sunday, Nov. 5, in Beverly Hills, California.

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2016, file photo, host James Corden speaks at the 20th annual Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Dick Clark Productions announced on Sept. 25, 2017, that Corden will return to host a third straight year when the awards are handed out on Nov. 5, 2017. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

This is the 21st year for the HFAs, which bills itself as "the official launch of the awards season." Honorees for this year's awards are set to be announced at a later date.
BERLIN (AP) - A Ghanaian man has gone on trial in Germany accused of raping a camper at knife-point in front of her boyfriend days after being denied asylum.

Prosecutors say the 31-year-old man attacked the woman April 2 while the couple was camping near the western city of Bonn.

He was arrested five days later and police say DNA evidence linked him to the crime. The defendant, who wasn't identified due to German privacy rules, also had a loudspeaker he had stolen from the couple.

The man, who denies allegations of rape and aggravated extortion, went on trial Monday in Bonn.

Details of the case prompted outrage in Germany, where high-profile crimes committed by asylum-seekers have fed a public debate about immigration in recent years.
BERLIN (AP) - Four asylum-seekers have gone on trial in Germany accused of executing 36 members of the Syrian security forces while they were members of the Nusra Front extremist group.

Prosecutors say the four men killed their victims - police officers, security officials and soldiers - at a garbage site in the Syrian city of Tabqa in March 2013.

The defendants appeared before Stuttgart's regional court Monday on charges of war crimes, murder and membership in a foreign terrorist organization.

One of four defendants is guided by police in the higher regional court in Stuttgart, Germany, Monday, Sept. 25 2017. Four asylum-seekers have gone on trial in Germany accused of executing 36 members of the Syrian security forces while they were members of the Nusra Front extremist group. Prosecutors say the four men killed their victims - police officers, security officials and soldiers - at a garbage site in the Syrian city of Tabqa in March 2013. The defendants appeared before Stuttgart's regional court Monday on charges of war crimes, murder and membership in a foreign terrorist organization. (Sebastian Gollnow/dpa via AP)

The men, who came to Germany as refugees, were identified as 28-year-old Abdul Jawad A. K.; 24-year-old Abdoulfatah A.; 26-year-old Abdulrahman A. A.; and 35-year-old Abdalfatah H. A.

Their surnames weren't released because of German privacy rules.

One of four defendants, center, waits in the higher regional court in Stuttgart, Germany, Monday, Sept. 25 2017. Four asylum-seekers have gone on trial in Germany accused of executing 36 members of the Syrian security forces while they were members of the Nusra Front extremist group. Prosecutors say the four men killed their victims _ police officers, security officials and soldiers _ at a garbage site in the Syrian city of Tabqa in March 2013. The defendants appeared before Stuttgart's regional court Monday on charges of war crimes, murder and membership in a foreign terrorist organization. (Sebastian Gollnow/dpa via AP)
CAIRO (AP) - An Egyptian court sentenced on Monday a prominent opposition leader widely expected to run against President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in next year's elections to three months in prison for offending public morals, his lawyer said.

Tarek Hussein said Khaled Ali didn't attend the trial at the misdemeanor court of Cairo's Dokki neighborhood, where he was convicted for making an obscene finger gesture.

He said Ali was ordered to pay 1,000 Egyptian pounds (nearly $57) to remain free on bail. The verdict can be appealed, but if confirmed it will prevent him from standing in the 2018 presidential elections.

FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2017 file photo, lawyer and former presidential candidate Khaled Ali, center, celebrates with other lawyers after winning a landmark case against the government, blocking its attempts to hand over control of two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, in Cairo, Egypt. On Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, an Egyptian court sentenced Ali, a prominent opposition leader widely expected to run against President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in next year's elections, to three months in prison over a charge of offending public morals for making an obscene finger gesture. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

Hussein said the court didn't allow the defense lawyers a closing argument or for them to cross-examine witnesses for the prosecution over disputed video evidence submitted against Ali. Hussein and his team contend the footage was fabricated.

The incident allegedly occurred outside a courthouse in January where Ali and other lawyers had just won a landmark case against the government, blocking its attempts to hand over control of two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The presidency has since ratified the transfer of the islands.

Amnesty International called on Egyptian authorities to quash the conviction on the "absurd" charge against Ali, saying it is politically motivated.

"Khaled Ali's politically motivated conviction today is a clear signal that the Egyptian authorities are intent on eliminating any rival who could stand in the way of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's victory in next year's elections," Najia Bounaim of the London-based advocacy group said in a statement.

She said the verdict "illustrates the government's ruthless determination to crush dissent to consolidate its power."

Ali unsuccessfully contested presidential elections in 2012. He did not run in the 2014 elections which el-Sissi, a general-turned-president, won a year after he led the military's ouster of an Islamist president. He told The Associated Press in February that he was considering running next year. There have since been a series of consultations among liberal and pro-democracy parties on finding a consensus candidate, with Ali a clear front-runner.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court is giving Mississippi more time to respond to a lawsuit that challenges the Confederate battle emblem on the state flag.

The court said Monday that attorneys for Republican Gov. Phil Bryant have until Oct. 18 to respond. The original deadline was this Thursday.

Carlos Moore, an African-American attorney in Mississippi, filed suit in 2016 seeking to have the flag declared an unconstitutional relic of slavery.

A federal district judge and an appeals court ruled against Moore, but his attorneys asked the Supreme Court in June to consider the case during the term that begins in October. The court accepts a fraction of cases on appeal.

Mississippi has the last state flag featuring the Confederate battle emblem. Critics say the symbol is racist. Supporters say it represents history.

The state has used the flag since 1894, displaying its red field and tilted blue cross dotted with 13 white stars in the upper left corner. In a 2001 election voters decided to keep it, and Bryant has often said that if the flag design is to be reconsidered, it should be done in another statewide election.

Several cities and towns and all eight of the state's public universities have stopped flying the flag amid concerns that it is offensive in a state where 38 percent of the population is black. Many took action after the June 2015 massacre of nine black worshippers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, by an avowed white supremacist who posed with the Confederate battle flag in photos posted online.

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Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus .
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Police say a teenage suspect was fatally shot in an apparent home invasion in Mississippi.

Hattiesburg police told WDAM-TV that they believe the homeowner shot 17-year-old Justin Woodland on Sunday night. Authorities say no charges are being filed against the homeowner and the case will be presented to a grand jury.

Forrest County deputy coroner Lisa Klem says Woodland's body will be sent to an autopsy in Jackson.

Police have charged a second suspect, Anton Smith, with armed robbery and burglary of a dwelling. It is unclear whether Smith has an attorney to comment on the charges.

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Information from: WDAM-TV, http://www.wdam.com
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) - The image is among the most indelible of any American presidency: The commander-in-chief and first lady emerging with a wave from Air Force One.

Now, people outside the first family have a chance to recreate that shot, and get a behind-the-scenes peek at the world's most famous Boeing 747. A new Air Force One replica, currently on display in Rhode Island and headed next to New York, meticulously recreates many of the details inside the aircraft.

The Air Force One Experience is the brainchild of Ari Scharf, who says he hopes to inspire an appreciation for democracy, the right to vote and the United States.

In this Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 photo Christopher Jenkins waves while he stands with Julia Mord as they mimic a presidential arrival for a friend who is making their picture during their tour of the "Air Force One Experience," a full-sized 747 replica of Air Force One which is now open to the public in North Kingstown, R.I. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

"This is a great asset to let kids know America belongs to them. It's a very, very sensitive time right now. There's many people that feel they're not included in this country," Scharf said. "We have to do everything we can to get them engaged, to make them know their voice can be heard."

There are other ways to experience Air Force One: The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, for example, has an earlier, smaller Boeing 707 version on display. But Scharf said he wanted to recreate the current, 747 Air Force One, because it is a modern marvel that allows the president to travel within his own domain.

Inside the plane, visitors can peek inside the president's bedroom, recreated here with two twin beds. They can imagine cabinet secretaries gathered in a conference room, or the president sitting at his desk. A small sitting area serves as a mobile medical clinic. The second floor of the plane, including the cockpit, is off-limits.

"We built this for kids, but we're finding that adults are enjoying this as well. I didn't expect to see all these adults coming without kids," Scharf said.

While the 747 is fully functional, and Scharf would not rule out flying it sometime, it is due to travel by barge to New York.

Still unfinished is the back of the airplane, in an area where the press sits on the real Air Force One. The replica will instead use the space for a learning center for school groups, Scharf said. The work should be finished before it opens in New York at a yet-to-be announced location next summer, Scharf said.

Only the president and his family are allowed through the front door of the real Air Force One. Perhaps that's why the front door seemed to be the biggest attraction one recent day. Visitors snapped selfies of themselves and got each other to pose in front of the presidential seal.

"Your average person would never get the chance to do that," Ken Martin, of Plymouth, England, said shortly after taking photos with his friends on the rolling staircase.

Alysia Palmisciano, of Moosup, Connecticut, came with her four children. She homeschools her oldest son, Riley, 6, and she used their visit as an opportunity to talk with him about the presidency and what it means.

"A lot of people never get this close to Air Force One," she said. "It's pretty cool."

In this Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 photo Alysia Palmisciano walks down the steps with her children, Riley Palmisciano-Wright, 6, at right, Reagan Palmisciano-Wright, 18 months, on mom's back, Camden Palmisciano-Wright, 4, second from left, and Chace Palmisciano-Wright, 4, at left, during a visit to the "Air Force One Experience," a full-sized 747 replica of Air Force One which is now open to the public in North Kingstown, R.I. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

In this Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 photo Julia More photographs Christopher Jenkins as he stands just outside of the front hatch of the "Air Force One Experience," a full-sized 747 replica of Air Force One which is now open to the public in North Kingstown, R.I. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

In this Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 photo during a visit to the "Air Force One Experience," a full-sized 747 replica of Air Force One which is now open to the public sits on a tarmac in North Kingstown, R.I. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

In this Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 photo Alysia Palmisciano along with three of her children, Riley Palmisciano-Wright, 6, right, Chace Palmisciano-Wright, 4, center, and Camden Palmisciano-Wright, 4, left, view an exhibit on a wall outside the presidential conference room abroad the "Air Force One Experience," a full-sized 747 replica of Air Force One which is now open to the public in North Kingstown, R.I. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

In this Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 photo Alysia Palmisciano along with two of her children, Riley Palmisciano-Wright, 6, and Reagan Palmisciano-Wright, 18 months, walk into the front hatch of the "Air Force One Experience," a full-sized 747 replica of Air Force One which is now open to the public in North Kingstown, R.I. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

In this Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 photo the presidential bedroom suit is seen in the "Air Force One Experience," a full-sized 747 replica of Air Force One which is now open to the public in North Kingstown, R.I. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

In this Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 photo Camden Palmisciano-Wright, 4, left, and Riley Palmisciano-Wright, 6, approach the president's office on board the "Air Force One Experience," a full-sized 747 replica of Air Force One which is now open to the public in North Kingstown, R.I. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
HONOLULU (AP) - A former Big Island resident is awaiting trial in Indonesia over a surfing dispute that happened two years ago.

Oahu resident Zack Moore said he was visiting 43-year-old Jordan Heuer in Indonesia two weeks ago when Heuer received a summons to speak with prosecutors, Hawaii News Now reported (http://bit.ly/2xDHYfn ). But that conversation request turned into Heuer being suddenly arrested and jailed, Moore said.

"It was a sad day to see him leave because I wasn't sure if I was ever going to see him again," Moore said.

Heuer moved to Indonesia in 2000 and owns Kandui Villas, a luxury surf resort.

The arrest stems from an incident in May 2015 when Heuer and another surfer allegedly got into a fight. Heuer filed a police report claiming the other man started the fight, but now could face an attempted-murder charge, according to Hawaii News Now.

"I'm feeling absolutely terrible for my son who's in jail in a third-world country," said Big Island resident Lori Heuer, Jordan Heuer's mother.

Friends, family, surfing colleagues and former resort guests are rallying to support him. A crowdfunding campaign was created to help pay for legal fees and possible bail, if granted to Heuer. A petition is also circulating to help set Heuer free.

"We're trying to get a good lawyer, the best we can find, to get him out of the situation," Moore said.

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This version corrects the spelling of the last name of the surfer and his mother, Heuer not Heurer.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Myanmar of engaging in "Buddhist terror" against the minority Muslim Rohingya population.

In a speech in Istanbul Monday, Erdogan said even though a "clear genocide" was taking place in Myanmar, Buddhists are depicted as "envoys of goodwill."

He said: "At the moment, there is a Buddhist terror going on in Myanmar ... It's not something that can be hidden through yoga and such things."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting in Istanbul, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Erdogan is threatening military intervention in Iraq in response to Iraqi Kurdish region's referendum on independence. Erdogan on Monday said Turkey would take political, economic as well as military measures against Iraqi Kurds' steps toward independence and also suggested that Turkey could halt oil flows from a pipeline from northern Iraq. (Pool photo via AP)

The Turkish leader, who has been outspoken on the plight of the Rohingya, also accused the international community of remaining indifferent and of failing to sanction Myanmar's government.

Erdogan said: "There should be sanctions so that (Myanmar) tidies up its act."
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Two media organizations that own dozens of newspapers and television stations across the nation are announcing a merger.

Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. and Raycom Media Inc. have agreed to merge into a new privately owned media group, CNHI said in a statement Monday.

Both companies are based in Montgomery, Alabama, and are financed by the Retirement Systems of Alabama, which manages pension funds for state employees.

CNHI owns more than 110 newspapers, websites and publications in 22 states.

Raycom Media owns or operates 65 television and two radio stations in 20 states.

Under the merger agreement, CNHI will operate as a Raycom Media subsidiary.

The merger is expected to be completed Sept 29.

In seven cases where markets for Raycom Media broadcast stations and CNHI newspapers overlap, the newspaper properties will be sold to a third party, CNHI said in the statement.

"Quality local journalism is the foundation of Raycom Media and CNHI," Raycom President and CEO Pat LaPlatney said in the statement. The two said the merger will help both companies strengthen their local content and their finances to ensure "future growth and superior service to our clients and audience."

Donna Barrett, president and CEO of CNHI, said the merger "marks an important milestone in our history as we combine two award-winning media organizations with the common mission of delivering quality local news and information across print, broadcast and digital platforms."

Raycom's stations cover more than 16 percent of U.S. television households. Most of its stations in are in southern states, but it also owns stations in Ohio and Indiana and as far west as Honolulu, Hawaii.

Among CNHI's largest newspapers: The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Massachusetts; The Joplin Globe in Missouri; and The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Latest on the ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School. (all times local):

12 p.m.

The surviving members of the Little Rock Nine offered their recollections of their time at Central High School as they marked the 60th anniversary of their integration of the school.

Gloria Ray Karlmark opted Monday to talk about the last day of the 1957-58 school year, rather than the students' tumultuous first day on Sept. 25, 1957, when federal troops had to escort nine black teenagers into the school past an angry white mob.

Karlmark said that on that final school day, she picked up her yearbook but wondered who would sign it. A white girlfriend with whom she had exchanged notes was the first to sign. Karlmark said another girl wrote that the two could be friends "in a different age."

The eight surviving members of the group attended the event while an empty chair on the stage recognized the one who has died, Jefferson Thomas.

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11:25 a.m.

The surviving members of the Little Rock Nine have gathered at Central High School to mark the 60th anniversary of the school's integration.

Organizers of the event set aside space for each of the nine, but one seat was empty.

That chair was for Jefferson Thomas, who died in 2010. The chair was draped with a sash of old gold and black, the school's colors.

Central High was integrated when nine black students entered the school on Sept. 25, 1957, under escort by federal troops.

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola told the crowd that while Central High's desegregation crisis is part of the city's history, it doesn't have to be part of its legacy.

The Midwest regional director of the National Park Service, Cameron Sholly, noted that Central High is the country's only National Historic Site that is also a functioning high school.

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11 a.m.

The surviving members of the Little Rock Nine have gathered at Central High School to mark the 60th anniversary of the school's integration.

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech later Monday morning. The event marks the anniversary of when nine black students entered the school on Sept. 25, 1957, under escort by federal troops.

As the ceremony opened, the student body presidents from the city's five public high schools led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and the local school district's spokesman sang the national anthem. All of the dignitaries and the 100 or so students on stage stood throughout.

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10:35 a.m.

A ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School will feature former President Bill Clinton.

Monday's event at the school will also include the eight surviving members of the nine students who entered the school on Sept. 25, 1957, under escort by federal troops.

The integration came after then-Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus had called out the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the nine from entering the school.

President Eisenhower then sent units of the 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, to escort the students and hold back the angry crowds.

The ceremony is the culmination of a weekend of activities marking the anniversary of the event.
IRBIL, Iraq (AP) - The Kurdish independence referendum in Iraq, while non-binding, is a symbolic milestone in the Kurds' decades-long struggle to achieve statehood.

The Kurds are among the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world, with some 30 million concentrated in an area straddling Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. A minority in all four countries, the Kurds speak their own language, with several dialects. Most are Sunni Muslims.

Denied their own state when colonial powers drew the map of the modern Middle East after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the Kurds have long pushed for autonomy or outright independence in all four countries, and have often been brutally repressed.

People wait in line at a polling station at a primary school to vote in the Kurdish referendum on independence, in the disputed city of Kirkuk, Monday Sept. 25, 2017. Millions are expected to vote on Monday in Iraq's Kurdish-run provinces and disputed territories as Iraqi Kurds cast ballots in support for independence from Baghdad in a historic but non-binding vote. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

All four countries, along with the United States and virtually the entire international community, are opposed to the referendum, making formal independence unlikely. But the vote has deep symbolic significance for the region's Kurds, and could lead to further unrest.

TURKEY

Nearly half of the region's Kurds live in Turkey, where they endured decades of marginalization and discrimination, only gaining the right to speak the Kurdish language in the 1990s.

The Turkish state quashed several Kurdish rebellions in the early years of the republic, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. More recently, the Kurdistan Worker's Party, or PKK, has been waging a three-decade insurgency. The fighting has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 1984.

Since coming to power in 2002, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has carried out reforms that have improved the minority group's rights and even initiated peace talks with the PKK. But the fragile peace-process collapsed in 2015, reigniting the bloody conflict in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast region.

About a dozen legislators from Turkey's pro-Kurdish political party, accused of being the political wing of the PKK, have been jailed on terror-related charges. The party denies links to the PKK, which is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies.

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IRAQ

In Iraq, the Kurds repeatedly rose up against the central government throughout the 20th century. In the 1980s, they sided with Iran against Saddam Hussein's government in the Iran-Iraq war. To punish them, Saddam launched a scorched-earth campaign and chemical attacks, which together killed an estimated 50,000 people.

The U.S. imposed a no-fly zone after the 1990 Gulf war that granted the Kurds de facto autonomy in northern Iraq and made them a close American ally. The Kurds formalized their autonomy after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam, and the Kurdish region emerged as a rare success story, largely spared from the violence plaguing the rest of the country.

The Kurdish self-rule zone officially makes up about 10 percent of Iraq's territory, with a population of about 3 million, around 8 percent of Iraq's total 37 million.

Oil exports fueled an economic boom in the Kurdish region, leading to talk of a new Dubai in the heart of a troubled Middle East. But those hopes were largely dashed in 2014, when oil prices plunged and the Islamic State group swept across northern Iraq, drawing to within miles (kilometers) of the Kurdish regional capital, Irbil.

The U.S. and its allies rushed aid to Kurdish forces, known as the peshmerga, who were eventually able to push the extremists back with the help of coalition airstrikes. In the process, however, they seized large areas outside their autonomous zone, escalating long-running territorial disputes with the central government. The Kurds and Baghdad have also been at odds over the sharing of oil revenues.

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SYRIA

Syria's Kurds, who make up 10 percent of the country's population, were only granted the right to citizenship in 2011, when President Bashar Assad sought to win them over in the early days of the uprising against him.

The main Syrian Kurdish party, known as the PYD, has benefited from a tacit non-aggression pact with Assad since the early months of the war, when the Syrian army withdrew from much of northeastern Syria to battle rebels elsewhere in the country, allowing the Kurds to carve out a zone of autonomy.

The PYD's armed wing, known as the YPG, later expanded that enclave by battling the Islamic State group with the aid of U.S. airstrikes. They are now the main component of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which has driven IS from much of northern Syria and is now battling the extremists in their de facto capital, Raqqa.

Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, and sent troops into Syria a year ago to battle the Islamic State group and to stem the Kurds' advance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday warned of a similar intervention in response to the referendum in Iraq, saying "We could arrive suddenly one night."

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IRAN

Kurds represent about 10 percent of Iran's population of 80 million people, with many living in the mountainous northwest that borders Iraq and Turkey.

A breakaway Kurdish republic backed by the Soviets briefly emerged in the Mahabad region after World War II, and an uprising broke out there in the years after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. A guerrilla campaign by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, or PDKI, continued for several years, until the group declared a unilateral cease-fire in 1996.

The death of a Kurdish maid at a hotel in Mahabad in May 2015 sparked unrest, as opposition groups alleged Iranian security forces had a hand in it. Protests also erupted in Baneh this year when Iranian forces killed two Kurdish men.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on Congress' response to hurricane devastation in Puerto Rico (all times EDT):

9:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump is finally tweeting about Puerto Rico - but his message may not be well-received by residents struggling with the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.

Residents line up gas cans as they wait for a gas truck to service an empty gas station, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Loiza, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Trump says in a trio of tweets Monday night that "Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble."

Trump says the island's electrical system was "devastated" and much of the island "was destroyed." He's also noting Puerto Rico owes "billions of dollars" to "Wall Street and the banks" which, he says, "sadly, must be dealt with."

He says food, water and medicine are top priorities, and adds the words "doing well."

His administration is facing steep criticism that its response to Hurricane Maria has fallen short.

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1:15 p.m.

The Trump administration says it is not planning to waive federal restrictions on foreign ships' transportation of cargo to Puerto Rico and other areas affected by Hurricane Maria, as it did following hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security says officials believe there is sufficient capacity of U.S.-flagged vessels to move goods to Puerto Rico. Spokesman David Lapan said most of the humanitarian shipments to Puerto Rico will be through barges, which make up a significant portion of the U.S.-flagged cargo fleet.

DHS waived Jones Act restrictions during Harvey and Irma in order to move oil more quickly to the East Coast and make up for the loss of pipelines.

New York Rep Nydia Velazquez has asked for a Jones Act waiver for Maria.

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11:45 a.m.

The top Democrat in the House is calling upon President Donald Trump to deploy the military to help with the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico.

The island territory of more than 3 million U.S. citizens is reeling in the devastating wake of Hurricane Maria. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says Pentagon resources are needed for search-and-rescue operations, maintaining order, and help with transportation.

The California Democrat also said that the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands "deserve to know that their government will be there for them, without question or hesitation."

The devastation in Puerto Rico has received relatively little media coverage compared to Harvey and Hurricane Irma, and President Donald Trump hasn't brought much attention to it.

10:23 a.m.

House Speaker Paul Ryan promises that Washington will make sure that the people of hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico will "have what they need."

The Wisconsin Republican's statement came as authorities struggle to provide adequate relief to the more than 3 million U.S. citizens on the island territory, which is without power and has seen terrible devastation.

Ryan said Congress is working with the administration to make sure Puerto Rico gets all of the help that's required. Lawmakers approved $15 billion in hurricane relief in the wake of Harvey but tens of billions of dollars more is sure to be needed in the weeks and months ahead.

The tragedy has received relatively little media coverage compared to Harvey and Hurricane Irma, and President Donald Trump hasn't brought much attention to it.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump on Monday directed his education secretary to prioritize science and technology education and spend at least $200 million annually on competitive grants so schools can broaden access to computer science education in particular.

During an Oval Office appearance, where he was surrounded by students from local schools, Trump said more than half of U.S. high schools don't teach computer programming and that nearly 40 percent don't offer physics.

He said more widespread access to such instruction will help students develop the skills they need to compete and win in tomorrow's workforce.

President Donald Trump signs a memorandum to expand access to STEM, science technology engineering and math, education in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

"Who likes to win?" Trump asked the students. "Who likes to lose?"

Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and senior White House adviser on the workforce issues, told reporters during a telephone briefing earlier Monday that it is vital that students, especially girls and racial minorities, learn how to write computer code and study computer science.

She said exposure in grades K-12 is vital.

"Today represents a giant leap forward as we think about aligning the skills that are taught in the classroom with the skills that are in demand in the modern economy," Ivanka Trump said in the Oval Office before the president signed a directive instructing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to act.

Money for the grants has been appropriated by Congress, officials said. Trump's order asks DeVos to prioritize high-quality STEM - science, technology, engineering and math - education along with computer science education under an existing grant program that schools and districts have access to.

Ivanka Trump said she would visit Detroit on Tuesday with private sector officials as they announce pledges in support of computer science education.
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Latest on protests following the acquittal of a former police officer in the death of a black man in St. Louis. (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

Missouri's attorney general is calling for an investigation into claims that evidence was withheld in a lawsuit over the fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer.

In a Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 photo, police make several arrests of people protesting the Sept. 15 acquittal of former police officer Jason Stockley in the death of a black man, at the St. Louis Galleria. (Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley on Monday announced his office will hire an independent counsel to investigate allegations of wrongdoing under Democratic former Attorney General Chris Koster.

Requests for comment to Centene, where Koster took a job after leaving office, were not immediately returned Monday.

A release from Hawley's office says the family of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith sent a letter to the attorney general's office earlier this month alleging that evidence was wrongfully withheld by Koster's administration and the city of St. Louis.

White former police officer Jason Stockley fatally shot Smith in 2011. The ex-officer's acquittal in mid-September has led to days of protests in St. Louis.

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1 p.m.

Several elected officials and faith leaders are calling for an investigation of police over what they describe as the forceful arrest of protesters at a suburban St. Louis mall.

Many of those who spoke at a news conference Monday used the term "police riot" to describe what happened Saturday when 22 protesters were arrested at the St. Louis Galleria in Richmond Heights. Seven were charged with rioting and resisting arrest.

State Rep. Bruce Franks and others said police instigated the confrontation.

But St. Louis County and Richmond Heights police say protesters failed to disperse and caused the skirmish.

The protest was among several since a former police officer was acquitted in the death of a black man in mid-September.

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11 a.m.

Two St. Louis-area police agencies are defending their actions in arresting nearly two dozen protesters at a mall, amid complaints that the demonstrators were taken down forcefully, including a female pastor allegedly put in a chokehold.

A Saturday protest at the St. Louis Galleria in Richmond Heights, Missouri, was one of several since mid-September, when a judge acquitted former police officer Jason Stockley in the death of a black suspect.

A group of elected officials and faith leaders plan a news conference Monday to criticize what they're calling "military tactics" used by police.

St. Louis County and Richmond Heights police say their actions were justified. They say the Rev. Karla Frye had to be pulled off the back of an officer she had assaulted, and that she was not choked.

Rev. Karla Frye is escorted from the Buzz Westfall Justice Center by Rev. Steven Shepard, pastor of St. Peter AME Church, after being released on bond on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in St. Louis. Twenty-two people were arrested Saturday during a march through the Galleria to protest the acquittal of former police officer Jason Stockley in the death of a black man. (Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Protesters are arrested at the St. Louis Galleria mall in Richmond Heights, Mo., after several hundred people demonstrated in protest over the recent acquittal of a white former officer in the killing of a black suspect, in St. Louis, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. The demonstrators marched and chanted among shoppers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported officers briefly cleared the mall after some members of the group became unruly. (Christian Goode/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
OCRACOKE, N.C. (AP) - Authorities ordered hundreds of visitors Monday to leave much of North Carolina's Outer Banks, warily eyeing Hurricane Maria already kicking up heavy surf along the Southeast coast.

More than 200 visitors have already left Hyde County's Ocracoke Island amid a mandatory evacuation order imposed early Monday on that fragile barrier island jutting into the Atlantic. Authorities warn that high winds and flooding are possible threats as Maria passes well offshore. Neighboring Dare County also ordered an evacuation of visitors from neighboring Hatteras Island starting at midday.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami has issued a tropical storm warning from Cape Lookout north up the coast to the Virginia line. A tropical storm watch also was in effect for other areas.

Tourists packed up and drove off - some after only one day of what was supposed to be a weeklong vacation. Business owners braced for what they said would be yet another financial hit this season.

A construction accident at the peak of tourist season in late July had cut power to Ocracoke and Hatteras for several days, resulting in the evacuation of an estimated 50,000 tourists. Businesses lost millions of dollars.

Chips Stevens, the owner of Blackbeard's Lodge on Ocracoke, said Maria effectively makes 2017 a two-storm season, which is the "worst-case scenario."

"You can have a really good season up until a storm, and then it ends up being an average or a below-average season," Stevens said. "But if you have two storms that makes it very difficult. Fall is often where you make your profit."

Even in late September with school back in session, the Outer Banks attracts newlyweds and empty nesters. So-called "snow birds" also come through on their drive south. Business continues into October with fishermen.

"We can get some decent storms in October," Stevens said. "God forbid we get anything else."

On Hatteras, Jay Wrenn and his wife packed up their car for the five-hour drive back home to Burlington, North Carolina.

They had arrived at their rented cottage in Rodanthe on Sunday with a week's worth of groceries. By noon Monday the macaroni salad they had made was in the trash.

Wrenn doubted they would make the drive back if the evacuation order is lifted Thursday. It would leave too little time.

"It's an overreaction like most of them are," Wrenn, 66, said of the evacuation order. "There may be some danger but I think it's on the low end."

At 2p.m. EDT Monday, the hurricane was centered about 300 miles (480 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Maria had top sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) and was moving to the north at 7 mph (11 kph). The hurricane center said the core of Maria was expected to move well east of the Southeast U.S. coast over the coming day while it gradually weakens. It was expected to become a tropical storm on Tuesday night.

Forecasters said storm surge flooding is possible starting Tuesday in the coastal sounds of the Outer Banks.

In developments, authorities said Monday, an apparent piece of World War II ordnance has washed up on North Carolina's Outer Banks amid heavy swells from Hurricane Maria lurking offshore. The U.S. National Park Service said the unexploded device was found Monday on a beach at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Avon. An explosive ordnance disposal unit from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point was headed to the site to remove the device. The park service said it's the third time unexploded ordnance has washed ashore this year. And WITN in Greenville reported another item was found Monday morning on Whale Head Beach elsewhere on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Currituck County Sheriff's Lt. Jason Banks said the Cherry Point unit determined the other device was a training mine, and because it wasn't live, there was no danger to the public.

Maria battered the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico as a major Category 4 hurricane last week. It claimed dozens of lives in its rampage across the Caribbean.
A future cup of coffee in California could give you jitters before you even take a sip.

A nonprofit group in Los Angeles wants coffee manufacturers, distributors and retailers to post ominous warnings about a cancer-causing chemical stewing in every brew.

At the center of the dispute is acrylamide, a carcinogen found in cooked foods such as French fries that is also a natural byproduct of the coffee roasting process.

The long-running lawsuit that resumed on Monday claims Starbucks and about 90 other companies, including grocery stores and retail shops, failed to follow a state law requiring warning signs about hazardous chemicals found everywhere from household products to workplaces to the environment.

In a long-running court case playing out in a Los Angeles courtroom, a nonprofit has been presenting evidence to show that coffee companies should post ominous warning labels about a cancer-causing chemical in every cup

The coffee industry has acknowledged the presence of the chemical but asserts it is at harmless levels and is outweighed by benefits from drinking coffee.

Although the case has been percolating in the courts since 2010, it has gotten little attention.

A verdict in favor of the little-known Council for Education and Research on Toxics could send a jolt through the industry with astronomical penalties possible and it could wake up a lot of consumers, though it's unclear what effect it would have on coffee-drinking habits.

The lawyer taking on Big Coffee said the larger goal is to motivate the industry to remove the chemical from coffee, which would also benefit his own three-cup-a-day fix.

'I'm addicted - like two-thirds of the population,' attorney Raphael Metzger said. 'I would like the industry to get acrylamide out of the coffee so my addiction doesn't force me to ingest it.'

Under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, passed by voters as Proposition 65 in 1986, private citizens, advocacy groups and attorneys can sue on behalf of the state and collect a portion of civil penalties.

Metzger represented the council in a case later taken up by the state attorney general that resulted in potato-chip makers agreeing in 2008 to pay $3 million and remove acrylamide from their product.

The law has been roundly criticized for abuses by lawyers shaking down businesses for quick settlements but is also credited with reducing chemicals known to cause cancer and birth defects, such as lead in hair dyes, mercury in nasal sprays and arsenic in bottled water.

But warnings, which can be startling on first encounter, have been less effective due to sometimes inconspicuous placement or vague language.

Drivers everywhere appear to prioritize parking in a garage over warnings such as, 'This area contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm.'

The state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment adopted new regulations last year that will require more specific warnings that list the chemical consumers may be exposed to and list a website with more information.

Parking garages, for example, will have to post that breathing air there exposes drivers to carbon monoxide and gas and diesel exhaust and warns people not to linger longer than necessary.

'The intent is not to scare people,' said Allan Hirsch, chief deputy of the office. 'The intention is to help people make more informed decisions. If you continue to buy a product that will expose you to a chemical, that's OK as long as you're informed.'

Many of the coffee defendants have already posted warnings that specifically say California has determined acrylamide is among chemicals that cause cancer and attorneys have stated others, from mega-chains to mom-and-pop operations, will follow suit if the judge rules against them.

Metzger said many of those warnings often appear after the point of sale or where cream and sugar is provided, which offers no warning to someone drinking black coffee.

Coffee companies lost a first round in the case two years ago and are now presenting their last defense.

Defense lawyers declined to comment on the case but asserted in court that they should prevail under an exemption for chemicals that result naturally from cooking necessary for palatability or to avoid microbiological contamination.

'It is hard to imagine a product that could satisfy this exemption if coffee does not,' defense attorney James Schurz said in court papers. 'The answer to the question of whether Proposition 65 requires coffee to carry a cancer warning must be an emphatic 'No.''

In the first phase, Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle said the defense failed to present enough credible evidence to show there was no significant risk posed by acrylamide in coffee.

The law puts the burden on the defense to show that the level of the chemical won't result in one excess case of cancer for every 100,000 people exposed. Berle said the epidemiology studies they presented were inadequate to evaluate that risk.

Civil penalties could come to $2,500 per person exposed each day. With penalties reaching back eight years that could ring up an astronomical bill in a state with close to 40 million residents, though such a massive figure is very unlikely.

Starbucks Corp., the lead defendant, would not comment on the case. Its latest quarterly report said it's not 'party to any legal proceeding that management believes could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.'

Two of the defendants have settled in the past month and agreed to post warnings. BP West Coast Products, which operates gas station convenience stores, agreed to pay $675,000. Yum Yum Donuts Inc. agreed to pay nearly $250,000.
PARIS (AP) - The Lebanese president says he wants some 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in his country to henceforth start returning to their homes, voluntarily or not.

President Michel Aoun, in a state visit to France, said Monday that U.N. assistance given to aid Syrian refugees in "camps of misery" in Lebanon would be better used to return them to their country "from now on."

"We don't want to wait for their voluntary return," Aoun insisted, speaking at the Elysee Palace alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron meets at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Aoun said that most of the Syrian regions from which the refugees hail are "now secure."

Macron distanced himself from his counterpart's viewpoint, saying that the absence of a political solution in Syria prevents refugees from returning back home permanently.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron leave the Elysee Palace after a meeting in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Lebanese President Michel Aoun leave the Elysee Palace after a meeting in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a media conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Lebanese President Michel Aoun is for bilateral talks in France. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron leave the media conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Lebanese President Michel Aoun is for bilateral talks in France. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands after a media conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Lebanese President Michel Aoun is for bilateral talks in France. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive for a media conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Lebanese President Michel Aoun is for bilateral talks in France. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, is welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Lebanese President Michel Aoun at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Lebanese President Michel Aoun at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
A serial killer nurse who murdered six of his patients by injecting them with heart-stopping drugs has died.

Orville Lynn Majors, 56, who was serving 360 years for his crimes at the former Vermillion County Hospital, was found unresponsive at Indiana State Prison.

Majors was taken to a nearby hospital where he died on Sunday due to heart problems.

Orville Lynn Majors, 56, who was serving 360 years for his crimes at the former Vermillion County Hospital, was found unresponsive at Indiana State Prison. He is pictured on October 6, 1999, being escorted into court for the final day of defense testimony

Indiana Department of Correction said Majors was having breathing difficulties before passing out.

Prison officials say preliminary autopsy results show Majors had heart problems and died of natural causes.

Majors was sentenced in 1999 for six murders at the Vermillion County Hospital, but a probe found 150 suspicious deaths that had occurred during his time there.

The death rate at the hospital increased from 26 per year to 100 after Majors started working there in 1993.

Majors is thought to have targeted patients who were especially demanding or added to his work load.

At his sentencing, Judge Ernest Yelton called the nurse a 'paragon of evil'.
The U.S. Defense Department was working around the clock to deliver humanitarian assistance to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, even as the death toll climbed further across the Caribbean after Hurricane Maria.

By Monday afternoon, the confirmed toll from Maria's rampage across the Caribbean had jumped to at least 49 deaths, including 16 dead in Puerto Rico and 27 on the hard-hit island of Dominica.

Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico as a major Category 4 storm last week, ripping away rooftops, flooding streets and blacking out virtually that entire U.S. territory of 3 million people. Electricity had still not been restored by Monday, and officials who oversee the already poorly functioning power grid have said it could be weeks or months until power is fully restored.

National Guardsmen arrive at Barrio Obrero in Santurce to distribute water and food among those affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

The U.S. military also is helping in Puerto Rico by providing generators and the fuel to run them, Manning said. Eight Army UH-60 helicopters from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, are being flown to San Juan international airport to increase the capacity for distributing relief supplies. And the Navy ship USS Kearsarge ferried Marine and Navy teams into the Roosevelt Roads area of Puerto Rico to clear main roads and the airfield to bolster air support to the overall relief effort, said Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello appeared at a brief news conference Monday and praised the U.S. federal response to Hurricane Maria, which has included sending nearly 10,000 people to help recovery from the devastation. He also said his government has been in touch with mayors across the island and was working to get food and water to isolated communities cut off after the hurricane.

Rossello said federal agencies also have helped restore power to a medical center in San Juan and supply diesel to fuel the generators of hospitals as well as deliver food and water to hard-hit communities across the island. And the governor said he was "very grateful" to President Donald Trump for responding Puerto Rico's petition for help.

Rossello appeared with Homeland Security adviser Tom Bossert and Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, adding the presence of those two top officials was "a clear indication that the administration is committed with Puerto Rico's recovery process." Neither the FEMA administrator nor Bossert took questions from reporters. "We've got a lot of work to do. We realize that," Long said.

In other developments, the confirmed death toll rose to 27 on the small island of Dominica, up from 15 deaths previously. Authorities said 27 others are still missing there after Maria smashed into the island Sept. 18 as a Category 5 hurricane before taking aim at Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican authorities said the death toll there has risen to 16, up from 10 previously.

Security forces in Dominica also said they have now controlled looting that plagued the hurricane-battered island in recent days. The island has been under a 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. curfew since Maria hit, causing severe damage. Police say they have arrested 120 people, most for violating the curfew.

On Monday afternoon, Maria's large core was moving north over the Atlantic hundreds of miles (kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Maria was expected to move well east of the U.S. coast over the coming days, generating large ocean swells and rough surf along much of the Eastern seaboard. It was expected to become a tropical storm Tuesday night.

In Washington, House Speaker Paul Ryan has pledged that federal authorities will ensure that the people of Puerto Rico "have what they need." Lawmakers approved $15 billion in hurricane relief after Hurricane Harvey caused massive destruction in Texas.

National Guardsmen arrive at Barrio Obrero in Santurce to distribute water and food among those affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

Residents affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria hold a relative after waiting in line to receive water and food from the National Guard, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

A woman cries after learning about the arrival of the National Guard at Barrio Obrero in Santurce to distribute water and food among those affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

Vendors with no customers sit in front of destroyed trees, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Loiza, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Children fill up bottles with water at a water distribution point, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Loiza, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Children fill up bottles with water at a water distribution point, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Loiza, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Residents line up gas cans as they wait for a gas truck to service an empty gas station, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Loiza, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Dalia Rojas mops the floor of the senior care facility "Caritas de San Juan," with the help of daylight as much of Puerto Rico deals without electricity in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Six-month-old baby Rafshliany Cortijo rests in her swing in an open doorway, placed there to take advantage of a breeze, as much of Puerto Rico tries to make due without electricity, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in Puerto Rico, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

National Guard Soldiers arrive at Barrio Obrero in Santurce to distribute water and food among those affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Gov. Ricardo Rossello said "This is a major disaster." "We've had extensive damage. This is going to take some time." (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

People affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria wait in line at Barrio Obrero to receive supplies from the national Guard, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

Governor Ricardo Rossello receives a hug from a resident moments after the arrival of National Guard Soldiers at Barrio Obrero in Santurce to distribute water and food among those affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Federal aid is racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

People affected by the passage of Hurricane Maria wait in line at Barrio Obrero to receive supplies from the national Guard, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Puerto Rico's nonvoting representative in the U.S. Congress said Sunday that Hurricane Maria's destruction has set the island back decades, even as authorities worked to assess the extent of the damage.(AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Bass Pro Shops' roughly $4 billion acquisition of rival outdoor retailer Cabela's is complete, but the small western Nebraska town that has been home to Cabela's is still wondering about its future.

Monday's closing announcement didn't address how many of the roughly 2,000 Cabela's jobs will remain in Sidney, Nebraska.

Bass Pro has said it expects to keep some operations in Sidney, but redundant headquarters jobs will likely be consolidated in Bass Pro's hometown of Springfield, Missouri.

In this Sept. 19, 2017 photo, Cabela's branded merchandise is seen at a store in La Vista, Neb. Bass Pro Shops' roughly $4 billion acquisition of rival outdoor retailer Cabela's is complete, but the small western Nebraska town that has been home to Cabela's is still wondering about its future. The closing announcement made Monday, Sept. 25, didn't address how many of the roughly 2,000 Cabela's jobs will remain in Sidney, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The uncertainty about Cabela's future in Sidney has hurt business and slowed down the local real estate market in the town of fewer than 7,000. But many residents remain optimistic. The city endured the loss of roughly 2,000 jobs once before when the Sioux Army Depot closed in 1967.

"I believe that Bass Pro will find Sidney very attractive, and the city will be very willing to work with the company just as it did with Cabela's," said city council member Wendall Gaston.

Cabela's shareholders are receiving $61.50 per share in the merger. The remaining company will be privately held.

As part of the deal, Cabela's credit-card unit was sold to Synovus bank, which received $75 million to act as a middleman. Synovus also kept $1.1 billion in deposits before reselling the credit card business to Capital One.

Both outdoor companies had humble beginnings that they highlighted in a video about the merger posted for customers Monday.

Cabela's was founded in 1961 when Dick Cabela started selling fishing flies through the mail from his kitchen table with his wife, Mary, and brother, Jim.

Bass Pro got its start in 1971 when founder Johnny Morris began selling high-quality fishing tackle in his dad's liquor store in Springfield.

Morris developed a following in the region and created the Bass Pro catalog in 1974. Morris also introduced the Bass Tracker fishing boat in 1978 that was designed specifically for fishermen.

In this Sept. 19, 2017 photo, Cabela's wildlife display is seen at a store in La Vista, Neb. Bass Pro Shops' roughly $4 billion acquisition of rival outdoor retailer Cabela's is complete, but the small western Nebraska town that has been home to Cabela's is still wondering about its future. The closing announcement made Monday, Sept. 25, didn't address how many of the roughly 2,000 Cabela's jobs will remain in Sidney, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

In this Sept. 19, 2017 photo, the sales floor is seen at a Bass Pro Shops store in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Bass Pro Shops' roughly $4 billion acquisition of rival outdoor retailer Cabela's is complete, but the small western Nebraska town that has been home to Cabela's is still wondering about its future. The closing announcement made Monday, Sept. 25, didn't address how many of the roughly 2,000 Cabela's jobs will remain in Sidney, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

In this Sept. 19, 2017 photo, Cabela's logo is seen at the entrance to a store in La Vista, Neb. Bass Pro Shops' roughly $4 billion acquisition of rival outdoor retailer Cabela's is complete, but the small western Nebraska town that has been home to Cabela's is still wondering about its future. The closing announcement made Monday, Sept. 25, didn't address how many of the roughly 2,000 Cabela's jobs will remain in Sidney, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

In this Sept. 19, 2017 photo, the Bass Pro Shops logo is seen at the entrance to a store in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Bass Pro Shops' roughly $4 billion acquisition of rival outdoor retailer Cabela's is complete, but the small western Nebraska town that has been home to Cabela's is still wondering about its future. The closing announcement made Monday, Sept. 25, didn't address how many of the roughly 2,000 Cabela's jobs will remain in Sidney, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

In this Sept. 19, 2017 photo, store-branded items are offered for sale at a Bass Pro Shops store in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Bass Pro Shops' roughly $4 billion acquisition of rival outdoor retailer Cabela's is complete, but the small western Nebraska town that has been home to Cabela's is still wondering about its future. The closing announcement made Monday, Sept. 25, didn't address how many of the roughly 2,000 Cabela's jobs will remain in Sidney, Neb.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

In this Sept. 19, 2017 photo, the sales floor is seen at a Bass Pro Shops store in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Bass Pro Shops' roughly $4 billion acquisition of rival outdoor retailer Cabela's is complete, but the small western Nebraska town that has been home to Cabela's is still wondering about its future. The closing announcement made Monday, Sept. 25, didn't address how many of the roughly 2,000 Cabela's jobs will remain in Sidney, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
A 1-month-old baby found on the side of an Oklahoma interstate in a car seat stuffed with $5,500 in cash and a birth certificate is in state custody as authorities investigate why the boy was abandoned.

Oklahoma City police say a church group returning from an amusement park spotted the child Saturday about 10 feet (3 meters) from the shoulder of Interstate 40. Sgt. Gary Knight said Monday that officers also found a Social Security card with the baby.

Police say they located the child's mother through family members and that she's been taken to a hospital to be evaluated.

The church's pastor credits divine intervention in finding the child.

Ken Angel of Abba's House Worship Center in Ada, Oklahoma, says: "God stepped in."
Cunard is planning a fourth ship to join its fleet, according to an announcement Monday from the brand's parent company Carnival Corp.

The unnamed cruise ship will launch in 2022. It will carry 3,000 guests and will be built in Italy by Fincantieri.

Once the new vessel joins Cunard's other ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, it will mark the first time since 1998 that Cunard has four ships in service simultaneously.

The new ship will be the 249th vessel to fly the Cunard flag since the company's founding in 1839. It will also be Cunard's first new ship in 12 years.

Cunard ships have transported mail across the ocean, ferried troops in wartime and hosted glamorous guests from Hollywood stars to British royalty.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Latest on a hit-and-run crash outside a courthouse involving a witness at a murder trial in Las Vegas. (all times local):

6:15 p.m.

Police say a woman suspected of driving a car that intentionally struck a witness in a murder case on a sidewalk outside a Las Vegas courthouse has been arrested.

Las Vegas police refused Monday to immediately identify the suspect, who court officials say is a female relative of the man standing trial in a killing a year ago at a Las Vegas apartment complex.

The victim of the hit-and-run crash was identified in court as Queva Stafford, the slain man's sister.

Police Capt. Andrew Walsh had said the victim knows and described the driver of the cream-colored Cadillac sedan that hit her and drove away.

Walsh says the woman who was hit suffered a lower leg injury.

___

4:30 p.m.

A relative of a man standing trial for murder in Las Vegas has been arrested and identified as the driver who police say intentionally hit a witness in the case with a car on a courthouse sidewalk.

Las Vegas police Capt. Andrew Walsh said Monday the victim knows and described the driver of the cream-colored Cadillac sedan that hit her and drove away.

Police are looking for the car.

Walsh says it's not immediately clear whether the crash was directly related to the murder trial where the woman is on the witness list.

Police didn't immediately identify the injured woman. Walsh says she suffered a lower leg injury in the lunchtime crash at the bottom of concrete stairs outside the downtown Regional Justice Center.

Court officials say the woman was at the courthouse for the trial of 24-year-old Asa Brown.

Brown is accused of fatally shooting a 47-year-old man last September at a Las Vegas apartment complex.

____

2:35 p.m.

Police say a crash involving a witness in a murder case who was struck by a car on a sidewalk outside a Las Vegas courthouse was an intentional act.

Las Vegas police Capt. Andrew Walsh said Monday the victim knows and described the driver of the cream-colored Cadillac sedan that hit her and drove away.

Police are looking for the car.

Walsh says it's not immediately clear whether the crash was directly related to the murder trial where the woman is on the witness list.

Police didn't immediately identify the injured woman. Walsh says she suffered a lower leg injury in the lunchtime crash at the bottom of concrete stairs outside the downtown Regional Justice Center.

Court officials say the woman was at the courthouse for the trial of 24-year-old Asa Brown.

Brown is accused of fatally shooting a 47-year-old man last September at a Las Vegas apartment complex.

___

1:35 p.m.

Police in Las Vegas say a woman was struck by a car outside of the courthouse where she is a witness in a murder case.

Las Vegas police Capt. Andrew Walsh says the crash happened about 12:45 p.m. Monday near the front entrance of the Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas.

Walsh says the woman was taken to the hospital for treatment and that her injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

The incident prompted a large police response.

Walsh says police are searching for the vehicle, which is a cream-colored Cadillac sedan with Nevada license plates 66G-290.

Police say they believe that only the driver was inside the car.
CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) - A Tempe Municipal Court judge was arrested in the stabbing of his wife 10 times at their Arizona home last month during a domestic violence incident, according to court documents released Monday.

Thomas Robinson was taken into custody Friday by Chandler police and booked into jail on suspicion of 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of tampering with evidence.

Bond was set at $50,000 for the 55-year-old Robinson at his initial court appearance, where he didn't have an attorney and an Oct. 3 preliminary hearing was scheduled.

The arrest was reported to the Commission on Judicial Conduct on Saturday and Tempe city officials have placed Robinson on paid administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

Robinson's wife, whose name is redacted from police reports, was treated at a hospital on Aug. 25 and initially told authorities an unknown intruder had entered the couple's home and stabbed her.

Police said Thomas Robinson told officers he went for a walk early that morning, left a door unlocked and returned to find his wife wounded.

Court documents show Robinson's wife called an emergency crisis line Thursday and said her husband was the person who stabbed her and she claimed it was a stranger because she didn't want him to get in trouble.

Police searched the Robinsons' home and reported finding two objects with apparent blood spatter.

According to police, Robinson later acknowledged he dumped a knife, bedding and other evidence in a trash container behind a business.

Court documents show Robinson and his wife argued over suspicions on his infidelity after she saw a name she didn't recognize on his cellphone, called the number and a woman answered.

When Robinson left the home, his wife flushed some of her husband's prized personal possessions down the toilet, according to police.

Records show Robinson came back home, saw the damage his wife had done, and "stabbed her multiple times in the chest, back, arm and face" out of anger.

They had to go to the hospital because her arm wouldn't stop bleeding, but agreed on a story they would tell hospital staff to avoid any investigation or prosecution, the records state.

Robinson has been with Tempe courts since 1995 and been a Municipal Court judge since 2009.
A company that heaped probation fees on residents of one Tennessee county, even though many were too poor to pay, will pay $14 million to reimburse those charges.

Providence Community Corrections and officials in Rutherford County, south of Nashville, agreed to the settlement to compensate nearly 30,000 people who were placed under the company's supervision after being convicted of misdemeanors.

Under the pact, the company does not acknowledge any fault. But it has agreed to pay $14 million to the probationers who brought the suit in 2015 and another $350,000 to the county. Rutherford will pay most of that as its share of the settlement.

PCC, which closed its private probation business in 2016, is one of a number of companies in more than a dozen states that turned misdemeanor probation into a profit-making venture in recent years.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Latest on a federal appeals court allowing more of a Texas ban on "sanctuary cities" backed by the Trump administration take effect: (all times local):

6 p.m.

A Texas sheriff who had declined to honor some requests to detain immigrants in local jails says that her county now will comply with all such requests from federal authorities.

Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez said Monday that her policies had been updated to comply with the findings of a three-judge appeals court panel in New Orleans. Her spokeswoman, Kristen Dark, says that means jails, including those in the state capital city of Austin will honor all immigration detainers from U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents.

Hernandez is an elected Democrat who had announced on the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration that her jails would no longer comply with all detainer requests.

A Texas law cracking down on so-called sanctuary cities had been blocked by a lower court in August. But the appeals court panel ruled Monday that the state can compel local jails to comply with federal requests to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.

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2 p.m.

The key part of a federal appeals court ruling is that a Texas "sanctuary cities" law can require police to honor federal immigration detainers for now. But one attorney opposed to the law says the impact of the order may be limited.

The decision Monday by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes nearly a month after a lower judge blocked most of the law.

One of the main parts of the law requires Texas police and sheriffs to honor requests from federal immigration agents to hold people who are suspected of being in the country illegally and are in jail for reasons other than immigration. The law threatens police chiefs and sheriffs with jail time if they don't comply.

Nina Perales is an attorney opposed to the law. She says her reading of the ruling isn't that all detainer requests are now mandatory.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed the decision as now letting the state "enforce the core" of the law.

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1:30 p.m.

A federal appeals court has given Texas more latitude to enforce a "sanctuary cities" ban backed by the Trump administration, but opponents suing over the immigration crackdown said it was unlikely to drastically change the status quo.

The decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans comes nearly a month after a lower judge blocked most of the law signed in May by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
The hidden secrets of three naked dancer statuettes have finally been revealed after more than a century.

Scientists have found that a series of 19th Century sculptures are packed out with wine bottle corks and old floorboards.

X-ray beams were fired at the three statuettes of nude dancers, by French artist Edgar Degas, to make the discovery.

It is thought Degas bent wire into the desired pose for a sculpture, and would then bulk it out by using items lying around in his studio - including wine bottle corks.

Experts at Cambridges Fitzwilliam Museum, where the works are kept, said the findings confirmed Degas was a 'highly unorthodox sculptor who used unconventional working practices. Shown here is the 'Arabesque over Right Leg, Left Arm in Front' sculpture and X-ray

WHY USE CORK? It is thought Degas bent wire into the desired pose for a sculpture, and would then bulk it out by using items lying around in his studio - including wine bottle corks. Experts at Cambridges Fitzwilliam Museum, where the works are kept, said the findings confirmed Degas was a 'highly unorthodox sculptor who used unconventional working practices, in terms of materials and technique, which resulted in the frequent loss of his wax sculpture'. Advertisement

Experts at Cambridges Fitzwilliam Museum, where the works are kept, said the findings confirmed Degas was a 'highly unorthodox sculptor who used unconventional working practices, in terms of materials and technique, which resulted in the frequent loss of his wax sculpture'.

The three artworks, which are Degass only wax sculptures in the UK, are called Dancer Bowing, Dancer With A Tambourine and Arabesque Over Right Leg, Left Arm In Front.

They were made by Degas in the 1880s when he was in his 50s, using beeswax over commercially produced shop-bought iron armatures that he fixed to offcuts of wood, including old floorboards.

They are extremely rare survivals by the artist, who died on September 27 1917.

Other wax sculptures by Degas are kept at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, and X-rays found the presence of other everyday objects in them - including paintbrushes, pencils and metal lids.

'Degas produced these highly experimental wax sculptures with an apparent disregard for their longevity, being motivated primarily by his obsessive pursuit of perfection,' a spokesman for the Fitzwilliam Museum said.

Scientists have found that a series of 19th Century sculptures are packed out with wine bottle corks. X-ray beams were fired at the three statuettes of nude dancers, by French artist Edgar Degas, to make the discovery. Shown here is one of the statues, 'Dancer with a Tambourine'

Shown here is an X-ray of 'Dancer with a Tambourine' (left) and 'Dancer Bowing' (right). They were made by Degas in the 1880s using beeswax over commercially produced shop-bought iron armatures that he fixed to offcuts of wood, including old floorboards

The three artworks, which are Degass only wax sculptures in the UK, are called Dancer Bowing (pictured), Dancer With A Tambourine and Arabesque Over Right Leg, Left Arm In Front

The wax sculptures are so fragile that they are rarely displayed.

Bronze reproductions of the sculptures were cast after Degass death to maximise profit from his estate, something he had actively resisted during his lifetime.

These bronzes, made at the Hebrard foundry in Paris, are displayed at museums around the world and are better known than the wax sculptures.

Victoria Avery, keeper of applied arts at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said: 'Degas defied tradition as well as contemporary practice to resist having his sculpture cast in bronze.

The three Degas wax sculptures at Cambridges Fitzwilliam Museum will be displayed in the exhibition Degas: A Passion For Perfection to celebrate the artist 100 years after his death. It opens on October 3. Shown here is 'Right Leg, Left Arm in Front'

'It is therefore deeply ironic that Degass fragile and deliberately ephemeral, one-of-a-kind sculptures are now best known from their durable bronze serial casts, displayed in public and private collections across the globe.'

The three Degas wax sculptures at Cambridges Fitzwilliam Museum will be displayed in the exhibition Degas: A Passion For Perfection to celebrate the artist 100 years after his death. It opens on October 3.
Brexit Secretary David Davis is embarking on a fresh round of negotiations on Britains EU withdrawal in an attempt to break the deadlock in the stalled talks process.

His fourth set of talks in Brussels with the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier comes after Theresa May sought to map out the way forward in a keynote speech in Florence on Friday.

The Prime Minister offered to continue paying into EU coffers during a two-year transition after Britain leaves in 2019 to ensure the bloc is not left with a budget black hole.

The EU and British flags

However she appeared to be struggling to maintain unity at home with reports of angry clashes behind the scenes between warring Cabinet ministers.

Allies of Chancellor Philip Hammond were reported to have hit back at claims over the weekend that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had thwarted his demands for an even longer period of transition.

The Daily Telegraph quoted one unnamed ally of the Chancellor as saying that he was simply being pragmatic about the difficulties involved in leaving the EU while Mr Johnson was talking tough for the sake of it.

The bottom line is that this is not going to be easy, something thats over-looked by simple-minded Brexiteers like Boris. When it comes down to practicalities, it may well take longer, the ally was quoted as saying.

Mr Johnson had already infuriated some ministers with the publication of his own 4,000-word blueprint for Brexit in the run-up to Mrs Mays speech.

Mr Davis denied that the policy had changed as a result of the Foreign Secretarys intervention, saying: The simple truth is Boris signed up to this.

However the continued infighting among senior ministers is hardly likely to help the Brexit Secretarys cause when it comes to convincing Brussels to accept Mrs Mays proposal.

Under her plan, EU nationals will be free to settle in the UK during the transition period while the rights of those living in the country would be written into British law.

Britain and the EU would continue to enjoy the same access to each others markets while the Prime Minister also held out the prospect of a comprehensive new treaty on future security co-operation.

Mr Davis confirmed the UK would pay in roughly 10 billion a year during the transition  although he played down claims that the final divorce bill once pensions and other liabilities were taken into account could be 40 billion.

With the clock ticking on the talks, ministers hope the offer will be sufficient to persuade the EU side to move to the second phase of the negotiations on the future relationship between the UK and the remaining 27  including a free trade deal.

But while Mr Barnier has welcomed the constructive spirit of Mrs Mays speech, he made clear that the EU side would need to study the proposals in more detail before reaching a verdict.

He also said that greater clarity was needed from the UK on its plans for the border with Ireland following Brexit  another key issue which the EU wants to see resolved before moving to phase two.

Constructive #FlorenceSpeech by PM May; must be translated into negotiating positions to make meaningful progress https://t.co/fCfBrqNhAp  Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) September 22, 2017

The issue will be high on the agenda when Theresa May holds talks in Downing Street with Irish premier Leo Varadkar in her first meeting with an EU leader since the Florence speech.
A seventh person has been arrested in connection with the Parsons Green bombing, Scotland Yard said.

The 20-year-old man was seized by officers in Cardiff at around 6am on Monday. He has been taken to a police station in south London and is in custody under section 41 of the Terrorism Act.

Officers said they are carrying out searches at addresses in Cardiff and Surrey.

Ahmed Hassan, 18, has been charged over the attack on a packed District Line Tube train in London. The Iraqi asylum seeker appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on charges of attempted murder and using the chemical compound TATP to cause an explosion that was likely to endanger life.

Parsons Green attack: key locations graphic

Hassan allegedly bought parts to make the improvised explosive device online and left the train at Putney Bridge before the device partially detonated at the next station.

Witnesses described how a fireball erupted inside the carriage, leaving 30 people injured, including one woman with serious burns.

Seventh person arrested in connection with Parsons Green tube attack https://t.co/2d3Yp3OvvI pic.twitter.com/ZFJGG9wtt9  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 25, 2017

Hassan, of Cavendish Road, Sunbury, Surrey, was arrested at the port of Dover in Kent at 7.50am on Saturday September 16 by counter-terrorism officers.

The teenager, whose parents are understood to have been killed in Iraq, was in the foster care of Penelope and Ronald Jones, aged 71 and 88 respectively, who previously received MBEs for services to children and families.

Police officers taking part in an operation in Cavendish Road, Sunbury-on-Thames

Five others have been arrested over the bombing on September 15. A 25-year-old and a 30-year-old remain in police custody. Police have released three others  a 17-year-old boy and two men aged 21 and 48  without further action.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has accused Uber of behaving in an aggressive manner.

Mr Khan said the company had an army of PR experts as a petition protesting over the decision by Transport for London (TfL) not to renew its licence to operate in the capital gained mass support.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: They have also made aggressive threats about taking us to court and all the rest of it.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan

Thank you to the over 720K people who have asked London to keep Uber by signing the petition: https://t.co/ZwJjFonQjD  Uber (@Uber) September 24, 2017

You cant have it both ways, on the one hand acting in an aggressive manner, threatening all sorts of things, on the other hand brief to journalists that they want to do a deal with TfL.

Asked if he agreed with shadow chancellor John McDonnells description of Uber as a disgrace, Mr Khan said: Thats not words Id use.

Mr Khan said he was happy to talk to anybody about the situation.

Providing an innovative service must not be at the expense of Londoners safety. My response to @TfL's Uber decision. https://t.co/iEUal9VLU3 pic.twitter.com/B9V0mEKrWr  Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) September 22, 2017

Ubers head of cities UK, Fred Jones, told the BBC the company would like to sit down with TfL to discuss its concerns.

Once we understand we can work with them to figure out what is it that they would like us to do and how can we move forward.
A headteacher has described the stabbing of a welfare officer in a school office as horrific.

A 16-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the stabbing of the 61-year-old woman member of staff at Winterton Community Academy, near Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, on Monday morning, Humberside Police said.

Headteacher Gareth Morris said it is believed the welfare officer, who he did not want to name, was attacked with a small kitchen knife which was brought into school.

A sign for Winterton Community Academy

He said the injured staff member was taken to hospital and shes recovering. Her injuries are not to be life-threatening, officers have said.

Speaking outside the school, which is at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in the rural village of Winterton, Mr Morris said: The first I knew this morning was when members of staff called for me. My office is not very far away from where the incident happened.

When I arrived on the scene, the female member of the staff was already being administered first aid by my staff and another member of staff had restrained the pupil.

Police outside Winterton Community Academy in North Lincolnshire (Nigel Roddis/PA)

I then assisted restraining the pupil whilst waiting for the emergency services to arrive.

Mr Morris said his fantastic staff dealt with the situation very quickly and professionally.

He said: It was both horrific and very calm at the same time.

Police said the girl, a student at the academy, was being questioned by officers

The head said he immediately sent out a text message to all parents saying there had been a serious incident in school but all students were safe and secure.

Following this, he said, most parents took up an option of coming to collect their children, although the school remained open.

He said the woman involved was a very well regarded member of staff  a very important member of our pastoral team.

Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson

He said: She was obviously distressed. No doubt she was very shocked at the situation.

Its a very rare incident to happen in this locality and nationally.

Also speaking outside school, Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson said the school had no history of violent incidents and it remained open.

Please be reassured that everyone is safe at Winterton Academy after an incident this morning. The school is still open @Humberbeat pic.twitter.com/FbmPKdljNo  Ch Supt C Wilson (@CSuptCWilson) September 25, 2017

Ms Wilson said her officers responded to a fight in an office in the school and stressed the incident did not happen in a class.

It happened in an office in the school, so all of the rest of the children were completely safe, she said. They were all in their separate classrooms.

And it is, obviously, a very rare and isolated incident.

I cant think of another incident thats happened like this in my time as a police officer. Weve not ever been to an incident at the school before. The school has never had a teacher assaulted by a pupil before.

So it is extremely rare. It was reacted to very quickly by the school and also local officers. Im not sure we could have done anything to prevent this happening today. Random acts of individuals either in the street or on private premises, sometimes we cant legislate for.
US senator John McCain said doctors have given him a very poor prognosis as he battles brain cancer.

Mr McCain underwent surgery in July for a brain tumour that was later found to be a form of glioblastoma, the same type of cancer that took the life of his former US senate colleague Edward M Kennedy in 2009.

Mr McCain told CBSs 60 Minutes that he thinks about Mr Kennedy a lot.

John McCain

He and his wife Cindy have raised 4 kids. They survived 2 presidential campaigns, melanoma and now this. pic.twitter.com/c03SWwrMPM  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) September 25, 2017

The 81-year-old said Mr Kennedy continued to work despite his diagnosis, and never gave up because he loved the engagement.

Arizona senator Mr McCain said he has feelings sometimes of fear of what happens, but counters that with gratitude for having lived a great life.
Boris Johnson should take a paternity test for Brexit, the shadow foreign secretary has suggested.

Emily Thornberry took a swipe at the Foreign Secretary during a speech proposing reforms to the way decisions are made on arms exports, joking that Mr Johnson should appear on The Jeremy Kyle Show.

Ms Thornberry told delegates at the Labour Party conference in Brighton to take a moment to sympathise with poor old Boris who she said had not been happy lately.

Apparently hes sick of being blamed for the way that Brexit is going and all the broken promises of the Leave campaign.

Im sorry  what? Who does he think made all those promises? Who does he think was in charge of the Leave campaign?

I know that Boris doesnt like paternity tests but maybe we need one for Brexit.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson

She continued: Maybe we should take him into a studio with Jeremy Kyle: Sorry, Mr Johnson, we got the results back and it looks like this one is one of yours.

It must have been that wild night out you had with Michael Gove Ive calculated your maintenance payments and thatll be 350 million a week.

Ms Thornberry announced the next Labour government would immediately reform the way decisions are made on the export of arms.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn congratulates shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry following her speech at the Labour Party conference

Criticising the arms export decisions made by the Government as entirely subjective, she said the process leads to nonsensical double-standards, where the Government can decide too late that selling arms to Myanmar is wrong but immediately increase its sales to Saudi.

It is an arms control regime that was already outdated but which the Tories have systematically abused, undermined and left fatally discredited.

She said Labour would conduct a wholesale reform of the legal and regulatory framework fully implementing the International Arms Trade Treaty with clear rules, tests and criteria for decision-making, based on independent, expert advice and the objective assessment of evidence.

A new system, that will prevent the misuse and abuse of licences and adhere to the principles of transparency, true Parliamentary accountability and freedom from undue influence.

Ms Thornberry, who received a standing ovation for her speech to a packed conference hall, said it was not enough for us just to be better than the Tories but that Labour must set an entirely new standard for Britain and a shining example to the world.
Alternative for Germany (AfD) was founded four years ago at the height of the eurozone crisis, when opposition to a German bailout of other countries using the common currency was strong.

The party narrowly failed to pass the 5% threshold to enter parliament in 2013 on a Eurosceptic platform, a hurdle it took handily this time following a campaign focused heavily on chancellor Angela Merkels refugee policy.

The party received 12.6% of votes in Sundays election to become the third-largest caucus in Parliament behind Ms Merkels bloc and the Social Democrats.

German election official preliminary result

Political analysts say AfDs success is all the more remarkable because it has drifted steadily rightward in a country where voters are sensitive to any revival of the extreme nationalism that brought Adolf Hitler to power 84 years ago.

Strong in the east

(Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP)

Alternative for Germanys base is in the formerly communist east of the country. Anxiety over immigration is particularly strong in the east, despite the relatively low percentage of immigrants in the region, and leaders there have been among the most hard-line in their views.

AfDs leader in Thuringia state, Bernd Hoecke, called for a U-turn in the way Germany remembers its Nazi past. In neighbouring Saxony, a prominent member of the party, Jens Maier, declared that Germanys culture of guilt over the Second World War should be considered over.

Leadership in-fighting

Frauke Petry

AfDs first leader, Bernd Lucke, left the party two years ago after losing a leadership battle against Frauke Petry.

Ms Petry has since become embroiled in a spat with other senior figures after urging her party to exclude members who express extremist views with the aim of attracting moderate voters.

She stormed out of the partys press conference a day after the election and insisted she would not join AfDs parliamentary caucus.

How far right?

Alexander Gauland

AfDs opponents have described the party as a far-right or even extreme-right movement, citing the xenophobic views expressed by some of its members.

Political scientists caution that while there are extremists in the partys ranks, its ideas are closer to those once held by the conservative wing of Ms Merkels party than to the far-right fringe of German politics.

Still, some in AfD have expressed revisionist views of German history with anti-Semitic ideas without being kicked out of the party, and it is the farthest right party to win seats in parliament in about 60 years.

Party co-leader Alexander Gauland prompted controversy again weeks before the election by saying that we have the right to be proud of the achievements of Germans soldiers in two world wars.

Cash injection

Euro notes and coins

All German parties receive public funding based on the number of the votes they receive in elections.

AfD has already collected millions of euros from entering 13 state assemblies and the European Parliament over the past four years.

The party can expect a further windfall from Sundays federal election that will allow it to build a formidable operation in Berlin with hundreds of full-time staff.

Russia-friendly

(Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Alternative for Germany has taken a very pro-Russia stance, calling for Western sanctions against Moscow over its involvement in the Ukraine conflict to be dropped.

Ms Petry travelled to Russia earlier this year for a secretive meeting with members of Russian president Vladimir Putins party and AfD has courted Russian-speaking German voters with considerable success.

During the final weeks of the campaign, AfD was heavily promoted by Russian-language social media accounts.
Former US congressman Anthony Weiner has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexting with a 15-year-old girl in a case which may have cost Hillary Clinton the presidency.

The former Democratic congressman from New York had faced up to 27 months in jail after his guilty plea to one charge of transferring obscene material to a minor.

Prosecutors said he broke the law by having illicit contact with a 15-year-old girl using Skype and Snapchat.

Mr Weiner leaves federal court following his sentencing (Mark Lennihan/AP)

Weiners sexting habit destroyed his career in congress, his campaign for mayor and his marriage to Huma Abedin, a former aide to Mrs Clinton.

The case also became an issue in the closing days of 2016 presidential election when then-FBI director James Comey cited emails discovered on a laptop used by Weiner to justify reopening the probe into Mrs Clintons private computer server.

Weiner, 53, dropped his head into his hand and wept as the sentence was announced by Judge Denise Cote in a New York federal courtroom.

Anthony Weiner

After the hearing ended and Judge Cote left the bench, he sat in his seat for several minutes, continuing to cry.

He said nothing as he left the courthouse and must surrender to prison officials by November 6.

The sentencing completed the sordid downfall of the New York Democrat.

Anthony Weiner

Admitting I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse, Weiner pleaded guilty in May to transferring obscene material to a minor, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for illicit contact with a North Carolina teenager.

He sought to be spared from prison, tearfully telling Judge Cote that he had been a very sick man for a very long time.

Weiner, weeping as he read from a written statement, said he had reached rock bottom with his crime.

Prosecutors said he sent the girl porn and got her to take her clothes off and touch herself on Skype.

Weiner, wearing his wedding ring, seemed pensive just before Mondays hearing began. His parents were in the courtroom, but not his wife. He and Ms Abedin, who have a five-year-old child, are going through divorce proceedings.

Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner

Weiner was also fined 10,000 dollars (7,400). After his sentence is served, he must undergo internet monitoring and must have no contact with his victim.

He must also enrol in a sex offender treatment programme.
David Davis has insisted there are no excuses for standing in the way of progress over Britains exit from the European Union as the fourth round of talks resumed in Brussels.

The Brexit Secretary said Theresa Mays speech in Florence on the strategy for quitting the bloc had set out concrete proposals and a breakthrough was now needed.

But the EUs chief negotiator insisted real progress on the divorce bill, citizens rights and the Irish border was essential to move on the discussions.

Michel Barnier said he was keen and eager to understand how the Prime Ministers speech would be turned into a negotiating strategy.

We do not need to remind ourseves that we are six months into the process. We are getting closer to the UKs withdrawal and I think that this moment should be a moment of clarity.

Mr Davis said the latest citizens rights would be incorporated fully into UK law, progress had been made on resolving the Irish border and insisted the UK would honour commitments made during its EU membership.

David Davis

The UK is absolutely committed to work through the detail. We are laying out concrete proposals and there are no excuses for standing in the way of progress, he said.

It will take pragmatism on both sides to make headway and I hope we can achieve that this week.

After a meeting earlier of the European Parliament Brexit steering group, Mr Barnier insisted Britain must defer to European courts during any Brexit transition period.

Find all our position papers, negotiating documents and more, on our dedicated website: https://t.co/NWtdbjkHmw #Brexit pic.twitter.com/mXES9KNYaM  European Commission  (@EU_Commission) September 25, 2017

He said: If the UK is asking for a transitional period, well its the UK asking for it. We are not asking for it.

If the idea is that during this period they will still participate in the single market and the customs union and the policies of the single market then it is quite clear that all European regulations, enforcement, financial conditions, supervision, all of that has to be maintained during the self-same period without any exceptions.

The Prime Minister offered to continue paying into EU coffers during a two-year transition after Britain leaves in 2019 to ensure the bloc is not left with a budget black hole when she made her speech on Friday.

Under her plans, EU nationals will be free to settle in the UK during the transition period while the rights of those living in the country would be written into British law.

Britain and the EU would continue to enjoy the same access to each others markets while the Prime Minister also held out the prospect of a comprehensive new treaty on future security co-operation.

Mr Davis confirmed the UK would pay in roughly 10 billion a year during the transition  although he played down claims that the final divorce bill once pensions and other liabilities were taken into account could be 40 billion.
The director of controversial advocacy group Cage has been convicted of an offence under the Terrorism Act for refusing to hand over the Pin to his mobile phone at Heathrow Airport.

Muhammad Rabbani, 36, was stopped under Schedule 7 on November 20 last year after returning home from a wedding in Doha.

He refused to give his Pin or the password to his laptop, saying he had been stopped many times under the schedule before and had never been required to give these details.

Westminster Magistrates Court

Man convicted after preventing Counter-Terrorism police search https://t.co/NlrBceUg2A pic.twitter.com/h5AHzR3Kco  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 25, 2017

Rabbani said he had highly confidential information on his device and that handing it to police would be a breach of his personal and professional privacy.

But on Monday he was convicted at Westminster Magistrates Court of one count of wilfully obstructing a stop-and-search under Section 7 of the Terrorism Act.

Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot said: I find he took a calculated risk and, as on certain earlier occasions, the police wouldnt take any further action.

Our Director will consider challenging this decision and ensure the right to privacy is one that is upheld and protected.  CAGE (@UK_CAGE) September 25, 2017

He took a calculated risk. At the time of the stop he was warned over and over he would be committing an offence if he didnt provide the information.

The court heard that Rabbani refused to tell officers what he did for a living or give out his Pin saying it wont help you in any way and that it breached his privacy.

Pc Tariq Chaudhry, the officer who conducted the search, said: I asked him questions about his occupation and he said he was a director of a company but wouldnt go any further  he kept saying You dont need to and it wont help you in any way.

Pc Chaudhry said that Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act gives officers their right to stop and search people with or without suspicion.

Rabbani was repeatedly warned that he would be arrested if he failed to give his Pin codes, but said he had never been asked to give this information during previous stop-and-searches.

In a prepared statement given at his second police interview in May this year, Rabbani said: I considered that although the police were in law entitled to ask questions so that they could satisfy themselves I was not engaged in terrorist activity, that did not justify my in addition being required to expose all the sensitive contents of my phone to being copied and undoubtedly disseminated not just to police but to intelligence services and possibly elsewhere in the world  an unjustifiable, uncontrolled acquisition of material.

Rabbani will today walk out of court with his head held high and welcomed by a crowd of congratulating supporters.  CAGE (@UK_CAGE) September 25, 2017

Giving evidence on Monday, he said that he had a large volume of documents relating to a Qatari client allegedly tortured in the US on his devices.

It was a case involving the US against an individual who was allegedly tortured over the course of 12 or 13 years in US custody, he said.

There were around 30,000 (documents) which I was especially uncomfortable handling and I felt an enormous responsibility to try and discharge the trust that was given to me.

It's precisely for this reason that CAGE will continue to call for the abolition of all counterterrorism legislation. #PassWithPrivacy  CAGE (@UK_CAGE) September 25, 2017

But Judge Arbuthnot rejected his defence, finding he had taken a calculated risk in not providing the information despite being warned of the consequences by police.

He was handed a conditional discharge, ordered to pay 600 costs and 20 victim surcharge.

Cage describes itself as an independent advocacy organisation working to empower communities impacted by the War on Terror.

Judge believes that Rabbani was protecting client confidentiality but restrained by intrusive legislation to deliver a guilty verdict.  CAGE (@UK_CAGE) September 25, 2017

The organisation sparked controversy when it emerged Isis executioner Mohammed Emwazi, dubbed Jihadi John, had sought advice from Cage over alleged harassment by the British authorities before leaving for Syria in 2012.

Speaking outside court Rabbani said the Schedule 7 powers amounted to a digital strip search and that he had been racially profiled by the officers that stopped him.

He said: I was prepared from the outset to pay the ultimate price, even if that meant imprisonment.

He continued: At no point was I under suspicion and this was a matter of being profiled at the airport. There are important implications for our collective privacy as Schedule 7 acts as a digital strip search.

If someone's behaviour appears suspicious, if it's not what you would normally expect then ACT without delay #ActionCountersTerrorism pic.twitter.com/I8cxTvR5hZ  Counter Terrorism Policing UK (@TerrorismPolice) September 22, 2017

I took the decision not to raise the details of an important torture case before my arrest and ultimately I have been convicted of protecting the confidentiality of my client.

If privacy and confidentiality are crimes, then the law stands condemned.

He vowed to launch an appeal against the verdict.

Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: Todays verdict is an important one. Its crucial that police are able to use the legislation that exists to help keep the public safe.

Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is a vital tool in the fight against terrorism and we are committed to ensuring the power is used appropriately and proportionately, as it was in this case.

The Met has retained Rabbanis phone and laptop and is continuing its efforts to examine the contents.
One of the countrys most senior Muslim police officers has admitted gross misconduct after instructing a member of staff to pass topics to a candidate ahead of a promotion interview.

Naveed Malik, who is Assistant Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Police, admitted gross misconduct by breaching the Standards of Professional Behaviour through Discreditable Conduct.

Mr Malik, whose father was one of the first Muslim police officers in the UK having been appointed as a constable in 1967, told a misconduct hearing at Wyboston Lakes Conference Centre in Wyboston, Bedfordshire, that he accepted the charge.

Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Tom Winsor (left) and Dorian Lovell-Pank QC, two of the three panel members to oversee the hearing (Joe Giddens/PA)

John Beggs QC, for the appropriate authority, said this plea was acceptable and that charges relating to honesty and integrity would not be pursued.

A panel of three will decide what happens to Mr Malik after hearing further evidence.

Its options range from management advice through to dismissal without notice.

Mr Malik admitted instructing a member of staff to pass topics to a candidate ahead of a promotion interview (Joe Giddens/PA(

Mr Malik joined the police service in 1989 and spent 27 years with Warwickshire Constabulary. He was transferred, on promotion to Assistant Chief Constable, to Cambridgeshire Police in 2016.

He is, jointly with two others, the most senior serving BME (black and minority ethnic) police officer in the country.

A misconduct hearing on Monday heard details about what Mr Malik is alleged to have done. It was told that a tri-force promotion process, covering inspector to chief inspector, was arranged for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire in February 2017.

Elizabeth McEwen (right) is the third member of the panel (Joe Giddens/PA)

The process comprised two stages: first, a presentation by the candidates to a panel and then an interview conducted by a second panel. Mr Malik chaired the second panel.

Ahead of this process Mr Malik had provided informal mentoring to the officer referred to as Inspector A.

The hearing was told Mr Malik met with his interview panel members on the first day of the three-day process and his panel agreed to change the wording of one question.

He also instructed police staff member B to call Inspector A on a mobile phone and tell the inspector the four areas to concentrate on for the interview for the promotion process.

Naveed Malik

Police staff member B called Inspector A and began to list the topics for the interview process, saying "Nav has just asked me to give you the topics".

Inspector A stopped police staff member B, saying it did not seem right and that he/she wanted to be promoted on merit.

Inspector A told police staff member B to "go back and tell (ACC Malik) that I didnt want to listen".

The promotion process was terminated the following day.

The misconduct hearing, which is expected to last two days, continues.

It is presided over by a panel of three, consisting of chairman Dorian Lovell-Pank, Sir Tom Winsor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, and Elizabeth McEwen.
By Florence Tan

SINGAPORE, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Japan's Cosmo Oil plans to increase diesel output at its Sakai refinery in Osaka, looking to capitalize on an expected jump in demand when a global mandate for ships to switch to cleaner fuels kicks in from 2020, its top executives said.

The company, wholly owned by Cosmo Energy Holdings, is considering adding units such as a desalter that will allow its 100,000-barrels per day crude distillation unit (CDU) to process more heavy oil and maximize diesel output from its delayed coker in Sakai, Cosmo Oil President Hisashi Kobayashi told Reuters on the sidelines of an industry event.

"All of our three refineries will not produce any vacuum residue by the end of 2019," Kobayashi said as the oil industry gathers in Singapore this week for its largest meeting in Asia.

A desalter removes salt and water from crude before it is processed at a refinery.

The move will allow Cosmo Oil to comply with a third round of directives from Tokyo aimed at keeping the nation's refining sector competitive, while helping meet an expected surge in diesel demand when ships are required to use cleaner fuels under an International Maritime Organization mandate.

Besides processing vacuum residue from the expanded Sakai CDU, the delayed coker will also receive more feedstock from Cosmo's refineries in Chiba and Yokkaichi, said Masashi Nakayama, director of Cosmo Oil's supply unit. The company plans to adjust operations at the 29,000-bpd coker to maximize its diesel output, he said.

He declined to say how much more diesel the unit could produce.

Cosmo Oil expects Asia's oil benchmark Dubai <DUB-1M-A> to steadily rise to $55-$65 a barrel next year on production cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and strong global demand-growth, Kobayashi said. It was just below $55 per barrel last week.

Still, Cosmo Oil expects the market to remain well-supplied until after 2020 as prices at above $60 a barrel could draw new crude streams into the market, he said.

Cosmo Oil will continue to buy 30 percent of its crude in the spot market, its executives said, and it could step up purchases of heavy crude from Latin America and Canada, in addition to traditional supplies from the Middle East to feed its expansion.

"We expect residue fuel demand to tank and middle distillates to surge and that will widen the light-heavy crude price differential," said Mitsuyasu Kawaguchi, general manager of Cosmo Oil's crude and tanker department.

The company is on schedule to shut one of its CDUs in Chiba by mid-2018 once a pipeline connection to fellow refiner JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corp's plant is completed, the executives said.

(Reporting by Florence Tan; Additional reporting by Osamu Tsukimori in Tokyo; Editing by Joseph Radford)
SHANGHAI, Sept 25 (Reuters) - China stocks fell on Monday, as developers slumped after a new round of government curbs to rein in the heated housing market.

The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.5 percent, to 3,817.79 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3 percent to 3,341.55 points.

Property firms were the biggest drag in the market, with an index tracking major developers tumbling 5.1 percent in its worst day since early 2016.

A number of provincial capitals across China have rolled out new measures to further slow home property sales, and bear down on lingering speculators that could destabilise markets ahead of a key Communist Party congress next month.

There were also signs the authorities are stepping up their efforts to crack down on illegal lending to the sector.

Investor sentiment was also undermined by simmering concerns that China's beefed-up environmental protection could reduce demand, and consequently economic growth.

UBS strategist Gao Ting said that some top-down investors now anticipate a slowdown in China's GDP growth, and worry about the sustainability of the global economic recovery.

Although China's supply-side reforms and tighter environmental protection measures have so far been well received by the market, "some investors now worry that these measures have started hurting demand," Gao wrote in his latest strategy report.

He said stronger environmental protections could force many smaller resource firms to halt production, affecting investment, while surging upstream costs may finally pass through to consumer goods and services, undermining demand.

"If demand is softer than expected in the upcoming peak season, both commodity prices and related stock prices may fall in response."

An index tracking resource shares in China fell 2 percent.

Most sectors lost ground for the day, while consumer and healthcare firms led the gains, as investors sought shelter in defensive players. (Reporting by Luoyan Liu and John Ruwitch; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The ambassadors to Washington from Britain, France, Germany and the European Union all strongly backed the international nuclear agreement with Iran on Monday, as long as Tehran continues to comply with the pact.

U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing whether the 2015 deal serves U.S. security interests as he faces a mid-October deadline for certifying that Iran is complying with the pact, a decision that could sink an agreement strongly supported by the other world powers that negotiated it.

"We agree that the demise of this agreement would be a major loss," David O'Sullivan, the European Union's envoy in Washington, said at an Atlantic Council panel discussion.

German Ambassador Peter Wittig said anyone advocating walking away should consider "larger issues," including an increased danger Iran would resume enrichment, danger of a nuclear arms race in an unstable region and impact on global nonproliferation efforts.

"What kind of signal would this send to countries like North Korea?" Wittig asked. "It would send a signal that diplomacy is not reliable, that you can't trust diplomatic agreements, and that would affect, I believe, our credibility in the West when we're not honoring an agreement that Iran has not violated."

If Trump does not recertify by Oct. 16, Congress has 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions suspended under the accord.

That would let Congress, which is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, effectively decide whether to kill the deal. Although congressional leaders have declined to say whether they would seek to reimpose sanctions, every Republican lawmaker opposed the deal reached by Democratic President Barack Obama's administration.

Many, like Trump, have made opposition to the agreement a campaign issue.

If Washington pulls out of the deal, the ambassadors said they would do everything possible to protect any companies based in Europe that continue to do business with Iran from reimposed U.S. sanctions.

Britain's ambassador, Kim Darroch, said Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May had devoted about half their discussion to Iran when they met in New York last week, although Trump did not reveal his decision.

He said May had explained again why Britain supports the nuclear pact, seeing it as a matter of national security. "As long as the Iranians continue to comply with it, in the view of the IAEA, we will continue to support it," he said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

French Ambassador Gerard Araud noted that the other countries that signed the pact - Russia, China and Iran - had made clear that they do not support renegotiating.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Ranjith Rubasinghe, who occasionally acts (even now) but is better known to those in his field as an Assistant Director, was born in Akuressa, Matara to a father who operated as a peon by day and an amateur playwright by night. He could sing, he could act, he could craft, he recalled some months ago, at my house.



The fathers passion for theatre had naturally trickled down to the son, and soon enough young Ranjith and his friends were helping him with the choreography and the sets.

Lighting was a problem back then, so we went for the simplest combination: Petromax lamps and coloured paper. I was bewildered, which is why I asked him how. He replied, Depending on the characters and the mood we wanted to convey, we were given cues to change the coloured paper to green, red, or yellow.

I fervently believe that no art form can survive for long without a proper grasp of both the technical and the artistic. Its the same story in both theatre and cinema: you need imagination and craft just as much as you need technicians. Rubasinghe grew up to be a technician himself, but that love for relating stories, for conveying a mood by resorting to the simplest method, turned him in later years into a director on his own accord. Theres a lesson to be learnt here, obviously, which is why, to me at least, the dichotomy between those who think and those who do remains one of the most simplistic and destructive today. Nowhere is it more simplistic and destructive than in the theatre, the most ritualistic, and at times primeval, of all art forms.



The gap between English and Sinhala theatre is so patently wide that it merits an entire article to itself, particularly with respect to how each is nurtured in our schools. This gap, I will get to next week. For now, though, Im concerned about how a drama society, from a school and from this country, is trying to get its members to understand that point I highlighted above: that for the theatre to thrive, there must be both active participation and a felt, honest tribute and throwback to how it was sustained in the past. In other words, a consistent culture of craft and homage.

The gap between English and Sinhala theatre is so patently wide that it merits an entire article to itself, particularly with respect to how each is nurtured in our schools



On two days over two months, the Sinhala Drama Society of Royal College, Colombo will hold two events that will respectively give back to these two theatrical cultures: on September 25 and 26 with Bhava, and on October 26 with Harasara Pranama. Bhava is, for all intents and purposes, done and dusted. Harasara Pranama is not. Because the one cant be written and sketched down without the other, however, I will write on both. And because neither can be talked about without at least a footnote about the Society, its members, history, and trajectory, Ill write on those as well.



First and foremost, the Society. Online records indicate that it was first established in 1998. Written records, though, indicate an earlier timeframe, with the first play to be directed by the students in school for the National Inter-school Drama Competition staged in 1967 (it would win second place, while the following years play would come first). However, what was considered to be a promising start deteriorated rapidly, and soon enough we come across a break in the Societys history throughout the seventies and eighties, before it was properly revived in, yes, 1998. The first few years thereafter were inconsequential, after which another revival of sorts was brought about by a set of students and teachers in the early 2000s. Its in this context that one should dwell on all the shows, competitions, and skits organised by it at present.



To a considerable extent, those shows, competitions, and skits are rooted in the Societys overriding objective: getting its members to explore the aesthetic parameters of the medium. Theatre is arguably the most live of all art-forms, lets not forget, so naturally, for it to be sustained in any institution, its interest should be kept alive through workshops, training sessions, and rehearsals. Speaking with the current Chairman of the Society, Ayath Withana, I understood that at Royal, such rehearsals, which follow a veritable set of workshops headed by teachers and Old Boys, can last up to the final week before the unveiling of a show. These are obviously nothing if they dont get their participants to carve and to reflect on the past. Bhava seeks to address the former, while Harasara Pranama seeks to address the latter.



Bhava is an exhibition and one that strives to tell those who patronise it, The theatre is as much a product of our labour as it is of our imagination. Thats being crude and simple I agree, but for now its the best way I can sum it up. Begun yesterday and ending today, its reach, so to speak, goes beyond exhibit hours (from 8.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.) and venue (the Royal MAS Arena). The fact is that the entire exercise has got its organisers to create, to carve, and so together with various stalls from our universities (especially Colombo and Kelaniya), schools, and even Navy, we can expect a veritable display of masks, shoes, costumes, and other ranga baanda from not just Sri Lanka but also China and Japan (two theatrical cultures which have influenced ours).



I am no connoisseur of the theatre and not being one hinders me from delving into what these boys have done. Suffice it to say, then, that the entire enterprise has made them aware of the intricacies of the medium theyre in. Ayath was quite clear on that point:

Before this the younger children didnt know about spotlighting or set designing or even the different mask cultures in this country. We are questioned on them in the O/Level Drama Paper and are asked, for instance, to come up with a set of dialogues and to identify certain sanniyas with respect to particular masks. So when you get involved in not just studying but also carving them, be they masks or shoes or even costumes, you tend to understand the culture, the story, behind them.

Being able to understand, by default and in the arts, means being able to value, to remember, to reflect. Thats what Harasara Pranama has been organised for



Being able to understand, by default and in the arts, means being able to value, to remember, to reflect. Thats what Harasara Pranama has been organised for. The history behind it is more recent, and dates back to 2001, when the schools submission for the Inter-school Drama Competition, for some reason, was skewed and downright ignored by certain officials. We felt hard done by, to be honest, Ayath told me.

Three years later, to address what was felt to be an unjust snub, the then teacher-in-charge of the Society, Rathna Lalani Jayakody, mooted and got the students to organise a single event that would; A) award the winners of the schools Inter-house Drama Competition (held earlier that year); and B) honour two veterans in the field. This was Harasara Pranama (in English, Homage), the first edition of which felicitated Lucian and Malini Bulathsinhala and was held, symbolically, on March 26 (with March 27 being the World Theatre Day). The following year, the number increased to three: Wijeratne Warakagoda, Lalitha Sarachchandra, Somalatha Subasinghe.



Three years after it was first held, the Society inaugurated another event: Abhina, an inter-school competition. It was decided to award the winners at Harasara Pranama as well, until four years later, in 2011, when the teacher-in-charge herself felt that the children were not up to the task of holding such a massive pranama ulela. We faced a lull after that, Ayath told me, It took six years for us to get back. This year, were reviving the show. Were bringing it back. Scheduled to start at six in the evening at the Navarangahala, this edition of Harasara Pranama will as usual pay tribute to three veterans: Ramya Wanigasekera, Neil Alles and Jayantha Chandrasiri.



That lull after 2011 didnt come about for no reason, obviously: the truth is that an event of this sort has to wade through certain constraints that the Sinhala theatre, in general, has to suffer. Its one of the biggest ironies today, but our national theatre finds it more difficult than its English counterpart to get proper, consistent sponsors. Its all arbitrarily and more often than not self-financed. Even for a two or three hour show, we have to spend heavily, Ayath confessed, When our committee decided to organise it, our past Chairmen had one piece of advice for us: come up with three names, then find the money. The first has been easy; the second, so far, has not.



All these observations, illuminating as they are, interest me more for how they reflect the general thrust and philosophy of the Drama Society at Royal. Ever since Rathna Jayakody left earlier this year, the boys have sought to maintain her contribution to both Society and school. She was there for us all, to be honest, helping us find the names, getting the necessary contacts, going out of her way to mould our members to be active participants. Of the 80-odd children we have, only around 20 are active in that sense. Thats rather sad, but to be expected, given the horde of other responsibilities and activities they have to put up with. Thats why both Bhava and Harasara Pranama indicate our efforts to keep Sinhala theatre alive at school.



With about one or two events organised every month, adding up to about 15 or 16 every year, the Society clearly has a lot to maintain. Perhaps what Ranjith Rubasinghe told me, not too long ago, is what drives these boys: in a context where the Sinhala theatre, more than its English counterpart, has to survive on institutional charity and individual effort, we need to nourish it through our schools and our childhood without forgetting that all too important point about an art form, any art form, flourishing through both labour and imagination, both craft and creativity. Perhaps thats one lesson Bhava, Harasara Pranama, and even Abhina will teach us.
Prof. Geoffrey Jones and Aban Pestonjee

Abans Founder Chairperson Aban Pestonjee was invited to be interviewed by Prof. Geoffrey Jones, Faculty Chair of Harvard Business Schools Business History Initiative, on the topic of Creating Emerging Markets.



The two-hour long video interview was a sit-down discussion between Prof. Jones and Pestonjee and was conducted at Sapphire Room of Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.



The full transcript of the interview will be kept in the archives of the Harvard Business Schools Baker Library and will become part of the librarys Historical Collection and Creating Emerging Markets website. It will be available to students for research and case studies. The interview, which received comments of wide acclaim from those present at the recording, covered many topics such as The process of innovation in the business, The acquisition of international technologies, The role of family, The issue of succession, The recruitment of professional management, Relationships with government, NGOs and international organisations, Responsibility for society and natural environment and Challenges and opportunities of globalization including globalizing brands.

The phenomenal success of Abans from a small retail shop selling used home appliances to the market leader in electronics and household appliances with 30 independent companies in diversified fields of business and services and a network of over 400 showrooms, dealers and service centres islandwide, is a remarkable achievement.



Abans newest venture is the multi-billion rupee Colombo City Centre, a mixed development project on Sir James Peiris Mawatha, Colombo 2, overlooking the picturesque Beira Lake, in collaboration with Singapores SilverNeedle Hospitality.



The Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA and is one of the worlds most prestigious business schools from which global corporate leaders receive their MBAs and doctorates.
Its with utmost distress that I write this letter to your esteemed newspaper with the hope that it will catch the attention of the rulers, who seem to treat the people of Colombo North as sub-human beings. Indeed there is no one to hear the painful stories of the distraught masses, where the poorest of the poor live and die. I have lived in this part of the city for over 60 years and things have never been so wretched



Let me only point out some glaring debacles:



1. The road starting from Tobacco Company Junction at Kotahena and going along Aluthmawatha is being dug-up for several months by a company involved in the Water Supply Project. It seems that this company lacks competence to avoid setting off several major and minor leaks all along, of which the Water Board doesnt care a copper cent. So, the good, drinkable water streams, down the roadway, turn the place into a mud hole and cause a great wastage which we citizens have to pay for ultimately. This tragedy has befallen several roads in Kotahena, Mutwal and Mattakkuliya. Further, deep wells have been dug along Aluthmawatha Road, St. James Street, Walls Lane, Madampitiya Road etc. and those involved in the work seem quite helpless and clueless. The areas have become veritable death traps with totally devastated road surfaces. The Mattakkuliya-Farm Road Junction is in a mighty mess with leaks everywhere. Leaks have sprung up in several well-laid roads about which the digging sub-contractors and the Water Board care the least.



2. Indeed such widespread water collection spots (clean water) make a cruel mockery of the Governments much proclaimed Anti-Dengue Campaign.



3. Rarely do the Water Board workers (looking pathetically incompetent) try to patch up the one or two leaks after months of disrepair. They dig and then discard the remaining excavated sand and tarred blocks blissfully onto the pavement and vanish (St. Marys Road/Centre Road Section). Or, they dump the stuff at the entrances to the by-lanes.

Farm Road

Leaks have sprung up in several well-laid roads about which the digging sub-contractors and the Water Board care the least



4. Just travel along Aluthmawatha Road or several other roads in Colombo North. The dug out sand, stone and other debris are thrown along the pavements giving rise to enormous dust clouds, seriously polluting the breathable air - making everyone suffer from eye, throat and chest problems.



5. Now comes the stunner! The Electricity Board too has been engaged in the digging done with a vengeance with scant regard for what lies underneath. The result is that, all along the roads, pipelines are broken, sending out gallons of precious water. These rivers then flow for several days, at times for weeks, until the Water Board sends its nondescript team. It seems that the Electricity Board is readily absolved of their wanton destruction.



6. Samata Sarana is a school and a home to 400 inmates from pre-school kids to very elderly people. The disaster is hellishly apparent opposite this great institution, which was once visited by Secretary Hilary Clinton. The children and the elderly have to wade through mud holes or walk along bathed in dirt and dust. Thus, we see the numb rules treating these helpless citizens like sewage rats.



7. One positive aspect of our benevolent rulers is the modernized roadway which was commissioned from Mattakkuliya Farm Road, along Centre Road, stretching for 1km or more. The company that carried out this mega project should be complemented. All lamp posts are ready for use. For more than a year now this road remains unlit. Is this a dark side of efficiency?



8. My plea to the rulers is this; follow the example of Patali Champika Ranawake, on behalf of the hapless people of Colombo North. Tie up your shoe laces and walk along the roads and lanes of this part of the city. You can transform the tragedy that has been highlighted, into a resounding victory within a week; as the Ranawake did. But with the shabby mind set of the rest from top to bottom the much hyped dream of a megapolis will only end up as a Necropolis (a place where dead people are buried). To translate the ideas of a megapolis to reality, technical and managerial competence backed by a sincere political is a sine qua non.



Aluthmawatha Road

So, the good, drinkable water streams, down the roadway, turn the place into a mud hole and cause a great wastage which we citizens have to pay for

9. People witnessing these unfolding and increasing disasters in the North of the city, as never seen before post independence incidents, would like to know whether there are subject Ministers assigned to each of the failed and failing Boards, Local Bodies and Departments (including the Environmental Police) to ensure that there is - some semblance of governance leaving aside the much hyped Good Governance?



10. Oh! If only the attention of the Prime Minister and the President could catch a glimpse of this letter!



Pix by damith wickramasinghe
BY Michel Nugawela

As organizations grow, mature, and evolve, they often find their identity no longer accurately reflects who they are, what they do, or who they do it for.



The problem is one of incoherence: to grow and expand, managers target different, larger, or more diverse customer segments by over-diversifying their businesses through brand extensions or over-segmenting their brands with line extensions. But done right, a well-thought-out brand strategy refocuses an organization on where its fundamental difference  or value  lies, and where it has the greatest potential to narrow the gap between its brand image and identity. Finding that point of difference can be hard work. It is certainly one of the most important undertakings when we develop a brand strategy. But thereafter, how the organization delivers what it promises  or connects strategy to action  requires not just looking outward at new customers and markets, but also engaging leaders and employees within the organization to identify and build a brand-led culture of achievement.

Uniqueness of brand strategy



A brand strategy  unlike a brand communications strategy  brings together business units and functions from across the organization to provide an integrative view of their role and performance in relation to customer needs and drivers, and the brands competitive position in the market. For example, when Agro Holdings  Carson Cumberbatchs oil palm interests in Indonesia, later renamed Goodhope  partnered us to develop their corporate identity and brand architecture, our first task was to identify the differentiated value the conglomerate was able to create through its fully integrated operations across the palm oil value chain. Based on our assessment of the category and business, which included in-depth qualitative research across four countries, we asked the CEO and senior managers: was Goodhope to become a generic expert, innovation leader, or sustainability champion? Their preference, which weighed the evolutionary-to-revolutionary spectrum of positions against both category dynamics and the organizations core capabilities, lay in their legacy strengths of driving operational excellence with a focus on cost, efficiency and scale  the generic expert position.

How organizations behave on the inside is inseparable to how they are perceived on the outside



This would also inform the brand proposition, where each and every employee ensured the flow of value to the customer through the continuous improvement of sustainable, highly efficient, and reliable production and service delivery processes that were trusted by customers to be delivered consistently, accurately, and in a timely manner.



Broader customer offering

Yet as Goodhope in organically grew its way to a broader customer offering  from upstream capabilities in oil palm cultivation and milling, to newly-acquired refineries in Malaysia and India which produced value-additions such as the specialty fats that were ingredients in industrial and consumer foods  it was clear that a strong brand could only be built from the inside-out. The conglomerate would have to look inward to connect and develop new capabilities and processes across business units and functions, as well as bring together employees with different backgrounds, skills, and perspectives who would create and champion the products and services that delivered the brand proposition to customers. But each new acquisition also added further complexity: how was the entity to be integrated, what synergies and capabilities were to be leveraged and shared?



As I mentioned, the objective of a brand strategy is to clearly articulate the differentiated value the organization is able to create, and for whom. In doing so, it also clarifies how employees are engaged, empowered, and motivated to deliver its vital outcomes through a brand-led culture  the values, mindsets and behaviours that determine how we do things around here.



For example, Goodhopes organizational culture had evolved through the standardized processes and hierarchical decision-making structures of its upstream plantations. Would it leverage the same culture to integrate the newly-acquired downstream entities? Or, given the prevailing cross-cultural differences between organizations, was it necessary to emphasize a decentralized management structure with a higher degree of autonomy for business units, functions, and locations? Exactly which crucial behaviours were needed and capable of being widely recognized and emulated, to lend credibility to its proposition and support its diversification and integration processes?



Brand-led cultures

Brand-led cultures orient goals, roles, and behaviours to customer needs and expectations. In the case of Goodhopes generic expert positioning, for example, the on-brand behaviours (which became known as Triple F within the organization; see inset) were the need to be focused  we respond to the business environment by strategically defining performance goals in relation to our capabilities and competencies; flexible  we are built to change, which makes us adaptive and agile at all times; and fast  we move at the speed of business. (Be wary: translating intentions into actions  or words into desired behaviours  is difficult at the best of times but the task becomes that much more challenging when we work with different nationalities that interpret meaning through their unique cultural perspective. For example, the CEO at Goodhopes regional office in Jakarta informed us that there was no equivalent word in Bahasa Indonesia for fast!)

The objective of a brand strategy is to clearly articulate the differentiated value the organization is able to create, and for whom



Culture is learned behaviour, determined by what the organization prioritizes, the decisions it makes, and the actions it takes. During a repositioning and shift to a new identity, employees look to their leaders  starting with the line manager  to model the on-brand behaviours they are expected to emulate and reinforce at every customer touchpoint.



Organizations that embrace the connection between brand and culture intentionally reverse the flow and drive management from the bottom-up, encouraging participation and engaging employees to commit to change and the new behaviours. Of course, senior managers bear the final responsibility in providing structure, accountability, and motivation to overcome the typical ambivalence (and when mismanaged, resistance) to change.



If they use traditional fear-based motivation to ensure compliance with strategies and initiatives that are directed downwards, and expect change to happen everywhere but within themselves, the desired behaviours quickly unravel. Whats more, while culture may appear to be soft and fuzzy, it is shaped by hard execution-related factors that can be measured and influenced, such as structure, talent management systems, and incentives. For example, if a crucial on-brand behaviour is to act fast, or move at the speed of business, senior managers must remove all barriers  including structures, layers, and processes  that undercut its performance, and build performance metrics and an infrastructure that rewards the desired behaviour.



Using culture for change

How organizations behave on the inside is inseparable to how they are perceived on the outside. It is, therefore, essential to strategically use culture as a competitive advantage and accelerator of change. Yet without a proper understanding of what culture is, and a robust framework to define its existing and preferred characteristics  including what it must start, stop, do more and less of  it is not really possible to design and develop a more effective culture, nor calibrate it to key people structures, systems, processes, and incentives  let alone ensure it is brand-led. That is what I will discuss in my next article.



(This is the Part 1 of a 2-part article series. Michel Nugawela is the CEO, MND/Sri Lanka partner for Interbrand)
A three-wheel driver who was travelling got a nasty surprise when he was travelling along the Badulla Road in Nuwara-Eliya when a bullet of an air-rifle shot from a leisure park nearby struck him behind the ear. The mishap occurred at about 6.00 in the evening on Saturday (23). He was immediately rushed to the Nuwara-Eliya General Hospital.

The bullet had come from a air-rifle fired from Gregory Park by a person indulging in the sport for fun.However he had missed his intended target by some distance and the bullet had ended up hitting the unfortunate 3-wheel driver who had been approximately 30 metres away from the shooting range at the time. He was identified as Pradeep Warnasuriya.

Doctors said a minor surgery was needed to remove the bullet from the victim's neck.

After receiving a complaint about the incident OIC of the Nuwara-Eliya Police Nishantha Pradeep Kumara arrived on the scene and took the person in charge of the rifle range from where the bullet was shot into custody. (Shelton Hettiarachchi)
DFCC Bank organized a strategizing session recently at the Pegasus Reef Hotel, Wattala, where a cross-section of the banks senior staff engaged in interactive and participatory discussions as well as focused strategy discussions for the Banks development in 2018-2020.



The highlights were the sessions conducted by two of the countrys financial leaders  Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and former Deputy Governor, Dr. W. A. Wijewardena, which focused on the macroeconomic development plans of the Government, as well as the long-term economic and financial sector growth of the country.



Dr. Coomaraswamy, in his address, detailed the Governments new Vision 2025 for the Nation. The Central Bank Governor reiterated the Governments pledge of formulating a comprehensive economic strategy that will help raise per capita income to US$5,000 per year; create one million new jobs; increase foreign direct investment to US$5 billion per year; and double exports to US$20 billion per year. The main strategy to achieve this would be by making Sri Lanka a hub in Indian Ocean, and link it to external markets through Exports.



He went on to explain that a new trade policy, along with an original National Export Strategy, will give rise to a more liberal, simple, transparent and predictable trade regime. Furthermore, he said that he hopes these policy changes will attract more export-oriented FDI, improve trade logistics and boost firms abilities to compete in global markets.



Earlier during the day, Dr. W. A. Wijewardena, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank spoke about the Governments aim to improve Sri Lankas ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index by undertaking essential economic reforms while ensuring policies are predictable, consistent and transparent. The good news for the private sector is that Public Private Partnerships are to be used as a driver of economic growth.



Simultaneously there will be an emphasis on education and healthcare services across the country. The country as a whole will march towards a new dawn with the development of physical infrastructure facilities through the Megapolis project, economic corridors, improved transportation facilities, build-operate-transfer models and so on.



The key takeaway for DFCC Bank from both these sessions was that the Government has an ambitious vision to drive Sri Lanka to a high tech and digitalised economy while at the same time keeping focused on grassroots needs with plans to improve agriculture via productivity increases and by linking it to logistics networks.



These insightful sessions proved valuable for the DFCC Bank team during the workshop to focus on future strategy for growth, expansion and consolidation in the short-term as well as in the medium term.



At the end of the highly productive session, an ambitious plan for the growth of the bank was formulated which the senior management is fully committed to implementing across the Bank. The broad plans were presented to the Board of Directors during a special session at the end of the programme.
Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy - Governor, Central Bank with Royle Jansz, Chairman - DFCC Bank and Lakshman Silva - CEO, DFCC Bank

DFCC Bank organized a strategizing session on September 9th at the Pegasus Reef Hotel, Wattala, where a cross-section of the Banks senior staff engaged in interactive and participatory discussions as well as focused strategy discussions for the Banks development in 2018-2020.

The highlights were the sessions conducted by two of the countrys financial leaders  Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and former Deputy Governor, Dr. W. A. Wijewardena, which focused on the macroeconomic development plans of the Government, as well as the long-term economic and financial sector growth of the country.

Dr. Coomaraswamy, in his address, detailed the Governments new Vision 2025 for the Nation. The Central Bank Governor reiterated the Governments pledge of formulating a comprehensive economic strategy that will help raise per capita income to US$5,000 per year; create one million new jobs; increase foreign direct investment to US$5 billion per year; and double exports to US$20 billion per year. The main strategy to achieve this would be by making Sri Lanka a hub in Indian Ocean, and link it to external markets through Exports.

Dr. Coomaraswamy addressing the gathering

He went on to explain that a new trade policy, along with an original National Export Strategy, will give rise to a more liberal, simple, transparent and predictable trade regime. Furthermore, he said that he hopes these policy changes will attract more export-oriented FDI, improve trade logistics and boost firms abilities to compete in global markets.

Earlier during the day, Dr. W. A. Wijewardena, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank spoke about the Governments aim to improve Sri Lankas ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index by undertaking essential economic reforms while ensuring policies are predictable, consistent and transparent. The good news for the private sector is that Public Private Partnerships are to be used as a driver of economic growth.

Simultaneously there will be an emphasis on education and healthcare services across the country. The country as a whole will march towards a new dawn with the development of physical infrastructure facilities through the Megapolis project, economic corridors, improved transportation facilities, build-operate-transfer models and so on.

The key take away for DFCC Bank from both these sessions was that the Government has an ambitious vision to drive Sri Lanka to a high tech and digitalised economy while at the same time keeping focused on grassroots needs with plans to improve agriculture via productivity increases and by linking it to logistics networks.

Former Governor, Mr. Wijewardhana, addressing the gathering

These insightful sessions proved valuable for the DFCC Bank team during the workshop to focus on future strategy for growth, expansion and consolidation in the short-term as well as in the medium term.

At the end of the highly productive session, an ambitious plan for the growth of the Bank was formulated which the senior management is fully committed to implementing across the Bank. The broad plans were presented to the Board of Directors during a special session at the end of the programme.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce invites Sri Lankan ICT firms to join the Chambers ICT Gateway Project, an initiative by the countrys premier chamber to help local firms benefit from the thriving ICT industry in Norway.



The move, launched under the Sri Lanka Norway Matchmaking Programme, which has already brought down 500 Norwegian firms, including 50 ICT firms to partner with Lankan firms, is looking to expand its reach and scope, to enable local ICT firms join the international value chain.



The ICT Gateway Project was launched by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Fair Deal AS Norway, who help find Norwegian ICT firms interested in partnering with Lankan counterparts to serve the increasing demand for ICT products from within Norway, EU and the US market.

The Government of Norway is a steady and large-scale buyer of technologies and its spending on ICT development is estimated at just under US$ 2 billion per annum.



Better payment and e-commerce solutions are also in demand for omnichannel retail and other organizations, whilst B2B and B2C consumers in the Nordic market are moving their online shopping from their PC to their phone, thus creating opportunities for ICT firms.



U.S. security vendors with niche products or unusual technologies or capabilities are also considering Norway and the Nordic region, which shows promise for the Norwegian ICT sector.



Sri Lankan firms who join with the ICT Gateway Project of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will be able to meet with the Norwegian ICT firms, visit Norway and also listed under a database of ICT firms, which the chamber will develop for future reference.
From left: Tea Board Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda delivering keynote address. From left: The Planters Association of Ceylon Secretary General Malin Goonetileke, Chairman Sunil Poholiyadde and Deputy Chairman A.L.W. Goonewardena

Pic by Samantha Perera

By Chandeepa Wettasinghe

With the ban of the weed killer glyphosate without scientific evidence, some planters have started using alternative chemicals, running the risk of Ceylon Tea exports becoming banned in overseas markets, according to Ceylon Tea Board Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda.



Many plantation owners have started using alternatives which are not authorized. These are now coming up in various countries. Sooner or later, this is going to lead to importing countries putting restrictions on Sri Lankan tea exports, he said.



According to him, there were detections of excessive residue of such alternative, unauthorized chemicals in Ceylon Tea exports to Germany and Japan last month.



Its a very serious problem, but I cannot wake up this government to think seriously about it. Goodness knows, we have tried, he said.



Glyphosate was banned in 2015 through a Presidential Order, following the lobbying of Presidential Advisor, and MP Athuraliye Rathana Thero, who blamed the chemical for causing the chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in the North Central and Uva Provinces.



Who should have taken that decision? We have a Registrar of Pesticides; we have a Fertilizer Secretariat; we have a Medical Research Institute and we have a Tea Research Institute, (but) nobody was consulted. Somebody woke up in the morning and said Ooh, lets ban Glyphosate. And till this day, theres nobody accountable for that decision, Pethiyagoda said.



He noted how Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake has submitted three proposals to reverse the ban to no avail, and that no one is able to say exactly why the chemical was banned.

Numerous scientists, agriculturalists and agricultural economists have pointed out that there is no scientific reasoning behind the ban.



The ban has caused tea production costs to skyrocket, with planters having to resort to manual labour. However, Pethiyagoda said that the complaining has been minimal over the past year only because tea prices have hit record levels.



He noted that the Tea Research Institute could provide an alternative, but the politicians are not providing the institute with enough funding for such action.

Government shouldnt meddle with RPCs: Pethiyagoda



The government should not interfere in the operations of the Regional Plantation Companies, according to the countrys tea regulator.



RPCs have become a whipping boy for politicians. You rarely hear a kind word said about you from amongst politicians at every level. The problem that you have is that youre leaseholders and you therefore are in some way beholden to government for the continuation of your business. Thats a very unfair model and its sad that no one really questions it, he said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last month said the State should increase its scrutiny into RPCs.



Dilmah Group Chairman Merrill Fernando opposed further State control, similar to Pethiyagodas sentiments.



The State is a golden shareholder in RPCs, under the 50-year lease of tea estates given to RPCs 1992, which saw unprofitable state-owned tea operations become profitable under the RPCs. Three of the 23 RPCs are still state-owned.



Pethiyagoda expressed his surprise and admiration towards RPCs for replanting and maintaining investments in the plantations, since in similar circumstances of leasing a house, the tenant does not paint or maintain the house, leaving such necessities in the hands of the landlord.



Responding to the 2017 budget decision to reduce the land extent leased to each RPC, Pethiyagoda said that even the current land under the management of RPCs isnt large.



We often hear the RPCs are too big, but the average size is just 3,500 hectares, which is an area of 7 by 5 kilometre rectangle, is certainly not an excessive amount of land to manage. I dont think further fragmentation is justified, he said.



Pethiyagoda also criticized the government for not letting the RPCs harvest the timber from forestry plantations they had cultivated, which discourages diversity in plantation lands.

Points out need to change feudal status of estate worker



Regional Plantation Companies must strive to make their employees full citizens of Sri Lanka with freedom, safety and urban integration, compared to their current feudal serf status, Pethiyagoda said.

The thing we have failed to give your employees and their families is freedom. The plantation workers remain yet to become full citizensin the meaningful sense of citizenshipof Sri Lanka, he said.



He stressed that this is not a fault of the RPCs, but a colonial legacy, which neither the politicians nor trade unions want to correct, since oppressed plantation workers are easy to manipulate to gain votes.

It pays unions to have members. It pays unions to have fiefs. And it pays politicians to have workers who vote on block with unions aligned with the government of the time, Pethiyagoda said.



He noted that urbanization of workers is the solution, since minimally educated workers living in their workplace is an anomaly in the modern age.



He said that over the past 60 years, despite the increase in population in the plantation sector, the area inhabited has remained static, with the same slum towns, where alcoholism, the rape of girls below the age of 10 and illegal abortions are commonplace.



The model we have today will not persist. Its better to make that transition peacefully and attract people to work in the estates from a diversity of backgrounds, instead of indentured labour which we inherited from our colonial masters. It cannot happen overnight, but I think it has to happen at some point, he said.



Pethiyagoda said that estate workers cannot save to buy a piece of land to build a house for their children, partly due to wastage of money in activities like alcoholism, and partly due to the unavailability of land.



If you cant save to buy a piece of land, to build a small house, what is there to leave for your children? They remain eternal tenants, like the serfs of the 19th century. They cannot become full citizens, unless theres an opportunity to own land. Im not saying the land must come from your estates. Im saying we need to think of expanding townships in the plantation areas, he said.



He noted that even with higher wages, younger generations are not willing to suffer such a fate, and are moving out of plantation economies into urban areas, costing RPCs talent.
This article was prompted by the news item published in the DM of September 22 under the headline: GMOA Claims Strike a Success.



The yard stick used by government doctors or the GMOA to gauge the success of Thursdays 24-hour countrywide strike action or work stoppage appears to be the degree of misery, agony and inconvenience inflicted on helpless patients, who queue up at government hospitals from the break of dawn seeking treatment and relief for their ailments, having to return home, most of them in remote villages, disappointed, dejected and depressed, often getting back long after dusk with little or no money to afford another trip to hospital.



How could anybody, leave alone the GMOA and its learned members,who have sworn the Hippocratic Oath could in their right minds measure the success of their regular and senseless trade union action by how much the people are made to suffer using SAITM as the whipping post. The moot question being asked is where were these now vociferous doctors hiding and why were they keeping their big mouths shut when the Rajapaksa regime helped give birth to the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in 2008 and when in 2013 during former President Mahinda Rajapaksas second term in office, the University Grants Commission bestowed on SAITM the right to award degrees. Not only did the Rajapaksa regime confer scholarships to students to follow the degree course at SAITM but also granted it a Rs.600 million loan from State banks. The thunderous silence then and the street protests, pickets and work stoppages being carried out now underscore the fact that the GMOA is only attempting to fulfil its political agendas and ulterior motives.



The news item also quotes Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin as saying that the work stoppage by the teachers in the protest against SAITM and to highlight the danger posed to the countrys free education system was a success. Once again it is necessary to ask Mr. Stalin whether he too measures the success of the CTU action by the level of disruption caused to academic activities and holding helpless students to ransom by some unscrupulous teachers and principals falling ill or sick.



Where were you Mr. Stalin when SAITM was launched nine years ago, nurtured and allowed to grow to what it is today?



Mr. Stalin must be reminded that free education had lost its flavour with the mushrooming of private tuition classes in every nook and corner of Sri Lanka charging high fees from the thousands of students who attend classes. If free education needs to be protected, then why not protest against these private tuition classes which are spreading across this country on such a large scale?



The other day two boys and two girls entered a bus on the 138 route and claiming to be students of the Jayawardenepura campus began haranguing SAITM and saying that free education was on the verge of being destroyed and that they were on a campaign to safeguard and protect it. Then they went round with tills collecting money saying it was needed for the court cases to be filed against SAITM. The GMOA should not mislead innocent students and drag them out into the streets to be tear-gassed, water-cannoned and baton-charged. If it is a responsible trade union,the GMOA should encourage them to return to their classes instead of wasting their time and the taxpayers money.



In case there are shortcomings in the quality of medical education at SAITM, the GMOA should discuss these matters with the government and the other stakeholders -- the Sri Lanka Medical Council, SAITM, its students and their parents -- with an attitude of understanding, humility and openness instead of an attitude of arrogance and condescension so that at the final count there are only winners.

GMOA should not mislead students and drag them out into the streets to be tear-gassed, water-cannoned and baton-charged. If it is a responsible trade union,the GMOA should encourage these students to return to their classes instead of wasting their time and the taxpayers money



In the meanwhile, the government too should act proactively in resolving this contentious issue without vacillating or procrastinating. One positive step is the news that the Government had finalised the long-awaited minimum standards for medical education and would present it in Parliament after gazetting it within three weeks.

Whatever the cause or reason for the agitation there is nothing so important as to justify the GMOA resorting to trade union action and wounding the wounded who

seek healing.
New Delhi, (Hindustan Times), 23, Sept. 2017 - India has stepped up security along its largely porous eastern border with Bangladesh and is using chilli and stun grenades to block the entry of Rohingya Muslims fleeing from violence in their homeland of Myanmar, officials said on Friday.



Prime Minister Narendra Modis government is growing increasingly hostile towards the Rohingya in India, with Home Minister Rajnath Singh calling on Thursday for their deportation as illegal migrants.

Border forces, which wants to deport around 40,000 Rohingya already living in the country, citing security risks, have been authorised to use rude and crude methods to stop any infiltration attempts.

We dont want to cause any serious injury or arrest them, but we wont tolerate Rohingya on Indian soil, said a senior official with the Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi.



Were using grenades containing chilli spray to stop hundreds of Rohingyas trying to enter India ... the situation is tense, added the official, who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to media.



More than 420,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since Aug. 25, when a co-ordinated attack by Rohingya insurgents on Myanmar security forces triggered a counteroffensive, killing at least 400 people, mainly militants.
The International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL) which celebrates its 62 years anniversary this year will hold its 51st Annual General Meeting and the anniversary celebrations at the Hotel Galadari, Colombo on September 29.



Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and The Maldives will grace the event as the Chief Guest while Una McCauley, the UN Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Sri Lanka will attend the Annual General Meeting as the Guest of Honour.



Presidential Secretary Austin Fernando will also grace the AGM as a guest of honour and the Anniversary celebrations which will be held at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Galadari.

This year, the five-time Chairman of the ICCSL Keerthi Gunawardane will step down as the Chairman. Dinesh Weerakkody will take over the reigns of the esteemed organisation this year as the new Chairman.



Weerakkody, an alumnus of the University of Leicester United Kingdom, is an Advisor to the National Policies and Economic Affairs Ministry and also the Chairman of the National Human Resource Development Council of Sri Lanka. Previously, he held positions in the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, DFCC Bank and GlaxoSmithKline Sri Lanka.



The ICCSL is the domestic chapter of Paris based international world business organization, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). It is also the local chapter of the ICC which holds the sole authority to issue ATA Carnet.



The international organisation has, over the years, expanded its roots in 130 countries with a membership drive of over 6.5 million. Trade facilitation, export and import and cross border issues pertaining to goods transport are some of the areas addressed by the ICC.
From left: Skills Development and Vocational Training Ministry Secretary P. Ranepura, KOICA Sri Lanka Office Country Director Lee Dong Ku and External Resources Department Director General Priyantha Rathnayake at the agreement signing

Ocean University of Sri Lanka, the first ever state university for maritime and ocean sciences is going to be upgraded under the financial and technical assistance by the Republic of Korea.

A grant of US$2.5 million will be made by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to formulate the master plan for upgrading Ocean University and build the capacities of the academics of the university.



The agreement between the two countries for the project was signed by KOICA Sri Lanka Office Country Director Lee Dong Ku, Skills Development and Vocational Training Ministry Secretary P. Ranepura and External Resources Department Director General Priyantha Rathnayake. The Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Chandima Weerakkody also attended

the event.



As an island nation in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is blessed with many oceanic resources such as fish and marine species, beautiful beaches, minerals, and petroleum. Currently, the country owns 517,000 square-kilometres of exclusive economic zone and is in the process of expanding

its boundaries.



By addressing the need for a specialized higher educational institute for maritime and ocean sciences, the Government of Sri Lanka established the Ocean University in 2015 replacing the National Institute of Fisheries Nautical Engineering (NIFNE) and sought the financial and technical assistance from the Republic of Korea, one of the leading economies in the world that has well developed blue economy, to upgrade the capacities of the University. In response to Sri Lanka governments request, KOICA extensively analyzed various factors such as status and development potential of oceanic industries and their contribution to the national economy, their forward and backward linkages, the stakeholders interests and the future market expansion as a whole in several feasibility studies, and then prioritized the areas for principal support in accordance with Sri Lankan governments policies for economic growth, employment creation and increasing the foreign

exchange earnings.



This project includes a master plan for upgrading Ocean University and capacity building programme for academics and government officials of Sri Lanka. Korean experts will provide the technical expertise for the master plan development process which includes formulating the academic development road map, developing curriculum for suggested academic programmes, and determine equipment plan coupled with the concept drawing for the university. Further, post graduate study opportunities for the academic staff and short term training programmes for government official will be provided under the capacity building programme.
Rajitha Abeygunasekara - Assistant Manager Relocations & Global Mobility, Mukesh Kailash - Sri Lanka Business Manager, Santa Fe India & South Asia, Ashker Laffir - Director at Ocean Freight & EFL Relocation, Vishal Agarwal - Director Business Development, Santa Fe India & South Asia, Jagath Pathirana - Director/CEO EFL, Jude C Jayasinghe - Senior Manager - Head of EFL Relocations & Global Mobility Services &Rasanga Menuwan - Assistant Manager Relocations & Global Mobility.

Pioneering freight and logistics provider EFL ( Expo lanka Freight) has officially partnered with global family moving giant Santa Fe Relocation Services.

Announcing the agreement, EFL said the company will has been appointed the sole agent of Santa Fe in Sri Lanka going forward, further strengthening its commitment to developing its expertise in global mobility and relocation solutions.

Through this partnership, EFL will be able to assist clients across Santa Fes robust international network with a host of relocation services. the company said. EFL relocations goes beyond moving. Its secondary services include support for Home search, school search, Visa assistance and Settlein services.

For well over a year now, we have been helping Sri Lankans and Expats relocate, both within and out of the island. Our services cover the entire gamut of moving  from packing to disassembling and re-assembling furniture, shipping and logistics to ensure hassle free solutions for all customers. Through our partnership with Santa Fe, EFL will be better positioned to serve anyone wishing to relocate to any corner of the world, EFL Managing Director Saif Yusoof said.

The company also takes pride in its capacity to transport fragile, high-value items such as fine art, exhibits, automobiles and other goods of a sensitive nature including pet relocations. We have spent the last 12 months fine tuning every aspect of this cumbersome process; rest assured, your all-important goods will be handled with the utmost care, said Yusoof.

Vishal Agarwal - Director Business Development, Santa Fe India & South Asia & Jagath Pathirana - Director / CEO EFL

To date, the company has handled over 250 shipments the world over ranging from small shipments to large scale infrastructure mobilizations.

Santa Fe Regional Director Vishal Agrwal said the UK-based company is keen to work with EFL in exploring new opportunities in the island nation.

Were excited to be moving into Sri Lanka with a company as robust as EFL as a partner. Their experience and in-depth knowledge of the local market, coupled with our global expertise, will mean customers looking to move in and out of Sri Lanka for employment or educational or any other opportunity can be assured that all their relocation needs will be met to the last detail, he said.

EFL is a member of Expo lanka PLC based in Sri Lanka and now a part of the larger SG Holdings Group, a leading logistics group in Japan. The company has thrived on overcoming the challenges of operating in limited logistic infrastructure markets, taking its operations to 18 countries, 58 offices and 2000 staff around the world. Expansions in Africa, Middle East and the US have broadened the companys reach to make EFL a truly global name.

Santa Fe Relocation Services provides relocation services from 96 offices in 47 countries. Services includes transportation, relocation services, logistics and storage. Since its establishment in 1892, Interdean has relocated over one million people across the globe.

Captions (from left):
Stanislav Petrov might not have had anything extraordinary in his life other than for those few minutes in which he possibly saved the entire mankind from nuclear war. We tend to believe that such a feat is a prerogative of political leaders, statesmen, top military officials or visionaries. But we are wrong.



Petrov was just a Lieutenant Colonel in the Soviet Army manning one of the numerous missile attack early warning stations; this one South of Moscow during the height of Cold War. On the night of September 26, 1983, he was on duty and an alarm started ringing, indicating that an intercontinental ballistic missile has been launched by the US against USSR; he had been trained to alert instantaneously his military superiors who in turn would inform the Top Leadership who would, in all likelihood, order retaliatory nuclear missile attacks on their arch enemy US or its Western Allies.

Yet, Stanislav was a tempered, mature man to realize that the Soviet satellite spying on the US territory could commit errors specially when dusk fell on the missile fields in the US, leading the computers to come to wrong calculations; yet on the monitor it came as a high reliability warning of a launch which heightened the tension he and his team might have felt. Relying on his gut feeling, he informed his superior that although there was an alarm it was probably false. This gut feeling told him that the US would not confine an attack to a single missile if it were intending to attack the Soviets; then the sirens blurted and signaled five launches, but still he informed his superiors over the phone that it was a false alarm.



Afterwards, it was confirmed that had he mechanically conveyed up the alarms as reliable, as he was trained and on orders to do, the top leadership was bound to launch reprisal missiles within minutes, with no time for further verification and under the cold war tension would have meant, probably the Third World War and possibly the extermination of human race from this green planet.



The reason for the false alarm was sunlight reflected on clouds at dusk creating an illusion to the satellite.



Petrov died on May 19 this year, aged 77, his death hardly acknowledged by the media; Western media have at times called him the man who saved the world. When I read his story on the Washington Post recently, I could not help but be amazed by the mature, tempered, instinctive and far-sighted vision of an ordinary soldier, in an extraordinary situation, in ensuring the safety, not only of his motherland but of all mankind. In his mind he was not only aware of the possible technical glitches that might raise alarm, but was wise enough to have a gut feeling that the US was not in hands of leaders who would attack without reason. The judgment of a moderate on one side of the frontline about the restraint of moderates on the opposing side.



Although Petrov was positioned in a chain of command where he did not have the luxury of discretion on nuclear threats to USSR but simply to convey threats to superiors, with whom, was reposed the discretion of reprisals, he did exercise his common sense. This is a quality that is sadly lacking in many national as well as international leaders of present, specially at a time the utter irresponsible and actually fanatic actions by the North Korean leaders as well as highly incendiary and provocative rhetoric by the US President, seem to be flirting with a danger; a danger that the whole of mankind could well do without.



The same applies to the national leadership; few and far between are leaders who could project their vision to long-term prospects of the nation, act with restraint, both verbally and in action, take decisions based on reasoned moderate judgment for the benefit of the larger sections of society and with reliable intuitive ability as to what should be done. Cold sober, restrained and mature in decision-making. In Petrovs case, he called his decision not to report, a gut feeling.



If Petrov were of a maniacal patriotic mindset, which in effect is a misconceived, flawed and dangerous trait, especially among politicians, leaders and military men, the obvious reaction would have been to urge the military leadership to strike back. But he was wise; did not panic; argued with himself, probably in a matter of seconds or minutes the most, that the US would not confine such an attack to one missile; when five was signaled he still believed that it was a hoax and did not urge the superiors to take retaliatory action.

I wish Petrov was a Sri Lankan and a leader, at that.



The North-South divide in our land might seem a miniature figure compared to the Cold War divide between USSR and USA with their allies all entangled in cold war power games, flirting with total annihilation of mankind; yet the distrust, suspicion and coldness with which the leaders eye each other is no less intense. The faintest of remark, the slightest slip of the tongue from the other side seem to inflame the opponents in to racially-motivated heated fury. The Sinhala side does not want the Northern Tamils to sing the national anthem in their own language; they object to the swathes of lands occupied by the military almost a decade after the war, being released to the Tamil civilians; they are hell-bent on not releasing the Tamil youth detained under the PTA. In short, everything that happens in the North arouses suspicion in the South.

We desperately need leaders who would not use the emotional urge of the masses in areas of religion, race and caste

The faintest of remark, the slightest slip of the tongue from the other side seem to inflame the opponents into racially-motivated heated fury

Everything that happens in the North arouses suspicion in the South



The vice versa holds true with the Northerners. They too are of a mentality that everything done by the Southerners are aimed at depriving them of their right to peaceful living; they believe or tend to declare that the Sri Lankan armed forces have committed war crimes surpassing those of Slobodan Milosevic. They choose to believe that they could guarantee the rights of the Tamils only by pursuing a policy of suspicion and aggression towards the Sinhala majority.



The opportunity, the conclusion of the war offered to both parties to get their relations back on track, is rapidly evaporating into thin sky. Looms large the specter of perpetual communal hatred and division. Luckily, both sides are not in possession of missiles, nuclear or otherwise.



If they did, it is very unlikely we would have men like Petrov manning our alert stations on either side; with us are people who would jump to ring alarm bells and provoke reprisals. Wise counsel, moderate insight on national issues as well as objective and rational thinking are things of the past or of foreign origin.



We, as a nation, are in dire need of moderates, people not given to base emotions, impassioned, sober and not in polarised extremes in terms of political, racial, religious lines; those who would be quick not to point out fault lines but potential for compromise; not of provocative conduct but of pacifist tendencies; not hasty to point out the speck in the others eye while having a log in his. Yet, it is exactly the opposite that we have.

Irrational, extremist, polarised and intolerant. From the day we enacted Sinhala only and from the time the Tamil politicians sported Eelam, we have been having our fingers on the hair trigger that could launch destructive forces, that eventually would devour us all, en masse!



We desperately need, on the one hand, leaders who would not use the emotional urge of the masses in areas of religion, race and caste, but act as buffers against those; on the other we need citizens who would not play to the tune of those leaders who ignite base emotions.



I wish Petrov was a Sri Lankan, alive and in leadership! Yet he is not. But there is a silver lining in the equation. We do not have nuclear missiles.



To have them you have to be a powerful, undivided and an efficient nation.

So, a Petrov will not be missed that badly, after all!
BERLIN AFP Sept24, 2017

Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to cruise to victory in elections Sunday but also to face the breakthrough into parliament of hard-right populists for the first time in Germanys post-war history.

Voting began at 0600 GMT in Europes biggest economy and exit polls are announced at 1600 GMT, with few expecting surprises given Merkels double-digit poll lead.



For months, the woman now dubbed the eternal chancellor has been the favourite over her centre-left rival Martin Schulz and looked set to win another term and match the 16-year reign of her mentor Helmut Kohl. To many in the West, a fourth Merkel victory will come as a relief in a turbulent world, with hopes she will serve as a calm-headed counterweight to US President Donald Trump and Russias Vladimir Putin and as the key EU ally to reformist French President Emmanuel Macron.
Democracy is new to Myanmar, having been restored fully only in November 2015

Constitution allows the military or Tatmadaw 25% of the seats in the national legislature

Rohingya rebel outfits engaged the army in 1989, 1990, 1991, 2002 and well beyond that up to August 2017

If the Aung San Suu Kyi government in Myanmar is sticking to its defiant stand on the Rohingya issue despite worldwide condemnation of its atrocities against the Rohingyas, it is because her government is backed by the powerful Myanmar armed forces collectively called Tatmadaw.



While State Counsellor (Prime Minister) Aung San Suu Kyi has the support of the Burmese Buddhist majority, the backing of the military is critically important given the political history of Myanmar.



Democracy is new to Myanmar, having been restored fully only in November 2015, after 53 years of direct and indirect military rule. Democracy is in danger of being replaced by military rule at any time, going by past experience. Therefore, the support of the military is more important than the support of the majority of the population.

A section of Rohingyan refugees

Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) swept the November 2015 general elections, and yet, it is not in full charge of the government. This is because of the 2008 constitution which has given the military or Tatmadaw 25% of the seats in the national legislature and a majority (six out of eleven members) in the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC).



The SDSC not only regulates the armed forces and the police, but also the General Administration of the country from the central government to the lowly townships in all parts of the country.



Pre-dates Independence

The military entered Myanmars political scene long before it entered in Pakistan or Bangladesh; had stayed in power from 1962 to 2015; and authored the countrys present constitution which gives it an entrenched and decisive role in the governance of the country even if the government is election-based.



Aung San, the leader of the independence movement of Burma (later renamed Myanmar) had fought the British militarily with his Burma National Army (BNA). One of Aung Sans younger colleagues in the BNA was Ne Win, who, as Commander of independent Burmas Army, took over the country through a coup in 1962.



The Army consolidated itself in Independent Burma because it had to conduct military operations right from Day 1 with the Karen rebels in the North and Communists in the South. The Rohingya Muslims in the North West wanted to secede and join Pakistan, the East Wing of which shared a border with the Rohingya- dominated Arakan or Rakhine area. The Rohingya issue was acute that much of Rakhine was in the hands of the Rohingya rebels called Mujahids.



Multiple rebellions coupled with problems caused by squabbling Burmese Buddhist politicians forced Army Chief Gen. Ne Win to form a caretaker government in 1958. But continued squabbling and the civilian governments bid to accommodate non-Burmese Buddhist ethnic groups made Gen. Ne Win stage a coup in 1962. In 1963, he banned the Rohingya Independence Force (RIF).



In 1974, under a new constitution, Ne Win substituted serving army officers in government by retired military officers as a concession to civilians. However, in 1977, the Armys Operation Dragon King against the RPF led to 200,000 Rohingyas fleeing to Bangladesh, the new Bengali- speaking Muslim state in the North West.



The Rohingya rebel outfits engaged the army in 1989, 1990, 1991, 2002 and well beyond that up to August 2017. As a result of heavy military retaliation every time, thousands of Rohingya civilians would flee to Bangladesh frequently.

In 1981, Gen. (retd) Ne Win relinquished power, handing it over to another retired General. The new military-backed government brought about a citizenship law which recognized 135 communities in Myanmar as indigenous and these were given citizenship rights. But the Rohingyas were declared illegal immigrants and denied citizenship..



In 1986, the Rohingya movement became explicitly Islamic with the ascendency of the Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front (ARIF). In that situation in 1989, military ruler Gen. Saw Maung formed the powerful State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and imposed Martial Law. To reinforce Burmese nationalism, Burma was renamed Myanmar.



Democracy Movement

Even as the Rohingyas, Karens, Shans and Kachins were taking on the army in the North, a powerful pro-democracy movement was taking roots in South Myanmar, led by Aung Sans daughter Aung San Suu Kyi.



Gen.Saw Maung put her under House Arrest, to which she was subjected several times by subsequent military rulers till 2015.



In 1992, Gen.Saw Maung was replaced by Gen.Than Shwe. He released Suu Kyi in 1995 and accepted back Rohingyas who had fled to Bangladesh. In 1997, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was renamed State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Improved conditions in Myanmar led to its admission into ASEAN in 1997.



Realizing the importance of having political peace to be a purposeful member of ASEAN, the military junta released Suu Kyi. In 2003, the new military ruler Gen. Khin Nayunt proposed a new democratic constitution with safeguards for the military or Tatmadaw.



But this did not prevent Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) from pressing for real democracy or the Rohingyas from fighting for justice. Gen. Khin Nyunt put Suu Kyi under house arrest. In 2009, military operations against the Rohingyas forced the thousands to flee to Thailand and Indonesia.

Surprisingly, Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi offered no solace to the Rohingyas as she joined the military in declaring them as illegal Bengali immigrants



In 2010, the junta held elections, and in the rigged poll, the military-backed Unity, Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was declared winner. But paradoxically, the junta released Suu Kyi.



In 2012, the new military ruler retired Gen.Thein Sein held elections which Suu Kyis NLD swept. However, trouble erupted again in Rakhine State and 90,000 Rohingyas were displaced.



Surprisingly, Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi offered no solace to the Rohingyas as she joined the military in declaring them as illegal Bengali immigrants and as a security threat to Myanmar. Real power still in the hands of the military headed by President Thein Sein.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing with Aung sanSuu Kyi



In 2015, Suu Kyi swept the polls and formed a government. An NLD colleague, Htin Khyaw, became the first civilian President in 53 years. However, the military retained real power by securing decisive control over parliament with 25% reservation; and over the administration through majority membership in the NDSC.



Up until today, the relationship between State Counsellor (Prime Minister) Suu Kyi and the military, has been smooth because she accepts the supremacy of the latter.



This is the reason why all powers, both regional and world, including the US, are taking the military seriously and see that its interests are protected. When the head of the Myanmar armed forces, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, visited New Delhi in July this year, he was given a red carpet welcome and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a well publicized meeting with him.



It is therefore unlikely that Suu Kyi will be proceeded against by the international community so long as she is backed by the military.
We tell ourselves stories in order to live, and probably the biggest story we have ever told ourselves is The scientific story and we always think of science as this ultimate truth, but science is just a story.



That was Lynne McTaggart, the American investigative journalist and author of The Fieldquoting Joan Didion during an interview with Movie Director Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura, Liar Liar etc) for his 2010 documentary I am in which he attempts to figure out what is wrong with this world and what we can do about it.

As I finished watching that excellent documentary in Philadelphia in 2012, my mind went back 11 years to 2001, 9/11, anthrax and a frosty December day in Flint, Michigan. On that day, Dr. Kim ThetOo, a doctor from Burma (present Myanmar), proved the truth of McTaggarts statement to me. Much in the news today because of the Rohingya massacres, the protracted pogrom by Burmese Buddhists against Muslims over decades in the longest ongoing conflict in the world went completely under our radar.

Dr. Kim lived through that, and, as a Buddhist and humanist, didnt care what race, cast or creed he treated. This is his story my friends, and I share this with the hope that you will smile, as I did, so many years ago.



I had taken a Greyhound from Ann Arbor to Flint to meet my Theravada Buddhist friends Ken and Visakha Kawasaki to help them set up the Buddhist Relief Mission and Burma Relief Fund websites when I met Dr. Kim for the first time.



Having joined the 8888 uprising in former Burma, he fled the Junta in 1990 just months before graduation. He lived the next 11 years in the jungles along the Thai-Burma border. The Kawasakis had somehow managed to get him and his family out of there and over to America. He had arrived in Flint just a few months before my visit. As you would find out he was already accomplished in many ways  including driving on American highways.



We talked, chuckling over the reason why only Sri Lankan and Burmese people eat rice with the tips of their fingers, clucking in disgust at the way Therawada ritual had almost killed off Therawada practice in our two countries, skimming, inevitably, through various conflicts across the world from Peru to the Philippines. Hesitantly, I also asked him about his experiences in Burma. In response, he described an interview with a breathless youth from the local newspaper in Flint. So vivid and detailed was his description of it that I felt almost as if I were there, so I am reproducing my notes from the perspective of a fly-on-the-wall.



Breathless Young Thang (BYT):You were exiled before graduation.



Doctor Kim ThetOo:(smiles) Yes. I graduated in the jungle.



BYT: What?



Kim: There was no one else in the jungle with medical experience. Just me. My practice stretched 1000 miles. I tended thousands of Burmese homeless. Many sick. Burmese and Thai authorities were hounding and pounding them. Do you know any American doctor with such a practice?



BYT:(blinks) erno, I guess not.. erwe had some of that terror during 9/11.



Kim:Yes. I am sad. Many people died without knowing why.



BYT:Nothing can compare to that.



Kim: (mildly) There are situations that compare.



BYT: (looks blankly at Kim)



Kim:You experienced 9/11 once, I dealt with it five or six times a year for 11 years.



BYT: (Gapes) huh?



Kim: (smiles) I was joking.



BYT: (relief)



Kim:Definitely it wasnt more than three times a year.



Breathless young Thang wisely decides to change tack.



BYT:There has been much worry in the USA about Anthrax.



Kim:Yes, I feel sorry for those medical people. They are in great fear.



BYT:I think, surely, anybody would be terrified?



Kim:That depends.



BYT:(laughs) You arent?



Kim:In the jungle, I did not have those protective suits I saw the doctors wearing on TV. Jungle doctors cannot afford fear.



At a loss for words, BYT stops. She smiles weakly around the room,wishing she were somewhere else. But she had this darned interview to do. She steels herself, takes a deep breath and asks the next question.



BYT:(carefully) Youyou mean you treated anthrax cases in the jungles?



Kim:Of course.



BYT: Without protection?



Kim:Yes.



BYT: (Incredulous) Couldnt have been many cases or you would not be here.



Kim:(shrugs) You are right. I am lucky. I did not treat more than four or five a month.

Poor BYT. She just gave up. Wanting an interview she walked into a reality show. Not just any old reality TV but something that literally and figuratively broadsided everything she had ever been taught about life and science. If I had been there, I would have seen Dr. Kim watch, with deep concern, as she walked a bit unsteadily out the door and I would have heard him mumble, She doesnt knowshe cannot know she will never know.



He drove me back from Flint to Ann Arbor. He was studying to get a licence to practise in America and I asked him how that was going. He said it was tough.



Language? I queried. He shook his head.



No. My problem is trying to find the answers they expect from me.



What do you mean?



They ask these various questions you know. Like about some procedure maybe say like setting broken bones.



So?



So, yes he said, swishing past a few vehicles Asian style.



 there is a correct answer in medical science but I also discovered about 50 other far better methods. But medical science has never heard of those. Because medical science did not have to practise medicine in a bamboo hut with no drugs, no nurses, no equipment. The only thing I had was my will to somehow cure the patient. But American medical exams do not know how to ask about such things so it is difficult for me.

Therawada ritual had almost killed off Therawada practice in our two countries

In people who see beyond their noses and feel beyond their hearts, prove that science is just a story

We were silent for a couple of highway miles and then Dr. Kim said something that changed my view of science forever.



I learned something in the jungle. Desperate desire to heal is a far better weapon against disease than science.



Something clicked on in me at that moment that has never been un-clicked. It is this: Science, despite how big a story it is, despite its laudable successes, is a very limited tool, and, because of its structure, it can never be anything more than a limited tool. More seriously though, I realized that it was also a limiting tool.



Dr.Kim I said. I really dont know if I should sympathize with you or be jealous of you.

Neither. I am human. And, humans do what they must, not only what they can.I not only had to provide medicine, but also food and shelter since my patients did not have those either.No point giving them any sort of medicine if they died of starvation or exposure. My hospital hut was also a hostel and a hotel. I cooked. I cleaned. I doctored. We ate this really heavy rice because we never knew when our next meal was going to be.



As we barrelled down that American highway I thought to myself that at that very moment, similar miracles were probably happening in the north of Sri Lanka. That thought, contrarily, served only to depress me.So I thought about his family instead.

Warm, inviting and never out of a hot meal for the hungry because Asian hospitality is always ready for the uninvited guest. He had three lovely daughters. One was around 12 and the others around five or six years of age. That got me thinking that he must have got married while still a student in Burma and I asked him about it. He said in his usual quiet voice, We have been married eight years now. We met in the jungle.



I glanced up sharply but he had anticipated my question My oldest was two and dying of diarrhoea when her mother brought her to me. She didnt expect the child to live. Neither did I. I fought for her life but it was hopeless. I was exhausted. I slept. The mother disappeared in the night thinking the child would be dead by morning. But she survived. Somehow she survived. Not because of me. Not because of medicine. She is my daughter now. She rode to America on my back.



I smiled then. I am still smiling. Ten such and this earth will be a worthwhile place to inhabit. In the darkest places on this planet, where the worst qualities of human beings are seen, there, I firmly believe, are to be found the finest as well.



In people who see beyond their noses. Who feel beyond their hearts. Who prove that science is just a story. Join me people and say Thank you Dr. Kim for being around.
Nestle has been ranked Sri Lankas Most Respected Food and Beverage Company in LMDs Most Respected Entities Publication for 2017.



This is the second consecutive year the company was declared Sector Winner in the Food and Beverages category. It has also maintained its overall rank of 11th place from over 100 companies across all industries, while moving up 10 points in its total score from 2016.



Shivani Hegde, Nestle Managing Director said, We are very proud and honoured to be recognised yet again as Sri Lankas Most Respected F&B Company. It is a testament to the strength of our company and people, and the values we stand for. By living our purpose every day and demonstrating respect for ourselves, respect for others, respect for diversity, and respect for the future in all that we do; we have earned mutual and lasting respect in the eyes of

our stakeholders.



As Sri Lankas largest private sector collector of fresh milk and one of the worlds largest exporters of coconut milk powder, Nestles business positively impacts the livelihoods of over 20,000 local farming families. It is continuing to work with Sri Lankan dairy farmers, training and supporting them to produce more milk of high quality and help make the country self-sufficient in milk. Last year, the company launched the Nestle Coconut Plan to help secure coconut cultivation and sustain the livelihoods of local coconut farmers. The company also initiated a significant investment in its factory early this year to enhance manufacturing capacity for milk powder and coconut

milk powder.



Driven by its purpose of contributing to a healthier future, Nestle is committed to offering tastier, healthier and trusted products of the highest quality. The company is working to ensure its products offer the most superior nutritional profile in their respective categories. With the largest R&D network of any food company in the world, Nestle regularly innovates and renovates its portfolio to offer food and beverage products that are adapted to local palates

and nutritional needs.



It recently introduced Nestomalt Plus with the goodness of oats and Nespray Fortigrow full cream milk powder made from fresh Sri Lankan milk and fortified with vitamins A and D. Nestle also renovated its Maggi chicken flavoured instant noodles to include no less than eight spices, traditionally used in Sri Lankan cooking, to enhance taste.



The Good Food, Good Life company is also reducing sugar, salt and fat where relevant, and fortifying its products with essential micronutrients like iron, vitamin A and calcium where appropriate. In 2016, it offered its consumers 515 million servings of micronutrient fortified products.



The company is also committed to manufacturing responsibly and sustainably by following the three Rs approach - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Over the last decade or so, Nestle has reduced its energy consumption by 42 percent, water consumption by 39 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 39 percent, whilst continuing to scale up production.



In 2016, the company celebrated its 100th anniversary in Sri Lanka and 150th one worldwide. As we begin the next 150 years, our success will continue to be based on our people, our passion for nutrition, our commitment to invest for the future, to understand the environment in which we operate, and to seize opportunities to strengthen our business added Hegde.



LMD (Lanka Monthly Digest) is Sri Lankas leading business magazine. It publishes a special annual edition Most Respected Entities in Sri Lanka that lists Sri Lankas most admired companies. The Most Respected entities ranking is based on an annual survey, which is commissioned by LMD and conducted by Nielsen. It includes the opinions of 800 survey respondents from Sri Lankas top companies.
Virtusa Corporation, a global business consulting and IT outsourcing company that accelerates business outcomes for its clients, was recently recognized as the The Highest Foreign Exchange Earner and Highest Value Added Exporter for 2016 in the Computer and Related Services category of the 21st Presidential Export Awards.



The Presidential Export Awards are the highest form of recognition given to an exporter for their contribution towards the export effort of the country. Held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, the event took place at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in the presence of Cabinet members, distinguished guests and industry representatives.

Accepting the recognition, Virtusa CIO and General Manager Madu Ratnayake said: We are honored to receive the Presidential Export awards. Being recognized for the third consecutive year as one of the top exporters reflects our strong commitment to create a positive impact in the country and on the economy by way of expanding our talent base and growing high value exports. The continued success on the exports front is a great testament of the faith our global clients have on our teams ability to deliver innovative solutions that help them transform and re-imagine

their businesses.



This is the third consecutive time Virtusa has been recognized at the Presidential Export Awards as the Best Exporter in the Computer and Related Services category. The selection criterion was based on company contributions made towards the countrys overall export earnings, product development, market development, and social development. The award recipients were selected by a panel comprising private and public sector representatives. The Presidential Export awards were conceived by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board in 1981.



In addition to making significant contributions to the countrys foreign exchange earnings Virtusa also adds value to the local economy through its investments in academic engagement and talent pool development. These activities are a part of the companys industry-leading sustainable practices that ensure they are able to continuously meet the demands of an ever-evolving digital world.



Virtusa was recently recognized with the Best Use of CSR Practices in the IT Industry at the Sri Lanka CSR Leadership Awards 2017, by IAOP as an Outsourcing Leader in the IT industry and named the Most Innovative Technology Company of the Year at the 2017 American Business Awards. Virtusa continues to grow and strengthen its preferred partner relationships with global enterprises across a myriad of industries, delivering solutions that go beyond simple labor arbitrage and help in business transformation.
In the modern times of the 21st century, the world is getting increasingly chaotic and effective solution is hard to find. The chain of brutal terrorism caused by religious conflicts and the retaliation has expanded and cannot be stopped. Our earth is on the edge of crisis due to a number of factors. For example, nuclear proliferation and military threats are destructive to peace and stability of the world. Looking at our Mother Nature, excessive consumption of natural resources has led to environmental destruction,and climate change, food crisis, natural disasters, spread of infectious diseases are frequently seen around the world. The earth, the planet on which we all live, is falling into a catastrophic state. Science and technology have developed to a highly advanced stage and humankind can enjoy an affluent life now. However, this critical situation of the world is truly serious and disturbing.

It is only religion that can resolve the present situation in extreme chaos and bring about peace and serenity. Among many religions in the world, Buddhism we believe in, has firmly upheld its principle of non-violence throughout its history of 2,500 years.

Buddhism is truly the religion of peace that brings about great hope to us human beings.

Buddhist Summit was founded in 1998 in order to propagate Buddhism by Most Ven. Dr. Kyuse Enshinjoh, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, Ven. Chief Prelates of Sri Lanka, and other world-renowned supreme Buddhist leaders in the world, who worried over the state of the world.



Almost 2 decades have passed since then and the supreme Buddhist leaders of member countries have made every endeavour for propagating Buddhism. As a result, Buddhist Summit has grown from 13 participating countries and 1 region at the First Buddhist Summit to 47 countries across the 5 continents at the Seventh Buddhist Summit. It has become a global-scale international Buddhist conference whose lofty ideals and earnest activities compare favourably with those of the United Nations. During the same period of time, the number of Buddhists in the world has increased from 370 million to 520 million and the number is still increasing.



A number of goodwill messages have been sent from Heads of State, national leaders, intellectuals, and cultural figures of various countries in the world on the occasion of the Seventh Buddhist Summit to be held in November 2017, with great expectation and attention at the conference hall of Temple Trees, the Prime Ministers residence in Colombo. The country takes pride in its long tradition and high authority in Buddhism. It is tremendously significant in the Buddhist history of 2,500 years that the Buddhist Summit Conference is held as a national event under the auspices of the government of Sri Lanka, a leading country of Theravada tradition, in the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena as the guest of honour.

In this Seventh Buddhist Summit, it is hoped that the supreme Buddhist leaders from 47 countries across the 5 continents in the world overcome the differences of traditions by reverting to the original teachings of Gauthama Buddha, and share their wisdom, strengthen their solidarity, and advance forward together with strong passion toward the peaceful future through the propagation of Buddhism in the whole world.



In 2014, it was unanimously agreed at the Sixth Buddhist Summit to designate April 8 as International Buddhist Day, a common festive day for all Buddhists in order to propagate Buddhism into the world. At the Seventh Buddhist Summit, various ways will be proposed for the sake of young people to get familiar with Buddhist principles and practices. Such proposals will surely make a powerful contribution to the further propagation of Buddhism and bring about fruitful results for saving all human beings.



The Seventh Buddhist Summit which will be held as a national event of Sri Lanka, the country that prides itself with its long history of Buddhism, will become a historic international Buddhist conference where a declaration will be made for strengthening the solidarity and further propagation of Buddhism worldwide for the sake of world peace and serenity for humanity.



47 countries will participate at

the Summit. They include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Congo, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Venezuela and Vietnam
REUTERS: Sri Lanka is in talks with two Chinese companies about investing up to US $ 3 billion to build in a new refinery at its Chinese-controlled port, a top government official said on Friday.



Sri Lanka wants to build a new refinery in its southern Hambantota port, where China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPH) has a 99-year lease to handle commercial operations.

Located near the main shipping route from Asia to Europe, the Hambantota port is likely to play a key role in Chinas Belt and Road trade route initiative.



Mangala Yapa, a Director at the state-run Board of Investment, said two Chinese companies had put forward a joint venture proposal for the refinery, which is expected to produce five million tonnes per annum with an investment between US $ 2.5 billion and US $ 3 billion. He did not name the Chinese firms.



The investment is large and we are discussing with the two companies on that basis, he told Reuters, adding the joint venture plan was chosen from three bids including one from a US company through a local partner.



The refinery needs around 500 acres of land and we cant reserve the land. Many people try to get the land first and then look for investors.



Yapa did not elaborate on the plans of the proposed refinery.



Chinas influence over the Hambantota port has sparked widespread anger in Sri Lanka.

The deal with CMPH, which has a majority stake in the lease, fuelled speculation the port could be used for Chinese naval vessels.

CMPH is also in talks with the government to develop an industrial zone next door.

This year, the government revised its original deal with CMPH to give greater influence to the Sri Lankan Ports Authority to try to allay concerns - including from Japan, the United States and India - that the port might be used for military purposes.



The investment zone deal is yet to be signed.



The Hambantota refinery will be the second new refinery the island nation has planned in the country.



Sri Lanka already has a deal for a 100,000 barrels per day-plus (bpd) refinery with Indian Oil Corp at the countrys eastern port city of Trincomalee with the aim of exporting fuel.



Sri Lankas sole oil refinery, state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporations decades-old 50,000 bpd plant, was originally configured to run on Iranian crude and Sri Lanka had to import more refined oil products after US sanctions led it to stop imports from Iran.
Ukraines ambassador to Delhi, Dr Igor Polikha, on Friday became Delhis latest snatching victim.

Polikhas iPhone was snatched while he was taking photographs of the Red Fort.



The thief, police said, snatched the phone by approaching Polikha on the pretext of taking a selfie with him.



Police said they had strong clues regarding the identity of the thief, but no arrests had been made and the suspect remained absconding three days after the crime.



Police said Polikha was on a morning walk at the Ukraine Embassy premises in Vasant Vihar on Wednesday morning when he suddenly decided to visit the Red Fort.



He left his driver and car in a parking lot in Daryaganj before wandering towards Angoori Bagh. A photography enthusiast, Polikha climbed up a small Hanuman temple as he thought he would get a good shot of the Red Fort from the temples roof.
Over $60 billion is the billing for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as on date. The road will run from Kashgar, China through the disputed regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, across the length of Pakistan's troubled provinces to the warm water sea port of Gwadar in Baluchistan.

The CPEC is the showpiece and crown jewel of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. The initiative, Chinese expect, will pirouette them into a more proximate comparison with the USA in geopolitics and economics. However, the highway could also provide access to China's soft-underbelly, the restive Xinjiang province where an insurgency with an Islamist flavour is already going on.

Notwithstanding the raging debate in Pakistan about the likelihood of its stepping into a debt trap, becoming a vassal state, losing its strategic sovereignty and risking its already strained domestic social cohesion, very little can be predicted about how perilous the Chinese may find the long journey to Gwadar port. Are they investing in a project that will fetch a strategic bonanza or will their container traffic run repeatedly into ambushes? Is it a grand extension of geo political objectives or an economic minefield? More importantly, will the project also accentuate the Uighur problem in their Xinjiang province?

For starters, the road runs through one of the most volatile stretches in the world. Every other reckonable global terrorist group has a foothold if not an established base in Pakistan. It's the home of al Qaeda; a group that has displayed enough resilience even after the Americans having successfully wiped out most of the top leadership including its founder Osama bin Laden. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has also established itself in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and gathered enough strength to undertake major operations in Afghanistan.

President Trump, in his speech on August 21 about the new Afghan policy said, "Today 20 US-designated foreign terrorist organisations are active in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The highest concentration in any region, anywhere in the world. For its part, Pakistan has for long been providing safe havens to agents of chaos, violence, and terror."

The resistance movements in Gilgit-Baltistan and Baluchistan also have capacities to use violence. Will the Chinese container trains be able to steam across this terrain in their run to the port at Gwadar and back without running through fusillades!

Pakistan has raised an over 10,000 strong division for protection of the CPEC route and other assets. However, with the military looking at the jihadist as its strategic partner, to what extent can this force be relied upon?

Pakistan is also a nuclear state. The stakes for global jihad are extremely high in Pakistan. Its armed forces that guard these weapon systems are also considerably radicalised. These weapons are invaluable for terrorist groups. It's unlikely that they will move out even if Pakistan were to deploy its military in strength. In fact, they have no other option that is even half as good.

The strains in Pakistan-China relationship will surface when the Chinese investments do not fetch the anticipated returns.

The strains in Pakistan-China relationship will surface when the Chinese investments do not fetch the anticipated returns. Hopes of such returns may also ride a downward curve, as violence and instability put paid to initial projections. The Chinese, if they go by the models they are using in Sri Lanka and also elsewhere, may take over the assets on long-term lease thus further constraining Pakistan's sovereignty. But, will Chinese businesses be ready to invest in such an unpredictable scenario?

It would be relevant for the Chinese to study how Pakistan ensured American aid keeps flowing over the years. It needs to be granted to Pakistan that in spite of being the global nursery of terrorism, it retained the status of being the frontline state in the US-led global war on terror.

To quote president Trump again, "Pakistan has also sheltered the same organisations that try every single day to kill our people. We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars. At the same time, they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting... No partnership can survive a country's harbouring of militants and terrorists who target US service members and officials."

Chinese Xinjiang province with its Uyghur problem already has the separatist Turkestan Islamic Party movement to deal with. If the Pakistanis can calibrate the Uyghur insurgency, by playing a game similar to what they have run against the US in Afghanistan, they might be able to keep the Chinese purse strings open longer. The Pakistani establishment is extensively experienced in both exporting and providing sustained support to insurgencies in its bordering countries. It would be advisable for the Chinese to study the American experience in

Afghanistan in detail. Once they commit adequate funds to the project, the initiative will have passed to Pakistan.

A slew of infrastructure, power, pipeline projects will dot the landscape in proximity of the CPEC corridor. There will be an influx of Chinese workforce to push the pace of construction initially and for running these facilities, thereafter. They are not known to very adaptable to local cultures. It's unlikely that these business establishments will herald the flourishing of a great people to people relationship between the two countries. In fact, it could well be the other way round. The Chinese must care for casualties their workforce could suffer in Pakistan and the reaction back home that is bound to be shrill.

Communities in Gilgit-Baltistan to the North of Pakistan and Baluchistan to the south are already sceptic; even hostile to the project. Over a period of time, as they feel that the spinoffs, if at all, have passed them by and been garnered by the province of Punjab that dominates Pakistani political and military establishments, the response would be more volatile.

Saner voices in Beijing have started warning its policy-makers to go slow on CPEC. It's important for the Chinese to study the American experience with Pakistan before they commit their funds to create a high risk corridor that also threatens their soft underbelly in Xinjiang.
According to the ancient Mayan calendar, the world was supposed to end in 2012. Half a decade later, the world is still very much alive, but the end still feels round the corner. There are many signs  Donald Trump and Kim Jong Uns one-upmanship as megalomaniac leaders is a serious one. A slightly more smaller sign was observed in Californias Orange County on Thursday, September 21.

As per a report in The Orange County Register, local residents witnessed something curious. Television programming was suddenly interrupted for about a minute with an ominous message predicting the end of the world. It was Cox and Spectrum cable users who saw this message. An emergency alert flashed across TV screens followed by a voice. According to The Register, a mans voice boomed in the broadcast, Realise this, extremely violent times will come.

A video of the broadcast uploaded to YouTube includes a terrified, breathless voice saying: The space program made contact with... They are not what they claim to be. They have infiltrated a lot of, uh, a lot of aspects of military establishment, particularly Area 51. The disasters that are coming  the military  Im sorry the government knows about them...

A Gizmodo report on this incident says the audio in the broadcast comes from a call that Art Bell, the host of the conspiracy theory-themed radio show Coast to Coast AM, received in 1997 from a man claiming to be a former Area 51 employee.

According to Stacy Laflamme of Lake Forest, who saw the emergency broadcast: It almost sounded like Hitler talking. It sounded like a radio broadcast coming through the television.

While it is unclear whether the messages were broadcast intentionally or if it was an accident, or if it was just a prank by hackers who got into the broadcast system, a Cox spokesperson said that the company does not know how many customers were affected and is still trying to determine where the signal originated from. A Spectrum spokesperson said, We have confirmed that we were fed an incorrect audio file.

Of course, conspiracy theorists had a field day. According to Mail Online, several conspiracy theorists and doom-mongers have cited an apocalyptic theory known as Revelation 12 Sign predicting that the Rapture  a prediction from the Book of Revelation in The Bible, which prophesised that worthy Christians would be lifted into heaven by Jesus, and those remaining will be left to face the end of the world  that was supposed to have been fulfilled on September 23. Of course, with us writing this article  and you reading the report  that certainly did not happen.
Updated at 6:43 p.m.

A judge on Monday denied bond for a Georgia man charged with taking part in an Aug. 12 assault that left a Charlottesville man with a broken wrist and staples in his scalp.

Charlottesville General District Judge Robert Downer ordered Alex Michael Ramos, 33, of Jackson, Georgia, to remain at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail until his Oct. 12 preliminary hearing.

Ramos is charged with felonious assault in the beating of Deandre Harris after the Unite the Right rally in Emancipation Park.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Nina Antony said Harris ran into the garage after a scuffle with white supremacists and was beaten by at least five people.

On a crowdfunding site, Harris said he suffered a concussion, a broken ulna and had eight staples to close a scalp wound. He also said he had cuts across his eyebrow, a chipped tooth and abrasions on his knees and elbows.

Investigators used video taken at the rally to identify Ramos and issued felony warrants for his arrest, but the video was not shown to the court on Monday. Ramos turned himself in after learning that he was wanted in the assault.

Ramos wore a black-and-white striped jail uniform as he shuffled into the courtroom, his hands and feet in shackles with chains connecting them to limit his movement.

Ramos told Downer that he had only been to Charlottesville once before his arrest and that was to attend the rally. He said he had misgivings about turning himself in because of the publicity surrounding the rally.

His attorney, John Joyce, asked Downer to release Ramos on bond pending his October hearing, noting that Ramos has no prior criminal record and was not carrying a weapon during the assault.

Joyce said Harris had been involved in scuffles during the rally and told Downer it may have been Mr. Harris who struck the first blow in that fracas.

Antony said Ramos has no local connections and is a flight risk. She also said Ramos was on the opposite side of Market Street and ran into the garage where Harris was already on the ground and punched and kicked Harris at least once.

Mr. Ramos went to a fight in which he had no part and in which an individual was on the ground and bleeding and he began to strike him, Antony said.

Downer noted the nature of the beating in denying the bond request.

Mr. Ramos is innocent until proven guilty, he said, but hitting a person who is down like that, that is a very serious assault, if its true.

The Aug. 12 rally attracted white supremacist and white nationalist groups, as well as counter-protesters, from across the country, but erupted in violence before it could officially start.
Local and international experts will host a conference this week to address community solutions for the opioid epidemic.

About three people die from opioid overdoses in Virginia each day, according to a news release from the University of Virginia Health System. The event, led by UVas centers for Global Health, Global Inquiry & Innovation and Health Policy, will look at the effects of law, health policy, politics and stigma on the epidemic and its impact on minority groups.

Speakers from UVa, Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Saskatchewan, First Nations communities, the Virginia Department of Health and Region Ten Community Services Board will lead discussions.

The main conference will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at UVas Rotunda. Breakout sessions will occur in the afternoon. Wednesdays event, titled First Nations Resilience: Two Communities Take on an Epidemic, will occur from 4 to 5 p.m. at Pinn Hall.

The conference is free and open to the public.
Two more men have been charged in connection with the July 4 killing of a Salvadoran immigrant whose body was found in Moores Creek near the Woolen Mills.

Albemarle County police said Monday that detectives arrested Juan Carlos Argueta, 18, of Charlottesville, and Eduardo Zelaya, 18, of Manassas, and charged them with second-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Marvin Joel Rivera-Guevara of Albemarle County.

Police earlier this month arrested Walter Antonio Argueta Amaya, 20, of Manassas Park, and charged him with second-degree murder in the killing.

Argueta is being held in Harford County, Maryland, awaiting an extradition hearing and Zelaya is being held in Manassas. Amaya is being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

Police said investigators teamed with the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force to investigate the killing and worked with the U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Homeland Security, Manassas Police Department and Maryland State Police in arresting Argueta and Zelaya.

Police worked with Homeland Security to arrest Amaya.

On a GoFundMe page, people who identified themselves as Rivera-Guevaras family sought money for funeral expenses and to bury him in El Salvador.

His family said Rivera-Guevara came to the United States with his brothers in 2013 to realize his goals and give a better quality of life to his wife, who still lives in El Salvador.
Police on Monday identified the victim in Saturdays head-on crash in Orange County over the weekend.

Virginia State Police Trooper F.W. Stanley Jr. said Frances E. Higgins, 62, of Leesburg, died at the scene of the crash that occurred at 1:11 p.m. Saturday on U.S. 522, less than a mile south of Route 611.

Higgins husband, Glenn J. Higgins, 63, also of Leesburg, was flown to the University of Virginia Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, according to the troopers preliminary report.

According to the report, a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling north on 522 when it crossed the centerline and struck a southbound 2012 Toyota Rav4 occupied by the Higginses. Both were wearing seatbelts.

The driver of the Ford was identified as a 50-year-old Culpeper man, but police did not release his name. He also was wearing a seatbelt and was transported to Culpeper Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

State police said charges are still pending and the crash remains under investigation.
DAVID CITY  After two decades living and working as an engineer in St. Louis, Cory Kudlacek returned to help run the family farm three years ago.

I never left. Theres that saying, You can take the farm boy out of the farm but you cant take the farm out of the farm boy, he said. I decided this is what I wanted to really do.

Kudlacek heard about the Nebraska LEAD (Leadership Education/Action Development) program run by the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council from Jon Brabec of Wahoo, who participated two years ago.

For two years LEAD fellows participate in seminars with workshops on Nebraska, U.S. and international agriculture and receive training in civic engagement and leadership.

The goal of the program is to develop "problem-solvers, decision-makers and spokespersons for agriculture and Nebraska."

Leadership training is one aspect of the program Kudlacek found appealing.

It really is trying to prepare you for any kind of leadership role in your local community or state, he said. From church boards to school board to commodity boards to political office, all with an emphasis in ag and having an impact.

Kudlacek, one of 30 fellows selected for the 2016-18 program, also hopes to learn more about agriculture across the state.

I dont really know what happens past Kearney with Nebraska ag, he said. I really dont have a clue how the western part of the state operates.

Hes received some of that education already. At the first three-day seminar earlier this month at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus, the group, which includes several people from western Nebraska, got to meet for the first time.

Itll be interesting to see how they operate and farm out there, Kudlacek said.

They also took workshops ranging from time management to farm transitioning.

We start learning right out of the gate, Kudlacek said. There was so much information that it was overwhelming.

The October seminar will be at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, so hell have a chance to see western Nebraska for himself.

Kudlacek said hes also looking forward to learning more about agriculture on an international level, which the group will study during the second year of the program.

I want to get a really good understanding of the agriculture outside my community and hopefully gain some leadership skills so I can share with my community, he said.

While Kudlacek admits he's "still green," he's optimistic about the program and what it will teach him.

Im so glad I was selected, he said. Im fortunate to be part of this and learn about Nebraska agriculture.
ONGC will do the due diligence of HPCL's assets based on the IM and publicly available information to arrive at the valuation.

New Delhi: State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will acquire the government's 51.11 per cent stake in HPCL through a bulk or block deal some time in November or December at the prevailing market price.

While the government is keen that the deal, which would fetch it over Rs 33,000 crore at the current market price, is done in October, ONGC wants time to raise the money required for the acquisition, a senior government official said.

The government's transaction advisor JM Financial and legal consultant Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is preparing Information Memorandum (IM) on Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) with India's largest oil and gas producer, ONGC, in the next 7-10 days.

ONGC has appointed SBI Caps and the Citi Group as its merchant bankers for the deal and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas as legal advisor, who would study the IM to arrive at a valuation for the takeover of the country's third-largest refining and oil marketing company.

The official said ONGC will do the due diligence of HPCL's assets based on the IM and publicly available information to arrive at the valuation. Negotiations between ONGC and the government will follow if the valuation is vastly different from the one the government has arrived at.

The share purchase would happen through a bulk or block deal at the prevailing market price, he said, adding that going by the pace of things, the deal could happen some time in November or December. Both bulk and block deals are done on stock exchanges.

A block deal happens when a transaction involves a minimum quantity of 5,00,000 shares or a minimum value of Rs 5 crore between two parties. Such deal takes place through a separate window at the beginning of trading hours for the duration of 35 minutes i.e. from 9.15 am to 9.50 am in a price range of +1 per cent to -1 per cent (plus or minus 1 per cent) of the ruling market price.

A bulk deal is a trade where total quantity of shares bought or sold is more than 0.5 per cent of the number of shares of a listed company. Bulk deals happen during the normal trading window provided by the broker. The official said the government's 51.92 crore shares could be sold to ONGC using either the bulk or block deal. This would also help avoid triggering an open offer.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had on July 19 granted 'in-principle' approval to the strategic sale of the government's existing 51.11 per cent stake in HPCL to ONGC "along with the transfer of management control, which will result in HPCL becoming a subsidiary company of ONGC".

But since the offer meant a transfer of management control from the government to ONGC, there was apprehension it would trigger Sebi's takeover code and compel ONGC to make an open offer to acquire an additional 26 per cent stake from minority shareholders, he said.

So, the terms of sale have been amended to state that "HPCL will continue to be a government company in terms of section 2(45) of the Companies Act, 2013 and will continue to be controlled by the Government of India through ONGC under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas".

Though the government is cashing out on its holding, the amended terms make it clear that it will continue to retain control of HPCL, the official said, adding that since there is no transfer of actual control, there will be no requirement of an open offer.

At today's trading price of Rs 428.75, ONGC would have to pay Rs 33,268 crore for buying the government's 51.11 per cent stake. Had it been required to make an open offer, it would have had to shell out additional Rs 17,100 crore to buy another 26 per cent from the open market. Another official said ONGC will have to borrow about Rs 25,000 crore to fund just the purchase of the government stake.

Half of the company's Rs 15,000 crore of cash has already gone into buying Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation's stake in a KG basin gas block, and after accounting for capital expenditure requirement for the current year, ONGC will be left with Rs 4,000-5,000 crore.

The rest will have to be borrowed, he said. HPCL has 24.8 million tonnes per annum of refining capacity. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), a subsidiary of ONGC, has 15.1 mt of capacity.
Mumbai: The Delhi High Court today acquitted Mahmood Farooqui, co-director of Bollywood film 'Peepli Live', in a rape case involving a US researcher, saying he was entitled to benefit of doubt as the testimony of the victim was not reliable.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar set aside the trial court order which had awarded a seven-year jail term to Farooqui after convicting him for the alleged rape of a 30-year-old American researcher at his south Delhi residence in March 2015.

The High Court, in its 85-page judgement, directed that Farooqui, who is presently in jail, be released forthwith.

It held that the woman's testimony was not reliable and the accused can be given the benefit of doubt.

"Whether such an incident happened, if it has happened, it did happen with the consent of the prosecutrix. This remains in doubt," the court said.

Farooqui had challenged his conviction and the sentence given by the trial court.

During arguments, Farooqui's lawyer had denied the allegation of rape levelled by the woman and said "no such incident took place on that day".

His counsel had referred to messages exchanged between his client and the woman before the case was lodged and contended that the two were in a "relationship" since January 2015.

The argument was opposed by Delhi Police's counsel who had said that rape had taken place and the trial court had given reasons while convicting and sentencing 45-year-old Farooqui.

A trial court had on August 4 last year sent him to jail for seven years, observing that he had taken advantage of the situation when the victim was alone in his house.

The court, which on July 30, 2016 had held Farooqui guilty of raping the American woman in 2015 in a drunken state, had also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him.

The police had on?June 19, 2015, lodged the FIR against Farooqui on the woman's complaint after which he was arrested.

On July 29, 2015, the police had filed its charge sheet against Farooqui alleging he had raped the research scholar from Columbia University at his Sukhdev Vihar house in South Delhi on March 28, 2015.
S S Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu's collaboration would be music to the ears of fans.

Mumbai: Two-part Baahubalis massive success not just in South but all over the world, has naturally made director S S Rajamouli a household name.

While reports of the filmmaker joining hands with his Baahubali Prabhas again, on a Bollywood film in collaboration with Karan Johar, did the rounds, rumours mills were also abuzz about him planning a film with Tollywood superstar Mahesh Babu as well.

And now, Mahesh has finally confirmed that he is indeed working with the Baahubali director.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the actor, who is currently busy with the promotions of the ambitious action thriller 'Spyder', confirmed the news during press interactions.

The film is likely to kick off by end of 2018 or beginning of 2019 as Mahesh is set to work in three other films before that, Koratala Sivas 'Bharat Ane Nenu, 'Mahesh 25 and another film with Trivikram.

On the other hand, Rajamouli will reportedly direct a film for producer DVV Danayya. It is not clear yet who will be the lead actor of the film or if the Mahesh Babu starrer turns out to be his next after 'Baahubali: The Conclusion.'

After directing Prabhas, Junior NTR, Ram Charan and Nani, it would be the first time Rajamouli will be working with Mahesh Babu.
As a child, Namrata Vippala spent days watching her mother and her aunts make food and then taking great care to present it, with the right kind of crockery and lacy napkins. Juices and milkshakes served as the perfect accompaniments. Little did Namrata know that those sweet days would ignite in her a deep passion. This has inspired me to make simple food that is naturally beautiful, intense in flavours that work in perfect harmony and arent toyed with or upstaged by too many culinary elaborations, says Namrata, now 27 and the owner and founder of Dusk Miller Confectionery.

Launched in 2012, the confectionarys signature products  pistachio and orange cookies; chocolate rose cookies and butter biscuits  are making an impression on the culinary scene not only in Hyderabad, but across the country. Our egg-less cakes are quite popular. Especially the Victorian sponge cake and lemon and almond Madeira cake, says Namrata.

A sustainable home-style bakery, Dusk Miller is set amidst a beautiful scenery in a serene, green-powered farmhouse. It was founded to bring the delectable taste of handmade products and an ambition to bake the finest biscuits and cookies. From taking orders after college hours to working in a compact kitchen from dusk to dawn, we are now a full-time functioning bakery, says Namrata.

The confectionarys growing business now takes orders from multinational companies, wedding planners and retail outlets  about 65 orders for her colourful, handmade cakes and cookies come in every week.

Life before dusk

I am fortunate to be surrounded by supportive family and friends. One thing about Hyderabad is that it embraces authenticity and celebrates it by helping you become better. Dusk Miller is driven by passion. I believe that the things you are passionate about are your calling, says the computer science engineer, graduated from Mala Reddy Engineering College.

Namrata, who did her schooling from St. Anns High School, says, I loved engineering but didnt always have the freedom to be creative. We had to stick to what the text books said. The need for a creative outlet led to baking.

Throughout her college life, Namrata found ways to keep baking. She started selling her products while in college and it eventually became a fulltime job.

And today, her entrepreneurial journey has transformed her in ways more than one. Who used to be a shy baker is now a confident, young entrepreneur. I have learnt that there are no shortcuts to success and that has made me work harder and become more patient, says the alumni of Amity Business School.

Namrata believes that her family has been her safety net. My grandfather was my first customer and my biggest inspiration. He showed me that anything is possible with determination and hard work. He once told me, Shut down your store for a bit if you have to, but do not serve food that is less than top quality. My father taught me that business is not just about making money, its about sustaining and having a sense of satisfaction from doing an honest days work while achieving customer satisfaction, she shares.

A recipe for a bright future

Namrata has a clear vision of whats ahead for Dusk Miller. She loves inventing new products and recreating time-honoured classics. It is through the ingredients we use and our desire to show the depth of flavour, rather than just sophisticated-looking products, that our style has evolved, she says. Talking about the biggest lessons she has learnt so far as a successful entrepreneur, she says, Dreams dont work unless you do. Customers are loyal to quality and integrity. The ingredients are the core; you are only as good as your last product, so its not enough to earn your reputation once. You have to re-earn it bit by bit, every day.

Other passions

Reading

Writing

Designing Food Packages

Doodling

Anecdotes

Since our workshop is closer to the airport, in the early days (when we did not have online or retail stores) people used to pick up our biscuits and cookies on the way to the airport. This is how our products started being taken to other cities and got popular outside Hyderabad
Sometimes ailments which may look harmless can turn out to be more serious and at times fatal conditions. But there are also instances when things causing concern among doctors may not be a major threat to patients.

When a 47-year-old handyman in UK felt unwell for a year as he coughed up yellow mucus, he approached doctors. On spotting a mass in his lungs visible in scans, they assumed he had cancer since he was smoking for three decades and referred him to a hospital.

But when doctors at the hospital were inspecting the mans airway, they found out that the mass was actually a toy traffic cone which the man had swallowed when he was a toddler. Although it wasnt a serious ailment, the mans case is seen as a mystery as he didnt show symptoms despite having the cone in his body for 40 years.

The doctors performed bronchoscopy to treat the man following which he revealed that he often played with such sets and swallowed toys while growing up.
New Delhi: Navratri- nine nights of celebration of goddess Durga has begun and has been welcomed with much fervor.

The festival witnesses tons of devotees observe fasting for a period of nine days in honour of the goddess. The strict no-meat practice enables one to tuck in to vegetarian specialties during this period.

However, keeping a tab on your fasting methods is important to avoid health mishaps.

Dr. Purva Duggal, Head of Nutrition, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, suggests a few tips to conquer the fasting period and yet remain healthy.

Do not starve yourself: Even though you fast, you should not starve yourself and should eat enough to get through the day; eat smaller meals frequently to maintain stamina. Try to limit yourselves when it comes to fried food and opt instead for baked, grilled or roasted food instead. Fasting is a good way to detoxify your body from the regular junk and alcohol that is consumed, helping maintain sugar levels in the body. Keeping yourself hungry for a longer period of time can lead to severe acidity.

Avoid sugars: One needs to stay away from refined sugar and substitute it with healthier alternatives like jaggery or honey. If you have a habit of having a lot of sweets, those sugar cravings can be curbed with various fruits or salads, since they are light and easy to digest. Regular snacking can help prevent from feeling low and maintain adequate sugar levels.

Always keep yourself hydrated: Unless you go for a 'nirjalvrat', it is important to keep yourself hydrated throughout. Besides water, a lot of other fluids can be consumed like coconut water, buttermilk, green tea, lemon water etc. Avoid consumption of alcohol as it can lead to dehydration and slows down metabolism.

Avoid fasting if you're pregnant: If a normal and healthy delivery is indicated, fasting within limits will not have much of an effect on you or your baby. However, if your pregnancy is indicative of complications, it is recommended to avoid fasting during this period. It is best in to consult your doctor before taking any step. Make sure you consume plenty amounts of fluid during this time.

Plan your day:Make sure you do not overeat, especially packaged snack foods as they contain high amounts of Iodine. Chalk out your meal plans for the day to ensure your stomach is satisfied. Don't dwell into snacks too much, munching on nuts and dry fruits is a healthier alternative. Your lunch could be slightly heavy and dinner should be light, which is apt for proper digestion.

Avoid caffeinated drinks:Tea and coffee can help curb hunger pangs for a good amount of time. However, make sure you do not consume these on an empty stomach; it can affect your digestive system tremendously. Consuming too much tea or coffee can often make you feel bloated or dehydrated. Insomnia might also set in which is not healthy.
CHENNAI: There have been a number of developments in family planning services. A prominent one was the rollout of the injectable contraceptive Antara by the State Health Department. More stress has to be on periodical reviews and monitoring of proper implementation of Family Welfare Programmes. The availability of trained doctors at the PHC level to offer safe abortion services and emergency contraception as part of National Health Mission are vital factors. The social marketing of condoms and OCP and ECP by health workers are some developments that can help in the field of family planning, say experts.

Even as the government continues to push for new methods of contraceptives to boost family planning, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 revealed that Tamil Nadu has seen no progress in oral pills usage. 0.20 percent was recorded both in NFHS 3 and 4, with no changes. On World Contraception Day, medicos discussed the significance and need of various services and developments in family planning services in the State.

The government perseveres to launch initiatives for new contraceptive methods including sterilisation, condoms, birth control pills, injectable contraceptives. Intrauterine devices are available as a safe method of contraception. Usage of contraceptive options can help to bring down the mortalities, said Dr P Vasanthamani, dean, Kilpauk Medical Hospital. Dr Kalpana Apte, Secretary General of the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) said, The rollout of the new contraceptives is an encouraging move. Couples should have access to every available contraceptive choice along with the appropriate counselling in all states. However, initiatives such as Mission Parivar Vikas should not be restricted to districts with high fertility rate, but should avail access of contraceptives in all states.

Executive director of Population Foundation of India, Poonam Muttreja said, "Women lack access to contraceptive options or are fearful of using them due to lack of information about the choices that are available to them. This has an impact not only on the maternal and infant health indicators but also, by extension, on the public health indicators and development of the country.

Only 0.3 per cent men opt for sterilisation

The decreasing number of the men opting for sterilisation exposes the grim reality: Birth Control is woman's concern. Despite a huge cry from the doctors supporting the sterilisation among men, there seems to be no improvement. Statistics from the National Family Health Survey 4 indicated only 0.3% men opted for sterilisation in 2015, although 1% of them opted in 2005, The highest has been the female sterilisation which stands at over 75%, followed by condoms (10%), birth control pills (6%), and intrauterine devices (4%). We need to talk about womens equality and reproductive rights. Men need to be counselled and we need more men trained in providing vasectomy, said senior gynecologist Dr R Shanti.
Chennai: At a time when the water bodies in the state spew froth, a pond in Sriperumbudur, left in shambles for the past 40 years, has been brought back to life.

In a true sense of restoration, volunteers of the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) have not just restored the Chellaperumal Nagar pond, but also sensitised the Irula community here to guard the water body.

The 2.5-acre water body, which belongs to the Sri Ramanujar temple in Sriperumbudur, was desilted in a month-long scientific restoration, thus improving its storage capacity by at least 22 percent from zero.

Having deweeded the water body from the invasive water hyacinth plants that suffocate life, the volunteers would also be strengthening the bund with native tree species. According to C. Vajiravelu, EFI coordinator, palm seeds would be planted on the land bund, in order to prevent soil erosion. At least 500 seeds and 100 saplings would be planted, he said. The volunteers also established a rainwater harvesting central pit with leading trenches to ensure improved water conservation.

What is the role of government departments in the restoration? While the Kancheepuram district administration gave permission to the EFI, the executive officer of the Sriperumbudur town Panchayat was merely inspecting the site, unmoved by the volunteerism.

The pond, which once was the chief source of irrigation to the paddy cultivation here was ignored after real estate took over the suburban locality. "The pond was not restored in the past 40 years. It was also a means of drinking water to the residents. Despite its sad state, the Irula residences are dependent on the water, Vajiravelu said.

So who would maintain the pond after restoration? The EFI volunteers, as part of their community-driven project, have sensitised the 50 Irula families on the importance of the water body and the need to keep it uncontaminated.

Mambakkam lake restored

The 150-acre Mambakkam lake rejuvenation work has commenced with the help of local volunteers and initiatives of the Sabari Green Foundation and State Bank of India Officers Association Trust.

The bund of the lake was strengthened and weeds were removed. The members of the State Bank of India Officers Association Trust, said that they would plant 1,000 saplings around the lake. Founders of Thuvakkam, Krishna Kumar and Suresh planted 50 saplings with their young volunteer team.

Members of Sabari Green Foundation, V. Subramani and V. Rama Rao appealed to the general public and corporates to join hands for restoring water bodies.
His friends had allegedly sought help from the locals but as none was forthcoming they rushed back to inform their parents. (Representational Photo: Pixabay)

A class twelve student fell into a waterfall and died in Jharkhands Latehar district while clicking a selfie on his mobile.

The 19-year-old had gone to the waterfall at Suggabandh with about ten friends last evening and climbed a rocky stretch to click the selfie but lost his balance and slipped into the waterfall, police said today.

His friends had allegedly sought help from the locals but as none was forthcoming they rushed back to their homes at Daltonganj and informed their parents.

The students family rushed to the concerned police station this morning. A search was launched and the students body was found, the police added. A case has been registered in this regard.
Activists and members of the LGBT community applauded the decision. (Photo: Pixabay)

A British lesbian on Monday won the right to live and work in Hong Kong with her partner in a landmark legal decision that could reduce more hurdles for same-sex couples in the city.

QT, as she is referred to in court, entered into a civil partnership in Britain in 2011 and moved to Hong Kong the same year after her partner was offered a job in the city.

But she was denied a dependant visa and has instead stayed in Hong Kong on a visitor visa, which does not allow her to work.

The Court of Appeal overturned a lower courts decision last year which rejected her efforts to secure a visa to settle in Hong Kong.

Mondays decision, reached unanimously by a panel of three judges, said immigration authorities failed to justify the indirect discrimination on account of sexual orientation that QT suffers.

Activists and members of the LGBT community applauded the decision.

Ray Chan, a pro-democracy politician and first openly gay lawmaker in Hong Kong, called the case a big win for same-sex dependents to apply for visa to stay in Hong Kong.

Campaigners have described the case as a landmark for the socially conservative southern Chinese city, which does not recognise gay marriage and only decriminalised homosexuality in 1991.
It is that time of the year when happiness grips every Bengali soul, no matter which part of the world they reside in. It is the time to rekindle, revive all the energy crushed under the wheels of routine and ruthless life.

Yes, we are talking about Eastern Indias biggest festival Durga Pujo  the festival which celebrates the triumph of good over the evil. With the ever-increasing Bengali population in the land of temples, namma Chennai too is gearing up to usher in goddess Durga, the epitome of strength. DC speaks to some of the leading Pujo organisers about what is in store for this year.

South Cultural Madras Association celebrates its 39th Durgotsav:

This year, on Sashthi (Sep 26) the SMCA Puja (with 300-odd members) will be jointly inaugurated by Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Ms. Indira Banerjee (the guest of honour) and the youngest Indian spy Saraswathi Rajamani.

However, Ananadamela (when all members will cook one or the other Bengali dish, from kosha mangsho to malpoa, basically to showcase their culinary skills and put out their own stalls on the premises) on Panchami evening will unofficially mark the beginning of SMCA Pujo.

Among the other cultural programmes, this year a special fusion of Devi Vandana and a performance by renowned Bharatnatyam dancer Uma B. Rameshon in front of the deity, and an all-womens play, will be part of the celebrations, shares Bhaswar Mukherjee, current the president of the association.

We are expecting a foot-fall of around 5,000 per day. It can go up to 10,000. However, its not a static crowd as people come from various places, Mukherjee reveals.

However, amidst all the rituals and traditions, tummies wont get neglected! Food stalls will be put out by people from both Chennai and Kolkata, smiles the president.

From Rajasthani pickle to Kolkata mithai, sufficient arrangements are being made to tantalise the taste buds.

Stalls ( free of cost) will also be organised by people from an orphanage managed by the SMCA trust. The proceeds from the Pujo go into SMCA trust, which is used for a lot of philanthropic activities, says Mukherjee.

Referring to some unknown facts about the association, Bhaswar Mukherjee, reveals why the word Bengali is missing in the name of the association  We want all the communities to come together.

The Bengal Association Pujo  the oldest in the circle:

Moloy Kumar Roy, the secretary of the Bengal Association. which is in its 84th year, reveals some of the some interesting facts surrounding the Puja including how the club has managed to retain the same artisan (Jiban Paul) since 1991 and the main priest for as long as 25 years.

As always, the five days will be packed with fun, food, cultural programmes, but what is special this year is Riturang by Thankamani Kuttys team on Sashthi and a performance by the associations womens wing Tilottama.

Each participant will dress up like the quintessential mother of the respective Indian state that she is representing and perform to a song from that particular state. In the end, they all will assemble to perform for Vande Mataram and Milae Sur Mera Tumhara, says the secretary about the one-of-its kind event.

Regarding foot-fall, Roy expects a staggering 12,000 members to attend the event.

Dakshin Chennai Prabashi Cultural Association:

Though this Association is comparatively young (four years old), in comparison to the other well-established ones in city, Chidananda Patra, operation head and joint treasurer of the association, recalls how they have come a long way in a short span of time  A family of five ( all from the neighboring IT hubs) clubbed together and started a Facebook community called Jhalmuri, followed by conducting a Saraswati Puja. It turned out to be a huge success. That motivated us to come all the way to organising Bengals greatest festival ever. And then DCPCA happened. Now, we have 170 (approx) members.

There will be a pictorial display of famous Bengali personalities on the puja premises, adds Patra. Special attractions include dhunuchi dance by DCPCA women, a Bollywood night, dandiya with the DJ and some lipsmacking food by really big names in the relevant circles.

Madras Kali Bari prioritises rituals over cultural programmes:

When on one hand, most of the associations in city are busy blending cultural activities into the traditionalism of Pujo, Madras Kali Bari still continues to stick mostly to just Pujo/ religious rituals.

The Kali temple, which has been modeled mainly on the Maa Bhavatarini of Kolkatas Dakshineshwar temple, has also been organising Golu for the last 16 years, with lord Hanuman being the theme this year. However, this Pujo is not completely devoid of cultural programmes.

Cultural programmes take place, but not in a grand way as in the other places, says Gautam Pyne, manager of the temple.

We mainly see male worship here. The temple was established in 1975. Locals would initially avoid coming to this place but now they are more in numbers than us and their enthusiasm about Puja is really appealing, smiles Pyne.
Hyderabad: Ali Abdullah Rifa alias Volta Qazi, who was absconding for a week, was arrested by a special team of the Falaknuma police on Monday. He was previously suspended by the minorities welfare department for illegal activities.

Rifa, according to police sources, went into hiding after a case was registered against him in Chandrayangutta police station. He was tracked down and arrested from an undisclosed location.
Chennai: As many as eight persons were killed in separate road incidents in the city on Sunday evening including an accident involving a MTC bus in which two youths were killed.

R Manikandan (20), of Villivakkam, a painter and his friend S Tamilarasan (19) were on their way to meet a friend when the accident happened on Sunday night. They were riding along Konnur High Road in Aynavaram when the MTC bus (route no.48) plying towards Vallalar Nagar from Villivakkam knocked their bike down. The two of them were thrown off the vehicle and sustained severe head injuries, police said. "Both of them were not wearing helmets and succumbed to their injuries, a police personnel said. Police arrested the bus driver, S Mani (47).

Two pedestrians were fatally knocked down in hit and run incidents by unidentified vehicles at Ennore Express road and on Grand Northern Truck (GNT) road near Red Hills. Around 6 pm, on Sunday, D Santosh Kumar (36), a casual labourer was knocked down by an unidentified vehicle and Santosh died that night, police said. Around 11 pm, another man, Rajni (25) was fatally knocked down by an unidentified car on GNT road.

In Meenambakkam, 24-year-old painter, M Gurumurthy, died after he lost control of his two-wheeler and rammed it onto the wall of Pazhavanthangal subway. His friend, I Kalaiselvan (24), a gym master survived with injuries, police said.

In another incident near ICF colony main road, R Suresh Kumar (36) was killed after he collided head on with another bike. J Kishore (20) of Ayapakkam, a second year engineering student was on the other bike and he escaped with injuries, police said.

In another accident, Ritwik, a 19-year old engineering college student was killed after a car ran over him.

The teenager suffered a fall after his bike hit a van on Madhuravoyal bypass road. A car trailing him ran over Ritwik killing him on the spot, according to Chromepet Traffic investigation wing personnel. Police have arrested the van and car driver Raviraj and Mohan respectively.

Meanwhile, S Manigandan, a software engineer was killed after a container truck knocked down his two-wheeler near 200 feet road in Madhavaram on Sunday night around 11 pm. Police arrested the truck driver, M Ram Kumar (58), of Virudhunagar district.
The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students have been protesting near the university's main gate since Thursday against the rising eve-teasing incidents on the campus. (Photo: PTI)

Varanasi: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday removed three additional city magistrates and two policemen in connection with the baton-charge on students in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) during a protest over an alleged eve-teasing incident.

Station Officer of Lanka Police Station Rajiv Singh has been removed and sent to police lines. Station officer of Jaitpura Police Station Sanjiv Mishra has been posted in his place, police officials said.

Also the Circle Officer of Bhelupur, Nivesh Katiyar has been removed and Circle Officer of Kotwali Ayodhya Prasad Singh posted in his place.

A release from Varanasi's District Information office said three additional city magistrates, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh have also been removed.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the BHU where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the varsity's vice chancellor at his residence. Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A BHU spokesperson had said that some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards. Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students, he said. The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them. A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathicharge.

The police sources said some of its personnel were injured in the clashes during which the students allegedly indulged in arson. Following the violence, the district administration has declared holidays from Monday till October 2 in all colleges and universities in Varanasi.

The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from September 28. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), criticised the government and condemned police action.

"I have sought a report from the divisional commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident," Adityanath said in Lucknow on Sunday.

The baton charge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some scribes staging a sit-in near the chief minister's residence. They later submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty."

Congress leaders Raj Babbar and P L Punia, along with scores of party activists, were detained on Saturday when they tried to visit the BHU. They were later released.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP over the police lathicharge allegedly on woman students.

Attaching a link to a video of the students who alleged that they were beaten up by male policemen at the campus, Gandhi had tweeted, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU."

The BHU had issued a statement saying that the 'dharna' by the students just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university.

The alleged eve-teasing incident had occurred on Thursday night after which the students started the protest.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police had been sought to maintain peace in the campus.

Nearly 1,500 police personnel, including contingents of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), have been deployed to maintain law and order in the campus.

BHU students said that they undertook the protest near the university's main gate against rising incidents of alleged eve-teasing on the campus. A woman student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle borne men inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel, triggering the dharna. According to the complainant, the men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts.

The woman alleged that security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop them. She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel. The warden's response angered the students who sat on a 'dharna' at the main gate at midnight on Thursday.

BHU students have alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants.
BJP national President Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at BJP National Executive Meeting in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: BJP national President Amit Shah on Monday hit out at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for defending dynastic politics.

Addressing the BJP's National Executive Meeting at Talkatora stadium in New Delhi Shah said, "President, Vice-President, Prime Minister have reached their position due to performance."

In his address at University of California in Berkeley, earlier in September, Rahul Gandhi said that dynastic politics is a "problem" in India, but maintained that a large number of people in his party did not have a dynastic background.

Amit Shah in his address also said, "BJP believes in politics of performance, Congress in dynasty and politics of appeasement."

Shah also asked the party workers to pledge for 'New India' and take the Centre's initiative forward to people across India. He also asked members to cooperate and seek people's cooperation to make Prime Minister's vision of 'New India' a reality.

Shah in his inaugural address at the executive meet said that the government has been relentlessly working in the interests of the poor.

Shah said that from October 3-17, BJP workers will do a 'padyatra' (march) in Kerala and connect with the people.

Briefing media about the meet, Union minister Piyush Goyal said, "BJP will register a historic win in upcoming Gujarat polls."

13 Chief Ministers, 1,400 legislators, 280 parliamentarians - around 2,500 delegates - will are attending the day-long National Executive Meet at the Talkatora Stadium in Delhi. The meeting is BJP's first-ever televised National Executive Meeting.
Bengaluru: The journey of Balya, a free home for children, started in 2004 when two children were found abandoned by their own parents on the Old Airport Road in Bengaluru. A call came to V. Annapoorna Ram about the crying children, and she gave shelter to the little ones. That was the trigger for her to start Balya, a unit run by the Annapoorna Charitable Trust, to help abandoned children.

The school, which started with the two children, now has 70 kids aged between 5 and 16. Apart from these 70 children, we also have some 65-70 students coming to the school, which is within the campus of the orphanage, as they cannot afford fees. All these children are provided free food and free education," informed Mr K.S. Bhakatavatsala, an active member and manager of Balya.

The founder and now managing trustee, V. Annapoorna Ram, was, however, not suddenly thrown into social work. She was working as a teacher in a school for physically and mentally disabled children. In the process, she had felt the need to help children of construction workers who have no access to good education, proper food, and more than all an opportunity to enjoy their childhood. The Trust is formed by a group of likeminded people with the vision to look after the growing needs of the socially deprived children. The primary vision of the Trust is to bring solace to deprived children who have no place to go," said Mr Bhakatavatsala.

He said, It won't be fair to call our place an orphanage and we prefer calling it one big family where we support each other."

The trust works closely with the Child Welfare Committee which informs them about abandoned children. We work closely with the Child Welfare Committee, child court, the police, the helpline 1098 and other NGOs who spot children abandoned, rag picking or begging. They come to us and we take the children in," he explained.

Our goal is to identify deprived and orphaned children and admit them into the Children Home. We provide these children with hygienic food and shelter with comfortable living conditions. Along with this, it is extremely crucial to also improve their vocational and other personal skills, so that they can live independently by earning their own livelihood. We assist them in that journey," he continued.

The school is from pre-nursery to 8th standard and runs under the state board permission. For funds, the Trust depends mostly on donations made by the seven trustees and their friends and family. Rest is local donations. There is no government funding and it is mostly from the trustees and local contributions. Our monthly expenditure, including clothes, uniforms, stationery and food, runs up to around Rs 3 lakh. We have 21 staffers, including 12 teachers and nine members," he elaborated.

The future plan is to extend the education services till Second PU. We want to plan it in such a way that we enable them to get a job. Our goal is to educate them up to second year PUC," he says.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party is holding its National Executive Meeting at the Talkatora stadium in Delhi. About 2,500 members of the ruling party, including 13 Chief Ministers and all its elected MPs and MLAs are attending Monday's meet, Day 2 of the National Executive meet. BJP national President Amit Shah will chair the meeting while Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address partymen in the evening.

Here are the key points:-
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police has in its probe into the April 9 incident of using a Kashmiri shawl-weaver as a human shield by the Army said that he was not a stone-pelter and had, in fact, voted in an election before being wronged.

Farooq Ahmed Dar, a resident of Chhil Brass village of central Budgam district, was tied to the bonnet of an Army jeep during the April 9 by-poll in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, evoking rage within the State and beyond with human rights groups including Amnesty International demanding action against those responsible. The Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (J&KSHRC) had in July directed the State government to pay a compensation of Rs 1 million to him.

But Major Leetul Gogoi of the Armys 53 Rashtriya Rifles who ordered the action had defended it saying that if he had not done what he did that day at least 12 or more lives would have been lost, and that had I fired there would have been many casualties. He had also claimed that Dar was a stone-pelter and questioned his claim that he was used as human shield even after he had voted in the by-election in defiance of the boycott diktat issued by the separatists.

The incident snowballed into a major controversy after Major Gogoi was awarded Commendation Card for his sustained distinguished service in counterinsurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat even when the Army had yet to complete the inquiry into the incident and the police had said that the case registered against the officer in the local police station has not been quashed either.

Now the J&K police has in its report submitted to the government contradicted Major Golois claims and said that Dar had cast his vote before heading to a neighbouring village to attend a condolence meet in a relatives house and that he was not a stone-pelter. The 2-page report says that during investigation it came to surface that on April 9, 2017 during by-poll stone-pelting incidents took place in the jurisdiction of police station Beerwah and, on the same day, Dar (witness number 1) proceeded to village Gampora for condolence and after spending some time left from village Gampora and reached Utligam crossing where from he was lifted by Army during stone pelting and was tied to bonnet of the Army vehicle as human shield under threat.

The report terms the action ordered by Major Gogoi as wrongful confinement of an innocent civilian. A video which went viral soon after the incident showed Dar tied to the bonnet of an Army jeep with a placard and, in the background, a warning Those who throw stones will meet the same fate could be heard. Dar had later said that he was caught by the troops in Gundipora village of the district, who tied him to the front of their jeep before proceeding towards Beerwah town. An FIR was registered by the Jammu and Kashmir police against the Army. On 15 April, the Army constituted a court of inquiry in the incident which is reported to have exonerated the officer.

Dar had also filed a formal complaint against Major Gogoi in the J&KSHRC in May through a local human rights activist Ahsun Antoo, chairman, International Forum for Justice and Protection of Human Rights.
Kolkata: Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Member of Parliament Mukul Roy quit the party on Monday, fuelling speculation that he might join the BJP.

Roy also said he was leaving the party with a heavy heart, since he no longer held a post in the party.

Trinamool Congress has suspended Mukul Roy for six years.

The once-trusted lieutenant, Roy was sidelined by Mamata Banerjee recently and stripped of all posts. He was removed as the partys vice president and also thrown out of two parliamentary panels.

The difference between Roy and Mamata grew after Roy was grilled by the CBI in the multi-crore Sharada chit fund scam. The party leadership suspected he had revealed a few secrets to the investigators.

Roy was also under the partys watch for his frequent meetings with the BJP leadership in Delhi.

Addressing the media in Kolkata, Roy said: Today is Mahapanchami. The people of Bengal are celebrating Durga Puja. They would not like to hear about political issues at this time. I will reveal my future plans after the Pujas.

He added: My association with the Trinamool began in 1997. With a heavy heart, I inform you that I no longer have any post in the party. I am only a primary member and I belong to the working committee. I am resigning from the working committee today and have sent an email to the party leadership. As soon as Durga Puja ends, I will resign from the Rajya Sabha MP's post."

Roy, however, did not disclose the reason behind his resignation.

State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury welcomed Roy's decision. "Mamata Banerjee has not reached the peak of success on her own or within a day. There were many others, including Mukul Roy, who worked tirelessly for the party. But Mamata Banerjee cannot tolerate the rise of anyone else. In all these years, Roy remained silent despite all humiliation. It is obvious he could not bear it anymore. I would welcome Roy if he joins our party," Mr Chowdhury added.

On Sunday evening, Roy inaugurated a Durga Puja pandal in the neighbourhood of suspended Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh's home in north Kolkata. He was contemptuous of party general secretary Partha Chatterjee and referred to him as a kid.
A child trafficking racket was busted on Monday with the arrest of a four-member gang, which was about to buy a 3-month-old boy near Gudalur. (Representational Image)

Udhagamandalam (Tamil Nadu): A child trafficking racket was busted on Monday with the arrest of a four-member gang, which was about to buy a 3-month-old boy near Gudalur, some 80 kilometers from Udhagamandalam, for Rs 5 lakh, police said.

The gang members had struck a deal with Bhuvaneshwari, who is a mother of two children, to purchase the infant for Rs 5 lakh on Sunday night, at her house in Kilapulli, they said.

However, sensing something fishy, the neighbours alerted police and the child helpline officials who arrived at the spot on Monday morning just before the money was handed over and arrested four persons, including a village health nurse and a woman from Kerala, they added.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that after buying the children, the gang sold them to childless couples for higher prices, police said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP President Amit Shah and Union Ministers Niti Gadkari and Rajnath Singh at BJP's national executive meeting at Talkatora stadium, in New Delhi on Monday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Speaking about Narendra Modis speech at BJP national executive meeting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said the Prime Minister wants the party to become an instrument of mass participation.

Main point of Prime Minister's speech was that we should take BJP beyond elections and make it instrument of mass participation, Jaitley said at a press conference after the meeting.

PM said sometimes Opposition uses harsh words when there is no specific allegation; harsh language cannot be a substitute for substantive charge, Jaitley said.

BJP leader Jaitley said power was the means of enjoyment for the Opposition when it was in the government.

UPA didn't take a single step against black money and corruption; obvious their leaders will be uneasy over our measures against it, he said.

The Prime Minister also made it clear that his battle against corruption is uncompromising, the finance minister said.

My "battle against it is uncompromising. No one will be spared. I have no relatives", Modi had said.

Jaitley also said that the Prime Minister will announce an important scheme for the poor at 6:30 pm on Monday.

13 Chief Ministers, 1,400 legislators, 280 parliamentarians  around 2,500 delegates  attended the day-long National Executive Meet at the Talkatora Stadium in Delhi. This was BJP's first-ever televised National Executive Meeting.

With agency inputs.
Ahmed was in Mumbai earlier in 2017 to lose weight. (Photo: File | AFP)

Abu Dhabi: Egyptian Eman Ahmed, dubbed the worlds heaviest woman, died on Monday at an Abu Dhabi hospital, merely a week after she turned 37.

Ahmed was in Mumbai earlier in 2017 and underwent a weight-loss surgery.

She spent three months in the Saifee Hospital during which time she lost nearly 250 kilograms.

Officials at Abu Dhabis Burjeel Hospital, where she was being treated after her release from Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, said she had died of co-morbid conditions including heart disease and kidney disfunction.

The hospital said: She had been under the supervision of a medical team of over 20 doctors from different specialities who were managing her medical condition from the time she arrived in the UAE. Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to her family.

Ahmed, from Alexandria in Egypt, came to India in February and underwent a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery performed by a team of doctors led by Muffazal Lakdawala.

Previously, doctors had shared videos of her recovery, claiming that she was healing faster than they had planned.

Emans departure from India was under unfortunate circumstances after sister Shaima raised doubts over her actual weight loss and alleged doctors had made false claims about the treatment.

Dr Lakdawala had confirmed Emans lowest weight was 171 kgs and not 200 kg as per the claims made by her sister.

Matters blew up between Emans family and Saifee Hospital when doctors made it clear that they could not help Eman further but sister Shaima insisted her treatment -- also that of other serious ailments  continued in India.
Child labour, migration, transport and access are responsible for keeping a whopping 1,70,525 kids, thats 63% of children between the ages of 11 and 13 out of school. The government appears to be playing its cards right, at least on paper, with BEOs, Deputy Directors of Public Instruction and the Department of Women and Child Welfare all responsible for ensuring that children enroll in school. Very little happens on ground however. The lack of detailed surveys by enumerators has left experts in the dark about what causes school dropouts and how to prevent them, reports Ralph Alex Arakal.

In a disturbing trend, children are continuing to drop out of school in the state. Going by a recent survey by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) a whopping 63 per cent of children between 11 and 13 years old are out of school in Karnataka, with many failing to make it to high school post the seventh grade.

Child labour and migration are among the major reasons for dropouts in the state and we need to address these issues to bring back children to schools, says activist, Kathyayini Chamaraj, executive trustee of CIVIC Bengaluru.

Read | Guest column: Current scholarships too meagre to offset child labour

While the government claims to be doing its bit to retain children in schools, in Uttara Kannada a private trust is coming to the aid of people finding it hard to give their children an education owing to the distances involved. A hostel has been built near a school in Karwar to help young girls pursue their education with funding from NRIs in the USA, UK and Germany thanks to a non-profit organisation, Prem Ashram Charitable Trust. The idea is being so well received, that some are suggesting it should be emulated by other districts as well.

Seeing the villagers in Uttara Kannada finding it difficult to send their children, especially the girls, to far away high schools in the densely forested district, and many of them opting to send their daughters to the cities to work as housemaids instead, the trust came up the idea of building a hostel near a school in Karwar to save them the journey.

Explains Mr Anil Kumar Gaonkar, who is running the campaign on behalf of the organisation, Not only is there not enough public transport in the area, but many of the tribal and other backward communities here dont have the money to send their children all the way to high schools located far away from their villages. So we decided to set up a hostel near a school.

Besides setting up the hostel, which has accommodation for 27 students, and provides them food and other facilities, including special academic training, the trust also meets the students expenses on books and uniforms and pays their tuition fee. Assisted by Impact Guru, a global crowd-funding platform, it was able to raise more money than it expected to.

The NRI community in the USA, UK and Germany, especially from South India and Gujarat, helped the campaign grow stronger with several donors coming forward to support the initiative, says Mr Piyush Jain, CEO and co-founder of Impact Guru.

The trust is also giving scholarships to children from the villages of Joida, Kumbarwada and Haliyal to help them pursue a higher education after their schooling. Its initiative is clearly paying off as one student from another hostel supported by it is now an engineer in Bengaluru.

Encouraging these children to remain in school and pursue a higher education will help them get a better job and may also encourage their children to study later. This could help transform the entire area in years to come, sums up Mr Gaonkar.

Govt guidelines lying in cold storage

While the departments of education, labour, women and child development and social welfare claim to be working to ensure that more children attend schools in the state, some of their officials themselves admit there is a lack of co-ordination among them which is proving a hurdle in achieving their goal. Although tireless efforts are being made by some individuals, NGOs and officers of various departments to bring down the huge number of school dropouts, a sense of collective responsibility is lacking at the moment, agrees Mr Y Muniswamy, a member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR).

Going by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) there are as many as 1,70,525 school dropouts in the 7 to 14 age group in the state. It gives migration (17.29 per cent) and household work (16.30 per cent) as major reasons. Reaching puberty and similar issues among girls accounts for 4 per cent. But 47 per cent of the children have reportedly dropped out for other reasons that are not defined, angering activists like Ms Kathyayini Chamaraj of CIVIC, Bengaluru.

Enumerators fail to register the exact reason while collecting data on school dropouts and hence this vague reasoning, which stops the authorities from finding a solution to the problem,  she laments, adding, All our proposals for formation of attendance bodies and so on on are still lying somewhere on some officials shelf pending approval.

Official apathy does not end there. As an eight-point guideline issued by the SSA scheme director in 2014 to deal with the situation has been virtually put in cold storage, going by officials. The guidelines, which want panchayat officers to maintain a watch register of migrant children and review each students attendance if absent for over a week and so on, has not been put into practice seriously, admits an officer of the directorate of primary education.

On paper, Block Education Officers (BEOs) and Deputy Directors of Public Instruction (DDPIs) are expected to ensure enrolment of children in the age group 7 to 14 if they are not in school and the Women and Child Development Department is supposed to hold awareness programmes and mass campaigns to prevent child marriages and to educate parents on the importance of their wards going to school.
Youth Congress activists tonsure their heads, as they sit in protest at the Ambedkar statue near Tankbund against the police brutality towards students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Monday. (Photo: DC)

Hyderabad: In light of the sexual assault against girl students of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), students in Telangana showed their solidarity, by organising protests in the city.

A general meeting which was held at the University of Hyderabad was attended by a large number of students from other universities too.

They stressed on the need for setting up of gender sensitisation of committees in all universities and state colleges.

Sunita Rao, a student, says, In this era, when everyone encourages their girl children to be educated, we must also ensure their safety before anything else. Having a gender sensitisation committee, will make sure that girl students will have a strong voice. Or else, it will just be a case of the security guard at BHU who questioned the girl for her behaviour.

During the meet, the students also questioned the lack of response by the administration.

The protest held by the girl students is for their safety which should be provided by any institution. The administration must lend them its support and ensure that the wrongdoers are punished, said a student.

Earlier this month, a case was taken up by the gender sensitisation committee at UoH against checking of mens hostels to ensure that women students are not present.

Students claim that gender segregation is not the solution, safety should be ensured.

Students spoke up against the lathi charge on protesting students of BHU which was a means of silencing by brute force.
CHENNAI: DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Monday condemned attempts by some Sri Lankan nationals to attack MDMK chief Vaiko after he spoke about the genocide in northern Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

I condemn the incident in Geneva. I take objection to the way a person from India was treated by Sri Lankan nationals and this has led to it becoming a cause for concern. I request the Indian Government to condemn the incident, Stalin said.

Vaiko addressed the UNHRC meeting last week and accused the Sri Lankan Government of presiding over genocide. He also lamented about the lack of progress in investigations into the atrocities committed allegedly by the Sri Lankan army.
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government on Monday appointed former Madras High Court judge, Justice A. Arumughaswamy, to probe the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

The State government said a government order (GO) has been issued in this regard. To conduct inquiry and submit a report on the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, an inquiry commission headed by retired high court judge, Justice A Arumughaswamy, has been constituted, the official statement said.

The former judges name was announced more than a month after the Tamil Nadu Government decided to institute a one-member judicial commission to go into the death of Jayalalithaa, who breathed her last at 11.30 pm on December 5, 2016.

Probe panel head had been active in judiciary for 31 yrs

Arumughaswamy was born on April 28, 1952 to A.K. Ardhanariswamy and Mariyammal. After completing early education at North Municipal high school, Coimbatore, he graduated from Government Arts college, Coimbatore in 1971. Following completion of his law degree in 1974, he practised as a Lawyer in the office of V. Mylsamy in Coimbatore.

He joined the subordinate judiciary as District Munsif in May 1986, was promoted as Sub-judge in 1991 and as District Judge in January 1998.

After serving in various districts, he was posted as Registrar General, Madras High Court, on March 31, 2009. He was elevated as Judge, Madras High Court on February 17, 2010.

After his retirement from the service on April 27, 2014, he assumed charge as Charman of the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai. He served the DRAT for two years and demitted office as Chairperson, Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai on February 8, 2016. He also served as a Judicial Member, CAT, Madras Bench, Chennai from March 21, 2016 till April this year.
Thiruvananthapuram: UAE Supreme Council member and Sharjah ruler Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammed Al Qasimi arrived here on a four-day visit to the state on Sunday. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers and top officials received him at the airport by 3.30 p.m. Mr. Al Qasimi, who has come as a state guest, was also given a guard of honour by the state police before he proceeded to Hotel Leela Raviz at Kovalam where he is halting.

Mr. Al Qasimi will hold a meeting with governor P. Sathasivam at Raj Bhavan and also have an interaction with the chief minister and ministers on Monday. Various initiatives for strengthening mutual cooperation in sectors like tourism, health, education and trade as well as welfare of NRKs are likely to come up for discussions. The state will host a cultural event for him at Hotel Leela Raviz on Monday evening.

On Tuesday morning, Mr. Al Qasimi will visit the chief minister's official residence, Cliff House. The Calicut University will confer honorary doctorate on Mr. Al Qasimi at a function to be held at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. He will deliver a lecture on the topic 'Sultan and historical documents' at Taj Vivanta hotel. Mr. Al Qasimi will make a personal visit to Kochi on Wednesday and leave the state by evening.

Sources said that the state has high expectations from his visit which is expected to boost the states efforts to woo Arab tourists. The state would also press for various welfare schemes for NRKs like affordable housing and culture centre, which were mooted by Mr. Vijayan during his Sharjah visit in December last.
New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for finally recognising his party's vision of setting up IITs and IIMs in the country.

He was referring to Swaraj's hard hitting speech at the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, where she gave the examples of these premier institutes as Indias achievements and said Pakistan, in contrast, had produced terrorists.

Rahul today tweeted, Sushma ji, thank you for finally recognising Congress governments' great vision and legacy of setting up IITs and IIMs.

Referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasis speech at the UNGA where he accused India of violating human rights and state sponsored terrorism, Swaraj said ,We established scientific and technical institutions which are the pride of the world. But what has Pakistan offered to the world and indeed to its own people apart from terrorism?

The first IIM was established in Calcutta in 1961 by the Jawaharlal Nehru government, on the recommendation of the Planning Commission. There are 20 IIMs in the country. IIT Kharagpur, the first of the 23 such institutes, was formally inaugurated in 1951.

During its first convocation in 1956, then prime minister Nehru had said it was a fine monument of India, representing Indias urges, Indias future in the making.
Hyderabad: BJP president Amit Shah has postponed his proposed tour to Telangana state in October till after the completion of the Gujarat Assembly elections next year. BJP general secretaries will take up whirlwind tours of the starting next month to prepare the party to emerge as an alternative to the TRS.

State BJP president Dr K. Laxman, who attended the partys two-day national executive meet, said Mr Shah had informed him that he could not spare time till the Gujarat elections which may take place in January.

After the Gujarat polls, our party president will be touring Telangana state, In the meantime, party general secretaries Ram Lal (organisation) and Ram Madhav will tour the state and gear up the party workers, Dr Laxman said.

He said Mr Shah had expressed happiness over his (Dr Laxmans) report on how the party was scripting strategies and campaigning to counter the TRS, including the formation of 23,000 polling booth-level committees and enrolling 30 lakh members into the party.

Replying to a question, Dr Laxman said several Congress leaders were contacting BJP leaders to enter the party, but the party had decided be selective on who it would allow inside.
CHENNAI: The DMK whip has approached Madras High court seeking direction to the Speaker to disqualify deputy CM O. Pannerselvam and 10 other MLAs for voting against the Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami during the vote of confidence motion moved by him in the Assembly on February 18.

Earlier, Justice M. Duraiswamy posted the hearing to October 4 on petitions challenging the disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs belonging to TTV Dhinakaran group and a petition opposing the notices issued by the Assembly Privileges Committee to 21 DMK MLAs for showing gutka packets. Meanwhile, on Monday, the DMK whip filed another petition in Madras High Court.

Chakrapani said that inaction of Speaker is mala fide and he had not even issued notice to them. The inaction of Speaker against the 11 MLAs is deliberate, he said.

The Speaker has not even issued notice to them in accordance with provisions of 10th Schedule of the Constitution and Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules 1986 for defying the party-line whip issued by the Chief Government whip S. Rajendran.

The 11 MLAs- O. Panneerselvam, Aarukutty, Shanmuganathan, Manickam, Manoharan, K. Pandiarajan, Manoranjitham, Saravanan, Semmalai, Chinnaraj and R. Natraj- voted against the government. Pollachi Legislator Arunkumar had abstained from voting without the permission of the party, he added.

He noted that they were not even condoned within 15 days of voting. Despite lapse of more than six months, notices had not been issued to them, which shows that the Speaker acting in a partisan manner.

As per Para 2 (1) (b) of the 10th Schedule, if a member of the House votes against the whip and such conduct in not condoned within 15 days, then such member is disqualified for being member of the House on the ground of defection.

The Speakers silence prompted the present CM to select O. Panneerselvam as Deputy CM and K. Pandirajan as a minister. This is a clear act of corruption and quid pro quo for supporting a minority government, he said.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing before the vacation judge on September 27.
Supporters of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa pay tribute to her in Chennai. Jayalalithaa died in December last year. (Photo: AFP/File)

CHENNAI: From the time former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa was wheeled into Apollo Hospitals on September 22 last year to her death after 75 days and even nine months later her hospitalisation and circumstances that led to her passing away have generated much political heat in Tamil Nadu with the ruling party and the Opposition trading charges against each other.

While it was just the Opposition parties like DMK and PMK that demanded an inquiry instituted by the central government into Jayalalithaas hospitalisation till the ruling party split in February this year, the then rebellious O. Panneerselvam also jumped onto the bandwagon and went to the extent of even accusing the VK Sasikala family of having a role in her death.

In fact, Panneerselvam made an inquiry into Jayalalithaas death the centerpiece of his demands for a merger with the majority camp led by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. Though the AIADMK ministers and leaders were maintaining that there was no mystery behind Jayalalithaas death and that every possible treatment was given to her till the party was united, they changed the track as things and loyalties changed.

Opposition Leader M.K. Stalin, PMK founder S Ramadoss, CPIs R Mutharasan and CPI-Ms G Rama-krishnan were unanimous in demanding a detailed probe into Jayalalithaas hospitalisation and her subsequent death right from day one. Ironically, the same ministers who mocked at Stalin for demanding an inquiry said later that they "lied" to the people about her health condition fearing Sasikala.

After Sasikala was elected as leader of AIADMK Legislature Party, the government flew in British expert Dr Richard Beale to explain to the media on the treatment given to her.

But, that failed to cut ice with the people and parties kept on demanding a probe into the circumstances that led to her death.

Chief Minister Palaniswami, who was dead opposed to forming any inquiry, had to announce a one-member judicial commission owing to political compulsions as Panneerselvam dug in his heels on the issue of the probe, making it a pre-condition for the merger.

And the latest salvo came from Forest Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan, who told a public meeting that they lied that Jayalalithaa ate idlis and solid food during her hospital stay.

We lied as we fe-ared Sasikala, he said at the meeting and apologised to the people for lying to them.

On their part, the Sasikala family has been putting up a brave front on the issue saying they were ready for any kind of probe into Jayalalithaas issue.

Sasikalas nephew TTV Dhinakaran on Monday claimed he will submit a video recording of Jayalalithaa watching television at Apollo Hospitals to any inquiry commission or agency that would go into her death.
CHENNAI: Fisheries minister D. Jayakumar on Monday mocked at actor-activist Kamal Haasans announcement that he would take a plunge into politics, saying he cant dream to capture power just by being on Twitter.

Responding to Kamals criticism that the state government has failed to control incidence of dengue, Jayakumar said the Health and Family Welfare Department has been taking enough steps to prevent spread of the disease in Tamil Nadu.

Kamal (Haasan) thinks politics is a movie which runs for 100 days. Is the chief minister's post some kind of a toy that can be purchased from the market? People should recognise and people should accept. It does not happen on Twitter alone, Jayakumar said.

The minister was responding to questions on Kamals announcement that he would soon join politics. While responding to questions, Jayakumar also cited Sivaji Ganesans failure in politics though he was extremely popular among the people of Tamil Nadu through his films.

Jayakumars criticism against Kamal comes a day after the actor took to Twitter asking people to remove the Government that has done nothing to remove dengue. Kamal has been venting his anger against the state government on several issues, including corruption at various levels, through his Twitter account.

Actors draw crowds at meetings and the entire crowd will not translate into votes. If one aspires to come to politics, he should be among the people working for them. Interacting or merely speaking on Twitter does not help, Jayakumar said.

AIADMK ministers have been taking pot shots at Kamal on his political ambitions, saying he should launch first instead of merely talking on Twitter.
Roy was also under the partys watch for his frequent meetings with the BJP leadership in Delhi.

Kolkata: Senior Trinamul leader and Member of Parliament Mukul Roy quit the party on Monday, fuelling speculation that he might join the BJP.

Mr Roy also said he was leaving the party with a heavy heart, since he no longer held a post in the party.

Meanwhile, Trinamul has suspended Mukul Roy for six years. The once-trusted lieutenant, Mr Roy was sidelined by Mamata Banerjee recently and stripped of all posts. He was removed as the partys vice-president and also thrown out of two parliamentary panels. The difference between Mr Roy and Ms Mamata grew after Mr Roy was grilled by the CBI in the multi-crore Sharada chit fund scam. The party leadership suspected he had revealed a few secrets to the investigators.

Mr Roy was also under the partys watch for his frequent meetings with the BJP leadership in Delhi.

Addressing the media in Kolkata, Mr Roy said, Today is Mahapanchami. The people of Bengal are celebrating Durga Puja. They would not like to hear about political issues at this time. I will reveal my future plans after the Pujas.

He added, My association with the Trinamul began in 1997. With a heavy heart, I inform you that I no longer have any post in the party. I am only a primary member and I belong to the working committee. I am resigning from the committee and have sent an email to the leadership. As soon as Durga Puja ends, I will resign from the Rajya Sabha MPs post.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KPCC presidents mantle may fall on a senior leader without group affiliations. The probable names doing the rounds are of MPs Mullapally Ramachandran and K. V. Thomas whom the AICC thinks can lead all sections of the party. A group leader Oommen Chandy may be asked to take up the job if the solar commission report on the scam, which is likely to be released on Tuesday, gives him a clean chit.

The UDF allies also want a senior Congress leader to lead the front. The AICC is keen on electing one of the three-- Oommen Chandy, Mullapally Ramachandran and K. V. Thomas, said a senior Congress leader. Mr Chandys loyalist Benny Behanan, I group leaders like K. C. Venugopal MP, KPCC vice- president V. D. Satheesan MLA and Mr K. Sudhakaran are also eyeing the post. The Chennithala camp has technically agreed to support an A group candidate. Mr Venugopal, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, where Assembly elections may take place in December, may not be spared from his duties.

Mr Satheesan is a strong critic of the LDF government and a corrective force within the party. If the AICC promotes a second-rung leader, Satheesan has a chance. But he is a Nair and the AICC wants to maintain communal equations by bringing in a Christian as PCC chief since the BJP has been wooing the Christian community, said a source.

A faction keeps fingers crossed

The Congress leaders have been keeping their fingers crossed as the solar commission was set to present its report here on Tuesday. It is learnt that Justice G. Sivarajan, the one-man commission, will hand over the report to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his chamber in the secretariat at 3 p.m. Any adverse remarks against former chief minister Oommen Chandy, who is involved in the scam, will have serious consequences for the A group. The one-man commission was appointed by the UDF government after the solar scam broke out. The Sivarajan commission was appointed as per the demand raised by the LDF which had laid a siege on the secretariat on August 12, 2013, said a Congress MLA.

The commission was appointed in October 2013 by the Chandy ministry. Political Affairs Committee member Benny Behanan, a prominent Chandy group leader, told DC that they were awaiting the outcome of the commission report. The inquiry went on for several years. Let the commission reveal its findings and let truth prevail, said Mr Behanan. Sources close to Mr Chandy said that he was sure of getting a clean chit. He had come under a cloud due to the phone calls made by his personal staff and the use of his forged letter heads by the fraudsters to defraud the solar customers to the tune of `7 crore.
CHENNAI: After announcing his intention to launch a political party, actor-activist Kamal Haasan on Monday reiterated his aversion to the BJP, saying saffron is not my colour as he is a rationalist. He went on to suggest tha his friend Rajinikanth is a suitable ally of the ruling party at the Centre because of his religious beliefs.

In an interview to a television channel, Kamal accused both AIADMK and DMK of corruption and asserted that he was taking a plunge into politics on the plank of fighting against graft. During the course of the interview, Kamal also spoke about working with Rajinikanth in the future on issues of mutual interest and launching his political party by the end of 2017.

The people of Tamil Nadu have witnessed the corruption of both DMK and AIADMK. My fight is against corruption. I cannot commit a time but we are trying to launch (the new party) before New Year. I am talking to various people, taking advice from them. As there is no time limit, I cannot say, the legendary star was quoted as saying by the television channel.

He was responding to questions on his political launch and when he would take a formal plunge into electoral politics. Kamal has been on a learning curve for the past few weeks by meeting politicians like Kerala Chief Minister Pinnarayi Vijayan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and sharing ideas on fighting corruption and communalism.

Kamal has been maintaining that saffron was definitely not his colour and reiterated his statement saying he still stood by it. On Rajinikanths entry into politics, Kamal said: I speak to Rajini regularly, he is a friend. I informed him when I decided to join politics. Although there are no plans right now, I am open to working with him. He seems like a more suitable ally for the saffron party because of his religious beliefs, while I am a rationalist.
With Angela Merkel winning her fourth term as German Chancellor in Sundays general election, the voters have spoken. It is a mandate for continuity and a feeling of being comfortable with a leader who is cautious as well as skilled in protecting her countrys interests and prosperity. At the same time, voters have punished her for her refugee policy by reducing her partys margin and swinging to the far-right. There was a time not long ago that Ms Merkel was fighting against majority sentiments by welcoming more than a million largely Muslim refugees from the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts. But she deflected criticism and did a dubious financial deal with Turkey to drastically stem the flow. Germany has changed, and is still changing. For one thing, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has entered Parliament for the first time since the Second World War. It has been feeding on anti-migrant sentiments, is sceptical of the European Union and is said to shelter neo-Nazis. AfD is set to become the third-largest party in Parliament, which is likely to fragment the political landscape. After ruling the country for 12 years, this will be Ms Merkels most portentous term after she crosses the hurdle of forming an uneasy three-way coalition with the Free Democrats and Greens, a necessity stemming from its system of proportional representation. The Social Democrats, her last coalition partner, did poorly under the leadership of Martin Schultz, but the liberal Free Democrats, once the CDUs favoured partner, are back in the Bundestag after a four-year gap.

Ms Merkels personal relations with US President Donald Trump are decidedly cool, and she has made a point of suggesting that Europe must rethink its security policies. The White House has been driving the point that all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) must pay two per cent of their GDP, a target Germany and many other members are yet to achieve. But Ms Merkels success in her new term will, in substance, depend upon how well she can form a coalition with Frances new President, Emmanuel Macron, who is seeking to reform his countrys economy. This is specially true in view of Britains impending departure from the European Union. Besides, she has to rework her tight money policy, which has made her country rich but left fellow EU members disgruntled. Ms Merkel is often billed as the worlds most powerful woman. With an unpredictable President in the United States, her responsibilities as a world leader have increased. At the same time, Germanys past continues to haunt its citizens and rulers alike and there is an inevitable hesitation in claiming a leadership role, particularly where military might is involved. Cautious by nature and having grown up in Communist East Germany, Ms Merkel is wary of Moscow even though she knows its ways and speaks Russian.

Mr Macron has ambitious plans for France and the EU, particularly in promoting integration. But unlike his meteoric rise, his popularity has been ebbing and his capacity to fulfil his ambitions is in doubt. Ms Merkel can take European integration forward only as far as French circumstances permit. Especially with Brexit, the French-German engine is the vanguard in shaping the continent. First, Ms Merkel has to get her coalition arithmetic and politics right. Next, she needs to evolve a broader role for her country in a Europe frustrated with President Trump and some former Communist EU members signalling illiberal tendencies with Hungarys Viktor Urban officially seeking an illiberal system and Poland blatantly politicising its judicial administration.

Germany needs to come to terms with todays and tomorrows world. It has paid for its unspeakable conduct during the Nazi era in reparations and otherwise. A nation cannot always live in the dark period of its past although there are any number of leaders using the Nazi epithet to bully the country. And neo-Nazi has now become another ism to add to the list of the modern worlds bewildering spate of beliefs. Britain was decidedly uncomfortable with the collective leadership idea of the European Union because it never got over the loss of its own impressive colonial empire. It is now discovering the cost of leaving the EU as the painful process drags on, seeking a two-year grace period after it leaves the group. Others are defying the EU in more subtle ways, such as the former Communist members refusal to take in any Muslim refugees.

Ms Merkels first task therefore is to discipline the erring EU members and to drive home the point that they have no option but to observe the rules of the club in an age in an uncertain age with the US shedding its world responsibilities, with giving an opening to China. If Europe cannot take its own defence seriously, it cannot complain about American vacillations. The German Chancellor must recognise that she has not merely to cope with an assertive China that is seeking to bring its Road and Belt Initiative to the heart of Europe but a Russia that wants to be counted. Apart from the charge of Moscows interference in European elections, Ukraine is a major stumbling block to improving relations. Ms Merkel has already played a part in seeking peace in Ukraines east with its Russian-speaking pro-Moscow population, but the agreements have not worked.

The West imposed sanctions on Russia after its appropriation of the Crimean peninsula, later to be followed up by intervention in eastern Ukraine. The mistake by Ms Merkel, and by Europes and America, is that they have converted the country into a trophy won in the Soviet Unions defeat in the Cold War. Looking at Ukraine with its substantial area and proximity to Russia and its very close religious links with Russian culture and civilisation, no Russian leader would accept Ukraine being hijacked by the West. Crimea, we may recall, was given away by Nikita Khrushchev to Ukraine in an era when the latter was a part of the Soviet Union.
It may not be surprising that an "aquatic desert" turtle faces long odds in life, but environmentalists and biologists still welcomed this week's endangered species designation for the Sonoyta mud turtle.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced the designation Wednesday, citing threats from climate change to loss of habitat for the southern Arizona animal, whose numbers are believed to have dwindled to as low as 100 turtles.

"The Sonoyta mud turtle is clearly in danger of extinction," Steve Spangle, a field supervisor with Fish and Wildlife's Arizona Ecological Services, said in a release announcing the listing.

"Protecting it under the Endangered Species Act will marshal increased attention and the resources needed by our US and Mexican conservation partners to improve and expand its dwindling habitat and populations," Spangle said.

The turtle, a subspecies of the Sonoran mud turtle, is found in northern Mexico and in the Quitobaquito Springs in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, its only natural habitat in the US. Those springs are also the only habitat for the Quitobaquito snail and the desert caper plant, according to the National Park Service.

The Sonoyta mud turtle is a dark, pocket-sized freshwater turtle that lives in permanent aquatic habitats and eats insects, snails, fish, frogs and some plants. They have a mottled pattern on their head, neck and limbs. They must have land and water in close proximity.

"That is the problem," said John Iverson, a biology professor at Earlham College in Indiana, who first identified the Sonoyta turtle as a subspecies in the 1980s. "They need water and the hydro period is decreasing."

Their aquatic nature can be seen in their webbed feet, he said.

Doug Duncan, a fish biologist for Fish and Wildlife, said the turtles face a number of threats ranging from a low water supply, to climate change, warranting protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Another threat is a lack of genetic variation caused by the small population, Iverson said.

"Whenever you have a small population there is a risk of genetic bottlenecks," he said.

Environmentalists welcomed the endangered designation, which has been under consideration for 20 years and was the subject of a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity.

Noah Greenwald, the center's endangered species director, said that when "there is a species down to just one population in the US, and just a few in Mexico, the protections are needed."

Spangle said that with the designation, the US will work with Mexico to expand the populations and habitat. Iverson said that the turtle "is as safe as it can be, given the circumstances," and that "Mexico is where the problem is."

Other groups of the turtle live in Mexico, but Iverson said their habitat there is polluted, and water is pumped at an unhealthy rate.

"Hopefully by putting it on the list we can get them to clean up their act," Iverson said of Mexican officials. He said that despite the fact that Mexico has more populations of the turtle, it's likely "the last to go will be the one in the US"

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This years study reveals promising developments in the importance being placed on IT security. Businesses globally are starting to view it as a strategic investment and the share of IT budgets that is being spent on IT security is growing, reaching almost a quarter (23 per cent) of IT budgets in large corporations.

While more companies are investing in cybersecurity regardless of ROI (63% in 2017 compared to 56 per cent in 2016), a new study from Kaspersky Lab and B2B International has found that the average cost of a cybersecurity incident is growing. According to the report IT Security: cost-center or strategic investment, the most costly cybersecurity breaches for businesses of all sizes result from the failures of third parties, which means that companies should not only invest in their own protection, but also pay attention to that of their business partners.

This years study reveals promising developments in the importance being placed on IT security. Businesses globally are starting to view it as a strategic investment and the share of IT budgets that is being spent on IT security is growing, reaching almost a quarter (23 per cent) of IT budgets in large corporations.

This pattern is consistent across businesses of all sizes, including very small businesses where resources are usually in short supply. However, while security appears to be receiving a larger proportion of the IT budget pie, the pie itself is getting smaller. For example, the average IT security budget for enterprises in absolute terms dropped from $25.5M last year to $13.7M in 2017.

This is a concern for businesses, especially given the fact that - unlike IT security budgets - security breaches arent getting cheaper to recover from. This year, SMBs paid an average of $87.8K per security incident (compared to $86.5k in 2016), while enterprises faced an even larger increase of $992K in 2017, compared to $861K in 2016. In the case of industrial organizations, ineffective cybersecurity has shown to have cost them up to $497k per year from incidents, apart from real damages the attacks inflict on the physical world. Every second ICS company has experienced between one and five incidents last year, according to a survey by Kaspersky Lab and Business Advantage.

Nonetheless, raising IT security budgets is only part of the solution, as the most staggering losses stem from the incidents involving third parties and their cyber-failures. SMBs had to pay up to $140K for incidents affecting infrastructure hosted by a third party, while enterprises lost nearly two million dollars ($1.8M) as a result of breaches affecting suppliers that they share data with, and $1.6M because of IaaS-providers insufficient levels of protection.

As soon as a business gives another organization access to its data or infrastructure, weaknesses in one may affect them both. This issue is becoming increasingly important as governments worldwide rush to introduce new legislations, requiring organizations to provide information about how they share and protect personal data.

The company also developed Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity (KICS) to address the unique security requirements of industrial environments, increasingly the target of vicious cyber espionage and cyber terrorism in recent years.

Kaspersky Labs recent recognition from this years Asian Manufacturing Awards in Singapore as the Best Industrial Cyber Security Provider, based on the demonstrated capability of KICS, shows our competence and commitment to help secure not just business of all sizes but even the most complex of infrastructure that the public relies on, says Stephan Neumeier, Managing Director at Kaspersky Lab Asia Pacific.

Kaspersky Lab offers solutions that cover the various needs of SMB and enterprise companies related to endpoint protection, DDoS protection, cloud security, advanced threat defense and cybersecurity services.

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The first protocol of flexible display, confirming that a foldable phone is possible, was showcased in 2013 by Samsung. Since then, the company has been expected to show off the innovative smartphone in the market. The expectations almost died down with new releases and no foldable smartphone to see, until Koh Dong-jin, president of Samsungs mobile business, said the company is setting its eyes on 2018 to release a Galaxy smartphone using its bendable screen technology.

The long-awaited smartphone with a foldable display has now been certified in Samsungs home market, South Korea. According to LetsGoDigital, the phone has appeared in a filing from the Korean National Radio Research Agency (NRRA), bearing a model number SM-G888N0. Also, in the filing the device is listed out as a radio equipment for global LTE communication, while it was spotted as a smartphone at the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Unfortunately, the filing does not reveal any significant design detail of the smartphone. But previous concepts say that the foldable display technology will let the device to alter between a tab and a smartphone to serve the users accordingly.

Koh had earlier hinted on design issues Samsung will be facing building the device, but the firm aims to launch the device next year. "As the head of the business, I can say our current goal is next year. When we can overcome some problems for sure, we will launch the product," Koh had said.

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President Donald Trump issued a new open-ended travel ban on Monday that saw North Korea, Venezuela and Chad among a list of eight countries cited for poor security and lack of cooperation with US authorities.

The new restrictions replace an expiring 90-day measure that had locked Mr Trump in political and legal battles since he took office in January over what critics alleged was an effort to block Muslims from the US. But the White House stressed it was to protect the US from terror attacks.

We are taking action to protect the safety and security of the American people by establishing a minimum security baseline for entry into the US, Mr Trump said in a statement. We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation, he said.

Sudan, one of the six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list.

The US has recently praised Sudans efforts in fighting terrorism ahead of a decision expected in October on whether to lift decades-old sanctions on Khartoum.

Full bans were newly placed on nationals from North Korea and Chad, and extended for five countries on the original list: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

Limited restrictions, meanwhile, were placed on Venezuela, for officials from government agencies, including interior and foreign ministries, the main police and intelligence services, and other agencies. Mr Trumps order said Caracas was not cooperating on security issues.

Officials speaking on background stressed that the decision was taken after an extensive review of high-risk countries, which were all given the opportunity to improve their security standards.

The Trump administration officials stressed that the restrictions are conditions-based, not time-based, indicating that significant improvements by countries could see them delisted from the travel ban.

The officials also said the addition of North Korea and Venezuela demonstrated that the measure was based on security standards and was not a Muslim ban, as detractors have argued.
Exports of refined petroleum to the North will be limited to 2 million barrels per year and sales of liquefied natural gas banned outright, effective January 1, the Commerce Ministry said. (Photo: File | AP)

Beijing: China announced Saturday that it will limit oil exports to North Korea under UN sanctions over its nuclear and missile development, further reducing support from Pyongyang's last major trading partner, energy supplier and diplomatic ally.

Exports of refined petroleum to the North will be limited to 2 million barrels per year and sales of liquefied natural gas banned outright, effective January 1, the Commerce Ministry said. China doesn't disclose details of trade with the isolated North, so it was not immediately clear how large the possible reduction might be.

China also will ban textile imports from the North, the ministry said. Textiles are one of the North's last major sources of foreign revenue following repeated rounds of UN sanctions under which Beijing cut off purchases of coal, iron ore, seafood and other goods.

China accounts for some 90 percent of the North's trade, making its cooperation critical to any efforts to derail Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.

Chinese leaders were long the North's diplomatic protectors but express increasing frustration with the government of Kim Jong-Un. They have supported the latest rounds of UN Security Council sanctions but are reluctant to push Pyongyang too hard for fear the government might collapse. They also argue against doing anything that might hurt ordinary North Koreans.

Petroleum exports for use in the North's ballistic missile program or other activities are banned by UN sanctions, the Commerce Ministry said.
Hindu Council of Australia called on MLA to voluntarily take the advertisement off air. (Photo: Youtube grab)

Sydney: Hundreds of people attended rallies in Australias major cities on Sunday to protest an advertisement the Indian community described as highly insulting in its depiction of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha.

The India Forum Australia (IFA) arranged the protests in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in response to a Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) advertisement, aired earlier this month.

The ad featured various religious figures including the Hindu god, considered vegetarian by followers, sitting down to a meal of lamb.

IFA president Nihal Agar said on Sunday the MLA had not listened to the Indian communitys earlier concerns when the ad initially screened.

To say something is legal is one thing, but its something else to touch the heart and that is how MLA has failed our community, he said.

This is not the multicultural Australia that we truly love.

Earlier this month, Indias High Commission in Canberra lodged a complaint with the Australian government asking for the ads removal.

The Advertising Standards Bureau dismissed complaints, saying Lord Ganesha was depicted positively and that the advertisements intent was to be inclusive.

Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs, Zed Seselja, told Reuters on Sunday that he had met Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and leaders of Australias Hindu community because of the genuine hurt that had been caused.

Seselja said organisations needed to consider the impact on people of faith when they exercised their freedom of speech but cautioned against censorship.

An MLA spokesman said in a statement after the ad first aired that the organisation had undertaken extensive research and consultation while making the advertisement.

The industry association has a history of controversial campaigns, geared at generating discussion and promoting meat consumption. Another advertisement this year featuring indigenous Australians welcoming boat arrivals to a barbecue on a beach was described as insensitive while a previous campaign was criticised for promoting violence against vegans.
On Sunday, Myanmar's army said it had discovered two mud pits filled with 28 Hindu corpses (Photo:AFP)

Yangon: Myanmar troops on Monday searched for dozens of missing Hindu villagers feared dead after the discovery of a nearby mass grave of 28 corpses in Rakhine state, evidence of what the army says is a massacre by Rohingya Muslim militants.

Northern Rakhine was plunged into crisis after Rohingya militants raided police posts last month, unleashing an army crackdown that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The vast majority -- more than 430,000 -- are Rohingya Muslims who fled across the border to Bangladesh from a military campaign the UN says likely amounts to ethnic cleansing.

But tens of thousands of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, and the region's small population of Hindus, have also been internally displaced, saying they were attacked by Rohingya militants.

On Sunday, Myanmar's army said it had discovered two mud pits filled with 28 Hindu corpses, including women and children, outside a village in northern Rakhine.

Hindu villagers from the area told AFP last week Rohingya militants stormed into their communities on August 25, killing many and taking others into the forest.

"The security troops continue searching for remaining Hindu people around the places of the pits," said a statement posted on army chief Min Aung Hlaing's Facebook page.

Displaced Hindus from the area have shown AFP a list of 102 people from two villages who relatives and community leaders fear are dead.

A police officer in northern Rakhine said authorities are trying to verify that figure as they look for more bodies.

"We will continue searching together with villagers," the officer told AFP, requesting anonymity.

With the government blocking access to the conflict zone, it is difficult to verify the maelstrom of accusations.

But the army has steadfastly blamed the Rohingya -- a stateless Muslim minority it has been trying to eject from Myanmar for years.

The focal point of the unrest, northern Rakhine's Maungdaw district, was once home to a fragile mosaic of ethnic groups, dominated by the Rohingya.

Vast swathes of the border region are now completely emptied of Muslims residents, with nearly 40 percent of Rohingya villages abandoned in under a month.

On Sunday the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees called the influx of Rohingya into Bangladesh the "fastest and most urgent refugee emergency in the world".

The vast needs of the hungry, wounded and traumatised Rohingya swarming into Bangladesh have created a separate humanitarian crisis on that side of the border.

But there is little sympathy for the Muslim minority inside Myanmar, where many in the Buddhist majority loathe the group and insist they are foreign invaders.

The Rohingya has faced decades of persecution from a Buddhist nationalist army and discrimination under laws that stripped them of citizenship and restrict their movements.

Analysts say that matrix of repression helped give rise to the the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the rag-tag group who plunged the region into crisis with its August 25 attacks.
As one contemplates the current threats to global peace, the developments on the Korean peninsula loom large. The United States has adopted economic sanctions as a coercive tool to counter the challenge posed by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas (DPRK) pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. However, past experiences, especially the case of Iran, also part of the Axis of Evil for similar reasons, highlight the limitations of sanctions as a solo tactic. The rationale for such an argument in this case is both strategic and geopolitical.



In an interview in 2010, Harvard professor Meghan OSullivan had expressed the inability of economic sanctions to meet the strategic ends when employed unaccompanied by other tools of foreign policy like military and diplomacy. According to OSullivan, before deciding the tools of coercion, the desired outcome should be articulated. The strategy should either aim for behavioural change, containment or regime change. Accordingly, sanctions need to be applied with the support of military or diplomatic tactics.



In the case of the ongoing tussle between the US and DPRK, the fundamental communication of intentions is yet to take place effectively. Supreme leader Kim Jong-Un has shown interest in negotiating with the US, while President Trump, like his predecessor, has sought a complete reversal towards denuclearisation before any negotiations can begin. What has ensued is Trump terming Kim a madman and Kim threatening the US with a thermonuclear bomb test and missile launches in the Pacific. The economic sanctions against DPRK -- mainly oil and textile embargoes -- have had minimal effect on the North Korean regime.



Geopolitically, unlike the Iran case, where the country is surrounded by unfriendly states, with the exception of Lebanon and Syria, the DPRK is in a relatively advantageous position. The impact that the oil embargo was intended to achieve has been offset by Chinas oil trade with DPRK. North Koreans have also found economic opportunities in Russia, thereby diluting the repercussions of economic sanctions. In addition, the US should understand the shortcomings of sanctions in influencing leadership decisions in dictatorial regimes. With press censorship and Kims own internal propaganda machinery, the effect of the sanctions seems ominous.



China has also criticised the US for its position on using coercive tactics against North Korea. China has vocally supported DPRKs stance that negotiations can indeed take place subject to the latters conditions, not Americas. US-South Korean joint military exercises have also been identified by China and Russia as potential irritants in any opportunities for negotiation with the DPRK. Such assertions have made the US look like an intransigent superpower concentrating merely on arm-twisting rather than seeking peace. With Chinese support and Kims strong will, the popular message from Pyongyang is that sanctions might hurt us, but they wont stop us.



An intelligence way out



For a start, the US could benefit from closely studying the Iran case. During 2010, Iran had in former president Ahmadinejad a leader with an outlook similar to Kims, racing towards nuclearisation and disregarding the effects of economic sanctions levied by the US. With limited diplomatic and military options, the US and Israel adopted covert means to sabotage the Iranian nuclear programme. A malware named Stuxnet was injected into Iranian computers which significantly damaged Iranian pursuits. Even the Iranians have accepted the damage Stuxnet had in crippling the country, not just its nuclear programme but also economically. On the other hand, intelligence-led actions by the US and its allies are insignificant currently on the Korean peninsula.



Although the US intelligence community has been effective in using tools to track DPRKs progress in nuclear and missile technology, and have shown analytical rigour in assessing the status of the threat, covert actions to contain it has been limited. On the contrary, North Korean subversive activities in South Korea and Japan  US allies  have been alarming. However, the fact that DPRKs agents are being unmasked provides ample space to develop sources. Covert action is best suited for Trump to maximise the gains of sanctions and also in the long run to gain sufficient insight into decision-making in Pyongyang.



To break the deadlock that the two countries have reached, intelligence operations have to supersede military operations. The US intelligence agencies have to play a central role in first stating the problem and allowing the president to articulate the policy goals clearly. This essentially forms the first step in perception management of the Koreans who are increasingly anti-US, owing greatly to the lunatic rhetoric being exchanged between the leaders. Economic sanctions can have the desired effect only when the target regime and population feel their adverse effects, not if they are absorbed by a wave of nationalist feeling.



Once sufficient penetration has been achieved into the inner circles of decision-making in Pyongyang and the US Presidents statements have sobered down enough to correctly communicate US policy goals in the region, avenues for negotiations can be explored. If the US views DPRK as an independent threat, seeking negotiations make sense. However, if DPRKs actions are being fuelled by Beijings ambitions, then the solution lies far away from Pyongyang. In any case, as OSullivan had stated then, solitary economic sanctions are ineffective even today. Strategic goal-setting and diversification of tactics are inevitable.



(The writer is a PhD scholar in Intelligence Studies and International Security at the University of Leicester, UK)


Two senior police officials were removed and a high level probe was ordered into the violence on the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus on Saturday night and Sunday, that left dozens, including girls, injured.



According to the sources here on Monday prime minister Narendra Modi spoke to UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on the violence and asked for action against the guilty.



UP chief secretary has been asked to conduct a probe into the violence and submit a report to the state government. ''Action will taken on the basis of the report,'' said a senior official here.



Circle officer of Bhelupur and the SHO of Lanka police station have been shunted out after the violence, sources said.



According to the police sources here cases have been registered against one thousand unidentified students in connection with the violence. Over a dozen students have been detained.



Tough the varsity administration made it clear that the inmates had not been directed to vacate the hostels, scores of students were seen leaving the hostels on Monday.



Police on Monday denied that they had beaten the girls and sought to blame the varsity security guards for the same. ''The uniforms of the security guards and cops are the same and hence the confusion,'' claimed a district police official. The district administration has asked the varsity to change the uniform of the security guards immediately.



Violence had erupted after cops used force to disperse hundreds of girls from near the vice-chancellor's residence protesting against increasing incidents of eve teasing on the campus.






A 70-year-old widow was allegedly beaten to death in Rajasthan's Udaipur district by her neighbour, who accused her of being a witch, the police said today.



Champa Devi was working in her field in Kali Ghati village yesterday when the family of her neighbour allegedly abused her and beat her up with sticks leading to her death, a police official said.



According to SHO of Semari police station Yogendra Kumar Vyas, the family thought the woman was using witchcraft against their son and was the cause of his illness.



On a complaint lodged by the victim's son Mohan Lal, a case has been registered against the accused and investigation into the matter is on, the police said.



In a related development, seven tantriks (sorcerers) have been arrested in last two days in Chittorgarh and parts of Bhilwara districts of Rajasthan to curb the practices of exorcism.
Unemployment, right price for farm produce, education, health, GST and demonitisation. These were the dominant themes of which Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hit out at Modi government on the first day of his three-day 'Navsarjan Gujarat' yatra across politically sensitive Saurashtra region on Monday.



Saurashtra accounts for almost one-third of 182-seat Gujarat legislative Assembly and Rahul seeks to cover just about half of them over these three days, balancing both the rural and urban electorate.



The Congress scion began his whirlwind yatra after offering prayers at renowned Dwarkadheesh temple. He came to the temple 27 years after his father had come to pay visit to Lord Krishna. While the day for Congress vice president began on a milder note due to Navratri, that sees low number of tourists to this temple town, he moved on with his tour atop hi-tech convertible bus. Rahul's first stop was Bhatiya village, with several pit stops on highway entry points to villages as Nandana, where he was welcomed by the villagers.



In Bhatiya, Rahul climbed down from the bus to move nearer to the crowd of about 3500. "For a village with population of 6000-7000, it appears to be decent crowd. Moreover, the village is 50:50 BJP and Congress,"said a senior policeman present at the venue. However, what one could visibly see was that the ratio of women present was relatively low. In fact, this was visible across many of the roadside welcomes that Rahul received throughout the day. However, a relatively big group of men could be seen standing in sweltering heat for hours to welcome Rahul in this rural hinterland, a rarity for a Congress leader in quite some time.



The proportion of males and females was relatively more balanced at public meetings as one held at Hanjrapar, a village where Rahul rode to the venue of village chaupal atop a traditionally decorated bullock cart. He appeared relaxed and on a familiar stage. Moving amidst the large number of farmers and womenfolk of the village, he encouraged women to come up to him and share their problems.



We have a school till 8th standard. We want you to help set up school at least till 10th so our children need not travel. We get Narmada water but once in 15 days. My son is a teacher but he is not getting decent salary as he is on a fixed salary of government. The land measurement in entire region for revenue records has been done improperly. We want that government include us farmers in land mapping. We have not received monies under crop insurance. and I am son of a farmer, so was my father and his father. Why do we have to suffer a lot these days.



Taking the cue from these issues raised by the villagers, Rahul began his tirade against BJP. There is discussion globally that India has progressed. But who brought India to present status? It is farmers like your grandfather and your father. Then why only industrialists are being favoured, he asked the audience.



He decried the Centre and banks, saying that if they can write off millions in loans to corporates why not waive farm loans. You are also Indian and they (industrialists ) are also Indians. If you fail to repay debt then you are called defaulters but if they do not pay debt, it becomes an NPA! The industrialists have defaulted over Rs 700,000 crore in debt to banks and their Rs 1.3 lakh crore has been waived off. The banks welcome them for a bailout but send poor to jail. This double standards must not exist, he said.



From Hanjrapar, the Congress scion continued his day and tryst with the heat and dust of rural Saurashtra hinterland, even passing by Moti Khavdi, home to the massive refineries of Reliance Industries and Essar Oil, before reaching Jamnagar for last stop of the day.



In an interesting incident, as soon as Rahul landed at Mithapur in the morning, about 15 minutes drive from Dwarka, Patel quota stir leader, Hardik Patel, who also happens to be in the nearby district of Khambhaliya and Jamnagar for last two days, welcomed Rahul to Gujarat with a tweet. This overture by Hardik is being read with his earlier gesture towards Congress in Gujarat as a plausible shift of Patidars in Saurashtra. Patidaars in the region have traditionally been a strong support of BJP. Interestingly, Hardik is traversing through all the Patel dominated areas, while Rahul is slated to touch upon OBC dominated areas during his three-day trip.



Rahul is scheduled to go to Rajkot on the Day two of his trip and meet the people across villages in Rajkot and Surendranagar district.


Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik today said a committee headed by the chief secretary has been constituted to go into the protest in the Banaras Hindu University campus over an alleged eve-teasing incident.



A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a baton-charge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.



"A committee has been constituted under the chief secretary. Necessary action will be taken on the basis of its report. The committee will see as to how the police had behaved and examine other aspects," he said.



Naik was responding to queries from mediapersons here about the incident. The governor described the incident as sad.



Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already ordered a probe into the incident. In the wake of the violence, the university has advanced the puja holidays from tomorrow till October 2.

Earlier, the holidays were to have started from September 28. Violence erupted after some students, protesting against the alleged eve-teasing incident of Thursday, wanted to meet the Vice Chancellor at his residence on Saturday night, according to police and university sources.



A BHU spokesperson said some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the security guards of the university.



Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students.

Police then used batons to control the situation.
The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed popular Hindi film Peepli Live's co-director Mahmood Farooqui to walk free from the charges of raping a US research scholar.



The court cast its doubt over the incident and concluded that it was not clear if there was a consent of the victim and if Farooqui was able to understand it.



It set aside a trial court's judgement that awarded him a seven year jail term for sexually abusing the research scholar from Columbia University.



Justice Ashutosh Kumar exonerated 45-year-old Farooqui by granting him benefit of doubt for the incident that was alleged to have taken place at his South Delhi flat on March 28, 2015.



After analysing the facts of the case, the single-judge bench said, It remains in doubt as to whether such an incident, as has been narrated by the prosecutrix (victim), took place and if at all it had taken place, it was without the consent/will of the prosecutrix and if it was without the consent of the prosecutrix, whether the appellant could discern/understand the same.



30-year-old victim's counsel Vrinda Grover questioned Farooqui's plea that the act was consensual. She submitted such an argument was never raised before the trial court, so it cannot now be raised in hearing the appeal.



If it appears that some circumstance could be gleaned from such already collected evidence, which enures to the benefit of the accused, the same cannot be brushed aside on the slender ground that such plea was not taken before the trial court, the bench said.



The victim, who had come to India in June, 2014, was introduced to Farooqui for helping her in research purpose in Hindi Literature. On March 28, 2015, she alleged that Farooqui, in an inebriated state, forced himself upon her and committed rape.



Although the HC said the victim can of course be called a sterling witness but it has to be examined if her allgations that the act was without her consent and she was sexually abused were true.



Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented Farooqui, pointed out various circumstances which led Farooqui to believe that there was consent.. Unable to cope with the emotional and mental trauma, the victim has gone back to the USA, she returned back over two months after to lodge an FIR on June 19, 2015.



The WhatsApp communication between the prosecutrix and the appellant on 30.03.2015 signifies that what happened in the night of 28.03.2015 was not acceptable to her...This obviously means that there were some earlier encounters which may not have been of such intensity or passion but physical contact in some measure was accepted, the court noted.



Going though the facts of the case, the court said, There is no communication regarding a fear in the mind of the prosecutrix to the appellant. The prosecutrix makes a mental move of feigning orgasm so as to end the ordeal. What the appellant has been communicated is, even though wrongly and mistakenly, that the prosecutrix is okay with it and has participated in the act.



The appellant had no opportunity to know that there was an element of fear in the mind of the prosecutrix forcing her to go along. After completing the act, the appellant asks the prosecutrix that he wishes to do it again, the court added.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today welcomed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her first tweet, three years after she joined the microblogging site.



She yesterday took to Twitter to share a short promotional film of the state's tourism department.



Today, Omar wrote tweeted, "25,000 followers later @MehboobaMufti finally broke her silence on twitter with a tourism promotion video. Welcome to Twitter CM Sahiba."



The five-minute film titled 'Warmest Place on Earth', which aims to to counter the negative perception about the Valley, has drawn over 1.6 million views in less than 48 hours after its release.



The opposition leader, had hit out at the chief minister yesterday for terming the situation in Kashmir as peaceful.



"There is something disconcerting about the CM claiming this just days after her minister survived an attack that killed 3 people!," Omar had tweeted.



He was reacting to a news report which quoted Mehbooba saying that the situation in Kashmir was peaceful and it was the media which was creating negative perception about the Valley.
Indian soldiers killed four militants during a two-day gun battle near the heavily militarised de facto border in Kashmir that divides the disputed territory with Pakistan, officials said on Monday.



Police said civilians tipped them off on Saturday about the movement of armed militants near the Line of Control (LoC), prompting a search.



Three of the militants were killed Sunday at three different locations, including at a mosque, a police statement said.



"With killing of all the three terrorists who appear to be Pakistanis, a major terrorist attack was averted," the statement added.



Indian army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said Monday that a fourth militant was killed during the continuing search operation of the area.



Four civilians and a soldier were wounded during the shootouts.



Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947 but both claim the territory in full.



Rebel groups have fought for decades roughly 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the territory, demanding independence or a merger of the former Himalayan kingdom with Pakistan.



Tens of thousands, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting.



New Delhi accuses Pakistan of training and pushing armed militants across the LoC to launch attacks on Indian forces.



Islamabad denies the allegations, saying it only provides diplomatic support for the Kashmiri struggle for right to self-determination.
Congress on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the violence against girl students at the Banaras Hindu University, a prominent institution in his Lok Sabha constituency.





Congress also demanded immediate removal of the Vice Chancellor of the university Girish Chandra Tripathi whom it accused of asking the police to take action against the girl students who were protesting against the alleged molestation of their colleague.





The President, who is a Visitor at the university, should take cognizance of the matter and sack the vice chancellor immediately, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here. He also demanded an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge to probe those responsible for ordering the cane charging of the students.



Tewari questioned the prime minister's silence on the violence unleashed on the girl students at the university at a time when hos government was promoting education of the girl child.



We would like to know from the prime minister where does he stand on the atrocities against girl students in his own parliamentary constituency, the Congress leader said.



Our Prime Minister, who is vocal on every issue, takes to Twitter and also does his Mann ki Baat. But he is silent on the incident where girls are beaten up by the state police, Tewari said.



On Saturday, police resorted to a cane charge injuring some protesting students outside their hostel at the BHU. The students had been protesting since Thursday after a first-year student alleged that she was molested by three men on bikes within the campus. Instead of taking strict action against the culprits, Uttar Pradesh police rather resorted to cane charge on the girls. What kind of administration is this, Tewari asked.


AIADMK government on Monday appointed retired High Court judge Arumugaswamy to head the enquiry commission to probe the mystery behind the death of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.



A government order to this effect was issued. Accordingly, Arumugaswamy would investigate about the death of Jayalalithaa and would submit a report to the government shortly.



Bowing to the demand made by rebel faction led by O Panneerselvam (OPS) for the merger, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami recently announced that government would constitute a commission of inquiry, headed by a retired judge, to probe into the "mysterious" death of Jayalalithaa.



Palaniswami said that the government has decided to form a committee since there was speculation among various quarters about the Jayalalithaa's death. Soon after the announcement, both AIADMK factions -- one headed by Palaniswami and another led by Panneerselvem merged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sent out a strong message that his governments battle against corruption is uncompromising and sans nepotism.



I have no relative, he remarked, hinting that he need not protect anyone in his pursuit of providing clean governance, while wrapping up the BJPs national executive this evening.



Though Modis speech was silent on the slowdown of the economy, an issue addressed by party president Amit Shah earlier, the PM defended his decision on demonetisation. He told the gathering of 2,200 BJP leaders and workers at Talkatora Stadium here that my effort is to take money out of the pockets of the rich and give it to the poor even if that is at the cost of (my) government, a BJP leader, who attended the conclave said.



Modi, added the BJP leader, reiterated that his aim was to empower the last man in the queue as espoused by BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay.



His assertion at the closed door, day-long meeting was seen as a response to Opposition criticism that the governments anti-corruption drive had failed since 99% of the tainted money had returned to the banks.



Ahead of Uttar Pradesh polls, Modi had come up with a similar strong defence of demonetisation as he had said that he was a fakir (ascetic) and had little to fear the Opposition.



Briefing media on the salients points of PMs speech, union finance minister Arun Jaitley quoted Modi as having said, My battle against corruption is uncompromising...I have no relative.



Modi, according to Jaitley, also took on the Opposition for making frivolous charges against the NDA regime, which was seen as an oblique reply to Congress leader Rahul Gandhis criticism of the Centre during his recent US tour. Harsh language cannot be an excuse for any substantive charge against the government, Jaitley said, referring to Modis reachout to the party. The senior minister denied that it was in the context of Rahuls critique.



Going beyond polls



The PM also told the conclave that power for the Opposition has been an instrument for enjoyment. But, he urged the party leaders and workers to adhere to mass public participation, which was key to the success of welfare schemes, rather than worrying about 2019 polls. BJP must take democracy beyond elections, Modi advocated in his concluding remarks.



A BJP leader said the PM again ticked off motormouths in the party and lamented that their futile comments to media was overshadowing good work of his government.



Briefing media on the salients points of PMs speech, union finance minister Arun Jaitley quoted Modi as having said, My battle against corruption is uncompromising...I have no relative.



Modi, according to Jaitley, also took on the Opposition for making frivolous charges against the NDA regime, which was seen as an oblique reply to Congress leader Rahul Gandhis criticism of the Centre during his recent US tour. Harsh language cannot be an excuse for any substantive charge against the government, Jaitley said, referring to Modis reachout to the party. The senior minister denied that it was in the context of Rahuls critique.



Going beyond polls



The PM also told the conclave that power for the Opposition has been an instrument for enjoyment. But, he urged the party leaders and workers to adhere to mass public participation, which was key to the success of welfare schemes, rather than worrying about 2019 polls. BJP must take democracy beyond elections, Modi advocated in his concluding remarks.



A BJP leader said the PM again ticked off motormouths in the party and lamented that their futile comments to media was overshadowing good work of his government.


"Prime Minister has said December 2018 is the target. We will do it. This is a tight target but we will do. Every household will get electricity by December 2018," Singh said at the launch of 'Saubhagya' scheme for providing power to all households.



"One more important target we have got, that is 24X7 power, reliable and quality power. We will take a proposal to the Prime Minister," he said.



Singh also talked about the pre-paid model to be adopted for electricity to all households as per government plans.



He stressed on the need for developing skills for the power sector and said that "there is need for skill development for grid and feeder maintenance".



He called upon the industry to invest in the power sector saying that in the coming year, the demand for electricity is going to increase in view of high growth economy.



"I appeal to the industry to come and invest. India's energy requirement is going to quadruple. You please come and invest," he added.



The government has been working hard to electrify all the villages in the country and also want to achieve 24X7 Power for All by March, 2019.



In the 2015 Independence day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the government will electrify the remaining 18,452 unelectrified villages in 1,000 day. However, the power ministry is expected electrify all the inhabited villages by December this year.



According to GARV portal, out of the 18,452 villages, 14,483 villages have been electrified so far. The electrification work is in progress for 2,981 villages while 988 villages are uninhabited.



The portal also indicates that out of the 17.92 core households in the rural areas, 13.87 crore families have got electricity connection. As many as 4.05 crore families are yet to provided electricity connection.

Power Minister R K Singh today said India will achieve the target of power for all by December next year, while all villages will be electrified by the end of this year, much ahead of the schedule.Government had set the deadline for electrifying all villages by May 1, 2018. Similarly, it was aiming to provide 24X7 power to all by March, 2019.
Karnataka government, which has been experiencing drought over the last few years, would urge the Supreme Court to allow it to release lesser quantum of Cauvery water to the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, a state minister said today.



Karnataka's water resources minister M B Patil met senior advocate Fali S Nariman here to finalise the final written submission in this regard to be placed before the top court.



The apex court has reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the 2007 award of Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT), which had ordered Karnataka to release 192 tmc of water for Tamil Nadu every year from June to January. Karnataka has been maintaining that the CWDT award was impractical and cannot be executed due to lack of water in the Cauvery reservoir.



"The fact and the truth remains that Karnataka has been affected. We expect some relief to the state. We have asked the court to reduce it from 192 tmc to 100-102 tmc of water. We will see what the Supreme Court decides," Patil told reporters after the meeting here.



The written submission in this regard will be finalised and placed before the apex court, he said. Sources said that the submission would cover nine key areas, including the plea for allowing it to release less water and the state's opposition to the formation of a Cauvery Water Management Board. Patil said that the state is hopeful of getting the relief in Supreme Court's final verdict keeping in view the fact that it has been hit with water shortage for drinking and irrigation purposes.



The apex court, while reserving the verdict, had asked all the parties including Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, to submit their written submissions.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday dubbed the Enforcement Directorate action against his son Karti as a crazy mixture of falsehoods and conjectures.



The former Union Finance Minister, who has been scathing in his criticism of the Modi government, claimed that the ED action was intended to intimidate me and to silence my voice.



Earlier, the ED had issued orders attaching assets of Karti and a firm allegedly linked to him in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal.



I will not be intimidated, Chidambaram said adding that a special CBI judge had quashed the charge sheet filed in the Aircel-Maxis case and the ED press note on the action against Karti cleverly skirts the issue of jurisdiction.



The allegations in the press note are a crazy mixture of falsehoods and conjectures. I have read the press note released by the Enforcement Directorate. It cleverly skirts the issue of jurisdiction of the ED when the only charge sheet filed in the case (Aircel-Maxis) has been quashed by the special judge, Chidambaram said in a statement.



He said that as and when the attachment order is served, "suitable action will be taken in accordance with law."



Chidambaram said that the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) officials, who were examined by the CBI, have affirmed that the FIPB, consisting of secretaries to the Indian government, correctly approved and recommended the case and placed the minutes before the Finance Minister (who was the competent authority) for approval.



Approval was granted in the normal course, he said. Earlier, the Congress party had backed Chidambaram terming the CBI summons to Karti and the ED actions as a political witch hunt.



The Aircel-Maxis case refers to alleged irregularities in granting approval to foreign investment in 2006 during Chidambaram's tenure as the Union finance minister.
In a shocking incident, a truck driver mowed down a man in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur district, about 150 kilometres from here, allegedly after the latter protested ''obscene' gesture toward his wife by the former.



According to the police sources here, the incident occurred near a toll plaza on the national highway on Sunday.



Sources said that the victim, who was riding a motorbike, was returning home after visiting his relatives with his wife when the truck driver allegedly made an ''obscene gesture'' toward the woman as he overtook him.



The victim, identified as Ajit Kumar Tripathi, then chased the truck, which came to a halt at the toll plaza at Barauri in the district a little later.



Tripathi approached the driver and asked him to get down from the truck. He also reported the matter to the employees of the toll plaza company but the latter allowed the truck to move ahead.



Tripathi again gave it a chase and overtook the truck but the truck driver, instead of stopping the vehicle, hit the couple from behind and fled from there, sources said. Tripathi died on the spot but the wife survived.



An irate mob later blocked the highway in protest against the incident as a result of which movement of traffic came to a complete halt. Police personnel, who rushed to the spot on getting the information, had a tough time in persuading the mob to lift the blockade.



A case was registered in this connection and efforts were on to trace the truck, sources said.


President Donald Trump's announcement on Sunday restricting travelers from an expanded list of countries has already been roundly criticized by immigrant and civil rights groups as no more lawful than his previous travel ban, but it could stand a better chance of holding up in court, legal experts said.



The new presidential proclamation, which Trump said is needed to screen out terrorist or public safety threats, indefinitely restricts travel from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea. Certain government officials from Venezuela will also be barred.



Trump's Mar. 6 temporary travel ban, which replaced another ban from January and expired on Sunday, targeted six Muslim-majority countries. It sparked international outrage and was quickly blocked by federal courts as unconstitutional discrimination or a violation of immigration law.



In June, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a limited version of the ban to go ahead while the justices examine its legality.



The proclamation, set to go into effect on Oct. 18, could be less vulnerable to legal attack, scholars and other experts said, because it is the result of a months-long analysis of foreign vetting procedures by U.S. officials. It also might be less easily tied to Trump's campaign-trail statements some courts viewed as biased against Muslims.



"The greater the sense that the policy reflects a considered, expert judgment, the less the temptation (by courts) to second-guess the executive," said Saikrishna Prakash, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, in an email. "It looks less like a matter of prejudice or a desire to fulfill a campaign promise."



The government has said the president has broad authority in immigration and national security matters, but challengers to the Mar. 6 ban had argued that it ran afoul of the U.S. Constitution's bar on favoring one religion over another.



They cited statements Trump made during his 2016 campaign for president, including his call for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."



Within hours of Sunday's proclamation, representatives for the Hawaii, New York and California attorneys general said their offices were reviewing the new restrictions. Advocacy organizations denounced it as more of the same.



"This is still a Muslim ban - they simply added three additional countries," said Becca Heller, director of the International Refugee Assistance Project, which previously sued to block Trump's travel ban executive orders.



"Of those countries, Chad is majority Muslim, travel from North Korea is already basically frozen and the restrictions on Venezuela only affect government officials on certain visas," Heller said.



But the worldwide review, and the new restrictions tailored by country, could weaken such arguments in court.



While the previous ban targeted Muslim-majority nations Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan, the restrictions announced on Sunday include North Korea and Venezuela and omits Sudan altogether. It also allows some travelers from Somalia and Iran to enter the U.S.



The review also examined each country's ability to issue reliable electronic passports and share security risk data with the U.S. Overall, 47 countries had problems, and 40 made improvements, including 11 that agreed to share information on known or suspected terrorists, Trump's proclamation said.



The review "at least arguably attenuates the link between the president's alleged bias and the policy," said Margo Schlanger, a University of Michigan Law School professor.



Openings for Challengers



The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments over the original travel ban on Oct. 10, including whether it discriminated against Muslims. Sunday's proclamation could lead the high court to skip deciding the case altogether.



While new claims of religious discrimination might be harder to press, experts said challengers could potentially argue that the expanded ban violates the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, which forbids the government from discriminating based on an individual's nationality when issuing visas. "Congress decided that it didn't want an immigration system that played favorites among countries," Schlanger said.
Rains returned to the city after a gap of around a week, on Sunday night and Monday morning. The city recorded 54.3 mm, up to 8.30 am on Monday morning. Bengaluru rural recorded 74.4 mm, HAL airport recorded 44.2 mm and Kempegowda International Airport recorded 12 mm rainfall.



Rainfall continued till later in the day. Up to 5.30 pm, the city received 9.2 mm rainfall, HAL airport recorded 4.5 mm, while no rain was recorded at the international airport.



The city, from June 1 (onset of monsoon), received 867 mm rainfall (657 mm higher than normal). HAL airport received 733 mm rainfall, which is 303 mm higher than normal.



The city, from September 1 till date, received 431 mm rainfall. According to the records with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this is the highest the city has received for the month since 2005. The highest ever rain recorded for the month of September was 516.6 (in 1986). The city had recorded 352.6 in 2013 and 345.8 in 2009.



The weathermen have also issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across south interior Karnataka for the next two to three days. Heavy rainfall in isolation has been forecast over north interior Karnataka also.



Sunder M Metri, director incharge of IMD, Bengaluru, said that the city and parts of south and north interior Karnataka will experience rainfall because there is an east- west shear zone along latitude 12 degree north at 5.8 km above mean sea level. Under the influence of this system, south-west monsoon is vigorous over south interior Karnataka and active over north interior Karnataka.
The scrutiny committee of the Law department on Monday cleared the long-pending draft anti-superstition Bill that seeks to ban dangerous superstitious practices, Law Minister T B Jayachandra said.



The scrutiny committee has suggested minor changes in the draft Bill. There is nothing in the draft that will hurt religious sentiments, Jayachandra told reporters. Whether or not astrology should be banned or regulated was also discussed, but no decision was taken, he said.



The draft Bill will be cleared in the Cabinet before it is tabled in the upcoming winter session of the legislature, he added. We will consider inviting public objections after the Bill is cleared in the Cabinet. More than 150 pontiffs had provided a feedback on the draft, he said.



Jayachandra clarified that there was no plan to convene a special session of the state legislature to table a Bill on consequential promotions to SC/ST employees. It will be placed in the coming winter session of the legislature, he said.
Those who submit fake documents or indulge in such frauds during property registration will now face criminal action.



Waking up from its slumber, the Department of Stamps and Registration has started booking criminal cases against those who submit fictitious documents for property registration. So far, authorities have booked 15 cases across the state.



This is the first time we are booking cases, Inspector-General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps Manoj Kumar Meena said. Under Sections 82 and 83 of the Registration Act, 1908, we have permitted sub-registrars to book cases against parties who submit fake documents, he said. We are proactively writing to police superintendents, asking them to take our complaints seriously.



Of the 15 FIRs, four have been filed in Nelamangala in Bengaluru Rural district with one each in Gundlupet (Chamarajanagar) and Belagavi. The rest are in Bengaluru urban district.



According to Meena, all the FIRs pertain to cases where parties had submitted bogus khatas or had indulged in impersonation. Bogus khatas get detected when our officials check the authenticity of the document with the concerned agency that has issued it. Impersonation is usually caught at the time of mutation, when change or transfer of ownership title gets entered in records, he explained.



At present, citizens can check genuineness of documents such as Forms 9, 11 (for property in gram panchayat limits) on the e-Swathu portal and Records of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) on the Bhoomi portal. The two portals are linked with the Karnataka Valuation and e-Registration (Kaveri) software of the Department of Stamps and Registration.



There is no mechanism with which citizens can verify a khata in the Bengaluru municipal limits at the click of a button. That is because Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palikes (BBMP) database is not linked with Kaveri. In March this year, the civic body announced an e-Khata system with which citizens can get khatas online. I fully agree that integration of our software with Kaveri will help crack down on bogus khatas. We are in the process of issuing khatas online, BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said.



Another reason frauds take place is due to the presumptive nature of ownership. We need an urban property ownership records (UPOR) system, in which ownership of a particular property is determined after inviting objections from the public. We should move towards absolute ownership, Meena said.



Checking fraud



* In a first, sub-registrars empowered to book cases against property registration frauds.



* 15 FIRs registered so far.



* Most cases registered in Bengaluru.
The state Congress has taken up a survey to ascertain its support base among various communities and whether the state governments schemes are reaching people.



The party is conducting the survey along with its door-to-door campaign Mane Manege Congress launched recently. Booth-level workers of the party are visiting every household and distributing a booklet that has listed out achievements of the state government and the failures of the Centre. Besides, the party workers are requesting people to fill in a questionnaire with 11 questions.



Party sources said that people support, caste, whether Above Poverty Line (APL) or Below Poverty Line (BPL) and whether getting all benefits from the government are some of the questions asked.



We are conducting the survey to get feedback on the implementation of the government schemes. We will take appropriate measures to rectify lapses, if any, KPCC general secretary N S Boseraju said.



Meanwhile, KPCC president G Parameshwara has urged the Congress president Sonia Gandhi to hold the AICC session in Bengaluru. The session is likely to be held in October. The Congress leaders in Karnataka feel that holding the AICC session in Bengaluru would boost the morale of the party workers in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.
As many as 55 houses of Kannadigas staying in Baina area of Goa will be demolished on Tuesday following the orders of the deputy commissioner of south Goa.



Kannadigas have been residing in the property in question for the past 40 years. A private company which has purchased this property has initiated measures for eviction. The local body had issued a notice to the residents on September 7 asking them to vacate their houses. The residents had challenged the notice in the Goa bench of Bombay High Court. However, the court dismissed their petition.



The local administration has deputed policemen near the property. Some residents have already taken shelter in a nearby temple.
To promote heritage sites and monuments, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to reach out to members of the public with a special focus on children.



The ASI has written to Education department urging it to direct educational institutions to adopt a monument or a site for one year and partner with ASI in protecting them.



K Moortheswari, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI told DH: Tourism for people is adventure and nature. Little attention is paid to heritage sites and monuments. So, we want to reach out to members of the public, students and children in particular.



Keeping this years theme- Sustainable Tourism- A Tool for Development and, the Swachch Bharat mission in mind, ASI has taken this decision.



The idea is to protect the site better by involving people. Children from educational institutions will have the opportunity to visit the monument or site adopted for the whole year. A certificate from ASI will be given after one year. The institution will be given the responsibility to keep the place clean and create awareness among public, she said.



Earlier, ASI had partnered with NCC and NSS. The ASI is now joining hands with some Kendriya Sadans.



To add least known places, ASI has now urged citizens to suggest places which they think have unique and heritage value to be included in the list of protected monuments and sites.



So far, 130 protected sites from Bengaluru, 250 from Dharwad and 85 from Hampi are being protected by ASI. But there are many lesser known places and, citizens are requested to send us some details of the site. The ASI team is already working on two sites in Ballari and one in Somanathpur, Moortheswari added.










A 17-year-old student of National College Jayanagar, drowned on Sunday at Ravugodlu village, where he had gone trekking.



G Vishwas and 24 students from the college had been to the village, off Kanakapura Road, on Saturday, and stayed overnight at the Gunda Anjaneya temple.



They were part of the National Cadet Corps, camping out on the outskirts of the city.



On Sunday morning, they set out on a trek to a hill in Ravugodlu. They came down around 2 pm. About a dozen students then went to the temple kalyani (stepped tank) to swim.



The tank is about 10 feet deep, and Vishwas, who did not know swimming, joined the group.



His friends were busy playing in the water and taking selfies when Vishwas went down in the water.



Sumanth A, a student in the group, said, We were done swimming and started for the temple, and realised Vishwas was not around.



A boy in our group was replaying selfie videos on his mobile phone and noticed Vishwas drowning in the tank.



The boy alerted Girish, the college NCC chief, and other friends. By the time we came back to the kalyani, an hour had passed, Sumanth said.



Fathers misery



Govindaiah, Vishwass father, was appalled the college had not called him to tell him about what had happened.



I received a call from his friends and reached the spot. Neither Girish nor the college authorities informed me about the incident, he told DH.



The college had taken the boys out on an NCC camp. They should take responsibility for our childrens lives, he said.



The Kaggalipura police called Girish over the phone and told him to appear before them, but he didnt turn up, Govindaiah, who works as an auto driver, said.


The Karnataka government may introduce online trading for flower auctions from January 2018 beginning with the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB).



Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said Karnataka the highest number of farmers engaged in flower production.



The government aims to convert the two-decade-old IFAB into the number one market in terms of volume in Asia.



He was speaking at a function to inaugurate a new building of the Karnataka State Seeds Corporation Ltd (KSSCL), flower exhibition centre and a high-tech training institute on IFAB premises for flower traders, customers and decorators at Hebbal.



The minister said the government would distribute certified sowing seeds (CSS) to farmers in next three years.



We will stop distribution of truthfully labelled seed (TLS) in the next three years and will distribute only CSS. Weve signed a memorandum of understanding with KSSCL,



National Seed Corporation Ltd and agricultural universities to enhance the production of CSS, he added.



The government distributes about 11 lakh quintals of sowing seeds every year, including KSSCLs share of 3.5 11 lakh quintals. Weve fixed the target of six lakh quintals sowing seed production for KSSCL. We are the only state in the country to distribute CSS, he added.



Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government would fix targets for production of sowing seeds for farmers in advance and procure them for distribution directly.


US Secretary of Defence, James Mattis, arrived in New Delhi on Monday to escalate proposed sale of US military hardware to India, including Sea Guardian drones and F-16 combat aircraft.



Mattis is the first member of US President Donald Trumps cabinet to visit New Delhi after the new administration took over on January 20 this year. He will meet Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.



With the Modi government now having a full-fledged Defence Minister in Sitharaman, Washington is keen to prod New Delhi to move fast on US proposal for sale of Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Systems to India. Mattis will also discuss with Sitharaman on Tuesday proposed manufacturing of US F-16 Block 70 multi-role combat aircraft in India.
From demonetisation to fake doctors  Durga Puja organisers in the metropolis are leaving no stones unturned to showcase the recent happenings across the country and in West Bengal. And it has come with its fair share of controversy.



Organisers of one of the big ticket Durga Pujas of Kolkata, Mohammed Ali Park Puja committee, had planned their demon king Mahishasuras clay model as a young man with a stethoscope and dressed in white apron taking money from patients and eventually slayed by the Goddess.



The model was complete and the organisers were upbeat about the divine dimension to the controversy.



But, the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) and the Indian Medical Associations (IMA) West Bengal chapter expressed their anguish at the demon king being modelled as a doctor, albeit fake.



WBMC chairman and Trinamool Congress MLA Dr Nirmal Majhi demanded an unconditional apology from the organisers, who have been organising the Durga Puja since 1969 on one of the busiest arterial roads of the city, Chittaranjan

Avenue.



It was an attempt to malign the doctors of the state. It would have sent a wrong message and break peoples trust in physicians. We had approached the Kolkata Police and sought their intervention in removing the model, said Dr Majhi.



And then came Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees intervention.






About 50 academicians and rights activists have written to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a judicial probe into the police lathi charge on the students of Banaras Hindu University.



They also demanded that accountability of the BHU authorities should also be fixed, saying the Vice Chancellor of the University Girish Chandra Tripathi has completely failed to ensure protection of the students and their rights to free speech.



We demand immediate action be taken against the police for the brutal act, suspension of the SP/DIG, judicial inquiry of the event and meeting the demands of the students and ensure their treatment and safety. We demand accountability of the University authorities as students are living and studying within the University premises and their safety has to be guaranteed by the head of the institution, they stated in a letter addressed to the President and the Prime Minister.



Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey, Harsh Mander are among the rights activists who have signed the letters addressed to the President and the Prime Minister. Satish Deshpande and Apoorva Anand from Delhi University; Ayesha Kidwai and Nivedita Menon from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) are among the academicians who have signed the letters.



Several students including women were injured on Saturday as police resorted to lathi charge on them. These students were holding a protest against eve-teasing when the incident took place.



A BHU spokesperson reportedly said that police used batons to control the situation as some outsiders joined the students protest and began pelting stones. Meanwhile, the Amnesty International India also demanded that University authorities must not turn a blind eye to complaints of sexual

harassment and discrimination.



Students have a right to peaceful protest. The police say that some of the students threw stones at them, but that cannot be an excuse to baton-charge the women students who were staging a peaceful sit-in, Amnesty International India programmes

director Asmita Basu said.
A non-profit organisation is working on addressing gaps in the Nali Kali learning method on an experimental basis in schools in Yadgir district in Hyderabad Karnataka region.



Kalike, an associate organisation of Tata Trusts, is working in schools in the Yadgir block to address learning gaps in the activity-based method which was introduced by the state government in 2009.



Shivakumar D, executive director of Kalike, said a longitudinal study they conducted for over three years which regularly assessed 360 children showed that there were areas which the Nali Kali method did not address. Particularly for language learning, the component of oral literacy was missing. There is no space for children to practise speaking skills. There is no guided reading or guided writing. Moreover, children in Class III require more attention.



In consultation with the state education department, the organisation has now trained primary school teachers to address these gaps by introducing new activities on an experimental basis from this academic year. Teachers are provided with more material support such as picture books and they are trained to create their own material with local context. They are also trained to engage children to think critically and creatively. For example, instead of simply reading out stories, teachers are to ask children to think of possible outcomes in the middle of the story.



By the end of the year, the organisation will present their findings to the department and suggest the modifications that could be made in the method.



The project is part of Kalikes Mission 2020, as part of which Tata Trusts signed a memorandum of understanding with the Yadgir district administration earlier this month.



The project titled Kalike Samruddhi Upakram aims to improve human development indices in Yadgir district through projects in education, health, agriculture and skill development.
A group of civil rights activists is holding a rally in the national capital on October 5, demanding speedy investigation into the murder of activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh.



The Justice for Gauri rally will be taken out from Mandi House here to Jantar Mantar and the Forum against the assassination of Gauri Lankesh has appealed to people from all walks of life to join the protest.



The Forum, at its meeting attended by Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav, activist Achin Vinayak and Dileep Pandey of AAP, demanded that the Karnataka government expedite the investigation into Gauris murder.



It is all the more necessary that we the people of India apply moral and political pressure on the prevailing regime such that an unbiased enquiry is conducted not only to arrest the criminals behind the act but also the extra-constitutional forces behind them, a statement issued by the Forum said.



The Forum also urged people to join the de-centralised but coordinated protests in front of Gandhi statues and memorials across the country on October 2 to demand justice for Gauri.


The governments promise to protect water bodies appears to be all talk and no action.



For the fourth time in a year, it has not responded to the request of Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) to provide adequate and qualified staff.



KLCDA is the watchdog of all water bodies in the state with a vision to restore lakes and wetlands in quality and importance to their pristine status as reflected in the pages of history.



Its mission is to establish a strong system of well-linked lakes and tanks free from organic and chemical pollutants, and intensify official concern and motivate community vigilance to the extent where pollution and encroachment of lake lands would become impossible.



A fresh request to increase staff strength comes in the wake of the ongoing hearing of the case pertaining to the development of the Bellandur lake before the NGT.



We have requested the government many times, but there has been no reply. We do not have a single officer in revenue and enforcement wing. We need to enhance our strength before the NGT asks us to execute works. I will be forced to reply that we will not be able to do so, because of staff constraints, Seema Garg, CEO, KLCDA, told DH.



The Authority is working with inadequate number of staffers since it was formed in 2015. The list includes the CEO, office manager, accounts officer, four assistant executive engineers, three deputy rangers, one range forest officer, one assistant conservator of forest and one deputy conservator of forest. This is against the sanctioned strength of 96.



The revenue and police departments have said they cannot deputy anyone to KLCDA as they themselves are short-staffed. We have been requesting that at least two policemen and one revenue officer be deployed to KLCDA, instead of filling all the sanctioned 12 and 21 posts in those ranks, respectively, she said.



After being shamed before the NGT for not being able to clear construction debris and solid waste around Bellandur Lake, the government could face a similar situation as the court committee members have already taken note of KLCDAs staff shortage.



KLCDA has not been able to take stern action against encroachers and polluters. They have not even been able to conduct proper surveys as they do not have the qualified officials. Lack of seriousness and the governments incapability will be highlighted before the NGT, said a court committee member.
It has been a month since the Sunday Bazaar, a second-hand weekly market, that operates at K R Market has remained closed, and there has been no decision on its reopening anytime soon.



More than 2,000 shopkeepers have faced losses in their business, as there have been complaints against these street vendors for coming in the way of pedestrians and commuters and the police had asked them not to open the shops.



Nawab Jaan, a vendor who owns a cloth store, said, We earn Rs 500 to Rs 800 in a day in Sunday Bazaars. But it has been four weeks since the last time we opened the stores. The police has been driving us away as they say we create problems to pedestrians and motorists.



Basha, who runs a battery business, asked why did it not create trouble all these years. It has been more than 50 years since Sunday Bazaar began. Nobody had a complaint against us all these years. How is it that they have a problem all of a sudden? asked Basha.



Another vendor said he has been unable to pay the school fee of his children. As a result, they have not been given their hall tickets for exams.



When asked if they have been allotted an alternative space,Jaan said, We have established our business here for decades. We will not get customers if we move from here.



More than 150 vendors met Ayub Khan, husband of area corporator Nazima Khanam recently.



Khan said, It is true that they have been doing business for decades. But there is also a complaint that they occupy the road and footpaths.The vendors have been told to restrict the area covered during their business and not to disturb commuters. But the final decision has to be taken by area MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan. Only then can we allow them to start their business.



Until the decision is taken, the Bazaar - which hosts a variety of shops from clothing, LED bulbs, watches, to repair shops- will remain shut.




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By Samantha Schmidt and Joel Achenbach

24 September 2017

JUNCOS, Puerto Rico (The Washington Post)  In the heat and humidity here in the central mountains, Meryanne Aldea fanned her bedridden mother with a piece of cardboard Sunday as the ailing woman lay on her side, relieving a large ulcer in her back.

The 63-year-old mother, Maria Dolores Hernandez, had cotton stuffed in her ears to keep flies out, since her now screenless windows were letting all sorts of bugs in. The gray-haired diabetic woman spoke with her daughter about her worries: that she would run out of prescription drugs, that they were almost out of generator fuel to keep her insulin refrigerated and to run the fans at night. With all the heat, she feared that her ulcer would become infected.

But she worried most about her daughters home on the floor above hers, which was destroyed by Hurricane Maria. The shrieking winds had ripped off the zinc roof and the pounding rains had soaked the unprotected rooms below. While the outer concrete walls were mostly intact, everything else was ruined, covered by dirty tree branches, leaves, glass and debris.Aldea reached out to hold her mothers hand.Relax, she said. Its okay.Four days after a major hurricane battered Puerto Rico, leaving the entire island in a communications and power blackout, regions outside San Juan remained disconnected from the rest of the island  and the world. Juncos, in a mountainous region southeast of the capital that was slammed with Marias most powerful winds, remains isolated, alone, afraid.For many residents, the challenge of accessing the essentials of modern life  gasoline, cash, food, water  began to sink in. And government officials had no answers for them. Estimates for the return of electricity and basic services will be measured not in days but in weeks and months. For those most vulnerable, far too long.Many have been openly wondering when help will arrive, whether from local officials or from the federal government. The first thing some villagers ask when they see outsiders: Are you FEMA?Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello is warning that his government needs broader assistance from the federal government, calling on the Pentagon especially to provide more aid for law enforcement and transportation. Rossello said hes also worried that Congress will shortchange his island once the initial wave of emergency relief is gone.We still need some more help. This is clearly a critical disaster in Puerto Rico, he said Sunday night. It cant be minimized and we cant start overlooking us now that the storm passed, because the danger lurks. For federal agencies trying to respond to Maria, the situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is inescapably more challenging than the situations in Texas and Florida after hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Its difficult to get onto the islands.The airports and harbors here were severely damaged. That means the islands are more isolated than ever, even as the humanitarian crisis has worsened by the day.So although massive amounts of food, water, fuel and other supplies have been dispatched by federal agencies and private organizations, with more resources on the way, this has been an obstacle-filled process.Federal agencies have succeeded in clearing the use of the Port of San Juan for daytime operations, but other ports remain closed pending inspections. Many roads are blocked, inhibiting relief convoys. The Transportation Department has opened five airports in Puerto Rico and two in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but only for military and relief efforts. []In Juncos, scores of homes were destroyed, and thousands of homes sustained damage, Mayor Alfredo Alejandro estimated. Four highways are inaccessible by car, and two bridges were harmed. Roofs of homes all over town are gone, and almost all government buildings were damaged.Mountains typically brimming with trees and other vegetation are brown and desolate, stripped of all greenery. The mayor of 17 years said he discovered a river he never knew existed in his town, because it was always overgrown with plants. Curved bamboo lining the winding roads were left as bare sticks.Less than a week ago, Alejandro said, I had a pretty town.Today I have a desert, he said. [more]
By Danica Coto

24 September 2017

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Associated Press)  Puerto Ricos nonvoting representative in the U.S. Congress said Sunday that Hurricane Marias destruction has set the island back decades, even as authorities worked to assess the extent of the damage.

The devastation in Puerto Rico has set us back nearly 20 to 30 years, said Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez. I cant deny that the Puerto Rico of now is different from that of a week ago. The destruction of properties, of flattened structures, of families without homes, of debris everywhere. The islands greenery is gone.

Engineers on Sunday planned to inspect the roughly 90-year-old Guajataca Dam, which holds back a reservoir covering about 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) in northwest Puerto Rico. The government said it suffered a large crack after Maria dumped 15 inches (nearly 40 centimeters) of rain on the surrounding mountains and that it will collapse at any minute. Nearby residents had been evacuated, but began returning to their homes Saturday after a spillway eased pressure on the dam.Puerto Ricos National Guard diverted an oil tanker that broke free and threatened to crash into the southeast coast, said Gov. Ricardo Rossello, and officials still had not had communication with nine of 78 municipalities.This is a major disaster, he said. Weve had extensive damage. This is going to take some time.The death toll from Maria in Puerto Rico was at least 10, including two police officers who drowned in floodwaters in the western town of Aguada. That number was expected to climb as officials from remote towns continued to check in with officials in San Juan. Authorities in the town of Vega Alta on the north coast said they had been unable to reach an entire neighborhood called Fatima, and were particularly worried about residents of a nursing home.Across the Caribbean, Maria had claimed at least 31 lives, including at least 15 on hard-hit Dominica. []The islands infrastructure was in sorry shape long before Maria struck. A $73 billion debt crisis has left agencies like the state power company broke. As a result the power company abandoned most basic maintenance in recent years, leaving the island subject to regular blackouts.A federal control board overseeing Puerto Ricos finances authorized up to $1 billion in local funds to be used for hurricane response, but the governor said he would ask for more.Were going to request waivers and other mechanisms so Puerto Rico can respond to this crisis, Rossello said. Puerto Rico will practically collect no taxes in the next month. [more]
For their Spring/ Summer 2018 collection, German traditional brand RIANI invites us through a journey through various countries. Thus, the various culturary influences clearly shine through. Each summery collection is a powerful statement that embodies pure joie de vivre and feels like a jollification. Those are the perfect creations for any cosmopolitan, contemporary womens travel wardrobe. Needless to mention, we had to use the chance and take a closer look at the different themes of RIANIs Spring/ Summer 2018 collection:





Casino

Being significant for this compelling collection is its vivid mix and match with contrary elements, for instance REVOLU- ME shows a slim sweater with emphasized, over- sized sleeves. In addition to that eye- catching piece, comfortable day pants are worn. Expect the unexpected! That unique combination underlines the blithe character of that lavish look. Simply smooth! Colour- wise, this collection is dominated by scarlet, diamond black and offwhite. Albeit also a few more, fresh hues can be found in this charming collection, for example light green. That underlines the feminine, easy- going character of those outfits. The striking statement prints definitely deserve devotion: look at those Versailles- flower prints, the chequers, those subtle stripes! Casino contains creations that can be worn at any occassion, from your morning in any office until the cocktail party.

Paris Story

As you may assume by the collections title, Paris Story takes it main inspirations from the French lifestyle. As a logic consequence, this collection is dominated by those colours that symbolize France: Offwhite, True Red, Olympic Blue and Black. All of this collections looks are presented in a highly nonchalantly way, none of it is trying too much to impress. Exactly as French women prefer to dress. Finest fabrics underline the sophisticated character of those outfits, for example tweed, jacquard and merino wool. Worth of mentioning is the very special detail- awareness of those looks, certain pieces contain symbols that remind us of Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower. But also a striped shirt that is provided with a red bow at the collar literally let our hearts beat some seconds faster. So chic, so charming, so french!

Tequila Sunrise

At first glance, Tequila Sunrise impresses us with its soft, delicate pastel colour choice: Cream, Torroncino, Cantaloupe, Margarita and Green Glow play a central role in this collection. All of those tones underline the positive, fresh, sophisticated approach of those looks. They are timeless, yet vivid and contemporary with just the right amount of each. Simply seductive! In those outfits, never too many tones are paired in one look and thus, the overall image stays very clear. The key looks of this collection are a sporty pants in active jersey that teams up with a Poppy- print blouse with soft flounces. Another key look of this collection that stays in mind is feminine yet strong, with just the right amount of each: it contains of RIANIs iconic tweed that is shown uni with multicoloured decoration and a casual shirt with Ganeesha print. Another highlight of this collection is a nude- coloured egg- shaped coat that is paired with an outfit in the same colour. Simply sophisticated!

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is rich of diversity, like the country and its flora and fauna itself. The vivid, joyful colour palette of this collection feels like a walk through the rainforest of Costa Rica: Tropical Sky and Green Glow meet Pure White, Pewter, Alligator and Silver. It is exactly this unique mix that makes this collection so incredibly refreshing and vivid. The fauna is depicted in the collections prints. Some outfits are kept tonal- for example a shirt dress that in emerald green. Calm like a sunrise after a tropical storm. Costa Rica is the perfect choice for your travel wardrobe, as all pieces can easily be combined with each other.

Montevideo

Montevideo is characterized by its bright, fresh, unique approach. Ethno- influences clearly shine through. The use of lace, embroideries, and prints with vivid flair feel like a jollification and express pure joie de vivre. They are made for the strong, cosmopolitan woman that knows what she wants in life and dares to wear eye- catching pieces. Depending your daily mood, you will certainly find the right outfit among those lavish looks. Bright, striking hues are paired with timeless, classy ones: for example vibrant nectarine and aperol are worn in contrast to daring black and pure white. It is exactly this combination which makes the looks so special. Volants and ruffles perfectly express the Latin influences of this collection. Being significant for those looks is also its subtle sexiness and thus, always a bit, but never too much skin is shown. Who would not love to dance through the night in Montevideo, wearing any of those joyful dresses.

Santorini

Being significant for this collection is its blithe character which is expressed by the colour choice you associate with the Cyclades: White, True Red and Olympic Blue. Sundry outfits of this collection are kept tonal, whereas sometimes two tones are paired in one look. Summertime, and the living is easyStripes, checked pattern and a postcard print embody holiday feeling. This collection makes you dream of watching the sunset in Santorini from any of their sheer white houses, observing the endless horizon of the blue ocean..

It is hard to choose a favourite theme, as each has its very own character. We cannot wait injecting those precious pieces into our Spring/ Summer 2018 travel wardrobe and we will definitely keep an eye on RIANI and on all upcoming collections!

Picture Credit: RIANI GmbH

Review by Sussan Zeck for DSCENE Magazine
LG is expected to announce the 2017 K3 or K4 smartphones on Wednesday. The handsets are budget devices that would compete with other devices from Xiaomi and Motorola.

LG is set to introduce its new K Series smartphones in India on Wednesday. The company has started sending out media invites for the launch with the letter "K" distinctly suggesting it will be launching the 2017 K series. The South Korean company is expected to showcase the K3 (2017) or K4 (2017) at Indian Mobile World Congress, which is being held from September 27 to September 29 in New Delhi.

LG announced the 2017 K series including four devices earlier this year and has already launched the K8 (2017) and K10 (2017) here in India. The company might add the budget-centric K3 (2017) and K4 (2017) to its lineup to better compete with its Chinese rivals. The LG K10 (2017) was launched in February at Rs 13,990 while the K8 (2017) was launched in August priced at Rs 11,000.

LG K3 (2017) will be the cheapest smartphone in its lineup and it features a 4.5-inch display with FWVGA resolution of 854 x 480 pixels. The smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 210 chipset coupled with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. It features a 5MP primary camera and a 2MP front camera. The handset runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and is backed by a 2100mAh battery.

LG K4 (2017), on the other hand, offers 5-inch FWVGA display and is also powered by Snapdragon 210 chipset. The smartphone offers 1GB RAM and option for either 8GB or 16GB internal storage. It improves on the camera setup with 5MP cameras on the front as well as the rear.

The LG K4 (2017) runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and is backed by a decent 2500mAh battery. There is no clarity on the pricing of these devices but should be priced under Rs 10,000 category to compete with budget Android smartphones from Xiaomi and Motorola. The company might also reveal details about the launch of its flagship V30 in India.
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Just as a traumatic wound cannot be healed with a mere bandage, local advocates believe racism and racial injustice cannot be solved with silence.

And just like a traumatic wound, healing the injuries caused by racism can be uncomfortable and painful.

People get very defensive, and we are going to have work through that if we are going to fix things, said Robin Scaer, executive director of YWCA Carlisle.

I think (race) is so emotionally charged, and people get defensive and have knee-jerk reactions because they immediately say Im not that way, she added. We all have things we have to work on. I think for some people, its scary because it means (we) as a society are not good at change.

From the murder of nine people at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, by Dylan Roof, who reportedly wanted to incite a race war, to the white nationalist rally in August in Charlottesville, Virginia, Scaer said recent events have exposed an undercurrent in society that needs to be addressed.

Because (the racism) wasnt overt, it was under the radar, Scaer said. The election just ripped that Band-aid off, and the wound is exposed and its raw. The only good thing here is that because it is raw and exposed, we are starting to deal with it.

Scaer said her organization has had the goal of confronting and eliminating racism and racial injustice for nearly 100 years.

There is this much more public and open forum of oh my gosh, I really need to stop and hear what others are saying they are experiencing and try to understand what that means for our community as a whole, She said.

YWCA Carlisle has held multiple public forums to discuss issues as they arise, including a forum shortly after the protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the death of Michael Brown.

Another forum was held shortly after the shooting deaths of Philado Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana last year.

YWCA Carlisle also assisted with the unity rally that was held in downtown Carlisle in response to the events in Charlottesville.

Its encouraging that we had the unity rally ... It is bringing people together, Scaer said. But, whats the next step beyond just having the rally. Weve had rallies before. Its getting people to that next step.

Scaer said the community needs to be more proactive at addressing issues of racism. It cannot wait until after an incident happens to respond.

It cannot fall on the few in the marginalized communities within our greater community to be responsible for those in the majority who are in charge and (have) the ability to make the changes, she said.

Scaer said it will also take bringing together community organizations like YWCA Carlisle, Hope Station and The Greater Carlisle Project  all of which deal with aspects of race and communityto better address the societal issue.

These silos are problematic because you never come together then to address things and solve things, she said.

Scaer also said a focus needs to be put on youth to make sure the cycle of racism can be stopped.

Its like preventive education, she said. We need to set positive attitudes and behaviors about who you are and how you interact with people, no matter what they look like.

In todays world, I think (people) are directly and negatively impacted by what happens to them and their friends, Scaer added. Theres just so many negatives things happening, and we need to give them space to process that.
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SEATTLE  The State Community Economic Revitalization Board will spend $100,000 to help spur investment in the Arlington Marysville Manufacturing Center near Smokey Point in Snohomish County.

The goal is to create a master plan and investment strategy for infrastructure improvements that will attract industrial and manufacturing uses.





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Colfax hospital can continue ghost tours

COLFAX (AP)  It looks like the tours and ghost hunts will continue at the haunted hospital in the town of Colfax.

A structural engineer from Spokane has told the city's Downtown Association that the building is structurally sound, opening the door for one more year of tours at St. Ignatius Hospital.

The Lewiston Tribune reports the tours raised more than $30,000 from 2015-16 for the Colfax Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Association. Earlier this year the city raised concerns about the safety of the building.

People taking the tours have to sign a waiver.

St. Ignatius Hospital operated from 1893 to 1968, when it became a state-licensed adult boarding facility for the developmentally disabled. It was closed in 2003 when pipes froze and burst, flooding the building.




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PULLMAN (AP)  Land owned by Washington State University will be sold to the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport to allow for improvements to the runway.

The WSU Board of Regents approved the $14.7 million sale on Friday.





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Donald Trumps speech to the United Nations on Tuesday was not just great, it was totally refreshing.

The presidents address to the U.N. General Assembly was so perfect it almost made me forget all the horrible speeches his predecessor gave to that corrupt, bloated and anti-American body.

For the first time in eight years the world saw an American president not spending half his time apologizing to the U.N. for our countrys past, present and future.

President Obamas U.N. speeches always managed to make it sound like the United States was no different from Iran and North Korea.

Hed say were going to stop their evil, and were also going to stop our evil, as if there was a moral equivalency between us and those inhuman hellholes.

On Tuesday President Trump did not pussyfoot around or ignore the obvious threats the rogue regimes of North Korea and Iran pose to a peaceful planet.

He blasted both countries, calling them out for violating every principle 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, Trump said, then evil will triumph. When decent people and nations become bystanders to history, the forces of destruction only gather power and strength.

Trump, being Trump, also said what needed to be said about North Koreas dictator Kim Jong Un and his missile program.

Liberals and the media went ballistic over Trump branding Un as the Rocket Man.

As usual, the media, which themselves have called Un every name in the book, missed the strengths of Trumps speech and concentrated on what they thought was a politically incorrect gaffe or a presidential goof.

But Rocket Man was brilliant. It was a way to mock and insult Un while giving him a public warning that if the U.S. is forced to defend itself or its allies ... we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.

The president got his U.N. speech 100 percent right. Unlike President Obama, who blamed America first, Trump always puts America first.

He and his speechwriters also deftly explained to his unfriendly audience what he meant by America First.

He said as president of the United States he will always put his countrys interests first, just as each of them would put their countrys interests first.

The U.N. rank and file apparently couldnt understand that idea, unfortunately, because most of them routinely put themselves first, not their own countries.

Listening to President Trump speak to the U.N. on Tuesday was a real treat  like listening to an American Bibi Netanyahu.

Bibi himself recognized the resemblance, which is why the Israeli leader tweeted his praise for Mr. Trump:

In over 30 years in my experience with the U.N., I never heard a bolder or more courageous speech.

Bibi knows the U.N. and how to address it and its gaggle of bureaucrats and professional America-haters.

When the Israeli leader goes before them he always tells them exactly what they need to hear, but theres one problem no one ever listens.

Itd be really nice if the U.N. people were listening this time to Trump.

Itd be nice if theyd react positively to his call for the U.N. to do what it was founded to do a defend the sovereignty, security and prosperity of all peaceful countries and stand together against rogue nations like North Korea and Iran.

But unfortunately, in the real world probably half of the U.N. people who come to New York are not coming to work for world peace and greater prosperity.

Theyre coming to see their mistresses and rack up hundreds of unpaid parking tickets.
Fusing African and Western culture in her menswear collection has earned Abisola Akanni a coveted catwalk space at a global platform for African-inspired designers.

Image source: Africa Fashion Week London

The Fashion Design graduate from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) showed her designs at Africa Fashion Week London last month, alongside emerging talent from around the world and in front of buyers, retailers, influential industry professionals and the media.

The opportunity came about after Abisola was scouted at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) in June.

She was one of 13 DMU students to show their full final-year collection, named in the top 25 GFW finalists and interviewed for the Christopher Bailey Gold Award, which was won by DMUs Hazel Symons last year.

Born to Nigerian parents, the 21-year-old from Romford in East London, said: I was really shocked to have been picked for Africa Fashion Week London, but Im so honoured.

I got to show my designs next to some of the best African talent out there, including a designer who comes from the same place my parents are from, which was really cool.

Image source: Africa Fashion Week London

Seeing my culture represented in such a visual way was very inspiring. Also, it was really interesting to see how African people celebrate fashion and their impact on the industry.

Abisolas colourful Back to School collection - a play on merging Western and African school uniforms - is made from Ankara, a traditional African cotton fabric with vibrant patterns.

When it comes to professional-wear, Africa emulates the Western way of dressing to demonstrate a sign of social and economic progression, but in turn has lost the cultural background. My collection celebrates a modern interpretation of school uniforms with a traditional twist, she said.

My mum was really proud coming to the show. It was especially nice for her to be there, because she took me shopping for Ankara fabric on Londons Liverpool Street when I was at college and thats where I returned to source fabric for my final-year collection.

Image source: Africa Fashion Week London

She was surprised that I wanted to use Ankara, because to her its a casual fabric used for everyday clothes, but Im glad shes seen my vision come to life.

Abisola is putting everything she learned at DMU to good use with an internship at Josh & Nicol, a luxury womenswear label creating minimalist designs.

She said: The skills I developed at DMU are skills Im using every day. The fact that working in the industry hasnt come as a shock to me proves how good the Fashion Design course is.

I feel Ive been well prepared for the world of fashion and its given me 100 per cent confidence for the future.

Also, working with a small brand is proving very rewarding. Not only am I involved in technical aspects like pattern cutting and designing, Im also learning a lot about running a studio and developing a brand.

Once she has some industry experience under her belt, Abisola plans to do a masters in pattern cutting, which is where her true passion lies.
After 32 years of serving on the Houston County Commission, Mark Culver believes he has at least one more four-year term left in him.

Culver has filed paperwork with the Secretary of State office to launch another campaign bid for the commissions chairman seat. While he is proud of the work the county has done, especially regarding jobs and roads, Culver believes there is still more work to do.

I think the biggest thing is the (economic) partnerships weve made. We have a 4.2 percent unemployment rate, and its hard to get much lower than that, he said. One of the (goals) is to continue to grow the economy.

Weve got a great road system, but weve got to make some more efforts there. Culver also expressed pride in the countys safety record and the way the entity conducts business.

The (safety) policies weve instituted, many counties have emulated it, he said. Im proud of the way the commission has worked together. You dont see a lot of public issues. We have our disagreements, but we dont try to embarrass our residents.

As voters will go to the polls in June to vote in the race, Culver hopes they will remember his track record in the position.

People dont like career politicians, and I believe there should be term limits on some levels of government, he said. At a local level, though, you cant put a value on the connections and relationships. The work with the ACCA (Association of County Commissions of Alabama) has saved us lots and lots of money and given us many ideas. Its always good to get new and fresh ideas, but it is hard to replace experience.
 



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Four people were injured in area crashes over the weekend.

One man was seriously injured after being ejected off his motorcycle Saturday at 11:55 a.m. in Washington County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Timothy Waggoner, 48, of De Soto, was riding his 2006 Honda Rebel south on Highway 21 just south of Route M when he failed to negotiate a curve to the left.

His rear tire lost traction and slid onto its side, ejecting Waggoner off his bike. Waggoner was wearing safety gear at the time of the crash and was airlifted by Air Evac to Barnes Jewish Hospital with serious injuries.

A teen was moderately injured after he rolled his vehicle on U.S. 67 Saturday morning at 8:04 a.m. in St. Francois County.

According to the Patrol report, Isaiah Pierce, 16, of De Soto, was driving his 2007 Chevrolet HHR southbound on U.S. 67 when he went off the right side of the road, overcorrected, returned to the road, then skidded off the left side of the road, struck the median cable and overturned.

Pierce was wearing his seat belt and was taken to Mercy Hospital Jefferson by St. Francis County Ambulance with moderate injuries.

On Friday afternoon at 3:10 p.m. a young boy and a woman were injured in a one-car crash off Route T in St. Francois County.

According to the Patrol report, Meagan Byington, 23, of Desloge, was driving her 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier eastbound on Route T west of Martin Road when she failed to negotiate a curve to the right.

Byington went off the left side of the roadway, struck a tree and overturned. She was not wearing a seat belt and was taken to Parkland Health Center Farmington by St. Francois County Ambulance with moderate injuries.

Her passenger, Jude Batten, 4, of Desloge, was in a safety seat and was taken to Parkland Health Center Farmington with only minor injuries.
B2B marketing automation has a long way to go, suggest the results of a recent survey of more than 350 marketing professionals in the United States and Europe. Act-On Software commissioned Econsultancy to conduct the research for its State of B2B Marketing report released last week.

Only 51 percent of respondents said the CMO or equivalent took a keen interest in marketing automation, and just 37 percent said the issue got executive support outside the marketing department.

Among the other key findings:

Only 27 percent of the respondents strongly agreed that marketing automation had resulted in increased contributions to the pipeline. Forty-nine percent somewhat disagreed, and 20 percent strongly disagreed.

Twenty-four percent of respondents strongly agreed that marketing automation was delivering ROI, while 55 percent somewhat agreed that it was, and 18 percent somewhat disagreed.

Twenty-four percent strongly agreed that they were more efficient because of marketing automation. Fifty-eight percent somewhat agreed, and 13 percent somewhat disagreed.

Thirty-seven percent agreed they were using marketing automation to its fullest capacity, while 38 percent say they somewhat agreed that they were, and 23 percent somewhat disagreed.

Marketing automations low adoption rate is due in part to CMOs in certain industries  such as manufacturing, higher education and financial services  not being familiar with it, suggested Paige Musto, Act-Ons senior director of corporate marketing.

CMOs in such industries just need to be further educated on the benefits of marketing automation over email service providers, she told CRM Buyer.

Clobbered by the Pace of Change

Marketing automation is a rapidly evolving industry, noted Meg Columbia-Walsh, CEO of Wylei.

Many businesses and senior level executives are struggling to keep up, she told CRM Buyer.

As companies begin to fully utilize whats available, they are looking for partners like Wylie to guide them through the learning curve, Columbia-Walsh said.

Its crucial for the business to support the CMO and vice versa, noted Tom Frommack, COO of ePurchasing Network.

Buy-in for marketing automation should come from both the sales and marketing departments, Act-Ons Musto said, because it directly contributes and impacts the workflow, processes, and outputs of both departments.

Look Before You Leap

Companies must understand the marketing automation landscape and the vendors, and truly do their due diligence to ensure the system they bring on is the right fit and purpose-built for their size company, Musto cautioned.

The survey found there are only three areas where more than half [of respondents] are using marketing automation, she noted.

Those areas  email, Web forms and landing pages  are the more basic functions, according to Musto, and can point to a potential misalignment between system, strategy and skillset.

That could explain why only a few respondents thought marketing automation solutions resulted in increased contributions to the pipeline, delivered ROI, or helped them to work more efficiently.

Another problem is the rapid evolution of the field, suggested ePurchasing Networks Frommack.

Marketing automation introduces new and maturing capabilities that are not easy to stay current with, he told CRM Buyer, or that have the maturity to demonstrate value.

There is a lack of specific measures to link to concrete or abstract business value, Frommack said.

Strategies for Implementation

Businesses interested in marketing automation should start by leveraging the features most commonly used  such as website visitor tracking, CRM integration, list segmentation and email marketing, recommended Musto.

Then they can add more sophisticated tactics, such as lead scoring, automated programs, dynamic content and progressive profiling.

You dont want to overwhelm yourself with everything out of the gate, so start small and build, Musto counseled.

Companies should ensure these basics are in place before jumping in:

Have a strategy and plan;

Appoint a project lead;

Choose the right platform;

Select the right implementation partner; and

Build the business case for investment.

They should also look at how the leaders in the report use marketing automation, suggested Musto, including the features theyre leveraging, the value they place, and what they measure.
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More than 100 people turned out for the Out of the Darkness Community Walk at Engler Park in Farmington Saturday morning.

With a little help from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Karen Strait organized the walk to help raise awareness and funds toward research in finding a way to reduce the suicide rate in this country by 20 percent by 2025.

I am really excited about the walk and we have a lot of baskets for the silent auction and raffles, said Strait. We had 75 people pre-register and there are even more who showed up. This is the first time we have done this, but plan to do it every year.

According to Strait, the money raised from the walk goes directly to the foundation and is used not only for research, but for creating educational programs, advocating for public policy and supporting survivors of suicide loss.

After attending an Out of the Darkness Community Walk in Cape Girardeau, Strait wanted to bring a walk to the Farmington area.

She said she helped to put this walk together for many reasons. She is a suicide attempt survivor from the 1980s and her son is also a suicide attempt survivor in the 1990s after his brother died in a car accident.

I decided I wanted to do a walk in Farmington to help bring awareness to the 10th leading cause of death in our country ... and its growing, said Strait. Once you attempt suicide you will still get the feeling, at times, that you still want to die. So that is just one of the reasons I want to put this walk together.

They had a large group of people from Shayleys Angels as well as some people from St. Louis helping to bring awareness and break the stigma.

My granddaughter, McKenzie DeProw, wrote a song about suicide and we are also going to write notes to our loved ones who died by suicide and they will send those on up by heaven fire, said Strait. We have had a lot of wonderful sponsors who helped put the event together and a special thanks to everyone who helped sponsor, those who came out and those who were willing to speak. When we do this next year I hope we have an even bigger crowd.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Eastern Missouri Chapter Spokesperson Liz Halpin said the Farmington walk will continue to accept donations through Dec. 31 on their website, at afsp.org/Farmington, it will take you directly to the Farmington walk.

If you go to afsp.org there are also many resources and this is part of the Eastern Missouri Chapter, said Halpin. We cover most of eastern Missouri, there is also a walk in Cape Girardeau on Sunday and our largest walk is in the St. Louis area on Oct. 1. We have events throughout the year and the other big thing coming up will be the International Survivor of Suicide Loss Day on Nov. 18. There will be various events throughout the region that day and they can look on the afsp.org website and they can information there.

Strait said one of the things she hopes the walk will do is to alleviate some of the stigma associated with mental illness.

People need to learn that mental illness is no different than someone who has a heart condition or diabetes, Strait said. We need to learn what causes suicide and how to help people who are considering it or have already tried.

According to Strait, this is just one of the things the foundation does ... but they do so much more.

One of the things the foundation does is to provide mental health classes, and they do not cost anything, Strait said. You have to learn what to look for and learn how to respond to people. It might be a smile or a listening ear. There are a lot of ways to reach people. Suicide is not the answer.

Candy Zarcone with the St. Francois County Mental Health Board also spoke during the event and talked about resources on their website.

I wanted to tell you that because we are talking about the prevention of suicide, said Zarcone. A big part of prevention is being able to find help at the very beginning. The sooner you can access help the better, we can all agree on that. Part of it is finding help and that is why we have this resource website available even if youre not in St. Francois County. You can still get on that website and find help for someone.

Zarcone explained that through their website anyone can put their insurance provider in and it will tell them every group that accepts their insurance.

That is a great tool instead of calling every single one (to see) if they take your insurance, said Zarcone. There are also fact sheets on every single mental health disorder and if someone is suicidal there are questions to ask and resources for that.

Zarcone said there is also an anonymous mental health survey, so if anyone is struggling or know someone who is struggling, they can access the survey.

Also we have a list of local support groups that are on there, sometimes people need multiple sources of help, added Zarcone. They might need a support group as well as counseling and medication to get through a crisis or a disorder they are struggling with. So then we also have community events on there like this one and there are several other events coming up that are related to mental health. Those are all listed on our website at sfcmentalhealth.com.
Sept. 25 marks the start of Banned Books Week, an annual celebration of academic freedom and students rights to read. It is an important occasion to observe, but this year, especially, it should serve as an invitation to reflect on not just what young Americans read but also the ways in which they are encouraged to think and talk about books.

Students right to read was never in greater peril than during the 1950s. In audacious displays, parents in Oklahoma and Alabama took to burning subversive textbooks. Special-interest groups across the nation effectively pressured schools and libraries to remove trade and textbooks that they claimed might poison students minds.

The National Council of Teachers of English, for which I am the council historian, waged its own battle in response. In 1953, its primer for teachers on how to resist public pressure to ban books, Censorship and Controversy, urged that during a time of tension and fear, it was vital that teachers not become prey to the rise of un-American tactics in public discussion and the violence of selfish interests.

In a Cold War culture that often prized conformity and opacity, teachers were on the front lines of keeping American schools truly free.

That defense against book banning was important but also obscured the larger problem at hand: teachers avoidance of anything controversial or political in the first place. Public education is supposed to help students understand and participate in the wider world, but too often, teachers have learned to evade anything potentially contentious. Parents might have called for books to be banned, but many teachers were shying away from assigning controversial books in the first place.

This was certainly the case with The Catcher in the Rye, one of the most contested books of the 1950s and 1960s. When the NCTE endorsed it for the high school classroom in 1962, teachers roundly rejected the suggestion. I would not consider teaching it regardless of the communitys feeling, explained one Minnesota teacher, echoing others. My students reaction would be one of embarrassment and bafflement.

This problem is not unique to the Cold War or to English teachers. In the recent book The Case for Contention, Jonathan Zimmerman and Emily Robertson show that teachers willingness to address controversial subjects has waxed and waned over time, but it has been consistently low since the 1980s. That is often the case, they argue, because teachers are not sure how to help students work their way through questions that lack consensus or what the ends of democratic debate should be.

Classroom work can often reduce potentially complex stories to easy truisms or didactic messages."

The problem, then, is not just a matter of the topics or texts we teach but with how we teach them. Even as reading lists and textbooks have become more inclusive, many classroom conversations remain stuck in the past.

Take, for example, the ever popular yet frequently contested To Kill a Mockingbird. How many teachers encourage students to debate the adequacy of character Atticus Finchs moralism? How many ask how the persistent racial and economical segregation of schools today make it difficult to truly walk in another persons shoes? How many challenge their students to consider how the courts and criminal-justice system have changed (and not changed) in the 80 years since the novel was set? The book raises those questions precisely because it continues to be presented to students as a straightforward lesson in overcoming prejudice.

Instead, classroom work can often reduce potentially complex stories to easy truisms or didactic messages that compel little questioning or introspection. Students learn to lionize Atticus without considering how privilege works in the novel and in the world. They accept at face value Atticus claim that the Ku Klux Klan never took in the fictional Maycomb, Ala., even though it was exactly the kind of town that was ripe for racial violence.

In missing out on more nuanced and complex conversations, students fail to learn that it is possible to question a book and value it still. And they lose an opportunity to develop a more multifaceted understanding of civic life and their role in it.

Our current political period shares several qualities with the early Cold War, including a testing of democratic institutions, an embittered public discourse, and a regression in civil rights. Teachers know better than anyone how aware youths are of these developments and how potentially powerless they can feel in response. School should act as a counterweight that draws students in, teaches them how to think through debates, and empowers them to participate in ways that are rational, intelligent, productive, and democratic. Educators realized this 60 years ago. It is just as important today.

Banned Books Week can and should provide educators with an opportunity to consider the books we teach and the important conversations we want those books to spur. But we shouldnt feel too comfortable or self-congratulatory. Celebrating academic freedom is about more than the right to teach texts that might offend some; it is about teachersand parentsresponsibility in helping students wrestle with difference and complexity without becoming offended.
In the 1970s, educator Deborah Meier began founding a string of small, democratically run public schools. Her goal was to restore decisionmaking in public education to teachers, principals, and their local communities to better serve students. Over the years, Meier played a key role in about a dozen new public schools in New York City and Boston, which worked to prepare students to live in a healthy democracy through progressive education. Many managed to retain their core values, even as accountability and assessment policies grew more stringent. Emily Gasoi was in the first cohort of founding teachers at one of those schoolsMission Hill School in Bostonduring her early years of teaching in the 1990s.

The two educators have recently reunited to discuss their concerns that schools like Mission Hill are in danger of disappearing. In their new book These School Belong to You and Me: Why We Cant Afford to Abandon Our Public Schools, published this month by Beacon Press, Meier and Gasoi argue that the past few decades of education reform have left many students behind.

In a style reminiscent of Meiers edweek.org blog Bridging Differences , which just came to an end, the two share a back-and-forth dialogue. Meier has five generations of school transformation work under her belt and was the first teacher ever awarded a MacArthur Genius Fellowship; Gasoi co-founded Artful Education, a Washington-based nonprofit that works with arts groups and schools to improve creative learning, in 2015. Both stress the importance of supporting public education and also provide suggestions for the ways it must improve.

Commentary Associate Kate Stoltzfus spoke recently to Meier and Gasoi by phone about their work to create models of education rooted in the democratic values they want all students to learn, as well as what they envision for the future of Americas public schools.

This book tows the line between supporting public education and advocating change in traditional public schooling, which you believe perpetuates inequity for children. How can we enact this balance in both policy and practice?

Emily Gasoi: We support the public aspects of education without equivocation. That is, we think, absolutely essential in a democracy. That should be unquestioned. The fact that it is being questioned whether or not our system needs to be public is very troubling to us.

Deborah Meier: One of the dangers to democracy is the notion is that its a crisis. Solutions made to solve a crisis are rarely good solutions. They may be necessary, but Im very leery about the climate that comes around when we call it a crisis. Democratic change cant be sudden. Change comes through persuasion, and persuasion is a long-term task. Thats why people sometimes get very impatient with democracy. I put up with the fact that its going to take a lot of patience and persistence. Its going to take a lot of other movements to change some of the qualities of American life. You cant have a very wholesome democracy when you have as much inequality as we have in Americainequality that provides some with an enormous amount of power and others with very little. We have to tackle other forms of inequity, not just school inequity.

The two of you first worked together at Mission Hill School in Boston in the 1990s, a small self-governed school founded by Deborah where Emily was a founding teacher. You say that these kinds of schoolswhich champion innovative democratic practicesare now in danger of disappearing. How can we, in effect, save them?

DM: We could lessen the fixation on standardized testing, which is a phony system to start with. They are not a good assessment of anything that is important intellectually, and yet they drive school curriculum. It drives progressive schools also. Its hard to hold onto some of our innovative practices like multiage classrooms, like curriculum that goes across the gradesall of those kinds of innovative practices that weve found to be so successful are not successful in terms of test scores.

Its just frustrating because I went to a private school for mostly rich children in New York. From the time I was there, it had for 50-60 years been producing the leaders of America and it was built around progressive educational ideas. People would say to me, when we started doing this work in the public sector, Youre experimenting on those children. And I thought, no, Im doing something that has worked for wealthy peoples children forever.

EG: Youre forgetting that [Ethical Culture Fieldston School, which Meier attended as a child] was started to serve poor children as most of those models areMontessori was started for working-class children, Waldorf schools were started for working-class children, and so were your schools. There has to be the will to want to make this shift so that its not thought of as innovative anymore. Its not that were experimenting on poor kids. Its really just good practice. I think we need to have the will to look at the models that have worked.

Deborah, while in the past youve pushed strongly for school choice as an early supporter of the charter school movement, you write that choice writ large and the charter- and voucher-led versions now pushed by the U.S. Department of Education fail to provide all students the kind of education traditionally reserved for the privileged few. How have both of your views on choice evolved over time, especially after working in less-traditional public schools?

DM: Choice has a lot of nice qualities to it, which is why we like schools that give children and teachers choices. But like anything else in a democracy, you have to balance it with giving me choice prevents somebody else from having a choice. The idea in the marketplace is that individuals making individual choices will produce the best results for the common good. I think there are a great many peoplea substantial minoritywho think that democracy is a poor system and that you simply should get rid of all regulations and rules and requirements and let everyone do what they think is best for themselves and that in the long run it will work out. I think we have a lot of reasons to know that doesnt work. Even in the classroom, when I give children choices, I have limited the choices in some ways by what I have put in the room. They dont have the choice of running out in the street.

EG: There is definitely a place for choice, and theres something to be said for buying into a communitychoosing a school because it has an interesting focus that speaks to you and your family or child. There are states that have done a better job than others at creating guidelines and regulations that have made choice less or more problematic. There was just an article in The New York Times magazine earlier this month about [U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy] DeVos home state of Michigan and how the lack of regulation has made communities that were already vulnerable and neglected more vulnerable and have not served those communities well. Thats part of the problem with choice today: that we are sort of going full-steam ahead with a policy [without] research that has borne out that it is a sound reform in terms of creating equity or better education for students.

You have both been in the education world for varying amounts of time and worked in a variety of school settings. As education reformers from different generations, how does your relationship with one another and your personal experience influence your work?

EG: I came of age in the 1980s, which now I see as the beginning of the shift where democracy has become conflated with market values, and theres a right of the individual to get ahead at any cost. I think I grew up, therefore, having a pretty cynical view of the word democracy. When I met Deb at Mission Hill School, and she was so passionate about democracy and used the word a lot, I was able to actually live the daily practice of being in a democratic community and modeling that for students. My understanding of what it means to be a citizen in a democratic society has meaning now. Its not something that has ever been explicitly taught in schools even though thats supposedly our foundation.

DM: And I grew up in the 1930s and 1940s when democracy was very much a current battle. If you were an American, you believed in democracy, and if you were an American, you were passionate. In some ways, the Cold War was also posed as a question of democracy. In a strange way, it was the collapse of the Soviet Union and communism that has given us the luxury of assuming that democracy didnt need to be fought for. I think, in an odd way, having no enemy has made it hard for us to keep democracy alive.

In the current education system, which revolves around high-stakes, top-down mandates driven by data, you write that teachers and practitioners have a hard time exercising their professional judgment in the classroom and school building. You both ask the question: How can we hope to educate for democracy if children and the adults in their lives never have the opportunity to observe or practice it? What would you say to teachers and school leaders currently in the classroom?

DM: If its such a wonderful idea, democracy, why dont at least the adults who make up the school operate democratically? Why dont we provide the time and space so students can witness it and over time can become more and more part of it as they grow older, so by the time they graduate at 18 and are full citizens with the right to vote, theyve had a long apprenticeship in what it means to be a citizen. A lot of that could take place just by local agreement. I think we can have a lot of minor rebellions where teachers just say, I want to be treated like an adult. This is my field, my expertise. And parents are also experts on their children and their communities.

EG: There needs to be more of a push from teachers. There are two wonderful teacher groups that have started in [the District of Columbia] that I am very hopeful about. One is called Empower Ed, and its teachers are from very different settings across the city who are getting together to talk about how to create more democratic conditions in their respective schools. Thats what gives me hope. I think it has to be grassroots, and we have to push people who are actually making the decisions to want to make these bold moves toward education that really does reflect the kinds of values we say we hold.

Anything else you want to add?

DM: Some of the divide between the right and the left at the present time is very deep-rooted, but some of it is somewhat artificial. For example, I think the left is not pro-centralization for its own sake. You want to make it as easy as possible for people to have a voice and to learn to influence their world. That means you want to increase face-to-face relationships and local decisionmaking. Context matters. It depends on the particulars of the environment and the setting. That, I think, is a value that could be shared across what we call the right and left.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
There were probably close to 15,000 visitors that came out Saturday and Sunday to view a living piece of history  the triannual reenactment of the Battle of Pilot Knob held on the site of the original battle fought Sept. 23-24, 1864 at Fort Davidson in the Arcadia Valley.

I think it was a pretty big crowd, but it did not compare to the 150th, said Walt Busch, the long-time resource manager for the historic site, prior to his recent retirement. The attendance probably compared more to the 2004 or 2007 crowds that we were getting back then.

It was a very good event, in large part because we didnt have any rain. The one year that we had the rain was a near disaster. We definitely had some good crowds down there and I think everything was together and ran very smoothly. I know of a couple of issues that people had, but it was very minor stuff and those in charge seemed to jump right on it.

Overseeing crowd safety were local police departments, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri Park rangers. The crowd was respectful and laid back throughout the event. Despite fears and rumors to the contrary, there were no protesters who showed up and the biggest issue by far appeared to be people who became overheated in the 90-degree heat.

As usual, the 650-700 reenactors who participated in this years reenactment came to southeast Missouri from throughout the continental United States.

We had a lot of returnees from last time, Busch said. The farthest we know for sure  and Im sure there were other ones  we had a group of cannoneers from Minnesota last time around and they loved it so much that they showed up again this time. They were certainly one of the farthest.

According to Busch, planning for the reenactment takes a minimum of 12 months to make sure everythings right.

It takes a lot from the Arcadia Valley Chamber of Commerce, Fort Davidson and the state, he said. Youve got to get the insurance together and definitely make sure youve got enough Porta-potties. Thats one of the last things I did before I retired. Youve got to make sure youve got hay for the cavalry and straw that the soldiers use for their bedding.

Theres been some trimming of the event, but theres a good year of work getting everything together  making sure youve got contracts for the music and picking up the garbage. You might not think of garbage being a big contract, but it is. Youve even got to make sure youve got the cleaning of the Porta-Potties timed right, so that as they fill up somebodys there shortly thereafter to dump em. Those are all big issues.

Then theres just getting together all the vendors. The vendors are something we start off with very early  sending out the stuff for them. It something we deal with almost all year long before the reenactment because there is somebody calling all the time asking, Do I have this? or Can I do that?

And when the reenactors and park visitors began to leave Sunday afternoon, there is still plenty of work left to do.

Theres a lot of cleanup, obviously, he said. Theres also the paying of bills. We had some issues this year because we didnt have all the parking spots as we would have desired, so we had to come up with some other parking spots. Well have a follow-up meeting in the coming months where well discuss everything with the chamber and present what the final budget was. The final budget is looking good. We made money.

Busch admitted that hes concerned reenactments like the Battle of Pilot Knob and those held at other locations across the country may soon be a thing of the past.

Its always been a great event and I hate to say it, but lets hope well be able to hold another one in three years, he said. With insurance an issue the way it is nowadays and people being scared about insuring stuff, its going to get harder and harder to hold these events as time goes on.

I was always very lucky that I had enough support from the Department of Natural Resources to run it and I was able to push for enough support from them and other places that we were always able to put on a good event. Were already limited on where we can go to get insurance like this and it sounds like  especially for black powder events where youre using cannons and stuff like that  its going to get even harder. It may even involve the Civil War theme now.
Hollywood celebrities are never far from channelizing their efforts towards fighting global warming and Climate change and the James Bond star is doing just that, ahead of his new release "The Foreigner".

If not living the life of an actor, Pierce Brosnan is a true activist at heart. This time the 64-year-old Irish actor is doing his bit to create awareness about the humpback whale as an IFAW Ambassador. He extends his support to the Campaign to save the Endangered Species Act from being attacked by Congress.

Pierce stood out in a campaign for The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) asking each and everyone to come together to challenge the ongoing crisis, dangerous attacks, on the ESA (Endangered Species Act).

The Act, according to the World Animal News has come under fire by Congress and requires all the support for the benefit of the species.The campaign #OneActForall along with the Irish actor, features celebrities like activist Mark Ruffalo, Slash, Nina Dobrev, Samantha Bee, Wilmer Valderrama, and Susan Sarandon. In the video, each of them is paired with a different fauna or species that could benefit from saving the ESA.

The NY Wolf Centre recently appreciated the actor's effort in the protection of ESA and thanked Pierce for being there. "Howls of thanks, Pierce Bronson for standing up for the Endangered Species Act", it said.

It is indeed an appalling situation for those who really care and many have in fact appreciated Pierce's contribution over a post on twitter. Pierce has shared his views constantly either tweeting or quoting at several occasions over the importance of ESA. Endangered Species Act being in danger. If it falls, we all fall. Will you be part of the OneActForAll movement? by saying so he takes pride in taking action to protect endangered species everywhere.

The Endangered Species Act is in danger. If it falls, we all fall. Will you be part of the #OneActForAll movement? https://t.co/p805vCPt1O pic.twitter.com/kVulvt4VyX  IFAW (@action4ifaw) September 20, 2017
A team from the University of Bristol (UK) has spent this weekend on XMAS beamline, which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary, trying to unveil how nanoparticles interact with model membranes. This research is interesting not only from a health perspective but also in the development of new materials, such as nanocomposites.

Friday night. The average age of the people inside the control hutch of the XMAS beamline or BM28 cant be more than 30. The night is young and so are the researchers that are attentively observing the computer screens. They all seem to be thrilled about being at the ESRF, as they crack jokes while acquiring data. Leading them is Wuge Briscoe, lecturer at the University of Bristol (UK), who explains proudly that his staff is funded both by industry and by international government grants from places as far as Thailand or Mexico. The scope of this fundamental research can benefit a lot of different disciplines, and the fact that we have students funded by very different companies shows that there is a lot of interest, explains Briscoe.

Part of the team on Friday morning.

Population is enduring an increasing exposure of nanomaterials in recent years and scientists dont have a clear idea of what happens to nanoparticles when they get inside our bodies. Membranes are the final defense of our body before the nanoparticles enter the cells. Briscoe and his team have developed model membrane systems to track the detailed structural change of membranes in the presence of nanoparticles. For this, they use X-ray reflectivity on BM28: It is a very rigorous technique that offers insight into the structual change. Ultimately we want to find out how nanoparticles interact with organised soft matter in general, says Briscoe. A challenging aspect of the experiment is that the structual change is dynamic, so that we have to adjust our measurements as the data is collected, based on careful observations and sometimes physical intuitions, without mentioning plentiful of debates, he adds.

So are the sleepless nights worth it? It has been a very fruitful experiment, and we have observed pronounced changes in lipid bilayer structures at the solid-liquid interface in the presence of dendritic polymer nanoparticles. Apart from that, we have even managed to go out for a fondue one night!

Two moments on the beamline at night... working hard overnight takes its tolls! (on top of very good scientists, the team from the University of Bristol are also very good actors...).

Text and photos by Montserrat Capellas Espuny
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The A127 near Brentwood is still closed - three hours after a serious accident that left a man in hospital with serious injuries.

Essex Police received calls at around 11am on Monday, September 25, after reports that a vehicle had crashed along the London-bound carriageway in Great Warley , close to the junction of the B186.

According to online traffic management systems, the accident is reported to have happened near to the Little Warley Hall Lane junction, close to the petrol station.

Officers from both Essex Police and the East of England Ambulance Service attended the scene, with the driver, who is a man aged in his 60s, being taken to hospital in a serious condition.

One witness tweeted: "Just seen a Range Rover fully written off on the #A127. Fingers crossed that the passengers are ok."

The road was closed to traffic and enquiries are currently ongoing.

Delays in the area are expected for a few hours, so drivers are advised to seek alternate routes.

Essex Police would like anyone who witnessed the accident, has any relevant information or dashcam footage to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk.
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Essex Police are appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage following a serious accident on the A127 near Brentwood left a man with serious injuries.

Police received calls at around 11am on Monday, September 25, after reports that a vehicle had crashed along the London-bound carriageway in Great Warley , close to the junction of the B186.

The driver, who is a man aged in his 60s, has been taken to hospital in a serious condition.

One witness tweeted: "Just seen a Range Rover fully written off on the #A127. Fingers crossed that the passengers are ok."

The road has been closed to traffic and enquiries are currently ongoing.

Essex Police would like anyone who witnessed the accident, has any relevant information or dashcam footage to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk.
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A Harlow woman has blasted the "incredibly poor," bus service to Epping, which she feels is frequently delayed and unreliable.

Janet Cohen, 54, of Church Langley, gets the 418 and 419 TrustyBus service from Potter Street to Epping where she changes on her daily commute to central London.

But she finds the 20 minute gap between buses too much and is considering asking her husband to drive her to work after regularly being forced to wait 50 minutes.

Mrs Cohen said: "At the busiest time of day there is a 20 minute gap and that can easily turn into a half an hour gap.

"Sometimes the bus does not turn up at all. It is incredibly poor."

Mrs Cohen, a mother of one, said the bus service was much better in Hatfield, but has been unable to have effective correspondence with TrustyBus.

She continued: "When TrustyBus took over from SM in May 2016 they provided a half hourly Church Langley to Epping service and after four months that was cut to hourly then after another four months it was cancelled completely.

"Since then the rest of the service has been reduced twice.

"There is no competition and TrustyBus can do what they want."

TrustyBus has been approached for a response.
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An Ingatestone church has opened its doors to offer support to the friends and family of a 15-year-old boy hit and killed by a train in the village.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers were called to Ingatestone railway station at 4.35pm on Thursday, September 21, after receiving reports that a person was struck by a train.

Alongside the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST), officers and paramedics found a child who had died at the scene.

On Friday, September 22, BTP identified the victim as being 15 year-old William Tweet from Ingatestone.

Following Williams passing, St Edmund and St Mary Parish Church opened their doors for two hours from 4.30pm for silent prayer, which was attended by his friends, teachers, parents and other members of the local community.

Reverend Patrick Sherring said: His friends silently came into the church. Many lit a candle and simply stayed, sitting in silence, for some time.

We felt it was important to offer them this space.

William was a Year 11 student at Anglo European School in Ingatestone at the time of his death.

In a statement, the school said: "It is with great sadness that we write to you to report the death of one of our students. The school community has come together throughout this morning, supported by our counselling service, British Transport Police and Abellio Greater Anglia.

"Each year group has had a special assembly during which we have explained what has happened, shared thoughts about the nature of grief and given advice about how students can seek individual support.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends. It is also at times like this that the idea of 'Anglo Family' comes into its own."

Mr Barrs, headteacher added: "Our thoughts are with close family and friends at this very sad time. We are all affected by this tragic death. The school community has come together this morning and shown great dignity. We are supporting staff and students at this very difficult time."

BTP specialist officers are supporting William's family at this time and work is on-going to establish how he came to be on the tracks.

The BTP are not treating his death as suspicious.
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A man has been charged with causing the death of two men, one a "bright, clever and keen" Anglia Ruskin University student, in a collision on the A12 which saw a BMW slam into a tree after leaving the road near Brentwood.

Yousif Al-Mussawi, 27, of The Crescent, Middlesex has been charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of Farhad-Zubair Maqbool, 25, and Yahya Sharif, 25, both from Acton in west London, in the crash that happened at around 11.30pm on Saturday November 12 last year.

Yahya had been studying for a BSc in civil engineering since 2014 at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford .

A spokesman for the university at time had described him as "a delight to teach, bright, clever and keen to learn."

Al-Mussawi. who is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, October 26. was left fighting for his own life in a serious coma at at Addenbrookes Hospital after the accident that closed the A12 for around eight hours.

A Go Fund Me page raised thousands for funeral costs and create a legacy for the killed pair.

A university spokesman added: "Yahya brought his big personality and great sense of humour to the classroom. He was friendly, kind and enthusiastic, always willing to help fellow students, and had made many friends at Anglia Ruskin.

"Yahya will be very much missed by staff and students alike. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time."
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Three Essex army officers who are part of a small team in Iraq have spoken out about their experiences on the frontline of the fight against ISIS.

Captain Joe Trott is originally from Chelmsford and volunteered for the role within the British Headquarters and was positioned as one of only nine men in his team involved in Operation Shader  supporting the Iraqi Security Forces in their fight against Daesh.

To his surprise, he found that two members of his small team were also from Essex and had grown up only ten miles away from each other but had never met each other before.

The three officers are part of a team of nine men deployed more than three thousand miles away fighting the terrorist organisation.

Speaking from Iraq, Captain Trott said: "Its a great opportunity to deploy and conduct the role you joined the Army for."

The 31-year-old added: "My role is to ensure that our training teams get the right level of logistical support when they are helping to train the Iraqi Security Forces."

Captain Joe Long, from Braintree, an Army Reservist, serves alongside Captain Trott in Iraq, and said: "I volunteered to come and serve with the HQ as it means I can help provide support to the defeat of Daesh."

The 23-year-old continued: "My role helps to ensure we are delivering our expertise in the right place to the people who need it most.

"Its a different working environment and much more rewarding than my usual life as a post graduate student."

Capt Sean Sapsford, is from Saffron Walden and is on his third deployment to the Middle East.

The 28-year-old said: "I knew from a young age that I wanted to join the British Army and this operational tour is another chance for me to develop as a person and widen my experience as a professional Finance and Human Resources Officer."

The group are also supported by Essex charity SMILE, a group of military wives and public supporters who put together welfare packages for troops deployed all over the world.

Captain Trott said: "We are a close knit group but being away from families for extended periods of time can take its toll.

"Receiving these parcels and letters of support really lift our spirits and help you get through the long days."
With Germanys federal election coming up later this week, the countrys campaign is coming to its end. In addition to the usual slogans, discussions and rallies all over country, this years campaign is marked by the uncertainty created by US President Donald Trump and his administration, especially regarding the future of transatlantic relations. What is clear so far is the fact that Donald Trump has become a very unpopular political figure in Germany, which has resulted in a plummeting confidence in American leadership.

This has, however, little to do with the polling fortunes. Regardless of who will become the next German chancellor, Berlin will have to remain the backbone of the transatlantic partnership and cooperate with Washington where interests align. How this will play out will have a major influence on the future of the mutual ties. Most German political leaders are aware of the essential role the United States has played in supporting the European project and modern-day Germany and they also appreciate the key part the United States plays in upholding international order.

Therefore, despite the strong disagreement with many Trumps policies and opinions, there is no alternative but to cooperate with his administration. On the contrary, it is likely that the new chancellor will be even more proactive in explaining his/her views to the American President. This will particularly be true if Angela Merkel is reelected, as she would likely take upon herself the role of ensuring that the transatlantic ties would not fall apart. She would also be expected to attempt to improve the current sober mood between European capitals and Washington.

The future engagement with Donald Trump will have to be conducted on an issue-by-issue basis. Notable areas of cooperation will include the Ukraine crisis, counterterrorism efforts, broader security and defense issues as well as the NATO. For Germany, the Ukraine crisis will remain on top of the agenda, hence any signs that Washington will want to step up its own direct role and try to resolve the conflict are welcome in Berlin. Intelligence sharing and fight against terrorism is not a new issue, so both sides are expected to expand their mutual cooperation, which German Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere described as excellent.

In the past, Germany has not been afraid of voicing disagreements with Washington and it should definitely continue doing so in the near future as well. The difference with the Trump administration is that now Berlin and Washington are at loggerheads over many more issues. On those matters that Germany feels strong about  global trade, climate change, the Iran nuclear agreement and the US sanctions against European energy companies  the next German chancellor may be expected to voice disagreement strongly.

The arrival of Donald Trump in the White House has stirred discourse on the fundamental issues and the future of transatlantic relations across Europe. However, the actual impact of Donald Trumps presidency on foreign policy appears to be modest. Still, the long list of disagreements across the Atlantic means that Donald Trumps posturing will undeniably influence how Berlin is going to position itself towards its North American partner. The upcoming election will also surely strengthen Germanys confidence to speak out against the White House in times of disagreement while boosting its engagement efforts with Washington whenever possible.

The Trump Effect on Germanys Election and Transatlantic Ties  Analysis by Erik Brattberg and Viola Meyerweissflog  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

(The Analysis can be downloaded here)
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The European Union is still actively engaged in the Tunisian democratic transition. The European Parliaments Socialists and Democrats Group (S&D Group) is looking into ways to bring progressive center-left forces in the North African country into the fold in order to prop up the transition ahead of the first post-revolution municipality poll.

Tunisia was supposed to hold its first municipality election on 17 December  the first one since the 2011 revolution that toppled dictator President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. Since then, a number of democratic reforms have been introduced, including the adoption of a new constitution. However, the electoral commission said that the election would be put off following a meeting between representatives of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, President Beji Caid Essebsi and party leaders. Tunisian media reported that a new date for the election could be March 2018 but it is not confirmed yet.

Elena Valenciano, S&D Group Vice-President responsible for foreign policy, commented that the conversations between all of Tunisias progressive parties are indispensable to enable the country to handle its socio-economic and democratic challenges. A more united center-left will be in a stronger position to carry out reforms that promote sustainable and quality jobs, and the geographical and social cohesion of the country, she said. The S&D will co-organize a conference with the Global Progressive Forum in Tunis, which seeks to lobby for the progressive platform.

In the meantime, Tunisia has made another step towards liberalism by pledging to stop forcing suspected homosexuals to undergo anal examinations. However, homosexuality is still punishable by three years in prison under Article 230 of the countrys criminal code, which, as President Beji Caid Essebsi has recently indicated, would not be repealed. Tunisian leaders say that civil society must first be prepared for such a change in a Muslim country. Open debates on different kinds of issues, including the situation of gay and lesbian community, were kick-started by the liberal-democratic transition following the 2011 Arab Spring revolution.
BENGALURU, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Infosys [enlace ] , a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services, today announced that it has launched a private cloud solution in collaboration with Micro Focus SUSE, a pioneer in open source software, providing software-defined data center infrastructure and application delivery solutions.

(Logo: enlace )

This solution will help businesses significantly accelerate their digital transformation journey by being hardware agnostic, enabling faster time to market through rapid adoption, providing faster delivery of services, and greater infrastructure agility and control.

Infosys and Micro Focus SUSE have jointly invested in a center of excellence to develop validated reference architectures, accelerators and factory-based migration solutions which will help customers in rapid adoption of private cloud built on SUSE OpenStack. This partnership aims at strengthening Infosys' association with Micro Focus SUSE and positions Infosys as a strategic Global Platinum partner, backed by over 500 architects and consultants having data center transformation and migration capabilities.

SUSE OpenStack Cloud is an automated cloud computing platform that enables organizations to innovate, rapidly deploy and manage cloud architecture. With this association, Infosys will be able to further strengthen its presence in Europe and generate new businesses and insights.

Ravi Kumar, President and Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Infosys

"This new solution will empower Infosys' clients with extreme automation backed by best-in-class professional services, which will not only provide enhanced agility but also create newer experiences. Organisations will be able to invest much more in digital transformation by reducing cost of services through open source adoption. We believe that this collaboration will impact businesses positively and help them propel their digital strategy especially in sectors such as financial services, life sciences, retail, manufacturing, energy and utilities."

Ronald de Jong, Micro Focus SUSE, President of Sales

"Together Infosys and Micro Focus SUSE can help customers attain cost efficiency through leading-edge development of open source technology while transitioning their data centers to the next generation of software-defined infrastructure. System integrators like Infosys are critical in bridging legacy IT with emerging cloud-native technologies using SUSE OpenStack Cloud."

About Micro Focus SUSE

Micro Focus is a leading global enterprise software company uniquely positioned to help customers extend existing investments while embracing new technologies in a world of Hybrid IT, Security and Risk Management, and Predictive Analytics. SUSE, a pioneer in open source software, provides reliable, software-defined infrastructure and application delivery solutions that give enterprises greater control and flexibility. More than 20 years of engineering excellence, exceptional service and an unrivaled partner ecosystem power the products and support that help SUSE's customers manage complexity, reduce cost, and confidently deliver mission-critical services.

For more information visit http://www.microfocus.com

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in technology services and consulting. We enable clients in 45 countries to create and execute strategies for their digital transformation. From engineering to application development, knowledge management and business process management, we help our clients find the right problems to solve, and to solve these effectively. Our team of 198,000+ innovators, across the globe, is differentiated by the imagination, knowledge and experience, across industries and technologies that we bring to every project we undertake.

Visit http://www.infosys.com to see how Infosys can help your enterprise thrive in the digital age.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. These filings are available at http://www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law.

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CONTACT: Media Contacts: Asia Pacific, Sarah Gideon, Infosys, India,+91-80-4156-3998, Sarah_Gideon@infosys.com; EMEA, Margherita Di Cerbo,Infosys, Europe, +44-2075162748, Margherita.DiCerbo@infosys.com; Americas,Chiku Somaiya, Infosys, USA, +1-408-375-2722, Chiku.Somaiya@infosys.com
The nuclear agreement with Iran has been put into question once again last week when President Donald Trump took the stage at the United Nations General Assembly. Since taking office, Trump has been reluctant to waiver US sanctions against Iran and has repeatedly asked his advisers for possible avenues to withhold certification of Iranian compliance. The uncertainty has put a heavy burden on the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and is a political challenge for all parties to the agreement, namely Iran and the E3+3 group, also known as P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany). Notwithstanding its coordinating role within the P5+1, the EU has yet to take decisive measures to overcome the ongoing crisis. Failure to do so will have impact on Europes interests and on the P5+1s ability to reach tangible results in any future negotiations with Iran.

Maintain the Support of the deal in Tehran

Often overlooked, the JCPOA is not merely the product of sanctions and international pressure but also the outcome of political infighting in Iran itself. It took advocates of a pragmatic approach more than ten years to gain the support of all relevant centres of power, including that of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Against heavy pressure from those opponents willing to pay the political and economic costs of international sanctions, pragmatists managed to make a case for negotiating the deal and essentially vouched for the EU as its guarantor. Given the harsh criticism in Iran that talks with the E3 in 2003 had not produced lasting results, this was not an easy task.

Nuclear pragmatists such as President Hassan Rohani will be the ones drastically losing ground if the agreement falls apart. This begs the question of who would be left in Iran to actually negotiate with after the JCPOA collapses? More importantly, what incentive would Tehran have to enter into new talks  nuclear or otherwise  when no lasting agreement can be secured beyond one presidential term in Washington? With international credibility lost and those in Iran who favour engagement marginalised, conditions within which to start another negotiation process would be gravely worse.

The Status Quo Wont Do

Against this background, the EU has a major interest in preventing any steps that might put the JCPOA as a whole in danger, such as pushing for renegotiations in delusive hope for a better outcome. Pointing out negative repercussions, however, while showing time and time again that Iran is adhering to the deal, has not changed minds in Washington. Lets face it: Washington does not want the status quo, despite the fact that the administration does not have a solid plan on how to prevent the re-emergence of a situation where Tehran would be at the threshold of nuclear weapon capability. Thus, staying on the defensive will not be enough for the EU to preserve the agreement. With roughly eight more years to go before the UN Security Council resolution endorsing the JCPOA terminates, the remaining time should be used to look at what comes next. If the JCPOA is to remain intact, an alternative framework needs to be provided for US concerns to be addressed.

Instead of tampering with an existing agreement that has proven effective so far, all parties must thus put their efforts into jointly preparing for the expiration of the UN arms embargo and the post-2025 era. This should entail addressing sensitive issues such as Irans ballistic missile program or the prospects for a JCPOA follow-up process that leaves the current agreement untouched. Talks on any separate post-JCPOA agreement could include topics like an extension of existing sunset clauses in exchange for an economic incentive package and should ideally start while the Rohani government is still in place.

Make P4+1 a Viable Option

Reaching out to Washington by offering alternative political fora should be the main priority for the EU. If this fails, however, the EU needs to make P4+1 a viable option. It should determine how the JCPOA can be adequately upheld without the United States being a party to the agreement. This requires close coordination with Russia and China. The formation of a strong unified bloc should be reflected in a joint proclamation by the P4+1 states that no nuclear-related sanctions will be re-imposed as long as there is no evidence of a material breach of the agreement by Iran. At the same time, the P4+1 must clearly communicate to Tehran that it will not tolerate any suspension of the JCPOA, such as temporarily resuming enrichment activities beyond the deals provisions, as a reaction to US policy. A re-configuration of the P5+1 will find support in Tehran as long as the new conditions do not de facto block Iran from economic relief as specified in the JCPOA. To that end, the EU needs to prepare all options on how to protect EU companies that want to engage with Iran from US extraterritorial sanctions, including taking the case to the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organisation.

Defusing the Crisis, With or Without the US

The uncertainty about US commitment remains a burden for the JCPOA. If the current crisis continues, it is likely that Washington or Tehran will escalate the nuclear standoff by ceasing to observe individual provisions of the agreement, rendering the deal meaningless. Failing to preserve the deal would not only result in less supervision of Irans nuclear program, thus sacrificing the strongest tool the P5+1 currently possesses, but also to a significant loss of credibility, thus creating poor domestic conditions in Iran for any negotiations thereafter. Moreover, it would add a proliferation crisis to an already crisis-ridden Middle East. The EU has not exhausted all its means to prevent the JCPOA from falling apart. It should first and foremost strive for acting jointly with its transatlantic partner. However, the EU should not shy away from going on the offensive to protect its own interests, with or without US involvement.

The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network or any of its members. The ELNs aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europes capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security challenges of our time.
I'm a senior citizen as is my husband.

I need to do the FLR (M) application

Can't figure out the Financial part.



Originally I was going to fulfill the 18,600 requirement using our pensions which comfortably satisfied that but couldn't make sense of 7.1 on pg 26. After nearly a week of trying to figure out the form I must move on, running out of time to fill all of this information in.



So now think it best to apply using cash savings over the 18,600 mark. I've downloaded all the FM-SE information. Pg.12 ...#11 talks about cash savings



11A .. In respect of Cash savings it says:

(d) .. Funds held as cash savings can be from the proceeds of the sale of the property.

Then underneath that it says ...

( i ) The property was owned at the beginning of the period of 6 months prior to the date of application and at the date of sale by the applicant.

(v) ??? The requirements of this Appendix in respect of the cash savings held at the date of application are met, except that the period of 6 months mentioned in paragraph 11(a) will be reduced by the amount of time which passed between the start of the 6- month period and the deposit of the proceeds of the sale in an account mentioned in paragraph 11(a)



I DON'T understand that last bit above.



When I married my husband in 2015, I sold my house in Canada in May 2015. Moved to the Uk and lived in my husband's house until May 2017. In May 2017, together we bought a new house. To buy the new house we used all the money from my husbands UK house sale plus some money from the sale of my Canadian house.



The rest of my Canadian house sale money is still in my UK bank account and I'd like to use that balance to now satisfy the visa application requirement of 18,600 over the required 18,600.



What I don't understand is ... Did I need to spend the money I received for my Canadian house within 6 months of selling the Canadian house to satisfy using the cash to fulfill my financial requirement.



I put all of my Canadian house sale money into a Uk bank account until we found and sold my husband's UK house.



I'm really stressed by this form and can't figure out the way they explain things. I'm running out of time and need to get the application finished ASAP.



Praying you can help me

Thanks











Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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If youve been to the convergence of Southtown and King William at night, youve seen Rosarios, its neon sign glowing at the messy intersection of South Alamo and South St. Marys streets.

Through the long banks of windows along the peninsular building, it looks like everybodys having a better time than you. Something to do with top-shelf handshaken margaritas and the lower-shelf but equally buzzy frozen strawberry swirl ritas.

On the scene since 1992, Rosarios is another enduring San Antonio project from Lisa Wong, who also has Rosarios North and the River Walk Mexican spot Acenar. That historys all fine and good. But for the sake of this series, how are the tacos?

Theyre doing just fine. Thanks for asking.

Tacos: A nice way to engage with the taco menu at this upmarket Mexican cafe is to take it to the streets. Thats where Griseldas Tacos Callejeros come in. Street tacos, if you will, three for $11.25.

Get the combo: one with tangy marinated beef fajitas, one with tamer shredded white meat chicken and one with hard-roasted pork carnitas. Of the proteins, Id order only the beef fajitas again. But as complete taco packages, all three were good, built on half-crisp corn tortillas with refried beans, crisp cabbage-lime slaw, diced avocado and queso fresco.

The back of the menu singles out fish tacos as a specialty at Rosarios. Theyre worth singling out, with firm, nicely seared fillets of tilapia showered with slaw, fresh avocado, pickled onions and a mild mayo with laid-back chipotle smoke. Theyre $8.35 for an order of two with wholly ordinary whole pinto beans.

Tortillas: Rosarios makes its own corn and flour tortillas. The corns pale and squishy, except for the ones that were fried for the street tacos. The flour tortillas were neatly toasted, shiny, two-ply numbers suitable for scooping.

Salsa: Rosarios tacos are already well-dressed enough without salsa, so think of the smoky roasted tomato and chipotle salsa as fuel for chips and margaritas.

Location: 910 S. Alamo St., 210-223-1806, rosariossa.com

Rating: A solid neighborhood option

Follow the complete 365 Days of Tacos series at ExpressNews.com/Tacos. Get 365 Days of Tacos sent to your inbox. Sign up here.

msutter@express-news.net

Twitter: @fedmanwalking
WASHINGTON  Hours after sealing a deal with President Donald Trump to protect young immigrants from deportation, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer gave Capitol reporters a triumphant two thumbs up to celebrate the rare outburst of bipartisanship.

But in a swirl of vague and contradictory details that have emerged since, activists on both sides of the debate appear to be pulling apart, calling into question whether Congress can find the sort of comprehensive agreement on immigration that has eluded it for more than a decade.

The initial suggestion that Trump had agreed to legislation based on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, in exchange for tougher border security  minus a wall  came as an immediate shock to his conservative supporters. Since then, a number of Republican measures have emerged that would tie the deal to tougher border security and enforcement measures  possibly including wall funding. But the prospect of a bargain that conservatives might accept is running into a chorus of criticism from a core of immigration activists in the forefront of the movement to protect the so-called Dreamers.

Long stymied in Congress, the effort to protect some 800,000 DACA recipients is now the central battleground in a protracted duel over the future of the Southwest border, including Trumps signature campaign promise of a big beautiful wall from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.

The debate also has become a proxy battle for passage of the Dream Act, legislation that goes beyond former President Barack Obamas 2012 executive order on DACA by providing a future pathway to citizenship for qualifying young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children.

While the Dream Act has some GOP support in Congress, many more Republicans  including Sen. John Cornyn of Texas  have taken the position that it should not become law without increasing border security and immigration enforcement.

Standing in the way

Complicating the prospects of any political agreement has been a bevy of lawsuits brought by the NAACP and at least 15 states challenging the constitutionality of Trumps decision to end the DACA program by March.

Both sides face decisions about how much they are willing to give. And its not only immigration hard-liners who feel betrayed.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who worked with Schumer to win an accord with Trump, was shouted down last week at a San Francisco news conference by a vocal group of activists accusing her of using Dreamers as fodder in a broader political chess match on immigration.

We undocumented youth demand that you do not sell out our community and our values! the protesters shouted. We undocumented youth will not be a bargaining chip for Trump!

Some of their supporters carried signs reading Democrats are Deporters.

Other activists have expressed wariness about any deal that might protect Dreamers in exchange for harsher deportation measures against other undocumented immigrants.

It is unconscionable that we would accept any deal that essentially trades our safety for that of the safety of our family members and neighbors, said Itzel Guillen, a San Diego activist with the Southern Border Communities Coalition.

California, followed by Texas, has the largest number of Dreamers in the nation.

Their concerns have been echoed by members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which represents 30 lawmakers.

One of them is Illinois Democrat Luis Gutierrez, who was arrested Tuesday in a DACA protest outside Trump Tower in New York. He has urged Democratic leaders to use the debt ceiling and other must-pass fiscal measures as leverage to obtain Dreamer legislation  not to bargain over a wall or tougher immigration enforcement.

Were 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 after his arrest.

Set off against the Democrats left flank are members of the Freedom Caucus and other Republican hard-liners who oppose any protections for Dreamers without tougher immigration and border measures.

Among the most outspoken is Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler, who expressed bewilderment at the tentative Trump accord with Pelosi and Schumer. We have got to secure the border, he said in a television interview, and I refuse to talk about legalizing anybody until that border is secure.

Some on the GOPs right flank also have floated cuts in legal immigration as part of the deal. For example, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas has suggested pairing efforts to legalize Dreamers with his Raise Act, a Trump-backed bill that would shift U.S. immigration policy away from chain migration preferences that allow newly legalized residents to sponsor extended family members.

Poison pills

Some immigration activists see that and other proposed restrictions as deal killers.

Weve seen some Republicans step up and state their support for the Dream Act, said Frank Sharry, executive director of Americas Voice Education Fund, which supports a road map to citizenship. But we are concerned that other Republicans are making vague and positive noises about protecting Dreamers while moving to kill legislation by seeking to add poison pills.

Sharry also expressed doubts about House Speaker Paul Ryans decision to add Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia to an immigration task force, which its critics call a Committee to Nowhere. Goodlatte has said Dreamers should be required to leave the country, no matter how they arrived, because that is what the law requires.

The discord on the left has been matched by divisions on the right about providing Dreamers with a path to citizenship, which many conservatives call amnesty. In a speech last week to a conservative group in Washington, Cotton backed further immigration restrictions but also warned against a deal that forecloses on any chance of citizenship for Dreamers.

The next day, Democrats  would be protesting the separate but equal treatment and the new Jim Crow, Cotton told participants at an annual Constitution Day Celebration.

Other Republicans, including Gohmert, have accused Democrats of wanting to let immigrants into the country and offer them a pathway to citizenship as a way to bolster Democratic voter rolls in states such as Texas and California.

But perhaps most nettlesome for Congress will be the question of added border security, which Trump held out as a condition in his talks with Democrats. Trump also put Democrats on notice that he would deal only if they agree not to oppose funding measures for the wall, whether or not the money is part of an agreement on Dreamers.

Confusion about Trumps position has widened the chasm between right and left.

One on side, youve got some Republicans who just dont want to deal with DACA. They just want a wall, said Rep. Henry Cuellar, a centrist Democrat from Laredo. On the other side, youve got some Democrats who dont want the wall. They want the Dreamers to come in and become instant citizens, or at least have a pathway.

Cuellar describes himself as a law-and-order Democrat who favors sensible border security. He said the solution will have to be something in between. While Democrats wont accede to a wall, he said, they might have to accept added security measures to bring along enough Republicans to pass a Dream Act or extend the protections of DACA.

Either way, both sides will have to give, Cuellar said, and that includes the protesters who shouted down Pelosi. Eventually,theyve got to understand we dont control the House, the Senate or the White House.  Well have to take the friendly fire to get the job done.
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Walking through Alazan Courts, the citys oldest public housing complex, is like taking a trip back in time.

There are no doorbells, so visitors must knock loudly on metallic apartment doors to be heard.

There is no community laundry room. Nor are there any clothes dryers in the apartments. Residents lucky enough to have their own washing machines must hang wet laundry outside to dry.

Most of the concrete buildings have no central air conditioning. Tenants wanting cool air must purchase window units or provide proof of special circumstances explaining why such equipment should be provided.

They really, really need to be updated, Alazan Courts resident Michelle Tremillo said of the barracks-style housing structures built west of downtown in 1940. They were built probably before there were fire codes to follow.

Better accommodations may be ahead for those living in the 501 apartments, which sit on 33 acres bounded by Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard to the north, Alazan Creek to the east, Guadalupe Street to the south and South Brazos Street to the west.

The San Antonio Housing Authority, which owns and manages the property, is pursuing its second federal Choice Neighborhoods grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with hopes of tearing down and rebuilding the 77-year-old complex. The Choice program aims to transform impoverished neighborhoods into thriving communities where people of all income levels reside.

A smaller public housing complex nearby, Apache Courts, isnt included in the demolition and rebuilding plans because there isnt enough funding for SAHA to redevelop both properties at the same time. SAHA officials believe Alazan Courts has the best chance of qualifying for the federal grant.

SAHA has used Choice Neighborhoods funds with great success previously.

After winning its first such grant from HUD five years ago for $29.7 million, the housing authority tore down the old Wheatley Courts public housing complex on the citys East Side and worked with a developer to convert that site into a new housing community called East Meadows for residents of diverse income levels. That prompted public and private sources to invest millions of dollars into the long-neglected neighborhood.

SAHA will follow a similar strategy at Alazan Courts on the West Side if it can secure the necessary funding and if residents support the plans.

The agency will seek to build another mixed-income housing development welcoming people of all economic means. Tenants paying market-rate rents would live there alongside low-to moderate-income residents who qualify for affordable housing and low-income residents who qualify for public housing. All of the apartments would be identical regardless of what renters pay.

The new development will continue to offer 501 public housing apartments for low-income residents just as Alazan Courts does now. To achieve that and also accommodate additional tenants of higher income levels, SAHA will have to acquire more land to build a larger housing complex, as it did on the East Side.

Current tenants who have to move out once construction begins would be guaranteed a place to live at the new development if they remain in good standing with SAHA.

The project likely will require multiple sources of funding, such as tax credits, private mortgages and public and private investments.

The local United Way office is seeking a separate Promise Neighborhoods grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help improve childrens educational and developmental performance in a 7.26-square-mile area in the same West Side neighborhood. Those funds, if awarded, would help children who typically attend three public schools near the Alazan Courts and Apache Courts properties  Lanier High School, Tafolla Middle School and J.T. Brackenridge Elementary School.

SAHAs plans for the new housing built in Alazan Courts place must be designed based on input from current tenants and the neighborhood, one official told residents at an Aug. 23 community meeting.

If its just something that the housing authority wants to do, HUD doesnt care, Lorraine Robles, SAHAs director of development services and neighborhood revitalization, told a crowd of nearly 40 people. It has to be supported by the residents and the community as well.

Alazan Courts, which stands generally across from Lanier High School, was built along with Apache Courts in the early 1940s to help address unbearable housing conditions many Mexican-American residents faced on San Antonios West Side, while Wheatley Courts was built in 1941 for black residents, according to the Texas State Historical Association website.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, an advocate for decent housing, had supported the U.S. Housing Authoritys efforts to build the Alazan, Apache and Wheatley public housing complexes after she visited some West Side homes in deplorable conditions in March 1939.

When construction of those properties was put on hold because of a dispute over land purchase prices, Roosevelt intervened and persuaded the U.S. Housing Authority to resume and finish the work, according to a 1983 article about the project.

By 1985, then-San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros expressed concerns the original buildings at the Alazan and Apache properties were no longer adequate. He proposed tearing them down and replacing them with new public housing structures. Cisneros idea drew resistance, so he suggested continuing with renovations.

Improvements have been made to both properties over the years, with some apartments being remodeled and others torn down. But those changes arent readily apparent when one visits Alazan Courts today. The interiors are outdated and have an institutional appearance  complete with dim lighting, concrete walls and stairways, worn linoleum floors and old metallic handrails.

These projects, a lot of people call it the best dominion that they can afford, said Roque L. Resendez, a former resident who stopped by the complex recently to visit his aunt, who still lives there in a one-room efficiency without central air.

The A/Cs the main problem here, said Shay Johnson, president of the Alazan-Apache Courts Resident Council. Another problem is, if you dont have transportation  how can you wash your clothes?

The Alazan Courts property has been beset with problems typical of the nations most distressed public housing, SAHA said. Officials at the housing authority agree the complex needs a major overhaul.

The buildings basic infrastructure systems have reached the end of their useful life ... The units are too small and do not provide a reasonable standard of decent living, the agency noted in its request for proposals published for housing developers in August.

HUD recently announced it will consider applications for about $132 million in Choice Neighborhoods grant funds to be awarded next year. That money is expected to be split among several winning recipients  most likely five  with a maximum award of up to $30 million per recipient. Applications are due in November and the winners will be announced in July 2018.

The stakes are higher this time because the future of the Choice program beyond next summer is unclear. President Donald Trumps proposed 2018 HUD budget seeks to eliminate the Choice Neighborhoods initiative. That proposed budget has not been finalized, a HUD spokesperson said.

If SAHA does not succeed in getting the grant, it could look at other financing options for its plans for Alazan Courts, CEO David Nisivoccia told the housing authoritys board at a Sept. 7 meeting.

Renovating the existing buildings would cost more than new construction, he warned.

Not only is it a cost issue  its a quality of life issue thats more important, in my perspective. What quality of life are we giving our clients there? Nisivoccia said.

If SAHAs plans go forward, the housing authority will provide eligible Alazan Courts tenants financial assistance to relocate once construction begins. Those residents can choose whether to move to another public housing property or take a Section 8 voucher, which would allow them to live anywhere that landlords are willing to accept such subsidies.

Our concern is going to be making sure that theres enough room in the community for those who want to stay, Robles said. So well have landlord symposiums and try to recruit more Section 8 landlords. Well start holding (apartment) units at some of our developments that are in the nearby area as vacancies become available, so that we can have enough housing for those who would like to stay in the area.

The housing authoritys board recently chose local company NRP Lone Star Development LLC as its development partner for the project. The company will help SAHA prepare its grant application.

While it is unusual for a city to win more than one Choice Neighborhoods grant, its not unheard of, SAHA spokesperson Rosario Neaves said. The Seattle Housing Authority, for instance, won two such grants  one in 2011 and another in 2012  to transform one neighborhood south of downtown.

San Antonios West Side is a natural choice for such an undertaking, Neaves said.

Were seeing so much reinvestment thats taking place with the Mission project, with our World Heritage designation. And so the West Side is an extension of that, she said. We want to be a part of that reinvestment and to help revitalize that community and also just create a better quality of life for our residents there.

Some Alazan Courts residents are looking forward to what happens next.

They definitely should rebuild them ... Im all for it, Kiara Larkin said.

pohare@express-news.net
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A bright red light flashed open outside the screen door leading to Hookah Harem  a lounge nestled next to an insurance agency and an African hair braiding salon. Inside, a haze of smoke wafted through the air.

Dozens of Playstation games were stacked in shelves along the walls. A man sat on one of the black couches, his eyes glued to the TV screen as his fingers swiftly maneuvered the knobs on the video game controller. He occasionally lowered his head slightly to inhale from a pipe that rested on his chest and slowly released a fog of tobacco smoke through his mouth and nostrils.

Nearby, two regulars  one 18 years old, the other a year older  also drew on a water pipe.

They werent thrilled to hear that the City Council might consider an ordinance that would block businesses from selling tobacco products to them while they are under 21.

When we turn 21, we are just going to come straight back here, said Justin Kilby, 19, of San Antonio.

Metro Health is surveying residents now about raising the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21 from 18 in order to discourage people from getting hooked at an early age and developing smoking-related diseases.

To the owner of Hookah Harem on Ingram Road, such a prohibition would be another example of eroding civil liberties.

When somebody is 18, they can join the military, be forced to do jury duty, be tried as an adult. The law says youre an adult, but you cant make adult choices? said Darin Ungerman, whose business would bear the brunt of any change.

Officials pushing for an ordinance say it is not just about civil liberties.

Cigarette smoking accounts for over 480,000 deaths a year in the U.S., more than the number of deaths caused by HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, motor vehicle accidents and firearms combined, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.

While some may think that smoking tobacco with a hookah eliminates the problems that cigarettes pose, hookah smokers are still at risk for diseases, including oral, lung, esophagus and stomach cancers, decreased fertility and reduced lung function, the CDC reported.

Following in the footsteps of states like California, New Jersey and Maine in raising the legal age to 21, San Antonio stands to benefit in several ways, said Metro Health Director Colleen Bridger.

We know that the vast majority of high school kids get their cigarettes from people ages 18 to 21 so if we were to raise the legal age to 21, then we are cutting into that pipeline of availability for high school kids to get access to cigarettes, she said.

Additionally, since the brain is still developing during that age range, its more likely for users to become addicted to a substance and smoking tobacco could be a gateway to other substances and addictions, Bridger added.

This isnt the first attempt in Texas at raising the age when people can lawfully buy tobacco products.

In November, state Sen. Carlos Uresti introduced a bill that would increase the legal age to purchase, possess or consume tobacco or nicotine products to 21 statewide. He also filed a bill that would allow various municipalities to determine the smoking age for their community. Both failed to gain any traction at the state Legislature this year.

If the San Antonio City Council were to pass a local ordinance, the state Legislature could later negate or limit it. But that couldnt happen for another two years, when the Legislature returns, said Councilwoman Ana Sandoval.

We hope that wont happen. We hope this will be seen as a health protective measure as it is, Sandoval said. Regardless, this would give us a great head start and actually save lives.

There is no prohibition, either in the constitution or in the state law, that precludes the city from establishing its own limits on the sale of tobacco products, said Greg Jefferson, Sandovals spokesman. This is what weve heard from the city attorneys office, he said.

The ordinance would likely cover chewing tobacco and vaping, or -e-cigarettes, as well.

Jack Cross, assistant manager of Wise Vice Vapors, an e-cigarette shop at 7271 Wurzbach Road, said he supports more regulations on the production of the oils that are used in vaping.

He added that there are many misconceptions about vaping and its a healthier option to smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products.

In 2016, the U.S. surgeon general issued the first report by a federal agency on e-cigarette use among young adults. The report found that between 2011 and 2015, e-cigarette use among high school students increased 900 percent.

According to the CDC, there is little scientific research on how exactly e-cigarettes affect health, but the presence of nicotine makes it harmful.

Many of Cross customers come to Wise Vice Vapors to eventually ditch their smoking habit and vaping is a good way to wean themselves off of nicotine as users can select how much of it is in their juice.

Matthew Sanderson, 24, of San Antonio, said his sister is vaping to quit and has already decreased her nicotine intake. But for him, vaping is enjoyable. He likes trying the different sweet and savory flavors, from cinnamon toast to hazelnut and blueberry lemonade.

Most of the vape shops customers are Sandersons age and older, Cross said, adding that he doesnt think that the city ordinance would threaten the business.

For Ungerman, increasing the age for buying tobacco age could shutter his business since most of his clientele are people between 18 and 21.

I anticipated this, said Ungerman, 50. I have it in my lease that we can drop out of the lease if the law changes so we will close shop. It would hurt me. It would hurt my landlord.

Sandoval acknowledged Ungermans concerns and said the city would take into account the affected stakeholders, but ultimately, This is one way to improve health.

Inside Ungermans shop, a group of people sat on the black couches toward the back, smoking from two hookahs.

We are here a lot, said Matthew Quintanilla, 18, of San Antonio.

It tastes good, its just fun. We got vapes, too, Kilby said.

For them, using tobacco products was a rite of passage when they turned 18. Finally, they were adults and had access to something that had been forbidden.

At the same time, both acknowledged that tobacco can lead to cancer and heart disease, though, they said, it doesnt impair judgment like alcohol does.

At least give us this so we can have fun with our lives, Kilby said.

Bridger said the goal is for 5,000 people to take the survey. So far, there is only a tentative timeline for a tobacco ordinance with possible consideration by the council in December.

It makes a lot of sense from a public health perspective, she said. There are over 250 cities that have done this in five states. So we are not plowing new ground here.

sravani@express-news.net | Twitter: @SarRavani
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Upset Uber drivers in San Antonio are saying the online ride-hailing pioneer has created a below-market per-mile fare structure that so drastically undercuts conventional taxis that they must work 60- to 70-hour weeks to make a living wage.

Some of the angriest are promising they will organize a boycott, start negotiating separate fees with customers  for carrying luggage or providing child seats, perhaps  or join a growing class-action lawsuit community of Uber drivers from North Carolina to Oregon and Texas.

Waiting outside San Antonio International Airport on Friday afternoon, Uber driver Charles Williams, 47, said the company dropped its local fares in January 2016 and promised drivers the old fares would be restored if the change did not dramatically increase ridership.

Well, that huge increase in riders never really happened, said Williams, who has driven for Uber for more than two years. But theyve kept the low rates, increased their cut and installed a new booking fee on customers without letting us share in that.

On its online application, Uber offers three levels of service called X, XL and Select. Williams said when he started with Uber, his share of the services most common level of ride  the X level  was $1.35 per mile, but 21 months ago that was dropped to 90 cents per mile. At that rate, he said, he was working 65 to 87 hours a week to make what he once did with just modest overtime.

Some of the new drivers came in after the fare reduction, Williams said. So they dont really know anything different and just accept what theyre given.

Travis Considine, communications manager for Uber Texas, said Monday and in a follow-up email that fares for San Antonio riders did experience a small increase of about 4 to 6 cents per mile on June 20 to pay for driver injury protection insurance. The company since July has been rolling out new ways for driver-partners to earn on the platform  such as tipping, earnings for returning lost items, earnings for wait time, new cancellation fee structure, and more, he said.

He suggested that a driver actually working 60-65 hours per week would be making $15 to $25 an hour, and though ride-sharing is a different industry from taxis, I doubt anyone at Yellow Cab is making that.

At the heart of the drivers complaints is an ongoing dispute in American labor as to what constitutes an independent contractor rather than a company employee. Hundreds of thousands of workers, from strippers to oil field roughnecks, claim that companies dictate virtually everything they do, but wrongly classify them as contract workers in order to avoid providing them with benefits and paying them overtime.

The courts have seen it both ways.

In July, a judge in North Carolina granted a group of Uber drivers conditional certification under the Fair Labor Standards Act, while a judge in Florida denied a similar claim. In California, New York and Oregon, Uber drivers have been declared employees deserving of unemployment compensation. A federal class-action lawsuit filed in June in Houston portrays Uber as having a vicelike grip on their independent drivers.

Uber officials have said their drivers are contract workers because they, for example, set their own hours, drive their own cars and determine whom they will or wont pick up.

But if youre truly independent, you can set your own rates, said Ron Brown, a truck driver for 18 years and Uber driver in San Antonio for almost a year. Clearly we do not.

Brown said he works 50 to 60 hours a week to make roughly $900 to $1,500, out of which he pays for gasoline, tires, car washes and maintenance.

San Antonio driver James Vessels said he would like to start charging his Uber customers $5 per bag or a similar fee for child car seats, but that if these ad hoc fees offended enough riders their bad ratings could get him deactivated as an Uber driver.

Uber tracks every move that a driver makes, Houston lawyer Kevin Michaels told the Houston Chronicle. As long as they are on the app, they are under Ubers control.

The Houston lawsuit disputes the companys promotional materials that claim drivers can earn $100,000 annually.

A driver would have to devote an exorbitant number of hours on a daily, weekly and monthly basis to even approach gross fares totaling this amount, much less earn this amount, the lawsuit states. Uber knew such statements were fraudulent and misleading.

bselcraig@express-news.net
From a chop house that spent $100,000 on its first food and wine order to a Roadrunner who set a new career high over the weekend, this week's significant statistics may surprise you.

Last week, the nonprofit charged with overseeing the city's 300-year celebration said it hasn't yet reached its financial goal - not by a long shot, and the city might consider changing the age limit on purchases of tobacco.
A federal appeals court Monday allowed part of the Texas sanctuary cities law punishing local officials who dont hold detainees for federal immigration authorities to take effect, but lawyers challenging the legislation said the ruling doesnt require local governments to honor every request they receive.

The provision takes effect immediately but will not have much of an effect on San Antonio, lawyers said. Bexar County sheriffs officials said they comply with such requests and wont be affected by the ruling.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision on the immigration detainer provision of Senate Bill 4 came after the state asked the three-judge panel to let the law temporarily take effect until a Nov. 6 hearing before the appellate court on an order by U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia of San Antonio that blocked most of the provisions in the legislation.

Garcia, in an unrelated case, had found that local jails violate the Constitution when detainees who would otherwise be released are held at the behest of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Known as ICE detainers, the requests ask local jails to hold people already arrested for up to 48 hours while immigration agents investigate whether they should be deported, even if theyve been granted bail or their criminal cases are dismissed. In a ruling Aug. 30, two days before SB 4 was to take effect, Garcia blocked portions of the law that make it a misdemeanor if a local official knowingly fails to comply with the detainer request.

The 5th Circuit panel ruled that the state was likely to prove the provision constitutional during subsequent proceedings and allowed the law to take effect. However, it ruled that detainees who show proof of legal immigration status should be released and that the law does not require detention pursuant to every ICE detainer request.

Lawyers representing plaintiffs in the case, which include the city of San Antonio and civil rights advocates, said the ruling only affects counties that dont honor any ICE detainers. Jails wont have to honor every single detainer they receive, the lawyers said.

Although the 5th Circuit allowed SB 4 to require jails to comply with ICE detainers, the 5th Circuit substantially pared back the obligation of jails, Rolando Rios, a San Antonio attorney representing one of the plaintiffs, the Texas Association of Hispanic County Judges and County Commissioners, wrote in an email. The decision does not require detention pursuant to every ICE detainer request, Rios added.

Because ICE detainers are a matter of voluntary compliance under federal law, they will remain voluntary for local jails, he said.

While the judges did not address the constitutionality of ICE detainers, the ruling could undermine lower court decisions that county jails, which hold people accused of committing state crimes, violate the Fourth Amendment when they detain people accused of violating federal immigration laws, which are usually civil matters.

We are pleased todays 5th Circuit ruling will allow Texas to strengthen public safety by implementing the key components of Senate Bill 4, Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. Enforcing immigration law helps prevent dangerous criminals from being released into Texas communities. I am confident Senate Bill 4 will be found constitutional and ultimately upheld.

The 5th Circuit also ruled that the state can put into effect a provision of the law that punishes governments that limit cooperation with immigration authorities, although lawyers involved in the litigation said they werent aware of any cities or counties in Texas that would run afoul of those penalties.

As with Garcias earlier ruling, lawyers Monday afternoon were still trying to figure out exactly what effect Mondays decision would have.

Ive conferred with the different (plaintiffs) lawyers, and theres still some ambiguity with the ruling, said Luis Vera Jr., general counsel for the League of United Latin American Citizens, who is representing the border town of El Cenizo in its challenge to SB 4. Its kind of like a paper tiger, where it says, You cant do this. But thats fine, no one is doing that, and San Antonio certainly doesnt do that.

The Legislature passed the law and it was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year. It was challenged by some of the states largest cities and counties, as well as border communities such as El Cenizo and Maverick County.

After a hearing this summer, Garcia blocked some of SB 4s key provisions but left in place penalties for officials and governments that prevent police from asking about immigration status. As a result, the San Antonio Police Department rewrote its policy that told officers not to ask about immigration status, but Police Chief William McManus has said immigration status is not a priority for officers.

The appeals court left in place Garcias injunction halting two other provisions of SB 4. Opponents had argued that a portion of the law allowing the state to fine and remove from office local officials who endorsed policies limiting immigration enforcement would punish those who spoke out against the law, violating their First Amendment rights.

Garcia also halted similar penalties for local officials who materially limit  the enforcement of immigration laws, a provision opponents said was so vague that it would require police to act as immigration enforcers. Those will not take effect until after the November hearing.

jbuch@express-news.net | Twitter: @jlbuch
In the years before passage of the Affordable Care Act, the lines at the annual San Fernando Health and Safety Fair would start forming in the early morning hours, remaining strong all day.

About three years ago, lines began to grow shorter. The Ebola virus scare was in full tilt then. No one linked the drop to that, or to the implementation of Obamacare.

What fair officials and volunteers feel more sure about saying is that for those who show up, the health fair remains a primary source of care. Over the years, it has even been credited with critical diagnoses.

No matter how many arrive Oct. 7, theyll be seen.

Founded by the late Catholic priest Father Virgil Elizondo, who served as cathedral rector, the fair is in its 27th year and offers screenings, consultations, information, services and follow-ups.

Pediatricians and podiatrists will be on call, as will dentists and dermatologists, pulmonary care specialists, urologists and even optometrists.

Those who need less specialized care will be able to get a free flu shot, blood pressure check, body mass index reading and cholesterol screening. Mammogram and prostate screenings will be available, too.

The event is open to everyone regardless of where they live or worship, or whether they worship at all.

The grounds surrounding the beloved cathedral will be turned into makeshift clinics.

Joyce Reyna and her brother, Dr. Johnny Reyna, a urologist, have been volunteering at the fair since its inception. Before that, they took their free services to small West Side and East Side churches.

She recalls a janitor at a little church who was finally pressed into getting a prostate exam. His PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, test indicated a problem. He had cancer and had it removed, she said.

The cathedrals fair has resulted in a lifesaving test for one of their own, too.

Reyna says her brother was at the fair when he mentioned to a fellow doctor that he saw blood in his urine. He was tested soon afterward, and a lesion was detected. A cancer was found in his kidney, and it was removed.

The urology department at the fair will have four people doing intake, four drawing blood, and three to four urologists doing examinations.

Reyna said PSA blood test results will be available in two days, and every patient will get a follow-up letter.

At one point in the fairs history, the Reynas saw 200 patients. We noticed the same people came year after year, Joyce Reyna said.

Diana Guadiano, the fairs volunteer executive director, says the event also will feature representatives of Peripheral Vascular Associates, who specialize in vascular surgery.

Doctors in Booth will offer consults on any health concern. Altogether, more than 400 volunteers will be on site.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in the City Hall parking lot on the Commerce Street side.

All those wholl show up  young, old, male, female and mostly Latino  will have different medical concerns but will be bound by one reality: They have no health insurance.

This week those Latinos, an estimated 4.2 million of them, who were once uninsured and managed to get coverage under the ACA, will be threatened by the latest repeal-and-replace attempt. Its called the Graham-Cassidy bill.

On Friday a new poll found 56 percent of Americans prefer Obamacare to the Graham-Cassidy bill, which has been described as repeal without replacement.

It would allow states to dump consumer protections, including for pre-existing conditions, and raise premiums as much as 100 percent more for breast cancer patients, 50 percent for those battling depression and 25 percent for those who are overweight.

Senate Republicans may attempt to push Graham-Cassidy this week, though Fridays announcement of opposition by Republican Sen. John McCain makes the bills demise more likely.

As he battles brain cancer, the Arizonan has become an unexpected, perhaps inadvertent champion of Obamacare by his key votes against GOP replacement bills.

No matter what Washington produces, the good doctors and other health professionals wholl gather on the cathedral grounds Oct. 7 will be ready to see you.

eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala
A man has been filmed clinging onto a train travelling at 70mph.

Man clings onto train

The 19-second clip, which has been viewed more than 5,000 times , was uploaded onto Facebook and shows the carriage zooming along the Mitchell Freeway in Australia.

In the video, the camera shows the rear of the train, where a man is seen holding on for dear life to the wiper blades.

The unnamed male was later arrested by Public Transport Authority officers.

PTA spokesman David Hyne said: ''In all other instances it generally goes up on Facebook or on the internet, on YouTube after the event.''

The Australian government's transport minister, Rita Saffioti, warned how dangerous it is to be ''acting stupidly'' near to railway lines.

According to the Mirror Online, she added: ''They want to get on YouTube, they want mainstream publicity so they don't try to get themselves caught, so we don't often know about it until it's well after the event.

''People shouldn't be acting stupidly around our rail line, these are serious pieces of infrastructure and they can cause death and of course they can cause serious injuries.''
The epic finale to the Maze Runner series is right around the corner, with Maze Runner: The Death Cure coming to cinemas across the UK in January, 2018. This week, an exciting first look trailer for the film has been revealed, which you can check out below:

Directed by Wes Ball, with a roster of returning stars and new faces including Dylan OBrien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, Nathalie Emmanuel, Rosa Salazar, Giancarlo Esposito and Patricia Clarkson, The Death Cure is unlike the Maze Runner stories that came before it in that it seems to genre-bend and throw more twists and turns in the audiences direction than ever before.

Chatting about the film, Ball says: Its a heist movie this time. It picks up six months after the last movie, where we started in the desert, and then we come into the world of WCKD, which is a city: The Last City.

With the characters involved more aware than ever, Ball continues: But now, theyre breaking into walls, almost an inverse of the maze, and they have to get answers and out-manoeuvre every obstacle thrown their way.

He adds of the films distinct look and the vision behind it: The first film, with the maze, was all cement and overgrowth. The second story was the sand and rust of the Scorch and this film is a world of glass and steel. Id say it has elements of sci-fi and film noir  I loved the idea that each one of these movies has a distinct look and feel, but that they all fold into the same universe.

Not just a deadly labyrinth in the fictional Maze Runner world, the set for The Death Cure turned out to be a dangerous place for Dylan OBrien, when serious injuries sustained by the actor on the set meant that filming was halted indefinitely.

In a harness on top of a moving vehicle, OBrien was performing stunts but was unexpectedly pulled off and hit by another vehicle, with injuries at the time being described as a concussion, facial fracture and lacerations. His publicist said in April of 2016: His injuries are very serious, and he needs more time to recover.

It took almost a year for filming to restart, but the cast and crew returned to the set on March 6 of this year, in Cape Town, South Africa. Principal photography then came to an end on June 3.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure comes to movie theatres in the UK in January, 2018.

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Prince William joined Queen Elizabeth in Balmoral over the weekend.

Prince William

The 35-year-old royal was spotted arriving at Crathie Kirk for a morning church service with his grandmother on Sunday (24.09.17) whilst Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall travelled in a separate vehicle.

However, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William's wife, was noticeably absent. She is thought to still be at the family's London residence in Kensington Palace after suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum as she is expecting the couple's child.

It is believe that Prince William travelled up to Scotland to join the family for the annual Ghillies Ball, which is put on for the royal staff. He will return to London in the next few days whilst the Queen will stay in Balmoral until the beginning of October, before returning to Buckingham Palace.

And it is no surprise that Prince William was supporting his grandmother in Balmoral as it was previously revealed they share a "special closeness".

Robert Lacey, historian and consultant to the hit Netflix series 'The Crown', said: "There has always been a special closeness between William and the Queen, and she has taken a particular interest in him. It's no secret that she and Charles have had a prickly relationship at times.

"When William became a teenager, she would have him at Windsor Castle and would open the state boxes and guide him through the papers. It was William's constitutional education."

And William had previously described the Queen as a "role model".

He said last year: "[She is] the best role model I could have. [She has] more of a soft influencing, modest kind of guidance. I don't think she believes too heavily in instruction. My grandmother takes more of a passive role in how she believes her role should be. She's above politics."
Carley Stenson and Danny Mac have delayed their honeymoon.

Carley Stenson and Danny Mac

The former 'Hollyoaks' stars tied the knot last month in a magical woodland ceremony in the heart of the New Forest, but they've been forced to postpone their romantic getaway because the 29-year-old hunk is touring as Joe Gillis in 'Sunset Boulevard'.

He said: "It was always going to take a lot to drag me away from Carley and London this year but we both agreed it was a no-brainer. It is a gift of a role in a truly stunning show. I pinch myself at how incredible these last 12 months have been."

The couple - who got together after they met on the set on the Channel 4 soap - have also decided to keep their individual surnames for their professional careers but Danny wants to find a way to incorporate the blonde beauty's last name into his moniker.

He explained: "I wanted to take Carley's name so we'll share both out names personally and privately. Professionally, we'll remain Danny Mac and Carley Stenson. Although if we're referred to together, Carley quite likes the nickname Mr and Mrs Mac."

Danny has admitted their special day is one he'll never forget and he even told the 35-year-old star to slow down when she was walking down the aisle so he could admire her for longer.

Speaking to HELLO! magazine, he said: "Carley looked truly sensational and so happy. It was such a lovely moment that I'll never forget. I actually put my hand out to tell her to slow down as it was all going too quickly and I wanted to cherish it. Carley thought I waved and so she waved back."

Carley added: "I felt so calm yet so excited. I just couldn't stop smiling and giggling. It felt like our plan had come together perfectly and I was about to say 'I do' to my best friend in front of everyone we loved. It was magical."
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), an alliance of groups representing firms from the Canadian, Mexican and US textile sectors, has urged the US Government to plug the loopholes in the implementation of the Berry Amendment in military clothing, textile and footwear procurement and stop the patronage offered to Federal Prison Industries (FPI).The Berry Amendment of 1941 mandates that all textile, clothing, and footwear products purchased by the US military must be made in the United States from US materials. It is stricter than most other Buy American requirements as it warrants, with few exceptions, that product inputs be also sourced within the United States. A strict waiver process exists for goods that cannot be sourced domestically.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), an alliance of groups representing firms from the Canadian, Mexican and US textile sectors, has urged the US Government to plug the loopholes in the implementation of the Berry Amendment in military clothing, textile and footwear procurement and stop the patronage offered to Federal Prison Industries (FPI).#

Though thousands of US textile, apparel, and footwear manufacturing jobs depend on the Berry Amendments continued operation, loopholes built into the Berry Amendment undermine the very protection it is meant to provide, AAFA executive vice president Steve Lamar wrote to the department of commerce in a letter.As contracts at values under the simplified acquisition threshold are not subject to Berry requirements, many smaller contracts, especially at the military base or unit level, are awarded to foreign firms without bothering about the existence of domestic manufacturers that can handle the work, the AAFA letter said.As many reports from the Inspector General and the General Accounting Office in recent years have identified enforcement concerns regarding the Berry Amendment, a stronger oversight could ensure better compliance to favour US manufacturing jobs, according to AAFA.The recent trend of awarding contracts on price rather than best value have created long-term obstacles for an industry dependent on the Berry Amendment and has eroded the economic health of the warm industrial base, observed AAFA.The strongest note of concern is raised about the unfair competition from the FPI, which conducts business under the name UNICOR. As FPI is permitted to compete as a small business, an entity that is many times larger than the largest US military uniform contractor can take contracts reserved for small and disadvantaged businesses.UNICOR employs more than 12,000 inmates at 83 facilities and has annual revenues of around $500 million.While the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and state minimum wages are approaching $15 an hour, UNICOR products are manufactured at prison facilities by inmates paid as little as 23 cents per hour. Moreover, UNICOR facilities are not required to comply with regulations regarding safe workplaces, handling of hazardous materials and fair labour practices and its factories are set up partly through tax-payer funds, while private facilities enjoy no such advantages, according to AAFA.UNICOR also benefits from a regulation that makes it mandatory for the federal government to award contracts to UNICOR for any products that it is capable of manufacturing even if there is a better value available from a US manufacturer.While UNICORs damage is felt by many industries, much of its predatory activity occurs in the textiles and apparel sector. Despite federal statute dictating that no single industry should be forced to bear an undue burden because of FPI, 46 per cent of UNICOR inmates are dedicated to clothing and textile production, and those products account for 59 per cent of UNICORs annual earnings.The US Governments preference for prison-made products stands in sharp contrast to federal laws that ban the import of products made in foreign countries using prison labour, the AAFA letter added. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Experts feel the Vietnam-European Union (EU) free trade agreement (FTA), which may tentatively be ratified by early 2018, will allow Vietnam to consolidate its position as a leading exporter to the EU. After the deal takes effect, 71 per cent of Vietnamese exports to the EU will be duty free while other tax lines will be dropped in the following seven years.The agreement was first envisaged in 2012. Vietnamese products at present are levied taxes in the 8-12 per cent range by the EU.

Experts feel the Vietnam-European Union (EU) free trade agreement (FTA), which may tentatively be ratified by early 2018, will allow Vietnam to consolidate its position as a leading exporter to the EU. After the deal takes effect, 71 per cent of Vietnamese exports to the EU will be duty free while other tax lines will be dropped in the following seven years.#

As part of Vietnams efforts to attract European investment and buyers, ten companies from the Vietnam Textile and Garment Association (VITAS) attended Apparel Sourcing Paris, a leading European sourcing trade fair, in Paris from September 18-21, a Vietnamese news agency reported.According to the trade office of the Vietnamese Embassy in France, France is the Vietnamese textile industrys fifth largest market in the EU. With export revenues worth 3 billion euros every year, Vietnam is the sixth largest garment supplier to the EU. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
ShriVallabh Pittie Industries (SVP) Group, a diversified yarn manufacturing company based in India, has signed a land lease agreement for construction of $300 million cotton yarn plant in Sohar Freezone. The plant in the free zone area likely to begin commercial operations from around 2019 will generate more than 1,000 employment opportunities.

SV Pittie Sohar Textiles FZC-LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bombay listed SVP Global Ventures Ltd, will operate the first cotton yarn plant in Sohar Freezone, according to Omanese media reports. With the capacity to manufacture more than 70,000 tonnes on an annual basis, the finished yarn will be exported to various international markets including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Portugal, Turkey and China. The plant will import 100,000 metric tonnes of cotton fibre for production. Of this, nearly 50 per cent will be imported from the United States and the remaining from India and Australia.

"With over two-hundred years experience in the textile business, our company has a highly skilled and experienced management team with a strong focus on automation and technology. We source best-in-class machinery from leading global companies to ensure the highest levels of productivity and efficiency," said Chirag Pittie, SVP Groups managing director.

A full-fledge textile unit will be set up at the plant including knitting, weaving, spinning and fabric manufacturing. This will increase the scope of employment for the locals.

"The agreement showcases the great things we can offer to investors in Sohar Freezone, the safest haven in the Middle East for foreign direct investment combined with high levels of government support; project financing with an Omani bank; 100 per cent foreign ownership; our optimal location and seamless connectivity to key global markets through our adjacent port; highly competitive land and energy rates; and a young, well educated local workforce. Taken together, this is a sure fire recipe for business success, said Jamal Aziz, CEO of Sohar Freezone. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Recent comments made by union leadership regarding the civil service reform agenda have made it increasingly apparent they have no concern for the well-being of Fijian civil servants and a blatant disregard for the best interests of the Fijian people.



For six months, the Fijian Government has attempted, on multiple, documented occasions, to meet with union leadership to formally begin the negotiation processa necessary requirement, by law, for commencing the process of a secret ballot. For six months, union leadership has stalled, dithered and, ultimately, failed to come to the negotiating table.



Rather than work constructively for the benefit of their membership, union leadership has instead chosen to violate the Amended Employment Relations Act 2015 by failing to enter into any negotiation process prior to proposing a secret ballot for strike. It is deeply ironic that the Unions would put forward unfounded allegations that Government had not adhered to regulations, when they themselves have so blatantly violated the law.



The Fijian Government, in the absence of union leadership on this issue, has gone directly to the public and civil servants in its work to modernise the civil service, better recognise specialisation and compensate civil servants at competitive market rates. Without any support from union leadership, Fijian civil servants have been granted pay rises of up to 70-80 per cent for the first time in Fijian history and civil servants have greeted the reform agenda with an overwhelming positive response during the nationwide roadshow events.



Fijis eight straight years of economic growth have put the Government in the position to grant these historic pay-rises and offer favourable terms and conditions on contracts that exceed what is usually found in the private sector. In the face of this progress, union leadership has engaged in a desperate campaign to seek relevance.



By proposing an unlawful strike, they have attempted to hold our thriving economy hostage in the name of their own self-interests, and limit the economic prosperity that has yielded such tremendous benefits for their membership. While fully aware they have let deadlines lapse and have broken Fijian law, union leadership are also now grasping at straws by threatening to file a complaint with the International Labour Organisation to stall the implementation of the reforms and limit Fiji's economic potential.



These deliberate efforts by union leadership to sabotage the reform agenda will not deter Government in its work to increase the transparency and accountability of civil service administration and improve both workplace conditions and the services made available to the Fijian people. Governments support to civil servants will remain unwavering, as will our commitment to improve the Fijian civil service for the benefit of every Fijian.



-ENDS-


"As the financial industry undergoes rapid technological and regulatory change, our partnership with Freedom will deliver innovative lending through a disruptive proposition."

The partnership will utilise Freedoms in-house lending team and technology platform, along with its UK-based contact centre to offer Bank of Ireland customers the best available rates for personal loans.

Freedoms solution also provides finance for those who fall outside of primary lending appetite, without further damaging their credit rating.

Michael George Davidson, director of business development at Freedom Finance, said: We are delighted to be able to support Bank of Ireland at this exciting time. Being able to work closely together to engineer a solution that supports thousands of customers every month is testimony to the values of both brands.

Alastair Watts, head of unsecured loans at Bank of Ireland, added: This partnership is an exciting development for both Bank of Ireland and Freedom Finance. As the financial industry undergoes rapid technological and regulatory change, our partnership with Freedom will deliver innovative lending through a disruptive proposition.

Working together, we will be even stronger in finding customers the best possible loan and rate whilst providing market-leading service standards.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A gunman opened fire at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, during a service on Sunday, killing at least 26 people and wounding many more, according to reports. Local and federal authorities on Sunday sought to identify a motive for the mass shooting in the tiny Texas town. Authorities identified the shooter as Devin Patrick Kelley. Ernest 'Skip' Hajek, a Wilson County commissioner, reportedly said the shooter is deceased. The shooting took place at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, about 35 miles southeast of San Antonio. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives were on the scene, and the Texas Department of Public Safety was expected to coordinate updates regarding the investigation. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Calypso Technology Inc., a leading provider of software solutions for the financial markets, announced today that Invest AD, Abu Dhabi Investment Company, has selected the Calypso Integrated Front-to-Back solution to support its Treasury and Asset Management businesses.

By implementing Calypso, Invest AD will be replacing the existing investment solution, a legacy back office solution and several other in-house developed applications. "With Calypso, we have an end-to-end solution that can streamline our investment process, improve our STP and benefit from a unique functional coverage to facilitate the growth of our treasury and asset management business on one platform," asserts Ms. Fatema Jumaa Al Junaibi, Acting Head of Operations. "Following an extensive selection process, Calypso stood out as the most comprehensive solution for our needs. In addition, Calypso is a robust platform that we can leverage for more functionality in the future."

"We are delighted to be working with such a well-respected company in the Middle East and to help deliver operational efficiency, improve investment performance and reduce the total cost of ownership," states Edmond Tehini, Managing Director, Middle East.

About Invest AD

Established in 1977, Invest AD is a leading Abu Dhabi-based financial services company, focused on tapping the growth markets of the Middle East, focusing primarily on the GCC. Invest AD offers investors access to listed equities and fixed income opportunities in these regions, blending international best practice with intimate knowledge of the markets, networks and dynamics of each country.

About Calypso Technology, Inc.

Calypso Technology, Inc. is a Cloud-enabled provider of cross-asset front-to-back solutions for financial markets. Its award-winning software improves reliability, adaptability, and scalability across several verticals, including capital markets, investment management, central banking, clearing, treasury & liquidity, and collateral management. For the past 20 years, Calypso has delivered innovative solutions for trading, risk management, processing, and accounting, bringing simplicity to complex challenges.

With over 35,000 users in over 60 countries, Calypso is on the cutting-edge of emerging technologiessuch asbig data, Blockchain, and AI. "Calypso" is a registered trademark of Calypso Technology, Inc. in the U.S., EU and other jurisdictions. Other parties' trademarks or service marks are the property of their respective owners and should be treated as such.

www.calypso.com
DUBAI, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Vinson & Elkins continues to expand its Middle East disputes presence with the addition of Joseph Chedrawe as counsel in the firm's Dubai office.

Chedrawe comes to V&E from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he represented multinational corporations, governments and private clients across multiple industries in commercial arbitrations, with a focus on construction and engineering and commercial disputes. He joins V&E partner Amir Ghaffari, who transferred to Dubai in March to lead the firm's growing International Dispute Resolution practice in the region.

"Dubai is a major center of disputes emanating from the energy and construction and engineering sectors, which in turn is driving the demand for legal services in the Middle East," said James Loftis, head of V&E's global International Dispute Resolution practice. "Joseph is an outstanding lawyer with significant experience handling these types of complex disputes in the region. We are pleased to welcome him to V&E's IDR practice."

Chedrawe has acted as counsel in more than 20 international construction and commercial disputes under many of the major arbitral institutions, as well as in ad-hoc proceedings. His particular experience includes disputes relating to power and water facilities, government service contracts, public-private partnerships, housing developments, telecommunications, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and oil and gas production.

Among his notable representations, Chedrawe has advised a Japanese and South Korean engineering and construction consortium in an arbitration regarding a multibillion dollar fertilizer complex in North Africa. He has also advised government entities in the Gulf on several matters, including disputes relating to a multibillion dollar independent water and power plant, the termination of a waste management contract and the construction of a major housing project.

Chedrawe has appeared several times as an advocate in litigation and arbitration proceedings. He is an advocate of the Dubai International Financial Centre courts and has sat as a party-appointed and sole arbitrator. Before settling in the Middle East, Chedrawe worked in Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom, where he was a lecturer in law at the University of Oxford.

"This is an exciting time in the region, with a number of strategic developments being implemented in both the public and private sectors," Chedrawe said. "As a leading global firm, V&E handles some of the most important disputes globally and in the Middle East. I am thrilled to be joining such an impressive team of international dispute resolution practitioners."

V&E's International Dispute Resolution and Arbitration practice is among the world's best, receiving international recognition in Chambers & Partners (2017), Legal 500 (2017) and as a member of the Global Arbitration Review 100 (2017). The firm has represented clients in the energy, infrastructure development and construction, technology/intellectual property, insurance, banking and pharmaceuticals sectors in more than 60 countries, in virtually every common arbitral venue, and under all major international and regional rules systems.



Celebrating its 100th year, Vinson & Elkins LLP is an international law firm with approximately 700 lawyers across 16 offices worldwide. For more information, please contactJeremy Heallen at +1.713.758.2079 or Courtney Binick at +1.713.758.2333.



DIFC

Gate Village 10, Office 211

P.O. Box 504945

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

+971.4.330.1800

www.velaw.com



This communication may be considered advertising under law regulating the use of e-mail. This communication is provided by Vinson & Elkins LLP for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended, nor should it be construed, as legal advice.
Jordan continues to send the world positive solar PV news and updates. pv magazine examines the latest PV developments in the Middle Eastern country.The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced this week that is extending a $65 million loan to finance a 51 MW solar PV plant in Jordan. The loan is split equally between the EBRD and the Dutch development bank (FMO). The 51 MW project is located in the Al-Safawi area, Northern Jordan, and is the fourth of the second solar tender that Jordan ran in 2015. All four projects of this tender are about 50 MW each. Jordan's first solar tender had also auctioned 200 MW of PV capacity, dispersed among 12 projects that are fully operational today. A third solar PV tender was initiated by Jordan's Government in December 2016 also concerning another 200 MW of capacity and the applications are still under review. The 51 MW project funded by the EBRD and the FMO is developed by Al-Safawi for Green Energy PSC, a Jordanian company that is 70% owned by Spain's Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and 30% by Jordans' Arabia Trading and Consulting Company. Mohanned Khalifeh, CEO of the Arabia Trading and Consulting Group, said that "as the only local developer to be successfully ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Nacogdoches, TX (75965)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 46F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 37F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
ROSEMONT, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 09/25/17 -- The 2017 Quality Show, October 24-26 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, will feature the latest in quality manufacturing technology, products and education. Attendees will have access to free education sessions right on the Exhibit Hall floor where subject matter experts will educate on the industry trends, new technologies and provide insight into potential solutions during the Learning Theater Presentations.

"This 3-day event provides manufacturing professionals quality-focused education, networking with thousands of quality professionals and a resource-rich exhibit hall dedicated exclusively to quality technology, equipment and products," said Darrell Dal Pozzo, Group Publisher, Quality Magazine. "Our education program begins on Tuesday with a NEW half day pre-show workshop, presented by UL, on Managing Quality and Safety in Additive Manufacturing and is followed by two full days of stellar presentations."

On Wednesday at 9:00 am Matt Napoli, VP of In-Space Operations, Made in Space will discuss Manufacturing at 17,200 mph during his Keynote Presentation. The exhibit hall will open giving attendees access to the exhibitors displaying their state-of-the-art products and technology, and a full schedule of educational sessions in the Learning Theater, including:

10:30 am - Traits of Successful Quality Teams, presented by DISCUS Software Company (Webinar)

11:05 am - The Precision Path Consortium: Roadmap to the Future presented by Automated Precision Inc.

11:40 am - Wireless Gages Take Data Collection to New Levels, presented by Mahr (Webinar)

12:15 pm - Drive for Continuous Improvement, presented by PACCAR Engine Company

12:50 pm - Additive Manufacturing: Control the Process with Industry 4.0 Techniques, presented by Renishaw (Webinar)

1:25 pm - High Stake Quality, presented by Procyrion

2:00 pm - Quality Measurement Tools for Additive Manufacturing Applications, presented by Zeiss (Webinar)

2:35 pm - Shop Floor Adapted Gaging Solutions: The Practical and New Approach to Get Measurement Results Within Seconds, presented by Universal Punch Corp.

3:10 pm - Elevate Quality: Visibility, Insight, Action!, presented by BSI (Webinar)

3:45 pm - Metrology Education - a University Perspective, presented by UNC Charlotte

4:20 pm - Advantages of a Tree Structure FMEA: Agility, Scalability and Accelerated Quality Feedback, presented by Siemens PLM Software (Webinar)





Thursday's morning keynote beginning at 9:00 am will be delivered by Harry Moser, Founder and President, Reshoring Initiative who will discuss Better Quality and Lower Cost via Reshoring. The following educational sessions will be offered on the show floor:

10:30 am - Layered Process Audit Programs: A Fast-Track Strategy for Cutting Quality Costs, presented by EASE, Inc.

11:05 am - The Coordinate Metrology Society and the Portable Measurement Profession, presented by ECM Global Measurement Services

11:40 am - Finding Hidden Value in your Measurement System, presented by PQ Systems

12:15 pm - STEM vs. Liberal Arts: Both are Necessary for Manufacturing Excellence, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, presented by Stephen Gould

12:50 pm - The Value of Professional Certifications, presented by ASQ Inspection Division

1:25 pm - CMS Certification Opportunities for Portable Measurement Professionals, presented by Brookhaven National Laboratory





For the full schedule and descriptions of the free educational conference sessions at this year's Quality Show, visit qualityshow.com. The interactive show floor will feature 140+ Exhibiting Companies, including, Platinum Sponsor Mahr; Silver Sponsor BSI; Bronze Sponsor InnovMetric and Collaborative Partners ASQ Inspection Division, CMSC and UL, to name a few. The exhibit hall will be open Tuesday, October 24 from 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm (with a Welcome Reception from 4-7 pm); Wednesday, October 25 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and Thursday, October 26 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.

The Quality Show 2017 will be held Tuesday, October 24 - Thursday, October 26 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. The Show is produced by Quality Magazine (www.qualitymag.com), a monthly trade journal serving the quality assurance and process improvement needs of more than 50,000 manufacturing professionals. The Quality Show is produced by BNP Media (www.bnpmedia.com), one of the country's leading business-to-business media companies serving industry professionals across 60+ industries through magazines, custom media, e-newsletters, webinars, events and market research. For more information, visit www.qualityshow.com.

For Further Information, Contact:

Amy Riemer

Media Relations Representative

978-475-4441 (office) or 978-502-4895 (cell)

Email Contact




ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 09/25/17 -- GLOBEX MINING ENTERPRISES INC. (TSX: GMX)(FRANKFURT: G1MN)(STUTTGART: G1MN)(BERLIN: G1MN)(MUNICH: G1MN)(XETRA: G1MN)(OTCQX: GLBXF) is pleased to inform shareholders that Globex has received the first assay results of channel sampling from the most eastern trench excavated on the Francoeur/Arntfield property, 18 km west of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The first trench is on what is thought to be a poorly explored gold structure immediately south of the main Francoeur-Wasa Fault which is the localizing structure for the Francoeur and Arntfield gold deposits.

Sixteen channel samples of approximately 1 metre each were cut and analysed for gold (see map attached or map on Globex's website). The north end of the trench is moderately altered andesite which grades from 0.03 g/t Au to 0.14 g/t Au. Immediately south, the rock becomes heavily altered (carbonate, sericite, albite, silica) and is strongly sheared. Very fine pyrite varying from 1/2% up to 10% is observed. The southern portion of the trench returned 9.52 g/t Au over 7.1 m including 15.4 g/t Au over 4.1 m. The southernmost channel sample assayed 15.33 g/t Au over 1.1 m before being hidden beneath overburden.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sample # Sample length (m) Gold (g/t) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D110459 1.0 1.39 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D110461 1.0 2.06 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D110462 1.0 0.99 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D110463 1.0 2.40 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D110464 1.0 14.33 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D110465 1.0 29.55 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D110466 1.1 15.33 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A single channel sample (D110467) taken approximately 2.5 m to the east of sample D110465 assayed 7.78 g/t Au over 1 m in an area where the mineralized rock is mixed with un-mineralized andesite (see map).

The rock units strike roughly east-west and dip from 50 degrees to 60 degrees to the north. The true width of the mineralized horizon is unknown at this point in time.

Sample Preparation:

All samples were delivered to Expert Laboratories Inc., located at 127 Boulevard Industriel, Rouyn- Noranda, Quebec. The laboratory conducted all aspects of the sample preparation. Samples were dried and crushed to 90% passing a -10 mesh screen. A 300-gram subsample was taken for pulverization to a nominal 90% passing -200 mesh with the remaining crushed rejects being retained.

Gold Assaying

A 29.166-gram sub-sample of this pulp (1 assay-ton) was taken and was fused following the standard procedures used in a fire assay method. The gold content of all samples was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (Method Code: Au FA-GEO, lower detection limit 5 ppb). Any samples found to contain greater than 1 g/t Au were subjected to a re-assay, whereby the gold content was determined using a gravimetric fire assay method.

Other News

Globex has sold four claims in LaPeltrie and Carhail Townships (32E14), the Penarroya Gold Property, to Midland Exploration Inc. for a 1% Gross Metal Royalty and the submittal of assessment credits required to renew the claims.

The Matchi-Manitou Gold Property which consists of three claim in Pershing Township (32C02) was sold to Renforth Resources Inc. for $2,000 and a 2% Gross Metal Royalty. The Matchi-Manitou property is an area of historical drilling with significant gold intersections.

Lastly, Globex has staked five silica projects in Newfoundland and Labrador and three in Quebec. All were sold to a private silica focused company for cost and a 1% Gross Mineral Royalty.

This press release was written by Jack Stoch, P. Geo., President and CEO of Globex in his capacity as a Qualified Person (Q.P.) under NI 43-101 with input from Manon Garant, P.Geo.

We Seek Safe Harbour. Foreign Private Issuer 12g3 - 2(b) CUSIP Number 379900 50 9 LEI 529900XYUKGG3LF9PY95

Forward Looking Statements: Except for historical information, this news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". These statements may involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity and performance to be materially different from the expectations and projections of Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. ("Globex"). No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits Globex will derive therefrom. A more detailed discussion of the risks is available in the "Annual Information Form" filed by Globex on SEDAR at www.sedar.com

50,207,424 shares issued and outstanding

Contacts:

Jack Stoch, P.Geo., Acc.Dir.

President & CEO

Globex Mining Enterprises Inc.

819.797.5242

819.797.1470 (FAX)

info@globexmining.com

www.globexmining.com




TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - September 25, 2017) - Celestica Inc.(TSX: CLS) (NYSE: CLS), a leader in design, manufacturing and supply chain solutions for the world's most innovative companies, today announced the winners of its annual Total Cost of Ownership (TCOO') Supplier Awards. The awards honour suppliers who provide the best TCOO' performance to Celestica and support the company's overall business objectives.

Celestica is pleased to congratulate the TCOO' Supplier Award recipients:

Best A&D Partner Avnet Electronics Marketing Best Design Partner Microsemi Corporation Best Distributor Partner Arrow Electronics, Inc. Best HealthTech Partner MAP Plastics Pte Ltd Best Indirect Procurement Partner EIS Inc Best Industrial Partner STMicroelectronics Best Interconnect Passives and Electromechanical Partner Murata Manufacturing Company, Ltd. Best IT Partner Microsoft Best Regional TCOO - Americas/ Europe DS Smith Packaging Best Regional TCOO - Asia CymMetrik (Shenzhen) Printing Co., Ltd. Best Renewable Energy Partner Bizlink Technology Best Semiconductor Equipment Partner MEP Technologies Best Semiconductor Partner ON Semiconductor Best Sustainability Partner Gold Circuit Electronics Ltd. Best TCOO Award Molex, LLC. Best Technical Design Solutions Intel Corporation Best Technical Design Solutions TTM Technologies, Inc. Partner for Growth Broadcom Limited

In addition, Celestica would like to recognize the following honourees who made a significant contribution to its supply chain goals:

Best A&D Partner Qualified Metal Fabricators Ltd Best Design Partner Delta Electronics, Inc. Best Distributor Partner Future Electronics Best Distributor Partner WPG South Asia Pte Ltd Best HealthTech Partner Phillips-Medisize Corporation Suzhou Best Indirect Procurement Partner Koh Young Technology Inc Best Industrial Partner Greiner Assistec Luxshare-ICT Precision Industry Co., Best Industrial Partner Ltd. Best Interconnect Passives and Electromechanical Partner Samtec, Inc. Best Regional TCOO - Americas/ Europe Innovative Packaging Solutions Best Regional TCOO - Asia Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd Best Renewable Energy Partner Infineon Technologies Best Semiconductor Equipment Partner Hangzhou Dahe Thermo-Magnetics Co., LTD. Best Semiconductor Partner Texas Instruments Best Sustainability Partner ON Semiconductor Best TCOO Award Loyalty Founder Enterprise Partner for Growth MS Precision Pte Ltd

"We are pleased to recognize this year's TCOO' award winners and honourees for their exceptional performance and ongoing commitment to our company's strategy," said Paul Blom, Chief Procurement Officer, Celestica. "Ensuring that Celestica has the best people, tools and partners across the entire supply chain is critical to our success in delivering innovative supply chain solutions to our customers, and I would like to thank all of the winners and honourees for their support throughout 2016."

Celestica's Supplier Awards program celebrates the achievements of the top performers in Celestica's global network of over 4,000 suppliers. Celestica's awards recognize the best suppliers for their performance in the areas of cost, quality, delivery, flexibility, innovation and the delivery of advanced and enabling technologies.

For more information on Celestica's TCOO' Supplier Awards, please visit www.celestica.com.

About Celestica

Celestica enables the world's best brands. Through our unrivalled customer-centric approach, we partner with leading companies in aerospace and defense, communications, enterprise, healthtech, industrial, semiconductor capital equipment, and smart energy to deliver solutions for their most complex challenges. A leader in design, manufacturing, hardware platform and supply chain solutions, Celestica brings global expertise and insight at every stage of product development -- from the drawing board to full-scale production and after-market services. With talented teams across North America, Europe and Asia, we imagine, develop and deliver a better future with our customers.

For more information, visit http://www.celestica.com/home or follow us on Twitter at @Celestica_Inc.

Media Contacts

Celestica Global Communications

(416) 448-2200

Email contact





Celestica Investor Relations

(416) 448-2211

Email contact


BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - A Chinese health authority delegation is expected in Colombia next month as part of the procedures aimed at verifying the conditions of production of Hass avocado in the South American country before the start of its exports to China. The Colombian government said that the good moment for local avocado producers is reflected in the fruit's export figures, which increased 41% in between January and July, compared to the same period in the previous year. Colombia's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Aurelio Iragorri, stressed the potential of this product and noted that 'while we continue to celebrate admissibility in the United States, the final arrangements to enter China are ready.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
PYONGYANG (dpa-AFX) - United States President Donald Trump issued a new travel ban to block the entry into the country of people from eight countries more, including citizens of Venezuela, North Korea and Chad. The decree replaces a previous one, released in March, banning travelers from six Muslim-majority countries. The new travel ban comes into force on October 18 for Venezuelan, North Korean and Chadian citizens, while is valid since yesterday for people from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia. The new travel ban has no expiration date. Sudanese citizens were removed from the travel ban list. Citizens of Iraq will not be vetted, but are subject to additional verification to determine whether they 'pose a risk to U.S. Security.' The Trump administration claims that the travel ban is necessary to 'remove risks to national security,' despite allegations of official discrimination against Muslims. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Accelo Inc., a San Francisco, CA-based operations automation technology for service businesses and teams, raised $9m in Series A funding.

The round was led by Level Equity with participation from Fathom Capital and existing investor Blackbird Ventures. In conjunction with the funding, George McCulloch, Partner at Level Equity, joined Accelos board of directors.

The company intends to use the funds to build out its newly-released Service Operations Automation (or ServOps) platform.

Led by Geoff McQueen, co-founder and CEO, Accelo provides Service Operations Automation (ServOps) that streamlines operations from prospect through to payment through their integrated, cloud-based platform. The technology, which integrates with third-party services, is used by thousands of small and medium service businesses to manage client operations, including sales, quotes, projects, tickets, retainers, timesheets, billing, and scheduling.

The company has an office in Wollongong, Australia.

FinSMEs

25/09/2017
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Irrespective of what your views are on Aadhaar, theres one fact that you simply cant deny- its become an essential unique-identity number, especially, when it is related to your financial matters. This 12 digit number has now become mandatory for several purposes, including filing your income-tax returns to getting a PAN card. Linking of Aadhaar to various other things has now become so important that the authorities have set a deadline for the same. And, in case you miss the deadline, it can have dire consequences. So, heres a quick reminder on the deadline and what you need to do about it.

1) Deadline to link Aadhaar with PAN set at 31 December, 2017

Finance minister Arun Jaitley through an amendment to tax proposals in the Finance Bill for 2017-18 had made Aadhaar mandatory for filing income tax returns and provided for linking of PAN with Aadhaar to check tax evasion through use of multiple PAN cards. The new deadline is 31 December, 2017. Earlier, the deadline was 31 August, 2017.

Here's how to link Aadhaar with PAN in five steps

Step 1: Keep Aadhaar and PAN numbers handy.

Step 2 : Register on the Income tax e-Filing portal if you already havent yet. If you are already registered at the income tax departments e-Filing portal, log in using your ID, password and date of birth.

Step 3: A pop up window will appear, prompting you to link your PAN card with Aadhaar card. If you have a pop up blocker active, you will have to go on the Profile Setting on the dashboards menu bar to click on Link Aadhar option.

Step 4: You will have to add the necessary details like name your Date of Birth as per the PAN details as well as your gender. If you data is different that whats mentioned on your PAN, the Aadhaar will not be linked to your PAN. Next thing to do is, to enter your 12 digit Aadhaar card number, then verify captcha and then click on Link Aadhaar button. Once your validation is successful, your Aadhaar will be successfully linked to your PAN.

Step 5: The last step is when a popup message is displayed stating that your Aadhaar card has been successfully linked to your PAN card.

2) Deadline for linking Aadhaar with mobile number (SIM): February 2018

Here are 3 steps to link your SIM-Aadhaar for the first time

1) Go to the nearest Aadhaar center and submit an Aadhaar update/correction form along with relevant documents. You can get this form at the center itself or download it from the UIDAI website. Mention on the form that only your mobile number has been updated.

2) Once you do that, the agent collects your biometric data to verify the same at the center.

3) The agent will give you an acknowledgement slip. The details will be updated in a maximum of 10 days.

For updating your new number

If you already have a SIM connected to Aadhaar, you can update a new mobile number online. For this, you dont need to take the pain of visiting an Aadhaar center.

Step 1: Go to the UIDAI website.

Step 2: Choose the Update Aadhaar Details (Online) option. Remember, the online option allows you to make demographic changes like, Name, Address, Gender, Date of Birth, Email and Mobile number is changed or modified.

Step 3: You will be redirected to the Aadhaar Self Service Update Portal. Enter your Aadhaar number and carry on with the authentication process via the OTP you get on your mobile. Also, do the necessary text verification by submitting the code mentioned on the page in the provided box.

Step 4: You will enter the data updating request page. Under Select field(s) to update, select Mobile Number. Now enter your new mobile number that you want to record in the database and submit.

Step 5: Once the new number gets updated, you will get the Aadhaar card Update Request Number, which can be further used to track the status of your request. You can check your status here.

The third way to link your new mobile SIM with Aadhaar, you can read more about it here.

3. Deadline for submitting Aadhaar details to banks/- December 31, 2017

The last date to link Aadhaar and your bank accounts is now 31 December.

Heres how you can do the linking:

Most banks will let you link your Aadhar to bank account via a number of options. For instance, net banking, ATM, phone, SMS or mobile banking, even by visiting a bank branch. They are a few things to keep in mind for each of them.

Net-banking: When you visit the bank website you will see the option to link Aadhaar to bank account on the home page itself. In fact, even after you login into the account, you will be able the do the linking by giving the required details. Its really that easy. Keep in mind though, that if you have multiple bank accounts with the same bank and even if you have a common login ID, you will have to link all accounts individually.

Phone banking: Some banks let you do the linking via phone. All you need to do is give the bank a missed call and you get a call in return. You will be told to feed in your details over the IVR machine. Remember, anyone asks you for your sensitive financial details like PIN, you are not supposed to share the same.

BHIM: You can also use the BHIM app to add your Aadhaar to the bank account. Check if your banks app allows you to do so in case you dont want to use the BHIM app. Some banks let you do the linkage via SMS, but this facility is available only from the mobile which is registered with the bank.

Offline request: If you plan to ditch the online option and walk into a bank branch, the bank will take 3-4 working days to verify the details and complete the link.

Last date to give Aadhaar details to avail social security schemes is also being set at 31 December, 2017

Aadhaar number has to be provided for all social security schemes by this 31 December, which means for availing any government schemes like an LPG cylinder or a government scholarship, the person needs to provide his/her Aadhaar number in the respective forms.
The value ascribed to a good education in India is akin to holiness. It is respected and revered, recognised and rewarded  in a personal or professional capacity. In Indian mythology, we often come across references to the sanctity of teacher-student or guru-shishya relationship, defined by the requirement of the student to surrender himself unto the teacher, and to trust blindly and wholly. In the same stories, we have come to learn that the education is not restricted to texts and scripture alone. It encompasses a variety of intellectual and life skills, necessary for an individuals survival in the World. The underlying theme of such an education is that success is achieved across various facets of life, and not limited to learning a particular subject or theme.

Today, convention tells us otherwise. It guides brilliant young minds, to function within a focused frame of reference  subjects, streams, specialization  that is the way the concept of an education system has developed. From a time when the Guru delivered tailor-made lessons to the shishya, the student must now tailor himself or herself to fit the context he or she is assigned in their respective academic institutions. And as competition mounts, so does the pressure to perform and to outdo peers within that academic ecosystem. While there is no question that formal education forms the crux of an individuals competence, there is perhaps a need to take a step back and evaluate how the attitudes of young students, their parents, and their teachers are impacting the students capability.

In the race to commend the top 10 percent, do we sideline the need to enable and empower the next 10 percent and the subsequent 10 percent, and so on?

Technology to complement teaching

It has long been asserted that more interactive methods of learning result in higher engagement and therefore, greater retention of educational content. Here, the role of technology comes into the picture. Each individual is equipped with a unique ability to learn. The implication for this, is that a common teaching method may not be successful, for example, for a classroom full of students. This may be as simple as the difference between theoretical and application based learning. It must be considered that the inclusion of technology in the teacher-student dynamic, can serve as a method to bridge the gap between varying styles of learning.

A report by the UK-India Business Council states that Indias e-learning sector is expected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 17.4 percent between 2013 and 2018, twice as fast as the global average. This is a testimony to the increasing acceptance for the use of unique aids to build a students capability.

The governments steady focus on progress towards a digital future for its citizens with the Digital India program, and emphasis on skill building with the increased investment on Skill India campaign, are shaping an ecosystem which can foster the seamless inclusion of technology in education. In order to take forward a generation of new learners, and to build upon their unique capabilities, those with a forward looking view on education are embracing the incorporation of multimedia content, as well as access to internet resources as a way to ensure inclusive education. In addition, new-age professional avenues, and a digital environment are making it necessary for students to be equipped to interface with technology, and create digital content.

The capability to use technology effectively today, is not restricted to using it as a tool, but to approach it as a skill that lends to an individuals overall competencies.

Enabling the educator, ecosystem

The starting point of the use of personal technology in shaping a developing mind is enabling access to tools and resources in the home and at school. A strong foundation in the use of technology can aid a holistic learning process, ensuring that each student is able to use it to adapt their individual learning capability. The ecosystem constituting parents and educators needs to collectively view it as a foundational prerequisite to introduce a child to technology. The role of the educator in this process is more important now, than ever before. E-learning software, internet access, multimedia content, educational content adapted to an interactive medium among several other tools, serve as new resources to be used in education. But the facilitation for this use, towards collective growth for an entire generation of students, depends upon the influencers and decision makers in the life of a child.

In addition to transforming curriculum content designed for students in educational institutions, technology can also serve as an individual resource that allows a child to explore their interests, ambitions and to unlock his or her creative capabilities. In an environment which focuses on specific professional avenues, and restricts the possibilities for growing minds to flourish, technology can fuel the exploration of unique interests, especially new age interests which place technology at the center. From a hobby as simple as writing, to an interest in visuals and graphics, or the development of musical inclinations towards producing ones own electronic music, and even the technological inclination towards coding and computer programming  the possibilities with e-learning are endless.

The portkey to an evolved learning process and exploration of creative capabilities, is a personal technology device which can expose a developing mind to knowledge and act as a tool to harness this knowledge. This is where the role of the personal computer comes to the fore. It can serve as a window to the world for a young mind  with easy access defining how students approach their interests, and how they imbibe knowledge as they move steadily towards their future. The PC has steadily built its relevance as a tool that complements an individuals capability by enabling content creation and consumption  and early access as well as an understanding of its use in everyday tasks is a step forward towards securing a promising place in a growingly digital environment.

There is a need to see our nations young minds as a collective generation that will constitute our future workforce. To equip these minds, we must make our way towards a future where it is seen as a necessary prerequisite to include technology as key component of learning - at school, and at home  encouraging an independent inclination to learn and be engaged by the vast sea of knowledge available. Adding the personal technology advantage to the teacher-student duo can go a long way in transforming the way individuals learn today and in enabling inclusive growth. At the same time, using technology in the home ensures continuity of a transformative learning process for an individual. Breaking away from the conventional and deeply practiced norm of learning, a qualitative approach to learning and development will go a long way in building a nation of creators, who will drive the growth of a digital economy.

(The writer is Senior Vice President, Consumer & Small Business, Dell, India)
Mumbai: In a bid to strengthen the evidence to extradite fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate are preparing a charge sheet alleging he laundered a major chunk of the Rs 6,000 crore bank loans taken for Kingfisher Airlines.

A report in The Times of India said on Monday that the money was diverted through shell companies in seven countries, including the US, the UK, France and Ireland.

"Letters rogatory have already been sent to the US, the UK, France and Ireland and we will get complete details soon," an official has been quoted as saying in the report. The official has claimed that the agencies have been able to establish the links between the shell companies and bank accounts in the seven countries.

Explaining the systematic way in which Mallya duped the banks, the official said he used to pay back some part of the loan to the banks to gain their confidence to get more funds from them.

The latest evidence will be submitted before the London court where the final extradition hearing will take place in December. At present, in front of the UK court, the agencies have presented the charge s in the nearly Rs 900 crore IDBI Bank loan default case.

Earlier, in a charge sheet filed in June, the ED had alleged that Mallya had laundered amount worth Rs 1,300 crore through 13 shell companies, which he has denied. Mallya has maintained that he has not done anything wrong and huge dues to the banks have been due to the failure of the business.

The ED had also said that these shell companies had no actual activities and was fully controlled by Mallya with former employees of UB group being its directors.

The agency had said the only purpose of these companies were to either obtain loan or launder money and that he has huge property in the US in the name of his daughters - Leana and Tanya.

Mallya has been in self-imposed exile in the UK since March 2016. He was arrested by Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant on 18 April and is currently out on bail.

The Indian investigative agencies are seeking to extradite Mallya for allegedly defaulting on several bank loans amounting to nearly Rs 9,000 crore. This includes loan taken from IDBI Bank for Kingfisher Airlines.

The total loan sanctioned and disbursed by the IDBI Bank to KFA was Rs 860.92 crore. The ED has alleged that its money trail analysis revealed that out of the total loan of Rs 860.92 crore, sanctioned and disbursed by IDBI, Rs 423 crore has been remitted out of India.

The said payments were shown to be made towards aircraft rental leasing and maintenance, servicing and spare parts.

The ED had in an earlier charge sheet filed in the IDBI-KFA case said Mallya floated 20 shell companies, directors of which were either his personal staff or those who retired.
Super 30, a biopic based on Patna mathematician Anand Kumar, has created a lot of buzz recently, as reports suggested that either Hrithik Roshan or Akshay Kumar will play the lead role. While it was previously reported that there was a fall-out between co-producers Madhu Mantena and Priti Sinha over the choice of the lead actor, but it has now been confirmed that Roshan has been officially signed on for the project, reports Hindustan Times.

"2017 has been great for Hrithik, so after impressing audiences as well as critics in Kaabil early this year as a visually-impaired man, he will start shooting for the Anand Kumar biopic within a few days. It goes without saying that makers are excited about Hrithik coming on-board for the film as he has always been their first choice," said an insider to the daily.

The same report states that Kumar himself approves of this casting decision, calling Roshan the "best choice" for the role. He has vouched for the actor because of his versatility and range, as well as his ability to portray the emotional quotient of characters. Anand Kumar runs a program which helps Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) aspirants to crack its entrance test, and the film will tell the story of this program as well as the other aspects of his life.

The source quoted in the report also revealed that Bahl, Roshan and Kumar had met earlier to discuss the nitty-gritties of the film. A picture of this meeting went viral on social media.

The producers Mantena and Sinha reportedly pitched Roshan and Kumar respectively. Their fall-out is also said to have been the result of dealings with Reliance (Phantom Film's partner) on the part of Mantena, who did not make Sinha aware of these developments.

Super 30 will be directed by Vikas Bahl, who is said to be collaborating with and taking inputs from Kumar to ensure that he could capture the true spirit of the latter's life.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday acquitted Mahmood Farooqui, co-director of Bollywood film Peepli Live, in a rape case involving a US researcher.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar set aside the trial court order which had awarded a seven-year jail term to Farooqui after convicting him for the alleged rape of a 30-year-old American researcher at his south Delhi residence in March 2015.

The high court directed that Farooqui, who is presently in jail, be released forthwith. Justice Kumar had reserved the verdict on 1 September after hearing arguments of the counsel for the state and Farooqui. acquits

Farooqui has challenged his conviction and the sentence given by the trial court.

During the arguments, Farooqui's lawyer had denied the allegation of rape levelled by the woman and said "no such incident took place on that day".

His counsel had referred to messages exchanged between his client and the woman before the lodging of the case and contended that the two were in a "relationship" since January 2015.

"In a relationship when people are attracted to each other, things do happen. But it does not mean it's rape," he had said, adding that the "woman's version is also contradictory to the documentary evidence".

This argument was opposed by Delhi Police's counsel who had said the rape had taken place and the trial court had given reasons while convicting and sentencing 45-year-old Farooqui.

A trial court had on 4 August last year sent him to jail for seven years, observing that he had taken advantage of the situation when the victim was alone in his house.

The court, which on 30 July, 2016 had held Farooqui guilty of raping the American woman in 2015 in a drunken state, had also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him.

The police had on 19 June, 2015, lodged the FIR against Farooqui on the woman's complaint after which he was arrested.

On 29 July, 2015 the police had filed its charge sheet against Farooqui alleging he had raped the research scholar from Columbia University at his Sukhdev Vihar house in South Delhi on 28 March, 2015.
Netflix just proved that legalities don't have to be dreary, always. The streaming giant issues an awesome cease and desist letter to a Stranger Things-themed bar in Chicago in true geek style.

The bar, which is named after the sinister parallel universe in the one-season-old series  The Upside Down  was asked to close its shutters.

The full letter, which makes for a great read for people guilty of binge watching the sci-fi horror series, can be read at The Scroll. The letter makes some cheeky allusions to The Upside Down, the evil creator of the parallel universe, Dr Brenner and the Monster, who is nicknamed Demogorgon by the four friends.

The decor of the bar has been inspired by the show, with the alphabet wall and Christmas lights in place. Not just the decor, the menu has also been customised to suit the tastes of the Stranger Things fandom, with drinks like "Elevens Eggos".

Although the pop-up has been enjoying busy days since its opening, it has run its course. As per a Variety report, the owners plan to shut the venture by 1 October and have no ill feelings towards the creators for sending them a legal notice.

After a successful first season run, the second installment is all set for a 27 October release on Netflix.
Shah Rukh Khan has one big upcoming project  Aanand L Rai's 'dwarf' film where he stars with Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. It is a highly anticipated film, as Khan will be playing a character who is three-feet tall, and heavy VFX effects will be used to make the actors look like midgets. It is also said to have a social message; it will celebrate the differently abled.

This film is slated to release on Christmas 2018. It is now being speculated that in the run-up to this film, he will be working on another project. Reports suggest that this film is the Hindi remake of R Madhavan's Tamil film Vikram Vedha.

Some reports stated that Khan has bought the rights to the film, but the studio confirmed that no such deal has been signed. Incidentally, he had released the trailer of the Tamil film a few months ago.

We have not sold the remake rights of VikramVedha in any language. We have plans of producing it ourselves. Official announcement soon. Tx  Y Not Studios (@StudiosYNot) September 23, 2017

It is not yet known if Khan will play Madhavan's police man who has shades of grey or Vijay Sethupathi's villain.

Vikram Vedha, directed by duo Gayatri-Pushkar, was received well by critics. It was praised for presenting two characters who were equally flawed and could not be compartmentalised into good and bad categories, as well as its climax.

This trend of pursuing smaller budget films in the middle of larger projects is not a new one. Alia Bhatt, fresh off the release of Badrinath Ki Dulhania had signed on Ayan Mukerji's Dragon with Ranbir Kapoor and Zoya Akhtar's Gully Boy with Ranveer Singh, both of which are not expected to release in the near future. She then signed Meghna Gulzar's Raazi, where she plays a Kashmiri spy. She stars opposite Vicky Kaushal, who will play an army officer in the film.
Mohanlal's Velipadinte Pusthakam may have received mix reviews from critics, but one aspect of the movie which gained fast popularity is its song 'Jimmiki Kammal'. The makers of the film encouraged Lalettan's fans to recreate it with their friends and family, with their own choreography. Now, Mohanlal has released a video where he can be seen dancing to the song.

In the video of the song, young background dancers enthusiastically shake a leg on the set of the song, where a cutout of Mohanlal has been placed. We also see two struggling actors cribbing about being part of the song and discussing which of the female dancers will spot them. Then Mohanlal himself appears on set, and the frenzied crowd welcomes him.

The superstar rolls up his sleeves and lungi, and dances as enthusiastically as the young background dancers.

A fan-made version of song was brought to the attention of American show host Jimmy Kimmel, whose name shares an uncanny resemblance to the title. He tweeted saying that he had not heard of the song before, but that he loved it once he listened to it.

not until now, but I love it! https://t.co/6Qv9StTdpY  Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) September 8, 2017

'Jimikki Kammal' soon became the Onam anthem of the year. Sung by Renjith Unni, it was composed by Shaan Rahman. Velipadinte Pusthakam saw Mohanlal in the role of a newly appointed vice principal of the most popular college in town. The film focused on the character's unorthodox teaching methods and his relationship with students.

Watch the video here:


Srinagar:Security forces on Monday recovered body of a militant near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri area

of Kashmir, taking the number of terrorists killed in the operation three to four.

Security forces on Monday morning resumed the anti-militancy operation, which was launched on Sunday, following information

about presence of more militants in the area.

"We have recovered body of another militant, which takes the number of militants killed in the operation to four," an Army official said.

"The operation resumed this morning after there were reports of more militants hiding in the area," the official said.

4 terrorists were killed. They were to carry out a major terrorist attack at an army camp: Harpreet Singh, Indian Army on Uri encounter pic.twitter.com/V2gmuog8UN  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

He said the area of operation was expanded to ensure that no militants get away from the security forces' cordon.

Three Pakistani militants were killed on Sunday in the gunbattle with security forces in Kalgai area of Uri. Three civilians and a soldier were injured in the operation.

Army foiled a major terrorist attempt in Baramulla dist in early hrs of 24th Sept: Harpreet Singh, Indian Army on Uri encounter pic.twitter.com/sbYYVwp0jd  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

Director General of Police SP Vaid had said the militants were planning a suicide attack like the one carried out on an Army base last year in Uri that left 19 soldiers dead and several others injured.

"A big tragedy has been averted.Like the suicide attack on the Army base last year, they (militants) had similar plan this time also but the police and the Army got information before hand," Vaid told reporters.
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik Monday said a committee headed by the chief secretary has been constituted to go into the protest in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus over an alleged eve-teasing incident.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a baton-charge by the police in the BHU where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

"A committee has been constituted under the chief secretary. Necessary action will be taken on the basis of its report. The committee will see as to how the police had behaved and examine other aspects," he said.

Naik was responding to queries from mediapersons here about the incident. The governor described the incident as sad.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already ordered a probe into the incident. In the wake of the violence, the university has advanced the puja holidays from tomorrow till 2 October. Earlier, the holidays were to have started from 28 September.

Violence erupted after some students, protesting against the alleged eve-teasing incident of Thursday, wanted to meet the vice-chancellor at his residence on Saturday night, according to police and university sources.

A BHU spokesperson said some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the vice-chancellor's residence, but they were stopped by the security guards of the university.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students. Police then used batons to control the situation.
Varanasi: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday removed three additional city magistrates and two policemen in connection with the baton-charge on students in the Banaras Hindu University during a protest over an alleged eve-teasing incident.

Station officer of Lanka police station Rajiv Singh has been removed and sent to police lines. Station officer of Jaitpura police station Sanjiv Mishra has been posted in his place, police officials said.

Also the circle officer of Bhelupur, Nivesh Katiyar has been removed and circle officer of Kotwali Ayodhya Prasad Singh has been posted in his place.

A release from Varanasi's district information office said that three additional city magistrates, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh have also been removed.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the varsity's vice chancellor at his residence.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A BHU spokesperson had said that some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students, he said.

The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathicharge.

The police sources said some of its personnel were injured in the clashes during which the students allegedly indulged in arson.

Following the violence, the district administration has declared holidays from Monday till 2 October in all colleges and universities in Varanasi. The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from 28 September.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), criticised the government and condemned the police action.

"I have sought a report from the divisional commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident," Adityanath had said in Lucknow on Sunday.

The baton charge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some scribes staging a sit-in near the chief minister's residence. They later submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty."

                 Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) September 24, 2017

Congress leaders Raj Babbar and PL Punia, along with scores of party activists, were detained on Sunday when they tried to visit the BHU. They were later released.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP over the police lathicharge allegedly on woman students.

Attaching a link to a video of the students who alleged that they were beaten up by male policemen at the campus, Gandhi had tweeted, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU."

BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU https://t.co/2XWIG5CG2q  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 24, 2017

The BHU had issued a statement saying that the 'dharna' by the students just a day before prime minister Narendra Modi's visit was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university.

The alleged eve-teasing incident had occurred on Thursday night after which the students started the protest.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police had been sought to maintain peace in the campus.

Nearly 1,500 police personnel, including contingents of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), have been deployed to maintain law and order in the campus.

BHU students said that they undertook the protest near the university's main gate against rising incidents of alleged eve-teasing on the campus.

A woman student of the arts faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel, triggering the dharna.

According to the complainant, the men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts.

The woman alleged that security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop them.

She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the

hostel.

The warden's response angered the students who sat on a 'dharna' at the main gate midnight Thursday.

BHU students have alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants.

Follow live updates on BHU here
Lucknow/Varanasi: Several officials are in the dock consequent to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) violence on Saturday night as Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has asked for a report from the Varanasi Police Commissioner regarding the incident.

The agitation by woman students against a sexual harassment incident turned violent at the BHU campus in Varanasi on Saturday night when they took their protest to the VC's office and started shouting slogans. They were also joined by men from other hostels.

In the ensuing police action, students and several reporters became victims of a baton-charge led by 1,500-strong police force. The police reportedly refused to allow the reporters to enter the BHU trauma centre for emergency aid.

After the angry media personnel surrounded the chief minister's house on Sunday, Adityanath informed them that a report has been sought from the police commissioner through Twitter.

As the situation remains tense, the BHU along with other universities of the district have been told to remain shut till October 2.

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has suggested that the state government defuse the tension through talks instead of using force.

Yadav has sent an eight-member representative group to Varanasi to take stock of the situation.
New Delhi: The National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged demonstrations in New Delhi on Monday against the baton-charge on students in Benaras Hindu University (BHU).

The RSS-affiliated ABVP condemned the police action against the students and demanded constitution of a fact-finding committee, while the Congress-backed NSUI demanded an inquiry under a sitting high court judge and resignation of the BHU vice-chancellor.

The two student organisations had separately announced their plans to stage demonstrations outside the office of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in New Delhi.

However, the NSUI claimed that it supporters were detained much ahead of the venue, while ABVP activists were allowed to reach the site.

The Congress-affiliated student body accused Delhi Police of favouring the ABVP.

"Despite having all permissions, we were detained without citing any reason. This shows how Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to use the police for curbing and stopping protests against him and his government," NSUI media in-charge Neeraj Mishra.

Mishra also criticised the ABVP and said its protest was "always about symbolism".

Rejecting the NSUI's charge, ABVP national media convener Saket Bahuguna said on Twitter, "Those wondering why a protest at MHRD, should remember @ABVPVoice works for student community, not for any political party and we are proud of it."

When contacted, the Parliament Street police station SHO said permission was not granted for any protest near the ministry and that both parties were detained.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in BHU where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the varsity's vice-chancellor at his residence.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A BHU spokesperson had said that some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students, he said.

The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them.

Click here to follow LIVE updates
Varanasi/Lucknow: A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Sunday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the university's vice-chancellor at his residence last night, according to the police and BHU sources.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A BHU spokesperson said some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students, he said.

The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathicharge, the varsity sources said.

The police sources said some of its personnel were injured in the clashes during which the students allegedly indulged in arson.

Rajiv Singh, the station officer of the Lanka police station, said that 16 students, who had been detained after the incident, were released on Sunday evening.

Following the violence, the district administration declared holidays from tomorrow till 2 October in all colleges and universities in Varanasi. The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from 28 September.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), criticised the government and condemned the police action.

"I have sought a report from the divisional commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident," Adityanath said in Lucknow.

The baton charge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some scribes staging a sit-in near the chief minister's residence. They later submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty."

                 Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) September 24, 2017

Congress leaders Raj Babbar and PL Punia, along with scores of party activists, were detained today when they tried to visit the BHU.

They were later released. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP over the alleged police lathicharge on female students.

Attaching a link to a video of the students who alleged that they were beaten up by male policemen at the campus, Gandhi tweeted, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU."

BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU https://t.co/2XWIG5CG2q  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 24, 2017

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted, "Only a barbaric govt unleashes male police with lathis on women students. Why is BJP-RSS so scared of students?"

Senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav denounced the alleged police action against the students and said the issue will be raised in Parliament.

The BHU issued a statement last night saying that the 'dharna' by the students just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university.

The alleged eve-teasing incident had occurred on Thursday night after which the students started the protest.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police had been sought to maintain peace in the campus.

Senior officials, including District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and Superintendent of Police Dinesh Singh, have visited the campus and police presence outside it has been beefed up.

Nearly 1,500 police personnel, including contingents of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), have been deployed to maintain law and order in the campus.

BHU students said that they undertook the protest near the university's main gate against rising incidents of alleged eve-teasing on the campus.

A woman student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel, triggering the dharna.

According to the complainant, the men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts.

The woman alleged that security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop them.

She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel.

The warden's response angered the students who sat on a 'dharna' at the main gate midnight Thursday.

BHU students have alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants.

The police and BHU professors tried to pacify the students on Saturday, but they refused to end their protest and sought assurance from the university vice-chancellor.

A press release issued by the information department of Varanasi said that a case has been registered against a Facebook page under the cyber law for allegedly posting provocative photos and videos relating to the violence.
The Uttar Pradesh police confirmed it filed an FIR against 1,200 students of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) for arson and other charges in connection with the violence which erupted on the campus on Saturday night, according to media reports.

BHU update: FIR lodged against 1200 unknown students for violating peace and violence.  IndiaTodayFLASH (@IndiaTodayFLASH) September 25, 2017

A number of students, including women and two journalists, were reportedly injured in a lathicharge by the police on the BHU campus where a protest against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The UP government has removed three additional city magistrates and two policemen in connection with the baton-charge on students on the BHU campus.

Station officer of Lanka police station Rajiv Singh has been removed and sent to police lines. Station officer of Jaitpura police station Sanjiv Mishra has been posted in his place, police officials said.

Also the circle officer of Bhelupur, Nivesh Katiyar has been removed and circle officer of Kotwali Ayodhya Prasad Singh has been posted in his place.

A release from Varanasi's district information office said that three additional city magistrates, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh have also been removed.

Several female students were reportedly injured when the police allegedly used force to remove protesters from outside the vice-chancellor's residence on Saturday.

More than a dozen students were detained on Sunday by the police, according to a report in India Today.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Aditynath on Sunday ordered an inquiry into the violence.

Adityanath sought a report from divisional commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including Samajwadi Party, criticised the government and condemned the police action.

"I have sought a report from the Divisional Commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident," Adityanath said in Lucknow on Sunday.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also sought a report on the attack on journalists on the BHU campus.

The lathicharge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some journalists staging a sit-in near Adityanath's residence.

They later gave a memorandum to the district magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

Some policemen were also injured in the clashes, police sources said.

The BHU students have been protesting near the university's main gate since Thursday against rising eve-teasing incidents on the campus.

The trigger was an incident in which a woman student of Arts faculty alleged harassment by three men on a motorcycle inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel.

The three men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts, according to the complaint.

BHU vice-chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi promised action against those responsible for the violence and said CCTV cameras were being installed on campus.

The vice-chancellor blamed "outsiders" for the violence.

Follow live updates on BHU here

With inputs from agencies.
New Delhi: BJP chief Amit Shah Monday spoke against "selective" intolerance, saying it was "hotly debated" during elections but not taken up when his party workers were killed in Kerala and West Bengal.

Selective intolerance was not good for democracy, he told the party's national executive.

Shah's remarks come against the backdrop of political violence in Kerala and West Bengal and the killing of journalists in Bengaluru and Tripura.

Certain acts of intolerance were glossed over and some others were passionately debated, a party statement quoted Shah as saying. "When our workers are killed in Kerala or West Bengal, when atrocities take place against them, when Kashmiri Pandits are evicted, then intolerance is not talked about. But whenever we approach elections, intolerance is hotly debated.

"If there's no consistency in raising the issue of intolerance then no one has any right to raise it," he said.
Darjeeling: After days of relative peace, fresh incidents of violence on Sunday rocked Darjeeling hills, where the ongoing shutdown by the GJM for a separate state of Gorkhaland entered its 102nd day.

A vehicle on way to Lebong area was set ablaze by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists and the driver was brutally beaten up for violating the shutdown in the hills. "The driver was going to Darjeeling town from Lebong, he was stopped by masked GJM activists. He was brutally beaten up and his car was set on fire," a senior police officer said.

Police and security personnel have made special security arrangements in the hills and are maintaining a tight vigil to avoid any untoward incident. Several shops and markets in the hills remained open on Sunday braving threats and intimidation by the GJM activists.

However, several shops, which opened on Sunday in Mirik and Kurseong, remained closed fearing backlash from the GJM supporters.

For the 13th day in a row, police along with the administration, appealed to the locals over public address systems to open shops and restore normalcy in the hills. Peace rallies were taken out by residents at Kurseong, Darjeeling and Mirik, while the GJM supporters took out rallies in support of a separate Gorkhaland state and the ongoing shutdown in sections of Darjeeling, Sonada and

Kalimpong, the police said.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the agitators in Darjeeling to withdraw their strike and restore normalcy. Internet services remained suspended in the hills since 18 June.
More than 2,000 BJP delegates along with party president Amit Shah on Monday attended what has been described by senior party leaders as an "extended national executive" meet to mark the end of a year-long exercise to commemorate Deendayal Upadhyaya's 100th birth anniversary, which falls on 25 September.

The year-long centenary birth celebrations of the Jana Sangh ideologue was kick-started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Keralas Kozhikode on 24 September 2016, according to The Indian Express report. It added that the purpose of the celebration is to resurrect Upadhyaya, who is known as a Hindutva ideologue.

Who was Deendayal Upadhyaya?

Upadhyaya was the leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) from 1953 to 1968, according to BJP's official website. The BJP is the successor party of the BJS, which merged itself into the Janata Party in 1977. The BJP was formed as a separate party in 1980 after internal differences emerged within the Janata Party. The party website says that Upadhyaya joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1937.

In 1951, Upadhyaya, according to The Huffington Post, founded the Rashtriya Jana Sangh with the veteran ideologue, Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The report adds that Upadhyaya was an opponent of capitalism as well as the secular framework of socialism.

According to Outlook, Upadhyaya abhorred the idea of secularism. He was of the view that the Indian Constitution had to be changed radically as it runs counter to the unity and indivisibility of Bharat".

Schemes and projects launched in Deendayal Upadhyaya's name by government

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday released over 100 inmates from various jails of the state to mark the birth centenary of Upadhyaya. Out of the 100 inmates, as many as 80 had completed their quantum of punishment.

On 4 August, the Uttar Pradesh government approved a proposal to rename the iconic Mughalsarai Railway Station near Varanasi after Upadhyaya.

After coming to power in 2014, the BJP government at the Centre launched various projects and renamed many of existing ones after Upadhyaya.

In March, the Rajasthan government asked all secondary and senior secondary schools to purchase a collection of essays and speeches by Upadhyaya, a move which drew accusations of saffronisation of education.

In April, it was announced that the Agra airport would be named after Upadhyaya.

In May, telecom minister Manoj Sinha launched a skill development scheme named after Upadhyaya that will train rural youth to maintain mobile towers, repair optical fibres and fix other communication technologies across India.

In July, Modi launched the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana for power sector reforms in rural areas with a view to ensuring round the clock electricity supply to farmers and rural households.

In July this year, the Haryana government decided that youth centres would be established in Upadhyaya's name in all districts of the state at a cost of about Rs 3 crore each.

Upadhyaya's mysterious death

Upadhya's death is shrouded in mystery. On 11 February 1968, Upadhyaya's body was found at the Mughalsarai Railway Station, according to India Today.

On 11 August this year, Congress sought Modi's intervention to reopen the probe into the death of Upadhyaya. "Deendayal Upadhyay murder case has been a mystery for the last 49 years. At least in his birth centenary year, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should request Modi to reopen the probe into his murder," MPCC (Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee) spokesperson Sachin Sawant had said in a statement.

On 12 February 2013, according to India Today report, Madhya Pradesh BJP leader Arvind Menon had alleged that Congress was indirectly responsible for the death of Upadhyaya.

With inputs from agencies.
Banihal/Jammu: Police have arrested the third militant, who was part of the terror module involved in the deadly attack on the SSB party in Banihal belt of Jammu and Kashmir last week. With his arrest, the three-member terror module has been wiped out within days of the attack on the SSB party in Ramban district, the police said.

On 22 September, two militants of the module involved in the deadly terror attack were arrested. "We have arrested the third militant involved in the terror attack on Sunday and recovered a pistol", SSP Ramban, Mohan Lal said.

The arrested militant has been identified as Aquib Wahid, a BSc student at the Degree College in Anantnag, he said.

A pistol along with ammunition was recovered from him. During the initial interrogation, the arrested militant said an over ground worker (OGW) of South Kashmir gave him the pistol with the task of setting up a terror module along with others.

Police is on a hunt to track down the OGW connected with terror groups in South Kashmir. On 22 September Gaznafar and Arif were arrested in connection with the attack.

"They were arrested within 24 hours of the attack by the police during a major combing operation in Banihal belt", SSP said. "Two service rifles, including an AK assault rifle and an Insas rifle, which were snatched during the attack, were also recovered from their possession", the SSP said.

On 20 September, the trio had attacked a SSB party near an under-construction railway tunnel in Banihal killing an SSB jawan and injuring another.

Gazanfar, Arif and Aquib were recruited to foment terror in the Chenab Valley region, officials said.

Police have neutralised a terror module trying to revive militancy in Jammu region and arrested three attackers involved in the killing of the SSB jawan, the SSP said.

"We have been able to neutralise an important module which was trying to revive terrorism in this area", he said.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu government Monday set up an inquiry commission headed by a retired high court judge to probe AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa's death, amid renewed demands for a thorough investigation after a state minister claimed their party leaders had lied about her health condition.

Justice (Retd.) Arumugasamy will head the inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Jayalalithaa on 5 December 2016 after 75 days of treatment at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai.

An official release said: "To conduct inquiry and submit a report on the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, an inquiry commission headed by retired high court judge Justice Arumugasamy has been constituted." A government order had been issued for this purpose, it added.

Doubts have been raised over the events leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation on 22 September, 2016, and her death by various quarters with Opposition parties including the DMK demanding a CBI probe.

The probe into the AIADMK supremo's demise was a key pre-condition of rebel leader and now deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam for the merger of two factions led by him and Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

Four days ahead of the merger, Palaniswami had on 17 August announced that a commission of inquiry would go into the death of Jayalalithaa. After Panneerselvam had made a demand for a probe claiming there were doubts in the minds of people, Apollo Hospitals had arranged a media conference in February last seeking to put to rest any such apprehensions.

A team of doctors, including UK-based specialist Richard Beale, who had treated Jayalalithaa, had explained in detail the medical attention given to her during hospitalisation.

Monday's announcement by the government came amid renewed demands by Opposition parties for a probe after forest minister Dindigul C Srinivasan last week told a public meeting in Madurai that AIADMK leaders had lied about Jayalalithaa's well being during her hospitalisation.

He had claimed that they had only repeated what Jayalalithaa's close aide VK Sasikala wanted them to state. The minister had also demanded that the Sasikala camp make public the video evidence which it claimed to possess on the treatment of the late leader.

The government's announcement came even as sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran earlier on Monday asserted he would submit before any probe agency a video of Jayalalithaa shot by his aunt Sasikala. He also sought an inquiry commission headed by a serving senior judge.

Dhinakaran said his family was in possession of a video of hospitalised Jayalalithaa shot by Sasikala and was ready to submit it before any probe agency, including the CBI. He claimed it had not been released so far since Jayalalithaa at that time was clad in a "nightie".

"Amma (Jayalalithaa) had lost a lot of weight... it was a video shot by my aunt (Sasikala) herself. You all know none would have seen Amma in a nightie, not any functionary. "Even when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Amma following her accident in 1989, she was fully attired... she always maintained that dignity," Dhinakaran said.

The video of Jayalalithaa, attired in a "loose nightie", was shot by Sasikala after the former was shifted from the ICU to a room in the hospital, he told reporters here.

According to Dhinakaran, when the Opposition had earlier raised doubts over Jayalalithaa's treatment and death, Sasikala had suggested that "we ourselves should seek a judicial probe" into the matter. "If that video is released by us now, there would be a debate on its authenticity," he said, adding it could be given to the probe panel.

"We are ready to submit it at an appropriate forum, whether the CBI or even Interpol. We have nothing to fear," he said.

Srinivasan had also claimed that out of fear of Sasikala, they had publicly stated that Jayalalithaa ate idlies, consumed tea and was given sweets. No one was allowed to meet the late chief minister.

Whoever came, would be briefed by Sasikala's relatives that she was "all right", he had said seeking the pardon of public.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals for fever and dehydration on 22 September, 2016. After a prolonged hospitalisation, she had died on 5 December, 2016 following a cardiac arrest.
Jamshedpur: At least six people were killed and four others injured on Sunday when a fire broke out in a house where a large quantity of firecrackers were stored illegally in East Singhbhum district, a senior police officer said.

Superintendent of Police (SP) (Rural) Prabhat Kumar said six people were killed when a fire broke out at the house at Kumardubi village, about 85-km from Jamshedpur, under Ghatshila sub-division.

A wall of the house collapsed in the fire and some people are feared trapped under it, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) (Ghatsila) Arvind Kumar Lal said.

The SDO said at least four to five people are still trapped under the debris even as efforts are on to douse the flames.

Intermittent bursting of firecrackers are still taking place, he said, adding that the injured have been admitted to a hospital.

"A large quantity of firecrackers were stored as well as being manufactured illegally. Somehow, the stored firecrackers caught fire," Lal said.

The incident occurred when a large number of people gathered for the weekly market near the house.

One of the victim was identified as Parvati Shankra, who was the mother of the owner of the house, he said.

Though the firecracker blasts are still taking place intermittently, the fire has been "limited", the SDO said.

"Two fire engines are at the spot, and two others have been rushed from Jamshedpur and one from Ghatsila," said East Singhbhum district Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar.

Local BJP MP Bidyut Baran Mahato rushed to the spot on being informed about the incident.

"I have already apprised Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das about the incident and urged the local administration to make adequate arrangements to provide the best medical aid to the injured in Jamshedpur," he said

Mahto said that the chief minister assured him that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be paid to the next of kin of the deceased while the injured will get Rs 50,000.
Mumbai: A special MCOCA court ordered police protection for four witnesses in the case of killing of journalist J Dey, after one of them claimed that he was threatened by four unidentified persons at his house in the city.

Gangster Chhota Rajan is the prime accused in the 2011 killing of the scribe.

"The court (last week) ordered police protection for four witnesses," special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said on Tuesday.

The prosecutor had sought police protection under Section 19 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA).

The witnesses will depose before the court in due course. Over 100 witnesses, including Dey's wife, have deposed so far.

Dey, who was working with a city-based English tabloid, was shot dead in suburban Powai on 11 June 2011.

The court on 31 August last year framed charges against Rajan.

As per a supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI, Rajan allegedly had the veteran crime reporter killed because he was miffed over some articles written by him.

Rajan was also allegedly angry with the scribe as he believed that Dey has portrayed him as a "chindhi" (petty) criminal in his upcoming book.

The book titled "Chindhi  Rags to Riches" was about 20 gangsters who rose from humble origins.

Rajan was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on 25 October 2015, and deported to India.

The first charge sheet filed in 2011 had named Satish Kaliya, Abhijeet Shinde, Arun Dake, Sachin Gaikwad, Anil Waghmode, Nilesh Shendge, Mangesh Agawane, Vinod Asrani, Paulson Joseph and Deepak Sisodia (all arrested) as accused in the case.

A separate charge sheet was filed against local journalist Jigna Vora for allegedly instigating Rajan against Dey due to her professional rivalry with the slain scribe.
New Delhi: The NIA Monday examined the head of a traders' body and a Kashmir University PhD student in connection with a case related to the funding of terror activities in Kashmir, officials said.

Yasin Khan of Kashmir Traders and Marketing Federation, and PhD scholar Aala Fazil have been examined, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) spokesman said. They were summoned by the probe agency to appear before it on Monday.

The duo were questioned about alleged funding to various groups that pelted stones at security forces, he said.

The NIA had registered a case on 30 May against separatist and secessionist leaders, including unidentified members of the Hurriyat Conference, who have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other outfits and gangs.

The case was registered for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and for causing disruption in the Valley by pelting the security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India, the NIA said in the FIR.

Hafiz Saeed, chief of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the front of the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been named in the FIR as an accused.

The FIR also names organisations such as the two factions of the Hurriyat, one led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the other by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, an all-women outfit of separatists.

The NIA has also secured confessional statements from two of the accused in the case. A confessional statement is recorded before a judicial magistrate. The accused confirms in it that he or she is giving a statement without any pressure from the probe agency.

The entire process is videographed and no investigation officer is present in the court premises during the proceedings. In case of retraction later, the agency can file a case of perjury.

The NIA has arrested 10 people so far in connection with its probe into the funding of terror activities in parts of Kashmir. They include Altaf Ahmed Shah, the son-in-law of Geelani, and noted businessman Zahorr Watali.

Geelani's close aides Ayaz Akbar, who is also the spokesperson of the hardline separatist organisation Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, and Peer Saifullah have also been arrested.

Others arrested are Shahid-ul-Islam, spokesperson of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Nayeem Khan, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias 'Bitta Karate', photo-journalist Kamran Yusuf and Javed Ahmed Bhat.
A man was on Monday apprehended at the Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi, for allegedly carrying 10 live bullets in his bag, an official said.

I Hiramani was going through the security checks at the international airport at around 7.00 am when a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel detected few "bullet-like objects" in his luggage, said a senior official involved in airport security.

Around 7am CISF detected 10 live rounds of 0.32mm frm hand baggage of a pax at T-3, IGI Airport during pre-embarkation security check #Delhi  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

"Ten live bullet rounds of .32 calibre were recovered from his bag. He was handed over to the police as he could not produce the valid documents for carrying it," he added.

Passenger carrying live rounds was taken to IGI Airport Police Station by CISF & handed over to Delhi Police for further legal action #Delhi  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

The man was supposed to take a flight to Bengaluru, the airport official said.

Since the past month, the international airport has witnessed several incidents of passengers carrying unwanted objects in their luggage. As per a previous Firstpost article, on 21 September, a bomb scare sent the airport into a tizzy after a suspicious object was found in a passenger's luggage.

On 20 September, a flight that took off from Delhi made an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, after an unclaimed mobile phone was found in the cabin that created a major security scare.

The unclaimed phone was feared to be a bomb, and the plane was sent to a remote bay at Bangkok airport on landing, with additional security provided, as mentioned in the Firstpost article.

In another instance from 21 August, drone-like objects were spotted on two different occasions at the Indira Gandhi International airport, following which the airport operations had to be halted for almost an hour amid security concerns following the spotting of the objects.

India Today reported that, on 22 September, "a security personnel from a private agency detected an assembled mobile power bank at level 4 of IGI Airport's Terminal 1 during the screening of the baggage."

As per the report, the power bank was an IED (Improvised Explosive Device), and it was the seventh such device recovered in less than a week's time.

With inputs from PTI
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted for the first time on Sunday by posting a five-minute promotional film on the state's culture.

Mehbooba tweeted the link of the film 'The Warmest Place on Earth', which she released on Saturday hailing the richness of the culture, hospitality and warmth of the people of the state, an official spokesman said.

"In her first tweet, the chief minister made a mention of the film to elucidate the hospitable and warm nature of the people," the spokesman said.

Mehbooba had a Twitter account for a while now but she had not tweeted anything so far. The chief minister has nearly 25,000 followers but she is not following anyone. Meantime, the national conference leader Omar Abdullah welcomed Mufti for her first tweet, three years after joining the micro-blogging site.

25,000 followers later @MehboobaMufti finally broke her silence on twitter with a tourism promotion video. Welcome to Twitter CM Sahiba. https://t.co/qnH8fmYpVv  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) September 25, 2017

On Monday, Omar tweeted, "25,000 followers later @MehboobaMufti finally broke her silence on twitter with a tourism promotion video. Welcome to Twitter CM Sahiba."

The five-minute film titled 'Warmest Place on Earth', which aims to counter the negative perception about the Valley, has drawn over 1.6 million views in less than 48 hours after its release. The opposition leader, had hit out at the chief minister for terming the situation in Kashmir peaceful.

There is something disconcerting about the CM claiming this just days after her minister survived an attack that killed 3 people! https://t.co/onyBDnw7al  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) September 24, 2017

He was reacting to a news report which quoted Mehbooba saying that the situation in Kashmir was peaceful and it was the media which was creating negative perception about the Valley.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana 'Saubhagya' electricity scheme to provide 24x7 power to all families across India at the BJP's National Executive meet and on the occasion of birth anniversary of RSS ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya in New Delhi.

The announcement made at the headquarters of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is expected to reiterate BJP's electricity-for-all policy.

Delhi: PM Modi launches Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli har Ghar Yojna-Saubhagya scheme pic.twitter.com/bHOiSCxbkS  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

The scheme is expected to electrify all rural households across India by 31 March, 2019, according to the Economic Times, two months ahead of the general elections.

Reinforcing the party's pro-poor push ahead of key Assembly elections and the 2019 general elections, Modi said, "It is unfortunate people light their homes with candles. The government's priority is fulfilling the aspiration of the poor." Modi also added that four crore households will benefit from this scheme aimed at empowering poor of India.

The total outlay of the Saubhagya scheme to provide free electricity to all poor families is pegged at Rs 16,320 crores which will be funded to a large extent (Rs 12,320 crores) by the Centre, the government said. Rs 14,025 crores is the outlay for electrification of rural households while Rs 2,295 crores is the outlay for poor urban households.

The Rural Electrification Corporation will be the nodal agency for the operations of the scheme, reported Times Now. Sources said distribution companies will recover Rs 500 crores in 10 installments of electricity bills. The beneficiaries of the Saubhagya scheme will be identified and targeted using the 2011 Census data. The funding pattern for special category states will be as follows: 85 percent grant from Centre, five percent from states and 10 percent from loans.

States which achieve their target by December 2018 will receive additional funds, the government said according to the Business Standard.

The Saubhagya electricity scheme is expected to electrify all willing households, as substitution to kerosene while bringing about an improvement in education, health services, communication and public safety, said The Indian Express. The government claimed it will create more jobs and provide a better quality of life.

This was not Modi's first attempt at providing free electricity to all. In 2015, the government had set a 1,000 day-target to provide electricity in 18,000 villages.

Modi kept up this promise partially. According to an IndiaSpend analysis, of 18,452 unelectrified villages, 76.58 percent or 14,132 villages were electrified in around 750 days from July 2015, when the scheme was launched, (as of June 2017), according to government data.

However, out of the villages which were to benefit from the government's electrification drive, only 8 percent (or 1,145) villages got a power connection in all households, according to data in the power ministrys Grameen Vidyutikaran (GARV) dashboard.

A village is counted electrified if power is provided in public places such as schools, panchayat offices, health centres, dispensaries and community centres, and at least 10 percent of households, according to the criteria used by the power ministry since October 1997.

With inputs from PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the 'Saubhagya' scheme under the 'Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana' on the occasion of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay's birth centenary. Modi promised complete electrification in the country, saying an amount of Rs 16,000 crore has been allocated to bring about a monumental change in the lives of the poor. He began by saying no other government has thought as much about the poor as the BJP has.

Kisi gareeb ke bijli connection ke liye koi shulk nahi liya jayega. Iss sarkar ne gareeb ko yeh saubhagya dena ka sankalp liya hai: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/o5T13y01ft  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

The country which used to face power shortage is now power surplus: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/WXtalrt8Yj  All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 25, 2017

"We are the first govt to open bank accounts for 15 crore Indians," said Narendra Modi, elaborating how they launched the maximum number of schemes on the poor. He said 70 years after Independence, four crore families are still living without electricity in the country. However, he said, when he came to power, he had promised electricity in 18,000 villages and now less than 3,000 are remaining.

"We have taken multi-dimensional steps which have helped us in achieving electricity surplus," said Modi.

The BJP government has ensured that no poor family has to pay for electric connections, which would not have been possible without the Saubhagya scheme.

Highlighting the plight of poor people in villages of the country, Modi spoke of children who have to study in candlelight, of women who consume polluted gas in the kitchen.

Under the scheme, he said, the government will provide electricity to all households by December 2018, ahead of the earlier target of March 2019. All villages would be electrified by December this year, ahead of the scheduled deadline of 1 May, 2018.

"This is a reflection of working style and will-power," Modi said, adding that power connections will be provided free of cost to all poor families under the scheme. He said that there used to be breaking news regarding power outages due to shortage of coal to power plants, but the situation has now changed, and the nation is moving from a scenario of power shortage to surplus.

He said solar power tariff has dipped to Rs 2.44 per unit and further enlists the benefit of using LED bulbs in households saving Rs 13,700 crore annually. He also called upon ONGC to use its Rs 100 crore start-up funds to develop user-friendly electric cooking appliances, saying it would help in reducing fuel consumption.

According to an official statement, the total outlay of the Saubhagya project is Rs 16,320 crore while the Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) is Rs 12,320 crore. The outlay for rural households is Rs 14,025 crore while GBS is Rs 10,587.50 crore. For urban households, the outlay is Rs 2,295 crore while GBS is Rs 1,732.50 crore.

The Centre will largely provide funds for the scheme to all states and Union territories. Modi further spoke of how power backup has increased seven times and slowly inching towards one nation, one grid and one price aim of New India.

He concluded his speech by saying how equity, sustainability and efficiency are important markers for New India and a clean energy-saving future.

      energy framework     equity, efficiency and sustainability     :  #Saubhagya pic.twitter.com/FP3XDEhp11  BJP (@BJP4India) September 25, 2017

The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data, the BJP said. However, it added that unelectrified households not covered under the SECC data would also be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs 500, which shall be recovered by DISCOMs in 10 instalments through electricity bills.

The solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp with battery banks for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas, comprises five LED lights, one DC fan, one DC power plug. Beneficiaries of the Saubhagya scheme shall be identified and their applications for electricity connections along with applicant photographs and identity proof shall be registered on the spot.

The gram panchayat/public institutions in rural areas may be authorised to collect application forms along with complete documentation, distribute bills and collect revenue in consultation with the Panchayat Raj institutions and urban local bodies.

The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) will remain the nodal agency for the operationalisation of the scheme throughout the country.

The government has been working hard to electrify all villages in the country and would want to achieve 24X7 power for all by March 2019, the statement said.

In 2015, the prime minister had announced to electrify the remaining 18,452 unelectrified villages within 1,000 days in his Independence Day speech. However, the power ministry is expected to electrify all habited villages by December this year.

According to GARV portal, out of the 18,452 villages, 14,483 villages have been electrified so far. The electrification work is in progress on 2,981 villages while 988 villages are uninhabited.

The portal also indicated that out of the 17.92 crore households in rural areas, 13.87 crore families have electricity connections. As many as 4.05 crore families are yet to be get them.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: The slowdown in economic growth, the lack of jobs, a stimulus package to kickstart the economy and the next round of assembly polls are expected to dominate the BJP national executive meeting in New Delhi on Monday which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah with the political and economic resolutions to be its highlights.

The meeting will also focus on the role of the party ideologue, the late Deen Dayal Upadhyay, during his birth centenary and how best to commemorate the occasion.

The government is concerned over the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures which has shown a growth rate of 5.7 percent and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley has been talking of a package to revive economic growth after the 8 November demonetisation slowed it down. An economic resolution is also likely to be passed keeping the focus on demonetisation and the roll out of GST.

The sources said the economic resolution is likely to mention demonetisation as a "bold decision to curb the menace of corruption" and the passage of Goods and Services Tax (GST) as another feather in the Modi government's cap.

Shah will deliver the inaugural address on Monday while Prime Minister Modi will address the concluding session.

Modi is likely to address the concerns over the Indian economy and is all set to list his government's achievements in the last three years.

Usually, the national executive members alone attend the meeting but this time, the BJP is holding an extended meeting, with invites going to all elected representatives of the party. Besides, state Presidents, state general secretaries and several other party functionaries will also attend.

The first day of the two-day meet, which began here on Sunday with the office bearers meeting, was dominated by Amit Shah' countrywide journey being hailed as "very successful" in view of his attempts to create a "conducive environment" for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The BJP office bearers, who along with state BJP presidents and general secretaries (organisation) met here at the NDMC Convention Centre to finalise the agenda of the National Executive meet, reviewed the organisational work and said that the party workers' morale was quite high after Shah's nationwide tours and meetings.

During his nationwide tour, Amit Shah travelled more than 50,000 km, held 309 organisational meetings and 176 programmes, and interacted with 18,000 intellectuals across the country, BJP General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav told reporters after a meeting of party office-bearers during the ongoing National Executive meet.

Besides, he said, Shah had 800 interactions with the regional media.

"Sangathan me utsah ka mahol bana hai (An atmosphere of enthusiasm has been built in the party)," Yadav said, adding that four lakh 'vistaraks' or volunteers who pledge to work full-time for the party for 15 days have joined and worked in 4,100 assembly constituencies.

He said party offices in around 85 percent of the districts across the country have been set up, apart from library-cum-study centres in 26 states.

Yadav said that the "New India" and "Swachhta" resolves would also be taken forward.

BJP vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe gave a presentation on Shah's countrywide tour and said that his yatras have rejunviniated the party workers.

"BJP is a party of cadres and interaction with them has been party's speciality. Amitji's countrywide tour has prepared a base for 2019 Lok Sabh polls," a BJP leader, who was present in the meeting told IANS on the conditions of anonymity.

Earlier, Shah inaugurated the party office-bearers meeting and also addressed it. Sources said that he spoke at length about Upadhyay's vision and the programmes taken by party to celebrate his birth centenary.

To mark the birth centenary of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue, the BJP had asked all its state units to hold programmes. Shah will also take stock of the campaign.

The main meeting will be held on Monday at the Talkatora Stadium.

According to party leaders, 15 BJP chief ministers, six deputy chief ministers, 1,400 MLAs, 85 members of legislative councils, 280 ministers and 336 MPs would attend.
Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency and Jammu and Kashmir Police are currently investigating nearly 60 students for taking part in stone-pelting and "provoking violence" during the students' protests in April 2017, of which nearly 35 have already been questioned.

The police and NIA also suspect that separatist leaders funded the April 2017 students' protests, and the recent NIA summons to Aala Fazili, a PHD student in University of Kashmir's pharmacy department, is part of the investigation.

"The police have identified at least 60 students who took part in the April 2017 protests," a senior police official said.

"Fazili was making pro-separatist speeches on the campus. There are allegations against Fazili that he was active in separatist activities on the campus for a long time. He was active even before protests triggered in Kashmir in July 2016 following the killing of former Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Muzafar Wani," said a police official.

Fazili had also been leading in-absentia prayers for militants killed by government forces, sources at the police said. According to the sources, the police had prepared a dossier on Fazili which was handed over to the NIA.

Several Kashmiri students had poured into the streets in April 2017 after the Indian Army organised a cultural event at a degree college in Pulwama. Education institutions had to be shut for many days after students, subsequently, took part in stone pelting on police and paramilitary force personnel stationed outside the degree college campus on a daily basis.

During the April 2017 students' protests, Fazili and other students had raised the banners of the banned Kashmir University Students Union (KUSU) asking them to continue with the protests. KUSU was banned in 2012 after members of the students' body had protested the visit of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the campus.

He is also charged with organising protests under the banner of the banned Kashmir University Students Union (KUSU) inside the University of Kashmir campus, a police official said.

Fazili, however, is not the only student being questioned by the NIA and Jammu and Kashmir Police. An official told Firstpost that the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the NIA are looking into the role of nearly 60 students, including a PHD scholar of Islamic Studies, in fanning unrest against the government inside the University of Kashmir campus.

Syed Tajamul Imran, the founding member of All Jammu and Kashmir Students Union (AJKSU), who was recently questioned in connection with "any funding they have been receiving from militants or separatists", said that at least 35 students are facing cases of stone-pelting and "provoking violence" in the Valley.

Imran said that the police and the army had detained him for 10 days between 28 June and 8 July.

"The police and the army showed me my Facebook posts and even asked me whether I was receiving funds from militants. We didnt receive any such funding and were only protesting over the excesses that were committed on fellow students," he said.

April 2017 was not the first time students had taken part in anti-government protests, and which points to a possible link between separatist leaders and students' protest in the Valley.

According to a police official, in 2015, protests had emerged at the University of Kashmir campus after the police detained Muzamil Farooq Dar of Kakpora, for posting comments asking students not to take part in an international Yoga day event.

Dars detention was condemned by the separatist leaders as well.

NIA probing traders' bodies in business shutdown

The NIA has also summoned a prominent businessman and the head of a travel agency to Delhi in connection with the business shutdowns in the Valley.

Farhan Kitab, media in-charge of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), said that federation president Yaseen Khan has been summoned to Delhi as a witness in the case that has been registered against separatist leaders.

"NIA has summoned Khan to Delhi office. This is a harassment of the traders' community. He could have been questioned in Kashmir only," he said while taking part in the protest that was held in Srinagar against the NIA summons.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold talks with her US counterpart James Mattis on Tuesday with the focus on taking bilateral military ties to the next level.

During his India visit from 26-27 September, the US defence secretary will also meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.

This is the first Cabinet-level visit from the US to India under the Trump administration.

Prior to holding talks, Mattis will lay a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and inspect tri-service guard of honour at the South Block lawns.

Discussions between the two sides are expected to focus on developing new institutional mechanisms to elevate the status of India-US defence relationship, the sources said.

The focus will also be on taking the ties to the next level and the sale of high-tech defence equipment.

Mattis is also expected to discuss how to move forward on India's major defence partner designation, the sources said.

The two leaders are likely to discuss the US' new Afghan strategy and the developments in the India-Pacific, amid increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

Trump, while announcing his new Afghan policy, had asked India to do more to help Afghanistan with its developmental needs.

While no specific defence trade deal is likely to be announced during Mattis' India visit, the sources said there would be discussions on two specific proposals of F-16 and F-18A under Modi's Make in India campaign, along with efforts to identify new projects under the ambitious Defence Technology and Trade Initiatives (DTTI).

The Trump administration wants to sell F-18 and F-16 fighter planes to India, built by American companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin respectively. Both companies have offered to assemble these planes in India.
The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has come up with a rather unique idea to punish people form defecating in the open. On Sunday, RMC officials took to the streets of Ranchi to take away the lungis as punishment of those who were defecating in the open, The Times of India reported.

The report added that only after they took a pledge of not defecating in open that the municipal officials returned their lungis.

The RMC's crusade aginst open defecation is part of its "Halla Bol Lungi Khol Abhiyan", which aims to make Ranchi an open-defecation free (ODF) city by 30 September.

"It was a drive to show people how embarrassing it can be when you defecate in the open.The people who were caught have toilets in their homes. We made them promise that from now on they will use toilets," The Times of India quoted RMC city manager Shashi Prakash as saying.

But this is not the first instance of the authorities using unusual methods for implementing policies.

In April 2016, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began a campaign to publicly shame those who defecated in public.

According to a May 2016 report, the BMC vigilance squad caught at least 35 people and made them to do sit ups. At least 16 more people were caught spitting, who were then made to clean their own mess, the report added.

The Indian Express also reported of similar vigilantism by municipal authorities across Maharashtra.

The 2016 report noted that in Sangola Municipal Council in Satara, municipal officials would photograph those answering nature's call in public and post them on a billboard outside the municipal office.

In Gandhiglaj, a town in Kolhapur, workers from the municipal council deterred open defecation by organising a public procession for repeat offenders.

Despite warnings, if someone is found going out in the open to defecate, we had instructed our teams to follow such people home with a procession. Using toilets was much better than suffering social embarrassment, so people started doing so, Gadhinglaj Chief Officer Tanaji Narale told The Indian Express.

In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, the plan to make Gwalior an open defecation-free city followed a script similar to the one witnessed in Sangola. The city's municipal authorities decided to reward those who clicked photos of people defecating in the open.

According to The Asian Age, the Gwalior Municipal Corporation would pay Rs 100 for each photo.

However, the Congress criticised the initiative. The order sounds very strange. The civic body authorities are announcing monetary awards for taking dirty pictures of people. This is also an attack on the privacy of people, a local Congress leader told The Asian Age.

Indeed, there are several voices which have raised concerns over the way state authorities have used vigilantism to enforce regulations. A DailyO article points out how vigilantism in the name of a cleanliness drive could widen the social gap, as most of those who defecate in the open are from economically weaker sections and lower castes.

The article also noted that as a consequence of the government's zeal to make places open-defecation free, the authorities are indirectly encouraging students to disrespect elders who defecate in the open.

Activists like Supriya Sonar have also said that the tactic of shaming people will not yield any result as people defecate in open as authorities have not provided enough toilets for them. Sonar clearly put the onus of providing the basic sanitation facilities on municipal authorities, before involving itself in "innovative" ideas to dissuade people.

The use of vigilante-like campaign by state authorities is not just limited to making cities open-defecation free.

Cow vigilantism, which is becoming a major issue across the country, has more or less been given state sponsorship in Maharashtra.

The state's Ministry of Animal Husbandary issued notices for volunteers engaged in animal welfare activities on religious grounds to apply for the honorary position of welfare officers. According to The Indian Express, the circular sought people who could monitor the beef ban, which was imposed by the state government last year.

While the applicants are supposed to be non-political in nature, an investigation found out that most of them belong to Hindutva outfits like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Ram Sena, Hindu Sena, Shiv Sena, Durgavahini, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Maharashtra and Haryana are examples of state "outsourcing" the job of handling certain aspects of law and order to cow vigilantes, an article in The Indian Express noted. Such a devolution of power to such non-state actors would weaken state machinery, the article argued, citing the example of the shrinking of the Uttar Pradesh police force, which lacks 1,01,619 policemen, as of May 2017.

With inputs from agencies
Editor's Note: Over 40,000 Rohingya refugees are living in India. The Government of India's recent announcement to deport them back to Myanmar has worried not just the Rohingyas but also refugees from other parts of the world now living in Delhi. In a four-part series starting from Tuesday, Firstpost looks into the condition of these refugees and how the Centres stand has sent chills down their spine, many of whom say they have no homes to go back to.

The destiny of an individual is tied to the destiny of the soil one is born on. If the soil is set on fire, what burns along with it is one's home, one's family, and one's dreams. And even if an individual manages to escape the burning homeland  sight fogged by chemical smoke, gunshots echoing in their ears long after they stop, and a maze of flames that could be the funeral pyres of civilians, who are almost always innocent  the only thing one is left with is a beating heart and a breath that hasnt stopped, both of which can be heard in a silence of peace.

As of 2017, 6.56 crore individuals have been forcibly displaced worldwide because of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations, as per the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). As of December 2014, there were some 31,000 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the UNHCR in India.

To find out what life is like for a refugee in India, Firstpost walked into their homes in the ghettos of Delhi. We interacted with the Chin Christians of Myanmar and Muslims from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Somalia.

After the central governments decision to deport close to 40,000 Rohingya refugees (a majority-Muslim ethnic group), claiming that they had links with the Islamic State and Pakistans Intelligence Network ISI, refugees from other countries are restless. The central governments stand is sending chills down the spine of many refugees who say they have no homes to go back to.

During our visits, we heard stories that straddle hope and hopelessness. India has signed neither the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention nor its 1967 Protocol. It doesnt have on its statute book a specific law to govern refugees.

The care and treatment of refugees fall under Indias Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939, the Foreigners Act of 1946 and the Foreigners Order of 1948. The Indian Evidence Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure apply to refugees who are living on Indian soil. The only proof of identity that they have is the UNHCR refugee card, which, owing to its colour, is called the blue card. It has no legal validity because the state does not recognise it.

The refugees collectively complain that they wait indefinitely to hear back from the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) which issues them Long Term Visas (LTVs). For an LTV, they need to share a rent agreement and for renting a home, they need an identity proof that the landlord can understand and accept. From opening a bank account or acquiring a mobile SIM, both of which are now linked to the Aadhaar, life is tough.

The refugees in Delhi go about their days, picking up vocational skills and languages at Bosco centres (Part of the Don Bosco Global Network spread across 135 countries, running educational institutions, vocational and technical training centers), working at cola factories and serving as butlers/translators for medical tourists who speak Arabic or cooking at Middle Eastern restaurants.

The decision to push the stateless out of the state is taken from within that state. Until a decision is made and possibly even after it is made, for a refugee, home is where the heart isnt.

Read part 1: Living in India a struggle but Myanmar is a threat to our existence, say Chin migrants
Kochi: Left parties from South Asian countries has urged the international community, including the governments of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal, to adopt a roadmap to resolve the Rohingya refugee crisis.

The parties met at the South Asian regional seminar of communist and left parties as the Rohingya Muslims flee from the Rakhine state of Myanmar amid arson and violence.

The two-day seminar, that concluded on Sunday, adopted a resolution which expresses concern over the "grave humanitarian crisis" and apprehends that it could be used by extremist and fundamentalist forces.

"The governments of South Asian countries, particularly, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and other countries along with the international community must immediately adopt a roadmap to resolve this humanitarian crisis and ensure that the harassed and beleaguered Rohingya population live a decent and dignified life," the resolution said.

It said action may be taken against confirmed act of terrorism by certain groups "but the whole community can never be targeted on the basis of the activities of individuals or, some groups".

The conference was attended by senior communist leaders from South Asian countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The conference was inaugurated on Saturday by CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury. Organised by the CPM to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great October Revolution, it was also attended by senior communist leaders of the country, including Prakash Karat, Sudhakar Reddy, S Ramachandran Pillai and D Raja.
Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday refused to grant anticipatory bail plea to Augustine F Pinto, his wife Grace and their son Ryan, owners of Gurugram's Ryan International School, making an arrest possible at any time, media reports said. The high court said they cannot hear the particular case now because the matter has been referred to the CBI and that needs to be checked.

#BREAKING - #RyanInternationalSchool Murder Case: Punjab and Haryana HC refuses to grant relief to the Pintos pic.twitter.com/q4vrAywyCV  News18 (@CNNnews18) September 25, 2017

More than two weeks after the murder of seven-year-old student Pradyuman Thakur in its premises, Gurugrams Ryan International School reopened on Monday with a new set of security arrangements.

NDTV reported that the school has hired a new security agency and 40 new CCTV cameras have been installed in the school's building.

On Saturday, the CBI took custody of three people arrested by the Haryana Police in connection with the killing of Pradyuman on 8 September.

The CBI had sought custody of school bus conductor Ashok Kumar, regional head of the group Francis Thomas and HR head Jeyus Thomas from the court.

On 20 September, Punjab and Haryana High Court court had refused to stay the arrest of the Pinto family  Augustine F Pinto, his wife Grace and their son Ryan  while taking up their application for anticipatory bail. The matter will now be heard on 25 September.

Varun Chandra Thakur, the father of Pradyuman, had visited Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and had categorically stated that he would recommend a CBI probe into the gruesome murder.

The CBI took over the probe after receiving notification from the Centre. The case had been registered at the Bhondsi police station in Gurugram under the IPC sections related to murder, and relevant sections of the Arms Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.

With inputs from IANS
Senior Malayalam journalist Sajeev Gopalan was hospitalised after being allegedly assaulted by cops near Varkala town in Kerala on Sunday.

#Kerala: Senior journalist, Sajeev Gopalan, from 'Kalakaumudi' newspaper allegedly assaulted by cops yday near Varkala; hospitalized pic.twitter.com/dnGR9r5lin  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

Gopalan, who works for Malayalam newspaper Kalakaumudi, was working on a story about an attack on two girls in the Idava Panchayat in Thiruvanthapuram, The Indian Express reported. Gopalan had alleged police interference in the case. According to media reports, his assailants also mentioned the case.

According to Times Now, the Kerala Police had manhandled Gopalan and hit him on his head at around 10.30 pm outside his house. When the incident took place, his wife and daughter were also present, the report said.

Reportedly, the officer contacted the local sub-inspector via wireless later, who came in with more men to join in the assault. The local press club has reportedly filed a complaint with the authorities, including the director general of police.

This comes just days after two Uttar Pradesh journalists were injured in a police lathi charge along with several students at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi where violence erupted after protests against an eve-teasing incident on the campus.

Recently, Bengaluru journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder near her residence also has highlighted the attacks against the media fraternity. Lankesh, who was the editor of the anti-establishment newspaper Lankesh Patrike, was shot dead by three unidentified assailants who shot three bullets at her.

Journalists in Kerala have been attacked several times in the past while reporting on sensitive issues.

On 30 July 2017, a sub-inspector named PM Vinod was suspended after he reportedly led an assault against journalists in Kozhikode. A report from The Hoot said that the reason may have been the unwillingness of journalists to correct details in a report that the police found to be misleading.

Not long before that, on July 19, some lawyers physically assaulted media personnel outside the Kerala High Court as they were angry at the media coverage of a sexual molestation case.

In 2016, BJP workers allegedly attacked a group of media persons in Palakkad. The workers, objecting to the filming of arrested BJP workers, had allegedly manhandled camera persons and reporters.

Overall, Indias record for attacks against journalists is also alarming.

According to an India Spend report, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows that 142 attacks against journalists for grievous hurt were registered all over the country since 2015.
New Delhi: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Sunday attacked former vice-president Hamid Ansari for attending an event organised by the women's wing of Popular Front of India which is under the scanner for alleged links with terror outfits.

VHP Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain said Ansari stands exposed after attending the programme. "He was spreading dissatisfaction in the Muslim community even when he was holding the post of Vice President," he said.

According to reports, Ansari attended an event in Kozhikode organised by the Institute of Objective Studies in association with the National Women's Front, the women's wing of the PFI.

Jain in a statement alleged that the PFI is nothing but a new and extended avatar of the banned outfit SIMI.

He also alleged that the PFI is involved in terror activities and the killing of "patriots" in Kerala.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a report to the Union Home Ministry had claimed that the PFI has been involved in terror acts, including running terror camps and making bombs, and it was a fit case to be declared banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The PFI reportedly has a presence in 23 states and is strongest in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
New Delhi: Stressing the importance of credibility in journalism, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that the media has to avoid sensationalism.

"Information with confirmation is more than ammunition. Any content that offends the sensibilities of the people is a matter of concern and self-regulation is the best way to address such a problem," he said in his address ay the 14th Shailikaar Prabhakar Samman ceremony, an official statement said.

The award that was instituted in memory of well-known Hindi writer, journalist and freedom fighter Kanhaiya Lal Misra Prabhakar has been bestowed upon Anuradha Prasad this year.

Recalling the pioneering role of journalism in freeing India from colonial rule and subsequently in strengthening democracy in Independent India, Naidu said that a vibrant electronic and print media were continuing to play an important role in moulding public opinion.

He also noted that news values appear to have changed over the years with "what would not have been considered to be even a filler in the past is becoming 'Breaking News' today and many a time, an off-the-cuff remark becomes a screaming headline". he said.

Naidu however asserted that he was not advocating any censorship.

The media because of its reach and impact has a huge responsibility in ensuring that the people are not swayed or agitated by controversies which are best ignored, he said.

He further said that the cinema too must avoid obscenity, vulgarity, violence and double meaning dialogues. Of late there was a tendency of mixing news and views, he added.

Referring to freedom of expression, the Vice-President said that it is best utilized when the value of such freedom is fully appreciated.

He called upon newspapers and channels to refocus on developmental journalism so that different social and economic issues affecting the people and the country get highlighted and even bring about policy changes at the highest level.

He also said that we need to accord importance to mother tongue, while pursuing English as the link language.
Chennai: Senior AIADMK leader and Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar on Monday lashed out at actor Kamal Haasan over his political ambitions, saying politics was not a movie.

The state fisheries minister gave the example of thespian Sivaji Ganesan who commanded a strong fan following, saying he could not make a big mark in politics.

"Kamal (Haasan) thinks politics is a movie which runs for 100 days. Is the chief minister's post some kind of a toy that can be purchased from the market. People should recognise, people should accept," he claimed.

Jayakumar's remarks came in the wake of the actor's reported comments that he could contest elections if they were held within the next 100 days, even as he had hinted at being prepared to lead the state.

"Sivaji Ganesan started a political party but he could not even become an MLA. Crowds cannot be the mere yardstick. All that crowd should convert as votes," Jayakumar told reporters in Chennai.

He also took a swipe at Haasan over his comments on Twitter, especially those against the ruling AIADMK, saying, "You should be among the people, not just on Twitter."

Haasan has of late made his political ambitions clear. He had also levelled charges of corruption against the government, drawing censure from ministers, including Chief Minister K Palaniswamy.

Last week, AAP supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had met the actor in Chennai, sparking speculation of a new political alignment in the state.

The duo, however, did not make any grand announcement.
New Delhi: BJP president Amit Shah on Monday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh where they are believed to have discussed issues related to Jammu and Kashmir among others, sources said.

Other BJP leaders including Ram Madhav and Ram Lal were also present during the hour-long closed-door meet at the home minister's residence which took place after the BJP executive meeting.

While details of the meeting were not immediately available, according to sources the leaders are believed to have reviewed the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

While the home minister visited Jammu and Kashmir a fortnight ago, BJP general secretary Madhav is party in-charge for the state.

During his visit, Singh had said the situation in the Kashmir Valley has improved significantly over the past year and some "green shoots of peace are visible".

He had also expressed willingness to meet every stakeholder to resolve long-standing issues.
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New Delhi: Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday condemned the midnight police baton charge on girl students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), which is in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency.

"AAP appeals to student community across the country to maintain peace and calm, and wait for the appropriate time to throw this intolerant government out of power," said AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

Bharadwaj said that it is unpardonable and shameful that police, instead of acting on the girl student's complaint of alleged molestation, ordered male police personnel to enter girls hostels during night hours.

"Central government appointed Vice-Chancellor of BHU has shamed his post by allowing police to enter the campus to crush a peaceful protest by girl students who were demanding security from eve-teasers and molesters," he said.

AAP said that scary images and videos from the BHU showing lathi-wielding policemen chasing girl students in the night prove that police had been directed by the BJP government to crush the peaceful and innocent students' protest.
Tensions at the renowned Banaras Hindu University (BHU), which has been on the boil ever since a female student was molested on campus four days ago, reached a tipping point on Monday. The state government removed three additional city magistrates of Varanasi and two police officers on Monday, and a high-level probe was ordered into the incident which has already spiralled into a major controversy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about the incident, on the sidelines of the party's national executive meet.

Meanwhile, amid reports of police excesses on protesting students, the varsity turned into a political cauldron, with Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders rushing to the institute on Monday, while the police detained over 1,000 protesters, including Congress leaders and Samajwadi Party cadres.

Why is BHU on the boil?

Trouble started on Thursday, after three men riding a motorbike molested a student of the Bachelor of Fine Arts course of the Mahila Mahavidyala of the BHU while she was returning to her hostel, according to India Today.

According to the complainant, the men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts. The woman alleged that security guards, who were about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop the accused. She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel.

The warden's response angered the students who sat on a protest at the main gate at midnight. The students have alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants.

Police and professors tried to pacify the students, but they refused to end their protest and sought assurances from the university vice-chancellor. Meanwhile, the protests turned violent on Saturday, as some students, who wanted to meet the vice-chancellor at his residence, were stopped by the security personnel.

A BHU spokesperson said some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the vice-chancellor's residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards. Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students, he said.

The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them. A number of students, including women and two journalists, were injured in the lathicharge, varsity sources said.

This in turn fanned widespread outrage, giving rise to political bickering amid parties, even as videos and images of the police excesses were being shared on social media. Journalists too staged protests against the baton charge, which injured two mediapersons.

The aftermath

In the aftermath of the violence, the district administration has declared holiday till 2 October in all colleges and universities in Varanasi. The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from 28 September. As opposition parties targeted BJP over the police action on the campus, Modi and Shah asked Adityanath to address the issue at the earliest.

An FIR has been filed against unidentified policemen in connection with the lathicharge on Saturday night. A case has also been registered against over 1,000 students in connection with the violence in the university, they said.

A press release from Varanasi's district information office said three additional city magistrates, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh, have been removed.

Nivesh Katiyar, circle officer of Bhelupur, has also been removed and has been replaced by Ayodhya Prasad Singh, circle officer of Kotwali, officials said; station officer of Lanka police station, Rajiv Singh, has been removed and sent to police lines; station officer of Jaitpura police station, Sanjiv Mishra, has been posted in his place, officials said.

"A committee has been constituted under the chief secretary. Necessary action will be taken on the basis of its report. The committee will examine other aspects and see as to how the police behaved," Governor Ram Naik said in Lucknow on Monday while responding to queries from mediapersons about the incident.

The governor described the incident as "sad". Adityanath too has sought a report from the divisional commissioner on details about the incident.

The politics

Congress and Samajwadi Party upped the ante against the BJP following the incident. SP workers held a sit-in in Varanasi and slogans were raised against Prime Minister Modi, following which the police detained over 200 activists while they were going to meet the injured and protesting students. Meanwhile, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Raj Babbar also rushed to empathise with the protesting students.

Social activist Teesta Setalvad also arrived in the city to attend a programme, but was detained by the police.

Congress also hit out at the BJP-led government, demanding the vice-chancellor be fired, and a judicial investigation be instituted. "We demand that the President of India, who is the Visitor of the university, immediately take cognisance of what has happened at BHU, and sack the vice-chancellor," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.

Attacking the BJP and its rule in Uttar Pradesh, Tewari said the government had been been a "failure" on all fronts and accused it of "shedding crocodile tears".

"We demand an inquiry by a sitting high court judge that should go into all facts and circumstances, as to how this atrocity was perpetrated and hold all those persons who were responsible for ordering this lathicharge to account," Tewari said.

The politicos also targeted Modi, who is also the Lok Sabha MP from the city. Congress questioned Modi's silence over the "preposterous and shocking" incident, and asked what his stand was on the atrocity perpetrated on the students in his parliamentary constituency. Describing the vice-chancellor as "incorrigible" and "insensitive", Tewari asked Modi if such a person could head an institute of academic excellence like the BHU.

With inputs from PTI
In India's fractured polity, where one-upmanship is a rule than an exception, commemorating political personalities cutting across party lines is rare. So, it would have come as a surprise for many when the BJP paid tribute to actor-turned-politician MG Ramachandran on his 100th birth anniversary on 17 January.

Eight months later, as part of the continuing celebrations, the BJP-led Centre announced it would mint special Rs five and Rs 100 coins bearing his portrait. On the face of it, the decision may pass off as yet another move to commemorate the Tamil icon. But if one looks at it through the prism of Tamil Nadu's ongoing political turmoil, it is loaded with a lot of symbolism.

BJP's MGR card

It is no secret that the Amit Shah-led Bharatiya Janata Party is now focussing on expanding its roots in the south, and a post-Jayalalithaa Tamil Nadu provides the perfect opportunity for the right-wing party to make its presence felt. However, in the absence of strong local leadership, the BJP seems to be banking on the charisma of the late MGR to explore the uncharted Dravidian heartland.

Tamil Nadu is a state where actors, like MGR, have used their cinematic fame to venture into state politics. The matinee idol founded the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in October 1972, and went on to occupy the chief minister's position between 1977 and his death in 1987. His charisma has endured the test of time and still fetches votes for his party.

The BJP first invoked MGR on the 100th birth anniversary of the matinee idol: 17 January. On that day, the BJP's acclaimed social media machinery not only paid tribute to MGR, but also mimicked the AIADMK in calling him puratchi thalaivar (revolutionary leader).

Tribute to former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Bharat Ratna Dr Puratchi Thalaivar MG Ramachandran on his birth centenary. pic.twitter.com/qsdRbArawS  BJP (@BJP4India) January 17, 2017

Two key functionaries of the Tamil Nadu BJP, Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and state unit chief Tamilisai Sounderarajan, too paid floral tributes to MGR.

BJP's "MGR formula" was also extended to the immediate family of the former chief minister, as seven of his close relatives, including his adopted daughter Geetha Madhumohanan, joined the party by March.

Moreover, while joining the party in the presence of Modi, MCR Praveen denounced the "family-run AIADMK", adding that the party was exploiting MGR's name and fame but ignoring his social service schemes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too recalled MGR during his May trip to Sri Lanka. The emerald-nation has an interesting connection with the three-time chief minister, as he was born in Kandy.

During his address to the Tamil-origin community in Dickoya, Modi said," A great icon of India, MGR was born in this soil, establishing a lifelong connection," as per a report in Hindustan Times.

But apart from being his country of birth, Sri Lanka also finds a place in the political career of MGR. It is a well-established fact that as chief minister, he supported the cause of minority Tamils in the island nation.

BJP's attraction for Tamil Nadu's cultural icon may be a well thought-out strategy.

While MGR was a Malayali, his charisma and influence  thanks to his larger-than-life image  helped him transcend caste, community and ethnic barriers in Tamil Nadu. By appropriating MGR, the saffron party may wholly or partially be able to claim his legacy, and also solve the caste and communal tangle in Tamil Nadu politics.

The BJP has already used this strategy at the national stage, where Opposition stalwarts such as Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel are now part of the right-wing pantheon.

Looking backCongress' MGR push

But long before the BJP had any presence in the Dravidian citadel, the Congress party too tried to play the MGR card.

In early 1988, the Rajiv Gandhi government posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna to the AIADMK founder. Political pundits still link that decision to the Congress' plan to contest the 1989 election alone.

While the Congress could only win 26 seats, its vote share rose from 16.3 percent to 19.8 percent in the 1989 elections.

Though many attribute Congress' performance to the three-way split in votes between the two factions of AIADMK and the DMK, it can also be argued that the ploy to award the Bharat Ratna to MGR might have swayed a part of the MGR votebank in the Congress favour.

Other factors at play too

The BJP has strong reasons to be interested in Tamil Nadu, as the statesends 39 Lok Sabha and 18 Rajya Sabha members to the Parliament.

In February 2017, the RSSthe ideological fountainhead of the BJP  held its annual all-India conference at Coimbatore. This was the first time that it was held in Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore is considered to be an oasis of Hindutva politics in a largely Dravidian stronghold.

Then there has been the frequently made allegation of the BJP trying to remote control the O Panneerselvam and E Palaniswamy administrations, in the absence of any real political presence in the state.

Political turmoil an opportunity for BJP

In the coming days, the political scenario is expected to get more volatile.

With TTV Dhinakaran, vowing to bring down the AIADMK government, the stability of the current dispensation, already in doubt, is further threatened. In a much anticipated move, Speaker P Dhanapal disqualified 18 MLAs of the Dhinakaran faction last Monday. This gives the EPS-OPS dispensation a slender majority in the Assembly.

However, if the Madras High Court stays the disqualification, it would pave the way for further uncertainty in the state, which has reportedly been on auto-pilot mode after Jayalalithaas hospitalisation in September 2016.

Amid the turmoil, the BJP would like to exploit the political vacuum in a state where it has never really been able to make it big.

In what may be turn out to be a breakthrough for the BJP in the state, Palaniswamy on 18 September hinted at a possible alliance. While an alliance may not be the best scenario for the BJP, given its nationwide push to sideline state parties, it will allow the party have a say in the matters of state politics.

It is not that the BJP has never won any seat in the state. In both the 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha elections, the party won four seats, but only allying first with the AIADMK and then with the DMK..

The situation has been far worse in the Assembly, with the party opening its account only once. The vote share too tells a story of its own. Only once  in the 2001 elections  has the party been able to garner over three percent of the voteshare.

Whether the BJPs attempts to claim MGRs legacy will benefit it electorally will now keenly be watched by pundits and the Tamil makkal.
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With the Opposition parties attacking government's handling of the economy by citing the fall in GDP rate and demonetisation figures, Modi is expected to take them on and highlight his dispensation's "successes" in boosting transparency and curbing black money.

Modi, who will deliver the valedictory address on Monday, may use the opportunity to highlight his government's pro-poor measures and other policy decisions.

More than 2,000 delegates will attend what has been described by senior party leaders as an "extended national executive" to mark the end of a year-long exercise to commemorate Deen Dayal Upadhyaya's 100th birth anniversary.

While the election in Gujarat is important for the BJP as it is the home state of the prime minister, the economy is once again at the centre stage as latest data has shown a slump in growth.

An important feature of Monday's meeting will be that Modi's speech will be broadcast live: a rarity as most national executive meetings are closed to cameras.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to chalk out the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) strategy for the upcoming Winter Session in his address to the BJP national executive.

Among those present on the stage are: veteran BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, Amit Shah, Modi, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and a host of other central ministers. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje are also present on the stage.

He is expected to counter the opposition's criticism of the state of the economy.

On Sunday, BJP chief Amit Shah took stock of BJP's performance at its national executive meeting that will conclude with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address today.

Modi likely to counter Opposition's criticism on the state of economy

The national executive meeting is expected to dwell on ways to expand the party base in states. The BJP leaders will discuss ways to increase the numbers using the tools at hand, like the welfare schemes announced by the NDA government.

At least 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs and all MLCs, besides its core group leaders from the states, are among those expected to attend the meet on Monday.

The BJP leaders are expected to discuss ways to strengthen its base in states like Odisha and West Bengal, where the party didn't fare too well in the 2014 general elections.

The government is concerned over the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures which has shown a growth rate of 5.7 percent and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley has been talking of a package to revive economic growth after the 8 November demonetisation slowed it down. An economic resolution is also likely to be passed keeping the focus on demonetisation and the roll out of GST.

The slowdown in economic growth, the lack of jobs, a stimulus package to kickstart the economy and the next round of assembly polls are on top of agenda for the BJP leadership.

The government is concerned over the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures which has shown a growth rate of 5.7 percent and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley has been talking of a package to revive economic growth after the 8 November demonetisation slowed it down. An economic resolution is also likely to be passed keeping the focus on demonetisation and the roll out of GST.

The slowdown in economic growth, the lack of jobs, a stimulus package to kickstart the economy and the next round of assembly polls are on top of agenda for the BJP leadership.

"Our party has criticised Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi's statements in Berkeley University, where he said that our country was running on dynastic politics. BJP has always worked on politics of performance. We are working for the poor. We strongly object to these statements, so does the nation," says Piyush Goyal while elaborating on Amit Shah's speech at the national executive.

Updating the media on the ongoing BJP National Executive meeting, Goyal said, "The steps that this BJP government have taken from Day 1 have always ensured that we work towards a corruption-free environment. Demonetisation, pulling up benami properties, shutting down shell companies among other measures, were some of the big steps undertaken by us."

Senior BJP leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari said India's relations with foreign countries have been improving. "There were disputes between India and China. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi successfully resolved the issue and tensions on the border was resolved. Similarly, we also wish for friendship with Pakistan. This is the reason Modi broke from protocol to meet Nawaz Sharif in Lahore in 2014," he said.

Not one corruption allegation against Modi govt in three years: Gadkari

"In Kashmir, we have inaugurated Rs 40,000 crore worth of projects. We are also focussing on developing infrastructure in the Naxal-hit areas. Development will deter terrorists in all these regions," Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said.

Arun Jaitley, elaborating more on what Narendra Modi said at the BJP National Executive meeting, said the Prime Minister wants the BJP to focus on public participation, as it would help eliminating corruption and terrorism.

"Corruption and elimination of black money was never on UPA's agenda in 10 years. So it's obvious our efforts to do so wouldn't have the support of UPA leaders. Those on the receiving end of our government's anti-corruption stance are uneasy," says Arun Jaitley.

"We're certain of victory in 2019. And we're certain of building a 'New India' by year 2022," says Arun Jaitley while addressing the BJP National Executive meeting.

Pre-paid model to be adopted for electricity to all households as per plan, says Power Minister RK Singh

ONGC is the first PSU to create a 'Start-Up fund' of Rs 100 Crore, says Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan

We are the first govt to open bank accounts for 15 crore Indians, says Narendra Modi

Modi says they are the first government to launch the maximum number of schemes for the poor. "We are the first to think of women who become victims of pollution in the kitchen," says Modi.

Our govt identified with the poor and is the first to launch schemes for them: Modi

Four crore families have not yet received electricity, says Modi

Modi says out of 18,000 villages where we promised electricity, less than 3,000 have not got power yet

We have taken multi-dimensional steps which have helped us in achieving surplus of electricity, says Modi

'No poor person has to pay for the electric connection'

An amount of Rs 16,000 crore has been allocated to bring a monumental change in the lives of the poor, says Modi

We will ensure that there is complete electrification in the country, says Modi

'We are heading towards one nation, one grid goal'

From power shortage we are heading towards power surplus, says Modi

Four crore out of 25 crore families do not have power connection even after 70 years of independence, says Modi.

Households save Rs 13,700 crore annually on account of use of LED lights, says Modi

PM says price of LED bulb has come down from Rs 310 in February 2014 to Rs 40 in September 2017

Over 26 crore LED Bulbs have been distributed among people, says PM Modi

'We are heading towards one nation, one grid goal'

The country which used to face power shortage is now power surplus: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/WXtalrt8Yj

From power shortage we are heading towards power surplus, says Modi

Four crore out of 25 crore families do not have power connection even after 70 years of independence, says Modi.

Households save Rs 13,700 crore annually on account of use of LED lights, says Modi

PM says price of LED bulb has come down from Rs 310 in February 2014 to Rs 40 in September 2017

Over 26 crore LED Bulbs have been distributed among people, says PM Modi

BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday took stock of the party's performance at its national executive meeting that will conclude with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address, in which he is expected to counter the Opposition's criticism of the state of the economy.

After inaugurating the two-day national executive, Shah held a meeting with office-bearers, state chiefs and organisational leaders to finalise agenda items, including resolutions, which the national executive is expected to

discuss on 25 September, the birth anniversary of Hindutva icon Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

During the office bearers' meeting, Shah reviewed the performance of the party's expansion drive in the last one year.

More than four lakh party workers covered the 4,100 state assembly seats to strengthen the party and shared the

development measures initiated by the government, party general secretary Bhupender Yadav said.

It was also decided to take forward prime minister Modi's 'Swachh Bharat' mission and the resolve to establish a 'New India' and make them a success, he said.

General Secretary Vinay Sahasrabuddhe also shared the details of Shah's country-wide tour during the meeting and said the party chief travelled 50,000 km and interacted with 18,000 workers across the country to strengthen the BJP.

To mark the birth centenary celebrations of Upadhyaya, the party has also dedicated the year to the 'welfare of the poor' and the government has taken various initiatives on this front while curbing corruption, Yadav said.

A key highlight of the meeting will be the presence of the party's elected lawmakers -- close to 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs and all MLCs, besides its core group leaders from states among others on Monday.

Modi, who will deliver the valedictory address on Monday, may use the opportunity to highlight his government's pro-poor measures and other policy decisions.

With the Opposition parties attacking the government's handling of the economy by citing the fall in GDP rate and demonetisation figures, Modi is expected to take them on and highlight his dispensation's "successes" in boosting

transparency and curbing black money, party sources said.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has consistently attacked the government over the economy during his visit to the US.

The BJP sources said the party's resolution is likely to assert that the economy has been doing better under the NDA than it did under the previous UPA government.

The roll-out of the GST has been described by the party as a major success of the government which, it has asserted, will integrate the country's economy.

The prime minister's agenda of development is also expected be a key feature. A senior party leader said the issue of Rohingya immigrants, whom the government has termed a threat to security, may also find a mention.

With the government and the party embracing Upadhyaya's plank of 'antyodaya' (upliftment of the last man), the executive is expected to cite a number of measures taken by the Union and the BJP-ruled states for the poor's welfare.
New Delhi: The Congress on Monday condemned the attack on noted dalit writer and thinker Kancha Ilaiah, describing it as another attempt to stifle democracy, and

questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for their silence over the assault.

Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewala asked Modi and Shah why they had not condemned the incident, and urged them to take action against a TDP MP who had allegedly threatened the writer. Ilaiah had on 23 September filed a police complaint in Parkal in Warangal, Telangana, alleging that four people attacked his vehicle in the town and tried to kill him.

"Strangulating the voices of free thinkers and rationalists has become the 'new normal' in Narendra Modi's 'New India'," Surjewala said.

He said in a statement that "an atmosphere of hate and intolerance" was being created to "stifle the voice of those holding divergent views". The Congress leader said the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh and of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi were a "definite pattern" and alleged that "lumpen elements having proximity to the ruling government take the law in their own hands and physically assault those who do not agree with a certain ideology".

"The series of killings of rationalists, free thinkers and journalists has created an atmosphere that dissent, differences and divergence of views can endanger one's life. This disturbing trend cannot be and should not be tolerated," he said.

Taking on the TDP leadership after its MP allegedly issued an edict against Ilaiah, the Congress leader asked why the BJP, TDP, TRS and their allies were encouraging the offenders "who threaten a noted professor and activist with such brazenness".

The Congress demands that the TRS Government in Telangana register an FIR and order an enquiry into the attack and intimidation of Ilaiah, he said, and urged TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu to take action against the MP.

"The BJP, which flaunts a mask of being the messiah of dalits and backwards, is maintaining a conspiratorial silence on the entire issue," he said, and asked Modi and Shah to condemn the incident and direct action against the MP.

A police official in Parkal had said on Saturday that members of the Arya Vysya community had been protesting over Ilaiah's book 'Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu' (Vysyas are social smugglers).
Hours after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's man Friday Mukul Roy announced his resignation at a hastily called press conference, party came out with a rebuttal and said that Roy had been expelled from the party for six years.

"We are concerned about our own party. Roy has been unfaithful to the party and our leader. Mamata Banerjee gave him everything  he became railway minister, he was the member of Rajya Sabha  what else do you want? Mamata put a lot of a trust in Roy and he betrayed the party and our leader," Party secretary general Partha Chatterjee said at a press conference in Kolkata.

Chatterjee added that Roy was colluding with TMC's arch rival BJP and was acting against the Trinamool's interest. "The party has suspended Roy for six years for anti-party activities and colluding with the BJP," said Chatterjee.

Earlier in the day, Roy, once a senior and an influential leader in the TMC ranks, said he would resign as the primary party member and also from his Rajya Sabha seat after the Durga Puja which concludes on 30 September.

"With a heavy heart and pain, I am informing you that I have taken a principled decision. I am not an office-bearer in the party now... I will mail my resignation from the party working committee today itself. I'll quit as Rajya Sabha member after the Durga Puja break. I will also quit my primary membership of the Trinamool after a few days," Roy added.

Refusing to divulge more, Roy said he would explain the reasons for his decision later. "Today is panchami. People of Bengal and in the rest of India are in a festive mood. People will not accept it if I say these things now," the former railway minister said.

Roy, one of the founding members of the TMC, also recalled that he was the first signatory for the party on 17 December, 1997, during the its formation process. TMC officially came into being on 1 Janauary, 1998.

Completely sidelined in the party for months, speculation about Roy quitting the TMC was rife for weeks, as he gradually distanced himself from it, and was said to be scouting for a new political innings with some other party, particularly the BJP.

Once regarded as the Man Friday of Banerjee, Roy had wielded enormous clout in the party's all powerful national general secretary for decades since its formation, and was widely regarded the main architect of its electoral successes.

Known for his composure, shrewdness and organisational ability, Roy even purportedly called the shots with regard to promotions and postings of key administrative and police officers after the party came to power in the state in 2011

Roy's formal announcement of snapping ties with the TMC came three days after party general-secretary Partha Chattejree issued him a strict warning for "hobnobbing with the BJP" and said "we are keeping a close watch on him".

A series of events seem to have prompted Roy's decision to leave the TMC, a somewhat ironic development in the sense that he had been chiefly instrumental in engineering defections from various parties to the TMC for years, with the Opposition time and again crying foul about his "strategies of coerciveness and inducements".

Last week, Roy sent back the state police personnel providing him Z category security cover after Banerjee, in an organisational reshuffle, abolished the vice-president's post he had been holding for over a year.

He was also kept away from several party programmes and sacked as the party in-charge of Tripura.

This was the second time that Roy had been estranged from the TMC.

He first fell out with the party following his grilling by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in January 2015 in connection with the Saradha ponzi scam.

As Roy started skipping TMC meetings, Banerjee stripped him of all his posts, and relegated him to the Rajya Sabha's back benches.
New Delhi: The idea of holding simultaneous polls to Parliament and the state assemblies for which prime minister Narendra Modi and others have been strongly pitching is good but has very low practicality in the real world, former chief election commissioner SY Quraishi has said.

He also slammed the government's move to introduce electoral bonds, which would only make political funding more opaque and end public scrutiny.

"The idea (of simultaneous polls) is good, and the two major reasons cited by prime minister Narendra Modi are also valid, but it is fraught with huge practical problems. Its practicality is low," Quraishi told IANS in an interview.

"To begin with, you need a constitutional amendment. Then you will have to reduce the terms of certain state assemblies and extend those of certain others. You will need political consensus for that, which will not be easy as many would not agree to reduce their terms," he said.

Quraishi has also touched upon the issue in his latest book "Loktantra Ke Utsav Ki Ankahi Kahani", that was released recently by vice president M Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi.

While unveiling the book, Naidu, too, pitched for simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, and even went ahead to say that elections to the local bodies and village panchayats can also be clubbed with these.

He reiterated as said by Modi earlier that perpetual elections cost the exchequer a bomb and also hamper development due to the model code of conduct that kicks in when the poll dates are announced.

However, Quraishi, who as the chief election commissioner has seen the process of elections very closely, is not very enthusiastic about the idea.

Asked about the Centre's power to dismiss elected state governments, and if this should be curtailed, Quraishi had another poser, "Alternately, what if the central government falls much before its term? We saw the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government fall in just 13 days. And we have had central governments that just lasted around a year."

"Will you again stoke the entire country, all the states and UTs, which might be having stable overnments, into election? So, again I would say this idea is fraught with practical problems."

He said that there has been a parallel view that perpetual elections are good.

"I heard a senior parliamentarian saying that the public likes continuous elections. The media also likes it for their TRPs. Then I heard someone saying in Pune 'Jab jab chunav aata hai, ghareeb ke pet me pulav aata hai' (The poor get to eat well during elections)," he said.

On electoral bonds, Quraishi said that vis-a-vis transparency in political funding, the Modi government said one thing and did the opposite.

"The finance minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget speech said that in the last 70 years we have not been able to achieve transparency in political funding, and that fair and free elections are not possible without transparent funding. Very good. But what he did was totally the opposite.

"Electoral bonds se bada nuksan hoga (electoral bonds would cause much harm). Earlier, parties had to submit details of donations above Rs 20,000 to the Election Commission. The idea was that the public must know how much a corporate house gives to a political party.

"So if a certain corporate house received a big contract, licence, etc, from the government, the public would know that it is quid pro quo, a return of favour for their donations. However, now the parties are not bound to disclose their donations received through electoral bonds. Only the government would know who donated what or who got what. This has ended transparency," Quraishi maintained.

He termed as ridiculous Jaitley's contention that the donors want anonymity.

"What does it mean? Naturally, the donor would want anonymity so that the public does not know why they got favours from the government," he said.

He said that another damaging move from the government was removing the cap on corporate funding.

"Earlier no corporate house could donate more than 7.5 percent of their profits to political parties. That cap has been removed now. Does it mean that now companies will only work for running political parties? This is farcical," the former CEC said.

He said the move to cap cash donations from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000 is not likely to have any impact either, as parties would break the donations in smaller amounts.

"At best, it would just increase their clerical work," he said.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi prepares to kick-off a three-day campaign in Gujarat's Saurashtra region on Monday to propel the party's campaign for the Gujarat Assembly elections scheduled for later this year.

Local authorities, however, have declined him permission to hold the road show in an open jeep.

The road show, which will now feature a traditional bullock cart, will begin at the Dwarkadheesh Krishna temple, from where Rahul is expected to drive down to Jamnagar, interacting with locals at various educational institutions, women and businessmen. Gandhi will also briefly halt at a dozen places through the journey that covers two districts  Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar  to interact with party workers.

This tour of the Saurashtra region  which sends one-third of the legislators in the 182-member state Assembly  comes weeks after his trip to Gujarat where interacted with thousands of party workers at Ahmedabad Sabarmati riverfront. The region has not been electorally rewarding to the party, as the 2012 Assembly elections yielded only 12 of the 52 seats.

Several villages, like Hanjrapar near Dwarka, which fall in the path of Rahul's road show have undertaken preparations to welcome the Congress leader. "Not only his welcome, but we have also made arrangements for everyone in typical Saurashtra style," Congress leader Palbhai Ambaliya told IANS.

After a night's halt at Jamnagar, Rahul will drive down to Rajkot on Tuesday, which happens to be the hometown of Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, and a significant political centre of the Saurashtra region. Here, Gandhi is scheduled to offer prayers at the Khodaldham Temple, the deity of Patidar community.

On Wednesday, the Congress leader will reach Surendranagar, where he is expected to climb the long-winding stone stairs to the popular hill-top Chotila Temple.

Rahul will wrap up his tour at Viramgam at the entry to Ahmedabad district. Viramgam is the home town of the young Patidar agitation spearhead Hardik Patel. This year, the Congress will try and take advantage of the Patidar sentiment against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the farmer distress in the state to increase its tally in the polls.

After three successive and significant defeats in Gujarat in 2003, 2007 and 2012, the Congress is aiming to reverse course  a task made a tad easier in light of the fact that Narendra Modi no longer stands as a chief ministerial candidate for the BJP.

Congress' chances in the state first seem to have strengthened after Ahmed Patel's election to a Rajya Sabha seat in August, a high-stakes contest seen by many as a battle for prestige between the BJP and Congress.

Since then, the party has conducted multiple events to advance its Gujarat campaign.

After covering Saurashtra, Gandhi will campaign in north, central and south Gujarat at later dates as part of the party's poll campaign ahead of the Assembly elections slated to be held later in 2017, party sources said.

With inputs from IANS
Dwarka, Gujarat: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi impressed the rural hinterlands of caste-driven Saurashtra region, that also sends the highest number of legislators to the 182-seat Gujarat Assembly, picking up a conversational style while targetting the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. The BJP has been showcasing the accomplishments of the central government in the state-level election.

Gandhi completed day one of his three-day tour of Gujarat on Monday.

As the Congress scion, attacked both the central and state governments over unemployment and farmer distress  two issues which are likely to hurt the BJP the most  huddling them together as the victims of "Prime Minister Narendra Modis policy of crony capitalism", Gandhi drew applause with the crowd shouting even the names of corporate houses to drive home his point.

"See, you yourself know them! Everyones interests are being sacrificed for a bunch of corporates," he said.

In Gujarat, to kickstart Congress' campaign under the theme, "Yuva Rojgar, Kisan Adhikar", Gandhi delineated the party's national theme for 2019 as he said while addressing village meetings, that the country faced two burning issues, one is the lack of jobs for lakhs of youth; and the other is the farmer plunging into deeper crisis".

"Modi promised two crore jobs, but his government has been able to provide employment only to one lakh persons across the country. The governments own minister told us this in the Parliament," Gandhi said.

"Nahi, nahi (no, no), the crowds at Bhatia and Hanjrapar in Devbhoomi Dwarka district shouted in unison, as he asked, Aapko mili naukri? Nahi na? (Did you get employment? No, right?

He added, "Kisi bhi pradesh mein chaley jao, Gujarat mein, Uttar Pradesh mein, Rajasthan mein, yuvaon ko Hindustan mein aaj rojgar nahi milta (Go to any state, be it Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, the youth in Hindustan don't get jobs).

The youth had trusted Modi when he promised two crore jobs, but that has not happened. "Everyday 30,000 youth come to the market looking for jobs in India," he added.

Gandhi kicked off a three-day Gujarat election campaign from the historical Dhwarkadheesh temple in the holy city of Dwarka in coastal Saurashtra region.

Like Uttar Pradesh sends most MPs to the Parliament, Saurashtra in Gujarat sends most MLAs, 52, to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. Saurashtra also bears several similarities to Uttar Pradesh, be it the region's backwardness or its deep-rooted caste system.

In a strategically designed tour programme on Monday, Gandhi was travelling across the Other Backward Classes (OBC) belt in the Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts of Gujarat. The tour did not bear a resemblance but it actually coincided with Hardik Patel at that very time touring the Patidar dominated regions of the same districts, while Rahul moved around in OBC areas. This way they both separately covered the region according to the caste dominance.

Neither Gandhi nor Patel or for that matter the few campaigners even referred to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in what is a vote for or against his government.

Though his open-jeep roadshow was refused permission by the Gujarat Police citing security reasons, Gandhi interacted, chatted up and took questions from villagers crowding on highways at several places along the nearly 150-kilometre journey between Dwarka and Jamnagar. Gandhi also held talks with traders and small shopkeepers.

The Congress vice-president drew applause when he called demonetisation an attack on the poor and the farmers. "Without asking anyone, Modiji launched a massive attack on the Indian economy. By the time the poor, the farmers and the mom and pop stores could recover from this shock, came another bolt from the blue, the Goods and Services Tax (GST)," he asserted.

For the Congress rank and file, the response to Gandhi in the Saurashtra region is an adrenaline rush and he is going to stay put for two more days. The very fact that anyone from the 10, Janpath Family, stays in this region for three full days at a stretch itself seems to be having a salutary effect.

The instance of women coming up to share their problems with Gandhi in a feudal set-up of Saurashtra, like in Uttar Pradesh, where men control the social, economic and political life was good evidence.

"Paani aata hain aapke wahan (Do you get water supply)? Gandhi asked a woman who waded through the crowd to reach him.

"Kabhi-kabhi, pandrah din maa ek vaar; par khatam hou jaata hain, taanki nahi hain (Yes, we get water once in a fortnight but doesnt last since we dont have a water tank to store it," the woman replied in half-Hindi half-Gujarati.

Khaara paani hota hain jamin mein (the underground water is hard)."

Few other women with issues ranging from unemployed sons and inadequate salaries to lack of education and health facilities also came up to him.

Saurashtra has been a BJP stronghold for the last two decades and the Congress could manage only a dozen out of the 52 seats in this region.

Riding on the crest of a new hope that spawns from the Patidar agitation, the farmer distress, the impact of demonetisation in rural hinterlands and GST, which seems to have hit the BJPs traditional mercantile vote bank hard, the Congress expects to turn the tide. Rahuls visit seems to have injected much-needed spirit to the potion.
Initiating the Congress campaign in the Saurashtra region for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in his speech in Dwarka.

Hindustan ka yuva kaam karna chahta hai,desh ko banana chahta hai.BJP ki sarkar usey rozgar nahi de pa rahi: Rahul Gandhi in Dwarka #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/zDPI9ddHY5  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

Rahul accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of not creating new jobs for the people of the country. "The Indian youth want to work and take the country forward. But the BJP government is not able to provide them with jobs.

Rahul also spoke against demonetisation and the recently introduced Goods and Services Tax (GST). "Without asking anybody, Narendra Modi launched a massive attack on the Indian economy. And it didn't stop there. Small shopkeepers and traders were the worst hit. And then, GST came along," he said.

Rahul claimed the BJP worked only for the rich. "There is no space in their (BJP's) hearts for the weak and poor in India. But for the rich, they open all doors for them," he said.

The tour of the Saurashtra region  which sends one-third of the legislators in the 182-member state Assembly  comes weeks after his trip to Gujarat where he interacted with thousands of party workers at Ahmedabad Sabarmati riverfront. The region has not been electorally rewarding to the party, as the 2012 Assembly elections yielded only 12 of the 52 seats.
Jamnagar/Dwarka: Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over note ban, GST, farm policies and 'Gujarat model' of development, Rahul Gandhi on Monday voiced confidence about winning the upcoming Assembly elections, claiming there is a strong undercurrent in favour of Congress in Gujarat.

Talking to journalists on arrival in Jamnagar for a road show on the first day of his three-day tour of Gujarat, Gandhi said people are regretting having voted for the BJP.

"There is a strong undercurrent in favour of Congress in Gujarat. People want change and Congress will definitely come to power this time. People of Gujarat are unhappy with the ruling party as they feel cheated after giving their votes to the BJP," said Gandhi, adding that Congress will help Gujarat develop.

The Congress has been out of power in Gujarat for over two decades.

The 47-year-old Congress leader, who started the day by offering prayers at the famous Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, interacted with people during his trip from the holy city to Jamnagar, passing through Saurashtra region.

In his short speeches at various places, Gandhi assailed Modi over demonetisation and a host of other issues.

He highlighted the issue of unemployment under the BJP dispensation and promised to solve the problems faced by Gujarat's farmers if his party is voted to power in the state.

Travelling in a especially-designed bus, he interacted with villagers at many places.

From Dwarka, Gandhi headed to Hanjrapar, where he was accorded a traditional welcome by villagers. He even rode a bullock cart and interacted with villagers.

Gandhi came down heavily on Gujarat's BJP government on the issue of privatisation.

"Privatisation is happening in every sector under this government, be it education or health sector. Due to this policy of the BJP government, poor people are not getting education or health services," Gandhi said.

He promised free medicines and medical treatment if the Congress is voted to power in Gujarat.

Accusing the BJP government of being "anti-farmer", Gandhi demanded that the government announce complete farm loan waiver in Gujarat.

"If the government can waive loans given to businessmen, why not farmers? The Indian government gave away Rs 1.30 lakh crore to 15 large business houses while Rs 7 lakh crore in loans were not returned to banks. They (businessmen) will get all the benefits, while you (farmers) will be jailed for not repaying loans," said Gandhi.

Before visiting Hanjrapar, Gandhi made several halts along the route, including at Bhatia village. In his address there, Gandhi slammed the Modi government for "failing" to address basic problems of people.

Around 20,000 youths pass out of educational institutes every day but the Central government manages to give employment to only 400, he claimed.

"You go to any corner of this country and ask farmers whether they get proper price for their produce. All of them will promptly say, no," Gandhi said.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared demonetisation without consulting anyone. This was a massive blow to our economy.

"Farmers were badly hit as they do not do transaction through phone or debit card. They use cash to buy seeds or pay farm labourers," said Gandhi.

He claimed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has broken the back of small traders and shopkeepers.

Gandhi said though the Congress told the government to have a single tax rate under the GST, it introduced five slabs. He claimed lakhs of businesses have shut down due to the GST.

The poor have no place in the 'Gujarat model' of development which has benefited only a handful of businessmen, the Congress leader said.

"Business houses get everything, be it water, land or electricity. But the poor are always neglected. This is the difference between them (the BJP) and us (the Congress). I promise our government will be of the poor, farmers and youth," he said.

After Bhatia, Gandhi reached Nandana village, where he addressed school children.

"Our country has made huge progress in the last 70 years. When we got independence, we didn't have many good schools, big universities or companies. Whatever exists today is because of the hard work of your parents as well as grandparents," he said.

On Tuesday, Gandhi will visit towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot.

Notably, Gandhi was greeted by Hardik Patel, leader of the Patel quota agitation, on his Gujarat visit. "A warm welcome to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat," Patel tweeted in Hindi on Monday morning.
Ahmedabad: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will kick-start a three-day campaign in Gujarat's Saurashtra region on Monday after offering prayers at a Krishna temple in Dwarka, a senior party leader said.

Gandhi will visit the Krishna temple after he lands at the Mithapur airstrip in the Devbhumi Dwarka district on Monday morning, senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said.

After offering prayers at the temple, Gandhi will hit the road for a tour of the Saurashtra region as part of the party's election campaign in Gujarat, he said.

"Rahul Gandhi will start his three-day road show from Dwarka in Saurashtra. He will address the public at different points and will interact with them along the way," Gohil said.

After a road show in Dwarka town, Gandhi will make brief halts where he will interact with farmers and traders before addressing a rally in the afternoon.

The party vice-president will then proceed for Jamnagar town where he will make a night halt. On 26 September, he will cover towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot, Gohil said.

He will interact with traders and industrialists after reaching Rajkot in the afternoon.

"He will make a night stay in Rajkot. The next morning he will cover Chotila, Jasdan, Virpur, Jetpur and other towns before concluding the campaign at Khodaldham," Gohil said.

After covering Saurashtra, Gandhi will campaign in north, central and south Gujarat at later dates as part of the party's poll campaign ahead of the assembly elections slated to be held later in 2017, party sources said.
New Delhi: Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani said on Monday that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state reflects the party has "no credible" local leaders.

Gandhi began his three-day visit on Monday from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, where Assembly elections are due later this year. He offered prayers at the Dwarkadhish temple.

The Congress has also launched a social media campaign  'Development gone crazy'  in Gujarat, criticising the BJP government, which has ruled the state uninterrupted for 19 years.

Rupani dismissed the Congress's campaign, saying the criticism is only in the media.

"Rahul Gandhi's coming (to Gujarat) is an admission that the Congress has no credible local leadership. Had they been strong and visible, he would not have had to go," Rupani told reporters in New Delhi after the ground-breaking ceremony of the Gujarat Sadan.

The chief minister, whose party is gearing up for one of its difficult electoral battles in the state, exuded confidence that the BJP will sweep the Assembly elections.

"Now that Narendra Modi is the prime minister, we have set a target of 150 seats. We will also once again sweep all 26 Lok Sabha seats in the state," Rupani said.

Attacking then UPA government, Rupani said the previous dispensation did not allocate land to the state for building a Gujarat Sadan.

"Prime Minister Modi after taking the charge allocated land to the state so that a new Gujarat Sadan could be constructed," he said.

The prime piece of land, measuring 7,066 sqm was allocated by the Union urban development ministry on Akbar Road, just opposite the Congress headquarters.

The Gujarat Sadan would have 69 guest rooms when it is completed in 18 months, Rupani added.
Hyderabad: Senior RSS leader Krishna Gopal on Sunday claimed the practise of untouchability didn't exist in ancient India and it came from outside over the last thousand years.

Addressing Sangh volunteers on the Vijayadashmi Utsav, the joint general secretary of RSS said no person living in "our streets, our towns can be untouchable".

"No person is small...All are equal," he said.

"When I believe (as a Hindu) that there is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv in humans (Jab maine manaa insan me Brahma, Vishnu aur Shiv hain), then why discriminate? This (tradition of) discrimination came in the last thousand years. There was no such thing as the untouchability in this country (before that)," he said.

"Our Vedic rishis never mentioned this. Where did it come from?...it came from outside," Gopal claimed.

The joint general secretary of RSS was addressing the gathering on the occasion of Vijayadashmi Utsav organised by the Sangh on Sunday evening.

"A Hindu thinks of the well being of everyone. We never say if you do not listen to us you will go to the hell. We follow 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah' (let everybody be happy)," he said.

Gopal called on the RSS volunteers to reach out to all sections of the society and eradicate all forms of discrimination.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, when he was the chairman of Minorities Commission, had opposed religion-based reservations, he claimed.

The RSS leader also said that due to the relentless work of Sangh volunteers, "today we see Independence Day and Republic Day being celebrated openly in the Northeastern states that have been suffering violence of separatists forces for long."

RSS members have sacrificed their lives in the face of anti-national forces, he said.

In Kerala, over 400 RSS volunteers have been killed, he said, adding that in the last one year alone over 35 volunteers were killed in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Kochi: CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday opposed the idea of one nation one election, saying it was a move aimed at ushering in virtual presidential form of election in the country "which is anti-democratic".

Addressing a meeting organised here by the CPM on the conclusion of a two-day conference of left parties from South Asian countries, he said that the one nation one election idea "is essentially a presidential form (of election) towards which it (BJP) wants to move, which is anti-democratic."

"In all these measures, the rights of the elected state governments and the statutory rights of the various Constitutional bodies including those of Parliament are being undermined to advance their agenda," Yechury claimed.

The NITI Aayog has favoured conducting synchronised two-phase Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from 2024 in "national interest".

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi recently advocated holding the polls simultaneously, saying it would curb vote- bank politics and maintain the pace of development activities.

Yechury accused the Modi government of "taking the country in a regressive direction" and said opposition to it should be strengthened.

He also alleged that Sangh parivar outfits unleashed violence in Kerala from the day the CPM-led government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan came to power last year.

"And by doing this, they want to intimidate the Left", he said, adding Vijayan would not be cowed down by such acts. He further charged that in Tripura, the BJP and the RSS were "sponsoring anti-Left elements and try to collect them together to ensure that the Left Front does not once again win the assembly elections."

Referring to West Bengal, Yechury accused the BJP and Trinamool Congress of together trying to "squeeze the Left out" of the state.

Senior CPM leaders including Vijayan, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, M A Baby and S Ramachandran Pillai attended the public meeting.
PTI

E-commerce major Amazon today said its ongoing festive sales have been the "biggest till date", driven by strong growth in segments like smartphones, large appliances and fashion. Amazon's four-day festive sale, which commenced on 21 September, clashed with those by rivals Flipkart and Paytm.

"We have seen 2.5X growth in smartphone sales, 4X increase in large appliances and 7X in fashion sales. This is our biggest ever sale," Amazon India vice president-category management Manish Tiwary told PTI. He added that there was a secular growth across categories. "More than 85 per cent of the new customers who came to our platform for the first time were from tier-II and -III towns," he said. Tiwary said Amazon received orders from locations like Leh and Lakshadweep, which are difficult terrains to service.

"Our focus has been on getting people to shop online. They shop online not just for better value but also better selection and convenience," he said. Amazon, which is locked in an intense battle for leadership in the Indian market, has made significant investments over the last few years in strengthening its logistics and infrastructure operations in the country. It has been expanding the products available on its platform as well.
PTI

Want to know more about secrets of people? Just analyse their internet searches, says a book by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, who has used Google data to measure racism, self-induced abortion, depression, child abuse and hateful mobs.

Internet searches also have lots of information that is missed by the polls that can be helpful in understanding, among many other subjects, an election, he says.

"Everybody Lies: What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are", published by Bloomsbury, explores the secrets embedded in internet searches.

Everybody lies, to friends, lovers, doctors, pollsters - and to themselves. In internet searches, however, people confess their secrets - about sexless marriages, mental health problems, even racist views.

Seth, an economist and a former Google data scientist, shows that this could just be the most important dataset ever collected.

He explains how we can use information to change our culture, and the questions we're afraid to ask that might be essential to our health - both emotional and physical.

On polling and voting, he writes, "There is information on who will actually turn out to vote. More than half of citizens who don't vote tell surveys immediately before an election that they intend to, skewing our estimation of turnout, whereas Google searches for 'how to vote' or 'where to vote' weeks before an election can accurately predict which parts of the country are going to have a big showing at the polls."

Seth says there might even be information on who they will vote for.

"Can we really predict which candidate people will vote for just based on what they search?

Clearly, we can't just study which candidates are searched for most frequently. Many people search for a candidate because they love him. A similar number of people search for a candidate because they hate him," he says.

A large percentage of election-related searches contain queries with both candidates' names, he says.

"During the 2016 US election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, some people searched for 'Trump Clinton polls'. Others looked for highlights from the 'Clinton Trump debate'. In fact, 12 percent of search queries with 'Trump' also included the word 'Clinton'. More than one-quarter of search queries with 'Clinton' also included the word 'Trump'," he writes.

Seth says he also found that these seemingly neutral searches may actually give some clues to which candidate a person supports.

How?

"The order in which the candidates appear. Our research suggests that a person is significantly more likely to put the candidate they support first in a search that includes both candidates' names.

"In the previous three elections, the candidate who appeared first in more searches received the most votes. More interesting, the order the candidates were searched was predictive of which way a particular state would go. The order in which candidates are searched also seems to contain information that the polls can miss," he writes.

So did Google predict Trump?

"Well, we still have a lot of work to do - and I'll have to be joined by lots more researchers - before we know how best to use Google data to predict election results. This is a new science, and we only have a few elections for which this data exists," Seth says.

"I am certainly not saying we are at the point - or ever will be at the point - where we can throw out public opinion polls completely as a tool for helping us predict elections. But there were definitely portents, at many points, on the Internet that Trump might do better than the polls were predicting," he adds.

During the general election, there were clues that the electorate might be a favourable one for Trump, he says.

"Black Americans told polls they would turn out in large numbers to oppose Trump. But Google searches for information on voting in heavily black areas were way down. On election day, Clinton would be hurt by low black turnout. There were even signs that supposedly undecided voters were going Trump's way," he writes.

Seth says he has spent just about every day of the past four years analysing Google data. This included a stint as a data scientist at Google, which hired him after learning about his racism research. And he continues to explore this data.

"The revelations have kept coming. Mental illness; human sexuality; child abuse; abortion; advertising; religion; health. Not exactly small topics, and this dataset, which didn't exist a couple of decades ago, offered surprising new perspectives on all of them," he says.
tech2 News Staff

Chinese manufacturer, Gionee is all set to launch the new M7 smartphone later today. A new report now reveals that the company could be working on a new smartphone bearing the number GN5007. The new smartphone, along with its key specifications, was spotted on China's TENAA website.

Based on a report by Techdroids, the phone could likely be the M7 Power, though we do not know its official name yet. According to TENAA  a Chinese telecom device certification platform, the handset measures 156.3 x 75.6 x 8.6 mm and weighs in at about 187 g. The image spotted on the website also shows the fingerprint scanner to be at the back of the device.

In terms of specifications, those listed in the report reveal that the Gionee GN5007 comes with a 6-inch IPS-grade display with a resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels. The resolution suggests that this display too has an 18:9 aspect ratio which is re-affirmed by the bezel-less design seen in the image.

While TENAA does not reveal the maker of the chipset inside the phone, it does mention that the octa-core processor inside is clocked at 1.4 GHz. The GN5007 also packs 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded by up to 256 GB via a microSD card.

Moving on to camera specifics, the GN5007 comes with a 13 MP primary shooter with autofocus and an 8 MP front-facing camera. Video recording is capped at 1080p resolution. The battery unit inside is a massive 5,000 mAh unit which does point towards the phone being the M7 Power. The smartphone also comes with regular connectivity support including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.
LEBANON POLICE

Elude  8:35 p.m. Saturday, Olive Street, Lebanon. A Salem man was arrested on several charges after running from a traffic stop in Lebanon on Saturday night. Sgt. Patrick O'Malley gave this account:

A box of items purchased from a yard sale slid from the back of a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck and spilled onto the road. The driver and passenger got out to pick them up, and O'Malley stopped to help. O'Malley began to cite the driver for having an unsecured loan and said the driver gave him a false name and then ran away.

About seven-tenths of a mile down the road, the man ran into some bushes. O'Malley said deputies with the Linn County Sheriff's Office responded to help with a perimeter, and about an hour later, the man surrendered. Brenton Greiner, 35, of Salem was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant from Marion County and new charges of attempt to elude (felony), attempt to elude (misdemeanor), reckless driving, reckless endangerment and giving false information. The passenger, Robert Vincent, 46, no listed address, also had an outstanding warrant.

LINN COUNTY SHERIFF

Burglary  9:16 p.m. Saturday, 4000 block of Northeast Old Salem Road, Millersburg. Owners of the Firehouse Corner Market caught an adult female trying to break into the store using a large rock to smash the front door window. Deputies arrested Jaylynne Nelson, 28, of Lebanon on charges of second-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief and menacing. Sgt. Dustin Frenzel said the store has an attached apartment and the residents heard the break-in and called the sheriff's office. They verbally detained her until deputies arrived.

Burglary  4:26 p.m. Saturday, 46600 block of Highway 20. A caller reported a rifle stolen from his residence.

Lost trailer  12:05 p.m. Saturday, 30100 block of Seven Mile Lane. A caller reported a dark-colored vehicle was northbound on Seven Mile Lane when the trailer it was pulling, full of cut trees, became unhooked. According to the sheriff's office report, the vehicle continued north and the trailer veered east, taking out shrubbery, fruit trees and an irrigation system. The trailer did not have a plate or identifying information. The investigation is continuing.
tech2 News Staff

Microsoft announced two new software service bundles at its Ignite conference in Orlando.

The first of the two is called Microsoft 365 Education which packs Office 365 for Education, Windows 10, Enterprise Mobility +Security and Minecraft: Education edition. The company is aiming this bundle as a comprehensive package of Office, Windows and security products of teachers and students.

The company announced the second package, Microsoft 365 F1 which is aimed at the enterprise. The company is terming it as the new Enterprise plan that is designed to target the firstline worker, also known as the management level of organisations. The plan is designed to improve the productivity of firstline workers and reducing the cost of operation.

The company has also launched a number of new Windows 10 S powered devices that will work with Microsoft 365 F1. The Windows 10 S devices include HP Stream 14 Pro, Acer Aspire 1, Acer Swift 1 and Lenovo V330. All the four devices offered are termed as Ultraslim devices.

HP Stream 14 Pro packs a 14-inch screen and it will be available for $ 275 from October 2017. Acer Aspire 1 will also pack a 14-inch screen and will be available in Q4 2017 at $ 299. The third device, Acer Swift 1 packs a 13-inch display and will be available in Q4 2017 for $349. Last but not the least, Lenovo V330 will sport a 14-inch display at $ 349. It will be available from February 2018.

This is not the only thing that the company announced at Ignite 2017. As reported by TechCrunch, Microsoft pointed out that Microsoft Teams will eventually become the core communications client for customers who are running Office 365. The company added that Microsoft Teams will be the hero and primary experience for all voice, video and meetings. The company confirmed that Microsoft Teams will replace Skype for Business.
tech2 News Staff

Users who got the new iPhone 8 and fired up Skype were in for a surprise when the application did not work as expected. Users are unable to connect to Skype, and the application crashes at launch. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and has indicated that it has found a fix. The fix is in the process of being tested before the update is pushed out. A video of the problem can be seen below.

Users started reporting the problem to Apple and Microsoft on Twitter, after purchasing the device, according to a report in MSPowerUser.

The Skype website initially said, "We are aware of issues where users are unable to connect to Skype on the new iPhone8. Our engineers are actively investigating the issue and we hope to resolve it as soon as possible." An update then said, "A fix has been developed and we are currently testing before rolling out to production."

Skype has not provided further details on what exactly the problem is. The iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus will be available in India from 29 September, and will be priced at Rs 64,000 and Rs 73,000 respectively.
IANS

The State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday announced SBI Intelligent Assistant (SIA)  a chat assistant aimed to address customer enquiries like a "bank representative" does.

Developed by Payjo, an artificial intelligence (AI) banking platform, "SIA" is equipped to handle nearly 10,000 enquiries per second or 864 million in a day  which is nearly 25 percent of the queries processed by Google each day.

"SIA is a perfect example of ground-breaking banking application in AI and Conversational Banking (CB). It will enhance customer service several notches above and Payjo's expertise in the conversational banking domain helped us build 'SIA' as a superior chatbot in the global banking space," said Shiv Kumar Bhasin, CTO of SBI, in a statement.

The chat assistant would be available across multiple customer touchpoints like mobile, IVR, SMS and social media platforms. "SIA" would also be enabled to interact in most regional languages.

"'SIA' is a revolution in the banking industry. It is set to disrupt the way banks and customers interact," added Srinivas Njay, Founder and CEO of Payjo.

Currently, the chat assistant can address enquiries on banking products and services. It is trained with a large set of knowledge and is adept at answering frequently asked questions.
tech2 News Staff

Sony has announced the Xperia XZ1 for the Indian market at an event in New Delhi today. The phone will be priced at Rs 44,990 and will be available in stores and online from 25 September onwards. The Xperia XZ1 is Sony's flagship phone for 2017.

The Sony Xperia XZ1, along with its smaller sibling the Xperia XZ1 Compact and the phablet-sized XA1 Plus were announced together at the recently held IFA 2017 in Berlin.

There's a 5.2-inch Triluminous Full HD display with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top. Better yet, the display supports HDR. The Xperia XZ1 houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset which has an octa-core processor with one quad core Kryo cluster clocked at 2.35 GHz and the other quad core Kryo cluster clocked at 1.9 GHz. This is paired with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. The storage is expandable using a microSD card slot.

As for the cameras, Sony has stuck with a single lens system as opposed to the dual camera setup used by most manufacturers today. The primary camera consists of a 19 MP Motion eye camera featuring a 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS mobile memory stacked sensor. This camera can be used to scan objects in 3D. In fact, with the bundled 3D Creation Tool, images can also be rendered in 3D. These scans can also be 3D printed.

Features on the 3D creator tool on the @SonyXperiaIndia #XperiaXZ1 It can also be used to overlay 3D scans on characters on supported games pic.twitter.com/LdtG86oBjQ  Tech2 (@tech2eets) September 25, 2017

Moving to the front-facing camera, the Sony Xperia XZ1 gets a bigger 13 MP sensor. The device comes with the usual stack of connectivity options found on flagships smartphones.

Hardware aside, Sony seems to be the first smartphone manufacturer to offer Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. This is a big deal as most of the flagship smartphones released this year in India are still stuck on Android Nougat with many promising upgrades to Android Oreo.

Over the years, Sony has refused to launch the Compact or 'mini' version of its flagship devices. So we aren't expecting them to launch the Xperia XZ1 Compact model this year either.

At launch, the box will include a a Quick Charger (UHC-12). A "Style Stand Cover", which can be used as a stand for the device in portrait mode, will be available for Rs 3,490. Bundled with the phone, you can get it for Rs 1,000. Purchases made with HDFC credit/debit cards and ICICI credit cards are eligible for a 5 percent cashback.
tech2 News Staff

Xiaomi is planning to unveil its Redmi 5 series in the coming weeks. A close-up of the Redmi 5 Plus box appeared on the Chinese site Weibo. The model 'Redmi 5 Plus' hints at a variant of Redmi 5 like the Redmi Note 4 and Redmi 4X and Redmi Note 4X for the Redmi Note 4.

However, other than the photo of this box there is not much information available about the Redmi 5 Plus. It is likely that the phone will pack a 5-inch screen run on Android 7.1.1 out of the box. The company has not revealed any information regarding the upcoming generation of Redmi devices at the time of writing.

The Redmi 4 was launched last year with a lower variant called as the Redmi 4A. It wouldn't be surprising if Xiaomi continues the trend by launched a lower variant of Redmi 5 in the form of a potential Redmi 5A. The interesting thing to note here is that Redmi 5A may not be a speculation as a device like Redmi 5A was spotted on TENNA's website earlier this year.

According to a report by GadgetHouse, Redmi Note 5 will come with the same 5.5-inch full HD display that we saw in Redmi Note 4. The report also hinted that Xiaomi will upgrade the processor by packing Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 with the Redmi Note 5. The report further detailed that a 3 GB RAM and 4 GB RAM variant could be in the offing along with 64 GB internal storage.
Beijing: Chinese coast guard vessels sailed near disputed islands claimed by Japan and China in the East China Sea on Monday, marking the second such incident in less than a week.

The four ships entered the waters surrounding the island chain, controlled by Japan and known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in China, at around 10 am and were moving in a southwest direction, according to the Japanese coast guard.

An online statement from China's State Oceanic Administration only said the four Chinese coast guard vessels were "patrolling in Chinese waters off the Diaoyu Islands."

Japan's coast guard said it was the second time since Thursday that four Chinese ships had entered its waters.

Japan has routinely complained that China is escalating regional tensions by regularly sending ships to the island chain despite repeated protests from Tokyo.

The two countries have been locked in a long-running dispute over the islands, which are believed to harbour vast natural resources below their seabed, with China claiming them as its own.

Beijing is also involved in maritime disputes in the South China Sea. It asserts sovereignty over most of the area despite rival partial claims by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

A UN-backed tribunal last July ruled that Beijing's claims were invalid. The US Navy regularly conducts "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea to challenge China's claims, angering Beijing.
Eman Ahmed, the Egyptian woman who had been the subject of much media attention in India after she came to the country for a dramatic weight-loss medical procedure, passed away on Monday morning. Eman, believed till recently to be the world's heaviest woman, died barely a week after celebrating her 37th birthday, Hindustan Times reported.

The Hindustan Times report quoted officers from the Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi as saying that several co-morbidities including heart ailments and kidney dysfunction led to her death. On Sunday, Ahmed suffered a septic shock after which her condition worsened and she suffered multiple organ failure, The Indian Express reported.

She had spent her birthday at the Burjeel Hospital with her family, eating her favourite chicken sandwich, The Indian Express report said.

Eman Ahmed had weighed 498 kilograms when she arrived in India for the weight-loss procedure. A resident of Alexandria in Egypt, she had not stepped out of her house for more than two decades due to her obese condition. She had suffered a stroke that left her paralysed on one side a year ago.

Her sister Shaima had learnt about Mumbai-based bariatric surgeon Muffazal Lakdawala and his expertise in bariatric surgeries and approached him for help early this year.

Eman underwent bariatric surgery in March in which doctors reduced the size of her stomach by two-thirds, so as to reduce her food intake. Her genetic tests had shown that she has a rare gene mutation that cannot be cured through surgery.

According to Lakdawala, Eman's weight had come down to 170 kilograms when she was taken from India to Abu Dhabi.

However, Shaima, in an online video last month, had alleged that she was not receiving proper treatment at the privately-owned Saifee hospital in South Mumbai. She had alleged that the doctors at the hospital made "false claims" about Eman's complete recovery and weight loss of 262 kilograms. The hospital had denied the charge.

Eman was treated by Lakdawala and a team of around 15 doctors from various disciplines since she was brought to Mumbai from Alexandria on 11 February this year.

With inputs from PTI
Paris: French president Emmanuel Macron's new centrist political party suffered its first electoral setback in Senate elections in which the right-wing Republicans party strengthened its dominance in the upper chamber of parliament.

Results from the vote to renew 171 of 348 seats were expected to leave the French president's Republic on the Move party (LREM) with a group of only 20-30 senators.

The outcome, which is not expected to significantly impact Macron's ability to push through his economic reform agenda, came after months of falling approval ratings for the 39-year-old head of state.

But after a week in which he signed into law one of his signature economic reforms  an overhaul of rigid French labour laws  a new survey brought more positive news. A poll published in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper showed 45 percent of respondents approved of his presidency, up from 40 percent last month.

French senators are elected by 76,000 local and national lawmakers, not the general public, which put LREM at a disadvantage because the party was only formed in April 2016 and is not implanted nationwide.

But Macron's top team had once hoped to increase their presence in the upper house from the 29 seats they control presenting, comprising lawmakers who had switched over to the party.

"I can't call it a success," the head of LREM's group in the Senate, Francois Patriat, admitted as he forecast that final results would show the party with 20-30 senators. The Republicans expected to hold around 150 seats after the election, up from 142 presently. "It's really good news," commented senior figure Bruno Retailleau.

The election underscores some of the challenges for LREM which was started by Macron in April 2016 as a new pro- European, pro-business political movement to support his presidential bid.

It propelled him to victory as France's youngest-ever president and it won a landslide in the far more important lower house of parliament in June.

Since then, with Macron's approval ratings falling and the afterglow of his takeover of French politics fading, the party is grappling with the difficulty of establishing itself as a national force.

"The En Marche hurricane has not been at Category Five for a long time," said Philippe Raynaud, a political science professor at Pantheon-Assas university, riffing on the storms that have been buffeting the Caribbean lately.

A string of policy moves have also irked the lawmakers who voted, particularly 300 million euros ($360 million) in funding cuts for local and regional authorities.

Others are unhappy about Macron's pledge to scrap property taxes for some 80 percent of French citizens: Revenues which previously went into the budgets of local administrations.
When world leaders were to gather at the United Nations on 12 September, one thing was clear  talks on the escalating threat from North Korea would be among the main topics to be discussed at the session.

With the 72nd United Nations General Assembly all set to wrap up on 25 September, here are the most prominent remarks from the provocative to the unexpected  said this year.

"No Taliban safe havens in Pakistan"

In his maiden address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi responded to US' claim that Pakistan was harbouring terrorists on its soil.

"We are not prepared to be anyone's scapegoat. Taliban 'safe havens' are located not in Pakistan but in the large tracts of territory controlled by the Taliban in Afghanistan, he said.

Abbasi also accused India of indulging in terror activities against his country.

"To divert the worlds attention from its brutalities; India frequently violates the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir. Despite over 600 violations since January this year Pakistan has acted with restraint. But if India does venture across the LoC, or acts upon its doctrine of limited war against Pakistan, it will evoke a strong and matching response," he said.

Swaraj to Abbasi: 'Look who's talking'

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj asked the leaders at UN to introspect why India is recognised as a global IT superpower while Pakistan is infamous as the "pre-eminent export factory for terror".

Addressing the world leaders in Hindi, she said, "The country which has crossed all limits of decency, murdered several innocents is teaching us lessons on humanity."

"He (Abbasi) accused India of state-sponsored terrorism, and of violating human rights. Those listening had only one observation: "Look who's talking!" A country that has been the world's greatest exporter of havoc, death and inhumanity became a champion of hypocrisy by preaching about humanity from this podium," she added.

"Pakistan is now Terroristan"

In a strongly-worded counter to Abbasi's statement in the UN General Assembly, India said that Pakistan had become 'synonymous with terror'.

"In its short history, Pakistan has become a geography synonymous with terror. The quest for a land of the pure has actually produced 'the land of pure terror'. Pakistan is now Terroristan," said the Indian statement made in its right of reply to the United Nations on Thursday. The statement was made by Eenam Gambir, India's First Secretary to the United Nations.

Abbasi had alleged that 'struggle for self-determination' of the people of Jammu and Kashmir' is being 'brutally suppressed by India's occupation forces.'

India called out Pakistan's hypocrisy, saying, "Even as terrorists thrive in Pakistan and roam its streets with impunity, we have heard it lecture about the protection of human rights in India. The world does not need lessons in democracy and human rights from a country whose own situation is charitably described as a failed state."

"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission"

In a combative debut speech to the General Assembly, US president Donald Trump threatened the "total destruction" of North Korea if it does not abandon its drive toward nuclear weapons.

"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 United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. Thats what the United Nations is all about; thats what the United Nations is for. Lets see how they do."

"Iran nuclear deal cannot be negotiated"

"The option that we say we have at our disposal... will never be going towards nuclear weapons.. An option may be to start enrichment, not building an atom bomb," Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran said.

Rouhani told a news conference that the Trump administration is seeking "an excuse" to pull out of the nuclear agreement that caps Iran's nuclear activities which is supported by his government and the five other parties - Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Trump called the nuclear deal an "embarrassment" during his first speech at the United Nations.

"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. But such unfortunate behavior will never impede Iran's course of progress and advancement. 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."

"Pakistan military started 'genocide' of 1971"

Sheikh Hasina lashed out at Pakistan, saying its army launched a "heinous" military operation in 1971 which triggered a "genocide" during the liberation war, killing three million innocent people.

"In the 1971 war of liberation, we endured an extreme form of genocide. In the nine-month-long war of liberation against Pakistan, three million innocent people were killed and more than 2,00,000 women were violated,"

"The Pakistan military launched the heinous 'Operation Searchlight' on 25 March, which was the beginning of the 1971 genocide. The 1971 genocide included targeted elimination of individuals on the grounds of religion, race and political belief. The intellectuals were killed brutally," Hasina said.

Trump is a 'giant golden Goliath'

Robert Mugabe, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, said: Some of us were embarrassed, if not frightened, by what appeared to be the return of the biblical giant gold Goliath. Are we having a return of Goliath to our midst, who threatens the extinction of other countries?

May I say to the United States President, Trump, please blow your trumpet. Blow your trumpet in a musical way towards the values of unity, peace, cooperation, togetherness, dialogue, which we have always stood for, The Independent quoted the 93-year-old as saying.

Mugabe had appeared to have fallen asleep during Trumps maiden address in the General Assembly.

"There is still hope for peace"

Warning its neighbours not to pursue their own nuclear weapons, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said that negotiation remained the only solution on North Korea.

"There is still hope for peace and we must not give up. Negotiation is the only way out and deserves every effort," Wang told the General Assembly.

"There should be no new nuclear weapons states, whether it is in the north or the south of the (Korean) peninsula, whether it is in Northeast Asia or elsewhere in the world," Wang said.

China is the only Asian nation whose nuclear arsenal is recognised under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. It warned against proliferation amid growing, but still far-off, called for South Korea and Japan to develop their own weapons to defend themselves.
Leda Refugee Camp (Bangladesh): Shamila clutches her daughter's hand so tightly it turns white as she recounts how soldiers broke into her home in Myanmar and gang-raped her in front of her children -- a story heard over and over in Bangladesh refugee camps.

UN observers say they have seen scores of rape and gang rape survivors among the Rohingya who have fled ethnic violence in Myanmar in recent weeks.

Almost all said the perpetrators were men in uniform who they identified as Myanmar military.

Those cases, experts say, are almost certainly the tip of the iceberg.

The social stigma surrounding rape in their conservative Muslim society and the challenge of finding shelter and food means many women and girls have likely not yet come forward.

Shamila, not her real name, says she was still bleeding from the attack when she arrived in Bangladesh after walking for three days.

"All three soldiers raped me," she said, tears in her eyes, as she gripped the hand of the six-year-old sitting beside her in a pink vest and shorts.

"When they left, I ran out of the house with two of my children and followed the crowd of people running for their lives."

Shamila's husband was out when the attack happened and she has not seen him since. She does not know where her other three children are -- they were playing outside when the soldiers came and had disappeared by the time it was over, she said.

The story of the 25-year-old who now lives in a makeshift camp, is one UN observers say they have heard time and again from Rohingya women and adolescent girls fleeing the eruption of violence that started August 25.

A UN fact-finding mission is working in the refugee camps to investigate allegations of rights abuses in Myanmar, including sexual violence.

UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten said this week she was "gravely concerned" about security operations in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

Survivors have described sexual violence being used as a "calculated tool of terror to force targeted populations to flee," she said.

Bruised and bitten

The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority, are reviled in Buddhist Myanmar where they are regarded as illegal immigrants.

Hundreds of thousands have fled to Bangladesh in recent decades, but the scale of the latest exodus is unprecedented at 429,000.

Now doctors in Bangladesh say they are starting to see survivors come forward.

Their stories are strikingly similar -- soldiers broke into their homes when husbands and male relatives were out and raped them in front of their children.

Nourin Tasnupa, who works at a clinic run by the UN's migration agency at the Leda refugee camp, said most of the survivors she had treated were beaten before they were raped.

She has seen women with bruising on their bodies and bite marks on their breasts and genitals.

Based on her experience of the last outbreak of violence in Rakhine in October 2016, Tasnupa believes many women have yet to come forward.

"People don't want to share these incidents with even their family members," she told AFP.

"With the last influx (of Rohingya to Bangladesh, in October), we got cases even after three to four months."

Human Rights Watch has said the sexual violence seen in October appeared "part of a coordinated and systematic attack against Rohingya".

'Fight for survival'

UN experts in Bangladesh say there appear to be fewer rape survivors among the latest arrivals.

But they also say the chaos caused by the sheer number of arrivals since August 25 means the true scale is impossible to determine.

"At the moment it's a fight for survival," said Irine Loria, protection officer for gender-based violence at the UN migration agency.

Loria said the rapes this time appear to be different in nature and may be more opportunistic.

"Before it seems rape was being used as a tool. People were paraded naked in public, humiliated," she said.

"This time it appears it is more about pushing them out as fast as possible."

That fits with testimony given to AFP by Ayesha, 20, who came to the clinic in Leda a week after arriving in Bangladesh from Rakhine.

When soldiers came to her village in Buthidaung township in northern Rakhine her neighbours fled.

"They came to our village at eight in the morning and they started burning down houses," said Ayesha, whose name AFP has also changed.

"People were fleeing, but I had to take care of my child first."

Five men in military uniforms came into her house and one raped her while the others looked on, she said. Her husband had already left the village after rumours spread that Rohingya men would be rounded up.

Ayesha has not seen her husband since, but she has learned that he made it to Bangladesh and is hoping to be reunited with him soon.

Shamila's situation is even more difficult.

"I don't know where my husband or my other children are. I keep asking people but I still have no news," she said sadly, before picking up her daughter and heading back to the small bamboo shelter they now call home.
WASHINGTON  President Trump is making us ill. He's also driving us crazy.

Since I wrote last week about the possibility that Trump is literally killing me (in the form of high blood pressure), the reaction has been, as the kids say, sick.

From the left came a flood of responses from people experiencing all manner of symptoms, real or imagined, of what I called Trump Hypertensive Unexplained Disorder: Disturbed sleep. Anger. Dread. Weight loss. Overeating. Headaches. Fainting. Depression. Irritable bowel syndrome. Tightness in the chest. Shortness of breath. Teeth grinding. Stomach ulcer. Indigestion. Shingles. Eye twitching. Nausea. Irritability. Racing pulse. Shaking limbs. Hair loss. Acid reflux. Deteriorating vision. Stroke. Heart attack.

It was a veritable organ recital.

From the other side came a similar profusion of responses, in email, on Facebook and from the cesspool known as Twitter, of people wishing me dead. "Hurry up and die already! .?.?. DO US ALL A FAVOR AND JUST CURL UP AND DIE !!!!!!!!! .?.?. With any luck at all Milback (sic) will succumb. .?.?. just see a dr. You know, Dr Kevorkian." Dozens of Trump supporters delighted in responding by making vulgar references to vaginas, and one wrote to my wife to say it gave him "endless satisfaction" to report that my death is likely.

Then there was somebody under the Twitter handle @deacongfrost: "I HAPPILY KILL YOU."

I wrote the original piece half in jest, but the response showed something deeper: A large number of people reporting stress-reduced illnesses in the Trump era, and another large number of people so consumed by political disagreement that they desire the death of someone who has different views. Clearly, Trump is causing, or at least aggravating, mental-health problems on both sides.

A timely new paper discusses this phenomenon in the Trump era and the challenge it has caused to the mental-health profession, which is moving toward giving political views a more prominent place in psychotherapy. The paper, by New York analyst Matt Aibel, will be published in January in the journal "Psychoanalytic Perspectives." Aibel, a college friend of mine, gave me an advance copy.

"Since the start of Trump's rise to power," Aibel writes, analysts "have become acutely attuned to traumatic arousals" in patients from the political environment. "Several colleagues have shared that many formerly eating disordered patients were retriggered to bulimic episodes that hadn't occurred in many years until Trump's candidacy. ... In the run-up to the election, mental health providers of all stripes were reporting 'a striking number of anxious and depressed clients who are fixated on the election, primarily fearful of Trump.' Since Election Day, such colloquialisms as Trump Slump, Trump Anxiety and Trump Affective Disorder achieved cultural and perhaps even clinical currency (in an informally diagnostic sense, of course) along with increases in reported incidents of bullying" and the like.

Those on the right might label this "Trump Derangement Syndrome," much as I and others detected an "Obama Derangement Syndrome" previously. But the mental trauma caused by politics has reached a point, Aibel argues, where psychoanalysts must rethink how they do things.

"Freudian psychologists had little interest in the political. But the profession is coming to realize that 'the personal' and 'the political' are in reality not distinct," as Aibel puts it. In our current us-vs.-them, zero-sum politics, "dearly held self-representations distort perceptions, alter judgment, resist disconfirming factual evidence and remain impervious to rational argument, a phenomenon well-documented in the political and social science literatures ... and disconcertingly demonstrated by the Trump faithful's clinging to their 'alternative facts.'" Aibel acknowledges the unique difficulty in getting people to examine the unconscious parts of political perceptions, because of the "strong pulls of tribalism and moral certitude," but it must be attempted.

Partisanship drives so much of our lives: where we live, who our friends and spouses are, where we worship and go to school. Mental-health professionals can't expect to understand or help their patients if they don't take into account the socio-political beliefs that determine so much about who we are and how we think.

I hope the new approach works, though I fear that those most likely to subject themselves to psychotherapy are not the ones who send social-media messages wishing for my death.

As the mental-health professionals sort this out, I'll be contemplating the many suggestions helpful readers sent in for treating my own Trump-induced illness: acupuncture, Himalayan herbs, vitamin supplements, yoga, flossing, playing with puppies  and the most common suggestion, unplugging from the news. If only I could.
Houston: An Indian-American couple in Houston donated USD 250,000 to the Houston mayor's fund for Harvey relief, set up in the aftermath of the tropical storm that wreaked havoc in the US state of Texas early this month.

Houston residents Amit Bhandari and his wife Arpita Brahmbhatt Bhandari donated the amount to Mayor Sylvester Turner, on behalf of the Greater Houston Community Foundation for Hurricane Harvey relief at a private event on Sunday.

Bhandari is the owner and CEO of the BioUrja Group, an energy and agricultural commodity trading company based out of Houston with offices around the world.

The Indian-American community has united in its fund raising efforts to carry out relief and rehabilitation after the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Harvey.

In a four-day period, many areas received more than 40 inches (100 cm) of rain as the system meandered over eastern Texas and adjacent waters, causing catastrophic flooding. With peak accumulations of 64.58 in (164.0 cm), Harvey is the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the United States. The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, displaced more than 30,000 people, and prompted more than 17,000 rescues and killed over 70.

Leading members of the community congregated at the event to thank the Bhandaris and pledge more funds. The community is well on its way to raising USD 1 million for the governors and the mayor's funds.

At the privately held event on Sunday, Turner appreciated the Indian-Americans for their generosity and voluntary aid toward Hurricane Harvey relief.

"The contributions of the Indian-American community did not just start with Hurricane Harvey. They have been contributing to this city for a long, long time. The Indian community is vital to the city and helps make Houston the great city that it is," he said.

"I want to thank the Indian-Americans for what you have done prior to Hurricane Harvey. I want to thank you for what you are doing now, and I want thank you for what you will be doing to help rebuild this great city. We will rebuild, we will be stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for next time around," the mayor added.

Bhandari said volunteers from the community helped rescue 700 people through various means.

The community in Houston has also contributed USD 1.5 million to various charitable organisations associated with Hurricane Harvey relief, he said.

Consul General of India in Houston Dr. Anupam Ray also thanked the Indian-American community for their efforts. "Your generosity makes India proud. A community is great if it rises above its suffering. Through your contributions toward Hurricane Harvey relief, you've demonstrated that as a community, you've risen above your sufferings." he said.

Another presentation made to Mayor Turner was a newly developed mobile app titled 'DisasterConnect' which will help victims and donors make direct contact with each other to streamline relief efforts. The app was created under the direction of Gaurav Khandelwal, CEO of ChaiOne, a Houston-based developer of mobile apps.
Washington: Citizens of eight countries will face new restrictions on entry to the United States under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Sunday.

The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, will go into effect on 18 October.

The restrictions range from full travel bans on nationals from countries like Syria to more targeted restrictions.

A suspension of non-immigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela, for instance, applies only to senior government officials and their immediate families.

The announcement comes the same day as Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries is set to expire, 90 days after it went into effect.

That ban barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the United States.

"As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," reads the proclamation.

Officials stressed that valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers .

The restrictions are targeted at countries that Department of Homeland Security officials say refuse to share information with the US or haven't taken necessary security precautions.

"The acting secretary has recommended actions that are tough and that are tailored, including restrictions and enhanced screening for certain countries," said Miles Taylor, counselor to acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, said Friday.

Unlike Trump's first travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges, officials said they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.

The restrictions are based on a new baseline developed by DHS that includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information and share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories. The US then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

The eight countries are those that refused or were unable to comply.

Trump last week called for a "tougher" travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.

"The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!" he tweeted.

Critics have accused Trump of overstepping his authority and violating the United States' Constitution's protections against religious bias. Trump had called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" during his campaign.

The new policy could complicate the Supreme Court's review of the order, which is scheduled for argument next month.
Arbil: Iraqi Kurds started voting in an independence referendum today in defiance of Baghdad which has warned of "measures" to defend Iraq's unity and threatened to deprive their region of lifeline oil revenues.

The non-binding vote on the Kurds' long-cherished dream of independence, initiated by veteran leader Massud Barzani, has angered not only the federal government but also neighbouring Turkey and Iran, concerned it could stoke separatist aspirations among their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.

Polling stations are scattered across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan  Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk  as well as in disputed bordering zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

In Sulaimaniyah, second city of the autonomous region, 40-year-old Diyar Omar came to cast his vote wearing traditional Kurdish clothes.

"We will seize our independence through the polls. I'm delighted to be the first voter," he said as he arrived at a polling station in the city. "I'm so happy I could take part in this independence vote during my lifetime," he added.

Outside a polling station in regional capital Arbil, voters formed a long queue from early morning, most dressed in traditional clothes for the occasion.

"I came very early to be the first to vote for a Kurdish state," Diyar Abubakr, 33, said. "It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion," he said.

One voter even brought a cow to slaughter before the start of the referendum. "I brought this cow as today the state is born and it's tradition to slaughter a cow for a birth," Dalgash Abdallah,

27, said.

A total of 12,072 polling stations for the more than 5.3 million registered voters are to stay open for 12 hours. Barzani, smiling and wearing a traditional outfit, cast his vote early in the morning, Kurdish news agency Rudaw said.

In disputed Kirkuk, mosque loudspeakers blared out calls for residents to take part in the vote.

Initial results are expected to be announced 24 hours after the vote but an overwhelming "Yes" outcome is not in doubt, with Kurdish flags festooned in all the streets, on cars and outside homes across Iraqi Kurdistan.

As Barzani pledged yesterday to go ahead with the historic referendum after having resisted a barrage of international pressure to call it off, Iraq's leader pledged to take all the "necessary measures" to protect the country's unity and his government targeted the Kurds' oil sales.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that taking the Kurds' unilateral decision to stage a referendum affected both Iraqi and regional security, and was "unconstitutional and against civil peace". "We will take the necessary measures to preserve the unity of the country," he said, without elaborating.

Hours later, the Iraqi government at a meeting of its security cabinet called on all countries "to deal only with it on matters of oil and borders". The Iraqi Kurds export an average 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

Tehran also upped the pressure yesterday, saying it had blocked all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan at Baghdad's request.

Washington and many Western states had opposed the vote, saying it would hamper the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group in which cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurds has been key.

But Barzani said the Kurds' "partnership with Baghdad" since the ousted of dictator Saddam Hussein in the 2003 US-led invasion had failed and urged his people to turn out and vote.

"We expect reactions from one side or another but we are convinced that whatever the risk and the price, it's better than waiting for a dark outcome," he said.

"The referendum is not for defining borders or imposing a fait accompli. We want a dialogue with Baghdad to resolve the problems, and the dialogue can last one or two years," Barzani said of zones such as Kirkuk.
Washington:President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, used his personal email account on dozens of occasions to communicate with colleagues in the White House, his lawyer has said.

Between January and August, Kushner either received or responded to fewer than 100 emails from White House officials from his private account, attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement Sunday.

"These usually forwarded news articles or political commentary and most often occurred when someone initiated the exchange by sending an email to his personal, rather than his White House, address," Lowell said.

The attorney said Kushner, a key aide to Trump, uses his White House address to discuss White House business and that any non-personal emails have been forwarded to his official account and preserved. Politico first reported Kushner's use of a private email account.

The use of personal email to discuss government business is a politically freighted issue that factored prominently in last year's presidential election. Hillary Clinton faced an FBI investigation for much of her unsuccessful White House bid over her use of a private email server as secretary of state.

Former FBI director James Comey said that though Clinton and her aides were "extremely careless" in their handling of classified information, there was no evidence that anyone intended to break the law.

He recommended against criminal prosecution. Trump repeatedly argued during the campaign that Clinton deserved to be prosecuted for mishandling classified information and has continued to suggest that even after being elected president.

At a political event in Alabama on Friday, he responded to supporter chants of "lock her up" by saying, "You've got to speak to (Attorney-General) Jeff Sessions about that."
Istanbul: Turkey on Monday denied media reports that it had closed its southern border gate with northern Iraq in response to the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, but said strict controls were in place.

"Habur border gate has not been closed," Customs Minister Bulent Tufenkci was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency. "A tight control is in place for security reasons."

Witnesses in the region also said the border gate remained open but cross-border traffic was slow. Iraqi Kurds were bracing for a non-binding vote on independence set for Monday, despite warnings from Baghdad as well as neighbouring countries Iran and Turkey.

Ankara on Monday slammed the referendum bid by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as "null and void" and said it would not recognise it.

"We do not recognise this initiative which is deficient of any legal basis and lacks legitimacy," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ankara also vowed to take every measure in case any radicals sought to exploit the circumstances that will emerge following the referendum, or any attempt to carry out acts that target "our national security".

The ministry also updated its travel advice for Iraqi Kurdistan, strongly advising Turks to leave the cities of Dohuk, Arbil and Sulaymaniyah if they did not need to stay because of the security risks related to the poll.

Despite enjoying strong ties with the KRG in recent years, Turkey fears the vote could stoke separatist aspirations among its own sizeable Kurdish minority.

Turkey has warned of reprisals if the referendum goes ahead as planned but has never made clear what concrete action it might take against the regional government of Massud Barzani.

Business circles warn the closure of the Habur border gate could undermine USD seven billion trade between Ankara and Arbil.
London: A seventh man was on Monday arrested by British police's counter-terrorism officers in connection with the bomb attack on a London underground train that injured 30 people earlier this month.

The 20-year old man was arrested at an address in Cardiff, Wales, early on Monday morning under Section 41 of the UKs Terrorism Act.

He has been taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody, Scotland Yard said in a statement.

The arrests were carried out by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter-Terrorism Command, supported by colleagues from the Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU) and South Wales Police.

Officers are also carrying out a search at an address in Cardiff as part of the ongoing investigation into the attack at Parsons Green station in London on 15 September which injured 30 people.

It was Britains fifth major militant attack so far this year.

"So far, seven people have been arrested as part of the investigation being carried out by the Mets Counter-Terrorism Command; one person has been charged in relation to the attack, three people remain in police custody and three people have been released with no further action, the Met Police said.

Ahmed Hassan, believed to be of Middle Eastern origin, was the first suspect to be formally named by Scotland Yard last week as officers produced him before Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Friday.

The 18-year-old, arrested a day after the London Tube bombing on 15 September, was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey court in London on 13 October.

The police had also revealed the explosive used by the prime suspect in the terror attack as triacetone triperoxide (TATP), similar to ingredients used in some of the previous terror attacks in Europe such Paris in November 2015.
Yangon: Myanmar Army said that a mass grave of 28 Hindus had been discovered in violence-wracked Rakhine State, blaming the killings on Muslim Rohingya militants.

The announcement could not be independently verified in an region that has been seized by communal violence since Rohingya militant raids on 25 August triggered a sweeping security crackdown.

"Security members found and dug up 28 dead bodies of Hindus who were cruelly violently and killed by ARSA extremist Bengali terrorists in Rakhine State," a statement posted on the army chief's website said.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) is the group whose attacks on police posts triggered an army backlash so brutal that the UN believes it amounts to ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority.

More than 430,000 Rohingya have fled the region to Bangladesh in under a month. Some 30,000 Hindus and Buddhists based in the area have also been displaced, with some saying were terrorised by Rohingya militants.

The army said that security officers found 20 dead women and eight men in the graves, including six boys under the age of ten.

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay confirmed the discovery of the 28 bodies on Sunday.

A senior police officer in northern Rakhine told AFP they had been "buried with 10-15 bodies in each hole."

The village where the army chief said the bodies were found, Ye Baw Kya, is near a cluster of Hindu and Muslim communities in northern Rakhine called Kha Maung Seik.

Hindus from the area have told AFP that militants swept into their villages on 25 August, attacking people who stood in their way, killing many and taking others away into the forest.
Yangon (Myanmar): Myanmar troops on Monday searched for dozens of missing Hindu villagers feared dead after the discovery of a nearby mass grave of 28 corpses in Rakhine State, evidence of what the army says is a massacre by Rohingya Muslim militants.

Northern Rakhine was plunged into crisis after Rohingya militants raided police posts last month, unleashing an army crackdown that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The vast majority  more than 430,000  are Rohingya Muslims who fled across the border to Bangladesh from a military campaign the UN says likely amounts to ethnic cleansing.

But tens of thousands of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, and the region's small population of Hindus, have also been internally displaced, saying they were attacked by Rohingya militants.

On Sunday, Myanmar's army said it had discovered two mud pits filled with 28 Hindu corpses, including women and children, outside a village in northern Rakhine.

Hindu villagers from the area told AFP last week Rohingya militants stormed into their communities on 25 August, killing many and taking others into the forest.

"The security troops continue searching for remaining Hindu people around the places of the pits," said a statement posted on army chief Min Aung Hlaing's Facebook page.

Displaced Hindus from the area have shown AFP a list of 102 people from two villages whose relatives and community

leaders fear are dead.

A police officer in northern Rakhine said authorities are trying to verify that figure as they look for more bodies.

"We will continue searching together with villagers," the officer told AFP, requesting anonymity.

With the government blocking access to the conflict zone, it is difficult to verify the maelstrom of accusations.

But the army has steadfastly blamed the Rohingya  a stateless Muslim minority it has been trying to eject from Myanmar for years.

The focal point of the unrest, northern Rakhine's Maungdaw district, was once home to a fragile mosaic of ethnic groups, dominated by the Rohingya.

Vast swathes of the border region are now completely emptied of Muslims residents, with nearly 40 percent of Rohingya villages abandoned in under a month.

On Sunday the UN's high commissioner for refugees called the influx of Rohingya into Bangladesh the "fastest and most

urgent refugee emergency in the world".

The vast needs of the hungry, wounded and traumatised Rohingya swarming into Bangladesh have created a separate humanitarian crisis on that side of the border.

But there is little sympathy for the Muslim minority inside Myanmar, where many in the Buddhist majority loathe the group and insist they are foreign invaders.

The Rohingya has faced decades of persecution from a Buddhist nationalist army and discrimination under laws that stripped them of citizenship and restrict their movements.

Analysts say that matrix of repression helped give rise to the the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the rag-tag group who plunged the region into crisis with its 25 August attacks.
Islamabad: Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday returned to the country from the UK after nearly a month to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal. He was in London from 31 August to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

Sharif, 67, decided to return after consultations with senior party leaders including his younger brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London, party officials said.

The aircraft carrying him landed here at around 7.30 am and a confident Sharif came out, waved to his supporters and left, TV news reports showed.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials said that he would stay in Punjab House in Islamabad and hold meetings with party leaders on Monday and Tuesday.

Sharif's spokesman Asif Kirmani told reporters that the former premier would appear before the accountability court on Tuesday.

"Nawaz Sharif is meeting with advisors and party leaders for political and legal consultations. He would appear before the court on Tuesday," he said.

The Accountability Court in Islamabad, which is hearing the corruption cases against the Sharif family, last week summoned Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law capt (retd) Safdar to appear before it on 26 September.

Sharif stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him on 28 July from continuing in his office for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sonsHassan and Hussain, daughterMaryam, son-in-lawSafdar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Accountability Court in Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

The anti-graft body last week froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court. Earlier, Sharif skipped a court hearing last week to defy the cases. His family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated.

Maryam said that Sharif was returning to face cases for the sake of his people.

"Knowing what he faces is not accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about this person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million (Pakistanis)," she said in a tweet.

Sharif's wife has undergone three successful surgeries for her cancer.

Kulsoom contested on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won.

Their three children are still in London as he prepares to appear before the court in Islamabad on Tuesday. The court has also summoned Maryam, Hussain, Hasan and Safdar but it was not immediately known if they would appear before the court,
New York: US president Donald Trump has "declared a war" on North Korea, the country's foreign minister said on Monday while conveying a threat to shoot down US bombers.

"Trump claimed our leadership would not be around much longer," North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong-ho told reporters outside his hotel in New York. "He declared a war on our country."

"All the member states and the whole world should clearly remember it was the United States that first declared war on our country," Ri said.

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to take counter-measures including the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not yet inside the airspace border of country," he said.

"The question of who will be around much longer will be answered then."

In his first address to the General Assembly, Trump last week threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if it challenged America or its allies and derided leader Kim Jong-un as a "rocket man" who was "on a suicide mission."

Ri noted that the statement from Trump was "clearly a declaration of war" even if it came from the US president. Under the US Constitution, Congress is the sole power that can declare war.

In his brief address to reporters before heading to the airport, Ri said that the international community had hoped that the "war of words between the DPRK and the United States not turn into real actions."

The North Korean nuclear crisis has dominated this year's gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, which wraps up on Monday, amid fears that the heated rhetoric could accidentally trigger a war.

North Korea in recent weeks detonated its sixth nuclear bomb and has test-fired intercontinental missiles - saying it needs to defend itself against hostility from the United States and its allies.

During his address to the General Assembly on Saturday, Ri launched a personal attack on Trump, calling him a "mentally deranged person full of megalomania."

Just hours before Ri took the UN podium, US bombers flew off the east coast of North Korea, the furthest north of the demilitarized zone that any US aircraft has flown this century.

The Pentagon said the mission was a "demonstration of US resolve and a clear message that the president has many military options to defeat any threat."

Trump's threat to destroy North Korea made "our rockets' visit to the entire US mainland all the more inevitable," Ri said on Saturday.
Lahore: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan on Monday to face corruption and money laundering cases against him in the accountability court. Sharif had gone to London to see his ailing wife who underwent three throat cancer surgeries.

Sharif, 67, was disqualified by the Supreme Court on 28 July in the Panama Papers case. His wife Begum Kulsoom is contesting on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification.

The news of Sharif's return came amid rumours that he may not come back as he is facing corruption and money laundering cases.

"Nawaz Sharif is traveling back home tomorrow (Monday) on a PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) flight and will face National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references in the accountability court Islamabad on Tuesday," PML-N Senator Mashidullah Khan said.

He said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is also returning tomorrow and he too will face a NAB reference against him. The former premier had taken the decision to return to the country reportedly after consulting his younger brother Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif in London. Sharif's flight PK-786 is scheduled to land in Islamabad at 8 am on Monday.

On 22 September, Pakistan's anti-graft body (NAB) froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members.

The Accountability Court in Islamabad has summoned Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar Awan on Tuesday.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Sunday displayed the summons and property attachment notices on Sharif's Lahore Jati Umra Raiwind residence.

The NAB has written to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and commercial banks requesting them that since Mr Sharif and his children and son-in-law Safdar are facing the NAB references their bank accounts be frozen.

The NAB has also written to the commissioner Islamabad, deputy commissioner Lahore, federal board of revenue, excise and tax department and the chairman security exchange commission of Pakistan regarding attaching (seizing) of the properties of the Sharif family.

The NAB has already frozen the properties of Finance Minister Ishaq in income beyond his known sources case and the accountability court has issued his bailable arrest warrants. Dar is also in London at present.

NAB has filed three references of corruption and money laundering against Nawaz Sharif and his children  Hassan, Hussain and Maryam  son-in-law Captain Mohammad Safdar and one against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the accountability court Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

The references are filed in connection with the investigation of offshore properties of the Sharif family members.

Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers case. His wife Begum Kulsoom contested on Lahores NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won on 17 September.
Moscow: A Russian general was killed while battling Islamic State group militants near the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor, Moscow's defence ministry has said.

"Division general Valeri Assapov was killed when a shell exploded during shelling by Islamic State fighters," the ministry was quoted as saying by local media on Sunday, adding that the officer was serving as an advisor to Syrian government troops.

The ministry said Assapov would be posthumously decorated for his service.

Deir Ezzor province, on Syria's eastern border with Iraq, is rich with oil and gas fields that served as a key revenue stream for Islamic State at the peak of its power.

Russia intervened in support of the Damascus government in September 2015 and has been assisting regime forces in an assault on Deir Ezzor from the west.
New Delhi: US defense secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday it would be "shocking" irresponsibility for North Korea to carry out its threat to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific.

The new comments, made while Mattis headed for India, followed a shrill war of words between the North Korean and US leaders over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

Pyongyang's foreign minister Ri Yong-Ho said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Saturday that his country could test a nuclear bomb over the Pacific.

"This would be a shocking display of irresponsibility for global health, towards stability, towards non-proliferation," Mattis told reporters on his flight to India.

He declined to comment when asked if such a test would constitute an act of war.

Amid bitter wrangling between US president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, US bombers and jet fighters flew off the North Korean coast on Saturday in a show of force.

The North's nuclear programme will be one of the regional security topics raised by Mattis with Indian leaders during his three-day stay.
Washington: US forces carried out six "precision air strikes" against an Islamic State camp in Libya, killing 17 people, the US Africa Command said on Sunday.

The command said the air strikes were conducted on Friday, in coordination with Libya's Government of National Accord, hitting a desert camp 240 kilometers southeast of the city of Sirte.

"The camp was used by Islamic State to move fighters in and out of the country; stockpile weapons and equipment; and to plot and conduct attacks," it said in a statement using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State group.

The air strikes were believed to be the first in Libya by US forces since US President Donald Trump took office in January.

The last known US air strikes were carried out in early January under then-president Barack Obama, targeting two Islamic State camps where militants were suspected of actively planning operations in Europe.

The US statement said 17 Islamic State militants were killed and three vehicles were destroyed in Friday's strikes. It provided few other details.

"The United States will track and hunt these terrorists, degrade their capabilities and disrupt their planning and operations by all appropriate, lawful, and proportional means, including precision strikes against their forces, terror training camps and lines of communication, as well as partnering with Libyan forces to deny safe havens for terrorists in Libya," the command said.
Washington: Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif branded Washington "unreliable" Sunday in response to threats over the future of a nuclear deal with Iran.

"What the United States is doing, in addition to being unpredictable  which might sometimes work  is proving that it is unreliable," Zarif told CNN. The deal, agreed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers  the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany  lifts economic sanctions put in place in 2005 in exchange for curbs to Tehran's nuclear program.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is responsible for verifying that Iran meets the terms of the agreement. But since arriving in the White House, Donald Trump has attacked the deal on numerous occasions, vowing to tear it up. "Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it," he told the UN General Assembly Tuesday.

The president cast further doubt over the deal after the Islamic republic tested a new medium-range Khoramshahr missile Sunday. "Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel. They are also working with North Korea. Not much of an agreement we have!" Trump tweeted.

But Zarif brushed off the threat, saying Washington cannot act alone to end the agreement. "This is not a bilateral agreement," he told CNN's Fareed Zakaria. "It's not even a multilateral treaty. It's a Security Council agreement and the United States is a member of the Security Council."

The foreign minister added that Donald Trump's certification of whether Iran is abiding by the deal  due mid-October  is an "internal procedure" that in itself does not endanger the agreement.

"The only authority that has been recognized in the nuclear deal to verify is the IAEA," he said.

But according to diplomats, "non-certification" by Trump would lead to re-imposition of sanctions and the "political death" of the agreement. Zarif said Iran will "consider its options" if Trump tells Congress on October 15 he believes it is not complying with the deal and it is not in US interests to stick by it.

"Iran has a number of options, which include walking away from the deal and going back with greater speed with its nuclear program, which will remain peaceful -- but which will not address and accept the limitations that we voluntarily accepted over our nuclear program," he said.
Montgomery County, Alabama, the victim of a ransomware attack that began last week, paid hackers a ransom of up to $50,000 to retrieve stolen data, county officials confirmed to FOX Business on Monday.

Montgomery Countys IT Director, Lou Ialacci, said his team worked tirelessly to retrieve the data, but ultimately the county had to pay the ransom in order to retrieve the 60-70 terabytes of data. We paid half Saturday and received half of the data and then paid the remaining on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Montgomery County Commission said in a statement to FOX Business.

On Sept. 19, the Montgomery County of Public Affairs released a statement that it was undergoing a ransomware attack and while no personal information had been stolen, the countys systems had been locked up and services impacted  particularly at the Probates Office. The office was unable to work with vehicle tags and registrations nor business and marriage licenses. The following day, the county commission announced that its business tax filing system was down, on the day of a deadline for business taxpayers.

In total, the county paid between $40,000 to $50,000 to the ransomware hackers, a county official said.

Security expert and Datto CEO Austin McChord told FOX Business last week that while small businesses are targeted every single day by ransomware, paying the ransom renders an entity more likely to get hit again.

Local news outlets reported Monday that the stolen files were returned to the local government after the ransom was paid.
A British supermarket became the first in the world to let shoppers use their veins to pay for groceries.

Customers at the Costcutter shop at Londons Brunel University paid using their vein pattern to identify themselves. Sthaler CEO Nick Dryden, the company behind the technology, joined FOX Business on Monday to discuss his high-tech finger-vein scanner.

The technology uses infrared light to scan peoples finger veins and then uses a biometrics to link to their bank cards.

Youre hemoglobin absorbs infrared and we get a very clear pattern of your vein structure, so much so that we can get one and a half thousand point map reference from your finger, Dryden told Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria.

Dryden said the price of the technology is relatively inexpensive compared to retinal scanners.

Its massively cheaper. Its very practical, people dont mind using their fingers. Some people have an issue using biometrics but definitely more so if its a retinal scan. But because we are cheap we can do a cloud match within 200 milliseconds which I think is a little bit more difficult with retinol, he said.

The finger scanner uses a safe and secure biometric identification method that cant be copied or stolen according to Dryden and allows shoppers to make payments in just three seconds.

When we make a little crypto-key from your finger vein pattern that is completely anonymous in our database. So if anybody ever gets in there, its nothing that they can actually find and reuse, he said. All you need is you, you dont need to carry anything. Lots of other kinds of biometrics are lent to devices that we need to take with us. So if we use them, we lose the ability to identify ourselves.

Dryden said U.S. businesses have already expressed interest and plans to visit the U.S. in October to introduce the technology at Money20/20.
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Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE: KMI) is an operationally well-run midstream energy company, but it disappointed investors just a few years ago with a 75% dividend cut. Although the dividend is scheduled to jump by 25% a year between 2018 and 2020, it just sold a major growth project that will make supporting its long-term dividend goals more difficult. Here's why you should be considering Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (NYSE: BIP) instead.

1. Yield and dividend growth

Right now Kinder Morgan's yield is around 4.5%. Brookfield Infrastructure's yield is roughly 4.6%. If you are looking to generate current income, the two are essentially a wash. However, Kinder Morgan is expecting its dividend to grow materially between 2018 and 2020, ending the period at $1.25 per share per year, up from $0.50 in 2017.

Using today's stock price, that would mean a dividend yield of nearly 7%. Brookfield targets annual distribution growth of 5% to 9%, but has grown the payout at an annualized 11% since its inception in 2008 with no distribution cuts along the way. Assuming it hits the high end of its growth target, the distribution in 2020 would lead to a yield of roughly 5.5% using today's unit price. That appears to give the edge to Kinder Morgan, but not so fast...

2. About that dividend cut

You can't look at Kinder Morgan's dividend growth plans without taking a step back and looking at the company's 2016 dividend cut. That 75% haircut was a huge hit to income investors and it came just a few months after the company was projecting a dividend increase for 2016. Moreover, even after the current round of planned dividend hikes, the payment will still be nearly 40% below the level prior to the cut.

Trust in management's dividend projections should be a big issue for Kinder Morgan investors and anyone looking at the company today. Brookfield, meanwhile, has increased its dividend annually since its 2008 IPO. It has not only managed to live up to its promise of 5% to 9% distribution growth, but to exceed it, with 11% annualized distribution growth.

The trust issue is big here because Kinder Morgan just inked a deal to sell a major growth project in Canada due to pushback from residents, environmentalists, and local government. That single project accounted for around 40% of its project backlog. Losing the long-term cash flows associated with that project adds some uncertainty to its ability to support its dividend growth plans over the long term, even though it continues to back its current dividend growth projections.

3. A little bit about leverage

Kinder Morgan's 2016 dividend cut was partially driven by a difficult market environment for midstream companies and partly because it has historically made relatively aggressive use of leverage. When times got tough, it chose to keep spending on growth over continuing to reward shareholders for their investment in the company. Although it has paid down a material amount of debt since the dividend cut took place, the debt-to-EBITDA ratio still stands at around 6.2. The debt-to-equity ratio is roughly 1.1.

For comparison, Brookfield's debt-to-EBITDA ratio is a much lower 4.2, and its debt-to-equity ratios stands at 0.56. While Brookfield is less leveraged today, it wasn't always that way -- which is, perhaps, the more interesting story here. While Kinder Morgan continues to use notable leverage, Brookfield is trending toward lower levels of leverage as it grows. That's a much more comforting story if you care about dividend sustainability.

4. Diversification

Another interesting difference here is that both Kinder Morgan and Brookfield are infrastructure plays, but they go about investing very differently. Kinder Morgan owns midstream assets and only midstream assets. Brookfield's portfolio includes utilities (about 31% of its operating assets), transportation like ports and toll roads (43%), midstream infrastructure (19%), and telecom infrastructure (around 7%).

When you step back and look at Kinder's problems in Canada you can start to appreciate Brookfield's diversification a lot more. Simplifying things a little bit, Kinder only has one avenue for growth: building and buying midstream infrastructure. Brookfield can shift gears among its four main asset types as it seeks to expand. Problems in one area aren't likely to derail the broader partnership. And since it can put capital toward the most advantageous sector at any given time, it can also more easily hunt for bargains.

5. Diversification, part II

Just being in more segments of the infrastructure space isn't the only way that Brookfield differentiates itself with regard to diversification. Kinder Morgan is focused on North America. That's not a bad thing, since increasing oil and natural gas production are leading to increasing demand for the infrastructure used to move these fuels and their byproducts around.

However, Brookfield's investments span the globe. That includes North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. So not only do you gain exposure to more types of infrastructure, but you also gain exposure to more regions of the world. That materially expands Brookfield's ability to find value-priced acquisitions.

Investor takeaway

Kinder Morgan runs its operations well, but its dividend history is spotty. The pipeline company's ability to support its big dividend growth plans, meanwhile, is again uncertain because of its historical use of leverage compounded by the sale of a large but troubled growth project. Even though it's likely that Kinder will find new investments to make up for the asset it's selling, based on Kinder's dividend history, income investors should probably take a wait-and-see approach.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, on the other hand, has a more diversified portfolio and lower leverage. It isn't facing any material headwinds to its growth plans right now. And although it's calling for slower distribution growth than Kinder Morgan, it's likely a better option for investors seeking a reliable and growing income stream today.

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Deloitte, one of the largest private firms in the United States with a prominent global presence, confirmed on Monday that it had been the victim of a cybersecurity breach that compromised client accounts.

According to a statement from the company, hackers accessed data from an email platform. Deloitte provides accounting, tax, consulting, financial and risk management advisory services. The firm services a wide-range of well-known companies across the globe, including 80% of Fortune 500 names and more than 6,000 private and middle market companies, according to its website.

The hack was first reported on Monday morning by The Guardian, which said client emails with sensitive security information, usernames, passwords, among other data, were potentially compromised. The site also reported the hack was discovered in March of this year, but hackers could have accessed the systems since October or November of 2016.

Deloitte said in a statement that it found only very few clients were impacted and each of those clients has been notified. It also alleged that no disruption has occurred to client businesses or to its ability to service both clients and consumers.

The Deloitte hack comes on the heels of the Equifax breach that impacted the personal information of 143 million Americans and the cyberattack on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which potentially resulted in the hackers obtaining nonpublic information and using it to illegally profit in the markets.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority said on Monday it ordered Wall Street investment bank and securities brokerage Morgan Stanley to pay $13 million in fines and restitution to clients for inadequately supervising certain short-term trades.

FINRA, the securities industry's self-regulator, said that between January 2012 and June 2015 hundreds of Morgan Stanley brokers advised thousands of clients to sell unit investment trusts before the product had matured and to roll the product over into a new one.

Unit investment trusts, like mutual funds and closed-end funds, pay investors a return based on how the trust's investments perform, and they are designed to be held for a certain amount of time after which they close.

By selling an investor's position in the trust early and rolling it over into a new trust, the client may pay higher sales charges over time, which FINRA said raises questions about how suitable the move is for the investor.

The regulator pointed to some instances where Morgan Stanley brokers sold clients' unit investment trusts less than 100 days before the fund's end, and rolled the money over into new trusts.

FINRA also found the brokerage did not adequately train supervisors to recognize unsuitable short-term training, and did not have a proper system in place to detect and stop the orders before execution.

The regulator fined Morgan Stanley $3.25 million, and ordered that it pay clients $9.78 million in restitution.

Morgan Stanley consented to FINRA's findings but did not admit or deny the charges. In a statement from Morgan Stanley spokeswoman Margaret Draper the firm said it was pleased to cooperate with FINRA and that the matter was resolved.

Morgan Stanley interviewed more than 65 employees as part of a firm-wide investigation into the accusations, FINRA said.

(Reporting By Elizabeth Dilts; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
General Motors (NYSE:GM) shares jumped to their highest level in more than three years after analysts at Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock to a abuya and hiked its price target.

In a note to clients Monday, Deutsche Bankas Rod Lache wrote that GM has quietly taken a lead in the race to build self-driving vehicles. That development may surprise investors, he said. GM is on track to have autonomous cars ready for commercial deployment within quartersapotentially beating competitors by years.

aWe believe that businesses built off of this platform will ramp much faster than is widely expected,a Lache said.

Deutsche Bank set a new price target for GM at $51, up from a prior $36.

GM jumped 2.5% to $40.38 in recent trading. The stock hit an intraday high of $40.64, its best mark since December 2013.

By Deutsche Bankas estimates, around 60% of urban households could find a better deal in using autonomous taxi services compared to owning a personal vehicle. Automakers like GM will see the early potential of self-driving vehicles sooner rather than later, according to the investment bank.

Deutsche Bank believes that GMas mobility business is worth about $30 billion, a valuation that Lache described as atoo big to ignore.a He expects GM to eventually asee the meritsa of spinning off its venture into new technologies, including self-driving vehicles and ride-sharing services.
The Latest on Brexit (all times local):

10:05 p.m.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson arrived in Romania's capital for talks on security, defense, trade and Britain's departure from the European Union.

Johnson posted a photo of himself on Twitter late Monday with Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu at the residence of the British ambassador.

He wrote: "In Bucharest tonight to assure the Romanian FM.....that Romanian-UK ties will be even stronger after we leave the EU." An estimated 500,000 Romanians currently live in Britain.

Johnson is on a two-day visit to the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia. The Foreign Office says Britain wants to continue cooperating closely with EU members on matters such as "security and defense policy, countering Russian influence" and trade.

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6:25 p.m.

Britain says that any commitment toward outstanding payments into the EU budget will have to be clearly linked to a future political and trade relationship once the nation has officially left the group.

U.K. chief negotiator David Davis promised that Britain "will honor commitments we have made during the period of our membership" but added it could "only be done in the context of an in accordance with a new deep and special partnership."

The EU has been insisting their needs to be "sufficient progress" on Britain's outstanding financial commitments to the EU before any new relationship can be discussed.

Estimates of the amounts Britain would still have to pay the EU have diverged wildly from some 20 billion euros to 100 billion euros.

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5:50 p.m.

The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator says that EU rules will apply without exception during any eventual transition period after Britain officially leaves the bloc in 2019.

Michel Barnier said Monday that "the totality of the EU regulations, the enforcement, the financial conditions, supervision  all that will be maintained during this period, without exception."

His remarks came after he informed EU ministers about the state of Brexit talks and minutes before he launched into a fourth round of negotiations in Brussels.

British Prime Minister Theresa May called Friday for a two-year transition period after her country leaves on March 29, 2019.

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5:35 p.m.

The Czech Republic's foreign minister has told British counterpart Boris Johnson that he welcomes that Britain is ready to honor its financial commitment to the European Union.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday that her government would keep paying the EU and following its rules during a two-year transition period after Brexit in March 2019.

Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek stressed the EU still needs "more precise and detailed information" from Britain, reflecting a position by Europeans who want to see how May's offers made in a speech in Florence translate into concrete proposals.

Zaoralek also says he gave Johnson a ping pong set as a present, saying that's a game he has played with the EU.

Johnson replied: "The ball is now in your (EU) court."

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10:10 a.m.

The European Union presidency says time is running out for Britain to seal an agreement on leaving the EU, with a fourth round of Brexit negotiations about to begin in Brussels.

Estonian deputy EU affairs minister Matti Maasikas, whose country holds the bloc's rotating presidency, said Monday that "we really need to move forward now. Time is of the essence."

He was speaking before hosting a meeting of European affairs and foreign ministers, to be attended by EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Barnier and his team also meet their British counterparts later Monday for four days of talks.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday that her government would keep paying the EU and following its rules during a two-year transition period after Brexit in March 2019.
Target Corp. is raising its minimum hourly wage for workers to $11 starting next month and then to $15 by the end of 2020, a move it says will help it hire and keep the best employees and make shopping a better experience for customers.

The initiative announced Monday is part of the discounter's overall strategy to improve its business, which includes remodeling stores, expanding its online services and opening up smaller urban locations.

Target quietly raised entry-level hourly wages to $10 last year from $9 from the previous year, following initiatives by Walmart and others to hike pay in a very competitive marketplace. But Target's increase to $15 per hour far exceeds not only the federal minimum of $7.25 but the hourly base pay at Walmart, the nation's largest private employer, and plenty of its retail peers whose minimum hourly pay hovers around $10. Now Target's raise could force some rivals to match the pay.

"We see this not only as an investment in our team but an investment in an elevated experience for our guests and the communities we serve," Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, told reporters on a call Friday.

The changes come as there's more attention on hourly wages. Thousands of workers have protested to call attention to their financial struggles and to fight for $15 an hour. The election of a Republican-controlled Congress dampened hopes of an increase in the federal minimum wage, but advocates have continued to press at the state and local level.

At the same time, competition for lower-skilled workers has heated up. As shoppers get more mobile-savvy, retailers want staffers who are more skilled at customer service and in technology such as using iPads to check out inventory. But with the unemployment rate near a 16-year low, the most desirable retail workers feel more confident in hopping from job to job. Some 75 percent of hourly retail workers now change jobs within a year, compared with 50 percent during the Great Recession, according to Korn Ferry Hay Group, a global consultancy group.

Thirty-two percent of all first jobs in the U.S. are in retail, according to the trade group the National Retail Federation, and stores overall have more job openings now than they did a few years ago.

Hourly pay at restaurants and hotels is up 3.5 percent from a year earlier, a much better raise than the 2.5 percent gain for all employees. For workers at transportation and warehousing companies, where e-commerce growth is fueling hiring, pay is up 2.7 percent in the past year. Retailers, however, have lifted pay just 1.8 percent in the past year. That may be spurring more workers to leave for better opportunities: Separate government data shows the number of retail workers quitting their jobs this year and last is at the highest in a decade.

The average hourly pay for cashiers is now $10.14, according to the Korn Ferry Hay Group's survey of 140 retailers with annual sales of at least $500 million. The survey was conducted in May. A year ago, it was $9.79.

Target says its minimum hourly wage of $11 is higher than the minimum wage in 48 states and matches the minimum wage in Massachusetts and Washington. It says the pay hike will affect thousands of its more than 300,000 workers, but it declined to quantify the percentage of its workforce. It said the increase to $11 per hour will apply to the more than 100,000 hourly workers that Target will be hiring for the holiday season.

Target declined to say what the average pay will be for its hourly workers with the increased wages.

Ken Perkins, president of research firm Retail Metrics LLC, called Target's decision "astute."

"Target is really trying to gain market share in an environment where there is tremendous upheaval," Perkins said. But he believes only a few dozen healthy retailers, such as Best Buy, Home Depot and Walmart, could mirror what Target is doing.

Craig Rowley, head of the retail practice at Korn Ferry Hay Group, estimates that retailers devote 5 to 8 percent of their annual sales to store hourly labor costs.

Target is seeing signs that its turnaround efforts are starting to win back shoppers.

In August, it reported that a key sales figure rose in the second quarter, reversing four straight quarters of declines, and its online sales jumped 32 percent. The company also boosted its earnings expectations for the year. Target is spending $7 billion over three years to remodel old stores, open small ones in cities and college towns and offer faster delivery for online orders. It is also adding more clothing and furniture brands.

Walmart has also been benefiting from its investment in its workers. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer has seen lower turnover and improved customer service scores. Its namesake U.S. division reported a 1.8 percent increase in revenue at stores open at least a year during its fiscal second quarter, marking the 12th straight period of gains. Walmart's wage investments, however, did take a big bite out of profits.

Target reiterated its third-quarter and full-year profit guidance, and said it would update investors early next year about how higher wages will affect long-term profits. Its shares initially fell Monday, but regained that ground and were little changed.

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AP Economics Writer Chris Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report.

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Follow Anne D'Innocenzio at http://www.Twitter.com/adinnocenzio
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Monday that Washington is hoping for concrete progress during President Donald Trump's planned trip to China amid rising trade tensions.

Ross met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the country's top economic official, during a three-nation Asian tour. Trump is due to visit Beijing later this year and meet President Xi Jinping, who visited the United States in April.

"We hope there will be some very good deliverables," Ross said at the start of a meeting at the Zhongnanhai compound where Chinese leaders live and work in central Beijing. That "would be the best single outcome for both countries," Ross said.

Ross gave no details, but Trump has criticized China's large trade surpluses with the United States and threatened to raise tariffs on steel. He has ordered an investigation into whether Beijing improperly pressures companies to hand over technology in exchange for market access.

Chinese leaders have tried to head off punitive U.S. action by emphasizing the benefits of the world's biggest trading relationship.

"I think it is fair to say that our common interests far outweigh our differences," said Li, the premier. "This important trade and economic relations has benefited enormously our two peoples as well as the whole world."

Ross met Sunday with his Chinese counterpart, Zhong Shan.

He was due to visit Hong Kong on Tuesday and then travel to Thailand and Laos.
President Donald Trump pledged to provide both defense and technical support to Ukraine in its years-long conflict with Russia thats resulted in the deaths of thousands during a meeting with the Ukrainian president in New York City, Petro Poroshenko said in an exclusive interview with FOX Business.

For the past three years, Ukraine has been locked in a slow-burn war with Russia, which in 2014 invaded and annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, sparking fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces that left more than 10,000 people -- many of whom were civilians -- dead. At the time, both the U.S. and the European Union widely denounced the annexation, slapping strict sanctions on Russia in retaliation.

Today, President Trump said we are ready to support Ukraine, including with military and technical cooperation, Ukrainian leader Poroshenko told FOX Business Liz Claman.

That support, he said, would be strictly limited to defense weapons rather than lethal weapons. It marks the first time in years that a U.S. president will flex American military power in the eastern European nation.

Crimea remains a source of friction between the U.S. and Russia amid a time of sanctions and accusations of election meddling between the two nations. Previously, President Trump has said he expects Russia to return Crimea, though Moscow has refused to bring Crimea to the negotiating table.

In July, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson threatened that sanctions would remain in place until Russia began de-escalating tensions in the region. And on Thursday, President Trump approved an energy trade deal in order to sell U.S. coal and steel to Kiev, which is currently fighting to take back the Black Sea peninsula.

An unbridled Poroshenko lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin for instigating the insurrection against Ukraine. The president said he was blindsided by both the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbass, which followed the latter in 2014.

Hes completely unpredictable, he said on Countdown to the Closing Bell.

Despite international outcry, Russia has continued to claim the annexation, and the war, as legal. Whether or not U.S. involvement affects the war remains to be seen, but Poroshenko was adamant that the annexed lands would be returned to Ukraine.

We will get Donbass back, he said. We will get Crimea back.
Weiner's lawyer, Arlo Devlin-Brown, said that while Weiner exchanged sexually explicit messages with many women, all of the others were adults, and noted the teenage girl contacted Weiner first.

Cote said she believed Weiner was suffering from an addiction, and was serious about being treated. However, she said it was important to deter others from committing similar crimes.

"There is the opportunity to make a statement that could protect other minors," she said.

Weiner declined to speak to reporters as he left the courtroom. He was ordered to surrender by Nov. 6.

The investigation into Weiners exchanges with a North Carolina high school student roiled the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign in its final days, when authorities found emails on Weiners laptop from his wife Huma Abedin, an aide to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Abedin has filed for divorce. Weiner, who wore his wedding band at the sentencing, and Abedin have a son, Jordan, who is 5 years old.

The discovery of the emails prompted James Comey, then director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to announce in late October that the agency was reopening its investigation into Clintons use of a private email server while she was U.S. secretary of state.

Clinton has said the announcement contributed to her upset loss to Republican Donald Trump, who had accused her of endangering national security by using the private server.

President Trump fired Comey in May amid the FBIs probe into whether his campaign colluded with Russia to defeat Clinton, a claim the president has denied.

Weiner represented parts of New York City in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years before resigning in 2011, after it emerged that he had exchanged sexually explicit messages with adult women.

In 2013, Weiner ran for New York City mayor, but dropped out of the race when more lewd messages became public.

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Diane Craft and Jeffrey Benkoe)
President Donald Trump is expected to unveil his signature tax reform blueprint on Wednesday and details are already starting to emerge about which tax rates could be cut back as well as the possible elimination of some of the more controversial deductions, including the eradication of the estate tax, FOX Business has learned.

According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, 99.8% of estates owe no estate tax at all, leaving the estates of 0.2% of the wealthiest Americans to pay up.

The federal estate tax is a tax on property including real estate, cash and stocks, that is transferred from deceased persons to their heirs. The catch is only the wealthiest estates in the United States pay the tax because its levied against those whose total estate exceeds a certain exemption level.

Those same sources confirm to FOX Business other details expected to be revealed this week include cutting the corporate rate from 35% to 20%, reducing the top income rate from 39% to 35% and breaking down the seven income tax brackets from seven to three.

Since the start of his administration, Trump has been considering moving forward with eliminating the estate tax  also known in Republican circles as the death tax  and according to those familiar with the matter, his request could be granted as part of this weeks larger tax reform outline.

Since the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has an exemption limit of $5.49 million per person, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, an estate worth approximately $6 million would be required to pay a tax of, at most, $510,000. In other words, the wealthiest taxpayers owe a small amount of their estates value to the government if it exceeds the federal exemption requirements.

Even though the death tax may impact a minority of Americans, Trump is still determined to eliminate that which he called a tremendous burden at a recent rally in North Dakota.

Well also protect small businesses and family farmers here in North Dakota and across the country by ending the death tax, Trump said. Tremendous burden for the family farmer, tremendous burden. 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, he added.

In a sign a move like this could cause havoc within Democratic congressional ranks, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) responded to Trump readdressing the elimination of the estate tax in a conference call with reporters a week after his rally in North Dakota.

''Repealing this tax is not a tax cut for the middle class,'' Schumer said. ''It's a tax cut for the wealthy elites in this country the president promised to stand up to, Schumer then said.

Mark Mazur, director at the Tax Policy Center, tells FOX Business he agrees with Schumer that eliminating the estate tax would only help the wealthiest of Americans.

Theres been a big push for over a decade to kill this off as way to mainly help well off individuals. Look at it like this: if the estate tax is no more, then a couple worth $10.9 million sees no change at all, a couple [worth] just over $11 million would see a little change and a couple worth $100 million would see a huge difference, Mazur said.

Still, free market economists such as Art Laffer disagree and believe it should be repealed immediately. It is the most immoral offensive major tax I know because you can earn your income fair and square and pay your taxes and you can take what you made off your taxes to Las Vegas and gamble, Laffer said.

As far as my federal government is concerned, its my money you rat. If you take that same money and give it to your kids, they will then tax you for it. Its the most immoral tax Ive ever seen. The reason I work and create an estate is for my kids. It absolutely kills off growth and its a terrible tax, the former Reagan economic adviser explained.
The Republican Party is gearing up to detail the intricacies of its tax reform overhaul this week and the corporate tax rate is a main area of uncertainty for lawmakers, but one that could make a big difference in future economic growth.

While Trump has suggested dropping the current corporate tax rate by 20 percentage points, to 15% from the current 35%, GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), have said the 20% to 25% range is more likely  a discrepancy that could lead to an enormous difference in U.S. economic growth moving forward.

There would be a big advantage in dropping the corporate tax rate to 15% instead of 20%, Chris Edwards, director of tax policy studies at Cato and editor of www.DownsizingGovernment.org, told FOX Business. The lower rate would make more U.S. investment projects viable from a net return perspective, would increase cash-flow to companies available for investment, and would make the U.S. a better location for investments than competitive low-tax countries such as Britain. As companies invested more at home, U.S. output, wages, and incomes would rise.

Brian Riedl, Manhattan Institute senior fellow and former chief economist to Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), agrees, telling FOX Business a 15% rate could fall below our trading partners and turn America into a global magnet for investment.

Substantially lowering the corporate tax rate is also a key part of achieving Trumps 3% GDP growth target.

It is plausible to raise annual economic growth from 2% closer to 2.5% with pro-growth reforms, Riedl said. That doesnt seem like a major difference, but 2.5% growth would mean the economy doubles in size 8 years sooner than under 2.0% growth.

However, Riedl said ultimately the corporate rate will depend on the GOPs price objective for the total tax reform package.

Current indications of $1.5 trillion for all reforms suggest a corporate tax rate of likely around 20% and perhaps 25% for pass-throughs, he said. The president and conservative lawmakers want 15%, which will be challenging to pay for. Yet 25% would still be too high relative to our trading partners. So 20% may be where they end up.

Edwards also believes the proposed rate to land at 20%, though he urged House Republicans to be bolder and adopt the 15% rate, especially considering Canada  a key U.S. trading partnerhas a rate of 15%.

A 20 percentage point cut to the current 35% corporate tax rate has been the presidents preference since April, however some lawmakers have argued it is impossible to slash the business rate that significantly without adding to the deficit. The House GOPs blueprint, approved by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), proposed a 20% corporate tax rate.

House Republicans will hold a tax retreat next week, though details have not yet been disclosed. It is unclear exactly when this week the GOP will reveal fuller details of the tax reform bill.
Mr. Warmth worked all the way until the very end.

When Don Rickles passed away in April at age 90, he was filming a web series where he gave no-nonsense life advice to some of Hollywoods biggest stars.

AARP Studios is releasing Rickles last project, Dinner with Don Monday for fans looking to laugh with comedys most infamous equal opportunity offender.

The show was announced in March, just weeks before Rickles death.

Rickles longtime manager Tony Oppedisano told Fox News Rickles was long thinking about creating something special for fans.

We were initially thinking about an animated series based on a character he created, an expert who appeared to know everything, but actually knew nothing, said Oppedisano.

However, it took one phone call to inspire a completely different idea.

The phone rang one time and it was Johnny Depp calling Don from Japan for his advice on something, said Oppedisano. He had an eclectic group of friends Don became a bit of a psychologist in addition to being a close friend. People would call him for advice on anything.

The idea behind Dinner with Don was a no-brainer for the legendary comedian. At age 90, he still went out on the town three nights a week and visited his favorite restaurants throughout Beverly Hills or Malibu, where he would often chat with servers for at least 15 minutes.

For the series, Rickles would arrive at some of those beloved haunts and sit down with a celebrity eager to meet him over a meal.

The first time I met Don was while we were filming at The Palm, said Jeffrey Eagle, Vice President of AARP Studios. Judd Apatow and Marisa Tomei were there. We were in the midst of shooting and he said I can do this all day. When Don would sit there and the lights would go on, this energy would come alive. He was a constant showman. Don would tease, tell stories You had these super famous people sitting at a table with him, 30-40 crew members, cameras and lights. But these stars were in awe.

And despite his age, Rickles was as sharp as ever, even behind cameras.

He loved walking through the kitchen [instead of the front door] and harassing the help, recalled Oppedisano. And they loved it as much or more than he did.

Oppedisano claimed his phone wouldnt stop ringing from stars who wanted their chance to dine with Rickles. The list was narrowed down for 13 episodes. It includes recognizable names, like Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese and Amy Poehler, among others. They all wanted to know the secret behind his lasting success.

Don would only say things that only he could get away with, he explained. No matter what he said, he was an equal opportunity abuser He picked on every ethnicity, every group you can think of. But he was never, ever mean spirited. And the audience got that.

"The purpose of what he did in his mind was that we as a nation, somewhere along the line, began to lose our ability to laugh with one another. And it turned into laughing at one another, which in Dons mind was absolutely wrong He would treat everyone the same, whether it was Ryan Gosling, who adored him, or the waiter serving pigs in a blanket.

But not everyone participating in the series only wanted words of wisdom. Vince Vaughn, a Las Vegas history buff, was eager to learn about Rickles relationship with the Rat Pack.

When Frank Sinatra went to see Rickles perform in 1957, the comedian told the crooner in front of a packed audience, Frank, be yourself! Stand up and hit somebody. Sinatra laughed so hard, he fell to the floor. They quickly shared close friendship that endured until Sinatra's death in 1998 at age 82.

Rickles was unable to join the Rat Pack due to scheduling conflicts, as well as his unique style in commanding a stage.

Rickles was, to an extent, a bit too strong to be part of an ensemble like that, said Oppedisano, who also worked with Sinatra. [Member] Joey Bishop knew when to stand back and let Frank lead. Thats why Frank was known as The Leader. Don didnt want to infringe on that without meaning to.

Still, Rickles would later join the Rat Pack in a different way.

When they would get together in the steam room at the Sands, they all had individual robes with nicknames on them, said Oppedisano. Frank was The Leader. Dean [Martin] was Drunky. Sam [Davis Jr.] was Smoky because he was a two-fisted smoker. They had a robe made for Don  The Rhino.

Rickles earned that nickname from Sinatra for his appearance, along with "Bullethead."

When it was Paul Rudds turn to meet Rickles, he became tongue-tied.

Don found out he was very nervous, said Oppedisano. Don was purposely holding back, being reserved and quiet. The longer he did that, the more nervous Paul got. Which at some point caused Paul to say, Maybe Ill just start insulting myself.

According to Eagle, if it wasnt for Rickles death, they would have continued filming new episodes.

We would have kept it going if it werent for Dons passing, he insisted.

Still, Eagle believes Dinner with Don will celebrate his legacy, as well as share the one message that embodied his career.

Don would always say, Be yourself, dont change for anybody, be good to people, have fun with people, be kind and loving to them. And those things will see you through, said Eagle. He was always true to his message. Do what makes you happy, but be unique.
Nearly 450 people in San Diego have become infected with hepatitis A over the last 10 months, making it the largest outbreak of the illness in California in decades.

On Tuesday (Sept. 19), officials in San Diego said the number of hepatitis cases in the city had climbed to 444, up from 421 last week. Of those infected, 305 have been hospitalized, and 16 have died. (For comparison, the city had just 22 cases of hepatitis A in 2015.)

HEPATITIS A OUTBREAK DECLARED IN LA COUNTY AS SAN DIEGO WASHES DOWN STREETS

Also this week, Los Angeles declared its own hepatitis outbreak, with 10 cases reported so far. And Santa Cruz County, in northern California, has reported 69 cases of the virus since April. The outbreaks in all three areas are occurring primarily among people who are homeless or who use illegal drugs. But what's causing hepatitis to spread in these areas?

In general, people become infected with hepatitis A through the "fecal-oral" route  that is, when small amounts of stool from an ill person contaminate objects, food or drinks that are then touched and ingested by another person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

San Diego officials say the outbreak there is being spread from person to person "through contact with a fecally contaminated environment." This type of contamination can occur when people with the illness don't properly wash their hands after going to the bathroom, according to the CDC.

More than 50 percent of hepatitis cases in San Diego are in homeless people, who are known to be at increased risk for hepatitis A, in part because homelessness presents challenges to keeping good hygiene, such as limited access to toilets and hand-washing facilities, according to a 2009 paper published in the journal Public Health Reports.

Clusters of hepatitis A cases have also occurred in some facilities with shared restrooms, including jails and residential drug treatment facilities, San Diego officials said. The infection can also spread through the sharing of equipment related to illicit drug use, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

On Sept. 1, San Diego declared a local public health emergency because of the hepatitis outbreak. The city has taken several steps to combat the outbreak, including vaccinating about 19,000 people against hepatitis A to prevent future illnesses, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported . Officials have also installed 40 hand-washing stations throughout the downtown area and have disinfected some city streets with bleach.

The strain of hepatitis involved in the San Diego outbreak is the same as the one in the Santa Cruz outbreak, which suggests the outbreaks are related, according to the County of San Diego's Public Health Services Division. (The strain involved in the LA outbreak has not been reported, but five of the LA cases involved people who visited either San Diego or Santa Cruz before their infection began, officials said.)

WHAT IS HEPATITIS?

The hepatitis A virus can infect the liver and cause inflammation and damage to the organ, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Symptoms can include dark-yellow urine, fever, joint pain, nausea and vomiting. People with the infection usually get better on their own without treatment, the NIH says. But in some cases, the infection can lead to liver failure , particularly in older adults or people who have other liver diseases.

In general, the hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for children at age 1; travelers to countries that have high rates of hepatitis A; users of illegal drugs; people with chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis C ; men who have sexual contact with other men; and people who work with animals infected with hepatitis A, according to the CDC.

Because of the outbreak in San Diego, officials there are also recommending that people get the vaccine if they are homeless, have close contact with the homeless or illicit drug users, or work in jobs where they handle food. It's also recommended that any person who wants to obtain immunity against hepatitis A get the vaccine, San Diego officials said.

Original article on Live Science .
A Colorado family is warning other parents about the dangers of Buckyballs after a 2-year-old girl swallowed 28 of the small magnets that sent her to the hospital.

Ella McBrien swallowed the small high-powered magnets when her father, Kyle McBrien, stepped away to use the bathroom. Her parents told FOX31 Denver on Sunday the girl likes to put things in her mouth.

"It was terrifying," girls mother, Elizabeth McBrien, said. "I was losing it, he luckily kept it together."

FORMER 'WORLD'S HEAVIEST WOMAN' DIES AFTER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

The X-rays showed the magnets linked together to form a circle in the girls bowel. The magnets pinched a piece of the organ, forming a whole. The inital procedure to remove the BB-sized spheres failed, leading doctors to use a specialized endoscopy to remove them.

"They were pinching the bowel and causing the early formation of a hole within the bowel by the time we got in there," Dr. Robert Kramer, who was working on the 2-year-olds case, told the news station. "That can have very significant implications. In the worst cases there has been deaths associated with these."

They successfully removed the magnetic balls and the toddler was moving around normally within a few hours after the procedure, according to FOX31.

WOMAN'S 'BABY BUMP' ACTUALLY A MASSIVE OVARIAN CYST

Buckyballs have previously injured and sickened children. The items were initially recalled in 2013 after several cases of children swallowing them were reported. Courts reversed the U.S. Consumer and Product Safety Commisions order in 2016.

"We are starting to see more of these high power magnet ingestions now that they are back on the market," Kramer said.



Kyle McBrien said hes telling his daughters health scare to warn other parents about the dangerous items.

"It sounds as benign as humanly possible -- magnets, you dont think anything of it. I think just to understand exactly what the true risk is," McBrien said.
An EMT who became the first emergency responder in New York City to contract HIV while treating a patient is being honored on Monday, 20 years after her death. Tracy Allen Lee, who was working as an FDNY emergency medical technician and was 17 months into the job when she contracted the virus, is being honored with a memorial stone marker outside an East Harlem EMS station, the New York Daily News reported.

In Nov. 1989, Lee responded to a call involving an AIDS patient who was bleeding to death and ripped her glove while pulling the man into the hallway for treatment. She later realized the nail that cut her glove had cut her hand, and that the patients blood had mixed with her own, the news outlet reported.

FORMER 'WORLD'S HEAVIEST WOMAN' DIES AFTER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

She filed a report but tested positive for the virus in May 1994.

I was 31 when she died, Victor Lee, the 34-year-olds widow, told the New York Daily News. When youre that age, you think youre invincible. We were going to grow old together and have kids.

Though her request to have her diagnosis designated as a line-of-duty illness was denied, Lee continued office work with the FDNY. She died in Sept. 1997 after falling into a coma. In 1998, New York passed a law requiring all rescue works infected with HIV on the job to automatically get line-of-duty injury designation, the news outlet reported.

I still think about her every day, Adelaide Connaughton, a retired EMS Lt. who worked closely with Lee, told the New York Daily News. I cant believe its been 20 years. It seems like yesterday.
An Egyptian woman who once held the title of worlds heaviest woman died in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates, her doctors said. Eman Abdul Atti, who at one point reportedly weighed over 1,100 pounds, was 37.

Burjeel Hospital, which had a team of 20 doctors caring for Atti, said the woman died at 4:35 a.m. on Monday due to complications from her weight, including heart disease and kidney dysfunction. They blamed her weight issues on a thyroid condition.

WOMAN'S 'BABY BUMP' ACTUALLY A MASSIVE OVARIAN CYST

Atti arrived at Burjeel Hospital from India in May, after she was airlifted from her home with the aid of a crane to undergo a weight loss procedure. She had not walked in 25 years but had reportedly lost more than 660 pounds after undergoing the bariatric procedure in March.

At the time, hospital officials told BBC News that Atti was dealing with cardiac issues, a bacterial infection and bed sores. Her former doctor at Saifee Hospital had clashed with the womans family during her hospitalization. Her sister accused the hospital of exaggerating her weight loss, and said she was suffering seizures and not stable enough to transfer hospitals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
My first thought was for my own family. When Hurricane Maria took aim at the already Hurricane Irma-battered island commonwealth of Puerto Rico, I was filled with despair. How much can these poor people take?

After being raked by two Category 4 and Category 5 storms in just two weeks, the already shaky island infrastructure has been essentially taken off-line. There is no electrical power here, except what people are able to make with their generators. Those generators need diesel or gasoline to work, and that fuel is in desperately short supply.

The lines at the stations that have gasoline are ridiculously long. The wait exceeds six hours. Vehicles are running out of fuel as they wait their turn to buy only $20 worth. Without fuel to power their generators, people cannot access fresh water. Without water, there are no toilets. Without toilets in the hot and humid conditions that exist hereyou get the bleak picture. This is a monumental human and environmental disaster unfolding right before our eyes.

Touring the island yesterday was a bleak, deeply depressing experience. The usually lush vegetation has been scorched by the ferocious winds that gusted at times over 160 mph. Windows have been blown out of luxury condominiums. More humble dwellings have been stripped of their roofs. The leisure fleets of sail and motorboats that usually attract tourists the world over have been wrecked.

I just dont know how the various governments can bring this island back on-line. Cellphone towers have been knocked down. Trees and power lines are savaged by the storm. Seventy percent of the 3.4 million residents of Puerto Rico were already out of power from Irma, and now Maria has blasted through, eliminating the rest of the already shaky power grid.

Only an approach like the Marshall Plan that resurrected Europe in the wake of World War II can save this place known as La Isla del Encanto, the island of enchantment. Bring in the aircraft carriers; import thousands of generators. Recruit linemen from around the United States to rally to the cause of their fellow U.S. citizens. The need is dire.

I wept with relief and concern when I visited my family in the same house I lived in as a 15-year-old when our grandparents were alive. But they face the dilemma shared by millions: There is no power and no running water; the schools are closed and businesses disrupted.

Deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis spreading over this corner of America, the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosello, told me this morning, the magnitude of the devastation is unprecedented. The infrastructure has been severely damaged. The people of Puerto Rico need the funding that is appropriate to attend to this situation as U.S. citizens.

Please keep Puerto Rico in your thoughts and prayers. Remember our fellow citizens in need.
Editor's note: The following column originally appeared in The Hill and in TheHill.com.

There are no two ways about it.

By saying he is willing to totally destroy North Korea to defend the U.S. and its allies, President Trump last week opened the door to possibly launching a pre-emptive military strike, even a nuclear strike.

Did his threat work?

His previous pledge to loose fire and fury on North Korea only accelerated the pace of threatening missile launches from Rocket Man, as Trump mockingly refers to Kim Jong-Un, the leader of the communist regime.

But in recent weeks, Trump won two unanimous votes in the United Nations Security Council to impose limited sanctions on North Korea. And China has halted its banks from doing business with North Korea.

Early in the year, Trump pressed China to apply even stronger pressure. In July, he admitted to being very disappointed with Chinese efforts to cripple Kims regime.

Did last weeks speech spur the Chinese to act?

To the contrary, Chinas foreign ministry reacted by calling for restraint by the U.S.

Trumps political chest thumping is unhelpful and it will only push [North Korea] to pursue even riskier policies, because survival of the regime is at stake, said a column in Chinas Peoples Daily newspaper.

What about Kims response?

The North Korean leader fired back at Trump by calling the president a mentally deranged U.S. dotard. That is to say, he dismissed Trump as an elderly, mentally weakened person, and promised to tame Trump with fire.

At the U.N., there was an equally juvenile put-down of Trump from North Koreas foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho: If he was thinking he could scare us with the sound of a dog barking, thats really a dog dream.

What about the Russians? Did the speech win new support from them?

We are witnessing a very dangerous confrontation spiral, Russias foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said in response. Lavrov described the exchange between Trump and Kim as military hysteria and a foreign affairs disaster.

What did Americans think?

Congressional Democrats revived their push to restrain the presidents constitutional war powers.

The more the president talks about the total destruction of North Korea, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) told a reporter, the more it's necessary for the country and the Congress to have a debate over what the authority of a president is to launch nuclear weapons against another country."

What about American experts on North Korea? What did they think?

President Trump has handed the North Koreans the sound bite of the century [with this threat to destroy North Korea]. That footage will be used time and time and time again on North Koreas state television channel, Marcus Noland of the Peterson Institute for International Economics told a reporter.

Trumps aggressive handling of North Korea fits into a pattern.

He is similarly bombastic  and similarly non-strategic  in calling the Iran nuclear deal an embarrassment, to the U.S.

No other country has joined Trump in expressing regret over the deal. And he has not really explained why it is a bad deal.

In fact, the other nations who signed the deal, as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), have all said Iran is in compliance.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani fired back at Trump in his own speech to the U.N. General Assembly:

Ugly, ignorant words were spoken by the US president against the Iranian nation, full of hatred and baseless allegations, Rouhani said.

The New York Times editorial board noted another problem with Trumps attack.

If America withdraws from the agreement, it will outrage the other major powers that are party to the deal  France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China  and give Iran an excuse to resume a full-blown nuclear program.

Why Mr. Trump would risk that when North Koreas program is a full-time concern is a mystery, the Times concluded.

This brings to mind one of Hillary Clintons most memorable speeches during last years campaign.

She said Trumps foreign policy ideas arent just different, they are dangerously incoherent. Theyre not even really ideas, just a series of bizarre rants, personal feuds and outright lies. This is not someone who should ever have the nuclear codes, because its not hard to imagine Donald Trump leading us into a war just because somebody got under his very thin skin.

Nine months into the Trumps leadership, the unifying theme of his foreign policy is disrespect for any deal made by President Obama and a lack of core principles to shape his own view of the world.

Trump talks about the importance of putting America first but as the Wall Street Journal editorial page noted there is no substitute for U.S. leadership if he wants to build a more peaceful world.

Political commentator Salena Zito famously wrote last year that journalists took Trump literally during the campaign but not seriously, and that his supporters took him seriously but not literally.

In a political campaign, that worked.

On the world stage with a nuclear crisis escalating, it is scary and possibly deadly.
Sen. John McCain revealed on Sunday that President Trump never apologized to him for suggesting on the campaign trail that the senator and Vietnam prisoner wasnt a war hero.

In an interview with CBS "60 Minutes" Sunday night, McCain, R-Ariz., said that hed be open to rapprochement with Trump.

"He's not a war hero," Trump said.

"He was a war hero because he was captured," he said in Iowa in June 2015. "I like people who werent captured."

McCain, 81, languished for more than five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam after his plane was shot down in 1967 during combat. McCain was released in March of 1973.

Injuries sustained from being tortured left the veteran unable to lift his arms above his head.

The Arizona senator said that the two share different values, thus making them different people.

"He is in the business of making money and he has been successful both in television as well as Miss America and others. I was raised in a military family," McCain said. "I was raised in the concept and belief that duty, honor, country is the  is the lodestar for the behavior that we have to exhibit every single day."

McCain's office announced in July the lawmaker was diagnosed with a brain tumor, known as a glioblastoma, associated with a blood clot above his left eye.

In August, upon returning to the Senate floor, McCain cast the deciding vote against an Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill, something Trump strongly has been pushing for.

When asked if he voted "no" as a way to get back at Trump, McCain said "life is too short" to worry about every thing someone has said to someone else.

"If I took offense at everybody who has said something about me, or disparaged me or something like that  life is too short. You've gotta move on," McCain said. "And on an issue of this importance to the nation, for me to worry about a personal relationship, then I'm not doing my job."
President Trump on Sunday signed off on updated travel restrictions that would limit entry for people coming to the U.S. from eight countries, as the existing travel ban is set to expire.

The new travel restrictions, set to take effect Oct. 18, would slow or limit entry from citizens of North Korea, Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. North Korea and Venezuela were not listed in the earlier ban.

Iraqi citizens do not face the same travel restrictions, but will "be subject to additional scrutiny to determine if they pose risks" to U.S. security, the White House said.

The new policy could complicate the Supreme Court's review of the order. The high court is scheduled to hear arguments over its legality on October 10.

Officials stressed that valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but doesn't guarantee, case-by-case waivers.

"As President, I must act to protect the security and interested of the United States and its people," the proclamation states. He later tweeted, "Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet."

The announcement comes the same day Trumps temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries is set to expire, 90 days after it went into effect.

The targeted countries are those that the Department of Homeland Security officials have said refuse to share information with the U.S., or haven't taken necessary security precautions.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, in a statement released Sunday, said the new travel restrictions "will protect Americans and allow DHS to better keep terrorists and criminals from entering our country. The restrictions announced are tough and tailored, and they sent a message to foreign governments that they must work with us to enhance security."

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement that Trump's proclamation is the president "carrying out his duty to protect the Ameican people."

Tillerson added: "The State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner. We will continue to work closely with our allies and partners who share our commitment to national and global security."

The travel restrictions are based on a new baseline developed by DHS that includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information and share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories. The U.S. then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

The eight countries the restrictions target are those that refused or were unable to comply.

Following the terrorist attack in London last week, Trump tweeted: "The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!"

Critics have accused Trump of overstepping his presidential authority and violating the Constitution's protections against religious bias. During his campaign, Trump called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."

Fox News' Jennifer Bowman, Shannon Bream, Kristin Brown, Rich Edson, Alexandra Rego and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Before Roy Moores sexual assault allegations came to light, the Republican senate candidate was already a polarizing figure.

Moore has argued that Muslims shouldnt be able to serve in Congress; he promoted the conspiracy theory that former President Barack Obama wasnt born in the U.S.; and he said in a 2005 interview that homosexual conduct should be illegal.

Then, slightly a month before the special election, the Washington Post released a bombshell report of allegations that Moore had inappropriate sexual conduct with teenage girls while he was in his 30s. One woman alleged that Moore had her touch him in private areas when she was just 14.

After the initial report, additional women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct.

Moore staunchly denied the accusations, but even still, many leading Republicans called on him to step aside from the campaign. However, others  including President Trump and Steve Bannon  stood by Moore.

The former judge lost the Alabama Senate election earlier this month to Democrat Doug Jones, but he thus far has refused to concede.

After a judge rejected a last-minute complaint from Moore that alleged voter fraud had given Jones his victory, the Democrat was officially certified as the winner of the states Senate race on Dec. 28.

Read on for a look at the special Senate election held earlier in December to replace Jeff Sessions.

Doug Jones, Democrat

A former U.S. attorney during the Clinton administration, Jones beat out seven other Democrats to secure the partys nomination. And he eventually became the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in Alabama since 1992.

Jones, 63, is perhaps best known for successfully prosecuting two members of the Ku Klux Klan accused of bombing a Birmingham church in 1963 that killed four young girls.

I may have the honor of serving Alabama as your senator, but the most important thing I have done is prosecuting those klansmen who killed 4 little girls at 16th St Baptist Church, Jones said in a November tweet.

Because of his resume, Steven Taylor, a political science professor at Alabamas Troy University, said Jones is considered to be a quality candidate in the political science world. He's someone who is credible and, therefore, competitive, Taylor told Fox News.

HERE ARE ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE COME OUT AGAINST ROY MOORE

Weve not seen a lot of quality Democratic candidates for Senate because Sen. [Richard] Shelby and Sen. Sessions, they were so strongly ensconced in their positions that the Democratic nominee was most often a more fringe candidate and not taken very seriously, Taylor said. Jones doesnt fall in that category  he has a background as a prosecutor, he has linkage to Civil Rights prosecution for the bombers in Birmingham. This makes him a more serious and significant candidate.

Openly critical of Trump, Jones promised to fight for pro-abortion policies, tackling student loan debt and raising the minimum wage.

Even prior to the allegations of Moore groping a teenage girl, Democrats reportedly felt optimistic about Jones chances of winning in a historically red state. And after the allegations, some polls  such as a Fox News poll conducted days before the election  had Jones in the lead.

While Jones initially stayed away from the accusations against Moore, the Democratic candidate came out swinging during a speech the week before the election.

I damn sure believe that I have done my part to ensure that men who hurt little girls should go to jail and not the United States Senate, Jones said.

Jones was endorsed by prominent Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. In addition, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., campaigned for Jones, as did former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

Jones also received a surprising financial backing from a Senate Republican  Jeff Flake. The Arizona senator tweeted a photo of a check made out to Jones with the subject line saying, Country over Party.

And Trump, although he endorsed Moore, tweeted his congratulations to Jones.

Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard fought victory. The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win, Trump said. The people of Alabama are great, and the Republicans will have another shot at this seat in a very short period of time. It never ends!

Prior to the election, Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D, encouraged Jones to stay the course and not get bogged down with the allegations against Moore.

Getting involved in the allegations, that doesnt bring jobs to Alabama. That doesnt bring opportunity or economic prosperity to our state. That doesnt help education or health care. It doesnt help our infrastructure, Daniels told Fox News. Why would he focus on that?

Daniels also praised Jones for being a fighter for his entire career. He said Jones would bring unity and civility to the Senate and would work with lawmakers across the aisle to better Alabama.

Roy Moore, Republican

Called the Ayatollah of Alabama by critics who believe he too closely marries his political and judicial responsibilities with his religious beliefs, Judge Roy Moore emerged as the leader of the Republicans vying for the open Senate seat. In a special primary election earlier this year, Moore defeated incumbent Sen. Luther Strange who was tapped to fill the position when then-Sen. Jeff Sessions became the U.S. attorney general.

In the primary, Moore, 70, garnered the support of conservative darlings, such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson. Trump initially backed Strange but would eventually throw his weight behind Moore. Trumps former adviser, Steve Bannon, also campaigned for Moore.

Moores political past is mired in controversy, which he used to his advantage during the primary election. He was twice removed from Alabamas Supreme Court. The first time, he was dismissed when he refused to move a boulder-sized Ten Commandments monument from the statehouse; he was permanently suspended in 2016 after he instructed probate judges to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The Supreme Court incidents worked in his favor given that Alabamians are generally very conservative and religious, Taylor said. And his refusal to bend to the federal government is in line with a tradition set in the state by the former longtime pro-segregationist Gov. George Wallace, he said.

Hes very outspoken in a variety of ways, Taylor said of Moore. Hes a little more reflective of those more populist candidates weve seen of late, including the president.

Prior to the election, Taylor thought it possible that voters in the deep red state of Alabama could look the other way.

In some ways, that Roy Moore has a very strong religious element to his politics is not substantially out of the mainstream for the state, Taylor said.

"He's very outspoken in a variety of ways."  Dr. Steven Taylor, Troy University political science professor

After Moores primary victory, Trump called him a really great guy who ran a fantastic race. Many Trump supporters turned out to campaign for Moore during the primary, despite the presidents backing of a different candidate.

Moores judicial past took a backseat, however, when the Washington Post reported that four women accused Moore of engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior with them while they were teenagers and he was in his 30s.

Leigh Corfman, now 58, alleged that Moore first approached her in a courtroom in 1979 when she was 14 years old. Eventually, Moore took her to his house, took off her shirt and pants, touched her private parts and guided her hand to his underwear, she said. The two did not have sexual intercourse, and he took her home when she asked, Corfman said.

After the Washington Post's initial report, several more women accused Moore of being sexually inappropriate.

Moore vehemently denied the accusations, calling them baseless and the very definition of fake news.

It seems that in the political arena, to say that something is not true is simply not good enough. So let me be clear. I have never provided alcohol to minors, and I have never engaged in sexual misconduct, Moore said in a statement provided to Fox News.

He also told Fox News Sean Hannity that he generally didnt date women who were teenagers when he was in his 30s and would not date someone without her mothers permission. Moore admitted its possible that he did go on dates with one of the accusers in the Washington Post report who said she was 17 when Moore kissed her.

That line of defense was not as strident or strong as one might expect, Taylor said.

Despite numerous Republican leaders backing away from Moore, Trump tweeted on Dec. 12  Election Day  that Moore will always vote for us.

The people of Alabama will do the right thing, Trump tweeted while encouraging his followers to vote for Moore.

But following Moores loss, the president noted that he originally endorsed Strange because he knew that Moore will not be able to win the General Election.

I was right! Roy worked hard but the deck was stacked against him, Trump said.

And on Dec. 23, Trump again said on Twitter that he said [Moore] would lose in Alabama and touted his initial support of Strange.

A week before the election, the Republican National Committee began to support Moore again, just three weeks after it pulled its financial support for the beleaguered candidate.

But despite his loss, Moore didnt give up. He filed an election complaint on Dec. 27, that said alleged voter fraud was so prevalent, it improperly altered the outcome of this election. The complaint calls for a thorough investigation and is meant to block the certification of Jones until a probe is completed, Moores campaign said.

A judge rejected Moores attempt to challenge the election.

According to the election results from earlier in December, Moore lost to Jones by a margin of 21,000 votes.

If Moore had won, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he would immediately have an issue with the Ethics Committee.

Fox News Lukas Mikelionis and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner rose to fame with an impassioned speech in Congress in 2010, only to be taken down by a scandal that involved "sexting" multiple women for years.

The former New York Democratic congressman reported to prison in November 2017 after he was sentenced to 21 months in prison two months before on federal charges of sending sexually explicit messages to a teenage girl.

As he serves his time, Weiner and his estranged wife Huma Abedin proceeded with their divorce, opting on Wednesday to withdraw their case so they can settle it out of court.

Weiner, who openly wept as the judge read his sentencing in September, was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

A 15-year-old girl in North Carolina told the Daily Mail in 2016 that she and Weiner exchanged explicit messages for months. She claimed that he asked her to film herself undressing at one point.

Prior to sentencing, Weiner agreed to not appeal any sentence between 21 and 27 months in prison. He had faced up to 10 years in prison for the charge of transferring obscene material to a minor.

From his start as a politician and marrying political staffer Huma Abedin, to the first reports of his "sexting" scandal, here's a look at Weiner's time in the spotlight.

July 2010

Weiner and Abedin, who met in 2001, got married in New York. Former President Bill Clinton officiated the ceremony.

That same month, Weiner, who was a Democratic representative at the time, gave a moving speech on the House floor after a bill to provide aid to 9/11 emergency responders failed. Weiner gained notoriety and soon started becoming a known name in the political world.

May 2011

The first photo of the scandal: a picture of Weiner in his boxer brief with a bulging crotch was posted on his Twitter account with about 40,000 followers. Weiner first claimed his Twitter was hacked.

Abedin was secretly pregnant with their son at the time.

June 2011

Weiner held a tearful news conference on June 6, fessing up to the tweet.

"To be clear, the picture was of me, and I sent it," Weiner said.

Weiner announced he would be taking a leave of absence from Congress on June 11. A spokeswoman said Weiner was taking the time to "seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person."

Five days later, he officially resigned from Congress. He held a news conference in Brooklyn, New York and apologized for his actions and the embarrassment he may have caused.

December 2011

Abedin gives birth to their son, Jordan Zain Weiner.

May 2013

After being out of the public eye for nearly two years, Weiner announced he was running for mayor of New York City. In the video announcement, Weiner, Abedin and their son appear to be a happy family, putting the scandal behind them.

"Look, Ive made some big mistakes and I know Ive let a lot of people down," Weiner said in the video.

"I'm running for mayor because I've been fighting for the middle class and those struggling to make it for my entire life. And I hope I get a second chance to work for you," he added.

"We love this city," Abedin said. "And no one will work harder to make it better than Anthony."

July 2013

A website published screenshots of alleged conversations that contained explicit photos between Weiner and another woman.

Weiner, with Abedin by his side, held a news conference on July 23 where he admitted to the sexting. Despite the revelation, Abedin stood by her husband's side.

"What I want to say is I love him, I have forgiven him, I believe in him, and as I have said from the beginning, we are moving forward," Abedin said.

September 2013

Weiner lost the mayoral primary, landing in fifth place. Bill de Blasio went on to win the Democratic nomination and the election.

May 2016

The documentary "Weiner" opened in theaters. The film documents Weiner's rollercoaster career in politics and highlighted the scandal. Abedin, at the time, was one of Hillary Clinton's top campaign aides for the 2016 presidential election.

August 2016

The New York Post published a story about more explicit texts the disgraced politician sent starting in 2015. One of the photos showed Weiner, in his boxer briefs, in bed with his toddler son by his side.

The next day, Abedin announced the couple was separating.

"After a long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband," Abedin said in a statement.

September 2016

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York Police department announced they were opening an investigation into Weiner after a 15-year-old girl told the Daily Mail the former politician sent her lewd messages starting in January 2016. The exchange continued for months.

October 2016

The FBI said it was reopening its investigation into the private email server of then Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The FBI discovered the emails while looking into Weiner's laptop during the investigation into the sexting case.

May 2017

Weiner appeared in federal court in Manhattan on May 19 and pleaded guilty to a charge of transmitting sexual material to a minor.

"I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse," Weiner tearfully said during his apology in court.

The judge told him he would have to register as a sex offender. Weiner agreed to not appeal any sentence between 21 and 27 months in prison.

On the same day, Abedin reportedly filed for divorce, nine months after announcing their separation.

September 2017

Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in prison after his lawyers argued he should be spared from prison in a Manhattan federal court. He openly wept in court as the judge said he was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and required to forfeit his iPhone. His lawyers referenced letters that attest to his character, including one by Abedin.

With Anthony, I have repeatedly found myself in circumstances I never imagined. I am devastated by Anthonys actions, and I understand he must face their consequences, she said.

His lawyers referenced Anthonys operatic self-destruction, describing his crime as the final act  born of deep sickness. But they also blamed the girl who Weiner conversed with, saying that she had a goal to affect last years presidential election as Abedin worked for Clinton.

Weiners lawyers also argued that he never purposefully sought out teenagers on the internet and didnt engage in predatory behaviors.

He responded to the victims request for sexually explicit messages not because she was a teenager but in spite of it, the lawyers said.

The couple also asked a judge for privacy in their separate divorce proceedings. While their lawyers met with state Supreme Court Justice Michael L. Katz, Weiner and Abedin chatted casually, according to the Associated Press.

October 2017

A conservative watchdog group said the FBI found about 2,800 government documents pertaining to Abedins work with Clinton on Weiners personal laptop. Those documents were reportedly sent to the computer by Abedin.

"This is a disturbing development. Our experience with Abedins emails suggest these Weiner laptop documents will include classified and other sensitive materials," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

November 2017

Weiner reported to prison to begin his 21-month sentence. He is being held at the Federal Medical Center Devens in Massachusetts. The facility in Ayer, about 40 miles west of Boston, has an inmate population of more than 1,000 at the medical center and over 100 more at an adjacent minimum security satellite camp.

It's the same prison that once housed Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

January 2018

Abedin and Weiner submitted paperwork to withdraw their divorce case, the New York Post reported, citing sources. The judge announced in court that the case was "discontinued."

The couple reportedly wanted to finalize their divorce out of court in the interest of keeping their 6-year-old son out of the spotlight, according to the New York Daily News. Huma was expected appear in court on Wednesday for a compliance conference.

Fox News' Kaitlyn Schallhorn and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison, facing the most severe penalty yet in connection with the sexting scandal that drove the New York Democrat out of Congress, ruined his marriage and became a late issue in the 2016 presidential race.

U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote issued the sentence in federal court in New York.

This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment, Cote said in a statement.

The former lawmaker's sexting habits entered criminal territory with his illicit contact with a 15-year-old girl. Weiner, 53, had pleaded guilty in May to sending sexually explicit texts to the girl across state lines. Weiner agreed not to appeal any sentence between 21 and 27 months in prison.

Weiner openly wept in court on Monday as the judge announced the sentence. In addition to the prison term, he was sentenced to three years of supervised release, given a $10,000 fine, and required to forfeit his iPhone. Weiner must surrender on Nov. 6 to a yet-to-be determined prison facility.

Weiner read from a prepared statement for several minutes, describing himself as an addict and calling his crime rock bottom. He said he has a disease, but it is not an excuse.

The disgraced politician earlier had apologized in court to the teenage victim, blaming his own destructive impulses. Weiner also was forced to register as a sex offender.

Anthony Weiner, a former Congressman and candidate for Mayor, asked a girl who he knew to be 15 years old to display her naked body and engage in sexually explicit behavior for him online. Justice demands that this type of conduct be prosecuted and punished with time in prison, Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said in a statement Monday. Today, Anthony Weiner received a just sentence that was appropriate for his crime.

Weiner said last week that he was undergoing treatment and is profoundly sorry for subjecting the minor to what his lawyers call his deep sickness.

Weiner's treatments include individual therapy once a week, group therapy once a week, and 12-step meetings four to five times a week.

ANTHONY WEINER SCANDALS: FROM POLITICS TO SEXTING CASES

I have compulsively sought attention from women who contacted me on social media, and I engaged with many of them in both sexual and non-sexual conversation, Weiner said in a prepared statement in May. These destructive impulses brought great devastation to my family and friends, and destroyed my lifes dream of public service.

Throughout the trial, defense lawyers had portrayed the girl as an aggressor, saying she wanted to generate material for a book and possibly influence the presidential election.

Weiner apologized to his now-estranged wife, longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin, and his family, after his admission of guilt. Abedin filed for divorce just hours after Weiner pleaded guilty in May.

The FBI began investigating Weiner in September 2016 after the 15-year-old girl in North Carolina told a tabloid news site that she and the former politician had exchanged lewd messages for several months, and accused him of asking her to undress on camera.

This relationship was hardly the first that caused public embarrassment for Weiner and his family. In 2011, Weiner resigned from Congress after an errant tweet exposed his sexting habits. He later ran for New York City mayor, but was unsuccessful.

But the criminal investigation into his relationship with the minor infamously intersected with the 2016 presidential election, when agents acquired Weiners electronic devices and uncovered a new batch of emails between Hillary Clinton and Abedin.

The discovery led the FBI to revisit the investigation into Clintons use of a private email server while conducting official government business while secretary of state. Clinton has cited this as a factor in her 2016 presidential defeat, and most recently, recalled the series of events in her new book, What Happened.

Fox News' Tamara Gitt and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert on Monday urged Arizona to "recall" Sen. John McCain amid his recent brain cancer diagnosis, while criticizing his Republican colleague for going back on his 2016 campaign vow to repeal ObamaCare.

[McCain] is one of those that said I will repealif he had said last year what he was going to do, he would have lost, Gohmert, R-Texas, said on Fox & Friends early Monday.

Nothing inhibits recovery from cancer like stress. I think Arizona could help him, and us. Recall him, let him fight successfully this terrible cancer, and lets get someone in here who will keep the word he gave last year.

McCains office did not respond to Fox News request for comment on Gohmerts remarks.

Gohmert's idea could not actually be implemented.

As per a Congressional Research Service report, "the United States Constitution does not provide for nor authorize the recall of United States officers such as Senators, Representatives, or the President or Vice President." They can be expelled by their colleagues, but not recalled by voters.

McCain, who was diagnosed with brain cancer this summer, cast a decisive vote against the Senates so-called skinny repeal over the summer. Then on Friday, McCain angered Republicans again by announcing that he would not vote for the latest GOP health care plan coming from Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal, McCain said in a statement, adding that the process to bring the bill to the floor was being rushed. I would consider supporting legislation similar to that offered by my friends Senators Graham and Cassidy were it part of extensive hearings, debate and amendment. But that has not been the case.

McCain added: We should not be content to pass health care legislation on a party-line basis, as Democrats did when they rammed ObamaCare through Congress in 2009.

On Monday, Gohmert seemingly called for an ally in the ObamaCare repeal fight to take McCain's place.

I think it would be very helpful to him and the country. Hes got cancer, its a tough battle. But stress is a real inhibitor to getting over cancer, Gohmert repeated Monday. So let him go back, deal with the cancer, let Arizona recall him so that we can get somebody who will keep his word from last year.

During his remarks on the Senate floor in late July after his diagnosis, McCain said he had "every intention" of returning to Washington.

I have every intention of returning here and giving many of you cause to regret all the nice things you said about me, McCain joked. And, I hope, to impress on you again that it is an honor to serve the American people in your company.
Republican authors behind a last-ditch plan to overhaul ObamaCare struggled Monday to win over Senate holdouts, even after reworking the funding formula in the latest version to give key states more money.

A spokesman for Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., whom President Trump tried to woo over the weekend, said Monday that the Kentucky lawmaker has not budged from his opposition.

Paul's state was among those seeing a funding increase under the latest version of the "Graham-Cassidy" bill, but the Republican has concerns the plan would spend too much without really replacing ObamaCare.

No change on his position, Paul's spokesman told Fox News.

A senior aide to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, indicated he also remains at this point a no on the health care bill.

It is our intent to try to find a path to yes, the aide added.

Sponsors Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, and Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana, are trying to win over support from the chambers GOP holdouts. A new chart released by Cassidy's office shows a range of states getting extra health care funding, including those represented by each one of those GOP holdouts: 4 percent more for Kentucky; 49 percent more for Texas; 3 percent more for Alaska; 43 percent for Maine and 14 percent more for Arizona than under current law.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., joined Paul last Friday in opposing the bill, setting off the scramble to either win over Paul or at least convince other wavering senators to support the bill. Republicans can only afford to lose two senators on the floor.

The focus is heavy on Alaska, where GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski does not want to back any measure that would increase the states already sky-high cost of providing health care in its many remote, rural communities.

Yet, while the latest funding boost for Alaska would not appear that significant, the boost for Maine is substantial. The state is represented by Sen. Susan Collins, who has been leaning "no" on the bill for days.

While Texas also would see a big boost, Fox News is told that Cruz remains concerned that the additional money does not necessarily resolve concerns about lowering premiums -- and that the bill does not permit the sale of health insurance plans across state lines.

The bill would provide block grants to states, allowing them to execute to their own plan to manage a federally backed health care program.

White House legislative affairs Director Marc Short acknowledged on Fox News Sunday that the bills funding formulas were being revised over the weekend.

However, Cassidys office has not responded to requests to explain the new state-by-state data in more detail.

Collins and Murkowski, along with McCain, voted no in July when the GOP-controlled Senate held its only final floor vote this year on a full ObamaCare repeal-replace measure.

The failed effort has soured President Trump on Senate Republicans, who hold a 52-48 majority in the chamber, considering Trump made repealing ObamaCare a major campaign promise.

Republican have until Saturday to pass the bill by a simple, 51-vote majority under so-called budget reconciliation rules, with the potential for Vice President Pence to cast a deciding yes vote.

Trump this weekend continued to try to rally votes and suggested that Alaska and Maine would be among several states to benefit from the new bill, if passed.

Alaska, Arizona, Maine and Kentucky are big winners in the Healthcare proposal. 7 years of Repeal & Replace and some Senators not there, Trump tweeted Sunday.

Arizona is the home state of McCain, who cast the decisive no vote in July and on Friday said he wouldnt vote for the new bill.

Trump, in response, blasted McCain while turning his attention to Paul.

Trump on Saturday tweeted: I know Rand Paul and I think he may find a way to get there for the good of the Party!

An analysis released last week by the firm Avalere Health showed 34 states getting less funding -- with Arizona, California and New York among those appearing to face the deepest cuts.

Texas stood to get the biggest increase -- $35 billion -- and states overall would get $215 billion less through 2026, according to the report.

The Graham-Cassidy bill would significantly reduce funding to states over the long term, said Avalere Vice President Caroline Pearson. "States would have broad flexibility to shape their markets but would have less funding to subsidize coverage for low- and middle-income individuals."

No congressional Democrats support dismantling former President Barack Obamas signature health care law.

On Monday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the weekend tweaks to Graham and Cassidys bill only worsen the crushing costs and cruelty their bill inflicts on millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions and working families.

Fox News' Joseph Weber, Chad Pergram and Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.
Republicans' attempt this week to repeal and replace ObamaCare in the Senate is supposed to be their last shot.

Maybe.

The effort looks bleak right now as the Senate careens toward a Sept. 30 deadline to try to rip out the 2010 health care law and replace it with a plan engineered by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, and Bill Cassidy, Louisiana.

They retooled their blueprint over the weekend by bolstering funding for Alaska and Maine to court the states respective GOP senators, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, who each have expressed skepticism about the bill but arent hard noes yet.

The legislation largely sends health care dollars to states as block grants, permitting states to use the money as they see fit.

Its doubtful the Senate will this week have a complete analysis of the legislation from the Congressional Budget Office.

Graham-Cassidy supporters argue the nonpartisan CBO already scored many provisions in their legislation -- just not together. However, some partial analysis is expected Monday that could merely be a letter about the bill without tables and detailed dissection.

Supporters will argue thats enough economic-impact analysis to hold a full vote before the Sept. 30 deadline to pass the bill with a simple, 51-vote majority. Critics argue the process is too incomplete to vote on such major legislation.

Then there is the math.

The Senate breakdown is 52 Republicans and 48 senators who caucus with the Democrats.

GOP Sens. Rand Paul, Kentucky, and John McCain, Arizona, said last week that they wont vote for the bill. That meant the bill was on life support with a potential maximum of 50 GOP yeas. The thought was that Vice President Pence could break a possible tie. Then Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Sunday announced his opposition.

They dont have my vote, said Cruz, who suggested fellow Republican Sen. Mike Lee will also vote no.

Excluding Murkowski, Collins and Lee, there are 51 nays on the bill. Thats makes the bill an immovable object unless something dramatic changes.

Expect GOP leaders and White House officials to administer a full-court press this week as the parliamentary carriage carting the health care bill turns into a pumpkin at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 30.

Heres where things get tricky.

With only 52 Senate Republicans, GOP leaders knew they didnt have a chance of neutering a Democratic filibuster on any repeal and replace effort. Under most conditions, it takes 60 yeas to shut off a filibuster.

But once a year, the Senate can sidestep filibuster rules and consider legislation under a process called budget reconciliation. Budget reconciliation limits debate to 20 hours and requires only 51 votes to pass a bill.

Budget reconciliation packages are ostensibly good for only one fiscal year. The governments fiscal year runs out Saturday night, or Sept. 30, and so does the reconciliation measure for health care. Thus, this weeks health care sprint.

Its unclear whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would forge ahead this week with the Graham-Cassidy plan as a major amendment to the budget reconciliation effort the Senate debated in July.

Debate time on this particular reconciliation package expired, though senators could agree to some limited debate if everyone is on board.

Endless amendments -- in addition to Graham/Cassidy -- are in order.

That could launch a vote-a-rama in the Senate. A vote-a-rama is where the Senate votes for hours on end on a lengthy slate of amendments during budget reconciliation.

Democrats could try to clog the works with so many amendments that the clock expires Saturday night. Democrats could also submit amendments so lengthy that it takes the Senate clerks hours to orally read each one before the chamber.

In reality, the deadline here is sometime late on Sept. 28 or in the wee hours of Sept. 29. The holiest day in Judaism -- Yom Kippur -- begins at sundown on Sept. 29 and runs until after sundown on Sept. 30. Jewish senators wont be available for Senate work during that period.

Still, House and Senate Republicans could always craft a budget reconciliation package for tax reform with provisions that also allow for a repeal and replacement of ObamaCare. After all, tax reform is next in line and a budget reconciliation vehicle is essential for that goal, too. Such a ploy would mean that Sept. 30 isnt the absolute deadline for repealing and replacing ObamaCare.

If the future of the health care bill is cloudy in the Senate, its even murkier in the House.

Lets say for a moment the Senate does approve Graham-Cassidy. The House and Senate arent in alignment as both bodies adopted different health care bills. That means if the Senate package returns to the House, the House could be stuck with a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.

The House narrowly approved its own version of health care in May. Graham-Cassidy is a different animal. Would Californias 14 House Republicans vote yea?

How about GOPers from New York, New Jersey or Ohio? Graham says House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., was confident his members would muscle through the Senates health care bill. But that could require a Herculean effort.

Its possible the House may change a Senate-approved bill. An altered bill must return to the Senate.

Any changes to the Senate bill by the House would be subject to a filibuster. An amended bill would require 60 votes to halt a filibuster. Thats never going to happen under these circumstances. But if this bill has any chance of becoming law, House Republicans will likely have to accept whatever the Senate sends over.
EXCLUSIVE: Iranian state television released video footage Friday claiming to show the launch of a new type of medium-range ballistic missile, a few hours after it was displayed during a military parade in Tehran.

But it turns out Iran never fired a ballistic missile, sources say.

The video released by the Iranians was more than seven months old  dating back to a failed launch in late January, which resulted in the missile exploding shortly after liftoff, according to two U.S. officials.

President Trump had originally responded to the reported launch in a late-Saturday tweet, saying, Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel. They are also working with North Korea. Not much of an agreement we have!

This was after Trump, speaking before world leaders at the United Nations, called the Iran nuclear deal an embarrassment to the United States.

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, he said.

Trump later told reporters he had made up his mind about the deal, but wouldn't say whether he would pull the United States out of the nuclear accord with Iran.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, speaking at the U.N. one day after Trump, maintained his countrys missile program was solely defensive in nature.

We never threaten anyone, but we do not tolerate threats from anyone, he said. Rouhani returned to Tehran two days later to preside over the missile parade featuring the new medium-range design and said his country would build as many missiles as necessary to defend itself.

Afterward, the footage was aired, with Iranian media claiming a successful test launch  though it apparently showed the failed January launch.

At the time, Iran was attempting to launch its new Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile for the first time. It flew 600 miles before exploding, in a failed test of a reentry vehicle, officials said at the time.

The failed late January launch was first reported by Fox News and prompted the White House to put Iran on notice days later.

Irans new medium-range missile is based on a North Korean designPyongyangs BM-25 Musudan ballistic missile, which has a maximum range of nearly 2,500 miles, putting U.S. forces in the Middle East and Israel within reach if its problems are fixed.

The very first missiles we saw in Iran were simply copies of North Korean missiles, said Jeffrey Lewis, a missile proliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Over the years, we've seen photographs of North Korean and Iranian officials in each other's countries, and we've seen all kinds of common hardware.

Last weekend, a senior Iranian general said the missile had a range of less than 2,000 miles.

"The Khoramshahr missile has a range of 2,000 kilometers [1,250 miles] and can carry multiple warheads," Irans official IRNA news agency quoted Revolutionary Guards aerospace chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh as saying.

I am not sure why the Iranians are lying about the range, one U.S. official said. I think they dont want to piss the Europeans off.

The official and others declined to be identified because they were not authorized to disclose sensitive information to the press.

Experts say Iran possesses the largest arsenal of ballistic missiles in the Middle East, with more than 1,000 short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. Tehran has conducted over 20 missile tests since 2015.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Iran is supplying proxies such as Hezbollah and Syrias al-Assad regime with a steady supply of missiles and rockets and likely supplying Houthi rebel groups with short-range missiles in the ongoing conflict in Yemen.

U.N. resolution 2231 -- put in place days after the Iran nuclear deal was signed -- calls on the Islamic Republic not to conduct ballistic missile tests, but does not forbid them from doing so, after Russia and China insisted on the watered-down language in order to pass the resolution.

Iran is "called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology," according to the text of the resolution.

Iran claims the tests are legitimate because they are defensive in nature.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in an interview Sunday said he is more energetic than ever while he undergoes treatment for an aggressive cancer.

McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee who made headlines after recently speaking out against the new GOP health bill, was diagnosed in July with a brain cancer.

He told "60 Minutes" that at the time of his diagnosis in July, he was driving back home to his ranch just outside of Sedona, Arizona. He received a call from his doctor. The doctor told him he has to come back to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.

McCain said it was Friday, and hed rather head back on Monday. But the doctor said, No, you have to come now. Its very serious.

I kept saying to them, "Tell it to me straight." "Well, there's always this. There's always that." You know, and-- and I said, "I can take it. Just tell me." And then they were more forthcoming, he said.

MCCAIN: TRUMP NEVER APOLOGIZED FOR 'WAR HERO' DIG

According to the American Brain Tumor Association, more than 12,000 people a year are diagnosed with glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive type of tumor. The American Cancer Society puts the five-year survival rate for patients over 55 at about 4 percent.

The prognosis is very, very serious, McCain said. Some say three percent, some say 14 percent. Its a very poor prognosis. So, I just said, I understand, now were going to do what we can, get the best doctors we can find, and do the best we can. And, at the same time, celebrate with gratitude a life well-lived.

He continued, "I am more energetic and more engaged as a result of this because I know Ive got to do everything I can to serve this country while I can."

He went on, I have feelings sometimes of fear of what happens, but as soon as I get that, I say, Wait a minute  youve been around a long time, old man. Youve had a great life and a great experience. I want when I leave, that the ceremony is at the Naval Academy and we just have a couple of people that stand up and say, This guy, he served his country.'
Republican senators on Monday introduced what they call the conservative alternative to the DREAM Act that would still protect hundreds of thousands of young people brought illegally into the United States.

The senators announced the plan as Congress negotiates over a new DREAM Act, meant to enshrine protections for young illegal immigrants under the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals plan that President Trump has ended.

The alternative plan, called the SUCCEED Act, is being touted by GOP Sens. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina; James Lankford, of Oklahoma; and Orrin Hatch, of Utah.

I want to stay focused on  providing a solution for these children, Tillis said in introducing the bill Monday on Capitol Hill. I want to make it clear that Im genuinely interested in talking to anybody interested in a solution.

Tillis also said hes open to a bipartisan effort, despite the bill being considered a conservative-leaning plan.

The senators call the bill a compassionate, merit-based solution to help those protected by the Obama-era DACA program.

Among the requirements for program beneficiaries is that they either maintain a job, serve in the military or earn a post-secondary or vocational degree to keep their legal status as adults.

The SUCCEED Act isnt a free pass, the lawmakers said in a statement before officially announcing the bill.

They also say the bill will include extensive background checks that look for gang activity, claiming the bill will deter future illegal immigration.

Beyond those with criminal convictions, those with significant misdemeanors could also be declared ineligible. The lawmakers suggested the bill should be paired with significant border security.

A Tillis spokesman said the bill also provides an eventual pathway to citizenship for those who qualify -- which also could be part of a DREAM Act deal pursued by President Trump, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

The spokesman said that individuals under the SUCCEED Act would -- after 15 years of legal status, including at least five years as a green card holder -- qualify for naturalization and could apply for citizenship.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to declare freedom of speech is under attack at American colleges and universities, during an address Tuesday taking aim at political correctness run amok on campus.

Sessions plans to tackle the hot-button issue of free speech on campus at Georgetown University Law Center, following a series of clashes at Berkeley and beyond over conservative speakers.

Freedom of thought and speech on the American campus are under attack, Sessions plans to say, according to excerpts obtained in advance by Fox News. Whereas the American University was once the center of academic freedom  a place of robust debate, a forum for the competition of ideas  it is transforming into an echo chamber of political correctness and homogenous thought, a shelter for fragile egos.

'The university is supposed to be about the search for truth, not the imposition of truth by a government censor.'  Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in prepared remarks

Sessions' remarks come amid a tense climate on college campuses.

The University of California, Berkeley -- the epicenter of this debate -- just cancelled its Free Speech Week after protests surrounding conservative speakers, including the events co-organizer, right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos. Other headline conservative speakers were to include Ann Coulter and Steve Bannon.

Yiannopoulos attempted to speak at Berkeley in February, but it was shut down by masked protesters who rioted on campus.

A Justice Department official told Fox News that Sessions will likely mention the controversies at Berkeley.

In his prepared remarks, Sessions also plans to question who is deciding what is offensive and what is acceptable.

"The university is supposed to be about the search for truth, not the imposition of truth by a government censor," he says in the excerpts.

Sessions plans to warn that this culture is ultimately shutting down speech, while chastising school officials allowing it to happen.

"This has allowed a cottage industry of protestors to crop up who understand school administrators will capitulate to their demands and are now routinely shutting down speeches and debates across the country in an effort to silence voices that are insufficiently orthodox on their pet issues," he says in the excerpts.

The campus free-speech debate is relatively new territory for Sessions, who already is at the center of several other political firestorms -- from the DOJ's crackdown on sanctuary cities to the reversal of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Unclear is whether the attorney general's entry into this debate signals any broader focus by his department on such First Amendment issues.

UC BERKELEY STUDENT GROUP CANCELS 'FREE SPEECH WEEK' EVENT

The right of free speech does not exist to protect the speech we all want to agree on. It exists to protect the very speech that we dont want to hear, Sessions plans to say on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court has canceled arguments set for Oct. 10 in the dispute over President Donald Trump's travel ban, after Trump rolled out a new policy Sunday.

The unsigned order from the justices Monday asks both sides to weigh in by Oct. 5 about what to do with the case.

The court had been ready to hear argument about the legality of a 90-day ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries and a 120-day ban on refugees from around the world.

The ban expired Sunday and was replaced by a new policy that affects eight counties and has no expiration date.

Those countries are Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Chad, North Korea and Venezuela were not covered by the earlier ban.
When voters in Virginia head to the polls this November, theyll be casting their ballots the old-fashioned way.

The states Board of Elections decided earlier this month to de-certify the widely used Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines ahead of the gubernatorial election  prompting counties and cities to replace their touchscreen machines with those that produce a paper trail.

Virginia is not alone. Several states are now considering a return to old-fashioned paper ballots or a reinforced paper trail so results can be verified, amid concerns over hacking attempts in last years presidential race as well as longstanding cybersecurity worries about touchscreen machines.

Our No. 1 priority is to make sure that Virginia elections are carried out in a secure and fair manner, James Alcorn, chairman of the State Board of Elections, said in a statement, calling the move necessary to ensure the integrity of Virginias elections.

The Virginia decision was linked in part to vulnerabilities exposed during a July 2017 hackathon. At the annual DefCon Conference in Las Vegas, hackers were able to breach the security of over 30 different types of voting machines. One hacker reportedly boasted of being able to breach the systems in as little as 90 minutes.

HACKERS EASILY BUST INTO VOTING MACHINES, IN CONFERENCE CHALLENGE

A chief concern with Virginias machines was that they leave no paper trail, making voting discrepancies nearly impossible to prove. Virginia was already planning to move away from the touchscreens, but will now accelerate the shift to optical-scan ballots, in which voters fill out a paper ballot to be deposited and recorded in an electronic system.

A paper trail will ensure officials can verify election results if necessary in the fall.

The security of the election process is always of paramount importance. The Department is continually vigilant on matters related to security of voting equipment used in Virginia, state Commissioner of Elections Edgardo Cortes said in a statement.

Right now, a patchwork of different voting systems is in place across the country  typically, optical-scan ballots that are filled out and scanned; the DRE systems like touchscreen machines; or some combination of the two. According to the Pew Research Center, almost half of registered voters live in places that only use optical-scan systems, but nearly 30 percent live in places that use only DRE systems. The majority of those do not leave any paper trail that can be used for hard-copy recounts.

Earlier this week, the Rhode Island General Assembly also approved a bill requiring the state to perform an audit of paper ballots after an election. The legislation was introduced by state Sen. James C. Sheehan and state Rep. Edith Ajello, both Democrats, in conjunction with the advocacy group Common Cause.

John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, told Fox News that this legislation grew out of a 2013 effort to introduce a pilot program of election auditing that did not pass. It was reignited, however, after improperly programmed voting machines led to inaccurate results on a North Kingstown, R.I., ballot question during the 2016 election. Though the issue was fixed, the decision was made to introduce legislation for mandatory auditing.

We think it will both be a good practice for the state to undertake and to verify that the machines we are using are counting the ballots correctly and in turn that will enhance peoples confidence that when they cast their vote that their vote is actually counting, Marion said.

Marion noted that while Rhode Island actually moved to include paper ballots in 1998, they have been behind in adopting an audit system. The bill, which is headed to the governors desk, would allow for audits to start as early as the 2018 election, with a mandated start date of 2020.

Meanwhile, an effort in Georgia is underway to bring back a paper trail for ballots, something that was phased out in the state back in 2002, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Paper-ballot voting is not a foolproof system, either, as seen in the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. During the Florida recount, the infamous hanging chads -- incomplete and indistinguishable holes punched on the states butterfly ballot -- caused so much uncertainty the recount eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, where the election was decided.
The White House pushed back Monday on North Koreas claim that President Trumps rhetorical broadside against the regime at the United Nations amounted to a declaration of war.

We have not declared war, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said at Mondays press briefing.

The response came after North Koreas foreign minister Ri Yong-ho said Monday that North Korea had the right to shoot down U.S. bombers in its airspace and Trump's statements before the U.N. General Assembly last week were "a declaration of war" against the country.

"[T]his is clearly a declaration of war on all members states," Ri said. "The whole world should remember U.S. declared war on our people. The U.N. charter stipulates right of defense in charter."

At the White House, Sanders called that suggestion absurd and delivered another warning to Pyongyang.

Its never appropriate for a country to shoot down another countrys aircraft when its over international waters, she said. Our goal is still the same, we continue to seek the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Thats our focus. Doing that through both the most maximum economic and diplomatic pressures as possible at this point.

A new propaganda video from Pyongyang, meanwhile, featured missiles demolishing a U.S. aircraft and jets.

Words flash across the screen warning America against considering military action: "Should F-35, B-1B or the Carl Vinson lead the U.S attack, they will head to the grave in that order."

The 90-second video was released one day after U.S. jets flew over waters east of North Korea.

U.S. Defense Department spokeswoman Dana White said the mission was to send North Korea a clear message Trump has many military options to defeat any threat.

Trump and North Korea's war of threats escalated last week when Trump called Kim Jong Un a rocket man [who] is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.

North Koreas reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life, Trump said, vowing to totally destroy the dictatorship.

Fox News' Katherine Lam and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Barack Obama reportedly warned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the threat posed by fake news on the social network during a private meeting last year.

The Washington Post reports that Obama urged Zuckerberg to take the threat of fake news and political disinformation seriously during a private conversation at a meeting of world leaders in Lima, Peru, last November.

The meeting took place following the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election and nine days after Zuckerberg described the notion that fake news influenced the outcome of the election as crazy, according to the Washington Post.

FACEBOOK UNCOVERS $100G IN FAKE AD SPENDING TIED TO RUSSIAN OPERATIVES DURING 2016 ELECTION

Citing people briefed on the exchange, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Washington Post reports that Zuckerberg acknowledged the problem posed by fake news. The Facebook chief also reportedly told Obama that fake news messages were not widespread on the social network and there was no easy remedy to the problem.

We appreciated President Obamas attention to these issues," explained Elliot Schrage, Facebook's vice president for public policy and communications, in a statement emailed to Fox News Monday. "Their conversation was about misinformation and false news, which Mark had addressed the previous day in a post that outlined specific steps Facebook was taking to combat these challenges. The discussion did not include any references to possible foreign interference or suggestions about confronting threats to Facebook.

Representatives for President Obama have not yet responded to a request for comment on this story from Fox News.

Facebooks battle against fake news comes amid investigations into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, which Russia denies.

FACEBOOK WILL RELEASE RUSSIA-LINKED ADS TO CONGRESS, MARK ZUCKERBERG SAYS

Earlier this month, Facebook announced that it uncovered $100,000 in fake ad spending tied to Russian operatives during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. In reviewing the ads buys, we have found approximately $100,000 in ad spending from June of 2015 to May of 2017  associated with roughly 3,000 ads  that was connected to about 470 inauthentic accounts and Pages in violation of our policies, wrote Facebooks chief security officer Alex Stamos, in a post. Our analysis suggests these accounts and Pages were affiliated with one another and likely operated out of Russia.

While the vast majority of ads didnt reference the election, voting, or a particular candidate, they did focus on amplifying divisive social and political messages such as LGBT matters, race, immigration and gun rights, according to Stamos.

Last week, Zuckerberg said that Facebook would release the Russia-linked ads to Congress. During a Facebook Live Chat, the Facebook CEO also said that the company would strengthen its ad review process for political ads.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SUGGESTS FACEBOOK AD CONTROVERSY PART OF 'RUSSIA HOAX'

Facebook announced a strategy to tackle fake news in December 2016, making it easier for users to report fake news when they see it, and harnessing fact checking. Earlier this year, Facebook also revamped its systems to make it harder for fake news to be spread and eliminate fake accounts.

Jason Mollica, a digital media expert and professor at American University in Washington, D.C, feels that Facebook did not initially realize the extent of the fake news threat. If you look at how Facebook looked at it, they were very slow to the jump, he said, adding that companys efforts are improving. I do believe that Facebook, Twitter, and these other social networks are doing the best job they can to resolve this fake news issue  they are never going to be able to solve it 100 percent.

Mollica compares tackling fake news to finding a needle in a haystack. Its always going to be out there, he said, adding that only a coordinated response between social media users and social media companies can truly combat fake news.

President Donald Trump has described the allegations of Russian meddling in the election as a Russia hoax, a theme he returned to on social media last week. The Russia hoax continues, now it's ads on Facebook, he tweeted Friday.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
A French tourist is being praised for saving a busload of fellow passengers from "catastrophe" after the driver passed out. The bus was on a winding road in the Austrian Alps near Schwaz when the 76-year-old driver collapsed, the BBC reports.

As the bus was careening toward a precipice, a 65-year-old man sitting near the front jumped from his seat and managed to hit the brakes at the last second, per Le Quotidien.

The bus slammed into a wooden barrier, preventing it from hurling down a slope and over a 328-foot cliff. LQ published a photo of the bus, its front end punctured by the barrier, tilting down a grassy hill.

A local police rep praised the hero passenger's quick reflexes. "We were a hair's breadth from catastrophe," he tells AFP. He calls it "incredible luck" the man managed to stop the bus.

In 2004, five tourists were killed when their bus plunged down a 98-foot embankment south of Salzburg, Austria, the BBC notes. (In related news two dozen seniors in Germany escaped a bus crash in July, but 18 were killed.)

This article originally appeared on Newser: "Man, 65, Saves Busload of Tourists From Tragedy."
Mexican officials are reportedly investigating how 7Up soft drinks laced with methamphetamines made their way onto shelves in Baja California, sickening several and killing one.

The health department of Baja California has issued a statement confirming that 7Up products in the Mexicali region  where the contaminated soft drinks had originally been reported  have been pulled from stores as a precaution. The manufacturers have also been notified of the issue, and more than 77,000 individual containers of 7Up have been secured at a Mexican plant belonging to PepsiCo.

TOURISTS TO MEXICO BELIEVE DAUGHTER DIED AFTER BEING DRUGGED AT MEXICAN RESORT

The Attorney General of the State of Baja, California also shared a Facebook post further confirming that at least eight people were sickened by the tainted soda, and at least five had improved and been released as of last week.

U.S. health officials in Arizona, too, have since issued a warning to any travelers to the Mexicali region, advising them to remain vigilant and be wary of any possible symptoms.

It is important to check that the seal for any food and drink consumed is still intact and show no signs of tampering, Dr. Daniel Brooks, the medical director of Banner Poison and Drug Information Center, said in a statement to Banner Health. If you notice any difference in color, taste or smell, throw it out.

JOLT COLA TO MAKE A RESURGENCE THIS MONTH

According to Banner Healths statement, possible symptoms of methamphetamine poisoning include: an abnormal taste; burning sensations in the esophagus or abdomen; nausea or vomiting; and irregular heartbeat or difficulty breathing. Anyone who experiences such symptoms should promptly contact poison control, adds Banner Health.

Meanwhile, the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, which manufactures 7Up in the United States, tells AZ Central that American consumers should not be worried of similar contamination.

"None of the 7Up products sold in the U.S. are affected by the issue being reported in Mexico," said spokesman Chris Barnes. "Dr. Pepper Snapple owns and licenses the 7Up brand only in the U.S. and its territories. We do not market, sell or distribute the brand internationally."

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

News of the meth-laced 7Up comes just a few months after the U.S. State Department warned travelers to Mexico about reports of tainted alcohol at certain Mexican resort destinations. That warning came after a 20-year-old student from Wisconsin was found dead after consuming alcohol on a family trip to Playa Del Carmen earlier in 2017.
The Latest on Hurricane Maria (all times local):

7:30 p.m.

Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina has been issued a mandatory evacuation order.

Hyde County tweeted Sunday evening that the order will go into effect 5 a.m. Monday in advance of Hurricane Maria.

A tropical storm watch was issued Sunday for the North Carolina coast from Surf City northward to the state's Virginia border including the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.

The National Hurricane Center said Sunday evening that the tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area beginning Tuesday.

There is also a storm surge watch from Cape Lookout to Duck including the sound side of the Outer banks.

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7:15 p.m.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the North Carolina coast from Surf City northward to the state's Virginia border including the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.

The National Hurricane Center said Sunday evening that the tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area beginning Tuesday.

There is also a storm surge watch from Cape Lookout to Duck including the sound side of the Outer banks.

Swells generated by Hurricane Maria are increasing along portions of the southeastern United States coast and Bermuda and will be increasing along the Mid-Atlantic coast later Sunday.

Maria is 425 miles (683 kilometers) south southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (168 kph) and is moving north near 9 mph (15 kph).
A young church usher who confronted the suspect accused of opening fire at a church in Antioch, Tenn., on Sunday, is a hero, according to police  and his family says that's no surprise at all.

Robert Engle, 22, an usher with the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, saw the suspected gunman, identified as 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson, and jumped to stop him, according to witnesses.

Engle physically engaged with Samson, investigators added. Ultimately the suspect was shot, and Engle suffered a significant injury around his head after being pistol-whipped.

Engle then ran to his car, grabbed a gun, and held the gunman at gunpoint until law enforcement arrived, witnesses said.

DEADLY TENNESSEE CHURCH SHOOTING: SUDANESE IMMIGRATION ARRESTED, FBI TO LAUNCH CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION

Later in the day, he released a statement rejecting the hero label, adding: The real heroes are the police, first responders and medical staff and doctors who have helped me and everyone affected.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson said of Engle: Hes the person who stopped this madness.

Engles grandmother, Rheta, told the Tennessean that shes proud of her grandson Robert.

Thats like him. Hes just someone who cares about a lot of people. He has all their feelings at heart, Rheta Engle said. It would make any parent, grandparent very, very proud of him.

A friend of Roberts added that his friend is a great guy. Just one of the kindest human beings youll ever meet.

Metropolitan Nashville Police said Engle was being treated at Skyline Medical Center after Sundays shooting.
A ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School will feature former President Bill Clinton.

Monday's event at the school will also include the eight surviving members of the nine students who entered the school on Sept. 25, 1957, under escort by federal troops.

The integration came after then-Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus had called out the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the nine from entering the school.

President Eisenhower then sent units of the 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, to escort the students and hold back the angry crowds.

The ceremony is the culmination of a weekend of activities marking the anniversary of the event.
The image of a group of black teenagers known as the "Little Rock Nine" who were escorted by federal troops past an angry white mob into Arkansas' Central High School 60 years ago this week marked a watershed moment in the civil rights movement.

Three years after the Supreme Court declared "separate but equal" in America's public schools unconstitutional, the decision was met with bitter resistance across the South. The sacrifice of the Little Rock Nine stands as a symbol of the era's turbulence, but also as a testament to the intractable problem of segregation.

Those marking the anniversary are using it to call attention to the need for more equitable schools and some blame the proliferation of charter schools, including in Little Rock, for the lack of progress.
Emergency officials in Puerto Rico continue to monitor the damaged Guajataca Dam located in the northwestern part of the island as it remains at risk for failure following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Maria.

On Sunday, the National Weather Service in San Juan extended the flash flood warning until 2 p.m. local time for the regions of Isabela and Quebradillas, located downstream of the Guajataca River.

Emergency officials evacuated tens of thousands on Friday when it became apparent the dam could collapse under the weight of the additional water brought by Maria.





Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello told CNN late Sunday that the dam suffered infrastructure damage and is releasing water.

"Right now, as it stands, a couple of hours after I went through Isabela, part of the dam did break [and] it is releasing water," Rossello said. "And that dam is partly concrete, partly soil. So as water runs through, erosion starts having its toll on the dam and my concern is at some point it'll break."

Ramon Rosario, the secretary of public affairs and public policy in Puerto Rico, said an American engineer was scheduled to visit the dam, according to Radio Isla 1320.





In addition to the worries about the dam, the entire island, home to more than 3.4 million people, remains without power. It could be months before power is fully restored.

The U.S. Department of Energy said power restoration efforts in critical areas have begun in Puerto Rico as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The agency is coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and mutual aid crews from New York.

There are currently over 10,000 federal staff members helping with recovery in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and more are on the way, according to FEMA.

FEMA administrator Brock Long is expected to visit both Puerto Rico and the U,S. Virgin Islands on Monday.





Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida, said Monday morning that he is calling for additional support to be sent to Puerto Rico to help with rescue and construction operations.





As Maria tracked over the island, it unleashed rainfall totals of more than 20 inches (508 mm) in many areas, which helped trigger record flooding.

Maria was the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Puerto Rico in 85 years, while Rossello said the storm was the worst hurricane in a century for the island.
Authorities have identified the man who was killed in a jet ski crash in Clearwater on Saturday.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials said a jet ski and center-console boat collided on the intercostal waterway near Bay Esplanade, a residential street close to Moonshine Island. The 911 call came from a home at 941 Bay Esplanade, officials said.

A 52-year-old man, identified as Craig Butz, and a 4-year-old girl were riding on the jet ski when it was hit by the boat shortly before 5 p.m.

Butz was rushed to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The child was airlifted to Bayfront Hospital in critical condition.

Butz was the principal of Pepin Academies, which has three charter schools in the Tampa Bay area.

Records show that the home on Bay Esplanade is connected to Thomas Pepin, the CEO of Pepin Distributing Company. It was recently owned by the "Thomas A. Pepin Revocable Trust."

The Chairman of the Pepin Academies Hillsborough Campuses, Dr. Jeff Skowronek, released a statement on behalf of Pepin Academies concerning Butz' death:

We are shocked and saddened to hear of the unexpected and tragic loss of Pepin Academies Executive Director, Dr. Craig Butz. In my four years working with Dr. Butz, he advanced the mission of Pepin Academies tenfold. His wisdom and intelligence was matched by his passion and exuberance for the staff and students of our schools. He was a leader, a champion, and a friend. The pain of his loss, both professionally and personally, will be felt for an eternity.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his young daughter Teagan who remains in critical condition. We ask that their privacy be respected during this sad and difficult time. Pepin Academies will have bereavement specialists at the school on Monday to help grieving students and staff cope with this tragic loss.

The president of Pepin Distributing Company, Tom Pepin, also released a statement:

The Pepin family is devastated by this tragic accident. Craig was not only a respected and dedicated educator, but also a great father and friend. Under his inspired leadership, Pepin Academies has grown to better the lives of students with learning-related disabilities. Craig was a wonderful and infectious educator, whose passion for his staff and students was evident every day. He inspired countless students to realize their full potential and achieve their goals, both in and outside of the classroom.

I am heartbroken and ask everyone to pray that Teagan can make a full recovery.

It's unclear what led up to the crash. FWC said it is actively investigating the incident.

Click for more from Fox 13.
Maria weakened to a tropical storm by Thursday morning as it continues to move away from the U.S. east coast.

Maria had been briefly downgraded to a tropical storm earlier this week before it regained strength and became a Category 1 storm on Wednesday. Forecasters do not expect much of a change in Maria's strength over the next few days, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm made landfall in Puerto Rico last week as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, destroying hundreds of homes and knocking out power to the entire U.S. territory of 3.4 million people. The storm's center passed near the U.S. Virgin Island of Saint Croix.

Here's what you should know about Marias path.

Where is Maria today?

Maria is approximately 275 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., and 470 miles northwest of Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center's 8 a.m. ET advisory Thursday.

HURRICANE WARNING VS. WATCH: HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?

The storm is traveling east-northeast at 8 mph with maximum sustained winds of about 70 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

What else should I know about the storm?

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. All storm surge warnings have also been discontinued as of Thursday.

North Carolina previously issued a mandatory evacuation for visitors to much of the Outer Banks. Officials said Thursday that they hope to lift the evacuation order on two islands in the Outer Banks soon.

Maria already ravaged the Caribbean nation of Dominica, leaving widespread devastation, according to Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

WHAT IS THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE?

"So far we have lost all what money can buy and replace," Skerrit said.

The confirmed toll from Maria jumped to at least 49 on Monday, including 16 dead in Puerto Rico. No injuries have been reported on the U.S. mainland from Maria after it lashed the Outer Banks with strong waves and rising waters.

When Maria hit Puerto Rico, it was the third-strongest storm to make landfall in the U.S., based on its central pressure. It was even stronger than Irma when it hit the Florida Keys.

Saint Croix, largely spared the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Irma just weeks ago, this time experienced five hours of hurricane force winds, U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth Mapp said.

Residents in Saint Croix told Fox News that the storm left them without power and turned roads into mudslides. Barges were also destroyed in the storm, residents said, causing concern not only for Saint Croix, but for nearby Saint Thomas and Saint John, which had been receiving aid from the larger of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Fox News' Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Zoe Szathmary and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Latest on President Donald Trump's travel ban (all times local):

10 p.m.

The Trump administration spent months hashing out new travel restrictions on more than a half-dozen countries, determined to avoid a repeat of the chaos that accompanied President Donald Trump's first version.

But critics say they're puzzled over the inclusion of some countries and believe Venezuela and North Korea were added to provide legal and political cover for what they say remains a "Muslim ban."

The new restrictions covering citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen  and some Venezuelan government officials and their families  are to go into effect Oct. 18.

___

1:40 p.m.

The Supreme Court has canceled arguments set for Oct. 10 in the dispute over President Donald Trump's travel ban, after Trump rolled out a new policy Sunday.

The unsigned order from the justices Monday asks both sides to weigh in by Oct. 5 about what to do with the case.

The court had been ready to hear argument about the legality of a 90-day ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries and a 120-day ban on refugees from around the world.

The ban expired Sunday and was replaced by a new policy that affects eight counties and has no expiration date.

Those countries are Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Chad, North Korea and Venezuela were not covered by the earlier ban.

___

12:25 p.m.

Chad's government says it learned "with astonishment" of the decision by the U.S. government that its country is on a list whose nationals will be prohibited from entering the United States.

A government statement Monday said the government expresses its incomprehension about the "official reasons for this decision; which contrasts with Chad's constant efforts and commitments in the fight against terrorism at regional and global levels."

Chad's government called for a better appreciation of the situation and for Trump to reconsider the decision which it says "undermines the image of Chad and the good relations between the two countries."

It said it was open to discussions on strengthening collaborations with the U.S.

Chad is the headquarters for a multinational force set up to fight Nigeria-based Boko Haram Islamic extremists. -- AP reporter Dany Padire in N'Djamena, Chad.

___

11:20 a.m.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (nee-koh-LAHS' mah-DOO'-roh) says the Trump administration's decision to include Venezuelan officials on a travel ban is a form of "political and psychological terrorism."

His foreign ministry issued a statement Monday saying that the travel restrictions violate the values of the United Nations charter and international law and are part of a continuing effort by the U.S. to oust Maduro from power.

The ministry said it is considering "all necessary measures" to defend Venezuela's sovereignty and national interest.

The Trump administration says Venezuela's government has been uncooperative in verifying whether its citizens represent national security threats and says the travel restrictions target officials at agencies and ministries responsible for screening.

The Trump administration also calls for Venezuelan nationals who are already visa holders to be subject to "appropriate additional measures" to ensure their traveler information remains current.

___

4:30 a.m.

The three major long-haul airlines of the Gulf say they are aware of the new travel restrictions implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

Dubai-based Emirates said in a statement to The Associated Press: "With regards to entry requirements for travel to/from the USA, Emirates continues to take guidance provided to us by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection."

In Abu Dhabi, long-haul carrier Etihad said: "The airline continues to accept nationals with valid travel documentation from the listed countries. Acceptance, as per standard procedure, is subject to checks completed by U.S. authorities at the preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi International Airport."

Doha-based Qatar Airways also said its operations continued as normal.

The travel ban, as well as the since-lifted ban on laptops in Mideast airliner cabins, has hurt Gulf carriers. Emirates has cut routes to the U.S.

The Gulf airlines also have faced stiff resistance from U.S. airlines, which accuse the Mideast carriers of being unfairly subsidized by their governments. The Gulf carriers strongly dispute that.

___

4:25 a.m.

In the streets of Tehran, Iranians say they are confused by the new travel ban instituted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Roghieh Shahverdi, a 23-year-old secretary, told The Associated Press on Monday that she viewed it as "a miserable decision." She said after waiting months she only just got a visa interview appointment for her mother to visit her sister, who has lived in the U.S. for six years.

Shahverdi said: "All the hopes of both are fading away."

University student Erfan Maddah wrote online that he was "totally confused" by the decision.

Maddah wrote: "I have student visa appointment on October 4, I do not know if I have to continue or not."

___

4:17 a.m.:

Iran's foreign minister has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his administration's new travel ban.

Mohammed Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter early Monday: "Trump's fake empathy for Iranians rings ever more hollow, with his new and even more offensive travel ban against such outstanding citizens."

Zarif, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, has taken to Twitter before to criticize Trump.

Iran previously was among the six majority Muslim nations targeted in the travel ban.

The new travel ban applies indefinite restrictions to citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and North Korea. The changes will take effect October 18.

___

2:50 a.m.

North Korea hasn't reacted yet to newly announced U.S. travel restrictions, but they are largely a symbolic measure for the North Asian country already under severe sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program.

Most or all of the North Koreans living in the United States are based at the country's diplomatic mission to the United Nations.

The restrictions in the proclamation President Donald Trump signed Sunday include the suspension of all immigrant and non-immigrant visas for North Korean nationals.

South Korean analysts believe, though, the U.S. measure wouldn't target North Korean diplomats.

Certain North Korean individuals are banned already due to sanctions.

North Korea does not allow its ordinary citizens to travel abroad except in special cases, like jobs that bring in foreign currency or participation in sporting events.

___

2:10 a.m.

President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing strict new restrictions on travelers from a handful of countries, including five that were covered by his expiring travel ban. Administration officials say the new measures are required to keep the nation safe.

The indefinite restrictions apply to citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and North Korea. As part of the presidential proclamation signed Sunday, the U.S. will also bar the entry of certain Venezuelan government officials and their immediate families.

The changes will take effect October 18.

The announcement came the same day that Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire, 90 days after it went into effect.

___

Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Nasser Karimi in Tehran contributed to this story
The U.S. Navy hospital ship that Hillary Clinton wants the Trump administration to send to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico has one of the largest trauma facilities in the United States.

Hurricane Maria struck as a Category 4 storm, knocking out the power grid. Hospitals are flooded and back-up generators at many facilities have failed.

The 1,000-bed USNS Comfort is equipped to handle large-scale disasters. In 2010, the ship was sent to Haiti after a large earthquake killed more than 200,000 people. In 2005, the ship docked in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

In 2003, the 894-foot-long hospital ship spent 56 days in the Persian Gulf during the invasion of Iraq. The ship's doctors treated 700 people. Patients included wounded U.S. military members and Iraqi civilians, according to the U.S. Navy website.

The Comfort has a supply of 5,000 units of blood and is equipped with X-ray machines, CAT scan units, a dental office, an optometry facility, a physical therapy center and a pharmacy.

On Sunday, Clinton said in a tweet that President Trump and Defense Secretary James Mattis should send the Navy and the Comfort to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.

"These are American citizens," she said.

The storm killed 10 people on Puerto Rico, including two police officers who drowned in floodwaters in the western town of Aguada.

The death toll is expected to rise as reports from remote towns continue to trickle in to officials in San Juan.

Authorities in the town of Vega Alta on the north coast said they had been unable to reach an entire neighborhood, and were particularly worried about residents of a nursing home.

The north coastal town of Manati has run out of fuel and fresh water, Mayor Jose Sanchez Gonzalez said.

"Hysteria is starting to spread. The hospital is about to collapse. It's at capacity," he said, crying. "We need someone to help us immediately."

Across Puerto Rico, more than 15,000 people were in shelters, including some 2,000 rescued from the north coastal town of Toa Baja.

The Comfort spent two months in Haiti in 2010 after the earthquake, treating more than 800 people.

The Navy said that at times during the Comforts presence off the coast of Port-au-Prince, some 1,300 medical staff from the U.S. military and nongovernmental organizations were on hand to treat the injured. The Comforts 10 operating rooms were staffed around the clock.

"We are immensely proud of the contributions made by everyone who helped treat critically injured survivors aboard Comfort," said U.S. Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser, commander of U.S. Southern Command. "Their efforts saved the lives of many patients and helped everyone treated begin the important process of recovery. Their rapid response and contribution to the international relief efforts in Haiti helped the country overcome an urgent medical crisis at a time when access to surgical care on the ground was very limited."

In 2007, the hospital ship was enlisted for a four-month humanitarian mission in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It made stops in a dozen different countries, treating almost 100,000 people. It was billed as a goodwill mission, according to Reuters.

This is part of the evolving mission of the Southern Command, former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at the time. These are the kinds of missions that we have in mind in connection with our new command, the Africa Command, to focus on building partnerships and increasing the capabilities of individual countries in being able to deal with these challenges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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A picture may be worth a thousand words, but is it worth $800,000?

Officials at the University of California, Berkeley, said the brief appearance of right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos on campus Sunday cost the school $800,000 to ensure his safety.

Yiannopoulos appeared at the steps of the iconic Sproul Hall  the birthplace of the 1960's Free Speech movement  after his highly anticipated Free Speech Week was abruptly canceled.

The open-air event lasted less than an hour. Yiannopoulos spent the time taking pictures with fans, signing his new book and took part in the national anthem.

Attendees -- including Yiannopoulos -- had to pass through metal detectors.

Dan Mogulof, a campus spokesman, dubbed the event the most expensive photo-op in the universitys history, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Police arrested at least 11, including four dressed in an all-black outfits commonly worn by the violent Antifa group, The Mercury News reported. One man who sported a Make America Great Again message was also detained.

This is the second time recently that the school had to spend six figures to ensure the safety of a conservative. Ben Shapiro appeared on campus two weeks ago and the school said it spent $600,000 at that event.

Shapiro at that time blamed the citys radical Antifa agitators who were the reason UC Berkeley had to spend such money on safety. Free speech isn't free. It costs over $600,000 thanks to Antifa, he tweeted.

The Sunday protest was organized in response to the cancellation of the Free Speech Week, where both organizers and the university blamed each other for lack of commitment to ensure its happening.

The former Breitbart editor claims he was forced into canceling the event, which was supposed to include speakers such as former White House adviser Steve Bannon and Ann Coulter, due to the universitys unreasonable requests and lack of support.

At a press conference on Saturday, Yiannopoulos accused the university of using bureaucratic tricks to derail the event, adding that UC Berkeley had done everything in its power to crush the Free Speech Week.

UC Berkeley, meanwhile, said Yiannopoulos and the student group that organized the event did not meet multiple deadlines to ensure that the event took place. Berkeley also dismissed the accusations that the institution tried to block the event, noting that they were prepared to spend vast amounts of money to ensure the safety of participants.

Yiannopoulos told Berkeleyside, a local publication, that he plans to return to campus every year if he finds that necessary. He added that he hopes to reschedule speeches by Bannon and Coulter.
A Delaware man wanted in a womans stabbing death tried to evade arrest by trying to kill himself, police said.

Rondell Veal, 36, slashed his own throat and jumped onto the train tracks at New York Citys Grand Central station about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, the New York Post reported. Police officers nabbed Veal before a train passed by.

Veal was hospitalized and had his trachea repaired. Police later discovered Veal was wanted in the murder of his partner, Sherrie Campbell, who was found stabbed to death inside their Newark home on Friday. Police believe the same knife he used on Sunday may have been the murder weapon used to kill Campbell.

Veals relationship to Campbell is unclear. Some media reports call her his girlfriend, while others say the two were married.

An arrest warrant was issued for Veal on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon while committing a felony, Delawareonline.com reported.
Prosecutors say a Maine man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and then evading capture for two months acted out of jealousy. But a defense lawyer says Robert Burton never intended to kill Stephanie Gebo, and that they struggled over her gun after she shot at him.

Burton's murder trial got underway Monday in Bangor. He's charged with fatally shooting the single mother of two at her home in Parkman in June 2015.

Police say Gebo feared Burton and slept with a gun under her pillow after they broke up.

The 40-year-old from Abbot had eluded capture by roaming the woods near where he grew up. He turned himself in August 2015. He had been on the run for 68 days, the longest manhunt in state history.
A New York City councilman on Sunday voiced concern about the city being on the hook for trash cans that cost a whoping $1,000 each.

Upper East Side Councilman Ben Kallos said the city is being taken for a ride as it is forced to pay double the initial price for trash cans, and said a non-negotiable contract is to blame.

He said in 2014, a single trash can cost $545 but now cost $969, The New York Post reported. Almost the same exact trash cans can also be bought for $849 online.

There is something wrong with the way we buy things as a city, Kallos told The Post. We never should have to pay more through a contract than if we bought it on the open market.

The city remains bounded by the contract with Petersen Manufacturing, the report said. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services told Kallos that the price surged because of the price increase of steel.

The citys procurement policy requires a fair and competitive bidding process, and the existing contract we hold reflects the lowest possible price resulting from [it], said DCAS representative Carmine Rivetti.
A Pennsylvania funeral director has been charged with abusing corpses for allegedly taking cellphone pictures of the dead to "gross out" her friends and family.

Twenty-seven-year-old Angeliegha (an-jah-LEE'-ah) Stewart also faces a marijuana charge, after Monroe County detectives found conversations about deals when they searched her phone last month amid their investigation into the photos.

Authorities say Stewart took pictures of one corpse during an organ-harvesting process and others of a decomposing corpse. Some of the corpses were in caskets; some were not.

Authorities on Monday were still identifying the corpses.

Records show Stewart applied for a public defender, but that office said Monday it doesn't represent her.

A spokesman for the Lanterman & Allen Funeral Home in East Stroudsburg says officials are "disappointed" in the allegations and cooperating with authorities.
Police say a teenage suspect was fatally shot in an apparent home invasion in Mississippi.

Hattiesburg police told WDAM-TV that they believe the homeowner shot 17-year-old Justin Woodland on Sunday night. Authorities say no charges are being filed against the homeowner and the case will be presented to a grand jury.

Forrest County deputy coroner Lisa Klem says Woodland's body will be sent to an autopsy in Jackson.

Police have charged a second suspect, Anton Smith, with armed robbery and burglary of a dwelling. It is unclear whether Smith has an attorney to comment on the charges.

___

Information from: WDAM-TV, http://www.wdam.com
A family hiking trip in Wallace Falls ended tragically Sunday evening when a 33-year-old man fell to his death near Gold Bar, WA., FOX Q13 reported.

The mans wife called 911 around 5 p.m. and reported the accident to the Snohomish County Sherriffs office. She said her husband and the family dog fell near the Sky Valley Lookout, a 256-foot waterfall located 2.4 miles up the trail from the state park parking lot.

A rescue team responded and located the man near the base of the falls, but were initially unable to retrieve him because of the dangerous terrain.

A Snohomish County helicopter team, SnoHAWK 10, later recovered the mans body and gave it to the County Medical Examiners office for investigation. The mans dog was reportedly rescued uninjured.

This is not the first hiking tragedy to occur in Wallace Falls State park.

In August, a 38-year-old hiker suffered critical injuries after falling several feet onto a ledge.

In July, an 18-year-old woman was found dead in a pool of water near the base of Wallace Falls. Other hikers heard her screams as she was swept over the ledge of the falls and killed.

Wallace Falls State Park remains one of Washingtons most popular hiking destinations.
A Sudanese immigrant admitted to being the triggerman who killed one parishioner and seriously injured seven others Sunday at a Nashville-area church, according to a police affidavit ahead of his first court appearance.

Emanuel Kidega Samson, of La Vergne, told cops during an interview that he fired upon the church building after arriving there with a handgun, the Tennessean reported, citing the affidavit.

Samson, who was been charged with one count of murder and is likely to face other charges, will appear in Davidson County General Sessions court Wednesday and is being held at a county jail without bond.

His admission comes as police are searching for a motive for the shooting at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch. Samson, 25, purportedly posted several cryptic messages on his Facebook page in the days leading up to the attack.

Photos from a Facebook page under Samson's name seemed to show him lifting weights and showing off his physique, with the words "unrestricted paroxysm underneath, meaning a sudden attack or violent expression of emotion, the Tennessean reported.

A post earlier Sunday read: "Everything you've ever doubted or made to be believe as false, is real. & vice versa, B." Another post read, "Become the creator instead of what's created. What you say, goes."

Police have not yet commented on the posts.

When he entered the church Sunday, Samson brought in a .40-caliber handgun and a 9mm handgun, according to the Tennessean. Police said during a press conference Monday that Samson also had an unloaded semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, as well as another handgun, but found no ammunition for the rifle.

Authorities said Samson was previously employed as a licensed unarmed security guard, and took a class on Friday to renew that license.

"The Memphis FBI Field Office's Nashville Resident Agency, the Civil Rights Division, and the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee have opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee. The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence," FBI Memphis told Fox News on Sunday.

Witnesses told police that they heard gunshots from the churchs parking lot moments after Samson entered the building.

The pastor shouted "Run, run, gunshots!" and congregants hid under pews or in bathrooms, The Associated Press reported.

Burnette Chapel Church of Christ member Minerva Rosa said members were talking about the success of their yard sale the previous day when they heard gunshots. The church pastor, David Spann, 60, then shouted for everyone to run, according to a witness.

Samson entered the church from the back after fatally shooting a woman outside, police said. He then walked through the church silently, shooting six more people before an usher subdued him, police said. Police later recovered another pistol and a shotgun from the suspect's vehicle.

Rosa said the reading that day had been from Luke, Chapter 8, and she recalled the part about a woman who touched Jesus and was cured of bleeding.

By the end of the shooting, she was on her knees, her dress stained with blood, putting pressure on the gunshot wound in Pastor Spann's chest. She and others got on their phones to call 911.

Another church member, a 22-year-old usher named Robert Engle, tackled the gunman and suffered injuries when he was pistol whipped. In the struggle, the shooter shot himself, although it wasn't clear if it was on purpose or an accident. Engle retrieved his own gun from his car and held the man until police arrived, police said.

"He's amazing," Rosa told reporters about Engle. "Without him I think it could be worse. He was the hero today."

Church members told investigators Samson had attended services a year or two ago, said Don Aaron, a spokesman for the Metro Nashville Police Department.

The gunman pulled into the church's parking lot as services were ending. Melanie Smith, 39, of Smyrna, Tennessee, was killed when the shooter opened fire in the parking lot. Spann's wife, Peggy, 65, was also shot as well as William and Marlene Jenkins, 83 and 84 respectively, Linda Bush, 68, and Katherine Dickerson, 64. Police said none of the surviving victims suffered life-threatening injuries.

Dickerson was released from the hospital on Monday. The five other victims remained in the hospital.

Aaron called Engle "an extraordinarily brave individual."

But in a statement Engle said he did not want to be labeled a hero.

"The real heroes are the police, first responders and medical staff and doctors who have helped me and everyone affected." Engle asked for prayers for all those injured as well as the shooter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Four asylum-seekers have gone on trial in Germany accused of executing 36 members of the Syrian security forces while they were members of the Nusra Front extremist group.

Prosecutors say the four men killed their victims  police officers, security officials and soldiers  at a garbage site in the Syrian city of Tabqa in March 2013.

The defendants appeared before Stuttgart's regional court Monday on charges of war crimes, murder and membership in a foreign terrorist organization.

The men, who came to Germany as refugees, were identified as 28-year-old Abdul Jawad A. K.; 24-year-old Abdoulfatah A.; 26-year-old Abdulrahman A. A.; and 35-year-old Abdalfatah H. A.

Their surnames weren't released because of German privacy rules.
Authorities said nearly 50,000 people have fled the Indonesian tourist Island of Bali Sunday, fearing a looming volcano.

The authorities said Mount Agung has seen signs of magma rising in the recent days, forcing to create a 7.5 mile buffer zone around the mountain where the volcano is located.

The highest level alert was issued on Friday.

Popular tourist areas and flights in Bali remain unaffected, despite Indonesias national volcanology center saying on Sunday night that the mountains seismic energy is increasing and has the potential to erupt, the BBC reported.

The eruption would halt all flights  pressuring tourists to cut their vacations short to avoid getting stranded on the island during the disaster.

It's obviously an awful thing. We want to be out of here just to be safe, an Australian woman at the Bali airport told AAP.

The geology observers witnessed a 200m-tall smoke column on early Sunday. We observed sulphuric smoke spewing from its crater and we never saw this before, chief geologist Gede Suantika told Reuters.

The last time the volcano erupted was in 1963 that killed around 1,100 people.

Thousands of islanders are currently residing in temporary shelters, village halls, or staying with their family members. 14 tons of aid, including tents, blankets, and mattresses were sent, according to a government official.

Some local residents have defied the governments order to evacuate out of concern over the fate of their livestock, prompting some to use the potential catastrophe to buy up the livestock at the discounted rate, the Jakarta Post reported.

This forced to some organizations to set up cattle shelters. Thats why we set up these cattle shelters, to provide displaced people with a place for their cattle, thus, eliminating the need for them to sell their livestock at ridiculously low prices, Klungkung neighborhood association head Nyoman Suardika told the Post.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Six days after a devastating 7.1 earthquake rocked Mexico City, family members of those still trapped under the rubble continue to hold out hope.

In Mexico City alone, at least 186 people are confirmed dead, and at least 44 are still missing or unaccounted for at the last official search and rescue site, an office building located at 286 Alvaro Obregon Avenue.

"We're going to wait here, we're not moving, and we hope that you are alive, we believe that you are alive and we're expecting you with open arms." said Armando Albarran, whose niece is still believed to be trapped under the collapsed structure.

THE LATEST: MEXICO QUAKE DEATH TOLL RISES TO 319

Albarran is one of over 100 family members and loved ones staged outside the building, most of which have constructed camps with tents, complete with tarps hanging overhead to keep them dry as the rain falls periodically each day.

While survival for those trapped becomes a faint reality after several days without food or water, it is not an impossibility.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department is one of many international aid entities that have deployed their task forces to Mexico City to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.

STRONG NEW MANGITUDE 6.1 EARTHQUAKE ROCKS JITTERY MEXICO

"The will of a human being to live outweighs anything else," said U.S. Task Force leader Dennis Cross, who told Fox News he has seen miracles happen before.

Cross was deployed to Haiti in the beginning of 2010, and said that he and his team rescued survivors up to nine days after being initially trapped.

"We're never going to stop searching, and we don't give up hope until we think there is no further chance of survivability. We're not there yet," Cross said.

Albarran and the families of the missing aren't there yet, either.

"We are not giving up," he said, "and we hope not just that my niece survives, but all the people survive."
The horror of British model Chloe Aylings July kidnapping was dutifully detailed in the media, with motion picture-style reports of an organized group called "Black Death" -- but the whole ordeal was a sham," the lawyer of an alleged kidnapper said in court Monday.

The "sham" accusation came out as Michal Herba, who is accused of helping to orchestrate a fake photoshoot to lure the 20-year-old model to Milan, fought extradition orders at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday, Sky News reported. His brother, Lukasz Pawel Herba, 30, was also arrested and charged with the kidnapping of Ayling for extortion.

George Hepburne Scott, Herba's lawyer, told a judge he questioned the legitimacy of Aylings story.

"There is a real risk that the entire case is a sham, Scott said. "The same complainant, it seems, generated publicity from the fact she was nearby the scene of a terrorist attack at the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

MODEL REPORTEDLY KIDNAPPED AS A SEX SLAVE WILL 'EXPOSE ALL' IN NEW BOOK

Scott mentioned an alleged press release that Lukasz Pawel Herba released to a tabloid newspaper which detailed Ayling's saga of nearly being sold on the dark web. He also said a supposed shopping trip Ayling took during the alleged kidnapping was a wholly anomalous feature of a hostage situation.

"It would amount to an abuse of process of the court if there was any evidence to suggest this was a publicity stunt, Scott said, adding the number of odd facts in the case could show the Italian authorities were duped.

And that [the Italian police] process has been abused, the lawyer said.

But Judge Paul Goldspring wasn't so easily convinced.

"Some believe it to be a sham," Goldspring said in court. "This material doesn't prove that.

He is expected to rule on the case Friday.

CHLOE AYLING RELIVES TERROR OF BEING KIDNAPPED DURING FIRST TV APPEARANCE SINCE INCIDENT

The model has maintained her kidnapping was real, discussing the terrifying experience on Britains This Morning in August. She said she feared she would be killed and prayed for a non-painful death. Ayling described being drugged, stuffed into a suitcase, transported to an isolated farmhouse and held for almost a week. The kidnappers allegedly threatened to advertise her as a sex slave on the criminal dark web or hold her for ransom.

"It is really hurtful to see people doubt my story. Like when I went shoe shopping apparently, which was to the camping shop to get shoes for the consulate, people were saying why didn't I run? she said in her television interview.

Her kidnapping ordeal ended when they dropped her off at the British consulate in Milan. Lukasz Herba was arrested the next day.

Ayling blamed her former agent for the kidnapping. The captors tried to extort more than $350,000 from the agent.

Ayling also announced she will be writing a book to "expose every little detail for the first time." The book, titled "Six Days," is expected to be released in Spring 2018.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened a military intervention in Iraq in response to the Iraqi Kurdish region's referendum on independence from Baghdad.



Erdogan, speaking at a conference in the Turkish capital of Ankara as Iraqi Kurds voted in their region Monday, said Kurdish independence was unacceptable to his country and that this was a "matter of survival."



He pointed to Turkish military exercises currently taking place on Turkey's border with the Iraqi Kurdish region.



"Our military is not [at the border] for nothing," Erdogan said. "We could arrive suddenly one night."



Erdogan also said Turkey would take political, economic and military measures against Iraqi Kurds' steps toward independence and also suggested that Turkey could halt oil flows from a pipeline from northern Iraq.



"Let's see where -- and through which channels -- will they sell their oil," Erdogan said. "We have the valve. The moment we shut the valve, that's the end of it."



Erdogan said a border crossing with Iraq had been closed in one direction and that Turkey would shut it entirely.
An aspiring Oxford University heart surgeon student -- whose career a judge said he didn't want to ruin -- received a 10-month suspended prison sentence Monday for stabbing her ex-boyfriend.

Lavinia Woodward, 24, previously pleaded guilty to attacking her partner during a drug and booze-filled binge at Christ Church College last December.

"It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinarily able young lady from following her long-held desire to enter the [medical] profession she wishes to would be a sentence which would be too severe," Judge Ian Pringle told the aspiring heart surgeon during a court appearance in May.

Woodward was handed the 10-month sentence -- suspended for 18 months -- on Monday for the attack on Thomas Fairclough. Woodward hurled a laptop, a glass and a jar of jelly at him during an argument before stabbing him in the leg with a bread knife, The Sun reported.

"Principally, at the age of 24 you have no previous convictions of any nature whatsoever, Pringle said, according to Sky News. I find that you were genuinely remorseful following this event and, indeed, it was against your bail conditions, you contacted your partner to fully confess your guilt and your deep sorrow for what happened.

"Finally, and most significantly, you have demonstrated over the last nine months that you are determined to rid yourself of your alcohol and drug addiction and have undergone extensive treatment including counselling to address the many issues that you face."

Woodward, wearing a white blouse and a black trouser suit, wept as she heard the sentencing, SWNS reported.

Her lawyer, James Sturman, said in court that Woodward would not be returning to Oxford this year due to public interest in the case.

"She has a dilemma, the university remain supportive, they are here today, Sturman said. "Whether or not, she goes back at a later date, that will be for the Proctor to decide."

Sturman said Woodward is considering studying for a doctorate degree abroad or looking for research opportunities at other universities.

The Sun captured photos of Woodward shopping and having her hair done in Milan during the summer as she stayed at her familys $2 million villa near the Italian city.

Woodward met Fairclough through a dating app and started a relationship in October 2016, a prosecutor said.

"In the course of the incident two of his fingers also received cuts. Your partner managed to partly restrain you, albeit then you started to turn the knife on yourself and he had to further disarm you to prevent further self-harm, Pringle said Monday.

The decision to offer a delayed sentence was blasted by Mark Brooks, chairman of the Mankind Initiative, an organization that supports male victims of domestic abuse.

The judges comments are completely unacceptable and out of touch. This is a clear case of severe domestic abuse against a man and the focus and sympathy should be with him, Brooks said in May, according to Sky News. The judge seems to think that domestic abuse, when it is committed by a woman against a man, is not as serious as it rightly is when it is the other way round.
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The Lebanese president says he wants some 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in his country to henceforth start returning to their homes, voluntarily or not.

President Michel Aoun, in a state visit to France, said Monday that U.N. assistance given to aid Syrian refugees in "camps of misery" in Lebanon would be better used to return them to their country "from now on."

"We don't want to wait for their voluntary return," Aoun insisted, speaking at the Elysee Palace alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

Aoun said that most of the Syrian regions from which the refugees hail are "now secure."

Macron distanced himself from his counterpart's viewpoint, saying that the absence of a political solution in Syria prevents refugees from returning back home permanently.
Only one percent of Mexico City's schools were cleared to reopen Monday -- nearly a week since a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the country, killing at least 319 people.

More than half of those killed -- 181 -- died in the nation's capital.

Rescue teams and searchers continued Monday to search through the rubble to locate survivors, even as hopes dimmed. And with resources diverted, and buildings crumbling, Mexico City's schools have suffered.

For the safety of the boys, the girls, the teachers and for the peace of mind, of course, of all the fathers and all the mothers, all schools will be inspected, Federal Education Secretary Aurelio Nuno said.

Authorities are now working to inspect and clear all of the city's schools, yet only 103 of Mexico Citys 9,000 private and public schools have been cleared to resume teaching students -- meaning 98 percent of the citys schools have not yet even been inspected.

The earthquake caused the collapse of 38 buildings and made 1,000 others uninhabitable. Where apartment and office buildings once stood, only empty spaces and debris remain. Thousands are now homeless.

The quake damaged 8,000 other properties, but the majority of those need only minor repairs.

Authorities and volunteer rescue workers used search dogs and thermal imaging devices to detect signs of life in the piles of debris. But few people have been found alive and many search sites are closing down. For many, the emotional toll is becoming too much.

There is a lot of nervousness, a lot of desperation. This is the worst thing I have ever seen in my life, the worst, said Dario Hernandez as he searched through a large pile of rubble for his missing family member.

The smell of death is present in the heaps of rubble, but residents and neighbors are continuing their search efforts.

All of us are doing the most we can, volunteer rescue worker Johny Yebra said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Police say they have discovered at least 28 slain Hindu women and boys in two mass graves in Myanmar's conflict-torn northern Rakhine state. The government blames Muslim insurgents for the killings.

Myanmar Border Guard Police Maj. Zayar Nyein in northern Rakhine says the graves were discovered Sunday and contain bodies of 20 females and eight males. Police said all eight were boys, including six under 10 years old. Zayar Nyein says authorities believe there are more.

Police blame the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army insurgent group, or ARSA. Security forces say the bodies are among about 100 Hindus missing since ARSA attacked at least 30 police outposts Aug. 25.

A government crackdown that followed left more than 200 Rohingya Muslim villages burned and sent at least 420,000 Rohingya fleeing into Bangladesh.
New Zealanders will likely need to wait two or three weeks to find out who will next lead their country after a general election on Saturday ended with an inconclusive result.

Prime Minister Bill English's National Party won the most votes but not enough to form a government without help from other political parties. While English appears to be in the best position, his liberal rival Jacinda Ardern hasn't given up hope she can prevail.

Party leaders expect to start coalition negotiations soon but wait until after a final vote count on Oct. 7 before making a decision. About 15 percent of votes have yet to be counted, including those cast by people who were outside of their district or overseas.

Until then, English will remain as caretaker prime minister.
Kim Jong Un wanted to assassinate his half-brother in the most gruesome and public way possible earlier this year to horrify the rest of the world and instill fear among his doubters, according to a Monday report.

The daring assassination of Kim Jong Nam in February undertaken by two prostitutes in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur airport has mostly been shrouded in mystery, with few reports from South Korean media speculating why the estranged half-brother of the North Korean despot was killed.

A South Korean spy agency initially said the death was part of the leaders five-year plot. A Korea University professor investigating the assassination -- and who previously led a research arm with South Korea's intelligence agency -- told GQ on Monday it was all part of a master plan.

From the moment Jong Nam left Macau, the North Koreans tailed him, Nam Sung-wook told GQ. They had a group on his airplane. As soon as he arrived at the airport in Kuala Lumpur, another group followed him. They kept that surveillance up while he slept. Even as Jong Nam entered the terminal, he was shadowed.

Several reports claimed the assassination attempt was sloppy work by the North Korean government. The women were clearly visible on CCTV walking to Kim Jong Nam and smearing the banned VX nerve agent on his face. The North Korean agents accused of coordinating the attack never hid their faces either. Nam said people shouldnt dismiss this as some bad planning on Kims part.

Pyongyang wanted to send a worldwide message by murdering Kim Jong Nam in this gruesome, public way, Nam said. Pyongyang wanted to horrify the rest of the world by releasing a chemical weapon at an airport.

He added: Jong Un wants to reign a long time and negotiate as a superpower. The only way to do that is to keep the world in fear of his weapons. He has a grand design, and this is part of it."

Two women, identified as Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, are the only two people in custody and are charged in Kim Jong Nam's death. Both worked as escorts and claim they were duped into thinking they were playing a harmless prank for a television show. They face the death penalty if convicted.

Reports have since emerged saying Kim Jong Nam was being positioned to lead the North Korean government-in-exile. He also may have appeared as a threat to the current North Korean leader because he was older.

A report by Japanese magazine Nikkei Asian Review also claimed Kim Jong Un had his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, executed after uncovering an alleged coup plot coordinated with the Chinese government.

North Korea refuses to accept Kim Jong Nam as the half-brother of Kim Jong Un and believes a heart attack was the true cause of death. The regime also accused the Malaysian government of working with South Korea and other hostile forces to blame them for the assassination.

Kim Jong Nam was living abroad when he was killed. He was arrested in 2001 while trying to sneak into Japan to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He quickly fell out of favor with his father, Kim Jong Il, to take over the dictatorship. Kim Jong Un, meanwhile, ascended to take the job when his father died in 2011.

There were two other attempts to assassinate Kim Jong Nam before his strange death, once in 2010 and another in 2012, GQ reported. Eventually, the regime also cut his funds, leaving him begging his family to not punish him because he and his family had nowhere to hide.
A UK couple brought back more than souvenirs from their vacation in France when they found an Ethiopian refugee hiding in the trunk of their car.

Paul Edmunds, 59, of Caersws, Wales, was unpacking his car after a four-day trip to France when he noticed the migrants sneakers poking out from behind his luggage, according to U.K. newspaper, The Sun. He then saw the legs of the 22-year-old before looking eye-to-eye with the stowaway.

When I saw a face I asked, Where do you come from, Calais, Paul said in an interview with the newspaper. He didnt speak English but was able to ask if he was in England. I said, Yes  well Wales actually, and he made a prayer sign and smiled.

Edmunds said that he asked the young man where he was from a second time and that he responded by saying that he was from Africa.

He had a phone and was trying to contact someone here, Edmunds said. Ive never seen my wifes mouth open so wide as when she saw him step out of the [trunk].

Paul called the police and gave the migrant some water and chocolate while they waited for officers to arrive. The refugee was then arrested and handed over to U.K. immigration officials.

Edmunds, his wife Janet and two of their friends had been on a road trip in France and had stopped for an hour in Calais before boarding the Eurotunnel [train] Shuttle back to Wales.

The three others went for a coffee while I had a nap in the vehicle. He could have jumped in while I was asleep, he said.

Edmunds and his traveling companions then drove nearly five hours from the English coastal town of Folkstone to their home back in Wales  stopping only twice for gas and a bathroom break. They were completely unaware of their extra passenger.

The French coastal town of Calais has dealt with a large number of migrants and refugees since 1999. The migrants make the city their last stop before seeking refuge in the United Kingdom, usually attempting to cross the English Channel by hopping on trucks, trains, ferries, and cars.

Calais reached a boiling point during the most recent refugee crisis in 2015-2016 when thousands of migrants set up encampments known as the Calais Jungle on the outskirts of town. More than 6,000 migrants were forced out of the encampments in October 2016 after the population of the camp went through rapid growth.

Click here for more from The Sun
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Search teams are still digging in dangerous piles of rubble hoping against the odds to find survivors at collapsed buildings, while officials say they have so far cleared only 103 of Mexico City's nearly 9,000 schools to reopen Monday.

The need to inspect 98 percent of the capital's public and private schools nearly a week after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake killed at least 182 people in the city and 138 in nearby states is a stark indicator of just how long the path back to normalcy will be.

Federal Education Secretary Aurelio Nuno said Sunday that it could take a couple more weeks to inspect all of the schools. For schools found to have structural damage, students could be put in temporary classrooms.
New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone.
THE KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (R)

2.5 STARS

Though you cant take it seriously, this sequel about the secret, buttoned-up British intelligence force called The Kingsmen has an odd mix of quirky action and comedy that struck this reviewer as strange fun.

That was a surprise, as he left the first film in the series feeling mainly disappointment.

Here, the action is so over-the-top and creatively staged that you feel like its a cartoon come to life, though its accomplished by a cast that has more big stars than most films.

Yes, Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong and others of the well-tailored but secretly deadly operatives of the Kingsman group, super-secret agents who owe a wink and a nod to James Bond and the Double-Os.

But once the organization and its soldiers are hit by an array of missiles that darned near wipe the force out, the few remaining agents learn that they have an ally in the U.S. few know of.

This is where Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum, Halle Berry and others show up, playing the leaders and soldiers of the American kindred of the Kingsman group, which instead of posing as tailors hide behind the company that makes fine Kentucky bourbon.

When they meet, theres fun to be had the Brits in their tailored suits running into their American brothers in cowboy hats and string ties. Think Saville Row meets rodeo, to fun effect.

Julianne Moore provides the evil as Poppy, a Harvard grad who has a worldwide drug empire she uses to launch an extortion plot against world leaders.

Her backdrop is a bizarre little compound in a jungle, a doughnut shop, a hair salon and a diner shes built to fight the loneliness she feels for home.

The odd mix of inspired action and bizarre comedy somehow worked for this reviewer. Though its very violent, it helps that much of it comes across as cartoonish and not totally real.

Adding Elton John as Poppys captive provides some even crazier moments. Colin Firth and Taron Egerton carry the film, the former an elder Kingsman still looking out for the latter, the young street tough still learning.

Its a crazy mix of furious action and quirky funny moments that will work for some but not all moviegoers.

Rated R for sequences of strong violence, drug content, language throughout and some sexual material. 141 min. Playing locally at Marquee Southpoint 9 and Regal Fredericksburg 14.
Jamhal Scott Blanks wasted little time in displaying his displeasure with the 30-year prison sentence he received in Stafford County Circuit Court Monday for holding a county man hostage in his home last year and forcing him to make multiple ATM withdrawals.

Blanks, 29, sounded incredulous as he asked Judge Charles Sharp, You mean to tell me you gave me 30 years?

Before the judge could answer, Blanks gave a vicious backhand slap to the face of his attorney, Tim Barbrow. The impact made a loud sound in the courtroom as bailiffs rushed to take Blanks down and haul him out of the courtroom.

Blanks, a Stafford resident, was convicted earlier this year of abduction with the intent to extort money, armed burglary, robbery and unlawful wounding. He and an accomplice, 19-year-old Brianna Archie, were arrested after the victim told a customer at the BB&T on Warrenton Road on Sept. 29 of last year that he was being robbed.

The witness gave police the tag number of the vehicle that Joseph ONeill left in and deputies showed up at ONeills home on Cynthias Place a short time later. Blanks and Archie were arrested at the scene.

Prosecutor Tara Mooney and Sharp agreed that Archie was far less culpable than Blanks. But she also was convicted of four charges and on Monday was given five years to serve.

According to the evidence, Blanks and ONeill met sometime last year after one of them responded to a Craigslist ad for sexual favors. They had sexual relations multiple times during the year, according to testimony.

ONeill, 63, said their last get-together was a week to 10 days prior to Sept. 24 of last year, when Blanks and Archie showed up at his home unannounced. He said they forced their way into the home and knocked him to the floor.

ONeill said he looked up and saw Blanks standing over him with a knife.

Over the next five days, according to the evidence presented by Mooney, ONeill said he was forced to make multiple trips to ATMs and various stores, including Walmart, Food Lion and the ABC store. The suspects spent ONeills money on a variety of items for themselves.

The victim was whipped with belts and power cords, punched and thrown against a cabinet during the ordeal, even though he complied with the demands. He was tied up at night in various parts of his home with Christmas lights.

Before being assaulted, Barbrow called it one of the strangest cases hed ever had. He noted that during an outing to a Chipotle that week, ONeill was within a few feet of a group of state troopers yet never said a word.

ONeill explained that the incident at the BB&T a few days later was the first time he felt it was safe to seek help. He said Blanks had threatened his daughters and told him that, I dont want to have to kill you, but I will.

Archie had an agreement in which she would receive a maximum sentence of five years to serve, and thats what she got. She was represented by attorney Glenn Wainer, who said his client had limited intelligence and was easily manipulated by Blanks.

Mooney argued that Blanks is an extremely dangerous man with no remorse. She pointed out that he was convicted of robbery and burglary in North Carolina in 2007 and had been out of prison only a couple of years before this incident.

Judge Sharp called it one of the most vile incidents Ive ever heard described.
A 12-year-old boy suffered life-threatening injuries after he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle in Spotsylvania County late Saturday afternoon, according to Virginia State Police.

Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said the accident occurred about 5 p.m. at the corner of State Route 3 and Chancellors Village Lane. Police did not identify the boy, who was transported to Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg.

The crash is still under investigation. Police did not provide any other information.
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UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts

Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum

Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

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Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

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I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan
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Hollywood star legendary John Malkovich will perform at the opening ceremony of Khachaturian International Festival

The 5th Khachaturian International Festival will be launched with the participation of Hollywood legend John Malkovich on October 11, at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall. John Malkovich and conductor Sergey Smbatyan has collaborated before successfully performing on the same stage in Seoul (2015) and in Buenos Aires (2016). Armenians will have the opportunity to communicate with the art of the world-famous actor thanks to Sergey Smbatyan. The official partner of John Malcovich's exclusive concert is the legendary Ararat Armenian cognac. American actor, producer, director, screenwriter John Malkovich will perform with the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia, headed by conductor Sergey Smbatyan. Accompanied by the orchestra John Malkovich will perform as a narrator. The audience will suggested to taste the fantastic fusion of literature and music: Report on the Blind chapter from Ernesto Sabatos On Heroes and Tombs novel jointly performed with the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra by Alfred Schnittke, one of the most eminent musical figures of the second half of the XX century. Soloist pianist - Anastasya Terenkova. The multi-genre program of the Khachaturian International Festival featuring symphonic and chamber concerts and numerous premieres will accompany the connoisseurs of classical music up to December 11, the Closing Ceremony. The program will include such long awaited projects as the Orca Symphony No. 1 by Serj Tankian and Khachaturian meets jazz concert series, as well as famous artists: pianists Gloria Campaner, Hayk Melikyan, Levon Karapetyan, violinists Davit Nebel, Marc Bouchkov, bass Vladimir Baykov are to be hosted under the festivals umbrella. The 5th Khachaturian International Festival is dedicated to the 200th anniversary of Hovhannes Aivazovsky. The festival is held under the high patronage of the President of RA Serzh Sargsyan. It is implemented thanks to the joint efforts of the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia (General Partner of the Orchestra  VivaCell-MTS), with the support of the Ministry of Culture of RA and the Khachaturian Foundation.
Vardan Aramyan: If international investors saw risks in our fiscal policy, they would stop their investment (video)

Today, Vardan Aramyan, Minister of Finance, presenting the results of one year's work, told reporters that we had an international rating with stable prospects that did not affect even 13% growth of public debt in 2014-2015 crisis years. If international investors saw risks in our fiscal policy, they would stop their investment. He thinks that as a golden rule, we must keep stable the situation of macroeconomic. That is the minimal condition for the economic development. Without that it would oppose the investments. The inner debt market is important. The inner debt is 523 billion AMD. We do our best to keep it within 8-10 years. This year we have released 30-year bonds. This was unprecedented, as it was without rate increase, and in other countries of the former Soviet Union, no such thing has happened yet. He thinks that short-term are not effective, as problems with liquidization can occur. The deputy emphasized that there are 46 treaties excluding double taxation at the moment, the last of which is with Israel. Such treaties will be signed with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan till the end of this year, and by 2022, the number of such treaties will increase by 8. As for the acquisition of a double taxation agreement with the United States, Vardan Aramyan says that negotiations and discussions are currently underway. Minister Aramyan pointed out the property tax reform, which will be implemented in two stages - real estate prices will almost identify the market price in the second stage. So, we will solve the outage property issues which could solve problems of potential economic development. But there is a problem with minimal property tax. We will start from Yerevan. We must do so as not to cause social problems, the middle class should not have a tax burden. It refers to the owners of valuable property. One of the main accomplishments he considered savings in the procurement field. 70 percent of the procurement needs to be shared on general principles as is the case with other budget expenditures. As for agriculture, according to the August data, the price of fruit rose to 11 percent, and the price of vegetables has not. By the way, the Minister assures that this year's budget will have more than 3.2% economic growth, and 4.3% real economic growth will be registered by the end of the year.
A man has suffered a serious leg injury in an accident involving machinery on a farm in Cambridgeshire.

On Wednesday 20 September a team of paramedics from Magpas Air Ambulance were scrambled to the scene of the accident south of Papworth Everard in Cambridgeshire.

The medics provided emergency care to the man, aged in his 20s, at the scene.

See also: Why tractor kill switches could save lives

They gave him pain relief and treated him for his injuries at the scene, before he was taken by land ambulance to Addenbrookes Hospital.

The man was in a serious but stable condition upon arrival. His condition was unknown on Monday (25 September).

Agriculture remains statistically the most dangerous industry in the UK.

Thousands of people are seriously injured in farm accidents every year, but the level of under-reporting remains high.
City council holding special called meeting for final vote on returning to committees For some reason, Gaffney City Council is in a hurry to make the citys 10 standing committees in good standing again. After approving first reading of an ordinance at its...

POLICE REPORTS Its my birthday and I need a haircut

Just because its your birthday, doesnt mean you get a free pass to take merchandise from stores. According to a report on file at the City of Gaffney Police Department,...

Challenges facing healthcare in rural areas discussed at summit Community access to mental health services and health care providers loom as two of the major rural health challenges facing Cherokee County. The Cherokee County School District has seen an...
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the date when the first classes were taught at Linn-Benton Community College, an occasion that's worth both celebration and reflection.

In retrospect, one of the impressive things about those first classes is that they came just months after the December 1966 election in which voters, by a 2-to-1 margin, approved the formation of LBCC.

It would have been easy to wait for money to break ground on a building before starting any classes; in fact, the community leaders who pushed for the creation of LBCC thought it would be at least a year before any classes started.

The college's first president, Eldon Schafter, thought otherwise.

"He was a driver," recalled Russell Tripp, one of the key community leaders who fought to create a community college to serve Benton and Linn counties. "We thought at least a year. He said no, we've got to have them right now."

By July 1967, LBCC had established a headquarters on the corner of First and Ellsworth streets in Albany. By September, part-time instructors were teaching evening-only classes in a variety of locations around both counties.

It would be another year until LBCC hired its first full-time instructor (biology teacher Bob Ross, who still teaches at the college). But that initial urgency to get classes up and running  to start teaching students who wanted to further their education  captures something essential about LBCC.

From those earliest days, LBCC has prided itself on its flexibility and agility, its ability to anticipate the needs of students and to move with speed to build programs that will help to meet those needs.

The college has come a long ways from the days when it met in a variety of locations around Linn and Benton counties. (In fact, the travel required to get from class to class prompted students to start calling themselves "Roadrunners," a tag that helped helped to inspire the school's mascot.) Today, LBCC has facilities throughout the mid-valley, from Corvallis to Sweet Home. It has a new facility in Lebanon that helps train the next generation of auto mechanics. Just this past summer, it held the grand opening for a health care facility, also in Lebanon, that finally allows the college to place under one roof all of its health care training programs. Both facilities are quintessential LBCC, helping to train workers for fast-growing professions.

We have a different understanding and appreciation these days for the roles community colleges play. As we increasingly understand that many good jobs don't necessarily require four-year degrees, community colleges have stepped in to the fill the gap by creating training programs for the workers who will fill those jobs. And community colleges like LBCC have become essential community partners, reaching out to businesses and other schools. Those partnerships not only offer different educational options to students today, but work to strengthen the mid-valley's economy.

But community colleges such as LBCC also offer numerous educational opportunities for residents who may just be interested in learning ceramics or how to use their smartphones or brushing up on a foreign language before a trip abroad. There's a place for those students as well.

In fact, community colleges like LBCC understand that education not only leads to better job opportunities for students but also to lifelong learning experiences. Fifty years ago this week, the first LBCC instructors met their first students, people looking to improve their lives in some way. LBCC offered that opportunity then. It still does today. (mm)

Friday celebration

Linn-Benton Community College will hold its 50th anniversary celebration starting at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 at Deluxe Brewery, 635 NW Water Ave. in Albany.

Open to friends and family of LBCC, the celebration will feature live music, a no-host bar and food truck, and a special edition LBCC Inspired IPA brewed by Deluxe.
Today's news is dominated by several horrendous natural events  hurricanes, earthquakes, floods  and those reports are focused on the school in Mexico City that collapsed in the most recent quake. Somehow, the collapse of a school, and the subsequent deaths of many children, is foremost on the list of horrors.

Children should not die in preventable disasters.

It is our job as parents and grandparents and taxpayers to see that our children are protected from such potential disasters.

So I wonder: Have all the schools in Benton and Linn counties (or Oregon?) been retrofitted with seismic standards that meet today's needs? Many of the schools are the old brick-and-mortar models that seem to be particularly vulnerable in big earthquakes.

I ask that our local officials  all city and county officials, whether working directly for a school district or an independent school  please reassure us that you have done everything possible in order to update the seismic standards of our schools.

Oregon is overdue for the "Big One." Most of us have made some preparations for survival after the quake. Will our schools be post-quake shelters, or will they be huge graves for our youngest citizens, as has happened in Mexico and Nepal in recent years?

Kirk Nevin

Corvallis (Sept. 23)
UCOM HAS INTRODUCED FUTURE NETWORK WI-FI 6E ROUTERS

Statement by the Spokesperson on the conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts

Foreign Minister of Armenia to participate in the Fifth Paris Peace Forum

Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

Google Ad

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan
Major gains for FDP and AfD : CDU in front in parliamentary elections in NRW

Dusseldorf The CDU and SPD also suffered heavy losses in North Rhine Westphalia. The AfD only came in fourth place but the other parties are worried and in Cologne there was a spontaneous demonstration against the right-wing populists.

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With heavy losses for the CDU and SPD and large gains for the FDP and AfD, voters in the parliamentary elections significantly shifted the political balance of power in North Rhine Westphalia. According to a WDR projection, the CDU and Social Democrats each had their worst ever results in a Bundestag vote in NRW on Sunday. The FDP came in third in NRW ahead of the AfD.

According to projections (at 11pm) the CDU was the winner in NRW with 32.7 per cent of the vote, a good 7 percentage points less than in the 2013 election. The SPD came next with 26 per cent, 6 per cent less than four years ago. The FDP more than doubled their share of the vote to 13.2 per cent and the AfD won 9.4 per cent. While the FDP had a significantly better result than nationally (10.6 per cent), in NRW the AfD was below its national result of 13 per cent. In NRW the Greens won 7.6 per cent and Die Linke (the Left Party) 7.3 per cent. Both parties are therefore somewhat weaker in NRW than nationally.

The SPD leadership in NRW reacted to the heavy electoral defeat by refusing to continue with the grand coalition. SPD regional head Michael Groschek called the Social Democrats performance a historic defeat. The party was in an existential crisis. He said they must take on the role of leaders of the opposition in the federal government, as they have already been doing for some weeks in NRW.

Minister-President Armin Laschet (CDU) criticised the Social Democrats refusal to take part in government at a federal level. I would have liked the Social Democrats to at least enter into talks, said Laschet on ZDF television. Germany is in a very unusual situation. You cant indulge in party political games. Everyone must now take the important issues into account.

In the Ruhr, the AfD has apparently gained more votes in the federal election than in the state elections four months ago. In Gelsenkirchen, the party gained 17 per cent of second votes. In Cologne, at times up to 700 people came together to protest against the entry of the AfD into the German parliament.

According to a WDR projection, voter turnout was up by three per cent to 75.5 per cent. The large turnout meant additional ballot papers had to be delivered, sometimes by taxi, in Cologne and Monchengladbach.
Rheinbreitbach: Polizei sucht nach fluchtigem Unfallfahrer

Foto: Holger Arndt (Symbolbild)

Nach einem fluchtigen Autofahrer sucht die Polizei. Laut Bericht war am Mittwoch ein beschadigter Wagen in der Strae "Im Sand" in Rheinbreitbach festgestellt worden.



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Rheinbreitbach. (hek) Nach einem fluchtigen Autofahrer sucht die Polizei. Laut Bericht war am Mittwoch ein beschadigter Wagen in der Strae "Im Sand" in Rheinbreitbach festgestellt worden. Die Ermittlungen ergaben, dass es sich bei dem verursachenden Fahrzeug um einen kleinen Lastwagen handelt.

Foto: Holger Arndt (Symbolbild) zuruck

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An opportunity for foodies and beer lovers to get lost in a world of food and drink from a hand-selected range of food trucks and breweries from around New Zealand.
The European Court to examine the complaint on journalist Gayane Arustamyan's case

The European Court of Human Rights received the complaint of Gayane Arustamyan, a journalist arrested on May 7, 2015, who was subjected to inhuman, degrading treatment and physical violence by the police. Gayane Arustamyans interests are presented by Ani Chatinyan, HCAVO advocate. The complaint is based on the rights to avoid torture (Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and respect for private and family life, Article 8 of the ECHR and an effective remedy, as set in Article 13 of the ECHR) Gayane Arustamyan was arrested and taken to the central office of the Police of Yerevan on May 7, in 2015, because of saying What are you whistling, you idiot! to a policeman who whistled when she was passing the street in the permitted place. The policems, evaluated this as an insult, and took her to the police station with his colleagues. As stated by G. Arustamyan, on the way to the police station and at the station, the policemen evinced misguided behavior and expressions, hurting her both psychologically and physically. As a result, G. Arustamyan felt herself bad and called for help. The forensic-psychological examination, subsequently initiated by her, has confirmed the impact of the above-mentioned cases on her psychology. On the basis of G. Arustamyans and A. Saquncs, head of the HCAVO, reports criminal case was filed on abusing position; but on August, 2015, the case was stopped, on the basis of absence of criminals. After appealing to authorities and to the court, G. Arustamyans representative T, Siradeghyan, the HCAVO advocate, appealed to the Court of Cassation, but was rejected. With the complaint filed by the European Court of Human Rights, Arustamyan's representative A. Chatinyan justified the fact that no proper investigation was carried out to detect and punish those who were guilty. The victim's petitions for examination to reveal the link between her illness and the policemens activities were denied, and the results of her own examination of the case were not recognized as evidence by the court. Details are available here
Article

Protecting the worlds oceans  an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy

The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs.
Overall, dont let the bhoot mislead you, nothing bhootiya about this story. Had the makers tried to push the envelope, the idea could have been outstanding for a bhootiya comedy.
Forest Hill, MD, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

The Apache Software Foundation (ASF), the all-volunteer developers, stewards, and incubators of more than 350 Open Source projects and initiatives, announced today that Apache RocketMQ has graduated from the Apache Incubator to become a Top-Level Project (TLP), signifying that the project's community and products have been well-governed under the ASF's meritocratic process and principles.

Apache RocketMQ is an Open Source distributed messaging and streaming Big Data platform with low latency, high performance and reliability, trillion-level capacity and flexible scalability.



"I am very excited to see Apache RocketMQ as a Top-Level Project and I would like to thank our mentors for all their help, the Apache Incubator Project Management Committee for its advice and guidance, everyone in the RocketMQ community, and Alibaba for publishing the research upon which RocketMQ is based," said Xiaorui Wang, Vice President of Apache RocketMQ. "During the incubation process, the RocketMQ community worked very hard to develop high-quality distributed software for messaging and streaming, in an open and inclusive manner in accordance with the Apache Way."

RocketMQ originated at Alibaba in 2012, and, after handling 1.2 trillion concurrent online message transmissions in the Alibaba Nov. 11th Global Shopping Festival, was donated to the Apache Incubator in November 2016. Apache RocketMQ v4.0.0 was released in February 2017.

As a distributed messaging engine, RocketMQ features include:



Low latency; more than 99.6% response latency within 1 millisecond under high pressure;

Finance-oriented, high availability with tracking and auditing features;

Industry-sustainable, trillion-level message capacity guaranteed;

Vendor-neutral, support multiple messaging protocols like JMS and OpenMessaging;

Big Data friendly, batch transferring with versatile integration for flooding throughput; and

Massive accumulation, given sufficient disk space, accumulate messages without performance loss.





"RocketMQ was conceived from the outset as an open-source distributed messaging and streaming platform with low latency, high performance and reliability, trillion-level capacity and flexible scalability," said Von Gosling, original co-creator of RocketMQ and Chief Architect of Aliware MQ at Alibaba Group. "It has been great to witness the growth of the RocketMQ community and codebase as an ASF incubating project, and I look forward to this continuing as a Top-Level Project. Today, more than 100 companies are using Apache RocketMQ, with more feedback coming from the community. According to our data, more than 80% of the project's contributions are from outside the donator Alibaba Group."In addition to Alibaba Group, Apache RocketMQ is in use at hundreds of companies and research/educational institutions that include Didi Chuxing, S.F. Express, WeBank, Peking University, and Chinese Academy of Sciences, among others.

"Graduation from the Incubator marks an important milestone for the RocketMQ project," said Bruce Snyder, Apache RocketMQ Incubator Mentor and Director of Software Development at SAP Hybris. "This is recognition of the focus and hard work of the project members to learn The Apache Way and drive community around RocketMQ. I am honored to have helped guide the project to a successful graduation."

"At Didi, we have used Apache RocketMQ as storage engine to build MessageQueue service. Based on high availability and high performance of RocketMQ we provide high-quality service," said Neil Qi, Architect at Didi Chuxing. "I believe RocketMQ will become the best MessageQueue project in future."

"New participants are more than welcome to join the project, To serve the community better, we created and maintained two repositories, one as our kernel version and the other one is for community contributions. The community contributed some integrated projects with some other Apache TLPs like Apache Storm, Apache Ignite, Apache Spark and Apache Flume," said Xinyu "yukon" Zhou, member of the Apache RocketMQ Project Management Committee. "We enthusiastically look forward to working together with all contributors to Apache RocketMQ in order to advance the state-of-the-art distributed messaging engine."

Availability and Oversight

Apache RocketMQ software is released under the Apache License v2.0 and is overseen by a self-selected team of active contributors to the project. A Project Management Committee (PMC) guides the Project's day-to-day operations, including community development and product releases. For downloads, documentation, and ways to become involved with Apache RocketMQ, visit http://rocketmq.apache.org/ and https://twitter.com/ApacheRocketMQ

About the Apache Incubator

The Apache Incubator is the entry path for projects and codebases wishing to become part of the efforts at The Apache Software Foundation. All code donations from external organizations and existing external projects wishing to join the ASF enter through the Incubator to: 1) ensure all donations are in accordance with the ASF legal standards; and 2) develop new communities that adhere to our guiding principles. Incubation is required of all newly accepted projects until a further review indicates that the infrastructure, communications, and decision making process have stabilized in a manner consistent with other successful ASF projects. While incubation status is not necessarily a reflection of the completeness or stability of the code, it does indicate that the project has yet to be fully endorsed by the ASF. For more information, visit http://incubator.apache.org/

About The Apache Software Foundation (ASF)

Established in 1999, the all-volunteer Foundation oversees more than 350 leading Open Source projects, including Apache HTTP Server --the world's most popular Web server software. Through the ASF's meritocratic process known as "The Apache Way," more than 650 individual Members and 6,200 Committers across six continents successfully collaborate to develop freely available enterprise-grade software, benefiting millions of users worldwide: thousands of software solutions are distributed under the Apache License; and the community actively participates in ASF mailing lists, mentoring initiatives, and ApacheCon, the Foundation's official user conference, trainings, and expo. The ASF is a US 501(c)(3) charitable organization, funded by individual donations and corporate sponsors including Alibaba Cloud Computing, ARM, Bloomberg, Budget Direct, Capital One, Cash Store, Cerner, Cloudera, Comcast, Facebook, Google, Hortonworks, HP, Huawei, IBM, Inspur, iSigma, LeaseWeb, Microsoft, ODPi, PhoenixNAP, Pivotal, Private Internet Access, Red Hat, Serenata Flowers, Target, WANdisco, and Yahoo. For more information, visit http://apache.org/ and https://twitter.com/TheASF

 The Apache Software Foundation. "Apache", "RocketMQ", "Apache RocketMQ", and "ApacheCon" are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and/or other countries. All other brands and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

# # #
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Woodbridge International, a global mergers and acquisitions firm, is pleased to announce the acquisition of its client, iTech US, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary SmartWorks, LLC (the Company) by SharedLabs, Inc.



Founded in 2001, iTech is headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont and provides IT consulting services with technological expertise across the full IT life cycle. Its wholly owned subsidiary, SmartWorks, is a software consulting and services company that specializes in hiring and mentoring IT professionals in emerging technologies. The Companys founder and CEO, Kishore Khandavalli, will assume a board-level role with SharedLabs.

SharedLabs is a rapidly growing IT company that supports, manages, repairs, or improves software, applications and ecommerce systems, which drive todays digital world. SharedLabs is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida with additional offices in Santa Clara, California, Dallas, Texas, NY Metro, Montreal Canada, and Reston, Virginia.

Headquartered in New Haven, CT, Woodbridge International, a global M&A firm, was founded in 1993 and has 30 offices worldwide.

Contact:

Larry Reinharz, Managing Director

Phone: (203) 389-8400 Ext. 209
Vancouver, September 25, 2017 - Arctic Star Exploration Corp. (TSXV: ADD) (the "Company") is pleased to report that it is in receipt of analytical results from its summer 2017 exploration program at it's wholly owned CAP Property, located approximately 80 km northwest of Prince George, B.C.

The summer exploration program at CAP focused within an area measuring approximately 3 kilometres by 1 kilometres, and included four drill holes, geologic mapping and sampling, and prospecting. The program was highly successful, resulting in the discovery of an exposure of carbonatite and related rocks with greater than 90-m strike-length and an estimated thickness exceeding 50 m. To date, the discovery has been tested by only a single drill hole (see news release dated August 8, 2017).

Prospecting highlights are summarized as follows:

The strike-length of carbonatite and related rock types encountered in outcrop and drilling totals approximately 3 kilometres;

Five samples contained0.20% Nb2O3 with a peak value of 0.96% Nb2O3; and

Three samples contained >0.20% TREO (Total Rare Earth Element Oxides) with a peak value of 0.39% TREO; and

Three samples contained >5.00% P2O5 with a peak value of 12.62% P2O5.

The samples referred to above are all selected grab samples, and they are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the property.

Highlights from Drill Hole CAP17-004 are summarized as follows:

85.24 to 95.66 metres: 0.35% Nb2O5 across 10.42 metres, and including 2.26 metres of 0.63% Nb2O5;

98.87 to 118.50 metres: 19.63 metres of 9.94% P2O5, including 2.55 metres of 20.97% P2O5; and

136.1 to 138.5 metres: 2.4 metres of 0.81% TREO.

The CAP Carbonatite Complex remains an early staged discovery with potential for a wide variety of commodities. Initial surface and drill hole samples demonstrate a strong potential for niobium, rare earth element, and phosphate. Moreover, as this new carbonatite has only been tested by a single drill hole, there exists a significant potential for further discovery.

Of additional interest are some anomalous concentrations of gold encountered within carbonatite and alkaline rocks during the 2017 exploration. A peak value of 69 ppb Au was noted from a pyrrhotite-bearing, calcio-carbonatite sample at 136.1 metres depth; this interval also contained in excess of 1% TREO's.

According to Jody Dahrouge, P.Geo. and President of Dahrouge Geological (consultant to Arctic Star):

"The discovery of highly anomalous concentrations of Niobium, Phosphate and REO's at such an early stage in the exploration of the CAP project should be considered highly encouraging. Future exploration at CAP will follow up on surface samples that contained highly anomalous concentrations of Niobium and which may be related to drill hole CAP17-004."

Mineralized carbonatite systems have been mined for and/or are potential sources for commodities such as REE's, niobium, tantalum, copper, nickel, iron, titanium, zirconium, platinum group elements (PGEs), gold, fluorspar, lime, sodalite, and vermiculite. Strong demand growth, stemming in part from a number of green energy solutions, has placed upward price pressure on a number of those commodities associated with carbonatites.

Some of the more notable active and past producing carbonatite deposits known worldwide include Palabora (Cu, Ni, Au, PGE's, other), South Africa; Bayon Obo (REE's, Fe, Nb, fluorspar), China; Araxa (Nb), Brazil; Cargill (Phosphate), Canada; Niobec (Nb), Canada; Mountain Pass (REE's), United States; and Mount Weld (REE's), Australia.

Further details will be released as they come available.

Jody Dahrouge, B.Sc, P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Drill holes reported in this press release were drilled using NQ-sized core. Samples were then cut into equal halves using a diamond core-saw. One half is being stored near the project, and the other half sent for analysis at Actlabs of Kamloops, BC. A systematic quality control procedure was implemented for the drill-core, where quarter core duplicates and blanks were inserted at a rate of one every twenty samples. Laboratory standards and standard laboratory quality-control procedures were relied upon for the drill-core and prospecting rock samples. Samples received at Actlabs are first crushed up to 90%, passing 2 mm. Further, samples were analyzed with analytical codes 8-REE, 8-XRF (Ta, Nb) and FA-AA. The 8-REE method requires the sample to be ground to 95% passing -200 mesh and then treated with lithium metaborate/tetraborate fusion with subsequent analysis by ICP and ICP/MS. The 8-XRF method fuses the pulverized split sample with a lithium metaborate/tetraborate flux in platinum crucibles with the molten glass cast into a glass disc in platinum crucibles. These glass discs are analyzed by XRF. A 30 g sub-sample of the pulverized sample was subjected to Actlabs' 1A2 analysis (Fire Assay with AA finish).

 2017 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

ARCTIC STAR EXPLORATION CORP.



"Patrick Power"



Patrick Power, President

(604) 689-1799

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement. Specific risks included that we may not be able to finance our intended acquisition or intended exploration and we may not obtain regulatory approval for the transaction.


The University of California will chip in at least $300,000 to help UC Berkeley pay security costs for controversial speakers, an unprecedented step as criticism mounts over the financial toll the events are taking on the campus."Free speech is not free, it turns out," UC President Janet Napolitano told the Los Angeles Times' Washington bureau on Wednesday. She said UC would underwrite security costs through "Free Speech Week" -- which begins Sunday and will feature right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos and others -- but that such support may not continue."The question, or the rock and the hard place that Berkeley is in, and other university campuses, is the value put on free speech and the safety and security issues that are implicated," Napolitano said."Milo and his cast of speakers will be on Sproul Plaza, which is a public space ... and we will underwrite the safety and security expenses associated with that. At a certain point, that position -- i.e. that we will have these speakers and pay for the security costs associated with that -- may not be sustainable."The mounting costs to the campus -- which is struggling to reduce a crippling budget deficit from $150 million last year to $56 million by June -- are sparking growing concern.Berkeley has shelled out at least $1.4 million in security costs since February, when Yiannopoulos' last appearance sparked violent protests. The campus spent $200,000 on security for that event, $600,000 for conservative commentator Ann Coulter -- whose event ultimately was canceled by the sponsoring campus groups -- and an estimated $600,000 for the talk last week by conservative writer Ben Shapiro, according to UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof.Mogulof said security costs for Free Speech Week would not be known until the program was finalized but could top $1 million. UC will chip in $300,000 for the Shapiro event and help pay for extraordinary security costs through Free Speech Week, UC spokeswoman Dianne Klein said.In an interview this month, UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol T. Christ said the campus will need to explore policies to contain the security costs, perhaps budgeting an annual amount and cutting off events after the funds are used up.Mogulof said that universities are expected to take "reasonable steps" to accommodate speakers but that it was legally unclear what that entailed. The campus will need to explore such questions sometime after the current round of events are over, he said."It seems very clear to us what our obligations are, and we accept them without complaint," Mogulof said. "We'd much rather be spending these resources on academic programs or the student experience, but the current conditions on this campus, city and across the country make it clear these are the sorts of expenditures necessary to support our two key commitments: the 1st Amendment and the safety and security of our campus community."Many students, however, are irked by the security spending when so many other campus needs are unmet, said Rigel Robinson, UC Berkeley's student body vice president of external affairs. He said many students are struggling with shortages of classes, housing, financial aid and food."We experience every day the repercussions of our budget shortages," he said. "We don't have an understanding of where every dollar of security costs is coming from. But the optics of the university being so willing to drop a half-million dollars to facilitate an event for one single student organization could not be worse."Event organizers are demanding that they bring chaos to campus but that the school foot the bill," Robinson said. "We have so many more pressing needs to fund."Pranav Jandhyala of Berkeley Patriot, the student group that is sponsoring Free Speech Week, blamed the high costs on the failure of the university and city of Berkeley to "effectively deal with leftist hate groups."Some protesters affiliated with anti-fascist groups and By Any Means Necessary marched onto campus for Yiannopoulos' February appearance and set fires, damaged property, threw fireworks, attacked members of the crowd and hurled rocks at police."We're not responsible for the violence people choose to engage in that drives up the cost of police," Jandhyala said. "It's utterly insane that we're being blamed for violence we're victims of and are taking so many measures to prevent."
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday rescinded controversial Obama-era guidelines that had prodded colleges and universities to more aggressively _ critics said too aggressively _ investigate campus sexual assaults.The decision was not a surprise given DeVos' past criticism of her predecessor's policy. But it left women's groups worried that victims of sexual assault will lose protections or face intimidation to remain silent.Supporters of DeVos said the change would lead to greater consideration of the rights of those accused of sexual assaults.The department said it was withdrawing the Obama administration's policy _ which had been spelled out in a 2011 letter _ because of criticism that it placed too much pressure on school administrators, favored alleged victims and lacked due process for those accused. Obama's Education secretary issued the guidelines under a federal law designed to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex and gender, known as Title IX, and indicated federal funding could be at risk if the department's recommendations were not followed."Those documents have led to the deprivation of rights for many students _ both accused students denied fair process and victims denied an adequate resolution of their complaints," the department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights, Candice Jackson, said in a letter Friday.Advocates for victims complained that DeVos and the department had not spent enough time listening to survivors."Survivors are now scared to utilize their schools' process," said Sage Carson, project manager for the advocacy organization Know Your IX.Carson, who is a survivor herself, said she would have dropped out of school after her assault if not for the Obama guidelines that ensured she didn't have to see her respondent on campus. The decision to rescind those guidelines was alarming and made too quickly, she said.The department released a new, temporary question-and-answer statement, replacing one issued by the Obama administration in 2014, to advise colleges and universities about how their responsibilities have changed. It emphasizes providing the same information, rights and opportunities to both parties in a sexual assault investigation.David P. Shapiro, a San Diego-based criminal defense attorney who has advocated for people accused of sexual assault, said he welcomed the changes as a way to consider everyone's rights equally. "In order to beef up the protections for the accused, it doesn't need to be at the expense of the accuser," he said.Among other things, the new guidelines allow schools to facilitate an informal resolution process if both parties agree, rather than adjudicate every case, as previously required.The letter also rescinds any suggested timeline for investigations. The former guidance recommended schools reach a decision in about 60 days, something critics said put too much pressure on administrators, particularly in cases that involved scant or conflicting evidence.The guidelines still require each school to have a coordinator and to report all incidents of sexual assault.And the new guidance gives schools more flexibility in deciding what standard of evidence to apply in investigations. The previous guidelines suggested using a "preponderance of evidence," meaning that decision-makers must only be more than 50 percent sure that an assault occurred. Critics said a higher standard should be used, such as "clear and convincing evidence" of an assault, which will now be an option.Carly Mee, a staff attorney with SurvJustice, said the preponderance of evidence standard put both parties on "equal footing." Raising the standard of evidence would tip the scales in favor of those who have been accused because there are not usually any witnesses and very little direct evidence of the assault."It's going to be a lot harder for (survivors) to come forward if they know they don't have the same protections in place," she said.The guidelines also make the appeals process more flexible, allowing schools to decide if they will offer the option to appeal to both parties involved or just to the person who has been accused."If a survivor goes through a process and feels the outcome is unjust, they don't have any options," said Neena Chaudhry, director of education and senior counsel at the National Women's Law Center.Although the department rescinded existing guidelines, schools are still able to use their system in place if they choose, and it is expected many will. Chaudhry said that is the "most legally sound way to move forward" since the laws behind the original guidance are still in place.Advocates are hopeful student activism, which is largely credited with putting pressure on the Obama administration to more strongly enforce protections for survivors, will encourage schools to continue following the 2011 guidance on a voluntary basis.Some states, including California, have adopted the policies as part of their own state law, meaning schools in those states will follow the same procedures regardless of federal relaxation.Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California system, said earlier this week that her campuses have redone how cases are investigated and adjudicated to make sure the underlying policies remain in place. "We all share the concern they're going to backtrack," she said.USC Provost Michael Quick also reaffirmed the university's commitment to fighting sexual misconduct. "It simply cannot be overstated: This university will not tolerate sexual misconduct in any form," he said in a statement.Some of those accused of sexual assaults have complained that the system was stacked against them, often leading to disciplinary action or even expulsion. Robert Shibley, executive director of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which advocates for people accused of sexual assault, said the new guidelines were more "conscious" of due-process rights than previously. It gives more freedom to colleges, he said, to focus on being fair to all students."Colleges should be accountable to their students and faculty members, and justify _ if they're going to deny someone a protection _ why it's better that they shouldn't have that protection," he said. "It was good to see the department give some guidance as to individual due process protections."The revised guidelines are only temporary, as the department collects comment from the public and continues to meet with groups from all sides of the debate before issuing final guidance after the formal review period. The 2011 and 2014 guidance did not go through a notice and comment process, which many say led to confusion about how to properly follow the suggestions.Echoing what she said at a conference earlier this month to announce the formal review process, DeVos said in a statement Friday: "The era of rule by letter is over."
Tennessee Promise students are outperforming their peers at community colleges in their persistence, completion rates and other success measures, an official told the Tennessee Board of Regents today.Dr. Russ Deaton, TBR executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and student success, presented supporting data to the board at its quarterly meeting in Memphis.The first class of Tennessee Promise students entered college in the fall of 2015. After four semesters -- through the spring 2017 semester -- 56.2 percent of the first class of Promise students either are still enrolled, have earned a college credential, or transferred to a four-year university, figures show. That compares to 38.9 percent of their peers (first-time freshmen at community colleges that fall who were also recent high school graduates but did not take part in the Promise program) -- a 17.3 percentage point difference.Tennessee Promise, the nation's first statewide program for tuition-free community and technical college, provides students up to five semesters of tuition-free attendance at a community college or college of applied technology.These results through four semesters indicate the program has accelerated college enrollment, encouraged more full-time enrollment (an important indicator of student success), and accelerated award rates (degrees or other program certifications), according to Deaton."These numbers are the first evidence that Tennessee Promise is doing exactly what Governor Haslam and the General Assembly designed -- getting more students into college, including students who might not otherwise be able to attend, and helping them succeed once they get here," TBR Chancellor Flora Tydings said. "It's a visionary program that other states are beginning to emulate. We look forward to the fifth semester results on the first class of TN Promise students in January."The board governs the College System of Tennessee, the state's 13 community colleges and 27 colleges of applied technology. The analysis of the first TN Promise cohort covers the students' performance through their first four semesters.
Senate Republicans have updated their last-ditch Obamacare repeal bill in an effort to win over skeptical party members ahead of a key deadline this week, according to a copy obtained by POLITICO on Sunday night.Sens. Lindsey Graham, Bill Cassidy and allies in recent days have tried to revise the legislation before their ability to pass repeal with a simple majority expires on Sept. 30. Enough Republican senators have raised opposition to their approach to put the bill's passage in doubt, prompting President Donald Trump to publicly pressure holdouts on Twitter this weekend.The revised bill includes new provisions that would steer more federal funding to Alaska, Arizona and Kentucky. All three states are home to pivotal GOP swing votes who either have opposed or expressed concerns with the bill  Sens. John McCain, Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski. However, Democrats said Senate Republicans are using misleading numbers to obscure massive funding cuts still in the Graham-Cassidy plan.Under the revised text, the bill's authors now project increases in federal funding for Arizona (14 percent), Kentucky (4 percent) and Alaska (3 percent), which would have seen declines under the previous version, according to a leaked analysis from Trump's health department. In particular, Murkowski's home state would uniquely benefit from Sec. 129, which allows the state with the highest separate poverty guideline  Alaska  to receive a 25 percent hike in federal matching funds for Medicaid.McCain came out against the Graham-Cassidy plan on Friday, and Paul has sharply criticized the plan for preserving too much of Obamacare's taxes and insurance regulations. GOP leaders have aggressively courted Murkowski, who voted against a previous repeal bill in July and has withheld support for Graham-Cassidy. On Sunday, Sen. Ted Cruz said he doesnt support the plan and suggested fellow conservative Sen. Mike Lee of Utah also opposed it.
A call for more vigilance

Minnesota was one of 21 states whose election systems were targeted by Russian-affiliated hackers before last year's elections, the federal government revealed Friday."Entities acting at the behest of the Russian government" made the hacking attempt in the period leading up to the 2016 election, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said in a statement. The revelation came from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.State computers recognized the IP addresses that scanned the system and blocked them, so the breach attempt was foiled.Last year, the federal government told the Associated Press that hackers thought to be Russian agents had targeted more than 20 states before the 2016 elections. Friday's calls from Homeland Security to election officials in 21 states were the first official confirmations of the affected states."This afternoon I received a phone call from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security informing me of its determination that Minnesota was among 21 states targeted," wrote Simon, who has overseen a number of security updates to Minnesota's election system. "DHS confirmed to my office that there was no breach and no attempt to breach Minnesota's election system."The other states confirming that they were targeted are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.In only a handful of states, such as Illinois, did hackers succeed in penetrating a system, according to U.S. officials.And there is no evidence that hackers were able to tamper with voting machines. In Arizona, Russian hackers were able to steal the user name and password of a single election official in Gila County, Arizona officials said.In Minnesota, the 2016 hack wasn't the first time the secretary of state's office has come under attack. In 2009, foreign hackers took control of the office's business website and swapped it for illegitimate links and content.Homeland Security's disclosure to the states comes as a special counsel probes whether there was any coordination during the 2016 presidential campaign between Russia and associates of President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly defied the consensus of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia sought to interfere in the 2016 election for his benefit and again on Friday called the whole thing a hoax.Reactions across Minnesota on Friday ranged from apprehension for this year's elections to a call for more vigilance. Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin said he was "surprised that it would hit so close to home."Mike Johnson, who leads the master's degree program in security technologies at the University of Minnesota, said the state doesn't adequately fund its cybersecurity."We just need to keep investing and moving forward in order to keep up with the bad guys," Johnson said.This summer, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced legislation to boost U.S. election system security and administration. Her website says that "state and local election officials must have the tools and resources they need to prevent these attacks and ensure that future elections are safeguarded from foreign interference."The Associated Press reported that U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said it was unacceptable that it took nearly a year after the 2016 election for the federal government to alert states about the attempt to tamper with their election systems. Warner, the top Democrat on the committee investigating Russian meddling in the election, had been pushing the department for months to disclose which states were targeted. He has said the states need that information to effectively strengthen their defenses.Bill Morris, a retired political science professor from Augsburg University in Minneapolis and a pollster at the Morris Leatherman Co., said Friday's news could lead some to question the worth of voting in this year's elections."If we can't be sure that the balloting is fair and honest, more people are going to get turned off and we're going to see low participation," he said.Joe Peschek, a political science professor at Hamline University in St. Paul, called the hacking attempts "cause for concern." But he added that overall, he has confidence in American election systems."Overwhelmingly, election officials around the country -- Democratic and Republican -- feel that the integrity of the elections and the way votes are counted is pretty solid," he said.
Two weeks ago, a federal court temporarily halted the Trump administrations attempt to cut federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities, local governments that, to varying degrees, refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The final outcome of the case -- and others like it -- will be hugely consequential for states' and localities ability to set policies that fall out of line with the White House.The case could also set a new legal precedent. No legal experts thatspoke with knew of a past case like this one, and no precedent was mentioned in the judge's decision last week.The good news for sanctuary cities and states is that constitutional law experts say the Trump administration will likely lose in court. The bad news is that Congress may have the power -- within limits -- to carry out the same policies.The big issue in the case is this: Can the executive [branch] unilaterally make up its own grant condition for recipients of federal funds? says Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University and an adjunct scholar at the libertarian Cato Institute, who has written extensively on the subject. "If it can, thats a threat to federalism and to separation of powers."The most recent case before the court was brought by Chicago, but San Francisco and the state of California are also suing the Trump administration over this policy.At issue is the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG), which is doled out to localities for fighting crime. In carrying out President Trump's anti-immigration agenda, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in July imposed a set of three new conditions on Byrne JAG that could make hundreds of cities ineligible for the funding.The first condition requires cities to prove compliance with a federal law that prevents cities and states from restricting communication with federal immigration agencies regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual. The second requires cities to allow U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials to access jails and prisons to determine the immigration status of any inmate inside.And the third requires cities to give DHS 48 hours notice before releasing an immigrant of interest, giving the department time to travel there and pick the inmate up upon his or her release.On Sept. 15, U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber placed a nationwide preliminary injunction on the latter two conditions , meaning he found it likely they would eventually be ruled unconstitutional, on the basis that neither is authorized by the statute of Byrne JAG. In other words, the judge ruled that the executive branch cant impose conditions on the grant that arent authorized by Congress because according to the U.S. Constitution, Congress is the only federal governing body with the power to legislate.But Congress itself could become a threat to local control in sanctuary jurisdictions. In June, the U.S. House passed the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act , which, among several provisions, would strip a variety of law enforcement grant funds (including Byrne JAG) from sanctuary cities. The bill is currently pending in the Senate, with no discernible timeline for consideration.The Department of Justice (DOJ), for its part, contends that the conditions imposed by Sessions are well within executive branch authority. Assistant Attorney General Chad Readler argued there are already conditions imposed on the grants, including some set by the Obama administration that dictate what kinds of weapons can be bought with the money. Leinenweber, however, ruled that the new conditions go further, usurping power from Congress in an unconstitutional way.The DOJ did not comment on the ruling in the case and did not respond to requests fromto discuss its legal arguments.The judgeuphold the first condition, requiring cities to prove compliance with a specific federal law, U.S.C. Section 1373 . Thats because part of Byrne JAGs statute says all recipients of the grant must comply with all provisions of this part and. (Emphasis added). Judge Leinenweber interpreted all other applicable federal laws to include Section 1373.Both legal expertsspoke with for this piece, Somin and Steven Schwinn, a professor at John Marshall Law School and author of the Constitutional Law Prof Blog , think the judge was mistaken in preserving the first condition. Schwinn thinks the U.S. Supreme Court's anti-commandeering precedent, which prevents the federal government from commandeering the states, renders 1373 likely unconstitutional. Somin has a detailed argument over atcentering around different Supreme Court precedents, as well as the anti-commandeering principle.Chicago similarly argued that 1373 is unconstitutional. Though the city lost that argument, a spokesperson for the City of Chicago Corporation Counsels Office says they do not expect their application for Byrne JAG to be denied on the basis of 1373 because (despite arguing against it) they're in compliance with the law. (The city is not, however, in compliance with the other two conditions.)"This is really a separation-of-powers idea -- that Congress has the power to establish federal grants and any conditions on them, and that the executive branch [acted] beyond its powers by imposing conditions without congressional authorization, says Schwinn.The risk posed to local control and federalism is relatively self-evident, says Somin of the Cato Institute. If a president can impose conditions on federal grant money without congressional approval, suddenly a lot of grant money is at risk -- and not just for law enforcement, he says."[Conservatives] are likely to regret their enthusiasm if a liberal Democratic president uses the same tactic to force states to increase gun control, adopt a Common Core curriculum or pursue liberal policies on transgender bathrooms," Somin wrote in a blog post on the subject.Both the city of Chicago and the DOJ are likely to appeal the parts of the case they lost. The DOJ recently announced it will appeal an earlier decision that struck down Trumps much wider-reaching executive order on sanctuary cities, which tried to strip these localities offederal grant funding. Eventually, either one of these cases could come before the U.S. Supreme Court.The city of Chicago received $2.3 million in JAG money last year and has applied for $2.2 million in grant money this year to go toward new technology in the police department. Cities across the country apply for these grants, which in Fiscal Year 2016 totaled $347 million.
Arizona does not have to reveal who provides its execution drugs, a judge ruled Thursday in a lawsuit arguing that the information would help the public determine whether the death penalty is carried out humanely and promote confidence in the criminal justice system.The decision marked a defeat for news organizations, including The Associated Press, that sued to get the information released. U.S. District Judge Murray Snow ruled that the media outlets didnt show they had a First Amendment right to knowing the suppliers of lethal injection drugs.The judge said the First Amendment protects the right of people to argue about the death penalty, but it doesnt require Arizona to reveal protected information to the detriment of the states ability to carry out its constitutional, lawfully imposed criminal punishments.The lawsuit followed the 2014 execution of Joseph Rudolph Wood, who was given 15 doses of a two-drug combination over nearly two hours in what his attorney called a botched execution.Like other states, Arizona is struggling to buy execution drugs after U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies began blocking the use of their products in lethal injections.
Description

GIS  25 September, 2017: Government wants a strong and profitable sugarcane industry. Every stakeholder must work together for the sustainable development and continuous improvement of the sugarcane sector so that the economy can reap benefits from it. Government is also aware of the multifunctional role of this industry and of its importance in the socio-economic development of Mauritius.

The Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Mahen Seeruttun, made this statement at the Annual General Assembly of the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate, today at Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel in Port Louis.

In his address, the Minister highlighted that one of Governments main goal is that the sugarcane industry produces at least 400 000 tons of sugar annually and in order to achieve this goal, it is imperative to maintain some 55 000 hectares of land under sugarcane cultivation. He added that in this respect, several measures have been taken to support producers to increase their production and motivate those who have abandoned their fields for a return to sugarcane cultivation. Government has earmarked some Rs 50 million in Budget 2017/2018 to restore 500 hectares under sugarcane cultivation, he pointed out.

Mr Seeruttun recalled that the sugarcane industry is not solely concerned with the production of sugar but also contributes to the countrys economy, namely in the energy and environmental sectors. The production of 350 GWh of electricity from bagasse allows the country to avoid the yearly import of 200 000 tons of coal or 80 000 tons of heavy oil with high sulphur content given that these products emit a substantial amount of sulphur dioxide, which is harmful to public health and the environment.

With regard to the countrys strategy of exporting sugar exclusively to the European market and the abolition of the sugar quota on that same market, the Minister cautioned that Mauritius must be prepared to face greater competition from other large sugar producers. One of our options is to negotiate a new agreement with Great Britain, in the wake of the Brexit, to export our sugar to that country, he added.
Description

GIS  25 September 2017: The 12th edition of eLearning Africa  which is the largest and most comprehensive pan-African knowledge sharing event for technology-enhanced education and training will be held from 27 to 29 September 2017 at the Intercontinental Resort in Balaclava.

The 2017 eLearning Africa international conference is jointly organised by the Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, and Integrated Communications Worldwide Events. Around 700 participants comprising educators, entrepreneurs, learning technology experts and investors from more than 65 countries will attend.

ELearning Africa provides a forum to discuss important issues, such as access to learning and vocational training, equality and quality in education, skills and employability, health, agriculture, literacy, and governance. All these issues are informed by a prioritisation of sustainable development solutions. The 2017 theme is Learning in Context.

The programme will comprise inspiring keynotes, skill-building workshops and dynamic parallel sessions. More than 250 speakers will give presentations exploring the latest innovations, best-practice examples and issues in the field of technology and education. Several sessions will address the importance of the local context for African schools, digital literacy and mobile learning.

ELearning Africa 2017 will also feature an exhibition to host international exhibitors presenting their latest products and services. Exhibitors range from global market leaders to small grassroots start-ups.
Police body-worn cameras are now a social justice matter. They are also a part of the discussion about growing use of law enforcement surveillance and the untold possibilities of artificial intelligence. Their use is growing, and looks to continue growing.A company named Callyo wants to make it even easier for law enforcement to film their activities. And it has launched an app to do just that: 10-21 Video.The app acts as an alternative to body cams, serving as a way for law enforcement to capture video on their cellphones without storing it on those phones. For free, users can stream unlimited video and store it for three days. Upgrades offer the ability to store them for longer, download them and manage records and users.Chris Bennett, Callyos chief executive officer, said 20 law enforcement agencies have signed contracts to use the service in its first 60 days on the market.He sees two main purposes officers should use the app: one legal, one practical.What happens when somebody needs to review that video for whatever reason? For a complaint, or for their own records? If the video is on the phone, then by extension the entire phone could be subject to discovery, Bennett said. Not only that, youre eating up valuable storage space. Videos not small.The company is explicitly not trying to compete with the big, established body cam sellers like Axon  yet.Id say that where we are today, if a department has $5 million to spend and wants to outfit their patrol officers with a body camera that theyre wearing for eight hours on their shift, Id say that an Axon or body-worn camera may be the better solution today, he said.Rather, Bennett said, smaller departments with limited budgets might be interested in a solution that uses existing devices rather than new ones. And the app could be of particular use to law enforcement personnel who arent sworn police officers, such as warrant officers or child services workers.The video launch also represents a move on Callyos part to monetize its main product, the 10-21 Police Phone. That one is entirely free, and appears to have gained significant traction among users. According to Bennett, more than 75,000 users have downloaded that app and registered it using a law enforcement email address. Reliable estimates put the number of state and local law enforcement officers in the U.S. at 550,000-plus.The company itself has support from a single angel investor that Bennett declined to name, and hasn't yet completed a full fundraising round. Its official headquarters are in Carson City, Nev., but most of the work happens in Florida's Tampa Bay area. Bennett founded the company in 2009, but 10-21 didn't come out until 2015.Though the 10-21 Police Phone app is free, the plan is to sell the video version to that apps user base.The app acts a middleman for law enforcement who use their personal cellphones on the job. Officers can call citizens through the app, and a phone number that doesnt belong to the officer  but features the local area code  will show up on the citizens phone. Should the citizen call back, the officer receives a push notification on their phone letting them know about the call.You can understand why they dont want Mrs. Jones calling about someone trampling on their bushes at 8 o clock in the morning if they just finished a night shift, Bennett said.And in case the officer needs to prove that a call happened, Callyo keeps records of the date and time of all calls.For Bennetts part, he said he sees his companys tools making officers safer.We believe one thing we can do to contribute to that is making technology that makes police seem more reachable, more accessible, friendly, he said.
(TNS) - The town that experienced a 4-magnitude earthquake in May 2015  the strongest quake ever recorded in North Texas  sits on a fault with the potential to produce an event 10 times larger, suggests a new study led by scientists at Southern Methodist University.The report also concluded there was substantial evidence that the quake, near the Johnson County town of Venus, was triggered by the underground disposal of wastewater from oil and gas operations.The study was the latest to investigate North Texas earthquake surge, which began in 2008 and has generated more than 200 tremors. The most recent widely felt event was a 3.1-magnitude quake that struck near the border of Irving and Dallas on Aug. 25.The U.S. Geological Survey, backed by peer-reviewed studies, has categorized the post-2008 earthquakes as human-induced. But the Railroad Commission of Texas, an agency that both regulates and promotes the oil and gas industry, has not accepted the USGS findings.In response to the new study, published Sept. 4 in the journal Solid Earth, the Railroad Commission said through a spokesperson only that its seismologist, Aaron Velasco, had not had the chance to thoroughly review the paper.The team of seismologists identified two previously unpublished faults near Venus and Mansfield, about 30 miles southwest of Dallas. The researchers found that the fault responsible for the 2015 quake is at least 4 miles long and holds the potential to produce a 5-magnitude or greater earthquake if the fault ruptured along its full length.This is not meant to be taken as, a magnitude 5 will happen on this fault,' said SMUs Heather DeShon, a who led the new study. Until now, the fault has ruptured only in smaller sections, and it may never produce a bigger event, she said.Quakes of that size are considered moderate and dont typically cause serious property damage. But a 5-magnitude earthquake that struck Cushing, Okla. in November caused several brick buildings, which are especially vulnerable to earthquake damage, to be condemned. At least one of those buildings later collapsed, and others were torn down, said Jacob Walter, Oklahomas state seismologist who contributed to the paper while he was at the University of Texas at Austin's Institute for Geophysics.Because earthquakes in North Texas and Oklahoma are shallower than typical natural quakes, they can be felt more strongly near the epicenter.DeShon, Walter and their colleagues also found that the 4-magnitude event marked the culmination of a series of increasingly large earthquakes along the same fault that began a decade ago, shortly after companies began disposing wastewater in northeast Johnson County. Until May 2015, earthquake magnitudes increased in step with injection volumes.To DeShon, that means turning off individual wells is not likely to affect earthquake sizes or rates.From a mitigation standpoint, you need to start thinking in terms of the cumulative history of injection in regions, she said.Johnson County Emergency Management Director Jamie Moore said that the county had factored earthquakes into its plans but that tornadoes and floods took priority because of limited resources. We focus on what are the most likely scenarios, not necessarily the most damaging ones, he said. He is concerned about the possibility of an earthquake shifting gas pipelines and causing a leak. But, because Johnson County is home to a dense network of wells and pipelines, first responders are prepared for those situations, he said.Moore suggested that the earthquakes are more of a political issue than one of emergency management. Its a completely separate issue whether we as a society want to live with minor earthquakes that are very odd and certainly very noticeable, he said.The 4-magnitude earthquake that shook Venus on May 7, 2015, generated a flood of phone calls to Moores office but only one report of relatively minor damage: a block holding up a mobile home cracked.A 5-magnitude earthquake would be 10 times bigger than a magnitude 4 and would release 30 times more energy.The new study suggests that pressure from wastewater injections in Johnson County triggered the May 2015 4-magnitude earthquake. Energy companies rely on wastewater wells to dispose of fluid left over from hydraulic fracturing and other oil and gas production techniques. Johnson County, which sits atop the gas-rich Barnett Shale, is one of the densest regions in the U.S. for wastewater disposal wells, with more than five for every 2 square miles. Disposal and gas production wells dot the landscape, sometimes hidden behind trees but often rising amid new housing developments and alongside roads.To extract gas, companies force millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals down a well to fracture the shale. As the gas travels from the rock back up the well, fracking fluid and natural groundwater travel up with it. Companies then separate the oil and gas from the wastewater, then truck the wastewater to a disposal well that injects the fluid deep underground, where it is less likely to contaminate soil and drinking water.Studies going back to the 1960s have shown that pressure from wastewater injections can cause faults to slip and produce earthquakes. More recently, scientists have learned that only a small percentage of faults  those oriented in just the right direction relative to natural stresses in the earth  are likely to slip in such cases.That rare set of circumstances converged in Venus on May 7, 2015. In response, the Railroad Commission sent inspectors to the area to check wells and pipelines for damage and asked operators of the five wells closest to the epicenter to temporarily shut down and perform pressure tests. The commission then issued a statement saying there was no conclusive evidence tying the wells to the earthquake.SMU scientists analyzed data from those tests and found that pressures around the wells were elevated significantly enough to trigger an earthquake. Despite publicly playing down links between wastewater injection and the earthquake, the Railroad Commission privately asked one of the well operators, Metro Saltwater Disposal, to plug back its well to a shallower depth. Another operator, EOG Resources, stopped injecting into one of its wells after May 2015, according to public data available on the Railroad Commission website. It has since plugged that well and sold its natural gas assets in Johnson County, according to a company spokesperson.In November, Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton came close to publicly accepting the wastewater disposal-earthquake link. He said the connection was especially plausible in Johnson County. I have seen credible data and science from operators that lead me to believe that [Johnson County] has elevated risks of seismicity related to disposal activities, and therefore warrants additional investigation, he said in a prepared statement.That investigation, he suggested, would come from UT-Austins Bureau of Economic Geology, which operates TexNet, Texass new state-funded seismic network, and hosts the industry-sponsored Center for Integrated Seismicity Research, or CISR.Peter Hennings, principal investigator of CISR, called the new study a valuable contribution for understanding earthquakes in Johnson County and said the link between the earthquake and the wells was reasonable but incomplete pending more definitive studies. His group is also investigating faults in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and their potential to produce earthquakes and will begin releasing those findings in December.He added that the reduction in wastewater volumes in Johnson County since 2012 suggests that a stronger earthquake would be less likely now but cannot be ruled out. Since Oklahoma began reducing its wastewater injections, it has seen several larger quakes, even as its overall earthquake rate has decreased.For that reason, wrote DeShon and her colleagues, the May 7, 2015 earthquake may be neither the final nor the largest earthquake in this sequence."Read more: Why Texas won't admit fracking wastewater is causing earthquakes2017 The Dallas Morning NewsVisit The Dallas Morning News at www.dallasnews.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS) -- Groundbreaking Illinois legislation meant to protect mobile phone users from having their location information trafficked by companies without their permission is going nowhere, at least for now.Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the proposed Geolocation Privacy Protection Act on Friday, leaving it to the legislature to consider a possible override vote.This bill would result in job loss across the state without materially improving privacy protections for Illinoisans or making devices and their apps safer for children, Rauner said in a statement. The addition of this policy to Illinois existing burden of red tape will hurt Illinois growing reputation as a destination for innovation-based job creation.The bill, which was hailed by privacy advocates and opposed by online trade associations, sought to require businesses and other private entities to get express consent from consumers before collecting, using, storing or disclosing geolocation information from mobile apps.The bill is not overreaching, said Chris McCloud, a spokesman for the Digital Privacy Alliance, a Chicago-based nonprofit advocating for state-level privacy legislation. It is merely saying, If youre going to sell my personal geolocation data, then just tell me upfront thats what you are going to do so I can make a decision as to whether I want to download this app or not. The Federal Trade Commission has issued general guidance, and there are a variety of industry self-regulatory codes of conduct, from automakers to online advertisers, but federal law does not provide clear geolocation privacy protection.Both the Apple iOS and Google Android operating systems require apps and websites to get permission before accessing your location. Once that permission is granted, the user is subject to the publishers terms, privacy policies, and practices, according to the latest iOS privacy and location services statement issued this week by Apple.The General Assembly sent the bill to Rauner on July 26.If hed signed it, Illinois would have been the first state to enact such protections, with similar legislation under consideration in a handful of other states.Joseph Jerome, policy counsel for the Center for Democracy & Technology, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization focused on online privacy protection, said Illinois was in a position to lead the way on geolocation legislation.Its our contention it would be great to have these things codified in law, Jerome said. Thats why the Illinois bill is so important.The national debate over internet privacy legislation shifted to the state level after Congress voted in March to undo the Federal Communications Commissions broadband privacy rules.Adopted last fall under the Obama administration and originally set to go into effect this year, the FCC protections would have required internet service providers to disclose what personal information they collect and share and would have required consent from consumers before sharing more sensitive information.President Donald Trump signed the measure repealing the broadband privacy rules in April.In May, the Illinois Senate approved the proposed Right to Know Act, a related measure that would require online companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon to disclose to consumers what data about them has been collected and shared with third parties. That bill stalled in the House and remains in legislative limbo.Downers Grove-based CompTIA  the Computing Technology Industry Association  supported the decision to repeal the FCC broadband privacy rules and in July joined with three other trade organizations and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in urging Rauner to veto the geolocation bill.We appreciate Governor Rauners veto of the bill and look forward to working closely with legislators to find a solution that is easy to understand and implement for consumers while preserving all of the benefits that geolocation services offer, Alexi Madon, director of state government affairs for CompTIA, said in a statement.The online advertising industry increasingly depends on tracking consumers to serve up lucrative and effective targeted ads. Data collection enables advertisers to learn everything from your search habits and recent purchases to where you travel, often in real time.Digital advertising revenue is projected to reach $83 billion in the U.S. this year, a 15.9 percent increase that catapults it past television as the largest advertising medium, according to data released Thursday by research firm eMarketer. Mobile advertising accounts for nearly 69 percent of digital ad revenue, a share that is projected to continue growing in the coming years.Geolocation information is very sensitive and can quickly identify individual people, said Jerome, of the Center for Democracy & Technology. Theres a lot of industry innovation going on in location. Its our position that asking people for consent to that should not be a hard thing to do.Jerome said the Illinois geolocation bill has been the focus of intense lobbying activity on both sides of the issue, culminating, at least for now, in a victory for opponents.The strange opposition to this bill is frankly shocking, particularly in light of the fact that it doesnt allow individual consumers to sue over violations, Jerome said. Its a pretty limited bill.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said three months ago that people linked to the Russian government had attempted to hack election-related sites and information in 21 states. But on Sept. 22, DHS made it official, contacting election officials in those states to more formally notify them of having been targeted.Only one, the state of Illinois, was deemed as having been "breached," according to a Washington Post analysis that pointed to the previously revealed exposure of personal information belonging to "tens of thousands of voters."With its next election about six weeks away, a top Washington state elections official said the agency will soon embark on a three-month federal pilot aimed at improving cybersecurity, and officials are optimistic the electoral cycle will be uneventful and appear largely unchanged to voters.In a Sept. 22 statement, Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman confirmed hearing from DHS as did officials in Florida, California and Ohio.As weve stated before, we continue to work cooperatively with DHS  including during the election last year. The security protocols we already have in place made us aware of these attempted intrusions by Russian IP addresses throughout the course of the 2016 election. There was no successful intrusion and we immediately alerted the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the activities, Wyman said.On Monday, Sept. 25, Lori Augino, Washington states director of elections, said her agency is poised to embark on a three-month pilot with DHS and the Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) to immediately improve its four times-a-year elections process.Washington state's next election, she said, is on Nov. 7.We are always working to expand what were doing to ensure that our systems are secure, whether from cyberthreats or physical threats. And so, well be looking at making some immediate improvements to what were already doing, Augino said, describing the effort as a pilot where we can partner with them in a more ramped up way.It will likely center on ramping up some of the cybersecurity protections that are already in place and trying to identify new things we can do, she added.MS-ISACs mission is to help state and local governments improve cybersecurity through focused threat prevention, protection, response and recovery.In a statement, the Florida Department of State (DOS) indicated it, too, had been notified by DHS of an unsuccessful hacking attempt last year.This attempt was not in any way successful and Floridas online elections databases and voting systems remained secure, DOS said.The Ohio Secretary of States (SOS) office said much the same  indicating DHS informed us of what we already knew  there was no breach of Ohios election system in 2016.The office described it as an attempt to find a weakness in our system which lasted less than one second and failed.DHS internet security contractors considered it to be a non-event and did not report it to Ohio officials at the time, the office said, emphasizing: Bottom line  Ohios elections system was not compromised.California Secretary of State Alex Padilla also said in a statement , issued Sept. 22, that hed been notified by DHS of scanning in 2016 of the states Internet-facing systems.He described scanning as an unauthorized attempt to identify weaknesses in a computer or network like a burglar trying to find an unlocked door, and said his office actively monitors scanning as part of our routine cyber security protocols.We have no information or evidence that our systems have been breached in any way or that any voter information was compromised, Padilla said.He emphasized it was the first time his office had been informed of an issue by DHS  and detailed his concern that in June 2017, Jeanette Manfra, Acting Undersecretary for Cybersecurity and Communications at DHS had told a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee that the owners of the systems within those 21 states have been notified.This, Padilla said, was simply not true and DHS acknowledged they failed to contact us and two or three other states. He called it completely unacceptable that DHS had taken more than a year to inform his office despite our repeated requests for information.A member of the DHS Office of Public Affairs referredto its National Protection and Programs Directorate Office (NPPD). There was no response to a message seeking a statement or comment left for NPPD public affairs.Augino said that since Washington state has been very vocal, federal officials have been very responsive.Were just always paying attention because were just always in elections mode, she said in reference to the states election security posture. I think its going to take a continued partnership and to continue communication, to talk about what we need to help us to be better.
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Cadillac embarked on its first official hands-free drive on freeways from one side of the country to the other, using Super Cruise technology. ( Earlier post .) Super Cruise utilizes two advanced technology systemsa driver attention system and precision LiDAR map data.

A group of stakeholders and media will put the power of Super Cruise technology to the test in twelve Super Cruise-equipped Cadillac CT6 vehicles, which departed from Cadillac House in New York City and will travel to Los Angeles, California.

Crossing through 16 states, plus the District of Columbia, in Super Cruise-equipped Cadillac CT6 vehicles, the drive program will make stops in major cities across the US including: Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; Dallas, Texas; Santa Fe, New Mexico and Phoenix, Arizona. Super Cruise is Cadillacs driver assistance feature which enables hands-free, driver-assisted operation on 130,000 miles of limited access, divided freeways in the US.

The multi-state, cross-country drive marks the first time that Super Cruise technology will be demonstrated on New York City freeways. Cadillac has been granted a New York automated vehicle testing license under a new law championed, enacted and advanced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Super Cruise will be available this fall in the 2018 Cadillac CT6.
The research team has studied different hydrogen-bearing organic liquids to arrive at the new hydrogen storage system based on a chemical coupling reaction between a hydrosilane and an alcohol catalyzed by a ruthenium compound supported in graphene. Their paper is published in Chemistry: a European Journal.

A group of researchers in Spainfrom the Universitat Jaume I de Castello, the University of Zaragoza and the Institute of Chemical Technology of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia-CSICcoordinated by Professor Jose Antonio Mata of the UJI, have developed and patented a new procedure for the efficient on-demand production, storage and safe transport of hydrogen based on the use of liquid hydrogen organic carriers (LOHC).



Implementation of silane/alcohol as a liquid organic hydrogen car- rier catalyzed by ruthenium. Ventura-Espinosa et al. Click to enlarge.

Hydrogen storage in the form of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) is very promising.In the present work, we analyse the catalytic dehydrogenative coupling of hydrosilanes with alcohols as a potential system for hydrogen storage.

A potential LOHC requires a fast dehydrogenation reaction to control the production of molecular hydrogen on-demand. The dehydrogenation coupling of hydrosilanes and alcohols is a catalytically controlled process. As is shown herein, the ruthenium complex [Ru(p-cym)(Cl) 2 (NHC)] is a very efficient catalyst, controls reaction kinetics, and produces hydrogen at high rates.

A major drawback found in most LOHCs is the elevated temperatures required in the dehydrogenation process. The coupling reaction of hydrosilanes and alcohols is carried out at low temperatures and proceeds even at 08C. The different types of hydrosilanes and alcohols available make the system a versatile LOHC. Ventura-Espinosa et al.

The new process is chemically versatile as there are many combinations of hydrosilanes and alcohols that can be employed. Further, the process can be performed very fast and no elevated temperatures are required, as the ruthenium catalysts are highly efficient for this reaction. Third, the process is reversible because the product formed in the coupling between a hydrosilane and alcohol is a silyl ether that can be further transformed into the original product by a reductant.

The system can be easily adapted to non-static energy generation and use systems, such as automobiles; the use of silane-alcohol as LOHC allows working at low temperatures in obtaining the gas and the technology circumvents the safety problems of hydrogen storage.

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Volvo Cars announced that the next generation of the XC90 large premium SUV will be built in its new manufacturing plant in Charleston, South Carolina from 2021. This takes Volvo Cars total investment in its US manufacturing operations to more than US$1.1 billion and will raise the total of new jobs created at the Charleston site to nearly 4,000.

The South Carolina plant will start production of the next-generation S60 in the fall of 2018. The addition of the next generation XC90 from 2021 as well as a planned new office campus will create 1,900 new jobs, which come on top of the 2,000 new employees currently being hired.

The US is the largest single market for the XC90, although a considerable amount of XC90 volume will be exported from the Port of Charleston. Total US production capacity at the plant will rise to 150,000 vehicles annually.

The XC90 has played an important role in Volvo Cars sales revival in the United States and around the globe. The large SUV, launched in 2014, is the most awarded luxury SUV of the century and helped Volvo Cars recover its sales in the United States from a low of 56,000 units sold in 2014 to almost 83,000 units in 2016.

The announcement on further expansion in South Carolina allows Volvo Cars to take another step toward the companys build where you sell global manufacturing strategy. It currently operates two manufacturing plants in Europe, as well as two factories in China. A third Chinese plant is currently under construction.
Inflexion Private Equity said that funds managed by Inflexion have agreed on the buyout of Xtrac Ltd, a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance transmissions for the motorsport and automotive industry.

Xtrac supplies most of the worlds top motorsport teams in both two and four-wheeled formulae across the globe, from MotoGP to Formula 1. The business enjoys strong EBITDA growth; more than 80% of the British manufacturers revenue is generated through exports, particularly for high performance automotive applications including hybrids and electric vehicles.

Inflexion is backing Xtracs management team, who will remain with the business. Inflexions investment will help fuel Xtracs future expansion, supporting its rapidly growing high-performance road car division and increasing Xtracs team of 330 in the UK and US. Inflexion will support the extension of Xtracs factory and purchase of additional world class machinery, accelerating the development of the next generation of high-end automotive transmission systems and advancing its capabilities in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Two shootings that occurred an hour apart and injured three people are connected, police said today.

The first shooting happened about 11:45 p.m. in the street at the intersection of East 15th and East 17th streets, police said. Responding officers found two males from Winston-Salem, ages 15 and 16, who had been shot, said Lt. Michael Cardwell. He declined to say where on their bodies they were injured, citing the investigation. Their names are not being released because of their ages.

Cardwell declined to say what the juveniles were doing in the street prior to the shooting or if they were in a car or with other people at the time, saying detectives are still seeking witnesses to the shooting.

While officers were investigating that shooting, they received a second call about a man who had been shot in his home on the 800 block of Cameron Avenue. Detectives found 20-year-old Cherokie DeMichael Williams who had been shot in the head, Cardwell said.

All of the victims were taken to area hospitals for their injuries. Williams is in critical but stable condition. The juveniles are expected to recover from their injuries.

Other people were in Williams house at the time of the shooting, Cardwell said. He declined to comment on the number of people in the house at the time. Cardwell didnt immediately know if someone inside the house was the person who called 911 to report the shooting.

Cardwell said the two shootings are connected but declined to elaborate as to how. He also wouldnt say how the victims may know each other or if any of them had weapons. He said there is an ongoing dispute that led to the shooting. Robbery doesnt appear to be a motive in the shooting, Cardwell said.

Detectives canvassed the two scenes after the shootings but have not found any weapons that may have been discarded by the suspects, Cardwell said.

Police ask anyone with information to call (336) 773-7700, Crime Stoppers at (336) 727-2800 or in Spanish at (336) 728-3904.
WENTWORTH  State prosecutors will not seek the death penalty in the case against an Eden man who is accused of murdering a Stoneville resident.

Richard Jumper, 27, was charged with killing 24-year-old David Wayne Bullins in late January.

Late in the evening on Jan. 29, Rockingham County Sheriffs deputies responded to 3013 Anglin Mill Road.

At the scene, deputies found Bullins, a resident of the address, lying in the front doorway and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

Jumper was apprehended without incident on Feb. 3.

The state announced in Rockingham County Superior Court on Monday during a pretrial hearing that they will pursue the first-degree murder charge non-capitally.

The rule 24 hearing, which stems from Rule 24 of the General Rules of Practice for the Superior and District Court in North Carolina, is mandatory in all cases in which a defendant is charged with a crime punishable by death.

According to North Carolina General Statute 15A-2004, The state in its discretion may elect to try a defendant capitally or non-capitally for first degree murder, even if evidence of an aggravating circumstance exists.

Currently, 145 convicted murders are on death row in the state of North Carolina, according to information tallied by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

The last execution in the state took place on Aug. 18, 2006, when Samuel Flippen was executed via lethal injection.

At the start of 2007, a moratorium was placed on executions in the state, following legal challenges to the execution procedure and whether or not it violates an individuals constitutional protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

Since 2013, only four convicted murderers have been sentenced to death in the state.

Only one offender, who was sentenced to death in December 1991, remains on death row following a conviction in Rockingham County.

Jumper also faces charges of breaking and entering with intent to terrorize or injure an occupant and simple assault.
GREENWICH  Three robbery suspects from New York City are being held in custody following the alleged attempt to steal tens of thousands of hand bags from Saks on Greenwich Avenue last Thursday.

Bail was set at $150,000 each for Jennifer Nervil, 22, of Carlton Avenue, Brooklyn; Quandel Baldwin, 25, of West 129th Street, Manhattan; and Hassan Carter, 21, of West 129th Street, Manhattan. Unable to post it, the three suspects were being detained.
Maybe you're addicted to those home-flipping shows on HGTV where glam couples buy grim shacks, spend 22 minutes smashing down walls and adding funky kitchen backsplashes, and then make tens of thousands selling the refurbished places on the open market. Or perhaps you're jonesing for a steady stream of extra income and feel certain you've got what it takes to be a landlord.

Or just maybe you're on the prowl for a hands-off way to make serious real estate money with financial investments that don't require laying down new flooring or screening prospective tenants.

Whichever option floats your boat, you've got plenty of company. After the epic boom-and-bust of the speculative home-flipping market in the aughts, everyone again seems to be looking to make a quick buck by becoming a real estate investor. But these days, there are a dizzying variety of different takes on the once-simple idea of property investingall requiring varying levels of blood, sweat, tearsand risks. Which one might be right for you?

That's where we come in. The realtor.com data team looked at the five big real estate investments that everyday Joes and Janes may want to consider. Then we broke down the typical returns (aka profits) investors have received over the past few years, along with the pros and cons of each.

A closer look at real estate investment returns Tony Frenzel

(Rampant flipping, spurred by overbuilding and easy, subprime mortgage-fueled credit, was a prime contributor to the real estate crash and recent financial crisis. But today, thanks to much tighter credit and inventory levels, home flipping is no longer the American economy's red, flashing "danger" sign.)

"Over the generations, real estate has proven itself to be a pretty good, time-tested investment," says Eric Tyson, who co-authored "Real Estate Investing for Dummies." "Like investing in the stock market, people who follow some basic principles and buy and hold over long periods of time should do fairly well.But, of course, theres no guarantee."

And that's why the thrill-a-minute world of real estate investing isn't for everyoneespecially when life savings are involved.

"Real estate is very unpredictable," says certified financial planner Jenna Rogers of Mission Wealth in Santa Barbara, CA. "A lot of people feel like you cant lose money in homes, but that's not really the case. "If theres any kind of turmoil in the market, real estate usually gets hit really hard."

OK, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's go shopping.

1. Home flipping: Not exactly like reality TV

First half of 2017 gross returns: 48.6%*

2014 gross returns: 45.8%

2012 gross returns: 44.8%

Home flipping involves a lot of work and uncertainty, but can lead to a nice payoff. powerofforever/iStock

If the Property Brothers or Chip n' Joanna can do it, why can't you? Real estate reality TV has made the "fixer-upper" flipping market seem fun, very sexyand mostly foolproof. But becoming a successful home flipper is a lot harder than it looks on television. And it isn't always as wildly profitable as you might think.

The returns appear deceptively high, as they don't account for hefty renovation costs, closing costs, property taxes and insurance. Flippers should figure that about 20% to 30% of their profits will go straight toward such expenses, say experts. The median returns above only reflect sale price gainsnot net profits.

Newbie investors need to make sure they're thoroughly familiar with a neighborhood before they consider buying a potential flip in it, says Charles Tassell, chief operating officer at the National Real Estate Investors Association, a Cincinnati-based investors group. This means looking at what kinds of homes are located nearby, what sort of shape they're in, and how much they've sold for. Wannabe flippers should pay attention to the quality of local schools, transportation, and the job marketjust as they would for their own home. Those are the things that can make or break a sale. And an investment.

A market where homes are still affordable but appreciating rapidly is ideal.

Like Pennsylvania! The highest flipping returns in the second quarter of the year were in Pittsburgh, at 146.6%; Baton Rouge, LA, at 120.3%; Philadelphia, at 114%; Harrisburg, PA, at 103.3%; and Cleveland, at 101.8%, according to the real estate data firm ATTOM Data Solutions. Those Rust Belt cities topped the list because they have plenty of cheaper, older homes that can be easily updated, and because housing prices there are rising as economies (slowly) improve.

Once they've settled on an area, flippers need to focus on the basic structure of prospective homes. Special attention should be paid to a home's heating and cooling systems, foundation, and roofthe things that are most expensive to fix.

Then they need to create a realistic budget. Experts recommend setting aside 10% to 20% to cover any unknownslike what's inside the walls. Costly surprises are par for the course.

The biggest hurdle of flipping is: The costs are never what they seem to be on HGTV," says flipper and landlord April Crossley, co-owner of Crossley Properties in Reading, PA. She owns the business with her real estate agent husband, and they do 8 to 10 flips a year. "In fact, theyre always way more."

Flippers are gambling that the housing market stays strong in their target areaat least long enough to resell their investment home.

"You're constantly anticipating what the market will be doing 6 to 12 months in the future," says Daren Blomquist, senior vice president at ATTOM. So if you miscalculate, and it drops, you could lose a lot of money.

2. Investment (rental) properties: You, too, could be a landlord

First half of 2017 returns: 13%*

Three-year returns: 9.9%

Five-year returns: 11.67%

Renting out a property provides a more predictable income stream. monkeybusinessimages/iStock

Perhaps flipping homes, and all the varied costs and stressors associated with it, isn't for you. But you'd still like to be a hands-on real estate investor. Why not consider buying investment (rental) properties?

One big advantage is the tax deduction folks get for their rental properties. They can write off their mortgage interest, property taxes, and operating expenses, as well as repairs.

Like home flippers, landlords-to-be should look at growing areas with new jobs moving in, says Steve Hovland, director of research at HomeUnion, an Irvine, CAbased company that helps smaller investors buy and manage properties.

"I'm very bullish on high-growth markets, like Texas, the Southeast, Arizona. Youre always going to have new renter demand," he says. But coastal cities can be tough for aspiring property owners because they're just too expensive.

The best markets for investors were Cleveland, which fetched a 11.5% yearly return; Cincinnati, at 9.8%; Columbia, SC, at 8.6%; Memphis, TN, at 8.5%; and Richmond, VA, at 8.2% in the first quarter of the year, according to HomeUnion. The worst were San Francisco, at 2.8%, and Silicon Valley's San Jose, at 2.8%.

First-time investors may want to target middle-class neighborhoods near top-rated schools, where stability rules and tenants are more likely to hold steady jobs. These homes often require less maintenancea boon to landlords who don't live nearby.

"You're always able to replace renters in nicer neighborhoods with good schools," says Hovland.

Landlords who aren't local or don't want to deal with 3 a.m. calls about an overflowing toilet will want to consider hiring a property manager who will find tenants and coordinate (but not perform) maintenance. But that eats into profits, costing about 7% to 12% of the monthly rent.

And the payoff you get, as compared with flipping a home, isn't in one lump sum, and isn't always steady. For example, landlord and flipper Crossley rents out multiple single-family homes, duplexes, and apartments in the Reading, PA, area, and once had a couple stop paying their rent for six months after they went through a divorce. She had to eat those losses, as well as attorney fees, while she went through eviction court to get them out.

Landlords also need to have insurance on their properties and set up their rental companies to protect their personal assets, in case they get sued.

And like other investors, owners also run the risk that home pricesalong with the rents they were counting oncould plunge.

"You have to be prepared for the worst. When something goes wrong in a tenant's life, youre the last person to get paid," Crossley says.

3. U.S. REITs: Buying shares in real estate instead of companies

Year-to-date returns: 2.75%*

Three-year returns: 8.39%

Five-year returns: 9.79%

For some real estate investors, REITs really stand out. TimArbaev/iStock

Those who'd like to own apartment and office buildings like a legit mogul but don't have the bank balance to do so may want to turn to Real Estate Investment Trusts. Don't worry if you've never heard of REITs. You don't need a fancy finance degree to understand how they work.

Most REITs are publicly traded corporations that investors buy and sell shares injust like stocks. Only instead of buying shares in Apple, you're buying shares in real estate. Shares can range in price from just a few dollars to hundreds of bucks. Investors can buy into them on certain exchanges.

As with stocks, investors can make money by buying shares at a low price and selling them at a higher one, and by collecting quarterly dividends (payouts are made every three months).

There are two main kinds of publicly traded REITS. Equity REITs own rental properties ranging from homes to business space, and make money collecting income on them. Residential and commercial mortgage REITs allow investors to buy mortgage debt where investors profit from the interest.

Of all of the real estate investment trusts, data center REITswhere companies rent out space to store their network servershad the highest one-year returns, at 29.79%, according to the National Association of Real Investment Trusts, a Washington, D.C.-based REIT trade group. It was followed by home financing mortgage REITs, which invest in bundles of home loans, at 25.57%.

The biggest losses were in the retail sector, as more shoppers make their purchases online. (Thanks, Amazon!) Big shopping malls, usually anchored by department stores, took the biggest one-year hits, at -26.78%, according to the association.

4. Crowdfunded real estate: Like Kickstarter for property

Year-to-date annualized returns: 8.72%*

Two-year returns: 8.89%

Buy a place with a bunch of strangers you don't have to live with. Logorilla/Getty Images; scibak/iStock; realtor.com

Crowdfunded real estate is like the younger, cooler cousin of REITs. Simply put, it allows ordinary folks to pool their money to invest in things like apartment complexes, office buildings, and shopping centers. It's like a Kickstarter for buying real estateinstead of funding your college roommate's feature-length documentary about Furries.

Previously available only to uber-wealthy accredited investors, crowdfunding only became open to the general public in March 2015. That's when the government enacted new rules opening up the investments to folks without ginormous bank balances. So there isn't much data available yet on how these investments perform over the long term.

While REITs can hold tens of thousands of properties and be worth billions of dollars, crowdfunding companies are often significantly smaller, holding just one or a handful of properties. And they often require a long-term commitment from investors.

As with REITs, the two main options in crowdfunded real estate investing are equity or debt.

Equity, the riskier of the two, involves investing in a fund connected to commercial or residential development. It makes money from the income the property generates and the increase in the value over time. The investment is usually tied up for about five to seven years. Debt is the loan used to get the project off the ground and continue to finance it through the life of the project.

Over time, accredited investorsthe wealthier ones who have been in the investments the longesttypically receive anywhere from 11% to 45% annual returns on their equity crowdfunding investments, says Ian Ippolito, a retired investor who founded the website The Real Estate Crowdfunding Review. Since these types of investments have only recently been opened up to the masses, the annual returns for regular investors are about 8.2%. That's expected to rise if all goes well when the property is sold five to seven years down the line.

But if the development doesn't get fully built or doesn't make any money, then investors may get nothingand even lose their investment.

"These are long-term investments, so if you pull your money out early, theres usually a financial penalty," Ippolito says. That's a big difference from REITs, which can be sold at any time. "Retirees who need the money soon probably should look elsewhere."

Debt is a bit safer, but the payouts may not be as high.

5. Home appreciation: The investment you can live in

One-year appreciation: 10%*

Three-year appreciation: 26.7%

Five-year appreciation: 44.8%

The easiest real estate investment? Just live in the house and wait. monkeybusinessimages/iStock

Folks don't need to flip homes or pour money into crowdfunded projects to make money as a real estate investor. Instead, they can search hard for the perfect home, get their finances in order, negotiate smartly, and close the deal for the best possible price.

And then live in it.

Real estate typically appreciates over time. That means that buyers who buy a home in a decent area and keep it in good shape should make money when they decide to sell. Depending on the market and the home, sometimes a lot of money. But they should plan on being in that home for at least five or so years, so they can build up enough equity in the home to net a profit once real estate agent fees and closing costs are accounted for.

"In general, buying a home is a good investment and a way to build wealth and equity over a lifetime," says Joseph Kirchner, senior economist at realtor.com. "[But] even if you're buying it to live in the house for the next 30 years, it is always better to buy when prices are low."

And as folks build equity in their home, through appreciation and paying down their mortgage debt, they can take out home equity loans or home equity lines of credit against their property.

But of course, just as with the other investments on this list, there are risks. The country could enter into a new recession, or there could be a local housing market crash if a big employer leaves the area. Or homes in your area could simply be overvalued.

However, when home prices fall, they do generally reboundeventually.

"Good markets arent going to last forever," says real estate investment author Tyson. "Even the best real estate markets go through slow periods."

* ATTOM Data Solution supplied the median gross home-flipping returns. HomeUnion provided the median returns of investment properties. The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts provided REIT performance data as of Sept. 21. The Real Estate Crowdfunding Review supplied the average crowdfunded real estate returns for nonaccredited investors. The review's year-to-date data are through Aug. 1, while the two-year data are from October 2015 through Aug. 1, 2017. Median home appreciation is as of Aug. 1 and comes from realtor.com.

The post Flip, Rent, or Hold: What's the Best Path to Real Estate Riches? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Bone-in rib eye cooked on the parrilla and served with chimichurri and panzanella salad. Photo: Melissa Hom

Like many of the polished little DIY dining establishments blooming all around the borough these days, Metta looks almost too much like a harried Manhattanites fantasy of what a twee, homegrown New Brooklyn restaurant is supposed to be. The tables in the cozy corner space on Adelphi Street, near the Greenmarket in Fort Greene, are mismatched (some are marble-topped, some wood) and set with gently wilting wildflowers. There is the usual jumble of antically named brews on hand at the bar (Night Shift, Daisy Cutter), along with a cocktail list enlivened by beet shrub and something identified on the menu as chive brine. Were told the food comes mostly from within a locavore, 200-mile radius, and much of it is prepared on an elaborate network of grills and braziers.

But like many of these modest-appearing DIY joints, Metta (its a Buddhist term for kindness) is a more cosmopolitan operation than it seems. The executive chef is a well-traveled young cook named Norberto Piattoni, who comes to the city from Argentina, where he studied the dark art of open fire barbecue asado with the master of that genre, Francis Mallmann (for several years, he ran Mallmanns asado restaurant in Uruguay). During the course of his travels, Piattoni also stopped in California, where he picked up tips on haute locavore dining at the San Francisco restaurant Bar Tartine. The yeast starters used for the fresh-baked bread come from a former baker at Tartine Bakery, as it happens, and the impressive grills (a hanging metal fire basket, a coal pit, and two griddles) are modeled on the great fire-belching Rube Goldberg contraptions made famous by Mallmann and designed by Piattoni himself.

Metta. Photo: Jemma Hinkly/New York Magazine

On my first visit, we tasted a satisfying chunk of the house sourdough, which was baked in a newfangled electric oven. The crust was dark and crunchy and curved like a piece of Bundt cake, and the center had a gingery color to it like just-baked anadama bread. There was also a faintly charred wheel of pitalike flatbread on the table, served with a fresh yogurt-and-cucumber tzatziki pooled with extra-virgin olive oil, which we enjoyed with half a dozen cool, slippery oysters from Cape Cod (tipped, yes, with ramp mignonette), along with a helping of sliced raw beef hearts (called carpaccio on the pocket-size one-page menu) tossed with a chopping of scallions and a spoonful of rich, smoky chile paste.

The chiles used in this beef-heart chile paste were charred over coals, for the record, and the griddled beets that followed them were scattered with a pleasingly awkward combination of chewy rye berries and creme fraiche, all thrown together, like an elevated camping supper, in a simple white bowl. Bowls of pulled crispy lamb appeared after this little salvo of dishes (its crispiness was dulled, unfortunately, by a sour mass of pickled parsnips), along with a rash, failed attempt to conjure up a tonnato sauce from Atlantic bluefish (a weirdly bitter note muffled everything), but the best of the crackling, flame-forward cooking has an elemental, faintly mysterious quality, like its been beamed into this neighborly little block of the city from some wild corner of the world.

Big Rock oysters from Massachusetts with ramp mignonette, served over ashes. Photo: Melissa Hom

Grilling is a notoriously delicate, temperamental art, however, and just like at the finest barbecue venues in the Carolinas or South Williamsburg, the results can vary depending on what hour of the day (or week) you drop in. The first time I ordered it, the leg of roast chicken was steamy and tender inside, and the skin, which had a brittle, melting quality to it, dissolved on the back of the tongue. The same was almost true of a simple cut of striped bass, although when I ordered both dishes later, on a busier, stressful evening for the kitchen, both of them had been cooked through. The chewy barnyard-pork steak holds up a little better against the ebb-and-flow restaurant service, but if you have the cash, the most durable and delicious of all is the gorgeous rib eye ($95 for 35 ounces), which served as a fairly regular special on my visits, with a plate of late-summer-tomato panzanella salad on the side.

Metta is one of the more popular restaurants of the crowded Brooklyn dining season, so for the best results, go early, on a lazy weeknight, when the sidewalk outside is filled with the pleasant aroma of wood smoke and the communal tables arent jammed with parties of locals singing raucous birthday songs. The most interesting of the small, deceptively simple desserts is Piattonis much-publicized sweet-potato creation (the potato is roasted in ash on one of the kitchens fire contraptions and poured with herb-infused cream), and if the noise in the little room grows too oppressive and the sensitive, neighborly operation starts to seem overwhelmed, you can drown your sorrows in a wine list, which includes a number of well-chosen (though not inexpensive) bottles from the Loire and Burgundy, along with whats surely the most impressive selection of magnums and jeroboams in all of Fort Greene.

Vegetables with local-bluefish tonnato. Photo: Melissa Hom

Cucumber salad with fermented butternut squash, gooseberries, shiso, kefir, farmer cheese, and creme fraiche, garnished with flowers. Photo: Melissa Hom

The Painted Lady, a citrusy aperitivo. Photo: Melissa Hom

Rating: 2 stars

Metta

197 Adelphi St., at Willoughby Ave., Fort Greene; 718-233-9134; mettabk.com

Open: Dinner, Tuesday to Sunday.

Prices: Appetizers, $6 to $16; entrees, $22 to $29; rib eye by weight.

Ideal Meal: House sourdough with oysters and/or beef-heart carpaccio, market steak or prime-rib special, charred sweet potato.

Note: For a front-row view of the flame-forward cooking experience, take a seat at the dining counter in the back of the house.

Scratchpad: One star for the vibe in the pleasant (and hopefully uncrowded) room and another for the best of the asado cooking (on a good night) and the wine.

*This article appears in the October 2, 2017, issue of New York Magazine.
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Haiti - Politics : Moise spoke with UN Deputy Secretary-General





On the sidelines of his address to the general debate of the 72nd Ordinary Session of the UN General Assembly (New York) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22187-haiti-flash-jovenel-moise-evokes-the-army-of-haiti-at-the-tribune-of-the-un.html , President Jovenel Moise, met with Amina J. Mohammed, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General who was accompanied for the occasion by Josette Sheeran, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Haiti. At this meeting was discussed the priorities of the Administration and the Government of Haiti, as well as the necessary adjustments to the framework of cooperation between Haiti and the United Nations.



Moise explained the priorities of his administration in particular: the management of surface water; road and social infrastructure; the reform of public administration; the construction of the national electricity grid; the production of renewable energies and measures to maintain stability and attract investment to create jobs.



He also stressed the need for urgent reinforcement of the fight against cholera through an important and direct commitment to the National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA).



For their part, the UN interlocutors took note of the explanations of President Moise andAmina J. Mohammed confirmed that she will soon go to Haiti as part of the ight against the elimination of cholera. The UN Deputy Secretary-General confirmed that she was considering concrete actions with immediate effect for better coordination of the actions of the United Nations system in Haiti during the post-Minustah transition, both in the cholera field and in infrastructure and State reform programs.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22187-haiti-flash-jovenel-moise-evokes-the-army-of-haiti-at-the-tribune-of-the-un.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22176-haiti-economy-jovenel-moise-met-with-christine-lagarde-director-of-the-imf.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22166-haiti-new-york-positive-meeting-between-moise-and-the-idb.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22146-haiti-politics-president-moise-in-new-york.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : Full details of the 2017-2018 budget, revenue and expenditure





Let us recall that the new budget of 144 billion Gourdes will enter into force on 1 October 2017. Subject of all the criticisms and false informations, causes of the demonstrations due in particular to the increase in certain taxes was published by President Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22135-haiti-flash-moise-asserts-his-authority-and-publishes-the-budget.html in Special Issue No. 27 of the official gazette "Le Moniteur" dated Tuesday, September 19, 2017.



Rather than listen to or read the often contradictory versions and analyzes of pros and anti-budget, we invite you to download this budget, in order to make your own opinion from the official information.



Download the 2017-2018 budget (202 pages) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/17_18_projet_de_loi_de_finances.pdf



Note that although still appearing in the official document of the Ministry of Finance the flat-rate fee of 10,000 gourdes in Article 17 was abolished by Parliament.



Part of Article 17 removed :

"Persons whose fiscal domicile is outside Haiti must provide proof that they are in good standing with the tax authorities of their country of residence and will pay a minimum flat tax of ten thousand (10,000.00) gourdes."



As an appendix to this budget and in order to better understand the choices and the explanations of the government, we invite you to share the Presentation Document of the 2017-2018 budget reasons, document used by Jude Alix Patrick Salomon Minister of Economy and Finance before parliamentary committees to defend his budget.



Download the Budget Presentation Document : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/17_18_documents_annexes_projet_de_loi_de_finances.pdf



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - TPS : Senators Democrats put pressure on President Trump





Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-Brooklyn) said she and Charles Schumer, the Democratic minority leader in the Senate, were lobbying President Donald Trump to find a solution to the beneficiaries of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which benefits people from countries experiencing humanitarian crises.



The TPS, which is managed by the US Department of Homeland Security, provides a sanctuary and work permit for foreign nationals fleeing disasters or violence at home. In the midst of pressure to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for undocumented youths arriving in the United States with their parents, congressional democrats are seeking a strategy to get Trump to extend TPS https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21016-haiti-flash-tps-extension-for-6-months-official.html



Congressman Clarke said at a recent Manhattan forum that she had had a conversation with Schumer and that he understands TPS "intimately" because many of his constituents are currently protected under TPS. "I believe that Chuck Schumer understands the imperative that there is and will use every opportunity at his disposal to continue pushing for the expanded 18-month TPS that were all accustomed to."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22172-haiti-flash-diaspora-tps-hotline-at-the-embassy-of-haiti-in-washington.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21103-haiti-john-kelly-a-cynical-attempt-to-justify-the-uncertainty-dixit-congresswoman-clarke.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21037-haiti-flash-extension-of-tps-procedures-to-follow.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21022-haiti-usa-tps-congresswoman-yvette-d-clarke-denounces.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21016-haiti-flash-tps-extension-for-6-months-official.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20832-haiti-flash-black-caucus-supports-tps-extension.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20820-haiti-flash-tps-pressures-multiply-on-government-trump.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20069-haiti-diaspora-congresswoman-yvette-d-clarke-wants-to-expand-the-tps.html



SL/ HaitiLibre
























Haiti - Agriculture : Beekeeping an alternative activity for fishermen in St-Jean du Sud





In order to allow fishermen living in the buffer zones of the mangrove ecosystems of St-Jean du Sud to have an alternative economic activity, the organization "Artisanal Fisheries and Integrated Development" (PADI) develops apiculture to Pointe Abacacou.



Beekeeping is one of the sectors chosen within the framework of the green economy concept because of its transversal importance for increasing the yield of agricultural exploitations and a better management of biodiversity.



PADI has organized two training sessions for the benefit of their members and other sectors in the area, with a view to an effective implementation of this sector within the fishermen's association of Point Abacou. Following these sessions, a multiplication apiary was set up with 10 colonies installed in the hives fabricated by the learners in the area.



This activity also resulted in the strengthening of the cabinetmaking in Pointe Abacou. Managed by 5 learners under the supervision of the administration of the Fishermen's Association of Pointe Abacou, a workshop for the manufacture of hives with movable frame has been established.



This initiative was carried out in collaboration with the International Labor Office (ILO), UN Environment Haiti and the Fishermen's Associations of the commune of Saint-Jean du sud and Port Salut.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - UN : Mamadou Diallo appointed Deputy Special Representative of Minujusth in Haiti





United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced today the appointment of Mamadou Diallo of Guinea as Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20656-haiti-flash-bye-bye-the-minustah-hello-the-minujusth.html and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).



Mr. Diallo succeeds Mourad Wahba of Egypt, who stepped down from his duties in January. The Secretary-General expresses his appreciation for the significant contribution of Mr. Wahba to the implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the coordination of the activities of the United Nations system in Haiti.



Learn more about Mamadou Diallo :

Since 2015, Mr. Diallo has served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), where he also served as Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the United Nations and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative. He brings to his new functions 25 years of experience and continuing service with the United Nations at the national, regional and international levels in peacekeeping, development and humanitarian operations.



Between 2012 and 2015, he held the position of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Regional Director for West and Central Africa based in Senegal. From 2009 to 2012, Mr. Diallo was the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, and UNDP Resident Representative in Eritrea. He previously served as the Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Mali from 2005 to 2009 and in Sierra Leone from 2001 to 2005, as well as Regional Adviser in positions dealing with maternal and child health and family planning issues with UNFPA in Senegal and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Prior to joining the United Nations, he has worked as a medical doctor and Chief of medical staff in Guinea.



A graduate of the Universite de Conakry School of Medicine (Guinea), Mr. Diallo also holds a masters degree in public health from San Diego State University (USA) and a special diploma in public health from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium).



Mr. Diallo is married and has three children.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20656-haiti-flash-bye-bye-the-minustah-hello-the-minujusth.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20653-haiti-flash-the-un-voted-final-departure-of-the-minustah-in-october.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2017/09/25 | Source

Jang Dong-gun (left) and Park Hyung-sik

Actor Jang Dong-gun will return to television after a five-year absence.

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He will play a successful lawyer in a remake of the American legal drama "Suits". Premiered in 2011, "Suits" is currently in its seventh season in the U.S.

Emerging star Park Hyung-sik has been cast alongside Jang in the Korean remake. Park will play a junior lawyer.

The Korean version is to be aired sometime next year, but fans of the two actors are already excited about the prospect of their appearing together.
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Hawaii Pregnancy Centers Go to Court Over Law Requiring They Promote Abortions

by Rachel del Guidice, Daily Signal, September 22, 2017

A conservative legal organization went to court Friday in Hawaii over a law that forces pregnancy care centers to provide free advertising for abortion.

They are requiring pregnancy centers [that] just give away diapers and baby clothes to refer women to the state, to a website that connects them with certainly abortion causing drugs, and  abortionists, Kevin Theriot, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, told The Daily Signal in a phone interview.

This is an important case because Hawaii goes even further than California did, and they are clearly singling out pregnancy centers, Theriot said.

The Hawaii law is similar to a law passed in 2015 in California, which required licensed medical centers that offer free, pro-life help to pregnant women to post a disclosure saying that California provides free or low-cost abortion and contraception services, according to Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom.

The National Institute of Family and Life Advocates and Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbors A Place for Women pregnancy care center filed the lawsuit on July 12. Hawaiis law, Senate Bill 501, went into effect July 11 .

The lawsuit, Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor v. Chin, seeks that Hawaii stop the enforcement of the law and give back federal funds the state received conditioned on the states commitment not to force pro-life pregnancy centers to make abortion referrals, according to Alliance Defending Freedom.

Theriot, along with Ken Connelly, a legal counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, argued at U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii in Honolulu Friday morning on behalf of Hawaiian pregnancy care centers.

National Institute of Family and Life Advocates founder and President Thomas Glessner said in a statement to The Daily Signal that the law is detrimental for pro-life institutions.

Hawaiis threat to pro-life pregnancy care centers and medical clinics counts among the most egregious violations of constitutional religious and free speech rights in the nation, Glessner said.

The law, Alliance Defending Freedom says, dictates that pregnancy care centers provide funding and referrals for abortion.

It also requires pregnancy care centers to display signs or provide notices that advertise that the center provides low-cost or free family planning services, which include abortion-inducing drugs, and further requires pregnancy care centers to offer contact information for those services.

Theriot said he hopes the Supreme Court will intervene in the California case, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra . The court is expected to consider taking the case in early October. He added:

The case has national implications. It certainly has implications for the five small pregnancy centers here in the Hawaii islands, and were hopeful that the judge will take notice of that, and at least recognize that there is a serious threat to the rights and the ability of these pregnancy centers to survive, and go ahead and put the law on hold while we figure out exactly what is going on nationally, especially if the Supreme Court decides to take it up.

Conservative leaders hope to see the law dismantled.

This is like the government forcing the local pacifist group to post directions to the nearest military recruiting depot, Cathy Ruse, senior legal fellow at the Family Research Council, said in a statement provided to The Daily Signal.

She added:

In the war of ideas, the government should never force one side to carry the flag of the other. Its not fair. More than that, its government-forced speech, and thats not constitutional.

Melanie Israel, research associate for the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation, said the law is unfair to the states pregnancy care centers.

Pro-life pregnancy centers provide vital services, education, supplies, counseling, and compassionate options to women experiencing a touch pregnancy, Israel said, adding:

The abortion industry sees these centers as a threat, because they offer women choices beyond abortion. The state governments attempt to force these centers to promote a procedure that directly violates the core mission and purpose of their work is an affront to rights of conscience and free expression.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, said in a statement provided to The Daily Signal that the law must be stopped.

The court should immediately block the law and allow pregnancy resource centers to continue their life-saving and life-supporting work without having to go against their moral beliefs and promote the abhorrent act of abortion, Hawkins said.
Employers and companies now face massive fines for breaches of workplace health and safety laws, after Victoria's Parliament passed the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act .



The amendments give WorkSafe greater time to prosecute serious offences and increases penalties for serious breaches of the OHS Act.



Duty holders who dont notify WorkSafe of an incident (or dont preserve a site after a serious incident) will now face up to $38,000 in fines for individuals and up to $190,000 for body corporates if they break the law.



Workers are also in line for more compensation, with entitlements of up to $5000 for travel and accommodation to allow family members to visit an injured worker in hospital, or to attend a funeral service.



WorkSafe will also get new powers to prosecute where an offender breaches an enforceable undertaking, while new penalties can be applied by the courts where an enforceable undertaking is breached.



An enforceable undertaking is a written commitment by an offender to do certain things within a particular timeframe.



The Labor Government introduced the new changes to keep employees safe at work and improve compensation for those who are injured.



The intention of the measures it to strengthen the compliance and enforcement tools that WorkSafe can use to prosecute offenders, in addition to deterring offending.



The Minister for Finance Robin Scott said injuries at work remain all too common.



Thats why were strengthening WorkSafes ability to enforce OHS laws and support injured workers and their families, he said.



Its our priority to protect the health and safety of all Victorian workers and supporting them if they get injured because safety always comes first.



The measure is designed to further support families who have had a loved one injured at work, or who are grieving after the loss of a loved one from an incident at work.



The Labor Government said it is supporting WorkSafe to protect Victorian workers, with the recruitment of WorkSafe inspectors up by almost 10% since December 2014.




the 1980s spying case involving CIA counter-intelligence officer Aldrich Ames on behalf of the Soviets;

a 1972 leak to columnist Jack Anderson about spying on members of the Soviet Politburo, which he disclosed in The Washington Post; and

the 2015 hack of computers at the Office of Personnel Management, a data breach that compromised the names, Social Security numbers, birthdates and home addresses and other sensitive personal information for 18 million people.

ironmental Protection Agency employees attended mandatory training sessions last week to ensure their compliance with the rules against leaking classified or sensitive government information.President Donald Trump has expressed anger over repeated leaks of potentially embarrassing information to media organizations in recent months. There is now an order for all executive branch agencies to undergo anti-leaks training, the Associated Press reported."We share the White House's concern with the unlawful leaks throughout the government," Justice Department spokesman Ian Prior said Wednesday.The EPA occasionally creates, receives, handles and stores classified material because of its homeland security, emergency response and continuity missions. EPA employees also work closely with contractors and other federal agencies that more regularly handle classified information.Relatively few EPA employees deal with classified files, but the new training also reinforces requirements to keep "Controlled Unclassified Information" from unauthorized disclosure.A fact sheet sent to EPA employees warned that leaks of even unclassified information could have serious consequences to national security."Enemies of the United States are relentless in their pursuit of information which they can exploit to harm US interests," the document said.The document also summarized past instances where government secrets had been spilled either through espionage, computer hacks or leaks to reporters.The list includes:In a speech last month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said those responsible for the "staggering number of leaks" coming out of the administration would be investigated and potentially prosecuted.EPA staff was reminded of the whistleblower protections afforded to federal employees who expose wrongdoing. The training materials directed them to do so through proper channels for reporting fraud, waste and abuse, including the inspector general's hotline.
>By Colin Temple, VP & GM, American Express Global Business Travel



Midsize companies play a crucial role in the strength of a countrys economy and face a different set of challenges from larger companies to grow their businesses, including when it comes to hiring and retaining talent.



According to a recent research report from American Express Global Business Travel and The Economists Intelligence Unit, titled How Medium-Sized Companies Can Wage the Battle for Talent, many midsize companies struggle to bring in talent to grow their companies because they do not have the resources, brand appeal or benefits to attract candidates.



Because their relatively small staff sizes make each hire that much more important, it is imperative that they find new strategies and leverage resources that give a hiring advantage.



The connection between recruiting & travel policy



A companys travel policy can be positioned as a key differentiator and benefit for prospective employees, in addition to a tool for efficiency and growth. Midsize companies can use their travel policies as more of a benefit and typically have more flexibility to manage exceptions or customised experiences like combining business with leisure.



According to an Amex GBT, tClara and Airlines Reporting Corp. survey, titled Traveler Friction: Insights from U.S. Road Warriors, 85 percent of very frequent travelers would be interested in a job at a different firm if it offered an attractive travel policy, while 83% said a travel policy is as important, if not more important, than pay and responsibilities. Simply put, business travellers who are burned out likely work for a firm that does not offer favourable travel policies.



In-demand employees are also aware of their market value. When they look for new jobs, they look for a competitive, attractive travel policy. As such, travel managers in the middle market should ensure they understand the importance of business travel in their companys growth efforts.



Acknowledging the challenges & embracing the solutions



Attracting the best people is not the easiest thing to do, especially when competing with larger companies. Commercial leaders need to understand the importance of business travel and how it is managed so they can leverage different offerings to grow their businesses in new marketplaces around the world. Companies are under pressure to make travel management programs more efficient, but many struggle to measure performance and identify the greatest opportunities for improvement.



Midsize companies should strive to create business travel programs that allow employees to get where they need to be to do business and to give those people a differentiated corporate travel experience. This was the guiding principle when GBT designed our own specialised offering for midsize companies. Midsize companies should keep the following in mind:



A policy that makes sure employees are taken care of and enjoy their business travel experience can be a key differentiator for people when looking for new employment opportunities. A company should use such a travel policy as a selling point, an advantage when compared with competition.



Flexibility and affordable/reasonable benefits for employees, including traveller-centric corporate travel policies, put a more personal, human touch on employee engagement.



For a midsize company, recruiting and retaining talent should be a primary focus for HR because talent is essential in running a successful business. When a company is doing well, it creates additional jobs, tax receipts and overall economic growth. And efficient corporate travel programs yield better talent retention, employee satisfaction and effectiveness - and of course more profits!










Infrastructure maintenance services provider Broadspectrum is sponsoring scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math for female students at two Australian universities.



It recently signed agreements with Monash University and the University of Technology Sydney to include a yearly scholarship in the 2018 program.



Broadspectrum's group executive of legal and governance Angelique Nesbitt said the move highlights the companys diversity and inclusion agenda.



This initiative aims to support women studying in fields where they are currently underrepresented, she said, adding that fostering a diverse and inclusive culture is critical to Broadspectrums performance and innovation.



Scholarships support individual students, and contribute to our Women in Engineering and Information Technology Program (WiEIT) which aims to increase diversity in the workplace, UTSs Business Relationships Manager, Faculty of Engineering and IT, Maritza Messina said.



I am delighted to welcome Broadspectrum to our scholarship program which encourages more young women to study STEM subjects and access opportunities for careers in exciting new fields.



Nesbitt said Broadspectrum is proud to have increased our female participation by five per cent in the last five years, taking the female participation in our organisation five to ten per cent higher than similar industries.



They are also increasingly looking at ways they can facilitate greater gender equality in the workforce as they continue to place a strong emphasis on hiring and retaining talented women in the organisation.



Other initiatives toward inclusive culture:

 The #SpectrumGrad program, that has a 50/50 gender mix in its intake, was recently crowned as the Best Graduate Development Program at Australian HR Awards 2017

 The sponsorship of Chief Executive Women, and the participation of our female leaders for the past three years in its annual program.






I want to bring back power from Brussels, she declared in her nomination acceptance speech.

Laura Huhtasaari (PS) wasted little time in criticising the European Union, the Schengen Agreement and the state of freedom of speech in Finland after being officially nominated as the presidential candidate of the Finns Party on Saturday.

The European Union has according to her demonstrated its inability to prevent massive uncontrolled immigration.

Saying this out loud is considered radical for some reason even though it shouldnt be. Questioning something that doesnt make sense should be part of normal policy making. Finland is the most important country to us, she said, adding that the country must not subscribe to the burden-sharing mechanism of the EU.

Huhtasaari expressed her opposition to passport-free movement across most of the 28-country bloc, enabled by the Schengen Agreement.

Schengen has had is time. Schengen should be abolished. If there are no border controls at the borders, surveillance will increase inside the borders. There are men with assault rifles at metro stations in Paris, she stated.

She pledged to restore security in Finland, arguing that the costs arising from the influx of asylum seekers witnessed by the country in the latter half of 2015 have been shouldered by regular Finns.

Are we fostering security if we let go of our independence bit by bit? How does letting tens of thousands of unknown people into our country promote the defence of our country? asked Huhtasaari.

She also argued that it is not justifiable to accuse everyone who expresses a different opinion of hate speech.

Huhtasaari came under such allegations earlier this month after urging the government to defend Finland, Finns and the Finnish identity in the face of what she called Islamisation. Her controversial statements came only a day after all parliamentary parties issued a rare joint statement condemning violence and hate speech in all their forms.

One form of exercising power is to accuse someone of hate speech in order not to have to make any arguments. If people everywhere started to watch their words, itd practically be the end of freedom of speech, she stated in her speech on Saturday.

I want Finns to have the right to speak up again.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
The Irish citizen thanked his "beautiful family" for sticking by him. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins Dublin

Ibrahim Halawa expressed how no words could describe the feeling of being free after spending four years behind bars.

For the first time since he was declared not guilty, the 21-year-old took to Facebook to express his relief and to thank his supporters.

"[It was] a painful journey that I never thought would end, but every time I lost hope, God would send me saviours."

The Irish citizen thanked his "beautiful family" for sticking by him. He also thanked Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan, who campaigned for his release following his arrest in 2014. He also expressed his gratitude to the Government and Amnesty International for their support.

"Thank you all so much for believing in me and never giving up," he wrote. "I had never stopped believing in my innocence and I was convinced because I helped people in need I would be helped."

Torture

Following the Egyptian court's verdict last week, Mr Halawa said the "torture, suffering and pain" he endured while locked up was finally at an end.

"Finally, this has all become a painful memory and I am so glad this is over. No words can describe freedom. Freedom can only be felt. Thank you, God, for everything. I'm coming home. I'm coming home."

While Mr Halawa was found innocent, he still remains in prison due to "logistical issues".

A source said that it was still not clear when the 21-year-old will be released.

"My understanding is that a delay in paper work is the reason why he's not been freed yet.

"Hopefully, it won't be much longer because he has already suffered so much as it is," said the source.

Mr Halawa's sister, Fatima, told RTE's Saturday With Claire Byrne that a process still has to take place where documents are sent to the prison.

Released

She said the family expects that he will then be released to a police station, where they will re-interview him one last time.

Ms Halawa said that hopefully then he will be released.

She said that she has not spoken to him since he was acquitted last Monday, but the family has heard that the documents for his release are on the way to the prison.
Comings & goings: Health bar, candle shop, fishing charter website

A health bar and candle-making shop will cut their ribbons in the next few weeks while a charter fishing company launches its website.
Editors Note: This is the first in a two-part series outlining the views and positions Ward 5 candidates expressed during a forum held by the Hickory Daily Record on Thursday.

HICKORY  The three candidates vying for the Ward 5 council seat sat down Thursday to discuss their views at a forum hosted by the Hickory Daily Record.

Incumbent Councilman David Zagaroli is seeking a second term against challengers Bobby Baker and Matthew Maulding.

The Oct. 10 primary election will determine which two candidates will compete in the at-large election Nov. 7. Only Hickory residents living in Ward 5 can vote in the primary, and early voting will run through Oct. 7.

Running for office

Throughout the 90 minute forum, the three candidates discussed reasons they were seeking office.

Zagarolis message was the City of Hickory has made progress since the recession hit, but it still has work to do.

Specifically, the government needs to be more aggressive in recruiting companies and address areas like housing, where he said the city still has work to accomplish.

Part of my original thrust was growth for Hickory, and Im still working on that, and as I mentioned, we have a lot of interest with companies coming to this town, Zagaroli said. Again, we have some housing problems. We have some people, just plain body problems, not enough people.

The city is already working to address a wide range of community concerns from economic development to youth retention, but more time is needed for these efforts, Zagaroli said.

Bobby Baker touted his experiences as a business owner in the textile and construction industries and as a code enforcement supervisor for the city.

Baker said the experience of both being a business owner within the city and working for the city gives him insight no other council member likely brings to the table.

The issues of youth retention and accountability are the two big reasons Baker said he is running for office.

Baker said he had a son who lives in Miami, and the fact he could not convince his son to live in Hickory is an important motivation for his candidacy.

The other thing is accountability, and I go back to having the internal experience within the city, Baker said. I have seen a lot of things that I think could have a conversation.

Efforts could be made to control budgetary expenses in ways to reduce the tax and fee burden on residents, Baker said.

Maulding brought focus to his own identity as a young professional in the city.

We need young, working class people, Maulding said. Elect one.

Having additional younger people in government, who are underrepresented, will bring fresh ideas into the city, Maulding said.

Maulding said his campaign had three key focus areas: youth retention, the opioid crisis and the planned widening of U.S. Highway 321.

The city must demonstrate more leadership in both addressing the opioid problem and in advocating for resident interests, Maulding said.

Economic development

Recent discussions about growing the citys economy has centered on an economic development framework recently proposed by Hickory City Manager Warren Wood.

The proposal calls for a reorganization at the city level and hiring of additional personnel to put forth a multi-faceted economic development effort.

We have a lot to offer, and this is what this program that Warren Wood is establishing is what Hickory has to offer and then of course advertising that and promoting it from within and without, Zagaroli said.

The city should be more proactive in seeking companies to develop in the area, Zagroli said.

While the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation works well addressing that need, the city itself must do more, Zagaroli said.

Baker said he was disappointed the government was not bringing in more people who had experience with reorganizations in other cities that faced similar downturns.

Right now were taking internal people that have been here and have seen what weve gone through, but they dont have that hands-on experience, Baker said. I just think thats a mistake.

On the whole, Baker said more needs to be accomplished than what is outlined in Woods proposal.

I think that we havent gone far enough, Baker said. I think that its in the right direction, but I just think were coming up short.

A key part of rebuilding the city is tearing down the old to make way for the new, Baker said.

So I think that revitalization does not start until you have destruction, Baker said. I mean, thats just a natural fact.

Maulding said he wanted to better compensate police and firefighters, in part, as a way of attracting talent to the area.

The city also needs to focus more on investing in communities like Ridgeview, Westmont and West Hickory, Maulding said.

You know, were only as strong as our weakest link, and thats true as a city, Maulding said. And if we can bring up the impoverished and the vulnerable citizens of Hickory, I think we can start making a push in a really good direction.

Youth recruitment, retention

The need to recruit and retain young people figured prominently in each of the candidates reasons for running, but each had a different approach to the issue.

Baker said cities like Asheville and Greenville, S.C., which Hickory has used as a policy model, each took different approaches to attracting and retaining young people.

Every one of those areas (has) retained young folks for different reasons, Baker said.

In the Greenville-Spartanburg area, a connection was created between regional educational institutions like Clemson University and the new international industries that had located there, Baker said.

For Asheville, there was a focus on bringing in retirees whose assets and needs could be used to create jobs for young people in fields like medicine and law.

So I think the city has to decide what direction are we going in, Baker said. I think weve got to do something that is specific to Hickory itself, and I think weve got to focus on that; I think weve got to run with it.

Maulding said the city needs to expand its efforts at youth recruitment and retention beyond just the bond projects and amenities.

I think young people want more than just nice parks and nightclubs, Maulding said.

Many people coming out of college are struggling, both with the burden of student loans and finding a job in their field of study.

The city could do more to address cost of living problems by providing broadband access across the city, Maulding said.

In terms of development, the city also should pay attention to what degrees students are graduating with and providing jobs in those fields, he added.

Maulding suggested the city establish a youth ambassador within city government, someone who could develop insights into how to better appeal to young people.

Zagaroli said the city was working on many of the things Maulding mentioned.

Creating partnerships with companies like Corning and CommScope and maintaining programs like the Furniture Academy are important parts of the effort to attract and keep young people, Zagaroli said.

Broadband also was something the city was working on, but Zagaroli said he could not give any additional details.

Were constantly working on all of these things at the city council at this point, Zagaroli said. You dont see a lot of these things happening, but it just takes time for it happen.

Baker said younger people often have a different approach to their careers than older people, and this difference in philosophy was not reflected in city policy.

Younger people focus more on working to live, Baker said.

And quite honestly, I think that is probably a better philosophy in the long run because you get to our age and you realize you have lived to work most of your life, Baker said.

But with that in mind, I dont think weve grasped that as a city, because you go to Asheville and they have outdoor bistros, and they have festivals, and they have all kinds of things directed at young people and being able to enjoy yourself after a hard day at work.

Bond projects

Both Maulding and Baker expressed concerns about the citys bond projects while Zagaroli expressed optimism.

Maulding said he believed the money could be put to better use, such as funding broadband or investing in more neglected parts of the city.

Some of the projects, like the riverwalk, are already located in areas that have several parks.

I would fight to change a few things, Maulding said.

Baker said he was concerned the city adopted a build it and they will come attitude with the projects.

I dont think its a bad idea; I think that eventually it is something that is an absolute necessity, Baker said. I just dont think right now is the time and the place to go forward with the expenditure of that capital until we figure out who they are, you know build it and they will come, who they actually are.

If consideration is not given to what people and companies the projects will attract, taxpayers could end up suffering, Baker said.

Existing taxpayers would bear increased costs if they dont come, Baker said. So we better hope when we build it, that they come.

Zagaroli said projects like the citywalk and riverwalk build on amenities the city already has by providing additional recreational opportunities for families and young people.

The riverwalk in particular helps the city make use of its river, as other cities have done, Zagaroli said.

Young people also have been able to have meaningful input on the project through the bond commission, Zagaroli said.

So all of these things meshed together, and it was the young people (who) had an opportunity to be on the bond commission, and we have several of them that are on the bond commission, so they have directed this, I think, in a very exciting and profitable way; so I think its going to be a good deal for the city, Zagaroli said.

Zagaroli said Woods economic development plan could help bring businesses and people in conjunction with the bond projects.

Hopefully, all of that stuff will happen, but Im convinced that it will, Zagaroli said.

Zagaroli added the Park 1764 bond project also would bring economic benefits.

Referring to Park 1764, Maulding said he believed there were better opportunities to locate economic development in the city rather than the business park planned on Startown Road.

Like we had hit on before, too, there are a lot of vacant buildings within the city that I think could bring that a little bit closer to the city, Maulding said.

More information

The full forum can be viewed under the videos section on the Hickory Daily Record Facebook page.

For more information about Zagarolis campaign, email dave@zagco.com.

For more information about Mauldings campaign, visit the Matthew for Alderman Facebook page.

For more information about Bakers campaign, call 828-302-0490.
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Pakistan has staged that act before at the UN: lament bitterly about violation of human rights in Kashmir  throw in the phrase war crimes as this time, play a victim of terrorism than its chief sponsor, accuse India of holding back peace efforts and beseech the world for some love, trust and respect. Scrapping with India, typically, creates some buzz, makes a few headlines on the subcontinent and plays big back home presumably with assorted constituencies, thus the annual rerun.

This time, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi did all that, and some more, but was not shrill enough perhaps to drown out sharp criticism of Pakistan from Bangladesh and Afghanistan that laid bare its growing isolation in South Asia, where it seems to be at odds with its neighbours on the west, Afghanistan, and the east, India, and further east, Bangladesh.

Afghanistan was the first to go at it. We now  have an opportunity for a dialogue with our neighbours on how we can work together earnestly to eliminate terrorism and contain extremism, President Ashraf Ghani told the UN general assembly on September 19.

I call upon Pakistan to engage with us on a comprehensive state to state dialogue on peace, security and regional cooperation leading to prosperity. And just so the import of his appeal to Pakistan was not clear enough he had added that moving forward, we ask for a change of perspective from our international partners. 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.

Ghanis public appeal was, in fact, a barely public rebuke of Pakistans role in harbouring terrorists operating in Afghanistan, the Haqqani Network, for instance, one of the most organised and sophisticated insurgent groups that has targeted both Afghan and US-led international coalition forces. It operates from Pakistans North Waziristan, with the backing of the host nations security establishment.

A stung Pakistan lashed back exercising its right to reply. Instead of blaming others for its problems and failures, it fumed, (Afghanistan) should focus on eradicating safe havens for terrorists in its ungoverned spaces and deal with its war economy and narco-state that is a major threat regional peace and stability.

Next up was Bangladesh. After speaking passionately about the influx of Rohingya refugees from across the border with Myanmar, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told the UN general assembly on September 21, about the extreme form of genocide perpetrated in her country during the nine-month-long war of liberation against Pakistan in 1971  Three million innocent people were killed and more than 200,000 women were violated. The Pakistan military launched the heinous operation searchlight on 25th March which was the beginning of the 1971 genocide.

The Bangladesh government recently declared March 25 Genocide Day and plans to ask the UN to endorse it internationally. I urge the international community to take collective actions to prevent recurrence of such heinous crimes anywhere anytime, Hasina said, adding, I believe, recognition of past tragedies like the 1971 genocide would guide us to achieve never again.

This, too, didnt go down well with Pakistan, which said, exercising its right to reply. For our Bangladesh brothers and sisters, said a Pakistan diplomat, let me add, that they have to come out of the narrative of hate and dispel their twisted notion of history. There are no takers for their contentions. The issues of 1971 were agreed and settled under the Tripartite Agreement of 1974 which was signed by India and the Banga Bandhu of Bangladesh. Hate begets hate. We have to move on.

It hadnt been a good day for Pakistan. The same diplomat had started by a right-to-reply response to a stinging right-to-reply remarks from the Indian mission, to Prime Minister Abbass speech earlier in the day. India had called Pakistan Terroristan and said the land of the pure (pure is Pak in Urdu) as Pakistan had been envisaged by its founders, it had turned into a land of pure terror. Dismissing Indias criticisms, the diplomat contended, The root cause of all ills of South Asia remains the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Unfortunately for Pakistan, no other South Asian country agreed.

This is not a friendly neighbourhood for Pakistan, and it knows moving out is not an option. But it also knows it can fix the problem, and that cannot be done from the podium of the UN general assembly. Or maybe thats the right stage, but not for the same annual drama.

yashwant.raj@hindustantimes.com
The so-called Islamic State may be on its last legs in the land of Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, but the larger battle to counter its fundamentalist Takfiri ideology that allows Muslims to kill their fellow brethren, looms ahead from Philippines to Bangladesh, the Af-Pak region and Africa.

Even if the best-case scenario of all IS fighters being neutralised in Iraq-Syria plays out, the Sunni groups radical ideology will be used both by religious and political leaders to attain power in terminally weak nation states. The worst- case scenario would be trained IS fighters taking their Islamic jihad to already radicalised state, joining hands with local extremists on ideological platform and seizing political control. The latter is a real-time scenario as Pakistan based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT)  whose cadres have had deep links with first Al Qaida during Afghan war and now Islamic State  has already floated a political party and has plans to rule Islamabad through ballot forced by gun.

While many Islamic experts would argue that LeT and IS or Al Qaida are based on different Ahle-Hadith, Wahabbi and Salafi ideologies respectively, the terrorist groups have been known to mutate for tactical gains and also join hands with Shia extremists citing a larger enemy like US or Israel. A classic example would be how remnants of the Indian Mujahideen group, who followed Ahle-Hadith ideology, first mutated to Anwar-ul-Tauhid, linked to Salafist Al Qaida, in Afghanistan and then mutated to join Wahabi Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

There is now growing evidence to suggest that Shia terrorist groups based in Iran were in cahoots with Al Qaida leadership in the past decade as the larger enemy was US in Afghanistan. For India, the threat comes not only from Pakistan but also Bangladesh as opposition political parties, clerics and terrorists have joined hands to oust Bangladeshs Awami League party headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. With the spread of IS ideology in Bangladesh, Hasina is under serious threat and Indian intelligence believes there was an attempt on her life as she travelled to Hungary on November 27, 2016. The Boeing 777 plane made an unscheduled landing at Turkmenistans Ashgabat airport with leakage in fuel and evidence of human intervention in critical parts of the aircraft. If one adds the belligerence of the Jamait-e-Islami, the rise of LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed and the presence of militant Rohingyas, Bangladesh emerges as the new fundamentalist hotspot.

As the IS black flag is up for India from the Af-Pak region and Bangladesh, national security experts have dug up Indian Islamic heritage to seek an ideological counter to prevent Muslim youth from getting attracted to the rabid IS narrative. For a country with second largest Muslim population, India can take comfort that a minuscule 55 radicals have joined the so-called IS Caliphate in Syria-Iraq and in the Kunar province of Afghanistan. Another 100 Indian Sunni Muslims are under watch as they take the next step towards religious radicalisation. There is now convergence building up within the Indian Sunni Muslim clerics that the answer to Al Wala Wal Bara ideology of Takfiri groups like IS, Al Qaida, and LeT lies in Sufi roots of the Indian subcontinent. Al Wala Wal Bara means loyalty and disavowal. It essence is that you love all followers of Allah and hate all those who dont. The Indian counter is Sufi concept of Wahdat-ul-Wajud or unity of being. Its essence is that if you love the creator then you love all his manifestations.

Siddiq Hasan Khan, a 19th century Bhopal Muslim cleric credited for Ahle-Hadith movement, had challenged the ideological purity of Wahabis, just as Maulana Hussain Ahmed Madani of Deoband had questioned the foundation of Pakistan purely on religious grounds as he laid emphasis on culture/heritage of the subcontinent.

Muslim scholars argue that Indian youth cannot be attracted to so-called Caliphate since Babar declared himself a Mughal Emperor and cut off ties with Khalifa in Baghdad as he refused to call himself a mere Sultan.

Indian national security experts get solace from the fact that while Muhammed ibn Adal Wahab, the founder of ultra conservative Wahabi movement in Sunni Islam, could spread his ideology in West Asia from Saudi Arabia in 18th century, his contemporary Shah Walliullah of Delhi failed in his similar efforts during the Mughal regime.

While it is early days for proponents of Wahdat-ul-Wajud, the concept is being hotly discussed as a counter to IS ideology from India to West Asia as it is the only viable alternative to us versus them option, practiced by followers of Abu Bakr Baghdadi in jihadi attacks in Europe, Africa, US, Russia, Bangladesh and Af-Pak region. Rather than get into the semantics of who is a terrorist or not, the time has come for nations to join hands to counter the scourge as the decimation of IS will see a concomitant rise of Al Qaida and parallel strengthening of Iran-sponsored Shia terrorist groups as a natural reaction.

While the US now recognises the threat faced from IS and Pak-based jihadists, Communist China will have to come to the same conclusion even if it comes the hard way in the restive Xinjiang province since there are many a freelance jihadists outside the control of Pakistans deep state. Apart from the Af-Pak, Iraq-Syria crescent, the future radical battle zones lie in the poverty ridden, poorly governed yet mineral-rich African continent. The fundamental question is: Does religion radicalise people or people radicalise the religion? The answer is the latter and this needs to be stopped.

shishir.gupta@hindustantimes.com

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The Arab Spring-inspired revolution in Egypt that resulted in the historical political upheaval, was about the struggle of the Egyptian people. During the 18-day-long revolution in 2011, Tahrir Square became the centre of action. It was from the square a battle for hopes and aspirations was being fought against the 30-year-old regime of then president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak.

During the revolution, the leading newspapers of the country were filled with headlines such as Dear mother if I die dont cry  I will dies so my country can live (Al-Masry Al-Youm) and In all languages  leave (Al-Shorouk). The events that enfolded during the course of days resulted in Mubaraks resignation and the square erupted in joy and celebrations. This moment of triumph came with ample sacrifices  many Egyptians lost their lives and thousands were injured in the struggle of tumultuous crowd against Egyptian Armed Forces and Mubaraks supporters.

An image from the 2011 revolution in Egypt. (LAURA EL-TANTAWY)

The photographer, Laura El Tantawy, was in the fourth year of her photography project during the days of the revolution. She was witnessing the Egypt of her childhood undergoing a drastic change right before her eyes. Her work embodies a new Egypt that fought for its dignity and respect through the formation of raucous and courageous human anthills in Cairo. Egypt of my childhood was innocent and the one from the revolution was bloody  it was a very different version of Egypt that I was witnessing. This is the story of Egypt through my personal perspective. And its a very intimate project. I reached a stage where I could not understand what was happening around me, says the photographer.

An image titled Rest Stop from In the Shadow of the Pyramids by Laura El-Tantawy, circa 2005-2014 (LAURA EL-TANTAWY)

About her project, the photographer who was born in England and grew up in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United States says, My work is a reflection of Egypt through my own eyes and shouldnt be seen as a reflection of the true spirit of Egypt. As for the revolution, she believes, it was a triumph of people against a regime, which had kept them shackled for decades.

In a way photography is a way of being one with the reality, capturing experiences and giving them permanence. Due to the revolution, Lauras project took a different direction. And Laura, with her photographs, has managed to capture the most critical chapter in the history of Egypt. I prefer the work to speak for itself. I am proud of my work, which allows people to engage with a chapter of Egypts history, and also keeps it alive. So in a way it was about capturing the intensity of the situation, what I was seeing and experiencing.

An image from The Shadow of the Pyramids. (LAURA EL-TANTAWY)

In 2005, she came up with her book of photographs, In the Shadow of the Pyramids, where in her poetry complements the images that speak volumes. Recently, some of her works were also showcased in association with Art Heritage Gallery at Triveni Kala Sangam in Delhi. About her experience of curating the show, she says, It was exciting as it is always to curate the show because it allows me to look at the work again from a new perspective.

An image from the series Tantawy has done on women of Egypt. (LAURA EL-TANTAWY)

Does being a woman, she feared stepping out with a camera during the revolution? There was no question [of fear] I had to be there. I wanted to bring alive the sensation of Tahrir Square. I knew I was feeling something that I will carry with myself all my life.

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In its first year, the Smithsonians new black museum has become the nations top temple to blackness, an Afrocentric shrine on the National Mall where people of all races, colours and creed are flocking to experience  and leave behind for posterity  the highs and lows of African-American life in the United States.

This has become more than a museum. This has become a pilgrimage site, said Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The nations first black president, Barack Obama, opened the new Smithsonian to a standing room-only crowd on September 24, 2016, with the ringing of a church bell. Since then, the Smithsonians 19th  and so far, most popular  museum has only become more beloved. Free advance timed tickets sell out months in advance and people line up outside the doors every morning in hopes of snagging rare same-day passes.

To celebrate the one-year anniversary, the museum extended its hours this weekend so more people could get inside to see exhibits designed to take visitors through African-American history in this country: from slavery, on the lower level, to a reproduction of Oprah Winfreys television set upstairs and artifacts from Obamas first presidential campaign.

Ground for the $540 million museum was broken in 2012 on a five-acre tract near the Washington Monument. Construction was completed in 2016. Millions of donors contributed $315 million in private funds ahead of the opening.

Nearly 3 million people have visited in the first year to see exhibits ranging from the glass-topped casket used to bury lynching victim Emmett Till, to a fedora owned by late pop superstar Michael Jackson, and a slave cabin from Edisto Island, South Carolina. We expected 4,000 people a day, Bunch said. We get 8,000 people a day, so I cant complain about a thing.

The museum and its exhibits are still changing and evolving. For example, some conservatives complained there was originally no mention of the Supreme Courts second African-American justice, Clarence Thomas, anywhere in the museum. There is now, in a new Supreme Court exhibit, Bunch said.

And theyre still collecting and evaluating artifacts from around the country for inclusion in the museum, from slavery artifacts to items from the recent Black Lives Matter movement. And people are always willing to give, Bunch said.

Much of the material inside the museum comes from inside peoples homes and personal collections. Actress Pam Grier has several pieces of her movie wardrobe from her extensive career that she planned to donate to the museum soon. Bunch, when told, immediately started making plans to contact Grier.

But just as important as the exhibits are the emotions and the memories the museum evokes, Bunch said. Wandering through the museum, he can often see grandmothers explaining the Jim Crows South to children, and fathers and sons talking about the joys and horrors of growing up in a segregated United States.

Because you have these collections, it allows people to open up to share stories to find memories. Ive heard people say, I forgot, but once I saw a segregated door or once I saw that washboard it brought back those memories, Bunch said. So what we wanted has happened. This museum has humanised history.

"Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise." -Maya Angelou #APeoplesJourney : Michael Barnes, Smithsonian Institution. A post shared by NMAAHC (@nmaahc) on Jan 27, 2017 at 5:40am PST

Unlike other museums, the museum wants people to leave something behind when they visit through a feature they call Visitor Voices, where museum attendees can talk about their feeling about the museum and about life as an African-American in the United States.

John Frazier, 76, of Durham, North Carolina, recorded his memories of protesting and being beaten in Winona, Mississippi, in 1960 while trying to integrate a bus station. I was brutally beaten and yanked off the bus, stripped naked, brutally beaten again, and with whiskey poured all over my naked body, said Frazier, former president of the NAACP Mississippi Youth Council in the 1960s.

Taylor Pearson of Baltimore, in her video, talked about her discovering her racial identity in prekindergarten. Classmates refused to let her play a princess game because, as Pearson said she was told, Theres no such thing as a black princess.

That there is a major black history museum will help other little black and brown girls, Pearson said. This museum is kind of like a homecoming, she said. It gives me a feeling like I have a place here and that in being black you can be beautiful too.

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Two days after her husband Sumit Rathore became a Jain monk, renouncing Rs 100 crore property and three-year-old daughter, 34-year-old Anamika Rathore too became a sadhvi on Monday amidst opposition from various quarters.

Akhil Bharatiya Sadhumargi Jain Shravak Sangh Neemuch district in-charge Sandeep Khabia said the function was held in Surat under Acharya Ramlal Ji Maharaj, the same guru who had initiated her husband to monkhood.

However, this time, the elaborate ceremony was missing, although the immediate family was present. Anamika will now be known as Sadhvi Anakaar.

The couples announcement that they would become monks together had sent shockwaves throughout the community and they had faced a lot of criticism, mainly for leaving their three-year old daughter, Ibhya.

Some social activists had even moved the local administration in Neemuch and Surat and also written to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

On Saturday, when Sumit became a monk, it was speculated that social pressure had postponed Anamikas joining, and it would take her years to become a sadvhi.

Hinting that the Jain religious leaders wont tolerate interference from outsiders, sant Udai Muni, who is quite high in the Jain hierarchy, said no judicial or administrative power in the country could intervene in religious affairs of the minorities.

According to the religious leader, Sadhvi Anakaar had given a befitting reply to police and administrative officials who had come to question her under orders of the NHRC.

According to him, Anamika told the officials, My child will not become an orphan if I leave her. My brother and sister-in-law who are issueless have gladly adopted her. My fathers family is rich and so is my father-in-laws family. The charges levelled by public representatives and others who had complained to the NHRC are false and had been done to get cheap publicity.

Anamika also presented her daughters adoption papers before the officials.

Meanwhile, activist Kapil Sukla, who had moved NHRC, said that he had no wrong intentions. My only concern was about the little girl and her future, and not directed against a particular religion, he said.

Sumit and Anamika had decided to become monks when Ibhya was only eight months old and, as preparation, started living separately. The couple, who married four years ago, have taken a vow of silence.
Actor Shweta Tripathi, of Masaan fame, is all set to play a bride-to-be in Zoya Akhtars web-series, Made in Heaven. The shooting of the Amazon Prime show is currently underway in Delhi.

The 10 episode series, produced by Akhtar, revolves around the competition between two wedding firms. What attracted me to the project was the team. The length of the role doesnt worry me, the quality does. And here, I am in super safe hands. Ive been with them for the past week and the cast and crew is simply fabulous! Im happy to be doing the show, Shweta said in a statement.

The actor will soon be in Benaras begin working on her next film, where she also shot Masaan.

Shwetas film Zoo is all set to premiere at the Busan International Film Festival. Directed by Anurag Kashyap, Zoo is completely shot on an iPhone.

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Actor Alia Bhatt, who is currently shooting for filmmaker Meghna Gulzars film Raazi in Kashmir, has shared some awe-inspiring photos. Her Instagram feed looks like a travellers dream, with views of shikaras, hills and everything that the Valley is known for. Alia has earlier shot in Kashmir for filmmaker Imtiaz Alis Highway (2014). Take a look:

directed by.. A post shared by Alia  (@aliaabhatt) on Sep 24, 2017 at 10:25pm PDT

give me 30 seconds   @puneetbsaini A post shared by Alia  (@aliaabhatt) on Sep 23, 2017 at 8:20pm PDT

 A post shared by Alia  (@aliaabhatt) on Sep 22, 2017 at 1:58pm PDT

Find me where the wild things are  A post shared by Alia  (@aliaabhatt) on Sep 20, 2017 at 11:16pm PDT

Silence isn't empty, it's full of answers. A post shared by Alia  (@aliaabhatt) on Sep 20, 2017 at 2:42am PDT

v i e w A post shared by Alia  (@aliaabhatt) on Sep 17, 2017 at 6:41am PDT

forever kinda mood. A post shared by Alia  (@aliaabhatt) on Sep 16, 2017 at 8:18pm PDT

Meanwhile, her co-actor in the film, Vicky Kaushal, has also been sharing glimpses from the Valley on his Instagram account. This is Kaushals first film with Alia. He was last seen playing a cop in filmmaker Anurag Kashyaps 2016 crime thriller, Raman Raghav 2.0.

... and in those smiles I see something more beautiful than the stars! #kashmir A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) on Sep 25, 2017 at 2:47am PDT

Cold climes. Warm hearts. #kashmir A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) on Sep 23, 2017 at 11:24pm PDT

The film, based on author Harinder Sikkas novel Calling Sehmat, is based during the Indo-Pak War of 1971. It traces the story of a Kashmiri woman who marries a Pakistani army officer in order to help the Indian intelligence services with information during the war. The film will release on May 11, 2018.

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This is not a good time to be Kangana Ranaut. Not only has the actors ambitious project, Simran, sunk without a trace,her confessions of previous love affairs have also made her lose face. While other victims of Ranauts tongue-lashing, namely actors Hrithik Roshan and Adhyayan Suman, have chosen to stay mum, actor Aditya Pancholi and his wife, actor Zarina Wahab, have sent criminal and civil defamation notices to Ranaut.

During her promotional campaign for Simran recently, Ranaut shared unsavoury details of her traumatic affair with Pancholi when she was new in Bollywood. She even called him her mentor turned tormentor, referring to how he physically abused her. Tension between the concerned parties has been building up ever since, and Wahab is all for teaching Ranaut a lesson.

#KanganaRanaut during the #Simran Press Conference in Bengaluru earlier today! A post shared by Kangana Ranaut (@team_kangana_ranaut) on Sep 12, 2017 at 12:46pm PDT

She really crossed all limits. Kya zaroorat thi yeh sab baatein karne ki film promotion ke liye (what was the need to talk about her past affairs to promote her film?). She would have let the past bury itself in the mud instead of flinging mud on people who once mattered to her.She should have let her work speak for her instead of digging up past affairs, thereby compromising not just herself but also several other individuals and families, says Wahab.

Pancholis wife also extends her support to Hrithik and his father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan. The Roshans are such dignified, cultured people. They dont deserve to be dragged through the mud in this way.Ive known Hrithiks father for years.Weve worked together in films. He is a gentleman and a kind co-star. And so is Hrithik. Whenever he sees me entering the room, he stands up out of respect.

But what has irked Wahab the most is that Ranaut dragged her children into the controversy. She really crossed [the limit] when she brought my daughter Sana into the picture. Her lie that she is younger than my daughter has been exposed, and both Nirmal (Aditya Pancholis real name) and I felt that she needs to apologise for dragging my daughters name into her publicity campaign, says the actor, adding, You know I cant understand this attitude of ingratitude. Im the kind of person whod be indebted to someone for a glass of water. She seems to have forgotten how much my husband and I did for her when she was new in Mumbai. Nirmal really went out of his way to introduce her to producers. I dont think he did even a fraction of this for our own daughters career.

Why did Wahab help Ranaut at that time, knowing about the affair with her husband? She clarifies, Let me make it very clear I only helped Kangana until I got to know about the affair. I am kind but I am not stupid.When she first came to Mumbai, I even allowed her to stay in a flat owned by us.

So, what do she and her husband want from Ranaut? Only a public apology for all the hurt and slander she has caused. Did you hear what she had to say [in an interview] to Barkha Dutt? Such lies! And for what purpose? She is such a capable artist and has become so successful.What is the point in hurting those people who were important to her at some point in life? Just because they dont matter to her any longer? says Wahab.

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Praful Patel is addicted to gambling. She takes on risks without weighing them against rewards, she manipulates her parents remorselessly to wrangle money out them, she is callously acerbic to a perfectly decent suitor who treads the ground around her with amiable trepidation. She is not kind to anyone, not even to the frail, asthmatic cashier whom she leaves at the brink of death after robbing his bank. She shows no gratitude, not even to the cherubic, rotund fellow Gujarati who selflessly gives her money at a casino to lift her spirits, all he gets from her is a jovial high-five. Praful does not need anyone. Except Kangana Ranaut. I cannot think of any other actress who could have made the persona of Praful credible.

A few other actresses have taken off the pancake to establish themselves as serious performers, but Ranauts genius lies in her accomplishing the feat without abandoning the pancake. She uses her body to counter the culture industrys strategy for the objectification of women. The first step to blinding someone is getting them to open their eyes: Ranaut blinds the male gaze with her plastic perfection, then delivers a spirited KO punch that belies her saleable appearance.

Ranauts journey through her films is a progression in autonomy. In Tanu-Manu she enters the marriage negotiation process on her own terms, in Queen she rejects marriage, settling for a mild flirtation with an exotic Italian instead, and finally, in Simran, she has no space to offer any of the men who surround her  father, fiancee, ex-lover, ex-husband all fade into irrelevance as her madness consumes her.

Her insane self-destructive behaviour is suggestive, instead, of a thousand, small, humiliating, disconcerting calibrations of the mind and body that almost every girl endures at the hands of people wiser-than-her, stronger-than-her and maler-than-her.

Simran could have been a lot more palatable. Acceptable, even. The makers simply needed to pitch their protagonist as mentally unstable or psychopathic  thats been Ranauts territory for years. They could have built a back story of abuse. They could have played up the deprivation. This would have distanced her from the audience, made her the other  a person unlike us.

Simran moves the conversation forward. It is the every-girlness of Praful that is unsettling. The movie showcases the pathological dimension of female frustration. The reasons for Prafuls gambling addiction and her abnormal risk-taking are not explained. The story stays silent on the failure of Prafuls first marriage, silent on her childhood experiences, silent on the reasons why her recent relationship with her boss ended. Her insane self-destructive behaviour is suggestive, instead, of a thousand, small, humiliating, disconcerting calibrations of the mind and body that almost every girl endures at the hands of people wiser-than-her, stronger-than-her and maler-than-her.

Simran could have been a better film, a better story. But of all the faults to pick, I wouldnt go into the inanity of the robbery scenes. Silly as they are, they are no sillier than a single hero beating up a dozen goons with an uprooted hand-pump. Remember that these robberies actually happened, and happened pretty much as shown. The story has other problems, but nothing takes away from the importance of the larger story that it tells, and tries hard not to explain.

In Queen Ranaut rejects marriage, settling for a mild flirtation with an exotic Italian instead

On the surface, this film seems pointless. Neither is Prafuls story uplifting, nor does it evoke sympathy. There is no justification for her actions, no villain, no revenge. Still, she stays with you, long after you have left the theatre, she and her sly humour, her joie de vivre and her character flaw. Her chuckle, her guffaw, her jubilant dance in the casino, her plaintive losers wail. Praful imagines she has wings on her back; she imagines she is flying in endless space that she shares with no one. Sometime or another, dont we all?

(Java Singh, an alumna of IIM Ahmedabad, is a researcher on gender issues at the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, JNU and Roli Jindal, also an alumna of IIM Ahmedabad, is a corporate executive and an author)

From HT Brunch, September 25, 2017

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The countrys largest lender State Bank of India on Monday lowered the minimum average monthly balance (MAB) requirement in a savings account to Rs 3,000 from Rs 5,000 and also revised downwards penalties for non-adherence.

The revised MAB requirement and charges will become applicable from October, the bank said in a statement.

The public sector lender also decided to exempt pensioners, beneficiaries of social benefits from government and minors from the requirement of minimum balance in savings account.

In April, the bank had re-introduced MAB and charges for non-maintenance of balance after a gap of five years.

In metropolitan areas, the minimum balance requirement was Rs 5,000. For urban and semi-urban branches, it was fixed at Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000, respectively, and for rural branches it was Rs 1,000.

We have decided to treat the metro and urban centres in the same category and the requirement of MAB in metro centres stands reduced to Rs 3,000, the bank said.

Last week, managing director for the national banking group, Rajnish Kumar, had said the lender was reviewing the average monthly balance requirement.

The lender also revised downwards the penalty for non-maintenance of MAB.

For non-maintenance of MAB, the charges have also been revised downwards ranging from 20-50% across all population groups and categories, the bank said.

Now, the charges at semi-urban and rural centres range from Rs 20 to Rs 40 and at urban and metro centres from Rs 30 to Rs 50, the bank said.

Earlier, in the metros, the bank was charging Rs 100 plus GST if the balance fell below 75% of the MAB of Rs 5,000. If the shortfall was 50% or less, the penalty charge was Rs 50 plus GST.

Any shortfall in maintaining minimum average balance in rural areas was attracting a penalty in the range of Rs 20 to Rs 50 plus GST.

The bank reiterated that basic savings bank deposit and PMs Jan Dhan accounts are not required to maintain the minimum balance. The lender has 42 crore savings bank accounts of which 13 crore belong to this category.

It has now been decided to exempt the pensioners, beneficiaries of social benefits from government and accounts of minors. The revision is likely to benefit another 5 crore account holders, the bank said.
Its that time of the year. Time to look forward to misty mornings, early evenings, festivities, food, celebrations, holidays. And by the end of it, a littered cityscape, a dirtier river, and stubborn air pollution that will refuse to subside till the end of winter.

Yes, it is that time of the year when along with ads on festival discounts, newspapers will soon be awash with public advisories on the ills of chemical-laced idol immersions and bursting of crackers. Every year, this pitch falls on deaf ears.

Hundreds of half-melted chunks of Ganesha idols are still floating around in the Yamuna. Since last month, their noxious chemicals have made the polluted waters more poisonous. This week, the Durga Puja will culminate in hundreds of immersion into the Yamuna.

The air will not be spared either. Last Diwali, fireworks fouled up Delhis air so much that it broke three years pollution record. The thick smog was compared to the worlds worst, leaving people gasping for breath for days on end.

For a culture that reveres its rivers, mountains, trees, animals and the earth, how did Indian festivals become so reckless?

There is no tradition of using chemicals and heavy metals in idol making. On the contrary, customs specify clay and straw as the main ingredient, and that too for a reason.

Clay gives form to the formless and dissolves with immersion, merging with the elements and thus, completing the circle of life.

But now with idol-making reaching an industrial scale, statues are modelled out of plaster of paris, which takes years to fully dissolve in water. Instead of natural vegetable dyes, they are now coloured in paints containing heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead, which poison the water for good.

Last years idol immersions shot up Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), which indicates the level of organic pollution, to 38 mg/l at some ghats on the Yamuna. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee says that for any aquatic life to survive, the BOD must not exceed 3 mg/l.

Yet, Delhi is again set to conclude the celebrations in the Yamuna. A proposal to conduct visarjan of all the idols at Chittaranjan Park in a temporary pond in the neighbourhood was shot down because of lack of space and will.

Many play down these risks by justifying a festival as a one-off phenomenon. But they add up. Anyway, can one of the worlds most polluted capitals afford such indulgence?

No religious excuse can justify environmentally disastrous rituals like clogging and polluting water bodies with idols or turning the air foul with sulphur and gunpowder smoke.

Even the Delhi High Court made it clear. Diwali, though called a festival of lights, has religious context only in illuminating the buildings traditionally with diyas. There is nothing to suggest that bursting of firecrackers is related to any religious tenet, the court noted two years ago.

But why do we need so much coaxing to stop doing something we know is bad for us? The Yamunas toxic water is not just an assault on the olfactory system, it also poisons the groundwater and any fruit and vegetable that grows on its floodplain.

The lethal fumes from Delhis massive fleet of vehicles, emissions from coal-fired power plants, and dust from numerous construction sites are already filling up our lungs. We have to be suicidal to add smoke from Diwali crackers to this list.

In 2010, the Central Pollution Control Board issued guidelines on idol immersion, a complete users manual to make the process eco-friendly.

Two years ago, the National Green Tribunal banned dunking of non-biodegradable idols into water bodies. But these instructions are hardly followed.

Authorities must help by building dedicated idol immersion tanks but that wont make the festivals less toxic. As long as there is demand for cheaper, chemically coated statues, the market will thrive.

The same is true for the sale of crackers. Last November, the Supreme Court had suspended all licences to sell fireworks within the National Capital Region. Two weeks ago, it permitted resumption of sale, on certain conditions and by reducing the number of licenses. But as enforcement records of such bans show, there is no point in issuing orders that cannot be implemented.

Unless, of course, citizens themselves commit to greener and cleaner festivals.

shivani.singh@hindustantimes.com

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The BJP state units move to cut down the number of its 23 district level organisational units to the level of 13 administrative districts under pressure from party chief Amit Shah is being largely well received by local workers.

They have also welcomed Shahs directive to infuse young blood in the party and to have the office bearers of all its units and cells replaced with competent workers.

Shah had expressed displeasure over the inept persons handling the partys local units. On Saturday, BJP state president Ajay Bhatt issued an order reducing the 23 district level organisational units to 13 in keeping with the number of the administrative districts.

The BJP workers and leaders were unanimous that the directions were timely and would boost the party, organisationally, in the local body elections early next year and in the 2019 general elections. Shahs order to tone up the party organisationally is being viewed as part of the high commands plan to ensure that the 2014 Lok Sabha results are repeated in 2019.

He (Shah) had back-to-back meetings with the members of all our organisational wings and directed them to focus on efficiency, BJP spokesperson Suresh Joshi said. That shows he expects us that we again win all the five Lok Sabha seats in 2019.

Some BJP leaders though didnt find Shahs directive to cut down the number of the 23 district level organisational units conducive to local conditions. The decision was taken so that the states tough terrain doesnt hamper workers from reaching out to the people in remote areas, said a BJP leader. They will also have difficulty in interacting with the people as they will have to cover larger areas falling in 13 organisational districts.

Most party leaders appeared to have a divergent opinion. Our workers being highlanders are used to negotiating tough terrain. So, they wont have any difficulty in covering long distances, said former state BJP vice-president Lakhiram Joshi. He took a jibe at the party leaders, saying they would even go to the extent of creating 100 organisational units to adjust loyalists. Once these sycophants get organisational positions, they start misusing their offices to further their ends instead of serving the party.

He also justified Shahs instructions to the party to infuse young blood in the organisation and have all incompetent organisational level office bearers replaced with competent individuals.

Pushkar Kala, another state BJP leader, agreed. The party workers who get organisational positions, thanks to sycophancy start eyeing higher positions, instead of strengthening the organisation.

BJP state general secretary Naresh Bansal said Shah wanted the number of the organisational units to be reduced for two reasons. One, so many organisational units seldom throw up good competent leaders from the grassroots level, he said, adding an organisational district spread over two administrative districts had its own technical difficulties. It creates problems for officials when they deal with two organisational heads while resolving the problems facing the residents of one administrative district.

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Uttarakhand Police has busted a racket that used to swindle money from unemployed youth from far-off states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra on the pretext of providing jobs. It comes barely two weeks after police unearthed an inter-state kidney ring operating from a hospital on the outskirts of the state capital.

Uttarakhand Polices Special Task Force (STF) arrested three people from Dehradun late on Sunday night for running an illegal call centre from a rented shop at a place between Indrapur and Badripur Road on the city outskirts.

Like the kidney racket, the rings modus operandi, too, was to reach out to jobless individuals from faraway places to minimise the chances of being traced out.

The STF acted on a complaint from a woman victim from Chennai. Youngsters from Mumbai and some towns in Uttar Pradesh are also said to have been deceived by the racket, showed preliminary investigation.

The rackets mastermind Deepak Paridar, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, confessed to have been running the racket for about two years now and having swindled 40-50 lakh in the name of fee from the victims.

They used to target unsuspecting youngsters from other states by hacking into resume uploaded by them on job search portals. Names of youngsters from Uttarakhand were filtered out from their list as a precaution, said Ridhim Aggarwal, senior superintendent of police of the STF.

The gang had also hired female staff for making calls to youngsters to make the whole thing sound genuine, the officer said.

The exact number of victims is unclear yet, but police suspect that the number may run into hundreds and the amount swindled over the past two years may touch up to 1 crore.

Main accused Paridar told police that they had deceived hundreds of youngsters. We used to identify people from faraway states to avoid being traced. After making contact, we used to charge 1,900 from every candidate for registration, then 5,600 following the verification process and later 10,000 for opening an account with us, Paridar said.

The accused used fake identity documents for opening bank accounts and buying SIM cards, police said, adding that after receiving the amount, they used to cut off all contact with the victims.

They are very shrewd and used to change SIM cards and locations frequently to avoid being traced out. We will now work to establish the exact number of victims, senior superintendent of police Aggarwal said.

Besides the gangs mastermind, the other two accused nabbed by the STF are Aadesh Singh and Pankaj Kapoor, both hail from Dehradun. The team also seized a laptop, printer, seven mobile phones, 10 SIM cards, details hacked from a job portal and a list of numbers on which calls had been made.

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Anger and frustrations over the alleged police violence at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) spilled over to Delhi on Monday, with student organisations from across party lines and ideological stances staging protests in the Capital.

ABVP, NSUI, CYSS and Left organisations  all staged protests in the national capital, protesting the alleged use of force by the police at BHU.

On Monday, around 50 Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members marched up to Dr Rajendra Prasad Road and jumped over police barricades placed by the Delhi Police near Shastri Bhawan. Some students even tried climbing the gates of Shastri Bhavan and took to sloganeering at the gates, before being detained by the police.

The ABVP has constantly delivered on student promises and we have constantly fought on student issues. We are protesting to demand more CCTV cameras on campus, said Saket Bahuguna, the spokesperson of ABVP, when asked about why the RSS-backed organisation was protesting against the BJP government.

Around 40 members of the Congress National Students Union of India (NSUI) were stopped near Raisina Marg by police barricades. The NSUI members later tried climbing over the barricades, while shouting slogans. Eight NSUI members were briefly detained.

Members of ABVP were allowed to protest outside HRD ministry which is a clear indication that the government is favouring ABVP in order to save their face. Modi ji continues to use the police for curbing and stopping protests against him and his government, the NSUI said in a statement.

All the detained 30 detained ABVP members and eight NSUI members were later released, said BK Singh, DCP New Delhi.

A separate protest at Jantar Mantar saw activists and political groups, many leaning to Left leaning organisations, denounce the violence on BHU campus with calls for azaadi to dress, eat, love, and live as one sees fit.

AAPs student wing, the Chhatra Yuva Sangarsh Samiti CYSS, also held a demonstration on campus, to express their concern over the fact that police and the university administration miserably failed in providing security to the female students.

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A bird chaser deployed near the runway to keep off avians, gave an Air India pilot a scare when he crossed the route close to the plane that was taxing. The pilot of Air India flight AI-463 complained to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and the staff was whisked away by the follow me vehicle to the control room.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates Delhi airport, has formed a separate cell to minimize bird activity at the airport. About 50 chasers have been deployed to keep birds away from the three runways at the Delhi airport.

They use Zon guns, Bore buns, signal pistols and laser torches of varying decibels and range to scare away birds. At least two planes are struck everyday in India by air-borne birds or animals on runways.

On September 9 at 11.43am, AI-463 reported that one person crossed Taxiway P from left to right. The transmission was monitored by Airside Monitoring Inspector (In Follow Me Jeep) and he immediately rushed to the mentioned position. It was found that aircraft had reported the staff deployed in between Taxiway P and Runway 10-28 for scaring birds, said a DIAL spokesperson.

According to the bird chaser he was at a safe distance from the aircraft.

The said bird chaser is a trained employee and aware of airport regulations and aircraft performance characteristics. DIAL has deployed specialized agency for controlling bird activities, the spokesperson added.

People are not allowed to walk on foot at the airside and only selected few have the permit. Others have to use follow me vehicles and airport bus to move near the taxiway that too through a designated path. Sources said that the person crossed taxiway behind Peerbaba Dargah at the airport, which is near to the runway 28-10, primary runway of Delhi airport.

These bird chasers also carry out patrolling to reduce bird /animal activity on airside using signal pistols.

Earlier, crackers were also used to scare away birds but keeping in mind the safety, use of crackers was banned.

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Three cases of drone sightings in the last two weeks  including one near the Parliament  have kept Delhi Police on their toes.

The security control room at Delhi airport received three calls of drone sighting from three different parts of the city in the last couple of weeks, none of which could be located later.

On September 17 around 10pm, the Delhi police security control room was informed about the sighting of a drone like object in the Parliament area. The air traffic controller at Delhi airport was asked to check the radar but drone movements are usually not captured on the ATCs radar. However, security personnel were alerted, said an official of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), requesting anonymity.

Airport official said that every month, nearly 6-7 cases of pilots getting distracted by different objects are reported from near the airport, but security agencies are yet to find a clue in any of the cases.

In most of the cases, pilots report the location in nautical miles because of which the police have been unable to make a breakthrough in any of the over 100 cases reported in the past two years.

In the second incident on September 9, Delhi Police control room informed the ATC about presence of a drone like flying object over a hospital in Mehrauli. The Delhi Police searched the area but could not find anything.

After Delhi airport scare, govt plans law to control use of drones

Third incident happened on September 3, when an unknown person called Delhi Police control room and said that a drone was spotted near Vikaspuri. Again the Delhi ATC was informed and asked to check the radar. Local police was also asked to check the surrounding but nothing suspicious was found, the official added.

Police say usually, flight movement is not stopped when pilots report such sightings.

The home secretary had recently called a meeting to discuss a draft policy to ban use of drone.

Last month, a pilot of Air Asia had complained of getting distracted by drones while landing at Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi. Airport operations at Delhi were later shut for two hours. The airport security force have been told to treat drones as possible security threats but there is no guideline on how to react when they see a drone in the vicinity of the airport.

Sources said that MHA will soon issue a notification, which will apply for airports across the country. In the guideline, there will be provision of punishment for those selling and buying drones illegally.

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Before the outbreak of the barbarous World War II on September 1, 1939, Germany and Poland had been holding rigid positions for a considerable period of time over the Free City of Danzig. Italy, France and Britain  major powers in the West were convinced that Danzig was not worth fighting for, and they were adamant that it should be returned to Germany. But with this, they also wanted to safeguard Polish trade.

Despite being up against a formidable German military, Poland showed great fortitude and remained firm on its ground, keeping its nerve unbroken.

Poland had one tank battalion and 250 first line aeroplanes of antiquated type and on the other side was a mighty German army  equipped with Adolf Hitlers techniques of Blitzkreig (military effort where in tanks, motorised infantry, artillery and aircraft work in tandem). The Poles, clearly, had little hope  only had courage to put a fight. And there was no escape from the inevitable.

Warsaw, 1952: The Warsaw Old Town Square in ruins after the war. (FORUM)

According to historians, on that fateful morning of September, at around 4.45 am the Germans attacked Poland. A few hours later German aeroplanes started bombarding Warsaw, which was once the flourishing centre of cultural, artistic, economical and political life of the country. The German Armed Forces captured western Poland within two week and besieged Warsaw, capital city of the country.

April 3, 1946, Warsaw: A Polish girl surveys the ruins of Warsaw's ghetto, where Jews were ruthlessly murdered. An estimated 50,000 bodies lie under those ruins. ( Bettmann/CORBIS)

The exhibition, A Phoenix from the Ashes revisits the horrific attack of German Troops and the devastation that led to the fall of Warsaw. German war planes ruthlessly continued to bomb Warsaw until only carcass of once flourishing city remained. Warsaw became a ghost town in no time, akin to what we are witnessing in Syria where cities have been shrouded into a dead silence  one wont find any traces of life in those cities.

But like a phoenix, Warsaw rose from the ashes  the city was rebuilt and brought back to life. The show takes the viewer on a journey through pre-war Warsaw, to its destruction and reconstruction.

(Top) King Zygmunt III Wazas Column at Castle Square before the war; (above) after the war.

The exhibition can be divided into three parts. In the first section, Pre-War Warsaw, which consists of four images  including the one of Napoleon Square, which was before the war a symbol of rising Poland. All images show how the city was the cultural, political, intellectual and economic hub of Poland before the war.

The second section, Wartime Warsaw, redounds the viewers conscience with 10 powerful images that show historically significant buildings such as The Royal Castles Zygmuch Tower going up in flames after being hit by German artillery. Some images show Warsaws residents being led to concentration camps in endless queues. In an image, a Polish girl stands forlorn at the ruins of Warsaw's ghetto, where Jews were mercilessly murdered by the Germans.

Burning Royal Castle bombed on September 17, 1939 in Warsaw (PAP)

The section, Warsaw BOS (the Bisro Odbudowy Stoilicy or office for the reconstruction of the capital) has images that show how the city was rebuilt from scratch as almost everything was ravaged by German bombing  including 11,229 buildings were destroyed (782 being historic buildings), 3,879 partially destroyed and 10,390 lightly damaged. In 1945, after the war, Warsaw found itself bound in an endless strings of ruins, and it seemed impossible for the city to return to life. People who had fled Warsaw during the war, upon returning, found the city in great turmoil due to large scale destruction. But like a great city, it collected its broken pieces and blossomed once again.

Catch it live What: A Phoenix From The Ashes Where: Art Gallery, India International Centre Annexe, Lodhi Estate Nearest Metro Station: Khan Market on the Violet Line On till: September 26

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Durga Puja is here and Chittaranjan Park is ready.

There are 12 venues spread over this South Delhi colony and neighbouring GK and Alaknanda, which becomes a traffic nightmare during the four days of Puja with thousands of people from all corners of Delhi and NCR coming to this corner of the Capital for a slice of Bengal.

Some Puja committees have now started organising pandals according to a theme, a concept that has become popular in Kolkata in the past two decades. Others, still stick the traditional model pandals. What is common between them is fun and frolic, lipsmacking food, cultural functions, community lunches and prayers amid dhaak beats.

In 1954, Chittaranjan Park came into existence by the name of the EPDP Association (East Pakistan Displaced Persons Association). It was assigned as a Bengali Colony and people residing in various parts of Delhi moved in to this New Bengali residential area. The 70s witnessed the start of Durga Puja celebrations in Chittaranjan Park.

At the B-block Puja committee venue, this year, the idol will be adorned in daaker saaj. These embellishments are primarily made from silver foil and further enhanced with silver sequins.

This is our 42nd year. The pandal will be in the shape of a Mandir. It is a very conventional Bengali design. We will be going modest with the celebrations. Everything is minimalist. This will help the environment, too. Whatever money we save, we will develop the local park with it, said Ashim Banerjee, spokesperson of the committee.

B-block has also been doing on site immersion for the past three years.

Senior citizens can be a part of the visarjan this way as they can sit and watch the crane immerse the Durga idol in the water tank on our premises, Banerjee said.

Diteet Paul of the Pocket 52 Puja Committee also stressed on celebrations without the garish extravagance and pomp without the collateral cost.

We are building a traditional Bengali rajbari (royal home) as our pandal but have really kept check on costs. We have been talking about eco-friendly Puja for quite some time now, and in 2013 we were the first ones to start on site immersion. Praying doesnt mean polluting. We dont need to go the river and add to its toxicity. Responsible celebrations is a different kind of joy, Paul said.

In pocket 40, artisans are trying to set up A pandal in the form of a grand temple. (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

At Pocket 40, Shambhu Haldar and his team are working diligently to create a grand mandir on a section of the colony ground.

I have been coming to Delhi for the past 8-10 years to build pandals during the Puja season. This year, we are using sor kathi, khori and ice-cream sticks, to embellish sections of the pandal. Belur Math has been done in Kolkata earlier by Puja organisers but not in Delhi, Shambhu, who lives near Kalighat in South Kolkata, said.

He and 20 other fellow artists are in Delhi for more than a month and will get the venue ready by September 23.

Stalls selling different items have started coming up at various puja pandals in CR Park. (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

This is our silver jubilee year. The mandap is a Belur Math-like structure. Artisans from Kanthi and Kolkata in West Bengal are showcasing their work, which is rare these days, Utpal Ghosh, president of Navapally Puja Samity, said.

In the mandap, Niranjan Chitrakar from Kakdweep in South 24 Parganas in Bengal, is busy with colours on the idol.

This year I am also doing the Cooperative Puja idol. The one here is fully clay. No cloth, plastic or any harmful material has been used. Even these are all water colours, Niranjan said.

The nearby Cooperative Puja committee is showcasing Panchabhuta or five elements through Gond Art on its 42nd year of celebrating Durga Puja

We will be showcasing the five elements using recycled and eco-friendly products. These are Earth or Prithvi, Water or Jal, Fire or Agni, Air or Vayu and then Ether or Akasha. We are using wooden planks, ply boards, jute ropes, bamboo, coconut shell, clay and butter paper. The Panchabhuta designs have been created with inspiration from the Gond Art Style, which is an Adhivasi art form, existing across Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telengana and Odisha, Snehita Roy Chakravorty, one of the organisers, said.

Cooperative Puja organisers, every year, come up with unique themes and have in the past built structures like Puris Jaganath Temple, Bangalores Vidhaan Souda, Sarnath Temple and Bangladeshs Radha Swami Temple, among others.

It all started in 1994, when we introduced the concept of mega pandals by building a replica of Kolkatas iconic Victoria Memorial. These were made primarily of stretched cloth on bamboo frame, she said.

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Two women of a family were found dead with multiple stab wounds on their bodies in a flat in north Delhis Wazirabad on Monday morning.

A kitchen knife and a screwdriver, allegedly used to stab the victims at least a dozen times each, were recovered from the murder spot, police said. The victims were identified as Premlatha (24) and Soniya (22).

Police said prima facie the murders did not appear to involve any sexual assault. However, investigators are waiting for autopsy reports before reaching any final conclusions. The house had not been ransacked and the killer seemed to have made a friendly entry, prompting the police to suspect that personal issues may have led to the killings.

Police said that they were looking for Premlathas husband Mohit Yadav, who is also Soniyas cousin. Mohit has been missing since the murders, prompting police to suspect his involvement in the crime.

Initially Mohits mobile phone was switched off. But it was briefly switched on later in the day. Initially, we suspected that Mohit too could have been killed. But, that seems unlikely now. We are looking athe case from all angles, said a senior investigator.

Soniya, who had lost her mother two years ago, lived with her father and younger brother in a ground floor flat in Wazirabad village, barely a few hundred metres from the Outer Ring Road. Soniyas father is a property dealer while her brother is preparing for competitive exams, said Shailendra, a neighbour.

Jatin Narwal, DCP (north), said Soniya had undergone a gallbladder surgery a few days ago. At the time of the incident, her father and brother were visiting their village in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh. Soniyas cousin Mohit and his wife Premlatha were staying with her in the flat while her father was away.

The double murder came to light when Soniyas father tried calling her mobile phone on Monday morning. When he could not reach either of the three, he called a neighbour to check. The neighbour, on finding the flat latched from outside, raised an alarm ad alerted other residents.

I unlatched the door and entered the house around 11am to find two women lying dead on the floor, a few feet from each other. There were multiple stab wounds on the bodies, particularly on their neck and face. Two smashed mobile phones were found lying near the bodies. The police were immediately informed, a neighbour said. The neighbours claimed that they had not heard any cries for help.

Later, when police got to know that Mohit too had moved into in the house a week ago, they launched a search for him. However, he was found to be missing. A police team was later sent to Agra to hunt for him.

Since the damaged mobile phones of the women were found next to them, we suspect that the murders had some connection with phone calls. We are in the process of obtaining call records of the victims and the suspect for possible motives, an investigator said.
Earlier this year, Hindustan Times travelled to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus to speak to girl students about their life there. The narrative that emerged was startling. This is like life in Kashmir; isolated, alienated, and cut off from the mainstream, said Anvesha Mishra, a student at the Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, the womens college inside the campus. In the course of the conversation, she listed the absurd and discriminatory restrictions in the five girls hostels in BHU: No late nights, decent clothing and no non-veg food, among others. Theres no space for us to demand our rights, or express our opinion. We are simply required to read textbooks, and maybe, even act like robots, Ms Mishra added.

This comment was prescient. Last week, protests broke out in the university after a student was allegedly molested. Instead of handling the issue with the empathy and restraint expected from a head of an academic institution, the vice-chancellor called in the police, which started forcibly removing students from outside the V-Cs residence and a campus gate. This clash injured several students. The polices conduct at BHU is disgraceful. But such actions against students have now become par for the course. Thanks to weak and politicised university administrations  be it at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jadavpur University, Hyderabad Central University, and now at BHU  policemen now seem to have a free hand to act violently against protesting students. The police also lack training when it comes to handling women protesters or cases of violence against women. In BHU, in complete contravention of the law, male policemen were sent to tackle women protesters.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday transferred three additional city magistrates and two policemen after the BHU mishandling. But this is just not enough. Police hooliganism has to stop. But it will not happen unless political interference stops.
The admit card for the written examination to recruit constables has been released by Central Selection Board of Constable (CSBC), Bihar. The examination will be held on October 15 and 22.

Steps to download the constable exam admit card:

1) Visit the official website of CSBC

2) Click on the link for downloading hall ticket for the constable examination

3) Enter the application number and date of birth on the login page and submit

4) Admit card will be displayed on the screen

8) Download the admit card on your computer and take a printout of the same

As the website is running slow, candidates may have to wait and try after sometime to download the admit card.

The admit card will not be sent to the candidates by post. The admit card will contain the details of the examination centre. Candidates must reach the examination centre on time (one hour before the exam starts) along with their admit card and photo identity proof like Aadhar, Voter Id or driving licence etc.

Candidates whose photographs are not clearly visible or absent from the admit card must bring an application regarding the same with two photographs (similar to one given for the admit card) along with a valid Photo Id.

Candidates who fail to download their admit card online, can get the same from central selection board office, the details about which are provide on the notification dated September 13 about the release of admit card.

Candidates should keep their admit card safely even after the written examination.

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The Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) on Monday relaunched its educational broadcast channel Gyan Darshan, which it said will be a major step forward in implementing education through electronic media.

The Gyan Darshan channel was launched through webcasting along with its Electronic Media Production Centre (EMPC) page on Facebook.

We are digital and open university now. There is no distance between us and our learners, Ignous vice-chancellor Prof Ravindra Kumar said while launching the webcast.

The Gyan Darshan programmes can be accessed at www.ignouonline.ac.in/gyandarshan. It will make the universitys programmes available on the mobile phones as well.

Gyan Darshan ran successfully until June 2, 2014, as a must-carry channel for educational programmes but was shut down by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to facilitate its migration from INSAT 3C to GSAT-10.

We will use this platform as a promotional tool for our countrys cultural awareness and empowerment on a variety of themes on issues and challenges related to societal development, cultural heritage, environment etc, Prof Kapil Kumar, director of EMPC, said when asked about the kind of programmes that will be telecast.

He added that This channel will also serve the Indian diasporas world over, not only to promote Indian culture but also enlightening them with contemporary achievements of India. Similarly, the EMPC FB page will be providing regular updates on Indian education and will be a major source of feedback from the learners from all over the world, he added.

He said the facility will be of extreme use to the personnel of the countrys armed forces, who can continue their education even while guarding the borders.

These initiatives from the EMPC will also enable Ignous various study centres in West Asia and African countries to enhance the learning processes of the foreign students.

Ignous vice-chancellor also said they are in the process of opening more foreign centres and exploring the possibilities for partner institutions.

The university has already started Gyan Vani interactive radio counselling programmes through both broadcasts as well as webcasting.
Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, has signed a Rs five crore MoU with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, to enhance infrastructure and broaden research activities at the centre for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDR).

With this MoU, Infosys Foundation aims to set milestones in the area of research of infectious diseases. We will focus on motivating researchers to perform cutting-edge research, as well as train them to raise awareness about infectious diseases, Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy said in a statement in Bengaluru.

Rs five crore grant will be used towards research, training and creating awareness, about infectious diseases, benefiting 25 faculty members and 250 students at IISc, Murthy said.

IISc is a public university for research and higher education in all science and engineering disciplines.

This association will facilitate an interdisciplinary approach, with a focus on research about infectious diseases, leading to the development of new drug targets, drug delivery systems and novel diagnostic tools, she said.
A drama ensued at the Mini Secretariat on Sunday night soon after the results of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) results were announced. Many candidates who lost demanded a recounting of votes on Monday.

Former Haryana power minister and senior Congress leader Captain (retd) Ajay Singh Yadav told mediapersons that the administration did not cooperate with the candidates who were demanding a recounting.

We have doubts about the electronic voting machine (EVM) and that is why we demanded a recounting of votes in wards 6, 4 and 35. The Congress lent its support to 15 independent candidates and five of them won. This is a sign that we could have won more seats had we contested on the party symbol. In seven seats, candidates supported by the Congress emerged as runners-up. Parveen Yadav from ward 4, Sunder Singhs wife Pushpa Kumari from ward 35 and Naresh Sehrawat from ward 6 met deputy commissioner (DC) Gurgaon Vinay Pratap Singh on Monday demanding a recounting but he refused their request, said Yadav, adding that the three candidates lost by narrow margins.

Till late Sunday, the recounting drama went on with officials on duty repeating the counting exercise for wards 4 and 19, on the complaints of the candidates concerned.

From ward 4, there were initial reports of victory of Parveen Yadav but later INLDs Virender Raj Yadav was declared winner. In ward 19, BJP candidate Pramod Kumar Mangla objected to the result after which a recounting was held but again independent candidate Ashwani Sharma emerged the winner.

The supporters of the candidates exchanged heated arguments, shouted slogans and caused a traffic jam around the Mini Secretariat.

There is no question of a recounting and if candidates feel that there should be such an exercise, they can approach the court for a remedy, said a senior administrative official.

Sunder Singh said his wife Pushpa Sunder Singh lost by 212 votes.

I appealed to the district administration for a recount but the officials denied me. I am left with no choice but to move court, Sunder said.

He said Parveen Yadav and Naresh Sehrawat were announced winners but later the two were declared defeated after a recounting happened on the requests of candidates.

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A day after the MCG election result, many Congress leaders said the party should have contested the election on the party symbol. The party workers at Kaman Sarai office celebrated the victory of five candidates who won as independent, supported by the Congress. The party workers said the BJPs count of 14 seats could go down if the administration allows a recount.

Captain (retd) Ajay Singh Yadav, former Haryana power minister and senior Congress leader, said, We will take up the issue with the top party leaders that denying party tickets to candidates was a big mistake. Those who were against the same should apologise to the voters who rejected the policy of the ruling BJP. The candidates had shown an interest in contesting the 2017 MCG elections on the party symbol. Seven other candidates emerged runners-up. BJP won 14 seats by manipulation.

Promila Kablana, Seema Pahuja, Rajni Sahni, Naresh Sehrawat were the victorious independent candidates, who had Congress backing.

After a delay of three years, the Gurugram Municipal Corporation (MCG) was formed in 2008 and the first election was held in May 2011. The second MCG election was to be held in May 2016, however that got delayed till September 24, 2017.

The BJP and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) have been contesting on party symbols while the Congress maintained its policy of not contesting the MCG election on the party symbol. This was not fair, we could have performed better, said a party worker Sunder Singh.

BJP contested all 35 seats but won only 14, while INLD contested 23 seats and won only one seat.

Ashok Tanwar, state Congress president, Captain Ajay Singh and other several party workers had appealed to Kamal Nath, party general secretary, to issue candidates party symbols.

I believe contesting on the party symbol would have given us a wonderful edge and a tough fight to the BJP and INLD as the two have failed to meet the expectation of the people, Tanwar said.

Umesh Aggarwal, MLA Gurgaon, said, Congress has vanished that is why it is talking about useless matters.

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The ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) were left red-faced after the results of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) elections were announced on Sunday evening. Six of the 24 party members ousted on disciplinary grounds won the election as independent candidates.

The party, on September 17, removed 24 members, including six women, from 16 wards for contesting against the partys nominated candidates. The rebels were denied party tickets after which they filed nominations as independents.

Of the six ousted women members, five contested as independents and won the election on Sunday.

Sheetal Bagri from ward 10 defeated an independent candidate. She and her husband Mangat Ram Bagri, who won 2011 election from a BJP ticket, were both removed from the party.

Rajni Sahni from ward 17 and her husband Dalip Sahni were also removed from the party for contesting against party candidate Geeta Rani. Rajni defeated Geeta by a margin of 2,984 votes. Her husband Sahni was elected councillor as an independent candidate from ward 13 in 2011.

From ward 22, Sunita Yadav contested against BJP candidate Poonam Kataria and defeated her by a margin of 463 votes.

Likewise, Praveen Lata from ward 26 defeated BJP candidate Sonika by a margin of 1,123 votes.

From ward 30, Mahesh Dayma was removed from the party but he contested as an independent and defeated BJPs Deepak Sharma by a margin of 1357 votes.

In ward 35, Kusum Yadav wife of former sarpanch Sahab Ram alias Lilu sarpanch sought a ticket from the BJP but was denied. The couple was removed from the party.

Kusum contested as an independent and won over another independent candidate, Pushpa Kumari.

The BJP managed to win 14 seats and has fallen short of a majority. It is speculated that the party is likely to take back the victorious rebels back to increase its tally in the house.

Taking a dig at the BJP, senior Congress leader Capt (retd) Ajay Singh Yadav said the result is a defeat for the BJP as the public has shown a mirror to the party for its faulty policies.

Public will defeat the BJP in the next assembly and parliamentary elections and Congress will form the next government, Yadav said.

Party senior leaders from the state are busy in the national executive meeting and will ponder over the results soon. An analysis of ticket allocation and results will be done, said BJP spokesperson Raman Malik.

Ousted from BJP, won as independents:

Sheetal Bagri from ward 10

Rajni Sahni from ward 17

Sunita Yadav from ward 22

Praveen Lata from ward 26

Mahesh Dayma from ward 30

Kusum Yadav from ward 35

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With fractured mandate in the 2017 Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) elections, the fight over the selection of Mayor seems to be a tight one. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the maximum seats of seats, 14 of the total 35, but is still short of five from the majority.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which contested in 20 wards, won one seat. The candidates backed by the Congress, 20, did not contest on the party symbol.

Rao Narbir Singh, Haryana public works department minister and MLA from Badshahpur, said, The mayor has to be selected within the next 30 days. We are likely to hold a meeting of party workers and decide on the issue. One thing I would like to clarify is that many of those who won as independents are BJP workers who could not get party symbols.

As per the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, the divisional commissioner has to complete the process of selecting a mayor by calling a meeting of the winners within 30 days of the notification.

The BJP is trying to woo independents into its fold. Party insiders said seniors leaders are also in a tussle over the selection of mayoral candidates.

The Act states that in the next 60 days, the process of selecting a senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor has to be complete.

A senior MCG official told Hindustan Times that the mayors post in Gurgaon and Faridabad are reserved for women from the scheduled caste.

The divisional commissioner will issue the notification of election results and call a meeting of candidates who won the elections in the next 30 days to select a candidate from among the councillors. A similar process will be repeated for the selection of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor in 60 days, the official said.

The memory of horse trading drama of selecting Mayor after 2011 MCG election is still fresh in peoples mind.

BJP has almost announced its mayor candidate. We will go by the choice of our independent candidates. We will wait for the right time, said Ashok Tanwar, state Congress president.

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After threatening to close meat shops if authorities failed to act, the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Kranti Dal (ABHKD), a rightwing outfit, shut down around 35 meat shops at the CRPF chowk, Sheetla Mata Road and Gurgaon bus stand on Monday.

However, authorities continued to turn a blind eye to the issue.

In Noida, the leader of Gau Rakshak Dal was arrested by Noida police after the organization was illegally closing down shops in the city for a week.

Gurgaon deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said that the district administration will investigate the matter.

It is illegal to forcibly close meat shops. We will act once a complaint is received. We have deployed police at prominent markets so that (meat) shop owners dont dont feel threatened, Singh said.

Members of the outfit claimed they had issued a fresh reminder to the district administration and Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to prevent sale of meat during Navratri, on Thursday, but the same was ignored.

In our meeting with the district administration and MCG officials two weeks ago, we had requested them to shut down meat shops during Navratri. Since they continued to ignore our requests, we asked meat shop owners to down shutters at various parts of the city today (Monday). We will continue to carry out this drive, Rajeev Mittal, spokesperson of ABHKD, said.

I shut shop today after some ABHKD members came by. However, it (the shutdown) will make little difference as the sale of meat slackens during Navratri. I would have preferred to continue selling meat, but I dont want to be targeted, Raju, a meat shop owner at Sheetla Mata Road, said.

Read I KFC, 300 meat shops forced to close by Shiv Sainiks in Gurgaon for Navratri

Members of the rightwing outfit also asked meat shop owners at Sector 13 to close their shops, on Thursday.

On Friday, over 500 meats shops and stalls were forced to close at Surat Nagar, Ashok Vihar, sectors 5, 9, 14, Pataudi Chowk, Jacobpura, Sadar Bazaar, Khandsa, Gurgaon bus stand, DLF Phase1 and Sohna by a group claiming to be representatives of Shiv Sena in Gurgaon. However, an official Sena spokesperson in Mumbai claimed the group isnt affiliated to the party.

No complaints have been received so far in connection with the incident. We will take appropriate action after gathering details, the spokesperson of Gurgaon police said.

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After spending four months at Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi, 37-year-old Eman Abdul Attis sudden demise took the medical fraternity and her well wishers by surprise.

In their official statement, medical experts from Burjeel Hospital mentioned Complications, from the underlying co-morbid conditions including heart diseases and kidney dysfunction, as Emans cause of death.

After being moved to Abu Dhabi on May 4, a team of 20 doctors had conducted investigations of her health parameters to start the treatment.

HT had reported about a leakage in her heart that could be fatal, as told by doctors treating her at a hospital in Abu Dhabi.

Though her psychological condition had improved, evident from the pictures and videos shared by the hospital, her heart echo had a different story to tell about her physiological state.

Tests had shown Ahmed having a condition in which a leaking valve made some of the blood to flow back to the left ventricle, leading to a decrease in the capacity of the heart to pump sufficient blood to her body, and which would eventually lead to heart failure.

Emans heart echo revealed a severe regurgitation (leakage) of the aortic valve. We have put her on conservative treatment with possible valve replacement as a part of the long-term plan, Yassin El-Shahat, chief medical officer of the hospital, had said in May.

More than 20 healthcare professionals were assigned to evaluate Eman and chart a treatment plan, which was divided into three stages.

Doctors had planned to treat Emans acute issues  including her urinary tract infection, bedsores, rehabilitation, speech therapy  and provide her with psychological support within three months, as part of phase 1.

Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, Emans treating doctor from Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, had said most of Emans obesity-related problems such as severe hypothyroidism, lymphoedema, right-sided heart failure (or pulmonale), severe obstructive respiratory disease, renal failure and congestive liver were under control. However, Eman still needs to be on medication.

Hemal Shah, head of the department of nephrology at the hospital, said that while water retention doesnt usually result in an increase of more than 5-10kg, it was different in Emans case.

Emans body mass index (BMI)  a measure of body fat based on height and weight, which for a normal person is about 24 was almost ten times higher at 252.

Doctors from Saifee hospital said she also suffered from ailments such as severe lymphedema, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, severe obstructive and restrictive lung disease, gout and sleep apnea. She was at a high risk of pulmonary embolism.

While doctors from Burjeel Hospital are yet to share more details on her treatment, health parameters and what exactly caused her death, it is likely that kidney and heart complications, which were previously diagnosed during the course of her treatment, eventually caused her death.
British actor Colin Firth has accepted honorary Italian citizenship and is now a citizen of both Britain and Italy.

According to The Independent, Firth, who is married to Livia Giuggioli, reportedly made the initial application in response to the UK leaving the European Union.

Firth has offered an official statement, which read, A connection with Italy has existed for more than two decades now. I was married there and had two children born in Rome. My wife and I are both extremely proud of our own countries.

The statement continued, We never really thought much about our different passports. But now, with some of the uncertainty around, we thought it sensible that we should all get the same. Livia is applying for a British passport. I will always be extremely British (you only have to look at or listen to me).

Colin Firth, left, and Livia Firth pose for photographers as they arrive for the Green Carpet Fashion Awards event during the fashion week at the Milan's La Scala theatre, Italy, Sunday, September 24. (AP)

Recently, while talking to a local Australian publication, the Oscar-winning actor said, Brexit does not have a single positive aspect for me. Many colleagues, including Emma Thompson, are - like me - enthusiastic Europeans. And we still cannot believe it.

His official statement, concluded with, Britain is our home and we love it here. Despite the enticements of my profession to relocate to more remunerative climes, Ive always chosen to base my career out of the UK and pay my taxes here. That hasnt changed.

A statement has also been issued from the Italian interior ministry, which read, The very famous actor, who won an Oscar for the film The Kings Speech, is married to a citizen from our country and has often declared his love for our land.

Firth and Giuggioli currently live in Chiswick with their two sons, and own a house near the Italian town of Citta della Pieve.

Firths announcement came just hours after Theresa Mays speech in Florence, in which the Prime Minister conceded that Britain would have to accept EU free movement and stay in the single market for at least two years after Brexit.

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Backing the Narendra Modi government on reforms such as demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST), Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah hit out at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday for his remarks on dynastic politics and said the BJP has always believed in the politics of performance.

Shah, who was addressing the BJPs national executive including party leaders who are in the government at the centre and 18 states, either solely or in coalition, said the BJP-led government was working for development and poverty reduction, while the Congress was banked on the politics of appeasement and dynasty.

Shah outlined the partys agenda for the next five years which includes fighting against poverty and corruption and for cleanliness, Union railway minister Piyush Goyal said.

He gave a response backed with facts and figures to Rahul Gandhis attempts to defame India, Goyal said. Gandhi has said dynasty is necessary in India. Amit Shah condemned that and said BJP believes in the politics of performance, Goyal said, citing Shahs presidential address to the party brass.

This is how India works, Gandhi had said addressing students in Berkeley, California, two weeks ago when a student asked him about dynastic succession. He had cited examples from business, politics and cinema.

The prime minister, president and vice president of India rose to their positions on the basis of performance, their merit and work, the minister said, elaborating on Shahs speech. The BJP and the people of India denounce the politics of appeasement and dynasty, he said.

Defending the governments performance at a time when there are concerns of slowdown in the economy, Shah also supported Modi on demonetisation and the decision to roll out the Goods and Services Tax from July 1. He dwelt at length on a number of steps taken to get rid of corruption and black money, Goyal said.

All illegal businesses will be captured in the framework of GST, Goyal said, quoting from Shahs address. Shah said under Modi the economy continued to grow at around 7%.

Asked about the recent dip to 5.7% in the first quarter of 2017-18, Goyal said, one quarter could be a mere aberration. He later clarified that was his own comment and not one taken from Shahs address.

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BJP president Amit Shah on Monday met home minister Rajnath Singh where they are believed to have discussed issues related to Jammu and Kashmir among others, sources said.

Other BJP leaders including Ram Madhav and Ram Lal were also present during the hour-long closed-door meet at the home ministers residence which took place after the BJP executive meeting here.

While details of the meeting were not immediately available, according to sources the leaders are believed to have reviewed the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

While the home minister visited Jammu and Kashmir a fortnight ago, BJP general secretary Madhav is party in-charge for the state.

During his visit, Singh had said the situation in the Kashmir Valley has improved significantly over the past year and some green shoots of peace are visible.

He had also expressed willingness to meet every stakeholder to resolve long-standing issues.
Security forces on Monday recovered body of a militant near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri area of Kashmir, taking the number of ultras killed in the operation there to four.

Security forces this morning resumed the anti-militancy operation, which was launched on Sunday, following information about presence of more militants in the area.

We have recovered body of another militant, which takes the number of militants killed in the operation to four, an Army official said.

The operation resumed this morning after there were reports of more militants hiding in the area, the official said.

He said the area of operation was expanded to ensure that no militants get away from the security forces cordon.

Three Pakistani militants were killed Sunday in the gunbattle with security forces in Kalgai area of Uri.Three civilians and a soldier were injured in the operation.

Director General of Police S P Vaid had said the militants were planning a suicide attack like the one carried out on an Army base last year in Uri that left 19 soldiers dead and several others injured.

A big tragedy has been averted.Like the suicide attack on the Army base last year, they (militants) had similar plan this time also but the police and the Army got information before hand, Vaid told reporters
Banaras Hindu University remained tense after a number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathi-charge by police in the campus after a protest on Saturday against an alleged molestation case turned violent.

A female student at the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel on Thursday, triggering the protest.

Violence erupted after the protesting students demanded to meet the varsitys vice chancellor at his residence on Saturday.

From the university to students and politicians, heres a look at who said what:

BHU

The university said some students wanted to forcibly enter the V-Cs residence but they were stopped by BHU security guards. Subsequently, there was stone-pelting by outsiders who joined the students, a spokesperson said.

A statement by the university also said the dharna by the students a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Varanasi was politically motivated to malign the image of the university.

Clashes between the students and police at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi on Saturday. (PTI Photo)

Vice-chancellor

BHU vice-chancellor GC Tripathi told ANI campus safety is important, adding that some anti-social elements were trying to spoil the college environment.

An unfortunate incident took place with one of our students. We are committed to stringent action and did so too. The student initially had complaints with the university, but now that is not the case. Some complained about installation of CCTVs, which is under process. Some girls said the university should be more sensitive towards safety.

Varanasi Police

Varansi police commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokarn said the campus was normal on Sunday. He refuted any links between PM Modis visit to Varanasi and the violence during the protest.

There are chances that outsiders might have come and used the matter within the university (to create violence), Gokarn said, adding that an investigation will be conducted.

CM Yogi Adityanath

Chief minister Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath on Sunday sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident.

I have sought a report from the divisional commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident, Adityanath said in Lucknow.

Police deployed at the Banaras Hindu University. (PTI Photo)

Opposition attack

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday slammed the BJP for the lathi-charge by police on female students, saying it was the saffron partys version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.

After the incident, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted, Only a barbaric govt unleashes male police with lathis on women students. Why is BJP-RSS so scared of students?

Senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, who has fallen out with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar after the party allied with the BJP, said the incident was intolerable in a democracy and a violation of freedom of expression and speech.

We will raise the issue in Parliament... It is intolerable in a democracy and the government should apologise, Yadav said in a statement.

Former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathi-charge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty.
Heads rolled after the arson and violence in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) as the Uttar Pradesh government transferred three additional magistrates and two policemen on Monday.

Several students, mostly women, and policemen were wounded in clashes after university guards and cops cane-charged protesters in front of the vice chancellors home and at the main entrance to the century-old institutions sprawling campus around Saturday midnight.

Stones were reportedly thrown at police and vehicles set ablaze during a protest against alleged molestation of a hosteller. The students were demanding bringing the culprits to justice, which they alleged the university authorities had refused.

The campus unrest drew flak against chief minister Yogi Adityanath as Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hit out at the BJP government for the police action.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah spoke to the chief minister, while Union minister Nitin Gadkari said in New Delhi an inquiry into the violence is underway.

In Lucknow, governor Ram Naik said a committee, headed by the chief secretary, was constituted to look into the protest over an alleged harassment to a student.

Protesting against the police action, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged demonstrations in New Delhi.

The RSS-affiliated ABVP demanded a fact- finding committee, while the Congress-backed NSUI sought an inquiry by a sitting high court judge and resignation of the BHU vice chancellor.

In Patna, rebel JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav blamed the BJP governments at the Centre and in UP for the barbaric lathi-charge on the students.

Police said an FIR had been registered against more than 1,000 students in connection with the violence and against policemen involved in the lathi-charge.

Separate FIRs have been registered at Lanka police station in connection with the violence, an officer said.

The state government removed station officer of Lanka police station, Rajiv Singh, while deputy police superintendent Nimesh Katiyar was moved to the accounts section, police sources said.

Sanjiv Mishra will take over from Singh while Ayodhya Prasad comes in for Katiyar, they said.

According to a statement from the Varanasi district information office, three additional city magistrates  Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh  were transferred.

The violence broke out after police forcibly removed protesting students from outside the vice chancellors residence and a campus gate. They were protesting against the failure of the authorities to act against motorcycle-borne men who allegedly molested a university student.

The students alleged that campus security and police hit them with lathis, pulled many of them by their hair and dragged them.

The fracas forced BHU to advance its Dussehra break by three days from September 28 to September 25.

To prevent the unrest from spreading, the district administration decided to close Dr Sampurnanad Sanskrit University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth and their affiliated colleges.

A press communique said district magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra instructed closure of universities and colleges from Monday.

The decision was taken in view of intelligence reports that students of other universities and colleges may take to the streets in protest against the lathi-charge on BHU students.

(With agency inputs)
As it sets out to design the contours of a New India by 2022, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has set itself the ambitious task of ridding the country of poverty, terrorism, casteism, communalism and corruption.

On Monday, a political resolution, passed at the partys national executive meeting, underscored the need for eradicating the five ills, particularly terrorism and corruption, to help India emerge as a new nation by the time it completes 75 years of Independence.

The course for this transformation will be anchored in the Sankalp se Sidhi programme, which is based on the premise that if 125 crore Indians adopt the pledge of new India, nobody can stop it from becoming a reality, union minister Nitin Gadkari told mediapersons.

He said the party, led by PM Modi, was committed to making India poverty-free by 2022, offering all citizens a house to live in, proper healthcare and education and opportunities for self employment.

The sign of a good society and a prosperous nation is cleanliness. The PM has shaped the Swacha Bharat Abhiyan as a public movement by connecting it with moral responsibility of every citizen, Gadkari said.

The partys zero tolerance towards terrorism was iterated at the meeting, which witnessed a special presentation by general secretary and in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Ram Madhav on the governments initiatives to weed out terrorism.

Party sources said the BJP, which runs a coalition government in the disturbed state with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is keen to rebuild ties with the people in the state even as it sets about plugging channels that sponsor terrorism.

The party, which has often been accused by the Opposition of being anti-dalits and other minorities, is also making a concerted effort to shed that tag. It reiterated that there is no rethink on the reservation for SC/STs and OBCs in educations and job sectors; instead the government is keen to give the national commission for OBCs more teeth by way of constitutional status.

Gadkari pinned the blame on the Opposition for throwing a spanner in the works, by stalling the passage of the OBC Commission bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Communal harmony is also on the agenda. The BJPs campaign ahead of the 2014 general elections had anti-corruption as a poll plank. We will get rid of the politics of vote bank appeasement and polarisation; and supporting and felicitating terror groups that was done in the country. In the past three years there have been no allegations of corruption against us, Gadkari said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party members met to review the partys performance and the impact of its policies at the ongoing national executive at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told party workers that his battle against corruption was uncompromising and whoever is caught will not be spared.

BJP president Amit Shah also addressed party MLAs, MPs and other office bearers.

Here are the highlights:

5:45pm:



Will launch Saubhagya Yojana & inaugurate Deendayal Urja Bhawan. Programme starts at 6:30 PM. Watch on your phones. https://t.co/TYuxNNJfIf pic.twitter.com/hViDMYva5P  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 25, 2017

5:40pm: PM Modi will make an important announcement in a while during an event to celebrate the birth anniversary of Hindutva icon Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, says Jaitley.

5:37pm: The Congress from 2004 to 2014 did not take a single step against black money and corruption. So naturally, any step by us will not be supported by the UPA, says Jaitley.

5:34pm: PM Modi said: My battle against corruption is uncompromising. And whoever is being caught, will not be spared. I have no relatives, Jaitley.

5:33pm: The PM said BJPs fight against terrorism will continue... Other countries are also cooperating with Indias fight. 90 hardcore terrorists have been deported from abroad: Jaitley.

5:32pm: PM Modi spoke about two important topics during the meeting: Terrorism and Corruption, Jaitley.

5:30pm: 13 CMs, six Deputy CMs, 232 state ministers, 1,500 MLAs and 334 MPs were present in BJP national executive meeting: Jaitley.

5:28pm: Harsh words (by the opposition) cannot be a substitute for any substantive charge against the government: Jaitley.

5:27pm: On Sardar Patels birthday on October 31, the BJP will organise a Run for Unity event, says Jaitley.

5:25pm: No other political party in the country is as active as the BJP: Jaitley.

5:23pm: The PM said we should make the BJP an instrument of mass participation to improve the quality of lives of people, says Jaitley.

5:18pm: Arun Jaitley address a press conference.

2:55 pm: There were disputes between India and China. Our PM successfully resolved the issue and tension on border was solved: Nitin Gadkari on Doklam standoff.

2: 30 pm: We raised development issues in J&K and made clear that we have zero tolerance towards terrorism:Nitin Gadkari during BJP national executive meet.

12:59 pm: Amit Shah said patience, perseverance, and consistent and confident politics were demonstrated by the BJP government led by PM Modi during the Doklam standoff.

The standoff was solved by diplomatic and Amit Shah congratulated PM Modi for resolving the issue.

12:56 pm: Piyush Goyal speaks on BHU violence, says a kind of incident like that is a matter of concern and UP government is looking into it.

12:52 pm: Amit Shah said Rahul Gandhi should answer what Congress government- which is alleged of corruption charges worth Rs 12 lakh crore- has done for the country. Rahul Gandhi should answer how development was stalled during his partys government.

12:50 pm: Amit Shah praised the speech of Sushma Swaraj at United Nations and her criticism of terrorism in Pakistan.

12:49 pm: Piyush Goyal confident that BJP will register a historic win in upcoming Gujarat polls.

12:40 pm: Amit Shah dwelled at length on the number of steps taken to get rid of corruption and black money. He listed out all the various steps, starting from the SIT on blackmoney, spoke on demonetisation- which ensured that this government is serious about black money- the treaties signed with Mauritius and other countries, about modifications in Benami rule also closing down of 2 lakh shell companies: Piyush Goyal

12:38 pm: BJP members took pledged to realise a country that is clean, poverty and corruption free: Piyush Goel

12:30 pm : Amit Shah said BJP believes in politics of performance while Congress in dynasty and politics of appeasement.

12: 24 pm: Rahul Gandhi has been undermining India these days, Amit Shah gave a befitting reply with facts, says Piyush Goyal at BJP national executive meeting.

People of India and BJP do not stand with the way Rahul Gandhi spoke about Indian politics on an International platform: Piyush Goyal

12:23 pm: Amit Shah condemned the violence in Kerala and West Bengal and said no BJP worker will be scared of this violence. Every BJP worker who believes in peace will respond to these attacks in democracy way.

Amit Shah to launch 15-day padyatra in Kerala from October 3 to protest political violence against its workers

12:22 pm: Party president AmitShah has appealed everyone to stand by PM Narendra Modis agendas on a Clean India , says PiyushGoyal

12:19 pm: The Government is relentlessly working in the interests of the poor, says Union Minister Piyush Goyal during BJP National Executive meet.

70 years post Independence, India is still struggling under a lot of challenges. Amit Shah said everyone has a dream of new India which is free of dirt, hunger, corruption, communalism. The work of every BJP worker is to pursue that dream.

12:16 pm: Piyush Goyal addresses press conference. He says Amit Shah addressed the national meet and spoke on rural development programmes to BJP workers.

11: 10 am: A total of 2,500 delegates, including thirteen chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states, 1400 legislators and 280 Parliamentarians, are expected to attend the day-long session.

10:45 am: BJP meet begins.

Glimpses of @BJP4India's National Executive Meeting at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Osibwl5qqY  BJP LIVE (@BJPLive) September 25, 2017

10:30 am: Leaders arrive for BJP national executive meet, to begin shortly, reports ANI.

10:00 am: The national executive meet coincides with the birth centenary celebrations of BJP ideologue, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. The meeting will serve as the closing ceremony of the centenary programme.

(with inputs from agencies)
The BJP on Monday feted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the peaceful resolution of Doklam standoff between India and China, terming it as a sign of mature politics & diplomatic victory of the government.

The partys national executive that met in the national capital passed a political resolution hailing Modis economic policies, diplomatic achievements and his tough stance on cross-border terror.

The skill, patience & firmness shown by the leadership while dealing with the Doklam dispute has not only strengthened the security concerns of the nation but also enhanced the prestige of India in the world. During the Doklam crisis, constant communication & coordination with Bhutan has demonstrated Indias sensitivity towards the interest of our friendly neighbours and the governments neighbourhood first policy, stated the resolution.

It is the success of governments foreign policy that terrorism was at the forefront in the Resolution passed at BRICS summit 2017.

The ruling party also hailed Modis tough policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and separatism.

The government has taken tough measures in tackling terrorists and their supporters. The recent actions taken against terrorism along the borders of the country are evident to everyone. In the last 6 months, many terrorists have been neutralized...exemplary sensitivity demonstrated by security forces is worth mention and deserves compliment... it said.

It added that the government has achieved a remarkable balancing act by showing no mercy to terrorists and displaying a marked degree of sensitivity towards the common people of the state who are being used by the terrorist forces.

Narendra Modi -led BJP government is to be congratulated for putting the spotlight on terrorism on international fora, isolating Pakistan and exposing the role of terrorist organizations before the international community, it added.

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Emboldened by the recent conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim for raping two of his devotees, a 29-year-old man from Madhya Pradesh lodged a police complaint against a self-styled godman for allegedly sodomising him a decade ago.

In his complaint registered on Sunday, the victim said he used to work with the Anand Trust at Ishagarh in Ashok Nagar district in 2007 when Gyandayal Anand alias Chakki waale Baba committed the crime in an inebriated condition.

An FIR has been registered against the so-called religious man under section 377 of the IPC that criminalises carnal intercourse against the order of nature, Ashok Nagar superintendent of police Santosh Singh Gour said.

 The trust administration told me that they had asked the Baba to leave the trust premises after the incident came to their notice. Now, they dont know his whereabouts. Police have started an investigation and are trying to locate him, the police officer added.

The victim said in the past one decade, he faced intimidation, but the conviction of Ram Rahim encouraged him to lodge a criminal complaint against Gyandayal Anand.

This baba also made an obscene video of the act and used it as a threat to further sexually harass me. The ordeal continued for a few more months, he said.

When I lodged a complaint with the trust administration, they threatened me of dire consequences if I went to police, said the victim.

The victim in his complaint also accused two other godmen of threatening him of dire consequences.

The complaint is the latest in the growing number of cases of sexual assault and other heinous crimes being filed against self-styled religious leaders in the country.

A CBI court last month convicted the Dera chief for raping two women 15 years ago.

The rape case was brought against Ram Rahim after an anonymous letter was sent to then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002 accusing the godman of repeatedly raping the sender and several other women.

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Lao students participate in the contest (Photo provided by Vietnamese Embassy in Laos)

The activity was held by the Vientiane Capital Youth union in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh city, and several Vietnamese and Lao companies.

It was an opportunity for the youth in the capital Vientiane to study more about Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam comprehensive cooperation and special friendship and solidarity to mark the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017, 55 years of the countries diplomatic relations and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

Addressing at the event, vice secretary of the Vientiane Capital Youth Union Sukmaly Thammavonge said that the activity aimed to help young people in Laos understand the mutual special relationship and cooperation, and motivate them to improve knowledge and strive their best to follow examples of the previous generations for national construction and preservation.

Participants from 32 troupes passed four rounds with nearly 130 questions on the history of the relations; Uncle Hos activities in Laos; the founding anniversary of diplomatic relations; the day of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation; common border and border gates; Vietnamese and Lao National Day; and the relationships between Vietnam-Laos and ASEAN countries./.
A local Congress leader was shot dead and his son critically injured by assailants at a village in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, a police official said on Monday.

Police suspect political rivalry led to the fatal attack on Kailash Singh Sunday night.

The armed assailants, nearly a dozen, fired at the 50-year-old politician outside his home in village Ruhera under Deepar Police Station area and fled, said Mayank Awasthi, district superintendent of police.

Singh died, while his son Kuldeep, who was with him during the shoot-out, suffered gunshot injuries and was referred to Gwalior for treatment, he added.

Singh was the district vice-president of farmer wing of the Congress.

Awasthi said it seems old political rivalry between Singh and his opponents, which surfaced during the last village panchayat elections, resulted in the assault.

Police have booked 12 people, including village sarpanch Janak Singh for the attack and slapped murder and attempt to murder charges on them, the SP said.

Further investigations are underway, Awasthi said, adding police teams have raided several places in search of the absconding accused.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis recent visit to the United States created quite a buzz on the Indian soil. He travelled across coasts, had interactions with think-tanks, and gave strong statements that stirred up controversies back home.

HT spoke to Congress MP Deepender Hooda who accompanied Rahul during this visit, over all the issues that cropped up in this context.

What was the purpose of Rahul Gandhis visit to the US?

It was an effort by the party to engage with the Indian diaspora. Over the years, our ties with NRIs had weakened, which we attempted to strengthen again.

Which all places did Rahul go to, and who all did he meet?

Rahul ji had interactions with the youth and think-tanks at universities at Berkeley, Indiana and Princeton. He met tech giants in San Franciso, political leaders and policy makers in Washington DC, and the Indian diaspora in New York. He also had informal meetings with editors of New York Times and Reuters.

If a dairy farmer is lynched for transporting cows, isnt it tragic for our democracy?

What do you think is the outcome of the visit?

The outcome has been very positive. Rahul ji thoroughly explained the differences in the ideologies of the BJP and the Congress to the world leaders, policy makers and NRIs. The world should not see India through the prism of one partys ideology. During his fortnight-long visit, Rahul ji impressed the brightest minds of the world with his speeches, interactions and his idea of how India should be. He is being appreciated everywhere.

BJP said Rahul insulted PM Modi and India on foreign soil. How will you respond to this allegation?

He did not insult anyone, nor did he intend to. He only raised some important challenges that our country is facing today. If a dairy farmer is lynched for transporting cows, isnt it tragic for our democracy? We have to draw a line somewhere. And before pointing fingers at him, the BJP should look at its own track record. PM Modi went to the Silicon Valley and said India achieved nothing in the past 70 years. By making such a statement, he not only insulted political leaders, but also the people of the country.

Rahuls statement that India is run by dynasts didnt go well with many. Whats your take on this issue.

What he said was true. But what we need to understand is that in a democracy like India, dynasts are not a result of special privileges, but public mandate. If Rahul Gandhi becomes the president of Congress, it will be only when Congress leaders choose him as their leader. If he becomes the prime minister, it will be only after the citizens of this country bring the Congress to power and party MPs choose him as their leader. The Congress is a democratic party. Any leader can stand up against Rahul for party presidents post, just like two leaders had contested the post against Sonia ji in 90s. It is up to Congress leaders whom they unanimously elect.

But why do you want Rahul to lead the Congress when he failed miserably in 2014?

One election cannot decide any leaders mandate. The BJP under Vajpayee ji and Advani ji had once got just two seats. Even in 2014, the BJP managed to win around 30% votes across India when PM Modis popularity was claimed to be at its peak. The Congress, under the sincere, honest and intelligent leadership of Rahul Gandhi, will bounce back in 2019 as people have rejected the BJP for its hollow promises.

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An interim report of a police probe into the infamous human shield episode in Kashmir last April backs the claim of Farooq Ahmad Dar who was tied to an army vehicle and driven around for five hours, that he had gone out to vote that morning.

An Army officer Major Leetul Gogoi who ordered Dar to be tied to a vehicle, had claimed Dar was the ring leader of stone pelters and was leading a mob.

Police saw voter mark on Dars finger the day we went to investigate the case, a senior police official in Budgam who did not want to be identified told HT.

The police report also corroborates the same. During investigation, it came to light that that the victim Farooq Ahmad Dar had cast his vote at polling booth in his native village, Chill. After casting his vote, he along with Hilal Ahmad Magrey left for Gampora for a condolence meeting, the report says.

The interim report says the investigation of the instant case is going on and after obtaining reports from District Election office Budgam/Coy Commander 53 RR Camp Beerwah and analysing of video clips the investigation of the instant case will be concluded on its merits.

A news story in a local newspaper Greater Kashmir, said report has been submitted to director general of police S P Vaid. However, Vaid refused to comment on the issue.

Read more: HT Special | Facts, allegations: Tracking Major Gogois human shield story

Hindustan Times had reported that the 26-year-old had spent his morning queuing up outside a polling booth in Arizals Chill Bras area for the Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls, defying a separatist boycott call that contributed to the lowest turnout in almost three decades.

Please check my name in the list of voters. If I voted for democracy, why would I stop others from voting and pelt stones? Dar, a shawl artisan had told HT. He insisted he had showed the indelible ink mark to security personnel.

Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had asked for a report after the video went viral following a tweet by her predecessor Omar Abdullah who condemned the incident. Army chief General Bipin Rawat had, however, hailed Gogois action and awarded him a commendation card for sustained efforts on counter-insurgency operations.

Hindustan Times had about a month later retraced Dars journey on the jeep. HT reported how Major Gogoi drove him around five hours across 17 villages over 28 kilometers on April 9.

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The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday transferred three additional city magistrates and two policemen after several Banaras Hindu University students were injured in a cane-charge during a protest against alleged molestation of a hosteller.

The Saturday night crackdown that left several students, most of them women, injured, was widely condemned, with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hitting out at the Yogi Adityanath government.

Station officer of Lanka Rajiv Singh was sent to police lines while deputy superintendent of police Nimesh Katiyar, the Bhelupur circle officer, was moved to the accounts section, sources said.

Sanjiv Mishra will take over from Singh while Ayodhya Prasad comes in for Katiyar, police sources said.

A release from Varanasis district information office said three additional city magistrates, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh, too, have been removed.

Meanwhile, district magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra on Monday asked BHU registrar Neeraj Tripathi to address the problems of girl students at the university.

In a letter to the registrar, Mishra suggested installation of CCTV cameras at all the entry and exit points of the University and deployment of security personnel outside the girls hostels.

Mishra asked the registrar to form a committee in the light of the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the Vishakha case to deal with harassment of women.

The committee should submit its report to the vice-chancellor from time to time and the BHU administration should take action accordingly, the letter said.

The violence broke out after police forcibly removed students from outside the vice-chancellors residence and a campus gate. They were protesting against the failure of the authorities to act against motorcycle-borne men who allegedly molested a university student.

The students alleged that the campus security and police hit them with lathis, pulled many of them by their hair and dragged them out.

The fracas forced BHU to bring forward its Dussehra break by three days to September 25. Several other Uttar Pradesh universities, too, advanced holidays to prevent the unrest from spreading.

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Bhopal

When two youths recently drowned in a stone quarry, it was the proverbial last straw for the villagers in Madhya Pradeshs Satna district where such open pits claimed many lives. The angry villagers agreed to cremate the bodies only after a case of causing death by negligence was filed against the mine owner, supervisor and two others.

Last month, in one of the biggest crack down against alleged illegal mining, authorities slapped show cause notices with penalty worth ~415 crore against 23 mining lease owners in Gwalior district after they were found to be allegedly carrying out blasting in vast swathes of land to mine grey stones, leaving behind a vast area dotted with pits.

Chequered history

These pits have virtually become mining black holes, claiming many young lives over last few years. In September last year, seven children drowned while bathing in a rain water-filled pit near a stone-crushing site in Guna district. Following the incident, magisterial probe was instituted and a case was lodged for causing death by negligence against the lease holder of the stone quarry.

In another incident, three kids drowned last year in a rainwater-filled pit in Sagar district. There have been many such incidents in the past few years as government miserably failed in ensuring closure or fencing of the pits. Most of such mining pits are created wherever there is a large scale mining or excavation for murram (laterite) or gitti (crushed stones) generally for development projects and construction activities.

Due to shortage of staff in the districts, there is poor monitoring and enforcement of mining laws in the state. As a result of which many mining and quarrying pits are left unfenced or unfilled. In rainy season such pits become death traps for the local people and animals.

Sources in the mining department said they have sent a proposal for recruitment of 900 people in the department so that loopholes in monitoring due to paucity of manpower could be plugged.

Green Panel flays government

Even the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed serious concern over deaths in such mining and quarrying pits. A day after the Guna incident last year, the NGT directed chief secretary to issue clear directions to the principal secretary (mines) and district collectors to carry out inspection of all mines in the state, stressing that conditions laid down in environmental clearances clearly say that the entire area should be fenced before starting the mining activity.

The NGT in March last year also directed Union ministry of environment and forests to examine whether the commercial activity of removal of mineral (sand) and other materials after obtaining temporary quarry permit, amounted to mining or not.

Advocate Om Srivastava, a legal expert on environmental issues, who has been dealing with cases related to mining in the NGT central bench, said as per Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2006 and its subsequent amendments, environmental clearance (EC) is now compulsory for all mining activities and so all lease holders have to ensure closure of the mines.

Also, there are provisions in MP Minor Mineral Rules which require mine lease holders to go for progressive closure of mines. But children continue to die in mining pits, indicating lot needs to be done to ensure safety. A compensation case has also been filed in the NGT over the drowning of the seven kids in Guna, he said. Illegal mining and mining mafia violence leave big holes on the mining landscape. The Narmada yatra, which ended in May, also put spotlight back on the mining violations. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan had to face criticism from the opposition and environmental groups who alleged that illegal mining was rampant in the state. They stressed that the worlds biggest river protection drive cannot go parallel with the illegal mining.

Sources in mineral resources department revealed that 11,031 cases of illegal transportation of minerals have been registered in the state since January 2016, apart from 660 cases of illegal mining. Also, the violence by mining mafia continues unabated. The mining officials are often attacked by mining mafia, especially in Chambal and Bundelkhand, where they have created terror. On several occasions even the police accompanying the officials are attacked. Under such an atmosphere, it becomes more difficult to ensure regular monitoring and effective closure or fencing of mines and quarries.

What does the government say?

VK Austin, director of geology and mining, admitted that there is a problem of pits being left open after quarrying and mining. Though we regularly issue instructions, especially during rainy season, that all mines should be demarcated and fenced, there are some practical problems in filling the pits. In case of gitti and murram quarrying, if you have to fill their pits, you have to dig up earth from some other spot. So, if you fill one mining pit, another pit will be created. So, the best thing is to ensure all such quarrying pits are fenced and people are cautioned about them by the local officials and mining lease holders, he said.

Austin said he will again pass strict directions to the officials to ensure such quarrying and mining pits be fenced or filled so that they dont endanger the lives of people.

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Six members of a Madurai business family allegedly battling a financial crisis committed suicide on Sunday while two members were battling for life in a hospital.

Kurunji Kumaran and his brother Velumurugans families shared a house at Yagappa Nagar in the temple town of Madurai in central Tamil Nadu and were running an elementary school in Anna Nagar, police said.

They also dabbled in real estate. Police found a suicide note in the house but didnt share the contents.

Neighbours suspect the family was struggling to pay debts incurred in running the school. The real estate business, too, was not doing well, they said.

A relative of the family, also a neighbour, got worried when he didnt see the Kumarans all of Sunday. Ravichandran went to the house in the evening. When no one answered the door, he called some neighbours and they forced open it.

They found the brothers, their mother Jagajothi, Kurunjis daughter Tharani and Velumurugans daughter Jayasakhti dead.

Velumurugans wife Devi died at the hospital while Kurunjis wife Thangaselvi and daughter Jayamonika were in a critical condition, Ravichandran said.

Ambulance took too long to come and they rushed Jayamonika to the hospital in a two-wheeler and Devi in an auto, he said. We stopped a private mini-bus to take Thangaselvi to the hospital, Ravichandran said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a stern message against corruption at the BJPs National Executive meeting on Monday, warning that no financial offender will be spared under his rule.

I dont have any relatives, finance minister Arun Jaitley later quoted Modi as saying at the event, indicating that the Prime Minister comes with no strings attached in this regard.

Ever since it seized power in May 2014, the Modi government has taken a number of steps aimed at curbing black money  including setting up a special investigation team to probe such cases, demonetising high-value currency notes, and amending laws to seize benami properties.

Here are some of the points Modi mentioned in his speech, as narrated by Jaitley to the press.

1) The ongoing BJP National Executive is politically significant because it coincides with the birth anniversary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.

2) The BJP has become the rallying point of peoples ambition, and it is natural for them to look up to it for the countrys bright future.

3) No other political organisation is as active as the BJP in todays India. This party looks at electoral gain only as a tool to ensure the triumph of democracy after the polls. We should make the BJP an instrument of mass participation, improving the lives of the common people.

4) No movement will achieve success unless it is built on the jan-bhagidari (public participation) principle. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan is a good example of how a programme can become successful through public participation.

5) Party functionaries should reach out to farmers across India and try to understand their problems.

6) The idiom of political dialogue has to change. The language of administration has to become easier, so it can be delivered to the people with absolute clarity.

7) The Opposition doesnt know how to remain in the opposition because it enjoyed its time in power. Many a time, harsh words are used by the Opposition even when it has no specific charges against the government. Harsh language cannot be a substitute for charges.

8) There should be a panchayat of LPG and Mudra scheme beneficiaries to discuss the pros and cons of the programmes.

9) The party will continue to fight against terrorism. As many as 90 hardcore terrorists have been deported from abroad.

10) There will be no compromise in my battle against corruption. If anybody is caught, the person will not be spared. I have no relatives.

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Police in Kochi have registered a case against five people including the director of a Hindu charitable trust after a 26-year-old woman filed a complaint on Monday alleging that she was forcibly detained at the centre and physically and mentally tortured for marrying a Christian man.

The incident comes two days after a 22-year-old woman hailing from north Kerala claimed to have returned to Hinduism after having converted to Islam.

In the latest case, the woman named Shweta said she was forcibly taken to the centre by her parents who conspired with the man running the Arsha Vidya Samajam - its director Guruji Manoj - and tried to force her to marry a Hindu man. She also alleged that at least 65 other women and girls were detained at the centre. She also claimed that she escaped from the centre on August 21 and went back to stay with her husband.

Following her complaint police registered a case against Guruji Manoj and four others. By Monday evening Shweta told local television channels that she married her husband Rinto Thomas in a court and there was no question religious conversion.

There were such 65 girls illegally detained at the centre and many complained that they were physically and mentally tortured. I was forced to attend classes where only evils of other religions were taught, she said in her complaint. A senior police officer of Kochi said police have launched investigation into her complaint.

Read more: Kerala love jihad: Womens panel to move SC to file fact-finding report

The womans allegations have surfaced at a time when the state women commission decided to move the Supreme Court seeking its permission to meet Akhila Ashokan alias Hadiya Jahan who is reportedly confined to her home. Her marriage with a Muslim youth Shafin Jahan was annulled by the Kerala high court in May and later Supreme Court ordered the NIA to probe circumstances that led to their marriage.

Many activists have alleged that Akhila was confined illegally and undergoing serious rights violations at home. Her husband had also moved the apex court recently with a plea to stop the NIA investigation. Her marriage was annulled after her father claimed that she would be sent to a war-torn area like the 21 young men and women who have gone missing from the state.

Two days ago Athira (22), who left her home in July to convert to Islam, held a press conference in Kochi claiming that she returned to Hindu fold. She said she was influenced by the speeches of Muslim cleric Zakir Naik and some activists of the Popular Front of India, a fundamentalist outfit, supported her. She claimed that she happened to learn more about Hinduism at Arsha Vidya Samajam. The Hindu charitable trust recently claimed that it brought back at least 2000 Hindu girls who converted to other religions in four years.
Nearly 620 tonnes of food material were on Monday shipped from the Kakinada Deep Water Port in Andhra Pradeshs East Godavari district for distribution among the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Faced with an onslaught from the Myanmar army, scores of Rohingya people have recently fled the Rakhine state of that country and taken refuge in Bangladesh.

On the directions of the Government of India, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) has arranged for 62,000 food packets, each containing five kg of parboiled rice, two kg of dal, edible oil, sugar, salt, tea and milk powder, East Godavari districts Collector Kartikeya Misra said.

The packets also contain a mosquito net each.

As per the suggestions of the NAFED, we have arranged for the food material and got it packed at two different locations in the district. The cargo is being shipped to Chittagong (in Bangladesh) and is expected to reach there in two days, Misra said.

The assistance to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is being provided by New Delhi as part of its humanitarian aid.

Earlier this month, a heavy-lift transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force had ferried around 55 tonnes of relief material for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The Tripura government might constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murder of journalist Shantanu Bhowmik on September 20 in Mandwai.

The decision came after the Agartala Press Club placed the demand before Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. The delegation of the clubs managing committee also requested that the trial be conducted at a fast-track court.

Meeting Sarkar at his official residence on Sunday, the delegation also demanded compensation to Bhowmicks family, provision of special jackets for photo and video journalists, protection for scribes on duty, and a ban on the misuse of press sticker on vehicles. The Chief Minister has assured to take positive steps, secretary of Agartala Press Club, Kalyanjit Singh, told HT. He agreed to discuss with the administration the proposal to set up an SIT.

Meanwhile, a delegation of scribes from nine media organizations visited Bhowmiks home and assured his family that they would continue to seek justice for his murder. Representing the media organizations, Subal Dey, editor of a local daily, said the journalists would light candles in front of Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan at 6 p.m. over the coming weeks to press their demands.

On Saturday night, the police arrested a young man, Sachin Debbarma, on suspicion of his involvement in the murder. Debbarma is alleged to be a supporter of The Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), the party demanding an autonomous state of Tipraland.

Police officials said IPFT supporters surrounded the Mandwai police station after the arrest of Sachin Debbarma and demanded his release.

On Thursday, they arrested two youths, Shyamal Debbarma and Bikash Debbarma, in connection with the case.

The police are chasing three other murder accused currently absconding.

The IPFT is set to demonstrate in Takarjala, around 30 kilometres away from Mandwai, tomorrow to demand the case be probed by the CBI to unearth real culprits behind the murder, said IPFTs general secretary, Mewar Kumar Jamatia.
Ambassador Doan Thi Huong (sixth from left) at the event (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia)

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mongolia Doan Thi Huong congratulated the teachers and students of the school on the opening of the new, spacious and modern school. The ambassador hoped that the school would make good use of the facilities and win more achievements in teaching and learning; continue to promote the tradition to become a "cradle" to train talented people for Mongolia.

She affirmed that the school being named President Ho Chi Minh and the close cooperative activities between the school and the Vietnamese Embassy in recent years is a vivid manifestation of the friendly cooperation between Vietnam and Mongolia. The Vietnamese Embassy and the school will continue to closely coordinate in introducing the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese culture to students through the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Centre located at the Traditional Room of the school.

On behalf of the school, Principal Vaandad Tsetsgee thanked the Vietnamese Embassy for its interest in and support for the school in terms of material and spirituality for the past years. She also said that she would continue to organize activities to contribute to the development of the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Mongolia.

The school No.14 is one of the first high schools in Ulan Bator. On the occasion of the 90th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh, on May 14th, 1980, the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party issued a decision to allow school No.14 to be named President Ho Chi Minh. Many senior Mongolian leaders have grown up in this school./.
The lone zebra in the Nandankanan Zoological Park here was found dead Monday morning, zoo officials said.

Though the reason for the death of the animal, the main attraction for visitors to the zoo, is yet to be ascertained, officials suspected that lightning might have killed the 2.5-year-old-zebra last evening.

The staff spotted the dead animal inside its enclosure Monday morning and brought the matter to the notice of the authorities.

There was injury marks on the animals body. The exact cause of the death could be ascertained only after post-mortem, an official release of the zoo said.

Four zebras were brought to the Nandankanan Zoological Park from Israels Tel Aviv zoo in 2015. While a three-year-old female zebra among them died on August 20 last year due to sickness, a two-year-old female zebra expired on October 29 the same year.

A two-and-a-half-year-old male zebra died in the zoo on May 30 due to stomach related illness.

Presently, the zoo has no more zebra to exhibit. The Zoo officials are communicating with other zoological parks to bring a zebra under an animal exchange programme, the official said.
Peepli Live co-director Mahmood Farooqui was acquitted on Monday on charges of raping a US researcher.

Farooqui (44) is best known for directing Peepli Live, a comedy that parodies political and media response to farmer suicides in India. The film was nominated for the 2011 Filmfare Best Film award and won the Star Screen Award for Best Ensemble Cast.

The director, who hails from Uttar Pradeshs Gorakhpur, studied in the Doon School and graduated from the St Stephens College in New Delhi. He was then awarded the prestigious Rhodes scholarship and he went to the University of Oxford in Britain.

Farooqui researched for five years at the National Archives to pen his award-winning book, Besieged: Voices from Delhi 1857. The book, Farooqui wrote in the introduction, is a record of the daily life of a city under siege, of the travails of the ordinary life. He also worked as a researcher for a book authored by William Dalrymple.

Farooqui, with his uncle Shamsur Rahman -- a known Urdu poet and literary critic -- was actively involved in the revival of Dastangoi -- an 11th century performance art in which the narrator uses only his voice to tell epical tales, he told The Times of India in a 2011 interview.

To initiate novice audiences, Farooqui charmingly elaborates on Dastangoi etiquette before each performance: He asks the audience to make eye contact with performers, refrain from clapping and express its appreciation verbally with variants of Wah wah instead, a Live Mint article said.

Mahmood Farooqui and Danish Hussain performing Dastangoi. (File Photo)

A Washington Post writer, Rama Lakshmi, desribed Farooqui in an article as socially and intellectually influential who enacts stage performances about injustice, human rights and gender.

The rape case

Farooqui allegedly forced himself on the Columbia University researcher during a party at his house in New Delhi in March 2015. According to the police, the complainant had approached Farooqui through a common contact for help with her thesis on Indian sects. She wanted information on the Gorakhnath sect in eastern UP. The woman said she became well-acquainted with him after a few meetings.

The woman returned to the US soon after the alleged rape and wrote an email to Farooqui, who apologised for misbehaving with her. She later approached the Delhi Police through diplomatic channels, returned to India and lodged a formal complaint on June 19, 2015.

Farooqui was convicted last year by a special fast track court in what was claimed to be the first rape case that recognised forced oral sex.

This is perhaps one of the first cases of forced oral sex, which shows two things: that there was a crime for which we did not earlier have an offence named  now it has been recognised as rape, Vrinda Grover, who was representing the complainant, told The Indian Express last year.

Farooqui immediately challenged the guilty verdict in the high court and his wife Anusha Rizwi, who also directed Peepli Live, said the complaint was manipulated and false.
As they say, age is just a number.

Raj Kumar Vaishya of Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) proved this adage when, as a student of the Nalanda Open University, he passed the MA economics part II (final year) examinations, the results of which were declared here on Monday.

Vaishya is all of 97 years old.

Born in April 1920, Vaishya, whose three sons have retired from central government services over the past several years, has stunned even the university authorities by his feat. His zeal and dedication to pursue education is worthy of emulation by one and all, said university registrar SP Sinha.

Vaishya, who graduated from Agra university way back in 1938, appeared at the examinations like any other student, at the venue on the University premises. Never sought or got any special privilege on the ground of his advanced age, said the Registrar..

Sinha said Vaishya was happy when university officials went to his residence for getting the admission form. Again, we are going to present him the mark sheet of MA examination, which is a big occasion for us, as well, he said.

Soon after getting information of his success in the MA examinations, Vaishyas grandsons rushed to greet him with sweets, as token of their joy, and congratulated him for what he had accomplished by his dedication and love for education.

Talking to HT over phone, Vaishya, who secured second division, lamented that had he taken the examinations earlier, he could have passed in first division.

I thank my daughter-in-law Prof Bharti S Kumar, former head of history of Patna University, for regularly standing by my side. She even discontinued watching the serials and movies of her choice on television just to keep me undisturbed.

Vaishya said he would now concentrate on writing articles on socio-economic issues, mainly those related to poverty and unemployment.

Kumar said her father in law always encouraged children to pursue education as a mission. He has now emerged as a role model for the society at large , she added.
As it readies for the next round of electoral battle, including the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will review its performance and the impact of its policies to chart out the way forward at the ongoing national executive on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address his colleagues as the party sets out to focus on economic slowdown and jobs cuts  national problems the BJP had promised to contain.

The party is also expected to take up the issues of the impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST), demonetisation and other economic policies of the government in its economic resolution that will be passed at the end of the meet.

While the government pitched demonetisation as an answers to multiple problems of black money stashing, funding of terror outfits and counterfeit currency rackets, the Opposition has dubbed it a needless exercise, and one aimed at helping the BJP reap electoral benefits.

Sources said these big-ticket policy decisions will be highlighted as steps in the governments attempts to weed out corruption.

The BJP brass is also expected to read out among the partys many achievements the flushing out of terrorists in Kashmir, rolling out of pro-poor schemes and the diplomatic feats of standing up to Chinas bullying tactics and calling out Pakistan at international forums for its continued support to terror organisations.

Threats to internal security, especially in the wake of concerns over the influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar; and the attacks on BJP-RSS cadre in states where the electoral battle with the Opposition has aggravated into violent conflict such as in Kerala and West Bengal are also expected to come up at the meet being attended by nearly 2,000 delegates.

BJP president Amit Shah who reviewed partys attempts to consolidate its position on Sunday, will address party MLAs, MPs and other office bearers at the Talkatora Stadium later in New Delhi.

With the meeting coinciding with conclusion of the birth centenary celebrations of its ideologue, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, the party is expected to sharpen its focus on social welfare as propounded by him.

As it sets about to add more states to its kitty, especially those where the BJP has traditionally found little support, the party will set in motion its processes to expand its footprint.

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Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha legislator Mukul Roy, who announced his resignation from the party on Monday, has set the talking point for people during the festival season in West Bengal - his next move.

The 63-year-year-old offered only a teaser.

I shall spell it out just after the pujas, he said.

I have sent an e-mail this morning informing my decision to step down from the working committee. I shall resign from the Rajya Sabha immediately after the pujas. About eight months are still left for my tenure to end in the Upper House. At that time I shall also step down from the primary membership of the party, Roy said.

Roy was the undisputed number two in Trinamool Congress merely two and a half years ago. He was, however, reduced to a position where he would have to report to someone who once was his junior.

How could anybody continue in this manner, asked a minister in the Mamata Banerjee cabinet. The minister, who wished anonymity, was explaining why Roy, who helped Mamata Banerjee set up the party in late 1997, decided to quit Trinamool Congress.

Party secretary general and education minister Partha Chatterjee indicated Roy took the decision to quit as he had come under the pressure of central investigative agencies.

Over the past few years, he was trying to weaken the party. He came under pressure from central investigative agencies and started hobnobbing with BJP leaders, said Chatterjee.

Whatever the immediate reason, the rift was widening between Roy and chief minister Banerjee for quite some time.

On January 30, 2015, he was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged involvement in the Saradha scam. It is widely believed that he avoided a certain arrest by parting with a lot of information on Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP and Mamata Banerjees nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

Roy was removed from the position of the party general secretary in 2015. In December the same year, Roy was believed to be instrumental in floating the Nationalist Trinamool Congress party. It was later merged with Trinamool Congress.

He was increasingly sidelined in the party since then. However, before the 2016 assembly elections Roy was reinstated as a vice-president of the party.

On September 4, Roy was dropped from the parliamentary consultative committee of Union home ministry and TMC Rajya Sabha member Manish Gupta replaced him. On September 17, Banerjee abolished the post of Trinamool vice-president, a position held by Roy. Roy returned his Z category security provided to him by West Bengal government on September 20.

Roy was crucial in managing and expanding the party. A master strategist, he also succeeded in keeping the Modi wave in 2014 Lok Sabha polls away from Bengal, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won only two of the 42 seats in the state.

Trinamool Congress swept the assembly polls winning 211 of the 294 seats. But his proximity to the chief minister was never restored.

Over the past few weeks, a rumour that Roy was hobnobbing with senior BJP leaders started swirling. While Banerjee kept lambasting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah at public meetings, Roy was believed to be meeting Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, Shah and Uttar Pradesh health minister Siddharth Nath Singh.

Interestingly, soon after his announcement, his son and Trinamool MLA from Bijupur (in North 24 Parganas district), Subhrangshu Roy told a section of the media that he is with the ruling party and will continue with it.

There is no question for other thoughts, Subhrangshu said.

A leader close to Roy said much will depend on whether he joins the BJP or floats his own forum.

Many of the existing Trinamool leaders who are keeping in touch with him are testing waters now. Maybe by December things will become clear. Dont expect a number of TMC leaders joining him after the pujas, the leader, who did not want to be named, said

The two names that are going around as Roys immediate associates are expelled Trinamool Rajya Sabha member, Kunal Ghosh, and expelled CPI(M) member of the upper house, Ritabrata Banerjee.

According to Trinamool sources, the Trinamool leaders allegedly keeping contact with Roy include party MLAs, Shilbhadra Sen and Shiuli Saha and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation mayor, Sabyasachi Dutta.

Speculations are also there that state transport minister, Suvendu Adhikari, also maintains a good and working relationship with Roy. So automatically, the names of his brother and Trinamool MP from Tamluk, Dibyendu Adhikari and his father, and party MP from Kontai, Sisir Adhikari, also join the grapevine, said a Trinamool leader.

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National Conference leader Omar Abdullah welcomed Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday for her first tweet, three years after joining the microblogging site.

She took to Twitter on Sunday to share a short promotional film of the states tourism department.

Today, Omar tweeted, 25,000 followers later @MehboobaMufti finally broke her silence on twitter with a tourism promotion video. Welcome to Twitter CM Sahiba.

25,000 followers later @MehboobaMufti finally broke her silence on twitter with a tourism promotion video. Welcome to Twitter CM Sahiba. https://t.co/qnH8fmYpVv  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) September 25, 2017

The five-minute film titled Warmest Place on Earth, which aims to counter the negative perception about the Valley, has drawn over 1.6 million views in less than 48 hours after its release.

The opposition leader, had hit out at the chief minister yesterday for terming the situation in Kashmir peaceful.

There is something disconcerting about the CM claiming this just days after her minister survived an attack that killed 3 people!, Omar had tweeted.

He was reacting to a news report which quoted Mehbooba saying that the situation in Kashmir was peaceful and it was the media which was creating negative perception about the Valley.
The Delhi high court on Monday acquitted Peepli Live co-director Mahmood Farooqui of raping a US citizen, setting aside a lower court verdict sentencing him to seven years in jail.

The court, in its judgment, said there were doubts whether such an incident took place in the manner alleged by the woman concerned. And even if it did occur, (there is lack of clarity on) whether it was without the consent/will of the prosecutrix, it added, ruling in favour of Farooqui.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar further recorded that the appellant had no idea that the prosecutrix was unwilling, and there are instances when a feeble no on the part of a woman may mean yes during the course of a sexual act. In cases where the parties are known to each other, it could be really difficult to decipher whether a feeble no  (accompanied by) little or no resistance  actually amounts to denial of consent, he noted.

The Delhi Police had lodged an FIR against Farooqui on June 19, 2015, after an American citizen of Indian origin accused him of rape. The charge sheet stated that Farooqui had raped the complainant, a research scholar from Columbia University, at his Sukhdev Vihar residence in south Delhi on March 28, 2015.

The trial began on September 9, 2015, and the woman appeared in a sessions court on September 14 to record her statement. The court held Farooqui guilty of rape on July 30, 2016, and awarded him seven years in jail with a fine of Rs 50,000.

The co-director immediately challenged the verdict in the Delhi high court.

The high court cited the theory of sexual consent among its reasons for acquitting Farooqui. Sexual consent would be the key factor in defining sexual assault, the court recorded. There is a recent trend of suggesting various models of sexual consent. The traditional and most-accepted model would be the affirmative model, meaning that yes is yes and no is no. However, there would be some difficulty in the universal acceptance of the aforesaid model of consent.

Further elaborating on the subject, the high court said that the traditional theory can be safely applied in cases where both the parties involved are strangers. However, the same wouldnt be the situation when the parties are known to each other, are intellectually/academically proficient, and if there has been physical contact in the past. In such cases, it can be difficult to decipher whether little or no resistance and a feeble no actually amount to denial of consent, it added.

The high court also refused to buy the womans argument that she had given in to Farooquis sexual advances under fear. There was no communication regarding this fear in the mind of the prosecutrix to the appellant. The prosecutrix made a mental move of feigning orgasm, so as to end the ordeal. However, the appellant was made to believe  although wrongly and mistakenly  that the prosecutrix had participated in the act. The appellant had no opportunity to know that there was an element of fear that forced her to go along, it said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah have spoken to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Aditynanath following a police lathi-charge on BHU students and asked him to redress the issue at the earliest.

The BHU incident is unfortunate. Any amount of sadness expressed over it is not adequate, Union minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters here.

He said Modi and Shah have spoken to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister and asked him to redress the issue as soon as possible.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against an incident of sexual harassment, wanted to meet the varsitys vice chancellor (VC) at his residence.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A Banaras Hindu University (BHU) spokesperson had said that some students wanted to forcibly enter the VCs residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathi-charge. The government has removed some officers as the incident attracted widespread criticism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi constituted on Monday his first economic advisory council, headed by NITI Aayog member Bibek Debroy, to analyse and advise him on key issues amid concerns over slowing growth and a stagnating job market.

The announcement came on a day the Prime Minister launched an ambitious scheme for providing free electricity to poor households and delivered a strong message against corruption.

My battle against corruption is uncompromising. And whoever is being caught, will not be spared. I have no relatives, finance minister Arun Jaitley quoted Modi as saying at the BJP national executive, where the party hailed the government for successfully running the nations economy and policies. (Highlights)

At the party meeting, BJP chief Amit Shah took a veiled dig at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who spoke about growing intolerance in India during his visit to the US.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the launch of the Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana or Saubhagya, to supply electricity to poor households, in New Delhi on Monday. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Power Minister RK Singh are also seen. (PTI)

Tolerance is part of democracy but selective tolerance is not good for democracy, he said and accused the Congress of pursuing the politics of dynasty and appeasement.

The immediate task of Modis advisory council is likely to be suggesting booster dozes for the economy.

Indias economic growth slumped to a three-year low of 5.7% in the April-June quarter, which experts attributed to last years demonetisation of 500- and 1,000-rupee notes that sucked out 86% of the money in circulation from a largely cash-reliant economy.

Modi unveiled a Rs16,320-crore scheme for power to 40 million poor households as the government and the BJP celebrated ideologue Deendayal Upadhyays birth anniversary.

Calling it the Saubhagya (Sahaj Bijli har ghar yojna) scheme, he showcased it as another example of the governments pro-poor outreach. He said welfare of the poor is the biggest challenge before his government.

When I was young, senior people told me not to use kerosene lamps as they effect the eyesight. I can think of what will happen to four-crore families when they get electricity, Modi said.

No poor people will pay money for electricity. The government will come to their house and give power, without taking money, he announced and compared life without electricity as living in the 18th century.

Modi said that only 2,986 villages have yet to get electricity, but they will soon do.

He asked state-run petroleum major ONGC to promote innovation for electronic cooking appliances to reduce fuel consumption.

The Prime Minister asked BJP functionaries to reach out to farmers and understand their problems.

He also accused the Opposition of using power as a means of enjoyment when in the government.

He alleged that opposition parties use abrasive words against the government when there are no specific charges against it.

Harsh language cant be a substitute of any charges against the government, Jaitley quoted Modi as saying.

The Prime Minister displayed his steadfast commitment to remain pro-poor and took another step to revive the ailing economy by forming the advisory council.

The council will have government think-tank NITI Aayogs principal adviser Ratan Watal along with economists Surjit Bhalla, Rathin Roy and Ashima Goyal as its members.

The panel will remain independent and its prime duty remains advising the Prime Minister on economic issues referred to it.

Several ministries had been having multiple meeting to find ways to revitalise the economy. But the responsibility will now rest on the new council.

(Former PM) Manmohan Singh had eight advisory councils, some which never met during his tenure. So the challenge for the newly-created council will be to quickly come out with cogent politically savvy and economically viable solutions to kickstart a stagnating economy, economist Mohan Guruswamy said.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi said police didnt baton-charge female students, but only used force to drive away anti-social elements who hurled stones and vandalised the campus on the night of September 23.

The vice-chancellor also dubbed the eve-teasing incident as part of a larger conspiracy to instigate female students against him. I will not tolerate this, he said.

Since the day I took over as vice-chancellor, I have been treating the students, professors and other faculty members of BHU as my own family. However, some anti-social elements couldnt digest my honest way of working. These people  in association with anti-social elements  hatched this conspiracy against me, he said.

Defending the police in a press statement issued late on Monday, Tripathi said: There was no baton-charge on any girl on the varsity premises during the intervening night of September 23 and 24. Action has been taken against criminal and anti-social elements who (vandalised) varsity property.

They tried to create anarchy at the VC residence by pelting it with stones. In the garb of conducting a dharna near the BHU main gate, some anti-social elements tried to paint the statue of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya black, he said, adding that such an attempt is nothing less than sedition.

Tripathi said that the molestation victim and her friends had called him to say that unknown people were conducting a dharna in front of the gate. She also said that they were not allowing her or her friends to leave the protest venue. They were, in a way, holding her hostage.

The vice chancellor went on to claim that the victim requested him to visit Triveni hostel to conduct a dialogue on the matter. So I decided to go there. However, many anti-social elements waylaid me at the gate and began hurling stones as well as petrol bombs, he said.
Vietnamese Ambassador Do Hoang Long (Fourth from left) and ambassadors in Egypt cut the cake (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Do Hoang Long reviewed the magnanimous heroic landmarks of the people of Vietnam over the past 72 years, especially Vietnams outstanding achievements in over 30 years of renovation.

The Ambassador emphasized that since President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2nd, 1945, and gave the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the history of the Vietnamese people has entered a new era, an era of independence and freedom.

With the tireless efforts of the Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vietnam has overcome many difficulties and made great achievements, building a stable, developing country of Vietnam, and asserting its important role and position in international forums.

Vietnam today continues to promote the renewal process in a comprehensive and harmonious way, resolutely protecting its territorial integrity and firmly maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, striving to soon become a basically modern industrial country.

In terms of Vietnam - Egypt relations, he said that the two countries have witnessed an important event in the relationship between Vietnam and Egypt with the official visit to Vietnam on September 6th - 7th, 2017 by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. This is the first visit to Vietnam by an Egyptian president since the two countries established diplomatic relations 54 years ago, laying the important foundation for comprehensive cooperation and development of the relationship between the two countries in all fields, including politics, economics, culture, education, security and anti-terrorism.

The Ambassador believed that the two countries will try their utmost to realize all the agreements reached during President El-Sisi's recent visit to Vietnam.

On this occasion, the official also expressed his sincere thanks and deep affection to friends and colleagues from ministries and branches of Egypt such as the Presidential Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation, Ministry of Culture and media agencies for their effective cooperation and supporting the Embassy to fulfil its mission of promoting and linking the traditional friendship between the two countries, as well as successfully coordinating and organizing the visit of President El-Sisi to Vietnam in September.

At the ceremony, the delegates enjoyed a special art program and traditional dishes of Vietnam./.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi began on Monday his Gujarat campaign with a three-day road trip through politically crucial Saurashtra, a Patidar community heartland that has been a stronghold of the ruling BJP for almost three decades.

Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who is spearheading the communitys demand for reservation in education and government jobs, welcomed the Congress leader to Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Congress ke rashtriya upadhyaksh Rahulji ka Gujarat mae hardik swagat hai, tweeted Patel, a bitter critic of the states BJP government.

The 47-year-old Gandhi started the day by offering prayers at the popular Dwarkadhish temple in Dwarka and promised yuva rozgar, khedut adhikar, or jobs for the youth and rights to farmers, during interactions with the people in his journey.

Also, he criticised Prime Minister Modi for last Novembers demonetisation exercise that wiped out more than 80% of the cash in circulation, introduction of the goods and services tax (GST) and the Gujarat model of development.

Our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji declared demonetisation without consulting anyone. This was a massive blow to our economy. Farmers were badly hit, as they do not do transactions through phone or debit card. They use cash to buy seeds or pay to farm labourers, he said.

He took on the government over GST, saying the tax launched in July has broken the back of small traders and shopkeepers. The Congress sought a single tax rate but the government introduced five slabs, thereby forcing thousands of businesses to shut shop, he said.

Sporting a chandan tilak from the Dwarkadhish shrine, he alleged the poor have no place in the Gujarat model of development, which he said benefited only a handful of businessmen.

I promise our government will be of the poor, farmers and the youth.

The heavily guarded Congress leader travelled mostly in a bus kitted out with a bed and washroom. But rode a bullock cart too for a short stretch on the Dwarka-Jamnagar route as state police refused permission for a road show on an open-top jeep.

Welcome banners and hoardings lined the route of Gandhis tour, named Navsarjan Yatra, of the poll-bound state where his party has been out of power for more than two decades.

Gandhis first stop was Baradiya, a village 8km from Dwarka, where he shook hands with a waiting crowd and gave a short speech.

Be it UP, Rajasthan or Gujarat, the youth is jobless. Modiji had promised two crore jobs. The youth of the country showed faith thinking the promise will be delivered, but did not happen, he said.

He then asked: Do you get fair price for your groundnut? The crowd replied: No.

As you all know, this government in Delhi works only for 5-6 big companies. These companies get all the benefits like land, electricity and water. This is the Gujarat model, he said.

Gandhi stopped at Hanjrapar, where he rode a bullock cart to show solidarity with the farmers. He sat on a stringed cot or khat and sipped tea from a chaliyu, a brass bowl common in the countryside.

Chaliyu is used for drinking milk. But we were told Rahulji would prefer tea. said Pal Ambaliya, who hosted the leader in his home.

When a woman complained that teachers were leaving the village school, Gandhi said the BJPs policy of encouraging privatisation has made education and healthcare expensive for the common people.

The government must make sure that people are not deprived of these basic facilities, Gandhi said and promised free medicines and treatment if the Congress is voted to power in Gujarat.

He accused the BJP government of being anti-farmer and demanded complete farm loan waiver for cultivators in Gujarat.

If the government can waive loans of businessmen, then why not farmers? The Indian government gave away Rs 1.30 lakh crore to 15 large business houses while Rs 7 lakh crore in loans were not returned to banks. They (businessmen) will get all the benefits, while you (farmers) will be jailed for not repaying loans, Gandhi said.

At Nandana village, he addressed school children.

Our country has made huge progress in the 70 years. When we got independence, we did not have many good schools, big universities or companies. Whatever exists today is because of the hard work of your parents as well as grandparents, he said.

Gandhi also demanded an apology from Modi for police action against students at Banaras Hindu University during a protest against an alleged molestation of a hosteller on the campus.

He said Modi should tender an apology as the incident took place in his constituency, Varanasi.

The incident at BHU is BJPs version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. And, when they (girls) demand their rights, beat them up. This incident happened in the PMs constituency. Modiji should apologise to the students of BHU and take immediate action, he told reporters in Jamnagar.

Gandhi was accompanied by Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki and AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Ashok Gehlot.

He will visit towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot. Gandhi is also scheduled to meet local milk producers and leaders of the cooperative movement.

(With agency inputs)

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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took a dig on Monday at the Gujarat model of development on the first day of his three-day Navsarjan Yatra in the poll-bound state as he reached out to farmers, youth, and traders in decades-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bastion of Saurashtra.

A ride on a bullock cart, Uttar Pradesh-like khat (a traditional string cot) sabhas at Hanjrapar and a meeting with school children at Handana remained the highlights of the day.

Gandhis first stop was Baradiya, a village located 8km from Dwarka was lined up with banners and hoardings by the party for his welcome, where he shook hands with the waiting crowd and exchanged a few words with the people.

Be it UP, Rajasthan or Gujarat, the youth is jobless. Modiji had promised two crore jobs. The youth of the country showed faith thinking the promise will be delivered but did not happen, said Gandhi standing at the gate of the specially done up luxury bus equipped with CCTV cameras at Bhatia, where he delivered his first speech.

Rahul Gandhi sits with a family at Hanjrapar village on Monday during the first day of his Navsarjan Yatra. (HT Photo)

I asked this question from the government in Parliament. I got the answer that in the entire country, so far the NDA government has created 1 lakh jobs. Daily 30,000 new job seekers are out looking for employment but only 400 get job, he said.

He then asked the crowd whether they get a fair price for their groundnut crop. The crowds response was in a negative.

Last year, Modiji implemented demonetisation. I dont know why it was done. I want to ask you all, do you pay by credit card? Are you paid by mobile money? But Modiji took that decision without consulting anyone, Gandhi said as he hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the step that experts said affected farmers the most.

As you all know, this government in Delhi works only for five to six big companies. These companies get all the benefits like land, electricity and water. This is the Gujarat model, he said.

He also attacked the Centre for implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in a haste without proper planning, saying the new tax regime has hit small traders hard.

Before wrapping at his up his first halt, Gandhi said if the Congress is voted to power, it will be a government of youth, farmers and poor. We deliver what we promise, he said.

At Hanjrapar, he sat down on a khat as some farmers gleefully clicked pictures with him. He was also seen taking a sip of tea from a chaliyu (kind of a bow) with locals.

Traditional chaliyu is used to drink milk. But we were told that Rahulji would prefer tea. So, he was served tea in a chaliyu, said Pal Ambaliya, whose house Gandhi visited for tea.

He answered eight questions raised by the locals, who asked him about crop insurance and agriculture land mapping.

Land is being taken and given to industrialists if they want it. Do you get water? But industries do get water,he said addressing the farmers.

Answering to a question by a local woman, who complained that only two out of the four teachers are left at the village schools, Gandhi said privatisation of education by the BJP has made education expensive for the laymen.

The decision to launch the campaign from politically crucial Saurashtra, which sends 58 MLAs to the 182-member assembly, is seen as a cultivated strategy to court the Patidar community and other backward class (OBC) electorate.

Picking Saurashtra that has been a stronghold of the ruling BJP for almost three decades to launch the party campaign is important in more than one way.

The two communities, which form the core of the BJP support base in the state, have given some jitters to the ruling party over separate issues in the last couple of years. While the Patidars are up in arms against the BJP government seeking reservation, OBCs are not willing to share their quota of benefits.

Besides wooing the disgruntled communities, the Congress has a task at hand to control the damage inflicted by the resignation of its MLAs.

The Congress, which lost 14 of its MLAs before the Rajya Sabha election in August, has planned the yatra route in a way that Gandhi can reach out to Patidars that in areas of leaders who has recently left the party to join the BJP.

Gandhi is likely to visit Morbi, the regions worst-affected town during the 2015 Patidar stir.

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Honeypreet Insan, who has been on the run following the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in two rape cases, on Monday approached the Delhi High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail, her lawyer said.

Priyanka Taneja alias Honeypreet, the adopted daughter of the jailed Dera chief, tops the list of 43 persons wanted by the Haryana Police in connection with incidents of violence that had followed Ram Rahims conviction in the rape cases.

Earlier, a lookout notice was issued against Honeypreet by the police.

Her lawyer Pradeep Kumar Arya told PTI that they have filed the anticipatory bail petition in the Delhi High Court and the matter would be mentioned tomorrow before a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal for early hearing.

Ram Rahim was convicted by the special CBI court in Panchkula on August 25, following which violence and arson had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa districts of Haryana which had left 41 people dead and several others injured.

The CBI court on August 28 had sentenced Ram Rahim to 20 years in prison for raping two of his disciples in 2002.

Honeypreet had accompanied the Dera head when he had come to the special CBI court on August 25. She had also travelled along with him in the special chopper which ferried them to Rohtak from Panchkula after the conviction.

The controversial sect head is currently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak district of Haryana.

Several teams of Haryana Police have travelled across the country, including the Indo-Nepal border, to trace the whereabouts of Honeypreet.

Meanwhile, Ram Rahim today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the trial courts verdict.

In April 2002, an anonymous letter was written to the then chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, complaining about the alleged sexual exploitation of women followers at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa.

In May 2002, the high court had directed Sirsa district and session judge to probe the allegations in the letter. In September 2002, the high court handed over the matter to the CBI after the district court indicated the possibility of sexual exploitation.

In December 2002, the CBI registered a case of rape, criminal intimidation against Ram Rahim.

The CBI had filed a charge sheet against the Dera head in Ambala court in July 2007. The charge sheet mentioned the sexual exploitation of two sadhvis between 1999 and 2001.

In September 2008, the special CBI court framed charges of rape and criminal intimidation against Ram Rahim.
Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Roy announced his resignation from the party on Monday after months of being sidelined by chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Roy, the partys former all-India general secretary who was considered the number 2 in the party after Banerjee, said he resigned from the Trinamool Congress working committee and would quit the Upper House and party primary membership after Durga Puja, which ends on September 30.

It is with a heavy heart and pain that I announce this. This was a party that I helped set up on December 17, 1997, said the 63-year-old MP in Kolkata.

Roy was removed from the position of party general secretary in 2015 after his name came under the CBI scanner in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund case. He was further sidelined after reports of his hobnobbing with BJP leaders reached Mamata Banerjee.

I have sent an e-mail this morning informing my decision to step down from the working committee. I shall resign from Rajya Sabha immediately after the pujas. About eight months are left for my tenure to end in the Upper House, Roy said at a press conference on Monday in Kolkata. At that time I shall also step down from the primary membership of the party.

Roys announcement caps months of growing rift with chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who was seen sidelining her former trusted general in the party.

This is the time of the pujas and none will be interested in petty politics. So I shall explain why I took the decision in detail later, he said. Roy said that he will spend the next few days celebrating Durga puja.

On September 20 Roy, who got Z category security, refused the security he was entitled to. On Sunday, he went to the inauguration of a Durga puja that is identified with Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh, who was suspended by the party after he spoke out against the chief minister in the Saradha scam. He also described party secretary general Partha Chatterjee as juvenile.

This is the time of the pujas and none will be interested in petty politics. So I shall explain why I took the decision in detail later. - Mukul Roy

The 63-year-olds importance in the party stemmed from the fact that he was responsible for expanding and managing the organisation both in Bengal and beyond it.

Roy not only had the ears of the chief minister, but also was known as a trouble shooter. When Mamata Banerjee stepped down as the rail minister from UPA I government to contest the assembly elections from Bhawanipore constituency, Dinesh Trivedi was chosen to replace her. Roy replaced Trivedi, who quit after protests over a rail fare hike.

He was the railway minister from March 20, 2012 to September 21, 2012.

On Monday, Roy also led a veiled attack on chief minister Mamata Banerjee. No individual can claim credit for guarding the liberal character of Bengal and its accommodative attitude towards minorities, he remarked from the dais of the inauguration programme of Ghoshs Durga puja.

Roys son, Subhrangshu, is also a TMC MLA from Bijpur constituency from North 24 Parganas district. He first won in 2011 and was reelected in 2016.

It remains to be seen whether he, too, resigns from the party.

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Militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has claimed a total of 41,000 lives in the past 27 years which means an average of 4 deaths per day in the state or 1519 casualties every year, according to the latest available government data.

The casualties include 14,000 civilians, 5,000 security personnel and 22,000 militants between 1990 and March 2017. In all, there have been 69,820 militancy-related incidents during the period; thats like the state witnessing 2586 militancy incidents every year, for which India blames cross border terror from Pakistan.

Addressing the UN general assembly on Saturday, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj called Pakistan a pre-eminent exporter of terror. Last week, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in his address had accused India of supporting terrorism and human rights violations in Kashmir. Swaraj had hit back, saying while India was giving the world top-notch doctors and engineers Pakistan was producing terrorists.

Militancy in Kashmir has constantly derailed ties between India and Pakistan. HT looked at the latest available government data to anyalse the deaths and patterns of violence in Kashmir in the past 27 years.

Read more: Kashmirs disturbing new reality

Although not on the same scale as in the 1990s or early 2000s, militancy-related incidents have been increasing after 2014. From 2014 to March this year, there have been 795 militancy-related incidents in which 397 militants were killed while 64 civilians and 178 security personnel lost their lives. Compared to 222 incidents in 2014, there were 322 incidents in 2016. In 2014, 28 civilians and 47 security personnel and 110 militants were killed in these incidents. In 2016, these numbers were 15, 82 and 150.

Strategic affairs expert Commodore C Uday Bhaskar warns that a fertile ecosystem is now fueling militancy.

The elimination of Burhan Wani has increased the sense of alienation among a section of Kashmiri youth. This has created a fertile ecosystem for the anti-India sentiment and ideology to gain strength. Concurrently the inability of the ruling alliance in Srinagar to provide a credible and empathetic political intervention is palpable, Uday Bhaskar told HT.

As per the data, 2001 has been the most volatile year and saw the killing of highest number of militants and security forces. While 2020 militants were gunned down, 536 security personnel 996 civilians were also killed in the year that registered the highest number of 4522 militancy related incidents as well.

But in terms of civilian casualties, 2002 has been the worst with 1008 deaths. Besides 1707 militants, 453 security personnel were also killed that year.

Militancy had reached its peak during the previous BJP-led NDA government when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. From 1999 to 2003, 7820 militants, 2055 security personnel and 4519 civilians were killed in Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Conference was then in power in the state with Farooq Abdullah as the chief minister.

Post 1990, the second most tumultuous phase in the state was between 1993 and 1997 when 6522 militants were eliminated while 4910 civilians and 1012 security personnel lost their lives.

Militancy witnessed a steady decline from 2004 onwards till 2014 with a sharp decrease in the number of killings.

In 2013, there were only 170 militancy-related incidents in the strife-torn state in which 67 militants, 15 civilians and 53 security personnel were killed.

The statistics are cause for deep concern and merit objective review and appropriate redress.... I am skeptical. When was the last time the legislature in Delhi or Srinagar had a meaningful discussion on Kashmir issue? asked Bhaskar

From 2004 to 2014, the Congress-led UPA government was in power at the Centre while the Peoples Democratic Party-Congress alliance ruled Jammu and Kashmir from 2002 to 2008.

In 2008, the National Conference and the Congress formed a coalition government and chief minister Omar Abdullah remained at the helm till 2014.

This is the period which Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi mentioned during his interaction at the

University of California in Berkeley last week.

Gandhi said he worked behind the scenes with the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for nine years to normalise situation in Kashmir but the good work was undone by the BJP when it came to power in 2014.

From 2004, he along with Singh, P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh silently worked to ensure that peace returned to Jammu and Kashmir, the 47-year-old Congress leader said.

When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir. When we finished there was peace. By 2013, we had basically broken the back of terror, he told the students. The Manmohan Singh government served two consecutive terms before the BJP demolished the Congress in 2014.

In the 2014 assembly elections, the PDP emerged as the largest party with 28 seats, most of which were from the Muslim-majority Valley, while the BJP swept the Hindu-dominated Jammu region with 25 seats. The NC got 15, the Congress 12 and the others seven in the 87-member House. In March 2015, the PDP joined the hands with the BJP to form a coalition government in the state.
A shopkeeper was assaulted on the suspicion of informing police about a sex racket in southwest Bihars Kaimur district on Sunday.

Police said Raj Kumar Chaurasia was attacked allegedly by goons of Shahid Rayeen, who was earlier arrested along with a girl on the charge of running the sex racket at Bhabua, headquarters of Kaimur district, 197 km southwest of Patna. Shahid is the son Badaruddin Rayeen, a municipal ward councillor and an influential person of the town.

The police said eight persons reached Chaurasias grocery shop in Chakbandi Road locality of the town in the evening, dragged him out and badly assaulted him with batons and sharp edged weapons. His shop was located in the same building from where Shahid was arrested and identity proofs and photographs of many girls were recovered, they added.

Seriously injured Chaurasia was first taken to sadar (government) hospital, which referred him to the trauma centre of Institute of Medical Sciences- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 95 km northwest of Bhabua, the police said.

The police said an FIR for murderous attack had been registered against five named and three unknown persons on the basis of Chaurasias statement and raids were on to arrest them. Those named in the FIR were Badaruddin Rayeens second son Raja Rayeen, Bablu Ansari, Ekramul Hasan, Umesh Gonr and Jay Prakash Gupta, the police added.
The bodies of two soldiers of the Indian Army were found at a rented house on the outskirts of Patna near the Danapur Cantonment area late on Sunday evening, police said on Monday.

The Patna Police recovered the bodies from a private house at Judgess Colony near the Danapur Cantonment on Monday morning. The two were shot from close range, the police said.

The dead soldiers have been identified as Santosh Kumar Singh, 30, and Rinkesh Kumar Singh, 22.

Rinkesh worked in the records section of the Bihar Regiment Centre (BRC) in Danapur. Santosh, a soldier with the first Bihar Regiment, an infantry regiment of the army, was posted in Arunachal Pradesh.

His wife lived in Patna in a two-room rented accommodation. Santosh, a resident of Chakia village under Masrakh police station of Saran district, had come to visit his wife for Dussehra. His wife and father had left the house for their native village two days ago.

Rinkesh, a bachelor and Santoshs friend, lived at the army barrack in Danapur.

Their bodies were found by Rinkeshs sister, Pinky, and her husband Manoj, who came Santoshs house to look for her brother. Pinky received a call from the army barrack, seeking to know from her about Rinkeshs whereabouts after he did not sign the entry register at the barrack the previous evening.

Pinky said she found Rinkeshs body near the bathroom and that of Santosh close by. The licensed rifle of Santosh was found on his body.

House owner Rajendra Singh, who immediately informed the local police, said four to five people visited Santosh on Sunday evening. Neither the neighbours nor house owner claimed to have heard any gunshot.

Police suspect the soldiers opened fire and killed each other following an altercation.

We will be able to confirm if it is a murder or a suicide only after the forensic team examines the two bodies, city superintendent of police (west) Rabindra Kumar said.

However, army officials negated the polices version.

If anyone were to kill oneself with a 315 rifle, the face and head would bear the brunt of the injury, an army official said.

A team led by chief records officer Lt Col Balkrishnan along with army intelligence officers reached the spot. Later, BRC Commandant Brig M Natrajan also visited the scene of the crime.

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Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the divisional commissioner as tension runs high at the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi after a police crackdown on students demonstrating against an alleged molestation.

Various political parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, have criticised the government and condemned the police action.

Here are five things to know about the incident and its aftermath:

1) Why the police crackdown?

Several students, mostly women, and policemen were wounded in clashes after university guards and cops cane-charged protesters in front of the vice chancellors home and at the main entrance to the century-old institutions sprawling campus around midnight on Saturday.

The violence erupted after some protesting students wanted to meet the vice chancellor at his residence. A BHU spokesperson said some students wanted to forcibly enter the VCs residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

The fracas forced the university to bring forward its Dussehra break by three days to September 25. Several other Uttar Pradesh universities, too, advanced their festival holidays to prevent the unrest from spreading and engulfing their institutes.

2) What triggered the protests?

A woman student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly molested by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel on Thursday, triggering the dharna.

According to the complainant, the men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts.

The woman alleged that security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop them.

She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel.

3) Yogi Adityanath asks for report

The Uttar Pradesh CM said in Lucknow on Sunday: I have sought a report from the divisional commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident.

4) Political parties condemn incident

The Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted after the police crackdown: The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty.

Congress leaders Raj Babbar and PL Punia, along with scores of party activists, were detained when they tried to visit the BHU. They were later released.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP over the police lathicharge allegedly on woman students.

Attaching a link to a video of the students who alleged that they were beaten up by male policemen at the campus, Gandhi tweeted: BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted, Only a barbaric govt unleashes male police with lathis on women students. Why is BJP-RSS so scared of students?

Senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav denounced the alleged police action against the students and said the issue will be raised in Parliament.

5) Early Dussehra break at all Varanasi institutions

Following the violence, the district administration declared holidays from Monday till October 2 in all colleges and universities in Varanasi. The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from September 28.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police had been sought to maintain peace in the campus.

A press release issued by the information department of Varanasi said that a case has been registered against a Facebook page under the cyber law for allegedly posting provocative photos and videos relating to the violence.

With inputs from Press Trust of India
The protracted Yadav family feud might just take a new turn on Monday with the founder president of the Samajwadi Party (SP) Mulayam Singh Yadav likely to announce, what the party circle is touting as something big at a press conference in Lucknow.

Mulayams brother and SP MLA Shivpal Singh Yadav and Lok Dal president Sunil Singh too are expected to attend the conference.

Since Sunil Singh too has been invited, speculation is rife that Mulayam might announce a new party or take over the Lok Dal.

There is certainly something drastic coming up, said a Lohia Trust member. The trust is an affiliate of the SP and Mulayam is its chairperson.

Sunil Singh, who had been insisting that Mulayam should take over the Lok Dal, also said on Sunday: Netajis party will be the real Samajwadi Party.

The power struggle within the SP, has split the Yadav family with the patriarch Mulayam siding with his brother Shivpal much to the chagrin of his son Akhilesh.

The feud came into the fore in August last year. On January 1 this year, an emergency session of the party announced Akhilesh Yadav as the national president replacing Mulayam.

The renewed tension between the two rival groups in the family and the party came to surface once again when the Shivpal was not invited to the 8th state convention of the SP on Saturday.

Shivpal claimed the party did not ask him or Mulayam to attend the conference.

Just a day ahead of the state convention, Mulayam had sacked the SP national general secretary Ramgopal Yadav, a loyalist of Akhilesh Yadav from the post of secretary of the trust and gave the position to Shivpal.

For the Saturdays convention, the SP did put up some hoardings with Mulayams pictures on them but Shivpals name or picture was nowhere to be seen.

Though Akhilesh did mention Mulayam in his speech, he made a scathing attack on Shivpal and his camp. All the top senior leaders, including Ramgopal, Azam Khan, Naresh Agrawal, too joined the chorus in attacking Shivpal.

Another source said: It might not be a new party yet, and perhaps Mulayam had called the press conference to oust Akhilesh Yadav and a few more SP leaders from Lohia Trust. All these leaders, including Ramgopal and Akhilesh, were invited to attend meetings of the trust, but none of them attended any of them.

Prior to axing Ramgopal two day ago, Mulayam last month had sacked five senior SP leaders from the trusts membership.

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A 70-year-old woman, Champa Devi, was allegedly beaten to death in Rajasthans Udaipur district by her neighbour, who accused her of being a witch, the police said on Monday.

The neighbour, Shankar Lal, and three members of his family  including wife and daughter  were named in the FIR filed by the victims relatives.

The incident took place at Bicla Fala village in Semari area.

Initial investigation revealed that Shankar Lals minor son, Govind, was suffering from a prolonged illness and he took the help of a local exorcist, Bhopa, to look for a cure. The exorcist told him that Champa was a witch and it was due to her that his son was ill.

Trusting the exorcists words, Shankars wife, Parvati, and daughter, Jija, hatched a plan to kill Champa, the police said. Shankar and his family member attacked the victim when she was working in her fields on Sunday. They dragged her for 1.5 kilometres and tied her up at their house and trashed her, the police added.

Later, a police team rushed to the scene and took the victim to the community health centre, where she was declared dead.

Soon after the incident, the accused fled. A few hours later, Shankar called up the village sarpanch and told him about the incident and said that the victim was lying at his house.

After getting information, DYSP Sarada Narayan Singh, SHO Semari police station Yogendra Vyas, SHO Parsad police station Devendra Singh went to the crime scene and started an investigation.

The relatives of the deceased lodged an FIR against Shankar Lal and his family. They later staged a protest and demanded 10 lakh compensation. The amount was later negotiated to 2.5 lakh.

The main accused Shankar Lal has been arrested. A postmortem has been conducted and her body had been handed over to her family members, DYSP Narayan Singh told HT.
It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the
Having always longed for a daughter, Rajasthan farmer Leeladhar Kushwaha and his wife Sukh Devi felt their prayers had finally been answered when they brought home an abandoned girl child last week.

But the joy of the couple whose quest for a daughter gave them seven sons was short-lived. The government has stepped in, saying they cannot keep the girl and threatened to initiate criminal action against them unless they return her.

There is a legal process for adoption. No one can keep abandoned infants just like that, insists Dr Naresh Sharma, a member of the child welfare committee (CWC) of Dholpur, the district were the couple lives.

Dholpur CWC chairperson Bijendra Parmar asked the police to produce the girl before it by Tuesday. We have issued orders to the police to recover the girl from her illegal parents, he said on Monday.

Facing the prospect of being forcibly separated from the baby they see as their daughter, the couple is now distraught. They had spotted the abandoned girl near their farm in Saimar Ka Pura village and brought her home two days after their youngest son was born. Sukh Devi has been breastfeeding both the infants since then.

This is unfair. Goddess Durga finally answered our prayers. There is no question of letting her go, she insists.

Kushwaha also is struggling to make sense of the fuss the CWC has kicked up, particularly at a time when the emphasis of the government has been Beti Bachao.

Sukh Devi has been breastfeeding both the newborns. (HT Photo)

The farmer, who owns 1.6 acres of land and is fairly well-off, is taking legal counsel to counter the government move to take away the child from him.

But for the time being, local officials have only ominous warnings for Kushwaha and his wife. They will have to give up the child and if they want her, they will have to go through the adoption process. But an official told HT that even if Kushwaha and his wife apply to adopt her, there is no guarantee they will get the baby as there might be other applicants who might be deemed eligible.

According to Sharma of CWC, an abandoned infant becomes eligible for adoption after two months of being found. According to him, the police try to look for the babys biological parents in the two months. If the newborn is sick, treatment is given. All this takes close to two months. After that, the CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) is informed and then only the child is available for adoption.

So besides reposing their faith on the legal process, Kushwaha and his wife are praying harder. They believe Goddess Durga will not disappoint them, having blessed them with a daughter.
Three government engineering colleges started in haste by the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in three backward districts of Rajasthan earlier this year are shunned by both students and faculties.

The three colleges at Dholpur, Karauli and Baran have 300 seats each. But as per the education department figure, only 26 students took admission for the academic year 2017-18 in the five branches of engineering offered at the Baran college.

The figures are more pathetic in the two other colleges with the total number of admission is as low as seven.

Its, however, not only the students who are giving these institutes a miss. There is no faculty in the three engineering colleges, which are run from the campuses of other institutes.

The Dholpur and Karauli colleges are functioning from the Bharatpur engineering college while the Baran college is run form the campus of government polytechnic.

State technical education minister Kiran Maheshwari admitted facing problem in attracting students and faculties. But he claimed that the poor enrolment is the reflection of waning interest of students towards engineering throughout the country.

She said the government has taken measure to improve the standard of the colleges and attract students.

We have tried to bring in good faculties, introduce new courses, ensure infrastructure and upgrade our syllabus, aligning it to the needs of industry so students get employment, she said, We have also reduced the annual fee from Rs77,000 to Rs70,000.

Others, however, claimed the adverse situation is because of the haste shown by the state government in starting these colleges without appointing faculty or building infrastructure.

In fact in April this year, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had denied permission to the state to start these colleges without setting up proper infrastructure.

But the government was in a hurry to fulfil the announcement made in the 2014-15 state budget in view of the Dholpur by-election.

Minister Maheshwari again purshed the matter with the AICTE officials in June and obtained the nod.

An official of the technical education department cited remoteness of the colleges for the poor response.

Since these colleges are located in remote parts of the state, students are not keen to join them. Hiring faculty too is posing problem because of the same reason, he said.

But at the same time, he pointed out that all the government colleges in the state are facing similar problems.

The education department records show that Rajasthan Technical University that gives affiliation to these colleges has 159 teaching posts vacant.

The Bharatpur engineering college has 62 posts vacant, while Banswara has all 29 posts vacant. In Bhilwara the number is 39, in Jhalawar it is 29, 60 in Bikaner and 82 in Ajmer. The colleges are making do with guest faculties.

At an event in Jaipur, AICTE chairman Anil Dattatreya had cautioned that colleges which lack proper infrastructure and register less than 30% admissions for five consecutive years will be shut down.

He also advised engineering colleges and universities to revise and renew their syllabus, which was a major cause for declining admissions and quality of education.

This year the government engineering colleges in the state saw 58% admissions. As per education department data out of 5,860 seats only 2,483 seats have been filled.

Private engineering colleges too were no better. Of the 43446 seats available in 100 colleges, only 13864 were filled.

This comes at a time when the central government has launched initiatives such as Make in India to create more jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector.
Acting on a tantriks advice, a man and his family conspired to get his bride raped by her brother-in-law and a tantrik on the wedding night. When the victim confronted them the next morning, they allegedly told her that it was necessary to ward off the threat to her husbands life.

On Saturday, nearly a week after her nikah on September 15, the woman and her family got a complaint registered in the matter at the Lisari gate police station in Meerut.

Police said a case had been registered and the tantrik and her brother-in-law had been charged with rape. In the FIR, she has also accused her husband and in-laws of conspiring to get her raped, said superintendent of police (city) Man Singh Chauhan.

The victim is a resident of Lisari gate area. She was married to a cloth trader of Pilakhwa in Hapur district. She said that after the wedding ceremony she was given an intoxicating drink that dulled her senses, and she could not put up a fight against what happened to her next.

The woman told cops that in place of her husband, a stranger (the tantrik) and her brother-in-law entered her room that night and raped her.

The next morning when she regained consciousness, she confronted her husbands family. She said her in-laws reply shocked her. They told her that the tantrik had told them to do so as her husband would have died had he spent the wedding night with her.

They reportedly also told her that now they would also find a treasure buried under their house.

The woman returned with her kin to her house in Meerut where she shared the ghastly incident with her parents. Her stunned family then approached the police.
The 8th state convention of the Samajwadi Party in Lucknow on Saturday made three things clear  Akhilesh Yadav is firmly in control of the party, he will be re-elected its national president, and his uncle Shivpal Yadav has no future in the party.

This was the first convention of the party since Akhilesh became its national president in January and also since the party suffered a humiliating defeat in the UP assembly polls.

The state convention re-elected Naresh Uttam Patel the state unit president of the SP for five years. Akhilesh is set to be re-elected unopposed and unanimously.

Both the founder national chief of the party Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother Shivpal Yadav did not attend the event. They had attended all the seven state conventions held in the past.

Addressing the event at Ramabai Ambedkar grounds, he made a scathing attack on his uncle Shivpal Yadav.

Be cautious of the banavati (made-up) socialists. They tried to hurt the socialist movement and also succeeded once when they saw us out of power, but from now on they will fail, he said.

Invoking Mulayam, Akhilesh said, Netaji is my father and it was because of him that this party was born and came this far. His blessings will remain with me to take his movement further.

The new avatar of the Samajwadi Party saw most of the senior party leaders rallying around Akhilesh.

Azam Khan, one of the founder members and Muslim poster boy of the party, also addressed the convention.

Beni Prasad Verma, whom Mulayam had re-inducted into the party and made a member of the Rajya Sabha along with Amar Singh, also attended the convention.

This was the first time when Verma attended a party event since Akhilesh became the national president.

Akhilesh exhorted the party workers to ensure victory the Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats  vacated by chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya.

We have the responsibility to save the country. If the result of the elections come in our favour, it will not only give a message for 2019 Lok Sabha polls but also for 2022 UP assembly elections, he said.

The convention passed economic and political resolution that praised the projects and schemes of the Akhilesh Yadav government and criticised the policies and decisions of BJP governments at the Centre and in UP.

In his concluding speech, national general secretary of the party Ramgopal Yadav said: If the BJP returns to power at the Centre in 2019 there may not be any elections in future. The country is heading towards a single party system.

To deal with the BJP you have to fight with them cleverly and intelligently. The present CM doesnt know anything beyond Gorakhpur and has no work to showcase in six months of his tenure, he said.

The present CM (Yogi Adityanath) has not seen anything beyond Gorakhpur all his life. He doesnt know what is going on right under his nose. Right from the day one, some ministers started corrupt practices. We must overthrow this government.

He also exhorted the cadre to use smart phones and set up IT cells to expose BJPs lies and counter it on the social media.

Criticising Mulayam on his stance towards traitors, SP leader Naresh Uttam said: Netaji made a mistake. He asked thieves to steal and guards to maintain a vigil.

Meanwhile, as Indrajeet Saroj, who left the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to join the Samajwadi Party, started speaking, Azam Khan reached up to him and planted a kiss him on his cheek. All party leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, had a hearty laugh.

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Ranked as Asias best restaurant for three years in a row for his eponymous restaurant, Gaggan, in Bangkok, Kolkata-born Chef Gaggan Anand is all about taking Indian food to the world beyond its stereotyped curry prism. Hes on a mission to prove to the world that the concept of curry doesnt exist in Indian cuisine.

I want to show the world that theres no such thing as a curry. Theres only a curry leaf that gives the taste. Curry is a very British idea. With just a curry leaf oil, I can make anything taste like curry, the award-winning Anand said in a conversation with IANS at the Taj West End here.

The owner and executive chef of the Bangkok restaurant, which has won the top spot in Asias 50 Best Restaurants, ranked by theworlds50best.com, for three consecutive years since 2015, was on a four-city tour to present his food through pop-ups at Taj Hotels in the country, from where he had started his culinary career.

Ghewar - a Rajasthani disc-shaped sweet cake made with all-purpose flour and soaked in sugar - with elderflower cream and edible gold. (Gaggan/Facebook)

Anands food is all about elevating humble Indian street-food-inspired-dishes through innovation and plating in a fine-dining fashion -- from chocolate paani puri to keema pav. And hes managed to do so by eliminating knives and forks and letting global diners eat Indian food the way its traditionally eaten -- using the hands. Thereby, he managed to place Indian food on the world map in a much larger way.

Served through 25 courses, he presents the tasting menu through emojis, eliminating the long descriptions of dishes that usually feature on a restaurant menu. And its certainly not an easy task to guess whats going to be served by reading the ideograms. My idea is to bring all of peoples senses to life. I use food to seduce people and agitate their minds by surprising them without any pretensions. Everybody would have made jalebis into various sweet versions but no one would have thought of a savoury version, an exuberant Anand explained. I have created my own philosophy of food, which is what sets me apart and has got me where I am now, said Anand, whose restaurant is also the only Indian eatery to grab a spot among the Worlds top 10 restaurants, ranked by theworlds50best.com.

Unlike many other kitchens across the world, Anands is always blaring out rock music and most often hes seen in his favourite bands T-shirt when hes out of the kitchen. Music is one of the key elements of his food-making process. He even created a dish named Lick it up, inspired by the American rock band Kiss, which diners need to lick off the plate, and treats his service like a concert, filled with surprises and theatrics.

Quail Chettinad Roast . (Gaggan/Facebook)

And for constant renovation of his food, Anand has dedicated a total of six teams for research and development in his food laboratory. As the Netflix Emmy-nominated Chefs Table show describes in an episode on his restaurant, his kitchen is a virtual United Nations with people from across the world working in it. Anand had started off his restaurant in 2010 majorly using the molecular gastronomy principles, wherein ingredients undergo physical and chemical transformations, and later adopted a minimalist approach to food, he shared.

Most often, Indian chefs give glory to quinoa, zucchini and goji berries while ignoring our own ingredients like drumsticks and colocasia root. We should create from our ingredients rather than seeking to the West for ideas, Anand asserted. So, my food is all about honesty in using seasonal produce, while keeping the plate as minimalist as possible. Only the elements that belong on the plate stay on it.

This simplistic approach is perhaps what late President APJ Abdul Kalam loved the most about Anands food. I used to travel along with Kalam sir when he was the President. He used to eat the rice and rasam I used to make for him at 6 am each morning, the chef reminisced. But restaurants come with an expiry date, Anand believes. Gaggan will close by 2020. Its the end of an era. For a decade I cooked at Gaggan, and now I want something else.

Baigan Bharta - charred eggplants in tandoor, freeze dried and then compressed to cookies sandwiched with onion chutney. (Gaggan/Facebook)

The celebrated chef will be heading to Japans Fukuoka city in 2021 to do a 10-seater restaurant. Itll be an inaccessible place. I really want to control the crowd and reduce the volume. Now the volume is too high and I want to do food that pleases my soul now, he said. With the Michelin announcing the launch of their prestigious Michelin Guide in Bangkok by the end of 2017, Anand said if he gets three Michelin stars, he would claim the fame of being the first such Indian to be so recognised.

Even if I dont get it, I dont have much to lose; theyll have to answer to the people who have loved my food, he said with a nonchalant shrug. I still havent given my Indian passport away though. Ill always remain very much Indian at heart, even though nobody in Kolkata really knows me and that Ive made the region and its food so famous, Anand concluded.

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HISTORY: The school is one of the 11 Delhi Public Schools of DPS Society and was established in 1999. Spread over sprawling 7.5 acres, DPS Navi Mumbai is commended for its performance in academics and various extra-curricular activities at national and international level.

UNIQUE FEATURES: DPS Navi Mumbai provides students a holistic environment to face global challenges. It boasts of a 5-acre playground with modern facilities.

Highest Ratings in: Academic rigour, value for money, cultural activities, infrastructure and facilities, educational philosophy and selection process

Board: CBSE

Annual Fees: 72,000/-

Students: 3,655

Student-Teacher ratio: 18:1

Quote

We impart quality and innovative education, incorporating values to nurture our students, enabling them to contribute towards the task of nation building as a responsible citizen.

J MOHANTY, principal
A 16-year-old girl committed suicide by jumping into the Powai lake on Saturday afternoon. After investigating all angles, the Powai police have ruled out foul play and called it a case of suicide.

The police said she had a tiff with her parents recently because she was caught chatting with a boy from her neighbourhood on her mobile phone.

According to the police, the girl lived with her parents in a housing society near IIT Powai. On September 22, she did not come home from college and after waiting for long, her parents filed a missing complaint in the evening.

As she is a minor, the Powai police treated the case at par with kidnapping and started investigating it. However, next day her body was found in the Powai lake at around 3pm. She was rushed to nearby Rajawadi hospital but was declared dead on admission.

A doctor at the hospital said the girl had died several hours before being brought to the hospital. The cause of death was determined as drowning and there were no external or internal injuries on the body. On visiting the spot, the police found her sandals kept next to the lakes shore.

A police official said, Her parents said they had shouted at her for chatting and speaking with a boy from her neighbourhood. They had taken away her mobile phone. They wanted her to concentrate on her career. The girl was upset by the incident. When asked if anyone will be booked for abetting her suicide, the official said, Her parents have no complaint against any person. No suicide note has been found.
At least 3,000 million litres of untreated sewage and industrial effluents flow into rivers, water bodies or percolates into the ground in Maharashtra every day, according to a central government report.

The report by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), based on Central Pollution Control Board findings, accessed by HT, revealed the country generates 61,948 million litres of sewage a day (MLD), against a treatment capacity of 23,277 MLD. The remaining 38,671 MLD untreated sewage is a major cause of countrywide water pollution and even harms citizens because it percolates into the ground, said a senior MoEFCC official.

Maharashtra generates the maximum sewage in India at 13% with 8,143 MLD as against treatment of 5,160.36 MLD through sewage treatment plants (STPs), a shortfall of almost 3,000 MLD. In comparison, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) supplies 3,750 MLD water every day to Mumbai against a demand of 4,505 million litres a day.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that proper and safe sewage disposal is essential because 80% of diseases in India are caused by water-borne pathogens. In addition to health problems, inadequate sewage disposal causes severe environmental degradation.

HT had reported on August 18 that the Supreme Court (SC) rapped the state government for allowing the Ulhas and Waldhuni rivers to degrade. The Apex court told the state government there was absolutely no coordination between authorities to protect the rivers. On August 16, the SC formed a committee of experts headed by the state to restore the degraded Mithi River in Mumbai and ensure the discharge of untreated sewage is addressed.

Officials from MoEFCC said a total sanctioned cost of Rs4,517.82 crore has been sanctioned under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for pollution abatement measures for 31 rivers across 74 towns in 14 states.

It is the responsibility of state governments and local civic bodies to ensure the collection, transportation and treatment of sewage and set up facilities for the same. Close to Rs 2,100 crore has already been released to various state governments under NRCP and the treatment capacity was increased to 2,500 MLD in mid-2017, the official said. Now, investment by states, proper implementation by civic bodies and enforcement by state pollution boards under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 should ensure effective treatment.

State government officials said the main reason for the state generating such large amounts of sewage was overpopulation. The rise in population has always outstripped the efforts for pollution control. The state pollution control board has already issued directions to all municipal corporations that 25% of their annual budget will be earmarked for sewage treatment facilities. Secondly, funds are being dispensed by the central government, which will further enhance the efforts to reduce pollution, said Satish Gavai, additional chief secretary, state environment department.

According to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), 65% of the sewage in the state is being treated and the remaining is not being tackled and harming the environment. By 2019, we expect a scenario where there will be 80% compliance by urban cities in Maharashtra. For this, adequate grants will be dispensed by the state government to all 27 municipal corporations will be receiving adequate grants to develop STPs by December. The implementation will take another two years, said YP Sontakke, joint director, water quality department, MPCB.

MPCB said 27 municipal corporations in the state were responsible for 86% of sewage. While Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nanded etc. are being able to treat more than 60% of their sewage, the problem lies at locations such as Parbhani, Amravati, Chandrapur, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, Jalgaon and Dhule, where treatment is extremely low, said Sontakke.

He said the challenge was uncontrolled urbanisation. In urban areas, slums are cropping at a much faster rate and their sewage generation is more than housing societies or institutions. There is also lack of infrastructure being set up in these areas and this social concern is hindering efforts by corporations, he said.

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Even after online assessment led to a four-month delay in declaring results, the University of Mumbai (MU) intends to stick to the system for all its courses.

The decision to continue with the On-Screen Marking System (OMS) was taken on Sunday during a meeting convened by governor and chancellor of the university, Ch Vidyasagar Rao, which was attended by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and key officials.

The meeting was held at Raj Bhavan on Sunday to review the ongoing assessment of answer papers and the road map for reforms in conducting examinations. Highly placed sources in the government confirmed the development.

Yes, the online system will continue for all the courses. Its glitches and shortcomings will also be tackled, the sources said. The governor told officials that all necessary steps be taken to fix shortcomings in the business process and software, said a senior officer present at the meet. Rao also directed MU to declare the results of upcoming examinations to be held between November 8 and December 20 within 30 days or maximum 45 days, as mandated by the Public Universities Act.

Dhiren Patel, acting pro-vice chancellor, MU, who was also present in the review meet, confirmed there was no moving away from OMS. Patel said, Several errors led to the delay of results this time, but well make sure no such thing is repeated in the upcoming exams. Assessment of all exams will be conducted online this semester as well. The technical details of the assessment process will be confirmed by the Board of Examination (BOE) soon, he said.

Taking the mess very seriously, Fadnavis warned officers not to repeat the mistakes. .

The governor has also directed MU to declare the results of 11,981 students by making it their top priority. The results are yet to be declared as thousands of answer scripts are still untraceable owing to technical glitches in OMS. Further, the university received more than 46,806 requests from students for re-evaluation of answer papers, the governor directed the MU authorities to complete the re-evaluation process in a timely manner.

The MU is facing flak for unprecedented delay in declaring results of most of the courses risking future of thousands of students. It failed to follow multiple deadlines set up to declare all the results following which vice chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh was sent on indefinite leave by the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of all the universities of the state.

The MU had adopted OMS for assessing answer papers in order to flush out mismanagement from the process and make it transparent ever. However, lack of preparations and infrastructure led to chaos and to the students suffering.

Earlier this month, a series of meetings were held between the university staff, college principals and experts to discuss the future of OMS and most experts had suggested that only the self-financed courses (BMM, BMS, etc.) as well as engineering exams should be assessed online while the rest should be assessed manually.

While discussing on academic audit of affiliated colleges of MU, the governor further directed the state higher and technical education department and MU to set up a task force for conducting academic audit of all the affiliated colleges. He asked them to make sure that all affiliated colleges complied with the standards of the academic excellence which included staff, infrastructure, etc.

The chancellor also directed that while granting any affiliation to a college, an Information Technology based frame work shall be used wherein the processes of constituting the local inspection team, conducting the inspection process and recording of the evidence shall be carried out in a fool proof and transparent manner.
The 29-year-old woman from Worli, who was arrested for buying a newborn for Rs20,000 with an intention to sell the child to an NRI couple, may have been running a racket for the past six months.

The Wadala TT police have arrested only Julia Fernandes, so far, and are looking for accomplices.

She was caught on Friday based on a tip-off that she had bought a seven-day-old boy for Rs 20,000 and was going to sell him to a childless couple for Rs1.50 lakh.

On Saturday, the police presented the woman in court where she was remanded in police custody for a day. But the investigating officer told the court the woman has also been involved in selling children to NRI couples, which could turn into a child-trafficking racket. Following this, the court remanded the woman in police custody of seven days.

Fernandes speaks fluent English and has done a course in nursing from the Jawhar University after completing business management, the police said. They are on the lookout for the couples who paid her for the children.
Former chief minister Narayan Rane, who quit the Congress last week, met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi late on Monday night, along with state party president Raosaheb Danve and revenue minister Chandrakant Patil.

Sources told HT negotiations over the senior leaders entry into the party directly or as an ally  heading an independent front  were discussed in the meeting.This includes whether Rane would be inducted in the state cabinet like some other smaller allies have been so far. A cabinet expansion is on the cards.

However, the BJP has not officially confirmed this.

Rane did meet BJP president Amit Shah, but this was to invite him to inaugurate a hospital in Sindhudurg, said Danve.

Rane had told HT the same a day earlier.

However, a senior BJP functionary told HT, The deal with Rane is as good as finalised. He will join the party mostly as an ally, heading his own front on the lines of the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha or other smaller allies. He will also be inducted in the cabinet. The party expects the leader to keep the muzzle on the Sena, expand the party base in Konkan at the cost of the Sena.

Interestingly, BJP national general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra, Saroj Pandey had indicated on Monday morning itself that the party could admit Rane in its fold.

If Rane accepts the BJPs ideology, he can be considered [to join the party], Pandey told Marathi news channel ABP Maza in Delhi, on the sidelines of the partys national executive.

There has been speculation over Ranes entry into the BJP for a couple of months now. However, the 65-year-old leader resigned from the Congress only last week, claiming he had been sidelined in the party.

The state BJP had been split over his induction because Fadnavis was not too keen on having the senior leader in the cabinet, who the CM believes is not used to playing second fiddle. Fadnavis was also wary that Ranes induction in the party will push the Sena against the BJP, making life even more difficult for the saffron alliance.

A former chief minister during the Sena-BJP government, Rane defected to Congress in 2005 after criticising Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, who had been anointed as heir apparent by the late Bal Thackeray. He was a minister in successive Congress governments until 2014, when the party lost power to the BJP. Rane lost the last Assembly elections in 2014 and a by-election in 2015 from Bandra in Mumbai on Congress tickets. He was rehabilitated by the party to the Legislative Council, but for the past few months, he was openly targeting the Congress leadership in Delhi and Mumbai. He quit the party after the state Congress dissolved the Sindhudurg district unit dominated by his supporters.

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A 28-year-old man from Thane was arrested for allegedly giving a Rs 2-lakh contract to get his father killed who was against his love affair. The Mumbra polce have arrested five others, while three men, including a man who was externed, are sill absconding. Abdul Choudhary, 49, is in a critical condition.

The six arrested men were identified as Jamil Chaudhari,28, son of Abdul, Jagdish Yadav, 20, Pratik Titme,24, Pawan Mishra,25, Pranav Waydande,,25, Mayur Karande, 27  all residents of Thane.

Abdul, who is a scarp dealer and has a shop in Kausa area of Mumbra in Thane, was attacked on September 9.

A few unidentified people initially threw stones at his car while he was heading to his shop. When came out to his car, he was surrounded by eight people. Before he could react, they attacked him with rods, sticks and sharp weapons. He was also stabbed. The attackers fled from the spot, said an officer from Mumbra police station.

Some local residents took him to a nearby hospital.

During questioning, the police found many loopholes in his statement and learnt about his frigid relationship with his father over the love affair. They questioned his friends to verify their suspicion.

The police first arrested Yadav, Mishra and Titme from Wagle Estate on Thursday, while Waydande and Karande were held from Kisan Nagar, and Jamil from Mumbra the following day.

Jamil was upset with his father who was opposed to his relationship with a girl. His father asked him to end the relationship, added officer.

Jamil, who knew few criminals in the area, went to Wagle Estate in August and met Bahadur Mehra, a hardened criminal in the area . Mehra, who was externed from Thane and Navi Mumbai, was ready to kill Jamils father in Rs2 lakh, said the police. We are looking for Mehra, Avdesh Yadav and Zakir Hazuri, said officer.

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Women-centric YouTube channel Girliyapa has taken on the rising moral police, who dish out advice to women on how they ought to behave, dress, sit, talk or simply live, by giving an interesting twist to rapper Badshahs latest anthem Mercy.

From Dangal actress Fatima Sana Shaikh being slammed for dressing inappropriately in the holy month of Ramadan, to Priyanka Chopra being called out for flashing her legs during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, womens bodies have been a target for peoples judgment and ire.

In a song Controversy Ho Gayi, Maanvi Gagroo and Sanaya Pithawalla attack the trolls who slut-shame women, admonishing them for being skinny or fat to wearing inappropriate clothes.

But she wont give a damn, says Gagroo, who shot to fame with the web series Pitchers, in the video.

The spoof also derides the original Mercy song, which has been criticised for its sexist overtones.

In less than five days since the video was released, it has been viewed over 27,000 times and women from across the country have commented sharing their agreement to the songs lyrics.

I legit feel we spend so much money on a bra and spend an equally obscene amount of time hiding it, commented user alena198318.

Another user thought that this version is better than the original.
Nearly 1,000 odd animals at Noidas shelter for stray and injured animals stand to lose the most due to an ongoing tiff between the Noida authority and the volunteers of the animal shelter.

The animal shelter in Noida Sector 94 has once again been affected by financial crunch as the authority has withheld the salaries of the employees at the shelter for the past three months. The staff allege that due to lack of funds, they have not been able to buy medicines and food for the animals. Currently, the shelter has around 700 dogs and 300 cows, bulls, horses and donkeys.

There are 450 injured dogs in our shelter who need treatment on daily basis. Our ambulance is not working for the past 4-5 days since we cannot afford for the diesel. We had four animal ambulances but now only one is functioning. We have been affording food for animals till now through donation but it is also finishing up quickly. Our priority is food and medicines for the animals, said Vidhi Shukla, in charge, animal shelter.

Earlier, the shelter for stray and injured animals was known as society for prevention of cruelty against animals (SPCA), which was a non-government organisation working in Noida through third party contract by Noida Authority. In January, the employees of the organisation had raised hue and cry after their salaries were withheld by authority citing complaints received against SPCA regarding functioning of the shelter. In February, the authority released a onetime fund of 20 lakh for the shelter.

The contract between the authority and SPCA ended in June this year, due to an order issued by the Uttar Pradesh government in April, 2017. After the scrapping of the contract, all members of the NGO had volunteered to work at the shelter.

The staff of animal shelter allege that they have not received the salary of July, August and September till now, which has affected the condition of stray and injured animals.

We just received the salary of June month in September. We have total staff strength of 54 which include cleaners, para-medics, drivers, helps and in-charge persons. All of us have not being paid from July, said Vidhi Shukla, in-charge, Animal Shelter, Noida.

Shukla further claims that to run the shelter, an amount of 16 lakh-lakh is needed on monthly basis. According to sources in the authority, the high amount demanded by NGO had become a bone of contention between the two and was often the reason behind the former withholding salary.

The entire cost which comes every month to run this shelter is somewhere around 16-20 lakh which include food, medicines and staff salary. Even 54 people strong staff is not sufficient for the number of animals we have since it takes 4-5 people in order to manage one dog. We have been running this shelter for the past 10 years, said Shukla.

When Hindustan Times visited the shelter, it was found in a dismal state with minimal care for hygiene and cleanliness. A nauseating stench is prevalent all around the shelter as diseased and injured dogs are seen lying in the office building and open area of the shelter. The condition of other animals was also not good as donkeys were seen strapped in dirty rooms as makeshift cages.

Only such dogs that are brought to this shelter for treatment are kept in cages. Our in-house dogs are allowed to roam in the open, said Shukla.

Regarding withholding of salary, senior project engineer RS Yadav, Noida Authority said it will soon appoint a veterinary doctor who will look after the process of salary distribution.

We had not stopped their salary. These people were employees of the SPCA with whom our contract ended in June. Now, we have hired a new agency that has taken over the operations from today. There are people who have salary as high as 65,000 in that NGO. There is a committee in the authority that will be taking a final decision on the salary of shelter staff. Also, a veterinary doctor is about to be appointed by the UP government at the animal shelter. This doctor will release the salary to these employees, said Yadav.

Additional Chief Executive Authority RK Mishra said,Earlier, we were paying 1,390 for sterilization and giving anti-rabies injection to one dog. Now, we will pay 760 to the new agency for the same job. This way we will save a lot of money.

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The Noida authority on Monday said it will start an adoption drive which will allow residents or farmers to adopt stray animals, including cows, bulls and dogs, which are being treated at Noidas animal shelter located in Sector 94.

The authoritys move is aimed to provide better upkeep to the animals and save money spent on running operations of the animal centre. The animal shelter houses around 700 stray dogs and 300 bovines.

We have many healthy animals at our shelter. Healthy animals include dogs, cows and bulls. We will identify and list all healthy animals and start adoption drive very soon. That way animals will get better food and care at the respective places, where they will be adopted, said Raghunandan Yadav senior project engineer of the health department at the Noida authority.

In June, the authority terminated the contract with society for prevention of cruelty against animals (SPCA) that was running this shelter. The contract ended as the authority realized other NGOs are ready to provide sterilization and anti-rabies facility at cheaper rates.

On Monday the authority also signed an agreement with Jaipur based Dr Sunil Chawla, who is likely to start anti-rabies and sterilization campaign.

Dr Sunil Chawla will charge 760 for a dog for anti-rabies injection and sterilization. Earlier we had to pay 1,390 per dog for anti-rabies injection and sterilisation. We want to make Noida stray dogs free from rabies in the next few months, said Yadav.

The shelter is home to injured dogs, cows and other animals.

If we receive a complaint about an injured animal from any area, we bring the same into this shelter and give them treatment. Apart from this, we also provide shelter to cows and bulls, which are caught by the police or forest department. We have eight bulls, which were rescued by police from butchers transporting them illegally from one place to the other. All eight bulls are healthy and farmers can use them for agricultural purposes so we thought of the adoption drive, said Yadav.

Apart from bulls, the authority also plans to offer cows, dogs and other animals for adoption.

We will not offer unwell animals for adoption. Only those animals, which are healthy will be available for adoption. We will ensure that those who want to take an animal for adoption will take good care of it. Gaushalas (cow shelters) can also adopt cows or bulls from our shelter, said Yadav.

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When Uttar Pradesh went to the polls earlier this year, the buzzword was womens safety. The state was still recovering from the shock of a gruesome highway rape just months before, and billboards jostled with each other in every big city with promises of womens empowerment. The grandest pledges were that of the BJP.

Soon after sweeping to power in March, the government unveiled its flagship idea to improve womens safety: The controversial anti-Romeo squads. Unfortunately, the initiative targeted hapless couples in parks, men and women talking and interacting in public spaces, and even married people  appearing to be a moral policing exercise to promote archaic ideas of gender relations rather than a modern scheme to enable womens free movement.

The allegations of molestation at Banaras Hindu University have now blown the lid off this sham. Women students at one of Indias leading educational institutions have come out on the streets demanding a safer campus where men dont grope and molest after sundown  and have been thrashed for daring to demand that. The students have alleged that officials refused to take action after complaint and even told the women to stay indoors, blaming them for staying outside after 5pm. When the women protested, they were caned, pulled by their hair, dragged on the ground and FIRs lodged against them.

Such behaviour is not new. Demands for a more gender-just campus have always met with hostility across the political and geographical spectrum. More importantly, the response to a crisis, within the campus or otherwise, has always been a one-stop solution such an anti-Romeo squad, stricter hostel curfews or marshals on buses.

Women hostellers in BHU have a tough time struggling against outdated patriarchal norms that ensure their curfew times are way earlier than boys, more strictly enforced and their movement both inside and outside campus are policed. They face discrimination in accessing libraries, the internet and even food. It seems that the university doesnt want us to think for ourselves. Theres no space for us to demand our rights, or express our opinion, an arts student at the womens college inside BHU told Hindustan Times earlier this year.

The root of this thinking isnt difficult to fathom. The university posits honour and glory in its women students, as evidenced in the statements of its vice-chancellor, and therefore strives to protect it by restricting access. The woman is little more than a vessel to carry social honour and so it doesnt matter if that vessel isnt allowed to go out, have fun, exercise rights, or think. Men can then take over as the protector and decide what is correct and respectable behavior, and what is blasphemous. The logical next step is to punish transgression from this moral code: Enter anti-Romeo squads.

Such a course of action is great for patriarchy as it upholds current social hierarchies. But it is bad news for women and gender justice. Womens presence in public spaces has always sparked anxiety  the answer is to enable their greater presence, not curtail it in the name of curfew. More street lights and a vigilant police would go a longer way in ensuring safety of women than anti-Romeo squads.

@dhrubo127

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The laws of our country require that a time-bound inquiry be initiated by a dedicated committee into any allegation of sexual harassment of a woman at any workplace, including of a student at any university. However, the difficulty of eliciting this seemingly simple and mandatory response is being witnessed in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) today, where demands for the formation of Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) for inquiry into an alleged incident of sexual harassment are being stonewalled and met with suspicions of conspiracy and attempts to defame the university, and violence.

Elsewhere, on September 18, JNUs executive council arbitrarily dissolved the universitys elected GSCASH, the first anti-sexual harassment committee of the country since 1999. It was replaced by a nominated Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), purportedly based on a UGC Regulation notified in 2016 that is a modified version of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

The latest move has added another chapter to the saga of woes in JNU, where its best and most innovative practices are being undone systematically. A few years ago, the Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations of 2006 hailed the JNUSU elections as a model. But in a curious twist of events, the very same elections were suspended between 2008-11, only to be restored in a truncated form; even while the efficacy of the recommendations in curbing money and muscle power elsewhere remains suspect.

Recently, the university with over 60% research scholars in its student composition experienced a drastic 83% seat-cut for research, even while the country as a whole is contending less than 0.5% enrollment in research. A motivated misreading of the UGCs 2016 Regulations on Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil/Ph.D degrees, whereby, minimum standards were interpreted as maximum standards, led to everything more or better in JNU being stopped.

Teachers and students of JNU are already embroiled in a series of legal battles against their own administration. Regular controversies over bludgeoning of dissent within internal decision-making bodies have become matters of public knowledge. The manner of administering does not appear to be tempered by any desire to earn the trust and support of the university community.

The dissolution of the GSCASH has happened in this backdrop of growing mutual distrust. The basic purpose of any sexual harassment committee is to engender confidence in aggrieved women to come forward with their complaints for redressal, without fear of reprisals. However, this basic purpose now stands jeopardised. The undue haste shown in trying to seize GSCASH records without even a semblance of maintaining an inventory or following any formal handover process has raised further suspicions. Perhaps more is yet to unfold in this story.

On September 21, the Delhi High Court ordered that the office of the GSCASH remain sealed till the next court hearing. But the main issue at hand is whether the GSCASH was in contravention of any law of the land that required such a drastic action as its dissolution? Why could concerns, if any, not be referred to the GSCASH itself, when the body has evidently revised its Rules a couple of times since its inception, including after the enactment of the relevant Act in 2013?

The answer seems to lie in the elected rather than nominated composition of GSCASH. The limitations of nominated inquiry committees in the RK Pachauri case as well as what was stitched together in the wake of the Tarun Tejpal case are hidden from none. ICCs are often at the mercy of their employers, especially when the accused are either seniors or the employers themselves. By contrast, the GSCASH and many other such bodies across several universities comprise of members directly elected by students, teachers, staff and employees.

The advantages of such innovative composition are many. The primary accountability of such committees lies with the university community, which does not hamper their capacity to also work with the administration. Moreover, elections involve wide participation for devising effective ways to combat sexual harassment, with the process itself being no less than a massive gender sensitisation campaign. And as stakeholders, the communities can also act as a counter-weight to pressures from above.

The question of pre-existing elected anti-sexual harassment committees was also considered in the 239th Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD. It recommended that since many universities had already passed statues instituting elected committees, they be enabled to continue. The GSCASH was also appreciated by the Justice Verma Committee. The reckless act of dissolving the GSCASH has put the safety of women in the university at risk who have been deprived of the option of approaching a trustworthy committee in event of sexual harassment. And such repeated imbroglios in JNU over its best practices also raise broader concerns over the myopia of such retrogressive misadventures.

Albeena Shakil is assistant professor of English, Jindal Global Law School

The views expressed are personal
Pakistans permanent representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi on Saturday made a faux pas at the UN General Assembly (UNGA)  she tried to pass off a photograph of an injured girl in the Gaza strip as that of a pellet victim in Kashmir. The photograph was clicked by photographer Heidi Levine in Gaza in 2014 and captures the face of Rawya abu Joma, a teenaged girl injured in an Israeli air strike.

Lodhis mistake was caught by the Indian media and the conversation on social media steered towards how Pakistan used a fake photo to further its propaganda.

But Lodhis failure to show a correct photograph of a Kashmiri pellet victim doesnt mean that the states pellet woes are non-existent.

The use of the controversial weapon during 2016s five-month-long unrest, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen militant Burhan Wani, blinded and maimed thousands. Over a dozen persons were also killed. And the wounds caused by pellets are not only physical, they leave deep psychological scars and patients often slip into depression.

Data from Kashmirs hospitals show over 6,000 people  including children as young as four and teenaged girls  had suffered pellet injuries, with over 1,100 hit in the eyes. Amnesty International says at least 14 people were killed due to it in during the unrest.

Introduced in the Valley during the unrest in 2010, this non-lethal weapon of crowd control in Kashmir has drawn international condemnation attracted calls for restraint.

When a shotgun is being used on a crowd, it does not surprise us that it causes injuries such as we have seen. It is not meant for crowd control. Its not used anywhere in the world. Its not used anywhere in India either, Aakar Patel, the head of Amnesty International in India, told HT in an interview earlier this month. The rights body has launched a campaign to seek an immediate ban on the weapon.

At the peak of last years unrest, when scores of youth injured by pellets were rushed into hospitals every day, home minister Rajnath Singh asked security forces to refrain from using pellet guns against protesters and urged the youth not to engage in stone-pelting. Consequently, the government announced that the newly developed PAVA shell  a chilli-based less-lethal munition which temporarily incapacitates the target  would replace the pellet gun in Kashmir.

In February, officials said that pellet guns would be modified and fitted with a reflector so that the shots are automatically deflected towards the lower part of the targets body and not hit the eyes or face, hence minimising the injury.

Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has also on several occasions called for restraint on the usage of the weapon. But despite such assurances pellet guns continue to be used as a mob-control measure in the strife-torn Valley.

Senior security officers operating in Kashmir say that the pellet gun is never the first response in an emerging law and order situation  it is the last one. Moreover, they add, if pellets are not used to restrict the violent mobs, then bullets would have to be used  which will cause immediate casualties.

Authorities definitely have the task of maintaining public order in the face of violent stone-pelting protests, but the use of what is seen largely as an indiscriminate and disproportionate weapon need not be the answer.

So, before we crack a joke on the Pakistani diplomat using a wrong picture, lets remind ourselves that the issue of pellet gun usage in Kashmir is a grave humanitarian one for which we soon need to find a suitable answer and an alternative.

@saha_abhi1990

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RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Monday again skipped questioning by the CBI, the second time in a month, in a case against him and his son Tejashwi Yadav over alleged irregularities in issuing contracts for two IRCTC hotels in 2006 to a private company.

Lalu Prasads advocate, through a letter, informed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday afternoon that his client would not be able to join the investigation in response to the summons issued on September 22 seeking his presence at the CBI headquarters here.

His advocate submitted a letter to us on behalf of the leader seeking two weeks time to appear before the investigators in the IRCTC case, a CBI official said.

What is the graft case? The contracts for two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels at Ranchi and Puri were handed over to Sujata Hotels company owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochhar in lieu of an alleged bribe in the form of a plot of prime land in Bihar. Lalu Prasad allegedly granted illegal favours to Sujata Hotels through the IRCTC, and the tender process for the development, maintenance, and operation of the two hotels was manipulated in exchange for the three-acre plot in Patna where a mall is coming up.

The CBI on September 22 issued fresh summons to Lalu Prasad and his son to appear before the agency on September 25 and 26.

Earlier, the CBI summoned the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and his son, the former deputy chief minister of Bihar, on September 7 to report at its headquarters in Lodhi Road area of south Delhi for questioning on September 11 and 12.

The CBI had on July 5 filed a corruption case against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav for alleged irregularities when Lalu Prasad was the railway minister from 2004 to 2009.

The contracts for two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels at Ranchi and Puri were handed over to Sujata Hotels company owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochhar in lieu of an alleged bribe in the form of a plot of prime land in Bihar, the CBI said.

According to the CBI, Lalu Prasad allegedly granted illegal favours to Sujata Hotels through the IRCTC, and the tender process for the development, maintenance, and operation of the two hotels was manipulated in exchange for the three-acre plot in Patna where a mall is coming up.

The CBI, which registered the case under charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating under the Indian Penal Code and sections of Prevention of the Corruption Act, claimed that the kickbacks were paid through a benami company owned by Sarla Gupta, wife of RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta.

The CBI FIR alleged that Vinay Kochhar sold three acres of land in Patna through 10 sale deeds on February 25, 2005, for Rs 1.47 crore to Delight Marketing Company in which Sarla Gupta was a director.

The FIR alleged that the land was sold at a price below circle and market rates and was falsely shown as agricultural land to evade substantial stamp duty.

During the CBIs preliminary inquiry, the agency purportedly found that the said land was sold by the Kochhars to Delight Marketing, and payment was arranged through Ahluwalia Contractors and its promoter Bikramjeet Singh Ahluwalia.

The Enforcement Directorate, which is also probing the financial irregularities in the case, have questioned Ahluwalia and also summoned Sujata Hotels owners for questioning.

The ED had, on July 27, registered a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the CBI FIR and is probing allegations against Lalu Prasad and others for alleged transaction of money through shell companies.
Police recovered 15 bottles of liquor from a government vehicle and arrested four persons travelling in it in Purnia district of northeast Bihar on Sunday night.

The arrested persons have been identified as district welfare officer Rajesh Verma, senior manager of Punjab National Banks Line Bazar branch at Purnia Anand Kumar Jha, district welfare office clerk Kaushal Kumar and railway contractor Sujeet Srivasatava, police said.

Purnia superintendent of police Nishant Tiwary said the liquor bottles were recovered during a routine search of vehicles near Gulabbagh on national highway (NH)-31 in Purnia district, 367 km northeast of Patna.

Police seized 15 bottles of liquor from a government vehicle during a routine search in Bihars Purnia district. (HT photo)

A police team, headed by Sadar police station SHO Awadhesh Kumar, stopped an SUV, with district administration written on a plate fitted to it, at about 11pm and recovered 15 bottles Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL), Tiwary said.

Breathalyzer test later confirmed that all occupants of the vehicle had consumed liquor, Tiwary said, adding that they had been arrested and sent to jail.

Purnia district magistrate (DM) Pradeep Kumar Jha said action would be taken against the government officer and clerk after receiving report from the police.

Bihar became a dry state on April 5, last year. Consuming, keeping or dealing in liquor is an offence under the states new excise prohibition law, which provides for imprisonment up to 10 years.
Honda has confirmed that the engine installed in Fernando Alonso's injured McLaren in Singapore will be re-used in Malaysia.

The Spanish driver was collateral damage in the first lap crash which marked the start of the race in Marina Bay.

While Alonso initially continued on his way after the incident he ultimately retired after eight laps with a holed exhaust and damaged electronics.

The MCL32's power unit emerged unscathed however after the chaos, according to Honda's Yusuke Hasegawa.

"We were concerned that it may have been irreparably damaged, but fortunately after a thorough check back at the Sakura factory we can confirm it is okay to be re-used," explained Hasegawa.

Both Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne qualified in the top ten in Singapore but the Woking-based outfit isn't expecting a comparable level of performance at Sepang and on its power hungry long straights.

"After Singapore, Im already eager to get back into the car and hopefully make it further than the first corner in Malaysia!

"Of course, what happened was disappointing and its difficult to hide your frustration when youre the victim of someone elses incident," underlined Alonso.

"I felt we had the potential to be really competitive  one of our only opportunities of the year  and its a shame we couldnt bring home the points to prove it, but these things happen."

"The conditions in Malaysia will be very similar to Singapore  hot, humid and challenging for the drivers and the car.

"The configuration will work less in our favour, but of course we will still fight for everything. There are six races left and we are still putting all our energy in finishing every race in the best possible position we can.

"Sepang will be more difficult for us in terms of set-up since the straights require good straight-line speed and power, but this track is a mixture of a lot of different characteristics, so well see how much we can make up on the slower-speed corners.

"The 2018 cars will definitely be faster through there, which will surely be fun to experience, and I hope we can avoid any drama and have a solid race."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

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JD (U) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Yadav, who has raised a banner of revolt against party chief Nitish Kumar, for his decision to jettison the grand alliance and return the JD (U) to the BJP-led NDA, started the second leg of his Jan Samvad Yatra in Bihar on Monday.

During his four day trip, Yadav will go to six districts of Bihar to create awareness about what he terms as mandate-defying decision of JD (U) president Nitish Kumar, in July, to re-enter into an alliance with the BJP.

During his tour of Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur, Rohtas, Gaya and Aurangabad districts, Yadav will tell the people that Kumar had defied the popular mandate for the JD (U)-RJD-Congress grand alliance in the November 2015 assembly poll to form a new government with the BJP in July, said a Sharad supporter.

Yadav had earlier embarked on a similar yatra (August 10-13), triggering a reaction from the official JD (U) leadership that saw him being replaced as leader of party in Rajya Sabha and suspension from the party of some of his followers.

Before leaving for Bhojpur, Yadav launched a blistering attack on party chief and Bihar chief minister Kumar, holding him responsible for breaking the alliance. He also attacked the government on the issue of corruption.

Never in 70 years history of the country, a canal which took 40 years to be completed, has been breached even before its inauguration, Yadav said. Corruption has spread its tentacles all around, he added.

Yadav also took a dig at the NDA government at the centre, saying it was coming out with new laws every day, whereas the poor were being affected adversely. The GST has affected all, he said.

During his tour of six Bihar districts over the next fourdays, Yadav will be holding public meetings against newly formed JD (U)-BJP government in Bihar. He will be holding 30 public meetings during this period.

Yadavs decision to attend an RJD rally in Patna on August 27 had upset the JD (U)s official leader so much so that it has moved for the termination of Yadavs Rajya Sabha membership on the ground of indulging in anti- party activities.

A decision in this regard is pending with chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

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Two years after the Panjab University Committee Against Sexual Harassment (PUCASH) submitted a report indicting an assistant professor, the senate  the varsitys apex body  on Sunday accepted it, recommending major penalty against him.

The senate, however, decided to issue him a show-cause notice before announcing the penalty, which includes dismissal from service.

The case concerns assistant professor Komal Singh, former chairperson of the public administration department, who was suspended on being found guilty of sexual harassment for the fourth time.

A postgraduate student had alleged in September 2015 that Singh had indulged in verbal misbehaviour with her. The student had appeared before the PUCASH to narrate the incident.

The PUCASH report  dated December 7, 2015, and submitted by its chairperson, Prof Nishta Jaswal  had suggested determining a major penalty on the assistant professor.

The issue was tabled in the senate meeting on April 30, 2017, when the major penalties recommended included reduction to a lower post or timescale or to a lower stage in timescale; removal from service, which does not disqualify from future employment; and dismissal from service.

The syndicate  PUs executive body  in May 2017 had suggested his removal from service, which does not disqualify from future employment.

Most in favour of removal from service

Sharing the case background with senators, vice-chancellor Professor Arun Kumar Grover said: He (Komal Singh) was doing it repeatedly. We could not let him be in contact with women students.

I had removed him from his department, got him transferred.... told him to get medical attention and come back rehabilitated, said the V-C. Repeated incidents happened. Second report came that he is refusing to cooperate. He insisted to go back to the public administration department. Safety options were given but he put pressure on the chief medical officer to declare him fit.

Senators remained divided over the decision to remove the assistant professor from service, though most were in its favour.

Former dean, students welfare, Prof Navdeep Goyal said the case has been discussed twice in the syndicate.

Two years have passed... Employer has to take action within 60 days. We have already violated the act by delaying the punishment. Removal from service should be accepted, he said.

However, senator DP Randhawa stated the professor had even cleared the civil services examination, though couldnt clear the interview. Removal from service is no solution. Major penalty should be debated, he said.

Meanwhile, Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) president Prof Rajesh Gill said Komal Singh is an alcoholic and the report needs to be examined pertinently.

Former PUTA president Rajat Sandhir said in 2015, there was a complaint that Komal Singh dragged a girl into a car. Multiple incidents happened after that. Girls are looking at us to take a (firm) decision, he said.

On former V-C RP Bambhas suggestion, it was decided to serve him a show-cause notice before announcing a major penalty, and allowing him to plead as to why he should not be dismissed. The assistant professor will remain suspended till then.

Slug: Sexual harassment

Blurb: Komal Singh, former public admn dept head, had verbally misbehaved with student; to be served show-cause notice
Dengue is taking a toll on the health of the city residents. As many as 526 cases of dengue have been reported, which is double the number of cases reported last year till this time of the year.

In 2016, Chandigarh recorded 222 dengue cases by September 23. This past week, 100 new cases were reported. On Sunday, 18 new cases took the count to 526. The total count of dengue cases in 2016 was 1,246.

Despite health officials claims of deploying extra manpower in the affected areas, the number is only increasing. The data shared by the health officials reveal the maximum number of cases is from periphery areas of the city, including colonies in Manimajra, Khuda Ali Sher, Dhanas, Dadumajra and others.

Last year the maximum number of cases were reported from Manimajra.

The health officials have passed on the blame of the increasing number of dengue cases on residents, who they believe are not maintaining cleanliness despite being told by the health workers.

They expect us to visit their homes every week and clean their water coolers. Do you think, it is possible?, asked a health official.

He said, We have constituted teams who visit every house in their area. They check and clean mosquito breeding sites, educate people about not allowing water to stagnate for over 7 days. Still, when the teams visit the same houses, they find out mosquito breeding sites.

He said that most common mosquito breeding sites are coolers, overhead water tanks, bowls, and old model refrigerators.

Also, six government buildings were issued show-cause notices by the health officials.

We have made a schedule for fogging. Then extra teams have been deployed at Manimajra and Khuda Ali Sher, he said.

The doctor said the disease will be hard to bring under control if people dont cooperate.
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Monday moved Punjab and Haryana high court challenging his conviction in the rape case by the CBI special court.

The petition was filed by counsels of the disgraced self-styled godman here.

The matter is not yet listed by the court for hearing.

We have filed an appeal challenging the conviction in the high court, said SK Narwana, dear chief counsel.

A CBI court had in August sentenced self-styled leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20 years in jail and fined him Rs 30 lakh for raping two women 15 years ago.

There are number of material issues on which the appeal has been filed. One of them is that medical of the girls was never conducted and also there was no FIR lodged by them, said advocate Narwana, while talking about the grounds on which the conviction had been challenged.

He added, The victim after more than six years had got their statements recorded before the CBI, which was never placed on record.

The appeal will be soon taken up by the Punjab and Haryana high court, he said.

In a separate development, the CBI court in Panchkula on Monday rejected a plea by Khatta Singh, a former driver of the sect chief, who wanted to record a fresh statement in the murder cases against the sect chief.

(With agency inputs)
The Centre will release the pending compensation  which according to the state legal services authority (SLSA) stands at Rs 1.29 crore  to 20 rape victims in the UT within two weeks.

A Supreme Court (SC) bench comprising justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta, before whom the UT SLSA on Friday submitted the status report concerning the 10-year-olds rape, said the counsel for Union of India says the victim compensation amount will be released to the SLSA within two weeks, states the detailed judgment that came out on Sunday.

SLSA member secretary Mahavir Singh said he pointed out in the status report that there was shortage of funds under the UTs Victim Assistance Scheme, 2012, which comes under the Consolidated Fund of India.

Even though we received 33 lakh after I wrote a letter to the UT home secretary, we do not have enough money to pay relief to 20 rape victims, he said, adding that the maximum compensation that can be paid to them  as mentioned in the affidavit before the apex court  is Rs 1.29 crore.

Family of the 10-year-old rape victim has been provided Rs 1-lakh compensation under the scheme so far, while the remaining Rs 9 lakh is part of a fixed deposit, yet to be released.

Speed up DNA testing in 10-yr-olds rape

The apex court has also asked the forensic laboratory to expedite the DNA testing in the 10-year-olds rape case.

This comes after the DNA sample of the accused uncle mismatched with that of the newborn girl. Police have collected his samples again besides that of his younger brother, who was later arrested in the case.

... there is another accused who has been arrested and his DNA sample has been taken, said the court, adding that the trial court would pass appropriate orders as and when the DNA results were received.

The matter will now come up for hearing in the SC on October 12.

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Pune-born Kishori Shahane Vij celebrated Navratri in Pune for the first time. A frequent visitor to the city, Kishori was mesmerised with the grandeur and magnificence with which the city celebrates the nine-day long festivities. Normally, my visits to Pune are during Diwali, summers, or for shoots. This time, I am glad I made it to the city during Navratri and especially for the Pune Navratri Mahotsav, says Kishori, who will be seen as a political in two Marathi films, 15 August Bhagile 26 January and Rajan.

Kishori plays a UP-based politician in one of the films and shares how she sketched the character herself, including writing dialogues for it. I am a known Marathi face. So, it would be difficult for my fans and audience to accept me as a UP-based person. Hence, I made sure my character is not stereotypical. I wrote dialogues with the help of people from the region. I also worked on my diction and pronunciation. I hope the audience sees the difference.

For the Mohenjo Daro (2016) actor, a role or character in a film has to give her a kick for her to take it up. I only choose characters if I feel I can bring something new and different to it. A small or big budget film doesnt matter. What matters is that it should release. I am completely okay with character roles, as it gives you moments and memories to cherish forever.

A dancer too, Kishori doesnt believe in changing her physical appearance for character roles. I would not abuse my body for a character role. But yes, if it is a central role and the film requires me to loose/gain weight or make any changes to my look, I will do it. Otherwise, I have been fit and active and would not like to change that.

The actor has also starred in a Hollywood film called Heartbeats, which will release in India soon.

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Basking in the success of Ajiths Vivegam, actor Kajal Aggarwal is gearing up to commence work on her next Tamil film, Paris Paris, a remake of Kangana Ranauts Queen. On Sunday, the project was officially launched in Chennai and an elated Kajal is proud to be part of the project. Speaking on the occasions, Kajal said, Its a project very close to my heart. When I saw Queen, I told myself Id love to adapt the film in some other language. Wed like to prove a point with this project. She will reprise Kanganas role in the film.

At the event, when asked if shed be able to do justice to Kanganas performance, Kajal didnt mince her words and said: Im not looking forward to filling in anyones shoes in this role. We are recreating the film in another language. I treat this as an original, in my own way. The film will be directed by actor-filmmaker Ramesh Aravind, best known for helming Kamal Haasans Uttama Villain. Ramesh is also directing the films Kannada version which is titled Butterfly, and has already gone on the floors. Parul Yadav plays the lead in Butterfly.

Ramesh said he is proud to be associated with the project. Its an honour to be a part of this project. Im directing the Kannada as well as Tamil versions. We are delighted to collaborate with Kajal whom I consider the perfect combination of beauty, talent and enthusiasm. The films story will be set in Virudhunagar (in Tamil Nadu) and will travel to Paris and then to Barcelona and London. The Tamil version was originally planned with Tamannaah Bhatia while Revathy was supposed to direct. Manjima Mohan is believed to feature in the Malayalam version of the film.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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British police made a new arrest on Monday in their investigation into a bomb attack on a London underground train earlier this month.

The man, 20, was detained at a house in the Welsh capital Cardiff by counter-terrorism officers, London police said. He is the seventh man to have been arrested over the attack at Parsons Green station in London on September 15 which injured 30 people.

It was Britains fifth major militant attack so far this year.

Last Friday, teenager Ahmed Hassan appeared in court charged with attempting to murder passengers on board the train heading to central London from the southwest suburb of Wimbledon and causing an explosion likely to endanger life using the highly volatile triacetone triperoxide (TATP)  known as the mother of Satan  or another explosive substance.

The 18-year-old, from Sunbury-on-Thames, a town to the southwest of London, was remanded in custody until Oct. 13. The home-made bomb engulfed a carriage in flames, but apparently failed to fully explode.

Two other men are still being questioned by police while three others have since been released by detectives and face no further action. Searches are still ongoing at one address in Surrey, south of London, and in Cardiff.
Anthony Weiner, former Democratic congressman and estranged husband of key Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for sending lewd pictures to a minor girl.

Weiner had pleaded guilty to sending the 15-year-old obscene pictures, which she later passed on to a news publication.

Once a rising Democratic politician, he resigned from congress in 2011 after reports surfaced of him sending lewd pictures of himself to a college student. He had first denied it, but owned up subsequently.

The discovery of Clintons emails on his laptop, stored there by Abedin, had led to the FBI re-examining the closed case against the Democratic presidential candidate, which might have skewed a close race leading to her defeat.
Alternative for Germany was founded four years ago at the height of the eurozone crisis, when opposition to a German bailout of other countries using the common currency was strong.

The party narrowly failed to pass the 5% threshold to enter parliament in 2013 on a euroskeptic platform, a hurdle it took handily this time following a campaign focused heavily on Chancellor Angela Merkels refugee policy.

Known by its German acronym AfD, the party received 12.6% of votes in Sundays election to become the third-largest caucus in Parliament behind Merkels bloc and the Social Democrats.

Political analysts say AfDs success is all the more remarkable because it has drifted steadily rightward in a country where voters are sensitive to any revival of the extreme nationalism that brought Adolf Hitler to power 84 years ago.

Strong in the east

Alternative for Germanys base is in the formerly communist east of the country. The party is projected to take more than 21% of the vote there, about twice as much as in the west.

Anxiety over immigration is particularly strong in the east, despite the relatively low percentage of immigrants in the region, and leaders there have been among the most hard-line in their views.

AfDs leader in Thuringia state, Bernd Hoecke, called for a U-turn in the way Germany remembers its Nazi past. In neighboring Saxony, a prominent member of the party, Jens Maier, declared that Germanys culture of guilt over World War II should be considered over.

Leadership infighting

AfDs first leader, Bernd Lucke, left the party two years ago after losing a leadership battle against Frauke Petry.

Petry has since become embroiled in a spat with other senior figures after urging her party to exclude members who express extremist views with the aim of attracting moderate voters.

She has been sidelined within the party in recent months by the more radical, nationalist wing of AfD.

How far right?

AfDs opponents have described the party as a far-right or even extreme-right movement, citing the xenophobic views expressed by some of its members.

Political scientists caution that while there are extremists in the partys ranks, its ideas are closer to those once held by the conservative wing of Merkels party than to the far-right fringe of German politics.

Still, some in AfD have expressed revisionist views of German history with anti-Semitic ideas without being kicked out of the party, and it is the farthest right party to win seats in parliament in about 60 years.

Party co-leader Alexander Gauland prompted controversy again weeks before the election by saying that we have the right to be proud of the achievements of Germans soldiers in two world wars.

Cash injection

All German parties receive public funding based on the number of the votes they receive in elections.

AfD has already collected millions of euros (dollars) from entering 13 state assemblies and the European Parliament over the past four years.

The party can expect a further windfall from Sundays federal election that will allow it to build a formidable operation in Berlin with hundreds of full-time staff.

Russia friendly

Alternative for Germany has taken a very pro-Russia stance, calling for Western sanctions against Moscow over its involvement in the Ukraine conflict to be dropped.

Petry travelled to Russia earlier this year for a secretive meeting with members of Russian President Vladimir Putins party and AfD has courted Russian-speaking German voters with considerable success.

During the final weeks of the campaign, AfD was heavily promoted by Russian-language social media accounts.
Clashes that erupted in Ethiopia this month between two of the countrys largest ethnic groups have killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands, the government said today.

The killing of two local administrators coupled with long-running land disputes led to an outbreak of fighting between the Oromo and Somali peoples in the south, government spokesman Negeri Lencho said.

We can say hundreds of the Oromo ethnicity were killed... and there were also deaths from the Somali side, we dont know exactly how many, Negeri told a press conference.

The fighting that started along the border between the regional states belonging to the two ethnic groups has since been quelled, Negeri said.

Ethiopia is divided into ethnically-based federal regions and the Oromo and Somali people have for years argued over who controls arable land along their shared border.

A 2004 referendum decided the issue, but clashes have persisted with officials from both sides trading accusations that local armed forces are involved.

In April, the presidents of the two regions signed an agreement to settle the unrest.

Negeri said two officials from the Oromia region were arrested by Somali regional forces and killed on September 11, provoking violent protests by the Oromos.

A national task force has been set up to address the needs of the displaced -- which Oromo president Lemma Megersa last week put at 50,000 people -- and mediation efforts were underway with community elders.
Does he have all five fingers? This was a Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors first question to the doctor when his son was born.

Nobu Hanaoka, 73, says he was relieved when the doctor replied that his son was in perfect health. I had hoped that the radiation did not affect the child, Hanaoka told Al Jazeera.

Hanaoka was only eight months old when the US dropped Fat Man -- a Plutonium bomb -- on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, killing about 74,000 people. Three days before, Little Boy -- the first-ever atomic bomb, dropped on Hiroshima -- had claimed 140,000 lives.

Hanaoka -- clad in a simple, grey coat, has a message for the United States and North Korea as tensions escalate between the two countries over the possibility of a nuclear war.

This is the kind of weapon that doesnt just kill. It kills indiscriminately. It kills slowly and painfully.

And it shouldnt be allowed on the surface of the Earth, the survivor says after a pause.

We were not even in the city of Nagasaki. We were outside. And yet the radiation that came from the bombing went far beyond the city limits, Hanaoka said, before explaining the three ways an atomic bomb can kill.

Hanaokas mother and sister died due to radiation when he was six, he says, adding that he overheard the doctor telling his father the boy wouldnt live to see his 10th birthday. So I knew that I was not going to live long, Hanaoka says in the video.

The atomic bomb survivor says he was always concerned for his health and feared he was dying when he got a simple cold. He also had survivors guilt, a mental condition in which a person feels remorse for surviving a traumatic event when others did not. Why did my sister and mother, who were wonderful people... beautiful and smart and gentle, and they had to die.

And yet, I, who am not unworthy, am still alive?

I want all nations to come together and start finding a way of eliminating nuclear weapons altogether, Hanaoka tells Al Jazeera after warning that there will be millions of casualties if either the US or North Korea is attacked with radioactive weapons.

In this August 9, 1945 file photo, a mushroom cloud rises moments after the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, southern Japan. (AP File Photo)

North Koreas foreign minister Ri Yong Ho told the United Nations General Assembly last week that targeting the US mainland with its rockets was inevitable after Mr Evil President Donald Trump called Pyongyangs leader a rocket man on a suicide mission.

Trump, too, dialled up the rhetoric against North Korea over the weekend, warning Ho that he and its leader Kim Jong Un wont be around much longer as Pyongyang staged a major anti-US rally.

The North had threatened to sink Japan into the sea and fired two missiles over the northern island of Hokkaido in the space of less than a month. Pyongyang said this month it had carried out an underground test on a hydrogen bomb estimated to be 16 times the size of the US bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945. It was its sixth and largest nuclear test.

Survivors of Hiroshima-Nagasaki -- the only two nuclear attacks in the history of mankind -- warned of the threat of atomic weapons in a photo essay by the Time magazine last month. It quoted another survivor Fujio Torikoshi (86) as saying all he wanted was to forget the bombing. We cannot continue to sacrifice precious lives to warfare. All I can do is pray  earnestly, relentlessly  for world peace.

(With agency inputs)
US senator John McCain said doctors have given him a very poor prognosis as he battles brain cancer.

McCain underwent surgery in July for a brain tumour that was later found to be a form of glioblastoma, the same type of cancer that took the life of his former Senate colleague Edward M Kennedy in 2009. McCain told CBS 60 Minutes in an interview that aired on Sunday that he thinks about Kennedy a lot. He said Kennedy continued to work despite the diagnosis and never gave up because he loved the engagement.

McCain said he has feelings sometimes of fear of what happens, but countered that with gratitude for having lived had a great life.

He added: Its not that youre leaving, its that you  that you stayed.
British police made a new arrest on Monday in their investigation into a bomb attack on a London underground train earlier this month.

The man, 20, was detained at a house in the Welsh capital Cardiff by counter-terrorism officers, London police said. He is the seventh man to have been arrested over the attack at Parsons Green station in London on September 15 that injured 30 people.

It was Britains fifth major militant attack so far this year.

Last Friday, teenager Ahmed Hassan appeared in court, charged with attempting to murder passengers on board the train heading to central London from the southwest suburb of Wimbledon and causing an explosion likely to endanger life using the highly volatile triacetone triperoxide (TATP) - known as the mother of Satan - or another explosive substance.

The 18-year-old, from Sunbury-on-Thames, a town to the southwest of London, was remanded in custody until October 13. The home-made bomb engulfed a carriage in flames, but apparently failed to fully explode.

Two other men are still being questioned by police while three others have since been released by detectives and face no further action. Searches are still ongoing at one address in Surrey, south of London, and in Cardiff.
Mexicans packed churches on Sunday to pray for the victims of the countrys deadliest quake in 32 years as rescue teams searched against the odds for any survivors trapped under rubble since Tuesdays tremor shook Mexico City and nearby states.

As another aftershock jolted southwestern Mexico on Sunday, the death toll from Tuesdays 7.1 magnitude earthquake climbed to 320 people. With thousands of buildings damaged, survivors slept on the street outside their homes and estimates of the cost of the earthquake ran as high as $8 billion.

Many have been traumatized by the second major quake to strike Mexico City in their lifetime after a devastating 1985 tremor killed an estimated 10,000 people.

In the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the national shrine of the majority Roman Catholic country, thousands of people gathered to pray.

I came to ask God for strength for those who lost loved ones and for the Virgin to watch over us and keep us safe, said 69-year-old Maria Gema Ortiz. Thanks to all those who came from other countries to help. Thanks to all and long live Mexico!

Makeshift places of worship have popped up next to the crumbling cement and mangled steel of collapsed buildings in the deeply religious country.

A view of the church dome of Our lady of los Angeles, which collapsed six days after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico September 24, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso (REUTERS)

In upscale Roma, one of the hardest-hit neighbourhoods of the capital, a priest led mass for nearly two dozen people under a blue tarp while a nun handed out small cards with an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who according to the Catholic faith first appeared to an Aztec convert in 1531.

More than 44,000 public schools in six states were due to reopen on Monday, but only 103 of the 4,000 public schools in Mexico City would open so as not to impede rescue and relief efforts.

In addition, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, with 350,000 students at campuses in and around Mexico City, will resume classes on Monday.

Like many Mexicans, 36-year-old Claudia Avila was determined to return to some semblance of normality.

We are afraid, but life must go on, said Avila, whose sons are 9 and 16. Tomorrow I will take my children back to school. They know that if something happens, they must protect themselves. It has been a rude awakening.

Rescuers narrowed their search to a handful of buildings in the sprawling metropolitan area of 20 million people, using advanced audio equipment to detect signs of life beneath tonnes of rubble, with help from teams from as far afield as Israel and Japan.

The search and rescue in Mexico City continues as a priority, with cooperation from national and international groups, tweeted Miguel Angel Mancera, Mexico Citys mayor.

The search for survivors continued in a ruined office building in the Roma neighbourhood and in a five-story apartment building in historic Tlalpan.

Authorities called off efforts in the upper-middle class Linda Vista zone after pulling 10 bodies from the rubble, while work at the Tlalpan building was briefly halted on Saturday by a magnitude 6.2 aftershock.

Search for survivors

Roberto Hernandez, 62, leading a group of Mexicos famed mole rescue workers at the collapsed office building in Roma, said he believed 30 people were trapped in the rubble, though it was not clear how many were sill alive.

We cant guarantee there is life but we can guarantee well turn over every last stone, Hernandez said.

Tuesdays quake, which flattened dozens of structures in Mexico City, was the second major earthquake to strike the country of 127 million people this month.

A massive 8.1 magnitude quake on Sept. 7 off the southwestern coast of Mexico killed around 100 people, most of them in the nearby states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. A series of aftershocks since then have sown panic.

The latest tremor, of 5.7 magnitude, struck on Sunday off the west coast, with its epicenter 80 km (50 miles) south-southwest of Tonala, in Chiapas, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of significant damage.

Many more quakes are likely, warned Xyoli Perez Campos, director of Mexicos National Seismological Service.

We have already recorded more than 4,300 aftershocks, Campos said. So more aftershocks are to come. What we dont know is if they are going to be of significant magnitude.

President Enrique Pena Nieto visited 12 communities in Mexico state, which borders the capital city, promising that aid would be directed only to those truly affected by the quake and that the government would help rebuild homes and businesses.

I am publicly promising that ... the affected homes, the families affected and the people in the whole of Joquicingo and the state of Mexico, get back on their feet, he said from that town.
Myanmar troops on Monday searched for dozens of missing Hindu villagers feared dead after the discovery of a nearby mass grave of 28 corpses in Rakhine state, evidence of what the army says is a massacre by Rohingya Muslim militants.

Northern Rakhine was plunged into crisis after Rohingya militants raided police posts last month, unleashing an army crackdown that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The vast majority -- more than 430,000 -- are Rohingya Muslims who fled across the border to Bangladesh from a military campaign the UN says likely amounts to ethnic cleansing.

But tens of thousands of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, and the regions small population of Hindus, have also been internally displaced, saying they were attacked by Rohingya militants.

On Sunday, Myanmars army said it had discovered two mud pits filled with 28 Hindu corpses, including women and children, outside a village in northern Rakhine.

Hindu villagers from the area told AFP last week Rohingya militants stormed into their communities on August 25, killing many and taking others into the forest.

The security troops continue searching for remaining Hindu people around the places of the pits, said a statement posted on army chief Min Aung Hlaings Facebook page.

Displaced Hindus from the area have shown AFP a list of 102 people from two villages who relatives and community leaders fear are dead.

A police officer in northern Rakhine said authorities are trying to verify that figure as they look for more bodies.

We will continue searching together with villagers, the officer told AFP, requesting anonymity.

With the government blocking access to the conflict zone, it is difficult to verify the maelstrom of accusations.

But the army has steadfastly blamed the Rohingya -- a stateless Muslim minority it has been trying to eject from Myanmar for years.

The focal point of the unrest, northern Rakhines Maungdaw district, was once home to a fragile mosaic of ethnic groups, dominated by the Rohingya.

Vast swathes of the border region are now completely emptied of Muslims residents, with nearly 40 percent of Rohingya villages abandoned in under a month.

On Sunday the UNs High Commissioner for Refugees called the influx of Rohingya into Bangladesh the fastest and most urgent refugee emergency in the world.

The vast needs of the hungry, wounded and traumatised Rohingya swarming into Bangladesh have created a separate humanitarian crisis on that side of the border.

But there is little sympathy for the Muslim minority inside Myanmar, where many in the Buddhist majority loathe the group and insist they are foreign invaders.

The Rohingya has faced decades of persecution from a Buddhist nationalist army and discrimination under laws that stripped them of citizenship and restrict their movements.

Analysts say that matrix of repression helped give rise to the the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the rag-tag group who plunged the region into crisis with its August 25 attacks.
Trump administration issued a new travel ban order on Sunday indefinitely suspending the entry of citizens and expanding the list of countries from six to eight, including North Korea, whose leader and officials have been engaged in an escalating battle of insults with the US president.

Sudan was dropped from the previous list of six nations, which were all Muslim-majority, and three have been added. The new order applies to Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, and the new ones, Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela.

Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet.https://t.co/KJ886okyfC  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. Trump said in a statement, My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation.

The new order goes into effect on October 18, and will be less sweeping than its previous iterations, and its implementation will be country specific. Students and exchange students for Iran, for instance, will be exempted. And only certain government officials of Venezuela will be affected.

The order for North Korea made no mention of its missile and nuclear tests or its leaderships escalating war of words with President Trump. There was no mention also of terrorism or other security threats cited by the administration for the restrictions applicable to other countries.

It only said, North Korea does not cooperate with the UnitedStates Government in any respect and fails tosatisfy all information-sharing requirements. The entry into the United States of nationals of North Korea as immigrants and nonimmigrants is hereby suspended.

For Chad, a Central African country with 55% Muslim population and the rest Christian, the order cited the presence of active terrorist groups there such as Boko Haram, Islamic State and al Qaeda in Maghreb and the countrys failure to provide key terrorism-related information adequate information.

For Venezuela, it was the lack of adequate terrorism-information sharing. And those censured are mostly officials engaged in the screening and vetting procedures, and their families. For other Venezuelans, the administration will process them with the help of alternative sources for obtaining information.

This is a third version of a travel order President Trump signed exercising his executive powers, which enable him to not having to get congressional endorsement, in January just days after moving into the White House. That order had temporarily banned the entry of all citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations  Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Somalia and Libya  for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days.

It had a disastrous roll out and was greeted by national and international confusion and outrage and soon came stuck in the American judicial system. The administration returned a few weeks later with a narrower order that had dropped Iraq from that list, and exempted citizens already issued visas.

It was further watered down by the Supreme Court that forced the government to exempt those with bona fides reasons to travel to the United States, and a broad swathe of relatives of people of these nations already residing in America, and refugees were allowed to bypass he restriction.

That order was to be in force for six months, a period that expires later next month. The new restrictions will last for an indefinite time  the White House said they may be lifted as they (the eight countries) work with the United States Government to ensure the safety of Americans.

The overall rationale for the restriction is that the United States doesnt trust the vetting system of these countries, and there is not enough information sharing taking place between them and the US, and until that is fixed, no new visas will be issued to their citizens with broader aim of keeping out terrorists.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan on Monday to face cases filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau, the countrys anti-corruption watchdog.

The former premier had left for London on August 30 to be with his ailing wife, who is being treated for cancer, but returned after a series of meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, finance minister Ishaq Dar, and younger brother and Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif.

All other members of his family, including daughter Maryam and sons Hussain and Hassan, are in London  none of them accompanied the former premier back.

Sharif has been summoned before court on September 26 in connection with three corruption cases filed against him by the NAB. No person representing him, including family and legal counsel, appeared before court during the hearing of the case on September 19.

Sharif arrived on a Pakistan International Airlines flight from London in the early hours of Monday and held an informal meeting with senior PML-N leaders at Punjab House for consultations. After the meet, PML-N senator Asif Kirmani told reporters that Sharif will appear before court in Islamabad on Tuesday and will subsequently hold a press conference.

Earlier, Sharif told reporters in Britain that he was in London to inquire after the health of his wife. He continued to question the courts decision to disqualify him as premier. We did not commit any corruption. If this was about Panama (Papers), then why was I disqualified for holding an Iqama? he said, referring to his work permit to work abroad that led to his being debarred from office.

His son Hussain Nawaz told reporters that despite the fact that his mother is still being treated for her cancer, Sharif was returning to Pakistan because he does not want to let anyone imply that he is afraid of facing the courts.
US President Donald Trump has declared a war on North Korea, the countrys foreign minister said on Monday while conveying a threat to shoot down US bombers.

Trump claimed our leadership would not be around much longer, North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong-ho told reporters outside his hotel in New York. He declared a war on our country.

All the member states and the whole world should clearly remember it was the United States that first declared war on our country, Ri said.

Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to take counter-measures including the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not yet inside the airspace border of country, he said.

The question of who will be around much longer will be answered then.
Former US President Barack Obama personally urged Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to counter the rise of fake news on the social network during a meeting held shortly after last years election, the Washington Post reported.

The encounter reportedly took place on the sidelines of a meeting of global leaders in Lima, Peru on November 19, two months before Trumps inauguration and days after Zuckerberg had dismissed as crazy the idea that misleading stories driven by Russian operatives had made a major impact on the outcome of the vote.

Zuckerberg acknowledged the problem posed by fake news. But he told Obama that those messages werent widespread on Facebook and that there was no easy remedy, the newspaper said, quoting people it said had knowledge of the exchange.

The report comes days after Facebook announced it would be handing over to Congress advertisements it discovered were bought by Russia-linked fake accounts, aimed at inflaming political tensions ahead of and following the election.

The Kremlin has denied any involvement.
The special forces of Russia and Pakistan on Monday began a joint counter-terrorism exercise in the Mineralnye Vody region, weeks ahead of Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwas visit to Moscow.

The two-week exercise, the second in the Druzhba (friendship) series, will focus on counter-terrorism operations, hostage rescue and cordon and search operations, the media wing of the Pakistani military said.

The joint exercise will enhance and further strengthen military ties between both the countries and share Pakistan Armys experience in the war against terrorism, the military said in a statement. The opening ceremony of the exercise was attended by senior military officials of both countries.

Last years edition of the Druzhba exercise, the first ever between the two Cold War rivals, was marred by controversy as reports suggested part of the high altitude drill was conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan, territory that is claimed by India.

The reports embarrassed Russia, a long-time ally of India, and Russian officials issued several denials.

Pakistani special forces interact with their Russian counterparts during the Druzhba 2017 joint exercise that began in Russia on September 25, 2017. (Courtesy: Russian defence ministry)

Relations between Russia and Pakistan had been frosty in the decades after the war against Soviet occupation forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan had been a key conduit for shipping US arms and supplies to the Afghan mujahideen.

However, defence ties between the two sides were strengthened during the tenure of former Pakistan Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. With Russia miffed by India turning to the US and other Western suppliers for military hardware, it also broadened its economic cooperation with Pakistan in recent years.

In 2015, Pakistan and Russia finalised a deal for four Mi-35 attack helicopters  a move that angered India. Since then, reports have suggested Pakistan is interested in acquiring more military gear from Russia, including Su-35 combat jets.

Bajwa is expected to visit Russia in the first week of October as part of high-level exchanges between the two sides. His visit will set the stage for translating political goodwill into a substantial partnership, in particular, in the field of defence, Pakistans Foreign Office has said.
Air strikes by Russian warplanes in Syrias mainly jihadist-controlled northwest province of Idlib on Monday killed at least 27 civilians including two children, a Britain-based monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was the highest civilian toll in Idlib since the region was designated in May as one of Syrias de-escalation zones agreed in a deal between regime allies Russia and Iran, and rebel backer Turkey.

The monitor on Sunday reported Russian air strikes killed 45 members of a rebel group in Idlib on Saturday.

It was unclear why the strikes, which took place Saturday, targeted members of the Faylaq al-Sham rebel group, which has taken part in peace talks supervised by Moscow in the Kazakh capital Astana.
A video captured a man clinging to the outside rear window of a moving train in Australias Perth on Saturday.

A Main Roads employee saw the man, 23, clinging to a windscreen wiper of the train between Leederville and Glendalough stations while monitoring traffic and alerted the Public Transport Authority.

The agency also said he could have been killed as the train reached speeds of up to 110km per hour.

He was clinging on to a windscreen wiper. Were he to fall, its a very unfriendly and unreceptive surface with ballast and rail and concrete sleepers, he would have almost certainly been killed, if not badly injured, PTA spokesperson David Hynes told ABC.

Transport minister Rita Saffioti was quoted as saying there will be an investigation into the incident. People shouldnt be acting stupidly around our rail line, these are serious pieces of infrastructure and they can cause death and of course they can cause serious injuries she told ABC.

The man entered the carriage at the Glendalough station and was detained by PTA officers at the next stop Stirling Station. He was taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for a mental health assessment, SBS reported.

Saffioti said there will be a probe on why the train wasnt stopped immediately. PTA said it did not halt the train because it was nearing Glendalough by the time they were notified.

It was the first time a train surfer was caught in the act. The agency currently has no rules on how to deal with such an incident.
Maleeha Lodhi , Pakistans permanent representative to the United Nations, goofed up at the international stage on Saturday when she used a picture from Gaza to show Indian atrocities in Kashmir.

Lodhi was responding to external affairs minister Sushma Swarajs speech, where she called Pakistan a pre-eminent export factory for terror. However, the photo Lodhi displayed at the UN as proof of Indian violence in Jammu and Kashmir was of 17-year-old Rawya Abu Jom, who was injured when two Israeli airstrikes hit her familys apartment in Gaza during the 2014 war.

The media in Pakistan, which had earlier reacted sharply to Swarajs speech, hailed Lodhis response as befitting. News reports in Pakistani dailies focussed extensively on Lodhis remarks, especially her allegations that India was the mother of terrorism in South Asia.

On Twitter, however, many Pakistanis called out their envoy for the embarrassing gaffe, saying it undermined the seriousness of her response.

Of fake photos and jilted narratives: At #UNGA Maleeha Lodhi shares photo of a Palestinian girl while showing "the face of India". pic.twitter.com/MBK3fadcwe  Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) September 24, 2017

Maleeha Lodhi messed up her strong rebuttal by showing pic from Gaza instead of IoK. Why can't our diplomats do their homework? pic.twitter.com/zFFC9pXlo8  Gen Ghulam Mustafa-R (@_GhulamMustafa_) September 24, 2017

Did the so called learned Maleeha Lodhi actually weaken the Kashmir cause by using a fake picture in UNGA?



She should be fired. NOW.  Fatah (@fatah_pak) September 24, 2017

Govt should call back #MaleehaBlastsIndia after showing fake photo on #Kashmir issue in the #UNGA  Malik Achakzai (@MalikAchkJourno) September 25, 2017

Pak permanent representative at UN Maleeha Lodhi goofs up, tries to pass off image of Gaza teen as Kashmir girl https://t.co/AZNqAigi6j  Umar Cheema (@UmarCheema1) September 24, 2017

Others pointed out that though the photo was from Gaza, it did not negate the fact that India used pellet guns against Kashmiri protestors.

World forgets what Maleeha Lodhi told about India's real atrocities in Kashmir. All they remember is she presented a fake image at #UNGA.  Dr Saqlain Shah (@DrSaqlainSh) September 24, 2017

Ignoring the image controversy as a blunder, the reality is, Maleeha Lodhi slapped back at India literally hard.  Dr Saqlain Shah (@DrSaqlainSh) September 24, 2017
B ronze, a shimmering tower of 77 apartments in burnished panels, reflects not just the sun but the rising allure of Wandsworth town centre.

The local council has paved the way for sweeping changes with the town centre attracting design-conscious young singles and couples priced out of zone one, with new build flats.

For generations, the eight-acre brewery complex in the middle of the town centre was corralled in by an unfriendly one-way road system, hostile for pedestrians and preventing any real sense of neighbourhood.

But it is now being turned into an open waterfront quarter. The Southside shopping mall has been given a makeover and now has a Waitrose supermarket and a Debenhams department store.

Bronze, 20 storeys high, occupies the site of a former light bulb factory and puts some nearby schemes in the shade by offering spacious, light-filled flats with leafy views over King Georges Park and the areas copious open spaces plus a new public square, small business premises and new pedestrian routes.

Prices from 465,000 to 1.5 million. Call 020 3931 1404.
Launched in all Netflix territories (excluding the US and Canada), the streaming service has celebrated to release of the new installation in the sci-fi series by bringing out a trailer in the fictional language, Klingon.

Also on offer will be the choice to watch the new fifteen episodes with Klingon subtitles.

The series, which is set ten years prior to the original series follows a "never seen before era that shaped Federation history."

Starring Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead) as First Officer Michael Burnham, Discovery looks at the voyages of Starfleet as they encounter "new ships, worlds, and villains as the threat of war looms."

Star Trek, one of the most iconic and influential global television franchises, returns to television 50 years after it first premiered. The new series will feature a new ship, new characters and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers.

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Starting Today, episodes will premiere on Netflix at 8am (Irish Time) every Monday, following the US episode broadcast on CBS.

Watch the full trailer below:
Tom Grennan has just released his latest single Royal Highness, which is taken from his forthcoming album Lighting Matches.

Royal Highness is the follow-up single to Grennans Found What I was Looking For, which is currently being used as the title music to Sky Sports Premier League coverage.

The single featured on the Radio 1 (b-list), Virgin and Absolute Radio playlists and racked up almost five million streams.



Grennan wears his indie-pop influences proudly on Royal Highness to deliver another infectious anthem, with Toms soulful vocals taking centre stage.

Its another taste of Toms forthcoming debut album Lighting Matches, which is set to be one of the most important albums of 2018.

The new single is another taste of Toms forthcoming debut album Lighting Matches, which is set to be one of the biggest debut albums of 2018 in the UK.

Tom also features on Bugzy Malones Memory Lane single, which has been added to the Radio 1 playlist and features on Bugzys Top 5 album King Of The North.

With his autumn UK tour about to commence, we can announce Grennan's next round of dates.

Its his biggest headline tour yet and includes a show at Londons Shepherds Bush Empire on 20th March. Fans that preorder the album via Toms official store will get advance access to a pre-sale tickets until 9am on Friday, 29th September.

Unfortunately, there's no Irish dates on his tour yet confirmed, but here's a list of his UK dates:

September

Tue 26th Rescue Rooms, Nottingham - SOLD OUT

Wed 27th KOKO, London - SOLD OUT

Thu 28th Thekla, Bristol - SOLD OUT

Fri 29th The Globe, Cardiff - SOLD OUT

Sat 30th The Old Market, Brighton - SOLD OUT

October

Sun 1st The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - SOLD OUT

Tues 3rd Riverside, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Wed 4th Leaf, Liverpool - SOLD OUT

Thu 5th Sound Control, Manchester - SOLD OUT

Fri 6th o2 Institute 3, Birmingham - SOLD OUT

Sat 7th St Lukes, Glasgow

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March

Fri 16th March SWX, Bristol

Sat 17th Institute1, Birmingham

Sun 18th Waterfront, Norwich

Tue 20th, Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Thu 22nd Ritz, Manchester

Fri 23rd ABC, Glasgow

Sat 24th Rock City, Nottingham

Sun 25th Leadmill, Sheffield
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump, three months after he pulled the U.S. out of the Paris climate accords, faces another critical decision in how far he is willing to go to undo federal efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The president is expected to soon decide whether to overturn the government finding on which the climate change rules put into place by the Obama administration are built. That finding, which determined that global warming endangers public health, established the legal basis for the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels - considered by scientists as the primary cause of rising global temperatures. Eliminating it would leave the administration free to ignore greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite a pledge to do just that, Trump, as with several other issues, is discovering again that it is easier to say something on the campaign trail that get it done through the complicated machinery of government. And again, he is walking the line between true believers who want him to follow through on his pledge to overturn the so-called endangerment finding and pragmatists who see years of court battles ahead with uncertain results.

Indeed, the expectation among some close to the Trump administration is the EPA will stop short of repealing the endangerment finding and merely water down climate change regulations, including the so-called Clean Power Plan, which would force the shuttering of many of the country's coal plants.

"I think they're going to come up with something far less onerous," said Stephen Moore, a Trump campaign adviser and economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation. "Taking on the endangerment finding, it's such a sensitive topic. That's an 800-pound tiger the left will fiercely resist."

A public health risk

Trump, who has railed against climate change as an overblown theory perpetuated by a politicized scientific establishment, will make his decision against the backdrop of deadly storms, including Hurricane Harvey, which have brought climate policy to the forefront again. It's still unclear how the administration and the EPA, led by another climate-change skeptic, Scott Pruitt, will act.

An EPA spokeswoman would say only that the endangerment rule is under review. "Administrator Pruitt encourages the exchange of ideas and is committed to a robust dialogue on the science related to carbon dioxide," she said.

Regulating carbon dioxide, which is produced by everything from cattle farming to volcanoes to humans themselves, has long been controversial. But in 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that carbon dioxide meets the legal definition of a pollutant.

The EPA made its endangerment ruling on carbon dioxide in 2009, finding that carbon dioxide's contribution to global warming posed a grave risk to public health and welfare. From increased heat waves and flooding, to wildfires and plagues of insects, the threats to humanity are voluminous, the report said.

The endangerment finding has already complicated Trump's efforts to roll back Obama-era climate rules. Earlier this year, judges on the Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., ruled that the administration has a legal obligation "to regulate greenhouse gases," essentially forcing it to replace the Clean Power Plan and not simply repeal it as Trump preferred. Pruitt has submitted a draft proposal to regulate power plant emissions to the Office of Management and Budget for review, according to a court filing.

"It may be a judgment you don't need to go after the endangerment finding to block air emissions standards," said Jason Bordoff, a top climate change official in the Obama White House and now a professor at Columbia University. "It's not an easy thing to undo the endangerment finding. It's based on thousands of pages of research by the EPA, which you would have to redo and then defend it in court."

Legal challenges

Conservative groups have pressured Trump to follow through on his campaign pledge but are starting to back off as they recognize the legal challenges that would lay ahead. Myron Ebell, a Trump campaign adviser, said getting rid of the endangerment finding would make it far more difficult for future administration's to adopt climate policies, but he understood, "the imperative to do so is lacking."

If Pruitt's proposal for replacing the Clean Power Plan holds up in court, "they don't have anything really pushing them to reopen the endangerment finding," said Ebell, director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a libertarian think tank. "You can push that decision down the road."

Pruitt is engaging in what the administration has termed a "red team, blue team" exercise, in which experts with opposing points of view debate the scientific arguments for addressing climate change - an approach also endorsed by Energy Secretary Rick Perry. While the overwhelming consensus of scientists believes humans are the primary cause of climate change, there remains disagreement as to how the earth's ecosystems are likely to respond to higher temperatures.

The administration has, at times, sent mixed signals about its climate policy. In a recent appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former Exxon Mobil CEO, said there is a chance the U.S. could stay in the Paris climate agreement "under the right conditions."

But anyone thinking Trump might be softening on climate change better think again, the White House said recently, insisting it had no plans to stay in the Paris agreement unless it was renegotiated - something world leaders have said is a nonstarter.

Climate change regulations have often been overshadowed by other developments, from the standoff with North Korea to the crackdown on illegal immigration to the efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. But, Ebell said, Trump's base still wants the Obama climate policy undone.

"We're still pushing on Paris," Ebell said. "You want to keep up the drumbeat so he doesn't think conservatives have lost interest."
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Making a profit is a lot easier when you don't have to pay or collect taxes.

In all of the talk about the decline of brick-and-mortar stores in the era of online shopping, too often lost in the conversation is the role of taxes, both sales and income varieties.

Online retailers will avoid collecting $211 billion in sales taxes though 2022 because of archaic federal laws, according to the Marketplace Fairness Coalition, a group of retailers lobbying for a level playing field with online stores.

Texas will miss out on $21 billion in taxes because the law has not been updated since the days of paper catalogs delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, the coalition reports. Under those quaint rules, a company is only required to collect sales tax if it has a physical presence within a taxing jurisdiction.

Most shoppers think online purchases are exempt from sales taxes, but they're not. In the 1970s, Congress and the Supreme Court felt that requiring a catalog company to know the sales tax rate in every corner of America was too complicated, so they shifted the burden of paying the tax to the consumer.

RELATED: Online sales taking bite out of state revenue just when Texas needs it

I don't know about you, but I've never calculated how much sales tax I owed on something I bought online. Neither have I sent a check to the Texas comptroller to pay the tax. But neither is the comptroller, an elected official, coming after me to pay the sales tax due on the patio chair cover I ordered from out of state last week.

Therefore, hundreds of billions in tax revenue have been lost.

If I'd bought the same item at a local shop, I would have paid a combined 8.25 percent sales tax to the state, Harris County and Houston. Online shoppers give themselves a discount, and they are doing it more and more, crushing local businesses and hurting the police officers, firefighters and paramedics who rely on sales taxes for their salaries and equipment.

Technology has made the old excuses for not collecting sales tax obsolete. Dozens of computer programs can calculate the sales tax for any ZIP code in the blink of an eye. Amazon does it every day as it manages sales across the country.

I first wrote about this problem for The Associated Press seven years ago, and Congress has made no progress in addressing the problem since then. Every year a bipartisan group of lawmakers puts forth bills to solve the problem. The proposed laws would require states to supply online retailers with the software to charge and collect sales taxes in return for companies collecting them.

But since most Americans don't realize they are cheating on their sales taxes, most would consider the Marketplace Fairness Act a tax hike. As a result, lawmakers do their best to avoid voting on these bills.

The question is how many more big bankruptcies like that of Toys R Us will it take before Congress decides to level the playing field for traditional stores, some of the largest employers in the nation.

To its credit, Amazon started collecting state sales taxes nationwide in March, though it doesn't collect local sales taxes. Amazon doesn't require third-party vendors who use its website to collect any sales tax. That's important because Amazon says more than 100,000 of its vendors each sell more than $100,000 in products a year, which means billions in unpaid taxes.

Amazon also has the advantage that it pays almost no income tax.

Amazon famously reinvests almost all of its revenue into new businesses, like purchasing Whole Foods. As a result, the world's fifth-largest company, valued at $460 billion, has only paid $1.4 billion in federal taxes since 2008, according to an analysis of securities filings by consulting firm L2 Research.

By comparison, Walmart has paid $64 billion in federal income tax during the same period, while only valued at $237 billion. Walmart's problem is that it routinely generates a profit and pays dividends to shareholders, while Amazon does not.

Walmart also pays property taxes on its stores, while Amazon negotiated $241 million in property tax breaks for warehouses built in 2015 and 2016.

So when retail analysts talk about the battle between Amazon and Walmart for the future of retail, it's not a fair fight. Walmart has to charge sales tax, and shareholders continue to buy Amazon stock without expecting the same kind of profit and dividends that they demand from Walmart.

The upcoming holiday shopping season will be a make-or-break period for many brick-and-mortar retailers. The National Retail Federation predicts that online shopping will increase up to 12 percent in 2017, while overall retail sales will increase only 4 percent, signaling yet another kick in the teeth for traditional retailers.

Many times I've called on consumers to shop locally, to support neighborhood businesses and keep our communities thriving. But a chance to cheat on the sales tax is just too strong a draw for too many.

That's why Congress should pass the Marketplace Fairness Act. And as lawmakers overhaul the tax code, they should take a look at how companies like Amazon avoid paying income taxes. It's only fair.
Over the past few years, studies by the Department of Labor and academics have found that wage theft  underpayment of workers by means such as making them work off the clock or failing to pay overtime  is rampant in America. All too often, it goes unreported and unprosecuted.

In some instances, however, wage theft is discovered and earnings are returned. From the beginning of 2014 through July of this year, $29.5 million in back pay was awarded to workers under Texas' Payday Law, according to an open records request filed by the Service Employees International Union and shared with the Houston Chronicle.

The real total is likely much higher, advocates say, since workers  especially undocumented ones  either don't recognize they've been shorted, don't know how to file a claim, or are hesitant to get the government involved in fixing the problem for fear of retaliation.

"There's a lot of fear about what happens if they do make a complaint," says SEIU Texas director Elsa Caballero. "Are they going to lose their job? A crappy job is better than no job."

Over that same January 2014 - July 2017 time frame, 42,788 complaints were filed, and 41,191 were resolved, records show. In addition, about 800 employers were assessed a total of $1.17 million in "bad faith" penalties for knowingly underpaying their workers. Each individual penalty cannot exceed $1,000 or the total amount of unpaid wages, whichever is less.

Normally, the employers at fault are not disclosed to the public; that's why an open records request was required to obtain a list. For the past three legislative sessions, State Rep. Mary Gonzalez, an El Paso democrat, has filed a bill that would have created a public database of offending employers, but each time it's been shot down.

"There's this giant loophole that allows companies to become offenders over and over again," she says.

An analysis of Census data by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute earlier this year found that the average victim of wage theft in Texas loses more than those in all other states.

In 2013, worker advocates in Houston succeeded in creating a local layer of protections against wage theft. However, only a handful of complaints have since been filed under the city's ordinance, and the city does not proactively search for violations in the way that the federal Department of Labor sometimes does.

The SEIU has been helping employees of city contractors, mainly janitors and security guards, file complaints under that ordinance as part of a campaign to organize a union for those workers. A number of their stories are told in a report the group released last week arguing that a union contract provides stronger protections than current laws.
Friday night's "Harvey Can't Mess with Texas" benefit and televised broadcast at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin featured a star-studded lineup of Texas musicians and their famous friends, native celebrities, and two local Houston heroes.

The affair was for Rebuild Texas, the hurricane relief effort created by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in collaboration with the OneStar Foundation.

RELATED: New maps show how contaminated Houston surface water was following Hurricane Harvey

KHOU-TV's Brandi Smith rubbed shoulders with actor Luke Wilson. Willie Nelson covered Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Texas Flood" with Bonnie Raitt, and Jimmie Vaughan, and Matthew McConaughey charmed the Austin crowd.

The night's four hours of music began with Nelson christening the event (naturally) with "Whiskey River" in grand style.

Houston police chief Art Acevedo returned to Austin where he previously presided as chief to remind those watching about the first responders that served so tirelessly during Hurricane Harvey's strike on the Bayou City.

Smith's live, televised heroics during Harvey, most notably saving a truck driver from possible death, were revisited and she received a hearty ovation from the audience.

Legendary acts Paul Simon and James Taylor chipped in with short sets of hits and covers, including Simon covering "Waltz Across Texas" (made famous Ernest Tubb) backed by house band Asleep at the Wheel.

Taylor, looking spry, ran through Eric Von Schmidt's "Wasn't That a Mighty Storm" which was originally written about the 1900 storm that ravaged Galveston. His "Sweet Baby James" with Asleep at the Wheel layering twang over the back end was a revelation.

RELATED: Texas Roadhouse to donate profits to Red Cross Harvey relief effort

Red dirty country outlaw Ryan Bingham reintroduced himself to the crowd, showing off his distinctive rasp that pushed him out in front of his contemporaries a decade ago. His huge white cowboy hat was only a little distracting.

Little Joe y La Familia brought some cheerful Tejano flavor to the proceedings, which did go through some somber stretches befitting the tragedies of Harvey.

McConaughey, Katy's Renee Zellweger, Wilson, Texas Longhorns royalty Vince Young, and Austin locals Andy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker made appearances on a smaller stage in the arena to remind viewers of how to donate to the cause.

The Dixie Chicks' Martie Maguire was nearly a constant onstage along with guitarist Charlie Sexton who acted as the local glue and musical director for the affairs on the main stage.

Lesser-known up-and-comers like Dallas' Leon Bridges, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Mexican pop act Ha*Ash checked in with solid sets. Rateliff and his band elevated the mood in the building with their bouncy hit "S.O.B." before bringing out Raitt for an on-point rendition of Leon Russell's "Delta Lady". Raitt and the rascally Rateliff appeared to have fallen in love musically as the night went on.

RELATED: Harris County could see budget cuts due to Hurricane Harvey's destruction

A highlight of Simon's set near the close of the night was he and wife Brickell doing a sweetly antagonistic cover of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn's "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly".

Simon gave the crowd "America"," The Boxer", and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", sidestepping the obvious "Bridge over Troubled Water" thankfully.

Nelson's closing set, into the fourth hour of the evening, closed with the musical family reconvening onstage for his trademark "I'll Fly Away"/"Will the Circle Be Unbroken" grand finale, sending Texans off into the night on a high note.
Teamwork is what makes TV predictable. As in, how many shows can TV support about elite police or military teams? CBS will premiere a pair of team shows this season, "SEAL Team" and "S.W.A.T," that even putting distance between their respective premieres on Wednesday and Nov. 2 can't hide the fact that they're essentially the same show.

Both are action templates, one about a SWAT team, the other about a SEAL team. Each features a he-man hero. There's an attractive woman in a position of authority in both shows. And each show has the requisite young newbie with a rebellious, rule-breaking streak that reminds each hero of himself in his younger days.

The only real difference between the shows, aside from setting, is that one does an acceptable job with a cliche-ridden formula and the other doesn't.

Even if "SEAL Team" weren't the better show, it has a ratings head start with the presence of David Boreanaz ("Bones") as Jason Hayes, leader of the elite Tier One SEAL team, who reports to by-the-book Lt. Cmdr. Eric Blackburn (Judd Lormand). Naturally, Hayes is a leader who doesn't follow the rules, because TV leaders are boring if they follow the rules and do things by the book. Max Thieriot is the young whippersnapper, Clay Spenser, arriving with a chip on his shoulder and finding Jason ready at every turn to knock it off.

The pilot episode begins with Hayes talking to a shrink, Tony Soprano style, after his best friend has been killed while on a mission. It's part of what SEAL teams deal with, or, in Hayes' case, try to repress because another mission awaits.

More Information 'SEAL Team' When: 8 p.m. Wednesday Network: CBS xxx 'S.W.A.T.' When: 9 p.m. Nov. 2 Network: CBS xx See More Collapse

Mandy Ellis (Jessica Pare, "Mad Men"), a CIA analyst, is often involved in calling the shots for the team. The team has the requisite level of diversity for standard contemporary ensemble action shows, and that includes relationship status. Hayes and his wife, Alana (Michaela Hayes), are taking a break from their marriage, underscoring how much of a strain it can be to be married to a Navy SEAL. Ray Perry (Neil Brown Jr.) is making his marriage work, but it's still a challenge that he can't be with his pregnant wife often enough.

The first two episodes of the show happen to have similar plots. The team is sent to do one thing, finds there are, respectively, a longtime American hostage and a group of civilians that need saving as well, is ordered to stay the course and follow orders, and disobeys.

Creator Benjamin Cavell and his writers pay valuable attention to character and dialogue. It may not rise to the level of "Homeland," but at least we see the SEAL team and others as more than action figures.

"S.W.A.T," on the other hand, is nothing but action figures, and when the characters do speak, they sound so moronic you may as well watch the show with the sound off.

Hondo Harrelson (Shemar Moore) is promoted to head his LAPD SWAT team after the team's white leader shoots an unarmed black kid. Hondo is secretly sleeping with his boss, Jessica Cortez (Stephanie Sigman), but now that he has to report directly to her, they can't continue their relationship. Or, sigh, can they?

Almost all the elements of predictability are in place, but what we need is a young rebel type to add ginned-up dramatic tension. Cue unintentionally hilarious chase scene where LA cops are pursuing a nutcase on a motorcycle, who skids up to the curb in front of the cop shop, pulls off his helmet and tells the cops to leave the ticket on his bike because he's late for work.

When you stop laughing, meet Jim Street (Alex Russell), who thinks rules are to be broken. So does Hondo, but in his new job, he has to force himself to follow them. He won't, of course.

That's it. The action is nonstop and the dialogue is blessedly minimal.

The action looks completely fake, by the way, as if it's all taking place on a Hollywood set and not on the real streets of Los Angeles.

Moore isn't given any heavy lifting to do in the dialogue department, but he looks and acts the rebel hero he's supposed to be. The show itself is flimsy and uninteresting, but given how mediocre the scripts are, it's probably better that the writers don't strain themselves creating actual three-dimensional characters. Or even two-dimensional, for that matter.
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Coco Chanel is getting dressed for a date with someone very important. It's been weeks since she's seen him, so she's getting her hair brushed and just the right getup on.

But this isn't haute couture. Her toiletries and wardrobe are donated: Coco, as she's known, is a homeless Hurricane Harvey refugee. The small Palomino horse is getting a pad strapped to her back for a ride with a 6-year-old with a type of muscular dystrophy.

Alexander Lowery is one of 95 children and six young adults with disabilities who ride with Special CHEERS (Children with Horses for Evaluation, Education, Rehabilitation and Socialization). At least, they did ride with Special CHEERS - until Harvey drowned the 240 acres of barns, trails, riding arenas and other areas the nonprofit leases from the Army Corps of Engineers in northwest Houston.

Now, like so many in our area, the group that provides therapeutic horseback riding and other animal therapy is essentially homeless and making do in temporary digs - in this case, the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy.

"We lost all our saddles," Special CHEERS founder Fritzi Glover-Strowmatt, an occupational therapist, says while she readies Coco, one of 16 horses that she evacuated ahead of the storm in borrowed trailers - two loads of horses and one of feed. Everything else that wasn't taken was lost.

Well before Harvey struck, Special CHEERS was planning a 15th-anniversary gala to raise money to underwrite low-income riders (the group accepts private insurance and Medicaid); feed the horses, which costs $4,000 a month; and, ironically, replace a ramp and deck that were damaged in the 2016 Tax Day flood. That time, Special CHEERS's site got 5 feet of water. With Harvey, it was more like 15.

The gala is still on for Saturday, and its theme, "Stand by Me," is more important than ever.

"It's our only fundraiser," co-chair Lynn Kelly says. "We've got a lot riding on this event." So to speak.

Special CHEERS's staff could use some low-key fun, according to fellow co-chair Loraine Lyons.

"They're all unemployed," Lyons says. "... We want to give everybody hope, to see that we're (getting) back in business."

In the meantime, businesses and foundations, including local Dover Saddlery and Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Parelli Foundation, have given brushes, buckets, halters and more so that Special CHEERS can at least keep up "activities and daily living" instruction. These classes use animal grooming, for example, to address fine-motor skills and impart a sense of caretaking and responsibility.

But until the special saddles, safety belts, tack and other equipment that serve this population of riders are replaced, there are no riding classes (Alexander rode specially for this story). A few items are on their way.

More Information 'STAND BY ME' GALA

What: Western-themed fundraiser celebrating Special CHEERS's 15th anniversary with barbecue, drinks, dancing, live and silent auctions and music by Shayne Still & Southern Blend Band

When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday

Where: Daisy Dukes Modern Country Bar, 5002 Washington

Tickets and information: individual tickets start at $125, tables $2,750 and up; specialcheers.com, 713-983-0075 or email specialcheers@yahoo.com

Donate: Special CHEERS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; contributions are tax deductible. Special CHEERS therapy Equine and other animal therapy improves development and function. Diagnoses treated: autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy and learning, mental health and developmental disability, among others Goals: Facilitate language, balance, coordination, fine and gross motor skills, range of motion, strength, endurance, focus and self-esteem, to name a few See More Collapse

Thanks to the equestrian center, Glover-Strowmatt was able to keep the Special CHEERS horses, mother-daughter goats Amy and Lolli and pot-bellied pig Glitzy together. Little Pennie, one of the therapy dogs, too (the rest are at Glover-Strowmatt's house).

But it isn't home. Home is gone.

When Glover-Strowmatt visited the Special CHEERS facility a couple of weeks ago, she retrieved some special pommels her riders grip in place of reins, knowing she could sanitize them. But the scene was bleak: black mold, caved-in roofing and an upended water well that will need to be redug if Special CHEERS returns. The group is looking around for a new location as well.

"I don't know what our options are," Glover-Strowmatt says. "What do you do when you only qualify for a low-interest loan?"

That's the question she's asking. The one she's hearing from families: When are you coming back?

For children such as Alexander, equine therapy is not a luxury but a necessity.

"Come into my humble abode," Glover-Strowmatt tells him as he enters an arena. Once a week for an hour, since just before he turned 3, the smiling, talkative boy has gotten out of a fire-engine-red, motorized wheelchair to tackle his spinal muscular atrophy.

First on Buddy, now on Coco, Alexander experiences the movement of the horse engaging his core, which should delay and lessen the scoliosis that's coming, his mother, Maryann Lowery, explains.

"He knows it's therapy, but it's fun therapy," she says as a small group watches her son ride.

"Watch, then wash Sancha," says 19-year-old Zachary Lyons, who's Loraine's son and on the autism spectrum.

Sancha is a gray Percheron, a 2,500-pound draft horse that can accommodate adult riders. She, like, all Special CHEERS animals, is a rescue. Once a bag of bones, she's put on 1,000 pounds since coming to the nonprofit in 2012. Clients respond to her love of water and enjoy giving her baths.

While Zachary hoses Sancha down, Glover-Strowmatt looks concerned after Alexander's ride. As he spins his chair to get dizzy, she notes tension in his neck that wasn't there pre-Harvey.

Earlier, she teared up describing the loss Special CHEERS has endured.

"I feel like I didn't get enough done. Without the kids, there is no Special CHEERS. I live for the kids. They're my divine purpose on Earth."

For now, she and her daughter, Aurali Glover, 24, are doing their best to care for the animals, which are struggling to adjust to small stalls under fluorescent lights. Many used to lie down for an hour to rest their legs but can't easily do so anymore.

"She's used to grazing," Glover-Strowmatt says, nodding to Coco. "Now she's cooped up in jail."

One of the goats has lost weight. Glitzy, the pig, out of her pen one day, headed toward an adjacent school when she heard little ones' voices. She's used to working with children.

It seems Glitzy, like Glover-Strowmatt, is itching to get back to work.

"We want to be a home of hope for children, for the medically fragile and with special needs," Glover-Strowmatt says.

Now they just need a home.
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George Venson painted in the jungle this summer for a hotel commission project. Belize luxury boutique property Itz'ana will open in December with his murals and other artwork in the reception area, bar and other parts of the resort (including some ceilings). The yearlong project was "very poetic," he says.

It's not the first time Rice University visual arts grad Venson, who was raised in San Antonio and now lives in New York, has been tapped by an upscale resort for his imaginative, vibrant work - but it's the first time he's been given so much artistic freedom. The 32-year-old felt inspired by the surroundings.

"The more isolated, the more off the grid, the better," he says. "It enables a lot more creativity and abstract thinking."

For similar "fantasy escape" projects in the future, perhaps he can pack his paint brushes in the luggage that's just been added to his growing lifestyle brand, Voutsa. Handmade in Italy, the take-notice trunks and trolleys are covered in, and silk-lined with, the same color-rich patterns on the wallpaper that put the young artist on the interior-design map.

"Really chic people are into them," Venson says of the luggage. When he carries pieces through airports, "every single person will ask about them."

His textiles, also made in Italy, are another new addition to the Voutsa line, which is often playful. Venson's signature lips decorate rooms in Liz Lambert's newly imagined Austin Motel. Other patterns feature tile, snakes, fish, butterflies, chickens, jewelry, octupuses and other sea creatures, plant life, genitalia and toga-clad Greek men playing instruments.

This original artwork is digitized via photography and scanning, then weaved before being printed on grasscloth wallpaper. A similar technique is used for the textiles. All of it can be purchased online - in the age of Instagram and Pinterest, decor should be available to anyone, Venson says, not just those who have hired a professional decorator.

Later this year, his wallpaper will be featured in the New Museum of Contemporary Art's 40th anniversary retrospective. His fall collection of textiles and wallpaper features florals.

"I love the diversity in the contemporary world of all these really different individuals consuming these things and living with them and enjoying them," he says. "It's the most fulfilling thing ever."

Voutsa textiles start at $200 a yard, wallpaper from $600 and luggage from $1,550; voutsa.com. Available in Texas through Supply Showroom; supplyshowroom.com.
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Alana Mock jolted awake about 2:30 a.m.

Her 14-year-old daughter, Layla Ramos, hadnt come home, so Mock grabbed her cellphone.

Where are you at? she texted. Please come home Im worried.

An hour later, Layla sent a cryptic reply. She was at Walmart.

Mock tried to call her daughter, but Laylas phone was dead.

She had a hunch, though, where Layla might be. Back when Layla used to stay out all night, before she had gone through rehab, she used to crash at a house in Atascocita that belonged to a former neighbor.

Shed find her in the morning, Mock thought, as she fell back asleep.

But the morning would be too late.

In Atascocita, across town from Mocks Aldine home, Anthony Valle called 911 to report an intruder breaking into his house, according to a written dispatch log obtained by the Houston Chronicle under the states open records law.

Valle fired twice, hitting and killing the intruder. Then, he told the 911 operator, he realized the intruder wasnt a stranger.

Its Layla, he said to operators. She was a friend.

Mystery still shrouds the fatal shooting on July 20. Valle, 43, has not been charged in connection with Laylas death and has not responded to requests for comment.

The case remains under investigation by the Harris County Sheriffs Office, said sheriffs Deputy Thomas Gilliland.

But as Mock and other family members grieve Laylas death, they also want answers about why she was there and what happened.

Not a little girl

Mock, 35, raised Layla and her three siblings in the Atascocita neighborhood where she grew up, a few streets over from the house in the 19900 block of River Brook where Layla died.

A playground is down the street. Signs proclaiming We love our children line the roads, cautioning drivers to slow down.

The teen was known in the neighborhood for her dimpled smile and sunny disposition.

She eschewed school but loved animals, bringing home stray cats and dogs that her mother and stepfather didnt know what to do with.

She was feisty, said her aunt, Carmalita Lugo, 41.

But Laylas childhood was far from idyllic. In 2014, at age 11, she was left in the care of her grandmother and stepfather when her mother landed behind bars for nine months for theft and evading arrest. Layla spiraled out of control despite the familys efforts, and Mock said her daughter was unrecognizable when she returned home in late 2015.

The once-cheerful Layla  whom Mock called baby girl until the day she died  was thin and had started doing drugs.

Mock shook her head recently as she searched for words to describe what her daughter had become. She was just strung out, all the time, she said.

Layla posted photos on Instagram of alcohol, pills and hundreds of dollars in cash.

Layla became friends with Valles teenage daughter and visited the house frequently. For a time, neighbors thought she lived there. Valle even drove her to visit her mother in jail.

We thought he was a good guy, Mock said.

By then, the once-easy-going teen had become combative, getting into a physical fight with her mother at Valles house once when Mock tried to take her home, the mother said.

This is not a little girl who wants to play with Barbies anymore, Lugo, Laylas aunt, said several days after the girls death. This is a little girl who wants to run in the streets and physically fight with her mother to get her way.

In September 2016, Alana Mock uprooted the household to get her teenage daughters away from the Atascocita neighborhood.

In April, she sent Layla to a juvenile rehab program for a second time.

Back to Atascocita

This time, rehab seemed to stick.

Layla, who turned 14 in March, was excited to start eighth grade at Hambrick Middle School in Aldine ISD in the fall.

She appeared sober. She seemed to spend her days at home, watching her 6- and 3-year-old siblings.

After more than two tumultuous years, the teen was ready for normalcy, her mother said.

Then Layla found her way back to Atascocita.

In the predawn hours before she died, Layla sent a series of texts to her sister, Angelica Morales, 19, and her mother. She said she was with someone but did not identify the person. The texts were shared with the Chronicle by Mock and Morales.

Dnt say Im wit him if he calls u, she sent in a text to Morales about 1:30 a.m. Then she texted a response to her mother about 3:30 a.m.

Im barely at Walmart, she texted. He was waiting for someone to drop off the money.

Gilliland, with the sheriffs office, said investigators have since obtained cell phone records and surveillance video from that night.

By 5:15 a.m., Layla was at Valles house, dead on the floor of his back bedroom, with gunshot wounds to the neck and torso.

Alana Mock unknowingly sent her husband to Valles house about 7 a.m. that morning to look for the teen.

He found deputies at the residence instead.

I called [Alana] crying before I even knew it was Layla, said Daniel Mock, 34.

Valle initially told the dispatcher he didnt know why Layla was in the house, according to the call log. Then he told the dispatcher she wanted to take his cellphone.

She was lying about him, according to the call log describing the conversation. And he had recordings of her saying she was lying.

The log does not include any additional details.

Valle was questioned after the gunfire, but no charges were filed, Gilliland said.

Pushing for answers

Family and friends gathered a couple days after the shooting at a relatives house, selling barbecue plates, drinks and cookies to raise funds for a funeral they wished they werent planning.

An uncle grilled meat at the side of the house. Others seasoned chicken and cut up sausage in the kitchen.

Daniel Mock said he struggles to believe Layla is really gone. One of the stray dogs his stepdaughter used to feed still comes by the house, and he leaves food for it, as if Layla would come back soon to take care of the animal, Mock said.

He and Alana Mock cant get beyond Laylas final moments. They cant reconcile her death with the enthusiasm she felt at returning to school and her plans to become a makup artist in the future.

"In my heart," Layla's mother said, "I knew she was going to be OK this time."
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Desirie Dougall didn't think twice about her own safety as floodwaters rose rapidly on Aug. 27. Instead, she focused on those women inside the house - women who were already in a vulnerable situation - and getting them out of harm's way as quickly as possible.

The house, serving recovering victims of human trafficking, is Dougall's home-away-from home several days a week. Within hours of the flooding from Hurricane Harvey, five residents and support staff were shuttled to safety in a flat-bottomed boat, courtesy of a neighbor.

"We had the ladies pack just a small bag of what they could take with them, which was scary for them," said Dougall, operations director for Redeemed Ministries, a Houston faith-based anti-trafficking organization specializing in residential care for adult victims. "The other staff members and I just assured them that everything was OK, and we were going to get out."

Houston is a major hub for human trafficking, partly because of its proximity to the border. Texas, overall, has more than 300,000 human trafficking victims, including nearly 79,000 youths or minors who have been forced into prostitution or other forms of sex trafficking, according to a University of Texas study earlier this year.

Redeemed Ministries, Dougall said, is one of the few rehabilitation houses in the city for human trafficking, and its operations cannot properly continue until the house has been repaired.

"It's changed the landscape of the resources available for trafficking victims," Dougall said of the impact of the damage to the home.

Redeemed Ministries started as a nonprofit in 2008 and began its residential program in 2010. For the past seven years, it has hosted up to eight recovering women and support staff, such as Dougall. The organization's current house was donated in August 2016 and is the third home the program has occupied.

Redeemed Ministries provides in-house therapy and rehabilitation services to women emerging from lives in human trafficking, where many were forced into the sex industry as minors, Dougall said. For safety reasons, the location of the house cannot be revealed.

Entrance into the program is voluntary, said the organization's executive director Dennis Mark. Women coming to Redeemed for themselves, and not to please others, is an important part of the recovery process.

The program participants are afforded a family-like home structure, access to health care, individual and group therapy and activities geared toward emotional healing. It comes at no cost to the women.

In providing a system of support similar to a family, Dougall said, Redeemed Ministries aims to heal through relationships built on trust and support.

Their focus is on preventing re-exploitation by working to heal the mental and physical effects of trauma, Mark said. Maintaining a structured and stable environment is essential - especially in the first six months. So a major disruption such as moving unexpectedly due to a disaster can have serious consequences on the women.

"The main cost was the chaos and disruption and putting the women back into survival mode," Mark said. "We had two women who had only been in the house for a week when we had to evacuate."

The residents were placed in a hotel the night of the evacuation while the organization's leadership worked to find a longer-term host home, Mark said, and the environment was not ideal.

"There's a lot of triggers in hotels, where many of the women have had to work in the past," Mark said. "We were blessed to have a woman open her home to us so we could get the women transferred from the hotel and back into a normal residence again."

Displaced 'chaos'

It was the following Wednesday after Harvey hit when they could assess the damage, Dougall said. By comparison to some of the surrounding homes the Redeemed Ministries house sustained minor losses.

"The garage was flooded badly, and the house itself, water got into the first floor," Dougall said. "Our original repair estimate was six to eight weeks."

The organization fielded offers from long-term hosts for the women from as far as Alaska in the days following the evacuation, Mark said. Though more recent estimates suggest the home may be operational in two or three weeks, Mark said, the sooner they can return to the house, the better.

Redeemed Ministries is not taking on new residents until operations at the house resume, Mark said, and the healing process cannot properly continue until the women are back in their own beds.

"As long as they are displaced, then they are in chaos," Mark said.

Chaos, he said, is the state trafficking victims are in during their exploitation, and it is often what prevents them from experiencing proper care. For this reason, he said, it is critical to return the women to the structured lifestyle provided within the home.

Other anti-trafficking organizations and members of the community have worked to make this possible, and Dougall and Mark credit their ability to continue operations to their help.

A 2nd Cup, a nonprofit coffeehouse in the Heights and longtime ally of Redeemed Ministries, hosted multiple fundraising efforts in the weeks following Hurricane Harvey.

"I saw early on that they were worried about the house flooding, and I watched it flood, and I watched them be rescued by boat," said Erica Raggett, founder and executive director of A 2nd Cup. "We know that our customers care about all of our partners, so we knew that they would care about this."

'Filling a role'

Since then, Raggett said the coffeehouse has raised between $2,000 and $3,000 for Redeemed Ministries through at-the-counter donations, a fundraising lunch and dinner and by reserving a portion of the proceeds from normal operations.

Raggett has been supporting Redeemed, and other anti-trafficking groups, since her time with the organization prior to opening A 2nd Cup. She got her start with Redeemed Ministries nearly seven years ago.

"They are filling an important role in our city," she said. "It's vital that we come alongside them and do whatever we can to support them."

Repairs to the house began Sept. 11. Dougall said Redeemed Ministries hasn't yet had time to identify exactly what will need to be replaced in the home, so for now, those eager to help are being directed to its website for donations.

"People really came through in a tough time - not just for Redeemed, but for everybody in Houston and along the Gulf Coast," Mark said. "We set the bar very high on how people respond to natural disasters."
A college student who pushed for the deportation of his fellow classmate will now have to finish his studies at another university.

Tayler Ragg, a self-proclaimed Trump supporter, is no longer enrolled at Transylvania University in Kentucky after he campaigned to have fellow student Paola Garcia deported. He posted to the "10th Crusade Enthusiasts," a white supremacist's Facebook page: "Everyone go report this illegal at my school bragging about breaking the law." That social media account has since been deleted.
Health care

Regarding "Just one health bill qualifies as 'extreme'" (Page A19, Friday), Jonah Goldberg misses the point of health care reform if there is to be any. It's not about what is extreme; it is about what will get us close to safe, affordable and timely health care - for all. If one looks at other systems around the world, what works for the people of developed countries, not their respective health care industries, is a nationalized system.

Do we Americans really want our state legislators deciding what will work in our state? Based on past legislators' willingness to expand Medicaid, this is likely to lead to huge disparities from state to state.

As far as Medicare expansion is concerned, there needs to be some major changes in how it operates if all Americans are to benefit. It should be run by a team of expert individuals (not state or federal bureaucrats), directly elected by the public. There would be no appointees, and the experts would serve three-to-four-year terms. Money could not be used to support election of any expert candidate. Lobbyists would not be allowed except by request of the experts. Most of the experts would be patient advocates, sensitive to the needs of people, not industry.

Emphasis would be placed on preventive care and payment for medical care that is unnecessary would be withheld. There would be full transparency in cost and quality of all care delivered. Even the Joint Commission could not keep its inspections secret. Extreme, yes, but of, by and for people.

John T. James, Houston

Freeway system

Regarding "Flood control effort draws help from Army Corps" (Page A1, Friday), within the very valid reporting regarding the status of flood retention pond requirements for developers, one critical issue has been overlooked. By far, the largest paved development in the region is the freeway system. I haven't seen it calculated but Interstate 10 alone between downtown and the Grand Parkway covers several thousand acres of pavement.

The problem of retention will not be solved until TxDOT, Harris County Tollroad Authority and Metro are required to set aside greenspace equal to the paved area of their roadways.

These freeways are actually far worse than a residential or retail development because they not only fail to offset the pavement with retention ponds, they are actually anti-retention ponds in that they make every effort, including pumps, to speed the water off the roadway and into the neighborhoods and bayous. Any serious flood control plan must address this issue.

John M. McGinty, Houston

Lots of bluster

Regarding "U.S. broadens sanctions against North Korea" (Page A16, Friday), listening to North Korea's Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump's bravado match over nuclear weapons is dispiriting. Neither we nor they are going to hurl nuclear weapons at each other.

North Korea won't have enough weapons to do anything effective except guarantee its total destruction. The U.S. is not going to do a first strike just because North Korea has a weapon that can reach us.

The only real nuclear threat to the mainland is a surreptitious attack by a non-nation-state actor. After such a strike, we won't know who to counter-strike and thus won't be able to use our nuclear weapons.

Walt Lind, Nassau Bay
The following are excerpts from reports generated by the Texas County Sheriffs Department:

A deputy responded at about 8:50 p.m. Sept. 20 after a 76-year-old man reported a truck parked in the roadway on Varvel Road at Willow Springs. The officer was unable to locate it.

A deputy responded at about 3:15 p.m. Sept. 15 regarding a report of a meth lab at St. Anna Drive at Plato. The officer made contact with a woman who was camping at the location who said she didnt know anything about it. The officer searched the area and found nothing.

A representative of the Missouri Department of Transportation reported on Sept. 21 that a 20-foot long by 30-inch wide piece of gray plastic pipe valued at $661 had been stolen from a location on Highway AN at Success. There are no suspects.

On Sept. 16, a deputy responded to a request by the Houston Police Department with a property damage case at S&S Package Store in Houston.

A police officer told the deputy a vehicle had run into the store and an employee believed the driver was a man who lived on Brown Hill Road. The deputy went to the suspects home and determined his vehicle had no damage. The man stated he had been home all day.

A deputy on Sept. 16 responded to a report of property damage at a Hunter Drive residence at Summersville. An 82-year-old man who lives there told the officer a bus he uses for storage on the property had been broken into and a small butane burner and cast iron lead smelting pot had been stolen. There are no suspects.

A deputy responded on Sept. 12 to a report from Intercounty Electric Cooperative that electricity was being stolen at a Dorman Drive residence at Licking.

The officer made contact with a 23-year-old man who lives there who showed the officer where the meter base had been jumped. During the investigation, the officer determined a black dove tail trailer valued at $2,000 and an air compressor valued at $500 that were both at the scene had been stolen from a Hartshorn man.

The items were seized and returned to their owner, and a probable cause statement was sent to the county prosecutor seeking theft charges against the man.

A 32-year-old Houston woman reported on Sept. 12 that an air-conditioning unit valued at $400 had been stolen from her Highway B residence at Raymondville. The woman told an investigating officer she believed the man who is her landlord swiped it.

A 68-year-old Licking man reported on Sept. 11 that a Troy Bilt pressure washer valued at $500 had been stolen from the porch of his Shafer Road residence. There are no suspects.

A deputy responded at about 4:10 p.m. Sept. 13 to a report of theft at a Stillhouse Road residence at Mountain View.

A 58-year-old woman who lives there told the officer a GMC pickup and several other items with a total value of $3,125 had been stolen. Two men were identified as suspects and investigation of the case continues.

Texas County Jail admissions

Sept. 18

Sharon L. Barton  writ

Jessica L. Morris  writ

Isom C. Roberts  Kansas parole warrant

Johny L. Dixon  possession of controlled substance

Louie D. Mowan  Wright County hold

Sept. 19

James P. Charlton  deliver or possession of controlled substance at jail

Shyola J. Snelson  bond revocation

Manuel D. Sanchez  passing bad check

Miles C. Wolf Jr.  sentenced to DOC

Wilford H. Storm  sentenced to DOC

Tonya B. Pollack  bond revocation

Jimmy A. Waters  Christian County hold

Sept. 20

Lucas McGaugh  72-hour commitment

Kayla M. Turner  stealing motor vehicle

Isis Schauer  murder

Andrew J. Vrba  murder

Briana Calderas  murder

Sept. 21

Christina J. Maddox  24-hour commitment

Roger A. Christ  trespassing

Sept. 22

Jessica Morris  writ

James T. Grigsby  tampering with evidence in felony prosecution, abandonment of corpse

Andrew M. Hildebrand  non-support

Melinda G. Coonts  DWI

Sept. 23

Tabitha J. Snelson  endangering welfare of a child

Sept. 24

Christina Maddox  24-hour commitment
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has met with Canadian business representatives as part of his working visit to Canada and invited them to Ukraine, the press service of the head of state reported on September 23.

"We are doing all we can to make the ties between our countries closer. Earlier, Canadian Ukrainians invested in Ukraine to support the economy, and now the entire Canadian business is ready to come [to Ukraine]. I want to tell you - now is the right time and place for investment," he said, adding that Ukraine has great potential.

Poroshenko recalled that Ukraine had completed the placement of Ukrainian sovereign bonds worth $3 billion several days ago.

"This is a good signal of investor confidence in Ukraine and the reforms that are being conducted," he said.

The head of state spoke about changes in Ukraine, in particular, anti-corruption steps, the introduction of electronic declarations and the latest reforms implemented by the Ukrainian authorities.

The president drew attention of Canadian businessmen to the assessments of international financial organizations, which say that over the past three years Ukraine has done more than in the previous 20 years.

"A number of Canadian companies operating in the field of energy, agriculture, defense and finance, and the aircraft industry have shown significant interest in the Ukrainian market, especially in the context of the introduction of free trade with Ukraine," reads the report.
Rep. Jason Smith discussed his focus on farms, plans for tax reform and his work with President Donald Trump last week during a meeting with the Texas County Farm Bureau.

Smith spent the month of August visiting locally owned farms and agribusinesses across southeast and south central Missouri, many of whom were concerned about burdensome regulations and the countrys complicated tax code.

Within the last year, I have had the honor of working with the Trump administration to repeal more than $36 billion dollars worth of Obama-era regulations, said Smith. One of our biggest successes was rescinding the Waters of the United States regulation, which sought to federally regulate every drop of water on Missouri farmers land.

Smith, who spoke inside the community center at the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Fairgrounds, also talked about his work on tax reform.

As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am fighting for a fairer, flatter tax code that will allow families to run their small businesses without being taxed left and right by bureaucrats in Washington, said Smith.

President Trump and Vice President (Mike) Pence are ready to see this happen. In fact, I had dinner with the vice president just last week, and we talked about tax reform that makes America competitive again and gives hard working families across Missouri and the U.S. a long overdue pay raise.

Small businesses create approximately half of all jobs in the United States; however, their tax rates are as high as 44.6 percent. Due to the complexities of the tax code, American businesses spend more than $147 billion dollars each year just to file their tax returns.

Instead of shops on Main Street spending what they make on hiring more employees and investing in expanding their business, they are forced to give their money to the government, said Smith. We need a tax code that rewards people for working hard, not one that punishes them.

American taxpayers spend more than 6 billion hours and $262 billion dollars a year to make sure they are in compliance with the U.S. tax code.

Not only are small businesses spending outrageous amounts of their time and money to figure out our tax code, but average Americans who are working hard every day and trying to raise a family have to spend money to figure it out too, said Smith.

Smith is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, the only committee in Congress with primary jurisdiction over federal tax measures. On Aug. 30, Smith joined Trump in Springfield for his speech on tax reform.
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Ukraine almost doubles gas inventories in six months since end of heating season

Ukraine has almost doubled gas inventories in underground storage or by 7.948 billion cubic meters (bcm) since the end of the heating season, according to operational data from Ukrtransgaz.

The inventories amounted to 16.048 bcm on September 23, up from 8.1 bcm on March 22.

The current inventories are 15.5% more than on September 23, 2016 (13.895 bcm), 4.2% more than on September 23, 2015 (15.399 bcm) and 2.8% less than on September 23, 2014 (16.512 bcm), according to Interfax-Ukraine calculations.

Ukraine had 14.7 bcm in storage when the 2016/2017 heating season began in mid-October 2016.

The action plan to prepare the energy complex to the autumn and winter period 2017-2018 approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine envisages that Ukraine by November 1, 2017 will accumulate 17 bcm of gas in underground storage facilities.
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loyers looking to bring new graduates onto their team may be underestimating what theyre in for after one new study showed many have unrealistic expectations upon entering the workforce.Online recruitment site Monster.com surveyed 2,368 job seekers and employers from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines in an effort to gage graduate sentiment and employer perceptions.The study found that while almost half of Singapore graduates  47 per cent  took up three months to land their first job, they were also fairly quick to leave. In fact, 30 per cent quit after less than a year.Their main reasons were cited as seeking more professional growth opportunities (67 per cent), more money (42 per cent), career change (30 per cent) and better challenges (21 per cent).As for job difficulties, the newcomers cited lack of industry knowledge (61 per cent), mentorship (34 per cent) and feedback and support (23 per cent)  about a quarter also admitted they were not fully prepared for working life or the long hours.The results reveal a prominent disconnect between employers and graduates as eighty per cent of employers felt they provide adequate support for young talent to grow.Sanjay Modi, Monsters managing director of APAC and the Middle East, said graduates often have unrealistic expectations when it comes to compensation but said employers must also think about improving their support systems."This mismatch is a cause of concern and a wake-up call for both employers and fresh grads to take concrete steps and hit the right balance between their expectations and needs, said Modi."Evidently, young talent expect to move quickly in their first jobs... and they crave the mentorship and support necessary to get there," he added.
es probably the best argument for keeping strictly separate personal phones and work phones: A junior M&A banker has been fired for his use of Tinder.Co-workers revealed the banker, who was working for a major international firm, was sacked for sending inappropriate messages via Tinder on his own phone, while his boss was paying the bill, Efinancial Careers reported.One expert said the issue appeared to have arisen from banks adopting Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, where staff use their personal phone, with their employer paying the bill.Nana Wereko-Brobby of Social Concierge, a matchmaking firm which organizes events for young bankers in London and New York, said those policies were blurring lines between personal and business use.Factoring in dating applications and banks desire to monitor employees messages, the grey area only grows.Wereko-Brobby advises employees to keep app-swiping and dating out of the office.If you work in banking its expensive to make you redundant; you dont want to create an opening to let you go on disciplinary grounds.Banks increasing desire to monitor their employees mobile phone use has been prompted by the realization that workers may be using personal mobile devices for price discovery, quoting and trading.In monitoring employees devices for encrypted messages, information sent with dating apps are more likely to be caught as well, says Oliver Blower, VoxSmart CEO.
would you like to grow your compensation by 78.5% in a year?Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings was paid $8.32 million in 2017, the company disclosed, making him the highest-paid chief executive of any listed company or fund in New Zealand.Long-term incentives of $3.85 million comprised 46% of Spierings pay. Base salary of $2.46 million accounted for 30% and short-term incentives made up 22% of the package. Benefits accounted for 2%.This is the first time that Fonterra has broken down his pay.Two years ago, Spierings sought a freeze in his basic salary because of 750 job cuts. He remained eligible, however, for bonuses. At the time, he was earning $5 million.Spierings 2017 pay equates to $160,000 a week while average weekly earnings for full-time wage earners are at $1,094, after an increase of 3.1%, according to data from Statistics New Zealand.The numbers naturally gave rise to questions.Federated Farmers vice-president Andrew Hoggard, wanted to know to know what Spierings' counterparts in leading international dairy companies made this year, and what the performance measures were."If it's on the fact the milk price has gone up, that's the wrong measure, because he's got zero control over that, but if it's based on moving milk into higher value products, increased profitability, reduced costs, then he's obviously earned it," Hoggard said.But Chris Lewis, dairy industry group chairman and national board member for Federated Farmers, defended Spierings pay by saying it was based on performance incentives.Lewis said the value-add side of the business had gone very well and part of Spierings pay would be linked to that.He earlier said if Spierings was worth every bit of his pay the farmers would not complain, and that if any farmer or supplier had a problem, then they should ask the board.Fonterra Chairman John Wilson acknowledged that the subject of executive remuneration would undoubtedly cause comment.They are big numbers, he agreed, as he pointed out that while base salaries had remained largely unchanged, some far reaching targets under its so called "velocity" programme had been met.This year, for instance, Fonterra announced a 52% increase in payout for its farmer shareholders. Revenue was up 12% to $19.2 billion.Net profit after tax, however, was down 11% to $745 million because of reduced margins across the business.Wilson said that while the 2016/2017 remuneration were based on velocity-delivered initiatives, Fonterra would be returning to a more traditional incentive programme, linked to return on capital, earnings per share metrics, and aligned to farmer returns.
Naftogaz raises gas purchase by 28.9% in eight months of 2017, imports by 83%

NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy purchased 15.6 billion cubic meters of gas in January-August of 2017, which is 3.5 billion cubic meters, or 29.8%, more than in the same period in 2016, the company has said.

According to its data, imports from the European market grew by 2.9 billion cubic meters, or 83%, to 6.4 billion cubic meters of gas.

"This year Naftogaz has bought gas from 12 European suppliers. None of the companies delivered more than 30% of imported gas," Naftogaz said.

Almost all this gas was received from the Slovak direction, while supplies from the Hungarian sector amounted to a mere 100 million cubic meters.

The company noted supplies of imported gas to Ukraine from the Russian Federation both in 2016 and in 2017 were not implemented, all volumes of imported gas came from the European direction.




Two weeks ago... the rug was somewhat pulled out from under my feet, when I was spectacularly dropped as one of the faces of L'Oreal's True Match foundation campaign.

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This came in response to a Facebook post that was written a month prior, in which I called out white supremacy, systemic racism and white privilege.

This post was screenshotted, taken out of context and sent to the Daily Mail.

The post then went viral, as I was the first transgender model to be signed to the brand in the UK.

It then became worldwide news, being reported by pretty much every media outlet in the world, printed on front pages, discussed on television and social media timelines. Essentially I was being buried by the conservative press.

Then a conversation started to form in the liberal media about what was REALLY going on... How my message had been twisted intentionally and ironically what I was calling out was now happening to me and playing out in front of our eyes.

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Faced with a sink or swim situation, I was invited onto every major television network to elaborate on what I meant in that Facebook post.

I took up every opportunity I had to state my case and stand in my truth. I didn't back down, despite immense backlash from the public and right-wing press.

I've received threats of death, rape and violence, anonymous phone calls and friends selling me out. But it's only made me more and more determined to refine my message, educate people and get my true message out there into the world. That we live in a racist society and largely not owning up to it or discussing why things are the way they are for people of colour.

So that's where I'm at right now... Still very much in the eye of a media storm, but I'm definitely starting to see the future coming into focus. Over the next nine weeks I'm going to be giving you an insight into future projects, where my views come from and how I hope to refine my message into a message that can push us forward together and bring about real change.

New Activists is a new HuffPost UK docu-reality series that follows the lives of a unique and aspirational cast of young activists in real time. They are loud on social media, they are marching on the streets and they are challenging the status quo. New Activists tells the stories of the next generation of people who are changing the world

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It's with an unpleasant sense of deja vu that I write this, but for the fifth year running the time has come round again when the Government allows the killing of thousands of badgers, despite the fact that they're supposedly a protected species.

The badger cull policy was designed as part of the Government's strategy to combat bovine TB (bTB) - an issue that is leading to the slaughter of around 2500 cattle per month in England according to Defra. What the Government seems to have continually failed to comprehend, though, is that you could kill every single badger in the land and you would still have bTB. In honesty, with this year's maximum badger kill target set at 33,000 badgers, as part of a cull which the Government's own independent expert panel deemed inhumane, it makes you wonder if total badger eradication is actually their true aim?

Bovine TB is undeniably a complex issue. It causes devastation to farmers and is something that needs to be resolved. Aside from thinking about the way we farm and the way consumers 'demand' a high volume of dairy products at low prices, there are many many other issues over and above badgers in the bTB debate. Stricter control of animals' movements and a better, and more accurate, testing regime are just some. Cattle vaccination is another.

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What's perplexing about this policy of killing pretty much as many badgers as physically possible with no end result, is that everyone knows this policy is not only cruel, barbaric and expensive (c5000 of your lovely tax payer money per badger killed), but it is also pointless. The infamous Randomised Badger Cull Trial (RBCT) showed that, after 10 years, 50 million spent and over 10,000 badgers killed in far more controlled conditions those of the current cull, "badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain."

So why oh why is this cull continuing? And why on earth has it been expanded so widely this year when previous years of killing have resulted in nothing but badger deaths, high cost and extreme levels of public anger. This year the cull expanded into Devon, Wiltshire, Dorset and Cheshire as well as the original zones in Somerset and Gloucestershire. As taxpayers, we've already funded the killing of around 15,000 badgers since this cull began and really we don't want any more. No one does. This is just culling for culling's sake. What's more, this year's target is measured solely on the number of badgers killed (a truly bizarre indicator from a scientific point of view) and no badgers are tested to see whether they even had bTB!

This cull is not only unbelievable, it's unscientific, illogical and unnecessary. It's also inhumane. Recent reports, highlighted on the front page of The Mirror, showed a badger left to bleed to death overnight in Devon. It had been cage trapped, 'dispatched' (aka shot at point blank) but hadn't died. Instead it almost certainly suffered a slow and painful death. The badger was found at 1.20pm the following day, still warm, likely having very recently died and soaked in blood.

We must wake up to what's happening here. This policy is politically motivated and brought about by key farming lobbying groups. It's embarrassing for the Government to pull the plug now, but it's more embarrassing for them to keep on killing.

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If, like pretty much everyone in the UK, you don't think pointlessly killing badgers at high cost with low welfare considerations is a good policy, then you can help. The good news is it doesn't matter where you are - urban or rural. If you are in a badger cull zone then regular wounded badger patrols operate each night, looking for badgers injured in the cull and they desperately need your help. You can find out how to volunteer here.
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It is a terrifying thought - "what should I do if I think a child is being radicalised"? I have met many parents and relatives who have experienced these fears. They may worry about the impact of speaking out, or worse still - the consequences of not speaking out, if their concerns turn out to be valid. It is an unenviable position.

As the details of the attack in Parsons's Green emerge, many will wonder what led the perpetrators down the alleyway of extremism. There may even be parents reflecting on whether their own children are at risk of choosing this dark path.

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Thankfully, the damage done last Friday was not as catastrophic as it could have been. But rather than pray there isn't a next time, we must strive to better understand what exposes someone to the poison of radicalisation in the first place. Because while no one radicalisation journey is the same it often begins at the door of a very vulnerable young person.

Terrorists have a modus operandi: they groom those who are most vulnerable into believing society has rejected them, incubate their frustrations and then proffer them with violence as a solitary lifeline. Like a manipulative drug dealer, they promise false solutions through the most poisonous of all drugs, extremism.

This does not mean perpetrators are absolved of agency, nor does it minimise the absolute importance of bringing them to justice. But to respond with blanket hatred means we miss an opportunity to intervene in those cases where it is not yet too late.

That's why I started Families Matter, a campaign aimed at raising awareness of radicalisation by educating family members on possible signs to look out for. We run workshops across the UK, from Blackburn to Brighton, Cardiff to London. After all, radicalisation knows no postcode, and no boundaries.

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While there is no textbook answer on whether a young person is at risk, we educate families on the warning signs something may be wrong. For example, does that person express themselves in a 'them and us' manner about others who do not share their religion or beliefs? Has their circle of friends changed, including on social media? Are they distancing themselves from friends they were previously close to?

Some of these behaviours are of course, common teenage traits. That's why it's important to feel confident about asking the questions. Asking questions doesn't make you a bad parent; and to worry about someone doesn't make you a 'spy'. Instead it empowers parents to seek help without fear of stigma, and supports those whose lives have been affected by the trauma of losing loved ones to these hateful ideologies. Because the love of a mother, father or sibling can make all the difference. And just one conversation may not only change lives, but save them. While the authorities, police and online companies each have a role to play, we as parents, friends and community members must also do our bit to stop terrorism in its tracks.
It's September and my social media is jam packed with photos of children heading back to school. For some, it is the very first time they will enter our education system. But what many of them don't know is that the jobs they will eventually find and settle into later down the line are not the jobs that exist today. 65% of children entering primary school this month will work in jobs in the future we don't even know about yet.

Maybe they will lead in roles linked to artificial intelligence and machine-learning and robotics. Or maybe nanotechnology, 3-D printing, or genetics and biotechnology. We don't know for sure, but we do know that rapid technological change is changing the skill requirements for most jobs.

So how do we design a school curriculum that will deliver the leaders of tomorrow and equip our children with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the future?

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It's a question I can't fully answer in one blog post and it's a challenge that needs some collaboration and creativity because we need our educators to teach skills for jobs we don't know exist yet, solving problems we've never seen before and won't see for years.

If we are to believe futurists who suggest kids today will be in roles like 'Digital Death Manager', 'Urban Shepherd' and 'Microbial Balancer' the current curriculum might not suffice. But to be world leading, we need to make sure our children leave our education system with the skills and knowledge to succeed in two decades' time.

Last month, PWC published their 'workforce of the future' report which presented 'four worlds of work' in 2030 which could kickstart our thinking about the many possible scenarios that could develop, and how to best prepare and design for the future. Whilst it is impossible to predict exactly the skills that will be needed even five years from now, we know that whatever we do today, we must be prepared to adapt and be flexible tomorrow.

In a bid to start a debate on future skills, I have been talking to some of our industry leaders and finding out what skills they look for now, and importantly what they think they will need in the future. At Google, design skills and disruptive thinking is mandatory. Collaboration is critical. No one works solo at Google. At IBM, they look for creators, makers and problem solvers. 40,000 staff are being trained in 'design thinking'. Some of the key skills in high demand are leadership, collaboration, creativity and innovation.

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Even the role of the teacher in future years is up for debate. Could robots replace teachers? Of course not. Or at least not yet. Technology is now fully woven into the curriculum and we are seeing greater use of robotics within the school four walls, but I believe the best classroom technology will continue to be the teacher who will build the human connections that are at the core of these skill areas. Can robots teach collaboration, creativity and disruptive thinking? I don't think so.

Indeed, I'm not convinced we have a curriculum that helps teachers teach the skills of the future. And therein lies the problem. Will children be equipped with the skills to solve the problem of global warming in a curriculum that omits design, technology and arts? Currently not - so why are we still having a debate about whether art and design should or should not be core to young people's learning?

Imagine a school class with children fully engaged and immersed in working together to solve real world issues. They are self driven, collaborative and coming up with ideas and throwing out the ones that don't work. They think creatively and they apply it across their entire life. Surely it's important for our young people to have the skills they need to design their future, drive the economy and solve the global challenges they face in the future?
I knew before I arrived that visiting the Rohingya refugee camps on the border with Bangladesh and Myanmar would be harrowing. However nothing could have prepared me for the heart breaking scenes and the personal accounts of horrific acts of violence and inhumanity.

Imagine, if you can, having your home burnt, your husband and son murdered in front of your own eyes and then walking for five days carrying your other children and possessions seeking safety. The reality is we cannot begin to comprehend this, yet it is not some made up tale. It is the story of Nurajahan who I met when visiting a camp this week.

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Speaking to her via a translator, clutching her eight-month-old son who was so malnourished he looked half that age, she recounted her journey to the camp. It started with the Myanmar military burning her house and then murdering her husband and son. She then decided to take her nine other children and flee for safety heading towards the border with Bangladesh. After five days she arrived at the camp and despite the intolerable conditions, she was now safe. Listening to her heart breaking story I asked about her baby who she was trying to breastfeed as we spoke. She explained that because she was herself malnourished, her body could not produce sufficient milk to feed her son and she was being given semolina to give her son. He looked so weak and initially I could not believe that he was the age she said he was.

Thankfully there are people there at the camps to help and provide support. Having visited two camps, it is clear that the Bangladesh Government, NGOs and charities are doing incredible work on the ground providing sanitation, healthcare, food and water. It is to the credit of the Bangladesh Government that they have welcomed the Rohingya refugees and provided land and support for the NGOs and charities to work. Bangladesh is a densely populated country and has many challenges, including that around a third of the country is currently underwater due to the recent flooding but despite this, it really has stepped up to the humanitarian challenge and should be applauded for its stance.

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In addition, I have to say how proud we should be that the British Government via the Department for International Development and UK Aid is playing such an important role in supporting the Bangladesh Government, NGOs and charities as they deal with one of the biggest humanitarian disasters in in the world today.

It is clear that the Bangladesh Government expect the Rohingya refugees to go home to Myanmar in due course and I did not speak with a single refugee that did not want to return as soon as it is safe for them to do so. At present Aung San Suu Ki of Myanmar is in denial about the treatment of the Rohingya people which in my view can only be described as ethnic cleansing. Our challenge as an international community is to put pressure on the Myanmar Government to stop the persecution of the Rohingya people and to guarantee their safety if they return home.

In camps and on visiting the border with Myanmar I took the opportunity to speak with other Rohingya refugees to hear their stories. In all cases I was told that it was the Myanmar military that had conducted the attacks on their homes. On visiting the border I could see and smell the smoke from Myanmar but it was speaking with Major Manzur of the Bangladesh Army and Rohingya refugees at random that I was given evidence of a more worrying development to this humanitarian disaster: land mines.

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Although I had read reports of land mines being laid on the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh, being shown videos of the land mines, a picture of a victim with one of her legs blown off and speaking with refugees, I am convinced that it is true. Major Manzur told us that he has himself seen the Myanmar military laying the land mines on the border crossing points. I was told that this is a more recent development and the mines have been laid in the past week or so. Already there have been casualties but what is not known at this stage is the motivation of the Myanmar military in laying the mines.

Only time will tell whether their objective is to deter more Rohingya refugees from making the crossing to Bangladesh or whether they are to deter the refugees from returning to their homes in Myanmar. Regardless of their motivation, there can be no excuse for the planting of land mines which are designed to injure indiscriminately.

We don't want to believe that people can be so cruel and inhumane towards one another. Yet visiting the camps, it is hard to not be moved by the horrific treatment of the Rohingya people. This persecution is a stain on humanity and having met them - having seen their suffering - it is our duty to make sure the voices of the Rohingya people are heard.
Goldenvoices Lesley Olenik Jumps To Live Nation

Long-time Goldenvoice veteran Lesley Olenik has left the company for a new role as Vice President of Touring at Live Nation. Based in Los Angeles, Olenik will report to Omar Al-Joulani, SVP of Touring.

Prior to her exit from Goldenvoice, Olenik served for almost a decade as Senior Vice President of Talentbuying for Theaters & Arenas, overseeing bookings for venues such as Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall, Club Nokia, Nokia Theatre and the Fox Theater.

Her other experience includes stints at Nederlander, where she was director of talent buying for all of the company's venue portfolio. She cut her teeth in the talent buying business with the Viejas Casino organization, according to her Linkedin page.

Olenik's transition is the second longtime Goldenvoice alumni to join the Live Nation team in as many weeks. Earlier this week, David Lefkowitz joined Live Nation's Philadelphia office after serving as a vice president at Goldenvoice for almost a decade.

via CelebrityAccess

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Mary Grant, former president of MCLA, is returning home to Massachusetts to lead the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.

Mary Grant Named President of Edward M. Kennedy Institute



The Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is near the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. BOSTON  Mary Grant, former president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, has been named president of Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate

The Massachusetts native, who became chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2014, will begin her role at the 2-year-old Boston institute in January 2018.

"I am honored to join the team at the Institute," Grant said in a statement. "I am impressed by what is taking place there  the vibrant conversations, the civic learning, the exchange of ideas, and the active demonstration of democracy. The institute is a place where people from all walks of life can experience the power of finding common ground and shifting political dialogue away from polarization and towards bipartisanship. This work is greatly important and I look forward to the opportunity to continue expanding the institute's reach."

Kennedy was an imposing political presence in national politics, serving as U.S. senator for Massachusetts for almost 47 years. He won the special election to fill the seat left by his brother, President John F. Kennedy, in 1962 and served until 2009, when he died at age 77 from an inoperable brain tumor.

Grant spent a dozen years leading her alma mater in North Adams, developing the state college into one the premier public liberal arts colleges in the nation. During her tenure, MCLA became a central tenet of the city's burgeoning creative community through its arts programs and internships, downtown galleries and the founding of the DownStreet Arts program that brings artists and performers to Main Street once a month during the summer. The college became known for its community engagement and growing enrollment, and Grant lead its first comprehensive capital campaign.

She oversaw more than $100 million in private and public investments that transformed the century-old campus, from the renovation of the historic Murdock Hall to the long anticipated opening of the Center for Science and Innovation, for which she advocated for for years with state lawmakers.

As chancellor at UNC-Asheville, she continued the types of efforts that had made such a difference in North Adams, and is credited for making innovation a guiding value of the university's new strategic plan. Under her leadership, the university was ranked No. 1 for "Making an Impact" by the Princeton review in 2016, recognizing schools with the best community service opportunities and student engagement.

"Chancellor Grants tenure at UNC Asheville can be characterized by intense energy, integrity, passion, and wisdom. We have been witness to remarkable institutional changes over the past three years," said Kennon D. Briggs

chairman of the UNC-Asheville Board of Trustees in a statement to the college community . "We have seen our university become more inclusive, and have enjoyed unprecedented connections with our host community, most notably the City of Asheville and Buncombe County."

Earlier in her career, she also held leadership positions at the University of Massachusetts, both on the Boston campus and in the President's Office. Grant holds a doctorate in social policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University, a master's degree in public affairs from the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass Boston, and a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from MCLA.

"We are thrilled to have an outstanding leader like Mary Grant as the new president of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute," said Victoria Reggie Kennedy, co-founder and president of the board of the institute, and widow of the late senator. "Dr. Grant is passionate about the institute's mission to use a deeper of understanding of the United States Senate to encourage participatory democracy. She has the experience and vision to inspire the next generation of our nation's leaders and to lead the Institute into its next phase of growth and development. Now, more than ever, we believe it important to fulfill my husband's vision of engaging Americans, young and old, in active citizenship."

The institute opened its doors in March 2015 and features high-tech exhibits and interactive programs that engage visitors and students from across the world in conversations and activities that demonstrate the important role the U.S. Senate and active citizen participation play in our democracy. Jean F. MacCormack, who came out of retirement in November 2014 to lead the institute, will actively assist in the transition before stepping down in January.

Since opening, the institute has welcomed more than 30,000 students from nearly 400 schools to become Senators for a Day, where they learn about the legislative process through active role play. The Institute's Senate Immersion Module program was nationally recognized in 2017 with a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in the category of connected immersion in education. In 2016, the British Guild of Travel Writers recognized the institute as one of the top five new tourism destinations in the wider world category.

The institute is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of our communities.
Gov. Philip Scott addresses local officials, residents and 7th and 8th-graders from Readsboro School at the Bullock House on Friday. The governor and Al Scaia share a laugh during Scaia's tour of the town's historic highlights. Scaia points to the town's state Rep. Laura Sibilia. Omar Smith of the Broadband and Cell Phone Committee. Robert Briggs of the Southern Vermont Broadband Collaborative. Sue Bailey, Selectmen Chairwoman Helyn Strom Henriksen and Nancy Bushika of Stamford bring greetings. PreviousNext

Readsboro Getting More Broadband Service



Gov. Scott said his administration was focusing like a laser on the state's economy to attract workers and businesses. READSBORO, Vt.  More than 150 homes in Readsboro and Wilmington will have access to broadband thanks to public/private partnerships and grants and the work of volunteers. Readsboro officials also touted some of the efforts of the Hometown Redevelopment Committee in restoring some of the shine to what was once called the "jewel of Vermont." Gov. Philip Scott on Friday was given a tour by local historian Al Scaia and greeted by committee Chairwoman Sue Bailey at the historic E.J. Bullock Building, which is undergoing renovation.

"This work demonstrates the value of working together finding common ground to a common goal," Gov. Philip Scott said on Friday.

"I believe we can change the way we're doing business, volunteers like these exist in so many of our towns throughout Vermont and are key to enhancing and growing the vitality of our rural areas," he said. "The last mile in Vermont will require innovative public/private partnerships like these."

Some 56 homes in Readsboro will be hooked up to digital subscriber lines (DSL) through Fairpoint Communications and another section of town will have its "last mile" covered wirelessly through a project with Stamford's Southern Vermont Broadband Cooperative. More than a 100 homes and businesses will be connected in Wilmington.

"The main thing that seems to make it work is the local participation, getting people involved locally and working with the state agencies or the providers," Omar Smith, a member of the Readsboro Broadband and Cell Phone Committee told the governor and other officials gathered in the Bullock Building. "That's really the only way we can these kinds of projects off the ground."

Vermont's connectivity initiative passed in 2015 created the Division for Telecommunications and Connectivity under the Department of Public Services and awards grants through the Vermont Universal Service Fund.

More than $550,000 in Connectivity Initiative funding was granted to target 466 underserved locations in a dozen towns including Readsboro. Fairpoint has received some $8.8 million federal Connect America Fund II grants, along with state and corporate grants to improve broadband service in the state.

According to Fairpoint, it costs about $25,000 a mile to deliver internet service and another $50,000 to $75,000 in equipment.

"There are still a lot of areas in the town of Readsboro and other towns around that don't have service and there's not current project in there so this is just step one," Smith said. "And we still have a lot of work to do."

While Fairpoint is running lines to one side of Readsboro, SVBC is worked with Avangrid Renewables (Iberdrola) to site wireless transmitters on one of its meteorological towers and possibly a second one. In 2014, it had first entered into an agreement with Avangrid to locate communications equipment for public safety  Stamford Volunteer Fire Department for mutual aid and North Adams (Mass.) Ambulance Service, which covers both towns.

"We're almost to satellite now but not quite," joked Robert Briggs of the broadband collaborative. "Now North Adams Ambulance can be in your community and talk back to their dispatch center. The communication has been paramount in improvements. ... Avangrid has been a good neighbor."

The height of the tower should allow coverage for a number of homes on the west side of the mountainous town with some small repeaters, he said. "We're really excited about being able to work with you guys. Readsboro said 'is there anything you can do to help?'"

Both town initiatives are fully volunteer efforts. The Stamford group came about in 2005, first using a wireless antenna from the school. Both its quality and capacity have grown in the interim.

"When we started the Connectivity Initiative two years ago, we didn't even know they existed and we were shocked to find they were providing service," Clay Purvis, director of telecommunications and connectivity, said. "Good wireless broadband service in Stamford on an entirely volunteer service."

Purvis said it was important to get local input and data to bring back to providers to "really target a solution that's going to the last-mile folks at the end of the dirt road."

Readsboro's group formed nearly two years ago to expedite issues surrounding coverage. They groups have worked together and with state and Fairpoint officials to identify underserved areas in the small town. Jeffrey Austin of Fairpoint said the last mile can be a real challenge and those local conversations are important.

"We partnered with the Department of Public Service several times, we've had 10 projects around the state that we've completed," he said.

Nancy Bushika, town clerk in Stamford for 18 years, said the two top questions asked by people considering moving to Stamford was first about the school, and second was about internet access. That was nearly dozen years ago, she said.



Wilmington resident Dan Burgess said the lack of high-speed internet influenced his decision to locate his business in Utah. But businessman Dan Burgess of Wilmington thought this was all "too little, too late." He related his own problems trying to get a bonded line to his Vermont home and how he decided to locate a software company he bought to Utah, where he also lives, rather than Vermont because of the lack of economical high-speed service.

"This is the kind of business Vermont should be attracting but it can't," he said. "One of the reasons is because there's no broadband."

Scott said the ability to attract and retain workers in Vermont was critical to its growth. It's losing six workers a day, with the number between the ages of 25 to 45 down 30,000 from a decade ago.

"You think about what they represent, that's the workforce," he said. They work, they buy homes and products, raise families, pay taxes. "We need more kids here, we need to keep them here."

The state's institutions of higher education graduate 10,000 students a year. Keeping at least some of them here means affordable housing, affordable lifestyles and jobs, Scott said, pointing to the state's $35 million housing bonds approved in June.

"Wireless I think is the future that's why I keep saying we can't keep our eggs in one basket and continue down this path because I think something's going to change," he said. "We have a laser on trying to develop the economy here in Vermont and we welcome any ideas you have."
Canada's TIU to invest EUR94 mln in building five solar plants in Ukraine

TIU (Canada) plans to invest EUR94 million in the construction of five solar power plants in Ukraine, the company's press service has reported.

The company plans in autumn this year to complete the construction of the first station worth EUR14 million with a capacity of 10.5 MW in the territory of Nikopol Ferroalloys Plant. In spring 2018 TIU will begin the construction of four more facilities - three in Mykolaiv region and one in Kherson region.

As reported, TIU is owned by the Canadian investment company Refraction Asset Management (RAM).
PJSC Ukrhydroenergo has signed a contract with PJSC Turboatom (Kharkiv) for the modernization, delivery and installation of equipment worth UAH 92 million.

According to a press release of Ukrhydroenergo, Turboatom will modernize hydro turbine equipment and will take part in the commissioning hydro unit No. 1 at Kakhovska hydro power plant.

The implementation of the contract is planned for 2017-2018.

The press release notes that Turboatom designed, manufactured and installed 99 hydro turbines at Ukrhydroenergo hydroelectric power stations, including three most powerful turbine pumps in Europe with a capacity of 410.23 MW for hydroelectric units Nos. 1-3 at Dnistrovska hydroelectric pumped storage power plant.

"With the aim of extending the service life by 30-40 years, increasing the capacity, electricity generation and operating reliability, Ukrhydroenergo continues to cooperate with Turboatom, implementing projects for the reconstruction of power units at hydroelectric power stations of the Dnipro and Dniester cascades," the press service said citing Ukrhydroenergo CEO Ihor Syrota.

Turboatom is the only producer of turbine equipment for hydro, thermal and nuclear power plants in Ukraine. The geography of the company's supplies covers 45 countries in Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. The state owns more than 75% of the company's shares.
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San Diego State University Holds Presidential Search Committee Open Forum

San Diego, California - The California State University Board of Trustees is beginning the search for a new permanent president of San Diego State University as Sally Roush, appointed in May as interim president of SDSU, serves in this capacity.

The first meeting of the Trustees Committee for the Selection of the President will be held in an open forum from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. today in the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center Ballroom on SDSUs campus. The open forum will be followed by a closed meeting at 2:45 p.m.

The purpose of the open forum is to review the role of the committee; receive comments and input from the public and campus community; explain the search process and confidentiality; confirm the schedule of meetings; discuss preferred attributes of the next president; review the descriptions and needs of the campus and presidential position; and discuss any other business related to the search process.

Over the next several months, the committee, chaired by CSU Board of Trustees Adam Day, will review applications and conduct interviews.
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In 1979, at 19, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat moved into an abandoned apartment on East 12th Street in Manhattan with his girlfriend at the time, Alexis Adler. The home, a sixth-floor walk-up, was rundown and sparsely furnished. Basquiat, broke and unable to afford canvases, painted with abandon on the walls and floor, even on Adlers clothes.

The one item that remained undisturbed was Adlers stereo, which had pride of place on a shelf scavenged from the street.

The main thing for us was having big speakers and a blasting stereo. That was the only furniture I purchased myself, says Adler, who still lives in the apartment. When Basquiat was around, she recalls, music was playing all the time.

On Thursday, the exhibition Basquiat: Boom for Real opened at the Barbican Centre in London. The show focuses on the artists relationship to music, text, film and television. But it is jazz  the musical style that made up the bulk of Basquiats huge record collection  that looms largest as a source of personal inspiration to him and as a subject matter.

Jean-Michel Basquiats Glenn, 1984 (The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York)

The first major retrospective of his work in Britain, it is a kind of homecoming for Basquiats art: In 1984, the first institutional show of his work opened at the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh, and then travelled to the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. In a satisfying closing of a circle, a large drawing that Basquiat made in London for the institutes exhibition, but that ended up not being shown there, will go on display at the Barbican.

Basquiats musical tastes were eclectic: Curtis Mayfield, Donna Summer, Bach, Beethoven, David Byrne, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Public Image Ltds Metal Box album. And he had his favourite tracks that he would just play and play, Adler says. Bowies Low, definitely. And the second side of Heroes. The influence of music was huge.

Basquiat eventually amassed a collection of more than 3,000 albums. It spanned blues, classical, soul, disco and even zydeco, a type of popular music from southern Louisiana. He also made his own music: as the leader of Gray, an experimental art noise quartet; as the producer of the single Beat Bop; and as a DJ at venues like the scene-setting Mudd Club in Tribeca.

Basquiat made frequent references in his work to the musicians he most admired. He paid homage to Parker, whose nickname was Bird, in paintings such as Bird on Money, Charles the First and CPRKR. Max Roach was a nod to the vision and style of the jazz drummer of that name.

And in King Zulu, a masterly painting inspired by the history of early jazz that occupies a prominent place at the Barbican, Basquiat summoned the memory of the trumpeters Bix Beiderbecke, Bunk Johnson and Howard McGhee. In the centre of the paintings intense blue background, a face in minstrel makeup stares out, the image culled from a photograph of Louis Armstrong disguised as a Zulu king at Mardi Gras in New Orleans in 1949.

Rammellzee vs K-Rob, produced and with cover artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Beat Bop vinyl record, 1983 (The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Photo: Justin Piperger)

Basquiat was especially devoted to bebop, the restlessly inventive genre typified by the likes of Parker, Davis, Ornette Coleman and Thelonious Monk. Basquiats love of bebop fuelled his art, according to Eleanor Nairne, a curator of Boom for Real.

Bebop was quite an intellectual movement, she says. It was also quite iconoclastic in wanting to break away from these older jazz harmonies. That idea of a kind of rupture, and of these musicians who were very young, vibrant powerful forces; there were lots of parallels he found with his own work and life.

Basquiat, who died of a drug overdose at 27, attained dizzying heights during his short career. His first sale, the painting Cadillac Moon, was to Debbie Harry, the singer with of Blondie, in 1981. She paid $200.

Within months, his works were selling for tens of thousands of dollars. By his early twenties, he had made his first million. Yet Basquiat was discomforted by success. He was acutely conscious of his place as one of very few African Americans in a predominantly white art world, where he was regarded by some as little more than an interloper.

American art critic Hilton Kramer once described Basquiat as a talentless hustler, street-smart but otherwise invincibly ignorant, who used his youth, his looks, his skin colour and his abundant sex appeal to win fame.

According to Nairne, Basquiat was hugely, uncomfortably, constantly aware of the racist ways he was constantly being pigeonholed. And he found a telling parallel between his position and that of his jazz heroes. These are musicians who are, in one sphere of their lives, incredibly celebrated, Nairne says. And in other aspects, on a daily basis and in the most banal terms, consistently reduced to the colour of their skins. They are literally having to use the back entrance of clubs. Theres no way you can divorce their music from their treatment in society. There was a lot of identification in there.

Ultimately, Basquiat felt more at home in downtown New York. He had first come to prominence in the late Seventies as a graffiti artist with a SAMO tag, scrawling the streets of lower Manhattan with sardonic and elusively poetic maxims: SAMO for the so-called avant-garde; Samo as an end 2 the neon fantasy called life.

The downtown scene was a famously antic fusion of emergent art trends, street style, graffiti, trendsetting nightspots like the Mudd Club and Area, and upstart musical genres like New Wave and hip-hop. Its flourishing took place against a wider backdrop of MTV, sampling, scratching, semiotics and postmodernist theory; a time when the creation and dissemination of culture seemed an increasingly fluid, boundary-free process.

It was all merging, Adler says. For Basquiat, it was a period of discovery.

The multifaceted nature of the scene gave Basquiat licence to crisscross artistic forms on the way to developing his own style. He performed poetry onstage and produced the a mesmeric hip-hop Beat Bop, by graffiti artist Rammellzee and rapper K-Rob, that remains a genre classic.

Basquiat on the set of Downtown 81 ( New York Beat Film LLC/Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Photo: Edo Bertoglio) (New York Beat Film LLC. By permission of The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.Photo: Edo Bertoglio)

In the band Gray, he played the synthesiser and the clarinet, and made Steve Reich-style sound experiments, looping snatches of audio on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. The group performed only sporadically but drew admirers including Byrne and hip-hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy. An Interview Magazine review described them as an easy listening bebop industrial sound effects lounge ensemble.

Basquiat pulled out of Gray in 1981, when painting started to command his attention in a serious way. But music still remained a significant marker of his creative achievement.

David Bowie, writing after Basquiats death, hailed him as a kindred spirit whose sensibility belonged as much to rock as to art.

His work relates to rock in ways that very few other visual artists get near, the musician noted. He seemed to digest the frenetic flow of passing image and experience, put them through some kind of internal reorganisation and dress the canvas with this resultant network of chance.

Basquiat himself was less forthcoming. I dont know how to describe my work, he once reflected. Its like asking Miles, How does your horn sound?

 New York Times
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George Clooney's shift to director has resulted in some astute, highly political filmmaking.

A thread he hopes to explore once more with Suburbicon, which premiered at this year's Venice Film Festival, taking inspiration from the real-life, violent racial conflict that exploded after the first black family moved into a pristine, suburban community in Pennsylvania.

Naturally, many of the interviews Clooney has undertaken to promote the film have touched upon the current political climate, especially since he's never been shy about sharing his own perspective on things.

When it came to The Daily Beast's interview, that included breaching the subject of Hillary Clinton, who he held a fundraiser for during her campaign.

"Hillary, for years and years and years, has been the presumptive nominee, and quite honestly, she was incredibly qualified for the job," Clooney offered. "But being qualified for the job does not necessarily mean youre the right person to be president."

"Heres what I mean. She was more qualified than even her husband was when he was elected president, but shes not as good at communicating things. Thats simply true. When she got up and gave a speech, it didnt soar."

 Suburbicon - Trailer

Though he continued to support her, and believed she'd have done a great job as president, he added that: "It was frustrating because I never saw her elevate her game."

However, he also acknowledged that being a woman "made it a much harder uphill battle". "I think that she wasn't particularly good at articulating the things that she wanted to do, and unfortunately we live at a time right now where articulating what you want to do is more potent in the electorate than the other way around," he added.

Suburbicon hits UK cinemas 24 November.
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The first trailer for Maze Runner: The Death Cure - the third and final film in the young adult franchise - has been released.

Dylan O'Brien - currently seen in American Assassin - takes centre stage as Thomas who this time around leads his group of escaped Gladers through a labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest one they've encountered yet.

This film - directed by Wes Ball - was originally due to be released February 2017, however, an on-set accident which left O'Brien seriously injured forced production to shut down. Maze Runner: The Death Cure will arrive in cinemas almost an entire year later on 26 January 2018.

Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked Show all 10 1 /10 Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 10. Avengers: Age of Ultron After the brilliant first Avengers, Age of Ultron had a lot to live up to. Reuniting the team wouldnt be enough, they needed a worthy adversary. Unfortunately, with Joss Whedon trying to ram so many superheroes on screen at once, the result was not as polished nor as fun as its predecessor. Marvel Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 9. Furious 7 One of the best films in the Fast and Furious franchise, Furious 7 features Paul Walkers final performance on film. The all-thrills sequel was a surprisingly massive hit, with Vin Diesel since announcing another three films. Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow - Part 2 The final part in the epic Harry Potter saga was an emotional time for many: It would be the last time Daniel Radcliffe would have the iconic lightning bolt scar painted to his forehead. For that one reason, it was always going to be a success. Unfortunately, splitting JK Rowlings final novel in two probably wasnt the greatest idea, leading to one of the weakest entries in an all round great series. Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 7. Iron Man 3 Coming straight off the back of Avengers, Iron Man 3 gave Robert Downey Jnrs character PTSD, shoved in a protege, and made iconic villain The Mandarin a phoney. Some fans were not pleased while others thoroughly enjoyed the film. For Marvel fans, however, the third instalment in the Iron Man series is either one of the most hated MCU films or one of the greatest. Marvel Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 6. Jurassic World Coming out 22 years after Jurassic Park, World was a fast paced action film that bombastically ran everyone through the new park. Chris Pratts performance was enjoyed by many, but the spectacle of dinosaurs on screen wasnt quite as thrilling fourth time around. Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 5. Frozen Let it go, let it go!, Do you wanna build a snowman? and Love is an open doooooooooooor. There, those should be in your head for a little while now. Disney managed to make a Christmas classic that won the hearts of children and adults alike with Frozen, making The Mouse millions in the process. Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 4. Avatar The highest grossing film on the list, and for good reason. For many, Avatar was their first 3D cinematic experience, leaving people in awe of the spectacle they just witnessed. Hundreds went back multiple times (including myself), but many have forgotten about the once wonderful film. Whether it would make as much money today, now that every other film is in 3D, would be very, very interesting. Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 3. Avengers Joss Whedons fist attempt at bringing together Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and The Hulk was masterfully executed. An action-packed romp featuring good guys v bad - what was not to love? Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens Joss Whedons fist attempt at bringing together Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and The Hulk was masterfully executed. An action-packed romp featuring good guys v bad - what was not to love? Highest-grossing films of all time - ranked 1. Titanic It was a close toss-up between Star Wars and Titanic for best 'highest-grossing film' movie, but the disaster film edged it. Camerons classic set a new precedent in 1997 for just how much money films could make, and it wasnt until his return to cinema with Avatar that the record was broken again. It was also a critical success and, importantly, launched Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet into the spotlight.

The first adaptation of James Dashner's novels - simply titled The Maze Runner - was released September 2014 with its sequel The Scorch Trials arriving a year later. Both grossed over $300 million from a $34m and $61m budget respectively.

The Death Cure also stars Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rosa Salazar, Kaya Scodelario as well as Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito and former Game of Thrones cast member Aidan Gillen.
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Oprah Winfrey has over 25 years of talk-show experience, becoming a world renown figure who even publishes a magazine dedicated to herself.

During the recent 60 Minutes special which aired over the weekend, however, Winfrey refrained from dominating proceedings.

Travelling to West Michigan, Winfrey rounded up 14 voters, evenly split between those who supporter Donald Trump and those who didnt.

Conducting the group, Winfrey got the group to debate numerous subjects, including Charlottesville, free speech, and Trumps presidential Tweets.

Every day, I love Trump more and more. Every single day, one participant, Tom, said.

I still don't like his attacks, his Twitter attacks, if you will, on other politicians. I don't think that's appropriate. But, at the same time, his actions speak louder than words. And I love what he's doing to this country.

Conversely, another member of the group called Trump a horrible President who has divided our nation more than it has ever been.

Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Show all 8 1 /8 Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AFP/Getty Images Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AFP/Getty Images Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade AP

When he's off teleprompter, I feel uncomfortable, Jennifer said. It makes me feel sick to my stomach. And I think that we look like we're a joke to other foreign leaders. It's an embarrassment."

Another topic included Russia, one panelist named Tim calling the collusion a "foreign attack on our country before being interrupted by someone saying: "Spare us the fake outrage." Watch more snippets from the episode below.

Meanwhile, many public figures have been outraged by Trump's recent comments on the NFL, John Oliver lampooning the President in the most recent episode of his show.
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Nearly 600 border collies gathered in a park in Adelaide on Sunday to break an unofficial world record.

Organised by the Border Collie Owners of South Australia (BCOSA), more than $6,000 (3,530) was raised as a result of the dog gathering, which saw 576 border collies playing in a park in Willaston Oval.

The event was arranged in the hope of beating a 2013 record held by Dr Katrina Warren, who managed to get 534 border collies together at the same time.

Recommended A woman is suing Starbucks after claiming hot tea killed her dog

Unfortunately, the record wont officially be recognised by the Guinness Book of Records because they dont credit breed-specific records, however, BCOSA claim that it is the largest gathering of border collies in history.

Organisers charged dog-owners $5 (3.70) per dog to take part.

The money raised from the event will be donated to three different dog charities: Scruffer Lovers, Guardian Angel and SA Dog Rescue.

Border collie cross-breeds were permitted to attend, so long as they looked like border collies, the events website states.

It wasnt just about trying to break a record , the fun-filled day involved a variety of games, raffles and activities for the dogs and their owners and took seven months to plan.

There were a number of food and drink vendors on-site too, offering attendees refreshments throughout the afternoon.

Of course, there were plenty of dog-centric stalls too, including dog walkers, animal photographers and one stall selling bandanas for dogs.

There were even caffeine-inspired pick-me-ups on offer for the dogs themselves, with puppicino probiotic drinks on sale.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has discussed the expansion of economic opportunities, strengthening cooperation in the sphere of security and the further deepening of bilateral relations.

"Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during today's meeting in the framework of the "Invictus Games" in Toronto, in which Ukrainian servicemen take part for the first time, confirmed strong and lasting ties between Canada and Ukraine and their common commitment to the further deepening of bilateral relations," reads a statement posted on the presidential website.

Poroshenko and Trudeau underlined that this year, when the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Ukraine is celebrated, the countries are analyzing important achievements since the last meeting in Kyiv in July 2016.

The officials noted that the entry into force of the Free Trade Area Agreement between Canada and Ukraine is a historical moment of bilateral relations.

"We are striving to work closely together so that the citizens of Canada and Ukraine could take advantage of the agreement as soon as possible," the sides emphasized.
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The Czech Republic is the least healthy country in the world, according to new research conducted by Clinic Compare.

The clinic comparison website gathered their data from the World Health Organisation by analysing alcoholic consumption, tobacco consumption and the prevalence of obesity in 179 countries around the world.

The UK came 19th in the list, with Britons also being the 9th heaviest drinkers in the world.

According to the research, the residents of the Czech Republic hit it pretty hard, emerging as some of the worlds biggest boozers.

Each individual reportedly consumes 13.7 litres of alcohol per annum, thats 550 shots  so 1.5 shots a day.

They also ranked 11th highest for tobacco consumption.

Russia came second, followed by Slovenia, Belarus, Slovakia and Hungary.

Eastern Europe came out as the unhealthiest region in the world, occupying nine out of the top 10 spots. The one exception was the US, which ranked 10th in joint place with Lithuania.

As for the worlds fattest region, its Oceania, with 41 per cent of the population in Samoa having a BMI over 30. Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Kiribati were also included in the top 10 list for obesity.

The healthiest country was Afghanistan, boasting the second lowest rate of obesity in the world.

Just 2.7 per cent of the population had a BMI over 30.

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Plus, residents only smoked 83 cigarettes a year and drank the least alcohol.

The countrys laws which forbid the consumption and possession of alcohol probably have something to do with this.

Guinea was named the second healthiest country, followed by Niger and Nepal, none of whom rival the drinking culture perpetuated in Eastern European countries.

Cheers.
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The euro slipped against a range of currencies on Monday after Germanys election highlighted a surge in support for the far-right party, even though Angela Merkel convincingly scored a fourth term in office.

The euro fell around 0.5 per cent against the US dollar, to trade just below $1.19 as the new trading week kicked off, before recovering slightly.

The election outcome means that Ms Merkel will be forced to build a three-way coalition in order to form a government.

Her party suffered its worst result in a national election since 1949 and a three-way tie-up has yet to be tested at the national level.

If the election of [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron suggested to anyone that populism isn't a threat to EU, then today's vote is a wake-up call, strategists at Societe Generale wrote in a note.

Over the longer run, however, most analysts and economists said that they did not expect substantial pressure on the euro to last.

Mark Haefele, global chief investment officer of UBS Wealth Management, said that the likely presence of the business-friendly FDP in a coalition government could lead to stronger German pressure for fiscal discipline in peripheral countries, a long-term positive for the currency.

Economists at Unicredit also said that election developments do not represent a significant hurdle to further euro gains going forward.

Timothy Graf, head of macro strategy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at State Street Global Markets said that this weekends result introduces more risk into European political proceedings than previously estimated abut also agreed that over the longer term, the actual market impact is likely to be minimal.

The pound was recently trading at around 0.88.
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New wage data has revealed that the UKs gender pay gap may be much larger than previously understood.

A study conducted by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) of salaries across 432 organisations reveals that men in senior management positions are likely earning on average 11,606 more than their female peers, putting the pay gap at 26.8 per cent when taking into account bonuses, and perks like car allowances and commission.

The CMI, who conducted the research in collaboration with employment intelligence service XpertHR, said that an analysis they had done last year put the pay gap much lower at 23.1 per cent, indicating that men earned 8,964 more than women.

The latest figures also show that the pay gap widens further at board-level, with male chief executives taking home an average bonus of 89,230 compared to just 14,945 for female CEOs.

The revised data comes after the Government set out new gender pay transparency regulation in April this year. Under the new rules, companies with over 250 employees must publically disclose their gender pay gap by April 2018.

The CMI said that only 77 out of 7,850 eligible employers had provided data to the Government so far.

Ann Francke, CMIs chief executive, slammed UK businesses for being built like glass pyramids with women holding the majority of lower-paid junior roles and far fewer reaching the top.

Our data shows we need the Governments gender pay gap reporting regulations more than ever before. Yet, less than one per cent of companies have reported so far. Its time for more companies to step up and put plans in place to fix this issue, she added.
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The Philippines has banned companies from forcing women to wear high heels  a move thats been hailed as a landmark victory against sexism by labour unions.

The new government order, which came into effect on Sunday, dictates that employers should implement the use of "practical and comfortable footwear" and that workers must not wear heels that are higher than an inch, unless they choose to do so.

The move will likely be especially welcomed by retail clerks, receptionists, security guards, flight attendants and other professionals who spend a large portion of their day on their feet.

Recommended Government rejects law change on bosses forcing women to wear heels

The governments labour department said that wearing high heels while standing for prolonged periods of time may cause sore feet and aching muscles but also hazardous pressure on joints.

"It's a form of torture. It's a form of oppression and slavery. Imagine having to endure that pain for eight to 10 hours a day," Alan Tanjusay, spokesman for the Associated Labor Unions, told AFP.

"It's also a form of sexism because culturally employers say women wearing high heels look taller and sexier and are then more attractive, more effective in selling products. They don't know the women are suffering, Mr Tanjusay added.

The government also said that companies must give workers who spend a long time on their feet rest periods or seats to reduce the time they spend standing or walking.

In July, researchers at the University of Aberdeen published a study in which they argued that more needed to be done to address the problem of women being forced to wear high heels in certain jobs.

The academics said that certain footwear increases the chances of developing certain damaging musculoskeletal conditions.

Earlier in the year the UK Government rejected calls for a blanket ban on enforced high heel wearing.

Additional reporting by news wires
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Uber is seeking to overturn a landmark ruling ordering it to give drivers basic employee rights by claiming it is not part of the gig economy and the judges who found against it were factually perverse.

Written submissions seen by The Independent show that at Wednesdays Employment Appeal Tribunal hearing, Uber will also exploit the precedent set by Stringfellows when it won a court case against one of its lap dancers.

The tribunal appeal comes as Uber also battles cab regulator Transport for London (TfL) over the authoritys decision to strip it of its right to operate in London on the grounds it is not fit and proper.

The TfL dispute has led more than 760,000 people to sign a petition in Ubers defence.

But after London Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke of Ubers army of lawyers and agressive threats of court action, its new chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi promised the company would work with humility and integrity, and apologised for the mistakes weve made.

The tribunal submissions seen by The Independent, however, suggest that these acknowledged mistakes do not include Ubers insistence it merely acts as the agent, not employer, of drivers, meaning it doesnt have to provide basic employee rights like paid holidays and the minimum wage.

In seeking to overturn the employment tribunal ruling won by drivers James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam in October, Uber will accuse judges of failing to understand basic law and instead engaging in legally irrelevant and unfair criticism.

In the skeleton argument submitted ahead of Wednesdays hearing, lawyers for Uber insist that contrary to what the judges thought: The driver is in no sense in an employment relationship.

Rather, Uber acts as the drivers agent, in referring passengers to him  for [which] it receives payment [for] each trip.

The appeal also disputes the suggestion that the present case is one of unequal bargaining power leading to unreal contracts.

Uber, the lawyers insist, is not part of the much-criticised gig economy, whatever hundreds of news reports might have said.

The Tribunal will be aware of the public, press and political attention recently attracted by concerns over the gig economy, the appeal submission states. Ubers business model has often been held out as an example of this phenomenon.

In fact the position of drivers is materially identical to the familiar and long-established position of self-employed private hire drivers who operate under the auspices of traditional minicab firms.

Seeking to overturn some of the original rulings most scathing criticism, Ubers lawyers attack the judges finding that: The notion that Uber in London is a mosaic of 30,000 small [driving] businesses linked by a common platform is faintly ridiculous.

Ubers lawyers insist: That conclusion was wrong in law as well as factually perverse. There are many thousands of such businesses throughout the UK.

Ubers lawyers also seem unhappy with the finding that the supposed driver/passenger contract is a pure fiction which bears no relation to the real dealings and relationships between the parties.

Ubers lawyers insist the judges only came to this conclusion because they misunderstood and failed to apply basic principles of agency law.

The point is elementary, Ubers lawyers add, before a lengthy quotation from a legal textbook.

The lawyers seek to defend the wording of contracts once condemned by Labour MP Frank Field as utter gibberish and described out of court by Mr Farrar as absolutely impenetrable and brutally exploitative.

Ubers submission insists: Commercial parties are entitled to use contractual language that might strike some as complex or technical.

Uber controversies Show all 4 1 /4 Uber controversies Uber controversies June 2017 Travis Kalanick resigned from his position as CEO of Uber in July of this year, after a tumultous period for the company. A sexist workplace culture was exposed by a damning internal report, leading to heightened pressure on the CEO and consequently to him taking a leave of absence in June. A week later he was forced to resign after losing the confidence of the board of investors AFP/Getty Uber controversies June 2017 Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and convicted rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav following his court appearance in New Delhi on 8 December, 2014. An Uber executive, Eric Alexander, was fired in June of this year after reportedly obtaining the records of the rapist's victim, with the intent to cast doubt on her account of the incident. She later sued the company for defamation and violating her privacy rights Chandan Khanna/AFP Uber controversies May 2017 The company were ordered to pay up to $45 million dollars back to New York based drivers, after taking too much in commission over a two and a half year period. We made a mistake and we are committed to making it right by paying every driver every penny they are owed, plus interest, as quickly as possible, said Rachel Holt, Ubers regional general manager in the US and Canada, to the Wall Street Journal Getty Uber controversies December 2016 Uber's self-driving cars were ordered to be removed from the roads by a Californian car regulator, after being spotted skipping traffic lights. Uber insist that the incidents were "human error" rather than a design flaw. The New York Times later refuted this in an article claiming the autonomous technology had in fact failed Youtube/KTVU

The concept of a private hire operator acting as an agent for drivers was not invented by Uber in response to these proceedings, the lawyers add. It is not only the obvious analysis, but the subject of extensive case law.

One case cited is that of lap dancer Nadine Quashie who sought to establish that she was a Stringfellows employee, rather than self-employed, so she could bring an unfair dismissal claim against the business empire of Peter Stringfellow.

Stringfellows succeeded in having the case dismissed on appeal in 2012, on the grounds that Ms Quashie was self-employed.

The original tribunal judges in the Uber case interpreted the Stringfellows ruling as hinging on Ms Quashie having provided services ancillary to the main services provided by Stringfellows Restaurants Ltd.

Ubers lawyers are now arguing: It is difficult to view the services of dancers as merely ancillary to an unspecified principal service or facility offered by Stringfellows.

Even if Ms Quashies services really had been ancillary, Ubers lawyers add, the way the tribunal judges interpreted her case was legally misconceived because in fact it had never hinged on the extent to which end-users were also receiving other services from the putative employer.

All the arguments in Ubers 23-page submission have been rejected by Mr Farrar and Mr Aslams lawyers.

They state: The insuperable difficulty faced by Uber is that it cannot point to any document in which, [drivers] expressly appoint and authorise Uber to act as their agent, other than for the limited purpose of collecting payment.

Instead, the drivers lawyers add, rather than acting as an agent serving a client, It is plain that Uber does not act in the best interests of [drivers] when, for example, resolving passenger complaints.

Uber can and does agree with passengers to discount fares without even making reference to drivers  Inequality of bargaining power is plain and obvious.

Paul Jennings, of law firm Bates Wells Braithwaite, representing Mr Farrar and Mr Aslam, told The Independent that the tribunal and TfL cases both involved safety concerns about Uber.

Mr Jennings argued that if Ubers appeal denied drivers the right to paid holiday, they might not be able to afford to take time off and end up so tired they were a danger to themselves and their passengers.

Mr Jennings said: TfL expressed concern regarding Uber, quoting potential public safety and security implications.

The case advanced on behalf of the drivers raises equally important health and safety issues.

A key element of the case relates to whether drivers are entitled to paid annual leave, a basic health and safety entitlement under UK and European law.

Given the sheer scale of Ubers fleet, this protection is vital not just for drivers but for the public at large.
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David Shepherd was the first to admit he had no natural talent. When he submitted his first oil painting, Seagulls, to the Slade School of Art in London, his application was promptly rejected. In its reply, the school described the work as a depiction of birds of dubious ancestry, flying in anatomically impossible positions over a lavatorial green sea.

I couldnt have put it better myself! Shepherd later acknowledged.

That early setback, contrasted with his later popularity as a prolific painter of nature and industry, gave him the conviction that any person with enough determination could be taught to paint. Though shunned by critics, his wildlife art became immensely popular, and gave him a platform from which to advocate for wildlife preservation in Africa and beyond.

Born in 1931 in north London, David Shepherd was a rather nervous boy who led, in his own words, the usual sheltered middle-class life. The Second World War, which he found to be madly exciting, gave him licence for some adventure, however, as he and his brother would learn to recognise the planes flying overhead, and collected unexploded shells and other military relics in the aftermath of bombings.

His father worked in advertising before the war, and in hotel management after it. The family as a whole was not especially artistic, and the young Shepherd had no particular interest in painting either, although he did join the schools art club in order to avoid being roughed up at rugby. Inspired by the books he read as a child, which told the stories of pioneers who opened up Africa, he dreamed of becoming a game warden.

His father did not object, and even paid for his travel to Kenya. On arrival, in 1949, Shepherd soon realised he was a very square peg in a very round hole a long way from home. The warden of the Nairobi National Park rejected his application as a matter of course  after all, he had neither much knowledge, nor experience, of Kenyan wildlife  and within a few months a dejected Shepherd was headed back to England. There he deliberated between what he thought were his two only options: earn a living as a bus driver, or starve as an artist.

He gave the second option a try by applying to the Slade  and the strongly worded rejection suggested that buses might in fact be his sole recourse. But a chance encounter with the marine painter Robin Goodwin at a party gave him the opportunity to receive the training he so desperately needed. On seeing Seagulls, Shepherds ill-fated painting, Goodwin said: Oh my God, anybody who paints as badly as that Ive just got to teach.

Goodwin knew how to drive his student without quite breaking him, teaching him to paint every day from dawn till dusk. Dont talk all that rubbish about painting from your innermost self, Goodwin said early on. To him, painting should be considered a business, and only through hard work could one earn a living from it. By 1953 Goodwin had taught Shepherd everything he could. Youre on your own, he said.

Heavy machinery fascinated Shepherd, and so he started his career at Heathrow airport. He would set up his easel on the tarmac and paint the planes, for sale to airline companies, among other clients.

In 1960, he was invited by the Royal Air Force to paint for the services in Aden, the port city in modern Yemen. He received an at-first cold welcome from the soldiers there but, having showed them how he depicted daily life in the bustling city, he was soon overwhelmed with commissions. This is when he painted, on a request from the RAF, his first wildlife scene as a professional artist: a rhinoceros chasing a Twin Pioneer off a landing strip. It is also when he became a conservationist: seeing 255 dead zebra at a poisoned waterhole convinced him to do something to protect wildlife from the barbarity and cruelty of man.

The Very Wise Elephant (1963) (David Shepherd Foundation)

The Daily Telegraph called Shepherd a peacetime war artist upon his return from Aden. Soon he began to focus on wildlife, and found that, contrary to what gallerists thought, and perhaps as a result of lingering colonial feelings, such art was in high demand.

Some of his paintings were sold as mass-produced prints. One in particular, Wise Old Elephant, which was available at Boots the chemists, sold a quarter of a million copies. To many, Shepherd became the chap who painted that elephant in Boots  to his great despair. The print hung on the wall of Del Boys flat on the set of sitcom Only Fools and Horses, adding to Shepherds embarrassment. Oh God, dont point the camera at my painting, please, he would say, because people think Ive never done anything else.

Another painting of his, a depiction of the English countryside titled March Sunlight, also became a print bestseller. A journalist interpreted the painting as an evocation of sexual awakening  a reading which Shepherd called nonsense. To him, art was strictly figurative.

Shepherd might have made large sums of money from the print market but soon left it, deciding he would focus on limited editions instead.

As well as African wildlife, which he would paint either on location or based on photographs from the comfort of his Elizabethan farmhouse in Surrey, Shepherd continued to paint heavy machinery. He was particularly passionate about steam locomotives, which were his favourite subject. Those works were so dear to him that he never sold them.

Feeling that he had to save something, somehow, of the vanishing age of steam, he started buying steam engines  two of which he acquired in Zambia  and recreated the East Somerset Railway as a heritage railway. Shepherd also set out to contribute to the preservation of wildlife, at first by collaborating with the World Wildlife Fund and later by founding the David Shepherd Conservation Foundation, which advocated for the defence of endangered species and fundraised millions of pounds, in part through the sale of his paintings, for that goal.

Shepherds at once theatrical and highly figurative style was panned by critics as kitsch and really naff. Shepherd held their opinions in contempt. Still, his obsession with getting every detail right did cause him personal trouble on occasion. The first portrait he ever produced of his wife Avril  who survives him, along with their four daughters  ended up in a cupboard under the stairs because he had made her pose for him when she had the mumps. I painted her entirely from life and it is exactly like her, mumps and all! he late wrote, unapologetically.

Shepherd remained faithful to Goodwins lesson that a painter should paint relentlessly every day. Listening to classical music or jazz, he would spend hours in his studio, producing, over decades, thousands of works of art. A creature of habit, he used the same two plywood palettes, which he made himself, and wore the same three pairs of paint-encrusted trousers, on which he would wipe his brushes, throughout his painting life.

That conservative streak, he readily admitted, was an essential part of his outlook on the world. I live in the past in many ways, he wrote, and am desperately saddened to see how life has changed for the worse I have so many chips on my shoulder I can hardly walk.

In much of his art  be it depictions of steam engines or African wildlife  Shepherd grasped at a past whose chances of survival, he contended, were bleak. Hollywood actor James Stewart, who was a fan of his paintings, seized on that sentiment in his foreword to Shepherds memoirs, The Man who Loves Giants, finding some solace in it nonetheless: Its a comfort to me to know that my great-grandchildren, in their world which may not see either elephants or steam locomotives, will still be able to look at a David Shepherd painting and say great.

David Shepherd, painter and conservationist, born 25 April 1931, died 19 September 2017
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Australia will create its own space agency  but hasn't said what it will do.

The country wants to create its equivalent of the US's Nasa or Russia's Roscosmos. But it hasn't said what aims the agency will have, or how much money it will spend doing it.

It only said that it hopes the money can take advantage of the $330 billion and growing space economy, and that it would aim to help develop the country so that it is more focused on innovation and science. But it said very little more.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. 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Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. 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"It's a small agency to coordinate and lead," prime minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters. "The space sector, of course, is one of enormous potential."

Acting Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Michaelia Cash said the agency's charter would be developed by the end of March.

Recommended Cassini sends back stunning last pictures of Saturn to Nasa

"The global space industry is growing rapidly and it's crucial that Australia is part of this growth," Cash said in a statement.

"A national space agency will ensure we have a strategic long-term plan that supports the development and application of space technologies and grows our domestic space industry," she added.

The opposition Labor Party said such an agency was needed to increase Australia's share of a global space economy from less than 1 percent of what the government estimates is worth $330 billion.

Labor said Australia and Iceland were the only countries in the 35-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that do not have a space agency.

Australia in 1967 became one of the first countries to launch a satellite and images of astronaut Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon were transmitted by NASA's Honeysuckle Creek tracking station in Australia.

But successive governments have baulked at establishing a space agency because of cost. The government has yet to announce how much it will invest in the new agency.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
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Fish appear to be individuals with complex personalities, according to new research.

Researchers tested the idea that Trinidadian guppies all had a fairly standard response to potential dangers.

The theory went that they had a simple spectrum of reactions to danger  some things were more frightening than others but the fish basically all responded in the same way.

However, when confronted by a new situation or a potential predator, such as a model of a heron in laboratory tests, the guppies proved they were all individuals. Some were, essentially, braver than others.

One of the researchers, Dr Tom Houslay, of Exeter University, said: The idea of a simple spectrum is often put forward to explain the behaviour of individuals in species such as the Trinidadian guppy.

But our research shows that the reality is much more complex.

For example, when placed into an unfamiliar environment, we found guppies have various strategies for coping with this stressful situation  many attempt to hide, others try to escape, some explore cautiously, and so on.

The differences between them were consistent over time and in different situations.

So, while the behaviour of all the guppies changed depending on the situation  for example, all becoming more cautious in more stressful situations  the relative differences between individuals remained intact.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. 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Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary

The study, described in the journal Functional Ecology, involved causing different degrees of stress to the guppies and then monitoring their coping mechanisms.

Putting the fish into a different tank caused mild stress as they were forced to explore an unfamiliar environment that might be dangerous.
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A burglar who sprayed acid at a 69-year-old woman in a series of "horrifying" attacks has been jailed for 18 years.

Gerard Whelan, 45, of Paddington, west London, attacked 10 people in a three-day spree of armed break-ins and robberies that left some of his victims with life-changing injuries.

He also targeted a 39-year-old mother as she dropped her daughter off at school after setting out to "terrorise" people while armed with a screwdriver and corrosive liquid in December.

The 69-year-old woman suffered burns to a quarter of her body and had to undergo skin grafts and multiple surgeries after Whelan poured a noxious substance over her at her home in Ilford, north London.

The victim awoke during the night on December 13 to find Whelan looming over her bed with a screwdriver. He told her: "If you don't keep quiet I'll kill you."

The serial burglar took a bracelet and rings from the woman's arms and hands and forced her to sit downstairs as he searched the kitchen cupboards, before spraying her with acid as she tried to escape.

The substance, found to be the same strength as sulphuric acid, left her with permanent scars on her arms, legs, body and face. The woman spent eight weeks in hospital and nine months later has still not regained full movement of her arms or been able to return to work.

A 69-year-old woman was left permanently scarred by acid thrown by Whelan (Metropolitan Police)

In another incident, on December 12, Whelan broke into a 89-year-old man's house armed with a screwdriver and threatened him with a bottle of fluid he said was acid. The victim handed over 190 after Whealan demanded money.

Later that day, Whelan squirted liquid at a driver through his open car window before opening the door and demanding the keys. The victim felt burning to his face but was able to escape on foot with the keys.

Whelan also threw a corrosive liquid at a 38-year-old woman as he tried to snatch her handbag. The substance, contained in an aerosol spray can with the nozzle removed, damaged the outer cells of the victim's eye and temporarily blinded her.

Judge Joanna Greenberg QC said Whelan had shown an "indiscriminate, unpredictable and unprovoked use of aggression".

Sentencing him at Wood Green Crown Court, she told him: "By arming yourself with a screwdriver and corrosive liquid it demonstrates a degree of planning in which you clearly set out to and expected to terrorise your victims.

"What you did must have engendered great fear in all of your victims and, in the case of two who have made victim impact statements, resulted in life-changing physical and/or psychological damage."

She added: "Your offences demonstrate an indiscriminate, unpredictable and unprovoked use of aggression, threats of violence, actual violence and cruelty."

Whelan targeted six people on December 12, one on December 13, and three on Christmas Day.

Also among the victims were a 62-year-old man, who Whelan sprayed with liquid during an attempted robbery. He was protected from injury by his jacket. Whelan also squirted suspected acid at a 39-year-old woman who was dropping her daughter off at school, but missed.

On December 25, he posed as an undercover police officer to speak to a driver in Bounds Green, Haringey, before spraying him with fluid and attempting to steal his car. The driver suffered no lasting damage and Whelan was unable to drive the vehicle away.

He was jailed on Monday after pleading guilty in July to 12 offences including aggravated burglary, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and robbery.

The judge imposed an extended sentence, meaning Whelan will have to serve at least 12 years before becoming eligible for release.

The remains of a bottle dropped by Whelan after one of the attacks (Metropolitan Police)

Detective Sergeant Brett Hagen, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "The length of the sentence today reflects the gravity and callous nature of these acid attacks. Whelan embarked on a series of horrifying offences against a raft of innocent and vulnerable members of the public, many of whom were lucky not to incur serious injury.

Unfortunately several of the victims did sustain life changing injuries as a result of being sprayed with a noxious substance."

The Met has launched a crackdown on acid attacks amid fears criminals are "moving across" to using corrosive fluids as weapons instead of guns and knives.

Detective Superintendent Mike West, who is leading the force's attempts to tackle the trend, said: This is a message to anyone who seeks to cause another person harm with a corrosive substance who thinks we dont have existing laws to tackle such attacks.

"We will put everything we have in to supporting members of our communities who report these crimes, we will track you down and we will make sure you have the same severe sentences, as Gerard Whelan got today, using the CPS and courts."

Lily Saw, the Crown Prosecution Service's reviewing lawyer for London, said: "This was a horrific use of acid during a burglary. Gerard Whelans victim was forced to undergo skin grafts and operations. She will be scarred for life.

"But carrying acid or another corrosive substance as a weapon could lead to a prison sentence of up to four years even if it is not used, and throwing acid, even if the target is missed, could lead to a life sentence."
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Actress and model Frida Farrell has warned women to take precautions against trafficking as she marked the grim 15th anniversary of her being drugged and sexually exploited in a Harley Street flat.

As part of The Independent and London Evening Standards special investigation into modern slavery, 37-year-old Ms Farrell told the harrowing story of the three-day kidnap ordeal during which she was locked up and forced to have sex with a parade of unknown men.

She was afraid her kidnapper would find her again if she came forward afterwards. I was silent for 10 years. I didnt tell anybody except my husband, my mother and a friend because I was so scared, she said.

Ms Farrell, who co-wrote and acted in the award-winning film Selling Isobel based on her experience after finally plucking up the courage, called on women to be cautious  particularly when going to someones house for a photoshoot.

Bring a friend and make sure people know exactly where you are, so that if youre not back in an hour they can report it, she advised.

She also lent her backing to our investigation, saying: I am hugely impressed with The Independent and the Standard for launching this joint campaign to widen our knowledge of modern slavery  a problem thats quickly grown larger than we can comprehend  and to help stop other girls and women suffering what I went through.

I was so scared because I was embarrassed, and I blamed myself, which is stupid, Ms Farrell says (Austin Hargrave)

Since Selling Isobel, she said she has received messages and emails from other victims saying something similar happened to me, or I was raped. Swedish-born Ms Farrell was 22 when she was approached near Oxford Circus after a shopping trip one September night in 2002 by a man who said he wanted to cast her in a photoshoot.

He didnt grab my arm and pull me  he said, Call me if you want. And that makes you think Oh, hes not pushing me, she said. She showed up and as the photographer took a series of shots all seemed well. But when she arrived at his flat the next day there was no longer a photo studio inside  and her middle-aged photographers demeanour had changed.

He slammed the door behind me and locked it and put the key in his pocket. I thought What? and froze. My brain couldnt quite compute. He pulled out a hunting knife and just held it. Didnt threaten me  just held it by his side, almost as if to say, I have this. Dont f***ing do anything, she said.

He told her to put on a set of lingerie and offered her some milk, which she suspected was drugged.

I thought Id rather just drink the milk and not live to see whats going to happen, she said. I didnt know if he was just a crazy man who was going to murder me, rape me or hit me, so I just drank the milk and thought God help me.

She woke up in a different flat and, over the next three days, at least six men abused her while she pleaded for help. Her captor also assaulted her. But on the third day he left the flat without locking the door. She fled and didnt stop until she was past Bond Street. She told police a few days later, but today still doesnt know if her captor was ever found.

 Family members jailed for 'truly shocking' modern day slavery crimes

Now she wants similar victims to feel unafraid to approach police, friends, family or therapists to tell their stories.

I was so scared because I was embarrassed, and I blamed myself, which is stupid. But I took some time, and now Im coming out and talking about it, and its helping, she said.

I thought if theres just one woman who could have been saved before it happened because she was educated about it, then my job would have been done.

This autumn she is taking Selling Isobel to the San Diego film festival, with a theatre run planned for London and Los Angeles. She hopes it will raise awareness of trafficking, and says: Then I would have turned the worst thing in my life into something good.
In the framework of his working visit to Canada, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has met with Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, the Ukrainian president's press service reported on Saturday.

"They discussed possible ways to the full implementation of mutually beneficial possibilities provided by the FTA Agreement, as well as further enhancement of bilateral cooperation in defense sector, including the support for Ukraine in the development of close partnership with NATO," the report reads.

The two officials discussed the developments in Donbas and the implementation of the Minsk agreements. They also coordinated approaches to the implementation of the initiative on the deployment of the UN peacekeeping operation across the whole occupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Poroshenko and Freeland expressed the hope that Canada will take principled stand in the issue of sanctions against Moscow, first of all, in the context of the future presidency in the G7.

The Ukrainian president noted Canada's support for the implementation of reforms in Ukraine. In particular, Poroshenko thanked Freeland for her personal participation in the London conference for reforms in Ukraine in July 2017, in the course of which new Canadian projects of support have been announced.
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An Oxford University student who was told she may be spared a custodial sentence for stabbing her boyfriend due to her extraordinary talent has avoided jail.

Lavinia Woodward, a medical student and aspiring heart surgeon, attacked her ex-boyfriend with a bread knife in a drug-fuelled rage at her university accommodation at Christ Church College, Oxford Crown Court heard.

At an earlier hearing, 24-year-old Woodward had pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding her partner.

The offence would normally carry a custodial sentence, but Judge Ian Pringle QC previously suggested she could be spared jail because of her academic record.

It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinary able young lady from not following her long-held desire to enter the profession she wishes to would be a sentence which would be too severe, he said in May.

The judges comments drew criticism for being unduly lenient and demonstrating class bias.

On Monday, imposing a 10-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months, Judge Pringle told her: There are many mitigating features in your case.

Principally, at the age of 24 you have no previous convictions of any nature whatsoever.

Secondly, I find that you were genuinely remorseful following this event and, indeed, though it was against your bail conditions, you contacted your partner to fully confess your guilt and your deep sorrow for what happened.

Thirdly, whilst you are a clearly highly intelligent individual, you had an immaturity about you which was not commensurate for someone of your age.

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On 30 December, Woodwards Cambridge-educated boyfriend, who she met on the Tinder dating app, visited her in Oxford.

When he realised she had been drinking, he contacted her mother via Skype.

The judge said: When you discovered this, you became extremely angry, starting to throw objects around.

It is clear from the transcript of the 999 call that your partner summoned the help of the police before you picked up a bread knife which was in the room and struck a blow with it to his lower leg.

In the course of the incident two of his fingers also received cuts. Your partner managed to partly restrain you, albeit then you started to turn the knife on yourself and he had to disarm you to prevent further self-harm.

When the emergency services arrived, it was abundantly clear that you were intoxicated, deeply distraught and mentally disturbed. You were taken to the police station in a very distressed state.

The defence argued that Woodward was suffering following a very damaging previous relationship, during which she was introduced to Class A drugs.
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A man has been arrested in Cardiff in connection with the Parsons Green attack.

The 20-year-old suspect was detained in a dawn raid under the Terrorism Act and taken into custody.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the unidentified man had been arrested at around 6am and transported to a police station in south London.

The arrests were carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, supported by colleagues from the Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU) and South Wales Police, he added.

Officers are also carrying out a search at an address in Cardiff.

He is the seventh person to be arrested in relation to the attempted bombing on 15 September.

Ahmed Hassan, an 18-year-old Iraqi refugee, has been charged with attempted murder and explosives offences over the attack.

He appeared in court on Friday and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 13 October.

Hassan, who lived with his foster parents in Sunbury-on-Thames, was arrested in Dover port the day after 30 people were injured by a fireball that ripped through a packed District Line train during rush hour.

 Parsons Green: CCTV shows terror arrest in Newport

Two other men, aged 25 and 30, remain in custody after being arrested during raids by counter-terror police in Newport last week.

Three of those detained have been released without charge, including a 17-year-old boy who was arrested in Thornton Heath on Thursday.

Yahyah Farroukh, a 21-year-old Syrian refugee who had been fostered by the same couple as Hassan, was also freed with no further action alongside a 48-year-old man arrested in Newport.

Searches continue one Hassans former home in Surrey and one address in Cardiff, police said, with others in Surrey, Hounslow and Newport completed.

One of the men arrested has been identified as an Iraqi Kurd known locally as Bilal, with friends saying they can't believe he would be involved in the atrocity.

The 25-year-old painter and decorator used a Facebook account with the profile name Mahdi Rahimi, locals and friends confirmed.

One said the suspect, an Iranian Kurd, arrived in Newport in about 2009.

He is a very good guy, I can't believe this, one man said. He is Kurdish, he describes terrorists like Isis as stupid.

Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Show all 23 1 /23 Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion A bucket with flames and wires coming out of it was photographed in the carriage after the explosion  apparently the source of the blast AFP Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion An explosion on a packed Tube train has injured a number of people in west London AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion The blast triggered a stampede as commuters panicked AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion Click through for more pictures from the scene Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosioN Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion PA Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Parsons Green explosion Reuters Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures AFP/Getty Terror attack at Parson's Green  in pictures AFP/Getty

He is hard-working and helpful. He has painted a lot of the shops and houses round here.

He used to walk past every day on his way to the mosque, he would come and shake my hand and say hello.

The man said Bilal wanted to study at university but had not been able to as he was waiting for permanent residency in the UK, so was instead enrolled at a local college.

Kurdish people know what Isis are doing, they are fighting them.

A woman described Bilal as a nice guy who had condemned terrorism in discussions with her husband.

Police said magistrates granted them a warrant allowing the further detention of the 25-year-old and 30-year-old men until Tuesday.

Additional reporting by PA
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Two religious prison inmates who murdered a convicted double killer after being "ordered by God" to break his neck have both been handed life sentences.

Billy White, a Christian, and Muslim Gary Lindley prayed after the pre-planned killing of Brett Rogers, which they believed would "exorcise a demon" from him and "cleanse" him of his crimes.

Worcester Crown Court was told staff at HMP Long Lartin were then handed a note saying the killers had decided to "free" their victim from "darkness".

White, aged 24, was given a whole life term for the killing - carried out while he was already serving a life sentence for the 2015 murder of his partner.

Judge Robert Juckes QC heard that White was jailed for at least 15 years at the Old Bailey in May 2016 after murdering his partner by stabbing her through the neck as she slept at their home in Hayes, west London.

Lindley, aged 42, was serving an indeterminate sentence after being jailed at Nottingham Crown Court in 2007 for his part in a violent distraction burglary.

Ordering Lindley to serve a minimum term of 17-and-a-half years for killing Rogers, Judge Juckes ruled that the prisoner's murder had not been committed in the "furtherance of a religious cause".

The judge said White and Lindley - who pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier hearing - had admitted during police interviews that they had decided to kill Mr Rogers around a week before his death.

Addressing his reasons for handing White a whole life term, the judge said: "This is his second offence of murder.

"This was a determined and premeditated killing of a particularly cruel kind of a man in his own cell by two men who overpowered him.

"They picked on him because of what they had come to believe about him."

Rogers, from Stansted Mountfitchet in Essex, was jailed for life last year with a minimum term of 32 years for the murder of his mother and her friend.

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Opening the facts of Rogers' murder, prosecutor Benjamin Aina QC said prison officers found the 25-year-old's body on June 7 after he failed to collect medicine.

The killing - the fourth homicide at Long Lartin in the past five years - took place between 3.21pm and 3.54pm when CCTV captured White and Lindley entering and leaving his cell.

Paramedics pronounced Rogers dead at 6.24pm and while the wing was in lockdown, Lindley passed a note to a prison officer reading: "I was ordered by the Lord My God to free Brett Rogers. I know you will not see it this way but that is between you and God. I am of sound mind. Please can I speak to the Governor."

During their police interviews, Lindley and White, who worked as support cleaners at the maximum security jail, said they had tried to "snap" Rogers' neck and then suffocated him with a pillow because he did not appear to be dead.

According to his account to police, White then used a blue marker pen to draw yin and yang signs on the dead man's cheek.

Before the sentencing, Lindley tried unsuccessfully to withdraw his guilty plea via a prison video link, citing mental health issues.

The court heard Lindley was first jailed at Nottingham Crown Court in 2000, receiving a 15-month sentence for a violent offence.

He was then given a further term of custody at the same court in 2002 for an attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Press Association
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Acid has become the favoured weapon in gang wars in Britain because unlike a knife it can be thrown from a distance and easily concealed, a youth worker said.

Jermaine Lawlor, a former gang member who now works with young people in Enfield, north London, explained that acid is preferred because it can be hidden in drinks bottles that police cannot easily detect if they perform a stop and search.

He said culprits also opted for the liquid because if they are caught using it in an attack, they serve up to six months in prison  compared to at least four years for a fatal knife crime.

He said it was not right, because innocent victims hit by acid can be left disfigured with their confidence destroyed for the rest of their lives.

His comments follow the arrest of a 15-year-old boy after a suspected mass acid attack on Saturday night in Stratford, east London, in which six people were injured.

A group of men brawled in the Stratford Centre shopping mall, and the fight later spilled outside, shortly before 8pm.

CCTV images showed people fleeing and screaming, after the toxic liquid was thrown into crowds.

Mr Lawlor told Sky News: Acid is a weapon of choice primarily because it is easy to conceal. You can have it on you ... in a bottle, which means when the police stop you theyre not going to be able to detect it.

Not only is it easy to conceal, it is easily accessible. A knife is easily accessible as well, but the difference is with a knife you have to be up close and personal with your victim.

With acid, it is a handheld weapon that can be propelled at a great distance, which means you can cause maximum damage without having to be too close to that person.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the 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Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at 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during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. 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He called for tougher sentences for attacks where acid is used.

There is no justice being served with these incidents; with a knife incident youre looking at a four-year mandatory, possibly life sentence if the person is killed.

Whereas with an acid attack the person is not going to die, but their self-esteem will be destroyed, their confidence will be destroyed, and they have to live with that for the rest of their life, while the perpetrator gets six months (in prison). And its not right.

Crimes involving acid have doubled in London in the past three years, figures show, and include 45 instances of the crime in April alone.

Experts blame the fact that acid is easily bought over the counter in certain shops, and because of a crackdown on knives and guns.
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A retired Bristol University academic is believed to have been mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs in Greece.

The 62-year-old tourist, named locally as Celia Hollingworth, was reported missing after walking back to her accommodation in Maroneia in the northern part of the country.

She had been visiting the nearby Mesimvria archaeological site, near Petrota Beach.

Reports in Greece suggested she tried to contact her relatives in London after being attacked by the pack of wild animals, but lost signal on her phone.

Her mother and brother called local authorities to ask them to locate her, according to ERT Television.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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She was last seen by swimmers at 4.30pm on Thursday. Her body was later discovered by police and firefighers at 10.45am on Saturday.

A senior police officer with knowledge of the investigation told The Times: "It was a tragic sight.

Her body was found shredded to pieces, some of it devoured. Even experienced forensics crews were shocked when they faced the harrowing sight.

Her family are believed to be travelling to Greece.

Local reports suggested Ms Hollingworth was a former professor at Oxford University, but the university said they were unable to find a record of anyone with her name having worked as a professor at the university.

She had raised money for Greek charities helping Syrian refugees and was an active human rights campaigner, according to The Telegraph.

Authorities in the UK did not dispute the woman's identity.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are in contact with Greek Police in relation to a British woman missing in northern Greece since Thursday.

"We are also providing consular assistance to her family.
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The kidnapping of British glamour model Chloe Ayling was a "publicity stunt", according to a lawyer defending a man at the centre of it.

Ms Ayling was reported to have been kidnapped by a gang called the "Black Death Group" after being lured to a fake modelling shoot in Italy. But a lawyer for one of the supposed kidnappers said the case appeared to be a "sham" intended to generate publicity.

He said there was a "unique set of anomalies" that might lead the Italian authorities to think they have been "duped", a lawyer defending the kidnapper said.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA

He pointed to a range of events that he said were problems with the story, including the fact that Ms Ayling had reportedly gone shoe shopping with her captor, and that they had breakfast before she was handed in at the British consulate.

Lukasz Herba, 30, is in custody in Italy, having been arrested after delivering Ms Ayling to the British Embassy on July 17 - six days after she was allegedly kidnapped. He has said he did not knowingly take part in any crime.

His 36-year-old brother, Michal Herba, was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Italian authorities last month.

He appeared in custody at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday to fight extradition, having been in custody since he was apprehended in the Tividale area of Sandwell in the West Midlands.

Prosecutor Florence Iveson said Herba has been requested by the court of Milan in relation to a single offence of kidnapping arising from events between July 11 and 17.

"The allegation is that Mr Herba acted in complicity with his brother, Lukasz Herba, and other unidentified persons to kidnap the victim in Milan," she said.

"It is said she was drugged and kidnapped and a 300,000 euro ransom was demanded."

But Herba's lawyer, George Hepburne Scott, raised questions over the account given by Ms Ayling, of Coulsdon, south London, who claims she was drugged and bundled into the boot of a car after being tricked into attending the bogus photoshoot in Milan on July 11.

"There is a real risk that the entire case is a sham," he said.

Referring to "open source material", Mr Scott said: "The same complainant, it seems, generated publicity from the fact she was nearby the scene of a terrorist attack at the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

"Prior to the release of the complainant, the kidnapper apparently issued a press release to a tabloid newspaper setting out that this lady was being held for auction."

The lawyer also pointed to an alleged incident during which Ms Ayling and her captor went shopping for shoes, calling it a "wholly anomalous feature of a hostage situation".

She also went to breakfast with the kidnapper before her release when the pair found the British consulate was closed, Mr Scott added.

"It would amount to an abuse of process of the court if there was any evidence to suggest this was a publicity stunt," he told the judge.

"This case has a unique set of anomalies which might lead to the conclusion that the Italian authorities have been duped and that their process has been abused."

District Judge Paul Goldspring pointed out much of the material relied on by Mr Scott came from press reports, which he said did not prove any of the theories in the case. He will give his ruling on Friday.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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Isis has challenged Prince Harry to a fight and threatened to send him "to hellfire."

A Singaporean member of the terror group appeared in a three-and-a-half minute in which he encourages would-be jihadis to fight for Isis in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

The jihadi, who is identified as Abu 'Uqayl, goes on to threaten Prince Harry, who spoke about the London Bridge terror attack when he visited Singapore in

June.

He said: To Harry, you come to Singapore and tell such stories to gain sympathy for the London terror attacks?

 Met police officer describes taking on the London Bridge terrorists

Why dont you come here and fight us if youre man enough, so that we can send you and your Apaches to hellfire?"

The Prince formerly served in the British Army, where he flew Apache attack helicopters in Afghanistan.

His visit to Singapore was overshadowed by the London Bridge terror attack, in which three knife-wielding assailants used a van to ram pedestrians on London bridge before stabbing people in restaurants and pubs around Borough Market.

Eight people were killed and 48 injured in the attack, which was claimed by Isis.

Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack Show all 8 1 /8 Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack John Loughrey lays down flowers in Potters Fields Park, central London in honour of the London Bridge terror attack victims PA Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack People queue to lay flowers after a vigil for victims of Saturday's attack in London Bridge, at Potter's Field Park in London AP Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (centre) British Home Office Secretary, Amber Rudd (right) and British Shadow Labour Home Secretary (left) Diane Abbott arrive with flowers EPA Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack PA Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack Floral tributes left for victims of Saturdays London Bridge attack AP Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack People pay their respects, leaving floral tributes after a vigil for victims of Saturdays attack in London Bridge AP Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack People queue to honour those killed on Saturday. Police have arrested several people and are widening their investigation after the attack AP Crowds gather for vigil honouring victims of London Bridge attack Tributes lie outside City Hall in London EPA

Singaporean authorities have identified the man in the video as Megat Shahdan bin Abdul Samad, 39, who left the city-state to work in the Middle East in 2014.

In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said: "Our security agencies have been aware for some time now of the presence in Syria of a Singaporean, Megat Shahdan bin Abdul Samad, 39, and have been monitoring his activities.

"It is believed that the person in the video calling himself 'Abu Uqayl' is Shahdan."
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A Muslim surgeon who treated Manchester Arena victims said he has forgiven a man who stabbed him in the neck outside a mosque in a hate crime attack.

Consultant Nasser Kurdy, who operated on those injured in the outrage in May, was stabbed from behind with a knife as he walked into Altrincham Islamic Centre in Hale, Cheshire just before 6pm yesterday.

The 58-year-old victim suffered a three centimetre wound to the back of his neck and was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital for treatment, where he works as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon.

On Monday the father of three, from a SyrianJordanian family, was preparing to go back to work to treat his patients as the police investigation continued.

He said: "God was merciful to me yesterday. It could be a nerve, an artery, a vein, the gullet. The neck is the contact between the body and your head, but fortunately it was just the muscle.

"As I entered the grounds of the premises, I felt that pain and the blow to my neck.

"I turned around and saw this gentleman in a threatening pose. I did feel threatened, I did feel vulnerable."

 London residents bring flowers in solidarity with Finsbury Park Mosque after attack

He rushed inside and, fearing the attacker may follow, grabbed a chair and dashed outside, but his attacker had fled.

Police later made two arrests and said they were treating the incident as a hate crime.

Mr Kurdy has worked as a doctor for four decades, after coming to Britain to study medicine in 1977 and working in Perth, Dundee and Northampton before settling in Manchester in 1991.

He was going to the Islamic Centre for mid-afternoon prayers and a committee meeting, as he is a lay imam, sometimes giving sermons, and vice chairman of Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association.

Mr Kurdy said, ahead of giving a police statement, that he could not say what his attacker said to him, but was in "no doubt" he was attacked because he was entering the Islamic Centre.

But he added he feels no anger towards his attacker.

He said: "He is not representative of what this country stands for. I have absolutely no anger or hate or anything negative towards him. I have declared it, I have totally forgiven him.

"He could be a marginalised person within his own community."

But Mr Kurdy said he felt hate crimes against Muslims were escalating on the back of terror incidents including the Arena bombing and the Parsons Green tube attack.

"The climate is very threatening, very worrying. Something could have happened, horrible, yesterday.

"The atmosphere that is around has allowed for that.

"There needs to be acknowledgement that hate crimes against Muslims are on the increase and they are becoming more physical.

"It's not just someone saying something verbally, or somebody pulling a headscarf or what have you, it is now taking that extra step and I think that extra step is what has started worrying and frightening people.

"There are very senseless acts of insanity taking place, which can only fuel anger and hate.

"We can't hide away from what happened in Manchester, what happened around the country and the recent Tube incident. That will fuel hatred and anger.

"People need to know there are Muslims like myself. I've worked hard, I'm a surgeon, I treat people. I have a wonderful community. My colleagues at work respect me and value my contribution.

"I don't think I can see anybody more integrated than I am. I get invited to sit on services in the synagogue, service on Remembrance Sunday, I'm always in the church at All Saints.

"I'm sure people don't get to see that, all they get to see is those crackpots."

Mr Kurdy said Muslims at the Islamic Centre were now frightened and security will be reviewed.

The centre has suffered a brick through its windows, graffiti and a rubbish bin set alight in the past.

Greater Manchester Police said two men, aged 32 and 54, were arrested within an hour of the attack.

Both of the men are understood to have been arrested in the local area.

The force is treating the matter as a hate crime but not terrorism related.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said: "This is a very nasty and unprovoked attack against a much-loved local man."

Dr Khalid Anis, a spokesman for the Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association, said: "It could have been very, very serious.

"There were definitely abusive comments made - obviously he was in shock at the time, he had just been stabbed, so the detail of those comments I don't know, but there were definitely abusive comments made by the attackers at the door of the mosque.

"We understand it was a knife, he is very lucky.

 Mosque holds 'best of British' tea party in response to EDL rally

"The fact they attacked an orthopaedic consultant who devoted his life to helping others is really quite poignant."

Other Muslim leaders condemned the attack.

Harun Khan, secretary general of the MCB, said on Sunday: "We are shocked to hear of the stabbing of a prominent Muslim surgeon outside Altrincham mosque today in what the Greater Manchester Police have described as a hate crime.

"We are relieved to hear that the victim's injuries are not currently critical.

"Our prayers are with the victim, his family and the local community."

He called on the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to implement the Government's Hate Crime Action Plan.

PA
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Local residents have been evacuated as police investigate a suspicious package found outside North Koreas embassy in Ealing, west London.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they were called to a report of a "suspicious item" shortly before 8pm outside the semi-detached house.

Police cordoned off roads, evacuated houses and reportedly carried out a controlled explosion at about 9.30pm.

The package was then found to be non-threatening.

A number of ambulances also attended the scene.

Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Show all 6 1 /6 Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Photos released by North Korea show Kim Jong-un talking to subordinates next to a device thought to be the new thermonuclear weapon. There is no way of independently verifying the pictures STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korea claims it has successfully tested an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A diagram on the wall behind Mr Kim shows a bomb mounted inside a cone STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) attending a photo session with participants of the fourth conference of active secretaries of primary organisations of the youth league of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in Pyongyang STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters

The North Korean embassy is located inside a seven bedroom suburban house once owned by Carry On actor Sid James.
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A huge new military exercise involving thousands of troops, ships and fighter jets has been launched in Scotland to practise shooting down nuclear missiles.

Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, said Formidable Shield would combat the threat posed by North Korea and other rogue states, amid intensifying tensions between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump.

North Korean tests have shown the danger of rogue states developing longer range missiles, he added.

By hosting this cutting-edge exercise in anti-missile defence with allied navies, Britain is at the forefront of developing a more effective response to this growing threat.

Pyongyang has fired two ballistic missiles over Japan in the past month, sparking warnings for people to take cover, after appearing to make significant advances towards creating a rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

North Koreas intensifying experiments appear to have prompted the Formidable Shield exercise, which is the first time that Nato allies have practised defending against incoming ballistic missiles with no prior warning in Europe.

It launched the day after the US sent bombers and fighter jets over waters east of North Korea to send a clear message that the President has many military options to defeat any threat.

 World leaders react to North Korea's latest missile launch

Donald Trump appeared to threaten regime change in the country over the weekend, causing the North Korean foreign minister to accuse the President of declaring war in a speech at the United Nations.

American forces are leading the exercise off the coast of the Scotland, alongside troops from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) hailed Formidable Shield as one of the most sophisticated and complex air and missile exercises ever undertaken in the UK.

A Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer and two Type 23 frigates are being joined by 11 other ships, 10 aircraft and 3,300 personnel for the month-long exercise.

They will work together to detect, track and shoot down live anti-ship and ballistic missiles.

Nato said the major exercise in the Outer Hebrides aimed to foster cooperation between allies in the face of possible threats from missile attacks.

Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Show all 6 1 /6 Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Photos released by North Korea show Kim Jong-un talking to subordinates next to a device thought to be the new thermonuclear weapon. There is no way of independently verifying the pictures STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korea claims it has successfully tested an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A diagram on the wall behind Mr Kim shows a bomb mounted inside a cone STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) attending a photo session with participants of the fourth conference of active secretaries of primary organisations of the youth league of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in Pyongyang STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters

Ships are being deployed to detect, track and defend against a range of live anti-ship and ballistic missiles, while being watched by Nato aircraft ensuring the airspace is clear.

Major components of Natos missile defence include four US Navy destroyers armed with the Aegis missile defence system based in Spain, a land-based system in Romania and an early warning radar in Turkey, all commanded from Ramstein base in Germany.

Commanders for the US 6th Fleet said Formidable Shield is planned to be a recurring event every two years designed to assure allies and deter adversaries.

Captain Shanti Sethi, commander of integrated and missile defence for the exercise, said it would refine capabilities and collective defence, adding: As missile technology advances, maritime forces must be prepared to play an important role in providing swift and accurate defensive measures to deter adversaries.

Exercises will continue until 18 October in the MoDs Hebrides Range, off the north-west coast of Scotland.

The Government and defence contractor QinetiQ have recently spent 60m on modernising facilities in the protected area, with a further 16.8m planned for new and upgraded radars.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman have congratulated German Prime Minister Angela Merkel on the victory of her political party in the parliamentary elections to Bundestag.

"Sincere congratulations to Angela Merkel  a winner of the parliamentary elections and an anchor of peace and stability in Europe. A victory that approaches the restoration of territorial integrity of Ukraine and its future in the United Europe!" Poroshenko wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday evening.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman also congratulated Merkel.

"I congratulate Angela Merkel and her political power with the victory in Germany's parliamentary elections! Mutually beneficial cooperation between our states will continue to develop!" the premier wrote on his Facebook page.
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An academic has said he was prevented from researching people who decided to reverse their gender assignment surgery because a university said it was politically incorrect.

James Caspian, a psychotherapist who works with transgender and transsexual people, wanted to conduct the research for a masters degree in counselling and psychotherapy at Bath Spa University.

His research proposal was rejected because, he said, the university found it best not to offend people.

The fundamental reason given was that it might cause criticism of the research on social media and criticism of the research would be criticism of the university and they also added it was better not to offend people, Mr Caspian told BBC Radio 4.

He added: I was astonished at that decision. I think a university exists to encourage discussion, research, dissent even, challenging ideas that are out of date or not particularly useful.

The university reportedly told Mr Caspian that engaging in a potentially politically incorrect piece of research carries a risk to the university.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of 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been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA

Mr Caspian argued the research needed to be done as he had found growing numbers of young people who were regretting having surgery, and he said some were even traumatised.

His research proposal was influenced by a conversation with Dr Miroslav Djordjevic of the Belgrade Centre for Genital Reconstructive Surgery in 2014. Mr Djordjevic said he had carried out seven reversals that year, more than ever before.

Mr Caspians proposal was originally accepted by the university. After discovering people were unwilling to talk openly about their experiences of reversing surgery, Mr Caspian amended the proposal to include talking to people who had transitioned to men and reverted to living as women without having surgery.

The proposal was then rejected.

Bath Spa University declined to comment. It is reportedly carrying out an internal investigation about the matter.

When asked about his research potentially harming transgender people who had fought for their right to have surgery, Mr Caspian said older studies on the subject were out of date and new research was important.

The whole field has completely changed over the last few years and the idea that we might use the information from the research we are going to do in a way that wont help people is completely wrong, he said.
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Mystery surrounds the death of a man whose body was reportedly found at his home near his escaped pet python.

Described as an experienced handler, Dan Brandon died in the home he shared with his parents home in Church Crookham, northeast Hampshire.

The 31-year-old was discovered in his room with his snakes, one of which  a python that can grow up to 25ft long  was out of its pen and near his body, according to reports.

Recommended Python found hiding in Essex bathroom toilet

Police said he had suffered serious injuries, but did not reveal the nature of those injuries.

Hampshire Police said the death was currently being treated as non-suspicious, but that officers were carrying out enquiries on behalf of the coroner.

Dan Brandon with a snake wrapped around his neck (Dan Brandon/Facebook ) (Dan Brandon/Facebook)

An officer for North Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley said an inquest would be opened over the next two days, at which point a cause of death will be released

An officer for North Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley said an inquest would be opened administratively in the next couple of days when a cause of death would be released.

Brandon had posted images on social media of himself with reptiles, one of which was a yellow Burmese python.

Dan Brandon holding snakes (Dan Brandon/Facebook ) (Dan Brandon/Facebook)

John Cottrell, a friend of Brandon, set up two JustGiving pages in his memory to raise money for World Wide Fund for Nature and RSPB.

The page reads: "[Dan] was obsessed with snakes, spiders, birds and all wildlife, in his memory we have set up two fundraising pages, one for WWF and one for RSPB.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA

"We have struggled when looking for photos for his funeral to find any when he isn't holding a spider, snake, small bird, toad, slow worm, hedgehog, feeding a fox, stroking cattle, befriending a cat or dog so these charities seemed the perfect choice. In memory of you Dan.... who we will all miss SO much."
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Labour MPs spent the first day at their conference arguing about weighty issues including Brexit and the party's key economic policies.

But many of those gathered in Brighton ended it on a lighter note, listening to Keith Vaz, the former chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, sing karaoke.

Mr Vaz joined other MPs and London Mayor Sadiq Khan at a Jamaica-themed party run by Dawn Butler, the Shadow Equalities Minister.

As the night wore on, the member for Leicester East took to the microphone to join Ms Butler for a rendition of Bob Marley's Jammin' in front of hundreds of cheering members.

Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Show all 14 1 /14 Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Britain's opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters/Toby Melville Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Senior members of Britain's opposition Labour Party listen to Leader Jeremy Corbyn deliver his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters/Peter Nicholls Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Diane Abbott receives a standing ovation during Jeremy Corbyn's speech at the Labour Party conference BBC Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses delegates on the final day of the Labour Party conference on September 27, 2017 in Brighton Leon Neal/Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn stands with Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Rebecca Long-Bailey (left) and Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Angela Raynor after speeches in the main hall, on day three of the annual Labour Party Conference on September 26, 2017 in Brighton Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary, addressing the Labour Party annual conference at the Brighton Centre, Brighton PA Labour Conference 2017  in pictures The mayor of London Sadiq Khan delivers a speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, Britain Reuters Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Dennis Skinner addressing the Labour Party annual conference at the Brighton Centre, Brighton PA Labour Conference 2017  in pictures John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Labour Party Conference, Day 2, Brighton Rex Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell (C) speaks with Labour party's leader Jeremy Corbyn (L) ahead of making a speech on the second day of the Labour Party Conference AFP/Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses supporters during a momentum rally on the first day of the Labour Party conference Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Jeremy Corbyn listens to speeches in the main hall on the first day of the Labour Party conference Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott addresses delegates in the main hall on the first day of the Labour Party conference on September 24 Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Jeremy Corbyn addresses a rally ahead of the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters

Toby Perkins, the former armed forces minister, also contributed with a cover of James hit 'Sit Down'.

The standard of singing improved significantly when Jermaine Jackson, former winner of The Voice, turned up.
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Senior Tories have warned Boris Johnson he does not have the support among Conservative MPs to launch a leadership challenge that could destabilise the party and spark an election letting Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street.

One cabinet level source told The Independent no one is going to back Boris if his recent moves to publicly impose his will on Brexit end up strengthening the Labour leader.

Another senior supporter of Chancellor Philip Hammond accused the Foreign Secretary of trying to set himself up for a self-righteous resignation from the front bench.

Recommended EU chief negotiator rules out immediate talks on transition period

Even prominent Brexiteers said that while they were glad Mr Johnson is pressuring the Prime Minister, they believe the best option for delivering stability and Brexit is to keep Theresa May in post until after EU withdrawal.

It follows days of sniping between Mr Hammonds allies and those of Mr Johnson, and revelations that both were among ministers plotting to remove Ms May after the election.

Mr Johnson, in particular, wrote a 4,000-word article setting out his Brexit vision shortly before Ms May was to give her own major speech. After she delivered it, he is said to have set out redlines in a bid to control the Governments position, with allies claiming he had blocked Mr Hammond from securing a longer Brexit transition period.

It led to speculation Mr Johnson will launch a bid to unseat Ms May, which other MPs fear could mean an election just as Labour and Mr Corbyn are becoming more popular with the electorate.

The cabinet level source said: No one is going to back Boris if Jeremy Corbyn is strengthened by his nonsense. There is not going to be an imminent leadership bid from Boris, the support isnt there.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA

The truth is that Boris is just floating ideas for Brexit backing MPs, to see what sticks, seeing who supports it and then trying to make a point of championing it.

But its destabilising, the result could be a snap election. No one wants that. But that is the threat of him going for the leadership.

A prominent Brexiteer said he thought Mr Johnsons interventions in the Brexit debate could have saved Ms May from doing something that would anger Leave backing MPs.

But when it came to the question of the leadership, he said: People who back Brexit will stick with Theresa May because at the moment she is doing the right thing for Brexit.

Her speech was a political solution, there was something for everyone and it held the party together. Boris was just frustrated that his stock was slipping if he didnt do anything. At the same time what he did do stopped the PM following Hammond too much.

Ms May had managed to temporarily unite her cabinet behind her Florence speech, which called for a two-year transition in which the UK would continue to pay into EU coffers, remain a part of the single market and customs union and retain free movement.

But another senior Tory source, who backs Mr Hammond, said MPs are still furious that the truce failed to last 48 hours due to Mr Johnsons intervention.

Hes lining himself up for a self-righteous resignation, the MP said.

 Theresa May says two-year Brexit transition will be based on same relationship and rules

The way it works is that he sets himself up as the heart and head of the Brexiteers. Then he starts setting out red lines that are impossible for the Prime Minister to meet.

Then that means eventually he can say he has no other option but to walk, then he goes to the backbenches to consolidate his position with the Brexiteers. So this is all about burnishing his leadership credentials. His mission is to make sure that when the time does come he is their choice.

Conservative MPs say there are up to 30 of them willing to sign a letter challenging the Prime Ministers leadership, with 48 the number needed to spark a vote of no confidence, but one said Mr Johnson was not the focus of their opposition to Ms May.

The MP said: The names are not on the list because all those people want to create a space for Boris.

There are those who wanted something to happen after the Grenfell fire disaster, but there are also people on there who say May has got to go, but that she has until 2019 to get the deal.
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Labour activists campaigning to stop Britain leaving the EU single market have vowed to fight on after being denied a vote on changing their partys policy, in a bitter row.

MPs pledged to take their argument to every constituency Labour party in next 12 months, to keep pressure on Jeremy Corbyn and the rest of the leadership to change course.

Alison McGovern, one the campaigns leaders, told The Independent: If we cant talk about it at Labour conference, then we will talk about it around the country, so people can have their say.

Clearly, there is an appetite among Labour members for this  and we will be seeking to bring that about.

Chuka Umunna, one of 30 Labour MPs who signed an open letter to Mr Corbyn, added: We will continue to make this argument.

The pledges came after an attempt to force a rethink of Labours overall Brexit approach was comfortably defeated in the conference hall in a show of hands.

The victory for the leadership came after accusations of a backroom fix to prevent motions on permanent single market membership and continued freedom of movement being debated.

John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, rejected the charge, insisting delegates had selected the priority motions for debate and  in rejecting Brexit  had shown democracy at work.

Despite the row, pro-EU Labour MPs were buoyed by a statement that their party is likely to support staying in a form of customs union after Brexit.

In his conference speech, Sir Keir Starmer, the Shadow Brexit Secretary, said: Options for achieving that end should not be swept off the table.

Subject of course to negotiations, remaining in a form of customs union with the EU is a possible end destination for Labour.

Meanwhile, a new survey revealed a continued pro-EU shift among Labour voters, which is likely to pile further pressure on Mr Corbyn to respond.

A narrow majority now supports a further referendum that would see Britain stay in the EU if the alternative option  accepting any Brexit deal on the table  is rejected.

Overall, 70 per cent of Labour voters now want some form of second referendum, which could include an option of sending the Government back to the negotiating table, the pollsters GQRR found.

In Brighton, the partys ruling NEC committee attempted to paper over Labours divisions by issuing a statement that tried to turn the focus on the Tories for whipping up hostility against immigrants.

However, it backed membership of the single market and the customs union only during the transitional period that both Labour and the Conservatives now advocate.

And it stated: Labour campaigned to remain in a reformed European Union, but as democratic socialists we accept and respect the referendum result.

Later, Sir Keir raised eyebrows by saying he rejected the idea that Britains new relationship with the EU had to be worse than before withdrawal.

He told a fringe meeting: I have a six-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy, and Im not going to let them grow up with their dad saying to them that itll never be as good as it was.

Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrats Brexit spokesman, accused Labour of joining the Tories in the land of fairy tales, adding: Labour should be fighting with the Liberal Democrats to maintain membership of the single market and customs union.
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Brexit negotiations are an awful, complicated mess, Angela Merkels chief of staff has said.

Speaking hours after the German election results came in and two days after Theresa May gave a speech in Florence on the future of Brexit talks, Peter Altmaier said the UK needed to put forward concrete proposals.

I think it is not my role to comment on the Prime Ministers speeches, he told the BBCs Newsnight programme. We are very much interested in reading concrete papers and proposals because  as you have perhaps realised  these Brexit negotiations are an awful, complicated, mess. What we need are concrete solutions in the interests of our citizens, British citizens, European citizens as well.

We have to discuss money and we have to discuss the future relationship. I consider the idea of a transitional period an interesting one, but it all depends on the details  and the details are key.

Mr Altmaiers intervention may disappoint Brexiteers, some of whom had publicly voiced hopes that Ms Merkels re-election would spur her to cut the UK a more favourable deal or take a softer line in talks.

It comes just hours before Brexit Secretary David Davis returns to Brussels to resume negotiations with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

The last round of talks in August ended in deadlock amid a complete stalemate between the two parties about how much Britain should pay the EU upon exit to cover its commitments and liabilities.

This months round was postponed from last week to allow Ms May to deliver her Florence speech, where she called for a transition period during which Britain would remain in the single market.

EU negotiators have said they are open to such proposals but that they would have to be scrutinised in detail.

During her Florence speech Ms May appeared to allude to the idea that the UK would continue to pay into the EU budget while it was in the single market  but she stopped short of setting out detailed proposals, which are likely to be controversial in Britain.

An ICM poll for The Guardian newspaper, however, found that 41 per cent would support such a move, while only 31 per cent would oppose it.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

The latest comments by Ms Merkels chief of staff come after a top ally of the Chancellor, Manfred Weber, said that the UKs approach to Brexit would not fly.

For me it looks like all the documents are defining what is in the interests of Great Britain and that is what Great Britain wants to sustain, wants to keep  and the rest is not acceptable. That will not fly, the leader of the European Parliaments largest group and CDU/CSU member said earlier this month.

Germanys politicians have little direct role in day-to-day negotiations, with talks being totally delegated to the European Commission. However, the European Council, which includes all member states  as well as the European Parliament, in which Germany is a major player  will have the ultimate say on any deal.
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David Davis will kick off a new round of withdrawal talks in Brussels today as Brexit divisions in London threaten the stability of Theresa May's government.

The Brexit Secretary has taken the unusual step of staying over in the Belgian capital with the UK desperate to ensure progress is made towards discussions on a future trade deal.

But his ability to come to a fixed position on withdrawal with EU counterparts will be hampered by the ongoing battle between allies of Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond.

A friend on the Chancellor was said to have branded Mr Johnson "simple-minded", amid anger over claims that the Foreign Secretary said he had blocked Mr Hammond from getting his way over Brexit.

It follows a short-lived truce in the wake of Ms May's speech in Florence, which called for a two-year transition in which the UK would continue to pay into EU coffers, remain a part of the single market and customs union and retain free movement.

During four days of talks, chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier will demand Mr Davis flesh out the "concrete implications" of Ms May's speech, including over the nature of the transition period.

Sources close to the Brexit Secretary played down the significance of Mr Davis remaining in Brussels overnight, saying he would be holding meetings, though he would normally have been expected to return to the UK after the opening day.

Ever since Ms May's speech in Florence cabinet members have been engaged in tit for tat sniping, with Mr Johnson reported to have claimed that he prevented other colleagues from pushing the Prime Minister to call for a five year transition.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

He is also said to have set out 'red lines' that other cabinet figures believe implausible, for example that the UK should not accept any new regulations during the transition, despite the fact that Britain is supposed to adhere to EU rules and structures.

The Daily Telegraph then quoted one unnamed ally of the Chancellor as saying that Mr Hammond was simply being "pragmatic" about the difficulties involved in leaving the EU while Mr Johnson was "talking tough for the sake of it".

"The bottom line is that this is not going to be easy, something that's over-looked by simple-minded Brexiteers like Boris.

"When it comes down to practicalities, it may well take longer," the ally was quoted as saying.

Mr Johnson had already infuriated some ministers with the publication of his own 4,000-word blueprint for Brexit in the run-up to Mrs May's speech.

Mr Davis denied that the policy had changed as a result of the Foreign Secretary's intervention, saying: "The simple truth is Boris signed up to this."

Downing Street said it would not respond to the anonymous briefings over the weekend but insisted the "Cabinet is all working together and united in delivering the smoothest possible Brexit."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman added: "The PM set out her views very clearly in the speech. She talked about a transition period of around two years, that is her position."

 Theresa May says two-year Brexit transition will be based on same relationship and rules

"In terms of the implementation period and what that looks like, that will obviously be a matter for negotiation with the EU."

Under Ms May's proposals, EU nationals will be free to settle in the UK during the transition period while the rights of those living in the country would be written into British law.

Britain and the EU would continue to enjoy the same access to each other's markets while the Prime Minister also held out the prospect of a comprehensive new treaty on future security co-operation.

Mr Davis confirmed the UK would pay in "roughly" 10 billion a year during the transition - although he played down claims that the final "divorce bill" once pensions and other liabilities were taken into account could be 40 billion.

David Davis, Philip Hammond and Boris Johnson are in a tussle over the future of Brexit (Getty)

With the clock ticking on the talks, ministers hope the offer will be sufficient to persuade the EU side to move to the second phase of the negotiations on the future relationship between the UK and the remaining 27 - including a free trade deal.

While Mr Barnier has welcomed the "constructive spirit" of Ms May's speech, he made clear that the EU side would need to study the proposals in more detail before reaching a verdict.

He also said that greater clarity was needed from the UK on its plans for the border with Ireland following Brexit - another key issue which the EU wants to see resolved before moving to phase two.

The issue will be high on the agenda when Ms May holds talks in Downing Street with Irish premier Leo Varadkar in her first meeting with an EU leader since the Florence speech.
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John McDonnell has denied a backroom fix to block a vote on Brexit policy at Labours conference, insisting he is trying to build a consensus.

The Shadow Chancellor described the list of priority issues that will be debated  which excludes EU withdrawal  as democracy at work, because it was decided by delegates in Brighton.

Labour campaigners for permanent membership of the EU single market were furious after they were denied an attempt to shift party policy.

One, former shadow Cabinet member Heidi Alexander, branded her own party a laughing stock for ignoring the biggest political issue of the day.

But Mr McDonnell insisted the conference would talk about Brexit  although there will not be a vote on long-term single market policy, after a transition period.

And he said: In our new politics, we are saying conference needs to be controlled by the delegates. They decide what we will debate, not the leadership. This is democracy at work.

The row has sparked a warning from Labours elections chief that divisions over Brexit could tear the party apart in the months to come.

Mr McDonnell has said it is difficult to see how Britain could stay in the single market because of exploitative freedom of movement rules that allow employers to undercut wages.

However, in interviews ahead of his conference speech today, the Shadow Chancellor insisted he was working to achieve a united Labour policy  and quickly.

We are building that answer now, but we have got to build a consensus, he said.

We cant be in a situation where we are trying to impose a solution on the British people. We have to build a compromise in the traditional British way.

That effort included talks with other left-wing European parties, which also wanted reform of freedom of movement, Mr McDonnell said.

The shadow Chancellor has said Labour would be in favour of maintaining membership of a changed single market, if restrictions on movement can be achieved.

Meanwhile, there would be plenty of debate on the party's stance on EU withdrawal, with the conference discussing a report being presented by Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer.

Delegates would be free to reject the leadership report if they chose, Mr McDonnell said.

The annual conference will vote on: housing, social care, the NHS, rail services, workers rights, investment and growth, public sector pay and the Grenfell Tower disaster.

The eight issues scored more highly than Brexit in the partys priorities ballot of party members and trade union affiliates.

The bitter row was sparked by the Corbyn-backing Momentum movement urging its members to back other proposed motions, triggering accusations of a backroom fix.

Over the summer, Labour negotiated a united policy to stay in the single market for a transitional period of between two and four years.

Ahead of his speech to the conference, London mayor Sadiq Khan repeated his call for that policy to be permanent.

Thirty Labour MPs have signed an open letter urging the Labour leadership to show the courage of its convictions by supporting staying in the single market after the transition.
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Veteran MP Dennis Skinner made a barnstorming speech at Labour's annual conference .

The 85-year-old, who has been MP for Bolsover since 1970, hailed a "tremendous year" for Labour, which he credited to Jeremy Corbyn and the Shadow Cabinet.

"We had a manifesto that, quite frankly, was the best since 1945," he said. "I've lived long enough to remember reading that as a young lad taking papers round during the Second World War.

As record numbers of Labour members gather in Brighton, Mr Skinner said the party was in better shape than it was even under Tony Blair.

"There is a new zeal within the Labour movement," he said. "It can be witnessed at this conference. The place was full on a Sunday. That never used to happen, even in the days of Tony Blair and all the rest of it.

"The party is alive and well and kicking."

Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Show all 14 1 /14 Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Britain's opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters/Toby Melville Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Senior members of Britain's opposition Labour Party listen to Leader Jeremy Corbyn deliver his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters/Peter Nicholls Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Diane Abbott receives a standing ovation during Jeremy Corbyn's speech at the Labour Party conference BBC Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses delegates on the final day of the Labour Party conference on September 27, 2017 in Brighton Leon Neal/Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn stands with Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Rebecca Long-Bailey (left) and Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Angela Raynor after speeches in the main hall, on day three of the annual Labour Party Conference on September 26, 2017 in Brighton Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary, addressing the Labour Party annual conference at the Brighton Centre, Brighton PA Labour Conference 2017  in pictures The mayor of London Sadiq Khan delivers a speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, Britain Reuters Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Dennis Skinner addressing the Labour Party annual conference at the Brighton Centre, Brighton PA Labour Conference 2017  in pictures John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Labour Party Conference, Day 2, Brighton Rex Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell (C) speaks with Labour party's leader Jeremy Corbyn (L) ahead of making a speech on the second day of the Labour Party Conference AFP/Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses supporters during a momentum rally on the first day of the Labour Party conference Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Jeremy Corbyn listens to speeches in the main hall on the first day of the Labour Party conference Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott addresses delegates in the main hall on the first day of the Labour Party conference on September 24 Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Jeremy Corbyn addresses a rally ahead of the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters

He criticised those asking how Labour will pay for its policies, saying the same question had been posed to Nye Bevan, the Minister for Health in the 1940s, when the NHS was being set up.

Mr Skinner said more borrowing was "the answer" and that Labour should "do what the private sector do: we'll borrow the money".

He received rapturous applause as he mentioned of Labour's key policies, including plans to renationalise Royal Mail.

Finishing his speech, he said: "Vote Labour. I can't wait for it. All power to your elbow."

The left-winger, known as the Beast of Bolsover, was warmly embraced by Jeremy Corbyn as he left the stage to a standing ovation.
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Of all the ways round a painful conference morning-after, barefaced brazen denial is by far the most honourable and on this front Labour should be applauded.

For a second they might have thought theyd got away with the whole vote-not-to-talk-about Brexit thing but, well, the suns slanting in through the windows now, its on the front of the papers. Time to Berocca up, wipe the sick off your lanyard and just pretend none of it ever happened.

There they were, bang on time at 9.30am, cracking on with a full three hours debating Brexit, and truly in the spirit of this made up word of which no one has yet extracted anything that looks like meaning, mainly it was spent arguing over why the party was absolutely right not to be debating it.

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We did not need more time to discuss Brexit when we can discuss the NHS, the rails, said one very young man in a red tie and white short sleeved shirt, who had evidently given up his morning tea break at Dixons to be here.

Given the young mans opinions on the question, it would not be too unreasonable to assume he was among the many pro-Corbyn activists who acted so effectively on Sunday night to block the Brexit discussion, which in fact was specifically about whether Labour should seek to remain in the single market. It would also not be too unreasonable to assume he is unaware that, in the unlikely event that it falls to Labour to do it, taking the country out of the single market, decimating the public finances to the tune of 250bn would leave it with no NHS and no rails to discuss either.

A year and a half has now passed since the country decided to devote all of its energies to repeating the same very obvious arguments about leaving the European Union. The result of the referendum has to be respected, said one.

I campaigned passionately for remain but said another.

We will be remembered as the Opposition who let the Tories do what they want with Brexit! said a third.

When several delegates moved the conversation on to the Israel/Palestine question, it came almost as a relief.

Though it is putting on a vaguely united front, Labour is as split on Corbyn as it is on Brexit and the fault lines are the same. Each was booed and cheered in almost equal measure.

Even the voices of moderation have to tell moderate fibs. Keir Starmer repeated his line that constructive ambiguity on Brexit has become Tory party policy when its his own party that still wants to retain all the benefits of the single market but refuses to get into the specifics of how this absolutely impossible thing can be done. The Conservatives can be accused of many things, but ambiguity is quite far down the list. Theresa May laid out her plans pretty clearly in March, got hammered at a general election in June, and is determinedly batting on with it even now.

In a party doing its best to paper over its gaping tectonic fault lines, the conference hall clap-o-meter is as fine a barometer as on who has their hand on the tiller.

They loved Emily Thornberrys first rate material on Boris Johnson, who doesnt like paternity tests but perhaps he needs one on Brexit. Maybe we should take him into a studio with Jeremy Kyle, she said. Sorry, Mr Johnson, we got the results back and it looks like this one is one of yours. It must have been that wild night out you had with Michael Gove  Ive calculated your maintenance payments and thatll be 350m a week.

The political gag of 2017, this, and by a very wide margin. But greater hilarity was to come.

The hangovers, both real and political should have been clearing by the time Len McCluskey appeared. And what do you know? At least in the view of Jeremy Corbyns trade union enforcer, not only had they not voted to not debate Brexit, but theyd won the election too.

Let me say this to those merchants of doom, the whingers and the whiners, who say we should have done better, we didnt win. I say we did win!

The crowd went wild. Why wouldnt they? Turns out Jeremy Corbyns been Prime Minister for the last three months and no one knew.

What more can you ask for, in these uncertain times, than for a party that wont discuss Brexit but will spend three hours discussing Brexit, and who can lose an election and win it three months later.

Vote Labour! Or dont. It really doesnt matter. No ones going to remember in the morning.
Mostyska District Court in Lviv region has found leader of the Movement of New Forces party and former Odesa Regional Governor Mikheil Saakashvili guilty of illegally crossing Ukraine's state border.

"To find Mikheil Nikolozovich Saakashvili guilty of the illegal crossing of the state border of Ukraine," judge Yuriy Bilous said on Friday, September 22, while reading out the court ruling.

An Interfax-Ukraine reporter said that according to the ruling, Saakashvili must pay a fine of 200 non-taxable minimums (UAH 3,400, or about $130).

Saakashvili was also ordered to pay a court fee of UAH 320.

The court ruling may be appealed in a higher court.

The politician himself did not attend the court session as he had meetings in Cherkasy region.

As reported, on September 10, Saakashvili crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border in the company of his supporters, who de facto forced their way into the territory of Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian authorities, 13 police officers and nine border guards were hurt in the incident.

On September 12, officials from the State Border Service gave Saakashvili in Lviv a protocol of illegal border crossing. The politician signed it, stating his objections.

A court hearing of the protocol started on September 18.
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Labour will call on the Government to lower the retirement age for women born in the 1950s, enabling them to retire from 64 years of age on a reduced state pension  instead of 66.

Debbie Abrahams, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, will make the announcement during her keynote speech to party delegates gathered in Brighton for Labours annual conference, accusing the Government of a chaotic mismanagement over the reforms.

The 1995 Pensions Act increased women's State pension age from 60 to age 66 to bring it in line with men. Any woman due to reach age 60 before 2010 kept her pension age. Women born after 6 April 1950 saw their state pension age gradually rise until those born after 6 April 1955 had their state pension paid from age 66 just like men.

The campaign has centred on the plight of the so-called Waspi women (Women Against State Pension Inequality) and estimated that around 2.6m women have lost out because of the changes to pension law. Labours new policy will grant women the ability to retire up to two years earlier.

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At the Labour party conference on Monday, Ms Abrahams will add: Today Labour announces new proposals to end the historic injustice faced by 1950s born women, as promised in our manifesto for the many, not for the few.

We are calling on the Government to immediately allow those affected by state pension age equalisation the chance to retire two years earlier at the age of 64.

This will ensure that those who have suffered the consequences of this Governments chaotic mismanagement of the state pension age have the security they need. We will continue to work with these women to get justice.

The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary will also repeat the partys call for the immediate suspension of the Universal Credit system as the Government prepares to rapidly accelerate the programme to different areas of country. It comes after considerable criticism from food banks, charities and council leaders that the roll-out of the scheme  devised by Iain Duncan Smith  is pushing claimants further into rent arrears and increased debt.
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Jeremy Corbyn won a rapturous reception as he was introduced on a stage at Momentums festival in Brighton as the next Prime Minister and to the now-familiar chants of Oh Jeremy Corbyn.

In a fiery speech to activists, Mr Corbyn told a 500-strong crowd at The World Transformed  the parallel festival to Labours official conference in Brighton  that this years conference is on a scale of something different.

Mr Corbyn also insisted his party is now election-ready and has already begun work on its next manifesto.

Our party now has to develop more detailed policies, he said. All that detailed work will be done and well get ready for an election whenever it comes.

Officials at Momentum told The Independent that a further 500 people had been refused entry due to capacity issues at the Synergy Centre in Brighton and many had queued for hours to hear the Labour leaders speech.

In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Corbyn addressed the threat of nuclear war, homelessness in Britain, the banking crisis, inequality in the UK, and thanked activists for their efforts in Junes snap election.

But he made only a passing reference to Brexit in his 30-minute address, after the party conference voted not to debate the issue, deciding eight others were more important.

In his speech he stressed the need for tariff-free trade with the European market and the maintenance of environmental, consumer and workers rights.

Anger boiled over among pro-EU MPs, with one branding the decision f***ing ridiculous while a member of Mr Corbyns frontbench team said the decision was strange.

Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Show all 14 1 /14 Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Britain's opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters/Toby Melville Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Senior members of Britain's opposition Labour Party listen to Leader Jeremy Corbyn deliver his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters/Peter Nicholls Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Diane Abbott receives a standing ovation during Jeremy Corbyn's speech at the Labour Party conference BBC Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses delegates on the final day of the Labour Party conference on September 27, 2017 in Brighton Leon Neal/Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn stands with Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Rebecca Long-Bailey (left) and Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Angela Raynor after speeches in the main hall, on day three of the annual Labour Party Conference on September 26, 2017 in Brighton Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary, addressing the Labour Party annual conference at the Brighton Centre, Brighton PA Labour Conference 2017  in pictures The mayor of London Sadiq Khan delivers a speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, Britain Reuters Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Dennis Skinner addressing the Labour Party annual conference at the Brighton Centre, Brighton PA Labour Conference 2017  in pictures John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Labour Party Conference, Day 2, Brighton Rex Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell (C) speaks with Labour party's leader Jeremy Corbyn (L) ahead of making a speech on the second day of the Labour Party Conference AFP/Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses supporters during a momentum rally on the first day of the Labour Party conference Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Jeremy Corbyn listens to speeches in the main hall on the first day of the Labour Party conference Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott addresses delegates in the main hall on the first day of the Labour Party conference on September 24 Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Jeremy Corbyn addresses a rally ahead of the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters

Another Labour MP said the decision made the party a laughing stock.

Momentum had used its new conference mobile app to suggest supporters should back other topics for a vote rather than a Brexit motion.

Press Association contributed to this report
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Philip Hammond has refused to endorse Theresa May as the Conservative leader that will take the party into the next election.

The Chancellor was repeatedly asked to give his support to Ms Mays plan to stay in post until 2022 but failed to give her his backing.

It follows days of sniping between Mr Hammonds allies and those of Boris Johnson and revelations that both were among ministers plotting to remove Ms May after the election.

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The Conservative conference will start at the weekend with speculation about Ms Mays future rife amid claims that 30 Tory MPs are willing to sign a letter challenging her leadership.

During a trip to Scotland, Mr Hammond declined to say Ms May is the optimum individual to lead the Conservatives into the 2022 election despite being asked four times.

He said: Well I am not going to get involved in the discussion about future Conservative Party leadership politics.

Theresa May has made it very clear that she has a job to do, I am completely behind her in doing that job.

At the weekend revelations in a new book claimed that Mr Hammond, Mr Johnson, Brexit Secretary David Davis and Home Secretary Amber Rudd were involved in planning for her departure following the her handling of the election campaign.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 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Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. 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A fresh drive to remove her was launched by some MPs, including former ministers, in the wake of her handling of the Grenfell fire disaster. Today up to 30 backbenchers are said to be ready to sign a letter calling for the Prime Minister to go.

In Scotland today Mr Hammond also went on to say that he believes Ms May is making an excellent job of managing the Brexit negotiations, despite the cabinet truce arranged around her speech Florence hardly lasting 48 hours.

 In 90 seconds: Theresa May's big Brexit speech

The speech called for a two-year transition in which the UK would continue to pay into EU coffers, remain a part of the single market and customs union and retain free movement, but Mr Johnson infuriated Mr Hammonds supporters after claiming he prevented the Chancellor from pushing for a five year transition.

He is also said to have set out red lines that other cabinet figures believe implausible, for example that the UK should not accept any new regulations during the transition, despite the fact that Britain is supposed to adhere to EU rules and structures.

In news reports this morning the friends of the Chancellor were said to have referred to Mr Johnson as simple-minded.
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Rescuers have pulled a dog from the rubble six days after the deadly Mexico City earthquake.

A Japanese team working on a collapsed building in the southern part of the densely populated capital city found a small dog alive at the disaster site.

Cradling and petting the scared, small white dog, team members continued to work to see if they could find other survivors.

Recommended Mexico City earthquake puts bravest and best dogs in spotlight

The dog appeared to be doing well after being checked by Red Cross paramedics at the site, as rescuers hoped the pet would be reunited with its owners soon.

At least 320 people have died in the 7.2 magnitude 19 September earthquake, Mexico's deadliest one since a 1985 quake killed nearly 10,000 people.

Aftershocks followed in the south-western part of the country as recently as the weekend. Mexico's National Seismological Service director Xyoli Perez Campos warned that thousands have been recorded and warned that there will likely be more quakes to come, but how strong they will be remains to be seen.

Thousands of buildings were damaged in the city of 20 million people and survivors have taken to sleeping in the streets as estimates put damage to the city at around $8bn (5.94bn).

Mexico City earthquake in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Mexico City earthquake in pictures Mexico City earthquake in pictures A handout picture provided by the citizen Edgar Cabalceta shows a general view of Mexico City following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, in Mexico City, Mexico EPA Mexico City earthquake in pictures Rescuers and residents look for victims 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 on September 19, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. The earthquake comes 32 years after a magnitude-8.0 earthquake hit on September 19, 1985 Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures A police officer stands guard near a building which collapsed after a quake rattled Mexico City RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures 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 Mexico City earthquake in pictures Rescuers and residents look for victims 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 on September 19, 2017 in Mexico City Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures People try to rescue survivors from a collapsed buildings after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Richter scale in Mexico City, Mexico, 19 September 2017. At least 79 people lost their lives in the states of Morelos, Puebla and Mexico by the earthquake of magnitude 7.1 on the Richter scale. EPA Mexico City earthquake in pictures People clear rubble after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico REUTERS Mexico City earthquake in pictures People clear rubble after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico REUTERS Mexico City earthquake in pictures Rescuers and residents assists 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 on September 19, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. The earthquake comes 32 years after a magnitude-8.0 earthquake hit on September 19, 1985. Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures People remove debris outside a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico REUTERS Mexico City earthquake in pictures People remove debris as they search for possible victims after a quake rattled Mexico City on September 19, 2017. A powerful earthquake shook Mexico City on Tuesday, causing panic among the megalopolis' 20 million inhabitants on the 32nd anniversary of a devastating 1985 quake. The US Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 7.1 while Mexico's Seismological Institute said it measured 6.8 on its scale. The institute said the quake's epicenter was seven kilometers west of Chiautla de Tapia, in the neighboring state of Puebla. AFP/Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures A security guard walks over debris of a building which collapsed during a quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Mexico City earthquake in pictures Reconstruction work in the towns affected by the telic movement has begun. Several temples suffered severe damage. Rex

Search and rescue teams are concentrating on a handful of structures and using audio equipment to detect any survivors.

Thus far only 103 of the 4000 public schools in the city have been reopened in order not to hinder search and rescue efforts and review the buildings' possible infrastructure damage.

The dog survivor found in the collapsed apartment building is not the only canine hero in Mexico City.

Frida, a Mexican Navy rescue dog, has received praise from several people including President Enrique Pena Nieto.

She has reportedly saved more than 50 people from collapsed structures since the latest quake hit.
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An autopsy report has revealed how a model was scalped and drained of blood, in a murder branded unprecedented outside of wartime.

Comic book writer Blake Leibel, 35, is charged with the murder of the mother of his child, Ukrainian-born Iana Kasian, 30.

She died of exsanguination -- being drained of her blood -- according the medical documents, and blunt force trauma to the head.

She is also believed to have been tortured for hours in a knife attack in a Los Angeles apartment.

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The murder took place in May last year and Mr Leibel, the heir to a plastics and property fortune, could be given the death sentence if found guilty, due to the severity of the crime.

Dr James Ribe, of the Los Angeles County Coroners office, gave a harrowing description of Ms Kasians death in an autopsy report.

[Her] entire scalp was traumatically absent and was not found, was not present with the body. Her skull had been stripped down to the surface of the bone ... there was no scalp present except for little bits in the back of the neck, he said, according to the Toronto Sun.

Also portions of the right side of her face were torn away including the right ear and part of the posterior face on the right side, all the way down the jawline.

 Britains youngest double murderers describe their crimes in chilling police interview tapes

Dr Ribe also said there were bruises and abrasions on Ms Kasians face, including a human bite mark.

In a grim twist, the autopsy also revealed Ms Kasian lived for at least eight hours approximately after receiving the scalp injury and the bruise to the collarbone.

Dr Ribe said: I have never seen this before. And I doubt hardly any forensic pathologists in this country or abroad have even seen this, outside of, perhaps, wartime ... its extremely rare.

Mr Leibel, a Toronto native, is charged with murder, mayhem, aggravated mayhem and torture.

His lawyers are reportedly planning to argue he is mentally unfit for trial.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. 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The couples one-year-old child is now with Ms Kasians mother.

In addition to writing a number of comic books, Mr Leibel was the director of an animated version of the 1987 Mel Brooks Star Wars parody, Spaceballs.

He also directed the straight-to-DVD film Bald, released in 2008.

His father, Lorne Leibel, is prominent real estate developer in Toronto who also competed in the 1976 Olympic sailing team.

He stayed an avid racer of both boats and cars, and referred to himself as the Ferrari Man.
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Donald Trump has slapped new travel restrictions on citizens from North Korea, Venezuela and Chad, expanding to eight the list of countries covered by his original travel bans that have been derided by critics and challenged in court.

Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia were left on the list of affected countries in a new proclamation issued by the president on Sunday. Restrictions on citizens from Sudan were lifted.

The measures help fulfil a campaign promise Mr Trump made to make it harder to migrate to the US. Unlike the president's original bans, which had time limits, this one is open-ended.

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"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Mr Trump tweeted shortly after the proclamation was released.

Iraqi citizens will not be subject to travel prohibitions but will face enhanced scrutiny or vetting.

The current ban, enacted in March, was set to expire on Sunday evening. The new restrictions are due to take effect on October 18 and resulted from a review after Trump's original travel bans sparked international outrage and legal challenges.

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from the original, mostly Muslim-majority list.

Critics have accused the Republican president of discriminating against Muslims in violation of constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and equal protection under the law, breaking existing US immigration law and stoking religious hatred.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which is one of the organisations challenging Mr Trumps original travel ban, described it as a new "Muslim ban" - a description the president has rejected - adding the addition of North Korea did not change that.

ACLU executive director Anthony D Romero said: "Six of President Trump's targeted countries are Muslim. The fact that Trump has added North Korea  with few visitors to the US  and a few government officials from Venezuela doesn't obfuscate the real fact that the administration's order is still a Muslim ban.

"President Trump's original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list.

An administration official, briefing reporters on a conference call, acknowledged that the number of North Koreans now travelling to the United States was very low.

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Rights group Amnesty International USA also condemned the measures.

"Just because the original ban was especially outrageous does not mean we should stand for yet another version of government-sanctioned discrimination," it said in a statement.

"It is senseless and cruel to ban whole nationalities of people who are often fleeing the very same violence that the US government wishes to keep out. This must not be normalised."

The White House portrayed the restrictions as consequences for countries that did not meet new requirements for vetting of immigrants and issuing of visas. Those requirements were shared in July with foreign governments, which had 50 days to make improvements if needed, the White House said.

A number of countries made improvements by enhancing the security of travel documents or the reporting of passports that were lost or stolen. Others did not, sparking the restrictions.

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The announcement came as the US Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments on Oct. 10 over the legality of Mr Trump's previous travel ban, including whether it discriminated against Muslims.

Mr Trump has threatened to "destroy" North Korea if it attacks the United States or its allies. Pyongyang earlier this month conducted its most powerful nuclear bomb test. The president has also directed harsh criticism at Venezuela, once hinting at a potential military option to deal with Caracas.

But the officials described the addition of the two countries to Mr Trump's travel restrictions as the result of a purely objective review.

In the case of North Korea, where the suspension was sweeping and applied to both immigrants and non-immigrants, officials said it was hard for the United States to validate the identity of someone coming from North Korea or to find out if that person was a threat.

"North Korea, quite bluntly, does not cooperate whatsoever," one official said.

The restrictions on Venezuela focused on Socialist government officials that the Trump administration blamed for the country's slide into economic disarray, including officials from the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service and their immediate families.

Mr Trump received a set of policy recommendations on Friday from acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke and was briefed on the matter by other administration officials, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a White House aide said.

The rollout on Sunday was decidedly more organised than Trump's first stab at a travel ban, which was unveiled with little warning and sparked protests at airports worldwide.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump told reporters about the ban: "The tougher, the better."

Rather than a total ban on entry to the United States, the proposed restrictions differ by nation, based on cooperation with American security mandates, the threat the United States believes each country presents and other variables, officials said.

Somalis, for example, are barred from entering the United States as immigrants and subjected to greater screening for visits.

After the September 15 bombing attack on a London Tube train, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter that the new ban "should be far larger, tougher and more specific - but stupidly, that would not be politically correct."

The expiring ban blocked entry into the United States by people from the six countries for 90 days and locked out most aspiring refugees for 120 days to give Mr Trump's administration time to conduct a worldwide review of US vetting procedures for foreign visitors.

Some federal courts blocked the ban, but the US Supreme Court allowed it to take effect in June with some restrictions.

Agencies contributed to this report
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An usher has been hailed a hero for jumping on a gunman who had just killed a woman and injured six others in a shooting spree at a church.

Emanuel Kidega Samson shot Melanie Smith, 39, dead in the car park of the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, Tennessee, Nashville, then went inside and started firing at worshippers who were filing out at the end of the service.

But Robert Engle pounced on ski mask-wearing Samson and after a struggle which saw Mr Engle pistol-whipped around the head, the assailant shot himself in the chest, witnesses said.

Church usher Robert Engle, in picture with unidentified baby, is being treated for a significant head injury he suffered in the scuffle (Facebook/Dave Visser)

Mr Engle then went to his car, got his own weapon and held Mr Samson at gunpoint until the police arrived.

The FBI have launched a civil rights investigation into the shooting after racial reasons were given for Mr Samsons attack.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson hailed Mr Engle, 22, as a hero after the incident on Sunday.

Mr Samson had been carrying at least two pistols, reports said, when he opened fire indiscriminately on worshippers before Mr Engle jumped on him.

"He's the hero. He's the person who stopped this madness," Mr Anderson said during a news conference, according to a report in the Tennessean.

Mr Engle appeared to shrug off the praise and instead focused on the welfare of others.

He said in a statement, in a report by Tennessean: "I ask everyone to pray for the victims, family members of the victims, our church community.

Please pray for healing. Also, please pray for the shooter, the shooters family and friends. They are hurting as well," he added.

Mr Engles grandmother, Rheta, said it was his nature to help others.

She told the Tennessean: Thats like him. Hes just someone who cares about a lot of people. He has all their feelings at heart.

It would make any parent, grandparent very, very proud of him.

A friend of Mr Engles added to the newspaper that he was a great guy. Just one of the kindest human beings youll ever meet.

Mr Engle was being treated in hospital for a significant head injury he suffered during the scuffle, police said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The three men and three women shot in the chapel were also being treated for their injuries but were said to be in a stable condition.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a tweet Mr Samson had been released from hospital after he was treated for his own injury and detained in custody.

He will be charged with murder and attempted murder.
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Hardly anyone paid attention last November when a strangely named Twitter account, Sleeping Giants, sent its first tweet into the digisphere. "Are you aware that you're advertising on Breitbart, the alt-right's biggest champion, today?" read the tweet, aimed at a consumer lending outfit called Social Finance. "Are you supporting them publicly?"

Within 30 minutes, Social Finance replied, tweeting that it would stop running ads on Breitbart.

It was, it turns out, the start of an odd, and oddly effective, social media campaign against Breitbart.com, the influential conservative news site headed by Stephen Bannon, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman and ex-White House chief strategist.

Sleeping Giants is a mysterious group that has no address, no organizational structure and no officers. At least none that are publicly known. All of its leaders are anonymous, and much of what it claims is difficult to independently verify. A spokesman for the group wouldn't identify himself in interviews for this story.

But the group does have a singular purpose, pursued as relentlessly as Ahab chasing a whale: It aims to drive advertisers away from Breitbart. "We're trying to defund bigotry," the spokesman says.

Sleeping Giants' basic approach is to raise awareness among Breitbart's advertisers that they are, in fact, Breitbart advertisers. Many apparently don't know this, given that Web ads are often bought through third-party brokers, such as Google and Facebook. The brokers then distribute them to a network of websites according to algorithms that seek a specific target audience (say, young men) or a set number of impressions.

As a result of such "programmatic" buying, advertisers often are in the dark about where their ads end up. They can opt out of certain sites, of course, but only if they affirmatively place them on a blacklist of sites.

So when an ad appears on Breitbart, Sleeping Giants or one of its 109,000 Twitter followers and 35,000 Facebook followers flag the advertiser, often accompanied by an image of the sponsors' ad next to a Breitbart story.

The other day, for example, a Sleeping Giant follower tweeted at Country Inns, a hotel chain, informing the company that it was advertising on "the racist Breitbart site." Within a day, the company tweeted back: "Thank you for your concern . . . We have added Breitbart to our blacklist of ads."

This apparently happens a lot. Sleeping Giants' database lists nearly 2,900 companies that have declared Breitbart off limits since November - an astonishing figure, though one hard to confirm because some ad buys recur. Nevertheless, it's not an implausible number. During one 24-hour period, advertisers such as the air-conditioning manufacturer Rheem, transport operator Caltrain, Sutter Health Plus and Rose Medical Center of Denver all publicly acknowledged that they had blacklisted Breitbart in response to a Sleeping Giants tweet.

Breitbart, based in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., says it doesn't know how many advertisers have blocked it, nor has it calculated how much revenue it has lost as a result. But the financial impact appears to be significant enough for Breitbart to take the group seriously.

"What they're doing is a very dangerous thing," said Alexander Marlow, Breitbart's editor in chief. "They are trying to impose corporate censorship and corporate segregation on us, and they're doing it anonymously." He disputes the group's underlying claim, calling it "a lie" that Breitbart promotes hate speech of any kind.

Marlow also takes issue with the group's mysterious origins, suggesting it could be funded by a "left-wing [political] group or a foreign entity." But he admits he doesn't know. It might just be "a bunch of trolls obsessed with Breitbart typing away in their basements," he said.

Closer to the latter description, Sleeping Giants' spokesman said. "We are doing this on a voluntary basis, so we need to keep our day jobs going," he said.

Hence, the anonymous nature of the group. The spokesman said some of its leading members are employed by companies that might not take kindly to their employees engaging in a prolonged activist effort. On the other hand, many of its thousands of supporters openly identify themselves on Twitter when tweeting at Breitbart's sponsors.

The group decided to single out Breitbart almost by happenstance. "It really happened as a reaction to Steve Bannon's rise," the spokesman said. "We weren't familiar with Breitbart at the time and [we] were obviously pretty shocked at the articles . . . To be honest, we weren't familiar with [other conservative] sites," so those weren't even considered, he said.

The group has raised about $1,500 from T-shirt sales and about $7,000 from an online fundraiser, but it otherwise operates with little overhead, he noted. "If I had a nickel for every claim that we're being funded by [liberal billionaire activist] George Soros, I'd be well off. It's crazy. There's not much need for funding. Tweeting is free."

Breitbart has fought back with limited success against what it has called "left-wing totalitarians." When Kellogg Co. became one of the first major sponsors to blacklist Breitbart last year, the site responded by launching a petition drive promoting a boycott of the breakfast-food maker. The petition has attracted some 500,000 signatures, according to Marlow. But it hasn't brought Kellogg back.

For its part, Sleeping Giants has been notably unsuccessful in getting three of the tech-world's giants to pay any attention to it at all.

Facebook and Google - two of the biggest Web-ad distributors - have never responded to Sleeping Giants, which wants the two companies to impose a blanket ban on serving ads to Breitbart. It has gotten the same non-reaction from Amazon.com. The giant Internet retailer has stayed mum in the face of an employee petition and protests at its annual meeting aimed at cutting its advertising on Breitbart (Amazon's chief executive, Jeffrey Bezos, owns The Washington Post). Sleeping Giants even raised money to put up a billboard outside Amazon's headquarters in Seattle in May reading, "Amazon, Stop Funding Bigotry" - all to no avail. (Amazon didn't respond to a request for comment).

Even if Sleeping Giants convinced every advertiser to avoid Breitbart, it seems unlikely to threaten its existence or even impose severe financial hardship. Breitbart is directly funded, and partially owned, by Robert Mercer, a tech-industry billionaire with an extensive portfolio of investments in conservative causes and candidates. Among others, Mercer has financed the campaigns of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) and Trump himself. It's likely he views Breitbart more as a media platform and political megaphone than as an ordinary business proposition.

Marlow, Breitbart's editor, says the threat posed by activist groups like Sleeping Giants isn't to just his company but to free speech generally. "No one [in the media business] has said anything to defend Breitbart," he said. "No one is standing up and saying, 'This is about Breitbart now. But it could be about us tomorrow.' "
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Donald Trump's travel ban has been expanded to eight countries, with citizens of North Korea, Venezuela and Chad joining the list of those restricted.

But one country, Sudan, will no longer be subject to strict visa controls.

The north-east African nation was one of the six Muslim-majority countries - also including Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia - whose citizens were barred from entering the US under the previous travel ban, which expired on Sunday.

The White House has given no official statement on Sudan's removal from the revamped restrictions.

Administration sources attributed the decision to the country's co-operation with the US government on national security and information-sharing, the Washington Post reported.

But some have suggested the move was politically motivated.

"Sudan getting dropped from the travel ban comes as the UAE has been lobbying hard for them in DC in exchange for mercenary support in Yemen," tweeted Ryan Grim, Washington bureau chief at The Intercept.

Sudan has supplied thousands of troops to support the Saudi-led coalition, also including the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries, to help fight Houthi rebels in Yemen's civil war. The US has also provided "logistical support" to the coalition.

Sudan remains one of three countries, alongside Iran and Syria, listed by the US government as a state which sponsors terrorism.

The designation, which has been in place since 1993, means the country is subject to sanctions including restrictions including a ban on arms sales by American companies and tighter export controls.

In July, the US State Department delayed a decision on ending certain sanctions and called on the Sudanese government to maintain "positive actions" including ceasefires in conflict-torn areas, improved humanitarian access, and "co-operation with the United States on addressing regional conflicts and the threat of terrorism".

Mr Trump has said the updated travel ban is needed to screen out terror threats.

In a statement on Sunday night, the White House described the new restrictions as a critical step toward establishing an immigration system that protects Americans' safety and security in an era of dangerous terrorism and transnational crime.

"We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country, President Trump said in the statement. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation.

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from original, mostly Muslim-majority list, which sparked international outrage and was quickly blocked by federal courts as unconstitutional discrimination or a violation of immigration law.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

In June, the US Supreme Court allowed a limited version of the ban to go ahead while justices examine its legality.

Experts said the new restrictions, set to come into effect on October 18, could be less vulnerable to legal attack because it is the result of a month-long analysis of foreign vetting procedures by US officials and may be less easily tied to Mr Trump's campaign-trail attacks on Muslims.

Ahead of the election the Republican promised a "total and complete shutdown on Muslims entering the United States".

"The greater the sense that the policy reflects a considered, expert judgment, the less the temptation [by courts] to second-guess the executive," said Saikrishna Prakash, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law. "It looks less like a matter of prejudice or a desire to fulfill a campaign promise."

The new ban indefinitely restricts travel to the US from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea. Only certain government officials from Venezuela will be barred.
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Ivanka Trump reportedly used a personal email account to contact a government official after her father, Donald Trump, had already become president.

The organization American Oversight has sued for various public records, seeking to illuminate the the role Ivanka Trump played and continues to play in the administration of her father, according to the the group.

Documents obtained by the organization show that Ms Trump used a personal email address to contact United States Small Business Administration administrator Linda McMahon to suggest collaborating on womens entrepreneurship.

Recommended Kushner used a private email server to carry out government business

A White House spokesperson noted that Ms Trump did not become a federal employee until March, after she had sent the email in question.

At the time she did so, she made clear that one of her reasons for doing so was to ensure that she would have access to government-issued communications devices and receive an official email account to protect government records, the spokesperson said. Prior to obtaining an official account, Ivanka's communication to Administrator McMahon's official account ensured the records were preserved and available under the Federal Records Act.

Ms Trump had had involved with high-level meetings within the administration before she was made a federal employee. In the emails to McMahon Ms Trump copied in her chief of staff, Julie Radford. In them, Ms Radford has a White House email account.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Communicating with government officials from personal accounts is something that Ms Trump's husband, Jared Kushner has also done. POLITICO reported this weekend that Mr Kushner, a White House adviser, also corresponded with White House officials via a private email account. That revelation prompted Rep Elijah Cummings to launch an investigation, with the Maryland Democrat writing Mr Kushner a letter asking the president's son-in-law to preserve all official records and copies of records in your custody or control.

Mr Kushner corresponded with Trump administration officials about White House affairs using the personal account. Email recipients included former chief of staff Reince Priebus, former chief strategist Steve Bannon, National Economic Council director Gary Cohn, and spokesman Josh Raffel.

The emails usually concerned media coverage and event planning, according to Politico, who first reported the story. A lawyer for Mr Kushner said the emails usually contained forwarded news articles or political commentary, and were most often initiated by the person on the other end.

Mr. Kushner uses his White House email address to conduct White House business, attorney Abbe Lowell told the Associated Press. Fewer than 100 emails from January through August were either sent to or returned by Mr. Kushner to colleagues in the White House from his personal email account.

During the presidential campaign Donald Trump frequently excoriated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for using a personal server during her time as secretary of state, saying she should be punished with prison time and leading chants of Lock Her Up!
On Sunday, September 24, around 20:00 in the village of B ilohorodka in Kyiv's Kyivo-Sviatoshynsky district assailants attacked the house belonging to the the JSC Kyivenergo board chairman. They bludgeoned the owner of the house and his wife, killing the former.

"It has been established that a group of men snuck through the fence to the yard of the victim. The assailants attacked the owner, dragged him into the house and tied him and his wife up. They then beat the pair, demanding they disclose the whereabouts of a safe. Not receiving this information, they stole UAH 15,000 from the house, a gold ring from the woman, and dragged the man into another room, where he was later found dead by police," the National Police of Ukraine's Kyiv region office said on Monday.

The police said after the woman freed herself she called police and emergency medical services. Police from the Kyivo-Sviatoshynsky department arrived along with detectives from the main investigative department, a police dog unit and a forensic team.

Kyiv region's police chief Dmytro Tsenov said police and the units gathered evidence at the site.

"Information collected indicates the assailants did not intend to kill the man, but were seeking to steal valuables. They took antiques and a small amount of money," Tsenov said.

The corpse of the man was sent for examination to determine cause of death. A criminal investigation pursuant to Point 6 of Part 2 of Article 115 (premeditated murder) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine has been opened.

Kyivenergo's website posted a message saying, "Yesterday, the chairman of Kyivoblenergo Ivan Oleksiivych Polyviany died tragically."
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Jared Kushner used a personal email address to conduct White House business, his lawyer has confirmed.

Mr Kushner, the Presidents son-in-law and close adviser, corresponded with Trump administration officials about White House affairs using the personal account. Email recipients included former chief of staff Reince Priebus, former chief strategist Steve Bannon, National Economic Council director Gary Cohn, and spokesman Josh Raffel.

The emails usually concerned media coverage and event planning, according to Politico, who first reported the story.

A lawyer for Mr Kushner said the emails usually contained forwarded news articles or political commentary, and were most often initiated by the person on the other end.

Mr. Kushner uses his White House email address to conduct White House business, attorney Abbe Lowell said. Fewer than 100 emails from January through August were either sent to or returned by Mr. Kushner to colleagues in the White House from his personal email account.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Politico found no indication that Mr Kushner had shared any sensitive material on the account, or used it more than his official White House account for government business. Mr Kushner created the account in December, during the Trump team's transition to the White House.

The report is particularly interesting considering the Trump campaigns relentless criticism of Hillary Clinton for using a private email server during her time as Secretary of State.

Ms Clintons reliance on her personal account to conduct government business sparked an FBI investigation last year. Donald Trump suggested the former Secretary should face criminal charges for her actions, inspiring his memorable campaign rally cheer of: Lock her up!

 Jared Kushner says he had no improper conduct with Russian officials after appearing before Senate

The story is also relevant in light of investigations into possible Trump team collusion with Russia, and growing questions about Mr Kushners role.

Mr Kusher reportedly asked Russian officials about setting up a private back channel between the Trump administration and Moscow in December. He was also present at a June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer, Russian American lobbyist, and several other members of the Trump campaign team. Mr Kushner left this meeting  and conversations with some 100 other foreign nationals  off of his initial security clearance form.

In a statement issued this summer, Mr Kushner said he did not collude, nor know of anyone else in the campaign who colluded, with any foreign government. He added that he had no improper contacts and had not relied on Russian funds to finance his private-sector business activities.

I hope that through my answers to questions, written statements and documents I have now been able to demonstrate the entirety of my limited contacts with Russian representatives during the campaign and transition, he said.
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Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage  a huge admirer of Donald Trump  is to campaign alongside Steve Bannon for the insurgent Alabama Senate candidate the President has turned his back on.

As the race between Republicans Roy Moore and Luther Strange has become increasingly dirty and decidedly weird  Mr Stranges adverts brag that he is endorsed by Mr Trump and the National Rifle Association, while Mr Moores say he has the support of Sarah Palin and Chuck Norris  Mr Farage has thrown his hat into the ring of the controversial former judge.

Mr Farage, who was the first British politician to meet Mr Trump after his surprise election victory, will appear with Mr Moore, Mr Bannon and Phil Robertson, the star of a reality show called Duck Dynasty. The show tells the fortunes of a family of duck hunters from Louisiana.

Im honoured to have the endorsement of Brexit leader @Nigel_Farage, wholl join us in Fairhope on Monday, Mr Moore said on Twitter.

The contest in Alabama to fill the Senate seat left empty when Jeff Sessions joined Mr Trumps cabinet as Attorney General, will  all but for a miracle  be decided on Tuesday. While the actual full vote for the seat is not until December, it is widely believed no Democrat stands a chance, and as such the Republican primary between Mr Moore and Mr Strange will decided the outcome.

Alabama is strongly conservative. The last Democratic president to win the state was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Mr Trump beat Hillary Clinton 62-34 in the 2016 contest here.

 Steve Bannon says the firing of James Comey was the biggest mistake in modern political history

The most recent poll, by Big League-Gravis, gives Mr Moore a 48-40 lead. Yet Mr Trump has taken the somewhat risky decision to throw his support behind Mr Strange, a state prosecutor who was appointed to fill the seat on a temporary basis by the former Governor he was investigating for corruption. (The Governor stood down in April amid an ethics scandal.)

Mr Strange has also received the support and lots of money from Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has directed up to $9m (6.7m) to Mr Stranges campaign.

Yet that has allowed Mr Moores supporters to paint him as a tool of the Washington elite and to portray their own candidate  a man known around the world for installing a 5,000lb granite statue containing the Ten Commandments in the offices of the Alabama Supreme Court and who recently said the 9/11 attacks may have been a punishment from God, as the true insurgent  as more like Mr Trump then even the President himself.

After Mr Bannon was fired as Mr Trumps strategic adviser, he claimed that those around him  his family members and Chief of Staff John Kelly  should not try and stop the President from being himself. Yet he also vowed to support scores of nationalist Republican candidates in the 2018 midterms, using the influence of his powerful Breitbart News and millions of dollars provided by Republican mega-donor Robert Mercer.

Mr Bannon has said that Mr Moore is his first experiment. If he wins, say experts, it could have a great impact on who runs in 2018.

Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Show all 22 1 /22 Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump talk as they leave the Army Museum at Les Invalides in Paris AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump arrive for the group photo at the G7 Taormina summit on the island of Sicily in May 2017 Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Mr Trump was pressed on the subject at the G7 summit in Italy Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump gives a speeech at the Warsaw Uprising Monument on Krasinski Square Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May during a ceremony at the NATO headquarters before the start of a summit in Brussels, Belgium Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic is seen to the right of Donald Trump at a Nato summit in Brussels REUTERS Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis meeting with US President Donald J. Trump EPA Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis poses with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump arrives at Palazzo del Quirinale ahead of the meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella Ufficio Stampa Presidenza della via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is seen during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas meets US President Donald Trump PPO via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with US President Donald Trump prior to the President's departure GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after delivering a speech at the Israel Museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance as White House senior advisor Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump watch on during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem accompanied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump takes his seat before his speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump look at a display of Saudi modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips King Salman presents Donald Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal at the Royal Court Palace on 20 May AP Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their first foreign trip Getty Images

Meanwhile, former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin suggested Mr Trumps instincts had been diluted by his time in Washington. The swamp is trying to steal the victory that we worked so long and hard for  to steal the victory that a lot of us put our reputations on the line for. We voted to put America first, not the political elite that had ignored us for decades, she said at a rally last week.

Mr Trump has said he would campaign for Mr Moore in the general election if he wins.

If Luther doesnt win, theyre not going to say we picked up 25 points in a very short period of time, Mr Trump told a crowd in the northern Alabama city of Huntsville last week. Theyre going say, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, was unable to pull his candidate across the line.

Mr Strange is to appear at a rally in Birmingham with Vice President Mike Pence. At the same time, Mr Moore will be appearing with Mr Bannon, Mr Farage and Mr Robertson, and will speak live with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity.
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The White House has dismissed as "absurd" the suggestion by North Korea's foreign minister that the United States has declared war on Pyongyang.

Ri Yong Ho said President Donald Trump had declared war on North Korea and that Pyongyang reserved the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down US bombers even if they are not in its air space.

Mr Ri said a Twitter message by Mr Trump in which the president warned that the minister and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un won't be around much longer if they acted on their threats amounted call for war.

We've not declared war on North Korea. Frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Recommended Pentagon threatens Trump could be given options to deal with Pyongyang

Earlier in New York, where he had been attending the annual UN General Assembly, Mr Ri told reporters: The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country.

Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.

The question of who won't be around much longer will be answered then, Mr Ri added.

On Saturday, US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea in a show of force after a heated exchange of rhetoric between Trump and Kim over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video

The Pentagon said the flight was the farthest north of the demilitarised zone separating North and South Korea that any U.S. fighter jet or bomber has flown in the 21st century.

That operation was conducted in international airspace, over international waters, so we have the right to fly, sail and operate where legally permissible around the globe, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said.

North Korea, which has remained technically at war with the United States since the 1950 to 1953 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty, has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the US mainland and conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test this month.

Pyongyang accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies.

However, the recent spike in rhetoric from both sides has fuelled tensions and raised fears of miscalculation by one side or the other that could have massive repercussions.

 North Korean foreign minister: Trump is on a suicide mission

The Pentagon said the bomber flight indicated the range of military options available to Trump, but US officials have repeatedly stressed that despite the war of words, the administration prefers a negotiated solution to the crisis.

The latest round of heavy verbal salvoes began when Mr Trump threatened in his maiden UN address last Tuesday to totally destroy North Korea, a country of 26 million people, if it threatened the United States or its allies.

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Mr Kim responded by calling Mr Trump a mentally deranged US dotard whom he would tame with fire.

Mr Kim said North Korea would consider the highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed Pyongyang's nuclear programme was the correct path.

Mr Ri told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the US mainland with its rockets was inevitable after Mr Evil President Trump called Kim a rocket man on a suicide mission.

On Twitter late Saturday, Mr Trump replied: Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!

On Monday, North Korea, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programmes in defiance of international sanctions, said it bitterly condemned the reckless remarks of Trump.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the only solution to the crisis was a political one.

Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Reuters
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The Pentagon has warned that it is prepared to give Donald Trump options to deal with North Korea if the country's provocations continue.

"If North Korea does not stop their provocative actions, you know, we will make sure that we provide options to the President to deal with North Korea," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning told reporters.

Earlier that day, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho had told reporters that "the whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country".

Mr Ri was responding to comments from Mr Trump, in which the President claimed North Korean leaders "won't be around much longer" if they continued their threats. A senior administration official denied that the President was advocating regime change.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the Foreign Minister's comments "absurd".

"We've not declared war on North Korea. Frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd," she said.

Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Show all 6 1 /6 Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Photos released by North Korea show Kim Jong-un talking to subordinates next to a device thought to be the new thermonuclear weapon. There is no way of independently verifying the pictures STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korea claims it has successfully tested an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A diagram on the wall behind Mr Kim shows a bomb mounted inside a cone STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) attending a photo session with participants of the fourth conference of active secretaries of primary organisations of the youth league of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in Pyongyang STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters

The war of words between the two countries has escalated since April, when Pyongyang tried and failed to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile. The North Korean regime has since conducted several successful missile tests, and carried out its sixth-ever nuclear test earlier this month.

In his speech to the United Nations last week, Mr Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea, claiming leader Kim Jong-un was "on a suicide mission". In his own speech to the assembly, Mr Ri said it was Mr Trump who had a death wish.

"In case innocent lives of the US are harmed because of this suicide attack, Trump will be held totally responsible," the Foreign Minister said.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against the escalating rhetoric on Monday, saying: "Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings."

"The only solution for this is a political solution," he added.

 North Korean foreign minister: Trump is on a suicide mission

The Trump administration has so far pursued a path of diplomacy through the tensions, despite the President's bombastic words.

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, has helped negotiate stringent sanctions against North Korea. The UN Security Council voted earlier this month to cap the country's oil imports, ban their textile exports, and bar countries from giving work visas to North Korean citizens.

China and Russia  two of North Korea's biggest trading partners  have so far agreed to the Security Council's sanctions. But they have also pushed the US to find a non-military solution to the conflict.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said all sides should "not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present".

North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un reads out text in response Donald Trump's speech at the UN (AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS)

The US adopted its own sanctions against North Korea last week. The sanctions ban international banks that facilitate transactions with North Korea from the American market, and punish those that do business with North Korea's major industries.

Experts say the sanctions are stronger than those President Barack Obama imposed against Iran before successfully bringing them to the bargaining table.

Announcing the sanctions last Thursday, Mr Trump said: North Koreas nuclear weapons and nuclear development is a grave threat to peace and security in our world, and it is unacceptable that others financially support this criminal, rogue regime."
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Former New York congressman Anthony Weiner has been sentenced by a judge to 21 months in jail following his latest sexting scandal.

The one-time mayoral candidate pleaded guilty to one charge of transferring obscene material to a minor. Prosecutors say he broke the law by having illicit contact with a 15-year-old girl using Skype and Snapchat.

Weiner was hoping that he might be sentenced to probation instead of hard time in prison, and his lawyers had argued that their client was sick and in need of therapy, not incarceration.

"I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse," Weiner said in May when he plead guilty to the charge of transmitting obscene material to a minor.

The prison sentence marks a new low in Weiner's stunning personal and political fall from grace. As a member of Congress, he gained notoriety as a feisty speaker on the House floor. Now, as he begins his sentence, Weiner has lost his career and his wife, Huma Abedin, a top aide to Hillary Clinton who announced she would seek divorce after the latest sexting scandal. Ms Abedin filed for divorce on the same day that Weiner plead guilty in May.

'Sexting' scandal finally overwhelms Anthony Weiner Show all 2 1 /2 'Sexting' scandal finally overwhelms Anthony Weiner 'Sexting' scandal finally overwhelms Anthony Weiner 615367.bin AP 'Sexting' scandal finally overwhelms Anthony Weiner 615366.bin GETTY IMAGES

The conviction follows media reports in 2016 alleging that Weiner had sexted with a 15-year-old girl, sparking investigations by the FBI and the New York Police Department. Weeks earlier, a photo Weiner sent to a woman had been discovered showing Weiner lying in bed with his toddler next to him.

That sexting scandal was the third to Weiner has faced, although both of the others involved women over the age of 18. The first scandal, in 2011, followed after Weiner sent a photo of his genitals - concealed by boxer briefs - to a 21-year-old college student who followed him on Twitter. Weiner initially refused to admit that it was him in the photograph, before ultimately admitting ownership of the picture during a press conference in New York. He later resigned from Congress as a result of the scandal.

The second scandal occurred in 2013 during Weiner's campaign to be mayor of New York. Hoping to revitalise his public image in the wake of the scandal that ended his Congressional career, Weiner quickly became the front runner in the Democratic primary. But, pictures and sexts he had sent to a 22-year-old woman were obtained by the press, sending his campaign into a spiral. He went on to finish in fifth place in the race to become mayor of New York, after losing the trust of the voters in the city.

But the latest scandal stands out in that it may have contributed to Donald Trump winning the 2016 election.

After media reports noted that Weiner had sexted with a minor, Weiner became the target of an FBI investigation, and had his laptop seized. During that investigation, agents discovered emails on the computer that appeared to be linked in some way to the scandal surrounding Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server when she served as Secretary of State during the Barack Obama administration.

Former FBI Director James Comey, just days before the 2016 election, then sent a letter to Congress announcing that his agency would be looking into the emails that they had freshly found. That public admission that the FBI was looking at the emails in relation to the Clinton scandal rocked the campaign with very little time until voting day. Mr Comey had previously announced that the FBI had found no evidence of criminal activity related to the emails, and later noted that they had uncovered no further evidence of wrongdoing.

Still, although the FBI did not find anything more of note in the Weiner emails, the emails did bring new attention to the issue that had dogged Ms Clinton's candidacy and raised questions about her trustworthiness.

Ms Clinton, since her surprise electoral loss, has repeatedly said that she thinks that Mr Comey's announcement that the FBI was looking at those emails is the reason she lost the election.
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A woman who was in a relationship with a serial killer and did not know of his double life has spoken out for the first time.

Holly Eudy, who was with Todd Kohlhepp for a decade, told Inside Edition: I knew there was something that didnt sit right with me about him, but I couldnt really put my finger on it.

Kohlhepp, a real estate agent from Spartanburg in South Carolina, was arrested last November after a woman he kidnapped was found chained by the neck inside a storage container on his 95-acre property.

The victim, Kala Brown, told police Kohlhepp had killed her boyfriend, Charlie Carver, and that he had buried several other people on his property.

He pleaded guilty to killing seven people over 13 years, avoiding the death penalty, and was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences without parole.

Ms Eudy described her former partners crimes as sickening and disgusting.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. 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Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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Asked what had attracted Ms Eudy to Kohlhepp, she said: He gave me a lot of attention, made me feel like I was important.

She learnt that the money she loaned him had been used to buy the storage container to lock up Ms Brown.

He had told Ms Eudy that he needed the container to store supplies, and when she even went into it, hidden in the woods, she said she did not feel suspicious as it was just packed with cans and water.

Todd Kohlhepp is escorted into a Spartanburg County magistrate courtroom (AP)

Ms Brown told television host Dr Phil that she was chained up for two months and was raped twice a day by Kolhhepp.

The 45-year-old would reportedly brag to her about how good he was at killing people, and that he had murdered her boyfriend because it was easier to control someone once you took someone they loved.

Ms Eudy met Kohlhepp in 2006, three years after he had already murdered four people.

When Ms Brown was being filmed as she was transported to hospital last year, she said: Some girl named Holly, hes supposedly planning to kill.

Ms Eudy said she watched the tape and realised she could have been the next victim.

My mouth fell open the first time I heard it.


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Dozens of Rohingya Muslim women have reportedly been aggressively sexually assaulted at the hands of Burmese security officials, according to UN medics.

A total of eight medical professionals working in Bangladesh reported treating 25 women between them since late August who had physical injuries that were consistent with violent attacks.

UN doctors also treated hundreds of women with these injuries last October and November, after the first wave of conflict between Burmese officials and Rohingya Muslims.

Recommended Hundreds of Buddhists gather to block Rohingya aid shipment

Niranta Kumar, the health coordinator for a clinic run by the UNs International Organisation for Migration (IOM), said there appeared to have been fewer rapes in August but the injuries showed the attacks were more aggressive against women, including evidence of beatings, forced penetration and lacerations to the vagina.

IOM medical officer Tasnuba Nourin said about one 20-year-old woman who was raped: We found skin marks, it showed a very forceful attack, an inhuman attack.

It is rare for UN doctors and aid agencies to accuse a states armed forces of alleged rape, given the sensitivity of the matter.

Rohingya refugees  in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees  in pictures A young girl and a baby wade through mud after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh from Burma on 10 September Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees walk through a camp in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh after arriving from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures A young Rohingya refugee gathers firewood after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya refugees wait for sacks of rice to be distributed in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees arrive on a boat in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh after crossing from Burma on 8 September Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees react after being re-united with each other after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh on a boat from Burma Getty Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees walk along the remains of a road after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh on a boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees wade through water after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees wade through water after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Myanmar Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Rohingya Muslim refugees stand in the rain after arriving in Whaikhyang, Bangladesh by boat from Burma Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rohingya refugees  in pictures Indian children hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the alleged persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Burma EPA/Raminder Pal Singh Rohingya refugees  in pictures Supporters of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), an Islamic organisation, listen to their leaders' speeches against Burma's persecution of Rohingya Muslims, during a demonstration in Karachi Reuters/Akhtar Soomro Rohingya refugees  in pictures Hundreds of Iranians take part in a protest against violence in Myanmar after weekly Friday prayers, in Tehran EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh Rohingya refugees  in pictures Indonesian Muslim activists hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against the alleged persecution of the Rohingya minority in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia EPA/Ali Lutfi Rohingya refugees  in pictures Members of an Islamic organisation shout slogans against the Burma government during a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh EPA

The Burmese government, having been accused of ethnic cleansing by the United Nations, has denied any claims of aggression and said it has been targeting terrorists.

Zaw Htay, spokesman for Burmas de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said the authorities would investigate any claims of rape.

Those rape victim women should come to us, he said. We will give full security to them. We will investigate and we will take action.

The reported rapes from the refugee camps are only likely to be a fraction of the cases south of the border, said Kate White, an emergency medical coordinator for Medecins Sans Frontieres at Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh.

Rohingya mothers face persecution Show all 10 1 /10 Rohingya mothers face persecution Rohingya mothers face persecution Ramida Begum holds her 10-day-old daughter in their shelter in Kutupalang, an unregistered refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. 'The military caught my husband and burnt our house down a week before I left Myanmar. Since then I don't know whether my husband is dead or alive' Reuters Rohingya mothers face persecution Minara Begum sits inside the shelter, cradling her one-month-old son Ayub. Minara fled to Bangladesh from Nasha Phuru village in Myanmar with her husband and mother-in-law. 'My child doesn't get enough breast milk as I don't eat enough nutritious food. I have to buy milk powder from local market though it's not very good for my son' Reuters Rohingya mothers face persecution Amina, pictured with her 16-day-old daughter Sumaiyin, is in a refugee camp Balukhali that neighbours Ramida and Minara's. 'One and a half months ago the military came to our village and kept firing their guns. I ran away with my neighbours to save our lives. You see us alive here only because the God was so kind. They caught my uncle and my younger brother and we don't know whether they are dead or alive' Reuters Rohingya mothers face persecution Fatema sits beside her one-day-old daughter Aasma in Kutupalang. Fatema fled to Bangladesh from Jambuinna village in Myanmar two months ago after her house was burnt down by the military. She crossed Naf River by boat during the night. 'Our situation is better than many other refugees as my husband Mohammad Alom works here as a day labourer. Many of the new refugees have no work here, so they have to rely on relief' Reuters Rohingya mothers face persecution Jamalida cradles her two-month-old daughter Shahida. Jamalida came to Bangladesh with her husband from Nasha Phuru village in Myanmar Reuters Rohingya mothers face persecution Rehana Begum lays her one-day-old daughter in front of her inside their tarpaulin shelter. Rehana fled her village of Jambuinna in Myanmar three months ago. 'We were in our home and suddenly the military came to our village and started shooting. When we heard the sound of gun shots we immediately went to our relatives. We walked for four hours without any food and water to reach the border at 1 a.m. We paid 25,000 Myanmar kyat (14) to a broker to cross.' Intercepted by Bangladesh border guards, Rehana's family narrowly escaped being sent home. 'They wanted to send us back, but then we heard gunshots from the Myanmar side and the guards released us, saying, "Stay in Bangladesh and save your lives"' Reuters Rohingya mothers face persecution Noor Begum sits next to her one-day-old daughter Sumaiya as she stares into the camera. Noor came to the camp one-and-a-half months ago from Nagpura village with her husband Jahangir Reuters Rohingya mothers face persecution Rajuma Begum observes her one-month-old son Raihan. 'I fled to Bangladesh because of fear, because I needed to save my children. I was pregnant and suffering from fever while crossing the border. I also have an 11-month-old boy, so it was very difficult to reach the border from our village Wabek in Myanmar. I had to rest frequently. After six hours of horrible walking we finally reached the border at 2am and crossed after paying a broker' Reuters Rohingya mothers face persecution Eighteen-year-old Asmot Ara rests her newly born daughter on her lap. Asmot said she came to the camp one month ago with neighbours from Nagpura village. In Myanmar her father-in-law was killed and their home burnt down by the Myanmar military Reuters Rohingya mothers face persecution As Marijaan holds her 25-day-old daughter Noor Habi, her son peers over her shoulder. Marijaan fled to Bangladesh from Khyeri Prang village in Myanmar one month ago after her house was burnt down by the Myanmar military. 'I reached the border at night and crossed by the boat. I paid the boatman to cross the Naf River' Reuters

A situation report from aid agencies found that more than 350 people had been referred for life-saving care relating to gender-based violence, which includes rape, attempted rape and molestation, as well as emotional abuse and denial of resources based on gender, since 25 August. It did not refer to the perpetrators.

Around 429,000 Rohingya have fled Burma, where many of their families lived for generations. Most refugees are living in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, living off small aid packages from sympathetic locals and aid agencies.

 Rohingya crisis: Muslim village burnt to the ground

The persecution of the Rohingya Muslims, a stateless minority of about one million people that mostly lived in the Rakhine state in western Burma, comes after Rohingya militants attacked government forces last October and in August this year, sparking a strong crackdown.

Burma has been accused of burning dozens of villages and carrying out random attacks on Rohingya civilians, even as they fled.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who has not commented on the violence against women, spoke of rape being used as a weapon amid ethnic conflicts before she came to power last year.

In 2011, she told a conference on sexual violence in conflict: It is used as a weapon by armed forces to intimidate the ethnic nationalities and to divide our country, this is how I see it.

Since the most recent escalation, more than 1,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.

As thousands of people arrive each day from Burma tothe refugee camps, Unicef estimates that 50,000 of the new arrivals are pregnant women.



Agencies contributed to this report.
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Archaeologists in Iraq have discovered a city which was lost for more than 2,000 years with the help of drone photography and declassified intelligence images.

Qalatga Darband, which is believed to have been founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, was discovered by a team of Iraqi and British archaeologists led by experts from the British Museum.

John MacGinnis, who is leading the team on the ground, told The Times: Its early days, but we think it would have been a bustling city on a road from Iraq to Iran. You can imagine people supplying wine to soldiers passing through.

The site of initially came to the attention of archaeologists following the release of declassified CIA satellite photos from the 1960s, which appeared to show the outline of ruins.

Dr MacGinnis and his colleagues then used drones to discover the outlines of buildings which have lain beneath the ground for centuries.

 Reactions in Baghdad after IS bulldozed ancient city of Nimrud

Greek coins, and statues of Greco-Roman deities, have also been found at the site in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Staff from the British Museum have been training Iraqi heritage experts in a government-funded scheme designed to help archaeologists protect sites of historical significance in areas of the Middle East which have been severely impacted by conflict.

The Emergency Heritage Management Training Programme have trained workers in advanced technqiues including global positioning systems, satellite imagery and geophysics.

Iraqi heritage services have been severely impacted by the chaos that followed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Isis have destroyed a number of historical sites for propaganda purposes, including large parts of the ancient Assyrian City of Niveneh and the Temple of Baalshamin in Palmyra.

In June, militants destroyed the Great Al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, where three years ago the groups leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared himself the leader of a new Islamic caliphate.
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North Koreas foreign minister has said Donald Trumps latest comments about the country amount to a declaration of war  as the war of words over Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions continues to escalate.

The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country, foreign minister Ri Yong-ho said from New York.

He added: In light of the declaration of war by Trump, all options will be on the operations table of the supreme leadership of the [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea].

Recommended Donald Trump appears to threaten regime change against North Korea

The White House called the Foreign Minister's comments "absurd".

"We've not declared war on North Korea. Frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Mr Trump appeared to threaten regime change in the country over the weekend, tweeting that Mr Ri wont be around much longer if he continued to echo the thoughts of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Mr Ri told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the US mainland with its rockets was inevitable after Mr Evil President Trump called Kim a rocket man on a suicide mission in his own UN address.

Responding to that, Mr Trump tweeted: Just heard foreign minister of North Korea speak at UN If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they wont be around much longer!

 North Korea releases animation which appears to show an attack on a US bomber

Leaving the UN on Monday, Mr Ri said that following the latest tweet his country now had every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.

The day before, the US flew fighter jets close to North Koreas east coast  the farthest north any US fighter plane has flown over the demilitarised zone this century, according to the Pentagon. A Pentagon spokeswoman said the flyover was intended as a message to North Korea that Mr Trump had many military options at his disposal.

We are prepared to use the full range of military capabilities to defend the US homeland and our allies, said spokeswoman Dana White.

The Pentagon followed that up  in the wake of Mr Ris latest remarks  by saying that it would provide President Trump with options to deal with North Korea if its provocation continue. If North Korea does not stop their provocative actions, you know, we will make sure that we provide options to the President to deal with North Korea, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said.

Mr Ris comments echoed those of many in the Trump administration regarding North Koreas burgeoning nuclear programme.

North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test earlier this month, and has reportedly developed missiles capable of reaching the US mainland. The country has repeatedly threatened to use its nuclear weapons on the US if provoked and has said it is preparing rockets to fire at the territory of Guam.

Mr Trump has responded to the situation by threatening to send fire and fury to North Korea if the threats did not cease. In his speech to the United Nations last week, Mr Trump threatened to totally destroy the country, and referred to Mr Kim as Rocket Man.

Mr Ri responded by saying that it was now inevitable that North Korea would target the US mainland with its rockets. The Foreign Minister has also called Mr Trump a mentally deranged person full of megalomania and complacency who was trying to turn the UN into a gangsters nest.

Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Show all 6 1 /6 Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Photos released by North Korea show Kim Jong-un talking to subordinates next to a device thought to be the new thermonuclear weapon. There is no way of independently verifying the pictures STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korea claims it has successfully tested an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A diagram on the wall behind Mr Kim shows a bomb mounted inside a cone STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) attending a photo session with participants of the fourth conference of active secretaries of primary organisations of the youth league of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in Pyongyang STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters

Mr Kim took the highly unusual step of responding to Mr Trumps UN speech himself, rather than releasing a statement from the regime through state-owned news channels. In his speech, Mr Kim said he would surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire.

North Korea recently launched two separate missiles over Japan, demonstrating their growing military capability. The UN has implemented increasingly stringent sanctions on the country, capping their oil imports, banning textile exports, and barring countries from giving work visas to North Korean citizens.

Enough is enough, US ambassador Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council earlier this month. War is never something the United States wants. We dont want it now. But our countrys patience is not unlimited.

While China  North Koreas largest trading partner  and Russia have both voted for the sanctions as part of the UN Security Council, both nations have called for a non-military solution. Mr Trump has repeatedly called on China to do more to rein in the regime in Pyongyang, while Beijing and Moscow have put forward a proposal that North Korea halt its nuclear programme in return for the US and South Korea stopping military drills that Pyongyang sees as a provocation.

Asked how concerned China was the war of words between Mr Trump and North Korea could get out of control, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described the situation as highly complex and sensitive.

It was vitally important everyone strictly, fully and correctly implemented all North Korea related UN resolutions, Mr Lu said, resolutions which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

All sides should not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present, Mr Lu told a daily news briefing.

Speaking to Theresa May by telephone, Chinese President Xi Jinping repeated Beijings position that the North Korean issue should be resolved peacefully via talks, state media said.

China hoped Britain can play a constructive role in easing the situation and pushing for a resumption in talks, Xi said. Ms May, like some other US allies, has pushed for China to do more on North Korea.

But it is clear that the international community at large is wary of the duelling statements being issued by both Pyongyang and Washington and the potential for a costly mistake.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned following Mr Ris remarks that a rise in rhetoric between North Korea and the United States increases the risk of miscalculations.

Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The only solution for this is a political solution, he added.
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Germanys far-right party has pledged to fight an invasion of foreigners with its new MPs, after it won enough votes to enter the Bundestag for the first time in yesterdays election.

Speaking in Berlin the morning after the election results, lead candidate Alexander Gauland said his party would uncompromisingly address immigration, on which it has campaigned relentlessly since the refugee crisis began.

But the partys first day with representation was already plagued by infighting, after co-chair and nearly elected MP Frauke Petry quit after months of squabbles below the surface.

One million people  foreigners  being brought into this country are taking away a piece of this country and we as AfD dont want that, Mr Gauland told the press conference.

We say we dont want to lose Germany to an invasion of foreigners from a different culture. Very simple.

The AfD is expected to take 94 seats in the 709 member Bundestag, making it the third largest party; it won 12.6 per cent of the vote.

Pollsters and political analysts in Berlin warned against allowing the far-right outfit  which says Islam is not a part of Germany and routinely demonises foreigners  to hog the spotlight.

Of course we have to stand up against their views, but if the media all focus on the AfD, exclusively pushing them into the Nazi corner, then it creates a certain effect: everyone who sympathises with the AfD in a more general way is also being pushed into that corner, and they feel treated in an unjust manner, Matthias Jung of pollsters Forschungsgruppe Wahlen told reporters in Berlin.

Amongst the voters who support the AfD, you dont have a coherent radical right ideology: they are dissatisfied with things that happened, but not necessarily just the refugee crisis.

He argued that this approach wont do justice the various motives of voters who support the AfD.

Dr Peter Matuschek, of pollsters Forsa, said the AfD deliberately attracted media attention by making provocative statements.

They pursued an agenda of targeted provocation, as did President Trump, he said.

Once a provocative statement was made, a politician could rely on being quoted in the media the day after.

He said that this approach in a way reactivated the immigration and refugee crisis as an issue during the election campaign, despite the fact that it was mostly out of the news in months leading up to the election.

Frauke Petry, co-chair of AfD, quit the party the morning after the election results (Getty) (Bongarts/Getty Images)

In a shock move at Monday mornings press conference, Ms Petry (one of the co-chairs of the party) told reporters in Berlin she would not sit in the partys group in the Bundestag, effectively making her an independent MP.

I decided after careful reflection that I will not sit with the (AfD) parliamentary group, she said, before abruptly leaving the room.

The surprise move shocked Ms Petrys AfD colleagues, and other politicians present indicated that they were not expecting it.

German election 2017 Show all 14 1 /14 German election 2017 German election 2017 German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) poses for a selfie with a boy before addressing an election campaign rally of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Kappeln Odd Andersen/AFP German election 2017 German Social Democrat (SPD) and chancellor candidate Martin Schulz speaks during an election campaign stop on September 20, 2017 in Gelsenkirchen. Schulz trails Chancellor and Christian Democrat (CDU) Angela Merkel by double digits Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images German election 2017 Sahra Wagenknecht, top candidate of the left-wing Die Linke party for upcoming general elections, gives a speech during a session at the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) in Berlin on September 5 John MacDougall/AFP German election 2017 Top candidate for the Greens for the 2017 German federal elections, Cem Ozdemir, speaks during an election campaign rally of the Alliance '90/Greens in Stuttgart, southern Germany on September 20, 2017, during the final days before Germans head to the polls Thomas Kienzle/AFP German election 2017 Leader of the Free Democrats (FDP) and main candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Christian Lindner gives a speech during the party congress in Berlin on September 17 Odd Andersen/AFP German election 2017 Alice Weidel and Alexander Gauland, co-lead candidates of the right-wing, populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party, speaking to the media on Islam, immigration and crime next to an AfD poster that reads: 'Crime Through Immigration, The Refugee Wave Leaves Behind Clues!' on September 18, in Berlin Tobias Schwarz/AFP German election 2017 People listen to German Chancellor and Christian Democrat (CDU) Angela Merkel speak at an election campaign stop on September 19, 2017 in Schwerin Getty German election 2017 Refugees from Syria prior to the arrival of German Chancellor and Christian Democrat (CDU) Angela Merkel at an election campaign stop on September 19, 2017 in Schwerin Sean Gallup/Getty Images German election 2017 The audience cheers whilst listening to German Social Democrat (SPD) and chancellor candidate Martin Schulz speaking during an election campaign stop on September 14 in Munich Joerg Koch/Getty Images German election 2017 German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds up a tomato as she addresses an election campaign rally of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Lingen on September 13 AFP/Getty Images German election 2017 Alexander Gauland, top candidate of Germany's anti-Islam, anti-immigration AfD (Alternative fuer Deutschland) party for upcoming general elections, walks past supporters as he attends an election campaign event in Nuremberg Daniel Karmann/AFP German election 2017 British politician and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage speaks at an event held by the German right-wing, populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party as AfD leading member Beatrix von Storch looks on on September 8, 2017 in Berlin Sean Gallup/Getty Images German election 2017 Martin Schulz (C), chancellor candidate of the German Social Democrats (SPD), looks on in a fest tent at the Gillamoos amusement fair on September 4, 2017 in Abensberg, Germany. Politicians, among them elections candidates, from Germany's major political parties are attending the fair today in what is an an annual tradition Johannes Simon/Getty Images German election 2017 An Alternative for Germany (AfD) campaign poster is vandalised in Berlin. Germans go to the polls on September 24th, with the AfD widely expected to garner enough votes to enter the federal parliament. Campaign poster reads: 'New Germans? we'll make them ourselves.' AFP

She has previously been embroiled in power struggles with other members of the party, most notably over whether she should be its designated lead candidate in the election. She lost out in that race to Alexander Gauland, the groups most prominent face in the media.

Ms Petry had also publicly criticised Mr Gauland for various controversial statements he made on the campaign trail, including claims that Germany should be proud of its soldiers in the Second World War  a taboo in the country. Mr Gauland said after Ms Petrys departure that he did not think his statements were responsible for her decision.

Angela Merkel will remain Germanys Chancellor, but her CDU party achieved its worst result in around 70 years, while its former coalition partners, the centre-left SPD, also hit rock-bottom. Ms Merkelss CDU won 33 per cent, the SPD 20.5 per cent, the liberal FDP 10.7, the left-wing Die Linke 9.2 per cent and the Greens 8.9 per cent.

The SPDs leader Martin Schulz, who was elected to the post in May of this year, said as results became clear that he would not enter a coalition with Ms Merkels party again, and instead try to revitalise his group from opposition.
Ukraine's Education and Science Minister Lilia Hrynevych will hold a meeting with Hungary's Human Resources Minister Zoltan Balog to discuss the law on education not on Monday, August 25, but in October, the Ukrainian ministry's press service told Interfax-Ukraine.

"The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has received a copy of a letter proposing a meeting between Education and Science Minister of Ukraine Lilia Hrynevych and Minister of Human Resources of Hungary Zoltan Balog sent to the International Department of the Ministry of Education at 19:30 on Friday, September 22, 2017. The letter was received today, September 25, 2017," the Education Ministry told the agency.

The press service noted that since the minister did not plan a trip to Zakarpattia and on Monday, September 25, is in Kyiv, she will not be able to meet with Balog.

"The meeting of Lilia Hrynevych with the human resources minister of Hungary has already been scheduled for October under preliminary agreements between the parties," the Education Ministry reported.

During the meeting, among other things, the parties plan to discuss the law on education passed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on September 5.

Earlier, Balog asked for a personal meeting with Hrynevych on September 25 during his visit to Zakarpattia to discuss the bill on education.

It was reported that on September 5, the Verkhovna Rada passed an education bill launching education reform in Ukraine. The bill determines, among other things, that teaching at schools should be conducted in the national language.

However, in line with the educational program, one or more subjects can be taught in two or more languages  the state language, the English language, in other official languages of the European Union.

Persons belonging to national minorities are guaranteed the right to study in their native language along with the Ukrainian language in separate classes (groups) in municipal institutions of preschool and primary education.

On September 19, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Andriy Parubiy signed the bill and submitted it to president.

The foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, and Romania later signed letters to the Ukrainian foreign minister, in which they expressed concerns about the new bill on education in the context of the possible effect it may have on the rights of minorities and education in students' native languages.
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One of the politicians elected to the German parliament for the far-right Alternative For Germany (AfD) party has resigned the whip before even taking her seat.

Frauke Petry, one of the co-chairs of the party, told reporters in Berlin she would not sit in the party's group in the Bundestag, effectively making her an independent MP.

"I decided after careful reflection that I will not sit with the (AfD) parliamentary group," she told reporters in Berlin, before abruptly leaving the room.

The surprise move shocked Ms Petry's AfD colleagues when it was made at a press conference on Monday morning, with other politicians present indicating that they were not expecting it.

It is not yet clear whether Ms Petry will remain a member of the party outside parliament.

The newly-elected MP hails from the far-right wing of the AfD: she has called for German forces to use live ammunition to be used to prevent illegal border crossings, and wants to ban elements of Islam, such as minarets, from German towns.

She has previously been embroiled in power struggles with other members of the party, most notably over whether she should be its designated "lead candidate" in the election. She lost out in that race to Alexander Gauland, the group's most prominent face in the media.

Ms Petry had also publicly criticised Mr Gauland for various controversial statements he made on the campaign trail, including claims that Germany should be proud of its soldiers in the Second World War  a taboo in the country. Mr Gauland said after Ms Petry's departure that he did not think his statements were responsible for her decision.

Her refusal to join the party's parliamentary group lays bare the factional infighting and battles for control that have plagued the party since its foundation as an anti-euro movement in 2013.

German election 2017 Show all 14 1 /14 German election 2017 German election 2017 German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) poses for a selfie with a boy before addressing an election campaign rally of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Kappeln Odd Andersen/AFP German election 2017 German Social Democrat (SPD) and chancellor candidate Martin Schulz speaks during an election campaign stop on September 20, 2017 in Gelsenkirchen. Schulz trails Chancellor and Christian Democrat (CDU) Angela Merkel by double digits Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images German election 2017 Sahra Wagenknecht, top candidate of the left-wing Die Linke party for upcoming general elections, gives a speech during a session at the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) in Berlin on September 5 John MacDougall/AFP German election 2017 Top candidate for the Greens for the 2017 German federal elections, Cem Ozdemir, speaks during an election campaign rally of the Alliance '90/Greens in Stuttgart, southern Germany on September 20, 2017, during the final days before Germans head to the polls Thomas Kienzle/AFP German election 2017 Leader of the Free Democrats (FDP) and main candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Christian Lindner gives a speech during the party congress in Berlin on September 17 Odd Andersen/AFP German election 2017 Alice Weidel and Alexander Gauland, co-lead candidates of the right-wing, populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party, speaking to the media on Islam, immigration and crime next to an AfD poster that reads: 'Crime Through Immigration, The Refugee Wave Leaves Behind Clues!' on September 18, in Berlin Tobias Schwarz/AFP German election 2017 People listen to German Chancellor and Christian Democrat (CDU) Angela Merkel speak at an election campaign stop on September 19, 2017 in Schwerin Getty German election 2017 Refugees from Syria prior to the arrival of German Chancellor and Christian Democrat (CDU) Angela Merkel at an election campaign stop on September 19, 2017 in Schwerin Sean Gallup/Getty Images German election 2017 The audience cheers whilst listening to German Social Democrat (SPD) and chancellor candidate Martin Schulz speaking during an election campaign stop on September 14 in Munich Joerg Koch/Getty Images German election 2017 German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds up a tomato as she addresses an election campaign rally of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Lingen on September 13 AFP/Getty Images German election 2017 Alexander Gauland, top candidate of Germany's anti-Islam, anti-immigration AfD (Alternative fuer Deutschland) party for upcoming general elections, walks past supporters as he attends an election campaign event in Nuremberg Daniel Karmann/AFP German election 2017 British politician and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage speaks at an event held by the German right-wing, populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party as AfD leading member Beatrix von Storch looks on on September 8, 2017 in Berlin Sean Gallup/Getty Images German election 2017 Martin Schulz (C), chancellor candidate of the German Social Democrats (SPD), looks on in a fest tent at the Gillamoos amusement fair on September 4, 2017 in Abensberg, Germany. Politicians, among them elections candidates, from Germany's major political parties are attending the fair today in what is an an annual tradition Johannes Simon/Getty Images German election 2017 An Alternative for Germany (AfD) campaign poster is vandalised in Berlin. Germans go to the polls on September 24th, with the AfD widely expected to garner enough votes to enter the federal parliament. Campaign poster reads: 'New Germans? we'll make them ourselves.' AFP

The shock move comes following election results that saw the AfD take 12.6 per cent of the vote, becoming the first far-right party to win seats in the Bundestag for half a century.

It gained 94 seats  though after the MPs departure it will have just 93 taking the whip.

Matthias Jung, from pollsters Forschungsgruppe Wahlen told reporters in Berlin that the AfD had taken one step towards disintegration with Ms Petrys departure. He however argued that far-right parties were probably here to stay in Germany  in common with other European countries.
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Russia has floated out the worlds largest nuclear-powered icebreaker ship as the country moves to reinforce its leadership in the Arctic.

Crowds gathered to watch as the Sibir, designed to transport cargo along the Northern Sea Route, was launched into the water at the Baltic Shipyard in St Petersburg.

She is powered by two nuclear reactors and will be able to break ice fields up to three metres thick, clearing the path for Russian ships delivering gas to Asia.

Recommended Sweden conducts biggest military exercise for more than two decades

The Sibirs displacement, a term for measuring a ships size, is 33,500 tons and is 173 metres long.

Along with the Arktika, put into active service last year, and the Ural, the three ships will become the worlds largest and most powerful nuclear-powered icebreakers, according to TASS Russian News Agency.

Named Project 22220, the shipbuilding has been described as Russias biggest military push since the fall of the Soviet Union.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. 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Russian authorities want to maintain control in Arctic waters due to drilling opportunities, minerals and strategic importance.

The monster ships will also carry out rescue work.

 Putin watches Russia's military might on display in war games

Nuclear energy ensures Russias undisputed leadership in the far north, said Vyacheslav Ruksha, head of Atomflot, a state-owned company that manages the ships.

But only with nuclear icebreakers can our country fully unveil all possibilities and advantages of the Northern Passage to the world.

Russia plans to build another vessel called The Leader, which will break through ice up to 4.5 metres thick, and keep the Northern Sea Route and Arctic coast open all year round.

As reported by The Mirror, Alexei Rakhmanov, president of United Shipbuilding Corporation, added: "This means that an all year round navigation along the Northern Sea Route will take place literally tomorrow.

"This means that Russia will consistently carry out its obligations before its foreign clients on delivery of hydrocarbons or special strategic cargo which Russia is famous for."
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Iran has closed its border with the Kurdish region of Iraq at the request of Baghdad, a statement from the Iranian foreign ministry has said. Land crossings into Iran were shut to Iraqi Kurdistan on Monday, as Iraq's 8.4 million Kurds lined up at polling stations to vote in a referendum on creating an independent state.

The decision follows the closure of both Iranian and Turkish airspace to Iraq on Sunday.

The poll on support for Kurdish independence - which is non-binding and not recognised by Baghdad - has angered the central government, which sees it as a Kurdish attempt to exert greater control over Iraq's oil reserves.

Ths US has repeatedly attempted to persuade the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) to delay the referendum, fearing further friction between Irbil and Baghdad could derail the fight against Isis.

 Iraqi woman solving uniform shortage for Kurdish fighters

The KRG is controversially holding the referendum in areas in the north of the country into which its forces have advanced in the fight to defeat Isis, which are ethnically mixed. Increasing unrest in these areas in recent days has led to worries that the likely "yes" result could lead to Arab-Kurdish violence.

The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Show all 20 1 /20 The most iconic images from the war in Iraq The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman HM1 Richard Barnett, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, holds an Iraqi child in central Iraq, March 29, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An explosion rocks Baghdad during air strikes March 21, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi woman watches U.N. weapons inspectors leave Saddam airport in Baghdad March 18, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi girl holds her sister as she waits for her mother (R) to bring over food bought in Basra March 29, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. Marine Corp Assaultman Kirk Dalrymple watches as a statue of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein falls in central Baghdad's Firdaus Square, April 9, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq US Marines kick in a door while securing a building next to the main hospital in central Baghdad April 15, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq A soldier of U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division (Task Force Ironhorse) searches through dense vegetation around the Diala river where Iraqi militants are hiding outside Baquba early November 13, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi detainee gestures toward U.S. soldiers through bars of his cell at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad May 17, 2004 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Mays, a young Iraqi Shi'ite girl, cries after a mortar shell which landed outside the family's home in a Najaf residential area injured her uncle August 18, 2004 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. Marines carry an injured colleague to a helicopter near the city of Falluja, November 10, 2004 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi man suspected of having explosives in his car is held after being arrested by the U.S army near Baquba, Iraq, October 15, 2005 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq A wounded Iraqi woman is helped after several bomb attacks in central Baghdad, July 27, 2006 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq A man runs down a street warning people to flee shortly after a twin car bomb attack at Shorja market in Baghdad, February 12, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi girl holds her hands up while U.S. and Iraqi soldiers search her family house in Baquba early June 30, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi woman tries to explain that she has nothing to do with illegal fuel as soldiers from the 2nd battalion, 32nd Field Artillery brigade patrol search for illegal fuel sellers in Baghdad August 6, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks in front of Humvees with Defense Secretary Robert Gates (C) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice following remarks to the press after nightfall at Al-Asad airbase in Anbar Province September 3, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. soldiers blindfold an Iraqi man after arresting him during a night patrol at the Zafraniya neighborhood, southeast of Baghdad September 4, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi baby lies in a cradle while a woman argues with U.S. soldiers of 1/8 Bravo Company searching for weapons, explosives and information about militants in the area during a foot patrol in a neighbourhood of Mosul June 26, 2008 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Policemen cry during a funeral of their colleague a day after a bomb attack in Baghdad's Jihad district November 3, 2010 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Staff Sgt. Keith Fidler kisses his wife Cynthia, as their son Kolin looks on, during a homecoming ceremony in New York, April 8, 2011 for the New York Army National Guard's 442nd Military Police Company's return from Iraq Reuters

Iran has previously described the independence referendum as "untimely and wrong", and reiterated its support for Iraq's territorial integrity and the "democratic process".

Foreign ministry spokesperson Bahram Ghasemi said on Monday that the vote could "lead to developments and happenings that could affect all people of the region and especially Kurdish people".

Recommended This is why the West should support Kurdish independence

The Kurdish people - who number roughly 30 million across several countries - were left stateless when the Ottoman Empire collapsed a century ago.

Iran, which also has a significant Kurdish population, is also opposed to the creation of an independent Kurdistan, which could fuel the desire for Kurdish independence in its own territories as well as in Syria and Turkey. Tehran and Baghdad have been closely allied since 2003, when the US-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

News agencies contributed to this report
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The Kurdish people are the the largest stateless ethnic group in the world, their 30-million-strong population scattered across modern-day Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria since the Ottoman Empire collapsed a century ago.

Iraqs Kurds, who have enjoyed increased political representation in the country over the last three decades, have for the first time taken the step of calling for a referendum on support for independence from Baghdad.

Polls opened at 8am Monday, although some people were so eager to cast their vote queuing began on Sunday night.

Who is voting?

Northern Iraq is administered by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), created in 1992. Its 8.4 million strong population is eligible to vote, as well as Kurdish Iraqi nationals living overseas.

Controversially, areas in which the referendum is being held include towns which the Kurds did not necessarily have a large presence in before their forces advanced to defeat Isis in the last two years. Some of these - such as Kirkuk - are not only home to many Arabs, but also rich in oil.

 Iraqi woman solving uniform shortage for Kurdish fighters

What happens if its a yes?

Its expected the referendum will result in a yes to support for independence - but its important to note that the vote has not been officially recognised by Baghdad, and it does not actually bind KRG President Masoud Barzani into taking any action, either.

What the Kurds hope is that a yes will give them a greater mandate in negotiations with Baghdad, as the support of international powers they have gained during the fight against Isis begins to wane.

The central government of Iraq has strongly opposed the referendum all along. Last week, the Supreme Court ordered that the vote be delayed - but the KRG have ignored all of Baghdads pleas.

Why is Baghdad so against Kurdish independence?

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis government is worried that the vote could inflame tensions in the volatile country, which has already faced massive recent destabilisation thanks to Isis.

Recommended Why the Kurdish independence referendum is crucial for people like me

Baghdad also sees the referendum as a Kurdish attempt to wrest away control of Iraqs northern oil fields.

The US and UK repeatedly asked the KRG to delay the referendum, citing worries that a falling out between Irbil and Baghdad will negatively impact the fight to destroy Isis.

So what impact will the result have?

Results are expected by 8pm on Tuesday, 24 hours after the polls shut. In real terms, nothing immediate will happen in the event of a yes vote - although Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to both close the border and cut off the KRGs oil exports, warning that Turkey is prepared to act militarily if the vote threatens security.

Iraqs neighbour Iran has also vehemently voiced opposition to the referendum, which it says undermines the democratic process. Like Ankara, Tehran is fearful that a yes result will encourage the Kurdish independence movements within their own states.

In Syria, the self-declared autonomous Kurdish Northern Syrian administration hopes that their Iraqi kin will blaze a trail in dealing with Baghdad they can emulate in dealings with President Bashar al-Assads government as the Syrian civil war winds down.
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Mount Agung, an active volcano in north-east Bali, is showing increased seismic activity as travellers and local people prepare for a possible eruption.

Indonesias National Disaster Management Authority has raised the volcanic warning level for Mount Agung from "Alert" to "Warning". The exclusion zone extends between 9km and 12 km from the crater. When it last erupted in 1963-4, nearly 2,000 people died.

The authority advises those in the location to Make sure you are at a shelters or another safe place from the effects of the eruption, and to use a mask and safety glasses. It warns of the potential secondary hazard in the form of cold lava flood.

Up to 50,000 islanders have been moved from the area around the volcano as a precaution.

The Bali Tourism Board said: Basic needs such as food and water are flowing in from all around Bali with volunteers supporting the distribution process.

It says ferries to and from the neighbouring islands of Lombok and Java are running normally, as are flights at Denpasar airport.

But airline schedules are being affected already, with Virgin Australia saying: As a precautionary measure, some of our Bali bound flights will be making fuel stops in Darwin.

This ensures that if an eruption occurs while the aircraft is en route, we will be able to get guests back to their originating port safely and quickly.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. 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The Australian government is warning its citizens: Local authorities have temporarily suspended all outdoor activities such as hiking and camping activities in proximity to the crater.
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On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Laker Skytrain, leading airlines have announced expansion plans for their own low-cost, long-haul offshoots.

Tuesday 26 September marks four decades since the no-frills revolution began in Europe, with the launch of the Laker Skytrain. This is geared, and built, for the instant traveller, promised Freddie Laker at Gatwick airport. Weve got 345 empty seats every day.

The aviation entrepreneur had battled for six years with entrenched interests for the right to offer cheap fares across the Atlantic before a DC-10 christened Eastern Belle finally took off: destination New York, JFK.

Passengers paid 59 each way, around half the prevailing London-New York fare, with onboard meals and drinks available at extra cost. Skytrain quickly caught the public imagination and expanded travel horizons, and Sir Freddie was knighted for services to aviation in 1978.

The liberalisation now entrenched in Europe and the US owes much to the maverick who fought, kicked, shouted for the right to cut fares and expand choice.

A Twitter poll conducted for The Independent received more than 1,100 responses, with 78 per cent saying that Sir Freddie Laker had transformed aviation.

Some of the respondents added their memories of the era. Others pointed at reasons for the collapse of Laker Airways in 1982.

Bill Wilson tweeted: I flew Gatwick to LA on a Jamaican Airways plane when all the Skytrains had been grounded.

Just remembered their offices at Gatwick had no lifts, commented an ex-employee. Guess whose office was on the ground floor? Freddies. He put the willies up all the major airlines at the time.

The chosen aircraft, the DC-10, was temporarily grounded in the summer of 1979 because of safety fears after a series of crashes. The grounding cost Laker millions in lost revenue, higher costs for chartering in aircraft and some public confidence in the DC-10 fleet.

Lakers rivals  British Airways, Pan Am and TWA  mostly flew across the Atlantic with better-regarded Boeing 747 Jumbo jets. These competitors introduced standby fares at only a pound or two more than Skytrain fares, while offering inflight meals and a wider range of departures.

The Skytrain concept soon grew beyond New York, with Miami and Los Angeles the next targets for Sir Freddie. Scottish travellers got a taste for cheap transatlantic travel, too, as Prestwick connected with New York and Florida  including Tampa, on the Gulf coast.

At a time of economic turbulence and with competitors prepared to respond ruthlessly, relentless rapid expansion proved fatal. Laker Airways collapsed on the morning of 5 February 1982, owing 270m.

Three years after the failure, rival transatlantic airlines settled a lawsuit that alleged they had colluded to cut fares and force Sir Freddie out of business. Although there was no admission of guilt, tens of millions were handed out to refund Laker ticket holders, pay staff the wages they were owed and give the founder himself $8m (6)  plus change, as Sir Freddie was fond of saying.

The entrepreneur launched two further versions of Laker Airways. The first, a reincarnation of Skytrain, did not last - though its key route, Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale, is now fought over by British Airways and the low-cost airline Norwegian. The second was Laker Bahamas. His son, Freddie Jnr, recalls it was "a regional airline that dad ran successfully and profitably for 13 years until a hurricane wiped all the hotels off Grand Bahama". Sir Freddie died in 2006.

Lakers experience helped guide Richard Branson in the creation of Virgin Atlantic, launched in 1984, and inspired Norwegian  which has named one of its transatlantic Boeing 737s after Sir Freddie. On the 40th anniversary, it will fly from Cork to Providence, Rhode Island.

Still flying high: Freddie Laker Boeing 737 MAX at Edinburgh airport (Norwegian)

Belatedly, the giant legacy airlines are addressing the latent demand for commoditised intercontinental travel.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of BAs parent company, IAG, says the same transatlantic model is proving so successful that his low-cost, long-haul airline, Level, will soon expand from two to 30 aircrafts.

Level launched in June 2017, serving Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Oakland (the secondary airport for San Francisco) and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic from its hub in Barcelona.

Mr Walsh told delegates at the World Routes 2017 conference in the Catalan capital that Levels present two-aircraft operation would grow 15-fold by 2022.

IAG is an Anglo-Spanish enterprise, one-fifth owned by Qatar Airways. But the EU-US open-skies agreement allows it to set up transatlantic bases in Paris and Rome, which Mr Walsh indicated were the next targets. The Italian capital is thought to be the favourite; it currently has only one daily flight to Los Angeles, on the struggling airline Alitalia, and no link with the San Francisco area.

Also on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Skytrain, Air France launched an interestingly named budget offshoot, Joon, with long-haul links to the Seychelles and Fortaleza in Brazil. The name is believed to be a play on jeune, and intended to evoke youth.

Joon soon: the Air France offshoot starts flying low-cost, long-haul next March (Groupe Air France)

Ben Schlappig, who writes the One Mile At A Time blog, concluded: "Its pretty clear the reason for Joon is to be able to lower operating costs on larger planes (for smaller planes, Air France already has their subsidiary Hop), and frankly Im surprised they got the flight attendant union to agree to this."

Lakers view of rival airlines was scathing: It never occurred to them that there was a fourth class out there called the human race, who just want to fly at the lowest fare.

It seems they are finally learning. As the battle for the cheap seats intensifies, Willie Walsh said of his budget brand, Level: People flying with us are predominantly not people who would have flown with us before.
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Perhaps youve bumped into Mildred, Carla or Oscar on your recent travels. Theyre not real people but avatars of chatbots  concocted by Lufthansa, Avianca and Air New Zealand respectively  or artificial intelligence (AI) powered computer programs accessed on your smartphone that enable you to have a simulated conversation of sorts. Now airports are getting in on the act, and its all part of a paradigm shift towards self-service and interactions with technologies that offer personal information to help us on our way through the terminal.

Recommended How biometrics will make airport queues a thing of the past

Its a shift confirmed in the findings of the Passenger IT Trends Survey released by Sita, the provider of much of the digital infrastructure that underpins airport and airline communications and operations worldwide. The survey found that face-to-face check-in is now down to 46 per cent of passengers, and since last years survey, self-service bag-tagging has risen from 31 per cent to 47 per cent. Almost a fifth of passengers now use self-service bag drop, and when it comes to ID control, 57 per cent of passengers would definitely use biometrics instead of a passport or boarding pass across the journey. Biometrics is just one of a handful of newish technologies that have matured to the point that theyre ripe for deployment, signifying a new era in airport experience.

AI, chatbots and messenger bots

With 98 per cent of passengers now flying with digital mobile devices, theres never been a better time for airports to get personal. The uptake of Messenger, Facebooks instant messaging app, has been so dramatic  Facebook announced in April that it has 1.2 billion users  that airlines and now airports want to reach their customers using this platform. Athens International Airport claimed, last September, to be the first airport in the world to implement a bot app through Facebook Messenger.

The ATH Messenger is an application that reflects the zeitgeist seeking convenience, interaction and direct information, said George Demetriades, the airports director of information systems and telecommunications business unit. Passengers can easily chat with the bot program, receiving updates around the clock regarding the flight of their interest, special retail offers, timetables and airport parking services.

Augmented reality has been in airports since 2011 (Getty/iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

At Frankfurt Airport, you can converse with FRAnky, also a Messenger-based chatbot, which the airport describes as artificial intelligence with charm. FRAnky can search for flights, send flight status updates and, if requested, give information about restaurants, shops and service facilities. It will even explain how passengers can use the airports free wifi.

Augmented Reality

AR  the technology where you look at the real world through your smartphone or special glasses, and data, such as wayfinding information, is superimposed onto what you can see  has been around in the airport space since 2011. Copenhagen Airport launched the first airport app to use AR to enable passengers to find their way around the terminal and obtain information on restaurants and other facilities. But perhaps in 2011 walking around with a phone at the end of your outstretched arm wasnt the norm and few other airports followed suit. A lack of consistent GSM or wifi signals might also explain why AR has been slow to catch on. But no such barriers seem to exist today: Gatwick Airport has installed 2,000 battery-powered beacons across the airports two terminals enabling AI-powered indoor navigation, integrated with Gatwicks smartphone apps.

Were opening the door for a wide range of tech savvy airport providers, including our airlines and retailers, to launch new real-time services that can help passengers find their way around the airport, avoid missing flights or receive timely offers that might save them money, said Abhi Chacko, Gatwick Airports head of IT, commercial and innovation.

The robots are coming

Conversing with robots, as well increasingly do with airport chatbots, is not the only interaction well see at terminals; robots of the more physical variety have been undergoing early stage trials in this space too. Meet Kate (yes, another personable avatar). The invention of Sita Labs, Kate is an intelligent check-in robotic kiosk that autonomously moves to busy or congested areas of the terminal as needed. It uses data related to passenger flow at the airport to reposition itself, thereby reducing passenger wait times.

Robots are already being used at some airports for queue management (Getty/iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

If youve been to Geneva Airport recently, you might have bumped into Leo outside the terminal. Leo is a bag-drop robot that hangs around at the drop-off point as you step out of your taxi. You can place your suitcase onto Leos belt and scan your boarding pass with a handheld scanner  Leo prints a bag tag that you attach to the suitcase handle, a door closes with your suitcase secured inside, then the robot prints you a baggage receipt. Hey presto, Leo has removed the hassle of trekking your luggage through the terminal.
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When the chair of Monday mornings Labour Party conference debate indicated that a contribution would be taken from the member for Bolsover I became unexpectedly reacquainted with a familiar sense of rising dread.

Those of us who spend far too much of our lives watching debates in the House of Commons have come to know what to expect from Dennis Skinner, and it is rarely welcome.

Skinner is 85 years-old. He is a first rate talker. Whatever it is he has to say will be perfectly sculpted to fit the oratorical cadences that delight the human ear. The content, on the other hand, is usually mad. Not wrong: mad. Never one to shy away from a parliamentary debate, I have listened to Dennis Skinners opinions on topics that span the full range of human life and emotion, and more on often than not they are so disconnected from reality that hushed conversations are required to establish even the bare bones of what it is he is talking about.

 Labour could negotiate 'new single market relationship' after Brexit

On Monday morning however, I was briefly a little bit blown away. Party delegates had spent the morning debating Brexit and getting nowhere. The issue splits the party just as brutally as it has split the Conservatives and the country at large.

Brexit is left wing and right wing at the same time. Theres a Brexit for the rich and a Brexit for the poor. The Labour Party feels it must stand up for undercut British workers, but then theres the badly treated immigrants. On Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn has spoke of little else but the Posted Workers Directive which allows companies to effectively import workers from Romania, Bulgaria and so on, but subject them to pay and benefits as if they were still in their host country. But cutting through this fine mess like no one I have heard came Dennis Skinner with a simple personal story.

He talked about working in the pits after the Second World War. I worked alongside Poles, Latvians and Lithuanians, the millions of people displaced after the war. And there were never any arguments because we were all paid the same and we were all in the National Union of Mineworkers.

Its manna from heaven for Labour members, this. They rose to their feet and clapped like crazy. Why wouldnt they? The people of Europe could work and live in harmony together were it not for exploitative bosses, the decline of the unions and the rise of zero hour contracts.

Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Show all 14 1 /14 Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Britain's opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters/Toby Melville Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Senior members of Britain's opposition Labour Party listen to Leader Jeremy Corbyn deliver his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters/Peter Nicholls Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Diane Abbott receives a standing ovation during Jeremy Corbyn's speech at the Labour Party conference BBC Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses delegates on the final day of the Labour Party conference on September 27, 2017 in Brighton Leon Neal/Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn stands with Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Rebecca Long-Bailey (left) and Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Angela Raynor after speeches in the main hall, on day three of the annual Labour Party Conference on September 26, 2017 in Brighton Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary, addressing the Labour Party annual conference at the Brighton Centre, Brighton PA Labour Conference 2017  in pictures The mayor of London Sadiq Khan delivers a speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, Britain Reuters Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Dennis Skinner addressing the Labour Party annual conference at the Brighton Centre, Brighton PA Labour Conference 2017  in pictures John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Labour Party Conference, Day 2, Brighton Rex Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell (C) speaks with Labour party's leader Jeremy Corbyn (L) ahead of making a speech on the second day of the Labour Party Conference AFP/Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses supporters during a momentum rally on the first day of the Labour Party conference Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Jeremy Corbyn listens to speeches in the main hall on the first day of the Labour Party conference Getty Images Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Labour Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott addresses delegates in the main hall on the first day of the Labour Party conference on September 24 Getty Labour Conference 2017  in pictures Jeremy Corbyn addresses a rally ahead of the Labour Party Conference in Brighton Reuters

How disappointing, and disappointingly predictable, to find out that it is all but untrue. First of all, it is boring but essential to point out that Dennis Skinner voted to leave the European Union, and rebelled against his own party to vote with the Tories on the EU Withdrawal Bill, the thing that his own party fears will be used to shred protections for workers currently guaranteed by EU legislation.

Then theres the other inconvenient matter of what the trade unions really did to Polish miners in the years Skinner was working in them. In 1945, the Welsh miners leader Arthur Horner who was on the Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Great Britain, declared that the party would not allow the importation of foreign  Polish, Italian, or even Irish  labour to stifle the demands of the British people to have decent conditions in British mines.

By February 1947, Horner was General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers again spoke out against foreign workers in the mining industry, and his party declared that Poles should be sent home, to work out their own salvation.

Then there was Jock Kane, Secretary of the Armthorpe Branch of the National Union of Mineworkers, who had this to say, of the years in question.

I can remember in 1947 we paid wages to thousands of Poles for months and months on end. They never came into this industry and never did a bloody days workThere were thousands of Polish ex-army men in camps A shower of arrogant bloody swine, ex-officer bloody class, and the coal board paid them wages for months on end.

The moral of the story? That sense of rising dread: its there for a reason. And its best to pay attention to it.
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Over the past year and a half, German media has demonstrated a bit of penchant for schadenfreude. Well done, Little Britain! quipped left-leaning daily Die Tageszeitung on the morning after the Brexit vote, proving that even Berliners  for all their stereotypical humourlessness  can be sarcastic when called upon. Tabloid Bild-Zeitung went with headlines that loosely translated as This is how Cameron cocked it up and  more succinctly  Ouch, while Der Spiegel grandly sniped: Europe is Dead, Long Live Europe?

Fifteen months on and it could be said that Germany is experiencing its own Brexit moment. Of course, its much too early to speak of a full-blown shift towards protectionism, and headlines about Little Germany and Merkel cocking up would be unjustified for now, but Merkel clearly has a problem worthy of its own indelicate commentary from Fleet Street and Co.

In Sundays election, the Chancellor of 12 years secured a relatively convincing fourth term in office but her Christian Democratic Union haemorrhaged support to the Alternative for Germany party. Overall the AfD garnered 13 per cent of the vote, giving it enough support to become the first far-right party to enter the countrys parliament in more than half a century. The CDU and the Social Democrats suffered their worst results since 1949 and 1933 respectively, and in eastern Germany the AfDs gains were even more impressive.

In fact, in the five states that became part of a reunified Germany in 1990, the AfD surpassed the vast majority of expectations to take just shy of 23 per cent of the vote, putting the party almost in the same ballpark as the 27.6 per cent who backed Merkels CDU. That might prove a particularly bitter pill to swallow for Merkel who  although she was born in the west  grew up behind that Iron Curtain.

 Victorious Angela Merkel admits challenges lie ahead

Merkel now faces the Herculean challenge of cobbling together a government, which will most likely be a three-way tie-up between her own party, the liberal Free Democrats and the Greens  a so-called Jamaica coalition, because the colours of the parties correspond to those of the Caribbean countrys flag.

Its never been done in Germany before  though youd be forgiven for experiencing a sense of deja vu when reading about an upset head of state being caught off guard by an unexpected surge in populism. Hobbled and bruised, the Social Democrats, who had served with the CDU as junior partners for the past four years, said they were going into opposition.

Whats happening in Germany  like what occurred in the UK in June 2016 and in the US in November last year  is symptomatic of swelling discontent and a fierce backlash against migration and globalisation. Voters who feel underrepresented or threatened are biting back aggressively.

 AfD co-leader: Millions of voters have entrusted us with the task of constructive opposition work

If youre looking for a common denominator to what we in the UK are dealing with and what Germany has woken up to, look no further than Nigel Farage and the standing ovation Mr Brexit elicited when he spoke at one of the AfDs pre-election rallies earlier this month. He was hailed as an example of what a Eurosceptic politician can achieve if they put their mind to it. He served as a reminder that, despite far-right parties in France and the Netherlands failing to fly, theres always a way so long as theres a will.

Our collective decision to quit the EU certainly dealt a fierce blow to the concept of a shared European dream. But Germany under Angela Merkel  arguably one of the architects of the bloc in its current form  will have to work hard to avoid administering the next pounding. Schadenfreude can make for great headlines. But it might be karma that enjoys the last laugh.
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Jeremy Corbyn is learning the art of leadership. His general election performance has given him a new confidence, which shines through in his (once tetchy, now relaxed) media interviews. Journalists on right-wing newspapers grumbled into their wine in Brighton on Sunday after Corbyn did not commit news during an interview with the BBCs Andrew Marr.

When he became Labour leader, Team Corbyn was wary of the slick communications which were New Labours trademark. Now they realise there is nothing right-wing (their favourite insult) about getting your message over.

Similarly, Corbyn has adopted the old tricks used by Tony Blair and other predecessors to avoid embarrassing votes and defeats at Labours annual conference. For years, Corbyn and his left-wing allies complained that the leadership stitched up the conference with the help of the trade unions (who have a 50-50 share of the votes with constituency parties). Now the boot is on the left foot. Momentum, the Corbyn fan club, used their power among the Labour membership to ensure that delegates did not vote for a conference debate on whether Labour should support permanent membership of the single market, on which the party is divided.

Instead, the conference will approve a bland statement saying Labour will fight for a Brexit deal that prioritises jobs and the economy and protects rights. Big deal. It says nothing about the UK-EU relationship in the long term.

 Labour could negotiate 'new single market relationship' after Brexit

Ironically, Corbyn is promising more internal democracy to reflect the partys impressive growth to 570,000 members. But here he was doing a bit of command and control that Blair would have been proud of. Its like Animal Farm, one Corbyn critic groaned. It is genuinely funny to see Jeremy acting like this. Welcome to the topsy-turvy Labour Party.

Corbyn allies insist it was the lesser of two evils to avoid a debate that would have exposed Labours divisions. Yet the row over the conference being muzzled dominated media headlines, so the tactic hardly worked.

At one level we can hardly blame the Labour leader for sticking to an approach that served him so well at the June election. By keeping his options open, he attracted the votes of Leavers and Remainers. While many of Corbyns middle-class supporters oppose Brexit, he needs a bigger coalition to win power and so cannot afford to alienate working-class Leave voters.

Many have concerns about immigration; Corbyn is anxious about committing to the single market because of its free movement tablet of stone. Brexit is work in progress so it makes sense to keep an open mind, argued one Corbynista. He wants to give the Tories enough rope to hang themselves.

To be fair, Labours policy has become clearer since the election. Last month, Sir Keir Starmer, the Shadow Brexit Secretary, won Corbyns support for the party to support single market and customs union membership during the transitional period after the UK formally leaves in 2019.

In a move welcomed by Labour pro-Europeans, Starmer told the Brighton conference on Monday that remaining in a form of customs union with the EU is a possible end destination for Labour. He said the party was flexible over whether to negotiate a new single market relationship, or work up from a bespoke trade deal.

I suspect Starmer favours the former  a reformed single market with some changes to free movement. He believes Theresa Mays likely goal of a Canada plus plus free-trade agreement, covering services as well as goods (unlike the EU-Canada deal), is a fantasy because the Government wants to break free from EU regulations. So Labours policy could harden further.

Corbyn is riding high this week, but needs to mind his back on Brexit. It is the one issue on which he is out of step with the members who adore him. There is potential for a dangerous alliance between the Labour grassroots, including young recruits, pro-EU Blairites and the unions.

A growing number of Labour MPs believe that Brexit can be stopped, even if they judge it too soon to say so in public. Some 70 per cent of Labour voters back another referendum, according to a survey by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. Corbyn is unlikely to go that far when Parliament debates a referendum, as he would be accused of trying to overturn the public's vote for Brexit.

But he might be persuaded to go further on the single market. He should do so; to end austerity and pump more money into public services. Labour could not afford to cut links with the UKs biggest market.

A genuine sense of excitement, energy and optimism at the Labour conference makes the party feel like one which has just won an election, rather than suffered a brilliant defeat. Indeed, both Emily Thornberry, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, and Len McCluskey, the Unite leader, have argued that Labour didnt lose the election  because the Tories did.

Corbyn should discourage such dangerous talk. He should also recognise that Labour will not look like a government-in-waiting when it shies away from a proper debate on the most critical issue facing the country.
Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oles Dovhy (Will of the People group) has been handed a notice of suspicion, Interfax-Ukraine learnt at the prosecutor's office of Kyiv.

"Suspicion was handed on Friday," the press service of Kyiv city prosecutor's office told Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Monday.

Later that day, the press service of the department reported that Dovhy is suspected of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely, abuse of power and official position when serving as deputy mayor of Kyiv - secretary of Kyiv City Council.

"As a result of these actions, ten land plots from the Zhukov Island  the wildlife sanctuary of local importance  with a total area of 44.25 hectares were illegally transferred to a housing cooperative, which caused damage to the state worth a total of UAH 81.7 million," the press service said.

As reported, on September 22, Head of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) Yuriy Lutsenko signed a notice of suspicion for Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy Oles Dovhy (Will of the People group).

Lutsenko earlier said Dovhy is a suspect in a criminal case on the illegal allocation by Kyiv City Council of a 100-hectare land plot in the Zhukov Island wildlife sanctuary on the southern outskirts of Kyiv in 2005 and may be prosecuted under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code (abuse of power and office).

Ukraine's Parliament on July 11, 2017, granted the PGO request to bring criminal charges against Dovhy, who asked colleagues in the Rada to remove his immunity from prosecution.

On July 14 head of Ukraine's Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) Nazar Kholodnytsky said investigatory actions involving Dovhy had been undertaken.

In August, National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine chief Artem Sytnyk said suspicion of Dovhy had not yet been agreed upon.
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We Westerners like to believe we care a lot about the Christians of the Middle East. Their exodus is one of the epic tragedies of our times, one of the three great monotheist religions effectively torn from the soil of the Holy Land in which it was born; Egyptian Copts, Syrian Maronites, Iraqi Orthodox Christians, ripped apart, quite literally, in the attacks of the Islamists who treat them as crusaders, collaborators, apostates. We welcome Christian refugees in the West because we feel they are our people, perhaps because we also suspect  the notion is ridiculous, of course  that Christianity is now a Western rather than an Eastern religion. Hence I often find myself confronted by Armenian bishops or Catholic priests who beg the West to stop encouraging their flock to leave the Middle East  since they will only drown in a sea of secularism in Europe and America.

But we have a selective memory. Almost exactly a year ago, the 56-year-old Jordanian Arab Christian journalist Nahed Hattar was assassinated in the very centre of Amman by an Islamist well known to the security authorities (as we like to say in Britain) as Hattar prepared to defend himself against Jordanian government charges of incitement. Hands up those readers who remember this feisty, eloquent, provocative and brilliant writers death?

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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Alas, so many massacres and eviscerations now shake the Middle East, so many sauvageries are committed against Muslims as well as Christians, that I make an admission. I, too, had quite forgotten that a year ago I turned up at the door of his grieving widow and son and uncle in Amman to pester them with questions about the end of Nahed Hattars life a few days earlier. Had his family not contacted me this week, I also would have let the first years anniversary of his murder pass unnoticed.

The Jordanian authorities have refused to allow Hattars family to commemorate his death  although the relatives plan to do just that in the next few days at the Christian cemetery where he is buried. The family also intend, they say, to take the case of his murder to the International Court, for they claim that the government itself was involved in his killing. And they fear that even the promise of King Abdullah  who paid a personal visit of condolence to the family after Hattars murder and said that he would set up a commission of enquiry into the killing  has not been kept by the government.

 Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar shot dead

Certainly, the killer, Riyad Ismail, a computer engineer working for the Jordanian ministry of education, has no more to say. He was swiftly charged, sentenced to death last December, and hanged in March along with 14 other terrorists and criminals sentenced for rape and murder. Ismail, bearded and wearing brown prison clothes, had little to say when he appeared before the court. And presumably nothing more to say when he was hanged at the Suaqa prison. Justice, traditionally a slow process in the Middle East, appears to have moved at surprising speed in Jordan. The man who supplied Ismail with the gun to shoot Hattar was sentenced to a year in jail.

But thats not what concerns Nahed Hattars family. They took very seriously the kings promise to set up an official enquiry into Hattars murder. They were incensed that prior to his killing, the government had accused him of incitement for reposting a cartoon on his Facebook page which showed a Muslim jihadist admonishing God. Almost at once, the Muslim Brotherhood reran a truncated version of the cartoon and deleted Hattars explanation that the God in the cartoon represented Isis version of the Almighty  not the God revered by Islam.

It did no good. The government arrested Hattar  not the Muslim Brotherhood officials responsible for the corruption of his message  for incitement. Security officials then assured the writer that he was safe  when he was clearly still at great risk. And then, within hours, his blood was running down the steps of the Amman court. His family do not accuse the king of breaking his promise. They accuse the government of not carrying it through.

 Jordan election: Muslim Brotherhood gains ground

I saw the minister of justice twice, Hattars widow Randa told me this week. He said: We did an internal investigation. But he didnt even call us to tell us anything. So did the government, fearful of arousing the Muslim Brotherhood and anxious to distance itself from a provocative writer who paid for his life for his journalistic transgressions, simply ignore the kings command? Certainly, Nahed Hattar was a tough guy to have around. He supported Bashar al-Assad in Syria  his Jordanian murderer had been fighting Assads forces before he returned to Amman and killed Hattar  and he was a critic of Saudi Arabia and managed to offend the extreme elements of all religions. Jordanians, aware no doubt that Westerners now use Twitter and Facebook for death threats, used social media to abuse Hattar after his cartoon reposting, offering cash for his body parts. The verbal abusers were clearly identifiable.

But the government did nothing about them. Locked up for 26 days before his hearing  which would never be held, since the defendant was already lying dead on the steps of the court  Hattar was refused bail, even though he was not on a criminal charge. His brother Khaled says the authorities leaked the date of his court hearing. Nahed had, among his various journalistic campaigns, criticised his government for allowing Jordanians to fight for the Syrian opposition. Around 2,500 Jordanians joined Isis. The group killed 11 Jordanian soldiers and intelligence officers last year  as well as Nahed Hattar. But whose hand lay behind his killing?

Hattar had been several times arrested by the cops; in 1978, 1979, 1996 and then again before his murder. He was forbidden from writing in the Jordanian press. But he supported the Palestinian cause and he was a Jordanian nationalist. His family put out a statement this week, alleging that the Jordanian governments accusation of incitement against him, their refusal to offer him protection and to abide by the Kings order for an enquiry confirms to us that the government had been involved in his assassination.

Only six per cent of Jordanians are Christians. Some say two per cent. And the king and his father Hussein always prided themselves on the protected status of all their people, including their minorities. But it was not enough for Nahed Hattar. Or for his family.
More than 2,000 jobs could be created if the VAT rate on hotels and visitor attractions in Northern Ireland is cut to 5%, a report for the tourism industry has shown.

Hospitality businesses pay VAT at a rate of 20% - more than twice that of competitors in the Republic of Ireland.

EU law prevents member states from setting different levels of the charge for different regions. That power will be repatriated to the UK after Brexit and the DUP is pressing for a speedy cut.

Howard Hastings, managing director of Hastings Hotels, said currency fluctuations between sterling and the euro are not grounds for long-term business decisions.

He said: "VAT is structural and would kick-start our tourism economy and these numbers understate the potential for delivery of more accommodation into Northern Ireland and the delivery of upstream benefits."

The study, carried out by Nevin Associates, is the first to look at Northern Ireland statistics separately from the rest of the UK.

A cut in the VAT rate for visitor accommodation and attractions would reduce Treasury income by 4.2 million in the first year; however, over a five-year period the Exchequer would gain by 32 million, rising to 109 million over a decade, it said.

Tourism-related businesses in Northern Ireland pay 20% VAT, compared with 9% by their counterparts in the Republic. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK sharing a land border with another state.

Ciaran O'Neill, president of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, who runs Derry's Bishops Gate Hotel, said room rates at hotels in Donegal had risen faster than in his city.

"Because hotels in Donegal have a better margin they are able to price in a way that we cannot compete with."

The study also shows that in the Republic average spend per visit (350) is almost double that of Northern Ireland.

The report forecasts that the cut would be worth 332 million to the balance of payments over a decade.

Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said: "It really is about being competitive.

"At the minute we are uncompetitive in the European market.

''It is time our ridiculously high VAT rate was reduced in line with many other countries, including the Republic of Ireland. Indeed 17 of the 19 EU countries have tourist VAT rates below 10%.''

Nigel Dodds, the DUP's senior MP at Westminster, said: "A cut in VAT in the tourism sector would boost that sector enormously - it would attract more visitors, create more jobs and be a massive boost to the economy in the long run.

"This is a win-win; a win for the Treasury and a win for Northern Ireland and win for people's employment prospects."
The man may have suffered an injury

Gardai are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a man at a house in Co Cork.

The man, in his late 40s, was discovered at a terraced house in High Street, in the town of Skibbereen, at around 9am on Monday.

It is understood he may have received an injury.

Officers have cordoned off the scene for investigations to be carried out. The state pathologist has been notified.

A post-mortem examination conducted at Cork University Hospital would determine the direction of the investigation, garda said.
Ireland is pushing the UK to consider allowing a temporary extension of EU Customs Union rules for two years after Brexit to become permanent for the Northern Ireland border.

Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the UK could, almost at a stroke, resolve a substantial number of the Irish border related issues by that single customs union concession.

Mr Coveney was speaking in Cork at a European Movement Ireland conference on Brexit in Cork.

EMI director Noelle O'Connell warned that Irish businesses now have less than 550 days to prepare for the UK exiting the EU.

"It is now vital that Irish businesses and organisations ramp up their engagement in terms of getting ready for Brexit," she said.

Mr Coveney was speaking in advance of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's key Brexit talks with Prime Minister Theresa May in London.

Mr Coveney said the priority for Ireland was achieving an agreement that caused the minimum of disruption and achieved as close to the status quo with cross-border and Anglo-Irish trade as possible.

"Our position is that all of this would be much easier if Britain accepted that Northern Ireland or Britain as a whole would stay in a customs union with the rest of the EU," he said.

"That would prevent any need for a customs border which would be a big step forward."

"What Ms May has said is that she is now comfortable that will be the case for a transition period of at least two years."

"I think that is reassuring for Irish businesses and employers."

"The bottom line is that they will not be asked to change their systems twice in terms of adapting to new regulations."

Mr Coveney echoed the warning of Agriculture Minister Michael Creed that, from Ireland's point of view, it is impossible to see any upside to Brexit.

"We do not want Brexit. It is not good for Ireland and, we believe, it is not good for Britain either," he said.

"But if Britain is determined to move ahead and leave the EU, we want as close to the current status quo as it is possible to achieve."

"We want the minimum of disruption to trade and people as possible."

"That is why we believe it would be so important and helpful for Britain to stay within a customs union."

"Better still, if Britain could stay within an extended Single Market."

Farm groups, in response to Ms May's landmark Florence speech last week, have proposed that the transition period be extended from two to five years for the Irish border.

Mr Coveney said that, as the economic implications of Brexit sink in, an increasing number of people within the UK are also backing a so-called 'Soft Brexit'.

"I think there is an evolving debate within Britain on Brexit," he said.

"That is across all parties - the Labour Party and even within the Conservative Party."

He said Ireland welcomed the positive tone of Ms May's address in Florence but he said it was now vital to follow it up with detailed implementation proposals, particularly for Northern Ireland and Anglo-Irish trade.

"Needless to say we would like more clarity. But what we got from (Prime Minister) Theresa May last week was some welcome detail that had not been there before," he said.

"She reaffirmed that Ireland has unique issues to consider and that is very important from our point of view."

"She said that protecting the Belfast Agreement and the Common Travel Area were of huge importance to Britain."

"She also reaffirmed that there could be no infrastructure on the border of the island of Ireland. Again, that is very important for us."

"For the first time, she started talking about the Britain's responsibilities to the island of Ireland as a whole, north and south. That language is very welcome."

But he said the policy details will now be critical.

"The detail of who we are going to get there is, of course, not there yet. We have negotiations recommencing today in Brussels between the two negotiating teams."

"What Britain really needs to bring to the table now is a plan to fulfil the aspirations that she outlined in her speech."

"That is what we want."
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will ask the British government to publicly outline "a clear and satisfactory" proposal for how the Northern Ireland Border will operate after Brexit.

Mr Varadkar will meet British Prime Minister Theresa May in Downing Street today to discuss the reaction to her Florence speech - in which she outlined that Britain wants a two-year transition period after leaving the EU.

Elements of Mrs May's speech were given a "cautious welcome" by the Government here, but there is ongoing concern that the UK is unable to present a vision for the so-called 'frictionless Border'.

Ahead of the meeting, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said he would use the opportunity to "emphasise that Ireland will continue to negotiate as part of the EU27 remaining member states, represented by Michel Barnier and his task force".

"The EU has made clear to the UK that there must be sufficient progress on the three issues of citizens' rights, financial settlement and Irish issues before the negotiations can address the future EU-UK relationship," the spokesman said.

In last Friday's speech, Mrs May reaffirmed her commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, as well as ensuring no physical infrastructure is put in place along the Border.

But sources say she will need to go much further before the stalled Brexit talks can progress from the first phase.

While Mr Varadkar meets the prime minister, Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin will also be in the UK to talk to opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Howlin said he would use his time at the UK Labour Party conference in Brighton to call on his sister party "to take whatever actions they can to stop the relentless drive towards a hard Brexit".

"Friends have an obligation to support each other, but also to be honest with each other. I will be reiterating my belief that Brexit will be bad for Britain, and bad for Ireland too," he said.

It comes as the EU Commissioner for Taxation and Customs refused to rule out EU custom checks on Irish ports and airports after March 2019.

Pierre Moscovici told Newstalk's 'On The Record with Chris Donoghue' that the EU must protect its customs area.

He said it was up to the British government to provide a roadmap before his office can actively begin to prepare for the post-Brexit environment.

"Mrs May pronounced recently an important speech that needs to be translated in concrete proposals and I cannot offer you a roadmap," he said.

"But the only thing I can say is that we are really watching this question of the Border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, that we don't want to backtrack, we don't want to go back to the past."

Meanwhile, MEP Brian Hayes said the two-year transition period proposed by Mrs May was already at risk unless its terms could be quickly agreed.

Mrs May said there would be no rule changes on trade during the period. But Mr Hayes warned the details must be put in place in the coming months as it would require clearance from all national and regional parliaments within the EU.

"There needs to be an early agreement on transitional arrangements in the Brexit negotiations. All Irish companies that trade with the UK need to know what will happen with their UK trading operations after March 2019, when the Brexit negotiations will complete," Mr Hayes said.

The Dublin MEP said the details must be worked out by the first quarter of next year.

"We cannot have a situation where the transition period would be agreed in last-minute Brexit negotiations. This would be absolute chaos for all EU businesses that trade with the UK," he added.

Mr Hayes said that given the bad-tempered nature of EU-UK Brexit talks to date, the transition period could become a dispute within a dispute.

"There could easily be a Mexican stand-off on this issue if it is left until the bitter end," he warned.
A dairy farmer saved her herd of 70 cows from an abattoir and raised thousands of euro to send them to an animal sanctuary.

Jill Smith, from Cork, wanted to save the cows from slaughter after retiring and launched an appeal to ship the animals to the Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norwich.

With the help of animal lovers, Ms Smith managed to raise more than 9,000 to ship the herd to safety.

This is a working dairy herd of 70 cows who have all bonded over the years in their own unique ways, the Go Fund Me page reads.

After years of service and providing an income, this farmer feels that they deserve a life where they can continue to live as a herd together.

Ms Smith told the BBC: They gave me a life, and I wanted the end of theirs to be peaceful. I couldn't believe people cared so much about my cows. Fluffy kittens, maybe, but not cows.

She said many of the animals would have most likely been slaughtered, had a home not been found for them.

The animal charity Charlies Equine Rescue, based in County Wexford, supported Ms Smiths appeal and began to crowdfund to raise the money needed to deliver the herd to Norwich.

Wendy Valentine, who runs the animal sanctuary, said half of the cows had already arrived and settled into their new home and the remaining cows will be sent over soon.

It is an honour to play a part in bringing this herd to Hillside sanctuary and we are forever grateful to the farmer for letting this beautiful herd go to a 'heaven on earth' for animals, the charity said.
The first part out of the $200 million of the entourage of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, seized under a court ruling, has been transferred to the state budget, spokeswoman for Ukraine's prosecutor general Larysa Sarhan has said.

"A special confiscation of 200 million [dollars] of Yanukovych's OCG [organized criminal group]. The first millions have come to the state budget," she wrote on her Facebook page on Monday.

Sarhan told Interfax-Ukraine that "the prosecutor general provided the court decision to the Ukreximbank head and he fulfilled it."

On September 22, 2017, Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko wrote on Facebook that the court ruling of the Sosnivsky district court of Cherkasy on the special confiscation of $200 million of funds of the organized criminal group of Yanukovych had come into force.
Father Ted, Angelas Ashes, Shameless and EastEnders actor Pauline McLynn will be amongst those leading a protest outside the Irish Department of Agriculture against the live export of animals.

The protest is being organised by animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farmings Irish supporter group.

After the demonstration they will be handing in a petition against live export from Ireland which has gained over 23,000 signatures. Compassion warmly welcomes anybody interested in supporting this event to join them on the day.

Pauline McLynn said she wholeheartedly supports the Stop Live Transport campaign.

This campaign stands up for animals that are treated in an unthinkable manner and it is so important that we take a stand against it continuing.

It is beyond belief that countless, defenceless animals are subjected to such immense suffering in conditions that are truly horrific - when there are more kind and humane options available.

The barbaric treatment of sentient beings through this archaic trade must be stopped.

Also set to attend the event Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch said The horror of live transport never fails to shock me to my core. It is appalling that we allow such cruelty in modern day society. In no way is it acceptable to send sentient beings on these gruelling journeys without adequate rest, water or space to move.

Where is our compassion? Its time to Stop Live Transport.

TDs Maureen OSullivan from the Independent Party, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace from the Independents 4 Change Party, Eamon Ryan and Senator Grace OSullivan from the Green Party will also be attending the protest.

Every year in excess of 100,000 cattle and sheep are transported from Ireland to the EU and third countries.

The charity says these journeys can last several days or weeks, sometimes in crowded trucks or ships, and the animals can suffer from severe stress, exhaustion, dehydration, injuries, extreme temperatures and even death.

It also says cattle exported to North Africa and Turkey are often subjected to inhumane slaughter practices that are in breach of World Organisation for Animal Health standards.

Compassion in World Farming is calling for a worldwide ban of this what it calls the outdated and unnecessary trade of live animals and for it to be replaced with a trade in meat.
Dunnes Stores is planning to convert a large shop on George's Street in Dublin into two restaurants.

The family-owned group recently closed the homeware shop near its city centre headquarters. The unit had previously been a clothing shop selling a number of Dunnes' designer brands.

Silverwood Developments, one of the family's key corporate vehicles, has sought planning permission for a change of use for the premises.

Previously known as Dunnes Home Stores, the company wants to divide the premises into two licensed restaurant units.

Dunnes has repositioned itself over the past two years, bringing in more designer names to its clothing range and taking its grocery business upmarket.

The company also owns a casual dining restaurant called Considered, which is aimed at the lunchtime market.

Market sources said that Dunnes could lease out the new premises or develop the two restaurants, possibly in partnership with existing operators in the area.

Margaret Heffernan has been handing over the reins of the family business to daughter Anne Heffernan and niece Sharon McMahon, both of whom have been appointed directors of all Dunnes Stores companies.
About 350 Ryanair pilots in Dublin have been urged by colleagues to join the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) by lunchtime tomorrow as a standoff with management intensifies across the carrier.

"Pilots, we have them on their knees," the memo seen by Independent.ie states.

It adds: "You can be sure that this opportunity will never arise again."

Pilots at about 55 of Ryanair's 86 bases have already rejected a proposal from the airline that captains would be paid 12,000 for working 10 of their days off over the next year, as the carrier struggles to manage a flights fiasco that has impacted hundreds of thousands of people. First officers have been offered 6,000.

Ryanair is also offering an additional, unconditional 10,000 payment to pilots at some bases.

Ryanair is non-unionised and even if staff are members of a union, the airline does not have to recognise the union.

But the blunt message sent to pilots this evening is certain to ensure that a trajectory is plotted towards a showdown with senior executives, as pilots demand improved pay and conditions at Europe's biggest airline.

"Being a [union] member is the only way to legitimise any action that might be required

either now or in the future," the memo seen by Independent.ie this evening reads.

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It adds that if pilots join the union, "We can now ballot our members for some type of industrial action up to and including a strike."

The memo adds: "Once the ballot is complete and there is a majority, we have to send seven days' notice to the company of industrial action."

The memo informs pilots that despite Ryanair not recognising unions, once staff are union members, they are entitled to engage in industrial action.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said last week that "hell would freeze over" before he would welcome unions into the airline.

"Our futures are at stake here," this evening's pilot memo states. "Be under no illusion, we have the upper hand but Ryanair will come out fighting."
Commuters could knock thousands of euro a year off the cost of their travel to work by leaving their car at home and taking up tax breaks and other deals available on public transport. With traffic returning to boom-time levels and rising house prices pushing more house buyers into the commuter belt, it is time to seriously consider taking these steps if you take the bus or train to work. Otherwise, your daily commute will soon hit your pocket even harder.

Here are seven steps which should help you to cut the cost of your daily trips.

Use Taxsaver

Take advantage of the Taxsaver scheme if using public transport, as this could save you more than 1,500 a year.

For example, let's say you're commuting from Gorey to Dublin every day. Your bus fare for the year will cost 1,416 if you get a Leap annual Taxsaver (orange zone) ticket with Bus Eireann - assuming you're a higher-rate taxpayer and are getting the maximum tax relief available under the Taxsaver scheme. However, if you don't buy this ticket under the Taxsaver scheme, your fares will cost you 2,950 - that's 1,534 more.

You don't have to travel with a State-owned public transport operator to be able to take up the Taxsaver scheme - you may be able to do so on a private bus, if the bus operator has a licence to provide a public bus passenger service and is set up to offer Taxsaver tickets.

For example, you can take up the Taxsaver scheme if travelling with Wexford Bus - a private operator that runs a bus service between Wexford and Dublin. An annual Taxsaver ticket for travel from Gorey to Dublin with Wexford Bus costs 1,540 (assuming you're a higher-rate taxpayer) - without Taxsaver, that ticket would cost 3,020.

You don't need to be on a long commute to save with Taxsaver. For Dublin commuters, an annual Luas ticket (all zones) costs either 510 (if you pay tax at the higher rate of 40pc) or 710 (if you pay tax at the standard rate of 20pc) under the Taxsaver scheme. Otherwise, an annual ticket costs 1,000 - as much as 490 more.

With the Taxsaver scheme, your employer applies for the ticket on your behalf - and the cost of that ticket is then taken out of your salary. (Your employer could also give you a Taxsaver ticket in place of a cash bonus.) You can buy an annual or monthly Taxsaver ticket - though some employers only offer them at certain times of the year.

Avoid the train

Train travel is usually more expensive than other modes of public transport. A commuter travelling from Gorey to Dublin, for example, will pay hundreds of euro more a year if travelling by train than by bus. An annual Taxsaver ticket for travel from Gorey to Dublin costs 1,973.70 with Irish Rail - 558 more than it does with Bus Eireann. However, some commuters find it more comfortable to travel by train than bus.

Leave the car at home

You could save thousands a year in fuel bills by taking public transport and leaving your car at home. For example, the weekly petrol bill for the commute from Gorey to Dublin (or any other commute that involves a return trip of around 176km) could easily come to 55 a week - assuming the car uses 4.7 litres of petrol per 100km. Over a year, that fuel bill will be 2,640 (assuming the individual has four weeks' annual leave a year and thus only commutes on 48 weeks). That commuter would save more than 1,000 by taking the bus instead - as long as they buy an annual Taxsaver ticket.

Of course, public transport isn't always an option for commuters - particularly those living in rural areas off the beaten track.

Buy a fuel-savvy car

Should you have to drive to work, buy a car which will consume no more than 4.7 litres of petrol or diesel per 100km (the modern equivalent of 60 miles per gallon), advises Conor Faughnan, director of consumer affairs with the Automobile Association. This should avoid you running up too high a fuel bill over your commute.

The amount of fuel a car burns per 100km should be outlined in the car manufacturer's brochure. "Have a healthy scepticism of the claims of fuel efficiency that are made in car brochures," warns Faughnan. "Lop 20pc off the brochure's fuel efficiency figure to get a more accurate idea of the fuel efficiency of the car."

Cars which burn no more than 4.7 litres of fuel per 100km include various petrol hybrids such as the Toyota Prius and Yaris, and the Hyundai Ioniq.

Be careful about buying a diesel car -particularly for short commutes.

"Diesel is only efficient if you're doing decent-sized journeys," said Faughnan. "However, those with a long commute should be aware that diesel is going out of fashion. For such people, a petrol-electric hybrid is ideal."

Electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf, would also slash your running costs - but be sure they're practical for your commute. "The electric car is a perfect city car - but it's not suited to a long commute," said Faughnan. "The electric car is close to being a viable solution for a medium-distance commuter and it's certainly very cheap."

Pay by month or year

Avoid paying by the day or week for your travel to work if you're taking public transport, as you could pay twice as much for your fare than you would by paying monthly or annually.

Get a Leap card

A Leap card could knock hundreds of euro (or more) off your annual travel costs, as Leap fares are usually about a fifth cheaper than cash fares - and in some cases, even cheaper.

For example, an adult ticket on the 15a Dublin Bus route costs 2.70 for a trip from Dame Street to Rathgar Park if paid in cash - but 2.05 with the Leap card. So in this case, the fare with the Leap card is almost a quarter cheaper than the cash fare - and the commuter would save 312 a year with the Leap card (assuming he makes a return journey on the bus five days a week and travels to work on the bus for 48 weeks a year).

However, Leap cards can only be used in certain counties and public transport services. In Dublin, it can be used on all Dublin Bus and Luas services - and on Dart and commuter rail services in Dublin's 'short hop zone'. (The 'short hop zone' includes all stations in the Dublin area - from Greystones to Balbriggan; and commuter stations from Dublin city centre to Maynooth, and from Dublin Heuston to Sallins.) It can also be used on Bus Eireann buses in Dublin and surrounding counties, and on a number of privately-owned buses, such as Wexford Bus, Swords Express and Ashbourne Connect.

Outside Dublin, the Leap card can be used on Bus Eireann city services in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford - and on all Wexford Bus services in and around Wexford. The card can also be used on Cork commuter rail services on the Cork-to-Cobh, and Cork-to-Midleton lines.

Dublin commuters who use the Leap card also have the advantage of fare capping - where they won't be charged any more than a set limit if they make a number of trips on Dublin Bus, Luas, Dart or commuter rail services in a day or week.

Watch out for deals

Keep an eye out for deals on commuter routes - particularly if you don't have an annual travel ticket or if you must vary your route occasionally.

Since September 17, Bus Eireann has cut fares on its Navan-to-Dublin service - from 14.30 to 10 for a single ticket and from 22.40 to 15 for a return. These fares will be available for a limited time however, according to a spokesman.

Irish Rail will be putting together a discounted parking offer for holders of annual rail Taxsaver tickets towards the end of this year - so keep an eye out for this offer if you travel by train and need to drive to, and park in, the train station. Under last year's offer, the charge for parking in any Irish Rail car park for the year was 220 - and as the normal charge is 360, those taking up the offer saved 140.
Tech giants will be able to get fast-track planning permission for data centres under processes being developed by the Department of Enterprise.

The Government is devising laws to prevent a repeat of the controversy that had led to severe delays to a proposed 850m project in Athenry, Co Galway.

Apple has reportedly warned officials the investment will be put at risk if there are any further hiccups. The company first revealed plans for the data centre in February 2015, but has faced significant opposition.

An Bord Pleanala granted planning permission last year - but this was the subject of a judicial review on environmental grounds following appeals by local residents and a landowner.

A High Court ruling is due to be delivered on October 12.

Now Data Protection Minister Pat Breen has said every effort will be made "to ensure Ireland remains an attractive investment option for multinationals seeking to construct data centres here".

He is examining legislative options that could lead to a more efficient planning system for future projects.

"In any planning procedure, all sides with input to a proposed project must be respected and listened to before a final decision is made. However, there is no reason why this process cannot happen at a quicker pace while respecting all contributions to a planned project," Mr Breen said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted Apple remains committed to the Athenry development despite the delays. The company had expected the project to be finished this year.
I hope I'm around to see the time when all the drudgery is removed from normal life and the tedious chores are taken over by robots.

The 'futurologists' tells us that even before that we will see the driverless car and perhaps even more spectacularly, the pilotless aeroplane (a wish of Ryanair at the present moment).

Already the same experts are forecasting that robot-driven planes will save the industry some $35bn a year.

While I cannot see myself ever leaping into an aircraft without the reassuring presence of man or woman in a nice braided uniform and peaked cap, I'll be happy to predict that when the truly pilotless plane makes its eventual appearance, the Boeing Company will play a big part in the initiative.

Boeing is by now one of the best-known companies in the world and one of its craft is said to take off or land every five seconds.

The American giant also has a global footprint over space, defence and security sectors and provides leasing and support services. Everything about it is enormous. It has sales just below $100bn per annum, capital expenditure is a huge $2.5bn a year; has a staggering backlog of orders worth $480bn; and is the top US exporter with a market value of $148bn. It employs 150,000 people around the globe and is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange.

Whenever there has been an important development in the aerospace sector, Boeing has been a feature of the change. In the early 1960s it launched the first commercially successful jet plane and later the iconic 737, which quickly became the 'work-horse' of the travel industry.

Initially, the 737 was slow to inspire the industry but an order from the low-cost Southwest Airlines of Texas (Ryanair's inspiration) changed everything. Interestingly, the plane is still Boeing's future with a massive order book - mainly for the latest model 737 Max, which has a list price of $100m.

The Boeing commercial aircraft operation sells an extensive range of aircraft and related services like training and technical support. Although it faces competitive pressures from Europe's Airbus, the company reckons it is the industry leader for the last five years. Revenue of $65bn, or 70pc of group revenue, is up by one-third in the last five years. In addition it has an impressive and growing backlog of 5,700 aircraft orders, two-thirds for its 737 models. Some investors are concerned with the fall in margins, down by 3pc to 4.8pc.

The group's other operation is Defence, Space and Security systems (DSS). This division produces Apache and Chinook helicopters and F15 fighter jets. Revenue for 2016 at $29bn was down 10pc over the last five years. Earnings from its operations were $3bn - similar to its commercial arm but its margins are more than double. Surprisingly for a major US defence contractor, DSS is increasingly dependent on international business, which now accounts for almost 40pc - up from 25pc five years ago.

Over the last 10 years Boeing's results have been impressive. Annual growth has been 5pc a year, 18pc for operating profits and 28pc for earnings per share, boosted by a $15bn share buyback programme.

However, last year was a mixed one, revenues fell 2pc but were still a whopping $95bn. This reflects a strong performance in commercial aircraft sales. Net earnings of a significant $4.9bn also took a hit of 5pc. In contrast, it had record cash flows, driven by disciplined cash management. This allowed it to repurchase $7bn of shares and pay $2.8bn in dividends.

Today the shares trade at a record high of $256, double its yearly low of $127. The company has a very elevated price earnings multiple of 34 and a modest yield of 2.25.

With US share prices at a record high; is it foolish to consider an investment in any US company? It is a real puzzle. However, Boeing comes with an impressive backlog of orders and in the medium term is in a good space.

It is estimated that in the next 20 years, 38,000 new planes will be required and I'm sure Boeing will be in the mix. It is one share I'd advise for a balanced portfolio.

Nothing in this section should be taken as a recommendation, either explicit or implicit to buy any of the shares mentioned.
On his travels through Italy, shortly after the end of World War II, the eminent Irish author Sean O Faolain witnessed a startling event. The Cork-born writer had just arrived in San Giovanni Rotondo, near Foggia, in the sun-baked boot-heel of Italy, hoping to encounter a Capuchin friar named Padre Pio. Since 1918, the friar had not only borne the five wounds of Christ, but had cured the sick, appeared simultaneously in multiple locations, and demonstrated an astonishing ability to read people's minds.

As O Faolain waited at the old weather-worn chapel, the bearded Capuchin, then aged 62, brown-robed and brown-eyed, suddenly appeared, beating a path through the surging crowd on his way to hear confessions and say Mass. Directly in front of him, and blocking his way, was a sallow-skinned youth. Without pausing, Padre Pio cried out in Italian: "Begone, Satan!" The youth, as O Faolain put it, wavered, paled and slunk back into the mob.

Later that day, O Faolain met the young man and asked him for an explanation of the event. He said that he was a clerk from Milan, an agnostic, a non-believer, who had undergone a serious operation the previous year and had only come to San Giovanni to appease his mother. Curious to see what the friar was like, he was standing there, looking, saying nothing as Padre Pio approached. "I can tell you he frightened me when he said, 'Begone, Satan!'" he remarked. "I do not know how he knew that I am an agnostic."

There were many mysterious things about Francesco Forgione, or Padre Pio as he was more commonly known, that puzzled and energised the public, clergy and medical profession, following his rise to prominence in 1918. His ability to see into people's souls was just one of them. Further attributes, including the gifts of prophecy and bilocation (being in two places simultaneously), and causing miracles to happen, were also identified in initial newspaper reports, the first of which appeared in Ireland in 1920. A flood of press coverage followed.

The Irish took to him from the beginning. Irish priests, with their Rome connections, were among the first to visit. They were followed by Irish soldiers and airmen who met him as they advanced through Italy with the Allied forces during World War II. By the 1950s, Irish pilgrims, especially women, were making the long journey by prop planes or by land and sea, arriving up the final stretch of dirt track to the friary at San Giovanni, tired and hungry. The package tours of the 1960s opened the floodgates even further.

Somehow, Irish people seemed inexorably drawn to this mystical mountain outcrop where a strange Capuchin friar was residing. Many were driven by their intense spiritual convictions. Others saw in the wonder-working friar a contrast to the austere Catholicism that pertained in Ireland at the time. More arrived with a simple mission: to restore their health or the health of their loved ones. Those who couldn't travel, wrote instead. All believed him to be a saint. Time would prove them right.

The extraordinary story of Padre Pio began on Friday, September 20, 1918. On that day, he sat in the choir loft of the friary chapel at San Giovanni Rotondo, saying prayers of thanksgiving after Mass. It was between nine and ten o'clock in the morning. He was alone. The normal darkness of the chapel seemed even duskier in the early autumn light. Everything was deathly quiet. He was, he later said, overcome by a sense of peacefulness "similar to a deep sleep".

Mayhem suddenly broke loose. The crucifix in the choir loft transformed itself into an "exalted being" whose hands, feet and side dripped blood. The friar was terrified. Beams of light and shafts of flame burst forth from the being, wounding Padre Pio in the hands and feet. "What I felt at that moment is indescribable," he later recalled. "I thought I would die." The being then disappeared, not a word having been said, leaving Padre Pio lying on the floor, his hands and feet oozing blood. A wound in his side, which had appeared at an earlier date, was also bleeding.

Padre Pio was aged 31 when the stigmata appeared on his body. He was both pained and ashamed. "I am dying of pain because of the wounds," he wrote, "and because of the resulting embarrassment which I feel deep within my soul. Will Jesus who is so good grant me this grace? Will he at least relieve me of the embarrassment which these outward signs cost me?" Despite his plea, the wounds - and the pain - would remain with Padre Pio for the next 50 years.

Soon, there were rumblings about miracles and cures. A blind man was said to have recovered his sight after being blessed by Padre Pio. A soldier's gangrenous foot was healed, even though doctors declared it to be untreatable. The lame cast off their crutches and walked. Tumours disappeared from those with cancer.

Strange, sweet perfumes emanated from the blood of his wounds. He appeared at the bedsides of the sick in their homes while simultaneously being witnessed by his colleagues back at the friary. Those attending his confessions were shocked when he read their souls, recounting sins only they could have known.

People flocked to the friary at San Giovanni to get a glimpse of this extraordinary man. They crammed into his Masses, queued for interminable hours to attend his confessions, and waited by doors or in corridors to receive his blessing or to touch his robes. Women, in particular, were drawn to him, arriving each morning to seek his absolution at confession or to beg his intercession over family concerns.

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Dublin-born Dr Paschal Robinson, who was a Vatican diplomat and later the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, joined the long queue of visitors, becoming almost certainly the first Irish person to meet him. He did so in the early 1920s, having been asked by the Vatican to investigate the padre's wounds. He concluded that the wounds were real, and the reported bleeding actually occurred. This alone was significant, as allegations had surfaced that the phenomenon was a hoax. His conclusion mirrored those of many other investigators who reported coin-sized lesions, covered in a wide film of crusted blood, which would break into shards and dig into the friar's flesh, causing severe pain.

Unfortunately for Padre Pio, Dr Robinson also concluded that he should not appear in public as long as the stigmata were present. This recommendation had significant consequences in subsequent years. At various times, the friar was banned from saying public Masses, hearing lay confessions, meeting with devotees, answering letters or revealing his stigmata in public. It wasn't until 1963 - while in his mid-70s - that all restrictions were finally lifted by Pope Paul VI.

In the following years, Padre Pio worked prodigiously, undertaking tasks his fellow friars would never contemplate, never mind complete. Rising at 3.30am, he would prepare for his daily Mass, which he celebrated at 5am. When permitted, he spent up to eight hours hearing confessions each day. Again, when permitted, he engaged with his visitors and devotees, dealt with sacks of letters, and still had time to oversee the building of a state-of-the-art hospital in San Giovanni. The rest of the day he spent in contemplation and prayer.

His wounds continually caused pain and discomfort. They never became infected and never healed, even though other scratches and everyday lacerations healed quickly. He lost a cupful of blood through the wounds each day, adding to the pressure on his body. His body temperature was startling, registering up to 47-degrees Celsius, even when well (37-degrees Celsius is normal). This latter phenomenon he shared with other stigmatics.

Increasingly, his Irish devotees travelled to meet him, or witness his morning Mass. They were a disparate group of people, including an Irish organiser of 'The Great Escape' in World War II, who lived in Donegal; a former wartime spymaster also living in Donegal; two adulterous authors; many journalists; and Patricia McLaughlin, whose voice became well-known on Irish radio in the 1970s and 1980s for her work on behalf of Wireless for the Blind.

Mary O'Connor, from Cork, visited in the 1950s and was overcome by the intensity of the event. "He gave me his hands to kiss, he put his hands on my head and he put his hands on my boy," she recollected. "I looked into his face and I got an awful fright. He looked supernatural. He was different from any other living being I have ever seen. He literally shone, and his eyes were remarkable. He was pale-featured, but he had a glowing expression.

"The whole thing had a huge effect on me. I was so startled that I handed over the child to my husband and I ran out of the church. I ran down the hill and I was hysterical. I worried that I had offended God all my life. I felt, 'If God is anything like Padre Pio, how could I have ever offended him?'"

Another Irish woman, Dublin lecturer Mairead Doyle, became Padre Pio's personal friend. She sought a cure from the friar when her niece was dying.

"When my sister Deirdre, who was the youngest in the family, was born, she had three cerebral haemorrhages," Mary Briody remembers. "The doctors didn't give her any hope. Daddy was told to order the white coffin. He came home and told us that the baby wasn't going to live. We said the rosary at home. Mairead had this relic of Padre Pio at the time and she put the relic on my sister and sent a telegram to San Giovanni. Of course, Deirdre did get better. So Mairead wrote to, or sent a telegram to, Padre Pio and said she would bring my sister over when she was four. Padre Pio's reply was, 'I've already been with Deirdre!'"

Yet another Irish miracle was reported by Mona Hanafin, from Thurles. In 1964, she travelled to San Giovanni Rotondo with one aim in mind: to save her life. She was seriously ill, having just been diagnosed with cancer. A long series of hospital stays and medical interventions had failed to resolve her problem, and time was running out. With a major operation pending, Mona decided to place her life in the hands of Padre Pio.

"We were all lined up on either side of the pews and I was at the altar rails," she recalled of her meeting with the future saint. "Padre Pio was going to pass up through us all. The custom was that he would give you his hand and you would kiss it. I was looking at him and saying in my mind, 'If you think I'm good enough, would you put your hand on my head and bless me'. He did."

Although there was no instant cure, contrary to all expectations Mona not only recovered but, once back in Ireland, her doctor discovered that her cancer was gone. He was baffled and could offer no explanation. An operation, he said, was no longer necessary. At the time of writing, it is well over half a century later, and the cancer has never come back.

Just as the Irish loved Padre Pio, the future saint also loved them. He admired the depth of their faith, once remarking how "Ireland is a country beloved by God." His face would light up when introduced to people who had travelled so far to meet him. "Ah, the Irish!" he would exclaim in Italian when discovering where they were from. He also took an interest in Irish church affairs, supporting the building of a new basilica at Knock.

The Capuchin friars who assisted Padre Pio also loved Ireland, with many travelling to Dublin, Cork and Donegal to learn to speak English. They brought with them intimate stories about their stigmatised fellow friar. Fr Alessio described how he had once seen the stigmata: "They were horrible to look at. I had always wished to see them, but once I saw them, I prayed, 'God, don't ever let me see them again'. His hands were like those of a leper, they were so corroded."

Fr Alessio also said he knew if sick people who came seeking cures would live or die. "I know from experience," he remarked, "that when Padre Pio said to the sick person, 'I'll pray for you' or 'Let's pray to God', the sick person was going to be healed. On the other hand, if he said, 'Let's resign ourselves to the will of God' or said nothing at all, the grace of healing was not to be."

On September 23, 1968, at the age of 81, Padre Pio lost his own will to live and died in the arms of his fellow friars at the monastery in San Giovanni. He was weak and unwell by that stage of his life. Since 1967, the stigmata had already started fading. The first to go were those on the feet, followed by the wound on the side. Next the stigmata on the hands began to fade and, by summer, only dried crusts and a pink redness remained. Padre Pio was beginning his journey home to heaven, and he knew it.

"He was very old and very frail," said County Dublin woman Kay Thornton, who witnessed him in his final days. "He was hardly able to move. He had to be helped on to the altar. He was sitting down during the Mass. He stumbled on the way back into the vestry and someone had to catch him."

On the evening of September 22, Padre Pio reported seeing "two mothers," most likely referring to the two women who had dominated his life and whom he had loved dearly: the Blessed Virgin and his own late mother, Mamma Peppa. A friar heard his last confession and he renewed his priestly vows. Then, at 2.30 on the morning of September 23, he uttered his last words, "Jesus, Mary, Jesus, Mary," closed his eyes, took his last breath and died.

The challenge, he had once said, was not death but eternal salvation. Holiness meant "living humbly, being disinterested, prudent, just, patient, kind, chaste, meek, diligent, carrying out one's duties for no other reason than that of pleasing God, and receiving from Him alone the reward one deserves." Even by those exacting standards, Padre Pio was far away, in the company of the two mothers he had hoped to meet in heaven.

'Padre Pio: Irish Encounters with the Saint', by Colm Keane, is published by Capel Island Press and retails for 14.99. Proceeds from the book will be donated to the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on Russia to stop trying people for alleged crimes committed prior to its occupation of Crimea and to stop using torture, as well as punitive psychiatry.

"End the practice of retroactive application of penal laws to acts committed before the occupation of Crimea, and refrain from using law enforcement bodies and the justice system to pressure and intimidate opponents," says its report to Russian authorities. The brief covers UNCHR's report covering from February 22 to September 12, 2017.

The report calls on Russia to observe human rights of all people living in Crimea and to fulfill obligations of the occupying state with regard to international humanitarian law, as well as enable unimpeded freedom of movement to and from Crimea, and end deportations of Crimean residents and their draft into the armed forces.

The report also calls on Russia to ensure access of all Crimean residents, including those without Russian Federation passports, to employment, health treatment, property and public services.

Russian authorities are also recommended to ensure proper and unimpeded access of international human rights monitoring missions and human rights non-governmental organizations to Crimea, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 71/205.

"Apply Ukrainian laws in Crimea, pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 68/262 and 71/205," the report says.

The UNCHR calls Russia to ensure independent and impartial administration of justice, and to defend the right of lawyers to conduct their professional activities in an environment free from harassment and interference.

The report also calls on Russian authorities to end the practice of extracting confessions of guilt from persons in detention through threats, torture, or ill-treatment, and refrain from practices such as forcible psychiatric hospitalization, which may amount to ill-treatment.

Russia is also called upon to ensure adequate medical assistance to all individuals detained in penitentiary institutions irrespective of their citizenship or any other grounds.
Former Mrs Brown's Boys star Rory Cowan says he was simply 'too old' to continue playing the role of Rory Brown on the TV and theatre shows.

The 58-year-old left the hugely popular show, written by and starring Brendan O'Carroll, in July after 26 years.

"I thought I'm too old to play that character now," he tells Independent.ie. "Times have changed. The way I played that character, that character is from a time [back] then. It's not a character a 58 year old should be playing."

Rory played one of Agnes Brown's sons with the other two played by Paddy Houlihan and Pat 'Pepsi' Sheilds and he feels the actors are now too old to play the roles of boys.

"Unfortunately everybody in Mrs Brown's Boys is getting older," he says. "Mrs Brown can get older, Grandad can get older but Mrs Brown's Boys, they're not boys, they're middle aged men now on the verge of old age.

"When I look at the guy who plays Grandad he's five years older than me. The guy who plays Mark now he's actually older than Grandad."

Rory felt it was time to go for other reasons, too. His mother suffers from dementia and he did not want to go on tour to Australia and be away from her.

Since he departed he says he has not spoken to Brendan O'Carroll.

"Brendan and Jenny live in Florida. Danny is in Donegal. Everyone is spread around," he says. "I haven't had a chance to see him and I haven't had a chance to talk to him. I just haven't."

However, he has kept in touch will fellow cast members Gary Hollywood and Fiona O'Carroll.

He is adamant that he will never return to the show, not even for a one-off special, "No, no, no, no, no I've burnt those bridges there. I doubt I'd even be asked to go back. But even if I did I've no interest in doing that again. No, I've left and that's it."

The actor is taking time out now to look after his mother and to think about what he would like to do as he is financially comfortable. His mortgage has been paid off since 2011 and he earned 'a hell of a lot of money' with the show.

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"Brendan O'Carroll was a very generous employer and I earned a lot of money. The only thing I did [was] I did up my house. I didn't buy a bigger house, I didn't buy flash cars."

When he did up his house he reveals he moved his gas boiler from downstairs to upstairs and had a narrow miss with a carbon monoxide leak.

A Bord Gais engineer called out to inspect his boiler and found it was leaking carbon monoxide gas into an upstairs bedroom. He immediately removed everyone from the house.

"I was so lucky it was upstairs because if it had been downstairs the carbon monoxide would have went through the house but because it was upstairs it was contained," says Rory.

"I was lucky enough I never had the boiler on at hight when I was going to bed. I had been getting headaches and feeling tired and generally sluggish, all the symptoms. I was lucky I had a heavy door and new carpets.

"Every step along hte way I was lucky but the house was like a death trap."

He shared his story as part of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week which starts today until October 1 and urged people to instal a carbon monoxide alarm as "gas kills".

For more information check out www.carbonmonoxide.ie
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is drafting the book of evidence for the trial of a doctor charged with the murder of her three-year-old son in Dublin, a court has heard.

GP Maha Al-Adheem, (42), was due to face her fifth scheduled appearance at Dublin District Court having been remanded in custody on July 13 last. She was too sick to attend her hearing on three later dates and did not appear in court again today.

Defence solicitor Richard Young said there was a letter to explain why she could not be brought to court.

He said that the case was listed for directions from the DPP and the book of evidence was in drafting.

Judge Walsh further remanded her in custody in her absence to appear on October 23 next. Mr Young said the DPPs directions will have to be given formally and hopefully the book of evidence can be served on that date.

She was too ill to attend hearings four weeks ago and eight weeks ago and was also unable to be brought to court for her previous scheduled hearing on June 20 last. Det Sergeant Brendan OHalloran had then told the court, she is not going to be produced today she is sick, judge.

The body of Omar Omran, who was stabbed to death, was found when gardai and an ambulance crew were called to his home at Riverside Apartments in Kimmage, at about seven oclock on July 10 last.

Entry was forced and the infant child was found in his bedroom. Days later, the toddler was laid to rest he was brought to the Islamic section of Newcastle Cemetery, in Co Dublin, following prayers at Clonskeagh mosque.

Following the discovery of her sons body, Ms Al-Adheem, a doctor from Iraq who had been living in Ireland since 2010, was detained at Crumlin Garda Station under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

At her first hearing, Det Sergeant OHalloran had told Judge Walsh that Ms Al-Adheem was arrested at 12.30am on July 13 for the offence of murder contrary to common law. He had said she made no reply.

Det Sgt OHalloran had said he cautioned her about 45 minutes later and charged her. He had told the court she was given a true copy of the charge and in reply to the charge she said, Yes it was my knife, yes it was my hand, it was not me, it was the power.

The district court cannot grant bail in a murder case; an application has to be made in the High Court.
A SERIAL thief snatched a young mother's purse while she was "vulnerable" in a train station, holding her baby in one hand and a buggy with the other.

Leanna Hughes (23) followed the woman into toilets at Heuston Station where she grabbed her purse and locked herself into a cubicle with it.

In other incidents, she stole a tip jar from a restaurant and was caught breaking into a flat.

Judge Bernadette Owens gave Hughes, who has an address at a city centre hostel, an eight-month suspended sentence after she pleaded guilty to a string of thefts.

Gda Sgt Eimear Curran told Dublin District Court that on February 21, Hughes followed a woman into the toilets at Heuston Station.

The victim was holding a baby in one arm and a buggy with the other, with her bag over her shoulder.

Hughes bumped into the victim and a witness saw her "dipping" her bag, taking her purse from it.

She then went into a toilet cubicle with the purse and locked the door, but security staff were notified, she was det-ained and gardai were called.

CLOAKROOM

The purse, which was returned to the victim, contained 150.

The court also heard that on May 26, Hughes went to a bar and restaurant on Manor Street and stole a tip jar containing 300, and a suitcase from the staff cloakroom.

The total value of property taken in that robbery was 2,010 and none of it has been recovered. On May 31, she returned to the same establishment but was stopped by staff, who called gardai.

Sgt Curran said that on February 18, Hughes went to the tills at Lidl, with a basket full of groceries, and presented a stolen Visa debit card. Staff refused to accept it.

When she was then arrested, she told gardai she was sorry.

On June 16, a resident at an apartments complex at Aston Quay saw Hughes and a man trying to climb into his apartment through the bedroom window at 9.15pm. They left when he disturbed them.

The court heard Hughes had 47 previous convictions.

She had been stealing to fund her use of methadone, which she had been buying on the street because she was unable to access a programme, her solicitor Kieran Conway said.
Crimestoppers and gardai have launched a fresh appeal for information on the murder of Michal Kurek.

His body was discovered in a laneway off the R129 Ballyboughal to Oldtown Road on August 4.

A post mortem examination confirmed that Mr Kurek died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

The 34-year-old from Dziewin in Poland had resided in Ireland since 2010. It is understood he had been living rough in the months leading up to his death.

No arrests have been made so far.

Speaking today, Detective Inspector Eddie Carroll, Balbriggan Garda Station said, "In August Michal was murdered and we are appealing for anyone with information or anyone who saw Michael between Thursday 3rd or Friday 4th August, 2017 to come forward.

"Based on Michals last known movements, we are particularly keen to hear from people residing in the areas of Ongar, Clonsilla, Coolmine, Hartstown and Huntstown. We are also appealing to members of the Polish community (Crimestoppers posters have been designed in the Polish language, to assist any witnesses).

He added: "I genuinely believe that members of the public have information in relation to the murder and I am asking these individuals to come forward.

Anyone with any information is asked to phone Crimecall on 1800 40 50 60 or contact Gardai at Balbriggan Garda Station on 01 666 4500.
Health Minister Simon Harris is to examine whether private patients can be removed from public hospitals.

The minister is expected to tell health managers today that it is "hard to defend" having private practice continuing "unquestioned" in a public hospital when there is a trolley crisis and rising public waiting lists.

Private patients bring around 600m in income to public hospitals annually and removing them would have major implications for care as well as the lucrative private income of top consultants.

The minister, who is to address the Health Management Institute of Ireland in Dublin's RDS today, is expected to refer to the Slaintecare report, the Oireachtas committee's cross-party blueprint for reform of the health service, which calls for the end of private practice in public hospitals.

The minister is expected to say that the committee acknowledges that it would take time to change this system, and there would be a very considerable price tag attached.

The committee also calls for an impact study to be done before this recommendation is implemented.

"Decoupling private from public practice is far from simple, but it certainly is worth considering and I am committed to this impact study as a first step," the minister will tell delegates.

Mr Harris is also set to indicate that some hospitals may be overhauled so that they only treat those patients languishing on waiting lists.

It would mean a hospital would be designated to take patients from hospitals within its group.

The move is being looked at in a bid to reduce hospital waiting lists, which have now spiralled to a record 690,000 people.

Patients who are on a waiting list in one hospital could then end up being treated in another.

The minister is to create a Slaintecare Programme Office to drive forward the reform programme and a lead executive is currently being recruited.

He will shortly receive a report that looks at where the health system needs beds, not just in hospitals but also in the community.

The minister is to tell health managers that there are few areas of our national life as complex as health, and complex problems are not solved by simplistic solutions.

"What we need instead is an approach which recognises the healthcare system is made up of many parts.

"The challenge in the next few months is not to see who can shout loudest, but how collectively we can come together around a vision of a better future in which all of us have a role to play."

Last week it was revealed that public hospitals are now cancelling around 3,400 planned surgeries every month, adding to the waiting list backlog.

Among the reasons for the cancellations are the on-going trolley crisis, lack of staff and infection control.
Hospitals were told to install new vending machines which would stock, as a minimum, 60pc of healthy options, and 40pc of other products. Stock Image

Many hospitals are continuing to flout healthy eating rules by having vending machines brimming with junk food that are high in calories, sugar and salt.

It comes as the Government is set to outline in Budget 2018 plans to introduce a sugar tax on fizzy drinks from next year in a bid to tackle the country's obesity crisis.

The HSE brought in guidelines in 2014 aimed at outlawing traditional vending machines, which tempt patients and visitors with chocolate, crisps and soft drinks.

Hospitals were told to install new vending machines which would stock, as a minimum, 60pc of healthy options, and 40pc of other products.

However, it has now emerged that several hospitals - including St Columcille's in Loughlinstown which has a national obesity clinic - have yet to make the changeover.

Others with the old-style vending machines include Connolly Hospital, Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, the National Maternity Hospital, the Mater Hospital and the Coombe maternity hospital.

Other hospitals not fully compliant include Portiuncula Hospital in Galway and Roscommon Hospital, which has a "better choice" section but it makes up just 27pc of the snacks.

Sarah O'Brien of the HSE's healthy eating and living programme said some of these hospitals are locked into contracts with suppliers and have been unable to make the switch.

"Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, does not have any healthier vending machines. They have traditionally always filled their own vending machines and are not on contract to any company," she told Fianna Fail health spokesman Billy Kelleher in a parliamentary reply.

"The Healthy Ireland project manager is in the process of working with the hospital to make the contents compliant with the nutritional standards as set out in the policy. Louth County Hospital is not on contract as it owns its own machines and self-fills."

She said St Columcille's Hospital has a pre-existing contract with a company which stocks the vending machine. Negotiations are under way to move to a healthier version.

Dr Donal O'Shea, the clinical lead for obesity in the HSE to drive the national obesity strategy, told the Irish Independent he has held a meeting about the junk-filled vending machines.

"They are sending out the wrong message," he said.

Dr O' Shea, who runs St Columcille's' obesity clinic, said he told officials a more aggressive approach has to be taken. "Hospitals must lead by example in the same way as when they stopped selling cigarettes."
Detectives have arrested a man in relation to the suspected theft of 12,000 in cash and other property from a city centre garda station.

Officers from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) arrested the individual following a lengthy probe.

The man, aged in his 40s, was detained in Dublin city centre on Sunday afternoon and is being questioned at Crumlin garda station.

The suspect was arrested in relation to the theft of the significant cash and property from Kevin street garda station.

A garda spokesman confirmed that the male was detained under Section 4 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

The 12,000 in cash and property was taken over a period of time, and came to light following an internal audit within the garda station in April.
A nephew of Gerry The Monk Hutch got an armed garda escort from prison after his release today amid fears of an escalation in the feud between his family and the Kinahan cartel which has already claimed the life of his father and two of his cousins.

Alan Hutch was jailed in 2013 after he threatened to kill three gardai during a botched robbery, and claiming he had a grenade.

Today he was freed from Wheatfield Prison in west Dublin in a high security operation,

Members of the Garda Armed Response Unit pulled up opposite the main gates of the prison shortly before 9am, accompanied by an unmarked garda car.

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Then shortly after 9am a silver car driven by a woman and with two female passengers arrived at the gates and drove to the top of a long avenue to the main building after being allowed through the security gates.

The car was followed by an unmarked garda car, and when the silver car reached the top of the avenue it was directed through a large gate which then closed behind it. The garda vehicle waited outside.

At 9.15 the silver car came back down the avenue with Alan Hutch hunched down in the back seat holding what looked like a patterned rug or blanket over his head.

The car turned right and was followed by the Armed Response Unit vehicle and the unmarked garda car.

The level of security surrounding the release of Hutch is indicative of the fears that he could be targeted by the Kinahan gang.

The bloody feud between the two factions has already claimed the lives of 12 people, including Alans father Eddie Hutch snr (58), who was gunned down outside his house in the north inner city in February of last year, and his cousins Gareth Hutch and Gary Hutch.

Gareth Hutch (35) was shot dead in the north inner city in May last year, while Gary (34) was shot dead in Miraflores near Marbella on the Costa del Sol on September 24 2015.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has stated that ten people are missing in Crimea, but the disappearance of only one of them is being investigated.

"OHCHR documented 10 cases of persons who disappeared and are still missing," reads a report by OHCHR for the period from February 22, 2014 to September 12, 2017, which was published on Monday.

It notes that out of the ten missing, six are Crimean Tatars, three ethnic Ukrainians and one Russian-Tatar, and all of them are men.

According to the UN, seven of them went missing in 2014, two in 2015 and one in 2016.

As of September 12, of the ten disappearances mentioned, criminal investigations were still ongoing in only one case. They were suspended in six cases due to the inability to identify suspects, and in three cases "no investigative actions have been taken as the disappearances were allegedly not reported."

The first recorded case of enforced disappearance in Crimea occurred on March 3, 2014. The highest number of enforced disappearances in a single month occurred in March 2014, when at least 21 persons were abducted in Crimea. While the majority of victims were released by perpetrators within hours or days, the whereabouts of others are still unknown.
Convicted murderer Eric Locke, who strangled his ex-girlfriend Sonia Blount in a Dublin hotel room, is 'rooming' with a vile paedophile teacher who raped a schoolgirl aged seven.

The killer spends his days working on the prison's monthly magazine for inmates.

Dubliner Locke not only shares a cell with sex beast drama teacher Kevin Carroll, they also hang out together at mealtimes, chatting and joking, with one source saying "they definitely spend a lot of time in each other's company".

Dubliner Locke, who was jailed in May for the brutal murder of the mother-of-one in the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght in February 2014, is now often seen with Carroll, who is serving 10 years for the rape of the child.

Sources say Locke was initially reluctant to mix with other inmates in the Midlands Prison when he was sent there to serve his sentence, but he now "acts like a celebrity" and has formed a bond with Carroll.

"They've become close now. Locke is a real diva and goes around acting like a celebrity," said the source.

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"He sees himself as better than the other inmates, but he's just as low as the worst offenders in there."

Locke (35), from St John's Park East, Clondalkin, lured Sonia (31) after he assumed a fake identity on social media and arranged to meet her in a bedroom at the hotel.

The pair had dated briefly, but the relationship ended in January 2014 when Locke's jealousy became apparent and he called her a "slut" in a row after a night out when he thought she had become the focus of attention of other men.

Sonia had previously been in an abusive relationship and suddenly ended her friendship with Locke when she saw the possibility that history could repeat itself.

Locke tried to get Sonia to change her mind, but she had told him she did not want to continue a relationship with him, and Locke would not take no for an answer.

Sonia was moving on with her life, and had answered a post on social media from a man she thought was named Shane Scully.

There was an arrangement made between her and 'Scully' to meet up at the Plaza Hotel, but Sonia did not know that 'Scully' was in fact Locke.

After confronting her in the hotel and engaging in what he would later claim was consensual sex, Locke strangled and suffocated her to death, shoving her T-shirt down her throat and using the charging lead from her mobile phone and his bare hands to kill her before fleeing the hotel.

Locke later denied raping her, claiming they had consensual sex before she saw the items he had brought with him, including cable ties, a Stanley blade and masking tape.

Despite his burgeoning friendship with vile pervert Carroll, Locke now wants a cell to himself and regularly demands one from the prison authorities.

"Locke is now demanding his own cell, but at the moment he's sharing with child rapist Kevin Carroll," the source said.

"Convicts who get a life sentence end up with a single cell, but he's a long way off getting one thanks to a combin- ation of his attitude and space issues."

Drama teacher Carroll (56) was jailed last year for raping a pupil aged seven when he held her back after a class at the Offaly school on a date between 1996 and 1998.

Carroll, of Hawthorne Drive, Birr, Co Offaly, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape and anal rape at the school when the girl was aged between six and eight.

He was convicted on both counts and received a 10-year sentence when the girl came forward years after the off- ence and made a statement to gardai.

The Herald can also reveal that the sick killer now spends his days working on the prison's monthly magazine and has use of the computer room where it is compiled.

While he has access to computers it is understood he does not have internet access as computer systems accessed by prisoners operate on a closed system.

When he first arrived on the E-wing of the prison, Locke was so afraid of being attacked by fellow inmates that he avoided leaving his cell and mixing with anyone.

Prison sources said the sick killer, known as prisoner 90392, was "as quiet as a mouse" when he first arrived.

However, all that has now changed and Locke, who used a fake Facebook profile to lure mother-of-one Sonia to her death in the hotel, sees himself as a celebrity.

"He thinks he's some sort of big shot because of the coverage his murder trial received, and he's no longer a meek little mouse," said a source.

"He has also never shown any remorse since arriving on E-wing, not one shred of it, it's like he enjoys his notoriety."

The Herald previously reported that Locke, Anne Short-all's killer Roy Webster and a third killer, Jimmy Devaney, became close confidantes while each awaited trial for murder.
A man has been arrested after the incident in West Dublin this afternoon.

Gardai in Lucan say they are investigating the incident that occurred outside a doctor's surgery on Hillcrest Rd, Lucan at approximately 1pm.

Independent.ie has learned that a man (30s), armed with a knife, attempted hijack a car.

A garda spokesman said the male "approached a woman in a car, threatened her with a knife and took the keys to her car".

She was not injured.

The male left the scene with the keys and was arrested a short distance away by armed gardai.

He is currently detained under the provisions of Section 4 of The Criminal Act 1984 at Ronanstown Garda Station.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said he is hopeful and confident Ibrahim Halawa will be freed from prison today and back in Ireland before the middle of the week.

Simon Coveney explained that there has been a delay in the release because it is currently Muslim new year in Egypt where the Irish teenager has been held for the last four years.

Last week, Mr Halawa (21) was acquitted on all charges relating to mass protests in Cairo, Egypt.

Despite this young man, from Firhouse, South Dublin, remains in custody and the minister was quizzed about this on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One about the delay.

Mr Coveney said: "We have just been unlucky in the timing here. We have just had the Muslim new year from last Wednesday evening until yesterday morning, basically Egypt was shut down."

"There is a legal process in the Egyptian system that is quite different."

"No decisions were being made. There is a legal process in the Egyptian system which is quite different to Ireland."

"To explain how that works, after a court case is over the prosecutor's office have to formally (notify) the prison service that a prisoner has been acquitted and should be released to what is called the security directorate."

"That is what we are waiting for at the moment."

Mr Coveney said he is being briefed on the release process in Cairo.

"We understand that letter has been drafted and so we are hoping today both we will get a copy of the letter and Ibrahim will move from the prison service to the security directorate."

"That is in the middle of Cairo.

"Once that happens there is a pretty short period of time that is required for standard checks to make sure there are no outstanding warrants for arrest or anything like that.

"Then he will be transferred back to the police station where he was originally arrested - that is what is required under Egyptian law before he is released.

"Once he moves from the prison service to the security directorate, the rest of it will happen quite quickly. That is what we are being told.

"We are hoping that may happen today."

"I would be very hopeful and confident that we will see Ibrahim home before the middle of the week."

The Halawa family are planning a major celebration to welcome the young man back to Dublin.
A member of the Independent Alliance has threatened to vote against Shane Ross's drink-driving legislation unless incentives are introduced for rural taxis.

Galway East TD Sean Canney wants a package of measures in the Budget to offset what he sees as the potential damage to rural life from stricter drink-driving laws.

However, his colleague Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, who was also reported to be unhappy with Mr Ross's bill, has told the Irish Independent he will back it.

"I'm supporting the bill based on the need to save lives," he said.

Mr Ross wants to impose a three-month mandatory ban on drivers caught with between 50mg and 80mg of alcohol in their blood.

Currently the offence is punishable with a 200 fixed charge and three penalty points.

Fianna Fail has indicated it will not back the bill, but the Transport Minister has the support of Sinn Fein - meaning it should pass a Dail vote.

Several rural Fine Gael TDs have also raised concerns, but are likely to be ordered to follow the Government line.

Speaking on RTE's 'This Week' programme, Mr Canney said: "A lot of TDs want to see how this will be offset. If the bill is brought in as it is, with nothing for rural Ireland, I will be opposing it."

He called for a package of measures in Budget 2018 for taxis that bring people home from country pubs.

The former OPW minister suggested Mr Ross helps rural taxis with the cost of insurance or vehicle registration tax.

"It may not be a question of a huge cost, it may be a question of small things that will create a better service and parity of service in rural Ireland," he said.

Mr Moran said he has met with vintners and families who have lost loved ones because of drink-driving.

The Westmeath TD said he understands the challenges facing rural Ireland, but the bill is "taking away a loophole that should never have been there".

"This is about saving lives," he said.
Leo Varadkar's controversial Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) is taking advice from Theresa May's own government team, the Irish Independent has learned.

Two members of the unit travelled to London in recent weeks to meet officials in Downing Street.

The meeting comes amid a series of public spats within the British administration over the prime minister's approach to Brexit.

Since its inception, the SCU has been under intense scrutiny from Opposition parties, which claim the Taoiseach is obsessed with PR and spin.

But Mr Varadkar has claimed the unit will be cost neutral and never involve itself in party-political work.

Asked about the unit's contacts with the UK government, a Government spokesman confirmed two members recently made a fact-finding trip to London.

The unit is headed up by the former boss of Culture Ireland, John Concannon, and the former EU presidency spokeswoman, Andrea Pappin.

"The Irish Government plans to adhere to the highest international standards for improving and modernising Government communications.

"Two members of the Strategic Communications Unit travelled to London to meet with key members of the UK government communications team.

"These meetings were to learn best practice about a number of topics, including digital communications, from the country ranked number one for eGovernment by the UN," the spokesman said.

He noted that both staff members travelled economy class, adding that all costs would be published on the Department of Taoiseach website in due course.

Mr Varadkar has repeatedly been forced to defend setting up the unit in one of his key actions since taking over as Taoiseach in June.

He has said communications is "an essential part of effectiveness of any modern organisation".

There are already six public and civil servants assigned to the SCU through secondment or reallocation of staff.
Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty is to repay the cash over 16 months at the request of Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty will repay 1,000 a month to the State after receiving unlawful payments during her time as Government chief whip.

A special allowance of almost 16,000 paid to Ms Doherty for her work as chief whip had no statutory basis, the Irish Independent can reveal.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe wrote to the minister in the past fortnight asking that she make arrangements to refund the Exchequer.

Following a review of the payment by the Attorney General, Mr Donohoe accepted his department was at fault over the overpayment.

Former public expenditure minister Brendan Howlin, who first raised the issue in June, has questioned why it has taken three months to clarify the status of the allowance.

"It's embarrassing that a Government that made such play out of recovering fraud and overpayments to social welfare recipients was unlawfully paying out thousands of euro for a political position," he told the Irish Independent.

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Ms Doherty, who was promoted to Social Protection Minister in June, received 15,829 for her time at the Cabinet table as Government chief whip.

Traditionally, the chief whip role was treated as a 'super junior' ministry, meaning the office holder is entitled to attend cabinet, but does not have voting rights. However, after the General Election in 2016, Paul Kehoe and Finian McGrath filled the two super junior roles allowed under law.

Rather than change legislation to create a third position, the Department of Public Expenditure devised a new 'chief whip allowance' that was paid by the Oireachtas at the same rate as a super junior minister.

However, officials overlooked a section of legislation which states that a whip's allowance may not be paid to any minister of State who sits at cabinet.

The issue first came to light after Leo Varadkar made Mary Mitchell O'Connor a fourth 'super junior' following his election as Taoiseach.

Ms Doherty confirmed: "I got a letter from Paschal Donohoe a couple of weeks ago. The Attorney General's advice wasn't a legal basis for the payment. I said 'not a problem'. I made arrangements with payroll on my own to pay it back over time."

As a result of the AG's report, Ms Doherty's successor as Chief Whip, Joe McHugh, will not be able to receive the payment. He had asked officials to withhold allowance until the matter was clarified.

It means Mr McHugh and Ms Mitchell O'Connor are likely to be paid 16,288 less than their counterparts for the lifetime of this Government.

Mr Howlin said the Taoiseach "has now embedded a two-tier pay structure for them".

"It's hardly a surprise that Mary Mitchell O'Connor felt the need to take teachers' side on pay equality when it appears that herself and Joe McHugh will be doing the same work as Finian McGrath and Paul Kehoe, but without getting the same pay," he said.

In a letter to the Labour Party leader, Mr Donohoe admitted the overpayment arose and "arrangements will be put in place for this overpayment to be recouped in the normal way so that the Exchequer is at no financial loss as a result".

He added: "Can I also point out that this payment structure for the chief whip was not developed by her instigation. This was a matter for me and my department."

Mr McHugh would have expected to be entitled to a TD salary of 89,965, a minister of State salary of 34,474 and the special whip allowance, which has now risen to 16,288.

Since her promotion to a senior minister, Ms Doherty is on a salary of 160,451.
An increase in home help hours is to be demanded by Communications Minister Denis Naughten in Budget 2018.

The Independent TD is to meet Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe today to discuss his departmental priorities.

However, Mr Naughten told the Irish Independent he will also table a request for extra funding to keep elderly people in their homes.

He said even a small increase for home help hours could reduce the pressure on the Fair Deal scheme that subsidises nursing home care.

"These are people who have already been assessed as needing vital hours in order to remain in their home and community, but they can't get two to three hours' help," he said.

In his own Roscommon/Galway constituency Mr Naughten said an investment of 750,000 would deal with the backlog.

He suggested some flexibility could be built into the Fair Deal scheme.

"If it's cheaper for home help or physio surely it makes sense to fund that rather than a nursing home place.

"If it financially makes sense to keep somebody in their own home, why are we putting them into a nursing home?"

The Programme for Government includes funding for home help every year. Yet this year's HSE service plan only committed to maintain provisions at 2016 levels despite increasing demand.

Home help hours are administered by the HSE on the basis of need. They are often part of a home care package that includes various therapies such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

There is no automatic right to the scheme but it is not means-tested.

Meanwhile, a mobile cath lab was delivered to University Hospital Waterford on Saturday in a move that is likely to keep Independent Alliance John Halligan on board for the forthcoming Budget.

Mr Halligan has threatened to quit Government on several occasions in the past year due to a lack of progress on a second cath lab at the hospital.

The new unit will cater for between 30 to 45 patients requiring diagnostic coronary angiography per week from the current outpatient list and is expected to completely clear the current waiting list during its five months on site.

Mr Halligan said: "I understand around 30pc of people who were offered an appointment in Cork for their diagnostic angiogram in recent months turned it down, for various personal reasons, so I want to reassure them that the mobile lab is expected to completely clear the backlog at UHW while it is in place."
Ukraine's Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko has said he thinks it is impossible to combine all of Ukraine's court disputes against Russia into one case, as Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy Iryna Lutsenko (Petro Poroshenko Bloc member) has suggested.

"We add any violations by the country aggressor to [already] opened cases. But currently there are different cases being adjudicated in different courts. There is the International Court of Justice, which has its unique procedure, and we filed in fact two claims there, which apply to the discrimination of Ukrainians in Crimea and the ban of financing terrorism (by Russia). There are five big cases in the European Court of Human Rights. There are separate claims filed by state companies against Russia. They involve the loss of property in Crimea and Donbas. Ukraine has also appealed to the international criminal court regarding events which took place in Crimea and in Donbas. Therefore, I think, it is technically impossible to file one case, unite them all because different courts are hearing different cases," Petrenko told journalists in Kyiv on Monday.

The justice minister said there would be additional cases, additional grounds for these cases, which have already been started. "This is a fact," he said.

"We are currently completing preparations for a big legal position on Donbas for the European Court of Human Rights. A lot of materials will also be sent to the International Court of Justice, which is hearing the case in The Hague next year," he said.
A number of charity shops have been forced to change their name or close following registration issues investigated by the Charities Regulator.

Interventions by the charity watchdog have led to one shop owner being prosecuted, three ceasing to trade and a further seven no longer marketing themselves as charity shops.

The watchdog said it had successfully managed to have one shop owner prosecuted in February 2017 at Sligo District Court.

Meanwhile, three others have closed following 'cease and desist' letters by the watchdog and seven more have amended their shop fronts to make it clear that they are not charities.

"All charity shops must operate as part of a registered charity and all proceeds must go towards that charity's charitable purpose," Charities Regulator chief executive John Farrelly said.

He added that citizens should make him aware of any shops they were suspicious of.
A group of 80 Irish volunteers who had travelled to Lourdes were stranded in France after their flight home to Dublin was unexpectedly cancelled by Ryanair.

The group, which included dozens of teenagers, had been on a volunteering trip with the Oblate Youth Service caring for the sick and elderly in Lourdes.

Their flight back to Dublin on Saturday afternoon was cancelled and they were told to make their own travel arrangements back to Ireland.

Fidelma Roe, whose son is a member of the group, said they were "pretty much abandoned" by Ryanair.
Ryanair passengers hit by flight cancellations are facing further aggravation as insurance firms refuse to cover their travel costs.

The airline is cancelling more than 2,000 flights until the end of October, leaving many of its customers out of pocket.

Ryanair has already offered affected passengers refunds or alternative flights, along with up to 400 compensation under EU legislation.

However, many will still be at a loss due to other costs, such as hotel bookings, car rentals and tickets for events.

A source from Insurance Ireland said it was up to customers to see what their travel insurance policy covers them for.

"The only thing we could say is that the customer would have to check with their insurer to see what they're covered for.

"It all depends on the type of policy people take out and it can depend on the insurer as well.

"If anyone has a query about what they are and not covered for then my recommendation would be for them to contact their insurer directly.

"We wouldn't know what every insurers' policy criteria is so it's up to each person to check in advance what they're covered for," he said.

In the UK, the 'Telegraph' reported that a survey of travel insurers found that most standard policies will not cover "consequential losses" which result from flight cancellations.

Meanwhile, an international federation of more than 700 transport unions has warned that Ryanair's rejection of staff demands is putting the airline's future in doubt.

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) said the carrier's business model must now reform and warned that it would work with unions to improve their terms and conditions.

It said the emergence this week of a more co-ordinated approach from workers will "expedite access to improvements".

The union umbrella group claimed it had been approached by investors who were concerned by analysts' estimates that compliance with a recent European Court of Justice judgment will hike Ryanair's labour costs by up to 20pc.

It has been estimated that the ruling, which means crew can bring court proceedings in the country where they are based, could cost Ryanair 100m, although more conservative estimates say it would push up costs by 5pc.

ITF general secretary Steve Cotton said investors were beginning to question the sustainability of the airline's "aggressive and cost-cutting business model".

"Ryanair is at a crisis point, facing a triple whammy of being taken to task by the ECJ, having mismanaged its flight time obligations, and lost consumer and staff confidence," said Mr Cotton.

"These aren't random misfortunes."

He said for years representative bodies have called for improvements - from union recognition to improvements in pay and conditions.

Thousands of Ryanair pilots are set to hold crunch meetings across Europe this week as they prepare battle plans for a clash with management amid demands for improved working conditions and pay.

The Irish Independent understands that the meetings are likely to be held from tomorrow onwards.

Around 4,200 pilots work for Ryanair.

Following a weekend advert by the Texas-based Allied Pilots Association (APA) urging Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary to "rethink his approach" to dealing with pilots, pressure continues to be heaped on the airline's management. APA represents 15,000 pilots at American Airlines.

Mr O'Leary has said "hell will freeze over" before he will welcome unions into the airline.
A same-sex couple has expressed how they feel so lucky to be pregnant after going through a process of Intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Emma Behan and her wife Bianca Soares Martin will welcome their first child in December, after undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI), a technique used for artificial insemination.

Emma, who is now 30 weeks pregnant, said they feel so lucky that the process of IUI, which cost them around 4,000, was successful.

We just realised how lucky we were. I did have a polyp and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) but I think I was lucky they caught me on a good cycle.

It has cost us around 4,000, it depends on everything you do, tests, scans, and medication. Thats OK if you get a baby. But for couples that havent gotten pregnant and theres no guarantee that you get a baby, its very hard.

You could be doing IVF all the time and it still wouldnt work.

During IUI, the concentrated sperm is passed directly into the woman's womb through a thin tube called a catheter.

Emma and Bianca decided to use a non-anonymous sperm donor for the procedure.

When theyre 18, our child can find the donor. At the moment you pay a little extra for that, so we did that just so our child can find the donor if they want.

Bianca and Emma were lucky to get pregnant on their first round of IUI. They now have the option to have another baby if they wish.

You buy three lots of sperm. Thats three goes so we can still keep that for the next time.

Emma says that when Ireland became the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage by referendum, it gave the couple more confidence to bring up a baby together in Irish society.

It spurred us on even more to have a baby. The difference in Ireland is still incredible. I think theres still stuff (discrimination) goes on, but for example, the girls in work are so accepting and even with the baby, theyve been so excited which is lovely.

We had a civil ceremony in the March before the referendum, and then the marriage ceremony after that May. We decided to have a blessing in the December when Biancas parents were coming over, we just decided to go for the whole wedding. It was nice to be able to do everything legally.

Bianca, from Brazil, and Emma, from Dublin, met in Dublin four years ago. They feature in a TV3 documentary Babymakers, which will air on Monday.

We met four years ago next month. We met in the George just on a night out. Shed been over here two years learning English. We just clicked, that was it. I was 34, she would have been around 27 or 28. We were at that place where we knew what we wanted and things moved quicker,

We always spoke about getting married. It was more her asking me, but there was no big proposal, the two of us decided really.

She added: The last four years its just been so much more settled. Knowing youre settled, you know where youre going.

Babymakers will air on TV3 on Monday at 9pm.
Sweet Santa

Santa Claus may not be quite so jolly this year. According to Brendan Kelly, Trinity College Dublin's professor of psychiatry, a rotund Father Christmas may have eaten too many cookies and probably now has type 2 diabetes. This startling claim is made in a new research paper, to appear in December's edition of the Journal of Mental Health. There has been much scientific study into happiness in recent years, but Professor Kelly points out that jollity has been very much neglected. He traces the association between Christmas and the 'season to be jolly' back to Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant, who penned Deck the Halls in 1862. Though related to happiness, jollity very much has its own identity, being associated more with merrymaking, a festive spirit, laughter, winks and generally having fun.

Jolly Shame

The theory that Scandinavians may be jollier than the rest of us because they are closer to the social network of an ebullient fat man with a flowing beard was tested by Professor Kelly in his research. He examined jollity data from 21 European countries to see if there was any local 'Santa Claus' effect. There was none. Professor Kelly found that young, healthy and wealthy Swiss men led the way as the jolliest folk in Europe. Rivals in the jolly premiership were the Dutch, Danes, Belgians and a few Swedes, too. France, Spain and Portugal occupied much of the second tier, but Ireland was in a very disappointing third division, drowning sorrows with Germans and our British neighbours, who have been most cheerless since their Brexit vote. Ireland scored just under 19 in the jolliness index, where 5 means not jolly at all, and 27 means extremely jolly. The only consolation is that we weren't the worst. Propping up the fourth division were Lithuania, Poland and Estonia, all in danger of glum relegation.

New Party

Perhaps the country needs a new political party to jolt it back to jolly ways? Jolly bankers and jolly builders remain the overriding concern of Fianna Fail. Fine Gael maintains the jollity of its big farmers and string-pullers. Then there are parties who are there only for a few jollies of their own. It would be great to see a novel political entity dedicated to the jollity of all people in all Irish seasons. The Gaelic word for jolly is aerach. Saor Aerach could be just what the doctor ordered.

Shrink Bill

Reciting old jokes helps the jollity of morose medical folk. I was saddened to read of the death of American comic Jerry Lewis, who was a great stalwart of our television childhoods. Lewis used to say that his doctor had diagnosed him as having a dual personality. When the $82 bill arrived, he paid only 41 bucks and told the shrink to get the rest from the other guy! How do I know it's an old joke? Well it must be half a century or more since an American psychiatrist billed only 82 for a half-hour on the couch.

Book Club

Some doctors care about their waiting rooms. Others couldn't give a toss. They used to say that you could tell a lot about the care of your GP from the way he or she cared for the indoor plants. Dead palms or ferns in the waiting area were a bad sign. An empty fish tank could be portentous. I never minded local businesses or advertisers putting their leaflets on the table, but I did draw the line at undertakers. I see that a GP surgery in Wexford town has just installed a little library in their waiting area. Patients can drop a book in and take a book home on their visits, so the library is always replenishing itself. Reading is a great way to reduce stress levels when you are waiting to see a medic. I'd only worry about the length of the queue if I saw War and Peace on the shelf.

Palace Bowls

Disease of the Month has to be hyperemesis gravidarum. News that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting another heir to the throne has sent doctors rushing to polish their silver bowls. The Latin disease term directly translates as excess vomiting of pregnancy. The media call it extreme morning sickness. We are told that Duchess Kate is being "cared for at the Palace" which is probably code for the fact that she is not in need of an intravenous drip, as rare cases are. It will pass in the second trimester, as will the over-familiarity with the porcelain toilet bowls of Kensington Palace.
Building is complex and if you are considering changes to your home, work with a registered architect. You can find a registered architect on riai.ie, the registration body for architects in Ireland.

Q: Our son is about to start college in Dublin and, as he won't be able to afford moving out, we thought of converting the attic of our semi-detached into a bedroom/study for him. What are our options?

A: Converting an attic can be an excellent and cost-effective means of gaining additional space, however, it is imperative that it is done correctly to ensure you get maximum benefit from the work. Consider engaging the services of a registered architect (riai.ie) who will deliver a solution that's right for you and your home.

While less expensive than extension works, an attic conversion - when properly undertaken and with the possible inclusion of a bathroom - costs in the range of 25,000 to 35,000. It can significantly increase the usable space of your house.

First, though, make sure that you are maximising your existing space, as the inclusion of new stairs will reduce the usable space on the first floor. It is advisable to have a cost /benefit analysis carried out before undertaking the work. If it meets this test, the location of the stairs is key to maximising space but also can assist in separating the different uses which leads to a more successful outcome. The new stairs design and its enclosure must comply with building regulations. You should also consider additional soundproofing.

Your architect can advise you on the suitability of the attic structure for conversion. You should also look around your estate and see if any other attics have been converted. In most semi-ds some additional structural work is required and the opinion of an engineer should also be sought. Many mortgage lenders require an architect to sign off on the works for mortgage approval.

In my opinion, it's not economically viable to convert a trussed rafter roof, these are the trusses that are factory made and have metal gussets at the junctions and are used in a lot of developments. They are finely engineered but can't sustain (without considerable adjustment) the additional loads associated with a converted attic. On a project I recently visited, remedial works amounting to 25,000 were required on an inappropriate conversion.

For attic conversions to be considered as a room - and for comfortable living and to comply with building regulations - the space needs to be ''habitable''. It is suggested and preferred that 50pc of the space should be 2.4m high minimum when measured at 1.5m from the floor below; a diagram in the Building Regulations Part K (ventilation), explains this. There are sound reasons behind this requirement and, in any case, many young adults are tall enough to need the height so a properly proportioned and usable (and saleable) space is crucial.

Once you know that you can satisfy the structural and space requirements, it's mandatory to meet the latest fire safety requirements, in particular the escape provisions (alarmingly often ignored). A lot of conversions have difficulty meeting the location and size of roof lights and windows for escape purposes but these are a must. There are others in relation to fire separation and doors, etc, that must be complied with too and your architect can advise on these.

There is a very useful document published by the Department of Environment called Loft Conversion, Protect Your Family which goes through the many requirements. However, these only apply when the attic is less than 50sqm and not more than two habitable rooms. (Note: The requirements are less stringent in a bungalow conversion.)

You'll also need to meet the latest regulations on smoke detectors (one in every bedroom and on all landings, etc) which need to be linked to the power supply. It's a good chance to upgrade the rest of the house. In installing compliant rooflights (those to the rear are considered exempted development under planning but not those to the front or side), work to a Protected Structure will not normally be exempt. All other work needs to comply with the appropriate regulations in the normal way.

On a more general note, when carrying out attic work for a room for young adults, install some soundproofing measures to give both you and your son privacy. If space allows, an extra bathroom (especially if the attic is for sleeping) is almost mandatory, this will improve family relationships during the college years. Ensure you install high quality insulation in the rafters (but always leave ventilation space) to the maximum depth you can and if space allows beneath the rafters too. Create custom clothes and book storage in the eaves to use the space to its best advantage. Try to delineate in some way the sleeping and study area.

Related: Use our calculator to estimate your home improvement loan repayments

If you can't meet the building regulation requirements, you could possibly convert the attic with stairs for accessible storage /books files, laundry room / additional young adult bathroom/non habitable space but with proper fire safety measures which might free up enough space on lower floors to provide a larger study bedroom for your son.

Invest a little in finishes, furnishing and lighting to add interest/create ownership and also provide durability. Try to create a bit of a wow factor (eg, balcony-type rooflights) and then leave it to your son to enjoy.

Paula M Murphy, MRIAI, practices in Tipperary and Dublin; paulamurphy.ie

Building is complex and if you are considering changes to your home, work with a registered architect. You can find a registered architect on riai.ie, the registration body for architects in Ireland.
Make a statement with a larger piece and hang it against a wall that's in a neighbouring analogous colour; normann-copenhagen.com

As we head in to winter, designers are looking for shades that warm up the ubiquitous greys so popular at the moment. Time at last for hotter shades of orange and red. But beware, hues like these are from the same side of the colour wheel and are called analogous colours - and decorating with them can take some skill. Unlike complementary colours, which are on opposite sides of the colour wheel, analogous shades share a similar tone, making them a daring choice if you choose them as your base colour scheme.

However, use them cleverly and you can create a space that's inviting and not too in-your-face.

"When decorating with an analogous colour scheme, choose a colour that will be your dominant feature and a second colour to support it," says co-founder of and stylist at ETC (etcetc.ie), Lesiele Juliet.

"Mexican architect Luis Barragan often used pink as his feature colour paired with orange to contrast, exercising the analogous principle to perfection - it's important that the colours complement and don't compete with each other."

One of the most effective and quick ways to go all out, with analogous colour schemes, is through the use of paint. Paint can either create a soothing space when the analogous hues are pale and muted or they can be invigorating if the combinations are bold and saturated, as with reds and oranges.

Edel Nicholson of Irish paint company, Colourtrend, advises: "We would recommend trying out various tones and tints of your chosen colours. For example, a deep rusty red with a mid-orange colour is a safe way to experiment with an analogous scheme because they already have created harmony," she says.

And if you're afraid of clashing or creating a theme that's just a little off, it's important to play with shades and richness. Edel continues: "Going a little wild with the intensities of colours should avoid creating any clashes. Pick the dominant or deepest colour for your feature area (eg, chimney breast or picture wall) and the less intense colour for the rest of the room to balance out this intensity."

If you're not quite ready to completely transform your walls with, solely, orange and red paint then choose an accent colour to incorporate.

"We also love a rich buttery cream colour as an accent within a warm and comforting interior scheme," Edel says. Similarly, introducing furniture pieces within a space that has a neutral backdrop, also works, paying homage to autumn/winter but staying sunny enough for spring.

As these hues are energetic, warm and invigorating, it's also important to think about which room they will be used in. If, for example, it's a living room that encourages socialising and activity, then these colours are perfect. In a bedroom, on the other hand, where you need a relaxing vibe, they may not be the best choice.

So, before you go brash and bold, remember that choosing analogous colours that suit the room's use, should be your very first step.

Anna Shelswell-White is editor of House and Home magazine
City colour... Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Thames and the London Eye  just a few of the many attractions to keep any visitor to London busy

It was in the spirit of Dr Johnson's great maxim, "He (or she) who is tired of London, is tired of life," that a city break there was chosen to celebrate the big birthday of a dear friend.

Tired of life - perish the thought. Her appetite for fashion and the finer things of life have merely grown with the years and it seemed the gods had conspired to provide an embarrassment of events to satisfy her.

Top of her list of things to see were the Diana collection in Kensington Palace and the Balenciaga Exhibition in the Victoria and Albert Museum, so an easy-to-access hotel was a must, and an invitation to stay at the recently refurbished Lanesborough hotel on Hyde Park Corner in London SW1 was timely. We couldn't have got more central or more luxurious; the hotel is right next to the Tube but in fact we were able to walk to both our exhibitions, and to Harrods and Harvey Nicks. Heaven.

Frankly however, after settling into our hotel we really didn't want to move, it was so delightful.

It's a stunning combination of old world elegance and cutting-edge technology.

The building, built in 1719 was originally the private townhouse of Viscount Lanesborough and has all the gorgeous features of the period - high ceilings, marble mantelpieces, wonderful cornices - and when it was recently renovated it was decided to make the most of these elements. It's also been decorated in the warm colours favoured during the Regency period.

Decorating techniques such as stencilling, gold leaf and trompe l'oeil, were employed extensively in those days as were fabrics like silk and taffeta, and there is impressive use of all in the redecoration, both in the public areas and the bedrooms - apparently 42,000 sheets of gold leaf were used.

One really outstanding feature was the green tented room - a little sitting room just off the reception area. The room represents the kind of battle tent used by Napoleon and which Wellington would have purloined as part of the spoils of war, and it was given the tented effect by means of painstaking trompe l'oeil paintwork that took one expert six months to paint.

The 18th century theme is continued in the artwork - it's the hotel has the largest known collection of 18th century art outside of museums.

By way of complete contrast to all this elegance is the ultra-luxury modern spa and the technology in each room - TVs in the mirrors, TVs that slide out of sight when not needed and Sony tablets controlling lighting, curtains, and hotel information, and it was fun testing all the things that could be done. Each room is also assigned a butler around the clock but it was all so perfect I couldn't think of a thing I needed the butler to do. She was particularly keen to pack my case on my departure but I declined her offer thinking my bits and pieces too flimsy to be bothered with. Later I was kicking myself that I didn't accept her offer and learn her secrets. Another time, I hope.

Despite all the technology, the excellent personal service was really the highlight of the hotel and this was nowhere more evident than at dinner in the Michelin-starred Celeste restaurant, where we were treated like queens. The food was sublime. Foie gras, lobster, prawns, duck are flat words on a page but given the Michelin-starred Celeste treatment, they became the sustenance of the gods. And of course it wasn't just any old lobster, it was native blue lobster and the lamb was home country lamb - in other words the acme of local ingredients.

For me the dessert is always the most important part of a meal, and it didn't disappoint. The Celeste doesn't go in for fancy titles so it was simply called 'chocolate' but as I discovered it was the best - it was Guanaja chocolate mousse, with caramelised cashew nut praline and vanilla ice cream. My friend is something of a connoisseur of fine food and wine being a regular at Patrick Guilbaud's, and to her delight she knew the sommelier on the night, Pierre Marie, who had worked at Guilbaud's for years. He seemed thrilled to see Irish faces and plied us with an incredible selection of wines.

We had to remind ourselves that we came to London to see some sights, so early the next morning we took ourselves across Hyde Park, through Kensington Park and into Kensington Palace to see a selection of Princess Diana's clothes, from her early days as a gauche teenager to the elegant fashion leader she went on to become. It was interesting to note that when she started dating Prince Charles she had only one good dress, one blouse and one pair of good shoes - it was hardly a money problem so it can only be deduced that she had no interest at the time and yet she developed such incredible style.

Her most beautiful dresses were certainly the ones she wore after she and Charles divorced, when she consciously used fashion to express her liberation from monarchical constraints and her new iconic international status.

It was quite moving to see them there on the tailors' dummies - no longer worn, pristine, lifeless. The exhibition continues until February 2018 (www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/explore/diana-her-fashion-story)

Diana spent her last night on earth at the Ritz, Paris - we couldn't go there so instead we went to the Ritz London, for champagne afternoon tea, where we toasted her style, in style.

I never realised it before but there was actually a Mr Ritz; Cesar Ritz founded the hotel and the phrase 'Puttin' on the Ritz' from the musical actually came from the hotels. And afternoon tea there is like something from a Broadway show. The Palm Court where the famous afternoon tea is served is delightfully over the top, all gold and pink with plasterwork cherubs, art deco mullioned mirrors and a profusion of fresh pink roses and ferns. The waiters race around in matching tails carrying heavy silver teapots and pushing vast trolleys groaning with eye-watering confectionery and tiered silverware of finger sandwiches.

The clientele was a fascination too - lots of young women in head-to-toe Chanel and other designer brands nibbling at the corner of a tiny sandwich without actually ingesting any of it, as well as jolly family gatherings celebrating birthdays and other anniversaries.

Naturally we devoured it all. My friend is coeliac and her whole tea was specially gluten-free, and she declared it delicious. There was a rather dramatic moment when she decided to break her own rules and have some of a particularly inviting cake that was not a gluten-free option. Our waiter summoned the head waiter who solemnly advised her of the dangers to her health but foolhardy woman that she is, she ignored him. Happily all was well. (www.theritzlondon.com)

After another wonderful night at the Lanesborough we headed to the Victoria and Albert Museum for the Balenciaga show (runs until Feb 18, 2018, www.vam.ac.uk).

The V&A always does things brilliantly, and this was no exception. As well as photos, videos and endless examples of the avant garde creations of this great Spanish designer of the early-to-mid-twentieth century who influenced all who came after him, including Dior and St Laurent, there are tributes from many contemporary designers including our own Simone Rocha and JW Anderson; they explain in what ways Balenciaga influenced them. Balenciaga who created many shapes, including the baby doll dress, the sack dress and the balloon hem is widely credited with changing the way we dress. The funnest part of the exhibition was a copy of a skirt/cape that Balenciaga designed to be worn both ways and which was available for all to try, and like all the other women visitors we had to put on a Balenciaga if only for a moment.

Karl Lagerfeld famously said fashion is neither moral or immoral, it's for rebuilding the morale, and our weekend of luxury, fashion and fun certainly did that for us.

Take Two

Top attractions

Liberty of London

No trip to London is complete without a visit to Liberty, one of the worlds most beautiful department stores with its mix of fashion, iconic fabrics, antiques and rare finds. www.libertylondon.com

National Gallery

To mark the centenary of his death, the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square is staging a wonderful exhibition of Degass paintings (until May 2018). More details:

www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

Getting there

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Rates at The Lanesborough start from 645 per night on a room-only basis.

For more information, you should visit

www.lanesborough.com/eng/home

Aer Lingus, Irelands only four-star airline, flies up to 30 times daily from Ireland to London, Gatwick and Heathrow, flying out of Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Shannon and Knock. Fares start from 27.99 one-way including taxes and charges.

See aerlingus.com for latest offers.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine's foreign affairs committee and Canada's House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence of the Canadian House of Commons have discussed the issue of deploying a United Nations peacekeeping contingent to Donbas.

"Participants discussed the issue of deploying a UN peacekeeping mission to eastern Ukraine that would protect citizens from armed conflict and ensure the restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, as well as changes for Ukraine's accession to NATO," Ukraine's parliament said on Monday.

Deputies noted the necessity to deepen bilateral cooperation, including in the economic and defense sectors.

Ukrainian lawmakers thanked their Canadian colleagues for support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and expressed the hope that by joint efforts they would be able to attain peace in eastern Ukraine and return temporarily occupied Crimea and Sevastopol to Ukraine.
Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, his wife Princess Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte walk past helicopters at the airfield in Hamburg Finkenwerder, Germany, July 21, 2017. REUTERS/Christian Charisius/POOL

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge as they arrive at Berlin Tegel Airport during an official visit to Poland and Germany on July 19, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Ian Vogler - Pool/Getty Images)

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend The Queen's Birthday Party at the British Ambassadorial Residence during an official visit to Poland and Germany on July 19, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images)

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrive at the Brandenburg Gate during an official visit to Poland and Germany on July 19, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Britain's Princess Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge wave to wellwishers as tehy arrive for a reception at 'Claerchens Ballhaus' dance hall in Berlin, on the second day of the British royal couple visit to Germany, on July 20, 2017 in Berlin. / AFP PHOTO / John MACDOUGALLJOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images

Kate Middleton really does have an outfit for everything.

The Duchess of Cambridge, often hailed as the best dressed woman in the world, and the rest of the British royal family are prepared for every eventuality when it comes to their attire - even having a contingency black outfit in case of an emergency. And that emergency being a high profile death.

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When anyone within the family travels abroad, they are required to pack a spare black ensemble with them should another member of the family die on their travels, according to The Independent. The reason is to ensure the family members are in sync with public mourners on their return to the UK.

Fans of The Crown saw the story behind this on the Netflix series, documenting Queen Elizabeth's 1952 trip to Kenya when she learned her father had died and had to wait on board her plane for a black dress before she could disembark,

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News of the unusual, but practical, condition first made the rounds in July when Kate and Prince William toured Poland and Germany with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, but it is doing the rounds once again. Meanwhile, the pregnant princess will make her first appearance since announcing she's expecting their third child, which will take place on October 10 to mark World Mental Health Day with a reception at Buckingham Palace.

William said he's "always a bit anxious to start with", but looks forward to celebrating when her extreme morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) improves after the 12-week mark.
Meghan Markle watches Prince Harry speak during the opening ceremony of the 2017 Invictus Games at Air Canada Centre on September 23, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images )

Meghan Markle, girlfriend of Britain's Prince Harry, arrives to attend the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada, September 23, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Meghan Markle, said to be Prince Harry's girlfriend, watches the opening ceremonies of the Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario, September 23, 2017

Meghan Markle attends the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 Invictus Games at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday September 23, 2017. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

There's a new royal(ish) style icon in the making.

Prince Harry's girlfriend, actress Meghan Markle, made her first appearance at an official engagement with her boyfriend of 18 months, cheering him on (from a few seats away) at his Invictus Games in Toronto on Saturday night. The couple carefully avoided being photographed together, while Markle (36) attending with her close friend Markus Anderson, who introduced the couple back in 2016 at the same event.

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And much like Kate Middleton, Markle's would-be sister-in-law, she is proving her fashion kudos early on with the ability to shift designer clothes at an alarming rate we now know as 'the Kate effect'. For Saturday's event, she wore the Beaune Dress by Wilfred for Canadian brand Aritzia: both a nod to her adopted home of Toronto and affinity for high street fashion.

The chiffon midi dress with sunburst pleats dress cost 119, but good luck getting your hands on one - it sold out in all four shades soon after she was pictured in it and it won't be restocked until February 2018. In keeping with Kate's high/low mantra, she finished off her California-cool look with a burgundy leather jacket by Mackage, but this one will cost you.

The "supple leather moto jacket" comes in at 584 and is also sold out. She opted for a pair of 475 Jimmy Choo's classic Anouk pumps in nude, a style preferred by her onscreen alter ego Rachel Zane in legal drama Suits, which has unsurprisingly also sold out.

It was revealed on Sunday that the 32-year-old prince had a "super low key" visit with his other half on set and more might be on the cards as he will be in town until September 30. Which means there's time for plenty more style stalking.

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Four people were taken to hospital after the incident

A bus passenger has narrowly averted tragedy in Austria after the driver lost consciousness, helping to stop the vehicle at the point its front end was hanging over an Alpine abyss.

Police said the driver fainted on Saturday as the bus, which carried 24 people on board, mainly French tourists, was heading downhill from a pasture around 6,600ft above sea level, east of the city of Innsbruck.

The bus then gathered speed, repeatedly colliding with the mountainside lining the road.

The passenger dashed forward and applied the brakes. That action, helped by a guide rail piercing the front of the bus, brought the vehicle to a halt, but only after the front end was already jutting over a 330ft precipice.

Police said 10 people needed medical help, with four later taken to hospital.
Chloe Ayling (right) claims she was held by Lukasz Pawel Herba (left top) at a rural house

The kidnapping of British glamour model Chloe Ayling was a "publicity stunt", according to a lawyer defending a man at the centre of it.

Ms Ayling was reported to have been kidnapped by a gang called the "Black Death Group" after being lured to a fake modelling shoot in Italy. But a lawyer for one of the supposed kidnappers said the case appeared to be a "sham" intended to generate publicity.

He said there was a "unique set of anomalies" that might lead the Italian authorities to think they have been "duped", a lawyer defending the kidnapper said.

He pointed to a range of events that he said were problems with the story, including the fact that Ms Ayling had reportedly gone shoe shopping with her captor, and that they had breakfast before she was handed in at the British consulate.

Lukasz Herba, 30, is in custody in Italy, having been arrested after delivering Ms Ayling to the British Embassy on July 17 - six days after she was allegedly kidnapped. He has said he did not knowingly take part in any crime.

His 36-year-old brother, Michal Herba, was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Italian authorities last month.

He appeared in custody at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday to fight extradition, having been in custody since he was apprehended in the Tividale area of Sandwell in the West Midlands.

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Prosecutor Florence Iveson said Herba has been requested by the court of Milan in relation to a single offence of kidnapping arising from events between July 11 and 17.

"The allegation is that Mr Herba acted in complicity with his brother, Lukasz Herba, and other unidentified persons to kidnap the victim in Milan," she said.

"It is said she was drugged and kidnapped and a 300,000 ransom was demanded."

But Herba's lawyer, George Hepburne Scott, raised questions over the account given by Ms Ayling, of Coulsdon, south London, who claims she was drugged and bundled into the boot of a car after being tricked into attending the bogus photoshoot in Milan on July 11.

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"There is a real risk that the entire case is a sham," he said.

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Referring to "open source material", Mr Scott said: "The same complainant, it seems, generated publicity from the fact she was nearby the scene of a terrorist attack at the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

"Prior to the release of the complainant, the kidnapper apparently issued a press release to a tabloid newspaper setting out that this lady was being held for auction."

The lawyer also pointed to an alleged incident during which Ms Ayling and her captor went shopping for shoes, calling it a "wholly anomalous feature of a hostage situation".

She also went to breakfast with the kidnapper before her release when the pair found the British consulate was closed, Mr Scott added.

"It would amount to an abuse of process of the court if there was any evidence to suggest this was a publicity stunt," he told the judge.

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"This case has a unique set of anomalies which might lead to the conclusion that the Italian authorities have been duped and that their process has been abused."

District Judge Paul Goldspring pointed out much of the material relied on by Mr Scott came from press reports, which he said did not prove any of the theories in the case. He will give his ruling on Friday.
Oxford University student Lavinia Woodward leaving Oxford Crown Court where she has avoided prison after receiving a 10-month suspended jail sentence after she stabbed her boyfriend with a bread knife. Photo: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

A promising Oxford University medical student who stabbed her boyfriend during a drunken assault with a bread knife has avoided prison - meaning she could return to her studies.

Lavinia Woodward, (24), received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for stabbing her then partner with the knife.

Woodward, a student at the university's Christ Church college, was to be sentenced earlier this year after admitting unlawful wounding, but the judge gave her four months to prove herself and stay out of trouble.

Oxford Crown Court heard Woodward was later admitted to a clinic for treatment for addictions to Class A drugs and alcohol, and an eating disorder.

The stabbing happened on December 30 last year when Woodward's partner, a Cambridge University student, visited her in Oxford.

He realised she had been drinking and when Woodward discovered he had contacted her mother she became "extremely angry" and began throwing objects, before stabbing him in the leg.

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At a previous hearing Woodward, of Christ Church, St Aldate's, Oxford, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

James Sturman QC, defending, said she was a "different woman" since she last appeared in court and would be returning to a clinic for continued treatment.

"What she has done since May is do everything Your Honour asked of her," he said.

"In my respectful submission the words you used on the last occasion gave her a great motivation to behave herself, keep out of trouble and stay off the drugs.

"The tone in May was to see whether she could prove herself, you could take a truly exceptional course.

"It's not truly exceptional because she goes to Oxford, it's because she has gone into rehab."

Mr Sturman criticised the media coverage of Miss Woodward's case, saying she had been photographed while living with her family in Milan and fired from a retail job after being recognised.

"After the last occasion it was said she was too clever to go to prison. I have no idea where this came from," he said.

"She can't even go into a nightclub in London because she will be recognisable.

"She is not being treated leniently because she is intelligent - she is a very vulnerable, damaged young woman who will do all she can to put it right.

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"She will be going back into rehab to get over the trauma and get over the issues that bedevilled her since she was nine years old."

Mr Sturman said Woodward remained in a "dilemma" as to her future career but had already had articles published in medical journals.

She could return to Oxford, take an academic research job or begin a PhD at another university.

"The university remains supportive. Lavinia knows that returning this year would be impossible with the press interest.

"If she was coming back to Oxford everybody would know all about it," he said.

Passing sentence, Judge Ian Pringle QC said: "There are many mitigating features in your case.

"Principally, at the age of 24 you have no previous convictions of any nature whatsoever.

"Secondly, I find that you were genuinely remorseful following this event and indeed, it was against your bail conditions you contacted your partner to fully confess your guilt and your deep sorrow for what happened.

"Thirdly, whilst you are a clearly highly intelligent individual, you had an immaturity about you which was not commensurate for someone of your age.

"Fourthly, as the reports from the experts make clear, you suffer from an emotionally unstable personality disorder, a severe eating disorder and alcohol-drug dependence.

"Finally, and most significantly, you have demonstrated over the last nine months that you are determined to rid yourself of your alcohol and drug addiction and have undergone extensive treatment including counselling to address the many issues that you face."

He added: "In particular, you have demonstrated to me since I adjourned this matter in May a strong and unwavering determination to do so despite the enormous pressure under which you were put and which has been referred to me by your counsel."

College dean the Very Rev Professor Martyn Percy, said afterwards: "We are concerned for the welfare of all our students and it is clearly a matter of regret and sadness when any young person blights a promising career by committing a crime.

"Ms Woodward is not currently studying at Oxford, having voluntarily suspended her medical studies.

"The question of her future will now be decided by the university, which has procedures in place when a student is the subject of a criminal conviction."
Angela Merkel won a fourth term as German chancellor in a victory that was marred by her party recording its worst result since 1949 as voters lifted the far-right AfD into parliament.

Yesterday's federal election saw support hollowed out for the two main parties - Ms Merkel's Christian Democrat-led bloc and Martin Schulz's Social Democrats - as votes flowed to the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD. It is a sign of the growing polarisation in Europe's biggest economy and six parties are now poised to enter the lower house, the Bundestag, for the first time since 1953.

The principal loser was Mr Schulz's Social Democratic Party, Ms Merkel's main challenger, which plunged to a postwar low. The party leadership immediately announced its intention to go into opposition and not renew the so-called grand coalition with Ms Merkel's party that has governed for the past four years.

The AfD outpolled the pro-business Free Democrats, the Greens and the post-communist Left to become the first far-right party in the Bundestag since the immediate post-war period. It channelled voter rage at Ms Merkel for allowing some 1.3 million migrants to enter the country since 2015.

"Clearly, we had hoped for a somewhat better result," but "we achieved the strategic targets of our election campaign," Ms Merkel said at her party's headquarters in Berlin. Apart from the challenge of the AfD, the task ahead was "first and foremost to ensure economic prosperity" and "to hold the European Union together and build a strong Europe," she said.

The result offers Ms Merkel two possible routes to govern: the first is to add the environmentalist Greens to a coalition with the Free Democrats, her party's traditional allies with whom she governed from 2009 to 2013, in a so-called Jamaica coalition - so named as the party colours match those of the country's flag.

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"Jamaica is doable," said Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the CDU state prime minister of Saarland.

For all their ideological differences, both the Greens and Free Democrats want to be in power, so "will make an effort to agree", said Famke Krumbmueller, a partner at political-risk consultancy OpenCitiz. "If that fails, then the only option would be with the SPD. That would force their hand, since the only other option is a new election."

Even as she faces the most splintered parliament in modern German history, Ms Merkel's record-equalling fourth consecutive victory in a national election marks a revival of sorts of her political fortunes from the depths of the refugee crisis. If she can move to heal some of the divisions, Germany's first female leader and the first from the formerly communist east may be on track to match former chancellor Helmut Kohl's record of 16 years in office.

All the same, the first task for Ms Merkel (63) is to forge a coalition that enables her to govern, a process that's likely to take months. Once a government is in place, Ms Merkel will face huge global expectations - from shoring up the euro area together with France, to setting Europe's tone in its dealings with the US under President Donald Trump, and tackling the diesel-emissions crisis that threatens Germany's dominance in producing luxury cars.
Iraqi Kurds were going to the polls on Monday to vote on whether to support independence from Baghdad in a historic but non-binding referendum that has raised regional tensions and fears of instability.

Millions were expected to vote across the three provinces that make up the Kurdish autonomous region, as well as residents in disputed territories - areas claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurds, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

The ballot is being held despite mounting regional opposition to the move and the United States has warned that it is likely to destabilise the region amid the fight with the Islamic State group.

Baghdad has also come out strongly against the referendum, demanding on Sunday that all airports and borders crossings in the Kurdish region be handed back to federal government control.

In a televised address on Sunday night, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said "the referendum is unconstitutional. It threatens Iraq, peaceful coexistence among Iraqis and is a danger to the region."

"We will take measures to safeguard the nation's unity and protect all Iraqis," he added.

Earlier on Sunday, the Kurdish region's president, Masoud Barzani, said during a press conference in Irbil that he believed the voting would be peaceful, though he acknowledged that the path to independence would be "risky".

"We are ready to pay any price for our independence," he said.

In a strongly worded statement, Turkey said on Monday that it does not recognise the referendum and declared its results would be "null and void".

Turkey's Foreign Ministry called on the international community and especially regional countries not to recognise the vote either and urged Iraq Kurdish leaders to abandon "utopic goals", accusing them of endangering peace and stability for Iraq and the whole region.

The ministry reiterated that Turkey would take all measures to thwart threats to its national security.

On Saturday, Turkey's parliament met in an extraordinary session to extend a mandate allowing Turkey's military to send troops over its southern border if developments in Iraq and Syria are perceived as national security threats.

Initial results from the poll are expected on Tuesday, with the official results to be announced later in the week.

Iraqi Kurds have long dreamed of independence - something the Kurdish people were denied when colonial powers drew the map of the Middle East after the First World War. The Kurds form a sizeable minority in Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq. In Iraq, they have long been at odds with the Baghdad government over the sharing of oil revenues and the fate of disputed territories like Kirkuk.

The Kurds have been a close American ally for decades, and the first US air strikes in the campaign against IS were launched to protect Irbil, the Kurdish regional capital. Kurdish forces later regrouped and played a major role in driving the extremists from much of northern Iraq, including Mosul, the country's second largest city.

But the US has long been opposed to Kurdish moves towards independence, fearing it could lead to the break-up of Iraq and bring even more instability to an already volatile Middle East.

Voting was also under way on Monday morning in Kirkuk. The oil-rich city has large Kurdish, Arab, Turkmen and Christian communities and has seen some low-level clashes in the days leading up to Monday's vote.

"I feel so great and happy, I feel we'll be free," said Suad Pirot, a Kirkuk Kurdish resident, after voting. "Nobody will rule us, we will be independent."

AP
On Tuesday, September 26, at 12.30, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference entitled "New restrictions for NGOs: Ukraine patterns after repressive practices of Russia and Kazakhstan" on bills on additional reporting for Ukrainian NGOs submitted by the president to parliament. Participants are member of the Council of the International Civil Initiative for the OSCE, human rights activist, working in the Russian Federation Andrey Yurov; Director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (via Skype) Evgeny Zhovtis, Head of the Board of the Human Rights Information Center Tetiana Pechonchik, and Deputy Head of the Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine) Oleksandra Romantsova (8/5a Reitarska Street). Admission requires press accreditation. More details by phone: +38 067 445 9543 or e-mail: tp@humanrights.org.ua.
A four-year-old girl has died after accidentally pulling the trigger of a gun in her grandmothers purse when she was looking for sweets.

The tragic accident happened in the Tampa home of Christine and Michael Zoller on 14 September.

Yanelly Nelly Zoller was looking for sweets, when she shot herself in the chest, Shane Zoller, her father told the Tampa Bay Times.

"She just wanted some damn candy," Mr Zoller said.

"I was driving to pick her up with her bathing suit in my car to take her to the splash pads," her father added. "When I pulled up, that's when I saw all the police lights."

Police said the gun was legally owned and both the grandmother and grandfather were present in the house when the gun went off, police said, according to CBS News.

The young girls 22-year-old father said his parents were helping him raise Nelly as he was in high school when she was born.

He added that the child was attached to her nanas hip and was very excited to stay at her grandparents home.

The dead girls mother Lizette Hernandez, who lives apart from Shane Zoller, is seeking full-time custody of her 19-month-old son.

I dont trust him with my child, Ms Hernandez said. I already lost one child. I dont need to lose another.

Ms Hernandez, who is 28 weeks pregnant, is also disputing the facts surrounding Nellys death. First he told me that she was shot during a drive-by, she said.

Then he told me the gun was on the table Hes told me too many versions of the story. I honestly dont know what happened to my child.

The 22-year-old mother gave a sworn statement in which she describes an acrimonious argument with her estranged husband.

"Shane Zoller was pushing and pulling me to try to get my son out of my hands," she wrote. "I finally let go because he struck me in the face, he pushed me. I fell on my back, hit a tombstone and I was rushed to the hospital. I'm 7 months pregnant. The hospital stopped my contractions.

"I'm in fear for my life, my son's life and my unborn child's life."

Police are continuing with their investigations and will confer with the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office to discuss whether there is a case for criminal charges, police spokesman Stephen Hegarty said in a tbo.com report.

Investigators say they have no reason to doubt the Zoller familys account of the incident in which Nelly died.

The family is raising money for the childs funeral costs on crowdfunding website YouCaring.com.

In Florida, between 2010 and 2015, approximately 3,200 children were killed or wounded by guns. On average, a child in Florida is shot every 17 hours.
The image of Yoda appeared in the textbook in error

A top education official in Saudi Arabia has been sacked after high school students opened their textbooks to find an image of Yoda from the Star Wars films seated next to a Saudi king.

The image, produced by Saudi artist Abdullah Al Shehri, known as Shaweesh, shows the late King Faisal, who was foreign minister at the time, signing the United Nations Charter in 1945 with the diminutive green Jedi master seated to his right.

Education minister Ahmed al-Eissa described it as an "unintended mistake" and wrote on Twitter that new versions of the textbook are being printed.

The state-linked Okaz news website said under-secretary for curricula and educational programmes Mohammed al-Harthi was dismissed from his post on Monday and that the ministry will establish a new process for reviewing textbooks.

AP
Consumer goods giant Unilever has struck a 2.27 billion euro (1.9 billion) deal to buy South Korean cosmetics firm Carver Korea.

The Anglo-Dutch company has bought the entire business from Bain Capital Private Equity, Goldman Sachs and the firms founder, strengthening its foothold in the Asian beauty market.

Carver Korea secured sales of 321 million euros (282 million) and earnings of 137 million euros (120 million) last year, with sales of its AHC brand making it the fastest growing skincare business in South Korea.

The tie-up is subject to regulatory approval.

Alan Jope, Unilever president of personal care, said: We are delighted to be acquiring Carver Korea. It is an impressive business that is completely aligned to our personal care strategy.

It will significantly strengthen our position in north Asia, the largest skincare market in the world, and will complement our existing portfolio, enabling us to offer luxury skincare products at attainable price points.

AHC has been strongly gaining popularity thanks to its efficacious, innovative and premium products, and it therefore offers great opportunities for growth.

Unilever, which employs 169,000 people worldwide, announced in April that it would offload some of its best-known brands  including Flora and Stork  after fending off a $143 billion (115 billion) takeover attempt from Kraft Heinz.

It plans to sell or de-merge its underperforming spreads business, which could yield up to 6 billion.

The Marmite and Pot Noodle maker cut loose a portion of the spreads division on Friday when it secured a deal to take full control of its South African subsidiary from Remgro in exchange for its spreads unit and cash.

Unilever revealed in July that pre-tax profits had climbed 27% to 4.6 billion euros (4.1 billion) for the first half of 2017, up from 3.6 billion euros (3.2 billion) the year before.

Focusing on the Carver Korea deal, Ed Han, Bain Capital Private Equity managing director, said: This has been a great opportunity for us to partner with a leading Korean company in an exciting segment of the cosmetics space and to help support its brand, operations and growth around the world.

Unilever is a strong partner to help the company in its next phase of growth and development.
Longtime Trump associate Roger Stone will talk to the House panel this week (AP)

The US House intelligence panel will interview two of US president Donald Trump's associates behind closed doors this week as congressional committees step up their investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Trump associate Roger Stone and former staffer Boris Epshteyn are scheduled to talk to the House panel this week.

Mr Stone confirmed his interview will be held on Tuesday. Mr Epshteyn will also speak to the committee this week, according to a source.

The interviews come as the House and Senate intelligence panels examine meddling and scrutinise the spread of false news stories and propaganda on social media.

The Senate intelligence committee will speak to officials from Twitter on Wednesday, also behind closed doors.

Mr Stone is a Republican strategist who has known Mr Trump for many years and informally advised him during the 2016 campaign.

He has said he communicated during the presidential campaign with Guccifer 2.0, the unnamed hacker who has taken credit for breaking into Democratic National Committee email servers.

But Mr Stone has denied that he worked with Russian officials to influence the presidential election.

Mr Stone has been outspoken in his own defence and asked for his appearance to be public. But he said the House panel insisted on holding the session behind closed doors.

California representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, suggested in March that Mr Stone had a direct line to Russian hackers based on his comments predicting the release of former Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails.

Mr Stone said then that Mr Schiff had "slimed me in public, and I'd like to have an opportunity to defend myself in public".

Last week, Mr Stone continued his criticism of the California Democrat, saying the committee is "full of Schiff".

Mr Epshteyn, who grew up in Moscow, worked a short time in the White House press office. He left in March and now works as a political analyst for right-leaning Sinclair Broadcasting.

Beyond this week, the committees plan for a busy October, with the Senate intelligence panel bringing Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in for a public hearing on October 25.

Senate committee leaders have also said they want Facebook and other social media outlets to appear publicly next month.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify on October 18 before the Senate Judiciary Committee - the first time since he was confirmed in February.

Mr Sessions has recused himself from Russia investigations, and the Justice Department has appointed special counsel Robert Mueller to investigate the involvement of Russia in the US election.

But Mr Sessions is still likely to face questions about Russia and the firing of former FBI director James Comey.

Mr Sessions also has been subpoenaed by House Intelligence chairman Devin Nunes, who is asking the Justice Department and the FBI for documents related to a dossier of salacious allegations involving President Trump and possible ties to Russia.

If the documents are not produced, the committee is seeking to compel Mr Sessions and FBI director Christopher Wray to testify in an open hearing.

AP
North Korea's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho speaks outside the UN Plaza Hotel in New York (AP)

The White House has dismissed North Korea's claim that a tweet by Donald Trump amounted to a declaration of war.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the US had not "declared war" on Pyongyang.

The Trump administration also clarified on Monday that it was not seeking to overthrow North Korea's government after President Trump tweeted that its leader Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer".

Pyongyang interpreted that tweet as a declaration of war.

In a speech last week to the United Nations General Assembly that if the US was forced to defend itself against North Korea, "we will have no choice but to totally destroy" the country.

The US and North Korea agreed to an armistice after the 1950-1953 Korean War, not a peace treaty. Because of that, they are still technically at war.

The Trump administration also said it was not advocating regime change in North Korea.

North Korea's top diplomat, foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, responded to that at the United Nations, telling reporters it was a declaration of war against his country by the United States, and that the North had the right to shoot down US warplanes in international airspace.

A senior administration official said Monday that the US policy was not regime change.

Mr Ri told reporters that Mr Trump's statement gives North Korea "every right" under the UN Charter to take counter-measures, "including the right to shoot down the United States strategic bombers even though they're not yet inside the airspace border of our country".

Mr Trump's tweet on Saturday said: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!"

Mr Ri said: "The question of who won't be around much longer will be answered then."

AP

North Korea has repeatedly said it needs a nuclear deterrent because the US intends to invade it.

Mr Ri told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that the Pyongyang's recent "ICBM-mountable H-bomb test" was a key step to completing its nuclear force.

He called it "a war deterrent for putting an end to nuclear threat of the US and for preventing its military invasion".

"Our ultimate goal is to establish the balance of power with the US," he said.

AP
Mini-hotel operator Yotel has turbo-charged its expansion plans after netting a $250 million (185 million) investment from Starwood Capital Group.

The London-based firm will use the funding to widen its reach across Europe, North America and Asia, with sites in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Amsterdam set to open in 2019.

Starwood  a private investment firm with interests in global real estate and oil and gas  will take a 30% slice of the company and fund property acquisitions for new hotels and conversions.

Yotel chief executive Hubert Viriot said: Yotel is growing rapidly with 15 hotels currently at various stages of development.

We look forward to leveraging Starwoods investment, design, operational and technological expertise to expand our platform, attract talent and enter additional markets whilst continuing to work closely with our existing partners and fostering new relationships as we take our brand to the next level.

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Alongside the investment, Starwood Capital Groups head of hotels Cody Bradshaw and its senior vice president Sarah Broughton will join Yotels board.

Yotel, which has hotels in Gatwick and Heathrow Airport, added new US sites in Boston and San Francisco this year.

Barry Sternlicht, chairman and chief executive of Starwood Capital Group, said: This strategic partnership and investment highlights Starwoods long-standing passion and commitment to invest in innovative hospitality platforms.

Yotel is an exciting brand focused on technology, smart design and a distinct guest experience at an affordable price, which is the right strategy amid the current wave of digital disruption.

Yotel has global appeal and can be easily scaled up with key strategic acquisitions and developments in desired city centre and airport locations.

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The companys shareholders include Al-Bahar Group, IFA Hotels & Resorts, United Investment Portugal and Kuwait Real Estate Company (AQARAT), which together own a 65% stake.

Talal Al Bahar, Yotel chairman and lead investor, said: We are delighted to announce a new institutional investor into Yotel alongside our existing shareholders.

Starwood Capital Groups investment validates the companys strategy, provides strength and stability at a critical expansion stage and opens up new horizons for Yotel to become the leading affordable luxury hotel brand.
CBEC announces new Drawback Duty rates

Recently, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) announced new drawback duty rates. Drawback duty is a provision that allows for the refund of customs and excise duties paid on the imported raw material used in the manufacturing of export goods.

Post July 1, 2017, exporters in India were briefly allowed to claim a higher rate of drawback duty on exported items. This was to facilitate an easy transition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system.

However, this relaxation will be available only until September 30, 2017, and subject to the condition that exporters submit a certificate declaring that no Input Tax Credit (ITC) of CGST/IGST has been claimed on imports.

After September 30, 2017, the GST paid on inputs of exported goods will not be covered under the drawback duty provision under the Customs Act of 1962. Instead, it will have to be claimed as refund under provisions in GST law.

RELATED: Tax Compliance Advisory

Important Aadhar ID linkage deadlines

Aadhaar is now a mandatory proof of identity in India. It is a twelve-digit unique identification number based on biometric and demographic data, and is issued to all individuals residing in India, regardless of citizenship.

The biometric unique Aadhaar ID is now required in all financial matters  banking, PAN, and filing taxes, and to avail benefits under any government scheme. Aadhaar must also be linked to all other identification credentials such as driving licenses, mobile numbers, and email address. If these credentials are not linked by the deadline, they may become void.

The government has updated the deadlines for this linking:

Deadline to link Aadhaar with PAN  December 31, 2017

Deadline to link Aadhaar with mobile SIM  February 2018

Deadline to submit Aadhaar details to banks and financial institutions  December 31, 2017

Deadline to link mutual fund investments to Aadhaar  December 31, 2017

Deadline to give Aadhaar details to avail social security schemes  December 31, 2017

RELATED: Startups in India: New Business Relaxations, Eligibility Criteria Announced

Indias states to be ranked on startup infrastructure

The Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) will facilitate the process of ranking Indias states and union territories (UTs) according to their initiatives to support startups.

This assessment will be conducted by a third party, and will be based on parameters promoting entrepreneurship and the overall startup ecosystem in that state/UT.

Currently, the DIPP is framing the assessment parameters. This includes: a startup policy, startup cell, website portal, network of mentors, participation in the public procurement process, number of incubators and accelerators, funding support, and tax incentives.

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Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide.

An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in India. As such, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Indian market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to stay up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.

In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we discuss payroll processing and reporting in India, and the various regulations and tax norms that impact salary and wage computation. Further, we explain Indias complex social security system and gratuity law, and how it applies to companies. Finally, we describe the importance of IT infrastructure, compliance, and confidentiality when processing payroll in India.
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Back in 2015, Peepli Live co-director Mahmood Farooqui, was accused of rape by an American woman. After two years, he has been acquitted of the charges by the High Court on Monday.

Twitter

Farooqui was given a seven-year jail sentence last year after the US citizen accused that he had raped her at his home. The Columbia University student had alleged that she was researching for a project in India and her friend had introduced her to the Peepli Live co-director. He invited her to discuss the research project at his home and raped her in a drunken condition.

Twitter

After being sentenced the jail term Farooqui had appealed to the Delhi High Court and was later released on bail.

According to a TOI report, his lawyer denied of the rape allegation saying no such incident took place on that day. Furthermore, he stated that the message exchange between the accused and the woman suggested that they were both in a relationship.

Twitter

Farooqui co-directed the 2010 film Peepli Live along with his wife, Anusha Rizvi.
1. Shahid Kapoor As Maharawal Ratan Singh From 'Padmavati' Is Causing A Lot Of Excitement Online!

Just a few days back, Deepika Padukones look from the movie sent tongues wagging, and now that Shahids look from Maharawal Ratan Singh has also been revealed, it has become the buzz of tinseltown. Those intense eyes and classy look are definitely striking the chord with the audiences making them even more eager to watch the movie now.

2. Raghubir Yadav Has A Unique Connection With Oscars, 'Newton' Is His 8th Entry To Academy Awards

yOUTUBE

Whats the secret mantra to send your movie to the Oscars? Just cast Raghubir Yadav in it. Dont believe us? You certainly will after knowing that Newton is his eighth movie to be nominated for the Oscars.

3. Anurag Kashyap Defends Newton, Shutting Down Online Haters Who Call It An Iranian Film Copy

Anurag Kashyap who is happy about the movies success poured out his love and support for it on Twitter, shutting down all the negativity surrounding Newton's success.

4. Diljit Dosanjh's Response To Kylie Jenner's Pregnancy Proves He's Heartbroken By Her Revelation

So, when the news broke out that Kylie Jenner is pregnant, all the attention here in India suddenly focused on Diljit Dosanjh. Of course, the fans were worried about his well-being on hearing the news, and Twitter was flooded with responses. But looks like, Diljit Dosanjh is quite a sport.

5. Peepli Live Co-Director Mahmood Farooqui Acquitted Of Charges Of Raping An American Woman

According to a TOI report, his lawyer denied of the rape allegation saying no such incident took place on that day. Furthermore, he stated that the message exchange between the accused and the woman suggested that they were both in a relationship.
Unless you have a hundred crores lying in your coffers, you must have noticed that buying the worlds most expensive tea or smartphone will cost you an arm and a leg. You may splurge on expensively priced items to fan your pride but there are products in existence that will forever remain beyond your reach.

Lets course through these items that you will never ever buy.

1. Water Bottle

moneycontrol

Drinking water has always been a luxury for those who cant afford it  millions go without a clean drink daily. Which makes the Beverly Hills 9OH2O water bottle almost a crime against humanity. Priced at Rs. 65 lakh for a bottle, each has a diamond encrusted cap to up the bling quotient of the numpty who decided to put out that kind of money to quench his thirst. Meanwhile, us sane people can go about our days drinking normal water.

2. Tea

tea urchin

Da Hong Pao is one of the world's most expensive teas. Its cost is equivalent to 30 times its weight in gold! So, one gram would cost you approximately Rs. 90,000. Its exorbitant price is credited to its aging that takes up to 80 years. For anyone who cant do without their daily dose of cutting chai, this is appalling.

3. Smartphone

Design Limited Edition

If you thought Apple was unreasonable with their price tags, well this may make you reexamine that. Meet Vertu Signature Cobra, a phone that comes with a gob-smacking price tag of Rs. 2.3 crore. The phone features a snake figure wrapped around its edges thats encrusted with 439 rubies.

4. Spice

flickr

Saffron in its purest form can cost you Rs. 3,23,975 per 0.45 kilogram. While the best quality saffron originates in Kashmir (India), the spice is also grown in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Iran. It takes 50,000- 75,000 flowers to harvest one kilogram of saffron. It is used in cooking, medicines, cosmetics, etc. If you come across saffron that is inexpensive, then its not pure saffron.

5. Toilet Paper

Hanebisho

Would you shell out Rs 960 bucks on a roll of toilet paper? Well, this handmade Japanese brand Hanebisho uses the finest wood pulp from Canada and water from Japans cleanest river. It comes in a box thats lined with silver leaf. All that for a roll of paper that will ultimately!

6. Pizza

industry kitchen

The most expensive pizza thats commercially available in the world sells for a whopping Rs. 1,74,678 at USAs Industry Kitchen. Its recorded in Guinness World Records. The ingredients that go into making the pizza include black squid ink dough; white Stilton cheese from the UK; foie gras and truffles from France; Ossetra caviar from the Caspian Sea; Almas caviar; and 24K gold leaves. For the rest of us theres 30-minute delivery!

7. Coffee

representative image/flickr

India  Asias third-largest producer and exporter of coffee  has become home to the worlds most expensive coffee. Currently being produced in Karnatakas Coorg district, the coffee is made from the poop of a civet cat. Its the method of producing civet coffee that renders it the most priced in the world. It is made from the coffee beans digested by the civet cat and then the poop is collected, processed and sold. Civet coffee is exclusively consumed in Europe and Gulf nations where it is sold for Rs. 20,000 to 25,000 per kilogram.

8. Ear Buds

Luxury Life Style

A single pair of Casa Gi earbuds, that sold in Bristol for Rs. 3,39,976, may never serve the purpose they were built for. So, whats so special about this pair? It comes endowed with 59 diamonds  on each bud! - and an 18-carat gold coating. Your ears wont thank you.

9. Soap

soapquest

A bar of soap that costs Rs. 1,81,175 should surely make you sparkle like the gold and diamond powder it comes infused with. The Qatar soap, produced by a family-run business in Lebanon, is a product that should only be enshrined, never unwrapped.

10. Monopoly

youtube

Its only befitting to make a version of a money game with 18-carat gold. Named after its creator, Sidney Mobell, the Sidney Mobell Monopoly set contains 165 rubies and sapphires, luxury cards, and 42 full-cut diamonds and costs Rs. 12.9 crore. The dice itself costs Rs. 6.4 lakh!

11. Toothbrush

Reinast

A 2.5 lakh rupee toothbrush? Believe it or not, billionaires coughed up that much money on a titanium toothbrush. The Reinast Luxury Toothbrush boasts an anti-bacterial coating which makes it this expensive. This isnt your regular toothbrush which you throw away after a few uses. The bristle head can be detached and replaced.

All these price tags make you realise that fools and their money are soon parted and luckily for these manufacturers, as PT Barnum said theres a sucker born every minute.
History has been a testament to the fact that when nothing offers you refuge, words do. Time and again, people have sought comfort in the words of writers and authors. However, with the growing popularity of social media, a lot of voices that were never heard before are now finding audiences.

In the past, several people have taken it to open-mic sessions to express themselves  be it their pain, agony, anger, regression, love or depression; with the help of words, thousands are now telling the world exactly whats on their minds.

Heres a list of people whove produced powerful pieces of art with their words-

1. "She was sold, while still a daughter"

He may not be a conventional poet, but Kapoor maintains an Instagram account that can easily soothe your aching soul. He work recently caught limelight after he gave a powerful performance on something that nobody addresses . His poem makes a strong case for sex workers and women forced into trafficking.

Youtube

(Also Read: Kunal Kapoors Powerful Poem On #SoldBodies Will Force You To Never Look Down Upon Sex Workers)

2. "I have lost 17 of my ownbut I know, ONLY I CAN HIT BACK..."

Amidst the growing tension that encapsulated India after the deadly Uri attack, an anonymous soldier wrote a poem explaining just how the Indian Army was feeling about its loss. At a time when no one could explain or talk about the dreadful situation, this poem comforted several hearts.

BCCL

(Also Read: This Poem By An Anonymous Indian Soldier Is Exactly What The Army Feels After #UriAttack)

3. "I am sorry this poem is offensive to extroverts because, honestly, fuck you."

Life throws random challenges on a daily basis, and one of them is to fight with the conundrums in your mind. Are you an extrovert? Are you an introvert? Are you an ambivert? Rabia Kapoor, who also happens to be Rajat Kapoors daughter, has come up with a fabulous piece of spoken poetry that talks about what goes on in the mind of an introvert.

(Also Read: This Poem Is Everything A Shy Person With A Brilliant Mind Wants To Say To All Extroverts)

4. "You can't touch me, you have no right"

We all remember the mass molestation on New Years evening in Bangalore and how troubling the entire incidence was. To address it, Tharien from Tamil Nadu, decided to take out her anger through a poem. Her verse, which is simple yet brilliant, will pierce right through your heart, and you'll find yourself nodding your head in absolute approbation.

(Also Read: This Woman's Viral Poem Is A Powerful Take On What Happened In Bengaluru On New Year's Eve)

5. "We're girls, women, human, not a burden"

Now a big name on YouTube, Aranyas first viral piece of art was this poem that talked about gender discrimination on a larger scale. Through her poetry she explains a multitude of biases that exist. She explains how men get uncomfortable while discussing 'periods' but are perfectly fine bantering about sex.

youtube

(Also Read: This Girl's Fearless And Bold Poem On Gender Discrimination Carries A Serious Feminist Punch)

6. "Mandir ki chaukhat meri hai, masjid ke qible mere hai, gurudwaare ka darbar mera, yeshu ke girje mere hai."

Islamophobia is increasing daily, and its time voices were raised against hatred. Hussain Haidrys poem talks about the troubles of being an Indian Muslim. He perfectly captures the sentiment that he is as much a part of this society as any other Indian who belongs to a different faith.

Youtube

(Also Read: This Guy's Beautiful Poem Will Tell You Exactly How It Feels To Be A 'Hindustani-Musalmaan'!)

7. " Jub kilkariyan sahem jayein, Jub totli boliyan khamosh ho jayein, Samjho kuch ghalat hai"

The death of 7-year-old Pradyuman Thakur sparked shocked debates and concerns about school safety across the country. People took to the streets, social media and school campuses to express their agony. Amidst this tension, Prasoon Joshi wrote a poignant piece of poem which left many devastated and worried.

Facebook

(Also Read: Prasoon Joshi's Poem On The Gurugram Murder Case Of A 7-YO Kid Will Make You Very Emotional)

8. "Man up they told me, man up, young boy"

Theres a lot of talk around town about feminism, but oppression sees no gender. Simars poem on manning up takes us on a touching ride of who is allowed to feel emotions. He forces us to reminisce about how our fathers, brothers, and sons have been asked to man up because some things are just not for real men.

Youtube

(Also Read: This Hard-Hitting Poem On Equal Rights For Men Just Like Women Is Going Viral & Rightly So!)

9. " I should have been in bed by 10, or planned all life events before 3, because I am on a rape schedule"

Bhavna titled her poem as 'Rape Schedule' and it talks about nothing but how staying unraped is becoming an existential crisis for women around the world. Her poem is a tight slap on the societys regressive attitudes.

Facebook

(Also Read: Delhi Woman's Poem On India's 'Rape Schedule' Reminds Us Of What We Urgently Need Freedom From)

10. "Kitna shukr tha usse is baat ka ki woh agle din kisi random news channel par hone wale debate ki wajah nahi bani"

Unfortunately, we dont the name of the guy who is behind this brilliance but Shukr is a poem on the terror that revolves around rape, harassment and molestation. Its about the fear that a woman gets every time she sees a group of men. The constant fear of getting molested or raped and the final sigh of relief that she will reach home untouched is what this poem Shukr is all about.

Youtube

(Also Read: Poem 'Shukr' Aptly Describes The Horror Girls Feel For Every Second Spent Outside A Safe Space)

11. "But love is never too intellectual to get away with right?"

If you think that the progressive thinker in you is in tune with feminist goals, read on! Dikshas poem is a perfect piece on interpreting the essence of feminism. Most people equate feminism with misandry, and not the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. This poem turns your mindset on its head.

Youtube

(Also Read: This Slam Poem That Packs A Serious Feminist Punch Is About Every Ambitious Woman In Today's Time)
Pakistan has reportedly begun to lobby the UN to declare India a 'state sponsor of terror', said a report in the Pakistan newspaper The Express Tribune, citing unnamed "highly credible sources".

You can now commence laughing uncontrollably.

It, however, didn't make for an auspicious start that Pakistan lied at the august body's General Assembly on Sunday as its representative waved a photograph of a wounded Palestinian woman, and claimed she was a Kashmiri pellet gun victim.

This would be especially troubling for Pakistan, which, according to the Tribune report, plans to "share damning evidence with key world powers" of India's alleged sponsorship of terrorism. It would need to get its evidence sourcing right to make any headway.

Still, the report said Pakistan already has, who else, but 'all-weather friend' China's support in the matter. Apparently, all the UN Security Council's veto-wielding members - especially China, of course, and Russia - will be approached to get their support on declaring India a 'terror sponsor'. After that, Pakistan prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will apparently move a resolution in the Security Council.

As for the US, Pakistan will apparently take it "into confidence" on the issue, sources told the Tribune.

In addition, Pakistani officials will reportedly "impress upon their American counterparts to build up diplomatic pressure on India to desist from provocation along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary." This is expected to happen when an American delegation arrived in Islamabad next month for high-level talks, according to an understanding reached in a meeting between Abbasi and US Vice President Mike Pence, the Tribune report said.

It may not be an understatement to say that Pakistan may have an uphill task convincing the Security Council to declare India a 'state sponsor of terror', especially considering US President Donald Trump savagely called out Islamabad last month on the very issue it is accusing India of.

Last month, while outlining his administration's Afghan policy, Trump named Pakistan and condemned it for providing "safe havens to agents of violence, chaos and terror". Why, even Trump's maiden UN speech last week more than hinted at the country.

"It is time to expose and hold responsible those countries who support and finance terror groups like al-Qaida, Hezbollah, the Taliban, and others that slaughter innocent people," said Trump at the UN.

Like in August, when Trump threatened to cut off funding to Pakistan, at the UN, too, he spoke of denying any form of support to those who harbour terror safe havens.

"We must deny the terrorists safe haven, transit, funding, and any form of support for their vile and sinister ideology," said Trump.
It was a day of 18-year-old Bilal Dar alias Billa of Laharwarpora of Bandipora district on Sunday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned his name in the Mann Ki Baat radio address.

Bilal Dar was 14-years-old when he started earning his living by picking up waste from the Wular Lake in Bandipora district of north Kashmir in 2013.

Twitter

Bilal's father Mohammad Ramzan Dar, who was also a ragpicker, died in 2003 due to cancer. Bilal took to collecting plastic trash and other waste material from the Wular lake which would fetch him Rs 150-200 per day, which helped him financially support his mother Mughali Appa and two sisters.

According to Srinagar Municipal commissioner Dr. Shafkat Khan, Bilal collects over 12,000 kg trash annually from the lake which besides earning him a livelihood, also helped get rid of pollution caused due to garbage thrown in the lake by the residents living nearby.

"I used to take somebody's boat in the wee hours of every morning and collect the rags from the Lake and which would fetch me some money after selling the same to trash dealers in the market," Bilal Dar told TOI.

It was a documentary produced by a Kashmiri film maker Jalal-u-Din Baba which depicted Bilal's life that brought him recognition. The documentary won several awards in Mumbai and in the US at film festivals, according to producer Baba.

Twitter

"Now we have appointed Dar as brand ambassador of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. He will be given a special uniform and a vehicle to go and meet people in Srinagar's commercial and residential areas, to tell people the story of his work in Wular. This will help sensitise urban residents to understand value of environmental issues, cleanliness and garbage disposal," Dr Shafkat Khan said.

Bilal Dar said, "I am very happy today that my work even acknowledged by the no less than the prime minister of India Modi."

While Tassaduq Mufti, brother CM Mehbooba Mufti gave me a boat for collection of garbage from the lake, state government gave Rs. 50,000 for construction of house. Though this is meagre amount to build a house yet I am satisfied with whatever, help the government provided me, Bilal Dar said.

The world famous Wular Lake is on the verge of dying due to dumping of toxic debris, plastic, carcasses and much more.The Lake has reduced from 273 km to just 72 km of water expanse.

Twitter

Ironically, the present state BJP minister for Forest and environment ministry Lal Singh has stopped the funds allocated by the GOI for its conservation, the forest officials disclosed.

Soon after his father's death in 2003 Bilal had worked as a mechanic at an auto-repair shop and then as a helping hand at a tea shop but continued unrest in Kashmir valley forced him to take to the job of ragpicking inside the Wullar, Bilal recalled.

Bilal features in a documentary 'Saving The Savior - Story Of A Kid And Wular Lake' produced and directed by Jalal-u-Din Baba.

Bilal Dar thanked Prime Minister, who mentioned his name in his Mann ki Baat on Radio. He however, appealed to PM Modi to provide him a job as his family did not have any regular source of income.

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PM Modi on Sunday addressed the nation on the third anniversary of his Mann ki Baat radio programme, saying an ideological movement is needed to make cleanliness a norm across the country. This was the 36th episode of Mann Ki Baat.

During the address, PM also lauded Kashmiri youth Dar's effort for cleaning up Wular lake in Bandipora district of north Kashmir.
An eight-year-old student, who was allegedly beaten up by his teacher on Saturday, died at civil hospital on Sunday. His parents have lodged a complaint against the teacher of a government primary school. Police are investigating the matter before registering a case though district education officer (elementary) has ordered an inquiry.

BCCL/Representational Image

Bindu Ram, alias Guddu, was a Class I student of Government Primary School, Phullanwal. His father Ravi Ram of Passi Nagar works as a painter. Shree Ram, grandfather of Bindu, said after returning from school on Saturday, his grandson said his teacher slapped him on the ear, causing his eardrum to burst. Shree Ram said the teacher had scolded Bindu about eight to 10 days ago too and when he raised the issue with school authorities, they turned him away.

BCCL/Representational Image

Around 3 am on Sunday, he complained of pain in the ear and they took him to civil hospital, where he breathed his last. Cops from Dugri police station reached civil hospital and started probe. SHO Dalbir Singh said the post-mortem examination has been conducted and viscera samples would be sent to a laboratory to ascertain the cause of death. Dr Kulwinder Singh, said, "The cause of death will be confirmed after receiving the viscera reports."

Dr Bindu Chopra said, "Initial findings of the autopsy show cause of death as aspiration."
There have been rumours in the past that Samsung was looking to eventually release a large display smartphone that folds in half to fit in your pocket. Now, it looks like that release data may soon be here.

Recent reports indicate Samsung isnt just prototyping at this point, but that they have a working model. According to LetsGoDigital, the company has just had its smartphone inspected by the Korean National Radio Research Agency ahead of an expected launch early next year.

Images courtesy: LetsGoDigital

The Galaxy X, as its supposedly named, has been going by the model number SM-G888, as it goes through various inspections before its declared compliant with regulations. Of course, it may eventually turn out to be another phone entirely, but the descriptions so far fit previous rumours surrounding the Galaxy X.

In fact, Samsung has previously demoed flexible technology, including what they called the Worlds first foldable AMOLED at CES 2009. AT the time however, the hardware was only a proof of concept and far too bulky to actually apply to a consumer device. In addition, it had a really low resolution and was expensive to manufacture.

If Samsung has been able to improve the technology enough, itll be like the Note Edge when it first launched; more of a reconnaissance mission. The idea would be for Samsung to sell the device in limited numbers to gauge public response, before they decide to wholly dive into further development. The curved display on the Edge, after all, has always been Samsungs stepping stone to the eventual foldable displays theyve always envisioned.

With any luck, Samsung may be able to unveil, or at least demo, the new device at CES 2018 in Jan, or later in February at MWC 2018. Either way, we may about to see the first device in the longest time capable of rocking our world.
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CEEC is proud to announce a low-cost, interactive Mining Energy Innovation Forum in Santiago, Chile. Bringing Chilean mining leaders and industry experts together, this Forum will celebrate Chilean insights and enhance knowledge-sharing in the critical area of energy efficiency in mining and processing.

Mining Energy Innovation Forum  Energising Our Future

Chilean Insights and Global Options for Successful, Energy Efficient Mineral Production
A Junior Secondary School 2 pupil of Agbara Commuinty Junior Secondary School, Ogun State,identified as Asmau Ajibade, has been declared missing by her guardians who are not aware over her whereabouts seven days after she left home for school.

The girl lived with the guardians, Alhaji Rauf Adetona and Alhaja Ajarat Adetona, on Area 8, Road 810, Block AM, Plot 18, OPIC Estate, Agbara, off Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Ogun State.

It was learnt that Ajibade had left the house at about 7.30am last Monday in her school uniform.

The belief in the house was that she had gone to school.

The guardians became apprehensive when it was 4pm and she had not returned home.

Record of the school reportedly revealed that she was absent that day.

Ajarat said the girl had been living with them since she was four years old, adding that she was surprised by her disappearance. She said it was the first time she would leave home without returning.

She said, She went to school on Monday and has not returned. Her teachers told us that she didnt come to school that day.

But a cobbler around here told us that he fixed her torn sandal that morning. The cobbler said she seemed to be in a hurry as she told him that somebody was waiting for her.

She had never done anything like this, although her teachers had told us that she was keeping bad company; and I warned her to stop associating with bad people.

Her parents had divorced. His father died while she was six months old. She had been living with us for 11 years now. Her attitude that morning did not show that she planned to do anything.

Rauf told our correspondent that he was on his farm when a call came in that Ajibade was missing.

He said they were told at the school that Ajibade might have absconded with some of her school friends, adding that the incident had been reported at the Agbara Police Station.

He said, She always prepared the food she would eat at the school and did same that morning. My wife gave her money in addition to the food and she thanked Alhaja and left. I went to my farm around 9am. At about 4pm, my wife called me that Asmau (Ajibade) had not come back home.

I told her to be patient because she came home around 3.30pm at times. When it was 5pm, she called me back and said she had gone to Asmaus school, but she didnt see her.

On Tuesday, we went back to the school. The teachers at the school told us that she had become a wayward girl and had been moving with a friend who had been expelled from the school.

We reported at the police station on our estate and we were told to come back on Wednesday if we didnt see her.

On Wednesday, we were directed to the Agbara Police Station. The police collected her picture from us and promised to radio other divisions. They said she might have eloped with a boy.
At least 23,000 pilgrims have returned to Nigeria since the commencement of airlift of pilgrims after the 2017 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, according to Max Air Limited.

This was confirmed in a statement by the Airlines Public Relations Manager, Alhaji Ibrahim Dahiru in Kano on Sunday.

According to him, the pilgrims were transported back to Nigeria from the Holy land through various airports in 45 flights.

He said the airline had made seven trips each for Sokoto and Katsina States in addition to eight flights for Zamfara.

He said that the airline also made four trips for Kaduna pilgrims, three trips for Kwara, one for Kogi, while Kano and Nasarawa States had two trips each.

Dahiru said that the airline also took a combined flight of pilgrims from Nasarawa and Kogi early Sunday morning.

He explained that the return date for Jigawa and Plateau pilgrims has been fixed for Sept. 27 and Sept. 29 respectively.

Max Airline has Oct. 3 for its last flight for the returning pilgrims.

The return airlift operation which commenced on Sept. 9 has been going on very smoothly, the Airlines spokesman said.

On the pilgrims luggage, Dahiru said the Airline has recorded huge success in this direction as over 75 per cent of the luggage arrived Nigeria ahead of the pilgrims.

Max Air transported over 35,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2017 Hajj exercise.

Source: ( PM News )
President Donald Trump has added Chad, North Korea and Venezuela to the countries whose citizens are to face restrictions in entering the United States.

Mr. Trumps so-called travel ban order initially targeted citizens from six Muslim majority countries of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen.

But the new proclamation removed restrictions that were placed on Sudan and added the three new others.

A statement by White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, on Sunday stated the new countries on the list.

Mr. Trump said he had taken the steps to strengthen the security standards for travelling to the United States.

Our governments first duty is to its people, to our citizens- to serve their needs, to ensure their safety, to preserve their rights, and to defend their values. the American President said.

Mr. Trumps original ban was highly controversial, as it was widely labelled a Muslim ban.

It was subsequently abandoned by the administration after a series of federal courts blocked it on grounds it violated the US constitutions protection of religious freedom.

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela now means not all nations on the list are majority-Muslim.

America and North Korea are engrossed in a face-off over the nuclear arms programme of the Asian country with which Americas ally in the peninsula, South Korea, remains technically at war since their partition.

Venezuela on the other hand is facing political strife after President Nicholas Maduro conducted a referendum that stripped the opposition-controlled National Assembly of its powers.

The criteria for the new ban list is now based on vetting procedures and co-operation, and the restrictions have now been tailored on a country-by-country basis.

Ms. Sanders stated furthered that the proclamation would begin until the U.S. can conduct proper screening and vetting of those countries nationals.

She said Mr. Trump had taken key steps to protect the American people from those who would enter our country and do us harm.

Ms. Sanders also said the new development aims at ensuring American border and immigration security is adequate to protect the safety and security of the American people.

Earlier this year, the President signed Executive Order 13780, which asked the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a new minimum baseline for how much information sharing with foreign nations is required to determine whether their nationals seeking entry into the United States present security threats to our nation, she said.

The new baseline furthers the aims of the Executive Order by ensuring our border and immigration security is adequate to protect the safety and security of the American people.

New requirements on issuing electronic passports, sharing criminal data, reporting lost and stolen passports, and sharing more information on travelers will help better verify the identities and national security risks of people trying to enter the United States, she added.

She noted that foreign governments will have to work with the United States to identify serious criminals and known or suspected terrorists, as well as share identity-related information and exemplars of documents such as IDs and passports.

Source: ( Premium Times )
Jere, a community along the Abuja-Kaduna road that experienced series of kidnapping recently is the venue of a train breakdown over the past weekend which made passengers panicked and fear.

Fear gripped passengers on Abuja-Kaduna train at the weekend when it experienced system failure near Jere, a community that experienced series of kidnapping recently.

According to DailyTrust, the Friday morning train, which took off from Idu in Abuja around 7.03am had system failure twice. The first was before the train took off in Idu, while the second was at Jere in Kaduna State.

It was gathered that the system failure in Jere lasted 20 minutes, raising tension among passengers. It happened around 8.02am and it was rectified by 8.22am. This is the second time the train is breaking down in less than two weeks.

Announcement was made by an official of the Nigerian Railway Service (NRC) that the system failure would be rectified in two minutes. We are sorry passengers; we are having system failure which will be rectified in two minutes.

It however took 20 minutes to be fixed. As soon as the announcement was made passengers panicked.

Policemen in the train alighted from it and mounted a sort of security around the train.

A regular passenger of the train urged the NRC authorities to guard against a repeat of the system failure. He also advocated for the deployment of more security personnel.

We are lucky that it did not happen at night. I pray that this is urgently looked into because this is the safest means of getting to Kaduna from Abuja, he said.

Another passenger said: This is the second time that Im experiencing this. The first time we spent hours but today (Friday) we only spent 20 minutes or so. Immediately it happened, what came to my mind were kidnappers.
Two Nigerian pastors are billed to be honoured by the Nollywood Ambassadors Awards for the role they have been playing in support of the movie industry.

Fierce preacher, Apostle Johnson Suleiman and Pastor Joshua Iginla have been nominated for the maiden edition of the Nollywood Ambassadors Awards (NAA) slated to hold in Abuja on Sept. 29.

Mr Sunny-Ken Awoji, President of Nollywood Ambassadors International Initiative, organisers of the event, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, Suleiman, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, will be honoured as Nollywood Most Friendly Clergyman for his `passionate care and support for the movie industry, particularly for actors.

He added that Iginla of the Champions Royal Assembly, based in the Federal Capital Territory, will be awarded as the Most Supportive Clergyman of the Year.

In spite of their huge spiritual responsibilities, these men have committed their resources to the wellbeing of Nollywood over the years.

They are among our unsung heroes and worthy ambassadors that should be honoured, in a way of saying thank you to them.

They have severally paid the medical bills of some of our own when they were having health challenges, and in some cases sponsored others for medical trips abroad.

Pastor Iginla has made it a tradition to motivate our actors whenever he is celebrating his birthday by giving them cars and other material items of value to the industry.

Having shown uncommon patriotism to Nollywood, they need to be celebrated for them to be inspired and do more for humanity, Awoji said.

He added that there were individuals and organisations, within and outside the Nigerian motion picture industry, that have contributed toward its astronomical growth that were also listed on the honour roll.

He noted that anyone, across every sector, who has shown uncommon patriotism and contributed to the growth of the film making industry in Nigeria, was a worthy ambassador of Nollywood.

Nollywood has evolved to become a global brand, and it is time to celebrate our brand ambassadors for their immense contributions to the growth of a brand that has created jobs for many Nigerians.

Awoji explained that since the award was geared towards recognising both practitioners and supporters of the industry alike, the award has been classified into internal and external awards respectively.

He identified others listed for the award to include a clergy, Jide Ogunsakin, Admiral Festus Porbeni and Dr. Chief Andy Bassey to be honoured as Youngest Entrepreneur of the Year, among others.

He added that Nollywood has also listed some of its best to be honoured as Best Guild President of the year, Most Creative Director of the year, Best Producer and the Best Director.

The Best Actors, Male and Female, Kannywood Best Actor, and the Most Promising Actor, male and female respectively, would also be honoured among others.

Awoji explained that the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) and other guilds within Nollywood were in support of the initiative.

He said that the choice of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as venue for the awards was to represent unity and oneness of Nollywood.
A young man simply identified as Akachukwu who is said to be a hardcore member of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB was gruesomely murdered yesterday night in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital. According to multiple online reports, the young man was reported to have been shot dead near his residence.

The reason for this killing could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report. May his soul rest in peace.

Source  National Helm
Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, Mr. Godwin Ogorugba, weekend, said the Federal Government, under All Progressives Congress, APC, has squandered N15 trillion in two years with no single road project completed.

Speaking at Otor-Igho community shortly after the Chairman of Isoko council, Mr. Emmanuel Egbabor, declared his intention to vie for the position for a second term, Ogorugba said the country had been impoverished by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration.

He said: They have borrowed over N10 trillion, but the projects cannot be seen anywhere in the country. The money has been blown off systematically in the name of consultancy services.

The former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, came up with so many road projects which can be seen everywhere. But today, APCs government has not been unable to add a single kilometre of road to that.

Earlier, Egbabor said infrastructure develop-ment, quality health care, and youth empowerment will form the policy thrust of his administration if re-elected.
A Catholic cardinal, John Onaiyekan, who is the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja has criticised the federal governments declaration of the separatist group, IPOB, as a terrorist organisation.

He made the view public during an interview with Premium Times. The Nigerian government had on Wednesday secured a court order, affirming an earlier pronouncement by the Nigerian army that IPOB is a terrorist organisation.

The acting Chief Judge, Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, Abdu Kafarati, gave the ruling, following an ex-parte application, by Nigerias Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on the same day consented to the declaration, ahead of the ruling by the court. Explaining the position of the government on the issue, the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, said the move was the only option available for a responsible government to take to curb the excesses of the group.

Some Nigerians have criticised the move, saying other groups like the Fulani herdsmen whose activities have caused scores of deaths were not labelled terrorists.

Reacting, Mr. Onaiyekan said although members of IPOB led by its separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, had not conducted themselves in a manner worthy of any commendation, the step taken by the government, is one taken too far.

My understanding of a terrorist is a deadly armed activist. I dont think, merely speaking or talking or threatening will add up to being a terrorist. I believe it is a mistake, it was overdone and I fear that a lot of people outside Nigeria will find it difficult to agree with us in this matter. It will create a bad image for us.

The impression it creates is like you give a dog a bad name so as to deal with it. If you want to deal with IPOB, I believe that even the military show-down is a bad approach. Because there is the need to address the grievances of those boys.

Even though I do not agree with what the boys are doing and the way they are doing it. Nnamdi Kanus advisers should have warned him to calm down and not be stupid by thinking that he can confront the Nigerian army. The method he is using will not achieve any objective. Up till now, we have not seen any confrontation since the declaration; and that supports my claim that they are not terrorists.

If we reduce the courts to a body that just confirms whatever aspirations that government has, then the judiciary will not be seen as independent. The title of terrorists should not just be thrown at anybody. And there is a danger that if we continue this way, it may become more and more difficult for us to arrive at a peaceful solution, the cleric said.

Speaking on the menace caused by Fulani herdsmen, he added: The Fulani herdsmen who are armed, lethal, murderous, vicious and have been killing people in our communities; they are the ones that we are waiting for, to see what the government will do. If you recall, the Bishops conference called on the government to treat them as terrorists, Mr. Onaiyekan said.
The Chief Imam of Lagos, Haruna Akinola, has been confirmed dead, he passed away on Sunday after a brief illness.

According to reports, Mr. Akinola died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, a source said.

Reacting to the clerics passing, the President of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN, in Lagos State, Saheed Ashafa, described him as a worthy leader.

Mr. Ashafa urged other Islamic leaders to emulate the deceased, saying that his promotion of unity was outstanding.

He was indeed an epitome of unity for the Nigerian Muslims and a worthy father for all. He would be remembered for keeping Muslims together in the state and beyond.

Although, the vacuum he left behind may appear difficult to fill but his legacy while alive would create a source of guidance for the Muslim community. May Allah accept his as one of the righteous, Mr. Ashafa said.

Source: ( Premium Times )
A professor of medicine and consultant physician/endocrinologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Anthonia Ogbera, talks about diabetes mellitus and how to avoid it.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does not produce enough insulin to meet its needs.

With a population of over 170 million people, Nigeria is the largest country in Africa and accounts for one sixth of Africas population. Diabetes mellitus is on the increase and assuming pandemic proportions. The latest estimates from IDF Diabetes Atlas indicate that 382 million people are living with diabetes mellitus worldwide and that by 2035, this figure will be doubled. The bad news is that much of this increase in numbers will be documented in the developing countries of the world like Nigeria.

Unfortunately, Nigeria, like most developing countries, is experiencing a rapid epidemiological transition with the burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus and hypertension poised to overwhelm the healthcare system that is already overburdened by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Guestimates indicate that currently, about 15 million Nigerians are living with diabetes mellitus as against two million in 1997. The epidemic has grown in parallel with the worldwide rise in obesity and it is fuelled by rapid urbanisation, nutrition transition, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

What are the types of diabetes?

There are two main types of this disease; they are type 1 diabetes mellitus which has its onset in childhood and requiring lifelong insulin injections and type 2 diabetes with its onset in adulthood and often requiring glucose lowering drugs (in tablet form) and sometimes insulin injections . Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the commonly occurring type of diabetes mellitus and it accounts for 95 per cent persons of persons living with diabetes mellitus. Apparently, the type 2 diabetes mellitus is a global public health crisis that threatens the economies of all nations, particularly developing countries including Nigeria. Although type 2 diabetes mellitus has its onset in adults usually above 30 years of age, this form is becoming increasingly common in teenagers and the reasons for this scenario include, intake of calorie dense foods, lack of exercise and overweight or obesity.

Is diabetes life-threatening?

All forms of diabetes mellitus become life- threatening if glucose control is poor. These complications may affect virtually every organ in the body and may give rise to stroke, kidney failure, foot ulcers and amputations, blindness, impotence in men and stillbirths in women to mention a few.

How common is diabetes in Nigeria?

Local Research from Nigeria has shown that 15 out of a 100 people admitted into the medical wards have diabetes and that one in six people hospitalised as a result of diabetes would die. Foot ulcers or wound occurs in two in 10 people with diabetes and 40 per cent of people with diabetic foot ulcers will need surgical intervention which most of the time involves amputation of the affected limb. Six out of 10 persons undergoing dialysis developed kidney failure as a result of diabetes. One of the most feared complications of diabetes mellitus is stroke which often results in reduced quality and quantity of life.

A significant area of concern which healthcare professionals often shy away from is that of sexual dysfunction. Local research from Nigeria indicate that a third of all men with diabetes have erectile dysfunction or suffer impotence while one 1 in 10 people women with diabetes have sexual problems. A resultant effect of this is the influx of unlicensed therapies and false claims by charlatans who have a field day making profit from peoples ignorance and problems.

There seems to be some form of stigma attached to people with diabetes.

An understudied aspect of diabetes complication is the psychological impact. There is some degree of societal stigma that stems from having diabetes and there a few documented cases of people committing suicide as a result of the unending frustrations of living with the complications of diabetes.

What efforts are being made to reduce the number of those battling with this health condition?

In a bid to reduce the burden of diabetes mellitus and its complications, there are heightened efforts worldwide to increase awareness and sensitise the public on this all important non-communicable disease. To this end, World Diabetes Day was created by the International Diabetes Federation. This day is all about serving as advocacy and creating awareness on diabetes.

In Nigeria, the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, a non-governmental and non-profit organisation, made up of volunteers and stakeholders is at the forefront of the advocacy for diabetes. Healthy living does not only have the potential to prevent diabetes from occurring but also improve the glucose control in persons with diabetes. Healthy living embraces healthy eating, increased physical activity and doing away with risky behaviours such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake. My pragmatic submission is that healthy living be introduced at primary school level and should also be part of the school curriculum. If children embrace healthy living then chances are high that they will adhere to these habits when they grow up. The danger with allowing children to indulge in unhealthy living just because of their age is that they run the risk of developing diabetes and hypertension. Type 2 diabetes or the adult form of diabetes is becoming increasingly documented in adolescents and this is attributable to same risk factors as it in adults.

What are some of the challenges about awareness on diabetes?

Challenges abound in detecting and managing diabetes mellitus and foremost of these are deeply entrenched erroneous beliefs on DM and poor funding of the health sector. Although we have a health insurance system in Nigeria, it is weak and tottering on its feet. There is a compelling need as never before for all stakeholders to be in collaboration with the government and the private sector to improve on the detection of DM and the dissemination of information on it. Currently, a non-governmental non-profit organisation, Structured Healthcare Initiatives, at the forefront in the fight to reduce the burden of DM, is presently collaborating with the World Diabetes Foundation to execute a project titled Improving foot care in DM in Lagos State.

To this end, they have donated foot ulcer risk factors detecting equipment to 20 hospitals in Lagos State. They have also built and still building capacity amongst healthcare professionals while at the same time raising public awareness and offering free screening of DM.

Tell us more about foot ulcers.

The burden of foot ulcers in Nigeria is particularly high. In the early 90s, a research work published by me and some of my colleagues showed that 50 per cent of all persons admitted as a result of foot ulcers had diabetes and six out of 10 would require surgical intervention which may be in the form of amputations. The number of deaths from DM foot ulcers is also high and sometimes, such people suffer psychological trauma from the loss of limbs, societal stigma and loss of or reduced earnings/income. We therefore emphasise that persons with DM should undergo yearly screening for nerve damage and assessment of blood flow to the lower limbs.

What is your advice to Nigerians about DM?

My pragmatic submission is adopting a healthy life style should be entrenched in our collective psyche as this will, to a large extent, ensure a life free from diseases.
The premier anti-graft agency in Nigeria, EFCC has revealed its challenge in investigating a former petroleum Minister, Diezani over massive fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC says its investigative team has not been allowed to meet with the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the United Kingdom, where she has been staying since 2015 when investigation into her tenure began.

The commission stated in a counter-affidavit filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, that it had been investigating the ex-minister for various allegations of corrupt practices, including abuse of office, money laundering, stealing of public funds and illegal acquisition of properties within and outside Nigeria.

But EFCC stated that its efforts to interrogate her over the allegations had been abortive as her lawyer, John Binns of BCL Solicitors, refused to allow the commissions team of investigators, led by Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, to meet with her in the UK earlier in March this year.

The EFCCs counter-affidavit was in response to a motion filed by the former minister, seeking an amendment to the heading of the charges filed against a businessman, Mr. Olajide Omokore, and five others by adding her name to the list of defendants so that she could defend herself in respect of allegations against her in one of the nine counts.

A detective with the commission, Mr. Rufai Zaki, who deposed to the EFCCs counter-affidavit, added that it was not yet possible to bring the former minister back to Nigeria as she was being investigated by the UKs Metropolitan Police for several other financial crimes, saying the probe had reached an advanced stage.

The EFCC had preferred nine counts of criminal diversion of about $1.6bn, alleged to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government, against Omokore and the other five defendants.

In one of the nine counts, the anti-graft agency alleged that Alison-Madueke and other officials aided and abetted Omokore in committing money laundering offences in relation to the diversion of the crude oil money.

Zaki, the deponent to the EFCCs counter-affidavit, stated that Alison-Madueke had absconded to the UK after leaving office in 2015 upon realising that the EFCC had commenced investigation into her activities.

He stated in the counter-affidavit, That sometime in 2015, the commission received an intelligence report bordering on abuse of office, criminal breach of trust, stealing, conversion and receiving stolen properties.

That the commission further assessed the intelligence report and found that there was merit in same. Investigation was conducted in respect of this case before a charge was preferred against the defendants (Omokore and others).

That at the tail end of the tenure of the applicant as Minister of Petroleum Resources, the commission received a lot of complaints and intelligence reports against the applicant, alleging that she was involved in various corrupt practices, money laundering, stealing of public funds and illegal acquisition of properties within and outside Nigeria.

That immediately the applicant (Alison-Madueke) got to know that investigations had commenced in respect of her various nefarious illegal financial activities while she was the Minister of Petroleum Resources, she absconded from Nigeria in order to escape the investigation and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

That upon realising that the applicant is in the United Kingdom, we made efforts to schedule a meeting with the applicant in order to interview her in respect of her involvement in the activities leading to this charge and many other alleged financial crimes linked to her but up till now, she had always avoided having any meeting with members of our team.

That the applicants lawyer in the United Kingdom, one John Binns of BCL Solicitors, informed the members of the team of investigators headed by Abdulrasheed Bawa, when they visited the United Kingdom in March, 2017, that the team would not be permitted to meet the applicant for any interview in view of the fact that she is not within the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

That while in the United Kingdom, the applicant had been invited by the Metropolitan Police, who are investigating her for several other financial crimes. She has been released on bail in the United Kingdom but could not leave the United Kingdom as their investigations have reached advanced stages.

Alison-Madueke had, in her motion, filed on August 18, sought an order mandating her to appear in court on the next adjourned date on October 5, 2017, to plead to the charge and in particular Count 8 of the charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2016.

She also sought another order mandating the Attorney General of the Federation, being the agent of the complainant, to facilitate her prompt appearance in court on October 5, 2017, to take her plea and to defend herself over the allegation made against her in Court 8 of the charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2016.

But the trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, on September 20, dismissed the motion after hearing the former ministers lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and EFCCs counsel, Mr. M. S. Abubakar.

The judge, in his ruling, struck out the count in which Alison-Maduekes name was mentioned but held that he could not grant any of the three prayers sought by the minister.

The judge ruled that he could not grant the prayers because amending the charges to include her name as a defendant would imply starting the trial afresh, a development which would amount to waste of time and resources already expended on the case.

The six, named as defendants in the case in which Alison-Madueke had sought to be joined as a defendant, include Omokore; his two companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

The other defendants are a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Abiye Membere; and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.
An attempt by former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to return to Nigeria from London to face trial was succesfully blocked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke had fled to London shortly after she left office in May 2015, and has stayed away from the country since then.

She later became an object of interest to the UK National Crime Agency which has since then being investigating her for corruption and money laundering. Already some assets linked to her in that country have been frozen.

Those familiar with the matter say she is barred from travelling out of the UK while the investigation lasts.

But it now appears the former minister is tired of staying in the UK, and now wants to return to Nigeria, where she is also being investigated for massive corruption.

As part of the plot, she recently filed an application before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to be joined as defendant in the trial of businessman Jide Omokore.

Mr. Omokore, chairman, Atlantic Energy Brass Development and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept, is facing a nine-count charge along with Victor Briggs, a former Managing Director, National Petroleum Development Company; Abiye Membere, a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production at the NNPC, and David Mbanefo, a former Manager, Planning and Commercial at NNPC, for an alleged $1.6 billion fraud.

But counsel for Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), suddenly, on September 18, filed an application for his client to be joined as defendant, based on the fact that her name was mentioned in count eight of the charge.

He sought an amendment of the charge to include her as the seventh defendant, in order to give her the opportunity to defend herself.

In the said application, the former minister also requested the court to direct the Attorney General of the Federation to facilitate her appearance in court in Nigeria on the next adjourned date in October 2017.

That would have meant Nigeria requesting Britain to allow her travel out of the UK to attend the court hearing.

The EFCC however interpreted her action as a ploy to escape prosecution in the UK and frustrate the ongoing trial in Nigeria.

In mounting a strong challenge to the application, the counsel for the EFCC, M.S. Abubakar, in an 18-paragraph counter-affidavit, vehemently opposed the filing, arguing that, the applicant realized she was being investigated, and she absconded abroad and sometimes in March this year operatives were in London, but her lawyers refused to allow the operatives interview her.

My lord, this present application is a plot by the applicant to enable her escape prosecution in London, also to enable her come to Nigeria and scuttle the ongoing case which has already gotten to an advanced stage.

After hearing arguments by both parties, Justice Dimgba declined to grant the application, and instead, struck out the eighth count in which the former ministers name appeared.

The verdict effectively ended her dream of returning home after holing up in London for more than two years.

It remains unclear whether she would appeal the ruling.

The trial of Mr. Omokore and his co-defendants continues on October 5, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement

Source: ( Premium Times )
Some beautiful and happy photos from the birthday celebration of Gumsu, one of the daughters of Nigerian former military leader, Sani Abacha, have emerged on social media.

Gumsu Abacha-Fadil, the daughter of former military leader, Sani Abacha, turned a year older on September 23 and celebrated her special day with her friends and family.

The pretty celebrat who happens to be one of the most popular children of former Nigerian presidents on social media, looked very beautiful on her big day as her mother, former first lady, Maryam, was also present to celebrate with her.
Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has debunked the news making the round, that he is the promoter of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ). He, however, said the government must address agitations through dialogue and not military might.

Fayose said this in a series of tweets on his official Twitter handle on Sunday.

The governor said, Let the use of brute force be the last option in matters of agitation. Battles can be won without the use of force. Having said that, I am not promoting IPOB, but Buhari should lead Nigeria with equity and justice.

In every family there are both the good and bad people. Agitation is normal in every society but the way to go about it is to tread cautiously. Im not for division of Nigeria. But the Federal Government should engage in more of dialogue with agitating groups; use carrot and stick approach instead of guns.

Fayose said Nigeria must be restructured in order to promote fairness and equity.

Fayose further advised the All Progressives Congress to include members of the opposition in the Governor Nasir el-Rufai restructuring committee.

He added, What this government needs to do is to restructure and this matter should not be handled by the APC. It should not be a party affair. Using brute force is not democratic. Running a democracy should not be by propaganda. Democracy is not autocracy.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
There is always a day for the owner despite the thief having all days to himself, that was the story of a man who was arrested on Sunday inside the kitchen of the Rev. Fr. Francis Effiong, the Parish Priest of St. Pauls Catholic Church, located at the University of Calabar (Unical), Cross River State.

The suspect was arrested after stealing meat from the refrigerator of the priest, who had the left his house by 9 a.m for a mass. The suspect, who claims to be a prison warden, was apprehended just as he was leaving the kitchen with bags of meat in both hands.

According to a source: Before todays incident, many other items such as washing machines, television sets, cookers, and so on have been missing from the house. He lives in the boys quarters just directly behind the priests kitchen, he said.

Source: ( Instablog)
Katsina state police command has arrested a certain Akilu Alhaji Saidu, who allegedly beat his 3-year old step-daughter, Saratu Yahuza to death.

The suspect allegedy dragged her into an uncompleted building in Yankara village of Faskari Local Government, where he allegedly beat, twisted and broke her neck.

The Commands spokesperson, DSP Gambo Isah, confirming the incident said the girls biological father Yahuza Yakubu, reported the case at the Police Station in Faskari.

Isah said the suspect had since confessed to the crime and during investigation, told the Police investigators that he acted under the influence of psychotropic substances.

Isah said the deceased was rushed to Funtua General Hospital, where a doctor confirmed her dead.
A man identified as Okiki Arisekola, a commercial bus driver, has beaten his pregnant lover Islamat Bolaji , identified to death during a scuffle on September 16. The incident happened at No. 50 Wright Street Adekunle, Yaba, Lagos, where the victim lived with her grandmother, Gbemisola Agboola.

According to Sunonline, Islamat was nursing a little child she already had with her killer. She died during a quarrel over the custody of the little baby, named Kemi.

Arisekola, said to be on the run, had reportedly been frequently visiting the baby and his mother, a development that aroused suspicion, due to the no love lost between the two lovers.

He has not been visiting my daughter, but recently he just started coming and my daughter grew suspicious of his visits. On the fateful day, when he came, they were together at first, then he left, on his return, they started quarreling.

But, this time, it led to a physical fight and Okiki beat my daughter into a coma. After some minutes that he had left, my daughter fell and became motionless. We rushed her to the hospital and it was there she died, her grandma recalled.

He demanded to take the girl away but she rushed to take the baby from him. They dragged the baby between them. She feared that he was going to use the child for rituals.

It was a passerby that called my attention to Okiki merciless beating of my granddaughter, I almost had high blood pressure, I rushed out and called my granddaughter.

As I was leading her back into the house, she fell and fainted. The first hospital we took her to didnt have doctors on call, but before we could get to the health center, she died, the grandmother added.

Source: ( Instablog9ja )
A holidaymaker recently got home from France to find a 22-year-old Ethiopian illegal immigrant hiding in the boot of his Nissan. Dumbfounded Paul Edmunds, 59, was unpacking when he saw the mans trainers poking out from among his bags.

Paul said: He asked if he was in England. I said Yes  well Wales, actually. He made a prayer gesture and smiled. The man, who crept into the van at Calais, France, was arrested in Caersws, Wales.

Paul and wife Janet had stopped in the French port for a toilet break before taking the Eurotunnel shuttle back to Britain. But as Paul unpacked their Nissan Navara at home following a 4 hour drive from Folkestone he spotted a strange pair of trainers.

Businessman Paul said: When I saw a face I asked Where do you come from, Calais? He didnt speak English but was able to ask if he was in England. I asked him again where he was from and he said Africa.

He had a phone and was trying to contact someone here. Ive never seen my wifes mouth open so wide as when she saw him step out of the boot.

Paul called the police and gave the stowaway some water and chocolate while they waited for them. The man was arrested and handed to immigration officials.The Home Office said the man will be dealt according to immigration rules.
Meet lovely Nigerian pilot, Aniema Violet Enahoro, who has made name for herself in a male dominated aviation industry. The pretty pilot is from Oron in Akwa Ibom state and married to a pilot from Edo state. The lady who worked with Aerocontractors  disclosed that she receives several encouraging and pleasant remarks from Nigerian passengers, mostly women whenever they see her on flight deck.

In an interview conducted some years back, Violet Enahoro revealed how she enjoys being married to a pilot and how they share stories about their work. In her words; Im married to a pilot and this works perfectly for me. They say pilots talk about flying a lot.

Its true, it never gets boring, no two days are really the same and usually I cant wait to get home and tell him about some weird escapade and vice versa ( be at peace, pilots dont take passengers up and hunt escapades). I also have a 3 year old and another on the way, which means Ill have to stop flying soon.

source: Theinfong
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent congratulatory message to the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on her election victory.

President Buhari felicitated with Merkel in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday.

He also congratulated Merkels party for offering quality leadership to the European nation since the past two years, describing the victory as another opportunity to sustain the legacy of good work.

The president recalled his interactions with Merkel over the years, especially at the G8 meeting in 2015 and during his visit to Germany in 2016.

Buhari said he came out after each of the meetings with a strong impression of Merkel as a leader committed to building stronger ties across the world.

The Nigerian leader wished the German chancellor a successful tenure.

Merkels conservative Christian Union (UDU/CSU) bloc scored 32.9 percent of the votes cast at the election held on September 24, to clinch a record fourth term in office.

Political analysts say that Merkels party now has to build an uneasy coalition with its nearest rival, the Social Democrats and its candidate, Martin Schulz, coming a distant second with 20.8 percent of the votes.

They argue, however, that Merkels victory is clouded by the hard-right AfD party, winning its first seats in the German parliament.

Source: ( NAN )
A man has been left dumbfounded after he found a migrant hiding inside his car after driving from France to the UK.

Paul Edmunds, a 59-year-old holidaymaker recently got home from France only to be shocked when he found an Ethiopian illegal immigrant hiding in the boot of his Nissan.

According to The Sun UK, Paul was unpacking when he saw the mans trainers poking out from among his bags.

Paul said: He asked if he was in England. I said Yes  well Wales, actually. He made a prayer gesture and smiled.

The man, who crept into the van at Calais, was arrested in Caersws, Wales.

Paul and wife Janet stopped in the French port for a toilet break before taking the Eurotunnel shuttle back to Britain.

But as Paul unpacked their Nissan Navara at home following a 4 hour drive from Folkestone he spotted a strange pair of trainers.

When the Ethiopian found out he was in Wales he made a prayer gesture and smiled

Then he saw the legs of the 22-year-old migrant, who had trekked 4,500 miles to reach Pauls home in Caersws, Wales.

Businessman Paul said: When I saw a face I asked Where do you come from, Calais?

He didnt speak English but was able to ask if he was in England. I said Yes  well Wales actually and he made a prayer sign and smiled.

I asked him again where he was from and he said Africa.

He had a phone and was trying to contact someone here.

Ive never seen my wifes mouth open so wide as when she saw him step out of the boot.

Paul called police and gave the stowaway some water and chocolate while they waited for them. The man was arrested and handed to immigration officials.

Paul, Janet and two friends had been on a four-day trip and stopped at Calais for an hour before boarding the shuttle.

He said: The three others went for a coffee while I had a nap in the vehicle. He could have jumped in while I was asleep.

During the drive from Folkestone Paul stopped twice, to get petrol and for a toilet break.

The Home Office said the man will be dealt according to immigration rules. Lorry drivers face fines if stowaway migrants are found but holidaymakers do not.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday branded the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) as a terrorist organization as far as the industrial relation is concerned.

The union made it know in a statement after the institution reportedly sacked the ASUU chairman in the school, Dr. Kayode Afolayan, for allegedly exposing the impunity, lawlessness and disregard for due process in the University.

In the statement sighted on the Vanguard which was signed by Dr Ade Adejumo and Dr. Deji Omole, the Zonal Coordinator of the Ibadan Zone of ASUU and Chairman, University of Ibadan Chapter, they claimed that the outgoing Vice-Chancellor at Unilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, who is allegedly behind the termination of the ASUU chairman in the school, illegally handed a temporal appointment to his wife Dr (Mrs) Taiwo Toyin Ambali.

Read the full statement below;

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali took all these to an unprecedented height when in 2015, he smuggled his wife, Dr (Mrs) Taiwo Toyin Ambali, into the University through the temporary appointment route as Lecturer 1. By 2016, less than one year later, she had been promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer, when the Regulation specifies at least three years before such a promotion could take place.

Our branch Chairperson, Dr. Kayode Afolayan, on behalf of the union, signed a letter addressed to the Council to look into the infringement against the University Rules and Regulations committed by Prof Ambali. However, rather that retrace his steps, the outgoing vice-chancellor issued a query to the branch chairperson, Dr. Kayode Afolayan, alleging that they circulated an unspecified leaflet against the vice-chancellor.

The union promptly alerted members of the public to the evil plans of Prof Ambali to sack our officers in Unilorin. Just yesterday, 21st September 2017, the University Administration completed another cycle of impunity, lawlessness, and disregard for due process with the termination of appointments of the branch Chairperson. Gentlemen of the press, this very unfortunate development has again exposed the evil going on in the University of Ilorin.

The University has devised all means to suppress legitimate industrial activities in order to avoid exposure of its misdeeds. Indeed, the University prides itself in its ability to kill off staff and students that are connected in any way to ASUU leadership. This hate crime on the part of the University is usually carried out under the guise of the uninterrupted academic calendar.

Yet, many Universities have also maintained a stable academic calendar without destroying union members or their careers. To all intents and purposes, UNILORIN has become a terrorist organization as far as the industrial relation is concerned. Equally worrisome is the seeming connivance of relevant authorities with Unilorin in its dastardly pursuit. For example, our union, since December 2016, had submitted petitions to the EFCC, ICPC and the CCB but until now results of ongoing investigations have not been made known to the public.

Our union also wrote petitions to the Ministry of Education and the Visitor to the School but no concrete step has been taken. The silence by these relevant agencies and authorities casts serious doubt on the commitment of the government in the anti-graft war especially in the University of Ilorin where there are glaring manifestations of corruption.

This has emboldened UNILORIN to embark on the victimization of the whistleblowers in the University. Our union wishes to reiterate that it will not sit by and watch the continuous victimization of its members in the University of Ilorin. We warn that the crisis of the University of Ilorin is once again on the verge of ballooning into a national crisis reminiscent of 2001 when the same University sacked 49 academics in one fell swoop.

The Union calls on all well-meaning Nigerians and the appropriate authorities to intervene urgently to restore justice in the University and stave off a needless crisis. Members of the public and the press are also to take note that, in line with the Unions constitution and code of practice, the purportedly sacked Chairman of the branch remains the bonafide Chairman of the Union in UNILORIN.

The University of Ilorin had on the 19th September, 2017 in a letter titled Termination of appointment signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council of the University E. D Obafemi stated that Council at its 155th meeting held on Monday 28th August 2017 considered the report from the 41st meeting of staff disciplinary committee held on Wednesday 7th June 2017, 8th June 2017 and Thursday, June 2017 and approved that your services are no longer required. Consequently, it directed that you should be relieved of your appointment. Accordingly, your appointment is hereby terminated with effect from the date of this letter.

The statement comes days after the Nigerian military branded the pro-Biafra separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as a militant terrorist organization.
Being a self-storage operator can seem overwhelming even on the best days. For many of us, the desire to improve leads us to seek education by attending industry conferences, reading articles and studying business rules. The problem is this quest for knowledge can create or grow frustrations and sometimes make us feel more incompetent than we really are. This journey is almost a rite of passage. It means we care and are trying!

Among the most confusing aspects of daily storage operation is the analytical data at our fingertips. Its OK. Youre not alone.

Discussions about data use can be compared to a horde of teenage boys gossiping about the birds and the bees. Everyone is talking about it, but nobody really knows how to do it. Everyone thinks everyone else is doing it, so they claim theyre doing it. Well, guess what? You can be the one whos actually doing it! Lets review several reports on which I rely to improve my operation. Used effectively, they can benefit your business.

Setting Goals

Every self-storage facility needs goals to guide growth. These are a commitment to improve. If you fail to establish company objectives, youre wasting valuable time and effort. You must know what youre working toward with respect to retail sales, rentals and reviews. Employees must be given a path to walk, knowing their efforts assist in achieving the overall aims of the business.

That said, goals are meaningless without measurement and follow-through. This is why its essential to continually and consistently review your progress using operational performance reports from your facilitys management software.

Customer Market Report

What are the sources of your customers? Every experienced operator needs to know, with relative certainty, from where he gets his tenants. You cant just take your best guess at this. Decisions related to marketing dollars, staffing, search engine optimization, unit pricing and even business expansion can all stem from understanding your customer pipeline.

To track this, use your management software to record every contact you have with potential customers, whether on the phone, in person or online. This takes time, but as you collect the data, itll help you make informed decisions that affect your store. Instead of guessing or being reactive, youll be proactive like many of your competitors.

How much better would you be as an operator if you could easily gather customer-acquisition information and examine it on a consistent basis? Take the time to make decisions based on the statistics.

Rate-Increase Report

Ive attended many seminars in which speakers insist that raising rates doesnt cause customers to move out. While Ive always agreed, I needed to know for myself. I called technical support for my management software and learned there isnt an easily accessible report to determine if this is true; however, because I believed understanding the effect of raising rental rates was important, I continued the pursuit. After an arduous process, I discovered a report I could export and modify to finally glean the information I desired.

Now I know how rate increases affect my customers, and I run this report once a month. Figuring out how to generate it, though, will depend on your software. (If we use the same system, Id be happy to provide instructions.) Our data showed that customers from one store accepted a higher percentage increase than tenants from a different location, something I would never have known if I didnt analyze the numbers.

Rate-Variance Report

Rate variances, such as customer credits and discounts, can be likened to an extended stay with your mother-in-law. Throughout your visit, its easy to make concessions here and there for the sake of getting along; but at the end of the month, when you get your credit card bill and see how all the charges add up, youre the one stuck making the payment.

Im not a fan of free months, dollar move-ins or mysterious customer-service credits. They rarely have a place; but if theyre going to be used, the practice should be pragmatic and deliberate. At the end of every month, you need to take responsibility for every credit and discount you issue. Run a report to examine these trends in your operation to fully understand whats being given away. A few waived late fees here and there may seem harmless, but they start to add up, which amplifies their negative impact over time.

Leverage the Data

The key to leveraging all these reports is to consistently review and analyze them. Its easy to get busy and drop the ball occasionally. It can also be easy to let things slide, miss goals or rely on discounts. However, by using the data, youll build a culture of responsibility that consistently propels your business forward.

My motivation comes from wanting advancement in my career and a desire to be a better owner-operator. I cant accomplish either without knowing how my stores run and understanding how these data sets can assist my decision-making. I strongly encourage you to mine the data that can help your employees and facilities succeed.

Rick Beal is the district manager and part owner of Cubes Self Storage in Salt Lake City. His goal is to help a historically slow-changing industry embrace new, innovative ideas. His professional motto is Storage is a business of inches not miles. He can be reached at [email protected] Connect with him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/storagerick.
Investors bet solidly on Angela Merkel securing a fourth term as German chancellor prior to Sundays German election, expecting another strong showing for the governing Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union parties.

As of late Sunday, exit polls showed her headed for another term.

Market doubts were instead focused on which coalition partners Merkels party would choose.

Polling stations closed at 6pm local time, but the final make-up of the coalition will be days, or even weeks away. The Bundestag are required to meet within 30 days of the vote but the composition of the new government could take significantly longer.

Eric Lascelles, chief economist at RBC Global Asset Management, said the most consequential development from the election will be who Merkel decides to partner with, because it will add a tinge of that partys views to German fiscal and foreign policy. The most likely scenario is arguably the status quo grand coalition with the SPD [Social Democratic Party], but other arrangements are also possible.

[II Deep Dive: Investor Optimism in Eurozone Jumps to Highest Level Since Crisis]

Merkels CDU may prefer an agreement with the Free Democratic Party, possibly with the addition of the Greens, depending on vote share.

The implications for investors are broadly market friendly, according to Mauricio Vargas, senior economist at Frankfurt-based Union Investment. In the end, both outcomes should be market friendly, since the pro-business stance of the Liberals will be seen as equally important as the pro-Europeanism of the Greens and the Social Democrats.

Investors claim that a continuation of the current coalition would give the government a strong mandate to push through legislation, given the share of votes and seats both parties won.

Working with the French government, this coalition combination could help push forward the integration agenda, possibly leading to a European budget and maybe even euro-bonds, says Schroders Senior European Economist and Strategist Azad Zangana, suggesting this outcome would be positive for the stability of the monetary union.

However, the prospect of a coalition with the Free Democratic Party and the Greens has its own appeals. This scenario could be a boon for the stock market, Leon Cornelissen, chief economist at Robeco, argues. The FDP is a natural coalition party for the CDU as they have successfully worked together in the past, and they also believe in lower taxes. Such a deal would be considered very business friendly.

Zangana agrees, but notes that the Greens and FDP do not agree on environmental issues, so this would be a challenge the CDU/CSU to manage. We would expect the Greens to push for a tougher stance on environmental issues diesel cars, but the FDP to focus its energy on improving the environment for businesses.

Cornelissen added that the FDP has a broader agenda that is skeptical of Europe, and is vehemently opposed to replacing the International Monetary Fund with a European equivalent, as suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Free Democratic Party has previously campaigned for Greece to leave the E.U. and the closure of the European Stability Mechanism, which provides loans to Eurozone countries and organizations when they get into financial difficulty.
Charles Prideaux  former EMEA head of active investments for BlackRock  will lead Schroders solutions business, II has learned.

This content is from: Portfolio

Schroders has hired Charles Prideaux as its head of solutions, a new role for the recently restructured business, Schroders confirmed Monday.

He will be responsible for Schroders Solutions, the arm serving institutional clients and retail intermediaries globally with asset-class agnostic product advice, risk management, and portfolio customization.

[II Deep Dive: New Schroders CEO Peter Harrison Inherits a Thriving Business]

Prideaux previously spent nearly three decades with BlackRock and its former companies, beginning in 1988. He rose to lead the American asset management giants institutional client business in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

BlackRock overhauled its team structures in 2016, and combined its active and passive, or quantitative, units into a single department globally. Prideaux became head of active investments for EMEA.

Roughly one year later, he reportedly left the firm.

Prideaux begins his new position at Schroders on October 2, the London-based company said. He will report to Global Head of Product Richard Mountford.

We have big ambitions for our Solutions business, Mountford said in a statement. He lauded Prideauxs breadth of asset-class experience, and said he believes clients will benefit from his talent and knowledge.
The idea of robots taking away jobs is disconcerting, but a new report says theres a way for insurers and brokers to co-exist with the advancements and even flourish.



According to the Insurance Market Conditions & Trends 17/18 report  released by international law firm DAC Beachcroft  the robots are coming, but the development should be seen as a chance to collaborate instead of something to fear.



While insurtech has developed rapidly, it is not necessarily a revolution, said DAC Beachcroft head of insurance Helen Faulkner. Yes, it will cause some disruption but we expect those established insurers and brokers that embrace the new technologies to evolve and thrive.



Celebrate excellence in insurance. Join us for the Insurance Business Awards in Chicago on October 26!



Faulkner believes the insurance industry has belatedly woken up to artificial intelligences (AIs) possible impact on the sector.



Up until now the focus has been mainly on the automation of admin-heavy processes, but academic research shows the potential of AI to replace high-level actuarial, underwriting, pricing, and claims roles, noted the DAC Beachcroft partner.



She continued: New entrants to the market will not carry these high fixed costs and that will accelerate a review of roles in established insurers. We will see a new generation of data scientists, some of whom will also have actuarial and underwriting skills, emerge as key roles.



The prediction is, AI will impact not only administrative roles but even customer-facing ones, as customers are attracted to digital platforms to interact with insurers.



However, while AI is forecast to create significant challenges in terms of corporate structures, property portfolios, and handling sensitive personnel issues, Faulkner stressed technology is not a nemesis.



Insurtech is not something to be afraid of but rather an evolution offering us all the opportunity to work together and find the best way to effect significant changes that will benefit brokers, underwriters, and customers alike, she said.


An insurance broker from Santa Clara has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for defrauding a widow out of over $1 million.Gary Thornhill, 65, sold an insurance policy to a married couple in 1998. The husband later passed away in 2005, leaving the widow as the sole insured on the plan. It was around February 2008 when Thornhill became the trustee of the entity that became the legal owner of the policy. Instead of acting in his clients best interest, however, he transmitted requests for funds to be drawn against the cash value of the widows policy without her knowledge or consent, prosecutors said.He was sentenced for wire fraud and mail fraud in connection with the scheme on June 07. Prosecutors said Thornhill obtained almost $1.5 million in unauthorized funds. He pleaded guilty to the charges and admitted that he had used his position to withdraw funds from the widows trust account.US District Court Judge Lucy Koh, who handed down the sentence, said that Thornhill really took advantage of this family, stealing from the trust account despite having a long-standing financial relationship.On top of serving a prison term, Thornhill was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $1,409,843.90 in restitution, NorCal Patch reported. Koh ordered the broker to begin serving his sentence no later than November 15.
The US and the European Union have signed an agreement to update international insurance and reinsurance regulations and free up capital for investments.The deal, previously negotiated by former US president Barack Obamas administration, will provide enhanced regulatory certainty to insurers by reducing red tape while maintaining robust consumer protections.[The agreement] is a win for the United States, its insurance industry, and US policyholders, said US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin.Mnuchin explained that by reducing the regulatory restrictions companies face, the agreement enables American companies to be more competitive in the EU, enhances opportunities for US insurers and reinsurers at home and abroad, and furthers the administrations goal of sustained economic growth.The two governments issued a joint statement, saying that insurers will only be subject to worldwide prudential insurance group oversight by supervisors in their home jurisdiction under the new deal.The agreement also reduces the collateral requirements for reinsurers.EU reinsurers estimate that they have about $40 billion of collateral posted in the US, which could instead be invested to create jobs and growth, a statement from the EU read.Both governments also said that the deal will enable information exchange among supervisors, improving consumer protection in the two regions.The European Parliament and Council must first approve the pact before it becomes official.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a report to coincide with the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) post-hurricane media release, saying that it has managed to recover 517 containers of unidentified, potentially hazardous material from contaminated toxic waste sites in Texas that were flooded when Hurricane Harvey hit the region last month.The agency, however, has not disclosed any details about which Superfund sites the toxic waste came from, why the contaminants have not been identified, or whether there is an imminent health threat.The Associated Press reported that at least a dozen Superfund sites in the Houston area were flooded following Harvey. It was also reported that a government hotline received calls about three spills at the US Oil Recovery Superfund site, a former petroleum waste processing plant which is now host to toxic materials that could induce cancer. AP obtained records which showed workers at the site reporting spills of unknown materials in unknown amounts.On August 29, pollution control officials photographed three hazardous waste tanks that were completely underwater. The EPA later said that there was no evidence that the nearby Vince Bayou had been contaminated.In a statement, PRP Group  formed to clean up the US Oil Recovery site  said that it did not know how much hazardous material from the tanks got soaked up into the soil or leaked into the bayou. To date, workers have managed to vacuum 63 truckloads  about 315,000 gallons  of potentially hazardous contaminated stormwater.It has yet to be confirmed whether those truckloads of potentially contaminated stormwater accounted for any of the 517 containers cited by the EPA.
A New Jersey doctor pleaded guilty Friday to participating in a massive $25 million healthcare fraud scheme.John Gaffney, 55, faces up to 10 years in prison. He admitted to writing prescriptions for patients he never saw as part of the scam, which targeted teachers, firefighters and police officers.Prosecutors said that the case involved municipal employees with public health benefits fraudulently obtaining medically unnecessary prescriptions, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.Dr. Gaffney sold phony prescriptions for unnecessary medications to patients he never examined as part of a sophisticated scheme to defraud a prescription benefits program available to New Jersey state and municipal employees, acting US Attorney William Fitzpatrick said. In an era when many Americans work hard to maintain affordable health insurance for their families, Dr. Gaffney and his conspirators criminally exploited the healthcare system and left New Jersey taxpayers on the hook for approximately $25 million in losses.Gaffney admitted in court to signing more than 200 phony prescriptions, according to the Inquirer. Most of those prescriptions, Gaffney said, were for public employees.Five other people have pleaded guilty to participation in the scam and are awaiting sentencing.
The destructive floodwaters of Superstorm Sandy receded quickly, but some storm victims are still neck-deep in a battle over insurance payouts. And many victims of this years storms in Texas, Florida and elsewhere should brace themselves for a similar fight, lawyers involved in Sandy insurance battles say.

As Sandys fifth anniversary approaches Oct. 29, more than 1,000 families in New York and New Jersey are still fighting with the Federal Emergency Management Agency over their flood insurance claims, according to government statistics.

The FEMA-run National Flood Insurance Program paid out $8.2 billion to about 144,000 policyholders after Sandy, a critical safety net that saved many homeowners from financial ruin.

But many storm victims also complained that they were shortchanged by the private insurance companies hired to administer the program and left with too little money to repair the damage.

Under pressure from Congress, FEMA reopened the Sandy claims process in 2015 and since then has paid out an additional $396 million, but some property owners continue to argue in that they are owed more.

In the barrier island city of Long Beach, New York, Jamilyn Spellman is among those still fighting, even though her Sandy-damaged home has long since been demolished, the land beneath it sold, and its original owner  her mother  has died of cancer.

She just wanted to die at home, said Spellman. But she died displacedliterally, in the hospice, talking about FEMA.

After nearly every major storm, lawyers for Sandy victims said, disputes arise over fair payouts that can be maddeningly difficult to resolve.

It has been a struggle every step of the way, said August Matteis, a Washington, D.C., lawyer whose firm is representing about 1,200 policyholders going through the FEMA review. FEMA is still fighting us tooth and nail for every penny.

Amy Bach, executive director of the advocacy group United Policyholders, said the lessons of Sandy and other past storms show that victims of this years hurricanes need to take an aggressive approach to their claims, too.

Among other things, she said, victims should thoroughly photograph their homes condition, inside and out, before making even temporary repairs or cleaning out debris.

You need to be proactive in documenting and valuing your losses if you want to get a fair, full and timely settlement, she said.

The National Flood Insurance Program was created to protect homeowners unable to buy insurance in the private sector because they live in high-risk flood zones.

While many homeowners with Sandy policies settled claims quickly, more than 2,000 sued over what they said was sloppy work by some of the insurance adjusters and structural engineers who were rushed into the disaster zone to evaluate the damage.

After some homeowners and their lawyers uncovered evidence that at least two engineering companies hired by insurers had a practice of rewriting reports turned in by field inspectors, FEMA took the unprecedented step of allowing all Sandy victims to have their claim re-examined. About 19,500 policyholders asked for a review.

According to the last FEMA update, released Sept. 8, most of those reviews had been completed. But about 1,100 policyholders were still in an appeals process, with a neutral reviewer going over their claim.

FEMA officials have said their priority is getting claims paid fairly as quickly as possible. It has set a target of Oct. 25 for completing arguments in the Sandy claim review process.

The agency has also undertaken a series of reforms since Sandy. Among other things, it has already decided to give victims of Hurricane Harvey a year to document their losses. Sandy victims were initially told they had just 60 days, though deadlines for many were later extended.

The Spellmans insurance fight is similar to a lot of the other insurance disputes that have dragged out.

Sandys storm surge inundated the property with 3 1/2 feet of water, opened a small sinkhole under part of the house and put a hole in the foundation.

An engineer hired by the insurance company said the building could be saved and FEMA awarded the family about $104,000 for repairs. Contractors hired by the family said the damage was bad enough that it would cost at least $300,000  more than the familys $250,000 policy.

The house was eventually razed in hopes the family could put up a modest modular home. And finally, the lot was sold last December because the family could no longer afford the mortgage and taxes.

Jamilyn Spellman says she is holding out hope that when the fight with FEMA ends, shell end up with what her mother was rightfully entitled to and fought for.

It would help so muchbut the damage is already done, she says. My mothers gone. The house is gone. For me, I feel like Ive already lost whats important.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida Texas Flood Homeowners
AFL Insurance Brokers Ltd. (AFL) has created an energy practice headed by London market broking professionals Dominic Quick and Simon Pearce.

AFLs energy practice will serve both AFLs clients and customers from other independent brokers connected to AFL through the Worldwide Broker Network (WBN), the company said in a statement.

Quick and Pearce boast nearly 50 years of combined experience in the re/insurance industry. Quick most recently worked as an associate director at Tysers Specialty. Previously, he had roles at JLT Specialty, Lloyd & Partners, JMD Specialist Insurance Services and Guy Carpenter.

Pearce also joins AFL from Tysers where he was director of marine and energy. His background has included senior roles at JLT Specialty, RFIB Group and Swiss Re  his most recent roles in a career spanning more than 33 years.

We plan to offer a broad spectrum energy capability, with our main target market being the USA, but also including emerging markets such as Iran. Fantastic growth opportunities lie ahead, said Toby Esser, chairman of AFL, which is a privately owned Lloyds broker founded in 2008 with offices in London and Manchester, England.

The launch of the energy practice will also see us work closely with our partners and friends in the Worldwide Broker Network  the largest organization of privately held insurance brokers, controlling premiums in excess of US$50 billion, noted Bob Finch, AFL CEO.

AFL Insurance Brokers continues to build on its established business following the acquisition of a controlling interest in the company by Toby Esser in a deal finalized in September 2017.

The company said it plans an expansion strategy that will combine sustainable, organic growth and bolt-on acquisitions.

Source: AFL Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Topics Agencies Excess Surplus Lloyd's
A dispute over a multi-million-dollar insurance claim for a suburban Cincinnati mansion that burned down in 2014 has been settled weeks before a scheduled trial.

A federal court filing says attorneys for Jeffrey and Maria Decker and their insurer informed the judge the matter was settled, but the document doesnt offer details. The settlement hasnt been finalized.

The Deckers sued Chubb National Insurance Co. after it declined to pay their $14 million claim for the fire at their mansion in Indian Hill, which had nearly 15,000 square feet of living space.

They originally sued Chubb for nearly $60 million saying it didnt honor their claims. The lawsuit filed in February 2015 sought more than $14 million for breach of contract and more than $44 million for damages including financial loss of policy payments.

Chubb countersued in April 2015 , accusing Deckers of intentionally misrepresenting information during the investigation. It sought repayment of $700,000 from the Deckers.

The Deckers say they cooperated with the investigation.

The cause of the blaze hasnt been determined.

Related:

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Topics Lawsuits Ohio Homeowners Chubb
A judge dismissed a $100 million lawsuit against Little Caesars Pizza that alleged that pork was sold as halal pepperoni at a restaurant in a Detroit suburb that has a large Muslim population.

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Susan Hubbard threw out the lawsuit filed by Dearborn resident Mohamad Bazzi against Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Free Press reported. But the judge allowed a second lawsuit against the pizza chain over the pepperoni to move forward.

Bazzi filed his lawsuit in May, saying he ordered halal pizza from a Little Caesars in Dearborn twice. Halal food is prepared according to Islamic guidelines. He said the boxes were labeled halal, but that the pizzas were topped with regular pork pepperoni. Pork is prohibited in Islam.

Bazzis suit was reportedly filed deter others from accidentally ordering food containing pork from the restaurant.

Recent calls from customers revealed that the store is no longer selling halal pepperoni and that the sign advertising it at the Dearborn location has been removed, said Majed Moughni, Bazzis attorney.

The sign had been taken down because the store is out of stock of halal pepperoni, said Michael Huget, an attorney for the franchise.

The victory is theyve conceded that theyve been defrauding the community for a number of years, that theyve removed the halal sign and they removed the pepperoni from their stores, Moughni said.

Moughni said he may still appeal the decision because the judge didnt let him amend the complaint to prove a cause behind the pizza chains actions.

In an emailed statement sent by Huget on behalf of Little Caesars, the company said it will file counter claims to protect the company against frivolous actions.

Little Caesars is extremely pleased with the courts complete dismissal of this meritless claim, the company said.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation Michigan
Senators sponsoring a last-ditch Obamacare repeal bill raced to save it from near-certain death Sunday, circulating a new version aimed at winning over several GOP holdouts.

Some of the changes, which come as Republicans face a Sept. 30 deadline to pass the measure, were designed to appeal to moderate holdouts like Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, while others appeared tailored to lure conservative skeptics like Rand Paul of Kentucky.

But with several senators expressing severe doubts or outright opposition to the version released last week, its unclear that the revisions will win enough support to resuscitate the repeal effort.

If Republicans cant get the votes  or decide to scrap this bill altogether  it would mark another reminder of the partys inability to deliver on seven years of promises to repeal the 2010 law.

The GOP could still try to resurrect a proposal later in the year, but the repeal efforts collapse would seed doubts about the partys ability to deliver any significant legislative victories.

On Sunday, even President Donald Trump seemed to concede that the outlook isnt rosy for repeal. Asked by reporters about the health-care bill, he replied, Eventually we will win on that. My primary focus, I must tell you  has been from the beginning, as you can imagine  is taxes.

Targeting Key States

The new version, which could be discussed at a Senate Finance hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon, directs some additional funding to key states, including multiple provisions directing more money to Murkowskis Alaska.

The revised bill also changes language regarding pre-existing conditions, which has been one of several flashpoints in the measure authored by Republicans Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

Under the revised version, states would have to describe how their health plans shall maintain access to adequate and affordable health insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. The original language said each state had to show how it intends to have adequate and affordable access to coverage.

The bill continues, however, to give states broad new authority to allow insurance companies to provide skimpier plans with far fewer benefits while charging higher premiums to the sick and the old.

Under the new version, states could let insurers impose deductibles that are higher than the limits set by the Affordable Care Act, or remove the health laws limits on the costs that an individual family can incur in a year entirely. They could also offer coverage that lacks some of the ACAs benefits, such as maternity care, prescription drugs or mental health. Plus, states could let insurers widen the gap between how much old people and young people are charged. And states could remove requirements that insurers cover preventive-health treatments and immunizations.

Democrats swiftly criticized the latest version.

Despite an attempt to appear to add money for a select few states, this bill is just as bad for those states and the rest of the states because it still contains a massive cut to Medicaid, and would throw our health insurance system into chaos while raising premiums, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a statement late Sunday.

No last-minute changes can disguise the fundamentally rotten consequences of Trumpcare, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California said in a statement Monday. Republicans must stop making a dangerous bill even worse and join Democrats for constructive bipartisan progress to improve and update Americans health care.

McCains Conscience

The GOPs hopes for repealing Obamacare were largely dashed on Friday, when Republican Senator John McCain came out against the last-ditch repeal bill.

I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal, McCain of Arizona said in a statement. I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried.

McCain joined Paul in opposing the bill, while Susan Collins of Maine said Sunday she doesnt see herself backing the bill. Its very difficult for me to envision a scenario where I end up voting for this bill, Collins said on CNNs State of the Union. I have a number of serious reservations about it.

Murkowski, who voted against previous repeal measures, is also undecided. Ted Cruz of Texas said Sunday he doesnt back the bill in its current form, and a few other senators have been silent on their positions including Mike Lee of Utah, Rob Portman of Ohio and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. Senate Republicans can afford to lose no more than two members of their 52-48 majority and pass the bill.

United Opposition

The bill provoked an unusually strong backlash from the health-care industry as well. Groups representing doctors, hospitals and insurers signed a letter Saturday urging the Senate to reject the Graham-Cassidy bill.

The groups said the bill would undermine protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, result in dramatic cuts to Medicaid and drastically weaken the individual insurance markets. The letter was signed by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Hospital Association, and Americas Health Insurance Plans, which represents major insurers.

The expected failure of this effort would mean that Republican efforts to pass a standalone Obamacare repeal are effectively dead, since the fast-track mechanism known as reconciliation that would allow the GOP to pass a measure with only 50 votes expires Sept. 30.

There are, however, a few scenarios for the GOP to revisit health care later in the year. Republicans are planning to adopt a new budget resolution in the fall that would unlock reconciliation for their plan for a tax overhaul. That resolution is expected to allow room for Obamacare repeal provisions, although trying to combine the two complicated policies might make the overall package even harder to pass.

Not Easy

Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah said last week that theres a chance of pairing taxes with health-care provisions. But its not easy, he added.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky still has to decide whether to go through with a vote, which would likely happen Wednesday. While Trump has urged GOP leaders to make every possible effort to repeal Obamacare, some Republicans will be reluctant to take a vote on a bill that many privately are uncomfortable with.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office will release a partial analysis of the Graham-Cassidy proposal as early as Monday. It will examine the proposals impact on the federal deficit, but a full review of the effect on U.S. health coverage and costs wont be ready for weeks.

The Senate Finance Committee will hold the only hearing on the bill Monday afternoon, and it doesnt plan to vote on the measure. Senate Republicans will have a private lunchtime meeting Tuesday, where GOP leaders can make a last plea for support.

If Republicans go ahead with a vote, it could die a rather unceremonious death. There could be essentially no debate on the Senate floor because the Graham-Cassidy bill is being grafted onto McConnells previous bill  and the time for debate on that measure expired in July.

The Graham-Cassidy bill would turn the money that funds Obamacare into block grants for the states, which would create their own health-care plans for their residents. States that expanded Medicaid under Obamacare would be hardest hit, losing $180 billion from 2020 to 2026, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which studied an earlier version of the bill. States that rejected the Medicaid expansion would gain $73 billion. The bill changes how Medicaid is funded from a fixed percentage regardless of total spending to a per-enrollee cost.

The bill also would end the Affordable Care Acts requirements that individuals have insurance and that most employers provide it, and leave most Obamacare tax increases intact.

21 Million Fewer Insured

The Brookings Institution estimated Friday that the Graham-Cassidy plan would reduce the number of people with health coverage by about 21 million a year from 2020 through 2026.

Schumer praised McCain for his opposition in a statement Friday and said, I have assured Senator McCain that as soon as repeal is off the table, we Democrats are intent on resuming the bipartisan process.

After the July defeat of McConnells plan, Senate Health Chairman Lamar Alexander and top Democrat Patty Murray of Washington worked on a bipartisan plan to shore up Obamacares insurance exchanges, but Alexander of Tennessee said last week that the effort had failed. Murray said in a statement, though, that they identified significant common ground but GOP leaders decided to freeze the bipartisan effort and push the partys own plan.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Politics
Equifax Inc. could get away with paying a mere $1 per person after failing to protect almost half of Americas credit data.

While the 118-year-old credit-reporting firm has been hit with more than 100 consumer lawsuits over its massive security breach, legal experts say theres room for a deal because neither side has a slam-dunk case.

A global settlement of about $200 million is plausible, said Nathan Taylor, a cybersecurity lawyer with Morrison Foerster LLP in Washington. Thats a projection based on the $115 million Anthem Inc. agreed to pay in June  setting a U.S. record  to resolve claims that it didnt protect a smaller number of people from a 2015 criminal hack that stole similarly sensitive information, Taylor said.

With lawyers collecting as much as a third of any payout, the company may end up spending an average of less than $1 per person for credit monitoring and out-of-pocket expenses for 143 million Equifax consumers whose data was compromised.

Thats a good deal for the embattled credit reporting company as its exposure theoretically could amount to $143 billion under a federal law that carries damages of as much as $1,000 per violation, plus punitive damages.

Equifax faces additional uncertainty around suits and investigations by state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as claims by financial institutions, shareholders  and as of Tuesday  small business owners. On top of that, the Justice Department is said to have opened a criminal probe into whether top officials at the company violated insider trading laws when they sold stock before Equifax disclosed that it had been hacked.

Amid all the negative publicity, the company may relish a chance to put at least one legal headache behind it sooner rather than later. As of Tuesday, shares had fallen 30 percent since the hack was disclosed Sept. 7, and company officials now face calls to testify before Congress.

Little Secret

Its a dirty little secret, but a lot of defendants welcome these lawsuits, said Robert Schwartz, a lawyer with Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles. They will kick up some dust but, with a sensible settlement, the problem goes away. That is the end game.

We cannot comment on pending litigation, but we remain focused on helping our customers, as well as their employees and consumers, to navigate this situation, Equifax said in a statement Wednesday.

For consumers  or more precisely, their attorneys  a modest settlement would avoid the risk of winning nothing if no actual harm from the hack can be definitively traced back to the company.

With frequent high-profile hacks in recent years, its virtually impossible to connect a specific instance of identity theft to a particular breach, according to Taylor of Morrison Foerster.

If you want to buy my social security number on the Dark Web, you can probably get it from numerous sources, Taylor said in a phone interview.

A deluge of cases has been filed in federal courts in California, Georgia, New York and other states against Atlanta-based Equifax, accusing it of violating the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FCRA is intended to ensure that the information Equifax and its competitors provide is accurate and kept private.

Small business operators added their own complaint to the mix Tuesday, with a class action in Atlanta federal court alleging the breach could cripple access to small business credit by damaging the linked credit of the individual who owns the enterprise. The plaintiffs include real-estate companies and a law firm.

While the penalties from the FCRA claims could quickly add up to billions, previous data-breach lawsuits have settled for a fraction of that amount, Taylor noted.

Home Depot, Target

Home Depot Inc. last year reached a $19.5 million settlement with consumers over a hack that exposed payment information of 56 million customers. Target Corp. a year earlier settled with consumers over its data breach for $17 million, which included almost $7 million for attorney fees.

Anthems data breach compromised social security numbers, birth dates and other information of 78.8 million people and its settlement ended class actions filed in several states. A judge gave preliminary approval to the accord in August.

The U.S. Supreme Court last year put the brakes on FCRA claims when no concrete injury is alleged. In a case brought by an unemployed Virginia man over a profile on a people search website that inaccurately stated he had a graduate degree, a spouse and very strong economic health, the Supreme Court said not every statutory violation of the FCRA is sufficient to sue.

Regional appeals courts are still sorting out how the high courts decision applies to other cases in which there is a dispute over whether a plaintiff suffered actual harm.

In the Equifax lawsuits, the absence of any actual identity theft or other loss could become an obstacle to sue under the FCRA, according to Schwartz of Irell & Manella.

No Harm

The problem with these claims is that the only thing that has happened is the breach, Schwartz said in a telephone interview. If theres no harm, federal judges have no jurisdiction.

That outcome was typical of early cases, including one dismissed against Barnes & Noble Inc. over a 2012 security breach that compromised customer credit and debit cards at 63 stores across the U.S.

But over time, some courts have taken a broader view of what constitutes harm and have allowed consumers subject to account freezes and other expenses to proceed with claims. Thats what happened in the litigation on behalf of tens of millions people affected by the Target breach. The judges refusal to dismiss the lawsuit a year after the hack was disclosed in 2013 gave the consumers leverage for the settlement that was reached months later.

At least one lawyer suing Equifax on behalf of consumers disputes the notion that they havent suffered actual harm and may lack standing to sue.

We Dont Know

The notion that no one is harmed yet is premature, Andrew Friedman, with Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll Pllc in Washington, said in a phone interview. People already have out-of-pocket damages for additional credit monitoring and for credit freezes. We dont know whats happening with the data.

Friedman represents a group of plaintiffs in a case filed Sept. 8 in Atlanta who accused Equifax of acting negligently and violating District of Columbia consumer protection law as well as the FCRA. Any settlement with Equifax would have to include many years of credit monitoring for consumers because the stolen data could be misused years from now, he said.

The security risk goes beyond the potential for identity and credit theft for nearly half of the U.S. population: it also poses a possible national security threat, as personal information of governmental employees useful for cyberwarfare will be available on the Dark Web for years to come, Friedman and other lawyers said in a Sept. 12 request to have the lawsuits consolidated before a federal judge in Atlanta.

Equifax probably will try to get some of the consumers claims dismissed or scaled back by a judge before negotiating a settlement, a process that may take as long as three years, according to Taylor.

Theres not a chance they are going to litigate this to the end, Taylor said. Do you really want to litigate against 50 percent of the county?

The consolidated cases are In re Equifax Inc. Data Breach Litigation, 2800, U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits USA Cyber Claims
Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty Inc., based in Boca Raton, Florida, has acquired RateGenius Insurance Agency Inc., an affiliate of RateGenius, headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Serving all of Texas for almost 10 years, RateGenius Insurance provides auto, home, boat and life insurance products from a network of 20-plus lenders and insurance providers.

The Seeman Holtz family of companies provides comprehensive financial and insurance advice to clients across the country.

The company said it will continue targeting high-quality independent agencies for geographic expansion and continued growth throughout the United States.

Source: Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty Inc.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Property Casualty Property Casualty
After 11 nursing home residents died in the sweltering heat of hurricane-induced power outages, Floridas nursing home industry is now on a collision course with Gov. Rick Scott.

Days after Hurricane Irma ravaged the state, Scott used his emergency powers to put in place new rules that require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to have generators capable of providing backup power for four days. The Republican governor, who normally brags about eliminating regulations on businesses, gave nursing homes 60 days to comply.

Nursing home officials say they cant.

They say its not just the multimillion dollar price-tag that will come with acquiring large generators for hundreds, maybe thousands, of homes. During a daylong summit by the industry Friday, engineers and contractors and others who operate nursing homes said it will be practically impossible to purchase, install and get permits to put generators and supplies of fuel in place by the November deadline.

Compliance with the rule is impossible and time is running out, said Steve Bahmer, president and CEO of LeadingAge Florida, an association that represents both nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

So far, the Scott administration isnt backing down.

Justin Senior, the states top health care regulator, said the state will aggressively enforce the mandate, which calls for fines for those homes that fail to comply.

Senior showed up at the nursing home industry summit to explain the logic behind the rule. He said that Irmas unpredictable path showed that is no longer acceptable for nursing homes to merely say they plan to evacuate patients when a storm is looming.

Evacuation plans generally fell through, said Senior, the secretary for the Agency for Health Care Administration. There was no place to run; there was no place to hide.

Police in Hollywood are currently investigating why the 11 patients died after Irma knocked out air-conditioning at a nursing home there, even though just across the street was a fully functioning and cooled hospital. The latest death reported is that of 94-year-old Alice Thomas, who died Thursday, and police said they are treating that as part of their criminal investigation of the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills and its employees.

Eight patients died on Sept. 13, three days after Irma knocked out the homes air conditioning. Three more died last week. Overall, 145 patients were taken from the home. The dead have ranged from 78 to 99 years old. No one has been charged.

The state has suspended the homes license. The home has filed a lawsuit trying to overturn the states actions.

Senior, who called the deaths painful and haunting, said he was aware of some of the industrys complaints, but he had a strong warning:

We think very strongly of the cost of not complying with this rule is greater than the cost of compliance, Senior said.

Senior did tell the nursing homes that the generators do not have to be large enough to cool their entire building. Instead, he said, they need to be large enough to keep patients safe in a cooled environment.

The tough stance that the Scott administration is taking with the nursing home industry runs counter to the governors usual attitude toward regulation, especially in the health care field. Scott, a multimillionaire who never ran for office before getting elected in 2010, once ran the nations largest chain of hospitals before he was forced out of his job as the head of Columbia/HCA.

The industry could challenge Scotts decision to put the emergency rule in place since it is not currently a requirement under state law. Kristen Knapp, a spokeswoman for one nursing home trade group, the Florida Health Care Association, said the group was exploring all of its options.

Bahmer called a possible legal challenge absolutely the last consideration.

___

Associated Press writer Terry Spencer contributed to this report from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida Homeowners
Kentuckys Democratic attorney general says he has hired four law firms to investigate and potentially sue several makers and marketers of opioid-based painkillers that have spurred a wave addiction across Appalachia.

But Republican Gov. Matt Bevins administration said Andy Beshears announcement Friday was premature. Spokesman Glenn Waldrop said the Finance and Administration Cabinet has not approved the contract, and said Attorney General Andy Beshears office did not follow the required approval process.

At the end of the day, there is a chance this contract may not be approved, Waldrop said.

Deputy Attorney General J. Michael Brown said the lawsuits are good for all Kentuckians and shouldnt be political, adding the attorney generals office followed all procurement laws and made this announcement consistent with previous awards.

The team includes the firms of Morgan & Morgan, Motley Rice, the Lanier Law Firm and Ransdell Roach & Royse PLLC. Morgan & Morgan is based in Florida, but they have offices in Kentucky. Their attorneys include former Democratic Attorney General Greg Stumbo.

Ransdell Roach & Royse is based in Lexington. Its attorneys include John Roach, a former Kentucky Supreme Court justice who served on Bevins transition team after he was elected governor.

Motley Rice is based in South Carolina while the Lanier firm is based in Houston.

We look forward to working with this experienced team of local and national attorneys who have the resources and knowledge to help this office secure funds, Beshear said in a news release. We need the best team to help us repair the harm caused by those who have played a role in Kentuckys opioid crisis.

Kentucky has one of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths in the country. The state sued Purdue Pharma, the maker of the opioid-based painkiller Oxycontin, accusing it of lying to consumers about the addictive nature of the drug. The state settled the lawsuit in 2015 for $24 million.

Beshear took office in 2016. Before that, he worked for one of the law firms that defended Purdue Pharma, causing Republicans to raise questions about a conflict of interest. Beshear has said he was not an active participant on that case, but he might have answered some questions from his colleagues about it.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Kentucky
A federal judge has tentatively approved a revised settlement to a class-action lawsuit over a West Virginia chemical spill that left up to 300,000 people without tap water for up to nine days.

U.S. District Judge John Copenhaver on Thursday scheduled a final hearing Jan. 9. The deadline for claims submissions is Feb. 21, 2018.

In January 2014, a tank at now-defunct Freedom Industries in Charleston leaked thousands of gallons of coal-cleaning chemicals that got into West Virginia American Waters treatment plant 1.5 miles downstream.

Copenhaver previously raised concerns about terms of an earlier negotiated $151 million settlement with West Virginia American Water Co. and Eastman Chemical.

The amended plan would raise payments for a simple household claim from $525 to $550, and allow $180 for each additional household resident.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation Pollution Virginia Chemicals
(AIA Life Insurance executives explain their products to visitors to the Money Fair Shanghai 2014. Photo by Yan Daming/China Daily)

Risk-aversion seen as potential opportunity to launch new cover products.

The rapid development of sharing economy in China brings big opportunities for the insurance industry, according to experts.

That's because sharing economy is characterized by solid demand for certain products and services from risk-averse, cost-conscious consumers.

"For both users and providers of products and services in sharing economy, there are problems of risk, which can be solved reasonably through insurance mechanisms," said Yuan Yong, a consultant with Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co Ltd, a joint venture between Aon Corp and COFCO Corp.

The concept of sharing economy was introduced to China in the early 21st century. All kinds of products are shared through innovative services. Bicycles, umbrellas, accommodation, books, cars, jewelry, expensive fashion, office space ... all these have come to constitute sharing economy in the last four years.

In 2016, the market transaction volume of sharing economy hit 3.45 trillion yuan ($520 billion), up 103 percent year-on-year. The new economic segment also received about 171 billion yuan in funding last year, up 130 percent year-on-year, data showed.

More than 600 million Chinese people are involved in sharing economy. According to the China Sharing Economy Development Report 2017, sharing economy will grow at a high 40 percent annually to reach about 20 percent of GDP by 2025.

China's GDP was 74.4 trillion yuan in 2016, and is projected to surpass that of the United States by 2025, according to Niu Li, director of the economic forecast department under China Information Center.

"By providing conveniences to more people, sharing economy separates the ownership and usage of products, which is hard to define in terms of responsibilities of both parties," said Lu Wenhui, a consultant with Aon-COFCO, a Shanghai-based insurance broker.

Lu stressed that new insurance products should be created to guarantee healthy development of the new economic segment.

Insurers have already provided cover solutions and innovative products to the sharing economy sector. For example, liability insurance and personal accident cover target users of shared bicycles.

It is estimated that by the end of the year, the shared-bicycle sector may have 50 million users, potentially increasing the scope for accident insurance.

"Insurers compensate in time for the actual losses, helping enterprises reduce the loss of profits and eliminate disputes and friction with the parties concerned," said Yuan.

Several shared-bike platforms have already introduced commercial insurance, reducing risks like responsibility and moral hazard to their business.

Online insurer Zhong'an is the first to provide insurance for shared-bike users. According to data from Alibaba Group's financial affiliate Ant Financial, rider insurance against accidents has settled more than 100 claims in the last three months.

Insurance can help companies in the sharing economy sector to mitigate risks in advance, said Yuan, adding that the sharing model not only influences people's mobility choices but changes their social life, entailing new risks.

Using a risk database, the insurance industry provides data support for enterprises to identify and prevent risks effectively, through extraction of some related data, said Yuan.

Insurers can set up better data systems for sharing economy.
MJ Insurance has named Melissa Glissmeyer a risk management consultant in the Phoenix, Ariz. office.

Glissmeyer will be part of the commercial insurance and risk management department and be responsible for driving sales and service.

Glissmeyer previously was a fire protection management trainee at Cintas.

Indianapolis, Ind.-based MJ Insurance is a commercial insurance, risk management and employee benefits consulting agency.

Topics Arizona
RIC Insurance General Agency has named Jason Reese a business development manager.

Reese will work with retail insurance brokers and agents in San Diego and Orange County.

Reese was a business development manager at Method Insurance Services Inc., specializing in workers compensation prior to joining RIC. Before that, he built and managed a retail agency in Las Vegas, Nev., handling all lines of business.

RIC is a wholesale insurance brokerage and managing general agency with office locations across the western U.S.

Topics California
Atlanta, GA, September 25, 2017  The Blue River Underwriters Fire Sprinkler Elite program launched a free online safety portal to provide risk management resources for its fire sprinkler contractors insurance program participants. As the only program endorsed by the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), the co-marketed site contains a library of accident-prevention and risk management information and resources designed to educate insureds management and staff to help create a safer work environment and reduce claims.

Our safety portal is a wealth of risk management best practice insights and timely industry and regulatory news pertinent to the fire sprinkler contractors we serve. Having been an insurance underwriter in this industry for nearly 30 years, its based on a wealth of practical knowledge and technical insights and is in lock-step with current trends that can materially impact those businesses we serve, stated Robert Leonhart, senior vice president and fire sprinkler elite program director at Blue River Underwriters.

The full client site contains more than a thousand safety topics and the latest trending news direct from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), including topics on loss control prevention, general liability, fleet auto, workers compensation and more and can be found at www.afsasafetyportal.com . Typically a robust resource of this nature would be an added cost to subscribe to or access but its free to Blue River Underwriters program participants and AFSA members.

As were driven to help our clients successfully protect and grow their businesses, we are pleased to be able to offer a resource that furthers this commitment and is not an added cost to them, stated Leonhart. Our goal is to be a valued partner now and into the future, he added.

Leonhart will demonstrate the portal at the 36th annual American Fire Sprinkler Association conference Tuesday, September 26th ,2017 at 8:30 A.M. at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada. Blue River Underwriters will also have an exhibit at booth #329 where attendees can learn more about the program and the portal.

For more information on the Fire Sprinkler Online Safety Portal and a password to showcase the site to prospective fire sprinkler contractors, insurance agents may contact Robert Leonhart at 469.320.4030 or email rleonhart@blueriveruw.com or visit http://www.blueriveruw.com/fire-sprinkler-elite/

About the American Fire Sprinkler Association:

AFSA was founded in 1981, and with over 1,000 company members, it is the largest fire sprinkler organization of its kind in the nation. Providing members with education, leadership, and networking opportunities, AFSA seeks to provide its members with the tools necessary to improve and grow their businesses. Visit firesprinkler.org.

About Blue River Underwriters:

Blue River Underwriters is a national program administrator with managing general underwriting and managing general agent authority for several programs with top-rated international carriers. The team partners with select retail and wholesale insurance agents to deliver industry and risk insights and solutions for diverse insureds from Auto Dealers to Contractors to Outdoors entities. Blue River Underwriters continues to build its reputation for quality coverage, competitive rates, and unparalleled service with ten offices nationwide and is a part of the Breckenridge Insurance Group.

About Breckenridge Insurance Group:

Breckenridge Insurance Group, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is an international specialty wholesale insurance broker, program manager, managing general agent (MGA) and insurance services provider. The company offers access to diverse range of commercial insurance and financial services products to businesses and professional services firms in a variety of industries. The company serves independent insurance agents, brokers, and legal and financial institutions throughout North America by way of Blue River Underwriters, OSC, Breckenridge Insurance Services, Breckenridge Elevation Authorities contract binding group and InSpecialty innovative insurance solutions. For more information, please visit www.breckgrp.com or call 855.728.8822. CA Insurance License #0G13592

Media Contact

Caren Henry

chenry@breckgrp.com

267.961.8252

Topics Agencies Underwriting Insurance Wholesale Contractors Human Resources
The new version of the OECD transfer pricing guidelines for multinational enterprises and tax administrations was published in July 2017 (OECD TP guidelines). The OECD TP guidelines incorporate the recommendations of the OECDs BEPS action plan. Some of the main changes or clarifications to the OECD TP guidelines are as follows:

Further provisions on the application of the arms-length principle (comparability analysis);

Transactions involving commodities;

Provisions on safe harbours;

Transfer pricing documentation;

Intangible assets and cost sharing agreements; and

Restructures.

The aforementioned is relevant for Mexican tax purposes as the Mexican Income Tax Law (MITL) provides that for the interpretation of Mexican transfer pricing provisions, the OECD TP guidelines are applicable. The reason behind this reference in the MITL is that it includes limited transfer pricing provisions.

Derived from these changes to the OECD TP guidelines, Mexican taxpayers that carry out transactions with Mexican and foreign-based related parties, should verify if the terms and conditions established for those transactions and the transfer pricing analyses supporting them are still in line with these new provisions.

The current transfer pricing environment in Mexico

Mexican tax authorities have transfer pricing matters high on the agenda to prevent tax profits obtained by taxpayers being shifted abroad to related parties through intercompany transactions in which the amounts of consideration are not in line with market conditions.

In this regard, Mexican tax authorities have been very active auditing related party transactions, assessing significant tax credits. The approach that they take throughout audit processes, which is in line with the OECD, goes beyond the mere review of formalistic requirements of the transfer pricing studies and supporting documentation and the application of a transfer pricing method. Tax authorities are making integral reviews to make sure that each of the parties involved in the transactions are obtaining consistent profits with the assets, functions and risks incurred.

In certain cases, tax authorities are not only relying on the application of one transfer pricing method, but rather analysing the profitability of the counterparty to verify that all parties are compensated adequately.

Common mistakes found in TP documentation throughout audit processes in Mexico are: tax and financial information mismatches in the studies and the tax returns, poor functional analyses to determine assets, functions and risks; incorrect analyses to determine the most appropriate transfer pricing method to evaluate the transaction (in many cases companies apply the most favourable instead of the most accurate); inappropriate comparable companies or transactions; incorrect internal financial information (i.e. segmented information); inapplicable adjustments; among others.

It should be noted that the Mexican tax authorities are very advanced in the implementation of electronic systems to detect taxpayers risks. Nowadays, Mexican tax authorities are obtaining electronic accounting, electronic tax returns, tax reports, electronic invoices, among other documentation directly from taxpayers. This information is analysed by powerful data analytic programs developed internally.

On related party transactions, Mexican tax authorities would have at hand very detailed information due to the new informative returns (i.e. local, master file and a country-by-country report). Information for tax year 2016 has to be filed before December 31 2017.

If Mexican taxpayers have inconsistencies between tax and accounting documentation filed in regards to related party transactions, it would automatically raise a red flag. Mexican tax authorities are sending invitation letters to taxpayers to clarify inconsistencies detected. If they do not clarify the situation in a limited period of time, Mexican tax authorities are carrying out effective audits based on the fact that they are already starting with detected tax inconsistencies.

Thus, it is important that Mexican taxpayers make sure that all the documentation is consistent and that all informative returns are properly filed to avoid unnecessary invitations or audits by tax authorities.

Furthermore, notwithstanding that the transfer pricing documentation is in compliance with tax provisions from a substance and formalistic perspective, and that the tax and accounting information is filed correctly, taxpayers should consider that there are many other requirements to deduct expenses related to intercompany transactions. Taxpayers should demonstrate that the expenses incurred were strictly necessary to carry out their business activities, that the transactions effectively took place by providing supporting documentation (i.e. deliverables of the services), have proper invoices, among others.

Compared to what happens in other jurisdictions, Mexico continues being a very formalistic country in regards to taxes, thus even though the intercompany transactions have substance and are at arms length it does not necessarily mean that they are deductible items.

Advance transfer pricing agreements

A mechanism that may be recommendable in certain cases for Mexican taxpayers to have more certainty and reduce transfer pricing controversy risks in Mexico is the request of advance pricing agreements (APAs) (unilateral or multilateral), as provided in the Federal Fiscal Code and the OECD TP guidelines as tax authorities may validate the intercompany transaction in advance.

APAs in Mexico are applicable for five years. The year in which it is filed, the previous one and the subsequent three.

Mexican tax authorities have also been active involved in these kinds of procedures and have incentivised taxpayers to enter into them so as to avoid risks.

However, Mexican companies that pursue an APA should consider that they would still be required to comply with transfer pricing requirements regardless the fact that Mexican tax authorities agreed on the methodology.

Santiago Llano Zapatero (sllano@ritch.com.mx)

Ritch, Mueller, Heather y Nicolau, S.C.

www.ritch.com.mx
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If Shakespeare were writing today, he probably would leave out the lines:

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose /

By any other name would smell as sweet."

Why? Because studies have shown that, in all probability, sticking that rose in a Coca-Cola can or a McDonald's wrapper would really make people perceive it as smelling that much sweeter.

A brand is more than a nameit is the sum total of a consumer's experiences with a recognizable productand it is powerful, often leading to a competitive advantage. It is also frustratingly hard for investors to value.

Key Takeaways A brand is a consumer's sum total experience with a recognizable product.

A brand is powerful and is the core identity of a company that can make or break it.

An intangible asset, a brand carries a value but that value is difficult for investors to put a number on.

The three main ways to value a brand are stripping out the assets, product to product, and the intensive approach.

The power of branding can help a company triumph in a price war, thrive in a recession, or simply grow operating margins and create shareholder value.

The Elite List

Every year, Interbrand releases a list ranking the best global brands. This list reads like a who's who of the financial world and contains many of the companies making up the famous Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). However, you don't need to be a disciple of the Dow to recognize the brands; these are some of the most recognizable symbols in the world. Is being well-known valuable to a company? It sure is.

Here are some examples where branding has been the difference for companies:

Marlboro Friday: Phillip Morris, inventor of cowboys, smoking, and smoking cowboys, was facing increased competition in the cigarette industry in the 1990s. When the company cut the prices of its heavily-branded cigarettes, investors pushed the panic button and drove the stock down 26% in a single day. Despite a decline in smoking rates, the Phillip Morris brand won back consumers at the lower price and re-established its dominance.

Phillip Morris, inventor of cowboys, smoking, and smoking cowboys, was facing increased competition in the cigarette industry in the 1990s. When the company cut the prices of its heavily-branded cigarettes, investors pushed the panic button and drove the stock down 26% in a single day. Despite a decline in smoking rates, the Phillip Morris brand won back consumers at the lower price and re-established its dominance. New Coke: In a textbook illustration of what not to do, Coca-Cola found itself competing against its own brand and lost badly. Coca-Cola was worried about upstart Pepsi eroding its domestic market share and decided to shift production to a new formula: New Coke. In doing so, they halted the production of the original Coca-Colaan extremely profitable product they had been making for over a century. The backlash was so great New Coke was scuttled within months and Coca-Cola Classic re-entered the market.

In a textbook illustration of what not to do, Coca-Cola found itself competing against its own brand and lost badly. Coca-Cola was worried about upstart Pepsi eroding its domestic market share and decided to shift production to a new formula: New Coke. In doing so, they halted the production of the original Coca-Colaan extremely profitable product they had been making for over a century. The backlash was so great New Coke was scuttled within months and Coca-Cola Classic re-entered the market. Apple: The 1990s saw computers getting faster, better, and, most importantly, cheaper. Microsoft was making billions by providing operating systems on all of these machines. Apple was making expensive machines and, as the company's struggles showed, nobody wanted expensive computers when cheap would do. In 1997, Steve Jobs returned to Apple with the novel idea of making even more expensive computers. The difference was Jobs redoubled Apple's branding efforts, culminating in the "PC vs. Mac" campaign. Apple still makes really expensive machines, but it has gotten a lot better at making people want them.

How to Value a Brand

Although we can see brands are valuable to a company, brands are still considered among the intangible assets. Investors have tried many ways to separate the brand from the balance sheet to come up with a number. There are three main approaches that have gained traction.

1. Stripping Out Assets

The easiest way to put a value on a brand is to calculate the brand equity of a company. This is a simple calculation where you take a firm's enterprise value and subtract the tangible assets and intangible assets that can be identified, such as patents. The number you are left with is the value of the company's brand equity. The obvious flaw is that it doesn't take revenue growth into account, but it can provide a nice snapshot of how much of a company's value is goodwill.

2. Product to Product

Another way investors try to account for a brand is to focus on the pricing power of a company. Simply put, they want to know how much of a premium the company can charge above its competitor's product. This premium can then be multiplied by the units sold to give the annual figure for how much the brand is worth.

Names, logos, colors, and taglines are all part of a company's brand.

3. The Intensive Approach

Although too time-consuming to be practical for individual investors, the methodology behind Interbrand's ranking is the most complete. By incorporating similar approaches to the ones above and combining them with proprietary measures of brand strength and the role of the brand in consumer decisions, Interbrand provides a holistic measure of brand equity for the companies it measures. Unfortunately, Interbrand doesn't offer a free analysis of all the companies investors want to know about.

Double-Edged Intangibles

Whether you ballpark it or dig down to a more specific number, most investors are happy to have brand equity on their side. Surely the branding edge of Coca-Cola was one of the economic moats Warren Buffett talks about. However, brands can cut both ways.

Although it is intangible, it is more than possible for a company to destroy or tarnish its brand equity. By jokingly calling his company's jewelry "total crap," CEO Gerald Ratner badly damaged the image of Ratners. In addition to losing market value, the company renamed itself Signet to distance itself from the disgraced Ratner brand.

The Bottom Line

Ratner's is a tale of caution for investors who are already paying a premium because of brand equity. Brands are fickle beasts that can be hard to nurture and easy to kill.

That said, a solid brand and the pricing premium it brings can be very attractive to investors, and with good reason. The power of branding can help a company triumph in a price war, thrive in a recession, or simply grow operating margins and create shareholder value.

Like the brand itself, the premium investors are willing to pay for the stock with a branding edge is almost entirely a psychological choice. A stock with a large amount of brand equity is, of course, always "worth" whatever someone is willing to buy it for.
Top News - Investor Idea

Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) Facial and Body Recognition Patent Application Received a Notice of Allowance

San Diego, CA - November 9, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) with GBT Tokenize Corp. ("GBT/Tokenize") received a notice of allowance for its facial and body recognition non-provisional patent application.

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New Fashion Designer Launches this Holiday Season in Kelowna and Online; Sweet Dees Creations  Fun, Flirty and Affordable

Kelowna B.C. - November 14, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A local fashion designer is launching a new women's line at Kelowna markets and online this Holiday Season that will make heads turn with her whimsical and colourful choices

Top EV Stock News - Investor Idea

Breaking EV Stock News: Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Enters into Agreement with Newgate Motor Group, one of Ireland's most Recognized Auto Groups, to Distribute the Mullen I-GOTM in Ireland and United Kingdom

BREA, Calif. - November 9, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer, announces today that it has entered into an agreement to appoint Newgate Motor Group, one of Ireland's most recognized dealership groups, as marketing, sales, distribution and servicing agent for the Mullen I-GO in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea

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San Diego, CA - November 3, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) received a notice of publication for its financial software patent application.

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The City of Rio de Janeiro has invited G3ict and World Enabled, two nonprofits with extensive global leadership in inclusive cities and accessible technology, to assist with the citys efforts to ensure that persons with disabilities and older persons can benefit from the citys investments in smarter public services, according to a recent announcement.

As a part of this visit, the City of Rio de Janeiro along with World Enabled and G3ict will host Smart Cities for All: A Discussion on Inclusion with City Leaders, an event which will explore ways in which city agencies can leverage technology to promote innovation and inclusion. The event takes place from 9:00 to 12:30 pm in City Palace, Rua Sao Clemente, 360-Botafogo, Rio.

Talking about digital inclusion is talking about wealth generation and social inclusion. Therefore, the meeting with Victor Pineda and James Thurston, is a moment of learning and renewing hope for people with disabilities in Brazil, said Geraldo Nogueira, Undersecretary in the Mayors Office for Persons with Disabilities, City of Rio de Janeiro.

The event convenes city leaders in disability rights and technology programs, from both public and private sector organizations, including: Undersecretary for Persons with Disabilities, City of Rio, Municipal Company of Informatics (IPLANRIO), Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), Municipal Council for the Defense of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Rio de Janeiro (COMDEF), Accessibility Standing Committee - CPA; Rio de Janeiro Department of Education; Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Laboratory of Research and Development in Assistive Technology; and the Microsoft Corporation, etc. The event describes how cities can deploy accessible technology that works for all members of a society. City leaders also will address the challenges they face when deploying smart city services and digital inclusion programs.

We applaud the city of Rio for its strong commitment to the digital inclusion of all their citizens, including those with disabilities, said James Thurston, VP, Global Strategy and Development, G3ict. And we believe that the Smart Cities for All global initiative can help them achieve their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility goals.

This event showcases the Smart Cities for All Toolkit -- which is now available in English, Spanish and Portuguese versions. The kit contains four tools to help Smart Cities worldwide include a focus on ICT accessibility and the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities and older persons.

Edited by Ken Briodagh
Chinese firms will henceforth execute investment in and take part in managing projects financed by Exim Bank of China in Cameroon. Photo: Kribi Deep Seaport archives.

Some 27African journalists on September 22, 2017 visited the head office of the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of China in the capital, Beijing, to find out how the financial institution works and its plans for the continent. Bank officials took turns to explain their activities in Africa to the journalists; sometimes country after country.

Debt burden

Zhang Shuo of the Concessionary Loan Department said the bank has decided on a new cooperation formula for Cameroon in order to reduce its debt burden. It was recommended that Chinese companies not only execute Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, FOCAC projects financed by Exim Bank China and leave, but should henceforth participate in investing and running them, she explained.

Officials of Exim Bank of China took turns to explain their activities in Africa. Photo: Kimeng hilton

According to Zhang Shuo, the measure is also meant to help raise the sense of responsibility of Chinese companies. They will take proper care of projects because they are part owners, Zhang stated. She made it clear that the change of policy was a joint decision of the Chinese government and Exim Bank of China to promote Africas development. She added that the banks support to Cameroon was one of the highest in Africa, though no figures were provided.

Cameroon-China trade

From 2008 to 2017, trade between Cameroon and China was about 2 billion US dollars. Between 2008 and 2015, China granted loans to Cameroon worth 3 billion US dollars - mainly for infrastructure, road construction and telecommunications development. In appreciation, Cameroons President Paul Biya on June 6, 2016, issued a decree exceptionally awarding the Medal of Grand Officer of National Valour to Li Ruogu, former president of Exim Bank of China.

The recipient was decorated in Beijing on May 19, 2017 by Cameroons Ambassador to China, Martin Mpana, on the occasion of Cameroons 45th National Day. The Ambassador said the bestowal was in recognition of Li Ruogus facilitation of Cameroons receipt of financial assistance from Exim Bank of China between 2009 and 2015. He added that the conferment by President Biya was in acknowledgement of Li Ruogus high level of respect and managerial skills.

Journalists want to know what plans Exim Bank of China had for their countries. Photo: Kimeng Hilton

Exim Bank team visits Cameroon

On July 28, 2017, Cameroons Prime Minister Philemon Yang, received a delegation from Exim Bank of China in the capital, Yaounde. Led by its Chairperson, Hu Xiaolian, the team was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon Wei Wenhua. The meeting was also attended by the PMs aides and the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Louis Paul Motaze.

Hu Xiaolian told the press after the meeting that her bank will henceforth extend funding of Cameroons projects to agriculture and industrialization after focusing on infrastructure and energy. She added that the visit was to strengthen cooperation with Cameroon and synchronize the projects they finance in the country. Hu Xiaolian promised her banks continuous support to Cameroons efforts to become a middle income nation by 2035.

Journalists at Exim Bank headquarters

During the visit by African journalists, Yuan Xingyong, Exim Bank of China Vice President, described Africa as one of the most dynamic regions in the world in terms of economic growth. He said forecasts suggest that Africas economy will grow by 3.4 percent in 2017. Moreover, the continent is set to become the second fastest growing region in the world after Asia, Yuan Xingyong predicted.

Reviewing Exim Bank of Chinas activities in Africa in the past few years, Zhang Shuo said under FOCAC, there has been an increase in concessionary loan facilities. Loans in 2012 totalled 20 billion US dollars, while 35 billion US dollars in export credit was allocated at the FOCAC summit in South Africa in 2015. They are now implementing commitments reached at the FOCAC South Africa summit, Zhang explained.

African investments

As at now, Chinese investments in Africa stand at 100 billion US dollars, while over 3,000 Chinese firms have been brought into continent. Exim Banks focus is on national economic cooperation, he said. Currently, there are over 600 Chinese projects worth 300 billion RMB going on in Africa. Some of the banks core principles are shared interest, sincerity, mutual respect, equality, etc.

So far, 10 loan agreements have been signed with Africa this year, while Exim Bank has financed projects in about 50 countries since it started operations in the continent in 1996. The projects include the construction of Kribi Deep Seaport in Cameroon, rehabilitation of Victoria Falls International Airport in Zimbabwe and building of the Nairobi-Mombasa Standard Gauge Rail line in Kenya, which created about 38,000 local jobs.

Victoria Falls International Airport in Zimbabwe was recently rehabilitated with funding from Exim Bank of China. Photo: Zimbabwe archives

Project guidelines

We respect local customs, national laws and stick to the target of improving development, Yuan Xingyong noted. Our cooperation should be felt by both Chinese and African people in terms of results, he continued. A deal was signed with Ethiopia this year for the construction of a wind power plant in the north of the country, it was also disclosed.

In order to facilitate work on the continent, Exim Bank of China has set up offices in several parts of Africa. Our work in Africa under FOCAC is to carry out concessional loan facilities of the Chinese government for infrastructure, energy, basic industries and agricultural projects as the only such bank in China, another official pointed out.

*Kimeng Hilton Ndukong, a contributor to Peoples Daily Online, is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently a 2017 China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC fellow.
Several months before the iPhone X launch, leaked images suggested how the front profile of the smartphone was going to look. The accidentally-released HomePod firmware also gave us the first official look at, what has ended up becoming, the iPhone Xs unique appearance.

Often referred to as the notch, Apples official terminology calls it the sensor housing, as it encloses the following components  an infrared camera, a flood illuminator, a dot projector, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, along with a front-facing camera, earpiece and speaker. Half of these sensors present are used for Face ID  Apples facial authentication system thats put in the iPhone X instead of Touch ID fingerprint recognition.

Occupying this array of components on top cuts a portion of an otherwise edge-to-edge, near-bezel-less display. There has been a lot of controversy regarding this design decision, so lets deep dive into the bad and the good things about the iPhone X notch, starting with the bad.

THE BAD

In 2014, Motorola was on the verge of launching its Moto 360 smartwatch, when leaked images on the internet showed a flat-tire at the bottom of an otherwise round display. Famous Apple blogger John Gruber mocked the design choice, which Motorola at the time suggested was necessary to contain components like an ambient light sensor and display drivers. Three years later, the iPhone X bears a similar cut-away thats become an eyesore to several onlookers.

iPhone X renders webpages with literal white bars on the sides pic.twitter.com/ztcWetrLPo  Thomas  Fuchs (@thomasfuchs) September 13, 2017

Apart from subjectively looking bad to some, there are functional disadvantages to the sensor housing placement. When the iPhone X is used in landscape mode, the notch creates an asymmetrical appearance. Apples design guidelines ask app developers to avoid placing any elements on the edges of the screen, and rather stick to the safe area, such that content will not get hidden due to the notch. But in the example below reported by The Verge, the scroll indicator unavoidably gets hidden upon holding the phone sideways, with the notch on the right side.

Dont worry, the hiding scroll bar is even grosser (top-right corner). pic.twitter.com/6ImBLI9TdM  Ben Packard (@BenPackard) September 13, 2017

In landscape mode, videos by default play letterboxed, where the notch gets blended nicely into the dark borders on either sides (in part thanks to the OLED display). But you can double-tap on it for the video to fill up the entire screen. By doing so, some content expectedly will get hidden behind the sensor housing. But all visuals used on Apples official iPhone X page show content like photos, videos, and games occupying the entire screen, with some portion hidden behind the sensor housing. This suggests that Apple has fully embraced the notch, and expects developers and users to do the same.

Finally, as covered by MacRumors, in landscape mode the iPhone X shows less information when compared to typical 4.7-inch iPhones due to the swipe gesture indicator. That might not seem like a lot, but with the keyboard open in landscape, this will result in an even lesser viewable area while typing.

Tradeoff: in landscape mode, you get less vertical screen space on the iPhone X than on previous iPhones because of the home indicator pic.twitter.com/XLNsT4lm4v  Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 13, 2017

The notchs problems arent only restricted to using the iPhone X in landscape. In portrait mode, when compared to previous iPhones, the sensor housing splits the display on the top into two corners (unofficially referred to as the ears). Now the top area traditionally houses the Status Bar, which on other iPhones displays a lot of information  starting with the network bar, carrier name, WiFi, and internet activity symbol with the time placed in the center. Next, there are symbols for do not disturb mode, screen rotation lock, location use, alarm, Bluetooth, battery meter with percentage and charging symbol. Lastly, the area to the left is dynamically used to accommodate a back button, when you jump to an app by clicking its link in another app (for example when you click an Amazon link from Twitter, or a Twitter link from Safari).

Although the media didnt get a lot of time to deepdive into the iPhone X at the hands-on area after the launch event, it is evident that some compromises had to be made. From what I can tell seeing Apples official site and the early demo videos, Apple could only fit the important elements like the time, the network bars, WiFi symbol and battery meter on either sides.

Seemingly, the status symbols for do not disturb, screen rotation lock, and alarm wont be persistently shown on the iPhone X top bar due to lack of space. Also, the carrier name is seen only on the lockscreen, and not always (although this is nothing worth fretting over for most people). Next, it is also unclear whether the battery left can be represented numerically in percentage next to the meter. If you were to look at the screenshots, there seems to be no space left for that. The only screenshot on Apples official page that shows the percentage sign is when the Control Center is opened. Lastly, the Back to App button is now super-awkwardly placed underneath the time on the left ear, and looks completely unpolished.

This brings our attention to Control Center  which now opens by swiping down on the right ear of the iPhone X. Swiping anywhere else, like the sensor housing or left ear, instead brings down the Notification Center. Comparatively, in Android phones, a one-finger swipe from the top using a single finger reveals notifications, and a two-finger swipe-down gesture opens the quick toggles for WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. To some people, iPhone Xs gestures were deemed as inconsistent behaviour, a notion made popular by this viral video.

The new iPhone X UI design is idiotic. Wouldn't this be WAY better? pic.twitter.com/zHeB9XFNdy  Quinn Nelson (@SnazzyQ) September 12, 2017

Lastly, on non-iPhone-X smartphones, iOS puts a prominently-visible bar on the top to indicate background activity of a minimised app like a phone call, voice recording, and even location use from iOS 11 onwards.

*ANY* time a background app uses your location in iOS 11 the blue bar is on. This is going to crush entire businesses. pic.twitter.com/gT2jIlnNEj  Ryan Jones (@rjonesy) June 21, 2017

This bar shows details like the app name along with other information like a timer for phone calls or a recording. Tapping the bar would take you back to the app. On the iPhone X, this persistent bar is replaced by a colored, pill-shaped wrapper around the time on the left ear. Prima facie, it seems that vital information such as which app is using what resource wont be known up-front, because of this design change.

"Note that the status bar on iPhone X doesn't change height when background tasks like voice recording and location tracking are active." pic.twitter.com/dzx3wCCaKE  Dan Jackson (@_danj_) September 13, 2017

THE GOOD

After hearing so much negative feedback about the iPhone X notch, one would wonder if theres any good that has come out of Apples design choice. In my opinion, there are a few things that can be seen in positive light.

For instance, since its introduction in iOS 7, Control Center has been universally accessible with a swipe up from the bottom of any screen in iOS. Although this gesture worked fine in most instances, personally its been not very easy to use when the keyboard is open. Every other swipe for me results in accidental characters typed on the keyboard. A slow, precise gesturing is needed to open the Control Center instead. On the iPhone X, since pulling down on the right ear brings up Control Center, such an issue wont arise anymore (although people will have to relearn the new gesture).

Next, the sensor housing does offer the iPhone X a very unique appearance. It will be very easy to recognise someone using one especially at night, thanks to the edge-to-edge display that uniquely doesnt light up on that top area. You can also expect app developers start getting creative in making their apps embrace the notch.

If this doesnt make you want to spend $1,000 in November, I dont know what will. pic.twitter.com/cpgDhQIcxq  CARROT (@CARROT_app) September 13, 2017

One could even say that if Apple had gone with a typical edge-to-edge display by not filling the area around the notch with screen, it might have looked similar to other Android phones. And that may be true  since thats how the LG G6, Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8 are designed. Heres a look at how the iPhone X would have looked if Apple had gone the traditional route.

I would have been just as happy with an iPhone X with slightly larger top and bottom bezels instead of a notch. Made these quick mockups. pic.twitter.com/Bkac7dUStZ  Matthijs (@matthijsklaver) September 12, 2017

And lastly, because the status indicators occupy the top edge of the iPhone X, that does create some extra viewing area for content below. Here is an image comparing how much more content is visible on an iPhone X when compared to 4.7-inch iPhones, which is largely due to the increased height of the display, but also in part due to the notch design.

In the next couple of months, as the iPhone X starts being used by millions of customers worldwide, we will see how people react to this drastic change. But theres a good chance that the issues mentioned above wont be deal-breakers for people who buy the phone; just minor bumps they need to get over.

Take the Twitter poll below to let us know what you think about the iPhone X Notch, and feel free to elaborate in the comments below:
UPDATE 4.30pm: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has strongly welcomed confirmation from British Prime Minister that she will not accept any physical infrastructure at the Irish border, writes Daniel McConnell

Speaking in Downing Street following a bilateral meeting with Theresa May, Mr Varadkar said, however, the British Government still needs to deliver more clarity on how it sees Brexit working.

Well certainly I did, and I have always encouraged the British Government to be more specific about the future relationship between Britain and Ireland and between the UK and the EU, he said.

Welcoming her comments on the border, Mr Varadkar said she has gone further than before on not wanting any physical barriers returning between North and South.

One thing which was included in her speech was the fact Britain will not seek any physical infrastructure on the border.

To me that is very important, that is more than saying you don't want the borders of the past. So in my view, that is a very strong statement, he said.

These comments were confirmed in a statement released by Downing Street a short time after the meeting.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked the Taoiseach for his welcome of her Florence speech and they discussed the period of implementation which would enable people and businesses  both in the UK and in the EU  to adjust to the new arrangements in a smooth and orderly way.

Mr Varadkar did offer his view that the border would not be necessary if Britain and Northern Ireland remained in the customs union.

Of course I pointed out that the best way to achieve that is for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to stay in some form of a customs union and some form of a single market, Mr Varadkar said.

He added that it was certainly the view of the Prime Minister is that it is best to explore these issues if we are able to move into phase 2 of these talks.

But that is a decision we will make collectively as the 27 member states and I will have the first opportunity to discuss this matter with my colleagues on Thursday, Mr Varadkar said.

Asked about the ongoing deadlock in the North, Mr Varadkar made it clear he does not favour any move back to direct rule from Westminster.

We obviously discussed the fact that there are ongoing talks. Both of us are of the view that the DUP and Sinn Fein come together and form an agreement to allow the institutions get back up and running, he said.

In the past, that has required external interventions, from the Governments or outside, but at this stage, the most important thing is that Sinn Fein and DUP come together to give Northern Ireland a unique voice when it comes to Brexit, which I think is very important. Neither of us are contemplating another election in Northern Ireland as a solution. It is the very strong view of the Irish Government that there should not be a return to direct rule, he added.

Earlier, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the UK "needs to bring a plan" to the table for Brexit.

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, he said Mrs May did provide some welcome detail in her speech in Florence

UPDATE 3.15pm: Brexit divorce talks have so far made insufficient progress to allow starting negotiations on a post-withdrawal trade deal, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said after meeting Theresa May in Downing Street.

But Mr Varadkar stressed that there was still time for the situation to be resolved before the 27 remaining EU members make a decision on the matter in October.

He said: "I don't think, at this stage, it would be possible to say that sufficient progress has yet been made, but it may well be possible by the end of October when we meet in Brussels."

Mr Varadkar said that the decision would be shaped by the views of chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier.

"Certainly, we will be very much guided by the report that Michel Barnier will make to the prime ministers and also the report that the European Parliament will make."

Mr Varadkar also urged the Government to be "more specific" about the future relationship between the UK and Ireland after Brexit.

Following a working lunch in No 10, Mr Varadkar said the Prime Minister's decision to rule out a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland was "very important".

Mr Varadkar, who is the first EU leader to visit the PM since her keynote address in Florence last week in which she set out her hopes for a post-Brexit relationship with Brussels, also urged the DUP and Sinn Fein to find a solution to the deadlock over powersharing.

"I have always encouraged the British Government to be more specific about how they see the future relationship between Britain and Ireland and between the United Kingdom and the European Union," he said.

Earlier: Brexit and getting the power-sharing Assembly back in action at Stormont dominated talks as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Theresa May met at Downing Street today.

Mr Varadkar is the first EU leader to visit the PM since her keynote address in Florence last week in which she set out her hopes for a post-Brexit relationship with Brussels.

Mrs May said: "There are some key issues for us at the moment. I'm sure we'll be discussing the issue of how we can ensure the devolved administration is restored in Northern Ireland.

"And also, of course, the particular issues around Brexit. I think that with positive working together we will find a solution that delivers what we both want, which is no return to a hard border, no return to the borders of the past."

Mr Varadkar said the two leaders were in a "shared space" on trying to get the Northern Ireland Executive up and running again.

He said Dublin wanted to make sure that the close relationship built up between the two countries in recent years is maintained after Brexit, as well as the Common Travel Area.

Mr Varadkar said he hoped to keep free trade between the two countries "because we share the view that free trade makes everyone better off".
Since launching in 2010 it has supported 60 start-ups and almost 80 founders, who have gone on to employ more than 150 people.

But Eamon Curtin, director of the IGNITE programme at University College Cork, says the team gets the same buzz every year about the new participants and the possibilities that lie ahead.

IGNITE is a business start-up programme that specialises in supporting recent third-level graduates to develop an innovative idea into a successful, scalable business.

A number of the start-ups have accessed international markets, raising significant private investment, and many have gone on to become Enterprise Ireland client companies. The programme is open to all graduates from institutions across the country.

Mr Curtin said: The graduate entrepreneurs are recently after completing a course in college and they have an idea. It may have come from a five-year project, maybe it came from a certain experience they had where they spotted an opportunity, maybe they understand a piece of technology from their course and are looking to use it.

They think they may be able to commercialise it and we work with them through the early stages of that.

This years crop of talent, which will be showcased at the awards night on Thursday, include ApisProtect, founded by Fiona Edwards Murphy, which uses the Internet of Things technology that allows the monitoring of beehives.

She has trialled it on a small scale and the next phase is to try it out with international beekeepers.

Past graduates who have gone on to become established employers include Sinead Doherty of AnaBio Technologies, Ross ODwyer and Richard Barrett of PunditArena, and Brendan Finucane of Ecanvasser.

Mr Curtin said: There is huge personal satisfaction in seeing the personal development these guys go through over this period of time. If I was to look at Sinead, Brendan, Ross or Richard, and one or two more, they are employing dozens of people.

The programme was born during the recession and soon found support from Cork City and County Councils, Local Enterprise Offices, Bank of Ireland, as well as UCC.

Mr Curtin said: In 2010, Dr Ronan O Dubhghaill was director of strategic planning and recognised one of the consequences of the downturn was that we had good graduates coming out but they werent finding jobs. It was recognised if we encouraged some in that cohort to stay and develop, it would create jobs for themselves and go on to create jobs for others.

One of the phrases we sometimes use is they should be looking to create a job as an opportunity rather than take a job as an opportunity. The timing was right. Business leaders in Cork also got on board.

Dick Lehane, who was instrumental in bringing EMC to Cork, got involved. Ronan, with the support of the LEOs, initiated the first programme of 10 start-ups for the first six months of 2011.

That encouraged city and county councils, LEOs and Bank of Ireland through their support of UCC, to commit a fund for three years to bring the programme on to the next level.

Were now on the second phase of development with a goal of where we double the programme in 2018, so we take on two cohorts of 10 start-ups and look to create a vibrant workspace thats housing them all, and they learn from each other as well as us, Mr Curtin said.

The support of the business community has been vital, he added.

We have a very active advisory board, all voluntary, with a huge depth of experience. There is a huge level of support in people starting a business, but some graduates may not have the skillsets to be able to take full advantage, to reach out to people, to build a network and to use that network when it comes to getting advice.

So a large element is having participants much better prepared when they finish up on the programme.

Over the course of a programme, theyd engage with 100 business people. It may be a review panel, role play, many different elements.

Bank of Ireland, EY, venture capitalists, the private investment community, all will provide feedback and support, he said.

Mr Curtin said the next challenge for IGNITE is to be able to secure small private investment that the intake of graduates can rely on during the programme itself.

While there is some financial support from the programme, Mr Curtin said private investors could make a huge difference by backing the participants during the year.

Theres a gap in very early seed funding for the guys we work with. The LEOs are very effective but theres a bit of a step to be taken for someone who comes in to us with an idea and what they might be able to do to access that funding.

Our ideal would be to be in a position where we can offer an opportunity to access 5,000 to 15,000 to our participants, to help them to get from an idea to a well thought-out business model  market research, product testing, etc.

This years awards and showcase feature six new businesses, some well on the road to success.
Andre Bastie and Marc Assens, who are taking part in the UStart, an accelerator programme at DCUs Ryan Academy, set up Happy Scribe in their living room when they found that there was a huge demand for the service, which converts speech to text from audio files.

Mr Bastie was working on a research project about social entrepreneurs in Ireland as part of his masters in electronic commerce in DCU.

Having conducted hours of interviews he was not relishing the thought of transcribing the audio.

He spoke to his flatmate, Mr Assens, who was on an Erasmus exchange from a computer science degree at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and they came up with a solution.

As you may know its a really time-consuming process.

I came home, and we started to look at different possibilities with Marc, and we came up with this solution which at this stage was just a script on the computer, Mr Bastie says.

Using the application, he converted the audio transcripts for himself and the rest of his research group.

Within a week they started to receive messages from other researchers and PhD students in DCU who wanted to use the tool for their own research.

It was really word of mouth in the university, he says.

When he and Mr Assens realised they had a product, they decided to start a web service online.

A week after releasing the platform online, and a month after its creation at the end of April, Scribe, as it was initially known, was featured on Poynter.org, the website of the renowned American-based journalism institute.

Mr Bastie says they realised the impact of the article when they were in their living room, and the website crashed.

It was a surprise for us because at the time we had five to 10 users per day. Then we saw there were about 80 people trying to upload files at the same time and that was a direct result of the Poynter article.

The article went viral in the US and got us a lot of traffic, he says.

To date, Happy Scribe has had over 4,000 users from more than 50 countries and transcribed more than 230,000 minutes of audio since the application was created at the end of April. A huge part of the appeal of Happy Scribe for students, researchers, and journalists is the low cost, at 0.09 cent per audio minute.

The founders intend to keep the price affordable.

That was really important to us because one of the reasons that we started Happy Scribe was that as students the other options were not affordable to us.

We wanted something that is available to the widest number of individuals. Thats the reason we have a low price for the service, Mr Bastie says.

Using voice recognition, the Happy Scribe application converts one hour of speech in about 20 minutes, saving up to four hours on transcribing.

Happy Scribe is available in more than 119 languages and accents, including nine different dialects in the English language, 20 in Spanish and 15 in Arabic.

Mr Bastie says English is one of the most difficult languages to transcribe because it can change drastically from one region to another.

Speaking about the idiosyncratic nature of English spoken in Ireland, he acknowledges with a laugh that there is no one Irish accent, there are maybe 10 different Irish accents.

Another feature that sets Happy Scribe apart from its competitors is the applications text editor which synchronises the text with the audio file.

Mr Assens says they have been able to develop Happy Scribe quickly because he has the technical knowledge while Mr Bastie works on the design.

When Mr Bastie and Mr Assens finish UStart next month they plan to focus full time on the business.

They are currently looking for potential external investment to expand the business worldwide.

Wile the focus is on providing the best solution possible, with a number of improvements set to be released in the coming months, they are also currently working on developing the Spanish and French market.
President Trump has called for cutting the corporate rate to 15%, down from the current 35%. The plan hell see this week is also expected to recommend cutting the top individual tax rate to 35%, down from 39.6%, according to sources.

President Trump and treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin have said previously that they didnt want the tax plan to offer any tax cut to the highest earners and that theyd balance a rate cut by eliminating deductions that the wealthy use to cut their tax bills.

Mr Mnuchin said in November there will be no absolute tax cut for the upper class.

On CNNs State of the Union yesterday, Mr Mnuchin didnt mention specific tax rates. President Trump plans a trip to Indiana this week for a speech on tax issues, a source said.

The White House and congressional Republican leaders are preparing for a push in the next few months to pass tax legislation.

Cutting the corporate tax rate is one of President Trumps core principles for an overhaul. While members of President Trumps own administration have suggested that his position on the corporate rate might be subject to compromise, the president may yet resist a plan with a rate higher than 15%, according to one source.

Speaking last Friday, President Trump said that a tax plan would be released this week, and described it as massive tax cuts. The effect of such cuts on the $20 trillion (16.7tn) federal debt remains to be seen.

Last week, a pair of key Republican senators reached an agreement on the framework for a 2018 budget resolution thats expected to allow for a tax cut of $1.5tn over 10 years that would add to the deficit  before accounting for any growth or other economic effects of the cuts.

The Washington Post reported that Republicans were targeting a corporate rate of 20%, citing three unnamed people. But the plan remains fluid, those people told the paper.

The news website Axios reported on Saturday advisers had already agreed to a 20% rate.
(A bulk carrier freighted with goods on a pier in Lianyungang, East China. Xinhua/file photo)

China will roll out a negative list for foreign investment, which has been tested in pilot free-trade zones.

The negative list model, which states the sectors and businesses that are off limits to foreign investment, will be adopted nationwide as early as 2018.

"Introduction of the negative list is a creative approach at home and abroad. It lays an important foundation for market to play a decisive role in resource allocation," said Xu Shanchang, with the National Development and Reform Commission.

The approach had an initial test run in Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian, before expanding to other places, including Zhejiang and Hubei, for further testing.

"It is rather important to be prepared before making it a nationwide practice," Xu said.

On Aug. 16, the State Council issued a document saying that China would make its foreign investment environment "more law-based, internationalized and convenient" to promote growth and raise the quality of foreign investment.

"The country should continue to reduce market access restrictions for foreign capital," the document said.

China will expand market access to allow foreign capital in sectors including new-energy vehicle manufacturing, ship design, aircraft maintenance and railway passenger transport, it said.

On July 28, China began to implement a revised foreign investment catalogue, which included a negative list as well as sectors and industries in which the government wants to encourage foreign companies to invest.

"Instead of trying to guide industrial adjustment, the negative list is to coordinate the relationship between government and market, aiming to improve the market's role of regulation, make enterprises the major investment sources and lift government restrictions," said Guo Guannan, with China Academy of Macroeconomic Research.

"The resilience and competitiveness of China's investment management system would be enhanced by implementing a negative list," said Gao Yuwei, a Bank of China researcher.

The negative list will help China develop an open economy and lead to comprehensive reforms to the country's economic and social management, according to Gao.

China will introduce more fiscal and taxation support policies to encourage overseas investors to expand investment, the State Council said in August.

The country could make use of overseas investors to optimize the service trade structure.

China encourages multinationals to set up regional headquarters in the country and wants more investment in western areas and the old northeastern industrial bases.

The investment environment in national-level development zones will be improved by giving the zones more authority in investment management and raising their ability to provide industrial services, according to the State Council.

Foreigners will find it easier to get work permits as the government aims to facilitate the cross-border flow of professionals.

Before the end of the year, China will release detailed new rules for granting visas to foreign professionals, including extending the validity period, the State Council said.

Efforts should also be stepped up to improve foreign capital-related laws, provide better services to overseas investors and ensure the free outward remittance of their profits.

China will improve the protection of intellectual property rights, raise the competitiveness of the research and development environment and maintain continuity in foreign investment policies, it said.
And at a lunch meeting in Downing Street today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will tell British prime minister Theresa May that a satisfactory soft-border solution has not yet been provided.

Speaking on Newstalk radio, yesterday, Mr Moscovici, European commissioner for taxation and customs, said he does not want a hard border between the Republic and the North.

However, asked about EU customs checks at Irish ports and airports, he said well see, noting that Britain has failed to provide an alternative.

Madame May pronounced, recently, an important speech that needs to be translated in concrete proposals and I cannot offer you a road-map, he said.

But the only thing I can say is that we are really watching this question of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The comment  striking a distinctly different tone to that of the European parliaments chief Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, who, during a Dail visit last week, pledged financial support to Ireland if Brexit takes place  comes as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar prepares to meet Ms May in London this afternoon.

Last night, a Government spokesperson said Mr Varadkar will use the meeting  taking place as he leads a delegation to highlight Irelands Rugby World Cup 2023 bid  to repeat his cautious welcome for elements of Ms Mays speech in Florence last Friday, while repeating concern a clear and satisfactory solution on the border has not yet been presented.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Brendan Howlin will use his speech at the British Labour partys annual conference to urge his UK counterparts to go further in pushing for a soft Brexit solution.

Mr Howling will also say that Sinn Fein should take up their seats in Westminster as a once-off during any Brexit vote.
Health Minister Simon Harris and Education Minister Richard Bruton will outline the guidelines this morning amid growing concerns about obesity.

Under plans similar to those unveiled in Britain in recent years, school meals will have to abide by strict nutritional standards.

Mr Harris and Mr Bruton will say that Deis facilities using the school-meals programme  which costs 50m a year and feeds 250,000 children nationwide  will be barred from providing meals high in sugar, salt, and fat to students.

Any Deis schools that continue to provide students with unhealthy meals after this will have their funding scrapped.

The new rules are part of the latest update to the Nutrition Standards for the States School Meals programme, which is part of the wider Healthy Eating Guidelines initiative.

The standards were developed by the Department of Health, Safefood, the HSE, the Department of Education and the Department of Social Protection.

While they relate to breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, and school dinners at Deis schools, both Mr Harris and Mr Bruton are keen for other schools, which do not receive extra State funding for meals, to also sign up to the new policy.

Serious concerns over the standard of school meals, and the availability to students of foods and drinks that are high in sugar, salt, and fat, have repeatedly been raised in recent years, due to the growing issue of obesity in this country.

A decade ago, former health minister Mary Harney outlined similar plans to reduce the use of unhealthy foods in schools, while her immediate successors, James Reilly and current Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, have also previously raised questions over the use of vending machines and other matters.

Editorial: 10
No, its Irish women dressed up in red capes and white bonnets, like the Handmaids  those who have no control or power over their own fertility, and whose bodies are state-owned vessels  in Margaret Atwoods dystopian futurist novel.

Nothing imaginary about that lack of power or control here today in Ireland, eh, ladies? For Irish women who would like reproductive autonomy, every day is dystopian - just ask anyone urgently trying to get to the UK for a legal termination. Whilst travelling on Ryanair.

I try to imagine how the situation would unfold if my daughter, entering young adulthood, were to have an unwanted pregnancy in the future.

What would we do? Let me think about that for a nanosecond. Hmmmmm.

Would I (a) tell her that the future life of a handful of cells growing inside her is of equal importance right now to her own fully formed life, and that she should drop out of education and become a teenage parent reliant on state subsidy, at least a decade before she is ready for parenthood, working on the assumption that she does at some point wish to be a parent? Or would I (b) immediately drive her to the nearest chemist where, because we live in the UK, we can easily and without restriction access emergency contraception?

The second one. As much as I am looking forward to being a grandmother, I would not hesitate for one moment to place the needs and wants of my young adult child above all else, including the possible existence of any future unborn grandchildren.

This is all entirely hypothetical for now, as my daughter is in a monogamous relationship with

Instagram, but those Handmaids are a stark visual reminder of what she would face had she grown up in Ireland.

What lots of parents living in Ireland must face, if their young adult daughters are confronted with unplanned unwanted pregnancy, and have not yet attained financial and emotional independence.

How stressful that must be for all involved  even with the most supportive parents in the world, the Irish state continues to obstruct what is a private and personal matter.

That a woman cannot prevent an unwanted pregnancy  for whatever reason, none of which is anyone elses business - unless they get to the chemist within five days clutching 35 will be looked back upon with the same mixture of disbelief and cringey embarrassment as when the Irish state used to fine pubs for having condom machines in their loos.

Our daughters will tell their daughters about that prolonged dystopian era in Ireland when they were criminalised for wishing to control their own bodies.

They will tell their daughters with the same horror and incredulity we reserve for all those past generations of women enslaved in the Magdalene laundries.

They will wonder  was it really like that, or were our mothers and grandmothers exaggerating?
Thomas Patrick Ashe was born in the village of Lipsole, near Dingle, Co.Kerry, in 1885, the seventh of ten children. He attended the local National School at Ardamore, and went on to work there as a monitor.

When he was 20, he trained as a teacher at De La Salle College, Waterford, and became principal at Corduff National School, Lusk, Co. Dublin, where he taught Gaelic.

Union Jack

His sister, Nora, relates how at breaktime he would get pupils to march into the playground, trampling over a Union Jack. The National Board of Education gave him the sack.

His familys deep interest in the Irish language, poetry and culture, drew Thomas to the Gaelic League. He set up branches in several villages, and travelled to USA, wearing his kilt and carrying his cherished bagpipes, to collect money for the League.

When the Irish Volunteers were formed in 1913, six-foot tall Ashe was one of the first to join. Two years later he was elected leader of the Fingal Volunteers. The opportunity of taking part in an armed rising was an honour few people received, he said.

During the 1916 Easter Rising, he led the Fifth (Fingal) batallion of 48 men to victory against the Royal Irish Constabulary in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, speeding about on his motorbike  a 2 horsepower New Hudson  to direct operations. They captured four police barracks and large quantities of arms and ammunition. His battalion killed 11 RIC men and wounded over 20.

Under his charismatic leadership, they also demolished Rogerstown Bridge on the Great Northern Railway, disrupting access into Dublin.

When he was told by Patrick Pearse to surrender, he was stunned, says Nora: he thought that the rest of the volunteers had been as successful as they themselves had been, and wanted to fight on. He was the last leader to surrender. Afterwards, he admitted the police were not a bad lot at all.

Thomas Ashe.

Death sentence

On 8th May, Ashe was sentenced to death for his part in the Rising. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, and he was incarcerated in Dartmoor, Portland, and Lewes Prisons in England, where he wrote his famous poem Let Me Carry Your Cross for Ireland, Lord.

In a general amnesty he was returned to Ireland, where he once more became involved in the independence movement and began a series of lectures around the country.

He joined Sinn Fein and was elected President of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, After giving a seditious speech in Ballinalee, Co Longford, in June 1917, he found himself a wanted man, and hid in a friends house for six weeks.

Venturing out through boredom one August night, Ashe was arrested in Dublin city centre. He was charged with making a speech calculated to cause disaffection and sentenced to one years hard labour in Mountjoy Gaol, Dublin.

With six other republican prisoners, he demanded to be treated as a prisoner-of-war, not as a criminal, with the right to wear his own clothes, associate with other inmates and take regular exercise; otherwise he threatened to break every rule of the prison.

When the warders refused to comply, the men rang their bells continuously and kicked on their cell doors.

A volley was fired over Thomas Ashes grave

On 20th September, warders seized his bed, bedding, stove and table from his cell, confiscated his Bible and prayer book, and forcibly removed his boots. He was left to sleep on bare boards.

When Ashe responded by going on hunger strike, some believe that he was put in a straitjacket.

His hands and feet bound, he was force-fed raw egg, beaten in milk, through a rubber tube placed down his throat.

Stick it, Tom boy, called out fellow Republican, Fionan Lynch, as he saw Ashe being taken away. Ill stick it, Fin he replied. If I die, he said, I die in a good cause.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 25th, Ashe collapsed and was taken across the road to Mater Hospital. His lips were blue but he was still conscious and was expected to pull through. But at 10.30pm he died of heart failure and congestion of the lungs.

At the inquest into his death, the jury condemned staff at the prison for the inhuman and dangerous operation performed on the prisoner. The feeding tube, put in place by a trainee doctor, was administered unskilfully.

The liquid poured not into his stomach but into his lungs.

Ashes body was taken to lie in state in City Hall, Dublin.

Some 30,000 people processed through Dublin on the day of his funeral, 30 September.

At Glasnevin Cemetery, Volunteers fired three barrages of bullets by his graveside. That volley we have just heard is the only speech which it is proper to make above the grave of a dead Fenian, said Michael Collins.

The Cork Examiner reported a general revulsion of feeling at the manner of Ashes death. Committees sprang up all over Ireland to pay tribute to him, helping fuel the fire of independence.
David Loew, Sanofi Executive Vice President and Head of Sanofi Pasteur

The China Preventive Medical Association (CPMA) and Sanofi Pasteur jointly announced recently the signing of the Memorandum for the Cooperation Program on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (hereinafter referred to as the Memo) in Beijing. This three-year Cooperation Program aims on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases to promote vaccines as effective measures and approaches for improving life expectancy and quality of life, and the important roles and values of vaccines in contributing to achieving the Healthy China 2030 goals and tackling public health challenges. After the meeting at which the Memorandum of Understanding was signed, Sanofi Executive Vice President and Head of Sanofi Pasteur, David Loew, gave an interviewed with the People.cn. He expressed his view that the Healthy China 2030 plan offers a new opportunity for vaccine companies. Sanofi Pasteur will continue to strive to increase vaccination rates and introduce more innovative vaccines to China so that even more people can reap the benefits.

Reporter: What is the objective of the cooperation between Sanofi Pasteur and the Chinese Preventative Medicine Association?

David Loew: We've already been cooperating with the Chinese Preventative Medicine Association for a great many years, but this signing of the Memorandum of Understanding ensures that our cooperation will continue and its scope will be broadened. One aspect is that we shall join up to develop academic and scientific research, as vaccines strong proof in health protection. Another aspect is that we want to build a learning platform, thus promoting the improvement and development of immunization and vaccination technologies. With the exception of clean, safe drinking water, no human endeavor rivals immunization in combatting infectious diseases and reducing mortality rates. Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective health-care investments available. We will also work with the Chinese Preventative Medicine Association to carry out the vaccine development, evaluation and follow-up in China, and I think the scientific data will prove to be useful to medical organizations.

Reporter: What are the new vaccines launch plan globally? Are you planning to launch any new vaccines in China? What about dengue, will that be launched in China market?

David Loew: The country has launched the Healthy China 2030 and as a company we are very willing to see what we can offer. Hopefully, these innovations, including hugely significant vaccines and products, will come to China even faster, thereby benefiting a large number of patients and the general Chinese population.

Examples are RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine, as well as our new flu vaccine. These are very significant products and vaccines; if we can get these onto the market in China that would have a huge effect. For one of our new flu vaccines, an quadrivalent influenza vaccine: Flublok (Influenza Vaccine), the only recombinant protein-based influenza vaccine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Protein Sciences has developed and commercialized Flublok Quadrivalent vaccine, a recombinant influenza vaccine indicated for active immunization of adults 18 years of age and older against seasonal influenza. Moreover, there are some under research and development, and vaccines currently in the process of applying for market authorization, such as the vaccine against the hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection, and a new meningitis vaccine, as well as a booster tetanus and diphtheria immunization for both children and adults. In China, we've already filed an application to the CFDA for the registration approval of a booster vaccine against tetanus and diphtheria.

Pentamix, the combination vaccine for the new babies is very popular with parents. By combining five vaccines into one, the vaccine reduces the number of injections, improving comfort and vaccination compliance for infants and reducing parental anxiety. In the future, combination vaccines will continue to be developed, for example, the combination with RSV and pneumococcal vaccines.

The world 1st Dengue vaccine, as everyone knows, was developed and launched by Sanofi Pasteur. It is now available in 18 countries worldwide. We also plan to summit for approval in China. In addition to this, we're currently making preparations and doing epidemiology research in the south of China, to provide the proof for disease burden that has been brought by dengue fever.

Reporter: The Chinese government recently announced the Healthy China 2030 vision. Prevention is an important part of Healthy China 2030. Will this vision bring further opportunities for Sanofi Pastuer? What is the development strategy of Sanofi Pasteur in China?

David Loew: Healthy China 2030 is an incredibly significant initiative, which prevention is emphasized as one of the key schemes. It means great opportunities for the company. Meanwhile, Healthy China 2030 it also means to there is a need for new innovative effective vaccines, which hopefully can be produced locally. We believe that the whole healthcare system will see great improvements and modernization, with more vaccines available to the Chinese people, including more vaccines to be introduced to the National Expanded Immunization Programs. It is as well a good opportunity for the company.

Our priority and focus will be on the improvement of the proportion for pediatric vaccines, and expanding market access for flu vaccines, as well increasing flu vaccination rates. Moreover, we hope to accelerate the registration and launch for the innovative vaccines in China market. This includes the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine, the booster tetanus and diphtheria vaccine, and two new types of flu vaccines.

Reporter: In your opinion, what's the difference between China market and the developed Western countries regarding vaccine business?

David Loew: Actually, the market in China has several notable differences compared with that of other developed countries. One is concerning the structure and competitive patterns within the market. Vaccines in China are divided into public market, and private market. Public market is mainly dominated by local players; this is not the case at all in other developed countries. The other one is that China's vaccine market is developing extremely quickly; we expect that in 10 years' time it will be the second largest vaccine market in the world thanks to China's huge population and its corresponding huge potential for vaccination. The third one involves the framework by which the government monitors vaccinations. China has some notable differences compared with other countries, especially concerning imported vaccines by multinational corporations. If they want to launch in the Chinese market they need to firstly obtain a vaccine import license and then the vaccine must undergo clinical trial in China. For this reason, it takes a relatively long time for vaccines available overseas to be launched on the Chinese market. Recently the Chinese government has been working on accelerating the registration and approval process for chemical drugs. However, it seems that regarding vaccines, the same measures have not been adopted. We expect that in the near future the timing for introduction of new vaccine products to the Chinese market would be accelerated.
The New York State Public Service Commission has settled with Charter Communications for the cable companys failure to build out its cable networks as quickly as it agreed to when its acquisition of Time Warner was approved last year.

The settlement, according to a press release referred to at The Ken-Ton Bee, was the largest with a cable company in New York State history and possibly in the history of the United States.

Charter agreed to conditions when the acquisition was approved on January 8, 2016, including a network extension timetable. During the first year, it pledged to pass 36,250 premises. It only completed 15,164 premises. The company can earn back as much as $1 million each time it meets a six-month build-out target. It forfeits that incentive, however, if it misses those deadlines.

Rural Telecom Revenue Up, Operating Income Down

The Telergee Alliance, which releases annual studies of small rural telecommunications companies, found that revenues increased 2.8 percent between 2015 and 2016 but that operating income dropped an average of 3.9 percent.

Telergee is comprised of a number of accounting firms. The story on the results at Telecompetitor points out that the 172 small telcos upon which the study was based represent a high percentage of the approximately 800 in this category nationwide.

The analysis of the results suggests that regulated revenues are flat or declining, which pushes the telcos to unregulated lines of business. The study found that 64.5 percent come from regulated businesses and 35.5 from unregulated. Those two numbers have been coming closer together over the last 10 years, the story said.

T-Mobile/Sprint Cant Quit Talking

It doesnt usually make sense to talk about mergers and acquisitions until they are announced, but attention should be paid to the recurring rumors of the teaming of the Sprint and T-Mobile. CNBC reported that the two again are in active talks about a merger.

The story says that it will be weeks before any deal would emerge, dutifully reporting that neither carrier would comment. It points to the billions of dollars in cost synergies that make the combination attractive. Any deal would be complex because of the ownership of the two companies. Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son reportedly was willing to sell Sprint to T-Mobile the last time the parties negotiated:

This time, given the all-stock nature contemplated, Softbank would emerge as a large minority holder in any combination. While T-Mobile CEO John Legere is expected to lead any combination that results from a merger, Son has made it clear he wants a say in how the company is run. That desire adds another layer of complexity to an already difficult transaction.

Itron Acquiring Smart City Firm Silver Spring

The race to serve smart cities is very important. This week, Itron announced that it is acquiring Silver Spring Networks in an effort to establish a strong position in the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in this burgeoning sector.

The $830 million deal will provide Itron with what Silver Spring calls its Internet of Important Things capabilities. The press release mentions utilities and cities as key drivers of the deal, but sticks mostly to the financial details of the deal.

Smart cities provide a challenge to the IoT. Many elements of a city will simultaneously use IoT capabilities. They will overlap: For instance, first responders will be linked to utility maintenance since many emergencies involve both entities. This means that close cooperation and management are needed.

The use of the IoT in such diverse and dense environments is far more intense than one-off consumer or business utilizations. Silver Spring is one of the major players in the sector. It has delivered more than 26.7 million devices and has relationships with many utilities.

The New Network Topography

The types of services made possible by 5G and ever faster wired approaches will lead to a new and fundamentally different approach to network design in which more computing power is located at the edge of the network. Locating all the intelligence at the core of the network is no longer fast enough.

This is a profound change. Not only are the requirements at the edge far greater, but a means must be found to balance and integrate what is happening in both places.

Realm, a company that is backed by Ericsson Ventures, has a platform that, focuses on providing real-time support for instantaneous delivery of applications supported by iOS, Android and a variety of cloud environments, according to RCR Wireless. The story offered virtual reality and mining as consumer and business examples of the heightened flexibility necessary as task complexity increases and latency tolerance shrinks:

The big picture here is the simultaneously centralized and decentralized architecture 5G will likely require. Think of a mobile augmented or virtual reality experience. Given the latency requirements of providing that experience in a manner that keeps up with a humans ability to process imageryits got to be fast otherwise lag can make a user feel nauseousmeans a centralized cloud isnt enough. That processing power has to be at the network edge.

In the mining example, edge gateways can collect, process and analyze data more quickly than if that same data were transported back to an off-premise cloud.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.
In the face of many challenges gripping the world today, China has proposed the building of media of common destiny and community of common destiny as solution. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli addressed over 460 Chinese and foreign media practitioners on September 21, 2017 in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Zhang Gaoli is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, CPC.

Friends of China

The assembled journalists took part in the Belt and Road international media cooperation forum and the second Silk Road international cultural expo in Dunhuang City, Chinas northwestern Gansu province from September 18-20, 2017.

Zhang Gaoli recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping in autumn 2013 proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, and ever since, it has been a huge success. Everyone who took part in the Dunhuang media forum is a friend of China. Openness and inclusiveness are part of the spirit of Belt and Road, he explained.

Road of peace, cooperation

While commending Peoples Daily newspaper for organizing the media forum, the Vice Premier described the Belt and Road Initiative as a road of peace, cooperation, openness and prosperity that is recognized by the international community. Whatever happens to Chinas economy has a huge impact on the rest of the world, he stated.

Steady economic growth

Talking about Chinas development in the first half of 2017, Vice Premier Zhang said the authorities opted for steady economic growth and are witnessing the results today. GDP growth stood at 6.9 per cent in the first six months of this year, better than expected, he noted. Those doubting our figures can visit other places in China to find out the reality for themselves, the Vice Premier advised.

7.5 million jobs created

We have achieved economic restructuring and the economy is growing at fast pace. This year, 8 million university students will complete their studies. Some 7.5 million jobs were added from January to June 2017, he announced. Zhang Gaoli promised that the over 40 million poor people in the country will be brought out of their predicament by 2020, adding that those still remaining will be offered social security to enable them live better lives.

Surging GDP

He recalled that Chinas Gross Domestic Product in 1978 was only 300 million RMB, but today, it is 74.4 trillion RMB. After announcing that next years Belt and Road media cooperation forum will hold in Boao in Hainan province, Zhang proposed that organizers should keep changing the venue every year to enable foreign journalists discover more of China.

Earlier, 9 keynote speakers at the Belt and Road international media cooperation forum in Dunhuang took the floor to comment on the conference and the Belt and Road Initiative. Vasily Pushkov, Head of International Projects Centre, Sputnik News Agency, Russia, paid tribute to China for its stable and sustainable development, saying the Belt and Road Initiative, which was launched four years ago, is progressing well.

Ireland eyes Belt and Road

Stephen Rae, Group Editor-in-Chief, Independent News and Media, Ireland, said his country is looking at Belt and Road with interest. He disclosed that direct flights from Dublin, Ireland to Hong Kong, will soon start. Masood Malik, Managing Director, Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation, predicted that Belt and Road will bring great changes to the world like alleviating poverty and unemployment. He urged journalists to support the initiative.

Otis Bilodeau, Senior Executive Editor, Bloomberg News Asia Pacific, said the media cooperation forum was a good chance to advance the cause of the Belt and Road Initiative which he described as one of the most important drives in the world today.

Africa needs Belt and Road most!

According to Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman, Editorial Board, Thisday Newspapers of Nigeria, Africa needs Belt and Road most for its infrastructure development. He admitted that for all his years in journalism, he has never seen anything like the cutting edge technology at Peoples Daily newspaper. China has proven that it can achieve anything, Adeniyi underscored.

More UK-China trade, please!

Guy Zitter, Senior Advisor, Daily Mail and General Trust, UK, described himself as a huge fan of the Belt and Road Initiative, saying he believes it will generate prosperity and enhance trade. The UK wants more trade with China. Belt and Road is mutually beneficial, Zitter said. Mansour Abo Alazzm, Managing Editor, Al-Ahram Newspaper, Egypt, said journalists learnt a lot from each other at the media forum and also about latest developments in China.

China has changed our lives

It would be fair to say that China has changed our lives and destinies. China will soon hold the 19th CPC congress, which is another opportunity to learn from the country, Alazzm pointed out. Lee Huay Leng, Head of Chinese Media Group, Singapore Press Holdings Ltd, said it was useful being in China to feel the pace of development. She congratulated China for a well-organised media forum that brought together people from different parts of the world.

Awaiting dividends

Democratic Republic of Congo-born Catherine Bakonga, Vice President, Association of Correspondents Accredited to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, said participants had a wonderful time at the media forum in Dunhuang. I hope Belt and Road will bring tangible results to countries along the ancient Silk Road, Bakonga noted. She promised to continue to support the initiative, adding: I am envious of Peoples Dailys cutting edge technology.

*Kimeng Hilton Ndukong, a contributor to Peoples Daily Online, is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently a 2017 China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC fellow.
A good number of African journalists are of the opinion that the continent is not taking enough advantage of the opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative. Photo: Kimeng Hilton

The 2017 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road hosted by Chinas largest newspaper, Peoples Daily, held on September 19 in Dunhuang, Gansu province in northwestern China. In attendance were over 460 media practitioners from 256 media and 126 countries, including more than 160 Chinese journalists and 303 foreign counterparts.

Who is who in attendance

At the end of the one-day event that assembled who is who from the media organizations invited, Peoples Daily spoke to some African journalists about their thoughts on the media forum and the Chinese-driven Belt and Road Initiative. Xavier a Tiati Messe is Managing Editor of LAnecdote newspaper in Cameroon. Concerning the media cooperation forum, he said journalists should be open to each other because the profession is universal.

There are countries where journalism has been practised for centuries and practitioners are open, better organized and equipped. In these countries, refresher courses are organized regularly to keep journalists abreast of current practices, he noted. Messe said it was a good thing for media practitioners from Africa to meet colleagues from other parts of the world.

Sharing notes

The forum enabled us to find out how other people practise the profession, even if we do not have the same quality equipment. It was an opportunity not to miss. It was the second time I was taking part in the forum after first doing so in 2016, Messe explained. Organisers of the forum count so much on the media to take the information back to decision-makers and the public, he said. We discussed and shared addresses with colleagues from other nations. A year after taking part in the forum for the first time, I am already seeing positive results, Xavier Messe disclosed.

African journalists agree that their duty is to sensitise decision-makers and the public on the opportunities of Belt and Road. Photo: Kimeng Hilton

China is opening up to the world through various methods like trade, the media and cultural exchanges. Our role as journalists is to disseminate this information so that decision-makers can take action, instead of us always depending on France. The Chinese government counts so much on journalists to play their role, he noted.

First time participation

Sylvie Banguere Panika is Director of Radio Ndeke Luka, a famous media outfit in the Central African Republic, founded in 2000 by a Swiss charity. The Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road is a good initiative. It was the first time I was taking part. I was so marveled at what I saw and heard, but my concern is that it is a forum for serious countries. What becomes of a country like my own, the Central African Republic, CAR, which is often in crisis, with no initiative to develop? This is a major challenge for us, Banguere Panika pondered.

In spite of her worries, Panika had a positive message to take back home. My take-home message from the forum is that in order to succeed, we need to work harder. The Central African Republic has to get out of lethargy and join other nations by bringing forth ideas that promote development, she underscored.

Understanding Belt and Road

Abdul Gombe, Group Managing Director, Leadership Newspaper of Nigeria, said for people who only read about Belt and Road before, the media forum was an opportunity for the Chinese government and private sector to explain what it is all about. Thus, his initial concern was to know what the initiative seeks to achieve and how Africa stands to benefit from it.

The lectures we received and the discussions we had were quite engaging. We have understood the purpose of the Belt and Road Initiative and some of the objectives. My take-home message from the media cooperation forum is the discussions I had with other colleagues, Gombe indicated.

I also realized that the challenges we face in Nigeria, like the huge influence of social media, are the same elsewhere. This makes it difficult for the public to distinguish between real and fake news. Moreover, the readership of mainstream newspapers has been dwindling, making it difficult for them to survive. However, the fact is that New Media is here to stay. Either we sit up, or we perish! Abdul Gombe cautioned.

Chinas bridges of connection

Olusegun Adeshina, Chairman, Editorial Board of Thisday newspaper of Nigeria, said instead of building walls, China has decided to erect bridges of connection to expand an inclusive economic group. He said the Belt and Road Initiative will positively impact over 60 per cent of the worlds population. This is an investment opportunity for the world. But Africa is still not well positioned to take proper advantage of it, save for some initiatives in East Africa, Adeshina noted.

The 2017 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road drew participants from 126 countries. Photo: CAPC

He called for transparency and accountability in Belt and Road transactions, adding that this is where the role of journalists comes in. According to him, Peoples Daily can use media tools to break barriers between the media. After visiting Mogao Caves near Dunhuang, I realized how ingenious ancient Chinese were. This shows that there is nothing we cannot achieve if we work together as a team with a common goal. This is the message of Belt and Road, Olusegun Adeshina underlined.

Africa is not taking advantage

Xavier Messe is worried that most African leaders and media are not taking advantage of the huge opportunities offered by the Belt and Road Initiative, unlike their counterparts in the Indian Ocean, Ethiopia and Kenya, who have carried out projects with China worth billions of US dollars. At the level of the continent, there is no real commitment amongst leaders to seek maximum dividends, except for bilateral deals signed with China. We expect African countries to open up to more Chinese cooperation so that the private sector can also draw some benefits, Messe counseled.

As long as African leaders continue to act individually, we risk losing the opportunity. Belt and Road is a big chance that will last long and can enable Africa to develop major infrastructure. If Central and West African leaders do not act fast, they will be left behind in this march to sustainable development, he warned.

The media forum enabled first-time participants to understand what Belt and Road is about. Photo: Kimeng Hilton

Explaining Chinas rapid growth

Going by what I saw, Chinese people are very remarkable, commented Abdul Gombe. Many people talk about the Chinese miracle, but I have a different opinion. Chinas rapid development is neither a miracle nor luck. Rather, it is the result of focused, determined and committed leadership, he clarified. You see this everywhere you go in China. Even in simple human relationships, personal relations, you can see the commitment of the Chinese. This is what we need back home because Africans tend to make much noise, but there is little action at the end, Gombe noted.

According to him, Africa will be a much better place if the people employed half of the level of commitment he saw in China. I truly commend the Chinese government and its people for their committed and focused leadership. China is just beginning, they have a lot great things to accomplish in the years to come, he predicted. I hope we learn much from them and apply back home. I think China can also learn a little from Africa. By and large, in terms of development, there is much to learn from the Chinese experience, Abdul Gombe admitted.

The media forum offered an opportunity for journalists to share notes on their experiences. Photo: Kimeng Hilton

Glimmer of hope for CAR

I am so grateful to the Chinese government - through Peoples Daily newspaper - for inviting me to attend the media cooperation forum, though weak countries like CAR might not have brought any proposals that could interest investors. However, it was a good opportunity for us to seriously begin to consider the future of our country, Sylvie Banguere Panika commented on Belt and Road.

*Kimeng Hilton Ndukong, a contributor to Peoples Daily Online, is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently a 2017 China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC fellow.
Australian beef is incredibly delicious but very expensive. This is a common feeling for many Chinese consumers.

For the last two years, the high price of Australian beef and increased international competition poised a big challenge to the export of Australian beef to China. So how to keep the loyalties of the Chinese consumers and expand new growth in the Chinese market? The Australian beef industry is looking for a variety of ways to solve this problem.

According to the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, the tariffs on Australian beef imports are dropping every year and will be eliminated by 2024. China has become Australias 4th largest beef export market since 2013. However, over the last two years, the frozen beef from Brazil, Uruguayan, New Zealand, Canada and other countries has squeezed the market share of Australian beef in China due to the price advantages.

A report by Meat and Live Stock Australia states Australian beef exports to China were down 37% compared to 2015, totaling 94000 tons in 2016. Moreover, United States frozen beef returning to the Chinese market in July this year means bigger threats to the Australian beef industry.

Among the eight major beef exporting countries, the poor climate conditions in Australia lead to deficit in beef supply and rise in price. Furthermore, China opened up to the American beef market this year, said Guo Shengxiang, Australian International Economic Research scholar.

At the same time, the consumption on beef imports has risen sharply in China. In 2016, Chinas total beef import has increased by 22.4% compared to 2015, totaling 579800 tons and 2.5 billion US dollars. In order to capture the great opportunities in the Chinese market, Australian beef industry has to reposition its competitive advantages.

In Australia or at Gundooee, we do deep rooted native perennial pastures as more of a sustained growth, said Rob Lennon, owner and farmer of Gundooee Organic Wagyu.

Australia is very well recognized as being a reliable and safe supply of beef to world markets. We are in the Asian region; its a many shipping days closer to the market. Our disease free status for our beef herd in Australia that makes it very acceptable to consumers in the Chinese market, said Tony Eyres, Australias Senior Investment Specialist for the Resources and Energy sectors.

In the Australian market, it is generally considered that Chinese consumers love premium and high quality beef products. Therefore, Australian beef exporters adjust their strategy to export more fresh chilled beef to China. It gives Australia an advantage on its competition with Brazilian and American frozen beef. Life stock export is also a new opportunity.

At the moment, China only gives Australia the permission to export livestock. Australia should utilize this agreement to benefit its beef export sector and consumers from both countries, said Shengxiang.

Except the high quality beef, Australia is looking forward to attracting more investments on the beef processing industry, especially welcomes Chinese investors to leverage the bilateral tie between China and Australia in order to develop Australian beef industry.

In the case of the Hughenden project, which is an exciting and a very positive project, it involves the construction of a new meat processing facility, many many hundreds of kilometers inland from the coast and from the port terminals, where traditionally the processing capacity has been concentrated in recent times, said Eyres.

So, projects such as the Hughenden project, means that the farmers will have essentially a customer in the form of a beef processor closer to their properties, and that means that then there is efficiency for them as producers. And hopefully that leads to further investment in their own businesses to supply beef into the CNVM asset.

OZ Encounter is a video program produced by Peoples Daily Online with introductions and comprehensive information on Australias tourism, food, leisure culture, news etc. The program brings information on beautiful views and delicious food around Australia, lead audience to experience the unique landscape and cultural glamour of Australia with micro-video. (Peoples Daily Online/ Tingting Yan)
BEIJING, Sept. 25 -- A fugitive suspected of contract fraud returned to China Monday to turn himself in, according to the Communist Party of China's disciplinary authority.

Xu Xuewei, who was the actual controller of a science and technology company and a chemical fiber company based in Jiangyin City in east China's Jiangsu Province, fled to the United States in November 2012, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said.

He was number 91 on China's top 100 fugitives listed in an Interpol "red notice," and the 46th to return so far.

Xu's return shows there is no safe haven abroad, said the CCDI, urging fugitives to turn themselves in as soon as possible.
One of Chinas most-wanted fugitives returns after 5 years in the US

(Photo/CGTN)

One of Chinas most-wanted overseas fugitives turned himself in on Monday after spending five years in the United States, the anti-corruption authorities said.

Xu Xuewei, 48, was the general manager of a technology company in Jiangyin city in east Chinas Jiangsu Province accused of contract fraud, who fled to the US in November 2012, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in an online statement.

No further details were given in the statement.

As part of the anti-corruption drive, China has launched an overseas search dubbed Operation Fox Hunt for corrupt officials and business executives who fled abroad.

In April 2015, the CCDI published a list of 100 most wanted suspects hiding overseas.

Xu is the 46th on the list to have returned to China since the operation was launched, the statement said.

The suspect topping that list, Yang Xiuzhu, confessed to corruption charges in court in July, has returned to China from the US after 13 years as a fugitive.
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Chinese tourists growing passion to travel to the Polar Regions draw environmentalists concerns

It is hard to name a place where there is no Chinese. They travel, study, work, and live in almost all countries and regions across the globe; and some even set their eyes to the universe.

As the so-called last frontier on the Earth, the Polar Regions  Antarctica and Arctic  naturally welcome many Chinese tourists as well. And the number has been rising, which has made experts concerned over the possible impact of the increasing population on the fragile regions  some of whom are ill-prepared for Polar expeditions.

(File photo of a woman and a young girl looking at a penguin in Antarctica)

Ever growing market

Speaking at the China Adventure Tourism Forum on Sept. 20, China Tourism Association (CTA) Secretary General Zhang Rungang said that China has become the worlds second largest country of passenger sources to Antarctica. In 2016, the number of Chinese tourists who traveled to Antarctica was 3,944, some 15 percent of the total.

Tens of thousands of tourists head to the Arctic region every year and about 1/4 or even half of those landing on the North Pole are Chinese, while tourists from East Asia heading to Greenland saw a 6 percent increase, according to Yao Songqiao, an expert polar explorer and environmentalist, at the forum held in Beijing by CTA and All-China Environment Federation.

That number could continue to grow, and travel agencies are readying themselves for the rising fervor. Several travel agencies reached by Peoples Daily Online expressed their expectations on the sidelines of the forum, after they all claimed to have witnessed the rising number of customers heading to the Polar Regions.

(Senior polar explorer Yao Songqiao speaks at the China Adventure Tourism Forum on September 20. Photo/Courtesy of Tripvivid)

Hurtigruten Cruises, a renowned ferry company from Norway, will launch a new cruise ship called the MS Amundsen to its cruise list for Antarctica trips in 2018, making it the companys third Antarctica cruise ship.

Between 2015 and 2016, the only cruise ship of Hurtigruten, the Fram, hosted 186 Chinese passengers, while between 2016 and 2017 two cruise ships the MS Midnatsol" and the Fram hosted 677 Chinese tourists.

With a full capacity of 500 passengers, the new cruise ship is expected to better meet the demand of the rising number of Chinese tourists, Liu Jie, manager of Hurtigruten China Representative Office, told Peoples Daily Online.

According to Zhang Yong, chief design officer of Alibabas Fliggy, the companys cooperation with Hurtigruten will bring up to 2,500 Chinese to Antarctica, and Fliggy is mulling the possibility of building its own cruise ship in the year after next.

Price no longer constitutes a decisive role in the trip planning for many Chinese tourists. It is only natural to see more businesses setting their eyes on exploration of the Polar Regions for profits, Zhen Hao, senior vice president of Chinese outdoor brand Toread, said at the forum.

With the worlds second largest tourist population to the Polar Regions, China currently has no cruise ships heading to the two poles. Cooperation with cruise companies like Hurtigruten is the only option.

China should set up its own cruise or airliner to Antarctica so as to better cooperate with Chile or Argentina, Zhang Qingsong, a researcher from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said at the forum.

In addition, Zhang, one of the pioneers in setting up Chinas first research stations in Antarctica, suggested that those stations, especially the Changcheng Station located at the northernmost part of Antarctica, should be open to Chinese visitors to respond to their patriotism and to better provide science education.

(Hurtigruten's "Fram" from cruises in Antarctica. Photo/Courtesy of Hurtigruten)

Passionate, not prepared

According to Fan Na, chief operating officer of luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent in China, such a model is already in place, because tourists can visit some US research stations in Antarctica on their trips. Founded in 1962, the company began offering cruise trips to the Polar Regions in 1991 and has since been boasting professional guidance on various themed trips including climate change.

That is exactly what China has been missing.

Polar Regions are for disciplined people only. It may not be the right time to be open for public visitors, cried Zhang.

Even Zhen, a senior company executive with a background in higher education, admitted at the forum that he watched Chinese TV dramas during his first trip to Antarctica on the cruise, as he could not fully understand the English-speaking guidance on the ship. China should participate more actively in expeditions to the Polar Regions, including introducing more experts to train tourists on such trips, he added.

According to Yao, the Polar Regions are threatened not only by global warming, but by human activities elsewhere on the Earth. For example, carbon dioxide emissions could cause ocean acidification and gradually corrode shellfish and coral reefs - opening a Pandoras Box that could jeopardize the food chain and ecological balance.

Meanwhile, melting sea ice in the Polar Regions would indicate a possible change in cruise stops. On the one hand, changes would mean more safety assessments by travel agencies and cruise companies, but on the other seeking a new cruise stop could also have an impact on wildlife and the habitat, she added.

The more immediate threat comes from tourists, even with the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. It remains unclear how peoples observations on wildlife in the Polar Regions will shape the environment. Worse, there are some trips to the Polar Regions still promoting sales of local wildlife, and it is likely these animals were hunted and processed illegally, Yao noted.

The good news is that China is already taking steps to better regulate activities in the Polar Regions, including trips to Antarctica. Professor Dong Yue from Ocean University of China revealed at the forum that a regulation on non-scientific research activities in Antarctica is expected to be released later this year or early next year.

In May, China issued a regulation to assess the environmental impact of scientific expeditions in Antarctica.

The call to environmental protection among tourists must go way beyond Polar Regions. The goal is to make them change their daily activity and live a carbon neutral life, Yao said.

(A tourist takes photo of a penguin in Antarctica. Photo/Mafengwo.cn)
More than 100 people participated Sunday in a motorcycle ride through downtown Winston-Salem to raise money to help hurricane survivors in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

The riders gathered on a sunny afternoon in the parking lot of Marketplace Mall with about 90 motorcycles. Biker Trash Nation, which has more than 8,400 members nationwide, organized the event.

Hurricane Maria caused 30 deaths in the Caribbean, including at least 13 in Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth territory. The storm knocked out electricity to 100 percent of the homes and businesses there, and flooded much of Puerto Rico, according to news reports.

Hurricane Irma caused nearly $54 billion of damage in Florida and was blamed for more than 60 deaths, according to news reports. Hurricane Harvey caused about $55 billion in damage from the Houston area to the Texas and Louisiana border. That storm caused more than 70 deaths.

Organizers hoped that the event would raise about $5,000.

Wayne Pinnix, the president of the organizations local chapter, said he helped organize the event because he and other motorcycle riders wanted to demonstrate publicly for hurricane relief and dispel some people perceptions of motorcycle groups as being racist and unruly.

We need to show that the biker community can come together regardless of skin color or political affiliation, Pinnix said. We just want to ride, and we can show that we are not a bunch of racists or anything else.

Sundays event is one of several rides that Biker Trash Nation stages throughout the year to support charitable causes, he said.

We want to show the public that we care about people in need, Pinnix said.

Arnita Miles, an organizer and a member of the Carolina Cruisers of Winston-Salem, said that the proceeds from the ride would go to the Salvation Army, which is among the human-service agencies nationwide providing relief to the stricken areas.

Its about unity, Miles said of the riders and their passengers.

Bernard Watkins of Winston-Salem, a Carolina Cruisers member, said he and his fellow members were moved by the scenes of devastation from the hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

Although the ride would raise money, it would represent only a fraction of the money needed to help the survivors recover from the storms, Watkins said.

The devastation is so widespread, he said. We try to give back to the community.

About 30 minutes before their ride, the participants gathered for a prayer. Five minutes before their departure from the Marketplace Mall parking lot, they walked to their bikes and started their engines. The scene resembled fighter planes on an aircraft carrier before takeoff.

The riders and passengers on the bikes then traveled north on Peters Creek Parkway, turning left on Broad street. The procession then turned right on Fourth Street, left on Trade Street, right on Martin Luther King Jr. and right on Liberty Street. It ended at the Camel City BBQ Factory at 701 N. Liberty St.

Tim Goodwin of Winston-Salem, a rider, said he participated in the event because its a good cause.

Goodwin said he feels sympathy for the hurricane victims, especially when he saw people scrambling for their lives on flooded streets within their neighborhoods in Texas and Florida.

I just feel blessed by God of where I live, Goodwin said. I cannot fathom seeing my little dog as well as my family and friends swimming across the water like that.
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. last week, Trump laid out a clear conservative vision for vigorous American global leadership based on the principle of state sovereignty.

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.
Recent findings about the connection between opioid addiction and unemployment illustrate just how intertwined some problems are. Theres no easy solution, but we have to keep trying.

In a new paper, Princeton economist Alan Krueger argues that opioids are benching workers across the country, Danielle Paquette of The Washington Post reported recently.

The problem of the depressed labor force has run into the problem of the opioid crisis, he told the Post. Now theyre connected.

After studying opioid prescription rates and labor force data from the periods of 1999 to 2001 and 2014 to 2016, Krueger found the areas with the highest rates of prescriptions also experienced a shrinking workforce. He also found that unemployed men and women both reported higher use of painkillers than their counterparts with jobs. When surveyed, a full 44 percent of out-of-work men said theyd taken pain medication within the last 24 hours. That rate was more than double that of working men. For women, the rate was 34.7 percent, compared to 25.7 percent for those with jobs.

Reliance on the addictive medication could have rendered more adults unable to work, Krueger told the Post.

The economy cant be comprehensively defined by one soundbite or one editorial. Even though unemployment has reached significant lows in recent times, the economic turnaround still has a long way to go.

At a personal level, I think people are not very satisfied with their lives when theyre out of the labor force, Krueger told the Post, and from an economic standpoint, theyre on the sidelines. Theyre not even on the team.

Krueger wants lawmakers to do more than declare the opioid crisis a national emergency, he told the Post. Policymakers should focus on guiding people toward work and away from developing a drug habit, he said.

Legislators have begun tackling the problem in significant ways, but we need more. We need a solution to the opioid problem  yesterday.
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Wansong Academy, an ancient academy in eastern China, held a grand ceremony to commemorate the great sage Confucius on Sept. 24 and call on teenagers to learn rites, chinanews.com reported.

Wansong Academy, which is located near the West Lake, was one of the top four academies in Hangzhou during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is an ancient tradition to commemorate Confucius on the four seasons and on Sept. 28, the sages birthday, according to The Book of Rites, a Confucian classic.

September 28, 2017, is what would have been the 2,568th birthday of Confucius. Over a hundred primary school students gathered at the academy on Sept. 24, chanting selections from The Analects of Confucius, a collection of conversations between him and his disciples.

Ritual dance and music developed at Confucius Temple in Shandong, Confucius hometown, were also performed to show respect to Confucius at the ceremony.

Its my first time to know how ancient students commemorated the sage, and Im interested in the ceremony to show respect to teachers, said a primary school student.

After the ceremony, a local expert gave a lecture on Chinese poets and couplets at the academy. Young children can learn rites and love traditional Chinese culture after participating in the activities, said Gao Fei, a staff member at West Lake Resort.
JURIST Guest Columnist Glenn C. Smith of the California Western School of Law discusses the legal issues surrounding DACA

In explaining why President Trump was rescinding his predecessors DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program  which provided two-year renewable protection from deportation, and rights to work and access limited social services, to 800,000-plus undocumented dreamers brought to America as children  Attorney General Sessions called DACA an unconstitutional exercise of authority by the Executive Branch.

By contrast, in his social-media lambast of the Administrations decision, President Obama said it was a political decision not required legally.

So, whos right on DACAs legality? As is typical, the truth is complicated. And it depends upon how the question is framed.

No American court has opined about the legal merits of DACA itself, and there are persuasive arguments for and against it. But if the reasons three out of four lower-court judges rejected a later-adopted sibling (DAPA, the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program) would have appealed to a current majority on the Supreme Court, then a continued DACA order would have been cruising for an eventual legal bruising.

Yet, the if in the above sentence is precisely the problem. How DACA would have ultimately fared in the current Court is difficult to predict. This is true because the Court failed to send clear signals (or even rule) in the DAPA case, because good arguments for and against DAPA and DACA exist, and because it is not definitively clear how a majority of the current Court (including new Justice Neil Gorsuch) would have ruled on DACA itself.

Ultimately, the lesson to be learned from DACAs demise may be less about legal merits and more about the impacts of congressional inaction.

No Legal Ruling on Original DACA

To start at the beginning: no American court has opined about the legal merits of DACA itself. The much-publicized legal challenge to Obama-era immigration orders by Texas and 25 other States instead focused on DAPA, the broader followup order issued a 17 months later by the Obama Administration. DAPA would have provided similar renewal protection against deportation to several million parents and children of the dreamers covered by DACA. I say would have because DAPA never really got much traction.

On administrative-process grounds  but not before gratuitously opining about DAPAs substantive legitimacy  a federal-district court in southern Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against program implementation. A Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel split 2-1 in upholding the district-court injunction, finding DAPA manifestly contrary to the substance of applicable immigration statutes. (Caveat: Although the prime focus of this litigation was DAPA, the district-court order sustained by the intermediate appellate panel also stopped in their tracks three DACA expansions the Administration announced at the same time it unveiled DAPA.)

But Was DACA Likely to be Invalidated?

By November 2015, then, the original DACA program had gone into effect; by the time it was rescinded, it had granted deferrals to more than 785,000 dreamers. Yet, two levels of federal courts had invalidated DACAs sibling and halted DACAs expansion on legal theories quite applicable to DACA itself. So, does this mean that DACA itself was heading for a judicial rejection?

Thats a hard question to answer. First, the Supreme Court ended up providing no definitive ruling on lower-court rejection of DAPA. The eight-justice Court ultimately split 4-4 in June 2016. (I profiled the dynamics of this split, and the issues it left on the table, in an earlier JURIST column, The DAPA Non-Decision: The Meaning of Missed Opportunities.)

Second, this split among judges and justices reflects at least in part the strong legal arguments for and against DAPA (and by extension its older sibling, DACA).

DACA, like DAPA, is arguably a valid exercise of the wide authority Congress has given the president to set immigration-enforcement priorities and determine how scarce enforcement resources will be used. In this light, supporters can persuasively frame DACA as a valid exercise of the presidents constitutional power to faithfully Execute the laws of the United States. Presidents arguably have discretion to decide that dreamers are a low enforcement priority and that the economic, social, and humanitarian costs they face in living under a deportation cloud are unacceptable; past presidents have exercised comparable authority (although not on as large a scale) to forestall deportation of groups of non-citizens not able to be naturalized under current legal rules.

To the contrary, if one views DACA as granting new substantive rights (including work authorization), then the legal landscape looks very different. Congress never intended that presidents would use their discretion over enforcement priorities to in essence change the law about the immigration status of millions of people. The presidents faithful execution power is not the power to make up a new presidential policy and execute it. Past presidential orders forestalling deportation of groups are arguably not remotely comparable in size or effect.

Finally, other than through a simplistic political calculation  in which the current Republican-appointed majority would rule against an Obama-originated policy even though continued by a Republican president  it is less than certain which set of DACA arguments would have won out in the now-reconstituted nine-member Supreme Court. To begin with, it is not even clear that a majority would have been willing to reach the merits. As my earlier column indicated, the bases on which Texas and the other states claimed individualized injury to have standing to challenge DAPA raised serious issues under well-established doctrines seeking to promote judicial restraint. New Justice Gorsuch, for example, might have been given pause.

Even if the justices would have been willing to reach the merits, predicting how they would have resolved the complicated statutory-construction arguments is a challenge. (Significantly, federal statutes give the president substantially more discretion over initial entry into the country than conditions of naturalization for persons already present. Thus, it presumably is not probative that in June 2017 Justice Gorsuch joined a minority of justices who would have let the Trump travel ban go fully into effect pending Court review.) Further, the statutory arguments about DACA would have unfolded under still-uncertain cross currents in the constitutional doctrines governing presidential-power assertions. Finally, it is difficult to predict how the equitable differences between DACA and DAPA would have played out. (Although the legal arguments against DACA and DAPA significantly dovetail, the fairness arguments for protecting the dreamers themselves might have been significantly more appealing than the arguments for protecting their relatives.)

The Ultimate Lesson?

Perhaps the source of DACAs ultimate legal uncertainty is the main lesson here. Congress clearly had  and has  the authority to legislate a DACA-type renewable deferral program. But Congress did not act, making the resonant legal question whether DACA could be imposed by unilateral executive action.

Indeed, President Trump may face a return of this uncertainty  depending upon what he meant by a September 5th tweet promising to revisit DACA if Congress fails to act in six months.

Regardless, if Congress continues to be gripped by dysfunctional partisan gridlock, both Trump and successor presidents may face DACA-like legal exposure when they act unilaterally on an even broader range of issues.

Glenn C. Smith is a professor of Constitutional Law at California Western School of Law in San Diego. He is the co-author of CONSTITUTIONAL LAW FOR DUMMIES, a Dummies-brand guide for law students, legal practitioners and interested laypersons.

Suggested citation: Glen C. Smith, Whats up, DACA?, JURIST  Academic Commentary, Sept. 24, 2017, http://jurist.org/forum/2017/09/Glenn-Smith-whats-up-daca.php
The Hong Kong High Court of Appeal [official website] ruled [judgment, PDF] Monday that a British lesbian should be granted a spousal visa to join her partner who works in the city.

The court effectively overturned the decision of the Hong Kong Immigration Department [official website], finding no justification on indirect discrimination on account of sexual orientation and ordering the Department to submit an agreement between it and the woman within 28 days.

According to the Department, the woman was refused a visa because she was not a spouse, which applies only to husband and wife in a heterosexual and monogamous marriage, the only marriage recognized under Article 37 of the Basic Law [text, PDF]. Furthermore, according to the Director, the Departments policy is to strike a balance between maintaining Hong Kongs continued ability to attract people of the right talent and skillsto work, and the need for a system of effective,strict and stringent immigration control. However, the woman, known as QT, entered into a civil partnership under the Civil Partnership ACT 2004 in England.

According to Chief Judge Andrew Cheung,

There is no inherent or otherwise necessary or obvious link between immigration and the status of marriage that requires exempting the differential treatment under a particular immigration policy of married samesex couples or couples under a civil partnership from the requirement of justification. Excluding the foreign workers lawfully married (albeit samesex) spouse or civil partner under a civil partnership lawfully entered into in a foreign country from coming to Hong Kong to join the worker is, quite obviously, counterproductive to attracting the worker to come to or remain in Hong Kong to work in the first place.. and excluding such a spouse or civil partner from entering or remaining in Hong Kong does not advance or help maintain our strict, stringent immigration policy either.

In May, Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize [JURIST report] same-sex marriages. China legalized homosexuality in 1997, but same-sex marriage is not legal [SCMP report], and same-sex couples have no legal protections.
The exodus and massacre of Rohingyas, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, marked the week in transitional justice. French President Emmanuel Macron said this was genocide, while the UN Secretary General called it ethnic cleansing. But according to Myanmars de facto leader, Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, this is a huge iceberg of misinformation.

Everything indicates, however, that some 400,000 Rohingyas, i.e. nearly half of this community living in Myanmars western state of Rakhine or Arakan, have fled their country pursued by the army, and that hundreds have been shot dead or died as their houses were torched by the military.

Human Rights Watch on Friday published satellite photos showing the armys scorched earth policy. According to this NGO, more than 200 Rohingya villages have been burned and destroyed.

This Muslim minority has been persecuted since the independence of Burma (now known as Myanmar), whose hero is Aung San Suu Kyis own father, a staunch Burmese nationalist. The Rohingyas, accused of having collaborated with the British colonial power, were stripped of their Burmese nationality in 1982. The Burmese, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, deny them even their name of Rohingyas, preferring to call them Bengalis, a pejorative name associating them with neighbouring Bangladesh.

The Nobel peace prize laureate has finally called for pacification between communities, but without criticizing the methods of the army, of which she is a hostage. And the UN Security Council has vigorously condemned Myanmar, but the suffering of the Rohingyas continues.

This situation is a serious stain on Myanmars transition to democracy and rule of law in a country still dominated by the army. As for Aung San Suu Kyi, millions of Internet users have, in a petition launched from Indonesia, demanded that she be stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize.

Impossible, responds the Nobel Committee, saying the prize is given only on the committees assessment of the laureates achievements up to the award, and not afterwards.

So for now, the Myanmar army can continue its massacres with impunity.

Impunity in CAR and Burundi

But impunity is a stumbling block to any real transition or reconciliation in any country. And so JusticeInfos editorial advisor Pierre Hazan reminds us that after a dozen peace plans, the Central African Republic is still at war because it has failed to tackle the roots of the problem.

The Central African population made its voice heard in popular consultations in 2015 and continues to do so in spaces for dialogue, saying that there can be no real peace without justice, writes Pierre Hazan. Given a government in Bangui with no army or judicial system only holding on with the support of an increasingly divided international community, and the fragmentation and criminalization of armed groups looting the countrys gold and diamond resources, the populations suffering continues.

The same scenario is being played out in Burundi, which is subject to a ferocious clampdown by its president, Pierre Nkurunziza. When it is a matter of terror as a means of governance, of crimes against humanity, mass graves, rape and hate speech, the priority is no longer for an African solution because these are crimes that touch everyones humanity, says Carine Kanez, spokesperson for a Burundian womens NGO in an interview with JusticeInfo, in which she slammed the complicity of African Heads of State. Pan-Africanism is a concept that is being increasingly manipulated with allegations of neo-colonialism against institutions like the ICC, and this hinders the possibility to ensure a peaceful transition. The international community needs to realize that this government is in total denial.
Women, even though they were main victims of Taiwans authoritarian regime, have been largely absent from the transitional justice mechanisms after Taiwan successfully transformed into a democracy. Following the discussion of womens victimization in times of political oppression and the negative impacts of womens absence in Taiwans current transitional justice process, this essay argues that the recent incorporation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women provides a gender-sensitive legal framework for female victims to overcome the social and institutional obstacles that they have faced in transitional justice issues.

Womens Victimization During the Authoritarian Regime

Taiwan was ruled by an authoritarian regime for almost four decades before it initiated a democratization process in the early 1990s. During this long authoritarian period, the Constitution of Republic of China (ROC Constitution) was suspended by the Temporary Provisions Effective during the Period of National Mobilization for the Suppression of Communist Rebellion. To consolidate its ruling legitimacy and power, the nationalist government (Kuomintang, KMT) soon imposed the Martial Law Decree over Taiwan. Consequently, the freedoms of speech, press and association and other civil and political rights guaranteed by the ROC Constitution were suspended and a great number of restrictive laws were enacted. In addition, the KMT regime established and strengthened a widespread and enhanced security system and used it as an instrument for suppressing dissent and anti-government activities. Hence, institutionalized human rights violations penetrated every sector of Taiwanese society for forty years. Among the most serious atrocities were the February 28 Incident in 1947, and the so-called White Terror that reached a peak in the 1950s and 1960s and continued to a lesser extent into the 1980s. It is believed that thousands of victims were tortured, enforcedly disappeared, or even killed in those human rights violations.

Women suffered various types of victimization in the context of institutionalized human rights violations. Some of them were intimidated, censored and prosecuted when they were suspected of anti-KMT regime activities by criticizing or thwarting its political agenda. Similar to male violations, these women were usually taken and interrogated and often beaten and seriously tortured by intelligence agents and military police without the guarantee of physical freedom and due process. In addition, political violence and its impacts severely destroyed womens lives. For example, when many Taiwanese male elites, including doctors, lawyers, teachers, journalists, businessmen and political figures were arrested, imprisoned or executed without a fair trial by the authoritarian regime, most of their female family members became widows. These women usually faced financial difficulties and endured all forms of discrimination, poverty and marginalization after losing their primary male economic providers. These female victims remained silent about their suffering until Taiwans democratization in the early 1990s.

Success of Gender Equality through Democratization but Lack of Womens Presence in Transitional Justice Agenda

The authoritarian rule was gradually dismantled by several rounds of peaceful negotiations between the KMT regime and the opposition party after lifting the Martial Law Decree in 1987. Large-scale political and constitutional reforms were undertaken one after another when Taiwan transformed into as a constitutional democracy. Political democratization gave rise to a much more open society and many legal limits on civil and political rights were removed, which empowered civil society and facilitated the establishment of human rights and women groups. These burgeoning human rights and women groups made great progress in improving the conditions of women through legal and judicial means. For instance, they launched several strategic constitutional litigation before the Constitutional Court of Taiwan, resulting in successful changes to law and policy on various gender issues. In addition, gender mainstreaming reforms were undertaken and relevant gender laws were enacted to improve womens economic and social status. The process of democratization also witnessed constitutional recognition of formal equality and quotas for women in electoral politics, which not only increased the number of female representatives in local and national legislatures, but also empowered some female victims of the former authoritarian regime to run for local or national elections. Through their political campaigns and activities, their past suffering drew public attention. Some of them even became famous and held important official positions.

Democratization also required the newly elected governments to deal with past human rights violations. Negotiation-oriented political transition led by male elites produced compensation-based transitional justice policies and mechanisms that mainly offered money to those who suffered past human rights violations in 1990s. Since womens rights groups and activists prioritized gender equal payment and equal rights in the family over gender-based violence of transitional justice in their reform agenda, the progress of gender equality failed to be reflected in the design of transitional justice mechanisms. Without a gender perspective, the transitional justice mechanisms not only failed to capture the complex gendered experiences during the authoritarian period, but also did not take the specific victimization of women into account. The absence of women in the design of transitional justice mechanisms has had negative effects on accountability, truth finding and social reconciliation. For example, the compensation-oriented transitional justice policies mechanisms fail to address the responsibility of perpetrators of human rights violations. This inhibits female victims from launching lawsuits to redress their physical and mental suffering. Without any accountability mechanism, female victims have huge difficulties knowing who was responsible for their suffering. In addition, the current limited truth investigation lacks a gender perspective and therefore could not fully document the historical accounts of womens victimization under the authoritarian regime. Furthermore, the rigid categories prescribed by compensation laws only partly satisfied the specific material and psychological needs of female victims. Those negative impacts inevitably produced social division and impeded political reconciliation for Taiwan.

February 28 Incident February 28 Incident began when the Chinese police killed a Taiwanese woman selling cigarettes without official authorization, sparking a brutal state massacre. White Terror was the dark period ruled by the Martial Law Decree after February 28 Incident. Ten thousands of people were tortured, disappeared and killed because of political repression of the KMT regime. After the lifting of Martial Law in 1987, the government of Taiwan launched the truth investigation and compensated to the victims of the February 28 Incident and White Terror.

Inclusion of Gender Perspective in New Transitional Justice Mechanisms when Taiwan Incorporated International Human Rights Laws in Domestic Legal Systems

Recent endeavors of civic groups pushed the Taiwanese government to incorporate international human rights laws in the domestic legal system. For example, the government ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2007. In 2009, the government also ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Implementation Acts to those international human rights laws were enacted one after another to guarantee the rights in those laws directly applicable in the Taiwanese legal system. Among those treaties, the CEDAW provides some feasible guidelines to break the legal and social barriers that women have faced in the transitional justice process. For example, the CEDAWs Committee has repeatedly emphasized gender equality and gender inclusion shall be recognized and realized by all government agencies of state parties. In terms of transitional justice, the Committee, in its General Recommendation No. 30, clearly indicated that womens diverse experiences shall be integrated into all peacebuilding, peacemaking and reconstruction processes. When the CEDAW was incorporated in the Taiwanese legal system as part of domestic law through the 2012 Implementation Act, those gender principles in the CEDAW that guarantee womens access to justice, truth and reparation can be used to reform the existing transitional justice mechanisms and advance the overlooked status of female victims.

In January 2016, the opposition party  the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) - won the presidency and parliamentary majority seats. This new democratic context offered the second chance to reopen the debate on transitional justice. Indeed, numerous laws and policies were proposed to address unresolved issues of transitional justice, such as the acquisition of the illegal party assets of the KMT party, the establishment of a truth commission to investigate past human rights violations and the revision or enactment of relevant laws to open up national archives. To avoid the previous failure of transitional justice mechanisms to address womens victimization, the principles of inclusivity and exposure to womens experiences of discrimination should be integrated into the new transitional justice reforms. For example, the proposal for the establishment of a truth commission shall guarantee gender quotas for the appointment of commissioners, provide a platform for female victims to speak up their unacknowledged past sufferings and create a gender-sensitive guide to include womens voices and experiences in truth recovery. The inclusion of a gender perspective into new transitional justice mechanisms not only helps in satisfying the needs of women victims in a holistic manner, but also contributes to tackling the root causes of past human rights violations. This also will enhance social reconciliation and democratic development for Taiwanese society.
France has assigned magistrates to investigate allegations that banking giant BNP Paribas was complicit in the 1994 genocide of the Tutsi minority in Rwanda, a source close to the case told AFP Monday.

In June, three non-governmental organisations filed a lawsuit accusing the bank of financing the purchase of "80 tonnes of arms used to carry out genocide" by the Hutu regime, even though "the bank had to have known the genocidal intentions of the country's authorities".

The Paris judiciary confirmed Monday that it opened an investigation for "complicity in genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity" on August 22, and asked the Paris genocide and war crimes division, which is already handling 25 other cases linked to the Rwandan genocide, to run the probe.

The lawsuit was filed in France by Sherpa, which defends victims of economic crimes; Ibuka France, a Rwanda victims' association; and the France-based Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda, which pursues claims against genocide suspects.

The NGOs say BNP authorised the transfer of $1.3 million (1.1 million euros at current rates) to the regime in June 1994, one month after the United Nations had placed an embargo on weapons deliveries to Rwanda.

BNP is France's biggest bank and among the world's top 10.

The plaintiffs allege that BNP authorised the transfer of the money that was held by Rwanda's national bank (BNR) to an account held at Swiss bank UBP by Willem Tertius Ehlers, a South African intermediary who owned an arms-dealing brokerage called Delta Aero.

The four-month genocide led to the massacre of about 800,000 people, mostly from Rwanda's Tutsi minority.

Kigali has repeatedly accused Paris of having a hand in the genocide and of being slow to prosecute some of its kingpins living in France.

The case is the first time a French bank is under suspicion of being involved in the genocide.

sde/jh/pg

BNP Paribas
Russian air strikes on northwest Syria's mainly jihadist-controlled province of Idlib on Monday killed at least 37 civilians including 12 children, a Britain-based monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was the highest civilian death toll in Idlib since the region was designated in May as one of Syria's "de-escalation" zones under an accord between regime allies Russia and Iran, and rebel backer Turkey.

"The air raids struck several locations and villages in the district of Jisr al-Shughur, leaving 37 dead among civilians, including 12 children," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, updating an earlier toll of 27 dead.

After several months of calm, Idlib province has for the past two weeks been the target of heavy air strikes by the regime and its Russian allies, following a jihadist assault in neighbouring Hama province also covered by the de-escalation accord for Syria's war that has cost more than 330,000 lives since 2011.

The Islamic State group has no fighters in Idlib.

Syria's exiled opposition blamed Russia and the Syrian regime for what it called the "criminal" bombing, according to a statement.

In what the Istanbul-based National Coalition branded "war crimes", hospitals, medical installations, schools and civil defence facilities had been hit, it said.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

This year the International Emigration & Luxury Property Expo will be held on October 26-27 at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres in Cannes. Here exhibitors from 30 countriesincluding the U.S.A., Canada, Great Britain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Malta, Switzerland and other E.U. countrieswill come together to offer immigration, luxury real estate and private financial consulting to international home buyers, entrepreneurs, and those looking to move or retire to a new country. The list of exhibitors range from leading immigration agencies and luxury property developers, to law firms and private banks, all aimed at helping attendees navigate dual citizenship, permanent or seasonal residences, international business practices and tax optimization in a new country.

Of course, all work and no play would make for a dull conference, but attendees will be able to sample a little of the local culture with the IELPEs French Autumn Gala. Held at the Promenade de la Croisette in the Hotel Barriere Le Majestic, the first night of the event will be capped off with an evening of Champagne tasting, including a selection of vintage sparkling wines from the most prominent houses of the Champagne region; a sampling of French cuisine, presented by a Michelin star-rated chef; a fashion show presenting seasonal looks from a number of local French designers; live performances by popular French musicians; cigar samplings and much more.

Tickets are available online and are currently priced at 500. Admission includes access to all zones and areas throughout the two-day event, the opportunity to make individual appointments with exhibitors, a copy of the printed event catalogue, with contact details for all exhibitors, and access to the international conference Business Immigration and Residency by Investment. Tickets to the French Autumn Gala are available online and currently priced at 1,000, which includes access to all the areas and activities throughout the event (except the VIP zone), unlimited drinks, French cuisine sampling, access to the cigar lounge and cigar sampling, and admission to the main event, the Cannes International Emigration and Luxury Property Expo.
(File photo)

The pet boarding business is booming in China thanks to the upcoming 8-day National Day holiday break, starting from Oct. 1. According to Guangzhou Daily, pet sitting services at many pet clinics or pet stores are already fully booked.

Statistics from Jiangsu Small Animal Veterinary Association showed that 8% of families in first- and second-tier cities of China are keeping pets.

Though pet sitting services are in high demand right now, most places have not raised their prices.

However, the Guangdong Pet Industry Association has reminded people to pay attention to boarding contracts, since pet boarding is still an immature business in China that lacks regulations and codes of practice.

An employee of a pet store told Guangzhou Daily that it only receives small-sized pets of less than 10 kilograms, but the service has been fully booked for the National Day holiday. The employee said holidays are the peak time for such services and advanced booking is necessary.

Most of the boarding service providers only offer less than 20 boarding rooms for pets, and those for large pets are in even more limited supply because they take up too much space.

Pet boarding services offers a convenience to pet owners, but many still adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Some of them worry that their pets may not adapt well to the new environment, while others express their concerns over the sanitary condition of the boarding platforms.
Members of a Chinese peacekeeping police squad for mission in Liberia in training (File photo)

China has sent 2,609 policemen for United Nations peacekeeping missions so far, dispatching the largest number of peacekeeping personnel among the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

China sent its first peacekeeping force of 15 policemen on January 12, 2000, to East Timor, finishing the debut of its UN peacemaking mission.

Seventeen years later, Chinas peacekeeping forces have left their footprints in nine countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Cyprus, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Haiti.

The security of a country relies on world security, and it is not supposed to be established on the insecurity of other countries. The comprehensive participation in international police affairs, joint promotion of global security governance, and cooperation to maintain world peace and stability have become an inevitable development of history.

Members of a Chinese peacekeeping police squad for mission in Liberia in training (File photo)

All of the 300 members of Chinas standby police force of UN peacekeeping missions have been incorporated into the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System, which means the force is ready to be deployed for overseas peacemaking missions at anytime.

Political instability, warfare, harsh climates, and medicine shortages are routine issues for peacekeeping troops. But these difficulties have never discouraged Chinese peacekeeping troops.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations of the UN, lauded Chinese peacekeeping troops after inspecting a drill of the force at the end of June. He believes that the Chinese force will do well and set an example for future missions.
(File photo of Chinese engineer Nan Rendong, chief scientist of the world's largest radio telescope project)

A senior Chinese engineer who dedicated 20-plus years to the world's largest radio telescope project passed away before the one year anniversary of his significant achievement. But his spirit is still inspiring people around him.

Nan Rendong, chief scientist of the 500-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), died on September 15, 2017, at the age of 72. FAST was independently developed by China and will be conducive to investigating the universe.

Nan was diagnosed with lung cancer before FAST was put into operation in September 2016, and he continued his duties despite his illness.

As the founding father of FAST, Nan had been in charge of the project since 1994, and most of the projects core members were Nans students. He dedicated himself to the project over the 20-plus years, a student of his said.

(Nan Rendong (L) in the construction site)

Its hard to imagine how hard he had worked. To choose the perfect location, Nan traveled to examine almost all the low-lying lands in the country, measuring whether they were suitable for the project and how far they were from busy and noisy areas. In the end, a gigantic pit in southwest Chinas Guizhou province was chosen as the ideal place.

To accelerate the approval of the project, Nan would always report the latest progress to supervising departments in person, and whats more, he always arrived at the meeting place one hour ahead of time to guarantee a smooth report.

During the approval stage, Nan and his team usually worked late into the wee hours on the project introduction, considering it a key part of the report.

Working hard day after day, the grand telescope began to take shape in Nans mind. He knew almost every detail of the machine, such as which stage had moved forward and when it would be approved.

(Aerial photo of the FAST)

In 2007, FAST was finally approved. And Nan worked even harder than before. At the initial stage of the construction, Nan could always quickly find a solution to a problem. He mastered all the key technologies, which could be seen in every discussion and the design of even small parts, said one of his colleagues.

Nans attainments in engineering were outstanding too. For instance, after doing some calculations, he came to the conclusion that the tight wires could only handle two million stretches during its lifelong service, which is more reasonable than most of his colleagues predictions of six million times.

As the chief scientist, Nan and his team helped FAST get through many difficulties. On the foundation stone of FAST, Nan wrote a sentence: FAST to South China is what the Birds Nest (National Stadium) is to the North, to express the significance of FAST to the country.

In 20 years time, FAST was proposed and built from scratch, and Nans hairs have gone from black to white, a colleague of Nan recalled.
Workers of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) get togetehr for the evacuation.

A Chinese rescue team evacuated Chinese nationals from the Caribbean island nation of Dominica after tropical storm Maria hit the area on Sept. 19, even though the U.S. army was evacuating people from the area due to the severe situation.

The US army evacuates from the country.

Category 5 Hurricane Maria made its way through the Caribbean at a speed of 260 kilometers per hour, smashing buildings and causing floods.

Dominica before and after the tropical storm

The overseas rescue team of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) rented a ship and purchased emergency supplies to evacuate Chinese nationals from the area on Sept. 21, as the islands airport has been paralyzed by the storm.

At present, a total of 158 Chinese have been evacuated, and 225 CRCC employees are waiting for a second evacuation.
Faced with counter-globalization and profound changes in the world economy, China is showing its wisdom and making its voice heard to keep opening up and to promote reform of the global economic governance system, CCTV Finance Channel reported on Sept. 24, citing Amazing China, a documentary featuring Chinas social and economic achievements since 2012.

In the past five years, China has established free trade zones, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and stepped up efforts to form a new open economic system and a new pattern of opening up. In the past four years, China has contributed most to the global economic growth, accounting for over 30 percent, overtaking the combined contribution rates of the US, Japan, and Europe.

Opening up is the most viable choice to achieve national development and prosperity. China will keep its door wide open, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, voicing hope that other countries will also keep their doors open to Chinese investors and keep the playing field level for them.

Against the voice of counter-globalization, Xi proposed at the Xiamen Summit that the BRICS countries need to unswervingly promote the building of an open world economy, so that all people can benefit from economic growth and globalization.

China is contributing global solutions, featuring mutual sharing and win-win results with a vision of building a community of common destiny for all mankind.

Development holds the master key to solving all problems. In pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative, we should focus on the fundamental issue of development, release the growth potential of various countries and achieve economic integration and interconnected development and deliver benefits to all, said Xi at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing last May.

Todays China has been the major engine to drive global economic growth. It is approaching the center of the world and achieving the dream of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Opposition to a big Tyson chicken plant in Kansas could be an opening for Nebraska to recruit the project.

Nebraska economic development officials wouldnt say whether theyre making a pitch to meat giant Tyson Foods for its project, which appears to be on shaky ground in Kansas. But Nebraskas success luring Costcos chicken processing plant  now under construction in Fremont  helps lay the groundwork to bring more chicken operations here, site-selection expert John Boyd told The World-Herald.

It invites other companies to look at Nebraska, he said.

And he thinks Tyson will look here.

I suspect theyre going to leave Kansas in the dust and look for another low-cost, right-to-work place in the Midwest, said Boyd, with Princeton, New Jersey-based The Boyd Co. Nebraska makes perfect sense. (Right-to-work refers to laws in states that dont require employees of unionized workforces to automatically join the union or pay its dues; Nebraska and Kansas are such states.)

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and that states economic development officials thought they had a success story when they announced Sept. 5 that Tyson would build a $320 million poultry complex just outside the town of Tonganoxie, about halfway between Kansas City and the University of Kansas hometown of Lawrence.

But the Kansas plant ran into a buzzsaw of opposition during an event to unveil the plans, with townspeople booing and shouting at a Tyson executive and at local officials, according to local media reports.

Tonganoxie residents raised many of the same concerns that some Nebraskans did about Costcos project: How will it affect the environment? Who will work there? How will the influx of workers affect schools and community? Why did officials keep it a secret until the announcement?

The Kansas opposition ballooned. An estimated 2,000 people attended a town hall meeting Sept. 15. Three days later, local county elected officials rescinded their support for the project.

After the outcry, Tyson poultry executive Doug Ramsey said Tuesday that Tyson would suspend its plans to build in Tonganoxie. The company still is interested in the area, Ramsey wrote in a letter to the community, but the company will prioritize the other locations in Kansas and other states that have expressed support.

Could other states include Nebraska?

Its too early to say what other locations we may consider, Tyson Foods spokesman Worth Sparkman told The World-Herald.

The project isnt dead in Kansas. The Kansas City Star reported more than a dozen other Kansas communities have contacted state officials about bringing Tyson to their towns.

Kansas Agriculture Secretary Jackie McClaskey is working to find other Kansas communities that will meet Tysons needs. She told public radio station KCUR that there is a lot at stake: If Tyson takes its project to another state, Kansas would not only lose out on this investment, but other agribusinesses would think twice before investing there.

Boyd, the site-selection expert, agreed that losing the plant would be a blow.

This is an opportunity for the state to develop and strengthen its bond with Tyson, one of the leading food processing companies in America, he said.

If Kansas lets the chicken plant slip away, that could mean it also loses the prospect of landing investments such as a Tyson regional headquarters, a back office or a customer service center.

Kansas misstep could be Nebraskas gain, he said, although the project would most likely face some opposition in Nebraska, too.

And just because Fremont made sense for Costco doesnt mean Nebraska will be right for Tysons operation, said Darin Buelow, a site-selection consultant and principal at Deloitte Consulting who worked with Costco to select its chicken plant location.

While Nebraska has advantages to offer food processors, Buelow said, each company has different requirements related to supply chain, grower development, market access, and other issues.

Tysons proposed plant is an even bigger investment than Costcos $280 million Nebraska poultry complex, and the Tyson project calls for 1,600 workers, twice as many as Costco plans to hire. Tysons plant would process fewer chickens, though: 1.25 million a week to Costcos 2 million.

Similar to Costco, Tyson would build a feed mill and chicken hatchery, and would contract with local farmers to raise the birds. It hopes to have the plant in production mid-2019.

Tyson said its project would generate annual economic impact to Kansas of $150 million.

Tyson cited strong consumer demand for chicken in announcing its plans. The plant would produce pre-packaged trays of fresh chicken for retail grocery stores nationwide, sold under the Tyson brand.

Asked whether theyre pursuing the plant, Nebraska economic development officials told The World-Herald that they dont comment on potential projects. Buelow said its a common practice in economic development to try to attract businesses that would complement existing operators  in this case, to try to attract Tyson because Costco already is setting up shop.

The Nebraska officials said the state is an attractive option for a company looking to grow in animal agriculture.

Nebraska has great opportunities for increasing livestock production in all species, Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said. Nebraskas corn and soybean production mean low-cost livestock feed, he said.

Department of Economic Development Director Courtney Dentlinger described Nebraska as friendly to livestock production and food processing, and said it offers competitive incentive programs. States compete to lure companies with things like tax breaks or other inducements.

Our quality of life, cost of living, educated workforce and strong agricultural communities would all be attractive for a company like Tyson, she said.

Arkansas-based Tyson Foods, with more than 108,000 employees in the U.S., projects fiscal 2017 sales above $38 billion. The company already has a big footprint in both Kansas and Nebraska.

In Kansas, it operates facilities in six communities, employs about 5,700 with an annual payroll of $210 million and estimates its annual economic impact at $2.4 billion, including its spending on grain, livestock, taxes and charitable donations.

In Nebraska, it has four facilities, employs about 9,000 with a payroll of about $361 million, and estimates its economic impact at $2.7 billion.
MINDEN  Max Lahowetz, 91, of Minden died Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at Bethany Home in Minden.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Johns Catholic Church in Minden with the Rev. James Benton officiating. Burial will be at 2:15 p.m. at West Lawn Cemetery in Grand Island.

Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday at Craig Funeral Home in Minden. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church.



Max was born on Aug. 2, 1926, to his parents, Edward and Lucille Lahowetz. He was born in a house in the country 5 miles west of St. Paul. The family moved to the farm of his maternal grandparents, Mary and Joseph Komsak, when he was 5. He attended a one-room schoolhouse, and later Max attended St. Paul High School.

Two weeks after graduating high school, at age 17, he entered the U.S. Navy and arrived at basic training in Farragut, Idaho, on June 6, 1944. After completing training as an electrician, Max spent the next two years on the islands off of Australia and ended his service in the Philippines. He returned to the family farm at age 19.

Max furthered his electrical training at Milford Technical College. For the next four years, Max spent his time farming, wiring houses and fishing and hunting with his friends.

In 1951, Max met the love of his life, Arlene Cuzzone, who was visiting relatives in Loup City. Arlene was from Chicago. After only two dates, they decided to be married. Arlene met her in-laws for the first time at their wedding in Chicago on Oct. 28, 1951.

They moved to an isolated farm in the hills a few miles north of Elba. One year later, their daughter, Patricia, was born. Max and Arlene tried farming for two years but decided it wasnt for them.

They moved to Grand Island, where Max took a job with the Grand Island School System in maintenance. Max became head of maintenance for the new Grand Island High School. In 1955, their son, James, was born. The family moved to a new home close to the high school where they remained until both children were out of the nest. Later, Max went to work for New Holland in Grand Island. He was able to use all his valuable skills until his retirement in 1988.

They bought a duplex in a retirement community and left the chores of yard work and maintenance behind. During this time, they enjoyed traveling and friends. Max and Arlene moved to Minden in 2001 to be closer to family. They built a home and lived there happily meeting new friends and being involved with their church, St. Johns.

Max truly lived a gifted life. He brought smiles wherever he went. He loved sharing lapel pins he would create or bread that he baked. Max could fix anything.

He was a loyal and loving husband and father. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Arlene; daughter, Patricia of Kearney; son, James and wife Katherine of Gilbert, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Lindsay Larson, Emily Foldes and Ben Lahowetz; and three great-grandchildren, James, Eliza and Cora.

He was preceded in death by both parents and a brother, Joe Lahowetz.

In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to either Bethany Home or St. Johns Catholic Church.
The face of young American workers, their jobs and where they work are changing. By 2018, employers will see as many as five generations working side by side. More than 60 million baby boomers will exit the workforce, and by 2025, only 40 million new workers will enter to replace them. Advancements in technology will help alleviate some labor shortages but not in all sectors. Estimates suggest millennials could make up as much as 75 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2025.

Today, young workers are more likely to be underemployed, earning less, living at home with their parents, delaying marriage and dependent on technology. They are less likely to be affiliated with a political party and connected to religion.

Here is what we also know. Todays young workers are highly engaged with their work. Additionally, the jobs of todays young workers are more mobile than they have been for any generation. Good jobs can be as easy to locate as a good internet connection, whether you are in Albion or Atlanta, McCook or Miami, Lexington or London.

As the mobility of jobs continues to increase, communities must ask how they can become more attractive to young workers. Community vibrancy is an ever-increasing factor in todays job marketplace as workers can often choose from where they work instead of simply locating to where the jobs are.

The attraction, retention and development of young workers is vitally important for communities hoping to remain relevant in the rapidly expanding and diversified economy of the 21st Century. It is with this focus that Nebraskas community leaders have developed strategies to attract and retain young workers and ask what the community can do to be more attractive as a place to live and work.

Yet, no one community knows all the best practices in attraction, retention and development of young talent, and leaders and communities are constantly faced with limited resources. As such, the next step in making sure we are at the forefront for young workers is a concerted statewide coalition of leaders working together, sharing best practices and resources to focus on young talent and vibrant communities.

Young Nebraskans Week will be a carefully curated series of speakers, discussion panels, workshops and networking opportunities in communities across the state that celebrate the talent, insight and energy of young professionals working in Nebraska while also exploring the intersection between cultures and cities. Developed by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and modeled after Lincolns Young Professionals Groups annual YP Week, Young Nebraskans Week aims to concentrate our states focus on growing, retaining and developing our youngest members of the workforce. We know that highlighting the best of what Nebraska offers is how we win the fight for young talent and helps to keep Nebraska prosperous.

As we launch Young Nebraskans Week in 2018, we will be working with local partners to create a dynamic environment focused on young workers. We will call upon industry, labor, chambers of commerce, economic development partners and many others to help make this initiative as strong as possible. We ask every Nebraskan to join our coalition to attract and retain young workers to our state.

Collaboration is the new competition.
As North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un issues more threats against the United States, President Trumps executive order targeting North Koreas trading partners is a meaningful step to ramp up the pressure on this dangerous regime.

I have long said I do not believe American leadership means policing the world or putting boots on the ground in every conflict. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade policy, I can attest to the significance of trade to both economic growth and geopolitical relationships. These targeted sanctions by the Trump administration can cut off the resources which have allowed North Korea to expand its nuclear program and will put necessary pressure on countries which, to this point, have provided economic investment to the regime.

Under President Trumps Sept. 21 executive order, trading partners and financial institutions doing business with North Korea face steep penalties. For example, ships and aircraft visiting North Korea are banned from the United States for 180 days. The ban also applies to any vessels which have engaged in a ship-to-ship transfer with a vessel which has visited North Korea within 180 days.

Other industries which can be sanctioned for involvement in North Korea include construction, energy, financial services, fishing, information technology, manufacturing, medical, mining, textiles, and transportation.

The executive order also penalizes foreign financial institutions facilitating transactions tied to North Korean trade. President Trump stated, Foreign banks will face a clear choice. Do business with the United States, or facilitate trade with the lawless regime in North Korea.

By tightening the screws on North Koreas economy, we can further isolate Kim Jong Uns regime, limit its resources, and, ideally, prevent further advancement of North Koreas nuclear program.

The House has long been working on efforts to increase sanctions on North Korea. We called on the Obama administration to take action, but unfortunately we only saw the continuation of strategic patience. After the Trump administration stated the era of strategic patience with North Korea was over, the House passed the Countering Adversarial Nations Through Sanctions Act to increase sanctions on North Korea, Iran and Russia.

One of the most far-reaching sanctions packages in history, this legislation passed the House and the Senate and was signed into law by President Trump in August.

Japan and Korea have been working with the United States on strategies to counter North Korean aggression, but until recently, China had yet to take significant steps against the regime.

Now, multiple reports say Chinas central bank has issued a directive to its banks throughout the country to stop providing loans or financial services to North Korean customers. This is an important development from the country which accounts for 90 percent of North Korean trade.

The latest threat from North Korea is to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean. As the rogue regime escalates its intimidation campaign, we must keep strengthening U.S. intelligence so we know the true capabilities of North Koreas nuclear program. We should also continue to invest in our missile defense system.

Rep. Adrian Smiths 3rd Congressional District encompasses 75 counties in central and western Nebraska.
Walk through the north door of the Nebraska state capitol and youll see a motto carved in stone over the doorway: The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen.

A series of stories by the Associated Press indicates that lawmakers nationwide are chipping away at that motto, in the name of fear, security or simple expediency.

In Arkansas, lawmakers passed a resolution marking the 50th anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act, then passed a law preventing public access to information about the capitol police force, those of universities or school security plans.

Nebraska lawmakers sought to keep secret the identity of suppliers of lethal-injection drugs, California rushed through a measure keeping dam safety emergency action plans secret, and Texas considered a plan to keep public records secret from anyone who didnt live in Texas.

The Iowa House passed a bill to keep many 911 calls secret by calling them medical records after the AP used open records laws to write about gun-related accidents, but the law died in the Senate.

Iowa lawmakers did pass a law keeping secret detailed annual financial statements of the states 19 licensed casinos, records that had been public for decades.

Florida passed a law requiring records of criminal charges that result in acquittal or dismissal to be automatically sealed, and Kansas proposed a law that would keep the state database of fired police officers secret after a Wichita television station exposed the backgrounds of officers with checkered pasts, including a chief facing federal investigation.

Even more ominously, some agencies have resorted to suing people who make requests for public records. Examples come from Oregon, Louisiana and Kentucky. Instead of the information, they received notices that they were being sued by the agencies receiving the requests.

Our reporters have found information more difficult to obtain with the switch from paper records to computerized files  either through technical difficulties in viewing the actual files, unaffordable expenses or other hindrances.

Professional journalists will continue to do their part, but in the end, it truly is the watchfulness of the average citizen, insisting on timely release of appropriate, accurate information, that will be the salvation of the state.

McCook Daily Gazette
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One of the great benefits of the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve is that the prices of all competing watches are clearly indicated. The competition also has a category where price is the decisive factor. The Petite Aiguille category is open to any watch that costs below 8,000 Swiss francs. For a lot of people this is already an astronomical sum and a less psychologically damaging level of, say, 5,000 Swiss francs seems much more appropriate. By happy coincidence, the finalists in the Petite Aiguille category this year are all either below or just above this arbitrary limit.

The Habring2 Erwin is the most expensive of the finalists at 5,950 Swiss francs, but this small Austrian brand has history in the competition. In the past five years of the awards, four of its models have made the final cut and the brand has gone on to win its category in three of the past five years, two of which were in this very Petite Aiguille category. Not a bad achievement for a brand that finds itself competing with the biggest names in the industry.

All the other finalists in this category come from these established brands. The Bulgari Octo Roma and the Hermes Arceau TGM Manufacture both have a classic design with a sober three-hand aesthetic and in-house movements. Louis Vuitton remains true to its travel inspiration with the Tambour Moon GMT Black in the new Tambour Moon case presented earlier this year, offering an additional complication but still coming in at under 4,000 Swiss francs. Tudors Black Bay Chrono remains unbeatable value at just over 4,000 Swiss francs for an in-house chronograph movement.

Whether or not the jury opts for Seikos re-edition of its first-ever divers watch as the winner of this category is irrelevant. At 3,450 Swiss francs its the cheapest watch in the category and as any divers watch fan will know, it is already a darling among the community. I have even read stories of people paying well in excess of this price to secure one of these limited editions early, so it is already clearly a collectors piece.

Seiko First Diver Limited Edition  Seiko

Louis Vuitton Tambour Moon GMT Black  Louis Vuitton

Hermes Arceau TGM manufacture  Hermes

Bulgari Octo Roma  Bulgari

Seiko First Diver Recreation Limited Edition: CHF 3,450

Louis Vuitton Tambour Moon GMT Black: CHF 3,882

Tudor Black Bay Chrono: CHF 4,167

Hermes Arceau TGM Manufacture: CHF 4,630

Bulgari Octo Roma: CHF 5,600

Habring2 Erwin: CHF 5,950

Watch the ceremony
In this photo taken Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, Alaska Airlines employees load cargo into the middle of a passenger plane at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska. The airline is retiring its combi planes, Boeing 737-400s designed to be half cargo immediately behind the cockpit and then seating for 72 passengers in the rear. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
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If you havent looked in on WorldTempus this weekend, and provided you dont share Indiana Jones ophidiophobia, you can catch up today by reading Timmy Tanks article on the Singapore SerpentiForm exhibition, which looks at snakes in the arts, from ancient times to Keith Haring, with a special focus on Bulgaris Serpenti jewellery and watch collections.



With six weeks to go before the awards ceremony for the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Geneve on 8 November, we continue our overview of the watches in the running for the prizes. Our editor-in-chief looked at the Petite Aiguille category, which includes the most accessible watches, priced at no more than 8,000 Swiss francs. You can read his article today. At the other extreme, one of the candidates for the Jewellery Watch category has the astronomical price tag of CHF 1,238,000. For fans of watches and jewels, on Friday we propose something quite special featuring a plethora of Marilyn Monroes best friends, when we present the six sublime pieces in contention for this category.



Van Cleef & Arpels is also a master of dreamscapes and poetry, and the Fee Ondine automaton, a fantastically complex mechanical object, is far more magical in real life, when the fairy awakens on her lily pad, than any description can convey. Tomorrow, Olivier Muller reveals the secrets behind the genesis of the Fee Ondine, an object of pure beauty.

The end of the summer marks the start of a new watchmaking cycle, and WorldTempus will be bringing you several new creations this week, including the Luminor Due by Panerai, a Raymond Weil Freelancer, an artistic Slim dHermes and the new Cartier Tanks we promised you last week.



Within our September competition entering its final week, you have until midnight on Saturday to try your luck at winning a ladies Frederique Constant Classics Delight worth CHF 2,090.
In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, an anti-Brexit demonstration takes place on the seafront during the Labour Party conference in Brighton, England. Britain's opposition Labour Party is holding its annual conference, buoyed by an unexpectedly strong election showing, but facing an internal a divide over Brexit. Many Labour members want the left-of-center party to slow or stop Britain's exit from the European Union. But the party has yet to decide whether it wants the U.K. to be in the EU, semi-detached or fully out of the bloc. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., flanked by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., right, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left, speaks to reporters as they faced assured defeat on the Graham-Cassidy bill, the GOP's latest attempt to repeal the Obama health care law, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, in Washington. The decision marked the latest defeat on the issue for President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Republican-controlled Congress. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
You could say Dennis Bedford is closing out his career on a high note.

Bedford, who served as Boys & Girls Club of Kenoshas youth empowerment director for decades, retired this summer with a legacy that has long been noticed locally by generations of Kenosha residents.

More recently, however, a venerable appliance manufacturer on the other side of Lake Michigan also has taken notice of Bedfords contributions.

Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Maytag recently announced it was naming Bedford to its 2017 list of Dependable Leader awards recipients. Since 2010, Maytag has annually recognized 10 Boys & Girls Club representatives across the U.S.

As part of the recognition, Maytag is awarding a $20,000 grant to the Kenosha chapter of the Boys & Girls Club. The proceeds will go toward a variety of resources within the organization aimed at helping young members learn and grow to the best of their abilities.

Im humbled to join that group, Bedford said of the Maytag recognition.

But Bedford was quick to point out the numerous success stories that have been reported throughout his tenure would not have been possible without the commitment within  and outside  the organization.

Ive been blessed, Bedford said. Kenosha is a great, great community.

In a statement, Jake McGhee, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, said the name of the award is fitting, given Bedfords longstanding commitment toward bettering the lives of area youth.

Dennis has spent over 45 years improving the lives of kids and families in our community, McGhee said. He has worked with boys and girls from all walks of life and believes that every young person is capable of greatness, regardless of setbacks.

Bedford was formally recognized with the award Saturday during the BGCKs 25th anniversary gala.

Looking back

The organizations milestone, coupled with Bedfords retirement, was an opportunity for him to wax nostalgic.

In the early 1990s, as talk of bringing a Boys & Girls Club chapter to Kenosha picked up steam, Bedford said he knew it would be a good fit for the community.

This is an organization that is not afraid to roll up its sleeves, Bedford said. They do it right, and its an organization that makes a difference.

Throughout most of the local chapters existence, Bedford has rolled up his own sleeves as the group has swelled its reach from 130 youth in the earliest of days to more than 8,000 youth today.

Maytag noted Bedfords contributions throughout his career with the club. He has mentored hundreds of youth and has worked in other capacities as well, including the Kenosha Police Departments gang unit, where he has played a role in de-escalating situations.

Feeling loved

Within the club, McGhee said Bedford strove to ensure all youth in his midst are recognized and receive some of lifes most basic necessities.

Dennis always ensures our club members have a sense of connectedness that enables them to feel loved, secure, confident, valued and empowered, McGhee said.

As it turns out, Bedfords retirement is a bit of a misnomer. Although he no longer holds the title of youth empowerment director, Bedford said he intends to continue serving Kenosha.

I found out about who I am at a real young age, Bedford said, likening the self-discovery to his desire to serve youth as his calling in life.
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Dramatic images have emerged of a major rescue operation which took place on the Thanet coast this morning.

Police, firefighters, the coastguard and air ambulance were all called at around 7.30am this morning to Joss Bay after a man was reported to have fallen off a cliff.

A coastguard spokesman said this morning: "The coastguard is currently assisting in a multi-agency rescue operation, after a man fell from a cliff at Broadstairs, Kent.

(Image: @christiancoops)

"Just before 7.30am today (25 September) Kent Police requested UK Coastguard assistance to rescue a man who has fallen approximately 70ft from a cliff south of Joss Bay, Kent.

"Margate Coastguard Rescue Team and the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd are currently on scene, alongside paramedics from South East Coast Ambulance Service, Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

(Image: @christiancoops)

Pictures taken by witnesses and passers-by show a huge commitment from the emergency services at the scene, with at least five police vehicles on the scene, three fire engines, and two helicopters.

Kent Police said the incident was not believed to have involved a third party.

(Image: @christiancoops)

A spokesman said this morning: "Kent Police was called at 7.11am on Monday, September 25 after a man fell from cliffs in the Joss Bay area.

"Officers are currently in attendance along with colleagues from the ambulance service and coastguard.

(Image: Ania Adamczak)

"The man has suffered serious injuries and is expected to be airlifted to hospital.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances behind the incident but no crimes have been reported and there is not believed to be any third party involvement."

(Image: @christiancoops)

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed the casualty was airlifted to Kings College Hospital.
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One of Britain's most notorious paedophiles, Richard Huckle, may have had victims in Kent according to a former child abuse investigator.

Former Harvey Grammar School pupil Huckle, from Ashford, rose to notoriety when he was sentenced to life in prison in June 2016 after an international investigation revealed he had committed 71 offences against 23 children.

The judge in his trial said his victims are likely to total nearer 200.

Shortly before Huckle was sentenced at the Old Bailey, Kent Live spoke to Reverend Rob Sylvester, minister of Ashford Baptist Church where he worshipped.

Rev Sylvester said an investigation was immediately initiated to ensure no one in Kent was a victim, adding: ''Huckle was never a significant figure within the church, irrespective of the crimes he committed, he never possessed the personal skills to warrant any role with either young people or adults."

However one former leading investigator into child abuse, Jim Gamble, told the BBC he would be "shocked" if there were no victims of Huckle's in the UK.

"I would be shocked if there were no victims of his in this country. We need to look at what went on in the UK at the times and places that he occupied here in positions of trust.

Mr Gamble's remarks were made ahead of a BBC Three documentary, 'The Gap Year Paedophile', which is due to be aired tomorrow (September 26). The programme will investigate how the 19-year-old student began almost a decade of child abuse while working in Malaysia, Cambodia and India.

Vile Huckle, now 31, was sentenced 22 life sentences at the Old Bailey on June 6 last year for 71 sex offences committed against children. He had been initially charged with a staggering 91 offences related to paedophillia - only eventually admitting 71 of these.

Disturbingly Huckle wanted to watch every single piece of evidence against him - including videos and photos of the extreme abuse his victims suffered. Eventually 23 victims were identified through the photos available to police, with more believed to be hidden on encrypted hard drives for which he never revealed the passwords for.

He reportedly kept a ledger charting the abuse he committed which led prosecutors to believe around 200 children in several countries had been abused. Sadly a lack of evidence meant these cases could never be prosecuted.

The making of a monster

Huckle was a cerebral, socially awkward man. Born into a normal middle class family in Ashford, the 31-year-old, told police he had an "ordinary upbringing".

Attending the Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone, classmates claimed Huckle was a loner, someone who avoided groups and engagement with others.

After leaving education, Huckle became a TEFL (Teacher of English as a Second Language) teacher, and like many, decided to combine this with his passion for travelling.

Read more: The country's 'most prolific' paedophile and a serial killer among Kent's most notorious criminals

Unlike the many, Huckle desperately craved attention: he honed in on the poorest and most vulnerable areas of South East Asia, where he knew that a British passport bought him the kind of respect he could never hope to earn at home.

'Impoverished kids are definitely much easier to seduce than middle-class kids'

The abuse began during a gap year to Cambodia in 2006, where Huckle systematically raped two sisters, aged four and six.

In 2011 he moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after spending time in Vietnam and Cambodia, enrolling as a student at the Metropolitan University - during this period he gained access to orphanages and schools posing as a freelance photographer.

Read more: Four men have been found GUILTY of gang raping a 16 year old girl above a takeaway

Once trust had been established between Huckle and the various orphanages and schools, he would attach himself to the most vulnerable children, offering days out to theme parks, photography lessons, and assistance with their English lessons.

With the families and support workers happy to have such a seemingly generous, educated Englishman in their midst, Huckle began profiting from his sexual abuse.

He bragged online that, "Impoverished kids are definitely much, much easier to seduce than middle-class Western kids," and charged other child-abusers for the chance to watch his depraved acts.

With his confidence buoyed, and an income trickling in off the back of his depravity, Huckle even wrote a manual titled, Paedophiles & Poverty: Child Lover Guide - where he leered at societies inability to see through his deception and depravity.

In one part of the 60-page manual, he said: "'I'd hit the jackpot, a three-year-old girl as loyal to me as my dog and nobody seemed to care."

Read more: Kent Police has arrested two 'paedophile hunters'

'His depravity, his cruelty, his evil, knew no bounds'

Officers from the Australian Force Argos were tasked with stopping so called 'paedophilia tourism' and soon uncovered an intrinsic world where western paedophiles could help one another online.

Operating on the dark web on an encrypted network called 'The Love Zone,' Huckle would discuss his plans, boasted at how susceptible his victims were to him, and showed material in return for funding.

In one gruesome video discovered by officers, Huckle sexually abused two girls simultaneously - one of whom was wearing a nappy, and believed to have been around 6 months old.

By this time, the task force were homing in on an Australian care worker Shannon McCoole, who they believed was a key player in The Love Zone.

In a piece of cunning which officers claimed save the lives of hundreds of children, officers arrested McCoole, assumed his identity online, and continued to engage with other paedophiles; one of whom was Richard Huckle.

Read more: 'It seems that nobody is off limits' Parents' horror as four men convicted of Ramsgate gang rape

Arrest, release and rearrest

Telling his fellow child-abusers that he would be out of action over the Christmas period, Huckle was arrested at Gatwick Airport on December 19 2014, but was quickly bailed on account he had no previous brushes with the law.

Having originally denied any wrongdoing to his parents, Huckle gave a drunken confession to his family that he had had sex with "young children" during his stay in Asia.

His parents kicked him out before alerting the police.

'Not guilty'

At an initial hearing at the Old Bailey on January 6 2016, Huckle pleaded not guilty to 91 charges involving child abuse.

Frustratingly for the task forces investigating Huckle's acts - his laptop only gave away a tiny percentage of his abuse - with careful encoding and encryption leaving "the vast majority" of evidence hidden - Huckle refused to cooperate with the officers in retrieving the data.

Read more: A Dover man sent Skype messages threatening to rape babies

In April, during a preliminary trial hearing, Huckle changed his plea to admit to 71 of the 91 charges he was facing after a particularly disturbing request to watch all of the evidence against him in court.

The trial itself was brief, lasting only two full days - on June 3 Huckle was found guilty on all counts, and on June 6 Huckle faced justice for all the misery and anguish he had inflicted on so many.

'I completely misjudged the affections I received from these children'

Huckle stood to meet his fate, his hands clasped together in prayer, where the judge sentenced him to 22 life sentences - with a minimum of 25 years to be served before eligibility for parole.

In a pre-prepared statement to the media, Huckle claimed he was remorseful, and had acted on the basis of immaturity:

"I really understand and acknowledge the true scale of damage it caused to the Malaysian community.

I had hoped to escape this mundane life of solitude in the UK yet was overwhelmed by the attention I received in Malaysia. I completely misjudged the affections I received from these children.

My low self-esteem and lack of confidence with women was no excuse for me to use these children as an outlet. I am open and eager to rehabilitate from this offending behaviour.

I don't want to become a martyr to sex tourism in Malaysia. This was all my doing as a consequence of my immaturity and I'm truly remorseful."
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Panerai has just launched four new Luminor Due models, two new Luminor Due 45mm, with manual-winding movement and three-day power reserve, and two Luminor Due 42mm, in titanium or red gold. We present today the two Luminor Due 42mm.



First presented in 2016, the case of the Luminor Due, inspired by the Luminor case of the 1950s but elegantly redesigned, is the thinnest and most versatile of those created by Panerai.



The new Luminor Due 3 Days, available in brushed titanium with a polished bezel (PAM00728) or in polished red gold (PAM00741), has a 42mm case measuring only 10.5 mm thick, almost 40% less than the models of the same diameter in the Luminor 1950 collection. The reduction in thickness makes the watches much more versatile and suitable for even the most elegant occasions, without altering the identity, proportions and distinctive features of the iconic case and its classic bridge with the lever device protecting the winding crown.

Luminor Due 3 Days Titanio 42mm  Panerai

The dial of the new Luminor Due 3 Days, extremely legible even when there is little or no light, has a minimalist design in which the small seconds hand at 9 oclock stands out, another aspect typical of many Panerai vintage watches. In the titanium model the dial is blue, with the sandwich structure and satine soleil finish, while that of the red gold model is a sophisticated ivory colour with contrasting blue figures.

La montre mesure 10,5 mm depaisseur  Panerai

The back encloses a porthole protected by sapphire crystal, through which one can admire the P.1000 movement, handwound with a power reserve of three days, entirely made in the Panerai Manufacture. In the Luminor Due 3 Days Oro Rosso the calibre is the sophisticated, skeletonised P.1000/10 version. The large brush-finished bridge has been worked to enable much of the mechanism to be seen, including the two spring barrels, and the balance beneath the bridge mounted on twin supports to ensure greater reliability and stability. The P.1000 movement also includes the device which stops the balance and zeroes the seconds hand when adjusting the time, for perfect synchronisation of the watch with a reference time signal.

Luminor Due 3 Days Oro Rosso 42mm  Panerai

The two new Luminor Due 3 Days watches have blue alligator straps  darker for the titanium model, lighter for the model in gold  and they are water resistant to 30 metres. The soft strap is easily and quickly replaced thanks to the system patented by Panerai which enables the strap bar to be removed easily by means of a little push-piece positioned under one of the lugs.
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A resident who was forced to evacuate her Tunbridge Wells home after a major search involving police, firefighters and a bomb disposal team says she can no longer sleep and fears for her safety.

Clare Hodges has lived in her flat in Brokes Way in High Brooms for nine years and said her home used to be her "safe haven".

On Monday last week (September 18) she and other residents of the flats were forced to evacuate after firefighters were called to a routine chip pan fire and made a startling discovery.

Kent Police was later called in and said suspicious property including computers, mobile phones and later 'legitimately held chemicals' had been found.

A 55-year-old man was arrested in connection with the findings and was bailed until Friday, October 13.

'I can't deal with things like this at all'

The Town and Country Housing Group, which owns the properties, was forced to find residents alternative accommodation while the search teams carried out their work.

The search ended on Saturday evening - five days after it began.

Ms Hodges, 40, told Kent Live: "I suffer from emotional borderline personality disorder and panic attacks so being back in here I don't feel comfortable at all. I am hoping the council will remove us.

"I don't feel safe in here. I'm not eating, I feel sick all the time. I can't deal with things like this at all.

"We were put in a Travelodge but even there we were panicking every day."

Her husband Ryan added it has been difficult for the pair knowing a thorough forensic investigation took place in the same building as their home.

He said: "I run my own business and I could not leave Clare alone for a few hours.

"When Clare's emotional personality disorder kicks in it's very hard for her to snap out of it.

"We'd rather move to get Clare's health back the way it should."

While Kent Police issued a statement in response to residents' fears on Friday, the force remained tight lipped on the investigation.

A spokesman said: "Following examination of the address, local residents are assured that their personal safety is not affected by the ongoing police investigation.

"Town and Country Housing Group, which owns the building consisting of four flats, has moved three families to alternative accommodation as a precaution, while police and partners remain at the scene."

Clare added: "I can't deal with it, I can't even step foot outside the front door. This used to be my safe haven, I used to feel safe here but I don't any more."

A spokesman for Town and Country Housing said: Since the incident at Brokes Way the team have worked closely with our tenants who were displaced during the incident.

"We appreciate that this was a difficult time for them and hope that the support in finding temporary accommodation and keeping them updated went someway to help with their concerns. We will continue to work with them until the matter is full resolved.
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A deadly Aussie flu which has claimed the life of a mum-of-two is heading for the UK, experts have warned.

Medical receptionist Jennifer Thew died at the weekend in Australia after battling the virus for a week. Her seven-year-old daughter Estella also contracted the flu.

If it comes to the UK it could be the worst strain of flu we've seen in 50 years, said experts who warned its arrival was "inevitable".

The Mirror reports NHS bosses said two weeks ago they want 3,000 extra beds made available before the flu season hits - and have given hospitals eight weeks to free up places.

(Image: Facebook)

Ms Thew's daughter's dance school has set up a Go Fund Me account to support the family - and offered Estella free tuition for the final term.

It reads: "Estella Thew is one of our beautiful students in primary. Her mother Jen, was a cherished member of the GDANCE community and recently passed away unexpectedly due to complications from influenza."

There have been more than 137,500 influenza cases confirmed in Australia up to the start of September.

While the figure accounts for less than one per cent of the population, the amount is more than double the 53,159 cases reported in the same period last year.

It's also already more than the total amount, 83,092, for the whole of 2016.

An eight-year-old girl died in the Melbourne suburb of Upper Ferntree Gully earlier this month - after a 30-year-old man who died on what was to be his first Father's Day as a parent.

Ben Ihlow died on September 3 after a week-long battle with the flu, leaving behind his wife, Samantha and 10-month-old son, Andrew.

The Australian Medical Association says it is preparing for cases to continue to be reported for the next two months.

The worst affected are elderly people over 80-years-old and children between ages five to nine.

There are genuine fears that the bug will spread to the UK - with claims that it is "inevitable".

NHS chief Simon Stevens said at the time: The signs from Australia and New Zealand, who are just coming out of winter, are that it has been a heavy flu season and many of the hospitals have struggled.

"In some parts of this country there are real pressures so we are using the next six to eight weeks to really be clear what the plan needs to be.

Part of this is ensuring that we see further improvement in delayed discharges before November.

"The plan to free up 2,000 to 3,000 beds relies on significant improvement in that area.

The NHS is urging all eligible Brits to get a flu jab - some 21 million people - but they also admitted it is too late to tweak the strains in their stockpile to deal with the Aussie flu.

Professor Robert Dingwall, a public health expert at Nottingham Trent University, told the Daily Express that this is the most serious flu outbreak since the 1968 pandemic which started in Hong Kong and killed more than a million people worldwide.

The professor said: "Based on the Australian experience public health officials need to meet and urgently review emergency planning procedures," he said.

"Public Health England should be working with local authorities and local health services to ensure more hospital beds are freed up.

"We need to be prepared, alert and flexible."
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Veteran MP Sir Roger Gale will be fighting the North Thanet seat again at the next General Election.

Sir Roger, who will be 78 by the time the next election is scheduled in 2022, has held the North Thanet seat since 1983.

He was re-selected by the North Thanet Conservative Association after a meeting on Friday (September 22) decided unanimously that the current MP should sit again.

'Unfinished work'

Sir Roger said: "In today's terms I am still relatively young, enjoy reasonable health and am as mentally agile as ever  although I accept that that latter point is a matter for individual interpretation.

"I have unfinished work to see though and projects to be brought to fruition in Herne Bay and in Thanet.

"We face, particularly, the restructuring of the healthcare in East Kent that is so vital to my constituents and that, if we are to get to where we need to be, is likely to be a protracted and expensive process that will require the political will to do what is right, not what is populist or expedient.

Brexit negotiations

"We will also be facing the fall-out from the Brexit negotiations and I believe that those of us currently in the House have a duty, if allowed to do so, to see this through to a satisfactory conclusion.

"We have to create a United Kingdom in which our children and our grandchildren can live in safety, harmony and prosperity and in good health and I am pleased to be afforded the opportunity to be part of that process.

He added: I am mildly surprised that the vote was unanimous.

I thought that there might be at least one vote against me. My wife Suzy has been, and remains, a tower of strength.

South Thanet

"We are a partnership and together and with our team we shall continue to offer those that I have been elected to represent, the best possible service for the foreseeable future.

The South Thanet Conservative Association is yet to hold a meeting.

Conservative South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay will go on trial in May next year on charges relating to his 2015 general election expenses.
Watches are not rocket science. Or are they? Watches are not rocket...

Perhaps you dont have a PhD. Well, thats a shame, because with some watches, youll need one to understand how to tell the time. Perhaps you dont have a PhD. Well,...
The Egyptian president's office released details on Monday of his packed schedule ahead of the United Nations General Assembly

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is in New York this week to attend the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), and details of his visit released on Monday show a packed schedule of events.

Monday marks the second day of El-Sisi's official visit, and the president's schedule for the day includes meetings with US businessmen and media interviews, according to a press release issued by the Egyptian president's office on Monday morning.

The Egyptian president will be receiving a number of prominent Americans at his official New York residence, including members of the United States Chamber of commerce. He will meet afterwards with members of Business Council for International Understanding.

Also on Monday, the US-based TV network Fox News will interview El-Sisi. The interview follows a previous interview with Fox News in April, during his visit to Washington DC. At the previous UNGA in 2016, El-Sisi was interviewed by CNN.

The Egyptian president arrived in New York on Sunday to participate in the 72nd UNGA. The General Debate starts on Tuesday this week, with El-Sisi due to deliver a speech to the assembly on Tuesday.

On Sunday evening, El-Sisi met with Saudi Ambassador to Washington Prince Khaled Bin Salman Al-Saud. According to the Egyptian presidency, the two men discussed ways of achieving political solutions to a number of crises in the Middle East region.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Khaled Fawzy, the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, also attended the meeting.

On Sunday, El-Sisi also met with United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed for talks on regional issues and Egypt-UAE relations.

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After being out of the news for a few weeks, health care reform came back with a bang this week when Senator Bernie Sanders unleashed his Medicare for all, single-payer reform plan, now backed by sixteen Democratic senators. More than anything, to make progress on reform of our dying health care system, the nation needs to get to a place where it can engage in serious conversations about such proposals.

I will reveal my personal position on single payer right off the bat. I am a fan, but not a disciple. I think, done well, single payer offers the best path forward. But I dont think it is the only path possible. Nor do I think that single payer is guaranteed to work in this country. With all such things, the devil is in the details.

But that is the problem. In this country, we cant get to the details.

We devolve immediately into superficial, silly labels and pointless posturing. We toss out concepts like socialism, big government (or government-run health care), and free market to support or detract from our positions, and the conversation ends. But that is not adequate. We need to give Berniecare (and all serious attempts to fix the American health care mess) far more serious consideration than that.

We need to take this single-payer plan seriously because it is the first proposal in recent memory that actually addresses, and possibly could even fix, some of the bigger problems in American health care. The American health care system is defined by three main problems. Too many people lack access to care. Health care costs too much, both for individuals, and for the nation as a whole. And American health care is low-quality care. It should be added that American health care is a bureaucratic and administrative nightmare for both patients and providers alike.

Obamacare was primarily an attempt to increase access to care. Results in that area have been mixed at best. It did not seriously address cost of care or quality of care issues. And administrative overkill and overload is a hallmark of the Obamacare era.

The more recent Republican health care reform proposals are not even in the ballpark. Millions of people would lose access to care, and many would pay more for their care. The Trump-Ryan-McConnell-Care proposals died a quick, well-deserved death.

Berniecare is a far more serious, and far-reaching, attempt to fix what is wrong with American health care than either Obamacare or the failed Republican plan. First of all, it solves the access issue. Under Berniecare, everyone is in the system. And from the patients perspective, the cost issue is solved, as well. One fee, a tax, pays for everything. So right off the bat, the two biggest issues in American health care, and two of the biggest stains on our nations moral character, are fixed. That should be enough to get everyone to give this proposal serious consideration.

But criticisms of a single-payer system, especially this version of single payer, which focus primarily on issues of cost and control of health care decision-making, and are more than just relevant. Successfully addressing these concerns is crucial to the success of the plan.

The cost issue is a thorny one. The traditional answer provided by single-payer advocates is that the administrative cost savings generated by going from our current for-profit multi-payer system to a single non-profit payer make universal coverage viable. If nothing else, at least a single-payer system has this specific mechanism to bring current costs (unnecessary ones) down. But there are many who say this would not be adequate.

Inextricably tied to that discussion are issues regarding what services get covered, who decides such things, how those decisions are made, and how the costs of those services will be controlled? Critics of a single-payer approach point to these issues more than anything else, fearing the heavy, inefficient hand of government. Single-payer advocates tend to brush these fears aside, but the fact is this is a legitimate and highly important issue (maybe the most important issue in this entire discussion). Excessive government bureaucracy has contributed as much as any other single factor to the ruination of American health care. Without profound reform, it will do the same thing to a single-payer system. Further, without a wholescale change in how we regulate health care, any approach to fix the system will be doomed to failure.

The answers are in the details, many of which we have yet to hear, but also many of which we may not have conceived of yet. Any plan, this one or any other approach that is going to successfully solve the issues of access, cost, and quality in health care will depend on such details. But we must get past the rhetoric, our incredible enmity, and simplistic labels to discuss such things.

I admit to being a fan of Senator Sanders. He is not compromised by huge insurance and pharmaceutical industry campaign donations, unlike essentially every one of his colleagues. He aspires, as anyone in his position should, to actually fix what is wrong, and he has the guts to risk his neck to get it done.

But I am not here to persuade you to like Senator Sanders (or single payer, for that matter). He has proposed a health care solution that, with the right details, I believe could be the fix that we need. But more importantly, if we hope to fix American health care, and we must do that, we need to get to a point where we can exchange ideas and debate the hard details that will make or break any legitimate approach.

Matthew Hahn is a family physician who blogs at his self-titled site, Matthew Hahn, MD. He is the author of Distracted: How Regulations Are Destroying the Practice of Medicine and Preventing True Health-Care Reform.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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I was recently by the New York Times the Upshot to rank eight health care systems they had chosen: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This forced me to think about a pretty fundamental question: what do we want from a health care system?

What does an ideal health care system look like?

I would argue that most people want a health care system where they can get timely access to high-quality, affordable care and one that also promotes innovation of new tests and treatments. But underlying these sentiments are a lot of important issues that need unpacking. First, what does it mean to be able to access care when you need it? A simple way to think about this is being able to see a doctor (or other health care professional) quickly and easily, and in cases where there are follow-on tests, procedures, and treatments, you can get them without much delay. This brings up one important point: while experts often discount the importance of timeliness, regular people generally dont: anyone who has waited weeks or months for a follow-up after an abnormal test result or to get a needed surgery knows that waiting times are not just an inconvenience. Delayed access can be stressful, agonizing and in some instances, downright harmful.

Beyond access, of course, we want care we can afford. Almost all of us need some sort of insurance that would pay for an unexpected, catastrophic health care expense (like spending a few weeks in an ICU). Most of us need some sort of financial coverage for other, slightly less expensive services such as an MRI or a knee replacement. And even still, some of us will struggle to pay for simpler things like doctors visits and need financial help there as well. There is broad consensus that we want a health care system where people arent denied the services they need because they cant afford them.

While accessibility, timeliness, and affordability are key, there are other aspects of care that get less attention but are just as important: we want care that is safe and effective and produces the best outcomes possible. Its great if you can have timely cardiac surgery and pay little or nothing out of pocket. But if you die unnecessarily from a preventable error, you didnt get what you needed from the health care system.

Finally, we want a health care system that creates new knowledge so that we get better at caring for sick people. One of my earliest memories of medical school was caring for a young woman, an artist with two small children, who died of a complication of chronic myelogenous leukemia after a bone marrow transplant. Today, her disease could have been managed by a simple, daily pill that has turned CML into a chronic, yet manageable disease. A system that generates new therapies that save lives is critical, and its importance is often overlooked when assessing health system performance.

Health system organization

So what is the ideal way to organize a health care system to accomplish these goals? One school of thought believes that market-based systems are the solution because they rely on competition, customize care for individuals, keep prices down, and allow the highest quality providers to flourish. For others, the answer is a government-run, single-payer system where everyone has equal access, gets comparable quality, and patients dont have to worry about costs because the government takes care of it. While either approach can be supported with selected data and facts, as I have looked at health systems from around the globe, one theme becomes obvious: systems organized very differently can achieve comparable levels of performance, and no single approach consistently outperforms others.

So which countries have the best systems? As the Upshot piece outlines, we did a tournament-style competition where in each round, we had to pick winners and losers. At the end, we were also asked to rank the selected 8 countries based on our overall assessment. To do so, my approach was simple. Health systems should be judged not by how they are organized (i.e., markets or government) but what they produce. How well does it do what a health care system ought to do? So thats the approach I took.

Evaluating health systems

That leads us to the next question: What metrics should we use? If you made it to the first day of a health policy 101 class, you learned about two metrics: per capita spending and life expectancy. If you made it to the second class, you learned that unfortunately, these are far too crude to tell you much about health system performance and do not help generate an actionable set of policy prescriptions. Health care spending is driven by many factors, including what is encompassed in spending calculations (research and development? medical education?) and prices (if one country pays its nurses half as much as another  does that mean the first is twice as efficient?). Life expectancy is even more complicated as it is driven in large part by behavior, lifestyle, and genetics of the underlying population. As Irene Papanicolas and I point out in our recent JAMA piece, drawing these boundaries when comparing health care systems is important.

So if we cant just look at those metrics, what else should we examine? While one could evaluate literally hundreds of metrics, I prioritized 16 (see Table 1).

None of these are perfect, but they seemed reasonable to me  a few on access, quality, cost, and innovation. Ultimately, I was interested in assessing performance in areas that are clearly within the purview of the health are system  how many people are covered and covered for what? How quickly can you see someone when youre sick? How good is the system at taking care of you when something terrible happens, like you have a stroke or a heart attack? Does the system generate lots of innovation so that everyones care gets better over the time? I tried not to overly weigh any one of these but tried to look at them holistically.

My rankings

Based on these measures (for country data, see Table 2), my ranking of the selected health systems is as follows:

Switzerland Germany U.S.A. U.K. France Australia Canada Singapore

A few caveats. First, these are all very good health care systems  and were generally comparing systems that are far superior to much of the rest of the world. Second, there was rarely a clear winner in head to head competitions. Switzerland and Germany both have excellent systems, and reasonable people could draw a different conclusion from the same data. I struggled among the U.S., France, Australia, and the U.K., all of which had clear strengths and clear challenges. Singapore lagged behind in large part because there is so little data about their performance and lack of data means it might be better than it looks, or it could be worse. I just dont know.

The ranking of the U.S. above places like France and the U.K. may be surprising. Some people will point, rightly, to the fact that the U.S. has the highest spending in the world yet still has people who are uninsured. The health care spending problem of the U.S. is largely a political choice; we have extraordinarily high prices on everything from physician salaries to pharmaceuticals. While some of these high prices may spur innovation (i.e., pharmaceuticals), the cost of spending nearly 20 percent of our GDP on health care means less money for everything else. We could do better with different policy choices.

On the issue of universal coverage, things are a bit more complicated. While its narrowly true that the U.S. is the only country here without universal coverage, its too simplistic. First, 91 percent of Americans are now insured (thanks in part to the ACA). Some countries have universal coverage for their citizens but not necessarily for immigrants or other groups. Second, it is important to consider what is actually covered. While most Americans can get access to the latest treatments, in many countries, access to the most expensive therapies can be difficult or non-existent. I dont know if we will get to 100 percent coverage but we are inching towards it, and I hope that with the next set of policy reforms, we can get into the high 90s. And that would be good.

Finally, if you take a big step back and look at the data, Americans do better than average in timely access, especially to specialty services and elective surgery (which is often not that elective). They tend to be among the leaders in acute care quality, when health care means the difference between life and death, although the quality of primary care could surely be better. And America is the innovation engine of the world, pumping out new drugs and treatments that benefit the whole world. All of that earns America a high rank in my book  behind Switzerland and Germany but ahead of others. You can disagree, but overall, while the U.S. health care system has a lot of work ahead, we should not overlook its strengths  and they are sizeable.

So heres the big picture: when it comes time to measure health system performance, its important to think about boundaries (what is the responsibility of the health care system and what isnt). Its also important to consider whether the system is delivering what people need: coverage of a broad range of services, especially those that are important for the sickest among us, timely access to affordable, high-quality care, and innovation that ensures care gets better over time. For most people, whether the system is market-based or government-run matters a lot less than whether its meeting their needs. And thats the way it should be.

Ashish Jha is an associate professor of health policy and management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA. He blogs at An Ounce of Evidence and can be found on Twitter @ashishkjha.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Three United Nations soldiers from Bangladesh were killed by an explosive device that detonated as they were escorting a convoy in northern Mali on Sunday, the West African country's peacekeeping mission and Bangladesh's military said.

Attacks on peacekeepers in Mali, where Islamist groups continue to operate in the vast desert in the north of the country, have made the U.N. mission there, MINUSMA, the organisation's deadliest.

Another five U.N. troops were seriously wounded in Sunday's explosion, which occurred at around 7 a.m. (0700 GMT) on the main road between the towns of Anefis and Gao, MINUSMA said in a statement.

"Our thoughts go firstly to the families and loved ones. We pledge our complete support to them during this painful ordeal," the head of MINUSMA, Koen Davidse, said. "The mission will use all means to ensure that justice is rendered."

The U.N. did not immediately release the nationalities of the soldiers. But the Bangladesh military's media department confirmed that three of its soldiers had died by an improvised explosive device during an encounter with militants, adding that four other Bangladeshi peacekeepers were injured in the attack.

West Africa's arid Sahel region has in recent years become a breeding ground for jihadist groups -- some linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State -- that European countries, particularly France, fear could threaten Europe if left unchecked.

Despite a 2013 French-led military operation that drove back militants who had seized control of Mali's north, the area remains home to groups that have staged assaults on high-profile targets in the capital Bamako, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.

MINUSMA, established in the wake of the French intervention, has struggled to quell the unrest.

The U.N. Security Council established a sanctions regime this month that allows the body to blacklist anyone who violates or obstructs a fragile 2015 peace deal signed by Mali's government and separatist groups.

Anyone who attacks peacekeepers, hinders the delivery of aid, commits human rights abuses or recruits child soldiers could also face sanctions, including a global travel ban or asset freeze.

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Khartoum has warned social-media users to check the credibility of online news reports, saying false reports can harm Sudan's national interests

Sudan has denied reports it has frozen diplomatic ties with Egypt, the countrys state-owned news agency SUNA reported on Sunday evening.

In an official statement, Sudans foreign ministry denied social-media reports on the cutting of ties, describing them as unfounded and untrue.

The ministry also rejected reports that it has demanded the resignation of South Darfurs governor over camps for displaced persons in that state.

According to the ministry, false news reports had been circulated on social media claiming that Sudan has taken the decision to freeze ties with Egypt over Egypts voting within the UN against revoking economic sanctions imposed on Sudan.

The ministry called on social-media users to check the credibility of news reports, claiming that false reports "harm the higher national interests of the country.

Sudans stern denial of the reports follows mounting tensions between Egypt and Sudan this year, with media outlets from both countries exchanging attacks.

In May, Sudan asked Cairo to explain Egypts position on the UN's Darfur Sanctions Committee, after rumours circulated that Egypt had backed a call during an April meeting to maintain sanctions against Khartoum.

Cairo has denied claims that it supported a continuation of sanctions.

Since then, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Sudanese counterpart Ibrahim El-Ghandour have meet on several occasions, vowing to maintain the nations' strategic ties.

However, in the early summer, Sudans President Omar Al-Bashir alleged that Cairo had provided support to rebel groups in Sudan fighting against government forces.

In June, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi rejected the allegations, saying that Egypt "does not conspire against anyone."

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Youre sitting across the kitchen table from your spouse, when they inform you that they want to separate. After decades of marriage, youre facing divorce.

While becoming unwillingly single can be difficult at any stage of life, splitting up after the age of 50 can be doubly devastating, because you have a limited amount of time to financially recover before retirement.

According to Pew research (opens in new tab), youre hardly alone. Thats because while the American divorce rate has actually declined for every other age demographic, the divorce rate among U.S. adults ages 50 and older has roughly doubled since the 1990s.

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America is facing whats being called the gray divorce epidemic. Many studies have been done about its cause, some concluding that once the children leave the nest, couples discover theyve lost their shared purpose and dont have much in common anymore. But no matter what the underlying cause, divorce is expensive, and once it becomes inevitable, you have little choice but to reactively take steps to protect yourself financially.

How Expensive is Divorce?

Right from the first phone call, depending on their ZIP code, a divorce attorney might charge you anywhere from $250 to $650 an hour. In brass tacks, the average cost of an amicable divorce falls somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000. But being that divorces are typically emotionally charged, clean breaks are rare. Typically, the longer youve been together, the more assets youve acquired, and the more expensive the process.

Ive seen couples spend $200,000 in legal fees in a tug of war over a $1.5 million estate. Thats partly because older people, while usually not involved in long, drawn-out child custody battles, have less time to rebuild financially, which means divorce can literally be a fight for your future standard of living.

Its difficult to recover from divorce when youre older because, after 50, youre more likely to have maxed out your earning potential, your assets may be mostly fixed, and your employment opportunities tend to become more limited. And while its true that older divorcers generally have more assets than younger people, they often dont have as much money as they think they do.

Case in point: I worked with a 67-year-old client who had over $1.5 million in a traditional IRA, and whose husband had filed for divorce. He was insisting that he was entitled to half that amount, or $750,000. He wanted a cashiers check.

Hed forgotten that the money in traditional IRAs  and also 401(k)s  is taxed when its withdrawn (the actual percentage depends on things like the amount of your other income, along with the amount of the distribution). Plus, if youre under age 59, an extra 10% early-withdrawal penalty may apply.

Of course, there are divorce decree exceptions, which allow the IRA or 401(k) participant to forgo the 10% penalty (if the money is rolled over into the spouses IRA), but the money is not liquid, and once its withdrawn, combined federal and state tax rates as high as 52% (depending on your states income tax rate) could be assigned.

And what about brokerage accounts? If you need to liquidate investments in your brokerage account(s) to settle a divorce decree, youll get hit with long-term capital gains (as high as 20%, but it varies).

How much you end up paying depends on the factors listed above (such as the tax rate of the state you live in), but Ive seen jaws literally drop open in disbelief over the actual post-tax value of once-bragged about brokerage accounts.

Emotion: The Biggest Expense of All

But retirement and brokerage accounts can seem relatively straightforward when compared to the division of other assets. Probably the key asset that gray divorcers must divide is the value of the home.

What makes the home asset substantially more complex is that, often, one of the partners wants to stay put. This means they may have to give up their rights to other assets in return for a house that could experience a substantial decline in value in a relatively short period of time.

Emotional attachments to assets can be tricky. I worked with the family of a well-employed, recently divorced woman who bypassed her claim to all other marital assets in exchange for keeping the house, which, when appraised, had almost $1.6 million in equity. Even though she agreed to give up the balance of her 401(k), she was still only in her 50s, and with seemingly many more years left to work. At the time of the divorce, it appeared shed made out reasonably well. Unfortunately, in rapid succession, she was forced to retire due to a health emergency that coincided with the onset of the 2008 real estate collapse. Eventually, with all her eggs in that one basket, she lost her only real asset to the bank via repossession.

But, conversely, throwing up your hands and agreeing to sell a house is not cheap, either. First, there are the repairs, upgrades and inspections, which often lead to still more repairs. Next, the cost disposal of the home is going to be at least 6% to 7% of its value.

Then, afterward, whether you go on to buy or rent, the next financial shock to the system of a gray divorcer is the current cost of housing, which is almost certainly higher than when you purchased the home. This means your budget is going to be strained and your settlement (or alimony, in certain cases) is going to quickly lose purchasing power.

Yet all of the above are just the basics. Other common financial sticking points for older divorcing couples include the division of debt, the difficulties of splitting hedge funds or private equity holdings, premarital assets that have risen in value, comingled inheritances that are now marital property, pensions, collectibles, Social Security, and the fact that the person paying alimony might be forced to carry life insurance with a death benefit for the duration of his or her obligation to their former spouse.

Stay Together, or Part as Business Partners

So, divorce is especailly costly for people over 50. Is there a solution? First, if you have no choice in the matter, and you absolutely must divorce, save time and money by knowing the precise value (and amounts) of every asset before meeting with attorneys. Meet with your Certified Financial Planner professional and your accountant, together with your spouse (if possible).

Another way to save substantial sums of money, if the split is amicable and the value of the assets are clear, is to steer negotiations and the division of assets and debts toward an experienced divorce mediator. There is no law that states you must hire a divorce attorney. As illustrated above, hiring attorneys could result in 15%, or even more, of your assets unnecessarily going to legal fees. Just remember, you were married to your spouse for a long time, and if you extend the olive branch, and are fair, even if the marriage cant be saved, consider it a business transaction.

That 15% savings may make a huge difference to your standard of living down the line.
Just as this citizens forum of KIT on the District Future project, Open Science is to enhance the citizens acceptance of research. (Photo: KIT)

Open Science is to make science more transparent and democratic and to open up new perspectives for researchers. Technology assessment experts of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Austrian Academy of Sciences have studied what precisely is to be understood by Open Science and whether the high expectations are realistic. The results are published in TATuP  Zeitschrift fur Technikfolgenabschatzung in Theorie und Praxis (journal of technology assessment in theory and practice).

[]

Latest issue of TATuP on Open Science (in German only).

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Three days after Theresa May sought to revive Brexit negotiations by hinting at concessions on the divorce terms and painting a glowing picture of future friendship, EU negotiators want to hear detail on Monday.

The British prime ministers Brexit secretary, David Davis, is expected in Brussels for a fourth round of talks with chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier. The Frenchman said after Mays carefully calibrated speech in Renaissance Florence on Friday that it was constructive. But he wants to hear firm offers.

Without significant progress on three key elements of a planned treaty to ease Britains passage out of the Union in March 2019, Barnier said, EU leaders will refuse to open any talks on a free trade and cooperation deal, let alone on the two-year transition to it that May requested.

With German Chancellor Angela Merkel concentrating on her problematic re-election on Sunday, it was French President Emmanuel Macron who rammed home the demand from the continent that Britain not get ahead of itself, and settle its divorce.

Mays speech was intended to jolt the divorce talks out of deadlock, three months after they began, and to demonstrate some unity in her government -- notably on remaining in the EU single market and accepting its rules for a couple of years after Brexit, a bitter pill for some opponents of EU membership.

But much of her 35-minute address dwelt on the Shared Future. The tone went down well with some: There are many positive elements, especially regarding future relations, a senior EU government official said. On the other hand, on issues related with the separation, there is not much clarity. We are looking forward to receiving detailed proposals.

Davis is expected to meet Barnier late on Monday afternoon to launch the talks before leaving officials to conduct the negotiations until Thursday. Then, as in previous rounds, the two lead negotiators are expected to brief reporters.

CONCESSIONS

May made two potentially important concessions on Friday: a direct role for the EU-UK exit treaty and for EU case law in British judges rulings on the future rights of EU citizens in Britain; and a promise that Brexit would not hit the EUs current budget.

On the first, Barnier may repeat the EU demand for direct oversight by European Court of Justice; on the second, EU negotiators insist Britain will owe a share of Union spending for years after the budget May referred to, which ends in 2020.

One potential benefit from a transition period may be that it lets Britain present its voters with a somewhat less hefty bill for leaving than the 60 billion euros ($70 billion) or so that Brussels reckons it would owe the EU come March 2019.

About a third of that 60 billion represents what the EU wants Britain to pay into the current budget for 2019 and 2020, whether or not it remains in the single market. By staying in for a transition period, Britain could deduct that 20 billion euro payment from the one-off, pre-Brexit divorce settlement.

May will meet Donald Tusk, who chairs EU summits, over lunch in London on Tuesday and then the 27 leaders at dinner in Estonia on Thursday, just after talks wind up in Brussels.

The Europeans insist they will not negotiate with May over Barniers head, but this week could be an important moment in determining how quickly they are willing to open trade talks for the future -- and, indeed, how far mutual tactics of bluff and counter-bluff may risk ending in chaos without a deal.
LISBON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The European banking union is still far from being complete and urgently needs additional tools as the single supervision mechanism still lacks robustness to handle any future crises, the deputy governor of the Bank of Portugal said on Monday.

Elisa Ferreira told a conference on risk that the lack of a common deposit insurance scheme was a particular defect and had led to "severe inconsistencies" during the rescue in June of Spain's Banco Popular.

The rescue wiped out shareholders and junior bondholders, while Popular was sold for a nominal one euro to larger rival Banco Santander. In the same month, Italy wound down two banks using national legislation and taxpayers' money, drawing criticism from officials in several European countries.

"As for the European (supervision) architecture, and in particular what concerns the banking union, we still have a glass that is half empty ... additional tools still need to be developed," Ferreira said.

"Otherwise we risk fragmentations of the single market and not having a genuine banking union."

She said the while the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism during the euro zone debt crisis, the single rule book, and other pillars of the banking union were major achievements, they are still not sufficient.

"One should not think that it can work without the remaining (parts), it can not," Ferreira said, pointing to fragilities such as limited ESM recapitalisation instruments and calling for the implementation of the third pillar of the banking union - a common deposit insurance scheme.

(Reporting By Sergio Gonaclves, writing by Andrei Khalip; Editing by Catherine Evans)
* TSX up 19.36 points, or 0.13 percent, to 15,473.59

* Four of the TSX's 10 main groups were up

TORONTO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index edged up on Monday as higher oil prices lifted energy shares, offsetting declines led by mining issues and Bombardier Inc . The energy group climbed 1.2 percent, with Pembina Pipeline Corp rising 3.3 percent to C$43.50 and Encana Corp advancing 1.3 percent to trade at C$14.07.

U.S. crude prices were up 1.4 percent to $51.36 a barrel, and Brent a global benchmark, rose more than 2 percent to top $58 a barrel, reaching its highest in eight months.

Oil rallied after major producers said the global market was on track towards rebalancing, while Turkey threatened to cut oil flows from Iraq's Kurdish region. At 10:24 a.m. ET (1424 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index rose 19.36 points, or 0.13 percent, to 15,473.59.

Of the index's 10 main groups, six were in negative territory. The heavily weighted financials group also helped offset losses, gaining 0.2 percent.

Bombardier Inc shares sank 7.6 percent to C$2.06, extending previous losses to hit a more than four-month low on news that Siemens AG will likely choose French rival Alstom SA over the Canadian company in a multibillion-dollar rail merger. The Montreal-based plane and train maker is also awaiting a U.S. court ruling on a CSeries dumping complaint by Boeing Co. The industrials group fell 0.4 percent. Canadian National Railway , a hefty member of the sector, was down 0.9 percent to C$100.19.

The materials sector which includes precious and base metals miners as well as fertilizer companies, were among the biggest drags on the index, losing 0.6 percent.

Miner Teck Resources Ltd fell 2.8 percent to C$26.34, while First Quantum Minerals Ltd gave back 1.9 percent to C$13.77.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the TSX by 140 to 102, for a 1.37-to-1 ratio on the upside.

(Reporting by Solarina Ho; Editing by W Simon)
(Corrects overnight interbank rates to 0.6-1.2, from 0.8-1.2)

HANOI, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0432 GMT.

September 25 USD/VND mid-point 22,448 USD/VND interbank 22,735/22,740 USD/VND unofficial 22,730/22,750 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.50/36.72

Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.6-1.2

1 week 0.9-1.3

1 month 1.4-1.9

3 months 3.0-3.6

NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources.

One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co.

For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on .

For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom)
PRAGUE, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Monday.

ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA==========================

Real-time economic data releases.................... Summary of economic data and forecasts........... Recently released economic data.................. Previous stories on Czech data............. **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: =========================NEWS===================================

CEZ: Top Czech government officials have asked electricity producer CEZ to look closely into the possibility of spinning off distribution and renewable assets with the government taking full control of nuclear and coal plants, sources close to the process said.

Story: Related stories: BABIS: The Czech Republic and smaller states like it should have a stronger voice in the European Union, not Brussels officials, the billionaire frontrunner in next month's parliamentary election said.

Story: Related stories: BANKS: The Czech National Bank (CNB) kept its countercyclical capital buffer for banks at 1.0 percent on Friday after raising it in its last quarterly review as it looks to keep ahead of strong credit growth in the central European country.

Story: Related stories: CEE MARKETS: Hungarian government bonds extended their rally on Friday due to expectations the central bank will continue to support the market despite a gradual worldwide monetary tightening.

Story: Related stories: =========================PRESS DIGEST==========================

CEZ: The state-controlled utility CEZ might not get 1.14 billion czech crowns from a state railways company, as the Supreme court struck down a verdict ordering the money to be paid. The payment is connected to a contract from 2008, when the railways company had ordered electricity from CEZ, but eventually did not take it.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 12

(Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.)

For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX For updates on CEE currencies TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets Prague Newsroom: +420 224 190 477

E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com

(Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
* Poland may shelve planned changes to the pension system due to lack of agreement within the government over the final shape of the reform, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily reported on Monday quoting unnamed sources.

* Poland initially approved a plan to move 25 percent of assets of state-guaranteed and privately-managed pension funds - called OFE - to a state-run vehicle at the end of 2016, but the final decision was expected by the end of this year. * Work on the reform has stopped though, most likely due to differences in opinion over its final shape, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna said.

* According to local media, the plan to transfer some of the funds' assets, backed by the Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, was criticized by the Labour Minister Elzbieta Rafalska.

* Some ministers from the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) have supported the idea of moving all the OFE funds' assets to the state-run vehicle. * Pension funds OFE used to be active players on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and any changes to the system might have an impact on the bourse. -- Note: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its accuracy.

(Warsaw newsroom)
MEXICO CITY, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Mexican national oil company Pemex said on Monday it has received at bomb threat at its Mexico City headquarters which has triggered a preventative evacuation of employees while checks are being conducted.

(Reporting by David Alire Garcia)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
French authorities at Charles de Gaulle Airport searched baggage after one passenger allegedly spoke on the phone about a bomb on board

French authorities have removed three passengers from an EgyptAir plane in Paris prior to its departure for Cairo, following claims that one of the passengers was overheard talking on the phone about a bomb on board, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported on Monday.

An official source at EgyptAir said that flight MS800 arrived safely at Cairo International Airport early on Monday morning, having been delayed by seven-and-a-half hours due to the incident.

Prior to takeoff from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, two passengers reported to the captain that they had overheard another passenger mention a bomb while speaking on the phone.

The captain informed French authorities who took the plane to the cargo area for an inspection of the luggage.

The three passengers involved were taken into custody and the aircraft was finally allowed to depart after a delay of several hours.

The Airbus A330-300 was scheduled to depart from at 4 pm on Sunday afternoon, but its departure was delayed until 11:30 pm, arriving in Cairo at 3:40 am on Monday.

French authorities have not provided a detailed account of the incident.

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UNITED NATIONS/BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - North Koreas foreign minister said on Monday that President Donald Trump had declared war on North Korea and that Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down U.S. bombers even if they are not in its air space.

The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters in New York.

Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country, Ri said.

The question of who wont be around much longer will be answered then, Ri said in a direct reference to a Twitter post by Trump on Saturday.

The increasingly heated rhetoric between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is raising fears of a risk of a miscalculation by one side or the other that could have massive repercussions.

China called on Monday for all sides in the North Korea missile crisis to show restraint and not add oil to the flames.

Ri told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after Mr Evil President Trump called Kim a rocket man on a suicide mission.

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they wont be around much longer! Trump said on Twitter on Saturday.

North Korea, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programs in defiance of international condemnation and economic sanctions, said it bitterly condemned the reckless remarks of Trump. They were an intolerable insult to the Korean people and a declaration of war, the Norths official news agency said on Monday.

Pyongyang accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies. The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with North Korea because the 1950s conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

U.S. Treasury yields fell to session lows after Ris comments on Monday.

DERANGED

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim described Trump as a mentally deranged U.S. dotard whom he would tame with fire.

Kim said North Korea would consider the highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history against the United States and that Trumps comments had confirmed his nuclear program was the correct path.

Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address last Tuesday to totally destroy the country of 26 million people if North Korea threatened the United States or its allies.

Asked how concerned China was the war of words between Trump and North Korea could get out of control, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described the situation as highly complex and sensitive.

It was vitally important everyone strictly, fully and correctly implemented all North Korea related U.N. resolutions, Lu said, resolutions which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

All sides should not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present, Lu told a daily news briefing.

We hope all sides do not continue doing things to irritate each other and should instead exercise restraint.

Speaking to British Prime Minister Theresa May by telephone, Chinese President Xi Jinping repeated Beijings position that the North Korean issue should be resolved peacefully via talks, state media said.

China hopes Britain can play a constructive role in easing the situation and pushing for a resumption in talks, Xi said. May, like some other U.S. allies, has pushed for China to do more on North Korea.

Downing Street said the two leaders agreed there was a particular responsibility for China and Britain, as permanent Security Council members, to help find a diplomatic solution.

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear bomb test on Sept. 3. Pyongyang said on Friday it might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

While China has been angered by North Koreas repeated nuclear and missile tests, it has also called for the United States and its allies to help lessen tension by dialing back their military drills.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on Saturday in a show of force the Pentagon said indicated the range of military options available to Trump.

In response to a question about the exercises, Chinese spokesman Lu said: A continued rise in tensions on the peninsula, I believe, is not in the interests of any side.

Wang Jingdong, president of the worlds largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), told reporters during a briefing the bank will strictly implement U.N. Security Council decisions related to North Korea and carefully fulfill relevant international responsibility.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said his decision to call a snap election would not distract his government from responding to North Korean threats.
Sept 25 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Monday.

DEBT TENDER

Debt managers plan to sell 500 million lei ($130.04 million) worth of March 2022 treasury bonds at tender. BUDGET DATA

The finance ministry is expected to release eight-month consolidated budget balance data.

Prime Minister Mihai Tudose said earlier this month, preliminary data had shown a deficit of 0.8 percent of gross domestic product at the end of August.

DEPUTY PM

Anti-corruption prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation against Deputy Prime Minister Sevil Shhaideh for suspected abuse of office in a land transfer case, they said on Friday. The ruling Social Democrat party will hold a meeting of party seniors on Monday to discuss the situation.

HIDROELECTRICA

Romania plans to float 10 percent of hydro power producer Hidroelectrica, down from a previously planned 15 percent, the energy ministry said. ROMANIAN WHEAT

Egyptian prosecutors on Sunday said they had approved a decision to sieve a Romanian wheat shipment which had been rejected by the agriculture quarantine authority for containing poppy seeds. CEE MARKETS

Hungarian government bonds extended their rally on Friday due to expectations the central bank will continue to support the market despite a gradual worldwide monetary tightening. For the long-term Romanian diary, click on For emerging markets economic events, click on For an index of all diaries, click on For other related news, double click on: --------------------------------------------------------------- Romanian equities RO-E E.Europe equities .CEE Romanian money RO-M Romanian debt RO-D Eastern Europe EEU All emerging markets EMRG Hot stocks HOT Stock markets STX Market debt news DBT Forex news FRX For real-time index quotes, double click on: Bucharest BETI Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX --------------------------------------------------------------- ($1 = 3.8450 lei)
BUCHAREST, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Romania sold a lower than planned 349 million lei ($90.22 million) worth of March 2022 treasury bonds on Monday, with the average accepted yield at 2.71 percent, central bank data showed. Debt managers last issued the paper in August at 2.65 percent average yield. So far this year, Romania has sold 37.3 billion lei and 340 million euros of domestic bills and bonds. It has tapped foreign markets for 1.75 billion euros of 2027 and 2035 Eurobonds. Series: RO1722DBN045 Issue date 27/09/2017 28/08/2017 Auction date 25/09/2017 24/08/2017 Maturity 08/03/2022 08/03/2022 Avg.yield (pct) 2.71 2.65 Avg. accepted price 102.8519 103.1509 Highest accepted yield 2.73 2.67 Tail (highest yield minus 0.02 0.02 average yield) Total bids 423.7 mln lei 597.4 mln lei Allotted 349.0 mln lei 500.0 mln lei Bid-to-cover ratio 1.2 1.2 ($1 = 3.8684 lei)

(Reporting by Radu Marinas)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
MOSCOW, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Russian shoe retailer Obuv Rossii plans to announce intention to float, two financial market sources told Reuters on Monday. The company is expected to make the announcement on Tuesday, according to the sources. The retailer eyes to raise over $100 million via the share offering, a financial market source told Reuters.

(Reporting by Olga Popova; Writing by Maria Tsvetkova; editing by Vladimir Soldatkin)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
ZURICH, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Here are some of the main factors that may affect Swiss stocks on Monday:

ROCHE Immunotherapy Tecentriq has won European Union approval for treating advanced lung and bladder cancer, the Swiss drugmaker said. For more news see SWATCH The watch group posted "very positive" sales growth in September, continuing an upward trend since midyear, Chief Executive Nick Hayek told the Schweiz am Wochenende newspaper. CLARIANT The speciality chemicals maker ruled out trying to change the ratio of shares it would control in a merged entity with Huntsman Corp , Schweiz am Wochende cited a spokesman as saying, noting the partners' binding merger agreement would not allow this.

The Sonntagszeitung newspaper said a special shareholders meeting needed to approve the planned merger would likely take place between November and January, citing company comments to analysts. AXPO Power group Axpo is placed to raise extra capital within 12 months, Chief Executive Andrew Walo tells the Finanz und Witschaft newspaper. "We are keeping our options open to address various interested parties ranging from the existing owners up to the broad public via a public listing," he is quoted as saying. WALTER MEIER The heating, ventilation and cooling group expects to make a profit this year and plans a steady dividend, Chief Executive Martin Kaufmann told the Finanz und Wirtschaft newspaper in an interview published on Saturday. COMPANY STATEMENTS ECONOMY Swiss voters rejected raising women's retirement age to 65 in a referendum on Sunday on shoring up the wealthy nation's pension system as a wave of Baby Boomers stops working. Weekly data on sight deposits at the Swiss National Bank due at 0800 GMT

Second-quarter balance of payments data due at 0700 GMT

(Reporting by Zurich newsroom)

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ISTANBUL, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Here are news, reports and events that may affect Turkish financial markets on Monday.

The lira stood at 3.5000 against the U.S. dollar at 0451 GMT, easing from 3.4945 at Friday's close.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year bond was at 10.89 percent in spot trade on Friday and rose to 11.00 percent in Monday-dated trade.

The main BIST 100 share index rose 0.12 percent to 104,122.85 points on Friday.

GLOBAL MARKETS

The euro slipped on Monday after German Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term but faced a fractured parliament as support for the far-right surged, while Asian shares pulled back, weighed by concerns about China's economy. The New Zealand dollar also took a hit as the Pacific country's ruling National Party won the largest number votes in a weekend election but failed to secure a ruling majority, with a protracted period of coalition building now a possibility. IRAQI KURDISH REFERENDUM

Iraq's Kurds will go ahead with a referendum on independence on Monday because their partnership with Baghdad has failed, Kurdistan Regional Government President Massoud Barzani said on Sunday, shrugging off international opposition to the vote. PRESIDENT ERDOGAN

President Tayyip Erdogan will speak at the Istanbul International Ombudsman Conference (0900 GMT).

CAPACITY UTILISATION The central bank will announce capacity utilisation data for September (1130 GMT).

MANUFACTURING CONFIDENCE The central bank will announce the September manufacturing confidence index (1130 GMT).

TURKCELL The leading mobile phone company will hold a news conference (0730 GMT).

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Turkish politics Turkish equities Turkish money Turkish debt Turkish hot stocks Forex news All emerging market news All Turkish news For real-time quotes, double click on:

Istanbul National-100 stock index , interbank lira trading , lira bond trading (Writing by Daren Butler)
(Adds information on stock offering, comments from congressman, context on auction this week)

By Luciano Costa

SAO PAULO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Brazil's second largest utility launched a last-ditch attempt on Monday to try to retain control of at least one of the four hydroelectric dams the federal government wants to privatize in an auction on Wednesday.

Cemig, or Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais , said it plans to sell as many as 200 million new shares to raise up to 1 billion reais ($316.57 million) to financially strengthen the company controlled by the state of Minas Gerais.

Later on Monday, congressman Fabio Ramalho, a representative from Minas Gerais state and a member of President Michel Temer'S PMDB party, said Cemig was in talks with the federal government to exclude Miranda dam from this week's auction.

Ramalho said Cemig would use proceeds from the share offering to pay a 1.1 billion-real signing bonus to retain Miranda, a 408-megawatt plant.

Cemig has been trying for months to avoid the auction of the expired operating licenses for the four dams it operates. The Temer administration, which has embarked on a privatization offensive to raise money and cut Brazil's budget deficit, announced it would offer new licenses for investors.

The Minas Gerais company would like to keep the dams, but it lacks cash as it tries to cut a large debt load.

In addition to the proposal to keep Miranda dam out of the auction, Ramalho said Cemig would take part in the auction and bid through its joint venture with mining company Vale SA , called Alianca Energia SA.

There was no immediate comment from Cemig on the congressman's remarks.

Vale said it was evaluating taking part in the auction using the Alianca joint venture, as an alternative to secure power supplies at reasonable cost.

Ramalho also said Cemig has secured a credit line with Citibank to obtain 1.9 billion reais more and pay a signing bonus to retain a second dam, the 424-megawatt Jaguara plant. ($1 = 3.1589 reais)

(Reporting by Luciano Costa; Additional reporting and writing by Marcelo Teixeira; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
* Govt raising 1.2 trillion yen from share sale -filing

* Price is 2 percent discount to Monday's close

* Price is 6 pct below 2015 IPO price

(Recasts, adds market comment)

By Taiga Uranaka

TOKYO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Japan Post Holdings Co priced a major government sale of its stock at a 2 percent discount to its Monday closing price, valuing the offering at $11 billion and making it the world's second-largest this year.

That compares with an indicative range of a 2-4 percent discount to firm's closing price that had been flagged by the sale's underwriters.

The value of the deal could later total some 1.3 trillion yen ($11.6 billion) if an overallotment of shares is fully taken up.

Although there had been worries earlier in the sale process that M&A missteps by Japan Post as well as lack of clear growth prospects would blunt appetite for the offering, the firm's relatively robust dividend yield lured domestic retail investors in particular.

"Our customers buy stocks to hold as long-term assets. Japan Post is a stock our conservative customers like," said Koji Taki, heads of sales at Imamura Securities Co.

He noted that the firm's dividend yield of about 3.7 percent compared favourably with the average Japanese bank deposit rate of 0.001 percent.

The sale was the first since the 2015 triple initial public offerings for the postal firm and its two units that are major financial firms in their own right - Japan Post Bank Co Ltd and Japan Post Insurance Co Ltd .

Japan Post said in a filing that the government is offering 929 million shares at 1,322 yen, some 6 percent below its IPO price of 1,400 yen. The size of the overallotment will be determined on Wednesday.

The offering is set to be the second-largest in the world so far this year, after Italian bank UniCredit's $13.7 billion share issue in February. ($1 = 112.2600 yen)

(Reporting by Taiga Uranaka; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
The open letter to the Egyptian president claims that the arrests violate the right to freedom of association, as enshrined in the Egyptian constitution

Two international trade union confederations sent an open letter on Sunday to Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Sherif Ismail calling for the release of several Egyptian union members detained in the past week.

The letter was signed by the general secretaries of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Public Services International (PSI), which represents 669 public services unions in 154 countries.

The letter was also sent to Egypt's Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services (CTUWS), which provided a copy to Ahram Online.

"We are deeply concerned about the unprecedented and unjustified escalation of retaliation against independent trade unionists over recent days, and we demand their immediate and unconditional release," the letter reads.

According to news reports, eight members of Egyptian independent trades unions were arrested last week following union training events and attempts to organize protest actions.

Two of those detained work for the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, while another four are employed at the Real Estate Taxes Authority (RETA), including the president of RETA's independent union. Finally, two workers with the Public Taxes Authority were also detained.

All those detained were apparently members of independent trades unions, the legality of which is still a matter of dispute in Egypt.

The taxation union members were arrested after several tax workers applied to the interior ministry for permission to hold a protest demanding pay rises. Egyptian law requires all protests to be authorized by the ministry before going ahead.

The members of the electricity union, meanwhile, were arrested after providing training to members of syndicates representing government administrative workers.

The detainees are facing a range of charges, including inciting strikes and demonstrations, misuse of social media and affiliation to a group banned by law.

"The blocking of a legitimate sit-in and strike action, as well as the arrest of trade unionists on security and anti-terrorism grounds, are a violation of the principle of freedom of association enshrined in the constitution and ILO convention 87," the letter said.

The Egyptian government introduced a law in 2013 that severely restricts protests and strikes, requiring prior notice from the interior ministry, which is rarely given. Thousands have been jailed for violating the law, including workers.

However, in December the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that Article 10 of the 25-article law was unconstitutional.

In April, the parliament approved an amendment to the protest law, according to which authorities have no right to prohibit protests once all documents have been submitted, except through a court order.

According to the annual report of the Egyptian Centre for Social and Economic Rights, issued in December, the governmental sector witnessed almost 478 industrial actions during 2016, while the public sector saw 133 actions and the private sector witnessed 107 actions.

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A 6-year-old girl has died from her injuries after she reportedly crashed into a van in the Banning Lewis Ranch neighborhood Thursday evening.

The incident happened at Cottonwood Tree Drive and Silver Birch Drive just before 6:30 p.m.

Police say the child, later identified as Charlee Cabapingan, was transported to a Denver hospital by a helicopter in an attempt to save her life.

The Major Accident Unit responded and resumed the investigation. Early into the investigation, they say it appears Cabapingan was quickly riding her bicycle when she hit a Ford van as the driver was taking a left.

Sgt. Richard DuVall with Colorado Springs police says he is, "Encouraging parents to stress safety in teaching their children safety rules when theyre out of bicycles, when riding around traffic, and for drivers to be very cautious when they are driving in areas with children."

Neither speed nor alcohol or drugs are considered factors in this case.

Police say no charges have been filed. This is the 29th traffic-related death in Colorado Springs this year. Last year at this time, there were 21.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 43F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low around 25F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. About one inch of snow expected.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, on Monday to discuss developments in bilateral relations between the two nations, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

El-Sisi arrived in the Emirati capital earlier on Monday as part of a two-day official visit, and was received by the crown prince and several senior UAE officials, Egyptian presidency spokesperson Alaa Youssef said.

Both El-Sisi and bin Zayed stressed the distinguished strategic relations between the two countries and agreed to continue coordination in combating the unprecedented challenges that threaten the stability and the security of Arab nations.

Egypt and the UAE maintain strong economic ties. In mid-August, the Emirati ambassador to Cairo announced that the UAE is among the biggest Arab investors in Egypt at $4.9 billion.

On Monday, bin Zayed expressed his country's full support for Egypt's fight against terrorism. El-Sisi and the crown prince discussed their efforts to combat extremism, as well as the importance of the efforts of other Arab nations and of the wider international community, especially in stopping the funding and favorable media coverage of terrorist groups.

The two leaders also discussed recent developments in the wider Middle East, including the need to confront attempts to destabilise Arab states and interfere in their domestic affairs.

They also discussed intensifying joint action by Arab nations in order to meet the interests of their citizens.

On 5 June, Egypt and the UAE, along with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, cut diplomatic and trade links with Qatar, suspending air and shipping routes to the Gulf state.

The four nations claim Doha supports Islamists, including the Muslim Brotherhood, which Cairo accuses of terrorism and attempting to destabilise Egypt.

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The court also fined the former executive editor of Ahram Arabic news website EGP 10,000 in the same case; both rulings can be appealed

A Cairo criminal court has upheld a one year jail sentence for Al-Ahram Arabic news website journalist Ahmed Amer on charges of "spreading false news" against former Justice Minister Ahmed El-Zend.



Monday's verdict comes roughly a year after the court sentenced Amer in absentia in July 2016.

El-Zend's lawyer refused reconciliation with Amer during today's court session.

The court also ruled that the former executive editor of the Ahram Arabic website, Hisham Younis, will be fined EGP 10,000.

The verdicts can stll be appealed.

The charges against both the journalist and the former editor in chief stem from a 2015 complaint filed by El-Zend following an investigative report published by Ahram Arabic website on his financial decisions during his past tenure as head of the Judge's Club.

The report claimed that El-Zend approved the selling of club-owned at below market prices to a relative of his wife.



According to the court's reasoning on Monday, there was no kinship between the land-buyer and El-Zend and his wife, adding that the issue revolved around a name similarity.



El-Zend served as head of the Judges Club from 2009 until 2015, an unofficial but powerful institution, of which 90 percent of judges are members.



In May 2015, El-Zend was appointed justice minister. He was sacked after spending less than a year in office for making public statements that were interpreted as insulting to the Prophet Muhammad.

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By Yoon Ja-young





Kim Young-joo

Labor Minister

The Ministry of Labor has scrapped controversial guidelines adopted during the previous administration, which allowed companies to fire workers more easily.

"The two guidelines lacked sufficient consultation with labor and management, and there was no social consensus, either," Labor Minister Kim Young-joo said at a meeting with the heads of employment and labor centers around the country, Monday.

The controversial guidelines adopted during the former Park Geun-hye administration allowed businesses to easily lay off underperforming workers and change employment rules.

According to the country's Labor Standards Act, businesses can fire workers in either of two cases  commiting serious crimes such as corruption and embezzlement; and for managerial reasons such as serious financial difficulties.

The guidelines, however, allowed firing of underperforming workers if they don't get better after training and relocation. While it allowed employers to cut labor costs, unions raised concerns over job security.

The guidelines also allowed companies to change or introduce employment rules if the change was "socially acceptable," without the consent of unions or a majority of the workers.

The unilateral adoption of the two guidelines in January 2016 prompted the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), the nation's largest and relatively mild umbrella union, to quit the Tripartite Commission of labor, management and government. It thus lost its function as a conversation tool between labor and management, since the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which is more aggressive, had already quit the committee back in 1999.

The FKTU demanded that the two guidelines be abolished before it returned to the committee. The abolition was somewhat expected since it was an election pledge of President Moon Jae-in. Minister Kim also said at a confirmation hearing that the guidelines would be abolished.

She pointed out that they caused conflict since they were adopted without social consensus. The guidelines led to conflict and lawsuits between labor and management in their application. For instance, one third of government-owned enterprises adopted a merit-based salary system without the consent of unions, but many of them are currently going through legal disputes.

"I hope the abolition of the guidelines will open the door for the resumption of conversation," Kim said, hoping the unions will return to the tripartite committee.

The two umbrella unions welcomed the abolition.

"The scrapping of the guidelines was essential to regain trust between labor and the government, as well as for society which respects labor," a spokesman for the FKTU said. However, he said that the government should make efforts to guarantee labor rights first.

The KCTU also welcomed it. "We expect it to be the first step to undo wrongdoings (by the previous administration) in the labor sector," its spokesman said.

"The guidelines were illegal in themselves, but they were more aimed at incapacitating unions and destroying workers' rights."

At the meeting with the media held the same day, the labor minister stressed that the abolition of the guidelines doesn't mean the labor market will become more inflexible.

"If you look at statistics, irregular jobs make up more than half of the employment in Korea. There are dispatched workers, for instance, but the administration regards it as a necessary form of employment in some industries. Not all industries can adopt regular workers," she said, adding that there should be further discussions regarding flexibility.
Kim Oe-sook, left, minister of Korea's Government Legislation, shakes hands with Sandag Byambatsogt, minister of Justice and Home Affairs of Mongolia, after signing an agreement on a work plan for strengthening legislative exchanges and cooperation in Mongolia on Sept. 14. / Courtesy of the Ministry of Government Legislation



Ministry strengthens cooperation with Mongolia

By Kim Jae-kyoung

South Korea has stepped up its efforts to globalize its legal system by strengthening its cooperation with Mongolia.

From Sept. 13 to 15, Kim Oe-sook, minister of Government Legislation, visited the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs of Mongolia and the School of Law of the National University of Mongolia to discuss strengthening legislative exchanges and cooperation.

"The visit to Mongolia was very meaningful as we identified the country's huge interest in our legal system that enabled rapid economic growth in Korea in a short period of time," Kim said in a recent interview.

"If Mongolia adopts our legal system according to its interests and will, a legal system similar to ours could take root in the country," she added. "I believe that our people who want to advance into the Mongolian market would enjoy an environment more favorable to them."

During her visit, Kim met with Sandag Byambatsogt, minister of Justice and Home Affairs of Mongolia, and signed a work plan as a follow-up measure to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in 2014.

The agreement came as Mongolia has shown interest in the success of Korea's "national legal information system" and asked the Korean government to share its experience of developing the system.

Based on the work plan, the two nations will conduct joint research and establish a seminar on the modification of laws from 2018 to 2020.

According to the ministry, Byambatsogt expressed his strong willingness to cooperate through the work plan with Korea, saying that he would make utmost efforts to revise existing laws to promote economic activity in the country after considering our advanced legislation.












By Kim Jae-kyoung





Kim Oe-sook

Minister of Government Legislation Kim Oe-sook has vowed to amend the nation's legislation to root out discrimination in society.

In a recent interview, Kim said she would make establishing a fair society her top priority.

"I have always paid close attention to discrimination problems and our government is endeavoring to realize a fair society," Kim said.

"Against this backdrop, our ministry is stepping up efforts to modify statutes with respect to elements of discrimination," she added.

What the minister is focusing on is to stop discrimination against job seekers, particularly those who earned bachelor's degrees through the "Self-education System" or "Academic Credit Bank System."

"We're making efforts to identify the discriminatory provisions and modify them," she said.

The ministry has changed provisions regarding 28 job qualifications stipulated in 21 acts and is scheduled to complete the modifications of other provisions within the year.

In addition, Kim plans to eradicate excessive discrimination against those failing in business.












The lawyer and former presidential candidate was found guilty of making an indecent gesture outside the State Council headquarters in January

A Giza misdemeanor court on Monday sentenced prominent human rights lawyer and 2012 presidential candidate Khaled Ali to three months in prison for offending public decency, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.

Ali has announced his intention to appeal the first-degree court ruling and has been granted bail of EGP 1,000 pending the outcome.

The lawyer was charged with offending public decency after allegedly making the middle-finger gesture outside the State Council headquarters in January.

The reported incident occured as a crowd gathered to celebrate a successful court ruling won by Ali against the April 2016 Egypt-Saudi border demarcation agreement that placed the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir with Saudia Arabian territory.

The case against Ali was filed by lawyer Samir Sabry.

Shortly after Monday's ruling, Ali took to Facebook to criticize the conduct of the trial, accusing the court of ignoring the defence team's requests and issuing the verdict without hearings.

"We will appeal the verdict, but not out of fear of prison. We are not better than those youths who paid the price with their own lives inside prison for defending the Egyptian identity of Tiran and Sanafir," said the lawyer.

Ali spearheaded a legal challenge to the Egypt-Saudi maritime border demarcation agreement, claiming that the two Red Sea islands were Egyptian territory and could not be transferred to Saudi Arabia by way of such an agreement.

The well-known human rights lawyer ran for president in Egypt's 2012 presidential elections.

Should he lose his appeal against Monday's verdict, he will be unable to run in the 2018 presidential elections, according to Egypt's Presidential Elections Law.

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Students of Konkuk University's Department of Apparel Design, who started the street fashion brand ZAMU, pose in their workshop in Seoul. Clockwise from top left are Kim Seung-gyeom, Jeong Won-seok, Park Se-whan, Han Tae-kyun and Park So-yeon. / Courtesy of Konkuk University



By Park Jae-hyuk

Five students at Konkuk University's Department of Apparel Design have begun selling special hooded T-shirts decorated with the Taegeukgi, the Korean national flag, in order to support marginalized descendants of independence activists during Japanese colonial rule (1910-45).

Starting from last week, the students, who launched the street fashion brand ZAMU two years ago, have raised funds online, so that they can donate the money to student descendants who struggle to pay high school tuition.

"We have struggled to find a way to draw public attention to the descendants who suffer from poverty," said Han Tae-kyun, 30, the representative of ZAMU. "The media have highlighted their financial difficulties every year, but they have not been able to get continuous support."

He wanted this project to inspire more people to remember the independence fighters and help their descendants.

Empathizing with the five students' idea, other students at the university served as fitting models. Manufacturers also promised to make the clothes, regardless of the volume of orders. Typically, they don't do so if the order doesn't reach a specific number.

As of Monday, the students have raised 11 million won ($9,700), seven times more than their initial goal.

They will donate the money to the Young Korean Academy (YKA), which was established by renowned independence activist Ahn Chang-ho. The academy will use the money for high school tuition the student descendants of the independence fighters.

According to Han, ZAMU means patting gently with love. The students explained the name represents their will to remember and console the descendants going through financial hardship.

Aiming to be a social enterprise that donates half of its profit to society, ZAMU has collaborated with YKA, undertaking various projects to support the descendants of independence fighters.

Its products are available at online selected shop MUSINSA and LF's Around the Corner's Garosugil store in Seoul. Based on Korean tradition, ZAMU seeks to make clothes with realistic designs fit for actual street sensitivity, rather than adopting exaggerated artwork or traditional Korean curves and silhouettes in their clothing.
China on Saturday imposed a limit on the supplies of petroleum products to North Korea and imports of textiles from the country under U.N. sanctions over its nuclear and missile development.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry said it would ban exports of condensate and liquefied natural gas to North Korea and limit textile imports from the North, starting 12 a.m. Saturday.

The ministry, however, made it clear that crude oil is not subject to the ban.

"We will not carry out export procedures of related products from 12 a.m. on the day of announcement and these products will be uniformly put on the list of prohibited export items in the future," it said.

China also decided to limit exports of refined petroleum products to North Korea from Oct. 1 in line with the export ceiling imposed under the U.N. Security Council Resolution No. 2375.
By Ko Dong-hwan





Tower Palace in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

With North Korea's military provocations increasing the possibility of war on the Korean Peninsula, a luxurious residential-commercial complex in Seoul recently held an emergency session for residents on what to do if war actually breaks out.

The managing office of Tower Palace in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, held the session on Sep. 18, where participants were given practical tips on what to do when the complex, one of Seoul's wealthiest communities, issues various warning alarms.

Residents learned what to do when they hear an air raid alarm, a poisonous gas alarm or a war warning wherever they are in the city.

The residents also learned what to pack for emergencies, including a large backpack, gas mask, sustenance for two weeks, two two-liter bottles of water, a family photo with durable coating, a passport and a little cash.

Residents of the complex, comprising seven buildings and almost 2,600 suites, had asked management to provide the information session.
By Kim Rahn



President Moon Jae-in gave consent to the United States flying B-1B Lancer bombers off the North Korean coast, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.



The explanation came amid speculation Seoul was unaware of the operation and had been excluded from Washington's show of force against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats, although such action could raise military tension that would affect South Korea.



A Cheong Wa Dae official said Seoul and Washington had agreed on the show of force involving the B-1B bombers during Moon's stay in New York for the U.N. General Assembly last week.



Moon returned from New York late Friday night, and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) flew the bombers north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. This was the farthest north of the DMZ any U.S. fighter or bomber has flown off the North's coast in the 21st century, according to the Pentagon.



"The B-1B flight was conducted after prior agreement and cooperation between South Korea and the U.S.," the official said on condition of anonymity. "Moon received a briefing about the plan during his stay in New York."



He said the two countries had a full discussion in advance and the show of force was carried out under close cooperation, stressing "cooperation means South Korea consented to it."



Moon presided over a National Security Council (NSC) meeting Sunday evening, an unusual move considering NSC meetings are usually held following North Korea's nuclear or missile provocations. This sparked speculation Washington unilaterally notified Seoul of the operation without prior consultation, and Moon held the meeting hastily to discuss follow-up measures.



But the Cheong Wa Dae official said the meeting had been prearranged. "The meeting was not held suddenly but had been scheduled since last week," he said. "So far Cheong Wa Dae has held NSC meetings after North Korea's provocations for follow-up measures, but Moon called for the need to hold meetings to check the political and security situation in Northeast Asia and prepare measures in advance. So Sunday's meeting was held in that sense."



Rising tension



Even though Seoul was aware of and consented to the USAF show of force against the North, such activities are feared to aggravate military tension on the peninsula, coupled with the bellicose rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un toward each other.



Some government sources said the radars of the North's SA-5 surface-to-air missiles in Wonsan, Kangwon Province, were operating when the B-1B bombers were flying off the coast.



But it seemed the bombers were out of the SA-5's range, they said.



Although Pyongyang did not fire the missiles at the bombers or take other military action, concern is rising that frequent shows of force could cause unexpected and unintentional clashes.



The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) urged the Moon government to take more active security measures, saying military tension reached a flashpoint with the bombers' flight.



"The U.S. unilaterally carried out a military operation by flying B-1B Lancer bombers and F-15C Eagle fighters north of the DMZ, the first of its kind since the 1950-53 Korean War," LKP floor leader Chung Woo-taik said.



"The government should give a detailed account to the National Assembly and the people of why such a military operation, which led the country to the brink of war, took place and exactly what agreement was made between South Korea and the U.S."




North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho speaks to journalists as he leaves his hotel in New York on Sep. 25. The U.S. President Donald Trump has "declared a war" on North Korea, the country's foreign minister said Monday while conveying a threat to shoot down US bombers. "Trump claimed our leadership would not be around much longer," North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho told reporters outside his hotel in New York. "He declared a war on our country." / AFP-Yonhap

North Korea's foreign minister said Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump has declared war against his country and Pyongyang will defend itself by shooting down American bombers if necessary.

In a Saturday tweet, Trump warned that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his regime "won't be around much longer."



"It is clearly a declaration of war because those were words by an incumbent American president," Ri Yong-ho told reporters in front of his New York hotel.

The minister, who was in the city to attend the U.N. General Assembly last week, cited Saturday's overfly of U.S. B-1B bombers in international airspace off North Korea's eastern coast.

"As long as the U.S. has declared war, from now on, even if U.S. strategic bombers don't fly into our airspace, we will hold all the rights to self-defense, including the right to shoot them down at a time of our discretion. We will see then who lasts longer," he said.

Last week saw an escalation in tensions between Washington and Pyongyang after Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea in the event of an attack on the U.S or its allies.

Kim retorted that he would consider the "highest-level" countermeasures, which Ri then said could involve the most powerful detonation of a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

On Saturday, the minister told the U.N. General Assembly that a strike on the U.S. mainland was "inevitable" as Trump called Kim "Little Rocket Man."













"For the past few days, the U.N. and the international community earnestly wished that the North Korea-U.S. war of words would not lead to action," Ri said. "But last weekend, Trump ultimately declared war by saying again that our leadership will not last long."



The U.N. charter recognizes all member states' right to self-defense, he said.

Getting into his car, he told reporters that "all options" will be placed on the North Korean leadership's military operations table in the wake of Trump's "declaration of war."



The White House dismissed the charge.

"We've not declared war on North Korea. Frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd," White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a press briefing.

The Pentagon responded in kind to Ri's remarks.

"If North Korea does not stop their provocative actions, we will make sure that we provide options to the president to deal with North Korea," Pentagon spokesman Col. Robert Manning told reporters.

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test early this month. In recent weeks, it also launched a series of ballistic missiles, including two over Japan and two of intercontinental range.

Washington has repeatedly said all options, including a military strike, are on the table to deal with Pyongyang's threats.

Analysts say it is only a matter of time before the regime attains its goal of having a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
By Lee Kyung-min



Healthcare business exports increased 13.4 percent in the first half of this year, generating 6.1 trillion won ($5.4 billion) in profit, government data showed Monday. The number of jobs created in the sector increased 3 percent, to 819,000, up 24,000 from a year earlier.



According to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the total exports comprising medicine, medical equipment and cosmetics doubled from 5.6 trillion won in 2012 to 11.5 billion won last year.



The sector generated 1.1 trillion won in annual surplus last year. Nearly a 500 billion won surplus has been recorded in the first half of this year.



Cosmetics sales saw the largest jump to 2.6 trillion won, up 19.8 percent from a year earlier.



Skincare products accounted for more than half, or 52.7 percent, followed by cleansing products and makeup products.



The Chinese were the biggest buyers of Korean cosmetics, followed by customers living in Hong Kong, America, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, and France.



Exports of cosmetics products surged more than two-fold over the past four years, due partly to the steady popularity of the Korean wave, or hallyu.



The ministry said it is significant that the Chinese remain the biggest buyers of Korean cosmetics given the ongoing diplomatic row over the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), the anti-missile system, to Korea.



Other than cosmetics, exports of medical equipment increased 11.7 percent to 1.9 trillion won, and that of medicine increased 19.8 percent to 1.7 trillion won.



Korean pharmaceutical products are gaining popularity in Europe, the ministry said.



In 2013, Celltrion, a bio-pharmaceutical firm, won approval from the European Medicines Agency to sell its biosimilar, Remsima. Sales of Korean pharmaceutical products to Europe have grown since.



Medical service promotion meetings in recent years have contributed to the expansion of Korean healthcare companies into foreign markets.



The health ministry said exports of healthcare businesses is expected to grow further following approvals of South Korean pharmaceutical products in the U.S. and other countries.



Separate data from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) showed Korea's exports of medical and healthcare equipment to so-called "BRICS," an acronym for the five emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have grown 20 percent since 2008.



Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said, "The government will continue to support the sector, which the ministry earlier designated as a core, innovative growth engine of the country."




Chief Justice Kim Meong-su, right, poses with President Moon Jae-in during his appointment ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap



By Jung Min-ho

The "blacklist of judges" may be investigated under the new chief justice, who has vowed to regain public trust through judicial reform.

Kim Meong-su, who started his six-year term Monday as head of the Supreme Court, said suspicions surrounding the list have not been cleared up yet and he will review whether it is necessary to reinvestigate the blacklist issue.

"It is an urgent issue that has to be resolved immediately," Kim told reporters as he entered the court. "I will thoroughly review it and make a decision."

His predecessor Yang Sung-tae was accused of creating the blacklist, which allegedly contains personal information including political biases, as a means of strengthening his grip on power.

After the issue came to the fore, Yang ordered for a fact-finding committee, which later concluded such a list does not exist. But few judges were convinced by the findings.

Earlier that day, Kim participated in his appointment ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae, in which President Moon Jae-in urged him to spearhead judicial reform and restore justice.

"The judicial branch is responsible for its own reform," President Moon said. "I believe many people, including court officials, have great expectations for you ... and so do I after listening to what you promised at the Assembly confirmation hearing."

Kim said the Supreme Court under his leadership will be "different and more independent." He noted he will exercise his constitutional rights even if that means clashing with the President.

"I will try my best to regain the people's trust and support," he said.

His accession to power also ushers in a major change in the ideological balance of the court to the left.

Kim, whom many call the "most liberal chief justice ever," is widely expected to bring changes to the court with his views seen being mostly in line with the liberal governing party.

For many conservative groups, this is a big concern. They are worried "change" means "a move to the left" on key social issues such as conscientious objectors, same-sex marriage and abortion.

The pace of change may accelerate even more next year when six out of the 13 justices will be replaced.

Kim will give a speech and be sworn in as the new chief justice today at the main building of the Supreme Court.
Former President Lee Myung-bak enters his office in Samseong-dong, Seoul, Monday, amid a widening prosecution investigation of former National Intelligence Service officers over allegations that they carried out a string of illegal activities to suppress liberals during his administration. / Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

The prosecution raided the homes of two former spy agency officials Monday in a widening investigation into a "blacklist," allegedly created under the former conservative Lee Myung-bak administration to suppress liberal or anti-government figures.

Investigators at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office raided the homes of the former National Intelligence Service (NIS) officials surnamed Choo and Shin in Seoul to secure documents, cell phones and electronically stored data.

The prosecution believes the two were involved in creating and managing the list based on which dissident figures were subject to numerous unjust measures including being moved to different departments or relocated to offices in rural regions.

The two did so while working for an NIS unit that was originally set up under the former Roh Moo-hyun administration to "secure the national interest and strategy," and strengthen the country's capacity to become an international hub in East Asia.

However, under the leadership of former NIS Won Sei-hoon, one of President Lee's closest loyalists, its main task was changed to monitoring domestic politics.

The prosecution said the two were also involved in outlining measures to initiate and increase political attacks against Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, a known liberal.

The raid came five days after Park filed a complaint with the prosecution against Lee and ten others on charges of defamation, obstruction of justice and abuse of authority, on behalf of himself and the city,.

Park filed the complaint after an NIS in-house reform task force concluded that the spy agency under Lee's direction wrote a document to "suppress Park Won-soon," based on which NIS officials led systematic efforts to criticize Park online and by organizing rallies against him.
By Jung Min-ho





Annabelle Godeau

A French woman won the grand prize for her cartoon in the "Comfort Women Art Contest," according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) Monday.

The city government, which organized the event, said Annabelle Godeau, 27, won the honor after depicting the history of the victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery.

Her artwork received good reviews for its expressiveness, which depicts the victims' voices vividly.

After developing an interest in Korean pop culture, Godeau later started to pay attention to its history as well. Since 2012, she has visited the country three times as a traveler and as an intern for an application development company here.

During her stay, Godeau came to know the stories of many women, who were forcibly taken to frontline military brothels to serve Japanese soldiers before and during World War II.

And she never forgot them.

Inspired by their stories, she created artworks as she continued her art education in France.

In contrast to the Holocaust, "comfort women," a euphemism for sex slave victims, are barely known in France, she noted.

According to SMG, Godeau noted she wanted to help the victims by promoting the issue to more people across the world.

Civic groups from eight countries, including Korea and China, have requested UNESCO to list records of comfort women on its Memory of the World Register.

UNESCO is expected to make its decision next month.
From left are Shin In-ryung, head of the presidential committee on educational reform, Chang Byung-gyu, head of the presidential committee on Fourth Industrial Revolution, and Kim Sang-hee, vice head of the presidential committee on low birthrate and aging society. / Yonhap



By Kim Rahn

President Moon Jae-in appointed a businessman as the head of a newly established presidential committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.

Chang Byung-gyu, chairman of the board of directors at Bluehole, a mobile and online game developer, will lead the committee that will study the economic and social impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and assist the government to draw up related national development plans.

Chang, 44, obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). He previously worked at another game company, Neowiz, and was the head of BonAngels Venture Partners, an investment firm.

Rep. Kim Sang-hee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea was also named as vice head of another committee to cope with the country's low birthrate and aging society. President Moon will lead the organization.

The pharmacy graduate from Ewha Womans University was the head of Womenlink, a women's rights group, and is a three-term lawmaker.

For a committee on educational reform, Shin In-ryung, an emeritus professor in law at Ewha, was tapped as the head.

She earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in law at her alma mater, and served as president of the school. She also worked as the head of the Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation.
The head of Egypt's National Council of Women's Rights, Maya Morsi, asked parliamentarians on Monday to draft a new law raising the legal age of marriage from 18 to 21, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

Morsi also asked Egypt's MPs to block any attempts to reduce the legal age of marriage to 16, and to draft another law criminalizing child marriage for girls.

Morsi made her statements during a society dialogue session with the Social Solidarity Committee of Egypt's parliament.

According to the Minister of Social Solidarity, Ghada Wali, 16 percent of Egyptian girls marry before the age of 18. She described the figure earlier this month as a high number.

Child marriages are common in poor neighbourhoods around Egypt, with some families forcing their teenage daughters to marry older suitors from wealthier countries, mainly in the Arabian Gulf, according to the US State Departments 2015 Trafficking in Persons report.

In 2015, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi withdrew an objection made previously by Egypt in 1990 to a provision of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child regarding the child marriage issue.

The article, issued in 1990, reads that minors may not be married or engaged and that African states must enact effectual procedures to ban marriage before the age of 18.

Since 2008 it has been illegal to register a marriage in Egypt in which either party is under the age of 18.

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Allegation by former Lee Myung-bak aide infuriates liberals



By Jun Ji-hye

The family of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun filed a libel suit, Monday, against Rep. Chung Jin-suk of the largest conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) over his claims last week that Roh committed suicide after quarreling with his wife.

The allegation by Chung, a former aide to ex-President Lee Myung-bak, prompted uproar among liberal politicians.

Roh Geon-ho, son of the late President Roh Moo-hyun, appears at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Monday, to submit a complaint against Rep. Chung Jin-suk of the largest conservative Liberty Korea Party for libeling his father. Chung wrote on Facebook last week that Roh and his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, had a quarrel just before Roh committed suicide in 2009, and Kwon ran away from home. / Yonhap

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) claimed Chung is raising a groundless allegation in order to defend Lee from an ongoing investigation into state-perpetrated irregularities committed under the Lee administration (2008-2013). Chung was Lee's chief secretary for political affairs from 2010 to 2011.

Chung wrote on Facebook on Sept. 20 that Roh committed suicide in 2009 due to a quarrel he had with his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, after Kwon and their son were questioned by prosecutors over allegations that they received bribes worth millions of dollars from former businessman, Park Yeon-Cha. Chung also said Kwon ran away from home after the quarrel.

Regarding Roh's death, liberals have claimed the conservative president unfairly targeted his liberal predecessor in an act of political retaliation, while conservatives said the bribe allegations involving Roh's family still need to be unearthed.

"Chung's blunt remarks are hurting the people," DPK Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae said at a party meeting, Monday. "But the people will see through his intentions and will not fall prey to his stratagem."

Rep. Park Nam-choon called on the party to take legal action promptly against Chung, saying his remarks cannot be forgotten even after he expressed regret.

"Conservatives have politically used the late Roh whenever wrongdoings of the conservative governments were disclosed," Park said. "Such impure attitudes are not acceptable. They should take legal responsibility."

Chung made the controversial remarks while state prosecutors are investigating allegations that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) attempted to exercise influence on public broadcasting under the Lee administration through detailed plans including personnel intervention.

The NIS's in-house reform committee, set up under the Moon Jae-in administration, handed over relevant documents to the prosecution on Sept. 14 and requested the investigation. Moon was Roh's chief of staff.

Expectations have been growing that Lee could be the subject of such a probe.

Separately, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon filed a complaint with the prosecution against Lee, Sept. 19, accusing him of defamation and abuse of power. Park claimed the NIS systematically conducted illegal surveillance on him and spread groundless rumors about him and his family during the Lee administration.

As the controversy grew, Chung wrote on Facebook again on Sept. 23, expressing regret over the criticism regarding his earlier post.

"I did not intend to hurt the late Roh or his family," he said, claiming the Moon administration is unfairly targeting the Lee government in another act of political retaliation "to resolve Roh's deep sorrow."

The DPK members said Chung's explanation only served to deepen the controversy, saying he de facto admitted that Lee retaliated by orchestrating the 2009 investigation by the prosecution against Roh.

Citing that the LKP is currently calling on the prosecution to investigate the bribe allegations involving Roh's family again, the DPK members also said Chung and the LKP are trying to water down the controversy over the alleged unlawfulness of the NIS under the Lee administration.
By Walt Gardner





The boycott by students at teachers colleges across the country demanding guaranteed employment upon completion of their studies is evidence of their naivety. No such assurance can be given in any other profession.

If the demonstrators had done their homework, they would know that teaching is highly sensitive to the law of supply and demand because of the unique nature of the work. Hiring is directly tied to the number of students who are officially enrolled. With signs of a decreasing student population caused by the low birthrate in Korea widely reported by the media, it's hard to understand how demonstrating students could be unaware.

Protesting students also must certainly have known beforehand that it is impossible for any governmental body to predict with total accuracy the number of students who will attend classes. That's because nothing prevents parents from moving from one city to another, or enrolling their children in private schools.

Unlike private and religious schools that have far more control over their enrollment, public schools are required by law to enroll virtually all students who show up at their door at any time. Since that is the case, protesting students would be better advised to apply for teaching positions there.

It's also public knowledge that more than 3,500 qualified teachers who have already passed the certification exam have been unable to find a teaching position. These students have priority in hiring. As a result, protestors will likely find little popular support.

In an ideal world, of course, there would be an exact match between the number of certified teachers and the number of teaching openings. A better case can be made for those boycotting teachers who expect to receive their licenses in science, technology, engineering and math. Teachers in these subject fields are in high demand by schools because of competition from corporations that pay far better salaries.

The situation in the U.S. serves as a useful case study. Although all states and Washington D.C. have reported shortages since 2015, the truth is that the shortage is "specific to subjects or locales," according to a report released by the National Council on Teacher Quality on Aug. 30. It is the result of "local conditions, issues, and choices."

Nevertheless, several states are lowering the bar for permanent licensing or issuing provisional licenses. Whether the strategy will succeed in recruiting more college graduates is problematic. There are too many other factors besides the licensing hurdles that discourage the best and the brightest from opting for a teaching career.

Yet despite the uneven hiring picture in the U.S. and the uncertainties that go along with it, students there do not assume they are guaranteed a teaching job once they are licensed. And they do not blame their training institutions for not limiting the number of candidates in order to increase their own chances of finding a teaching position. It's here that they differ most dramatically with their colleagues in Korea.

Walt Gardner (walt.gard376@gmail.com) writes the Reality Check blog for Education Week in the U.S. Write to.
The Incheon District Court sentenced a 17-year-old murder suspect to 20 years in jail, Friday. The court found the minor guilty of strangling an 8-year-old girl to death, dismembering the body and abandoning it in the western port city in March. Her 18-year-old accomplice was given life imprisonment.



Many have been shocked by the brutal homicide committed by the neighbor of the victim. It is deplorable that our society has reached a point where not even neighbors can be trusted.



Over the past few months, a series of felonies by teenagers have been taking place one after another. In many of these cases, no clear motive has been found behind the cruel behavior of the offenders, such as the brutal attack on a 14-year-old girl by "school friends" in Busan.



There are two reasons for the increase in juvenile offenses. First, there is too much exposure to violence in cyberspace.

Today's teenagers, even those in elementary schools, are exposed, almost without limitation, to atrocious violence and obscenity on the internet. They can access harmful content  notably games  at any time and place through their ever-evolving smartphones.



The addiction to digital devices only eliminates the chances of communication between parents and their children. The two convicted teenagers were found to be adversely affected by a TV miniseries and internet games featuring violent content.



Second, the problem is with the schools and teachers. Schools have been neglecting education on ethics and character development due to their excessive focus on preparing students for the college entrance exams. The education authorities and schools must get more involved, increase communication with students and identify their problems in advance.



Eventually, society as a whole should pay more attention to the brutal crimes and misdeeds of our young people. We need to find more effective ways to respond to the escalating violence of teenagers. For the future of our children, it is better late than never.




More than 40,000 cases of animal roadkill reported over past 3 years
Beijing might have to start talking to Washington and Seoul about contingency plans for conflict on the Korean peninsula, a Chinese analyst says.



By Liu Zhen





Beijing needs to come up with backup plans  either on its own or with Washington and Seoul  in case the crisis on the Korean peninsula escalates into conflict, a leading Chinese analyst has warned.

But other observers said it was still too early to discuss a post-war Pyongyang with other countries, insisting there is no sign of the North Korean regime falling.

In an article published in Australia-based online magazine East Asia Forum earlier this month, Peking University international relations professor Jia Qingguo called on China to work with the United States and South Korea on contingency plans.

Analysts said it was rare for such a subject to be raised so publicly by a Chinese academic.

In his article, Jia said four major areas needed to be addressed: North Korea's nuclear arsenal, an influx of refugees, restoration of social order, and post-crisis political arrangements on the peninsula.

"So far Beijing has resisted the idea for fear of upsetting and alienating Pyongyang. But, given recent developments, Beijing may have no better choice than to start talking with Washington and Seoul," Jia wrote. "When war becomes a real possibility, China must be prepared."

He said that if the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un fell, most likely as a result of a US military strike, either China or the United States should be ready to manage North Korea's nuclear facilities to prevent the spread of the weapons.

A safety zone should be set up in northeast China to shelter North Korean refugees, and Beijing should talk to Washington about whether to accept a unified Korea.

Sun Xingjie, a North Korea specialist at Jilin University, agreed that preparation was necessary.

"Being well prepared on the border to deal with a possible nuclear or refugee crisis is a good idea," Sun said.

But he also said the prospect of war was low given that North Korea already had nuclear weapons and there had never been a direct conflict between nuclear-armed nations.

China has taken various steps in recent months to signal its impatience with its neighbour, the latest being an immediate ban on imports of North Korean textiles and a tighter cap on oil supplies from next year.

Nevertheless, China would not be willing to talk to the US about a contingency plan unless the ultimate sanction  a full oil embargo  was imposed, according to Cheng Xiaohe, an international relations researcher at Renmin University.

Cheng said that turning off the oil taps completely would probably trigger an economic or humanitarian crisis or a pre-emptive strike by Pyongyang.

No matter who made the first strike, China must safeguard its own interests, he said. To that end, authorities in the military, civil defence and border control would no doubt have strategies in place.

"[China]must take quick action to minimise damage to China's own interests and earn a biggest say in the post-crisis arrangement," he said.

There are signs that some preparations are under way, with Xinhua reporting that Central Military Commission vice-chairman General Xu Qiliang inspected troops from the Northern Theatre Command, which covers China's border with North Korea.

Cheng said that in a post-crisis Korean peninsula, China's basis interests were to rid the region of nuclear weapons and to ensure US forces remained south of the 38th parallel. Other key considerations would be a border agreement, repayment of Pyongyang's debts to China and protection of Chinese commercial holdings in North Korea.

"The Chinese military should move fast to secure important facilities and locations, prevent a refugee crisis and nuclear proliferation, and ensure a good position in the follow-up international settlement," he said.

Lu Chao, from the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, agreed that a massive influx of refugees from North Korea would be the biggest concern for China and neighbours, but it was still too early to discuss it.

"A precondition of making a contingency plan is the likely collapse of the Kim regime, but up until now we have seen no sign of it," Lu said.
Iraqi Kurds voted in an independence referendum Monday, defying warnings from Baghdad and their neighbours in a historic step towards a national dream.

The non-binding vote, initiated by veteran leader Massud Barzani, has angered not only Iraq's federal government but also neighbouring Turkey and Iran, who are concerned it could stoke separatist aspirations among their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.

Turkey on Monday warned the Iraqi Kurds would face sanctions over the vote, while Iran closed its border with the autonomous region.

The United States and other Western nations have also raised concerns, saying the vote could hamper the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group in which cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurds has been key.

Kurdish flags were festooned in all the streets, on cars and outside homes across Iraqi Kurdistan.

Voters headed to the polls early Monday, many men dressed in traditional Kurdish dress of brown shirt and billowing trousers for the occasion.

Young girls wore caps emblazoned with the Kurdish colours of red, white, green and yellow, and regional flags around their necks and shoulders.

"I came very early to be the first to vote for a Kurdish state," Diyar Abubakr, 33, said outside a polling station in regional capital Arbil.

"It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion," he said.

One voter even brought a cow to slaughter before the start of the referendum.

"I brought this cow as today the state is born and it's tradition to slaughter a cow for a birth," Dalgash Abdallah, 27, said.

Initial results are expected to be announced 24 hours after polls close. An overwhelming "Yes" outcome is expected, but Kurdish officials have said there are no plans for an immediate declaration of independence.

Barzani, smiling and wearing a traditional outfit, cast his vote early in the morning.

Polling stations are scattered across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan -- Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk -- as well as in disputed bordering zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

In Sulaimaniyah, second city of the autonomous region, 40-year-old Diyar Omar came to cast his vote also wearing traditional clothes.

"We will seize our independence through the polls," he said.

"I'm so happy I could take part in this independence vote during my lifetime," he added.

A total of 12,072 polling stations are open for more than 5.3 million registered voters.

In disputed Kirkuk, mosque loudspeakers blared a prayer normally reserved for religious celebrations, but participation in the voted was limited.

Those who did take part showed off their ink-stained fingers after casting their vote.

"If I had 20 fingers, I would have voted 20 times for my state," Ibtissam Mohammed, 45, said.

Kirkuk governor Najm Eddine Karim, who was fired by Baghdad after his provincial council decided to take part in the vote, also voted.

But in Khanaqeen, another disputed territory in Diyala province, Um Ali, 30, said she feared the outcome of the vote and its consequences for her and her children.

"I don't want separation from Iraq, violence or war," she said.

Left without a state of their own when the borders of the Middle East were redrawn after World War I, the Kurds see themselves as the world's largest stateless people.

The non-Arab ethnic group number between 25 and 35 million people spread across Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday pledged to take all the "necessary measures" to protect the country's unity as his government urged all countries to deal only with it on oil transactions.

Abadi said the Kurds' unilateral decision to stage a referendum affected both Iraqi and regional security, and was "unconstitutional and against civil peace".

Hours later, the Iraqi government called on all countries "to deal only with it on matters of oil and borders".

The Iraqi Kurds export an average 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ankara was working on the details of sanctions against the Iraqi Kurds.

"We will take those steps with regard to air space, and how the border gates will be governed," he said.

Tehran closed its border with Iraqi Kurdistan after saying on Sunday it had blocked all flights to and from the region at Baghdad's request.

Iranian news agency IRNA said Iran's President Hassan Rouhani had called Abadi late Sunday to reiterate his support.

But Barzani said the Kurds' "partnership with Baghdad" since the ouster of dictator Saddam Hussein in a 2003 US-led invasion had failed.

He however said the vote was "not for defining borders or imposing a fait accompli".

"We want a dialogue with Baghdad to resolve the problems, and the dialogue can last one or two years," Barzani said of zones such as Kirkuk.

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Ankara will take "all measures" under international law if the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum being held on Monday generates threats to Turkey's national security, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

In a written statement it said it did not recognise the referendum and would view its outcome as null and void, adding that the Iraqi Kurdish government was threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and the whole region.

In a separate travel warning, the ministry said it strongly recommended that Turkish citizens in the Iraqi Kurdish provinces of Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaimaniya should leave as soon as possible if they are not obliged to stay.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Ankara would close its border with northern Iraq over an independence referendum and threatened the Iraqi Kurds with blocking their key oil exports.

"Entrance-exit will be closed" at the Habur border crossing, Turkey's sole land border crossing with Iraq, Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.

He said there were currently crossings allowed to the Iraqi side only but travel would be closed in both directions this week.

He added: "After this let's see through which channels they will send their oil through... and who they will sell to. The valve is with us. It's finished the moment we close it."

Iraqi Kurdish oil is exported through Turkey and its southern Ceyhan port, a key economic lifeline for the region.

Although Turkey enjoys strong ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Ankara fears the vote could raise separatist aspirations among its own sizeable Kurdish minority, the largest in the region.

Iraqi Kurds were voting on Monday in defiance of warnings from Ankara as well as Baghdad and Iran. But Erdogan said "irrespective of the result, we see this as null and void and say it is illegitimate".

He again urged the KRG to take a step back and appeared to threaten the northern Iraq administration of a possible cross-border operation.

"In Iraq, when necessary, we will not shy away from taking these types of steps," Erdogan said, referring to Turkey's military operation launched last year in Syria against Islamic State extremists and Syrian Kurdish militia.

Last week the Turkish armed forces began a military drill in the region around the border town of Silopi including 100 military vehicles, which continued with reinforcements this weekend.

"We are taking and will take all the steps on political, economic, trade and security fronts. The armed forces did not take necessary steps in Silopi for no reason. There is no compromise," Erdogan promised.

The Turkish parliament on Saturday approved overwhelmingly a one-year extension of a mandate to use troops abroad in Syria and Iraq.

Earlier Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ankara would take steps with regard to air space "before it is too late" although flights to northern Iraq from Turkey are reported to be running as normal.

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WILLIAMS BAY  A toxic bacteria bloom in Geneva Lake that had area residents alarmed in recent days is apparently on the decline.

I think were over the hump now, said Ted Peters, director of the Geneva Lake Environmental Agency. It looks like things are going back to normal.

The Geneva Lake Water Safety Patrol also reported that the level of bacteria had gone down significantly over the weekend.

The environmental agency on Sept. 20 detected a cyanobacteria bloom on the lake. The bacteria produce a neurotoxin that can cause serious illness if consumed.

The Water Safety Patrol issued a warning that the situation presented a possible health hazard, and recommended that swimmers swim at their own risk.

The health alert occurred on a weekend when unusually hot September weather conditions drew crowds to area beaches and outdoor events.

The Escape Lake Geneva triathlon and Geneva Lakes Antique & Classic Boat Show both took place over the weekend on Geneva Lake. Officials associated with both events reported no disruption related to the bacteria bloom.

By Monday, officials were reporting that the bloom appeared to be in retreat.

Signs at public beaches warning swimmers were removed, although swimmers were cautioned to be on the lookout for the greenish flaky substance.

Cyanobacteria prefer warm, calm waters and direct sunlight. Weather conditions in the Lake Geneva area the past couple of weeks included hot temperatures and no significant rainfall.

Peters said he was not aware of anyone getting sick.

One area where the bacteria were concentrated was in Williams Bay, where the Escape Lake Geneva triathlon was held. About 1,400 people signed up to participate in the triathlon, which involved swimming in the lake.

The triathlon people were extremely nervous, Peters said.

Peters said he was in contact with the state DNR and the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services. He and a county health agent, along with two Williams Bay police officers and triathlon organizers, were in Williams Bay before the start of the swimming portion of the triathlon.

Peters said he believes that wind and wave action on the lake started breaking up the bacteria colonies, while a mist over the lake reduced the direct sunlight, inhibiting the bacteria growth.

We went into the water and we saw nothing, he said.
Related Iraq Kurds defy Baghdad in historic independence vote

Iraq's parliament demanded Monday that troops be sent to disputed areas in the north controlled by the Kurds since 2003 as the autonomous Kurdish area staged a referendum on independence.

"Parliament demands that the head of the army (Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi) deploy forces in all of the zones the autonomous region of Kurdistan has taken control of since 2003," a resolution said.

Under Iraq's constitution, the government is obliged to comply with the parliamentary vote.

The zones disputed between the Kurds and the federal government in Baghdad are not part of the three provinces in northern Iraq that form the autonomous Kurdish area.

The disputed areas are the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, as well as parts of Nineveh, Diyala and Salaheddin provinces.

Most of the disputed areas were conquered by Kurdish peshmerga forces in 2014 in the chaos that followed a sweeping offensive by the Islamic State group.

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President Maithripala Sirisena says Sri Lanka is performing for the betterment of its people with much responsibility, in keeping with the charters of UN, as a member of United Nations. He said the government is taking the process to ensure human rights and reconciliation forward step by step. The President made these remarks during his meeting with Prince Zeid al-Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The president pointed out if the government would take sudden actions regarding these, the extremist groups will take advantages. He said two years are sufficient for Sri Lanka to complete the matters adopted by UNHRC resolution. He invited Prince Hussein to visit Sri Lanka to witness the progress it has been achieved.

President Sirisena and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights met in New York, US.

The President explained about the steps taken by the government of Sri Lanka to ensure human rights and reconciliation. He pointed out this task should be performed with thorough understanding about the internal political and cultural matters, as well as international politics and culture.

President Sirisena stated that he signed the relevant gazette notification to establish the office on missing persons before he made this official visit to US. He said this office will be actively operated. He said arrangements have been made to present a draft on new constitution to the parliament.

The President said all lands in the East which were under the control of security forces have now been released. He stated that a substantial extent of lands in the North also have been released. He said the rest will be released to the people after solving the relevant administrative issues.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights commended Sri Lankas progress in these matters. He said he will be more satisfied if this journey of Sri Lankan government will be speeded up. He commended the actions taken to establish the office on missing persons. He requested to appoint officers for this office from all communities so that every community can accept the actions of the office. He added the UN Human Rights Council will give its fullest support to Sri Lanka on this regard.

Courtesy : www.president.gov.lk
PRESS RELEASE

General Kujat Argues Cooperation as Alternative to NATO Exaggerated Reservations against Zapad 2017 Exercise

WIESBADEN, Sept. 24, 2017 (EIRNS)Former NATO Military Committee chairman Gen. Harald Kujat (Bundeswehr, ret., 2002-05) deflates hype, including NATOs, about the joint Russia-Belarus Zapad 2017 military maneuver that ran from Sept. 14-20. In an Sept. 23 NDR radio interview General Kujat called the figure that NATO gave of "possibly" 70-100,000 troops "exaggerated reservations" against Zapad, which suggests either NATO itself didnt really know, "which would be of major concern," or, the figures, including invasion plans, were "dramatized," which he considers "irresponsible." Its wrong: We dont need an increase in tensions, but the opposite, he argued. In motivating competent use of the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act, which included a "Strategic Partnership," unlike the past years, he stated there "is an array of conflicts on the European periphery" as well as North Korea, which "demand" close cooperation between the West and Russia, "and in particular between the U.S. and Russia," in order to avoid uncontrolled escalation. It is wrong to exclude President Vladimir Putin, as with the G8, from discussions on finding solutions. General Kujat termed the 1967 NATO Harmel Report, a "door opener," which made possible the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Brandt Ostpolitik, and in a sense, German unification.

Questioned who would be blocking cooperation, General Kujat avoided saying the obvious, but did motivate working with Russia to solve the Ukraine crisis "in the heart of Europe," by putting Ukraine in a European security architecture. Only the United States and Russia coming together can solve the crisis, and Berlin can use its connections to both to assist that. He recommends a 4+2 approach as with German unification, but including both the Kiev regime and also the rebels in east Ukraine.
The National Book Foundation has unveiled its annual 5 Under 35 honorees, recognizing a group of young authors who have published a debut work of fiction of extraordinary promise  a novel or short story collection  in the last year. And this year, theyre all women.

The 2017 honorees are Lesley Nneka Arimah, Halle Butler, Zinzi Clemmons, Leopoldine Core and Weike Wang. Each author will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Lisa Lucas, executive director of the National Book Foundation, told the Cut that she was pleased with this years honorees, who were chosen by authors who have won or been a finalist for a National Book Award, or who were themselves previously selected as a 5 Under 35 author.

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At a moment in which we are having the necessary conversations surrounding the underrepresentation of female voices, its a thrill to see this list of tremendous women chosen organically by our selectors, Lucas said. These writers and their work represent an incredibly bright future for the world of literary fiction.

The honored books include three novels, Butlers Jillian, Wangs Chemistry and Clemmons What We Lose, and two short story collections, Arimahs What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky and Cores When Watched.

Jillian was published by the Chicago-based indie press Curbside Splendor. The other four were published by major publishers: Riverhead, Knopf, Penguin Books and Viking (all are imprints of Penguin Random House).

It continues to be a good year for female authors of fiction in literary honors. Earlier this month, the National Book Foundation unveiled its longlist for the fiction National Book Award, with women taking eight of the 10 spots.

This is the first year since 2013 that all 5 Under 35 honorees are women.

Butler told the Cut that in the last few years, shes seen her taste in books move from those written mostly by men to the opposite.

Now, I almost exclusively read fiction by women, and its not all contemporary, she said. I think theres a revisiting of a lot of overlooked women writers like Lucia Berlin. It wasnt anything conscious, so it must be atmospheric and it must be coming from things like this  some kind of sea change.

The five selectors for this years honorees were Sherman Alexie, Chris Bachelder, Angela Flournoy, Karan Mahajan and Lydia Millet.
FX Networks is expanding its experiment with a commercial-free, on-demand channel through a new partnership with Cox Communications.

Beginning next month, the optional $5.99-a-month FX+ channel will be available to Cox Contour customers, including those in Orange County and Rolling Hills Estates in Los Angeles County.

Cox becomes the second cable operator to offer the channel, FX announced Monday. Earlier this month, Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp. introduced FX+ to its Xfinity TV subscribers.

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The FX+ subscription service provides on-demand access to hundreds of episodes of 31 FX programs  nearly the entire catalog that dates back 15 years to the launch of The Shield. Sweeping together all of its programs  including The Americans, American Horror Story and Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia  into one channel is designed to reinforce FXs brand as a destination for premium programming.

This allows us to provide the depth of our offerings, FX Networks Chief Executive John Landgraf said in an interview.

Landgraf said hes long been frustrated that viewers might not have a full appreciation of the networks full body of work. We have a very strong emotional connection to our work, and its hard to see it scattered to the wind, he said.

Cable channels such as FX have long relied on three sources of revenue: advertising, cable affiliate fees and syndication sales of older episodes of the shows it produces. But those sources are under pressure as more pay-TV customers cut the cord. The on-demand channel carves out a fourth revenue stream for FX, a division of Rupert Murdochs 21st Century Fox media company.

This allows us to maintain our program investment, Landgraf said.

John Landgraf, chief executive of FX Networks, in a 2015 file photo (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Preparing for the FX+ rollout was no small feat. The company had to buy back the digital rights to many of its series, particularly those that it does not own, such as The Shield, which was produced by Sony Pictures Television. In addition, streaming services had already claimed some digital rights. For example, Amazon.com had exclusive rights to older episodes of the Russian espionage thriller, The Americans. So FX negotiated a new deal so that both Amazon and FX+ can offer the episodes.

By having access to 1,300 episodes, viewers can binge-watch their favorites or discover new series that are promoted under the FX brand. Thats become increasingly important in the ultra-competitive television landscape.

Traditional TV network executives have long grumbled that rival Netflix built itself into a streaming colossus by curating shows, such as Breaking Bad, which started out on TV.

Fox, Walt Disney Co. and others have been keeping a tighter grip on their programs  rather than licensing them to Netflix. The FX+ channel is a continuation of that trend.

It doesnt make sense to take your brand and turn around and sell it to a service that is trying to undermine and disintermediate the entire [pay-TV] system, Landgraf said.

meg.james@latimes.com

@MegJamesLAT
Target Corp. said Monday that it is raising the minimum wage for its workers to $11 an hour starting next month and then to $15 by the end of 2020.

The company said the move will help it better recruit and retain top-quality staff and provide a better shopping experience for its customers.

The initiative is part of the retailers overall strategy, announced this year, to reinvent its business, including remodeling stores, expanding its online services and opening up smaller urban locations.

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Target quietly raised entry-level hourly wages to $10 last year, from $9 the previous year, following initiatives by Wal-Mart and others to boost wages in a fiercely competitive marketplace. But Targets hike to $15 an hour far exceeds not only the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour but the hourly base pay at Wal-Mart, the nations largest private employer, and plenty of its other retail peers whose minimum hourly pay now hovers around $10.

As part of its $2.7-billion investment in workers, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had raised its entry-level hourly pay for workers to $9 in 2015 and then to $10 in 2016. With Targets outsized influence in the retailing world, its increase could force rivals to match the pay in order to compete.

We see this not only as an investment in our team but an investment in an elevated experience for our guests and the communities we serve, Brian Cornell, Targets chief executive, told reporters during a conference call Friday.

Targets planned minimum-wage increases outpace those mandated by California: Statewide, the minimum wage at medium and large employers is $10.50 an hour, and its not scheduled to reach $15 until 2022. Los Angeles, however, already has a minimum wage of $12 an hour at those employers, and the city requires a boost to $15 by mid-2020.

The changes come at a time when theres growing concern for hourly workers. Thousands of workers have staged protests to call attention to their financial struggles and to fight for hourly pay of $15. The November election of a Republican-controlled Congress dampened hopes of an increase in the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum wage. But advocates have continued to press for boosts on the state and local level.

At the same time, competition for lower-skilled workers has heated up, and retailers, likely hobbled by the threat of e-commerce, are falling behind. As shoppers get more mobile-savvy, retailers are seeking sales staff who are more skilled at customer service and in technology, such as using iPads to check out inventory. But with the unemployment rate near a 16-year low, the most desirable retail workers feel more confident in hopping from job to job.

Thirty-two percent of all first jobs in the U.S. are in retail, according to the National Retail Federation, the nations largest retail group, and stores overall have more job openings now than they did a few years ago.

Hourly pay at restaurants and hotels is up 3.5% from a year earlier, a much better raise than the 2.5% gain for all employees. For workers at transportation and warehousing companies, where e-commerce growth is fueling hiring, pay is up 2.7% in the last year. Retailers, however, have lifted pay just 1.8% in the last year. That may be spurring more workers to leave for better opportunities: Separate government data show the number of retail workers quitting their jobs this year and last is at the highest in a decade.

The average hourly pay for cashiers is now $10.14, according to the Hay Groups survey of 140 retailers with annual sales of at least $500 million. The survey was conducted in May. A year ago, the hourly pay was $9.79.

Target said its minimum hourly wage of $11 is higher than the minimum wage in 48 states and matches the minimum wage in Massachusetts and Washington. It said the pay increase will affect thousands of its more than 300,000 workers, but it declined to quantify the percentage of its workforce. It said the increase to $11 an hour will apply to the more than 100,000 hourly workers that Target will be hiring for the holiday season.

Target declined to say what the average pay will be for its hourly workers with the increased wages.

The Minneapolis company reiterated its third-quarter and full-year profit guidance but said that it would update investors early next year about how the wage investments will affect long-term profits.

Targets wage increases come as the discounter is seeing signs that its turnaround efforts are starting to win back shoppers.

In August, Target reported that a key sales figure rose in the second quarter, its revenue beat Wall Street expectations and its online sales jumped 32%. The increase for the key sales measure reversed four straight quarters of declines. At that time, the company also boosted its earnings expectations for the year. Target is spending $7 billion over three years to remodel old stores, open small ones in cities and college towns and offer faster delivery for online orders. It is also adding more clothing and furniture brands, and said that its childrens line, Cat & Jack, brought in $2 billion in sales since its launch a year ago.

Cornell said Target has been moving toward dedicated workers in specific areas such as beauty and clothing, and that the wage increases will only help improve customer experience.

Wal-Mart has been benefiting from its investment in its workers. The Bentonville, Ark., retailer has seen lower turnover among workers and has gotten much better scores by customers for its service. Wal-Marts namesake U.S. division reported a 1.8% increase in revenue at stores open at least a year during its fiscal second quarter, marking the 12th straight period of gains. Wal-Marts wage investments, however, did take a big bite out of profits.

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3:45 p.m.: This article was updated with information about minimum wages in California and Los Angeles.

This article was originally published at 5:50 a.m.
When it comes to business, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is undeniably a visionary.

He made a big bet that paid off on photo-sharing app Instagram, charged full bore into mobile when others stood pat, and recognized early on the fortune that could be made in advertising by mining all aspects of his users lives down to the square footage of their homes.

But Zuckerbergs prescient skills seem to waver when the social and cultural intricacies of the real world leak onto his ubiquitous platform.

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Defensive at times, like when he initially disputed the premise fake news on Facebook may have influenced the 2016 election, Zuckerberg can come across as someone yet to realize the true power and scope of the platform he built.

In just the last year, Facebook was caught off-guard when a report showed its advertising service allowed audiences to be targeted through offensive labels like Jew Hater.

It first denied, then recognized, it was being exploited by Russian propagandists to influence the presidential campaign with fake news and paid ads.

And it was slow to remove terrorist groups from its network as well as anticipate users would livestream murders and other acts of violence.

A company optimized for digital engagement, it turns out, may not have been primed to deal with the darkest aspects of humanity and society.

Theyre so good at being a business, but really bad at recognizing its role in society, said Jennifer Stromer-Galley, an information studies professor at Syracuse University. It is conceivable the company is so big and complex, there are dimensions and aspects of Facebook no one is paying attention to.

Thats to the detriment of our democracy and our society, Stromer-Galley continued. If they cant start getting on top of these problems, theyre going to start getting regulated.

Whether Facebooks public problems are evidence of unintended consequences, shortsightedness or willful blindness is open to debate.

But pressure on the company to get policy (and its algorithms) right will only mount now that it counts a quarter of the worlds population as its users, effectively turning the platform into a digital reflection of society.

A company that started out in Zuckerbergs dorm room as a hot or not program for fellow Harvard students is now being asked to pick sides in the deadly civil war in Myanmar, determine the difference between hate speech and political expression, and adapt its so-called real-name policy to recognize transgender users on the platform.

So far, the company has shown a penchant for mitigating controversies after they arise.

If we discover unintended consequences in the future, we will be unrelenting in identifying and fixing them as quickly as possible, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said in a blog post last week in response to the offensive categories for targeted advertising  a quirk the company says it has fixed.

(Facebook did not respond to a request for an interview for this article.)

Experts say Silicon Valley companies are predisposed to break things first and apologize later, given their trade in cutting-edge technology and new business models.

One of the most common explanations we hear for the reactive responses, especially in the high-tech industry, centers around the novel and not-well-understood contexts arising from the creation and use of new technologies, said Valerie Alexandra, a business professor at San Diego State. Many argue that because the internet and social media platforms are relatively new and evolving contexts, there are still a lot of gray areas with regards to what is legal and illegal and what is ethical and unethical.

Still, Alexandra said Facebook could do more to envision how a company its size could cause harm.

Certainly, its a known problem that bigger companies often face a problem of becoming slower and more reactive, she said. However, bringing over $27 billion in [ad] revenue in 2016, Facebook has a lot of resources to work with.

Facebook doesnt have to do it alone. Sometimes it simply has to heed advice.

The Washington Post reported Sunday that President Obama tried to caution Zuckerberg of the critical role his platform was playing in the spread of misinformation during the presidential campaign. Zuckerberg responded by telling Obama that fake news was not widespread on Facebook.

The conversation reportedly took place just over a week after Zuckerberg said the idea that Facebook and fake news influenced the election was crazy.

Ten months later, Facebook is something of a poster child for the backlash in Washington against Silicon Valley, a region increasingly caught up in the nations culture wars as more Americans question the values coded into the algorithms they use each day.

On Thursday, Facebook caved to pressure to release to Congress 3,000 ads it sold linked to a Russian propaganda operation that the company had resisted sharing.

Calls are now growing louder to regulate Facebook like a media company rather than a platform, a designation that shirks most legal liability for the content that appears on the social network. Some lawmakers are considering a bill that would require more transparency of political ads that run on Facebook.

Facebook said it would disclose backers of political ads on its platform, much like what media companies are already required to do.

Not only will you have to disclose which page paid for an ad, but we will also make it so you can visit an advertisers page and see the ads theyre currently running to any audience on Facebook, Zuckerberg said in a live broadcast last week.

The move comes months after political scientists said such transparency was critical for political accountability.

Zuckerberg may need to push Facebook to hire more social scientists rather than engineers if he wants to avoid similar controversies in the future, said Sarah T. Roberts, a professor of information studies at UCLA.

Theres no lack of vision, no end to the creativity of top technology firms to generate revenue, Roberts said. But when it comes to the downside of technology, whether its foreign interference or other nefarious uses, their scope of the vision seems to be very much impeded.

david.pierson@latimes.com

Follow me @dhpierson on Twitter
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is taking an unconventional approach to seasonal hiring this year by doing away with the longtime tradition of recruiting  and training  thousands of temporary workers for the holiday crush.

Instead, the worlds largest retailer says it will dole out extra holiday work to its existing employees.

These extra hours will help staff traditional roles like cashier and stocker, and newly created positions such as personal shoppers and pickup associates, Judith McKenna, chief operating officer for Walmart U.S., said in a statement. This is what working in retail is all about, and we know our associates have the passion to do even more this year.

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Wal-Mart employees and labor advocacy groups say the move could help address long-standing complaints among workers who say they are underemployed. Many part-time employees, they said, would like full-time work. Wal-Mart considers 34 hours a week  the point at which workers receive more benefits  to be full time.

But, they added, the new policy also raises a number of questions: Will employees be forced to take on extra hours? Will they be penalized if they take time off during the holidays?

The struggle to get enough hours has been the No. 1 issue angering associates, said Dan Schlademan, a spokesman for OUR Walmart, an employee group backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Weve never been able to understand why Wal-Mart continues hiring seasonal workers when there are so many people begging them for more hours.

Retailers have long relied on seasonal workers to get through the holidays. But with the national unemployment rate nearing a 16-year low, economists say it is increasingly difficult to attract temporary workers for jobs that typically pay low wages.

Target Corp., which plans to hire 100,000 seasonal workers this year, is raising its minimum wage to $11 an hour beginning next month. Toys R Us, which plans to hire more than 12,000 part-time workers despite filing for bankruptcy last week, says it will pay weekend rates during peak holiday times and will offer additional employee discounts this year.

Wal-Mart, meanwhile, says its new policy will benefit its employees by allowing them to take on up to 40 hours a week during the holidays. The company quietly tried a similar approach last year, which it says was well-received by employees and customers. The year before, it hired 60,000 seasonal workers.

We want to make sure our associates have the first chance at getting these extra hours, Wal-Mart spokesman Kory Lundberg said. By and large, they can get up to 40 hours a week, but there may be times in some stores where folks end up working more than that. (By law, Wal-Mart is required to pay its employees overtime if they work more than 40 hours a week.)

Economists and labor experts said the approach also made financial sense for Walmart, which has 1 million hourly workers at its U.S. stores. Even if the company ends up having to pay overtime to some of those employees, it probably will save thousands of dollars on recruiting, hiring and training a fleet of temporary workers.

The first incentive for Wal-Mart is that they automatically increase their profits  its much cheaper to pay an existing employee than to hire and train new workers, said Richard Feinberg, a professor of consumer sciences at Purdue University. Experienced employees are also more knowledgeable and effective than new hires, which means theyre getting greater productivity while also cutting costs.

Some, though, raised concerns about the implications for workers.

Its a good sound bite, but we have to see what this means for workers and the wages theyre receiving, said Randy Parraz, director of Making Change at Walmart, a campaign run by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Wed like to see higher wages and more transparency around the program. Its one thing to offer more hours. Its another thing to mandate them.

This summer, Wal-Mart announced that it would begin enlisting employees to deliver online orders on their way home from work as a way to earn extra money. The company  which last year reported $485.9 billion in revenue  also said it would raise its hourly minimum wage to $10 for most workers.

Janie Grice, who makes $13.50 an hour working at a Wal-Mart store in Marion, S.C., says she has been fighting for years to take on more work. Ideally, she says, shed work 40 hours a week, but she often is scheduled for 28 hours. Lately, her schedule has been dwindling to 19 or 20 hours a week, she said.

Pretty much from the beginning, Ive told them I want to work full time, said Grice, a single mother who has worked in the customer service department for four years. Having those extra hours, especially during the holidays, means I could actually pay all of my bills.

Jennifer Rodgers shares the frustration.

I consistently only get 20 to 25 hours each week even though I have opened up my availability and am cross-trained to work in more than four departments, said Rodgers, who works in the photo lab in a Wal-Mart store outside Atlanta. If I made 40 hours each week during holiday time, the first thing I would do is pay my rent and buy Christmas gifts for my 8-year-old.

Bhattarai writes for the Washington Post.
Nine days after Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg dismissed as crazy the idea that fake news on his companys social network played a key role in the U.S.s November election, then-President Obama pulled aside the youthful tech billionaire and delivered what he hoped would be a wake-up call.

For months leading up to the vote, Obama and his top aides quietly agonized over how to respond to Russias brazen intervention on behalf of the Donald Trump campaign without making matters worse. Weeks after Trumps surprise victory, some of Obamas aides looked back with regret and wished they had done more.

Huddled in a private room on the sidelines of a meeting of world leaders in Lima, Peru, two months before Trumps inauguration, Obama made a personal appeal to Zuckerberg to take the threat of fake news and political disinformation seriously. Unless Facebook and the government did more to address the threat, Obama warned, it would only get worse in the next presidential race.

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Zuckerberg acknowledged the problem posed by fake news. But he told Obama that those messages werent widespread on Facebook and that there was no easy fix, according to people briefed on the exchange, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of a private conversation.

The Nov. 19 conversation was a flashpoint in a tumultuous year in which Zuckerberg came to recognize the magnitude of a new threat: a coordinated assault on a U.S. election by a shadowy foreign force that exploited the social network he created.

Like the U.S. government, Facebook did not foresee the wave of disinformation that was coming and the political pressure that followed. The company then grappled with a series of hard choices designed to shore up its own systems without impinging on free discourse for its users around the world.

One outcome of those efforts was Zuckerbergs admission Thursday that Facebook had indeed been manipulated and that the company would now turn over to Congress more than 3,000 politically themed advertisements that were bought by suspected Russian operatives.

But that highly public moment came after months of maneuvering behind the scenes that has thrust Facebook, one of the worlds most valuable companies  and one that is used by one-third of the worlds population each month  into a multi-sided Washington power struggle in which the company has much to lose.

Some critics say Facebook dragged its feet and is acting now only because of outside political pressure.

Theres been a systematic failure of responsibility on Facebooks part, said Zeynep Tufekci, as associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies social media companies impact on society and governments. Its rooted in their overconfidence that they know best, their naivete about how the world works, their expensive effort to avoid oversight, and their business model of having very few employees so that no one is minding the store.

Facebook says it responded appropriately.

We believe in the power of democracy, which is why were taking this work on elections integrity so seriously, and have come forward at every opportunity to share what weve found, said Elliot Schrage, vice president for public policy and communications. A spokesperson for Obama declined to comment.

This account  based on interviews with more than a dozen people involved in the governments investigation and Facebooks response  provides the first detailed back story of a 16-month journey in which the company came to terms with an unanticipated foreign attack on the U.S. political system and its search for tools to limit the damage.

Among the revelations is how Facebook detected elements of the Russian information operation in June 2016 and then notified the FBI. Yet in the months that followed, the government and the private sector struggled to work together to diagnose and fix the problem.

The growing political drama over these issues has come at a time of broader reckoning for Facebook, as Zuckerberg has wrestled with whether to take a more active role in fighting an emerging dark side on the social network  including fake news, suicides on live video, and allegations that the company was censoring political speech.

These issues have forced Facebook and other Silicon Valley companies to weigh core values, including freedom of speech, against the problems created when malevolent actors use those freedoms to pump out messages of violence, hate and disinformation.

There has been a rising bipartisan clamor, meanwhile, for new regulation of a tech industry that, amid a historic surge in wealth and power over the past decade, has largely had its way in Washington.

In particular, momentum is building in Congress and elsewhere in the federal government for a law requiring tech companies  like newspapers, television stations and other traditional carriers of campaign messages  to disclose who buys political ads and how much they spend on them.

There is no question that the idea that Silicon Valley is the darling of our markets and of our society  that sentiment is definitely turning, said Tim OReilly, an advisor to tech executives and chief executive of the influential Silicon Valley publisher OReilly Media.

The encounter in Lima was not the first time Obama sought Facebooks help.

In the aftermath of the December 2015 terrorist shooting in San Bernardino, the president dispatched members of his national security team  including Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and top counter-terrorism advisor Lisa Monaco  to huddle with leading Silicon Valley executives over ways to thwart the Islamic State groups practice of using U.S.-based technology platforms to recruit members and inspire attacks.

The result was a summit, on Jan. 8, 2016, which was attended by one of Zuckerbergs top deputies, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. The outreach effort paid off in the view of the Obama administration when Facebook agreed to set up a special unit to develop tools for finding Islamic State messages and blocking their dissemination.

Facebooks efforts were aided in part by the relatively transparent ways in which the extremist group sought to build its global brand. Most of its propaganda messages on Facebook incorporated Islamic States distinctive black flag  the kind of image that software programs can be trained to automatically detect.

In contrast, the Russian disinformation effort has proved far harder to track and combat because Russian operatives were taking advantage of Facebooks core functions, connecting users with shared content and with targeted native ads to shape the political environment in an unusually contentious political season, according to people familiar with Facebooks response.

What Russian operatives posted on Facebook was, for the most part, indistinguishable from legitimate political speech. The difference was that the accounts set up to spread the misinformation and hate were illegitimate.

It turned out that Facebook, without realizing it, had stumbled into the Russian operation as it was getting underway in June 2016.

At the time, cybersecurity experts at the company were tracking a Russian hacker group known as APT28, or Fancy Bear, which U.S. intelligence officials considered an arm of the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU, according to people familiar with Facebooks activities.

Members of the Russian hacker group were best known for stealing military plans and data from political targets, so the security experts assumed that they were planning some sort of espionage operation  not a sweeping disinformation campaign designed to shape the outcome of the U.S. presidential race.

Facebook executives shared with the FBI their suspicions that a Russian espionage operation was in the works, a person familiar with the matter said. An FBI spokesperson had no immediate comment.

Soon thereafter, Facebooks cyber experts found evidence that members of APT28 were setting up a series of shadowy accounts  including a persona known as Guccifer 2.0 and a Facebook page called DCLeaks  to promote stolen emails and other documents during the presidential race. Facebook officials once again contacted the FBI to share what they had seen.

After the November election, Facebook began to look more broadly at the accounts that had been created during the campaign.

A review by the company found that most of the groups behind the problematic pages had clear financial motives, which suggested that they werent working for a foreign government.

But amid the mass of data the company was analyzing, the security team did not find clear evidence of Russian disinformation or ad purchases by Russian-linked accounts.

Nor did any U.S. law enforcement or intelligence officials visit the company to lay out what they knew, said people familiar with the effort, even after the nations top intelligence official, James Clapper, testified on Capitol Hill in January that the Russians had waged a massive propaganda campaign online.

The sophistication of the Russian tactics caught Facebook off-guard. Its highly regarded security team had erected formidable defenses against traditional cyber attacks but failed to anticipate that Facebook users  deploying easily available automated tools such as ad micro-targeting  pumped skillfully crafted propaganda through the social network without setting off any alarm bells.

As Facebook struggled to find clear evidence of Russian manipulation, the idea was gaining credence in other influential quarters.

In the electrified aftermath of the election, aides to Hillary Clinton and Obama pored over polling numbers and turnout data, looking for clues to explain what they saw as an unnatural turn of events.

One of the theories to emerge from their post-mortem was that Russian operatives who were directed by the Kremlin to support Trump may have taken advantage of Facebook and other social media platforms to direct their messages to American voters in key demographic areas in order to increase enthusiasm for Trump and suppress support for Clinton.

These former advisors didnt have hard evidence that Russian trolls were using Facebook to micro-target voters in swing districts  at least not yet  but they shared their theories with the House and Senate intelligence committees, which in January launched parallel investigations into Russias role in the presidential campaign.

Sen. Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, initially wasnt sure what to make of Facebooks role. U.S. intelligence agencies had briefed the Virginia Democrat and other members of the committee about alleged Russian contacts with the Trump campaign and about how the Kremlin leaked Democratic emails to WikiLeaks to undercut Clinton.

But the intelligence agencies had little data on Russias use of Facebook and other U.S.-based social media platforms, in part because of rules designed to protect the privacy of communications between Americans.

Facebooks effort to understand Russias multifaceted influence campaign continued as well.

Zuckerberg announced in a 6,000-word blog post in February that Facebook needed to play a greater role in controlling its dark side.

It is our responsibility, he wrote, to amplify the good effects [of the Facebook platform] and mitigate the bad  to continue increasing diversity while strengthening our common understanding so our community can create the greatest positive impact on the world.

The extent of Facebooks internal self-examination became clear in April, when Facebook Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos co-wrote a 13-page white paper detailing the results of a sprawling research effort that included input from experts from across the company, who in some cases also worked to build new software aimed specifically at detecting foreign propaganda.

Facebook sits at a critical juncture, Stamos wrote in the paper, adding that the effort focused on actions taken by organized actors (governments or non-state actors) to distort domestic or foreign political sentiment, most frequently to achieve a strategic and/or geopolitical outcome. He described how the company had used a technique known as machine learning to build specialized data-mining software that can detect patterns of behavior  for example, repeated posting of the same content  that malevolent actors might use.

The software tool was given a secret designation, and Facebook is now deploying it and others in the run-up to elections around the world. It was used in the French election in May, where it helped disable 30,000 fake accounts, the company said. It was put to the test again Sunday when Germans went to the polls. Facebook declined to share the software tools code name. Another recently developed tool shows users when articles have been disputed by third-party fact checkers.

Stamos paper did not raise the topic of political advertising  an omission that was noticed by Capitol Hill investigators. Facebook, worth $495 billion, is the largest online advertising company in the world after Google. Although not mentioned explicitly in the report, Stamos team had searched extensively for evidence of foreign purchases of political advertising but had come up short.

A few weeks after the French election, Warner flew to California to visit Facebook. It was an opportunity for the senator to press Stamos directly on whether the Russians had used the companys tools to disseminate anti-Clinton ads to key districts.

Officials said Stamos underlined to Warner the magnitude of the challenge Facebook faced policing political content that looked legitimate.

Stamos told Warner that Facebook had found no accounts that used advertising but agreed with the senator that some probably existed. The difficulty for Facebook was finding them.

Finally, Stamos appealed to Warner for help: If U.S. intelligence agencies had any information about the Russian operation or the troll farms it used to disseminate misinformation, they should share it with Facebook. The company is still waiting, people involved in the matter said.

For months, a team of engineers at Facebook had been searching through accounts, looking for signs that they were set up by operatives working on behalf of the Kremlin. The task was immense.

Warners visit spurred the company to make some changes in how it conducted its internal investigation. Instead of searching through impossibly large batches of data, Facebook decided to focus on a subset of political ads.

Technicians then searched for indicators that would link those ads to Russia. To narrow the search further, Facebook zeroed in on a Russian entity known as the Internet Research Agency, which had been publicly identified as a troll farm.

They worked backwards, a U.S. official said of the process at Facebook.

The breakthrough moment came just days after a Facebook spokesman on July 20 told CNN that we have seen no evidence that Russian actors bought ads on Facebook in connection with the election.

Facebooks talking points were about to change.

By early August, Facebook had identified more than 3,000 ads addressing social and political issues that ran in the United States from 2015 to 2017 and that appear to have come from accounts associated with the Internet Research Agency.

After making the discovery, Facebook reached out to Warners staff to share what it had learned.

Congressional investigators say the disclosure only scratches the surface. One called Facebooks discoveries thus far the tip of the iceberg. Nobody really knows how many accounts are out there and how to prevent more of them from being created to shape the next election  and turn American society against itself.

Entous writes for the Washington Post.

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The World Health Organisation warned Monday of a growing cholera risk in the makeshift refugee camps in Bangladesh where more than 435,000 Rohingya Muslims have sought shelter from unrest in Myanmar.

A month after the exodus began, those dispersed in some 68 camps and settlements along the border do not have safe drinking water and hygiene facilities, according to the WHO.

The camps also face dire shortages of food and medicine in what has quickly become one of the world's largest refugee settlements.

"Risk of water borne diseases is high, especially there is very high risk of cholera and this is why everyone is concerned," the WHO said in a statement.

"Interventions are being scaled-up, however, the situation remains critical and challenging."

The latest influx has overwhelmed the camps around Cox's Bazar, which previously housed at least 300,000 people who had fled earlier violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

The WHO says mobile medical centres have been set up, while Bangladesh health authorities say they have treated some 4,500 Rohingya for diarrhoea in a month and vaccinated some 80,000 children for measles and polio.

"We are trying our best to face the challenges. But we are concerned," Enayet Hossain, deputy head of Bangladesh's health services department, told AFP.

The department said that at least 10 Rohingya have died in Bangladesh since the influx, most from bullet and blast wounds suffered in Rakhine.

Two elderly Rohingya men died of diarrhoea at a charity clinic more than a week ago, said Misbah Uddin Ahmed, a health department official at Ukhia, where most of the camps are located.

"They were also suffering from old age complications and gastroenteritis," he told AFP.

Two Rohingya women, aged 50 and 60, were shifted to a hospital in the port city of Chittagong after they were diagnosed with HIV, police said.

Ahmed said specialists from Bangladesh's International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDRB) and government scientists had visited camps to take samples.

"They are going to set up two field stations here," he told AFP.

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) group said last week the camps were on the brink of a public health disaster as filthy water and faeces flow through shanties.

It said a "massive scale-up of humanitarian aid" was needed, with adults on the cusp of dying from dehydration.

But Ahmed said the situation was improving as hundreds of latrines and tube-wells were being dug by government services and local charities.

The army, which has taken over aid management, says it has made sanitary facilities the "highest priority" in an effort to stave off a health emergency.

"The situation is still under control," Ahmed said.

More than 436,000 refugees have crossed the border from Rakhine since August 25 when a military crackdown was launched following attacks by Rohingya militants, according to UN figures on Monday.

The refugees have given shocking accounts of killings and mass rapes by Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs. The Myanmar military says they have only targeted Rohingya militants.

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Editors note: Major plot spoilers below. Though we maintain this movie is innately unspoilable.

By now youve almost certainly made up your mind about Darren Aronofskys mother!, even if you havent seen the film -- maybe especially if you havent seen it.

The latest release from the director of Black Swan and Noah, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, of course generated all kinds of early fan buzz, then all sorts of weird and weirdly avoidant critical reactions, then all kinds of viewer confusion, then all sorts of flop pronouncements -- all while a surprisingly high percentage of professional film writers seemed to care little about the films deeper meaning. Congressional healthcare reform has been less of a muddle.

Everything you need to know about the movies image difficulties can be summed up by, well, how people summed it up.

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Ostensibly a horror-tinged domestic drama about a poet and his wife in a country house beset by unknown guests, mother! is actually pretty clearly an alternate take on biblical history as well as a projection of future biblical-level disasters. According to this (pretty clearly evident) allegorical reading, the movie isnt about marriage, not really. Its about God (Bardem) and his main creation, Earth (Lawrence), who are figuring out how to get along with each other when an onslaught of those pesky humans begin to arrive  Adam and Eve (Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer), Cain and Abel (Domhnall and Brian Gleeson), early Christian disciples (Kristen Wiig) and, eventually, war-mongering and environment-neglecting hordes who precipitate an apocalypse.

Really, though, its humanity in general theyre grappling with, since Mother Earth seems happy pretty much just living out her days with God, tinkering to make herself (the Earth) better and God happier. But God wants people around and keeps encouraging more of them, for reasons either noble or narcissistic, depending on your point of view/religious upbringing. These human beings, Aronofsky warns in his distinctly bloody and baroque way, could well tip the world to disaster with their derelictions.

Its heady stuff, in other words.

Yet in the face of such rich (and pretty clearly evident  did we mention that?) metaphors, many essays have been asking  less important questions. Rather than wrestle with the films spiritual and environmental ideas, theyve taken mother! to task for such literalist flaws as why a poet would have so many people in his house, why the film contains so little subtext (!), why Aronofsky thinks hes God and even how Jennifer Lawrence would be able to redecorate without visiting a home-restoration store. I mean.

One might be expected to love or hate mother!; its a film built to polarize. Takedowns are inevitable. But to never even mention words like Jesus, Genesis, apocalypse or history in an assessment  not to even bother engaging with the movie on its own global-biblical terms  seems rather glaringly to dodge the point. One trade newspaper labeled mother! an elevated horror movie. Which is a little like calling Hamlet a fun play about parents and children."

Im not here to try to convince anyone to see mother!, though as anyone in my personal orbit can annoyedly attest over the past few weeks, I do think every responsible citizen should; its a chance to watch a daring artist in his prime offer a grand view of where we came from and where were headed. Nor do I want to give a detailed critical defense of the movie, though I think some very worthy writers will.

But I do think all this context is important, because it says something about the broader cinematic moment. If some of the above social-allegorical details remind you of another talked-about (if far more commercially successful) movie from 2017, they should. Mother! shares a number of commonalities with Get Out, the Jordan Peele-directed phenomenon from last winter, soon to be revived in a boundless Oscar campaign. As with mother!, Get Out also employs pulp excesses and genre conventions to tell a deadly serious story about an abiding crisis  in that case, of course, the treatment of African Americans at the hands of white people in this country.

Like Get Out, mother! is savvy in how it implicates its audience. Namely  subtly. It casts its criticism at a few highly externalized villains, and has them engage in some familiarly outrageous and Expressionistic cinematic acts. The whole enterprise is meant to make us feel like were watching from a safe remove. That is, until later on, when at dinner or at work or at some other unsuspecting point after weve left the theater, it begins to dawn: The people doing these terrible things are us."

Another example of this emergent category  maybe call it genre-of-meaning cinema, or just the director hector?  is soon set to arrive. On Oct. 20, A24 will open The Killing of a Sacred Deer, the new movie from Yorgos Lanthimos, director of Dogtooth and The Lobster. Lanthimos, a Greek national who lives in England, was an early practitioner of this form of fun cinematic chastisement, using genre smoke-and-mirrors to hold up a social mirror.

His new movie is about an upper-class American doctor (Colin Farell) with the perfect wife (Nicole Kidman) and family whose children are struck by a mysterious illness that may be tied to his long-buried unethical act. Though rife with elements such as a possessed child and fetishized violence and debilitating medical conditions, Sacred Deer is fundamentally a parable on how weve forgotten to be good. As such, it forms a neat last leg in this 2017 tripod of genre-of-meaning cinema. If Get Out is a dog whistle for our racial malaise and mother! a signal of our environmental malaise, Sacred Deer is evidence of a moral malaise.

This is, thrillingly, where we are in contemporary pop culture. No longer are works like Dune" obliquely telling of the Suez Canal crisis, as Frank Herberts classic novel did, or Star Wars offering a genteel look at foreign affairs through cartoonish Stormtroopers and huggable Ewoks. What this kind of genre filmmaking does (you can probably also add recent Emmy winner The Handmaids Tale to the list) is make comments brashly and boldly, mixing blood and gore into its batter of ideas and criticisms. This is PBS-level social-mindedness, but by way of the midnight movie.

These movies unwillingness to absolve their audience is also a crucial feature separating them from earlier work. Where most genre parables from previous eras were about remote news events, holding leaders and famous figures to account, these filmmakers are all about the people watching the work theyre aiming their cannons right at their customers. "Get Out, mother! and Sacred Deer arent interested in connecting their stories to some removed historical event so we can chew it over in restaurants and feel good about our enlightened-observer status. They want to excoriate us right there in the theater for participating in that event. Genre-of-meaning cinema never lets its viewers off the hook.

These baroque touches, somewhat counterintuitively, actually further this cause. The movies use (some would say go overboard with) genre stylization as a distractive technique, a way of Trojan Horse-ing into our brains a problem we might not otherwise let in. For all their provocative strokes, it would be a mistake to say that Peele, Aronofsky and Lanthimos are hitting us over the head with the metaphor. To the contrary -- theyre hitting us over the head with the movie. Which makes us not notice the metaphor until its lodged in deep.

At least thats the intent. Not all have achieved it equally. The reactions to Get Out and mother! are as polar as youll find, both with critics and consumers, who have embraced the former and rejected the latter. Why two movies with such similar approaches have met with such divergent fates is a tricky issue, and one I and some (less annoyed) colleagues and friends have been trying to puzzle out. Certainly one can point to the usual factors like filmmaker brand and stars fan bases to make one case or another, or to the fact that the narrative trajectory of mother! is especially designed to keep us off-kilter. Theres also the idea that Get Out ends with vindictive justice and mother! with, well, something bleaker.

Yet I cant help but wonder if a chunk of this may be due to the palatability of the respective messages. When it comes to race, many of us who are not in a minority readily acknowledge the problem  and quickly exempt ourselves from it. Its a terrible plague, but Im not a racist so this movie doesnt apply to me, would I suspect be the candid reaction by many white people to Get Out if you really pressed us on it. (Whether this statement is at all accurate is a separate matter.)

 L.A. Times critic Justin Chang and film reporter Jen Yamato discuss the furor over Darren Aronofskys polarizing film mother!

Climate change feels a little different. While we blame corporations for pollution and government leaders for regulatory rollbacks, most of us are aware on some level that, unless weve swore off the modern world, were part of the problem. And being confronted with the consequences of that problem as brazenly as Aronofsky has us doing can be tough to swallow. It might even  ducking for cover here  make it uncomfortable for some journalists to write about.

(This, by the way, seems like the risk of the new genre-film seriousness. Sure, these movies makes escapism relevant in ways it has rarely been before. But the films also strike a lot closer to home, and thus can be harder to embrace. At least at the beginning, anyway --- mother! over the coming months and years could well grow into a cult phenomenon, beloved by a hardcore group precisely because of its mainstream rejection. Well see.)

Since mother!s box-office cratering last weekend, industry pundits have asked if Paramount would have been wiser to platform the film  release it at first in a handful of theaters and let the buzz build from there. I dont know the right answer here. Would the movie have earned more money if it was discovered slowly, via word of mouth? Or dropped on us, as it was, in a blitz of billboards and TV ads?

But the subtext of the question is telling, especially as we enter an era of more genre seriousness: When you have a message this scabrous, not everyone may be ready to deal with it all at once.

steve.zeitchik@latimes.com

Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT
Gucci is reinforcing its bond with emerging artists via yet another collaboration. The fashion house has teamed with British artist Helen Downie, known under the moniker of Unskilled Worker, on a capsule collection of ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, silk and accessories.

The 40 items  which include printed dresses, bomber jackets, GG Marmont shoulder bags, Princetown mules and Ace sneakers, among others items  feature Downies naive artwork, which is mainly a combination of portraits and floral motifs designed with energetic colors and a witty, playful twist.

Coming in dedicated packaging, for the first time the collection will be available simultaneously worldwide, launching exclusively on the brands online store on Oct. 11.

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The launch will be supported through Guccis digital channels and the hashtag #unskilledworker, in addition to specific promotional activities including the creation of new art walls, fly posters and outdoor banners in key cities such as Milan, London, New York, Paris and Shanghai.

Guccis relationship with Unskilled Worker dates back to 2015, when the labels creative director Alessandro Michele discovered her work on Instagram and invited her to take part in an art exhibition in Shanghais Minsheng Art Museum.

Earlier this year, the Florence-based fashion house launched capsule collections in partnership with Spanish artist Coco Capitan and British illustrator Angelica Hicks.

Guccis other artistic collaborations include ones with Los Angeles-based artist Amanda Charchian, New Yorks Olaf Breuning, South Korean photographer Less and the artist duo Christto & Andrew, who created memes featuring the brands timepieces. Launched in March, the project was called #TFWGucci, standing for That Feel When or That Feeling When, and promoted the brands line of watches, coinciding with the annual international jewelry and watch trade show Baselworld.

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A future cup of coffee in California could give you jitters before you even take a sip.

A nonprofit group wants coffee manufacturers, distributors and retailers to post ominous warnings about a cancer-causing chemical stewing in every brew and has been presenting evidence in a Los Angeles courtroom to make its case.

The long-running lawsuit that resumed Monday claims Starbucks and about 90 other companies, including grocery stores and retail shops, failed to follow a state law requiring warning signs about hazardous chemicals found everywhere from household products to workplaces to the environment.

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At the center of the dispute is acrylamide, a carcinogen found in cooked foods such as French fries that is also a natural byproduct of the coffee roasting process. The coffee industry has acknowledged the presence of the chemical but asserts it is at harmless levels and is outweighed by benefits from drinking coffee.

Although the case has been percolating in the courts since 2010, it has gotten little attention.

A verdict in favor of the little-known Council for Education and Research on Toxics could send a jolt through the industry with astronomical penalties possible and it could wake up a lot of consumers, though its unclear what effect it would have on coffee-drinking habits.

The lawyer taking on Big Coffee said the larger goal is to motivate the industry to remove the chemical from coffee, which would also benefit his own three-cup-a-day fix.

Im addicted  like two-thirds of the population, attorney Raphael Metzger said. I would like the industry to get acrylamide out of the coffee so my addiction doesnt force me to ingest it.

Under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, passed by voters as Proposition 65 in 1986, private citizens, advocacy groups and attorneys can sue on behalf of the state and collect a portion of civil penalties.

Metzger represented the council in a case later taken up by the state attorney general that resulted in potato-chip makers agreeing in 2008 to pay $3 million and remove acrylamide from their product.

The law has been roundly criticized for abuses by lawyers shaking down businesses for quick settlements but is also credited with reducing chemicals known to cause cancer and birth defects, such as lead in hair dyes, mercury in nasal sprays and arsenic in bottled water.

But warnings, which can be startling on first encounter, have been less effective due to sometimes inconspicuous placement or vague language. Drivers everywhere appear to prioritize parking in a garage over warnings such as, This area contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm.

The state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment adopted new regulations last year that will require more specific warnings that list the chemical consumers may be exposed to and list a website with more information. Parking garages, for example, will have to post that breathing air there exposes drivers to carbon monoxide, gas and diesel exhaust and warns people not to linger longer than necessary.

The intent is not to scare people, said Allan Hirsch, chief deputy of the office. The intention is to help people make more informed decisions. If you continue to buy a product that will expose you to a chemical, thats OK as long as youre informed.

Many of the coffee defendants have already posted warnings that specifically say California has determined acrylamide is among chemicals that cause cancer and attorneys have stated others, from mega-chains to mom-and-pop operations, will follow suit if the judge rules against them.

Metzger said many of those warnings often appear after the point of sale or where cream and sugar is provided, which offers no warning to someone drinking black coffee.

Coffee companies lost a first round in the case two years ago and are now presenting their last defense.

Defense lawyers declined to comment on the case but asserted in court that they should prevail under an exemption for chemicals that result naturally from cooking necessary for palatability or to avoid microbiological contamination.

It is hard to imagine a product that could satisfy this exemption if coffee does not, defense attorney James Schurz said in court papers. The answer to the question of whether Proposition 65 requires coffee to carry a cancer warning must be an emphatic No.

In the first phase, Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle said the defense failed to present enough credible evidence to show there was no significant risk posed by acrylamide in coffee. The law puts the burden on the defense to show that the level of the chemical wont result in one excess case of cancer for every 100,000 people exposed. Berle said the epidemiology studies they presented were inadequate to evaluate that risk.

Civil penalties could come to $2,500 per person exposed each day. With penalties reaching back eight years that could ring up an astronomical bill in a state with close to 40 million residents, though such a massive figure is very unlikely.

Starbucks Corp., the lead defendant, would not comment on the case. Its latest quarterly report said its not party to any legal proceeding that management believes could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Two of the defendants have settled in the past month and agreed to post warnings. BP West Coast Products, which operates gas station convenience stores, agreed to pay $675,000. Yum Yum Donuts Inc. agreed to pay nearly $250,000.
Cora Angeles parked her car near a gas station at the foot of her Corona hillside neighborhood. With her granddaughter by her side, she said a prayer.

Put out the fire, Lord, the 66-year-old said, through tears. Please help us.

Just an hour earlier, she was watching Monday afternoon as flames lit up a mountain ridge in the distance. The flames looked far away from her home. But soon after, the winds shifted and they crept closer.

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Before she knew it, there was a knock at her door.

You gotta go, a police officer told her. You gotta go to Corona High School.

Update: Crews battling wildfire near Corona face another day of low humidity and 90-degree heat >>

Angeles was among as many as 1,500 Corona residents forced to evacuate as the fast-moving Canyon fire exploded to 2,000 acres in the Santa Ana Mountains near the Anaheim-Corona border, threatening homes. Officials said evacuation orders will remain in effect overnight as helicopters continue to drop water on the blaze. On Tuesday, firefighters faced another day of heat into the 90s and wind gusts of up to 30 mph.

Late Monday, officials said the blaze had damaged one home in the Dominguez Ranch area and was only 5% contained. An unrelated big rig fire on the 91 Freeway exacerbated traffic delays in the area.

Within 20 minutes of being ordered to evacuate, Angeles had gathered her important documents and shoved some clothes into a container. Then, with her 12-year-old granddaughter, she fled, accidentally leaving the pile of clothes  and valuables she couldnt think fast enough to pack  behind.

We dont know whats going to happen, she said. At least we know were going to be alive because we got out of there in time.

Authorities ordered residents of all homes south of Green River Road from the 91 Freeway to Trudy Lane, including the Orchard Glen Tract, to leave as more than 300 firefighters trudged through steep, rugged terrain to battle the blaze.

As temperatures cooled and humidity rose Monday night, officials saw a great opportunity to do some perimeter control around the fire, said Capt. Steve Concialdi with the Orange County Fire Authority.

1 / 21 A DC-10 makes a fire retardant drop on the Canyon fire in the Santa Ana Mountains near Corona. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 21 - A DC-10 flies over a burning hillside to make drop in the in the Santa Ana Mountains near Corona while battling the Canyon fire. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 21 A helicopter makes a water drop in the Canyon fire. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 21 Smoke billows from the Canyon fire buring the in the Santa Ana Mountains near Corona. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 21 A firefighter is enveloped in smoke and embers while battling the Canyon fire in Corona. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 21 Crews battle the Canyon fire as it closes in on homes in Corona. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 21 A firefighter is enveloped in smoke as the Canyon fire burns in the hills surrounding a neighborhood in Corona. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 21 A firefighting helicopter flies over a burning palm tree as it prepares to make a water drop on the Canyon fire in Corona. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 21 Firefighters battle the Canyon fire as flames threaten a neighborhood in Corona on Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 21 Flames and embers swirl around a firefighter battling the Canyon fire in Corona on Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 21 Firefighters look on as the Canyon fire burns in the hills surrounding a neighborhood in Corona on Monday evening. The fire charred about 1,500 acres by Monday evening, triggering mandatory evacuations for more than a thousand residents near the Anaheim-Corona border along the 91 Freeway. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 21 Against an orange sky, firefighters battle the Canyon fire as flames threaten a neighborhood in Corona on Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 21 A firefighter monitors the Canyon fire as it burns near homes in Corona on Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 21 Against a smoke-filled backdrop, a resident prepares to evacuate as flames from the Canyon fire burn in the hills surrounding a Corona neighborhood Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 21 The Canyon fire approaches a neighborhood in Corona on Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 21 Firefighters battle the Canyon fire as flames threaten a neighborhood in Corona on Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 21 Fast-moving flames from the Canyon fire threaten a neighborhood in Corona on Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 21 The Canyon fire lights up the hills in a Corona neighborhood Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 21 Flames and embers from the Canyon fire swirl around a neighborhood in Corona on Monday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 21 Traffic backs up along the 91 Freeway as the Canyon Fire burns in Corona on Monday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 21 Plumes of smoke billow into the Anaheim sky in a photo taken from neighboring Orange. (Marc Olson / Los Angeles Times)

By 11 p.m., about 40 residents had gathered at an evacuation center opened at Corona High School. Officials announced that four schools  Cesar Chavez Academy and Adams, Coronita and Prado View elementary schools  will be closed Tuesday, citing poor air quality, active evacuations and road closures.

Green River Road was closed at Palisades Drive, Serfas Club Drive and Paseo Grande. Residents not affected by evacuations may enter with ID.

The following roads were also closed to incoming traffic: Dominguez Ranch Road, Nicholas Place, Canyon Crest Drive, Boulder Drive, Suncrest Drive, Ridgeline Drive (south of Green River), Serfas Club (south of Green River), Montana Ranch Road, Del Mar Way and Trudy Way.

Several helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were dropping water on the fire, and bulldozers were being used to stop its advance, said Sgt. Daron Wyatt, a spokesman for the Anaheim police and fire departments.

The Orange County Fire Authority posted videos to Twitter that showed the blaze spewing thick plumes of black smoke over the hillside.

Wyatt said the blaze began about 1 p.m. The fire had spread into a small section of Chino Hills State Park about 3 p.m., he said.

Traffic on the 91 Freeway had been impacted heavily by the blaze, Wyatt said. Caltrans said on Twitter that it had closed several lanes on the freeway and that traffic was backed up about seven miles during peak commute hours.

Rescue crews had not reported any injuries. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

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UPDATES:

4 a.m.: Updated with firefight overnight.

11:30 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that evacuations will remain in effect overnight.

10:25 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that one home was damaged and a big rig was burned.

9:20 p.m.: This article was updated with updated acreage and containment numbers.

8:55 p.m.: This article was updated with road closures and planned school closures.

8:25 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect the site of the evacuations in the headline and an interview with an evacuee.

7:35 p.m.: This article was updated with new information about evacuation orders.

6:50 p.m.: This article was updated with new acreage numbers.

6:40 p.m.: This article was updated with new acreage numbers and evacuation orders.

3:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information from fire officials.

This article first published at 3:15 p.m.
Los Angeles lawmakers are laying the groundwork for what is widely expected to be one of the hottest markets for marijuana in the country, one that could bring more than $50 million in taxes to city coffers next year.

The city is drafting rules to allow greenhouses that grow cannabis, industrial facilities that process it, and new shops that sell it for recreational use, not just medical need.

But anyone expecting L.A. to become the next Amsterdam may be disappointed: It has held back, so far, on welcoming cafes or lounges where customers could smoke or consume cannabis.

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That has troubled some marijuana advocates and attorneys, who warn that even after California legalizes the sale of recreational pot, many tourists and renters could be left without a safe, legal place to use it in Los Angeles.

Its ridiculous that the city doesnt consider that, said attorney Bruce Margolin, executive director of the L.A. chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Attorney Bruce Margolin, seen in 2015, complains that the L.A. City Council is still treating marijuana users like criminals. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Margolin said he was offended that even as cannabis was on the verge of local legitimacy, the City Council is still treating marijuana users like criminals.

The question is one example of the thorny debates that Los Angeles faces as it crafts new regulations on cannabis businesses, an industry still in limbo between California and Capitol Hill.

Under draft regulations released earlier this year, it would be illegal for L.A. pot shops and other cannabis businesses to allow marijuana consumption on site.

It is also illegal, under state law, to consume it in a public place. And smoking pot will remain illegal anywhere that cigarette smoking is banned. At a recent city hearing, several speakers complained that could leave tourists and renters in the lurch.

Tourists cant smoke it outside. Cant smoke it in a hotel. Cant smoke it in a rental car, said George Boyadjian, president of 420 College, which provides seminars on cannabis business regulations. Where are these people supposed to use their cannabis?

The obvious place, for locals, would be at home. But while Californians can generally use marijuana on private property, renters may not be able to smoke it inside their apartments if their landlords forbid smoking of any kind. And some cannabis attorneys fear that zealous landlords could also target tenants for using marijuana if their leases prohibit illegal activity in their apartments.

Cant smoke it outside. Cant smoke it in a hotel. Cant smoke it in a rental car. Where are these people supposed to use their cannabis?  George Boyadjian, president of 420 College, which provides seminars on cannabis business regulations

Under some leases, you can be evicted for committing a federal crime, said cannabis attorney Pamela Epstein, owner and founder of Green Wise Consulting. Epstein argued that if Los Angeles doesnt want those renters to smoke marijuana outside, it needs to give them a designated place to go.

The idea alarms critics of the marijuana industry, who argue that such venues would become a nuisance and drag down property values.

Most people dont even want a marijuana store in their community, let alone a place where you can actually consume, said Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which opposed the California measure to legalize selling recreational marijuana. He was skeptical that Californians would have trouble finding somewhere to smoke.

Even if they do, I dont think we should be in the business of facilitating places where people can get high, Sabet said.

The Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs argued that permitting marijuana to be consumed at businesses would ramp up the risk of intoxicated driving.

Los Angeles Police Protective League President Craig Lally agreed, saying it is difficult for police or users themselves to know if someone is too high to drive.

And UC San Francisco clinical professor of psychiatry Peter Banys argued that cities should hold off on allowing any consumption cafes until there is better research on intoxicated driving.

There are questions that simply havent been answered, Banys said.

Margolin said the idea is hardly new, pointing to the famed shops of Amsterdam. San Francisco already allows consumption lounges at a small number of medical marijuana dispensaries, and as it prepares for recreational pot, a city task force has recommended allowing cannabis consumption at retailers.

In Colorado, Denver is launching a pilot program to allow bring-your-own marijuana consumption at some businesses that do not sell pot or alcohol, though it has yet to process any applications. And Alaska and Nevada have also started exploring similar ideas.

Although some private cannabis clubs have quietly operated in California cities, local governments have been slow to officially embrace social use because it isnt as familiar to them as other kinds of marijuana businesses, said Jolene Forman, staff attorney with the Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy group opposed to the war on drugs.

Forman argued that a lack of legal spaces to smoke could have unintended consequences, such as pushing renters or tourists to turn to edibles that are harder to detect. Switching to edibles, in turn, could make it harder for new users to determine how much they should consume.

If you give people spaces where they can safely smoke or vape, there is no risk of that, Forman said.

When California hammered out state rules for permitting recreational marijuana, it left the door open for local governments to allow cannabis consumption at retailers as long as the facilities are restricted to people 21 or older, keep marijuana consumption out of sight of younger people or the public, and do not offer up alcohol or tobacco as well.

West Hollywood has been drafting rules to allow lounges where marijuana can be consumed. In July, the West Hollywood City Council invited a panel of experts to weigh in on cannabis regulation. Among them was Cat Packer of the Drug Policy Alliance, who warned that if consumers and patients dont have a place to consume, theyre going to do it outside.

So if you dont want them consuming outside, I think it makes sense to give them a space where they can consume responsibly, Packer said, pointing out that consumption could include applying lotion or eating chocolate.

Packer now heads L.A.s Department of Cannabis Regulation, but it is city lawmakers who are making decisions about those rules. Many Los Angeles City Council members said they had not yet considered the issue of allowing cannabis consumption at businesses, which has taken a back seat to other concerns such as where pot shops can locate.

The full force of our attention is on creating the requirements for cultivation, manufacturing, testing and retail businesses, Caolinn Mejza, a spokeswoman for City Council President Herb Wesson, said in a written statement. As time goes by we will deal with other issues and concerns.

Packer added that the city regulations are likely to continue to evolve with time. This is the beginning of the conversation, she said.

One councilman said he was open to the idea of cannabis lounges.

Its hard to say you cant smoke in your home  especially for medical marijuana, where people have real needs  and yet we wont let you smoke somewhere else, said Councilman Paul Koretz, who has concerns about how secondhand smoke affects tenants. Either people need to be able to smoke in their apartments or they need some other places set aside.

Koretz added, however, that the city should first scrutinize the hazards of people driving while high. Those concerns were echoed by Councilman Mitch Englander, who said if Los Angeles considers allowing marijuana consumption at businesses, the overriding question must be, Can they be regulated in a way that they would be safe?

Cannabis business attorney Hilary Bricken said she was disappointed, but not surprised, that many cities seem to fear that cannabis bars will encourage bad behavior.

Bars serving alcohol are everywhere, Bricken said, but theres clearly different treatment of cannabis, in a way that really doesnt give cannabis a chance to be a responsible activity.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesEmily

ALSO

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Los Angeles lawmakers tentatively backed a sweeping set of proposed regulations for businesses that grow, sell, process and distribute marijuana Monday, the next step toward giving cannabis the stamp of local legitimacy.

But industry groups said that recent changes to the proposed rules would force existing marijuana growers and manufacturers to shut down as they wait to get city licenses, devastating the industry and triggering layoffs.

At a City Council committee hearing, Council President Herb Wesson repeatedly sought to reassure marijuana business owners that he would find a fair way to address those concerns.

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I realize that thats a flaw and were going to try to deal with it, Wesson said during the meeting. But Im not going to let one flaw slow down the process.

The committee, headed by Wesson, agreed to support the draft regulations. The proposed rules will now go the entire council for a vote before the city attorney drafts the law for final approval.

Los Angeles has been hustling to craft its municipal regulations before California starts issuing state licenses for cannabis businesses next year, legalizing the sale of recreational marijuana across the state. Marijuana businesses will need local approval to get state licenses.

The city first released its draft regulations months ago, but a revised set of rules was made available only Friday.

The draft regulations set out how marijuana businesses can apply for licenses and operate, including what hours they can be open, what records they must keep, and what security systems they have to install. A separate set of zoning rules restricts where they can open their doors.

Cannabis industry groups complained that the revised rules included major changes that could make some businesses shut down in January.

Under the draft regulations, existing pot shops that have been operating according to an earlier set of city restrictions are first in line for city licensing.

When the regulations were first proposed, L.A. was also planning to create a registry for other kinds of marijuana businesses already in operation, such as growers and manufacturers, and allow them to continue to do business while their city applications were being processed.

That plan was scrapped under the revised regulations, which warn that any marijuana business operating without a city license can be targeted by the police and the city attorney. Industry groups such as the Southern California Coalition warned that many existing businesses that supply pot shops with marijuana or cannabis products could wait months for municipal licenses.

Its inconceivable how I can shut down my business while waiting for the city to approve my application and also survive, said Cameron Clarke, who owns a business that makes marijuana edibles and other cannabis products.

Other cannabis business owners complained that they would be forced to leave Los Angeles or that out-of-town companies would swoop in to provide marijuana to local shops.

Americans for Safe Access, an advocacy group that promotes legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use, argued that if existing marijuana cultivators and manufacturers have to shut down until licenses are handed out, that could drive them into bankruptcy and jeopardize the existing supply of marijuana for patients, even at the shops first in line for city approval.

L.A. would end up licensing empty shells, which will have no way to service patients and will themselves be forced into involuntary bankruptcy, its director of industry affairs, Sarah Armstrong, who is also affiliated with the Southern California Coalition, wrote in a letter to the council. This means the city has destroyed the cannabis industry before its even fully realized.

But not everyone involved in the industry agrees.

Aaron Herzberg, a partner with the cannabis real estate and licensing firm Calcann Holdings, countered that it would be unfair for the city to smooth the way for existing marijuana growers and manufacturers to continue operating while other entrepreneurs have been waiting for city licenses before jumping into the industry.

Herzberg said those illegal operators have been exploiting the gray area in the law and should not get any advantage in city licensing. The question of who will get the first shot at municipal licenses has been especially important to cannabis entrepreneurs because zoning restrictions on marijuana businesses will likely make it difficult for latecomers to find suitable space.

At the Monday hearing, Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson said he understood concerns about disrupting the supply chain, but cautioned that simply grandfathering in existing marijuana businesses could perpetuate an overconcentration of pot businesses in areas such as his South L.A. district.

If we do that, that is a direct betrayal of what we promised the voters  This is something weve got to take a hard look at, Harris-Dawson said.

Wesson said after the hearing that lawmakers were not comfortable with the planned registry for existing manufacturers and cultivators but did not answer questions about what, specifically, had given them pause.

In her letter to the council, Armstrong said it was understandable that the city would want to vet newcomers to the marketplace who might have unsavory ties to organized crime or gangs.

Armstrong argued, however, that the city needed to protect good actors who have been supplying marijuana shops that have been allowed to avoid city prosecution under Proposition D, which was passed by voters four years ago. She added that in the past, state law had allowed suppliers to provide marijuana as members of cannabis collectives.

Wesson repeatedly said that he wanted to find a fair and efficient way to press forward. But I dont know what that is exactly, he told reporters.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesEmily
One inmate was killed and others were injured in a riot that erupted Sunday morning at the California Mens Colony prison northwest of San Luis Obispo, officials said.

The riot broke out shortly before 11 a.m. and involved more than 160 inmates at the medium-security yard in the East Facility, prison officials said. Guards intervened immediately, shooting 40-millimeter rubber rounds and pepper spray to control the the crowd, officials said.

Multiple inmates sustained stab wounds, with nine taken to the hospital for treatment, authorities said. One of the nine, 25-year-old Matthew Cook, died of his injuries shortly after 1 p.m.

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Cook was more than two years into a 13-year, eight-month sentence for several counts of first-degree burglary.

Its not clear what triggered the riot or whether authorities recovered any weapons. As of Sunday afternoon, authorities were still treating and rehousing inmates. No staff members were injured.

Officials will go into investigative mode once we finish up, said Lt. Monica Ayon.

The prison, which was opened in 1954, houses 4,169 inmates.

Ayon said there was the potential Sunday for up to 600 inmates to be out on the yard.

It is Sunday, so theyre not at work, theyre not at school. Everybodys on the yard, she said.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek
An hours-long standoff between an armed man and a SWAT team in Rancho Palos Verdes ended Monday afternoon when the gunman surrendered to Los Angles County sheriffs deputies.

The incident began about 5:30 a.m., when deputies were dispatched to a reported family disturbance in the 6500 block of Seacove Drive, according to Deputy Guillermina Saldana.

When officers arrived, they were met by a man with a gun, she said.

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After that initial encounter, the man set himself up in a neighbors backyard, where the standoff continued for several hours and neighbors were evacuated, officials said.

The man, identified as 36-year-old Paul Carriere, eventually surrendered. He was jailed on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and is being held on $35,000 bail.

There were no reported injuries.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

ALSO

New video shows suspect slugging Huntington Beach officer before fatal shooting

One inmate is killed and several injured in prison riot near San Luis Obispo

Three people stabbed in Hawthorne, including two outside a church carnival

UPDATES:

2 p.m.: This article was updated with the mans arrest.

This article was originally published at 9 a.m.
A 25-year-old woman was arrested Friday on suspicion of smearing paint across a statue of Christopher Columbus in San Joses City Hall. It was the latest backlash against a symbol that many have criticized as an endorsement of genocide and white supremacy.

Gina Darlene Gonzales of San Jose is accused of entering City Hall around 2 p.m. Thursday and using her hands to smear paint across the statue, according to Sgt. Enrique Garcia, a city police spokesman.

Gonzales was detained Friday near the Martin Luther King Library after a security guard who had been working at City Hall recognized her, Garcia said. Police were sent to the scene and identified her from surveillance footage of the vandalism.

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The woman was issued a citation for vandalism and released. The department will not make the surveillance footage public because it is evidence linked to the vandalism investigation, Garcia said.

San Jose city officials agreed last week that the statue should be moved out of City Hall, but have not formalized a relocation plan yet, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

The incident comes amid a wider debate about monuments honoring Columbus or Civil War figures like Robert E. Lee, which have led to protests and violence in several cities in the U.S.

A large number of activists contend symbols honoring Columbus effectively endorse the genocide of Native Americans. Several statues of Columbus were also vandalized, and in once case last month in New York City, decapitated.

The rallying cries against Columbus have drawn opposition from Italian American groups, which often see Columbus Day as a celebration of Italian heritage as much, if not more, than a day commemorating his arrival in the Caribbean.

The Los Angeles City Council voted to eliminate Columbus Day from the citys calendar and replace it with a day honoring indigenous people. Several U.S. cities  including Seattle, Albuquerque and Denver  have approved similar measures.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.
A former leader of Egypts outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, Mahdi Akef, who had been detained since 2013, has died of complications from cancer and other health issues at age 89, a Brotherhood spokesman said.

Talaat Fahmy said Akefs family had requested he be released from custody because of his medical condition but the request was declined by an Egyptian court. He said Akef, whose death was announced Friday, had cancer, heart problems and a broken thigh.

The Egyptian court has refused to release him and he died of intentional medical negligence, Fahmy told the Associated Press.

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Akef, who headed the Brotherhood from 2004 to 2010, was among hundreds of the groups figures arrested in the heavy crackdown launched against it following the militarys 2013 ouster of President Mohammed Morsi, a Brotherhood member.

Akef was initially convicted on violence-related charges and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The verdict was overturned on appeal, and he was facing a retrial.

The Brotherhood rose to power in elections following the 2011 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak. But the military toppled the group after widespread protests against it.

A physical education schoolteacher, Akef joined the Muslim Brotherhood in 1940 and was part of the armed wing of the group, known as the Special Apparatus. The group carried out a series of assassinations and attacks against targets of British occupation in the country.

The group was accused of targeting President Gamal Abdel-Nasser in a failed assassination attempt, setting the stage for a heavy security crackdown, and Akef was imprisoned from 1954 until 1974.

After his release, Nassers successor, Anwar Sadat, embraced the Muslim Brotherhood and Akef was appointed to a government post.

As relations between Egyptian leaders and the Brotherhood fluctuated, Akef rose through the Brotherhoods ranks, eventually ascending to the groups top post in 2004. A year later, the Brotherhood participated in the countrys parliamentary elections, winning 20% of the seats.

After Mubaraks ouster, the group won all of Egypts elections, parliamentary and presidential, giving it a rare moment of triumph that quickly ended with Morsis ouster.

Hamas, Gazas ruling Palestinian group, expressed condolences on a Twitter posting and described Akefs death as the nations loss and one of its most prominent figures. Hamas originated from the Muslim Brotherhood.
North Korea's foreign minister said on Monday President Donald Trump had declared war on North Korea and that Pyongyang reserved the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down U.S. bombers even if they are not in its air space.

Ri Yong Ho said a Twitter message by Trump on Saturday in which the president warned that the minister and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer" if they acted on their threats amounted to a declaration of war.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Saunders on Monday denied the United States had declared war and called the suggestion "absurd".

Earlier in New York, where he had been attending the annual U.N. General Assembly, Ri told reporters: "The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country."

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.

"The question of who won't be around much longer will be answered then," Ri added.

On Saturday, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea in a show of force after a heated exchange of rhetoric between Trump and Kim over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

The Pentagon said the flight was the farthest north of the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea that any U.S. fighter jet or bomber has flown in the 21st century.

"That operation was conducted in international airspace, over international waters, so we have the right to fly, sail and operate where legally permissible around the globe," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said on Monday.

North Korea, which has remained technically at war with the United States since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty, has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the U.S. mainland and conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test this month.

Fears Of Miscalculation

Pyongyang accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies.

However, the recent spike in rhetoric from both sides has fuelled tensions and raised fears of miscalculation by one side or the other that could have massive repercussions.

U.S. Treasury yields fell to session lows after Ri's comments on Monday.

The Pentagon said the bomber flight indicated the range of military options available to Trump, but U.S. officials have repeatedly stressed that despite the war of words, the administration prefers a negotiated solution to the crisis.

Pentagon spokesman Manning responded to Ri's warning about shooting down U.S. bombers by saying the Pentagon would provide the president with options to deal with North Korea if its provocations continued.

The latest round of heavy verbal salvoes began when Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address last Tuesday to "totally destroy" North Korea, a country of 26 million people, if it threatened the United States or its allies.

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim responded by calling Trump a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard" whom he would tame with fire.

Kim said North Korea would consider the "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history" against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed Pyongyang's nuclear programme was "the correct path".

Ri told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after "Mr Evil President" Trump called Kim a "rocket man" on a suicide mission.

On Twitter late Saturday, Trump replied: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!"

On Monday, North Korea, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programs in defiance of international sanctions, said it "bitterly condemned the reckless remarks" of Trump.

Calls For Restraint

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the only solution to the crisis was a political one.

"Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

China, North Korea's neighbour and main ally, which has nevertheless backed U.N. sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear program, called on Monday for all sides in the crisis to show restraint and not "add oil to the flames."

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described the situation as highly complex and sensitive. He said it was vitally important that everyone strictly, fully and correctly implement all North Korea-related U.N. resolutions, which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

All sides should "not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present", Lu told a daily news briefing.

Speaking to British Prime Minister Theresa May by telephone, Chinese President Xi Jinping repeated Beijing's position that the North Korean issue should be resolved peacefully via talks and hoped Britain could play a constructive role in pushing for this, Chinese state media said.

Downing Street said the two leaders agreed there was a particular responsibility for China and Britain, as permanent Security Council members, to help find a diplomatic solution.

Ri warned on Friday that North Korea might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean, in what would be North Korea's first atmospheric nuclear test. Experts said such a move, while perhaps not imminent, would be proof of North Korea's ability to successfully deliver a nuclear warhead on a missile.

On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a staunch U.S. ally, said he would dissolve parliament's lower house on Thursday for a snap election, seeking a mandate to stick to his tough stance towards a volatile North Korea and rebalance the social security system.

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Dozens of people on a highway in Puerto Rico resorted to parking their cars and walking around, cellphones in hand, trying to get a connection, nearly a week after Hurricane Maria left much of the island incommunicado.

Im trying to do web cam but it doesnt work, so Im trying to text, said Estefanie Torres, 21, who had driven north from Ponce on the islands south coast to try to call her husband, father and aunt in Philadelphia. I have a lot to say.

Families were frantically trying to reach relatives on and off the island, a U.S. territory. At least 16 people have been confirmed dead in connection with the storm, but the death toll is expected to increase as officials in the capital, San Juan, receive reports from outlying areas. Residents of remote mountain towns in the islands interior had been urged to flee flimsy wooden housing.

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Cynthia Maldonado was searching for her mother, son, sister and other relatives in Ponce.

I am not a fan of social networks but today this is the only hope for many people, she wrote on Facebook. No more videos of destruction: If you want to help, post videos - even if they are short  and photos with the name of the person and a short message about how they are. Believe me that comforts us.

Some of those on the U.S. mainland called in reports of the missing to WAPA 680 AM in San Juan, which broadcasts them all day. Searchers posted emotional queries on social media, many featuring smiling photos of the missing: Looking for Mami! (Dona Leonides)

Mom! I need to know you are safe! Anyone please help! Urbanizacion Mariani 44 Calle 2 Patillas 00723 #Patillas #HurricaneMaria

My grandma Aldia Laboy is missing in Guayama, Puerto Rico where she evacuated to a shelter right before #HurricaneMaria

My friends father is missing from #Aibonito #PuertoRico #HurricaneMaria - his name is Jose Ismael Vazquez any information is appreciated

After the Los Angeles Times ran a story about the mountain town of Utuado this week, readers with relatives in the area wrote to ask if we had seen them. In one case, we had: Edwin Vidal, 61, a U.S. Army veteran, was rescuing an elderly woman with a team of volunteers when we met him on a cracked highway in town. His daughter was reassured to see his picture and know that he had survived the storm.

Many island residents had no such luck.

Im looking to find information about my friend Milagros Irizarry Ocasio. She lives in Angeles in Utuado. Would you happen to have any additional information? She is with her brother and elderly father.

We had not seen her.

My family is trapped in the area of Puente Blanco of Utuado. My parents are elderly and require assistance. Ive had no contact with them or any of my family in Puerto Rico. While I was born and raised in Wisconsin and now live in Orange, CA, my parents are Americans and native Puerto Ricans. Is it possible you can help find them? Their names are Eniobel Reyes and Elsie Reyes, wrote Alma Beaudoin.

We had already left Utuado, and had not seen the couple. There were many others we did not meet:

I am searching for my grandfather Tomas Crespo. If you have any information on how to locate family please call me. My grandfather has no water from [Hurricane] Irma and his wife is sick, wrote Elizabeth Crespo of Ocala, Fla.

I really appreciated this report about my birth place. Maybe you can help me locate my family that still lives there. I know that they have no communication whatsoever. Can you help me find them if you are still there? You are my life line, wrote Yolanda Garcia of Chicago.

I continue to pray that my phone will ring and that I will hear my dads voice and that hell tell me that he is fine. That call has not yet come and we are worried, wrote Elle Del Valle of her 85-year-old father, who retired to the eastern city of Caguas.

My grandma Aldia Laboy is missing in Guayama, Puerto Rico where she evacuated to a shelter right before #HurricaneMaria pic.twitter.com/XxYid4h2xj  erin (@erinnycfc) September 21, 2017

My friends father is missing from #Aibonito #PuertoRico #HurricaneMaria - his name is Jose Ismael Vazquez any information is appreciated   Kim Gibson (@Gibson7Kim) September 21, 2017

Some people who got lucky posted updates on a Facebook group dedicated to Hurricane Maria.

For all those who have been praying and supporting me while I waited to hear from my wife Dayann Molina McDonough and daughter Brianna McDonough as they were stuck in Puerto Rico... THANK THE GODS!! I just heard from them about 10 minutes ago! They only had 2 minutes to talk, but they are alive and well!! They are being taken to the San Juan airport tomorrow, posted Brian McDonough of Nassau County, NY.

The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration directed those seeking information or assistance to call (202) 800-3133 or email maria1@prfaa.pr.gov

Survivors can register and post messages on the Safe and Well page of the American Red Cross, which relatives can also search (survivors can also register by texting SAFE to 78876).

Puerto Rico Maria Updates is also collecting information on Facebook for those affected by the storm.

The group searching for cellphone signals near Cayey on Sunday were trying to reach relatives from California to Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Yahaiva Quinones had driven north from Ponce to call her sister in Lancaster, CA and other relatives.

They dont know what happened since the hurricane: We dont have water, light, anything, said Quinones, 35, who works in cosmetics and lived briefly with her sister in Lancaster. She had heard messages on the radio from families of the missing, just not her own.

The message she was hoping to convey: That Im fine, the house is fine.

Nearby, 78-year-old Elba Laboi was trying to reach her children with her dated flip phone. Laboi and her neighbors carpooled 15 miles east from the town of Aibonito, which was devastated by the storm. They were among the lucky ones who still had homes that had not flooded or had the roofs ripped off. They just wanted to tell their children they were safe.

Please tell my kids Im OK, said Saul Rosario, 63, a retired carpenter with children in Florida, Iowa, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Laboi has children living in Sacramento; Cleveland; Minneapolis; Richmond, Ky.; and St. Petersburg, Fla. Given the opportunity to borrow a reporters cellphone, she chose to call her daughter in Cleveland.

The phone rang. Her daughter answered.

Its me, Mami, Laboi said.

She had to repeat herself. The call was quick, but she was smiling when she hung up.

I wanted to tell them I was OK. They were desperate for news, she said.

Her neighbor Elisanta Cozumel, 61, also had several children she needed to call  in Colorado, North Carolina and Texas - but her phone wasnt working. She, too, used a reporters phone to try to reach her son in El Paso.

But the phone had lost its signal. Cozumel left to try another roadside.

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Canta y no llores  Sing and dont cry. Mexico rebounds from earthquake aftermath with a renewed sense of national pride

Quake rescue efforts wind down in Mexico City, with 40 to 50 still missing and 325 dead across country

UPDATES:

1:10 p.m.: This article was updated with a revised death toll.

This article was originally published at 10:30 a.m.
As soon as the White House announced President Trumps new travel ban, advocates for immigrants roundly condemned it, vowing to fight what they described as an unconstitutional abuse of presidential authority.

But after months of swift court victories blocking prior bans  often criticized as bans on Muslims  legal experts said opponents may face their greatest challenge yet.

The new ban addresses some of the legal challenges that brought down prior versions, said Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration attorney and law professor at Cornell University.

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The proclamation goes into depth about how the administration conducted its survey of other countries identity management and information-sharing protocols. The proclamation bars only certain people from certain countries, not everyone from a given country. The proclamation includes North Korea and Venezuela, two non-Muslim-majority countries. And the new travel ban does not bar refugees from entering the United States, Yale-Loehr said.

The White House order, which cites national security concerns and a global review of vetting procedures for entry to the U.S., calls for an indefinite ban on almost all travel to the U.S. by nationals of seven countries, which include most that were targeted in Trumps initial ban, issued after he took office.

Effective Oct. 18, the new measure bans entry by most citizens of Syria, Libya, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea. It also imposes restrictions on a small number of citizens in Venezuela and additional screenings for Iraqis. The ban allows for some exceptions, such as for Iranians who are students or participants in cultural exchange programs.

Sudan, whose nationals were previously blocked from coming to the U.S. under a prior temporary ban that expired Sunday, has been dropped off the list. Chad, Venezuela and North Korea are new entries.

Its clearly an uphill battle against this one, said Peter Spiro, a constitutional and international law professor at Temple University. This travel ban is detailed, more professional and a much tougher target for anyone to challenge.

On Monday, the Supreme Court canceled arguments over the prior travel ban that were scheduled for Oct. 10. Justices were supposed to hear lawyers for the Trump administration and immigrant rights groups make their cases on the ban, which district judges in Hawaii and Maryland and appeals courts in Virginia and California had deemed unconstitutional.

But with major portions of that travel ban expired and replaced by the new one, the court ordered lawyers to submit letters on what should happen next. The court could decide the case is moot. That would leave challengers who had fought since Trumps initial ban in January to get a final decision on the presidents immigration authority from the highest court to start over again in district court lawsuits.

The new ban does not address a refugee ban that is still in place through late October or the soon-to-expire fiscal year cap on refugee admissions. The White House has said it will announce a new cap on refugee admissions in the coming days.

Activists derided Trumps previous bans, and federal judges said they were unconstitutional for discriminating nearly exclusively against Muslims.

Experts said the addition of nations without Muslim majorities  North Korea and Venezuela  and Chad, which has a slight Muslim majority, hurt the argument that the ban is directed only at Muslims. The addition of North Korea is somewhat of a formality as, in practice, almost no North Koreans are currently allowed in the U.S. The ban on Venezuelans is limited to a small sliver of the nations population.

The presidents first travel ban, issued Jan. 27, spurred tens of thousands of visa cancellations, chaos at U.S. international airports and dozens of lawsuits before it was blocked in court.

Iraq was included in that ban, and exceptions such as those for green card holders and people with valid visas were added when the president signed a revised ban in March that removed Iraq and had a more orderly implementation. Judges also blocked that ban before the Supreme Court let part of it move forward with some exceptions, and an appeals court ordered the government to allow travelers with close relatives in the U.S. to be exempt.

But immigrants in the U.S. have routinely complained to advocacy groups and State Department officials that the travel ban and the presidents hard-line stance on immigration have nonetheless made coming to the U.S. a harder and slower process.

Fears of additional travel troubles resurfaced Monday in Los Angeles, home to the nations largest Iranian American community. At Amiri Tour and Travel, an agency that caters mostly to Iranians, owner Mike Amiri said calls about bookings had mostly stopped since Trump announced the new travel rules.

Im worried this new travel ban is going to make business even worse now. This phone was ringing up til 11 p.m. and we were getting them plane tickets to the United States and Iran but now its not ringing, Amiri said. Weve been trying to figure out if they can get visas so we can arrange travel for them to the United States, but its just not happening.

Mohammed Janfar, a 39-year-old Iranian American insurance agent, feared the new ban could thwart his fiancees travel plans, which had been on-and-off since January. His fiancee, who is Iranian, is in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates going through the final stages of approval for a visa to move to Los Angeles. Janfar said hes afraid she wont receive a visa before the new ban takes effect.

I dont want to keep wasting her time. At this point I dont know what else to do. Everything is in turmoil. We went through this in June and now here we are again, said Janfar, a veteran of the U.S. Navy. This is just a really bad roller-coaster ride. I served this country, so why cant I bring someone into this country that I want to marry? She has been thoroughly vetted. Ive never witnessed anything like this.

The National Iranian American Council decried the ban and said the administration has now taken steps to make its Muslim ban  permanent. The new measure, it said in a statement, was nothing but an extension of the same discriminatory policy first rolled out in January.

Becca Heller, director of the International Refugee Assistance Project, agreed.

This is still a Muslim ban  they simply added three additional countries, said Heller, whose group is among those challenging the Trump administration in the Supreme Court.

The National Immigration Law Center, another litigant in the Supreme Court case, tweeted that the original intent behind this always was an attempt to ban Muslims.

Some legal experts said the newest ban could be vulnerable to a legal challenge.

I think this version of the travel ban is likely unconstitutional for the same reason as the prior two versions: It is directed primarily at countries with large Muslim populations; it is national origin discrimination; and there is no evidence linking terrorism to these countries, said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law.

Peter Margulies, a law professor at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, said the new restrictions could even be easier to challenge because they are permanent. This undermines the structure and purpose of the federal immigration law, he said.

Spiro, the Temple University professor, said that although he was not convinced of the new bans unconstitutionality, district court judges could be.

The fact this ban comes on the heels of two amateurishly produced and blocked executive orders, for one, leaves the door open for successful challenges, he said. Its not necessarily 100% bulletproof.

Kaleem and Etehad reported from Los Angeles. Times staff writers Laura King, David G. Savage and Joseph Tanfani in Washington contributed to this report.

jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com

melissa.etehad@latimes.com

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UPDATES:

6:25 p.m.: This article was updated with the Supreme Court decision to cancel oral arguments over the prior travel ban, analysis from legal experts and interviews with Iranian Americans.

This article was originally published at 9:30 a.m.
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison for sexting with a 15-year-old girl in a case that rocked Hillary Clintons campaign for the White House in the closing days of the race and may have cost her the presidency.

Weiner, 53, dropped his head into his hand and wept as the sentence was announced by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote. As the judge and spectators filed out of the courtroom, he sat crying quietly with his head down and his attorneys silent beside him. He must surrender to prison officials by Nov. 6.

I have a disease, but I have no excuses, he had told the judge earlier, reading from a statement he held with trembling hands. Im an addict.

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Weiners lawyers argued that he was getting intensive therapy for the first time, reporting almost daily to group and individual therapy sessions.

Cote acknowledged those efforts in her sentencing remarks. Still, she said, it was important to use his case as a deterrent to other would-be child abusers.

Because of the defendants notoriety, there is intense interest in this prosecution. This is an opportunity to make a statement that can protect other minors, she said.

Weiner, 53, once a rising star in Democratic politics, was married to Hillary Clintons top aide, Huma Abedin, who is in the process of divorcing him. While investigating Weiner, the FBI stumbled on to Abedins laptop, which in turn led to then-FBI Director James Comeys fateful announcement 11 days before the election that he was reopening the probe into Clintons email  which Clinton says played a large part in her defeat to Donald Trump.

Weiner pleaded guilty in May to a count of transferring obscene material to a minor in hopes of receiving a reduced sentence.

Making the case more politically fraught, the victim, who was 15 at the time, has admitted she was motivated by the presidential election. The North Carolina girl initiated the contact with Weiner and sold her story, twice  first to Britains tabloid Daily Mail, which paid her $30,000, and more recently to the syndicated TV show Inside Edition, which paid her $10,000 and flew her with her father to New York.

I knew that Hillary Clinton would be running for president in the year 2016 and I wanted to see if Anthony was still up to the same antics, she told the television program.

The girls name has not been published because of her age, but she appeared on camera on her porch in front of a large U.S. flag and her father spoke on camera without his name or face being revealed.

She is now shopping a book.

Federal prosecutors, who had requested a sentence of 21 to 27 months, argued that the victims motivation and conduct have no bearing on Weiners culpability.

The fact that Anthony Weiner is sitting here today is sad, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Kramer told the judge. But there is a history here that simply cannot be ignored.

Kim asked for a 21- to 27-month prison sentence. Although the defendants self-destructive path from United States Congressman to felon is indisputably sad, his crime is serious and his demonstrated need for deterrence is real, federal prosecutors argued in a pre-sentencing memo.

In 1999, Weiner won the congressional seat being vacated by his mentor, now-Sen. Charles Schumer. His wedding in 2010 to Abedin was officiated by former President Clinton. But his career repeatedly was derailed over sexually explicit texts to women he met on the internet.

He had to resign from Congress in 2011 over a sexting scandal. After promising never to do it again, yet another scandal in 2013 scuttled his race to become New Yorks mayor.

Anthony has a sickness, his attorney Arlo Devlin-Brown told the judge. But the repeated acts of self-destruction are not the acts of a scheming criminal.

By 2016, his attorney acknowledged, Weiner had exchanged thousands of messages with hundreds of women  all of them adults except for the North Carolina girl.

The attorney said Weiner was not like other predators who seek out minors.

Other cases involved defendants trolling the internet looking for victims to exploit. This case starts with the opposite--- with the victim reaching out to Anthony, said Devlin-Brown.

Weiner never attempted to meet the teenager or any of the other women in person, but he did ask her to disrobe on a Skype call and to perform sexual acts. He has acknowledged that he knew the girl was 15.

The fact that Weiners sexual peccadilloes all took place in cyberspace has been more shocking to the public than politicians actual affairs of the flesh. Trump has called Weiner a sleeze and a pervert and called the case just another example of Hillary Clintons bad judgment.

Abedin was not in the courtroom for the sentencing, but Weiners mother and brother attended. The couple are in the process of divorcing.

Weiner told the court he spends his days going to individual and group therapy sessions. His iPhone has been taken away.

I focus on how to live my new small life one day at a time, he told the court.

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

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UPDATES:

11:30 a.m: This article has been updated with additional quotes and background.

8:05 a.m.: This article has been updated with quotes and a description of the scene at the sentencing hearing.

7:50 a.m.: This article has been updated with Weiners sentencing.

This article was originally published at 7:05 a.m.
The United States has long allowed people to remain in this country if their home nations are beset by war or natural disaster while theyre here. It is one of the great humanitarian features of an often-dysfunctional and too frequently coldhearted immigration system.

But signals now being sent from the Trump administration suggest that people living here with temporary protected status may be in the crosshairs of the anti-immigrant wing of the White House.

How do people qualify for temporary protected status? Under a 1990 law, the U.S. may designate a foreign country for TPS if conditions there temporarily prevent its citizens from returning home safely or if it is deemed unable to handle the return of its citizens. Conditions that might trigger TPS include earthquakes, hurricanes and civil wars; once designated, that countrys citizens who are in the United States may apply to stay and work here.

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Obviously, there can be disagreement about which countries should be on the list and, because the protection is temporary, when they should come off it. Clearly, if countries remain on the list for so long that the temporary protections become, in practice, near-permanent, then something is not working. But that hasnt been the case.

There are about 400,000 people from 10 countries receiving protected status  not a terribly burdensome number for the United States.

There are about 400,000 people from 10 countries receiving protected status  not a terribly burdensome number for the United States, which has more than 300 million people. Those countries include Haiti, Sudan, Yemen, El Salvador and Honduras. And plenty of countries have come off the list over the years, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Guinea-Bissau, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

The question now is whether conditions in Haiti and Sudan have improved enough that they should be taken off the list. The Trump administration says they have, but many immigration advocates disagree.

If the administration doesnt change its mind, the protected status of 59,000 Haitians, granted in 2010 after a deadly magnitude 7.0 earthquake, will end in January. This despite a report issued in December by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (part of the Department of Homeland Security) that undercuts the governments conclusion that Haiti has stabilized, and despite a decision four years ago by the neighboring Dominican Republic to deport thousands of Haitians that has further strained Haitis resources.

Sudan has been on the list for 20 years, since President Clinton decided to grant protection to Sudanese citizens in the U.S. because civil war conditions were too dangerous for them to safely return home. International human rights watchers say Sudan remains dangerously unsettled; the State Department warns Americans not to travel there in part because uncontrolled militias roam portions of the country. Yet President Trump this week announced that the protected immigration status for about 1,000 Sudanese in the U.S. will end next year.

Some human rights advocates fear the ending of temporary protections for Haitians and Sudanese is just the beginning of a severely straitened approach to granting protected status. After all, the Trump administration came to power on a wave of anti-immigrant rhetoric. It did recently extend existing protections to people from South Sudan, but with that nation still engaged in a brutal civil war, it would have been ludicrous to try to argue that conditions had improved sufficiently to send its people home.

Unless the government extends it, temporary protective status will expire next year for citizens of El Salvador (263,000 have received protection since 2001) and Honduras (86,000 since 1998). Are those countries sufficiently safe that their citizens can return home? Thats a legitimate question that must be answered before the protections expire. But given the Trump administrations embrace of alternative facts and its animus toward immigrants, we worry that it wont review these designations with clear and compassionate eyes.

While its still early in his first term, it seems increasingly likely that history will place Trump in the same drawer as the 19th century Know-Nothings and other historical anti-immigrant movements in America. If the U.S. wants to be seen around the world as a moral leader and a beacon of freedom, its citizens will have to keep a close and skeptical eye on this administrations decisions regarding temporary protective status.

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The U.S. Supreme Court this fall will hear a series of blockbuster cases dealing with core constitutional rights and basic national values. Among the most important is Gill vs. Whitford, a Wisconsin case that asks the justices to address the toxic threat of partisan gerrymandering. With Whitford, Americans  who by wide margins say they are fed up with gerrymandering  may finally get the breakthrough they have long sought.

The court has already tried and failed several times to limit politicians power to manipulate electoral maps for partisan ends. Its failures have paved the way for so-called extreme partisan gerrymanders, electoral maps drawn by politicians and paid consultants that lock in a statewide majority for their party, through good and bad election cycles.

But there is reason to believe that the Wisconsin case, which the court will take up Oct. 3, may turn out differently. Several crucial factors have aligned to make judicial action both relatively easy and absolutely necessary.

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To start, the Wisconsin voters who brought the case arent asking the court to rule on everything thats problematic about the ways our districts are created and our legislatures operate. They simply want the court to determine if Wisconsins General Assembly map  a textbook example of extreme gerrymandering  is beyond the constitutional pale. (Of course, a ruling against Wisconsin would have ramifications for extreme gerrymanders elsewhere in the country.)

Maps are only going to get more extreme if gerrymandering isnt curbed now.

In 2010, Wisconsin Republicans rode a wave election to a majority in the state Legislature. They then used their majority  and the control over the redistricting process it got them  to draw new electoral maps. A team of aides and consultants supervised by the leaders of the states Republican caucus retreated to an off-site map room, where they used voter data and statistical analyses to engineer a map that would, according to one aides notes, determine whos here 10 years from now. Their plan worked: In 2012, Republicans won 60 out of the assemblys 99 seats with just 48.6% of the two-party statewide vote, and Republicans have maintained their majority since.

When the court considers Wisconsins extreme map, two facts should help soothe twin concerns that it expressed when it last addressed the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering in the mid-2000s: that unconstitutional gerrymanders are too hard to separate from run-of-the-mill, legal ones and that a ruling by the court banning certain kinds of gerrymanders might lead to a flood of redistricting litigation.

For now, Wisconsin-type extreme gerrymandering is likely limited to a handful of congressional maps and less than a dozen state legislative maps. And its harm  the decade-long entrenchment of a single party  is a particularly stark one, both because it is so flagrant and because it so clearly violates core American commitments to representative and accountable legislatures.

New developments in social science should also help the court feel more comfortable with policing extreme gerrymanders. Since the mid-2000s, many novel methods have emerged to reliably flag maps that are biased in favor of one party. These methods include both measures of partisan symmetry (which show when a map favors one party over another in translating votes into seats) and simulated mapping applications (which show when maps are biased at a level that could only be intentional). Many of the worst maps, including Wisconsins, violate multiple such methods, making them easy cases.

Whats more, theres been a political realignment around the issue that should undercut any sense that the Wisconsin suit is a party power-play in disguise. Current and former elected officials from both parties  including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)  have joined together to demand a judicial response to the problem. This bipartisan chorus demonstrates that the Wisconsin case isnt about which party wins. Instead, its about whether voters will get representative and accountable legislatures.

These calls are being echoed by legions of political scientists, law professors, historians, legal advocates, civil rights organizations and civil society groups. Their expertise and experience tell them the same thing that elected officials have learned from their time in office: Partisan gerrymandering has reached an intolerable limit, by any measure and any framework.

Maps are only going to get more extreme if gerrymandering isnt curbed now. During the 2010 cycle, crafty mapmakers used extensive voter data and powerful mapping programs to expertly pack voters and entrench their parties. Since then, computers have only gotten faster, voter data richer, and mapping programs more sophisticated. These developments threaten to make precise, pernicious gerrymandering easier than ever.

With the next round of redistricting coming in 2021, relief from the Supreme Court couldnt come soon enough.

Thomas P. Wolf is counsel, and Michael C. Li senior counsel, at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.

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California farmworkers will have to undergo sexual assault prevention training By Jazmine Ulloa Gov. Jerry Brown/ (Monica Davey/ EPA) Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed legislation to ensure farm labor contractors train employees on how to prevent and report sexual assault, a response to a 2013 PBS Frontline investigation that found sexual violence against women was a pervasive problem in California fields. Senate Bill 295 by Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) makes sexual harassment training mandatory at all businesses that supervise farm employees or provide them with lodging, transportation or other services. The training has to be conducted or interpreted in a language that employees can understand, the law stipulates, and farm labor contractors will have to provide proof of all of their materials and resources to the Farm Labor Commission as part of the license renewal process. Under the new law, the state labor commission also will be able to charge a $100 civil fine for any violation of the new requirements. The PBS Frontline investigative documenatory, Rape in the Fields, The Hidden Story of Rape on the Job in America found more than half a million women work in U.S. fields. Most do not have legal residency in the country, and sexual harassment and violence often go unreported. A 2012 Human Rights Watch survey found 80% of 150 women in Californias Central Valley had experienced some form of the abuse. Facebook

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Los Angeles voters can cast ballots in Assembly race on Tuesday By Chris Megerian Wendy Carrillo is one of 13 people running for a state Assembly seat. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) The political dominoes from U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxers retirement are almost done falling. Her decision two years ago to forgo reelection led to a reshuffling that eventually left vacant a state Assembly seat in Los Angeles. There are 13 candidates running in the special election, and the primary is Tuesday. Read More Facebook

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Gov. Brown signs major housing legislation By Liam Dillon At a signing ceremony in San Francisco on Friday morning, Gov. Jerry Brown signed 15 bills aimed at addressing the states mounting housing problems. It is a big challenge, Brown said. We have risen to it this year. The bills could add nearly $1 billion in new funding for low-income housing developments in the near term as well as lessen regulations that slow growth. Read More Facebook

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Watch live: Gov. Jerry Brown signs bills to tackle Californias housing crisis Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers are gathered in San Francisco for the signing into law of a package of proposals designed to tackle some of the most pressing parts of Californias housing crisis. Read More Facebook

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Businesses in California will be required to tell customers exactly how much their automatic renewal will cost By Mina Corpuz California will require online businesses that offer free trials to tell customers exactly how much an automatic renewal will cost under a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday. The laws author, Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), thinks the bill, known as SB 313, will make it easier for customers to cancel service. Consumers need to know what they are signing up for and that they can just as easily cancel any service or subscription online as when they started it online, Hertzberg said in a statement. Streaming services like Hulu and Spotify and the file-sharing site Dropbox have elicited lawsuits and consumer complaints about their automatic service renewals, according to Hertzbergs statement. The law goes into effect in July. Facebook

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Heres why Californias early primary in 2020 is destined to pick the next president. (Nah, not really) By Mark Z. Barabak (Harry Chase / Los Angeles Times) Today we answer questions. Woo-hoo! Now that Gov. Jerry Brown has signed the bill, it looks like California is moving up its 2020 presidential primary. Finally! Uh. No more watching from the sidelines as small-fry states like Iowa and New Hampshire throw their weight around. Um. Im already fluffing pillows and prepping the guestroom for all the 2020 hopefuls wholl be camped out. Er. What? You dont seem too excited. Look, it would be great if California voted in a truly meaningful presidential primary. Its been about 50 years since that happened. But its about as likely in 2020 as President Trump dumping Vice President Pence and running for reelection on a unity ticket with Hillary Clinton. How can that be? Lots of reasons, both political and practical. Do tell. Read More Facebook

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Poll: Californians like Obamacare more than ever but are divided on single-payer healthcare By Melanie Mason Members of the California Nurses Assn. and other supporters rally at the state Capitol for a single-payer health plan June 28. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) As the latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act fizzles, the law has reached its highest popularity in California in four years, according to a new poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California. Nearly 60% of the Californians hold a generally favorable view of the healthcare law, and just over a third of Californians see it unfavorably  the highest approval rating since PPIC began tracking the laws popularity in 2013. But while Democrats and independents back the law, known as Obamacare, with strong majorities, three-quarters of Republicans have negative views of it. Only 18% of Californians believe congressional Republicans should try again to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, and 58% of adults want to see bipartisan efforts to improve the law. Underscoring the GOPs challenge in dramatically reducing governments role in healthcare, two-thirds of the states adults believe it is the federal governments responsibility to ensure that all Americans have health coverage. But Californians are divided on whether to substantially increase government involvement through a single-payer system, such as the Medicare for All proposal recently introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). A national single-payer insurance program such as Medicare for All gets support from 35% of Californians, according to the poll. Support is higher among Democrats  44%  and independents  34%  than among Republicans. Only 6% of Republicans back such a system. But the current system, a patchwork of government and private insurance options, isnt particularly adored by Californians. Just under 30% of adults support continuing with a mix of private and public insurance options, while 36% of Democrats, 21% of Republicans and 31% of independents see that mixed system as the best way to provide health coverage. Facebook

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Half of Californias likely voters think Sen. Dianne Feinstein should retire, poll finds By Phil Willon (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) As Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein contemplates a 2018 bid for reelection, a new poll has found that 50% of Californias likely voters think she shouldnt run again. Just 43% of likely voters support Feinstein running for a sixth term, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll released Wednesday. The results are similar among all California adults, not just likely voters, with 46% saying she should not run for another term and 41% saying she should run. Feinstein, 84, has come under increased pressure from members of Californias left, many of whom were infuriated when earlier this month she called for patience with President Trump and refused to back demands for his impeachment. Still, the poll found that Feinstein remains popular. More than half of likely voters  54%  approve of the job shes doing, compared with 38% who disapprove. Thats on par with Gov. Jerry Browns approval rating, and it bests the marks for Californias other Democratic senator, Kamala Harris. When likely voters were asked about Harris, the former state attorney general elected to the Senate in November, 47% approved of the job she was doing in Washington and 30% disapproved. Almost a quarter of voters didnt offer an opinion about Harris. The contrasting results on Feinstein are difficult to decipher but at the very least indicate voters remain restless. Partly, this is a holdover from last years election in which you saw many Democrats wanting a more liberal alternative at the presidential level and you saw many independents wanting an outsider, said Mark Baldassare, president of Public Policy Institute of California. As people are looking to next year, theres a desire for something new. Speculation continues that Feinstein may face a Democratic challenger. Among those who have been mentioned is state Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), who is weighing his next political move after he terms out of office in 2018. De Leon lashed out at Feinstein after her comments about Trump in early September. In her last election, Feinstein trounced her Republican opponent, Elizabeth Emken, by a 25-percentage-point margin in 2012. She won by almost an identical margin in 2006 when challenged by former Republican state Sen. Richard Mountjoy. However, California has since switched to a top-two primary system. The two candidates who receive the most voters in the June primary election will advance to the 2018 general election, regardless of their party. Two Democrats faced off in the finale of Californias 2016 U.S. Senate election, with Harris besting then-Rep. Loretta Sanchez. Facebook

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Barbara Boxer says if Sen. Dianne Feinstein runs for another term, she should expect a tough race By Mina Corpuz Former Sen. Barbara Boxer (Mina Corpuz / Los Angeles Times ) Its one of the hottest political parlor games in California right now: Will she run again? Everyone is waiting for Sen. Dianne Feinstein to announce if shell seek a sixth term. And even though they served as colleagues in Washington for more than two decades, former Sen. Barbara Boxer said she has no inside intel on what Feinstein will do in 2018. I believe she is running until I see any other indication, Boxer said Wednesday at a Sacramento Press Club lunch. Every single race is hard.... Anyone who runs against her will give her a tough race. Feinstein, 84, has made clear she is taking her time, even as ambitious politicians eye the seat she has held since 1992. One long-shot Democrat already is raising money for the race, and Feinstein recently drew criticism from California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, who has not ruled out a primary challenge against her. Boxer said Wednesday her own priority for next years midterm election is flipping several Republican-held House seats in Southern California. Theres no such thing as an off election year, she said. Its an on year. Much of this work will be done through the political action committee Boxer founded, PAC for a Change. The organization also supports electing more Democrats to the Senate and standing up to President Trumps policies, she said. Since leaving the Senate in January, Boxer has also given speeches and promoted her book, The Art of Tough. She doesnt like to consider herself a retiree. Boxer also skirted a question about her pick for governor in a race that already is crowded with several Democrats. All of the candidates, she joked, are like my sons and daughters. Facebook

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Californias top elections officer now says his agencys website wasnt the one scanned by Russian hackers By John Myers Secretary of State Alex Padilla (John Myers / Los Angeles Times) Five days after saying he had been told Russian hackers scanned the states main elections website for weaknesses in 2016, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said Wednesday that it turns out it didnt actually happen that way. Padilla said that his office was given incorrect information by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and that the Russian operation was instead focused on scanning the network of the state Department of Technology. Our notification from DHS last Friday was not only a year late, it also turned out to be bad information, Padilla said in a statement. Bryce Brown, a spokesman for the states information technology agency, said officials had long known about suspect activity that occurred on our network last summer but didnt know anything else until the notification from federal officials. Although we did not have knowledge of the source until now, we have confirmed our security systems worked as planned and the activity was blocked as it happened in 2016, he said. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment. On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that federal officials also reversed course in a notification they had made to Wisconsin elections officials about Russian activity. In June, federal officials told Congress that 21 states elections systems were targeted by Russian activity. Padilla insisted last week that the scanning incident found no vulnerabilities or access to any California voter information, and he criticized DHS officials for the delay in sharing information about 2016 activities. On Wednesday, he said hopes that federal officials will continue to work with the states in preventing cyberattacks. I remain committed to a partnership with DHS and other intelligence agencies; however, elections officials and the American public expect and deserve timely and accurate information, Padilla said. Facebook

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Hollywood tour buses could get more rules slapped on them under the law Gov. Jerry Brown just signed By Patrick McGreevy A tour bus passes the late Carrie Fishers gated home in Beverly Hills. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times) Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday signed legislation aimed at reining in the proliferation of tour buses offering to take fans to the homes and gathering spots of celebrities in Hollywood and other trendy neighborhoods. The measure allows cities and counties to adopt rules that restrict the routes or streets used by the tour buses, and prohibit the use of loudspeakers on open-topped buses and vans. Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian (D-Sherman Oaks) introduced the proposal in response to a report by NBC Los Angeles that found some tour buses were operating unsafely without proper permits. He also cited complaints about topless buses on narrow streets of the Hollywood Hills, Malibu and Bel-Air. Facebook

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Latino state lawmakers back Antonio Villaraigosa for California governor By Phil Willon Antonio Villaraigosa gives a pep talk in Los Angeles at Cathedral High School, where he once was also a student. ((Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) The Legislatures California Latino Caucus on Wednesday endorsed former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for governor. While expected, the nod from the politically influential caucus is a boon for Villaraigosa, a former Democratic Assembly speaker and the only major Latino candidate running for governor. Villaraigosa has lagged behind Lt. Gov. Gavin Newson in early polls and fundraising. As Assembly speaker and Los Angeles mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa worked to strengthen our economy, expand our healthcare, improve our schools and invest in strategic infrastructure projects that create middle-class jobs, Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), chair of the caucus, said in a statement Wednesday morning. An intriguing aspect of the endorsement is that one of the most prominent members of the California Latino Caucus is Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). In Sacramento, speculation abounds over whether De Leon may run for governor, and the Villaraigosa endorsement could indicate De Leon has other plans for his political future. Villaraigosa joins a slate of other Latino statewide candidates endorsed by the caucus: Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-Azusa) for lieutenant governor; current appointee Xavier Becerra for attorney general; incumbent Alex Padilla for secretary of state; Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) for insurance commissioner; and Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) for superintendent of public instruction. Facebook

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California is trying to educate people about marijuana before recreational sales start By Patrick McGreevy Months before California allows the sale of marijuana for recreational use, the state has launched an education campaign about the drug, including highlighting the potential harms of cannabis for minors and pregnant women. The state is scheduled to issue licenses starting Jan. 2 for growing and selling marijuana for recreational use, expanding a program that currently allows cannabis use for medical purposes. In response, the California Department of Public Health has created a website to educate Californians about the drug and its impacts, including how to purchase and safely store cannabis. We are committed to providing Californians with science-based information to ensure safe and informed choices, said State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. The website, Lets Talk Cannabis, notes it is illegal for people under 21 to buy marijuana for non-medical use and warns that using cannabis regularly in your teens and early 20s may lead to physical changes in your brain. The site also warns that marijuana edibles may have higher concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. If you eat too much, too fast you are at higher risk for poisoning, the website warns. The state urges parents and guardians to talk to their teenagers about legal and health issues surrounding marijuana use. The state officials also say consuming cannabis is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who plan to become pregnant soon, noting that it can affect the health of your baby. The website got good marks from legalization activist Ellen Komp, deputy director of Californias chapter of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The website is fairly accurate, she said, but added, The risks with pregnancy are somewhat overstated, telling women they should not use cannabis for nausea or even if they are thinking of getting pregnant. Some 43% of Californians have used marijuana for recreational purposes and 54% said they have not, according to a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll last November. Among those who have not used it, just 2% said they are much more likely to use it if Proposition 64 passed, which it did, while 5% said they are somewhat more likely to use it, and 89% said they are no more likely to smoke pot if it was legalized. Other advice from the states site: driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and increases the chance of a car accident, and cannabis should be stored in a locked area to avoid poisoning children and pets. Updated at 11:30 am to include data from poll on marijuana use. Facebook

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Todays newsletter: Republicans fail again to repeal Obamacare By John Myers Todays Essential Politics newsletter details the last gasp of the Republican efforts in Washington to repeal the Affordable Care Act, efforts that President Trump insisted on Tuesday arent over. We also take a look at the win by Roy Moore, a former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, in a Senate runoff that saw the president back the losing candidate. And weve got the details of what happens if Gov. Jerry Brown, as expected, signs the sanctuary state bill into law. The newsletter comes out Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Are you a subscriber? Sign up below. Read More Facebook

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After meeting with Trump, California Democrats say they want a seat at the tax reform table By Sarah D. Wire Ahead of Republicans plans to unveil a more detailed overview of their tax reform plan Wednesday, President Trump sat down with a bipartisan group of members that included California Democratic Reps. Linda Sanchez and Mike Thompson. Sanchez, of Whittier, who serves on the House committee that has authority over tax legislation, said members didnt learn much about the details of the plan Tuesday. There were kind of generalities but no specificity, which is why were interested to see what they put out tomorrow, because clearly its not something thats had Democratic input, Sanchez said. According to a White House transcript of part of the meeting, Trump said the plan is focused on making the tax code simple and fair, increasing the deduction most families can take, lowering the business tax rate and bringing wealth stored overseas back to the United States. Thompson, of St. Helena, said the president listened to what Democrats had to say, but he didnt get the impression that the policy plan would change before it becomes public Wednesday. I dont think it was that kind of meeting. We all agreed we wanted a fair, easy-to-work-with tax code that generates more jobs, said Thompson, who is also on the committee. He said repeatedly he wants to be successful. Republicans are set to unveil a consensus document Wednesday they say will be a much more detailed overview than previous tax policy papers theyve released. But it is not expected to be an actual plan or bill. Republicans will huddle with Vice President Mike Pence for half of Wednesday to discuss tax reform. Democrats are holding their own tax reform forum too. Its been 30 years since Congress has passed a major tax overhaul, and Republican leaders have set an ambitious timeline for passing a tax-reform measure, indicating they want to get it to Trumps desk by the end of the year. Sanchez said she tried to stress in the meeting that Democrats should play a role in writing the final bill. There wasnt discussion about the group sitting down with Trump again, she said. The president was very pleased that it was a bipartisan effort, which sort of confused me because that was the first meeting where there were members of the Democratic side of the Ways and Means Committee there, Sanchez said. I dont know if theyve been telling him that the process is bipartisan or if he knew it wasnt bipartisan but didnt care, but I thought that was kind of odd. Facebook

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Judge rewrites summary of proposed gas tax repeal initiative, saying it was fundamentally flawed By Patrick McGreevy A Chevron gas station in Sacramento shows prices in February. ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) A judge on Monday rewrote the title and summary for a proposed initiative that would repeal recent gas tax increases in California. He rejected a title and summary written by the state attorney generals office as fundamentally flawed. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy M. Frawley criticized the attorney generals office for not mentioning in the title that the ballot measure would repeal newly approved taxes or fees. This is not a situation where reasonable minds may differ, Frawley wrote in his ruling. The Attorney Generals title and summary ... must be changed to avoid misleading the voters and creating prejudice against the measure. The initiative proposed by Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) would repeal a bill approved in April by the Legislature and governor that would raise the gas tax by 12 cents per gallon and increase vehicle fees in order to generate $5.2 billion for road repairs and to improve mass transit. The title and summary will be placed on petitions to be circulated by those trying to qualify the measure for the November 2018 ballot. The title and summary are also placed on the ballot if enough signatures are collected. The original title written by Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerras office was: Eliminates recently enacted road repair and transportation funding by repealing revenues dedicated for those purposes. Allens attorneys argued the voter could read that to mean that the Legislature identified existing funds for transportation and the initiative would take those funds away. The judges title says: Repeals recently enacted gas and diesel taxes and vehicle registration fees. Eliminates road repair and transportation programs funded by these taxes and fees. The judge also made it clear in the summary that an Independent Office of Audits and Investigations that would be eliminated by the initiative is newly established. Representatives of the attorney generals office were not immediately available to comment on whether the ruling would be appealed. Facebook

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Democrats to try to force vote on Dream Act with rarely successful procedural move By Sarah D. Wire House Democrats are trying to force a vote on Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allards version of the Dream Act, they announced in a news conference Monday. The House and Senate have less than six months to address the legal status of people brought into the country illegally as children before the program protecting them from deportation ends in March. In the weeks since President Trump announced he was ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, Democrats have pushed for a quick vote on Roybal-Allards bill, which is backed by every House Democrat and four Republicans. There are also a handful of other Republican-sponsored bills that could be considered. To force a vote, Democrats would need a majority of the House  218 members  to sign whats called a discharge petition to pull the bill from the House Judiciary Committee and bring it to the House floor. Roybal-Allard, a Democrat from Downey, said she believes there is enough support to pass the bill if Democrats can get it to the House floor. Democratic leaders said they expect all House Democrats will sign the petition. The American people overwhelmingly oppose deporting our Dreamers, Roybal-Allard said. But the Republican leadership is ignoring the wishes of a majority of the American people. Democrats hold only 194 seats, and would have to convince 24 Republicans to buck their party leaders and sign the petition. House leaders control which bills come to the floor for a vote and when. Although discharge petitions have been used in the past to shame congressional leadership into letting a bill move forward, the procedural move is rarely successful. This month, Republican Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado filed a discharge petition for the Bridge Act, a Republican- sponsored bill to address the legal status of people brought to the country illegally as children. Five members of Congress had signed on as of Monday. FOR THE RECORD Sept 26, 12:38 p.m.: An earlier version of this post identified the member of Congress who filed a discharge petition for the Bridge Act as Rep. Mike Thompson. It was Rep. Mike Coffman. Facebook

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California lawmakers grant some megaprojects relief from environmental law, but not others By Liam Dillon Developers plan to build two skyscrapers near the Capitol Records building in Hollywood. (Reed Saxon / Associated Press) When professional sports team owners, Facebook and big developers have asked California lawmakers for some relief from the states main environmental law over growth, the answer usually has been yes. The law, the California Environmental Quality Act, requires developers to disclose and reduce a projects effects on the environment  a process that often can get tied up in lengthy litigation. This year, legislators passed a measure aiming to shorten any potential environmental lawsuit against Facebooks expansion of its headquarters, two skyscrapers planned in Hollywood and other megaprojects to less than nine months. Doing so has led many to question why only big projects get such relief. Read More Facebook

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The fate of Californias biggest campaign donor disclosure bill may hinge on some small details By John Myers Members of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP) You wouldnt expect to see the leader of Californias campaign watchdog agency rooting for Gov. Jerry Brown to veto sweeping new disclosure rules for political donors. And yet, thats where things stand in a seven-year debate over helping voters follow the money. I think we can do better than this bill, said Jodi Remke, chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. Remke and her staff have raised a red flag about the fine print tucked inside Assembly Bill 249, the California Disclose Act, that rewrites rules for campaign contributions that are earmarked. Read More Facebook

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Oceanside lifeguard receives Californias highest public safety honor By Mina Corpuz Medal of Valor recipient David Wilson stands with his parents, a family friend, Gov. Jerry Brown and Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra. (Mina Corpuz / Los Angeles Times ) An Oceanside Fire Department officer who risked his life to save a boater received the states highest award for public safety officers on Monday. Gov. Jerry Brown and Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra presented David Wilson with the Public Safety Medal of Valor at a ceremony at the state Capitol. In July 2016, Wilson rescued a man whose boat crashed into a jetty in Oceanside Harbor. The victim was barely conscious and jammed between two rocks. With only a short window between each set of waves, Wilson dove underneath the water and swam into the boulders to free the victims legs. You earned it, Brown said at the ceremony. You were assaulted by the waves and the rocks, and you went ahead anyways. Thats why you are the only one getting a medal of honor. A review board made up of law enforcement officers reviewed 21 nominations for the Medal of Valor. The award is given out once a year. There can be more than one recipient, but this year Brown chose one. Facebook

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7.5 million Californians could lose coverage under latest Obamacare repeal effort, state health insurance exchange says By Melanie Mason Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California, the states health insurance exchange, in 2013. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP) Californians who get their health coverage on the individual market could face dire consequences under the current Republican effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, warned a new analysis released Monday by Covered California, the states health insurance exchange. Under the latest plan, which is being led by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), 7.5 million Californians could lose their health insurance by 2027, the analysis said. It also said the repeal could trigger a collapse of the states individual insurance market. The Graham-Cassidy plan takes resources away from California and from the majority of states, which means that far fewer Americans would have insurance or the existing protections from insurers, said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California, in a statement. The effect on California would be devastating, and lead not only to there being more uninsured people than there were before the Affordable Care Act, but would also cause huge negative impacts on the health care delivery system, the economy and on those with employer-based coverage, Lee said. The report comes on the heels of another grim analysis by Gov. Jerry Browns administration, which estimated that the Senate proposal would strip California of nearly $139 billion in federal funds from 2020 to 2027. The Covered California report looked at two different scenarios for how state officials could respond to such a slash in federal dollars. If the state chose to prioritize protecting Medi-Cal, which provides coverage for low-income Californians, the analysis projects the collapse of the individual insurance market by 2021. If officials chose to direct attention to the individual market by stepping in to cover subsidies now paid for by the federal government, that could lead to large reductions in the Medi-Cal program. In both scenarios, the result would be up to 7.5 million fewer Californians with health insurance, according to the report. Proponents claim Graham-Cassidy gives states flexibility and choice, but in reality it puts states into a lose-lose situation, Lee said. Under this plan, California and states across the nation would be forced to either turn their backs on their most needy residents, or let the individual market be destroyed. Either way, millions lose coverage. Read More Facebook

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Todays newsletter: Sports spat starts with California teams By Christina Bellantoni Todays Essential Politics newsletter details President Trumps sports spat, which originated with California teams before becoming national political drama on football fields across America. It also notes last falls USC/Los Angeles Times poll, which found huge partisan divisions in how California voters viewed Colin Kaepernick at the time. Democrats liked him more, while he had just 6% favorability among tea party Republicans here. The state was evenly divided on whether to support his protest during the national anthem. The newsletter comes out Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Are you a subscriber? Sign up below. Read More Facebook

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Attorney running against Sen. Dianne Feinstein is hosting Hollywood fundraiser By Christine Mai-Duc Pat Harris may be a long-shot candidate for U.S. Senate, but hes not fundraising like one. On Monday Harris, a Democrat challenging Sen. Dianne Feinstein, is set to tread territory familiar to many prominent statewide candidates looking for cash: the Hollywood fundraiser. The event is to be held at the Catalina Jazz Club on Sunset Boulevard and is being billed as a CD release party for Carol Welman, a jazz musician and Harris wife. Tickets range from $150 for a single ticket to $2,700 for a VIP dinner for two. (An email to Welmans subscriber list earlier this week advertised tickets for as little as $30). Harris announced that he was running last month on a platform that includes support for single-payer healthcare and a pledge that he will only take campaign donations from individuals. Facing pressure from progressive activists, Feinstein has been coy so far about whether shell retire or run again in 2018. Either way, shes stockpiled $3.5 million in her campaign war chest. As of June 30, Harris had raised no money except for $104,685 he loaned his own campaign. Three other candidates have also filed to run against Feinstein: Democrats Steve Stokes and David Hildebrand, and independent Jerry Carroll. Facebook

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Rep. Keith Ellison headlines dinner for Orange County Democrats, who declare orange is the new blue By Christine Mai-Duc The focus was on 2018 as Orange County Democrats gathered Saturday night in Costa Mesa to bask in their high hopes here. Headliner and deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, urged unity as dozens of Democrats navigate crowded primaries throughout the state. Ellison getting star treatment tonight, speaking to VIP attendees & meeting congressional candidates & gubernatorial hopeful @DelaineEastin pic.twitter.com/2Bh8K5H1Qu  Christine Mai-Duc (@cmaiduc) September 24, 2017 Much of focus tonight on flipping 4 GOP congressional seats in OC. Ellison: "We need 24 more seats...I figure 4 of em we can get right here" pic.twitter.com/CDDbGWpNnT  Christine Mai-Duc (@cmaiduc) September 24, 2017 The theme of the annual awards dinner was Orange is the New Blue, a twist on the title of a popular Netflix show and the latest indication of Democrats rosy outlook as they try to flip the countys four GOP-held House seats next year. Ellison told the crowd it was not the proper role of the DNC to choose among the many primary contenders. But you will sort it out running spirited campaigns, you will sort it out over ideas, and when it is over we need you to hold hands and support the Democrat. Ellison pushed for a return to grass-roots organizing and outreach to voters of all stripes  and not just during election years. We cannot come a month before the election, tell them ... Come vote for us, Ellison said. Weve got to be in their lives in a physical, palpable way. Then we do have to have the right words, we do have to stand up for them. Ellison on more permanent solution for DACA: no wall, no increase in detention beds "but there might be some other things" Dems can agree to pic.twitter.com/yrmOGfXYan  Christine Mai-Duc (@cmaiduc) September 24, 2017 In an interview, Ellison also stressed the need to pass legislation for young people brought to the country illegally who were allowed to stay and work under the Obama Administrations Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Ellison said Democrats are open to negotiating certain immigration enforcement provisions in order pass a replacement for DACA, which President Trump announced he will end in March. But he said Democrats wont acquiesce to Trumps demand for a border wall or allow additional capacity for immigration detentions. There are certain things that are simply not on the table  the wall or more detention beds, were just not doing that, he said. Facebook

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Russians tried to find weaknesses in Californias election website last year, say state officials By John Myers Secretary of State Alex Padilla (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Californias chief elections officer said U.S. government officials believe Russian hackers tried to find weaknesses in the states election website during the 2016 campaign, but that theres no evidence their effort was successful. Secretary of State Alex Padilla said the Department of Homeland Security only told him on Friday of last years attempt. He described the attack as a scanning of the states website in hopes of finding weaknesses in its computer network. Our office actively monitors scanning activity as part of our routine cybersecurity protocols, Padilla said in a statement. We have no information or evidence that our systems have been breached in any way or that any voter information was compromised. Those involved were Russian cyber actors according to Padillas description of information he received from federal officials. In June, a top federal official told the Senate Intelligence Committee that systems in 21 states were believed to have been scoured by cyberattackers. The election website, www.sos.ca.gov, contains public information about voting procedures as well as data on past election results and current issues. More sensitive data, including the electronic files of some 17 million registered voters, are not included on the website. A leaked National Security Agency document earlier this year outlined a Russian effort to hack into devices made by a Florida-based voting software company. One California county, Humboldt, used the companys software, but did not find any evidence of tampering. Padilla, a frequent critic of President Trumps special panel investigating the potential of voter fraud, said federal officials should have notified him much earlier of the attempted breach. The practice of withholding critical information from elections officials is a detriment to the security of our elections and our democracy, he said. Facebook

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Antonio Villaraigosa jabs at Gavin Newsom over his apparent embrace of single-payer healthcare bill By Melanie Mason Supporters of a measure to establish single-payer healthcare in California were thrilled by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsoms embrace of their bill on Friday, but a rival gubernatorial campaign was less impressed with his position. A spokesman for former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa accused the lieutenant governor of flip-flopping because after Newsom was asked if he explicitly endorsed the legislation  Senate Bill 562  he responded that he endorsed getting this debate going again. This is an outrageous parsing of words when millions of people are at risk of losing their healthcare, Villaraigosa spokesman Luis Vizcaino said in a statement. It is a yes or no question, lieutenant governor. Are you for SB 562 or not? The nurses and California voters deserve the truth, Vizcaino added. The question of backing SB 562 is thorny since it was shelved earlier this year after Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) called it woefully incomplete. Backers have said theyd be willing to make changes to the measure, but the contours of those proposed changes have not been made public. Vizcaino said Villaraigosa has always supported universal healthcare and the concept of single payer, but agreed with Speaker Rendon that the bill couldnt be sent to the governor without a funding plan. Speaking to reporters, Newsom said he saw a single-payer system in which the government covers healthcare costs as the best way to achieve universal coverage and said he would be actively engaged in designing and developing it if SB 562 does not pass next year. RoseAnn DeMoro, executive director of the California Nurses Assn./National Nurses United, said she saw Newsoms remarks as a clear endorsement of their measure and a stance she said was not surprising. We always knew Gavin would support our bill, DeMoro said. She lambasted Villaraigosa  who does not support SB 562  for criticizing Newsom, whom her group endorsed nearly two years ago. I want Villaraigosa to explain to the Latino community why he doesnt think they should have ... comprehensive healthcare, she said. Villaraigosas being disingenuous. He knows better. Hes just politically posturing trying to find a wedge issue and he knows better. UPDATE 4:32 p.m.: This post was updated with an additional statement from Villaraigosas spokesperson on the former L.A. mayors support for universal healthcare. Read More Facebook

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In San Francisco, Bernie Sanders plays two roles: Obamacare defender and single-payer advocate By Melanie Mason View Twitter post Sen. Bernie Sanders headed west to drum up support for his recently unveiled Medicare for All proposal Friday, but first trained his sights on the Obamacare repeal bill currently gripping Congress. Sanders (I-Vt.), whose speech was the cornerstone of a California Nurses Assn. gathering in San Francisco, blasted the Republican plan led by Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina as horrific legislation. How cruel, how immoral it is, to say to those millions of Americans, we are going to take away that health insurance that keeps you alive, Sanders said. Sen. John McCain announced on Friday he could not support the measure, dealing the GOP plan a blow. Sanders thanked McCain for his stance, prompting the liberal crowd to cheer the Arizona Republican. Some Democrats had worried that Sanders push for his single-payer plan could distract from efforts to oppose the repeal bill. But the senator was explicit in his appeal to the approximately 2,000 supporters in attendance to focus their energy on defeating the repeal measure. Our job is to continue to make sure the Republicans do not get the 50 votes they need ... I beg of you, please, do everything you can to stop the bill, he said. Still, the crux of Sanders speech focused on his single-payer bill, which he sold as an improvement over the status quo. The Affordable Care Act, as we all know, made significant improvements to our healthcare system, Sanders said, citing the expansion of the number of Americans with health insurance and the ban on insurance companies ability to deny coverage to people with preexisting conditions. But we must be honest and acknowledge that with all the gains of the Affordable Care Act, it does not go far enough, he added. The bill expands the Medicare program to cover the healthcare costs of all Americans with no out-of-pocket payments for patients. The measure does not include a plan to finance such a system, but Sanders has released a report laying out various ways to cover the costs, including a progressive income tax. During his pitch, Sanders said the implications extended beyond health policy. It is a struggle about what this great nation stands for, Sanders said. It is a struggle about whether or not every working person in this country has healthcare as a right or whether we allow insurance companies and drug companies to continue to rip us off. Facebook

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Gas tax foes win victory as they try to get a repeal on November 2018 ballot By Patrick McGreevy A Chevron gas station in Sacramento shows prices in February. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) In a rare court rebuke of the state Attorney Generals Office, a judge said Friday that the title and summary written for a proposed initiative is misleading  and that hed do a rewrite himself to make it clear the measure would repeal recently approved increases to gas taxes and vehicle fees. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy M. Frawley said he would draft a new title and summary to be placed on petitions for the initiative after attorneys for the state and proponents of the ballot measure could not agree on compromise language. In this circumstance, I honestly believe that the circulated title and summary that has been prepared is misleading, Frawley told attorneys during a court hearing Friday. He hopes to release the new title and summary by Monday. The initiative proposed by Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) would repeal a bill approved in April by the Legislature and governor that would raise the gas tax by 12 cents per gallon and increase vehicle fees to generate $5.2 billion annually to fix the states roads and bridges and improve mass transit. Allen and his attorneys said the state attorney general sought to confuse voters with a title that does not use the words taxes or fees. The title was proposed to say: Eliminates recently enacted road repair and transportation funding by repealing revenues dedicated for those purposes. Allen, who is running for governor in 2018, said the court decision showed the attorney general was trying to sway voters against the initiative. Justice is being served for the voters of California, Allen said after the court hearing. I think that he [the judge] has properly seen that the attorney general has tried to intentionally mislead the voters of California because he has tried to prejudice their vote and tried to keep increased taxes for Californians. A coalition of business, labor and government officials called Fix Our Roads, which supports the gas tax legislation, had representatives in the courtroom who later criticized Allen for seeking political gain at the expense of California motorists. This is more about Travis Allens gubernatorial race than anything else, said coalition spokeswoman Kathy Fairbanks. Hes condemning voters to driving on potholed roads and being stuck in traffic. Allen said the initiative and his campaign for governor are both aimed at giving voters power to fight higher taxes. Finally ordinary Californians are understanding that they actually can hold Sacramento accountable, Allen said. This is why Im running to be the next governor of California, because for too long Sacramento has been run by out-of-touch elitists that are coming from Sacramento and the Bay Area of San Francisco. A second initiative to repeal the gas tax has been proposed by a different group of Republican activists. Allen said he supports the second initiative but noted it has to collect many more signatures because it seeks to change the state constitution. It has a long way to go, Allen said. If the judge issues a new title and summary Monday, Allen said the petitions will hit the streets immediately and he is confident they will get the 365,880 signatures to qualify the measure for the November 2018 ballot. Facebook

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We will have universal healthcare in the state of California, Gavin Newsom promises single-payer advocates By Melanie Mason View Twitter post Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has made his most explicit endorsement yet of a controversial single-payer healthcare proposal that has roiled Democratic politics in California. Newsom appeared Friday before the California Nurses Assn., the most ardent backers of SB 562, a stalled bill to establish a system in which the state would cover all residents healthcare costs. Theres no reason to wait around on universal healthcare and single-payer in California, Newsom said. Its time to move 562. Its time to get it out of committee. The line prompted cheers and a standing ovation from the audience of about 1,500 members of the nurses union. He capped off his remarks with a promise: If we cant get it done next year, you have my firm and absolute commitment as your next governor that I will lead the effort to get it done. We will have universal healthcare in the state of California. Enthusiastic nurses in the room heard an unequivocal backing of their effort to push forward with the bill. When he says hes going to get this done, he means, seriously, that he will pass SB 562 and make sure that there is healthcare for all Californians, said Catherine Kennedy, a neonatal nurse from Roseville. But speaking to reporters after his address, Newsom was less clear in embracing the specifics of the proposal. I 100% support moving this process along, getting this debate going again and addressing the concerns, the open-ended issues that the nurses themselves have acknowledged as it relates to the need of going through the legislative process and to fill in the blanks on the financing plan, among other issues, he said. Facebook

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President Obama appears in an Assembly race mailer in California  but read it closely By Christina Bellantoni The race to replace Jimmy Gomez, who was elected to Congress earlier this year, has so far been waged by mail and door-knocking in northeast Los Angeles. Most of the mailers feature local leaders and endorsements from groups including Planned Parenthood and the Sierra Club. But one mailer that arrived in my mailbox Thursday has a much more familiar face  former President Barack Obama. While it might seem like one to the casual voter sorting through junk mail, this isnt an endorsement. Want to know what kind of job Gabriel Sandoval will do in the Assembly? Listen to the people hes worked with in the past, the mailer reads, above Obamas official White House portrait. In small type, it notes that Sandoval served as a Senior Civil Rights Attorney and Senior Advisor for a White House initiative within the Department of Education. It features a glowing quote over an image of a July 12, 2013, letter from the president to Sandoval written on White House letterhead. Facebook

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Healthcare a hot issue in race for California governor By Phil Willon Antonio Villaraigosa, left, and Gavin Newsom (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images; Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) With the hyperpartisan politics surrounding healthcare stirred up by efforts to repeal Obamacare and calls for a single-payer system, both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa are claiming the mantle of healthcare visionary. On the campaign trail the two Democratic candidates for governor are touting their signature healthcare accomplishments from earlier in their political careers as their bona fides. For Newsom, its about Healthy San Francisco, the nations first municipal universal healthcare program, approved while he was mayor; and for Villaraigosa, its Healthy Families, which provided healthcare coverage to the children of Californias working poor, legislation he authored as a California assemblyman. But do they deserve all the credit? It sure doesnt look that way. Healthy San Francisco is one of the many topics Newsom is expected to highlight when he speaks to the California Nurses Assn. convention in the Bay Area on Friday morning. On Thursday night, Newsom took a shot at the latest Republican effort in Washington to roll back the Affordable Care Act  a bill written by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) The numbers on this make my skin crawl. Under Graham-Cassidy, an individual with metastatic cancer could see their premiums increase by $142,650. Diabetes? $5,600. Want to tackle the opioid crisis? Gets a lot tougher if an individual suffering from drug dependence sees their premiums go up by $20,450, Newsom said in an email sent out by his campaign. This is not a game. Lives are at stake. Read More Facebook

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Rep. Duncan Hunter calls for preemptive strike against North Korea By Joshua Stewart, San Diego Union-Tribune Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) introduces U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions at a news conference. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) Rep. Duncan Hunter said that the United States needs to launch a preemptive strike against North Korea in order to prevent the rogue nation from harming the U.S. first. You could assume, right now, that we have a nuclear missile aimed at the United States, and here in San Diego. Why would they not aim here, at Hawaii, Guam, our major naval bases? Hunter, an Alpine Republican, said Thursday during an appearance on San Diego television station KUSI. The question is, do you wait for one of those? Or two? Do you preemptively strike them? And thats what the president has to wrestle with. I would preemptively strike them. You could call it declaring war, call it whatever you want, Hunter continued. Hunter, a member of a House Armed Services Committee and the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the United States nuclear arsenal, did not say whether the military should strike North Korea with conventional or nuclear weapons. Read More Facebook

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Will Bernie Sanders push for Medicare for All help or hinder the California effort for single-payer? By Melanie Mason When Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders visited Beverly Hills last May, he made a full-throated appeal for California to lead the country and pass a pending state proposal to establish single-payer healthcare. On Friday, hell return to California for a San Francisco speech trumpeting his own higher-stakes plan  a bill to drastically overhaul the nations healthcare system by covering everyone through Medicare. The push for single-payer, in which the government pays for residents medical care, has already rattled Californias political landscape. Now, the Sanders measure brings an additional jolt, elevating the issue to a national debate that has implications for the future direction of the Democratic Party and early jockeying in the 2020 presidential race. Read More Facebook

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What will Kevin de Leon do when his term in the California Senate expires next year? By Patrick McGreevy State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, speaks during the last regular Senate floor session of the year. ( (Rich Pedroncelli / AP)) As he gaveled down what may be his last full year as leader of the California Senate on Saturday, Kevin de Leon had still not said what he planned to do next. Will he run for governor or U.S. Senate? Does he want to be mayor of Los Angeles some day? De Leon told reporters they will have to wait to find out. His advisors, supporters and political observers have their own ideas what De Leon could do next. Read More Facebook

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Skelton: The presidential election bills on Gov. Browns desk may be satisfying politics, but theyre risky ideas By George Skelton Two presidential election bills are on Gov. Jerry Browns desk, sent to him by the Democratic Legislature. Both should be tossed in the trash. No doubt Im in the minority on this. These bills do offer some fun, even if theyre flawed. One has strong pluses that are outweighed by unacceptable minuses. The second is a mean-spirited gotcha bill aimed at the Democrats No. 1 enemy: President Trump. It may be satisfying politics, but it sets a risky precedent. The first bill moves up Californias presidential primary from June to March. Great idea. But it also moves up the state primary along with it. A horrible idea. The second measure would require all presidential candidates to release their tax returns for the last five years. Anyone who refused wouldnt be allowed on the California ballot. Thats a sharp poke at Trump, who in 2016 was the first presidential candidate in 40 years not to release his taxes. Yes, watching Trump squirm would be entertaining. And maybe the tax information would be useful for some voters. But even if the disclosure requirement were constitutional  and theres substantial doubt about that  its a crummy precedent. Read More Facebook

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California Senate leader preparing for legal fight over sanctuary state legislation By Sarah D. Wire California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown hasnt yet signed legislation making California a so-called sanctuary state, but state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon is preparing to defend it in court. In between several immigration events in Washington on Wednesday, De Leon (D-Los Angeles) said he met with former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr.  who has served as outside counsel to the Legislature for much of the year  to continue to further discuss inoculating California from [U.S. Atty. Gen.] Jeff Sessions Department of Justice. Passed early Saturday by the Legislature, the sanctuary state bill would limit state and local law enforcement communication with federal immigration authorities and prevent officers from questioning and holding people on immigration violations. Sessions has threatened to withhold some federal grant funds from cities and counties that refuse to assist federal immigration agents. Holder and other former Justice Department lawyers believe the bill is defendable, and if the Trump administration tries to compel California cities to act by withholding funds, it will find itself in court, De Leon said. Defenders of so-called sanctuary cities often rely on a 1996 Supreme Court ruling that cited the 10th Amendment and found the federal government cant compel local governments to cooperate with enforcing federal laws. It is immoral, and quite frankly un-American, that Americas top law enforcement official would withhold dollars that our local police officers need  precious dollars we need desperately to counter terrorism, to deal with the issue of human trafficking as well as international drug cartels, De Leon said. On Tuesday, Sessions urged Brown not to sign the bill, calling it unconscionable and a threat to public safety. Brown responded to Sessions comment on CNN by calling the legislation well-balanced. It protects public safety, but it also protects hardworking people who contribute a lot to California, Brown said. He has until Oct. 15 to sign the bill. De Leon also shot back against Sessions statement that the federal money isnt an entitlement, saying Californians pay more in federal taxes than they receive in federal funding. Thats not a gift or a grant from the Department of Justice to California. Those are our dollars; they belong to the people of California, he said. Facebook

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California, with alliance of states, pledges to keep pushing climate policies despite lack of federal progress By Chris Megerian (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) California and a growing alliance of states committed to fighting global warming said Wednesday that theyre slashing greenhouse gas emissions at the rate required by the Paris climate agreement. However, the rest of the country would need to join their effort for the United States to actually hit the target of cutting emissions by at least 26% below 2005 levels by 2025. President Trump has pledged to pull the country out of the Paris deal, but the states reiterated their pledge to keep pressing forward during a news conference in New York. Were all in, California Gov. Jerry Brown said. Eventually, Washington will join with us. You cant deny science forever. Californias climate goal is even more ambitious than the Paris target. A law signed by Brown last year requires the state to cut emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. California became a founding member of the U.S. Climate Alliance, along with New York and Washington state, months ago. Either we end this problem, or this problem will end us, said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. On Wednesday, North Carolina became the 15th member of the U.S. Climate Alliance. Other members include Massachusetts, Oregon and Puerto Rico. Clean air and a healthy environment are vital for a strong economy and a healthier future, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a newly elected Democrat, said in a statement. Facebook

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Bay Area cities sue major oil companies over climate change By Chris Megerian (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) San Francisco and Oakland are suing to get five oil companies, including San Ramon-based Chevron, to pay for the cost of protecting the Bay Area from rising sea levels and other effects of global warming. These fossil fuel companies profited handsomely for decades while knowing they were putting the fate of our cities at risk, San Francisco City Atty. Dennis Herrera said in a statement. The lawsuits, which were filed Tuesday in state court in San Francisco and Alameda counties and announced Wednesday, dont ask for a specific dollar amount. But the cities could try to put oil companies on the hook for billions. Long-term improvements in San Franciscos seawall are projected to cost $5 billion, according to one of the lawsuits. The law is clear that the defendants are responsible for the consequences of their reckless and disastrous actions, Oakland City Atty. Barbara J. Parker said in a statement. A spokesman for Chevron, Melissa Ritchie, said the lawsuits would not help address climate change. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a global issue that requires global engagement and action, she said in a statement. Should this litigation proceed, it will only serve special interests at the expense of broader policy, regulatory, and economic priorities. Facebook

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California sues to stop Trumps border wall: No one gets to ignore the laws. Not even the president By Patrick McGreevy  California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announces lawsuit against Trump Administration. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that President Trumps proposal to expedite construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border violates laws aimed at protecting the environment. Becerra announced the legal challenge standing in front of the existing border fencing at Border Field State Park near San Diego, saying the federal government failed to comply with federal environmental laws and relied on federal statutes that dont authorize border wall projects in San Diego and Imperial counties. No one gets to ignore the laws. Not even the president of the United States, Becerra said. The border between the U.S. and Mexico spans some 2,000 miles. The list of laws violated by the presidents administration in order to build his campaign wall is almost as long. He said the project involves the improper waiver of 37 federal statutes, many aimed at protecting the environment. Filed in federal court in San Diego and including the California Coastal Commission as a plaintiff, the lawsuit states its purpose is to protect the State of Californias residents, natural resources, economic interests, procedural rights, and sovereignty from violations of the United States Constitution and federal law. Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra at the U.S.- Mexico border where he announced lawsuit to stop a proposal for a border wall. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) The lawsuit also alleges that federal officials have not shown any data suggesting new border barriers in the San Diego area will reduce illegal entry into the U.S., nor that there is a significant problem in that area. It adds that the wall would have a chilling effect on tourism to the United States from Mexico. In August, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a notice that it was waiving federal and state laws on the environment to expedite the construction of prototypes of the wall along the San Diego border with Mexico. The California lawsuit claims the federal government violated the U.S. Constitutions separation-of-powers doctrine by vesting in the Executive Branch the power to waive state and local laws. The lawsuit also says the Department of Homeland Security decided to build the walls without complying with the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act. As a result, the lawsuit alleges, the federal government lacks proper environmental analysis of the impact of the 400-foot prototypes of the wall currently planned, as well as the 2,000-mile-long final wall. A federal official declined comment. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on pending litigation, said Tyler Q. Houlton, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) stood with Becerra at the event, saying the wall is unnecessary and will put a barrier between relations involving the two countries. Maybe to people in Iowa, it sounds like a really good idea, she said. We dont need more structure. We need a good relationship [with Mexico]. Times staff writers McGreevy reported from Sacramento and Ulloa from San Diego. AG @XavierBecerra takes some shots at Trump: He hasn't made the transition from candidate to president. #borderwall pic.twitter.com/liSJdrAK2v  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) September 20, 2017 Facebook

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California to sue Trump administration over plan for U.S.-Mexico border wall By Patrick McGreevy California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra plans to announce a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of the state that will challenge President Trumps proposal to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, a project Becerra has called medieval. Becerra is scheduled to travel to Border Field State Park near San Diego to announce that a lawsuit is being filed in federal court over construction of border wall projects in San Diego and Imperial counties. The lawsuit, which includes the California Coastal Commission as a plaintiff, states its purpose is to protect the State of Californias residents, natural resources, economic interests, procedural rights, and sovereignty from violations of the United States Constitution and federal law. It adds that the wall would have a chilling effect on tourism to the United States from Mexico. The states lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration has failed to comply with federal and state environmental laws and relied on federal statutes that dont authorize the proposed projects. The brief alleges the federal government violated the U.S. Constitutions separation-of-powers doctrine by vesting in the Executive Branch the power to waive state and local laws, including state criminal law.. The lawsuit also says the Department of Homeland Security decided to build the walls without complying with the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. As a result, the lawsuit alleges, the federal government lacks proper environmental analysis of the impact of 400-foot prototypes of the wall currently planned, as well as the 2,000-mile-long final wall. The Democratic attorney general has been critical of the wall for months, including in April during an appearance on ABCs This Week. Im still trying to figure out who believes that a medieval situation to fix our broken immigration system is what we need, Becerra said. He also accused Trump at the time of reneging on his promise to have Mexico pay for the wall. I think American taxpayers probably are very much aligned with Mexico. None of them, whether its Mexico or our taxpayers, wants to pay for a medieval wall, he said. This is the latest of more than two dozen lawsuits and legal briefs filed against the Trump administration by Becerra, who was appointed attorney general in January and is running for election to the post next year. He previously sued to challenge Trumps plans to end a program that protects young immigrants from deportation, ban immigration from some countries and roll back environmental laws. Last week, three advocacy groups sued the federal government to block construction of a border wall, alleging that the Trump administration overstepped its authority by waiving environmental reviews and other laws. The action by the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and Animal Legal Defense Fund seeks to prevent construction of wall prototypes in San Diego. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said last month that prototypes for a border wall may be completed by the end of October. Becerras lawsuit is the latest attempt by California Democrats to fight the wall proposal. A bill that would have banned state government contracts for any company that helps build the wall passed the state Senate, but stalled recently in an Assembly committee. Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) authored the bill, testifying at a committee hearing that the wall is another attempt to separate and divide us. It sends a message that we are better off in a homogenous society. Todd Bloomstine, a lobbyist representing the Southern California Contractors Assn., opposed the bill, asking the panel, What next unpopular project would be [on the] blacklist? Read the lawsuit >> UPDATE 8:30 a.m. This article was updated to provide additional details of the lawsuit. This article was originally published at 6 a.m. Facebook

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Judge rules state used misleading language in summary of ballot measure to repeal California gas tax By Patrick McGreevy GOP Assemblyman Travis Allen, in red tie, with Democratic state Sen. Bob Hertzberg, left, and Charles Munger Jr., far right, in 2014. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) A judge tentatively ruled Tuesday that the state-written title and summary of an initiative to repeal the recent gas-tax increases were misleading and should be rewritten by the state attorney generals office. The ruling by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy M. Frawley, scheduled to be finalized at a court hearing on Friday, was welcomed by the initiatives lead proponent, Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach). This preliminary ruling is a major victory for Californians, Allen, a candidate for governor, said in a statement. This brings us one step closer to repealing Jerry Browns hugely unpopular gas tax. I look forward to the final ruling on Friday, and ensuring that the Repeal the Gas Tax Initiative receives the straightforward ballot title and summary that it deserves. Judge Frawley agreed with Allens legal claims that the title and summary drafted by Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerras office is confusing, misleading, and likely to create prejudice against the proposed measure. The judge said the initiative would repeal taxes and fees approved by the Legislature this year, but the title and summary issued by the state makes it sound like it would eliminate transportation funding without using the words taxes and fees in the title. He ordered state officials to come to Fridays hearing prepared to discuss alternate language for the ballot measure. To avoid misleading the voters and creating prejudice against the measure, the Attorney General must prepare a true and impartial statement that reasonably informs voters of the character and real purpose of the proposed initiative in clear and understandable language, the ruling says. The existing circulating title and summary fails this test. If the judge finalizes the order after hearing arguments Friday, Allen can use the new title and summary to circulate a petition. Allen needs to collect 365,000 signatures from registered voters in 150 days to put the measure on the November 2018 ballot. Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown: Trumps rhetoric about North Korea adds to non-rational bluster By Mina Corpuz (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) California Gov. Jerry Brown said President Trumps name calling and threats at the United Nations can get in the way of diplomacy and statesmanship. Earlier Tuesday, Trump called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a Rocket Man on a suicide mission and said the United States may have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. It just raises the temperature and the exchange of non-rational bluster back and forth, Brown said in a interview with CNNs Jake Tapper. I dont think thats positive. Brown is in New York for some climate meetings related to the United Nations General Assembly. Facebook

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Yes, dahlink: Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, widower of Zsa Zsa Gabor, is running for California governor By Phil Willon Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, widower of actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, outside of the couples Bel-Air mansion in 2011. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, widower of the whimsical celebrity and actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, is back. Von Anhalt has filed to run for governor of California  his second attempt after a short-lived campaign in 2010  saying hes fed up with seeing roads falling apart, people struggling to afford rent and an explosion of homelessness in the state. Ive lived in this city for 36 years. Ive never seen so many people eating out of a trash can in the Western world, Von Anhalt said Tuesday. We talk about Hollywood, and this being the entertainment center of the world. How is this possible? Von Anhalt, Garbors ninth and last husband, is running as an independent. He filed an official Candidate Intention Statement with the California Secretary of States office Monday, the first step in launching an official campaign. The 74-year-old Bel-Air resident, a German immigrant, said he has enough money to help support his own campaign. He said he dropped out of the 2010 governors race only because his wife became seriously ill. She died in December. She was the one  who wanted me run, Von Anhalt said. Von Anhalt also flirted briefly with a run for Los Angeles mayor in 2013, a race eventually won by Eric Garcetti. FOR THE RECORD 5:33 p.m.: An earlier of this post said Von Anhalt was age 71. He is 74. Facebook

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Assemblyman urges other legislatures to join California in censuring President Trump By Mina Corpuz Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) speaks with Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) A California lawmaker who authored a resolution to support a censure of President Trump sent letters to 49 other state legislatures Tuesday to urge them to join the effort. Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, a Richmond Democrat, sent the letters days after the Assembly became the first state legislative body to support a congressional censure of the president. California has spoken and we look to the rest of the nation to join us, Thurmond said in a statement. Its important that all our states unite and show that the United States of America stands against hate. Read More Facebook

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After cap-and-trade vote, Assemblyman Chad Mayes faces a second Republican challenger for reelection By Patrick McGreevy Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley leaves the Assembly floor before resigning as Assembly Republican leader on Aug. 24. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) Former Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron on Tuesday became the second Republican to announce plans to challenge Assemblyman Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley) in the 2018 election. Jeandron, a La Quinta resident, said he was angered over Mayes vote as Assembly Republican leader to support an extension of the states controversial cap-and-trade program, which requires businesses to buy permits to release greenhouse gas emissions. Jeandron saw the action as continuing a wrongful tax increase and said he is signing a no-tax pledge. I just dont believe [Mayes] has held Republican values, Jeandron told The Times. He has been blinded by ambition. He has been seduced by the governor. Mayes vote led to an outcry by Republican leaders, and he eventually succumbed to pressure to step down as leader of the Assembly Republicans. Mayes defended his position, telling colleagues during the floor debate, many of us believe that climate change is real and  we have to work to address it. Jeandron, who lost to Mayes in the 2014 election, joins San Jacinto City Councilman Andrew Kotyuk in planning to challenge Mayes for the 42nd Assembly District seat. Facebook

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Republican John Cox tasted political defeat many times before launching his bid for California governor By Phil Willon Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox speaks to the Lincoln Club of Riverside County in June. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) Candidate for California governor John Cox is relatively new to the states politics, but Cox has run for office multiple times, and even tangled with Barack Obama on the debate stage when the pair ran in the 2004 Illinois U.S. Senate race. Neither candidate was considered their partys favorite. But things began looking up for Obama, of course, who won the Senate race and then the presidency. Cox dropped out before the GOP primary election. It was his third try for elected office in Illinois and his third defeat. Now hes back, this time in his new home of California, running for governor against a trio of Democratic heavyweights. Once again, Cox is a practical unknown. Once again, the Republican is in a left-leaning state reaching for a coveted political office. Once again, Coxs campaign is being fed by cash from his own bank account. Read More Facebook

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After she was confronted by protesters, Pelosi says Democrats want a clean Dream Act  with no border wall By Jazmine Ulloa House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Monday said she understood the fear in young protesters who shouted her down at a San Francisco news conference, asking for a legal path to citizenship for themselves and their parents. Speaking at Sacramento State hours after the disruption, Pelosi said she agreed with the protesters, pointing to the Dream Act as only the first step to broader immigration reform. We are all disrupters ourselves, she said, standing next to fellow congressional Democrats. So we recognize it and respect it in others. At Sac State, @NancyPelosi on SF protests today: We are all disruptors ourselves. So we recognize it and respect it in others. #dacadeal pic.twitter.com/W1WKQikmsc  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) September 19, 2017 Both press events were scheduled by Pelosi to discuss a legislative fix to help thousands of young people affected by President Trumps decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Obama-era policy provided temporary status for 800,000 people brought to the country illegally as children. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York met with Trump last week after the termination of DACA was announced. In Sacramento, Pelosi said they had come to an agreement to a clean Dream Act, which would provide a path to permanent status for citizens who work, study or serve in the military, without tougher border enforcement or increased deportations. Meanwhile, Democrats are fighting with the president over the construction of a wall along the U.S-Mexico border. And House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has made it clear he wants some kind of border security, Pelosi said. That is not under discussion, she said. We can discuss other issues, but we are not going to discuss how we protect the Dreamers. At Sac State, @NancyPelosi arrives to talk #DACAdeal and help for Dreamers. Elected officials from every level of government also present. pic.twitter.com/yoESsRC1Ok  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) September 18, 2017 Facebook

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Feinstein, who called for patience with Trump, lashes out over his attacks on Clinton By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said it was appalling and disgusting to see President Trump retweet a video edited to look like he hit former rival Hillary Clinton in the head with a golf ball. He continues to obsessively lash out at her  at his rallies, with his words and now through social media  in a manner that is utterly unbecoming of the president of the United States, Feinstein said in a statement Monday. Every one of us should be offended by the vindictive and candidly dangerous messages the president sends that demean not only Secretary Clinton, but all women. Grow up and do your job. Clinton is out with a new book about the campaign, and Trump has repeatedly used Twitter to deride her as a sore loser. He retweeted the animated GIF Sunday which shows him hitting a golf ball that then knocks down Clinton. Feinstein, who has yet to say whether shell run again in 2018, has walked a fine line with Trump in recent months. Shes criticized him at times, but drew ire from some progressive Californians last month when she called for patience in dealing with the president, saying that Trump could be a good president if he learned and changed. Facebook

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California lawmakers are building a wall against President Trumps policies By George Skelton California state legislators ended their annual session the way they began it  building a wall to protect undocumented immigrants from President Trump. Not an iron wall, as Trump promised to erect along the U.S.-Mexico border, but a legal barrier to prevent local police and sheriffs from teaming with the presidents agents to enforce federal immigration law. The legislators did a lot of other things, too, before adjourning early Saturday until January. They sent Gov. Jerry Brown bills to address Californias dearth of affordable housing, to borrow $4 billion for parks and waterworks, to spend $1.5 billion in greenhouse-gas pollution fees, to provide tuition-free community college for first-year students and to lift some secrecy from prescription drug pricing. Earlier in the session, the heavily Democratic Legislature passed its boldest, most controversial bill of the year: A $5.2-billion annual increase in fuel taxes and vehicle fees to finance transportation infrastructure, especially to repair crumbling highways. Republicans will attempt to repeal the bill at the ballot box in 2018. Brown says that borders on insanity. Read More Facebook

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Trump is riding a very dead horse on climate change, Gov. Brown says at New York conference By Ann Simmons (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday touted steps California has taken toward a healthier climate, but warned that powerful forces he called climate deniers are resisting technologies and policies designed to improve conditions. I like all the optimism around here, but I dont want to minimize the steep hill that we have to climb, Brown said at the start of a gathering of international leaders called Climate Week NYC. Decarbonizing the economy when the economy depends so totally on carbon is not childs play. Its quite daunting. Hosted by the Climate Group, an international nonprofit organization that works with business and government to promote clean technologies and policies, the event was scheduled to bring together high-profile governors, executives of Fortune 500 companies and leaders of multinational businesses for a week to share their strategies in tackling climate change. The discussions come amid concerns about global warming and after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma caused devastation in Houston, Florida and across parts of the Caribbean. Some scientists believe that warmer ocean waters caused by climate change are creating stronger storms. Read More Facebook

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Nancy Pelosi shouted down at DACA news conference for working with Trump By Sarah D. Wire Dreamer protesters have disrupted a Pelosi presser in CA, asking for protections for Dreamer & their parents: https://t.co/o3zGNJvblL  Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 18, 2017 More than four dozen immigration activists upset with Democrats for negotiating with President Trump shouted down House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at a San Francisco news conference Monday. We are not your bargaining chip, the crowd chanted at one point, according to KCBS News political reporter Doug Sovern. VIDEO: Chaos at @NancyPelosi #DACA event as 40+ undocumented hijack her news conf in SF: "We are not your bargaining chip! Let us speak!" pic.twitter.com/KC2WyrjqSy  Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) September 18, 2017 'All of us or none of us' Crowd takes over DREAM Act event. Pelosi getting blasted by about 100 young 'undocumented youth' pic.twitter.com/RgwnZ4dB3O  Evan Sernoffsky (@EvanSernoffsky) September 18, 2017 San Francisco Chronicle reporter Evan Sernoffsky said on Twitter that some in the group were yelling, All of us or none of us. Other reporters said the group chanted, Shut down ICE. Pelosi held the news conference to advocate for speedy passage of a legislative fix to the legal status of hundreds of thousands of people brought to the country illegally as children. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York met with Trump last week after he announced an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Obama-era program deferred deportation for some people brought to the country illegally as children. Pelosi and Schumer said their discussion with the president included the possibility of adding more immigration enforcement  which some immigration advocates are against  to legislation to address DACA. At the news conference, Pelosi first made remarks and introduced an immigrant in the country illegally, at which point the shouting began, according to a Pelosi aide. The group surrounded Pelosi, with some gesturing close to her face. She attempted to calm the crowd for about half an hour before leaving the news conference. The aide said the group was made up of local DACA beneficiaries. We need to have a conversation, but that was completely one-sided; they dont want any answers, Pelosi told reporters afterward, according to a transcript. Pelosi said the activists should be focused on Republican members of Congress, not Democrats. I understand their frustration, Im excited by it as a matter of fact, but the fact is theyre completely wrong. The Democrats are the ones who stopped their assault on sanctuary cities, stopped the wall, the increased deportations in our last bill that was at the end of April, and we are determined to get Republicans votes to pass the clean Dream Act. Is it possible to pass a bill without some border security? Well well have to see. We didnt agree to anything in that regard, except to listen, Pelosi said. UPDATES

1:06 p.m. This post was updated with more details throughout and quotes from Pelosi. This post was originally published at 12:12 p.m. Facebook

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Democrats hopes of flipping seats in California are soaring, but it wont be as easy at it seems By Christine Mai-Duc (Associated Press / AFP/Getty Images) Democrats know they have to win at least a few seats in California if they want to regain control of the House in 2018. But though the energy and hopes of many Democratic activists here are soaring, flipping Republican-held seats here could be harder than it appears. There are a few bits of conventional wisdom that suggest Democrats have a long road ahead. For one, Republicans often turn out in greater numbers than their Democratic counterparts in midterm-election years. And even though Hillary Clinton won seven of the Republican-held districts Democrats are now targeting, past election data show voters there still lean much more conservative than other parts of the state. If past is prologue, says Rob Pyers, research director for the nonpartisan election guide California Target Book, Democrats will have a hard time picking up more than a couple of seats in California. With most voters unlikely to tune in until at least next spring, there are many factors that could affect the political calculus, including whether the California Republican Party will be able to field a competitive candidate for governor, or whether ballot initiatives such as a potential repeal of the newest gas tax hike will propel GOP voters to the polls. Read More Facebook

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California will be the keeper of the nations future in the era of Trump, state Democratic lawmakers promise By Melanie Mason State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, from left, Gov. Jerry Brown and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Within a day of President Trumps election last November, Californias top Democratic lawmakers responded with a joint statement that contained an audacious promise. It was their state, not Washington, D.C., that would be the keeper of the nations future. An artistic rendering of that vow, with looping calligraphy and a roaring grizzly, is now on display in the offices of Senate leader Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. In the wake of Trumps win, the words seemed to be a sort of foundational document  Californias declaration of resistance. That pugilistic posture is often conveyed in shorthand: California versus Trump. But the ensuing legislative year, which ended Friday, revealed the messy reality of squaring up against the federal government. Its been challenging, De Leon (D-Los Angeles) said, bleary-eyed as he took a break during the final days of the session. You have to debate, you have to negotiate, you have to make your case, and I think at the end of the day, well still have the most far-reaching policy in the nation. Read More Facebook

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California Politics Podcast: Lawmakers leave Sacramento after a busy year By John Myers From immigration issues to housing, some of the biggest debates of the Legislatures nine-month session happened at the very end. In governing, as in life, deadlines often make things happen. On this weeks California Politics Podcast, we take an early look at some of the most important decisions lawmakers made in the final few days of the 2017 session in Sacramento. That includes a landmark decision to intervene in the issue of illegal immigration, and to pass a long discussed package of bills to begin addressing Californias housing crisis. We also look at some of the broader political themes of the entire legislative year -- most notably, the effort by Democrats in the Legislature to provide a resistance to actions taken by President Trump. Im joined by Times staff writers Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon. Facebook

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Passage of sanctuary state bill draws rebukes from Trump administration officials, praise in California By Jazmine Ulloa Supporters of state sanctuary bill SB 54 rally outside the Hall of Justice. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) California lawmakers on Saturday passed a sanctuary state bill to protect immigrants without legal residency in the U.S., part of a broader push by Democrats to counter expanded deportation orders under the Trump administration. The landmark legislation by Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) would limit state and local law enforcement communication with federal immigration authorities, and prevent officers from questioning and holding people on immigration violations. But the bill sent to Gov. Jerry Brown drastically scaled back the version first introduced, the result of tough negotiations between Brown and De Leon in the final weeks of the legislative session. Its passage already is reverberating across the country. Trump administration officials have sounded off in opposition. And immigrant rights groups and some California law enforcement officials have come out in support of what they call a hard compromise. Read More Facebook

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Supporters unable to resurrect California clean-energy proposal on final day of legislative session By Chris Megerian Environmentalists rally in front of Assemblyman Chris Holdens office in Pasadena on Thursday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Despite a last-minute push from environmentalists and actors from The Avengers, legislation that eventually would require all of Californias electricity to come from clean sources failed to advance this year. Facing opposition from unions and utilities, Assembly leadership refused to put the measure, SB 100, up for a vote on Friday, the final day of the legislative session. The decision to not move the bill this year is disappointing, said Kathryn Phillips, director of the Sierra Clubs California chapter. But we are committed to moving this policy next year. Theres no time to waste. The measure, written by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (
Senate Republicans are poised to take an unprecedented leap into the dark as they prepare to vote on legislation that would affect health protections for tens of millions Americans yet has been subject to virtually no analysis or public scrutiny.

The proposal goes far beyond previous bills to repeal the 2010 healthcare law, often called Obamacare, and would fundamentally restructure the nations half-century-old healthcare safety net.

With a vote expected as soon as Wednesday, according to the White House, and backers still talking about potentially major changes, the legislation will get its first and only congressional hearing Monday afternoon. The independent Congressional Budget Office, which lawmakers rely on to assess major legislation, already has said it wont have time to analyze the bills effect on health coverage and insurance premiums.

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This is like legislating blind, said University of North Carolina political scientist Jonathan Oberlander, who has written extensively on the history of major healthcare legislation.It is really hard to find an example of something where Congress was this reckless.

On Sunday, several key Republican senators expressed strong doubts about the bill, which appears to remain at least a vote or two short of what GOP leaders need for passage. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said in an interview on CNN that its very difficult for me to envision a scenario where I would end up voting for this bill. Sen. John McCain of Arizona previously said he would oppose the bill, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she remains undecided.

On the right, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has previously said several times that he opposes the bill, kept up his criticism in interview on NBCs Meet the Press. And Sen. Ted Cruz, speaking in his home state of Texas, said that right now they dont have my vote. Cruz said he did not think Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) was supporting the bill either.

With 52 Republicans in the Senate and no Democrats supporting the repeal effort, sponsors of the bill, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), can afford to lose only two GOP votes.

Faced with the resistance within his own caucus, Cassidy suggested Sunday that he plans to introduce a new version Monday.

Graham and Cassidy have insisted their proposal would protect Americans access to healthcare while making coverage more affordable.

President Trump has said he will not sign a bill which does not protect those with preexisting conditions, Cassidy said Sunday on ABCs This Week. Im a physician who worked in a public hospital for 25 years caring for those with preexisting conditions.

But the key language in the bill that Cassidy points to as guaranteeing coverage has never been defined or tested, leading to widespread doubts that it would actually do what he says. Cassidys claims have been disputed by independent analyses of his proposal, which have concluded that major funding cuts and loosened insurance regulations in the bill will likely erode coverage for many vulnerable Americans.

Leading patient advocates  including the American Heart Assn., the American Diabetes Assn., the March of Dimes and the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society  have issued similar warnings, based on their assessment of the GOP proposal.

Over the weekend, an unusual consortium of groups representing physicians, hospitals and health insurers issued a joint statement strongly condemning the legislation.

The bill will cause patients to lose important protections as well as undermine safeguards for those with pre-existing conditions, the groups said, warning additionally that hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid funding cuts mean millions of patients will lose their coverage and go without much-needed care.

Healthcare is too important to get wrong, concluded the groups, which included the American Medical Assn., the American Hospital Assn. and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Assn. Lets take the time to get it right.

Under normal circumstances, Congress takes years to develop complex legislation that involves large sums of money and affects millions of Americans.

The legislation creating Medicare, for example, which was signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, was first introduced eight years earlier and studied and debated extensively.

Similarly, bills creating the Childrens Health Insurance Program, which President Clinton signed in 1997, and the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, which President George W. Bush signed in 2003, underwent years of committee hearings and study.

Even the Affordable Care Act, which President Obama signed on March 23, 2010, after a last-minute scramble by Democratic leaders to get the votes, had been debated and analyzed for more than 15 months.

By one tally, between January 2009 and March 2010, the House of Representatives held 79 hearings on what would become the Affordable Care Act, heard from 181 witnesses and debated scores of amendments.

Similarly, the Senate held approximately 100 hearings and for nine months engaged in a bipartisan effort in the Senate Finance Committee in a bid by Democratic leaders to solicit Republican support.

The Graham-Cassidy proposal in important respects is more far-reaching than the 2010 law.

The GOP proposal would not only roll back the government programs created by the current law to guarantee Americans health coverage, it would completely restructure the 52-year-old system of federal support for state Medicaid programs that currently cover approximately 70 million people. It would also dramatically cut future Medicaid funding that supports coverage for poor children, mothers, seniors and the disabled.

At the same time, the bill would give states broad new authority to remake their healthcare systems and waive many protections in the current law, including the ban on insurers charging sick people more for coverage.

For something this big, you need to be deliberative, and you need to think it through, said Matt Salo, head of the National Assn. of Medicaid Directors, whose bipartisan board of directors also urged the Senate last week to slow down.

Maybe this turns out great, Salo said. But there are so many core questions that we dont know the answer to. Voting now is like turning off your headlights and driving into the tunnel.

One key provision of the bill, for example, would require a state to show how it intends to maintain adequate and affordable health insurance coverage for individuals with preexisting conditions. But theres no agreement on what adequate and affordable would mean or what rights patients would have if a state intends one thing but enacts something else.

Although the Senate Finance Committee plans a hearing Monday on the Graham-Cassidy bill, the legislation will not go through the customary mark-up process in which lawmakers debate bills, offer amendments and develop a record indicating how a law should be interpreted.

I dont see anything comparable, Don Ritchie, the Senates former official historian, said of the process Senate Republicans are using.

Senate Republicans are scrambling to pass the Graham-Cassidy legislation before a Sept. 30 deadline, after which they can no longer use a special rule that allows them to advance repeal legislation with only 50 votes instead of the 60 normally required to pass controversial bills in the Senate.

By contrast, the Senate health committee just spent two weeks taking testimony from governors, state insurance regulators and healthcare officials from across the country in a bipartisan bid to craft a much more limited bill aimed at stabilizing health insurance markets.

Several Republican senators who have voiced reservations about the Graham-Cassidy bill, including McCain and Collins, urged GOP leaders to return to that more deliberative process.

What I would like to see happen is for us to return to the very good work that the Senate health committee was doing, Collins said Sunday. Thats the avenue that we should take.

President Trump, for his part, sounded a downbeat note Sunday afternoon, telling reporters who asked about the healthcare bill that eventually we will win on that but that his primary focus was on tax legislation.

Staff Writer Laura King contributed to this article.

Obamacare 101: A primer on key issues in the debate over repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. 

noam.levey@latimes.com

Twitter: @noamlevey

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Republicans latest bid to roll back the Affordable Care Act appeared to collapse Monday as a third GOP senator came out against the measure and the Congressional Budget Office predicted major coverage losses should it become law.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who voted against the last Republican repeal bill, joined Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and issued a stern rebuke of her partys attempt to rush through a sweeping repeal proposal this week with just one public hearing and little independent analysis.

Part of the problem that we have had has been the lack of hearings, debates and careful consideration and vetting of the healthcare replacement bills, Collins said, renewing calls for Republicans and Democrats to work together on legislation to stabilize health insurance markets and protect consumers from rising costs.

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With only 52 Republicans in the Senate and Democrats united in opposition, GOP leaders could afford to lose only two votes.

Collins announcement followed the release of a preliminary CBO analysis of a bill sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.). The office predicted the number of people with comprehensive health insurance that covers high-cost medical events would be reduced by millions.

It capped a frenetic day in Washington in which protesters flocked to Capitol Hill and Republican leaders seemed to retreat from their scramble to pass a repeal bill over the objections of nearly every major organization representing patients, physicians, hospitals and others in the healthcare system.

Monday afternoon, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) said GOP leaders would probably not be able to hold a vote this week as planned.

Even before Collins announcement Monday, President Trump sounded increasingly downbeat about the bills chances.

Were going to lose two or three votes, and thats the end of that, Trump said Monday on Alabama radios Rick and Bubba Show, criticizing Republican senators for withholding their support after years of promising to repeal and replace the law. They pander and they grandstand.

Senate Republicans were rushing to vote before a Sept. 30 deadline, after which they can no longer use a special rule that allows them to advance repeal legislation with only 50 votes instead of the 60 normally required to pass controversial bills in the Senate.

Plans for this weeks vote remained uncertain Monday evening amid silence from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Senate Republican leaders and White House officials had been working furiously to round up votes in recent days.

Trump called Collins on Monday, she told reporters. The president made a similar appeal to Paul over the weekend, Paul said.

Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price also made an effort to woo Collins, the independent Senate veteran.

At the same time, Graham and Cassidy made a series of last-minute changes to their proposal, promising to send more money to Maine, Arizona and Alaska in a clear effort to win over Collins, McCain and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who has voiced reservations about the repeal push and voted against the last repeal bill over the summer.

In a bid to win over Paul and other conservatives, Graham and Cassidy also appeared to further weaken consumer protections, giving states more authority to waive requirements under the current law, such as the prohibition on insurers charging sick people more for coverage.

In addition to Paul, Sen. Ted Cruz, speaking in his home state of Texas over the weekend, said that right now they dont have my vote. He too remained unmoved Monday, but aides said he was trying to get to yes. Cruz said he did not think Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) was supporting the bill, either, though Lees office said Monday that the senator was reviewing the latest version.

By Monday evening, other Republican senators began to voice similar reservations about the rush to pass the Graham-Cassidy proposal as well.

I have no idea whats in the bill, said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) I think we need to move on from healthcare and do tax reform.

Cassidy and Graham have insisted Americans would not lose vital insurance protections under their bill, including the guarantee that they could get insurance even if they are sick.

This plan protects those with preexisting conditions and gives states resources and flexibility to lower premiums and increase the number of Americans insured, Cassidy said Monday after releasing his latest proposal.

But the claims were undercut by the nonpartisan CBO, which predicted that most states would struggle with major cuts in funding and that some would roll back insurance protections for sick Americans.

Some of the choices made by states could reduce enrollees access to care, warned the budget office, which also noted that premiums would probably increase for some Americans, particularly those who need services like mental health treatment or expensive drugs.

The GOP proposal would not only roll back government programs created by the current law to guarantee Americans health coverage, but it also would completely restructure the 52-year-old system of federal support for state Medicaid programs that currently cover about 70 million people.

It would also dramatically cut future Medicaid funding that supports coverage for poor children, mothers, seniors and the disabled.

At the same time, the bill would give states broad new authority to remake their healthcare systems and waive many protections in the current law, including the requirement that health plans cover a basic set of benefits.

That prompted rising alarm among consumer advocates and others, who stepped up warnings Monday that the bill would be devastating to sick Americans.

This bill is an even harsher version of the previous failed proposals that were overwhelmingly rejected by Americans, said Betsy Imholz, special projects director for Consumers Union. It is not only a repeal of the Affordable Care Act  threatening key consumer protections and coverage requirements that ensure those with preexisting conditions have access to meaningful care  but also a historic undercutting of the Medicaid program.

On Monday, 36 current and former state insurance commissioners, including several Republicans, sent a strongly worded letter to congressional leaders urging them to reject the latest proposal.

The Cassidy-Graham bill would increase the number of people without health coverage and severely disrupt states individual insurance markets, with sharp premium increases and insurer exits likely to occur in the short term and over time, the commissioners wrote.

And in yet another blow, analysts at S&P Global Ratings predicted Monday that the Graham-Cassidy proposal would result in the loss of nearly 600,000 jobs over the next decade.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

@LisaMascaro

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UPDATES:

5:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction and analysis.

3:35 p.m.: This article was updated after Collins said she would oppose the measure.

3:10 p.m.: This article was updated after the CBO report was released.

10:55 a.m.: This article was updated with Trumps comments.

This article was originally published at 8:10 a.m.
The Trump administration announced a new ban Sunday on most travel to the U.S. by nationals of seven countries  North Korea and six in the Mideast and North Africa.

The order replaces the much-disputed travel ban that President Trump issued in March, parts of which were blocked in court. That order, a revision of one Trump issued during his first days in office, expired Sunday. The latest version, which will be indefinite, takes full effect on Oct. 18.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Oct. 10 on whether the earlier ban violated the Constitution. It was not immediately clear how the new order would affect that case. Some parts may now be moot, but other disputes may remain live. The new proclamation that Trump signed, for example, does not resolve the status of refugees covered by the earlier ban.

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Under the new order, no existing visas will be revoked, and people currently allowed to travel to the U.S. for other reasons will not be affected, the administration said.

The order covers most of the same countries subject to the original travel ban, with Chad and North Korea joining Iran, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and Libya on the list and Sudan moving off it.

Administration officials said countries had been selected for restrictions based on their ability and willingness to screen and vet travelers and verify their identities. All of the countries except North Korea are majority Muslim, a fact that has figured prominently in court challenges to the ban.

During a worldwide review of security procedures, 16 countries were found to not comply with U.S. requirements, administration officials told reporters. Those included a countrys willingness to share information about a prospective travelers history of criminal or terrorism-related acts, and whether the country in question was equipped to issue electronic passports with embedded biometric information.

Most of the 16 countries worked with administration officials to meet U.S. requirements, but the seven remaining ones could not or would not cooperate, officials said.

Judges who ruled against the earlier ban in several cases said they were doing so in part because they viewed the restrictions as an effort to enact the total and complete shutdown of Muslim travel to the U.S. that Trump had called for as a candidate.

The White House has always denied that, although Trump made several statements on Twitter and at rallies in the last few months that complicated the administrations legal case.

Some Trump supporters pointed to the addition of North Korea to the list as evidence that the travel restrictions were not directed at Muslims. In practice, almost no North Koreans are currently allowed to travel to the U.S., so the order will continue to have its greatest effect on nationals of majority-Muslim countries.

Immigrant advocacy groups made clear that they would use many of the same arguments against the new restrictions that they wielded in courtrooms, legislatures and demonstrations against the previous versions.

This is the Muslim ban by another approach, Frank Sharry, head of Americas Voice, an immigration advocacy group, said Sunday. Hes doing this to circumvent the courts and ban people based on the God they pray to, and thats unconstitutional.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which led many of the court challenges to the earlier bans, also criticized the new rules.

President Trumps original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list, said Anthony D. Romero, the groups executive director.

The White House, as with previous incarnations of the travel ban, portrayed it as a necessary safety measure.

As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people, the proclamation declared.

Asked earlier in the day about plans for a new ban, Trump told reporters the tougher the better.

Administration officials offered a more nuanced explanation, saying that the new ban was more narrowly targeted than the previous versions and that its terms would vary from country to country. Unlike the original ban, the new restrictions do not apply to any U.S. permanent residents, nor to dual nationals who hold a passport from an unrestricted country.

Syrians and North Koreans will face the most complete restrictions, barring virtually all travel, either as immigrants or temporary visitors. North Korea refuses nearly all cooperation with the U.S., administration officials said in written materials explaining the new rules, and Syria has a significant terrorist threat and large parts of its territory remain ungoverned.

Iranians, by contrast, would continue to be allowed to enter the U.S. as students under certain circumstances. Nationals of Chad, Libya and Yemen will not be allowed to enter the U.S. on business and tourist visas, but will otherwise be allowed. Somalis will be allowed to enter in certain cases subject to additional scrutiny.

Venezuelan government officials and their relatives would also not be allowed to enter the U.S. in most cases under the new rules.

Iraqis, who were covered by the first version of the travel ban but exempted in March, would not be covered by the new ban but will face additional scrutiny to determine if they pose risks to the national security or public safety of the United States, the proclamation said.

The travel bans history almost directly overlaps with Trumps tenure in the White House. The first version, issued with no notice, caused chaos at airports abroad and in the United States. Facing court challenges and a wave of criticism, the administration backed down from several of the original restrictions when it issued the revised version in March.

Immigration rights advocates, however, continued to say the president had overreached his executive authority and violated constitutional protections against religious bias.

The new restrictions were foreshadowed on Sept. 15 when an explosion on a London subway injured several dozen people. At the time, Trump took to Twitter to call for more stringent restrictions and express frustration with the setbacks he had faced.

The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct! he tweeted.

Staff Writer Brian Bennett contributed to this article.

David.Lauter@latimes.com

For more on Politics and Policy, follow me @DavidLauter

Get the latest news from the nations capital on Essential Washington 

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UPDATES:

6:56 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details and reaction to the new restrictions.

The article was originally published at 5:50 p.m.
The Supreme Courts decision Monday to postpone arguments over the legality of President Trumps travel ban is likely to send the controversy back to lower courts to consider his revised order, released Sunday.

The court canceled arguments that had been scheduled for Oct. 10 to consider whether Trumps travel ban is a valid measure to protect against terrorism or an unconstitutional scheme to ban Muslims from coming to the country.

But the legal dispute is almost certain to come back to the high court for a final decision, perhaps in a matter of weeks.

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Trumps lawyers have suffered a series of defeats before federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland and before U.S. appeals courts in Virginia and California. They remained confident they had a good chance of winning in the Supreme Court.

In late June, the justices set aside rulings by the lower courts that had blocked Trumps temporary travel ban, allowing parts of it to take effect.

At the same time, the justices agreed to hear arguments from the administrations lawyers who said the president has broad authority to prevent aliens from entering this country if he deems it to be in the nations interest.

But a key part of the temporary travel ban  which restricted nationals from six mostly Muslim countries  expired on Sunday.

In its place, the president issued a 28-page proclamation setting forth a revised and expanded entry ban that affects seven nations, including now Chad and North Korea. Sudan was dropped for the previous list, which included Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

And unlike the earlier versions, the new restrictions will extend indefinitely.

The new ban in effect rendered the pending cases moot. In a brief order, the justices asked the lawyers on both sides to submit letters by Oct. 5 on what should be done next. And they added, The cases are removed from the oral argument calendar, pending further order of the court.

Still unresolved is the part of the temporary order that blocked refugees from the six originally targeted nations. That part of the order expires in late October, and the administration may wait until then to say what comes next.

Meanwhile, the law that governs admission of refugees says that the president is supposed to set annual levels by Oct. 1 of each year. Advocates for refugees fear that Trump will keep the level at 50,000, the temporary cap he put in the earlier version of the travel ban  or even make it lower. Obama had set a goal at 110,000 refugees.

I think what he was trying to do is lay the groundwork to substantially lower the number of refugees who are welcomed into the U.S., said Cathryn Miller-Wilson, executive director of the Pennsylvania branch of HIAS, a refugee resettlement agency, adding that advocates will be making their case to Congress this week.

In the case of refugees fleeing violent governments, its unlikely that the governments would cooperate in sharing information about them, she said. And she said it often takes years for refugees to win approval to enter the U.S.

Theyre desperate and theyre survivors, and now were going to be slamming the door in their faces, she said.

Experts in immigration law were divided over whether Trumps revised order stands a better chance of being upheld. Some said the new order stands on stronger ground because it reflects a careful review of the vetting procedures in the affected countries.

Restrictions were tailored, as appropriate, given the unique conditions and deficiencies in each country, the White House said. The new order exempts current visa holders and immigrants who are lawful permanent residents in this country.

But others said the new restrictions are more vulnerable to legal challenge because they are permanent. This undermines the structure and purpose of the federal immigration law, said Peter Margulies, a law professor at Roger Williams Law School in Rhode Island.

The legal dispute may focus again on two seemingly conflicting parts of the law. One provision, cited regularly by Trumps lawyers, says the president has the power to suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as he deems appropriate. But another provision, cited by the challengers, says immigrants may not be denied entry because of their nation of origin.

In justifying this third version of the travel restrictions, the administration took pains to describe their efforts to analyze the security situation in countries around the world  even though the list of countries with restrictions stayed mostly the same. Some legal experts say that might help Trump defend his ban from what will almost certainly be another set of legal attacks.

But lawyers opposing the ban can point to Trumps rhetoric from last year, calling for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, said Faiza Patel, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

When you start with an illegal attempt and whittle away at it to present something that doesnt look as bad as the first iteration, your original sin in a sense carries forward with you, she said.

Country here is just a proxy for religion, she said. Trump came in and campaigned on an absolute myth that we dont know whos coming into the country, that we dont actually vet them, which couldnt be further from the truth, she said. In fact the U.S. has one of the strictest visa vetting regimes in the world.

Decision time at the Supreme Court: A look at this terms rulings on religion, free speech and immigration 

david.savage@latimes.com

On Twitter: DavidGSavage

UPDATES:

2:45 p.m.: This article was updated with more information about the new ban and reaction.

This article was originally published at 11:05 a.m.
Antonio Villaraigosa launched his political career off his work as a union organizer, and labor played a critical role in getting him elected to office. So it was a remarkable moment when Villaraigosa, as Los Angeles mayor, blasted the citys teachers union where he once worked as the largest obstacle to creating quality schools.

Now, as Villaraigosa runs for governor, this evolution is the reason one of the states most powerful interests may try to sink his campaign.

Unless a miracle happens  theres going to be a lot of money put into efforts against Antonio, said A.J. Duffy, the former president of United Teachers Los Angeles. Its going to be down and dirty.

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Villaraigosa is the most prominent Democrat in California to challenge the teachers unions, a fight that he has continued since leaving the mayors office in 2013. Since then, he notably sided with students in a lawsuit that argued that their state constitutional rights were violated by state laws regulating teacher layoffs, firings and tenure. The lawsuit initially triumphed but was later overturned.

There are potential benefits to his stance  donations from wealthy supporters of the education reform movement and the ability to cast himself as a man willing to stand up to one of his partys most influential constituencies. Some argue that these are the very reasons Villaraigosa picked a fight with labor.

He made a political calculation  that this was a way to further his political ambitions, said one state education leader who will have to work with the next governor and did not want to be identified. If youre going to run for governor or senate, you want deep pockets supporting you.

Villaraigosa declined to comment about the moneyed forces on both sides of the issue. But he argued his motivation is pure.

I really wasnt looking for a fight with anyone, and Im still not, but I made it clear, I will fight for these kids, he said in an interview at Dolores Mission, a Catholic elementary school he attended for two years. Look at these kids. These kids can learn.

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The rifts with labor emerged once he became mayor in 2005. He was labeled a scab when he crossed picket lines the following year during the first major city workers strike in a quarter-century. He later clashed with unions over furloughs and layoffs as the city grappled with the recession.

But tensions grew exponentially as the mayor unsuccessfully tried to seize control of the Los Angeles Unified School District, arguing that city schools needed to be dramatically overhauled because they were failing the neediest students. He eventually gained control of more than a dozen struggling city schools through a nonprofit he founded. He also shaped district policy by helping elect like-minded school board members.

He questioned policies fiercely guarded by teachers unions, such as seniority protections that resulted in constant layoff notices to the younger teachers who tend to staff the most challenging schools. He grew to support using student test scores to evaluate teachers and other overhauls anathema to union leaders.

Villaraigosa argues that he sought to work with the citys teachers union and only criticized them when he had no other choice.

I didnt want to fight with them. I still dont. I believe in teachers. I believe in collective bargaining, he said. But there was resistance to virtually everything we did. I wanted to partner, but they just fought us tooth and nail.

UTLA representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Joshua Pechthalt, the president of the California Federation of Teachers, worked at UTLA at the time and has known Villaraigosa for decades.

I dont think he saw it as being anti-union in any way, but being sensitive to kids like he was, and for us to block the kinds of reforms he was supporting was doing a disservice to those kids, said Pechthalt. I would disagree with him but I dont think it necessarily came from a bad place.

Villaraigosas fight is personal. He looks at the children playing dodge ball at Dolores Mission and sees himself.

The roots of Villaraigosas arc from union organizer to union critic can be traced to his upbringing in City Terrace, and the patchwork of public and private schools he attended in Boyle Heights and downtown. His passion for organizing was forged during the social upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s  as a teenager he led student walkouts at his Catholic high school and picketed in support of the farmworkers boycott at the supermarket where he worked.

But the seeds of his later-in-life criticism of teachers unions also were sown then, as he saw the opportunities that education could afford and the obstacles for underprivileged students.

Fights prompted by anger from his chaotic youth  when as a toddler he witnessed his alcoholic father beat his mother before deserting the family  and a spinal surgery as a teen led to his expulsion from Cathedral High School.

He was sent to Roosevelt High, a public school where one out of four graduated, and placed in basic reading and math classes and vocational training, despite the college-prep classes he had taken previously, he said. This is what the counselor told me: You look like a guy who wants to have fun. Im going to give you classes that arent going to make you work very hard.

Villaraigosa gives a pep talk to students where he played football as a student at Cathedral High School, where he was kicked out for fighting and poor grades decades ago. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

He grew bored and dropped out, worked and partied. Eventually, prodded by his mother and a teacher who saw a spark in him, Villaraigosa returned and graduated with a 1.4 grade point average. It was a Catholic school that gave me a foundation, but it was public school that gave me a second chance, he said.

That opportunity ultimately led to Villaraigosas earning a law degree and working at labor and civil-rights groups before launching his political career: six years in the state Assembly, including a stint as Assembly Speaker; two years on the city council; and eight years as mayor.

Along the way, labor buttressed his campaigns, donating millions of dollars and dispatching members to walk precincts, man phone banks and turn out voters.

Ultimately, Villaraigosas education legacy is viewed as mixed when you drill down and take a look at actual accomplishments, said former state Sen. Gloria Romero, who was the state leader of Democrats for Education Reform. She said he did make some very good strides and great progress.

When Villaraigosa left office in 2013, a Times analysis found that the mayors schools overall performed comparably to district schools with similar demographics, though some saw notable improvements.

Villaraigosa argues that change takes time and points to the graduation rate at his alma mater. When he took office, Roosevelts graduation rate was 36%; the class that graduated earlier this year is expected to be in the high 80s.

Villaraigosa talks with Roosevelt High School Principal Ben Gertner, left, and staff (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Villaraigosas fight with the teachers unions occurred at a time there was a growing rift among Democrats nationally about education. Teachers unions have historically been among the partys most stalwart supporters but some  notably then-President Barack Obama  questioned their priorities.

The growing divide was not as visible in California, where the California Teachers Assn. had long been one of most powerful forces in state politics.

Thats why Villaraigosa may have reason to be concerned: In 2014, CTA spent $12 million to defeat Marshall Tuck, a huge sum in an obscure race to be state superintendent of public instruction. Tuck is a Democrat and former charter school leader whom Villaraigosa hired to run the nonprofit that oversaw his schools. If CTA and other teachers unions decide to go after Villaraigosa, they could paint him as on the same side of the education debate as corporate interests and Republicans rather than teachers and Democrats. Or they could support his top Democratic rivals in the race, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang, who have less controversial records on K-12 issues.

Follow the money race in the governors race on our fundraising dashboard 

The upside for Villaraigosa is that education reform efforts are supported by politically active millionaires and billionaires, and his 2018 campaign has already received financial support from these donors. Others have funded his efforts to shape the citys school board. A critical question will be whether such donors fund an independent effort to boost Villaraigosas campaign, as they did for Tuck in 2014.

CTA president Eric Heins and the CFTs Pechthalt declined to comment on their organizations plans, saying they would announce endorsements later this year. The race is a priority given the governors influence on funding, accountability, curriculum and other policy.

Naturally were going to be very concerned about who gets elected to that seat and look at their record, Heins said.

seema.mehta@latimes.com

For the latest on national and California politics, follow @LATSeema on Twitter.

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Trump Jr. to speak privately to Senate staff on Thursday

(Richard Drew / Associated Press)

President Trumps oldest son is expected to meet privately with a Senate committee investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, several senators said Wednesday.

Donald Trump Jr.'s appearance Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee would probably focus on a meeting he had with a Russian lawyer and others during the final stretches of last years campaign. Emails released in July show that Trump Jr. was told the session at Trump Tower in New York was part of a Russian government effort to aid his father, the Republican nominee.

Special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating that meeting, also attended by Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and then-campaign chairman, Paul Manafort. A grand jury has heard testimony about it.

Trump Jr. has also agreed to appear in the coming weeks before the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is conducting its own investigation.

Separately, President Obamas national security advisor, Susan Rice, was meeting on Wednesday with the House Intelligence Committee, according to a person familiar with the interview. This person wasnt authorized to discuss the committees confidential work and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

That committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department and the FBI for documents related to a dossier of salacious allegations involving Trump and possible ties to Russia.

As for Donald Trump Jr., some Democratic senators said they planned to attend his session though tradition dictates that senators cannot ask questions at such interviews conducted by committee staff.

Sens. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said they would be there. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) was considering it.

I go in with an open mind, Durbin said. I want to hear his answers to questions  there are plenty of questions  about the involvement of the Trump corporation as well as the Trump campaign with the Russians and other foreigners, and I just want to hear what Mr. Trump has to say.

Durbin said he would be shocked if questions werent asked about whether Trump Sr. knew about the Trump Tower meeting.

The critical part of his testimony will be following the financial dealing, Blumenthal said. He said he also wants to find out what Trump Jr. may know about potential obstruction of justice, adding there may have been conversations between the two about the firing of FBI Director James Comey and other matters.

Blumenthal and Coons said the private interview is no substitute for a public hearing, which the committee chairman, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), has promised will happen.

This meeting is far less important than his public testimony, under oath, before the American people, Blumenthal said.

Grassley would not say on Wednesday whether he would issue a subpoena for Trump Jr. if he refuses to testify publicly.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department is reviewing subpoenas from the House intelligence committee.

In a letter Friday that was obtained by the AP, the committee wrote that it had served subpoenas on Aug. 24 to the department and the FBI for documents related to the committees investigation of Russian meddling. The Justice Department and FBI had missed the original Sept. 1 deadline, so the committee extended the deadline to Sept. 14.

The letter was signed by the committee chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who stepped back from the Russia investigation this year after he was criticized for being too close to the White House. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) took over the leading role, but his name does not appear on the letter.

As chairman, Nunes retains subpoena power in the committee.

According to the letter, the original subpoenas requested any documents related to the dossier and sought information about whether the department was involved in its production.

If the documents are not produced, the committee is seeking to compel Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, who has withdrawn from investigations examining connections between Trump and Russia, and newly installed FBI Director Christopher Wray to testify in an open hearing. The committee issued two additional subpoenas to Sessions and Wray on late Tuesday.

Resort to compulsory process was necessary because of DOJs and FBIs insufficient responsiveness to the committees numerous Russia-investigation related requests over the past several months, the letter said.

If the committee is unable to obtain documents or testimony, Nunes wrote, the committee expressly reserves its right to proceed with any and all available legal options, including a House vote to hold Sessions and Wray in contempt.

The Justice Department confirmed it was reviewing the subpoenas but declined further comment.

The dossier attracted public attention in January when it was revealed that then-FBI Director Comey had briefed Trump, soon before he was inaugurated as president, about claims from the documents that Russia had amassed compromising personal and financial allegations about him.

Its unclear to what extent the allegations in the dossier have been corroborated or verified by the FBI because the bureau has not publicly discussed it.

Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said Tuesday evening on MSNBC that the subpoenas were issued over the objections of Democrats. Schiff said Republicans are working harder to discredit those who compiled the dossier than to find out if the allegations in it are true. He said Republicans should be more focused on getting documents from the White House.

The subpoenas were first reported by the Washington Examiner.
Re: Poseidons environmental plan doesnt halt criticism of proposed desalination plant, (Sept. 22): Poseidons attempt to influence the State Lands Commission is too little, too late. Promising environmentally friendly methods in building a $1 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach is not sufficient to overcome its past record of problems surrounding its Tampa Bay plant.

The California Coastal Commission has suggested and urged Poseidon to use a subsurface intake pipe so that the sand would act as a filter for marine life, such as small fish, fish larvae and eggs, which Poseidon has rejected because of the expense.

The Orange County Water District has recently expanded its groundwater replenishment system by 30 million gallons of fresh water daily for a total of 130 million gallons a day, which more then doubles the amount produced by the Carlsbad and proposed Huntington Beach plant and makes the desalination plant irrelevant.

Richard C. Armendariz

Huntington Beach

Partial video of police shooting painted an incomplete picture of conflict

You are showing a video of an officer-involved instigated shooting that doesnt showthe initial portion of the altercation between suspect and officer (Video shows officer fatally shooting man outside H.B. store; police chief defends actions, Sept. 23). This gives the public a perception that the shooting was unprovoked. Is this sensationalism to promote the Daily Pilot or is it reckless reporting to polarize the efforts of our police force versus the public?

Its fairly recognized that you do not try to fight against a peace officer, regardless of the situation, let alone grab any item from the officers utility belt, lethal or otherwise. I am a lifelong resident of our fair city for more than 50 years and truly hate to see this unfortunate situation unfold. I ask that editing of police pursuits be displayed in their entirety online, so the public can decide and not you as a news agency to influence public sentiment.

Michael McClure

Huntington Beach

Editors note: Only the later portion of the shooting video was initially made available to the news media. The Daily Pilot did not edit out the early parts of the confrontation between the officer and the suspect.

Mariners Mile provides opportunities

Lets build a coastal city for people to enjoy now and in the future. Without a clear vision guiding the transformation of Mariners Mile, ongoing efforts will continue to be disappointing.

In coastal cities north and south of Newport Beach, there is a historical and growing movement to transform Pacific Coast Highway to a more-friendly pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare, especially for vulnerable users such as children traveling to school, seniors, joggers, parents with strollers and the disabled.

Orange County beach cities are looking to slow traffic, enhance safety, widen sidewalks and bike lanes and implement a variety of changes that encourage people to walk around their communities. Federal, state, county and city guidelines and community goals have merged to encourage these changes to meet the needs of all users.

Seaside towns from Seal Beach to San Clemente are two lanes. The communities of Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach have grappled with this issue and have remained two lanes. Our vision is a Main Street and Gateway Destination along the tranquil bay and heart of our charming coastal town.

Mariners Mile is our towns Main Street, providing access to the waterfront and beaches. It services our schools, neighborhoods, business districts, hospital buildings and post offices.

Patrick Gormley

Newport Beach

How to get published: Email us at dailypilot@latimes.com. All correspondence must include full name, hometown and phone number (for verification purposes). The Pilot reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity and length.
Having won reelection to a fourth term leading Germany, Angela Merkel has probably reached the pinnacle of her powers abroad as Europes most important leader.

But, ironically, Sundays general election victory has left Merkel weaker than ever at home  blindsided by the rise of a nationalist far-right party whose success at the polls has badly shaken her proud conservative party.

Europe and the world may be looking increasingly to the imperturbable 63-year-old Merkel for leadership, especially now that British Prime Minister Theresa May is busy separating her country from the European Union, Frances Emmanuel Macron is tied up with domestic battles and President Trump is shifting the United States to an America first policy.

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Merkel, in power since 2005, will nevertheless be forced to look over her shoulder in Germany to keep a watch over her own restless conservative party allies. In theory, they are her political friends. But analysts believe nervous rivals within her Christian Democratic Union party will first try to force her back to the right, especially on her refugee policy, and ultimately try to force her out of power because of the partys serious erosion of support.

Merkels standing on the international stage has most definitely been enhanced with her reelection in such a difficult and turbulent time for the outside world, said Thorsten Hasche, a political scientist at the University of Goettingen. A lot of countries will be looking to Merkel as an anchor of stability and for a strong EU. But at home its going to be a different story.

Merkel and her predecessors have shown a tendency to avoid assuming any international leadership role, partly because of the countrys notorious past. In addition, she has seen her authority grow over the last 12 years by virtue of her longevity and Germanys growing economic clout. Her unflappable style and reputation as a steady pair of hands in tight spots have also helped cement her global standing.

The whole world might be turning to Merkel for leadership but Sundays election could ultimately end up being a Pyrrhic victory, said Hasche, who predicts a stormy era ahead for Merkel after her Christian Democrats plunged from 42% support in 2013 to 33% Sunday  the partys worst showing since 1949.

The center-right conservatives, who have dominated postwar politics, lost more than a million voters to the upstart Alternative for Germany party. The anti-immigrant, anti-Islam party won 12.6% of the vote Sunday by campaigning hard against the 1 million refugees who poured into the country in 2015 after Merkel opened the floodgates to refugees and migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere.

The leading candidates of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel, hug before addressing a news conference on Sept. 25, 2017, in Berlin. (Tobias Schwarz / AFP/Getty Images)

The Christian Democrats also lost their aura of invincibility, a disconcerting development for countless thousands of party soldiers across the country who hold elected office. Their careers are suddenly looking vulnerable as a result of what some consider to have been a reckless decision to allow in so many refugees from Syria, Iraq and other trouble spots.

Shes a lot weaker today at home than she was, added Hasche. The partys arch-conservatives in Bavaria arent going to accept any more compromises when it comes to refugees and asylum.

Merkel lost her junior coalition partners, the center-left Social Democrats, who immediately announced they would not renew their alliance after falling to an all-time low of support. She will now have to try to form a new and awkward three-party alliance known as a Jamaica coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats and the leftist Greens. The three parties have the same banner colors as the Jamaican flag: black, yellow and green. Negotiations are expected to last until December, analysts said.

I dont think the major power dynamics will change, in the sense that Merkel will continue as chancellor, said Julius van de Laar, an international political strategist based in Berlin. But I do think that German politics will likely become significantly more unstable because of this result.

Their loss of votes from 2013 to 2017 will cost the conservatives 65 seats in Parliament, giving them a total of 246. The Alternative for Germany party won 94 seats. Fears are running high in Merkels party that it will sustain further losses in coming state and city elections because of anger over the chancellors immigration policies. That, analysts say, means she could be on borrowed time.

The discussion in the party about who will succeed Merkel is going to start a lot sooner than she wants  like immediately, right now, today, after the election, said Gero Neugebauer, a political scientist at Berlins Free University.

Kirschbaum is a special correspondent.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Monday he will call a snap election for parliaments more powerful lower house for next month.

Abe said at a news conference that he will dissolve the chamber on Thursday when it convenes after a three-month summer recess. The election is to be held Oct. 22.

Support ratings for Abes government have started to rebound after attacks on him over cronyism scandals faded during parliaments recess. Also, opposition parties are regrouping and unprepared for an election.

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Abe said he was seeking a mandate for his plans to use new tax revenues for education and care of the elderly, and for his defense policy toward North Koreas escalating missile and nuclear threat, saying the situation is tantamount to a national crisis.

I will tackle the national crisis with my strong leadership, Abe said.

I expect opposition criticism is going to focus on [the scandals], and its going to be a very difficult election, Abe said. He said he will step down as prime minister if his Liberal Democratic Party fails to win a majority, or at least 233 seats, to stay in power.

Analysts believe his party will retain a majority but could lose the two-thirds majority it currently holds with its coalition partner, the Komei party. Still, a big enough victory could help Abe extend his hold on power. His three-year term as party leader ends next September, and he will have to fend off any challengers from within the Liberal Democratic Party to remain prime minister.

For Mr. Abe, now is the time. He is taking advantage of unprepared opposition parties as he seeks to prolong his leadership, said Yu Uchiyama, a University of Tokyo politics professor.

Support ratings for his government plunged to below 30% in July following repeated parliamentary questions about allegations that Abe helped his friend obtain approval for a veterinary college.

Recent media polls show the support ratings recovering to around 50%, helped by parliaments recess and a Cabinet reshuffle in August that removed the defense minister and several other unpopular ministers. A Nikkei newspaper survey published Monday found that 44% of respondents said they would vote for Abes party in the election, followed by 8% for two opposition parties.

Its a significant turnaround from June, when the Liberal Democratic Party suffered a devastating loss in a Tokyo city assembly election to maverick Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koikes new regional party.

Opposition lawmakers are scrambling to regroup.

The popular Koike announced earlier Monday that she is launching a new political party to challenge Abes ruling party in the election. She said she is heading the Hope Party and plans to send candidates to vie for some of the 475 seats in the lower house.

She said her party will be conservative and push for transparency in government, womens advancement, elimination of nuclear energy and other reforms. Several parliamentarians, including defectors from the main opposition Democratic Party, have announced their intention to join her party.

This is going to be a new force formed by members aiming to achieve reforms and conservativism, Koike said. We are going to create a Japan where there is hope for everyone that tomorrow will certainly be better than today.

The Democrats, who held power from 2009 to 2012, have lost ground since then, largely due to party disagreements.

UPDATES:

6 a.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Shinzo Abe on his platform plans.

This story was originally posted at 3 a.m.
Mexican flags poke from near the rubble piles of what were once homes, shops and offices.

A group of youthful cheerleaders marches down a street, clapping their hands while rhythmically chanting, Mexico! Mexico!

Bystanders gathered at the site of a flattened office building break into an impromptu rendition of Cielito Lindo, the iconic Mexican song, with its adversity-calming refrain: Ay, ay, ay ay. Canta y no llores  Sing and dont cry.

There would seem to be little to croon about on the streets of this grievously wounded capital, where the aftermath of Tuesdays earthquake has left at least 180 dead and forced thousands from their homes. Nationally, the death toll topped 300.

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But, along with the edgy sense of apprehension, last weeks earthquake has seen an extraordinary outpouring of pride and nationalistic passion, in some cases literal flag-waving. People seem compelled to proclaim their mexicanidad  their Mexican-ness.

This in a country where decades of corrupt governance and official impunity have fed a profound sense of skepticism, a distrust of the public sphere and a reliance on family more than community.

Volunteers work to remove rubble from the Neto supermarket where people were found dead in Mexico Citys Xochimilco area. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

A mass outburst of solidarity and volunteerism has gripped seemingly all segments of society, but especially millennials  despite that demographics lack of institutional memory of the 1985 earthquake that killed thousands here. The urge to do something is palpable.

Everyone wants to help, to show their concern, said Gibrana Cervantes, 28, a violinist who was among volunteers handing out food and clothing Saturday in a park in the hard-hit Condesa district. Im part of a group of more than 100 people assisting in various areas, and I dont even know most of them.

In the capital, there even appears to be an oversupply of donated food, water, clothing, diapers and first aid services  even dog food, sacks of which were piled up for the taking at an aid center at Parque Mexico in Condesa. Spots in evacuation shelters go vacant as many forced from their homes are welcomed by relatives and friends.

Brigades of volunteers, young and old, wander about on foot and on bicycles offering food, clothing, water and other aid from boxes, backpacks and baskets. They implore people to take a sandwich, a pastry, a coffee  something, please. This weekend, a mock Batmobile bearing Mexican flags distributed aid, prompting Batman to the rescue TV headlines. People in wheelchairs, even amputees, have joined the help crews.

The torrent of donations and deluge of aid has morphed into an enhanced sense of patriotism, both on the streets and in social media.

President Trumps perceived Mexico-bashing has generated broad uncertainty about the economy and revived dark memories of the countrys often-problematic relations with its superpower northern neighbor. Anti-Trump sentiment has also united Mexicans to a degree, but not to the extent that reaction to the earthquake has.

The capitals massive, on-the-ground response to adversity has spurred a feel-good sense about the country and what many view as its essential character. Dark stereotypes about Mexicans as callous and indifferent to graft and deceit have promptly fallen by the wayside.

How proud I am to be a Mexican and to see how many people are helping in the disaster, wrote one social media user, Mariana Macias, in response to what emerged post-earthquake as a popular Twitter hashtag, #FuerzaMexico  roughly, Strength in Mexico.

No country in the world unites like Mexicans unite in disasters, Macias added.

Even as people were reveling in such upbeat sentiments, last weeks apparently phony saga of Frida Sofia  the 12-year-old student supposedly trapped in the ruins of the toppled Enrique Rebsamen school  ultimately validated gloomy narratives about a crooked government and press establishment. The story riveted the nation and received around-the-clock TV coverage. But it turned out that Frida Sofia likely never existed.

Yet the fake news about Frida Sofia was largely shrugged off and failed to dampen spirits.

Words in the Mexican national anthem proclaiming a soldier in every son have been modified in hundreds of placards, graffiti messages and internet posts into an updated motto: A hero in every son.

The country seems to have embraced the notion that facing hardship is an essential component of the national makeup  and certainly of the character of the chilangos, as Mexico City residents are known, sometimes not so affectionately, outside of their densely populated metropolis.

translation: i'm sending you my princess blanket so you won't be scared 

take courage

alejandra from culiacan#fuerzamexico #mexico pic.twitter.com/9akt2CxznB  smoothliminal (@smoothliminal) September 23, 2017

In a column in the Milenio newspaper, Carlos Puig noted how Mexico City seemed to suffer from a form of original sin, founded as it is in a seismic zone, flanked by active volcanoes and above a now-disappeared lake. The megacity continues to defy nature, erecting ever-larger skyscrapers on tenuous terrain and draining water from the ground. Plumes of ash have been spewing in recent days from the nearby Popocatepetl volcano, another indication of the citys vulnerable setting.

Yet the columnist noted that, an hour after last weeks earthquake struck, his son got on his bike and went out to help people  just like his parents had when the 1985 quake hit.

He will make the city his own, Puig wrote. And he will live always with fear, but with identity.

Among those most lionized are the rescue workers who burrow inside collapsed buildings seeking signs of life, especially Mexicos own topos, or moles, as the volunteer search battalions are known.

At rescue sites, emergency staffers raise their right arms with clenched fists to ask for silence as colleagues listen for signs of life deep inside the wreckage. The clamor of the dig quickly gives way to a church-like quiet, an extraordinary transformation.

Since last weeks earthquake, the raised fists have taken on new significance  as a generalized symbol of solidarity and at times a rebuff to the countrys political class.

To the corrupt government of Mexico, wrote Sofia Nino de Rivera in a Twitter message. Fists up for you. Shut up, leave and let us show you how it is done.

The government has taken notice, especially with national elections scheduled for July. President Enrique Pena Nieto, his popularity rating at near-record-low levels, has been busy making public appearances at disaster sites, aid centers and other earthquake-related venues.

Tens of thousands of troops were quickly deployed in Mexico City to maintain order and assist with recovery. The ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party clearly wants to avoid any suggestion of a laggard effort  or that aid is being diverted or stolen.

The same ruling party was widely assailed after the 1985 quake for its infamously torpid response. Many analysts view the 1985 temblor and its broad social aftershocks as marking the beginning of the fracturing of Mexicos once-monolithic ruling party.

Despite its devastating impacts, some view last weeks earthquake as a kind of hope-infused hinge moment, shifting the countrys perspective toward unity at a critical time.

We were in a situation of great disunion before the earthquake, said Luis Rodolfo Vasquez Huante, a veterinary professor who was stationed in the Roma neighborhood Saturday, waiting to provide medical aid to any pets injured in the earthquake. So out of something bad has come good, because weve returned to all being Mexicans and watched our national spirit flower.

As time goes by, the enthusiasm, volunteer spirit and patriotic exuberance seem certain to diminish. The city, and the country, face a massive task of cleanup, inspection, demolition and reconstruction that will likely drag on for years and cost billions of dollars.

We should be very proud of our young people, said Rodolfo Soriano Nunez, a public policy analyst. But we cant do reconstruction based on volunteerism.

Meanwhile, the arduous task of seeking those who may be trapped beneath the tons of fallen masonry drags on. In Mexico City on Sunday, workers continued to search through ruins that included an office building in the central neighborhood of Condesa and the Rebsamen school, where 21 children died in the southern part of the city.

Experts say the chance of finding survivors decreases three days after an earthquake, but rescuers have vowed to press on.

The other day, emergency workers removed their hard hats and stood in silence as yet another body was removed from the rubble of what was formerly a five-story apartment block in the capitals Tlalpan district. Rescuers carried the body on a stretcher to a waiting morgue van past the sodden debris pile, its sides draped by curtains and bedspreads, remnants of past lives.

Once the ritual was completed, the workers  whose ranks included teams from Israel and Japan  returned to their labors. But not before raising anew their right arms, fists clenched, and declaring in unison: Fuerza Mexico! Fuerza Mexico!

To read the article in Spanish, click here

Special correspondent Laura Tillman and Cecilia Sanchez of The Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.

patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com

Twitter: @mcdneville

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Sometimes, in the fractious world of Iraqi politics, no means yes.

That was the central message from Kurdish leaders Monday morning when Iraqs Kurds cast their ballots in a controversial independence referendum, despite repeated entreaties and threats from regional and world powers to stop the vote.

The referendum was to decide whether the semiautonomous Kurdish enclave in northern Iraq will separate from the central government and become its own country.

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Kurdish leaders say a vote in support of independence (the most likely result) will allow them to begin secession proceedings with Baghdad  a so-called Kexit that, like its British counterpart, will not spur any immediate changes but will lead to independence in one or two years.

Iraqi Kurds casts their votes in the Kurdish independence referendum in the city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq, on Sept. 25, 2017. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye / AFP/Getty Images)

This referendum is a peaceful and democratic process with which the people of the Kurdistan region can express their voice and desire, said Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdish regional government, in a news conference in the Iraqi city of Irbil. He added that the referendum was not a threat to neighboring countries.

Should the yes vote win with a clear majority, it does not mean that we will declare independence the very next day. Nor will it be used for drawing new borders, Barzani continued. We will engage in serious negotiations with Baghdad.

Voting stations opened at 8 a.m. in the four provinces that make up the Kurdish regional government as well as disputed areas that both the Kurds and the central government claim as their own. More than 5.3 million people were eligible to vote, accounting for about 15% to 20% of Iraqs population, according to the referendums commission, including 1.9 million people in disputed areas.

The voting ended at 6 p.m. Preliminary results were to be released within 24 hours of the polls close, said the commission.

For those living in Kurdish-controlled areas, it appeared to be a moment of celebration.

Activists flooded social media with photos of men and women smiling as they raised an index finger covered in purple ink, indicating their participation in the vote.

Iraqi Kurds show their ink-stained fingers after casting their votes in the Kurdish independence referendum in the city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq on Sept. 25, 2017. (Ahmad al-Rubaye / AFP/Getty Images)

Another photo showed a bride and groom, decked out in a tuxedo and bridal gown, casting a ballot before their nuptials. Rudaw, a TV station affiliated with the regional ruling party, broadcast images of long lines at voting stations. One balloting station in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk featured a two-man band playing traditional instruments.

A day before the referendum, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi launched a verbal broadside at Kurdish leaders, accusing them of attempting to divide Iraq and taking it back to the time of darkness  and dictatorship. He added that most of the issues in the Kurdish region were internal, and the fault of corrupt politicians.

We confirm today that we will not give up on our Kurdish citizens. We have refused and refuse the sectarian state, just as we reject the racial state, he said in the televised speech.

This [referendum] is against the constitution. We will [take] steps afterward to preserve the unity of the lands.

Later on Sunday, Baghdad directed the Kurdish regional government to hand over control of all border crossings, even as it exhorted other nations to deal exclusively with the Iraqi central government on issues of ports and oil, according to a statement from Abadis national security council.

A secession could devastate Iraqs economy, given the Kurdish regions significant oil assets, its agriculture and even tourism revenue.

The request found a willing audience in both Iran and Turkey, the Kurdish regions two top trading partners. Both countries worry that calls for an independent Kurdish state would encourage their own Kurdish populations to follow suit.

Iran said Monday that it condemned any measure against the territorial integrity of Iraq, while the Iranian foreign ministry said it closed its land border with the Kurdish region on a request from Baghdad. A day earlier, Tehran blocked all flights to the Kurdish enclave.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at a news conference in Istanbul on Monday, called the referendum illegitimate and said his country would support Iraqs territorial integrity, according to a report from Turkish state news agency Anadolu.

He added that the border crossings between northern Iraq and Turkey would be closed.

Lets see how and where the northern Iraq local authority sells petroleum, he said. Turkey is the only pathway for Kurdish oil to reach world markets.

The [oil] valve is ours. If we shut off the valve, it will be over, Erdogan said.

Both Iran and Turkey are holding military exercises near their respective borders with the Kurdish area.

The Trump administration has been adamant in its opposition to a Kurdish independence referendum. U.S. officials insist the Kurds can achieve a better deal, not to mention international support, by negotiating with Baghdad on an alternative to the referendum.

The already fragile balance of alliances the U.S. has formed with Kurdish fighters in the wars against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and, until recently, against the government forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad, could be irreparably disrupted if the referendum goes through.

Opposition from Turkey, which dreads few developments more than a Kurdish independence movement, would be especially damaging to the alliance.

Turkey has grudgingly tolerated U.S. ties with Kurdish fighters, but all bets will be off if the referendum succeeds in promoting Kurdish independence.

If the U.S. loses its Kurdish allies, who find themselves under attack from Turkey, its war against Islamic State will be weakened. Further, such operations could bring the U.S. and Turkey, two NATO allies, into potentially closer confrontation.

The referendum just carries an awful lot of risks and thats not something the United States can control, Brett McGurk, the U.S. presidential envoy in the fight against Islamic State, told reporters. In terms of the consequences  its not something we can fully control.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, asked Monday about Kurdish independence, said the White House continues to prefer a unified Iraq to fight ISIS and to counter Iran. She was referring to Islamic State by an acronym.

In numerous briefings, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert has reiterated what she called strong U.S. opposition and warned that the Kurds could lose aid and the limited political power they have now. The priority, she said, must be the eradication of Islamic State.

We respect Kurdish desires, she said in a tweet late last week. Want to keep eye on the ball & eradicate ISIS so they never terrorize your land+people again.

Special correspondent Bulos reported from Beirut and Times staff writer Wilkinson from Washington. Special correspondent Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran contributed to this report.

Twitter: @nabihbulos
Brazilian logistics company could raise nearly $830m in new shares as it looks to capitalize on positive earnings growth and a soaring stock price
The help of three Good Samaritans led to the arrest of a male accused of snatching a purse away from a 76-year-old woman walking near an Allentown bridge.

Charged is Jesus Guzman, 40, with no current address.

Assistant Police Chief Bill Reinik said the incident unfolded at about 5 p.m. Saturday when Guzman began wrestling the purse away from the victim in the vicinity of the Tilghman Street bridge.

Guzman snatched the purse and ran down the stairs at the end of the bridge, which took him down to North Meadow Street, near the Jordan Creek, Reinik said. Three men witnessed the incident and began chasing Guzman until he eventually ran into the woods along the creek. At some point, Guzman tossed the purse behind, Reinik said.

Guzman continued to run down an alley leading to a house on North Third Street, where he jumped over a wrought iron fence and injured his arm on the spikes atop the fence, Reinik said.

Guzman allegedly entered a home in the 400 block of North Third Street, running past the residents inside and into a third floor bedroom. He left blood throughout the home, which led investigators to find him underneath a bed, Reinik said.

Guzman is charged with robbery, burglary, criminal trespassing, theft and simple assault. He was arraigned before District Judge Michael Pochron, who set bail at $35,000. In lieu of bail, Guzman was sent to the Lehigh County jail.

Police said the victim injured her wrist trying to hold onto the purse. The purse was later returned to the woman with all contents inside and nothing stolen, Reinik said.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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My photo of President John F. Kennedys beloved sailing boat, Victura, with his eponymous museum to the left and Bostons harbour and city skyline in the background.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is holding a special exhibition called JFK 100  Milestones and Mementos to mark the centennial of the great mans birth.

The museum itself is worth making a beeline for, if youre ever near Boston USA (and if youre unlikely to go there anytime soon I have inserted some links to the museums digital archive below). In a stunning building, located (purposely to reflect JFKs love of the sea) on a breathtakingly beautiful shoreline site overlooking Boston harbour and the sea beyond, the museum presents the visitor with a feast of insight, photographs, exhibits and information about JFK, his presidency and his family. Id allow the best part of a day to absorb it all, if I were you. There is a superb introductory film, a film on the Cuban crisis and countless videos playing on a loop with contemporaneous TV footage. There are a mountain of original artefacts. The whole thing is quite mind boggling but very inspirational, if a little panglossian (for example, although his health issues are mentioned severally, I could find no mention of Addisons disease).

The one exhibit which sticks in my mind is the coconut which JFK engraved with a help message for a native Pacific islander to transport back to the US Navy when he and his surviving shipmates were stranded on a remote Pacific island after the Japanese rammed their patrol boat in the Second World War.

The JFK 100 exhibition itself is worth devoting an hour or two to. What they have done is produce 100 quite remarkable bits and pieces from their archive. These range from JFKs ties and sunglasses to some previously forgotten interview footage when he was a Senator and some interesting original documents, including original speech texts (which Kennedy spoke from). They show last minute edits from Kennedy and his speechwriter, Ted Sorensen. Indeed, one little gem I picked up is that when Kennedy got up to give his famous inaugural address, the text he read from said:

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country will do for youask what you can do for your country.

But, as he spoke the script at the inauguration, he made a last-second on the hoof edit and changed it to what he said, which was:

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for youask what you can do for your country.

As Michael Caine didnt say: Not a lot of people know that.

All together one leaves the museum feeling deeply inspired. The key takeaway is how Kennedy articulated the struggle for liberty. He said:

A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.

He was referring to liberty or freedom. Looking back, this seems a little cliched from todays perspective. But seen from the point of view of the early 1960s, with the threat of global communism and/or anhiliation very much alive, it was, and is, a profoundly inspiring articulation.

For me, John F. Kennedys greatest achievement was working through the Cuban Missile crisis without a nuclear war kicking off. He over-ruled his rather hawkish military advisers. That strength derived, in part no doubt, from his amazing war service. He swam three and a half miles amidst dangerous, current washed waters, towing an injured colleague via the cord of his fellows lifebelt in his teeth. Now that takes some doing! It was that heroism, presumably, which allowed Kennedy to be a superb Cammnder-in-chief during arguably the greatest man-made crisis which the world has ever faced.

Kennedy was a keen historian. I think we could learn a great deal from the Cuban crisis in respect of the current North Korean situation.

Links

As promised, here is a link to the magnificent JFK Museum and Library digital archive. There is a sumptuous series of collections which you can browse including most of JFKs presidential papers, his private papers, the Kennedy familys private photographs and archive material from broadcasters and films.

As a sample, here is the CBS archive recording of Kennedys New Frontier speech from 1960:







And here is that inspiring inaugural address:









And here he is in sobre mood at a live news conference in 1961:









Here are documents related to Kennedys inaugural speech. If you scroll down virtually to the bottom you can see the originally released text of the speech and the part where the text said Ask not what your countrydo for you whereas Kennedy changed that as he was speaking to Ask not what your countrydo for you:

Here below is the manually edited reading copy of that part of the speech:

Heres a little slide show of various items in the JFK 100 exhibition. Click on the arrows to move the images, hover your mouse or finger over the photo for a caption and click on More images at the bottom of the box to see even more such images on the Getty Images website:



And finally, here are a few more of my photos of the museum itself. Scroll down to view:

* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
METROPOLITAN mayor Cllr Sean Lynch hopes common sense will prevail  and a strike of call-centre staff can be averted.

Siptu is to ballot its members working at the Munster Regional Control Centre on Mulgrave Street, responsible for dispatching fire engines after emergency calls.

The reason for the poll is due to the fact Limerick City and County Council, which operates the centre, has not engaged with staff on a number of issues related to pay, conditions and treatment of workers.

Cllr Lynch, who as a detective garda worked in the emergency service, said: I believe there is engagement and work in progress, and Im hoping common sense will prevail. Its good to hear talks are ongoing. Id just hope any industrial action of any type will be averted.

They are all responsible adults, and id hope for respect and dignity on all sides, he added.

The metropolitan mayor said the call-centre workers are key to ensuring emergency services get their appliances on time and to the right location.

One worker  speaking on condition of anonymity  said: This is all down to the councils personal agenda. We are emergency services when it suits them. But if the firefighters next door get something, we don't get it. Were not classed as emergency service workers, but we do provide an emergency service. We're providing a service, and very good at our jobs, but they do not want to engage and help make things better.

Senator Paul Gavan, Sinn Fein, said Limerick council must do everything in its power to avoid a strike.

He said he finds it hard to believe the other councils who feed into the centre have not stepped in to help resolve the standoff.

If the workers have to resort to strike action, they have the full support of both myself and my party members in Sinn Fein, he added.

One of only three control centres dispatching fire services in the state, the communications centre is responsible for 65 retained and four full-time fire stations in Munster.

Limerick City and County Council declined to comment, as did Siptu.
FORMER Housing Minister Jan OSullivan says it is completely unfair that Limerick has once again been left out of the Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ).

Greystones in Co Wicklow and Drogheda in Co Louth are the two latest areas to have rent controls imposed on its landlords  meaning charges can only go up by a maximum of 4% yearly. But Limerick has once again been overlooked.

Ms OSullivan said: People are losing their homes because of rent increases in the city. We have no safety net for people who can't afford current rents in Limerick which have been going up month after month far in excess of the four per cent that applies in Dublin, Cork and other parts of the country.

Ms OSullivan called on current Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to designate Limerick as an RPZ without delay.

Her sentiments were reflected by local Fianna Fail councillor Jerry ODea, a member of the housing strategic policy committee.

He said: There is clear evidence people have been losing their homes as a result of rent increases. There is only locally so much a housing committee can do. We need every bit of help from the government and wed be calling on them to extend the Rent Pressure Zone to Limerick as soon as possible.

Cllr ODea said, on the ground, he sees Limerick people losing their homes, as they cannot afford the increased rents.

As Limerick is becoming more and more successful in creating employment, there is clear pressure on family units to demand increased rent, he said.

Meanwhile, local TD Maurice Quinlivan on Wednesday night highlighted the numbers of homeless people in Limerick while speaking in the Dail on a bill to put a right to housing in the constitution.

He said: Its a disgrace that in 2017 as a rich country with the fastest growing economy in Europe for the fourth year in a row, the government cannot house our people, especially our homeless citizens.
KENNEDYS Pub & Shop in Rearcross is going to mark its 60th anniversary in style with a jam-packed weekend of celebrations.

Rody Kennedy, proprietor, said it is important to celebrate these landmark anniversaries.

It is also a testament to his father Tom who made the brave business decision to purchase the pub in 1957. He and his wife Breda ran the bar and shop until 1990 when Rody and Ann took it over.

Rody was brought up in the pub and reckons he was out collecting glasses from the tender age of two!

I was born into the pub and Ive worked there all my life and I enjoy it. Customers are like family in a small rural village, said Rody.

It is easy to tell his passion hasnt diminished in all those years and two things are guaranteed when you walk into Kennedys pub or shop - a warm welcome and good craic.

It is a tough time for rural pubs but Kennedys is holding its own.

Local pubs and shops are hugely important in local communities. You only realise their importance when they are gone, said Rody and thankfully Kennedys isnt going anywhere.

We do Christening celebrations, catering after weddings and funerals, birthday parties, host meetings - anything our customers want, he said.

Rearcross is a vibrant village with lots of community organisations and clubs and a brilliant community spirit. Its a great village nestled in the beautiful Slieve Phelims and the people from the locality and surrounding areas are great to rally around to help out with fundraising event. The latest being a community day which was a tremendous success. Profit made on the day went to Rearcross FC and Rearcross Tidy Towns.

We have always been a great supporter of our parish GAA club Sean Treacys. They are a very vibrant club with a great underage structure in place. The club has had great success over the years and hopefully many more to come when they tog out in the parish colours of blue and gold.

Our village looks well and we are proud to be part of it and extremely proud to be there for all the organisations in our community to help them out in any way possible as they have been there for us back the years. Its all about being local and helping out locally, added Rody.

Running in tandem with the pub is the local grocery shop which has continued to thrive. Although it has caused one or two problems over the years when a husband has gone down to buy a pint of milk and the paper and the temptation of a creamy pint got too much!

We look after our customers to the very best of our ability and we would like to publicly thank all our customers for all their loyal support down through the years. We really appreciate them and look forward to being there for them into the future, said Rody and Ann.

Old and new customers are very welcome to join with the Kennedys from Friday, September 30, when they kick off with a trad session  all musicians are welcome to join in.

On Saturday they will be reeling in the years with a photo display and have music from the very popular Stonethrowers.

On Sunday evening, October 1, they will have the very talented Martin Byrnes and friends from 5.30pm.

So over the three nights every musical taste is catered for as the Kennedy family toast six proud decades in business.
THE LIMERICK based oil and gas exploration company Circle Oil Plc, which once had a net worth of 231 million, has gone into voluntary liquidation.

Declan McDonald and Brendan Lynch, of Pricewaterhouse Coopers, have been appointed joint liquidators to the company.

Creditors have been advised to send particulars of their debts and claims to PwC by October 31 next, as the company is being voluntarily wound up.

Documents submitted by PwC to the Companies Registration Office show that its directors have now resigned, after an extraordinary general meeting was called in the Gresham Hotel in Dublin.

Last year the company conducted a strategic review to put in place a sustainable long term financing structure for the business.

At that time, the company said it was considering a number of options to reduce debt and ensure it has sufficient cash flows to fund future operations.

This included a debt restructuring, a sale of some of its assets, but stressed that its financial position would remain under significant pressure given the infrequent and unpredictable payments from the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC).

Chairman Stephen Jenkins, in the last available company accounts for the end of 2015, described these payments as volatile and exasperating its liquidity situation.

Oil and gas revenues were down by 54% to $38.95 million as a result of lower oil prices, a strengthening US dollar against the Moroccan dirham and reduction in production in both Egypt and and Morocco, stated Mr Jenkins.

Mr Jenkins said while the group had received a number of proposals, after taking into account the groups debt position, the directors believed that it was now likely that there will be no value attributable to its equity holders.

Primarily focused on Morocco, Tunisia, Oman and Egypt, in 2015 it consolidated its positions in Morocco and Egypt and withdrew from Oman. Accounts for 2015 show that it made a loss of 110 million.

This was down from a net profit of 27 million in 2013.
IN scenes described as farcical, Limerick City and County Councils monthly meeting was adjourned three times this Monday.

This included a 30 minute break to discuss the amount of time members were allowed speak.

Sinn Fein councillor Seighin O Ceallaigh made the comment as the business of the monthly meeting was delayed by more than hour as members argued over various different forms of protocol.

In a post to Facebook, he stated: There is literally a 15 minute adjournment to discuss time wasting at the council.

The second of the three delays to the meeting at County Hall in Dooradoyle came around two hours into the meeting, during a debate on the housing crisis.

Councillors were told that the local authoritys housing waiting list had reduced by 22%. But 69 families, made up of 93 adults and 120 children, are currently in emergency temporary accommodation. The council has a target of providing 2,443 units by 2020, Ms Kirby said before going on to explain the steps taken to try and meet this target.

Just three councillors had made a contribution before Labour's Joe Leddin suggested that it was not fair to confine members to just three minutes on such an important issue.

He asked instead that a special meeting be held to discuss the matter.

This was seconded by Cllr Jerome Scanlan..

"This is the most pertinent issue happening all over the country at the moment,"

He proposed that housing only be discussed today and that the other items be adjourned to another meeting later in the week.

After a lot of argument and counter proposals, councillors took their second adjournment  slated for just 15 minutes  to allow party leaders to come to some decision.

After the recess, which dragged on 15 minutes beyond the agreed time, the Fine Gael proposal was again put that all other business be adjourned and that housing be dealt with as a single item agenda.

However, Fianna Fail, proposed instead that a special meeting on housing be organised for a different time and that all items on the agenda be dealt with immediately.

After a slow headcount, this proposal was agreed. Housing was to be for a different day.

"I am disappointed in my Fianna Fail colleagues," Cllr John Sheahan, Fine Gael party leader said.

By this time, it was 5pm, two hours after the meeting began. And then came the third adjournment.

Fine Gael wanted to meet chief executive Conn Murray in their party rooms to discuss the Local Property Tax, an item which has to be dealt with by September 30.

The first adjournment, right at the start of the meeting, was also to allow the discussion on the controversial charge.

It means in total, around 90 minutes had been lost to delays as of 6pm this evening.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader from County Hall, Cllr O Ceallaigh claimed Mayor Stephen Keary allowed his own Fine Gael party colleagues to talk on matters related to the housing crisis as long as they wanted to, before insisting members on the opposition benches were only allowed three minutes.

He said: If the chairman had done his job properly and let everyone keep to the agreed three minutes, instead of allowing his party colleagues go on as long as they wanted, we would be much further down the agenda.

The Sinn Fein City East member pointed out representatives of the Older Peoples Forum and the Students Union of Ireland were waiting patiently for their chance to address the meeting, while members of the public were also sat in the public gallery.

Its so ridiculous. Its hard to believe this is actually happening. We are trying to encourage people to come and engage with local politics. When they see this, it is a deterrent for people to come, he said.

Nevertheless, Cllr O Ceallaigh said he would happily remain in the meeting until midnight if he had to in order to discuss Limericks housing crisis.

The Limerick Leader made attempts to contact Cllr Keary, but he was not available for response.
May 2, 2021, 8 PM

The Schuyler Rumsey auction at Sescal will include this unused original gum horizontal pair of the 1857 1 blue Benjamin Franklin issue, which includes type III at left and type IIIa at right.

An 1857 folded letter to Paris franked with a vertical strip of the United States 1856 5 Thomas Jefferson stamp will be offered during the Oct. 13-15 Sescal auction in Ontario, Calif., conducted by Schuyler Rumsey.

By Michael Baadke

San Francisco-based Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions will travel to the Los Angeles region to present a three-day auction at the upcoming Sescal stamp show and exhibition.

The show and the auction are both taking place Oct. 13-15 at the Ontario Convention Center, 2000 E. Convention Center Way, in Ontario, Calif., east of Los Angeles.

Along with classic United States and worldwide stamps and postal history, the auction will feature the Wolf Hess collection of Cuban maritime mail, more than 440 lots of Mexico from the collections of Edward Nissen and Ernst Sielaff, plus California and Western postal history, military mail and much more.

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The auction will launch at 10 a.m. (Pacific Time) Friday with a huge selection of U.S. postal history in a dozen different categories that include foreign mail with trans-Atlantics, railroad covers, advertising and exposition covers.

Among the U.S. regular issues is an 1857 folded letter mailed from New Orleans to Paris, France, franked with a vertical strip of the 1856 5 red brown Thomas Jefferson stamp (Scott 12). The stamps are described as having margins that are clear to mostly large, showing portions of adjacent stamps at right.

The strip is tied by June 30, 1857, New Orleans circular datestamps in black, and a red French transit marking. The front is also struck with a red July 8 New York exchange circular datestamp

The cover accumulated numerous transit backstamps on its journey to Paris, according to the auction catalog description.

The attractive cover is accompanied by a 2016 Philatelic Foundation certificate and is listed by Rumsey with an estimate of $5,000 to $7,500.

The offerings of U.S. stamps begin later in the Friday session, beginning with postmasters provisionals and continuing through the 1898 Trans-Mississippi issue.

One lot from this group offers a horizontal pair of the 1857 1 blue Benjamin Franklin stamp identified by collectors as two different stamps from plate 4.

At left in the pair is a type III stamp (Scott 21) with breaks in the frameline at top and bottom clearly visible, according to the Rumsey catalog description. Next to it is a type IIIa stamp (22).

The stamps are described as well centered and having original gum, rich vibrant color and exceptional freshness. They have 2008 and 2014 certification from the Philatelic Foundation.

The value of the scarce type III stamp is more than seven times that of the type IIIa, but an additional premium applies to the joined pair in the 2017 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers.

The catalog listing for such a combination pair reports a value of $22,500 in italics, the italics indicating an item that can be difficult to value accurately.

The Saturday auction session begins by continuing the U.S. stamp offerings into the 20th century, and presents the first of the general foreign offerings as well.

On Sunday, bidding will begin on the Mexico material from the Nissen and Sielaff collections, and continue through additional worldwide material plus U.S. and foreign collections.

Two featured collections in the Rumsey auction comprise the exhibit of the Life and Fate of the American Natives by Wolf Hess, which won a large gold medal at World Stamp Show-NY 2016 and was nominated for the grand prix international; and what Rumsey describes as a stunning collection of classic Uruguay  with many rare and desirable items throughout, many items ex-Hoffmann.

The Hess exhibit is offered as the first lot in the auction as it opens Friday morning, and is estimated at $30,000 to $40,000.

The Uruguay collection will be presented later on Sunday as part of the auction firms worldwide collection offerings, with an estimate of $25,000 to $35,000.

The Schuyler Rumsey public auction will take place live at Sescal during the stamp show in Ontario.

Collectors unable to attend the show can also participate by viewing the auction lots online, where online bidding options are also available.

For additional information, contact Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, 47 Kearny St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94108.
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Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change

By Ellen Pao

Spiegel & Grau. 274 pp. $28

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For most of her life, Ellen Pao did what you're supposed to do to succeed. In her new book, "Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change," Pao describes herself as a "dutiful daughter" of immigrants who excelled at Princeton and Harvard, where she picked up law and business degrees, and then headed west for the tech gold rush. Sure, she encountered some creeps along the way, and at times she felt underappreciated. But as she tells it, it wasn't until landing at blue-chip venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers - which she famously, and unsuccessfully, sued for gender discrimination and retaliation - that she began to question whether she had been set up to fail.

"The culture, I began to realize, is (BEGIN ITAL)designed(END ITAL) to keep out people who aren't white men," she writes early on in "Reset." That sort of systemic critique is heretical in Silicon Valley, where wealthy men talk a big game about a meritocracy and transforming the world through technology. Never mind that a 2015 survey of 200 women at tech companies found that 60 percent had experienced sexual harassment, twice the rate of a separate study across industries. As Pao's book persuasively shows, men in the tech industry love to exalt the notion of "disruption," but those at her venture capital firm chafed at a woman disturbing their comfort. She paid the price.

Pao unravels the slow accumulation of slights and outrages she endured at Kleiner. No crusader at heart, she demonstrated remarkable determination, even going through with the bruising trial, when settling would have protected her privacy and perhaps her career prospects. She has since refused to sign a non-disparagement clause with Kleiner. "I was one of the only people who had the resources and the position to bring suit," she writes. "I believed I had an obligation to speak out about what I'd seen as one of the few women and people of color in that world."

What she saw included, by her account, boorish, obvious sexism. Pao recalls trying to implement Sheryl Sandberg's advice about leaning in and demanding a seat at the table. But following Sandberg's prescriptions proved difficult. One time, she found herself on a private plane with male executives where the conversation included discussing their preferred sex workers and name-dropping porn stars. When the plane landed, Pao realized that "the group couldn't wait to ditch me." She thought, "Taking your seat at the table doesn't work so well ... when no one wants you there and you are vastly outnumbered." Later, she notes wryly that after Sandberg's book came out, "that porn-obsessed tech CEO was all over it as a spokesperson and advocate."

Pao's book is most astute when it portrays a subtler form of discrimination. Pao writes, "When venture capitalists say - and they do say - 'We think it's young white men, ideally Ivy League dropouts, who are the safest bets,' and then only invest in young white men with Ivy League backgrounds, of course young white men with Ivy League backgrounds are the only ones who make money for them (they are also the only ones who lose money for them, but who's keeping track of that?)"

Pao suggests she suffered in Silicon Valley simply because of her gender. She was considered not bold enough when she expressed her skepticism of pitches promoted by her colleagues. "This is a problem with pushing boldness for its own sake onto introverted, analytical women," Pao writes. "What if our inclination to assess and avoid the outsized risk of certain ventures could be an asset to our teams? Why does it never seem to occur to anyone that it's an option, say, half the time, for the men to actually listen to us?" That sort of coolheadedness, though, is contrary to the cowboy risk-taking for which tech culture constantly congratulates itself.

All this leaves women and people of color with an unappealing set of choices. Whether complaining about sexism or wondering if an investment is a smart bet, Pao and women like her are stuck with the unfun roles of ballbuster and buzzkiller. She was excoriated by her colleagues for complaining all the time - and also for not complaining early and often enough, including about the incident on the plane.

Men, including those at Kleiner, are permitted to be prickly and unlikable if they are perceived to deliver, whereas women are required to be likable. And as long as a trial (or an election, for that matter) turns into a referendum on likability, ambitious women are likely to lose.

Her likability, or lack of it, seems to be at the heart of why Pao lost her case against Kleiner. After the trial, several jurors explained their vote for Kleiner by citing largely subjective performance reviews for Pao. One juror, Steve Sammut, told the tech website Recode that the jury noticed that the phrase "sharp elbows" recurred in Pao's reviews. "For one of the guys, you might have seen that phrase but it changed the next year," Sammut said. "But for her, it seemed to be her personality, and you really do have to fit into the firm." When the culture of the firm is determined by the same old group of guys, can you blame Pao for believing that the system is rigged?

"Reset" would have benefited from a more direct and nuanced discussion of the criticisms of Pao's case. Much of the case centered on Pao's relationship with another partner, which she says began with his harassment of her, evolved into a consensual affair and wound up with his retaliation against her professionally. Pao doesn't delve into her perspective on an email she sent to the firm's leadership urging that the partner not be fired. Juror Sammut later said that that request undermined her credibility in arguing that the firm was unresponsive to her claims of unfair treatment. The company's defense attorney, Lynn Hermle, told the press, "This is the right issue and the right time but the wrong case." (To this reviewer, it immediately echoed the refrain heard during the 2016 campaign that a given voter didn't have any problem voting for a woman - just not this one.) Kleiner was lucky, as many companies are, that the trial turned on Pao herself rather than on the male-dominated system. The jury was entrusted to decide a single case between a woman and a company and did not have to rule on conduct throughout Silicon Valley.

Like Anita Hill and Hillary Clinton before her, Pao was humiliated and defeated. But not all was lost: "I've become a kind of confessor for people who have faced workplace injustices," she writes, a belated vindication that would be familiar to Hill and Clinton. It seemed to take losing for people to embrace Pao, to thank her for raising awareness. At the end of the book, Pao notes that she has formed Project Include to fight underrepresentation of women and people of color in tech. It's better than nothing, but meanwhile, those in power look pretty much the same - or worse.

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Carmon, a Washington Post Outlook contributing writer, is a co-author of "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg."
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The number of individuals indicted as part of an alleged auto-theft ring that stole vehicles locally and around Texas to be delivered to the Zetas drug cartel continues to grow with the addition of two new defendants.

The Laredo Police Department, in conjunction with other local, state and federal law enforcement, announced the dismantling of the auto-theft ring in March.

Vehicles stolen in Texas were crossed into Mexico and used for gun smuggling, human smuggling and slayings, including the assassination of the top prosecutor in Tamaulipas, Mexico, in January, according to authorities.

Click through the gallery above to see notable captures of alleged Zetas cartel members through the years.

In December, a grand jury in the 111th District Court returned an indictment against nine men on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony, and criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property between $150,000 and $300,000, a third-degree felony.

Those nine included Ramon "Mon" Mendoza Jr., 44, Jorge "Pelon" Lopez Jr., 39, Guadalupe "Diablo" Javier Nunez Galvan, 39, Roberto "Beto" Castaneda Silva, 38, Marco Ulises Cadena, 19, Martin Gerardo Espinoza-Garnica, 19, Andres Zavala Jr., 18, Ricardo Canseco Lopez, 19, and Eric Alvarado, 19, on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property between $150,000 and $300,000.

READ MORE: Suspected gang member charged in Laredo auto-theft ring case

The District Attorney's Office recently re-indicted the case, adding Iris "La Weriky" Jacqueline Rodriguez, 20, and Emilio Vidales, 43, as defendants alongside the others.

Alvarado, Cadena, Espinoza-Garnica and Zavala all made appearances in court earlier this week, pleading not guilty to the charges. They are out of custody on $20,000 bonds.

Warrants remain outstanding for the remaining co-defendants, who failed to make court appearances to answer to the charges filed against them.

Authorities said Castaneda and Nunez, of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, facilitated the transportation of the stolen vehicles from Texas and into Mexico.

Castaneda was at one point a drug mule who allegedly made at least 10 trips until his arrest in 2006. In 2010, U.S. Border Patrol arrested Nunez, as he tried entering the country illegally.

Authorities said the two men handed over the vehicles to the Zetas. However, their connection with the drug trafficking organization is not clear.

Mendoza, of San Antonio, supervised the auto-theft ring on the U.S. side, according to the indictment.

MORE FROM LMTonline: 11 sentenced for involvement in Laredo-based organization that transported drugs for Zetas cartel

A group of people labeled as "crossers" were tasked with picking up the stolen vehicles in San Antonio and then bringing them to Laredo and into the Sister City, authorities said.

The defendants' activity involved acts in Bexar, Travis, Williamson and Webb counties, the Texas Hill Country and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, court records state.

Police said they were able to confirm that at least 18 vehicles were taken to Nuevo Laredo, where Castaneda and Nunez would allegedly receive them and give them to the Zetas.

Early this year, the District Attorney's Office filed a motion that notified the court of the "unique and complex characteristics" of the case.

At that time, the prosecution said it expects the evidence in the case will demonstrate that the group participated and collaborated in the activities of an organized auto-theft ring that operated for a significant period of time.

The indictment came as a result of Operation Metal Rain, a collaborative effort among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Mexican soldiers said Sunday they arrested two men and seized millions in U.S. currency and pesos in Nuevo Laredo.

Troops with the Secretariat of the National Defense were patrolling Colonia Viveros in northeast Nuevo Laredo when they noticed four men abandoning a Dodge Avenger with no license plates.
Three Encinal residents were charged recently after search warrants were carried out at two homes by a narcotics intervention task force that is reporting recovery of drugs and related paraphernalia.

In a brief statement on the cases, representatives of the La Salle County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration noted that they were joined in the task force raids by Border Patrol agents and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers.
On Friday, 49th District Court Judge Jose A. Lopez sentenced Orlando Morales, 37, to serve eight years in prison, probated for eight years for inappropriately touching an underage girl in 2015.

Orlando Morales was indicted in May 2016 on two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony.
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After being the recipient of a mountain of blessings throughout the storm and devastation wreaked on the county by Hurricane Harvey, Dayton leaders decided it was time to pay it forward on their end.

With that in mind, they packed up and left for Florida just days following landfall by Hurricane Irma on the Florida coast to help hurricane victims through their first days, just as they had just experienced a couple of weeks earlier.

"The way it all began was during Hurricane Harvey, one of the relief efforts that came out to Dayton during the storm was the city of Stuart, Florida," said Dayton city manager Theo Melancon.

He said he wasn't sure how they picked Dayton of all places, especially with the city of Houston and others receiving the overwhelming focus of the media.

"I can only guess that it was because the Weather Channel featured Dayton several times because of the large amount of rain that we received and led on the list of the areas around the Gulf Coast that received the most rain," he said.

He wasn't sure if that was the reason, but he was still grateful that they felt the need to come and help the city during the crisis.

Unofficial records from the National Weather Service listed Dayton as having received more than 50 inches of rain.

"They came with supplies earmarked for first responders to fill their need for water and some of the equipment needed," he said. Some included shirts and BDU's (Battle Dress Uniforms) that were needed throughout the recovery efforts.

"They were very kind to do that," he said.

Their good deed had hardly been complete here in Dayton when they learned that Hurricane Irma, packing Category 4 force winds, was headed for Florida.

They fled as quickly as possible to prepare for their own nightmare.

Stuart, twice the size of Dayton, is located on east side of the peninsula state and is part of Florida's Treasure Coast.

The east coast was spared the devastation predicted for nearly five days when Irma's trajectory took a more western turn up the state.

Following landfall of the hurricane on Florida's Keys and path up the west coast, Dayton city leaders contacted Stuart, Florida officials to ask what kind of help they needed.

"We don't really need the supplies," they told Dayton. "We're pretty well out of harm's way," they told Melancon but recommended they head to Venice, Florida instead.

Located three hours and some 155 miles precisely parallel due west on the opposite coast, Venice, Florida was in dire need of help and that's where Dayton city leaders planned their course.

"Patrol Sgt. John Coleman and I began to plan the logistics. We weren't sure who could help us with the drive because it is 16 hours there one way," the city manager said.

The city manager said they were lucky that Mayor Jeff Lambright and Mayor Pro Tem John Johnson volunteered to go on the trip and help with the drive.

Next, they needed to locate a trailer to load up supplies in to take to Venice.

They reached out to Dayton Leasing and Pipeline Services and Brady, the owner, gave them a covered trailer and the truck to take it down to Venice.

They gathered up the supplies and loaded down, they left for Florida at 5 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13.

"It was pretty much smooth sailing until we got into Florida," Melancon said.

They hit nightmarish conditions almost immediately when they crossed into the devastated state.

"There were long lines for gas where they had it," he said. Plus, the traffic was bumper-to-bumper at some points as residents were trying to get back to their homes to find out if they even had one or not.

The trip turned into a 20-hour excursion instead of a 14 or 15-hour trip.

With the delay, the group made it into Tampa Bay around 1 in the morning on Thursday and were lucky to find one of the only rooms in town on Interstate 75 with electricity where they spent the night.

They finally arrived at 1350 Ridgewood Ave. in Venice, Florida, the headquarters for the police department in the city.

"We enjoyed meeting the people and immediately began unloading the supplies in the sally port," Melancon said. The two mayors met and Lambright presented Mayor John Holic of Venice with a Dayton, Texas city flag.

"They promised to fly the city of Dayton flag on the day of their next city council meeting which we thought was very kind," Melancon said.

The Floridian contingent took the Texans to their destination restaurant, Sharky's On The Pier, where the owners comped the Dayton quartet their meal.

"They worked to get us gas for the truck, pumped us up and sent us on our way back to Texas," Melancon said.

The group got a late start back after the meal and only made it as far as New Orleans by 11:30 p.m. Thursday night before finding a place to sleep for the night.

The next morning, they got up and drove the rest of the way back home to Dayton.

The Texans were not only able to help the residents of the city of Venice, but also picked up some good ideas while they were there.

"It was kind of an idea exchange, and they some good ideas that we thought we'd bring back here and we were able to give them some good ideas as well," he said.

Melancon said that they were spot on with their delivery since Venice was acting as a distribution point for most of the area.

"They had already began organizing their supplies and had set up to provide for their first-responders," he said.

What did they see?

"It was a lot different than what we saw with Hurricane Harvey," Melancon said. "There was a lot of wind damage, downed trees, power lines, and things of that nature," he said.

There was one area of Interstate 75 north of Tampa where a river, the main drainage river, was high.

Unbeknownst to the Texans, they had crossed the area just before the river rose, cutting off traffic down the Interstate.

"Fortunately, it had come back down on our way back," he said.

"The water supply in Venice was low since their pumps weren't working without electricity," the city manager said so they had loaded up with lots of water.

"They were very thankful for that," Melancon said.

Once home, the city leaders had a chance to reflect on their journey.

"It was a blessing that Stuart could come to us and we felt it was important to pay it forward to Venice," Melancon said.

"One of the things they [Venice officials] said, was they were going to pay it forward either in this event or in a future one, to reach out to another community in their hour of need," he said.

Dayton was the beneficiary of donors and volunteers that reached out to the community from Fort Worth, Odessa, North Carolina, Florida, and the Texas Army National Guard and many others.

"The big thing we learned is that the kindness of people crosses borders. I'm glad to be here in Texas but it's also good and refreshing to see such wonderful people in Florida who reached out, opened their arms and hearts to us along the way," he said.

"It also says a lot about Dayton that the mayor and mayor pro tem not only approved the trip, but volunteered to help," he said.

They freely received and freely gave.
The Trinity Valley Exposition (TVE) is right around the corner and it remains the single-most popular event county-wide that attracts more people than any other event during the year.

As is customary every year, the Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce invites one of the board members to come and speak to chamber members and announce the coming acts and give some history on the celebration.

This year Phil Fitzgerald is the chairman of the TVE and he came to share some stories.

"I probably don't have to explain the TVE to anyone in this room. It's been going on since 1909," the former county judge said. "This is the 109th year, not the 109th performance because there was a couple of years during the World Wars that it wasn't pulled off but it's a longstanding institution and I think we still hold the record for the oldest baby parade and that's a pretty good deal."

Fitzgerald invited folks out to the Old-Timers Reunion on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 5:30 p.m.

"We'll feed you and appreciate you," he said.

The former county judge said he had called Robert Beasley from Hardin who is 85 years old and a world of information on the TVE. In 1932, Robert Beasley was 8 months old when he was in the baby parade.

"I said 'Mr. Beasley do you know what the theme was?'"

He had a picture of him being pulled by an older child.

He reportedly told Fitzgerald, "I don't know what the theme was but the guy pulling me was dressed up like the devil with the tail, horns and everything else."

Fitzgerald said there were tons of stories like that out there and people ask him why he's so involved with the TVE.

"I wasn't there in 1932, but I have my experiences of showing, scrambling and so forth and to me, the TVE is the one event that draws Liberty County together that one time every year probably for 109 years as part of our heritage. Those stories from 1932 are part of that heritage and it's why we live here," he said.

The chairman also said it was one of the few times that all the county chambers of commerce pull together and help.

"It's a bi-county event that's been going on for a long time and we see more of those kinds of traditions disappearing as we grow older. But this is what gives us the small-town feel," Fitzgerald said.

He had really called Beasley about another story.

"In 1938, the TVE was coming out of the depression and decided to have a county-wide drawing for someone to get married at the TVE during the fair," the chairman told.

"It was a big deal countywide and all the merchants participated from Cleveland, to Dayton, to Liberty and they donated presents, gifts for the recipients. At that time, electricity was just coming on the scene so most of the gifts were electric mixers and a big item was a floor lamp," Beasley reportedly told him. When you got your electricity, you were limited most of the time to one or two lights so floor lamps were really a big deal back in 1938.

"His aunt and uncle won. They got married in 1938 at the TVE and they gathered up all the appliances and carried them back to the Hardin area. Now there's a settlement north of Hardin called the 'Tanner Settlement,'" Fitzgerald said.

The recipients of the prize were Harold and Evelyn Tanner. In 1949, 11 years later, they finally ran electricity in their home and they were able to use the appliances. The chamber crowd howled with laughter.

"Those kinds of stories just add meaning to the TVE," the chairman said.

As far as the event, Oct. 13 is the start with the barbecue cook-off, and the baby parade on Oct. 14 and the following Wednesday will be the full-fledged parade.

Wed. 11 will be the Appreciation Dinner, and the chairman invited all to come out and get involved.

"The board of directors met after the storm and with the help of our sponsors we've decided to make Thursday a free event," Fitzgerald announced.

Free parking and free entry into the rodeo, but that doesn't include the carnival since it's a different entity.

"We hope that will help our community get back on track following the storm," he said.

"Tuesday is also free, but we don't have as much going on as we do on Thursday, but we host the ranch rodeo on Tuesday night. Parking is not free, but you can enjoy the rodeo for free."

Also, one of the highlights is the wine tasting event.

That was added a couple of years ago and Jim sterling has been very instrumental in getting that kicked off.

Sterling announced that the wine tasting night would be on Oct. 13, Friday, at 6 p.m. Sterling said there will be 12 different wines, some from Texas, and the rest from around the world. The tickets are $30 each and include the wines and snacks. There are six whites and six reds.

Sponsorships are still available and encouraged.

"Sponsorships have been a vital part of our success. We redid our sponsorships about five years ago," the former county judge said.

"It has allowed us to do some things we wouldn't have been able to do. We had a long list of things the kids wanted including a place to wash them, dry them and we enhanced our sponsorship and it has helped us knock out that punch list of things that the kids wanted to help them show their animals," Fitzgerald said.

The additional funds also allowed the TVE to enhance their facilities.

"I feel like we can call it a showplace now," he said.

The chairman also said the TVE is now a 12-month year-round facility being used for weddings, Trade Days, and a multitude of purposes.

"The backbone of the TVE is the volunteerism. It's amazing how much there is," Fitzgerald said. "There are people who literally take their vacation time to come out and assist us."

Fitzgerald ended with another story, this one of one of the board members.

"She said when she was a kid, her mother used to give them a roll of dimes, drop them off and they'd have their roll of dimes to have fun at the carnival all day long. She'd come back and pick them up in the evening," he laughed.

He also reminded chamber members that they couldn't do that anymore because the cost of rides has gone up since then, but he encouraged young and old to make a trek out to the events during TVE.

To find out more about the Trinity Valley Exposition, go to www.tvefair.com.
A new lawn care project is in full swing outside the Madison County Administration Building and more than a dozen other county buildings. The idea is to have lawn care specialists tackle mulching, spraying, fertilization and other tasks that Rob Schmidt, who has headed the countys Facilities Management Department since February, says have been neglected for a while.

Lawn care has been ignored here at the county, Schmidt said after a recent Finance Committee meeting. I dont think theyve ever sprayed. I dont think theyve fertilized. I dont think theyve ever had a fall clean up."

To address the problem, the county is paying Always Green Lawn Care, in Caseyville, up to $25,000 over the 10-week trial period. The move has the approval of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees though Schmidt has agreed to meet with the union again in December to decide how to continue.

After the project got under way, workers discovered tree mites near the entrance to the courthouse and at other locations. County Administrator Doug Hulme said that much of the work is addressing a host of ongoing maintenance issues.

Previous to this year, we really didnt have a lot of grass in some places, he said. It was just weeds. Fertilization, mulching and other methods of weed control will help. Mulch, for instance, has already been applied next to the Administration Building, on the side bordering Second Street.

Once the problems are addressed, the cost to the county going forward should be less.

Its not going to be a monthly $10,000 to $12,000. But it was so far out of control from what I think is acceptable that its going to take a little more up front, Schmidt said.

But theres more to it than just grass cutting. In the spring, Schmidt requested four new employees to help catch the county up on what had been a growing backlog of deferred maintenance building and equipment projects. The hundreds of work orders that accrued were largely due to budget cuts and staff layoffs that spread the staff too thin, Schmidt said.

Schmidt has been busy restructuring the department so that workers can begin doing what they have been trained to do. Until recently, a union craftsman with 22 years of mechanical expertise had been spending his days cutting grass. Thats all he was doing, Schmidt said. Now Im able to use that craftsman to repair furnaces, do mechanical work and take care of some of the deferred maintenance.

Tom McRae, a Republican member of the Finance Committee, likes the idea. Even at refineries and mills with strong unions, he said, management often hires outside businesses to handle their lawn care. Because they have people who are highly skilled enough to rebuild a boiler, it probably doesnt make sense that they should be out on a lawnmower, he said. We have a list of needs for numerous buildings that we own and we are taking craftsmen off of those tasks to do things like mowing grass? And theres nothing wrong with people that mow grass. But they can mow grass better than we can, and there are people who can build boilers better than they can. So it just makes sense that we should be contracting that out.

The services will also include aeration, seeding, weed control, trimming and tree maintenance.

In the weeks that have passed since the lawn professionals took over, Schmidt says he can see a night and day difference in the results.

Its not because my people did a bad job. They just didnt have time, Schmidt said. Everybody thinks theyre trained to do their own lawns. Cut your grass. Throw out a little fertilizer. But people who are professionals take it to a whole new level.
A court in Brussels has ordered a former Belgian lawmaker to visit five Nazi concentration camps and write about his experiences as punishment for publicly denying the Holocaust, a crime in Belgium.

Laurent Louis, a far-right politician and self-proclaimed "anti-Zionist," was convicted of Holocaust denial in 2015 after he wrote blog posts publicly doubting whether Jews were killed en masse in Nazi gas chambers during the Second World War. He received a roughly $20,000 fine and a six-month suspended prison sentence.

But recently, the Brussels Court of Appeal put the prison sentence on hold and instead ordered him to take one trip per year for the next five years to Nazi death camps, including the infamous Auschwitz camp in Poland, Agence France Press reported.

Following each visit he must write at least 50 lines describing what he saw in the camps and "the feelings he experienced," according to AFP. He is required to submit the texts to the court and post them on his personal Facebook account, where he has some 50,000 followers.

More than a dozen countries in Europe have passed laws banning Nazism and outlawing various degrees of Holocaust denial. Promoting the Holocaust, minimizing its impact or denying it outright are illegal under a 1995 Belgian law and punishable by fines and prison time.

Louis, a 37-year-old who served in Belgium's parliament from 2010 to 2014, cheered the sentence as a "total victory" in a series of Facebook posts but offered his apologies to "those who were hurt by my words."

"All that I have left to do is do the reports from the death camps. No doubt the court recognized my talents as a writer," wrote Louis, who recently self-published a book on his political views.

"More seriously, I will abide by the court's ruling and go and repent every year in a death camp," he continued. "In addition to being very instructive and very powerful on the human level, this will be an opportunity also to denounce current genocides."

During his roughly four years in Belgium's Chamber of Representatives, Louis seemed to take pride in being a political insurgent. He was voted in as a member of the country's center-right conservative party but was kicked out after just a few months amid tension with its leadership. He briefly joined the country's Islamic party but was booted there after trying to proclaim himself party president. He went on to found the far-right Debout Les Belges! (Belgians, Rise Up!) movement.

In 2014, Louis accused then-prime minister Elio Di Rupo of being a pedophile in a speech in parliament. He was later convicted of slander and received an eight-month suspended prison sentence.

He has a long track record of inflammatory and conspiratorial remarks about Jews and Israel. He argued on Facebook and in Parliament that Zionists had bankrolled the extermination of Jews by the Nazis, saying "the Holocaust was set up and financed by the pioneers of Zionism." He once trampled an Israeli flag during a demonstration in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad. And he is fond of giving the "quenelle," a gesture similar to the Nazi salute that is popular among neo-Nazis in France.

Members of Parliament and outside organizations have repeatedly condemned Louis as anti-Semitic, and advocacy groups have filed a complaints saying his remarks were an incitement to violence.

The Belgian League Against anti-Semitism was among the plaintiffs in Louis's trial. When he was convicted of Holocaust denial in 2015, the judge ruled that he made multiple statements downplaying the atrocities committed by Nazis in World War II and criticized his conduct in the courtroom.

"During his trial, Mr. Louis seemed to think he was in parliament rather than in a court of law," the judge said, according to the Times of Israel. "He expressed little regret toward the people he offended and offers little evidence in the way of correcting his ways."

Louis's sentence is unusual but not unheard-of. In 2013, a court in Hungary ordered a Holocaust denier to visit Auschwitz, the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Budapest or Israel's Yad Vashem and write about the trip. The man was convicted of carrying a sign in public that read "the Holocaust never happened" in Hebrew. It was the first punishment issued under Hungary's Holocaust denial law, which took effect in 2010, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Such a prosecution is virtually unfathomable in the United States, where Holocaust denial and other forms of controversial speech enjoy sweeping protections under the First Amendment.

But a judge handed down a sentence not unlike Louis's earlier this year to five teenage boys who spray painted a historic black school in Ashburn, Virginia, with swastikas and racist graffiti. Rather than give the boys jail time or community service, the judge ordered them to read books by black, Jewish and Afghan authors, write a research paper on hate speech and visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Of the 98 million Americans who take prescription opioids each year, almost 3 million receive their prescriptions from five to as many as 20 different physicians.

The practice, often called "doctor shopping," allows opioid-addicted individuals to consume an enormous and dangerous number of pills with the unwitting help of doctors. Doctor shopping also lets drug dealers use the health care system to subsidize their business.

Fortunately, state Medicaid programs have developed a simple fiscal policy that reduces the problem - and it could even more effective if adopted across all insurers.

Doctor shopping is possible because none of the doctor shoppers' prescribers knows that they are only one of many providers of opioids. Enter someone with full information: the insurer. Medicaid programs for example can examine all the separate billings and recognize that an enrollee is probably a doctor shopper. This allows the insurer to respond through "reimbursement lock-in," meaning that the enrollee's prescriptions for opioids will only be covered if they are written by a single provider of the patient's choosing.

Evaluations of Medicaid lock-in programs generally show they decrease prescribing of opioids as well as other controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines. North Carolina's program for example, reduced controlled substance prescriptions by 17 percent among Medicaid enrollees who had histories of unusually large numbers of prescriptions and prescribers.

Reducing prescriptions reduces costs to the payer, who in the case of Medicaid is ultimately the taxpayer. Locking patients with many prescriptions into single providers should also benefit patients by reducing their risk of overdose. However, in unusual situations lock-in could pose difficulties. For example, if patients suffered injuries while on vacation and needed an opioid prescription, the doctor who treats them may have difficulty reaching the approved prescriber back home.

Reimbursement lock-in programs can be evaded. Some individuals make cash purchases to surmount them. Other individuals covered by more than one type of insurance (e.g., the more than nine million individuals covered both by Medicare and Medicaid) may simply shift some of their prescription reimbursement enough to stay below lock-in thresholds. This tactic will become harder in 2019 when Medicare is slated to adopt reimbursement lock-in programs, and would become harder still if all private insurers followed suit.

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Humphreys is a Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University and is an affiliated faculty member at Stanford Law School and the Stanford Neurosciences Institute.
IRBIL, Iraq - Kurds packed polling station across northern Iraq on Monday in a historic referendum on independence despite vigorous opposition from the country's central government as well as regional and world powers.

Church bells tolled and imams implored Kurds to go out and vote over mosque loud speakers when polls opened across the Kurdish region, a wide swath of mountains, oil fields and desert that has been run as a semiautonomous enclave for decades.

Local news showed prominent Kurdish figures casting their ballots, proudly displaying the purple voter mark on their fingers in what they described as a national duty to begin the slow process of secession from the Iraqi state.

The poll is expected to produce an overwhelming "yes" vote that many Kurds see as the culmination of a century-long and bloody struggle for self-determination. Kurdish authorities said 3.9 million people are eligible to vote and results could be expected within 72 hours of polls closing at 6 p.m. Monday.

But other fears it could set off another unpredictable and destabilizing cascade across the region.

Neighboring Turkey and Iran worry Iraq Kurdish succession could further embolden their own Kurdish minorities, including a separatists faction that has fought Turkish forces since the 1980s.

The United States, traditionally a strong ally of Iraq's Kurds, has said the timing of the referendum threatens the fight against the Islamic State amid claims that the militant group is on its last legs. American officials also worry the Kurdish move will weaken Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ahead of national elections next year while empowering sectarian political forces.

For his part, Abadi tried up to the last minute to block the vote, and Iraqi leaders insist they will not recognize the outcome - setting up a potential political standoff.

But Iraq Kurds appeared intent on sending a powerful message as a distinct political force with a culture, language and history of their own. Many voters perceived the ballot as symbol of their unity and separate political path, rather than an immediate separation from Iraq.

Lamia Amin, 60, linked arms with her blind husband as they walked out of a polling place in a working-class section of Irbil, the Kurdish capital. She said she could not sleep the night before out of excitement for the referendum.

Amin, the mother of a police officer and a member of the Kurdish fighting force known as peshmerga, said she cast her vote in honor of her brother who was killed fighting an insurrection against former dictator Saddam Hussein in 1991 in the aftermath of the Gulf War.

She eagerly showed that she had changed her Facebook profile photo to a picture of her brother.

"God willing we will have a country," she said. "We have sacrificed so much, waited so long. We can wait a little longer."

Her husband, Mohammed Sharif, 72, smiled and said Kurds will be remembered as "Hollywood heroes" for their determination.

Kawa Sulieman, a 52-year-old mechanic, said voting was "the first joy of his life" and that he hopes an independent Kurdish state would lead to a prosperity he's rarely known.

"A pension, at least," he said. "I'm tired of broken promises."

Polling places also drew members of minority groups in the Kurdish region such as Sunni Arabs, who enthusiastically lined up to vote. But they found their names not appearing on voter rolls, raising questions about the integrity of the referendum which has not been certified by major international observers.

Khalil Hassan, 70, angrily railed against the central government of Iraq which he accused of displacing him from his home in Salaheldeen province in 2015 through airstrikes during a campaign to uproot Islamic State militants. Since then he said he's lived in Kurdish territory as an internally displaced person.

"I voted for Kurdistan because the Shiites, the Iraqi government, destroyed our homes and had no mercy for anyone," he said. "No one has ever insulted me here. We support Masoud Barzani with our voices and our blood."

International observers expressed concerns that individual results will not be released by region or district, making it impossible to know how people in disputed areas voted.

The vote has proved to be unpopular with the both the Kurdish Regional Government's rivals and allies. The Iraqi central government, along with the United States, Iran and Turkey, have called the referendum illegitimate and have vowed not to recognize its results, saying it is a dangerous step toward the division of the country.

Iraq and the United States were especially troubled by the Kurdish decision to include areas like oil-rich Kirkuk, cities which are ethnically mixed and have been historically claimed by both Kurds and Arabs.

Iran and Turkey, in particular, fear the vote will inspire similar separatist sentiments among their own sizable and restive Kurdish populations. Both countries have held military exercises along their borders with the Kurdistan region ahead of Monday's vote.

In a sign of the regional spillover from the vote, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday threatened tough action against the Kurdish authorities, including the cutting of a pipeline carrying oil from northern Iraq across the Turkish border, as well as unspecified military action and other measures.

Turkey, which has battled a decades long insurgency by Kurdish militants at home, has become alarmed of late by increasingly assertive movements for Kurdish independence across its borders in Syria and Iraq. Erdogan has also faced pressure from Turkish nationalists who are vehemently opposed to Kurdish autonomy.

On Monday, Turkey's strident opposition to the ballot was splashed across the front pages of the country's newspapers.

Masoud Barzani, the KRG president, an erstwhile ally of the Turkish government, was referred to as "insolent" and the vote as "chaos."

"You're itching for it, Barzani," ran one headline, splashed above pictures of tanks rolling across the desert.

Erdogan warned that Turkey could block the KRG's oil exports. "Turkey is in control of the tap," he said, during an appearance in Istanbul on Monday, referring to a pipeline that carries hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil from northern Iraq across Turkey to the Mediterranean Sea.

It was "not possible" for Turkey to allow an independent Kurdistan in northern Iraq, Erdogan added, while appearing to threaten military action. "We can suddenly come one night," he said.

Iran on Sunday closed its airspace to flights to and from Iraqi Kurdish cities administered by the KRG in Iraq - while Iraq's central government demanded all ports and oil terminals in the Kurdish controlled areas be handed back to federal custody.

On Sunday, Barzani, whose party and powerful political family have been the primary engine behind the independence push, said the vote is the beginning of a years-long separation process from Iraq that he hopes will be achieved through dialogue and negotiations.

Baghdad, on the other hand, has accused Barzani of acting unilaterally and abandoning negotiations over revenue-sharing, borders and oil sales.

Abadi, the prime minister, on Sunday said in a nationally televised speech that the vote was a cynical move to distract Kurds from a financial crisis that has seen public salaries go unpaid for years and accused the KRG of widespread corruption.

Barzani is likely to find an even more intractable Iraqi government once the referendum is completed.

On Monday, Iraq's parliament approved a series of resolutions intended to punish the Kurds including the closing of borders between the two regions, ordering Iraqi troops into disputed territories taking part in the vote and dismissing any civil servants who voted in the referendum.

U.S. officials have privately expressed frustration that the referendum is a vehicle to keep Barzani in power. Barzani's term expired in 2015 but he has refused to step down - although he has indicated he will not run in elections scheduled for November.

The referendum was not initially backed by all Kurdish parties but as international opposition grew, internal disputes over its timing were settled and the vast majority of the Kurdish political class has come out in support of the vote.

Bashar Warda, the archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic church in Irbil, said it was his hope the bellicose language between the two sides would subside and that Baghdad would recognize the peaceful democratic exercise and move forward with dialogue.

"Voting is such a peaceful event," Warda said as he left a polling place in the Christian enclave of Ainkawa with members of his congregation. "In the Middle East, usually when to gain something it is through violence  as a church, we will support a peaceful, mutual dialogue."

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Fahim reported from Istanbul. The Washington Post's Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON -- The latest Republican effort to unwind the Affordable Care Act collapsed on Monday as a third GOP senator announced her opposition and left the proposal short of the votes needed to pass.

While one top Republican senator held out the possibility that the Senate might still vote on the bill, others accepted the reality that the push had sputtered out after Sen. Susan Collins R-Maine, joined two of her colleagues in formal opposition.

"Everybody knows that's going to fail," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch R-Utah, who led a raucous, five-hour hearing on the bill Monday afternoon. "You don't have one Democrat vote for it. So it's going to fail."

Monday's developments amounted to a massive setback to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and President Donald Trump, who spent the past week trying to rally support for a last-ditch attempt to fulfill a seven-year Republican promise. The effort lost much of its steam in the last four days, as it became clear that the new proposal had not resolved the same disagreements that had plagued Republicans in the failed July push.

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Collins, R-Maine, announced that she could not back the measure - which would redistribute federal health-care funding across the country and sharply curb spending on Medicaid - moments after a much-anticipated Congressional Budget Office analysis forecast that "millions" of Americans would lose coverage by 2026 if it was enacted.

Two GOP senators - Rand Paul, Ky., and John McCain, Ariz. - had already come out against the bill, even after a new draft emerged Monday morning. Republicans hold a 52-to-48 advantage in the Senate and can lose only two votes from their party and still pass legislation with the help of a tiebreaking vote from Vice President Pence.

A fourth Republican, Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas, indicated through his aides Monday that he could not back the bill in its current form because it does not go far enough in repealing the 2010 law.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn R-Texas, did not rule out the possibility of holding a Senate vote on the proposal despite clear signs that the bill did not have sufficient votes to pass. Many Republicans feel pressure from voters to keep pushing to repeal the ACA before moving on to other issues.

"There are a lot of people who want to vote yes and be recorded as voting yes," Cornyn said, adding that the Republican conference would decide the matter Tuesday, when they will meet for the first time since leaving for recess last week. "I think there is some advantage to showing you're trying and doing the best you can."

Neither a series of last-minute changes over the weekend nor the CBO's preliminary analysis had managed to shift any votes in the bill's favor. If anything, the CBO report worsened the bill's chances by noting that it was impossible to forecast the number of Americans likely to lose coverage but that "the direction of the effect is clear." The report also estimated a $1 trillion loss of federal funding for Medicaid by 2026.

Collins delivered a scathing assessment of the bill in a statement, saying the fourth version that the senators had produced in an effort to win new votes "is as deeply flawed as the previous iterations."

Speaking to reporters Monday evening, the senator said the administration had lobbied her hard to endorse the bill - and she received a call from the president himself before the CBO score was announced.

"I told him that I would go back and look at the numbers one more time, but I was straightforward with him that I was not likely to be a yes vote," she said, adding the process has been too hasty. "Last night, a whole new bill came out, which to me epitomizes the problem."

Speaking on the Senate floor Monday, McConnell thanked Cassidy and Graham but suggested that their work had stalled out. He thanked other lawmakers and committees of jurisdiction, as one might do at the official conclusion of a legislative push.

"I'd like to thank each of these committees, their chairs, their members and their staffs for their hard work to provide the American people with a better way than Obamacare and its years of failures," McConnell said.

The legislation's sponsors had rewritten the bill to deliver more money to Alaska and Maine than the original version, in the hopes of winning over Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska, another key GOP centrist.

The contentious debate erupted into public view Monday afternoon as protesters chanted so loudly at the hearing's outset that Hatch was forced to temporarily adjourn as police officers arrested and removed several of them.

"No cuts to Medicaid! Save our liberty!" screamed one woman in a wheelchair as she was wheeled out.

Sen. Ron Wyden, Ore., the top Democrat on the panel, questioned why Republicans were rushing to pass a measure this week that was just having its first hearing, and one which he considered "a lemon."

"Nobody has to buy a lemon, just because it's the last car on the lot," Wyden said.

The rush to rewrite the bill was so frenetic that Cassidy posted two separate bills on his website Monday morning. "The last version was just correcting drafting errors," Cassidy told the Finance Committee.

Unlike earlier GOP proposals to repeal the ACA, Senate leaders have remained one step removed from the process. Asked whether any staffers outside his own had been involved in making changes to the bill over the weekend, Cassidy declined to answer.

While the figures in the revised bill draft aimed to ease concerns of several key senators, there was no indication that the sponsors had abandoned their plan to make steep cuts to Medicaid through a per capita cap.

Such a move would end up cutting federal funding by tens of billions of dollars by 2026 and would mean that even with another carve-out for Alaska elsewhere in the bill, the state may end up losing money. And other states will still be hit hard.

Graham, who spoke quickly and intensely in support of the bill's approach before the Senate panel Monday, said it reflected his trust in politicians who have more direct interaction with their constituents.

"My goal is to get the money and power out of Washington, closer to where people live," he said.

But even Trump expressed skepticism Monday about the bill's chances of passage, blaming McCain and Collins for its expected demise in an interview on the "Rick & Bubba Show," an Alabama-based syndicated radio program.

McCain came out against the measure Friday, arguing that Republicans should work with Democrats to produce a bill that can attract wider support.

"You can call it what you want, but that's the only reason we don't have it, because of John McCain," Trump said of efforts to repeal the 2010 health-care law, adding later, "Looks like Susan Collins and some others will vote against. So we're going to lose two or three votes, and that's the end of that."

Democrats, for their part, continued to rail against the measure during the Senate hearing. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., was especially animated during his remarks, raising his voice as he questioned the motivations of Republican senators.

"Why are we here, colleagues, making matters worse?" he asked.

Cruz made it clear over the weekend that he had grave reservations. On a Monday call with reporters, his aides said that the senator had moved from yes to no after learning that the bill would not include the "consumer freedom" changes he had wanted from the start.

Republican leaders could call on Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., to revive negotiations with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., on a bipartisan package to would stabilize the current insurance marketplaces. The pair appeared to be reaching an agreement on a plan to guarantee subsidies to help cover out-of-pocket expenses for low-income people in exchange for limited waivers to give states more flexibility in how they spend that money. Those talks stalled when Alexander stepped aside to allow leaders to focus on winning votes for Cassidy-Graham.

Many Republicans, however, oppose legislation to approve the subsidies without reforming the ACA insurance market.

"If you mean by fixing Obamacare just dishing more money out to insurance companies, then no," Cornyn said.

Upon returning to the committee room Monday evening, Hatch declared that he would allow only one more round of questions given the Cassidy-Graham bill's predicament.

"Let's face it, we're not getting anywhere," he remarked.

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The Washington Post's Kelsey Snell, Paige Winfield Cunningham, Amy Goldstein, Elise Viebeck and Mike DeBonis contributed to this report.

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Opposition to GOP's latest health-push continues amid revisions.

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Virginia gubernatorial contender Ralph Northam and other Democrats in statewide contests are leading their GOP opponents six weeks before Election Day, according to a new survey of likely voters.

The poll released Monday by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University found Northam had the support of 47 percent of voters while Republican Ed Gillespie had 41 percent. Libertarian Cliff Hyra claimed 4 percent of the vote and another 8 percent were undecided.

It's the latest in a series in polls to find Northam with either a slight lead or in dead heat with Gillespie ahead of the Nov. 7 contest.

The Wason poll found Northam had double-digit leads in northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, heavily populated, urban areas that have been key to Democratic victories in recent statewide contests. Gillespie had a slight edge among voters in rural south and southwest Virginia, and an eight point lead in the Richmond-central Virginia area.

Northam leads Gillespie among women and voters under 45, while Gillespie outpaces Northam among men. Each man has the clear support of his party's base and they evenly split independents, 38 percent to 38 percent.

"Northam is doing well where he needs to do well," said Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center. "A Democratic plus-11 advantage in Northern Virginia and plus-20 in Hampton Roads are hard for a Republican to overcome in the rest of the state."

Northam, the state's sitting lieutenant governor, is a pediatric neurosurgeon who served two terms in the state Senate. Gillespie, the GOP's unsuccessful 2014 nominee for U.S. Senate, is a longtime Republican political operative who served as a counselor to President George W. Bush and as chairman of the National Republican Committee. The man they're competing to succeed, Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, is prohibited by the state constitution from seeking a second consecutive term.

Voters in the new poll said improving K-12 education was their top concern, an issue that has drawn little attention in a campaign where the candidates have been largely foccused on Confederate statues, tax cuts and immigration.

But a third of all voters polled said education is the most important issue the next governor should address. About 40 percent of Northam voters said education was their most important issue, while 40 percent of Gillespie voters listed cutting taxes as their top concern.

The Wason Center also polled down-ballot races.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Democratic attorney Justin Fairfax led Republican State Sen. Jill Vogel of Fauquier County by a 46-42 margin.

Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring had the support of 47 percent of likely voters in his bid for a second term, while his opponent John Adams had 40 percent.

In a generic test for House of Delegates seats, voters preferred Democrats by a 10-point margin. Republicans control the chamber by a 66-34 margin, and all 100 seats are on the ballot in November.

Between Sept. 12 and Sept. 22, pollsters surveyed 776 voters who have cast ballots in recent statewide elections and said they'll plan to vote. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
In one sense, it was business as usual: Germany voted, the center held, stability won out and Chancellor Angela Merkel will stay in power, poised to extend her time at the helm of her nation to a staggering 16 years. But Merkel and her ruling Christian Democrats, or CDU, while victorious in the federal elections, were not the faction celebrating the most on Sunday.

For the first time in more than half a century, a far-right political party is entering the Bundestag. The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, tripled its performance in elections in 2013 - when it was founded - to cross the parliamentary threshold and vault into Germany's lower house with some 13 percent of the vote and an estimated 89 or 90 seats, according to local network projections. Both Merkel's CDU and her main rivals, the Social Democrats, or SPD, who came a distant second, saw voters abandon the establishment for the AfD and a number of other smaller parties.

"The apparent groundswell of support for the far right," noted my colleague Griff Witte, "reflected the lingering resentment among a substantial portion of the electorate toward Merkel's 2015 decision to welcome more than a million asylum seekers amid the European refugee crisis." It also was a reflection of a German voter apathy toward the "grand coalition" of the previous government - an alliance between Merkel's center-right party and the Social Democrats that both critics and analysts say suffocated political discourse in the country and created a vacuum on the right filled by the anti-establishment AfD.

"There was no real debate between the SPD and the CDU during this campaign," Heike Otten, a 26-year-old designer in Berlin, told my colleague Rick Noack at a leftist protest outside the AfD party headquarters. "Hence, the lines between both parties were too blurred."

"We're not going to beat around the bush. We were hoping for a better result," a deflated Merkel told supporters at CDU election night headquarters in central Berlin.

Stung by his party's showing, Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democrats, declared that they would not countenance another alliance with Merkel and would rather take the role as leaders of the opposition in the next government. Should he change his mind - Merkel has asked Schulz to reconsider - that would leave the AfD as the largest party opposing Merkel, an elevated role that would in itself be a shock to the German political system. But with the SPD out and an alliance with the AfD a toxic non-starter, Merkel will likely have to look elsewhere in order to build a "stable government," as she reiterated Sunday evening.

That's where the prospect of a "Jamaica" coalition comes in. It's a play on the three colors of the political parties in consideration, which happen to be stitched together in the Jamaican flag: The black of Merkel's CDU and their more right-wing sister faction in Bavaria; the yellow of the libertarian Free Democrats, who return to Parliament after a spell in the wilderness; and the green of, well, the Greens, a progressive party. The tripartite arrangement has worked at state-level, but has never been tried on a national level.

The problem for Merkel is that building this coalition will be no easy feat. Already, there are signs of trouble ahead: The Greens' views on issues such as energy, climate and refugee policy will almost certainly clash with the right-wing of Merkel's party as well as the neoliberal Free Democrats, whose leader on Sunday confirmed separately his opposition to proposed reforms to the euro zone that French President Emmanuel Macron wants to push through with Merkel's help.

Merkel will have to summon all her political savvy as a master of centrist, consensus governance to make the "Jamaica" coalition work. But, in the meantime, she faces a euphoric far right that's made a historic breakthrough in German politics, following in the path of other ultranationalist, populist parties in Europe, like France's National Front, and is vowing to "hunt" her in the coming years.

"Once a party gains access to parliament, chances become much lower that it will simply disappear again," said Tarik Abou-Chadi, a comparative politics researcher at Humboldt University in Berlin, to my colleagues. "The election could remove the social stigma which has hampered other far-right parties in the past."

There are still doubts over how far-reaching their impact may be, and how deep voter disaffection actually is. "AfD's chances to expand its appeal further appear to be limited, however," noted Noack. "A vast majority - about 67 percent of Germans - said in a Gallup poll conducted before Sunday's vote that they were satisfied with their nationally elected officials."

Instead, the AfD's rise and the new clout of the Greens and Free Democrats are a sign of an increasing fragmentation of the German political landscape, of a type that's becoming more and more familiar in other European national parliaments. "This means that party systems become more and more fragmented, slightly dominated by one or two medium-sized rather than big parties," wrote Cas Mudde, an expert on European populist movements, suggesting the AfD's influence will always have its limits. "In such a fragmented structure populist radical-right parties can become highly influential, although they tend to be more obstructive than constructive, even if they have 'only' 10 percent or 15 percent of the vote."

"Our idealism brought us here," Alexander Gauland, the AfD's co-leader, told cheering supporters, before trumpeting a phrase that would sound familiar to readers on both sides of the Atlantic. "We're going to get Germany back."

Outside the AfD's party headquarters in Berlin, hundreds of leftist demonstrators gathered and chanted against "Nazis" - a jab at the AfD's pronounced anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim politics, as well as the belief among its leadership, including Gauland, that Germans should no longer have to feel guilty about their role in executing the horrors of World War II.

"They will go home tonight," said Lisa Hoffmann, a Berlin-based artist speaking to Noack from the sidelines of the protest. "And what happens then?"
BEIRUT -- Six years after the eruption of the armed rebellion aimed at toppling President Bashar Assad, the Syrian war is limping toward a conclusion - one that leaves many questions unanswered and many battles still to be fought, but a resolution of sorts nonetheless.

That Assad would prevail on the battlefield has been evident for years - since at least 2015, when Russia intervened to prop up his flagging army, and probably well before that, after the rebels failed to capitalize on their early momentum.

The absence of resolve on the part of the international community to prevent an Assad victory has also been clear for some time, perhaps as early as the first failed Geneva peace talks in 2014, and certainly since the government's recapture of Aleppo last December heralded the collapse of the Obama administration's diplomacy.

Those realities are now in the process of being cemented, bringing the blurred outlines of an endgame into view.

"The war as we knew it is over. What's left now is dividing the cake," said Joe Macaron, an analyst at the Arab Policy Center in Washington.

Under the scenario that is emerging, Assad remains in power indefinitely, there is no meaningful political settlement either to remove or redeem him, and the war grinds on.

It is a bleak outlook, foreshadowing an unstable Syria mired in at least low-level conflict for years to come, its towns and cities in ruins, its people impoverished and its economy starved of the funding it needs to rebuild the country.

It does, however, bring some clarity to the fate of the regime, now under less pressure than ever to make concessions or implement reforms and - for the first time since 2012 - in control of more of the country than any of the other factions competing for territory.

The Trump administration's decision to cut off aid to the Syrian rebels, signals from the international community that it is dropping its insistence on a transition that leads to Assad's departure and the relative success of a Russian cease-fire initiative have all contributed to the sense that the war, if not over, is at least entering a phase in which Assad's survival is no longer in question.

Some of the remaining battles could yet spin Syria off into unexpected directions. What began as a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters and then mutated into a raging war has now morphed again - into an international scramble for influence over the corners of the country still outside government control.

The fate of the Kurdish-controlled northeast, where the U.S. military has deployed troops and built bases for the purpose of fighting the Islamic State, is perhaps the biggest uncertainty. The United States has not committed to staying in Syria after the defeat of the Islamic State to protect the expanding Kurdish region. But the Assad regime has pledged to bring the area back under government control, by going to war if necessary with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the United States.

Escalating tensions between the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and its local allies and the Russian- and Iranian-backed government troops in the eastern desert province of Deir al-Zour could also spark a wider confrontation if U.S.-Russian talks to divide up the battlefield fail.

Israel's intentions are unclear as it eyes the likelihood of an indefinite Iranian presence on its northern border with Syria, in the form of the Iranian advisers and Iran-allied militias brought to the area to quell the rebellion. Israel has been stepping up airstrikes against Hezbollah and Iranian targets in Syria in recent weeks, and although the government has refrained so far from responding, that could change as Assad grows more confident.

The presence of thousands of al-Qaida fighters in the northwestern province of Idlib make that the likely venue of at least one more major round of fighting. There are still pockets of rebel-held territory dotted around Syria, in the suburbs of Damascus and along the Jordanian border that will have to be reconquered or forced into a settlement.

But it is hard to envision any of these battles directly challenging Assad's hold on Damascus, analysts say. The map tells the story of a government increasingly dominating the country, now in control of all the major cities and 70 percent of the population and secure in its alliance with Russia and Iran.

"For the regime, this has always been about survival, and it's done everything it had to do to ensure its survival," said YezidSayigh of the Carnegie Middle East Center. "We're left with a few bits of tidying up, in Idlib and in the east, and these are still unknowns, but I don't believe they will change the overall trend."

Assad himself has been careful not to declare victory. In recent speeches, he has emphasized the continued threat posed by Syria's Western enemies and their "terrorist" allies and the need to keep fighting until all of Syria is reclaimed.

"Talking about foiling the Western project in the region doesn't mean we are victorious. They have failed, but the battle is still going on," he told a gathering of friendly foreign diplomats in Damascus last month. "The signs of victory are there, but signs are something and victory itself is another thing."

Peace would bring new pressures on Assad to deliver dividends to his supporters in the form of reconstruction and a revival of the economy, said Jihad Yazigi, a Syrian economist and editor of the SyriaReport. That could prove a tougher challenge than winning the war. Unforeseen developments, such as dissent among his supporters, may yet propel a different trajectory.

"As he wins and his constituents are sure the war is over, there will be new expectations he is unable to meet," he said. "We're not going to have anything close to reconciliation, and there is no money."

But in the absence of any meaningful international peace process, there is little reason to believe Assad will feel compelled to deliver political concessions likely to erode his hold on power. The Geneva peace process, initiated by the United States in 2012 when it looked as though the rebels were winning, has sputtered into oblivion.

The vacuum is being filled by a Russian-led initiative unfolding thousands of miles away in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana. Those talks have already produced a set of de-escalation agreements that have somewhat reduced the violence.

Moscow is also pressing a package of reforms that would bring opposition members into the government, freeze the front lines, give rebels a degree of autonomy in the areas they currently control and eventually bring them back under the auspices of the central government through a process of reconciliation. Under the Russian plan, Assad would run for a third seven-year term of office when elections are next due, in 2021.

Russia is keen to see a political settlement that would win broad consensus, open up access to international funding for reconstruction and legitimize both Assad's status and Russia's role in Syria, according to Western diplomats who visit Damascus and meet with Russian officials.

"The legitimization of the regime is something really quite important for the Russians, and that's not going to happen with the current regime," said a senior Western diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive subjects. "The legitimization of the regime is necessary for Russia to have a politically secure environment for its presence."

The United States and its allies continue to insist on a substantive political process that at least dilutes Assad's power, endorsed by the United Nations and international community, as a precondition for contributing to the massive reconstruction effort that Syria badly needs.

"Recovery and reconstruction support for Syria hinges on a credible political process leading to a genuine political transition that can be supported by a majority of the Syrian people," said a statement issued by the foreign ministers of 16 mostly Western and Arab nations, including the United States, at the conclusion of a meeting on Syria in New York last week.

In his August speech, however, the ever-defiant Assad made it clear that he does not expect or want aid from the countries that assisted the rebellion. Syria, he said, will rely on its existing friends and look east, to Asia, for reconstruction funding.

"We will not allow enemies and rivals to achieve through politics what they failed to achieve through terrorism," he said.

There is therefore little reason to believe Assad will consent to anything more than cosmetic reforms that won't infringe on his power, said Aron Lund of the Century Foundation.

"Assad lost half of the country, half of Aleppo and parts of Damascus, and he wouldn't budge," he said. "Now that he's taken most of that back, it's ridiculous to think he'll budge now."
The Trump administration announced new restrictions Sunday on visitors from eight countries - an expansion of the pre-existing travel ban that has spurred fierce legal debates over security, immigration and discrimination.

In announcing the new rules, officials said they are meant to be both tough and targeted. The move comes on the day the key portion of President Donald Trump's travel ban, one which bars the issuance of visas to citizens of six majority-Muslim countries, was due to expire.

"As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," Trump wrote in a proclamation announcing the changes for visitors from specific nations. On Twitter, he added: "Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet."

Trump's original travel ban, signed as an executive order in the first days of his presidency, was always meant to be a temporary measure while his administration crafted more permanent rules. A senior administration official cautioned the new restrictions are not meant to last forever, but are "necessary and conditions-based, not time-based.''

The new travel ban represents the third version offered by the Trump administration.

Three new nations were added to the list of countries whose citizens will face the restrictions: Chad, North Korea and Venezuela - although the restrictions on Venezuela are narrowly crafted, targeting that country's leadership and their family members.

One country, Sudan, fell off the travel ban list issued at the beginning of the year. Senior administration officials said a review of Sudan's cooperation with the U.S. government on national security and information-sharing showed it was appropriate to remove them from the list.

The new restrictions will be phased in over time, officials said, and the restrictions will not affect anyone who already holds a U.S. visa. For those visitors affected by the changed restrictions, the new rules will go into effect Oct. 18, according to the proclamation.

Critics of the administration have argued that the travel bans are an unconstitutional attempt to deliver on Trump's campaign promise of "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." Administration officials deny any of the bans were aimed at Muslims, saying they are based on security concerns about visitors from countries with failing or weak governments.

"The restrictions either previously or now were never, ever ever based on race, religion or creed,'' one senior administration official said. "Those governments are simply not compliant with our basic security requirements."

The original version, signed as an executive order in January, blocked citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries - Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Yemen and Syria - as well as all refugees across the globe.

When that measure was blocked in court, Trump signed a revised order removing Iraq from the banned list and only barring the issuance of visas to citizens of the six remaining countries and all refugees.

The second order, too, was blocked by judges, but the Supreme Court in June allowed it to go into effect with a significant caveat. The administration, the court said, could not block from entering the country those with a "bona fide" connection to the United States, such as family members or those with firm offers of employment.

The ban on citizens of the six countries was to last 90 days; the ban on refugees was to last 120 days. The refugee ban is set to expire Oct. 24, and it was not immediately clear what impact the new restrictions might have on it.

The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments for Oct. 10 on whether the measure, at its core, is legal. The Justice Department signaled Sunday night that the new rules could affect how the court handles the case - lawyers for the administration filed a letter asking for new court briefs to address issues raised by the new rules.

In explaining how the administration came to single out these eight countries, officials said many governments already met U.S. requests - using secure biometric passports, for example, and willingly passing along terrorism and criminal-history information. Others agreed to make changes and share more data. But some were either unable or unwilling to give the United States what it needed, officials said.

The president had signaled earlier this month that an expansion of the travel ban was likely. Citing an attack in London, Trump wrote on Twitter, "The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific - but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!"
Orange County will house up to 500 displaced residents in tents at the City of Orange boat ramp, where a company contracted by the state will run a tent city operation similar to the shelter operation in Port Arthur. Large soft-sided tents will house up to 250 people, with another on standby if demand increases. A San Antonio-based company called BCFS, under the direction of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, will provide "wraparound" services, including medical treatment, meals, laundry and case management to help residents find long-term housing.

"This is literally a lifesaver for us" said County Judge Stephen Brint Carlton, who said he is still working with FEMA on temporary housing options, including trailers.
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The U.S.military launched six drone strikes against Islamic State positions in Libya on Friday, months after militants were driven from safe havens there.

Officials announced the operation Sunday, saying 17 militants were killed and three vehicles were destroyed when unmanned aircraft targeted a desert camp about 150 miles southeast of Sirte, a coastal city where ISIS fighters were defeated by U.S.-backed Libyan forces last September.

Sirte served as an important logistics and planning hub for ISIS leaders, and it was considered a potential fallback if the terror group were to lose its de facto capital in Syria.

Friday's attack comes as President Trump seeks to further relax restrictions on attacking terrorists outside active war zones. Since assuming office in January, his administration has sought to roll back Obama-era regulations restricting strikes that put civilians at risk or where there is no "continued and imminent threat" to U.S. personnel, The Washington Post reported in March.

Friday's operation was the first reported U.S. strike inside Libya since late-January, when an estimated 80 ISIS militants were killed 30 miles from the Mediterranean coast.

In a statement, U.S. Africa Command said ISIS militants strategically capture ungoverned territory to recruit and plot attacks, including in Europe. Army Maj. Audricia M. Harris, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told The Post the strikes were carried out by unmanned aircraft but would not say which model. MQ-9 Reaper drones have been used for similar strikes in Libya.

The Pentagon maintains a small presence in Libya, mostly special operations troops and joint terminal attack controllers who can direct airstrikes from the ground. The U.S. often relies on Libyan government troops to pass on coordinates.

Libya has been engulfed in conflict since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. U.S forces began targeting ISIS there since early 2016, when the militant group had upwards of 6,000 fighters spread throughout Sirte and surrounding areas. By this spring, officials estimated only 200 or so remained in Libya.

In the January attack, one of the last conducted during the Obama administration, two B-2 bombers and an unspecified number of Reaper aircraft unleashed nearly 100 weapons on ISIS training camps southwest of Sirte. At the time, U.S. officials declared the operation a potent blow to the Islamic State's dwindling presence in the region.

"Was it a death knell for ISIS in Libya?" then-Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in January. "We'll have to wait and see."

Claudia Gazzini, senior Libya analyst for the International Crisis Group, told The Post on Sunday that the recent strikes do not indicate ISIS militants have regained strength, but it does confirm assessments that scattered militants are capable of massing to strike forces in a 100- to 150-mile bubble to Sirte's south and east.

Though the location of the camps was not released, Gazzini said it is in the rough geographic area of Al Fuqaha, where ISIS militants attacked a Libyan National Army checkpoint and beaded nine soldiers and two civilians in August, Newsweek reported. ISIS militants attacked a town east of Sirte this month and conducted services at a mosque there, she said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in London on Sept. 14 to discuss simmering conflicts, including Libya, though Gazzini said it appears the U.S. will continue to deal with violence in the country from the air.

"This strike seems to indicate Libya is mainly an anti-terrorism file and only subsequently a political file" for the U.S. government, she said.
BERLIN -- A day after Angela Merkel was humbled at home in national elections, Europe reckoned Monday with a new reality in which the German chancellor - long a rock of political stability for an unsettled continent - was suddenly rendered shaky.

Although Merkel's party emerged on top for the fourth consecutive time, tying a German postwar record, it lost crucial ground to the far-right and endured its worst overall result since 1949.

The surprise outcome offered Merkel few viable options for forming a stable government, with an unwieldy and ideology-bending alliance of conservatives, libertarians and environmentally minded progressives considered the only likely course.

The results even frayed ties within her own bloc, as her party's Bavarian sibling threatened Monday to set out on its own.

The implications for Europe could be vast. Long reliant on Merkel to patch it through tough times, the continent may find that her steady hand is not what it used to be.

"Foreign policy power depends on your ability to govern back home and deliver. Merkel has always been able to deliver on the European stage. That will be a lot more complicated now," said Jan Techau, director of the Holbrooke Forum at the American Academy in Berlin. "She will not be the same singular leader of the German political scene that she was before. Her position as this towering figure will be diminished."

The timing of Merkel's stumble is especially troublesome for those who had been looking to the period after the German election as an ideal moment to reform Europe and shore up its rickety and crisis-prone foundations.

Foremost among them was French President Emmanuel Macron, who has laid out ambitious plans for a more centralized and efficient Eurozone.

Macron had viewed the coming months as a rare window for reform, with the leaders of Europe's two most consequential players - Germany and France - both enjoying a fresh mandate from their voters.

Merkel, though more tentative, had reciprocated, endorsing some of Macron's ideas and expressing a willingness to work with him.

But the election results complicate that picture considerably.

"The euro needs a revolutionary step forward to be resolved," Techau said. "That was always unlikely. But it's made even more difficult now."

The problem arises from Merkel's need to watch her right flank, where she lost ground Sunday to the insurgent Alternative for Germany party (AfD) and where there's long been deep skepticism of any deal that could put German taxpayers on the hook for deficits in Europe's less prosperous south.

Her vulnerability was underscored Monday when the more conservative Bavarian sister party to her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) said it would have to reexamine the two parties' decades-old alliance.

Meanwhile, one of her would-be coalition partners, Free Democrat leader Christian Lindner, reiterated that his pro-business party would vehemently oppose any plans for a common Eurozone budget - a key element of Macron's plans.

And even within her own party, where Merkel has long enjoyed near-absolute control, there were questions raised Monday that would have been unthinkable before Sunday's results.

"The twilight of the gods has started for Ms. Merkel," said Rupert Scholz, a former minister and veteran party lawmaker. "You will feel it in a few months. There will be an intensive debate within the CDU."

All of that will limit Merkel's room for maneuver, and make any major European initiatives less likely, said Josef Janning, who leads the Berlin office of the Council on Foreign Relations.

"To compromise with other states, you need a strong chancellor," Janning said. "Her leeway is reduced."

With Macron due to give a major speech on his proposals in Paris on Tuesday, French analysts acknowledged that prospects for reform had dimmed, even if they hadn't been extinguished altogether.

"The situation we're seeing now, in terms of the next [German] coalition, is maybe the one that is the most delicate for the French," said Pierre Vimont, a former French ambassador to the European Union.

Macron has gambled much on his ability to work with Merkel to reach a deal.

On Friday, he dared go where few French presidents have ventured by signing into law-despite significant protests-five major provisions that would deregulate France's labor market, mostly by making it easier for employers to hire and fire employees.

Officials in Berlin had signaled that such French domestic reforms were a prerequisite for any broader Eurozone agreement that would loosen German purse-strings.

Merkel's strength in the European Union is such that her voice is decisive on issues ranging from Greece's fate in the eurozone to sanctions against Russia. She has outlasted her rivals and pioneered a deliberate approach to leadership that has made her assent crucial to decisions that touch the half-billion citizens of the sprawling 28-nation bloc.

But now German domestic turmoil may blunt her ambition to further integrate the continent, while weighing down Europe's agility during any future crisis.

"She's still by far the strongest European leader, but she's clearly in a phase of decline," said Stefan Lehne, a former senior Austrian diplomat who is now a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, a Brussels think tank. "That will weaken her authority on the European level."

Still, there remains a wide range of EU issues that Merkel is likely to continue to advocate, Lehne said. The election result will only reinforce her hard-edge approach to slowing migration flows while demanding that other EU countries take in more asylum-seekers.

If Merkel's authority in Europe is starting to fade, that could leave the bloc without direction - or it may force other leaders to step up and articulate their goals.

"People have gotten so used to relying on Germany for leadership that it's actually become a bit unhealthy," said Heather Grabbe, the director of the Open Society European Policy Institute, a think tank. "Everyone complains about Germany, but they hide behind Merkel and avoid having to take positions."

Merkel's enduring strength was the likely cause for the largely muted reaction from far-right leaders around Europe.

In Hungary, nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has tangled with Merkel on migration and on rule-of-law issues. But he refrained from taunting the chancellor on Monday.

"This is a clear signal that European citizens have voted in favor of a policy that guarantees the conservative fundamentals of security and economic stability," Orban wrote to Merkel, an Orban spokesman said.

In Berlin, meanwhile, Merkel was hardly the only politician under pressure. The AfD, which had been celebrating its third-place finish Sunday night, was sobered on Monday morning by the surprise announcement by one of the party's most visible figures that she would not join the party's bloc in the Bundestag, the German parliament.

Frauke Petry, who is considered a relative moderate within the highly fractious AfD, announced at the start of a Berlin press conference that the party had become "anarchical" and that it "cannot offer the voter a credible platform for government."

She then marched from the room without taking questions, leaving her AfD colleagues on the dais sputtering.

"I'd like to apologize in the name of my party," said AfD co-chairman Joerg Meuthen after Petry had left the room. "This wasn't discussed with us."

---

McAuley reported from Paris and Birnbaum from Brussels. Isaac Stanley-Becker in Berlin contributed to this report.
It was just a few years ago that UTSA's downtown campus was in its infancy.

Students and San Antonians were reminded of that by a throwback photo the college posted on social media Thursday.
When I was six months pregnant with my son, I began participating in a home-visiting program called the Nurse-Family Partnership, and it positively changed my life forever.

Thats why I ask our community to urge Texas Sen. John Cornyn and other federal lawmakers to reauthorize the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting, or MIECHV, program before it expires on Saturday. Without these federal dollars, many families served by the Nurse-Family Partnership program at Catholic Charities are at risk of being dropped from this program that changes outcomes for first-time parents and their babies in our community.

Reauthorizing MIECHV ensures that families in Bexar County will get the support they need from proven home-visiting programs such as Nurse-Family Partnership. NFP is one of the countrys most successful programs for improving health and well-being of first-time mothers and their babies, and our family is living proof that it works.

I grew up in San Antonio and graduated from South San. I was 18 years old and six months pregnant when my doctor referred me to Nurse-Family Partnership at The Childrens Shelter. NFP pairs registered nurses with first-time moms like me to help us have healthy pregnancies and to support our babys health and development until the second birthday.

I met my nurse Angela for the first time at a Starbucks, and after that, we met at our house once or twice a month. She taught me about tummy time and how to play with my baby boy, who loved looking at himself in the mirror she brought (he still does). She helped me learn how important my one-on-one time with him is. She became my friend, guiding me to listen to my own voice.

New moms get a lot of advice, and with Angelas help, I learned to trust my maternal instincts.

NFP gave us more than nursing care for me and our baby. My husband, Jimmy, met with us, too, so he could ask questions about being a dad to our growing son. Our nurse encouraged us to set goals as a family, and I started thinking about how and when I would return to school.

I will finish San Antonio College this fall and start classes at Texas A&M-San Antonio in January.

The truth is that for many of us, getting pregnant is a life-changing surprise. At that point, I could not imagine my life beyond high school. If I hadnt met Angela, I may not have known what to expect, what to do next or how to get there, as a person and as a mother. Ive chosen to pursue a career in education in part because NFP showed me that I am my sons first teacher.

We graduated from NFP on my sons second birthday last spring. I can look back on the first two years of his life and see how far we all have come. We love being parents to this lively boy, whose favorite things this week are Spider-Man and the word no.

Our relationship with Angela helped us build our own foundation as a family and imagine a future that we could not see by ourselves. We gained inspiration and confidence to become our sons teachers, best caregivers and healthy role models. We built our foundation on several things but most notably our faith, our newfound confidence and continuous reassurance from our nurse.

A lot of first-time parents need help putting these fundamental pieces together. I want them to know that it is OK to not know everything about being a parent, and it is always OK to ask for help.

Since 2006, more than 12,276 women in Texas have gotten help from a nurse through NFP.

There will be a lot of babies born in Bexar County in 2018  about 15 for every 1,000 of us. We are lucky enough to have three agencies offering Nurse-Family Partnership in Bexar County.

Low-income, first-time mothers and their families will see many benefits from Nurse-Family Partnership, and by urging our congressional leaders to reauthorize MIECHV, we can help them get it.

San Antonio resident Alaska Martinez is a graduate of South San High School and also a graduate of Nurse-Family Partnerships two-year home visit program, provided by The Childrens Shelter.
The self-identification form at a local human resources department usually requires two sections  ethnicity and race. For ethnicity, I proudly checked the category Hispanic/Latino; however, the second section, race, left me with a curious dilemma. I read through the options (Native American, Asian, black and white) but none applied to me. The white option was described as, a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

As a Spanish speaker, was I a descendent of Spain? Perhaps I was Native American, since I am brown-looking. Could I be both?

Although such questions are mostly trivial from a legal and social standpoint, it was one of the most fundamentally debated questions regarding Mexican-American civil rights in the 1950s. In fact, Gus Garcia proposed this question on the steps of the Supreme Court in the landmark case, Hernandez v. Texas.

Born July 27, 1915 in Laredo, Gus Garcia grew up in San Antonio. Graduating as the first valedictorian from the newly constructed Jefferson High School in 1932, Garcia won a scholarship to UT-Austin, getting his B.A. and, afterward, graduating at the top of his law class. He later served in the Army during World War II.

His brilliant legal mind and oratory would lead him to argue one of the most significant Supreme Court cases in Mexican-American history. On Aug. 7, 1951, in the southeast Texas town of Edna, Pete Hernandez shot and killed another bar patron, Jose Espinoza, in a drunken rage. His actions would thrust the issue of jury discrimination  targeting Mexican-Americans in Texas  into the national spotlight.

Found guilty of murder by an all-white jury, Hernandez received a life sentence. Upon review, Garcia saw this case as an opportunity to challenge the de facto discriminatory laws toward Mexican-American communities across Texas. Garcia asserted that Hernandezs 14th Amendment rights had been violated under the Equal Protection Clause because Mexican-Americans were deliberately excluded from jury selection.

Before this case, racial identity in the U. S.  especially in Texas  was structured along dichotomous black or white platforms. No gray area existed. Census reports labeled Mexican-Americans as white, and became one of the primary reasons many fought alongside Anglo compatriots during World War II. Yet this recognition of equality on paper was not practiced within the Anglo-Texan communities.

For years, Anglo-Texans found reasons to prevent Mexican-Americans from serving on jury panels  from labeling them as Spanish-speakers to being culturally indifferent to the American way of life. Returning Mexican-American veterans such as Garcia challenged this outrageous denigration because many of their compatriots had made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II.

Garcia, along with his legal team (Carlos Cadena, James De Anda and John Herrera), disputed the notion of whiteness on paper by classifying Mexican-Americans as a separate class or a class apart.

Three years after Hernandez was sentenced, the Supreme Court ruled that because Mexican-Americans had been treated as a separate class among the Anglo community, their right to equal protection under the law had been violated, thus recognizing the ethnic identity of Mexican-Americans.

While this case would be overshadowed by Brown v. Board of Education, it was a groundbreaking moment in Mexican-American civil rights.

As Latinos celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I urge them to reflect on the intelligence and tenacity Hispanic leaders such as Gus Garcia exemplified by laying the foundation for Latino civil rights and the ethnic identity of Mexican-Americans across the nation.

Alfredo Torres Jr. is an independent research historian working at Palo Alto College.
The Texas Education Agencys intervention in the South San Antonio Independent School District is beginning to reap rewards.

The beleaguered district, which has been under the supervision of a court-appointed conservator since February 2016, is showing signs of stabilization. Much of it can be attributed to an influx of new board members following last falls board election.

During her tenure, conservator Judy Castleberry has issued 14 directives ordering the board to take specific action when the board failed to move in what she deemed was the proper direction. There have only been two since the last board election.

The board members participation in the TEAs Lone Star Governance training has helped tremendously to work out some of the tensions between the board and its superintendent. It has been an interesting cultural shift in a school district whose elected boards have historically spent much of their time pursuing personal agendas and fighting over petty politics.

Adding to that optimism is the selection of South San for participation in the states System of Great Schools network. South San and the San Antonio Independent School District are among eight school districts selected by the TEA from an applicant pool of 60 to receive technical assistance and training to better serve students.

State education officials hope to expand the System of Great School network by having the districts that have participated in the program serve as models and lend support to peers across the state.

South San Superintendent Abe Saavedra plans to put the technical support from TEA to use transforming three of the middle schools in his district into open enrollment academies focused on fine arts; science, technology engineering and math; and health science.

SAISD wants to use the TEA support to assist with its new Office of Innovation that will serve as a lab and incubator of new school models and teacher learning practices.

It would be premature to have the districts conservator move on just now, but the changes we are seeing in South San offer a glimmer of optimism.

Looking ahead, the district needs to start planning for Saavedras successor. He was brought in out of retirement to stabilize the district, and his contract expires in early 2019.
WASHINGTON  The latest bill in a seven-year Republican crusade to repeal the Affordable Care Act ended in the Senate on Monday without a vote, when it became clear there was not enough support within the party for passage.

The legislation died when Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Maine Republican who helped kill an earlier repeal bill in July, said she would vote against this one, too, because it would raise costs and leave millions of people without insurance. With two other GOP senators having already announced their opposition, it was enough to doom the long shot legislation by Senate Republicans who could afford to lose only two members of its caucus in a sharply divided chamber.

The defeat reflects a deep division between the GOPs moderate and conservative wings, and the difficulty Republicans have had in governing despite their unified control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. Another attempt to fulfill a campaign promise among Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act is unlikely during President Trumps first year in office.

Widespread and often intense public opposition to the bill came from doctors, hospitals, insurers and patient groups representing people with chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Protesters, many in wheelchairs or carrying white canes, came out in force Monday, disrupting the Senates sole hearing on repeal since Republicans began their effort in January to unwind the law they call Obamacare.

The legislation, co-sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., would have eliminated federal marketplace subsidies for people to buy insurance under the current law and replace them with block grants to the states. States would have had just two years to set up their own health care systems.

In addition, the Graham-Cassidy bill sought to transform Medicaid, expanded under the Affordable Care Act, by capping spending levels below the expected growth rate of medical costs for the poor.

A preliminary report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said late Monday the bill could cut Medicaid by $1 trillion over the next decade and would cause millions of people to lose comprehensive health insurance that covers high-cost medical events.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, one of the Senates most conservative Republicans, had already stated his opposition because, he said, the bill did not go far enough to repeal the current law. And Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he too was opposed because Republicans were trying to force the legislation through the Senate without bipartisan support or adequate hearings and debate.

Democrats were unified against the bill, meaning for the bill to pass, Republicans needed 50 votes from members of their own party, which would allow a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence. Collins announcement sealed its fate.

The Maine senator called Graham-Cassidy as deeply flawed as the previous iterations and scoffed at the last-minute sweeteners Republican leaders added, singling out her state and Alaska for billions in additional federal aid to lure her and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, another moderate who had helped kill a far less severe version of repeal in July.

If senators can adjust a funding formula over a weekend to help a single state, they could just as easily adjust that formula in the future to hurt that state, Collins said in a statement. This is simply not the way that we should be approaching an important and complex issue that must be handled thoughtfully and fairly for all Americans.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Finance Committee holding Mondays hearing, signaled the bills demise just before Collins announced her intention. Before the hearing had concluded, he told reporters that he doubted the legislation would be brought to a full Senate vote by Saturday, when time expires on the simple-majority procedure.

Lets face it, were not getting anywhere, Hatch said.

GOP leaders have not said what they plan to do next. Their hope was to pass a new budget bill that would allow them to use a renewed special simple-majority rule on their next big effort, an overhaul of the tax code. Holding a narrow 52-48 edge in the Senate, Republicans either have to use that process to enact partisan legislation, or work with Democrats, a strategy Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other GOP leaders have long spurned.

Complicating matters, Graham has threatened to vote against legislation that would allow a simple majority vote on taxes unless Republicans first repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Stan Collender, a former top congressional budget aide now at Qorvis Communications, a Washington public relations firm, said Republicans could combine tax reform and health care in a single budget resolution but would risk killing both.

Two more Republican defections on that budget resolution would kill tax reform, Collender said. That would leave Republicans completely empty-handed on their biggest campaign promises.

Theresa Miller, acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services, testified at Mondays hearing that the problems with the Affordable Care Act that Republicans criticize  mainly high premiums  could easily be fixed.

People who who buy health insurance on the individual market without the benefit of federal aid face the highest premiums, she said, but make up less than 7 percent of the market and have nothing to do with Medicaid, the chief target of all the GOP repeal bills. Premiums could be reduced several ways in a narrower bill, she said.

California and three other states that embraced the Affordable Care Act by taking advantage of federal funds to expand their Medicaid programs stood to lose billions with Graham-Cassidy. Graham defended the cuts to California, New York, Massachusetts and Maryland, saying they were getting too big a share of federal health spending.

All 50 states also stood to lose billions when the proposed law would expire after a decade unless Congress renewed it. Cindy Mann, a health care lawyer and consultant, testified Monday that the Graham-Cassidy bill would throw the health care system into chaos.

Independent analysts estimated that the bill could cause more than 30 million people to lose their health coverage. They also predicted that people with chronic or pre-existing conditions such as cancer or cardiac conditions could face skyrocketing premiums that would put health insurance out of reach.

Carolyn Lochhead is the San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead
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Local News, National & World News, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 25 2017

13 AGs File Amicus Brief In Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, Arguing That Ohios Process Of Deregistering Voters Violates Federal Law.

New York, NY - September 25, 2017 - New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, leading a coalition of 13 Attorneys General, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in defense of voting rights under the National Voter Registration Act.

The brief, filed in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute (No. 16-980), argues that Ohios practice of deregistering voters under a Supplemental Process  which relies only on a registrants failure to vote during a two-year period as the basis for subjecting the voter to a removal process  violates the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), as amended by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). Ohio has justified its reliance on voter inactivity on the ground that a failure to vote is evidence that the voter has moved away and is thus no longer eligible to vote. But the amici States argue that many eligible voters do not vote for reasons having nothing to do with changing residence; that a deregistration process triggered by a failure to vote will disproportionately exclude certain voters  particularly minorities, low-income, and disabled voters; and that there are more direct and reliable ways to identify voters who have moved.

The right to vote is at the heart of our democracy. The National Voter Registration Act makes clear: eligible voters should have equal access at the polls  and states have an obligation to enhance that participation, not undermine it, said Attorney General Schneiderman. Policies like Ohios threaten to disenfranchise our most vulnerable citizens  minority, young, low-income, and disabled voters  who already vote at lower rates. My office will continue to fight to protect each and every voters rights.

Click here to read the brief , which was led by Attorney General Schneiderman and filed by the Attorneys General of New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

The brief highlights Attorney General Schneidermans Report on Voter Access in the 2016 Presidential Primary in describing how erroneous deregistration is a serious problem that disenfranchises voters. The brief also notes that voter fraud of any stripe has been highly unusual in recent years, citing the fact that Attorney General Schneiderman received zero substantiated complaints of voter fraud during last years general federal election. Attorney General Schneiderman has also introduced the New York Votes Act , to protect and expand voting rights in New York.

Like Ohio, amici States of New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia are responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date statewide voter registration rolls in a manner consistent with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). These federal statutes were enacted to ensure that the States administer the voter-registration process for federal elections in a manner that enhances the participation of eligible citizens as voters, rather than serving as a barrier to voting. In particular, Section 8 of the NVRA, while recognizing that States should remove ineligible persons from the voter rolls, prohibits any maintenance procedure that result[s] in the removal . . . of any person from the official list of voters registered to vote . . . by reason of the persons failure to vote, the brief states.

Amici States submit this brief to explain, on the basis of their experience, that States have a broad array of other, better tools to identify voters who have changed residence. In light of these other available options, reliance on voter inactivity during only a two-year period to target registrants for potential removal poses unacceptable risks of disenfranchising eligible voters and thus undermines rather than enhances the accuracy of voter registration rolls, the brief continues.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Politics

By Lisa Roddino Published: September 25 2017

Joined by Three DACA Enrollees who Grew Up on Long Island Now Living In Fear of Deportation.

Huntington, NY - September 25, 2017 - Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D - Long Island, Queens) held a news conference with three DACA-enrolled residents from New York's Third Congressional District. All three are at risk of being deported if Congress does not pass the DREAM Act, which would help up to two million young people stay in the U.S. legally. The press conference can be seen in full Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D - Long Island, Queens) held a news conference with three DACA-enrolled residents from New York's Third Congressional District. All three are at risk of being deported if Congress does not pass the DREAM Act, which would help up to two million young people stay in the U.S. legally. The press conference can be seen in full here

One of the affected local residents is Kevin Berrezueta, a student at Baruch College who was born in Ecuador but grew up in Roslyn . Nelson Melgar was born in Honduras, grew up in Glen Cove and has since founded the North Shore Hispanic Civic Association. Carlos Diaz was born in Mexico City, came to the U.S. in 2000 and since 2015 has been working legally for Long Island Carpet Cleaners.

Its essential that the American people understand that this affects real peoples lives, said Rep. Suozzi. He added, These are hard-working people who contribute to our society in a number of ways, and to kick them out would not only be immoral, it would be un-American. We have to be all-hands-on-deck to resolve this issue and pass the DREAM Act because it involves peoples lives. I encourage more people to get their stories told so we can convince folks on both sides of the aisle that this is the right thing to do.

Asked what might happen if Congress cant solve this problem, Nelson Melgar replied, This may change my status, I may lose my drivers license, my health insurance, my ability to work, but that doesnt mean I will lose my ability to dream, my ability to persevere, my ability to continue doing what Ive been doing up until now.

I only have a semester of college left, so after that there is uncertainty over whether I will be able to get a job or not. Im doing an internship right now, and I dont know if theyll be able to hire me. Its scary, its really scary, said Kevin Berrezueta.

David Swidler is Vice-President of Long Island Carpet Cleaners, and is Carlos Diazs employer. Carlos is just a phenomenal employee, and we would be at a huge loss if he were no longer able to work for us. He comes to work every day on time. He does anything and everything that we ask, said Swidler.
Local News, Crime

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 25 2017

Announcement Made at World Canals Conference Attended by Hundreds of Canal Experts and Enthusiasts from Three Continents.

NCPD reports the arrest of Vincent Flowers of Roosevelt, 60, for Assault that occurred on Sunday, September 24, in East Meadow.

East Meadow, NY - September 25, 2017 - The Third Squad reports the arrest of a The Third Squad reports the arrest of a Roosevelt man for Assault that occurred on Sunday, September 24, 2017 at 6:56 pm in East Meadow

According to detectives, Vincent Flowers, 60, was arrested for Obstructing Governmental Administration by Freeport Village Police Department. Flowers was Transported to a local hospital for treatment to a laceration on the back of his head. While at the hospital, the defendant became combative and had to be subdued by Freeport Police, hospital staff and a Nassau County Police Medic. During the struggle, Flowers grabbed the police medic by his shirt collar in a twisting motion.

The Nassau County Police Medic suffered injuries to his neck, back and left arm. He was treated and released from the hospital.

Defendant Flowers is additionally charged with Assault 2nd degree. He will be arraigned when medically practical.
Local News, Crime

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 25 2017

Police: three male victims, all 16, were on a boat ramp when they were approached by 2 masked male Hispanics who displayed knives and demanded cash.

Kings Point, NY - September 25, 2017 - The Third Squad is investigating a Robbery that occurred on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 11:45 P.M in The Third Squad is investigating a Robbery that occurred on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 11:45 P.M in Kings Point

According to detectives, three male victims, all 16, were on a boat ramp on Dock Lane, when they were approached by 2 male Hispanics with their faces covered. The male subjects displayed knives and told the victims to give up everything they have. The subjects at this time stole the victims property including some of their clothing and fled scene in unknown direction. Victims went home and contacted police. No injuries were reported.
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One of the worlds foremost documentary photographers, Colin Finlay, will present Our Environment, Our World, a dynamic arrangement of photo essays that visually represent ten years of his work on the environment. The talk, part of the James and Emily Douthat Distinguished Lectureship Series, is slated for Oct. 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Mary Lindsay Welch Honors Hall on the Lycoming College campus, and is open to the public.

For almost thirty years, Finlay has documented the human condition with compassion, empathy and dignity. He has covered war and conflict, disappearing traditions, the environment in both its glory and its devastation, genocide, famine, religious pilgrimage and global cultures. As young scholars at a college rooted in the liberal arts, Lycoming students seek to be exposed to the breadth of human knowledge, and Finlays collection of photographs, music and the written word promises to bring them an evening of discovery.

We feel fortunate to have Colin Finlay on our campus to share his latest project with our students  a generation that is passionate about the environment and driven to address one of its greatest challenges, said Barbara Beudel, Ph.D., professor of Spanish and president of the Lycoming chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. He is one of many thought-provoking figures brought to campus for the Douthat Lecture Series, and we will continue to seek out individuals and experiences that help to enrich the learning of our students.

Finlay has been awarded the prestigious Picture of the Year International six times. His work has also been honored by New York Art Directors, Applied Arts, International Center for Photography, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Lucie Award/IPA and Photo District News (PDN). His photographs have been featured in Vanity Fair, Time, Wired, U.S. News and World Report and recognized by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Doctors Without Borders, PBS, American Photo, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Asia Week, World Health Organization and UNICEF. Finlays photographs are in the permanent collections of the George Eastman House, J. Paul Getty Museum, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, LACMA and MOCA.

The lecture is sponsored by the James and Emily Douthat Distinguished Lectureship Series in the liberal arts and sciences, named for James Douthat, former president of Lycoming College, and his wife Emily, for their years of service to the College. The annual lecture, which is not field specific, attracts top scholarly guest speakers to the College. Lycomings chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, a national honor society for all academic disciplines, organizes the lectureship.
Berlin : German Chancellor Angela Merkel, after celebrating her fourth election win, wakes up today to the double headache of an emboldened hard-right opposition party and thorny coalition talks ahead. If the campaign was widely decried as boring, its result was a bombshell -- a populist surge weakened both Merkel's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats, handing both their worst results in decades. After 12 years in power and running on a promise of stability and continuity, Merkel's CDU/CSU bloc scored 32.9 per cent, against 20.8 per cent for the Social Democrats under challenger Martin Schulz.

The election spelt a breakthrough for the anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD), which with 13 per cent became the third strongest party and vowed to "go after" Merkel over her migrant and refugee policy. The entry of dozens of hard-right nationalist MPs to the glass-domed Bundestag chamber breaks a taboo in post-World War II Germany and was labelled as a "political earthquake" by top-selling Bild daily. "We will take our country back," vowed the AfD's jubilant Alexander Gauland, who has recently urged Germans to be proud of their war veterans and said a politician with Turkish roots should be "disposed of in Anatolia".

While joyful supporters of the AfD -- a party with links to the far-right French National Front and Britain's UKIP -- sang the German anthem late yesterday, hundreds of protesters outside shouted "Nazis out!" All other political parties have ruled out working with the AfD, whose leaders call Merkel a "traitor" for allowing in more than one million asylum seekers since the height of the refugee influx in 2015. World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder called the four-year-old protest party "a disgraceful reactionary movement which recalls the worst of Germany's past and should be outlawed". PTI
Kochi : The Kerala High Court on Monday disposed off actress Kavya Madhavan's anticipatory bail plea in the sensational actress assault case. The HC took the move in recording to the submission of prosecution that she is not an accused in the case



Thus the actress does not need an anticipatory bail, HC said. Meanwhile, the HC deferred the hearing of actor-cum Nadirsha's anticipatory bail plea to October 4. The High Court also dismissed the bail petition of Sunil Kumar alias Pulsar Suni, the prime accused in the actress assault case.

In his bail plea, Nadirsha said that he is innocent but the police were threatening to arrest him and were trying to make baseless accusation against him. Kavya Madhavan too alleged that the probing team threatening and intimidating her.

Meanwhile the Angamaly magistrate court rejected Dileep's bail plea for the second time. The high court had also rejected his bail plea twice. Dileep has been lodged in the Aluva sub-jail after being arrested in the case on July 10.
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For some tech firms, initial coin offerings are a way to raise early capital more quickly than they could through venture funding

By Tomio Geron

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-blockchain-and-icos-are-changing-the-funding-game-for-startups-1506304861
Without a fix, budget shortfall will lead to cuts to essential services and send shockwaves throughout the state

By Tristan Scott

Governor Bullock: Montana Residents Are Not Talking About Budget Shortfall http://www.matr.net/article-78980.html

Montanas Governor Steve Bullock would consider special session on budget http://www.matr.net/article-78944.html
Exit data suggested AfD grabbed 13.4 percent of the national vote, the first time openly nationalists have entered the German parliament since the Nazi era, marking a sharp departure for a country that has limited political speech and is wary of any dramatic expressions of nationalism.

AfD easily cleared the five percent threshold needed to secure seats in the Bundestag. Merkel is blamed indirectly by some in Germany for the rise of the AfD, which until her 2015 open-door policy for war refugees from the Middle East appeared to be moribund.

With the lower CDU vote and a stronger showing than expected by Germany's controversial far-right populist party Alternative for Germany, Merkel' win is arguably bittersweet. "We fought for Germany that lives happily and well," Merkel said at the CDU headquarters. But she acknowledged "a new challenge in the form of the AfD," adding, "We would like to win back AfD voters so we will look into their concerns."

Normally reliable projections based on exit surveys released shortly after polling stations closed gave Merkel's ruling Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, 32.5 percent share of the vote, putting her on course to become one of only three three postwar chancellors elected to a fourth term. Pollsters had expected the CDU/CSU to win between 36 to 39 percent of the vote.

Angela Merkel has won a fourth term as Germany's Chancellor in a federal election whose outcome seemed inevitable since the start of campaigning three months ago. But her ruling Christian Democrats got a lower share of the vote than predicted and Germany's far-right populists surged, securing a bigger vote than most pollsters forecast.

AfD leader Frauke Petry tweeted that Germany has experienced an "incomparable political earthquake." At the party's headquarters, supporters chanted, "We are going to going to take this country back." The exit data is considered highly accurate, but will be refined during the night with preliminary results announced in the early hours of Monday.

Merkel's win can be seen as a personal triumph for her, despite the emergence of the AfD. She acknowledged Sunday night it had been "a difficult campaign."

Two years ago Merkel's political position appeared much more precarious with the country turning against her immigration policy and resentment building up over her handling of the debt crisis in southern Europe and increasing social inequality in Germany.

Her poll ratings recovered as the refugee influx ebbed and in the wake of Donald Trump's election. Some CDU insiders say the "Trump factor" helped Merkel, as did last year's Brexit vote.

After the political disorder in London that's followed Britain's vote to leave the European Union and turmoil in the United States in Trump's first months in office, Germans appeared to be in no mood to gamble, voting for things to remain as they are -- stable and, for most Germans, affluent. The performance Sunday of Merkel's main center-left challengers, the Social Democrats, junior partners in the outgoing governing coalition, was worse than they had feared. With just 20 percent of the vote it was the party's worst post-war showing.

The AfD will now be Germany's third largest parliamentary party and their performance will complicate Merkel's decisions about who to form a coalition with to govern the country. Speaking to party members in Berlin, Social Democrat leader Martin Schulz ruled out forming a coalition with Merkel.

"Today puts an end to our cooperation with the CDU," he said to cheers. In recent days Merkel had indicated she favored shaping a different coalition, if for no other reason than to avoid the AfD becoming the official opposition in the Bundestag.

Being designated the official opposition would give the AfD parliamentary privileges Germany's other parties would prefer to deny it. Merkel will now start negotiations with the revived pro-market Free Democrats, who failed to secure any Bundestag seats in 2013 but made a comeback in Sunday's election, and the Greens in an arrangement being nicknamed the "Jamaica Coalition" because of the parties' colors reflecting the national flag of the Caribbean island.

But negotiations are likely to be tricky and could be drawn out for weeks, if not months. Both parties have recently formed coalitions with the CDU in two regional governments, but the Free Democrats do not see eye to eye with the Greens on national issues, particularly immigration policy and on the European Union.

The Free Democrats are opposed to greater EU political integration and centralization, something Merkel has endorsed and so, too, the Greens. Michael Fuchs, an adviser to Angela Merkel, said Sunday night that the CDU wasn't in the mood for partying.

"Losing a significant share of the vote, eight percent, is not a reason for holding a party." On the AfD's performance he said: "this is not at all what we wanted. But to say everyone in the AfD is a Nazi is not correct, some are conservatives, and we could see the party split." He still held the possibility of Merkel forming a coalition government with the Social Democrats, saying that to form one with the Free Democrats and the Greens will be very difficult.


North Carolinas attorney general stopped by McDowell on Monday afternoon to discuss the statewide drug epidemic with county law enforcement and social workers.

Attorney General Josh Stein visited Freedom Life Ministries in Marion to take part in the McDowell Health Coalition Substance Abuse Work Group for a roundtable discussion on the countys efforts to fight the opioid and heroin epidemic. McDowell was one of several counties Stein has visited since taking office in January to address the growing concern in the state.

Basically what Im doing is traveling around the state and meeting different leaders in the community to learn from them what different approaches you are taking to combat this crisis, said Stein. Its affecting the entire state, from the coast, the Piedmont, the foothills. Ive just had a lot of hard meetings in dealing with some sad stories, like the parents of the all-star wrestler who injured his shoulder and got hooked on painkillers, only to go to heroin and die in an overdose, or another dad whose daughter messed around with pills over the weekend and got hooked and stole $80,000 from the family in one year.

Among Steins chief concerns in his opening remarks involved both addressing drug concerns to local and state youth at an early age and law enforcement efforts that not only apprehend drug traffickers and abusers, but also provide help to those facing addiction.

We have to realize theres a difference between a trafficker and someone whose crime is their addiction, and if its a sickness, we have to ask ourselves, Is there a better way to deal with someone other than putting them in jail.

Participants in the roundtable included local law enforcement officials like Chief Deputy Ricky Buchanan and Sheriff Dudley Greene of the McDowell Sheriffs Office, Chief Allen Lawrence of the Marion Police Department, public officials like City Manager Bob Boyette, Freedom Life Ministries Director Danny Hampton, and East and West Marion Community Forum members, among others.

In the hour duration of the discussion, numerous points and perspectives were addressed by participants, including the 300 percent increase in overdoses in McDowell County between January 2016 to May 2017, according to EMS Community Care Paramedic Chad Robinson.

Even though were still having a problem, those numbers have drastically fallen off from overdoses, said Robinson, and I contribute that to the solid work of law enforcement; huge road busts that have really made those numbers slow down.

Speaking on behalf of McDowell County Public Schools, Superintendent Mark Garrett addressed concern about schools finding access points for children to find help before they reach the level of addiction that adults reach.

The frustrating point on the school system side is how can we can get substance abuse help, and we looked at this previous year, instead of hiring a school counselor, hiring a substance abuse counselor, said Garrett, who admitted that the plan fell through due to licensing issues. But were making small, incremental steps to collaborate on this issue.

To follow on Garretts student concerns, Lawrence addressed MPDs and the Sheriffs Offices initiative with outgoing fifth graders.

This is part of our partnership with schools in the city limits, but we are teaching a revived or revamped version of the DARE program to every fifth grader. Its not Can we find a time to come in? Its part of their curriculum in the city schools, so now they do that every semester before they go to the middle school, and my plan is to teach it to students at the eighth grade level prior to them going to the high school so we can try to reach them there, said Lawrence.

By the end, Stein praised the roundtable for not only the solutions and concerns they addressed, but for their collaborative effort.

Ive been to a number of these filled with people who didnt know each other, said Stein, That is not the case in McDowell County. You guys come together; you work together in trying to deal with this issue.
U.S. B-1B Lancer bombers flew in international airspace off North Korea's eastern coast in the latest show of force on Sunday as a war of words between the two countries escalated to fever pitch.

The move came after North Korea threatened to detonate a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean. South Korea's National Security Council met on Sunday amid fears that the U.S. could clash with North Korea.

"This is the farthest north of the DMZ any U.S. fighter or bomber aircraft have flown off North Korea's coast in the 21st century, underscoring the seriousness with which we take [North Korea's] reckless behavior," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said.

"This mission is a demonstration of U.S. resolve and a clear message that the president has many military options to defeat any threat. North Korea's weapons program is a grave threat to the Asia-Pacific region and the entire international community."

The U.S. Defense Department did not say how many aircraft were deployed and how far north they traveled, but the Wall Street Journal reported that eight fighter planes were deployed, including two B-1Bs.

They buzzed the North Korean coast just before North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho in an address to the UN General Assembly said U.S. President Donald Trump's insults make it "inevitable" to attack the U.S. mainland with rockets.


He will play a successful lawyer in a remake of the American legal drama "Suits." Premiered in 2011, "Suits" is currently in its seventh season in the U.S.

Emerging star Park Hyung-sik has been cast alongside Jang in the Korean remake. Park will play a junior lawyer.

The Korean version is to be aired sometime next year, but fans of the two actors are already excited about the prospect of their appearing together.
Two earthquakes were detected near North Korea's nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, North Hamgyong Province on Saturday afternoon.

The quakes were probably caused by a change in geological structure in the area as a result of the regime's nuclear test on Sept. 3, the UN's Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization said.

The magnitude 2.6 and 3.2 tremors occurred 6 km north-northwest of the nuclear test site at 1:43 p.m. and 5:29 p.m. Saturday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

Right after the second, the KMA announced that they were natural quakes.

The China Earthquake Networks Center initially said it detected a magnitude 3.4 quake and imputed it to "an explosion," giving rise to the possibility of another nuclear test. But it later corrected the announcement and called the tremor "a natural earthquake."

Lassina Zerbo of the CTBTO tweeted that the quakes were "not man-made."

Zerbo called the quakes a result of "geological stress" caused by a man-made explosion on Sept. 3. They are similar to the tremor from a tunnel cave-in that occurred eight minutes after the sixth nuclear test, he added.


North Korea has bolstered its war footing since its latest nuclear test on Sept. 3, including reinforcing frontline military bases.

The North usually keeps the turrets of its frontline observation posts closed, but now they have been opened, which the South Korean military regards as a sign of heightened readiness for war.

Bareun Party lawmaker Kim Young-woo of the National Assembly Defense Committee told the Chosun Ilbo on Friday that Defense Minister Song Young-moo was briefed on this during his recent visit to a frontline unit.

"There have been instances where North Korea opened and closed the turrets in order to allow ventilation, but it is rare for them to remain open for almost 20 days," Kim said.

He added there are also reports that North Korea has bolstered the number of soldiers stationed at each frontline observation post.

"Tensions are very high along the front lines," he said.


Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Terens Quick, met at the Foreign Ministry with Metropolitan Athenagoras of Mexico and Central America, to discuss on the recent earthquakes impact on the Greek community of Mexico. It was ascertained, that, apart from damage to some homes, there was no other negative impact. This confirmed the information provided to the Deputy Minister by the President of the Greek community of Mexico, Mrs. Georgia Boutziani, to the effect that there were no injuries or fatalities among the Greek community in Mexico.

His Eminence, who, based in Mexico, has ecclesiastical responsibility for 20 Central American countries, including Panama, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela and Nicaragua, presented the Metropoliss projects, which include important work, mainly in the social sector, in each individual country.

Mr. Quick made assurances that Metropolitan Athenagoras will have all possible assistance on issues related to the Metropolis of Mexicos joint actions with the few, but dynamic, Greeks living in the countries under its responsibility, stressing that, on ecclesiastical issues, he will also have the full support of the competent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Amanatidis.
N. KOTZIAS: We had a very interesting meeting of the four south-east European Union members; that is, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. We talked about carrying out a joint trip to Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina, to contribute to the promotion of the European course of all the Western Balkan states. This is a collaboration that we initiated last year, like the cooperation we have with FYROM, Bulgaria and Albania, with whom we will be meeting again on 5 and 6 October, in Thessaloniki.

JOURNALIST: Minister, what are the priorities of the cooperation between the EU member states of the Balkans?

N. KOTZIAS: The priority is, first, to assist the Western Balkans; second, the European orientation and role of these states in this region; and third, at this time, energy issues. We also prepared for a meeting we will be having with the Visegrad countries (4+4). This is another idea we put forward, and we are very pleased that it will be realised towards the end of November.
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho on Saturday said U.S. President Donald Trump is making a rocket attack on the U.S. mainland "inevitable" amid an escalating war of words between the two countries.

Ri was speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York. "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a responsible nuclear weapons state," Ri said, using the official name of North Korea. "We will take preventative measures by merciless preemptive action in case the U.S. and its vassal forces show any sign of conducting a kind of 'decapitating' operation on our headquarters or military attack against our country."

Ri lambasted Trump saying, "Due to his lacking of basic common knowledge and proper sentiment, he tried to insult the supreme dignity of my country by referring it to a rocket. By doing so, however, he committed an irreversible mistake of making our rocket's visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable all the more."

"None other than Trump himself is on a suicide mission," he added.
China's Commerce Ministry on Saturday announced a ban on exports of some petroleum products to North Korea as well as imports of textiles from the isolated state in compliance with UN Security Council sanctions.

But Beijing pointed out that exports of crude oil were not included in the latest ban. The ministry in a statement on its website said China will ban exports of condensates and liquefied natural gas to the North immediately and limit exports of refined petroleum products from Oct. 1.

Its exports of refined petroleum products to North Korea are not expected to exceed 500,000 barrels until Dec. 31 this year, and stay below 2 million barrels next year. The ban on imports of North Korean textiles went into effect on Saturday.

Gasoline prices in North Korea seem to have surged in anticipation. Voice of America on Sunday cited a diplomat based in Pyongyang as saying that gasoline prices rose 44 percent from 1.6 euros per kg on Sept. 3, when North Korea conducted its latest nuclear test, to 2.3 euros on Thursday.

In January, gasoline prices stood at just 0.75 euros per kg, which means they have almost tripled. VOA said the price surge is due to hoarding by locals rather than an immediate shortage.


The State Council executive meeting on Sept 20 decided to extend the supervision policies of the transition period for cross-border e-commerces retail and imports to the end of 2018.

Regarding this issue, Premier Li Keqiang said there were controversies in the nascent stages of cross-border e-commerce, but the government believed that supervision should be inclusive and prudent.

We decided to see how it goes before making regulations, the Premier added, which means more freedom for enterprises with new business models and an overall encouragement of innovation.

As practice demonstrates, this kind of supervision can indeed drive up foreign trade and encourage healthy development of the industry.

For example, the State Council implemented an inclusive and prudent supervision policy during the transition period of the Hangzhou Cross-Border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Area, which led to the countrys e-commerce taking the lead globally.

Apart from cross-border e-commerce, inclusive and prudent supervision is also applied to pushing forward the Internet Plus initiative, makerspaces, and mass innovation and mass entrepreneurship demonstration bases.

The Premier also noted that under inclusive and prudent supervision, employment can be boosted, as more businesses will be nurtured to create more jobs.

As the Premier said at the executive meeting, employment and income can ensure the well-being of the people and prosperity for the country.
Ce urmeaza dupa retragerea rusilor din Herson: Putin e pe cale sa faca o grava eroare din punct de vedere militar / Niciodata sa nu-ti intrerupi dusmanul cand face o greseala
The high-profile meeting in Bali is the first since Biden became US President in 2021.
The U.S. Army ignored its own 2015 test report that showed the Magpul PMAG polymer magazine outperforming the service's new Enhanced Performance Magazine before fielding the EPM a year later, Military.com has learned.

The U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center's 2015 Final Report for the M855A1 Conformance Testing on Commercial Magazines shows the PMAG Gen M3 performed better than the nine other commercial magazines, as well as the service's Enhanced Performance Magazine and its previously issued magazine.

Since then, the Marine Corps, U.S. Special Operations Command and the Air Force have selected the Magpul Gen M3 PMAG, an improved version of a combat-proven 30-round 5.56mm magazine that has been in use since 2009.

But instead of following its fellow services, the Army remains wedded to its Enhanced Performance Magazine.

Related content:

The Army's Program Executive Office Soldier is wrapping up another test to make sure the PMAG Gen M3 doesn't damage Army weapons, PEO Soldier commander Brig. Gen. Brian Cummings told Military.com in a Sept. 22 interview.

"Right now, there are no degradations to the weapons and all of the reliability numbers are good," he said. "Testing is not complete, but enough testing has been done that the results are clear that the magazine with the weapon is reliable."

For now, the plan is to continue fielding the Enhanced Performance Magazine. If Army units want the PMAG Gen M3, they will be allowed to purchase it with unit funds once the Army authorizes it, Cummings said.

"When you take a look at the Army, you have just got to remember I have about one million rifles that are out there. ... My job is to make sure that that magazine is not going to damage those million weapons."

The Army's cautious approach is part of a repeating behavior that many in the defense industry maintain is a subtle way of protecting Army-created programs such as the Enhanced Performance magazine. It has fueled the perception that the commercial vendor is not a viable option.

"There is certainly a 'not invented here' kind of mentality when it comes to small arms programs to a large extent," Duane Liptak Jr., executive vice president of Magpul Industries, told Military.com.

"With the Gen M3, there are zero magazine-related failures in any of the testing that has been completed to date."

Proven in Battle

The Gen M3 is an improved version of the PMAG that offers increased reliability over the Gen M2, the magazine that was issued to 4th Infantry Division soldiers before the Oct. 3, 2009, battle at Combat Outpost Keating in Afghanistan, as part of a soldier load experiment.

About 60 cavalrymen from Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, of the 4th ID fought a ferocious, 12-hour battle against an enemy force of about 350 insurgents.

Sgt. Eric Harder, a team leader with B Troop, described his M4 carbine's performance as "excellent."

"I shot over 40 magazines that day; didn't have one jam, no problems whatsoever," Harder said during a Defense Department video interview shortly after the battle.

From Magpul's perspective, "one stoppage more than absolutely has to happen is unnecessary," Liptak said.

"Every stoppage you decrease, that's an opportunity to save someone's life or to allow them to engage an enemy," he said. "Every stoppage you accept over whatever the best option is just saying, 'Oh, it's OK if I put someone's life in danger.' "

Other Services Embrace PMAG

The Marine Corps was the first service to embrace the PMAG Gen M3.

Marine Corps Systems Command released a message in December authorizing the Gen M3 PMAG for the M27 infantry automatic rifle, as well as the M16A4 rifle and M4 carbine.

Test results showed that the Army's M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round caused reliability and durability problems in the M27 in particular when using government magazines such as the Army's Enhanced Performance Magazine.

U.S. Special Operations Command, a user of PMAGs in the past, authorized the new Gen M3 in January.

The Air Force put out guidance in July that all government-issued M16/M4 magazines -- including the Army's new Enhanced Performance Magazine -- will be replaced by the Gen M3 PMAG.

The Air Force relied on the Army's 2015 Final Report for the M855A1 Conformance Testing on Commercial Magazines to make its decision, Air Force officials told Military.com.

Aberdeen Test Results

U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center evaluated 10 commercial magazine designs and two government magazine designs for Product Manager Individual Weapons.

Testers loaded the magazines into M4A1s, M16A4s and Marine M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles, and fired thousands of rounds during the evaluation.

The magazine vendors were identified alphabetically as A-L in the evaluation to hide the identity of each magazine design, both commercial and government.

It's not until page 38 that the report details findings, showing that vendor Foxtrot performed better in the test in the M4A1 and M27 than any other magazine evaluated. Vendor Foxtrot was Magpul's Gen M3 PMAG, company officials confirmed.

Vendor Kilo was the Army's legacy magazine with the tan follower, and vendor Lima was the Army's new Enhanced Performance Magazine, according to a source familiar with the vendors, who asked to remain anonymous.

In some cases, Lima, or the Enhanced Performance Magazine, didn't perform as well as Kilo, the older Army magazine it was designed to replace, according to the report.

Cummings said the test did not fire enough rounds through the magazines to be conclusive.

"The answer, to be honest, is really simple: We just didn't fire enough rounds to be confident," he said. "You have to fire so many rounds with so many weapons to have a level of confidence that the numbers are correct."

Cummings said he saw no reason to test the Gen M3 PMAG further instead of fielding the Enhanced Performance Magazine in 2016.

"We had a magazine," he said. "We had a magazine that met the requirements."

More Rigorous Testing

PEO Soldier's current test involving the Gen M3 PMAG is more rigorous and used more than 100,000 rounds, but it does not include the Enhanced Performance Magazine, Cummings said.

"I didn't do a comparison test," he said. "The EPM has already had its test. I am strictly trying to prove out that the Magpul magazine is reliable, not damaging the M4s, and that units can go purchase it. That's what I have done."

Even if the Gen M3 PMAG performs better, it would cost too much to replace the Enhanced Performance Magazine with it, Cummings said.

"Oh my gosh, when you multiply, like I told you, one million times, every rifle gets seven magazines. That's a lot of money," he said.

Currently, the government price for the Gen M3 is just over $10 each, so it would cost about $70 million to equip one million rifles and carbines with seven PMAGs each.

"It is just that if I arbitrarily today tell the Army, 'Let's take all of those aluminum magazines out there and replace them,' that's a cost," Cummings said. "It's a huge cost, huge."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
The U.S. Air Force's years-long pipe dream of outsourcing a significant amount of its "red air," or adversary air, training for its combat forces may soon become reality as defense companies are lining up to offer up their pilots and newly-modified aircraft.

The idea is simple: Get contracted pilots, many of whom are U.S. military retirees, to fill the red air gap, allowing more active-duty pilots to attain air-to-air training on the friendly, or "blue air" side.

Officials say contracting out the aggressor air may be the only card the service has to play amid an increasing pilot shortage that doesn't seem to be slowing down.

"In a perfect world, we'd have the resources to maintain the aggressor squadrons that we used to have and kind of do it in house with modernized threats," Gen. Mike "Mobile" Holmes, head of Air Combat Command, told reporters during the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference last week in National Harbor, Md. "In the world we're living in now, we're limited in personnel and end strength."

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"I'd have to trade an operational fighter squadron for an aggressor squadron if I was going to do it in house right now because of limits ... from the budget, because of limits on the people I have in the Air Force and limits in time," said Holmes, an F-15 Eagle pilot who assumed the position in March.

He added, "If we can bring on some contract red air, then not only do we get some dedicated people to train against, we also reduce the amount of time that our crews are spending at a zero-sum budget for flight hours pretending to be somebody else instead of training for their primary skills."

'$400 million per year'

In a follow-up interview with Military.com, Holmes estimated a contract to outsource the mission would cost roughly $400 million per year, but added it would still be cheaper than depleting the Air Force's budget for training and flight hours to act as the enemy.

Holmes said it's the sorties and flight time that need to be increased.

"The requirement is the sorties, not a set number of aircraft/aircrew associated with that," ACC spokesman Col. Tadd Sholtis told Military.com in an email. "It's roughly $400 million per year for the sorties needed for adversary air at Nellis, our ACC fighter training units, and F-22/F-35 combat wings."

The Air Force estimates roughly 37,000 to 40,000 hours of flight time is needed to support aggressor air at a dozen bases across the U.S. In the meantime, defense companies are saying that that amounts to at least 150 aircraft in order to sustain those kinds of flights.

The move would mean time better spent for airmen who need more practice to beat the adversary, especially going forward in a high-end fight, Holmes said.

"I need more of them training as blue," he said.

Holmes added the Air Force plans to define its requirement for red-air outsourcing this fall.

'A Crisis in 2 Years'

Some hope the Air Force comes to a decision on red air soon as a change like this could redefine the mission, a fighter pilot told Military.com.

"This will be a crisis in about two years," said the pilot, who asked not to be identified.

In some cases, pilots tasked with red-air missions are just going through the motions instead of getting critical skills they need while airborne, he said, adding, "there's just not enough people to do that."

The pilot argued that a contract with an outside company "makes sense" because it can send pilots with a variety of skills all over the country, including the Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada -- or the Air Force's version of 'Top Gun' -- to train on the latest and greatest techniques.

Additionally, it won't require active-duty pilots to take a temporary duty assignment to fly "all over the place just to be target practice," he said.

The Fifth-gen Challenge

The training comes down to an air-to-air battle of simulated attacks for the purpose of enhancing tactics and techniques should pilots find themselves in an aerial dogfight, or having to stave off the enemy.

These days, aggressor pilots take to the skies where fighter jets like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter await the stand-off to practice. And they lose, big time.

To be clear, that is what the Air Force wants: for its "blue air" guys to get those kills.

But it's quality training that the service is looking for, not quantity. And the "red air" pilots aren't getting the same experience if they just become easy targets.

In short, fighter pilots want a bigger beast.

"The F-22 guys are hungry to get at a fifth-gen adversary like a [Chinese] J-20," the fighter pilot said. "The problem is, no squadron can replicate it unless you have dedicated fighter [squadrons of aircraft like the F-35 or F-22] acting as adversary air ... and that'll never happen," he said.

But some companies are going to try.

Who's Got the Goods?

Aerospace defense companies such as Textron Airborne Solutions have been working for the last two years to acquire aircraft and give them the state-of-the-art avionics that could come close to what U.S. pilots could observe in a high-stakes environment.

Textron purchased Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, or ATAC, in 2016 to get serious about its effort. Military.com met with officials from Textron and ATAC to get their perspective.

"We've been around in this industry for 20 years," said Jeffrey 'JD' Parker, CEO of ATAC.

ATAC flies about 5,000 hours a year for the U.S. Navy's opposing force flight training, operating about 25 jets for the effort, Parker said during an interview.

The Air Force is learning from the service that beat them to the punch on aggressor air.

"We are taking advantage of the work the Navy has done," Holmes said, "and a lot of people who will bid on our contract have experience and time working with the Navy and they bring capabilities they've developed with the Navy, [so] they'll bring them to us."

Textron-ATAC recently purchased 63 F-1 Dassault Mirage aircraft -- of which 45 will be pitched for Air Force aggressor flight, Parker said. It's part of the company's three-pronged approach to give the service a variety: the French Mirages, plus a "couple other packages of aircraft that supply high-end requirements, and a couple of fourth-gen-like capabilities."

The company's plan goes hand-in-hand with the Air Force's draft request for proposal: subsonic aircraft with basic radars; supersonic-capable aircraft with more enhanced radars; and finally, a high-performance, highly-end radar aircraft such as an F-16 Fighting Falcon adorned with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, which could include some other desired technologies like electronic attack.

"Bottom line is, that's what it's going to take just to begin to satisfy, scratch that itch, for the Air Force," Parker said

Parker reiterated that 150 aircraft would be a good start to fulfill the service's needs. "That's still far more than what industry has collectively," he said.

Draken International, Discovery Air Defence Services-Top Aces Inc., and TAC Air, are other companies who are "becoming serious" about the latest pitch, industry officials have said.

"We are definitely the oldest, I believe we're the largest on a tactical scale, only ones operating supersonic jets already," Parker said.

But that's not to say Textron-ATAC is coming out on top should a deal be made. Both Parker and Russ Bartlett, president and CEO of Textron, said that because of the Air Force's exponential hours requirement, it's likely -- no matter if one, two or four companies receive a contract -- there will be an aircraft capability gap for the first few years in the program.

"You look around the world, and there's only so many aircraft that meet that capability or can be upgraded ... and that are available, that are supportable," Parker said.

Textron-ATAC for now will move, refurbish and buy what it needs to get ready "for when the Air Force does decide what they want exactly," Parker said.

"You've got to lean forward in advance or you get left in the dust," Parker said.

A Temporary Solution

The Air Force is sticking to its mantra that the program is meant to be a temporary solution for aggressor training. Yet officials at Air Education and Training Command -- which oversees preliminary training for the youngest recruits coming into the Air Force -- say they too want to buy into the program.

"ACC needs it for their continuing training, and we need it for initial training," said Lt. Gen Darryl Roberson, commander of AETC.

Roberson said that AETC is working with Holmes and leaders from ACC to get a better sense of how each command can benefit.

"We can't afford to have two F-35s fighting against two F-35s when the cost per flying hour is so expensive. And it's not optimizing what the airplanes are really built for," Roberson said.

The cost to fly an F-35A per hour is $42,606, while an F-22 is $64,287, according to the Air Force's 2016 operational cost for Air Force aircraft data sheet.

Roberson clarified, "We're only in the training business. I'm not in the adversary threat world. However, we need adversary air for training, [too]."

Roberson added that companies who are planning to bid know what they're getting into. The general, echoing Holmes, said, "We do believe it's going to be temporary."

So why should companies buy into it?

"There is a demand signal that is high, and there's going to be profit margin for companies in the meantime. So they're going to probably meet whatever air requirements are out there, knowing in the long term they're going to have to adapt if they want to continue to provide services for us.

"I can't answer why a company would take this on as a business strategy or not," Roberson said. "All I can say is there's a requirement, and that some of these companies see a profit that can be made."

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
Iraqi Kurds voted Monday in a non-binding independence referendum opposed by the Baghdad government, the U.S., the United Nations, Turkey and Iran.

The referendum, expected to result in an overwhelming "Yes" vote, was taking place in the three northern Iraqi provinces controlled by the autonomous Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) as well as in disputed areas such as the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

Last week, the U.S. military warned that the referendum would be a "distraction" in the final stages of the fight to rout ISIS by the Iraqi Security Forces backed by U.S. advisers, trainers and airstrikes.

In a video briefing to the Pentagon from Baghdad, Army Col. Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation inherent Resolve, noted that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had just ordered assaults by the Iraqi Security Forces on the last two ISIS strongholds -- Al Qaim in western Anbar province, and the north-central city of Hawija.

"There is a distraction from the fight against ISIS" in the battle for Hawija resulting from the referendum, Dillon said. Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, who had been expected to join the assault in Hawija have been holding back in cooperation with the ISF, Dillon said.

"We estimate that there are 800 to 1,500 ISIS fighters that are in the Hawija area," Dillon said. "The Peshmerga are not a part of the elements that are conducting the advance, but they will very much likely play a part because of the proximity of the Kurdish defensive line," he said.

Although the referendum was not binding, Kurdish officials have said it would put them on a path to realizing a century-old dream of an independent state for the 5.2 million Kurds of northern Iraq. Over the weekend, crowds flocked to rallies in Irbil, capital of the Kurdish region, chanting "Bye Bye Iraq."

"From now on, Kurdistan will be a neighbor of Iraq, but not part of it," Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdish region, said Sunday. He said that Kurds were opting to separate from the "theocratic sectarian state" of Iraq.

In an address Sunday night, Abadi suggested that the referendum could lead to conflict between the Peshmerga and the ISF. He said Iraq would "take the necessary measures to preserve the unity of the country."

Turkey and Iran, which have large Kurdish minorities, have conducted military exercises on the eastern and western borders of the Kurdish region, and Turkey has openly warned of a possible intervention.

In Istanbul Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "We may enter at night without warning," and he also threatened to cut off an oil pipeline from the Kurdish region into Turkey.

Last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, President Donald Trump met with Erdogan and both urged the Kurds to call off the referendum.

A White House readout of the meeting said that "The two leaders reaffirmed their rejection of the planned Kurdistan Regional Government's referendum on September 25th, and the serious consequences that would follow if it occurs."

--Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
A female Marine lieutenant quietly crossed one of the last remaining hurdles for women in the service Monday, celebrating graduation of the famously difficult infantry officer course in a private ceremony reserved for family members.

The officer, who asked not to be identified, is the first woman in the Marine Corps to earn the 0302 infantry officer military occupational specialty. She will soon be sent to her new unit, which is within 1st Marine Division, out of Camp Pendleton, California, officials with Marine Corps Training and Education Command said Monday morning.

"I am proud of this officer and those in her class who have earned the infantry officer MOS," Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said in a statement.

Some 32 female officers have previously attempted the 13-week infantry officer course at Quantico, Virginia since the course first opened to women on an experimental basis in 2012. The vast majority of applicants did not make it past the grueling combat endurance test that kicks off the course. The test runs more than 14 hours and is designed to test Marine officers mentally as well as physically, forcing them to hike many miles with 80-pound packs and complete an obstacle course in which they must climb a 20-foot rope multiple times.

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The Marine Corps has at times faced pressure to reconsider the difficulty level of IOC as it proved a much more formidable challenge than the enlisted Infantry Training Battalion course, which has graduated well over 200 female Marines to date, some of whom have gone on to take positions in operational infantry units.

But leaders remained adamant that they wouldn't change standards to make a quota.

"The important thing is that it's open for anybody who qualifies," then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told reporters in January. "It's just that you have a chance to make it through."

In all, 27 female officers attempted IOC on an experimental basis from 2012 to 2015, while infantry jobs still remained closed to women. Two more tried to pass the course during the same time period as a prerequisite for a ground intelligence MOS.

During that same time period, 978 male officers attempted IOC and 692 graduated, TECOM spokesman Capt. Joshua Pena previously told Military.com.

Since the Marine Corps opened the infantry and all other previously male-only jobs in 2016 in compliance with a Pentagon-wide mandate, four female officers have attempted the course, including the lieutenant who graduated today, Pena said.

Though the recent IOC class, which kicked off in July, has proceeded in privacy, with little exposure to the public eye, there were indicators early on that Marine officials sensed history was about to be made.

"We have a female officer right now in infantry officers course, and she's part of the way through, doing very well," Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Glenn Walters told reporters at the Pentagon in early August. "These are successes that never seem to get out in the press."

IOC instructors and TECOM leadership have declined to further discuss IOC and the lieutenant's history-making accomplishment.

In all, 131 Marines started the course 13 weeks ago, and 88 graduated today, officials said, giving the course a 67 percent graduation rate.

"Marines expect and rightfully deserve competent and capable leaders, and these IOC graduates met every training requirement as they prepare for the next challenge of leading infantry Marines; ultimately, in combat," Neller said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

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A Marine recruit who sources say jumped from a one-story building at boot camp in South Carolina has been discharged from the hospital after nearly two months in treatment and administratively separated from the Marine Corps.

Officials with Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island have not revealed the name of the recruit, who was hospitalized July 26 after falling from the roof of the building just a day after arriving at the base to begin training.

A source with knowledge of the investigation into the incident told Military.com the recruit had been witnessed jumping from the receiving building and appearing to land on his head.

"The recruit was treated for injuries sustained during the fall at an off-site medical facility and was discharged from the hospital on Sept. 20," Capt. Adam Flores, a Parris Island spokesman, told Military.com. "While the recruit was being treated for his injuries, the decision was made to process him for administrative separation. His discharge was dated Sept. 20 to coincide with his release from the hospital."

The Marine Corps is not releasing details about the injuries the recruit sustained out of respect for his family and in accordance with privacy regulations, he said.

If the recruit did jump, he would be the third Parris Island recruit in a little more than a year to do so.

In October 2016, 19-year-old recruit Kristian Gashaj was hospitalized and eventually entered a coma after reportedly jumping from the second floor of a Parris Island building just four days after arriving at the base to begin training. As of June, he remained in a coma.

And in March 2016, Raheel Siddiqui, a 20-year-old recruit, reportedly jumped to his death from the third floor of a Parris Island barracks building after beginning training with 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. Investigations into that tragedy would uncover allegations of hazing by drill instructors within the battalion, and ultimately lead to criminal charges for some.

There were no allegations of hazing in the case of Gashaj.

Flores said travel arrangements were made to send the unidentified recruit from the hospital to his home of record after his Sept. 20 discharge.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family during this time," he said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Spill Response and Absorbent Products for Oil, Gas and Hazardous Waste on Land and in Water
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Proceedings of the 38th Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 25th September, 2017 at Hyderabad.1.to receive, consider and adopt the Audited Financial Statements of the Company for the Financial Year ended 31st March 2017 including the Audited Balance Sheet as at 31st March, 2017 and the statement of Profit and Loss and Cash Flow Statement for the financial year ended on that date and the Reports of Directors and Auditors thereon.2.To declare dividend on equity shares for the Financial Year ended 31st March 2017.3.To appoint a Director in place of Smt. M Varalakshmi (Din 07585164) who retires by rotation and being eligible offers herself for re-appointment and in this regard, pass the following Resolution as an ordinary Resolution.4.Appointment of Statutory Auditors.5.Ratification of Remuneration payable to M/s. Narasimha Murthy and Co., Cost Accountants who have been appointed as cost auditors for the year ending 31st March, 2018Source : BSE

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Notice is hereby given that the Extra Ordinary General Meeting of the Members of Sakuma Exports Limited will be held on Tuesday, 26th September, 2017 at 11.30 a.m. at Hall of Quest, Nehru Planetarium (Basement), Nehru Centre, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai - 400 018 to transact the business set-out in the Notice.The Notice of EGM along with the Corrigendum of Notice is attached.Source : BSE

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Sub: Newspaper Cutting- Notice of Next Board MeetingDear Sir/Madam,We are forwarding herewith copies of newspaper cuttings of above notice as published in the following newspapers:Name Date of PublishingThe Hindu Business Line (English) 22-09-2017Neeti Dina Patrika Surya (Regional Telugu) 22-09-2017This is for your information & record please.Source : BSE

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In terms of Regulation 44(3) of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we enclose herewith voting results of the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23rd September, 2017 at 12.00 PM at Science City, Seminar Hall, JBS Haldane Avenue, Kolkata- 700 046.Further, copy of consolidated report on voting submitted by scrutinizer, Mr. K. K. Sanganeria, Practicing Company Secretary is enclosed herewith for your reference and record.All items of Agenda as contained in notice of 24th Annual General Meeting have been passed with requisite majority.Kindly take the same on record.Source : BSE

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Remote-operated unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones, could be used in future for soil testing, if Mahindra & Mahindra gets a go-ahead from the government.

The Mumbai-based company, Indias largest manufacturer of tractors, is in talks with the government on allowing drones to be a part of farming methods. According to a senior M&M official, the government has already given some positive feedback on the proposed project.

Speaking to Moneycontrol, Pawan Goenka, managing director, Mahindra & Mahindra said: We are in dialogue with the agriculture ministry. They are very excited about the project which we are working with them using drones for soil testing. I am told that even the PM is very interested in seeing how drones can be used in agriculture.

As per the government regulations, it is illegal to fly drones for civilian use though there is no restriction on its sale in the country. Only government agencies, defence forces and some select government companies can use drones for captive purpose.

However, as per a media report released last month, quoting unnamed sources, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) may issue licences for flying drones for civilian use.

Now, when the government is convinced that using drones in agriculture is going to give far more benefits than the risk of opening up drones for everyone, then they will do it, added Goenka.

Drones can test soil quality in various geographies and based on the results it can help growing suitable crops. Soil mapping and testing done using drones is already in practice in some African countries. The US has gone a step further and is contemplating using drones for spraying insecticides and fertilizers on crops to maximise yield.

Using near-infrared, drones can identify stress in a plant 10 days before it becomes visible to the eye, according to the International Water Management Institute which carried out drone trails in Sri Lanka.

Besides giving advantage of an aerial view with precise location details, drones can save time and improve efficiency significantly. In Africa, for instance, a drone can map and collect crop information of a 3-acre farmland in 40 mins whereas the same done on foot will take at least a week.

Drones, driver-less tractors, data analytics to name a few will become the driver of change in Indias farming techniques, which as per Goenka, have not changed in the last 30-40 years.

M&M, showcased a fully autonomous tractor and a quasi-driverless tractor last week. It intends to commercially launch these tractors, which can run on predefined routes in India, starting February next year provided the government gives a go-ahead.
Facebook and Microsoft have completed a transatlantic undersea cable project that could revolutionise internet connectivity and data sharing in the future.

The technology giants have been working together for over a year, as per a report in the TNW to add infrastructure to accommodate the internet usage of the next billion users that will be soon become a part of the cyber world.

Keeping that in mind the two firms are carrying on with a project that is aimed at installing new and advanced undersea cables on the ocean floor.

The endeavour called the Marea Project has seen both the firms work in collaboration with the Spanish telecom infrastructure firm Telxius for the laying of the undersea cables connecting Virginia Beach in the US and Bilbao, Spain. The 6600-kilometre long connection will transmit data at a speed of up to 160 terabits per second.

According to Microsofts blog the new cables will be more than 16 million times faster than the average home internet connection, making it capable of streaming 71 million high-definition videos simultaneously.

Facebook and Microsoft have taken initiative for the project as both tech giants want to cater their services more efficiently around the globe.

While the former wants users to hop on its social network and share their data with the company, the latter wants to make its cloud services easily accessible.

As this would mean an increase in the data volume the companies are taking action to lay advanced cables that can support large volumes of data transfer.

Though the laying down of the cable has been completed it will become operational only by the next year.
Price tags are seen on the bags of pulses that are kept on display for sale outside a shop at a market in Mumbai, India January 31, 2017. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade - RTX2YYDV

India's foodgrain production is estimated to decline by 3.86 million tonnes to 134.67 mt this kharif season on account of poor rains as well as floods in some parts of the country.

According to the first advance estimate released today by the agriculture ministry, production of all kharif foodgrains -- rice, pulses and coarse cereals -- is projected to decline from the record 138.52 mt last kharif.

In cash crops, production of cotton, oil seeds and jute is estimated to fall and that of sugarcane to go up. Harvesting will start from next month. As per the latest data, rice output is likely to fall by 1.9 million tonnes (mt) to 94.48 mt in kharif season this year, from the record 96.39 mt in the previous kharif.

Pulse output could drop to 8.71 mt, from the record 9.42 mt, due to depressed prices and poor rains. The production of tur is estimated to be lower at 3.99 mt from 4.78 mt while urad output may rise to 2.53 mt from 2.17 mt in the last kharif season. Coarse cereal output is also seen lower at 31.49 mt, against 32.71 mt in the gone-by kharif season.

Maize output is pegged at 18.73 mt this kharif as against 19.24 mt a year ago. Oilseed output is estimated to be down at 20.68 mt in the kharif season of this year compared to 22.40 mt in the year- ago period. Soyabean output has been pegged at 12.22 mt as against 13.79 mt last kharif.

Among cash crops, cotton output is estimated to be slightly lower at 32.27 million bales (of 170 kg each) in the 2017-18 crop year (July-June) from the earlier 33.09 million bales.

However, sugarcane output might rise to 337.69 mt, from 306.72 mt before. Production of jute and mesta is estimated to decline to 10.33 million bales (of 180 kg each), from 10.60 million bales last year.

The fall in kharif output is attributed to dry spell as well as floods in some parts of the country.

The overall South-West Monsoon, crucial for rain-fed kharif crops, was projected normal, but till the first week of this month, it was less by 5 per cent.

Assam, Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan witnessed floods while parts of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu faced a dry spell.

The kharif output estimates might be revised later taking feedback from states. The ministry releases four estimates before the final one at different stages of harvesting.
The GST did not have any major impact on Kolkatans, who eat out more in the run-up to the Durga Puja days, officials of prominent fine dining restaurants and hotels in the city said.

"To be very honest, there has been no effect as such due to GST and it reflects in the numbers. Prior to GST, diners used to be charged 18.5 per cent tax but now it has come down to 18 per cent.

So those coming to savour the Durga Puja special cuisine at our speciality restaurant are coming here just like previous years," the general manager of Park Plaza Kolkata, Balbeer Singh told PTI today.

Owner of Awadhi cuisine restaurant Oudh 1590 in the city, Shiladitya Chaudhary said, "There has been no impact on GST on our three Oudh 1590 outlets."

"We are having usual flow of customers and all the tables are booked during peak hours. The newly opened Oudh outlet near Vivekananda Park is also getting a great response from the customers this month," he said.

One of the owners of a popular Bengali fine-dining restaurant 'Saptapadi', Chef Ranjan Biswas said, "From 20.5 per cent in service tax now the diner has to cough up 18 per cent. The guests have to cough up less amount as the different slabs of tax in pre-GST regime has been streamlined."

"There can be positive and negative sides in every step," Biswas said referring to initial jitters when GST was rolled out in July.

"We see no reason that the number of customers will fall from September 24 till the end of puja special cuisine offer on October 2," he said.
The research firm recommended a BUY rating on Godrej Agrovet with a target price of Rs 461 from Rs 387 | Upside potential 19 percent.

Government should allow genetically modified seeds as well as corporate farming and remove market barriers to boost oilseeds output and cut the country's import dependence on edible oils, industry body SEA said today.

Amid rise in edible oil consumption, the declining oilseeds cultivation needs to be addressed on a serious note for which farming needs to made more remunerative, it said. In a representation made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mumbai-based Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) President Atul Chaturvedi said: "The need of the hour is to think out of the box and implement policies which can be game changing."

Both the government and the industry should analyse the root cause for decline in oilseed cultivation and take appropriate policy initiatives, he said in a statement.

Among key suggestions, SEA said the time is ripe for encouraging corporate farming and the government should consider allowing farmers to lease their land to corporates for long periods, without losing ownership. The government should also allow lease rental of farms to be fixed in such a manner that the farmers' incomes are higher than the current returns from the land.

"This will allow land consolidation and encourage investment in agriculture. This system has been tried successfully in case of Solar Projects in Punjab and is working wonderfully well. Need of the hour is to give this a serious try in restructuring our agriculture,"Chaturvedi said.

Secondly, the government should consider allowing GM seeds. "The dilly dallying regarding introduction of GM seeds needs to end. Why should the country be deprived of technological innovations due to opposition from a vociferous minority. This needs to end...," he said. Thirdly, the SEA President said the government should do away with the Essential Commodities Act as this law is "anti- farmer" and does not allow price discovery.

That apart, SEA said more focus on mustard cultivation, higher support price and tweaking of import duties of edible oils to ensure assured domestic price to farmers -- are other areas where the government can consider.
RN Bhaskar

There is the hype. And there is hope. There is the charade. And there are solutions. The coming year will tell you which option the government will take.

First, take the hype. For all practical purposes, everything seems hunky dory in the energy markets in India.

The governments refinancing package for state power distribution companies (discoms) which was christened UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) was touted to be working marvellously.

UDAY was launched by the government in November 2015. It was a programme aimed at financial turnaround and revival of electricity distribution companies in India. The idea was to rework the Rs 4.3 trillion (Rs 4.3 lakh crore) debt of power distribution companies (discoms).

The intent was good. But it was marred because of the political environment, where freebies get promoted (free power, loan waivers, regularization of land encroachment become political manifestos even with the ruling BJP).

Ironically, nobody, not even Crisil, Indias premier ratings agency, pointed to the deteriorating acid test rat io which could help determine discoms' health. It was a case of the emperors new clothes. UDAY was a great project marred by political expedience (See chart.)

In fact, this was a ratio that everyone should have considered. It was looking at two numbers. One was the average cost of providing electricity to each user or ACU (which includes the cost of generation, transmission and distribution divided by the total units). The other number was the average revenue realised per user or ARU (total revenues divided by total units). If the gap between the ACU and the ARU increases, it means that the discoms are making losses. If this number comes down, it means that the discoms are containing losses. If it moves into negative territory, it means that the discom is profitable.

Nudge and fudge

The truth was that many discoms fudged figures. They showed losses declining. It is possible that many of the losses were clubbed under subsidies. For instance, Maharashtra has excelled in showing power theft as agricultural usage, thus reducing the actual losses on its books. Not surprisingly, Maharashtra has the unique distinction of having more water pumps per acre than many other states.

The same is the case with solar power. At first blush, it looks as if solar could be a solution to the countrys energy woes. Solar power tariffs have been declining (see chart). But the government is silent on the manner in which many state governments have refused to pick up the power generated by solar farms, even though they have proper power purchase agreements (PPAs). The reason? The first PPAs were signed at higher tariffs. Now, the tariffs are low. The states are trying to muscle down solar power suppliers into accepting lower tariffs. There is no regard for the sanctity of legal and contractual obligations under the PPA.

In August 2015, the Power Ministry announced that it would promote rooftop solar power. On paper that looked very good. But the largest beneficiaries of solar power  industries with large factories, hence large rooftops  were told that if they reduced their offtake of grid power, they would be slapped by standby charges, which would effectively nullify the benefits from cheaper solar power. Ditto with large commercial complexes. They were told that they would have to pay an additional levy called the B.E.D, a legacy from British days, on the solar power they consumed. So, while the state officially allowed the promotion of cheaper solar power, it surreptitiously discouraged solar power usage by levying charges that would take away the benefits of solar power.

But why is all this happening? There is a simple answer. No legislator wants to bell the cat of power subsidies, and even power theft.

The urge to splurge

Look at it this way. Rural folk and slum dwellers (considered as EWS or economically weaker sections of society) get power at subsidised rates. Farmers get power at around Rs 1.25. The precise number is unavailable because the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) does not provide it for recent years. In its review dated February 2017, it has posted data only till 2013-14 (wasnt India supposed to be in an online data world?). The cost of power is around Rs 3 per unit in Maharashtra though the all-India figure is closer to Rs 5 (see chart alongside). Clearly, someone does not want this data to be available to people.

The difference of Rs 1.25 per unit (cost of power minus subsidised tariff) has to be paid for by someone. This subsidy is met by common householders like you and me, who pay around Rs 6 a unit. It is subsidised by industrial units which are charged Rs 6-8 a unit. Contribution to the subsidy is also made by commercial units which pay around Rs 12. Advertisements and hoardings pay an even higher tariff of Rs 14.

Now, if the industrial units start meeting some of their power requirements through factory rooftop solar, they would pay that much less for grid power which is priced at Rs 8. The industrialist is happy, because he gets solar power at under Rs 4 a unit. But the state loses the remaining Rs 4 per unit. Its ability to pay for the subsidy is affected. And the constituents who enjoy this subsidised power are often cultivated vote-banks. So the legislators work out ways to make solar power expensive. And the entire benefit from solar that the government talked about becomes nothing more than hot air.

So, the government is caught in a quandary. If it promotes solar aggressively, it could lose its vote-banks. If it does not, it loses out on major strategic advantages India enjoys  lots of sunshine, lots of houses, and falling battery prices.

A Solution

So, is there a way out? Possibly yes. In a paper, this author submitted to the government of Maharashtra, he pointed out that the solution could lie in adopting solar power in three stages.

First, take all the subsidies and losses that state-owned discoms make each year. Take the cumulative value of such subsidies and losses that the state could make over a ten-year period. Take the entire amount, and capitalize it. Transfer these losses to a separate corporate entity which is allowed to raise bonds from the market. Lets call this entity CapSubsidy.

Second, since no fool is going to invest in losses, the government will have to prepare a master plan of how profits could be made. One way is to use the capitalised amount to finance a viable project.

Third, such a project is possible if one is allowed to set up decentralised solar power stations  one for a cluster of 100-200 villages. Each of these projects will be handed over to a private entrepreneur (shun government agencies because the temptation to provide more freebies has to be avoided), who must bring in at least 20 percent of the project cost as seed capital. The rest could be advanced  through designated banks -- as medium-term debt of say 10 years by CapSubsidy.

Obviously, the investor would have to provide suitable bank guarantees to ensure the invocation of penalties should he renege on his obligations. The private sector promoter is allowed to sell power to the 100-200 villages but with a condition. The first 200 units for each household will be given free of cost. That is to ensure that the politicians do not lose their vote banks. The excess power used by each household is charged a market tariff. The state regulator and the local tehsildar/collector can monitor the functioning of this private entity.

To become viable, the entrepreneur begins to play the role of catalyst as well. He must encourage villagers to use more power, and thus earn some more money. It could be teaching him to use a lathe machine, or an electric saw, or an electric sewing machine. Or else he will have to coax them to lead a more comfortable life. The use of ceiling fans and air-conditioners will also help the entrepreneur make profits. Since transmission lines are short  from the solar panel to the houses  the losses are negligible. With falling battery prices, power is available even when there is no sunshine. The more the consumption, the more the profit the entrepreneur makes. And since the entrepreneur is not a politician, he will not allow artificial splitting of households, or illegal diversion of power (theft).

Implications

The state grid now has no subsidies to cope with. So, high-tension power for industry becomes cheaper -- at around Rs 4-5 a unit. That makes the entire economy more competitive.

But then the state will not be able to dispense favours to powerful families that want to steal power and use it free of cost. It will have to deal with linesmen who will not be able to collect grease-money from people who game the system.

Moreover, the state will have to deal with the growing redundancy of the grid. It may eventually be used to power the increase in the number of electric trains, which, in turn, will result in the saving of diesel imports. It will also have to deal with disruption for manufacturers of electrical equipment as well. For instance, since little power goes through the grid, power transformers may no longer be required.

The good thing is that power for all, at reasonable prices, now become possible, with the guarantee of sustainability. Industry becomes competitive as well.

The difficult part will be downsizing the grid. It will mean closing down unviable power generation units. And it will mean decentralising the entire power generation system and giving it over to private entrepreneurs.

The methane bonanza

The state can give the entrepreneur an added business advantage. It can allow him to get each household to dump all its human, animal and farm waste into a pit from where it is sucked into a central digestor. A company like Envac could show the government how this could be done. All of a sudden, the waste begins to generate methane, which should be enough to meet the LPG requirement of all households in that cluster of villages.

By adopting this model, India harnesses its own strategic resources. It has the second largest population in the world; hence, it is the second largest in the creation of human waste. It has the largest population of cattle in the world. Together with animal waste from other species as well, it could have the largest pool of animal waste. Add to this agricultural waste which is a multiple of human and animal waste  rotten vegetables, stumps of stems and talks after the harvesting is done. And finally add to all this forest waste, which is humungous.

That reduces the need to collect firewood, and hence prevents deforestation, respiratory ailments and hence medical costs. It reduces the import bill for LNG/LPG. The residue slurry, after the methane has been extracted, can be dried, diced, and sold as organic manure. If the digestor is large enough, a desulfonation plant could be added to remove the sulphur, which then removes the unwelcome odour. The desulfonation plant, as our studies have shown, actually pays for itself, because the sulphur can be sold. Swachch Bharat (Clean India) now begins to become more meaningful, even profitable.

It can be done

Can this be done? Yes. Just look at Sweden. It has learnt to make money out of waste. It has abolished landfills since 2004. Today, its waste-to-money plans are so successful, that it even imports waste from other neighbouring countries (see adjoining chart).

Together, decentralised solar power generation and methanation for village clusters could transform India faster than any doles from the government can. True, it will upset many vested interests. But Indias planners will have to decide whether they want change in a planned manner which makes India strong, or in a chaotic manner, where investors get hurt, and the cost of transformation can be excruciatingly high.

(The writer is Consulting Editor with Moneycontrol)
Synup, a Bangalore-based startup providing Saas solutions on cloud for marketing of local businesses, has raised USD 6 million in funding led by Vertex Ventures.

The startups seed investor Prime Ventures Partners has also participated in Series-A funding.

Launched in 2015, Synup was founded by 23-year-old entrepreneur Ashwin Ramesh along with industry veterans Mohan Gopalakrishnan and Karthik Krishnamoorthy.

The startup focuses on providing a tech-based marketing tool for local businesses such as spas, bakeries, fitness centres and so on. Synup competes with Yext in the US market, which has USD 168 million in annual revenues, and a USD 1.2 billion valuation.

The company's platform is layered with analytics and data matching algorithm that helps local businesses identify wrong postings, integrate presence across the web, promote and manage user reviews and the action required thereafter.

We are happy to continue our association with Synup because we truly feel it is the only global Saas player that has emerged out of India. The product is not restricted by geography and is sector agnostic, which means it has immense scaling opportunity. They have grown very fast in a short span of time, Prime Ventures Co-founder and Managing Partner Shripati Acharya told Moneycontrol.

Synup achieved USD 1 million in annual recurring revenues in the first 9 months of its launch, according to a company executive.

The startup, which has majority of its clients in the US and Canada, raised half-million seed round in 2014 from Angelprime Partners, now known as Prime Ventures. Synup plans to use the fresh round of funding to improve the technology stack, enter new markets such as Europe and UK by 2018, and to grow the team.

There is an undisputed need for an automated marketing solution for millions of local businesses across the globe. In the past if you want to acquire business, you would print business cards, fliers and so on. Today, search and discovery is online, and our platform is built to do that specifically for businesses within 100km radius, Ramesh said.

Synup has partnerships with about 50 information listing aggregators such as Yelp or Google search, which are integrated with the Synup platform allowing businesses to remotely update information across all the listing sites.

According to a Harvard Business Review, a one point increase in star rating improves business inflow by almost 3 percent. To accelerate that, Synup also manages user reviews for the businesses, tackling negative reviews.

Synup currently does not have any presence in India which has the highest density of small and local businesses.

The startup plans to service the India market too, but only after local businesses develop an appetite for online marketing.

When we started we wanted to target a mature market because we wanted establish a template first. US market has the highest pending capacity for online marketing as of now. There are over 28 million small businesses and only about 1 million use online marketing. But businesses there do not mind spending on online marketing, unlike India. Plus, we go by where we are getting most searches for Synup from. India does not feature in the top 10, Ramesh said.

Acharya of Prime Ventures adds that some encouraging signs have started to show in India. With the launch of (Reliance) Jio the internet penetration will go deeper. We are seeing businesses move towards online. I would say it will take another 2-3 years for Indian local businesses to take online marketing seriously, he said.
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The Income Tax Department is scrutinising share buybacks in small and midcap companies for the genuineness of the shareholders who participated in the offer, sources told Moneycontrol.

Tax officials suspect that in many cases, the shareholders, who tender shares in the buyback, are actually fronts for the promoters.

The I-T department has sought details of the buybacks from the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Promoters of many small and midcap firms have created shell companies through which they trade in their own shares. One of the aims of the shell companies is to allow promoters to hold more shares in the company without having to disclose it in their filings to the stock exchanges.

During buyback offers, these shares are officially bought back by the company, in effect, resulting in a transfer of company funds to entities linked to the promoter.

As per Budget 2017, company promoters who hold shares through private trusts will also have to pay a 10 percent tax on dividend income exceeding Rs 10 lakh.

So, owning shares through shell companies helps reduce their tax liability as well.

The government has been cracking down on shell companies in a big way to curb tax evasion and money laundering.

Companies returned Rs 23,495 crore to shareholders via buybacks, as of September 7, 2017. This number does not include the Rs 13,000-crore buyback announced by Infosys.

Also read: Infosys buyback: Compulsion or choice?

In 2016, a total of 35 companies announced share buybacks, out of which about 22 were mid, smallcaps. This compared to 33 firms announcing buybacks in 2017 till September, out of which 21 are mid, smallcaps.
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The Nifty50 broke below its crucial support level of 9,900 in morning trade on Monday but stocks which were under the ban period for today witnessed huge selloff.

On the weekly scale, it formed a Bearish Engulfing pattern on Friday, as it snapped the entire gains of last week and closed below previous weeks low levels. Investors are advised not to create long positions on dips while for short positions maintain a strict stop loss above 10,179.

Stocks like Infibeam slipped up to 39 percent in the trade before recouping some of the losses while, India Cements slipped 5 percent, Indo Count Industries dropped 6 percent in mid-morning trade.

A.K.Prabhakar, Head -Research at IDBI Capital told Moneycontrol that the selloff could be related to traders cutting their leverage bets in these stocks.

Security in ban period for the next trade date under the F&O segment includes companies in which the security has crossed 95% of the market-wide position limit.

As many as 11 companies were banned for trading on Monday which includes names like BEML, DHFL, DLF, HDIL, Indiabulls Real Estate, Indo Count Industries, India Cements, Infibeam, JSW Energy, Reliance Communications, and Wockhardt.
3:30 pm Market Closing: Equity benchmarks fell sharply for second consecutive session Monday, weighed by HDFC Group, FMCG, infra and auto stocks.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 295.81 points or 0.93 percent at 31,626.63, and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 91.80 points or 0.92 percent to 9,872.60.

More than three shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

3:29 pm Foodgrain production: India's foodgrain production is estimated to decline by 3.86 million tonnes to 134.67 mt this kharif season on account of poor rains as well as floods in some parts of the country.

According to the first advance estimate released today by the agriculture ministry, production of all kharif foodgrains -- rice, pulses and coarse cereals -- is projected to decline from the record 138.52 mt last kharif.

In cash crops, production of cotton, oil seeds and jute is estimated to fall and that of sugarcane to go up.

Harvesting will start from next month.

As per the latest data, rice output is likely to fall by 1.9 million tonnes (mt) to 94.48 mt in kharif season this year, from the record 96.39 mt in the previous kharif.

3:27 pm Property deal: Engineering and technology firm Siemens today said it has sold its Worli office property for Rs 610 crore to Whispering Heights Real Estate Pvt Ltd, a joint venture of Reco Solis Pte Ltd and K Raheja Corp Group.

The company said in a BSE filing that it has transferred and assigned its leasehold interest in the property to Whispering Heights.

Reco Solis Pte Ltd is an affiliate of GIC, Singapore.

Last December Siemens had entered into a pact with Whispering Heights to sell the Mumbai property.

3:22 pm IPO subscription: The initial public offering of Prataap Snacks has been fully subscribed on second day of three-day bidding process.

The Rs 482-crore issue has oversubscribed 1.23 times, receiving bids for 44.57 lakh shares against IPO size of 36.27 lakh shares, excluding anchor investors' portion.

3:18 pm Money laundering: The Enforcement Directorate today attached assets worth Rs 1.16 crore of Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, and a firm allegedly linked to him in connection with its money laundering probe in the Aircel-Maxis deal.

The agency said it has issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) attaching assets "of Karti in the form of fixed deposits and balance in saving bank account to the tune of Rs 90 lakh approximately."

The central probe agency added that another Rs 26 lakh fixed deposits in the name of a firm Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited (ASCPL) has also been attached under provisions of the anti-money laundering law.

This firm is allegedly linked to Karti and the Enforcement Directorate said it was "controlled" by him through another person.

3:13 pm Japan's stimulus plan: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would seek to implement a 2 trillion yen (USD 18 billion) spending package to expand access to education and cut waiting times at child-care centres, reports Bloomberg.

He made the comments shortly before his coalition partner said an election would be held, likely on October 22.

Abe said he would make use of revenue from a planned consumption-tax hike set to take effect in October 2019. Revenue from increasing the sales levy had previously been marked mostly to replace deficit spending on the social safety net. He said that he wanted to settle on the details of the package before the end of the year.

3:09 pm RIL in focus: Reliance Industries has jumped five places to rank as the world's third-biggest energy company behind Russian gas firm Gazrpom and German utility E.ON, according to Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings.

State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) broke into the top 10 club, climbing to 7th position in the 2017 ranking, up from 14th rank in 2016. IOC has been steadily climbing the rankings -- it was placed at No. 66 in 2015.

Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) was placed at 11th position in 2017 as against 20th in 2016.

3:01 pm Market Outlook: The run-up in market has been very sharp, so the correction has to come, Anish Damania, Head of Institutional Equities said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

He further said, "We have a Nifty target of 9,825 level by March 2018, which we already achieved. I still retain my target."

The Nifty has seen one-way rally from 7,900 to 10,200 level despite earnings growth and business growth.

Damania said it is bull market correction, currently we may be part of that. In bull market correction, the market can fall 10-12 percent.

Nifty should settle between 8,500 and 9,500 in couple of months.

2:52 pm Market Check: Equity benchmarks trimmed losses in afternoon after index heavyweight Reliance Industries rebounded with half a percent gain and ICICI Bank extended upmove.

Even Nifty Bank index also cut losses to 230 points from more than 300 points.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 316.90 points or 0.99 percent at 31,605.54 and the 50-share NSE Nifty declined 97.95 points or 0.98 percent to 9,866.45.

About four shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

2:42 pm Shareholders' nod: Jaypee group's flagship company Jaiprakash Associates today said its shareholders have approved the proposal to raise up to Rs 2,000 crore through sale of securities.

The special resolution was approved by the shareholders at the company's annual general meeting held on September 23.

Crisis-hit Jaiprakash Associates had sought shareholders nod to raise up to Rs 2,000 crore through issue of securities via routes like qualified institutional placement (QIP).

In a BSE filing, the company said the proposal was approved by the shareholders as over 85 per cent of votes were polled in favour.

The amount would be used for capital expenditure, reduction of debt, general corporate purposes and for raising working capital requirement for real estate business and other businesses, the company had said in a notice to shareholders.

2:32 pm Leyland to boost exports: Ashok Leyland has confirmed plans to enhance its light commercial vehicle (LCV) portfolio and boost exports in the segment.

Speaking exclusively to CNBC-TV18's Jude Sannith, Nitin Sethi, President-LCV at Ashok Leyland said that the company's aim is to increase market share in LCV space and will also launch one new LCV product every six months.

2:22 pm RBI intervention helping rupee: The Reserve Bank of India has been intervening to stem the rupee's appreciation, Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian said on Monday.

Subramanian said there was a "big" appreciation of the rupee between January and April which had adversely impacted Indian exports and the country's import-competing sectors.

2:01 pm Nifty Bank fell over 300 points as Federal Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Canara Bank, SBI, Axis Bank, PNB, HDFC Bank, IDFC Bank, Yes Bank and Bank of Baroda were down 1-3 percent.

However, ICICI Bank bucked trend, up 0.2 percent.

1:59 pm USFDA nod: The US Food & Drug Administration has approved Lupins generic Clobex lotion, reports CNBC-TV18.

Clobex lotion is used to treat dermatoses.

1:53 pm Market Check: The bloodbath continued at Dalal Street as the Sensex plunged 406.10 points or 1.27 percent to 31,516.34, dragged by banks, metals, auto and pharma stocks.

The 50-share NSE Nifty fell 130.55 points or 1.31 percent to 9,833.85 as experts expect increase increase in fiscal deficit post likely fiscal stimulus.

About five shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

"Over the next couple of months, the government will have to choose between (1) overshooting the fiscal deficit target, and (2) reducing expenditure if tax revenues disappoint," Kotak Institutional Equities said.

Kotak Institutional Equities remained cautious on FY2018 growth prospects even with a likely 'targeted' expenditure increase even as the government faces risks of revenue slippage.

It also expects 10-year yield to range within 6.5-6.8 percent for rest of FY2018 and maintain our FY2018 USD-INR average at 65.25.

1:47 pm ONGC-HPCL deal: State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will acquire the government's 51.11 percent stake in HPCL through a bulk or block deal some time in November or December at the prevailing market price.

While the government is keen that the deal, which would fetch it over Rs 33,000 crore at the current market price, is done in October, ONGC wants time to raise the money required for the acquisition, a senior government official said.

The government's transaction advisor JM Financial and legal consultant Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is preparing Information Memorandum (IM) on Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) with India's largest oil and gas producer, ONGC, in the next 7-10 days.

1:41 pm Real estate deal: Oberoi Realty share price rallied 7.4 percent intraday to hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 437.50, following residential project from GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals.

"GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals has selected Oberoi Realty as the successful bidder for the land admeasuring approximately 60 acres located at Thane, Maharashtra," the Mumbai-based real estate firm said in its filing.

The companys bid for purchase of the said land was for a consideration of Rs 555 crore, it added.

While maintaining a buy call on the stock with increased target at Rs 516 (from Rs 484), CLSA said recently-awarded Thane project may substantially scale-up company's residential sales and should add 30-40 percent to company's project portfolio by area.

While land acquisition will increase gearing to 0.2x, there is still room to gear up further, it added. Land deal will add Rs 51 per share to company's net asset value, it feels.

1:27 pm Rupee in focus: The Reserve Bank of India has been intervening to stem the rupee's appreciation, Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian said today.

Subramanian said there was a "big" appreciation of the rupee between January and April which had adversely impacted Indian exports and the country's import-competing sectors.

1:15 pm GAIL outperforms: GAIL India added around 2 percent intraday as investors cheered the target price hike by HSBC.

The global financial services firm had a hold rating on the stock with an increased target price of Rs 432 from Rs 342.

HSBC said that US LNG Projects are a key variable for future earnings trajectory. Further, it said that the downside was limited to volume but take-or-pay charge remains a risk. It also said that the business has recovered from FY15-16.

Recently, the stock had gained after Morgan Stanley rerated the stock. In its report, the global research firm upgraded the rating on the stock from underweight to overweight and increased target price to Rs 522.

The broking firm also expects an earnings CAGR of 16 percent over FY17-20 from the company.

1:00 pm Market Check: Equity benchmarks extended losses in afternoon, with the Nifty breaking 9,850 level as likely fiscal stimulus may increase fiscal deficit.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 359.23 points or 1.13 percent at 31,563.21 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 119.10 points or 1.20 percent to 9,845.30.

About five shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

The BSE Midcap index was down 1.6 percent and Smallcap declined 2.3 percent.

Power stocks outperformed ahead of power reforms announcement later today. Tata Power, Power Grid and Torrent Power gained 0.7-1.8 percent.

12:55 pm Shareholders' approval: Visa Steel share price rallied nearly 19 percent intraday Monday on receiving approval from shareholders for increase in investment limit for FIIs.

"Shareholders approved the proposal to increase the aggregate limit for investment by the foreign institutional investors and non-resident Indians in equity share capital of the company," the mineral and metals company said in its filing.

Promoter and promoter group's shareholding stood at 61.98 percent and the rest is held by public as of June 2017.

Foreign portfolio investors including Cresta Fund, LTS Investment Fund and APMS Investment Fund hold 23.1 percent stake in the company while non-resident Indian has 0.21 percent stake.

12:50 pm Patent: Drug firm Suven Life Sciences has been granted a patent each by India and Japan for a drug used in the treatment of neuro-degenerative diseases.

In a BSE filing, Suven Life said it has been granted "one product patent from India and one product patent from Japan corresponding to the New Chemical Entities (NCEs) for the treatment of disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases".

The patents are valid till 2027 and 2032, respectively, the company added.

12:40 pm Europe trade: European stocks opened marginally higher as investors digest election results out of Germany, where the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) won parliamentary seats for the first time.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.01 percent higher with sectors moving in different directions.

Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term in office on Sunday, but she is due to face tough political negotiations to form a new governing coalition. At the same time, she will also have to deal with a more fractured parliament after the anti-immigration; far-right AfD party beat expectations and became the first far-right party to join the Bundestag in more than half a century.

12:35 pm NDTV at 5% upper circuit: Media house NDTV's shareholders have approved sale of its automobile e-commerce firm Fifth Gear Ventures Limited to Autobyte Private Limited.

The company had sought approval for "subscription of equity shares by Autobyte Private Limited in Fifth Gear Ventures Limited resulting in change of control of Fifth Gear Ventures Limited from New Delhi Television Limited and NDTV Convergence Limited to Autobyte Private Limited," NDTV said in a filing to the BSE.

The same has been approved by over 99 percent of shareholders, the filing said.

The Fifth Gear Ventures Limited owned and operated automobile e-commerce portal carandbike.com.

12:25 pm Management Interview: In Q1, Kolte Patil saw decent revenue and profit growth but saw 800 bps hit in margins due to higher costs while cash flows and pre-sales were also weak.

Q1 of FY18 was a very strong quarter on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis, Gopal Sarda, Group CEO of Kolte-Patil Developers said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

FY18 pre-sale will be up 15-18 percent year-on-year (YoY), he added.

Customers had gone into wait and watch mode because of Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and goods and services tax (GST), so May-June were slightly low but we are seeing uptick July onwards, said Sarda.

Business is coming back to normalcy and pre-sale number will be intact compared to QoQ performance, he further mentioned.

Expect H2FY18 to be better than H1FY18, he said.

12:09 pm Order win: Shares of Gayatri Projects gained 2.8 percent intraday as its JV company has bagged order worth Rs 1,483 crore.

The company has won Rs 1,483 crore irrigation project for the formation of Sri Komaravelli Mallanna Sagar Reservoir with a capacity of 50 TMC in a joint venture with NCC and HES.

The project is expected to provide a major boost to water-intensive crops such as sugarcane and banana, as well as to the associated agro-industries.

11:59 am Buzzing: Indiabulls Ventures share price plunged 16.5 percent intraday following resignation from its two directors.

The broking services provider informed exchanges that Prem Prakash Mirdha and Ajit Kumar Mittal have resigned from their directorship w.e.f. September 23, 2017.

Ajit Kumar Mittal worked with the company as a non-executive director and Prem Prakash Mirdha as non-executive independent director.

In addition, Aishwarya Katoch also resigned as non-executive independent director of the company w.e.f. September 18.

All these directors resigned due to their existing personal commitments, the company said.

11:45 am Stocks in F&O ban: Stocks like Infibeam slipped up to 39 percent in the trade before recouping some of the losses while, India Cements slipped 5 percent, Indo Count Industries dropped 6 percent.

Security in ban period for the next trade date under the F&O segment includes companies in which the security has crossed 95% of the market-wide position limit.

As many as 11 companies were banned for trading on Monday which includes names like BEML, DHFL, DLF, HDIL, Indiabulls Real Estate, Indo Count Industries, India Cements, Infibeam, JSW Energy, Reliance Communications, and Wockhardt.

11:33 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks continued to reel under under pressure as the Sensex was down 322.87 points or 1.01 percent at 31,599.57, and the Nifty down 107.50 points or 1.08 percent at 9,856.90.

11:30 am Buzzing: Despite a positive view on the stock by a global brokerage, shares of KNR Construction fell over 3 percent intraday.

Nomura maintained its buy call on the stock with a target of Rs 287 per share. This is a 35 percent upside against Fridays closing price.

Further, the global firm said that Rs 884-crore Telangana order win will address order book concerns. It also believes that the management could be able to maintain its guidance of Rs 1,000 crore order wins from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

11:25 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks remained under pressure in morning as the Sensex was down 287 points at 31,635.31 on likely widening in fiscal deficit target.

The 50-share NSE Nifty declined 102 points or 1.02 percent to 9,862.30 as nine out of 50 stocks were in red.

About seven shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

All sectoral indices traded in red as Nifty Bank, Auto, Metal, Pharma and Realty werre down 1-2 percent.

11:20 am IT Industry growth: Industry body Nasscom is expecting the USD 150-billion Indian IT industry to deliver a strong performance next fiscal on revival in tech spends of the financial sector and demand growth from the US clients.

"There are reasons to be optimistic about the year ahead (2018-19). We continue to see that there are green shoots... The demand side prognosis looks positive," Nasscom President R Chandrasekhar told PTI.

Elaborating on the positive cues, Chandrasekhar said he expects a revival of financial sector investments (into technology) and a greater hardening of demand in the US. "There is also a lot of re-strategising by the Indian companies as well," Chandrasekhar pointed out.

11:15 am Forex deal: Tata Capital is likely to sell its forex business to Thomas Cook, reports CNBC-TV18. The deal is likely to occur today.

The share price of Thomas Cook gained mildly after this news but immediately fell over 2 percent due to weak market conditiions.

11:02 am Management outlook: Kitchen appliances firm TTK Prestige is eyeing double-digit growth this festive season and expects it to contribute over 30 percent to the overall sales this fiscal, a top company official said.

"We are expecting substantial growth during this year festival season. We had very good Onam sales, which generally sets the momentum for the festivals. We are expecting a little over 30 percent sales during September to November," TTK Prestige Managing Director Chandru Kalro told PTI.

He added that with the demonetisation last year, there will be a base effect and the company is expecting a double-digit growth this festive season, without quantifying the anticipated growth.

The company had clocked a turnover of Rs 1,603.64 crore last fiscal.

10:55 am Capacity expansion: Essar Ports today said its Rs 830 crore expansion plan to almost double the iron ore handling capacity to 23 million tonne per annum (MTPA) at Vizag port is nearing completion.

After completion of the project, the loading capacity will increase to 120,000 tonnes per day (TPD) from 70,000 TPD, the company said in a statement.

The facility will be able to berth vessels up to 200,000 DWT, with a draft of 18 metres, on the outer harbour, it said, adding that the upgraded terminal will have a loading rate of 8,000 TPH (tonnes per hour), which will be among the highest for an Indian port.

Essar Ports specialises in development and operations of ports and terminals for handling liquid, dry bulk, break bulk and general cargo and aims to increase its India capacity to 110 MTPA in 2017-18 from 82 MTPA at present.

10:45 am Coffee spills: Weakness in Coffee Day Enterprises, the operator of Cafe Coffee Day chain, continued as the stock fell over 10.5 percent intraday. Investors turned cautious of the stock on the back of a media report, which hinted to issues relating to undisclosed income.

According to a media report, Income Tax (I-T) Department has detected undisclosed income worth over Rs 650 crore linked to the group after four-day raids.

10:35 am Buzzing: Shares of Cadila Healthcare fell over 3.5 percent intraday as investors turned wary of the stock following a ratings downgrade. A weakness in the overall pharmaceutical space also spilled over to the stock.

Broking firm IIFL downgraded its rating on the stock to reduce from add along with a reduction in the target price to Rs 400 from Rs 460, implying a downside of around 13 percent.

The firm said that Cadilas stock was already pricing in an upside from big launches. However, its valuations were stretched and at a significant premium compared to its large peers.

The brokerage house also cut FY18/19 EPS estimates by 11%/14% to factor in the Lialda AG launch by the innovator.

10:25 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks fell sharply in morning as the Sensex plunged 312.61 points or 0.98 percent to 31,609.83 on likely increase in fiscal deficit target of the company due to fiscal stimulus.

The 50-share NSE Nifty fell 116 points or 1.16 percent to 9,848.40, dragged by infra, metals and banks stocks.

The BSE Midcap index was up 2.6 percent and Smallcap lost 3.5 percent as about 7.5 shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

10:15 am Fiscal stimulus: D-Street is abuzz with news of a big stimulus package which could be as big as USD 7.7 billion, Reuters reported last week.

The extra spending was estimated to widen the fiscal deficit for the financial year ending next March to 3.7 percent of GDP from a budgeted target of 3.2 percent.

Stimulus can potentially increase the central governments fiscal deficit to 3.5-3.7 percent of GDP in FY18, from the budgeted 3.2 percent target (3.5 percent of GDP achieved in FY17), depending on the size of the stimulus (0.3-0.5 percent of GDP), Deutsche Bank said in a report.

This would be a setback to the fiscal consolidation momentum that was endured through the past few years. To counter any pessimism on D-Street, the government should clarify that this is a just one-off measure to counter slowdown cause by demonetisation and GST.

The extra money will be spent more on bank recapitalisations, rural jobs programme and rural housing to boost growth in Asias third-largest economy.

10:00 am Listing: Shares of Capacit'e Infraprojects had a stellar listing today on investors' demand.

The stock listed with gains of 59.6 percent on its debut at Rs 399 on the exchanges.

The company had a stellar response to its initial public offering, getting oversubscribed 183.03 times.

9:55 am Reforms: All eyes will be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he will address the extended national executive of the Bharatiya Janta Party today. Modi is expected to allay fears of economic slowdown and make some key announcement of welfare schemes.

Expect a big bang announcement from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday about the power sector-that's the word from new Power Minister RK Singh, reports CNBC-TV18. The minister also promised to open up the sector further to private players.

9:50 am Pre-opening: Capacit'e Infraprojects share price settled at Rs 399 in pre-opening trade, a whopping premium of 59.6 percent over its issue price of Rs 250.

9:48 am Nifty Midcap breaches 18,000 level in morning as well known names - L&T Finance Holdings, DHFL, Reliance Capital, Bajaj Finserv, Just Dial, Indiabulls Housing, M&M Financial and Bajaj Finance were down 3-5 percent.

9:45 am Buzzing: Shoppers Stop share price rallied 16 percent after the subsidiary of e-commerce company Amazon has purchased 5 percent stake in company at Rs 408 per share.

9:40 am I-T Raid: The Income Tax Department on Sunday concluded raids on premises linked to former Union minister S. M. Krishna's businessman son-in-law VG Siddhartha, who is also founder-owner of Cafe Coffee Day, the country's largest coffee retail chain, reports The Times of India.

A senior public relations official of the I-T department in Bengaluru confirmed that the department has detected over Rs 650 crore of undisclosed income linked to Siddhartha, after four days of raids.

9:35 am FIIs outflow: Foreign institutional investors continued to be sellers in the market since August. They have sold nearly Rs 20,000 crore worth of shares from August 1 to September 22.

9:30 am Market Check: Equity benchmarks extended losses in early trade as the 30-share BSE Sensex was down 197.75 points at 31,724.69,

The 50-share NSE Nifty breached psychological 9,900 level, down 70.25 points at 9,894.15.

The broader markets also fell further as the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices were down nearly 2 percent each. About four shares declined for every share rising on the BSE.

9:25 am Movers and Shakers: Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, IOC, Adani Ports, L&T, HDFC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank and Yes Bank were top negative contributors to Sensex' fall, down 0.7-3 percent.

However, TCS, Power Grid, Bharti Infratel, ICICI Bank, ITC, Vedanta and Infosys outperformed.

9:15 am Market check: Equity benchmarks started off the week on a negative note, with the Sensex falling more than 100 points, weighed by HDFC twins.

The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 156.59 points at 31,765.85 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 41.35 points to 9,923.

Nifty Midcap was down 0.8 percent as about 596 shares declined against advancing 423 shares on the BSE.

The Indian rupee opened lower by 5 paise at 64.84 per dollar today versus Friday's closing value of 64.79 per dollar.
Heavy selling pressure continued on the D-Street, with frontline indices breaching key milestones. The Sensex cracked over 440 points intraday, while Nifty breached 9,800-mark.

Markets crashed on the back of likely fiscal stimulus, which could increase the fiscal deficit.

The BSE Midcap index was down 1.6 percent and Smallcap declined 2.3 percent.

Experts expect the market to consolidate further with a negative bias in near term, at least till the announcement of July-September quarter earnings that will begin in second week of October.

"It is probably a part of bull market correction and in bull market correction, the market can fall 10-12 percent," Anish Damania, Head of Institutional Equities said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

He still maintained his Nifty target for March 2018 at 9,825 level that it already achieved six months before target date.

He said the correction was warranted as the Nifty has seen one-way rally from 7,900 to 10,200 level despite earnings growth and business growth.

The fall was largely because of worries of likely increase in fiscal deficit, especially after expectations of fiscal stimulus.

Media reports indicated that the government could announce a stimulus package worth more than USD 7 billion, which may widen the fiscal deficit for the financial year ending March 2018 to 3.7 percent of GDP from a budgeted target of 3.2 percent.

For more watch the Markets@Moneycontrol show. Moneycontrol Market Correspondent Uttaresh talks to Maryam Farooqui on how the markets fared today.

Stimulus can potentially increase the central governments fiscal deficit to 3.5-3.7 percent of GDP in FY18, from the budgeted 3.2 percent target (3.5 percent of GDP achieved in FY17), depending on the size of the stimulus (0.3-0.5 percent of GDP), Deutsche Bank said in a report.
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Just when everything was going right for the Modi-led government, growth pangs was not something which they had in mind. The economy which was crowned as the fastest growing economy in the world suffered sharp fall in growth rate which hit a 3-year low in June quarter.

Some amount of slowdown was expected especially after demonetisation and implementations of the goods & the services tax, but nobody hoped that the growth rate will fall from 9 percent in 2016 to 5.7 percent in 2017.

D-Street is abuzz with news of a big stimulus package which could be as big as USD 7.7 billion, Reuters reported last week.

The extra spending was estimated to widen the fiscal deficit for the financial year ending March 2018 to 3.7 percent of GDP from a budgeted target of 3.2 percent.

Stimulus can potentially increase the central governments fiscal deficit to 3.5-3.7 percent of GDP in FY18, from the budgeted 3.2 percent target (3.5 percent of GDP achieved in FY17), depending on the size of the stimulus (0.3-0.5 percent of GDP), Deutsche Bank said in a report.

This would be a setback to the fiscal consolidation momentum that was endured through the past few years. To counter any pessimism on D-Street, the government should clarify that this is a just one-off measure to counter slowdown cause by demonetisation and GST.

The extra money will be spent more on bank recapitalisations, rural jobs programme and rural housing to boost growth in Asias third-largest economy.

The Indias GDP growth unpredictably slowed in the first quarter of FY18 at 5.7 percent. With the government facing a host of criticism from the various stakeholder, the rescue effort to boost the economy trajectory has uplifted a sentiment as it prepares to stimulate the economy through the packaged offering, Dinesh Rohira, Founder & CEO, 5nance.com.

Despite an enfolded roadmap on the table, the probability of government stimulating through affordable housing has raised confidence set-up in the Indian economy, he said.

However, any policy measure is unlikely to derail expectations of Modi government 2.0. The next general elections are scheduled in 2019. Fiscal slippage risks will naturally make the RBI more cautious and defensive regarding their monetary policy stance and probably mark an end to the ongoing rate cutting cycle, suggest experts.

Modi government is always known to take some bold steps. BJP claims that the process may increase job opportunities and will help in increasing the GDP. After demonetization and GST massacre the next is a stimulus package, Ritesh Ashar  Chief Strategy Officer, KIFS Trade Capital told Moneycontrol.

The stimulus package seems to be a positive step as it will directly affect housing, Infrastructure companies & allied industries. The government was not particularly worried about the headline GDP growth number, which slowed to 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of FY18. Rather than growth, job creation is a priority for the government, he said.

We have compiled a list of stocks recommended by various experts which are likely to benefit the most from govts decision to introduce fiscal stimulus:

Brokerage Firm: Axis Direct

Ramco Cement

After consolidating its position as a premium retail brand in South India, the company has planned for expansion in Eastern India, to completed by FY19; capacity addition in East India to reduce dependency on South Indian market.

A Strong brand with premium pricing in its home markets of Tamil Nadu (TN) and Kerala enables it to command highest EBIDTA/tonne in the industry.

Already excess clinker capacity in TN would enable Ramco to expand its capacity by just adding grinding units. No significant capacity additions by peers in the industry to help Ramco improve its pricing power in near future.

Supreme Industries

Around 12 percent volume growth led by (1) government initiatives  increased spending on irrigation, water supply, focus to double farmer income, etc. (2) affordable housing for all, and (3) increasing share of business for organized players due to confluence of GST, RERA and demonization is expected in FY18.

Supreme Industries is an investment idea with an investment horizon of over 3-5 year because of consistent growth (~15 percent p.a.), sustainable margin trajectory, RoCE focus, strong FCF generation leading to debt-free status by FY19, and regular dividend payout.

Kajaria Ceramics

The management is intending to improve the share of high value-added vitrified tiles thereby enhancing the realizations and margins.

Kajaria Ceramics would be a big beneficiary of the shift from unorganized to the organized sector in post GST scenario. Commissioning of brownfield and greenfield capacity expansion in FY18 is expected to benefit from a rise in demand from the revival of real estate sector following the push for affordable housing segment.

CanFin Homes

South India based housing finance company predominantly focused on salaried class and growing at upwards of 30 percent per annum. CanFin Homes has a well-capitalized balance sheet to support the exemplary growth trajectory.

It has reduced its dependence on bank borrowings; enhanced borrowings from debt markets have helped reduce the cost of funds. CanFin homes to be a Big beneficiary of the push for affordable housing on the back of higher growth, NIM expansion and stable cost.

Gruh Finance

Steadily growing loan book with the contained cost of funds; the company operates solely in affordable housing segment and has marked the presence in rural areas especially western parts of India with expansion plans to other geographies.

Gruh Fin. has best in class return ratios along with efficient use of capital. Strong loan book growth with 30 percent plus RoEs to help the company benefit from the push in affordable housing segment.

Government is also working on an idea which is being actively considered is to free up large land held by PSU which is mostly in the prime localities of the city could lead to a boost to the sector and also a booster to PSU Companies.

Analyst: Dinesh Rohira, Founder & CEO, 5nance.com

Housing Finance Segment: - DHFL, PNB Housing, GIC Housing

Affordable housing finance is set to be a Rs. 6 trillion business in next 7 years and, it anticipates that about 25 million demand for housing is expected to come from medium-income & lower-income group in the same period.

A combined afford from the government through stimulus policy & strong regulatory ease coupled with rising urbanization & changing lifestyle, the growth predictability in housing finance segment remain intact for the selected stock.

Similarly, DHLF, PNB Housing and, GIC housing reported a considerable growth in net profit for the Q1FY18 at 29 percent, 93 percent and, 25 percent respectively.

The company also witnessed substantial growth in loan book, while its gross non-preforming asset remaining flat. The niche offering from this company is further expected to boost the ticket-size as it focuses to penetrate in the urban & semi-urban market in an effort to realise the governments vision for affordable housing by 2022.

Cement Segment: - UltraTech Cement, Grasim Industries

Despite a muted growth in a cement sector on the backdrop of poor infrastructure development, the sector is expected to witness growth as government focuses to improve infrastructure coupled with housing program in its stimulus policy to drive the economy growth.

Current cement industry has a total capacity of 435 million tonnes per annum, while it utilizes only 280 MT for meeting the domestic demand, thus providing a scope for growth in medium-term.

Although facing a headwind on the backdrop of destocking in the value-chain from GST regime, UltraTech Cement & Grasim Industries reported a rise in net profit for the Q1FY18 at 9.5 percent and 9.4 percent respectively.

The company also witnessed a considerable growth in volume over the same period. UltraTech Cement also completed the acquisition of cement plants from Jaiprakash & Jaypee cement which is expected to enhance the volume growth, while Grasim is also planning to outline investment plan to expand its capacity

Paints & Ply: - Berger Paints, Century Plyboards

The companies under home improvement are also the ultimate beneficiary of this policy development. The boost in the housing sector will certainly ease at improving the companys margin over a medium-term after a long halted growth.

Analyst: Ritesh Ashar  Chief Strategy Officer, KIFS Trade Capital

L&T Finance

L&T Finance is amongst the top 5 NBFC present in the market available at lower valuations. The market cap of L&T Finance is higher than all listed public sector bank except State Bank of India.

LTFH has a housing finance book of INR125b with a diversified product suite, comprising home loans, LAP, construction finance and LRD. Home loans and LAP constitute 60 percent of the overall book, while corporate loans account for the remaining. LTFH entered the 2W financing business via the acquisition of Family credit.

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Prakash Gaba of prakashgaba.com told CNBC-TV18, "For a year or two, certainly one can continue hold Infosys. However, I would ideally buy it around Rs 850 zones or maybe around Rs 800 zones, that is a good place to buy. However that is a strong support zone, it can bounce from there. You exit around Rs 950.

At 15:22 hrs Infosys was quoting at Rs 897.55, down Rs 0.50, or 0.06 percent on the BSE.
Mitessh Thakkar of mitesshthakkar.com told CNBC-TV18, "Dalmia Bharat, RBL Bank, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company all these stocks are showing good signs of early weakness on the short-term charts, so I would be shorting them."

"Tata Global is a buy which is something which I still believe would be doing very well and these are the correct levels to start entering over here. So buy with a stoploss at Rs 189, look for Rs 206 kind of a target, Rs 194-195 is a good support zone."
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com told CNBC-TV18, "Chennai Petroleum Corporation is a sell with a stoploss of Rs 396 and target of Rs 378. Interglobe Aviation is a sell with a stoploss of Rs 1,080 and target of Rs 1,040."

"Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is a buy with a stoploss of Rs 1,235 and maybe look for Rs 1,275-1,280," he added.

At 11:15 hrs Hindustan Unilever was quoting at Rs 1,244.15, up Rs 4.60, or 0.37 percent.
Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com told CNBC-TV18, "Jet Airways and Punjab National Bank (PNB) are short selling ideas and Gail India is a buy in this falling environment."

"It is too early to start selling non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). They have been the strongest but perhaps the selling will come later. I would not do anything today in them," he said.

At 10:18 hrs GAIL India was quoting at Rs 397.55, up Rs 0.40, or 0.10 percent on the BSE.

The share touched its 52-week high Rs 433.50 and 52-week low Rs 287.93 on 03 May, 2017 and 29 September, 2016, respectively.
Social activist Swami Agnivesh today said that "rising blind devotion" towards religion and godmen was a grave threat to the country.

Talking to reporters, the Arya Samaj leader said the "hypocrite godmen" were holding democracy to ransom in the name of religion and thus any association of godmen and political leaders with each other should be probed.

"Rising blind devotion towards religion and godmen pose a grave threat to the country. Hypocrite godmen are working to build vote bank for the political parties, which is crippling the democracy," he said.

Blaming self-styled godmen, Agnivesh said they were establishing an empire of immense property for themselves by playing with people's faith and sentiments.

Agnivesh also criticised the Centre for its attitude towards Rohingya Muslims and announced that he will hold a fast, on October 2, to protest the government's decision.

Terming the Rohingya refugees as "illegal" immigrants, the government on September 18 told the Supreme Court that some of them were part of a "sinister" design of Pakistan's ISI and terror groups such as the ISIS, whose presence in the country will pose a "serious" national security threat.

Agnivesh countered the government's stance, saying there was no proof that Rohingya Muslims were involved in terrorist activities.

"The Rohingyas are taking shelter in other countries due to insecurity in Myanmar," he said, adding that India should shelter them on humanitarian grounds.

"There are more than 60,000 Rohingya Muslims living in Jammu and Kashmir. They should be sheltered just like refugees of Bangladesh, Tibet, and Afghanistan," he said.

The activist also suggested that the Centre mount pressure on Myanmar and raise the issue of Rohingya Muslims so that people can return to their homes safely.
September 25, 2017 / 09:31 PM IST

SUMMARY

Pradhan

Mantri

Sahaj

Bijli

data-scayt-word="Ghar" data-scayt-lang="en_US">Ghar

Yojana

* It will provide electricity connections to over 4 crore families in rural and urban areas by December 2018

* The outlay for rural households is Rs 14,025 crore. For urban households, the outlay is Rs 2,295 crore

* Power connections will be provided free of cost to all poor families under the scheme

20:15 The Prime Minister has ended his speech by expressing hope that the research into electric vehicles will bear fruit.

20:14 We need to boost growth in a sustainable manner, says the Prime Minister.

20:09 Modi says that the government has installed over 33 lakh LED streetlights in the last three years and the price of LED bulbs has reduced significantly.

20:07 Modi says that US space agency NASA had released aerial photos of India taken from satellites. The first photo taken in 2012 showed many parts of the country under darkness but the latest photo released in 2016 showed these areas had electricity.

20:04 Modi says the government is looking at a power formula of 'one nation, one grid, one price'.

20:01 The Saubhagya scheme will make use of clean energy. The clean energy target - hydro, nuclear and solar power - has been doubled.

19:59 Modi highlights the success of wind and solar electricity projects, where the prices are at all-time lows.

19:57 Now, the country has left behind power shortage and is moving towards power surplus: PM

19:52 The total cost would be more than Rs 16,000 crore, but we will not let the burden fall on the poor. The electricity would be free for BPL card holders, says Modi.

19:50 Our vision is to provide door-to-door power connections: PM

19:49 "It is important for us to understand what life is like without electricity. The life of the poor will only improve when they get electricity, says Modi.

19:47 Even after 70 years of independence, 4 crore households have no electricity: Modi

19:42 'From Jan Dhan to Swachh Bharat, Stand up India to Start up India, all schemes are for the benefit of poor," says the Prime Minister. "Who would have thought a government would come that would open bank accounts for 30 crore people?"

19:38 "Today is the fifth day of Navratri, the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and the inauguration of Deen Dayal Bhawan," says Modi.

19:34 The Prime Minister has begun his speech.

19:25 The bulk of the money under the scheme will be spent on improving power supply to rural households, with a budget of Rs 14,025 crore reserved for rural electrification. A budget of Rs 1,732.5 crore has been reserved for improving supply to urban areas. Government assistance for the two will be Rs 10,587.50 crore and Rs 2,295 crore respectively

19:21 Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is now addressing the gathering.

19:13 Under the scheme, smart and e-meters will be installed at every village. People can recharge their electricity connections with their phones and even a recharge of Rs 50 will be allowed.

19:11 "The schedule for the electrification scheme is very tight. The target is to provide electricity to all households from Kashmir to Kanyakumari by December 2018. This is called development," says Singh.

19:08 The minister says all metered houses will get electricity by 2019.

19:05 Singh says the government is confident of meeting its electrification targets that were set in 2015.

19:03 Power minister RK Singh is now addressing the audience.

19:01 The Prime Minister has inaugurated the Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (power-for-all scheme).

18:58 Minister of State (MoS) for Power RK Singh on Friday had hinted that PM Modi was likely to make a 'major announcement' regarding the power sector on September 25.

18:52 The Prime Minister has now reached the dais and is expected to speak shortly.

18:48 The office consumes almost half of the energy consumed by normal office spaces per square feet and uses 36 percent less water per capita than normal commercial buildings.

18:40 ONGC claims that little above 76.5 percent of the occupied building space is lit by sunlight.

18:38 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now inaugurating Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)'s new corporate office in New Delhi.

In February, the State-owned oil and natural gas firm had changed the name of its newly built office from Rajiv Gandhi Urja Bhawan to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Urja Bhawan after the Bharatiya Jan Sangh politician and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue.

Today is the birth centenary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.

18:22 For more on that Economic Advisory Council, follow live updates here.

18:18 The other members of the Economic Advisory Council are Surjit Bhalla, Rathin Roy, Ashima Goyal, Ratan Watal.

18:16 The Prime Minister has constituted an Economic Advisory Council, reports News18. Bibek Debroy has been made the Chairman of this panel.

18:15 Chief ministers from 13 states, six Deputy CMs, 232 state ministers, 1,500 MLAs and 334 MPs are attending the BJP National Executive.

18:00 Modi has confirmed the announcement himself. Here's the PM's tweet: Will launch Saubhagya Yojana & inaugurate Deendayal Urja Bhawan. Programme starts at 6:30 PM.

17:58 The Prime Minister is expected to make a major announcement at around 6.30pm, possibly the launch of a new scheme for low income families.

17:45 PM said the government's competent handling of Doklam had defused the crisis, says Jaitley.

17:42 Jaitley says the economy was stable for three years and there has only been a dip in the last three months.

17:40 On criticism of demonetisation, Jaitley says those at the receiving end of anti-corruption measures are the only ones up in arms.

17:37 Defending the slowdown in GDP growth, Jaitley says the government is in the process of addressing concerns relating to the economy.

17:34 Stressing his commitment, Modi said that when it comes to corruption, he has no relatives: Jaitley

17:32 Again quoting the PM, Jaitley says there will be no compromises in the fight against corruption.

17:30 On recent criticism, he says harsh language cannot be used as a substitute for any substantial charge against the government.

17:29 The party has now become the focal point of Indian politics. The country looks towards us for its future, says Jaitley.

17:27 Jaitley quotes the Prime Minister as saying that the BJP should work towards improving the quality of life.

17:24 Jaitley says the people of the country have been turning to the BJP for change.

17:22 He says a Run for Unity will be organised on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

17:20 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is now addressing the press at the BJP National Executive.

14:50 India wants to be friends with Pakistan. That's why Prime Minister Modi left protocol to meet then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad, Gadkari said.

14:40 In a veiled reference to activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder in Karnataka, Gadkari said that the BJP doesn't support violence in any form, be it against journalists, party workers. "It is against democracy. We need to be more tolerant towards people," he said.

14:35 Next, Gadkari turned speak on border tensions between India and China. Many experts went on to predict a war between the two nations, he said, adding, Prime Minister successfully resolved the matter with peace.

14:30 Gadkari admitted that agriculture is not in a very good state. The party and the Centre hope to double farmers' earnings by 2022.

14:25 The party believes that terrorism won't be tolerated, Gadkari said. "Zero tolerance for terrorism," he added. The leader then spoke about PM Modi's statement on Jammu and Kashmir.

Na gaali se samasya sulajhne wali hai, na goli se...samasya suljhegi har Kashmiri ko gale lagane se (Neither abuses, nor bullets will bring a change. The change will take place when we embrace every Kashmiri), Modi said in a nearly hour-long Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort. Gadkari lauded the Centre's initiatives on J&K.

14:20 Gadkari lauds Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for implementing the revolutionary "One Nation, One Tax" regime with GST. The state governments and the Centre did a commendable job on GST and J&K

14:15 After Piyush Goyal's speech, the stage is set for Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The minister is expected to address the gathering shortly. Stay tuned.

13:20 The BJP will register a historic win in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, Goyal said.

13:15 Goyal also listed out the BJP government's steps to curb corruption. Demonetisation and cracking down on benami properties and shell companies are some of the big steps taken by the government, he said. PM Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu are examples of "politics of performance", he said.

13:00 Goyal also took a jibe a Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, while throwing light upon Amit Shah's comments at the national executive meet. The BJP criticises Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi's statements in Berkeley University. He had said that our country was running on dynastic politics. The BJP has always worked on "politics of performance" and the party is working for the poor. We strongly object to these statements, Goyal said.

12:55 Entire BJP will work for nation-building going ahead, Goyal added.

12:50 The national executive meeting was highly inspirational for the BJP members. PM Modi's "New India" vision and his plans for Clean India were discussed at the meeting, he said.

12:50 In his address, Railway Minister Prime Minister Narendra will launch a new scheme to provide electricity for the poor at 6 pm, says Piyush Goyal.

12:45 Targeting another clean sweep in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Bharatiya Janata Party is holding its national executive meeting in New Delhi.

The meet began on Sunday and the party's union ministers, chief ministers, MPs and MLAs attended the event.

BJP national president Amit Shah has met several state-incharges, state presidents and even state general secretaries to review party performance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address to party members later in the day.

Read More: Here's what to expect from BJP National Executive today
Men sit under a banner carrying a portrait of chief of India's Congress party Sonia Gandhi outside the Congress office in New Delhi May 16, 2014. Counting of votes began on Friday after India's mammoth election, which could usher in the most profound economic change in a generation if opposition leader Narendra Modi wins a clear mandate for his agenda to revive growth and create jobs. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3PEHK

Mark Tully has a message for Congress. The veteran ex-BBC journalist suggested the oldest party of India should draw inspiration from Gandhian model of nationalism to revive itself and it must give space to religion in its politics.

At an event organised by The Indian Express, Tully who has an experience of reporting for over 50 years in India said when Congress leaders talk about secularism, they give an impression that they are anti-religious. It should look for a nationalism with a religious colouring to it, which was a multi-faith religious colouring to it, he added.

He also expressed disappointment over Prasar Bharti for not doing [its intended] job as an independent public service provider. Tully, responding to a question about the relationship between politicians and media, said that political leaders who are not engaging with media today and are failing to do their duty.

Anyone who tries to control the media is making a huge mistake because in the end they will be hit by rumour, which is now, of course, an even more powerful weapon because (on) the social media rumour spreads like a disease, literally.

Tully put emphasis on the need of balanced news and said that he himself has been a victim of fake news.

Speaking on Indias ambition of becoming a superpower, the octogenarian said that he strongly believes Mahatma Gandhi would be horrified at the thought of India wanting to be a superpower. The idea of India finding a seat on the (UN) Security Council I think is setting your priorities completely wrong, he added.
Representative image

Delhi Police has been busy chasing drones for the last couple of weeks. There have been at least three reported sightings of drones or drone-like objects in the sky, including one in the sensitive parliament area, but the police have not been able to find any one of them.

All three sightings have been reported from three different parts of the city. Latest of them was on September 17. Delhi police security control room was informed about the sighting of a drone-like object in the Parliament area. The air traffic controller at Delhi airport was asked to check the radar but drone movements are usually not captured on the ATCs radar. However, security personnel were alerted, a Hindustan Times report quoted a CISF official.

The other two sightings were reported from Mehrauli on September 9 and Vikaspuri on September 3. In both instances, the Delhi police control room informed ATC and asked to check the radar but to no avail.

According to airport officials, each month, 6-7 cases of distractions are reported by pilots due to different objects near the airport. The police, however, have been unsuccessful in locating an object in any of the over 100 cases in the last couple of years.

The basic reason behind such dismal record most probably stems from a communication gap between security officers and the pilots. Pilots usually report the location of objects in nautical miles which the local police are not adjusted to.
A Delhi University professor has landed in trouble for his Facebook post that was derogatory to goddess Durga.

Kedar Kumar Mandal, who is an assistant professor at Dyal Singh College had made an objectionable comment on his social network account on Friday. The post, which was later removed, has created a furore.

In response to the offensive post, BJP-backed National Democratic Teachers Front (NDTF) lodged a complaint against the professor at the Lodhi Road police station.

AK Bhagi, the president of the NDTF was quoted in a Hindustan Times report saying that this is an attempt to destroy the social harmony of the society. It is unbecoming of a teacher and cannot be tolerated. NDTF has lodged a police complaint and legal proceedings should be started against him.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has also demanded suspension of the professor and called for students to boycott Mandals classes. We demand suspension of this person who has no respect for religious sentiments of Hindus as well as dignity of women. Such a person, if allowed to continue as a teacher, will only spread hatred amongst students, said Saket Bahuguna, national media convener, ABVP.

IS Bakshi, the principal of the college said that though no complaint has yet been received, he will look at the matter on Monday. Kedar Kumar Mandal has not come up with any response as yet.
The mAadhaar app which allows a user to carry Aadhaar in his or her mobile crossed 10 lakh downloads on Sunday. The app achieved the milestone in just two months of its launch.



In just 2 months 10 lakh people have downloaded mAadhaar, thus making it a very popular App among the users. pic.twitter.com/CSWnxsWwzE

 Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) September 24, 2017

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad gave this information in a tweet on Sunday.

The application was launched in July, this year. The app is currently available only for Android users. The Aadhaar card holders can download the app on their Android 5.0 (and above) phones and sign-up using their registered mobile number.

In case a mobile number is not registered with Aadhaar, cardholders may visit the nearest Enrolment Centre/Mobile Update endpoint to get it registered.

Also Read: Baby girl gets Aadhaar number in 6 minutes of birth

Using mAadhaar, Aadhaar holders can access information like name, date of birth, gender, address and photograph (as linked with their Aadhaar Number) anytime, anywhere.

Watch | How Aadhaar Will Transform India In The Future - Insight18

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Railways decided to allow mAadhaar, as proof of identity for travellers in any reserved class. "mAadhaar, when shown by the passenger on his/her mobile after entering the password, should be accepted as a proof of identity for undertaking journey in any reserved class over Indian Railways," the ministry had said in a statement.
Kamal Haasan

Actor Kamal Haasan said he plans to make a political debut early next year following the unfortunate state of affairs in Tamil Nadu following the demise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Even though, the exact date of the launch of his party is unknown, Haasan said that he is talking to various people.

I cannot commit a time but we are trying to launch (the new party) before New Year. I am talking to various people, taking advice from them. As there is no time limit, I cannot say, said Haasan, while speaking exclusively to CNN-News18.

Haasan said that his party will not be forged on the basis of either religion or casteism as he is against both of them.

There is a unique similarity among south Indian states, he said, adding that so far no national political party has made a mark in the south.

In order to resolve this perceived divide between the north and the south, he recommends a dialogue between them.

Ruling out any chances of an alliance with Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee or a saffron party, Haasan said that his cinematic rival Rajnikanth is more suited for a saffron alliance. He also indicated that he is open to joining hands with Rajinikanth, subject to certain conditions, but for now he is planning to launch his ow political party.

Though some of his heroes are communists, he said he does not belong to any political ideology and his fight is against corruption. Haasan said, if he comes to power, his first priority would be to curb corruption.

Although I am not a communist, I admire certain people who are. Some of my heroes are communists. The people of Tamil Nadu have witnessed the corruption of both DMK and AIADMK. My fight is against corruption.

Speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Haasan said, There has been no Achhe Din in Tamil Nadu. I cant talk about other states but achhe din kab aayenge?

He called himself a rationalist and steered clear of clear patriotic leanings. I love my country but it starts from my home and then from my state. There is definitely a divide between North and South India. Delhi doesnt understand Tamil Nadu, and vice-versa. Even if there is a positive move from either side, the other views it with suspicion. This is why no national party has made it [big] in Tamil Nadu, Haasan said.
India's Railways Minister Mukul Roy stands to attention as the national anthem is played during the oath taking ceremony at the presidential place in New Delhi March 20, 2012. Roy was sworn-in on Tuesday as Railway Minister to replace his party colleague Dinesh Trivedi. Trivedi quit on Sunday after his announcement of an increase in passenger fares in last week's railway budget prompted a furious response from his Trinamool Congress party. REUTERS/B Mathur (INDIA - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) - GM1E83K11ZL01

Mukul Roy, once a close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, announced that he will resign from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party. He added that he will resign from Rajya Sabha after the festival of Durga Puja comes to a close.

After his announcement, the party declared that they are suspending him for a period of six years.

Roy said, "With a heavy heart, I quit from the party." He added that he will provide his reasons only when he resigns after the Durga Puja which ends on September 30.

Since the Durga Puja fervour is very important to the people of Bengal and everybody is in a festive mood, I will disclose my reasons later when I submit my resignation, said Roy.

Media reports of a strained relationship between Mukul Roy and the party were doing the rounds as he was reported to have contacts with central BJP leaders. Roy, who was considered second in chief after Mamata Banerjee in the party was stripped of all vital posts in the past few months.

On September 17, Mukul Roy was removed from the position of the national vice-president of the Trinamool Congress party when the party restructured its internal committee. Earlier, he was also removed from the parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture.

Roy, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in March had another 8 months for his tenure to end. However, his announcement would lead to an abrupt vacancy in the Rajya Sabha.

Earlier this month, West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh had called him a "noted leader" and said that if he wishes to join BJP, his membership would be considered by the national leadership of the party.
BJP National Executive will meet in Delhi on Monday to take stock of the current political and economic situation in the country.

With the opposition parties attacking the government's poor handling of the economy, in lieu of the falling GDP and demonetisation figures, Prime Minister Modi is expected to address these issues head on. He is also expected to highlight his dispensation's "successes" in boosting transparency and curbing black money, party sources told PTI.

The day-long proceedings will start with party President Amit Shah's inaugural address to the delegates.

All party lawmakers have been invited to what is being called an 'extended executive' that will end with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's valedictory address.

In his speech, the Prime Minister is expected to dispel concerns over the economy and lay down his government's economic, political agenda.
Banaskantha: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi arrives to visit the flood affected areas of Runi village in Banaskantha district on Friday. PTI Photo (PTI8_4_2017_000158B)

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will kick-start a three-day campaign in Gujarat's Saurashtra region tomorrow after offering prayers at a Krishna temple in Dwarka, a senior party leader said.

Gandhi will visit the Lord Krishna temple after he lands at the Mithapur airstrip in the Devbhumi Dwarka district on Monday morning, senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said.

After offering prayers at the temple, Gandhi will hit the road for a tour of the Saurashtra region as part of the party's election campaign in Gujarat, he said.

"Rahul Gandhi will start his three-day road show from Dwarka in Saurashtra. He will address the public at different points and will interact with them along the way," Gohil said.

After a road show in Dwarka town, Gandhi will make brief halts where he will interact with farmers and traders before addressing a rally in the afternoon.

The party vice president will then proceed for Jamnagar town where he will make a night halt. On September 26, he will cover towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot, Gohil said.

He will interact with traders and industrialists after reaching Rajkot in the afternoon.

"He will make a night stay in Rajkot. The next morning he will cover Chotila, Jasdan, Virpur, Jetpur and other towns before concluding the campaign at Khodaldham," Gohil said.

After covering Saurashtra, Gandhi will campaign in north, central and south Gujarat at later dates as part of the party's poll campaign ahead of the assembly elections slated to be held later this year, party sources said.
Moneycontrol News

An Indian businessman travelled all the way to Singapore to get an iPhone 8 for his daughter as a wedding gift.

Mr Amin Ahmed Dholiya, 43, was the first in line outside the Apple store in Orchard Road on Thursday at 7 pm to get his hands on the new smartphone which hit the shelves on Sunday, as per a report in Singapore daily Straits Times.

When the store opened at 8 am on Sunday, there were some 200 people, including many people from Thailand, Vietnam also in the queue. Dholiya returned home last night, according to the Singapore daily.

"Foreigners have a bigger reason to queue up and buy at the Apple store here because the new devices have not yet been launched in their countries and many of them may have to buy the phones without contract even when the phones are launched back home," said Kiranjeet Kaur, a senior research manager for client devices at market research firm IDC Asia-Pacific.

The new iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus were the first major products launched at the store since it opened in May.

"I will buy two, one for my other daughter. This is my first time queueing overnight for something - I am feeling good now but it will be hard to stand all night," the businessman said on Thursday.

Apple has announced the iPhone 8 and the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus on September 12.
Representative Image

In a severe police crackdown on protesters in Benaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi, several women students were injured on Saturday as they were protesting against the authorities' inaction in a case of molestation just outside the campus premises.

A first-year student was molested by three bike-borne men outside the campus on Thursday evening. The student, who was a resident of the women's hostel was reprimanded for being outside late, rather than authorities taking action against the perpetrators.

Protesting students in BHU say that they wanted to enter the premises of the Vice-chancellor to urge him to take necessary steps to ensure women's safety. But when they tried to enter the premises, the security guards stopped them and the state police used batons to keep them out.

The incident is the latest instance of police resorting to violence to quell a student protest. Here's a look at previous incidents of police forces being brought into several renowned universities to control student agitations.

Aliah University in West Bengal

A lesser-known incident, a group of students in the Aliah University demanding the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor on allegations of nepotism and corruption were beaten up by the police and arrested on August 12, 2017.

Punjab University

The police and the students engaged in a clash as the Punjab University students were protesting against an unnatural fee hike in the University on April 13, 2017.

The police used batons to beat the students while they retaliated with stones. The fee hike for the academic session of 2017-2018 saw an increase of almost 1,000 percent in some courses.

Several students were injured and had to get medical help while many were arrested.

Pulwama Degree College in South Kashmir

Pulwama Degree College saw a violent clash between the students and the security forces on April 15, 2017.

Earlier, the students were protesting the entry of an army vehicle in the campus and resorted to pelting stones at the army vehicle. Later, an army cordon charged them with pellets, tear gas and batons. Several students were injured with severe brain damage.

Hyderabad Central University (HCU)

On 22 March 2016, police resorted to lathi-charge on a group of student protesting outside the HCU Vice-chancellor's residence demanding his arrest.

The mass protest was organised after Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula committed suicide alleging caste discrimination against the university authorities. The VC alleged that his house was vandalised by the protesting students, which is why police had to be involved. Many students were injured in the clashes.

The VC alleged that his house was vandalised by the protesting students, which is why police had to be involved. Many students were injured in the clashes.

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune

The police used batons to clear the protesting crowds at FTII as students refused to let the institute's chief Gajendra Chauhan enter the premises on January 7, 2016.

More than 20 students were arrested as there were mass protests against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan on grounds that he did not have ample qualifications to hold the prestigious post.

University Grants Commission in New Delhi

Students of various universities in Delhi including Delhi University, JNU and Ambedkar University were protesting against the scrapping of non-NET fellowship by the UGC in October 2015.

The police lathi-charged the students and detained several of them as they tried to enter the UGC premises as part of the nationwide movement named 'Occupy UGC'.

Delhi University North Campus

Police cracked down on around 500 protesters of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) with batons and water cannons as they raised many issues pertaining to their demands in the North Campus. Around 20 students were detained.

Right to hostel accommodation, free Metro/Bus pass, free wi-fi, common fee structure for UG/PG students, regularisation of teachers, and extension of date for examination forms were some of the demands listed by the students.

Jadavpur University (JU) in Kolkata

There have been three reported cases of police violence within the JU campus in 2005, 2010 and the infamous 2014 brutality which led to the escalation of the 'Hok Kolorob' movement.

In 2005, police attacked student protesters in the middle of the night as they protested against the suspension of a few fellow students due to alleged misbehaviour.

In 2010, police used batons on a student gathering demanding the improvement of university facilities.

In 2014, the police had beaten and molested several students as they were protesting against the inaction of the authorities in a case involving the molestation of a female student. As the students shouted slogans outside the Vice-Chancellor's office, police entered the premises to beat students and detained many of them.

Jawaharlal University (JNU) in New Delhi

In November 2009, police had used lathis to disperse a crowd protesting against the molestation of a female student inside the JNU campus.

Protests erupted after four outsiders entered the campus and molested the student, but police force was used when the students asked for a public apology from the alleged molesters and blocked the gate, disallowing the police to enter the campus.
North Korea, Kim Jong Un

Amid raging tension on the Korean peninsula, China on Monday asked the US and North Korea to exercise restraint and avoid provoking each other, saying it was "very concerned" over their escalating war of words.

Tensions have dramatically risen on the Korean peninsula after North Korea early this month conducted its biggest nuclear test, which its state-run KCNA news agency described as a hydrogen bomb.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have traded increasingly threatening and personal insults as Pyongyang races towards its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the US.

"Indeed, the Chinese side is very concerned about the escalation of the situation in the Korean peninsula," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here.

"We think the parties should refrain from escalating words and deeds to avoid adding fuel to the fire. Parties should not provoke each other, exercise restraint and do not vent their emotions but find way out for this issue," he said.

A way out can be found when the parties stop the provocative statements, he added.

He was reacting to statements by North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho at the UN that firing rockets at the US have become inevitable.

Trump responded with a warning, saying if the North Korean foreign minister was echoing thoughts of his leader Kim in his speech at the UN, "they won't be around much longer."

"We think the situation remains highly complex. The pressing concern is to fully implement all the UNSC resolutions concerning Korean Peninsula including the latest one," Lu said.

His comments came as experts called on China to work out contingency plans, either on its own or with Washington and Seoul in case the crisis on the Korean peninsula escalates into a conflict.

In the eventuality of a conflict, China has to grapple with North Korea's nuclear arsenal, an influx of refugees, restoration of social order, and post-crisis political arrangements on the peninsula, according to Peking University professor Jia Qingguo.

"So far Beijing has resisted the idea for fear of upsetting and alienating Pyongyang. But, given recent developments, Beijing may have no better choice than to start talking with Washington and Seoul. When war becomes a real possibility, China must be prepared," Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted him as saying.

He said that if the regime of Kim falls, most likely as a result of a US military strike, either China or the US should be ready to manage North Koreas nuclear facilities to prevent the spread of the weapons, he said.

China has put an immediate ban on imports of North Korean textiles and a tighter cap on oil supplies from next year as part of efforts to implement UN sanctions.
Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan today to face corruption and money laundering cases against him in the accountability court.

Sharif had gone to London to see his ailing wife who underwent three throat cancer surgeries.

Sharif, 67, was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers case. His wife Begum Kulsoom is contesting on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification.

The news of Sharif's return came amid rumours that he may not come back as he is facing corruption and money laundering cases.

"Nawaz Sharif is traveling back home tomorrow (Monday) on a PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) flight and will face National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references in the accountability court Islamabad on Tuesday," PML-N Senator Mashidullah Khan said.

He said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is also returning tomorrow and he too will face a NAB reference against him.

The former premier had taken the decision to return to the country reportedly after consulting his younger brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London.

Sharif's flight PK-786 is scheduled to land in Islamabad at 8 am tomorrow. On September 22, Pakistan's anti-graft body (NAB) froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members.

The Accountability Court in Islamabad has summoned Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar Awan on Tuesday.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) today displayed the summons and property attachment notices on Sharif's Lahore Jati Umra Raiwind residence.

The NAB has written to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and commercial banks requesting them that since Mr Sharif and his children and son-in-law Safdar are facing the NAB references their bank accounts be frozen.

The NAB has also written to the commissioner Islamabad, deputy commissioner Lahore, federal board of revenue, excise and tax department and the chairman security exchange commission of Pakistan regarding attaching (seizing) of the properties of the Sharif family.

The NAB has already frozen the properties of Finance Minister Ishaq in income beyond his known sources case and the accountability court has issued his bailable arrest warrants. Dar is also in London at present.

NAB has filed three references of corruption and money laundering against Nawaz Sharif and his children  Hassan, Hussain and Maryam  son-i-law Capt (R) Safdar and one against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the accountability court Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

The references are filed in connection with the investigation of offshore properties of the Sharif family members. Mr Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers case. His wife Begum Kulsoom contested on Lahores NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won on Sept 17.
The 'Big Ben' bell chimes for the last time in four years ahead of restoration work on the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Great Clock and the 'Big Ben' bell, at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls - RTS1CMWI

A suspected acid attack after an altercation between two groups left six people injured in a shopping centre in London, with police arresting a 15-year-old boy in connection with the case.

Scotland Yard said its officers had responded to an altercation between two groups of men inside Stratford Shopping Centre in east London last evening during which a "noxious substance" was thrown.

When the liquid was thrown, both groups ran from the scene and were later treated for "non-life threatening and non-life changing injuries".

As the injuries were in a number of different locations, there were initial fears that people had been sprayed at random.

Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Ade Adelekan, the Borough Commander for the local Newham area, said: "I would like to be very clear concerning this incident. What initially may have been perceived as a number of random attacks has, on closer inspection, been found to be one incident involving two groups of males."

"I recognise the lasting impact on victims of corrosive substance attacks. Our response to such attacks is continually improving through training and joint working with partners and we are working with the Home Office to explore possible restrictions around the sale of corrosive substances in conjunction with retailers and manufacturers."

Witnesses at the scene said an argument had broken out among a group of people.

An assistant manager at Burger King in the area said one of the victims had run into the fast food chain to "wash acid off his face".

Paul Gibson, Assistant Director of Operations at London Ambulance Service, said: We sent a number of resources including ambulance crews, paramedics in cars and members of our hazardous area response team.

"The first of our medics arrived within 10 minutes of the first emergency call and worked closely with our colleagues from the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and London Fire Brigade making sure patients received the medical help they needed as quickly as possible.

"We treated a total of six patients, three of whom were taken to London hospitals.

The Hazardous Area Response Team is a group of specially trained ambulance crews who provide life-saving medical care in hostile environments.
US forces carried out six "precision air strikes" against an Islamic State camp in Libya, killing 17 people, the US Africa Command said.

The command said the air strikes were conducted on Friday, in coordination with Libya's Government of National Accord, hitting a desert camp 240 kilometers southeast of the city of Sirte.

"The camp was used by ISIS to move fighters in and out of the country; stockpile weapons and equipment; and to plot and conduct attacks," it said in a statement using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State group.

The air strikes were believed to be the first in Libya by US forces since US President Donald Trump took office in January.

The last known US air strikes were carried out in early January under then-president Barack Obama, targeting two IS camps where militants were suspected of actively planning operations in Europe.

The US statement said 17 IS militants were killed and three vehicles were destroyed in Friday's strikes. It provided few other details.

"The United States will track and hunt these terrorists, degrade their capabilities and disrupt their planning and operations by all appropriate, lawful, and proportional means, including precision strikes against their forces, terror training camps and lines of communication, as well as partnering with Libyan forces to deny safe havens for terrorists in Libya," the command said.
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
Letter to editor: Gas pump politics and the election
Ever find it hard to find the right kind of movie to watch? This could fix that
There will always be arguments against indexing. If passive funds never existed, traditional fund managers would be collecting an additional $40 billion in annual fees: roughly speaking, $5 trillion held by index mutual funds and exchange-traded funds times 0.8% for actively managed funds' expense ratios.

An academic paper on the topic by four professors, Miguel Anton, Florian Ederer, Mireia Gine, and Martin Schmalz, has attracted much media attention for joining the fierce debate over passive investing.

The paper is entitled Common Ownership, Competition, and Top Management Incentives,and originates from the European Corporate Governance Institute and the University of Michigan.

The Case Against and For Index Funds

Charge One: Because index funds own substantially the entire marketplace, their managers don't care whether a particular company is successful

Response: Index-fund managers are happiest when all boats are floating. Such is likely to be the case for most large-company stock fund managers, who hold dozens if not hundreds of positions, so this point doesn't strike me as particularly profound. The professors' argument would seem to apply to all forms of professional investment management rather than merely the species of indexing. However, the claim that index managers care about industry fortunes, not the success of given companies, is surely correct.

Charge Two: Index-fund managers dont want full competition

Index-fund managers don't want their companies battling it out, so that some companies win, others lose, and consumers benefit from the competition. They seek coercive behaviour, wherein all the members of an industry quietly work together, so that overall industry profit margins are higher than they would otherwise be.

Response: As a shareholder, I want my company to maximise its profits, so that its stock price rises to the highest possible level. If it can do so by colluding with other organisations so to create an industry pricing umbrella, that is fine. I don't judge how CEOs go about their jobs; I judge the results, which makes me the same as a rational active investment manager and the same as index-fund managers.

Charge Three: Index-fund managers don't bother challenging executive compensation schemes

Conventional fund managers, who want their companies to dominate even if that damages the fortunes of other firms in the industry, desire hungry, motivated corporate managements, and they spend resources making certain CEOs deserve their pay. In contrast, index-fund managers are fine with happy and complacent CEOs.

The professors report that BlackRock, Vanguard, and Fidelity voted yes on executive-compensation proxies "at least 96% of the time".

Response: The approval rate for all other shareholders, which represent 75% of stock market assets, is 88%. If three-quarters of shareholders ratify corporate proxies close to 90% of the time, and the remaining fourth does so 96% of the time, how disruptive can that latter group be? Is that modest difference, from a minority bloc of investors, truly enough to cause a large change in CEO pay schemes?

The professors agree: circumstantial evidence shows that higher passive ownership is linked to higher executive pay. That may be correct, although any number of other factors could be at work.

Charge Four: Corporations can be too profitable

As outlined by The Economist in an article: "High profits can be a sign of sickness. They can signal the existence of firms more adept at siphoning wealth off than creating it afresh, such as those that exploit monopolies. If companies capture more profits than they can spend, it can lead to a shortfall of demand." Consumers will overpay for their goods, and income will be spread unequally and inefficiently.

Response: Until very recently, Wall Street argued that the chief flaw with American corporate managements was that they sought to build empires by boosting their revenues and employee counts rather than to emphasise profits. This criticism was joined by most academic researchers and by the business press, which argued vociferously that what was best for shareholders was best for America.



By that account, index funds are heroes rather than villains. Assuming that index funds behaved as the professors described, that means that indexers were able to accomplish what decades worth of active managers could not: getting CEOs to maximise shareholder value.

Booming Profits and and Booming Indexing

It seems to me that global economic trends outweigh the collective failures or successes of corporate executives' decisions, and that those who argue the importance of the latter do so because that subject is simpler than addressing the full truth.

The two biggest investment stories in the United States today are the extraordinarily high level of corporate profits and the boom in indexing. It is natural that people will perceive a connection between the two, but the evidence so far does not seem terribly compelling.

John Rekenthaler has been researching the fund industry since 1988. He is now a columnist for Morningstar.com and a member of Morningstar's investment research department. While Morningstar typically agrees with the views of the Rekenthaler Report, his views are his own.
Wells Fargos top executive is facing a Senate grilling next week as the bank continues to weather scandal after scandal.CEO Tim Sloan is scheduled to testify before the Senate Banking Committee Oct. 3, according to a report by the Charlotte Observer. Sloans testimony comes as the banking giant deals with the fallout of a massive scandal in which its employees opened millions of phony customer accounts. The bank has also come under fire after recent revelations that it modified customers mortgages without their knowledge or consent, and that it added unnecessary insurance to thousands of customers car loans.We welcome the opportunity to further update the committee about the progress Wells Fargo has made over the last year, Wells Fargo spokesperson Mark Folk said. Since last October, we have taken numerous important steps to fix issues, make things right for our customers, and build a better bank.Whatever its efforts, the banks problems dont seem to be going away. It was recently revealed that Wells Fargo radically underestimated the total number of phony accounts opened by its sales employees. House Republicans recently said that the $100 million penalty levied against the bank by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was nowhere near enough. And Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen called the banks scandals egregious and unacceptable and hinted that the Fed might take action against the bank, according to the Observer.Sloan will have to face questions about the scandal next week, and will hopefully fare better than his predecessor. Former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf appeared before Congress last fall and was subjected to intense grilling, the Observer reported. Shortly afterward, Stumpf resigned.Related stories:
James Durbin

Midland County commissioners today are scheduled to discuss and take action on a land donation for the southwest extension of Loop 250.

Chevron donated about 73 acres to Midland County for extending Loop 250 South from Interstate 20 to State Highway 349, according to a press release from the company. The project goal is to eventually create a route that reaches State Highway 158.
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
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The Plainview Area Retired School Personnel Association (PARSPA) met Sept. 11 at the Plainview Senior Citizens Center with co-presidents Terry Miller and Linda Murphree presiding. Forty-eight were in attendance.

Co-president Miller announced that prior to the beginning of the fall semester, the Executive Committee met and approved a gift certificate of $50 (by random drawing) to a new elementary teacher from the Plainview and Floydada campuses. The Executive Committee also approved a scholarship gift to a WBU student to help with educational expenses. Finally, Miller gave each member present "a key" with the website address for District 17 and our local association. She encouraged members to use their key -- the power to vote -- as a way to inform the State Legislature about how members feel on retirement issues.
Salata will make its debut in Pasadena on Friday, when it opens at 4531 E. Sam Houston Parkway South at Crenshaw Road. The chain offers custom salads and wraps with more than 50 toppings and 10 house-made dressings.

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and other officials will cut the ribbon at 10:30 a.m. Friday, and the restaurant will open at 11 a.m. A portion of sales at the grand opening will be donated to the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation. Kids will eat free all day, and the first 50 dine-in guests will get a free meal.
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An hours-long standoff in San Francisco came to a deadly end Sunday morning for a man holding two children and his wife hostage, when police burst through the door of his apartment and opened fire, authorities said.

The wife and two children, ages 5 and 11, were unharmed in the overnight confrontation on Russian Hill. Officials did not identify the husband, describing him only as a man in his 30s.

Investigators trying to determine what led to the shooting picked through a pile of debris outside the apartment building that included childrens toys and spent police rounds. Authorities did not say whether they had found a gun  or any other weapon  inside the apartment, although police reported hearing what they believed were shots during the standoff.

Officers responded to the building on Salmon Street, a short alley off Pacific Avenue, around 11:35 p.m. Saturday to check on a report of a domestic disturbance involving a man with a possible weapon, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a police spokesman.

Upon arrival, officers heard yelling coming from inside the apartment and within minutes they heard a shot from inside the apartment, Andraychak said. At that point, officers called in hostage negotiators and tactical officers.

Negotiators spoke to the man for several hours, but around 2:50 a.m. he stopped responding, Andraychak said. Moments later, police heard what they believed to be another gunshot from inside the apartment and, fearing for the safety of the hostages, sent in the tactical team, Andraycak said.

Once inside, officers encountered the man and shot him, police said. He was pronounced dead at San Francisco General Hospital.

The wife and children were treated at the scene and released. They were not shot or seriously injured, Andraychak said.

Neighbors on Salmon Street reported hearing the commotion throughout the night, including an explosion from a stun grenade.

A woman who asked to be identified only by her first name, Cindy, said her mother lives across from where the shooting happened at the back of the dead-end alley. She said the children sometimes played in the street, but that her interactions with the man never amounted to more than a friendly wave.

Its shocking that something like this could happen in the neighborhood, she said. The neighbors all know each other, but that family pretty much just kept to themselves.

Police homicide and internal affairs inspectors are investigating the shooting, as are the district attorneys and chief medical examiners offices.

Police officials will hold a town hall meeting in the neighborhood within the next 10 days, which is department protocol.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky
A Houston man is behind bars after being accused last week with the murder of a 38-year-old woman.

Marion Charles Goodall, 34, turned himself into authorities on Friday, according to a news release from the Houston Police Department.

He was charged Wednesday with the murder of Leticia Greer.

Goodall is being held in the Harris County jail with a $75,000 bail, according to court records.

Goodall is believed to have gotten into an argument with Greer on Tuesday in the 2800 block of Stallings. At some point during the dispute, police believe Goodall shot and killed Greer, according to the release.

Investigators believe Goodall left the scene of the gunfire in a gray Dodge truck with another man, according to the release. That man had not been taken into custody early Monday.

Goodall has a criminal record in Harris County dating back to 2001, when he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charges of evading detention and, several months later, possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.

In 2010, he pleaded guilty to the felony of assault causing bodily injury to a family member, for which he was sentenced to two years behind bars.

Most recently, in 2015, he was convicted of interfering with the duties of a public servant, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to 10 days in the Harris County jail.
Dear Mr. Premack: My husband and I owned a house together, and he had a Will leaving the house to me. He died in the late 1980s but I never went to court or anything. A few years later I got remarried, and I want the house to go to my second husband when I die. I told my kids about my intention to say so in my Will, and they arent especially happy about it (they dont much like my second husband). But I told them it is my house and Ill do as I please. Is there anything special that my Will should say in order to keep my kids from arguing?  L. T.

There are a few things that you can say in your Will, but you have a more pressing legal issue you have not even recognized. When your first husband died, he was owner of a one-half community property interest in that house. His Will may have said it would pass to you, but you never probated the Will. Consequently, under Texas law, his estate is treated as though he died intestate (did not have a Will).

Under current law, when a spouse dies intestate community property goes to the surviving spouse (so long as all legal processes are properly followed after the death). But in the late 1980s the law was different. Under the law which applied when your first husband died, his half share in the house passed to the children, not to you. Hence, you own half of your house and your children own the other half. If you tried to sell the house, a title company would reject the sale without your childrens joinder.

It is still possible, under Texas law, for you to file his Will for probate as a Muniment of Title so long as 1) the delay was not due to a legal default on your part, and 2) the heirs are all notified in advance and have a chance to object. Title to half of the house has been legally vested in the children since their father died, and probate of her Will would remove that ownership interest. Hence, they must be served with notice giving them the chance to object, or must sign an affidavit recognizing the situation and giving consent.

A similar case was decided this year (Byerley v. McCulley) in which the surviving spouse offered the Will for probate as a Muniment of Title nineteen years after his first wife died. His lawyer had advised that there was no need to notify the intestate heirs because the law that existed nineteen years ago did not require personal notice. The local court agreed, found that the surviving husband was not in default, and admitted the Will to probate.

The children appealed, arguing that the court should have applied the law as it stood when the Will was filed for probate, not as it stood when their mother died nineteen years ago. The appeals court reviewed the legislatures intentions. It found that when the law regarding notice was changed in 1999, the legislature retained the old law for anyone who died before 1999 (called a savings clause). Hence, the fathers lawyer and the trial court decided that personal notice was not necessary.

However, the appeals court took the analysis one step farther. They noted that when the same law was changed again in 2014 the legislature did not use a savings clause like they had in 1999. Because of this second change to the law without a savings clause, the appeals court decided that any new probate after 2014 must provide personal notice to all of the intestate heirs, regardless of what year the Decedent died.

So, if you want to probate the Will as a Muniment of Title, your attorney must have your children served with personal notice. If they object, the court can refuse to admit the Will to probate, leaving you as owner of only a half interest in the house to leave to your second husband. He will not be sole owner of the house but it would be his marital homestead (see various columns in my archives for more details).

Paul Premack is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with offices in San Antonio and Seattle, handling Wills and Trusts, Probate, and Business Entity issues. View past legal columns or submit free questions on legal issues via www.TexasEstateandProbate.com or www.Premack.com.
Consumer affairs advocates hope that eliminating social security numbers on the next round of Medicare cards will protect about 57 million seniors enrolled in the plan from identity theft.

Existing Medicare cards contain recipients social security number a central element of identity theft. However, as of March, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will begin issuing new Medicare cards for new and existing recipients. The social security number will be replaced with a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, consisting of 11 uppercase letters and numerals.

Medicare beneficiaries who carry their cards with them are at a higher risk of identity theft than the rest of the population, so this is a major game changer, said Connecticut Better Business spokesman Howard Schwartz in a news release. They understand the security risk and have been very clear about their desire to have their Social Security Numbers removed from their cards. The cards with the new MBI do not pose the risk of identity theft if they fall into the hands of the wrong person by theft or loss. The removal of the SSN is a helpful step in preventing the exposure of that important number.

Upon receiving the new cards, beneficiaries are instructed to destroy their old ones.

Better Business Bureau warns that scammers still may try to take advantage of the imminent changeover by posing as Medicare representatives.

To avoid these scams, the Federal Trade Commission offers the following tips:

*Is someone calling, claiming to be from Medicare, and asking for your Social Security number or bank information? Hang up. That's a scam. First, Medicare won't call you. Second, Medicare will never ask for your Social Security number or bank information.

*Is someone asking you to pay for your new card? Thats a scam. Your new Medicare card is free.

*Is someone threatening to cancel your benefits if you don't give up information or money? Also a scam. New Medicare cards will be mailed out to you automatically. There won't be any changes to your benefits.
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New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Jason Lefton of Niskayuna, an Iraq War veteran, has assumed command of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Regiment, which flies UH-60 Blackhawks, during a ceremony at Army Aviation Support Facility, Ronkonkoma.

Lefton replaced Lt. Col. Kevin Ferreira, of Rotterdam.

The battalion has elements at McArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma and at Albany International Airport. The battalion deployed to southern Iraq in 2008 to 2009 and took control of an AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter Company, and provided aviation support throughout the region supporting the 10th Mountain Division. Dubbed Task Force Jester, the team's aircrews logged 15,000 hours of flying time, conducted 1,645 general support missions, moved 47,745 passengers and transported 500 tons of cargo.

Lefton is a full-time National Guard officer. He also has civilian work experience as a fully registered representative in the financial services industry. He holds a commercial helicopter pilot license and single engine airplane license.

He earned his commission from Marion Military Institute before joining the New York Army National Guard in August 1996. He served as a field artillery officer from 1996 until 2000 when he became an Army aviator.

After Lefton trained as a UH-60 pilot, he joined the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation. Lefton is also qualified as a UH-1 and CH-47 pilot. He served as a commander of an aviation maintenance company from 2009 to 2012. Lefton has also served as the 42nd Aviation Brigade as an operations officer and the executive officer.

Lefton deployed to Iraq in 2009-2010 with the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation and deployed to Kuwait in 2013-2014 with the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade. In 2001 he deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina in support of NATO Stabilization Force.

Lefton has earned a bachelor's degree from the University at Albany and a master of business administration from the University of Phoenix.

He also is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College.

He has earned two Bronze Stars, a Meritorious Service Medal, a Combat Action Badge, a Senior Army Aviator Badge, and an Air Assault Badge.

Ferreira continues to serve the New York National Guard as a federal technician as Aviation Support Facility commander in Latham.

EOD soldiers advance

Two soldiers from Capital Region communities represented the National Guard during Army-wide explosive ordnance disposal contest at the Army's 2017 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team of the Year Competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., later this year.

Staff Sgt. Evan Putman of Charleton and Spc. Michael Wing of Albany, were selected for this honor based on their performance during an explosive ordnance disposal competition held at Indiana's Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.

The two soldiers are members of the Glenville-based 1108th Ordnance Company.

EOD soldiers are called on in combat zones when an improvised explosive munition needs to be disposed of. Here in the United States they respond to potential terrorist threats or dispose old World War II munitions.

The two competed in the U.S. Army Ordnance Crucible, which tests soldiers' teamwork and critical thinking skills as they apply technical solutions to real world problems. The Indiana event was a joint EOD competition held by the 52nd Ordnance Group and the 111th Ordnance Group.

Putman, a full-time National Guard soldier, has been an EOD specialist and a New York Army National Guardsman since 2009. When he's not acting as an EOD team leader he's the supply sergeant for the 1108th EOD.

Wing enlisted in the 1108th two years ago, but just finished up with training in April this year. Neither soldier has deployed to combat. In civilian life Wing is a code inspector.

The competitors were tested on their ability to identify ordnance and use specific EOD tools. They operated and conducted trouble shooting on EOD robots.

Judges evaluated the soldiers on their ability to identify and handle homemade explosives properly, as well as dealing with a depleted uranium munition and identifying radiation sources.

Putman and Wing had to employ X-ray devices effectively and deal with landmines and improvised explosive devices.

At the same time they were also tested on basic soldier skills such as land navigation, weapons use, troop leading procedures, tactical movement and land navigation.

News of your troops and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com.
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TROY  On Nov. 22, 2015, Noel Alkaramla worked her shift at Verdile's restaurant in Lansingburgh and asked a coworker for a ride to Third Street.

Then she vanished.

For nearly six weeks, the disappearance of the 21-year-old woman remained a mystery to her family and the searchers who scoured the Collar City and the Hudson River hoping to find her.

But someone knew her fate and, according to police and prosecutors in Rensselaer County, that person was Johnny Oquendo, a man who was married to her mother and had a history as a convicted felon and registered sex offender.

Investigators believe Oquendo, now 40, choked and murdered Alkaramla in his apartment, stuffed her remains in a suitcase and dumped the luggage in the river where it was discovered Dec. 30, 2015.

That day, the suitcase and the remains of the 5-foot-1, 135-pound Alkaramla were found near the USS Slater, a World War II-era Navy destroyer escort.

The search was over. The case against Oquendo was just beginning.

And now it will go to trial starting this week before state Supreme Court Justice Andrew Ceresia in a Troy courthouse. Oquendo is charged with second-degree murder, a felony, and concealment of a human body and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, a misdemeanor.

The defendant is being held in the Rensselaer County jail.

"Johnny Oquendo eagerly awaits his day in court," Oquendo's attorney, Assistant Public Defender William Roberts, told the Times Union on Friday. "The only evidence in this case is circumstantial evidence and we embrace that evidence because it clearly demonstrates that Mr. Oquendo is innocent."

Court papers show a macabre sequence of alleged events that prosecutors will try to tie together:

On the night she vanished, Alkaramla asked the coworker at Verdile's to drop her off about 9 p.m. somewhere on Third Street. At the time, Oquendo resided on the third floor of 170 Third St., the alleged murder scene.

Alkaramla's cell phone records show that she called Oquendo at 9:10 p.m. That night, Alkaramla was spotted standing with a man in a black jacket and dark hat fitting the description of Oquendo.

Sometime later that night, a person who lived on the first-floor of Oquendo's building heard a loud argument coming from upstairs. It was followed by a woman screaming, a thump and then silence. Residents later said they heard a loud bang in the stairwell and that they saw Oquendo  wearing a dark jacket and hat -- struggling with a large suitcase.

Oquendo, picked up on a parole violation while police were still searching for Alkaramla, was charged a year later in December 2016.

Jury selection is expected to start no later than Tuesday. It comes just months after the tragic death of Alkaramla's girlfriend, Sara Moore, 25, who took her own life in her Troy home on June 24. Her death was not considered suspicious, police said.

Roberts is now trying to get the judge to exclude prosecution evidence that includes Google Location Services. He contends there is no reason why it should be allowed to show the location of a cell phone, something potentially critical to the case.

"The manner in which Google estimates the location of a phone has not been held to judicial scrutiny in the State of New York," Roberts wrote the judge in a motion.

The judge was expected to rule on Roberts' motion before jury selection begins. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Andy Botts.

If convicted of murder, Oquendo faces 25 years to life in prison.
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MIDDLETOWN  Connecticut now has a monument honoring disabled veterans.

The first memorial specifically dedicated to disabled veterans from all branches of the military and all wars was unveiled and dedicated Saturday at Veterans Memorial Green on Washington Street.

The ceremony marked the culmination of a three-year project that began when two members of the Shea-Cedarholm-Clark Chapter #7 of Disabled American Veterans had the exact same idea in the very same instant, memers said.

In 2014, John DiMauro, chapter commander, and Thomas Goglia, adjutant, went to Washington, D.C., where they sat in the front row at the lighting of the ceremonial flame at The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. After returning home, they were driving past Veterans Green when the thought hit them, Demauro said.

We were there sitting in the front row when the flame was first lit and we were taken aback by the meaning and the sacrifice that goes into the lighting of that flame because it represents injury, loss and hope, Demauro said. And we were driving by this road right here [Route 66] and we both said, I have an idea.

The men even argued back and forth over who of them was going to say it first until finally one said they should install a monument for disabled veterans in Middletown, he told those gathered.

They began the arduous process of getting the approval from local boards, commissions and the Common Council. Once they had the go-ahead, the next step was raising enough money to build the monument, which ended up costing $42,500.

Through pasta dinners, fundraising drives at area supermarkets, at Holiday on Main, during Motorcycle Mania and the Cruise on Main, a Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce fundraise, and donations from people and the state DAV, they met their mark.

The memorial honors veterans with physical and unrecognizable disabilities, Demauro said.

This memorial represents all the disabled American veterans since 1776, the founding of our country, DiMauro said. It represents all wars and all conflicts, it represents the past, the present, and the future of all disabled American veterans and it represents all the branches of the service. I dont know, maybe you could say its perpetual.

Goglia, who was in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam conflict, said he hopes younger veterans take advantage of all the services they are entitled to receive, such as medical checkups and free hearing aids.

To me, I feel like its my duty because I made it back from Vietnam in one piece, he said of putting up the memorial. I think its beautiful. We worked three hard years for this, it was three years in the making.

The ceremony included a four-gun salute by the American Legion Post 256 color guard firing squad in Moodus.

A confident 8-year-old with a beautiful voice sang the National Anthem. Since she was asked by the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to perform at the Memorial Day ceremony in Middletown, Hazel Pufahl of Ashford has been singing at various memorial ceremonies in the city, her father Jason Pufahl said.

Hazel has three grandfathers who served in the military, her parents said. Gordon Fuller, who joined the family at the ceremony, was in stationed in Germany during the Vietnam conflict. Lyle Pufahl was in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart, and her third grandfather, Steve Mozeiko, was also in Thailand during Vietnam.

Hazel said she enjoys singing and had fun at the ceremony.

Speakers included Mayor Dan Drew, who called Middletown a leader in honoring veterans. We are fortunate to be the home for this monument, he said.

Dan Church from the Connecticut DAV compared noticeably disabled veterans with those whose injuries lie below the skin. He described a homeless man living under a bridge, unable to cope with normal life after returning from combat. You recognize the guy with the cane, but you dont recognize the guy who lost his best friend and cant get over it, he said.

Parish Kollias, a World War II Army veteran from Portland, placed the first wreath on the memorial. He was stationed in France during the war and participated in four major battles, including Battle of the Bulge. I was a sharp shooter, I could shoot and hit the target 50 yards away, he said. We liberated a concentration camp. The Germans didnt even have time to light the oven.

It was an honor for her father to place the first wreath on the monument, said Diane Bascom of Portland. It was absolutely the most incredible experience for [the DAV] to allow him the honor and the privilege of representing the DAV in such a meaningful way, she said.

DiMauro, Goglia and Jerry Augustine, senior vice commander and chaplain of the Middletown DAV chapter, designed the monument and Labbadia Monuments of Middletown built it.

This is one of the biggest jobs that we did and were proud of it, that we could honor these people and I was proud that I could be a part of this, said Sandro Labbadia.

The citys Public Works Department put in a base and is planning to add a sidewalk and make the area handicapped-accessible, according to DiMauro.
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In August, Dr. Jessica Johnson asked new teachers to Dayton ISD to be 'hometown heroes' to their students at the New Teachers Luncheon sponsored by the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. Johnson probably didn't have any idea that her words might ring prophetic just a couple of weeks before the city endured the worst disaster in its history.

Hometown heroes did surface and shine as they led their communities with shelters, water rescues, points of distribution, and efforts to make sure their own families and neighbors survived the ravages and consequences of the hurricane.

While there were many around the state and the nation who reached out to the little community of Dayton, there were also plenty of hometown heroes who risked their own lives.

"We pulled out just over 300 people in high water rescues and that's just a small part of what happened in our area," said Assistant Fire Chief David Rodgers, Dayton VFD.

"Everyone came together to help including your family members and their buddies with boats. Our community really pulled together during Harvey to help one another," he said, "and I'm glad to be a part of this city."

The Dayton Volunteer Fire Department remains one of the few remaining 100 percent volunteer departments in the area. With 32 members, the organization is always seeking more volunteers to help, particularly with day shifts.

"We just do it because we love our community," Rodgers said.

Principal Lecia Eubanks said the students are currently going through a unit from the EarlyAct FirstKnight character study that deals with citizenship.

"These people helped with clothing, food, a place to stay and in your units about citizenship, this is a perfect time to hear about those characteristics from real hometown heroes," she told the students.

Police Chief John Headrick said they worked with and helped the fire department with the rescues, and they also maintained law and order after the ordeal had passed. Headricks command staff and deputies also assisted with the POD (point of distribution) sponsored by the Faith-Building Missions ministry from North Carolina who came and assisted with food, clothing and supplies.

Pct. 4 County Commissioner Leon Wilson also worked together with law enforcement and with the groups in his area that were seeking assistance.

"We not only assisted with the police and fire departments and city crews, but we tried to make sure that the people in our precinct had water, food, and supplies to get them through this hard time," Wilson told the children.

County Judge Jay Knight said he remembered his first hurricane which was in 1961 when Hurricane Carla hit the Texas coast and caused considerable damage throughout the area.

"I remember being told three words to remember in a hurricane or disaster," he said to the fourth graders. "Don't get excited."

He told the students that there will always be someone there to help you whether it's the city, the county, the school district, your church or your neighbors.

"Some day you will grow up and be these hometown heroes who will help us all, by volunteering, to make sure your neighbors are safe too," the judge said.

"The theme for today and when we're in a disaster like the one we just went through has got to be teamwork," said Alvin Burress, a member of Dayton city council.

"We all have to pitch in to help our neighbors and even now we have a group from Dayton who is on their way to Florida to help them out with their storm," Burress said. City Manager Theo Melancon, Mayor Jeff Lambright, Mayor Pro Tem John Johnson and Patrol Sgt. John Coleman were on their to Florida with supplies and paying it forward," he said.
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After Hurricane Harvey hit the community, two Shepherd ISD teachers found other school districts across the country willing to adopt their classes.

Mrs. Keasling, an eighth-grade ELAR teacher at Shepherd Middle School, found groups on Facebook asking for classroom teachers who had been affected to fill out a form for their class to be adopted.
BRANFORD  A chair. A fishing rod. The late-summer sun glancing off the great pond known as the Long Island Sound. The heady aroma of burgers on a grill wafting through the balmy air.

It was a recipe that yielded peace of mind, as Philadelphias Larry Stephens put it on a recent Saturday, at yet another well-attended Take A Vet Fishing event at Killams Point Conference Center in Branford.

Stephens, an Air Force veteran who served stateside from 1966 to 1970, had come that morning from the West Haven VA Eastern Blind Rehabilitation Center, where he was following an intensive six-week course to gain the skills he needed to restore independence to his day-to-day life.

This is a break from the daily grind but its also a reminder of what I can still do, he said, stationed near a rocky outcropping overlooking the Sound as he waited for a fish to tug on his line.

That pretty much sums the mission of TAVF, which started as an outreach program by the First Congregational Church of Branford in 2007 as a way to engage and provide fellowship to disabled and recovering veterans.

We had 12 guys from the Blind Center on the first trip, said TAVF board member Bob Reinwald, seated among a group of convivial volunteers around a picnic table amid the lively rhythms of The Occasionally Jugless Jug Band. It was [founding member] Jeff Buggees brainchild. Our goal was 35. We had no money. In April, we celebrated our 5,000th participant.

Of course, given the numbers of disabled veterans are on a steep rise, as a report from the National Veterans Foundation shows, perhaps the surge in popularity is no surprise. Theres also evidence that the fine motor skills used in fishing can help alleviate symptoms of PTSD, according to theveteranssite.com.

For Mike Hooper of New Haven, a self-described city kid who served in the Army as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, its less about reeling in a bluefish than about the camaraderie.

Coming out here, being with other vets, it doesnt matter in what war you served or in what service, you speak the same language, you have the same common experience, he said, as he tucked into a plate of baked ziti provided by East Havens Aniellos Italian Restaurant while gulls swooped above.

The spread donated by Aniellos typifies the broad support in the region for TAVF. Likewise, the hot dogs and hamburgers barbecuing on the grill, and the salads and sides, from the First Congregational Church, a sponsor, along with Branford VFW Post 12106, of the event. Everything came free of charge. So did breakfast and dessert, as well as transportation, equipment, and whatever level of assistance a veteran might require.

To Enfields Mike Grip, an Air Force veteran who served stateside during Vietnam and has been transporting veterans from every corner of the state to the fishing sites in a Disabled American Veterans (DAV) van for years, that kind of generosity is a no-brainer. I feel lucky to give back, he said.

A lot of them dont have a car to go anywhere, he said. Just getting them out of a room in a facility where theyre staring at four walls, getting them into the great outdoors, it frees them up, makes them feel less alone.

Thats particularly true for someone suffering from PTSD, or contending with alcohol or substance abuse, or even homelessness, according to Jerry Thibodeau of Enfield, who served in the Navy during Vietnam and, like Grip, drives one of the DAV vans that gets the veterans to each event.

Some of the younger guys, you can tell when they dont want to talk, so we just leave them alone, Thibodeau said. At the very least, he added, it gets them out of the facilities and gives us a chance to show our appreciation for their service.

Branfords Don Potter, a TAVF founding member, agreed. I get more out of this than the veterans, said the 82-year-old. I get a chance to thank them for all theyve done.

To be sure, without the support of drivers like Grip and Thibodeau, and volunteers like Jim Woodworth, Reinwald said, we wouldnt be able to be what we are. They help us keep going year after year.

That was true of founding member Eddie Ochman, who died in April, and was renowned for sharing his passion for fishing, as well as assisting veterans in baiting hooks, rigging fishing gear, and helping them with snags. Its also true of all the volunteers who show up to bake cookies, serve refreshments, prepare meals, and share conversation at any of the 16 to 18 events per year.

That said, it all goes back to the veterans. Perhaps none more so than those from Vietnam, according to Mark Matthiessen, an EBRC Blind Rehabilitation Specialist. Theyre able to feel the appreciation and love that they were deprived of when they first got home.

The best part, said Joe Canzarella, assistant chief of volunteer services at the Newington VA, is that each event gives the guys something to look forward to, and afterwards, when they get back to the VA, they talk about everything they did for days at a time.

To think that all it takes is a chair, a fishing pole, and some good company.

For additional information, visit Take A Vet Fishing on Facebook or contact Jeff Buggee at 203-488-7201. Checks may be sent to First Congregational Church 1009 Main St., Branford, CT 06405. Make payable to FCCB/TAVF. TAVF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

lisareisman27@gmail.com
WASHINGTON - The Republican senators at the forefront of the latest effort to undo the Affordable Care Act plan to release a revised version of their bill Monday sending more health-care dollars to the states of key holdouts, as hardening resistance from several GOP senators left their proposal on the verge of collapse.

According to a summary obtained by The Washington Post, Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will propose giving Alaska and Maine get more funding than initially offered. Those states are represented by Republican senators Lisa Murkowski, Alaska, and Susan Collins, Maine, who have expressed concerns about the bill but have yet to say how they would vote.

The Cassidy-Graham legislation would overhaul the ACA by lumping together the current law's spending on insurance subsidies and expanded Medicaid and redistributing it to states in the form of block grants. Alaska would get 3 percent more funding between 2020 and 2026 than under current law, and Maine would get 43 percent more funding during that time period, according to a summary obtained by The Post.

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The plan was distributed among Republicans late Sunday, with party leaders just one "no" vote away from defeat and as Republican senators from across the political spectrum were distancing themselves from the prior draft.

Aides to Murkowski and Collins did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Sunday. Republicans close to the process have long counted Collins as an eventual "no," with some predicting that little could be done to the bill to change her mind.

The fresh discord over a signature Republican promise added turbulence to the start of a critical week for President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. In addition to health care, both are watching Tuesday's special-election primary runoff in Alabama, a high-stakes intraparty fight between establishment Republicans and conservatives that could set the tone for the midterm elections next year. GOP leaders also are expected to unveil their most detailed blueprint yet of tax cuts they hope to pass by the end of the year.

"Eventually we'll win, whether it's now or later," Trump said of the health-care effort Sunday as he prepared to board Air Force One to return to Washington after spending the weekend at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Collins, a moderate Republican who has opposed previous efforts that cut Medicaid and eased coverage requirements, said in a TV interview earlier Sunday that it was "very difficult" to envision herself voting for the health-care bill.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a conservative who has advocated a more far-reaching repeal of the ACA, commonly called Obamacare, said he and at least one other conservative colleague do not back the measure "right now."

And Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has stated definitively that he opposes the current measure, showed no signs of backing down without dramatic changes to the bill's core approach that probably would come at the cost of other Republican votes.

Graham and Cassidy pledged to keep trying to pass their bill - but the White House and McConnell gave differing accounts of the path ahead. White House legislative affairs director Marc Short predicted a Wednesday vote, while a McConnell spokesman declined to publicly embrace that timeline.

Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Collins cited concerns about how the Cassidy-Graham legislation would affect Medicaid recipients and people with preexisting medical conditions, among other things.

"It is very difficult for me to envision a scenario where I would end up voting for this bill," Collins said. "I have a number of serious reservations about it."

Collins voted against a repeal bill in July, and she is a key vote in the current dynamic. She said she chatted at length with Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to sway her. She said she wants to see the limited analysis due out this week from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office before making a final decision.

Two Republican senators - Paul and John McCai, Ariz. - have already said they will vote against Cassidy-Graham. A third would be enough to defeat the bill, since no Democrats are expected to support it. Republicans hold a 52-48 advantage in the Senate and can lose only two votes from their own party and still pass legislation with the help of a tiebreaking vote from Pence.

Trump said Sunday that the senators opposed to or leaning against voting for the bill, including McCain and Collins, would benefit from the block grants included in the proposal.

"Every state you're talking about, it happens to be particularly good for," Trump said.

The bill has been roundly rejected by influential national groups representing physicians, hospitals and insurers. Over the weekend, six such organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association, issued a joint statement urging the Senate to reject the measure.

While the CBO plans to release a "preliminary assessment" early this week, officials there have said they will not be able to provide estimates of how Cassidy-Graham would affect insurance premiums or the number of people with coverage "for at least several weeks." Trump and McConnell are trying to bring the bill to a vote by the end of this week to take advantage of a procedural rule allowing the plan to pass with just 51 votes.

It remained far from clear Sunday that they could get even close to that number.

Addressing Cassidy-Graham at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Cruz said: "Right now, they don't have my vote. And I don't think they have Mike Lee's either," referring to one of Utah's senators.

Cruz said that he and Lee met with Graham and Cassidy last week to propose changes to the measure that would get them to yes. Their changes were not included in the latest draft.

Conn Carroll, a Lee spokesman, said Sunday: "We want some technical changes. We are working with Cassidy, but we haven't committed to anything yet."

Graham and Cassidy appeared on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," where they defended their plan and vowed to keep up their efforts to shepherd it to passage.

"We're moving forward. And we'll see what happens next week. I'm very excited about it," Graham said.

The South Carolina Republican mentioned Collins and Paul as he made his pitch. "Rand Paul objects to the taxes," he said. "But when you look at the bill, Rand, we save a lot of money over time for Medicaid. We put a cap on Obamacare growth."

Paul said in a Sunday interview that he broadly opposes a keystone of the Cassidy-Graham plan: turning funding for the ACA into block grants for states.

"The problem I have with block grants is that looks like I've affirmatively said I'm okay with 90 percent of Obamacare as long as we reshuffle it and give it to Republican states," he said. "That's a horrible message."

Paul said he is willing to listen to suggestions about how that element of the bill could be constricted. "Would I talk to them if they said they wanted to make the block grants half as much? I might," he said.

Paul presents another challenge as well: Winning him over would probably alienate Republican senators who oppose a more aggressive repeal. That left GOP leaders no better off in their quest to secure enough Republican votes to pass Cassidy-Graham.

The proposal, which would also dramatically cut Medicaid spending over time, has drawn concerns from Republicans from states that have expanded Medicaid under the ACA. In an interview on CBS' "Face The Nation," Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., whose state expanded Medicaid, said he needs more information before he will take a position.

"I think the CBO will have a role to play in this," Gardner said. "I believe there's information that will be coming through a committee hearing on Monday and additional text changes that will add additional information."

McConnell is also keeping a close eye this week on the Senate race in Alabama, where Republican Sen. Luther Strange is trying to get past insurgent primary challenger Roy Moore, a controversial but popular former judge. Trump and McConnell both back Strange, but supporters and associates of Trump, including former chief White House strategist Stephen Bannon and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, have praised Moore.

A Moore victory would be a blow to both McConnell and Trump, who have put their powerful political operations behind Strange. Some Republicans also say that outcome would embolden conservative insurgents to challenge other Republican senators in 2018.

Also this week, the "Big Six" negotiators from the White House, the Senate and the House are expected to unveil more details of their tax overhaul plan, which, like the health-care talks, could spark messy disagreements among Republicans.

Some of the elements of the plan have already started to take shape. Republicans are targeting a corporate rate of 20 percent in their overhaul, according to three people familiar with the emerging blueprint - a number that represents a substantial cut from the current 35 percent rate but falls short of the 15 percent Trump has advocated.

But for Senate Republicans, the first order of business this week is resolving the health-care push, one way or the other. Even the bill's champions have started pondering the prospect of failure.

Asked on "This Week" what he will tell people if he comes up short, Graham responded: "That I did everything I could to get money and power out of Washington to give you better health care closer to where you live, and I'm not going to stop fighting."

He also held up the possibility of using health care as a negotiating tactic in future legislative talks.

"I'm on the Budget Committee," Graham said, adding, "we're not going to vote for a budget resolution that doesn't allow the health-care debate to continue."

---

The Washington Post's Robert Costa and Carol Morello contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans have just six more days to pass a last-ditch plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

That is very little time - and even less when you remember the bill was introduced less than two weeks ago. But this doesn't seem to matter to Republicans desperate to make good on seven years of campaign promises. They want to avoid a Democratic filibuster by passing something on health care by the end of the month, even if it means an unusually chaotic process.

The chances for the bill known as Cassidy-Graham are still up in the air as the week begins. Although some key senators have voiced concerns (Susan Collins, R-Maine), or outright opposition (John McCain, R-Ariz.), others who were expected to vote no have signaled new flexibility (Rand Paul, R-Ky.), putting the whip count back in flux. This has provided just enough hope to keep Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the White House and GOP leaders busy trying to persuade undecided senators to support the measure.

If all of it has struck you as impulsive and haphazard, you're not alone. Here are seven ways the latest health-care effort has defied legislative norms.

- The bill was released less than two weeks ago.

Republicans seemed to have given up on repealing the Affordable Care Act until about a week ago, when GOP leaders in the Senate decided to go all in on an effort to win 50 votes for Cassidy-Graham - enough to pass, as a result of the all-but-certain tiebreaking vote of Vice President Pence. Just a few days earlier, on Sept. 13, the two senators had received little attention from the media or their fellow lawmakers when they released the proposal.

If the plan does receive a vote by the end of the month, its details will have been publicly available for just over two weeks.

- The bill will have only one legislative hearing.

In a normal process, legislation restructuring the health-care system would receive months or even years of work in several congressional committees. Lawmakers would attend informational hearings about the problems health-care legislation would try to solve. They would hear from medical provider groups, patient advocates, stakeholders from the health-care industry and outside experts at every step. A bill might go through several drafts, which would receive not only hearings but markups to allow lawmakers to debate the details.

Because the Cassidy-Graham bill came about in a completely different way, it wasn't clear that it would have a single hearing until McCain and others began expressing concerns. Now, the Senate Finance Committee will meet to discuss the measure at 2 p.m. on Monday, with primary testimony coming from Cassidy and Graham.

- Between Cassidy and Graham, only Cassidy specializes in health policy.

It's unusual that such a significant bill would have only one sponsor who specializes in health-care policy. Cassidy is not only a doctor but he sits on the two health-oriented Senate committees (Finance, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions). Graham sits on neither one.

- The CBO won't provide a complete score.

Most health-care bills that receive votes on Capitol Hill come with a complete analysis from Congress's nonpartisan budget analyst. These reports are designed to help lawmakers understand the likely consequences of legislation.

In the case of a health-care bill, the Congressional Budget Office typically estimates its effect on the federal budget and deficit, the number of Americans with health-care coverage and the amount insurers charge in monthly premiums. For Cassidy-Graham, however, the CBO said it would not have time to complete its normal projections. Senators will not receive the CBO's estimates on overall coverage or premium changes until later - almost certainly after any vote that might take place.

- Cassidy and Graham plan to introduce a new version of the bill Monday.

As if the process weren't complicated enough, the bill's sponsors now plan to introduce a new version of the legislation Monday in a bid to win support from two key holdouts.

The new draft will include more funding for Maine and Alaska, home of Collins and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, respectively, who have said they want to understand how Cassidy-Graham would affect their states before they vote. Previous estimates indicated the two states would lose funding under the bill.

The release of a new version means that if there is a vote, senators will have only a few days to study the legislation.

- That version won't get a complete score, either.

If the CBO couldn't produce a complete analysis of the first version of Cassidy-Graham within a week, it follows that it won't be able to do so for the second version, either. So if there's a vote, senators will have incomplete information either way.

To make things even more complicated, Cassidy has already urged people to discount the CBO's first report because it won't reflect the bill's second draft.

"Whatever the CBO scores [are] will be superseded by another score later this week," he told ABC on Sunday. "So some of what we'll be seeing [Monday] will no longer be relevant."

Senate Republicans want to pass a health-care bill before the end of the month because that is when their ability to pass budget-related legislation with a simple majority of votes will expire. Starting Oct. 1, fiscal measures will require 60 votes to pass rather than 51, a situation that would force Republicans to form a coalition with some Democrats.

In a normal process, there would be no looming deadline, and lawmakers would not be in a rush.
"Facts have come to light that indicate that a pivotal, close election was likely changed through voter fraud on November 8, 2016: New Hampshire's U.S. Senate Seat, and perhaps also New Hampshire's four electoral college votes in the presidential election. . . . It has long been reported, anecdotally, that out-of-staters take advantage of New Hampshire's same-day registration and head to the Granite State to cast fraudulent votes. Now there's proof."- Kris Kobach, vice chairman of the Presidential Commission on Election Integrity, in an op-ed in Breitbart, Sept. 7, 2017

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The Fact Checker has kept close track of claims of widespread voter fraud, one of President Donald Trump's favorite talking points from the campaign and from the White House. Over and over again, we found little to no evidence to support his claims of voter fraud that is prevalent enough to tip elections, as he claims.

Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, is now leading the charge to investigate voter fraud in the U.S. electoral system. And he claims to have finally found the smoking gun. So of course, we checked it out.

Is there now proof that shows fraudulent votes tipped the presidential and Senate races in New Hampshire?

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The Facts

The short answer: No.

Kobach is referring to data from New Hampshire House Speaker Shawn Jasper, a Republican. According to state data that Jasper requested, there were 6,540 people who had out-of-state driver's licenses who were registered to vote on Election Day.

Among that group, 81.2 percent (5,313) had neither a New Hampshire driver's license nor a registered vehicle in the state.

That's enough people to swing close elections, Kobach wrote. He argued that the 5,313 voters "have not followed the legal requirements for residents regarding driver's licenses, and it appears that they are not actually residing in New Hampshire. It seems that they never were bona fide residents of the State."

"Those 5,313 fraudulent votes were more than enough to swing the election. If 59.2 percent or more of them went for Hassan, then the election was stolen through voter fraud. That's likely, since the surrounding states are Democrat strongholds," Kobach wrote.

Hillary Clinton won New Hampshire by 2,732 votes and Democrat Maggie Hassan won the U.S. Senate seat by 743. So in theory, 5,313 fraudulent votes would have been enough to tip both elections.

Were the 5,313 votes fraudulent? There's no evidence to support that. Kobach didn't offer support for that claim in his opinion piece, either. (His spokeswoman did not respond to our request for comment.)

Instead, Kobach misrepresented a key voting feature in New Hampshire, which allows temporary residents with out-of-state licenses to register and vote. It's a controversial provision that critics, like Kobach, view as a loophole that makes the state vulnerable to fraud.

As our friends at FactCheck.org and PolitiFact found, this comes down to the difference in definitions of "resident" and "domicile."

A "domicile" is someone who lives primarily in New Hampshire but doesn't necessarily intend to live there permanently. A "resident" is someone who intends to live in the state indefinitely. You have to be a resident in order to get a driver's license in New Hampshire. But you can vote as a domicile, even if you're a resident in another state.

You don't have to have a New Hampshire driver's license if you don't have a car. And depending on where you live in New Hampshire, you can prove your domicile status using other forms of identification than a driver's license or a state identification card.

If you can't prove your domicile status when you register, you have to sign an affidavit certifying that you are voting only in New Hampshire (as it is illegal to vote in more than one state). This provision is particularly useful for college students, who temporarily live in New Hampshire but do not intend to stay there permanently.

According to the New Hampshire secretary of state, the state sent letters to 6,033 people who signed domicile affidavits, and 458 letters were returned by the Postal Service because they could not be delivered. But there's no state requirement to conduct follow-up investigations on the 458 voters.

This doesn't necessarily mean the 458 people fraudulently voted in the elections - and even if it did, it's a much smaller scope than the 5,313 that Kobach claims were fraudulent votes.

New Hampshire is one of 15 states that allow same-day voter registration on Election Day. If they do not have adequate documentation to register, they must sign a challenged voter affidavit certifying that they are eligible to vote. From the 2016 primary and general elections, there were 1,423 people who signed challenged voter affidavits, and 129 voters have been forwarded to the attorney general for further investigation.

Further, there were 196 names that were marked as a New Hampshire voter registration checklist, but also appear to have voted in another state in the November 2016 general election. State officials are investigating the 196 cases, and there is no evidence yet that these are confirmed voter fraud cases.

---

The Pinocchio Test

Kobach claims that there are now "facts" and "proof" that show out-of-state voters took advantage of New Hampshire's same-day registration provision to commit voter fraud. That is hardly the case.

Kobach says there were 5,313 fraudulent ballots cast by out-of-state voters in New Hampshire. That is not supported by facts. New Hampshire allows temporary residents with out-of-state IDs to vote in the state, as long as they primarily live in the state. It does not necessarily mean these voters committed fraud. The state is investigating 196 people who voted in another state but were on the New Hampshire voter list. Even if all 196 people were confirmed as fraudulent cases, it would not be enough to tip the outcome of either the Senate or the presidential race.

Words like "facts" and "proof" actually mean something - everything, really - to us at The Fact Checker. We award Four Pinocchios.

Four Pinocchios
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Berlin

Angela Merkel won a fourth term as chancellor in elections on Sunday, placing her in the front ranks of Germany's postwar leaders, even as her victory was dimmed by the entry of a far-right party into parliament for the first time in more than 60 years, according to preliminary results.

The far-right party, Alternative for Germany, or AfD, got about 13 percent of the vote, a significant showing of voter anger over immigration and inequality as support for the two main parties sagged from four years ago.

Merkel won, and the center held, but it was weakened. The results made clear that far-right populism  and anxieties over security and national identity  were far from dead in Europe.

They also showed that Germany's mainstream parties were not immune to the same troubles that have afflicted mainstream parties across the continent, from Italy to France to Britain.

"We expected a better result, that is clear," Merkel said Sunday night. "The good thing is that we will definitely lead the next government."

She said that she would listen to those who voted for the AfD, and work to win them back "by solving problems, by taking up their worries, partly also their fears, but above all by good politics," she said.

But her comments seemed to augur a shift to the right and more of an emphasis on controls over borders, migration and security.

Despite her victory, Merkel and her conservatives cannot rule alone, making it probable that the chancellor's political life in her fourth term will be substantially more complicated.

The shape and policies of a new governing coalition will involve weeks of painstaking negotiations.
Angela Merkel's political bloc is starting to draw lessons from its electoral losses to the Alternative for Germany party as pressure mounts for the chancellor to win back voters lost to the populist right.

Merkel's Christian Democratic Union-led bloc met in Berlin on Monday in the wake of its defeat of the Social Democratic Party while falling to the worst result since 1949. "The chancellor's nightmare victory" was the verdict of Germany's best-selling Bild newspaper.

The result saw a hollowing out of support for the two main parties and a surge for the anti-Islam AfD in a clear rebuke to Merkel's open-doors refugee policy. While there are echoes of the anti-immigration debate current across Europe and in the U.S., where President Donald Trump's administration added three countries to a proposed travel ban that opponents say is directed at Muslims, the AfD is still a long way from exercising power in Germany.

The bigger issue for Merkel, 63, is forging a coalition to allow her to govern in Europe's biggest economy over the next four years. With the Social Democrats opting to go into opposition and not renew their coalition with her bloc, Merkel's options appear limited to a three-way alliance with the Greens and Free Democrats that is untested at national level.

Daniel Guenther, who has presided over the same three-way hookup in Schleswig-Holstein state since the summer, said the hurdles to forming such a coalition at federal level are higher.

"There are a few topics where we're far apart: security, integration, refugee policy," he told reporters as he arrived for the CDU meeting. As a result, "it's not a given" that it'll work, he said.

Merkel's CSU Bavarian allies, vocal critics of her refusal to set an upper limit on migrant arrivals policy during the refugee crisis of 2015-2016, urged the chancellor to shore up her right flank to stop support bleeding to the AfD. After losing votes to the AfD in its home state, the CSU will be "prickly" in coalition talks, "as will the resurgent FDP and the left wing of the Greens," said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg.

"Coalition talks will be difficult, they always are," he said. "But Merkel is good at bridging such differences."

The parties are regrouping after Sunday's surprise election delivered victory for Merkel but raised question marks over her fourth-term agenda. The euro declined on the prospect of prolonged coalition talks, with six parties poised to enter the lower house, the Bundestag, for the first time since 1953.

For all their ideological differences, both the Greens and Free Democrats want to be in power, so they "will make an effort to agree," Famke Krumbmueller, a partner at political-risk consultancy OpenCitiz, said by phone. "If that fails, then the only option would be with the SPD. That would force their hand, since the only other option is a new election."

Forging a coalition that enables Merkel to govern is likely to take months. Once a government is in place, she will face huge global expectations -- from shoring up the euro area together with France, to setting Europe's tone in its dealings with Trump, and tackling the diesel-emissions crisis that threatens Germany's dominance in producing luxury cars.

Domestically, she will face a noisy opposition in the AfD. It immediately fell into a bout of infighting on Monday morning, with its co-chairwoman, Frauke Petry, announcing that she won't be part of the party's caucus.

Founded as an anti-euro party opposed to financial bailouts for Greece and other southern European nations, the AfD narrowly missed out on Bundestag seats four years ago. With new leadership and a campaign focused on immigration -- the party demands shutting the border to new asylum seekers and calls Germany's Muslim minority "a great danger to our state" -- it succeeded in tapping into a well of discontent with Merkel's policies.

The U.K. Independence Party and France's National Front congratulated the AfD on its success in entering the Bundestag. Petry shared a stage earlier this year with National Front leader Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders of the Dutch Freedom Party. But where Le Pen and Wilders were defeated in their attempts to win power, the AfD is destined for opposition, since no other party will work with them.

"I'm sure that we don't need a lurch to the right," Julia Kloeckner, a member of the CDU's executive board, told reporters in Berlin. "We need to address the topics that concern voters in the center of society."

---

Bloomberg's Birgit Jennen contributed.
One person was killed and seven others were wounded when a gunman opened fire Sunday at a church in Antioch, Tennessee, near Nashville, officials said. Police said the gunman, who shot himself, was in custody.

About 50 people were in the church at the time of the shooting, which was reported at 11:15 a.m. Central time as services were ending, police said.
Inservice meetings specialize in Truth. Anyone who disagrees or expresses any doubts is branded afraid of change.

Dont be afraid, they tell us. Its a new paradigm.

Im not afraid of change. Im afraid of bad change. Im against bad paradigms. Im also not fond of experts whose research-based Truths repeatedly prove not to be true.

For years, experts charged that traditional K-8 elementary schools were relics of the twentieth century factory model that didnt suit early adolescents unique nature. Now a majority of studies indicate that placing sixth through eighth graders in dedicated middle school buildings is exactly the wrong thing to do. Students who didnt attend typical middle schools did significantly better on GPAs and standardized math and reading tests.

In addition, a recent New York study concluded that the 6-8 middle school configuration actually intensifies bullying. The academic and social drawbacks are real and significant, affecting both academic achievement and the student experience.

While school transitions are stressful, the transition from elementary to middle school is harder on students than the eighth grade transition directly to high school. Students making the extra transition via middle school typically experience higher rates of bullying, math and reading achievement declines, and higher absenteeism rates. In short, 6-8 middle schools, supposedly created to meet the unique needs of early adolescents, are not as healthy an environment for early adolescents because their students are all close to the same age.

Since transitions are stressful, you might be wondering why middle school proponents went out of their way to manufacture an extra transition at precisely the age when it would be most stressful. I dont have an answer, and Ive sat through thirty years of middle school indoctrination.

At one workshop, presenters posted the objections teachers usually raised. Whenever somebody dared to object, the workshop leaders pointed to one of the posters and shrieked, Killer phrase! Killer phrase!

Im not kidding.

Now many of those killer phrases are the new gospel. The new ideal configuration, kindergarten through eighth grade, would make my grandmother feel right at home.

Honor thy middle school isnt the only commandment from educations Mount Sinai thats been subject to recall. Learning styles theory traces its origins to the 1970s. Disciples claim learners can be classified according to their learning style. Teaching students according to their particular style will allegedly result in improved learning.

Proponents have developed over seventy learning styles models, complete with diagnostic instruments. Inconveniently, a recent study circulated by the National Institutes of Health presented the scientific consensus that theres no evidence to support the use of learning styles.

Researchers agree most strongly that the basic theory of learning styles is conceptually flawed. In fact, the consensus regarding the theorys weaknesses and harms is so broad that what education experts touted for decades as best practice has been redesignated the learning styles myth by psychologists and neuroscientists.

In science circles its been a myth for almost two decades. Related neuromyths include the widely accepted fictions that individuals learn better when they receive information in their preferred learning style, that students are either left-brained or right-brained, and that each childs learning style is dominated by particular senses.

One investigator found only very limited evidence that learning styles exist or that they can reliably identify differences in learning needs. She determined its unhelpful to assign learners to groups or categories on the basis of a supposed learning style. Another flatly stated there is little evidence for the benefits of matching teaching style to a preferred student learning style. A psychology professor currently serving on the National Board for Education Sciences concurs that students alleged learning styles dont count for anything in accounting for task performance.

Studies purporting to document learning styles large impact on achievement have been shown to be based on flawed methodology. Actual impacts are generally low or negative. While learning styles are championed by a wealth of education experts and enjoy the backing of a handful of enterprising educational gurus, the theory is backed by weak or altogether absent science. Very few guru-cited studies even used an experimental methodology, and those employing an appropriate scientific method typically contradicted the theory.

Learning styles is collectively described in research literature as a disproved, harmful treatment that wastes teaching and learning time, has not convincingly shown any major benefit, and has no place in education theory and practice.

Nevertheless, school districts have spent fortunes on learning styles materials and guru-led professional learning. As a result, three fourths of American teachers still operate under the illusion that learning styles is a valid instructional method. Theyve been promised for decades that learning styles make learning easy and that making learning easy will increase learning.

Unfortunately, neither premise was ever true.

And what was once Truth has become a myth.

Again.

You might think that having been so colossally wrong about these two sample truths, as well as so many others, might temper education experts arrogance as they impose their latest bright ideas.

It hasnt. Theyre just as wrong, just as arrogant, and just as inclined to browbeat dissenters when it comes to proficiency-based education, standards-based grading, trauma-informed schooling, and every other current passing fad.

The prophet Jeremiah lamented that his wayward people werent repentant enough to be ashamed. He could have been talking about education experts.

They dont know how to blush either.

Peter Berger teaches English in Weathersfield, Vermont. Poor Elijah would be pleased to answer letters addressed to him in care of the editor.
The revised Republican health-care bill that senators plan to unveil Monday would partly even out wide gaps between states that would win and lose financially, providing more generous funding to states of some reluctant GOP lawmakers, but would give states less freedom to unwind federal health insurance rules.

The new version of the Cassidy-Graham legislation eliminates what had been one of the measure's most controversial features, which would have enabled states to get federal permission to let insurers charge higher prices to customers with preexisting medical conditions. In addition, states now would not be able to allow health plans to impose annual or lifetime limits on coverage, as the original bill would have done.

While still giving states block grants for their programs and much more freedom to create their own rules than under the Affordable Care Act, this second draft of the plan would be less punitive financially than the first one for states that have most significantly expanded their residents' access to insurance under the 2010 law.

The plan update emerged late Sunday after its chief sponsors, GOP Sens. Bill Cassidy, La., and Lindsey Graham, S.C., worked through the weekend on changes designed to both bolster support on the right and win over a handful of centrists who have been balking.

The latest version would steer more money to states with key senators in a few ways.

One provision would direct $500 million in funding to states like Alaska that have been granted waivers under the ACA's Section 1332. That section aims to give states more flexibility in implementing the law, in order to set up a reinsurance program to help lower premiums on a state's individual insurance market. With this provision included, Alaska will get to keep the federal funds it has been slated to receive.

Another part of the revised bill would give one-fourth of a $6 billion contingency fund to states with the lowest-density population - Alaska among them.

Separately, the law provides $750 million for states that expanded Medicaid after Dec. 31, 2015. That language means additional financial assistance for Montana and Cassidy's home state of Louisiana.

Another addition to the plan, perhaps intended to appeal to another skeptical Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, would require states to demonstrate that their health-care rules meet several federal standards, including parity for mental health care, reconstructive surgery after mastectomies and minimal hospital states for newborns, among others.

To even out the checkerboards of winners and losers among states, the bill's new version substantially revises the formula that would determine the allotment of money through block grants starting in 2020. Among other changes, the revision would spread the change over a decade, rather than the original half-dozen years.

Two of the states that now would fare the worst, Oregon and Minnesota, would lose 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively, of their federal funding between 2020 and 2026 relative to the current law. The two states have only Democrats in the Senate and in the governor's mansion. It is a topic that is likely to come up on Monday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the bill; Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is the panel's ranking member.

The revised Cassidy-Graham legislation doesn't change the total sum the federal government would spend on the block grants from 2020 to 2026. Instead, it tries to smooth over the formula of how the money would be distributed in an effort to put the states on a more equal footing.

Independent analysts had estimated a wide variation in block grant funding that states could get under the initial version of Cassidy-Graham: Mississippi would get 148 percent more relative to current law, while New York would get 35 percent less, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The range in state funding would now be narrower. South Dakota would see the largest funding increase at 88 percent, Oregon the greatest decrease.

The latest version notably retains more funding for states represented by key holdout senators. Kaiser had estimated that Maine would get 8 percent more under the initial Cassidy-Graham; it would get 43 percent more under the revised bill, according to the state-by-state summary.
Five minutes in the life of a guppy, in the terrible spring of 2015:

You're swimming around with your friends in a tank. You've been here for days. Food falls from the sky. Everything is fine.

Then suddenly, you're netted up and dropped into an alien world, all alone, just you and the glass.

You panic at first, but in time your courage returns and you investigate. Glass wall; glass wall; glass wall; glass wall. A scrap of plastic on the aquarium floor provides the only scant shelter. Hmm . . .

Splash! A huge beak crashes into the water. If you knew what the University of Exeter was, you might wonder how a heron even got inside. Instead, you just cower under the plastic and wait for death.

But the beak does not return, and you peek out after a minute or so, and soon the net delivers you back to familiar surroundings. Food and friends again. The terrible memory fades, and life returns to normal.

For three days.

Then the net again, and the same strange tank of terror. Again and again and again - for you are a guppy in Tom Houslay's lab, and he wants to understand the very core of your being.

The fish could have been any one of the 105 Trinidadian guppies that Houslay's team at Exeter's Penryn campus subjected to regular doses of fear two years ago, in an effort to determine whether they had personalities.

It turns out they do, of a sort.

According to the team's study, published Monday in the journal Functional Ecology, each fish demonstrated a unique response to stress - which they endured every three days in the form of a pulley-rigged lawn-ornament heron named "Grim," or a predatory cichlid suddenly revealed on the other side of the glass.

"Some of them go straight to the shelter," said Houslay, an evolutionary biologist and the study's lead author. "Some just stop moving, maybe hoping they won't be seen. Some rush to the side and just swim up and down trying to escape."

This may not surprise anyone who's kept an aquarium, but Houslay's team went much farther than your average fish gazer. They injected color-coded polymers under the scales of the guppies, which were randomly selected from a population that grew up at the university - descendants of the wild inhabitants of the Aripo River in Trinidad.

The researchers filmed, timed and analyzed each fish as it coped with the horror of Grim or the cichlid, nicknamed "Big Al."

By measuring how long each guppy stayed hidden, frozen or otherwise panicked, the researchers determined that some fish were naturally cowards, and some were relatively brave.

And that wasn't a fluke. The guppies kept proving their cowardice or braveness in repeat tests - every three days for four weeks.

"We see quite complex strategies; more complex than we thought," Houslay said. "The variation isn't just random. There's something more meaningful going on."

In other words, all those little apparently identical fish, who all grew up in the same cushy lab tanks, nevertheless developed unique character traits.

Not as complex as ours maybe, but the fish are all individuals. And that's important to the study of evolution.

Scientists have long known about such differences in other animals, Houslay said - from chickadees to prawns.

But guppy personalities hadn't been studied well, he said. And the species make especially useful subjects for evolutionary biologists because communities mature rapidly and - in their native Trinidad - face vastly different environmental challenges depending on what type of predators live in their particular stream.

Before Grim and Big Al came along, Houslay said, only basic research had been conducted into guppy individuality.

Now that he knows they have personalities, regardless of where they grew up, Houslay wants to know if braveness and cowardice are passed on genetically, from mother guppy to guppy son.

So his team is breeding the next generation of test subjects - a sprawling family of brother and sister and half-sibling guppies, who will all face their own stress tests.

As for the 105 subjects who faced Grim and Big Al, Houslay said, they all went back to their home tanks "to live happy lives again."
As President Donald Trump's tweets over the weekend illustrated, the commander in chief has a lot on his mind.

Trump, however, does not appear to be paying a ton of attention - at least publicly - to one of his bread-and-butter issues: trade. But a key ruling last week in the energy sector could produce tariffs on foreign solar panel-makers, driving a big wedge in the industry as Trump needs to decide whether to apply his "America First" motto to renewables. (There would also be less - or more expensive - solar panels for the building of the border wall that Trump has said he would like to power with the energy source).

On Friday, the International Trade Commission voted in a 4-to-0 decision that cheap solar cell imports were unduly hurting U.S. manufacturers. This year, Suniva and SolarWorld Americas, two solar panel makers respectively owned by German and Chinese firms but based in the United States, petitioned the commission for relief as imports of solar cells "have unexpectedly exploded and prices have collapsed."

The ruling puts Trump in a political bind: it could potentially allow him to impose tariffs on China, a favorite nemesis on trade. But it would punish the U.S. solar industry in the process.

The two companies who petitioned the ITC are, naturally, happy to see their complaint move forward. "We brought this action because the U.S. solar manufacturing industry finds itself at the precipice of extinction at the hands of foreign market overcapacity," Suniva said in a statement.

But much of the rest of the U.S. solar industry - which includes not just manufacturers but rooftop installers and solar farms that benefit from low-cost panels - is not pleased. Although solar power accounts for only about 1 percent of U.S. electric generation, cheap solar cell prices - coupled with a federal tax credit that will begin to be phased out in 2020 - are fueling a U.S. solar energy boom. The abundance of cheap foreign panel in the United States has encouraged homeowners and businesses to install rooftop units and power companies to invest in utility-scale solar farms.

The largest solar trade group in the nation, the Solar Energy Industries Association, has called the petition "deeply flawed." After the commission's decision, Abigail Ross Hopper, the solar association's president, said, "This is a case about two companies who are bringing a petition about which almost the entire rest of the solar industry is in agreement in opposition."

The commission has until Nov. 13 to draft recommendations, after which the White House has 60 days to accept or reject the proposal. If the commission and the president acquiesce to Suniva's request, the effect could be drastic.

"Suniva's petition asked for a 40-cent-a-watt tariff on solar cells and a 78-cent-a-watt floor on module prices," The Washington Post's Chris Mooney and Steven Mufson write. "Moody's said that would 'virtually double the cost of panels.' "

The renewable energy business has gained some unexpected allies in the solar tariff fight. The conservative Heritage Foundation argues that "neither subsidies nor tariffs will make the solar industry more competitive in the long term." Two Republican governors - Brian Sandoval (Nevada) and Charlie Baker (Massachusetts) - worry about the "devastating blow" a tariff would have on their states' burgeoning solar industry.

There's even a national security argument being marshaled against a potential tariff. A group of retired military men and women who worked in building Defense Department energy infrastructure wrote a letter to the commission expressing their "deep concern" higher panel prices will have on "financial viability of planned and future solar investments on or near domestic military bases."

But for Trump, the commission's decision presents a rare opportunity for him to penalize two of his favorite punching bags - China and Mexico, which was also named in the ITC ruling and exports solar panels - without Congress getting in the way.

Even when many forces weigh against a decision (see: Paris climate agreement), Trump has proved again and again that Trump will be Trump. And it's that populist instinct that has most of the U.S. solar industry worried.
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Citizens of eight countries will face new restrictions on entry to the U.S. under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Sunday.

The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, will go into effect on Oct. 18.

The restrictions range from full travel bans on nationals from countries like Syria to more targeted restrictions. A suspension of non-immigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela, for instance, applies only to senior government officials and their immediate families.

The announcement comes the same day as Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries is set to expire, 90 days after it went into effect. That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the U.S.

"As President, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," reads the proclamation.

Officials stressed that valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers

The restrictions are targeted at countries that Department of Homeland Security officials say refuse to share information with the U.S. or haven't taken necessary security precautions.

"The acting secretary has recommended actions that are tough and that are tailored, including restrictions and enhanced screening for certain countries," said Miles Taylor, counselor to acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, said Friday.

Unlike Trump's first travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges, officials said they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.

The restrictions are based on a new baseline developed by DHS that includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information and share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories. The U.S. then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

The eight countries are those that refused or were unable to comply.

Trump last week called for a "tougher" travel ban after a bomb exploded on a London subway.
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San Antonio residents would no longer be able to tether their dogs with chains or leave them tied up outdoors unless the dog has shaded shelter and clean water, under proposed changes to the citys animal ordinance.

If tethered, a dog would need to have 150 square feet of unobstructed space. The tying device could not weigh more than 1/10th the animals weight. Additionally, dogs in heat, puppies, sick or injured animals could not be tethered.

Animal Care Services officers also would have expanded authority to impound animals in cases where theyre sold at unauthorized sites and in cases where their owners repeatedly violate permit or spay/neuter requirements.

In addition, officers would have the authority to cite residents for repeatedly noisy dogs. Thats defined as dogs who can be heard from 100 yards away or inside a home, and barks continuously for at least 20 minutes on two separate occasions.

Other changes involve increasing the number of fowl a San Antonio resident can keep at home from three to eight, but only one could be a rooster. Additionally, each chicken would have to have 6 square feet of space in the coop.

The San Antonio city council is expected to vote on the changes at its Oct. 5 meeting.

In presenting the proposal to the council last week, Animal Care Services Director Heber Lefgren noted it was based on input gathered from the public over eight months at community meetings and via an online survey. ACS said 1,073 surveys were completed.

The community expressed that more changes were desired, Lefgren said.

The ACS director said if approved, there would be a grace period and educational outreach for the updated ordinance requirements from October through February. The changes would go into effect March 2018.

Other proposed changes involve dogs deemed by a judge to be dangerous/aggressive. The ordinance as written now requires owners of those dogs to have a special permit, post warning signs on the property and muzzle the dog in public.

Under the new ordinance, owners also would have to attend a responsible pet ownership class and wouldnt be able to transfer ownership of the animal to anyone else. And the animal would have to be spayed or neutered before its returned to the owner.

Much of the public input involved proposed changes to the rules governing poultry.

The main areas of disagreement included the number of allowable hens a resident could own. Currently, the ordinance allows a resident to own three fowl.

Lefgren said ACS had conferred with the Food Policy Council that supported increasing the number of fowl to eight and listened to the call for change based on feedback from the public and the backyard chicken owner community.

District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran inquired about the recommended area of space for eight fowl.

Is there any space requirements for that? she asked.

Lefgren said that under the revised code, a resident would need a coop that allows 6 feet of space per bird.

Another modification to limits includes requiring 450 square feet of unobstructed space per dog for an excess animal permit.

Recommended changes for spaying and neutering include surgeries for repeat violators, animals roaming on a leash and animals found without a litter or a sellers permit.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg asked Lefgren to clarify the term roaming on a leash. Lefgren defined it as a pet that has a leash thats not attached to a person.

Councilman Rey Saldana questioned how ACS would handle barking dogs at night and whether a resident could call to report someone.

Lefgren said the ordinance would cover a three to four month period. ACS officers would talk to neighbors and collect evidence before issuing a citation.

This is not a recommendation to say, if a dog barks once well be out there, Legren said. This provides an additional tool to help the community.

At the presentation, city manager Sheryl Sculley noted that ACS impounds more than 30,000 pets each year. She said that with support from the city council and community partners, the citys current live release rate is 91 percent as compared to less than 10 percent a decade ago.

She said that over the years, the city has updated its strategic plan, which was prepared with input from the public, the ACS advisory board, and local nonprofits. The plan focuses on enforcement, controlling the pet population through spay/neuter services, increasing the live release rate and community education and engagement.
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AUSTIN  A protester arrested at a rally against Confederate monuments here Saturday had lunged at a state trooper, hitting him in the knees and knocking him down, before getting tackled by other officers, according to an arrest affidavit.

Andrew Alemao, 29, was one of two protesters arrested at the rally outside the Capitol. Though initially charged with felony assault of a peace officer, the Department of Public Safety is revising the charge to a misdemeanor after a review of the evidence, a department spokesman said. Another protester, Angelica Clark, 24, was charged with interfering in Alemaos arrest.

More than 100 people were at the rally to demand removal of three Confederate monuments from the Capitol grounds. But in the face of a large police presence, including dozens of officers on foot, bicycle and horseback, the protest took on an anti-law enforcement tone.

Brawls erupted near the end, when a bystander grabbed a bullhorn from a protester and began to thank the police, prompting a scramble to get the microphone back.

As troopers escorted the bystander away, other officers sought to create a barrier, which is when Alemao began to kick, push and pull away a police bicycle holding the line, according to the affidavit.

Alemao ran 30 yards when a trooper tried to detain him, then turned and lunged at the pursuing trooper, hitting him in the knees and knocking him over, the document states.

When Alemao was tackled by another trooper and pinned to the ground, he resisted arrest until another trooped pulled out a Taser and threatened to use it, the affidavit states.

Alemao, of Iowa City, Iowa, also faces charges for interfering with public duties and evading arrest, both misdemeanors.

Clark was arrested after she grabbed an officer and tried to pull him off Alemao, the affidavit said.

The documents made no mention of what the DPS called a minor injury Alemao sustained during the arrest for which he was treated at a hospital. A photo published on the Austin American-Statesman website showed Alemao being escorted off the grounds with blood on his forehead.

Alemao declined comment Monday, but his girlfriend Michelle Molnar said he was released from Travis County Jail late Sunday.

Molnar said no one planned for the protest to end in a scuffle.

It was all reacting to what was going on, she said. We really thought we were going to have a nice protest in the sun and nothing was going to happen.

amorris@express-news.net
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A San Antonio-area pilot, fresh off his trip around the world, is taking his small plane "Spirit" on another mission to help hurricane victims in the Caribbean.

Brian Lloyd, 63, conceived with his father the idea to fly around the world on the same path Amelia Earhart took before she went missing 80 years ago, Lloyd told mySA.com. In Paris, the two chatted about the idea back in 1985. Years passed, and Lloyd's father died in 2012.

"I'm not getting any younger," Lloyd, who lives in the San Antonio-area, thought to himself.

It took 66 days and 220.1 hours of flying his plane, the Spirit, to get Lloyd from Spring Branch, on San Antonio's far North Side, around the world and back to Oakland, California. Earhart was supposed to finish her journey in Oakland, too, but she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean.

Conspiracy theories have swirled for years about what happened to Earhart, including that she made it to an island or was captured by the Japanese, but Lloyd isn't convinced by any of them.

He thinks she probably went down in the ocean.

The pilot landed home in Spring Branch on Aug. 4, after more than two months alone in a plane.

"Kind of like John F. Kennedy said, we don't do it because it's easy, we do it because it's hard. (Earhart's) route is probably the most difficult. I figured if I was going to do something, I should do what's difficult," he said.

Now that he's completed one difficult journey, he's embarking on another.

Lloyd is taking his small plane to the islands of Dominica and Martinique, bringing communication supplies and an avenue off the ravaged area following Hurrcanes Irma and Maria.
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An appeals court Monday allowed the state of Texas to implement part of a law that punishes counties who dont honor immigration detainers.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday issued an emergency stay of the ruling by a San Antonio federal judge that halted penalties for local jails that dont honor requests by immigration authorities to hold people suspected of being immigrants subject to deportation.

The appellate court was ruling on a request by the state for an emergency stay against U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcias ruling temporarily blocking parts of the law. The immigration detainer portion of the law can now take effect until a hearing scheduled for Nov. 6 on an appeal of the injunction itself.

Jose Garza, a San Antonio lawyer representing El Paso County in the lawsuit against Senate Bill 4, said the Fifth Circuit allowed the state to punish counties that have a blanket policy to not honor immigration detainers. After reading the ruling shortly after it came out Monday afternoon, Garza said he thinks it allows local jails some leeway about when they honor detainer requests.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar has said he honors detainer requests. Travis County has a policy only honoring some requests, which has put it at odds with state officials.

There is no jurisdiction that I know of with a blanket policy, Garza said.

The court left in place other parts of Garcias injunction against provisions of SB4 that would have punished local governments and officials who materially limit enforcement of immigration laws by local police and endorse policies that limit enforcement of immigration laws.

The judges wrote that they find no significant injury to the plaintiffs, who include civil rights groups, the city of San Antonio and the city of El Cenizo, if the provisions about honoring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers take effect. If theyre enjoined, we do find irreparable injury to Texas, the three-judge panel in New Orleans wrote.

We are pleased todays 5th Circuit ruling will allow Texas to strengthen public safety by implementing the key components of Senate Bill 4, Attorney General Ken Paxton said. Enforcing immigration law helps prevent dangerous criminals from being released into Texas communities. I am confident Senate Bill 4 will be found constitutional and ultimately upheld.

SB 4 was passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year. It was challenged by cities and counties across the state. After a hearing this summer, Garcia enjoined most of the law on Aug. 30, the day before it would have taken effect. He left in place penalties for officials and governments that prevent police from asking about immigration status.
Police have identified the man and woman found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide last week in a far Northwest Side home.

Angie Maria Garcia-Ellison, 42, and Baldwin Scottie Ellison, 51, were both found dead around 7 p.m. on Friday inside a home in the 5700 block of Stone Village.
U.S. 281 just north of Sonterra was closed in both directions Sunday evening after a three-vehicle crash left one person in critical condition. The highway has since reopened.

The wreck occurred around 6 p.m. when a pickup truck hydroplaned and spun out of control into northbound traffic, police said.
Yolanda Victoria Dondi Kolarik knew how to make an entrance. Although suffering from health problems throughout her life, that didnt keep her down.

She loved her husband, family and feline family members alike. She enjoyed good Sicilian food and quiet evenings watching Star Trek: Voyager with her husband, San Antonio Express-News senior copy editor Robert Kolarik.

Dondi Kolarik died Sept. 13 at 63. She preferred Dondi because it was a family nickname and she didnt like people mispronouncing her given name.

She was a highly intelligent, well-read person. At only 5-(foot)-3, she was a larger-than-life character, Robert Kolarik said. Dondi was outspoken, but not to the point of being bombastic.

He added, She would say stuff that most people would usually get fired for, but people would just accept it from her.

Dondi Kolarik grew up in Iowa and would help her father to set up conduits on grain elevators with her other siblings, so she was not afraid of heights, her husband said.

A childhood fever affected her memory, and as an adult, she began using an alphabet system she had read about that helped her recall certain things, Robert Kolarik said.

In high school and college, she worked part time as a fashion model for several department stores. She earned associate degrees in art and telephony from Des Moines Area Community College.

More Information Yolanda Victoria 'Dondi' Kolarik Born: Sept. 7, 1954, Des Moines, Iowa Died: Sept. 13, 2017, San Antonio Preceded by: Parents Ernest and Kelly Blanche Herrera; and a sister, Maria Elena Herrera. A brother, Skip Herrera, died Sept. 18. Survived by: Husband Robert Kolarik; siblings Jackie Lynn Brown, Tom Herrera, Martha Rowley, Joe Herrera, Michael Herrera, Miki Reinier and Brad Herrera. Service: Graveside service set for 1 p.m. Friday at Sunset Memorial Park, 1701 Austin Highway. See More Collapse

She had an expensive pair of Frye boots with scuff marks on the inside of both legs. One day I asked what she did to the boots  she said, I used them to climb telephone poles, her husband recalled.

In her late 20s, Kolarik had urethral and bladder cancer and was one of the first to undergo a laser surgery procedure, he said.

Dondi and Robert Kolarik first met in 1977 while working at the Des Moines Register and Tribune Syndicate. She modeled for a columnists weekly exercise article and was a receptionist there.

They lost touch after she resigned but, in a chance encounter, reconnected a decade later. She moved to San Antonio in 1987 to court him, and they wed three years later, Robert Kolarik said.

He said the judge who presided over their wedding was so dazzled by Dondi Kolariks bolero outfit that instead of a quick ceremony, they got the deluxe version that lasted more than half an hour.

Courthouse operations slowed as employees in the building angled to catch a glimpse of the dashing bride, he said  black bolero hat, black silk blouse, long black skirt, black boots, silver concho belt and a coiled whip.

She was beautiful and almost like a female Zorro, Robert Kolarik said.

caleman@express-news.net
Bears are bow-legged. It helps with their balance.

In Native American culture, bears are symbols of courage and strength.

In 2004, a black bear broke into a cooler of beer at a Seattle campground and sampled various brands before choosing a favorite. It then drank every can of its preferred brand before passing out.

Teddy bears are named for President Theodore Roosevelt, who on a hunting trip refused to kill a captive, injured bear on the grounds that it was unsportsmanlike. Parents have been tucking stuffed bears into childrens beds every since.

Benjamin Kilham, who has raised orphan cubs for over 20 years, says bears are a lot like humans. Highly social, theyre as intelligent as the great apes. They form friendships, share resources, make rules and punish rule-breakers. They can be remorseful, empathetic, fearful, selfish, altruistic, joyful and deceitful.

Bears are family oriented. It takes a mother black bear 18 months to teach her cubs all that they need to know. Mama bears are affectionate, protective, devoted, attentive and strict.

Bears see in color and have vision comparable to ours. Their sense of smell is the keenest of all terrestrial mammals.

Theyre superior tree-climbers and swimmers. But while they can run very fast, they cant run far. A chubby bear with a thick coat tires easily.

Bears have excellent memories, superior navigation skills, and large brains.

A bear named Wojtek served with the Polish Armys Artillery Supply Company during World War II, helping move crates of ammunition. He was promoted to corporal. The soldiers taught him to salute.

Bears grieve. Cubs orphaned by hunters can cry for months.

Most bears are shy and avoid people. Black bear attacks on humans are exceedingly rare. While human destruction of bear habitat has spiked interspecies interactions, most of them can be avoided by keeping garbage cans, grills, bird feeders and other attractors inaccessible.

On so-called bile farms in China, more than 10,000 bears are kept in cages and surgically fitted with catheters for extracting their bile, which the Chinese use to treat everything from sore throats to hemorrhoids. There is no credible evidence that bear bile has any medicinal properties.

When they can no longer produce, the bears are killed. Their paws, an Asian delicacy, are then cut off and made into soup and other dishes.

Connecticuts bears are protected by law and cannot be hunted.

Last week, two young bears were killed in Wilton by a bow-and-arrow trophy hunter who, with a friend, skinned one and cut off its head and paws.

Acting on a tip, Environmental Conservation Police arrested Antonio Lio, 28, of Wilton, and Daniel Moran, 33, of Norwalk on misdemeanor charges. Both were released on bail. Lio told officers he shot one bear as it was walking under his tree stand and the other when it approached him as he was checking on the first one.

Lio and Moran will appear at state Superior Court in Norwalk on Thursday.

Outside the courthouse, a peaceful protest is planned. We hope it draws a sizable crowd, one that reflects the depths of our common outrage.

A crime against wildlife is a crime against all of us.
President Donald Trumps speech to the United Nations last week was well delivered. But it was a strange mishmash of topics and tones, in parts celebrating realpolitik but then also asserting the importance of freedom and democracy. There was, however, one overriding theme  the embrace of nationalism. And in striking that chord, Donald Trump did something unusual, perhaps unique for a U.S. president: He encouraged, even embraced the rise of a post-American world.

First, the mishmash. Early in his speech, Trump asserted, In America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone. But then, a few minutes later, Trump proceeded to castigate North Korea, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba for their undemocratic political systems, virtually demanding that they all become Western-style liberal democracies.

The danger of this kind of lofty rhetoric is that it has been selectively applied, so it is seen cynically by the rest of the world as a way to dress up American self-interest. Trump took this hypocrisy to a new level. He denounced Iran for its lack of freedoms and, almost in the same breath, made favorable mention of Saudi Arabia. By any yardstick  political rights, religious tolerance, free speech  Iran is a much more open society than Saudi Arabia, which is an absolute monarchy allied to the worlds most fanatical religious establishment, where churches and synagogues are prohibited.

The main thrust of Trumps speech was about nationalism. He celebrated sovereignty and nationalism, choosing an odd example. Latching onto a few words by President Harry Truman in support of the Marshall Plan, Trump described that approach to international relations as beautiful and noble.

But can anyone imagine Donald Trump actually supporting the Marshall Plan? It was a massive foreign aid program, administered by government bureaucrats to help foreigners revive their industries  which became competitors to American firms. To make the Marshall Plan work, Washington encouraged European nations to cede economic sovereignty and create the European Coal and Steel Community, which was the genesis of the European Union.

The most significant line in Trumps speech was this one, delivered dramatically: 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.

For the past 70 years, the great debate among nations has been between those who argued for narrow national interests and those who believed that lasting peace and prosperity depended on promoting broader common interests. The latter, conceived by FDR and supported by every U.S. president since, is what produced the United Nations and all the organizations that monitor and assist with trade, travel, disease, crime and weather issues, among a host of others, that spill over borders and can only be handled at a regional or global level.

But Donald Trump is tired of being the worlds leader. He whined in his speech that other countries are unfair in their dealings with the United States, and that somehow the most powerful nation in the world, which dominates almost every international forum, is being had. His solution, a return to nationalism, would be warmly welcomed by most of the worlds major players  Russia and China, but also countries like India and Turkey  which tend to act on the basis of their narrow self-interest. Of course, that will mean a dramatic acceleration of the post-American world, one in which these countries will shape policies and institutions, unashamedly to their own benefit rather than any broader one.

Trump grumbled about the fact that the United States pays 22 percent of the U.N.s budget, which is actually appropriate because its roughly equivalent to Americas share of global GDP. Were he to scale back Americas support, he might be surprised how fast a country like China will leap in to fill the gap. And once it does, China will dominate and shape the U.N.  and the global agenda  just as America has done for seven decades.

Perhaps the Chinese will suggest that the organizations headquarters be moved to Beijing. Come to think of it, it would free up acres of land on the East River where Donald Trump could build a few more condominiums.

comments@fareedzakaria.com
Taste the flavors and delicacies of Asian cuisine in a way you never have before at King Buffet, 6200 Bandera Road. Using only the freshest ingredients, King Buffet offers hungry diners a wide variety of Chinese, Japanese and Mongolian food to suit any craving, along with American selections.

King Buffet has become a San Antonio favorite in only three years thanks to outstanding customer service and a menu of more than 200 food items that range from sushi and seafood to carved meats. In addition, theres a selection of soups, salad bar and desserts. Recently King Buffet won the 2017 Readers Choice Gold Award for Best Buffet in San Antonio.
PURCHASE, N.Y.  The PepsiCo Foundation announced it will provide $2 million in grants to help communities in Mexico City, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean impacted by the recent natural disasters:

$1,000,0000 to the American Red Cross for recovery from the earthquake in Mexico City and for relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean after Hurricane Maria.

$1,000,000 to the Pan American Development Foundation to rebuild greater disaster-resilient communities in the Mexico City area and Puerto Rico.

"PepsiCo is committed to supporting our communities in a time of need. Over the past week, we've offered that support once more, working closely with relief organizations in Mexico, the Caribbean and the United States to help communities devastated by recent natural disasters," said Indra K. Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. "We stand with the people of Mexico City, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean as they begin the work of recovering and rebuilding."

Together with these contributions, PepsiCo and The PepsiCo Foundation have contributed more than $6.5 million for disaster relief over the past month.

In addition, during the preceding month, PepsiCo has provided essential products to people in impacted communities. PepsiCo Mexico and its bottler partner Gepp have donated more than 7,000 liters of water to the Mexico City community. Previously, they donated 31 tons of products from its food portfolio and more than 12,000 liters of waters to communities affected by the earthquake in Southern Mexico.

In the U.S., the company has donated more than 107,500 cases of Aquafina purified drinking water, Propel, Gatorade and Tropicana, as well as four dozen pallets of Frito-Lay products. Together with its bottler partner, Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana, PepsiCo also provided 300,000 liters of water to the Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Tortola and St. Maarten.
Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
Under President Donald Trumps new travel proclamation, three new countries have been added: Chad, North Korea and Venezuela.

No existing visas will be revoked.

At first, Celestino de Caires, a Venezuelan activist in the Bay Area, was shocked to see his home country on this list.

"We never thought that we would be part of a group with about five or six Middle East countries," he said.

But Venezuelas addition to the travel ban includes only President Nicholas Maduro, top members of his government and their close family members. De Caires says that will only block fewer than 100 Venezuelans from coming to the United States. As an opponent of Maduro, de Caires said it's a good move.

"September 5th, the Canada government passed a resolution that was practically the same," he said.

Opponents of Trumps much disputed original travel ban say the new version still unfairly targets Muslim majority countries.

"With North Korea, the immigration patterns have been quite nominal," said Aleca Vafaie, an attorney with the Asian Law Caucus. "So, at the end of the day, it really remains a Muslim ban."

North Korean surpreme leader Kim Jung Uns government already does not allow citizens to travel to the U.S.

Several lawsuits challenging Trump's original travel ban are still making their way through the courts.
A 25-year-old San Jose resident on Friday was arrested and later released for vandalizing the Christopher Columbus statue inside San Jose City Hall, according to police.

The suspect, who has been identified as Gina Darlene Gonzales, wiped paint on the statue Thursday afternoon and walked away without being apprehended, police said.

Gonzales was arrested the following day after a security officer, who works at city hall, spotted Gonzales at the Martin Luther King Library, according to police. Officers detained the suspect and, after looking at the surveillance footage, confirmed that Gonzales was the one who vandalized the statue.

Gonzales was arrested, handed a criminal citation and released at the scene, according to police.

An activist group has previously called for the statue to be removed because they find it to be offensive.
A former police officer with nine guns in his car parked near the White House early Sunday, urinated outside and told Secret Service officers he needed to talk with top security officials about getting a microchip out of his head, officials said.

Timothy Bates, 37, of Collierville, Tennessee, told Secret Service officers he drove from Tennessee to D.C. through the night to speak with Defense Secretary James Mattis and National Security Agency Director Admiral Mike Rogers, charging documents said.

Officers searched his car and found nine guns -- including one they described as a machine gun -- a set of brass knuckles, a blackjack and three knives with blades longer than 3 inches. Seven of the nine guns were loaded, officials said.

Bates appeared in court Monday and was charged with multiple weapons violations. His defense attorney said she did not think Bates needed further mental evaluation. He received an initial evaluation Sunday night.

In a statement Monday, the Secret Service said Bates approached several officers at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW at 7:15 a.m. The location is the Old Executive Office Building, part of the White House grounds.

An officer saw him urinating on the sidewalk and noticed a license tag that indicated Bates was a police officer. The officer asked if he had guns in the car and found a small arsenal.

The Memphis Police Department confirmed Bates was an officer in the city for 13 years before leaving in 2013.

Prosecutors said Bates was involuntarily committed for mental health issues earlier this year and had an encounter with police in July, in which he acted erratically.

Bates was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, unlawful transport of weapon, possession of prohibited weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of unregistered ammunition.

He was held without bond. The case may get transferred to federal court, because a machine gun was present.

The case is the latest in a fast-rising number of White House fence jumpers and people deliberately violating security perimeters on Capitol grounds. Since 2014, at least 22 people have been arrested and convicted for breaching security at the White House or U.S. Capitol, according to an investigation by the News4 I-Team.
An undercover St. Louis police officer and an Air Force lieutenant who lives in the neighborhood were among several people who say they were forcibly arrested last weekend in the city even though they were not participating in protests over the acquittal of a white former officer in the killing of a black suspect.

About 120 people were arrested  most for failing to disperse  about two hours after vandals broke windows and threw items at police last Sunday. The officers used a tactic called kettling that boxed in demonstrators and others in the area.

Protests continued on Saturday, when several people were arrested at the upscale Galleria mall in suburban St. Louis where more than 200 demonstrators marched and chanted among shoppers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported officers briefly cleared the mall in Richmond Heights, Missouri, after some members of the group became unruly.

St. Louis County police said in a series of tweets that about 150 people dispersed before 22 people were arrested. Charges were expected to include trespassing, rioting, assault on a law enforcement officer, and disorderly conduct. One officer was taken to a hospital for a back injury and two protesters suffered minor injuries.

By Saturday night, protesters had moved to The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Clayton, another suburb on the Missouri side. They then took their cause outside the doors of the Target store in Brentwood, Missouri, but eventually left.

Some demonstrators ended up outside the St. Louis County Justice Center in Clayton hoping that those in custody would be released.

The city's acting police chief and Gov. Eric Greitens have praised the officers for controlling the demonstrations, but there has been growing criticism of their actions as details have emerged. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Friday alleging that the police violated people's civil rights, and two top city officials have said some police actions were "disturbing."

Police said people were arrested only if they didn't follow orders to disperse, but some people said they had nowhere to go because police had boxed them in.

The undercover officer was mistaken for a suspect who was carrying chemicals that could be sprayed on officers. When the man refused to show his hands, he was knocked down and hit several times, with his hands tied behind his back and his mouth bloodied, the Post-Dispatch reported .

On Friday, Mayor Lyda Krewson asked the director of public safety to investigate how the officer was treated.

During the same protest, Air Force Lt. Alex Nelson, 27, who lives in the neighborhood with his wife, said they were trapped in the kettling, the tactic police used to box in demonstrators. He said he was kicked in the face, blinded by pepper spray and dragged away.

"I hear the police say it was their street, but it's literally my street," he said. "I have coffee on that street, and I own property on that street. We were not active protesters. We were looking into the neighborhood to observe events that were unfolding."

He said the police actions were "incredibly unnecessary" because he followed every demand and officers never gave an order to disperse. He said when he told an officer he was with the military, the police officer replied, "Shut up. Stop. I don't care."

A documentary filmmaker from Kansas City who was visiting with his wife said he was knocked unconscious during the sweep. Drew Burbridge, 32, said he never heard orders to disperse until officers started to advance, banging their batons and chanting, "Move back."

"I turned my camera off and asked if there was anywhere I could go, but I was denied the right to leave," he said. "I didn't want to be a part of this."

He said after he was on the ground, officers grabbed him by both arms and dragged him away. He said he was sprayed with a chemical and eventually knocked unconscious for 10 to 30 seconds and when he came to, an officer pepper sprayed him again.

More than 160 people have been arrested since demonstrations began Sept. 15 after a judge found Jason Stockley not guilty of first-degree murder in the 2011 death of 24-year-old drug suspect Anthony Lamar Smith after a vehicle chase. Most of those arrests were on the night of the ruling and last Sunday.
Gov. Bruce Rauner has rejected a measure requiring Illinois elementary schools to teach cursive writing.

The measure was among several bills Friday that the Republican took action on. In his veto message, Rauner says the legislation is "yet another unfunded mandate" for schools that doesn't protect students' health or safety.

Proponents had said it's important to teach tech-savvy kids to write in cursive so they can sign documents, write personal notes and read historical texts. The proposal would've taken effect in the 2018 to 2019 school year.

The plan would have required public elementary schools to offer at least one unit of cursive writing instruction before students complete fifth grade.

Opponents said cursive styles change and it doesn't help young minds any better than printing.
A cargo plane full of supplies was set to leave Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Monday morning, bound for hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.

The mission is the result of numerous donations from individuals and corporations across the Chicago area. They were made during a fundraiser by the Puerto Rican Agenda, which has so far collected $65,000 in donations and pledges.

A portion of that money was used to purchase much-needed emergency supplies like food, toiletries and water, which will be flown to San Juan Monday, the group announced.

The United cargo flight was scheduled to depart around 7 a.m.

Hurricane Maria took quite a toll on the U.S. territory.

Across Puerto Rico, more than 15,000 people are in shelters, including some 2,000 rescued from the north coastal town of Toa Baja, where at least eight people drowned in flood waters. Officials were racing to stem a growing humanitarian crisis in towns left without fresh water, fuel, electricity or phone service.

Overall, 92.5 percent of cell sites were out of service as of Sunday morning, according to the Federal Communications Commission. That was down from 95.6 percent a day earlier.

President Donald Trump has also pledged federal help as 4,000 members of the US Army Reserves are deployed to aid with recovery.

The United cargo flight is one of several being chartered by charities hoping to assist in what is expected to be a long recovery.
Three people have been killed and at least 38 have been wounded in shootings across Chicago this weekend.

The latest fatality occurred in the citys South Austin neighborhood around 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning. A 34-year-old man was shot in the neck and chest by a person in a silver sedan, and was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital.

Another person, a 33-year-old man, was shot and killed in the 1500 block of South Trumbell around 2 a.m. Sunday morning. He was found in the street with a gunshot wound to his face by police, and was pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai.

Friday:

Three people were shot in the 7200 block of South Green at approximately 7:37 p.m. A 16-year-old boy got into a verbal altercation with another person, who produced a gun and shot him. As two other men came to help him, they were also shot. The 16-year-old was taken to the hospital in stable condition. A 23-year-old man was shot in the knee and is also in stable condition at Christ Hospital. A man of unknown age suffered a graze wound to his back.

A 42-year-old man was walking through an alley in the 6300 block of South Francisco at approximately 11:20 P.M. when a black Chevy Impala pulled up and one of the people inside fired shots at him. He was shot in the arm, and is in stable condition at Holy Cross.

Saturday:

A 28-year-old man was shot in the groin on the 5400 block of West Van Buren at approximately 12:07 a.m. He was walking through an alley when a maroon van approached and an occupant fired shots at him. He was taken to Mt. Sinai in serious condition.

A 25-year-old man was standing outside in the 2400 block of West 72 nd Street when he was shot in the arm at approximately 12:22 a.m. He was taken to Christ Hospital in good condition.

Street when he was shot in the arm at approximately 12:22 a.m. He was taken to Christ Hospital in good condition. In the 1400 block of West Potomac at approximately 12:30 a.m., a 23-year-old man was shot in the arm, leg, and stomach when a person fired shots at him. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition.

Two men were shot in the 3900 block of West Jackson at approximately 1:30 a.m. They were standing outside when they were shot. A 21-year-old man was shot in the leg and is in stable condition at Stroger. A 20-year-old man was shot in the leg and was taken to Mt. Sinai in stable condition.

An unidentified man was shot in the head, chest, and leg in the 5900 block of South Sangamon at approximately 3:15 a.m. He was taken to Stroger in critical condition.

Two people were shot in the 7600 block of South Halsted at approximately 3:35 a.m. A 29-year-old man was shot in the elbow and treated on scene when a person approached and began firing shots at him. A 23-year-old man suffered a graze wound to his shoulder and was treated on scene.

A 22-year-old man was shot in the 3000 block of West 25 th Street at 3:42 a.m. He was standing outside when a black Chevy Tahoe approached and shots were fired, striking him in both feet. He was taken to Stroger in stable condition.

Street at 3:42 a.m. He was standing outside when a black Chevy Tahoe approached and shots were fired, striking him in both feet. He was taken to Stroger in stable condition. A 47-year-old man is in good condition after being shot in the knee on the 2500 block of South Kedzie at approximately 3:46 a.m. He was standing outside when shots were fired from a passing vehicle.

A 27-year-old man allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriends apartment and shot another 27-year-old man in the arms after a confrontation. Police were able to apprehend the suspect after firing shots at him after the incident occurred in the 8100 block of S. Maryland.

An unknown person walked up to a house in the 10100 block of South Princeton at approximately 1:45 p.m. and shot a 25-year-old man through the window. The man suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and leg and was taken to Christ Hospital in stable condition.

Two people were shot and one person was struck and killed by a fleeing vehicle in the 1600 block of North Central at approximately 12:26 p.m. A gray Jeep drove by and an occupant fired shots, striking a 63-year-old man in the arm and a 20-year-old man in the right hand. After the vehicle fled the scene, it struck a 56-year-old man, and he was pronounced dead at Loyola.

During a robbery, a 31-year-old man refused to cooperate with offenders, and he was shot in the neck, arm, and leg. The incident occurred at 3:37 p.m. in the 9300 block of S. Ridgeland. He was taken to Christ Hospital in stable condition.

An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg while standing on a sidewalk in the 0-100 block of East 120 th Street at approximately 9:15 p.m. He is in stable condition at Roseland.

Street at approximately 9:15 p.m. He is in stable condition at Roseland. Three people were shot in the 3800 block of West Roosevelt at 10 p.m. A man fired shots at a group and fled the scene in a black sedan. A 29-year-old man was shot in the face. An 18-year-old was shot in the right leg, and a 35-year-old was shot in the left leg. All three were taken to Mt. Sinai in stable condition.

Sunday:

A 26-year-old man was shot in the groin while standing in the 1600 block of West 36 th Street at approximately 12:38 a.m. A person in a black van fired shots at him. He was taken to Mt. Sinai in stable condition.

Street at approximately 12:38 a.m. A person in a black van fired shots at him. He was taken to Mt. Sinai in stable condition. A 36-year-old was standing on a sidewalk in the 6600 block of South Maryland when a person in a black SUV fired shots at him, striking him in the leg. He was taken to Northwestern in stable condition.

In the 2600 block of West Wilcox at approximately 12:47 a.m., a 22-year-old man was shot in the back. He was taken to Mt. Sinai in stable condition.

A 20-year-old man was standing on a sidewalk in the 2100 block of North Kilbourn at approximately 2:34 a.m. when he was shot in the left leg. He was taken to Illinois Masonic in stable condition.

A man was shot in the 5900 block of South Sangamon at approximately 2:40 a.m. He suffered gunshot wounds to his head, chest, and legs, and is in critical condition at Stroger.

A 23-year-old man was inside a fast food restaurant in the 3400 block of South King Drive at 3:05 a.m. when a person entered and shot him. He was taken to Northwestern in stable condition with a gunshot wound to his right leg.

A 24-year-old man was taken to Christ Hospital in critical condition after being shot in the 3600 block of East 99 th Street at approximately 4:02 a.m. He was standing on a sidewalk when a person in a dark colored SUV fired shots at him, hitting him in the right hip and right arm.

Street at approximately 4:02 a.m. He was standing on a sidewalk when a person in a dark colored SUV fired shots at him, hitting him in the right hip and right arm. A 29-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and was taken to St. Frances in serious condition. The incident occurred in the 6800 block of North Sheridan at approximately 4:39 a.m.

In the 7900 block of South Coles at approximately 10:37 a.m., a 37-year-old man was shot in the head. He was taken to Stroger in critical condition.

A 48-year-old man was shot in the upper back and is in serious condition. The incident occurred when a person driving a dark colored minivan fired shots at him in the 2300 block of South Leavitt around 3:28 p.m. The man was taken to Stroger Hospital.

An 18-year-old woman was shot in the stomach and was taken to the hospital at approximately 3:45 p.m. The shooting occurred in the 5900 block of South Union.

A 25-year-old man was shot in the 3500 block of West Jackson just before 6 p.m. He was shot in the left leg and is in serious condition at Mt. Sinai.

A 27-year-old man was shot in the 5500 block of West North Avenue at approximately 5:42 p.m. He is in good condition with a gunshot wound to his arm.



Just after 11:30 p.m., a 16-year-old boy was shot when four men walked up to him in the 1100 block of North Central Park and opened fire, according to police. The teen took himself to Norwegian-American Hospital with a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. He was treated and released, authorities said.

Monday:
President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing strict new restrictions on travelers from a handful of countries, including five that were covered by his expiring travel ban. Administration officials say the new measures are required to keep the nation safe.

The indefinite restrictions apply to citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and North Korea. As part of the presidential proclamation signed Sunday, the U.S. will also bar the entry of certain Venezuelan government officials and their immediate families.

The changes will take effect October 18.

The announcement came the same day that Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire, 90 days after it went into effect. That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lacked a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the U.S. Only one of those countries, Sudan, will no longer be subject to travel restrictions.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted late Sunday after the new policy was announced.

Unlike the first iteration of Trump's travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges after being hastily written with little input outside the White House, officials stressed they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.

To limit confusion, valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers for citizens of the affected countries.

The restrictions are targeted at countries that the Department of Homeland Security says fail to share sufficient information with the U.S. or haven't taken necessary security precautions.

DHS has spent recent months working to develop a new security baseline, which includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information, report lost or stolen passports to INTERPOL, an international law enforcement body, and share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories.

Citizens of countries that don't meet the standard will face restrictions until they make changes to bring them into compliance.

The new rules include the suspension of all immigrant visas for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, and the suspension of non-immigrant visas, such as for business and tourism, to nationals of Chad, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Yemen.

Citizens of Iran will not be eligible for tourism and business visas, but remain eligible for student and cultural exchange visas if they undergo additional scrutiny. Such additional scrutiny will also be required for Somali citizens applying for all non-immigrant visas.

Critics have accused Trump of overstepping his legal authority and violating the U.S. Constitution's protections against religious bias each time he has ordered new travel restrictions.

And the inclusion of Venezuela and North Korea appeared to be an attempt to block challenges from advocacy groups and others who have called the restrictions a ban on Muslims. Trump during his campaign called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."

The U.S. had already imposed wide-ranging sanctions on certain high-ranking Venezuelan government officials to protest the government's attempts to consolidate power.

"The fact that Trump has added North Korea  with few visitors to the U.S.  and a few government officials from Venezuela doesn't obfuscate the real fact that the administration's order is still a Muslim ban," said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which has been challenging the ban in court. "President Trump's original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list."

But administration officials argue the measure is necessary to keep Americans safe.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) will be removing trees damaged by gypsy moth caterpillars along Interstate 95 south in East Lyme and Old Lyme.

Trees throughout southeastern Connecticut were infested by the gypsy moth caterpillars for a few years.

While a fungus that kills the caterpillar forms during spring rains, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said this year the cooler temperatures caused it to appear later than anticipated. It eventually caused a massive die-off.

But the mass amount of caterpillars over the last few years left widespread damage, leaving trees severely compromised or dead along the interstate.

Tree removal efforts began Monday between southbound exits 74 and 70. Drivers should expect to see parts of the right lane closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Oct. 9.

Its estimated that 170 trees, mostly oak, are compromised so severely that they are either dead or will not survive.

The DOT is removing them to ensure theyre not a dangerous problem for drivers later.

Crews and a licensed state arborist are going to be using machinery to remove them. There are signs to direct drivers around the work zone and avoid that right-hand lane.

Although this process is scheduled to last for the next two weeks, it all depends on the weather, which could slow the process down if there arent the right conditions.

Officials said once the damaged trees are removed they will be able to regrow naturally.

Drivers should expect some delays in the area while the work takes place.

On Monday there was bumper-to-bumper traffic and extreme backups. Several people told NBC Connecticut that they were late for engagements, there were people using the shoulder of the road as a short-cut and a driver even backed off the on-ramp.

"Id say it took almost twice as long by inching it and inching it. I didnt even need to step on the gas. I just let it roll all the way from Waterford," said Sharon Kenyon, who drove from Norwich.

The backup was about two-and-a-half miles long, according to DOT Spokesperson Kevin Nursick. He said Monday should be the worst of it since work was being completed right by the I-95/I-395 interchange.

At times the DOT was concerned about the traffic and pulled crews off the road to let it subside, Nursick said. Then, they eventually set back up. DOT workers will not be doing any work during the morning and evening rush hours.

Many people tried to take Route 1 or Route 156 as alternatives, but they were also backed up.

"It was backed up all the way. Almost to the end of the exit," Mike Lisitano, of Waterford, said.

According to DEEP, defoliation occurred three years in a row for some areas of the state. The drought in 2015-2016 made it even more difficult for the trees to recover. DEEP does expect does expect much less defoliation next year.
The Puerto Rican population in New Haven, with the support of city leaders, is rallying to provide relief for the hurricane-ravaged island.

"I really appreciate it with all my heart," Jane Vazquez, who has lived in New Haven for 15 years, said.

On Saturday, Vazquez said she finally spoke to her mom in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the entire island.

"Oh my god, it was an indescribable feeling after being two days without having to hear nothing from my family," Vazquez said.

She is using a walkie-talkie app called Zello to keep in touch with family members in San Juna.

"With my family- thank God- theres no loss," she said. "Only the property loss."

The same cannot be said for New Havens State Rep. Juan Candelaria.

"My aunt had passed away due to the hurricane," Candelaria said Monday morning during a press conference at city hall. "She was in the house and the house was blown away with her in it."

Candelaria, Mayor Toni Harp and local Latino groups are organizing ways to make donations for the storm-stricken U.S. territory.

"One of the texts or communications that Ive received which really hit me was hearing that patients come asking for food and even the physicians themselves dont have places to eat," said Dr. Marietta Vazquez, an associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine.

Dr. Vazquez said Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, Yale School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital have collected two thousand pounds of critical supplies like life-saving medicines and sterile equipment.

"The roadblock for me right now is how do we get these very important supplies to the people who need them," Dr. Vazquez said.

Like so many people in the New Haven community, Dr. Vazquez has a number of family members who still live on the island.

"I know theyre safe," she said. "But theres no electricity, theres no water, things we take for granted."

The City of New Haven has set up a page where you can donate to the New Haven for Puerto Rico Fund.

On Saturday, Sept. 30, there will be five collection points in New Haven where you can drop off cash, check or non-perishable food donations. They are Front and Pierpoint Streets, Grand Ave. and Ferry Street, Kimberly Ave. and Lamberton St., Ella T. Grasso Blvd. and Columbus Ave. and State and Elm Streets.

Donation link here.
Two New Haven Police officers are recovering from gunshot wounds to the arm suffered while responding to a domestic shooting over the weekend.

Both Mayor Toni Harp and Police Chief Anthony Campbell said the shootings on Elm Street Saturday morning underscore the need to get the Family Justice Center in New Haven up and running soon.

"One of the most dangerous things that (police) have to face every day is domestic violence," Harp told NBC Connecticut.

After finding out an armed suspect shot Officers Eric Pessino and Scott Shumway, Harp cut her trip to Washington D.C. short and returned to the Elm City.

"Its tough on our police department when theyre faced with such violence and they need to know theyre supported," she said.

The Family Justice Center is meant to be a centralized place where domestic violence victims can seek the services and support they need.

"Were looking for locations, were constantly having meetings and were going to get that up and running as soon as possible," Campbell said during Saturday afternoons press conference.

With a retired police captain in charge of planning, the Family Justice Center will bring victim advocates, prosecutors, police and other resource providers under the same roof.

"Its really important that people who are victims have a one-stop-shop place to go," Harp said.

"Women have to speak up and everything," Carolyn Huckaby of New Haven said, "You cant hide domestic violence, you have to speak up before its too late."

Huckaby said she considers herself a domestic violence survivor after getting out a relationship with an abusive boyfriend more than a decade ago.

"The people got to be aware and know about where to get the help from, she said. "some people want no help because its hard."

Huckaby said she is shaken by news of police saying 51-year-old John Monroe shot his wife multiple times.

"My heart goes out to her and her family," she said. "I hope she gets better."

Monday afternoon Campbell told NBC Connecticut the victim, who is a retired Department of Corrections officer, is in stable condition at the hospital.

Harp said she hopes the Family Justice Center opens within the year.

The States Attorney in New Haven and Connecticut State Police have taken over the investigation because SWAT team members shot Monroe before taking him into custody.
A missing Windsor woman has been found alive near Sunrise Park in Suffield after an extensive search by local and state authorities.

A Silver Alert was issued for 57-year-old Karen Leonard on Sunday. Police said on Monday that Leonards vehicle was found in Sunrise Park in Suffield and crews searched the mountains of the Metacomet Trail.

Police said that Leonard was found alive and was rushed to the hospital for emergency care. No other details on her condition were released.

The Connecticut State Police Trooper One helicopter and K9 units assisted with the search.

Police had said that Leonard was not the type to go missing.
Police estimate at least 30 people were arrested when they refused to move away from the doors at the Ribicoff Federal Building on Main Street in Hartford as part of a protest against the deportation order of Meriden residents Franklin and Giaconda Ramos.

The Ramos family has been in the US for over 20 years and raised two sons in Connecticut.

Mondays rally was meant to serve as part of an emergency appeal to let the Ramos family stay in the US. If they are not granted an extension, they will have to leave on Friday.

Holding signs and locking arms, dozens of protestors sat in front of the doors Monday morning.

We have worked, we have paid taxes, we have no criminal record. Even then we have no opportunity, said Erick Ramos, one of the couples sons.

Erick Ramos parents emigrated from Ecuador 24 years ago. Franklin was detained after a raid at his work in 2012. Ever since, hes worn a GPS monitoring device and had regular check-ins with ICE. This summer, he and his wife were told they would be deported by Friday, Sept. 29.

ICE spokesman Shawn Neudauer released the following statement on the matter:

ICE spokesman Shawn Neudauer released the following statement on their case:

On Aug. 1, Franklin and Giaconda Ramos, illegally present citizens of Ecuador, were notified during a routine office check-in that ICE intended to proceed with their court-ordered removal from the United States. Both individuals have final orders of removal issued by a federal immigration judge in 2005. In August, both applied to ICE for stays of removal, and both were denied by the ICE Field Office covering Hartford. However, recently an immigration court granted the couple a stay of removal in furtherance of their legal proceedings.

After reviewing both cases earlier this year, and in a further exercise of discretion, ICE chose not to place either in custody, allowing them the chance to make timely departure arrangements or to continue to seek relief before the courts.

Neudauer added that ICE respected the protests.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion peacefully without interference," he wrote.

Their other son Jason was in the line of protestors.

We are holding a line for the people that could not be here, for the people that were torn apart from their families, the people here that are living in fear, Jason said.

Among the crowd of supporters were members of the Reyes family. Their father has been seeking sanctuary in a New Haven church for seven weeks.

Were just asking for a second chance for him and other families that are going through this. Its very painful, Fanny Reyes of New Haven said.

Protestors were warned that if they did not move from in front of the building that they would be taken into police custody. Jason Ramos was one of the dozens of people arrested. The group is hoping their stand of solidarity means something.

This nation is a nation built by immigrants. We are here to participate, here to collaborate, we are here to build. We are not here to terrorize anybody. We are here to build families, to build the American dream, Jason said.
State Rep. Michael DiMassa, a Democrat who represents West Haven and New Haven in the 116th Assembly District, says he will not accept his General Assembly salary while the state remains without a budget.

DiMassa, who was elected in November, has sent a letter to the Office of Legislative Management requested that his General Assembly be withheld and said its to support the less fortunate in his district and across Connecticut who he said are being adversely affected by the lack of a viable state budget and the threat of severe cuts.

He said the base salary for a state representative is $28,000 a year and they get reimbursed for mileage, as well as payments twice a year to have events in the district.

"I think the best way to do this is I'll have them cut the check. We'll go out, we'll do gift cards, we'll do Stop & Shop, we'll do gas, we'll do the food pantry. We'll put the money back out into the West Haven-New Haven community. I think that's the best way to do it," DiMassa said. "I'm gonna do that every single month until we have a budget."

The states fiscal year ended on June 30 and the state still does not have a budget.

The Connecticut House of Representatives and the state Senate both passed Republican versions of the budget, but Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, has vowed to veto the spending plan, which he said would be devastating to the states effort to increase jobs.

We still do not have a budget, and as far as Im concerned thats a failure of the legislature and the executive branch, DiMassa said in a statement. Its our job to serve the state of Connecticut and we have failed to do so. Come October 1st, schools could close, teachers could get laid off, programs will be decimated and some people will lose the only lifeline they have. It doesnt matter if youre a Democrat or Republican, its our job to put forth a budget and move this state forward.

DiMassa said he will continue working toward a bipartisan budget agreement and hopes other legislators follow his lead in foregoing their compensation until that goal is reached.

Republicans in the General Assembly are defending their budget.
North Texas leaders are touting many possible locations for a second Amazon headquarters location in this region as they assemble a proposal for the company.

Amazon announced earlier this month that it is seeking proposals for a duplicate of its current Seattle headquarters for up to 50,000 new employees.

"I think it's been spectacularly good for Seattle," said Matt McIlwain, with Madrona Venture Group.

The Seattle-based venture capital firm was an early investor in Amazon. Madrona also has Texas investments, and McIlwain said he has traveled to the Dallas-Fort Worth area many times.

McIlwain said North Texas should be a strong contender for Amazon's second headquarters.

"There's a lot of good innovation going on in Dallas, and in Texas, where generally as a state, Texas is one of the pro-business hospitable states. I think that will also matter," McIlwain said.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, a former Pizza Hut CEO, recently returned from a visit to Seattle to size up the Amazon competition.

"It would be great to win this, but there's long odds to be able to do it," Rawlings said. "I think that we could be the right partner for them, because we have the resources, the scale."

Multiple property owners in Dallas and other North Texas cities have asked to be included as options in a North Texas bid. In Dallas, locations include property near Fair Park, on both sides of the Trinity River near downtown and the Midtown redevelopment project along Interstate 635 LBJ Freeway at Preston Road.

In Irving, locations near the former Texas Stadium site and in Las Colinas have been mentioned.

The area in Fort Worth along North Main Street to be called Panther Island that will soon have a light rail line to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has also been suggested.

"Dallas and Fort Worth work very well together, and we'll do so on this," Rawlings said. "Second, it helps us, because we have more options, and I'll tell you want Amazon has wanted and needs in the future is options, because they move so fast. If they need to turn left a little bit, they want to make sure left is as good as right. And we've got that for them."

Amazon's request for proposals specifies a metropolitan area of at least one million people, with a stable and business friendly environment, with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent, with on-site mass transit and near a major international airport.

"It's going to be a very Amazon-centric decision, but if you just look through the check list, we've got almost all the things that Amazon wants," said Mike Cox, professor at the Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business. "I think we're in a great position to attract Amazon."

Amazon's Seattle campus includes 33 buildings, and residential development and other businesses have sprung up in the area to support Amazon.

The Amazon request for proposals specifies a deadline of Oct. 19th with final site selection in 2018.

Amazon's Request for Proposals:



[[447784613,C]]
Authorities say a North Texas police officer remains hospitalized following a traffic accident while pursuing a driver suspected of pointing a gun at another vehicle.



Fort Worth police spokesman Officer Brad Perez says the suspect, 21-year-old Christopher Anderson, was being held Monday on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest and unlawful possession of a firearm.



Anderson was arrested after Sunday's wreck that injured two Fort Worth officers. Perez says one officer remained hospitalized Monday while the other was discharged. Details on the officers weren't released.



The officers were responding to the reported road rage incident when their patrol car hit a brick wall.

Both officers are awake and alert.  Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) September 24, 2017

Police say Anderson was arrested after a foot chase. Perez didn't immediately have details on bond or a lawyer to speak for Anderson.

We obviously are going to tell anyone that if someone pulls a gun on you while youre driving, keep your distance, get away, back off, said Perez. Dont put yourself in any danger."

Both officers are very fortunate their injuries haven't been reported to be more severe than what they are., said Perez.
A North Texas pastor says he isn't taking any chances after a shooting Sunday at a Tennessee church, where one woman was killed and six others were wounded.

The Rev. Brian Ulch, of Trinity Lighthouse Church in Denison, packs a pistol and says he feels a great sense of responsibility to protect his congregation.

"Our desire is to be able to meet any need that comes through our doors, whether it's ministry, medical or an active threat," Ulch said.

Ulch said increased threats against houses of worship inspired him to make a choice.

"We sought out to what we could so, within our power, to make sure they were legally, tactically and practically protecting the flock," he said.

Ulch contacted Chuck Chadwick, the president of the National Organization of Church Security and Safety Management in Frisco. The organization has more than 300 personal protection officers or "gatekeepers" in 60 churches across Texas.

"We give them the laws on use of force, the soft hand or the laying on of hands in an unhealing way, which is the manipulation that law enforcement do," Chadwick said.

Chadwick added that the protection officers, like Ulch, attend a state licensed security school and are effectively positioned to keep the bad guys out.

"We have a saying that's 'call to train and trained to call,' so there's people that feel that calling to be a protector," Chadwick said.

It's protection and, for some, peace of mind on what Ulch says should be sacred ground.

"I don't want to be the one that makes the phone call to that family member and says we could have been proactive, but we chose not to because we didn't think it would ever happen," Ulch said.

A variety of classes are held regularly at the National Organization of Church Security and Safety Management. For more information, click here.


Texas can require law enforcement to honor federal immigration requests to detain people in local jails for possible deportation under a new "sanctuary cities" law supported by the Trump administration, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday.

But the unanimous ruling of a three-judge panel in New Orleans includes the caveat that not every detainer request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must be honored. It says local agencies must cooperate "according to existing ICE detainer practice and law."

Lawyers for opponents of the Texas law said the caveat could limit the sweep of the ruling in a way that won't lead to a drastic change in how local authorities deal with federal agents.

Still, there are real fears of deportation, especially in Fort Worth, which has one of the largest Hispanic populations in North Texas.

Father Stephen Jasso, of All Saints Catholic Church in Fort Worth, told NBC 5 that undocumented members of his congregation don't know what to believe.

"Psychologically they are under the pressure, very  especially our children  the psychological pressure that any time, mom and dad could be deported," Jasso said. "The only time I speak about this from the pulpit, I tell them your best insurance is good behavior. Be an excellent citizen of this country."

Jasso added that the members of his congregation who are undocumented immigrants are hard-working, church-going and, he says, necessary to keep the Texas economy moving.

He worries the "sanctuary cities" law could put those folks at odds with police if they're tasked with immigration enforcement.

But Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn doesn't see it that way.

Monday's ruling applies to undocumented immigrants who are already in jail on other charges. In those cases, the three-judge panel ruled, the state can require police to honor federal immigration holds. That means a person who is jailed for a serious crime can be forwarded to immigration officials and possibly deported.

But Waybourn said that has always been the case in Tarrant County and that otherwise law-abiding immigrants shouldn't worry.

"We re-emphasized no racial profiling. We wanted to re-emphasize that we want the long arm of ICE out in the field, and it only applied inside the brick-and-mortars of the jail," Waybourn said. "And I think that's outrageous that people are using this to rally and fear-monger people of 'check your papers' and all this stuff, because that was never the intent, and it never has happened and never will happen as long as I'm sheriff of Tarrant County. We're not going to allow our officers to do that."

Waybourn said he expects appeals to continue all the way up to the Supreme Court and said whatever the outcome, he'll continue to follow the law of the land.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hailed the decision as allowing the state to "enforce the core" of the law known at Senate Bill 4. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling negates some of U.S. District Judge Orlando's Aug. 31 halt to much of the law one day before it was to go into effect.

"We are pleased today's 5th Circuit ruling will allow Texas to strengthen public safety by implementing the key components of Senate Bill 4," Paxton said in a statement.

Major cities such as Houston, Dallas and Austin had sued the state, saying the measure was unconstitutional and warning that it would have a chilling effect in immigrant communities.

Nina Perales, an attorney for the Mexican American Defense and Legal Education Fund who is also representing the cities of San Antonio and El Paso, said the ruling appeared to leave wiggle room for interpretation.

"I don't read this decision as making all detainers mandatory," she said.

ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt also said the ruling "significantly narrowed" what is allowed to take effect for now. The decision is a temporary ruling until oral arguments that are set in front of the appeals court in November.

Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, acknowledged that the state now potentially had room to pursue penalties against chiefs or sheriffs who don't comply.

The Republican push to pass the law roiled the Texas Legislature throughout the spring. One GOP legislator notified federal immigration agents about protesters who held signs saying they were illegal, and told a Democratic colleague who pushed him during an argument, that he would shoot in self-defense.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has praised the Texas law and the Department of Justice filed arguments in support of it, as did several attorneys general from other states.

The law's opponents argue it violates the Fourth Amendment by requiring police to detain people suspected of illegal immigration without probable cause. They also say it illegally puts local police in the federal role of immigration enforcement officers, and is unconstitutionally vague as to exactly when a local law enforcement officer would be in violation of the law.

Supporters of the state law say immigration officials have already determined probable cause when they seek to have local officials detain someone. They also argue that federal and local officials have a long history of cooperation on immigration matters and that the law is clear in its prohibition against local policies restricting immigration enforcement.

NBC5's Alice Barr contributed to this report.
The Trump administration said Monday it's not seeking to overthrow North Korea's government after the president tweeted that Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer" and called Pyongyang's assertion absurd that Donald Trump's comment amounted to a declaration of war.

Still, the fiery rhetoric carrying over from a week of threatening exchanges at the U.N. General Assembly only further fueled fears the adversaries might stumble back into open military conflict. The Korean War ended seven decades ago without a formal peace treaty and tensions related to the North's nuclear advances have escalated for months.

At the U.N. on Monday, the North's top diplomat, Ri Yong Ho, argued that Trump's Twitter blast gives it the right to shoot down U.S. warplanes, like the strategic bombers Washington flew close to the border between the two Koreas over the weekend.

Trump's Saturday tweet said: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" Trump also used "rocket man" for Kim in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly last week.

While the comments may be read as an implicit threat to eliminate Kim, administration officials said Washington hadn't changed its policy and the U.S. isn't seeking regime change in Pyongyang.

"We have not declared war on North Korea. Frankly the suggestion of that is absurd," White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. "It's never appropriate for a country to shoot down another country's aircraft when it's over international waters."

"Our goal is still the same. We continue to seek the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," she said.

Cabinet officials, particularly Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have insisted the U.S.-led campaign diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea is focused on eliminating the pariah state's nuclear weapons program, not its totalitarian government.

But the more Trump muddies the picture, the tougher it may become to maintain cooperation with China and Russia, which seek a diplomatic solution to the nuclear crisis and not a new U.S. ally suddenly popping up on their borders. It also risks snuffing out hopes of persuading Kim's government to enter a negotiation when its survival isn't assured.

Military maneuvers are adding to tensions along the two Koreas' heavily militarized border. In a show of might to North Korea, U.S. bombers and fighter escorts flew Saturday to the farthest point north of the border between North and South Korea by any such American aircraft this century.

Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Rob Manning said Monday the operation was conducted in international airspace and legally permissible. The U.S. has a "deep arsenal of military options to provide the president so that he can then decide how he wants to deal with North Korea," he said.

"We are prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from an attack and are prepared to use the full range of capabilities at our disposal against the threat from North Korea," Manning told reporters.

North Korea's Ri said Monday that the world doesn't want "the war of words" between his country and the U.S. to "turn into real action." He said Trump's claim that "our leadership wouldn't be around much longer" exacerbates the situation.

"Given the fact that this comes from someone who is currently holding the seat of (the) United States presidency, this is clearly a declaration of war."

North Korea has responded to past U.S. slights by equating them to declarations of war  a state that still formally exists between them because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a formal peace treaty.

In 2013, North Korea declared its relations with South Korea, a close U.S. ally, in a "state of war" after U.S. and international condemnation of a nuclear test explosion. Three years later, North Korea said U.S. sanctions on leader Kim and other top officials were tantamount to a war declaration. After that, the North severed a tenuous diplomatic channel to the State Department, which was renewed once Trump took office.

"What we see is another case of North Korean 'coercion by bluster'," said Bruce Bennett, a Rand Corp. analyst. "The North Korean regime is trying to convince the United States and President Trump in particular to back down."

A rapid series of missile and nuclear tests this year have raised alarm that North Korea is nearing its longstanding ambition of having an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction capable of striking the United States.

The General Assembly gathering, usually a time for diplomacy, has only added to global unease over the nuclear standoff. In his first U.N. speech, Trump threatened to destroy Korea if it attacks the U.S. or its allies. Kim responded with a rare statement, calling Trump "deranged" and warning of a stern "countermeasure."

Hours later, Ri said the North's response could be to detonate a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific. Its past nuclear tests have been underground inside North Korea.
Free Speech Week at UC Berkeley was officially canceled, but that didn't stop right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos from making a quick, unsanctioned visit to the East Bay campus Sunday.

Flashing an American flag hoodie under a denim jacket, Yiannopoulos blew kisses to the crowd, posed for some selfies and addressed a couple dozen supporters without amplification while hundreds of protesters were kept away by police. Less than a half hour after appearing, Yiannopoulos was whisked away by an SUV.

Demonstrators from opposing sides of the political spectrum came face-to-face in Berkeley as right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos visited the East Bay campus.

It is not exactly clear what Yiannopoulos told a small crowd on the steps of Sproul Hall, but the conservative commentator could at one time be heard singing a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." He could also be seen hoisting signs into the air reading "Feminism is Cancer" and "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder," in part.

On his way out surrounded by members of his team, reporters and some hecklers, Yiannopoulos vowed to return to the birthplace of free speech.

"It was very important for us to show up today and let Berkeley know that we won't be deterred and let them know we'll be back as many times as it takes," he said.

[NATL-BAY]Demonstrators Face-Off at Milo Yiannopoulos Event in Berkeley

Berkeley police reported 11 arrests for violating a number of Berkeley municipal codes and California Penal Codes. Police announced that the arrested were: Keith Sherman, 30, Oakland; Kyle McCoy, 28, Oakland; Drean Coxburnett, 23, Berkeley; Jonathan Cho, 27, Oakland; Imalda Starling, 32, Berkeley; David Johnson, 24, Oakland; Rane Stark-Buhl, 27, Oakland; William Orr, 29 Oakland; Kelsey James, 24, Reno, NV; Gautam Reddy, 22, San Ramon; and Syth Feil, 30, Redwood Valley.

Before Yiannopoulos' appearance, chanting and shouting demonstrators had already gathered in Berkeley, coming face-to-face with one another as police tried to separate them.

An estimated $800,000 or more was spent on police personnel and extra support, according to University of California Police Department Chief Margo Bennett. Officers representing roughly eight to 10 agencies, among others, were on hand to keep the peace.

Six-figure spending on police was a "significant" cost, according to university spokesman Dan Mogulof, but it will not impact the university's budget or trigger any budget cuts.

Mogulof also joked that the money spent on mobilizing police for the short appearance amounted to "probably the most expensive photo op in the university's history."

"We would much rather have spent those resources in a different way  on the academic mission, on improving the student experience, infrastructure  I mean, we have serious budgetary needs," Mogulof said. "But our compliance with the First Amendment is not discretionary. Where we do have discretion is in all that we do to provide for the safety and well-being of the campus community."

Free Speech Week has been canceled, but event headliner Milo Yiannopoulos said he still plans to speak on the UC Berkeley campus on Sunday. Anser Hassan reports.

While the four-day long Free Speech Week has gone up in smoke, Bennett and Mogulof noted that university officials and police will be ready to handle any incidents that crop up over the coming days.

"We have to just be prepared for the unexpected I think this week," Mogulof said.



Demonstrators still remained in the vicinity of Sproul Plaza after Yiannopoulos left, at times clogging city streets and impacting traffic.

The student group Berkeley Patriot on Saturday informed UC Berkeley that Free Speech Week has been canceled, but event headliner Milo Yiannopoulos doubled down on his plans to come to the campus. Christie Smith reports.

Yiannopoulos' visit came one day after he took to Facebook Live to say that he would join Pamela Geller, Mike Cernovich and other speakers at Sproul Plaza at noon for a March for Free Speech  with the full backing of the Berkeley Police Department  even though the student group Berkeley Patriot informed the university that Free Speech Week had been canceled.

"We are going to be hosting an event come hell or high water tomorrow," Yiannopoulos said, vowing to proceed with or without UC Berkeley's or the students' cooperation.

NBC Bay Area's Christie Smith and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
If you think you have to look north to the Silicon Valley for your next invention ... think again.

In South Los Angeles, students in the Teens Exploring Technology (TxT) program are innovating technology with the mission to change the world and break stereotypes.

"South Central LA has a lot of talent, kids who know how to code, who know how to design and they're building their own companies," the founder and CEO of TxT Oscar Menjivar said.

Born in El Salvador, Menjivar is an immigrant who came to California when he was just seven years old. Growing up in South Central LA, he quickly learned that life for people like him could present a challenge.

"I had a lot of friends that were either on drugs or in gangs," Menjivar said.

But, he refused to follow in those footsteps. From the TED talks podium to the White House lawn, Menjivar has been sharing his story and his mission.

"For me it was important to start a program that would give kids an opportunity to excel, to go to college and find good jobs in the future."

And he has been doing just that: providing opportunity for teens like 16-year-old Anthony Ramirez in his TxT program. Ramirez is the project manager for his team's automated attendance invention that won the annual competition in August, along with a prize of $4,000 dollars.

University of Southern California's Annenberg School is already in talks with the young men to buy the invention which uses artificial intelligence.

"Coming from humble beginnings in an immigrant family, I really see the stereotypes when it comes to defining who we are as a people or even our work habits," Ramirez said. "And here at TxT we get rid of those prejudices and discrimination and we're seen for who we are and the potential we have to build these tech companies."

It may not be Silicon Valley, but these teens in South LA are proving that it doesn't have to be. In the eight years that the program has been around, 95 percent of their students have gone on to graduate college and are employed by companies like Google, Snapchat and Tinder.

Menjivar looks forward to the positive narrative spreading: "Let's tell them how inner city boys are changing the world through technology."
What to Know Anthony Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexting with a 15-year-old girl; he had faced up to 27 months

The former New York congressman cried before a judge sentenced him Monday; he said he was a very sick man and asked for no jail

Prosecutors said Weiner broke the law when he sent a 15-year-old porn and got her to take her clothes off and touch herself on Skype

A tearful Anthony Weiner was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison for sexting with a 15-year-old girl, a sentence prosecutors had sought to end the "tragic cycle" of sexting that not only destroyed his congressional career, but doomed his mayoral aspirations and his marriage.

The 53-year-old Democrat, dressed in a blue suit and wearing his wedding ring, dropped his head into his hand and wept as Judge Denise Cote handed down his sentence. Minutes earlier, he had pleaded with her to spare him prison time, fighting back tears as he read from a written statement on a page he held in front of him in Manhattan federal court.



He said he was "a very sick man for a very long time" and called his crime his "rock bottom." Weiner's behavior in all its lurid detail  including his online alias "Carlos Danger" and a selfie of his bulging underwear  turned him and his last name into an irresistible punchline for late-night comics and mortified his wife, former Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, again and again. He also said he failed their 5-year-old son.

"I betrayed his amazing mother," he said. " I was teaching him the wrong things.

The couple are getting divorced. She was not in the courtroom Monday; Weiner's parents were there.

Weiner had faced up to 27 months after pleading guilty to one charge of transferring obscene material to a minor. Prosecutors said he sent a 15-year-old girl porn and got her to take her clothes off and touch herself on Skype.

In sentencing Weiner, the judge said, "This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment."

Federal guidelines allow for "good time" credit up to 15 percent of the sentence, which means it's possible Weiner could serve 18 months. Weiner must surrender to prison officials by Nov. 6, so it's possible he'd be eligible for release in May 2019. His lawyers asked that he not be sent to maximum security lockup in New York, which means he may serve his sentence out of state. After serving his time, Weiner will also be subject to three years of supervised release, which will include monitoring of his digital life.

Mayor de Blasio called the sentencing "very, very sad" in an unrelated Q&A with media Monday afternoon.

"It's a human tragedy for his family, for him," the mayor said. "It's time for us to stop talking about it. It's over."

The sentencing completed the sordid downfall of the New York Democrat, whose penchant for exchanging lewd messages and photos with young women online destroyed his career in Congress in 2011, doomed his bid for mayor of New York in 2013, wrecked his marriage to Abedin, Hillary Clinton's closest aide, and became entangled in the 2016 presidential campaign.

The FBI was investigating Weiner's contact with the high school student when it came across emails on his laptop between Abedin and Clinton, prompting then-FBI Director James Comey to announce in late October 2016 that he was reopening the probe of Clinton's use of a private computer server.

Two days before Election Day, the FBI announced there was nothing new in the emails. But Clinton has blamed Comey's handling of the episode more than any other factor for her loss to Donald Trump. In a recent NBC interview, she called the FBI director's intervention "the determining factor" in her defeat.

Lawyers for the 53-year-old Weiner had argued for light sentencing, saying in court papers that he was undergoing treatment and was profoundly sorry for subjecting the North Carolina high school student to what his lawyers called his "deep sickness." They also portrayed the girl as an instigator, saying she wanted to generate material for a book and possibly influence the presidential election.

Prosecutors had said the victim's motives should not influence his punishment. They urged the judge to put Weiner's claims of a therapeutic awakening in the context of a man who made similar claims after embarrassing, widely publicized interactions with adult women before encountering the teenager online in January 2016.

The conduct "suggests a dangerous level of denial and lack of self-control," they said.
What to Know A 79-year-old man was approached by two would-be robbers who attacked him when he refused to give them money

The victim was punched and kicked over the course of several minutes, disturbing surveillance video shows

The victim suffered a fractured jaw, but will survive; the suspects are still on the loose

WARNING: Some may find the footage featured in this story disturbing



A defenseless man was beaten repeatedly after refusing to hand over money to two men who targeted him on a Bronx sidewalk, police say.

The vicious attack in Castle Hill early Friday morning was captured on home surveillance video obtained by NBC 4 New York.

Moments before the attack, the two suspects got out of a white sedan on Gleason Avenue, approached the 79-year-old man and demanded money from him, according to police.

After talking with the victim, one of the attackers can be seen shaking his hand before punching him in the face just seconds later. The force of the blow causes the older man to fall to the ground, the video shows.

The attacker continues to punch and kick the man as he lies helpless on the sidewalk, putting his hands up and pleading with the men to leave him alone.

He tries to shuffle into the street to get away from the men, but his attacker follows and continues to kick him in the face over and over again.

The two suspects eventually take off when a couple of bystanders walk by. It's unclear if they got left with the man's money.

The victim can be seen hobbling away in an apparent daze. He was taken to Montefiore Medical Center with a fractured jaw, police said.

One witness, who didn't want to be named, said he didn't come to the man's aid because he was frightened by a recent bout of violence in the area.

The brutality of the beating has left neighbors in the area rattled.

You cant even walk down the street without being attacked, Adam Algarin said. And an old man too? Whats happening?
Some of the 4,000 immigrants who gathered Wednesday in Los Angeles to take their U.S. citizenship oath let out a collective moan when they learned they were going to watch a videotaped message from President Donald Trump.

For them, the president's remarks welcoming them into the "American family" and urging them to help newcomers assimilate felt insincere after he previously ordered a travel ban, moved to end a program shielding nearly 800,000 young immigrants from deportation, and referred to Mexican immigrants as rapists.

"You look at the track of others things he's said and you don't feel like he's a genuine person to want to welcome new citizens," said Kevin Alvarado, a 21-year-old college student who arrived in the U.S. from Nicaragua as a toddler.

Others, however, appreciated Trump's message of unity  especially at a time of political division.

"I thought the video was great," said Moises Rodriguez, a 28-year-old wedding disc jockey who came from Mexico and supports Trump's tough stance on illegal immigration. "The fact that it was very important that we educate the people that are coming here to assimilate to what is the American dream  I thought that was very important."

Such messages are a key part of naturalization ceremonies. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush also produced video messages for use during the events.

In his message, Trump welcomes citizens and tells them they should teach American values to others and "help newcomers assimilate to our way of life."

"Our history is now your history. And our traditions are now your traditions," he said.

The speeches by Bush and Obama also mentioned the values of American citizenship. But Trump's remarks struck a different tone.

"His message seems to be much more, 'You need to fold yourself into the American fabric of American citizenship,'" said Jason Edwards, a professor of communication at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. "There is not a message about the journey of immigrants."

Trump's video debuted as more immigrants are applying to become American citizens.

More than a million people filed applications for citizenship in the year ending in March, up 23 percent from a year earlier, according to statistics from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Legal service organizations that assist immigrants with the process say they saw a surge in interest after the president issued executive orders on immigration.

Immigrants who want to become U.S. citizens generally must have been legal permanent residents of the U.S. for at least three years, show good moral character and pass English and civics tests that cover topics such as the Constitution and the presidency.

Sarah Thompson, a 42-year-old software product manager from Canada, said she filed her application to naturalize the day after Trump was elected.

She said his aggressive stance on immigration made her want to shore up her standing in this country  and it didn't seem to match the videotaped remarks played at the Los Angeles ceremony.

"It didn't seem sincere to me given how he has conducted himself during his presidency so far," Thompson said after becoming a U.S. citizen.
President Donald Trump implored his supporters Friday to get behind an establishment-backed incumbent in a Republican runoff race in Alabama, arguing that Sen. Luther Strange will "drain the swamp" and doesn't know the Senate Majority Leader "at all."

At a raucous rally in Huntsville, Alabama, the president insisted to thousands of cheering fans that backing Strange  who was appointed in February to temporarily fill the seat that opened up when Jeff Sessions became attorney general  would help further the Trump agenda.

"Since the day Big Luther arrived in the United States Senate, Luther has always been for us," Trump said.

Despite Trump's endorsement and heavy spending by a super political action committee tied to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Strange remains locked in a tight race against former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, a jurist known for opposing gay marriage and pushing unsuccessfully for the public display of the Ten Commandments.

Trump said Strange had wrongly been branded an establishment insider, saying people have unfairly claimed Strange is "friendly with Mitch." Trump called that a "bum rap."

He also praised Strange for agreeing to back Republican health care legislation with no strings attached, saying, "That's the coolest thing that's happened to me in six months."

Trump noted the Alabama race was close, but said he appreciated Strange's support during the push to overhaul President Barack Obama's health care law. Said Trump, "We have to be loyal in life."

Moore is favored by many of Trump's supporters and allies, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who headlined a rally for Moore Thursday night.

Moore also appears to have the support of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson  though a confidant insisted his praise wasn't an endorsement.

In a statement released by Moore's campaign, Carson called the former judge a "fine man of proven character and integrity" who "reflects the Judeo-Christian values that were so important to the establishment of our country."

But Armstrong Williams insisted the praise was "not an endorsement" and said Carson was "just showing support for his friend."

The president acknowledged he had friends who supported Moore  Including some who worked for Trump, though he joked, "They may not have a job by Monday." And he said that if Moore wins, "I'm going to be here campaigning like hell for him."

While Trump emphasized his support for Strange, his freewheeling speech also delved into his White House agenda, as well as many of his campaign themes.

He lashed out at North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, calling him a "madman." He criticized Sen. John McCain for opposing Republican efforts to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama's health care law. He discussed his long-promised border wall, called allegations of Russian election meddling a "hoax," and relived his 2016 general election victory at length.

Alabamians attending the Friday night rally were united in support of Trump, but divided over who should be the state's next senator. And for some Alabama Republicans, the support of a president they adore wasn't enough to dissuade them from supporting Moore.

"Vote for Roy Moore, a man of God," Cal Zastrow repeated to the supporters filing into the Von Braun Civic Center, often getting a thumbs up or enthusiastic "I am" in reply.

One of those was Laura Skipper. She attended rallies in support of Moore in 2003 when he was removed as Alabama chief justice.

"I am a huge supporter of President Trump. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the president, but I am a Moore supporter. I love what he stands for," Skipper said.

Moore led Strange in the first round of GOP voting, but not by enough to avoid the runoff. The two Republicans traded jabs at a Thursday night debate, with Strange stressing that "the president supports me" and Moore arguing that McConnell and the "elite Washington establishment" were trying to influence the race.

Both have emphasized their support for Trump, who remains popular in the deep red state.

Trump allies say he is genuinely appreciative of Strange's loyalty and support. The visit also the urging of top Republicans, who worry Moore would be a disruptive figure in the Senate, or might even lose to Democrat Doug Jones. McConnell spoke with Trump recently and assured him that Strange was much more competitive than recent public polls suggested, according to a person with knowledge of the call who requested anonymity to discuss it.

In 2010 and 2012, the GOP had a few disastrous Senate primaries where extreme candidates won and then lost winnable races to Democrats in the general election. Since then, McConnell has been determined not to let it happen again  and has succeeded in every instance.

But the pro-Moore forces have shown no signs of retreat. He is also being boosted by conservative website Breitbart News and the Great America Alliance, an advocacy group that supports Trump.
Calling it a "heinous" act, authorities in Massachusetts said they're looking for a "low life" who dumped a bag full of puppies in a river.

Uxbridge police said the six puppies were left for dead sometime between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday after being tied up in a grain bag and dumped in the Blackstone River near River Road. They were rescued by kayakers.

"They are all doing well, considering the circumstances, and we believe they will all survive," the department said in a Facebook post.

"It's unconscionable that someone would do that - take six fairly newborn puppies and discard them in a body of water," Uxbridge Police Chief Jeffrey Lourie said.

"I think it's terrible. There's so many other things you could do without having to go to that extreme of trying to kill puppies," added Suzanne Lytwynec of Uxbridge, who owns a dog of her own.

Amazingly, Lourie said the puppies were spotted floating down the river, likely shortly after they were dumped.

"Two kayakers came across and rescued them. They heard the puppies whimpering in a potato sack and came to their rescue," he said.

One of the puppies that was on the bottom of the bag had quite a bit of water in his lungs.

"Up until this morning, he was still pushing mud out of his nose," Uxbridge Animal Control Officer Kevin Sullivan said.

The puppies will be cared for by a professional until they're old enough to be adopted, probably in a few weeks.

"Very sweet dogs. They're eventually going to turn out to be great house pets," Sullivan said.

Police said they are looking to speak with a male who was seen on a mountain bike in the area of River Road around the time they believe the puppies were dumped.

PETA has offered up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the act.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Uxbridge Police Officer Benjamin Smoot at 508-278-7755.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said Saturday he will stop flying private planes on official business while an internal review of the flights is being done and that he welcomes the review.

Price defended the practice of using private planes on Fox News. A spokeswoman has said Price tries to fly commercial whenever possible.

The HHS inspector general's office says the agency is reviewing Price's charter flights to see if they violated government travel regulations.

Price, a former Republican House member from Georgia, chartered flights to a resort in Maine where he was part of a discussion with a health care industry CEO. That was according to a report in Politico. He also chartered flights to community health centers in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.

The cost of Price's chartered flights exceeds $300,000, according to Politico's report.

Price said all the flights were work-related and used for official business, including for trips related to the opioid crisis or the recent hurricanes.

"But we've heard the criticism," Price said. "We've heard the concerns. And we take that very seriously and have taken it to heart."

Congressional Democrats last week chastised Price, saying he wasted taxpayer money by chartering five private flights last week for official business when cheaper travel options were available.

To Democrats, Price's expensive travel smacked of hypocrisy given President Donald Trump's campaign pledge to "drain the swamp" of money and influence in Washington and Price's long-standing criticism of government waste.
Police are searching for a man who allegedly attacked a dog with a machete last week in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Officers responded to a Church Street home Sept. 17 at about 10:30 p.m. after receiving multiple calls of the attack. When police arrived, they found bystanders tending to a dog who lay bleeding on the ground.

Witnesses told police the man, now identified as Thomas Vargas, 45, yelling, "Im going to kill this ****ing dog."

According to police, the dog had been stabbed in the neck and spine.

The dog was treated at a nearby animal hospital and was taken into the custody of animal control.

Taunton Police Department

The dog's owner was also injured in the attack while trying to intervene and was treated at an area hospital.

Authorities said the woman would not cooperate with officers who wanted to speak to her about the incident.

Police have now issued a warrant for Vargas' arrest. He was last known to live in the Brockton area.

Vargas is facing charges of animal cruelty and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (machete).
A New Hampshire man is facing charges after allegedly letting his girlfriend's 11-year-old son drive his SUV with the child's 3-year-old brother in the backseat.

Enrique Moreno, 37, of Manchester was arrested Friday evening and charged with two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a controlled drug.

Manchester police said an officer noticed a 2002 Acura MDX committing several traffic violations around Putnam Street and eventually stopped the SUV near Blucher Street.

Moreno allegedly exited the SUV from the vehicle's passenger side and tried to speak with the officer before he made it to the driver's side window. He was ordered back into the SUV as the officer who pulled the vehicle over walked to the driver's side, police said.

When the officer made it to the driver's side of the Acura, he realized the driver was a child, so he took the keys out of the ignition and put the child in the backseat with his brother, who was buckled into his car seat, according to police.

The mother of the two boys - who is dating Moreno - arrived at the scene and Moreno was then arrested.

Police said they also found a small amount of marijuana, heroin and cocaine during a search of the SUV.

Moreno is currently out on bail. No one answered the door at his home Monday.

It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.
Five days after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, some Massachusetts families are growing desperate to hear from their loved ones after having the lines of communication cut off.

Neddy Latimer of Leominster is in panic mode after not hearing from her family in Guanica for weeks.

"Let me tell you something. I am sick to my stomach," Latimer said Monday at the Spanish American Center. "I can't sleep at night not knowing about my family."

Latimer said she's been calling every day with no answer. She was born in Guanica and has a home there. She was in Puerto Rico visiting, but left the day before Hurricane Irma hit.

Latimer said she saw the long gas lines and scarcity of water, so she thought it was best she head back to Massachusetts. Since she left over three weeks ago, she hasn't heard a word from anyone.

There are 15,000 people in the Leominster and Fitchburg area with connections to Puerto Rico, according to the Spanish American Center. Latimer said the center has been inundated with calls.

"People who want to travel to Puerto Rico to go help with clean up  I tell them to wait," Latimer said. "It's too dangerous to go right now."

Latimer herself plans to head down Oct. 15 but is still nervous about electricity and no running water.

The Spanish American Center is planning several fundraisers in conjunction with their local churches in the coming weeks. They hope to bring down supplies to people who need it.

The American Red Cross said it needs volunteers after the wave of hurricanes, but the volunteers need to be prepared for what they are walking into.

"We want these people to be part of the solution and not the problem so we do require a minimum of training," said Lynn Levine, the communications director for the Boston Red Cross.

Levine said the string of hurricanes and the recovery effort is unprecedented. She said the Red Cross has never experienced something on this scale before.

"Wildfires in the west and tornadoes in the Midwest  we have done that before, but never on this scale. So I would say this is unprecedented," said Levine.

From hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria, the Red Cross in Boston is using every one of its resources including their staff.

"My CEO is leaving tomorrow morning for Puerto Rico. She has family there right now," said Levine.

With scarce running water and no electricity safety in Puerto Rico, residents are left with little resources to help them survive.

"They've lost pots, pans, and sheets, things you don't even think about," said Levine.

The Red Cross said they still need volunteers and are always looking for financial donations.

"The recovery is actually just starting. We have to get these people on a path recovery and resilience," said Levine.
The mother of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds is speaking out about her decision to declare her daughter dead.

In an exclusive sit-down interview, Trista Reynolds said she has no reason to believe Ayla is alive and doesnt believe investigators will ever find her remains.

Ayla was reported missing nearly six years ago from her fathers Waterville home, triggering the largest search and criminal investigation in Maine state history.

Aylas father, Justin DiPietro, told police the toddler was abducted, but police say there is no evidence to support his claim.

Investigators say Aylas blood was discovered in DiPietros basement, and that they do not believe Ayla is alive.

If Reynolds can obtain Aylas death certificate, she can begin the process of a civil lawsuit against DiPietro for Aylas death.

Nobody wants to stand in front of a judge and ask them to declare their child dead, said Reynolds. But when its the only way to get justice... what are you going to do?

Reynolds said she wants to depose DiPietro, his sister, and his ex-girlfriend, the last people to see Ayla alive. Investigators say those three people have not been forthcoming and may hold the key to the case.

I hope they do kind of contradict each other [in their testimony] and someone slips, said Reynolds. I hope somebody tells the truth.

While Reynolds hopes a civil case will produce new evidence, she does not believe investigators will ever find Aylas body based on conversations she has had with police.

There are some things that I know that nobody else knows, and there are things Ive seen that nobody else has seen, she said, not wanting to compromise the criminal case. What I do know, is no, I dont think theyll ever find Aylas body.

A judge heard testimony last Thursday for Aylas death declaration. He is expected to issue a decision sometime this week.

Justin DiPietro could not be reached for comment. He now lives in California.
A Massachusetts school community is reeling after a second grade teacher was found dead inside her Revere home over the weekend.

Calling 30-year-old Vanessa MacCormack "a talented, dedicated and passionate educator," Lynn Public Schools' superintendent said her death was a tragedy.

The principal of Connery Elementary School, where MacCormack taught for five years, said the school's community is "heartbroken" over her death.

"Vanessa was loved by students, parents, and colleagues. She was involved in every aspect of the school and a great friend to everyone on staff," Dr. Mary Dill, the principal of Connery Elementary, said in a statement.

Grief counselors were available for students and staff at Connery Elementary on Monday.

"She's just an amazing teacher. She's very outgoing, always happy," Sarort Poum, an aunt of a student, said. "My nephew was really sad. He didn't believe me."

Lynn's mayor and school committee chair said the death was shocking.

"She was a very promising young woman and had a bright future ahead of her," Mayor Judy Kennedy said. "We were all very saddened to hear of the terrible news."

Authorities say they found MacCormack's body inside her home at 93 Grand View Ave. in Revere on Saturday afternoon. Neighbors say she lived there with her child and significant other.

Investigators say a preliminary examination at the scene revealed what they're calling signs of trauma on her body, but would not go into details, only adding that her death was not an accident.

No arrests have been made in connection with the case.

MacCormack's family posted a statement on social media saying, "She was an amazing mother, sister, daughter, friend, cousin, wife and teacher. She did not deserve this."

Anyone with information regarding MacCormack's death is asked to call police.
Police say a 13-year-old boy was killed and another child was injured when they were struck by a vehicle in Springfield, Massachusetts, that allegedly left the scene.

Capt. Richard Labelle says the children were struck on Breckwood Boulevard at about 7:15 p.m. Sunday.

One child, identified Monday as Nathaniel Acevedo, died at the hospital. The other victim, whose age has not been released, is expected to survive.

Police charged 35-year-old Joshua Cutler, of Springfield, with leaving the scene. He was held on $35,000 bail after pleading not guilty to that charge and had his bail revoked in an unrelated case.

He was assigned a public defender who did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

The investigation remains ongoing.
By PTI

BENGALURU: Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, has signed a Rs five crore MoU with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, to enhance infrastructure and broaden research activities at the centre for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDR).

"With this MoU, Infosys Foundation aims to set milestones in the area of research of infectious diseases.

We will focus on motivating researchers to perform cutting-edge research, as well as train them to raise awareness about infectious diseases," Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy said in a statement here.

Rs five crore grant will be used towards research, training and creating awareness, about infectious diseases, benefiting 25 faculty members and 250 students at IISc, Murthy said.

IISc is a public university for research and higher education in all science and engineering disciplines.

This association will facilitate an interdisciplinary approach, with a focus on research about infectious diseases, leading to the development of new drug targets, drug delivery systems and novel diagnostic tools, she said.

BENGALURU: Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, has signed a Rs five crore MoU with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, to enhance infrastructure and broaden research activities at the centre for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDR). "With this MoU, Infosys Foundation aims to set milestones in the area of research of infectious diseases. We will focus on motivating researchers to perform cutting-edge research, as well as train them to raise awareness about infectious diseases," Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy said in a statement here. Rs five crore grant will be used towards research, training and creating awareness, about infectious diseases, benefiting 25 faculty members and 250 students at IISc, Murthy said. IISc is a public university for research and higher education in all science and engineering disciplines. This association will facilitate an interdisciplinary approach, with a focus on research about infectious diseases, leading to the development of new drug targets, drug delivery systems and novel diagnostic tools, she said.
By Online Desk

A senior journalist was hospitalized after being allegedly assaulted by the police at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday night. Sajeev Gopalan, working with Kerala Kaumudi journalist was attacked in front of his wife and daughter by a team of policemen, a Malayalam media reported.

Earlier, the scribe had reported an attack on two girls in Idava Panchayat of Thiruvananthapuram. He had mentioned about police interference in the case, and the assault is said to be an act of revenge against him by the force.

According to the media report, two policemen arrived at Sajeev's house in Varkala on Sunday around 10 PM. The duo started beating Sajeev up, who was seeing off a few guests after dinner. The officers later contacted the local Sub Inspector via wireless, who came with more men and joined the attack.

Sajeev was followed inside his apartment and further beaten in front of his family. His wife and daughter were allegedly abused by the police.

Sajeev is undergoing treatment at Varkala Taluk hospital. A complaint has been registered with the Director-General of Police against the accused SI by the journalist fraternity of Kerala.



A senior journalist was hospitalized after being allegedly assaulted by the police at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday night. Sajeev Gopalan, working with Kerala Kaumudi journalist was attacked in front of his wife and daughter by a team of policemen, a Malayalam media reported. Earlier, the scribe had reported an attack on two girls in Idava Panchayat of Thiruvananthapuram. He had mentioned about police interference in the case, and the assault is said to be an act of revenge against him by the force. According to the media report, two policemen arrived at Sajeev's house in Varkala on Sunday around 10 PM. The duo started beating Sajeev up, who was seeing off a few guests after dinner. The officers later contacted the local Sub Inspector via wireless, who came with more men and joined the attack. Sajeev was followed inside his apartment and further beaten in front of his family. His wife and daughter were allegedly abused by the police. Sajeev is undergoing treatment at Varkala Taluk hospital. A complaint has been registered with the Director-General of Police against the accused SI by the journalist fraternity of Kerala.
A Sharadhaa By

Express News Service

There was a lot of speculation around the Tamil and Telugu remakes of Pawan Kumars critically acclaimed film U-Turn, especially about their lead cast.

Initially, there were reports that the film was to be shot with Samantha Ruth Prabhu playing the female lead, with Pawan Kumar making his Tollywood debut. Later we heard that Nithya Menen was replacing Samantha and that the team was in search of a director who can helm the remakes in both the languages. But the latest development puts all rumours to rest with the team signing on Samantha as heroine, and the actress has allocated dates for the movies schedule.

The production house always only had Samantha in mind because she was keen to be part of this heroine-centric film, an industry source tells City Express.

In fact nobody else had been approached for the role and we were wondering how Nithya Menens name came into the picture. All will be cleared up once the filmmakers make their official announcement, which they will, once they decide when to take the movie to the floors.

Samantha is also waiting for the release of her upcoming film Mersal, with Vijay. On the personal front, the actress is busy with her wedding preparation and she is set to tie the knot with Naga Chaitanya on October 6.

Meanwhile, it has not yet been decided who will helm both the remakes. The director will be decided and shared with us when signs are placed on the dotted line.

U-Turn made in Kannada under Pawan Kumar Studios featured Shraddha Srinath in the lead with Roger Narayan and Dilip Raj among others in the cast. The film was screened at the New York Indian Film Festival 2016, and also did well in Karnataka.

There was a lot of speculation around the Tamil and Telugu remakes of Pawan Kumars critically acclaimed film U-Turn, especially about their lead cast. Initially, there were reports that the film was to be shot with Samantha Ruth Prabhu playing the female lead, with Pawan Kumar making his Tollywood debut. Later we heard that Nithya Menen was replacing Samantha and that the team was in search of a director who can helm the remakes in both the languages. But the latest development puts all rumours to rest with the team signing on Samantha as heroine, and the actress has allocated dates for the movies schedule. The production house always only had Samantha in mind because she was keen to be part of this heroine-centric film, an industry source tells City Express. In fact nobody else had been approached for the role and we were wondering how Nithya Menens name came into the picture. All will be cleared up once the filmmakers make their official announcement, which they will, once they decide when to take the movie to the floors. Samantha is also waiting for the release of her upcoming film Mersal, with Vijay. On the personal front, the actress is busy with her wedding preparation and she is set to tie the knot with Naga Chaitanya on October 6. Meanwhile, it has not yet been decided who will helm both the remakes. The director will be decided and shared with us when signs are placed on the dotted line. U-Turn made in Kannada under Pawan Kumar Studios featured Shraddha Srinath in the lead with Roger Narayan and Dilip Raj among others in the cast. The film was screened at the New York Indian Film Festival 2016, and also did well in Karnataka.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah today took stock of the party's year-long expansion drive as its national executive meeting began today during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to answer opposition's criticism of the state of the economy.

After inaugurating the two-day meeting here, Shah held a meeting with office-bearers, state chiefs and key organisational leaders to finalise agenda items, including resolutions, which the national executive is expected to discuss on September 25, the birth anniversary of Hindutva icon Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

During the office bearers' meeting, Shah reviewed the performance of the party in the last one year and its activities, party general secretary Bhupender Yadav said.

It was also decided to take forward prime minister Modi's 'Swachh Bharat' mission and the resolve to establish a 'New India' and make them a success.

General Secretary Vinay Sahasrabuddhe also shared the details of Shah's country-wide tour during the meeting and said the party chief travelled 50,000 km and interacted with 18,000 workers across the country to strengthen the BJP.

More than 4 lakh party workers, covered 4,100 assembly seats across the country to mark the birth centenary of Upadhyaya, Yadav said.

To mark the birth centenary celebrations of Upadhyaya, the party has also dedicated the year to the 'welfare of the poor' and the government has taken various initiatives on this front while curbing corruption, he said.

A key highlight of the meeting will be the presence of the party's all elected lawmakers -- close to 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs and all MLCs, besides its core group leaders from states among others on Monday.

Modi, who will deliver the valedictory address on Monday, may use the opportunity to highlight his government's pro-poor measures and other policy decisions.

With the opposition parties attacking the government's handling of the economy by citing the fall in GDP rate and demonetisation figures, Modi is expected to take them on and highlight his dispensation's "successes" in boosting transparency and curbing black money, party sources said.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has consistently attacked the government over the economy during his visit to the US.

The BJP sources said the party's resolution is likely to assert that the economy has been doing better under the NDA than it did under the previous UPA government.

The roll-out of the GST has been described by the party as a major success of the government which, it has asserted, will integrate the country's economy.

The prime minister's agenda of development is also expected to be a key feature.

A senior party leader said the issue of Rohingya immigrants, whom the government has termed a threat to security, may also find a mention.

With the government and the party embracing Upadhyaya's plank of 'antyodaya' (upliftment of the last man), the executive is expected to cite a number of measures taken by the Union and the BJP-ruled states for the poor's welfare.

NEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah today took stock of the party's year-long expansion drive as its national executive meeting began today during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to answer opposition's criticism of the state of the economy. After inaugurating the two-day meeting here, Shah held a meeting with office-bearers, state chiefs and key organisational leaders to finalise agenda items, including resolutions, which the national executive is expected to discuss on September 25, the birth anniversary of Hindutva icon Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. During the office bearers' meeting, Shah reviewed the performance of the party in the last one year and its activities, party general secretary Bhupender Yadav said. It was also decided to take forward prime minister Modi's 'Swachh Bharat' mission and the resolve to establish a 'New India' and make them a success. General Secretary Vinay Sahasrabuddhe also shared the details of Shah's country-wide tour during the meeting and said the party chief travelled 50,000 km and interacted with 18,000 workers across the country to strengthen the BJP. More than 4 lakh party workers, covered 4,100 assembly seats across the country to mark the birth centenary of Upadhyaya, Yadav said. To mark the birth centenary celebrations of Upadhyaya, the party has also dedicated the year to the 'welfare of the poor' and the government has taken various initiatives on this front while curbing corruption, he said. A key highlight of the meeting will be the presence of the party's all elected lawmakers -- close to 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs and all MLCs, besides its core group leaders from states among others on Monday. Modi, who will deliver the valedictory address on Monday, may use the opportunity to highlight his government's pro-poor measures and other policy decisions. With the opposition parties attacking the government's handling of the economy by citing the fall in GDP rate and demonetisation figures, Modi is expected to take them on and highlight his dispensation's "successes" in boosting transparency and curbing black money, party sources said. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has consistently attacked the government over the economy during his visit to the US. The BJP sources said the party's resolution is likely to assert that the economy has been doing better under the NDA than it did under the previous UPA government. The roll-out of the GST has been described by the party as a major success of the government which, it has asserted, will integrate the country's economy. The prime minister's agenda of development is also expected to be a key feature. A senior party leader said the issue of Rohingya immigrants, whom the government has termed a threat to security, may also find a mention. With the government and the party embracing Upadhyaya's plank of 'antyodaya' (upliftment of the last man), the executive is expected to cite a number of measures taken by the Union and the BJP-ruled states for the poor's welfare.
By Express News Service

MUMBAI: Noted writer and journalist Arun Sadhu passed away here at the Sion hospital in the early hours of Monday. He was 76.



Sadhu was admitted to hospital on Sunday morning in a critical condition. He was kept on ventilator support in the intensive care unit. He suffered from an old heart condition of cardiomyopathy. His heart was not responding, said doctors at the government hospital.



Sadhu breathed his last at around 4.30 am.

His mortal remains would be taken to his residence at Bandra and his body would be kept there for some time before it would be transferred back to the hospital.

According to his last wishes, no rites would be performed and his body will be donated to the hospital for research, his family members said.



Sadhu ventured into the fields of journalism and literature with equal ease. He had excellent command over Marathi as well as English. Starting with Kesri, he moved on to Manoos (both Marathi publications from Pune) and then to Indian Express, Times Of India, Statesman and Free Press journal in his 30 years in of journalism. He headed the journalism department of Pune university for six years.



He also wrote extensively on the Comunist revolutions in Russia, China and Cuba. He ventured into almost all forms of Marathi literature.

He wrote political novels in Marathi, creating a new trend in Marathi literature. His novels Simhasan and Mumbai Dinank are considered as masterpiece even today.

Director-producer Jabbar Patel made his movie Simhasan based on Sadhus novel that remains one of the greatest hits of all time.



Arun Sadhu was conferred with several awards including the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad, N C Kelkar award, Acharya Atre award, Janasthan Award of the Kusumagraj Pratishthan of Nashik and lifetime achievement award from the Maharashtra Foundation in the US. He was also the president of 80th Annual Marathi Literary meet.

MUMBAI: Noted writer and journalist Arun Sadhu passed away here at the Sion hospital in the early hours of Monday. He was 76. Sadhu was admitted to hospital on Sunday morning in a critical condition. He was kept on ventilator support in the intensive care unit. He suffered from an old heart condition of cardiomyopathy. His heart was not responding, said doctors at the government hospital. Sadhu breathed his last at around 4.30 am. His mortal remains would be taken to his residence at Bandra and his body would be kept there for some time before it would be transferred back to the hospital. According to his last wishes, no rites would be performed and his body will be donated to the hospital for research, his family members said. Sadhu ventured into the fields of journalism and literature with equal ease. He had excellent command over Marathi as well as English. Starting with Kesri, he moved on to Manoos (both Marathi publications from Pune) and then to Indian Express, Times Of India, Statesman and Free Press journal in his 30 years in of journalism. He headed the journalism department of Pune university for six years. He also wrote extensively on the Comunist revolutions in Russia, China and Cuba. He ventured into almost all forms of Marathi literature. He wrote political novels in Marathi, creating a new trend in Marathi literature. His novels Simhasan and Mumbai Dinank are considered as masterpiece even today. Director-producer Jabbar Patel made his movie Simhasan based on Sadhus novel that remains one of the greatest hits of all time. Arun Sadhu was conferred with several awards including the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad, N C Kelkar award, Acharya Atre award, Janasthan Award of the Kusumagraj Pratishthan of Nashik and lifetime achievement award from the Maharashtra Foundation in the US. He was also the president of 80th Annual Marathi Literary meet.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: The ongoing student unrest at the Banaras Hindu University in Uttar Pradesh turned violent late on Saturday night after students and police clashed on the campus. Several female students and two journalists were reported to have been injured in the police action.

Protests began on the campus on Friday as the university authorities, students claimed, refused to act on complaints of sexual harrassment. The protest, mostly by female students, was peaceful till Saturday night. On Friday, students held a 13-hour demonstration at the main gate of the university while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a visit to the holy city.

Sources claimed the protest turned violent on Saturday after inmates of the boys hostel pledged their support. They allegedly tried to barge into Vice-Chancellor GC Tripathis residence to lodge their protest, prompting the police to resort to lathi-charge. The violence quickly spiralled into heavy brick-batting, arson and vandalism. The police and campus authorities accused students of attacking the security forces with stones and even petrol bombs.

The protestors claimed their demands were only for the VC to visit them, listen to their demands and take action against eve-teasers. They also demanded better security for girls on campus. The VC is understood to have remained silent on the demands. Finally, after the violence on Sunday, the police lodged FIRs against the eve-teasers, and protesters. An FIR was also lodged against those who were alleged to have provoked the students through a Facebook page called the BHU buzz. The protest was live-streamed on the page.

It all began after a girl was harassed by some miscreants near the Bharat Kala Bhawan while she was returning to her hostel in Triveni complex around 7 pm last week. Despite reporting the matter to the proctorial boards security personnel, she got no help. Instead, she was asked why she was out of the hostel after sunset. The incident and resultant protest have exposed major loopholes in the security of women on the campus, the protesters said.

VC Tripathi claimed he did not meet the students as there were intelligence inputs hinting there could be more trouble if he went to the venue of the protest. He claimed the violence was the handiwork of some outside elements. They joined the girl students and made arrangements to vitiate the campus atmosphere, he said.

Meanwhile, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the issue. BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU, he said, reacting to the attacks on female students.

Police presence at the campus was intensified on Sunday, with SP (city) Dinesh Singh camping on the spot. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the Commissioner.

1. What kicked-off the protests?

A woman student was allegedly harassed by men on a bike. This triggered protests, which began on Friday, against the spike in eve-teasing incidents on campus. Protesting students allegedly tried to barge into the Vice Chancellors house

2. How did the violence erupt?

Security guards stopped the protesters and called the police. The students then attacked security forces with stones and even petrol bombs, said university sources, adding that the police resorted to lathicharge

3. Whats the situation now?

The police have registered FIRs against the eve-teasers and protesters. Nearly 1,500 cops are deployed in and around the campus. CM Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the Commissioner. The university will be shut from today

LUCKNOW: The ongoing student unrest at the Banaras Hindu University in Uttar Pradesh turned violent late on Saturday night after students and police clashed on the campus. Several female students and two journalists were reported to have been injured in the police action. Protests began on the campus on Friday as the university authorities, students claimed, refused to act on complaints of sexual harrassment. The protest, mostly by female students, was peaceful till Saturday night. On Friday, students held a 13-hour demonstration at the main gate of the university while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a visit to the holy city. Sources claimed the protest turned violent on Saturday after inmates of the boys hostel pledged their support. They allegedly tried to barge into Vice-Chancellor GC Tripathis residence to lodge their protest, prompting the police to resort to lathi-charge. The violence quickly spiralled into heavy brick-batting, arson and vandalism. The police and campus authorities accused students of attacking the security forces with stones and even petrol bombs. The protestors claimed their demands were only for the VC to visit them, listen to their demands and take action against eve-teasers. They also demanded better security for girls on campus. The VC is understood to have remained silent on the demands. Finally, after the violence on Sunday, the police lodged FIRs against the eve-teasers, and protesters. An FIR was also lodged against those who were alleged to have provoked the students through a Facebook page called the BHU buzz. The protest was live-streamed on the page. It all began after a girl was harassed by some miscreants near the Bharat Kala Bhawan while she was returning to her hostel in Triveni complex around 7 pm last week. Despite reporting the matter to the proctorial boards security personnel, she got no help. Instead, she was asked why she was out of the hostel after sunset. The incident and resultant protest have exposed major loopholes in the security of women on the campus, the protesters said. VC Tripathi claimed he did not meet the students as there were intelligence inputs hinting there could be more trouble if he went to the venue of the protest. He claimed the violence was the handiwork of some outside elements. They joined the girl students and made arrangements to vitiate the campus atmosphere, he said. Meanwhile, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the issue. BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU, he said, reacting to the attacks on female students. Police presence at the campus was intensified on Sunday, with SP (city) Dinesh Singh camping on the spot. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the Commissioner. 1. What kicked-off the protests? A woman student was allegedly harassed by men on a bike. This triggered protests, which began on Friday, against the spike in eve-teasing incidents on campus. Protesting students allegedly tried to barge into the Vice Chancellors house 2. How did the violence erupt? Security guards stopped the protesters and called the police. The students then attacked security forces with stones and even petrol bombs, said university sources, adding that the police resorted to lathicharge 3. Whats the situation now? The police have registered FIRs against the eve-teasers and protesters. Nearly 1,500 cops are deployed in and around the campus. CM Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the Commissioner. The university will be shut from today
By PTI

NEW DELHI/ KOZHIKODE: The VHP today attacked former vice-president Hamid Ansari for attending an event organised by the women's wing of Popular Front of India which is under the scanner for alleged links with terror outfits.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain said Ansari stands exposed after attending the programme.

"He was spreading dissatisfaction in the Muslim community even when he was holding the post of Vice President," he said.

Ansari attended the two-day international conference on "the role of women in making humane society" in Kerala's Kozhikode organised by the Institute of Objective Studies in association with the National Women's Front, the women's wing of the PFI.

However, PFI sources in Kerala said that only the Delhi-based Institute of Objective Studies organised the event and the PFI has not organised it.

Jain in a statement alleged that the PFI is nothing but a new and extended avatar of banned outfit SIMI.

He also alleged that the PFI is involved in terror activities and the killing of "patriots" in Kerala.

Earlier, the Calicut University which had allowed the programme to be held at the varsity campus, later cancelled the permission saying that the Federation of Muslim Colleges, the parent body of the Chair of Islamic Studies at the University, objected to certain organisations which were not part of of the programme later collaborating with it.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a report to the Union Home Ministry had claimed that the PFI has been involved in terror acts, including running terror camps and making bombs, and it was a fit case to be declared banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The PFI reportedly has presence in 23 states and is strongest in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

NEW DELHI/ KOZHIKODE: The VHP today attacked former vice-president Hamid Ansari for attending an event organised by the women's wing of Popular Front of India which is under the scanner for alleged links with terror outfits. Vishwa Hindu Parishad Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain said Ansari stands exposed after attending the programme. "He was spreading dissatisfaction in the Muslim community even when he was holding the post of Vice President," he said. Ansari attended the two-day international conference on "the role of women in making humane society" in Kerala's Kozhikode organised by the Institute of Objective Studies in association with the National Women's Front, the women's wing of the PFI. However, PFI sources in Kerala said that only the Delhi-based Institute of Objective Studies organised the event and the PFI has not organised it. Jain in a statement alleged that the PFI is nothing but a new and extended avatar of banned outfit SIMI. He also alleged that the PFI is involved in terror activities and the killing of "patriots" in Kerala. Earlier, the Calicut University which had allowed the programme to be held at the varsity campus, later cancelled the permission saying that the Federation of Muslim Colleges, the parent body of the Chair of Islamic Studies at the University, objected to certain organisations which were not part of of the programme later collaborating with it. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a report to the Union Home Ministry had claimed that the PFI has been involved in terror acts, including running terror camps and making bombs, and it was a fit case to be declared banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The PFI reportedly has presence in 23 states and is strongest in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Tom Arms By

Be scared. Be very scared. In fact if you saw, listened to or read about US President Donald Trumps UN address than you are probably terrified. If not, then think again. Trump used the occasion of his first speech to the General Assembly to draw red lines across the map and dare his opponents to cross them. North Korea, Iran and Venezuela are the new axis of evil. In one breath he called for an international order based on a respect for national sovereignty and with the next bullied those who oppose him.

The United Nations and international cooperation enjoyed early support, but then the president contradicted himself by threatening to go it alone with a new and frightening American-centred unilateralism. And finally Trump all but spelled out that he was jettisoning Americas long-held policy of keeping nuclear weapons in their protected silos unless the US or one of its allies is attacked. His speech was America First on steroids.

Pakistan, Russia, Britain, the United States, and France have had a long-standing policy that they will use nuclear weapons only in the case of an attack against their territory or against one of their allies. China and India have gone one step further and pledged that they will only use nuclear weapons if they are attacked with nuclear weapons.

The reason is simple. Nuclear weapons have long been regarded as defensive weapons onlya deterrent. Other countries do not attack members of the nuclear weapons club for fear that they will themselves be attacked with weapons capable of killing millions and igniting Armageddon. That

is scary.

Until Trumps speech, no one has ever said that they will use their weapons if another country threatened them. That is a completely different word from attacked. Look it up in the dictionary. No wonder that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was holding his head in his hands and staring at his feet. Oh well, we are about due for another session of West Wing musical chairs.

As for Iran, it is now a foregone conclusion that Trump will scrap the Iran nuclear deal when it comes up for renewal on October 15. Not because Iran has broken its pledges, but because the agreement includes a woolly clause that allows the US president to terminate it if he feels it is no longer in Americas national interests. Surely it cannot be in Americas interests to have an agreement with what the president described as a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy, a government which 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.

For its part, Iran has served notice that if the US pulls out it will resume its nuclear weapons programme. Tehran can convincingly argue that it will need the weapons to deter an American or Israeli attack.

And what effect would an American pullout have on relations elsewhere around the world? For a start, North Korea, China and Russia could argue that there is no point in Pyongyang negotiating any de-nuclearisation deal because Trump will not honour it. Next China, France, Germany, Britain and Russiathe other signatories to the Iran nuclear dealhave been treated as also-rans and totally ignored.

One of the pillars of Trumps foreign policy has been an international order based on national sovereignty. He is opposed to states forming political or trading blocs in order to compete more effectively on the world stage. It makes sense. The United States is the worlds most powerful country in both economic and military terms. But others are growing fast. To remain top dog, America firsters need to keep the rest of the world divided and towing the American line.

So in one breath Trump pays obeisance to the principle of national sovereignty. But in the next he attacks Venezuelas failed socialism and adds its President Nicolas Maduro to his rogues gallery. Venezuela is in no position to threaten the US. It is a failed state. Its failure is a domestic rather than a foreign policy issue. It is contradictory hypocrisy to call for an international order based on national sovereignty and then threaten to meddle in another countrys domestic affairs.

Most Americans have sincere doubts about the UN. They reckon they reap only grief for the $8 billion a year that the international body costs them. They fail to compare their UN contributions to the $11 billion a year in aid to Israel, $11.7 billion budget for their Department of the Interior, $40.6 billion for their Department of Homeland Security, $47.4 billion for their State Department and lastbut definitely not leasta whopping $824.6 billion defence budget.

The UN supports 100,000-plus peacekeepers in 16 different hotspots around, helps tens of millions of refugees, promotes health education programmes through the World Health Organisation, distributes food relief to famine and disaster-hit areas through the World Food Programme, encourages cultural links through UNESCO; childrens programmes through UNICEF  Yes it is bureaucratic. Yes there is wastage. Yes, there will always be need for reform. But those are not Trumps real complaints about the UN.

The real complaint is that the UN does not do what America wants, when and how America wants it. Donald Trumps nominal support for the UN was him serving notice that he will support the United Nations as long as the United Nations serves American interests. He does not want a United Nations based on collectively agreed policies determined by national sovereign states. President Trump wants UN policies based on the interests of one sovereign stateAmerica

Tom Arms

Author of Encyclopedia of the Cold War and the editor of Lookaheadnews.com

Email: tom.arms@lookaheadtv.com

Be scared. Be very scared. In fact if you saw, listened to or read about US President Donald Trumps UN address than you are probably terrified. If not, then think again. Trump used the occasion of his first speech to the General Assembly to draw red lines across the map and dare his opponents to cross them. North Korea, Iran and Venezuela are the new axis of evil. In one breath he called for an international order based on a respect for national sovereignty and with the next bullied those who oppose him. The United Nations and international cooperation enjoyed early support, but then the president contradicted himself by threatening to go it alone with a new and frightening American-centred unilateralism. And finally Trump all but spelled out that he was jettisoning Americas long-held policy of keeping nuclear weapons in their protected silos unless the US or one of its allies is attacked. His speech was America First on steroids. Pakistan, Russia, Britain, the United States, and France have had a long-standing policy that they will use nuclear weapons only in the case of an attack against their territory or against one of their allies. China and India have gone one step further and pledged that they will only use nuclear weapons if they are attacked with nuclear weapons. The reason is simple. Nuclear weapons have long been regarded as defensive weapons onlya deterrent. Other countries do not attack members of the nuclear weapons club for fear that they will themselves be attacked with weapons capable of killing millions and igniting Armageddon. That is scary. Until Trumps speech, no one has ever said that they will use their weapons if another country threatened them. That is a completely different word from attacked. Look it up in the dictionary. No wonder that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was holding his head in his hands and staring at his feet. Oh well, we are about due for another session of West Wing musical chairs. As for Iran, it is now a foregone conclusion that Trump will scrap the Iran nuclear deal when it comes up for renewal on October 15. Not because Iran has broken its pledges, but because the agreement includes a woolly clause that allows the US president to terminate it if he feels it is no longer in Americas national interests. Surely it cannot be in Americas interests to have an agreement with what the president described as a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy, a government which 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. For its part, Iran has served notice that if the US pulls out it will resume its nuclear weapons programme. Tehran can convincingly argue that it will need the weapons to deter an American or Israeli attack. And what effect would an American pullout have on relations elsewhere around the world? For a start, North Korea, China and Russia could argue that there is no point in Pyongyang negotiating any de-nuclearisation deal because Trump will not honour it. Next China, France, Germany, Britain and Russiathe other signatories to the Iran nuclear dealhave been treated as also-rans and totally ignored. One of the pillars of Trumps foreign policy has been an international order based on national sovereignty. He is opposed to states forming political or trading blocs in order to compete more effectively on the world stage. It makes sense. The United States is the worlds most powerful country in both economic and military terms. But others are growing fast. To remain top dog, America firsters need to keep the rest of the world divided and towing the American line. So in one breath Trump pays obeisance to the principle of national sovereignty. But in the next he attacks Venezuelas failed socialism and adds its President Nicolas Maduro to his rogues gallery. Venezuela is in no position to threaten the US. It is a failed state. Its failure is a domestic rather than a foreign policy issue. It is contradictory hypocrisy to call for an international order based on national sovereignty and then threaten to meddle in another countrys domestic affairs. Most Americans have sincere doubts about the UN. They reckon they reap only grief for the $8 billion a year that the international body costs them. They fail to compare their UN contributions to the $11 billion a year in aid to Israel, $11.7 billion budget for their Department of the Interior, $40.6 billion for their Department of Homeland Security, $47.4 billion for their State Department and lastbut definitely not leasta whopping $824.6 billion defence budget. The UN supports 100,000-plus peacekeepers in 16 different hotspots around, helps tens of millions of refugees, promotes health education programmes through the World Health Organisation, distributes food relief to famine and disaster-hit areas through the World Food Programme, encourages cultural links through UNESCO; childrens programmes through UNICEF  Yes it is bureaucratic. Yes there is wastage. Yes, there will always be need for reform. But those are not Trumps real complaints about the UN. The real complaint is that the UN does not do what America wants, when and how America wants it. Donald Trumps nominal support for the UN was him serving notice that he will support the United Nations as long as the United Nations serves American interests. He does not want a United Nations based on collectively agreed policies determined by national sovereign states. President Trump wants UN policies based on the interests of one sovereign stateAmerica Tom Arms Author of Encyclopedia of the Cold War and the editor of Lookaheadnews.com Email: tom.arms@lookaheadtv.com
The high-voltage visit of Delhi Chief Minister Aravind Kejriwal to meet Kamal Haasan in Chennai and the actor later committing himself to a 100-day deadline to launch his political party has added spice to the interesting drama playing out in Tamil Nadu. Kejriwal hoped to be the early bird looking to catch the anti-corruption worm, as much as Haasan sought to be faster off the blocks than friend and competitor Rajinikanth in his political launch.

Not to be left behind, Rajini promptly tweeted his praise for PM Narendra Modis cleanliness drive, indicating he was very much a player in the matrix. While the enigmatic Rajini with a fairly large fan following was the first big time actor to spot a political opportunity after the demise of AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, he is yet to explicitly time his entry.

The launch of both the blockbusters is predicated on the supposed disintegration of the ruling party, which is facing a crisis from within as rebel leader T T V Dhinakaran is determined on pulling the rug from under the feet of CM Edappadi K Palaniswami. The chief minister has tenaciously held the party together for so long and convened a general council meeting, which was attended by as many as 98 per cent of all office bearers appointed by Jayafrom the grassroots right up to the apex level.

And Speaker P Dhanapals decision to disqualify 18 rebel MLAs, which would possibly give Palaniswami an easy majority in the Assembly, is under legal challenge. The latest ingredient in the pot is forest minister Dindigul C Sreenivaasans claim that he lied about Jayas health status when she was hospitalised.

Anti-corruption might be an interesting launch platform, but remember Kejriwal too had to succumb to the pressures of realpolitik.

Those who refuse to bend like Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi face the risk of a defamation suit from their own government. Also, it is not easy to work with Kejriwal, if Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhus experience is anything to go by.

The high-voltage visit of Delhi Chief Minister Aravind Kejriwal to meet Kamal Haasan in Chennai and the actor later committing himself to a 100-day deadline to launch his political party has added spice to the interesting drama playing out in Tamil Nadu. Kejriwal hoped to be the early bird looking to catch the anti-corruption worm, as much as Haasan sought to be faster off the blocks than friend and competitor Rajinikanth in his political launch. Not to be left behind, Rajini promptly tweeted his praise for PM Narendra Modis cleanliness drive, indicating he was very much a player in the matrix. While the enigmatic Rajini with a fairly large fan following was the first big time actor to spot a political opportunity after the demise of AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, he is yet to explicitly time his entry. The launch of both the blockbusters is predicated on the supposed disintegration of the ruling party, which is facing a crisis from within as rebel leader T T V Dhinakaran is determined on pulling the rug from under the feet of CM Edappadi K Palaniswami. The chief minister has tenaciously held the party together for so long and convened a general council meeting, which was attended by as many as 98 per cent of all office bearers appointed by Jayafrom the grassroots right up to the apex level. And Speaker P Dhanapals decision to disqualify 18 rebel MLAs, which would possibly give Palaniswami an easy majority in the Assembly, is under legal challenge. The latest ingredient in the pot is forest minister Dindigul C Sreenivaasans claim that he lied about Jayas health status when she was hospitalised. Anti-corruption might be an interesting launch platform, but remember Kejriwal too had to succumb to the pressures of realpolitik. Those who refuse to bend like Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi face the risk of a defamation suit from their own government. Also, it is not easy to work with Kejriwal, if Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhus experience is anything to go by.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: The simmering tensions between the Jacobite and Orthodox faction of Malankara Christians took a turn for the worse on Sunday after members of the Syrian Jacobite Church purportedly locked up Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church inside the St Marys Church at Varikoli, Puthencruz, near here.

The dramatic incidents unfolded around 6.30 am when Marthoma Paulose II entered the Church to lead a Sunday Mass, according to the police.

The emblem of Patriarch of the Jacobite faction which was defaced by the Orthodox faction

The situation, however, took a violent turn when some persons, allegedly belonging to the Orthodox faction, scaled the Church tower and attempted to deface the emblem of the Patriarch of the rival faction by smearing it with paint. Soon, members of the Jacobite faction reached the spot and staged a demonstration against the Catholicos. They also locked up the main gate of the Church from outside which prevented the Catholicos from leaving the premises.

The emblem has remained at the heart of the dispute ever since the Orthodox faction wrested control of the Church based on a Supreme Court order in July. Similar attempts to destroy the emblem had been made earlier and the police had to intervene on a couple of occasions, Puthencruz police said.

The issue snowballed into a major crisis when the Catholicos refused to leave the Church until all the protesters were rounded up.

The escort and pilot party were ready by around 12.30 pm to escort the Catholicos safely out of the Church. He, however, insisted on the protesters arrest and decided to stay back till the time the arrests were made. This led to tension in the area, said officers. However, the standoff ended by evening after the district Administration intervened in the matter and the tahsildar, on the RDOs orders, locked up the Church.

Jacobite Church Synod secretary Joseph Mor Gregorios Metropolitan, though, said the reports of Catholicos detention were not true. With regard to the Varikoli Church, the governing council elected by Jacobite faction holds the reins of Church administration while control over worship is with the Orthodox faction.

Jacobites never created any obstacles to worship. In the meantime, the Orthodox faction attempted to change the board of the Church. But what provoked the faithful the most was the demolition of the Patriarchs emblem which was constructed several years ago. I understand the Jacobite faction which is the majority in Varikoli was expressing its protest against the demolition of the emblem before the Catholicos when he came to Varikoli, he said.

Earlier, the Catholicos had reached the Church to conduct the Sunday Mass following an apex court order upholding the sanctity of the constitution of the Orthodox Church of 1934 with regard to the administration of disputed Churches. Following this, the Orthodox faction wrested control of the Church administration, leading to some minor clashes.

KOCHI: The simmering tensions between the Jacobite and Orthodox faction of Malankara Christians took a turn for the worse on Sunday after members of the Syrian Jacobite Church purportedly locked up Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church inside the St Marys Church at Varikoli, Puthencruz, near here. The dramatic incidents unfolded around 6.30 am when Marthoma Paulose II entered the Church to lead a Sunday Mass, according to the police. The emblem of Patriarch of the Jacobite faction which was defaced by the Orthodox faction The situation, however, took a violent turn when some persons, allegedly belonging to the Orthodox faction, scaled the Church tower and attempted to deface the emblem of the Patriarch of the rival faction by smearing it with paint. Soon, members of the Jacobite faction reached the spot and staged a demonstration against the Catholicos. They also locked up the main gate of the Church from outside which prevented the Catholicos from leaving the premises. The emblem has remained at the heart of the dispute ever since the Orthodox faction wrested control of the Church based on a Supreme Court order in July. Similar attempts to destroy the emblem had been made earlier and the police had to intervene on a couple of occasions, Puthencruz police said. The issue snowballed into a major crisis when the Catholicos refused to leave the Church until all the protesters were rounded up. The escort and pilot party were ready by around 12.30 pm to escort the Catholicos safely out of the Church. He, however, insisted on the protesters arrest and decided to stay back till the time the arrests were made. This led to tension in the area, said officers. However, the standoff ended by evening after the district Administration intervened in the matter and the tahsildar, on the RDOs orders, locked up the Church. Jacobite Church Synod secretary Joseph Mor Gregorios Metropolitan, though, said the reports of Catholicos detention were not true. With regard to the Varikoli Church, the governing council elected by Jacobite faction holds the reins of Church administration while control over worship is with the Orthodox faction. Jacobites never created any obstacles to worship. In the meantime, the Orthodox faction attempted to change the board of the Church. But what provoked the faithful the most was the demolition of the Patriarchs emblem which was constructed several years ago. I understand the Jacobite faction which is the majority in Varikoli was expressing its protest against the demolition of the emblem before the Catholicos when he came to Varikoli, he said. Earlier, the Catholicos had reached the Church to conduct the Sunday Mass following an apex court order upholding the sanctity of the constitution of the Orthodox Church of 1934 with regard to the administration of disputed Churches. Following this, the Orthodox faction wrested control of the Church administration, leading to some minor clashes.
Gopika I S By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Keralas success as a leading state in deceased organ donation is well chronicled. But it seems the story is faltering, at least going by the latest data.So far this year, there have been only 11 deceased organ donations, compared to 72 in 2016, and 76 in 2015. The declining number of organ donors is in contrast to over 4,000 road-accident deaths the state reports every year, with most of them having succumbed to head injuries.

Most people are wary of organ donation in brain death cases. Its clear the counselling is given in hospitals prior to donation procedures and awareness programmes have only gone so far in convincing people. Then theres the case of private hospitals, most of whom shy away because of the risk factors and expense theyve to bear, said Kerala Network for Organ Sharings (KNOS) Transplant Coordinator P V Aneesh.

The donation procedure should begin at the hospital, where the accident victim is admitted to.

Four doctors, including one empanelled (government approved), should confirm the brain death, reconfirm it after six hours, and the whole procedure has to be video-recorded and archived. Then they can talk to the family about donation procedures.

All this is the responsibility of the hospital, where the brain dead patient is admitted to. Its a huge challenge and costly affair. If the organ donation doesnt happen, then the hospital will have to write-off the entire expense, which will come to at least Rs 5 lakh.

Theres no incentive for hospitals. Even if some does take the initiative, theres the need to find an empanelled doctor. They could be attending their OPs or consulting patients. They again dont have any remuneration or incentive to attend to these cases. The whole policy of organ donation depends on consideration on humanitarian grounds, said KNOS South Zone Nodal Officer Dr Gracious Noble. A well-oiled machinery is needed to make this successful. If one unit, for example KNOS, funded by the government or individuals (recipients ) can supervise all the process, these hospitals will be happy to report the cases.There is also resistance because of the mode of payment, which should come through insurance companies.

The settlements are decided in the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal which could take up to six months, said United India Insurance former assistant divisional manager Mohanan P P. The uncertainty of the situation makes the hospitals hesitant. Change in insurance policies would help in giving a patient the best trauma care. It would also help in clearing doubts in the mind of the patients relatives that the hospitals are more concerned with organ donation than the patients care.

This change has the possibility of two positive outcomes. Obviously, therell be a decrease in the death rate and at the same time itll help in removing the resistance to donation in case of unfortunate brain deaths, said Dr Noble.

Kerala shot into the countrys organ transplant map after Father Davis Chiramel and industrialist Kochouseph Chittilapilly voluntarily donated their kidneys some eight years ago and became evangelists to create awareness on organ donation.

KOCHI: Keralas success as a leading state in deceased organ donation is well chronicled. But it seems the story is faltering, at least going by the latest data.So far this year, there have been only 11 deceased organ donations, compared to 72 in 2016, and 76 in 2015. The declining number of organ donors is in contrast to over 4,000 road-accident deaths the state reports every year, with most of them having succumbed to head injuries. Most people are wary of organ donation in brain death cases. Its clear the counselling is given in hospitals prior to donation procedures and awareness programmes have only gone so far in convincing people. Then theres the case of private hospitals, most of whom shy away because of the risk factors and expense theyve to bear, said Kerala Network for Organ Sharings (KNOS) Transplant Coordinator P V Aneesh. The donation procedure should begin at the hospital, where the accident victim is admitted to. Four doctors, including one empanelled (government approved), should confirm the brain death, reconfirm it after six hours, and the whole procedure has to be video-recorded and archived. Then they can talk to the family about donation procedures. All this is the responsibility of the hospital, where the brain dead patient is admitted to. Its a huge challenge and costly affair. If the organ donation doesnt happen, then the hospital will have to write-off the entire expense, which will come to at least Rs 5 lakh. Theres no incentive for hospitals. Even if some does take the initiative, theres the need to find an empanelled doctor. They could be attending their OPs or consulting patients. They again dont have any remuneration or incentive to attend to these cases. The whole policy of organ donation depends on consideration on humanitarian grounds, said KNOS South Zone Nodal Officer Dr Gracious Noble. A well-oiled machinery is needed to make this successful. If one unit, for example KNOS, funded by the government or individuals (recipients ) can supervise all the process, these hospitals will be happy to report the cases.There is also resistance because of the mode of payment, which should come through insurance companies. The settlements are decided in the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal which could take up to six months, said United India Insurance former assistant divisional manager Mohanan P P. The uncertainty of the situation makes the hospitals hesitant. Change in insurance policies would help in giving a patient the best trauma care. It would also help in clearing doubts in the mind of the patients relatives that the hospitals are more concerned with organ donation than the patients care. This change has the possibility of two positive outcomes. Obviously, therell be a decrease in the death rate and at the same time itll help in removing the resistance to donation in case of unfortunate brain deaths, said Dr Noble. Kerala shot into the countrys organ transplant map after Father Davis Chiramel and industrialist Kochouseph Chittilapilly voluntarily donated their kidneys some eight years ago and became evangelists to create awareness on organ donation.
Bagalavan Perier B By

Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi has accused Chief Minister V Narayanasamy of threatening her, as well as the media, for bringing out her opinions on several incidents. This comes a day after Narayanasamy threatened to file defamation charges against Bedi for maligning the ruling party. The cold war between the leaders intensified after the CBI opened a probe into an alleged medical admission scam, shortly after Bedi inspected the admission process at CENTAC and called for an inquiry.

In a social media post, Bedi accused the Chief Minister of trying to intimidate herself and the media. She said the case against six senior officials proved that members of the government were involved. Instead of asking the Chief Secretary for an explanation, the CM has taken to intimidation.

Commenting how an honest person can stop a wrong deed even before it is committed, the L-G opined that the elected posts should also be subject to self appraisal. People should also be able to file writ petitions for the same.

The L-G further said that people have rights to know the performance of the person elected by them very year. The elected officials may upload details of the work done by them and also ask for feedback from the public, she said. Replying to Bedi, Narayanasamy had said that after discussions, the Congress would organise protests against Bedi, as she was defaming the ruling party.

Alleging a scam in the medical college admissions, CBI had filed a case against six senior officials in the government, and 13 private college management officials. This action was taken after Bedi inspected the admission process at CENTAC and requested an inquiry. This has led to a controversy, and also further fuelled the cold war between the L-G and the ruling party, who have been on the loggerheads for some time now.

Honest replies

The L-G had recently asked officials to be honest in their replies during the inquiry into the CENTAC case, and asked that they name those responsible. This irked the rulers, who assumed she was trying

to link them to the scam.

PUDUCHERRY: Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi has accused Chief Minister V Narayanasamy of threatening her, as well as the media, for bringing out her opinions on several incidents. This comes a day after Narayanasamy threatened to file defamation charges against Bedi for maligning the ruling party. The cold war between the leaders intensified after the CBI opened a probe into an alleged medical admission scam, shortly after Bedi inspected the admission process at CENTAC and called for an inquiry. In a social media post, Bedi accused the Chief Minister of trying to intimidate herself and the media. She said the case against six senior officials proved that members of the government were involved. Instead of asking the Chief Secretary for an explanation, the CM has taken to intimidation. Commenting how an honest person can stop a wrong deed even before it is committed, the L-G opined that the elected posts should also be subject to self appraisal. People should also be able to file writ petitions for the same. The L-G further said that people have rights to know the performance of the person elected by them very year. The elected officials may upload details of the work done by them and also ask for feedback from the public, she said. Replying to Bedi, Narayanasamy had said that after discussions, the Congress would organise protests against Bedi, as she was defaming the ruling party. Alleging a scam in the medical college admissions, CBI had filed a case against six senior officials in the government, and 13 private college management officials. This action was taken after Bedi inspected the admission process at CENTAC and requested an inquiry. This has led to a controversy, and also further fuelled the cold war between the L-G and the ruling party, who have been on the loggerheads for some time now. Honest replies The L-G had recently asked officials to be honest in their replies during the inquiry into the CENTAC case, and asked that they name those responsible. This irked the rulers, who assumed she was trying to link them to the scam.
By Express News Service

MADURAI: In an incident that has shocked the State, eight people of a family attempted suicide by consuming poison in their house in Madurai on Sunday evening. Five of them died on the spot while another person succumbed at the Madurai General Hospital. Two others are battling for life.

According to the police, Kurunjikumaran of Kurunji Nagar in Yagappa Nagar lived with his mother Jagajothi, wife Thangaselvi (40), daughters Jayamonika (18) and Tharani. Kurunjikumarans brother Velmurugan, his wife Devi (45) and his daughter Jayasakthi also lived in the same house.

WATCH VIDEO | Unable to pay loan, six of family commit suicide

The brothers owned a private school in Anna Nagar, Madurai, and were also into the real estate sector. The police claim to have found a suicide note in which the family allegedly said they were ending their lives due to debt incurred in running the school. They did not blame anyone for their tragic end.

As the family members were not to be seen outside the house since morning, their relative and neighbour Ravichandran reportedly went to their house on Sunday evening. As none answered the door, he and other local residents broke into the house.

They found Jagajothi, Kurunjikumaran, Velmurugan, Tharani and Jayasakthi dead, while Thangaselvi, Jayamonika and Devi were in a critical condition. They then rushed the family to the Government Rajaji Hospital for treatment. Later, Devi died in the hospital.

To make matters worse, there was a delay in the 108 government ambulance reaching the spot. The survivors were taken to the hospital on bikes and buses. Though we called for the 108 ambulance immediately, they did not arrive even after 45 minutes, said Ravichandran.

As a result, Jayamonika was taken to the hospital by our relatives on a two wheeler. Devi was taken to the hospital in an auto and Thangaselvi was taken to the hospital in a private mini bus that was passing through the area.

MADURAI: In an incident that has shocked the State, eight people of a family attempted suicide by consuming poison in their house in Madurai on Sunday evening. Five of them died on the spot while another person succumbed at the Madurai General Hospital. Two others are battling for life. According to the police, Kurunjikumaran of Kurunji Nagar in Yagappa Nagar lived with his mother Jagajothi, wife Thangaselvi (40), daughters Jayamonika (18) and Tharani. Kurunjikumarans brother Velmurugan, his wife Devi (45) and his daughter Jayasakthi also lived in the same house. WATCH VIDEO | Unable to pay loan, six of family commit suicide The brothers owned a private school in Anna Nagar, Madurai, and were also into the real estate sector. The police claim to have found a suicide note in which the family allegedly said they were ending their lives due to debt incurred in running the school. They did not blame anyone for their tragic end. As the family members were not to be seen outside the house since morning, their relative and neighbour Ravichandran reportedly went to their house on Sunday evening. As none answered the door, he and other local residents broke into the house. They found Jagajothi, Kurunjikumaran, Velmurugan, Tharani and Jayasakthi dead, while Thangaselvi, Jayamonika and Devi were in a critical condition. They then rushed the family to the Government Rajaji Hospital for treatment. Later, Devi died in the hospital. To make matters worse, there was a delay in the 108 government ambulance reaching the spot. The survivors were taken to the hospital on bikes and buses. Though we called for the 108 ambulance immediately, they did not arrive even after 45 minutes, said Ravichandran. As a result, Jayamonika was taken to the hospital by our relatives on a two wheeler. Devi was taken to the hospital in an auto and Thangaselvi was taken to the hospital in a private mini bus that was passing through the area.
Kumar Vikram By

NEW DELHI: The national capital will soon boast a new Gujarat Bhavan to accommodate more guests from the state. And the structure will be built at a cost of Rs 132 crore, which will resemble a palace or a fort while having all the features of a modern building.

A senior official associated with the project said there is a special request from the state government to construct the building in such a way so that it would give a feel of the states heritage. White sandstone brought from Gujarat will be used for exteriors, added the official. The building will be a perfect blend of traditional architecture with modern amenities.

The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), a PSU under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, will build the structure at 25 B Akbar Road in Lutyens zone, not very far from Congress headquarters at 24 Akbar Road.

The New Sadan

25 B, Akbar Road



Plot area: 7,066 sq m

Built-up area: 19,700 sq m

Budget: Rs132 crore

Height: Six-storeyed plus ground floor

The new building that the Gujarat government will construct in Delhi will probably be named Gujarat Sadan. It is planned in an area spread over 7,066 sq m with a built-up area of 19,700 sq m. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will lay the foundation stone at the end of this month. The construction will be completed in 18 months, officials said. The building will be environment-friendly and will have all features of a green building, according to the officials.

This will be Gujarats second state guest house in the national capital. Delhi already has a Gujarat Bhavan on Kautilya Marg, which is spread on around 1,418 sq m. Officials said seeing the increased activity of the state guests in the national capital in the last few years, need for a new guest house was felt.

Green building means it will reduce pollution and degradation of environment by efficiently using energy, water and other resources, added the official.

NEW DELHI: The national capital will soon boast a new Gujarat Bhavan to accommodate more guests from the state. And the structure will be built at a cost of Rs 132 crore, which will resemble a palace or a fort while having all the features of a modern building. A senior official associated with the project said there is a special request from the state government to construct the building in such a way so that it would give a feel of the states heritage. White sandstone brought from Gujarat will be used for exteriors, added the official. The building will be a perfect blend of traditional architecture with modern amenities. The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), a PSU under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, will build the structure at 25 B Akbar Road in Lutyens zone, not very far from Congress headquarters at 24 Akbar Road. The New Sadan 25 B, Akbar Road Plot area: 7,066 sq m Built-up area: 19,700 sq m Budget: Rs132 crore Height: Six-storeyed plus ground floor The new building that the Gujarat government will construct in Delhi will probably be named Gujarat Sadan. It is planned in an area spread over 7,066 sq m with a built-up area of 19,700 sq m. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will lay the foundation stone at the end of this month. The construction will be completed in 18 months, officials said. The building will be environment-friendly and will have all features of a green building, according to the officials. This will be Gujarats second state guest house in the national capital. Delhi already has a Gujarat Bhavan on Kautilya Marg, which is spread on around 1,418 sq m. Officials said seeing the increased activity of the state guests in the national capital in the last few years, need for a new guest house was felt. Green building means it will reduce pollution and degradation of environment by efficiently using energy, water and other resources, added the official.
Ankur Sharma By

NEW DELHI: Delhi government officials are turning Right to Information (RTI) into a joke. RTIs filed by The Sunday Standard seeking details of compensation awarded to the kin of police personnel who died in the line of duty came back blank from a Sub-divisional Magistrates (SDM) office.

A reply to an RTI query filed

by The Sunday Standard

The section Reason for not giving further information is was left blank, as were all other reply columns. This apathy is despite Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal proclaiming strict action against officials who dont handle RTIs seriously.

Similarly, another reply to an RTI query filed by this paper didnt even use an envelope. The reply was not clearly visible due to multiple stamps and bad handling.

The Delhi governments handling of RTI applications has been a subject of ridicule these days. E-mails are being received at official e-mail IDs of Honble Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Administrative Reforms with complaints that departments are not responding to online RTI applications filed by citizens, says an official communication sent to all officers, accessed by The Sunday Standard.

Any delay in responding/handling of RTI applications can make concerned PIOs liable for penalty and disciplinary action as mandated under Section 20 of the RTI Act. 2005, the communication states. It may also be noted clearly that departmental action/disciplinary proceedings can also be initiated against the nodal officers under normal service rules in case of inappropriate handling of online applications, it adds.

Officials say there has been a 40 percent hike in RTI applications in the last six months. An IAS officer working with the Delhi government said they are unable to prepare proper replies due to a staff crunch. Officials have been told to brief the staff dealing with RTI properly, he added.

NEW DELHI: Delhi government officials are turning Right to Information (RTI) into a joke. RTIs filed by The Sunday Standard seeking details of compensation awarded to the kin of police personnel who died in the line of duty came back blank from a Sub-divisional Magistrates (SDM) office. A reply to an RTI query filed by The Sunday StandardThe section Reason for not giving further information is was left blank, as were all other reply columns. This apathy is despite Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal proclaiming strict action against officials who dont handle RTIs seriously. Similarly, another reply to an RTI query filed by this paper didnt even use an envelope. The reply was not clearly visible due to multiple stamps and bad handling. The Delhi governments handling of RTI applications has been a subject of ridicule these days. E-mails are being received at official e-mail IDs of Honble Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Administrative Reforms with complaints that departments are not responding to online RTI applications filed by citizens, says an official communication sent to all officers, accessed by The Sunday Standard. Any delay in responding/handling of RTI applications can make concerned PIOs liable for penalty and disciplinary action as mandated under Section 20 of the RTI Act. 2005, the communication states. It may also be noted clearly that departmental action/disciplinary proceedings can also be initiated against the nodal officers under normal service rules in case of inappropriate handling of online applications, it adds. Officials say there has been a 40 percent hike in RTI applications in the last six months. An IAS officer working with the Delhi government said they are unable to prepare proper replies due to a staff crunch. Officials have been told to brief the staff dealing with RTI properly, he added.
By PTI

MELBOURNE: Hindu groups in Australia have held peaceful demonstrations against a controversial advertisement which they described as "insulting" to their faith for featuring Lord Ganesha in a lamb roast along with several other deities and prophets.

The protests came after Australia's advertising watchdog dismissed complaints filed by Hindu groups against the advertisement launched earlier this month by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

The community members yesterday organised rallies in major Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane against the advertisement.

According to Kushagra Bhatnagar of Overseas Friends of BJP (Australia), the demonstrations were held to create awareness about Lord Ganesha.

"Lord Ganesha is a vegetarian and ladoos is what we should offer not lamb," Bhatnagar said.

In Melbourne, demonstrators offered ladoos to the people at Federation Square.

In Sydney, several Hindus formed a human chain to express their angst. The demonstrators held placards reading "Stop insulting Hindu Gods".

The protests were Organised by Hindu Council of Australia and other Hindu organisations.

Indian Forum Australia (IFA) president Nihal Agar said the advertisement had hurt the sentiments of Hindus and the protests were held to express anger, frustration and disappointment with the MLA.

"This is not the multicultural Australia that we truly love," he said.

Earlier this month, India's High Commission in Canberra lodged a complaint with the Australian government asking for the ad's removal.

However, Australia's Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) said while many Hindus are vegetarian, vegetarianism is not a requirement of the faith.

It said the depiction of Lord Ganesha was "simply symbolic of the Hindu faith and his inclusion is part of the message of an inclusive multi-faith meal".

MELBOURNE: Hindu groups in Australia have held peaceful demonstrations against a controversial advertisement which they described as "insulting" to their faith for featuring Lord Ganesha in a lamb roast along with several other deities and prophets. The protests came after Australia's advertising watchdog dismissed complaints filed by Hindu groups against the advertisement launched earlier this month by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA). The community members yesterday organised rallies in major Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane against the advertisement. According to Kushagra Bhatnagar of Overseas Friends of BJP (Australia), the demonstrations were held to create awareness about Lord Ganesha. "Lord Ganesha is a vegetarian and ladoos is what we should offer not lamb," Bhatnagar said. In Melbourne, demonstrators offered ladoos to the people at Federation Square. In Sydney, several Hindus formed a human chain to express their angst. The demonstrators held placards reading "Stop insulting Hindu Gods". The protests were Organised by Hindu Council of Australia and other Hindu organisations. Indian Forum Australia (IFA) president Nihal Agar said the advertisement had hurt the sentiments of Hindus and the protests were held to express anger, frustration and disappointment with the MLA. "This is not the multicultural Australia that we truly love," he said. Earlier this month, India's High Commission in Canberra lodged a complaint with the Australian government asking for the ad's removal. However, Australia's Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) said while many Hindus are vegetarian, vegetarianism is not a requirement of the faith. It said the depiction of Lord Ganesha was "simply symbolic of the Hindu faith and his inclusion is part of the message of an inclusive multi-faith meal".
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif today returned to the country from the UK to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal.

He was in London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

Sharif, 67, decided to return after consultations with senior party leaders including his younger brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London, party officials said.

The aircraft carrying him landed here at around 7.30 AM and a confident Sharif came out, waved to his supporters and left in official protocol, TV news reports showed.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials said that he would stay in Punjab House in Islamabad and hold meetings with party leaders today and tomorrow.

"He (Sharif) would appear before the accountability court tomorrow (September 26) to defend himself in three corruption cases," the officials said.

Sharif stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons -- Hassan and Hussain, daughter -- Maryam, son-in-law Safdar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Accountability Court in Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

The anti-graft body last week froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court.

Earlier, Sharif skipped a court hearing last week to defy the cases. His family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated.

Maryam said that Sharif was returning to face cases for the sake of his people.

"Knowing what he faces is not accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about this person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million (Pakistanis)," she said in a tweet.

Sharif last month went to London to see Kulsoom who has undergone three successful surgeries for her cancer.

Kulsoom contested on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won.

Their children are still in London as he prepares to appear before the court in Islamabad tomorrow.

The court has also summoned Maryam, Hussain, Hasan and Safdar but it was not immediately known if they would appear before the court tomorrow.

Meanwhile finance minister Dar, who also returned from London, appeared today in an anti-corruption court.

The court had issued a bailable arrest warrant against him for failing to appear before it.

Dar's lawyer had deposited surety bonds worth Rs one million to avoid his arrest.

The court, after brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif today returned to the country from the UK to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal. He was in London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer. Sharif, 67, decided to return after consultations with senior party leaders including his younger brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London, party officials said. The aircraft carrying him landed here at around 7.30 AM and a confident Sharif came out, waved to his supporters and left in official protocol, TV news reports showed. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials said that he would stay in Punjab House in Islamabad and hold meetings with party leaders today and tomorrow. "He (Sharif) would appear before the accountability court tomorrow (September 26) to defend himself in three corruption cases," the officials said. Sharif stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons -- Hassan and Hussain, daughter -- Maryam, son-in-law Safdar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Accountability Court in Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently. The anti-graft body last week froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court. Earlier, Sharif skipped a court hearing last week to defy the cases. His family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated. Maryam said that Sharif was returning to face cases for the sake of his people. "Knowing what he faces is not accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about this person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million (Pakistanis)," she said in a tweet. Sharif last month went to London to see Kulsoom who has undergone three successful surgeries for her cancer. Kulsoom contested on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won. Their children are still in London as he prepares to appear before the court in Islamabad tomorrow. The court has also summoned Maryam, Hussain, Hasan and Safdar but it was not immediately known if they would appear before the court tomorrow. Meanwhile finance minister Dar, who also returned from London, appeared today in an anti-corruption court. The court had issued a bailable arrest warrant against him for failing to appear before it. Dar's lawyer had deposited surety bonds worth Rs one million to avoid his arrest. The court, after brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON  Citizens of more than half a dozen countries will face new restrictions on entry to the U.S. under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Sunday that will replace his expiring travel ban.

The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen  and some from Venezuela  will go into effect on October 18.

The restrictions range from an indefinite ban on visas for citizens of countries like Syria to more targeted restrictions. A suspension of non-immigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela, for instance, will apply only to certain government officials and their immediate families.

The announcement comes the same day as Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire 90 days after it went into effect. That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lacked a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the U.S. Only one of those countries, Sudan, will no longer be subject to travel restrictions.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted late Sunday after the new policy was announced.

Unlike the first iteration of Trump's travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges after being hastily written with little input outside the White House, officials stressed they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.

WATCH VIDEO | Trump tightens squeeze with revised travel ban

To limit confusion, valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers for citizens of the affected countries who meet certain criteria.

That includes: having previously worked or studied in the U.S.; having previously established "significant contacts" in the U.S.; and having "significant business or professional obligations" in the U.S. Still, officials acknowledged the waiver restrictions were narrower than the exemptions for people with bona fide ties to the United States that the Supreme Court mandated before the expiring order went into effect in late June.

The restrictions are targeted at countries that the Department of Homeland Security says fail to share sufficient information with the U.S. or haven't taken necessary security precautions.

DHS has spent recent months working to develop a new security baseline, which includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information, report lost or stolen passports to INTERPOL, and share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories. The U.S. then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

A total of sixteen countries did not comply with the rules at first, officials said, but half worked with the U.S. to improve their information-sharing and security practices. The remaining eight are now subject to the new restrictions until they make changes to bring them into compliance.

The new rules include the suspension of all immigrant visas for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, and the suspension of non-immigrant visas, such as for business and tourism, to nationals of Chad, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Yemen.

Citizens of Iran will not be eligible for tourism and business visas, but remain eligible for student and cultural exchange visas if they undergo additional scrutiny. Such additional scrutiny will also be required for Somali citizens applying for all non-immigrant visas.

Trump last week called for a "tougher" travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.

"The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!" he tweeted.

Critics have accused Trump of overstepping his legal authority and violating the U.S. Constitution's protections against religious bias each time he has ordered new travel restrictions.

And the inclusion of Venezuela and North Korea appeared to be an attempt to block challenges from advocacy groups and others who have called the restrictions a ban on Muslims. Trump during his campaign called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."

The U.S. had already imposed wide-ranging sanctions on certain high-ranking Venezuelan government officials to protest the government's attempts to consulate power. The new visa sanctions will apply to all officials from five Venezuelan government security agencies and their immediate families.

"The fact that Trump has added North Korea  with few visitors to the U.S.  and a few government officials from Venezuela doesn't obfuscate the real fact that the administration's order is still a Muslim ban," said Anthony D. Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which has been challenging the ban in court. "President Trump's original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list."

Johnathan Smith, legal director of the advocacy group Muslim Advocates, also slammed the measure as the "same Muslim ban" and an attempt "to undermine our Constitution."

But administration officials argue the measure is necessary to keep Americans safe.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement the president was carrying out his duty to protect the American people. He said the State Department would coordinate with other federal agencies to implement the measures in "an orderly manner" and would "continue to work closely with our allies and partners who share our commitment to national and global security."

The new policy could also complicate the Supreme Court's upcoming review of the order, which is scheduled for argument next month.

The Justice Department has suggested to the Supreme Court that the two sides submit new legal briefs by October 5  five days before the argument  that address how the new policy will affect the case.

__

WASHINGTON  Citizens of more than half a dozen countries will face new restrictions on entry to the U.S. under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Sunday that will replace his expiring travel ban. The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen  and some from Venezuela  will go into effect on October 18. The restrictions range from an indefinite ban on visas for citizens of countries like Syria to more targeted restrictions. A suspension of non-immigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela, for instance, will apply only to certain government officials and their immediate families. The announcement comes the same day as Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire 90 days after it went into effect. That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lacked a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the U.S. Only one of those countries, Sudan, will no longer be subject to travel restrictions. "Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted late Sunday after the new policy was announced. Unlike the first iteration of Trump's travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges after being hastily written with little input outside the White House, officials stressed they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments. WATCH VIDEO | Trump tightens squeeze with revised travel ban To limit confusion, valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers for citizens of the affected countries who meet certain criteria. That includes: having previously worked or studied in the U.S.; having previously established "significant contacts" in the U.S.; and having "significant business or professional obligations" in the U.S. Still, officials acknowledged the waiver restrictions were narrower than the exemptions for people with bona fide ties to the United States that the Supreme Court mandated before the expiring order went into effect in late June. The restrictions are targeted at countries that the Department of Homeland Security says fail to share sufficient information with the U.S. or haven't taken necessary security precautions. DHS has spent recent months working to develop a new security baseline, which includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information, report lost or stolen passports to INTERPOL, and share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories. The U.S. then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply. A total of sixteen countries did not comply with the rules at first, officials said, but half worked with the U.S. to improve their information-sharing and security practices. The remaining eight are now subject to the new restrictions until they make changes to bring them into compliance. The new rules include the suspension of all immigrant visas for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, and the suspension of non-immigrant visas, such as for business and tourism, to nationals of Chad, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Yemen. Citizens of Iran will not be eligible for tourism and business visas, but remain eligible for student and cultural exchange visas if they undergo additional scrutiny. Such additional scrutiny will also be required for Somali citizens applying for all non-immigrant visas. Trump last week called for a "tougher" travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway. "The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!" he tweeted. Critics have accused Trump of overstepping his legal authority and violating the U.S. Constitution's protections against religious bias each time he has ordered new travel restrictions. And the inclusion of Venezuela and North Korea appeared to be an attempt to block challenges from advocacy groups and others who have called the restrictions a ban on Muslims. Trump during his campaign called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." The U.S. had already imposed wide-ranging sanctions on certain high-ranking Venezuelan government officials to protest the government's attempts to consulate power. The new visa sanctions will apply to all officials from five Venezuelan government security agencies and their immediate families. "The fact that Trump has added North Korea  with few visitors to the U.S.  and a few government officials from Venezuela doesn't obfuscate the real fact that the administration's order is still a Muslim ban," said Anthony D. Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which has been challenging the ban in court. "President Trump's original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list." Johnathan Smith, legal director of the advocacy group Muslim Advocates, also slammed the measure as the "same Muslim ban" and an attempt "to undermine our Constitution." But administration officials argue the measure is necessary to keep Americans safe. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement the president was carrying out his duty to protect the American people. He said the State Department would coordinate with other federal agencies to implement the measures in "an orderly manner" and would "continue to work closely with our allies and partners who share our commitment to national and global security." The new policy could also complicate the Supreme Court's upcoming review of the order, which is scheduled for argument next month. The Justice Department has suggested to the Supreme Court that the two sides submit new legal briefs by October 5  five days before the argument  that address how the new policy will affect the case. __
PCD captures Division IV girls soccer title as Rogers comes up short

When the final horn sounded the Knights raced toward their keeper Sarah Howe and the celebration was on. It was a sweet win, one the Knights earned.
On September 29, a year since the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), defence expert Nitin Gokhale will unveil his new book Securing India The Modi Way: Pathankot, Surgical Strikes and More. The author spoke to News18's Uday Singh Rana about what the strikes achieved and how Indias China policy has changed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Edited excerpts:

Your book tries to understand Modi governments strategy for national security. Is there a common driving force behind the governments policy?

Several changes have been brought which are fundamental in terms of dealing with various security challenges. India is using its space more proactively. The common thread is the aim to make India more secure and stable.

Its been a year since the Surgical Strikes and yet not much is known about them. Is secrecy a fundamental aspect of Modis security policy?

Yes, it is. It is so for every government, but particularly this one. Until a decision is taken, very little is known in the public domain. They have managed to keep a tight lid on all their decisions. They have managed to have a cohesive response to security challenges.

In the last three years, India said it conducted surgical strikes against militants in Myanmar and in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). How often can this tactic be used?

It has to be used sparingly. And no two cross-border raids are similar. Circumstances will differ and tactics will differ. But what it has done is that it has given another option to Indian military channels, which they were hesitant to use earlier due to lack of political sanction. Moreover, it has created uncertainty within the Pakistani military establishment. Now they dont know how India will respond. Raids were carried out in seven separate areas. Special Forces officers told me that the two purposes were to teach them a lesson and send a message that we can come after you at a time and place of our own choosing. The message and impact were strategic.

But cross-border infiltration hasnt stopped. Were the strikes really successful?

That was not the intention of the surgical strike. Infiltration is an unlimited resource that Pakistan has. It is not the Pakistani Army that crosses over. The purpose was to create a sense of uncertainty and fear in the Pakistan Army. This will open up a space between a conventional response and a larger military conflict. This was a space that was missing. A surgical strike is in between a BAT (Border Action Team) operation and a skirmish or battle like Kargil.

How does Modis outlook towards China differ from his predecessors?

In all cases of border incidents with China, the government has been resolute on the ground but reasonable in diplomacy. When President Xi was in Ahmedabad, 1,500 Chinese troops came into the Chumar sector. In two days, India built up a counter force of 9,000. The Chinese did not expect or anticipate this. Such decisiveness was missing earlier. The signal has to come from the top. In Doklam, they expected a diplomatic response from Bhutan but did not anticipate Indias military response.

Would it be incorrect to say China was the aggressor in Doklam?

If I was Chinese, I would say India was the aggressor. But what China did was violate a diplomatic understanding. India said we will not allow you to unilaterally change status quo. They may get away with bullying smaller nations in the South China Sea but here, India did not allow them to do that. So India displayed both firmness and flexibility.

Is it true that Chinese troops set up loudspeakers at the standoff site and blared expletives and insults at Indian troops, who showed great restraint? Is that also something that percolates from the top?

Yes, it does. But it has been a standard practice with Indian troops. The directive is always that we will not be the ones to open fire.
Varanasi: In the first action since Uttar Pradesh Police resorted to lathicharging female students at the Banaras Hindu University, authorities have removed a Circle Officer, a Station House Officer and the Additional City Magistrate I for failing to handle the situation.

While the university authorities have pinned the blame for the protests turning violent on outsiders, the police commissioner has said the incident needs to be investigated.

Commissioner Nitin Ramesh said, There were some outsiders who had entered the BHU campus on Saturday night, during the protests. We are investigating the incident.

The Lanka Station House Officer, along with the Bhelupura Circle Officer and an ACM were removed from their posts on Monday.

Situation is tense on the BHU campus and theres a heavy police deployment on campus. The university will remain shut till October 2, after the authorities declared an early semester break.

On Saturday night, protests over an alleged molestation case of a first year student at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) turned violent, with police resorting to lathicharge to disperse the crowd.

While some miscreants tried to set fire on public property and pelted stones, police and paramilitary forces then allegedly beat up several protesters and marched onto the campus.

Several videos have surfaced showing male police personnel and PAC officers brutally beating up girls and barging into the girls hostel. Media personnel covering the event were also caught in the clashes.

Uttar Pradesh Congress unit chief Raj Babbar condemned the violence. He said, It looks like PM Modis Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign has now become Beti Padhao, Beti Pitwao. Babbar was detained on Sunday evening to stop him from going to the BHU as the clashes at the campus turned into a political slugfest.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is scheduled to visit Varanasi for an event, is expected to visit the campus later on Monday.

The opposition party is also likely to gherao the HRD ministry in New Delhi, to protest against the police action against students at BHU.
New Delhi: Honeypreet Insan, who has been on the run following the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in two rape cases, on Monday approached the Delhi High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail, her lawyer said.

Priyanka Taneja alias Honeypreet, the adopted daughter of the jailed Dera chief, tops the list of 43 persons 'wanted' by the Haryana Police in connection with incidents of violence that had followed Ram Rahim's conviction in the rape cases.

Earlier, a lookout notice was issued against Honeypreet by the police.

Her lawyer Pradeep Kumar Arya told PTI that they have filed the anticipatory bail petition in the Delhi High Court and the matter would be mentioned tomorrow before a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal for early hearing.

Ram Rahim was convicted by the special CBI court in Panchkula on August 25, following which violence and arson had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa districts of Haryana which had left 41 people dead and several others injured.

The CBI court on August 28 had sentenced Ram Rahim to 20 years in prison for raping two of his disciples in 2002.

Honeypreet had accompanied the Dera head when he had come to the special CBI court on August 25. She had also travelled along with him in the special chopper which ferried them to Rohtak from Panchkula after the conviction.

The controversial sect head is currently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak district of Haryana.

Several teams of Haryana Police have travelled across the country, including the Indo-Nepal border, to trace the whereabouts of Honeypreet.

Meanwhile, Ram Rahim on Monday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the trial court's verdict.

In April 2002, an anonymous letter was written to the then chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, complaining about the alleged sexual exploitation of women followers at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa.

In May 2002, the high court had directed Sirsa district and session judge to probe the allegations in the letter. In September 2002, the high court handed over the matter to the CBI after the district court indicated the possibility of sexual exploitation.

In December 2002, the CBI registered a case of rape, criminal intimidation against Ram Rahim.

The CBI had filed a charge sheet against the Dera head in Ambala court in July 2007. The charge sheet mentioned the sexual exploitation of two 'sadhvis' between 1999 and 2001.

In September 2008, the special CBI court framed charges of rape and criminal intimidation against Ram Rahim.
India will use the second right of reply to respond to Islamabads allegation that India was spreading terrorism in Pakistan. Indias first secretary Eenam Gambhir is expected to speak on the matter in the afternoon. On Sunday, Pakistan resorted to raising the Kashmir rhetoric at the United Nations again, a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj launched a scathing attack on the country for exporting terrorism.

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Thiruvananthapuram: Days after a 22-year-old Kerala woman claimed to have returned to Hinduism after having converted to Islam, another Kerala woman has lodged a police complaint that she was tortured at a charitable trust in Ernakulam at the behest of her family for marrying a Christian.

She has further claimed that there were 65 other girls who were being tortured and that the 22-year-old Athira was also there.

The 28-year-old Kerala girl has filed a complaint with the police stating that she was subjected to wrongful confinement, assault, racist remarks, criminal intimidation and was talked into marrying another person.

She has even accused one Manoj Guruji and some other counsellors at the yoga and charitable trust, Kandanad, of outraging her modesty.

Police have started an investigation into the case.

The girl has claimed that she is a Hindu and an Ayurveda doctor, who is married to a Christian.

Her complaint says, her parents had opposed to the relationship because of their different religions.

She has further alleged that her brother-in-law and parents invited her to her sister's house on July 28 and whisked her away to the yoga centre in Kandanad.

She claims she was tortured for 22 days and was subjected to torture and cruelty by Manoj Guruji and counsellors Smitha, Lekshmi, Sujith and Sreejesh.

The complaint states that these people had illegally confined her, took her mobile phone, tied her hands and legs behind, stuffed her mouth and assaulted her repeatedly.

Threatened with dire consequences for marrying a Christian, when I tried to escape, they assaulted me and outraged my modesty by tearing my clothes, the woman said.

She further claimed that these people promoted hatred towards Islam and Christianity.

Guruji even threatened to kill my husband and asked me to marry a Hindu man who my father would choose for me, she claimed.

She was not allowed to contact anyone and forced to sleep on the floor of dormitories. She said that she pretended to have agreed to their conditions and took her back to her relatives house, from where she escaped and went to her husband.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday acquitted Mahmood Farooqui, co-director of Bollywood film 'Peepli Live', in a rape case.

The HC set aside the trial court order awarding him seven years jail term for allegedly raping a US researcher. The court directed that Farooqi, who is presently in jail, be released forthwith.

The HC raised doubts over the veracity of the incident and the complaint and took note of the fact that there was delay by the victim in filing the FIR. The court also questioned if there was consent or not. It also raised the question on whether the accused understood that there was no consent.

The court made some controversial observations and said that the womans no may have in fact meant a yes. Instances of woman behavior are not unknown that a feeble no may mean a yes, the court said.

It further said that in cases were the two parties are known to each other and have had physical relations, it would be really difficult to decipher whether little or no resistance and a feeble no was actually a denial of consent.

The court also said that the woman had feigned an orgasm to end the ordeal and this may have given the accused the wrong impression that she was okay with it and has participated in the act. The appellant had no opportunity to know that there was an element of fear in the mind of the prosecutrix forcing her to go along, it said.

On July 30, 2016, a fast track court had held Farooqui guilty of rape and had stated that the statement of the victim was of "sterling quality" with no embellishments or improvements. The fast track court also concluded that the testimony of the victim was truthful and supports the conviction of the accused.

The woman, a student at the Columbia University in New York, had told the police that she was raped by Farooqui at his Sukhdev Vihar residence in Delhi on March 28, 2015.

The two were at a party and Farooqui had reportedly gotten drunk and taken her to a different room in the house and forced himself on her. The woman met Farooqui in Varanasi where she had gone to collect information. Farooqui was helping her with her research work.

Farooqui directed 'Peepli Live' with his wife, Anusha Rizvi. The film was released in 2010.
New Delhi: Underscoring that a "no" may not always mean a "no" in acts of passion, the Delhi High Court on Monday acquitted Peepli Live co-director Mahmood Farooqui in a 2015-rape case, setting aside his seven-year jail term.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar not just disbelieved the version of the rape victim -- a US researcher -- but also spent many pages of his 82-page verdict to explain how the woman failed to communicate her denial of consent and why Farooqui might not have been conveyed her denial if there was any.

Instances of woman behavior are not unknown that a feeble "no" may mean a "yes", noted the judge.

Justice Kumar, in a way putting the onus on the victim, held that the consent does not merely mean hesitation or reluctance or a "no" to any sexual advances, but has to be an affirmative one in clear terms.

"When parties are known to each other, are persons of letters, and are intellectually/academically proficient, and if, in the past, there have been physical contacts. In such cases, it would be really difficult to decipher whether little or no resistance and a feeble "no", was actually a denial of consent," said the judge.

According to Justice Kumar, in Farooqui's case, he has not been communicated or at least it is not known whether he has been communicated that there was no consent of the complainant.

"In an act of passion, actuated by libido, there could be myriad circumstances which can surround a consent and it may not necessarily always mean yes in case of yes or no in case of no," read the HC judgment.

It cited some unknown "recent studies" to further state that normal rule is that the consent has to be given, and it cannot be assumed. But these studies reveal that, in reality, most of the sexual interactions are based on non-verbal communication to initiate and reciprocate consent.

"At what point of time and for which particular move, the appellant did not have the consent of the prosecutrix is not known. What is the truth of the matter is known to only two persons namely the appellant and the prosecutrix who have advanced their own theories/versions," said Justice Kumar.

Ultimately, the judge concluded that it was doubtful whether the sexual assault took place and if at all it had taken place, it was without the consent of the woman and if it was without her consent, whether he could understand the same, given he is said to be suffering from bipolar disorder.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana or Saubhagya scheme, which aims to provide free electricity to all households in the country by December 2018.

Speaking at the launch event in the capital, Modi said that under the scheme, free electricity connections would be provided to the poor. The total cost of the project is Rs 16,230 crore, but he said that the burden of this would not be passed on to the poor.

Regretting that 4 crore out of 25 crore households still do not have an electricity connection, Modi said the Rs 16,000 crore outlay would bring a monumental change in the lives of the people. He said that the poor would not have to run after government officials for a connection, as this time the government would come to their doorstep.

It is important for us to understand what life is like without electricity. When the electricity will reach these households, only then their fortunes will shine, the PM said.

The announcement came on the same day that BJP started its national executive meet in Delhi. The two events were held to coincide with the conclusion of the month-long birth centenary celebration of RSS ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

Modi also launched the Deendayal Urja Bhawan, which will be the new ONGC corporate office. Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and minister of state (power) RK Singh were also present at the launch.

Exalting the work of the current government, the PM said that the Saubhagya scheme is the result of three years of reforms in the power sector. He said that as a result of improving the generating capacity and distribution network, the government has advanced the target of providing electricity to all homes from March 2019.

Modi had in 2015 set a target of 1,000 days for electrifying the 18,452 villages that did not have electricity connection. The government, he said, has electrified 14,483 villages and will electrify 2,986 remaining villages by December 2017 to help take power to all households by December 2018.

This is a reflection of our working style and will power, he said.

In a jibe at the Opposition, Modi said that earlier there used to be constant breaking news regarding power outages and shortage of coal to power plants, but now the situation has changed and the nation is moving from a scenario of power shortage to power surplus.

Earlier, there would be crores of scams on coal mining. We have not only improved niti (policy) but also niyat (intention), Modi said, referring to the UPA regime.

Power Minister R K Singh said that a proposal which would seek to take discoms to task for load shedding in cases other than technical faults, natural calamities or accidents, would soon be placed before the PM for approval. He said that all those electricity boards and discoms that do load shedding without genuine reasons would be fined.

The minister also talked about shifting to prepaid electricity connections where people are able to recharge at Rs 50 or 100 denomination just like in case of mobile phones.

According to an official statement, the total outlay of the Saubhagya project will be Rs 16,320 crore, while the Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) is Rs 12,320 crore. The Centre will largely provide the funds for the scheme to all states and UTs.

The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.

The government said that even those un-electrified households that are not covered under SECC data would be provided electricity connections under the scheme on payment of Rs 500. The amount will be recovered by discoms in 10 instalments through the electricity bill.

They would be given solar power packs of 200 to 300 Wp, with a battery bank for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible areas. It would comprise five LED lights, one DC fan and one DC power plug.

Gram panchayats and public institutions in rural areas will be authorised to collect application forms along with complete documentation, distribute bills and collect revenue in consultation with the Panchayat Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.

The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) will remain the nodal agency for the operationalisation of the scheme throughout the country.

The government has been working hard to electrify all villages in the country and also wants to achieve 24X7 power for all by March, 2019, the statement said.
PM Narendra Modi on Monday launched Saubhagya Yojana which aims to provide electricity to all homes by December 2018. The big announcement comes on the same day when the BJPs kicked off its national executive meet in Delhi. The two occasions have been held to coincide with the conclusion of the month-long birth centenary celebration of RSS ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

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Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has appointed retired Madras High Court judge Justice A Arumugasamy to probe the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

The appointment of the commission of inquiry comes after a series of flip-flops by ministers in the state government and the rival camps of AIADMK on the conditions leading up to Ammas death. Jayalalithaa had died of a heart attack on December 5 last year after a prolonged treatment for infection and other complications.

Chief Minister EK Palaniswami had announced on August 17 that a judicial probe would be set up but had not disclosed the name of the judge. The probe was one of the key conditions for the merger of the two rival factions of the AIADMK led by the CM and Jaya loyalist O Panneerselvam.

Panneerselvam has been demanding a CBI probe into the mysterious death of Jaya. He has long maintained that he or his supporters were not allowed to see Jayalalithaa in the hospital though they had stayed put at the hospital all along the 75-day stay. The Sasikala camp did not even listen to suggestions that Jayalalithaa should be taken to the UK or the US for treatment, OPS had claimed.

The announcement of the probe comes just days after Tamil Nadu forest minister Dindigul C Srinivasan admitted that he had lied about Jayalalithaas improving health. Seeking forgiveness from the people of the state and party cadres, he had said that party leaders lied about Ammas death because they were afraid of Sasikala. Whoever came, would be briefed by Sasikala's relatives that she was all right, he said.

Hitting back, rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran has said that he has video evidence of Jayalalithaa watching television at Apollo hospital and claimed it was his aunt VK Sasikala who had recorded the clips.

We have the video recordings but we didn't want to degrade her (Jayalalithaas) dignity as she was wearing a night dress. My aunt (Sasikala) didn't permit us to use it except for a judicial probe, he said on Monday, adding that he would hand over the footage to the judge probing the death.

Ever since Jayalalithaas death, there have been allegations of foul play. Fingers have been pointed at Sasikala, who was a close aide of the late CM and who lived with Jayalalithaa.

The conspiracies surrounding her death include that she was poisoned, or may even have been pushed at her home in September 22 last year, after which remained admitted in the hospital. Doctors though have maintained that the death was caused by a sudden cardiac arrest.
New Delhi: The District Magistrate of Varanasi on Monday wrote to the Registrar of Benaras Hindu University (BHU) to take immediate steps to address safety concerns of female students.

This comes after protests over an alleged molestation case of a first year student at BHU turned violent with police resorting to lathi charge to disperse the crowd on September 23.

The DM has asked the BHU administration to constitute committees as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court guidelines to ensure safety of women in campus.

Apart from this, the DM also asked the university to ensure proper guard and security system on campus and increase the facilities available in hostels meant for girl students.

On September 23, while some miscreants tried to set fire on public property and pelted stones, police and paramilitary forces then allegedly beat up several protesters and marched onto the campus.

Several videos have surfaced showing male police personnel and PAC officers brutally beating up girls and barging into the girls hostel. Media personnel covering the event were also caught in the clashes.

The students who have been protesting over two days, refused to lift their dharna near the front gate, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting the city and was supposed to pass by the prestigious university.

The girls wanted to draw his attention to the persistent problem at BHU, of lack of security, sexual harassment inside the campus and victim shaming.

As soon as the news of lathicharge spread on Saturday night, students from other hostels also joined in and the situation went out of control. The protesters took to stone pelting and arson on the campus.

The female students alleged that the police thrashed and pulled them by their hair, even as the Varanasi district magistrate, who was present on the spot, denied the claims.
New Delhi/Kozhikode: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has attacked former vice-president Hamid Ansari for attending an event organised by the womens wing of Popular Front of India (PFI) which is under the scanner for alleged links with terror outfits.

Surendra Jain, VHPs Joint General Secretary, claimed that Ansari stands exposed after attending the programme. "He was spreading dissatisfaction in the Muslim community

even when he was holding the post of Vice President," he said.

Ansari attended the two-day international conference on "the role of women in making humane society" in Kerala's Kozhikode organised by the Institute of Objective Studies in association with the National Women's Front, the women's wing of the PFI.

However, PFI sources in Kerala said that only the Delhi-based Institute of Objective Studies organised the event and the PFI has not organised it.

Jain in a statement alleged that the PFI is nothing but a new and extended avatar of banned outfit SIMI. He also alleged that the PFI is involved in terror activities and the killing of "patriots" in Kerala.

Earlier, the Calicut University which had allowed the programme to be held at the varsity campus, later cancelled the permission saying that the Federation of Muslim Colleges, the parent body of the Chair of Islamic Studies at the University, objected to certain organisations which were not part of of the programme later collaborating with it.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a report to the Union Home Ministry had claimed that the PFI has been involved in terror acts, including running terror camps and making bombs, and it was a fit case to be declared banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The PFI reportedly has presence in 23 states and is strongest in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
United Nations: A day after Pakistan Permanent Representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, tried to pass off a photograph of a Gaza woman as victim of pellet gun injury in Kashmir, India on Saturday said that Pakistan was once again diverting world's attention from its role "as the hub of global terrorism".

Paulomi Tripathi, India's First Secretary, said that Lodhi had "callously" held the picture of Rawya Abu Jom'a, a girl from Palestine. She alleged that Pakistan had displayed that photograph, misleading the house and spreading falsehoods about India. "A fake picture to push a completely false narrative."

Paulomi then exposed Pakistan's role in pushing terrorists into the Indian territory, causing a disturbance in the Kashmir valley. She pulled out a photograph of Lt. Ummer Fayaz, the army officer who was brutally murdered when he was on leave to attend a wedding.

"This is a real and not a fake picture of Lt. Ummer Fayaz. A young officer from the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. Ummer Fayaz was kidnapped at a wedding celebration. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan supported terrorists in May 2017," Paulomi said.

Indian representative said that her Pakistani counterpart was trying to obfuscate the reality by brandishing fake photographs.

Responding to Paulomi, Pakistani representative referred to lynching incidents that have occurred over the past two years. "Muslims and Christians are lynched, and state protection is given to perpetrators of Samjhauta Express terrorist attack," he alleged, adding that "Kulbhushan Jadhav was spreading terror in Pakistan".

On Saturday, Sushma Swaraj, India's external affairs minister, had asked Pakistani leaders to introspect why India was recognised as a global IT superpower, while Pakistan was infamous as the "pre-eminent export factory for terror".
New Delhi: A relentless battle by CNN-News18 against drug abuse among children in the national capital is set to have a life-changing impact for many of these innocent souls.

As advised by a senior Supreme Court judge, who was moved by the News18 report on the prevalence of drug abuse among children in Delhi, a committee comprising Delhi High Court judges will start monitoring the action taken by the Delhi government to curb this menace on an urgent basis.

Supreme Court judge, Justice Kurian Joseph, prompted the Delhi High Court to take up the cause of drug abuse in Delhi and demand an explanation from the authorities on what he called a lackadaisical attitude in dealing with the problem.

Prodded by a four-page letter written by Justice Joseph, the acting chief justice of the Delhi High Court, Gita Mittal has written back saying she shall constitute a committee of HC judges to monitor the progress/ steps taken by the Government of NCT of Delhi with regard to the compliance of directions issued in this matter, propound an action plan and urgently issue appropriate directions for a speedy action.

Justice Mittal has appreciated Justice Josephs concerns that substance abuse among children in Delhi called for an imperative need for a more comprehensive study, an action plan and a court-monitored implementation.

The needful shall be done at the earliest and I shall keep you informed of the same, stated Justice Mittals reply to the senior SC judge.

Her letter is in response to the one written by Justice Joseph a few days ago, wherein he expressed grave concerns over substance abuse among children in Delhi.

Justice Joseph called it unfortunate that Delhi children are exposed to drugs and slammed the lackadaisical attitude of authorities in dealing with drug menace.

The senior SC judge also expressed concern over the future of these drugged out children and rued the easy availability of narcotics in Delhi. He also termed it distressing that Delhi lacked proper de-addiction centres to help these children.

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The monument nicknamed the Iron Lady has welcomed 300 million visitors since its completion in 1889, when it served as the entrance to the World's Fair in Paris. SETE, the company that manages Eiffel Tower, is planning to celebrate the event on September 28.

With close to 7 million visitors a year, the Eiffel Tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world. Initially built to last for 20 years, the Iron Lady is now planning to celebrate her 300 million visitors on September 28.

To mark the occasion, Parisians and tourists will be invited to take a picture of themselves and position it on a twelve-meter long wall, which bears the legend "300,000,000 thanks". Participation in this exercise will be rewarded with a souvenir copy of the picture.

The party will begin in earnest at 6 PM when concerts, organized in collaboration with the Paris Regional Conservatory, will take place on every floor of the tower. The atmosphere will be set by jazz in the tower's forecourt. Strings will give way to trumpets on the first floor, while a quartet of flutes will play at the summit of the tower. From 8 PM to 11 PM, it will be time for electronic music. DJs Isa GT, Michel D and Riks, Louise Chen and Jean Tonique will feature in the line-up for a special free concert on the first floor of the monument.

Finally, to celebrate the landmark's success, a lightshow which has been specially designed for the occasion will be repeated every 30 minutes, from 7:30 PM to midnight.
Embattled carrier Ryanair has launched a massive seat sale with airfares as low as US$7, in a move aimed at redeeming its name after a disastrous week of canceled flights and public uproar.

Until midnight, September 25, the low-cost carrier will sell one million seats for travel between October and February, 2018.

The cheapest one-way fare is a jaw-dropping 4.99 from London Stansted airport to Lorient, France, while the rest of the airfares in the sale range from 7.99 to 16.99 (US$11 to $23).

Destinations include Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Budapest, Biarritz and Dublin.

On September 15, the Irish carrier caused an uproar after canceling about 2,100 flights scheduled over the next six weeks.

The cancelations were made to improve their poor punctuality, attributed to Air Traffic Control delays and strikes, weather disruptions and a pilot shortage.

About 315,000 customers were affected.

As of September 20, about half of affected passengers were reassigned flights and 63,000 refunds were processed.
New Delhi: Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani on Sunday posed in the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex, which he visited to conduct a recce for his new film.

"You can't help but be awed by the scale and the decorum of government. Rashtrapati Bhavan, recce, Delhi," Advani tweeted on Sunday with a photograph of himself in casuals and a pair of shades.

You can't help but be awed by the scale and the decorum of government. #rashtrapatibhavan #recce #delhi pic.twitter.com/S6BeM7nFVB Nikkhil Advani (@nikkhiladvani) September 24, 2017

He didn't mention the details of the project that he is conducting a recce for. According to media reports that emerged earlier this month, Advani is set to explore a story around the Batla House encounter, which followed the 2008 serial blasts in Delhi. Two suspected militants were killed in the encounter.

The director is credited with titles like Kal Ho Naa Ho, Delhi Safari and D-Day. He also helmed television show P.O.W.- Bandi Yuddh Ke -- a story on prisoners of war.

His last production was Lucknow Central, a prison escape movie with an ensemble cast.
Host Salman Khans Bigg Boss is one reality show that never fails to surprise and continues to set new TRP records every season. Salman is all prepped to be back on small screen with Bigg Boss Season 11 on October 1. Bigg Boss 11 recent TV commercial shows Salman giving sneak peek into Season 11 which has already created a buzz and have built up the excitement.

Bigg Boss 11 thrives on Salman's presence and its no wonder that his paycheck has become hefty with every season of the show.

With Season 11, it is going to be Salmans eighth stint in a row with Bigg Boss as a host. And as per reports doing rounds, Salman is believed to have been paid a whopping 11 crores per episode. Well now thats a record in itself!

Salman hosted Bigg Boss for the first time in the year 2010 with season 4.

The next year - 2011 saw Sanjay Dutt as the main host for Bigg Boss  5 while Salman hosted a few eviction episodes besides the opening show and finale.

However, Salman made a full fledged comeback the following year in 2012 as Bigg Boss 6 host and there has been no looking back ever since. The actor has been hosting the reality show for the last 7 seasons and this year, Mouni Roy is touted to co-host for Bigg Boss 11.

And as far as Salmans compensation goes, as per earlier speculations, Salman charged somewhere around 2.5 crores per episode from Bigg Boss 4 to Bigg Boss 6.

Salman doubled his remuneration the following season, taking 5 crores per episode for Bigg Boss 7.

For Bigg Boss 8, Salman is estimated to have charged 5.5 crores per episode while for Bigg Boss 9 the Sultan star hiked his fee to 7-8 crores per episode.

For Bigg Boss 10, he was paid 8 crores per episode, but with Bigg Boss 11 he is reported to have charged a fat paycheck of 11 crores.
The BJPs National Executive meet kicked off in Delhi on Monday. BJP president Amit Shah attacked Rahul Gandhis comment of dynasty" being a part of India and said it is only the tradition of the Congress. Shah condemned the hate politics" being carried out in Kerala and planned protests in the state. He also talked about Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of New India.

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#suitcase murder suspect Justice minister orders extradition of 'suitcase' murder suspect to New Zealand South Korea's justice minister on Monday ordered the extradition of a woman believed to be the mother of two children whose bodies were found in suitcases in New Zealand in August,...

#KBO KBO sets salary cap for 1st time In an unprecedented move designed to ensure a level playing field, the top South Korean baseball league announced Monday it has set a salary cap for the next three seasons. The ...
New Delhi: Taking a cue from a string of defeats in student union elections across the country, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), student union affiliated with Sangh Parivar, has decided to join the protests against police violence in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in which several women students and journalists were injured on Saturday night.

ABVP will take to streets on Monday to protest against the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

Speaking to News 18, ABVP national media convener Saket Bahuguna said, "The purpose of the ABVP protest in Delhi on Monday is not to stand against anybody but to ensure that the issues raised by BHU students are resolved. We will protest outside Shastri Bhawan, which is where the MHRD is, to demand justice for BHU students."

The saffron outfit lost student body polls in Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Gauhati University, University of Hyderabad and Punjab University among others.

The ABVP said it has demanded that a fact-finding team should be set up to look into the incident of lathi-charge in Varanasi. It has also demanded action against the BHU administration for not resolving the complaints of women students.

While Bahuguna stopped short of criticising the Yogi Adityanath government, which is in control of the local police. When asked if ABVP was willing to go against the BJP, he said, "ABVP is a principled outfit. We stand for issues. The media forgets that we are not the student wing of the BJP but are only connected to them. That gives us the democratic right to raise any issue that we think is in the interest of students. MHRD is certainly responsible for this and they must take action."

Violence erupted in Varanasi's premier university as women students protesting against an alleged incident of sexual harassment were beaten up by policemen. Earlier, a woman student had said that a group of men had harassed her on campus but the security guards did nothing to prevent it. When she complained to the warden, he allegedly responded by asking her why did she step out at night. On Saturday night, armed policemen entered the BHU campus and lathi-charged women students. Several journalists were also beaten up by cops.

The BHU administration has claimed the protests were politically motivated since they coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Varanasi.
After many failed attempts, BSP founder Kanshi Ram won his first Lok Sabha election from Etawah in 1990. The victory from Mulayam Singh Yadavs backyard surprised one and all. The Samajwadi Party president, it later turned out, had lent a helping hand to BSP leader against his own party candidate to test waters ahead of formally stitching an alliance with BSP to take on the BJP.

In Indian politics, Mulayams ability to cut political deals has been legendary. Though, he had the agility of a first class gymnast, it is another matter that the pehelwan from Etawah chose politics for a profession at a young age.

From V P Singh to Prakash Karat to Mamata Banerjee, many have been a witness to Mulayams felicity in negotiating uneven bars on the balance beam. Towards the fag end of his political career, Mulayam is focusing tricks of the trade he has learnt in his five-decades' long political career to cement his sons position  in Samajwadi Party and UP politics.

SP - political pundits in the last eighteen months have on multiple occasions predicted  would bleed with a multiple haemorrhage by the wounds inflicted in the fight between the father and son. Mulayam, many said, will expel Akhilesh. Shivpal was said to be the chosen successor.

Once again, ahead of the SP national executive in Agra in the first week of October, the grapevine was rife in political circles that Mulayam would finally break his ties with Akhilesh to float a new political outfit.

On Monday when Mulayam addressed media, he as a caring father, chastised son Akhilesh. I dont agree with my son, but I give him my blessings," said Mulayam.

Within minutes, Akhilesh tweeted, Long live Netaji, long live Samajwadi Party.

Conspicuous by MSYs much-touted press conference was brother Shivpal  the main challenger to Akhilesh in the family feud. Chacha (Uncle Shivpal), media was told would hold a separate media interaction, which was later cancelled.

If one were to look closely at the turn of events in the SP in the last 18 months, it appears that the patriarch has deftly overseen a smooth transition of power from father to son.

And most importantly, all this while he has appeared to be standing with his younger brother Shivpal. He has held him tight, he has kept him engaged and he has ensured that Shivpal does not inflict a larger damage to the party.

Next month, Samajwadi Party will hold its national council meeting in Agra. The party is slated to amend its constitution to extend term of its president from three to five years. Which in many ways would further settle the leadership issue. Akhilesh Yadav, it would mean, would lead the party in the next round of parliament and UP Assembly elections.

The party symbol would be released by Akhileshs signature alone.
Ahmedabad: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation and said common people had to suffer because of the governments mistakes.

Does the farmer use digital payments? No, he uses cash. So, the BJP governments move hit the downtrodden, he said,

Rahul also tore into the Gujarat model and said it was only meant to profit corporates. This Gujarat model provides land, electricity and all the help to corporates but leaves the common man high and dry, he said.

The Congress vice-president is on a three-day tour of Gujarat ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. It is the first time in over two decades that any senior Congress leader is camping in Gujarat for more than two days. Notably, Rahul has chosen the Patidar heartland of Saurashtra to begin his campaign.

Rahul began his tour by visiting the famous Dwarka Temple. He will cover the districts of Dwarka and Jamnagar during the first day of his tour. Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar and Rajkot are the districts that Rahul is set to cover.

In phase one, Rahul is set to visit the Dwarka Temple, the Khodal Dham Temple (seat of the Leuva Patidar community) and the Chotila Temple.

The temple visits are part of the proposed four-phase tour of Gujarat that Rahul will undertake ahead of the assembly election later this year. The Congress vice-president will approximately cover 450 kilometres by road during the first phase, wherein hell be addressing supporters, meeting farmers, craftsman fisherman and other communities of the five districts.
Gandhinagar: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hits the campaign trail in Gujarat on Monday with a three-day tour. It is the first time in over two decades that any senior Congress leader is camping in Gujarat for more than two days. Notably, Rahul has chosen the Patidar heartland of Saurashtra to begin his campaign.

The leader will start the first phase of his tour by visiting the famous Dwarka Temple, where he will cover the districts of Dwarka and Jamnagar during the first day of his tour. Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar and Rajkot are the districts that Rahul is set to cover.

In phase one, Rahul is set to visit the Dwarka Temple, the Khodal Dham Temple (seat of the Leuva Patidar community) and the Chotila Temple.

The temple visits are part of the proposed four-phase tour of Gujarat that Rahul will undertake ahead of the assembly election later this year. The Congress vice-president will approximately cover 450 kilometres by road during the first phase, wherein hell be addressing supporters, meeting farmers, craftsman fisherman and other communities of the five districts.

This is a marked shift from the convention of holding one-off rallies, the Congress has decided to hold roadshows with Rahul travelling by bus all through the tour.
Chennai: Actor Kamal Haasan has said his professional rival Rajinikanth is a "suitable ally" of the BJP while he himself is a rationalist, clearly giving a hint on the expected political trajectories of the two Tamil superstars.

"He seems like a more suitable ally for the saffron party because of his religious beliefs, while I am a rationalist," Haasan told CNN-News18's Zakka Jacob in an interview peppered with occasional barbs at the BJP, the ruling party at the Centre.

There has been no Achhe Din in Tamil Nadu. I cant talk about other states but achhe din kab aayenge? he quipped.

Haasan said he will float a new political outfit by the turn of the year and that it would be against both the main Dravidian parties in the state. "The people of Tamil Nadu have witnessed the corruption of both DMK and AIADMK. My fight is against corruption, the actor said.

I cannot commit a time but we are trying to launch (the new party) before New Year. I am talking to various people, taking advice from them. As there is no time limit, I cannot say, said Kamal.

Talking about his high-profile meeting with Arvind Kejriwal, which many thought might be a sign of his aligning with the AAP, the Hey Ram actor said, I did not go to Kejriwal, he came to me. It was kind of him.

I am against casteism, said Kamal, Although I am not a communist, I admire certain people who are. Some of my heroes are communists."

I love my country but it starts from my home and then from my state. There is definitely a divide between North and South India. Delhi doesnt understand Tamil Nadu, and vice-versa. Even if there is a positive move from either side, the other views it with suspicion. This is why no national party has made it in Tamil Nadu.

Rajinikanth is the other superstar to have talked about entering politics and cleaning up the system. While many wish to see both of them put up a front together, Kamal indicated that he was open to working with his counterpart on issue basis.

I speak to Rajini regularly, he is a friend. I informed him when I decided to join politics. Although there are no plans right now, I am open to working with him. He seems like a more suitable ally for the saffron party because of his religious beliefs, while I am a rationalist.

I am entering politics now because the state has never been in such a bad shape. Someone asked me if it was a good time. I said no, its a bad time and that is why Im entering politics.
New Delhi: BJP National Executive will meet in Delhi on Monday to take stock of the current political and economic situation in the country.

With the opposition parties attacking the government's poor handling of the economy, in lieu of the falling GDP and demonetisation figures, Prime Minister Modi is expected to address these issues head on. He is also expected to highlight his dispensation's "successes" in boosting transparency and curbing black money, party sources told PTI.

The day-long proceedings will start with party President Amit Shah's inaugural address to the delegates.

All party lawmakers have been invited to what is being called an 'extended executive' that will end with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's valedictory address.

In his speech, the Prime Minister is expected to dispel concerns over the economy and lay down his government's economic, political agenda.

The meeting also marks the culmination of the year-long celebrations of RSS ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay.

Close to 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs and all MLCs, besides its core group leaders from states, are among those expected to attend the meet on Monday.

BJP sources said the party's resolution is likely to assert the fact that the economy has been doing better under NDA as compared to the previous UPA government.

Also, the GST rollout has been described by the party as a major success of the government which, it has asserted, will integrate the country economy.

The Prime Minister's agenda of development will also be a key feature. A senior party leader said the issue of Rohingya immigrants, whom the government has termed a threat to national security, may also find a mention.

With the government and party both embracing Upadhyay's plank of 'antyodaya' (upliftment of the last man), the executive is expected to cite a number of measures undertaken by the Union and BJP-ruled states for the welfare of the poor.

(With Inputs from PTI)
Samsung India has announced special anniversary offers on Samsung Shop, the official online store of Samsung. The offers include exclusive deals on a range of Samsung products. The anniversary sale on Samsung Shop will be held from September 25 to September 30, 2017. During the sale, consumers will get exclusive deals on a range of Samsung mobiles, televisions, wearables, IT products, mobile service packs and audio accessories. Additionally, Samsung is offering a cashback of 5 percent on transactions made at Samsung Shop using ICICI Bank Credit Card.

We are happy to spread the joy on our anniversary with these special offers on our bestselling products. With special features like free delivery, no cost EMI financing schemes and live chat, we will continue to provide superior experience to our valuable consumers, said Sandeep Singh Arora, Vice President, Online Business, Samsung India.

Samsung Shop, the official online shopping destination for consumers, offers a wide portfolio of Samsung products covering Smartphones, Televisions, Home Appliances, Memory and IT products with richer content, detailed product information and pan India delivery.

Watch Video: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 First Impressions Review
Samsung has since long been working on a foldable smartphone display now and most recently, the technology for the same has been certified in Samsungs own country. The foldable device, expected to be named Samsung Galaxy X, recently appeared in a Korean National Radio Agency filing under the model name SM-G888N0. As per a report, the device was first spotted at the Wi-Fi Alliance and is now being listed as radio equipment for global LTE communication under the NRRA listing.

Samsung is known for bringing such revolutionary smartphone technology, with the latest example being the infinity display sported by its flagship the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Though the foldable smartphone technology is nothing new by the company, being first showcased as a prototype back in 2013, it will certainly come as a first on the commercial front if Samsung is able to bring it to its global markets by next year, as hinted at by the Samsung Mobile Chief  Koh Ding-jin. The technology, however, currently faces technical challenges, which, if not solved in time, may push back the release date of the technology.

Also read: Asus Zenfone 3 Max Gets a Price Cut of Rs 2000

As of now, not much is known about the Samsung Galaxy X apart from the fact that it is going to be a foldable smartphone and a tablet hybrid. As per various reports, the Galaxy X model is going to be released by the third quarter of 2018 and in limited quantities.

Watch Video: Micromax Canvas Infinity Review | The Most Affordable Bezel-Less Phone
Sony has launched a new flagship device in India by the name of Xperia XZ1. The latest Sony smartphone boasts of a real-time 3D capture, Full HD HDR display, top-of-the-line Qualcomm processor and also the latest Android OS. The Xperia XZ1 will be available in India at a price of Rs 44,990 starting today. In terms of specifications, the Sony Xperia XZ1 carries a 5.2-inch Full-HD HDR display that also carries Sonys Triluminous and X-Reality technology and comes with a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, along with a 4GB and a 64GB of internal storage out of which, 54.5GB is made available to the user. The memory is further expandable up to 256GB using an external microSD. As a highlight, the Xperia XZ1 runs the latest Android Oreo OS. It draws its juice from a 2700 mAh battery that comes with Smart Stamina 3.0 and Qnovo Adaptive Charging along with Qualcomms Quick Charge 3.0.

On the optics front, the Xperia XZ1 carries a 19-megapixel primary Motion Eye camera that comes with Exmor RS sensor and features like 3D scanning and super slow motion video recording at 960 fps. It also boasts of features like predictive capture, 8x digital zoom, autofocus burst, triple image sensing technology, 4K video recording and more. At the front, the camera carries a 13-megapixel camera with a similar Exmor RS sensor and a 22mm wide-angle lens with F2.0 aperture.

Also read: Micromax Canvas Infinity Review: Most Affordable Bezel-Less Smartphone

Connectivity options on the Xperia XZ1 include Dual Nano SIM slots, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi Miracast, NFC and USB Type-C. The smartphone also comes with IP 65/68 water and dust resistance and a fingerprint sensor embedded onto its power button, just like the one on Xperia XZ Premium. Dimensions of the Sony Xperia XZ1 are 148 x 73 x 7.4mm while it weighs at 156g.

Sony Xperia XZ1 will be available in a Black colour variant at a price of Rs 44,990 starting today, September 25. Sony has also put up launch offers along with the smartphone wherein buyers can avail 0 percent finance offers with zero down payment and a 5 percent cashback upon using HDFC Credit/Debit & ICICI Credit Card. A side stand cover is also being offered by the company along with the Xperia XZ1 at a discount of Rs 1000, bringing its price down to Rs 2,490.

Watch Video: Micromax Canvas Infinity Review | The Most Affordable Bezel-Less Phone
SoundBot, a California based Lifestyle Personal Gadget brand launched its all-new Military grade IPX Level 7 water-resistant, Handsfree Bluetooth speaker  the SB517 at Rs 1290. SoundBots SB517 Bluetooth Portable Waterproof Speaker offers and comes in two colours  Black and White. The SB517 is a tough military grade speaker that aims to offers an immersive listening experience. This gadget is for those who love the great outdoors and the immersive indoors equally. It can be carried anywhere  be it the poolside, the kitchen, shower, beach or office or even a children party the company claims.

It is a device that is packed with the modern technology with 90db range, 6 hours of streaming, hands-free talking, built-in Mic, and a distance coverage of 10 meters. The 40MM premium water-resistant driver aims to deliver incredible sound quality in a wide range, it has a detachable suction cup and seamless connectivity to any device. SoundBot SB517 can be a perfect speaker for those who love to explore and travel, military grade and shock resistant, durable and is available on Amazon.in.

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Also Watch: Micromax Canvas Infinity Review | The Most Affordable Bezel-Less Phone
Berlin: Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term in office on Sunday but will have to build an uneasy coalition to form a German government after her conservatives haemorrhaged support in the face of a surge by the far-right.

The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by winning 13.1 percent of the vote, projected results showed. This result will bring a far-right party into parliament for the first time in more than half a century.

Merkels conservative bloc emerged as the largest parliamentary party but, with just 33.2 percent of the vote, saw its support slump to the lowest since 1949  the first time national elections were held in post-war Germany.

Her main Social Democrat rivals also received their worst result since the 1940s  just 20.8 percent after nearly half of voters repudiated the two parties that have dominated Germany since World War Two.

With parliament now fragmented, Merkel appears likely to cobble together a tricky three-way coalition with a pro-business group and the Greens. Merkel said the success of the far right was a test for Germans. It was important to listen to the concerns of their voters and win them back.

"Of course we had hoped for a slightly better result. But we mustn't forget that we have just completed an extraordinarily challenging legislative period, so I am happy that we reached the strategic goals of our election campaign," Merkel said.

"We are the strongest party, we have the mandate to build the next government - and there cannot be a coalition government built against us," Merkel added.

The election was fought on the tense backdrop of surging support for far left and far right parties across Europe.

Germany in particular is coping with the arrival of more than 1 million refugees and other new migrants, with tension with Russia since Moscow's incursions into Ukraine, and with doubt about Europe's future since Britain voted to quit the EU.

After shock election results last year, from the Brexit vote to the election of US President Donald Trump, leaders of Europe's establishment have looked to Merkel to rally the liberal Western order.

But after acting as an anchor of stability in Europe and beyond, she now faces an unstable situation at home as she must now form a coalition, an arduous process that could take months.

Immediately after the release of exit polls, the deputy party leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in a "grand coalition" with Merkel's conservatives for the last four years, said her party would now go into opposition.

For us, the grand coalition ends today, Manuela Schwesig told ZDF broadcaster. "For us it's clear that we'll go into opposition as demanded by the voter."

Without the SPD, Merkel's only straightforward path to a majority in parliament would be a three-way tie-up with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens, known as a "Jamaica" coalition because the black, yellow and green colours of the three parties match the Jamaican flag.

Such an arrangement is untested at the national level in Germany and widely seen as inherently unstable. Both the FDP and the Greens have played down the prospect of a three-way coalition, but neither won enough seats on Sunday to give Merkel a majority on its own.

NEW ERA

Whatever the make-up of her coalition, Merkel, 63, faces four years of government in a fragmented parliament after the return of the FDP - unrepresented at national level for the last four years - and the arrival of the AfD.

Founded in 2013 by an anti-euro group of academics, the AfD has surged as an anti-immigrant group in the wake of Merkel's 2015 decision to leave German borders open to over 1 million migrants, most of them fleeing war in the Middle East.

The party's entry into the national parliament heralds the beginning of a new era in German politics that will see more robust debate and a departure from the steady, consensus-based approach that has marked the post-war period.

The other parties elected to the Bundestag all refuse to work with the AfD, which says it will press for Merkel to be "severely punished" for opening the door to refugees and migrants.

After the AfD hurt her conservatives in regional elections last year, Merkel, a pastor's daughter who grew up in Communist East Germany, wondered if she should run for re-election.

But with the migrant issue under control this year, she threw herself into a punishing campaign schedule.

Despite losing support, Merkel, Europe's longest serving leader, will join the late Helmut Kohl, her mentor who reunified Germany, and Konrad Adenauer, who led Germany's rebirth after World War Two, as the only post-war chancellors to win four national elections.
London: Ubers new boss Dara Khosrowshahi apologised to Londoners for the taxi apps mistakes and pledged to make changes as the Silicon Valley firm tries to overturn a decision to strip it of its licence in one of its major markets.

The British capitals transport regulator on Friday deemed Uber unfit to run a taxi service and decided not to renew its licence to operate, which will end this week, citing the firms approach to reporting serious criminal offences and background checks on drivers.

Mayor Sadiq Khan, a Labour politician who has criticised the firm in the past, said on Monday he had asked Transport for London (TfL) to be available to meet CEO Khosrowshahi.

Ubers 40,000 drivers, one third of the citys total number of private hire vehicles, will continue to take passengers until an appeals process is exhausted, which is likely to take several months.

London police complained this year that the app, which is backed by Goldman Sachs and BlackRock, was either not disclosing, or taking too long to report, serious crimes including sexual assaults and that this put the public at risk.

Its  true that weve got things wrong along the way. On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologise for the mistakes weve made," Khosrowshahi wrote in an open letter to Londoners.

We will appeal the decision on behalf of millions of Londoners, but we do so with the knowledge that we must also change," he said.

The loss of the San Francisco-based start-ups licence in one of the worlds wealthiest capitals comes after a tumultuous few months that led to former CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick being forced out.

Khosrowshahi, who is less than a month into his new job, did not specify which mistakes Uber had made in London.

Ubers UK head of cities, Fred Jones, said the firm was working with the police to work out how it can better report incidents.

He also said TfL, which declined to comment on Monday, had not been clear about it concerns.

Once we understand them we can work with them to figure out what is it that they would like us to do and how can we move forward and I think thats the important next step," Jones told BBC radio.

ARMY OF LAWYERS

Khan, who backed TfLs decision, said the transport body was open to meeting Ubers boss but attacked the Silicon Valley companys response to losing its licence.

I appreciate Uber has an army of lawyers, theyve also made aggressive threats about taking us to court and the rest of it," he told BBC radio.

You cant have it both ways: on the one hand acting in an aggressive manner for all sorts of things but on the other hand brief to journalists that they want to do a deal with TfL," he said, adding companies that played by the rules were welcome in London.

The firm has until Oct. 14 to formally appeal TfLs decision and the case is likely to be filed at Westminster Magistrates Court in London.

Uber, which began operating in London in 2012, has faced regulatory and legal setbacks around the world amid opposition from traditional taxi services, and has been forced to quit several countries including Denmark and Hungary.

However, it has also managed to overturn bans and other crackdowns.

Earlier this year, Italy briefly blocked Uber from operating, citing unfair competition, but lifted the prohibition a week later, while in Taiwan it resumed services in April after talks with the islands authorities, ending a two-month suspension.

A petition calling on London to overturn its decision not to renew Ubers licence had gathered more than 750,000 signatures at noon on Monday.

This ban shows the world that London is far from being open and is closed to innovative companies, who bring choice to consumers and work opportunities to those who need them," the petition says.
Washington: Citizens of eight countries, including North Korea and Venezuela, will face new restrictions on entry to the US under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Sunday that will replace his expiring travel ban.

The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, will go into effect on October 18.

The restrictions range from an indefinite ban on visas for citizens of countries like Syria to more targeted restrictions. A suspension of non-immigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela, for instance, will apply only to certain government officials and their immediate families.

The announcement comes the same day as Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire 90 days after it went into effect. That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the US Only one of those countries, Sudan, will no longer be subject to travel restrictions.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted late Sunday after the new policy was announced.

Unlike the first iteration of Trump's travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges, officials stressed they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.

To limit confusion, valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers for citizens of the affected countries who meet certain criteria.

That includes: having previously worked or studied in the US for a lengthy and continuous period of time activity; having previously established "significant contacts" in the US; and having "significant business or professional obligations" in the US Still, officials acknowledged the waiver restrictions were narrower than the exemptions for people with bona fide ties to the United States that he Supreme Court mandated.

The restrictions are targeted at countries that the Department of Homeland Security says fail to share sufficient information with the US or haven't taken necessary security precautions.

Over the course of the last three months, DHS worked to developed new security baselines, which includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information, report lost or stolen passports to INTERPOL, and share information about travelers' terror-related and criminal histories. The US then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

A total of sixteen countries did not comply with the rules at first, officials said, but half worked with the US to improve their information-sharing and security practices. The remaining eight are now subject to the new restrictions until they are deemed in compliance.

The includes a suspension of all immigrants visas for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, and the suspension of non-immigrant visas, such as for business and tourism, to nationals of Chad, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Yemen.

Citizens of Iran will not be eligible for tourism and business visas, but remain eligible for student and cultural exchange visas if they undergo additional scrutiny. Such additional scrutiny will also be required for Somali citizens applying for all non-immigrant visas.

Trump last week called for a "tougher" travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.

"The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!" he tweeted.

Critics have accused Trump of overstepping his legal authority and violating the US Constitution's protections against religious bias each time he has ordered new travel restrictions.

And the inclusion of Venezuela and North Korea appeared to be an attempt to block challenges from advocacy groups and others who have called the restrictions a ban on Muslims. Trump during his campaign called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."

The US had already imposed wide-ranging sanctions on certain high-ranking Venezuelan government officials to protest the government's attempts to consulate power. The new visa sanctions will apply to all officials from five Venezuelan government security agencies and their immediate families.

But officials argue the measures as necessary to keep Americans safe.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement the president was carrying out his duty to protect the American people. He said the State Department would coordinate with other federal agencies to implement the measures in "an orderly manner" and would" continue to work closely with our allies and partners who share our commitment to national and global security."

The new policy could also complicate the Supreme Court's review of the order, which is scheduled for argument next month.
Arbil: Iraqi Kurds started voting in an independence referendum on Sunday in defiance of Baghdad which has warned of "measures" to defend Iraq's unity and threatened to deprive their region of lifeline oil revenues.

The non-binding vote on the Kurds' long-cherished dream of independence, initiated by veteran leader Massud Barzani, has angered not only the federal government but also neighbouring Turkey and Iran, concerned it could stoke separatist aspirations among their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.

Polling stations are scattered across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan -- Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk -- as well as in disputed bordering zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

In Sulaimaniyah, second city of the autonomous region, 40-year-old Diyar Omar came to cast his vote wearing traditional Kurdish clothes.

"We will seize our independence through the polls. I'm delighted to be the first voter," he said as he arrived at a polling station in the city.

"I'm so happy I could take part in this independence vote during my lifetime," he added.

Outside a polling station in regional capital Arbil, voters formed a long queue from early morning, most dressed in traditional clothes for the occasion. "I came very early to be the first to vote for a Kurdish state," Diyar Abubakr, 33, said.

"It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion," he said.

One voter even brought a cow to slaughter before the start of the referendum. "I brought this cow as today the state is born and it's tradition to slaughter a cow for a birth," Dalgash Abdallah, 27, said.

A total of 12,072 polling stations for the more than 5.3 million registered voters are to stay open for 12 hours. Barzani, smiling and wearing a traditional outfit, cast his vote early in the morning, Kurdish news agency Rudaw said. In disputed Kirkuk, mosque loudspeakers blared out calls for residents to take part in the vote.

Initial results are expected to be announced 24 hours after the vote but an overwhelming "Yes" outcome is not in doubt, with Kurdish flags festooned in all the streets, on cars and outside homes across Iraqi Kurdistan.

As Barzani pledged yesterday to go ahead with the historic referendum after having resisted a barrage of international pressure to call it off, Iraq's leader pledged to take all the "necessary measures" to protect the country's unity and his government targeted the Kurds' oil sales.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that taking the Kurds' unilateral decision to stage a referendum affected both Iraqi and regional security, and was "unconstitutional and against civil peace".

"We will take the necessary measures to preserve the unity of the country," he said, without elaborating. Hours later, the Iraqi government at a meeting of its security cabinet called on all countries "to deal only with it on matters of oil and borders".

The Iraqi Kurds export an average 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

Tehran also upped the pressure yesterday, saying it had blocked all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan at Baghdad's request.

Washington and many Western states had opposed the vote, saying it would hamper the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group in which cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurds has been key.

But Barzani said the Kurds' "partnership with Baghdad" since the ousted of dictator Saddam Hussein in the 2003 US-led invasion had failed and urged his people to turn out and vote. "We expect reactions from one side or another but we are convinced that whatever the risk and the price, it's better than waiting for a dark outcome," he said.

"The referendum is not for defining borders or imposing a fait accompli. We want a dialogue with Baghdad to resolve the problems, and the dialogue can last one or two years," Barzani said of zones such as Kirkuk.
Washington: President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, used his personal email account on dozens of occasions to communicate with colleagues in the White House, his lawyer has said.

Between January and August, Kushner either received or responded to fewer than 100 emails from White House officials from his private account, attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement on Saturday.

"These usually forwarded news articles or political commentary and most often occurred when someone initiated the exchange by sending an email to his personal, rather than his White House, address," Lowell said.

The attorney said Kushner, a key aide to Trump, uses his White House address to discuss White House business and that any non-personal emails have been forwarded to his official account and preserved.

Politico first reported Kushner's use of a private email account.

The use of personal email to discuss government business is a politically freighted issue that factored prominently in last year's presidential election.

Hillary Clinton faced an FBI investigation for much of her unsuccessful White House bid over her use of a private email server as secretary of state. Former FBI Director James Comey said that though Clinton and her aides were "extremely careless" in their handling of classified information, there was no evidence that anyone intended to break the law. He recommended against criminal prosecution.

Trump repeatedly argued during the campaign that Clinton deserved to be prosecuted for mishandling classified information and has continued to suggest that even after being elected president.

At a political event in Alabama on Friday, he responded to supporter chants of "lock her up" by saying, "You've got to speak to (Attorney General) Jeff Sessions about that."
Islamabad: Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday returned to the country from the UK to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal.

He was in London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

Sharif, 67, decided to return after consultations with senior party leaders including his younger brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London, party officials said.

The aircraft carrying him landed in Islamabad at around 7.30 am and a confident Sharif came out, waved to his supporters and left in official protocol, TV news reports showed.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials said that he would stay in Punjab House in Islamabad and hold meetings with party leaders on Monday and Tuesday.

"He (Sharif) would appear before the accountability court tomorrow (September 26) to defend himself in three corruption cases," the officials said.

Sharif stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons -- Hassan and Hussain, daughter -- Maryam, son-in-law -- Safdar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Accountability Court in Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

The anti-graft body last week froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court. Earlier, Sharif skipped a court hearing last week to defy the cases. His family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated.

Maryam said that Sharif was returning to face cases for the sake of his people.

"Knowing what he faces is not accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about this person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million (Pakistanis)," she said in a tweet. Sharif last month went to London to see Kulsoom who has undergone three successful surgeries for her cancer.

Kulsoom contested on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won. Their children are still in London as he prepares to appear before the court in Islamabad tomorrow. The court has also summoned Maryam, Hussain, Hasan and Safdar but it was not immediately known if they would appear before the court tomorrow.

Meanwhile finance minister Dar, who also returned from London, appeared today in an anti-corruption court. The court had issued a bailable arrest warrant against him for failing to appear before it.

Dar's lawyer had deposited surety bonds worth Rs one million to avoid his arrest.

The court, after brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income.
Tennessee: A woman was killed and at least six people were injured when a gunman opened fire at a church in Nashville on Sunday morning, officials said.

The woman died in the parking lot and medical officials were treating at least six wounded church-goers after the shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, according to the Nashville Police Department.

All but one of the wounded were over 60 years old and were being taken to nearby hospitals, Joseph Pleasant, a Nashville Fire Department spokesman, told Reuters. The gunman was among the wounded, according to Pleasant and the police.

The church is in Antioch, about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of downtown Nashville in Tennessee.

The church's pastor was shot in the chest and was being treated at a hospital, the WKRN television news channel reported, citing the pastor's son.
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron's new centrist political party suffered its first electoral setback in Senate elections on Sunday in which the right-wing Republicans party strengthened its dominance in the upper chamber of parliament.

Results from the vote to renew 171 of 348 seats were expected to leave the French president's Republic on the Move party (LREM) with a group of only 20-30 senators.

The outcome, which is not expected to significantly impact Macron's ability to push through his economic reform agenda, came after months of falling approval ratings for the 39-year-old head of state.

But after a week in which he signed into law one of his signature economic reforms -- an overhaul of rigid French labour laws -- a new survey today brought more positive news. A poll published in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper showed 45 percent of respondents approved of his presidency, up from 40 percent last month.

French senators are elected by 76,000 local and national lawmakers, not the general public, which put LREM at a disadvantage because the party was only formed in April 2016 and is not implanted nationwide.

But Macron's top team had once hoped to increase their presence in the upper house from the 29 seats they control presenting, comprising lawmakers who had switched over to the party.

"I can't call it a success," the head of LREM's group in the Senate, Francois Patriat, admitted as he forecast that final results would show the party with 20-30 senators. The Republicans expected to hold around 150 seats after the election, up from 142 presently. "It's really good news," commented senior figure Bruno Retailleau.

The election underscores some of the challenges for LREM which was started by Macron in April 2016 as a new pro-European, pro-business political movement to support his presidential bid.

It propelled him to victory as France's youngest-ever president and it won a landslide in the far more important lower house of parliament in June.

Since then, with Macron's approval ratings falling and the afterglow of his takeover of French politics fading, the party is grappling with the difficulty of establishing itself as a national force.

"The En Marche hurricane has not been at Category Five for a long time," said Philippe Raynaud, a political science professor at Pantheon-Assas university, riffing on the storms that have been buffeting the Caribbean lately.

A string of policy moves have also irked the lawmakers who voted today, particularly 300 million euros (USD 360 million) in funding cuts for local and regional authorities.

Others are unhappy about Macron's pledge to scrap property taxes for some 80 percent of French citizens -- revenues which previously went into the budgets of local administrations.
Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday accused the security forces in Myanmar of waging a "Buddhist terror" against the Rohingya Muslim minority in the country, hundreds of thousands of whom have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Erdogan, who has repeatedly highlighted the plight of the Rohingya, again accused the Yangon government of carrying out a "genocide" against the people in Rakhine state.

In a speech in Istanbul, Erdogan lamented the failure of the international community to lay sanctions against the Myanmar government over its campaign.

"There is a very clear genocide over there," Erdogan said.

Erdogan, who has held talks by phone with Myanmar's key leader the Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung Sang Suu Kyi, added: "Buddhists always get represented as envoys of goodwill."

"At the moment, there is a clear Buddhist terror in Myanmar... I don't know how you can gloss over this with yoga, schmoga. This is a fact here. And all humanity needs to know this."

More than 430,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled across the border to Bangladesh from a military campaign which the UN says likely amounts to ethnic cleansing of the stateless minority.

Before the most recent surge of violence, there were over one million Rohingyas in Myanmar's restive Rakhine state in the west of the overwhelmingly Buddhist country.

Erdogan, himself a pious Muslim, takes a sharp interest in the fate of Muslim communities across the world and notably sees himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause.

Returning for a key personal theme, he lambasted the international community for being quick to denounce "Islamic terror" but not "Christian terror", "Jewish terror" or "Buddhist terror".
Washington: Six US air strikes on an Islamic State desert camp in Libya killed 17 militants and destroyed three vehicles, the US military said on Sunday, the first American strikes in Libya since President Donald Trump took office in January.

United States Africa Command said in a statement that strikes on Friday targeted a camp 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Sirte, a city that was once the Islamic State stronghold in Libya. The camp was used to move fighters in and out of Libya, plot attacks and store weapons, the statement said.

"ISIS and al-Qaeda have taken advantage of ungoverned spaces in Libya to establish sanctuaries for plotting, inspiring and directing terror attacks," the statement said, using an acronym for Islamic State.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strikes were carried out by armed drones.

The last-known US strike in Libya was on Jan. 19, a day before Trump's inauguration, when more than 80 Islamic State militants, some believed to be plotting attacks in Europe, died in US air strikes on camps outside Sirte.

That strike was led by two B-2 bombers, which dropped about 100 precision-guided munitions on the camps.

Islamic State took over Sirte in early 2015, turning it into its most important base outside the Middle East and attracting large numbers of foreign fighters to the city. The group imposed its hard-line rule on residents and extended its control along about 155 miles (250 km) of Libya's Mediterranean coastline.

But it struggled to keep a footing elsewhere in Libya and was forced out of Sirte by last December after a six-month campaign led by brigades from the western city of Misrata and backed by US air strikes.

Islamic State militants have shifted to desert valleys and inland hills southeast of Tripoli as they seek to exploit Libya's political divisions after their defeat in Sirte.

The statement said the strikes were carried out in coordination with Libya's Government of National Accord.

The United Nations launched a road map on Wednesday for a renewed international effort to break a political stalemate in Libya and end the turmoil that followed the countrys 2011 uprising.

The U.N.-backed Government of National Accord established under a December 2015 deal never fully materialized in Tripoli, leaving Libya with three competing governments aligned with rival armed alliances.
Washington: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif branded Washington "unreliable" on Sunday in response to threats over the future of a nuclear deal with Iran.

"What the United States is doing, in addition to being unpredictable -- which might sometimes work -- is proving that it is unreliable," Zarif told CNN.

The deal, agreed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers -- the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany -- lifts economic sanctions put in place in 2005 in exchange for curbs to Tehran's nuclear program.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is responsible for verifying that Iran meets the terms of the agreement.

But since arriving in the White House, Donald Trump has attacked the deal on numerous occasions, vowing to tear it up. "Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it," he told the UN General Assembly Tuesday.

The president cast further doubt over the deal after the Islamic republic tested a new medium-range Khoramshahr missile on Saturday.

"Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel. They are also working with North Korea. Not much of an agreement we have!" Trump tweeted. But Zarif brushed off the threat, saying Washington cannot act alone to end the agreement. "This is not a bilateral agreement," he told CNN's Fareed Zakaria.

"It's not even a multilateral treaty. It's a Security Council agreement and the United States is a member of the Security Council."

The foreign minister added that Donald Trump's certification of whether Iran is abiding by the deal -- due mid-October -- is an "internal procedure" that in itself does not endanger the agreement.

"The only authority that has been recognized in the nuclear deal to verify is the IAEA," he said. But according to diplomats, "non-certification" by Trump would lead to re-imposition of sanctions and the "political death" of the agreement.

Zarif said Iran will "consider its options" if Trump tells Congress on October 15 he believes it is not complying with the deal and it is not in US interests to stick by it.

"Iran has a number of options, which include walking away from the deal and going back with greater speed with its nuclear program, which will remain peaceful -- but which will not address and accept the limitations that we voluntarily accepted over our nuclear program," he said.
New Delhi: Sikh community people take part in a candle march seeking justice for Gurpreet Singh was killed after his motorcycle was hit by the car of the accused who was asked by Gurpreet not to smoke in Public, in New Delhi on Saturday. (Image: PTI)
New Delhi: Members of AISA, AIWDA and KYS display placards and shout slogans against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during a protest in support of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) girls' agitation, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday. (Image: PTI)
A Glasgow man was killed in a fatal crash in Amherst County on Saturday, Virginia State Police said Sunday.

The crash occurred at 1:34 p.m. Saturday on Virginia 130, about one mile west of Virginia 812, according to an email from VSP spokeswoman Corrine Geller.

A 2001 Nissan Maxima was traveling east on Virginia 130 when it first ran off the right side of the road, crossed back over the road and ran off the left side where it struck an embankment and struck a tree, Geller said.

The driver, Robert G. Kindle, 71, of Glasgow, died at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt, police said.
For a woman in the eye of a storm, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Rita Makaraus calm and cheerful demeanour belies the raging tempest swirling around her.



In a country where vote-rigging has been alleged in the past, her journey as the chief elections commissioner has been marred with accusations of tilting the electoral scale in favour of President Robert Mugabes ruling Zanu PF.



And her appointment to Parliament as a non-constituency MP on a Zanu PF ticket has not aided her cause.



But somehow, Makarau has largely steered clear of all forms of direct confrontation, though it has not stopped her name from being on almost every politicians tongue, particularly in the opposition, as Zimbabwe draws near to a make-or-break election in 2018.



I am definitely sleeping well at night, she told the Daily News.

There is no secret at all. I am only focusing on the big event (next years elections) and remaining professional. I believe I dont need to stop and argue with everyone, Makarau said.



Makarau said people were just reading too much into her appointment to Parliament by Mugabe in the late 1990s, by interpreting it as a sign that she still owes the 93-year-old leader her allegiance and loyalty.



I know people read much into that but I went in there first and foremost as a lawyer and I remained professional and I remained impartial, she said. Working for Zec has proven highly risky amid allegations that the system does not take kindly the leaking of information.



But Makarau remains resolute. Oh no, I am not scared at all, she said.



I try to be very impartial and I have a very good team working around me and I believe we are all pulling in one direction. Its a shared vision (having credible, free and fair elections) and if someone goes wrong its corrected. Its nothing personal its professional. We are really aiming for a squeaky clean election.



Even as the recent image of her kneeling before Mugabe went viral and enraged critics, who alleged that it manifested Zecs subservient nature to the nonagenarian leader, the commissioner remains unfazed.



When I was speaking to him (Mugabe), I was speaking to him in his capacity as the head of State, Makarau said.



I think what people forget is that in 2013 I also spoke to the then prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, no questions were raised about that. I speak to any office bearer in my capacity as commissioner of Zec.



The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) secretary added that culture demanded that she respects her elders and hence there was nothing untoward about her actions.

While the former High Court judge divides opinion on numerous issues, very few deny that she has her finger on the pulse on Zimbabwes judiciary system.



She, however, has received fierce criticism over conflict interest concerns arising from her occupying three crucial jobs at the same time.



While she is Zec chairperson, Makarau is also a judge of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe in addition to also being JSC secretary.



Interviewing her for the then vacant Chief Justice (CJ) post sometime this year, then outgoing and now late CJ Godfrey Chidyausiku asked her: Serving as chairperson of Zec, Judge of the Supreme Court, secretary of the JSC, are you not being a bit of a bambazonke (a grab all)?



But Makarau maintained a straight face responding: I cant comment on that, the decision lies with the appointing authority.



And Zimbabwes biggest opposition party, the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC, does not take the scenario lightly, arguing that taking electoral issues to the same courts where Makarau is the head of the JSC secretariat has become relegated to an academic exercise.



The MDCs concerns come as Zimbabwe will for the first time use biometric voter registration exercise (BVR) for the purposes of creating a new voters roll.

The success of the BVR system is key to the countrys election legitimacy  being free and fair.



If it fails  in a country where vote-rigging has been alleged in the past  the loser will no doubt challenge the result.



Zec has set a target to register seven million voters but the process has failed to get off to the flying start the commission may have envisaged after Mugabes proclamation forced them to commence BVR on September 14 even before they were ready.



According to the Constitution, Zec is Mugabes chief adviser and is meant to guide him in matters surrounding its preparedness to comprehensively cover the BVR exercise, the verification of the voters roll and the availability of election-related resources.



The commission appeared to be caught flat-footed when Mugabe ordered the new registration of voters in all wards and constituencies to commence on September 14, though they will only be able to carry out a full scale voter registration exercise starting in mid-October after they have received the remaining 2600 BVR kits.



Zec has so far taken delivery of 400 BVR kits.

However, Makarau did not show divergent views with Mugabe insisting that the Zanu PF leaders proclamation sought to give legal validity to the process.



She, however, clarified that far from the cut off dates provided by the proclamation, there will be a continuous registration of voters in line with the Electoral Act.



There is little doubt in the minds of Makaraus critics that she is highly regarded by Mugabe.

And she appears not to be looking that far ahead just yet as her hands are full with expectations of creating an even playing field, and it is no surprise that she urges the media to not to mislead the electorate.



Whatever we do, lets not cause alarm and despondency. Lets not say things that are incorrect... we all want the electorate to vote and be able to participate freely and that they be heard, Makarau said, adding that whatever happens, I want to be remembered for doing my best. daily news
The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has over the years deregistered 29 lawyers while it is probing 14 others over alleged misconduct, the organisations latest report revealed.



According to the August 2017 report, the highest number of attorneys that were banned from practicing was recorded in 2016, when eight lawyers  Kadandara Lawrence, Siphuma Ndivhadzo, Fiona Machekeche, Nyasha Muzuva, Washington Muchandibaya, Oscar Hute, Mlamuli Ncube and Sindisiso Mazibisa  were struck off the register.



The report said only one lawyer has been deregistered since beginning 2017.

The 14 under probe are yet to be determined before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.



Among them is Joseph Maweni, Belvin Bopoto, Rightman Chikwari, Munetsi Katsande, Baera Mande, Ray Tsvakwi, Ntombizitha Ndlovu, Gift Nyandoro and Auxillia Mangwaira.

This is against a background of 3 000 registered lawyers in Zimbabwe with 1 500 having attained practicing certificates from LSZ.



LSZ president Misheck Hogwe said they were yet to look into the applications before concluding the fate of the lawyers.



The applications relate to misconduct in the fraternity and we want people to understand that when lawyers are deregistered we inform members of the public so that they are aware of who they are dealing with. It is in the public interest. Our profession is about integrity and everyone has to feel safe in the hands of the lawyers, Hogwe said.



Corruption is a difficult cancer that is affecting most sectors in the country and we need to come up with strategies to deal with it.



We took the chief justices remarks as serious as they are and, of course, in any profession they are bound to some lazy people but we strive to bring the best out of our profession. daily News
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Citizens of eight countries, including North Korea and Venezuela, will face new restrictions on entry to the US under a proclamation signed by President Trump on Sunday that will replace his expiring travel ban. The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, will go into effect on October 18, the AP reports. The restrictions range from an indefinite ban on visas for citizens of countries like Syria to more targeted restrictions. A suspension of non-immigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela, for instance, will apply only to certain government officials and their immediate families.

The announcement comes the same day as Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire. That ban barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the US. Only one of those countries, Sudan, will no longer be subject to travel restrictions. "Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted late Sunday after the new policy was announced. Unlike the first iteration of Trump's travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges, officials stressed they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments. (Read more Trump travel ban stories.)
A 22-year-old usher who stopped a shooting rampage at a Nashville-area church on Sunday says he's not a herobut police do not agree. "He's the hero. He's the person who stopped this madness," says Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson, per the Tennessean. The chief says Robert Engle "physically engaged" with alleged shooter Emanuel Samson, who was shot in the chest during the struggle. Police say Samson, 25, killed a woman in the parking lot of the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tenn., before opening fire inside. Engle was one of seven people wounded, though after the struggle, he was still able to retrieve a weapon from his car and hold Samson at gunpoint until police arrived.

Engle, who is being treated at a local hospital, said in a statement late Sunday that he had been attending the church since he was a small child. "I ask everyone to pray for the victims, family members of the victims, our church community. Please pray for healing," he said. "Also, please pray for the shooter, the shooters family and friends. They are hurting as well." The real heroes, he said, "are the police, first responders, and medical staff and doctors who have helped me and everyone affected." Samson, who was treated for gunshot wounds, has been charged with felony homicide. Police say he is a Sudanese citizen with legal US residency, CNN reports. Parishioners say he attended the church one or two years ago. (Read more Nashville stories.)
As Georgia prepares to put to death a man who killed his sister-in-law 27 years ago, his lawyers say the execution should be stopped because his death sentence is tainted by a juror's racial bias. Lawyers for the state reject that argument and say Keith Leroy Tharpe, 59, should die as scheduled Tuesday for the September 1990 slaying of Jacquelyn Freeman, the AP reports. Tharpe went to trial a little more than three months after the killing and was convicted and sentenced to death. Seven years later, lawyers working on Tharpe's behalf interviewed jurors. "In my experience I have observed that there are two types of black people: 1. Black folks and 2. (N-words)," juror Barney Gattie told them.

He knew the victim's family and knew them to be "good black folks," he said, and he felt that Tharpe was not in that category, so he should be executed. "After studying the Bible, I have wondered if black people even have souls," said Gattie, who has since died. He signed an affidavit including those statements but two days later, state lawyers visited Gattie and he signed a new affidavit walking back what he'd told Tharpe's team. He said he had been drinking before the earlier meetings and he sentenced Tharpe to death because of evidence, not race. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the only authority in Georgia with the power to commute a death sentence, has scheduled a clemency hearing on Monday. (Read more execution stories.)
Police looking for a Delaware man suspected of stabbing his girlfriend to death eventually found him in a New York City hospital, where he was recovering from an apparent suicide attempt. Police say Rondell Veal, 36, slashed his throat and jumped onto the tracks at Grand Central Station early Sunday, but officers were able to grab him before a train arrived, the New York Daily News reports. The Newark, Del., police department says it contacted the NYPD after discovering the body of Sherrie Campbell, 34 , in the home she shared with Veal, the Newark Post reports. Police say he'll be charged with first-degree murder. (Read more New York City Subway stories.)
Iraqi Kurds cast ballots on Monday in Iraq's Kurdish region and disputed territories on whether to support independence from Baghdad in a historic but nonbinding vote that has raised regional tensions and fears of instability, the AP reports. More than 3 million people are expected to vote across the three provinces that make up the Kurdish autonomous region, as well as residents in disputed territoriesareas claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurds, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk according to the Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission, the body overseeing the vote. "We are ready to pay any price for our independence," said Masoud Barzani, the Kurdish region's president.

The referendum is being carried out despite mounting opposition from Baghdad and the international community. The US, a key ally of Iraq's Kurds, has warned the vote will likely destabilize the region amid the fight with ISIS. The Iraqi central government has also come out strongly against the referendum, demanding on Sunday that all airports and border crossings in the Kurdish region be handed back to federal government control. In a televised address on Sunday night, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the referendum threatens "peaceful coexistence among Iraqis and is a danger to the region." Turkey's Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, called on the international community not to recognize the vote. (Read more Kurds stories.)
Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham aren't giving up on their bill to repeal ObamaCare. They plan to release a revised version Monday that directs more money to states represented by holdout senators, including Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, reports the Washington Post. The GOP has until Saturday to get something passed before doing so becomes all but impossible under Senate rules. By now, the math is well established: Two firm "no" votes from Rand Paul and John McCain mean the GOP cannot afford one more defection. Making matters more complicated, Ted Cruz said Sunday that he and fellow conservative Mike Lee also currently oppose Graham-Cassidy, though changes to the bill resulting in lower premiums could win them over. Bottom line? The Hill still thinks it's "more than likely" the bill will fail.

One factor to come this week is a preliminary estimate from the Congressional Budget Office on the bill's impact. Collins in particular said she would make no final decision until seeing that, though she reiterated Sunday that she is skeptical she'd ever get to a "yes" vote. As for the revised numbers coming out Monday from Cassidy and Graham, Democrats and left-leaning think tanks already were criticizing them as misleading based on sneak peeks provided to news outlets. And Axios reports that the bill would still cut overall funding to Alaska, Maine, Arizona, and Kentucky. President Trump, meanwhile, continued to apply pressure to the holdouts. "Alaska, Arizona, Maine and Kentucky are big winners in the Healthcare proposal," he tweeted late Sunday afternoon. "7 years of Repeal & Replace and some Senators not there." (Read more ObamaCare stories.)
Johan Gustafsson spent more than five years learning Arabic, French, and local African languages. The alternative might have been going mad. Gustafsson was abducted from his hotel terrace in Timbuktu, Mali, on Nov. 25, 2011, reports the Local. The then-36-year-old had been in the city just 24 hours, as part of a motorcycle quest through the African continent. Instead of making it to South Africa, he lived as a hostage until June 26 of this year. He described his time as one of the "Timbuktu Three" (Sjaak Rijke of the Netherlands and Stephen McGown of South Africa were also seized) being held in the Sahara desert by the branch of al-Qaeda found in North Africa: al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. As the New York Times recounts, Gustafsson says he and the others stopped counting the number of times they were moved once that count hit 100.

They were initially blindfolded, bound, and forced to make ransom videos in Guantanamo-style orange jumpsuits. That all changed four months in once the men decided to convert to Islam. For their remaining time in captivity (Rijke was released in April 2015, McGown in August), they lived alongside their captors in a situation Gustafsson likened to "a prison sentence and Robinson Crusoe." He tried to escape once, and spent two nights walking through the desert before being recaptured. Sweden's foreign minister says diplomatic efforts eventually prevailed; a source disputes that, telling the Times $4.2 million made its way to the captors via a South African charity. Gustafsson describes his time as a hostage with a bit of wonder: "I'm going to miss the desert, the vastness, the night skies. You know how the storms move. All of this is just so majestic." (Read more hostage stories.)
"They said that  the prognosis is very, very serious," John McCain said Sunday night on 60 Minutes as he talked about his brain cancer diagnosis, which came right after he'd had a regular checkup and was on his way back home. Per USA Today, the 81-year-old Arizona senator says he had to urge his doctorswho gave him between a 3% and 14% chance of survivalto be straight with him. "I said, 'I can take it. Just tell me.'" He says his illness, for which he's now receiving chemo and radiation, has made him "more energetic" and "more engaged ... because I know that I've got to do everything I can to serve this country while I can." McCain also notes he'd like his eventual memorial service to be held at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where he hopes "a couple of people [will] stand up and say, 'This guy, he served his country.'"

McCain also addressed Donald Trump's criticism of him in July 2015, when the then-GOP candidate mocked McCain's POW ordeal. McCain said Sunday that Trump still hadn't apologized for that, though the senator insists his vote against the GOP health care bill wasn't revenge. And he'd be "glad to converse" with Trump, though he notes they're "very different people. Different upbringing. Different life experiences," per Politico. "He is in the business of making money," McCain says. "I was raised in a military family  in the concept and belief that duty, honor, country is the lodestar for the behavior that we have to exhibit every single day." In the meantime, as he fights his illness with "the best doctors," he notes he's also taking time to "celebrate, with gratitude, a life well-lived" and that he's not filled with panic. "You've been around a long time, old man," he says he tells himself. (Read more John McCain stories.)
Last Rampage, starring Robert Patrick and Heather Graham, had its limited release on Friday, and as the trailer promises, "blood will spill." It's based on the true story of Gary Tison (played by Patrick), who in 1978 broke out of the Arizona State Prison with the help of his three sons and went on a murderous rampage during his quest to allegedly reach Mexico. As Richard Ruelas writes in a lengthy piece on the escape for the Arizona Republic, the movie "will undoubtedly take some dramatic license, as all films based on true events do. But with the Tison Gang, it becomes necessary." That's because questions persist even now, though Ruelas tries to fill in the holes, outlining Tison's crimes for which he was serving life, his seemingly model prison behavior, and his two prior prison escape attempts.

His third and final attempt took place on July 31, 1978, when sons Donald, Ricky, and Raymond20, 19, and 18, respectivelyarrived at the prison with a sawed-off shotgun concealed in a Salem cigarettes box. The four Tisons fled, along with inmate Randy Greenawalt. Authorities began a hunt for the green Ford LTD they took off inexcept the group had quickly switched that one for a black Lincoln Continental. While on a remote stretch of Arizona 95, the car suffered its second flat, stranding the men. That is, until a US Marine, his wife, 22-month-old son, and niece stopped to offer a hand. The men took their carand their lives. They'd kill again, this time a pair of newlyweds in Colorado, before being caught "purely by happenstance" on Aug. 11. Gary Tison escaped again, but he wouldn't be alive much longer. Read the full story here. (Read more Longform stories.)
After a weekend of additional threats traded between the US and North Korea, a top official in Beijing urged both sides to rein it in. The White House and Pyongyang should "not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present," says a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, per Reuters. The plea came after a North Korean official told the UN Saturday that a nuclear strike against the US is "inevitable" because of President Trump's mockery of Kim Jong Un as "Rocket Man." Trump followed that up with a threatening tweet Saturday night: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" (And that's after Trump's threat to "totally destroy" the North, and Kim's reference to Trump as "mentally deranged.")

Over the weekend, China said it would ban textile imports from North Korea and limit exports of refined petroleum products, but an analysis at the Washington Post asserts that Beijing is still "not prepared to do anything that might bring down the North Korean regime." Specifically, that would mean putting a full stop to exports of crude oil to the North. "The North Koreans have figured out that the Chinese are genuinely in a bind," says one expert from the Lowy Institute in Australia. "Having cried wolf for so long about having limited influence, the Chinese genuinely do have limited influence in North Korea right now. It's not just weasel words." Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated to British leader Theresa May in a phone call that he thinks the situation must be resolved through new talks. (Read more North Korea stories.)
In the escalating war of words between the United States and North Korea, the latter just fired a verbal bomb by way of Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. The Independent quotes the official as telling reporters in New York on Monday that "the whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country. Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to [take] countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country." It's not the first fiery statement made by Ri in recent days. More on the situation:

Background: Ri was the one who previously likened Trump to a barking dog, and in a UN speech on Saturday, he called President Trump "a mentally deranged person full of megalomania and complacency" whose decision to call Kim Jong Un "Rocket Man" makes "our rocket's visit to the entire US mainland inevitable all the more." Trump responded, tweeting this Saturday night: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at UN. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!"

Ri was the one who previously likened Trump to a barking dog, and in a UN speech on Saturday, he called President Trump "a mentally deranged person full of megalomania and complacency" whose decision to call Kim Jong Un "Rocket Man" makes "our rocket's visit to the entire US mainland inevitable all the more." Trump responded, tweeting this Saturday night: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at UN. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" Today's response to Ri: Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the subject head-on in Monday's White House press briefing. "We've not declared war on North Korea, and frankly the suggestion of that is absurd." CBS News has more: "It's never appropriate for a country to shoot down another country's aircraft when it's over international waters. Our goal is still the same: We continue to seek the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. That's our focus, doing that through both the most maximum economic and diplomatic pressures as possible at this point."

Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the subject head-on in Monday's White House press briefing. "We've not declared war on North Korea, and frankly the suggestion of that is absurd." CBS News has more: "It's never appropriate for a country to shoot down another country's aircraft when it's over international waters. Our goal is still the same: We continue to seek the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. That's our focus, doing that through both the most maximum economic and diplomatic pressures as possible at this point." "How worried should we be?" That's the question Joshua Keating asks at Slate. It's "pretty scary" stuff, he admits, but he cautions against overreacting and explains why. He also points out that "in some sense the US and North Korea are already at war," as the Korean War of 1950-1953 didn't end with a peace treaty.

That's the question Joshua Keating asks at Slate. It's "pretty scary" stuff, he admits, but he cautions against overreacting and explains why. He also points out that "in some sense the US and North Korea are already at war," as the Korean War of 1950-1953 didn't end with a peace treaty. About those bombers: The AP reports America flexed its military muscle on Saturday as well, with US bombers and fighter escorts entering international airspace off North Korea's east coast and flying to the farthest point north of the Demilitarized Zone of any American aircraft in the 21st century.

The AP reports America flexed its military muscle on Saturday as well, with US bombers and fighter escorts entering international airspace off North Korea's east coast and flying to the farthest point north of the Demilitarized Zone of any American aircraft in the 21st century. Who is Ri, anyway? According to a Sept. 16 article in the Atlantic by Joel S. Wit, he may be our "best chance for finding a way forward because of his close ties to the ruling Kim family"; Wit explains why here. The Guardian calls him the "diplomat who could defuse the crisis."

(Read more North Korea stories.)
The minister shouted "Run, run, gunshots!" and congregants hid under pews or in bathrooms as a masked man armed with two guns opened fire at a Tennessee church, killing one person and wounding six before being subdued. Burnette Chapel Church of Christ member Minerva Rosa tells the AP that members were talking about the success of their yard sale the previous day when they heard gunshots Sunday outside the building in a Nashville neighborhood. The church minister, David Spann, 60, then shouted for everyone to run, according to a witness. The gunman entered the church from the back after fatally shooting a woman outside, police said. He then walked through the church silently, shooting six more people before an usher subdued him, police said. Police later recovered another pistol and a shotgun from the suspect's vehicle.

Authorities identified the attacker as Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, of Murfreesboro, who came to the US from Sudan in 1996 and is a legal US resident. According to an arrest affidavit, Samson waived his rights and told police he arrived at the church armed and fired upon the building Sunday. No motive was immediately determined. Church members told investigators the suspect had attended services a year or two ago. Nashville police didn't immediately comment on several bizarre posts on the suspect's Facebook page in the hours before the shooting. Melanie Smith, 39, of Smyrna, Tenn., was killed when the shooter opened fire in the parking lot. Police charged Samson with one count of murder and said multiple charges were pending. In addition, federal agents have opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting. (Read more Tennessee stories.)
The Supreme Court has canceled arguments set for Oct. 10 in the dispute over President Donald Trump's travel ban, after Trump rolled out a new policy Sunday. The unsigned order from the justices Monday asks both sides to weigh in by Oct. 5 about what to do with the case, the AP reports. The court had been ready to hear argument about the legality of a 90-day ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries and a 120-day ban on refugees from around the world. The ban expired Sunday and was replaced by a new policy that affects eight counties and has no expiration date. Those countries are Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela were not covered by the earlier ban. (Read more Trump travel ban stories.)
Edgar Smith, a murder convict who got off New Jersey's death row with the help of columnist William F. Buckley only to later confess to the crime, has died in a California prison hospital. He was 83. Smith died March 20, the AP confirmed Monday. California prison officials told the newspaper that Smith had been suffering from diabetes and heart disease. Smith, originally of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, spent 14 years on death row for the 1957 murder of 15-year-old Victoria Zielinski. He gained national attention while on death row for his writings, most notably the best-selling "Brief Against Death." Buckley, the conservative columnist and editor of National Review, became convinced Smith didn't receive a fair trial and profiled him for a piece in Esquire magazine.

He also helped him establish a defense fund to retain the lawyers who engineered a 1971 plea bargain that led to Smith's release on parole for time served. Over the next few years, Smith maintained his innocence. Buckley invited him to appear on his television program after his release, and Smith made speeches around the country about what he billed as his unjust treatment. Then, in 1976, Smith abducted and stabbed a San Diego woman. He was arrested after he called Buckley, who told the FBI where he was hiding out in a Las Vegas hotel. The following year, Smith was on trial in San Diego for attempted rape and attempted murder when he shocked the courtroom by confessing to killing Zielinski and describing the crime in detail. Buckley later expressed regret for supporting Smith. (Read more murder stories.)
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New Delhi:

In a bid to tighten its grip around liquor baron Vijay Mallya and speed up his extradition from the United Kingdom to India, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate are preparing a charge sheet alleging he laundered a considerable amount of the Rs 6,000 crore bank loans taken for Kingfisher Airlines.

Vijay Mallya diverted most of the Rs 6,000 crore he borrowed from a State Bank of India-led consortium of lenders, according to investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate. They will soon file a fresh charge sheet based on these findings against the businessman, whos been in the UK since March 2016. The funds were allegedly diverted to shell companies in half a dozen countries, according to the agencies.

A report in The Times of India said on Monday that the money was diverted through shell companies in seven countries, including the US, the UK, France, and Ireland.

"Letters rogatory have already been sent to the US, the UK, France and Ireland and we will get complete details soon," an official has been quoted as saying in the report. The official has claimed that the agencies have been able to establish the links between the shell companies and bank accounts in the seven countries.

Explaining the systematic way in which Mallya duped the banks, the official said he used to pay back some part of the loan to the banks to gain their confidence to get more funds from them.

The latest evidence will be submitted before the London court where the final extradition hearing will take place in December. At present, in front of the UK court, the agencies have presented the charges in the nearly Rs 900 crore IDBI Bank loan default case.

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Mumbai:

Budget carrier IndiGo has grounded one more Airbus A320 neo plane after it was forced to return to Bhubaneswar following high engine vibrations experienced by the aircraft on the way to Bengaluru.



Since their induction in March last year, the A320 neo planes in IndiGo fleet are going out of operations at a regular interval due to the frequent glitches in the Pratt & Whitney engines, which power these planes.



The airline currently has 140 A320s, of which 23 are A320 Neos.

Read | Raipur-Hyderabad IndiGo flight makes precautionary landing after bird hit plane



Though the US engine maker has started supplying new engines to the countrys largest airline by market share which has helped it put some of the grounded planes back into flying, many of such planes remain out of operations, including the one which was grounded in Bhubaneshwar on September 20.



Last week, a senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had said that as many as six A320 neo planes of IndiGo were on ground and awaiting engine replacement.



On September 20, IndiGo flight 6E-3869, which took-off at 8.50 pm for Bengaluru from Bhubaneswar, was diverted back to Bhubaneswar due to the high vibrations in one of the engines of the A320 neo plane. The flight later made an emergency landing, an official source said.



The aircraft is on ground since then, he said.

Read | IndiGo debunks 'rumours' of 84 cancelled flights, alleges corporate conspiracy



Repeated calls and queries sent to IndiGo remained unanswered.



The vibrations were caused due to the sudden rise in the exhaust gas temperature of an internal combustion engine. As the increased temperature could have burnt other engine components, the pilot was forced to return the flight back to Bhubaneswar, the official said.



Promoted by Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal, the airline had taken off nine A320 Neos from its fleet in the June quarter owing to engine issues.



After the media reported the grounding of nine planes, the airline issued a statement saying, We have faced some issues with the neo engine, causing operational disruptions. Both Pratt & Whitney and Airbus are working to address the issues.



However, during the analysts call on Q1 earnings on July 31, airline IndiGos president and whole-time director Aditya Ghosh admitted that nine of their planes were on ground.



There were days when we had had to ground as many as nine A320 Neos due to lack of spare engines. While we do receive certain compensation from Pratt & Whitney for these groundings, the operational disruptions are quite challenging and we are not happy with that situation, Ghosh had said.



The grounding of these planes had forced IndiGo to cancel over 600 flights between late June and early July.

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New Delhi:

The government's drive towards transforming India into a clean and transparent country by way of linking Aadhaar with key personal identification documents has been on the up in the recent past.

The govt has clearly stated deadlines for linking your Aadhar card to a range of documents ranging from ITR returns to applying for a PAN Card to using a mobile phone connection.

The government is moving ahead with linking Aadhaar with mobile SIM cards, according to a report by news agency Indo-Asian News Service (IANS). All mobile phone numbers or SIMs not linked with Aadhaar will be deactivated after February 2018, the agency said citing informed sources.

Many telecom companies have asked their customers to finish the process of linking their Aadhaar card with the mobile number citing a government directive.

Be it linking of Aadhaar with PAN, mobile SIM cards or bank accounts, there are different deadlines specified in each case. Here are four important deadlines to remember for you to link your Aadhaar card with various documents or products:

So here is a look at the deadlines set by the govt for linking the Aadhar to various documents

1. Deadline for linking Aadhaar with PAN: December 31, 2017

In August, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) extended the last date for linking of Aadhaar with PAN "to facilitate ease of compliance by the taxpayers". The new deadline is December 31, 2017. Earlier, this deadline was August 31, 2017. Linking Aadhaar-PAN is mandatory for processing of income tax returns (ITRs) for the assessment year 2017-18, the income tax department has said.

"If this linking (PAN-Aadhaar) is skipped, the return could be considered invalid and the person may have to file it again which shall be considered belated and may attract penalty, interest and other consequences like disallowances for losses," says Sandeep Sehgal, director of tax and regulatory at Ashok Maheshwary & Associates LLP.



2. Deadline for linking Aadhaar with mobile number (SIM): February 2018

Mobile phone service users will have to link their Aadhaar numbers with SIM cards. Many telecom companies have now started sending alerts to customers about completing the Aadhaar-Mobile number linking process. They had earlier instructed their customers to start the process of linking their Aadhaar card numbers with phone numbers.



"As per the government directive, linking Aadhaar to your mobile number is mandatory for all existing customers," Bharti Airtel, the country's largest telecom operator, said on its website. (Read: Telecom operators share guidelines on Aadhaar linking)

3. Deadline for submitting Aadhaar details to banks/financial institutions - December 31, 2017

The government has made it mandatory for all banks and financial institutions to mention the Aadhaar details of clients in the KYC (Know your Customer) document. A KYC document basically provides all the details that authenticate the identity of a user. People who have taken loans are also required to file their Aadhaar details. If you fail to link it with your bank account by December 31 this year, it may even become inoperable.

4. Last date to give Aadhaar details to avail social security schemes - December 31, 2017

Aadhaar number has to be provided for all social security schemes by December 31, 2017. In order to avail pension, LPG cylinders or government scholarships, one must provide his or her Aadhaar card details.

Meanwhile, the government also plans to make linking of Aadhaar mandatory for driving license. "It (Aadhaar-Licence linking) would be done soon to check the menace of multiple licensing," Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi:

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) female students supported by their male counterparts 48 hours after police latchicharge continue their stir at the varsity campus against the State and University administration on Monday.

The agitation started by handful of BHU female students seeking proper security in the 100-year-old BHU campus, now has turned into a stir against the State administration after police forces mended batons on the protesting students.

BHU protesting girls are now getting student support from universities across the country and from various political parties.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi taking dig on the BJP after the lathicharge on the students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) tweeted, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU."

Also read| BHU violence: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath seeks report; students, journalist injured in police lathicharge



The Congress vice president talking to media said, The government approach is wrong. The girls did not do anything wrong. Girls are demanding security and in return they get police lathis. This is shame.

Gandhi further added that the BJP-led government in Centre and Uttar Pradesh have forgotten their basics of own flagship program Beti Bachao, Beti Padao.

He said, The BJP philosophy is Beti Bachao, Beti Padahao, lekin beti hakk mange toh uski pitai karo (Save Daughter, Teach Daughter, incase daughter demands right hit them.)

The Congress president has also asked the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise from the girls for the lathicharge on them for demanding security in the BHU campus.

Also read| BHU lathicharge: UP CM seeks report, Cong leader Raj Babbar stopped from visiting varsity, arrested



Earlier in the day, PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah spoke to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the police lathicharge in BHU campus.

Senior leaders of the BJP said that Modi has asked Yogi to take appropriate action to resolve the issue.

Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said, We express our pain. The incident is unfortunate. The government will find an appropriate solution to the issue.

Adityanath has ordered an inquiry and asked the Varanasi Commissioner to submit a report on the BHU row.

The Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik intervening in the issue constituted a committee under the state chief secretary.

The committee will see how the police behaved and examine other aspects, said Naik.

The Varanasi Administration has removed three additional city magistrates and two police officers. While the police have lodges an FIR against unidentified police personnel and 1000 students.

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New Delhi :

Eyeing 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party will discuss a roadmap for job creation on the second day of national executive meeting on Monday.

It is said the saffron party will finalise agenda items, including resolution on economy and strategy for upcoming Assembly polls on Monday. The two-day national executive will conclude with Prime Minister Narendra Modis valedictory address at Talkatora stadium on the birth anniversary of Hindutva icon Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

On Sunday, BJP national president Amit Shah took stock of the party's performance and held a meeting with partys office bearers and state units.

More than four lakh party workers covered the 4,100 state assembly seats to strengthen the party and shared the development measures initiated by the government, party general secretary Bhupender Yadav had said.

It was also decided to take forward prime minister Modi's 'Swachh Bharat' mission and the resolve to establish a 'New India' and make them a success, he had informed.

General Secretary Vinay Sahasrabuddhe had also shared thedetails of Shah's country-wide tour during the meeting andsaid the party chief travelled 50,000 km and interacted with18,000 workers across the country to strengthen the BJP.

To mark the birth centenary celebrations of Upadhyaya,the party has also dedicated the year to the 'welfare of thepoor' and the government has taken various initiatives on thisfront while curbing corruption, Yadav had said.

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Ahmedabad:

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will kick-start a three-day campaign in Gujarat's Saurashtra region tomorrow after offering prayers at a Krishna temple in Dwarka, a senior party leader said.



Gandhi will visit the Lord Krishna temple after he lands at the Mithapur airstrip in the Devbhumi Dwarka district on Monday morning, senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said.



After offering prayers at the temple, Gandhi will hit the road for a tour of the Saurashtra region as part of the party's election campaign in Gujarat, he said.



"Rahul Gandhi will start his three-day road show from Dwarka in Saurashtra. He will address the public at different points and will interact with them along the way," Gohil said.

ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi in US: Divisive politics threatening peace, tolerance in India



After a road show in Dwarka town, Gandhi will make brief halts where he will interact with farmers and traders before addressing a rally in the afternoon.



The party vice president will then proceed for Jamnagar town where he will make a night halt. On September 26, he will cover towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot, Gohil said.



He will interact with traders and industrialists after reaching Rajkot in the afternoon.



"He will make a night stay in Rajkot. The next morning he will cover Chotila, Jasdan, Virpur, Jetpur and other towns before concluding the campaign at Khodaldham," Gohil said.



After covering Saurashtra, Gandhi will campaign in north, central and south Gujarat at later dates as part of the party's poll campaign ahead of the assembly elections slated to be held later this year, party sources said.

ALSO READ: BJP prez Amit Shah says Rahul Gandhi should give account of work of his three generations

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New Delhi:

Indian Army gunned down four militants and recovered war like stores in an anti-militancy operation near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri area of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a senior army personnel the militants were planning to carry out a September 18,2016 Uri-like attack. The September 2016 attack was carried out by terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed in which at least 23 army jawans were killed and several others were injured.

Harpreet Singh, Deputy Commander, Uri Brigade said, Army foiled a major terrorist attempt in Baramulla district. The terrorists gunned down in the operation were here to carry out a major attack at an army camp.

The Army officer added that the terrorist were planning to attack the Kalkai camp in Baramulla district of the valley.

Also read: J&K: New hit list of terrorists released, include new LeT commander Zeenat-ul-Islam



He added that Indian Army launched the operation on Saturday early hours after the intelligence alerted them about the presence of heavily armed militants near the Kalkai camp.

The Army intercepted the militants while they were moving. The foreign terrorists took shelter in an house and took the inhabitants captive, said Singh.

He added that the terrorists were gunned down and the hostages were released safe and sound.

Also read| Militancy in J&K - 41,000 lives lost since 1990; casualties increased under Modi Govt: Report



Security forces have recovered several AK 47 rifles, magazines and ammunition and grenades from the killed terrorists.

Another senior officer told the media that several explosive material recovered had Pak marked items.

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New Delhi:

Anamika Rathore is set to go on a spiritual path of renunciation, two days after her husband Sumit Rathore became a Jain monk, renouncing property worth Rs 100 crore and their three-year-old daughter, Ibhya.

Sumit, a businessman who had returned to Neemuch to manage the family business after completing a diploma in import-export management from a college in London announced his decision to adopt monkhood on August 22, and Anamika who will now be known as Sadhvi Anakaar followed suit.

Akhil Bharatiya Sadhumargi Jain Shravak Sangh Neemuch district in-charge Sandeep Khabia said the function was held in Surat under Acharya Ramlal Ji Maharaj, the same guru who had initiated her husband to monkhood.

Read more: Honeypreet Insan moves Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail

The pair, who is likely one of the youngest to renounce worldly life and take up sanyas, faced major opposition from various quarters mainly becuase of their daughter.

Anamikas father, Ashok Chandaliya, former Neemuch district president of the BJP, has come forward to take care of his granddaughter, as he made peace with the decision of his daughter and son-in-law.

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New Delhi :

An FIR has been filed by the Ernakulam police lodged by a 28 year old woman on charges that her family held her in captive detention for 22 days at a local yoga centre for marrying a Christian man as reported by NDTV.

The allegation brought by the woman is that her family conspired against her in collusion with the owner of the yoga center to wrongfully confine her and then coerce her into marrying a man from the same religeon.

A case has been registered against the woman's family members and the owner of the Yoga and Charitable Trust in Kandanad where she alleges that she was kept in confinement along with 65 other women.

She escaped on August 21. The husband of the woman has filed a petition which the court will hear soon. She along with other women were kept under severe unhealthy conditions and were made to wear wet clothes and use wharooms without any doors.

The woman also alleged that they were forcefully taught the evils of Christianity and Islam.

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New Delhi:

Following a lathicharge by police on students protesting against increasing eve-teasing incidents in Banaras Hindu University campus, Station Officer (SO) Lanka, CO Bhelupur and one Additional City Magistrate (ACM) removed prima facie for lathicharge.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday sought a detailed report from the Varanasi administration on the violence that erupted in BHU campus.

"I have sought a detailed report from the Varanasi Divisional Commissioner about the entire incident," Adityanath talking to media said in Lucknow.

A large number of students, including women, two journalists were injured in the lathicharge by Uttar Pradesh Police in BHU campus. Several police personnel were also injured.

Here are the live updates:

# The Congress demands immediate sacking of the vice chancellor and a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge.

# An FIR has been registered against over 1,000 students and policemen involved in the baton-charge on protestors.Seperate FIRs have been registered at the Lanka Police Station.

# BHU students claim they have evidences against the brutality of police in women's hostel.

# Varansi District Magistrate has called few students of the University to meet him.

# A committee headed by the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary has been constituted to visit Banaras Hindu University campus and investigate over an alleged eve-teasing incident.

# Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah speak to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over varsity violence

# Varanasi SSP orders BHU administration to change dress of varsity security officials

# All BHU-affiliated colleges to remain closed until October 2.

# Station Officer (SO) Lanka, CO Bhelupur and one Additional City Magistrate (ACM) removed prima facie for lathicharge

According to police, violence in the varsity campus erupted after some students protesting against the alleged eve-teasing incident of Thursday wanted to meet the BHU Vice Chancellor at his residence on Saturday night but were stopped by the university guards.

Akhilesh Yadav, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party president condemned the lathicharge on the BHU students.

The former chief minister said, The government should resolve the issue by talks not lathicharge. Stringent action should be taken against the guilty.

On Saturday night BHU had issued a statement saying the dharna by the students just prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit is being politically motivated to malign the image of the varsity.

Senior administrative and police officials reached the BHU campus to control the situation. Around 1500 policemen have been deployed in the university campus to prevent any untoward incident.

The students of the university have been protesting near the BHUs main gate since Thursday against rise in eve-teasing incidents on the campus.

The protest was largely triggered after a woman student was allegedly harassed by three men on motorcycle inside the varsity campus.

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New Delhi :

Danger to freedom of speech and expression is at an all time high at Kerala. 49 year old senior journalist Gopalan was allegendly beaten up by members of the state of police on Sunday as per NDTV reports.

Gopalan was not only beaten but also stripped in front of his family and received serious injuries. The senior journlaist works for Kalakaumudi newspaper.A

After the incident Gopalan was rushed to the hospital where he said that he did a story a few months back on the police's inaction after two women complained of harrassment by a group of men.A

#Kerala: Senior journalist, Sajeev Gopalan, from 'Kalakaumudi' newspaper allegedly assaulted by cops yday near Varkala; hospitalized pic.twitter.com/dnGR9r5lin a ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

The violent assault followed by stripping happened infront of his wife and 15 year old daughter. Gopalan's wife Deepa Sajeev said that the police left when they shouted for help and took a relative along with them.A

If any police official is found guilty then strict action will be taken, said Thiruvananthapuram Rural SP P Asok Kumar told NDTV.

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New Delhi:

Army officer martyred. BSF jawan slained. CRPF personnel killed. J&K Police soldier lost life. Militant shot down. Terrorist encountered. Civilian caught in the crossfire. Villager burnt with the house in the bombing.



Headlines that hog permanent spots on your newsfeed or newspaper front page amount to a staggering 41,000 lives lost in past 27 years in Jammu and Kashmir's battle against militancy.



According to government data accessed and processed by Hindustan Times, at least 14,000 civilians, 5,000 security personnel and 22,000 militants have been killed between 1990 and March 2017.



The figure translates to an average of 4 deaths per day in the state or 1519 casualties every year, according to the latest available government data quoted by the media house.

Latest casualty in J&K: One militant killed in ongoing Uri encounter



The data reveals that there have been 69,820 militancy-related incidents during the period - 2586 militancy incidents every year, with surges in casualties during 1993-1997, 1999-2003 and 2014-2017 periods.



First peak in casualties: 1993-1997



Between 1993 and 1997, 6522 militants were eliminated in Jammu and Kashmir, while 4910 civilians and 1012 security personnel lost their lives. That amounts to average 982 civilian deaths per year. And this was the only second most tumultuous phase in the state post 1990.



Second peak in casualties: 1999-2003



Militancy had reached its peak during the previous BJP-led NDA government when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, the report said. From 1999 to 2003, 7820 militants, 2055 security personnel and 4519 civilians were killed in Jammu and Kashmir.



As per the data, 2001 has been reportedly the most volatile year and saw the killing of the highest number of militants and security forces. While 2020 militants were gunned down, 536 security personnel 996 civilians were also killed in the year that registered the highest number of 4522 militancy related incidents as well.



But in terms of civilian casualties, 2002 has been the worst with 1008 deaths. Besides 1707 militants, 453 security personnel were also killed that year, the newspaper said.



The decline in militancy: 2004-2014



The data says, that the militancy declined steadily from 2004 onwards till 2014 with a sharp decrease in the number of killings.

In 2013, there were only 170 militancy-related incidents in the strife-torn state in which 67 militants, 15 civilians and 53 security personnel were killed.

Read | Rahul Gandhi in US: Divisive politics threatening peace, tolerance in India

Resurgence under current NDA government



Although not on the same scale as in the 1990s or early 2000s, militancy-related incidents have been increasing after 2014, the HT report said.



The data analysed by the paper says that from 2014 to March this year, there have been 795 militancy-related incidents in which 397 militants were killed while 64 civilians and 178 security personnel lost their lives.



Compared to 222 incidents in 2014, there were 322 incidents in 2016. In 2014, 28 civilians and 47 security personnel and 110 militants were killed in these incidents. In 2016, these numbers were 15, 82 and 150.



Who to blame

Cross-border terrorism:



The successive Indian Governments have blamed the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for insurgency and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. The issue has remained the key point of contention between the two nations.



In the recent spar, the two neighbours ripped through each other coined terms like 'Terroristan' and 'Mother of Terrorism'. Pakistani PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi called out India for supporting terrorism in Pakistan and demanded a referendum to settle the dispute over the Kashmir region.



In response, India lambasted Pakistan and termed it 'global terror exporter'. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in her UNGA address, said India has produced professionals through IITs, IIMs, AIIMs and Pakistan has produced terrorists through JeM and LeT.

Read | Sushma Swaraj at UNGA: India produced scholars, scientists, Pakistan created terrorists



Union Government



Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, in his recent address at UC Berkely, claimed that UPA regime had broken the back of terrorism in the northern state, but current Modi Government brought it back.



When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir, when we finished there was peace, we had broken the back of terrorism. By 2013, we basically broke the back of terror, he said.



He blamed PM Modi for 'massively opening up the space for the terrorists in Kashmir' and allowing the resurgence of terrorism.



On the other hand, the Modi cabinet claims to be working day and night to eliminate terrorism from the Valley. The defence minister has authorised the Indian army to carry out an extensive Cordon and Search Operation to weed out militancy.

Read | BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi, says absence of peace in Kashmir was cumulative of Congress misrule

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New Delhi :

Samajwadi Party mentor Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday slammed Centre, saying that the BJP government has failed to fulfill its promises in last three years. He said prices of petrol and diesel have already skyrocketed.

Mulayam said demonetisation has ruined the people and Centre must announce relief package in this regard. The Samajwadi party mentor said the Uttar Pradesh government has also failed to deliver governance in state. He said the law and order is deteriorating in state and women are not safe. Even, power cuts are being witnessed in Lucknow, he said.

When asked about to float a new party, Mulayam said,a I am not forming a new party as of now.a It was said that he could float a new party with the help of Shivpal Singh Yadav. A

I am not forming a new party as of now: Mulayam Singh Yadav pic.twitter.com/dR1yARIlIn a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 25, 2017

Reacting on Akhilesh Yadav, he said his blessings will remain with his son, but he is not agreed with his decision.

"He is me son so my blessings are with him but I don't agree with his decisions," he said.A

He is me son so my blessings are with him but I don't agree with his decisions: Mulayam Singh Yadav on Akhilesh Yadav pic.twitter.com/8o6WxJ5EHF a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 25, 2017

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New Delhi :

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the latter is not pro-poor and his policies are only for capitalists. He said the BJP government has failed to provide employment to the youth. The Congress vice-president kicked off his three-day campaign in Gujarat. A

While addressing a gathering in Saurashtra region, Rahul said the Prime Minister has shoved the Indian economy in a bad state of affairs without taking consent from anyone.

He said small scale traders and people of business community were badly affected with his decisions. Later the government introduced GST, he said.

Narendra Modi ji ne bina kisi se pooche, Hindustan ki economy par, zabardast aakraman kiya:Rahul Gandhi in Dwarka, #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/iElthnLIs6 a ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

Earlier, the Congress vice-president offered prayers at Dwarakdhish temple.

Aur wahan nahi ruke, chhote dukaandaar, vyaapari unko zabardast chot lagi aur fir GST aaya: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/Al4C2CYXfJ a ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

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New Delhi :

Retired Madras High Court judge, Justice Arumughasamy has been appointed by the Tamil Nadu government to investigate the death of former Chief Minister (CM) of the state Jayalalithaa's death.A

Justice A. Arumughaswamy will be heading the commission of inquiry said a release by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations.A

Retired Justice A Arumughaswamy has been appointed to head the judicial probe of former TN CM Jayalalithaa's death a ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

On heavy public demand Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami had announced on August 17 that the state would set up an inquiry to probe the death of J Jayalalitha. A

Justice Arumughasamy was promoted as High Court Judge on February 17, 2010 and retired on April 27, 2014.A

Nephew of V.K. Sasikala and AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran has announced on Monday that he is ready to share the video of Jayalalithaa in the Apollo Hospital with any investigating agency.A

Dhinakaran said that since Jayalalithaa was wearing a nightie during tha time, so he did not share the videos so far. The video clippings were taken by VK Sasikala with her mobile phone.A

aAmma (Jayalalithaa) had lost a lot of weight... it was a video shot by my aunt (Sasikala) herself. You all know none would have seen Amma in a nightie, not any functionary. Even when late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Amma following her accident in 1989, she was fully attired, she always maintained that dignity,a Mr. Dhinakaran said to The Hindu.A

Hitting out at O Panneerselvam and Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Dhinakaran said that, it is an alliance of convenience and that Panneerselvam's war against his aunt Sasikala was till the time he got the post of deputy CM.A

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New Delhi:

The police on Monday said that self-styled godman Swami Kaushlendra Prapannachari Falahari Maharaj has undergone virility test. The godman was arrested on charges of raping a law student.

The SHO of Aravali Vihar police station Shishram Meena said that the samples will be sent to a forensic laboratory for confirmatory tests.

Police have seized laptops, CDs, other gadgets and CCTV footage from Falahari Maharaj's room and sent it for forensic examination, Meena said.

Earlier on Saturday, Alwar police arrested a self-styled godman Baba Falahari on sexual assault complaints by a woman. A woman from Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur had lodged sexual assault complaint against him.

The girl lodged a complaint against Baba Falahari alleging that he had sexually exploited her at his ashram in Rajasthans Alwar on August 7.

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New Delhi:

As the country is celebrating the first anniversary of successful execution of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC), Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday, in a direct caveat to Pakistan, said that it should stop cross-border terrorism and if it fails to do so then India possesses an array of penalizing measures to ruin its evil designs.



The Indian Army, with a strong counter-infiltration grid along the 778-km Line of Control and robust counter-terrorism operations in the hinterland, is also ready to keep on welcoming infiltrating terrorists and burying them two-and-a-half feet under the ground," said General Rawat.



General Rawat said the successful surgical strikes by Indian Special Forces on September 29 last year were intended to send a loud and clear message to Pakistan.



"The surgical strikes were a message we wanted to communicate. I think they have understood. If the adversary does not behave, and it is required, we can conduct such operations again. We can repeat them, if not in the same form and shape," reiterated Gen Rawat.



India, as a strong country is capable of taking such decisions if and when required in keeping with its national security objectives, he added.

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New Delhi:

The officials of the Indian Space Research Organisation in Tamil Nadu on Monday filed a police complaint against anonymous persons for spreading fake news of smoke emanating after a mysterious explosion on its premises last week.

The ISRO officials lodged a complaint against unidentified persons for spreading rumours, the police said.

Anti-Naxal team and CISF took up investigation after reports of smoke emanating on the campus in Mahendragiri of Tirunelveli district on June 23, the police said today, adding as per the probe, the incident was only a rumour.

According to a police release, the investigation also revealed that a huge boulder located in a hilly area about 20 kms away from the campus had fell from the top on June 23.

Further investigation was underway in the matter, the release added.

Earlier, a news of blast had been reported at ISROs premises at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

ALSO READ: Explosion outside ISRO propulsion complex in Tamil Nadu Mahendragiri reported

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New Delhi:

United States Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on Monday landed in Delhi on Monday for his two days visit to India to strengthen defence ties between the two democratic countries.

Mattis visit is considered to take the India-US defence ties to the next level during. It is believed the discussion will largely be on F-16s and security situation in the Indo-Pacific region likely to dominate the agenda.

Mattis visit to India is the first visit by any member of President Donald Trumps cabinet. He is to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Mattis told reporters on his flight that the trip will be a historic opportunity for two democracies at a time of strategic convergence.

On being asked how he would balance the India-Pakistan dynamics Mattis said that relationships US is pursuing with India is not to the exclusion of other countries.

He further said, "India is clearly a pillar of regional stability and security: we share a common vision for a peaceful and prosperous future in the Indo-Pacific region."

The US defence secretary also told the media that stronger relation between India and United Stated should not affect relations with neighbours such as Pakistan.

According to people in the MHA no specific defence trade deal is likely to be announced during Mattis visit but efforts will be made to identify new projects under the ambitious Defence Technology and Trade Initiatives (DTTI) under PM Modis flagship program Make in India.

Prior leaving Pentagon, Matiss met Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna at the Pentagon.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi:

Planning vacation in Indonesia or have you booked your dream honeymoon in Bali? Chances are that you will have to cancel your plans indefinitely.



Indonesian holiday spot Bali's Mount Agung is on the verge of erupting. And if it does, it is likely to leave the tourist destination inhospitable for at least a year.



According to news websites, the last eruption was in 1963 and killed more than 1,100 people. Ash was hurled more than 20 kilometres in the air and even reached Jakarta, over 1,000 kilometres away.

At the time Agung remained active for about a year.

Experts say that was a massive eruption, far bigger than anything recently seen in Indonesia.

It's why authorities have spent the last several days evacuating more than 35,000 people from areas that might be affected.

Read | Two suspected suicide bombings in Jakarta kill three policemen



Authorities raised the volcanos alert status to the highest level on Friday following a tremendous increase in seismic activity.



The National Disaster Mitigation Agency has praised the welcoming response of local communities on Bali to the flood of evacuees.



Thousands are living in temporary shelters, sport centres, village halls and with relatives or friends.



Truck driver Wayan Suparta said he and his family left their village 5-km from the mountain several days ago, bringing just clothes and blankets to a temporary camp in Rendang.



The 35-year-old said he sold the familys cow because they dont know when theyll be able to return.



Officials have said there is no current danger to people in other parts of Bali, a popular tourist island famous for its surfing, beaches and elegant Hindu culture.The mountain, 72-km to the northeast of the tourist hotspot of Kuta, is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia.



The country of thousands of islands is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

(With Inputs from PTI)
New Delhi:

A suitcase-sized NASA radar instrument, that can detect heartbeats, is helping disaster relief workers save lives of people trapped under rubble after a 7.1 earthquake stunned central Mexico, 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.

The technology called Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response (FINDER) was developed by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Department of Homeland Securitys Science and Technology Directorate in the US.

Our hearts go out to the people of Mexico. We are glad to know our technology is being used to make a difference there, said Neil Chamberlain, task manager for FINDER at JPL.

FINDER sends a low-powered microwave signalabout one-thousandth of a cell phones outputthrough rubble. It looks for changes in the reflections of those signals coming back from tiny motions caused by victims breathing and heartbeats.

In tests, FINDER has detected heartbeats through 30 feet of rubble or 20 feet of solid concrete.

It was also used in Puerto Rico last week to search for survivors of Hurricane Maria. While radar can not search through water, it is useful for detecting heartbeats through rooftops. People trapped in flooded buildings often run to the upper floors.

The technology evolved from JPLs efforts to develop low-cost, small spacecraft radios, using signal processing developed to measure small changes in spacecraft motion.

FINDER is used alongside a variety of other techniques, including trained dogs, acoustic sensing devices and thermal imagers. All these techniques are usually deployed together.

When FINDER was deployed to Nepal after a major earthquake in 2015, it helped find four men trapped under a collapsed textile factory.

Scores of buildings collapsed into mounds of rubble or were severely damaged in 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 countrys 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.

Governor 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.

At one site, reporters saw onlookers cheer as a woman was pulled from the rubble. Rescuers immediately called for silence so that they could listen for others who might be trapped.

Mariana Morales, a 26-year-old nutritionist, 26, was one 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 out and sat on a sidewalk to try to recover from the scare. Then, just a few yards away, the three-story building collapsed.

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 three hours of effort.

We saw this and came to help, he said. Its ugly, very ugly.

Alma Gonzalez was in her fourth-floor apartment in the Roma neighbourhood when the quake collapsed 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 the 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 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.

Alarms blared and traffic stopped around the Angel of Independence monument on the iconic Reforma Avenue.

Electricity and cell phone service was interrupted in many areas and traffic was snarled as signal lights went dark.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.1 hit at 1:14 pm (2:15 p.m. EDT) and it was centred near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 123 kilometres southeast of Mexico City.

Puebla Governor Tony Gali tweeted that there had been damaged buildings in the city of Cholula including collapsed church steeples.

Earlier in the day workplaces across the city held readiness drills on the anniversary of the 1985 quake, a magnitude 8.0 shake, which killed thousands of people and devastated large parts of Mexico City.

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New Delhi:

After Pakistans photo goof up at UN, India on Monday rebutted Islamabads false narrative on Kashmir by waving a photo of martyred Kashmiri Army officer Lieutenant Umar Faiyaz.

A young diplomat with India's permanent mission to the UN, Paulomi Tripathi waved two photos together at UN, one showing Kashmiri Army officer and another showing Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi brandishing a photo of a Palestinian woman as a Kashmiri girl hit by pellet guns.

Holding up both pictures together, Tripathi said, True face of Pakistan is not hidden from anyone.

Lieutenant Umar Faiyaz, whose picture was shown in the UN by Indian diplomat was abducted and killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian.

"This is a real and not a fake picture of Lt. Umar Faiyaz, a young officer from the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. Umar Faiyaz was kidnapped at a wedding celebration. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan supported terrorists in May 2017,'' said Tripathi.

Suggested Read | UN Assembly: Pakistan diplomat goofs up, brandishes 2014 Gaza Strip image as one from Kashmir

"This is a true picture. It portrays a harsh and tragic reality. A picture of terrorism emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have to struggle with, every day. This is the reality which the Permanent Representative of Pakistan sought to obfuscate,'' she added.

Earlier on Saturday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj bombarded Pakistan with her piercing eloquence terming the country a pre-eminent export factory for terror.

In response to Swarajs historic speech, Pakistan termed India the mother of terrorism and flashed a photo of a Palestinian woman and claimed that she was Kashmiri girl hit by pellet guns.

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New Delhi :

Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar today appeared before an accountability court here inconnection with the Panama Papers scandal and submitted surety bonds worth Rs 1 million to secure his bail.

The court, which is hearing graft cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on September 8 against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his children and Dar, had issued a bailable arrest warrant against the minister onSeptember 20. Dar, 67, returned from London this morning along with Sharif who is expected to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal tomorrow.

Dar's lawyer deposited surety bonds worth Rs 1 million to avoid his arrest. The court, after a brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income.

The NAB has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons -- Hassan and Hussain, daughter -- Maryam, son-in-law -- Safdar, and Dar in the accountability court. The Supreme Court on July 28 disqualified Sharif from the prime minister's office in the Panama Papers scandal.

The court's ruling stated that Sharif had been dishonest in not disclosing his earnings from a Dubai-based company of his son in his nomination papers during the 2013 generalelection. According to the Supreme Court, the accountability judge should decide the cases within six months.





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New Delhi:

A state-run Chinese daily on Monday termed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as arrogant for her scathing attack on Islamabad at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). However, the daily admitted that there is indeed terrorism in Pakistan as mentioned by Swaraj in her speech.

Swaraj in her speech at the UNGA said, India and Pakistan became free within hours of each other. Why is it that today India is a recognised IT superpower in the world, and Pakistan is recognised only as the pre-eminent export factory for terror?

Referring to terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad, she said, We established scientific and technical institutions which are the pride of the world. But what has Pakistan offered to the world and indeed to its own people apart from terrorism? We produced scholars, doctors, engineers. What have you produced? You have produced terrorists.

ALSO READ: In response to Pakistan's fake image, India shows picture of martyred Kashmiri Army officer at UN

The Chinese daily termed Swarajs speech as bigotry.

The state-run daily Global Times in its editorial said, There is indeed terrorism in Pakistan. But is supporting terror the countrys national policy? What can Pakistan gain from exporting terrorism? Money or honour.

With smooth development of its economy and foreign relations in recent years, an arrogant India has looked down on Pakistan and assumed a haughty air with China, the editorial further added.

(With PTI inputs)

ALSO READ | UNGA 2017: Pakistan envoy terms India 'mother of terrorism in South Asia' in reply to Sushma Swaraj's speech

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New Delhi:

President Donald Trump has announced new restrictions on travel to the United States, expanding it to include North Korea, Venezuela and Chad. His past ban expired on Sunday, 90 days after it went into effect.



Muslim majority countries Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, from the past list, will continue to face the ban. But the new proclamation removed restrictions that were placed on Sudan.



The White House said the restrictions follow a review of information sharing by foreign governments.

Read | Donald Trump warns North Korea, says they won't be around much longer



Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation late on Sunday."Making America safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump said.



The restrictions on Venezuelans apply only to government officials and their family members, BBC said.

Read | Travel ban on Muslims raises concerns of physical safety among Indian students in US: Survey

Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet.https://t.co/KJ886okyfC  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

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New Delhi:

A gunman opened fire outside a church in Nashville, Tennessee, killing a woman and wounding seven other people on Sunday.



Police said the gunman was wounded during the incident at the Church of Christ Burnette Chapel.

1 woman dead in the parking lot...6 other innocents shot, the Metro Nashville Police Department said on its Twitter account.



It said one other victim was pistol-whipped and was hospitalized.

Read | Texas: 8 killed, 2 injured after shooting at house party



An usher confronted the shooter, who apparently shot himself in the struggle before he was arrested, police said.



No motive was immediately determined.

Don Aaron, a spokesman for the Metro Nashville Police Department told media that the gunman pulled into the parking lot at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ as services were ending. He fatally shot a woman who was walking to her vehicle, then entered the rear of the church with two pistols and kept firing, hitting six people, Aaron told AP.



Authorities identified the attacker as Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, of Murfreesboro, who came to the United States from Sudan in 1996 and was a legal US resident.

(With Inputs from PTI)

Read | Indian-American doctor stabbed to death in Kansas, allegedly by patient

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Visitors view the famous paintingA Panorama of Rivers and Mountains at the Palace Museum in Beijing. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, has set a quota for the number of visitors to its ongoing popular exhibition of landscape paintings to avoid long queues.

The policy, on a first-come-first-served basis, was adopted on Sunday for the exhibition, A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains: Bluegreen Landscape Paintings from Across Chinese History, which opened on Sept 15.

Under the plan, 150 people will be allowed to enter the central exhibition hall of Meridian Gate (Wumen) Gallery every half-hour from 8:30 am to the closing at 4:30 pm, which means a daily cap of 2,400 people.

The entry ticket costs 60 yuan ($9), but the extra tickets for this exhibition are free. Visitors are able to reserve them for a particular time span of their visiting day at the entrance of the Meridian Gate Gallery.

The exhibition, which includes 86 masterpieces rotated in two phases, is named after A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains, a zenith in China's blue-green landscape painting. It was created in the early 12th century by Wang Ximeng, then an 18-year-old genius at the imperial painting academy of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and is Wang's only known surviving work.

This 11.9-meter-long scroll painting portrays the grandiosity of nature and encyclopedic human activities in detail and is known by the public as one of the 10 most precious ancient Chinese paintings they must see.

Consequently, long queues appeared in front of the exhibition halls when the exhibition opened and many visitors complained that they were not able to have a glimpse of the painting after waiting for hours.

"New methods have been made to keep visitors in a good mood," Shan Jixiang, director of the Palace Museum, said.

"However, I still strongly recommend to visitors that they do not only focus on a single piece of artwork and blindly follow others to join in the queue," he said. "The other paintings are all top-tier treasures, which are also rare to see."

Bai Jianjian, a Beijing-based office worker and a frequent museum visitor, said," The quota is scientific. That kept order in the entire museum. I can visit other parts of the museum before my turn to see A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains."

The number-capping plan applies only to visitors of the central hall exhibiting A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains, and the number visiting western and eastern wings of the Meridian Gate Gallery is not restricted.

In 2015, when Alongside the River During the Qingming Festival, one of the best known Chinese paintings, also from the Song Dynasty, was exhibited in the Palace Museum, visitors stood in long lines to see it.

During the exhibition's final days, the Palace Museum had to prolong the hours of its exhibition hall past midnight, and staff even prepared bottled water and instant noodles for those waiting a long time to see the painting.
On a sunny, humid morning at an open area of tropical forest in Honduras, a group of 16 locals and two Chinese men are on an archaeological dig. Suddenly a snake slithers in the debris. Frightened and yelling, the locals use spades, sticks and anything to hand to scare the snake away.

To Li Xinwei, an archeologist from Beijing, the red-skinned snake was similar to a Lycodon rufozonatus he had seen in fields at home. But from the speech and gestures of the head worker, who was wielding a machete, he realized the snake was extremely poisonous. A bite on the arm might require cutting off the limb to save the victim's life.

That was in November 2015. Li and his colleague were on an excavation resulting from an agreement signed with the Honduras government more than a year before. The five-year scheme was a cooperative project between the Institute of Archaeology of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (IACASS) and Honduras Institute of Anthropology and History. The Anthropology Department of Harvard University also had a part.

Under the project, Chinese archaeologists were expected to excavate and reconstruct Group 8N-11, a sub-royal elite residential compound, in Copan, Honduras.

Not long after, they unearthed carvings of serpent-headed supernatural birds with outstretched shell-shaped wings and maize-like god heads. This reflected the theme of death and rebirth of the maize god, a common belief among the ancient Mayan people.

At the Society for American Archeology annual meeting this year in Vancouver, Canada, Li Xinwei, director of the IACASS Honduras team, shared the findings. His presentation won warm applause from the international audience.

The serpent-headed bird resembled a common Chinese dragon-head icon, which reminded Li of the late Chinese archeologist Kwang-chih Chang, who believed that American and Chinese civilizations probably shared pan-Pacific cultural genes and were different developments from the same ancestor.

"We cannot understand the special characteristics of our own civilization without understanding the characteristics of other civilizations," Li said.

Copan is the first of the Chinese archaeologists'major foreign explorations. The Temple of Montu in Luxor, Egypt, and the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana, India, are prospective destinations. In recent years, China has sent archaeological teams to central, west and southeast Asia, and to Kenya in Africa.

In March, the CASS Research Centre of World Archaeology was inaugurated under director Wang Wei.

A category of new archaeological awards was set up in 2016 to recognize Chinese archaeologists' remarkable achievements in foreign excavations. Last year, the top award went to the Mingtepa project, a joint operation between IACASS and counterparts in central Asia's Uzbekistan.
CHICAGO, Sept. 25, 2017 /CNW/ - The Boyd Group Inc. (the "Boyd Group" or "Boyd") today announced the acquisition on September 20, 2017 of a collision repair center in Issaquah, Washington, previously operated as Gilman Auto Body. Issaquah is located 16 miles east of Seattle, directly off of the western end of the Interstate 90, the longest interstate highway in the United States.

"The opening of this West Coast location is ten miles away from our Bellevue location and demonstrates our strategy of increasing our presence in a region to better serve our customers and insurance partners in the area and achieve operational synergies," said Tim O'Day, President and COO of the Boyd Group. "We look forward to serving the Issaquah community with the high level of customer service and quality that has been established at this location over the past 30 years and that we are known for at all of our Gerber repair centers."

The Boyd Group is continuously looking to add new collision repair locations to its existing network in Canada and the U.S. Interested collision repair center owners are asked to contact Kim Allen at the contact coordinates below for more information.

About The Boyd Group Inc.

The Boyd Group Inc. (the "Company"), directly and through subsidiaries, is one of the largest operators of non-franchised collision repair centres in North America in terms of number of locations and sales. The Company operates locations in five Canadian provinces under the trade names Boyd Autobody & Glass (http://www.boydautobody.com) and Assured Automotive (http://www.assuredauto.ca), as well as in 20 U.S. states under the trade name Gerber Collision & Glass (http://www.gerbercollision.com). The Company uses newly acquired brand names during a transition period until acquired locations have been rebranded. The Company is also a major retail auto glass operator in the U.S. with locations across 31 U.S. states under the trade names Gerber Collision & Glass, Glass America, Auto Glass Service, Auto Glass Authority and Autoglassonly.com. The Company also operates a third party administrator, Gerber National Claims Services ("GNCS"), that offers glass, emergency roadside and first notice of loss services. GNCS has approximately 5,500 affiliated glass provider locations and 4,600 affiliated emergency roadside services providers throughout the U.S. For more information on The Boyd Group Inc. or Boyd Group Income Fund, please visit our website at (http://www.boydgroup.com).

SOURCE Gerber Collision & Glass

For further information: Stephen Boyd, Vice President, Corporate Development, Tel: (204) 594-1776, [email protected]; Kim Allen, Director of Business Development, Tel: (847) 410-6003, [email protected]
In celebration of this 30 th anniversary, Samsung is thanking Canadians who share their love for Samsung and its products through an innovative Facebook campaign which features actual Samsung Canada employees thanking the Canadians who have played an integral role in the Samsung journey to date. To see these stories and discover more, visit facebook.com/SamsungCanada and follow #SamsungGives30 and @SamsungCanada on social.

"The stories and feedback we continue to hear inspires us at Samsung Canada every day. This campaign is our simple way of saying 'thank you' now to Canadians who have shared their support and love for our brand over the past thirty years, as we look forward to the future" said Mark Childs, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Canada.

Samsung is a proud Canadian corporate citizen committed to supporting Canadian communities. With over 500 employees across Canada, offices in Mississauga, Vancouver and Montreal, as well as a Vancouver Research and Development Centre and five Samsung Experience Stores nationally, Samsung is a proud Canadian employer and community member. Through community-support programs such as the Look at Me Project with partner Autism Speaks Canada, the SickKids Samsung Space collaboration as well as the Solve for Tomorrow STEM-inspired student challenge with partners Let's Talk Science and The Learning Partnership, Samsung continues to bring to life innovative ways of giving back to the communities it calls home.

About Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc.

Samsung Electronics Canada inspires Canadians to reach their full potential through a transformative ecosystem of products and services that deliver innovation and distinct design to every aspect of their connected lives. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, virtual reality and wearable devices, tablets and digital appliances. Dedicated to helping make a difference in the lives of Canadians, Samsung's award-winning Hope for Children corporate giving initiatives supports public education, sustainability and health-related issues in communities across the country. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

Follow Samsung Canada at facebook.com/SamsungCanada, or Instagram @samsungcanada or Twitter @SamsungCanada.

SOURCE Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.

For further information: Katelin Onishi, North Strategic Public Relations, [email protected]
By Olivier Ferret 25 September 2017 - 16:36





Fernando Alonso

"After Singapore, Im already eager to get back into the car and hopefully make it further than the first corner in Malaysia! Of course, what happened was disappointing and its difficult to hide your frustration when youre the victim of someone elses incident. I felt we had the potential to be really competitive  one of our only opportunities of the year  and its a shame we couldnt bring home the points to prove it, but these things happen.

"The conditions in Malaysia will be very similar to Singapore  hot, humid and challenging for the drivers and the car. The configuration will work less in our favour, but of course we will still fight for everything. There are six races left and we are still putting all our energy in finishing every race in the best possible position we can.

"Sepang will be more difficult for us in terms of set-up since the straights require good straight-line speed and power, but this track is a mixture of a lot of different characteristics, so well see how much we can make up on the slower-speed corners. The 2018 cars will definitely be faster through there, which will surely be fun to experience, and I hope we can avoid any drama and have a solid race."

Stoffel Vandoorne

"After Singapore, Im looking forward to heading to Malaysia on the back of a positive weekend on my side of the garage. I felt strong all weekend and we were able to put in consistent performances in every session. Its a shame we couldnt score points with both cars as we all felt it was really deserved; Fernando was very unlucky, but we head to Kuala Lumpur with a bit more confidence and the objective of keeping this momentum going.

"Like Singapore, Malaysia will be a first for me as Ive never raced there before. Its a shame itll be the last time well be racing there for a while, but thats all the more reason to make the most of it. It looks to be a pretty cool track  challenging and similar conditions to Singapore  but hopefully potential to show what our car can do.

"It definitely wont suit us as much as the Singapore track did, so we still need to be cautious about whats possible, but having watched races there in the past, theres always some kind of drama and the risk of a shower or two, so well have our fingers crossed for an opportunity for us to mix it with cars a little bit further up the field."

Eric Boullier

"Theres no denying Sepang will be tough for us  both for our package and for our drivers  as we often see the hottest temperatures and highest humidity levels of the year. Our two drivers are among the fittest on the grid, so Ive no doubt theyll approach the weekend fully prepared as usual. The conditions present a pretty unique technical challenge for our engineers too, as we try to find the best compromise in terms of performance and cooling over the whole weekend.

"As for performance, we will of course be pushing for Q3 on Saturday  as we have done over the past couple of races  but this circuit is unlikely to be as kind to us as Singapore in terms of outright lap-times. As ever, reliability will be key in these tough conditions, as points are only ever possible with a reliable car, as will avoiding any first-lap chaos, which is always easier said than done.

"Nevertheless, our drivers report that the MCL32 has good balance as well as strong traction on slower-speed corners wherever we race in the world, both of which factors will be a benefit on a track of this nature. Well aim to bid a fond farewell to Sepang International Circuit after 19 great years, and I hope we can put in a fitting performance in front of our Malaysian fans."

Yusuke Hasegawa

"Were heading back to Asia for the Malaysian Grand Prix, and we expect it to be another challenging race with extremely hot and humid weather conditions.

"Last time out in Singapore we had mixed fortunes. Fernando was involved in an unfortunate incident and ultimately retired, while Stoffels pace was competitive and he drove incredibly well, eventually crossing the line in P7. Overall it was positive that we were competitive throughout the weekend and came away with some precious points.

"Regarding Fernandos Singapore power unit, we were concerned that it may have been irreparably damaged, but fortunately after a thorough check back at the Sakura factory we can confirm it is okay to be re-used.

"The layout of Sepang International Circuit is a mixture of long straights and sweeping corners, which will no doubt make for an exciting race. Despite it being a power-hungry track, the changeable conditions mean anything can happen, so hopefully if we prepare well we can capitalise on any opportunities that come our way and break into the points. After 19 fantastic years, this years grand prix will be the last in Malaysia, so wed like to thanks the fans and treat them to an exciting race weekend."
IPOB members

Popular Nigerian writer and columnist, 'Fisayo Soyombo addresses the recent labeling of the Indigenous People of Biafra as a terrorist organization by the Federal Government.

These are interesting times. Were entering an interesting, new journalism era when newspaper editors will cast simple headlines but the public will nevertheless be confused. Troops kill 14 terrorists in Plateau, a headline could read. And readers would wonder: What kind of terrorists? Were they Biafra terrorists or Boko Haram terrorists? It could soon happen that we find our ourselves using the word terrorism with the same ordinariness with which we do armed robbery. For that, we have almighty President Muhammadu Buhari to thank.

Buharis crush-or-kill disposition to agitation was what the Defence Headquarters banked on when it hastily designated the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist group, before proceeding on a confusing and embarrassing volte-face, forcing Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, to claim that the Armys pronouncement was misinterpreted.

You have to get it very clear, Buratai said in that bizarre about-face. First of all, what the Defence Headquarters did was to make pronouncements. It wasnt a declaration per se. But this has given room for the right step to be taken.

It also gave out the administration as one whose well-documented disregard for the law is not accidental. The initial uproar about the DHQs declaration was that it was illegal but the illegality has now been corrected with the proscription of IPOB by an Abuja Federal High Court. Therefore, the contentiousness of that declaration is no longer about legality but now about propriety. Are IPOB members indeed terrorists?

The 14 acts of terrorism:

Section 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 as amended is very clear in its definitions of what constitutes terrorism: act of terrorism means an act which is deliberately done with malice, aforethought and which:

(a) may seriously harm or damage a country or an international organization;

(b) is intended or can reasonably be regarded as having been intended to

(i) unduly compel a government or international organization to perform or abstain from performing any act;

(ii) seriously intimidate a population;

(iii) seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a country or an international organization; or

(iv) otherwise influence such government or international organization by intimidation or coercion; and

(c) involves or causes, as the case may be

(i) an attack upon a person's life which may cause serious bodily harm or death;

(ii) kidnapping of a person;

(iii) destruction to a Government or public facility, a transport system, an infrastructure facility, including an information system, a fixed platform located on the continental shelf, a public place or private property, likely to endanger human life or result in major economic loss;

(iv) the seizure of an aircraft, ship or other means of public or goods transport and diversion or the use of such means of transportation for any of the purposes in paragraph (b)(iv) of this subsection; *

(v) the manufacture, possession, acquisition, transport, supply or use of weapons, explosives or of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, as well as research into, and development of biological and chemical weapons without lawful authority;

(vi) the release of dangerous substance or causing of fire, explosions or floods, the effect of which is to endanger human life;

(vii) interference with or disruption of the supply of water, power or any other fundamental natural resource, the effect of which is to endanger human life;

(d) an act or omission in or outside Nigeria which constitutes an office within the scope of a counter-terrorism protocols and conventions duly ratified by Nigeria.

(3) An act which disrupts a service but is committed in pursuance of a protest. However, demonstration or stoppage of work is not a terrorist act within the meaning of this definition provided that the act Is not intended to result in any harm referred to in subsection (2) (b)(i), (ii) or (iv) of this section.

Of these 14 infractions that constitute terrorism, IPOB, as a group, violated only three: C(iii), C(iv) and 3. Importantly, all violations did not come until the army released pythons to the south-east. Of these 14, Nnamdi Kanu breached at least 10. Had the court, on FGs prompting, declared Kanu a terrorist, it would have been hard to fault the move, judging by the scale of hate preached by the IPOB leader, his call for the boycott of next months Anambra governorship election, and the way he continuously incited his followers to shed blood for the actualisation of Biafra. But any declaration of IPOB itself as a group of terrorists is an overkill, especially when this government has turned a blind eye to more dangerous groups.

The real terrorists:

How on earth can IPOB members be terrorists when notorious killers, the herdsmen, have no such designation? We are talking about a group that was named in 2015 by the Global Terrorism Index as the fourth deadliest terror group in the world. Only Boko Haram, ISIS, and al-Shabab were deemed deadlier than this nomadic group of militants. In 2013, they killed around 80 people in total, but by 2014 the group had killed 1,229 and 847 in 2015.

The little-known group, formed of individuals from the semi-nomadic, pastoral ethnic group Fula people existing across several West African nations operates in Nigeria and parts of the Central African Republic, The Independent wrote at the time. As much as 92 percent of their attacks target private citizens, reflecting the groups primary concern over the ownership of farmland. Each attack claims an average of 11 lives, with the largest known in April 2014 killing as many as 200 people after a group of the militants targeted community leaders and residents during a meeting in central province Zamfara.

This group is, in fact, guiltier of terrorism than Nnamdi Kanu. But, sadly, all Buhari thinks of them is that they are a criminal gang, as evinced by Garba Shehu, one of his spokesmen, who said last week: There is a difference between a criminal activity and a terrorist activity. Yes, some Fulani herdsmen are a criminal gang and they are being dealt with according to the law. But IPOB, like Boko Haram, has a territory they have carved out to themselves.

If IPOB members are terrorists, what do we say of militants in the delta, particularly the Niger Delta Avengers, who actually did terrorize Nigeria by freely bombing oil installations, consequently plummeting oil production capacity, which in turn lowered the countrys crude oil earnings. The Avengers made Buharis opening months in office hell, costing Nigeria $7 billion (N2.1 trillion) between January and October 2016, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Although they ticked at least 10 of the 14 offense boxes listed in the Terrorism act, the Avengers were not designated as terrorists. After realizing the futility of military crackdown on the bombers, he resorted to peace talks between representatives of the government and the militants, followed by the payment of outstanding monthly stipends to militants. Since then, the Avengers have left vengeance to God!

From the Avengers, Buhari must have learned that force will always be trumped by dialogue; the surprise is why he wont handle IPOB in a similar manner. By overseeing the proscription of IPOB and its declaration as a terrorist group, Buhari has managed to trivialize terrorism  a truly serious offense  to the realms of thuggery and armed robbery. Tomorrow, should the rest of us hit the streets in protest of an unfavorable policy, we could easily be marked down as terrorists. In case anyone is in doubt, the amended Terrorism Act prescribes up to death as punishment for terrorists. The makers of that law must be holding their heads in their hands, knowing this wasnt the original plan.

***

Written by 'Fisayo Soyombo
Former Special Adviser on New Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri on Sunday said the United States, US, stance that the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is not a terrorist group has exposed the hypocrisy of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.Following the proscription of the group, US had declared that it does not consider the pro-Biafra group as a terrorist organisation. Similarly, the Senior Special Adviser to Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu had declared that Fulani herdsmen are only a gang of criminals and not terrorists while IPOB is a terrorists organisation.In his reaction, Omokri, said killer herdsmen deserved the terrorism tag much more than IPOB.Omokri, in a video on his Facebook, berated the Buhari-led government of ignoring the activities of the herdsmen identified as terrorists by the US and the UK, while going after IPOB for agitating for Biafra.The former Presidential aide said while the global terrorism index rank herdsmen as the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the whole world, IPOB is not even featured in the index, yet our government calls them terrorists.He said, The herdsmen who are considered terrorists by the US, the UK, the European Union and even the World Economic Forum are not considered terrorists by the Nigerian government. But the people who are not considered terrorists by these countries and groups are the ones the Nigerian government is considering as terrorists.The dictionary defines a terrorist as someone who unlawfully uses violence to achieve political aims. And by the dictionary definition, you can see that herdsmen actually fits into the category of a terrorist more than IPOB.How many people have IPOB members killed? Have they gone and killed people in northern Nigeria, or in south-western Nigeria or in the south-south? No.The herdsmen are currently the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the whole world yet our government says these herdsmen are not terrorists.Ive read the Bible and the Koran, so I know where things are coming from. Even Prophet Mohammad does not support this kind of injustice that the Buhari administration is perpetuating.
Igbo community in Germany has decried the recent invasion of South Eastern Nigeria by military men.Speaking under the aegis of Igbo indigenes living in Germany, the group said that the occupation of the Igbo region by the Nigerian army in whatever guise was undemocratic, unconstitutional and against the fundamental human rights of the citizens.In a press release signed by the coordinator, Peter Chukwuma Eze, the group noted with grave concern the invasion of the Igbo territory of South-Eastern Nigeria by fully armed military men.It said that Ndigbo abroad have taken cognizance of the provocation, intimidation, brutalization and killings of the civilian population of largely Igbo extraction by the fully armed military of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the South-Eastern part of the country.The association, therefore, demanded that the Federal Government explains the exact nature and reason behind the ongoing military occupation of the South east tagged Python Dance11 insisting that the government of the federation should make its position clear and not sit on the fence.The group,however, called for an investigation by the International Criminal Court of Justice into what it termed dictatorial and undemocratic use of the military against Ndigbo and other Nigerians.They also demanded that all relevant organs in the international community play their part in preventing a chain of events that could eventually lead to widespread breakdown of peace in the entire West African sub-region which it reasoned may cause untold deaths, displacements and suffering all over Nigeria and may trigger the largest scale of refugee crisis in the region.
The Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Coexistence in Southern Nigeria, AIPCSN, has condemned the five Northern governors visit to Chief Nyesom...

The Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Coexistence in Southern Nigeria, AIPCSN, has condemned the five Northern governors visit to Chief Nyesom Wike, after the clash between Hausa community and the secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in the state.

The National Coordinator of AIPCSN, Alhaji Musa Saidu, berated governors over refusal to commiserate with the victims, noting that the victims of the clash had expected them to visit them or the scene of the incident.





Saidu who spoke to journalists in Port Harcourt said the attitude showed that the Northerners living in the Southern part of the country were not valued by their leaders.





He said: Now, we knew that five of our own governors came to the State, stayed and left without a message for us.





We had expected the governors to visit us and know how we are feeling. We had expected them to come and commiserate with the Hausa Community in Rivers State.





They did not visit us, they did not visit the scene where the incident happened in Rivers State. Their action was not good.





The attack was not only targeted at Muslims in the state, but both Muslims and Christians were victims of the attack by the IPOB members.





The attacks in Abia and Rivers States, as well as the reprisals in Plateau State is unfortunate, there is no need for the shedding of blood. 





The group also sued for peace among Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, and reiterating that the unity of the nation is not negotiable.





Nigerians should learn to live together as brothers and sisters. We need peace and we want peace in all parts of the country. We want to live in peace.





Even if you kill the man selling groundnut, or the shoemaker (cobbler) in the street, what is your gain? My plea is, let us live together. We dont want reprisal from any quarters.





Please, we should not bring religion into it, because if we do that, it would have more adverse effects on everybody in the country. Let us appreciate our peaceful coexistence and live in harmony, Saidu added.
Islamic leaders in the country have warned the Federal Government not to treat the current agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra...

Islamic leaders in the country have warned the Federal Government not to treat the current agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra ( MASSOB ) with levity.The Islamic leaders also urged the President Muhammadu Buhari government to tackle other security problems in the country headlong.They spoke this at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital at this commemoration of this year new Islamic calendar (Hijra).Pioneer Grand Khadi, Kwara state Shaaria Court of Appeal Justice Abdulkadir Orire (rtd) said the issues of IPOB and MASSOB in the South East must be seriously attended to before they degenerated to undesirable and uncontrollerable levels.Insecurity is the greatest impediment to industrialisation and growth of other investments which have contributed greatly to unemployment of our youths. To ameliorate the situation, there is the need to swiftly confront the Boko Haram insurgents headlong, bring back the remaining Chibok girls and others from captivity. Likewise, the Niger Delta militants and kidnappers should not treated with kid gloves.The military and para-military forces should be fortified and motivated to enhance adequate security of the lives and property of all Nigerians and others resident in Nigeria.The former grand khadi who is also the Sarkin Malamai of Ilorin decried the rampant incidents of ritual killings in many parts of the country.Justice Orire added that the menace of killing, selling and buying of human beings for ritual purposes are very rampant nowadays. This act is highly ungodly, un-Islamic, barbaric and sinful.Corroborating him, current Grand Khadi of the state, Justice Muhammad Abdulkadir frowned at the growing cases of cultism and other anti-social behaviours in Ilorin and its environs.Justice Abdulkadir urged Islamic preachers and teachers to preach against these obnoxious acts to ensure peace and harmony that the Ilorin community is known for.Said he: Our children are involved in series of nefarious activities such as cultism, killing of innocent people and kidnapping among other. Some scholars are engaged in using human beings for ritual purposes all in attempt to get riches by all means. All these are seriously against the teachings of Islam and what Ilorin and its environs are known for.We also call on government to set necessary machinery in motion for the protection of lives through regular surveillance of the community particularly at night to ward off the night marauders, who hide under the cloak of darkness to perpetrate evil acts.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has stated that all the previous federal government intervention to the state was not enough to clear salary arrears he inherited on assumption of office.Within the last two years, the state had received bailouts and Paris club refund totaling about N49 billion from federal government.The governor spoke at the inauguration of Provinces four and three of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in the state which was held separately in Gboko and Makurdi said that he inherited salary, pension and gratuity arrears of N69 billion on assumption of office.This he said his administration was able to offset substantially with the interventions from federal government which included the bailout and Paris Club refunds pointing out however that shortfalls from the monthly allocations have made it impossible to clear the arrears.At the time he assumed office, Ortom said the monthly wage bill of the state including pensions, overheads and gratuity was N8.2 billion without the implementation of the minimum wage for teachers which when implemented further increased the bill to about N8.5 billion.He explained, after series of screening exercises the bill had been reduced to about N7.8 billion which still remained one of the highest alongside industrialized states like Kano, Kaduna, and Ogun while the total monthly allocation stands at an average of N6 billion.Following the development, the state government reached an understanding with the state workers whose leaders have been involved in the disbursement of state funds that two months allocations would be combined to pay one months full salary which I have kept since 2015.While assuring that God will help him to surmount all the problems, governor Ortom appealed to the people of the state to continue to trust God.He urged Christians against murmuring like the Israelite who had desired deliverance from Egypt when they encountered difficulties in the wilderness but rather to look up to God for help with their prayers.
Hon. Charles Idahosa, a former special adviser to ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole, has stated that Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was ...





Hon. Charles Idahosa, a former special adviser to ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole, has stated that Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was being funded by top-shots of former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said Nigerians had been informed earlier that disgruntled prominent Nigerians in the opposition will make the administration of President Buhari difficult through distractions.





The truth of the matter is that Nigeria is like a theatre of the absurd. I said a few months ago that corruption will fight back. And what are you are seeing today, Is corruption not fighting back?





All the agitations here and there are being stage managed to distract the APC federal government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, from getting to where it wants Nigeria to be.





The campaign programme of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari was to clear the mess left behind by the former administration. Of course, the money stolen during the PDP administration and now in the hands of individuals is so much that you do not expect government to just fold its arms.





The corruption that is fighting back is coming in different forms and all kinds of devices. All those campaigning for secession in the name of IPoB, where were they since? These are political gimmicks designed to derail the APC led government ahead of the 2019 presidential election.





Unfortunately, we live in a country of very many unserious people. This thing could have been tackled in a way that nobody would have known that such a thing happened. We made Nnamdi Kanu important. A 36-year-old who never saw the civil war.

I witnessed the civil war and I know what war is. In war, a mother will deny her child; a father will run in a direction while the children run in another. So, when Kanu and his cohorts started talking because people were sponsoring them, it made me feel sad, he told Vanguard.
A Chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator Abubakar Girei, has said Igbos are naive and the worst enemies of themselves.





A Chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator Abubakar Girei, has said Igbos are naive and the worst enemies of themselves. A Chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator Abubakar Girei, has said Igbos are naive and the worst enemies of themselves.

The ex-lawmaker, who represented Adamawa Central in the Senate, between 1999 and 2003, said that all attempts to make late Sen. Chuba Okadigbo to be president in 2007 were scuttled by the political elites in Igbo land.





He said this in an interview with the Sun Newspaper against the backdrop of the recent proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra.





Girei, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), said: To be honest with you, the North feels that the political naivety of the people of the south east has been exposed because I dont see how people with the intelligence, education, experience and the spread the Igbo have in this country and even beyond could be talking about secession when you own the whole of Nigeria as far as we are concerned.





We stand to be corrected and you are now talking of limiting yourself to the south east you call Biafra. I mean this is the height of political naivety. How I wish the likes of Chuba Okadigbo were alive. With his political sagacity he would have really called the Igbo to order.





As the landlord of Nigeria why should you be talking of going back to a small hamlet called Biafra? Honestly this is my opinion and I believe this is the opinion of most people in the North. People that are so blessed throughout the country. Is it not the Igbo that own this country, you think it is the Hausa-Fulani? The Hausa-Fulani dont own this country. It is the Igbo that own this country. You find them all over this country not as shoe shiners, nail cutters or water hewers. You find them as businessmen making money, owning properties, creating wealth





Let me tell you. You remember what happened in 2002, 2003? I was in the Senate with Chuba Okadigbo and the others. We came together and then networked with the then APP, negotiated and changed the name of the party from APP to ANPP, negotiated a slot for the vice-presidency to be given to Chuba Okadigbo. It was not Buhari that made Chuba Okadigbo his running mate. Buhari simply accepted it.





It was a negotiated deal between our group, the Chuba Group nationwide and the APP as a political party which chose to change its name from APP to ANPP. They then conceded the vice-presidential slot to us, to Chuba Okadigbo in person which Buhari accepted and endorsed. Buhari also accepted to do only one term of four years only; that is between 2003 and 2007 and then power would have automatically gone to Chuba Okadigbo, an Igbo man from the south east of Nigeria.





That was the negotiation. That was our own agreement. It was our own internal agreement. If it had succeeded we would have sustained it. It would have automatically followed because Buhari would have respected that. He stood for it. We stood for it and we would have gotten Chuba to be president by 2007.





Of course, the South easterners aborted it.





I was in it. I was in Oyi in Anambra State in Okadigbos village during the election. All the Igbo ganged up against ANPP. They went and negotiated with Obasanjo and voted PDP. In fact, they did not allow Chuba himself to cast his vote in his village. That was what happened. I was there. I was in Oyi village live during the presidential election of 2003. I was not alone. We were about eight former Senators and prominent northerners who went there to support Chuba Okadigbo as our vice-presidential candidate. The south east completely rejected that. That is why we always wonder if these people are really politicians.





This very Ben Nwabueze, I and Chuba Okadigbo visited his house in Lagos. We were there. His house is not very far from Chubas house in Lagos, in Apapa to be precise. I accompanied Chuba. We were there; I and the former NPN National Secretary, Uba Ahmed. I remember very clearly that we visited him as one of the prominent leaders of Igbo to brief him about this arrangement. There was no prominent Igbo man that we didnt brief about this arrangement. They all knew. So, when we see them girating about this IPOB and other thingsmy friend, the Igbo as far as I am concerned are the ones dragging us down.
Former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC, Kano), has given his opinion on the military intervention in the South-Ea...

Former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC, Kano), has given his opinion on the military intervention in the South-East and the agitation by the IPOB members.

He noted that the military operation was not only peculiar to the south-east, pointing out that same had been used in many states across the country.





I am not being particular about military engagement in the south-east. Every country, not necessarily Nigeria, must have a committed military.





So, we have to under the circumstance support members of our military in discharging their duties, he told Daily Trust.





On the agitation for secession, Kwankwaso urged leaders to tackle the matter head long.





There are issues especially with political leaders, political parties, religious leaders and traditional rulers; they need to act fast.





Otherwise, a section of champions will use the opportunity to execute their agenda which will not be in the best interest of the nation, he said.





Asked to comment on restructuring vis-a-vis agitations, Kwankwaso said good leadership across the country will end many grievances.





I had the opportunity to interact with people from all sections of the country and I found them very enterprising, hardworking, intelligent and friendly.





What they need is to put them on the right track, support them and especially in the areas of education, agriculture, infrastructure and so on.





But intelligence without focus on what to do, you may end up using it negatively.





Many of these people who are doing negative things are very intelligent but instead of using it positively, they became leaders in the negative side; so good quality leadership is key, he said.
The Federal Government yesterday raised concerns over continuous electricity supply to Republic of Benin and Togo in spite of non-paymen...

The Federal Government yesterday raised concerns over continuous electricity supply to Republic of Benin and Togo in spite of non-payment of outstanding bills and when Nigerians need the same power.Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (Power) Dr. Louis Edozien made the Federal Governments position known at the opening of the route and environmental and social impact assessment study on the Nigeria-Benin 330 KV reinforcement project.He urged the company in charge of the bilateral power deal, Communaute Electricique du Benin (CEB), and Togo to pay up the mounting debts.The said the ministrys primary responsibility is to satisfy the electricity needs of Nigerians, although the Federal Government is committed to integrating Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) electricity market.Edozien told the West African Power Pool (WAPP) delegates that Nigerians are not satisfied. I will explain why it makes sense to do this even in the context of the current dissatisfaction, but it is very difficult to make that argument very persuasively when the electricity we have already supplied is not paid for.So, I want to use this platform to emphasis to CEB that the debt that has accumulated for electricity already supplied needs to be settled as quickly as possible. It helps us explain to Nigerians why we should and must sign the supply by doing projects like this one.Now, not only must the debt be paid but a mechanism must also be put in place to make sure the debt doesnt balloon again and they are paid for as and when due, he said.According to him, the essence of the commitment to supply power to the West Africa CEB and Niger Link arose out of governments multi-lateral understanding about optimising the use of the River Niger as a resource.Edozien, however, told the delegates that the Nigerian electricity industry has moved from a vertically integrated government monopoly to an industry with private investors, hence the need for a power purchase agreement.He said it was necessary to move the arrangement into a proper contract and I believe that that discussion is already on the way to move CEB contract from basically a government to government multi-lateral agreement to a proper purchase agreement with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company for the existing supply.He added: Now as your needs grow and as projects like this one are completed, you sign the amount of energy you are buying from Nigeria. Our expectation is that you will look to individual generation operators  two of whom are here  to contract the supply you need. The regulator is here and he is putting in place regulatory framework so that you can contract directly with the people who want to supply to you and I believe you have one such contracts already.Interim Managing Director and WAPP Chairman Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed explained that the project, which is the second Ikeja West (Nigeria) to Sakete (Benin Republic) transmission line will be due for commissioning in 2021.The project, he said, is expected to take 24 months after six months of feasibility studies and the procurement process.The TCN boss noted that African Development Bank (ADB) is committed to financing the project, adding that it was the ones that funded the line from Ikeja West to Sakete and would still use the same funding corridor.The ECOWAS representative said the 330KV Nigeria/Togo Interconnection Reinforcement Project was aimed at augmenting the power exchange capacity of its predecessor, which was commissioned by WAPP in 2006.He added that the project shall stabilise the WAPP coastal transmission backbone spanning from Nigeria, Cote d Ivoire through Benin, Togo and Ghana, to increase the power potential of ECOWAS countries like Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Vice Chairman Sanusi Garba noted that government would not under the arrangement compromise power supply to Nigeria.
The Igbos for Nigeria Movement [INM] has called on the foremost Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo and Igbo leaders to apolog...

The Igbos for Nigeria Movement [INM] has called on the foremost Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo and Igbo leaders to apologize to the military for their earlier acts of silence, indifference, collusion and passive support that allowed the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to metamorphosed into a full blown terror group.

The group said, IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu succeeded in hijacking the Igbo agitation for fairness to incite hatred across the land.





Reacting to a visit to Gombe state on a peace mission by Ohanezes President General, Chief John Nwodo and other Igbo leaders, Igbos for Nigeria Movement expressed relief that the period when the organization and Igbo leaders played politics with what is ordinarily a nationwide quest for a better deal is over.





According to the group, some top members of Ohaneze and Igbo political leaders that had banked on using IPOB and Kanu to score political points soon discovered that they were as much the victims of a terror infrastructure but had become too ashamed to accept their sins and dilemma until the launch of Operation Python Dance II, which some of them still kicked against out of habit.





The movement in a statement by its national leader, Mazi Igwe Ifeanyi, assured that the same people that were supporting IPOB, even when they were hostages, are today relishing the freedom procured for them through the success recorded by Operation Python Dance II, which has empowered them to again grow the courage to visit the same people that Kanu had vilified without them censuring him.





He said, The least Ohaneze, Chief Nwodo and other Igbo leaders can do is to retract their past statements on the Operation Python Dance II and to encourage troops to root out other evils that have made Igboland into a place that other Nigerians avoid as a place to settle down. According to the group, the ill conceived quit notice to Igbos by some northern youths had exposed how groups like IPOB placed Igbos at a disadvantage because Igbos settle in other parts of the country in large numbers while only few persons of other ethnic groups make Igboland their homes because of attitudes like the one exhibited by Kanu.





Going forward, the expectation is that Ohaneze and any one that genuinely calls himself a leader in Igboland must now put the interest of Igbo people above their personal interest and this includes accepting that IPOB was a monster that was set to consume the genuine cause which every Igbo man had vigorously pursued in the past.





Had the military not stopped IPOB and Kanu, the path they were threading was on the verge of making Igbos lose what they had toiled to build in other parts of Nigeria in the past five decades given the way they needlessly antagonized other ethnic groups, including calling for their death.
A police sergeant has been arrested after he was caught smoking Indian hemp at an event on Lagos Island.

A police sergeant has been arrested after he was caught smoking Indian hemp at an event on Lagos Island.

The sergeant, identified as Agu, also allegedly slapped the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Lion Building Police Division, Lagos State, who attempted to arrest him.





It was gathered that a resident had alerted the Area Commander, Area A Command, ACP Sola Akinyede, aka Solebo, to the conduct of the policeman.





The commander then directed the DPO to go and arrest Agu.





But Agu went berserk and dared the officer and other policemen who attempted to arrest him.





During the shouting match that ensued, Agu slapped the DPO but was eventually overpowered.





A resident narrated the incident to Punch: The sergeant was at the 155 anniversary of Epetedo. He smoked from the beginning of the party till the early hours of the next day.





He shot into the air. Somebody called the Area Commander, who sent the DPO to the area, together with some junior policemen.





He manhandled the DPO and slapped his face. A police team went to search his apartment at the police barracks on Beecroft Street, Lagos Island. They found Indian hemp in his house.





He was detained at the Lion Building Police Station. He was at the event on illegal duty.





The police authorities have been pleading with the organisers of the event not to let the matter get into the public domain. The sergeant has been released.





Agu is attached to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Annex, Kam Salem House, Obalende.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed Agus arrest.





The DPO got a complaint from members of the public that a policeman was causing disturbance at the event, he said.





The DPO and some policemen went to the area and he was picked up. He was not caught smoking or found with any arm and there was no case of assault.





A search was also conducted on his residence, but nothing incriminating was found. He has been released although he is undergoing an orderly room trial.
IRKED by reports of refusal of the United States to recognize the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist organisation, a human right group, Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has asked the US government to respect Nigerias sovereignty and its laws which deals especially with internal security issues.The Centre while condemning the stance of the US embassy in Nigeria to the effect that the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is not a terrorist group, also said Nigerians are disappointed to learn about the position of the United States Embassy on the issue even after a competent Nigerian court has issued an order designating the group as such.CESJET in a statement by its executive secretary, Comrade Isaac Ikpa, stated that the assertion by the embassy spokesman ignored the fact that Nigeria is a sovereign nation that does not need the approval of another country to contain terrorists threats within its bordersHe said besides, Russell Brooks comment is at variance with US President Donald Trumps hard-line stance against terrorists irrespective of their geographical location.Ikpa, therefore, cautioned that the US must not be seen as having double standards for treating terrorists. He stated that the US must, therefore, ensure that Nigerias fight against terrorism, which the US authorities have demonstrated enormous support for in the last two years, is not jeopardized in pursuit of political correctness.The statement reads, The US Embassy must note that Nigeria has every right to prevent known threats from growing same way the US placed a travel ban on nationals of eight countries of the world to keep terrorists out of its territories despite the global outcry and international criticisms that did nothing to reverse the action.CESJET, therefore, condemns the US Missions decision not to acknowledge that IPOB is a terror group. As opposed to rushing to making such distracting comment the proper thing was to have undertaken an appreciation of the threats posed by IPOB to peace within the West Africa sub-region.Ikpa explained that anyone or group that threatens the security of a nation, with attendant economic, political and humanitarian crisis, fits into the definition of a terrorist or a terrorist organization and IPOBs activities have so far confirmed same as witnessed by our security agencies, independent security reports etc.He stated further, The US Embassy in Nigeria must, therefore, look beyond its textbook approach to what is a credible terrorist risk to Nigeria to work towards including IPOB in the database of US terrorist organizations. It must be noted that time is running out to do this since IPOB members have steady access to the US and it is a matter of time before they begin to export the evils they commit in Nigeria to that country.
By Jerome-Mario Utomi. In one of the most celebrated media related trials in the United States Of America(USA), the trial Judge, Justi...

By Jerome-Mario Utomi.In one of the most celebrated media related trials in the United States Of America(USA), the trial Judge, Justice Lewis Powell, of the United States Supreme Court remarked that the inherent worth of speech in terms of its capacity for informing the public does not depend upon the identity of the source, whether corporation ,association, union or individual.The above statement was made back in the days but I still consider relevant and held with reverence in my day to day activities as a media practitioner though with some levels of exception.A very typical example of such exception is accentuated in the handling of information from a very disciplined Institution like the armed forces and the reason is not farfetched. Such information in most cases is accompanied with serious connotations, threat as well as warnings, which if ignored, may leave in its trail sorrow, tears and blood on the part of the citizenries.Correspondingly, the recent release by our nations armed forces announcing their planned military drill tagged Operation Crocodile Smile in the south- south and southwestern regions of the federation just shortly after a similar outing in the south-East region calls for serious concern.As envisaged, the information as released has enjoyed more moral burden than goodwill and outright condemnation. It has also generated conflicting opinions from different quarters which one could safely describe as a counter, cross, trans and to some extent intercalary opinions.But in determining whether to or not be of such plan, the answer is very simple but audacious as it is perceived by the generality of the public as a project that is ill-advised, ill-timed, wanton in motive and unpalatable in taste. The reasons for these form of reaction as advertised by the people is barefaced and points to history.First, history is littered with great testimonies that force has never quelled any agitation that is internally generated and occasioned by injustice. That is if such agitation or hostilities exist in the first instance as the majority of the people in the South-South region penciled down for drilling are not aware of such hostility and therefore sing from a different hymn book.Again, it is an established fact that the military is the protector of states integrity, seeking victory rather than conquest. In the same token, if victory is what the Federal Government is seeking over these current sociopolitical impasses, then the military option should not be contemplated in the first instance as dialogue holds the key.To support the above position as advanced, the federal government and our dear armed forces should remember that one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful but subduing the other enemies without battle is the most skillful. This is the way the 21st-century leaders should go. It is time to preach and adopt non-violence. This time is obviously auspicious for all to become proponents of peace embodied with justice. Again, a sincere dialogue that will bring justice, equity, and fairness to all the amalgams shall bring a lasting peace to us as a nation.Similarly, any nation that is preaching civility and is development focused should be well aware that conflict leads to further conflicts just as aggression brings devastation to all parties, including those who employed it. Based on this fact, nations have devised means of achieving truce without going through conflict or full blown aggression.In the same vein, a glance through some press statements resonating from different organizations in the Niger Delta region revealed that while the Federal Government is planning for the crocodile to smile, the people of the region are working tirelessly towards achieving a sustainable peace and at the same time considers the federal government as their partner in development.Very recently also, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF}, the umbrella body of all the groups in the Niger Delta stated in clear terms that hostility is not part of their cards. The Group further stated that the region enjoys a cordial relationship with the government at the centre and have just recently submitted a 16 point development agenda which the Federal Government has adopted. The statement as released read in parts ;It is very worthy of note that the various concessions reached with the then Mr. Acting President at the Inter-Ministerial Committee Meeting, to wit: the Commitment of the Federal Government to Dialogue with PANDEF; immediate take-off of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko; the relocation of head and operational bases of Oil companies to their areas of operation in the Niger Delta region; inclusion of PANDEF in Inter-Ministerial Committee on Niger Delta;Others according to the Group includes but not limited to ; the establishment of modular refineries in the region; improved funding of intervention agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Presidential Amnesty Programme; deliberate involvement and participation in the oil and gas industry; surveillance and protection of oil and gas pipelines and installations; the question of environmental remediation and Ogoni Clean-up; and the question of Bakassi People.From the legion of concession listed above, it is crystal clear that the Niger Delta people have a singleness of purpose. That purpose to my mind is centred on attracting development to the region and not operation crocodile smile or violence.Again, if the Federal Government is aware of this 16 points agenda which the Group claimed has been adopted, What then could suddenly necessitate the launch of operation Crocodile smile?Interestingly also, the Niger Delta women are not left out in this affirmation of peace, and unquenchable demand for the massive development of the region. The Delta Ijaw Women Initiative(DIWI), an umbrella body of women living in the riverine communities, also in a rally recently called on the Federal Government not allow them this time around to be subjected to any ill-treatment as previously done by the military authorities whether directly or indirectly. The women Group like their male counterparts stressed that what the region needs presently is massive development and not operation crocodile smile as the military is proposing.Going beyond south- south, and south-west, one will discover that the problems that necessitated this agitation in our nation in the first instance are more of manmade than natural. The deliberate demonstration of impunity, as well as superiority by one group or region, led to this burning agitation today.We have forgotten as a people residing in an artificial creation called Nigeria and unfortunately made up of multicultural, multi-religious and multilingual formation that one should not be so foolish to believe that you are stirring admiration by flaunting the qualities that raised you above others. By making others aware of their inferior positions, you are only stirring unhappy admiration or envy that will gnaw at them until they undermine you in ways that you may not foresee'. It is only the fools that dare the god of envy by flaunting his victory'.Also as stated in one of my earlier opinion articles is the round misrule and very high propensity for corrupt nepotistic practices on the part of our leaders. These leaders in question have allowed themselves to become the primary reality that the people worry about as a result of their nefarious actions and inactions.Again, what is playing out today in these regions and Nigeria as a nation is the result of the practical demonstration of the will of man as against the rule of law as practiced in the time past by our so-called leaders. Leaders without disciplined thoughts and actions' are the people holding forth in our political fronts and that informs the reason for our not having a disciplined political and socioeconomic culture as a nation.However, history should not be repeated but must always be available for us to draw a lesson from. There is no need for the crocodile to prey while the good people of Niger Delta has prayed by presenting their needs to the Federal Government.The operation Python Dance as recently dramatized in the South  Eastern part of Nigeria by the same Military did not achieve any positive result but instead, got the whole crisis escalated. Similarly, we all know the solution to this situation and we should be shameless in seeking these solutions.A decision to label any Group as Terrorists without first exhausting all the various internal dispute resolution mechanism via dialogue will be likened to treating the effects of an ailment without first, getting to the root cause of such ailment.While I urge the Federal Government to heed to the prayers of these regions by not allowing the crocodile to prey, I will also use this medium to encourage Mr. President to develop the Spartan force and respond to these clarion and ceaseless call for the restructuring of this political geography called Nigeria.Jerome-Mario, A Journalist wrote via; jeromeutomi@yahoo.com
The Senator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, Shehu Sani, has kicked against the bill currently in the House of Representatives which seeks to regulate the activities of non-governmental and civil society organisations in Nigeria.According to Sani, the bill would be abused by those in government when it becomes law.The controversial bill, which is sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Umar Buba Jubril, is tagged: The Bill for An Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Non-Governmental Organisations Regulatory Commission for the Supervision, Coordination and Monitoring of Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, etc, in Nigeria and for Related Matters.Sani, in a Facebook post, maintained that it was dangerous to support the bill.He said: The increasing cases of human rights abuses and intolerance to divergent views across the country make it dangerous to endorse or support any bill aimed at regulating the activities of the NGOs.I will stand against this bill to protect and preserve our fundamental rights to freedom of expression and of assembly.The tendency of the Bill when it becomes law to be abused by people in the position of power is high.
By Joe Brandt | For NJ.com

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MIDDLE TOWNSHIP  Will Keenan, dressed in a paint-spattered Cooper University Hospital scrub that once belonged to his mother, looked out over the graveyard attached to his home, an old Methodist church.

"They're the best neighbors ever," Keenan joked as he gestured to the headstones, many of which date back to the 1800s. "I don't hear much from them."

Keenan has lived next to the dearly departed since he bought the former Goshen United Methodist Church and moved into it in January. He began a new sort of church on the property  one named for his mother Barbara Keenan, an OBGYN registered nurse at Cooper for 20 years. She passed away due to cancer in July 2016.

St. Babs, as it is now known, is a "church of all religions." (It has received the legal designation as a church, Keenan says). It's an event space for artists and musicians, a recovery and boarding house, and a venue for "ghost walks" and seances from a local medium. Next month, Keenan will perform a "One Man Poe," reading works from the author and poet rumored to have written "Annabel Lee" about the daughter of a prominent Cape May County family. And soon, the church will begin hosting Halloween tours of the graveyard, in which characters from the historic cemetery emerge will emerge from behind the headstones. The grounds already have some decorations up provided by Rob Hasson, a friend from The Arc of Cape May County, which now does the landscaping on the property.

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Will Keenan will be reading excerpts from Edgar Allen Poe at an event later this month. (Kristian Gonyea | For NJ Advance Media)

And though Keenan doesn't hear much from his neighbors six feet under, the living in Goshen have had plenty to say. On one hand, residents say, Keenan has brought new life and a new congregation to a property that sat vacant since 2011. "It's getting use much more than one day a week now," Keenan said.

On the other hand, the Halloween decorations in a resting place for the dead is unsettling to some who have relatives buried there.

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Melissa Klecz's father, Almet Thomas, is buried in the front of the cemetery, in a plot her mother was granted after years of membership within the church. She grew up in Goshen attending the church, when it was still Goshen United Methodist Church, and goes to visit regularly.

"I go there because I'm upset and I want a few minutes with my dad," said Klecz, who now lives in Cumberland County. "He was the problem solver in the family. ... I don't want to go there and see a horse carcass and a guy melting in acid."

"We never thought that our loved ones' final resting place would be used as props and backdrops to support the owners upkeep of the building," another resident wrote on Facebook.

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This display out front is an ode to the the Toxic Avenger films. (Kristian Gonyea | For NJ Advance Media)

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Last week, to promote the upcoming Halloween events at St. Babs, Keenan dug a hole on the grounds away from the headstones for the "Buried Alive Experience," where visitors could be lowered into the ground for a minute or so, emerging with a newfound appreciation "for the sanctity of life."

"I think that was the last straw for a lot of people," Klecz said.

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CAN YOU SURVIVE OUR "BURIED ALIVE EXPERIENCE"..? #TromeosHalloween at St. Babs on the #JerseyCape SEPT29-OCT31 Posted by Will Keenan on Tuesday, September 12, 2017

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Finding a spot

Last summer, Keenan was considering taking a sabbatical from his career for six months to see how he would feel separated from Hollywood. After getting his start in indie films from Troma Entertainment (he was Tromeo in Tromeo and Juliet) he worked behind the scenes in Bollywood in India before moving on to executive roles in digital entertainment.

He decided he would take his sabbatical in Sewell, Gloucester County, where he grew up, in his old childhood room. It would be a good way to spend time with Barbara, he thought.

"I thought I'd have six months with her, but it was six days," Keenan said.

He remembers his mother as one who cared deeply for her children and all around her. When faced with the choice between heading to medical school herself to become a doctor, and sending Will to New York University, she sent him off to college.

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Gotta say, I've been blessed to do lots of diff things in my life/career but I've *always* wanted to executive produce a "cheesy" local TV commercial for Halloween... SO: Bucket List item CHECKED! CHECK IT OUT on Comcast Cable:) THXO, Director/Producer Mike LaVancher & his #JerseyCape prodco for makin mah dreamZzz come true this fall season at St. Babs--BOO! Starring Daisy Castro, Chaz Faust, Bob Bitting, #SimoneOprea, Rob Hasson & Jennifer Hasson  feeling blessed with Daisy Castro and 8 others at St. Babs. Posted by Will Keenan on Saturday, September 23, 2017

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In November, a few months after Barbara's death, Keenan was heading to Wildwood down Route 47, tired of taking toll roads. He drove past the old Goshen United Methodist Church, which had been up for sale for years since it shut down. Noticing the for sale sign, Keenan pulled over and within a few months, closed on the deal, paying $100,000.

The sanctuary and back room have hosted about 25 music shows this year, Keenan said. What was once the crying room in the back is now a "literary salon" with coffee and art for sale  including a painting by former MTV star Andy Milonakis that a group of bands bought together after a show one night. Behind the sound equipment hangs a piece from Julian Lennon, son of the Beatle John Lennon. Next to it is a mosaic-adorned guitar featuring a "Yellow Submarine."

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Bob Bitting, a local medium, has given several "ghost walks" through the graveyard. (Kristian Gonyea | For NJ Advance Media)

The tour

With the help of Bob Bitting, a local medium and historian, St. Babs also offered "ghost walks" through the cemetery. Bitting will point out some of the notable headstones and then head inside to hear what the spirits are saying.

"If any spirit comes through, I can talk to them," said Bitting, who's made a living from spiritual readings for about two decades, and also gives ghost tours at Cold Spring Village.

"Bob sees my mother with me sometimes too," Keenan said.

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Starting next Friday, the Halloween tour will replace the ghost walks, Bitting said.

Keenan had a town hall meeting at the church after residents were in an uproar over his Facebook post about the "buried alive" installation. The meeting, which Klecz and several other residents attended, was often raucous, and ended with Keenan on the floor pleading with them to see his idea through.

"I think the biggest concern from them was that someone will tip a headstone over or crack one," Keenan said. "And I swore to them that would never, ever happen."

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A downed UFO is one of the many attractions. (Kristian Gonyea | For NJ Advance Media)

He has since filled in that hole in the back of the cemetery, next to the mock crash landing site of an alien ship. The tour will mostly be "an old-timey funeral procession," he said, focusing on the history of Cape May County and of some of the notable names buried there.

A character playing Andrew J. Tomlin, a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, will make an appearance, as will Lauring Coatsman, the first slave to be buried in the same graveyard as white people in New Jersey.

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The church sits along Delsea Drive in Goshen, Middle Township. (Kristian Gonyea | For NJ Advance Media)

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Like the ghost tour, the Halloween events will feature pay-what-you-wish donations that Keenan says will go toward fixing sunken graves and headstone restoration, keeping the lights on, and other future improvements.

"Tromeo's Halloween Cemetery Scare" will take place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 29 at St. Babs, 321 N. Delsea Dr.

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE CHURCH AND CEMETERY

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Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- A man accused of strangling his mother and then jumping from the third story of a Bayonne building was ordered detained through the course of his prosecution at a detention hearing today in Jersey City.

Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale said there are no conditions of supervised release that ensure Michael Metro, 49, who faces up to life in prison if convicted, would appear for his court hearings and would not be a danger to the public.

In arguing that Metro remain in custody, Hudson County Assistant Lynne Seborowski noted the "extreme violence" that led to the death of Kathleen Metro, 69, on Dec. 31, 2016 in the apartment she shared with her son on East 50th Street.

At the arraignment, defense attorney Chris Orriss said he expected to present an insanity defense. At today's hearing, Orriss said Metro has already undergone one psychological evaluation and a second type of psychological evaluation is planned.

At about 10:50 p.m. on the night of the homicide, police found Michael Metro in the courtyard of the public housing complex with injuries to his upper body. They then noticed his mother's apartment window was open and found her lifeless body inside the building, officials said at the time.

Today, Orriss asked that Metro be released under home detention with electronic monitoring. He said Metro's father and sister are supportive of him and would take him in. The defense attorney said the family members believe the alleged homicide was the result of mental issues.

If a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity, but is still considered to be dangerous, he or she can be institutionalized for up to the maximum penalty of the charge faced.

A trial date has not been set because the matter of Metro's mental competency is still be sorted out. The next hearing in the matter is set for Oct. 30.
JERSEY CITY -- The attorney for an accused killer said in court today that prosecutors failed to provide evidence to the grand jury that could have exonerated the 18-year-old Jersey City man.

Shaquan Hyppolite is charged with the March 29, 2017 murder of Terrel Smith, 27, who was shot in an alley on Van Horne Street in Jersey City. He faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted.

At today's arraignment, defense attorney Mary Ciancimino filed a notice seeking reconsideration of Hyppolite's order of pretrial detention, saying that the state was in possession of exculpatory evidence, but failed to provide it to the defense prior to Hyppolite's detention hearing in late June.

She also told Hudson County Superior Court Judge John Young Jr. that the state failed to provide evidence to the grand jury that indicted Hyppolite on murder and gun charges.

After Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Leo Rinaldi read the indictment in court today, Ciancimino entered a not guilty plea on behalf of her client. She said she would provide Young with further information by week's end on her assertion that evidence that would help Hyppolite was never given to the grand jury.

The state must provide any exculpatory evidence in its possession to the grand jury when seeking an indictment. At the hearing this morning, prosecutors did not respond to Ciancimino's claims.

At about 5:40 p.m. on the day of the murder, officers responded to the area of 360 Van Horne St. after getting a 911 call of shots fired. They found Smith unresponsive in a parking lot behind the location, with gunshot wounds to his midsection, officials said at the time.

Smith was rushed to the Jersey City Medical Center by ambulance and he was pronounced dead there at about 6:05 p.m., Suarez said.

At the time of the shooting, Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said the investigation indicated that "the victim was lured into an alleyway where the shooter was waiting."

Young set a trial date of Feb. 26. Hyppolite, who was arrested on June 22 and has been housed at the Hudson County jail in Kearny since, said nothing at today's hearing.
Jersey City is getting a fourth commuter ferry.

Mayor Steven Fulop, NY Waterway President and Founder Arthur E. Imperatore, Mack-Cali Realty CEO Michael J. DeMarco and Roseland Chairman Marshall B. Tycher today announced a new commuter ferry terminal at Harborside that will open on Monday, Oct. 2.

The Harborside terminal Downtown will make daily trips to the West 39th Street Ferry Terminal in midtown Manhattan and to the Brookfield Place/Battery Park City terminal in Lower Manhattan.

The new terminal is at 210 Hudson St., and is close to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, the PATH at Exchange Place and NJ TRANSIT buses on routes 80 and 82.

"Harborside now has the complete transit package," DeMarco, whose company is responsible for much of the Harborside development, said in a statement. "The ferry provides a direct connection to both PATH and the light rail, and Harborside has 3,500 parking spaces available for those who commute by car. Additionally, commuters can be comfortable waiting for their next connection inside the recently renovated Harborside Atrium."

Service between Harborside and the West 39th Street terminal will be offered Monday-Friday 6:30-9:50 a.m. and 4-7:38 p.m., with ferries departing every 30 minutes. Fares are $8 for a single ticket, $75 for a 10-trip ticket, and $274.50 for a monthly pass.

Service between Harborside and Brookfield Place/Battery Park City will be offered Monday-Friday 6:40 a.m.-9 p.m.,with ferries departing every 15 minutes. Fares are $6 for a single ticket, $56.50 for a 10-trip ticket and $196 for a monthly pass.

"Investment in transit and finding alternative means of transportation has been a focus of our administration since Day 1," Fulop said in a statement. "Whether it was creating 22 miles of bike lanes, adding a 24-our bus route to and from New York City and now this commuter ferry terminal at Harborside, not only are we giving our residents more mass transit options, but we are allowing visitors another avenue in which to fully experience Jersey City's rich cultural scene."

Other NY Waterway commuter ferry terminals in Jersey City are Paulus Hook, Liberty Harbor and Port Liberte. This summer NY Waterway added service from the Hoboken Terminal to 39th Street. For more information on NY Waterway routes and fares, call 1-800-53-FERRY.
After receiving a report that a teen in dark clothing was playing with a gun in a Jersey City backyard on Wednesday afternoon, police recovered two guns and four rounds of ammunition.

Two teens, 19 and 17, were questioned by police, but it does not appear that they were charged. Police searched the Delaware Avenue yard where a teen was seen with the gun, but they found nothing, the police report said.

But another officer saw two teens come out of a yard on Duncan Avenue and police found the two guns -- a a chrome Ruger 1911 and a black Taurus Millennium -- in a black garbage bag, the police report said.

One of the guns, which both still had their serial numbers visible, was registered in New Hampshire, the police report said. The 19-year-old, whose name was redacted in the police report, was arrested on open warrants.

The 17-year-old was taken to the juvenile bureau, but the report does not say if he was charged.
By David Mosca

For The Jersey Journal

Bayonne residents converged at 16th Street Park Friday night for a concert to benefit Baytown, Texas, one of the many cities devastated by Hurricane Harvey last month.

The Bayonne to Baytown benefit was created with help from Bayonne native Terry Young, who is active in the Bayonne music scene.

After Harvey devastated parts of Texas, Young went to City Hall with a plan.

"We wanted to help Baytown due to how similar it is to Bayonne,'' Young said.

"We're known for our bridge and they're known for their bridge. It's all there in the names, too. We're just really trying to help them out and we've had a pretty good response with donations."

One hundred percent of the proceeds made from the benefit will be donating to Baytown for the relief effort.

"It's a phenomenal cause," Davis said. "Terry came to us and informed us that the music community wanted to do something to help out those who were affected by Harvey. We told him to roll with it."

It was decided that instead of donating the money to the Red Cross, Bayonne would donate any money made to a town with a much similar demographic. After research was conducted into the area, Baytown came into the picture and has been since identified by Bayonne as its sister -- two towns separated by more than 1,000 miles.

Bayonne knows something about storm damage, having had some areas of the city take a hard hit during Superstorm Sandy.

"This benefit really took off like wildfire," Davis said. "Musicians began showing up and this has turned into what I feel is going to be a wonderful night."

Bands and performers slated for the night included Rocco and The Mob, Jackie Nese of "American Idol,'' Joe Bayer (who was voted entertainer of the year in Nashville in 2016), Terry Young's the Blue Dog Band, and a group of local Bayonne musicians who came together to perform and were unofficially dubbed the Local Bayonne.

Local performance arts group Artist Avenue also performed alongside the Local Bayonne as well as performing the national anthem.

"I think this is just awesome," Greg Aulden of Hoboken, who performed with the Local Bayonne, said. "The whole idea to do this for Baytown and getting everyone together is just great."

Bayonne to Baytown shirts were made and sold at the benefit to help raise money as well as hats and various food and beverage.

"This is a very big effort and it's excellent," Bayonne resident Carol Keene said. "There's a lot of people in Texas and some of them are even from Bayonne. I'm very happy to see this happening and it should be done more often."

Among the Bayonne residents who came out to show their support was Erica Salazar, who formerly lived in Baytown. Salazar has lived in Bayonne for the past year now.

"It's really crazy to see how similar both towns are," Salazar said. "It's amazing to see everyone come together and help out. A lot of people may not even really know about Baytown but they still came out to help. It's nice that it's getting some attention."

Salazar's family still resides in Baytown and lived through Harvey.

"Everybody I know is still there -- my whole family and my friends," Salazar said.

"My immediate family, like my mom and dad, they're all OK. But some uncles, aunts, cousins and some friends I have down there lost everything."

Before the start of the show, Peter Daniels of Carepoint Health came forward to present a $3,000 check.

"I want everyone to know that Carepoint Health remains committed to the communities we serve," Daniels said. "We try to provide quality in the full range of healthcare services to the Bayonne community and everyone else we have served over the past 100 years."

Bayonne's own Tammy Blanchard, an award-winning actress, spoke before the start of the show.

"I'm thankful to have been invited here for the relief effort," Blanchard said. "I was born and raised here and I never left. The biggest reason for that is because there's nothing more important than love, family, and community. I learned that here and wouldn't trade any fame or fortune for it. All we ask is that you give what you can give and God bless Baytown."

Further donations to help out Baytown, Texas, can be made at beof.org, the Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation.
Mayor Felix Roque of West New York traveled to Mexico City with a group of volunteers to help with the earthquake relief efforts on Friday.

The group is beginning in Mexico City to help gather supplies and food to distribute to different areas of Mexico, including Morelos and Puebla.

"The situation here is not good," Roque told The Jersey Journal. "We have been working hard, and we are hoping to make a difference."

While in Mexico, Roque has been in communication with the U.S. ambassador there, who is originally from Englewood, and other officials to spread the news of necessary supplies the people of Mexico need.

Among the needs, he said, are large tents that fit several people, mobile and environmentally friendly toilets and kitchenettes, mobile generators and power plants and water purifiers. They are asking for no food or clothing donations.

If you are able to donate any of these items, they can be dropped off at the West New York Democratic Headquarters, 5301 Palisade Ave.

Roque says he is also going to visit Puerto Rico to provide similar medical support.
HAMILTON -- A New Jersey woman was shot twice in the head last week in Guatemala while visiting family on vacation with her husband and it is unclear when she will be able to return home as she continues to recover at a hospital.

James and Sara Inman, of Hamilton, Mercer County, were riding in a car with her brother on Sept. 19 when attackers ran the car off the road and opened fire for an unknown reason, James Inman said Monday.

Sara Inman was rushed to a hospital in Guatemala City after the ambush. James Inman said he struggled to communicate with doctors, because of a language barrier.

"My wife was my translator, my rock and my world," he said of his wife of 20 years.

Inman visited the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, where workers provided contacts and information. They also suggested he start a GoFundMe account, which he called Saving Sara, to help offset the growing daily cost of his wife's care.

On Sunday, she no longer needed assistance breathing and was able to start communicating, James Inman wrote in an update on Sara's GoFundMe page. The progress is good news, but doctors say the family has a long road ahead, he said.

James Inman said he has been taken aback by the support his family received after he started the GoFundMe page.

"It has been a truly humbling experience," James said. "And I don't know how I could ever thank everyone enough for their prayers and kind words of support."

Since Thursday, the campaign has raised more than $22,600 of its $200,000 goal -- some from complete strangers across the globe.

The Inmans have two teenage daughters, who are in the U.S. with friends and family. The girls' social media accounts have helped share the campaign and raise money, James Inman said.

"The constant barrage of well wishes, prayers and aid from total strangers keeps me strong for her and allows me to get through this," James said. "It restores my faith in humanity when I thought all was lost."

Sara and James Inman

Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
BELMAR -- Thirty-five swimmers were saved this weekend in the borough as tropical storm Jose created life-threatening rip currents along the Jersey Shore.

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said the 35 were pulled from the water along the borough's 1.3-mile long coastline by lifeguards, police, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Belmar Water Rescue Team.

Police rode up and down the beach to tell people that swimming was prohibited after Belmar closed its waters for the weekend on Friday. Nevertheless, some beachgoers ignored the warnings and "still went in at great risk to themselves and the water rescue teams that had to go in after them," the mayor said.

Doherty called it frustrating that some people ignored numerous warnings from local officials, the National Weather Service and media reports. There were instances, the mayor said, where parents told their children to go in the water after police instructed against it.

The borough paid its Water Rescue Team, a group of volunteers, this weekend. Had there not been a rescue team on the beach, some of those saved likely would have died, Doherty said.

Lake Como Mayor Brian Wilton, who has been a full-time member of the rescue team since 2000, said the beach Sunday was as crowded as a summer day.

The rescue team made a save near 7th Avenue, and minutes later, another at 17th Avenue. While there, they saw three other people -- a father, his young daughter and an older man -- who needed saving.

At that point, Wilton asked that any available members of his team come to the beach to help. An additional 10 members showed up, some of whom left dinner to assist in the rescues.

"One member said, 'No problem. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror if I knew someone drowned while I was out at dinner,'" Wilton said another member told him. "They literally dropped everything to make sure we could do what we had to do."

The rescue team responded to several calls of multiple victims, where one person was struggling to swim and a family member attempted to save them and also became distressed.

Wilton commended local surfers, who he described as "true watermen," for helping save numerous people this weekend.

"If it wasn't for them, things would've been a lot worse," he said.

Wilton advised people to stay out of the water when there are life-threatening conditions.

"The last thing you want to do is go to the beach and not return with a family member," he said.

Two of the 35 saves came Saturday when the Coast Guard rescued two swimmers from the ocean off the beach on 4th Avenue. Before the Coast Guard's 29-foot rescue boat arrived at the scene, two lifeguards and an off-duty police officer swam out to assist the swimmers.

Doherty said he imagines the beach will be closed Monday. He said other Shore towns, such as Point Pleasant and Asbury Park, saw numerous saves this weekend as well.

"This is not an issue that only Belmar faced today," he said.

It has been a deadly summer of drownings in New Jersey.

On Saturday evening, a 34-year-old Piscataway man died after he was pulled from the rough surf off Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch.

From May to early August, at least 27 people have died in accidental drownings at swimming pools, lakes, rivers and the ocean along the coast, according to data kept by NJ Advance Media.

Luke Nozicka may be reached at lnozicka@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @lukenozicka. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Man died in heroic save of woman caught under Jersey Shore wave

POINT PLEASANT BEACH -- A 60-year-old man died on Sunday after he was pulled from the ocean off Jenkinson's Beach, police said.

Point Pleasant Beach police received a 911 call at 2:12 p.m. for a swimmer in distress off Jenkinson's Beach in front of the police department's substation.

Police said first responders saw the man, later identified as Glen Carullo of Waldwick in the water, but he was unconscious. Carullo was pulled out of the water by police, Jenkinson's security guards and bystanders, according to police.

Carullo was given CPR on the beach before he was taken by EMS personnel to Ocean Medical Center in Brick, police said.

He was pronounced dead at 3:14 p.m., according to police.

This was one of three deaths this weekend that occurred after a swimmer became distressed in the ocean and dozens more had to be rescued up and down the Jersey Shore.

Local officials and the National Weather Service warned beachgoers to stay out of the ocean due to "dangerous" and "life-threatening" rip currents and large waves.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Editors Note: This is the first of six installments of an information security column provided to The Nonpareil to help our readers be smart and stay safe when it comes to electronic information, privacy and avoiding identity theft. October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus, recently notified the public about a security breach potentially affecting 143 million U.S. customers.

Breach notifications like this have become so common in the past few years that many people just ignore them. However, this breach is particularly bad, and you should take some actions to protect yourself.

While you have probably never done business directly with a credit bureau, odds are they have extensive files on you if you are a working adult. Credit bureaus make money by buying, selling and trading your personal information to companies looking to do business with you, such as banks or employers.

The stack of papers you sign when you get a new credit card or loan usually includes a privacy policy, which, instead of protecting your privacy, typically says that you allow the company to sell your data to third parties like credit bureaus.

Even if you only use cash, when you apply to get a new job, most companies require a background check  which usually includes a credit check and employment history verification through a credit bureau.

At this point, you should just assume your personal information is on the internet, including your full name, Social Security number, birth date and address. In other words, theres more than enough information for a hacker to steal your identity and open new lines of credit in your name.

You need to do a few things now to protect yourself from potential fraud:

 Security Freeze. A security freeze on your credit file basically means that businesses cannot request a copy of your credit file, which they do when they are looking to offer you credit or performing a background check.

Credit bureaus make money from your credit file, so they typically want your file to not be frozen, but they are required by state laws to freeze it if a consumer requests it. Ideally, you want your credit file frozen at all times unless you are actively seeking credit or employment.

Freezing your credit does not affect your current credit cards or loans, so it does not impact your daily life. If you are looking to open new credit or need a background check, you will need to temporarily lift or unfreeze your credit file.

When you freeze your credit, the credit bureau will provide you a personal identification number that is your password to unfreeze your credit later. Make sure you keep this PIN in a safe place.

Because credit bureaus make money from selling access to your credit file, they charge fees for freezing and lifting freezes on your file  though they will happily unfreeze it permanently for free.

Fees are set by state law and vary by state. Remember that you have to pay a fee to each of the three credit bureaus each time you freeze or lift the freeze on your file. Equifax is waiving the fee for all freeze requests submitted by Nov. 21.

In Iowa, it costs $10 to freeze your file and $12 to lift a freeze  thats per credit bureau. In Nebraska, the fee is $3 to either freeze or unfreeze your file.

Visit each of the three major credit bureaus to request freezes

 Free Credit Reports. The easiest way to make sure you are not a victim of identity theft is to regularly check your credit report.

Federal law requires credit bureaus to allow you to get a copy of your credit report free once per year. The best way to take advantage of this is to request a report from a different bureau every four months, so you can check your credit file for identity theft three times per year instead of just once.

The three major credit bureaus setup a single website  annualcreditreport.com  to request free credit reports. Dont be fooled by look-alike and sound-alike websites that charge a fee.

 Credit Monitoring. While it doesnt prevent identity theft, credit monitoring does alert you if somebody tries to open new credit.

Many banks, employers and insurance companies are offering credit monitoring for free or for a nominal fee. Check with your trusted providers if you want to add this service.

 Prescreened Credit Opt-Out. Identity thieves may take advantage of your good credit when companies send you pre-approved credit applications.

A credit freeze will prevent companies from obtaining your credit file, but they may still offer you credit based on old or other information. You can opt-out of prescreened credit applications and reduce your junk mail at home. Visit optoutprescreen.com to submit a request.

 Do Not Call List. Another way thieves obtain your personal information is through scam phone calls, where they trick you into providing or verifying information.

The best way to reduce the amount of scam calls you get is to enroll in the National Do Not Call List. If you continue to receive unwanted calls after enrolling, you can report those calls to the Federal Trade Commission and help get those scammers shut down.

Visit the FTCs program website  donotcall.gov  to enroll in the Do Not Call List or report unwanted calls.

 Watch Out for Scams. Several scams began to spring up after the Equifax notice, where scammers pretending to be Equifax ask people for their Social Security number to verify if they were affected.

No respectable company will ever call or email to ask for your personal information. Only ever provide information if you initiate the call or email to a company you know and trust.

 Keelan T. Stewart is an information security analyst for Boys Town and Certified Information Systems Security Professional. Email him at keelan.t.stewart@gmail.com.
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It was dubbed one of the greatest grand finals in history, but apart from the final frantic 60 seconds, Ben Hampton hasn't watched  and never will watch  a replay of Melbourne's heartbreaking 14-12 loss to the Sharks.

The former Storm utility played a hand in his side's comeback as he threw the final pass to Will Chambers who crossed to give the minor premiers the lead, only for Andrew Fifita to barge over at the other end to put Cronulla back in front.

Melbourne had a chance after the siren to steal the win, but after the Steeden sailed through countless hands  including Hampton's on the left edge  the play broke down, handing the Sharks their first premiership.

"I haven't watched the whole game, to be honest. I've seen the last minute once and that was enough to put a bad taste in my mouth. I can't really explain it but I watched it once and that was more than enough for me," Hampton told NRL.com in the Allianz Stadium sheds after his new team, the Cowboys, booked an unlikely spot in the grand final against the Storm.

"Marika (Koroibete) got tackled five or 10 metres out after the siren and it was just such a heartbreaking moment that I try not to think about too much. I'll definitely use it as motivation to go that one step further."



Match Draw Widget

[2016] Telstra Premiership - Grand Final: Storm vs Sharks

Twelve months later, Hampton is preparing for his second grand final in as many years; a scenario he can scarcely believe.

What makes it even more remarkable is everything the Cowboys have had to overcome, from injuries to star players to three straight sudden death trips to Sydney against more-fancied opposition.

"I guess I've learnt that grand finals don't come easy," he said, although he confessed he was in a fortunate position to have reached back-to-back deciders.

"Every chance you get, you've just got to put everything into it because it might never come around again. The group that we've had this year, with the injuries and struggles that we've had at times, I think this group has taken their opportunities.

"This is the ultimate goal, isn't it? I think with this group and the Cowboys this year, we've always had the belief that we could do it.

"No one else believed in us but we always thought that we could do it and we deserve everything we're getting at the moment. We've had a pretty tough year and it's a tribute to the boys who have worked so hard for each other that we're in the grand final.

"It still doesn't feel real what we've achieved this year and I honestly can't believe I'm in another grand final."

How Hampton is used on Sunday night will depend on the situation, but regardless of what's asked of him the talented utility knows there are several non-negotiables he must deliver.

"Sometimes when I come on I only get limited minutes so I've got to come on and lift the boys in attack as best I can," he said.

"I've got to make sure that I defend well because I'm usually a target as a smaller body in the line, but my main goal is to try and bring a bit of energy in attack to lift the boys."

Making Sunday's clash even more special is the fact he'll be playing against the team with whom he shared all that heartbreak with a year ago.

The 25-year-old will be forever grateful for his four NRL seasons in Melbourne but couldn't refuse the opportunity to head back to North Queensland  where he went to high school  to work alongside guys like Johnathan Thurston and Jason Taumalolo.

"Melbourne were great to me and I'm forever thankful for everything Melbourne did for me because they started my NRL career," he said.

"I left home as a 17-year-old and I was gone for seven years down there, but the opportunity to come home to play under Paul Green and to play with the calibre of players the Cowboys have, I couldn't refuse it.

"I haven't even thought about that the fact I'm playing against my mates; I'm just soaking all of this up. I'll probably wake up tomorrow and realise that I'm playing all of the boys in the grand final."

Hampton still has plenty of good mates at the Storm, including Jordan McLean who is headed to the Cowboys in 2018. While the pair are close, relationships will be put aside this week as they duke it out for rugby league's Holy Grail.

"I lived with him for four years and I keep in touch with Macca all the time," he said.

"He asked me a few things about the club and I just explained what the Cowboys are about. He signed the deal to come up and it'll be great when he joins the club, but we'll have to put friendships aside on Sunday and then we can catch up when it's all over."


VALPARAISO  A jury from a neighboring county will decide the fate of a former Porter County police officer charged with having child pornography on his cell phone.

Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa granted a request Monday from the defense to move Roger Bowles' case out of Porter County in response to concerns that "bias or prejudice" will make it nearly impossible for him to receive a fair trial.

Senior Special Prosecutor David Thomas, who was called in to handle the case because of Bowles' past working relationship with local prosecutors, agreed to the change of venue request.

"The state wants a fair trial," Thomas said.

Alexa told Thomas and defense attorney John Vouga to choose from Lake, Jasper, Starke or LaPorte counties within 10 days.

The two sides filed a motion Friday announcing they had agreed to the change of venue request and asking Alexa to grant the move. But Alexa rejected that request in favor of waiting for Monday's hearing.

Vouga argued Monday that a "deep and bitter hostility" has arisen on social media toward Bowles since he was charged with the felony count of child pornography and a misdemeanor count of providing alcohol to a minor. This is fueled by news reports, Bowles' many years as a county police officer and details released by prosecutors that are irrelevant to the charges, he said.

Those details include allegations that the nude photograph in question is of a 17-year-old girl with whom 56-year-old Bowles was allegedly having a sexual relationship. Bowles resigned from his police job during the investigation into that alleged relationship.

"It's like a tinderbox," Vouga said, "and it's already starting to burn."

Thomas said while he agrees with the change of venue request, he disagrees that the details of the relationship are irrelevant to the charges.

Alexa responded to the concerns about social media by reminding the attorneys that the internet is available everywhere, including the counties where the case may be moved.

Bowles met the girl while they both were working security and traffic control during the 2015 Porter County Fair, and sexual incidents began after last year's fair, according to the investigation done by Indiana State Police.

According to police, the girl said the sex was consensual, which is legal in Indiana because she was at least 16 years old, police said. But it is illegal to possess sexual photographs of children under the age of 18.

Bowles entered not-guilty pleas to both charges.

Alexa, who is retiring Oct. 3, vacated the previously scheduled trial and hearing dates, and called for a status hearing Oct. 30.
VALPARAISO  Three men, who reportedly jumped out of a moving vehicle while being pursued by police, were later apprehended early Sunday in connection with thefts from parked cars.

The men are David Workman, 25, of California, and Damion McCarver, 18, and Tyiler McCarver, 20, both of Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Police said they received a call at 2:50 a.m. Sunday about suspicious activity near parked cars in the 4700 block of Andover Court.

When police attempted to stop a vehicle in question on Campbell Street at Spectacle Lake Drive, they said it continued into Rogers Lakewood Park. The three men jumped out, allowing the vehicle to continue moving and crashing into a nearby tree.

The men were apprehended by police and are accused of entering parked vehicles and stealing items. Police said they found numerous stolen items in their vehicle.

Workman faces charges of theft, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of a crash and possession of a legend drug, police said. Damion McCarver faces charges of theft, resisting arrest and identity deception. Tyiler McCarver faces charges of theft and resisting law enforcement.

All were taken to the Porter County Jail.
GRIFFITH  Griffith High School and Griffith Middle School were evacuated Monday morning after school administrators received an emailed bomb threat, officials said.

The threat targeted the high school and middle school campus, according to a news release from Griffith Public Schools.

Beiriger, Ready and Wadsworth elementary schools were placed on lockout as a precaution. During a lockout, no one is allowed in the schools, officials said.

"The email from an alias account was electronically time stamped at 5:26 a.m. CST Monday and sent to High School Principal Brian Orkis and all five members of the School Board," according to the news release.

Griffith police were notified by the district and immediately responded, officials said.

Buses were searched by officers and bomb-sniffing dogs before children were permitted to board them, the release said.

Authorities did not find any explosives during an initial search of the middle and high schools, Superintendent Pete Morikis said in a statement.

We have suspended the school day for our middle and high school students, he said. Elementary students will remain in school.

Griffith police and local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, continued with an exhaustive search of the school that concluded about noon, police Cmdr. Keith Martin said.

He said several school administrators had received the same e-mail messages stating that explosives had been placed throughout Griffith High School and were set to detonate at a specific time of the school day.

Nothing suspicious was found, he said.

Martin said the Griffith Police Department requested assistance from several other agencies with bomb-detecting dogs.

The situation, including the source of the email, was being investigated, he said.

A message sent to parents of Beiriger Elementary students said all high school and middle school extracurricular activities were canceled for the rest of Monday.

Morikis said schools were expected to reopen as scheduled Tuesday, which will be a late-start day.

The district planned to notify parents via the One-Call system if there are any additional messaging to parents is necessary. Parents also were encouraged to check the district's website, www.griffith.k12.in.us, for updated information.

Monday's bomb threat is the latest in a string of bomb threats and actual bombs discovered in Northwest Indiana, including a pipe bomb that injured a U.S. Postal Service employee Sept. 6 at the East Chicago post office.

A firearms-related threat led to a lockout at Tri-Creek School Corp. schools Sept. 19, and a bomb threat spurred the evacuation of the Highland Target store Sept. 16.*

Eric Weiler, 44, of LaPorte, was charged last week after two bombs at his home Sept. 20, according to court records.

Katrina Franzen, 32, of Valparaiso, was arrested Sept. 9 after a Porter County sheriff's deputy found an active pipe bomb in her car, court records show. Franzen allegedly told police her ex-boyfriend left the bomb in her home after leaving the area.

Check back at nwi.com for updates to this story.

* Editor's note: This story has been updated to show a lockout at Tri-Creek School Corp. schools Sept. 19 was related to a firearm-related threat.
HOBART  For the sixth year in a row a sellout crowd of around 800 attended the 16th annual Pink Ribbon Society Breast Cancer Awareness Tea on Sunday at Avalon Manor.

The event featured a catered lunch and messages of hope and empowerment from breast cancer survivors and caregivers. Shades of pink flowed across the room from table ornaments and napkins to the shirts, shoes and jewelry attendees wore.

"I think everyone here knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer or some other kind of cancer," said Ann Peters, of Crown Point, president of the Pink Ribbon Society. "Theyre here to support each other and I just love to see the camaraderie."

As the lunch commenced, Peters, a 40-year survivor, spoke before the crowd and shared her story and vision for the future of the organization's work in NWI.

"I want to be their hope," Peters said. "I wanted to find a way to pay it forward. I know what it's like to be scared to death that you might not see your children grow. It means a lot to me that I can share my story with them and understand where they're coming from."

The Pink Ribbon Society raises funds for Lake, Porter, Jasper and Newton counties and intends its efforts to support women and men affected by breast cancer. To date, it has raised around $450,000 for people and organizations. Its actions include contributing money to established programs such as the state of Indiana's Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, its own creations like "Pink Pockets" and more.

"When we get sponsors, a lot of times they tell us the main reason they are supporting us is because we support the local community," Peters aid. "So it means a lot to them to know that their money stays right here."

An extensive list of sponsors contributed to the event, and some will also help raise money during October, officially designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For example, Strack & Van Til will use its Checkout Challenge feature for customers to round up purchases to help the Pink Ribbon Society next month. Last year the grocery chain raised around $94,000.

Vendors that gear services toward helping those affected by breast cancer also had booths and products available for viewing prior to the lunch. Their types ranged from wigs and bras to screening services at various centers in the area.

Andrea Serwa, of Crown Point, ran a table for her business, Wigs & Hair by Andrea. She says she's helped hundreds of women affected by and that have survived breast cancer by making wigs and cutting their hair.

"When they lose their hair, they still want to be beautiful and they want to look like they always did," Serwa said. "Women come back after their hair starts growing and they want it cut, but they don't want to go into a salon atmosphere. I have a very private setting so it's just them and it's enclosed."

The event culminated with a video and photos of the Pink Ribbon Society's official calendar that features women and their stories for each month. Photos were produced by Edda Taylor, of Crown Point, and the video by The Times Media Co. The featured women's years of survivorship ranged from three to 26 years.

Shirley Wade, of Munster, who is featured for December, felt "honored and privileged" to be nominated and accepted for the calendar. Wade is a 25-year survivor who had her breast cancer detected early in 1991, and started chemotherapy the next year.

"I was not even afraid," Wade said. "Maybe it's because I'm a strong person. I thought, 'We'll deal with it, we'll do whatever they say has to be done.'"

Wade added that her daughters, Amy and Robyn, who were in seventh and ninth grade, respectively, at the time, felt afraid they might lose their mother to breast cancer.

"I told my girls, nope, I'm not going to die. Mom's not going anywhere. Just know that this is not the end. You will fight to continue on, and I did. The support I had and the love from family and friends got me through all of this. And I still get that support."

More than just fundraising or statistics of survivorship or resources and services, the event offers a "therapeutic" aspect for women to share their stories with each other, Wade says.

"I think it needs to be done," Wade said. "I was open about it from the beginning. Its therapy for you to talk about it. You didnt choose cancer, it chose you."
MUNSTER  An 82-year-old man died last week at an Illinois hospital after he was struck by a driver backing out of a local parking spot, officials said.

Ted Muta, 82, of Munster, was struck about 5 p.m. Thursday in a parking lot at 822 Ridge Road, officials said.

A 61-year-old Munster resident driving a black 2011 Chevrolet Impala appeared to be backing out normally and didn't see Muta, who was on foot, police Lt. Ed Strbjak said.

Muta was taken by ambulance to Community Hospital. He later was transported to John Stroger Jr. Hospital in Chicago, where he was pronounced dead at 11:55 p.m. Sept. 21.

Muta died from multiple blunt force injuries due to a vehicle striking a pedestrian, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. His death was ruled an accident.

The crash remain under investigation, but no citations had been issued as of Monday morning, police said.

Muta, a graduate of George Rogers Clark High School in Hammond, founded Ted Muta Advertising. The company operated in Hammond and Chicago for more than 50 years, according to an obituary.
CHESTERTON  A wreck involving one car and three semitrailer trucks has shut down both directions of the Indiana Toll Road in the area of Ind. 49, according to state police.

The crash was reported at 6:20 p.m. just two miles west of Ind. 49 in the westbound lanes of the toll road, according to Indiana State Police Cpl. Robert Leffert.

The eastbound lanes of the toll road were also closed to allow helicopters to land to transport crash victims, he said. He was unsure of the number of victims or if there have been any fatalities.

Motorists wishing to avoid the accident scene and/or traffic backups can enter the toll road at Willowcreek Road in Portage to continue west or continue east by getting on the tollway in Michigan City, he said.

Check back with nwi.com for more details as they become available.
PORTER  Authorities recovered a 21-year-old Plainfield man's body early Monday in waters off Porter Beach after disappearing the night before when his kayak overturned.

Alex Lopez was kayaking with two friends about 150 yards offshore from Porter Beach when their boats capsized shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, according to Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation police.

Lopez's two friends were wearing life jackets and were able to stay afloat and summon help, authorities said.

Lopez, who could not be rescued, was not wearing a life jacket at the time of recovery, Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said.

Several agencies responded Sunday night, searching for Lopez for several hours before postponing further efforts until morning.

About 7 a.m. Monday, a Coast Guard helicopter located a body floating in the water and directed members of the Porter Fire Department to the area for recovery, authorities said.

Lopez's body was recovered from 10 feet of water, Harris said.

Conservation police said the Lopez's death is being investigated as a boating accident, and alcohol may have been a contributing factor. Toxicology test results are pending, authorities said.

Other agencies assisting included Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore rangers, Porter police, Lake County Sheriff's Department, and fire departments from Burns Harbor, Chesterton and Portage.
Former Congressman Anthony Weiner was sentenced Monday morning to 21 months behind bars for sexting with an underage girl.

The disgraced politician pleaded guilty back in May to sending inappropriate messages to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. He had pleaded guilty to one count of transferring obscene material to a minor.



"The crime I committed was my rock bottom," Weiner read in a tearful statement during his sentencing. "Today I am gratefully recovering."

The charges stem from a Daily Mail story that exposed how Weiner exchanged lewd text messages with the girl. He video chatted with her, too, asking her to undress and perform sexual acts.

Prosecutors wanted him to spend up to 27 months behind bars.

During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote told a tearful Weiner, "This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment."

The judge also ordered Weiner to pay a $10,000 fine.

Weiner's defense team said the 53-year-old has a "deep sickness," and that he should get probation and continue seeking treatment.

His lawyers blamed the girl for wanting to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Weiner's wife Huma Abedin was a close aide to Hillary Clinton during her campaign.

The investigation into Weiner eventually led the FBI to reopen its investigation into Clinton's private email server.

Weiner had to register as a sex offender earlier this year.

Abedin and Weiner are now getting divorced.

In a statement, acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said in part, "Justice demands that this type of conduct be prosecuted and punished with time in prison. Today, Anthony Weiner received a just sentence that was appropriate for his crime."

Weiner delivered an emotional statement before he was sentenced.

He noted his prior sexting scandals, and admitted he never changed his behavior or sought treatment until the most recent allegations against him. He said he is a sex addict, and is now recovering.

Weiner is scheduled to report to prison Nov. 6. Once he is released, he will have to undergo a sex offender treatment program.

Before this, Weiner had two other public sex scandals. The first forced him to resign from Congress in 2011, and the second derailed his campaign for mayor in 2013.
Elizabeth Fernandez of Graniteville saw the makeshift donation hub outside La Colmena on Port Richmond Avenue on her way to church Saturday. The next day she returned with baby formula, and was greeted with applause.

"I felt it in my heart, that's why [I donated]," said Fernandez.

Volunteers yelled "applauso!" as cars and vans from all over the Island and other boroughs dropped off supplies to help the victims of this month's earthquakes in Mexico.

Roseanne Ruby of Westerleigh brought diapers and canned food.

"It's terrible what these people are going through so of course I want to be a good example for my kids too," said Ruby whose children were in the backseat.

A truck picked up the boxes of goods Sunday night and brought them to New Jersey. Throughout the week, La Colmena will collect more items for another truck that's coming next Sunday. The supplies are being brought to Passaic, New Jersey, and from there a rescue flight operated by Aeromexico will bring the supplies to impacted regions. They're collecting everything from ibuprofen to diapers to water to tents in addition to monetary donations.

The effort is personal for David Esiquio who is from Oaxaca, one of the areas hit.

"Many people are living in the street, many people lost everything," said Esiquio who lives in Port Richmond.

Esiquio's friends sent him pictures Saturday of the aftermath following Saturday's earthquake in Oaxaca. The pictures show flooded tents where people are living. He says this weekend's earthquake was followed by rain. He says people are sleeping outside their destroyed homes because they are afraid of looters.

"Sometimes I want to cry because it's very hard to see it happen to this many people," said Esiquio.

Rodrigo Salgado is from Puebla, another affected region.

He says his friends are losing their homes, and it reminds him of when his home was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy here.

His family eventually relocated to an apartment in South Beach.

"When I see the pictures I see my face over there," said Salgado. "I know what they feel but you gotta be strong."

La Colmena is also sending money to a woman from Oaxaca who visited last year. She's created a cooking station to serve the homeless.

"There were a lot of people without food, and not just food to cook - but actually places to eat - people don't even have a place to cook," said Gonzalo Mercado, Executive Director of La Colmena. He plans to visit Mexico in a few weeks.

He says they are most in need of personal hygiene products, medical supplies, gloves, masks, and tents.

The organization expects to collect donations well into the winter.

The grassroots immigrant outreach group on the island, The Above Ground Railroad, plans to help them along the way.

"They can use more- there aren't enough diapers there, there aren't enough batteries there, there isn't enough canned food there," said Ruth Silverberg, a member of the Above Ground Railroad.

They're also collecting food for pets affected by the disaster.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/lacolmenanyc/
I perceive this family saga, which unfolds as the viewer walks along the sidewalks of Greenwich Village, as a folk tale, comments curator Lydie Diakhate. I wanted to bring the viewer through the infinite circle of life, from birth to death. As you walk along 3rd Street or LaGuardia Place, the narrative flows back and forth through the 13 windows. However, each window can also be seen individually as one story.

Almost four decades after Carlos and Claudes journey, they are bringing these archival images into the present moment, said Pamela Jean Tinnen, curator for Kimmel Galleries. Diakhate decided to avoid the idea of taking history as a nostalgic and frozen space and instead created for the viewer an atemporal space that allows for a new vision, which addresses the continuing dialogue about the principles of life, the effects of colonialism, and the ties of love and memory that bind between continents. The projects purpose is to invite the viewer to share what French philosopher Edouard Glissant called the emotions of the diversity of the world.

In 1980, equipped with various cameras  35 mm, Polaroid and a Super 8mm  Carlos de Jesus accompanied his friend Claude Oudey, who left his home in Paris, France and flew to Africa to meet his grandmother for the very first time.

Many years before, a Frenchman arrived in her village of Aby to manage a French plantation. Claudes grandmother had two children by this man, a boy and a girl. When he left the country to return to France, this man took his daughter with him; she was two years old. Claudes grandmother  his Nana  had no news of her child for many years, until her grandson resolved to bring his mother back to her birthplace, to find her family and to renew contact with the everyday life of her natal village.

This project was supported by grants from: The New York University Arts Council; the NYU Tisch Initiative for Creative Research; the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council; and Michael S. DiLonardo, DDS. Special Thanks: Professor Shelley Rice, for planting the seed. For all press and sales inquiries, please contact Ms. Tinnen: Pamela.Jean.Tinnen@nyu.edu or 212.998.4950.

About the Kimmel Galleries: Established in 2003, Kimmel Galleries are dedicated to providing visually dynamic and thought provoking exhibitions. They are free and open to the public. For more information on tours, the artists or price inquiries, please contact the Curator, Pamela Jean Tinnen, at 212 298 4950 , or pamela.jean.tinnen@nyu.edu.

Past exhibitions include: Patterns of Interest: photography by Stephen Mallon; HOUSE: HOME; Field Season: records, wandering perspectives, side notes, a selection of photographs from Abydos, by Greg Maka, Amanda Kirkpatrick and Gus Gusciora; Preconceived Notions; and Perspectives: A photography exhibit about traveling and living in our world; DITTO: WORKS IN BLUE, Shira Toren, among others.
For most of her nine decades, 95-year-old Opelika resident Addie Abercrombie drove her car to the beauty salon and other places around town.

In the past year, Abercrombie has had some medical issues and made the decision not to drive anymore. She told her daughter-in-law, Lisa, to enroll her in Village Friends Village Values, a nonprofit organization in the Auburn-Opelika area that provides transportation and other support for senior citizens.

Addie said the volunteers sent from the organization to drive her to her appointments have been her angels.

 All I do is just call and theyre there, Addie said. Theyre all so nice, and you just fall in love with them. I dont know what I would do without it.

Lisa said she is thankful to the organization for helping with her mother-in-laws needs.

 It keeps her independent and able to do what she wants to do, Lisa said. Thats what we want her to do, and it keeps her active  even at 95. Its a great and wonderful organization.

The organizations subscriber fee for a single person home is $240 a year. The age range of its subscribers is from 62 to 98.

 Thats $20 a month for all of the transportation and anything else that you need, said Judy McGaha, president of the organizations board of directors. We also do some minor repairs. We have some folks who are willing to come and fix the drippy faucet and change the lightbulbs in the ceiling.

Relies on volunteers

To provide services for Addie and its other subscribers, Village Friends Village Values relies on the help of volunteers.

 The supports we provide have evolved into mostly transportation where people can call and ask for transportation to a place, said McGaha. Everything thats done for senior citizens who enroll with us is done by volunteers. All of our volunteers have been trained and fully vetted.

The organization is in need of volunteers who can donate an hour a month to help transport subscribers or help with other services in the organization.

 You volunteer only when its convenient for you, McGaha said. Its strictly when we get a request and our services coordinator locates a volunteer who is willing to do that on that date at that time. Its paying it forward.

Latasha Durr, who works part time as a services coordinator for the organization, matches volunteers with subscribers. She sends out requests that she receives from subscribers for the coming week through an email, and volunteers reply with what they can do.

 Whenever a request comes in, I do whatever I can to find the perfect volunteer for that request, Durr said. I just kind of take everything personally because I do feel like were all a village. Were all a family.

Since the organization started providing services three years ago, it has grown to where there are as many volunteers as there are subscribers.

There are 48 subscribers and 48 volunteers, according to McGaha.

 The ultimate goal of the founders was to have at least 200 subscribers, McGaha said. We would need 200 volunteers to serve that many. Our main goal is to serve our subscribers.

History of the organization

Under the umbrella of the national Village-to-Village Network, the organization was founded in 2012 by four people who heard about villages all across the nation and felt like it was something that the Auburn Opelika area could use, according to McGaha.

 All of them were beyond the age of 60 and knew that at some point they were going to need some support, McGaha said. You can rely on family so much, but then theres that lack of independence because, as you rely on your family, they begin to see that caretaking at that level is a little exhausting and you dont feel good about constantly having to call your family because you have a doctors appointment. This organization is a nonprofit with a mission to support senior citizens age 60+ to be able to stay in their homes for as long as possible.

There are 200 villages operating in the United States. The Auburn-Opelika Village is the only one in the state of Alabama, according to Martha Shepherd, a member of the organizations board of directors.

Revenue and expenditures

McGaha said the Auburn-Opelika village started out with no money, but over the years, it has been able to stay in operation because of corporate sponsors and individual donations.

Fifty-eight percent of the organizations income comes from sponsors and donors, and 42 percent comes from subscriber fees, according to a document of its 2017 budget.

 Thats how we stay afloat, McGaha said. The fee that a subscriber pays really doesnt pay for everything that it costs us to be able to offer to operate efficiently.

McGaha said the organization rewards its corporate sponsors by putting its logos on their website.

 As we get new funds, we are about to embark on a new advertising brochure that will have corporate sponsor names on them, McGaha said.

Fifty-seven percent of the groups expenses are the salary of its part-time services coordinator who was hired last year, according to a document of its 2017 budget.

 We would love for her to be full time, but we do not have those funds, McGaha said.

A need for home health

McGaha said the organizations services will continue to be needed as baby boomers age and are in need of care.

 Based on the 2000 census that went into the founding groups decision to go with this was that close to 25 percent of the population was at that time around 50 years of age, McGaha said. Thats a pretty good portion of the population. Theyre going to bear the brunt of taking care and finding enough places for us to be able to survive in as healthy a manner as possible.

McGaha said there are just not enough nursing homes to meet the needs of senior citizens.

 Home health is becoming more sophisticated in meeting the needs of seniors and those with disabilities, McGaha said.

The future of the organization depends on the support of people in the community to volunteer their time to help provide its services.

 It is a donation to your community, McGaha said. You want this organization to be here when you reach that age, and you want it to be thriving and able to support you as you age.

For more information about volunteering or becoming a subscriber, visit www.village-friends.org, call 334-209-4641 or email aovillageseniors@gmail.com.

People can also visit the organizations Facebook page.
The Auburn community continues to deal with the aftermath of last weeks shocking news about the alleged sexual assault of an 18-year-old university student on a late-night Tiger Transit bus.

And deal with it, it must, in decisive and public fashion.

Many questions remain that must be answered and addressed so that the message is clear that this type of heinous crime must be fought with all resources and awareness.

It must be fought by the courts, by the university, by the community, and by potential victims themselves.

Better ride policies, better surveillance tools, more education and safer practices that involve us looking out for one another and for ourselves, are among the weapons that must be explored and implemented.

Evidence indicates that wasnt the case on homecoming weekend at Auburn University when a co-ed found herself alone around midnight and incapacitated on a bus with two male Tiger Transit employees who later were arrested on sexual assault charges, including rape, according to police.

Students interviewed after learning of the story said the awareness level already is higher, with many female students saying they would no longer ride alone during late-night hours.

Auburn police wasted no time investigating and should be commended for quick work in making the arrests and gathering evidence, and likewise the countys district attorney minced no words in forcefully condemning the crime and promising justice.

The university made the right moves in alerting students of the incident and urging caution and awareness, including issuing a safety tip sheet worthy of attention.

It was a good move for Auburn to announce Friday that new security measures would be implemented on its Tiger Ten late-night bus service, the nightly shuttle service operated by Tiger Transit, including hiring a firm to place security personnel on each bus running on a late-night route.

Likewise, it's good that all employees of First Transit, the parent company of Tiger Transit, will be trained in the university's Green Dot Bystander Intervention program, which provides training for how to interrupt and prevent acts of violence. It's also welcome to hear a trained employee will monitor the real-time camera system on the late-night buses and report back to police.

Auburn University rightly enjoys touting the friendliest village with its latest public relations campaign slogan that This is Auburn!

This type of crime isnt Auburn, and there can be no room for tolerance of any type of sexual assault.

Such attacks as this on a Tiger Transit bus will be, as it should, handled with all due diligence to prevent any future such incident.

We send our prayers and best wishes to the victim and her family and encourage her toward a speedy recovery.
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
Well, we all know by now that Jacob Oulanyah, the deputy speaker, postponed parliament debate to Tuesday after a rowdy afternoon in the House.

One salient aspect that cannot go unnoticed is his criticism of security agencies.

What we have seen today is exceptional and the blockade that we have seen, I dont know whether it was necessitated by something, but, in my opinion, I think it has gone way beyond what it should have been, he said.

What I want this House to demonstrate is that what they are fearing is actually not there. We need to demonstrate to all and sundry that whatever everyone is fearing is not in this House; that it cannot be the members of this House to create chaos; that it cannot be the members of this House to light fires; that it cannot be the members of this House to throw stones.

Oulanyahs statement left many NRM MPs bewildered and some questioned whether he was part of their mission to amend the Constitution given the extra security was intended to protect the ruling party MPs in their quest to remove the age limit.



Kato Lubwama chides Abiriga for inciting violence against himself



Arua MP Ibrahim Abiriga has dominated news lately for several bizarre incidents.

Even before the dust on his fight with Bernard Atiku (Ayivu) had settled, the MP, known for his flamboyant yellow attire, was at it again with Kilak South MP, Gilbert Olanya.

The duo exchanged words shortly after deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah adjourned plenary. Earlier, Betty Nambooze attempted to remove Abirigas yellow cap as he was being interviewed by a journalist.

Later, Lubaga South MP Kato Lubwama met Abiriga in the parliament canteen and accosted him for inciting violence against himself through provocation.

You Abiriga, you are the one with diabetes and high blood pressure. Why do you like looking for trouble? Lubwama wondered as Abiriga enjoyed his lunch.

Surprisingly, the latter kept quiet as Lubwama mumbled further in Luganda.



Who is stalking minister Namuganza?



Persis Namuganza, the state minister for Lands, is restless of late. Apparently, there is a well-built male MP from the north whom she reported to police chief Gen Kale Kayihura.

In the build-up to last Thursdays fracas in parliament, Namuganza overheard the said MP strategizing on how he would grab and undress her.

When I heard him, I turned and looked at him. But considering his physique, I wondered whether I would be able to fight him off. I got so scared, and when I got back home, I called Gen Kayihura and told him that there is a male MP who is planning to undress me, Namuganza told a press conference on Thursday.

While her cabinet colleagues at the press conference laughed about the statement, she repeated the same statements in a live TV interview, this time threatening not to come back to parliament if the huge security deployment is reduced.



Anite demands for breathalyser at parliament



If the drama at parliament last week is anything to go by, it would be unsurprising if some people mistook it for the National theatre.

When Odonga Otto demanded that the deputy speaker suspend state minister for Investment and Privatisation, Evelyn Anite, for inciting violence and owning the magye, she did not take it lying down.

Anite instead turned her guns on Otto, describing him as a drunkard who must be subjected to a breathalyser test to check the alcohol content in his blood.

I wanted to ask the speaker that we should test the quantity of alcohol in his [Ottos] body. Drunk debating is not allowed in the august House, she said.

It remains to be seen if police, indeed, has the capacity to install a breathalyser at the House.



MPs Mbwa, Ssebaggala become parliaments new choir masters



Last Thursdays dramatic scenes in parliament brought the best of some lawmakers. For one, Evelyn Anite, the state minister for Investment and Privatisation, was unrivalled when it came to unleashing verbal artillery.

No wonder, Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah asked her why she has to shout at the top her voice when she wanted to raise a point of order against Aruu South MP Samuel Odonga Otto.

That said, Kasambya MP Louis Mbwatekamwa Gaffas moment came when opposition MPs tried out singing the national anthem.

The former radio talk show host quickly sensed they were not in unison, particularly Lubaga Norths Moses Kasibante, who grumbled with words of the second stanza. Mbwa stepped up and assumed the role of choir master as he conducted the MPs, who had put on red ribbons, to a comical conclusion.

Out of the chamber, opposition MPs gathered on the stairs to celebrate the flopped debate. Kawempe Norths Latif Ssebaggala seized the opportunity to become the lead vocalist as he introduced new songs, many of which were NRA bush war tunes or primary school rhymes.
The European Union Trust Fund (EUTF) will spend Shs 16 billion of its resources in Uganda on helping youth living in slums to set up businesses.

Under a project, Strengthening Social Cohesion and Stability in Slum Populations, the EUTF will provide equipment and financial services to start-ups in the Kampala slums of Bwaise, Kabalagala, Katwe and Kisenyi.

Elisa Crowe, acting chief of mission at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Uganda, has told The Observer that one of the great challenges of the 21st century is youth unemployment.

Crowe explained that the strategy of the donors, IOM Uganda and local partners is to support the beneficiaries make a decent, peaceful living so as to avoid conflict.

Here in Kampala, a baseline study in four slums found that the residents most vulnerable to despair and inter-communal conflicts were youth aged between 15 and 35; the major sources of their grievances included poverty, unemployment and family disputes she said

Youth involved in tailoring will be some of the beneficiaries

Assistance will go to small businesses dealing in crafts and jewelry, hairdressing, food production, information and communications technology (ICT). Other recipients include those involved in plumbing, carpentry, poultry and tailoring.

Crowe noted that due to unemployment, the youth have increasingly been linked to restless populations, inter-communal conflicts, and violent extremism.

When young people are unemployed and poor, they become desperate, and can easily get overwhelmed by discontent and predictably, this makes them vulnerable to forces of conflict, including radicalisation, Crowe said.

Crowe said one study of a large sample of al-Shabab recruits in Kenya found that half of them were unemployed. Sahra Farah, the project manager at IOM, said the first group of 41 will receive items to start their business shortly and within the next two months another 160 beneficiaries will have been covered.

What we are witnessing is the beginning of the harvesting of the fruits of result area six; which is supporting vulnerable youths in target communities to access employment opportunities and financial services for start-ups, she said.

She further explained that the Small Business Set-ups is one of the cornerstones of the project. This component will receive Euro 1.2 million.

Items procured include sewing machines for shoes and cloth, desktop computers, fridges, freezers, cameras, equipment for carpentry, jewelry and different fabrics.

I would like to end by urging you who are receiving this support, to make the most of it. Please put the training you received from Enterprise Uganda to proper use, Farah said.

Mohammed Kasirisa, the founder of Action for Fundamental Change and Development (AFFCAD), said by the end of the three and half years, more than 1,000 students are expected to have gone through Bwaise Business Vocational Institute run by AFFCAD and other institutions around the slums.

Other institutions working with IOM include YARID, ACTogether and Xavier Project.



justuslyatuu08@gmail.com
Sadam Gayira

On Friday, September 22, 2017, the national council of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) met at their Bukoto headquarters and voted George William Magera as party president.

He replaces Dr Dick Odur, who served for two years after succeeding founding president Jaberi Bidandi Ssali in 2015. SADAM GAYIRA, the party's vice president and spokesperson talked to Joseph Kimbowa about the developments and what it means for the political landscape in the country.



Why have you replaced Dr Odur before the end of his five-year term that was due in 2020?.

You remember that our former chairman, Bidandi Ssali, got sick and he could not run the party and he was replaced by Dr Odur? But Dr Odur was almost the same age as Bidandi Ssali.

So, he, too, could not handle the grassroots work. In this spirit, the party is aware that at least 70 per cent of Ugandans are youths. We, therefore, needed a vibrant, articulate and energetic young person who could easily resonate with youths.

We also believe that many of the current aging crop of leaders were successful in their prime age. So, it was agreed that there should be change of leadership. The National Council sat and voted Mr George William Magera as the new party president.

This is actually a new position because we previously had a chairman as the supreme leader of the party. But now Magera is the substantive leader of the party. In the new arrangement, Mr Odur now becomes the party chairman.



Isnt it the role of the delegates conference to make such changes rather than the national council?

The national delegates conference which sat in 2015 had a limited time to do a lot of things. There were very many amendments in the party constitution that were supposed to be done.

So, very few were made and many others remained pending. But at the end of the conference, members resolved that the national council should go back and look at the constitution and look at pending possible amendments and make them on behalf of the delegates conference and then implement them.

So, the delegates [conference] delegated its powers to the national council and that is [why] it has been carrying out various amendments to the party constitution. Actually, there have been many changes. Even the district executive committees that we are forming are some of the new things.

We have also created more positions: we now have about five secretaries. We have a secretary for finance, secretary for legal, secretary for mobilisation, secretary for international relations and secretary for communications.

Also, the National Council is the second most powerful organ of the party, after the national delegates conference. It comprises district chairpersons, national executive committee members, national executive committees of the youth and women league, representatives of the elderly and disabled, etc.

So, it is a big representation of the party. Our constitution also allows the national council to fill any position that falls vacant in the middle of the tenure of a given party leadership. So, when we made amendments and created the position of president and national chairman, one of the two fell vacant and that is how Magera was voted.



Without representation in parliament or prominent elective positions at local government, some people can safely say PPP has served a passive role since inception; what does this new development mean?

In the past few months, we have been moving across the country on a drive to constitute district executive committees and sub-county executive committees. The primary responsibility of the new president is to ensure that this activity reaches the desired conclusion.

On January 19, 2018, we expect to unveil this new leader to the entire nation and we expect the district executive committees to be launched on that same day. The president will then make his maiden speech to the country in which he will give a strategic plan for the period between then and 2021 [the year for the next general elections].



But who is the new party president anyway?

The country will get to know who he is on January 19. But I can assure you he is a very, very level-headed person, very articulate, a young man at 35; he qualifies to be a president of this country (you should bear that in mind).

He is a negotiator, but at the same time a fighter. He is somebody who can progressively pursue something, and you can never stop him in his ways.



Where is Bidandis hand in all this?

Of course all along, Mzee Bidandi and the party in general, we have been in search of a leader. You remember in 2015, Prof Venansius Baryamureeba wanted to bounce back and we blocked him.

[Baryamureeba is the founding chairman of PPP]. At one point in time, even Hon Beti Kamya tried to join us and merge with her party (Uganda Federal Alliance) and we refused. She wanted to be vice president but we said no, lets go slow.

There is another vocal lady, who was a once a minister, she also wanted to come and take the lead but again we realised that her approach and that of the party were parallel. We hope she can join in the future. So, we have been on the lookout; but at the same time building from within.

So, Magera is one of the people we have built from within and we believe he is going to do an amazing job. This is a gentleman who has been member of PP since 2010.



What does this mean for the outgoing leader?

He is actually one of the initiators of this proposal and he chaired all meetings through which this proposal was tabled and channelled.

The only source of friction was on deciding separation of power. In good faith, we agreed on the duties and responsibilities of the chairman and party president.



And what are those duties?

The chairman will remain as the head of the national executive committee and will still chair the national council and delegates conference. He will also be the chairperson of the partys disciplinary committee.

He will also remain the main arbiter among disagreeing members of the party. A person with that mature and vast experience will help keep the party together.

The president, on the other hand, will be the supreme leader of the party. He is the chief mobiliser  both finances and supporters. He will also be the chief spokesperson of the party. He will do the donkey work along with the party secretary general.



By fronting age as the reason you are replacing Dr Odur with a 35-year-old, what message are you sending to other political players, especially the NRM that is stuck with President Museveni (now 73)?

What we are trying to do is organise our party. President Museveni and his clique cannot be dealt with by a disorganised group. We believe that youths have a big part to play.

So, by bringing a 35-year-old, we believe that by 2021, the country should have people ready to lead them forward. It has reached a time where the old guard should take the back seat and support the new generation. Ugandans are tired of old faces they have seen since time immemorial.

Election after election, it has been the same faces. These same people have not come from elsewhere, but from within the same government. This must stop. But that does not mean that new blood should ignore the old faces. We should just encourage them to remain in play, only guiding the new leaders. But to do this, we have to be very organised.

In all countries where they have successfully fought off dictatorships such as the one manifesting in Uganda, they have been organised. The only thing I want to tell fellow members of the opposition, let us organise, let us organise, let us organise.

If you are organised, you can bring this government to its knees with just 2,000 protestors in the city. We cant be in a country where they can arrest a leader of opposition or a presidential candidate who came second in a national vote and they incarcerate him for two weeks and things remain normal in Kampala.

This is representative of total disorganisation by members of the opposition. If we were organised, such a person could not spend a night in prison. I told you if you had 2,000 people and you deployed them systematically and deliberately in the city, you could easily topple this government.



PPP stands for dialogue and peaceful transfer of power. We have other groups who believe in civil disobedience. How can you harmonise both to remove the government?

I think we have to have two teams. We need the defiant team on the streets which mounts pressure on the government, but at the same time we must also have a negotiating team.

Now, look at the current debate of age limit or no age limit, we must have a double-barrel strategy whereby as some group is putting the dictatorship under pressure, another team should sit on a roundtable with sober members of the regime to see how to solve this impasse amicably.

Lets take the example of Prince Kassim Nakibinge, you know that when he speaks, all Muslims listen. Then you get Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala for the Catholics or Bishop [John Baptist] Odama.

On top of that, you go out of the country and look out for reputable personalities who have enough respect to be heard, but also have switches they can press at any time. So, you deploy two teams. Daniel arap-Moi was negotiated out of power in Kenya after mounting pressure but at the same time with a negotiating team.

The Apartheid regime in South Africa used a constitutional dictatorship to rule the country. It is the same we are seeing in Uganda. They cunningly tell us that whatever they are doing is being done within the law.

In South Africa, time reached when the regime was put under pressure but at the same time there was a negotiating team going to meet Mandela (who was in prison then) to convince him to give the Apartheid regime a soft landing in case he took power.

When Mandela came out of prison, he was a changed man (more forgiving and reconciliatory). Some South Africans think Mandela betrayed them. So, we need a strong negotiating team as well such that those in government do not get an impression that if the people on the streets get into power, they would eat them.

If we have a grassroots network that can ensure representation at all local governments, you will be in position to avoid a headless revolution. If we do not organise, the anger within the population grows day by day and a time will reach and it bursts into a revolution, but without leadership.

By all means, Musevenis scientific dictatorship will end someday. But how prepared are we for that time? How can we avoid ending into headless revolution just like the ones in Libya and Tunisia? The only remedy to this is organisation.



What exactly is PPP doing to have an impact in case of any change?

So, what we are doing is to rebrand the party. We have even rebranded the symbol. We used to have a lantern as our symbol but now we have a beacon (Omumuli). So, you can raise a beacon to see further than a lantern can.

We are not building a party for today; we are building a party for today, tomorrow and later. We believe that in this entire quagmire, at one point in time, we will need a sane leader, an organised political party to keep this country together. This is what we are working on.

In the first phase, we have reached 27 districts and we are continuing. And our choices are very well-thought-out. We do not look for anybody. We are particular about the people we elect to the district or sub-county committees.

We cant afford to enter an electoral season whereby we are free to front candidates at every elective position and we fail to have candidates in over 65 per cent of those vacancies. In such a scenario, then you are not pursuing anything.

You have no aim. So, we believe that the job being done by big opposition parties, especially political activism, is very commendable. But as we raise the alarm (street protest), we need to know where the thief is headed and we law a trap (grassroots mobilisation).



Does that mean you are already preparing for President Museveni in 2021?

Whatever we do or say, I am very sure that every leader in the opposition has it at the back of their minds that President Museveni will be at the ballot paper in 2021. Museveni will do everything possible to be on the ballot paper. So, what are we doing to prepare ourselves for that sad reality?

Why do we keep reacting to whatever Museveni puts in place? He brings a commission of inquiry on land and you all turn your attention to that. Before it can conclude its operations, he brings a bill on land and we all turn our energies on that.

Before that is done, then he brings age limit and we all react to that. When are we going to learn to stop being reactionary and draw strategies of fighting a systematic dictatorship? Museveni makes us play to his tunes as time runs and we forget all about strategizing to beat him at the ballot.

Unlike the likes of Idi Amin, we have a scientific dictator at our hands. He is a good student of the Machiavellian principles. He does everything at the right time and with knowledge of the possible outcomes. So, I urge all players in their various households (parties) to separately and collectively, to organise.

There is no party in whole world, not even an individual, that has ever ended a dictatorship singlehandedly. Dictatorships end when members of the opposition agree to work together.



How do you plan to do that?

We have to raise our stakes because today most leaders of the opposition settle for less. For them if he becomes an area councillor or MP, then everything is good. Sometimes I look at them when they are articulating national issues and I wonder.

You see them not advocating for the change of the status quo, but they pretend to be criticising social ills to win favour by electorates and they retain their positions. It is time to raise our stakes. We must look at the country first.

During Milton Obotes regime, some people went to the bush, but in that same Obote government, there were members of opposition who stayed back and served as MPs. If we dont raise our stakes to look at the country, we risk getting another dictatorship for the next 30 years.



How?

President Museveni has capacity to rule us in retirement and even in his grave. In retirement, he can be succeeded by the same people he has mentored. Then that means he will still be in power because the country will have stayed in the same leadership path.

We have seen this happen in Tanzania where Julius Nyerere drew a plan where he put people in a sequence and they have gone on to replace one another. Nyerere is dead but his strategy still reigns in Tanzania. So, even members of the Museveni government have given us a hint about the same idea before.

In 2001, when Besigye left government and stood for president, Amama Mbabazi came out and said Besigye had jumped the queue. People should ask themselves which queue he was talking about. Could it be that they came with a succession plan?
President Museveni

When President Museveni visited South Korea in 2013, he surprised officials in Seoul by greeting them in Korean. He told them he had personally learnt the language from North Korean founding leader Kim Il Sung.

This may have been an early indicator of just how highly he regarded his hosts northern neighbours.

On Tuesday as Museveni spoke at the 72nd UN general assembly, he said: Who would lose if North Korea and South Korea, those kith and kin, were left alone to discuss their reunification? A unified Korea would be a very strong nation. 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?

He also said: On the small issue of enforcing sanctions against North Korea, 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.

Indeed on September 15, 2017, the ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Uganda had undertaken a number of measures to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including ceasing any dealings with a sanctioned entity.

It added that Uganda had severed cooperation with Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (Komid) and demanded the withdrawal of its representatives from Uganda.

An internet search shows that Komid is North Koreas primary arms dealer and main exporter of goods and equipment related to ballistic missiles and conventional weapons.

Margaret Kafeero, the head of public diplomacy at the ministry of Foreign Affairs, told The Observer yesterday this didnt mean Uganda was cutting diplomatic ties with North Korea. She said Uganda was stopping to deal with North Korean companies as a member of the UN with an obligation to enforce the sanctions.

Musevenis opinion on North Korea may not matter to the US President Donald Trump, if Pyongyang continues with nuclear tests. The US has signalled it may attack. But what explains Musevenis love for the country described by many as a danger to world peace?

A number of explanations have been advanced but prominent of all is the north being one of the sources of Ugandas military hardware and the desire to show China that Uganda does not side a lot with the West.

China has vehemently opposed USAs attempt to get a resolution through the UN Security Council to allow an attack on North Korea.

Since his coming to power in 1986, Museveni has visited North Korea several times. In the early years of his rule when Museveni still championed Marxist ideology, these visits would have appeared only natural.

South Korean news agency Yonhap has reported that Museveni visited North Korea in 1987, 1990 and 1992 and met with Kim Il Sung.

North Korean instructors have trained Ugandas police in weapons use and martial arts, the UN has said in its sanctions reports. The New York Times has reported that Uganda is believed to be a crucial buyer of rifles and other small arms from North Korea. Other things, including teargas, are also shopped from Pyongyang.

Ugandas tank units were built around North Korean armoured warfare doctrine, it is believed. According to knowledgeable people, some government spokespersons have also had a stint in North Korea and have been trained in the art of propaganda.

In 2014, Museveni was awarded North Koreas top award  the International Kim II Sung Prize  recognising him for his contribution to development of Africa.

The award was instituted in honour of President Kim (Senior)s leadership. Museveni declined the award, perhaps not to irritate the West.

But it is the military hardware Uganda gets from North Korea that have been earning Kim Jong Uns regime that much-needed hard currency.

Some analysts think Museveni was addressing an audience beyond North Korea, probably Beijing. Dr Moses Khisa, a political science don at North Carolina State University, said Musevenis posture on North Korea is tied to his strategy of remaining dear to China.

The flexing of muscles over North Korea is as much about US-China relations as about nuclear politics. Museveni understands this. He knows how to hedge his bets and play the cards that keep him doing business with both sides, Khisa said.

He added that Musevenis argument about a unified Korea is an attempt to tread a middle ground.

I dont know if he really sees North Korea as a very important ally. I think the real deal is China, Khisa said.

Bank of Uganda filings, which capture the amount of trade Uganda does with another country, show Uganda has never exported anything to North Korea.

It shows, however, that Uganda imported goods worth $4.8 million in 2014, $1 million in 2015, and $520,000 last year. All these transactions are believed to have been in military ware.

Uganda trades more with South Korea. BOU shows Uganda exported items worth $5.6 million in 2014. Last year the figure was much lower at $160,000. Last year, former South Korean president Park Geun-hye visited Uganda and President Museveni promised that Uganda would cut military and police ties with the North.

The big deal is China. Uganda exported goods worth $56 million in 2015 and $27 million last year. China is currently the biggest lender to Uganda and last year Uganda imported goods worth $700 million from China, making Beijing Kampalas biggest import market.

In standing with North Korea, Museveni is not just looking at Pyongyang but also in a way telling Beijing that we are on your side.



amwesigwa@observer.ug
Julius Odwe

The former deputy Inspector General of Police, Julius Odwe has added his voice to those condemning the proposed scrapping of article 102 (b), which caps the presidential age at 75 years.



In his statement issued this morning, Odwe says the decision by some National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament and the endorsement of 23 ministers to scrap the presidential age limit isn't only disturbing, but also shallow-minded.



He contends that Uganda is faced with serious problems, which require urgent attention other than scrapping the presidential age limit and the compulsory land acquisition by government, which government has decided to dwell on through the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017.

He cites the increasing anxiety of Ugandans on the transition of power and President Yoweri Museveni's succession, fear of the weak stewardship in the public sector, famine, poverty and injustices that require immediate government redress.

Odwe dismisses claims by those pushing for the removal of the presidential age limit that it is meant to ensure that youths, who account for about 80 per cent of Uganda's population, have chance to contest for the country's top most position, saying the possibility of a youth becoming a president in Uganda is not even tenable.

According to Odwe, only ten youths have succeeded in becoming heads of state in Africa since 1960 through military coups, revolutions and amicable consent by some groups and not elections.

He cites the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the former Libyan president who ascended to power at 27 years through a revolution in 1969 and the former Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh who became president at 29 through a military coup in 1994.



Others include Joseph Kabila, the incumbent president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Valentine Strasser of Sierra Leone and Michael Micombero who became Burundian president at 26 after declaring an end to the monarchy and the kingdom of Burundi in 1966.



Odwe says the MPs and ministers pushing the removal of the presidential age limit hold the key to modeling youths through education, exposure and experience and asks them not just to sympathize with the youths but give them hope through working for the betterment of their lives and the hope of taking over leadership.



He also expressed anger at the selective conduct of police targeting opposition members and those opposed to the proposed scraping of the presidential age limit. According to Odwe, the conduct of police, some NRM MPs and the executive are treasonable since they are meant to frustrate the efforts of Ugandans to defend the Constitution.



He reminds police of article 1, 2 and 3 of the 1995 Constitution which clearly spell out that all power belongs to the citizen. Odwe asked the police and the executive to be mindful of article 3 of the Constitution, which says all citizens shall have the right and duty at all times to defend the constitution and in particular to resist any person or group of persons seeking to overthrow the established constitutional order and to do all in their power to restore this constitution after it has been suspended, overthrown abrogated or amended contrary to its provisions.

He also says clause (4) of the article 3 states that any person, or group of persons who as required, resists the suspension, overthrow, abrogation or amendment of this Constitution commits no offense.

He argues that based on the constitutional provision, people are supreme and they are the ones to defend the Constitution and that any attempt to find the defense criminal is void.



Odwe asks President Museveni to save Ugandans from the most embarrassing failure to peacefully hand over power when his term expires in 2021 arguing that the only hope Ugandans now have for a peaceful hand over of presidency lies in his hands.



The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga is expected to decide on the notices presented by some legislators to move motions in relation to the presidential age limit debate. There was heightened tension in parliament last Thursday when parliament attempted to debate the motion prompting the deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah to defer the matter to a later date.



Raphael Magyezi, the Igara West MP plans to present a motion seeking to pave way for the amendment of article 102 (b) of the Constitution. Once approved, this would see Museveni seek another term of office when his current term expires in 2021.



Under the current provision, Museveni, who was born in 1944, would not be eligible to contest for the presidency since he will be above 75 years of age.



Who is Odwe?



Odwe joined the Uganda Police Force in 1981 as a police cadet after completing his Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry at Makerere University.

He served in the force in various capacities for over 30 years until he retired on August 1, 2011 after clocking his retirement age.



He contested as an independent in the 2016 general elections for the Dokolo LC V chairman seat. In May this year, Odwe called on the police leadership to purge criminals from its ranks and restore public confidence.



He says the criminals were tarnishing the image of the force and alienating it from the people it is meant to serve.
To anybody with even a slight sense of history, the developments at parliament over the last several days must bring back an acute sense of shock and grief.

Our ancestors of constitutionalism such as James Wapakhabulo (the chairperson of the Constituent Assembly) and the thousands of other martyrs who have passed on in the name of liberation, must be turning in their graves.

Not since the enactment of the Pigeonhole Constitution in 1966 have we seen government troops amassed at the legislative assembly in a bid to intimidate and force through a constitutional change such as the one being proposed with respect to the removal of age limits.

While the young MPs behind the move may be forgiven because they were not alive at the time, for an old man like President Museveni, it is a damning indictment of every criticism he has ever made of previous governments and of all the principles he has claimed to stand for.

Milton Obote must be laughing his head off wherever he is. However, the proposed action by the MPs has serious implications for our constitutional jurisprudence and the rule of law. As a matter of fact, it amounts to contempt of court and of the 1995 Constitution.

The proponents of the constitutional amendment claim that it is a response to the Supreme court decision in the case of Amama Mbabazi Vs YK Museveni and the Electoral Commission.

Among the holdings in that case was a direction to the attorney general to propose amendments to the constitution. However, the issue of changing the age limits was never part of the recommendations.

For the MPs to claim that their motion is prompted by the failure on the part of the attorney general to present these changes to parliament (and hence the need for a private members bill) is a clear and obvious lie because the notice of motion presented to the speaker of parliament said nothing about any of these issues.

There is another dimension to the proposed amendment which MPs should know, especially because they argue that the limitations imposed on the age of a presidential candidate are discriminatory against the elderly.

In the first instance, the Constitution is full of different limitations that are imposed on public officers relating to qualifications, capacity and age.

If the limits on the age of a presidential candidate are removed, it implies there is no other limitation which can be imposed that will pass constitutional muster; thus, my eight-year-old nephew should be allowed to vote and a person without any academic qualifications should be eligible to run for a parliamentary seat. In sum, the proposed amendment is opening up a veritable Pandoras Box.

Finally, the 1995 Constitution was based on certain fundamental principles including ensuring that our history of political and constitutional instability is not repeated.

What this amendment represents is the final nail in the coffin of not simply the letter of the document, but of the spirit of democratic constitutionalism as we know it: Cry, beloved Uganda!



J. Oloka-Onyango,

Makerere University.



Motorists should obey traffic signs



What does a zebra crossing mean? I used to think this is a spot where a motorist or cyclist waits for the pedestrians to cross the road.

But I was shocked recently when I tried to help an old person cross the road and we almost lost our lives when a speeding boda boda motorcyclist missed us by a whisker. I wonder why some citizens are this reckless!

So, motorists want traffic wardens to even be deployed at zebra crossings to flag them on and off if they are to obey this important traffic sign? Oftentimes, government tries to establish things to save lives but some people end up abusing them.

Recently, in Arua municipality, residents were shocked when a boda boda rider was smashed beyond recognition as he stubbornly tried to overtake a speeding lorry. Motorists need to respect themselves and other road users for their own safety

Alamiga Muzamil,

Arua.





letters@observer.ug
This is a response to a Facebook post made by veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda on September 17, 2017 in which he conveniently [mis] quoted statements allegedly made in 1995 by a 39-year-old Dr Kizza Besigye  whom he describes as the great hero of the hooligans and radical extremists on social media.

In this post, Mwenda dwelled on Besigyes stance against including a presidential age limit in the draft 1995 Constitution.

Obviously, Mwendas sole intention in bringing up the latters alleged statements was to depict Dr Besigye  the face of political persecution in Uganda  as a double-faced, self-seeking politician who only holds a particular political opinion when it favors him but is quick to discard it as soon as it goes against his interests.

I understand that on September 14, 2017, while appearing on NBS TVs The Frontline political talk show, Dr Besigye set the record straight and clarified that his statements actually concerned the issue of age limits for members of parliament  which were in the end actually deleted from the draft Constitution.

According to him, the issue of the presidential age limit even at that time was a non-starter because the draft Constitution contained sufficient safeguards against a life presidency, to wit the term limits clause, which was on its own sufficient to forestall the dictatorship that Mr Musevenis reign has evolved into after obliterating the term limits clause.

But even if Dr Besigyes position of 1995 was that age limits should be deleted from the draft, it is imperative to note that the context in which he may have held such an opinion is entirely different from the present one.

Arguably, his statements were made in good faith, as he probably believed that that was the best deal the Constituent Assembly could give Ugandans at the time, not forgetting that he showed no interest in the position the age limits clause was concerned with.

In 1995, the term limits clause was intact. Prepubescent Evelyn Anite was unheard of in the political circles, while her fellow groupie Ibrahim Abiriga had probably never been to Kampala!

Mr Museveni was still a wolf in sheeps clothing, self-professedly  but misleadingly  serving his last term, a ruse that time has now exposed.

There have been significant and clearly unconstitutional amendments to the Constitution since 1995, most particularly the 2005 amendment that controversially removed the presidential term limits.

This amendment solely intended to facilitate Museveni  the only affected Ugandan  to contest in 2006. In 1995, the future of Uganda looked bright and promising, but now the shadow of Musevenis ruinous reign hovers ominously in the sky.

It would, therefore, be imprudent for Dr Besigye to maintain the same position that he allegedly held in 1995. Uganda under Museveni is demonstrably on a journey to nowhere, and it is clear that a change of guards, and perhaps a change of opinion, is critical in putting us back onto the right track.

Clearly, that is a reality Mwenda is unwilling to accept. For as long as he can gallivant with Museveni some more, guarantee employment of his family by the good old man, and be gifted more government adverts in his news magazine, Mwenda finds nothing wrong with maintaining the status quo.

He will thoughtlessly unleash his artillery onto anyone singing the song of revolution. But whats wrong is wrong, period!

It doesnt matter what history, facts or arguments Mwenda and his fellow bootlickers may opportunely dig up or raise in support of lifting the presidential age limit to pave the way for Mr Musevenis eternal kingship.

Museveni has demonstrated that he is incapable of turning around the fortunes of our great nation and its citizenry, but will gladly perpetrate and contribute ad infinitum to misfortunes including, but not limited to, unemployment, corruption, political persecution, tribalism, insecurity, underdevelopment as well as suppression of civil and political rights that are presently bedeviling the country.

For as long as Dr Besigye is currently against removal of the age limits, his alleged opinion in 1995 against their inclusion is irrelevant.

Yet, I can confidently argue that whatever opinion Mr Museveni held in 1995 or holds in 2017 regarding the issue, it was/is neither in good faith nor in the best interests of Ugandans; and he knows it!

It is better to have been foolish in 1995 but wise in 2017, than to have been wise in 1995 but stupid in 2017. Mwenda, who is no stranger to political turnarounds, should know better.



The author works with the Centre for Legal Aid.
There was drama ahead of the aborted tabling of a private members bill in support of lifting the 75-year presidential age limit from the Constitution last Thursday.

But the raid on a series of non-governmental organisations premises, numerous arrests and heightened presence of security agencies in public spaces prompted the US ambassador to Uganda to speak out.

The United States is deeply concerned that recent arrests and raids stifle the Ugandan peoples right to free expression and tarnish Ugandas image, Deborah Malac noted. We are disturbed by reports of raids on NGOs. Infringement on protected rights under Ugandas Constitution will impede the countrys development.

That same evening, notwithstanding the heartbreaking and dramatic events in and outside parliament, the executive director of the Uganda Media Centre, Ofwono Opondo, circulated a swift rebuttal in which he said the US envoys concerns were misplaced.

He stressed, rather undiplomatically, that the NRM government will not take unqualified lectures from foreign agents.

The government of Uganda, through its law enforcement agencies, cannot sit back as misguided people, especially opposition politicians and civil society leaders, intimidate elected Members of Parliament..., Opondo wrote.

This entire statement was rich, especially coming from the very Ofwono Opondo who was recently crying on Capital FMs Capital Gang about how the same law enforcement agencies had arrested his driver and held him incommunicado for several days at the notorious Nalufenya police station.

Ofwono Opondo is one of several Ugandans burying their heads in the sand in the face of actions of President Museveni and his NRM inner circle. They continue to sell the idea that Museveni is a democrat and that the NRM government is law-abiding and working for the good of the country.

Anyone who points out faults in the system that Museveni has built is intimidated and harassed, including arrests and torture.

Musevenis system simply cannot allow democratic practices to flourish in Uganda. He practices open bribery to achieve his goals, such as when he paid MPs to remove the presidential term limits without putting them to the test. He controls just about every institution in the country. And he uses the military and law enforcement agencies to stifle freedom of expression.

At least Ofwono Opondo, Investment and Privatisation state minister Evelyn Anite, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda and the ilk are paid to defend such a nefarious status quo. But how about you  the ordinary Ugandan  who bears the brunt of a system designed to perpetually keep one man in power and benefit the few close to him?

Museveni and his NRM are, once again, shamelessly trying to change the Constitution to suit their selfish desires. And, again, they are clothing their manipulative actions in a democratic attire to dupe the international community.

They will claim it is the people who want Museveni to continue ruling them and will attempt to be smart about it by going through the motions of removing the age limit through a parliamentary vote. And they will even argue that it was all done through a democratic process endorsed by the masses.

But what kind of democracy is that where military tanks and police tear gas trucks from the apartheid era South Africa are first rolled onto the streets to keep away the very people in whose will those in power claim to be acting? Isnt this the same kind of situation that forced Museveni to take up arms and go to war?

All Ugandans, including  and especially  NRM supporters, should, therefore, not allow this blatantly selfish plan to be executed successfully. Museveni has served Uganda well during a long reign, many mistakes notwithstanding. But he is now drunk on power and must not be left to do as he wishes.

Otherwise, all of us will be left regretting when Uganda goes back to the situation Museveni and his NRA/M had initially helped drag us out of.

During the second presidential debate ahead of the February 2016 elections, former prime minister Amama Mbabazi was asked for his most regrettable decision in public life.

There are many, he said. The worst was not to live up to my known practice of resisting dictatorship whenever it showed its face.

In Uganda today, dictatorship is once again showing its face, albeit draped in a quasi-democratic cloak. For how long will you, dear Ugandan, pretend that you dont see dictatorship taking root?

The time to act is now. Be patriotic. Make your voice heard. Do it for your country. Defend our Constitution!



hobenon@yahoo.co.uk



The author is a Ugandan journalist currently pursuing a masters degree in International Communication at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.
There are those moments when you sit and imagine what goes on in some peoples heads as they defend certain otherwise obviously dastardly things.

Of course Napoleon Bonarparte told us that in politics, stupidity is not a handicap; and later George Carlin cautioned us to never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

My politeness doesnt allow me such a harsh tone, but in this neighbourhood of ours, it is bewildering how we always find a lower bottom to hit.

When you are starting to think that your politicians have done the worst as to even shock a sadist, someone is always out there scheming to, yet again, break the record of absurdity! You live under constant fear that perhaps the political pit we are dipping into is bottomless.

A combination of greed for money, selfishness and shamelessness has born unto us a bizarre hybrid of politicians that even houseflies would fear to land on. We are only lucky that we are not in the 16th century; they wouldnt have hesitated to sell us into slavery. Well, I tried to imagine an interview with some of them and here is where it led us.



Lets start with you Honorable Birigha; how are you feeling now?

First of all, thanks for inviting me for this age limit lifting sitting. Oh, sorry, I had forgotten, for this interview. Hihihi, you know I love Mucebeni soooo much. What was your question again? You want to know my lovely opinion on age limit?



I asked, how are you feeling now, after that unfortunate event when you were ...?

Oooh, ok ok. That young man is lucky, if police didnt intervene, I was going to break his esophagus. Me? You joke with a man who has nothing to lose apart from his attire! Im very fine, he only made me thirsty. Brainless boy!



Has your resolve changed in any way since that event?

No, but now I am more careful on which corridors to use and which useless people to avoid. For the age limit, I assure you my grandson, we shall behead that thing very completely and also. That is if we are given utmost atmospheric security.



I see! Security against what?

Why are you asking those things which are in glass? Of course security against the angry public which wants to kill us patriots?

They are all over Facebooks threatening and abusing us even on our own walls. Everything we say, they just attack like we killed their mothers! You ask my colleague Nsubugu. No, no bwana, this must stop!



So, who are you speaking for then?

That is a good question, let Honorable Nsubugu answer it. Some water please.



Honorable Nsubugu, who are you speaking for in suggesting the removal of term limits?

Thank you veri much bwana gundi for that marvelous question. You see, Kyuma kya Yesu and others will not intimidate me in this noble cause. He is just a useless boy and we shall show them that we shall kugikwatako. Eiiish! They are joking with hot porridge. By the way, do you have enough security here?



Honorable, relating to my earlier question, all of you supporters of this move seem to be scared of the public! Yet those who are against the scheme are only scared of the police! Who are you really speaking for then?

Bwana gundi, we are not scared of the public, we are just being perepeyad and security-conscious. Besides, you have seen that it is us being attacked.

You go to my Facebook page and see, almost 97 per cent of the fools commenting on my own posts are insulting me! I need security against the public, my blaza.



Does it concern you that the public is that angry about your campaign? Do all those opposed voices matter to you at all?

Of course they matter; because they need to be educated about patriotism. Otherwise, there is no point in listening to them.

In any case, they sent us to palamenti because they knew they could not think for themselves. We are only volunteering.



What does patriotism mean to you, honorable?

Now you have brought me. Etymologically, patriotism comes from two Greek words: Patri - which means father; and otism which means love. When you put the two together, patriotism means love of father.

And our father is obviously Mzee. So, if you are intelligent, you will logically conclude that it means love of Mzee. We know what we are doing, my blaza.



Honorable, where do you see Uganda in the next ten years?

I see it under the wise leadership of Mzee. I also see myself somewhere as an influential man.



Ok, I will now turn to you Honorable Anito. What do you think of the public backlash to your recent statements?

Who is in charge of security here? This place is too open and risky for a patriot like me. I need some guarantees; you dont want me to talk to you while surveilling around.



We are covered, Honorable; the public will protect us. Go ahead and answer the question please.

What do you mean the public will protect us? Protect us against itself? I mean, where is the magye?



In that case, I will let you go, Honorable. Any quick word before you leave?

Yes, we shall touch it whether the public likes it or not, even if it means shooting out that article with an RPG. Who are they to tell us what to do? The shouts of frogs do not stop a cow from drinking water. Whoever doesnt like it should go hang on a mustard tree.



Thanks, Honorable Anito. Honorable Nabhangya, do you have anything to add?

I think they have said it all. Just give us our allowances and we go.



The author heads the Center for African Studies at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi.
Two related news stories in two East African newspapers last week have drawn our attention.

The first, in the Ugandan press, is a report about a Kenyan company acquiring 14,000 acres of land in Uganda. According to the report in New Vision on Tuesday, September 19, Centum Investment, an investment arm of the Kenya government, has purchased the vast land, measuring about 22 square miles, in Masindi and Kiryandongo districts.

While Ugandan officials interviewed do not seem to know how this company got the land, the Kenyans are quoted as saying they plan to grow and process maize for export.

The second news story can be found on The East African newspaper website, where it was posted on Thursday, September 21. It says Uganda has started importing maize from Kenya following a bumper harvest there and some food shortages here.

Ideally, with Kenya and Uganda being liberalised economies, and thus trade between the two guided by principles of demand and supply, these news stories shouldnt be alarming, as long as the deals are legal. However, to the extent that these news stories concern not any other commodity but food, there is reason to worry.

Ugandas land laws and policies have largely remained on paper, leaving one of the countrys most important resources at the mercy of corrupt government officials, wealthy businesspeople and foreign firms.

Only recently, during the judicial land inquiry, it came to light that a Kenyan national had acquired 400 acres of land on freehold basis, which is illegal. And that was a tip of the iceberg.

If this trend continues unabated, Ugandans will soon discover that a big chunk of their countrys fertile territory is actually owned by foreigners. Because foreign firms essentially produce for export, food shortages are likely to become more frequent.

While its good to attract investors in agriculture, the sector is too important to leave to its own devices in terms of land ownership.

The government, through Uganda Land Commission and local authorities, must be on the same page when it comes to how much land has been leased and for what purpose. The current laissez-faire attitude is unacceptable.
CenturyLink, employer of Debra Peterson, nominee for 2018 chair-elect of PRSA, has pledged to do the right thing with regard to fraud charges against the company.

CL CEO Glen Post said accusations of fraud filed in eight states that could cost the company up to $12 billion in damages are being investigated by a special committee. A report is due in Q4.

Glen Post

The allegations in the lawsuits are contrary to everything I believe we stand for and do not represent our principles or values, he said. Sometimes we do make mistakes just like anyone elsewhatever is found in the investigation of these matters, we will do the right thing, he added. He did not deny the charges.

Peterson is VP-external and community relations of CL. Her election became official when no opponents appeared at least 30 days before the Oct. 7 Assembly in Boston. Six others were nominated as directors, five of them APR. Sixteen of the 17 national directors in 2017 are APR when only 18% of members are APR.

Debra Peterson

PRSA has barred all reporters from covering its Assembly in recent years and has barred some reporters from entering the exhibit hall at national conferences. Attempts are made to charge reporters the full registration price.

CL, a $17.9 billion company based in Monroe, La., is the third largest telecom in the U.S. in terms of lines served, operating in 37 states. Post has resigned effective Jan. 1, 2018 and will be succeeded by Jeff Storey of Level 3 Communications which is being acquired by CL 9/30/17.

Towers Are in Populated Areas

Telecoms are under attack from Wi-Fi health advocates who say numerous cell towers are in downtown areas of cities, often hidden from view in buildings or church spires, when they should be on the outskirts of towns and separated from populated areas.

Cell tower map of Southampton

(click to enlarge)

Peterson, while preparing to be chair of PRSA, will have her hands full dealing with the lawsuits, which will take many months if not years to settle, and with charges that CL has cellphone antenna in populated areas.

The cell tower map of Southampton shows 57 cell locations of various types including the one in Westhampton Beach in the steeple of St. Marks Episcopal Church.

Locations of towers are usually posted in municipal websites. They can also be found via www.antennasearch.com by entering an address. The site found, for our home in Westhampton Beacn, 67 towers within a four-mile area and 51 antennas. The towers can be as high as 200 feet and have 24 or more panels about 6 inches wide by 4 feet or more.

There are 654,490 cell towers and 1,903,328 antennas in the U.S., according to Antenna Searchs latest figures.

Many more will be needed for the proposed installation of 4G and 5G cellphone technology (meaning fourth and fifth generation devices). The transmitters are more powerful than earlier versions but dont penetrate walls and other obstructions well. Hundreds of thousands of new transmitters will be needed, perhaps every five to ten houses.

Californians Battle Telecom Bill

SB 649, a California bill passed earlier this month and awaiting the signature or veto of Governor Jerry Brown, eliminates local control in any facet of permitting cell towers for the 5G buildout.

The Calif. Brain Tumor Assn. said more than 300 of the 400 state cities and towns have expressed strong opposition to the bill as well as 47 of the 58 counties. Mayors of six of California's largest cities have sent the AT&T-initiated bills sponsor, Senator Ben Hueso, a letter opposing the measure.

The League of California Cities said the bill unnecessarily and unconstitutionally strips local authority over public property and shuts out public input and local discretion by eliminating consideration of the aesthetic and environmental impacts of small cells.Similar bills are pending in 20 other states.

Eight States Sue CenturyLink

Minnesota on July 12 joined seven other states in filing a class-action consumer suit against the company.

The state says CL, which has $17.9 billion in revenues, has an incredibly complicated pricing scheme that involves more than 1,500 different scenarios of what would be charged.

Negative comments about CL abound on the web. Consumer Affairs shows 713 comments, 689 giving the company one star out of five.

Facebook displays numerous complaints of poor customer service, over-charging, complicated bills and technical failures.

Suris of Wells Fargo a Leader of PRSA, IPR

Charges against CL have been likened to those against Wells Fargo that resulted in $185 million in fines and 5,300 staffers being fired.

Oscar Suris, executive VP and head of CC of Wells Fargo, was co-chair of the 2013 national conference of PRSA. A graduate of the Univ. of Florida, he is affiliated with it. He is a trustee of the Institute for PR, a director of Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and is affiliated with the National Council of La Raza.

One CL customer said the quoted rate of $14.95 monthly turned out to be $29.95. Another said service was offered for $19.95 but the bill was $367.33 including monthly net service for $71. The suits say damages could range from $600M to $12B. Also filing are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Company spokesman Mark Molzen said CenturyLink is cooperating with Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson by providing all requested information. He said the company takes the allegations seriously and they are completely inconsistent with company policies, culture and Unifying Principles.

When Peterson becomes chair in 2019, CL will be the biggest company represented in the top elected post at PRSA since 1994 when Joseph Vecchione of Prudential Insurance was president. Prudential revenues are $50B+.

More than half of the Societys elected presidents or chairs since then have been solo practitioners or in small PR firms including Sam Waltz, Stephen Pisinkski, Reed Byrum, Del Galloway, Joann Killeen, Cheryl Procter-Rogers, Judith Phair, Rhoda Weiss, Gerry Corbett and Jane Dvorak.
Ronn Torossian

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said his company will turn over thousands of ads it sold to various Russian-linked accounts to the Congressional intelligence committees investigating Russias involvement in the 2016 presidential election as well as any connection those activities may have had with the Trump campaign.

The announcement came during a statement in which Zuckerberg said his company had a nine-point plan for dealing with suspected election interference.

At this point, theres no hard evidence  at least publicly released  proving anyone in Russia had anything to do with the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. The Russian government has denied any involvement, and even some of the usual suspects among the international hacking community have stayed mum on the topic. Regardless, this is a story that simply will not go away.

Along the way, many different brands and public figures have been pulled into the debate. Most prominently, of course, are President Trump and members of both his family and his campaign team.

But several American-based brands have been forced to answer questions about their involvement or activities as well. Facebook is one of the most prominent brands in this category. The social media giant has been accused of administering advertising controls that are too lax, putting profits above national security.

This is an allegation Zuckerberg and his team have vehemently denied. During a recent Facebook Live event, Zuckerberg said: We are in a new world. It is a new challenge for internet communities to have to deal with nation-states attempting to subvert elections, but if thats what we must do, then we are committed to rising to the occasion 

Putting his money where his mouth is, Zuckerberg said Facebook already turned over copies of the ads in question, as well as any relevant information to U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, whos leading the investigation into whether any collusion occurred during the 2016 election. Facebook admitted the company has yet to turn over any ads to Congress but said it would soon.

Consumers on both sides of the political spectrum, meanwhile, have weighed in on the issue. Some say Facebook is just playing a political game to promote a story that supports the companys political leanings. Others say the social media giant should be more forthcoming still and do a better job policing its advertising accounts.

Based on these reactions, its clear that no matter what he does, Zuckerberg isnt going to make everyone happy. But thats no reason to dismiss tact and very careful public relations planning. When you go in knowing there will be some who are upset by your message, clarity and careful communication is vital to achieving the best response.

***

Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR, a leading PR firm.
Qatar is using BlueFront Strategies for its public awareness campaign to educate members of the United Nations about the need to lift the economic blockade imposed by a group of its Arab neighbors led by Saudi Arabia.

BlueFront, which is part of DDC Advocacy, is to work with Qatars communications office to leverage existing research, political thinking and experience to develop creative messaging for complicated PA issues for a multi-channel effort during the UNs general assembly meeting in New York, according to its media services agreement.

The one-month effort is worth $100K.

Sarah Taylor Fagen, who was political director in George W. Bushs administration, founded BlueFront, which was sold to DDC in 2011. Shes a DDC partner.

DDCs president Jim Gianiny is a founding member of Burson-Marstellers Direct Impact grassroots operation.

The Arab states erected the blockade mid-June due to Qatars alleged ties with terrorist groups, relations with Iran and support for freedom of expression as home nation of Al Jazeera.

Qatars foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Rhani told reporters in Paris today that the blockade is pushing his country closer to Iran. They are giving Iran, or any reginal force, Qatar as a gift, he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sept. 15 called for the lifting of the Qatar blockade.
Nearly 1m customers are due to receive refunds on their water charges in the near future and now Irish Water is appealing to customers who paid their charges but have since changed address to update their details.

Over 173m will be refunded to 990,000 customers in the coming months once the relevant legislation is passed by Government.

In order to refund domestic water charges without delay, there is no application or registration process but customers who have moved since receiving their last bill, must update their details now so that the cheque is posted to their current address. The quickest way to do this is to call Irish Water on 1850 448 448 and lines are open Monday  Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm.

Irish Water is planning to refund almost all customers before the end of the year and so it is essential that customers who have moved provide a current postal address to ensure there is no delay in receiving their refund cheque.

Speaking in advance of the refunds being issued, Head of Customer Operations with Irish Water, Eamon Gallen said, Issuing refunds to 990,000 households presents a significant challenge but our priority is that the process is as efficient and straightforward as possible for our customers.

Crucially however, we are reliant on them telling us if their details have changed since the last time they contacted us so we encouraging anyone who has moved or changed their personal details to contact us as soon as possible to provide up to date information.

Over the coming weeks Irish Water will also be engaging with key stakeholder groups to advise them how the refunds process will work and to ensure that the needs of any vulnerable customers are taken into account.

More information is available at https://www.water.ie/for-home/refunds/ and this page will be updated over the coming weeks as the process begins.

For more Offaly news, click here
LINCOLN  Gov. Pete Ricketts and first lady Susanne Shore shined a spotlight Monday on local collaborations aimed at keeping children and families out of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Such collaborative efforts are not new, the governor said; theyre underway in 11 communities. The oldest, in the Panhandle, has been around for about 10 years.

But Monday marked the official launch of Bring Up Nebraska, a statewide initiative to promote and expand such community-based approaches.

The idea is we want to have the resources available for those families so that we can stop small problems from becoming bigger problems or crises, Ricketts said.

Shore said the approach works by bringing together multiple agencies and groups within each community. The collaborations work to develop local solutions to the problems of local families.

The people who are closest to the problems are going to have the best solutions, Ricketts said.

The community collaboratives assess community needs and strengths, look for gaps and duplication in services, and develop networks that can coordinate services for families.

Ashley Ulmer Schmit, a Lincoln mother of five, described how the Lancaster County collaborative has made a difference for her family.

She said a nurse from Healthy Families America started visiting the family shortly after the birth of her youngest child.

Through the local collaborative network, that nurse was able to connect the family with several useful services and also provide advice and support on caring for the newborn.

In particular, the nurse proved invaluable in getting her next-to-youngest child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, then lined up with early childhood treatment, Ulmer Schmit said.

The nurse also directed Ulmer Schmit to Community Action, where she has taken helpful classes in financial management and in parenting.

She became a resource for the whole family, Ulmer Schmit said.

Shawn Shanahan, executive director of the Fremont Area United Way, said that communitys collaborative involves key area businesses.

She quoted a local business leader who said the effort helps his business by assisting employees with personal problems before they interfere with work.

Shore said the approach utilizes multiple funding sources rather than rely solely on state or federal funds.

We need to look at any child in need as one of our own, and not as the states responsibility or Washingtons concern, but one of our own kids, she said. These are Nebraskas kids. And we need to be the solution.
WASHINGTON  Republicans latest health care push was collapsing Monday as they lost yet another of their own members and a new analysis indicated that their proposal would result in millions more uninsured.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, suggested that the bill lacks the necessary support and said Republicans should not even bring the measure to the floor if thats the case.

"There's no sense in going through what we did in August," Grassley said, referring to the late-night defeat of a previous GOP proposal shortly before the August recess.

Indeed, the effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act looked to be toast after that previous vote, but Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., decided to take another shot with a proposal that would take ACA funding and turn it over to the states in the form of block grants, while also placing per capita limits on Medicaid spending.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced Monday evening that she would oppose the legislation, citing a number of reasons that included a Congressional Budget Office analysis showing that it would significantly increase the number of uninsured.

Two other Republicans, Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Rand Paul of Kentucky, had already announced their opposition. With Democrats and Independents united against the proposal, Republicans cant afford to lose more than two of their own members.

Even as the prospects for passage dimmed Monday, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to explore the proposal.

The emotional intensity aroused by the issue was on display as the line for Mondays hearing stretched down one hall, around the corner and into another office building. Many of those in line wore shirts with slogans such as I am a pre-existing condition and Medicaid Matters.

The start of the hearing was delayed as protesters, many in wheelchairs, chanted No cuts to Medicaid as they were physically removed by police.

Once the hearing started, each side pressed its case. Democrats argued that Republicans were rushing through legislation that was being constantly revised in an effort to attract enough votes. They said the proposal would undermine protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

Republicans defended their proposal, saying that the ACA is failing in many areas, with soaring premiums and few choices of insurers. And they rejected the charge that the bill would cut Medicaid.

Grassley, a member of the committee, pointed out that the bill would spend more in Iowa in 2027 than it does today.

Obviously its not a cut then, Grassley said, noting that the bill actually reduces the rate of growth. Doesnt everyone agree we need to slow the rate of growth in health care spending?

Apparently not everyone, but I would, responded Cassidy, who was testifying in support of his bill.

Still, patient advocates worried about the potential impact of implementing per capita limits on Medicaid spending.

Their concern is that those limits would prevent spending from keeping pace with needs, forcing states to ultimately push some recipients off the rolls or to reduce benefits.

Liz Lyons, director of advocacy and government affairs at Childrens Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, said disabled children would be exempted from the per capita limits, but that other children would not. Lyons said the public perception of Medicaid is that its just for poor people who should work their way up the economic ladder and pay their own way. Few talk about the number of children who rely on Medicaid, she said.

Those kids cant go get a job, she said. All children need to be protected under Medicaid, because that is what the program is intended for.

Others have raised questions about the impact on nursing homes.

Mark Intermill of AARP Nebraska said determining the impact involves complicated formulas. Graham-Cassidy could be better than some previous GOP proposals, he said. But I fear that it will still come up short. Add to this the challenges in the long-term-care insurance industry and we are looking at a real mismatch in the cost of long-term care and the ability of consumers to pay for it.

Of the four GOP senators representing Nebraska and Iowa, none has offered a full-throated endorsement of the Graham-Cassidy proposal, but all four have made at least somewhat positive comments about it.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said Monday that shes still looking at the proposal but acknowledged the ticking clock. Republicans must pass something by the end of the week if they want to use a special legislative procedure that requires only a majority of votes in the Senate rather than the typical 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

Thats kind of a problem, Ernst said of the short time frame. Well see how much we can get through.
If you have a kid in college, you may be double-paying for their health care coverage. Most four-year universities offer a student health insurance plan, and many automatically enroll students in the plan. When he was attorney general of New York, Andrew M. Cuomo warned 300 colleges that they needed to "clearly and conspicuously disclose" this mandatory coverage and itemize the cost. Student health insurance plan prices vary drastically, from $1,750 a year at American University, for example, to $4,103 a year at George Washington University.

Either way, that's a sizable chunk of money to pay if your child is already covered by your own plan. And more offspring than ever are, because of a provision in the Affordable Care Act that allows children to stay on their parents' plan until their 26th birthday. (Proposed Republican bills to replace the ACA keep this provision intact.) In fact, parents may be paying a collective total of $1.2 billion in redundant health insurance costs, according to a study by Keybridge Research.

So you should definitely find out whether your child's college is one of those that automatically enrolls students in its health plan. But before you rush to opt out, keep in mind that there are pros and cons to both choices  college health plans and parent health plans. Here are the main things to consider in making the decision.

 Is the plan a "self-insured" plan or is it run by an insurance company?

College health plans administered by insurance companies have to meet minimum coverage standards set by the ACA. "Self-insured" plans, in which colleges pay claims directly, are not required to meet those standards, although some still do.

 Is the plan effective for 12 months or just the school year?

Many college health plans are effective 12 months a year. If the policy is in effect only nine months a year, you may need a short-term health plan or catastrophic coverage (which covers people in the event of a major accident or illness) to fill the gap.

 Is the campus clinic a small, student-only facility or a large, university teaching hospital?

Some campus clinics are one- or two-room facilities with staff prepared only to treat common ailments, such as the flu or urinary tract infections. Others are world-class hospitals with every possible kind of medical practice attached to them.

 Does the plan cover care only at the campus health clinic?

Some student plans do allow access to hospitals near the university. If not, the campus clinic may not be sufficient if the student has complicated existing health problems, gets in a major accident or contracts a serious illness.

 Is there a distance limit?

If the plan allows students to visit off-campus doctors and hospitals, is there a mileage limit? Some plans cover only visits near the school, a problem for students who are attending college far from home and may need medical care while visiting their parents. Or it could make it difficult to find providers who are in-network while a student is at home.

 Is the plan part of tuition?

If it is tied into the total cost of the student's education, financial aid or student loans will probably cover it, which could be helpful if cash is tight.

 Is the parent plan a multi-state plan? Or is it issued in the same state as the college?

Some HMOs and PPOs have networks of doctors and hospitals in only one state. Others are much broader and cover multiple states. Does the parent's plan offer in-network care in the same state as the college?

 Does the campus health clinic accept the parent's insurance plan?

Most often they do not. This means students must pay for care out-of-pocket and then submit a claim to the parent's insurance company. The paperwork can be a hassle and many claims are rejected.

 If the campus clinic accepts my insurance, is it considered in-network?

If you are lucky enough that the campus clinic does take your insurance, find out if it is considered "in-network" or "out-of-network." Often patients have to pay 10 to 20 percent of their medical bills for in-network coverage but 30 to 40 percent for out-of-network providers.

 Is the student's college in a location with lots of health-care options?

If the college is in a large urban area with lots of nearby doctors and hospitals, maybe skipping the campus health clinic will not be a burden. But if the college is in a small town or rural area, getting outside care could be challenging.

 Will the student have to call their hometown doctor for referrals?

Many HMO-style plans and some PPO plans require a referral from your primary care doctor before you see a specialist. If there are no in-network doctors near the college, the student could have to coordinate with a hometown doctor, which can be a pain.

 Does the parent's plan charge the same amount for "one or more" children?

This is common and means that if there is more than one child in the family, each additional child is covered by the parent's plan free. In this case, switching to the campus health plan is definitely an additional cost.

***

Elisabeth Leamy hosts the podcast Easy Money and is a 25-year consumer advocate for programs such as Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show. Connect with her at leamy.com.
Taxpayers filed 70 protests after Douglas County notified thousands of northeast Omaha property owners that they would have to pay a little extra in 2016 property taxes.

The county had sent out notices in August to the owners of about 15,000 houses, apartment buildings and vacant lots in northeast Omaha. The notices told the taxpayers to expect a bill later this year for an additional 2016 tax payment.

The bills will range from $2 for the owners of the cheapest vacant lots to about $700 for some of the highest-priced houses and apartment buildings. But a large majority of people will be billed less than $100.

Either most of the affected taxpayers agree with their valuation and dont mind paying the extra taxes, or they didnt notice. Only 41 taxpayers, who own a combined 70 properties, used their opportunity to protest their valuation.

Referees  real estate appraisers hired by the County Board  are recommending that the board decrease the valuations on 29 of the properties and make no changes to the remaining 41.

The County Board is scheduled to decide on the protested valuations Tuesday. Taxpayers who filed protests and disagree with the County Boards decision can appeal to the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission.

The extra tax bills result from a property valuation dispute between the County Board and the commission that was settled by the Nebraska Supreme Court.

The commission had ruled in 2016 that the Douglas County Assessors Office had missed the mark on numerous residential property valuations for the county, saying they were too far off from market value. Some were too high, and some were too low, the commission said.

The commission ordered Douglas County Assessor Diane Battiato to increase valuations by 7 percent across the board through much of central and west Omaha.

The commission also ordered Battiato to decrease valuations by 8 percent across the board in a large swath of northeast Omaha.

The county did as ordered.

But the Douglas County Board appealed the ruling to the equalization commission, and lost. Then the County Board voted 7-0 to appeal to the Nebraska Supreme Court. It asked the judges to reverse the increases and decreases that the commission had ordered.

The Supreme Court refused to overturn the increase. But the court agreed with the County Board that the commission should not have ordered the decrease in northeast Omaha.

That means the county had to retroactively raise the valuations of the affected homes and vacant lots by 8 percent for 2016.

And that means people who own residential property in most of northeast Omaha will get an extra tax bill. In all, it will amount to about $1 million in additional taxes.
The ostensible purpose of President Donald Trumps speech at the United Nations on Tuesday was to explain to the world why America First is an idea other countries should embrace.

It was to be a deeply philosophical address, a White House official promised.

Instead, the speech will inevitably be remembered for just two words: Rocket Man, Trumps derisive nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Never mind grand strategy. Trump made sure the medias favorite soundbite would be a schoolboy taunt and a threat of mass annihilation.

Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime, the president told the worlds diplomats. 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 problem with Trumps threat wasnt only the juvenile language he chose or that it inevitably distracted attention from the rest of his message. His taunt, far from serving an underlying strategy, was probably counterproductive.

Ridiculing Kim Jong Un is more likely to persuade North Korea to increase its nuclear weapons and missiles than limit them (or) give them up, warned Richard Haass of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Successful diplomatic negotiators usually take pains to treat their adversaries with respect and provide them a dignified way to retreat from their original positions. That often means offering positive incentives as well as threats, carrots as well as sticks.

Trump didnt do any of that. He said the only way for North Korea to defuse the crisis was to give up its entire nuclear program. He offered no guarantee that the regime would be secure if it took that risky step (although his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has said the United States does not seek regime change). Trump made a maximum demand, added a maximum threat and tossed in a gratuitous insult.

That approach may have worked in New York real estate, but its less likely to succeed against a deeply suspicious sovereign state with nuclear weapons.

Oh, yes: sovereignty. That was supposed to be the presidents deeply philosophical theme. Trump called repeatedly for a world of strong, sovereign nations in which each country would defend its own interests  a universal version of America First.

We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, he promised. We want harmony and friendship, not conflict and strife. We are guided by outcomes, not ideology.

But he added an important caveat. He said every government has two sovereign duties: to refrain from threatening other countries and to respect the interests of their own people.

And he listed countries that apparently dont deserve all the benefits of sovereignty because theyve broken one of those rules.

One, of course, was North Korea, whose nuclear program threatens its neighbors. Thats an easy case.

But he also denounced Venezuela, because its socialist government has inflicted terrible pain and suffering on (its) good people. This situation is completely unacceptable.

And he denounced Iran, not only for interfering in other countries, but also for repressing its own citizens.

Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, he warned, and hinted, again, that the United States might walk away from the 2012 agreement under which Iran halted its nuclear program.

Sovereignty for me, in other words, but maybe not for thee.

In the case of Iran, Trump has now threatened to abandon a six-nation nuclear agreement his predecessor made and added that a change of regime in Tehran would be a good idea, too. Why should North Korea expect better treatment?

Those conflicting messages wont increase Kim Jong Uns interest in negotiating a deal.

Perhaps Trumps real target, though, was China. The presidents strategy has been to press leader Xi Jinping to impose tough sanctions on North Korea, and to warn that war is inevitable if diplomacy fails. So far, it hasnt worked. Xi has politely promised cooperation, but in practice hes acting as if he doesnt think Trump will pull the trigger.

Chinas strategic priorities are just different from those of the United States, Stewart M. Butler, a former State Department strategist, observed. Its hard to know how much more leverage we can get them to bring to bear.

Rocket Man isnt likely to impress Beijing, either. Insults are no longer their diplomatic style. Theyre more interested in predictability and stability.

Trump may think hes backing North Korea and China into a corner, but he risks backing himself into one at the same time. If North Korea crosses the red line the president has drawn  putting a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile  his bluff will have been called.

And then he will face two bad outcomes: Back down or go to war. If the result is war, a war the United States doesnt want to fight, Tuesdays Rocket Man speech will be remembered as one of the steps that took us there.
UPDATE (9:10 a.m.)

*A cold front will slowly shift southeast through the region today, with showers and thunderstorms continuing along and behind the front through most of Tuesday morning. Rainfall amounts of 1.00 to 1.25 inches are likely south of I-80, with generally less than an inch to the north. Locally higher amounts are possible, which could lead to some flooding. Temperatures will fall a bit as the front moves through.

*The latest Omaha-area forecast, according to the National Weather Service office in Valley:

Today  Periods of showers (100 percent) and possibly a thunderstorm with a high around 65.

Tonight  Showers (90 percent), with thunderstorms also possible, and a low in the mid- to upper 50s.

Tuesday  Showers and thunderstorms possible (30 percent) in the morning, then cloudy with a high in the mid- to upper 60s.

Tuesday night  Partly cloudy with a low around 50.

Wednesday  Sunny with a high around 70.

Wednesday night  Mostly clear with a low around 50.

Thursday  Sunny with a high around 75.

Thursday night  Partly cloudy with a low around 50.

Friday  Sunny with a high around 70.

Friday night  Mostly clear with a low in the mid- to upper 40s.

Saturday  Sunny with a high around 70.

Saturday night  A chance of showers with a low around 50.

Sunday  Mostly sunny with a chance of showers and a high in the low 70s.

*Area rainfall totals in inches for the 24 hours ending at 7:30 a.m. today: Albion, 1.38; Beatrice, 1.04; Blair, 1.08; Columbus, .89; Fremont, 1.19; Lincoln, ,78; Norfolk, .71; Offutt Air Force Base, .42; Eppley Airfield, .42; Florence, .50; Millard, .47; Plattsmouth, .55; Tekamah, 1.40; Valley, 2.76; Wahoo, 1.99; Wayne, 1.32; Council Bluffs, .22.

* * *

The cooler, wet weather that started to move in Sunday will continue today, bringing needed moisture and relief from temperatures that climbed into the 90s for much of last week.

Rain is likely today across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa and could be heavy in some locations, said meteorologist Bryon Miller of the National Weather Service office in Valley.

The rain is expected to linger into Tuesday, slowly decreasing during the day.

After the showers and thunderstorms clear, the cooler air should remain, at least through next weekend, Miller said. Gone from the weeks forecast are any readings in the 80s and 90s, replaced with high temperatures in the 50s, 60s and 70s across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

The rain began Sunday afternoon in the Omaha area with some short-lived but drenching downpours that left 0.32 of an inch of moisture at the weather services Valley office, 0.03 at Offutt Air Force Base and 0.20 at Eppley Airfield.

Temperatures reached 89 degrees at Eppley at 12:36 p.m., the high for the day.

That reading capped several days of above-normal heat, with temperatures that reached 92 on Saturday, 95 on Friday, 92 on Thursday, 81 on Wednesday and 90 on Tuesday. Normal highs for this time of year average in the mid-70s.

Omaha has an 80 percent chance of precipitation today and a 90 percent chance tonight, the weather service said. The forecast calls for a total of 0.75 to 1.25 inches of rain by the end of the day, with heavier amounts in some spots. Less than 0.10 of an inch was expected for Tuesday.

Temperatures are expected to drop slightly during the day today, to 64 by 4 p.m.

Highs are forecast to be 66 on Tuesday, about 70 on Wednesday, 75 on Thursday, 69 on Friday and Saturday and 73 on Sunday.
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by  Graham Pierrepoint



KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

IMDb

Dir: Matthew Vaughn

Starring Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum, Jeff Bridges, Elton John

3.5 STARS (out of 5)

The original Kingsman movie  The Secret Service  was a massive sleeper hit. It was inevitable that a sequel was going to follow, particularly as there doesnt seem to be many movies actively cornering the spy spoof market at present  and while the original sent up the likes of Bond and Bourne with glee and gusto, it also did so with quite unexpected levels of violence and touches of debauchery. Who can forget Colin Firth going hell for leather in a church  or the explosive climax, where blood was thankfully swapped out for confetti? Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman have created their own little monster  and with it, something of a niche. Kingsman was not your average action movie  while in some places it did feel overly smug about what it was bringing to the table, it offered so much in the way of bonkers action, plotting and all-around audacity that it was difficult not to like it. Fans of The Secret Service will be happy to know that The Golden Circle really ups the ante on all fronts  even if it brings little else thats new.

The sequel picks up as Eggsy continues to operate as Galahad for the Kingsman agency, in stead of the supposedly deceased Harry Hart  only for the agency to find itself on the receiving end of an explosion that signals chaos for the world at large. Eggsy, once a loutish rebel, has grown into an affable James Bond-type  and its up to him and Merlin (Strong) to find support from their American counterparts, Statesman  operated by Bridges, Tatum and Berry. Theres a new villain on the rise  and with it, a familiar face from the past. Expect ridiculous feats, quick-fire dialogue and a whole new level of what other critics have been calling smutty antics. Anyone who saw the first movie however will likely be inclined to query What did you expect?

Certainly, everything we do expect from a Kingsman sequel is here. Egerton is still fantastic as the lead, with Firth making a reappearance and with a whole new bevy of household US names to bolster what had been left as a fairly thin cast at the end of the first movie. Elton John, too, gets involved  no, really  putting paid, thankfully, to the risk of either David Beckham (King Arthur: Legend of The Sword) or Ed Sheeran (Game of Thrones) earning weird cameo of the year. The preceding movie was astonishing simply due to just how much was crammed into the run-time  it is an outstandingly epic movie in its own right  though its tongue-in-cheek nature coupled with this odd, underlying smugness rather kept it from achieving widespread acclaim  in my opinion.

The Golden Circle pretty much ticks the boxes, if not blots them out completely. This movie is, bottom line, a lot of fun  if youre willing to suspend a lot of your sensibility to do so. This is not a comfy, gentle Jim-Broadbent-and-Judi Dench vehicle. Theres moments in this movie that actively push the tastes of the audience to what must be the absolute boiling point for censors  with one scene in particular really outdoing that rather tasteless moment towards the end of The Secret Service. If youve seen both upon reading this, you know exactly what Im talking about.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle - Official Trailer (20th Century FOX)

The Kingsman series absolutely loves itself, taking great joy in the absolute frenzy it boils up  and its hard not to get caught up. There are issues, however, in just how safe a move The Golden Circle is. The Secret Service bolted from the blue and threw a ton of new tropes and genuinely testing moments at an audience who bayed for more  sure, while Golden Circle doubles down and really does push the limits even further, this is the limit to how much of a novelty the movie actually is. While the first movie built up these characters and gave us a genuinely enjoyable character arc for Eggsy, Golden Circle more or less gives us a day in the life. It feels as if it is something of an arbitrary adventure  sure, there are big things at stake  and big things do happen  but at the same time, despite the fact that its more chaotic and more smutty than its predecessor, it doesnt really do much else to challenge. In a lot of ways, similar problems faced Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2  I, personally, would have liked to have seen a more of a game-changer this time around. However, whats here is at least a lot of fun for the core audience.

Sticking to what works and playing it safe seem to be nasty little trends in Hollywood right now  lets hope a little more in the way of creativity seeps onto the big screen sooner rather than later. Kingsman 2 is not a bad movie by all accounts  fans of the original will love it  but it doesnt really do much to develop its own universe, even if it continues to challenge on many other levels  taste and aesthetics included!
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Opalesque Industry Update - OP Investment Management Ltd., (Hong Kong) (OPIM), a member of the Oriental Patron Financial Group, announced its strategic investment into Fundseeder Holdings, LLC (Fundseeder), an emerging financial software company located in Florida, United States. OPIM is a leading hedge fund structuring and incubation platform based in Hong Kong. Winner of Hedge Fund Magazine's "Asia Regulated Platform of the Year" award in 2016, the firm partners with Asian investment managers to build offshore hedge fund products, combining early stage track records with the firm's institutional infrastructure and ecosystem. OPIM also works with established institutional investors, funds of funds, and family offices to evaluate undiscovered trading talent in the ever-expanding emerging manager space. Founded by US financial industry experts Jack Schwager, Emanuel Balarie, and James Bibbings, FundSeeder has developed an analytical software to help traders track their performance among other things. The company's software also will assist institutional investors in connecting with undiscovered trading talent. As of the date of this writing, Fundseeder has 8,000+ registered users and counting on its platform. Perhaps more exciting is that roughly half of these users have elected to sign up for the company's daily verification option. This means that users are actively choosing to link their brokerage accounts directly with FundSeeder to showcase trading skill with actual capital in real markets. Jack Schwager, one of the firm's founders, is also author of the best-selling and award-winning book series, "Market Wizards". Within his books Schwager interviews some of the greatest trading and investor minds in the world. Jack's books have inspired several generations of traders to pursue their careers in fund management. When asked about his vision at FundSeeder Schwager said: "Fundseeder was designed to further the Market Wizard's thesis by helping traders take an introspective look at their investment process, as well as their trading and portfolio construction skills. With the right kind of feedback and determination I believe it's possible that nearly anyone can become a better fund investor or trader". Emanuel, CEO of Fundseeder, opined, "We're thrilled to be working with like-minded partners who share our vision of a democratized trading industry. OPIM's leadership in Asia means we can accelerate our growth in the most important market in finance today." CEO of OPIM, Alvin Fan, shared the firm's strategic view, "Fundseeder's analytics technology bridges a fundamental gap in our industry, it provides real-time performance feedback for traders and will provide trusted analytics for investors. This traditionally requires expensive tools, which prices out anyone who lacks either the pedigree or financial resources allowing only the elite few access to the top. Is the industry really saying there's no investment or trading talent available from the 99.8%? Our experience tells us that, in fact, anyone can be a great money manager, no matter where you're from, what your financial background, or pedigree". Addressing the importance of emerging managers in Asia, Fan added, "OPIM's mission has always been to find undiscovered talent in Asia. Our partnership with FundSeeder will help us with this search here in Hong Kong, China, and globally". In this Opalesque.TV interview, Jack Schwager discusses FundSeeder, a free platform to find undiscovered worldwide trading talent: Article source - Opalesque is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Mainstream Fund Services, part of MainstreamBPO Limited (MainstreamBPO Group), provides fund administration services to 667 funds, with A$119 billion in funds under administration with operations across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America.

FundBPO was established in Sydney by Byram Johnston and Martin Smith in 2006 as an independent alternative to the global securities services companies and is now one of the largest locally-owned fund administrators operating in Australia.

Mainstream Fund Services offers investment administration, fund accounting, unit registry and middle office services to fund managers' unlisted funds, listed products and managed accounts.

Nick Happell, Chief Executive Officer of Mainstream Fund Services in Australia, said "With the enormous growth we have seen across the business we now have a new look and new name to unite our operations and better reflect our local expertise and global reach."

Since July 2016 the Group has experienced funds under administration inflows of A$31 billion, announced the acquisition of five complementary businesses, with three already integrated and the other two transactions due for completion within the next four weeks, and invested heavily in technology. This has transformed the Group into a global fund administrator that can support fund managers' operations across market-places.

Commenting on the rebrand, Group Chief Executive Officer Martin Smith said "Our new branding and global operating model reflect our commitment to clients that we are agile and efficient in adapting to ongoing change in the managed funds administration sector both in Australia and offshore."

The Group's rebranding will be progressively rolled out across global operations between now and the end of the year, starting with Australia.

The Group's superannuation administration business, SuperBPO, has rebranded as Mainstream Superannuation Services and parent company MainstreamBPO is asking shareholders to vote on changing its name to Mainstream Group Holdings Limited at its Annual General Meeting this Friday.
New Managers

Editorial

Dear Opalesque Reader,

Welcome to the September 2017 issue of New Managers (enclosed)!

This month in Profiles, we spoke to an old-new multi-strategy hedge fund, and an equity manager that bets on China and South Korea. Hedge fund data provider Eurekahedge provides a list of this month's top 10 performing emerging funds, and infographics on key trends among Asian hedge funds. In Seeders & Platforms, one of the most active European seed investors describes the landscape. In Perspectives, read all about the regulatory aspects of cryptocurrencies and side letters. And in Marketing Challenge, Diane Harrison rounds up some solutions to capital raising, and Michael Greenstein takes the story to the marketing presentation.

You will also find our usual roundups of the latest launches......................

To view our full article please login
Clarification appended

Vancouver police have arrested a 17-year-old Union High School student suspected of taking multiple "upskirt" videos, an official said.

Police arrested the teen during an investigation into illegally-obtained nude photographs distributed to students, said agency spokeswoman Kim Kapp. She said police have yet to identify the suspect in the nude photo case, which remains under investigation.

Vancouver police said in a news release Monday that a female student reported someone "hacked into her social media accounts, accessed nude photos that were kept in a private section of the account, and subsequently distributed those photos to other students."

She made the report to a school resource officer on Monday, Sept. 18, and detectives interviewed several Union students Thursday. Police arrested the teen Friday on suspicion of 15 counts of first-degree voyeurism.

He was booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.

"The arrest we made was a student who was interviewed as part of that initial investigation and was related to what was discovered during the search warrant on his phone," Kapp said in an email. "When detectives examined the phone, they found multiple videos which would be described as 'upskirt' videos that were taken by the student and which resulted in the arrest for the Voyeurism charges."

Police said they continue to investigate and more charges and arrests may result.

Kapp said "detectives are still examining other phones related to the overarching investigation."

Union High School is part of Evergreen Public Schools and is in northwest Camas.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive

A Vancouver police spokeswoman issued a clarification Monday afternoon, saying the teen arrested Friday wasn't arrested on suspicion of charges stemming from the hacking incident. Rather, during the investigation, investigators said they found illegal videos on his phone, resulting in his arrest on suspicion of voyeurism.
The 30th annual Oregon International Air Show came to an end Sunday after a weekend of performances by elite military jets, parachuters and aerobatic stunt planes. The US Air Force F-22 Raptor highlighted the show, appearing to defy the laws of physics as it hovered and roared over giant crowds at the Hillsboro airport, then suddenly shot off.

According to the show's website, the three-day event attracts 65,000 people to the Hillsboro Airport each year and has raised $2.12 million for Oregon charities since it first started back in 1988.

-Mark Graves
BY DAN RAYFIELD

Tomorrow is National Voter Registration Day. Given the renewed focus by some national and state politicians to roll back voter access, the day takes on an even more important meaning this year--and the need to stop these undemocratic efforts becomes even more urgent.

To be clear, we have a lot to celebrate in Oregon. Between voting by mail and the groundbreaking Motor Voter program that we put into place in 2015, Oregon is held up as a national model for voter registration, ballot access and civic engagement. Studies are showing that automatic voter registration is diversifying the electorate and improving turnout. Vote by mail makes it easy for all voters to participate and includes important anti-fraud safeguards.

But while we pat ourselves on the back for our accomplishments, we shouldn't lose sight of the many Oregonians who remain unregistered. Today there are still large groups of Oregonians, like students and seniors, who don't have driver licenses or who have voter information that needs to be updated. In other words, there are eligible voters who won't receive a ballot during the next election. There is room for improvement from a legislative perspective.

Because portions of our population are still not registered, it's been necessary for organizations, such as the League of Women Voters and the locally-based Bus Project, to engage voters and conduct registration drives. These organizations and their volunteers have played a vital role registering historically underrepresented communities. It's also why the Bus Project worked to help create the upcoming National Voter Registration Day. Organizations and volunteers that have focused their efforts on voter registration shouldn't become complacent just because we've made progress on these issues.

We must also remain vigilant against political efforts to reduce voter access under the guise of "voter fraud." The Trump Administration has tapped one of the leading architects of the voter restriction movement -- Kris Kobach -- to lead a national effort to strip away voting rights using this ploy. In places where politicians like Kobach have been successful, traditionally underrepresented communities are being blocked from voting. That's why federal courts have repeatedly struck down these laws as unconstitutional instruments of intentional disenfranchisement.

Oregon provides a model that other states should follow: Pass laws designed to get a ballot in the hands of every eligible voter, and make it as easy as possible for them to cast their ballot. It's that simple.

This week, when people across the United States join forces on one single day to register as many voters as possible, ask yourself this question: What can I do this important day? You can volunteer. You can take your co-workers or family out to celebrate. Or, you can tell everyone about the easiest way to register to vote: www.beregistered.org.

Until all eligible Oregonians are registered, National Voter Registration Day should remain an important date on our calendars. The one factor we know that directly impacts the odds that someone will vote is whether they can vote.

Rep. Dan Rayfield is a Democrat who represents Corvallis.
Stephen Miles Munson , who last year pleaded guilty to falsely claiming more than $3 million in charitable donations to University of Oregon and Stanford University on his 2008 tax return, now wants to withdraw his plea because he maintains his innocence.

Prosecutors say Munson falsely claimed that he donated 200,000 shares of stock from his Bend company Vulcan Power Company to each of the two universities when he signed his tax return.

But Munson's new defense lawyer Ronald Hoevet argues that a judge who accepted Munson's guilty plea failed to confirm Munson's understanding of the charge and the basis for his plea.

On Dec. 31, 2008, Munson sent both universities an email and registered mail notifying the schools of his "donation now" of 200,000 shares of common stock in Vulcan, with no conditions placed on their use, according to Hoevet.

Though Munson hadn't asked Vulcan to reflect the gifts on the company's stock register until the following month, Munson's lawyer argues that was a "mere administrative task.'' He cited case law that provides a gift may be considered complete despite failure to complete an administrative task.

Part of the transcript from the December hearing when Stephen Munson entered a guilty plea to filing a false tax return. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford is the prosecutor. U.S. Circuit Judge Michael W. Mosman was the judge at the hearing. (Court records)

It wasn't until January 2009 that Munson contacted the general counsel for Vulcan and directed him to transfer the shares of stock from his name to the universities, his lawyer wrote in a motion to withdraw the plea filed in U.S. District Court on Friday.

The general counsel for the company rejected the transfer, citing the contentious relationship between Vulcan and other common shareholders, including Munson, who was removed as the company's chief executive officer early that year.

"Knowledge that Vulcan had not transferred the stock certificates does not equate to knowledge that he had not made a gift to Stanford and Oregon in 2008 or willfully claimed a false charitable donation when he signed his return for that year,'' Hoevet wrote.

"Munson's admission that he knew the stock certificate was not transferred when the 2008 return was signed is not an admission that he acted willfully when he signed the 2008 return,'' Hoevet argues. "Munson had a subjective good faith believe that he had made a gift of Vulcan stock to Stanford and Oregon in 2008.''

Hoevet also criticized as "deeply flawed'' the guidance that Munson's initial assistant federal public defender gave to Munson before he entered a guilty plea.

"The fact that Munson knew that Vulcan had refused Munson's request to transfer Vulcan Power Company shares to Stanford and Oregon on the books and records of Vulcan is not inconsistent with his belief that he could claim the charitable donation on his 2008 return, the year he made it,'' Hoevet wrote.

Munson is a retired U.S. Army Captain with degrees from the University of Oregon and Stanford University. In 1991, Munson started Vulcan Power Company, a geothermal energy company in Bend, Oregon, and served in the company in different capacities, including president and chief executive officer, until 2008. In 2008, he sold a controlling interest in Vulcan Power Company for almost $15 million, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors say Munson fraudulently claimed the donations to the two universities as a charitable deduction on his 2008 federal tax return. As a result, they say he fraudulently received a $407,019 refund from the Internal Revenue Service for the 2008 tax year. As part of the plea agreement reached last year, Munson had agreed that the loss to the IRS for the false 2008 tax return was $2.4 million, according to prosecutors.

Munson's sentencing, which was set for June, was cancelled, as Munson obtained a new lawyer.

U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman will hear arguments on Oct. 20 on whether to allow Munson to withdraw his plea.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
A driver was arrested Monday morning after eluding police, hitting a hot tub, crashing into a cop car and ditching his SUV in a thicket of blackberry bushes, police said.

Justin Greenslitt, 29, was arrested on suspicion of assorted charges and a parole violation warrant, police said. His passenger, 37-year-old Alexander King, was jailed on multiple warrants, according to police. Both were treated for exposure and minor injuries and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.

An officer first tried to stop Greenslitt for a traffic violation around Southeast 106th Avenue and Division Street at 2 a.m., Portland police said in a news release.

Police said Greenslitt pulled a U-turn toward the officer's patrol car shortly after the officer turned on his emergency lights. He went over a curb, hit a fence and hot tub and banged into the cop car's bumper.

Minor damage to the police car PIT bumper, which is designed to absorb some impact. pic.twitter.com/dvuW1wpgdR  PPB East Precinct (@ppbeast) September 25, 2017

Officers chased his 1990 Toyota 4Runner throughout Southeast Portland, police said, but he was stymied by the dead end of 117th Avenue near Reedway Street.

Greenslitt tried to put the 4Runner's off-road capabilities to the test, however, by crashing over a berm and into some blackberry bushes.

That didn't work.

He and King both tried to flee on foot, according to police. King was captured  his flight slowed by the berry bushes, police said.

Greenslitt, meanwhile, was able to get away for the time being, according to police.

Although search efforts were "complicated by heavy vegetation and the swamp-like conditions," police said they eventually found Greenslitt hiding in a waterbody near the Springwater Corridor.

Passenger caught right away in sticker bush, driver located by K9 Maverick and his partner Ofcr Sweeney after hiding in swamp for an hour. pic.twitter.com/c8bQaLuV0Z  PPB East Precinct (@ppbeast) September 25, 2017

Greenslitt and King suffered their injuries when they crashed over the berm, police said. The officer whose car was hit wasn't injured.

 Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
A woman who stole more than $500,000 from health care accounts that she was hired to administer was sentenced to five years of probation Monday after a judge found she was "ill prepared'' to do her job because of physical and neurological deficits.

Lisa Hand of Wilsonville must pay back the $543,693.28 she diverted from the trust accounts of clients and complete 500 hours of community service, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ordered.

Hand pleaded guilty in April to theft in connection with health care, a federal felony. She was diagnosed with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia after she was charged in March.

Hand, now 55, was the sole shareholder and officer of Administrators Northwest Inc. and Administrators Nationwide LLC, which oversee employee benefit plans, for health reimbursement accounts including flexible spending accounts.

"Hand's personal and unauthorized use of client trust money was possible because, unbeknownst to the victims, only the fox was watching the henhouse,'' wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Maddux in a sentencing memo.

Maddux estimated close to 400 people fell victim to Hand's theft between 2014 and 2015. Among the companies that hired Hand to manage their workers' accounts was the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, and the residential and commercial flooring company Advanced M & D Sales Inc., according to court records.

Nearly a dozen people lost the money in their accounts and had to search for other sources to cover medical and dependent care costs, reaching into their savings and sometimes borrowing money from others, Maddux said.

"I have felt a great deal of anger, frustration and stress caused by the actions of Ms. Hand and her company,'' one victim identified only as "C.J.S." wrote to the court.

C.J.S. had money taken from her paycheck and set aside for her family's benefit in a flexible spending account, but her claim for a $766 reimbursement was never issued, she said. "It sickens me that some would steal that which was hard earned by others,'' she wrote to the judge.

In 2015, Hand's clients alerted the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration that Hand's businesses had failed to process and pay claims, respond to inquiries and failed to reconcile accounts.

Hand called her learning disabilities "not an excuse but certainly an explanation'' for what occurred.

As the sole operator of the companies, she told the judge she became overwhelmed and diverted clients' money to pay business expenses, including rent.

Her defense lawyer Fidel Cassino-DuCloux argued that the case before Aiken stood apart from many other federal financial crimes because Hand didn't use the money she took for her personal use. "All the money went back into the business," he said, noting that Hand lives in an apartment and drives an old car.

The prosecutor argued that Hand should face some prison time but left it to the judge to determine.

"When white-collar defendants systematically steal from their clients on a vast scale, the consequences can and should include a term of imprisonment,'' Maddox wrote to the court.

Hand and her lawyer sought probation.

"I am truly remorseful," Hand said. "I apologize to each and every one of my clients and to their employees for the betrayal of their trust."

Aiken described the offense as "an extraordinary destructive crime'' because of the number of victims affected, but she said it's no surprise it occurred because of Hand's inadequacies, lack of training and support.

"You were ill-equipped to have that position, period," Aiken said. The judge took into account that Hand has no prior criminal record and had successfully served in the military in the past.

The judge urged Hand to take an education evaluation test and find a developmental optometrist.

She also ordered Hand to watch the testimony of former Oregon state Rep. Val Hoyle in support of a 2015 bill that became law, which required the state Department of Education to hire a state dyslexia specialist and screen students by first grade of risk factors for dyslexia. In her address on the House floor, Hoyle said she didn't recognize she had a learning disability until she was 46 and considered herself an advocate "for people who learn differently."

The judge also directed Hand to watch a TED talk on YouTube by Brene Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, who speaks on the "Power of Vulnerability" and "Gifts of Imperfection."

Aiken urged Hand to understand the lesson of the day: "People have to ask for help when they get overwhelmed."

Hand's main priority now is to pay restitution, the judge said. Hand was ordered to pay at least $100 a month.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
A 23-year-old man who threw burning flares into a Portland police cruiser and the downtown Target store during May 1 protests that overran downtown Portland admitted guilt Monday and will be sentenced to five years in prison.

A local TV station aired live footage of Damion Zachary Feller hurling a flare through a shattered picture window at Target, prompting employees to run with fire extinguishers to put out a burning section of carpet. TV and cellphone cameras also caught Feller throwing a flare through the shattered window of a battered police SUV parked across the street from Target, at Southwest 10th Avenue and Morrison.

Other people clad all in black or wearing masks can be seen on the videos kicking or whacking windows of the police car seconds before Feller swoops in with the flares.

Police identified Feller as among a group of about 20 anarchists who descended on downtown as peaceful May Day protesters spoke about a variety of social issues. Officers arrested 25 people that day for vandalizing property, setting fires, throwing rocks and other violence.

Feller wasnt arrested until two days later after officers who recognized his image from the videos spotted him on the streets of downtown.

Detectives showed him a photograph of the person who threw one of the flares and he replied: I saw that online, and I knew I was (expletive), according to a probable cause affidavit.

Feller admitted he was guilty and told detectives that he became part of the mob mentality, according to the affidavit.

On Monday, Feller offered no statements in Multnomah County Circuit Court. He wore a blue jail uniform as he stood beside his public defender, DeAnna Horne.

Feller pleaded guilty to first-degree arson, second-degree arson, riot and first-degree criminal mischief. He is scheduled to be sentenced to five years in prison during an October hearing.

He also was charged in federal court for his crimes. But as part of his plea deal, he won't be sentenced to any additional prison time.

Feller will be eligible for release from prison after four years, if he gets time off for good behavior.

Shortly after his arrest, Feller told authorities that he doesnt talk to his family, which includes his grandmother in Longview and his parents in Colorado. He said hed been homeless for the past year, been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and smoked marijuana daily.

He said hes unemployed, although he occasionally picks up odd jobs through the temporary job service Labor Ready.

Feller had no history of criminal convictions, although court records show he previously had been arrested five times in Oregon, Colorado and Texas on allegations of committing nonviolent crimes or failing to appear in court. He still faces pending charges of theft and criminal trespass in Umatilla County.

-- Aimee Green
This is America, but you can't have an opinion anymore. At least not on college campuses. Everything's been decided for you, and if you break ranks, hellfire will rain down.

That's how many Americans feel. They believe political correctness has careened out of control, that it has smashed the First Amendment to bits and is destroying our young.

Some conservative politicians and activists have taken advantage of this rising anger at political correctness, and now some of their ideological opposites are starting to agree with them.

Consider Bret Weinstein. The self-described "deeply progressive" biology professor faced forceful blowback earlier this year when he questioned the wisdom of Evergreen State College's 2017 "Day of Absence." The event encouraged white students to stay away from the Olympia, Wash., campus during "the day's activities," which Weinstein viewed as "a show of force, and an act of oppression in and of itself."

In response, a large group of students confronted the Evergreen State professor, with one stating, "You're supporting white supremacy." "Fire Bret" graffiti popped up around campus.

Weinstein's colleague, humanities professor Nancy Koppelman, said she feared for her safety during the brouhaha. She was "followed by white students who yelled and cursed at me, accused me of not caring about black and brown bodies, and claimed that if I did care I would follow their orders."

So it goes at Portland's Reed College as well. There, students have been protesting a long-standing Humanities lecture series, insisting it's "Eurocentric." Demonstrators, The Economist magazine recently reported, called English and humanities professor Lucia Martinez Valdivia "a 'race traitor' who upheld white supremacist principles by failing to oppose the Humanities syllabus. She was 'anti-black' because she appropriated black slang by wearing a T-shirt that said, 'Poetry is Lit.' She was an 'ableist' because she believes trigger warnings sometimes diminish sexual trauma. She was also called a 'gaslighter' for making disadvantaged students doubt their own feelings of oppression."

Martinez Valdivia admitted she was "intimidated by these students."

None of this is unique to Evergreen State or Reed College or, indeed, the progressive Northwest.

Last spring, faculty and student protesters at Vermont's Middlebury College drowned out political scientist Charles Murray when he attempted to give a speech at the campus. "In chants they accused him of being a racist and a white supremacist," The New York Times wrote. "Some of the protesters became unruly and physically violent, forcing Mr. Murray to flee."

Murray's offense: He wrote the book "Coming Apart," which charts the cultural unspooling of the white working class -- and which, critics claim, uses "deceptive statistics masking unfounded bigotry."

At Yale University in 2015, an epic brouhaha erupted after a professor sent an email suggesting students shouldn't overreact to Halloween costumes they might consider offensive. Video captured a student berating a professor in public. "It is your job to create a place of comfort and home," the student declared. When the professor tried to speak, the student yelled, "Be quiet!"

The list of examples goes on and on, and the sum of it all is that professors -- often liberal professors -- increasingly feel cowed in their place of work.

"Now boat-rocking isn't just dangerous -- it's suicidal," a pseudonymous college professor wrote on Vox in 2015, insisting that for his career's sake he avoids saying anything in class or putting anything in class materials that's "remotely offensive or challenging." The headline of the article: "I'm a liberal professor, and my liberal students terrify me."

What has caused all of this? Political correctness has been around since the 1980s, when it grew out of positive attempts to embrace inclusivity and broader thinking in academia. The momentum has only grown since then, and in recent years the movement has mutated. It's been argued that technology and helicopter parenting have led to today's college students being the most emotionally coddled in American history. They will endure no hurt feelings. Thus the belief of many college students that it's the college's job to make them feel unthreatened by opinions they don't like, rather than to make them think and grow.

Many public figures have spoken out against the rise of PC culture, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. No one has done this more aggressively -- or, many believe, more destructively -- than President Donald Trump.

"I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct," Trump said last year during the presidential campaign.

It's impossible to say where this will all lead. Right now, the nature of the issue is pushing both sides to be ever more extreme, and the casualties are growing.

Last summer, Weinstein and his wife, Heather Heying, also a professor at Evergreen State, alleged in a lawsuit that the school "permitted, cultivated and perpetuated a racially hostile and retaliatory work environment." Evergreen State "strongly" denied the lawsuit's allegations but last week the college agreed to settle it for $500,000.

Weinstein and Heying scored a victory, no doubt, but for them it might feel somewhat pyrrhic. They agreed to resign from the college, and now they must seek new employment in a field where many administrators likely will view them as proven troublemakers.

-- Douglas Perry
Saginaw Valley State University will host several guest speakers for the annual Visiting Scholars and Artists series. The series will bring guest lecturers to SVSU to speak on topics including neuroscience, political bipartisanship, and methods for motivating uninspired students. The speakers include a U.S. congressmen and a philosophy professor exploring the science of free will. All events are free of charge and open to the public.

The series continues Thursday, Sept. 28, when Rush Lecturer Andrew J. Miller will speak on "Community Engagement through Student-Centered Geospatial Research" at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, in Founders Hall. With the help of his colleagues and several key internal and external partnerships, Miller has made geospatial techniques an integral part of the geography curriculum and community outreach at the university. Most notably, Miller and his students have undertaken community-engaged research projects supporting the Saginaw Crime Prevention Council, the City of Saginaw, and most recently, Mid-Michigan Health in Midland.

Then, on Oct. 5, Alfred Mele will speak at 7 p.m. in Ott Auditorium on "Free Will and Neuroscience" for the Dow Visiting Scholar/Beutler Forum: "Free Will and Neuroscience." Mele is the William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister professor of philosophy at Florida State University. He is the author of 11 books and more than 200 articles. He is past director of the Big Question in Free Will project and current director of the Philosophy and Science of Self-Control project, which provides incentives and opportunities for collaborative philosophical and scientific research on self-control.

The series continues Thursday, Oct. 19, with U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee talking about "Promoting Civil Discourse and Fostering Bipartisanship in Today's Politics" at 7 p.m. in Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts. Born and raised in Flint, Kildee was elected to represent Michigan's 5th congressional district beginning in 2013. Kildee was instrumental in working to free Amir Hekmati --a U.S. Marine and Flint native -- who was detained as a political prisoner for four years in Iran. The congressman also was at the forefront of supporting families affected by the Flint water crisis. His speech is part of the O'Neill Lecture.

Alison Games, the Dorothy M. Brown Distinguished Professor of History at Georgetown University, will speak at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, on "The Invention and Legacy of the Amboyna Massacre." Games teaches courses on a variety of topics including early America, the Atlantic world and European expansion, and global interaction. She has authored three books. She has also participated in fellowships with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Huntington Library, and the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study. Her appearance is part of the Barstow Lecture.

The series continues at 9 a.m. Nov. 4 when Richard Lavoie speaks on "The Motivation Breakthrough: Turning on the Tuned-Out Child" in Ott Auditorium. Lavoie has served as a visiting lecturer at numerous universities and presented his message to more than 500,000 parents and professionals throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. Lavoie has delivered keynote addresses for all three of the major special needs advocacy associations in the United States including the Learning Disabilities Association, Council for Exceptional Children, and Children with Attention Deficit Disorder. He appearance is part of the Dow Visiting Scholar program.

Concluding the series is Anne Ruggles Gere, who will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 in Gilbertson Hall, Room 202, on "Literacy: The Full Story." Chair of the joint Ph.D. program in English and Education, and director of the Sweetland Center for Writing at the University of Michigan, Gere regularly teaches courses on writing assessment, composition studies and literacy. Among her current projects, Gere is completing a longitudinal study of 160 student writers across their undergraduate degree. Gere has published a dozen books and over 100 articles. Her appearance is part of the Dow Visiting Scholar program.
Campus-wide communication, including during emergency situations, is expected to improve significantly now that the Delta College Board of Trustees has approved plans to replace its struggling two-way radio system.

The current system, installed in 2003 as a joint facilities and public safety project, has been experiencing increasingly significant problems with poor communication, static, failing batteries and other system failures, officials said.

"The system and individual radios are at their end-of-life and need to be replaced with new digital technology," said Barb Webb, director of business services. "A new digital system will provide clearer communications for all on-campus users, and improve our connections to local emergency response agencies and Bay County 911 Central Dispatch."

The college awarded a $157,000 contract to Anderson Radio, a Bay City company Delta has enjoyed a successful business relationship with for many years. Anderson will install a Motorola system, one that Webb said features the most up to date digital technology. Under terms of the deal, the vendor also is responsible for infrastructure, system set-up and warranty support.

"A reliable radio communication system with coverage across all areas of campus is vital to day-to-day operations and critical for communication during emergencies," Webb said.

The new radio system will be used by facilities management, public safety, information technology, administration and the fitness and recreation center. Larry Ramseyer, director of facilities management, said moving from an analog to a digital system is a huge benefit to his operation.

"We have the most radios, about 30, of any users on campus," he said. "There were a lot of radio failures with the old analog system. The new system will improve the clarity of communication between our maintenance people. It's so much clearer and crisper. That's the big thing."

Features of the new Motorola system include GPS, multiple talk paths, texting, increased battery life and emergency capabilities, among other capabilities.

"Other advantages of a new digital system include the potential to communicate to smart phones and the college's network," Webb said.
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Many Gladwin County Michigan State University Extension alumni and interested community members recently attended the extension's 100th anniversary on the courthouse lawn.

"People are finding out we are about more than cows and food preservation," MSU Extension Director Bev Przystas said. "Our services are changing and we are still providing a need to the community."

Przystas said she enjoyed seeing former 4-H youth, leaders and staff at the event. Przystas, who was Beverly Varner during her 4-H days, was happy to see her former 4-H leader Carolyn C. Bay at the event. Przystas found one of her 4-H Certificates of Achievement that was endorsed by Bay in 1965, when Bay was a Midland County MSU 4-H Agent in 1959. She was the first woman in that role.

"It worked out fine; I didn't know any better," Bay said of the appointment.

She was happy Tuesday to see people she worked with when director in Gladwin.

"Gladwin is a wonderful county," Bay said. "I was very fortunate to have been a county extension director here."

Midland County MSU Extension Family and Community Education committee members Barbara Boulton, Edna Bell, Carolyn O'Keefe and Ruth Lashuay attended to show support. Group President O'Keefe said the group used to be known as Michigan Association of Extension Homemakers and was later renamed FCE. Due to budget cuts, the study group is no longer largely supported by MSU Extension. However, the group receives some support and raises funds independently. The women said they enjoy being part of the extension program.

Gladwin County MSU Extension 4-H Program Coordinator Melissa Preston said the event celebrating its centennial showcases how long the organization has been in the community and how far it has come.

"We started as a way to educate families on new agriculture," said Preston. "(The event) showed how we've grown and developed and tailored programs to the need of the community."

For a century, Gladwin County MSU Extension has assisted the county's economy by equipping residents with information they need to improve their businesses, raise healthy families, build communities and empower youth to dream of a successful future.

Former 4-H youth and leader, Ann Townsend, of Gladwin, has been involved with the county MSU Extension for nearly 30 years. She said the event was great, giving her a chance to reminisce and see friends she has not seen in a while.

Bob Frei and Yvette Keast were in 4-H together. Frei's wife, Nila, said Keast always tried to drown Frei.

"Yep, I did, every chance I got," Keast said.

The two laughed and reminisced while looking at photos taken through the county's existence.

In 2014, the MSU Extension Cooperative celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act, which established the Cooperative Extension Service -- a state-by-state national network of educators who extend university-based research and knowledge to the people.

Jim Thews, of Saginaw, served as Gladwin County MSU Extension director from 1976 to 1987.

"I've always liked the people in Gladwin," Thews said at the event. "It was a good event. A lot of people don't know what they missed."

For more information about Gladwin County MSU Extension, call 989-426-7741 or email msu.gladwin@county.msu.edu.
When Will Pakistan Get Hyperoptic Broadband? 25 September, 2017



What Is Hyperoptic Broadband? Hyperoptic Broadband Is the newest innovation in high speed internet.

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When Will Pakistan Get Hyperoptic Broadband?

How To Choose The Best Possible SEO Company For Your Online Business What Is Hyperoptic Broadband? Hyperoptic Broadband Is the newest innovation in high speed internet. It has been well received for two reasons. Firstly, its extremely fast. Secondly, its very affordable. That sounds like a perfect reason to use this technology in developing countries. Unfortunately, its arrival in Pakistan has been slower than it should have been. The Internet In Pakistan The internet has been in Pakistan for over two decades. Currently, its estimated that twenty per cent of the population of Pakistan are using the internet. In case that seems like a very low amount, it should be remembered that given the size of the Pakistani population, that means approximately 32 million users. That is certainly not a small number. It should also be remembered that Pakistans e commerce industry is worth between 25 and 30 million US dollars per year. Pakistani Society Today Pakistan has its share of intelligent and articulate people. These are definitely the internet users. However, there are large areas of the country where more development is required. The internet has much to offer a society like Pakistan. It can speed up the development of society as a whole by helping education and literacy to spread. To that end, fast and affordable broadband is the need of the hour. With hyperoptic broadband available, it seems almost unbelievable that the technology hasnt reached Pakistan yet. So why hasnt it reached here? Possible Reasons For Hyperoptic Broadband Absence In Pakistan Theres no doubt that hyperoptic broadband could do a lot to improve the reach of the internet in Pakistan, thereby facilitating the development of the more underdeveloped areas of the nation, both geographically and population wise. So what could be the reason for the delay in the arrival of the latest technology?  General lethargy. There could be a lack of interest in doing something positive to tackle the problems of the nation because of a general assumption that the problem is too big and nothing significant can be achieved by trying to do something about it.  Elitism. Could there be a fear among the elite of losing their superior position in society? There may be those who think that everything is fine exactly the way it is and that a lot of educated and aware people in society would disturb the balance.  Resistance to change. There are some who are genuinely afraid that if there are too many educated people in society, they wont be able to find servants. While that idea seems strange to some, its perfectly valid to others. The idea of high speed internet in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi may be fine, but the thought of the internet having a reach into some of the tribal areas may not be so attractive.  Arriving slowly. Strange as it may seem to some, every modern innovation ultimately reaches every corner of the world, sometimes sooner rather than later. Even if Pakistani internet providers havent been falling over themselves to bring the latest technology home, it doesnt mean it wont arrive eventually. It seems difficult to believe that Pakistanis cant provide a market for the latest broadband developments. More Internet Providers Required? If the internet service providers of Pakistan cant get things together sufficiently to provide the latest technology to its customers, perhaps the time has come for some more entrepreneurs to enter this area. Let It Come The internet has been such a success Pakistan, for those who have access to it, that if an improved speed, low cost broadband system becomes available, the effect on Pakistani society may be amazing. Lets wait and see
LEROY  A LeRoy police officer was injured while arresting a Nebraska man on multiple charges late Sunday night.

Officers were called to Chestnut Street on the Interstate 74 overpass at 11:40 p.m. for a report of an intoxicated man, said LeRoy Police Chief Jason Williamson.

Officers found a 19-year-old man from Winnebago, Neb. and began to question him. Police said the man attempted to run away, but he was caught. He struggled with an officer and resisted arrest, said Williamson.

The man was arrested for illegal consumption of alcohol, resisting a peace officer and aggravated battery of a police officer.

He remains in the McLean County jail pending a bond appearance. The Pantagraph does not name suspects in such cases until they are formally charged.

The officer suffered injuries to his wrist and knees and is seeking medical treatment.
BLOOMINGTON  A Missouri man wanted in connection with a murder case in that state is awaiting extradition in McLean County jail after his arrest Sunday at a Bloomington residence.

Police said Deacon Zelch, 40, was arrested around 1:15 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of Van Schoick Street near Miller Park. Jail documents indicate he has out-of-state warrants for first-degree murder and marijuana production.

Police in Bourbon, Mo., previously identified Zelch as a person of interest in the death of Edward Hillhouse, 28, who was reported missing in April 2016.

Police said Hillhouse was last seen leaving his sisters mobile home in Bourbon on April 26, 2016. He was seen walking down the driveway toward a roadway to meet with someone, but that person never picked him up and Hillhouse never returned to the mobile home.

He may have met two individuals prior to his disappearance, but was never heard from again, said police.

Hillhouses body was discovered Sept. 20 on the property of a residence in Bourbon.

Police then asked the public for help in locating Zelch. Police warned the public that Zelch should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

Bourbon is a small town of around 1,632 people in east-central Missouri, about 70 miles southeast of St. Louis. In an obituary, Hillhouse was described as a resident of Cassville, Mo., a town of about 3,266 people in Barry County, Mo., in the southwestern portion of the state. The two towns are about 200 miles apart.

Zelchs connection to Bloomington is not yet known.

According to the Crawford County Sheriffs Department, the Bourbon Police Department and Franklin County Narcotics Task Force combined efforts to work on the case.
BLOOMINGTON  Five former management officials of the city-owned arena face a total of 111 indictments accusing them of stealing city funds, money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy, filing false sales tax returns and conspiracy to commit tax evasion.

The indictments, returned Sept. 20 by a McLean County grand jury, were unsealed Monday after all five defendants posted bond.

Charged are John Y. Butler, president of Central Illinois Arena Management (CIAM); Bart Rogers, CIAM general manager; and CIAM employees Jay C. Laesch, Paul E. Grazar and Kelly W. Klein.

The theft charges against Butler accuse him of taking more than $1.1 million in city money between May 2010 and March 2016  the end date being days before the expiration of CIAM's 10-year management deal with the city.

Butler did not return a request for comment on Monday.

Stephanie Wong, lawyer for Rogers, said she had not reviewed all the charges, but "based on what I'm aware of, Bart's involvement appears much more minor, if at all." Wong said a "huge discrepancy" exists in the number and nature of the charges leveled against Rogers and the other co-defendants.

The charges follow an 18-month investigation by Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Revenue into alleged mismanagement of funds at the facility, then known as U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The probe was initiated after Bloomington police cited a conflict of interest in reviewing CIAM's operations.

Questions about the company's arena management surfaced in August 2016 as the city was working to close the arena's financial books during the management transition from CIAM to the new managers, VenuWorks, city officials said at the time.

In a statement Monday from state police, the agency said it "conducted a thorough investigation and presented their findings to the McLean County state's attorney. On Sept. 20, 2017, a grand jury convened and signed indictments on the five suspects."

The office of McLean County State's Attorney Jason Chambers is handling prosecution of the case. Chambers said Monday that the investigation required a review of "boxes and boxes of documents" provided by the state police.

CIAM managed the arena from its opening in 2006 until March 31, 2016, when its contract with the city ended. VenuWorks took over the next day.

CIAM, which is still listed by the Illinois Secretary of State's office as an active corporation, had opted not to renew its contract with the city.

Forty-four counts are filed against Butler, 58, of Bloomington, including 22 involving theft of government funds, and multiple counts of money laundering, wire fraud, filing false sales tax returns and conspiracy to commit tax evasion. If convicted of the most serious theft charges, Butler would be eligible for six to 30 years in prison.

Butler, who is represented by Urbana lawyer Steven Beckett, was released after posting $30,035.

Rogers, 47, of Morton, is accused of 13 counts of theft of government funds. He was released after posting $10,035.

Kelly W. Klein, 57, of Bloomington, who was assistant general manager for finance at the time, is charged with theft and money laundering. She was released after posting $20,035.

Paul Grazar, 50, of Normal, former food and beverage director for CIAM, faces 13 charges of theft, money laundering, tax evasion and conspiracy to commit tax evasion. He was released on $5,035 bond.

Jay C. Laesch, 37, Heyworth, ex-finance director of BMI Concessions, CIAM's one-time food and beverage service for the venue, was indicted on the same charges as Butler  theft, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit tax evasion. He was released on $25,035 bond.

Laesch is employed by Illinois State University as a budget manager for the School of Teaching and Learning, according to an ISU website. ISU spokesman Eric Jome said he could not comment on the status of Laesch's employment.

"Illinois State University was notified that Mr. Laesch was being taken into custody for matters unrelated to his work at ISU," said Jome.

The state police said the investigation is ongoing.
LINCOLN  As president of Habitat for Humanity of Logan County, Cince Bowns lives by what she calls a simple rule.

Houses are built by contractors, but homes are built by volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, she said Sunday, while volunteers celebrated the 25th anniversary of the group in Logan County. The homes in this county that have been built because of Habitat for Humanity have changed lives.

In the past quarter of a century, there have been 22 homes either built or renovated in Logan County and the 23rd home should be completed soon.

Its about working together, said Tonita Reifsteck, a family support volunteer with HFHLC. This is people working together. This is brotherly love with a hammer and nails. There is no greater thrill than seeing joy come to a family in a new house. These are people who may have used to live with mold coming from the ceiling or rats running through a house. You just dont know what people have had to live through. But, this organization has given a lot of people a new chance.

Habitat volunteers build a close relationship with each family selected through the vetting process, Reifsteck said. Families complete an application which is evaluated by a committee to ensure the family meets the income guidelines as well as the need for housing. After a more detailed application is completed, a home visit with Habitat officials is held and information is gathered from previous landlords, police background checks and credit reports.

Habitat officials often work with the family to help clean up credit reports, since Habitat holds the mortgage for each and every home that it built or remodeled, Bowns said.

In addition to a $500 down payment and monthly mortgage payments, a single person homeowner invests a minimum of 250 hours of labor, sweat equity as families must also invest hours of their own labor into building the houses of others.

Its such a thrill to see the transformation in people when they are getting a new home, said Leonard Krusemark, who has been on the board almost the entire 25 years. It transforms their whole outlook on life. Ive had a little bit to do with practically every house. I love it dearly. It is such a thrill and it unifies a neighborhood.

Habitat for Humanity of Logan County was founded in 1992 and the ground-breaking for the first Logan County home took place on Sept. 19, 1993. Since then, 18 homes have been built or rehabbed in Lincoln, Mount Pulaski, Atlanta and Elkhart. The houses are financed with affordable, no-interest mortgages. Mortgage payments from the families are deposited in a revolving fund and used to build more homes within the community.

Each family also receives training during the process. They learn how to do simple plumbing, siding repair, painting, staining and are provided information on budgeting and home maintenance.

Because the work is done by volunteers, fundraising is often a major component for each home, Bowns said. The HFHLC has used a variety of ways to raise funds, including running a resale warehouse. Donations of building materials, windows, doors, appliances and fixtures are just a few of the items accepted and resold to raise money to build homes. Aluminum cans are collected to be exchanged for money. During the summer, sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, squash, zucchini and other fresh produce have also been sold.

About 70 people attended Sundays celebration at the HFHLC headquarters at 909 Woodlawn Road in Lincoln.

Its a great crowd and we are all very thankful and grateful for what everyone has contributed to this organization, Bowns said. Its a proud day.

Both the headquarters and warehouse were open for tours and to view the Wall of Honor, which featured each of the 22 homes already built.
AF&PA Underscores Need to Retain Investor Protections in North American Free Trade Agreement "NAFTA countries account for 45% of forest products industry total exports, making them a hugely important market for our industry."  Donna Harman, President and CEO, AF&PA. Sept. 25, 2017 (Press Release) - American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman [on Sept. 22] joined fellow business leaders to underscore the importance of retaining investor protections ahead of the upcoming round of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations. The American Petroleum Institute (API) hosted a press briefing where Harman and other participants focused on the need to retain investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) as NAFTA is renegotiated with Canada and Mexico. Harman issued the following statement: NAFTA countries account for 45% of forest products industry total exports, making them a hugely important market for our industry. Our interconnected supply chain benefits U.S. consumers and rural and urban communities across the country where our industry's directly employs 900,000 men and women. That's why it's critical to maintain and expand robust market access and investment protections as NAFTA is renegotiated with Mexico and Canada. ISDS is a strong trade enforcement mechanism that ensures U.S.-owned assets aren't subject to unfair government investment practices by our trade partners. It is an essential part of a new and improved NAFTA for the future. Here's an example why. One of our members faced expropriation of assets by a Canadian provincial government action. The company was able to use the NAFTA ISDS provision to challenge the expropriation of its property to reach a $130 million settlement with Canada in 2010. Without ISDS, the government in Canada would have taken the asset without any compensation to the U.S.-based company. Some of our members also export paper packaging materials from their U.S. mills to converting plants in Mexico where they manufacture corrugated shipping containers. They do this to be close to their converting facilities, which serve local customers in the produce industry and other manufactured products. We, along with others, have made the case that ISDS must remain in NAFTA to the U.S. Trade Representative, other Cabinet officials and Members of Congress. And we will continue to speak in that unified voice. Participating in the event with Harman were: Jack Gerard, API President and CEO; Cal Dooley, American Chemistry Council President and CEO; Kenneth Bentsen, Jr., Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association President and CEO; Linda Dempsey, National Association of Manufacturers Vice President, Supply Chain and Customs Policy; and Rob Mulligan, US Council for International Business Senior Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs. The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative  Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 . The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures approximately $200 billion in products annually, and employs nearly 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 45 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper . SOURCE: AF&PA
Puerto Rico, a United States territory home to 3.5 million Americans that exists somewhere between statehood and sovereignty, has been devastated by category 4 Hurricane Maria. The storm saw 160 mph winds wallop the island, causing a dam to break and resulting in major flooding throughout the island, which also lost electricity.

Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello called on the Pentagon on Sunday to provide more aid to the commonwealth, saying the island has faced "complete devastation." He added, "We need more resources from the Department of Defense so we can get helicopters and resources. We know that there are capabilities in the surrounding areas, helicopters, planes and so forth." Rossello also asked Congress to help in any way possible, saying, "Whatever relief package we have, whatever impact we have, we are U.S. citizens. We shouldn't be the lesser for it."

"This is a game changer," Rossello told CNN this morning. "We need to prevent a humanitarian crisis occurring in America."

It took Donald Trump a full five days to make a statement on the crisis, leading some to wonder if he knew that the island fell under his jurisdiction as president. faced a wave criticism for his deafening silence on Puerto Rico, despite his active Twitter presence over the weekend spent bashing the NFL.

Mr. President shut the fuck up about NFL. Do something about our people in need in #PuertoRico. We are American citizens too.

 Marc Anthony (@MarcAnthony) September 25, 2017

Hey @realDonaldTrump you can't wait that long. There will be a lot of American deaths on your watch if you wait that long. https://t.co/lwvtbcdtHU

 Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 25, 2017

President Trump, Sec. Mattis, and DOD should send the Navy, including the USNS Comfort, to Puerto Rico now. These are American citizens. https://t.co/J2FVg4II0n

 Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 24, 2017

Puerto Rico in crisis right now & Donald has not yet visited or talk about it .PR is part of the USA you know Don't forget about the island

 iamcardib (@iamcardib) September 24, 2017

He did finally make a statement on Twitter about Puerto Rico on Monday evening, sending out three tweets that seemed to blame the island territory for its own devastation, followed by a vague assurance that it was "doing well" ( contrary to reports from Puerto Rico's governor):



Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble..

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017

...It's old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars....

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017

...owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with. Food, water and medical are top priorities - and doing well. #FEMA

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2017

The Monday night tweets were the first comments Trump made publicly about Puerto Rico since right before Maria hit five days earlier. At that time he said, "We are with you."

Governor @RicardoRossello-

We are with you and the people of Puerto Rico. Stay safe! #PRStrong

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2017

Even without Trump's outright support, relief efforts to the island will go on, and there are many organizations accepting donations to provide immediate help to victims:



United For Puerto Rico: launched by First Lady of Puerto Rico Beatriz Rossello

Unidos: a fund supported by Bill De Blasio, Congress members Nydia Velazquez and Adriano Espaillat, NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and managed by the Hispanic Federation (a leading non-profit)

The Miami Foundation: comprised of two different funds, which includes for hurricane relief work that "will support recovery and rebuilding work driven by organizations on the ground," and one called U.S. Caribbean Strong Relief Fund that "will support relief efforts in Caribbean island nations and territories, including Antigua & Barbuda, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba and Puerto Rico."

You can also call your representative and put pressure on them to ensure relief aid reaches Puerto Rico. This site provides a helpful template for what to say when calling, and for finding your representative.

Below is a helpful map that locates donation centers, courtesy of www.diasporicans.com:





[h/t Diasporicans]
I've written about my most awkward encounters with celebs over the years, but let's take it a step beyond that and go for horrible. Here are some of the ickiest interspecies moments (some of which were surely my own damned fault):



Back in the day, I spotted the often troubled Sinead O'Connor out on the scene and cornered her to say that her "Nothing Compares 2 U" video was intense and riveting. "What were you thinking about when filming that, to get that effect?" I wondered, innocently. "I'm not thinking about it now," she replied.

I had written a huge cover story about Christina Ricci, praising her for not being a cookie cutter ingenue and for daring to be a tiny bit pudgy and different. When I caught up with Ricci again at an event, she looked a lot more svelte, designer-y, and, dare I say, generic. "What happened?" I asked her. "Well, you've lost weight too!" she responded, sensibly.

On the phone with Famke Janssen (GoldenEye, X-Men), I started talking about her large feet, which had come up plain as day in a google search. I'd talked to Famke before and found her smart and appealing. This time, I started telling her about my own oversized footsies and how hard it was to get proper shoes. I babbled on for a while, insanely thinking we were bonding. "Why are we talking about this?" responded Janssen, annoyed. I vowed to never talk about myself againthat muchin an interview, especially when it relates to the subject's physical traits.

French screen legend Jeanne Moreau (who died in July) was in a movie about Marguerite Duras and had also directed a movie based on one of Duras' works. She was talking to reporter at my table at a luncheon some years ago when the reporter leaned over and asked me to join their conversation. (She must have been bored and wanted a lifeline.) I had no idea which Duras movie they were talking about since I had been chatting with someone else the whole time, and frankly, I didn't really feel like being dragged into this conversation at all. But to be polite and to help out the writer, I ventured a guess and made a smiling comment about it. Moreauwho had been charming when I did a one-on-one with her years earlier--ridiculously bristled. "NO!!!!" she shrieked, out of control. "WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT FILM!!!!" They were talking about the other one!!!! I didn't give a shit about either one of them, I was just being nice enough to go along with a conversation that obviously the reporter was tired of shouldering alone. As the Gallic diva kept railing without a filter, I turned my back on her, only to have her seem to realize she'd misstepped and flutter her eyelashes while cooing, "Perhaps we should start again?" Um, no.

Swedish bombshell Anita Ekberg was even worse when I met and dined with her in 1999. She was patronizing, dismissive, and downright mean. The former Fellini star distrusts the press, no matter what you say or do. Everything that came out of my mouth was wrong to her. Every aspect of the evening was another excuse for the former siren to bark orders at publicists. At one point, I offered Ekberg a beautiful drawing I'd brought of her from La Dolce Vita. She looked at it like it was a pile of manure and blatantly refused it. Ever since our encounter, I call her "Anita Yeck-berg".

Wait, there's more: I love Marlo Thomas. I loved her in the sitcom That Girl and in almost everything else. But one over-the-top scream she let out in some TV movie tickled a friend and I, and I made gleeful fun of it in my column. Later on, when I was introduced to Marlo at a party, she disarmed me with her opening salvo: "You don't like me, but I like you." "Oh, no, I adore you," I replied, sincere but flustered. I use her line all the time now.

This one bears repeating (especially since this list is heavily on the female side): At a dinner for some movie very few people cared about, I was brought to a table to have a quick interview with Sam Shepard, who was in the film. (Sadly, Shepard died last month.) I nervously asked the renowned playwright/actor something about how he prepared for the role, trying to act like I cared. He glowered and responded, "You call that a question?" "You call that an answer?" I shot back, and he almost cracked a half smile in appreciation, but I was too busy abandoning the table to fully notice.

I had requested an interview with Janeane Garofalo, whom I'd talked to before and enjoyed. When she answered the phone, I started by quipping, "We've got to stop meeting like this." Janeane took it seriously, as if I was really saying we should stop communicating. She replied, "Well, you're the one who requested the interview." I stuttered and stammered, trying to explain that "We've got to stop meeting like this" is a joke from old comedy sketchesusually about adulterous couplesand I was just invoking it for a giggle. I vowed to stop using really old referencesor at least try tofor a while.

At parties, Courtney Love has repeatedly come up to me and babbled entertainingly. Figuring we had some kind of social bond going (she had once even praised me mid-concert and dedicated the show to me), I contacted her publicist, asking if I could interview Courtney on the record. "What is the angle?" they wanted to know, engaging in that perverse publicist's mission to try to stop publicity from happening. "I would ask about her tour, her music, and anything else she wants to talk about," I responded, feeling there was no way they could have any problem with that. Somehow they did, and they never set up the interview. So I'll just wait till the next party.

In 2013, I interviewed the great Joan Collins. I'd spoken to her beforeeven once in her luxurious Beverly Hills home--but I didn't want to stop meeting like this. During the conversation, I commented on a fun and trashy 1975 thriller Joan made called The Devil Within Her. The diva bristled, "What do you mean by 'trashy?'" Um, let's see, the flick involves Joan as a nightclub stripper who fends off a rape by a carnival little-person, who then puts a spell on her, making her pregnant with the love child of Satan. Trashy much? Rather than re-tell the plot to her, I simply assured her that "trashy" is not a bad word to me.

And finally, a couple of great divas of Broadway and cabaret took turns torturing me. In 1987, a publicist ushered me backstage to meet the timelessly talented Eartha Kitt, moments before she was about to give a performance. And she gave a performance all right. Rather than cutely meow at me, the eternal kitten roared her disapproval at my question and in, fact, my being there at all. (Interestingly, years later, I interviewed Eartha onstage at a gay bar and she was sweet and pretty much shy!) Even worse was my onstage interview with Elaine Stritch in 2014. Backstage, the award winner emerged from the elevator in a wheelchair, literally screaming about how unhappy she was. When I started the Q&A by posing a question, she yelped, "Oh, no! You're not going to be the first!" The first one to talk? But I was the moderator. Were we supposed to just sit there in silence? Actually, I wish we had because almost every question I askedno matter how fawning the setupwas greeted with quick words of evasion or disdain. Halfway through, Stritch seemed to finally realize I was there to make her look good, and Jeanne Moreau-style, she started coquettishly flattering me and saying we should have lunch. There are several reasons why that never happened. But I'm man enough to realize that Stritch was frail and about to retire, plus she was overworked promoting her documentaryand besides, her nightmarish behavior made for great copy. So bring on the horrible encounters!
The media tried to make out that the iPhone 8 is a loser because of smaller iPhone line-ups on Friday and Bloomberg isn't helping any with their Sunday report titled "iPhone Disappointment Hammers Suppliers, Fuels Taiwan Outflows." Yet, isn't what we're reading really reactionary versus fact?

The Bloomberg report states that Apple's latest products are getting a thumbs down by "investors in the company's Asian suppliers." That doesn't mean Apple fans aren't buying the new iPhone 8. The day before the iPhone 8 was introduced, Loup Ventures' Gene Munster told CNBC predicted that Apple's stock would fall 8% after the iPhone event. Apple's stock had a great run-up before the event and it's what Wall Street does before a selloff the day after the iPhone event.

It's a Wall Street function and Munster just wanted to get get the news out ahead of the stock falling so as to calm fans down and tell them to expect a normal sell-off that in reality means nothing. It's buy on the rumor sell on the facts. The Asian investor move is the very same thing. The Press trying to make a big deal of what's normal is disingenuous to say the least

But now comes a new negative rumor out to hurt Apple. According to Digitimes, "Apple has reportedly instructed component suppliers to withhold part of the component shipments prepared for the production of iPhone X devices, according to sources from Taiwan-based upstream component suppliers.

Suppliers are currently shipping parts and components that amount to only about 40% of the quantities originally planned for the initial production of iPhone X, said the sources.

However, despite the instruction for shipment slowdown, some suppliers still need to step up production to meet the 40% requirement due to low yield rates at their production lines, the sources indicated.

Apple adopted the same strategy previously for iPhone 7 in 2016 during which initial shipments of parts and components reached only about 60% of the materials originally required by the vendor, noted the sources, adding that Apple pulled in the remaining 40% of orders 1-2 months later.

Apple is waiting to see the pre-sale orders of the iPhone X as well as the sales performance of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus before pushing the production of iPhone X into full gear, said the sources."

It's a questionable rumor and one that comes across as a custom designed rumor to seed further FUD (Fear, uncertainty and Doubt) in the market in the hopes of dampening enthusiasm for the iPhone X. Something Apple's Chinese competitors are praying for.

The media of late seems to have turned on Apple at every turn. Patently Apple posted a report last week titled "Naysayers are already piling on to say that Apple's HomePod is destined to be a Market Loser" before it even hits the market.

The media is now into high gear inventing hit-pieces on Apple. To a certain extent this is now the norm and fully expected. This is why Patently Apple posted a report titled "It's Circus Time: Apple Competitors race to discredit the coming iPhones as behind the Curve & Late to Market" ahead of the hit pieces coming forth so that Apple fans could take all the noise in stride.

Yet it seems that the media war against Apple is relentless this year, even though Apple Stores are jammed packed with customers on weekends, something that most competing companies that have similar retail stores like Xiaomi, Microsoft and Samsung would die for. For now it's all noise with no supporting facts behind this latest round of media mayhem. Until Apple announces their holiday quarter sales in calendar Q1 2018, the negative speculation that is rampant is simply meaningless.

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To keep up with what's happening in Bihar, I, like many others, subscribe to Google News allowing them to litter my inbox with the same news published on different websites with slightly different headlines.

Monday, Sept. 25th was no different than any other day when I bumped into this news on NDTV.com written by one Manish Kumar.

On first glance, I was saddened by the fact that once again, my home state was in the news for all the wrong reasons. Math experts applying for professor's job at the Magadh University allegedly could not solve a math problem of 9th-grade level. Another applicant spelt 'triangle' as 'trangle'.

Embarrassing? Without a doubt.

The article did not stop there; it went on to dredge up past stories of how Bihar education allows mass cheating in school exams and how fake toppers like Ruby Rai 'learnt cooking in political science class'.

Another hit job on Bihar!

In my life spanning over five decades, I have met with people from nearly all states in India (ok, I exaggerated; not all but most states) and I can assure you, barring a few exceptions, almost entire India cannot write one correct sentence in English (or for that matter, Hindi) be it Delhi, UP, MP, Maharashtra, Punjab, AP, TN or any other state.

Apparently, Manish Kumar has never met a Gujarati in his life. And before you slam me for criticizing the messenger and not the message, let me be very clear that Manish Kumar, or reporters like him, are quite within their rights to report failure of education in Bihar. My only complaint is, how come we never see such articles about other states like Gujarat?

Besides failing to pronounce English words properly (everyone knows how 'hall' becomes 'hole' and 'cash' becomes 'case' in Gujarat), it is a mystery to me how these people can even spell their name in English. Is this because their education is 'superior' to the education being imparted in Bihar?

Here is a recent example of an email I received from a colleague of mine who is from Gujarat. See if it makes any sense to you:

"Beacuse communication with user is break and again circulate new id to all users so this while take time to stable communication from user to IT person. And after all set well then is left from over organisation and we do all activity again".

As I scratched my head, my reaction was as you might have expected  huh? The matter was cleared only after I picked up the phone and talked to him in Hindi.

And this is just one quick example!

I am, by no means, trying to disparage this person from Gujarat or trying to condone poor English or math of the Bihari students (our 'netas' have screwed our students for many generations to come but that's the topic of some other article) but what irks me most is these so-called reporters/journalists who are very quick on their feet to show Bihar in a negative light. These same reporters never talk about the poor state of education in other states but as long as Bihar and Biharis looks bad, they are satisfied and happy with their job.

I am of strong belief that if there was an apple-to-apple comparison between the state of education in Bihar and other states, perhaps with a few exceptions, I doubt any state would come out any better than Bihar when it comes to English or math.

But hey, bhaat the hale I know? I am just a product of a stupid skool called BN Collegiate bhair ebhrything was tought Hindi. Yuo think I cannot spell trangle? Try asking me to spell rektangolar!
Trump's New Travel Ban Targets Iran; Adds North Korea, Venezuela

09/25/17

Source: RFE/RL

President Donald Trump has issued new restrictions on people trying to enter the United States from eight nations -- adding North Korea and Venezuela to a list that also includes Iran -- to replace his expiring travel ban. Trump signed a proclamation on September 24 implementing a range of restrictions that will apply to citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea, and Venezuela.

In same week that #Trump tried to appeal to #Iran-ian people at #UNGA he orders fresh indefinite travel ban on them https://t.co/ibCa14sUUS  Ellie Geranmayeh (@EllieGeranmayeh) September 25, 2017

Limitations on citizens of Sudan were lifted while Iraqi citizens face enhanced scrutiny, or vetting, but will not be subject to travel prohibitions.



The new restrictions will go into effect on October 18, eight days after the court is due to hear oral arguments over the legality of Trump's previous ban.



"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump said a tweet.



Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif criticized Trump's order earlier on September 25, writing on Twitter: "Trump's fake empathy for Iranians rings ever more hollow, with his new and even more offensive travel ban against such outstanding citizens."

Trump's fake empathy for Iranians rings ever more hollow, with his new and even more offensive travel ban against such outstanding citizens.  Javad Zarif (@JZarif) September 25, 2017

Zarif issued the statement from New York, where he has been attending sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.



The measures restricting travel to the United States include an indefinite ban on visas for citizens of countries like Syria.



A suspension of nonimmigrant visas for citizens of Venezuela will apply only to certain government officials and their immediate families.



Venezuela and North Korea are the only two non-Muslim majority nations on the list.



The previous ban, which sparked international outrage and legal challenges when enacted in March, expired on September 24.



The new policy may complicate the Supreme Court's review of the expired ban, which is scheduled for argument next month.



With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bui Power Authority (BPA), Fred Oware, has hinted of plans to construct a new hybrid power plant in the Northern Region to boost power supply in the country.



The hybrid plant will be situated on a 200-acre land at Carpenter in the Bole District located on the left bank of the Volta River, 12 kilometers from the dam site.



It is expected to add 50 megawatts to the national grid.



According to Mr. Oware, the necessary steps, including compensation of land owners, have been taken to ensure the smooth construction of the plant which will take not less than 12 months to complete.



He further noted that the Authority was almost done with the environmental licensing and authorization from the Energy Commission.



Once we finish all these in the matter of days, we will start the actual construction, he added.



Mr Oware explained that the hybrid plant, upon construction, will generate power using both sun (solar) and water (hydro).



Therefore when we cannot use the sun to generate power due to natural happenings, we will use the water which is the hydro, he added.



He said currently the water level in the Bui Dam had risen to about 174.64 from 168 and expressed the hope that the torrential rains will help raise the water level in the reservoir to sustain the hydro power generation.



The CEO of Bui Power further observed that the Authority would be looking at other hydro sources of power generation to boost power generation of the country.



He said the Authority was currently studying rivers in both the Central and Western regions to ascertain whether a 50 to 60 megawatt hydro plant could be constructed.



Once the studies are done, we will be looking for other investors from the private sector to join us on PPP or BOT basis, he said.



Mr. Oware disclosed this after the Deputy Minister of Energy in-charge of Power, William Owuraku Aidoo inaugurated the Bui Power Authority Board in Accra.



The board members are Ambassador Afare Apeadu Donkor, Fred Oware, Alhaji Abubakari Abdul-Rahman, Sylvia Maria Osare, Gabriel Osei, Dr. Adams Sulemana Achanso and Kwaku Bowiansa Abrefa.



They were tasked to exploit the renewable energy resources in the country, among others.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The reconstituted board of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has been tasked to work hard to ensure the resolution of all challenges associated with the companys transmission system.



William Owuraku Aidoo, Deputy Minister of Energy in-charge of Power, who tasked the new board to work urgently to establish the wholesale electricity market, said that would help to reduce tariffs and provide some relief to customers in addition to improving Ghanas competitiveness in West Africa.



The Deputy Minister also encouraged the new board to position GRIDco in the wholesale power market.



The board is chaired by Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere.



Other members are Jonathan Amoako-Baah, Dzifa Amegashie, Kenneth Kwamina Thompson, Nicholas Kwabena Smart-Yeboah, Air Vice Marshall I.S. Kadri, Naana Eyiah, Nana Henry Kofi Nti and Frederick Fredua Antoh.



Ambassador Kabral, who delivered the acceptance speech on behalf of the board members, pledged to help GRIDco to deliver and guarantee uninterrupted power supply for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes.



The deputy minister also inaugurated a new board for the Bulk Oil Storage & Transportation (BOST) Company Limited.



He urged the board to address the huge debt portfolio arising out of its past operations and find innovative ways of monetizing its operations.



Furthermore, he advised them to use their expertise to resolve BOSTs challenges of keeping adequate stock of the national strategic petroleum reserves due to the lack of funds, long delay in upgrading the depots nationwide to meet international standards and also the absence of laboratories in the depots, which has created bottlenecks for the analysis of the quality of products.



Additionally, he urged the BOST board to be upbeat instead rushing to control fuel prices indirectly to prevent the unpleasant situation that Ghanaians experienced in 2014 where people, particularly drivers, queued for several hours to purchase petroleum products.



Chaired by Dr Kwame Achampong-Kyei, other members of the board are Alfred Obeng, Kamal-Deen Abdulai, Angelina Baiden-Amissah, Djornobuah Alex Tetteh, Desmond A. Nartey, Joyce Agyeman Attafuah, John Kweku Akyene Duncan and Nana Yaw Owusu Akwanuasa.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Managing Director and Chief Executive Ofiicer of United Bank for Africa (Ghana), Madam Abiola Bawuah, has been adjudged the Marketing Woman of the Year 2016 at the 28th National Marketing Performance Awards.



The awards organised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) was held on Saturday 23rd September, 2017 at the State Banquet Hall in Accra.



The awards which remains one of the most competitive and prestigious events to reward marketing excellence in the country, is in recognition of Madam Bawuah's excellence in strategic marketing in the areas of Market Insights, People Management, Corporate Reputation Management, CSR, and Sound Marketing Management that set her apart as a corporate achiever for the year 2016.



The CIMG 2016 event saw some 42 awards handed to organisations and individuals for excellence and extraordinary work done in the year. Although, humbled by the award, this did not come to her as a surprise, as a challenging 2016 business year, saw the United Bank for Africa (UBA Ghana) MD develop new strategies such as the 'Awoof' deposit mobilisation campaign to increase savings which reflected heavily in the banks bottom-line.



In less than a year of joining UBA, she was elevated to the position of MD/CEO, with two firsts: being the first indigenous CEO of a Pan African Bank and the first female CEO to take the helm. This is a position she has held until today and under her tenure, Mrs Bawuah has seen the profits of the bank increase by incredible margins.



The bank's deposits within the four years she has been at the helm of affairs rose from GHC350 million to the GHC1billion mark through 2016 deposit figures of over GHC3billion.

In 2015, as the MD/CEO of UBA Ghana, Mrs Bawuah was adjudged the overall Banking and Finance Female Personality of the Year 2014 at an awards ceremony held at the International Conference Centre in Accra.



The awards ceremony also saw her being awarded female banker of the year; while UBAs innovative female tailor- made product for discerning women, RUBY, was adjudged the product of the year. The awards were organized by the National Women in Finance Magazine (NWIF).



Commenting on the CIMG 2016 awards, Mrs. Abiola Bawuah, thanked the staff and management of UBA for their enormous support since taking office. The celebrated banker was quick to mention her board as great part of her success as she continued to shower praise on them.



Our energy has been revived from the top. There is a new direction and already we have begun restrategising from 2018 through to 2020. We will continue to support our customers, build our employees who are our most prized asset and partner government projects as we have done in the past she said.



Mrs Bawuah was recently celebrated by Woman Rising, Ghanas leading network of Women Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders who released a comprehensive & inspiring list of the Top 50 Women Corporate Leaders in Ghana featuring 50 leading corporate women from various business sectors aimed at recognizing the outstanding achievements of women in the development of the Ghanaian economy and inspiring the next generation of globally minded women business leaders.



She was adjudged in the non-ranked top 50 female women in Ghana in that award.



Mrs. Bawuah comes with enormous experience in retail banking and marketing. She holds a BSc in Actuarial Science from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Legum Baccalaureus (LLB) with honors from the University of London, a diploma in Marketing from GIMPA and an EMBA (Finance) from the University of Ghana and also has numerous leadership qualifications from Harvard Business School, Columbia, University of New York, INSEAD and Institut Villa Pierrefeu in Switzerland.



UBA is a full service financial institution that offers a plethora of unique banking products and services, based on which our dear customers are being delighted. As Africa's global bank, UBA Ghana has developed a branch footprint and delivery network that has ensured that the Bank's services are always within the reach of its valued customers.



In line with the Banks positioning statement and strategic intent, UBA Ghana has a footprint of 26 fully networked branches, two agencies and over 50 ATM's spread across Accra, Tema, Tarkwa, Tamale, Takoradi, Kumasi, Tarkwa and Aflao.



Instructively, UBA Ghana, herein referred to as UBA, is a subsidiary of the United Bank for Africa Plc which is one of Africas leading financial institutions offering services to more than 14 million customers with over 1000 branches and customer touch points and robust online and mobile banking platforms in 19 African countries as well as presence in the United Kingdom, The United States of America and France.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ghanas President Nana Akufo-Addo was welcomed by an affectionate kiss from his dear wife, Rebecca, after his brilliant speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last Thursday.



Nana Addo was flashed on a broad smile when Ghanas First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, fondly called Auntie Becky, grabbed and kissed him just after the speech.



Several dignitaries from the world over also took turns to congratulate Ghanas President for his delivery at the Assembly.



The speech touched on a broad range of issues including a call for reforms at the UN in order to create fairness and equity for all member states.



It has been talked about and scheduled for a long time, but, somehow, we have never found the courage and the will to reform the United Nations. Ghana supports the process of UN Reform, especially of the UN Security Council, as set out in Africas Common Position on UN Reform, based on the Ezulwini Consensus. The time is long overdue to correct the longstanding injustice that the current structure and composition of the UN Security Council represent for the nations of Africa, Nana Addo noted.



He continued: we cannot continue to preach democracy and fairness around the world, we cannot insist on peace and justice around the world, when our global organisation is not seen by the majority of its members as having a structure that is just and fair. It is, indeed, seen by many as helping to perpetuate an unfair world order.



This Organisation provides the best vehicle for the world to manage its many varied problems, and we would undermine its credibility and fail in our duty if we do not reform the United Nations. We dare not let ourselves and future generations down. The time for reform has come.



The President told the Assembly that his government is working to grow Ghanas economy and, thereby, open up opportunities for the progress and prosperity of all Ghanaians.



Acknowledging that Ghana is nowhere near where she has to be, his administration is determined to realise fully the countrys potential, and make Ghana a prosperous nation.



It is for this reason, President Akufo-Addo noted, that we do not want to be a scar on anybodys conscience. We want to build an economy that is not dependent on charity and hand-outs. Long and bitter experience has taught us no matter how generous the charity, we would remain poor.



The President continued, We want to build a Ghana which looks to the use of its own resources and their proper management as the way to engineer social and economic growth in our country. We want to build an economy that looks past commodities to position our country in the global marketplace.



Whilst not disclaiming aid, the President stressed that we do want to discard a mind-set of dependency and living on handouts; we want to build a Ghana beyond aid. It is an easier platform on which to build sustainable relationships.



He told the General Assembly that his government has started the Free Senior High School programme, which aims to guarantee at least secondary education for all Ghanas children.



The implementation of the Free SHS policy, President Akufo-Addo, added would mean that Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims at ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, will be within Ghanas reach by the target date of 2030.



To this end, President Akufo-Addo noted that no longer should Ghanaians feel they have to subject themselves to the intolerable and inhumane conditions of crossing the Sahara and drowning in the Mediterranean in the hope of making a living in Europe.

Source: The Publisher









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwabre East Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Francisca Oteng Mensah is proposing the distribution of condoms to teenage girls to help prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).



According to her, during my visit to the UK, I observed that some schools were distributing contraceptives and condoms to teenage girls on Fridays to help protect them sexually. It is high time we paid attention to such issues since parents cannot be everywhere with their teenage girls. The use of these contraceptives will also help teenagers not to contract sexual related diseases



Speaking in a meeting at Our Lady of Grace Senior High School (SHS) at Mamponteng in the Kwabre East District, she urged the Ministry of Education (MoE) to adopt this initiative of distributing condoms every Friday to teenage girls to curb the high rate of teenage pregnancies in Ghana.



She added that there was the need for parents and other stakeholders to come together to deal with the increasing rate of teenage pregnancies in the country.



Fifty-seven thousand teenage pregnancies were recorded nationwide in the first half of 2017.



A total of 31 teenage pregnancy related deaths were also recorded during the period.



Mr Simeon Kwabena Acheampong, the Ashanti Regional Manager of Marie Stopes International, Ghana, an international NGO, providing contraception and safe abortion services said a total of 9,100 adolescents reportedly got pregnant in the Ashanti Region during the first half of this year.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Legal Practitioner Ace Kojo Anan Ankomah has fired back at critics questioning the rationale behind his travel to the United States of America within the same period as Citi FMs CEO, Mr Samuel Attah-Mensah (Sammens).



According to him, some persons on a particular partys platform were raising questions as to why he travelled to London around the same time, wondering what he had up his sleeves.



In a Facebook post, Lawyer Ankomah mockingly told his critcs to mind their own businesses adding that these very same persons raising eyebrows about his trip will barely last in the states after joining any of their meetings even if their flights were sponsored.



Jack, 3fa wo ho b3n? Me te wo nky3n ko school anaa? Next time me do wo bek) wae. After the first intensive meeting, woara na wo be dwane, after your brain starts to melt in your mouth!, the post read.



Reacting to claims that Samuel Attah-Mensah; Sammens trip to the USA was government sponsored, he said that the assertions were mere silly obsessions as it was baseless for anyone to suggest that a man of his caliber must necessarily have been sponsored by government to be able to afford a trip outside the country.



Clearly, there is some silly obsession with travel and abrokyire. Suddenly Samuel Attah-Mensah (CEO of Citi FM, for crying out loud!!!) cant travel to New York? It must be the government that paid to send him there? Ok, then why was he wearing a tag? A tag?? Abeg, Sammens, make you bring the tag and take come dash am! Anokwa!!



Background



Sammens was in the news a few days back for allegedly travelling to the United States of America (USA) on full government sponsorship as part of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos entourage.



Mr. Mensah together with Gabby Otchere-Darko were on Thursday, September 21, 2017, heckled by anti Akufo-Addo demonstrators who were literally hurling insults at them and accusing them of spending government.



In a video that has gone viral, Sammens was heard saying he traveled to the states for the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at his own cost and as a media person.



He was heard saying I can show you my passport, I paid for by own trip



To prove a point and explain himself further, he posted on his facebook page;



I was at the UN. Yes I went. I bought my own ticket, booked my own hotel, bought my own Pizza and took my own pictures. Im still here as a media person with equal accesses as any other media person. You bore? You can go burn the sea

Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Police Service has dismissed rumours of a supposed terror attack on Accra mall.



According to the police there were reports on social media that the incident occurred at the mall on Sunday.



The Police this [Sunday] afternoon monitored information on social media that a group of terrorist had attacked the Accra mall.The police on receiving the information conducted a security checks on the mall and found the information to be false, a statement from the police and sighed by Director-General of the Public Affairs Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police, David E. Eklu added.



The police in the statement further cautioned persons behind such false information to desist from it since it has serious implications for the security of the whole country.



The police further assured that it is investigating to identify those behind the false information for necessary action to be taken. The false terror report comes on the back of a terror alert the Canadian government issued to its citizens traveling to Ghana in August 2017.



There is a threat of terrorism. Terrorist targets could include shopping malls, government buildings, public areas such as bars, restaurants, hotels and sites frequented by Westerners. Be aware of your surroundings in public places, a notice posted by the Canadian government added.



The United Kingdom also in August added to Ghanas terrorism concerns with travel advice on its websiteindicating that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Ghana.



While there have been no recent attacks in Ghana, terrorist groups in west Africa have demonstrated their capability and intent by mounting attacks in 2015 and 2016 in Cote dIvoire, Burkina Faso and Mali, targeting beach resorts, hotels, cafes and restaurants visited by foreigners, UK stated on its website.



Security services in Ghana in April 2016 warned of such terror attacks on the country but later said enough measures had been put in place to avert terrorism.

Source: citifmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Minister of Energy and Petroleum Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has called on Ghanaian authorities to engage their Ivorian counterparts despite the greenlight given the country to continue oil-drilling offshore in the Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN) Fields.



Ghana was given a lifeline by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on Saturday, when it ruled that the country has not violated maritime boundary agreements by its exploratory activities near the border with Ivory Coast. The two countries have since resolved to abide by the ruling.

But the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle Constituency  which is nearby La Cote dIvoire  says a good relationship that will augur well for us should be maintained. He was speaking on TV3 on Saturday. They have to look back and engage Cote dIvoire on how to resolve our relationship, he advised. He said the former president, John Dramani Mahama, whose decision it was to proceed to ITLOS despite a cordial relationship with President Alassane Ouattara, should be commended.

The team Mr Mahama put together should also be commended, the former Petroleum Minister said. He was happy the ruling gives Ghana safety in exploring offshore Cape Three Points as many activities were suspended due to the case. We see a [bright] future with our oil and gas.

Source: 3news.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Government communicators and apologists admit that "free SHS"(?), for now, covers ONLY first year students, despite NPP's manifesto promise to "ensure free education for all Ghanaian children up to senior high school".



In fact, these same people also admit that continuing students (2nd and 3rd SHS students) are completely excluded from the ongoing policy.



Put differently, students in SHS 2 and 3 will pick their own bills for secondary education. And that's a point that government communicators do not disagree!



Yet they insist they insist that the government's free secondary education policy in its present form is not progressively free but rather universally free.







Source: James Agyenim-Boateng/facebook









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) ruled on Saturday September 23, that Ghana did not violate Ivory Coasts rights by drilling for oil in a disputed maritime area, according to the tribunal judge.



In a unanimous decision, the Special Chamber of ITLOS also rejected Cote d' Ivoire's claim that Ghana and its coastal lines are unstable.



It however dismissed Ghana's claim that there has been a tacit agreement between it and Cote d'Ivoire.



ITLOS also accepted Ghana's argument of adoption of equidistance method of delimitation of maritime boundary between it and Cote d'Ivoire.



The Special Chamber finds the argument advanced by Ivory Coast that the hydrocarbon activities carried out by Ghana in the disputed area constitute a violation of the sovereign rights of Ivory Coast is not sustainable, said Judge Boualem Bouguetaia, President of the Special Chamber.





Click here for the ruling >>









Background



In September 2014, the Government of Ghana dragged Cote d'Ivoire to ITLOS in Hamburg, Germany, after the francophone neighbour began laying claim to some offshore oil concessions and adjoining seabed being developed and exploited by various companies, including Tullow Oil plc., within Ghanas territory.



Ghanas resort to ITLOS under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) followed 10 failed attempts at negotiations between the two countries. Ghana wants ITLOS to declare that it had not encroached on Ivory Coasts territorial waters. Ghana filed its suit based on Article 287 Annex VII of the 1982 UNCLOS.



Cote d'Ivoire, in February 2015, filed for preliminary measures urging the tribunal to suspend all activities on the disputed area until the definitive determination of the case, dubbed: Dispute Concerning Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary between Ghana and Cote dIvoire in the Atlantic Ocean.



Ghana maintained that Cote d'Ivoire began issuing threatening letters to oil companies operating in the disputed area after millions of dollars had been invested to develop the affected oilfields.



Exploration and exploitation work on the Tweneboah-Enyera-Ntoumme (TEN) project being operated by Tullow Oil Plc., and its partners would have been affected had the tribunal ordered a suspension of all activities.



However, in April 2015, ITLOS, in its provisional measures, said on-going projects in the disputed fields, including the $7.5-billion TEN project could proceed while the substantive case was being dealt with, but ordered that Ghana should not start new explorations within the same fields.



The provisional measures followed legal and technical representations made by both countries at ITLOSs Special Chamber in Hamburg, Germany, on March 29 and 30, 2015, after which ITLOS ruled thus:



THE SPECIAL CHAMBER,



(1) Unanimously



22



Prescribes, pending the final decision, the following provisional measures under article 290, paragraph 1, of the Convention:



(a) Ghana shall take all necessary steps to ensure that no new drilling either by Ghana or under its control takes place in the disputed area as defined in paragraph 60;



(b) Ghana shall take all necessary steps to prevent information resulting from past, on-going or future exploration activities conducted by Ghana, or with its authorisation, in the disputed area that is not already in the public domain from being used in any way whatsoever to the detriment of Cote dIvoire;



(c) Ghana shall carry out strict and continuous monitoring of all activities undertaken by Ghana or with its authorisation in the disputed area with a view to ensuring the prevention of serious harm to the marine environment;



(d) The Parties shall take all necessary steps to prevent serious harm to the marine environment, including the continental shelf and its superjacent waters, in the disputed area and shall cooperate to that end;



(e) The Parties shall pursue cooperation and refrain from any unilateral action that might lead to aggravating the dispute.



(2) Unanimously



Decides that Ghana and Cote dIvoire shall each submit to the Special Chamber the initial report referred to in paragraph 105 not later than 25 May 2015, and authorises the President of the Special Chamber, after that date, to request such information from the Parties as he may consider appropriate.



(3) Unanimously



Decides that each Party shall bear its own costs.



(signed)

Boualem BOUGUETAIA,

President of the Special Chamber

(signed)

Philippe GAUTIER,

Registrar



Before ITLOSs provisional measures, Cote d'Ivoire had, in a 27-page application signed by its Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Mr Adama Toungara, urged the tribunal to also direct Ghana to refrain from granting any new permit for oil exploration and exploitation in the disputed area.



It also prayed the tribunal to direct Ghana to refrain from any unilateral action entailing a risk of prejudice to the rights of Cote d'Ivoire and any unilateral action that might lead to aggravating the dispute.



Cote d'Ivoire argued that it would suffer severe and irreparable economic injury if its request was not granted by the tribunal.



It also accused Ghana of attempting to prejudice the tribunals decision by going into the merit of the case with volumes of documents and witness statements, but Ghana faulted its neighbour for departing from the law, making baseless accusations, being inconsistent and failing to produce witnesses and expert evidence.



Ghana also reminded Cote d'Ivoire of its lack of consistency and merit in filing for preliminary measures.



The absence of credible data and evidence from Cote d'Ivoire, according to Ghana, at the time, was due to that countrys handicap in producing factual documents to back its case.



Ghana, which was led by then-Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, also reminded the tribunal of Cote d'Ivoires failure to challenge the evidence of its technical witnesses, which, according to it, tore Cote d'Ivoires case in shreds.



We invite you to firmly decline the application before you, Mrs Appiah-Opong said, with the argument that Cote d'Ivoire had failed to prove that Ghana had encroached on its territorial waters to warrant the stoppage of activities, including the exploration of oil in the disputed area, until the final determination of the dispute.



There is no justification in law, logic, and fairness or on the evidence for the measures sought. They will be unprecedented, an invasion of sovereign rights that stand in the face of representations made by Cote dIvoire for more than four decades, on which others and we have relied, she stressed.



Leading a team of local and international lawyers and technical staff from relevant agencies, Mrs Appiah-Opong told ITLOSs five-member panel that until Ghana was well advanced with its oil exploration programme on its side of the boundary, there were no difficulties.



She added: At the time when Cote dIvoire had much more oil and gas production than Ghana, there were no claims about moving the maritime boundary.



In 2009, Cote dIvoire started to make representations to Ghana about its desire to alter the boundary. Yet, its public position did not change. None of its inconsistent positions has any proper justification in law.



The tribunal is presided over by Judge Boualem Bouguetaia, with Judge Rudiger Wolfrum, Judge Jin-Hyun Paik, Judge Thomas Mensah and Judge Ronny Abraham as members.



Judges Mensah and Abraham were appointed by Ghana and Ivory Coast respectively, in accordance with the rules of the tribunal.



The two countries ended their oral submissions in February 2017.



Ghanas current Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo, at the last hearing, argued that the two countries already had an agreement on their maritime boundary, albeit informally. Cote dIvoire, on the other hand, rejected that claim, calling on the Chamber to declare that Ghana has, indeed, violated the sovereign rights of Cote dIvoire when it unilaterally undertook drilling activities in that boundary.



In his final arguments, Cote dIvoires agent and Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Adama Toungara, said: To declare and adjudge thirdly that Ghana has violated the provisional measures prescribed by this chamber by its order of 26th of April, 2015. And fourthly, and consequently, [A] to invite the parties to carry out negotiations in order to reach agreement on arrangements for reparations due to Cote DIvoire; and [B] to state that if they fail to reach an agreement within a period of six months as of the date of the judgment to be delivered by the special chamber, the chamber will determine the amount of compensation or the arrangements for reparations on the basis of additional recent documents dealing with the subject alone.



Ms Akuffo, on the other hand, told the Special Chamber that Cote dIvoire was trying to move the boundary to the east to benefit from Ghanas oil reserves, saying: They simply cannot escape from years of mutual practice, however hard they try, in implementation of and reinforced by their own official maps, laws and decrees. It was easy to lose count of the different ways in which they tried to portray the coast. Arrows went one way and then the other, coastal directions twisting and turning; land was added; land was removed, depending on what point they wanted to make at any particular moment.

Source: Peacefmonline.com with additional files from Reuters









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Mark Zuckerberg probably doesn't know what he just got himself into.

The Facebook founder and CEO weighed in on the Philadelphia cheesesteak war on Sept. 24. And he's all about Pat's King of Steaks (sorry Geno's).

Zuckerberg posted about the experience on social media, calling Pat's "the best cheesesteak in the land."

Traveled all the way to Philadelphia for the best cheesesteak in the land. Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Sunday, September 24, 2017

He ordered six cheesesteaks with fried onions and Cheez Whiz, according to Philly.com. He even used the correct terminology, ordering "whiz wit."

Even billionaires have to pay in cash at Pat's, which Zuckerberg did when he payed his $66 bill.

Pat's and Geno's have been locked in a battle over who has the best cheesesteak for decades. Both lay claims to creating the famous Philadelphia dish. Pat's is the first restaurant to sell a steak sandwich in America, starting in 1930. Geno's claims to be the first to add cheese to the sandwich. It opened in 1966.

Philadelphians in general have strong opinions on where to nab the best cheesesteak in the city. It's on our list of ways to pick a fight in the city.

Zuckerberg's Facebook post already has more than 120,000 likes and more than 5.3 thousand comments. While a good chunk of the comments have nothing to do with cheesesteaks (blasphemy!), a few congratulated Zuckerberg on making a great cheesesteak decision. Others recommended he check out Sonny's, Steve's or Tony Luke's before giving the cheesesteak crown to Pat's.

Several commenters even suggested he try a cheesesteak outside of Philly, which just seems wrong.

There is one non-cheesesteak comment we approved of, however. Central Pa. Facebooker, Madison Ann, took a moment to pitch Zuckerberg a trip to Lebanon to try "our delicious Lebanon bologna." We have a couple other suggestions for Pa. foods Zuckerberg should try.

Want to try one of the famous Pat's King of Steaks cheesesteaks yourself? It's located at 1237 E. Passyunk Ave. in South Philadelphia. Pat's is cash only and open 24 hours. Last year, we had owner Frank Olivieri share his tips on how to make the perfect Philly cheesesteak.

Want more Philadelphia stories? Click here for all our coverage on the City of Brotherly Love. You may also enjoy these videos.
Today marks the 60th anniversary of the day nine black students started school at the formerly all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., "testing a landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The court had mandated that all public schools in the country be integrated 'with all deliberate speed' in its decision related to the groundbreaking case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.

On September 4, 1957, the first day of classes at Central High, Governor Orval Faubus of Arkansas called in the state National Guard to bar the black students' entry into the school. Later in the month, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent in federal troops to escort the 'Little Rock Nine' into the school, and they started their first full day of classes on September 25," according to history.com.

Civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. attended graduation at Central High in May of 1958 to see Ernest Green, the only senior in the group of nine, graduate.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The top Democrat in the House Monday called upon President Donald Trump to deploy the military to help with the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico.

The island territory of more than 3 million U.S. citizens is reeling in the devastating wake of Hurricane Maria. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says Pentagon resources are needed for search-and-rescue operations, maintaining order, and help with transportation.

The California Democrat also said that the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands "deserve to know that their government will be there for them, without question or hesitation."

The devastation in Puerto Rico has received less media coverage than Harvey and Hurricane Irma, and President Donald Trump hasn't brought much attention to it. Trump called the governors of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico last week, but his administration isn't getting high marks some far for its hurricane response.

Pelosi's comments came after House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., promised that Washington will make sure that the people of hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico will "have what they need."

The Wisconsin Republican's statement came as authorities struggle to provide adequate relief to the more than 3 million U.S. citizens on the island territory, which is without power and has seen terrible devastation.

Ryan said Congress is working with the administration to make sure Puerto Rico gets all of the help that's required. Lawmakers approved $15 billion in hurricane relief in the wake of Harvey but tens of billions of dollars more is sure to be needed in the weeks and months ahead.

But a GOP-drafted package of tax relief for victims of Harvey, which slammed Texas and Louisiana last month, ran into obstacles on Monday as House Democrats announced their opposition to it and other provisions attached to a must-do measure to finance the operations of the air traffic control system. Pelosi and other Democrats object to GOP provisions denying tax relief to prior storm victims, and said the GOP effort should renew a key children's health program as well.

Monday's legislation appeared likely to fail under fast-track procedures and a two-thirds vote but is likely to be revived later this week.

"The stories and images coming out of Puerto Rico are devastating," Ryan said. "Congress is working with the administration to ensure necessary resources get to the U.S. territory. Our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico remain in our prayers as we make sure they have what they need."

Pelosi and Ryan worked successfully last year on a rescue package as Puerto Rico's government faced a debt crisis past

An aide to the House Appropriations Committee, Jennifer Hing, said Monday that the magnitude of the damage and the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico makes it likely there will be congressional action on the next installment of disaster aid by mid-October.

Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., traveled to Puerto Rico Friday with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to assess damage from Maria and deliver supplies, personnel and assistance.

Velazquez said Puerto Rico was "already struggling from financial and economic challenges before Maria made landfall. Now, the Island has been dealt a crushing blow and needs all the assistance it can get."

She called the hurricane "a catastrophe of historic proportions that will require coordination at all levels of government." She said and others in the NY delegation will be advocating for federal funding to swiftly repair and rebuild Puerto Rico's electrical grid, help small businesses recover and address other problems.
A 54-year-old man was fatally shot and two women were wounded during an early morning home invasion in Lebanon.

City police said they were called to the 700 block of Mifflin Street for a burglary in progress at 3:53 a.m. Monday.

They found the man dead from gunshot wounds. A 53-year-old woman appeared to have been beaten and was bleeding from a head wound. Another 53-year-old woman had a gunshot wound, police said.

Several other residents of the home weren't injured. "Police have learned this does not appear to be a random incident, the residents were specifically targeted," Chief Todd Breiner said.

He said investigators know the attacker was a man, but had no other description. Anyone with information can call police at 717-272-2054.
WILLIAMSPORT -- A Virginia man accused of breaking into a rural Lycoming County home and killing the owner with a shovel is headed for trial.

Homicide and other charges against Graham Nicholas Norby-Vardac, 24, of Alexandria, Va., were bound over to court Monday.

The only witness during the hearing before District Judge Gary Whiteman was state Trooper Daniel F. Switzer.

He testified Norby-Vardac confessed to killing Donald Kleese Jr., 82, in his Quaker Hill Road home in Eldred Twp. north of Williamsport. A family member found the bloody body April 6.

The trooper said Norby-Vardac told him he rode his bicycle from his home in Virginia and was tired and hungry when he reached the Williamsport area.

Switzer testified this is the account Norby-Vardac gave him:

He used a shovel to break a window in the back door, went into the kitchen and, as he was using a flashlight to look for food, heard Kleese snoring in a bedroom.

He retrieved the shovel, struck Kleese with it and then strangled him to ensure he would be unable to call police. He took the keys to Kleese's station wagon and headed for Canada.

Canadian authorities stopped Norby-Vardac about 11 a.m. April 6 on the Peace Bridge over the Niagara River near Buffalo, N.Y.

A laptop computer and a cell phone belonging to Norby-Vardac were found in the vehicle along with his bicycle, Switzer testified. There was blood on his jacket, he said.

Kleese's body was found on the bedroom floor with the shovel nearby, the trooper said. DNA results of the blood and hair fibers found on the shovel have not been received, he said.

Under cross-examination, Switzer said investigators have interviewed people who saw a man fitting Norby-Vardac's description outside the Kleese house on April 5.

Besides Kleese's vehicle, Norby-Vardac is accused of stealing $8.75 cents in coins and multiple cans of food.

His preliminary hearing had been delayed over a mental health issue that was resolved in July when Nancy L. Butts ruled he was competent to stand trial.

At his arraignment in April, Norby-Vardac told Whiteman he is autistic, has rather poor memory, can't think clearly, is not good at thinking things through and has mental issues.

His father Eric Vardac later , in a PennLive interview, said his son is "so crazy" and "I have diary notes to prove it. He thinks he is 124 million years old and is a banished warrior from the planet Angron."

Eric Vardac said his son's diary stated he was going to Canada to be free. He told Canadian authorities he was a refugee, the charges state.

Norby-Vardac remains jailed without bail on the homicide charge plus counts of aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, possession of an instrument of crime criminal mischief and theft
Facing competition from cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Dauphin County leaders are mulling whether to submit a proposal to try to lure Amazon to build a new headquarters on the former Harrisburg State Hospital grounds.

Proposals are due by Oct. 19 in what has been described as the "Olympics of the corporate world."

"We're pulling apart the RFP Amazon issued to see what we need," said David Black, president of Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and CREDC.

He said they should know by the first week of October whether they will submit the application or not. "If we put something together we want it to be competitive," Black said. "We're seeing if we can pull all the pieces together."

Check out Amazon's RFP here.

Amazon has said it would invest $5 billion in a new North American headquarters, and would expect to hire 50,000 people at salaries of $100,000 or more over 10 years.

The effort includes economic development and workforce experts across virtually all of south-central Pennsylvania, Black said, ranging from York to Centre counties.

"A lot of people are taking a look at this. I think it's better to take a slow - and that's a relative term - kind of methodical approach to it," Black said.

The toughest requirement will be the workforce numbers.

"We're doing some outreach to colleges and universities to see what the numbers look like for filling jobs," Black said, primarily in the areas of software development engineering, management, legal and accounting professions.

The 295-acre former hospital site is mostly in Susquehanna Township, with a five-acre parcel in Harrisburg. It is still owned by the state Department of General Services, and has been considering sale to the Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority.

Frank Lynch, president of the township commissioners and a board member of Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority, has called the site a "jewel of a property in Central Pennsylvania."

"We are just putting our heads together. We have some great assets, some great features in central Pennsylvania to sell," Lynch said.

As assets he cites the area's "great work ethic," low unemployment rate, access to education and technology through colleges and universities, infrastructure, quality of life, low cost of living and housing prices.

The only place Lynch feels central Pennsylvania falls short is what he describes as "legacy."

"This project - to try to woo Amazon -- will put us all on point and sharpen our focus and make us understand what we need to do to sell our place as great," Lynch said.

He believes the location of four Amazon warehouses in the midstate could also be an asset.

Here is what Amazon is looking for:

One-million metropolitan population.

Highly educated labor pool.

Strong university system in the area.

Within 45 minutes of an international airport.

Within a mile or two of major highways.

Access to mass transit.

Stable and business-friendly environment.

Up to 8 million square-foot site.

Other cities intending trying to lure Amazon include Austin, Texas; New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington/Baltimore, Atlanta, Denver, Ottawa and Toronto.
Crimestoppers is offering a reward for information on a bank robbery suspect wanted in Carlisle.

Terrell Waters

Terrell Lamont Waters, 44, also known was Shawn Palmer, Sean Palmer and Terrell Palmer, is accused in a 1:10 p.m. Jan. 20 robbery at Members 1st Federal Credit Union, 814 W. High St.

Waters' last known address is the 2400 block of North Sixth Street, Harrisburg.

Two other suspects, Sharif Layton and Jamal Cooper, are in Mifflin County prison.

He is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 210 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, glasses and these tattoos: a gun on his left upper arm, knife on his right forearm and "Dana" on his chest.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 1-800-472-8477. All callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.
A social media threat from a student failed to disrupt classes at West Shore School District's Red Land High School Monday morning.

District officials and Fairview Township police were alerted to the post Sunday by students and parents, Superintendent Todd B. Stoltz said in a message posted on the district's web site.

Investigators identified the poster, a Red Land student, early Monday and police investigated. "As a result, the district determined it safe for classes to be held as scheduled at Red Land," Stoltz said.

He did not describe the nature of the threat.
PITTSBURGH -- Alejandro Villanueva wasn't supposed to stand alone at the end of the tunnel for the national anthem on Sunday, Steelers captains Ben Roethlisberger and Cameron Heyward said on Monday.

Roethlisberger said that they asked Villanueva -- a West Point graduate who served three tours in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger -- to stand at the front with the captains for the national anthem. Originally, the entire team was supposed to gather at the end of the tunnel where Villanueva stood.

But Roethlisberger said the players were separated when they came out of the locker room by a crowd of people leaving the field. Villanueva was ahead of the group and continued to the mouth of the tunnel, Roethlisberger said, while the rest of the players stopped walking when the anthem started to play.

"We stopped to show respect for the anthem," Roethlisberger said. "I was talking to Cam, I regret not going down to Al. But Al didn't know that we weren't there. He thought we were standing with him. So, there was no division there.

"We were 20 feet behind him. You can see the picture, we're standing there. When the anthem started, out of habit, you stop and take your hat of. You wait. I wish today that we probably would've continued down. I know there would've been a lot of chaos or commotion because the guys behind us wouldn't have known what was going on but there was no division."

CNN is talking about the Steelers staying in the Locker Room. They didnt. They stood behind Villanueva. @CNN #Steelers pic.twitter.com/OsULTYMX4O  Blitzburgh (@Steel_Curtain4) September 24, 2017

Heyward confirmed that Villanueva was at the Steelers' team meeting on Monday where they discussed Sunday's events. He said the team never had any intention of making it seem like Villanueva was standing alone.

"We never want to single one person out," Heyward said. "We never want to leave one man behind. I know it looked like that in that picture and we wanted to make sure we reached out to Al personally. We didn't ever want to make him feel like we didn't have his back."

Heyward didn't want to speak for Villanueva, but he did say Villanueva was shocked by the picture.

"He never wants to feel like he's an outsider or the center of attention," Heyward said. "I think he'll speak more on that later, at a different time."
Militia Hill Hawk Watch at Fort Washington State Park in Montgomery County marked its 30th anniversary on Saturday.

Founded in 1988, Militia Hill is one of at least 14 official hawk-watch sites across Pennsylvania that monitor, tally and report the annual migration of hawks and other birds of prey across the state.

"What a milestone for both Fort Washington State Park and the dedicated volunteers who staff the Militia Hill Hawk Watch," Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, told celebration attendees gathered on the park grounds. "It is hard to believe we are just minutes from Philadelphia and yet hundreds of migrating raptors are heading south overhead. I commend you on your 30th year of documenting these flights and fueling public interest in them."

Since September 1, volunteers have been daily monitoring southern migrations at the Montgomery County park, where visitors utilizing two observation areas can glimpse all 16 species of raptors migrating along the Atlantic Coast. They will continue through October 31.

Militia Hill operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

"Public interest in observing raptors and other migrating bird species from two observation areas never has been stronger at Fort Washington State Park," Dunn noted. "This would never be possible without the dedication of the volunteers before me. You staff the observation decks; keep the all-important numbers; and infect future volunteers with your passion and commitment."

"The combination of hawk migration and sharing with people what is going on in the sky above us, and where these birds are headed, always leaves me feeling wonderfully connected to our world beyond Militia Hill," explained Rich Conroy

In an average season Militia Hill's count is 11,088 raptors. The site has totaled 321,553 in its past 29 years.

The hawk watch's most spectacular day occurred on September 15, 2013, when 18,055 broad-winged hawks migrated over Militia Hill.

With an elevation of only 330 feet, and no large, nearby body of water, Militia Hill has no strong geographic features of importance to migration, and yet all East Coast raptor species are seen above the park grounds.

Detailed records of raptor observation and weather conditions are reported daily to the Hawk Migration Association of North America.

Here's a look at all 14 official hawk-watch sites across Pennsylvania.
The Uber website is displayed on a phone in London, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. London's transport authority said Friday it won't renew Uber's license to operate in the British capital, arguing that it demonstrates a lack of corporate responsibility with implications in public safety and security. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. Prime Minister Abe has announced he will dissolve the lower house of parliament and call a snap election for next month. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said his country may conduct a "historic" hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean. Many experts think North Korea wouldn't do something so risky, but it's hard to rule out given North Korea's steadily expanding nuclear and missile tests. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
The damaged dome of Our Lady of Angels Church, which collapsed Sunday afternoon, is seen from an adjacent rooftop in the Guerrero neighborhood of Mexico City, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Violent cracks crisscrossed the dome, and stone from the roof continued to fall onto the church's wooden pews in the aftermath pf the 7.1-magnitude earthquake. On Sunday evening, the cupola split and half crashed to the floor. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Deer numbers look good in Northern Lower Peninsula, spotty in Eastern U.P.

The annual statewide firearm season for white-tailed deer will begin just before sunrise on Nov. 15 and end on Nov. 30.
According to an internal document presented to the ISS Exploration Capabilities Study Team, Canadian specialists believe a solar sail could play a secondary role in orienting the DSG, saving fuel for traditional rocket thrusters designed to maintain the outpost's position. Under this proposal, the main thrust for the station's maneuvers still comes from electric propulsion and traditional liquid propellant engines.

The baseline concept used for initial calculations calls for a rectangular sail spanning an area of about 50 square meters, deployed on the exterior of the station by a robotic arm. This could reportedly save at least 9 kilograms of hydrazine per year needed to keep the outpost correctly oriented in space. Although a relatively small number, 9 kilograms per year adds up over the station's projected 15-year mission, especially when considering the tremendous cost of delivering cargo to lunar orbit. The station's current design allocates 135 kilograms of hydrazine fuel for counteracting gravitational disturbances, as well as solar radiation pressure exerted on the station's exterior in lunar orbit. At least part of this attitude-control job could be shifted to a solar sail.

When the solar sail is not needed, it could be either folded or hidden behind the station's solar panels relative to the Sun, so that solar radiation no longer presses on its surface.

Besides the rectangular panel, other shapes and designs are also on the table, including discs and umbrella-type structures. One clever concept proposed to attach a foldable sail to a robotic arm, which will bend around its elbow to unfurl the sail like an old-fashioned fan.

The final architecture of the solar sail is important because the design team is hard-pressed to keep the mass of the sail structure to an absolute minimum to justify its effectiveness. Very preliminary estimates show the mass of the solar sail system could be kept between 38 and 52 kilograms.

Potentially, the solar sail could also be used as an extra power-generating array, but the cost-benefit analysis of such a combination is also in the early stages. Engineers will also be challenged to pick the right compromise between the size and mass of the sail; the bigger the sail, the faster it can steer the station, but the larger it gets, the more weight penalties it brings to the whole project.
WHO:

Bill Nye, CEO, The Planetary Society

Dr. David A. Spencer, Associate Professor, Purdue University, LightSail 2 Project Manager

Dr. John M. Bellardo, Professor of Computer Science, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Erin Greeson, Director of Communications, The Planetary Society

WHAT: Bill Nye and other LightSail engineering team members will be available to answer journalists questions following the Highlight Lecture and LightSail 2 animation debut. About IAC Highlight Lecture 1 Flight by Light: LightSail & Innovations in Solar Sailing: Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society and one of the worlds leading science educators, will highlight IAC 2017 themes through the inspiring story of LightSail, a solar sailing spacecraft that became a global phenomenon. Leveraging this case study as context, Nye will explore stories of solar sailing origins, applications, planned missions, and future possibilities. LightSail is a citizen-funded cubesat that demonstrates solar sailing propulsion technology: flight by sunlight. In addition to discussing solar sailing, Nye will address broader themes relevant to the global space science community, including NASAs role under the current U.S. administration. The Planetary Society is the worlds largest independent non-profit space organization, with more than 50,000 members in over 100 countries worldwide. Cofounded by Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman, the groups mission is to empower the worlds citizens to advance space science and exploration.

WHEN & WHERE:

Highlight Lecture: Tuesday 26 September 2017, 17:45-18:45, Adelaide Convention Center, Hall C

Press Conference to Follow: Tuesday 26 September 2017, 18:45-19:45, Panorama Suite, Adelaide Convention Center

RSVP: Open to all IAC press attendees. Email [email protected] for IAC credentialing instructions.

WHY: The LightSail 1 test mission was of great interest to global journalists. The Planetary Society is committed to providing real-time program updates, information and multimedia reporting resources as the LightSail 2 mission, the first controlled solar sailing attempt for a cubesat, prepares to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy.

MEDIA RESOURCES: LightSail 2 animation will debut at IAC Adelaide. It will be available for media usage following Bill Nyes Highlight Lecture. Visit The Planetary Society press room for updates.

LightSail Website



Jason Davis Blog, LightSail embedded reporter and media resource

Bill Nye Bio



Videos:

Lunch and Launch with Bill Nye Campaign





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Lock them up!

President Trumps son-in-Law Jared Kushner, as well as other Trump White House officials, have used private email accounts for official business according to Politico .

Presidential son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has corresponded with other administration officials about White House matters through a private email account set up during the transition last December, part of a larger pattern of Trump administration aides using personal email accounts for government business, Josh Dawsey reported.

Kushner uses his private account alongside his official White House email account, sometimes trading emails with senior White House officials, outside advisers and others about media coverage, event planning and other subjects, according to four people familiar with the correspondence. POLITICO has seen and verified about two dozen emails.

Oh dear.

Of course, normal people realize this is not an offense for which one is usually locked up, but it is the issue over which Donald Trump convinced his cult to chant Lock her up! in reference to his opponent, Hillary Clinton, using a private email address as Secretary of State.

The reason Hillary Clintons email scandal was so ridiculous was mostly because almost all of the Republicans running for president who had been in executive office had done the same thing, and some much worse, including taking the computers, destroying hard drives, using private internet to conduct campaign work on the taxpayers time, and more.

Of course the rule matters in order to protect classified information, honor FOIA requests, and protect against cyberattacks, but it is not usually prosecuted unless there is a wilful intention to share classified information. We can assume that prosecuting is used to deter people from sharing classified information with enemies of the U.S..

The media sold the Hillary email scandal as a real scandal, which is really quite a feat given how difficult it is to get the public to care when men have done the exact same thing. Donald Trump took the medias scandal, added a pair of figurative handcuffs, and coasted his way into a Russian-assisted victory, paltry as it was.

Now Donald Trump, who sold his cult on locking Clinton up over her emails, has an administration doing the exact same thing, only its probable given the Russia probe that their motives involve keeping secrets more disturbing than anything Hillary Clinton had on deck.

Irony is truly dead.
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By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  A proposal by U.S. Republicans to repeal and replace the Obamacare health insurance program suffered serious new setbacks within the party on Sunday, when Senator Ted Cruz expressed his opposition and Senator Susan Collins dug in with strong criticisms of the legislation.

Phil Novack, a spokesman for Cruz, confirmed that the Republican senator said at an event in Texas: Right now, they dont have my vote, and I dont think they have (Senator) Mike Lees vote, either.

Aides to Lee, a conservative Republican and close ally of Cruz, were not immediately available for comment.

Politico reported that Cruz complained that the latest Obamacare repeal bill did not address his concerns about bringing down the costs of healthcare.

Despite President Donald Trumps pressure on his fellow Republicans for quick passage, Senator Susan Collins also appeared poised to oppose her partys latest replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obamas signature achievement.

Collins, who just two days ago said she was leaning against the legislation, on Sunday declared in an interview on CNNs State of the Union: It is very difficult for me to envision a scenario where I would end up voting for this bill.

Collins said her concerns centered on the impact the legislation would have on the federal Medicaid program, which helps disabled children and low-income elderly people get healthcare.

Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can afford to lose the support of only two Republicans, assuming all Democrats vote against the measure to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Last week, Senator John McCain, who was one of three Republicans voting in July against an earlier version of Obamacare repeal, joined Senator Rand Paul in opposition.

The Senate faces a Sept. 30 deadline for deciding on the bill under an expiring rule that lets the healthcare proposal pass with just a simple majority, instead of the 60-vote threshold needed for most legislation.

Paul, interviewed on NBCs Meet the Press, attacked the centerpiece of the Republican bill that would have the federal government basically turn the health insurance system over to states in the form of block grants.

They could remove the block grants from it, and we can vote on what we actually agree on, Paul said. I cant in good conscience vote to keep all the spending.

Despite the odds against fulfilling their seven-year drive to kill Obamacare, some key Senate Republicans were pushing to forge ahead.

Senator Lindsey Graham, who is leading the charge on the latest version of Obamacare repeal, told ABC he believed he will have the votes to pass the legislation.

The only way you know how people will vote is you have the vote, he said.

But Graham did not detail the path he sees to victory.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Valerie Volcovici; Additional reporting by Sarah Lynch; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Thunder possible. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Thunder possible. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Mary Katherine, who also goes by MK, covers health care for The Post and Courier. She is also pursuing a master's degree in data science. She grew up in upstate New York and enjoys playing cards, kayaking and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy triumphantly walked the streets of the newly liberated city of Kherson on Monday, hailing Russia's withdrawal as the "beginning of the end of the war," but also acknowledging the heavy price Ukrainian troops are paying in their grinding effort to push back the invaders. Read moreZelenskyy calls liberation of Kherson 'beginning of the end'
GREENVILLE  Few South Carolinians know that red-light cameras were made illegal in the state in 2010. While the red-light camera ban may be in keeping with this states tendency to lean toward a less is more approach to the public road system, I dont believe its for the better. Read moreCommentary: Repeal SC ban on red-light cameras to help save lives
SC Attorney General Alan Wilson is challenging the CDC's recommendations on COVID vaccinations for kids. They have no force of law, so this is no different than the left trying to enforce its woke orthodoxy. Read moreEditorial: Alan Wilson should stick to the law, stop trying to silence opinions he dislikes
When all the votes were tallied, McMaster's victory margin of more than 17 points marked the second-widest for any Republican governor in South Carolina since Reconstruction. Read moreGov. Henry McMaster's 'shellacking' of Cunningham largest win of GOP governor in 3 decades
NEW YORK  The Pulitzer Prize and numerous other awards didn't prepare Annie Proulx for her latest honor: a National Book Award medal for lifetime achievement.

"I was astonished when first I heard that news," Proulx told the Associated Press during a recent email interview. "I simply had not thought of my various writings as a body of work that might be considered as a contribution to American letters. It almost seemed that I had been negligent in writing what I considered discrete novels and stories instead of shaping a holistic something that might be regarded as a life work."

The National Book Foundation praised the author of "The Shipping News," ''Brokeback Mountain" and other fiction for her "impressive lyricism and wit that captivates readers of all ages." Anne Hathaway, who starred in the film version of "Brokeback Mountain," will present the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters to Proulx during a Nov. 15 dinner ceremony in Manhattan, when competitive prizes will be given for the year's best fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people's literature books. Scholastic Inc. President and CEO Dick Robinson will be given the Literarian Award for "Outstanding Service" to the literary community.

Previous recipients of the Distinguished Contribution medal include Toni Morrison, Philip Roth and Joan Didion.

"Annie Proulx's ability to explore the nuances of the human spirit and render deeply moving reflections on rural life have solidified her place in American Letters," Lisa Lucas, the foundation's executive director, said in a statement. "In addition to her astounding literary accomplishments, film adaptations of Proulx's work have reached scores of viewers who may not have encountered her work on the page."

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Proulx, 82, won the Pulitzer and National Book Award for "The Shipping News," and her novel "Postcards" made her the first women to win the PEN/Faulkner award. She has also expressed reservations about literary prizes, worrying that they overshadow the work.

"It is true that I have noticed awards sometimes affect writers negatively by encouraging them to weigh their succeeding works on a scale of notability rather than intrinsic verities in the work itself," Proulx told the AP. "That's badly put: I feel writing the thing on the worktable should have the focus, and that awards should come like shifts in a veering wind, as gratifying surprises."

Born Edna Ann Proulx, in Norwich, Connecticut, the author has lived everywhere from Vermont to Wyoming to Seattle, and set her work around the country and beyond. "The Shipping News" takes place in Newfoundland, "Brokeback Mountain" in Wyoming and her latest, the ecological epic "Barkskins," begins in Canada and journeys worldwide. "Barkskins" warns of climate change, which Proulx considers a defining issue of the moment and one "impossible to ignore" in her future work. But she is also known for her explorations of history, whether the haunting secrets of a Newfoundland community in "The Shipping News," or, in "Accordion Crimes," when she traces an accordion's journey from Sicily in the 1890s to Florida a century later.

"For reasons I have never understood the past has always had a hold on the way I look at events. I am attuned to long, slow change," she wrote to the AP. "Throughout my life I have slid in and out of gestalt reversals, imaging earlier times for almost every situation, not only when writing, but in the normal course of a day  the Viking presence in L'Anse aux Meadows, the peopled steeps of Chaco, the funerary rites of 19th C. Vermont, the lustrous eyes of unwary pronghorn, standing on the quivering false islands of Okeefenokee, spider-webs in Pacific Northwest autumn forests. If I met you I might briefly imagine you in 18th century clothing or the raiment of Utzi or pharaonic trappings. This habit of thinking/imagining is hard to explain, but it is a kind of automatic juxtaposition of specific present situations and people into the past. I do this constantly, in every social interaction and sometimes write about the past through that channel of imagination."

Lifetime achievement awards are a time for stepping back and looking at the impact of one's career  one's legacy.

"I usually write about rural places and situations and am drawn to socio-historical change as background (or foreground, depending on your perception)," she wrote in her email. "The French Annales approach to history through the lives of ordinary or working class people has guided my outlook. In the work structural backgrounds have included the disappearance of Vermont hill farms, immigration, homophobia, the shift from traditional rodeo, returning veterans, the incursion of hog farms, the collapsing Newfoundland cod fishery before the Moratorium, deforestation.

"How this all shakes out into a legacy I have no idea  it's more a defining characteristic of the way I look at the world I have lived in. I feel writers have a responsibility to nail down a piece of the time they inhabit."
With "The Cuban Affair," Long Island's Nelson DeMille is back with a new adventure  and a new hero.

DeMille's 20th novel introduces Daniel Graham "Mac" MacNamara, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and fishing guide settling into a boozy retirement among the colorful misfits of Key West, Florida. When Mac gets hooked into helping some Cuban exiles return to their homeland in search of half-century-old treasure, he finds himself running for his life in "an alternate universe where the past and the present fought to become the future."

The opening of "The Cuban Affair" is dynamite  crisp, funny and dramatic  and the climactic conclusion is masterful action writing, fast, precise and genuinely gripping. What becomes in between, though, is curiously static. Once Mac has taken up the mission, there is little for him and his sexy counterpart Sara Ortega to do but sleep together, make wisecracks (Mac) and deliver passionate speeches about freedom-loving exiles (Sara) while waiting for the action to start.

Having recently visited Cuba, DeMille is chock-full of local color and history to impart, which he does in bursts that may be factually accurate but are also dramatically inert. Since Mac and Sara are undercover as part of a Yale alumni tour group, they spend a lot of time being led around various picturesque historical sites, which gives the author the chance to flaunt his newfound knowledge. (Sample: "The bus drove through the gates of a huge cemetery, the Necropolis Cristobal Colon, a.k.a. Christopher Columbus, which held, said Antonio, over five hundred major mausoleums, chapels, vaults, and galleries, and thousands of tombstones.") If you're a fan of your Uncle Al's post-vacation slideshows, you'll eat this up; if you're a fan of fast-paced action thrillers, you might get a little restless.

DeMille pumps up the suspense with direful warnings of ubiquitous secret spies and gruesome torture chambers, but Mac's Cuban nemeses are more Keystone than Castro. His personal adversary is their tour guide-turned-informant Antonio, who says things like "Cuba is like a mother who welcomes the return of her sons and daughters," and who is easily bamboozled by appeals to his personal vanity. It's hard to make the bad guys chillingly sinister when they seem like bumbling clowns.

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To be fair, Mac's scorn is fairly omnidirectional: he snickers that "Yalies, like vampires, can recognize one another in the dark"  good line  and he intermittently punctures Sara's aggrieved sense of loss by pointing out that a desire for a return to wealth and privilege is hardly the zenith of patriotic idealism. And like many staunch ex-soldiers  DeMille, remember, is a decorated veteran of combat in Vietnam  he is distrustful of U.S. policy elites, with special vitriol being reserved for what Mac refers to as "The Company"  the CIA. "The Cuban exile groups and the CIA," Mac concludes, "deserved each other."

A bigger problem with "The Cuban Affair," one unavoidable but regrettable, is the way current events can outstrip even the most careful research  or aggressive publishing schedules. DeMille has built his novel around the politics of the vaunted "Cuban Thaw," a circa-2015 rapprochement that already seems distantly historical.

Mac, meanwhile, is an interesting entry in DeMille's pantheon of crusty protagonists. He is looser and goofier than the tightly wound ex-cop John Corey, but he retains the DeMille hero's customary irreverence and sardonic dislike of bureaucracy. Like Corey, he represents a version of the Long Islander's mythic self-image: at home on boats and in bars, tough, funny and unpretentious, with a sideways kind of American pride and a hidden philosophical nature. "Somewhere in between the cynical lies and a naive trust in the human race," Mac muses, "was the true human condition: complex and capable of anything from heroism and self-sacrifice to betrayal and murder."

The dark side of this, to my view, is the way DeMille's irreverence edges over into neocon crankiness; it takes some gumption, after all, to write a book about Cuba that pillories the natives for being willing dupes and brainwashed automatons. He is not alone among thriller writers in cultivating this tetchy reactionary streak, although it will not matter to the legions of fans who will scoop up "The Cuban Affair." They may be less forgiving of the boring stretches.
When Opal Fleming died in 2003, author and illustrator Janie Lancaster, one of her close friends, promised to tell her story of strength and resilience.

"I said, 'Opal, I'm gonna tell your story to the world,'" Lancaster said. "'I'm gonna get it in classrooms, so that kids can read about  and other people can read about  you and your life.' Because I think she had so much courage, and resilience, and she was such a special person."

As a child, Opal was left at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf by her father, who cared for her but had no way to communicate with her. As she watched the other students in the school, Fleming realized that they communicated using a secret code, which she later learned was American Sign Language.

"If Opal never went to the deaf school, she would have been a totally different person," Lancaster said. "And it was such a rare thing in the 1930s for her to actually go to the deaf school, because  they didn't educate deaf children back then."

Lancaster said her story focuses on how Fleming "fell in love with a language in the deaf world."

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Fleming, who became a teaching assistant and storyteller, was known for her ability to absorb stories and recreate them in ASL.

A new educational series will bring Opal's story to Post Bulletin readers. Beginning today, the Post Bulletin will run "Opal and the Secret Code" in nine installments.

Newspaper subscribers can read the story of Opal Fleming in print. Local schools can also access lesson plans, historical information about the American School for the Deaf and sign language graphics.

The final installment of the story series, "Moonlit Nights," is a print version of a story Opal told to ASL classes.

"She could tell things in sign language and just make pictures in your head," Lancaster said. "And just make it so real that you felt like you were there."

Lancaster, a nationally certified teacher of ASL, said part of her goal was to share a story that touched on the differences between deaf and hearing culture.

"The stories are told about deaf people, but not the deaf community," she said. "Everything that is marketed to children about deaf people are about cochlear implants, hard-of-hearing kids, learning to speak. And it's not really about the deaf world and the deaf community."

For those who connect to Opal's story of courage and resilience, the learning need not stop with the NIE story series.

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MN Resource Libraries Director Kristy Hegberg has recommended more stories about deaf historical figures, heroes and culture for grade-school and middle-school readers.

Children's books:

 " She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer " tells the story of a deaf-blind woman who learned to communicate and lectured in the 1800s, nearly 50 years before Helen Keller's time.

 " My Heart Glow: Alice Cogswell, Thomas Gallaudet, and the Birth of American Sign Language ." is about Alice Cogswell, the girl behind the creation of the first American School for the Deaf.

 " I Am Deaf " from the Live and Learn series provides a 10-year-old's experience navigating the hearing world, especially relevant for students struggling to understand deaf perspectives.

 " The Deaf Musicians " tells the story of a group of former instrumentalists who learn how to perform the songs they loved with the help of sign language.

 " The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game " and " Silent Star: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy " are about a deaf major leaguer.

 " Wonderstruck ," is a mix of print and graphic novel panels and tells the stories of two deaf children who run away to New York in parallel storylines.

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 " Deaf Child Crossing " is written by Academy award-winning actress Marlee Matlin and explores some of the difficulties in friendships between deaf and hearing kids  and shows how to overcome them.

 In " Shay & Ivy: Beyond the Kingdom ," "two friends explore imaginary roles outside of playing princess and attending made-up balls in a book with deaf representation.

Middle Grade to YA:

 " El Deafo " is a graphic novel memoir by hearing-impaired author CeCe Bell. Hegberg called it "super popular with students."

" The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin ," is a coming-of-age-story meets whodunnit with a deaf protagonist.

 " Through Deaf Eyes ," is a PBS documentary for parents and children who want to learn about deaf schools and culture together.

Finding more stories:

Those struggling to find books about deafness in their local libraries may be able to access them through Minnesota Resource Libraries, which are open to the public. Hegberg said that although most of the users are parents of deaf or deaf-blind children, anyone can ask for an interlibrary loan.

Visit:

The monthly Minnesota State Academy Literacy Night features deaf readers and storytelling in ASL. Anyone curious about deaf storytelling can attend, learn a bit of ASL, and do crafts.

Tonight's Literacy Night will feature Myron Uhlberg , the child of two deaf adults. Uhlberg will read from his new book, "The Sound of All Things," and attendees will watch the ASL movie, "A Handmade Treasury of Deaf Folktales." For more information, see the academy's website .
Rochester police are investigating an armed robbery that was reported early Sunday morning at a local business.

Officers responded at 1:52 a.m. to the Holiday Stationstore, 1520 Second St. SE, after the clerk called 911.

She said a man, moments earlier, had robbed the store at gunpoint. He's described as 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall with a slim build, and was wearing a white mask, black pants and carrying a tan backpack with black straps. He carried a black handgun.

The employee said the suspect has hazel eyes; a review of the video surveillance indicated "lighter skin visible on his neck," the report says.

He ran west after leaving the store with an unknown amount of cash.
A former employee with the Rochester School District has been charged with multiple felonies after police say he sexually assaulted a child at an elementary school.

Nicholas Gerald Keller, 29, of Stewartville, faces one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and eight counts of possession of child pornography.

The school board accepted his resignation at the May 16 school board meeting with the approval of the Human Resources Actions, which were in the consent agenda.

The resignation was effective at the end of the day May 9  10 days before the police investigation began.

It's unclear how long he worked for the school district.

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On May 19, an investigator was assigned to a report of alleged sexual abuse complaints against Keller, who was employed at Sunset Terrace Elementary School in the School Aged Child Care program.

Two days earlier, a female victim under the age of 10 told her mother Keller "touched" her, the complaint says.

The child then told an investigator that "Nick touches me down there," pointing to her genital area, the court document says, and identified Keller as a SACC teacher at Sunset Terrace.

The victim didn't know how many times Keller had touched her, the document continues, but said it happened more than once  including one time before school.

The child said she'd been sitting by herself on a mat in the gym when Keller sat beside her and "rubbed my (genitals) over my clothes," the complaint says. She said Keller never spoke during the alleged assaults.

The victim also said Keller touched her genitals while she was taking a math test during the school day, the report says, calling her over to a different table and assaulting her "when he was helping me with my math test."

The teacher was in the room and working with other students, she said.

Two months into the police investigation, Keller provided his laptop computer to law enforcement and gave his consent for them to search it.

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A preliminary examination of the hard drive found multiple images of children under the age of 18 engaging in sexual acts, the court documents say.

The images were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Heather Nessler, director of communications, marketing and technology for the school district, said in a statement this morning that "there is no ongoing risk to any student or employee in this matter.

"The District has been made aware of a pending criminal matter involving a former RPS employee. We want you to know that when the district received a complaint about this employee, we took prompt and appropriate action to secure staff and student safety, and we informed the proper authorities," the statement continues. "We continue to cooperate with law enforcement as this criminal matter moves forward.

"While it can be frustrating, data privacy laws prohibit the District from releasing many details including the nature of the complaints," Nessler said.

"We interviewed a lot of kids," said Rochester Police Capt. John Sherwin, "and the only disclosure we got is the one charged in this complaint.

"We don't believe there are any more victims," he said, though he acknowledged that could change with today's revelation.

The school district and law enforcement will join forces to address concerns and answer questions at a public meeting, Sherwin said.

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It's set for 5 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Edison Building, 615 Seventh Street SW.

"Because we cannot share many details, parents may call but we will likely have to refer them to RPD," Nessler said of the investigation.

"Together, RPS and RPD felt hosting a meeting for questions would be a proactive way to support parents," she said.

The criminal sexual conduct charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, a $35,000 fine, or both.

The child porn charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.
BYRON  An area man faces multiple charges after authorities say he kicked in the bedroom door of an ex-girlfriend and refused to leave.

The case began at 3:51 a.m. Sunday, sending deputies to the 1000 block of Eighth Avenue Northwest in Byron.

The woman told authorities that earlier that night, she'd sent Andrew Robert Neseth, 35, a text message at work, telling him not to come home. The two were in a "domestic relationship," the report says.

Neseth apparently ignored the message, made entry into the house through the garage, then kicked in the woman's locked bedroom door, said Lt. Kirby Long, of the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office.

Neseth allegedly threatened the woman with a knife, stabbed a dresser, then threw the knife at her. The two scuffled, and the woman was able to run to a neighbor's home and call 911.

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Neseth remained inside the house, refusing orders to come out, Long said. Members of the Rochester/Olmsted County Emergency Response Unit also came to the scene to negotiate with Neseth.

The team eventually made entry into the house; Neseth first refused to come out of a locked bathroom but complied when a police dog was brought in.

He was taken into custody about 8:30 a.m.

Neseth has a lengthy criminal history, court records show, including felony convictions for first-degree burglary and a drug charge.
A new educational series will bring Opal's story to Post Bulletin readers. Beginning Sept. 25, the Post Bulletin will run "Opal and the Secret Code" in nine installments.

Newspaper subscribers can read the story of Opal Fleming in print. Local schools can also access lesson plans, historical information about the American School for the Deaf and sign language graphics.

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I grew up on the Oklahoma prairie in an old log cabin with Pa, Ma and my older brother and sister. We mostly traveled on foot to the nearby town. Once in a while Pa would hitch up our old gray mare to the wagon and we'd visit Ma's relatives afar off.

I always seemed to be in some kind of trouble, without really knowing why. My older brother often had to pull me off one of the other kids during a knockdown drag-out fight. That's how I got kicked out of school. The teacher told Pa I was too much for her to handle even though I was a tiny, scrawny, seven year old girl.

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All my crying and kicking did me no good. My brother and sister, hand-in-hand, would travel down the dusty narrow path day after day on their way to school. Ma kept a tight grip and a careful eye on me.

But today was different. It was just me and Pa. We made our way down that dusty path hand-in-hand with a carpetbag in hand. I waved goodbye to Ma and my brother and sister. This time there were tears in their eyes as they were left behind. I looked back, smiled at them and skipped alongside Pa. I didn't know where I was going. I was just glad to be going somewhere with Pa.

Pa didn't know how to tell me where we were going because I am deaf. Born that way they say. I never did hear a wordjust a loud noise every now and then. It was the greatest thrill to see lightning, to feel the ground rumble under my feet and every now and then hear the sound of thunder.

Soon we got to town. I saw a big, long train. As we got closer I wondered was Pa taking me on that train? Could it be!

Then we walked right up the iron steps of that train. I leaped into the air and tapped Pa, pointed to myself, then to Pa, and to the train. Pa laughed and nodded his head. He lifted me up onto the train.

There were so many times I had seen the train and begged Pa to let me go for a ride. Now here I was getting on that train. It felt almost too good to be true.

Soon the train rumbled on its way. I pressed my nose against the window and pointed out to Pa every house and every animal I saw along the way. There were so many horses, cows and sheep scattered across the Oklahoma prairie. I'd never seen so many houses and animals in all my life.

Not even when Pa took us in the old wagon to visit Ma's relatives afar off.

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Pa sat quietly. He looked sad, his mind was somewhere off from the excitement of the ever-changing view. I didn't know what Pa was thinking, just that it must be something important. Maybe even something to worry about. It wouldn't be until almost a year later that I'd understand the story behind us taking this trip together.

Next week: The Big Stone House
Rochester resident Robert Levin is among the last living links to the Manhattan Project and the Atomic Age to which it gave birth.

Levin was a 23-year-old whip smart Harvard grad when he was ushered into a room and recruited into a top-secret U.S. government project aimed at developing an atomic bomb. The program was so secret he couldn't tell anybody, not even his wife, and he could be shot for treason if he did tell anyone.

That was Levin's introduction to the Manhattan project that would change the world.

"Makes quite an impression on a 23-year-old," Levin recalled.

Today, Levin is a 96-year-old resident at Homestead at Rochester. He has an amazing memory, recalling events from decades ago with a vividness and narrative flow that many people decades younger can only envy. For nearly two hours, Levin reminisced at length about the Manhattan Project, his work on the project and the world it subsequently created.

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'Somebody else would have'

More than seven decades have passed since Hiroshima and Nagasaki were obliterated by atomic bombs in the last spasms of World War II, killing tens of thousands of people and ending the war. Mankind has since learned to live on this precipice for generations, going about their daily lives. Yet fewer and fewer people are acquainted with the pivotal events that shaped the nuclear age in which we now live.

Levin was not only there at its birth but helped bring it about.

It would have been nice, Levin says, if Mother Nature hadn't provided the means for making such incredibly destructive bombs, but it did.

And the U.S. had no choice but to open the nuclear Pandora's Box that gave rise to the Cold War and mutually assured destruction doctrines, Doomsday Clocks and now a North Korean dictator who now threatens to detonate a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific.

"I know it's changed the world, but the point is, there was nothing we could do about stopping that," he said. "You might say, 'well, it was your fault for the atomic bomb, but if we didn't do it, somebody else would have."

Dance partner

Levin was born in Parsons, Kan., and was two years old when his family moved to Portland, Ore. He was a straight-A student in high school and went to Harvard on an academic scholarship. His voice is tinged with a hint of disbelief and humor when he recalls paying $400 in tuition at Harvard. Today it is $45,000. Levin graduated with honors in organic chemistry.

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Levin was attending a dancing school at Harvard when he met his wife, Vicky Crosby. For 73 years, she was the ultimate partner as Levin's work had him hopscotching around the country.

"She was very sweet, and I felt like I could talk with her very nice. And we started going together," Levin said. "We had decided that when I graduated and if I had a job, we would get married."

'We think we could use you'

Levin suspects he was recruited for the Manhattan Project because he had taken a course in nuclear physics. It was there that he had learned about the incredible destructive power that could be unlocked if somebody could separate Uranium 235.

It was February 1944 when a man from Union Carbide showed up at the plant that Levin worked at with mysterious proposal.

"He said, 'Mr. Levin, I can't tell you anything about what we're doing, but you have a background that's really beneficial. We think we could use you,'" Levin recalled.

At its peak, the Manhattan Project employed more than 130,000, but a much smaller cadre of scientists actually knew they were making a bomb. About 12,000 people worked on the project at the sprawling Oak Ridge plant in Tennessee, but only about 300 to 400 knew the project's goal.

The bomb was being developed in Los Alamos, N.M., under the direction of Dr. Robert Oppenheimer. Levin's job, along with others, was to help produce the Uranium 235 that was converted into metal and sent to Los Alamos for making the bomb.

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But would it work? Levin said scientists calculated that the bomb would unleash 20,000 tons of TNT destructive force. Yet it was just the beginning. The atom bomb would be dwarfed in destructive power in later years by the fusion-dependent hydrogen bombs that would be developed later. The biggest hydrogen bombs the U.S. ever made delivered 20 million tons of TNT, he said.

No regrets

The first bomb that dropped, on Hiroshima, killed 140,000 people, Levin said. When he heard the news that the bomb had been used, Levin said his response was, "Hooray!"

It meant the war was over.

Levin said he understands that many people will criticize his reaction, but those who do didn't live in the life-or-death environment that existed at the time. Pearl Harbor and the Bataan Death March had killed thousands of U.S. military members. The American invasion of Okinawa and the ensuing slaughter that took place on the island convinced U.S. leaders that a bloodbath awaited them on Japan.

"None of us that worked there had any feeling like that whatsoever," Levin said when asked about any sense of regret. "Our feeling was: We were in a war. This was live or die. We had to protect our country."

A regular feature of anniversaries marking the bombing of Hiroshima included debates about whether the bomb should have been dropped at all. But those debates have faded as the events surrounding World War II have receded.

World War II ended, and the Cold War between the Americans and Russians ratcheted up. Levin was sent to Paduchah, Ky., to set up a laboratory there for uranium enrichment. Both Oak Ridge and Paducah were thought to be in the Russian cross-hairs in the event of a nuclear exchange.

Carolyn McIntosh, his daughter, recalled her father buying and installing in the yard an underground bomb shelter. It had four drop-down cots and shelves for canned food.

"It was a contingency," McIntosh said. "It became more of a tornado shelter than a bomb shelter."

Rochester connection

In December 2000, Levin and his wife Vicky moved to Rochester to be closer to their daughter, Carolyn, was then a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing at Rochester Public Schools.

On Jan 4, 2016, Levin's wife of 73 years died at 95. In the first years of their marriage, the couple had moved 14 times as Levin moved from job to job. Vicky's attitude always was, "OK, it's time to move. Let's get going. I'll decorate them. I'll decorate a new place," McIntosh said.

As a way of coping with his grief, McIntosh encouraged him to write a memoir about his life  not just about the Manhattan Project, but also about the amazing things he had seen and done, the historic figures he had met.

"After my mother passed away, my dad spent almost every minute I was with him reminiscing about Mom and the things they did through their lives," McIntosh said. "I couldn't believe how sharp his memories were and how much he could remember."

At 96, Levin hopes for the best, but skepticism and uncertainty nag at him about the future of civilization "if we can't learn to live together." Two thousand years after Jesus offered a model of living in peace and love, "I can't see anyone more peaceful and loving then they were then," he said.

"It's unfortunate that this kind of thing exists, but it does," Levin said. "But the sad part is that we've not learned in all these years to stop fighting each other."
ST. PAUL  In a lab on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus, bright green plants float in water-filled washtubs beneath glowing fluorescent lights.

Here, researchers are actually trying to grow one of the state's most dreaded aquatic invaders.

"Right here in the middle, we have starry stonewort, which is Minnesota's newest invasive species on the scene," program coordinator Pat Mulcahy said.

Mulcahy and other researchers are cultivating the pesky algae to figure out what conditions it grows best in, which could help identify the Minnesota lakes most at risk of becoming infested.

At the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, scientists are working to help policymakers figure out how to battle these invaders. The center opened its lab doors to the public to highlight a few of its projects during its annual AIS Showcase.

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"It's hitting people closer and closer to home," said Nick Phelps, the center's director. "Their favorite lakes are becoming invaded and probably the most likely way toward a solution is through research. So, they come here, learn what they can and then bring that back home so they can use it."

Invasives hit home for Cheri Fink. In fact, they hit right on her feet. She lives on Clearwater Lake in Annandale, which has Eurasian water milfoil. Zebra mussels were discovered two years ago, too.

Now, Fink has to wear shoes in the water so they don't cut her feet. She attended the AIS Showcase recently to see how Minnesota is trying to fight aquatic invaders like zebra mussels or the invasive milfoil.

"Our waters are so important to us and to the economy of the state and to our health," Fink said. "So I'm here to see what we're doing in Minnesota."

The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center was created in 2012 with funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and the state's Clean Water Fund. The center got a big boost this year when the Legislature included $410,000 a year in the state budget.

Its goal is to use science to help inform policy decisions about aquatic invasive species, Phelps said. The center has about 30 projects underway studying 10 different invasive species.

Many Minnesotans are familiar with the mantra that they should clean, drain and dry their boats to avoid transporting invasive plants and animals. Phelps said that advice is still important.

But he said there are many other ways to tackle the problem that focus on prevention, early detection and trying to manage an invasive species when it does show up in a lake or river.

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Some of those efforts are aimed at determining which lakes and rivers are most at risk of infestation, Phelps said, so inspection and decontamination efforts can be targeted.

"Unfortunately, some lakes, if zebra mussels were to show up, would be perfect homes for them. Other lakes won't be," he said. "So trying to figure out which lakes those are is very, very important."

Researchers at the center are also trying to determine exactly how these invaders are hitching a ride from one lake to another.

Valerie Brady studies spiny waterfleas, tiny creatures that have infested about 40 Minnesota lakes.

"What we're trying to figure out is which types of things that people have on a fishing boat are most entangling spiny waterflea, and thus are most risky in terms of transporting them to uninfected lakes," she said.

Brady's team sends out a test boat rigged with different types of fishing gear. Then they see how many spiny waterfleas attach themselves.

"Our hope is that with this research we can nuance the clean, drain, dry message," Brady said. "Like, did you forget to spray off your anchor rope? Or maybe don't use braided line on this lake."

Spiny waterfleas are voracious eaters, Brady said. In some lakes, they've reduced the amount of tiny zooplankton by as much as 50 percent.

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Then, "the baby fish suddenly have only half the food to eat that they had before," she said. "That's why we care about these things  other than they're a pain in the butt and they don't belong here."
Europe has never been as committed to democracy as the United States. Its elites let people vote, but some issues they are not willing to allow to be decided by the masses. Thus, at quite an early stage, European liberals decided that immigration was too explosive an issue to be committed to the democratic process. Europeans were going to get mass immigration whether they wanted it or not, and anyone with reservations about that decision was deemed part of the far right.

This stratagem has mostly succeeded, at least temporarily. Few if any mainstream parties have been willing to oppose, or even question, mass non-European immigration. This left the large number of Europeans who wanted their countries to remain more or less as they have been unrepresented, except by upstart parties that may or may not be far right on any issue other than immigration. The danger, obviously, is that by consigning the immigration issue to the far right, Europes elites may inadvertently, and needlessly, strengthen the otherwise insignificant elements that are, actually, far right.

In Germany, no mainstream party has been willing to stand up to Chancellor Angela Merkels importation of nearly a million immigrants and refugees, nearly all Muslims. So opposition has come from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which was founded in 2013 as a Euro-skeptic party, but now has taken on the immigration issue. Germanys national election took place today, and the main story line is AfDs strong showing:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term Sunday, but now faces the tricky prospect of forming a coalition with two disparate new partners after voters weakened her conservatives and a nationalist, anti-migrant party surged into parliament. Merkels center-left challenger, Martin Schulz, conceded that his Social Democrats had suffered a crushing election defeat, with projections showing the partys worst performance in post-World War II Germany.

Thats a good thing.

The biggest winner was the four-year-old Alternative for Germany, or AfD. It finished third after a campaign that centered on shrill criticism of Merkel and her decision in 2015 to allow large numbers of migrants into Germany, but also harnessed wider discontent with established politicians.

AfD got 13% of the vote. Germanys discontent with established politicians was reflected in the fact that both Merkels center-right Christian Democrats and the center-left Social Democrats saw their vote totals decline substantially.

So is AfD really a far right party? The left-wing BBC bitterly opposes anti-immigration parties like AfD and tries to put the party in a bad light, for the most part unsuccessfully:

AfD also adopted some of Pegidas anti-establishment rhetoric, for example the slogan Lugenpresse (lying press), which has echoes of the Nazi era.

Apparently you cant question the establishment press without being a Nazi. Some American liberals say the same thing, but no one believes them.

Germany must reintroduce permanent border controls and the EUs external borders must be completely shut, AfD says.  AfD argues that Germany must set up a new border police force. Frauke Petry, who stepped aside from the AfD leadership earlier this year, even said German police should if necessary shoot at migrants seeking to enter the country illegally.

Emphasis in original. This tells us what we already knew, that AfD is anti-immigration. The BBC evidently considers the idea of shooting at people trying illegally to enter Germany shocking. But if people insist on entering a country despite that countrys laws, isnt shooting them if necessary the last resort? Isnt that why border guards are pretty much always armed? A country whose border guards could do no more than wave at foreigners and implore them not to enter the country would notto put it mildlyhave secure borders.

AfD says that Islam does not belong to Germany. More specifically, the partys manifesto says:
ATLANTIC CITY  State overseers of the city have asked a a Superior Court judge to reconsider his shutdown of a move to lay off 50 city firefighters, saying the city cant afford their salaries.

The state filed its motion last week, asking Judge Julio Mendez to reconsider his late August ruling preventing the layoffs. In the ruling, Mendez said the layoffs would compromise the safety of residents and visitors. During the case, the state had sought to cut the size of the Fire Department to 148 as a cost-saving measure. The department has 198 members, according to court documents.

The Courts August 25, 2017 Decision and Order has left the City of Atlantic City in a financially untenable situation, in which the City cannot afford the Court-mandated number of fire fighters, court documents said. According to the most recent calculations available, the Courts decision has created a new shortfall of approximately $5.9 million for 2018.

Bill DiLorenzo, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 198, said Mendez made the right decision when he prevented the layoffs.

We believe Judge Mendez carefully thought out his opinion on the manpower ruling, taking into account all the relevant issues, balancing the need for public safety with the need for stabilization, DiLorenzo said. Like Judge Mendez, we believe this balanced approach is reasonable and should be upheld. Mendez said any reduction in force below 180 members compromises public safety, and any further reduction must come through attrition and retirements.

In the filings, the state claims the state takeover legislation allows it to reduce the citys work force for financial reasons. The state took over the resort in November following years of finical mismanagement.

Perhaps more important are the real world implications of the decision, which creates a severe imbalance in the citys budget, which for the first time in years includes a tax decrease and is in balance, court documents said.

Mayor Don Guardian thought Mendezs ruling was a compromise.

I think 180 is a reasonable number and that would give us full protection, Guardian said. I thought that judge Mendezs ruling was very fair, and Im sorry to see that theyre appealing it. I hope that time runs out on the state. I dont think the firefighters are being unrealistic.
SOMERS POINT  A gas leak prompted a nearly two-hour evacuation Monday morning of Jordan Road School, officials said.

I got a phone call about 7:30 that a couple of teachers smelled gas in the building, Interim Superintendent Thomas Baruffi said.

Baruffi said he also received a call from Principal Susan Dugan and told her to evacuate the school.

Students, teachers and staff moved to the blacktop playground behind the school. Nobody was hurt, Baruffi said.

The Fire Department and South Jersey Gas were called in to go through the building and determined the cause to be a regulator.

The gas company found there was a leak for a rooftop unit. It was near a vent that caused the smell in the gym, Baruffi said.

South Jersey Gas shut off the gas and removed the regulator. Students were able to re-enter the building about 9:20 a.m. after gas company officials deemed it was safe, Baruffi said.

Many parents lined the fence that surrounded the playground, wondering what was happening at the school.

If there was any legitimate worry, wed be farther than back here, said Somers Point Board of Education President Wes Kazmarck, pointing to the playground area.

Kazmarck has two children in the school, an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son.

Its better safe than sorry, he said.

The Jordan Road School, constructed in 1966 with an addition in 1991, houses about 545 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, according to the school districts website.
CAMDEN  Two Burlington County pharmaceutical representatives admitted Monday they submitted fraudulent claims for unnecessary prescriptions, defrauding more than $1.4 million from state health-insurance plans.

Judd Holt, 42, of Marlton, and George Gavras, 36, of Moorestown, pleaded guilty to separate charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler.

They are the seventh and eighth people to plead guilty as the result of the sweeping federal investigation targeting abuse of state health-benefits plans through the prescribing of millions of dollars in compounded medications. Drug compounding, a process in which a pharmacist mixes ingredients into a custom drug, is legal, but the resulting drugs are expensive. Recent federal prosecutions have shown here and elsewhere they are a target for fraud.

Holt defrauded health-insurance plans of more than $769,000 and must forfeit more than $95,000. Gavras admitted to defrauding plans of more than $679,000 and must forfeit more than $204,000.

Gavras and Holt served as recruiters and persuaded people to obtain expensive, medically unnecessary medications, according to court papers.

The pair recruited public employees and other individuals covered by the Pharmacy Benefits Administrator to fraudulently obtain compounded medications from an unnamed compounding pharmacy without any evaluation by a medical professional that they were medically necessary. In return, the pharmacy paid one of Holt and Gavras conspirators a percentage of each prescription filled and paid by the Pharmacy Benefits Administrator, which was then distributed to other members of the scheme, according to court papers.

Holts attorney, Rocco Cipparone, said his client made a terrible mistake.

He is just an ordinary guy that got involved in a process that initially seemed appealing, but he became aware it had its problems, Cipparone said. That is why we are here today.

Holt resigned Friday from being a drug representative, while Gavras hopes to continue as a pharmaceutical representative.

On Friday, Margate-based Dr. John Gaffney, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health-benefits fraud before Kugler. Gaffney admitted he signed fraudulent prescriptions for more than 200 patients, including teachers, police and firefighters, resulting in fraud of more than $24 million.

Federal authorities have been investigating health-benefits fraud in three Absecon Island municipalities  Atlantic City, Ventnor and Margate  over the past few months.

Margate doctor admits $24 million prescription-fraud scheme CAMDEN  A Margate doctor admitted Friday morning to more than $24 million in prescription f

The plea agreements detail a massive prescription-fraud scheme from January 2015 to April 2016 that involved recruiting teachers, firefighters, municipal police officers and state troopers to obtain prescriptions for patients whom doctors never treated.

The prescriptions included those for compounded pain creams, scar creams, antifungal creams, libido creams and certain vitamin combinations. In exchange, the doctors would receive kickbacks from an out-of-state compounding pharmacy and pay co-conspirators.

Holt and Gavras will be sentenced Jan. 5.

Former Atlantic City firefighter joins guilty pleas in federal health fraud case CAMDEN  A former Atlantic City firefighter pleaded guilty Friday to health care fraud in co

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Gaffney signed more than 200 fraudulent prescriptions. He signed fraudulent prescriptions for more than 200 patients.
BRIGANTINE  Addressing the current state of addiction treatment and mental health issues, former congressman and Brigantine resident Patrick Kennedy shared stories of his own struggle Sunday as well as steps he continues to take to help others in similar situations.

The disease of addiction is just that  a disease, Kennedy said, no different than any other chronic illness. But isnt it something that when it comes to creating support groups for this disease, we have to remain anonymous.

Hundreds raise awareness about addiction in Ventnor, Millville It took nearly 10 minutes for Tracy Smith to read names of people who have died from drug-re

During the public-speaking event at Kennedys parish of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Kennedy told the crowd his own story of addiction. After a 14-hour surgery to remove a tumor, Kennedy said he had access to pain medications, including OxyContin, and a number of doctors available to write the prescriptions.

If I had not had been who I was and did not have the opportunity to be prescribed pain medications as I had been prescribed, believe me, I would have gone to the streets for heroin or fentanyl, Kennedy said.

Kennedy received treatment and was prescribed Suboxone, which he said he no longer takes but is medicated for treatment of mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety. His recovery is detailed in his book A Common Struggle, published in 2015.

While representing Rhode Islands 1st Congressional District, Kennedy sponsored the bipartisan Mental Heath Parity Act in 2008, which required health care plans to provide coverage for mental illness.

You must treat the diseases of addiction, the diseases of depression, anxiety, mental illness, schizophrenia, bipolar in the same way that you would if it were cancer or heart disease, Kennedy said.

In 2013, the Kennedy Forum was founded as an organization focusing on mental and behavior health awareness and policy. In May, Kennedy was appointed by President Donald Trump to the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction.

Kennedy credited Gov. Chris Christie for his initiatives for mental illness and addition.

Last Tuesday, Christie announced a plan for $200 million in state funding to be used for new and continuing addiction prevention, treatment and recovery programs across the state.

The crisis is upon us, well upon us, Christie said during his announcement. We cant focus purely on prevention and wipe our hands clean of those already lost to the carnage of addiction. This is where many of the 25 initiatives come into play.

The Kennedy Forum provided template letters to be sent to the gubernatorial candidates, as well as to the Senate and the House of Representatives. Politician respond to the squeaky wheel, and unfortunately, were not squeaking loud enough, Kennedy said.

Kennedy took questions from the audience on topics including how families can support their loved ones struggling with addiction and mental illness.

Members of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Atlantic/Cape chapter also responded to questions and thanked Kennedy for his continued efforts.

More than 35,000 deaths occurred in 2015 related to opioid addiction. Combined with deaths associated from untreated mental illness, Kennedy said the numbers were in the millions.

When I say we need political will, what I mean is we need to be demanding of our governors, our senators, our congressmen, our elected officials that they treat this in the same way as they treat any other major national emergency, Kennedy said.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  About 260 Holocaust survivors who came to South Jersey to rebuild their lives after World War II were remembered Sunday in a ceremony at Rodef Shalom Cemetery.

Sponsored by the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University, the event included the reading of names of those who have since died.

Many are buried in the Holocaust Survivor section of the cemetery, where more than 50 people gathered to read the names. If the readers knew them, they shared brief memories.

Gail Rosenthal, director of the resource center, remembered Lola Zuckerman as the candymaker of Zuckermans Candies who brought her recipes from Germany. Others were remembered for their cooking, kind hearts and devotion to Judaism.

Liz Klem, of Galloway Township, a student in Stocktons Masters of Holocaust and Genocide Studies program, was a reader.

I didnt know any of these people, but its an honor to say their names, she said.

Plastic surgeon Ira Trocki, of Margate, said his parents, Mira and Jack Trocki, are buried there and worked with other community members to create the special section.

He said his parents were from Vilna, Poland, where about 95 percent of Jews were killed by Nazis and local collaborators.

His parents survived death camps and came to the United States in 1946 with nothing, living for a time in a farmhouse in Mays Landing with three other families to make a new start, he said.

His father eventually became a successful builder, he said, starting what is now Jack Trocki Development LLC.

A survivor herself, Miriam Greenman, of Margate, said she was saved by the Bielski partisans, an organization of Jews who rescued other Jews around Nowogrodek and Lida in what was Poland and is now western Belarus.

The Bielski partisans saved about 1,300 people, helping them survive in the forests in the area, she said.

It was a terrible time for us. There was a lack of food, and we were always in fear of being killed by the Germans, she said. But the Bielski brothers were her heroes, she said.

Rabbi David Weis, of Congregation Beth Israel in Northfield, said when he was growing up he knew about the Shoah, but when I was a kid no one ever talked about it.

He got the most information from a teacher who had been in the Auschwitz concentration camp and would answer questions about the numbers tattooed on her arm, he said.

His immediate family had come to the United States around the turn of the 20th century, he said, so escaped the horrors.

But when he saw a 50 mm film taken in 1935 by his grandparents on a trip back to their home village of Bialystok in northern Poland, he realized the magnitude of the loss.

It was the first time I saw all those people, he said of seeing the film in the 1970s. They were not 6 million nameless Jews.

They were his aunts, uncles and cousins, he said. By 1942, they were all dead.

We may not all be children of survivors, Weis said, but let us be clear, we are all children of the Shoah.

Shoah is a Biblical word that means destruction and has become the standard Hebrew term for the murder of European Jewry, according to the World Holocaust Remembrance Center Yad Vashem.

Trocki said the ceremony is a time for the community to come together between the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashana, Sept. 21 to Sept. 22, and the Day of Atonement of Yom Kippur, Sept. 30, to remember people and the atrocities that happened in the Holocaust.
Geekologie has shut down.

Thank you to everybody.

Now go be happy.
(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/561017/Solar_Farm.jpg )



Steve Shine OBE, Anesco's Executive Chairman said: "For the solar industry, Clayhill is a landmark development and paves the way for a sustainable future, where subsidies are no longer needed or relied upon. Importantly, it proves that the Government's decision to withdraw subsidies doesn't have to signal the end of solar as a commercially viable technology."

He continued: "Given our extensive experience with solar and storage projects, we took a fresh look at how we could finance and develop Clayhill without needing a renewables subsidy. We sought the views of our supply chain and with them looked at every aspect of the project - its design, the technical specifications, the use of the very latest technology and the costs of the various components. By deciding to co-locate the 6MW battery storage unit and by working closely with our supply chain partners, we have been able to achieve a subsidy-free development."

Planning permission for the 10MW solar farm, along with the five battery storage units, was granted by Central Bedfordshire Council in 2015. The construction and installation of the project was completed in 12 weeks.

Claire Perry MP, BEIS Minister for Climate Change & Industry, said "The cost of solar panels and batteries has fallen dramatically over the past few years, and this first subsidy-free development at Clayhill is a significant moment for clean energy in the UK. Solar panels already provide enough electricity to power 2.7 million homes with 99% of that capacity installed since 2010. The Government is determined to build on this success and our ambitious Clean Growth Strategy will ensure we continue to lead the world on the transition to a low carbon economy."

Anesco is one of the country's leading renewable energy developers with more than 100 solar farms in its portfolio. It originated, financed and built the Clayhill project, which is a 10MW solar installation combined with a 6MW energy storage facility.

BYD supplied the solar panels and the five battery storage units and Huawei supplied the solar inverters - a second 'first' for the UK market, marking the first time the ground-breaking 1500v inverters have been deployed in Europe.

SOURCE Anesco
ITTI' brings together technology and business leaders, negotiators and scholars in debating how blockchain and AI can positively impact global trade

GENEVA, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Trade Organization Public Forum 2017 will host the launch of a project aimed at making new technologies work towards the expansion of global trade.



Called 'ITTI - Intelligent Tech & Trade Initiative', this new multimedia project will examine how cutting-edge technologies can bring about new functional and conceptual approaches, allowing for international trade transactions and negotiations to advance.



ITTI's ultimate objective is to stir the debate involving the technology community, trade negotiators, business leaders and scholars on how to better pursue a constructive trade agenda. Mindful of both national and multilateral specificities, ITTI aims at countering deglobalization forces now operating in international trade.



The project will be launched at the session "Building an Intelligent Tech & Trade Initiative - ITTI: Augmented Intelligence & the Future of Global Trade". It will be held on September 27, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, at WTO Headquarters in Geneva.



The session at the WTO is one of the first steps of a venture that gathers representatives from institutions and companies as different as ICC (International Chamber of Commerce), IBM, Gearbulk, UNCTAD and Columbia University in assessing how global trade can be positively impacted by the expanded use of blockchain and cognitive technology platforms.



ITTI was founded by business leader Daniel Feffer, President of ICC-Brasil and is managed by ICC under the direction of Marcos Troyjo, Co-Director of BRICLab at Columbia University | SIPA, where he teaches international affairs.



"Creating ITTI is an essential move that can drive trade beyond existing roadblocks, Feffer says. "I'm certain blockchain and AI will boost trade growth. These technologies can help both SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) and Emerging Markets seize a bigger piece of the global trade pie", he adds.



"Deintermediation, trust and agile market access are made possible by these new technologies. My vision is that very instrumental tools, such as bringing the Letter of Credit to a 21st Century blockchain-intensive marketplace, or modeling negotiation scenarios through AI, will enhance both transactions and trade agreements. But we've got to make sure they are inclusive of companies big and small, countries rich or emerging, so all can benefit from their extraordinary potential", Feffer points out.



For Professor Troyjo, ITTI will show how negotiators can be better geared up to face trade challenges if aided by AI tools.



"New technologies out there can help delegations gather and structure information as well as predict different negotiation outcomes. This is a major move forward in leveling the playing field when it comes to trade talks", argues Troyjo.



For IBM, ITTI is a great opportunity to help to transform the way international negotiations work for decades. "The potential of technological adoption is enormous and with this organization well have agility, transparency, security and less bureaucracy at all stages of the process. Countries, citizens, small, medium and large companies win", says Fabio Rua, IBM Latin America Government and Regulatory Affairs Director.



Some of ITTIs core activities will include the publication of research papers, establishing an internet-based platform, organizing conferences and the production of TV and YouTube documentaries and interviews series on the future of technology and trade.



ITTI's session during the WTO Public Forum 2017 will feature as speakers Ambassador John Danilovich (Secretary-General of ICC), Ambassador Alvaro Cedeno, (Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the WTO), Ambassador Rufus Yerxa (President of the National Foreign Trade Council), Stewart Jeacocke (Leader of IBM's Global Government Centre of Competence), Marion Jansen (Chief-Economist of the International Trade Center), Jan Hoffmann (Director for Trade Facilitation of UNCTAD), Theresa Carpenter (Executive Director of the Center for Trade and Economic Integration, The Graduate Institute, Geneva), Daniel Feffer (President of ICC-Brasil) and Professor Marcos Troyjo (Co-Director of BRICLab, SIPA, Columbia University).



"Building an Intelligent Tech & Trade Initiative: Augmented Intelligence & the Future of Global Trade"

September 27, 2017. 11:30 am - 1:00 pm.

WTO Headquarters in Geneva, Room B.



FURTHER INFORMATION:



Gabriella Dorlhiac (Senior Policy Advisor, ICC Brasil):gabriella.dorlhiac@iccbrasil.org

Julia Quintella (Project Consultant, ICC Brasil): julia.quintella@itti-global.org

ITTI's website: www.itti-global.org

Telephone: + 55 11 3040-8832

Related Links

http://www.itti-global.org



SOURCE ICC Brasil
at the

Fifth Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium

,

organized by the

Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National Health System

.

The "Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!" competition is sponsored by the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI), an FDA-funded consortium led by Children's National and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. Four companies were awarded $50,000 each and two were awarded $25,000. The six winners were selected from a field of twelve finalists. A record 98 total submissions from five countries were received for the competition this year.

"To improve care for children, it is imperative that we recognize and encourage relevant new solutions in pediatric medical devices, especially in light of the challenges innovators face in addressing this specialized market," said Kurt Newman, M.D., president and CEO of Children's National. "Children's National is committed to fostering collaboration among innovators, clinicians, policy makers and investors to advance pediatric device development for the benefit of children everywhere."

This year's winning innovations receiving $50,000 awards are:

CorInnova, Houston, Texas  soft robotic, non-blood-contacting biventricular cardiac assist device for the treatment of heart failure in children

Green Sun Medical , Fort Collins, Colo.  novel device that provides necessary pressure for the correction of spinal deformity while providing real-time feedback to clinicians

Hub Hygiene and Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Ga.  low-cost, single-use cleaning technology to prevent central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI), a hospital-acquired infection by pediatric ICU patients

NAVi Medical Technologies , Houston, Texas  device to provide accurate information about the localization of an umbilical venous catheter (UVC) used in critically-ill newborns to reduce the risk of catheter malposition

Winning innovations receiving $25,000 awards are:

Prapela, LLC , Boston, Mass.  novel "baby box" that will allow for a non-pharmacological approach to help drug-exposed infants relax and sleep during withdrawal and post-withdrawal care

X-Biomedical, Inc. , Philadelphia, Pa.  portable surgical microscope for use in surgeries for treatable causes of blindness in low-income countries and under-resourced settings

"We are honored to recognize these outstanding innovations with this funding," said Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., executive director of the Sheikh Zayed Institute and NCC-PDI. "We are even more excited about welcoming this new cohort of companies to our family of pediatric device startups and entrepreneurs. Together we can move the needle a bit faster and safer to bring pediatric products to market."

She added that in addition to the financial support and consultation services through NCC-PDI, the awardees can leverage the validation received through this highly competitive process to raise the additional capital needed for commercialization. Since inception in 2013, NCC-PDI has supported 67 pediatric devices and the companies and research labs owning these devices have collectively raised $55 million in additional funding.

The twelve finalists each made five-minute presentations to the symposium audience and then responded to judges' questions. Finalists also included Anecare, LLC, Salt Lake City, Utah; ApnoSystems, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Deton Corp., Pasadena, Calif.; Kite Medical, Dublin, Ireland; Moyarta 2, LLC, The Plains, Va.; and Oculogica, Inc., New York, N.Y.

Serving on the distinguished panel of judges were Susan Alpert, M.D., of SFA Consulting, a former director of the FDA Office of Device Evaluation and former senior vice president and chief regulatory officer of Medtronic; Charles Berul, M.D., co-director, Children's National Heart Institute; Andrew Elbardissi, M.D., of Deerfield Management; Rick Greenwald, Ph.D., of the New England Pediatric Device Consortium (NEPDC); James Love, J.D., of Oblon; Josh Makower, M.D., of NEA; Jennifer McCaney, Ph.D., of MedTech Innovator; Jackie Phillips, M.D., of Johnson & Johnson; and Tracy Warren of Astarte Ventures.

The pitch competition is a highlight of the annual symposium organized by the Sheikh Zayed Institute at Children's National, designed to foster innovation that will advance pediatric healthcare and address the unmet surgical and medical device needs for children. New this year, the symposium co-located in a joint effort with The MedTech Conference powered by AdvaMed, the premier gathering of medtech professionals in North America.

Keynote speakers at the event included Daniel Kraft, M.D., faculty chair of Medicine & Neuroscience, Singularity University and executive director, Exponential Medicine; Vasum Peiris, M.D., chief medical officer, Pediatrics and Special Populations, FDA; and Alan Flake, M.D., director of Center for Fetal Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Panel discussions focused on gap funding for pediatric innovation, the journey from ideation to commercialization, and the pediatric device needs assessment in the future regulatory environment.

About Children's National Health System

Children's National Health System, based in Washington, D.C., has been serving the nation's children since 1870. Children's National is #1 for babies and ranked in every specialty evaluated by U.S. News & World Report including placement in the top 10 for: Cancer (#7), Neurology and Neurosurgery (#9) Orthopedics (#9) and Nephrology (#10). Children's National has been designated two times as a Magnet hospital, a designation given to hospitals that demonstrate the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers. Home to the Children's Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National is one of the nation's top NIH-funded pediatric institutions. Children's National is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. For more information, visit ChildrensNational.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Children's National Health System

Related Links

http://www.childrensnational.org


NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AB Global High Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: AWF) (the "Fund") today released its monthly portfolio update as of August 31,2017.

AB Global High Income Fund, Inc.















Top 10 Fixed-Income Holdings

Portfolio % 1) Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional Series F 10.00%, 1/01/21 - 1/01/27 3.82% 2) U.S. Treasury Notes 0.875%, 4/15/19

3.53% 3) Turkey Government Bond 11.00%, 2/24/27 1.18% 4) U.S. Treasury Bonds 8.125%, 5/15/21

1.04% 5) U.S. Treasury Notes 2.25%, 11/15/25 - 2/15/27 1.00% 6) U.S. Treasury Bonds 6.25%, 5/15/30

0.93% 7) Mexican Bonos Series M 6.50%, 6/10/21 0.88% 8) Argentine Republic Government International Bond 6.875%, 4/22/21 - 1/26/27 0.77% 9) Republic of South Africa Government Bond Series R186 10.50%, 12/21/26 0.74% 10) Turkey Government Bond 11.10%, 5/15/19 0.74%





Investment Type

Portfolio % Corporates - Non-Investment Grade



Industrial



Communications - Media

4.09% Consumer Non-Cyclical

4.06% Energy

3.87% Basic

3.18% Communications - Telecommunications

3.00% Consumer Cyclical - Other

2.83% Capital Goods

1.90% Technology

1.56% Services

1.55% Transportation - Services

1.10% Consumer Cyclical - Retailers

1.00% Consumer Cyclical - Automotive

0.99% Other Industrial

0.96% Consumer Cyclical - Entertainment

0.22% Consumer Cyclical - Restaurants

0.19% Transportation - Airlines

0.10% SUBTOTAL

30.60% Financial Institutions



Banking

3.46% Finance

1.02% Insurance

0.39% Other Finance

0.37% Brokerage

0.14% REITS

0.04% SUBTOTAL

5.42% Credit Default Swaps

1.97% SUBTOTAL

1.97% Utility



Electric

1.13% Natural Gas

0.02% SUBTOTAL

1.15% SUBTOTAL

39.14% Global Governments

14.82% Collateralized Mortgage Obligations



Risk Share Floating Rate

8.85% Non-Agency Fixed Rate

1.80% Non-Agency Floating Rate

1.14% SUBTOTAL

11.79% Corporates - Investment Grade



Industrial



Basic

0.95% Energy

0.60% Technology

0.55% Communications - Telecommunications

0.50% Communications - Media

0.43% Consumer Cyclical - Automotive

0.27% Capital Goods

0.26% Consumer Non-Cyclical

0.17% Consumer Cyclical - Other

0.09% Transportation - Airlines

0.07% Services

0.06% SUBTOTAL

3.95% Financial Institutions



Banking

1.53% Insurance

1.06% REITS

0.68% Brokerage

0.09% Finance

0.02% SUBTOTAL

3.38% Credit Default Swaps

0.92% SUBTOTAL

0.92% Utility



Electric

0.12% SUBTOTAL

0.12% SUBTOTAL

8.37% Interest Rate Futures

8.32% Emerging Markets - Treasuries

8.08% Emerging Markets - Sovereigns

7.11% Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities



Credit Default Swaps

4.19% Non-Agency Fixed Rate CMBS

2.32% Non-Agency Floating Rate CMBS

0.16% SUBTOTAL

6.67% Total Return Swaps

5.15% Interest Rate Swaps

4.92% Emerging Markets - Corporate Bonds



Industrial



Energy

1.02% Basic

0.89% Communications - Telecommunications

0.48% Consumer Non-Cyclical

0.44% Capital Goods

0.27% Transportation - Airlines

0.25% Consumer Cyclical - Other

0.21% Transportation - Services

0.15% Consumer Cyclical - Retailers

0.07% Technology

0.05% Other Industrial

0.04% SUBTOTAL

3.87% Financial Institutions



Banking

0.28% Finance

0.05% SUBTOTAL

0.33% SUBTOTAL

4.20% Bank Loans



Industrial



Technology

0.54% Consumer Non-Cyclical

0.51% Consumer Cyclical - Retailers

0.45% Capital Goods

0.31% Energy

0.24% Consumer Cyclical - Other

0.21% Consumer Cyclical - Entertainment

0.18% Other Industrial

0.12% Services

0.09% Basic

0.08% Consumer Cyclical - Automotive

0.07% SUBTOTAL

2.80% Financial Institutions



Insurance

0.04% SUBTOTAL

0.04% SUBTOTAL

2.84% Common Stocks

1.46% Inflation-Linked Securities

1.29% Asset-Backed Securities



Home Equity Loans - Fixed Rate

0.67% Other ABS - Fixed Rate

0.53% Autos - Fixed Rate

0.06% Home Equity Loans - Floating Rate

0.03% SUBTOTAL

1.29% Preferred Stocks



Industrial

0.71% Financial Institutions

0.36% Utility

0.03% SUBTOTAL

1.10% Whole Loan Trusts



Performing Asset

0.56% SUBTOTAL

0.56% Local Governments - Regional Bonds

0.53% Local Governments - US Municipal Bonds

0.46% Equity Futures



Equity Index Futures

0.28% SUBTOTAL

0.28% Quasi-Sovereigns



Quasi-Sovereign Bonds

0.27% SUBTOTAL

0.27% Investment Companies



Funds and Investment Trusts

0.18% SUBTOTAL

0.18% Collateralized Loan Obligations



CLO - Floating Rate

0.11% SUBTOTAL

0.11% Warrants

0.02% Options Purchased - Calls



Options on Forward Contracts

0.01% Swaptions

0.01% SUBTOTAL

0.02% Options Purchased - Puts



Options on Funds and Investment Trusts

0.01% SUBTOTAL

0.01% Call Options Written

-0.01% Currency Instruments



Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

-0.06% SUBTOTAL

-0.06% Put Options Written

-0.15% Reverse Repurchase Agreements

-4.86% Net Cash Equivalents



Investment Companies

0.52% Cash

0.47% Emerging Markets - Sovereigns

0.47% Governments - Treasuries

0.18% Treasury Bills

0.04% SUBTOTAL

1.68% Derivative Offsets



Futures Offsets

-8.59% Swaps Offsets

-17.00% SUBTOTAL

-25.59% Total

100.00%





Country Breakdown

Portfolio % United States

59.66% Brazil

5.97% Mexico

3.62% Argentina

3.18% Turkey

2.86% United Kingdom

2.76% Luxembourg

1.55% Canada

1.46% South Africa

1.38% Dominican Republic

1.24% France

1.15% Ireland

1.08% Indonesia

1.05% Italy

0.97% Egypt

0.91% Colombia

0.80% Switzerland

0.78% Russia

0.78% Sri Lanka

0.56% Spain

0.55% Ivory Coast

0.53% Ukraine

0.46% Malaysia

0.44% Cayman Islands

0.43% Netherlands

0.41% Jamaica

0.39% India

0.35% Germany

0.33% United Arab Emirates

0.30% Venezuela

0.30% Zambia

0.28% Ecuador

0.26% Gabon

0.24% Honduras

0.19% Mongolia

0.19% Angola

0.18% Norway

0.17% Macau

0.16% Guatemala

0.16% Sweden

0.14% El Salvador

0.14% Israel

0.13% Trinidad & Tobago

0.13% Senegal

0.12% Pakistan

0.12% Cameroon

0.11% Bahrain

0.10% Barbados

0.09% Nigeria

0.09% Peru

0.08% New Zealand

0.06% Australia

0.06% Kenya

0.06% Uruguay

0.05% Iraq

0.05% Jordan

0.05% Finland

0.05% Ethiopia

0.05% Lebanon

0.05% China

0.04% Chile

0.04% Hong Kong

0.04% Jersey (Channel Islands)

0.02% Belarus

0.02% Serbia

0.02% Portugal

0.01% Total Investments

100.00%





Net Currency Exposure Breakdown

Portfolio % United States Dollar

90.74% Brazilian Real

2.44% New Turkish Lira

2.00% Norwegian Krone

1.63% Argentine Peso

1.55% Polish Zloty

1.54% Indonesian Rupiah

1.51% Mexican Peso

1.44% Russian Rubles

1.28% Euro

1.15% Hungarian Forint

1.04% Swedish Krona

1.04% Chinese Yuan Renminbi

1.03% Malaysian Ringgit

1.00% Egypt Pound

0.69% Indian Rupee

0.51% Dominican Peso

0.46% Colombian Peso

0.45% Sri Lankan Rupee

0.42% Peruvian Sol

0.25% Uruguayan Peso

0.06% New Zealand Dollar

-0.50% Australian Dollar

-0.56% South Korean Won

-0.99% Japanese Yen

-1.01% Chinese Yuan Renminbi (Offshore)

-1.03% Great British Pound

-1.53% Canadian Dollar

-1.94% Singapore Dollar

-2.01% Swiss Franc

-2.66% Total Net Assets

100.00%





Credit Rating

Portfolio % AAA

9.13% AA

0.72% A

4.67% BBB

15.69% BB

30.24% B

25.82% CCC

7.03% CC

0.73% C

0.11% D

0.29% Not Rated

5.98% Short Term Investments

1.21% Reverse Repurchase Agreements

-4.86% N/A

3.24% Total

100.00%





Bonds By Maturity

Portfolio % Less than 1 year

5.00% 1 to 5 years

41.33% 5 to 10 years

36.59% 10 to 20 years

9.34% 20 to 30 years

4.87% More Than 30 years

1.39% Other

1.48% Total Net Assets

100.00%





Portfolio Statistics:



Average Coupon:

7.25% Percentage of Leverage(based on gross assets):

Bank Borrowing:

0.00% Investment Operations:

48.73% Preferred stock:

0.00% Tender Option Bonds:

0.00% VMTP Shares:

0.00% Total Fund Leverage:

48.73% Average Maturity:

7.20 Years Effective Duration:

5.15 Years Total Net Assets:

$1,213.18 Million Net Asset Value:

$14.07 Number of Holdings:

1280 Portfolio Turnover:

48%

* Investment Operations may include the use of certain portfolio management techniques such as credit default swaps, dollar rolls, negative cash, reverse repurchase agreements and when-issued securities.

The foregoing portfolio characteristics are as of the date indicated and can be expected to change. The Fund is a closed-end U.S.-registered management investment company advised by AllianceBernstein L. P.

SOURCE AB Global High Income Fund, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.alliancebernstein.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Advertising Age officially becomes Ad Age today as the 87-year old icon of the marketing and media industries unveils a bold new look both inside and out. The Ad Age audience, experiencing the brand via social, site, print or events, will see a highly stylized design environment supporting content that focuses on the intersection between culture and marketing. The new design system and content strategy marks a significant shift for the global media brand.

"We believe more than ever that advertising, marketing and technology play a critical role in shaping culture," said Joshua J. Golden, Publisher, Ad Age. "In this time of ever-present change in our industry, we are embracing our position to lead, fuel and support the people and companies who are responsible for forcing that evolution. The work that we have done aligns our brand with the current state of the industry and lights the path forward.

"Our writers and designers are unparalleled when it comes to access and expertise in media and marketing," states Brian Braiker, Editor, Ad Age. "Now we're doubling down on our voice as we become more critical about creativity, more creative about innovation, thoughtful about talent and incisive about data. The redesign allows us to be more direct and accessible and deliver the award-winning journalism that sets us apart."

"Ad Age has long been an important voice in the marketing industry," adds KC Crain, President and Chief Operating Officer, Crain Communications, Inc. The new design represents the high standard we hold ourselves to as a brand charged with shaping business and culture."

Ad Age has now sharpened its strategic focus to curated creativity, data and analysis, people and culture plus innovation and forecasting. The theme of the content launching the week of September 25 is reinvention, with a focus on individuals and brands  much like Ad Age  who have pivoted, adapted, innovated or evolved their core practices to drive change. The stories are designed to shine a light on topics that are important to people who work in marketing and those who love it, including:

The Rock breaking the news that he is starting an ad agency with his business partner Dany Garcia

breaking the news that he is starting an ad agency with his business partner Sheryl Sandberg and her team at Facebook  a sort of social media " Justice League "  provide an inside look at how the social media giant is tackling video

and her team at Facebook  a sort of social media " "  provide an inside look at how the social media giant is tackling video Megyn Kelly reveals she isn't passionate about politics and other surprises that viewers will come to understand once her daytime show premieres

reveals she isn't passionate about politics and other surprises that viewers will come to understand once her daytime show premieres Former Weiden & Kennedy executive Mark Fitzloff gives Ad Age the first look at his new creative shop

gives Ad Age the first look at his new creative shop A powerful exploration of how Trump's Presidency shifted the strategy of the marketing of guns to include scare tactics targeting women

New survey results showing the ramifications of how African American women are portrayed in the media from The Real Housewives of Atlanta to Beyonce.

Supporting the new content is a completely new logo, tagline and cohesive branding that extends across multiple platforms, including digital, events and honorifics, and print. Beyond the new look and feel of Ad Age, its audience will also experience a more seamless integration of Creativity and Datacenter, two key Ad Age products that enable an expanded focus on the people, work and companies that are leading the industry in new directions. Other notable design changes include:

Creativity and Datacenter will be completely folded into the Ad Age umbrella.

Creativity will now be included as a vertical section in the Ad Age print edition, with an expanded purview of innovation, culture and technology for an influential audience seeking best-in-class work beyond traditional advertising.

Events and honorifics are given a universal design treatment, including Ad Age Next, Ad Age A-list & Creativity Awards, Ad Age Small Agency Awards, Ad Age Women to Watch and Ad Age 40 under 40.

The Ad Age design system was developed and executed by Original Champions of Design, founded by Jennifer Kinon and Bobby C. Martin, Jr. Led by Kinon, the OCD team began their process with an audit of the Ad Age archives, located at Crain Communications in Detroit, MI. As part of the development work, OCD brought in renowned type designer Tobias Frere-Jones to refine and rebalance the word mark, inspired by the Ad Age logo from 1930. Frere-Jones and team homed in on the descending "g," which has become instantly recognizable to those familiar with the brand and its history. When paired with the return to the original 1930 tagline, "Important to important people," the "g" does not function as merely a letter, but as a purposeful visual clip and an unspoken arbiter of what Ad Age believes is paramount to the audience.

The new branding can be seen throughout AdAge.com, in the new September 25th print and digital issue, and on Ad Age social channels. Social handles: Ad Age (Facebook and LinkedIn), @adage (Twitter and Instagram).

Click here for images of the three covers and images and video of the new Ad Age logo.

About Ad Age

Ad Age is a daily must-read for an influential audience of decision makers and disruptors across the marketing and media landscape. Created in 1930 to cover a burgeoning industry with objectivity, accuracy, and fairness, Ad Age continues to be powered by award-winning journalism. Today, Ad Age is a global media brand focusing on curated creativity, data and analysis, people and culture, and innovation and forecasting. From vital print editions to must-attend events and innovative platform offerings, its industry-leading offerings include the coveted A-List & Creativity Awards, the Ad Age Next Conference, and proprietary data such as the Leading National Advertisers Report from the Ad Age Datacenter.

SOURCE Ad Age
NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mediaocean, the leading software provider for the advertising world, and AdMore, the nation's largest programmatic TV advertising platform with more than 1,200 local station and national network television affiliates, today announced a new partnership that will enable more agencies to seamlessly access Admore's extensive inventory from local cable and broadcast TV stations. This new alliance enables media buyers, representing nearly all of the world's top agencies and their marketing clients, to both broaden and deepen their reach into more targeted market segments as they continue to transition national brand campaigns into cohesive cross-platform buys.

Available in Q4 2017, AdMore's integration within Mediaocean's media management platform, Spectra, thus allowing an "unwired" network to be purchased in Mediaocean's National Media workflow. Additionally, agencies can access and leverage AdMore-delivered audience based targeted media while using advanced TV technologies, software, reporting and measurement.

"We continue to actively seek ways to create efficiencies for all of our current agencies and clients, as well as future brand marketing partners," said AdMore President Brendan Condon. "This new alliance allows us to provide the same strong results across a far broader range, while we, Mediaocean and other innovators drive toward critical mass in the ongoing transition to automated advertising and greater transparency."

"Convergence is driving agencies to seek out more integrated buying opportunities- our partnership with Admore helps to achieve just that. Mediaocean clients using our Connect workflow will be now able to automate buying of all available national TV inventory accessing AdMore's expansive audience reach through that spans over 1,200 stations." said Ramsey McGrory, CRO of Mediaocean.

About Mediaocean: Mediaocean is the world's leading media software company that automates every aspect of the advertising workflow - from planning, buying and selling, to analyzing and optimizing, to invoicing and payments. Mediaocean's open cross-media platforms power $140 billion in global media budgets, and have unmatched reach and bridge traditional and digital media. Mediaocean serves more than 80,000 users across agencies, advertisers and media sellers worldwide. The company employs 900 people worldwide and is part of the Vista Equity Partners portfolio of software companies. Mediaocean is headquartered in New York with ten offices worldwide. Learn more at mediaocean.com, or connect with Mediaocean on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

About AdMore: A division of Cannella Media LLC, AdMore boasts relationships with more than 1,200 local broadcast stations, cable systems, syndicators and networks. AdMore and its sister unit REVShare are the largest long-form and short-form performance-based media platforms in North America. AdMore offers top advertisers and agencies proprietary technology to integrate trusted third-party data including Nielsen measurement and reporting systems, together with web-based tools and dashboards, to optimize the reach of their advertising campaigns. REVShare has specialized in performance-based advertising since 1992 and is one of the industry's recognized leaders in short-form cost-per-action TV and interactive digital delivery. The two units were acquired by Cannella Response Television in January 2016 and, together, form Cannella Media, LLC based in Burlington, WI with offices in New York, Milwaukee, Los Angeles and Temecula, CA. For more information, visit www.AdMore.tv.

Media Contacts:





For Mediaocean For AdMore Erin McCallion, VP, Marketing Martine Charles, MARC Global Communications [email protected] [email protected]

206.295.9114





Thomas Tyrer, MARC Global Communications

[email protected]

310.874.0441

SOURCE Mediaocean

Related Links

http://mediaocean.com


DUBAI, UAE, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Tangier meeting point for peace and tolerance

The Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta takes visitors on a cultural world tour during the second edition of International Festival of Ibn Battuta.

On 9 to 12 November 2017, the streets of Tangier will turn into a festive city filled with international display of talents, conferences, carnival, film screening, humorists, street art, theatrical plays, art exhibitions, musical shows, culture and friendly smiles. Inspired by the journey of the Great Ibn Battuta, visitors can experience traveling the world in less than a week, exploring into an atmosphere of cultural exchanges and finding inspiration for the next travel adventure.

For this edition, Africa had made sure to have a strong participation in all the activities, the organizing committee have receive confirmation of high profiles including but not limited VVIPs, dignitaries, government officials, ministers, ambassadors, artists, peace mediators and lecturers.

The association's Honorary President, Mohamed DEKKAK, states that this year's theme - "Travelers, the Ambassadors of Peace", aims to disseminate the ways the culture of traveling can drive PEACE. In this edition, Africans express high level of tolerance by having strong presence in this festival. Africa is not only land of opportunities but it's also land of tolerance.

Aziz BENAMI, the association President expresses that the event is a tremendous opportunity to bring to light some of Ibn Battuta's travels, and adventures. The Afro barometer have shown that Africa have high degree of acceptance of ethnic groups, religions, cultures and languages.

On the second edition of the International festival of Ibn Battuta, there is many different stars participation like: Ulrich ZOUANDA, Safiath, Cisby, Malika, King Barra, Sarro, Agalawal, Soraya KSONTINI, Jamal BENMERAH , Farid MAACHOU, Yosra ZEKRI, Faten NAJJARI, khiri TAISH, Ahmed KOUAIB, Badro, Firas SBOUI, Hamid El HADRI and many more.

The festival is organized by the Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta, a nonprofit international association that values artistic, moral and innovative action aimed at the improvement of tourism in Tangier and in Morocco. It considers the culture of traveling as the ultimate purpose of development.

Additional information can be found at https://ibnbattuta.ma/

E-mail: [email protected]

Contacts: Sarah Garcia +971-26813111

SOURCE Ibn Battuta Association
CHARLES CITY | Floyd County Emergency Management purchased a drone for the countys emergency personnel to utilize in hazardous situations, search, rescue and more.

Floyd County EMA Director Lezlie Weber is one of the designated and certified drone pilots in the county.

I got my hands on it a few weeks ago in training, Weber said. Its a very unique experience and took a little time to get used to.

According to state law, drone operators must have an FAA drone pilot license.

There are four county employees who have been trained, tested and certified on flying the drone including Weber: Floyd County Conservation Naturalist Heidi Reams, Floyd County Sheriffs Office Deputy Chad Weber and Floyd County Sheriffs Office Sergeant Deputy Travis Bartz.

The FAA regulations state as long as there is one certified drone pilot on the crew, we can have others helping operate, Weber said. We will be training few more from our departments to help be observers on our crews.

A crew should have two to three members. Batteries for the Inspiron 1 drone last between 17 and 23 minutes. A crew would help spot obstacles and keep the batteries charged.

Weber said the group took a three-day course, involving training on the FAA regulations, the equipment and systems for the Inspiron 1 and the FAA Testing.

The Emergency Management Department decided to purchase a drone to help aid in the increasing search and rescue situations and to help evaluate potentially hazardous situations, Weber said.

Weber said the Floyd County Sheriffs department could use the drone for aerial views as it investigates traffic accidents and for search warrants, if necessary, to evaluate the situation.

Floyd County Conservation will use it to be able to completely view areas to help better manage invasive species, high usage areas, and more. The drone will also help the county get a better view of flooding, when needed.

The Inspiron 1 drone system the county will use has a payload system that can carry 1 to 1.5 pounds.

With that, we can get a life jacket out to someone, Weber said.

Drones are becoming more common for emergency workers. Mitchell County Emergency Services purchased a drone early this year.

In July 2016, first responders used a drone to locate and direct rescuers to an Algona man and his granddaughter, who were lost after their boat became stuck in the Des Moines River.

After they were located, emergency management services were able to quickly coordinate medical services to their location, as the man had suffered a heart attack. The man was later released from the hospital.

This is a step to bridge the gap between being on the ground and having a helicopter, Weber said.

The Inspiron 1 drone costs $1,999 without any add-ons.

Unless demand for drone use in the county increases there are no plans to purchase another drone, Weber said.
HOUSTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) showed significant increases in passenger satisfaction over last year, according to the J. D. Power 2017 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.

Bush Intercontinental Airport ranked No. 11 among "mega" airports with a score of 752 (on a scale of 1,000)jumping up from 709 in 2016. William P. Hobby Airport showed the most significant gains, according to the survey. Hobby Airport is now ranked No. 7 among "large" airports with a score of 765 (on a scale of 1000)up from last year's 737.

"This survey shows our passengers are highly perceptive and recognize the great work that has been done to elevate the experience of flying in and out of Houston," said Houston Aviation Director Mario Diaz. "But make no mistake - we are not finished renovating, rebuilding and creating a world-class airport for this great city."

In the spring of this year, the airport system rolled out a complete upgrade of its concessions programming including world-class shopping and elevated dining experiences spiced with local flavor. The airports also now offer free Wi-Fi, which was rated second fastest in the country, and a mobile-device responsive website. Bush and Hobby Airports together were the first in the nation to offer turn-by-turn wayfinding technology via "LocusMaps Online".

In addition, Hobby Airport welcomed 12.9 million passengers in 2016 with more than 800,000 flying in and out of the new $156 million international concourse which has received accolades from industry leaders and, more importantly, customers. The concourse opened in October 2015.

Bush Airport welcomed almost 42 million passengers in 2016 and, earlier this year, openedin partnership with United Airlinesa new Terminal C North concourse. Terminal C North offers a more comfortable and lavish concourse-to-gate experience for customers.

Plans are now underway for a new Mickey Leland International Terminal that will elevate the airport experience for the growing international passenger traffic in Houston.

Houston Airports have topped other satisfaction and efficient operation surveys over the past year including:

Bush Airport was ranked No. 3 among the most improved airports in the world and the No. 9 airport in the world for dining, according to an annual survey conducted by Skytrax. Read more here.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics ranked Bush Airport No. 8 among the top 29 hub airports in the U.S. for on-time performance in 2016 with more than 83 percent of flights operating on time. Read more here.

RewardExpert.com ranked Bush Airport No. 5 overall in its 2017 U.S. Airport Dining Scorecard and ranked tops among the top 20 most trafficked airports for vegetarian and vegan dining options. Read more here.

Bush Airport was named a Top 5 Favorite Airport for Millennials. Read more here.

Houston Airports fly2houston.com website earned two Best In Category honors from the American Marketing Association Houston Chapter. Read more here.

Engineering News-Record named Hobby expansion 2016 Project of the Year. Read more here.

Seven top airlines in Skytrax 2016 ratings provide non-stop service out of Bush Intercontinental. Read more here.

Hobby Airport earned 4 stars in international airport ratings, one of only three U.S. airports to do so. Read more here.

The 2017 J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study measures overall traveler satisfaction with mega, large, and medium North American airports by examining six factors (in order of importance): terminal facilities; airport accessibility; security check; baggage claim; check-in/baggage check; food, beverage and retail.

Now in its 12th year, the study is based on responses from 34,695 North American travelers who traveled through at least one domestic airport with both departure and arrival experiences (including connecting airports) during the past three months. Travelers evaluated either a departing or arriving airport from their round-trip experience. The study was fielded from January through August 2017.

For more information about the North America Airport Satisfaction Study, visit http://www.jdpower.com/resource/north-america-airport-satisfaction-study.

SOURCE Houston Airport System

Related Links

http://www.fly2houston.com


ST. LOUIS, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren Missouri announced today a forward-thinking plan to dramatically increase the amount of wind and solar generation to provide cost-effective and sustainable energy for its customers.

Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE), plans to add at least 700 megawatts of wind generation by 2020, representing an investment of approximately $1 billion. The potential exists to add even more wind generation in the coming years as a result of improving technology and economics, as well as renewable energy initiatives with large customers.

The company also plans to add 100 megawatts of solar generation over the next 10 years, with 50 megawatts expected to come online by 2025.

"This is Ameren Missouri's largest-ever commitment to clean, renewable energy," said Michael Moehn, president of Ameren Missouri. "We are committed to bringing our customers innovative solutions that are both cost-effective and environmentally responsible while maintaining the reliability our customers expect."

Wind Generation

The new wind generation is expected to be located in Missouri and neighboring states using American-made turbines. The source, location and cost of the new wind generation is still under negotiation with several developers.

"We expect this tremendous growth in wind generation to provide great value to our customers, who will save money on energy costs," Moehn said. "Because of significant advancement in technology, harnessing wind is less expensive than other forms of new generation."

The planned generation is expected to be operational by 2020.

"We believe it is in our customers' long-term best interest for Ameren Missouri to own this wind generation," said Ajay Arora, vice president of environmental services and generation resource planning at Ameren.

Solar Generation

The addition of 100 megawatts of solar generation over the next 10 years is expected to be developed in multiple phases.

Planning is underway on two projects. Earlier this year, Ameren Missouri announced plans to build a solar generation facility at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. That facility is expected to be complete in 2018. A separate project creates partnerships with business customers to locate an Ameren Missouri-owned solar generation facility on their property.

"These innovative solar programs have great promise," Arora said. "Moving generation assets closer to where the energy is needed most is one of the ways we're making the grid smarter, stronger and more resilient."

Carbon Reduction

Further, the company is establishing a goal of reducing its carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 from the 2005 level.

"We are the first investor-owned utility in the state, and among the first in the country, to announce a carbon emissions goal of this magnitude," Moehn said.

To meet this goal, Ameren Missouri is targeting a 35 percent carbon emissions reduction by 2030 and a 50 percent reduction by 2040 from the 2005 level. Since 2005, Ameren Missouri has significantly reduced emissions, including a 26 percent reduction in carbon emissions in 2016.

Specifics of Ameren Missouri's plan also include:

Managing the largest, most comprehensive energy efficiency program in Missouri's history. The plan consists of a comprehensive portfolio of programs for business and residential customers. The energy savings goal for the current three-year plan is 570,000 megawatt-hours, equivalent to the energy used by nearly 45,000 homes, and representing a carbon-emissions reduction equivalent to taking 115,000 cars off the street. These programs give residents and businesses tools to save money and help make costs more predictable.

history. The plan consists of a comprehensive portfolio of programs for business and residential customers. The energy savings goal for the current three-year plan is 570,000 megawatt-hours, equivalent to the energy used by nearly 45,000 homes, and representing a carbon-emissions reduction equivalent to taking 115,000 cars off the street. These programs give residents and businesses tools to save money and help make costs more predictable. Retiring over half of Ameren Missouri's coal-fired generating capacity. This includes retiring the Meramec Energy Center in south St. Louis County by the end of 2022.

by the end of 2022. Addressing the need to transition to a smart energy grid that can support more renewable energy, universal and private solar and customers' desire for more timely information. In the next two decades, the energy grid will be the lifeline for cleaner energy connecting hundreds, if not thousands, of small and regional renewable energy generators to the grid in real time while maintaining the energy reliability demanded by customers.

Ameren Missouri's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a 20-year outlook that supports cleaner energy in Missouri, was filed today with the Missouri Public Service Commission, and is consistent with Missouri's Renewable Energy Standard. The IRP, which is filed every three years, examines electric customers' projected long-term energy needs and describes Ameren Missouri's preferred approach to meeting those needs in a cost-effective fashion that maintains system reliability.

"The IRP is developed with the input of a wide variety of stakeholders and is consistent with Ameren's goal of transitioning its energy generation in a responsible fashion to ensure reliability while keeping customer rates affordable," Arora said.

In order to add these resources to its generation portfolio, Ameren Missouri is required to seek certificates of convenience and necessity from the Missouri Public Service Commission for projects located in Missouri and to obtain interconnection agreements so that it can use transmission services of the appropriate Regional Transmission Authority.

More information can be found at AmerenMissouri.com/IRP.

About Ameren Missouri

Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years, and the company's electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. Ameren Missouri's mission is to power the quality of life for its 1.2 million electric and 127,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. The company's service area covers 64 counties and more than 500 communities, including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit Ameren.com/Missouri or follow us at @AmerenMissouri or Facebook.com/AmerenMissouri.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this release not based on historical facts are considered "forward-looking" and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. These statements include (without limitation) statements as to future expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, events, conditions, and financial performance. In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The following factors, in addition to those discussed under Risk Factors in Ameren's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and elsewhere in this release and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations suggested in such forward-looking statements:

regulatory, judicial, or legislative actions, including any changes in regulatory policies and ratemaking determinations, and future regulatory, judicial, or legislative actions that change regulatory recovery mechanisms;

the effects of changes in federal, state, or local laws and other governmental actions, including monetary, fiscal, and energy policies;

the effects of changes in federal, state, or local tax laws, regulations, interpretations or rates and any challenges to the tax positions we have taken;

the effects on demand for our services resulting from technological advances, including advances in customer energy efficiency and private generation sources, which generate electricity at the site of consumption and are becoming more cost-competitive;

the effectiveness of Ameren Missouri's customer energy efficiency programs and the related revenues and performance incentives earned under its Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act plans;

our ability to align overall spending, both operating and capital, with frameworks established by our regulators in our attempt to earn our allowed return on equity;

the timing of increasing capital expenditure and operating expense requirements and our ability to recover these costs in a timely manner;

the cost and availability of fuel, such as ultra-low-sulfur coal, natural gas, and enriched uranium used to produce electricity; the cost and availability of purchased power, zero-emission credits, renewable energy credits, and natural gas for distribution; and the level and volatility of future market prices for such commodities, including our ability to recover the costs for such commodities and our customers' tolerance for the related rate increases;

disruptions in the delivery of fuel, failure of our fuel suppliers to provide adequate quantities or quality of fuel, or lack of adequate inventories of fuel, including nuclear fuel assemblies from Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC, the Callaway Energy Center's only Nuclear Regulatory Commission-licensed supplier of such assemblies, which is currently in bankruptcy proceedings;

the effectiveness of our risk management strategies and our use of financial and derivative instruments;

the ability to obtain sufficient insurance, including insurance for Ameren Missouri's Callaway Energy Center, or in the absence of insurance, the ability to recover uninsured losses from our customers;

business and economic conditions, including their impact on interest rates, collection of our receivable balances, and demand for our products;

disruptions of the capital markets, deterioration in our credit metrics, or other events that may have an adverse effect on the cost or availability of capital, including short-term credit and liquidity;

the actions of credit rating agencies and the effects of such actions;

the impact of adopting new accounting guidance and the application of appropriate accounting rules and guidance;

the impact of weather conditions on Ameren Missouri and other natural phenomena on us and our customers, including the impact of system outages;

the construction, installation, performance, and cost recovery of generation, transmission, and distribution assets;

the effects of breakdowns or failures of equipment in the operation of natural gas transmission and distribution systems and storage facilities, such as leaks, explosions, and mechanical problems, and compliance with natural gas safety regulations;

the effects of our increasing investment in electric transmission projects, our ability to obtain all of the necessary approvals to complete the projects, and the uncertainty as to whether we will achieve our expected returns in a timely manner;

operation of Ameren Missouri's Callaway Energy Center, including planned and unplanned outages, and decommissioning costs;

the effects of strategic initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures;

the impact of current environmental regulations and new, more stringent, or changing requirements, including those related to carbon dioxide, other emissions and discharges, cooling water intake structures, coal combustion residuals, and energy efficiency, that are enacted over time and that could limit or terminate the operation of certain of Ameren Missouri's energy centers, increase our costs or investment requirements, result in an impairment of our assets, cause us to sell our assets, reduce our customers' demand for electricity or natural gas, or otherwise have a negative financial effect;

the impact of complying with renewable energy portfolio requirements in Missouri ;

; labor disputes, work force reductions, future wage and employee benefits costs, including changes in discount rates, mortality tables, and returns on benefit plan assets;

the inability of our counterparties to meet their obligations with respect to contracts, credit agreements, and financial instruments;

the cost and availability of transmission capacity for the energy generated by Ameren Missouri's energy centers or required to satisfy Ameren Missouri's energy sales;

legal and administrative proceedings;

the impact of cyber attacks, which could result in the loss of operational control of energy centers and electric and natural gas transmission and distribution systems and/or the loss of data, such as customer data and account information; and

acts of sabotage, war, terrorism, or other intentionally disruptive acts.

New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in any forward-looking statement. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events.

SOURCE Ameren Missouri

Related Links

http://www.ameren.com


TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Alternate Health Corp ("Alternate Health" or the "Company") (CSE:AHG) (OTC:AHGIF), an international medical cannabis company that uses best-in-class technology, research, education, production and laboratories to increase the awareness, regulatory compliance, and appropriate usage of cannabinoids in modern medical practices, today announced that the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association (AMMPA) has endorsed the Company's CanaPass patient management software.

"AMMPA's commitment to physician advocacy means that we are always looking for products that will help increase compliance, decrease liability, and improve patient outcomes in the medial marijuana industry," says Dr. Orlando Florete, MD, President of the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association. "We believe that CanaPass and its U.S. equivalents will be a benefit to physicians that recommend alternative medical treatments in a safe and legal environment."

Based in Clermont, Florida, AMMPA's mission is to support physicians and patients who utilize medical marijuana as a treatment alternative in the setting of a legally indicated diagnosis. With over 650 physician members, AMMPA is a leader in providing physicians with comprehensive support in education, compliance and legal advocacy.

"We are honored to receive AMMPA's recognition of the CanaPass system's unparalleled focus on transparency and compliance," says Jade Green, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, at Alternate Health. "This endorsement represents another step forward as we aim to set the standard in cannabis-specific medical software across North America."

The CanaPass system is a cloud-based software platform that manages the end-to-end transactions involved with providing safe access to medical cannabis for eligible patients. CanaPass's key features include the ability to view a patient's purchase history and monitor a patient's response to cannabis products, allowing physicians to make recommendation adjustments to improve overall patient outcomes.

"We are excited to see one of Alternate Health's key technology assets receiving recognition from such an influential and respected organization of physicians," says Dr. Michael Murphy, CEO of Alternate Health. "The CanaPass system solves a number of challenges in the field of medical cannabis, setting us up for new opportunities in this rapidly developing sector."

A copy of the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association official endorsement letter can be accessed via the link below.

http://alternatehealth.ca/docs/AMMPA_Endorsement.pdf

About Alternate Health Corp.

Alternate Health Corp. (CSE:AHG, OTCQB:AHGIF) is an international medical cannabis company that uses best in class technology, research, education, production and laboratories to increase the awareness, regulatory compliance, and appropriate usage of cannabinoids in modern medical practices. The company is strategically positioned in all facets of the medical cannabis value chain through the innovative integration of proprietary technology and know-how, acquisitions and partnerships, deep direct knowledge of, and experience with improving patient outcomes, and management expertise.

Alternate Health is well positioned to reinvest internal operating cash flow in its platform over the long term, creating an attractive investment profile for its shareholders. The Company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with operations in Los Angeles and Toronto.

For more information about Alternate Health Corp., visit www.alternatehealth.ca

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations, business prospects and financing plans, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements

SOURCE Alternate Health Corp.

Related Links

http://www.alternatehealth.ca/


GREEN BAY, Wis., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) today announced it will release third quarter 2017 financial results on Thursday, October 19, 2017, after market close. The Company will host a conference call for investors and analysts at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) on the same day.

Interested parties can access the live webcast of the call through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, http://investor.associatedbank.com. Parties may also dial into the call at 877-407-8037 (domestic) or 201-689-8037 (international) and request the Associated Banc-Corp third quarter 2017 earnings call. The financial tables and an accompanying slide presentation will be available on the Company's website just prior to the call. An audio archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately fifteen minutes after the call is over.

ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of nearly $30 billion and is one of the top 50 publicly traded U.S. bank holding companies. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from over 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, and commercial financial services in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.

Investor Contact:

Jessica Vanden Heuvel, Vice President, Director of Investor Relations

920-491-7059

Media Contact:

Jennifer Kaminski, Vice President, Public Relations Senior Manager

920-491-7576

SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp

Related Links

http://www.associatedbank.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Devin DaRif has joined Bayard Advertising Agency Inc. as Vice President Employer Branding Insights in its New York City headquarters. Formerly Director of Employer Brand Solutions at WayUp, Inc., a digital platform connecting college students and recent graduates with employers, Devin comes to Bayard with an extensive background in recruitment marketing and employer brand consulting both in-house and on the agency side.

Prior to WayUp, Devin led the employer branding efforts for the marketing team at Two Sigma Investments, LP., a NYC-based quantitative hedge fund, to increase their awareness and brand appeal, with the skills he honed as a global employer brand consultant for Universum Communications, Inc., a global market research and employer brand consultancy based in Sweden.

"I'm delighted to be joining the Bayard team here in NYC," says DaRif. "The opportunity to bring my experience to support and grow the portfolio along with the powerful creative and media strategies they offer will create a generative time for growth and new ideas, both for myself and our clients."

Reporting into Chief Creative Officer Matthew Gilbert, Devin will focus on bringing greater strategy and insight to the development of the creative progress and campaign executions. "We are thrilled to have Devin come on board," says Gilbert. "His background in employer brand consulting and execution will help deepen and innovate our strategic engagement with clients on both the development of EVP work and competitive brand positioning."

According to Chief Operating Officer, Louis Naviasky, this is part of a continued investment to ensure that Bayard continues to offer clients unparalleled support and service in the ever-increasingly competitive talent market. "Devin brings with him a depth of experience, both domestically and with international brands, that will allow us to keep branding on the cutting-edge for our clients around the country and around the globe. Combined with Matt's vision and leadership, we are excited to see what comes next."

About Bayard Advertising

Bayard is a full-service Advertising Agency with focus and expertise in talent acquisition and employer branding. We are an agency and with over 90 years of growing and innovating, and plan to continue to focus our energy where it belongs  helping great companies find great people without ever losing sight of good customer service. Our capabilities include: on and off-line media services; web, digital and mobile, branding and creative strategy; and performance and optimization analytics.

Contact:

Zachary Tweddell

Director, Marketing & Innovation

[email protected]

1430 Broadway, 20th Floor

New York, NY 10018

212.228.9400 x241

www.bayardad.com

SOURCE Bayard Advertising

Related Links

http://www.bayardad.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- At Bloomberg's 2017 Data for Good Exchange, the fourth annual conference exploring how data science can help solve problems for social good, a partnership was announced between Bloomberg, BrightHive and Data for Democracy to develop a code of ethics for data scientists from the ground up. Called the "Community Principles on Ethical Data Sharing (CPEDS)," this code of ethics will provide a set of guidelines about responsible data sharing and collaboration.

"When data scientists are entrusted with the most private and valuable data out there, the data science community must work to deserve the trust of those whose data we are holding," said Gideon Mann, Bloomberg's head of data science.



Over the next six to nine months, the goal of the partnership is to define values and priorities for overall ethical behavior by data scientists. By developing a code of conduct around data sharing, data scientists can be thoughtful, responsible, and ethical agents of change in their organizations. Through social media and community discussions, more than 2,000 data scientists have already weighed in on what the challenges are with sharing data and what must be overcome for people and companies to feel comfortable sharing data with a trusted community of data scientists.

"We set out to explore what it could look like if data scientists had a code of ethics, similar to physicians' Hippocratic Oath," said Natalie Evans Harris, COO and Vice President of Ecosystem Development at BrightHive, and a former senior policy advisor to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer under President Barack Obama. "The CPEDS won't propose comprehensive solutions for thorny questions like how to minimize algorithmic bias. Instead, it will aim to define priorities for overall ethical behavior related to data sharing."

The guidelines will be general enough to be relevant to a data scientist's approach to any work or projects, while also being specific enough to support data scientists when they need to make difficult ethical decisions about their work.

"In other words," said Lilian Huang, Data Ethics Lead at Data for Democracy, "they are meant to guide a data scientist in being a thoughtful, responsible, and ethical agent, who can then work together productively with other data scientists to actually solve problems such as how to minimize algorithmic bias or maintain data privacy."

The preliminary work to date has been focused on framing a larger discussion and bringing together the community to move the conversation forward. This includes identifying recurring themes that members of the data science community consider important and arranging them in a systematic framework to address the following five areas of concern:

Data itself: Overall practices surrounding the collection, storage, and distribution of data and understanding and minimizing intrinsic bias in collected data;

Overall practices surrounding the collection, storage, and distribution of data and understanding and minimizing intrinsic bias in collected data; Questions and problems: Identifying valuable and relevant problems to work on and working with pre-existing resources and parties in those fields;

Identifying valuable and relevant problems to work on and working with pre-existing resources and parties in those fields; Algorithms and models: Understanding and minimizing bias in algorithms/models and responsibly dealing with black-box algorithms;

Understanding and minimizing bias in algorithms/models and responsibly dealing with black-box algorithms; Technological products and applications: Responsibility for how one's research is applied; identifying and guarding against the potential for misuse;

Responsibility for how one's research is applied; identifying and guarding against the potential for misuse; Community: Fostering a data science community culture that is actively welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds and deliberately promoting equity and representation, and finding ethical, non-invasive ways to track progress.



Ultimately, the hope is to have over 100,000 data scientists participate in the community-driven process for shaping the CPEDS via social media, conversations and virtual working groups to share and collect best practices, techniques, and tools.

To participate in any of the conversations, individual data scientists can respond to discussion questions on Twitter, Slack, or GitHub. Organizations interested in having a representative participate in bi-weekly focus group calls should contact [email protected]. Ongoing discussions will take place throughout October and November, with the findings consolidated and presented at the San Francisco Data for Good Exchange on December 7, 2017 at Bloomberg's Engineering Hub, 140 New Montgomery Street. More details about this event will be announced shortly.

ABOUT BLOOMBERG

Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company's strength  delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately  is at the core of the Bloomberg Terminal. Bloomberg's enterprise solutions build on the company's core strength: leveraging technology to allow customers to access, integrate, distribute and manage data and information across organizations more efficiently and effectively. For more information, visit Bloomberg.com/company or request a demo.

ABOUT BRIGHTHIVE

BrightHive is a for-purpose data technology company using data trusts to transform the way social services providers share data, make decisions, and affect the behavioral outcomes of beneficiaries. Together with our strategic partners, we build and support the technical infrastructure necessary for national government, state and city governments, and social and civic organizations to share data more effectively and securely, and build interventions that impact the individuals' life directly. For more information, reach out to Natalie Evans Harris ([email protected]) or Matt Gee ([email protected]).

ABOUT DATA FOR DEMOCRACY

Data for Democracy is a global, grassroots technology collective of over 2,000 volunteer data scientists, technologists, and activists strengthening democracy through partnerships, policy initiatives, and research. Through our online community and city chapters we support civic and mission-driven organizations, develop open source software, conduct analyses, and explore the relationship between tech, government, and society. For more information, reach out to Jonathon Morgan ([email protected]).

SOURCE Bloomberg

Related Links

http://www.bloomberg.com


Everyday business purchase needs can now be facilitated through a seamless, contactless payment system across mobile devices

CHICAGO, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - BMO Harris Bank today announced the release of Small Business Mastercard for BMO Harris Bank Masterpass, Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay digital wallets. Small business credit card customers can take advantage of an additional method to make purchases for everyday business needs, whether it's in-store, in-app or online.

With the new digital wallet lineup, small business customers' purchase transactions can be conducted right from their mobile devices without the need of a wallet or a card. This additional payment feature aligns with the bank's mission to provide small business customers a simpler and more efficient way to make business purchases. Additionally, customers can enjoy added peace of mind against unauthorized purchases with the zero liability protection1 feature.

"Small business owners are busy, and we're here to help by offering them a simpler purchasing experience on their smartphone devices," said Jennifer Hawkins, Head of North American Retail Payments, BMO Financial Group. "Our digital wallets are secure and easy to use, making for a simple, straightforward buying experience."

The contactless payment system is easy to use with a quick tap using the digital wallet application, which pays securely with the user's tokenized credit and debit card registered within the application. Digital wallet accounts also include the fingerprint or passcode security feature, which prompts users to confirm their identity. Transactions remain secure with uniquely encrypted assigned numbers, which are not tied to the physical credit or debit card number and can also be quickly and easily suspended in the case a device is lost  without disabling the physical card.

To learn more about BMO Harris Bank Digital Wallets2, please visit:

https://wallet.masterpass.com/Wallet/bmoharrisbank/en-us/

https://www.android.com/pay/

http://www.samsung.com/us/samsung-pay/

https://www.apple.com/apple-pay

About BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through nearly 600 branches and fee-free access to over 40,000 ATMs across the United States. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, go to the company fact sheet. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a highly diversified financial services provider with total assets of CDN$709 billion (as of July 31, 2017), and more than 45,000 employees Banking products and services are subject to bank and credit approval. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC.

1 Pay only for purchases that you have authorized on your Mastercard card. Unauthorized purchases are not your responsibility. Conditions and exceptions apply. Learn more at http://www.mastercard.us/zero-liability.html.

2 BMO Harris Bank Masterpass is a digital wallet service offered by Mastercard with BMO Harris Bank N.A. Important terms and information about Masterpass is available at bmoharris.com/masterpass. Masterpass users on Android devices should refer to important device and software requirements in the Masterpass Android app in the Google Play store.

Banking products and services are subject to bank and credit approval. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC.

Apple and Apple Pay are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

Samsung and Samsung pay are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Use only with accordance with law.

Mastercard and the Mastercard Brand mark are registered trademarks, and masterpass and the circle design are trademarks of Mastercard International Corporation.

Third party websites may have privacy and security policies different than BMO Harris N.A. Links to other websites do not imply the endorsement or approval of such websites. Please review the privacy and security policies of web sites reached through links from BMO Harris N.A. web sites.

SOURCE BMO Harris Bank
BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ST Bungalow LLC and Molinelli Architects announced today that a patent application for a breakthrough method of making a roof or ceiling for various kinds of buildings, including the "ST Bungalow," a newly designed and patented, affordable, eco-friendly, solar powered home, was published by the USPTO. The patent application publication, titled "Concrete Floor and Ceiling System without Steel Reinforcing" (pub. no. US 2017/0268242), is a breakthrough because it replaces reinforcing bars (re-bars) with plastic forms. A patent for a similar roof technology but using fiberglass (not plastic) was granted to ST Bungalow LLC and Molinelli Architects in 2015 (U.S Pat. No. 8,991,137). The inventor of both these technologies is Michael Molinelli AIA LEED ap NCARB, of Molinelli Architects. The roof inventions are intended to be a key component to low cost, affordable, solar powered and eco-friendly housing being developed jointly between ST Bungalow LLC and Molinelli Architects. In 2015 the American Institute of Architects  AIA (Hudson Valley)  honored Molinelli Architects with a design award for the Solar Tectic (ST) Bungalow.

The plastic or fiberglass forms used in the roof technology (to replace steel re-bars) are shaped to efficiently stack, which is an advantage in the transport of multiple such forms. Plastic is a lighter and less expensive material than steel. The plastic forms form an arched ceiling for a first story of a building and a flat roof or flat floor for a second story of a building.

For general inquiries or for licensing of the technology, please contact Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP ([email protected]), 212-238-8850.

About ST Bungalow LLC: ST Bungalow is a start-up, developing affordable, solar-powered housing made from compressed earth bricks (CEBs), designed to be manufactured in areas with little or no access to electricity, such as parts of Nepal, for example. ST Bungalow is the sister company of Solar-Tectic LLC.

About Molinelli Architects: Molinelli Architects Is a full service architecture firm based around New York City with commissions for Houses of Worship, Universities and Schools, Hospitals and Health Care, Child Care, distinctive Homes and many other building types including house prototypes for Haiti and Nepal.

SOURCE ST Bungalow LLC
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey finds breast cancer patients' actual radiation therapy experiences largely exceeded their expectations. The survey, which addressed the fears and misconceptions regarding radiation therapy for breast cancer, found that more than three-fourths of the breast cancer patients surveyed found their experiences with radiation therapy, including overall and specific long-term and short-term side effects, to be less "scary" than anticipated, according to research presented today at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

"Radiation oncologists know firsthand that our patients come in with fears and sometimes misconceptions. Unlike many other treatments and fields of medicine, it is very hard to imagine what radiation therapy is like," said Narek Shaverdian, MD, lead author of the study and a radiation oncology resident at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). "Still, it is surprising to find that upwards of 90 percent of women surveyed agree that if future patients knew the reality of the radiation therapy experience, they would be less afraid of treatment.

"Advances in radiation therapy technologies over the past several decades and the increased use of hypofractionationwhere radiation is given in larger doses across fewer sessionshave afforded patients more convenient treatment options, as well as lower toxicity rates in many situations," said Dr. Shaverdian.

"Our study shows that women who received modern breast radiation therapy overwhelmingly found the treatment experience far better than expected. The negative stories out there are frightening and pervasive, but they generally are not reflective of the actual experience," said Susan McCloskey, MD, MSHS, assistant professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Director of the Breast Service at UCLA Radiation Oncology and senior author of the study.

Surveys were sent to all patients who received treatment for breast cancer at a UCLA-affiliated multidisciplinary breast cancer clinic between 2012 and 2016. Eligible patients had six or more months of follow-up and were without tumor recurrence. Sixty-five percent of these 502 patients returned surveys, and study findings are based on these 327 responses. The median age of survey respondents was 59 years (range 28-89 years).

Patients represented various disease stages; 18 percent had stage 0 breast cancer; 38 percent stage I; 34 percent stage II; and 9 percent stage III. Eighty two percent underwent breast conserving surgery, 13% had axillary dissection, 37% received chemotherapy, and 70% received endocrine therapy. All patients received radiation therapy (RT), delivered as either standard whole-breast RT with or without regional nodal coverage, hypofractionated whole-breast RT, post-mastectomy RT, or partial breast RT.

Patients completed the survey a median of 31 months (range 6-61 months) after completing radiation therapy. Survey questions assessed fears and beliefs about breast cancer treatment and side effects, as well as how the actual experience compared to initial expectations. Specifically, patients were asked if the treatment experience, short-term side effects and long-term side effects were as expected, worse than expected or better than expected.

Nine in ten patients (90%) found the actual experience of breast radiation therapy to be "less scary" than anticipated. Overall short-term and long-term side effects of radiation were better than expected or as expected for 83 percent and 84 percent of respondents, respectively. Patients also reported that side effects were less severe than or as expected for short-term breast pain (75%), skin changes (61%) and fatigue (78%), as well as for long-term appearance changes (85%), breast pain (79%), breast size changes (73%) and breast textural changes (70%).

More than two-thirds (68%) of these breast cancer patients reported that they had little to no prior knowledge of radiation therapy at the time of their diagnosis, yet nearly half (47%) also shared that they had previously read or heard "frightening" stories of serious side effects from radiation therapy. Nearly all women surveyed (94%) responded that they were initially fearful of receiving radiation therapy. The most common initial fears related to radiation therapy were concerns about damage to internal organs (40%), skin burning (24%) and becoming radioactive (7%). Very few patients found confirmation for these negative stories during treatment, however; among 327 respondents, eight women (3%) found the negative stories they previously read about radiation therapy to be true and six women (2%) found the negative stories they heard from family and friends to be true. The trend of finding negative stories to be largely untrue was even more pronounced among patients who underwent breast conservation therapy. Nine in ten survey respondents agreed that "After treatment, I now realize that radiation therapy is not as bad as they say it is," and/or that "If future patients knew the 'real truth' about radiation therapy, they would be less scared about treatment."

"We hope that these data, which reflect the voices of past breast cancer patients, can help to counsel future patients and their physicians on the actualities of the modern breast radiation therapy experience," said Dr. Shaverdian. "Patients who have received this treatment provide the most credible account of its actual impact, and their accounts show that outdated, negative stereotypes of breast radiation are almost universally found to be untrue."

The abstract, "The patient's perspective on breast radiation therapy: initial fears and expectations versus reality," will be presented in detail during a news briefing and an oral abstract session at ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting in San Diego (full details below). To schedule an interview with Dr. Shaverdian and/or outside experts in breast cancer, contact ASTRO's media relations team on-site at the San Diego Convention Center, September 24 through 27, by phone at 703-286-1600 or by email at [email protected].

ATTRIBUTION TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY (ASTRO) ANNUAL MEETING REQUESTED IN ALL COVERAGE.

This news release contains additional and/or updated information from the study author(s). Full original abstract and author disclosures available from [email protected] or at www.astro.org/annualmeeting.

Study Presentation Details

Scientific Session: Monday, September 25 , 7:45  9:00 a.m. Pacific time , San Diego Convention Center, room 5B

, 7:45  , Convention Center, room 5B News Briefing: Tuesday, September 26 , 1:00  2:00 p.m. Pacific time , San Diego Convention Center, room 24C, webcast: http://www.bit.do/astro17-3

Resources on Breast Cancer and Radiation Therapy

ABOUT ASTRO'S ANNUAL MEETING

ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting, the world's largest scientific meeting in radiation oncology, will be held September 24-27, 2017, at the San Diego Convention Center. The 2017 Annual Meeting is expected to attract more than 11,000 attendees from across the globe, including oncologists from all disciplines and members of the entire radiation oncology team. More than 2,800 abstracts sharing results from clinical trials and other research studies will be presented in conjunction with educational sessions and keynote addresses that underscore the meeting's theme, "The Healing Art and Science of Radiation Oncology." Led by ASTRO President Brian Kavanagh, MD, MPH, FASTRO, the 2017 meeting will feature keynote addresses from Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM, Chief Innovation Officer for the University of Colorado Health System; Lucy Kalanithi, MD, FACP, widow of Paul Kalanithi, MD, the best-selling author of "When Breath Becomes Air," with Heather Wakelee, MD, Paul's oncologist; and Vinay K. Prasad, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University. During the four-day meeting, more than 200 exhibitors will demonstrate cutting-edge technology and medical device innovations for radiation oncology. Visit us online for more information about ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting or press opportunities at the meeting.

ABOUT ASTRO

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the world's largest radiation oncology society, with more than 10,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. The Society is dedicated to improving patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research, and advocacy. ASTRO publishes three medical journals, International Journal of Radiation Oncology  Biology  Physics (www.redjournal.org), Practical Radiation Oncology (www.practicalradonc.org) and Advances in Radiation Oncology (www.advancesradonc.org); developed and maintains an extensive patient website, RT Answers (www.rtanswers.org); and created the Radiation Oncology Institute (www.roinstitute.org), a nonprofit foundation to support research and education efforts around the world that enhance and confirm the critical role of radiation therapy in improving cancer treatment. To learn more about ASTRO, visit www.astro.org and follow us on our blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: Liz Gardner

703-286-1600

[email protected]

Leah Kerkman Fogarty

703-839-7336

[email protected]

SOURCE American Society for Radiation Oncology

Related Links

http://www.astro.org


AUSTIN, Texas and BRISTOL, United Kingdom, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightpearl, the leading retail management system for high-growth omnichannel retailers, has been named a BigCommerce Certified Technology Partner, providing more than 50,000 BigCommerce customers with access to its cloud-based retail management system.

The omnichannel retail industry is rapidly evolving as businesses expand their operations online to serve continually changing customer demands and expectations. Mid-sized retailers understand that what happens after a customer clicks 'buy' is essential to maintaining brand loyalty and providing a positive customer experience. Real-time inventory accuracy across all channels, and automated and rapid fulfilment are fundamental to a retailer's success.

Brightpearl's end-to-end enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution helps mid-sized retailers and wholesalers to expand and compete with larger rivals by bringing together orders, inventory, financials, customer relationship management, and other retail operation processes into one interface. Built specifically for fast-growing omnichannel retailers, the solution streamlines a business' back office so it can focus on its customers and other growth activities.

The integration with BigCommerce, the leading ecommerce platform for fast-growing and established brands, now provides an easy-to-deploy retail management solution that enables omnichannel retailers to manage their inventory levels, financials, order processing, and fulfillment more efficiently -- all from a central hub, rather than several different administrative areas.

"We're excited to work together with BigCommerce to offer a complete, integrated solution that enables omnichannel retailers to take care of the back office and inventory management activities in a way that lets growing retailers focus on their customers," said Derek O'Carroll, CEO, Brightpearl.

Omnichannel retailers can connect their BigCommerce storefront with the rest of their business to sync orders, inventory and pricing data, and share real-time updates on inventory with their other sales channels. This allows for maximized selling potential and minimized risk of double selling.

Russell Klein, senior vice president of corporate and business development for BigCommerce, added, "Our partnership with Brightpearl further illustrates our commitment to providing retailers access to only the highest-caliber technologies and service providers available in the industry. Brightpearl is a best-of-breed company that shares our desire to help merchants sell more and grow faster to maximize success, and we look forward to working together to mutually support customers."

"We use Brightpearl for both our US BigCommerce site and our UK BigCommerce site and anticipate tremendous growth on both for the coming year. Brightpearl's integration with BigCommerce is a huge part of that," said Stephen Hersh, CEO of Biaggi, a luggage brand focused on foldable bags.

Before switching to Brightpearl, Biaggi handled its BigCommerce orders manually, and once a month populated the previous month's information into QuickBooks. Every tracking number was entered manually, and each order was exported and sent to Biaggi's warehouse for fulfillment. The company also ships orders from multiple warehouses, so managing inventory was a process requiring extensive manual adjustments.

Hersh continues, "As our order load from BigCommerce increased, we became desperate for a new system that would help us to fulfill orders, track inventory from multiple warehouse and integrate with our third party logistics so that the process would be as automated as possible.

"We settled on Brightpearl because we were impressed with the flexibility that Brightpearl offers and because of how seamlessly Brightpearl integrates with BigCommerce. We are extremely happy about our decision. Our BigCommerce order fulfillment process is seamless, automated and hassle free. My order processing team used to spend a minimum of five hours per day on BigCommerce orders, and now, thanks to Brightpearl, they don't even spend 10 minutes per day on it."

More on the partnership between BigCommerce and Brightpearl can be read here.(https://www.bigcommerce.com/press/releases/bigcommerce-expands-partner-program-with-new-certification-tiers-to-showcase-key-technology-partners-and-strengthen-app-integrations/)

About BigCommerce

BigCommerce is the world's leading cloud ecommerce platform for established and rapidly-growing businesses. Combining enterprise functionality, an open architecture and app ecosystem, and market-leading performance, BigCommerce enables businesses to scale to tens of millions in online sales at a fraction of the cost and complexity of on-premise software. BigCommerce customers include 50,000+ SMBs, 2,000+ mid-market businesses selling more than $1 million per year, 15 Fortune 1000 companies, 25 Internet Retailer 1000 businesses, and leading brands and retailers representing a wide range of B2B and B2C categories. For more information, visitwww.bigcommerce.com.

About Brightpearl

Brightpearl is a powerful-yet-simple retail management system that helps mid-sized retailers and wholesalers expand and compete with larger rivals by streamlining sales and supply chain functions across multiple online and offline channels.

Brightpearl's cloud-based software and services enable omnichannel merchants to manage the heart of their business by combining purchasing, inventory management, CRM, order processing, accounting, fulfillment, and reporting into a single reliable system. Founded in 2008 with offices in the U.S. and UK, Brightpearl is used by more than 1,200 merchants around the world.

For more information, visitwww.brightpearl.com . Connect with Brightpearl on Twitter (@BrightpearlHQ), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/Brightpearl), and Facebook (facebook.com/brightpearl).

Media Contacts:

U.S.

Lauren Curley

[email protected]

+1.617.529.6463

UK

Mark Hook

[email protected]

Jeffrey Ingold

[email protected]

07477 711656

SOURCE Brightpearl

Related Links

http://www.brightpearl.com


MASON CITY | Elmwood-St. Joseph Municipal Cemetery is conducting this falls History Walk on Saturday, Sept. 30.

There will be a late afternoon History Walk from 4:30 to 6 p.m.,, a chili supper from 6 to 7 p.m. and an Evening Stroll from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The theme is 150 Years of Serving the Community and will portray people who were instrumental in starting and developing the Elmwood and St. Joseph cemeteries.

The cost of the entire event is $20. If purchased separately the cost is $7 for the walk, $7 for the chili supper and $7 for the stroll which includes hot chocolate after the portrayals. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the event. Advance tickets are on sale at the cemetery office. Children under 10 may attend the walk and stroll at no charge when accompanied by a parent or guardian with a ticket, but must have a ticket for the supper. Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes.

The portrayals and actors for the afternoon History Walk are:

Irving and Jennie Card, 1834-1887, portrayed by Michael and Karen Byrne.

Ralph Stanbery, 1881-1957, portrayed by Chip Kinsey with wife Kathy as Jessie Stanbery.

Mary Knapp and Nettie Cadwell, 1845-1921 portrayed by Amber Anderson and Allison Day.

Carl Parker, 1873-1961, portrayed by Alan Steckman.

Guy Zach, 1918-1971, portrayed by Larry Day.

Monsignor, P. S. OConner, 1863-1945, portrayed by Steven Van Steenhyuse.

The portrayals and actors for the Evening Stroll are:

Dan Durkin, 1879-1956, portrayed by Steve Musson.

Frank Sheffler told by wife , 1885-1939, portrayed by Jill Blank.

Benjamin Randall, 1837-1920, portrayed by Chuck Petzholdt.

Mrs. J. B. Doolittle 1807-1867 and son Willie, portrayed by Leigh and Holly Drzycimski.

The event raises funds for preserving the historic aspects of the cemetery and has many local sponsors.
The initiative is a key part of the C Spire Tech Movement, an outgrowth of the company's 2013 groundbreaking Fiber-to-the-Home program, one of the first of its type in the U.S. and the fastest to connect thousands of Mississippi consumers in nine communities around the state to ultra-fast Gigabit speed Internet access, digital television and home phone services.

"As the state's leading technology company and one that gets its inspiration from our loyal customers, we have a responsibility to marshal our resources and expertise to equip our communities to effectively compete in the technology revolution and help close the gap on the digital divide," said C Spire CEO Hu Meena.

Meena said C Spire is uniquely positioned to bring consumers and businesses the benefits of the technology revolution. The company has installed over 8,000 route miles of fiber optic infrastructure and owns and has deployed more wireless spectrum in Mississippi that any other mobile communications carrier. The firm also was the first in the state to conduct several successful pre-5G tests during the last 18 months with technology partners where it achieved Gigabit speeds in transmitting data over wireless connections.

"Technology is no longer just an industry sector, it is at the epicenter of a revolution that is transforming how we as a society live, work and play," Meena added. "From robotics and artificial intelligence to virtual reality and the Internet of Things, a key building block for a solid technology foundation is widespread availability and access to broadband Internet. Today's announcement is our promise to make this infrastructure a reality as we deploy the latest technologies to reach consumers and businesses with the faster, high quality Internet connections they've come to expect from C Spire."

C Spire plans to deliver broadband Internet to over 250,000 residents and businesses with speeds ranging from 25 Mbps in underserved areas, 100 Mbps in other communities to 1 Gbps for small businesses using the latest fiber optic and fixed wireless technologies, which enable faster and more widespread availability of critical services. The company also is continuing its FTTH Gigabit deployment in several communities across the state.

Elements of the plan, which are being rolled out in phases starting today, include:

Underserved Areas : the initial phase, launching today, includes Internet access speeds of up to 25 Mbps in 8 markets, primarily in the Mississippi Delta and Northeast Mississippi. More markets will be added between now and the end of the year in areas where choices are limited or service from existing providers is slow or inadequate.

Small Business: the first U.S. effort aimed at boosting small business access to Gigabit Internet speeds will expand the company's business Internet services to a wide range of sole proprietors ranging from coffee houses and restaurants to law offices, accounting and tax services. C Spire aims to make the ultra-fast service available to one out of every five of the state's 252,000 small businesses.

Wireless Fiber : C Spire will launch its Wireless Fiber technology to initially reach 70,000 consumers and businesses with up to 100 Mbps along with plans to expand to another 130,000 nearby consumers and businesses. Wireless Fiber avoids last-mile fiber construction, which can be slow and expensive, while accelerating Internet access availability in more places. The technology also leverages the company's existing 8,000 route miles of fiber-optics, mobile broadband infrastructure, cell sites and spectrum to speed delivery of services to more consumers and businesses.

"As a Mississippi-based technology company, we are uniquely positioned to ensure that our state is not left behind in the technology revolution," said C Spire President Stephen Bye. "The mass expansion of broadband Internet is a key part of the C Spire Tech Movement." The initiative also includes programs to prepare and equip consumers and businesses to be successful in the new technology economy through education and workforce training, fellowship programs and showcasing the latest advancements and innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and the Internet of Things.

In recent years, C Spire's continuing technology investment has played a central role in recent state gains in boosting average mobile and fixed broadband speeds in Mississippi. The company became the fastest Internet service provider and more than quadrupled speeds in the state following its 2013 Fiber-to-the-Home Gigabit broadband initiative.

"The availability of high-speed Internet is directly linked to Mississippi's future economic success," said U.S. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi. "C Spire is deploying more of this important technology so that our residents and businesses can compete, grow, and prosper."

C Spire plans to share more details soon as it rolls out each phase of the Tech Movement, including specific markets, pricing and speeds in the programs. In the meantime, consumers and businesses can go to cspire.com/internetlaunch for more details, updates and frequently asked questions.

About C Spire

C Spire is a leading technology company committed to helping create a digital economy in Mississippi through the massive deployment of ultra-fast broadband Internet access to consumers and businesses. The company provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.

SOURCE C Spire

Related Links

http://www.cspire.com


MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cargill has closed on its agreement to acquire the animal feed business of Southern States Cooperative, Inc. The deal was announced in early August and closed on September 22.

Under the agreement, Cargill purchased the assets of Southern States Cooperative's animal feed business, including seven feed mills and its portfolio of products, brands and customer and supplier relationships. The other segments of Southern States Cooperative's business  retail, farm supply, energy, and agronomy  are not part of the transaction.

"The combination of CFN U.S. and Southern States Cooperative's animal feed business will help us grow with customers and best meet their ever-changing needs," said Mark Lueking, U.S. managing director, Cargill Feed and Nutrition. "We are excited about this growth opportunity to further demonstrate our commitment to the U.S. animal feed industry."

The acquisition strengthens Cargill's distribution and go-to-market capabilities in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the U.S., and provides a pathway for continued growth across the region. In addition to the acquisition, Cargill has completed a long-term supply agreement with Southern States for Cargill to supply its retail stores with Southern States branded feed.

"We believe that our combined business will provide unique benefits to our members and customers," said Jeff Stroburg, President and CEO of Southern States Cooperative, Inc. "We've brought together two best-in-class feed companies to develop solutions to meet their needs. We look forward to growing the Southern States feed business with Cargill as our partner."

About Cargill

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 150,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

About Cargill Animal Nutrition

Cargill's animal nutrition business has more than 20,000 employees at more than 275 facilities in 40 countries. Fueled by our innovation and research, we offer a range of products and services to feed manufacturers, animal producers, and feed retailers around the world, helping put food on the plates of nearly one billion people around the world every day. Cargill's animal nutrition business offers a range of compound feed, premixes, feed additives, supply chain and risk management solutions, software tools and animal nutrition expertise that is unmatched in the industry. For more information about Cargill Animal Nutrition, visit: http://cargill.com/animal-nutrition.

About Southern States Cooperative

Southern States Cooperative is a Richmond, Virginia-based farm supply retailer and service cooperative. As one of the nation's largest agricultural cooperatives, it provides a wide range of farm inputs, including fertilizer, seed, livestock feed, pet food, animal health supplies, and petroleum products, as well as other items for the farm and home. Founded in 1923, the cooperative is owned by more than 200,000 farmer-members, and serves its members and non-member customers through 1,200 retail outlets in 23 states.

SOURCE Cargill

Related Links

http://www.cargill.com


CHICAGO, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com, Inc. (NYSE: CARS)  today announced that it will be presenting at the Barrington Research and B. Riley investor conferences this month. Alex Vetter, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Becky Sheehan, Chief Financial Officer, will represent Cars.com at the 10th Annual Barrington Research Fall Conference to be held in Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday, September 27, 2017. Sheehan will represent the Company at the 3rd Annual B. Riley & Co. Consumer Conference in New York, New York on Thursday, September 28, 2017.

Cars.com's presence at the Barrington Research Fall Conference will consist of one-on-one and small group meetings. At the B. Riley & Co. Consumer Conference, the Company will hold one-on-one and small group meetings in addition to giving a presentation at 3:30 p.m. ET, which will also be webcast and available online at www.investor.cars.com.

For more information about the conferences, please visit the Barrington Research website at www.brai.com and the B. Riley website at www.brileyco.com.

About Cars.com

Cars.com is a leading online destination that helps car shoppers and owners navigate every turn of car ownership. A pioneer in automotive classified, the company has evolved into one of the largest digital automotive platforms, connecting consumers with local dealers across the country anytime, anywhere. Through trusted expert content, on-the-lot mobile app features, millions of new and used vehicle listings, a comprehensive set of research tools and the largest database of consumer reviews in the industry, Cars.com helps shoppers buy, sell and service their vehicles. Cars.com companies include DealerRater, Auto.com, PickupTrucks.com and NewCars.com. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Chicago. For more information, visit www.Cars.com.

SOURCE Cars.com, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cars.com


MANAMA, Bahrain, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

CARSiRENT.com is the first and only platform based in the MENA region, offering three main transportation services: Car Rental, Chauffeur Drive, and Airport Transfers in more than 45,000 locations worldwide. The portal is designed to provide transportation facilities to travelers all around the world and to bring three parties in one channel: Car rental companies, travel agents, and clients.

CARSiRENT.com tends to create a strong relationship with their customers and aims to convert a onetime client to a lifetime partner. The company works on creating that bond with their clients through offering good rates, good quality, continuous support, nonstop offers and free road miles. Road miles is one of the creative features that the brand came up with, where clients are rewarded with road miles which are redeemable as an extra discount against bookings.

The Founder and CEO Mr. Ghazi Hamadeh has more than 30 years of experience in the field. He put all his passion, experience and knowledge in this platform which is the first of its kind in the Middle East region.

"My car rental experience goes back to 1982 as Budget franchisee in Lebanon, followed by Payless and as the representative of Holiday autos in Saudi Arabia and Auto Europe in the Middle East. The volume of car rental in the Mena region exceeds 1.4 Million bookings per year (2016) and a market of US$ 1 billion approximately. Having lived and interacted with the needs of local clients, prompted me to create a platform based in the region to provide a service in the region for the region. In addition, I made sure that all staff will be recruited from the region who understands the habits and needs of the clients. I was keen to recruit the best in house team in development, marketing and especially customer service to provide around the clock help. I believe being near our clients with personal attention will make a difference," Says Mr. Ghazi Hamadeh (Founder and CEO - CARSiRENT.com)

Moving forward, and under the continuous process of development, CARSiRENT.com has recently partnered with some of the top brand names in Car Rental, Chauffeur Drive and Airport Transfers industries: i'way, Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and many other prime local car rental, chauffeur drive and airport transfers companies. Partnering with these brands and many more brands to come, is one of CARSiRENT.com strategies to further expand and grow in the field; to provide a seamless car rental, chauffeur drive and airport transfer booking experience to users all over the world and enrich its inventory.

"CARSiRENT has been a tremendous experience for me throughout. Personally, I have never been part of this industry in my whole career and neither I was interested until I joined Mr Ghazi Hamadeh. Together we brought this idea to shift the conventional rental business to e-commerce in this region. It's a big challenge for this region as most of the people are still reluctant to book online. The idea/vision which we have is to become a thorough marketplace of Suppliers and Travel Agents. There are certain challenges as our direct competitors are huge, but that's what keeps me going as I believe once you have started something, you should never stop until you reach your target. And I am sure we are going to reach there with the help of the vast experience of Mr Ghazi Hamadeh and the dedication of the amazing team we have," Says Mr. Dawar Khan - (Head of IT - CARSiRENT.com)

Mr. Ghazi added: "Working hand in hand with an in house professional team and having the client satisfaction as our prime goal, we intend to become the No. 1 platform available to the client at the most competitive prices, around the clock customer support, and the best partnerships with renown international and local car rental companies. After all no one can claim to understand better the regional clients, we are part of this community and close enough to provide a personal touch to their queries."

It is true that the company is still in its very first stages; yet, CARSiRENT.com managed to take a big jump in reaching global car rental companies and an audience of thousands of customers from all around the word in a very short time. The company depends on an inhouse IT, Marketing, Operations and Customer Support teams. These teams make it possible for a small thought to be turned into a long-way project.

CARSiRENT.com is continuously working on improving their platform and reservation system to provide their clients a user friendly and efficient experience. It also aims to expose their suppliers to millions of clients and travel agents around the world.

CARSiRENT.com| A memory with every mile.

Website: http://www.carsirent.com

eMail: [email protected]

P: +97317001440

M: +97335167658

Social Media Links:

http://www.facebook.com/carsirent

http://www.twitter.com/carsirent

http://www.instagram.com/carsirent

https://www.pinterest.com/carsirent

https://www.linkedin.com/company/carsirent



SOURCE CARSiRENT.com
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CaseStack, Inc. was named one of Arkansas' Best Places to Work 2017 by Arkansas Business and Best Companies Group, at a ceremony Wednesday. CaseStack is one of a handful of companies to earn the designation five years running.

"Five years in a row is pretty extraordinary," said Mitch Bettis, president and publisher of Arkansas Business Publishing Group.

Bettis recognized the 36 companies whose performance in the fifth annual Arkansas Best Places to Work contest. He said that the 36 companies are shining examples of how success comes from putting employees first.

CaseStack, an outsourced logistics provider with headquarters in Santa Monica, California and Fayetteville, Arkansas, was in the inaugural class of Arkansas' Best Places to Work in 2013. CaseStack's Fayetteville office has since grown from 56 to 182 employees.

Colby Beland, VP of Sales & Marketing for CaseStack, said being honored while experiencing that level of growth speaks volumes about CaseStack as a company.

"To have been selected consecutively for the last five years, while growing FTE's by 225%, is a testament to CaseStack's culture and the value that we have for our greatest asset  our employees," Beland said.

Beland attributes CaseStack's success to its commitment to collaboration at every level in the company. It's that shared vision that's empowered CaseStack employees to transform the company into the industry leader in retail logistics, he said.

CaseStack is known for its collaborative freight consolidation programs for retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Target, Sam's Club and Amazon. CaseStack's consolidation programs help consumer packaged goods companies and retailers improve their profitability by reducing overhead and improving On Shelf Availability.

"It is truly an honor to have been recognized these last 5 years," Beland said. "But regardless of how much we grow, we expect to maintain and continue that culture and hope to continue to experience similar recognition."

Bettis said that the 2017 list included some new companies, which knocked off companies that had previously earned the designation. He said the results are based on employee surveys which are reviewed and graded by a third-party organization.

Companies seeking to be named one of Arkansas' Best Places to Work, entered a two-part survey process managed by Best Companies Group. Rankings were based on combined scores of the surveys, measuring: workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics (25%) and the employee experience (75%.)

For more information about CaseStack: visit www.casestack.com, call (855) 638-3500 or email: [email protected].

About CaseStack, Inc.: CaseStack, Inc. provides integrated outsourced logistics services, with a focus on Retail Logistics. CaseStack leads the industry in Collaborative Freight Consolidation Programs for top retailers  Walmart, Sam's Club, Kroger, Target, Whole Foods and Amazon. CaseStack provides a full range of Warehousing and Transportation Services, a web-based Supply Chain Management System and its SupplyPike Division is developing disruptive SaaS for the Retail Supply Chain.

Media Contact:

Adam Wallworth

(479) 856-6140 x 2162

[email protected]

Related Links

CaseStack

SOURCE CaseStack

Related Links

https://ww2.casestack.com


On Friday, Sept. 29, the franchise known globally for serving smoothies and coffees from brightly colored mobile tiki huts and kiosks is providing a significant online discount on its freshly roasted packaged coffee. This deal is exclusively available online at Shop.MauiWowi.com . Customers will receive 50 percent off their orders of gourmet Maui Wowi Hawaiian coffees by using the code ALOHACOFFEE at checkout.

"Maui Wowi harvests only the best beans from Hawaii's Kona District, Molokai, Maui and Kauai regions," said Jenni Pollack, marketing manager for Maui Wowi. "For the fifth year in a row, we look forward to sharing our premium blends with coffee aficionados at a steeply discounted rate for National Coffee Day. From Kona coffee to darker blends of Molokai to flavored options like the Chocolate Macadamia Nut or Toasted Coconut, everyone will find something to enjoy."

In addition to this online deal, Maui Wowi is bringing back three of its customers' seasonal favorites for a limited time:

Maui Mountain Roast : With beans cultivated in the premier coffee growing conditions on Maui , this is a bold coffee blend with subtle hints of wild berry and an earthy finish. Available Sept. 29 , through Dec. 31 for purchase online and in select retail and event locations nationwide.

: With beans cultivated in the premier coffee growing conditions on , this is a bold coffee blend with subtle hints of wild berry and an earthy finish. Available , through for purchase online and in select retail and event locations nationwide. Pumpkin Spice Latte : This premium specialty espresso beverage marries the finest Hawaiian espresso beans with pumpkin flavors to create the fall season in a cup. Available Oct. 1 , through Dec. 31 at participating retail locations and select event locations.

: This premium specialty espresso beverage marries the finest Hawaiian espresso beans with pumpkin flavors to create the fall season in a cup. Available , through at participating retail locations and select event locations. Peppermint Mocha: This holiday favorite combines flavorful premium Hawaiian espresso beans with rich chocolate and bright peppermint flavors to give it a smooth, refreshing taste that makes it a hit with holiday coffee lovers. Available Oct. 1 , through Dec. 31 at participating retail locations and select event locations.

For more information please visit Shop.MauiWowi.com.

About Maui Wowi

Since 1982, Maui Wowi has embraced the Hawaiian culture and has been serving paradise in a cup since the day it began, over 30 years ago. From event carts, mall kiosks and stand-alone retail locations, Maui Wowi offers premium smoothies, as well as gourmet Hawaiian coffees and espresso beverages. The company maintains strong community involvement through fundraising efforts by its franchisees, in addition to Team Karma; an initiative that promotes corporate responsibility and giving back to the community. The brand has more than 450 operating units and an online store. In November 2015, Maui Wowi was acquired by Kahala Brands, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of 22 quick-service restaurant brands and approximately 2900 locations in 28 countries.

For more information about Maui Wowi, visit www.MauiWowi.com.

For more information about Kahala Brands, visit www.KahalaBrands.com.

SOURCE Maui Wowi

Related Links

http://www.mauiwowi.com


This is sweet relief for the thousands residing in shelters as a result of the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The French Pastry School had the heart and the connections to provide a sweet treat for those stuck in a bitter situation. "We watched the coverage of the destruction of both hurricanes and knew we had to come together to try and make a difference in the lives of people affected by them. Our staff, students, alumni and corporate partners were amazing, each one responded 'what can we do?'," says Chef Sebastien Canonne, M.O.F., President of The French Pastry School.

Plugra Butter donated 1,600 pounds of butter, King Arthur Flour donated 1,500 pounds of flour, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas donated vanilla bean paste, Hilton Hotels provided luxurious accommodations, Uline donated the packaging and a dozen additional Chicago businesses united to donate items and services. The French Pastry School set up a link on their college website for people to donate directly to Mercy Chefs, an organization that provides chef-made, restaurant-quality meals to those affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters, including Puerto Rico.

"Our team worked day and night to make, bake and bag over 60,000 cookies. We decided to go to both states right away, Irma had not touched land yet and we were already acquiring more goods to bake cookies for Florida survivors. Next we will raise funds for the people of Puerto Rico through Mercy Chefs," says Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer, President of The French Pastry School.

The Hurricane Relief Team started in Houston, where they volunteered at NRG Park, feeding thousands through Baker-Ripley and the Red Cross. They immediately went on to South Florida, having volunteered at FEMA events through last week via Community Cooperative; handing out their signature butter cookies, fresh fruit and bottled water to thousands of survivors in those shelters. This week, The French Pastry School is also baking for Latino FashionWeek in support of Hurricane Relief for Puerto Rico.

"As a committed partner to The French Pastry School, Plugra Butter is proud to be a part of the relief efforts in support of the victims of the hurricanes," says Sherrie Hay, Specialty Business Manager, Plugra Butter.

"The gratitude for our presence and our cookies was overwhelming, not only from the survivors, but from the volunteers. Our team met volunteers from all over the US, they happily banded together as if they had known each other for years. It's not about the storms anymore, it's about helping people rebuild their lives and the compassion that still exists in our country, proving a small act can still make a big difference," says Cathi Volante, Director of Marketing for The French Pastry School.

A video of their journey will be available on facebook.com/FrenchPastrySchool and on their You Tube channel as of Tuesday, September 26, 2017.

About The French Pastry School Located in downtown Chicago, The French Pastry School strives to offer an innovative, effective, intensive education in which students are equipped to achieve excellence in the pastry, baking and confectionery arts. Founded in 1995 by Chefs Jacquy Pfeiffer and Sebastien Canonne, M.O.F. as a resource for intensive hands-on pastry instruction from internationally acclaimed master pastry chefs, the school offers 3-day continuing education courses and specialized certificate programs including L'Art de la Patisserie, L'Art du Gateau and L'Art de la Boulangerie in its fully-equipped, state-of-the-art kitchens. The French Pastry School's goal is to transmit the knowledge, commitment and passion necessary for students to continually elevate the art of pastry. For more information please visit www.frenchpastryschool.com.

Press Contact:

For more information, photos and video, please contact Cathi Volante, at [email protected] or at 847-542-7332.

SOURCE The French Pastry School

Related Links

http://www.frenchpastryschool.com


Civitas is relocating from the Energy Plaza tower on Bryan Street across from Thanks-Giving Square. The move is a result of significant firm expansion and accommodates for future growth. Buoyed by the success of funding high-profile projects in Dallas's booming urban core, the move ensures Civitas remains an important part of the city's downtown fabric.

"We're delighted that we're moving into this wonderful new space, and that we're remaining in downtown Dallas," said Chief Executive Officer Daniel J. Healy. "The Dallas Arts District is growing at a tremendous rate, as are we at Civitas. This move allows our firm to better meet investor needs as we manage that growth."

Civitas provides a wide range of products and services for global investors. Innovative companies realize office design mirrors a firm's mission, culture, and brand. Civitas' space at One Arts Plaza does just that, reflecting the company's diversity, vibrancy, and focus on customer service.

"Dan Healy has attracted an incredible international team of global lenders. Their coming to One Arts brings another great group of creative, talented, hard-working people. We are excited to have them and their clients do business at One Arts," said Lucy Billingsley, Partner at Billingsley Company.

The Civitas Capital Group family of companies provides a range of products and services for institutional investors, family offices, and qualified individuals. This press release does not constitute an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it would be unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Learn more about Civitas Capital at www.civitascapital.com.

SOURCE Civitas Capital Group

Related Links

http://www.civitascapital.com


LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The curtains came down on the World Tourism Cities Federation, (WTCF), Los Angeles Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit on September 20, 2017 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Hundreds of guests, including mayors of WTCF member cities, principal staff of the WTCF Secretariat, representatives of WTCF city and institutional members, representatives of tourism businesses and the media attended the closing ceremony.

Song Yu, secretary-general of the WTCF, opened the ceremony, which was presented under the theme: "Impact of Globalization on World Tourism City Development."

The event included the LA Declaration of the WTCF and in-depth discussions on promoting world tourism, including inclusive development.

He thanked LA and delegates for their support and attendance and presented souvenirs to the representative of LA, Patti MacJennett, senior Vice President of Business Affairs at LA Tourism & Convention Board.

MacJennett expressed gratitude for the success of the summit and presented souvenirs to Song Yu in return.

MacJennett then handed the WTCF flag back to Song Yu who then handed it to Luan Xin, Deputy Mayor of Qingdao, the hosting city of 2018 Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit.

Luan, in accepting the flag, said that Qingdao has both natural beauty and unique history which results in a landscape that is both Chinese and European in its charm.

He emphasized that Qingdao will make full preparations for the upcoming 2018 WTCF Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit to offer first-class services, including accommodation, catering, meeting, transportation, telecommunication and security.

The World Tourism Cities Federation, (WTCF), which was voluntarily formed by famous tourism cities and tourism-related institutions in the world under the initiative of Beijing, is the world's first international tourism organization focusing on cities. Established on September 15, 2012 in Beijing, and guided by the core vision of Better City Life through Tourism, the WTCF provides services to its members that cover the entire tourism industrial chain. It aims to facilitate exchanges and cooperation among members.

The annual Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit is the WTCF's major platform to promote communication and cooperation among world tourism cities and is in its sixth year.

Media Contact:

Cimagine Media Group, LLC

[email protected]

SOURCE World Tourism Cities Federation
DALLAS, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- High-stakes trial law firm Sayles Werbner welcomes commercial litigation attorney Hunter Polvi to its award-winning team. Mr. Polvi comes to the firm from Waco, Texas, with five years of experience in the areas of personal injury, products liability, wrongful death and business disputes.

"Hunter has a focus and determination that we want on our side," says the firm's co-founder Richard A. "Dick" Sayles. "He has valuable experience in federal and state court, and we are glad he has joined our team."

Mr. Polvi has represented more than 100 clients affected by the deadly 2013 West, Texas, fertilizer plant explosion.

As lead counsel, he has handled partnership disputes involving a Texas coffee company and a medical device sales company, as well as tort and insurance matters involving casualty storm damage, car accidents and property conversion. Mr. Polvi also represented clients in cases of Deceptive Trade Practices Act violations for fraud and breach of warranty.

"Sayles Werbner is a law firm with a successful trial track record," says Mr. Polvi. "I'm excited to join this talented group of attorneys and look forward to protecting the rights of those who have been wronged by the negligent actions of others."

Mr. Polvi is a member of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. In addition to his legal background, he is a licensed private pilot, an Ironman triathlete and a former volunteer firefighter.

He graduated from Baylor Law School as valedictorian of his class and has an undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

Sayles Werbner has a history of winning some of the highest profile cases in U.S. history, including a groundbreaking terrorism lawsuit that led to the first civil liability verdict against a foreign bank for providing material financial support to terrorists.

Sayles Werbner maintains an international reputation as a proven trial law firm in complex business litigation, life-altering personal injury cases, and practically every type of case that requires courtroom expertise. To learn more, visit swtriallaw.com.

Media Contact:

Sophia Reza

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Sayles Werbner

Related Links

http://www.swtriallaw.com


GARNER | A Garner woman was allegedly driving at 99 mph when she struck and killed a Belmond motorcyclist in June.

Shannon Gamble, 34, has been charged with felony homicide by vehicle and misdemeanor operating while under the influence.

According to court documents, the toxicology report of Gamble's blood showed her blood alcohol content to be .109 percent. The crash occurred about noon on June 18.

Garner woman charged with OWI, homicide by vehicle in death of Belmond motorcyclist GARNER | A Garner woman has been charged in the death of a Belmond motorcyclist in June.

Gamble was driving a silver 2009 Chevrolet Impala southbound on Highway 69 near Klemme.

While travelling up a hill in a posted and marked "No Passing Zone," Gamble was in the northbound lane passing another southbound vehicle.

While still in the northbound lane, at the top of the hill, the Gamble struck a northbound Harley Davidson motorcycle head-on.

Motorcycle driver Nathan Wadsley, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to law enforcement. The criminal complaint states that Wadsley was killed on impact. The crash occurred near U.S. Highway 69 and County Road B-60.

Investigation into the collision found the defendant was driving the Chevrolet Impala at 99mph at the time of collision, within a 55 mph zone, the criminal complaint said

Gamble was life-flighted after the crash.

Belmond motorcyclist killed in head-on collision KLEMME | A Belmond motorcylist was killed Sunday in a head-on collision with a car in Hancoc

The Iowa State Patrol handled the investigation, Hancock County Sheriff Scott Dodd said, which can take several months when a collision involves a fatality.

"This is a fatal car-motorcycle incident ... it takes time to complete those investigations, Dodd said.

Gambles initial appearance will be 9:45 a.m. Oct. 4 at the Hancock County Courthouse. She is held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
ROCKFORD, Ill., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SupplyCore, a Rockford, Illinois-based supply chain management services and technology solutions integrator, recently made the Defense Logistics Agency's list of top performing industry partners for 2017.

The company was included in the Department of Defense's Superior Supplier Incentive Program, which aims to incentivize contractor performance by highlighting suppliers with the highest rankings for such areas as performance, quality and business relations. Selected companies account for more than $9 billion in annual DLA contract expenditures.

"SupplyCore is proud to be a longtime Defense Logistics Agency partner, and we are honored to be recognized by the organization as a superior supplier," said President and CEO Peter Provenzano. "We strive for excellence every day in providing supply chain management for our military and federal government agencies and work to continuously improve the process."

This is the second consecutive year the Defense Logistics Agency recognized SupplyCore as a top performing industry partner. DLA looked at its top 150 parts and commodity suppliers and selected 38 companies as superior suppliers in the gold, silver and bronze categories, based on their performance and average score from the last three years of Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) ratings. SupplyCore was included in the silver category.

SupplyCore was established in 1987 and currently employs 225 people. The company, which prides itself on its global agility and responsiveness, was recognized recently by Bloomberg Government as a top federal contractor for 2017.

About SupplyCore

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017, SupplyCore is a supply chain and technology integrator providing key support to U.S. and foreign agencies domestically and abroad, including at-risk environments. Its core competencies are in global supply chain management and performance-based logistics during times of peace, emergency, conflict, and various challenging or unusual environments. Its supply chain expertise includes procurement, warehousing, logistics, and facility support. SupplyCore's mission is to sustain and enhance the physical and human capital of our nation and its allies in times of peace and crisis. Visit supplycore.com for more information.

Contact:

Melissa Westphal

[email protected]

815-489-3955 (office)

779-348-6927 (cell phone)

SOURCE SupplyCore

Related Links

http://www.supplycore.com


DALLAS, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Diaper Bank Network and founding partner Huggies today announced a study, Diaper Need and Its Impact on U.S. Families, revealing that one-in-three U.S. families (36%) continue to be in diaper need, or struggle to provide enough diapers to keep a baby or toddler clean, dry and healthy. As a follow-up to a pioneering study completed by Huggies in 2010, this new report provides an updated and comprehensive portrait of families in diaper need and its effect on the well-being of children and families. The release of the study coincides with the kickoff of Diaper Need Awareness Week (Sept. 25  Oct. 1, 2017), a signature initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network, which aims to generate attention, discussion, and action to help those in diaper need.

"Increased awareness of diaper need in the past seven years has prompted tremendous growth of the diaper bank community, with more individuals, communities and organizations creating and sustaining diaper banks with donations, dollars and time," said Eleonora Daireaux, general manager for Huggies. "However, this new study also emphasizes the need to continue to support families in diaper need, which we are very committed to doing in partnership with National Diaper Bank Network."

The in-depth survey also illuminates the barriers and tradeoffs that families experiencing diaper need face daily. New research includes:

Sixty-five percent of families are unaware that diaper banks offer diaper assistance in their respective community, even though the number of diaper banks has grown to more than 300 from 40 in recent years.

Sixty-five percent of families are unaware that diaper banks offer diaper assistance in their respective community, even though the number of diaper banks has grown to more than 300 from 40 in recent years. Of families in diaper need, three-in-four also identify as experiencing economic hardship. In this study, economic hardship was defined as the inability to pay reasonable and necessary living expenses including rent or mortgage, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare, and basic needs products such as soap, shampoo, diapers, and feminine hygiene.

Of families in diaper need, three-in-four also identify as experiencing economic hardship. In this study, economic hardship was defined as the inability to pay reasonable and necessary living expenses including rent or mortgage, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare, and basic needs products such as soap, shampoo, diapers, and feminine hygiene. Of families in diaper need, three-in-five parents (57%) miss work or school due to a lack of sufficient diapers required by childcare, day care or early education programs to care for a baby or toddler. As a result, parents experiencing diaper need missed an average of four days of work or school in the past month.

Of families in diaper need, three-in-five parents (57%) miss work or school due to a lack of sufficient diapers required by childcare, day care or early education programs to care for a baby or toddler. As a result, parents experiencing diaper need missed an average of four days of work or school in the past month. Seventy-three percent of all families feel they're not being good parents when their children are left too long in dirty diapers, while one-in-three households in need experience feeling stressed or overwhelmed by diapering always or often.

"Diaper Need and Its Impact on U.S. Families reveals that the effects of diaper need cannot be narrowly defined. It impacts a wide range of families representing diverse economic situations, education levels and employment statuses, and the study reveals the breadth of challenges associated with diaper need," said Joanne Samuel Goldblum, CEO of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). "The National Diaper Bank Network and Huggies share the same mission of raising awareness for diaper need, supporting the growth and sustainability of community diaper banks and generating donations to help all babies thrive. Together, we will continue to explore avenues to help those in need."

Diaper banks help address diaper need by collecting, storing and distributing diapers to families experiencing financial hardship. While they range in size and scope, local diaper bank programs obtain diapers through local diaper drives, in-kind donations, and purchases of diapers with donated funds. As the founding sponsor of the National Diaper Bank Network, Huggies has provided ongoing support for the organization and has donated more than 200 million diapers and baby wipes, including critical donations during times of crisis.

Eleonora Daireaux reiterates, "Since 2011, Huggies has partnered passionately with the National Diaper Bank Network, the broader diaper bank community and the public to help families in need  one diaper at a time  and our devotion hasn't wavered. We believe all babies deserve the care they need to thrive, so this year we reinforce our commitment to grow and support the National Diaper Bank Network and their work to provide clean diapers to those in need."

Those interested in helping families in diaper need can similarly support the National Diaper Bank Network and its member diaper bank programs by making a monetary contribution at nationaldiaperbank.org. Individuals can also visit a local diaper bank or even host a diaper drive with your neighborhood, school or local organization. In addition, Huggies enables its rewards members interested in contributing to donate their Huggies Rewards Points to the National Diaper Bank Network by visiting Huggies.com/rewards. The National Diaper Bank Network has diaper banks in 47 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. To find a diaper bank near you, visit nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org.

To learn more about the study through a white paper or view an infographic summarizing these findings visit this link.

Methodology

Kimberly-Clark and the National Diaper Bank Network commissioned two distinct online surveys to understand and assess diaper need in the U.S. The first was a 15-minute general parent population online survey among 1,000 U.S. households- targeting adult respondents ages 18+ with diaper-aged children (0-3 years old), representative of the general parent population by age, race, income, and gender. The margin of error for this sample is +/-3% at the 95% confidence level.

The second, was a 15-minute online survey among 400 U.S. households determined to be In Diaper Need targeting adults ages 18+ with diaper-aged children (0-3 years old) representative of the parent population In Diaper Need by age, race, income, and gender. Attempts were made to re-contact those parents and caregivers In Diaper Need from the General Parent Population Survey on a best-effort basis. The margin of error for this sample is +/-4.9% at the 95% confidence level.

Conducted by Edelman Intelligence, a full-service consumer research firm, the surveys were fielded between July 28-August 29, 2017. As a member of The Insights Association in good standing, Edelman Intelligence conducts all research in accordance with MRA Marketing Research Standards and adheres to the CASRO Code of Standards and Ethics.

About the National Diaper Bank Network

The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to eliminating diaper need in America, by leading a national movement to help meet the basic needs of all babies and their familiesincluding access to clean, dry diapers and other material goods. Founded in 2011 with the support of Huggies, the network raises national awareness of diaper need (#DiaperNeed) and supports the development and expansion of diaper banks in communities throughout the country. Its active membership includes more than 300 diaper banks, diaper pantries, and food banks located in 47 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. More information on NDBN and diaper need is available at www.nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org, and on Twitter (@DiaperNetwork) and Facebook (facebook.com/NationalDiaperBankNetwork).

About the Huggies Brand

Huggies believes deeply in the Power of Hugs. That's why every Huggies diaper and wipe is inspired by parents' hugs. For nearly 40 years, Huggies has been helping parents provide love, care and reassurance to help babies thrive. No Baby Unhugged is Huggies promise to ensure babies get the care they need to thrive  from innovative everyday products, growing hospital hugger programs and specially-designed products for the tiniest of babies, to diapers and wipes donations. Huggies is the fastest growing diaper brand in hospitals and partners with NICU nurses to develop diapers and wipes that meet the specific needs of pre-term infants. For more information on the Huggies No Baby Unhugged program visit the "Why Huggies?" page at Huggies.com.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust Kimberly-Clark brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No.1 or No. 2 share positions in 80 countries. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the Company's 145-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

[KMB-B]

Contact: Elizabeth Lewis

312-240-1349

[email protected]

Contact: Andrea Hopkins

972-281-1481

[email protected]

SOURCE Huggies

Related Links

https://www.huggies.com/en-us#expecting-mom


ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital health technologies help patients access care more efficiently, delivering services where the patient is located, when they need it, and in a manner that is conveniently available. In an effort to transform healthcare delivery in Canada and the U.S. through the best use of information technology, leading stakeholder groups today released a report highlighting opportunities for improved cross-border partnership.

The report by the Cross-Border Health Foundation (CBH) in partnership with the Healthcare Information Management Systems and Society (HIMSS) North America and the Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHAlliance), captures proceedings from the Canada-U.S. Connected Health Workshop. The event assembled interested stakeholders and government officials from the U.S. and Canada to identify common goals and foster greater regulatory harmonization in mobile health.

"Canada and the United States have a long history of working closely together on a wide range of policy issues, and this report identifies collaborative opportunities to realize the enormous potential of connected health technologies for patients," says Tom Leary, Vice President, Government Relations at, HIMSS. "While our health systems may seem dissimilar on the surface, many of the challenges associated with delivering better quality care are the same. By aligning regulatory approaches and fostering greater cooperation in areas such as privacy protection and cybersecurity, Canada and the United States can encourage the adoption of innovative technologies to the benefit of patients."

Among the recommendations for enhanced collaboration between the two countries:

Add health information technology topics to future work plans under the Regulatory Cooperation Council to harness the potential of new technology, while also striking a balance with safety and security concerns.

Establish a Canada-U.S. Health Privacy and Security Forum to promote knowledge exchange, regulatory consistency and help establish a common front on health privacy protection in a digital age.

Pursue a joint Memorandum of Understanding to govern the storage, handling, and sharing of data for the purposes of research.

The full report can be found here.

"We live in a mobile age, where individuals expect to access digital technology  including health technology  everywhere and anywhere. The mobility of individuals crossing the Canada-U.S. border demands a consistent regulatory approach that involves government, industry and the broader health sector," says Dani Peters, Co-Founder of the Cross-Border Health Foundation. "Special considerations for digital health should be added to the Canada-US agenda, in areas that include the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council."

About the Cross-Border Health Foundation

The Cross-Border Health Foundation is a U.S. based organization dedicated to bridging dialogue between Canada and the United States around common health priorities. Cross-Border Health is focused on improving health and healthcare by leveraging Canada and the United States' close, continuing relationship in many sectors by bringing together government, patients, health professionals, administrators, and industry so that both countries can benefit from this strategic partnership and promote health and well-being for all. For more information, visit https://www.crossborderhealth.org/.

About Healthcare Information Management Systems and Society (HIMSS) North America

Healthcare Information Management Systems and Society (HIMSS) North America, a business unit within HIMSS, positively transforms health and healthcare through the best use of information technology in the United States and Canada. As a cause-based non-profit, HIMSS North America provides thought leadership, community building, professional development, public policy, and events. HIMSS North America represents 64,000 individual members, 640 corporate members, and over 450 non-profit organizations. Thousands of volunteers work with HIMSS to improve the quality, cost-effectiveness, access, and value of healthcare through IT. For more information, visit http://www.himss.org/.

About the Personal Connected Health Alliance

The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHAlliance) aims to make health and wellness an effortless part of daily life. The PCHAlliance, a non-profit organization formed by HIMSS, believes that health is personal and extends beyond healthcare. PCHAlliance mobilizes a coalition of stakeholders to realize the full potential of personal connected health. Members are a vibrant ecosystem of technology and life sciences industry icons and innovative, early stage companies, governments, academic institutions, and associations from around the world. To support its vision, PCHAlliance convenes the global personal connected health community at the annual Connected Health Conference, the premier international event for the exchange of research, evidence, ideas, innovations and opportunities in personal connected health. PCHAlliance publishes and promotes adoption of the Continua Design Guidelines, recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the international standard for safe, secure, and reliable exchange of data to and from personal health devices. PCHAlliance accelerates technical, business, policy and social strategies necessary to advance personal connected health through its Healthy Longevity initiative to promote lifelong health and wellness. For more information, visit http://www.pchalliance.org/.

SOURCE Personal Connected Health Alliance

Related Links

http://www.pchalliance.org


DALLAS, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Eclipse Aesthetics, LLC, a leader in aesthetics and medical supplies, is proud to announce the company has been recognized with three prestigious 2017 Aesthetic Everything Diamond Crystal Awards including:

Top Aesthetics Companies

Top Skin Care Devices

Top Hair Restoration Devices

Industry award winners were selected by Aesthetic Everything from over 10,000 votes cast on the aesthetic promoter's website. The awards recognize companies and providers based on peer and customer nominations.

"Eclipse is truly honored to be the recipient of so many prominent awards," said Tom O'Brien, CEO and Founder of Eclipse Aesthetics. "It is a privilege to be listed as a recipient along side some of the most prominent physicians, practices, companies and aesthetic leaders in our industry."

For 25 years, Eclipse has earned a reputation for providing superior solutions to the U.S. aesthetic and medical communities and has rapidly become a leader in the international aesthetic markets.

Thousands of medical and skin-care professionals utilize Eclipse products in their practice in the United States and across the globe. The company has a portfolio of top-selling products including: Theradome, laser helmet for hair regrowth; the award-winning Eclipse MicroPen Elite*, micro-needling technology; dEp Patch, micro-current mask and patches; and Crazy Cool Hydro-Thermal Mask, among others.

"Eclipse is excited about our latest product offering coming soon to the aesthetic marketplace," Mr. O'Brien said. "The MicroPen EVO** is the highly anticipated evolution of the Eclipse MicroPen Elite. The all-new cordless dermal micro-needling device will retain all the features of its predecessor, but will also offer new capabilities never before available in a portable micro-needling pen." With the simple change of a cartridge, users will have the option of selecting mechanical micro-needling, RF-based micro-needling or non-ablative bulk heating.

Eclipse also provides medical supply and devices, such as Eclipse PRP, platelet-rich plasma kits; and the all-new Eclipse eVIVE.

"We look forward to bringing many new offerings to market," Mr. O'Brien said. "We are confident these products will help advance practice offerings and patient results to the next level."

About Aesthetic Everything

Number one aesthetic promoter to the industry, Aesthetic Everything provides opportunities for discovery and engagement of aesthetic products to the most relevant audience. Learn more at: AestheticEverything.com.

*MicroPen Elite not available in US. **MicroPen EVO pending FDA clearance.

CONTACT: Tom O'Brien, [email protected]

SOURCE Eclipse Aesthetics

Related Links

http://www.eclipseaesthetics.com


David MacKeen, CEO of Eliassen Group, will lead the combined organization. "We are thrilled to be joining forces with Principle Solutions Group," said MacKeen. "It's not often you find an organization that shares a common purpose, including an intense focus on business growth, exceptional client service, best-in-class consultant talent, and a commitment to fostering an inspired corporate culture that promotes excellent career opportunities."

Josh Nazarian, CEO and co-founder of Principle Solutions Group, said, "Partnering with Eliassen Group puts the combined organization in a unique position within the marketplace. We are looking forward to remaining active in the business and enhancing our relationships with our clients by expanding our geographic footprint and strengthening our Agile, creative, and managed services capabilities."

Joe Ventura, COO and co-founder of Principle Solutions Group, also commented, "We have a people-first culture that fosters both professional and personal growth, builds effective leaders, and provides an opportunity for talented individuals to achieve their goals. Eliassen Group is similarly focused, which is a key factor in our decision to combine forces."

The organization will be headquartered in Reading, Massachusetts and offer technology staffing, Agile, creative, life sciences, and managed services to clients around the country.

About Eliassen Group

Eliassen Group provides strategic talent solutions to drive our clients' innovation and business results. Leveraging nearly 30 years of success, our expertise in IT staffing, Agile consulting, creative services, managed services, and life sciences enables us to partner with our clients to execute their business strategy and scale effectively. Headquartered in Reading, MA and with offices from coast-to-coast, Eliassen Group offers local community presence, deep networks, as well as national reach. For more information, visit http://www.eliassen.com.

About Principle Solutions Group

Founded in 2006, Principle Solutions Group delivers reliable information technology staffing and consulting services. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company has offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Raleigh, Richmond, and Tampa; clients range from mid-market businesses to Fortune 500 firms. The company attributes its tremendous growth to its ability to help organizations achieve their business objectives and maximize their return on investment in people, process, and technology. For additional information, visit www.principlesolutions.com.

Media Contact:



Sandra G. Callahan

Eliassen Group

781 205 8148

SOURCE Eliassen Group

Related Links

http://www.eliassen.com


BENZONIA, Mich., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Benzie County, Michigan offers fall color touring options for hiking, biking and exploring by car.

Cruise around majestic Crystal Lake and along Lake Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Hike or bike over 100 miles of biking and hiking trails. Visit the Point Betsie Lighthouse, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore & Park, as well as, one-of-a-kind restaurants, breweries, distilleries, wineries and shops.

Fall Color Hiking and Biking in Benzie County

For hikers and mountain bikers, great trails in Benzie County include:

The Betsie Valley Trail, an easy to moderate 22+-mile trail that runs from Frankfort to Thompsonville;

The Betsie River Pathway, an easy to moderate trail winding through the Pere Marquette National Forest;

The Lake Ann Pathway, a 6-mile picturesque forest trail with easy to moderate terrain and views of lakes, bogs, and the Platte River; and

Michigan Legacy Art Park, a 30-acre preserve art park within the grounds of Crystal Mountain featuring over 50 sculptures, poetry stones, natural woods and spectacular views. (no bicycles)

Road bikers will love picturesque M-22, voted the #1 road for "Best Scenic Autumn Drive" by USA Today. This scenic ride in Benzie County from the Arcadia Overlook to Frankfort is not only beautiful, but amazing, as you overlook the Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore.

For mountain or fat-tire biking enthusiasts Crystal Mountain features many hilly trails to ride, and bike rentals.

Benzie County's Fall Color Car Touring

Traveling by car is a fun way to see fall color. Roads where the trees are vibrant and the views span for miles include:

M-115 from Cadillac to Thompsonville and Benzonia ,

, US-31 from Manistee through Benzonia , Beulah , Honor , and Lake Ann .

through , , , and . M-22 from Arcadia through Elberta and Frankfort along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Lodging and Special Fall Package

Lodging choices in Benzie County include cottages, cabins, inns, hotels, motels and condos at www.visitbenzie.com. Through October 31, visitors who stay at participating lodging locations for 2 consecutive nights or more are eligible for "Benzie Treasure Trove" Vacation Package - free gifts and two-for-one offers up to a $300 value. Visit "Benzie Treasure Trove" online at www.visitbenzie.com and sign up to register.

Benzie County's fall activities: www.visitbenzie.com/fallfest-67

Benzie County's fall color tour guide: www.visitbenzie.com/fall-97/

SOURCE Benzie County Visitors Bureau

Related Links

http://www.visitbenzie.com


DUBLIN, Ireland, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fly Leasing Limited (NYSE: FLY) ("FLY"), a global leader in aircraft leasing, today announced that it intends to offer and sell $300 million in aggregate principal amount of its senior unsecured notes. The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). FLY plans to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes, together with cash on hand, to redeem its outstanding 6.75% Senior Notes due 2020, which FLY will call for redemption on December 15, 2017.

Jefferies LLC is acting as the sole book-running manager and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint lead managers for the proposed offering. This offering is being made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus, which have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus also may be obtained from: Jefferies LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Ave, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, or at 1-888-708-5831; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or at 1-800-831-9146; or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Attention: WFS Customer Service, 608 2nd Avenue South, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, MN 55402, or at 800-645-3751 option 5, or [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the notes, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of any notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The proposed offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

About FLY

FLY is a global aircraft leasing company with a fleet of modern, high-demand and fuel-efficient commercial jet aircraft. FLY leases its aircraft under multi-year lease contracts to a diverse group of airlines throughout the world. FLY is managed and serviced by BBAM LP, a worldwide leader in aircraft lease management and financing.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "will," or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for FLY's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially due to global political, economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors and risks. These factors include, but are not limited to those described under ''Risk Factors'' beginning on page S-17 of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the information described under ''Risk Factors'' under the heading ''Item 3. Key Information'' beginning on page 4 of FLY's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which is incorporated in the preliminary prospectus supplement by reference, and any risk factors included or described in FLY's other periodic reports, and in other information filed with the SEC, from time to time, and incorporated by reference into the preliminary prospectus supplement. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of FLY's assumptions prove incorrect, FLY's actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. FLY expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether because of future events, new information, a change in its views or expectations, or otherwise

Contact:

Matt Dallas

FLY Leasing Limited

+1 203-769-5916

[email protected]

SOURCE Fly Leasing Limited

Related Links

http://flyleasing.com


NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Follett's includED program has saved students at Tennessee State University (TSU) more than $10 million since the program launched in the fall 2014 term. That's an average of $1.7 million per term. In the past year (fall 2016 and spring 2017 terms), the program has saved the almost 30,000 students enrolled in includED courses $3.2 million.

Developed in partnership with publishers, institutions and faculty, includED delivers affordability by providing all required print or digital course materials and supplies to students as part of their tuition. To make things even easier, students are automatically enrolled when they sign up for an includED course and materials are available on the first day of class. It's a simple idea that delivers tremendous benefits for not only students, but for faculty and administrators as well. Faculty and administrators will find that the includED program has competitive offerings, can show them the full cost of education up front and maintains a full variety of content choices so they can offer their students a more robust educational experience.

"We're privileged to be able to offer these substantial savings to students at Tennessee State University," said Clay Wahl, president of Follett Higher Education. "As our campus partners come under increasing pressure to affordably deliver educational outcomes, it's imperative that Follett be there to help. One of the ways we assist with this challenge is with our includED program. We also offer a wide range of other innovative solutions that suit the unique needs of each campus community."

Follett leverages its unique position in the educational marketplace, our unprecedented publisher relationships and our deep expertise to help our campus partners navigate the increasingly complex course materials landscape. Learn more about includED and the course material affordability it can bring your campus at www.follett.com/included.

About the Tennessee State University Campus Store | tsushop.com

The TSU Campus Store is solely devoted to serving students, faculty, staff, alumni, fans and the local Nashville community  offering products and services both in-store and online. The store is located in the Floyd/Payne Campus Center at 3500 John Merritt Blvd., Nashville, TN 37209.

About Follett Corporation | www.follett.com

Follett is a $3.4 billion privately held company headquartered in Westchester, Illinois. As a leading provider of education technology, services and physical and digital content, Follett works with 70,000 schools and operates more than 1,250 local campus stores and 1,600 virtual stores. With the 2016 acquisition of Baker & Taylor, LLC, Follett's reach also extends into the public library and global retail markets. For more information on our OER partnership with Lumen Learning, visit www.follett.com/lumen.

SOURCE Follett Corporation

Related Links

http://www.follett.com


SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fuqi International, Inc. ("Fuqi" or the "Company"), a designer of precious metal jewelry in China, announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") approved the record date and the meeting date for the Company's 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting"). The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at 8:40 am local China time, and the record date for the Annual Meeting is September 18, 2017. The Company's common stockholders of record on September 18, 2017 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting will be held at the Company's headquarters in Shenzhen, China. The sole proposal to be brought before the Company's common stockholders will be the election of the slate of the Board members to serve on the Company's Board until the next annual meeting. Additional meeting details and the Company's financial statements will be included in the Company's proxy materials, which will be mailed later this month to the record holders of the Company's common stock as of September 18, 2017.

The Company plans to make arrangements for stockholders who do not attend the meeting to listen to it via a telephone interface. The details of these arrangements will be disclosed in the Notice to Stockholders that will be provided at a later date.

Contact Information:

Precept Investor Relations LLC

David Rudnick, Account Manager

[email protected]

Phone: +1 646-694-8538

SOURCE FUQI International, Inc.
NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Generali Global Assistance ("the Company") today announced that it has acquired CareLinx, a leading nationwide, tech-enabled caregiver marketplace improving access to affordable, quality home care for families, large health systems, and insurance companies. CareLinx professional caregivers leverage proprietary digital care plans to better assist the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and people with chronic health conditions with activities of daily living. CareLinx seeks to improve quality of care delivery for these patients while reducing the overutilization of in-patient healthcare costs for families through in-home care solutions.

Generali Global Assistance, formerly Europ Assistance USA, is a division of Europ Assistance Group, a leading provider of assistance services for more than 50 years and part of Generali Group, the 3rd largest insurer in the world with over $80 Billion in annual revenues, and is one of the world's 50 largest companies.

Chris Carnicelli, CEO of Generali Global Assistance, commented on today's news, "Healthcare in general, and CareLinx in particular, have a direct synergy with our value proposition of providing 'non-stop caring' to our customers, and we are excited about the prospects of this partnership. As the senior population continues to rise, both families and health systems are faced with the dilemma of how to provide an adequate level of quality, but affordable care. CareLinx shares our mission of improving lives through services that can lessen the impacts of life's most stressful periods and by providing them with the necessary resources to rapidly expand their market share, we believe we will help them positively affect change to senior care services in the United States."

Building on seven years of operating success, CareLinx now boasts a nationwide network of over 200,000 tech-enabled caregivers who provide personal in-home care for families, and support safe transitions of care, which is critical to the success of large health systems, and insurance companies. The CareLinx platform revolutionizes transparency, and facilitates active coordination in the post-acute care environment, leading to increased quality of care, better health outcomes, and significantly reduced total cost of care. Generali Global Assistance plans to combine this tech-enabled, nationwide network of non-clinical in-home caregivers with its existing remote clinical support capabilities to offer a wide spectrum of post-acute assistance services. Generali Global Assistance's remote support center currently provides 24/7 nurse and doctor-supported telephonic medical assistance and navigation, soon to be leveraged by CareLinx customers and partners.

Sherwin Sheik, CEO of CareLinx, commented, "We at CareLinx have always been committed to creating a platform that ensures superior senior-care services to empower families through highly personalized, quality, and affordable care from the comfort of home. This dedication to caring aligns exactly with the mission of Generali Global Assistance and their unmatched ability to provide telehealth services is a perfect complement to our in-home caregiving service. We are absolutely thrilled to join Generali Global Assistance and with our massive collective resources and prior success with large national health systems, accountable care organizations, and insurance companies, we are ready to dramatically transform healthcare delivery in the U.S. and empower millions of seniors to age gracefully at home."

PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory SpA, together with PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC, acted as exclusive financial advisor to Europ Assistance Holding on the transaction.

About Generali Global Assistance





Generali Global Assistance, formerly Europ Assistance USA, a division of Europ Assistance Group, has been a leading provider of travel insurance and other assistance services for more than 25 years. The Company offers a full suite of innovative, vertically integrated travel insurance and emergency services, identity protection solutions, and beneficiary companion services. Europ Assistance Group, the pioneer of the assistance industry, founded in 1963, is a trusted partner to millions around the world, relentlessly innovating care and mobility services to improve people's lives in the most difficult and stressful situations, securing peace of mind and independence.

Thanks to our global network of a network of 750,000 approved partners and 35 assistance centers, we deliver non-stop caring through our 24/7 contact points and a culture which embraces technology as a way to become simpler and smarter for those who count on us. We globally support 300 million customers with stand-alone services or in combination with insurance coverage and solutions for day-to-day or emergency situations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across five lines of business: Automotive, Travel, Health, Home & Family and Concierge & CRM. Leveraging its medical staff, the Europ Assistance Group carried out 11.7 million interventions and handled 72 million calls globally in 2016.

Part of the Generali Group, one of the world's leading insurers, Europ Assistance Group employs 7,898 staff members across 34 companies around the world who support our customers, from individuals to largest corporations.

About CareLinx

CareLinx improves access to affordable, quality home care for families with aging or loved ones with disabilities. It is the leading online nationwide caregiver marketplace with over 200,000 caregivers on platform. CareLinx partners with health systems and insurance companies to provide the plug and play post-acute care solution that delivers on-demand comprehensive support, visibility into the home and the cloud-based tools for centralized, real-time interventions. CareLinx, founded in 2011, is a Silicon Valley-based company currently working with families, healthcare organizations and insurance companies across the United States and can be found online at home.carelinx.com.

Media Contact

Jay A. Morakis

M Group Strategic Communications (for Generali Global Assistance North America)

+1 212 266 0191

[email protected]

SOURCE Generali Global Assistance
DALLAS, Sept. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The environmental impact and cost of producing just one barrel of oil is enormous. The hydraulic fracturing or fracking process uses a large amount of precious water that, in the end, is dirty water. For each barrel of oil, ten barrels of contaminated water remain. Those leftover 10 barrels of now contaminated water are trucked to disposal wells where they are contained and later transported to another location for disposal. That soiled water contains a plethora of nasty chemicals and contaminants that no one wants to go back into the earth and surface water resources. The trucks that must transport contaminated water pose high risk of damage to the roads on which they travel. So, what if those problems could be avoided completely? Genesis Research and Technology Group has the green technology that can eliminate these and many more concerns.

Genesis Research and Technology Group has a custom, mobile and, if need be, solar-powered technology solution to clean the water from oil production so that it can be reused multiple times. "The dirty fracking water can be cleaned at up to 2,000 barrels per hour, or scaled to fit a company's needs at 20,000 barrels per hour," says Ron Price, CEO of Genesis Research and Technology Group.

The eco-friendly benefits are impressive, but think about the lower impact to the roads. Genesis has created scalable, on-site technology, whereby contaminated water can be cleaned right on the job site. The expense of transporting contaminated water and the wear and tear on the nation's highway and road infrastructure is drastically reduced. That means less impact on the pockets of tax-paying citizen.

Water is the world's most important natural resource. This custom, green technology is good for the oil and gas companies, the environment, people, and the earth. To launch this endeavor into mainstream production, Genesis Research and Technology Group plans to release an ICO Sept. 27, 2017 on the cryptocurrency exchange. Michael Lagow, CAO of Genesis Research and Technology Group, projects that "The crowd funding opportunity will enable private investors to profit from this state-of-the-art green technology for years to follow." "The technology is revolutionary and will save the oil and gas industry hundreds of millions of dollars and protects the environment while at the same time, it eliminates transportation of contaminated water," says Billy Hood, VP Marketing, Genesis Research and Technology Group.

About Genesis Research and Technology Group: Genesis Research and Technology Group is a U.S.-based company that has developed a patented, state-of-the-art technology that provides clean reusable water for the world's population. The Company exploits its chemical-free technology as its efforts are being recognized by several leading government agencies developing and implementing Green technologies to protect and preserve our earth's resources.

Genesis Research and Technology Group provides custom built state-of-the-art water treatment technologies for all types of water. Years of research and development go into perfecting this technology that allows Genesis to offer its clients a sole source, reusable water filtering and cleansing technology that is totally chemical free.

Media Contact:

Patricia Almand

Phone: 855-810-0UMG

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Genesis Research and Technology Group
MILL VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Employees want companies to take a stand on important political and social issues, according to a new survey conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Glassdoor, one of the world's largest and fastest growing job sites. Nearly four in five (84 percent) U.S. workers1 believe companies have an important voice in proposed legislation, regulation and executive orders that could affect the employer's business or the lives of employees. With a highly charged political climate, the Glassdoor survey reveals employee expectations and preferences around employer engagement on timely political and social issues.

Younger workers are most passionate about employer commitment to hot button topics: 75 percent of those ages 18-34 expect their employer to take a stand on important issues affecting the country and their constitutional rights, including immigration, equal rights and climate change, more than any other age group: 67 percent ages 35-44 and 49 percent age 45 or older. In turn, the data suggests that employers who pay attention to taking a stand on such issues may have a recruiting advantage.

"Today's informed candidates want to work for companies that are actively engaged on topics that directly impact their lives and align with their beliefs. The question is how and when employers should approach hot-button topics without damaging their employer brand or recruiting success," said Dawn Lyon, Glassdoor chief reputation officer and senior vice president of global corporate affairs. "Employers should know that taking action is not a one-size-fits-all model. When determining how and when to engage on timely issues, it is important for employers to keep the company's mission and core values top of mind to guide decisions. The big takeaway for employers is that today's candidates, especially younger job seekers, want to work at companies that take a stand and take action."

Immigrant Workers Critical to Business Success; More Men Agree than Women

The Glassdoor survey also finds that more than half of employees and job seekers (58 percent) believe legal immigrant workers at their company are critical to the overall success of their business. Interestingly, more men (63 percent) than women (54 percent) feel this way. Across the nation, employees in the West (66 percent) feel this way more than those in the South (54 percent), Midwest (55 percent) and Northeast (61 percent).

Community and Volunteer Opportunities Matter, Especially to Millennials

Giving back is also important to employees these days. Three-quarters (75 percent) of U.S. workers expect their employer to support groups and individuals in need in their respective communities, either through donations and/or volunteer efforts. This is much more important to younger workers, as 81 percent of those ages 18-34 expect this from their employer, more than any other age group: 76 percent ages 35-44, 68 percent ages 45-54, 73 percent ages 55-64 and 66 percent age 65 or older.

In addition, volunteering for social causes is no longer limited to outside of working hours, as half of workers (51 percent) expect their employer to allow employees to use work time and resources to advocate for positive social change, regardless of political affiliation. Consistent with other age group trends within the survey's findings, younger workers expect this more (ages 18-34; 72%) than any other age group: 56 percent ages 35-44, 37 percent ages 45-64 and 26 percent age 65 or older.

Currently, many employers across the country are finding ways to give back to their communities that align with their mission and values. For instance, at Glassdoor, employees receive three paid days off each year to support nonprofit organizations of their choice, and they are given five job postings per year to donate to a nonprofit of their choosing. Both employee benefits are part of Glassdoor's commitment to the Pledge 1% movement and align with Glassdoor's mission to help people find a job and company they love.

More Data + Images + Interviews

For more data, including breakouts of survey results by age, gender and location, to request data images, and/or to speak with a Glassdoor spokesperson, please contact: [email protected].

1 U.S. workers refers to adults who are either employed or unemployed but looking for a job

Methodology

Survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Glassdoor from March 30 - April 3, 2017 among 1,329 U.S. workers (who are employed or unemployed but looking) ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact [email protected].

About Glassdoor

Glassdoor is one of the largest and fastest growing job sites in the world today. Set apart by the tens of millions of reviews and insights provided by employees and candidates, Glassdoor combines all the jobs with this valuable data to make it easy for people to find a job that is uniquely right for them. As a result, Glassdoor helps employers hire truly informed candidates at scale through effective recruiting solutions like job advertising and employer branding products. Launched in 2008, Glassdoor now has reviews and insights for approximately 700,000 companies in more than 190 countries. For labor market trends and analysis, visit Glassdoor Economic Research. For company news and career advice and tips, visit the Glassdoor Blog and for employer-related news and insights to help employers hire, visit the Glassdoor for Employers Blog. Visit Glassdoor.com or download our apps on iOS and Android platforms.

"Glassdoor" and logo are proprietary trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc.

SOURCE Glassdoor

Related Links

https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm


DUBLIN, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Global Water-borne Wood Coatings Market 2017-2021" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering.

The analysts forecast the global water-borne wood coatings market to grow at a CAGR of 6.08% during the period 2017-2021.



The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global water-borne wood coatings market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.



One trend in the market is increasing significance of UV-cured coatings. The demand for UV-cured coatings is increasing immensely owing to reduced drying time and limited VOC content. Several furniture manufacturers are adapting UV-cured coatings to conserve production time and also expand production volumes. In addition, higher density achieved with the use of UV-cured coatings results in enhanced physical properties.



According to the report, one driver in the market is increasing house remodeling. The house remodeling market includes home improvement and DIY (Do It Yourself) and is growing year-over-year owing to advantages such as time and cost savings. Europe and the Americas are dominating the house remodeling market. The demand for house remodeling is expected to increase rapidly during the forecast period owing to increasing prices in the housing market due to the Brexit referendum. Therefore, there is huge scope for house remodeling during the forecast period, in turn boosting the demand for water-borne wood coatings.



Further, the report states that one challenge in the market is growing concerns on wood logging. Governments across the globe are coming up with wood logging ban with the aim to protect natural forest. This is directly having a negative impact on the wood logging market. For instance, the Chinese government undertook the Natural Forest Protection Program in July 2017, which resulted in the banning of wood logging in natural forest. This is expected to result in the shrinkage of timber production by approximately 50.5 million cubic meters every year, globally.



Key vendors

Akzo Nobel

Axalta Coating Systems

PPG Industries

The Sherwin-Williams Company

The Dow Chemical Company

Other prominent vendors

Benjamin Moore

Diamond Vogel

Drywood Coatings

Helios Group

IVM Chemicals

Rust-Oleum

Royal DSM



Key Topics Covered:



Part 01: Executive Summary



Part 02: Scope Of The Report



Part 03: Research Methodology



Part 04: Introduction



Part 05: Market Landscape



Part 06: Market Segmentation By Type



Part 07: Market Segmentation By Geography



Part 08: Decision Framework



Part 09: Drivers And Challenges



Part 10: Market Trends



Part 11: Vendor Landscape



Part 12: Key Vendor Analysis



Part 13: Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9377hd/global

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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MEXICO CITY, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Aeromexico S.A.B. de C.V. ("Aeromexico") (BMV: AEROMEX), Mexico's global airline, announced today that the Company will webcast its Investor Day on Tuesday, September 26, 2017.

To access the live Webcast or archive, go to https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1755/22577 or visit Grupo Aeromexico's Investor Relations website http://aeromexico.com/investors/welcome.html. The webcast will be archived for one year.

About Grupo Aeromexico

Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in commercial aviation in Mexico and the promotion of passenger loyalty programs. Aeromexico, Mexicos global airline, operates more than 600 daily flights and its main hub is in Terminal 2 at the Mexico City International Airport. Its destinations network features more than 80 cities on three continents, including 45 destinations in Mexico, 18 in the United States, 15 in Latin America, 4 in Canada, 4 in Europe, and 3 in Asia.

The Group's operating fleet of more than 120 aircraft is comprised of Boeing 787, 777 and 737 jet airliners and next generation Embraer 170 and 190 models. In 2012, the airline announced the most significant investment strategy in aviation history in Mexico, to purchase 100 Boeing aircraft including 90 MAX B737 jet airliners and 10 B787-9 Dreamliner's.

As a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, Aeromexico offers customers more than 1,000 destinations in 177 countries served by the 20 SkyTeam airline partners rewarding passengers with benefits including access to 636 premium airport lounges around the world. Aeromexico also offers travel on its codeshare partner flights with Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines and WestJet, with extensive connectivity in countries like the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Peru.

www.aeromexico.com

www.skyteam.com

http://disfrutaam.tumblr.com/

SOURCE Grupo Aeromexico S.A.B. de C.V.

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"Clients will appreciate Rosanna's ability to understand where they are coming from since she herself started her career in human resources," said Joe Agnello, president of Lockton's Kansas City office. "Not only does she understand the technical, insurance side of employee benefits, but her experience in corporate human resources gives her an employer's perspective when solving complex human resources and risk challenges."

Just prior to joining Lockton, Milley worked at Huron Consulting Group with healthcare and higher education clients to improve their human resources performance. She assisted clients on transforming their human resources area by aligning employee benefits and compensation to focus on what their employees valued most. She collaborated with healthcare clients to help them be more cost effective and efficient and to create high performing talent management functions and human resources operations.

Milley also worked for Mercer Human Resources Consulting for 20 years. During her time at Mercer, she held a variety of roles including a senior consultant. Milley developed client relationships across a variety of industries by providing innovative solutions, and she was responsible for developing go-to-market sales strategies. She also led a team of 32 consultants that produced solid year-over-year revenue growth.

Today, she specializes in employee benefits for healthcare systems, hospitals, physician groups and higher education but also has vast experience in other industries like manufacturing, financial services and retail.

"Starting my career in corporate human resources with Cigna gave me a real understanding of what employers value in a consulting relationship," Milley said. "Bringing new ideas to your client, understanding their overall business objectives and providing the expertise to respond to your client's strategic and administrative requirements is very important when solving tough business challenges and building trusting relationships."

Milley is a certified employee benefits specialist (CEBS) and will advise clients on their employee benefits while leading a team of experts to support client goals.

She is a graduate of California State University and has been a member of the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA) since 2012. The organization allows her to stay up-to-date with the latest human resources trends and issues.

In her spare time, Milley volunteers with the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and Arthritis Foundation Pittsburgh.

Lockton's Kansas City office is located at 444 W. 47th Street, Suite 900, Kansas City, MO 64112 and can be reached by calling 816-960-9441.

About Lockton

Lockton is a global professional services firm with 6,500 Associates who advise clients on protecting their people, property and reputations. Lockton has grown to become the world's largest privately held, independent insurance broker by helping clients achieve their business objectives.

For eight consecutive years, Business Insurance magazine has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance." To see the latest insights from Lockton's experts, check Lockton Market Update.

SOURCE Lockton

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NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last week, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez called Honduran migrants "new martyrs and new heroes" in a speech delivered at the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

"These brave individuals work tirelessly under tough conditions to provide for themselves and for their families," President Hernandez said.

Honduran President Calls Migrants "Martyrs, Heroes" in U.N. Speech

The president stressed that his administration is working to stem migration to the United States by improving domestic security in Honduras. The country has reduced its homicide rate by 30 percent since Hernandez took office.

President Hernandez also argued that the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras, a joint effort of the government and the Organization of American States, will make the country more secure. "We have purged the national police, created anti-corruption tribunals, and strengthened the Ministry of Public Security," he said.

In addition, President Hernandez touted his country's economic accomplishments. The economy is projected to grow 4.1 percent this year, and Honduras has reduced its fiscal deficit from 8 percent to 3 percent. Exports have increased, and private investment is taking off, Hernandez said.

The president attributed Honduras's growth to development programs like Honduras 20/20, which aims to create 600,000 jobs over the next five years in Honduras, and Vida Mejor, which provides housing and financial benefits to impoverished Hondurans.

President Hernandez also emphasized the importance of cooperation with other Central American nations, highlighting an agreement between Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua to increase security and foster economic growth in the Gulf of Fonseca, which borders all three nations.

The president concluded his speech by encouraging the international community to work together to fight terrorism and climate change.

Media Contact

Andrew Grafton

a[email protected]

202-471-4228 ext. 119

SOURCE Republic of Honduras
PHOENIX, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) is growing its ability to unleash the power of the Connected Aircraft by increasing real-time, 24/7 technical support for GoDirect Cabin Connectivity customers at the GoDirect Service Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The new Connectivity Integration Lab joins a network of three others to provide global customers that have purchased connectivity services from Honeywell with around-the-clock assistance with new systems integration, real-time troubleshooting and technical support. Honeywell's new lab is strategically located in the GoDirect Service Center alongside the network operations and GoDirect Flight Support Services teams to provide business jet operators with easy access to all the customer support they need.

Honeywell's GoDirect Cabin Connectivity technical experts can provide real-time diagnosis and solutions for onboard connectivity issues, thus lessening the workload for pilots and crew while in flight. These experts can re-create an aircraft's onboard satellite communications configuration and resolve the problem quickly while minimizing the distraction or delay for the flight crew.

"Fliers today, especially passengers on a business jet, expect to have seamless connectivity on the ground and in the sky," said Curt Gray, senior director, Connectivity Support, Honeywell Aerospace. "Business aviation pilots typically have to troubleshoot connectivity issues themselves when the system isn't working, but now they can be freed up to focus on their primary mission of navigating the aircraft safely to its destination. Honeywell's GoDirect support team goes above and beyond to provide that customer service from afar."

In addition to the new Connectivity Integration Lab located near Sky Harbor Airport, the company has locations in Paris at Le Bouget Airport and in north Phoenix at the company's Deer Valley facility. Honeywell plans to expand to the Asia Pacific and South America regions in the future.

About GoDirect Cabin Connectivity

GoDirect Cabin Connectivity is a comprehensive suite of airtime services and solutions that delivers unparalleled connectivity and functionality. In addition, real-time TV, TV on demand, high-speed broadband internet, videoconferencing, email, and voice over IP are available. The suite of offerings includes access to more than a dozen GoDirect apps and services that help business jet owners and operators more easily manage and control their satellite communications services and usage. Honeywell has limited the need for third-party services support and put operators in control of network troubleshooting, access, data consumption, billing and more.

Supporting Resources

Learn more about GoDirect Cabin Connectivity

Read more about Honeywell Aerospace on the Follow The Aero blog

Like Honeywell Aerospace on Facebook

Follow @Honeywell_Aero on Twitter

Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft, and its turbochargers are used by nearly every automaker and truck manufacturer around the world. The Aerospace business unit develops innovative solutions for more fuel-efficient automobiles and airplanes, more direct and on-time flights, safer flying and runway traffic, along with aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity services, logistics, and more. The business delivers safer, faster, and more efficient and comfortable transportation-related experiences worldwide. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero and @Honeywell_Turbo.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Honeywell

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AUSTIN, Minn., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a multinational marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, announced today that its quarterly dividend on the common stock, authorized by the Board of Directors at seventeen cents (17) a share on September 22, 2017, will be paid November 15, 2017, to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 23, 2017.

The November 15 payment will be the 357th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the company. Since becoming a public company in 1928, Hormel Foods Corporation has paid a regular quarterly dividend without interruption.

About Hormel Foods  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenues across 75 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly Guacamole, Hormel Black Label and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the ninth year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. In 2016, the company celebrated its 125th anniversary and announced its new vision for the future - Inspired People. Inspired Food. - focusing on its legacy of innovation. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

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ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, September 27, 2017, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will present UR Medicine's Golisano Children's Hospital with a $250,000 Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant. The grant funds will support the research of principal investigator Craig Mullen, M.D., Ph.D., the chief of Golisano Children's Hospital's Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division.

This award is part of Hope On Wheels activities in September in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In September alone, Hope On Wheels will award 40 research grants totaling $8.5 million to institutions nationwide. This brings the organization's donation total to $130 million since Hyundai joined the fight against pediatric cancer in 1998. With this latest grant, Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $700,000 to UR Medicine's Golisano Children's Hospital.

"September is a special time for all of us at Hyundai because it's National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It's a time when we honor the courageous children battling cancer while also funding the doctors and researchers that are working tirelessly to provide care and develop new treatments," said Scott Fink, chairman, Hyundai Hope On Wheels Board of Directors. "Throughout the month we will share stories of the brave children battling cancer through our campaign theme called 'Every Handprint Tells A Story' and invite the public to join our fight."

The $250,000 Hyundai Scholar Hope Grant will be officially presented to Craig Mullen, M.D., Ph.D., during a Hope On Wheels Handprint Ceremony on September 27, 2017 at 10:00 a.m at UR Medicine's Golisano Children's Hospital. Doctors and researchers that receive a grant from Hope On Wheels are named Hyundai Scholars and are presented with a special lab coat.

During the event, Rochester, NY-area children battling cancer will participate in the program's signature Handprint Ceremony, in which they'll dip their hands in paint and place their handprints on a white 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. Their colorful handprints on the official Hope Vehicle represent their individual and collective journeys, hopes and dreams.

The Hope On Wheels September campaign theme is 'Every Handprint Tells A Story.' This theme recognizes that there are many stakeholders in the fight to end childhood cancer  the child, family, doctors, nurses, caregivers and researchers. The public is encouraged to visit our website at HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org to view videos of child cancer fighters, learn about the work of Hope On Wheels-funded researchers or add a virtual handprint of support on the website. Supporters are also asked to join our movement to End Childhood Cancer and to share our stories on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels and to view a complete list of this year's grant winners, please visit HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org/research. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, twitter.com/HopeOnWheels or instagram.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels.

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $130 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 835 dealerships nationwide. All new Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes a 5-year/60,000-mile fully-transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com

Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook

SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels

Related Links

https://www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org


When only about 1 in 12 eligible voters feels compelled to go to the polls to help chart the direction of local public schools, it hardly seems like a number worth cheering about.

But we'll give a contained hurrah for the just under 8 percent of Dubuque Community School District voters who turned out and chose thoughtfully with kids' best interest in mind.

At least that seems to have been the motivation when voters overwhelming backed the instructional support levy. That's the tax that for nearly two decades has spread about $5 million annually throughout the district on educational programming. It paid for all-day, every-day kindergarten and creating smaller class sizes in elementary schools. It is, quite intentionally, funding that goes directly to student experience. Voters figured that out, and 80 percent of those who went to the polls supported it.

It's not surprising, then, that those who voted with kids in mind on the instructional support levy also picked a strong slate of representatives for school board seats.

Voters supported one no-nonsense incumbent with decades of experience as a teacher, a longtime educator with nearly a half-century of time working in the district and a young man with an earnest interest in helping kids and a unique perspective that is currently lacking on the board.

Anderson Sainci is a 29-year-old African-American father of three who grew up in poverty. He knows what it's like to overcome obstacles. He has faced some of the same challenges so many students in our school district face. That's not a perspective we typically see in Dubuque leaders. That Sainci is ready to step up and serve is a credit to him; that citizens gave him the opportunity is a credit to them.

Sainci's lack of experience with the school district is offset by the vast history incumbent Jim Prochaska and retired district administrator Nancy Bradley bring to the table. Collectively, they will complete an already strong board.

Still, it's interesting that 92 percent of voters didn't bother to weigh in on the direction that board will take. The Dubuque Community School District has a bigger budget than the City of Dubuque, and virtually all (more than 90 percent) of the district's money comes from state aid and property taxes. School board members must make spending decisions judiciously.

While a 7.7 percent turnout might not seem like anything to brag about, this year is not so terrible. Consider its place in history:

. Last year's vote on the physical plant and equipment levy garnered a turnout of 4.8 percent.

. In 2013, when the ballot included four candidates for three board seats plus a referendum on the renewal of Northeast Iowa Community College's physical plant levy, just 4.9 percent of voters showed up.

. In 2015, when seven candidates were competing for four board seats, turnout still couldn't get to 7 percent.

By comparison, 7.7 percent doesn't seem so bad. And given the outcome of votes cast in support of kids, we'll take it.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to all the flood victims impacted by superstorms Harvey and Irma. As a part of our commitment to helping build stronger communities, we are honored to provide this additional support to the American Red Cross to assist those impacted," said Zafar Brooks, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity & Inclusion, Hyundai Motor America. "We know that it will be many months before these communities will return to normal, given the severity of loss. Hyundai and its local dealer are committed to being a partner during this recovery process."

The American Red Cross has launched a massive response program to aid the thousands of storm victims in Texas and Louisiana, along the Southeast and in the Caribbean. This includes mobilizing thousands of trained Red Cross disaster relief workers, deploying truckloads of relief supplies, and providing meals and shelters. The aftermath of the storms has left millions without power and countless others with damage to homes and property, many beyond habitation. Partnering with the American Red Cross will help bring urgent necessities and a sense of comfort to families truly in need.

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com.Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com. Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 835 dealerships nationwide. All new Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes a 5-year/60,000-mile fully-transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com

Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook

ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

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SAN DIEGO, Sept. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new study finds that immune response in prostate cancer may be able to forecast how patients will respond to radiation therapy, as well as their likelihood of disease recurrence and survival outcomes. The analysis of more than 9,000 prostate tumors also found evidence that PD-L2, not PD-L1, may provide a key route for targeted therapies, such as immunotherapy, to slow disease progression. Findings will be presented today at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

"When the immune system responds to tumors, it sends specific types of immune cells directly to the tumor. Understanding this infiltration of immune cells allows researchers and oncologists to devise treatment strategies based on each patient's specific immune response and disease biology. Checkpoint inhibitors and other immunotherapies have been utilized to manage other solid tumors. Our work suggests that there may be a role for these innovative treatments in prostate cancer, as well," said Shuang (George) Zhao, MD, lead author of the study and a radiation oncology resident at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

To better define the immune landscape of localized prostate cancer, researchers examined 9,393 tumor samples from men who underwent a radical prostatectomy, including 7,826 recently collected prospective tumor samples and 1,567 retrospectively obtained samples. Immune content in the tumor samples was identified using high-throughput computational analysis with specific immune-related genes. Gene expression profiling was conducted on a commercial clinical-grade platform, and gene selection was guided by the published literature.

Clustering analysis of the 9,393 tissue samples identified a subset of patients with higher expression of immune-related pathways. This immune content score, which was predicted computationally, appeared to predict prostate cancer recurrence, metastasis and survival. Higher levels of the immune content score were associated with lower likelihood of survival, including freedom from disease progression (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.3, p = 0.0002), freedom from distant metastases (HR = 1.3, p = 0.0006), prostate cancer-specific survival (HR = 1.5, p = 0.0003) and overall survival (HR = 1.3, p = 0.006). Clinical outcomes were available for retrospective data only.

The immune content score also predicted response to radiation therapy following radical prostatectomy. On multivariate analysis, it interacted significantly (p = 0.017) with response to post-operative radiation therapy (PORT).

"Our analyses also found a potential interaction between immune content and radiation response, suggesting that combinations of radiation therapy and immunotherapies may be a treatment option worthy of further investigation," said Dr. Zhao.

Different types of immune cells were influential in different ways, indicating a complex interaction between immune cells and tumor cells. Specifically, higher levels of active macrophages and T-cells were prognostic for worse distant metastasis-free survival (p < 0.05), while active mast cells, NK cells and dendritic cells were associated with improved distant metastasis-free survival (p < 0.05). Individual cell types were examined from the genome-wide expression data using the CIBERSORT algorithm.

PD-L1, the target of several FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitors, was not associated with outcomes in this study, but PD-L2, which interacts with PD-1 similarly to PD-L1, was associated with worse treatment outcomes. Specifically, higher levels of PD-L2 were associated with greater likelihood for disease recurrence (HR = 1.17, p = 0.013), distant metastasis (HR = 1.25, p = 0.014) and prostate cancer death (HR = 1.45, p = 0.003).

"As immune checkpoint blockers have come to market, PD-L1 has received a great deal of attentionbut it does not appear to be widely expressed in prostate cancer. PD-L2, however, was much more highly expressed in these tumor samples, and it also was associated with worse outcomes. The understudied PD-L2 ligand may be the better therapeutic target for patients with localized prostate cancer," said Dr. Zhao.

"The immune landscape of prostate cancer is highly complex. We need to develop treatment approaches that account for individual tumor and patient characteristics in order to prescribe the best treatments for each individual prostate cancer patient."

The abstract, "Novel associations between the immune landscape of prostate cancer and post-operative radiation response," will be presented in detail during a news briefing and the clinical trials session at ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting in San Diego (full details below). To schedule an interview with Dr. Zhao and/or outside experts in prostate cancer or immunotherapy combinations, contact ASTRO's media relations team on-site at the San Diego Convention Center September 24 through 27, by phone at 703-286-1600 or by email at [email protected].

ATTRIBUTION TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY (ASTRO) ANNUAL MEETING REQUESTED IN ALL COVERAGE.

This news release contains additional and/or updated information from the study author(s). Full original abstract and author disclosures available on the final page of this release.

Study Presentation Details

Scientific Session: Clinical Trials, Sunday, September 24 , 3:15  4:45 p.m. Pacific time , San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom 20

, 3:15  , Convention Center, Ballroom 20 News Briefing: Monday, September 25 , 11:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m. Pacific, San Diego Convention Center, room 24C, webcast: http://www.bit.do/astro17-2

Resources on Prostate Cancer and Radiation Therapy

ABOUT ASTRO'S ANNUAL MEETING

ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting, the world's largest scientific meeting in radiation oncology, will be held September 24-27, 2017, at the San Diego Convention Center. The 2017 Annual Meeting is expected to attract more than 11,000 attendees from across the globe, including oncologists from all disciplines and members of the entire radiation oncology team. More than 2,800 abstracts sharing results from clinical trials and other research studies will be presented in conjunction with educational sessions and keynote addresses that underscore the meeting's theme, "The Healing Art and Science of Radiation Oncology." Led by ASTRO President Brian Kavanagh, MD, MPH, FASTRO, the 2017 meeting will feature keynote addresses from Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM, Chief Innovation Officer for the University of Colorado Health System; Lucy Kalanithi, MD, FACP, widow of Paul Kalanithi, MD, the best-selling author of "When Breath Becomes Air," with Heather Wakelee, MD, Paul's oncologist; and Vinay K. Prasad, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University. During the four-day meeting, more than 200 exhibitors will demonstrate cutting-edge technology and medical device innovations for radiation oncology. Visit us online for more information about ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting or press opportunities at the meeting.

ABOUT ASTRO

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the world's largest radiation oncology society, with more than 10,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. The Society is dedicated to improving patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research, and advocacy. ASTRO publishes three medical journals, International Journal of Radiation Oncology  Biology  Physics (www.redjournal.org), Practical Radiation Oncology (www.practicalradonc.org) and Advances in Radiation Oncology (www.advancesradonc.org); developed and maintains an extensive patient website, RT Answers (www.rtanswers.org); and created the Radiation Oncology Institute (www.roinstitute.org), a nonprofit foundation to support research and education efforts around the world that enhance and confirm the critical role of radiation therapy in improving cancer treatment. To learn more about ASTRO, visit www.astro.org and follow us on our blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: Liz Gardner

703-286-1600

[email protected]

Leah Kerkman Fogarty

703-839-7336

[email protected]

SOURCE American Society for Radiation Oncology

Related Links

http://www.astro.org


NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  Intersections International today announced that the Collegiate Church of New York has called the Rev. Julie Johnson Staples to serve as the organization's new executive director. She succeeds Intersections' founding director, the Rev. Robert Chase, who retired earlier this year. Intersections is a 10-year strong organization that serves as a catalyst to unite disparate groups to forge a common ground in global peace, justice, and reconciliation. A ministry of Collegiate, Intersections is also a global, non-governmental organization with special consultative status at the United Nations.

"Social justice has played an integral role throughout Rev. Julie's distinguished and wide-ranging career as a journalist, global private equity executive, scholar, and minister," said Danita Branam, chair, governing board, Intersections International. "Our search committee found her blend of critical thinking, insight, ethics, passion, and eloquence, grounded in pragmatism, to be the embodiment of leadership essential in these times to evolve and advance Intersections' mission, as we move into our next chapter."

Under Rev. Johnson Staples' leadership, Intersections will embark upon a strategic planning process to identify additional areas for engagement alongside its core programs, which stand at the intersections of: veterans and civilians; divided nations and peoples; artistic engagement and community values; and traditional religious beliefs and LGBTQ equality.

"We are at a time in our global history when a unified, mobilized and engaged population is essential to our health and prosperity," said Rev. Johnson Staples. "I look forward to expanding the reach of our LGBTQ programs to the global south, seeking new frontiers into which we will extend our peacemaking initiatives, and identifying new and compelling ways to use art to promote justice and dialogue. Our primary goal is to deliver inter-religious, multi-faith programming, and build a robust community of young and old, and energize geographically and economically diverse populations to fight for a better world."

Prior to joining Intersections, Rev. Johnson Staples served as interim senior minister of the Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. She is a member of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches' national ambassador team and serves on the organization's board of directors. Earlier in her career, Rev. Johnson Staples was a managing director and partner at the global private equity firm, Warburg Pincus, as well as a journalist with TIME magazine, ABC News, The New York Times, and the Baltimore Sun. She earned her Th.M. in religion, literature and culture at Harvard University. She also holds an M.Div. from the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, a J.D. degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, and a B.S. degree in journalism from the University of Kansas. Rev. Johnson Staples' full biography is available here.

About Intersections International

Founded in 2007, Intersections International is a New York City-based organization that serves as a catalyst to unite disparate groups to forge a common ground in global peace, justice, and reconciliation. A ministry of the Collegiate Church of New York, Intersections engages conflicted communities globally and locally in dialogue, service, advocacy, and artistic expression to advance connection, equality, respect, and abundance for all people. To learn more about Intersections and our programs, visit our website and find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

SOURCE Intersections International

Related Links

http://intersections.org/


BALTIMORE, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Baltimore based Jai Medical Systems Managed Care Organization, Inc. (Jai Medical Systems) is the Highest Rated Medicaid Health Insurance Plan in Maryland and the United States for 2017-2018, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Health Insurance Plan Ratings. A complete listing of all NCQA Medicaid Health Plan ratings can be found here: http://healthinsuranceratings.ncqa.org/2017/search/Medicaid

Jai Medical Systems earned a rating of 5 out of 5 in the NCQAMedicaid Health Insurance Plan Ratings, 2017-2018. In fact, of the 177 Medicaid health plans that were rated, Jai Medical Systems was the only Medicaid Health Plan in the United States to earn a 5 out of 5 rating for 2017-2018.

"We are very proud to be the highest rated Medicaid health plan in the United States. Taking care of people is what matters most to our company. Ensuring our members receive high-quality healthcare is our primary focus and passion. Our partnership with the Maryland Department of Health has been a key component of our success. The Department's Value Based Purchasing Initiative ensures that all Maryland based Managed Care Organizations strive to deliver high quality, cost effective healthcare services. Our commitment to the pursuit of excellence is built on the principles of our founder, Hollis Seunarine, MD, FAAFP, who has served Medicaid patients for over 50 years. His dedication and example inspire and remind us that the privilege of serving our members and ensuring that they receive high quality healthcare requires our best efforts and our steadfast commitment to making the impossible possible," said Jai Seunarine, Chief Executive Officer of Jai Medical Systems.

In addition to Jai Medical Systems' distinction of being the Highest Rated Medicaid Health Plan in the United States, the organization has also earned an Accreditation status of Excellent for the third year in a row. NCQA's Excellent Accreditation status is reserved for the best health plans in the nation. It is only awarded to those plans that meet or exceed NCQA's rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement and deliver excellent clinical care.

Jai Medical Systems is continually evaluating and evolving its systems and population management strategies to ensure they are efficient, effective, and scalable. By working closely with providers and business partners, the organization is able to achieve clinical objectives while ultimately improving clinical outcomes and long-term health status.

Jai Medical Systems is a Baltimore-based company founded in 1997 by Hollis Seunarine, M.D., FAAFP and Jai Seunarine. The company is currently celebrating its 20th year of operations. Jai Medical Systems serves a diverse population of approximately 26,000 members throughout Maryland. Its mission is to provide access to high-quality healthcare benefits and services. Jai Medical Systems continues this tradition of quality and excellence by working with its members to help identify their healthcare needs while remaining an active and positive presence within the communities it serves.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations and recognizes clinicians in key clinical areas. NCQA's HEDIS is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's Web site (www.ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers, and others make more informed health choices.

SOURCE Jai Medical Systems Managed Care Organization, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.jaimedicalsystems.com


The contribution from the nation's largest integrated health system will go to International Medical Corps , a global humanitarian nonprofit organization established by volunteer physicians in 1984. Kaiser Permanente's contribution will help International Medical Corps conduct an on-the-ground assessment of needs in the affected areas and assist with local relief and recovery efforts, including support for the mental health and wellness needs of those impacted.

"Our hearts are with all those affected by the devastation and loss of life from the earthquakes that struck central Mexico," said Bechara Choucair, MD, senior vice president and chief community health officer for Kaiser Permanente. "Many of our employees and members have loved ones in the areas that were impacted. We felt it was imperative that we offer our help and resources in this critical time of need."

Both organizations are sending disaster response experts and medical professionals to Mexico City on Tuesday, September 26 to support immediate relief and recovery efforts.

"Kaiser Permanente's extraordinary commitment to deploy staff and their swift and generous support will ensure that International Medical Corps can help meet families' greatest needs and mobilize health care, supplies and other assistance that will help communities in Mexico as they begin to recover and rebuild," said Nancy Aossey, President & CEO of International Medical Corps.

As Kaiser Permanente supports these efforts in Mexico, the organization continues to monitor the areas impacted by this year's extreme hurricane season. On September 5, Kaiser Permanente gave a donation to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 11.8 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.

For more information:

Marc Brown

[email protected]

510-271-6328

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente

Related Links

http://www.kaiserpermanente.org


HOUSTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced today its global Government Services business, KBRwyle, has won a seat on the NASA Research, Engineering, Mission Integration Services (REMIS) contract to provide research and engineering products and services for the International Space Station (ISS). NASA's Johnson Space Center awarded this contract, which has a five-year base period and a two-year option with a maximum ceiling value of $500 million.

Under this multi-award contract, KBRwyle will have the opportunity to compete on task orders to support NASA's ISS Program and potentially other NASA organizations and federal government agencies.

KBRwyle may provide spaceflight and ground hardware and software development, engineering function sustainment, engineering services, payload facility integration assistance, and research mission integration and operations services. The company will primarily perform this work at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

"KBRwyle has a history of solving the challenges of human spaceflight, pioneering breakthroughs in microgravity research, and providing innovative engineering and technical solutions to NASA," said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and CEO. "We are proud to continue this legacy supporting NASA and the International Space Station."

KBRwyle has supported the ISS for more than 16 years. As the number one life sciences provider to NASA, the company has been engaged in a broad range of human spaceflight activities for NASA for almost five decades. KBRwyle has worked with every U.S. astronaut since 1968, including record-breaking astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson. The company has also supported 135 Space Shuttle missions and seven NASA human spaceflight programs beginning with Gemini.

Expected revenue associated with this project will be booked into backlog of unfilled orders for KBR's Government Services Business Segment as task orders are awarded.

About KBR, Inc.

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life cycle within the Government Services and Hydrocarbons sectors. KBR employs over 34,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 80 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses:

Government Services, serving government customers globally, including capabilities that cover the full life-cycle of defense, space, aviation and other government programs and missions from research and development, through systems engineering, test and evaluation, program management, to operations, maintenance, and field logistics

Technology & Consulting, including proprietary technology focused on the monetization of hydrocarbons (especially natural gas and natural gas liquids) in ethylene and petrochemicals; ammonia, nitric acid and fertilizers; oil refining; gasification; oil and gas consulting; integrity management; naval architecture and proprietary hulls; and downstream consulting

Engineering & Construction, including onshore oil and gas; LNG (liquefaction and regasification)/GTL; oil refining; petrochemicals; chemicals; fertilizers; differentiated EPC; maintenance services (Brown & Root Industrial Services); offshore oil and gas (shallow-water, deep-water, subsea); floating solutions (FPU, FPSO, FLNG & FSRU) and program management

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, integrated EPC delivery and long term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Visit www.kbr.com

Forward Looking Statement

The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; the scope and enforceability of the company's indemnities from its former parent; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company.

KBR's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that KBR has identified that may affect the business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, KBR undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

SOURCE KBR, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.kbr.com


KPMG's Global Head of Data & Analytics, Christian Rast, joins Microsoft Executive VP and CFO Amy Hood in a fireside chat to discuss modern finance and digital transformation

ORLANDO, FL, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - KPMG International today announced important new details about its Digital Solution Hub, one of two strategic initiatives KPMG announced in July with Microsoft designed to leverage Microsoft Azure intelligent cloud services and artificial intelligence technology with KPMG business acumen.* Here at Microsoft Envision, KPMG said the Digital Solution Hub's initial portfolio of cloud-based solutions will address top CFO and finance management issues.

"Using artificial intelligence, machine learning and data and analytics (D&A) supported by the intelligent cloud, our CFO solutions from the Digital Solution Hub will help set new standards of performance for profitability and growth, and help drive digital transformation," said Christian Rast, KPMG Global Head of D&A and a board member with KPMG in Germany. Rast will join Microsoft Executive Vice President and CFO Amy Hood on Tuesday, 26 September to discuss "Modern Finance", a fireside chat about the critical transformation issues topping the CFO agenda.

The first solution from the Hub aimed at helping CFOs gain clarity on profitability drivers is the cloud-based Strategic Profitability Insights (SPI). Now available on the Azure cloud, SPI helps clients quickly analyze their data at the transaction level. One area where the solution is well suited is due diligence for mergers and acquisitions where data can be exchanged quickly and rapidly analyzed. The cloud-based SPI solution will be globally scalable and made available through KPMG member firms in Q1 2018.

The Digital Solution Hub, with locations in Bellevue, Washington, and at the KPMG Lighthouse  Center of Excellence for Data & Analytics in Berlin, Germany, is charged with managing ideation, architecture and development of ready-made, Microsoft cloud-based solutions, empowering the C-suite to drive digital transformation in strategic areas of their business. The Hub, fully operational in Q1 2018, will be staffed with data scientists, developers, analysts, designers and other specialists from both organizations.

At this year's Envision, 25-27 September at the Hilton Orlando, Orlando, Fla., partners across the KPMG network will take the stage to share insights and experiences helping clients on their digital transformation journey.

Speaker Topic Date, time, venue Simon Benson, Principal, KPMG in Australia

Felicity Nutter, Executive Manager Business Technology and Projects, Swisse Wellness Breakout: AXclusive Insights 25 September, 3:00-3:45pm ET Orlando IV





Christian Rast, KPMG Global Head of Data & Analytics

Amy Hood, Microsoft Executive VP and CFO Fireside Chat: Modern Finance 26 September, 08:30-09:15 am ET

Orlando I-III

* At Microsoft's Inspire partners' conference in July, KPMG and Microsoft announced two strategic initiatives that expanded the scope of their global alliance: providing clients with a portfolio of digital solutions (the Digital Solution Hub) and enabling KPMG's smart audit platform, KPMG Clara, both built on KPMG business expertise and the Microsoft intelligent cloud.

About KPMG International

KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 152 countries and have 189,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.

SOURCE KPMG International
LONDON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- eHailing, Bike Sharing, and Integrated Mobility Offers Immense Growth Opportunities and New Revenue Potential



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5113923





The mobility market in Latin America is rapidly moving towards offering new mobility business models that are focused on an on-demand, integrated, multi-modal mobility network, driven by changing demographics, preferences, and technologies. Mobility in Latin America, although rapidly changing, still focuses heavily on traditional modes and personal vehicle ownership. However, Latin America has been experiencing disruption over the past 3-5 years.



These solutions are becoming an additional alternative to everyday mobility. While in some cases this is primarily complementing vehicle ownership, signs of replacing ownership is also selectively being witnessed among some demographics.



The aim of this study is to research, analyze, and forecast the market for new mobility business models in Latin America and discuss the growing trends in shared and integrated mobility towards 2023, focusing on Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.



Research Scope:

New Mobility Business Models: Carsharing, Bike Sharing, Ride Sharing, E-Hailing, Integrated Mobility, Corporate Mobility

Geographical Scope: Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico

Study Period: 20162023



A change to the mobility ecosystem towards solutions that are on-demand is providing new opportunities and the market is witnessing the entry of a number of new non-traditional stakeholders. This wide-scale disruption is heavily impacting traditional market structures and the positioning of traditional ecosystem participants among new competition is leading to the need to respond to changes in terms of regulations, investment, and market structure. This study focuses on 4 key markets - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico and discusses various new mobility models including bike sharing, carsharing, e-hailing, integrated mobility, and corporate mobility.



The study presents the growth in mobility infrastructure and mobility-related regulations as these aspects form the bedrock for the functioning of new mobility business models. The study then concludes by presenting the overall disruption and transformation that the landscape is experiencing in LATAM, with several company exhibits, growth opportunities, key conclusions, and Frost & Sullivan's top predictions towards 2023.



Key Questions This Study will Answer:

What are key trends impacting the evolution of new mobility business models in Latin America? How are each of the key regions placed with regards to new mobility business models?

Which new mobility business model is expected to have the highest growth potential and what is the forecast for the various select models?

Which are the key market participants across the regions and under each of the new mobility business models? What are the business models that are followed?

What is the current structure and future outlook for infrastructure related to urban mobility in Latin America? What are some of the key regulations impacting change and what are the imperatives for success and growth in this space?

What are the key study conclusions and future outlook for new mobility business models in LATAM? What are the key growth opportunities and which are the companies disrupting the value chain?



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5113923



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

https://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Forward thinking Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) has undertaken a renovation with a comprehensive Light Emitting Diode (LED) retrofit that will serve as an industry leading benchmark. The project may stand as the largest LED lighting retrofit for a hospital across both the public and private sectors. In addition to saving energy, the LED lighting retrofit includes job creation through made in USA LED lights. This lighting retrofit was completed in July 2017, and it is an example of cost-effective government energy waste reduction and new job creation. With the American made technology, the retrofit is in line with the goals of President Donald J. Trump's Buy American and Hire American Executive Order, signed on April 18, 2017. With over 3.4 billion square feet of real estate, the US government could save over $1 billion in energy each year and create over 20,000 new jobs through LED retrofits.

For WRNMMC, the LED retrofits included a diverse range of fixture types, such as these:

Recessed Troffer, Volumetric, 1'x4', 2'x2', and 2'x4'

Low Bay and High Bay fixture

Pendant Narrow Lights

Strip Fixtures with single and double LED modules

Vapor Tight Fixtures

LED Tube Replacements

Wall Sconces

Downlights at 6" and 8"

Bulbs: A19, PAR20, and PAR38

"With over 50% energy savings and over $1,000,000 in LED products for this LED lighting retrofit, WRNMMC is leading by example. We project over $300,000 in annual savings, said Charlie Szoradi, CEO of Independence LED Lighting. "Over the 10-year warranty of our made in USA technology, WRNMMC will save over $3 million. Those dollars could go toward supporting our active duty service men and women as well as our veterans. Imagine the positive ripple effect across so many other government facilities."

For this benchmark project, Independence LED's primary government distributor, Trillamed, LLC, a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), worked with Independence LED Lighting to supply the Made in USA LED lighting technology.

TrillaMed see: www.TrillaMed.com. Trillamed's Director of LED lighting Ken Sharp, after months of diligence and education of federal facilities and contractors, helped secure this project as a win for all parties, which provided employment for many Americans, Veterans and others along with final outcome of reducing Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's energy consumption footprint and energy expenses and providing healthier lighting than traditional fluorescent lighting. Contact Ken for more information on USA made Independence LED lighting at: [email protected] and 734-717-8478

Independence LED Lighting, LLC: www.IndependenceLED.com. In 2010 Independence LED Lighting moved its manufacturing from China to Pennsylvania and has installation including the first LEDs for a VA Medical Center, Marine Corps Base Quantico, over 30 U.S. Navy ships, and civilian facilities ranging from prisons, fire houses, and rescue centers, to the USDA Forest Service. The industry leading 10-year warranty fixtures have also earned installations for the U.S. Embassy in Cuba and the U.S. Air Force base in Oman. [email protected] 484-588-5401

CONTACT: Charlie Szoradi, [email protected]

SOURCE Independence LED Lighting

Related Links

http://www.IndependenceLED.com


MAITLAND, Fla., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lee Hecht Harrison, the world's leading talent development and transition company, recently opened an office in Buffalo, New York. The office, which will be part of the firm's Northeast Region, will be headed by Fred Farnsworth, Career Consultant and Kate Latas, Vice President, Business Development for LHH.

This latest expansion is LHH's fifth office in New York, adding to the firm's other New York locations in Albany, New York City, Melville and Rochester. LHH has more than 380 service locations worldwide.

The new office is located at 300 International Drive, Buffalo, NY in the village of Williamsville.

"The Buffalo area has a rich pool of diverse talent from well-known companies in financial services, technology, biomedical engineering and education. We have the opportunity to further expand talent development and career transition capabilities to meet accelerated growth in this market," said John Morgan, Executive Vice President, U.S. Operations for LHH.

"The office's location in Williamsville will enable LHH to deliver world-class services and better support current and emerging workforce needs of organizations and individuals. In an era of unprecedented change, jobs are changing, how people work together is changing and the skills needed to succeed are changing. We're here to help organizations transform their workforces, and prepare their people for new challenges and opportunities," Morgan added.

About Lee Hecht Harrison

Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH) helps companies transform their leaders and workforce so they can accelerate performance. In an era of continuous change, successfully transforming your workforce depends on how well companies and their people embrace, navigate, and lead change. Change within the organization, and their career. At Lee Hecht Harrison we use our expertise in talent development and transition to deliver tailored solutions that help our clients transform their leaders and workforce so they have the people and culture they need to evolve and grow. We are passionate about making a difference in peoples' careers and building better leaders so our clients can build a strong employer brand.



A division of The Adecco Group  the world's leading provider of workforce solutions  Lee Hecht Harrison's 4000 colleagues work with more than 7000 clients in over 60 countries around the world. We have the local expertise, global infrastructure, and industry leading technology and analytics required to manage the complexity associated with executing critical talent and workforce initiatives, reducing brand and operational risk. It's why 60% of Fortune 500 companies choose to work with us.

For further information contact:



Helene Cavalli

VP Marketing

Lee Hecht Harrison

P +1.267.322.1300

E [email protected]

SOURCE Lee Hecht Harrison

Related Links

http://www.lhh.com


(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/561136/Dirty_Water_USA.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/561135/Dirty_Water_USA_1.jpg )



The London-based record label has been growing rapidly over the past few years, its irreverent, raucous brand of garage rock picking up new fans with each new release. Founded in 2004 by club DJ and club promoter PJ Crittenden (who ran the now infamous Dirty Water Club, the label started off doing small run releases for friends' bands and quickly developed into a full-on record label, riding the wave of the near legendary North London club night that is notorious for its many gigs that have gone down in history, celebrity regulars, and wild DJ stomp parties that continue to rage on after more than 20 years.

The club and label's name is a tribute to The Standells' 1966 hit "Dirty Water" which glorifies the US city of Boston, Massachusetts. Coincidentally, not only was the original, long-term home of the Dirty Water Club a North London pub named "The Boston Arms", but US ex-pat Paul Manchester (aka Boston Paul) - first a fan, then a friend, then a partner - engineered the label's first big release: the reissue of the Boston group Lyres' 1979 classic single, "Don't Give It Up Now" c/w "How Do You Know". Spanish dynamo Diego Dominguez was the third initial partner in the label and the fourth partner, Bostonian ex-pat Matt Hunter, first met Boston Paul at the Boston Arms before a Dirty Water Club gig by Boston's legendary Lyres.

Since then, the label has released a world class selection of acts including American chart-botherers Muck and the Mires, from Boston, LA's Mr. Airplane Man & The Morlocks, San Diego's The Loons, Detroit's The Hentchmen, Cleveland's Archie and the Bunkers, NYC's Dirty Fences, Keokuk's GONN (a particular honour and pleasure to release) as well as Magic Christian (featuring the talents of Blondie's Clem Burke and Cyril Jordan from the Flamin' Groovies) plus Japan's The Routes & The Fadeaways, Argentina's Los Peyotes , France's Les Grys-Grys, The Dustaphonics, & The Arrogants , Denmark's The Youth, David Peter and the Wilde Sect and POWERSOLO, Sweden's The Branded, Thee Gravemen Holland's De Keefmen, Portugal's d3o, Spain's Los Chicos, Hollywood Sinners, & Los Bengala, Ireland's The Revellions & The Urges, Austria's Wild Evel and the Trashbones (soon), New Zealand's The Cavemen, Australia's The Kits, UK's MFC Chicken, King Salami and the Cumberland 3, The Vicars, The Masonics, The Priscillas, The Vipers, The Despondents, Johnny Throttle, Oh! Gunquit, Atomic Suplex and Suicide Generation and The Dirty

Last Summer whilst on sabbatical in Phoenix Arizona, the label's publicity and A&R supremo Matt Hunter serendipitously ran into local (and international) rock chanteuse, (and former label owner of Atomic A Go Go Records) Nicole Laurenne (of the Love Me Nots, Zero Zero and Motobunny) who was just starting her jaw-dropping new all-girl project The Darts (US). Hunter was already intent on signing them after randomly discovering the band on a Facebook post before they had even played their first show.

The two eventually met up one evening in the cosy basement confines of Phoenix's Valley Bar, where the two instantly started plotting world domination over drinks with just an eyeliner pen and upside down beer mats to map out a strategy. The simple plan entailed removing the store sign off of Atomic A Go Go Records and replacing it with Dirty Water Records USA, with Nicole assuming the role of proprietor.

"I always envisioned the label having some kind of US based operation; I just never imagined it would be located in the middle of a desert", says Hunter. "After that first meeting with Nicole, who was already a big fan of Dirty Water, I knew this just had to happen by any means necessary - and signing The Darts was the ultimate cherry on top of this whole amazing endeavour taking shape."

""I'd been trying to get the attention of Dirty Water for years with The Love Me Nots but they never seemed to take notice," Says Nicole. "When Matt wrote to me out of the blue that he was interested in The Darts and my little DIY label, I almost fell off my chair. After five minutes together we knew we had a lot in common in musical tastes, mutual friends, business ideas and more. We were both so psyched, we couldn't get this off the ground fast enough."

After several weeks of long distance discussions and forward planning, Hunter flew back to London with two Phoenix bands on the roster, The Darts and Playboy Manbaby, which sent loud signals from the Big Smoke that something interesting was brewing in the 'Valley of the Sun'.

Fast forward almost eight months later, and a licensing deal has now been struck between Dirty Water Records Ltd and Nicole Laurenne to effectively spin off a separate label to her, with full creative and financial control that will in turn carry the Dirty Water Records label brand name that will help promote and distribute the current London roster, whilst creating a whole new label with a diverse flavour of sounds, including perhaps some not typically heard from the label before.

"The idea is to create a select roster of artists who we fully believe in enough to launch and support in a variety of different ways worldwide, while also offering existing Dirty Water records and other products that we absolutely love, from a lot different worldwide sources, to US customers so everything can be bundled and shipped domestically", says Laurenne. "The tastemakers involved with DWR USA have kind of eclectic taste - but with a common theme of loving music that tears your face off in its awesomeness and power and leaves you on the floor. That's our goal."

PJ Crittenden says: "The club night and label started off as a small time DIY effort with, at the beginning, myself doing everything. Once Paul and our Spanish dynamo Diego came on board, with their extra skills, knowledge and experience, we were able to take things further than I'd originally imagined. With Matt's input we've grown even further. So this is the next logical move for us. From a very young age I was completely into American music - rock'n'roll, blues, soul, proper old rhythm'n'blues, sixties garage, psych, and so on, the kind of music that I see as the real deal. In that context, a US branch of Dirty Water in my eyes is exactly what we should be doing. Giving some rock'n'roll back to the place where it started!"

"These are exciting times for us!" says Paul Manchester. "Dirty Water has already grown beyond what any of us were initially expecting, and Dirty Water Records USA is a quantum leap for us. But this isn't just about geography - we have distribution and a large fanbase in the US - it's also about the great skills, flair, and drive that Nicole and her team bring to the table. It's a perfect fit, and the future looks Dirty."

The new label already have five new artists and forthcoming releases poised to build up its roster and will also offer a full service agency for booking, promotion, publishing and artist representation - in addition to delivering the highest quality in new music on a variety of formats; vinyl, cassettes, digital, and CD's with Worldwide distribution from Cargo UK.

Coming Soon From Dirty Water Records USA

Mean Motor Scooter

Fuzzed up, farfed out, Fort Worth quartet of psych-garage goodness firmly rooted in the Texas traditions of The Butthole Surfers, The Dicks, and Roky Erickson with tab of Scratch Acid.

Escobar

Two-headed touring pirate beast from Limoges, France that spar in the vicious dens of Suicide and Nirvana with a bloodying, stinging assault on the senses from their 'biggest' sounds.

Baronen & Satan

"Garagedeath" quartet from Gothenburg, Sweden that exercises the demons of The Cramps and Siouxsie and the Banshees into a whirling dervish of dark, spirited tones and ferocious guitars.

Bee Bee Sea

This irresistible trio from Castel Goffredo, Italy shoots addictive pop-fuelled, garage-spiced rave-ups, like a Sonic Boomerang flung out into space and returning to spear the listener through the heart.

The Callas

Hailing from Greece, built around brothers Lakis and Aris Ionas, The Callas offer Krautrock grooves and hypnotic, scuzzed-up guitar lines, featuring the undeniable six-string genius of Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth). This artistic, luxe record will find favor with fans of The Velvet Underground, The Horrors, and Neu!.

Dirty Water Records USA

Bandcamp

Web Store

Facebook

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Twitter

"The shameless American little sister of Dirty Water Records London - and your turntable's hot new girlfriend".

The Dirty Water Club started in October 1996 in the Tufnell Park neighbourhood of north London, at a venue called The Boston. The club's name is derived from The Standells' 1966 hit 'Dirty Water' which glorifies the US city of Boston, Massachusetts.

Past performers have included The White Stripes (voted by Q Magazine as one of the top 10 gigs of all time, Mojo one of the top 30 and Kerrang one of the top 100!), The Gories, Country Teasers, Black Lips, NOBUNNY, Kid Congo Powers, The Fleshtones, Billy Childish, Radio Birdman, The Dirtbombs, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, The 5.6.7.8's, The Horrors and The Brian Jonestown Massacre to name just a few. The club has also seen some original '60s performers, such as The Monks, ? and the Mysterians, Kim Fowley, Sky Saxon, GONN, Michael Davis of the MC5 and more grace its stage.

Their in-house record label, Dirty Water Records, is one of the leading garage/beat/(real) R&B labels in the world.

For all submissions, requests, customer service, or just to annoy us, email us at [email protected].

Media Enquiries: Matt Hunter, +1-480-253-6471

[email protected]

SOURCE Dirty Water Records
The World Health Organization estimates that breast cancer kills more than 500,000 women globally every year, a number that could be greatly reduced if cancer were detected at an earlier stage.

Despite 73% of respondents saying they look out for changes to the appearance of their breasts, many report that they aren't confident recognising the early signs of breast cancer. Moreover, more than half of those surveyed (60%) would hesitate to seek medical advice for a variety of reasons, including embarrassment, fear and not having access to a regular doctor.

The survey also found a lack of knowledge when it comes to identifying signs and knowing the risks of breast cancer, which may be due to a lack of information  30% said that they haven't been given any information about changes to their breasts that could be a cause for concern. A quarter (25%) think that a lump is the only sign of breast cancer that can be identified without medical equipment. When asked to identify 10 common symptoms of breast cancer, only 2% managed to select all 10 correctly.[ii]

There is also low awareness of some of the important lifestyle factors that could prevent breast cancer, with almost two-thirds (64%) unaware that exercise could help lower the risk of developing breast cancer. Similarly, 63% of those surveyed do not know that alcohol consumption is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.

Over the last 25 years, Avon and the Avon Foundation for Women[iii] have donated more than US$800 million globally to breast cancer causes, educated 180 million women about this disease, and funded breast health screenings for nearly 20 million women.

The research comes as Avon launches its new Breast Cancer Promise, a renewed multi-year commitment to educating women about breast health that builds on its legacy of supporting the breast cancer cause. Avon will work with a host of educators, partners, health organisations and experts to deliver greater public awareness of breast cancer and make sure every woman knows how to take action.

Sheri McCoy, Avon CEO, said: "Early detection is crucial to fighting breast cancer, yet our survey found that women don't know their risks or what signs to look for. We want to change this lack of knowledge by using the power of our global network of women  6 million Avon Representatives and more than 26,000 Associates  and our breast cancer partners, to educate women. Our Promise outlines our long-term commitment to ensure every woman is breast health aware, every day."

Dr Paul Goss, Chairman of the Avon Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and Director of Breast Cancer Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, said: "These figures show just how much work still has to be done in raising awareness of breast cancer, particularly its signs, risks and how to act on concerns about it. Awareness is essential, since it ensures that breast cancer is detected at an early stage. Early detection is the most effective way of saving lives, it is crucial to tackling breast cancer."

The Avon Breast Cancer Promise will see the world's leading social selling company commit to:

Working in partnership with charities and breast cancer experts to activate the largest global movement focused on making sure everybody is aware of and understands their breast cancer risks.

Galvanising its network of six million Avon Representatives and using its brochures and digital tools to help 50 million women a year  250 million women over the next five years  recognise the early signs of breast cancer.

Helping every woman know when and where to seek medical advice, through connecting them with local health services and charities, or through Avon -funded helplines and mammogram screenings.

The Avon Breast Cancer Promise

Breast health aware. Every woman. Every day.

Early detection of breast cancer saves lives. At Avon, we believe that no woman should die because she was left in the dark about breast cancer.

Too many women still don't know enough about this disease. Join us to help change this.

Together we will

help every woman know the risks

so, no matter her age, she understands the risks of developing breast cancer, and what she can do to manage them.

help every woman know the signs

so she knows what breast health means for her, and can recognise the early signs of breast cancer.

help every woman know how to take action

so she can seek help and medical advice when it's needed.

Join us.

Avon. Beauty for a Purpose.

For more information, go to: www.avoncompany.com/breast-cancer-crusade

About Avon Products, Inc.

Avon is the Company that for 130 years has proudly stood for beauty, innovation, optimism and, above all, women. Avon products include well-recognized and beloved brands such as ANEW, Avon Color, Avon Care, Skin-So-Soft, and Advance Techniques sold through nearly 6 million active independent Avon Sales Representatives.

[i] Avon surveyed more than 19,000 people from 15 countries in which it operates  including Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Turkey and the UK  on their knowledge of breast cancer and the disease's risks.

[ii] Breast Cancer Awareness Measure developed by Cancer Research UK, King's College London and University College London in 2009 and validated with the support of Breast Cancer Care and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

[iii] The Avon Foundation for Women is the world's largest corporate-affiliated philanthropy focused on issues that matter most to women. Since its inception in 1955, the Avon Foundation has promoted or aided charitable, scientific, educational, and humanitarian activities, with a special emphasis on activities that improve the lives of women and their families. Through 2016, Avon and the Avon Foundation have contributed over $1 billion in over 50 countries. Today, Avon global philanthropy programs focus on funding breast cancer research and advancing access to quality care through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and efforts to reduce domestic and gender violence through its Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program. Visit www.avonfoundation.org for more information.

SOURCE Avon Products, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.avon.com


STAINES-UPON-THAMES, United Kingdom, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced it closed the acquisition of InfaCare Pharmaceutical Corporation, a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company focused on development and commercialization of proprietary pharmaceuticals for neonatal and pediatric patient populations. If approved, InfaCare's developmental product stannsoporfin is expected to become the first and only pharmacologic option indicated for treatment of neonates at risk for developing severe hyperbilirubinemia, or severe jaundice.

"The addition of stannsoporfin further expands and diversifies Mallinckrodt's pediatric pipeline, and will add strength and breadth to our Specialty Brands business," said Mark Trudeau, Chief Executive Officer at Mallinckrodt. "There is an urgent need for therapies to treat thousands of infants at risk for serious illness or death due to severe jaundice, and Mallinckrodt is committed to bringing stannsoporfin to this population as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Mallinckrodt has made an upfront payment of $80 million, with additional payments of up to $345 million dependent on regulatory and sales milestones. Mallinckrodt expects the acquisition to be dilutive to adjusted diluted earnings per share by $0.15 to $0.20 for 2017 and modestly higher in 2018. Guidance on the impact of the acquisition to the company's GAAP1 diluted earnings per share has not been provided due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of items that would be included in calculating such impact.

ABOUT SEVERE HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA AND STANNSOPORFIN

In the U.S., the total number of term births is estimated at 3.7 million per year2,3 and, of those, approximately 750,0004 infants are treated for jaundice. Of those treated, a significant number may be unresponsive to phototherapy  the current standard of care  even with extended and repeated courses of the treatment5 and face the risk of developing severe jaundice prior to discharge. A small percentage of full-term infants may experience elevated bilirubin levels after discharge and be at risk of severe jaundice6, requiring hospital readmission. It is anticipated stannsoporfin could reduce the incidence of readmission. The combined potential patient treatments required annually in the U.S. for severe jaundice is approximately 70,000 to 125,000.

Stannsoporfin, a heme oxygenase inhibitor, is under investigation for its potential to reduce the production of bilirubin. If approved, stannsoporfin is expected to be a highly effective therapy used for near- and full-term infants at risk of developing complications associated with severe jaundice. This new treatment option may reduce the number of newborns advancing to bilirubin levels requiring more intrusive, less specific therapies, most often blood exchange transfusion and less frequently intravenous immunoglobululin infusions (IVIG), both of which have a more complex and lengthy administration than stannsoporfin's single injection. Stannsoporfin, if approved, may also decrease the risks associated with other treatments (e.g., bilirubin rebound) and the risk of prolonged and/or severe bilirubin elevation, which can impact central nervous system development.

ABOUT MALLINCKRODT

Mallinckrodt is a global business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. Areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; and analgesics and hemostasis products. The company's core strengths include the acquisition and management of highly regulated raw materials and specialized chemistry, formulation and manufacturing capabilities. The company's Specialty Brands segment includes branded medicines and its Specialty Generics segment includes specialty generic drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and external manufacturing. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release references adjusted diluted earnings per share, which is considered a "non-GAAP" financial measure under applicable SEC rules and regulations.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share represent adjusted net income divided by the number of diluted shares. Adjusted net income represents amounts, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP), adjusted for certain items (on an after-tax basis) that management believes are not reflective of the operational performance of the business. Adjustments to GAAP amounts include restructuring and related charges, net; amortization and impairment charges; discontinued operations; acquisition-related expenses, changes in fair value of contingent consideration obligations; inventory step-up expenses; significant legal and environmental charges ; pension settlement charges; recurrent cash tax payments to the IRS associated with internal installment sales transactions; and other items identified by the company.

The company has provided these adjusted financial measures because they are used by management, along with financial measures in accordance with GAAP, to evaluate the company's operating performance. In addition, the company believes that they will be used by certain investors to measure Mallinckrodt's operating results. Management believes that presenting these adjusted measures provides useful information about the company's performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that the company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance.

These adjusted measures should be considered supplemental to and not a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company's definition of these adjusted measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by others.

Because adjusted financial measures exclude the effect of items that will increase or decrease the company's reported results of operations, management strongly encourages investors to review the company's consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety.

Cautionary Statements Related to Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this document that are not strictly historical, including statements regarding future financial condition and operating results, economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Mallinckrodt's businesses and any other statements regarding events or developments that we believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, may be "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

There are a number of important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. These factors include risks and uncertainties related to, among other things: general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which Mallinckrodt operates; the commercial success of Mallinckrodt's products; Mallinckrodt's ability to realize anticipated growth, synergies and cost savings from acquisitions (including the InfaCare acquisition); conditions that could necessitate an evaluation of Mallinckrodt's goodwill and/or intangible assets for possible impairment; changes in laws and regulations; Mallinckrodt's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions of operations, technology, products and businesses generally and to realize anticipated growth, synergies and cost savings (including with respect to the InfaCare acquisition); Mallinckrodt's ability to successfully develop or commercialize new products; Mallinckrodt's ability to protect intellectual property rights; Mallinckrodt's ability to receive procurement and production quotas granted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; customer concentration; Mallinckrodt's reliance on certain individual products that are material to its financial performance; cost containment efforts of customers, purchasing groups, third-party payers and governmental organizations; the reimbursement practices of a small number of public or private insurers; pricing pressure on certain of Mallinckrodt's products due to legal changes or changes in insurers' reimbursement practices resulting from recent increased public scrutiny of healthcare and pharmaceutical costs; limited clinical trial data for H.P. Acthar Gel; complex reporting and payment obligations under healthcare rebate programs; Mallinckrodt's ability to navigate price fluctuations; future changes to U.S. and foreign tax laws; Mallinckrodt's ability to achieve expected benefits from restructuring activities; complex manufacturing processes; competition; product liability losses and other litigation liability; ongoing governmental investigations; material health, safety and environmental liabilities; retention of key personnel; conducting business internationally; the effectiveness of information technology infrastructure; and cybersecurity and data leakage risks.

These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" sections of Mallinckrodt's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONTACTS

Investor Relations

Coleman N. Lannum, CFA

Senior Vice President, Investor Strategy and IRO

314-654-6649

[email protected]

Daniel J. Speciale, CPA

Director, Investor Relations

314-654-3638

[email protected]

Media

Rhonda Sciarra

Senior Communications Manager

908-238-6765

[email protected]

Meredith Fischer

Chief Public Affairs Officer

314-654-3318

[email protected]







1Accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. 2https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db258.pdf 3https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/births.htm 4HCUP (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project) KID Data 5Mallinckrodt market research/management projections 6http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/04/03/peds.2012-2634

SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc

Related Links

http://www.mallinckrodt.com


In this new position, Jones will be responsible for the management and development of the marketing team at the company. He will bring his nearly 20 years' experience in the Direct Sales, finance and International logistics industries to both the marketing and executive teams to continue supplying first-class products and services to the many loyal customers around the world.

"We are excited to bring Stephen onto the Kannaway executive team as the new Chief Marketing Officer and we are more than confident that he has the experience and skills required to drive the positive momentum our company has in the ever-expanding cannabinoid market," said Kannaway CEO Blake Schroeder. "We know that with his extensive history of experience he is a perfect fit towards further expanding the Company into new markets."

"Once in a generation you have an opportunity to join a team of people who are going to fundamentally change the world," said Jones. "Joining the team at Kannaway is a dream come true. I could not be more excited about the positive impacts that we are going to make in the lives of customers around the world."

Stephen Jones is a highly motivated marketing professional ready to make a positive impact in both the greater San Diego Area community and the world.

About Kannaway, LLC

Kannaway, LLC is a network sales and marketing company specializing in the sales and marketing of hemp-based botanical products. Kannaway currently hosts weekly online sales meetings and conferences across the United States, offering unique insight and opportunity to sales professionals who are desirous of becoming successful leaders in the sale and marketing of hemp-based botanical products.

About Medical Marijuana, Inc.

We are a company of firsts. Our mission is to be the premier cannabis and hemp industry innovators, leveraging our team of professionals to source, evaluate and purchase value-added companies and products, while allowing them to keep their integrity and entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to create awareness within our industry, develop environmentally-friendly, economically sustainable businesses, while increasing shareholder value. For details on Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s portfolio and investment companies, visit www.medicalmarijuanainc.com.

To see Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s video statement, click here.

Shareholders are also encouraged to visit the Medical Marijuana, Inc. Shop for discounted products.

FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER AND DISCLOSURES

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties.

The statements in this press release have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. The Company does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act. The Company does sell and distribute hemp-based products.

CONTACT:

Public Relations Contact:

Andrew Hard

Chief Executive Officer

CMW Media

P: 888-829- 0070

[email protected]

www.cmwmedia.com

SOURCE Medical Marijuana, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com


TORONTO and HOUSTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. ("Medicenna" or the "Company") (TSX: MDNA), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, today announced that Dr. John Sampson M.D., Ph.D. MBA, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Duke University Medical Centre will present at a Late Breaking Session during the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Annual Meeting to be held from October 7-11, 2017 in Boston, MA.

The oral presentation by Dr. Sampson will provide an interim safety and tolerability evaluation of high flow convection enhanced delivery (CED) of the targeted immunotherapy MDNA55 in an early cohort of patients from the ongoing Phase 2b clinical study for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma, the most common and deadly form of brain cancer.

The details of the presentation are as follows:

Title: Real time, image guided high flow CED in recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM); initial experience from phase II study of a targeted immunotherapy, MDNA55 (cpIL-4PE) Date: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 Time: 7:48 AM Session: Late Breaking Abstract Session Session ID: 250 (sub session 250-90) Location: 258B  Boston Convention and Exhibition Center

About Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.

Medicenna is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing novel highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines and first in class Empowered Cytokines (ECs). Its wholly owned subsidiary, Houston-based Medicenna BioPharma, is specifically targeting the Interleukin-4 Receptor (IL4R), which is over-expressed by at least 20 different types of cancer affecting more than one million new cancer patients every year. Medicenna's lead IL4-EC, MDNA55 is enrolling patients in a CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas) funded Phase 2b clinical trial for rGBM at leading brain cancer centres in the US. MDNA55 has completed 3 clinical trials in 72 patients, including 66 adults with rGBM, demonstrated compelling efficacy and obtained Fast-Track and Orphan Drug status from USFDA. Unlike most other cancer therapies, Medicenna's IL4-ECs have the potential to purge both the tumor and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, offering a unique treatment paradigm for a large majority of cancer patients.

For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com.

For further information This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company and others are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the risks detailed in the annual information form of the Company dated June 15, 2017 and in other filings made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from time to time.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.
MIAMI, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Formerly known as 5 Diamond Management And Real Estate, Miami's leading real estate company announces its new name, Stratwell. The company, which was founded by Eddie Blanco in 2008, is a full-service real estate firm serving the South Florida region, with over 300 transactions per year.

"The decision to change our company name was a difficult one," says Blanco. "We weighed the pros and cons, but ultimately we believe we have outgrown the name 5 Diamond Management and Real Estate. We are taking on a new look, a new name and a fresh approach to our real estate business."

This updated branding reflects the company's philosophy of "strategy done well." Since Blanco and his partner Isael Prieto have sold over $650 million in real estate, they know what buyers want, and, as a result, utilize a proven process to design a strategy to help the client achieve their objectives. Stratwell's expertise is working with home sellers, with an emphasis on long-term goals, carefully planned transactions and customer satisfaction.

"The residential real estate business is not just about selling homes," notes Prieto. "It's about people and relationships. We are hyper-focused on relationships with our team, our clients and our community. It's rewarding to see the impact that we have had on each other's lives."

Since selling a home can be a difficult, confusing and emotional process, Blanco, Prieto and their team of brokers advocate on behalf of their clients. This familial, caring approach is one of the main factors that distinguish Stratwell from other local real estate companies.

"Stratwell is a culmination of all that we are, all that we've done and all of the lives that we've impacted," says Blanco. "Plus, a vision for what is possible."

For more information, please contact 305-403-6430 or email [email protected].

Related Images

image1.png

Stratwell Logo

image2.jpg

5 Diamond Management and Real estate

image3.jpg

Eddie Blanco - Founder

image4.jpg

Isael Prieto - Managing Partner

Related Video

https://vimeo.com/235366864

SOURCE Stratwell LLC
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism today released the first-of-its-kind study titled The New Normal: Parents, Teens and Digital Devices in Japan, based on a comprehensive survey of 1,200 teens and parents in Japan revealing that many teens and parents feel digital devices are a source of concern, anxiety and conflict. Conducted last April, this is the first such study of teens and families in Japan, where 90% of parents and teens own a smart phone, and the first to compare those insights to existing U.S. data from Common Sense Media, a leading independent nonprofit, on digital media use among families in North America.

A key finding from the new research is the degree to which Japanese teens and parents feel distracted by  and even feel addicted to  their mobile device. In the survey, parents and teens were asked about their own media habits, and to reflect on the habits of their family members. When asked about their children ages 13-18, most parents say they feel their teens are addicted to mobile devices  and many indicate that they feel addicted themselves. In fact, 1 in 3 teens in both countries think their parents are addicted to their mobile devices.

"Advances in digital media and mobile devices are changing the way we engage not only with the world around us, but also with the people who are the closest to us," said Willow Bay, dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. "These shifts are happening faster and more dramatically than any change in recent history. To truly understand their impact on our relationships, we needed to dig deeper into the media habits and attitudes of parents and teens."

In addition to tracking addiction, distraction and conflict, the study also explored questions related to the potential benefits of device use, as well as ubiquity and usage. The trends uncovered in Japan often mirror the results of two similar studies conducted in 2016 in the United States by Common Sense Media. Specifically, the comparative study found:

Feeling Addicted . In Japan (45%) and in the U.S. (50%), one out of every two teens feel addicted to their devices and the majority of parents (61/59%) agree that their teens are addicted. Notably, a higher percentage of Japanese parents (38%) than American parents (27%) feel addicted themselves.

Source of Distraction . When asked if their devices are a source of distraction, 72% of American teens say they feel the need to immediately respond to texts, social-networking messages, and other notifications  a number that is significantly higher than the percentage of Japanese teens (48%). Although their numbers are still significant, Japanese parents and teens are less likely to feel that the other gets distracted by mobile devices than do families in America.

Conflict and Worry . Data showed that digital devices are a greater source of conflict among teens and parents in the U.S. than in Japan. Here, 1 in 3 families have an argument every day. More teens in America also feel that mobile device use has hurt their relationship with their parents. In Japan, more parents (almost 1:4) feel their family relationships have been hurt by mobile device use.

Benefits of Mobile Devices . A cultural difference illuminated by the USC Annenberg study was the level to which families see the benefits of mobile devices. Compared to just 25% of Japanese parents, results from similar 2016 studies in the U.S. indicate most American parents (88%) have an optimistic view of the benefits of technology, including mobile devices, in terms of helping their children acquire new skills.

"Digital devices are changing the way we interact with each other and it is important to understand the impact that is having on family relationships," said James Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense. "Both in Japan and the U.S., we have found that that kids and parents feel addicted to their devices, that it is causing daily conflict in homes, and that families are concerned about the consequences. It is important to continue to study and talk about these issues so that parents understand they are not alone and that there is information available to help them make smart choices for their families."

"Our study raises some critical questions about the impact of digital devices in family life," said Dean Willow Bay. "And while the cultural nuances may vary from country to country, this is clearly a global issue."

Read more about the report in a piece published today by the Conversation, authored by Dean Bay: http://theconversation.com/teens-and-parents-in-japan-and-us-agree-mobile-devices-are-an-ever-present-distraction-84325

About the Report

The New Normal: Parents, Teens and Digital Devices is based on an April 2017 national online survey conducted on behalf of USC Annenberg in Japan by Dentsu Macromill Insight (DMI). It details the media habits and attitudes of Japanese parents and teens age 13 to 18. The survey was conducted among parents in Japan with at least one child in middle or high school who own a mobile phone and uses it at least once a week. Participants who opted into DMI's database were randomly selected after being screened for eligibility criteria. The sample included children age 13 to 18 (n=600) and their parents (n=600). The sample distribution was weighed by age group. Once collected, the data was compared to the results of a 2016 Common Sense Media research briefs conducted in the United States titled "The Common Sense Census: Plugged-In Parents of Tweens and Teens" and "Technology Addiction".

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense is committed to making kids the nation's top priority. We are a trusted guide for the families, educators, and advocates who help kids thrive. We provide resources to harness the power of media, technology, and public policy to improve the well-being of every child.

About the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Located in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism is a global leader in education and scholarship in the fields of communication, journalism, public diplomacy and public relations. With an enrollment of more than 2,200 students, USC Annenberg offers doctoral, master's and bachelor's degree programs, as well as continuing development programs for working professionals across a broad scope of academic inquiry. The school's comprehensive curriculum emphasizes the core skills of communication leadership, innovation, service and entrepreneurship and draws upon the resources of a networked university located in the media capital of the world.

For more information, please contact:

Gretchen Parker McCartney

USC Annenberg

Tel: 213-740-6302

[email protected]

Lisa Cohen

Common Sense Media

Tel. 310-395-2544

[email protected]

SOURCE USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Nintex Hawkeye enables businesses to quickly analyze, optimize, and govern the digital processes they have automated with the Nintex Workflow Platform . The latest innovation in Hawkeye is the Inventory Lens, a pre-built dashboard that provides actionable insight to business and IT leaders to optimize automated processes.

With Nintex Hawkeye, virtually anyone in the business can unlock the benefits of business process intelligence using the same no code, drag-and-drop design approach as the entire Nintex Workflow Platform, and without reliance on IT.

"It's a business axiom that you can't manage what you don't measure," says Nintex CTO Alain Gentilhomme. "At Nintex, we take that a step further  you can't optimize what you don't measure. If enterprises don't start moving beyond process automation to focus on optimization, they will not progress on the digital transformation journey."

Myriad Technologies Founder and CTO James Milne, winner of the 2017 Nintex Partner Award for Process Intelligence, says, "We see the immediate value our customers receive when we design and deliver automated processes with the Nintex Workflow Platform. The addition of the new Inventory Lens for Nintex Hawkeye, adds yet another powerful tool for our enterprise customers as they take the next step in process automation to process optimization."

One of Myriad and Nintex's premier customers is Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC), a regional authority in New Zealand, responsible for natural resource knowledge and management. Myriad has helped HBRC to utilize the full capabilities of the Nintex platform to deliver business solutions and realize immediate efficiencies.

"We've become more agile as a business; paperwork is now digitized, business processes are streamlined, and day-to-day processes are automated to make our staff more efficient," says Anthony Gouder, Digital Transformation Team Lead for Hawke's Bay Regional Council. "By automating our processes with Nintex workflows and forms and optimizing them with Nintex Hawkeye, we have freed up about six full-time equivalent positions, which allows our staff to focus on more important strategic work like the impact climate change will have on our regions resources."

Advance Preview for the new Inventory Lens will start in October, with general availability following in November. The Inventory Lens will deliver significant innovation in process governance of the Nintex Workflow Platform. This lens gives Nintex customers deep visibility into their automated processes, including process performance and runtime characteristics, so they can make informed management decisions. Process optimization often requires answers to not just one question but dozens. Accordingly, in its initial release, the Inventory Lens addresses three main topics:

Governance  know where, how often, and how smoothly workflows are running, across all environments to know which ones require attention.

Assess Expertise  understand workflow ownership and designer proficiency throughout the organization.

Workflow Status  discover the reach and impact of workflows, then drill into specifics of action usage and status trends.

"Many organizations have little knowledge about how many processes and workflows they use to run their business, much less how well they are performing," says Carl Lehmann Principal Analyst at 451 Research. "Tools like the Nintex Hawkeye Inventory Lens provide the visibility needed to enable awareness and help improve business operations."

Nintex Hawkeye Brings Process Automation Data to Life

The Inventory Lens for Nintex Hawkeye sets a new bar in self-service analytics, one of the most important trends in business intelligence today. It gives people throughout the enterprise enhanced ability to analyze, optimize, and govern business process performance. With the power of process intelligence available at the click of a mouse, information workers no longer have to immerse themselves in data, build custom reports, or consult business intelligence gurus for answers.

Nintex Hawkeye lets users easily connect workflow data and share intelligent dashboards using best-in-class visualization tools. Customers can easily extend Nintex Hawkeye to leading business intelligence tools such as Microsoft Power BI and customize Power BI dashboards in order to visualize the data that best suits their needs.

The new Inventory Lens joins the two existing Hawkeye pre-built dashboards: the Usage Lens, which provides an aggregated view of an organization's use of the Nintex Workflow Platform across all environments, and the Process Intelligence Lens, which enables customers to add the business context unique to their organizational processes and truly understand business impact. Together, all three Lenses affords Nintex customers the insights to get the most out of their existing automated digital processes, as well as identify other workflows well suited for automation.

To learn more about Nintex Hawkeye visit www.Nintex.com/hawkeye or see Nintex representatives at Microsoft Ignite, booth #1301 during Expo Hours from September 25-29 in Orlando, who will be demonstrating Nintex Hawkeye in action.

Media Contact

Kristin Treat

Nintex Public Relations

[email protected]

Cell: (215) 317-9091

About Nintex

Nintex is the recognized global leader in workflow and content automation (WCA) with more than 7,000 enterprise clients and 1,700 partners in 90 countries who have built and published millions of workflow applications. With its unmatched breadth of capability and platform support delivered by unique architectural capabilities, Nintex empowers the line of business and IT departments to quickly automate hundreds of manual processes to progress on the journey to digital transformation. Nintex Workflow Cloud, the company's cloud platform, connects with all content repositories, systems of record, and people to consistently fuel successful business outcomes. Visit www.nintex.com to learn more.

Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Nintex

Related Links

http://www.nintex.com


IMMOKALEE, Fla., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Grassroots Alliance, a national non-profit organization committed to supporting communities in crisis has launched a disaster relief effort in Immokalee, Florida to provide food, water, and other basic services to disadvantaged communities most impacted by Hurricane Irma. The Grassroots Alliance, a collective effort of activists involved in communities associated with Burning Man and other festivals have started a disaster relief kitchen called the Grassroots Alliance Cafe with the goal of providing free meals. The effort started on September 21, 2017.

"We have set up the Grassroots Alliance Cafe in Immokalee, an area that has been heavily impacted by Hurricane Irma and is a majority migrant community that is often over looked by state and federal government support," says Justin Baker, Executive Director of Grassroots Alliance. "Our mission is to serve as many as 6,000 high quality meals per day and provide water, and other basic services. We welcome volunteers and donations of food and other supplies."

The Grassroots Alliance has partnered with leading natural food brands and other companies to provide food donations, as well as financial and material support to run their relief efforts. The project has been made possible by the coming together of activists, businesses, and local community groups who've laid the groundwork for the outpouring of support to have a direct impact on the ground.

"The Immokalee community is glad to have the Grassroots Alliance Cafe and volunteers come to support our hardworking community of farmworkers in the wake of Hurricane Irma," says Santiago Perez, member of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. "The outpouring of solidarity that we have felt here in the past couple of weeks shows that Immokalee and the farmworkers who harvest this country's crops are not alone and not forgotten. The delicious food and direct assistance is greatly appreciated and we look forward to building deep and lasting ties between our communities."

Companies supporting the relief effort include Amy's Kitchen, Clif Bar, Dr. Bronner's, Organic Valley, Patagonia, Pacific Domes, Stonyfield, and other brands.

"Dr. Bronner's is proud to support this important effort by the Grassroots Alliance," says David Bronner, CEO of top-selling natural soap brand, Dr. Bronner's. "We have upgraded a 48' kitchen trailer, procured equipment, and are financing key staff on the ground to set up and manage the operation while coordinating with local community organizers and volunteers. In times of crisis, it's awesome to see our partners in this effort step up and put progressive values into action. And they are also donating to relief efforts in Houston and Mexico, as is Dr. Bronner's. This effort truly embodies the "All-One" spirit and message of my granddad's vision."

Among the other leading natural product industry leaders who have joined Dr. Bronner's in supporting this relief effort are family owned Amy's Kitchen, who has donated 150,000 cans of soup. Organic Valley is also closely involved, with key staff helping to coordinate efforts on the ground, in addition to donating substantial quantities of food to the effort. Patagonia has donated over 10,000 servings of their Patagonia Provisions line of dehydrated organic soups and cereals, while Clif Bar has contributed 10,000 bars to supply the kitchen. Other brands and organizations continue to sign on in support of this effort as well.

"Grassroots Alliance's vision in working with partners like Burners Without Borders and Dr. Bronner's is to leverage assets and volunteers in the Burning Man community and natural products industry, to deploy a quick and turnkey response in the form of a disaster relief kitchen, not just for this but for future disasters and moments of crisis," says Matt Atwood, co-founder of the Grassroots Alliance. "This is our first major effort and we will be learning and building from here in order to better serve communities in need."

Grassroots Alliance was co-founded by Matt Atwood, Justin Baker, and others. Baker is also the founder of Conscious Alliance. Since its formation in 2002, Conscious Alliance has provided more than two million meals to impoverished communities across the US. In 2005, Conscious Alliance teamed up with New Waveland Cafe to distribute thousands of meals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was this experience that laid the groundwork for Grassroots Alliance's involvement in disaster relief. Grassroots Alliance aims to not only feed the needy in the local community on a day-to-day basis but to have a fully mobile disaster relief unit that will be able to provide meals for those in communities that have been struck by catastrophe.

For more on information on Grassroots Alliance, please visit: http://www.grassrootsalliance.org.

Dr. Bronner's is a family business committed to honoring the vision of founder Emanuel Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating profits to help make a better world. Dr. Bronner's commitment to social justice, environmental sustainability and progressive business practices is part of the company's mission to put into practice the principles that inform the philosophy printed on the company's iconic soap labels written by founder Emanuel Bronner. The company is the top-selling natural soap maker in North America and a major brand worldwide. Based on 2015 sales, a bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap was sold, on average, every 3 seconds throughout the year.

For more information on Dr. Bronner's, please visit: http://www.drbronner.com.

SOURCE Dr. Bronners

Related Links

http://www.drbronner.com/


ATLANTA, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Management consulting firm North Highland, in sponsorship with Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, released a survey report titled Building Resilience From Disruption. To find out how organizations around the world and in a variety of sectors are addressing the reality of continuous change, executives at nearly 500 companies reporting $1 billion-plus in annual revenue were surveyed about how they promote resilience within their companies.

Resilience enables individuals at all levels to reduce stress and perform well under it, learn continuously, and keep work and life balanced. Yet, only 12 percent of survey respondents said they consider their organization's efforts at promoting a culture of resilience to be successful or very successful. With more than three-quarters (78 percent) of respondents indicating they want their organization to minimize disruption from continuous organizational change, it is important to have a framework to prioritize ways for employees to find ongoing success.

"When change is swirling and the going gets tough, nothing  not experience or education or even talent  is as critical to an organization's survival and success as the resilience of its workforce," said Mary Slaughter, Chief People Officer and Managing Director at North Highland. "By gaining a deeper understanding of how resilience begins, how it is fostered, and, conversely, how it can be undermined, organizations can best prepare to take advantage of market opportunities and remain strong in the face of continuous change."

Several actionable insights emerged from the survey that best illustrate ways to keep employees engaged, focused and empowered during times of disruption.

Simplifying organizational structure and giving employees more time to focus on value-adding activities is crucial as almost three-quarters of respondents (72 percent) complained that excessive multitasking and an overload of meetings are common.

90 percent of respondents said their organization should adopt technologies that automate routine work, freeing employees to focus more on the creative aspects of their jobs and combating time intensive administrative work.

De-siloing and leveling hierarchies also diffuse decision-making among a larger population, creating a wider set of organizational leaders. 96 percent of respondents said they support empowering teams to make decisions on their own and 94 percent believe in promoting a sense of autonomy.

Initiating programs and processes that encourage resilience is the easy part, however; sustaining them can be trickier and must be recognized as an organization-wide project if it's to succeed. To learn more about how to create a strong, sustainable culture of resilience, download the complete white paper here.

Media Contact

Jennifer Marsh

404-975-6335

[email protected]

About North Highland

North Highland is a global management consulting firm known for helping clients solve their most complex challenges related to customer experience, transformation, performance improvement, and technology and digital. We add value and support our clients across the full spectrum of consulting, from strategy through delivery. We bring the big ideas, then we make them real. North Highland is an employee-owned firm, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., with more than 3,000 consultants worldwide and 60+ offices around the globe, and has been named as a "Best Firm to Work For" every year since 2007 by Consulting Magazine. The firm is a member of Cordence Worldwide (www.cordenceworldwide.com), a global management consulting alliance. For more information, visit northhighland.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

About Harvard Business Review Analytic Services

Harvard Business Review Analytic Services is an independent commercial research unit within Harvard Business Review Group, conducting research and comparative analysis on important management challenges and emerging business opportunities. Seeking to provide business intelligence and peer-group insight, each report is published based on the findings of original quantitative and/or qualitative research and analysis. Quantitative surveys are conducted with the HBR Advisory Council, HBR's global research panel, and qualitative research is conducted with senior business executives and subject matter experts from within and beyond the Harvard Business Review author community. For more information, visit hbr.org/hbr-analytic-services.

SOURCE North Highland

Related Links

http://www.northhighland.com


TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iLOOKABOUT Corp. (TSXV:ILA) (iLOOKABOUT or the Company) today announced that it has launched its newest product, the GeoViewport (GVP) Mobile Appraiser, at the opening of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) 2017 Conference currently being held in Las Vegas, Nevada. GVP Mobile Appraiser rounds out the iLOOKABOUT software suite aimed at the property assessment marketplace.



Designed to facilitate physical property inspections, the GVP Mobile Appraiser provides automated task management for data collection, optimized routing, real-time navigation to support data entry, sketch review and photo capture capabilities. In combination with the additional features of geo-location recording, geo-controlled data entry and user labeling and notation, the GVP Mobile Appraiser offers significant productivity enhancements to the workflow of the in-field appraiser. GVP Mobile Appraiser is both cross-browser and cross-device compatible.

The GVP Mobile Appraiser has incorporated input from a number of County Government Property Appraisal Offices who are technology leaders in the industry, remarked Jeff Young, iLOOKABOUTs President, As a client focused organization, iLOOKABOUT has a history of developing software to meet the evolving needs of the assessment marketplace, and we are confident that our expanded platform will significantly improve staff productivity of Property Assessors Offices.

The GVP Mobile Appraiser significantly improves the customer experience with one of our key applications and we look forward to helping our clients meet their needs with this new enhanced product offering, said Laurence Rose, Chief Executive Officer of iLOOKABOUT.

iLOOKABOUT is booking appointments for personal demonstrations of GVP Mobile Appraiser at Booth #229 during the IAAO conference.

About iLOOKABOUT

iLOOKABOUT is a software, data analytics and visual intelligence company focused on real property. The Company primarily serves the property assessment, property taxation, municipal, insurance, and appraisal sectors, both public and private, in North America. iLOOKABOUT provides powerful data analytics to the real estate industry through its Real Property Tax Analytics software offering. The Companys proprietary StreetScapeTM imagery and real property focused web-based application, GeoViewPort, unifies property related data and enables desktop review of properties. iLOOKABOUT has integrated analytics and workflow management applications into GeoViewPortTM which create highly valued service offerings for its clients. To augment its technology based offerings, the Company provides real estate consulting services, with a focus on the Property Tax and Valuation sectors.

iLOOKABOUTs common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ILA.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
TRENTON, N.J., Sept. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The following release was issued today by The Notice Company, Inc.:

A Settlement has been reached in the lawsuit entitled Gray v. Board of Education of the Township of Hamilton, Mercer County, No. MER-L-747-14, pending in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Mercer County. Visit www.HamiltonRetirees.com for complete information.

What Is This Case About?

The lawsuit alleges that the Hamilton Township Board of Education ("Board") breached its obligations to make cash payments in lieu of prescription drug coverage to certain retirees, and in some instances to their dependents, by stopping such payments, and that this benefit is owed to Class Members both retroactively and prospectively. The parties have agreed to settle, but the Settlement does not constitute an admission of any liability by any party.

Who is Included in the Settlement?

"Class Members" included in the Settlement consist of five Subclasses:

Subclass "A" consists of the Administrators/Supervisors defined as follows: All retired employees that were formerly employed by the Hamilton Township Board of Education pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement with the Hamilton Township Administrators and Supervisors Association and retired from the Board on or before July 1, 2011, and the dependents of such employees. These employees and their dependents received annual cash payments in lieu of the prescription drug coverage pursuant to the terms of Article 4,  11.2 of the parties' collective bargaining agreement, and their payments stopped in breach of the collective bargaining agreement in or about July 2011 for the dependents of the Association retirees who had declared single coverage; in or about July 2012 for all the dependents of the Association retirees; and in or around July 2013 to all Association retires.

Subclass "B" consists of Hamilton Township Education Association ("HTEA") members who contracted to receive the annual maximum in prescription drug copayments as provided by the School Employees' Health Benefits Program ("SEHBP") and defined as follows: All retired employees that were formerly employed by the Hamilton Township Board of Education and were employed pursuant to collective bargaining agreements with the Hamilton Township Education Association and retired from the Board on or before July 1, 2012. These employees received annual cash payments in lieu of the prescription drug coverage pursuant to the terms of the parties' collective bargaining agreements, and their payments stopped in or around July 2013.

Subclass "C" consists of Hamilton Township School Secretaries Association ("HTSSA") members who contracted to receive the annual maximum in prescription drug copayments as provided by the SEHBP and defined as follows: All retired employees that were formerly employed by the Hamilton Township Board of Education and were employed pursuant to collective bargaining agreements with the Hamilton Township School Secretaries Association and retired from the Board on or before July 1, 2011. These employees received annual cash payments in lieu of the prescription drug coverage pursuant to the terms of the parties' collective bargaining agreements, and their payments stopped in or around July 2013.

Subclass "D" consists of HTEA members who contracted to receive a defined payment of $500.00 per year and defined as follows: All retired employees that were formerly employed by the Hamilton Township Board of Education and were employed pursuant to collective bargaining agreements with the Hamilton Township Education Association and retired from the Board on or before July 1, 2012. These employees received annual cash payments of $500.00 per year in lieu of the prescription drug coverage pursuant to the terms of the parties' collective bargaining agreements, and their payments stopped in or around July 2013.

Subclass "E" consists of HTSSA members who contracted to receive a defined payment of $500.00 per year and defined as follows: All retired employees that were formerly employed by the Hamilton Township Board of Education and were employed pursuant to collective bargaining agreements with the Hamilton Township School Secretaries Association and retired from the Board on or before July 1, 2011. These employees received annual cash payments of $500.00 in lieu of the prescription drug coverage pursuant to the terms of the parties' collective bargaining agreements, and their payments stopped in or around July 2013.

What Does the Settlement Provide?

The Board has agreed to pay $17,000,000 to the members of all 5 subclasses as a total The Board has agreed to pay $17,000,000 to the members of all 5 subclasses as a total settlement. Payment of $4,000,000, representing past payments due, will be paid in two payments. The first half will be paid within thirty (30) days of entry of the Final Approval Order (if the Settlement is approved by the Court) and the second half will be paid in or around January 2018. These payments are intended to result in all class members being paid the amounts they would have received if they were paid through December 31, 2017 (if the benefit had not been stopped). The $13,000,000 in remaining settlement monies will be paid in prospective payments over a ten (10) year period, with one (1) payment made at the beginning of each year, the first of which will be made in in January 2019, and the remaining payments made in January of each of the following nine years.

With respect to Class Members who died prior to January 1, 2017: The Board has agreed to pay to the each Class Member's estate the Class Member's share of the amounts due up until the date of death (for each year the member was alive on January 1 of a given year).

With respect to Class Members who died after January 1, 2017: The Board has agreed to pay to the Class Members estate both retroactive payments. All remaining prospective payments will be paid to the Class Members' estates on the same schedule (provided the Board is notified of the death by the estate's administrator).

With respect to Class Members who are dependents, once a dependent "ages out" (exceeds the age of 26 years), any retroactive payment remaining due shall cease.

What Are Your rights?

If you do nothing, Class Members will be bound by the Court's decisions. If you do not want the benefits of the Settlements and, instead, you want to keep your right to sue the Board (subject to applicable statutes of limitation), you must exclude yourself from the Settlement Class by writing to the Class Administrator at the following address:

Hamilton Exclusions

c/o The Notice Company

P.O. Box 455

Hingham, MA 02043

The Court will exclude from the Class any Class Member who submits a written exclusion request, which must be signed, dated and state that you are excluding yourself from the Class in the case of Gray v. Hamilton Township Board of Education, No. MER-L-747-14. To be valid, exclusion requests must be postmarked on or before OCTOBER 24, 2017.

If you do not exclude yourself, you may object to the Settlement, or enter an appearance through counsel, by filing an objection with the Court and sending copies to Class Counsel and Defendant's Counsel, as follows:

Clerk of the Superior Court

Mercer County Courthouse

P.O. Box 8068

Trenton, NJ 08650-0068

Class Counsel:

Richard A. Friedman, Esq.

Zazzali, Fagella, Nowak, Kleinbaum & Friedman, P.C.

150 West State Street

Trenton, NJ 08901

Robert M. Schwartz, Esq.

Schwartz Law Group, LLC

Monroe Office Center at Forsgate

12 Centre Drive

Monroe Township, NJ 08831

Defendant's Counsel:

Patrick F. Carrigg, Esq.

Lenox, Socey, Formidoni, Giordano, Cooley, Lang & Casey, LLC

136 Franklin Corner Road, Unit B-2

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

The deadline to file objections or a notice of appearance is OCTOBER 24, 2017.

When is the Final Hearing?

The Court will hold a hearing on DECEMBER 18, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at the Mercer County Courthouse, 175 South Broad Street, Trenton, New Jersey, to consider whether to approve the Settlements and a request for attorneys' fees. This date may change so please check the website. You or your own lawyer may appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense.

Should You Submit Updated Contact Information?

If you qualify as a Class Member but you are not sure if the Board has your current address, or if you are the authorized representative of the estate of a Class Member, you should complete a Contact Update Form available at www.HamiltonRetirees.com or by writing to the Class Administrator at the address shown below.

For More Information: Call toll free 1-800-921-7820, visit www.HamiltonRetirees.com, write to Class Counsel, or write to Hamilton Class Administrator, c/o The Notice Company, P.O. Box 455, Hingham, MA 02043.

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT

SOURCE The Notice Company

Related Links

http://www.hamiltonretirees.com


COLLEGE PARK, Md., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OmniSpeech LLC, a company that delivers superior voice quality in communication devices through its proprietary speech enhancement and noise reduction software, announces today that its OmniClearTM technology is included in the latest Alcatel MOVE TIME smart watch.

The MOVE TIME smart watch is the latest in Alcatel's lineup of wearable devices that make life easier for active people. In addition to fitness tracking, email and SMS functionality, the watch enables users to make and receive phone calls directly from the device. That's where OmniSpeech comes in.

"The wearable team performed extensive evaluations and trials of noise suppression solutions and determined that OmniClear is by far the best option in the business of voice clarity and echo cancelation," said Steve Cistulli, President and General Manager for TCL Communication (TCT), North America. "We are pleased to bring this innovative solution to market on the Move Time smartwatch, which was first released in Europe on 27 May 2017."

"We are pleased to see our technology employed in Alcatel's MOVE TIME smartwatch to enable high-quality voice communications," says OmniSpeech Founder Carol Espy-Wilson. "And our partnership with Alcatel is just a start. It's just the tip of an iceberg. Why? Because we fundamentally believe that we have a technology that can add significant, game-changing performance value to every phone, hearing aid, computer and car in the world!"

"Our distinct, single-microphone OmniClearTM software reduces dynamic noise in communication devices, performing on par with competing dual-mic solutions. In addition to enhancing speech, OmniClearTM lowers the volume of noise, which is often distorted by other solutions. These advantages come from our proprietary technology, which leverages decades of research on speech production, acoustics and perception."

The OmniClearTM software focuses on speech first.

"Our algorithm knows what speech looks like. It has specific characteristics," Espy-Wilson explains. "We use subtraction techniques and what is special about speech to recognize the speech signal and reduce everything that is not speech."

OmniSpeech's technology was developed at the University of Maryland by Espy-Wilson, a professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering and the Institute for Systems Research. OmniSpeech licensed the technology from the university.

Research leading to the development and improvement of OmniSpeech's technology was supported by: three National Science Foundation, Small Business Innovation Research, grants totaling $1 million; a phase I Small Business Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, grant for $224,000; a $5,000 TEDCO Techstart Grant; a $50,000 SAIC VentureAccelerator Award; $75,000 from TEDCO's Maryland Technology Transfer and Commercialization Fund (MTTCF); and a $135,000 Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program project award.

OmniSpeech also raised $2.5 million in angel investment funding to further develop both its product and the company, which now employs seven people full-time.

Espy-Wilson received an Invention of the Year Award from the University of Maryland Office of Technology Commercialization for her speech enhancement technology.

OmniSpeech has also developed a dual-microphone version of OmniClearTM, which yields even better voice quality in communication devices. The MOVE TIME smartwatch is a single-microphone device.

Alcatel is a mobile device brand of TCL Communication.

About OmniSpeech, LLC

OmniSpeech www.omni-speech.com is a software company that has developed an innovative speech extraction technology, called OmniClearTM, to solve the problem of noise and enhance vocal quality for communication devices. OmniClearTM is an ideal solution for mobile products, hearing aids, public safety digital radios, and smart devices powered by the "Internet of Things," which will make voice clarity, activation and instruction even more important in the future.

Contact: Carol Espy-Wilson, [email protected], (301) 405-7411

SOURCE OmniSpeech

Related Links

http://omni-speech.com


WASHINGTON, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

IFC's SME Finance Forum and Opportunity Network (ON) have agreed to collaborate to help small businesses form B2B partnerships, grow their business and expand to new markets.

The SME Finance Forum will invite its member banks catering to small businesses to join Opportunity Network's community of Trusted Partners. The banks in turn will nominate their most trusted and capable small business clients to join the network and post and respond to B2B deals worth $1 million and above. The Opportunity Network currently has over 14,000+ CEOs, referred through trusted financial institutions, and hosted over $80 billion in deals. ON's Trusted Partners include prestigious financial institutions and associations, such as Citizens Bank, London Stock Exchange Group, Caixa Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, Eurobank, YPO, and Dentons.

"The SME Finance Forum is very excited about this new partnership. ON's creative approach of using financial institutions as intermediaries to identify those SMEs most ready to take advantage of international market opportunities plays to our strengths in the SME Finance Forum. Hopefully we will be able to help ON accelerate its partnership building with those FIs for whom this platform best fits their SME sector growth strategy," says Matt Gamser, CEO of the SME Finance Forum.

"We are excited to establish a partnership with SME Finance Forum. With its broad network of financial institutions and industry associations in developing countries we see strong synergies in working together to facilitate trade and investment to support the underserved SME segment. The partnership will also drive digitalization of SME banking and strengthen our efforts to make the benefits of globalisation truly accessible to entrepreneurs and investors in emerging markets," says Brian Pallas, CEO & Founder of Opportunity Network.

About Opportunity Network

Opportunity Network (ON) is the community for select CEOs and private investors to grow their businesses worldwide. ON includes over 14,400 CEOs from 113 countries and a total transaction flow of over $84B. ON members post or directly connect to actionable business and investment opportunities ranging from early stage funding to M&A, commercial partnerships, and JVs, both domestically and around the world. All ON members are screened by prestigious financial institutions, professional services firms, and associations worldwide. Our vetting partners include Citizens Bank, London Stock Exchange Group, Intesa Sanpaolo, Caixabank, Eurobank, YPO, and Dentons. ON aims to facilitate global business growth by breaking down barriers to trade and investment. For further information please visit: http://www.opportunitynetwork.com

About SME Finance Forum

The SME Finance Forum, created by the G20 countries and managed by the IFC, works to expand access to finance for small and medium businesses. It operates a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. Its annual flagship event, the Global

SME Finance Forum 2017 will be held November 1-3 in Berlin, Germany. Learn more and register here: http://www.globalsmefinanceforum.org/2017

SOURCE Opportunity Network and SME Finance Forum
SAINT-AUNES, France, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Orchestra-Premaman S.A. and Yeled Invest S.a r.l. (collectively, the "Orchestra Participants") announced today that they have issued an open letter urging Shareholders of Destination Maternity Corporation ("DEST" or the "Company") to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN before taking any action in response to the Company's solicitation of proxies for the Company's upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders and to wait until they receive the Orchestra Participants' proxy materials and BLUE proxy card before voting. The complete text of the letter to Shareholders follows:

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM

THE ORCHESTRA PARTICIPANTS

TO

THE SHAREHOLDERS OF

DESTINATION MATERNITY CORPORATION (DEST)

The Orchestra Participants Urge Destination Maternity Corporation Shareholders to Look for

the BLUE Proxy Card for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Dear Destination Maternity Corporation Shareholder:

At some point in the near future, you may receive a proxy statement and accompanying white proxy card from the Destination Maternity Corporation ("DEST" or the "Company") in connection with the upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (including any adjournments or postponements thereof and any meeting which may be called in lieu thereof, the "Annual Meeting"). The Company has set the date, time and location of the Annual Meeting for 9:15 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, on Thursday, October 19, 2017, at the corporate headquarters of the Company at 232 Strawbridge Drive, Moorestown, NJ 08057, and the Company has set the record date for the Annual Meeting as September 18, 2017.

The Orchestra Participants (as described below) will soon be sending our own definitive proxy materials and a BLUE proxy card with respect to the Annual Meeting. We strongly urge you NOT to vote any white proxy card you may receive from the Company, and to wait for and read the Orchestra Participants' proxy materials and BLUE proxy card before you cast your vote in connection with the Annual Meeting. We look forward to sharing with you in the coming weeks our views in opposition to the Company's nominees and certain of its proposals.

The Orchestra Participants believe that:

The directors nominated by DEST have underperformed during their tenure;

The Company's stock price has fallen significantly on their watch;

The Company has repeatedly missed important targets while reporting its financial information in an unclear way;

It would be a mistake for Shareholders to reward poor results by reelecting these directors.

The Orchestra Participants strongly urge shareholders NOT to respond to any solicitation made by Company management and NOT to return a white proxy card in connection with the Annual Meeting. Please:

DO NOT return the white proxy card sent to you by the current board of the Company.

DO NOT vote by responding to the e-mail solicitations sent to you by the current board of the Company.

DO NOT allow the Company to call you at home and take your vote over the telephone.

Our proxy solicitor is Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact Saratoga toll-free at (888) 368-0379 or (212) 257-1311 or by email at [email protected].

Thank you very much for your support.

Orchestra-Premaman S.A.

About Orchestra

Orchestra-Premaman specializes in the creation, manufacture, purchase and sale of all products related to children's clothing and childcare products. The Group's product range currently comprises clothing and footwear for children aged 0 to 14 years, maternity fashion and childcare products. Since 2012, Orchestra Premaman has become a major player on the European childcare products market, in particular due to external growth operations, such as the acquisition of Baby 2000 and the Premaman Group, which is Europe's oldest maternity wear brand, dating back to 1947. This strategy of growth and development in childcare products follows on the success of the first megastore opened in Saint-Aunes, a store concept offering an entire world revolving around babies. Having increased its presence internationally, the Group now operates in more than 40 countries, selling more than 80 million pieces per year.

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS

The Orchestra Participants intend to file a preliminary proxy statement and an accompanying proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to be used to solicit votes in connection with the upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Destination Maternity Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

THE ORCHESTRA PARTICIPANTS STRONGLY ADVISE ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THEIR PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, THE ORCHESTRA PARTICIPANTS WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE, WHEN AVAILABLE, UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE ORCHESTRA PARTICIPANTS' PROXY SOLICITOR, SARATOGA PROXY CONSULTING, AT ITS TOLL-FREE NUMBER: AT (888) 368-0379 OR (212) 257-1311 OR BY EMAIL AT [email protected].

The participants in the proxy solicitation are Orchestra-Premaman and Yeled Invest S.a r.l. ("Yeled", together with Orchestra-Premaman, collectively, the "Orchestra Participants").

As of the date hereof, Orchestra-Premaman is the beneficial owner of 1,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the Company. As of the date hereof, Yeled is the beneficial owner of 1,921,820 shares of Common Stock. In addition, as a result of its ownership of a controlling interest in Orchestra-Premaman, Yeled may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 1,000 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Orchestra-Premaman.

Shareholder Contact:

Investors & Media

ACTIFIN

Stephane Ruiz

[email protected], +33 01 56 88 11 15

and

Saratoga Proxy Consulting

John Ferguson (212) 257-1311

SOURCE Orchestra Participants
CHICAGO, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PAM, a brand of Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), has launched PAM Spray Pumps, delivering PAM's legendary non-stick cooking experience in a new format that allows you to see what you are adding to your pan. Unlike cooking with oil and butter, PAM Spray Pumps let you control how much you use, reducing the amount of added fat and calories in your food. PAM Spray Pumps include no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

"Consumers are looking for simple ways to cut out unwanted calories and fat when cooking," said Brett Castle, PAM brand director. "New PAM Spray Pumps are a convenient alternative to cooking with oil and butter, delivering the superior non-stick performance long associated with PAM."

PAM Spray Pumps are now available in two varieties  Canola Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil. With just 10 calories per serving, PAM Spray Pumps ensure you don't overpour and drown your food, ruining the texture and flavor of your favorite meal. For consumers who want to see the ingredients they're adding to their dishes, PAM Spray Pumps' transparent bottle design is a welcome innovation.

PAM Spray Pumps join the family of PAM products that help make kitchen time a rousing success, including Original PAM Cooking Spray, PAM Baking, Butter, Grilling, Olive Oil and Coconut Oil Cooking Sprays, and PAM Organic Olive Oil and Organic Canola Oil Cooking Sprays. PAM Spray Pumps are available now at grocery stores and mass retailers nationwide. For more information, including where to find the new PAM Spray Pumps, visit www.pamcookingspray.com.

ABOUT CONAGRA BRANDS

Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Marie Callender's, Reddi-wip, Hunt's, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim and Orville Redenbacher's, as well as emerging brands, including Alexia, Blake's, Frontera and Duke's, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.

For more information, please contact:

Dan Skinner

Conagra Brands

(312) 549-5636

[email protected]

SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.conagrabrands.com


HOUSTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) announced today the appointment of Michael (Mike) W. Sumruld as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective October 1, 2017. With Mr. Sumruld's appointment, Jon-Al Duplantier, Parker Drilling's Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel will relinquish his additional responsibilities as interim CFO.

Mr. Sumruld, age 47, most recently held the position of Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from January through September 2017 at LyondellBasell Industries N.V., one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. In his role there, he had global responsibility for corporate accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls. Prior to LyondellBasell, Mr. Sumruld worked at Baker Hughes Incorporated, a leading supplier of oilfield services, products, technology and systems to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry. During his 18 year tenure, he held a range of financial roles, including most recently Vice President and Treasurer; Vice President Finance  Eastern Hemisphere; and Director  Investor Relations. Additionally, he held financial roles covering the U.S., Latin America, and the Eastern Hemisphere as well as global financial roles covering several product lines. Mr. Sumruld is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Houston and an MBA from Texas A&M University.

"We are pleased to welcome Mike to the Parker team," said Gary Rich, the Company's Chairman, President and CEO. "His extensive experience in the international oilfield services business, coupled with his financial expertise will be a great asset to Parker.

"We also thank Jon-Al Duplantier for his leadership as interim CFO over the past several months. His dedication and focus built over 22 years of energy industry experience as a respected and trusted leader provided a seamless transition," concluded Mr. Rich.

Company Description

Parker Drilling provides drilling services and rental tools to the energy industry. The Company's Drilling Services business serves operators in the inland waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico utilizing Parker Drilling's barge rig fleet and in select U.S. and international markets and harsh-environment regions utilizing Parker-owned and customer-owned equipment. The Company's Rental Tools Services business supplies premium equipment and well services to operators on land and offshore in the U.S. and international markets. More information about Parker Drilling can be found on the Company's website at www.parkerdrilling.com.

Contact: Jason Geach, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development, (+1) (281) 406-2310, [email protected].

SOURCE Parker Drilling Company

Related Links

http://www.parkerdrilling.com


LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight hundred Los Angeles families in need will receive enough food to supplement meals for a week plus daily essentials, thanks to a partnership between PepsiCo and Feed the Children. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. PT at Coliseum Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Dr., Lot 2, Los Angeles, Calif. 90037.

This distribution event is part of a larger initiative between PepsiCo and Feed the Children to help feed communities in cities throughout the United States. In Los Angeles alone, more than 20 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.

The receiving families have been identified and preselected by Challengers Boys and Girls Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the children of the community of South Los Angeles a wide variety of innovative programs designed to inspire and motivate them to reach their full potential  physically, socially and academically  and make positive life choices.

"We are excited to serve and partner with Feed the Children, Challengers Boys and Girls Club, Ralph's and Food 4 Less, supporting our friends and neighbors in the Los Angeles community," said Carlo Ohanian, senior zone sales leader, LA Metro, PepsiCo's Frito Lay division. "Frito-Lay and PepsiCo are committed to giving back to our communities where we live and work, and providing enough food to supplement meals for a week is a small way we can make a difference."

Each qualifying recipient at today's event will be given:

One 25-pound box of nonperishable food items

One 15-pound box of personal-care items

One box of assorted AVON products

Books from Disney Publishing Worldwide

One 20-count bag of Frito-Lay Baked & Popped Mix snacks

Aquafina Water

Quaker Granola Bars

Standard Quaker Oats

Tropicana Juice

Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix

Volunteers from PepsiCo, Ralph's Food for Less and Feed the Children will be onsite serving families and assisting with distribution during today's event. For more information, visit www.feedthechildren.org.

About Feed the Children

Established in 1979, Feed the Children exists to defeat hunger. It is one of the largest U.S.-based charities and serves those in need in the U.S. and in 10 countries around the world. It provides food, education, essentials and disaster response. Domestically, it operates five distribution centers (located in Oklahoma, Indiana, California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania).

In fiscal year 2016, through its domestic and international programs, Feed the Children distributed 105 million pounds of food and essentials worldwide with a total value of $415 million, working with partner agencies to benefit 5.9 million people globally. It is accredited by GuideStar Exchange and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.

Visit www.feedthechildren.org for more information.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated approximately $63 billion in net revenue in 2016, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose  our fundamental belief that the success of our company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world is what enables PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

SOURCE PepsiCo

Related Links

http://www.pepsico.com


RTdrive MR Prostate enables radiation oncologists to generate high-quality treatment plans for prostate cancer with fewer manual steps by harnessing the power of the Ingenia MR-RT platform, MR-only simulation, Auto-Contouring and Pinnacle Auto-Planning. Due to this breakthrough in intelligent automation, radiation oncologists can create treatment plans more quickly with less effort, saving valuable time and contributing to a better patient experience.

"Oncology care teams strive to increase precision, accelerate time to treatment, improve patient care and enhance patient satisfaction," said Ardie Ermers, General Manager of Radiation Oncology at Philips. "Delivering on our commitment to provide meaningful innovations for patients and care providers, we have focused on developing solutions in radiation oncology to streamline workflows from start to finish."

The confident path to treatment

With integrated tools, systems and software that span from imaging to treatment planning, Philips' radiation oncology solutions streamline processes and workflows to improve radiotherapy planning and delivery.

This year, Pinnacle3 16 has a refreshed user interface and an overall improved look and feel. New features include Deformable Image Registration (DIR) incorporated into the Dynamic Planning module, and Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT), which integrates Proton Photon planning into the Pinnacle3 16 Proton Planning environment.



Advancing radiotherapy innovation

In addition to RTdrive MR Prostate and Pinnacle3 16, Philips will showcase the following radiotherapy innovations at ASTRO:

iPatient for Big Bore CT  A patient-centered imaging workflow that helps drive consistency in image quality from scan to scan across diverse patient populations, which is particularly important in cancer cases. The iPatient platform provides a standardized approach to simulation imaging with advanced 4D imaging applications. The platform also successfully manages a patient's optimal radiation dose and image quality.

Ingenia MR-RT with MR-only simulation  A comprehensive MR simulation platform that provides high-quality, high-contrast MR images acquired in the treatment position to support confident delineation of targets and organs at risk.

Visit Philips at booth #1835 at ASTRO. For more information about Philips' presence at the show, including the full suite of Philips radiation oncology technology and integrated solutions, visit Philips' ASTRO event website and follow @PhilipsLiveFrom for updates throughout #ASTRO17.

*Tested in a non-clinical environment with single Pinnacle3 user and a 5-beam IMRT plan. Excluding time for optional manual adjustments.





About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2016 sales of EUR 17.4 billion and employs approximately 71,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Royal Philips

Related Links

http://www.philips.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- pMD, the innovation leader in health care technology and long-time supporter of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), will be exhibiting at this year's MGMA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. The national conference takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center from October 8 through October 11.

The national MGMA conference encourages collaboration amongst practice administrators, health system executives, medical practice group leaders, physicians, and others who serve the practice management profession. The goal of the conference is for attendees to build connections that support professional growth, learn best practices, share ideas, offer feedback, and access the information and inspiration needed to move their organizations forward.

pMD strives to create positive change in the health care industry by improving the patient experience through the creation of innovative and intuitive technologies and service offerings which include charge capture, secure text messaging, care communities, and MIPS registry. pMD also empowers health care teams to deliver better patient care and experience through a suite of tools designed to maximize efficiency, coordination and accuracy, thus ensuring that the patient in the room is truly their focus.

pMD recently supported the CMGMA, or Connecticut Medical Group Management Association by exhibiting as a Gold Sponsor for the local group this past June in Plantsville, Connecticut.

pMD is excited to participate as an exhibitor at this year's conference and interact with the nation's most innovative and passionate health care leaders. Visit pMD at booth #1303 to learn more about how pMD's technology is changing health care in the U.S.!

About pMD

pMD gives doctors and staff powerful, intuitive, mobile software that improves patient care. With pMD's mobile communication and data capture platform, health care teams finally have an elegant and simple technology to maximize efficiency and collaboration. pMD provides free interfaces with most major electronic medical records, hospital information, and medical billing systems. The pMD team is committed to developing the best solution and providing superior customer service. For more information, contact pMD.

SOURCE pMD

Related Links

http://www.pmd.com


ATLANTA, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE: APTS) ("PAC" or the "Company") today announced the acquisition on September 22, 2017 of West Town Market, an approximately 67,883 square foot shopping center located in Fort Mill, South Carolina, an affluent submarket within the Charlotte, North Carolina MSA and anchored by a 48,220 square foot Harris Teeter grocery store. West Town Market is strategically located on the highly-travelled Highway 160 corridor just west of I-77, the main thoroughfare into downtown Charlotte.

New Market Logo (PRNewsfoto/Preferred Apartment Advisors)

PAC acquired this asset through its wholly-owned subsidiary New Market Properties, LLC. Joel T. Murphy, President and Chief Executive Officer of New Market said about the acquisition, "We are pleased to make our market entry into the Charlotte, North Carolina MSA with a market dominant grocer like Harris Teeter." Mr. Murphy added, "The acquisition of West Town Market increases the size of our retail portfolio to 37 grocery-anchored shopping centers across seven Sunbelt states, consistent with our strategy to acquire well-positioned and highly accretive grocery-anchored shopping centers in suburban Sunbelt markets with strong demographics."

The Company financed the acquisition utilizing a non-recourse first mortgage loan from Nationwide Life Insurance Company. The first mortgage loan is approximately $9.0 million, bears interest at fixed rate of 3.64% per annum and matures on October 1, 2025. There are no loan guaranties provided by PAC or its operating partnership.

About New Market Properties, LLC

New Market Properties, LLC is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. and is focused on the grocery anchored shopping center sector. New Market currently owns and operates a portfolio of grocery anchored shopping centers in seven Sunbelt states. Its strategy is to aggressively grow its existing portfolio throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Texas. New Market targets high quality suburban markets with dominant grocers such as Publix, Kroger, Harris Teeter, Tom Thumb and HEB.

About Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc.

Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. is a Maryland corporation formed primarily to acquire and operate multifamily properties in select targeted markets throughout the United States. As part of our business strategy, we may enter into forward purchase contracts or purchase options for to-be-built multifamily communities and we may make real estate related loans, provide deposit arrangements, or provide performance assurances, as may be necessary or appropriate, in connection with the development of multifamily communities and other properties. As a secondary strategy, we may acquire or originate senior mortgage loans, subordinate loans or real estate loans secured by interests in multifamily properties, membership or partnership interests in multifamily properties and other multifamily related assets and invest a lesser portion of our assets in other real estate related investments, including other income-producing property types, senior mortgage loans, subordinate loans or real estate loans secured by interests in other income-producing property types, membership or partnership interests in other income-producing property types as determined by our manager as appropriate for us. At June 30, 2017, the Company was the approximate 97.3% owner of Preferred Apartment Communities Operating Partnership, L.P., the Company's operating partnership. Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc. has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, commencing with its tax year ended December 31, 2011. Learn more at www.pacapts.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "trend", "will", "expects", "plans", "estimates", "anticipates", "projects", "intends", "believes", "goals", "objectives", "outlook" and similar expressions. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from the expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans or predictions of the future expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in PAC's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PAC undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required by law.

Additional Information

The SEC has declared effective the registration statement (including prospectus) filed by the Company for each of the offerings to which this communication may relate. Before you invest, you should read the final prospectus, and any prospectus supplements, forming a part of the registration statement and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering to which this communication may relate. In particular, you should carefully read the risk factors described in the final prospectus and in any related prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in the final prospectus and any related prospectus supplement to which this communication may relate. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Company or its dealer manager, Preferred Capital Securities, LLC, with respect to PAC's mShares Redeemable Preferred Stock Offering and Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock and Warrant Unit Offering, and JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC, with respect to PAC's ATM Common Stock Offering, will arrange to send you a prospectus if you request it by calling Leonard A. Silverstein at (770) 818-4100, 3284 Northside Parkway NW, Suite 150, Atlanta, Georgia 30327.

The ATM Common Stock Offering prospectus supplement, dated July 10, 2017, including a base prospectus, dated May 17, 2016, can be accessed through the following link:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1481832/000148183217000110/atmprospectusspring2017.htm

The mShares Redeemable Preferred Stock Offering prospectus, dated January 19, 2017, can be accessed through the following link:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1481832/000148183217000008/a424prospectus-mshares1.htm

The Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock and Warrant Unit Offering prospectus, dated March 16, 2017, can be accessed through the following link:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1481832/000148183217000061/a424prospectus-15bseriesar.htm

SOURCE Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.pacapts.com


WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced more than $1 million in grants to support forestland restoration and working forests throughout the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. Grantee organizations have committed more than $1.5 million in match, generating a total conservation impact of more than $2.5 million.

The grants were awarded through the Cumberland Plateau Stewardship Fund, a public-private partnership between NFWF, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, International Papers Forestland Stewards partnership, Altria Group and the American Forest Foundation's Southern Woods for At-Risk Wildlife partnership. This is the fifth year the fund has administered grant awards.

The 2017 grants from the Cumberland Plateau Stewardship Fund represent a continued commitment to restoring forest and freshwater habitats in one of the most biodiverse regions of the country, said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO at NFWF. The investments made through this public-private partnership will benefit a range of wildlife, including bobwhite quail, wild turkey, fish, crayfish and mussels.

The projects supported by the eight grants announced today are expected to establish more than 2,000 new acres and enhance an additional 6,800 existing acres of shortleaf pine habitat. Projects also will establish and enhance more than 1,000 acres of riparian forest and improve more than 250 miles of stream habitat.

The Cumberland Plateau is renowned for both the natural and economic benefits of its working forestlands, said Ken Arney, acting regional forester for the U.S. Forest Services Southern Region. The significant private funding contributed to this partnership greatly accelerates and promotes active stewardship of critical forest ecosystems, resulting in conservation gains that might otherwise have been lost.

In addition, this years grantees will provide educational and technical assistance related to shortleaf and riparian forest restoration to more than 1,100 private landowners, with an anticipated 100 landowners entering into stewardship programs on private lands.

Eight projects, three states and more than $1 million to take eight big steps focusing on forest restoration, strengthening working forests and improving water quality along the Cumberland Plateau is exciting, said Mike Oetker, acting regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its a big deal for clean water, healthy fisheries and wildlife, and strong, working forests. It recognizes the important conservation, recreational, and economic values all of us share across the Plateau.

A complete list of the 2017 grants made through the Cumberland Plateau Stewardship Fund is available here.

Our entire business depends on the sustainability of forests, said Tom Cleves, International Papers vice president of global citizenship. We are thrilled to team up with organizations that share our commitment to responsible forest management. By working together, we will continue to promote responsible forest stewardship and ensure healthy and productive forest ecosystems for future generations.

Stretching from northwest Alabama through central Tennessee and eastern Kentucky, the Cumberland Plateau is one of the most biologically rich landscapes in the United States. A combination of complex landforms, limestone geology, and large, intact blocks of forest habitat creates diverse terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems hosting numerous endemic and rare species.

Our companies depend on high-quality tobacco and grapes to make their products. From seed to disposal, our companies recognize that they have an important role in reducing their environmental impact, said Kathryn Fessler, director of corporate citizenship for Altria Client Services. Were proud to support the National Fish and Wildlife Foundations reforestation and water conservation efforts in the Cumberland Plateau.

Since 2013, the Cumberland Plateau Stewardship Fund has invested $3.5 million in projects. These investments will establish more than 9,600 acres and improve more than 62,500 additional acres of shortleaf pine and riparian forests, as well as improve 288 miles of stream habitat, benefitting the native species that rely on those forests and streams.

"Families and individuals own the majority of the forests in the south, including in the Cumberland Plateau," said Tom Martin, president and CEO of the American Forest Foundation. "These individuals want to do right by the land, but lack the technical expertise and funds to get the work done. We are excited to continue working with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and our other partners to help these landowners make an impact."

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,500 organizations and committed more than $3.8 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.

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Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/214b85ee-2bb4-4bd1-87f4-685f85f0a80b

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f52df707-bd50-4149-8629-50f99fd94301
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ProctorU, a pioneer in online proctoring services, today announced that it has delivered 4 million online proctored exams since its inception in 2008, and more than 1 million exams thus far in 2017. ProctorU partners with over 1,000 colleges, universities and training organization worldwide and reached the milestone of one million exams in 2014. The 4 million mark was achieved through a combination of industry momentum and widespread adoption of the ProctorU Live proctoring solution.

ProctorU's vast experience in online proctoring coupled with the latest technology sets it apart in the market. The technology company also recently released ProctorUAuto, a fully automated artificial intelligence (AI)-based online proctoring solution. With the addition of ProctorUAuto, the company now offers a full suite of proctoring solutions.

Choosing an online proctoring provider with advanced, reliable technology and the highest levels of service is important to schools and professional credentialing organizations. Universities such as Thompson Rivers University, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and Missouri University of Science and Technology recently began working with ProctorU to significantly improve online proctoring security and service for their test-takers.

Alan C. Elman, eLearning Lead at ACTEX, a new professional partner of ProctorU said, "At ACTEX Learning we really care about our students and want to help them achieve their goals. Giving students the option of using ProctorU for their VEE Course final exams is rapidly becoming the new standard. We have strong confidence in the academic integrity of the ProctorU service, and our students are able to test 24/7/365 worldwide! It's an amazing service  and we couldn't be happier with the feedback from our valued customers."

According to ProctorU CEO Scott McFarland, "As the largest player in this field by a wide margin, our economies of scale allow us to provide a demonstrably superior service at the market's most cost-effective price point. Our 100 percent on-demand availability, the industry's leading AI/Auto platform and the ability to deal with the most complex exam instructions set us apart and put us in an entirely different class from our competitors. We are excited to welcome these leading institutions to our proctoring family, and look forward to providing their test-takers the best possible experience in online learning."

About ProctorU

ProctorU provides a full suite of online proctoring and identity management solutions for education, professional development and certification organizations. With patented, 24/7 on-demand live proctoring and an automated platform utilizing artificial intelligence, ProctorU is a powerful, convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional test centers. ProctorU increases access to online learning while ensuring exam integrity and accountability for any test-taker using only a computer and a webcam. Brands like the University of Florida and CompTIA trust ProctorU to protect their reputation. To learn more, visit ProctorU.com.

SOURCE ProctorU

Related Links

http://www.proctoru.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform

EXPERT ALERTS

The Human Element to Data

'Debugging' Your Employees for Peak Performance

Millennials Are Redefining Work Happiness

MEDIA JOBS

Editor, Gears & Gadgets  The Wall Street Journal (NY)

White House Reporter  MLex (DC)

Writer/Editor, Electronics  Consumer Reports (NY)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

2017 Global Social Journalism Study

9 Tips: Defeat Your Inner Editor to Write Better and Faster

Blog Profiles: TV Blogs

-------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPERT ALERTS:

The Human Element to Data

Chris Astle

CEO

QSR International

"You can't forget the human element to data. From rebuilding after a natural disaster to elections to managing customer satisfaction to sales, the human voice can and should be filtered out from all of the data that you are probably sitting on, or certainly will gather. We used data analysis to help the leaders of Christchurch, New Zealand, rebuild a better city after a natural disaster destroyed it. It was necessary to listen  really listen -- to the residents whose homes were decimated and make the right change. Ignoring their data would have been the greater tragedy."

Astle is a humanitarian with more than 20 years of experience in leadership and data analytics. He can share stories and lessons learned from working with hundreds of leaders -- primarily in government, academia, and commercial (luxury and household name) brands -- to improve or make decisions based on data, both numerical (quantitative) and unstructured (qualitative). He is a seasoned communicator with a warm, inviting tone, authoritative, knowledgeable demeanor, and intoxicating English accent. Key topics of expertise include disaster relief, hurricane recovery, earthquake rebuilding, polling, voting, infrastructure, government, policy-making, healthcare, corporate leadership, customer experience, product development, software, academic research, Big Data, data science, and data analytics. He has been quoted in GCN (Government Computer News) and Community College Week, and was published in Route Fifty. He was also interviewed as a thought leader in Big Data for One Million by One Million and in The Middle Market Thought Leader podcast.

Website: www.qsrinternational.com

Contact: Kristina Groves, [email protected]

'Debugging' Your Employees for Peak Performance

Dr. Dave Sharar

Managing Director

Chestnut Global Partners

A workforce dominated by "artificial intelligence" doesn't have HR issues: robots work 24/7, don't demand a competitive benefits package, feel stress or show up to work with aches and pains. Despite these built-in advantages, we humans should be employable for many years to come -- but we'll need all the help we can get to stay competitive. When AI-driven systems break down, they're debugged and re-programmed; when we "break down," it's typically due to stress, depression, etc., that causes lack of focus, absenteeism, and any number of counterproductive behaviors. Says Dr. Sharar: "Optimizing workforce performance isn't as easy as a software update or patch -- we're 'debugged' by getting mental health and wellness support to address or 'fix' impediments to productivity."

A recent study by Chestnut Global Partners and the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) assessed over 16,000 EAP counseling cases, and showed the correlation between employee assistance programs (EAP) and positive effects on absenteeism, presenteeism, work engagement, workplace distress, and life satisfaction. The study can be downloaded here: http://www.eapassn.org/2017WOSReport

Website: http://chestnutglobalpartners.org

Contact: Charles Epstein, [email protected]

Millennials Are Redefining Work Happiness

Jody B. Miller

CEO

C2C Executive Search & Strategic Management

"Millennials didn't get to have the same freedom in childhood as previous recent generations. Technology made parents more aware  then, after 9/11, fear became a part of daily life. Safety became families' number one concern. Millennial kids were driven to and from everything and never really had time to explore on their own. School and education were the main focus. With all that structured time and intense schoolwork behind them, adult Millennials naturally feel the need to change the rules and 'do their own thing.' They didn't get as much freedom in childhood, so they want freedom now."

As a work happiness expert, Miller, author of the new book, "From DRIFT to SHIFT: How Change Can Bring True Meaning and Happiness to Your Work and Life," has helped thousands of people find true meaning in their work and in their lives. Her previous positions include investment banker, strategic consultant to Fortune 100 corporations, CEO of a software startup, assistant producer for a PBS television series, and sales and marketing executive for CBS Television. She is also the author of "HIRED! in 2017" and "Hired! Expert Advice from A Leading Wall Street Recruiter." These books provide roadmaps for getting hired in today's competitive job world. Miller contributes to Ignites Financial Times Magazine, LinkedIn and The Huffington Post, and has written numerous articles about job satisfaction, work/life balance and finding meaning. Her books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.

Online Press Kit: http://jodybmiller.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: www.JodyBMiller.com

Contact: Jennifer Thomas, [email protected]

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MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/

Editor, Gears & Gadgets  The Wall Street Journal (NY)

White House Reporter  MLex (DC)

Writer/Editor, Electronics  Consumer Reports (NY)

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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected]

2017 GLOBAL SOCIAL JOURNALISM STUDY. It's the sixth in a series of studies published by Cision that survey and chart changes in how journalists use social platforms. The study also closely examines problems social media has created for the industry (Read: Battling fake news and the increased focus on speed vs. analysis): http://bit.ly/2ymJCiM

9 Tips: Defeat Your Inner Editor to Write Better and Faster. Don't let your inner editor become a bully. Here are nine reminders to help write stronger pieces, and more often: http://prn.to/2xBCYsD

BLOG PROFILES: TV BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry/subject and profiles a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at TV blogs:http://prn.to/tvblogs

****************

PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire.

To contact ProfNet: [email protected] or 800-776-3638, ext. 1

SOURCE ProfNet

Related Links

http://www.profnet.com


"Antibiotics have saved the lives of millions of people, and now their effectiveness is under assault," said Deutsch. "The misdiagnosis of UTIs in LTCFs, which leads to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, contributes to antimicrobial-resistance."

Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed medication in LTCFs; however, they are prescribed incorrectly up to 75% of the time, according to national statistics. UTIs represent the most common bacterial infection in LTCFs, and due to the frequency of their misdiagnosis, largely contribute to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics.

From April 2014 through September 2016, Pennsylvania LTCFs reported 13,680 UTIs to the Authority. In examining antibiotic prescribing practices, Authority analysts found deviance from national practice guidelines for treating UTIs and suboptimal use of antibiotics.

Common misperceptions may result in inappropriate treatment, overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and failure to review or change antibiotics following laboratory test results.

"Antibiotic resistance and other complications are a significant problem, and defeating this problem will take widespread and sustained effort," said Deutsch. "The appropriate management of UTIs and possible UTIs is an important piece of this large puzzle."

In the Authority's September 2017 Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory article, "Optimal Use of Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities: Successful Strategies Prevent Resident Harm," the Authority provides a comprehensive list of risk reduction strategies. Accompanying the article is the "Living Branches Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Evaluation Guideline," a UTI evaluation tool adapted from the Pennsylvania Medical Directors Association (PMDA). Utilization of both the risk reduction strategies and the UTI evaluation tool may help facilities properly manage UTIs and implement a solid antimicrobial stewardship plan.

Download the full article.

Also published in this Advisory:

For more information about the Authority, patient safety topics, Advisory articles, and safety tips for patients, please visit patientsafety.pa.gov.

The Authority's mission is to improve the quality of healthcare in Pennsylvania by collecting and analyzing patient safety information, developing solutions to patient safety issues, and sharing this information through education and collaboration. Its vision is safe healthcare for all patients.

Like the Authority on Facebook

Follow the Authority on Twitter

Subscribe to the Authority on YouTube

SOURCE Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority

Related Links

http://patientsafety.pa.gov/


The new line features Reba's take on classic western boots, booties and casuals, drawing inspiration from pieces of the Grammy Award winner's life story. Each style captures a moment from Reba's daily routine; from everyday wardrobe essentials to her show-stopping performance boots. Built on comfort, using the finest leathers, refined details and the craftsmanship that Justin Boot Company is known for, this collection presents a truly unique offering.

"Justin Boots have been a staple in my closet since my barrel racing years in Oklahoma," Reba shares. "I'm thrilled to add my personal touch to a brand that is known for quality craftsmanship and timeless style."

The two powerhouses joined forces to create the ultimate assortment for loyal fans of both brands and those coveting Reba's fashion philosophy and penchant for making a statement on and off the stage.

"This collection is for all those strong, spirited women and cowgirls at heart who have followed my journey throughout the years," said Reba. "This opportunity couldn't have been a more natural fit and creating the line has been too much fun!"

"Teaming up with Reba is the perfect partnership for Justin Boots. Her ability to inspire multiple generations, not only with her musical talent, but also with her countless interests, makes her a force to be reckoned with. The passion and effort she has put into making this collaboration her own parallels the hard work and dedication the Justin team has shown in creating the collection. It has truly been an honor to work hand-in-hand with Reba on a collection we can all be proud of," said Jim Issler, President and CEO of H.H. Brown Shoe Company.

The Justin Boot Company team is proud to welcome Reba into the Justin family and looks forward to a long lasting relationship with the iconic entertainer and entrepreneur.

About Reba McEntire

A household name with an illustrious career that spans across music, television, film, theater and retail, Reba McEntire has become an icon. Her latest offering  SING IT NOW: SONGS OF FAITH AND HOPE (Nash Icon Records / Capitol Christian Music Group)  topped both the Billboard Country and Christian/Gospel charts for multiple weeks, marking Reba's thirteenth summit to No. 1 and bolstering her successful record of 35 No. 1 singles and over 56 million albums sold worldwide. The double-disc collection most recently earned Reba two GMA Dove Awards nominations for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year and Song of the Year ("Back To God"). Following last year's limited release, the iconic entertainer will widely deliver MY KIND OF CHRISTMAS on October 13, featuring collaborations with friends Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Darius Rucker and Lauren Daigle. The holiday spirit continues as Reba hosts the two-hour CMA Country Christmas, airing on the ABC Television Network November 27 at 8/7c. The Country Music Hall of Fame member has been honored with numerous accolades: AMA, ACM, CMA, Grammy and People's Choice Awards. As an acclaimed actress, Reba has 11 movies credits, a lead role on Broadway and starred in the six-season television sitcom Reba. Her business ventures include a decade-long lifestyle brand with Dillard's. As part of the longest-running Country act in The Colosseum's history with superstar pals Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, REBA, BROOKS & DUNN: Together In Vegas is in its third year at Caesars. Visit Reba.com for tour dates and more.

About Justin

Justin Boot Company has been handcrafting western footwear in the U.S. since 1879 when founder H.J. Justin mastered the craft of boot-making using only the finest leathers and quality materials for superior craftsmanship. When you're wearing Justin Boots you're always culturally in tune with western fashion. Offering comfortable, authentic western footwear for men, women, and kids for every occasion, Justin Boots are an icon in western culture. The Standard of the West since 1879, Justin Boots remains committed to providing dependable footwear at a value, along with a prominent focus on handcrafting boots in the U.S.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Justin Boot Company:

John David Robbins

[email protected]

203-302-6460



Reba McEntire:

Erin Burr

[email protected]

615.250.6636

SOURCE Justin Boot Company
LONDON, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Rare earth elements (REEs) have found themselves back on the list of materials to follow this year. Amongst many others, rare earth end-use applications range from polishing powders, phosphors, glass additives and lasers, to the automotive industry, new energy technologies, defence technologies and also space materials, with each end-use typically requiring different groups of individual REEs.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150909/264974LOGO )



The attention this year is focussed on two elements neodymium and praseodymium, collectively also known as NdPr, which have risen sharply in price since the beginning of July to gain over 60% in just 2 months. The main use of NdPr is in permanent magnets, or neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, which are fundamental to the powertrain of electric vehicle (EV) motors already in use in major EV models such as the Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet Bolt and BMW i3.

Interest in NdPr has been charged by Tesla's decision to move from their patented AC induction motors used in all previous models to a 3-phase NdPr permanent magnet motor in the Model 3 RWD Long Range model. This is expected to create further demand for NdPr permanent magnets moving forward.

EVs are headlining the news on multiple fronts, as vehicle manufacturers worldwide join the race in EV performance technologies and government policies on emission controls grow stricter. Following the move towards greener cities around the world, EV sales are rising fast, increasing by 6% in China during H1 2017.

Roskill forecast around 4 million EV sales worldwide in 2017, which are expected to continue to rise to nearly 50 million annual sales by 2030. Consuming 1-2kg of permanent magnets per vehicle motor, Roskill expects the demand for NdPr to continue on an upward trend following the advances of the EV market and joining the trend of battery materials such as lithium and cobalt.

The rare earth package

The complication with the rare earth market is that the supply and demand balance is not based purely on one element, but the full suite of 15 lanthanide elements and yttrium. The entire rare earth suite occurs mixed together in mineral deposits, at specific proportions and the separation process is not a simple one. In general, every tonne of neodymium will come with over 3t of lanthanum, cerium and praseodymium, and less than 0.5t total of ten different heavy rare earth elements (samarium through lutetium).

Demand on the other hand depends highly on changing markets of end-use applications and can be more variable than supply. For example, the largest market for cerium and lanthanum are catalysts. Around 50% of global lanthanum consumption is in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts used to break down crude oils into lighter more valuable petroleum products. Cerium applications are more diversified than lanthanum, but still 25% of its annual consumption is in catalyst washcoats applied to emission control catalysts in vehicle exhausts. Both elements are to some extent tied into the demand of petroleum-fuelled transport and Goldman Sachs has forecast that only a 1.5% reduction in crude oil demand will follow every 5% market penetration EVs make into automotive sales.

Heavy rare earth elements (HREE) are used in a variety of speciality applications, often also to improve performance of light rare earth elements (LREE) lanthanum, cerium and/or neodymium-praseodymium products. However, due to their natural lower abundance and complex chemical separation process, HREEs are unable to act as effective replacements for the higher volume LREEs. Therefore, niche markets are key factors in determining the supply-demand pressures on the full suite of rare earths.

Roskill forecasts the supply of neodymium to move into deficit in 2017, while the demand for cerium and lanthanum already accounts for over 90% of their annual supply. Because rare earths occur together, the elements leading in proportional consumption will be the main drivers of the total supply and demand balance. This figure shows that neodymium has already been the most influential rare earth since 2014. The proportional consumption of HREEs is significantly lower; however, the inherited lower abundance means that smaller changes in end-use markets will have larger effects. For example, erbium is seeing higher proportional consumption because of growing demand in fibre optics, even though the volume growth does not compare to that of permanent magnets in EVs.

Supply from China and critical illegal volumes

Rare earth supply has become synonymous with China, which accounted for over 80% of global production in 2016. Rare earths have historically been in significant oversupply with Roskill estimating that over 80% of annual supply has been accounted for by consumption since 2014.

Illegal production is a major contributor to Chinese REE production and is estimated to have accounted for 30-35% of Chinese total output in 2016. Therefore, the illegal supply has been critical in keeping rare earths out of a supply deficit and will continue to be unless new or expanded official production facilities enter production.

The 13th 5-year Industry Development Plan for 2016-2020 released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) outlined the reductions in illegal mining activities from the previous 5-year plan, but emphasised the need to further curtail illegal mining. There are however conflicting sentiments in China regarding the crack-down on illegal rare earth production. On the state level illegal mining is supporting job markets and companies benefit from lower-cost rare earth concentrates to maintain the value chain of downstream products. However, the Chinese government is looking to stabilise the rare earth market at more sustainable price levels that won't be undercut by illegal supply.

Environmental reforms for legal operations in China are also causing producers to conform to more stringent environmental policies, while sacrificing production capacity. This has caused an overall decrease in the average monthly production by 10% from H2 2016 to H1 2017. More recently, production of rare earths out of Sichuan had dropped by a staggering 83% in July, as processing plants were suspended or shut down during environmental inspections.

With the reduction of available supply in China, the Association of China Rare Earth Industry (ACREI) has proposed selling off some of the government rare earth stockpiles to support raw material supply and contain rapidly rising rare earths prices avoiding the creation of another price spike.

Securing a vertically integrated supply chain

Since the rare earth price spike in 2011/12, consumers of rare earths both inside and outside of China have been wary about the concentrated supply availability of rare earths from state-owned enterprises in China. At the same time, the low price of rare earths and the fear of unstable prices have not encouraged venture capital investments to help develop new projects.

As Chinese production has been progressively integrated into domestic downstream applications, international rare earth processing facilities have looked to secure feedstock outside of China. In 2013, Japanese based Sojitz Corp signed an agreement with Lynas to source rare earths out of Australia via a processing plant in Malaysia. This agreement includes the refining of lanthanum and cerium products by Solvay-Rhodia in France, which end up in Japan. Lynas has since become the largest rare earth producer outside of China and the agreement decreased Japan's reliance on Chinese rare earth production to less than 50% of their total rare earth imports in 2016.

As the supply reform continues in China, agreements are also being struck between Chinese operators and the rest of the world, which is opening up the Chinese market. One example includes Hastings Technology Metals Ltd signing its third memorandum of understanding for an off-take agreement with Qiandong Rare Earth Group for 1.5 ktpy of mixed rare earth carbonate to be sourced from the Yangibana project in Western Australia.

Market pressures taking effect on the rare earth prices

By mid- to late-2016, most of the rare earth price declines had bottomed out and started a steady rise in H1 2017. Some of the heavier rare earth prices accelerated earlier in the year, while the more abundant LREEs joined in after June. Neodymium and praseodymium rose by an average 1.6% per day during the second half of July and first half of August. By the first week of September, neodymium had doubled its year-to-date price with praseodymium close behind at a 94% increase.

The growing interest in NdPr permanent magnets naturally filtered across the group of rare earths, not only to dysprosium and gadolinium also used in magnets, but also non-magnet rare earths such as cerium and lanthanum. The cerium price accelerated to the same 1.6% average daily rate for the second half of August to overtake the price of lanthanum for the first time since 2013. The price of lanthanum remained relatively flat, but joined cerium in a boost in price for the second half of August.

Together with growing demand driving up prices, the supply pressures out of China have lowered the availability of rare earths on the spot market. In addition, speculative trading taking advantage of the surging rare earth prices, particularly in Q2 of this year, will have exacerbated the tight supply of rare earths, NdPr in particular.

The second week of September saw the price of LREEs decline by an average 0.4% over the week. This follows recent developments in the rare earth market taking effect. The potential implications of releasing stockpiled material from the Chinese government to manage rare earth price movements may be unsettling some investors with memories of the 2011/12 scenario. Similarly, a slow-down in purchases by traders becoming cautious of the advancing prices will also have opened up more material availablity on the spot market.

Looking forward, China's National Rare Earth Office (NREO) is urging producers to keep up production capacity as demand for rare earths continues to grow and drive up prices, especially for LREE. Monthly production disruptions/suspensions in Q2 to early Q3 with enforced environmental policies have been largely completed and more typical production levels can return, which would consequently improve supply availability.

The over-riding theme for rare earths however, remains NdPr permanent magnets in EVs. Consequently, under stable supply-demand conditions the market pressures for all other rare earths will be weighted to the supply and demand balance of neodymium. Although some similarities to the 2011/12 spike have been speculated, the current movement in the rare earth prices is under significantly different circumstances as rare earth supply and demand looks to find a new sustainable balance.

Roskill's 2017 Rare Earths Global Industry, Markets and Outlook Report

Roskill Information Services has published 16 editions of its multi-client report on the global rare earths industry over the last 40 years. Roskill has produced its 17th edition of the Rare Earths Global Industry, Markets and Outlook Report, which is due to be published during October 2017. The report outlines the supply and demand markets, market balances, prices, trades and forecasts to 2027. The insight is built on in-depth research of end-use applications and supply to the market.

SOURCE Roskill Information Services
RACINE, Wis., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SC Johnson expands its industry-leading global ingredient transparency program across Asia Pacific. Breaking down a barrier between companies and consumers, this expansion gives another 4 billion people unparalleled access to a comprehensive list of product ingredients for such iconic brands as Baygon, Glade, Mr Muscle and Raid. In North America, Europe and, beginning today, Asia Pacific, if anyone wants to know what's in an SC Johnson product and why, all the details are available at WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com  written in clear and straightforward terms.

"We are proud to bring ingredient transparency to Asia Pacific, raising the bar for our industry again while giving more consumers the tools and information they need to make informed choices," said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. "As we continue SC Johnson's legacy of doing what's right and not just what's required, we encourage other companies to join us in disclosing their own ingredients to consumers across Asia Pacific and around the world."

This announcement is another important milestone in SC Johnson's transparency journey. The company launched its pioneering WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com ingredient website in 2009, expanding to Europe in 2016, with Asia Pacific following today. In these markets, SC Johnson now discloses the ingredients in every major product, regardless of whether required to do so by law. Among global companies, SC Johnson's ingredient transparency program is the industry's first and most comprehensive.

Leaders in Transparency

The site is designed to be useful for a variety of consumers, from the caregiver in Taiwan looking after a child with skin allergies, to a teen in Australia with a known sensitivity to a fragrance, to a family in Nepal raising asthmatic children. A simple search of WhatsinsideSCJohnson.com by product or ingredient provides information about dyes, fragrances and preservatives consumers need to make an informed choice. Today's consumer is more savvy and more connected than ever before. This simple, easy-to-navigate platform enables them to pull up a product they are considering, see the ingredients listed in a clear and understandable format, and ultimately make the choice that is right for their families.

SC Johnson began its transparency journey by launching its WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com ingredient website  the first of its kind  in 2009.

In 2012, it added a comprehensive list of fragrance ingredients used in its products. The SC Johnson Exclusive Fragrance Palette excludes about 2,400 ingredients that don't meet the company's high standards even though they meet industry standards and are legal in commerce.

In 2015, working closely with fragrance houses, SC Johnson added to its website product-specific fragrance disclosure. Since that time, P&G, Unilever and RB have announced similar disclosure programs for North America and Europe, but not yet for Asia. Consumers with questions can already find on WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com the list of fragrances in individual SC Johnson products, across its categories. In 2016, the company expanded its disclosure program to Europe, today Asia Pacific and Latin America will follow.

In 2017, SC Johnson broke additional ground announcing its plans to disclose, on a product-specific basis, the presence of 368 skin allergens that may occur in its products. The list of these allergens has already been published on WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com, and by 2018, the site will list the allergens when contained in a product. This move goes beyond regulations in the European Union and also in the United States, where there are no rules requiring allergen transparency.

The new disclosure program for Asia Pacific includes more than 1,500 products sold by SC Johnson in 20 countries across Asia, including Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Information on the site is available in nine languages, including English, Bahasa Melayu, Thai, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin, traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

In total, SC Johnson's ingredient transparency program provides information for more than 5,300 products in 34 languages sold by SC Johnson in 52 countries worldwide. With the addition of Asia Pacific, the program now serves more than 5 billion consumers.

Find out more about SC Johnson's transparency program at WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com.

Also, visit Transparent by Design from Scientific American Custom Media.

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE, KIWI, OFF!, PLEDGE, RAID, SCRUBBING BUBBLES, SHOUT, WINDEX and ZIPLOC in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN, TANA, BAMA, BAYGON, BRISE, KABIKILLER, KLEAR, MR MUSCLE and RIDSECT. The 131-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com.

SOURCE SC Johnson

Related Links

http://www.scjohnson.com


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lisa Campbell, an investor and entrepreneur from Scotland, has taken her experience and passion for green cleaning and launched The Highland Cleaning Company in Scottsdale. Campbell first discovered a passion for the cleaning industry while working in some of the Scottish Highlands best hotels. She then opened her own residential cleaning company in Scottsdale in 2007. After returning to Scotland for few years, Campbell is back in Arizona and launching her new business.

Campbell brings a new meaning to multi-tasking. She is the CEO to two companies in addition to being a mother of two with her husband while also providing care for her disabled father. She understands the importance of keeping a home clean and functioning. This business was three years in the making with set-backs from the financial effects of Brexit and challenges obtaining an investor visa to work in Scottsdale. The accomplishment shows Campbell's determination and innovation for getting things done.

Campbell also knows that quality work and health is a priority so in addition to using high-end equipment, all of her staff train using the C.O.R.E. training program and utilize a non-toxic cleaning system from Ecolab, which is better for the environment and safe for staff, clients, and their pets.

"I'm excited to launch this business because it's been a long-held dream of mine to be able to provide families and our local residents this kind of quality residential cleaning service," says Campbell. "We really care not just about the quality of service provided, but also about the health of our staff and clients so we aim for cleaner, greener, and healthier homes."

More than just a cleaning service, The Highland Cleaning Company also offers services that just make life a little bit easier. The company will help with organizing and running errands. The team can help with cleaning during moves both in and out of homes and even unpacking. The Highland Cleaning Company also offers their services to AirBnB and vacation rentals. Cleaner properties lead to high-rated reviews and bring in more income for owners but few have time to clean themselves. The company's greener cleaning is an added bonus for these properties.

To learn more about Campbell and her new company's services and focus on greener cleaning, visit TheHighlandClean.com.

About The Highland Cleaning Company

The Highland Cleaning Company is committed to offering the very best experience in residential cleaning, not only for their many clients, but also for their teams who diligently and meticulously carry out their work with dedication and care. For more information, visit TheHighlandClean.com.

Contact Information

[email protected]

Related Images

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image2.jpg

SOURCE The Highland Cleaning Company

Related Links

http://thehighlandclean.com


BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of Insurance Solutions Group, headquartered in Miami, Florida. With over 50 years of combined experience, ISG has provided the most comprehensive insurance coverage with the highest level of integrity and superior customer service to each client. With local and national carriers at their disposal, their proven success will strengthen Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty's foothold in throughout Miami Dade County and the state of Florida.

Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc. continues to target high-quality independent agencies for geographic expansion and continued growth throughout the United States. With the addition of Insurance Solutions Group, Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc. will continue to reach new and current clients by helping them protect their most important valuables with not only the right insurance, but with the right service for each client. SHP&C offers:

Homeowner's Policy

Automobile Insurance

Renter's Policy

Private Client

Umbrella Coverage

Commercial and Employee Coverage

Personal Liability Coverage

Marshal Seeman, President of Seeman Holtz Property and Casualty stated, "Insurance Solutions Group is a great acquisition which allows us continued growth in Miami Dade County." Brett Williams, Vice President added, "Insurance Solutions will be consolidated into our existing Miami operations which allows us to not only maximize efficiency but also provide better service to the new clients."

About Our Company: The Seeman Holtz family of companies provides comprehensive financial and insurance advice to clients across the country.

Contact: Eric Holtz

Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty

844.255.6639

[email protected]

SOURCE Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowell & Moring is pleased to announce that Alexis Gilman, a former Assistant Director at the Federal Trade Commission, will join the firm's Washington office as a partner in its global Antitrust Group. With seven years of government experience reviewing high-profile mergers across a range of industries, he will advise clients on antitrust matters, including merger enforcement, government investigations, and litigation. Overall, Gilman possesses 15 years of government and private practice antitrust experience.

Senior Federal Trade Commission Lawyer Alexis Gilman Joins Crowell & Moring as Antitrust Partner

"Alexis' government leadership and insight into the Federal Trade Commission's merger review process will be a great asset to our clients," said Angela B. Styles, chair of Crowell & Moring. "We are excited to welcome Alexis aboard. His experience will further strengthen the firm's already deep Antitrust Group bench."

Gilman served all of his seven years at the FTC in the Bureau of Competition, which enforces the nation's antitrust laws. As Assistant Director (2014-2017), he oversaw a 33-lawyer division responsible for the investigation and litigation of potentially anticompetitive transactions across a broad range of industries, including the health care, food and beverage, distribution, consumer goods, and retail sectors. He worked on numerous high-profile merger investigations and litigations, including Sysco/US Foods, DraftKings/FanDuel, Advocate/NorthShore, Staples/Office Depot, Dollar Tree/Family Dollar, and Albertsons/Safeway. As Assistant Director, he advised Bureau of Competition leadership and FTC Commissioners on merger investigations and litigation. Gilman previously served as a Deputy Assistant Director and as a Staff Attorney in the Mergers IV Division at the Commission. Before his government service, he spent nearly eight years in the antitrust practice group at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, where he represented pharmaceutical, chemical, and private equity clients, among others.

Gilman's practice will focus on the health care industry, particularly hospitals, as well as the retail and food and beverage sectors.

"Alexis brings a wealth of experience handling significant antitrust investigations and litigations, in particular in the health care industry, which is highly complementary to our already strong health care capabilities," said Shari Ross Lahlou, co-chair of the firm's Antitrust Group. "Given the increasing consolidation in the health care industry, his experience with mergers and acquisitions involving hospitals and other health care providers will be of great value to clients navigating this realm."

Gilman's arrival marks the second significant hire for the Antitrust Group in recent months. In August, Juan A. Arteaga, the former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Enforcement at DOJ's Antitrust Division, joined the firm in New York as a partner in the Antitrust Group.

"I'm excited to be joining Crowell & Moring and its Antitrust Group," Gilman said. "The firm is well known for its sophisticated antitrust work on high-profile matters, and for being one of the few firms with recent antitrust merger litigation experience. Crowell & Moring's broad and deep health care platform was also a great fit with my health care provider-merger antitrust experience. But perhaps most importantly, the firm has tremendously talented lawyers working in an exceptionally collegial and collaborative environment."

Gilman received his J.D., with honors, from The George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from Williams College. He is a recipient of the FTC's Janet D. Steiger Team Award on three occasions.

About Crowell & Moring's Antitrust Group

Crowell & Moring's Antitrust Group is recognized as one of the leading practices in the United States and around the world. Clients engage the firm to help navigate their most complex competition law issues, including: international merger control; private damages actions; cartel investigations and litigation; government investigations; and counseling and compliance. The group's approximately 80 lawyers routinely represent industry-leading companies in some of the largest and most complex mergers and acquisitions in recent history  including successful DOJ clearance of AT&T's $67 billion acquisition of DIRECTV, one of the 20 largest transactions of all time  as well as in both affirmative recovery and defense-side antitrust litigation. The firm's antitrust litigators have achieved major results, including ongoing defense of United Airlines, DuPont, CSX, leading health care distributor Owens & Minor, and Blue Cross plans, as well as the recovery of more than a billion dollars for antitrust clients including Oracle, General Motors, and Motorola.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, London, and Brussels.

Media Contact:

An Pham

Manager, Media PR & Communications

+1 202.508.8740

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP

Related Links

http://www.crowell.com


TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (BlackRock Canada), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK), today announced the final September 2017 cash distributions for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF. Unitholders of record on September 26, 2017 will receive cash distributions payable on September 29, 2017.

Details regarding the final per unit distribution amounts are as follows:

Fund Name Fund

Ticker Cash

Distribution

Per Unit ($) iShares Premium Money Market ETF CMR 0.028 CMR.A 0.017

Further information on the iShares ETFs can be found at http://www.blackrock.com/ca .

About BlackRock

BlackRock is a global leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients. At June 30, 2017, BlackRocks AUM was US$5.7 trillion. BlackRock helps clients around the world meet their goals and overcome challenges with a range of products that include separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares (exchange-traded funds), and other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk management, advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions. As of June 30, 2017, the firm had approximately 13,000 employees in more than 30 countries and a major presence in global markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. For additional information, please visit the Companys website at www.blackrock.com/ca | Twitter: @BlackRockCA | Blog: www.blackrockblog.com/can

About iShares ETFs

iSharesis a global leader in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with more than a decade of expertise and commitment to individual and institutional investors of all sizes. With over 700 funds globally across multiple asset classes and strategies and more than US$1.5 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2017, iShares helps clients around the world build the core of their portfolios, meet specific investment goals and implement market views. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock, trusted to manage more money than any other investment firm1.

1 Based on US$5.7 trillion in AUM as of 6/30/17

iShares ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.
BEIJING, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (SVA), a leading provider of vaccines in China, announced today preliminary top-line data from its Phase III clinical trial assessing the efficacy, immunogenicity and safety of the Company's proprietary Varicella vaccine against Chickenpox.



The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Varicella vaccine in the prevention of Chickenpox caused by Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV). The preliminary Phase III data showed that Sinovac's Varicella vaccine was 87.1% (95% CI: 69.7%, 94.5%) efficacious against Chickenpox caused by VZV.



The double-blinded, randomized, placebo controlled Phase III clinical trial was conducted at two sites across China's Henan province. Approximately 6,000 healthy children from 1 to 12 years old completed the one dose vaccination schedule in the August of 2016, prior to the Chickenpox epidemic season in China, followed by an active monitoring period.



In parallel, Sinovac conducted another clinical study that was comprised of 1,197 volunteers and designed to evaluate the consistency of three consecutive lots of Varicella vaccine manufactured by the Company. The trial was conducted in children from 1 to 3 years old. After receiving the vaccine, the ratios of antibody GMTs on the 30th day of any two groups were calculated and the 95% confidence intervals of the ratios were all between 0.67 and 1.5, which indicates that the immunogenicity of the three vaccine lots is consistent. The study results showed consistent immune response for all three lots and a good safety profile. With immunogenicconsistency across the three consecutive lots, the results showed that Sinovac's vaccine production process and quality are stable. The production facility of Varicella vaccine has also reached commercial scale.

Mr. Weidong Yin, Chairman, President and CEO of Sinovac, commented, "We are pleased to report an over 87% efficacy rate from the Phase III trial of our Varicella vaccine. The conclusion of this trial means that we are on track for commercialization by the end of 2019 and marks an important milestone in our goal to commercialize the varicella vaccine. Once commercialized, the Varicella vaccine will be supplied to meet existing market demand and support our subsidiary Sinovac Dalian in strengthening its financial position in the near future."

Sinovac obtained clinical research approval for its proprietary Varicella vaccine candidate from the CFDA in September 2015, and completed Phase I clinical trials in 2016. The preliminary results of the Phase I studies confirmed that Sinovac's vaccine candidate has a good safety profile.



About Sinovac

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases. Sinovac's product portfolio includes vaccines against enterovirus 71, or EV71, hepatitis A and B, seasonal influenza, H5N1 pandemic influenza (avian flu), H1N1 influenza (swine flu), and mumps.In addition, an innovative vaccine developed by Sinovac against hand foot and mouth disease caused by EV71 was commercialized in China in 2016. In 2009, Sinovac was the first company worldwide to receive approval for its H1N1 influenza vaccine, which it has supplied to the Chinese Government's vaccination campaign and stockpiling program. The Company is also the only supplier of the H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccine to the government stockpiling program. The Company is currently developing a number of new products including a Sabin-strain inactivated polio vaccine, pneumococcal polysaccharides vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and varicella vaccine. Sinovac primarily sells its vaccines in China, while also exploring growth opportunities in international markets. The Company has exported select vaccines to 10 countries in Asia and South America. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.sinovac.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "will,""expects,""anticipates,""future,""intends,""plans,""believes,""estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release contain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Sinovac's beliefs and expectations (including with respect to the filing of the2016 Annual Report, the compliance plan, the internal investigation, the SEC enforcement action and the litigation matters discussed above), are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward- looking statement. Sinovac does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Contact

Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

Helen Yang

Tel: +86-10-8279-9871

Fax: +86-10-6296-6910

Email: [email protected]

ICR Inc.

Bill Zima

U.S: 1-646-308-1707

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.sinovac.com


LONDON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global Platts, the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets, today announced the appointment of Chris Midgley, as Head of Analytics Content. Chris commences his role today, meeting customers and market participants at the S&P Global Platts APPEC conference in Singapore.

Based in London and reporting to S&P Global Platts President, Martin Fraenkel, Chris will lead and execute the strategy for Analytics, which combines in-depth commodity and energy market knowledge, analysis and algorithms with fundamental data to support customers' strategic decisions. It encompasses organic businesses developed within Platts as well as acquisitions, including PIRA Energy, RigData, Eclipse Energy, cFlow and Bentek Energy.

Chris brings over 25 years of oil industry experience, 20 years of which working with Shell, primarily in manufacturing, supply, trading and strategy. For the past four years, Chris headed up Shell's Oil Markets Analysis division, where he developed long-term outlooks to support the Group's investment decisions and strategies and as Shell Trading's Chief Economist providing short-term market views to inform trading positions. Chris has also been a director of a number of shipping and oil-related companies.

Martin Fraenkel, President of S&P Global Platts said: "It is a testament to Platts growing reputation in analytics that we can attract top talent like Chris. He has built deep commercial as well as solid technical and operational experience, which strongly positions him for this role. In leading S&P Global Platts Analytics, Chris will work closely with our internal stakeholders across Content, Product Management & IT as well as engaging closely with customers. He will ensure we make the advances in our product suite and develop offerings across commodities that meet our customers' needs by helping them improve investment decisions and manage risk".

Chris replaces Mark Schwartz who performed the head of Platts Analytics role on an interim basis this year. Mark will ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities to Chris and will continue as Managing Director of Scenario Planning.

About S&P Global Platts

At S&P Global Platts, we provide the insights; you make better informed trading and business decisions with confidence. We're the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets. Customers in over 150 countries look to our expertise in news, pricing and analytics to deliver greater transparency and efficiency to markets. S&P Global Platts coverage includes oil and gas, power, petrochemicals, metals, agriculture and shipping.

S&P Global Platts is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.platts.com.

SOURCE S&P Global Platts

Related Links

http://www.platts.com


LONDON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Telit, a global enabler of the Internet of Things (IoT), today announced that VAIO selected its LTE Category 9 (Cat 9) LN940 mobile data card from the LN940x family to enable reliable, secure LTE-Advanced connectivity in the manufacturer's popular S series of notebooks targeted for mobile professionals. For technical details about the Telit LN94x family and LN940 series of M.2 LTE-Advanced wireless modules visit: http://info.telit.com/ln940-data-card.

With Telit's LN940, VAIO will unveil the industry's first laptops and notebooks delivering Cat 9 mobile broadband download speeds of up to 450 Mbps. Beginning late September of 2017, the Telit-enabled VAIO S series (S11 and S13) will be available in Japan where the LN940 is certified with top mobile network operators. Global deployment and other certifications are planned for 2018.

The challenge to manage multiple types of mobile computing equipment to accommodate an increasingly mobile global workforce pushes enterprises to adjust their operations. With the single-SKU LN940 supporting 24 LTE bands and 3G fallback, device manufacturers can provide an effective solution for international business travel across all geographies, while simplifying their own logistics, manufacturing, and inventory management.

"We have been integrating Telit data cards into our mobile products from our previous model and always aim to deliver leading edge solutions like the LTE Advanced technologies we are integrating now which improves product performance and leads to enhancement of customer satisfaction," said Kaoru Hayashi, Senior General Manager PC Business Division of VAIO. "Mobile professionals require even higher speeds and capabilities from seamless video conferencing to large file transfers. The introduction of the first 450 Mbps mobile data capable notebooks in the market should satisfy VAIO PC customers who demand reliable mobility."

"Selected as the sole provider of embedded LTE Cat 9 data cards by VAIO further validates that Telit provides the latest, highest-quality and most reliable mobile broadband solutions for use today," said Yosi Fait, Interim CEO, Telit. "We look forward to delivering best-in-class quality for the mobile computing market from our robust Lx940 portfolio that customers can take advantage of today and easily upgrade with future rollouts of higher LTE categories, including 5G."

Ideal for mobile computing, networking, and industrial IoT platforms that command an ultra-thin footprint with low power consumption for extended battery use, the LN94x family is a 42mm M.2 form factor with integrated satellite positioning functionality supporting GPS, GLONASS and Beidou. The LN94x data card series includes variants delivering LTE-Advanced high-speed data in Categories 6, 9, and 11 supporting carrier aggregation for the fastest mobile data performance possible.

Download an image of the LN940 mobile data card: http://www.telit.com/fileadmin/public_downloads/Telit-LN940-M2-Mobile-Data-Card.PNG.

About Telit

Telit (AIM: TCM), is a global leader in Internet of Things (IoT) enablement. The company offers the industry's broadest portfolio of integrated products and services for end-to-end IoT deployments  including cellular communication modules in all technologies, GNSS, Wi-Fi, short-to-long range wireless modules, IoT connectivity plans and IoT platform services. Through the IoT Portal, Telit makes IoT onboarding easy, reduces risk, time to market, complexity and costs for asset tracking, remote monitoring and control, telematics, industrial automation and others, across many industries and vertical markets worldwide.

Copyright  2017 Telit Communications PLC. All rights reserved. Telit and all associated logos are trademarks of Telit Communications PLC in the United States and other countries. Other names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Telit Media Contact

Leslie Hart

919-415-1510

[email protected]

SOURCE Telit

Related Links

http://www.telit.com


LEXINGTON, Ky., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE: TPX) today announced that Bhaskar Rao has been appointed as the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective October 13, 2017. Mr. Rao is a certified public accountant who joined the Company in 2004 after a successful 9 year career at a major public accounting firm. Since joining Tempur Sealy, he has served several leadership roles throughout the finance organization, most recently as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer.

Tempur Sealy Chairman and CEO Scott Thompson commented, "We welcome Bhaskar's appointment as the Chief Financial Officer as he continues his successful rise through the organization. He has demonstrated effective leadership and a deep knowledge of finance and accounting over the last 13 years and has been an instrumental member of our executive management team. I am confident that Bhaskar will transition quickly into the new role, and with the rest of Tempur Sealy, continue to drive our long-term initiatives."

Barry A. Hytinen will be stepping down as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer to pursue an opportunity outside of the bedding industry, effective October 13, 2017.

"I wish to thank Barry for his years of dedication to Tempur Sealy," Thompson said. "On behalf of the board of directors, shareholders, and the employees of Tempur Sealy, I wish him and his family well in all their future endeavors."

About the Company

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE: TPX) develops, manufactures, and markets mattresses, foundations, pillows and other products. The Company's products are sold worldwide through third party retailers, its own stores, and online. The Company's brand portfolio includes many highly recognized brands in the industry, including Tempur, Tempur-Pedic, Sealy featuring Posturepedic Technology, and Stearns & Foster. World headquarters for Tempur Sealy International is in Lexington, KY. For more information, visit http://www.tempursealy.com or call 800-805-3635.

Investor Relations Contact

Aubrey Moore

Investor Relations

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

800-805-3635

[email protected]

SOURCE Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.tempursealy.com


BOSTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hello.boston, a company specializing in domain name registrations, has opened pre-registrations for .BOSTON Internet domains ahead of their public availability on October 10. Any business or individual can apply for a .BOSTON domain name at www.hello.boston.com starting at $17.99 per domain.

.boston domains .boston domains

The new .BOSTON domain is just like the traditional .COM, .NET, .ORG, etc, but identifies the website as made in or about the city of Boston, such as www.hotels. Boston , www.education.Boston or www.restaurants.Boston. This new extension is part of a program developed by ICANN to increase the number of possible domains. Other major cities, including New York, London, and Berlin, have already launched their own domain extensions.

"If you own a business, work or live in Boston, it's imperative you acquire your .BOSTON domain," said Gerardo Aristizabal, director of Hello.boston. "Owning a piece of Boston's digital real estate offers tremendous branding and marketing opportunities. This is a good move for a global community like Boston with a burgeoning startup community, red-hot real estate market and always-thriving hospitality industry. We've seen a huge response for these city-focused domains elsewhere and expect the same excitement here in Boston."

The Hello.boston team has extensive experience introducing local domains having been actively involved in the launch of .NYC, the domain for the city of New York. The team supported the City Government registrations and the founders program for the first .NYC domains to go live, among other activities. Now they are working on getting .BOSTON domains to their rightful hands.

The pre-registration period, available through www.hello.boston, gives local businesses and entrepreneurs an early opportunity to acquire their brand domain names and be the first ones to own a piece of .BOSTON.

For more information or to secure your .BOSTON domain, visit www.hello.boston.

Media contact: Gerardo Aristizabal

Ph: 917 331 3703

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Hello.boston

Related Links

http://www.hello.boston


"If anyone is ready for a second store, it's Danny," said Charles J. Bonfiglio, CEO of Tint World. "He's been a Platinum Customer Service Excellence Award winner and was our 2016 Franchise Mentor of the Year. He's really helped put the Tint World name on the map in the San Antonio area and I have no doubt this store will be just as successful as his first one."

"I've been a general manager in the auto industry for more than a decade, and owning my own business was always something I wanted to do," Rios said. "Once I was introduced to Tint World, I knew I had found a special brand and an amazing opportunity to work with a family-oriented company in an industry that I am passionate about. I'm looking forward to having the extra shop space to help even more automotive enthusiasts in San Antonio."

The all-new Tint World San Antonio store is located at 2525 NE Loop 410 Suite 100 and is open Monday through Saturday. To find out more, call 210-960-3325.

Tint World Automotive Styling Centers offer sales and installation of auto accessories, mobile electronics, audio video equipment, security systems, custom wheels and tire packages, window tinting, vehicle wraps, paint protection films, detailing services, nano ceramic coatings, maintenance and repair services, and more. Tint World is also the leading provider of residential, commercial and marine computerized window tinting and security film services with locations throughout the U.S. and abroad, with franchise opportunities available worldwide.

About Tint World

Founded in 1982, Tint World has grown to become an award-winning franchised provider of automotive, residential, commercial and marine window tinting and security film services. With Automotive Styling Centers in the U.S. and abroad, each franchise location houses approximately 20 profit centers, ranging from in-store accessory installations to off-site sales and installation of residential, commercial and marine window tinting and security films. To find out more, please visit www.tintworld.com and tintworldfranchise.com.

Tint World Contact:



Charles J. Bonfiglio, CEO

(800) 767-8468

[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Tint World

Related Links

https://www.tintworld.com


LONDON, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Amid a nation dying and destroyed by the impact of last week's Hurricane Maria, Dominica's Prime Minister, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit, has rallied countries to unite and confront the war on climate change.

At the United Nations General Assembly, the Prime Minister begged for solidarity at a time that has left his country homeless and hungry:

"I have left my bleeding nation to be with you here today because these are the moments for which the United Nation exists."

Prime Minister Skerrit explained that warmer air and sea temperatures caused by climate change were behind the two recent hurricanes that have affected nations across the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and ravaged the island of Dominica, which is currently in a state of emergency.

An impassioned Prime Minister pleaded with the General Assembly, rallying larger nations, in particular, to act:

"There is no more time for conversation. There is little time left for action. While the big countries talk, the small island nations suffer. We need action and we need it now!"

Known for its unparalleled and unspoiled beauty, the small island nation has for 20 years held a national park with UNESCO World Heritage status. "The desolation is beyond imagination," described Prime Minister Skerrit:

"The stars have fallen! Eden is broken! 72,000 Dominicans lie on the frontline in a war that they did not start!"

Keeping to the theme of war, the Prime Minister called on military resources "standing idle" to be engaged for rescue and rebuilding efforts:

"Let Dominica today be that war... because currently, our landscape reflects a war zone."

Following the address in New York, the Prime Minister returned to Dominica to face the escalating death toll and a stark reality of the climate war on his doorstep.

Footage Of Prime Minister Skerrit At The United Nations General Assembly Available Here: http://bit.ly/2yAeHQH or https://we.tl/jVz9Qqob6J

SOURCE DOMINICA HURRICANE MARIA RELIEF FUND
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Voter Registration Day, 3,000 partners across the country will join together on Tuesday, September 26, for a massive 50-state effort to register voters in time for the November 2017 state and municipal elections. As the "Earth Day" of democracy  National Voter Registration Day is an annual opportunity for Americans of all backgrounds and political affiliations to come together and ensure that everyone gets the chance to exercise their right to vote.

Every year, millions of Americans are unable to vote because of problems with their voter registration, because they missed a crucial registration deadline, or they don't know how to register in the first place. In fact, new data from the Democracy Fund points out that 41 percent of voters don't know they have to update their voter registration when they move across town, and 20 percent don't know they have to do so when they move to another state. Even in states where the registration process is made easy with online voter registration, only 1 in 3 voters are aware they have an online registration option.

"National Voter Registration Day is an opportunity to cut through the confusion about the voter registration process and help Americans across the country ensure their registration is up to date," said Chris Carson, president of the League of Women Voters.

Local elections for school boards, mayors, judges, bond issues and ballot measures are being held across the country. These elections impact on people's day-to-day lives in very concrete ways, including the quality of roads and transit systems, the schools children attend, parks and greenways and public safety.

"Local elections matter more to everyday quality of life than any other election contest," said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a National Voter Registration Day Steering Committee Member. "Your vote is your voice. But you can't use that voice unless you first register to vote."

For eligible voters, you must register or update your registration, depending on state law, if you'll turn 18 by Election Day, if you're a newly naturalized citizen, when you move across town or across state lines, when you change your name, or if you haven't voted in a while, in which case your registration may have been removed due to inactivity.

You can update your voter registration online at NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org

Since 2012, over 1.4 million people have registered to vote or updated their registration as part of National Voter Registration Day, celebrated annually on the 4th Tuesday in September. The holiday has continued to grow each year with new partnerships and energy. Some of the major new partners for 2017 include the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Facebook, BET Networks, CMT and WeWork (see full list of partners here).

"Military and veteran families are a vital part of every community in America. While their service is national, their family needs are local," said Col. Mike Turner, USAF (Ret.), Executive Director of the Military Officers Association of America's (MOAA) Military Family Initiative. "Voting in every election is the surest way their voices will be heard."

"Voting is the great equalizer and through our BET Vote campaign, we want to make it easier for people to have a voice in the political process", said Nneka Norville, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at BET Networks. "National Voter Registration Day is an opportunity to galvanize our employees and our audience around the importance of civic participation."

To find out more about how to register or whether you need to update your voter registration, visit NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org. Make sure to follow National Voter Registration Day activities through social media on September 26 by searching #NationalVoterRegistrationDay.

In addition to the 3,000+ national and community partners across the nation, major partners include Alliance for Youth Organizing, Andrew Goodman Foundation, APALA, Arab American Institute, Asian Pacific Islander American Vote, BET Networks, Carnegie Corporation, CenterLink, Country Music Television / CMT, Every Library, Facebook, FELN, FourSquare, Headcount, Independent Sector, Inspire US, LWV, Mi Familia Vota, Military Officers Assoc. of America (MOAA), MTV, NALEO Educational Fund, National Action Network, National Council of Nonprofits, NASS, NASED, National Disability Rights Network, Nonprofit VOTE, Reddit, Rock the Vote, Spotify, Students Learn Students Vote, Tumblr, TurboVote, Twitter, United Way, Univision, Vote.org, VotoLatino, Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, WeWork, and YWCA.

SOURCE National Voter Registration Day

Related Links

http://NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org


DALLAS, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital media powerhouse Top 10 Jungle has just released its Top 10 Small Business Loan Reviews for 2017 and has given the top spot to New York City-based OnDeck Capital.

"I am pleased to announce that OnDeck Capital is the 2017 Award Winner," said Benny Alvarez, Top 10 Jungle Spokesman, "The growth of the US economy is based on small business having easy access to credit. On Deck has been innovating in the lending space for ten years. They have taken small business lending to an entirely new level. They are a class act!"

Top 10 Debt Consolidation Reviews Read Expert Reviews. Compare Prices & Save Money. Get Approvals in Minutes And Access $5,000 to $500,000 within 24 Hours.

Choosing a top 10 small business loan provider can be confusing. Small business loans can be the difference between success and failure as a business owner. Your traditional bank on the corner is not your only option  not anymore. The internet has made credit more accessible through various online lenders. Through Top 10 Jungle, you can find access to:

Revolving Lines of Credit

Unsecured Loans

Business Debt Consolidation

SBA Loans

Merchant Cash Advance

Equipment Financing and much more

About Top 10 Jungle

Top 10 Jungle is Radical Reviews and Mystical Madness. The once secretive company has become a global provider of news and slick digital content. It is most well known for its authoritative "Top 10 Reviews," "Best Rated Products," "Cool Gadgets," and "Trending Now."

About Top 10 Reviews

Top 10 Reviews provides rankings for Small Business Loans, Debt Consolidation, Medical Alert Devices, Pet Insurance, VPN, Personal Loans, Online Check Ordering, Anti-Virus Software, Web Hosting, Website Builders and more...

About Best Rated Products

The Best Rated Products Division is where you want to look when you are about to make a purchase. We cover a wide range of products from tablets, laptops, modems, cameras to the latest book you just have to read. We are adding categories daily. Our purpose is to make it easy for you to pick the best product and to be confident in your decision. If there is a product you would like to see us review and compare, please click here or email [email protected].

We have something for everyone at Top 10 Jungle and best of all - it's free!

To learn more about Top 10 Jungle, please visit the company's website at top10jungle.com.

For press inquiries or partnership opportunities, please contact Benny Alvarez at [email protected].

Related Images

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Top 10 Small Business Loan Reviews

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Top 10 Small Business Loan Reviews

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Top 10 Small Business Loan Reviews

image4.jpg

Top 10 Small Business Loan Reviews

Related Links

Top 10 Jungle Facebook

On Deck Capital

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s1ewMx9_Ho

SOURCE Top 10 Jungle
WAYNE, N.J., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Toys"R"Us, Inc. ("the Company") today announced that it has closed on $3.1 billion of financing facilities that will support the Company's operations during its previously announced financial restructuring process. These financings will support the ongoing liquidity needs of the Company as well as provide additional funds to invest in various initiatives. These investments include the renovation and modernization of Toys"R"Us stores through improved layouts, updated lighting patterns and other areas to bring them into the next era of retail shopping. The investments will also include updating the Company's e-commerce sites and infrastructure to better reflect its brand, promote the hottest toys and provide improved delivery capabilities so Toys"R"Us can effectively compete in the online shopping space.

Various lenders contributed to the debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing, including a JPMorgan-led bank syndicate and certain of the Company's existing lenders. On September 20, 2017, the Company received interim approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to access up to $2.2 billion of the DIP financing. The Company intends to seek final Court approval to access the full amount of the DIP financing at a hearing that is scheduled for October 10, 2017.

Toys"R"Us also today announced that, in connection with the initiation of its financial restructuring proceedings, it has cancelled its Q2 2017 Earnings Conference Call scheduled for September 26, 2017. Toys"R"Us intends, as soon as possible, to resume filing relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Forms 8-K, 10-Q, 10-K and other relevant documents concerning the Company's financial performance.

As previously announced on September 18, 2017, Toys"R"Us and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries and its Canadian subsidiary voluntarily filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond, VA. In addition, the Company's Canadian subsidiary sought and was granted protection in parallel proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act ("CCAA") in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The Company intends to use these court-supervised proceedings to restructure its outstanding debt and establish a sustainable capital structure that will enable it to invest in long-term growth and fuel its aspirations to bring play to kids everywhere and be a best friend to parents.

Additional information on the Company's restructuring can be accessed by visiting the Company's restructuring website at www.toysrusinc.com/restructuring, calling the Company's Information Hotline, toll-free in the U.S. at 844-794-3476, or sending an email to [email protected] in the U.S. or to [email protected] in Canada. Court filings and other documents related to the court-supervised process in the U.S. are available on a separate website administered by the Company's claims agent, Prime Clerk, at https://cases.primeclerk.com/toysrus. Information about the CCAA proceedings is available on a separate site maintained by an independent Monitor at www.grantthornton.ca/ToysRUs. The Monitor also has a hotline at 416-777-7202 or 1-855-747-2648.

About Toys"R"Us, Inc.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 885 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam, and in more than 810 international stores and over 255 licensed stores in 37 countries and jurisdictions. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com, the company provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Toys"R"Us, Inc. is headquartered in Wayne, NJ, and has nearly 65,000 employees worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Over the past three decades, the Company has given more than $100 million in product donations to children's charities. Since 1992, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys"R"Us, Inc., has also donated more than $130 million in grants. For more information, visit Toysrusinc.com or follow @ToysRUsNews on Twitter.

SOURCE Toys"R"Us, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.toysrus.com


A man punched and kicked a 39-year-old woman onboard a southbound Q train in Brooklyn while attempting to take her cellphone, according to the NYPD.

Police say that on September 15th, at around 2:50 p.m., the woman was onboard the aforementioned Q near the Prospect Park stop when a man she did not know approached her and tried to steal her phone. He then punched and kicked her in the head and body, police said, before he fled the scene without her phone.

The victim was not seriously injured, cops said, and did not want medical attention at the scene.

Cops say the suspect, pictured above, is a male in his twenties, approximately 6'2" tall and 280lbs, last seen wearing a black T-shirt, military fatigue pants and brown boots.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
ATLANTA, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Triad Advisors, Inc., the independent broker-dealer focused on hybrid advisors, today announced it raised more than $36,000 for One Summit at its 20th annual National Conference held in September in La Jolla, California. One Summit is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to help childhood cancer patients and their families build courage, self-confidence and resilience through experiential learning and mentorship with a US Navy SEAL. Triad Advisors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services (NYSE American: LTS; LTS PrA).

Based in Boston, One Summit was founded in 2013 by Adam La Reau, a former US Navy SEAL who began volunteering for cancer organizations after his mother succumbed to breast cancer in 2004 while he was serving in Iraq. The non-profit pairs active and former SEALs with young cancer patients to teach them life skills through indoor rock climbing.

Jeff Rosenthal, President and CEO of Triad Advisors, said, "Everyone at Triad is incredibly honored to support the inspiring work of One Summit. While it is a relatively young organization, One Summit has already had a profound impact on the lives of countless families across the country, and we are pleased to have a small role in helping connect children bravely fighting cancer with Navy SEALs who have heroically and selflessly served our country."

Triad's fundraising event for One Summit continued the firm's strong tradition of supporting charitable organizations where Triad holds its National Conference each year. The Triad donations will benefit One Summit's San Diego Climb for Courage program, an indoor rock climbing event to empower children in their fight against cancer through a curriculum based on the SEAL code.

Adam La Reau, President and Founder of One Summit, said, "We are immensely grateful to Triad's advisors, their strategic partners and home office staff for their very generous donation. Their kindness will bolster our ability to provide exciting, challenging and safe adventures for children battling this devastating disease, as well as provide them with inspiration while they fight the ultimate fight."

About One Summit

One Summit's mission is to help childhood cancer patients and their families build courage, self-confidence and resilience through experiential learning and mentorship with a US Navy SEAL. Through their Climb for Courage program (located in Boston, New York and San Diego) patients and SEALs enjoy a day of indoor rock climbing while building lasting relationships and skills. To learn more, visit www.onesummit.org.

About Triad Advisors

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Triad Advisors, Inc. is a national, independent broker-dealer and multi-custodial SEC-Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) that is an early pioneer and continued leader in the Hybrid RIA marketplace. The company provides a comprehensive platform of products, trading and technology systems, as well as customized wealth management solutions. Recognized as one of the most successful and fastest-growing independent broker-dealers in the industry (including being named the leading broker-dealer for Hybrid RIAs eight years in a row by Investment Advisor Magazine), Triad Advisors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS; LTS PrA). For more information, please visit www.triad-advisors.com.

Media Contacts:

Joseph Kuo /Matthew Griffes

Haven Tower Group

424 652 6520 ext. 101 or 424 652 6520 ext. 103

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Triad Advisors, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.triad-advisors.com


HOUSTON, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Two founding shareholders of Texas-based Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC have earned recognition for their real estate law practices in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the nation's oldest peer-review guide to legal services.

Marc Markel and Rick Butler have built robust practices advising community and homeowners associations, as well as other residential and commercial real estate clients. Both are Board Certified in Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Mr. Markel is experienced in handling all aspects of real estate transactions. A charter fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers, he is active in defending those organizations in litigation. He also has written master deed restrictions for many large residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects.

Mr. Butler's experience in representing residential and commercial property owners' associations on all types of matters spans nearly 40 years. His current focus is on the representation of numerous developers for which he drafts various types of real estate documents necessary for the initial creation and then the ongoing expansion of residential, commercial, mixed-use, and master planned developments throughout the state.

To learn more about Mr. Markel and Mr. Butler, visit the Best Lawyers website at https://www.bestlawyers.com/Search?query=Roberts%20Markel%20Weinberg%20Butler.

The Best Lawyers in America is one of the most respected guides to lawyers in the U.S. Those selected for listing are first nominated, with lawyers in their practice areas and geographic regions providing feedback. The publication's researchers conduct additional review.

In addition to their Best Lawyers in America honors, Mr. Markel and Mr. Butler also are regularly included in the annual Texas Super Lawyers listing.

About the Firm

Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC is committed to providing an enhanced level of service to clients seeking counsel in professional liability, directors and officers litigation, fiduciary litigation, commercial disputes, labor and employment, energy arbitration, appeals, community association law, and corporate and real estate transactions. The firm has offices in Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Fort Bend County. To learn more, please visit http://www.rmwbhlaw.com/.

For more information, please contact Kit Frieden at 800-559-5434 or [email protected].

SOURCE Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC

Related Links

http://www.rmwbhlaw.com


DALLAS, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- US-Analytics, a leader in EPM consulting and services, acquired Atlanta-based BI firm Rittman Mead America (RMA) for an undisclosed amount this week to better serve the needs of customers nationwide. Both companies bring decades of experience in the development and support of business analytics systems. Their leaders share a singular mission: help organizations harness the power of their data.

"The opportunity to add RMA's capabilities and reach just made sense," said Scott Preszler, CEO and president of US-Analytics. "EPM and BI systems are synergistic  together, they deepen our customers' insight into their business performance. And RMA has the best reputation in the BI space. They are the ninjas of BI."

US-Analytics plans to continue offering the business intelligence training, products, and services that made RMA a trusted name.

"Our consultants are excited to join a team that values quality as much as we do," said Charles Elliott, managing director at RMA. "Customers will enjoy superior service and gain access to a broader set of offerings."

Preszler and Elliott agreed that a key driver of the acquisition was a shared vision for the products and services developed by RMA. Also described as "accelerators," the products are designed to maximize BI systems' efficiency, performance, and insight.

RMA will remain based in Atlanta and operate under the US-Analytics name.

"To expand regionally, we had already planned to open an office in the southeast to support the demand we see in the EPM space," said Preszler. "Atlanta was always the preferred destination, and now it's a reality."

Prior to the acquisition, RMA was wholly owned by Rittman Mead Consulting, Ltd., based in Brighton, UK.

About US-Analytics

US-Analytics is a full-service Oracle and Microsoft EPM consulting firm. By modernizing outdated reporting and forecasting processes, we bring insights to your fingertips, free up IT resources, and empower your team to be boardroom advisers.

For over 18 years, we have helped hundreds of companies uncover a 360-degree view of their business: documenting the past with financial close reporting, understanding the present with business analytics, and seeing the future with budgeting and forecasting. By partnering with us, you can harness the power your data holds.

US-Analytics' offices are located in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Atlanta.

For more information, visit www.us-analytics.com.

SOURCE US-Analytics

Related Links

http://www.us-analytics.com


(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150730/250177LOGO )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/561431/Routes_Vancouver_Winners.jpg )

The World Routes Marketing Awards are one of most prestigious events in the aviation industry. They are voted for by airline professionals who nominate the airports and destinations that provide outstanding support during the launch of new air routes or the development of existing services.

Vancouver is North America's fastest-growing international airport, increasing at nearly twice the average rate. Last year passenger numbers increased by 9.7% to 22.3 million, putting the airport on track to surpass its goal of 25 million passengers by 2020. Eight new routes were launched and 10 new airlines were gained in existing markets.

Anne Murray, Vancouver International Airport's vice president of marketing & Communications said: "We are deeply honoured with this recognition. This all comes down to team - our exceptional team at YVR, our outstanding airline partners and our community and tourism organizations who all work together to support the increase of traffic to Vancouver."

Air Canada's Bonnie Walker, director of sales for Western Canada, explained the airline's relationship with Vancouver International Airport (YVR): "We truly are partners. They will work with you to bring customers and agencies to YVR to show what an amazing experience it is connecting through this airport. And I'd like to say thank you to YVR for that."

In addition to the overall winner, the airport and destination awards are judged in five categories. Vancouver was also honoured in the '20-50 Million Passengers' category, while Nuremberg Airport won 'Under 4 Million Passengers'; Prague Airport won '4 Million-20 Million Passengers'; Singapore Changi Airport won 'Over 50 Million Passengers' and Canary Islands Tourist Board won the 'Destination' award.

This year a new category was introduced to celebrate the individuals who make an outstanding contribution to route development. Leon Verhallen, Brussels Airport's head of aviation development, scooped the award for helping to secure six new airlines and 17 new destinations in the last year, including routes to Shanghai (Hainan Airlines) and Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific).

Leon said: "This is a very special award for me. It's my 30th year working in aviation, but this has only been possible because of the teams I have worked with. I spent many years in Amsterdam and the past 13 years in the Brussels team. I am proud to have worked with such amazing people.

"I was at the birth of the aviation marketing and since then the industry has come such a long way; you only have to look at the quality of people in the room here tonight."

Steven Small, brand director of Routes, presented the awards. He said: "Congratulations to all of our winners who have impressed the judges with their achievements. The awards evening has been a brilliant way to bring the aviation industry together to celebrate success."

The Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council have been hosting World Routes 2017 for 2,600 delegates from the global aviation industry. The awards ceremony took place at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.

More information is available at routesonline.com

Notes to Editors:

Full list of winners:

Individual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Route Development

Leon Verhallen, Brussels Airport (winner)

Under 4 Million Passengers Award

Nuremberg Airport (winner)

Shannon Airport (highly commended)

4-20 Million Passengers Award

Prague Airport (winner)

Naples International Airport (highly commended)

20-50 Million Passengers Award

Vancouver International Airport (winner)

Munich Airport (highly commended)

Over 50 Million Passengers Award

Singapore Changi Airport (winner)

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (highly commended)

Destination Award

Canary Islands Tourist Board (winner)

Tenerife Tourism Corporation (highly commended)

Senior airline executives judged the airport and destination categories. A panel of executives from the wider aviation industry reviewed the award for individuals.

Routes events are unique forums dedicated to the development of new air services. They revolve around pre-scheduled meetings, an exhibition and a conference. Four 'regional' route development forums are held in the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa, with the flagship World Routes event taking place in September.

Routes events are organised by UBM plc. UBM is the largest B2B event organiser in the world. Our 3,750+ people, based in more than 20 countries, serve more than 50 different sectors. Our deep knowledge and passion for these sectors allow us to create valuable experiences which enable our customers to succeed. Please visit http://www.ubm.com for the latest news and information about UBM.

For more information contact:

Karen O'Neill

Communications & Content Marketing Manager

Routes, UBM EMEA

T: +44(0)161-234-2721

M: +44(0)796-6405-105

E: [email protected]



SOURCE Routes
DUBAI, UAE, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Visionscape Group, an environmental utility company, today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire UK based thermoplastics engineering company, Petlon Polymers. The transaction is a strategic move for Visionscape and will enhance its global ambitions as it forays into the European markets. The acquisition will add to Visionscape Group's service offerings across the waste management value chain.

Petlon Polymers is a compounder and polymer recovery company specializing in engineering thermoplastics with an established global presence in demanding markets. With over 40 years in the business, Petlon has a strong reputation of consistency and growth. The existing management and staff will keep their jobs and remain intact.

"The acquisition of the Petlon business is a complementary addition to Visionscape's global waste management solution as we continuously seek innovative and environmentally effective solutions for our customers. We are delighted to have completed the transaction and look forward to working with the existing management team and the company's key stakeholders to grow the business." said Harry Ackerman, Executive Director, Visionscape.

Geoffrey Bouchier, Joint Administrator and Managing Director at Duff & Phelps, the financial advisory firm tasked with the successful transaction said, "We are pleased to announce the successful sale of the Petlon Polymers business to Visionscape, which has facilitated business continuity for its customer base and supply chain, and has preserved the jobs of its entire workforce."

The sale transaction completed on 11 September 2017.

About Visionscape

Visionscape is a global environmental utility group providing turnkey solutions in areas of sanitation, energy and wastewater treatment. The company aims to reinvent waste management processes, specific to emerging markets, utilising cutting-edge technology and tools to address the waste management needs of megacities. Visionscape also offers services for commercial, residential, industrial, and healthcare clients.

For more, please visit www.Visionscape.group

About Duff & Phelps

Duff & Phelps is a premier independent advisor with expertise in the areas of valuation, corporate finance, disputes and investigations, compliance and regulatory matters, and other governance-related issues. Our clients include publicly traded and privately held companies, law firms, government entities and investment organizations such as private equity firms and hedge funds. We also advise the world's leading standard setting bodies on valuation issues and best practices. Duff & Phelps' nearly 2,500 professionals are located in over 70 offices in 20 countries around the world.

About Petlon Polymers

Petlon Polymers Limited's Engineering Thermoplastic Division is a leading compounder and polymer recovery company specialising in Engineering Thermoplastics (nylon 6, nylon 66, PET and PBT) and Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE-s) with global supply capability and proven local support. Petlon Polymers was founded in 1978 and is privately held (JWH Group Ltd). The company is headquartered in Lydney, Gloucestershire, UK.

SOURCE Visionscape
OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Xantrion Inc., a top 100 worldwide provider of IT services for midsized companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been recognized as one of the San Francisco Business Times "Largest Women-Owned Businesses" for the tenth consecutive year.

"It continues to be gratifying to make the list," said Anne Bisagno, president and co-founder of Xantrion. "I have the best team in the IT business!"

The San Francisco Business Times partners with PriceWaterhouseCoopers to research privately held businesses headquartered in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties, ranking them by criteria such as revenues, ownership and growth.

About Xantrion

Experts in tailored cloud strategies, application hosting, cybersecurity, and technical support, Xantrion provides outsourced IT services for midsized companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its team of professionals brings impeccable technical, business, and interpersonal skills to every assignment. Featuring an award-winning consultative approach, SOC2 Type II credentialed data centers, 24/7 help desk, fixed fees, and a 99.99% uptime record, Xantrion is a proven partner for both project-based and turnkey network services.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Anne Bisagno

Cofounder and President

Xantrion

(510) 272-4701 Ext. 201

[email protected]

SOURCE Xantrion Inc.

Related Links

http://www.xantrion.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yieldbot, the leading media marketplace for real-time consumer intent, and Breaktime Media, who specialize in driving digital consumer engagements through the use of bite-sized content campaigns, today announced a new strategic alliance. The collaboration is designed to provide brands with cohesive media and messaging strategies, all on a pay for performance model.

"Consumers are demanding brands connect all interactions in a meaningful way and this partnership with Breaktime Media delivers that," said Jonathan Mendez, CEO and co-founder of Yieldbot. "Any brand investing in digital engagement can now turn to our companies to ensure that from mobile media to brand experience they are delivering consumer value that will lead to in-store purchase."

By leveraging first-party data instead of second or third-party "cookie profiles," Yieldbot is able to target real-time consumer intent across mobile and desktop. A key advantage of the Yieldbot and Breaktime alliance is the ability to connect consumers who are actively seeking specific products or services with media that leads directly to a rich and creative interaction.

"Our offering is built around giving brands a content platform to authentically engage with their target shoppers, have a meaningful interaction and drive measurable results," said Josh Ginsberg, Executive Vice President, Breaktime Media. "Partnering with Yieldbot allows us to extend our engagement engine across Yieldbot's network of over 900+ publishers and offer our mutual clients a more effective way to reach, connect and activate consumers along the path to purchase from pre-shop to in-store."

About Yieldbot

Yieldbot is a media technology company that uses first-party data to create a marketplace for consumer intent. The technology enables media owners to market the real-time intent of their consumers to the buyer universe created by search. The company works with more than 900 major publisher web sites and every major agency holding company in the world to help them understand active consumers and match them with the right messages in real-time.

Yieldbot was founded by a team of data and software veterans who wanted to increase the value of digital media for brands and drive higher CPMs for publishers. The company's offerings can be bought and sold on a performance basis.

Yieldbot is headquartered in New York with offices in Bentonville, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Portland. For more information, please visit:http://www.yieldbot.com.

About Breaktime Media

Breaktime Media creates bite-size digital content to connect consumers with brands and retailers along the path to purchase. In addition to serving this content to Breaktime Media's built-in audience, brands can also leverage the engagement engine across multiple distribution channels including in-store POS, FSIs, media partners, social influencers and on retailer websites. On average, consumers are spending 90 seconds interacting with Breaktime content units, enabling them to learn about client's product(s), inspiring consumers to put those products on their shopping list and take action at retail. Breaktime's 100% performance based solution offers full content development and promotional execution including technical build, hosting, creative, sweepstakes legal and prizing fulfillment and targeted media with guaranteed engagement.

The company's engaging content is delivered at zero risk for the world's leading brands including Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Kimberly-Clark and SC Johnson. Breaktime Media is located in Boston, MA. For more information, visit breaktimemedia.com.

Contact: Rachel Robertson, 479-619-7455

SOURCE Yieldbot

Related Links

http://www.yieldbot.com


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Chandigarh, Sep 20 : The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday refused to grant a stay on the arrest of the trustees of Ryan International School over the murder of seven-year-old Pradhuman at its Gurugram branch in Haryana.

The court also issued a notice to the Haryana government to submit a report on the probe into the September 8 murder.

The court refused to stay the arrest of the Pinto family -- Augustine F. Pinto, his wife Grace and their son Ryan -- while taking up their application for anticipatory bail. The matter will now be heard on September 25.

The Haryana Police was investigating the crime. But Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, following a demand from the victim's family, announced last week that the probe will be taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Pintos had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday, seeking anticipatory bail in the case related to the murder of the Class 2 student in the school at Bhondsi area on Sohna Road in Gurugram.

The Pinto family's anticipatory bail plea was earlier rejected by the Bombay High Court, citing jurisdiction issues.

The Bombay High Court had granted conditional interim stay on the arrest of the Pintos till 5 p.m. of September 15 to enable them to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The anticipatory bail plea came up before the Punjab and Haryana High Court here on Tuesday but a judge refused to hear the matter saying that he knew the Pinto family and referred the case to the Chief Justice for assigning it to another court.

Thomas Francis, the Regional Head of Ryan Group of Institutions who was arrested by the Haryana Police, had also moved an application for regular bail.

The district administration in Gurugram has taken over the Ryan School management for three months.

Authorities have ordered shut the school, which reopened on Monday, till September 25.
New Delhi, Sep 20 : The cross-LoC surgical strike last year was carried out by Indian troops to send across a "strong message" to Pakistan, which could not have been conveyed through other means, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army's Northern Command Lt. General D.S. Hooda (retd) has said.

Hooda, who oversaw the September 2016 attack across the Line of Control in Pakistan as then head of the Northern Command, told news channel NDTV that they were also prepared for retaliation from Pakistan's side but it did not happen.

He said one soldier was injured in the operation, though it was not in firing from the Pakistan's side, but in a landmine explosion on the Indian side of the LoC. Hooda said a part of the soldier's leg was blown off.

Asked why the Indian Army chose to go across the LoC to destroy the terror launch pads instead of using air attack or any long-range attack weapon, Hooda said those attacks would not have sent across the same message.

"I think a strong message has to be sent sometimes. You can say you could have done it from air, from long-range artillery... I think a message had to be sent out, a strong message had to be sent out," Hooda told the news channel.

"After the June 2015 strike (by the Indian Army across the India-Myanmar border), a lot of statements had come from Pakistan -- from their Interior Minister as also their official spokesperson -- which said Pakistan is not Myanmar, and we will give a befitting reply if India resorts to any adventurism. Those were the kind of statements that were made.

"Once the surgical strike was carried out, they just went totally quiet. I think that was more of a moral victory," he said.

"The kind of message we wanted to send across, I don't think could have been done by strikes from afar."

Asked whether they anticipated any retaliation, Hooda said: "We had, and why not? It would be unprofessional to say there will be no retaliation, and that we shouldn't plan for it."

"We were prepared, we were ready. But, as I said, I think the Pakistanis were quite shell-shocked. The minute they said surgical strike did not happen, we knew that a response from their side will at best be very very limited," the retired Lt General said.

Asked whether the attacks took place on both sides of the Pir Panjal, Hooda said it was "across the Jammu region and across the Kashmir region. On both sides, there were multiple strikes".

Hooda said the most difficult aspect was planning the return of the troops, and multiple plans were made on how it could be done.

"...the key element was not casualty, but not leaving any man behind".

"Multiple plans were made in case there was a fighting extrication; how it would actually be carried out; what assets would be required for such a contingency; whether in terms of aerial assets or whether in terms of even sending some more people across to bring our people back. So that kind of planning had been put in process and we were conscious that there could be a fighting extrication," he said.

Asked if there was any contact between the Indian soldiers and the Pakistan Army, Hooda replied in the affirmative.

"Yes, there was. The Special Forces had gotten into places where they were confident they could cause maximum number of casualties. So they had to get fairly close to where the camps were and there were some Pakistani posts in close vicinity. So that also had to be catered to. So, yes, they did get into close combat," he said.

The retired Lt General said there was need to provide better equipment to the Special Forces soldiers.

"I think compared with anyone, (they are) the best in the world, our Special Forces people are very good. Having said that, if there is a shortfall, I think its in their equipment. That's something we need to take a hard look at -- give them little better equipment," he said.

A surgical strike was conducted by the Indian Army on September 28-29 night in 2016 on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The strike came following a terrorist attack at an Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 19 soldiers were killed.

In June 2015, the Indian Army had carried out a surgical strike along the India-Myanmar border on the camps of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) militants, days after an ambush in which terrorists killed 18 Army men in Manipur.
San Francisco, Sep 22 : A week after Facebook disclosed the details about Russian political ads worth $100,000 on its platform during the 2016 US presidential election, the social media giant has announced it would now share those 3,000 ads with Congress.

After an extensive legal and policy review, Facebook announced late on Thursday it will share the content of those ads with Congressional investigators.

"We believe it is vitally important that government authorities have the information they need to deliver to the public a full assessment of what happened in the 2016 election," Colin Stretch, General Counsel wrote in a blog post.

"That is an assessment that can be made only by investigators with access to classified intelligence and information from all relevant companies and industries -- and we want to do our part. Congress is best placed to use the information we and others provide to inform the public comprehensively and completely," he added.

Two weeks ago, Facebook announced that it had found more than 3,000 ads addressing social and political issues that ran in the US between 2015 and 2017 and that appear to have come from accounts associated with a Russian entity known as the Internet Research Agency.

Facebook handed over the details to American Special Counsel Robert Mueller that included copies of the ads and details about the accounts that bought them and the targeting criteria they used.

The company cleared that disclosing content was not something it does lightly under any circumstances but it was deeply committed to safeguarding user content, regardless of the user's nationality and ads were user content.

Facebook said that apart from reaching out to the Congressional leadership to agree on a process and schedule to provide the content of these ads, along with related information, to investigators, they would continue their own review and probe to make sure investigators have the information they need.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who returned after taking parental leave after his second daughter was born, said in a post on Friday that he deeply cares about the democratic process and protecting its integrity.

Zuckerberg noted that the social media company has already provided information regarding this issue with the special counsel and have also briefed Congress about it.

He said the company would now make political advertising more transparent. When someone buys political ads on TV or other media, they are required by law to disclose who paid for them.

"Not only will you have to disclose which page paid for an ad, but we will also make it so you can visit an advertiser's page and see the ads they're currently running to any audience on Facebook. We will roll this out over the coming months, and we will work with others to create a new standard for transparency in online political ads," he posted.

Zuckerberg said the company would strengthen ad review process for political ads. Facebook would now increase investment in security and specifically election integrity.

"In the next year, we will more than double the team working on election integrity. In total, we'll add more than 250 people across all our teams focused on security and safety for our community," Zuckerberg said.

The company would also expand partnerships with election commissions around the world. It is already working with electoral commissions in several countries to help people register to vote and learn about the issues.

Facebook would increase sharing of threat information with other tech and security companies.

Not just Facebook, Twitter executives are also scheduled to meet with the US Senate Intelligence Committee next week which is investigating alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election.
Panaji, Sep 22 : Goa opposition leader Chandrakant Kavlekar on Friday appeared before the Goa Police's crime branch in connection with an illegal gambling probe.

Kavlekar was summoned by the Crime Branch, after a raid at his residence on Wednesday netted thousands of gambling slips related to matka, a popular illegal lottery popular in Goa as well as the Konkan belt.

"I have been cooperating with the Crime Branch enquiry. I have done nothing wrong," Kavlekar told reporters before his appearance.

Matka is an illegal form of gambling that gained immense popularity in Mumbai and the Konkan region since the 1970s. It functions six days a week like a lottery, where lucky numbers are generated thrice every day.

Matka's popularity stems from the fact that one can wager a bet of even Re 1. The matka industry in Goa alone is pegged at several thousand crore and several legislators and ministers in successive state governments had demanded that it be made legal.

The Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court is currently overseeing the Crime Branch probe into the nexus between the matka gambling lobby, politicians and policemen.

Last week, the Crime Branch had registered an FIR against Kavlekar for his involvement in a disproportionate assets case, in which the Congress leader has been accused of buying land worth Rs 5 crore in Kerala and possessing assets and cash which are disproportionate to his income.

Following the police crackdown on Kavlekar, the Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the opposition leader's resignation.
Varanasi, Sep 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said sanitation was also worship for him as it can rid the poor of various diseases.

Addressing a public gathering on the second day of his Varanasi visit, he said it was his good fortune to lay the foundation stone of a public toilet in Shahanshahpur village of his Lok Sabha constituency.

"That is because sanitation is also a kind of worship for me. It will rid the poor of my country of various diseases and the economic burden due to those diseases that result from dirty surroundings," Modi said.

He said while no one likes garbage, everyone in India shies away from the responsibility of keeping their surroundings clean.

"It is the responsibility of every citizen and every family to keep their surroundings clean so we are able to build clean villages, clean cities and a clean nation," Modi said.

The Prime Minister urged people to take one resolution each to improve the nation by 2022, which marks 75 years of independence.

"In the coming five years, we have to be committed towards that resolution. If 125 crore people take one resolution each and live up to it, then the nation would move 125 crore steps forward in the next five years," he said.

Modi added the government's resolution was to double the farmer's income and ensure even the poorest of the poor have a home to live in by 2022.

"There are crores of families in our nation which don't have a roof above their heads. It is our responsibility that the poorest of the poor have a home to live in.

"So we have taken the responsibility that by 2022, we will build homes for everyone who doesn't have one now, be it in cities or in villages."

He added that those homes - crores in number - would need bricks, cement, iron and wood, and would create several employment opportunities.

Taking a dig at the previous Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said it had no interest in building homes for the poor.

"We used to write them letters after letters to submit a list of homeless so we could create a scheme for them. But the last government was not interested in building homes for the poor. After putting a lot of pressure on them, they submitted a list of 10,000 names," Modi said.

He added that after the BJP formed government in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, lakhs of names have been registered for whom homes would be built.
New Delhi : Nitish Kumar must have realised by now that his 'ghar wapsi' hasn't helped him. The BJP is treating him more like an unwanted guest than the repentant prodigal son.

The Bihar Chief Minister's sense of being redundant in the BJP's scheme of things is likely to intensify in view of the reports that the BJP intends to contest 25 of the 40 parliamentary seats in Bihar in 2019, leaving a paltry nine to the Janata Dal-United.

Of the remaining six, the BJP is considering giving four to the Lok Janshakti Party of Ram Vilas Paswan, another somewhat morose camp follower of the saffron brotherhood, and two to Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP).

If this kind of seat-sharing really does take place, then Sharad Yadav may well have the last laugh. His glee will be shared by Lalu Prasad for more than one reason.

First, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader knows that he will be able to present the downsizing of Nitish Kumar in the saffron camp as an insult to Bihar.

Secondly, Lalu Prasad is aware that the more Nitish Kumar sinks in public estimation, the greater will be the RJD's gain.

The only way out for the Chief Minister is to focus on development. Considering, however, that 'vikas' is Narendra Modi's trump card, the BJP will take care to project any sign of growth in Bihar as the Prime Minister's achievement rather than the Chief Minister's.

Therefore, Nitish Kumar can be said to be caught between a rock and a hard place.

On one side is the Modi-Amit Shah duo who are perhaps the most hard-boiled pair in the country today, combining their political and official clout with a highly effective publicity machine backed by scores of vitriolic trolls and abusive bloggers who saturate the Internet with their extravagant praise for Modi and venomous tirades against his purportedly anti-national and anti-Hindu opponents.

Nitish Kumar is hardly visible in the company of these boastful, swaggering allies.

On the other side for him is the equally cunning and resourceful Lalu Prasad, whose self-confidence will be boosted by the possibility of the minorities turning to him in even greater numbers at a time when the Hindutva brigade is growing stronger in the absence of a major challenge from its adversaries.

As a result, Lalu Prasad's fabled MY (Muslim-Yadav) combination in Bihar comprising 16 per cent Muslims and 11 per cent Yadavs will be as stable as ever.

These supporters are unlikely to be bothered by the charges of corruption against father and son in the Yadav family. Lalu Prasad has successfully weathered such storms before, including being debarred from holding office, but his support base has remained solid.

The RJD may also be able to rope in a section of the Janata Dal-United who are with Sharad Yadav. If the latter's claim that 72 of the 125 national executive members of the party are with him is true, then Nitish Kumar may well think that he has made the biggest mistake of his life.

Even if the Chief Minister cannot be compared, as a commentator has done, with the other Kurmi leader in the BJP's company, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel, there is little doubt that Nitish Kumar will continue to play second fiddle to Modi and Amit Shah in the foreseeable future.

His position may suffer a further decline if the BJP goes ahead with a rally of Kurmis to demonstrate that it doesn't want to depend only on Nitish Kumar to secure the votes of the Kurmis, who comprise six per cent of Bihar's population.

However, their traditional connections with the Koeris or Kushwahas (nine per cent) raises the voting percentage to a respectable figure.

In Modi's cabinet, Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha represents the Koeris. The Kurmis and Koeris are associated with Luv and Kush, the sons of Lord Ram.

For Nitish Kumar, who was considered to be prime ministerial "material" when in the "secular" camp not long ago, his present status in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) cannot be a matter of pride.

True, there is no final word in politics. If the economic slowdown, farmers' distress, the sense of insecurity among Muslims -- as noted by former Vice President Hamid Ansari -- and the belief among the so-called Left-Liberals that the country is becoming increasingly intolerant erode the BJP's support base in next year's assembly elections, then the BJP may lose some of its arrogance, thereby giving the likes of Nitish Kumar more political space.

But it goes without saying that he will find it extremely difficult to regain his earlier prominence in national life.

Instead, he will be seen as someone who was spooked by the RJD's formidable presence in Bihar to run for cover, presumably because the Janata Dal-United's own vote bank of Kurmis and a few other non-Yadav castes is not substantial enough.

(Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com)

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Accra, Sep 23 : After making his name in India, Manish Mundra, the founder of Drishyam Films, is in the news in Nigeria for contributing to its economic growth in several ways: From petrochemicals to fertilisers.

Indorama Corporation, the conglomerate Mundra heads in Nigeria, aims to boost the agriculture sector in the West African nation with the opening of a $1.5 billion project to produce 1.5 million metric tonnes of urea fertiliser per annum so as to make the country self-sufficient in the product.

Mundra, who has worked with the Aditya Birla Group, Indian Rayon, Indo-Gulf and finally aluminium maker Hindalco, is an MBA with over 20 years of international management and mergers and acquisitions experience.

Mundra joined Indorama Group in 2002 in the corporate strategy department. Given his resourcefulness, he was transferred to Indorama Nigeria as a project manager. There, he supervised the acquisition of the state-owned Eleme Petrochemicals Company Ltd for $225 million. Mundra was appointed Deputy Managing Director of the company in 2007 and Managing Director in 2009.

He ran the Nigeria and Senegal operations, especially the expansion projects which are now concluded -- Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Ltd (IEFCL), and ICS Senegal.

"I figured that Africa would see a growth in business and demand. Nigeria, the most populated and with the most hydrocarbon resources, was the perfect choice," Mundra said.

Those in the oil industry said he must have his eyes on expanding Eleme as he took a personal interest long before he became the Managing Director.

"After the acquisition of Eleme Petrochemicals, the thought of establishing a fertiliser plant became a dream," Mundra said.

"We saw that Nigeria needed a breakthrough in food production. It needs to stop its huge food imports which gulp about $5 billion annually," Mundra said, adding: "Nigeria has abundant land resources; so there is no justification for this high import cost."

He said about 75 per cent of Nigeria's land can support agriculture, but only 49 per cent is in use. "It is for this reason that the company thought of building the fertiliser plant to facilitate abundant food production," Mundra said.

Mundra does not seem to have finished with his plans for Nigeria. He said that in the coming decade, Indorama plans to make an impact on the Nigerian economy by creating jobs and consolidating its leadership in petrochemicals.

"In the next 10 years we would complete our Natural Gas Liquid plant, methanol plant and the second phase of our fertiliser plant," he said.

"Our vision remains to build the largest petrochemicals and fertiliser hub in West Africa by 2020 with a total investment of $4.2 billion," Mundra said.

(Francis Kokutse can be contacted at fkokutse@gmail.com)
Recently two friends and business partners, Amanda Dolan and Meagan Colby, brought their 1990s-themed online shop, Spark Pretty, to the streets. East 9th Street, specifically.

Dolan told Gothamist that "after about five years of steady online sales and a ton of experience as vendors at vintage markets, we got the itch to try something new. We started doing Pop Up Shops in theme with our favorite era, the era in which we were teenagers: the '90s!" After a couple of successful pop-up experiences, the duo opened their brick and mortar store this month in the East Village.

Regarding their chosen neighborhood, Dolan told us, "We both have a sentimental attachment to the East Village," adding, "I've lived in the neighborhood for fourteen years, and one of Meagan's first apartments was on East 9th Street! To us, the East Village has always felt like the heartbeat of Downtown New York. It holds a sense of history and excitement. Forever changing, but also staying true to its roots. We wanted to open a store that would keep the Spirit of the East Village alive."

Their love of the '90s, pop culture, nostalgia, and their fashion hero Betsey Johnson will envelop you when you enter the shop, which features a colorful explosion of authentic vintage items from the era, as well as homages in the form of hand-painted denim jackets.

"We have some many unique and different items to offer," Dolan said, including one of a kind custom pieces by their in-house designer Tom Knight. They've also got "hand-painted and sequin-encrusted jean jackets by infamous designer Tony Alamo, Lisa Frank jackets, bags and accessories, purses with working clocks, Club Kid holographic two piece outfits, a huge selection of novelty and band t-shirts, pins and patches, slinky dresses, outrageous jumpsuits, a funky collection of vintage toys like Trolls, Alf stuffed animals, and Spice Girls Dolls." There's even a talking Fran Drescher-as-The Nanny doll.

Dolan and Colby have their favorites, tooincluding anything involving Courtney Love, Elvira, Lita Ford, Ozzy and The Plasmatics. And they both "share a mutual adoration" for their style icon: Kelly Bundy, who you'll likely see on their television set if you drop by... which you should do, even if you're not in the market for a nostalgia-purchase. "We want you to feel like you've had an immersive retro experience," Dolan told us. "From the pink glow of our neon sign, to the memories of our childhood posters staring back at you, to the disco ball sparkling on the ceiling, we are so much more then your average vintage shop." And if you are in the market for some '90s treasures, be sure to follow them on Instagram, where they'll be offering up first dibs on items.

Spark Pretty is located at 333 East 9th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
Karachi, Sep 23 : Amid the ongoing joint drills with China, Pakistan said it conducted a successful test of an anti-ship missile from a Sea King helicopter in the northern Arabian Sea on Saturday, stating that the country was ready for war.

The anti-ship missile successfully hit its target, an official statement said.

According to the navy spokesperson, Naval chief Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, who witnessed the test, said the successful firing demonstration was a testament to the Pakistan Navy's war preparedness and professional capabilities.

The naval chief also visited fleet units stationed in the sea and witnessed exercises involving the fleet.

"I am proud of Pakistan Navy fleet's war preparations," Zakaullah said, adding that the navy will safeguard the sea borders and interests of Pakistan at any cost.

The missile test came a day after pilots of the Chinese and Pakistani air forces conducted joint drills sitting in the same aircraft, which Xinhua said was a reflection of deep mutual trust between the two militaries.

During the ongoing joint drills named "Shaheen VI", air force personnel cooperated in planning and implementing strategies, as well as learning operational concepts and tactics from each other.

Earlier in March, the navy had conducted a successful test of a land-based, anti-ship missile. That trial was conducted from the coastal region and the missile secured a hit on a target placed at sea.

The Pakistan Navy in May received the seven surplus Westland Sea King multi-role helicopters it had ordered from Britain in 2016.
Washington, Sep 24 : The US military, in a show of force, flew bombers in international airspace over waters east of North Korea, the Pentagon announced.

The Pentagon said Saturday that B-1B Lancer bombers from Guam and F-15C Eagle fighter escorts from Okinawa, Japan, flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea, reports CNN.

It WAS the farthest north of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that US fighters or bomber aircraft have ever flown this century.

The flight underscored "the seriousness with which we take North Korea's reckless behaviour," the Pentagon said.

"This mission is a demonstration of US resolve and a clear message that the President has many military options to defeat any threat.

"North Korea's weapons programme is a grave threat to the Asia-Pacific region and the entire international community. We are prepared to use the full range of military capabilities to defend the US homeland and our allies," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said in a statement.

There has been name-calling and heightened tensions between Washington and Pyongyang this week as the UN met in New York, CNN reported.

At the UN, North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said US President Donald Trump was on a "suicide mission".

Ri's comments to the General Assembly mimicked Trump's remarks at the UN on Tuesday, when he called North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a "rocket man on a suicide mission".

Earlier this week, Ri had also said that his country could test a powerful nuclear weapon over the Pacific Ocean in response to Trump's threats of military action.

The minister's remarks came shortly after Kim made an unprecedented televised statement, accusing Trump of being "mentally deranged".

Meanwhile, a shallow 3.4-magnitude tremor was detected near North Korea's nuclear test site on Saturday morning, but experts believe it was a natural earthquake.
Bengaluru, Sep 24 : Ranked as Asia's best restaurant for three years in a row for his eponymous "Gaggan" in Bangkok, Kolkata-born Chef Gaggan Anand is all about taking Indian food to the world beyond its stereotyped curry prism. He's on a mission to prove to the world that the concept of curry doesn't exist in Indian cuisine.

"I want to show the world that there's no such thing as a curry. There's only a curry leaf that gives the taste. Curry is a very British idea. With just a curry leaf oil, I can make anything taste like curry," the award-winning Anand said in a conversation with IANS at the Taj West End here.

The owner and executive chef of the Bangkok restaurant, which has won the top spot in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, ranked by theworlds50best.com, for three consecutive years since 2015, was on a four-city tour to present his food through pop-ups at Taj Hotels in the country, from where he had started his culinary career.

Anand's food is all about elevating humble Indian street-food-inspired-dishes through innovation and plating in a fine-dining fashion -- from chocolate paani puri to keema pav.

And he's managed to do so by eliminating knives and forks and letting global diners eat Indian food the way it's traditionally eaten -- using the hands. Thereby, he managed to place Indian food on the world map in a much larger way.

Served through 25 courses, he presents the tasting menu through emojis, eliminating the long descriptions of dishes that usually feature on a restaurant menu. And it's certainly not an easy task to guess what's going to be served by reading the ideograms.

"My idea is to bring all of people's senses to life. I use food to seduce people and agitate their minds by surprising them without any pretensions. Everybody would have made jalebis into various sweet versions but no one would have thought of a savoury version," an exuberant Anand explained.

"I have created my own philosophy of food, which is what sets me apart and has got me where I am now," said Anand, whose restaurant is also the only Indian eatery to grab a spot among the World's top 10 restaurants, ranked by theworlds50best.com.

Unlike many other kitchens across the world, Anand's is always blaring out rock music and most often he's seen in his favourite band's T-shirt when he's out of the kitchen. Music is one of the key elements of his food-making process.

He even created a dish named "Lick it up", inspired by the American rock band "Kiss", which diners need to lick off the plate, and treats his service like a concert, filled with surprises and theatrics.

And for constant renovation of his food, Anand has dedicated a total of six teams for research and development in his "food laboratory".

As the Netflix Emmy-nominated "Chef's Table" show describes in an episode on his restaurant, "his kitchen is a virtual United Nations with people from across the world working in it".

Anand had started off his restaurant in 2010 majorly using the molecular gastronomy principles, wherein ingredients undergo physical and chemical transformations, and later adopted a "minimalist" approach to food, he shared.

"Most often, Indian chefs give glory to quinoa, zucchini and goji berries while ignoring our own ingredients like drumsticks and colocasia root. We should create from our ingredients rather than seeking to the West for ideas," Anand asserted.

"So, my food is all about honesty in using seasonal produce, while keeping the plate as minimalist as possible. Only the elements that belong on the plate stay on it".

This simplistic approach is perhaps what late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam loved the most about Anand's food. "I used to travel along with Kalam sir when he was the President. He used to eat the rice and rasam I used to make for him at 6 a.m. each morning," the chef reminisced.

But restaurants come with an expiry date, Anand believes. "Gaggan will close by 2020. It's the end of an era. For a decade I cooked at Gaggan, and now I want something else."

The celebrated chef will be heading to Japan's Fukuoka city in 2021 to do a 10-seater restaurant.

"It'll be an inaccessible place. I really want to control the crowd and reduce the volume. Now the volume is too high and I want to do food that pleases my soul now," he said.

With the Michelin announcing the launch of their prestigious Michelin Guide in Bangkok by the end of 2017, Anand said if he gets three Michelin stars, he would claim the fame of being the first such Indian to be so recognised.

"Even if I don't get it, I don't have much to lose; they'll have to answer to the people who have loved my food," he said with a nonchalant shrug.

"I still haven't given my Indian passport away though. I'll always remain very much Indian at heart, even though nobody in Kolkata really knows me and that I've made the region and its food so famous," Anand concluded.

(Bhavana Akella can be contacted at bhavana.a@ians.in)

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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 24 : Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit.

Al-Qasimi was received by Kerala Governor Justice (retd) P. Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his cabinet colleagues and other top officials.

After inspecting a Guard of Honour, the ruler drove to the Kovalam beach, where he will stay until his departure on September 28.

On Monday, he will hold a meeting with Sathasivam which will be attended by Vijayan and other top state officials.

On Monday evening, Al-Qasimi will interact with members of the civil society and Kerala businessmen who have made it big in the Middle East.

On Tuesday, the Calicut University will confer upon him an honorary doctorate.

Al-Qasimi's trip to Kerala follows Vijayan's invitation when he travelled to Sharjah last December
United Nations, Sep 25 : Three Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed during an attack on a UN convoy in Mali, according to the international organisation.

The peacekeepers were a part of the UN Multidimensional lntegrated Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), in the Gao region of the west African nation.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Sunday's attack in which five persons were also injured, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

This was the second fatal attack on peacekeepers by insurgents in the region this month. Two peacekeepers from Chad were killed on September 5.

MINUSMA is the most dangerous UN mission and over 75 peacekeepers have been killed in attacks by various insurgent groups so far.

Last month a peacekeeper from Chad and in June three from Guinea were killed.

MINUSMA was set up in 2013 by the Security Council to help stabilise the country after insurrections by Al Qaeda-linked groups in the northern and central parts since 2012.

A total of 1,819 Bangladeshis serve in the MINUSMA and of them 1,510 are troops.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
Washington, Sep 25 : A suitcase-sized radar instrument capable of detecting human heartbeats under rubble is helping disaster relief workers on the ground in Mexico City respond to the 7.1-magnitude earthquake on September 19 that killed hundreds, NASA has said.

FINDER, which stands for Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response, was developed as a collaboration between NASA and the US Department of Homeland Security.

"Our hearts go out to the people of Mexico," said Neil Chamberlain, Task Manager for FINDER at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

"We're glad to know our technology is being used to make a difference there," Chamberlain added.

When the instrument was deployed in Nepal after a major earthquake in 2015, it helped find four men trapped under a collapsed textile factory.

FINDER sends a low-powered microwave signal -- about one-thousandth of a cell phone's output -- through rubble.

It looks for changes in the reflections of those signals coming back from tiny motions caused by the victims' breathing and heartbeats.

In tests, FINDER has detected heartbeats through 30 feet of rubble or 20 feet of solid concrete.

The technology evolved from JPL's efforts to develop low-cost, small spacecraft radios, using signal processing developed to measure small changes in spacecraft motion.

Since 2015, two private companies have acquired licenses for the technology. They have since taken it to disaster zones, training relief workers to use it and manufacturing new units, NASA said.

Both companies work with the direction of local governments when they travel to disaster sites.

FINDER is used alongside a variety of other techniques, including trained dogs, acoustic sensing devices and thermal imagers. All these techniques are usually deployed together.
Washington, Sep 25 : As Facebook faces intense fake news scrutiny after disclosing the details about the presence of Russian political ads worth $100,000 on its platform during the 2016 US presidential election, it was none other than former President Barack Obama who had warned CEO Mark Zuckerberg about fake news on Facebook.

According to a report in The Washington Post late on Sunday, in November last year, Obama made a personal appeal to Zuckerberg to take the threat of fake news and political disinformation seriously.

"Unless Facebook and the government did more to address the threat, Obama warned, it would only get worse in the next presidential race," the report added.

However, Zuckerberg acknowledged the problem posed by fake news but "told Obama that those messages weren't widespread on Facebook and that there was no easy remedy".

Now, after an extensive legal and policy review, the social media giant has announced it would now share those 3,000 Russian ads with Congressional investigators.

Facebook announced it had found more than 3,000 ads addressing social and political issues that ran in the US between 2015 and 2017 and that appear to have come from accounts associated with a Russian entity known as the Internet Research Agency.

Facebook earlier handed over the details to American Special Counsel Robert Mueller that included copies of the ads and details about the accounts that bought them and the targeting criteria they used.

Zuckerberg, who returned after taking parental leave after his second daughter was born, said in a post last week that he deeply cares about the democratic process and protecting its integrity.

Zuckerberg said "We will continue our investigation into what happened on Facebook in this election. We may find more, and if we do, we will continue to work with the government".

The Facebook CEO noted that the social media company has already provided information regarding this issue with the special counsel and have also briefed Congress about it.

He stressed the company would now make political advertising more transparent. When someone buys political ads on TV or other media, they are required by law to disclose who paid for them.

The company would strengthen the ad review process for political ads. Facebook would now increase investment in security and specifically election integrity.

"In the next year, we will more than double the team working on election integrity. In total, we'll add more than 250 people across all our teams focused on security and safety for our community," Zuckerberg said.
Mumbai, Sep 25 : National Award winning actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has confirmed that he is working in a film by acclaimed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, and says it's a dream come true.

The actor was present at the closing ceremony of the 8th Jagran Film Festival here on Sunday night.

Asked about the rumours that he is working with Bhardwaj for a film alongside Kriti Sanon, Nawazuddin told the media here: "Yes, I am working with Vishalji, and it is a yet untitled project. I can't reveal much much details about it.

"I don't know who will be acting opposite me, but I am happy about this collaboration because I always wanted to work with Vishalji. It's a dream come true."

The actor was honoured with the 'Rajnigandha Achievers Award' at the gala here.
New Delhi : Title: How the BJP Wins; Author: Prashant Jha; Publisher: Juggernaut Books; Pages: 235; Price: Rs 399 Barring a hic-cup or two, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, has been winning election after election since its 2014 Lok Sabha poll win.

Here is a book that takes you through the saffron party's victory path, illustrating how the blend of Modi's charisma and Shah's organisational skills, coupled with their political willingness to sharpen the Hindu-Muslim divide, have seen the BJP home -- most recently with a thumping win in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

"How The BJP Wins", authored by senior journalsit Prashant Jha, also focuses on how the party has succeeded in consolidating the Hindu vote beyond its traditional upper caste vote bank.

"Anyone who sees the BJP as an upper caste party is living in the past. The BJP is becoming an inclusive Hindu party, winning the support of various communities, including the subaltern, which inhibit the broad Hindu fold," says the book.

It is a must read for the new generation of leaders across ideologies and also for all the parties opposed to the BJP to understand its strategy of election victories. It will also be helpful for those keen on understanding contemporary Indian politics.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 282 of the 428 seats it contested and, with the help of allies, formed a government with two-thirds majority. It was also the first time in the 67-year history of independent India that a non-Congress party won a simple majority on its own.

After the historic victory, the BJP won assembly elections in Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh.

In Haryana, Assam and Uttar Pradesh, the BJP formed governments on its own while in Jammu and Kashmir it tasted power for the first time with the state's Peoples Democratic Party. In Manipur also, the party formed its government with the help of some junior allies.

However, the BJP lost heavily in Delhi in 2015 against Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party and in Bihar against Nitish Kumar-led Grand Alliance of Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress. That it managed to break the alliance and formed the government with Nitish Kumar is a different story.

The book describes in detail how the BJP transformed itself into a more inclusive Hindu party, open to all castes, which led to its victory in Uttar Pradesh -- despite the risky decision of demonetisation.

"In recent Indian economic history, no move has been as disruptive to the eveyday lives of ordinary citizens as demonetisation. No move has caused job losses or logistical inconvinience to such a degree. Yet, there was palpable enthusiasm for the move.

"From the expectation that the move would clean the economy to the pleasure at assuming that the well-to-do were suffering more, from hopes that the additional resources would be transferred to the poor to the desire for a more equal society, a range of motivations drove the support.

"Over subsequent months, this enthusiasm slowly dissipated, but it never translated into outright hostility," says the book.

Dedicating a chapter to the future of the BJP, the book explains how "Modi's mass charisma and Shah's tremendous organisational skills together laid the foundations for the new BJP in the middle of its most ambitious experiment of social engineering".

The book notes that apart from these two main factors, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) -- the BJP's mentor -- supplemented and contributed to its phenomenal success.

"How the BJP acquires power is now clear. But winning is easier than ruling. How the BJP uses the political power it has acquired so successfully will determine whether Modi's dream of a 'New India' is fulfilled," the book says.

It speaks about how the issue of Muslim appeasement by non-BJP governments was exploited by the BJP's top leadership. Shah during his rallies in Uttar Pradesh clearly gave the message that the Samajwadi Party favoured the Muslims.

Shah's not-so-subtle polarisation efforts included describing the opposition parties (Congress, SP and BSP) as KASAB, while Modi spoke about the politics of appeasement while mentioning "kabristan and shamshanghat" at a rally in Uttar Pradesh to polarise the elections.

The book contends the relationship between Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is smooth, citing it as one of the reasons for the BJP's success and a key factor that did not exist during the time of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and then RSS chief K.C. Sudarshan.

If you have an interest in contemporary Indian politics, the book is worth a read.

(Brajendra Nath Singh can be contacted at brajendra.n@ians.in)
Baghdad, Sep 25 : Iraqi Kurds started casting their ballots in a controversial independence referendum on Monday as tensions began to escalate between the country's largest ethnic minority and the government in Baghdad.

Voting got underway at 8 a.m. and will end at 6 p.m. The first results will be out within 72 hours, reports CNN.

Voters must respond with either a "yes" or "no" to the question of whether they want the region to become an independent state. The question has been translated into Kurdish, Arabic, Turkmen and Assyrian.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) which administers a semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq says the referendum will give it a mandate to achieve independence from Iraq.

Ballot boxes were spread throughout Iraq's Kurdish regional areas, in addition to the city of Kirkuk -- a flashpoint claimed by both the KRG and the Iraqi government.

On Sunday, Iran closed its air space to the autonomous Kurdistan region after issuing several condemnations against the vote.

Both Iran and Turkey have sizable Kurdish minorities and fear a vote for independence in Iraq might galvanise movements in their countries, CNN reported.

As polls opened on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling the vote "illegitimate, null and void".

The ministry also warned that it would take legal measures to prevent "radical elements and terrorists" from attempting to exploit the situation to target its national security.

The US, UK and the UN have also warned the KRG against holding the referendum, citing fears that it could detract from the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

The Kurdish diaspora began electronic voting on September 23. According to the Electoral Commission, some 150,000 Kurds will vote from abroad.

Iraqi Kurdistan has enjoyed considerable autonomy since the early 1990s, a status bolstered in the 2005 constitution that defined Iraq as a federal state.
Major New York City immigration advocacy groups have condemned a third iteration of President Donald Trump's January travel ban, announced Sunday in the form of a presidential proclamation. This latest version imposes full or partial travel restrictions or heightened screenings on nine countries, and is the first indefinite travel order. It is also the first to stray from majority-Muslim countries, impacting North Korea and Venezuela as well as Chad, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen.

It is set to go into effect on October 18th.

All immigrants from Chad, Libya and Yemen will be barred, as well as nonimmigrants on business and tourist visas from those countries. In the case of Iran, all immigrant and nonimmigrant travel is suspended with the exception of of certain student visa holders, who will be subject to "enhanced screening." All immigrants and nonimmigrants from North Korea and Syria will be barred without exception, as well as certain government officials from Venezuela and their families. In the case of Somalia, immigrants will be barred and visitors will be subject to additional screenings.

Iraqis, who were spared from the second iteration of the ban, will be subject to heightened screenings. Sudan, part of the original travel ban, is no longer on the restricted travel list.

"This is different from the original travel plan in some structural ways," said Camille Mackler, Director of Immigration Legal Policy at the New York Immigration Coalition, in a Monday press briefing. "It's a lot more detailed in its reasoning, and it also separates out how the different countries are going to operate."

"A lot of questions remain and the actual impact is a lot of people are going to be left in limbo nonetheless," she added.

The new guidelines are the result of a Homeland Security review of "nearly 200" countries that launched in March, according to yesterday's proclamation. The countries included in the new ban "remain deficient at this time with respect to their identity-management and information-sharing capabilities, protocols, and practices," it states. "In some cases, these countries also have a significant terrorist presence within their territory."

"My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation," Trump stated Sunday.

The American Civil Liberties Union and major immigrant advocacy groups, including the New York Immigration Coalition and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, immediately dismissed the new guidelines as an attempt to slightly modify the original ban, which faced immediate legal challenges, in order to push it through. (Trumps travel restrictions were "never, ever, ever based on race or religion, a White House Official told reporters over the weekend.)

"This is a dressed-up Muslim Ban, the sole purpose of which is to double down on the Trump Administration's systematic and unconstitutional anti-immigrant agenda," said NYIC Director Steven Choi in a statement.

"Six of President Trump's targeted countries are Muslim," added Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. "The fact that Trump has added North Koreawith few visitors to the U.S.and a few government officials from Venezuela doesn't obfuscate the real fact that the administration's order is still a Muslim ban. President Trump's original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list."

Nihad Awad, national director of CAIR, described the latest ban as a fresh example of Trump's white nationalism.

"With this latest iteration of the discriminatory and unconstitutional Muslim ban, coupled with the race-baiting of professional athletes exercising their First Amendment rights and a reluctance to condemn neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, President Trump once again demonstrates that his views and policies are part of a white supremacist agenda," he said.

Travel ban 3.0 is set to take effect eight days after the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments about the constitutionality of Trump's second travel ban. In June, the Supreme Court temporarily reinstated parts of that ban impacting travel from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen, with the significant, albeit confusing, exclusion of "foreign nationals who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States."

Sunday's announcement did not address refugee restrictions. Trump's second travel ban barred refugees for 120 days, and is set to expire on October 24th. Politico reports that the White House is planning to announce a refugee cap this week, to take effect October 1st.

The New York Immigration Coalition is planning to travel to Washington D.C. on October 10th to rally outside the Supreme Court during oral arguments on the second iteration of the travel ban.

[Update 2:00 p.m.]: The Supreme Court has canceled its October 10th oral arguments on the constitutionality of the second iteration of Trump's travel ban, in response to Trump's Sunday proclamation. All parties have been called on to present ten-page briefs on "whether, or to what extent, the Proclamation issued on September 24, 2017, may render cases... moot," due October 5th.

The legal argument agains the Muslim ban has been that it violates freedom of religion protections in the First Amendment.
Ranchi, Sep 25 : The Jharkhand government on Monday set up a two-member team to probe the blast at an illegal firecracker unit in East Singhbum district as the toll increased to 10.

An NDRF team is conducting rescue operations. A three-storey building collapsed in the blast in East Singhbhum where an illegal firecracker unit was functioning.

According to a government press release, Kolhan Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) will probe the incident.

It said that disciplinary action will be taken against the Officer In-charge of the concerned police station.

Police sources say that Maoist guerrillas were also supplied explosives from the illegal unit.

Three bodies were recovered from the debris of the collapsed building.

Police said that a huge amount of explosive powder was stocked in the building, where the blast occurred after it caught fire.

The blast caused a huge fire that soon engulfed other houses too. The injured have been admitted in local hospitals and some were sent to neighbouring West Bengal.

The Jharkhand government has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the kin of each killed person and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
Abu Dhabi, Sep 25 : Once dubbed the world's heaviest woman, Egyptian national Eman Ahmed Abd-El Aty passed away at a hospital here on Monday just weeks after celebrating her 37th birthday.

According to medical experts at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, Eman died at 4.35 a.m. due to "complications from the underlying comorbid conditions, including heart disease and kidney dysfunction", the Khaleej Times reported.

Eman was admitted to the Abu Dhabi hospital in May and was under the supervision of over 20 doctors from different specialties, who were managing her medical condition from the time she arrived in the United Arab Emirates. "Our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to her family," said the hospital in a statement.

The woman, who initially weighed 500 kg, had undergone a drastic weight reduction surgery in Mumbai in March. Eman had shed at least 300 kg since undergoing several medical procedures, according to reports.

She was brought to Mumbai from Alexandria, Egypt, on February 11 on board an Egypt Air fully-equipped cargo flight. Eman underwent the weight reduction surgery on March 7 at the city's Saifee Hospital and was put on oral fluids.

However, later Eman's sister Shaaima Selim alleged on social media that the patient was not treated for weight loss properly and her health had deteriorated at the privately-owned hospital in Mumbai.

Shaaima accused bariatric surgeon Muffazal Lakdawala, Chairman of the Saifee Hospital Institute of Minimal Access Surgical Sciences and Research Centre, of being "a liar" and had posted on Facebook videos and photos purportedly raising doubts over the patient's progress.

On May 4, Eman was flown out of Mumbai to Abu Dhabi. According to Dr Nabeel Debouni, the hospital's medical director, Eman had shown much improvement since her admission to Burjeel in May.

"But her condition had deteriorated in recent days," he added.

Eman was bedridden for years and her plight first came to light when her family issued an online plea for help. She had supposedly not left her home for 25 years, and had been confined to the bed for year after suffering from a stroke.

She had been bedridden since the age of 12 after suffering a parasitic infection that "caused her limbs and body to swell", a Gulf news report said.
Beijing, Sep 25 : China on Monday said it is worried about the escalating war of words between the US and North Korea and urged both the countries not to "add fuel to the fire".

Washington and Pyongyang have traded insulting and personal remarks since North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful" nuclear test earlier this month.

"Indeed, the Chinese side is very concerned about the escalating situation of the Koran peninsula," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said here.

"We think the parties should refrain from escalating words and deeds and avoid adding fuel to the fire," Lu said, responding to a question about what China thought of US President Donald Trump's latest remark in which he said North Korea "won't be around much longer".

Trump's latest diatribe came after North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho called him "mentally deranged".

Earlier, Trump called North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un a "rocket man" on a "suicide mission". Kim had hit back, dubbing the US President a "mentally deranged US dotard".

China has urged the US and North Korea to exercise restraint and not vent their emotions. "We think situation remains highly complex and the most pressing concern is fully and strictly implementing the UNSC resolution relating to the Korean peninsula, including the latest one," Lu said.

Besides UN sanctions, the US wants more punitive embargoes on the North for conducting nuclear tests.

China says that sanctions out of the purview of the UN will escalate the situation.

(Gaurav Sharma is the IANS correspondent in Beijing. He can be reached at sharmagaurav71@gmail.com)
Hyderabad, Sep 25 : Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) has signed a contract with Research Centre Imarat (RCI) for supply of medium range Surface to Air Missiles (MRSAMs) to Indian Army, said a defence statement.

The contract was signed at the RCI here on Saturday for production, deliveries and product support of MRSAM system for the Army, the statement said.

The contract was signed by BDL Chairman and Managing Director V. Udaya Bhaskar and RCI Director and MRSAM (Army) Programme Director, B.H.V.S. Narayana Murthy in the presence of Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems) and Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister G. Satheesh Reddy.

Directors and senior officials from BDL and senior scientists from DRDO were present on the occasion.
Istanbul, Sep 25 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday announced that his country had closed its shared border with the autonomous region of Iraq Kurdistan, where voters were casting ballots in an independence referendum that has been widely discouraged by regional powers.

Erdogan vowed not to allow a "terror state" to be established along the border with Turkey, Xinhua reported. The President said Turkey will announce measures against the independence vote later this week.

"This is an empty dream for them," Erdogan told an international meeting in Istanbul. "We can suddenly step in one night," he stressed.

The Turkish leader hinted at barring Iraqi Kurds from exporting gas via Turkey, saying "We own the valve."

Oil pipelines would remain in operation, however.

Turkey has been a vociferous opponent of the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, which is deemed a threat to regional stability by Ankara.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 25 : The Kerala cabinet on Monday presented a road map for cooperation between Kerala and Sharjah to visiting Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.

The cabinet members, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, visited state Governor Justice (retd) P. Sathasivam's official residence and presented to the Ruler of Sharjah the document.

The document includes the proposal to construct a family city and a Kerala cultural centre over 20 acres of land in Sharjah, among others.

Vijayan explained that out of the 20 acres, 10 acres would be to set up a family centre containing apartment blocks besides a state-of-the-art hospital.

In the cultural centre, various cultural aspects of Kerala would be showcased and would be a permanent venue for conducting cultural programmes and also an Ayurveda centre.

Among the other projects put up for Al Qasimi's consideration were investment from Sharjah for a state-of-the-art hospital, to come up near the proposed Kannur international airport, scheduled to open next year.

The Sharjah ruler is in Kerala at an invitation extended by Vijayan when he called upon him in Sharjah last December.

In the field of IT, Kerala, which has an excellent programme to groom start-ups, has extended help to budding minds in Sharjah interested to enter the field of IT.

The Kerala government has said the state, with a good exposure in the field of IT, could be the venue for handling the back office operations of the Sharjah government and leading companies.

Another proposal envisages to set up a state-of-the-art educational campus in Sharjah that would have quality schools and higher education centres, including medical and engineering colleges.

Before meeting the cabinet, the Ruler held a discussion with Governor Sathasivam.

On Sunday, the Sharjah ruler and his group of high-ranking officials arrived here.

On Monday evening, he is scheduled to interact with the cream of the civil society of the state and also the successful Kerala businessmen who have made it big in the Middle East.

On Tuesday, the Calicut University will confer upon him an honorary doctorate at a function, which was to be held in Kozhikode, but due to security reasons it will now be held here.

On Wednesday, he would arrive in Kochi to attend a private function being organised by the Middle East business honcho M.A. Yusuf Ali.

The next day, he would return home from here.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : Security situation in the South Asian region including Afghanistan and terrorism, and high ticket defence deals are set to be on table as US Defense Secretary James Mattis meets Indian leadership on his official visit to India that starts Tuesday.

This is the first US Cabinet-level visit to India under President Donald Trump's administration. It would also be the first major interaction for Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with a foreign counterpart after taking charge of the crucial portfolio.

According to the US embassy, Mattis will arrive in India on Monday evening, and will hold a series of meetings and attend several events between September 26 to 28.

Welcoming Mattis, Sitharaman and hoped India-US engagement will continue to grow.

"Welcoming Hon'ble Defence Secretary of the USA, Gen James Mattis to India. Hope our engagement will strengthen strategic and defence cooperation between our two great democracies," she said in a tweet on Monday.

On Tuesday, Mattis will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sitharaman, apart from other leaders and officials.

He will also participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, and will be accorded a Guard of Honour at the lawns of South Block, which homes the Defence Ministry.

According to officials of the US embassy, Mattis' visit emphasises that the US views India as a valued and influential partner, with broad mutual interests extending well beyond South Asia.

"The Secretary during his visit will also express US appreciation for India's important contributions toward Afghanistan's democracy, stability, prosperity, and security," an official said.

The situation in Afghanistan is likely to figure prominently in the talks, which come a month after the US unveiled its latest Afghanistan policy that held a warning that US will take action if Pakistan did not stop backing terrorists battling American forces. In a first, Trump also asked India "to help us more with Afghanistan".

According to sources, in its ambit, the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan's soil will also be discussed during Mattis' visit. The situation in the South China sea, and China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean region is also likely to figure in the talks.A

Apart from the regional security scenario, US is likely to push for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to India, with Lockheed Martin tying up with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd to produce F-16 fighters in India, shifting its Fort Worth, Texas plant here.

Discussions are also likely on sale of Sea Guardian remotely-piloted vehicles, other pending deals as well as the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, and other bilateral agreements.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : Condemning political killings in Kerala and West Bengal and expressing concern over the deaths of its workers in the two states, the BJP on Monday said its Kerala unit will hold a protest 'padyatra' in the southern state.

The march to protest against political violence in Kerala would be held from October 3 to October 17, Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitin Gadkari said.

BJP President Amit Shah will flag off the fortnight-long 'padyatra' in which several Union Ministers and senior BJP functionaries will participate, he said.

The padyatra was conceived in August, soon after the killing of Rashriya Swayamsevak Sangh office-bearer E. Rajesh on July 29 in Thiruavanthapuram.

The BJP has been accusing the Left Front government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala of escalating political violence in the state which it claimed was aimed at crushing the BJP and the RSS.

The BJP has just one member in the 140-seat Kerala assembly.

The BJP has said that the recurring attacks on BJP and RSS activists were a desperate attempt by the Left to finish off its political opponents, especially as the BJP influence was growing in the southern state that has been a traditional Left bastion.
Los Angeles, Sep 25 : Joe Scarborough, known for hosting "Morning Joe", has released his new EP, "Freaks Love Freaks".

"Freaks Love Freaks" is Scarborough's third EP.

The award-winning television personality will release original music over the next several years.

"Releasing a new EP every month is exciting for a lot of reasons. But it's especially great for the band because it keeps us recording, writing and developing our sound on a non-stop, almost hourly basis. There's no time to rest and we love every second of it," Scarborough said in a statement.

"Maybe that's why 'Freaks Love Freaks' is my favourite EP yet. The music has a sharper edge to it and the lyrics are more personal."

Scarborough has plans of releasing 200 original songs over the coming years as part of a deal with Sony/RED MUSIC.
Kolkata, Sep 25 : West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Monday suspended its founding member Mukul Roy for six years for "anti-party activities", hours after the former Railway Minister announced that he would quit the party after the Durga Puja.

Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee told media persons here of the punitive action against Roy, who is a sitting Rajya Sabha member.

"We have heard the news of Mukul Roy. He has decided to quit the party after the puja. For the past few years, he has been indulging in anti-party activities and trying to weaken the party from within."

"Trinamool Congress disciplinary committee has recommended punishment against Mukul Roy to the party's leader and chairperson Mamata Banerjee. Accordingly, Roy has been suspended for six years from the party."

Accusing Roy of "succumbing to the pressure of the central agencies" - a reference to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate probing the Saradha chit fund scam and the Narada sting footage in which Roy has been interrogated, Chatterjee wondered why he has not resigned from his Rajya Sabha seat immediately.

"He has been weakening the party for his own interest and through his own plan.

"We wanted him to resign (now)... if he has decided to resign after puja, let him resign right now. The pujas will not be stalled if he puts in his papers now," Chatterjee said.

Asserting that the party was not concerned over Roy's decision to quit, he said: "We have no concern. The party and the state is united. We have full confidence on (the leadership) of (party supremo and Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee."

Earlier in the day, Roy said he would resign from the party working committee on Monday and quit as primary party member and his Rajya Sabha seat after the Durga Puja, which ends on September 30.

Indirectly alluding to the Bharatiya Janata Party, Chatterjee alleged Roy has been "playing for a particular political party", and said the Trinamool "kept a close watch on him".

Coming down heavily on Roy, Chatterjee said he had risen to dizzying heights as Railway Minister, Rajya Sabha MP, party General Secretary and Vice President "despite coming from an ordinary family".

"Banerjee out of her affection for him gave him pan India recognition though nobody knew him even in his locality."

Refering to an earlier occasion a couple of years back when Roy had become inactive in the party, Chatterjee said "then also Mamata Banerjee gave him an opportunity. I spoke to him and we made him active in the party again".

Meanwhile, the BJP denied that Roy was on way to joining its fold.

"There is no proposal about Mukul Roy joining BJP. I think many people in Trinamool will not remain in the party for long because of corruption within the party and the way Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhisek Banerjee run it," BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said.

On the other hand, Roy's son Subhranshu Roy, a Trinamool MLA from Bjipur, said he was "very much in the party, and would continue to be in it".
New Delhi, Sep 25 : In an attempt to manage the sewage in disconnected areas -- mostly in unauthorised colonies, the Delhi government has identified 600 locations to install decentralised sewage treatment plants (STP).

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday held a meeting with Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials, where he was told about the 600 identified locations, mostly unauthorised colonies and villages of the national capital.

The decentralised STPs collect, treat, discharge or reuse the sewage water. They are most useful in the regions or clusters which are not connected with the central or main sewage line of the city.

"These 600 locations are the first phase of the huge number of decentralised STPs to be set-up all over Delhi, especially in the unauthorised colonies. The DJB has to identify locations all over Delhi in huge numbers for decentralised STPs," said a Delhi government statement.

The DJB officials said the treated water from decentralised STPs will be used for water body recharge, horticulture and other non-potable uses.

"The decentralised STPs would not only solve the crisis faced due to sewage but will also produce huge amount of recycled water," the government statement said.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday accused Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary Ashwani Kumar of corruption and stalling development works, but he denied the allegations and termed the corruption charge a "cock-and-bull story".

AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha told the media here that the senior officer was stalling many works in Delhi to favour certain companies.

"To make Delhi safe for women, the Arvind Kejriwal government plans to install closed-circuit television across the city, but the Secretary has stalled this project. We have information that it is being done to benefit two big companies," Jha said.

Responding to the allegations, Kumar told IANS: "The files on installing CCTVs are pending with the PWD Minister (Satyendar Jain) for the past 15 days. I cleared the files within a day or two of receiving the same."

The Secretary called the corruption charge a "cock-and-bull story" and asked: "If a donkey kicks you, will you kick him back?"

It is not the first time that the ruling AAP has made allegations against Ashwani Kumar.

In June, the PWD Secretary had hit back after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Chief Secretary M.M. Kutty to demand action against him for not overseeing desilting of drains, saying that "negativity and squabbling attitude" did not work in such a challenging task.

Delhi assembly's Petition Committee, headed by AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj, had in June demanded in the house for a probe into alleged irregularities in developmental works undertaken by the PWD and various civic bodies.

The committee also recommended that Ashwani Kumar, who also holds additional charge of Secretary (Vigilance), be "kept aside" from both the posts until the probe was completed.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : The NIA here on Monday questioned a Kashmir University PhD student and the head of Kashmir Traders' and Marketing Federation in connection with its ongoing Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.

The student Aala Fazili and the traders body chief Yasin Mohammad Khan were questioned at the National Investigation (NIA) headquarters here, an official said.

They were summoned by the agency last week to appear before the investigators in the case, he said.

Informed sources said they were questioned about alleged funding to various groups which pelted stones on security forces on several occasions.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir traders' body staged a protest in the Valley over over the summons issued to its chief in connection with the case.

The NIA had registered a case on May 30 against separatist and secessionist leaders, including unknown members of the Hurriyat Conference, who have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other outfits and gangs, officials said.

The case was registered for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and for causing disruption in the Valley by pelting security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India, the probe agency said in its FIR.

Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the front of the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been named in the FIR as an accused.

The FIR also names organisations such as the two factions of the Hurriyat, one led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the other by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Hizbul Mujahideen and Dukhtaran-e-Millat, an all-women outfit of separatists.

The NIA, so far, has arrested 11 persons in the case.
Imphal, Sep 25 : At least three Manipuri youths, including a woman, have gone missing or have died in Delhi and the NCR in the past few days and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was to take up the case of one of them with his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath.

Biren Singh was to meet Adityanath on the sidelines of the Bharatiya Janata Party's ongoing National Executive meet in New Delhi to discuss the controversial disappearance of Parvash Chanam who had come to Delhi to attend a music concert in the National Capital Region.

Chanam's elder brother claims that her been missing since the concert in Greater Noida and lodged a missing person's report with a local police station. However, there were reports that Chanam's body with brutal injury marks was cremated as unclaimed.

Students and other activists here have been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into it. Biren Singh said that he would request his Uttar Pradesh counterpart to hand over the case to the CBI in view of the growing agitation.

On Monday, there was a sit-in protest in Imphal demanding whereabouts of Bittoo Taorem from Imphal. He had gone to Vasant Kunj in Delhi with his mother for treatment and has been missing since September 13.

The protesters said the agitation will be intensified if his whereabouts are not known by September 28.

Also, in an another recent incident, a tribal girl from Manipur travelling in an autorickshaw in Delhi fell out of the vehicle while fighting off some thieves who tried to snatch her bag. She subsequently succumbed to her injuries a few days ago.

Meanwhile, protests in Delhi and Imphal over these deaths seemed to have no impact.

Congress MLA Joykishan Khumukcham told IANS on Monday that the Central government does not take seriously the deaths of persons from the northeast. "There is growing fear that some of them might have been victims of organ theft," he alleged.
Bengaluru, Sep 25 : Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor was on Monday announced brand ambassador of Reebok India at an event here. He is joining Bollywood's "Queen" Kangana Ranaut -- his co-star from "Rangoon" -- to endorse it.

Shahid, along with Silvia Tallon, Senior Marketing Director, Reebok India, inaugurated a new store of the brand at Brigade Road here.

"Bangalore (Bengaluru) has a great electrifying vibe and it is always amazing to be back here. I am thrilled to associate with Reebok India as their brand ambassador and join them here today for the launch of their flagship store," Shahid said in a statement.

"I think my synergies with Reebok match as we both understand and endorse the need to be fit -- physically, socially and mentally. I can tell you all from my experience that that fitness is not a one-time thing, it's a lifelong commitment to yourself and your body," he added.

The actor captivated audiences through his performance, which consisted of high energy fitness routines and some engagement with the crowd present.

According to Tallon, Shahid makes a perfect fit to endorse the brand as he "is someone who truly understands the meaning and importance of fitness in one's life".

"His commitment to fitness is unmatched and he is an inspiration to one and all," he added.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : The Congress on Monday condemned the attack on writer and Dalit rights activist Kancha Ilaiah and demanded action against a TDP MP who had allegedly threatened him.

In a statement, party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said Kancha Ilaiah's vehicle was pelted with shoes and stones at Ambedkar Centre in Parakal town of Warangal district on September 24.

He alleged that earlier TDP MP T.G. Venkatesh had issued a 'fatwa' against Ilaiah threatening to "kill" him or "hang him in the streets".

"Coming from a sitting Member of Parliament and an ally of the BJP -- this kind of death threat against a fellow citizen not only deserves strongest condemnation but is a clear cut criminal offence under Section 307 of IPC," Surjewala said.

"Can a parliament member, who issues a fatwa against a citizen -- that too a globally known writer and thinker -- continue in the responsible position of an MP? It's a question that the ruling BJP and TDP must answer," Surjewala added.

The Congress leader said that issuing a "Talibani Fatwa" by members of ruling dispensation with "overt and covert support of the establishment is a dangerous trend in our polity".

He alleged that an "unprecedented atmosphere of hate and intolerance" is being created to stifle the voice of those holding divergent views.

"The Indian National Congress demands that the TRS Government in Telangana should register an FIR against the TDP MP and order an inquiry into the attack and intimidation of Kancha Ilaiah."

He said strangulating the voices of free thinkers and rationalists has become a "new normal in Modi's New India".

Referring to the killings of journalist Gauri Lankesh, scholar M.M. Kalburgi and rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, Surjewala said a definite pattern has emerged "whereby lumpen elements having proximity to the government, take law in their own hands and physically assault those who do not agree with a certain ideology".

"This disturbing trend cannot be and should not be tolerated. 'If you do not agree with us, we shall kill you' is the new slogan of New India. Muzzling the voice of ordinary citizens and the lynch mob mentality has become a regular habit of this Achhe Din government," he alleged.

Surjewala said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should immediately sack his party MP.

The Congress leader said BJP claims to be messiah of Dalits but was maintaining "a conspiratorial silence" on the entire issue.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah should condemn the incident and ask for action against the TDP MP.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : Several student groups carried out protests here on Monday against the use of force by police on woman students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) when they were agitating for action in a sexual harassment incident.

Congress's student wing National Students Union of India (NSUI) took out a march against the Human Resource Development Ministry at Raisina Road, as did the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The NSUI claimed that while it was denied permission to stage a demonstration outside the Shastri Bhawan, where the ministry is housed, the ABVP was allowed to do so.

Another march was taken out by Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti, the Aam Aadmi Party's student wing, at the Delhi University which saw more than 100 students take part, a statement from the group said.

A joint protest was staged by students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), along with Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, All India Democratic Women's Association, All India Progressive Women's Association, Pinjra Tod, National Federation of Indian Women, including others, at the Jantar Mantar.

Newly-elected JNU Students' Union President Geeta Kumari lashed out at the BHU Vice Chancellor G.C. Tripathi for dictating to the women and not being able to ensure their safety.

"This is the same VC who says that girls who study till 10 p.m. have a bad character and are immoral. Now the same VC, after these protests is saying that few autocratic and anarchist elements which have come from outside are driving the moment," she said at the protest.

Geeta Kumari said that these incidents are becoming regular under the Narendra Modi government.

"What were they (girls) asking for, they were asking from the university to take notice of the sexual harassment incident and do justice. And now they are being branded anti-nationals," she said.

"This episode shows why GSCASH is necessary in all institutes. It is necessary because your administration is not capable of dealing with sexual harassment cases, they are not sensitised," she added.

Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment or 'GSCASH', the redressal committee at JNU against harassment related incidents, was ordered to be disbanded by the varsity administration last week in favour of a University Grants Commission mandated Internal Complaints Committee.

The move has since been opposed by the students and many teachers of the JNU.

The agitation by the woman students turned violent at BHU in Varanasi on Saturday night when they took their protest to the VC's office and started shouting slogans. They were also joined by men from other hostels.

The over 1,500 police personnel in the area carried out a baton-charge on the students and even fired some rounds in the air. In response, students threw stones and burnt a police motorcycle.
Kolkata, Sep 25 : Senior Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy, once the right hand man of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Monday announced his decision to quit the party, which hit back by suspending him for six years.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) meanwhile denied that Roy was set to join its fold.

Addressing a hurriedly convened media meet here, Roy said he would resign as the primary party member and also from his Rajya Sabha seat after the Durga Puja which concludes on September 30.

"With a heavy heart and pain, I am informing you that I have taken a principled decision. I am not an office-bearer in the party now... I will mail my resignation from the party working committee today itself.

"I'll quit as Rajya Sabha member after the Durga Puja break. I will also quit my primary membership of the Trinamool after a few days," he added.

Refusing to divulge more details, Roy said he would explain the reasons for his decision later.

"Today is panchami. People of Bengal and in the rest of India are in a festive mood. People will not accept it if I say these things now," said the former Railway Minister.

Roy, one of the founding members of the Trinamool, also recalled that he was the first signatory for the party on December 17, 1997, during the its formation process.

Trinamool officially came into being on January 1, 1998.

Hours after Roy's announcement, the Trinamool slapped a six-year suspension on him for "indulging in anti-party activities".

"For the past few years, he has been indulging in anti-party activities and trying to weaken the party from within.. to serve his own interest .

"Trinamool Congress disciplinary committee has recommended punishment against Mukul Roy to the party's leader and chairperson Mamata Banerjee. Accordingly, Roy has been suspended for six years from the party," said Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee.

Accusing Roy of "succumbing to the pressure of the central agencies" - a reference to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate probing the Saradha chit fund scam and the Narada sting footage, in both of which Roy has been interrogated - Chatterjee wondered why he has not resigned his Rajya Sabha seat immediately.

"We want him to resign (now)... if he has decided to resign after puja, let him resign right now. The puja festival will not be stalled if he puts in his papers now," he said.

Asserting that the party was not concerned over Roy's decision to quit, Chatterjee said: "The party and the state is united. We have full confidence in (party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee."

Meanwhile, the BJP said there was no proposal about Roy joining its fold.

"There is no proposal about Mukul Roy joining BJP. I think many people in Trinamool will not remain in the party for long because of corruption within the party and the way Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhisek Banerjee run it," said BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh said.

AOn the other hand, Roy's son Subhranshu Roy, a Trinamool MLA from Bjipur, said he was "very much in the party, and would continue to be in it".

Completely sidelined in the party for months, speculation about Roy quitting the Trinamool was rife for weeks, as he gradually distanced himself from it, and was said to be scouting for a new political innings with some other party, particularly the BJP.

Roy had wielded enormous clout as the party's all powerful national General Secretary for decades since its formation, and was widely regarded the main architect of its electoral successes.

Known for his composure, shrewdness and organisational ability, Roy even purportedly called the shots with regard to promotions and postings of key administrative and police officers after the party came to power in the state in 2011 Roy's formal announcement of snapping ties with the Trinamool came three days Chatterjee warned for "hobnobbing with the BJP" and said "we are keeping a close watch on him".

Last week, Roy sent back the state police personnel providing him Z category security cover after Banerjee, in an organisational reshuffle, abolished the Vice President's post he had been holding for over a year.

He was also kept away from several party programmes and sacked as the party in-charge of Tripura.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : As major e-commerce platforms -- Flipkart, Amazon India, Jabong, Myntra and Paytm Mall -- concluded their festive season sales, segments like mobiles, electronics and large appliances, followed by fashion, witnessed huge traction.

According to CashKaro, the overall e-commerce industry GMV (gross merchandise volume) rose by over 1,000 per cent during the sale period.

In online retailing, GMV indicates a total sales in terms of dollar value for merchandise sold through a particular marketplace over a certain time frame.

"Mobiles and electronics saw an increase of over 2,000 per cent, while a 950 per cent surge in sales of TVs and large appliance was recorded within this five-day period," CashKaro said in a statement.

"Fashion as a category grew 800 per cent, while Home and Kitchen saw a 500 per cent increase," it added.

Data shared by e-commerce giant Flipkart revealed that while the company did sales equivalent to 70 per cent of the entire online e-commerce market in India during their five-day-long "Big Billion Days" sales from September 20-24, its sales shot up by 100 per cent as compared to last year.

"Flipkart created history in the smartphones segment within the first 20 hours of the category opening for sale. 1.3 million smartphones were sold, higher than the total number of smartphones sold across India in a single day, both through online and offline," the company said.

Flipkart has a 70 per cent market share in the country's online smartphones market.

In addition, Flipkart Fashion, along with the online retail platforms it owns -- Jabong and Myntra -- holds 80 per cent of the entire online market for fashion.

Amazon India in its "Great Indian Festival" from September 21-24, witnessed over 2.5 times growth in the smartphones segment led by Samsung, Redmi and OnePlus.

"Large appliances grew 4X (four times) in the first two days of the Great Indian Sale vs last Diwali led by LG (5X) Bosch (6X) and Whirlpool (6X)," Amazon India said in a statement.

"Washing machines and refrigerators grew 4X and ACs (air conditioners) grew 3X respectively. Televisions grew 2X backed by sales in TCL, Sanyo, BPL, Sony, LG, Panasonic and Samsung," the company said.

Amazon India's Smart TV sales doubled over last year Diwali, the statement added.

"We are humbled that the latest version of the Great Indian sale was our biggest shopping event ever, with remarkable growth across categories led by smartphones and large appliances growing multiple times versus last year. We are especially excited about growing e-commerce in India with more than 85 per cent of new customers from small towns," said Manish Tiwary, Vice President - Category Management, Amazon India.

Paytm Mall, owned by Paytm Ecommerce, which launched its first ever festive season sale -- "Mera Cashback Sale" -- from September 20 to 23, said it witnessed 12 times growth in smartphone sales, eight times in laptops and cameras, 10 times in home appliances, 10 times in apparel, footwear and fashion accessories, and seven times in fast moving consumer goods.

"Apple iPhones, Samsung smartphones, MacBooks, Lenovo Laptops and HD LED TVs from major brands like Sony have registered highest traction. Small cities and towns have bought branded apparel," said the company.

"We have also witnessed large number of consumers buying Patanjali ghee, dry fruits, festival related gift items and daily need products during the sale period... Customers from over 839 cities and towns ordered products from sellers across 270 cities during our recently concluded 'Mera Cashback Sale'," it added.

E-commerce player Snapdeal is still on with its sales ending on September 25. Online marketplace ShopClues' "Maha Bharat Diwali Sale" will run till September 28, while LimeRoad's "The Festive Love Affair" will end on September 26.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on the BHU violence, the Congress on Monday demanded sacking of the university Vice Chancellor and an enquiry by a sitting High Court judge.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said that while Modi is vocal on almost all issues, his silence over the violence on girls in his own parliamentary constituency Varanasi is questionable.

On Saturday, police resorted to a baton charge in Banaras Hindu University injuring some protesting students outside their hostel.

"What has been happening in this centre of learning over the last two days is absolutely preposterous and shocking. Varanasi is the parliamentary constituency of the Prime Minister and his government runs a campaign 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'.

"What is playing itself out in his own constituency is the perpetration of the most unspeakable atrocities on girl students who were protesting against eve-teasing and alleged molestation and demanding a safer campus," said Tewari.

He also took on Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Vice-Chancellor G.C. Tripathi, stating that it was shameful on his part to have suggested that girl students not step outside the hostel after 6 p.m.

"We would like to ask the Prime Minister that does such a person deserve to be the Vice Chancellor of one of India's most premier universities.

"One who is so insensitive to the genuine concerns of women students and rather than empathising with them, the university goes and colludes in the most barbaric lathi-charge," he added.

"There's a big difference between his (Modi) words and actions... On one side, he calls for educating and protecting the girl child and when girls go to study, they are molested," he added.

Calling the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh insensitive, Tewari said: "Instead of taking strict action against the culprits, Uttar Pradesh police rather resorted to baton charge on the girls. What kind of administration is this?"

Terming the BJP government in the state "fascist in nature" and "undemocratic", Tewari said an FIR should be lodged against the official who ordered the cane-charge.

The party demanded that President Ram Nath Kovind, who is the Visitor of the University, should immediately take cognisance of what has happened in BHU and sack the Vice Chancellor.

"We also demand that there should be an enquiry by a sitting High Court judge, who should go into all the facts and circumstances as to how this atrocity was perpetrated and hold all those people who were responsible for ordering the cane-charge to account," he added.

"We would like to know from Modi where does he stand on this atrocity which has been perpetrated on women students in his own parliamentary constituency," Tewari also said.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit out at the BJP government by uploading a news report and tweeted: "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU".
New Delhi, Sep 25 : A woman and her relation were found murdered in her house here on Monday morning and her husband, who is the prime suspect, is missing, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Jatin Narwal said Premlata, 24, and her husband Mohit Yadav's cousin Soniya, 22, were found murdered in the house in Wazirabad area of north Delhi.

Narwal told IANS that the two women were killed with a knife and a screw driver and they were probing the motive behind the double murder.

Mohit Yadav has been missing from the house since then, police said, adding they came to know of the crime when they received a phone call around 11 a.m. informing that a woman had been found dead in her house with her throat slit.

A police officer privy to the case told IANS that there were two CCTV cameras on the street outside the house where the murder took place and they were analysing the footage.

"This will clear the fact whether any outsider was involved in the murder or not," he said.

Narwal said that bodies have been sent for autopsy.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : Declaring that his battle against corruption was "uncompromising", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said those indulging in graft cannot escape, as the BJP endorsed the government's fight against terror and black money and lauded the handling of the Doklam military standoff with China.

The day-long meeting of the BJP's National Executive, attended by over 2,000 delegates, including Chief Ministers, MPs, MLAs and state unit chiefs, adopted a political resolution in which the vision of a "New India" was unveiled that included freeing India of poverty, terrorism and separatism, casteism, appeasement politics and corruption while focusing on cleanliness.

In his valedictory address, Modi said the battle against terrorism would continue and disclosed that 90 hardcore wanted terrorists have been deported to India from other countries.

"My battle against corruption will be uncompromising. Anybody caught in this cannot escape. I have no relatives," Modi said.

At the meet, the Prime Minister was hailed for bringing international focus on the role of Pakistan in sponsoring terrorism against India and for the resolution of the Doklam military standoff with China.

The resolving of the Doklam crisis reflected the political and diplomatic maturity of Modi who had talked to Chinese President Xi Jinping and hailed his policy of neighbourhood first, according to the party's political resolution.

"It was an extraordinary success of the government," Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said, briefing the media on the political resolution.

The resolution hailed several decisions the government took in the last three and half years on economy, agriculture, terrorism and international relations.

The one nation, one tax GST regime was hailed as the biggest economic reform since independence.

Modi took on the opposition for criticism of his government saying "harsh language cannot be a substitute for any substantive charge against the government".

"The opposition used power for consumption. They do not know how to sit in the opposition," he said.

Briefing the media on the Prime Minister's closed door speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley quoted Modi as saying that the BJP was not a conventional party just to fight and win elections but an instrument of serving people.

"Democracy is beyond that. For a political organisation, elections is only a part but the main attempt is to make it as an instrument of mass participation. Till a political worker does not participate in it, it would not be a success," Modi said.

Jaitley said these two were the basic points of the Prime Minister's speech.

Modi referred to the expectations and aspirations of the people and the atmosphere that was prevailing now.

Coming down heavily on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, BJP President Amit Shah said his party totally opposes politics of dynasty and appeasement and only believes in politics of performance.

In his presidential address, Shah said the government was working towards ending the suffering of the people of the country and fighting corruption and terrorism.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, who briefed the media on Shah's closed-door address, said the party President noted that Gandhi had hurt the dignity of the nation by saying on foreign soil that dynastic politics was the way in India.

"The BJP rejects the politics of dynasty and appeasement. Condemning Gandhi's statement, the BJP President said the party believed in politics of performance and not appeasement or dynasty," Goyal said, citing Shah.

Shah also questioned Gandhi over scams during the UPA rule which he said were to the tune of Rs 12 lakh crore.

"What did he do against his corrupt government. They (Congress) kept the nation poor, deprived of development. Why did Rahul Gandhi allow the policy of appeasement to grow," Shah asked.

Amid concerns over slowing economic growth, Shah lauded the government's efforts to boost the economy and hailed its actions like demonetisation and introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Shah said fundamental changes in the economy would make India a world leader.

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari acknowledged that there were "some problems" with the economy but assured that the government was correcting them on a "war footing".

He attributed the slowing down of India's economic growth to the "big reforms" undertaken by the government and said that the crisis was temporary.

"When big reforms take place, some problems arise in the beginning. The government is working on a war footing. We are taking steps in this direction," Gadkari said.
New York, Sep 25 : Former Congressman Anthony Weiner who pleaded guilty in May to sexting with a 15-year-old girl, was sentenced on Monday to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

"The difference here is that this is a very strong compulsion," said Judge Denise Cote in handing down the sentence, saying that compulsion was evidence by "the destruction of his career on two occasions".

Weiner, who was unaccompanied by his wife Huma Abedin, buried his face in his hands on hearing the sentence.

The sentencing was delivered in US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Weiner, 53, also faces spending the rest of his life as a registered sex offender for his lengthy and lurid social media contacts with the North Carolina teen, the USA Today reported.

Weiner cried as he read from a written statement in Manhattan federal court, saying he has hit "rock bottom." He said he was "a very sick man for a very long time."

Weiner was first elected to Congress in 1999 and easily won re-election in his Brooklyn district six more times. His star rose in the Democratic Party in 2010 after a short but dramatic speech before Congress blasting Republicans for voting against an aid bill for first-responders to the 9/11 terror attacks.

A year later he was out, resigning his seat after admitting to exchanging "messages and photos of an explicit nature with about six women" over a period of about three years.

Abedin, who stood by her husband through much of the scandal, finally filed for divorce in May, the same day Weiner pleaded guilty. The two have a young son.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : The BJP National Executive on Monday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for showing political maturity in the amicable resolution of the Doklam military standoff with China.

"The most important thing that was discussed during the National Executive meeting was the Doklam military standoff with China, as a rift was created between India and China," Nitin Gadkari told reporters at a press conference briefing about the political resolution that was passed in the National Executive meeting.

The National Executive meeting of the BJP was attended by over 13 Chief Ministers and over 1,400 legislators and 334 parliamentarians.

He said that many people were worried what would happen and even "internationally people thought that there might be a war between India and China".

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave an example of "political maturity and diplomacy" as he went to China and held talks with the Chinese President.

Hailing Modi's policy of having cordial relations with the neighbouring countries, Gadkari said, "He always prefers the neighbourhood first policy."

He also said that the people now visiting any country in the world feel that respect for India has increased under Modi. "Modiji has shown diplomacy and patience to sort out the Doklam issue," Gadkari added.

Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a standoff at Doklam in the Sikkim sector for two and a half months, which was resolved on August 28 ahead of the BRICS summit hosted by China.

Earlier in the day, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that party President Amit Shah also hailed Modi on the Doklam issue.

Briefing reporters, Goyal said, "Shah also hailed Modi on how the Doklam issue was sorted out through positive dialogues and diplomatic measures."

"Shah also said that political will was demonstrated by the BJP government to solve the Doklam standoff," Goyal said.
New Delhi, Sep 25 : Two men who duped uniformed personnel, deployed at Metro and railway stations and airports, of money have been arrested, police said on Monday.

Azad Khan, 24, and Mohammad Tamanne, 19, were involved in duping 50 to 60 persons in the past and were arrested from the domestic terminal (T1) of the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Bhatia said.

On Wednesday, the two had duped a Central Industrial Security Force constable on the pretext of giving him a wad of Rs 500 notes, which in reality was made of plain paper with Rs 500 notes stapled on both sides.

Riding an auto-rickshaw along with the Constable from the domestic terminal, Tamanne told him that he had run away with a bundle of cash from his employer after the latter did not pay him.

Tamanne then offered the wad to the Constable, which he said totalled around Rs 3 lakh and asked for Rs 6,000 in return, police said.

Khan also joined their conversation, pretending all this while that he did not know Tamanne, and tricked the Constable into believing the story.

Khan and the Constable then paid jointly to Tamanne and took money from the victim, before leaving the spot on the pretext of dropping Tamanne at a bus stop.

The Constable later found out that he had been conned by the two accused.

Bhatia told IANS that the two had been cheating people for the past one year and had cheated around 50 to 60 persons.

"The accused targeted men in uniform at Metro stations, airports, and railway stations as they felt that they are gullible and hence can be cheated easily," Bhatia told IANS.
Kathmandu, Sep 25 : Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay is planning to return home after the Dashain festival to contest the upcoming federal Parliament elections from his home town Kapilvastu, a media report said.

Upadhyay confirmed his intent to the Kathmandu Post on the telephone.

"I have already informed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba about my interest to contest in the elections. He has responded positively," Upadhyay said.

Appointed from the Nepali Congress quota during the Sushil Koirala-led government, Upadhyay was recalled from the Delhi mission by the subsequent government headed by the CPN-UML's K.P. Sharma Oli in May 2016 on charges of working against the country's interest.

Upadhyay was reappointed by the next government, this time led by CPN (Maoist Centre)'s Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Upadhyay said he decided to run in the elections to honour the request of the people in his hometown.

"I will be holding discussions with the senior Nepali Congress leaders before tendering my resignation," he told the Post.
Bengaluru, Sep 25 : Karnataka on Monday unveiled a seven-year development roadmap for the state with inclusive growth and progress.

Releasing the "Nava (new) Karnataka 2025" vision document at an event here, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the objective was to meet the expectation of all citizens in the state's development across the social strata.

"The Vision 2025 document is aimed at providing a governance strategy for the state over the next seven years. Its scope is broad-based and specific to serve as a bridge between different sectors and diverse interests," Siddaramaiah told the gathering.

The exercise will cover 13 sectors to be identified by the respective department heads for driving the state's growth in terms of key socio-economic and human development indicators.

The sectors include agriculture and allied sectors, infrastructure, industrial development, services, education, employment and skill development, health and nutrition, rural development, social justice and empowerment, urban development, IT and BT and governance and law and order.

"The project will be implemented through consultations, incorporating a top-down and bottom-up approach, involving people from urban and rural sectors, industry, academia, people's representatives and civil society," said the Chief Minister.

As part of a vertical approach, the state government will incorporate views from the people in all the 30 districts across the state. Feedback will be collected from them on "what you want to see for the development of Karnataka over the next seven years".

"We believe that only a participative process can be meaningful and implementable. Our government has been at the forefront of emerging trends and a torch-bearer of modern technology," asserted Siddaramaiah on the occasion.

Day-long workshops will soon be held on the different sectors in every district across the state to elicit views of all the stakeholders, as the state government wants to break from the 'ivory-tower' approach adopted in implementing such a vision.

The state government will also use digital media and social media like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp to connect and engage with the youth across the state.

"Utilising an array of media platforms, we will invite suggestions and crowdsource actionable ideas, insights and diverse viewpoints to realise the hopes and aspirations of the people across state," added Siddaramaiah.
Chennai, Sep 25 : The Tamil Nadu government on Monday said it has set up an inquiry commission headed by retired High Court Justice A. Arumugaswamy to go into the death of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Chief Minister K. Palaniswami had announced the government's decision to set up an inquiry commission to be headed by a retired High Court judge to go into the death of the AIADMK supremo.

Ever since Jayalalithaa's death, there have been hints of foul play in her death, with critics pointing fingers at her aide, the now jailed V.K. Sasikala.

The AIADMK camp of Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam had laid down a probe into the death as one of its demands before merging the faction with that led by Palaniswami.

Meanwhile, sidelined AIADMK leader and Sasikala's nephew T.T.V. Dinakaran told reporters that his aunt has taken a video of Jayalalithaa as she was watching television in her hospital room.

Dinakaran said it was only Jayalalithaa who had asked Sasikala to take the video.

According to him, the video could not be released to the media as Jayalalithaa was wearing a nightie after she was shifted from intensive care unit to a room.

The government's decision to set up an inquiry commission comes couple of days after Forests Minister C. Sreenivasan had sought people's apology for "lying" about the health condition of Jayalalithaa when she was admitted in Apollo Hospital.

At a public meeting in Madurai, around 500 km from here, on Friday night, Sreenivasan said: "We would have told lies that she (Jayalalithaa) had idlis and people met her. The truth is that nobody saw her."

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss in a statement said only a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation could bring out the truth in Jayalalithaa's death and urged the state government to issue orders for that.

According to him, the inquiry commission or the video taken by Sasikala side will not bring out the truth in Jayalalithaa's death.

Ramadoss said there was no visible indication about Jayalalithaa losing weight in Apollo Hospital.
New Delhi, Sep 26 : The Central government on Monday said that it will not exceed its fiscal deficit target for 2017-18 to fund the Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna, a scheme aimed at providing electricity connection to every household.

Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R.K. Singh said that the new scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will be funded through "existing financial resources".

"As far as the fiscal deficit is concerned... this (scheme is being funded) through resources which are already there. We are not taking anything extra," he said at the a function held here to launch the scheme, which is estimated to cost Rs 16,320 crore.

"This scheme is being funded by the central government and a component of it is coming from the state governments... There is no question of anyone depositing anything to avail the benefits of this scheme," he said.

The scheme envisages to provide free electricity connections to four crore rural households. It also entails easy and hassle-free registration for those who want to avail the benefits of the scheme.

However, several economic analysts have lately expressed concerns over a possible breach of the fiscal deficit target for 2017-18 to fund populist schemes and a like stimulus package for the economy.

Macro-data released on August 31, 2017, showed that country's April-July fiscal deficit -- at Rs 5.05 lakh crore -- stood at 92.4 per cent of the full year Budget target of Rs 5.46 lakh crore.

The data that time was furnished by the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGA). It showed that April-July fiscal deficit was 73.7 per cent of the Budget in the like period of the last fiscal.

But within the first four months of the fiscal 2017-18, it had touched 92.4 per cent of the full year target.

The 2017-18 deficit -- the difference between revenue and expenditure -- has been pegged at Rs 5.46 lakh crore for 2017-18, as compared to the deficit of Rs 5.34 lakh crore for the last fiscal.
United Nations, Sep 25 : India hit out at Pakistan saying it has callously exploited the picture of an injured Palestinian girl to spread falsehoods about India and to divert attention from Islamabad's role as the hub of world terrorism.

Paulomi Tripathi, a First Secretary in India's UN Mission, on Monday held up both the fake picture used by Pakistani Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi and the photograph of Lt. Umar Faiyaz, a young soldier from the Indian Kashmir who was kidnapped and tortured by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

The picture showed the body of Faiyaz surrounded by mourners.

The photograph of Faiyaz "reflects the real pain inflicted by the nefarious designs of Pakistan on India", Tripathi told the General Assembly, contrasting it with the fake picture used by Lodhi on Saturday while reacting to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The picture of the injured girl that Lodhi displayed, was on the other hand, that of Rawya Abu Jom'a taken in July 2014 and published by The New York Times in March 2015 under the caption, "Conflict, Courage and Healing in Gaza," she pointed out.

Holding up both pictures, Tripathi directed attention to the picture of the Indian soldier and said: "This is a real picture and not a fake picture of Lt. Umar Faiyaz. A young officer from the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, Umar Faiyaz was kidnapped at a wedding reception. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan-supported terrorists in May 2017."

"This is a true picture," she said. "It portrays a harsh reality. A picture of terror emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in the Jammu and Kashmir have to struggle with everyday."

"This was the reality that the Permanent Representative of Pakistan sought to obfuscate," Tripathi said.

Lodhi "yet again sought to divert attention from Pakistan's role as the hub of global terrorism," Tripathi said. "She did so by callously holding up a picture of an injured girl."

"The Permanent Representative of Pakistan misled the Assembly by displaying this picture to spread falsehood aboyut India," Tripathi added. "A fake picture to push a completely false narrative."

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
Florence (Italy), Sep 26 : Police in the central Italian city of Florence arrested seven university lecturers in tax law on suspicion of rigging exams.

A further 22 professors were banned from university teaching and "any academic role" for 12 months.

The seven academics were put under house arrest, police said.

Italian finance police searched over 150 locations on Friday as part of the investigation including public offices, private homes and legal practices.

The suspects acted "according to a logic of divvying up territorial spoils and an exchange of favours of mutual benefit," said investigators.

"They did not evaluate candidates on the basis of merit but according to their personal, professional or group interests."

The arrests came amid a probe into the alleged exam rigging that has targeted a total 59 academics including former Italian Finance Minister Augusto Fantozzi, who is currently a law professor and rector of Giustino Fortunato University in Benevento, near Naples.

The criminal probe began when a research fellow at the University of Florence claimed he came under intense pressure from several professors to withdraw his candidacy for an exam to qualify as a tax-law teacher in favour of a less qualified candidate.

The researcher was allegedly promised a pass in the next exam in return, but he refused and went to police.

The probe, which centered on national public exams in 2012-2013, uncovered a network of "numerous" law lecturers at a various Italian universities who "systematically clinched corrupt deals", investigators said.

Some of the law professors implicated in the probe also sat on several national commissions, according to investigators.
Vatican City, Sep 26 : The Vatican has not blocked access to an online petition accusing Pope Francis of heresy in his 2016 teaching letter Amoris Laetitia, sources said on Monday.

The encyclical opens the door to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics being allowed to receive communion. The Vatican press office has six computer terminals which journalists can use and from all six the petition website www.correctiofilialis.org is accessible, the sources told AKI.

The website is navigable and reports that the Vatican disabled access to the petition are "false", according to the sources.

The petition is linked to a 25-page missive by conservative Catholics delivered to the Pope in August issuing him a "filial correction" over Amoris Laetitia - a measure they said was being using for the first time since the 14th century.

Former Vatican Bank president Ettore Gotti Tedeschi is among signatories of the letter, which accuses the Pope of seven "heretical" positions on marriage, morality and receiving the sacraments.

Pope Francis "through words, acts and omissions" has caused "great and imminent damage to souls," concludes the letter signed by 62 priests and Catholic intellectuals.
Rome, Sep 26 : A Malaysian was arrested after he allegedly assaulted a couple embracing outside an Islamic cultural centre in Rome, shoving the woman and punching and kicking the man, police said on Monday.

"You can't kiss here in front of the mosque," the 24-year-old Malaysian is alleged to have shouted at the couple before attacking them as they strolled hand in hand in Rome's Esquilino district near the central station late on Sunday.

When a police patrol car intervened, the Malaysian allegedly went for the two police officers, leaving one of them with bruising.

The Malaysian faces charges of assault and of resisting a public official.

Police are investigating "the extent of radicalisation" of the Malaysian, who is resident in Rome, according to the romatoday.it website.
United Nations, Sep 26 : India hit out at Pakistan on Monday saying it has callously exploited the picture of an injured Palestinian girl to spread falsehoods about India and divert attention from Islamabad's role as the hub of world terrorism.

Paulomi Tripathi, a First Secretary in India's UN Mission, held up the photograph of the body of Lt. Umar Faiyaz, a young soldier from the Indian state of Kashmir who was tortured and killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists, surrounded by mourners, and a picture of Pakistan's Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi displaying the picture of the Palestinian girl claiming she was Kashmiri.

Tripathi told the Assembly the photograph of Faiyaz "is a true picture" and it "reflects the real pain inflicted by the nefarious designs of Pakistan on India," contrasting it with the fake picture used by Lodhi on Saturday while reacting to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The picture of the injured girl that Lodhi displayed was that of Rawya Abu Jom'a taken in July 2014 and published by The New York Times in March 2015 under the caption, "Conflict, Courage and Healing in Gaza," Tripathi pointed out.

Caught using a fake picture, a Pakistani diplomat made the bizarre statement that "backing up debates with pictures has backfired" on India while responding to Tripathi.

Tipu Usman, a Counsellor at the Pakistani Mission, told the Assembly, "India is seeking to hide behind a picture."

Asked at his daily briefing if the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Miroslav Lajcak could do anything about fake pictures being used at the Assembly as was done by Lodhi, his spokesperson Brian Varma said, "I don't think the PGA has a role, but I will look into it."

Tripathi help up both pictures and directed attention to the photograph of the Indian soldier and said, "This is a real picture and not a fake picture of Lt. Umar Faiyaz. A young officer from the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, Umar Fiayz was kidnapped at a wedding reception. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan-supported terrorists in May 2017."

"This is a true picture," she said. "It portrays a harsh reality. A picture of terror emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in the Jammu and Kashmir have to struggle with everyday."

"This was the reality that the Permanent Representative of Pakistan sought to obfuscate," Tripathi said.

Lodhi "yet again sought to divert attention from Pakistan's role as the hub of global terrorism," Tripathi said. "She did so by callously holding up a picture of an injured girl" from Gaza.

"The Permanent Representative of Pakistan misled the Assembly by displaying this picture to spread falsehood about India," Tripathi added. "A fake picture to push a completely false narrative."

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
United Nations, Sep 26 : Pakistan on Monday stated that its own use of a fake picture at the General Assembly has "backfired" on India.

"Raking up debate on pictures has backfired," Tipu Usman, a counsellor in Pakistan's Mission, told the Assembly on Monday responding to India exposing the use of a photo injured girl from Gaza as a Kashmiri victim.

Earlier Paulomi Tripathi had pointed out that Islamabad's Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi had "callously" exploited the picture of a Palestinian girl "to divert attention from Pakistan's role as the hub of global terrorism."

Speaking about Kashmir while replying to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's speech at the Assembly on Saturday, Lodhi had held up the picture of of Rawya Abu Jom'a taken in July 2014 and published by The New York Times in March 2015 under the caption, "Conflict, Courage and Healing in Gaza."

For contrast, Tripathi held up a picture of the body of Lt. Umar Faiyaz surrounded by mourners, and another of Lodhi displaying the fake picture.

Faiyaz was kidnapped at a wedding and tortured and killed by terrorists backed by Pakistan in May, she said.

"This is a true picture," she said drawing attention to the picture of Faiyaz being mourned. "It portrays a harsh reality. A picture of terror emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in the Jammu and Kashmir have to struggle with everyday."

Meanwhile, asked at his daily briefing if the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Miroslav Lajcak could do anything about fake pictures being used at the Assembly as was done by Lodhi, his spokesperson Brian Varma said, "I don't think the PGA has a role, but I will look into it."

"The Indian representative has once again chosen to divert the attention of the international community from the real issue," Usman said.

"India who kills and tortures innocent Kashmiris is seeking to hide behind a photograph."

He repeated statements made by Lodhi about India being led by former members of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) that believes in "racial superiority and religious dominance."

He accused India of war crimes and alleged it was backing Islamic terrorist organisations like the terrorist organisations like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA).

Borrowing a phrase from Swaraj's speech about Pakistan's role in global terror, Usman said that "factories of terror" in India were sending out operatives like "Yadav."

It was a reference to Kulbhushan Jhadav, a former Indian Navy officer, who Pakistan says it caught in Balochistan.

A Pakistani military court has sentenced him to death and India, which has denied he was its spy, has appealed to the International Court of Justice to stop his execution.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
Erbil (Iraq), Sep 26 : Polling places in the northern autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan closed on Monday following an independence referendum, election officials said.

Kurdistan's Independent High Electoral and Referendum Commission said it extended voting for one hour due to the high turnout, Efe reported.

Some 76 per cent of voters, according to official figures, had cast ballots in Iraqi Kurdistan and the areas disputed with the Iraqi government, Hemin Hawrani, senior assistant to Iraqi Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani, said.

At the polling places that the media had access to, international observers said there had not been any incidents.

The commission did not provide details on when results would be released, but some observers said vote totals would be announced within 24 to 48 hours.

The region has enjoyed considerable autonomy since the early 1990s, a status bolstered in the 2005 constitution that defined Iraq as a federal state.
New York, Sep 26 : North Korea reserves the right to shoot down US warplanes flying outside its airspace, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said on Monday.

"Since the US declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures," Efe quoted Ri as saying.

Those measures, the North Korean minister said, include "the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country."

The declaration was made by the Northeast Asian regime two days after the Pentagon announced that military aircraft had flown near North Korea's coast with the aim of sending a "clear message" to Pyongyang.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country," Ri said.

The foreign minister said that North Korea drew this conclusion from the speech US President Donald Trump delivered before the United Nations General Assembly last week.

In that address, Trump said that although the US has great strength and patience, if it is forced to defend itself and its allies "we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea."

Ri said that those words were clearly a "declaration of war" against Pyongyang, and he noted that the UN Charter authorises the international body's member states to defend themselves.

He said specifically that all measures were on the table for North Korea to defend itself.

On Saturday, during his participation in the top-level debates in the General Assembly, Ri announced that North Korea is in the "final phase" of developing its nuclear arsenal, including ballistic missiles that could potentially deliver nuclear warheads to US territory.

He said, however, that Pyongyang will use atomic weapons only as a "last resort," adding that North Korea has no intention of using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against any country that remains aloof from US military action.

Tensions have been steadily rising since Trump's UN speech, which was delivered in the wake of North Korean missile and nuclear tests, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a rare television appearance calling Trump "mentally deranged," whereupon Trump responded by once again mockingly calling Kim "Rocket man."
Romance and intimacy are among the highest joys in life, but a 50 percent divorce rate in America doesnt indicate much happiness. Rob Yule believes that in the gift of sexuality, by creating us sexual beings, God has set us a stunning challenge, greater than many today seem willing to rise to. Our sexuality, he avers, is a terrifying grace  an ultimate test of how we live our lives.

In this wide-ranging study of the theology of sexuality, Yule examines the romantic relationships of twelve leading Christians  how they tackled and what they taught about this most fraught and fascinating aspect of human life. Through a series of vivid and engaging human-interest stories, he shows the astonishingly varied ways in which these well-known people negotiated the complicated circumstances and challenges of their intimate relationships.

Yules approach breathes life into classic Biblical teachings on love, sex and marriage, and shows what we may be missing in the shallow experimentation of todays sexualized popular culture.

A Terrifying Grace: Sexuality, Romance and Marriage in Christian History By Rob Yule

ISBN: 9781512780901 (hardcover), 9781512780895 (softcover), 9781512780888 (e-book)

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Westbow Press

About the author

Rob Yule is a retired New Zealand Presbyterian minister and a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. He was chaplain at Victoria University of Wellington in the 1970s, a leader in charismatic renewal, and pastored churches in Christchurch, Palmerston North, and Auckland. He lectured in the Manawatu Branch of the Bible College of New Zealand and on mission trips to the Czech Republic. He and his wife Christene have been married nearly 50 years and have five children and 16 grandchildren.

Review Copies & Interview Requests:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Satara Williams

480-998-2600 x 586

swilliams(at)lavidge(dot)com

General Inquiries:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Jacquelyn Brazzale

480-998-2600 x 569

jbrazzale(at)lavidge(dot)com
With the aim of simplifying TOEFL iBT preparation, uMasterExam provides extensive resources to help individuals ace the language test. The website offers effective, complete, useful preparation material to students and professionals who are planning to take the TOEFL iBT exam.

Aimed at students at all levelsfrom beginners to those at intermediate and advanced levelsuMasterExam features a wide selection of information online. Test takers can get relevant, detailed information on the best preparation guides, courses and practice tests.

If you are planning to take the TOEFL iBT test, it is imperative that you select an online prep guide. Test takers feel a great deal of pressure to prepare for the test. After all, the score they receive will define their academic future, said a company spokesperson. Many universities require TOEFL scores to evaluate the English language skills of potential applicants. Besides students, people applying for work visas are also required to take the test. Of course, the higher the score, the better. As an online TOEFL preparation guide, uMasterExam, helps individuals understand all components of the iBT test. Test takers can refer to the website to improve their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills and get high scores.

uMasterExam provides a list of the best books for preparation, in each category. This can help improve the writing, reading and comprehension, oral and listening skills of test takers. It also comprises several prep tips, tricks and strategies. The resource also recommends vocabulary and grammar text books for TOEFL. Moreover, the website presents a list of qualified, certified TOEFL tutors for test takers to consult.

Designed to walk test takers through the entire TOEFL preparation process, uMasterExam can enhance everyones learning experience.

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) iBT is one of the most widely used standardized language tests in the world. Accepted in more than 130 countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia, as well as over 10,000 colleges and universities, the test helps evaluate an individuals language skills.

uMasterExam

uMasterExam is an online TOEFL preparation guide for test takers. The website offers complete test study material to help students prepare for the English language exam and achieve their academic goals.

Website: http://umasterexam.com/
Nearly 20 years ago, a handful of packaging companies came together to offer the world something new. Today, after growing into 26 best-in-class product brands, http://www.ProMachBuilt.com. [ProMach __title__ ] brings the entire organization together to offer even more value for its customers.

The world has changed so much in the last two decades, and so have we. With new brands and capabilities being added to the ProMach family, a transformation has taken place. Weve become something new, something remarkable, says Mark Anderson, ProMach President and CEO. The solutions we bring to the table today make us a premier player in the marketplace and weve set the bar very high in breadth of offering, in design innovation, in service, and in performance. Its time to showcase our collective innovation and strength as a united organization. Its time to show the world ProMach has become something greater: a comprehensive provider of complete packaging solutions, from line design to the end of the line, and beyond. Its time to let the world know that ProMach is Performance, Packaged.

ProMach recognized the need for a new, evolved message  one that could bring the entire global organization together and represent its evolution to customers and the entire industry in the best, and most easily understandable way. Thats not just a product going down the packaging line, its our customers reputation, says John Eklund, ProMach Vice President of Marketing. We needed a new way for all of us to commit to the same level of performance, to see it, and own it. Were not just selling machines, were delivering performance  so our customers dont need WHYs and HOWs; they need their products packaged, carefully handled, and ready to ship. Without delays. Without defects. Without disappointing a consumer. The only thing that matters to our packaging customers is results, so by focusing on performance we can better help them protect the reputation theyve worked so hard to earn with their consumers.

ProMach is delivering on its promise of performance by adapting a true, no-walls approach to teambuilding. By letting innovation flow across every business line, across every experience, to every customer everywhere, ProMach is leveraging the knowledge of all its best-in-class product brands  letting them grow and interact without walls.

When the walls come down, our people can simply focus on performance. And, when our people are focused on performance, our promises are kept and our customers expectations are exceeded, says Anderson. At ProMach, performance is what happens when all of our people and processes work as one.

To symbolize where ProMach is today, the company created a new brand identity that complements its new chapter. While each of its 26 best-in-class product brands will retain its individual identity, the new corporate brand identity reflects how ProMach has consolidated its culture, and brought its talent and capabilities together into one powerful, world-spanning team.

By aligning our brands and services into our new framework, we make it possible for ProMach to better serve our entire customer base and take on any challenger, anywhere. However, this process wasnt simply a re-alignment or rebranding, says Eklund. This brand evolution enables us to now more clearly articulate and actively share our narrative with customers. We have a very compelling story, and we want customers to understand that ProMach is a truly integrated company that can deliver any kind of packaging solution  from a single machine to a turnkey line. No matter the customer need, we will be there every step of the way, proving time and time again that ProMach is Performance, Packaged.

To see firsthand how ProMach is stronger together, visit booth C-3218 during PACK EXPO LAS VEGAS, from September 25 to 27, 2017, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

For more information on ProMach, visit http://www.ProMachBuilt.com.

ABOUT PROMACH

ProMach is a family of best-in-class packaging solution brands serving manufacturers of all sizes and geographies in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and household and industrial goods industries. ProMach brands operate across the entire packaging spectrum: filling and capping, flexibles, pharma, product handling, labeling and coding, and end of line. ProMach also provides Performance Services including integrated solutions, design/build, engineering services, and productivity software to optimize packaging line design and deliver maximum uptime.

ProMach designs, manufactures, integrates, and supports the most sophisticated and advanced packaging solutions in the global marketplace. Its diverse customer base, from Fortune 500 companies to smaller, privately-held businesses worldwide, depends on reliable, flexible, technologically advanced equipment and integrated solutions. ProMach is headquartered near Cincinnati, Ohio, with manufacturing facilities and offices throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, United Arab Emirates and China. For more information about ProMach, visit http://www.ProMachBuilt.com.
ProMach, a global provider of complete packaging machinery solutions, announced today the debut of their ProMach Performance Services offering. ProMach Performance Services is a network of technical experts working together to deliver the most efficient and economical solutions across four service platforms: integrated solutions, engineering, design/build, and productivity software. The new ProMach Performance Services offering will be showcased at Pack Expo in Las Vegas, September 25 to 27, 2017 (ProMach Performance Services Booth # C-3225).

The packaging industry has changed dramatically over the past two decades, and ProMach has continued to adapt to evolving customer needs. A little over a year ago, ProMach acquired Zarpac, an Ontario-based global engineering services provider focused on solutions for the packaging industry. Since that time ProMach has developed numerous successful turnkey packaging lines for customers worldwide and expanded manufacturing operations to include new facilities in Wuhu, China and Atlanta, Georgia  offering a combined almost 200,000 SF of additional space to support integration projects and increased customer demand.

Our customers are continually challenged to do more with less in their organizations, and they are looking for a true partner to help them navigate the complicated waters of engineering, productivity, integration, and turnkey systems, says Mark Anderson, ProMach President and CEO. Zarpac is an outstanding organization with strong leadership, tremendous people, and unique capabilities, but we wanted customers to better understand what to expect when they work with us. The rebranding of these capabilities into ProMach Performance Services sets the bar for what customers can expect  a single source provider of complete turnkey integrated lines, productivity software, and more with a focus on one thing: performance. At the end of the day its about getting customers up and running quickly, efficiently, and with the best ROI, and were proud to put the ProMach brand on this offering.

ProMach features 26 best-in-class product brands across six business lines: filling and capping, flexibles, pharma, product handling, end of line, and labeling and coding. The addition of this service line  ProMach Performance Services  creates another layer of customer services and transforms ProMach into a strong global partner that can inject measurable performance into any system, line, or process, regardless of which manufacturers machines are in the buildovercoming engineering challenges and unforeseen obstacles without walls and without limits.

As consumer packaged goods engineering teams are getting smaller, companies are increasingly looking to partner with original equipment manufacturers, like ProMach, to provide engineering and integration services and become an extension of their business, says Frank Volpe, ProMach Performance Services Vice President and General Manager. We partner with customers from concept to completion with project management support and we take the time to know and understand their business, providing a full range of services from mechanical and electrical engineering, PLC programing, full plant layouts, OEE improvements, installation, startup, commissioning, and much more.

ProMach is in a unique position with industry-leading OEM solutions across the entire packaging line, adds Volpe, and while ProMach Performance Services can leverage any of ProMachs strong product brands, we can also integrate any manufacturers machines into our lines, taking full responsibility and backing it with performance guarantees. Whether upgrading an existing line or putting in a brand new greenfield line, we will be there every step of the way with a single point of contact to ensure success and deliver innovation, creating the most efficient and economical solutions, anywhere in the world.

ProMach Performance Service features four strong service platforms, each offering customers unique capabilities and expertise:

Integrated Solutions: From concept to final validation, ProMach Performance Services provides pre-integration of parts or entire systems, built and tested in their own facilities to minimize risk, resolve integration issues, reduce downtime and startup curves, and ensure immediate success on the plant floor at installation.

Engineering: ProMach Performance Services is an Engineering Service Provider (ESP), offering complete project management as well as mechanical and electrical engineering, including retrofits, upgrades, on-site services, installations, and startups. They are an approved integrator for a wide variety of robotics and automation systems as well. With a focus on cost savings, optimization, and speed to market, ProMach Performance Services can apply efficiencies from part standardization to reapplication of design.

Design Build: With custom design and build of complex packaging machines, ProMach Performance Services has developed and produced more than 300 unique, one-of-a-kind packaging machines for new and development products. Using robust 3D modeling, prototyping, and testing resources, ProMach Performance Services can design and build a proprietary system that rapidly gets any product to market, delivering a competitive advantage along the way.

Productivity Software: ProMach Performance Services offers industry-leading enterprise-wide data collection and analysis tools for monitoring, controlling, and improving floor operations from every single machine and across the entire process. Improve uptime, quality, and speed with ProMach Performance Services proprietary ZPI tools, which exchange information flawlessly across every system in the plant and opens the door to constant improvement, optimization, and granular metrics that unleash real efficiencies.

To learn more about ProMach Performance Services visit Booth # C-3225 at Pack Expo Las Vegas, call 905-338-8800, or visit http://www.ProMachPerformance.com.

About ProMach Performance Services

A single source of integrated solutions with global reach and a world of experience, ProMach Performance Services is a network of technical experts working together to deliver the most efficient and economical solutions, anywhere in the world. Integration, engineering, design/build, data collection, advanced analytics, machine forensics, track and trace, and more: ProMach Performance Services delivers innovation from every corner, creating complete solutions from our family of best-in-class packaging partners. For more information about ProMach Performance Services, visit http://www.ProMachPerformance.com.

About ProMach

ProMach is a family of best-in-class packaging solution brands serving manufacturers of all sizes and geographies in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and household and industrial goods industries. ProMach brands operate across the entire packaging spectrum: filling and capping, flexibles, pharma, product handling, labeling and coding, and end of line. ProMach also provides Performance Services including integrated solutions, design/build, engineering services, and productivity software to optimize packaging line design and deliver maximum uptime.

ProMach designs, manufactures, integrates, and supports the most sophisticated and advanced packaging solutions in the global marketplace. Its diverse customer base, from Fortune 500 companies to smaller, privately-held businesses worldwide, depends on reliable, flexible, technologically advanced equipment and integrated solutions. ProMach is headquartered near Cincinnati, Ohio, with manufacturing facilities and offices throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe, United Arab Emirates and China. For more information about ProMach, visit http://www.ProMachBuilt.com.
Krista Santino has joined Dallas-based Echelon Analytics, a nationally recognized consulting firm focused on economic and financial analysis in litigation and disputes. Ms. Santino joins the firm as a Director and will open a new Echelon office in Los Angeles.

Krista makes a great addition to our leadership team at Echelon. She is a CPA and a credentialed valuation professional with deep experience in both financial forensics and commercial litigation damages, including intellectual property damages, said Barry Bell, Managing Member of Echelon. Also, by launching our new Los Angeles office, she can provide an enhanced level of client service to our existing West Coast clients and further expand our reach into this important litigation venue. Im excited to collaborate with Krista as we continue to grow our national practice in both intellectual property litigation services and complex commercial litigation services.

Krista is an experienced forensic accountant with a substantial background in financial investigation, accounting malpractice, and the analysis of economic damages issues in both general commercial and intellectual property settings. A licensed CPA for over 20 years, she specializes in providing objective and fact-based analysis to her clients, allowing them to make better informed decisions about disputes, litigation, or other critical business challenges facing them.

Kristas experience in financial investigation and accounting malpractice includes engagements on behalf of real estate investment funds, global accounting firms, manufacturing companies, banking and other financial entities, and other government offices and regulatory agencies, including the United States Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. These matters have included the investigation into the actions of real estate developers and other financial fiduciaries, analysis of audit team compliance with audit regulations, analysis of corporate accounting directors compliance with accounting regulations, and analysis of other litigation-related damages issues across many industries. Her work has been utilized in civil litigation and criminal prosecutions of former officers and directors, insiders, outside professionals, and other parties alleged to have caused damages through accounting malpractice or breach of fiduciary duty.

Krista has directed engagements on behalf of both plaintiff and defense litigation counsel to provide investigation, analysis, and expert opinions concerning economic damages related to a wide variety of complex commercial litigation matters across numerous industries.

Kristas earlier career included positions in the consulting practices of KPMG and FTI Consulting. She later joined the Financial Advisory Practice of AlixPartners and followed the Los Angeles practice of that firm to Resolution Economics.

Krista holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hills Kenan Flagler Business School and received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas A&M University in College Station. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Krista also is Accredited in Business Valuation and Certified in Financial Forensics by the AICPA.*

About Echelon

Echelon Analytics is a recognized leader in expert witness services, economic and financial analysis, business consulting, and financial investigation. From its offices in Dallas, Houston, and Salt Lake City, the firm works with law firms, corporations, government entities, and private individuals across the United States and internationally in matters involving commercial damages, intellectual property disputes and valuation, and banking and finance litigation.

Learn more about Echelon Analytics at ea-us.com.

Press Contacts:

Barry L. Bell

Managing Member

214.965.8530

bbell(at)ea-us(dot)com

Krista Santino

Director

310.310.3078

ksantino(at)ea-us(dot)com

*Echelon Analytics is not a CPA firm.
Printify connects store owners with the best print providers, enabling them to quickly and easily design and sell a wide variety of products through their e-commerce websites. Prior to this announcement, sellers could access Printify directly and on Shopify, which also made their products available through third-party sites like Amazon and eBay.

Its integration with WooCommerce will provide Printify with even greater reach and millions of potential new customers. WordPress users who run their shops on WooCommerce will now have access to major print providers in the U.S. and the U.K.

We see the WooCommerce integration as a huge step forward. Currently more than 30 percent of the world's e-commerce websites are powered by Woo, and all of them will now be able to use Printify to power their printing needs. We are excited to serve millions of stores and provide them with best-in-class Print-On-Demand services. Together we will be able to print and ship millions of new products, Printify founder and CEO James Berdigans said.
Midland IRA & 1031 We want to do all we can to help the people who were impacted by this heartbreaking event.

Midland IRA, headquartered in Fort Myers and Chicago, donates $1,000 in efforts to support the citizens of Houston after the tragic effects of Hurricane Harvey.

The catastrophic event in Houston left hundreds of thousands of houses submerged in water and 30,000 people displaced from their homes. In addition, over 17,000 individuals were rescued from the storm by emergency and volunteer personnel.

In an effort to assist in the economic struggles citizens of Houston are facing, staff in Fort Myers and Chicago came together to give donations to organizations like the Salvation Army, Samaritans Purse, and the American Red Cross Association. In addition, President & CEO, Dave Owens, made a donation in the name of Midland IRA to American Red Cross Association for $1,000 dollars. When asked about what resulted from Hurricane Harvey, Dave Owens responded We want to do all we can to help the people who were impacted by this heartbreaking event.

If you would like to make a donation to American Red Cross Association, use the following link: https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey?campname=Harvey&campmedium=aspot

Midland IRA is a self-directed retirement plan administrator that provides tax-deferred and tax-free investment opportunities, superior customer service, and educational tools to assist investors in realizing the maximum benefits possible in their retirement accounts. The company sets a high standard in providing personal, professional service to their clients across the nation.

About Midland IRA

Midland IRA is a self-directed IRA administrator that provides tax-deferred and tax-free investment opportunities, superior customer service, and educational tools to assist investors in realizing the maximum benefits possible within IRAs. Midland IRA makes it easy to use self-directed retirement plans to invest in assets that the individual investor knows, understands, and can control. Midland IRA is also a 1031 exchange qualified intermediary. To learn more visit www(dot)MidlandIRA(dot)com.
Koho Overview

Koho, a new financial service platform connecting Canadas mobile generation to modern, transparent and innovative financial services, today announced it has raised $8 million in venture funding from Portag3 Ventures. Koho also announced key new additions to its Board of Directors, including Paul Desmarais III (Senior Vice-President, Power Financial Corporation and Executive Chairman, Portag3 Ventures), Adam Felesky (President, Portag3 Ventures), and Michael Katchen (Co-founder and CEO, Wealthsimple).

The new funds will enable Koho to scale its technology platform, expand its engineering and operations team at its new Toronto headquarters, and bring to more Canadian consumers a broad ecosystem of financial services products (utilizing a regulated financial institution). Kohos new services will provide novel ways to help underserved Canadians automate savings, earn financial rewards, and access other transparent and simple financial products.

"We are excited to support Kohos ambition of reimagining how Canadians can be better served in their daily financial lives, said Adam Felesky, President of Portag3 Ventures. Providing access, transparency and low costs while working with regulated financial institutions, are core pillars of the Koho platform and if successful, we believe Koho can build lifelong relationships with their customers.

"Since launching Koho earlier this year, weve experienced tremendous growth, said Daniel Eberhard, CEO and founder of Koho. Our growth comes on the back of tangible customer benefits; helping people save money and providing them more financial control. It's the reason people use our app five times more than traditional finance apps."

Koho provides Canadian consumers with a new interface to holistically manage their daily financial lives -- both spending and saving -- and the ability to achieve their short and long term financial goals, free of fees and with engaging insights into personal finances. Customers can make purchases everywhere with the Koho Card, deposit their paycheque, access more than 8,000 fee free ATMs, pay bills, and send e-Transfers. Koho also provides a suite of modern capabilities like real-time purchase updates, savings goals, instant Koho-to-Koho transfers, spending insights, live in-app support, and more.

"Were thrilled to support this promising fintech company. We look forward to working with Daniel and the Koho team to bring Canadians more inclusion, transparency and access to great these financial services, said Paul Desmarais III, Senior Vice-President at Power Financial Corporation and Executive Chairman of Portag3.

The Koho app is available for download from the App Store or Google Play. For more information, please visit Koho at http://www.koho.ca.

About Koho

Koho is a new company that's bringing modern-day financial services to the mobile generation. We provide everyday consumers novel ways of accessing rich insights into their spending habits, while providing core financial services, free of fees. Launched in March 2017, and based in Vancouver (British Columbia), Koho is a venture backed startup which has raised $10.6M from the founders of Hootsuite & Shopify, billion-dollar fund managers, and Portag3 Ventures, the venture capital investment arm of Power Financial Corporation (TSX: PWF).

About Portag3 Ventures

Portag3 Ventures is an early-stage investor dedicated to backing innovating financial services companies working to benefit all consumers. Exclusively sponsored by Power Financial Corporation, IGM Financial Inc. and Great West-Lifeco Inc., Portag3 gives new ideas a unique environment to grow. Portag3 makes longer-term commitments, and combined with its industry intelligence is an ideal partner for the ambitious and creative entrepreneur.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Koho

Daniel Eberhard

Email: daniel@koho.ca

Phone: (778) 710-4037

Portag3 Ventures

Adam Daifallah

Email: adaifallah@hatleystrategies.com

Phone: (514) 316-7089

Koho Prepaid Card is issued by Peoples Trust Company pursuant to licence by Visa Int.
GOP Obamacare Repeal Deal Would Boost Hawaii Medicare and Medicaid

LN: the so-called  Alaska Purchase  is intended to persuade Senator Lisa Murkowskilong-believed to be a so-called moderate Republicanto vote in favor of Graham-Cassidy , the last-ditch chance for Republicans to dismantle the Affordable Care Act this year. (Link: Full Text Graham-Cassidy)

This draft includes 3 separate provisions benefitting Alaska (and Hawaii).

1. Alaska (along with Hawaii) will continue to receive Obamacares premium tax credits while they are repealed for all other states. It appears this exemption will not affect Alaska receiving its state allotment under the new block grant in addition to the premium tax credits.

2. Delays implementation of the Medicaid per capita caps for Alaska and Hawaii for years in which the policy would reduce their funding below what they would have received in 2020 plus CPI-M [Consumer Price Index for Medical Care].

3. Provides for an increased federal Medicaid matching rate (FMAP) for both Alaska and Hawaii.

read  GOP Attempts To Bribe Alaska Senator By Letting Her State Keep Obamacare

Editors Note: HI and AK are the only states to receive Sec 1332 Waivers from ACA. In essence, AK and HI are already as much out of the ACA as their political leadership wanted to be.

See links:

2016: Hawaii Obamacare waiver could serve as national blueprint

July 2017: Feds OK Alaska Affordable Care Act Waiver Plan -- Hawaii received a waiver earlier

CMS: Sec 1332 Waivers
As pollen season comes to a close, many allergy sufferers continue to experience allergy symptoms, likely due to mold. Because mold tends to grow any place that is damp, dark and warm, its very common during the fall months. Considering the rains and flooding around the country, symptoms from mold allergy are expected to be even more prevalent than usual. Helping people learn to build short-term allergy relief and long-term tolerance has been a focus of treatment through the La Crosse Method Practice Protocol, which uses allergy drops rather than allergy shots to treat mold allergy and more.

With so many different molds in our environment, its difficult to identify which one(s) could be causing allergy symptoms. Mike Kachel, RPh, Allergychoices Pharmacy Director, explains that this fall, alternaria is going to be a mold that causes suffering for many. Though its around from spring to fall, with the typical fall weather conditions, its known to prevail beyond that time.

Kachel explains that alternaria is common inside as well as outside, making it nearly impossible to avoid. While alternaria is the most common mold, and the most common mold to cause allergy symptoms, other molds can cause reactions, too. There are the big five: Alternaria, cladosporium, aspergillus, penicillum, and helminthosporium. Theyre the most prevalent, but there are hundreds of different molds. Just because a patients allergy test doesnt show sensitivity to one of the common molds doesnt mean another mold couldnt be triggering allergy symptoms. Allergychoices has created a reference that helps people identify the different types of molds and when theyre most commonly found.

The prevalence of mold is an issue for many due to its allergic tendencies. Symptoms can range from aggravated asthma conditions to eye itching, sneezing, sinus pressure, aching, exhaustion or throat drainage. Because people are often allergic to more than one mold, a patient might experience one set of symptoms one day and different symptoms the next, making it often difficult to diagnose. Because of the long mold season, and because of the inflammation the mold can cause in the sinuses, one of the common allergic complications is chronic sinus infections.

While there are a few treatment options, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), also known as allergy drops, has been shown to be a safe and effective way to address the root cause of mold allergy. Like allergy shots, allergy drops work by gradually building the bodys tolerance to the substances causing allergic reactions, but allergens are placed in liquid form under the tongue where the bodys largest amount of tolerance-building cells are located. Allergychoices pharmacy compounds prescriptions under the La Crosse Method Protocol for inhalants, foods, and offending molds at very precise levels that are custom to each patients sensitivity, at a dose that prescribers match to the patients individual allergic fingerprint.

Along with treatment, these lifestyle measures are recommended to help combat mold and reduce exposure:



Close your windows and turn on air conditioning if humidity is an issue; relative humidity should be around 40-45%.

After spending time outdoors, shower, change clothes and use saline irrigation in your nose.

If you find mold in your home, first identify the source to stop any additional problems:



Isolate the area by closing it off

Remove any wet or mold-damaged materials, or work with professionals to do so, and place in plastic bags (many experts recommend at least 6 mil thick bags, and to double bag)

Clean the affected area with one part bleach and three parts water

Use fans and/or dehumidifiers to dry

Dont wait! Clean up should be immediate. Be sure to wear personal protection (goggles, N95 respirator, gloves, etc.), or consider bringing in mold remediation experts for larger jobs. Find out more about mold remediation at https://www.epa.gov/mold.

For more information about mold allergy treatment, visit https://www.allergychoices.com/about-allergy-drops/conditions-best-treated-with-allergy-drops/mold-allergy/ or call 866-793-1680.

About Allergychoices, Inc.

Allergychoices began in 2000 as the first dedicated education, advocacy, and networking resource for patients and physicians who were interested in sublingual immunotherapy to treat the underlying cause of allergic disease in the U.S. It was founded by allergy providers who developed the La Crosse Method Protocol, based on decades of clinical experience at their Allergy Associates of La Crosse practice in Wisconsin. Today, the company has grown to be a leading healthcare services company that provides tools that enable physicians across the U.S. to provide sublingual immunotherapy within patients reach, and gives allergy sufferers information and access to treatment options using custom sublingual immunotherapy close to home.
Bigleaf technology is light years ahead of what a simple WAN failover can provide. We are very excited to partner with them to deliver performance based quality to our customers, improve end user experience and empower our support team to quickly identify and resolve any network related issues. Past News Releases RSS CallTower Gains Cisco...

CallTower Named Channel Partners...

CallTower Acquires Appia...

CallTower, an industry-leading Unified Communications (UC) and Collaboration company, and Bigleaf Networks, the cloud-first SD-WAN platform that optimizes Internet and cloud performance in real-time, announced today a strategic alliance to extend CallTowers Unified Communication applications with integrated Bigleaf SD-WAN service.

The CallTower and Bigleaf alliance will provide an extended network for CallTower customers by directly connecting CallTower data centers to the Bigleaf Cloud Access Network and integrating support and billing. CallTower's hosted Skype, Cisco and Contact Center customers will realize optimal performance via intelligent load-sharing across multiple Internet connections. The solution is dedicated to delivering Quality of Service while staying outside of the customers existing firewall with their onsite router. In addition to enhanced quality and user experience of CallTower services, the solution will improve overall performance and utilization of internet access. It will also provide key reporting, real-time and historical data, as well as the ability for CallTower to analyze the entire route from customer premise to CallTower hosted applications.

CallTowerss managed service will include:



Intelligent load-balancing across multiple Internet paths from different ISPs

Quality-of-Service (QoS) capability to prioritize VoIP and other latency-sensitive traffic over commodity Internet

Same IP failover capability to allow for uninterrupted VoIP and Unified Communication sessions while moving between circuits

Real-time intelligence on circuit latency, packet loss, jitter and throughput

CallTowers has a strong reputation for being reliable, inside and out said Bigleaf Founder and CEO Joel Mulkey. Our partnership will deliver critical real-time Internet connection analysis to the CallTower team and their customers, and will resolve issues in real-time, ensuring voice optimization and protecting their customers Cloud and Internet experience.

As a cloud communications solutions provider, Internet connection quality and consistency are a must said CallTowers Chief Product Officer, Shaun Chambers. Bigleaf technology is light years ahead of what a simple WAN failover can provide. We are very excited to partner with them to deliver performance based quality to our customers, improve end user experience and empower our support team to quickly identify and resolve any network related issues.

About Bigleaf Networks

Bigleaf Networks is the intelligent networking service that optimizes Internet and Cloud performance by dynamically choosing the best connection based on real-time usage and diagnostics. Inspired by the natural architecture of leaves, the Bigleaf Cloud-first SD-WAN platform leverages redundant connections for optimal traffic re-routing, failover and load-balancing. The company is dedicated to providing a better Internet experience and ensuring peace of mind with simple implementation, friendly support and powerful technology. Founded in 2012, Bigleaf Networks is investor-backed, with service across North America.

About CallTower

CallTower exists to enable people to easily connect to transact business communications. Since its inception in 2002, CallTower has become a leading provider of cloud-based, enterprise-class Unified Communications solutions for growing organizations worldwide. CallTower provides, integrates and supports industry-leading, cloud-based, Unified Communications and Collaboration solutions, including Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Microsoft Skype for Business, Office 365 and Adobe Connect services for business customers.

CallTower enhances our clients strategic and operational capabilities by integrating VoIP service, mobile applications, email hosting, unified messaging, instant messaging, audio, web and video conferencing, collaboration tools, contact center, cloud services and global networks solutions into one reliable platform.
no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, theres something stronger  pushing right back. Albert Camus

Dr Ann Polya unveils a new website (http://annpolya.com/) to celebrate that both her new book, "Invincible Summer: aligning our powers" and her previous book "Mind over Matter" have been selected as IPA's Best Books in Body Mind Spirit and Self-Help Motivational categories as well as Personal Growth and Relationship categories.

"Invincible Summer"t reveals how to re-discover real needs that require speed, a sense of belonging and getting well deserved respect. It distills all values held by all into three universal ones, which when adopted to fit means faster reactions and therefore smoother communication, a greater sense of belonging and recognition for the contribution.

So irrespective of the source of powerful forces- a boss, a spouse, friend or celebrity- the choice is within our grasp and we can take charge. With sharper awareness and faster reactions the resultant communication is clearer and direct. Definitely not for "pushovers". As wants, thoughts and emotions become clearer and their inter-relationship becomes evident, all relationships will improve and so too will a sense of belonging. Recognition for each contribution will follow by all generations.

"Mind over Matter" highlights ways to control our emotions rather than be their slaves.

This is Life imitating Art! It is what the celebrities do.
Emblem With an estimated 60,000 jobs opening every year and with 27 percent of those being in agriculture, FFA is working to ensure that our career development events and proficiency award areas align with our students evolving interests and emerging challenge areas in food, fiber and natural resources.

The CHS Foundation, funded by charitable contributions from CHS Inc., and a key National FFA supporter for more than 40 years, recently announced a $3.8 million commitment to the National FFA Organization, growing its support to a platinum sponsorship level.

This investment helps ensure that the National FFA Organization continues to support members as they strive to become a workforce that understands the food and agriculture industry, and develop the leadership skills necessary to pursue careers in agriculture.

Generous, broad and continued support from the CHS Foundation has an impact on our members and agriculture education teachers at the local, state and national levels, said Molly Ball, president of the National FFA Foundation. With an estimated 60,000 jobs opening ever year and with 27 percent of those being in agriculture, FFA is working to ensure that our career development events and proficiency award areas align with our students evolving interests and emerging challenge areas in food, fiber and natural resources. The continued contributions of the CHS Foundation help us achieve the FFA vision of growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture, and supplying the talent pipeline to fill those needs.

This new commitment provides ongoing support to the diversified crop, environmental and natural resources management proficiencies, the environmental and natural resources management CDE, increased support of teacher education and retention programs through National Teach Ag and CASE institute teacher scholarships. New funding is dedicated to developing cooperative education curriculum and sponsorship of the New Century Farmer program.

The CHS Foundation is proud to continue our long standing relationship with National FFA that began more than four decades ago, says Nanci Lilja, CHS Foundation president. Through our continued support of National FFA and Teach Ag, we are building on our commitment to develop the next generation of ag leaders and ensure ag education teachers have the resources they need to be successful teaching agricultural concepts in the classroom.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 653,404 student members who belong to one of 8,568 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is also supported by 345,812 alumni members in 2,051 alumni chapters throughout the U.S.

# # #

About National FFA Organization

The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 653,404 student members as part of 8,568 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is supported by 345,812 alumni members in 2,051 local FFA Alumni chapters throughout the U.S. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.

About National FFA Foundation

The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.

About the CHS Foundation

The CHS Foundation is funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company. As a part of the CHS stewardship focus, the CHS Foundation supports organizations that develop future leaders for agriculture through education and leadership programs, improve agricultural safety and enhance community vitality in rural America. Learn more at chsinc.com/stewardship.
Printworks is a versatile app that can satisfy all the desktop publishers needs. Not only does it provide templates and layouts for such common desktop publishing documents as brochures and flyers, but also gives an opportunity to easily create CD and mailing labels, envelopes, business cards and many more.

Apart from pre-designed and blank project templates for different document types, Printworks delivers specific tools and capabilities for each type of document (contact import for labels, track info import for discs, direct-to disc printing support).

New in Version 2

Design and Layout

Spread Mode

Spread Mode allows a user to view and edit two pages simultaneously on the same sheet. It is useful when creating newsletters, magazines and other types of documents in which common design elements on the spread are used.

Customizable Grid

A customizable grid helps enhance the accuracy of work by conveniently setting the horizontal and vertical grid spacing.

Improved Text Box Linking

Text box linking has evolved in version 2 by allowing the linking of existing text boxes or breaking the links between them.

Pixel and Pica Measurements

Printworks 2 enables work with pixel and pica units. Pixels are useful when working with web banners and social network images, while picas are widely used by designers and in typography.

Easier Layer Management

Layer management was moved to the Inspector, which is much more convenient than the drop-down menu.

Style and Performance

Optimized for macOS High Sierra

Printworks 2 is fully compatible with macOS High Sierra.

Interface Enhancements

The user interface has become more stylish and intuitive! Check out the new tabs in the Inspector and the state-of-the-art icons on the toolbar.

Support for Touch Bar

Printworks 2 enhances the keyboard experience for those owning a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

Significantly Improved Performance

Program performance has been significantly improved, allowing the user to edit large, multi-page documents smoothly and efficiently.

Useful Add-ons

Artistic Headings

A collection of 2D and 3D artistic heading presets guarantees that documents will stand out. Each and every heading preset was carefully created by a professional designer who selected the textures and shapes.

New Templates

New professionally designed templates were added to be used as a starting point when creating documents.

Art Text 3 Integration

Integration with Art Text 3 helps unleash users creativity by providing the opportunity to create own text effects and artistic lettering with Art Text and use them in the Printworks document (requires purchase of Art Text 3).

Google Maps Integration

Lets include a street map with driving directions high-resolution satellite imagery of an area in a brochure or flyer for advanced navigation

Integration with Depositphotos

Provides access to one of the largest picture banks with more than 60 million pictures that can be added into the document with just one click. It is possible to buy single pictures or get a subscription. For demo purposes, a user can download pictures with a watermark right into Printworks 2.

Printworks Press Kit: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B5jExeZGeUs8eThDa3d0aFpjaFE

Pricing and Availability

Printworks 2 is available directly on BeLight Software website and on the Mac App Store Mac App Store for $29.99. Previous versions users can buy an upgrade for $19.99 on BeLight Software website.

System requirements: macOS 10.10 or later.

Printworks Story

Since its foundation in 2003, BeLight has always been into desktop publishing, hence a wide range of DTP apps (Swift Publisher, Business Card Composer, Labels & Addresses and Disc Cover). Each of these apps is created to solve one certain DTP task, be it business card creation and printing, label creation, etc.

With time we started noticing that many users buy several our DTP apps, and are asking us to bring all these tools into one product and maintain the experience of individual apps. Thats how Printworks came to life.

About BeLight Software

BeLight Software is a software development company that makes your life easier with intuitive apps. Our solutions develop creativity and help express and share your visual ideas through desktop publishing, home and interior design, etc. Weve created Swift Publisher, Live Home 3D, Art Text, Business Card Composer, Image Tricks and more.
Energy Professionals, LLC, a leading consultancy and broker of energy supply agreements, is extending its market share through a merger with competitor North American Energy Advisory (NAEA) of Clearwater, Fla.

Combining the resources and expertise of the two privately held companies, which will operate under the name Energy Professionals, creates a formidable client-services organization within the commercial energy sector.

This acquisition marks a tremendous step forward in our competitive position, said Matt Judkin, founder of Energy Professionals and President of Executive Energy Management, which provides management services to the organization. We have a long-standing respect for the vision and professionalism of NAEA, and combining forces will allow us to pursue new lines of business and provide greater value to our clients.

The Aggregator-Broker-Consultant (ABC) sector within the retail energy market is predicted to reach $2 billion in revenue by 2020, according to the trade organization TEPA. Beyond price-driven commodity transactions, ABC companies are increasingly offering additional services such as distributed generation, energy conservation measures and demand response programs to their larger commercial clients.

This new organization immediately becomes a dominant player in the industry, said Jim Mathers, the President of NAEA who will retain that title for Energy Professionals. We will continue to grow organically while aggressively pursuing acquisitions to speed our growth. Its a great opportunity for everybody on the team and we cant wait to get started.

The new Energy Professionals will operate from the current NAEA offices in downtown Clearwater.

About Energy Professionals: Energy Professionals (http://www.energyprofessionals.com) sources commodity contracts and provides ancillary services to commercial customers in deregulated territories. The St. Petersburg-based organization was launched in 2008 by the founders of AGR Group, a leader in sales and service for the energy sector. Its founders now operate Executive Energy Management (http://www.executiveenergy.com), which provides strategic direction to a number of industry-related brands.

About NAEA: North American Energy Advisory (http://www.naea.today) is a DBA of Customer Acquisition Specialists of America, or CASA, Inc., considered pioneers in retail energy sales with operations dating to 1999. Serving commercial customers as NAEA since 2014, the organization offers commodity procurement, curtailment solutions and renewable energy strategies.
Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions wins Customer Service Excellence Award from Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce I am so excited that The Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce chose Green Lawn Fertilizing & Green Pest Solutions as their Customer Service Excellence award winner. To be recognized among the very best small & mid-sized companies in the region is an absolute honor

The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia has named Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions the recipient of its 2017 Customer Service Excellence of the Year award.

Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions is both the largest independent owned and operated lawn care and pest control provider serving the greater Philadelphia region. Upon receiving news that his company won the Excellence Award, owner, Matt Jesson could not be prouder. I am so excited that The Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce chose Green Lawn Fertilizing & Green Pest Solutions as their Customer Service Excellence award winner. To be recognized among the very best small & mid-sized companies in the region is an absolute honor.

2017 marks the 35th Annual Excellence Awards by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. They are holding an Award Ceremony on November 9th, 2017 to officially recognize ten businesses in the greater Philadelphia region that stand out from the crowd by demonstrating unique vision, innovation and achievement in support of the regions economy and small business community. Among the ten award categories were small business person of the year, manufacturer of the year, strategic growth excellence of the year, technological excellence of the year and of course customer service excellence of the year for which Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions was deemed the winner.

The award winners were determined by a panel of members from the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. The panel whittled down the hundreds of candidates for each category down to three finalists. Each finalist had to send a representative to The Chamber of Commerce in Center City Philadelphia to make a case for why they should be the winners. Green lawn Fertilizing sent their Marketing Manager, Ben Schloss.

Ben came into the Chamber for the companys interview expecting two or three people from the Chamber to ask him a few questions. To his surprise when he entered the interview room there were about 40 people gathered around a large table, clapping for Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions nomination. Despite being taken back from number of his interviewers Ben calmly answered questions and laid out the reasons for why the company was deserving of the award. He explained how important its strict hiring practices and maintaining a professional image at all times is to the company and how far the company will go to please a customer. He also echoed something to the chamber that he has told every employee at Green Lawn Fertilizing & Green Pest Solutions to tell prospective customers, Google us.

The company has a sterling reputation online. Green Pest Solutions has a perfect 5 star rating on Google and Yelp, 4.6 stars on Home Advisor, 4.8 Stars on Facebook and an A rating and Super Service Award on Angies List. Green Lawn Fertilizing also is A-rated on Angies list and averages over 4.4 stars across over 900 ratings online. All in all between Green Lawn Fertilizing and Green Pest Solutions the company has over 2,000 online 5 star or A-rated reviews from happy customers on 3rd party review sites.

The company has also received several recent accolades from 3rd parties. Green Pest Solutions was voted Best Pest Control by Philly.com in 2017 and Best of Philly Exterminator by Philadelphia Magazine in 2014. It has received the Angies List Super Service Award the last five years. Green Lawn Fertilizing has won two Angies List Super Service Awards of its own and was recognized as Best of Home Advisor for 2017. The company as a whole has been recognized twice by the Wharton Small Business Development Center and the Entrepreneurs Forum of Greater Philadelphia as one of the top 100 fastest growing privately held companies in the region. It has also been listed on the INC. 5000 list each of the last six years of the fastest growing privately held companies in the United States.
The Beyond All-Inclusive, Beyond All Compare resort includes both water and land activities to complement nightly accommodations in both the Mayan jungle and oceanfront with views of the Caribbean Sea.

Guests visiting Mexico no longer need to choose between a breathing taking beach front view or serene jungle suite thanks to Grand Velas Riviera Mayas new Zen & Grand Class Experience. The Beyond All-Inclusive, Beyond All Compare resort includes both water and land activities to complement nightly accommodations in both the Mayan jungle and oceanfront with views of the Caribbean Sea.

Set in the natural landscape of the Yucatan Peninsula, the AAA Five Diamond resorts Zen suites offer a private terrace overlooking the native flora and fauna of the jungle. These elegantly exotic suites with over 1,100 square feet of living space are surrounded by lush trees, koi ponds and landscapes. After taking in nature, guests will be packed up by their concierge and moved to the adults-only Grand Class ambiance. These ocean-front suites, all over 1,300 square feet, feature a private plunge pool on its terrace overlooking the turquoise Caribbean.

Also included in the experience are activities that highlight the best of both the land and sea. For the ocean lover, Waverunners take guests adventuring out to an underwater reef off Maroma Beach to observe its natural diversity. Certified divers will also enjoy a diving tour in Cozumel which regularly ranks among the top scuba diving destinations in the world. Additionally, kayaking off the resorts pristine beach provides day-long fun. Back in the jungle, the resorts ecological tour gives guests the chance to experience the unique environment, learn about the native flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula and understand the resort's conservation efforts. During the activity, Grand Velas Riviera Maya invites participants to plant a tree in their name and watch it grow from home on Google Earth.

Gourmet palates and spa aficionados are also cared for in the Zen & Grand Class Experience with a special tasting dinner for two at the resorts Yucatecan restaurant, Chaka, nestled amid the tropical jungle foliage of mangroves, Salam, Chechen and Chaka trees of the Zen section. Helmed by Mayan Chef Humberto May Tamay, guests can expect to enjoy a superb meal the regions traditional cuisine paired with a selection of fine wines. If oceanfront dining is on the menu, a luxurious seaside picnic awaits filled with wine, four varieties of salads with house-made dressings, smoked salmon, French cheeses and charcuterie, fresh baked artisanal baguettes, and a selection of fresh roasted turkey breast, roast beef and duck terrine made from a special recipe of Michel Mustiere, MaItre Cuisinier de France and Culinary Director of Mexicos Velas Resorts. Inspired by the jungle and natural water pools of the Yucatan Peninsula, the award-winning SE Spa will relax guests with a Coffee & Cocoa Treatment. The 50-min. treatment includes a coffee exfoliation followed with a body massage with cocoa oil intended to activate blood circulation.

Rates for the Jungle & Beach package start at $2,144 USD per person per night based on double occupancy. All-inclusive rates at Grand Velas Riviera Maya always include luxury suite accommodations, a la carte gourmet meals at a variety of specialty restaurants, premium branded beverages, 24-hour in-suite service, taxes, gratuity and more. Roundtrip transportation and all necessary diving equipment for Cozumel scuba trip included. A three night minimum applies. For more reservations or more information on Grand Velas Riviera Maya, please email reservations(at)velasresorts(dot)com, call 1-888-407-4869, or visit http://rivieramaya.grandvelas.com/.

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya:

Set on 206 acres of pristine jungle and mangroves and with the finest white sand beach in the Riviera Maya, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya is an ultra-luxury all-inclusive resort. Guests can choose among three separate ambiances in this Leading Hotel of the World, including adults-only oceanfront, family-friendly ocean view and a Zen-like tropical setting, embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsulas jungle. All 539 designer-like suites are exceptionally spacious, more than 1,100 square feet each, all with balconies, and some with private plunge pools. All feature fully stocked mini bars, plasma TVs, Wi-Fi, LOccitane amenities, artisanal tequila, and Nespresso coffee machines. Bathrooms deserve special mention with walk in glass shower, deep soaking Jacuzzi tubs and marble interior. Eight restaurants, including five gourmet offerings, present a tour through Mexico, Europe and Asia. Cocina de Autor, at the hands of world renowned celebrity chefs Bruno Oteiza, Mikel Alonso and Xavier Perez Stone, holds the AAA Five Diamond Award, the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to win this prestigious distinction. Se Spa, a Leading Spa of the World, is the region's largest spa sanctuary at more than 90,000 square feet, known for its authentic Mexican treatments, offerings from around world and signature seven-step water journey. Other features include 24-hour Personal Concierge; 24/7 in-suite service; three swimming pools; two fitness centers; water sports; innovative Kids Clubs and Teens Club; Karaoke Bar; Koi Bar; Piano Bar, and business center. The resort offers more than 91,000 square feet of meeting space and outdoor areas for events inclusive of a 31,000-square-foot Convention Center, able to accommodate up to 2,700 guests. The resort has won numerous awards from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today and several other magazines and major companies worldwide, including World Luxury Spa Awards and TripAdvisors Hall of Fame. Grand Velas Riviera Maya was built and is operated by Eduardo Vela Ruiz, founder and President of Velas Resorts, with his brother Juan Vela, Vice President of Velas Resorts.
Honor Society, a leading national academic and professional honor society, announced the Fall 2017 Scholarship Recipients on September 25, 2017. Seven recipients were chosen in categories including Community Service, Undergraduate/Graduate Achievers, and even a Study Abroad scholarship and will receive scholarships ranging from $1000 to $2000 per person.

Each of these students have excelled in some area of their academic career or personal life. Some of these students have demonstrated this through their volunteer work while others have focused on taking on a challenging curriculum and maintaining an impressive grade point average.

These students have pushed themselves to go above and beyond in many different areas of in their lives, said Honor Society Executive Director, Michael Moradian. These scholarships are a way to recognize these inspirational people for working hard to excel in their academics and leadership skills. We are proud of what these Honor Society members have achieved and look forward to what they will accomplish in the future!

The Fall 2017 Scholarship period is one of many rounds of scholarships offered by Honor Society. Scholarship recipients are glad they joined in order to take advantage of the year-round scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship Recipients and Finalists:

Undergraduate Achiever Scholarship Recipient - Stefanie Kribbeler, Townson University - Stefanie is on the Deans list at her school and has a 4.0 GPA in working to become a nurse.

Graduate Achiever Scholarship Recipient - Crina Floruta, University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine - Crina is in the Department of Neurosciences MD/PhD Program at University of New Mexico working on a project focused on stem cell replacement therapy for stroke patients and just passed Phase I of medical school with Honors.

Core Values Scholarships Recipient - Isabella Esguerra, University of Nevada, Reno - Isabella is on the UNR Dean's List and won a gold medal in graphic design for the Skills USA State Conference.

Member Spotlight Scholarship Recipient - Jazzmine Mangler, University Of Iowa - Jazzmine is currently working on a bachelors degree in Sustainability and Wind Energy and would like to continue on to receive a master's degree in Geographical and Sustainability Sciences along with a second master's degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Study Abroad Scholarship Finalist - Linda Fipps, University Of South Carolina At Columbia - Linda went into college with distinguished honors and above a 5.0 GPA due to honors courses and is currently looking into becoming a triple major in Biology, Criminology, and Spanish.

Community Service Scholarship Recipient - Kamri Thomas, Sam Houston State University - Kamri volunteers at community programs in local churches and mentors children in grades 1-6 at an elementary school every year for two months.

Society Involvement Scholarship Recipient - Ahmed Elwakeel, University Of Nebraska At Lincoln - Ahmed is a Mechanical Engineering major and has been recognized for academic achievement during the Fall semester by the dean of the Engineering College.

About Honor Society:

Honor Society is a leading honor society with active members in all 50 states, and is represented with chapters at many of universities across the country. The Honor Society community emphasizes leadership and is a platform to showcase member talents. The society offers exclusive benefits to its members, ranging from discounts and job search tools to priority internship placement programs. For more information about careers at Honor Society, or to learn more about our open positions visit our job board at: http://honorsociety.theresumator.com/

For more general information, please visit http://www.honorsociety.org or follow Honor Society on https://twitter.com/HonorSociety and https://twitter.com/HonorSociety and https://www.instagram.com/honorsociety/.
Swift Software, Inc. the US software developer of JobTraQ, and pioneer of Lean BPM is bringing its self-serve solution to the Business Analysis Conference Europe 2017. The conference is being held at Westminster Hall, London UK, September 25-27, 2017, and will be hosted by Maggie Philbin, TV presenter and Digital Leader of the Year 2016. JobTraQ is currently used by US heavyweights in government and industry, including NASA, FDA, Comcast, Fifth Third Bank, and TransCanada, amongst many others.

Lean BPM delivers powerful Digital Transformation tools which allow non-specialists, such as business analysts, to create powerful applications directly themselves. JobTraQ does away with the need for expensive and time-consuming development of solutions by IT specialists or third-party developers. Business analysts and non-technical users with no coding skills are able to create powerful business applications from scratch, says Vaughn Thurman, CEO, and this means organizations can respond to customer demands much faster, and for a fraction of the cost.

Compared to traditional BPM solutions, JobTraQ delivers a truly agile and scalable process management platform for approximately 20% of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). JobTraQ has been selected for deployment against stiff competition by many organizations in the US and Canada, and has been making inroads into the UK market. Not only is JobTraQ cost effective, it also delivers a comprehensive toolkit for business app development and process improvement at scale and speed not seen before.

JobTraQ functionality includes amongst others:



Enterprise task management

Visual workflow designer

Custom forms creator with a drag-and-drop UI

Resource utilization

Calendar integration with Outlook

Common Access Card (CAC) integration

Audit trail and SOX compliance

Contact management

Robust API and CSV-file data import/export

Automated reporting, alerts, and escalation

Swift Software, Inc. (http://jobtraq.com) established in 2003, is the developer of JobTraQ, the pioneer of Lean BPM and an enterprise-class workflow management platform used around the world. JobTraQ customers include NASA, Fifth Third Bank, the FDA, Beazley, Comcast, and many others.
Historic former Sears Administration Building in Chicago, IL Rare opportunity to buy two large historic properties with tax incentives located in the path of progress, just 10 minutes from Chicago downtown, conveniently located blocks from the 290 Expressway and a CTA 'L' train station.

NRC Realty & Capital Advisors, LLC, in conjunction with Newmark Knight Frank, is offering creative reuse developers, opportunistic investors, corporate or institutional users the opportunity to buy one or all of four properties situated on the historic former headquarters of Sears, Roebuck, & Company and Allstate Insurance Company. Located in Chicagos Homan Square neighborhood, which is 4 miles west and a 10-minute drive from downtown Chicago. The four contiguous properties include the former Sears Administration Building, which is five stories with 280,558 total square feet and large floor plates; the former Allstate Headquarters, which is eleven stories with 324,147 total square feet and large floor plates, an 1,150 space 3-story parking structure; and an adjacent 3.42-acre vacant development site. Offers are requested by October 24, 2017. More information is available at http://www.NRC.com/1717.

The Homan Square campus was part of several million square feet of former Sears space which has been undergoing continuous redevelopment over the past 35 years with a mix of commercial and residential projects. The pace of development has accelerated in recent years with the opening of the Charles H. Shaw Technology and Learning Center, which houses a charter school, in 2009, a YMCA in 2010, and a multi-tenant office tower, called Nichols Tower, which opened in 2015 and is now fully leased. Most recently the Lofts on Arthington, a 181-unit apartment building utilizing the former Sears Merchandise Development and Laboratory building, was opened on the campus just three months ago and is already fully leased. Additional Homan Square development includes a YMCA, Chicago Police Department offices, 1,000 units of new housing, a private park onsite, and nearby shopping.

David Levy, Vice President of NRC Realty & Capital Advisors commented, The Lofts at Arthington has been overwhelmingly successful and proves both the adaptive reuse potential in this location and the growing appeal of this neighborhood as a transit-oriented development location. The properties are located in the path of progress, just four blocks from the CTA Blue Line Kedzie-Homan Station and the 290 Expressway and just 5 minutes from the Illinois Medical District with Rush University, University of Illinois and Cook County Hospitals and medical schools, and the regional headquarters of the Red Cross and FBI. Levy continued, There has been a lot of exciting development in this area recently including the new Bulls and Blackhawks practice facilities, Malcolm X College Campus, and the Lagunitas Brewing Company Chicago Brewery and Taproom. Given our size, strength of our workforce, and extensive public transportation system, the Chicago area is poised for growth and is a real contender for the new Amazon headquarters.

These properties offer a variety of tax incentives and benefits according to Ted Prillaman, Senior Managing Director of Newmark Knight Frank, The former Sears Administration building is a historic landmark eligible for tax benefits, the former Allstate headquarters can be designated historic as well. The properties are situated in a Federal Empowerment Zone, a City of Chicago TIF District, and an Enterprise Zone creating other tax benefits and incentives.

Interested parties can view the property on four separate dates, September 27, October 4, October 11, and October 17. Contact David Levy at NRC at 312-278-6870 to schedule a viewing.

NRC Realty & Capital Advisors, LLC specializes in the accelerated sale of commercial and residential real estate nationwide. Since its inception in 1989, NRC has sold more than 15,000 properties for variety of corporate clients, government agencies, leading banks and developers throughout the United States. For more information, visit http://www.nrc.com.
Driven by both human and machine-generated data sources  supported by industry trends like IoT, Big Data and digital transformation - the volume of data is expected to keep doubling every two years until 2020.

LeaseWeb announced today the immediate availability of a new backup solution in partnership with Acronis. This solution provides advanced cloud based backup capabilities to new and existing LeaseWeb customers worldwide. Leaseweb Acronis Backup helps organizations ensure business continuity by protecting their files, applications, and operating systems. By partnering with Acronis, LeaseWeb adds a data protection solution to its cloud service portfolio that is based on more than a decade of backup technology innovation. This launch marks the start of a new collaboration between the Infrastructure as a Service provider and the data protection specialist.

LeaseWeb Acronis Backup is a fast, scalable and reliable backup solution that allows customers to easily incorporate the cloud data protection functionality into a hybrid IT infrastructure including, bare metal servers, dedicated servers, virtual private servers (VPS), and cloud environments.

LeaseWeb and Acronis join forces

With the launch of LeaseWeb Acronis Backup two cloud services and solutions power houses join forces. Acronis is a top ranked global vendor in the data protection space and their backup technology has a proven track record when it comes to ease of use, performance and interoperability in virtual, physical and cloud environments. We are pleased to partner with an established player like Acronis. Their backup technology fits well into our cloud service offering and Acronis nonstop drive to innovate  including the Active Protection feature that protects businesses against ransomware attacks - is very much in line with our hunger to continuously provide value to our customers, says Svenja de Vos CTO at LeaseWeb.

LeaseWeb is a visionary service provider in the area of Managed Hosting and we are pleased to work together as close partners, says Jan-Jaap Jager, Chief Revenue Officer at Acronis. Our comprehensive backup solution provides the features needed to address the modern challenges in cloud backup for companies of any size. Both our companies strive for innovations and our partnership guarantees the users the best of breed in cloud backup solutions.

Driven by both human and machine-generated data sources  supported by industry trends like IoT, Big Data and digital transformation - the volume of data is expected to keep doubling every two years until 2020. Many businesses today - 70% of SMBs - do not protect their critical data. With solutions like LeaseWeb Acronis Backup, we provide businesses an easy to use, fast and reliable data protection offering that can scale up to meet their future needs and support the exponential growth of company data in the years to come, says Svenja de Vos CTO at LeaseWeb.

About Acronis

Acronis sets the standard for hybrid cloud IT data protection through its backup, ransomware Active Protection, disaster recovery, and secure file sync and share solutions. Powered by the Acronis AnyData Engine and set apart by its image technology, Acronis delivers easy, fast, complete and affordable data protection of all files, applications and operating systems across any environmentvirtual, physical, cloud, mobile and applications. Founded in 2003, Acronis protects the data of more than 5 million consumers and 500,000 businesses in over 150 countries and 20 languages. With more than 100 patents, Acronis products are consistently named best product of the year and cover a range of features, including migration, cloning, and replication. Today, Acronis solutions are available worldwide through a global network of service providers, distributors, and cloud resellers. Learn more at acronis.com/en-us.

About LeaseWeb

LeaseWeb is a leading Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provider serving a worldwide portfolio of 17,500 customers ranging from SMBs to Enterprises. Services include Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Colocation, Dedicated Servers, Content Delivery Network, and Cyber Security Services supported by exceptional customer service and technical support. With more than 80,000 servers under management, LeaseWeb has provided infrastructure for mission-critical websites, Internet applications, email servers, security, and storage services since 1997. The company operates 16 data centers in locations across Europe, Asia and North America, all of which are backed by a superior worldwide network with a total capacity of more than 5.5 Tbps. LeaseWeb offers services through its various subsidiaries, which are LeaseWeb Netherlands B.V. (LeaseWeb Netherlands), LeaseWeb USA, Inc. (LeaseWeb USA), LeaseWeb Asia Pacific PTE. LTD (LeaseWeb Asia), LeaseWeb CDN B.V. (LeaseWeb CDN), and LeaseWeb Deutschland GmbH (LeaseWeb Germany).

For more information, please visit http://www.leaseweb.com or follow @LeaseWeb.
AIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce that Karl Seelig, VP of Technology, will present the white paper New Pb-Free Solder Alloy for Demanding Applications at SMTA Guadalajara 2017, scheduled to take place on October 18th  October 19th, 2017 at the Hotel Riu Plaza Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Jal, Mexico.

Seeligs paper explores industry need for solder alloys that can perform in harsh service conditions and examines potential solutions. Applications such as high performance LED lighting and automotive applications require solder alloys to operate at high temperatures where commonly used SAC305 may be prone to failure. The challenges potential new high-reliability alloys present are associated with processing and manufacturability difficulties. This studys focus is a new Sn-Ag-Cu-Bi-X solder alloy (X represents micro alloying dopants) with favorable processing capabilities and significant improvements in reliability. The study demonstrates how the new multi-component solder alloy, which provides improved thermo-mechanical performance, can be an ideal solder material for severe operating environment applications.

Additionally, AIM will highlight its full line of advanced solder materials, including its newly developed high reliability alloys, REL61 and REL22, its solder paste, liquid flux and solder alloys. REL61 addresses the most challenging issues with todays common lead-free alloys, specifically soldering performance, cost, durability and tin whiskers. To discover all of AIMs products and services, visit the company at SMTA Guadalajara 2017 for more information.

About Karl Seelig

Karl Seelig is Vice President of Technology of AIM. In his over 30 years of industry experience, he has written and presented numerous technical papers on topics including lead-free electronics assembly, no-clean flux technology, assembly & process optimization, inspection, and metallurgical studies. Mr. Seelig serves as the Chairman of the IPC Solder Products Value Council and has been involved in the development of material specifications under IPC. He has also received numerous patents in soldering technology, including four lead-free solder alloys.

About AIM

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, AIM Solder is a leading global manufacturer of assembly materials for the electronics industry with manufacturing, distribution and support facilities located throughout the world. AIM produces advanced solder products such as solder paste, liquid flux, cored wire, bar solder, epoxies, lead-free and halogen-free solder products, preforms, and specialty alloys such as indium and gold for a broad range of industries. A recipient of many prestigious SMT industry awards, AIM is strongly committed to innovative research and development of product and process improvement as well as providing customers with superior technical support, service and training. For more information about AIM, visit http://www.aimsolder.com.
"It's only lonely at the top if you don't help anyone else get there." - Ed Mylett

New York Times Bestselling author and self-made multimillionaire Grant Cardone has just announced Ed Builder of Champions Mylett, chairman of World Financial Group (WFG), as a keynote speaker at the 10X Growth Conferencethe most anticipated business and entrepreneurial event of 2018. The conference will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada next February 22-24.

Ed Mylett is one of the premier business and motivational speakers in the world today after having built a prolific financial services business.

Ed Mylett is not just a champion, he is a builder of champions. Im proud to have him at 10XGrowthCon.  Grant Cardone

Cardone urges people to think big and join him for what is going to be the most memorable, game-changing experience of their life. Top entrepreneurs will be keynoting this world-class venue, with speaker announcements coming soon.

Cardone is a highly respected, internationally recognized business and sales expert, whose passion is to teach others how to sell themselves, their products and services, regardless of economic climate. Additionally, his company consults Fortune 500 companies on how to increase sales revenue by identifying overlooked opportunities. Hell be speaking at the conference himself and is tailoring the experience to be the biggest, most talked about event of the year.

"You want to have proximity to power. Do you get more powerful with 3 days together with some of the greatest minds on the planet? Its time to increase your revenue and connect to power. This is where to invest in yourself, Cardone says.

"The first 10X Growth Conference held in Miami this past March was a huge success, so we decided to make 2018 even bigger! This will be an incredible opportunity for those who are ready to make those resolutions and goals a reality to get face to face, hands-on help by the master," says Sheri Hamilton, COO Cardone Training Technologies.

There are multiple levels of ticket packages being offered for the event, ranging in price from $299 up to $15,000. This event will sell out months in advance. Find out more here.
Chris DeCicco receiving the proclamation of his Knighthood.

Chris DeCicco, co-owner of DeCicco & Sons, was recently knighted by the Knighthood of the Brewers Mash Staff on Friday, September 1st in Brussels, Belgium.

The Belgian beer community pays tribute to their rich history every September, celebrating in the Brussels Grand Place. The three-day beer festival centers around a ceremony honoring Saint Arnold, the patron saint of brewing. During this ceremony, the honorary knights are enthroned. The Knighthood of the Brewers Mash Staff is comprised of direct descendants of the Brewers Guild, the heirs to the original Brewers Guild from the 14th century. Annually, the guild recognizes a small number of honorary knights for their contributions to the Belgian beer industry and culture.

Honorary knights are individuals who have rendered loyal services to the brewing profession. This year DeCicco was selected as one of only four Americans to be honored by the Knighthood of the Brewers. He is only the second retailer in New York State to be honored since the inception of the honorary knighthood, and the first outside of New York City. DeCicco was nominated by the Belgian beer community for his dedication to, and advancement of the Belgian beer culture in the United States and specifically in New York State.

Chris developed his appreciation for Belgian beer during his travels around the world. He established the DeCiccos extensive beer program in the mid 1990s, before the craft beer boom in the United States. Chris was drawn to the Belgian culture of pairing beer with food - a natural fit in the family-run supermarkets. As the head of the beer program at DeCicco & Sons, Chris has shown a unique dedication to educating consumers on the history, quality, and importance of Belgian beer. DeCiccos maintains an expansive portfolio of large and small format Belgian beers in each of the seven stores. Chris has curated draft lists for many Belgian themed events, including Gueze-a-palooza and the DeCiccos annual Grand Tasting.

DeCicco & Sons has been honored many times for their commitment to excellence in beer, including Best of Westchesters Best Beer Selection, Rate Beers Best Beer Store in New York and Best Beer Store Internationally. Each DeCicco & Sons location includes a vast selection in their beer department, all but one of their locations includes an on-premise bar.

DeCicco & Sons opened in 1973, and today the family operates premium markets in seven locations throughout the lower Hudson Valley. Widely known and regarded for their beer program, DeCicco and Sons is also known for their award winning prepared Gourmet Foods, ethically and consciously sourced meats, cheeses and produce, and their vast selection of organic as well as conventional goods.

If you would like more information, please contact:

John Van Dekker - jvandekker(at)enormouscreative.com - Office: 914-800-9222

Images: https://goo.gl/VsKmpX

For Additional Images: https://goo.gl/E377Yi - In Case of Publication, please photo credit  Belgian Brewers  Lander Loeckx 
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, two of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit the United States, EOforLess, an online provider of professional liability insurance for insurance agents, investment advisors, and real estate broker/owners, is encouraging professionals to strengthen their business continuity plans (BCPs) or to develop one if they have yet to do so.

Although Harvey and Irma storm damage assessments are still in process, no widespread evidence has emerged of financial-services practices failing to keep their clients money or personal information safe. However, it remains crucial that agents and advisors harden their plans to address the threats posed by the next 100-year or 500-year natural catastrophe.

Being prepared for future storms is just one reason professionals should strengthen their BCPs. Another is to help them manage three post-disaster business challenges:



assuring an ethical response to customers,

complying with BCP regulations, and

avoiding E&O insurance liabilities due to a botched BCP activation.

Although most advisors focus on the compliance aspects of disaster planning, they should never forget the ethical implications of their actions in a time of crisis, said Japheth Smellie, chief operating officer of EOforLess, as well as executive director of its sponsor, the National Ethics Association. This means not only focusing on getting their business back online as quickly as possible, but also on being there for their clients as fellow human beings affected by the same tragedy.

For instance, after Hurricane Harvey, Houston-area advisors who shared their experiences with the media spoke of reaching out to clients to make sure they were safe . . . and of clients responding in kind. Advisors also got personally involved in neighborhood rescue efforts after torrential rains drowned Americas sixth largest city. They also wanted to make sure their customers knew they would be available to render financial assistance when they needed help.

A related ethical concept is fiduciary duty. Once they activate their BCP after a crisis, insurance- and securities-licensed professionals should adopt a fiduciary mindset toward their clientsi.e., taking appropriate steps to protect their assets and interests. Although they are not legally required to do this as legal fiduciaries (because they arent regulated as such), it makes good business sense to adopt a fiduciary-like posture with clients at this time.

However, state- and federally-registered investment advisors are held to a strict fiduciary standard, especially in the aftermath of a natural disaster or other disruption. Its not only an ethical duty, but also a legal one to exhibit loyalty and prudent care to clients in times of need.

The second business challenge is to comply with all BCP regulations affecting insurance agents and agencies, securities brokers, and registered investment advisors (RIAs). Reflecting the financial-services industrys patchwork regulations, the nature of financial professionals BCPs depend on how theyre licensed, although there are broad similarities across license types.

Federally-supervised RIAs (those with assets under management of $100 million or more) are subject to the 2004

Investment Advisors Act Rule 206(4)-7. This rule required RIAs to formally adopt written compliance procedures as well as to appoint a chief compliance officer to oversee those procedures, one of which was to develop a BCP in the event of a natural disaster or death of a firm principal or key staffer.

However, in June 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a new measure (Rule 206(4)-4). It explicitly requires federal RIAs to have a formal, written BCP and transition plan to make sure they can deliver on their fiduciary duties during and after a crisis. In fact, the final rule, which is expected in April 2018, will make it illegal to provide investment advice unless a firm has a written BCP that is reviewed at least annually. It may even hold advisors liable for fraud if they operate without one.

State-regulated RIAs (those with assets under management of less than $100 million) must comply with the BCP rules of their state securities administrator. The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) adopted a model rule on Business Continuity and Success Planning in April 2015, which mandates that advisors provide for the following:

The protection, backup, and recovery of books and records.

Alternative means of communications with customers, key personnel, employees, vendors, service providers, and regulators.

Office relocation in the event of temporary or permanent loss of a principal place of business.

Reassignment of duties to a qualified staffer in the event of the death or unavailability of key personnel.

Prevention of service disruptions and client harm that could result from a sudden significant business interruption.

The NASAA model rule is now effective in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia, with the state of Washington having its own rule. More states are expected to enact the rule over time.

For their part, securities licensed professionals must comply with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authoritys (FINRA) Emergency Preparedness Rule (Rule 4370), which is similar to the SEC rule without the fiduciary overlay. It also requires brokers to provide their BCPs to customers at account opening, as well as post it on their website and mail it to customers upon request.

Life, health, and P&C insurance agents, unlike investment advisors and securities brokers, dont have an SEC- or FINRA-type national BCP protocol. However, they are subject to state insurance department rules. This does not mean they can skimp on developing a continuity plan, since their ability to survive a business disruption hinges on the quality of their BCP and their ability to deploy it seamlessly.

The third challengethe need to minimize E&O insurance liabilitiesis especially acute for financial professionals who provide the types of services that would be in high demand during a catastrophe. For example, after a hurricane, P&C agents who have sold local residents homeowners insurance will need to be back online quickly to help answer client questions about their coverages and to help them file claims if needed.

Similarly, clients with an emergency need to generate cash through a securities sale may need to speak with their broker or RIA. If that entity is offline for a lengthy period and no other service contact is available, consumers seeking help may become annoyed, at the very least, or suffer a financial loss, which might spark an E&O insurance claim later on. Having a hardened BCP in place will assure that financial professionals will have the ability to receive and act upon client requests in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

Given these three imperativesethical, compliance, and E&O liabilityand the mounting threat of extreme weather, what should professionals do to strengthen their existing BCPs? EOforLess and the National Ethics Association suggest the following steps:

Update the BCPs threat assessment to make sure it takes all relevant risks into account and adjusts potential severity as needed.

Evaluate the BCPs chain of command to assure there are no missing communication links, which might leave key staff people uninformed.

Focus on safety so that the BCP does a good job of keeping client assets, information, and other interests protected.

Test the BCP regularly so that everyone in the company knows their role and can perform it like clockwork even from an offsite location.

For more information on business continuity plans for financial professionals, click here to view EOforLess BCP resource list. For more information on E&O insurance for life, health, and P&C insurance agents; for RIAs; and for real estate broker/owners, go here.

EOforLess and its affiliated purchasing platform, EOforLess.com, are sponsored by the National Ethics Association, a trade group of financial professionals dedicated to helping its members build their businesses on a foundation of ethics, trust, and best practices.

# # #

Media contact: Stacia Fiore, Vice President of Marketing, EOforLess, (760) 804-7504, Stacia_Fiore@ajg.com
Home of the STRAND Platform Were excited to partner with PPCN and Gateway Health to provide the innovative tools necessary for clinical documentation, the measurement of outcomes, and coordination of care through the STRAND platform,  said David Pope, PharmD, Creative Pharmacist Co-Founder. Were confident this partnership

Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network (PPCN) and Creative Pharmacist are proud to announce their partnership with Gateway Health. PPCN pharmacies will be using Creative Pharmacists STRAND platform when documenting comprehensive medication management in the communities they serve.

PPCN is a recently formed, Pennsylvania-based network of high-quality community pharmacies with specially trained pharmacists. Established by the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA) and the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, PPCN pharmacies have joined together to show their value to the healthcare system by providing clinical services to patients in their communities.

Gateway Health is the first managed care organization in Pennsylvania to partner with PPCN to offer their members a way to consult with the community pharmacist they already know and trust on their medication needs.

Were excited to partner with PPCN and Gateway Health to provide the innovative tools necessary for clinical documentation, the measurement of outcomes, and coordination of care through the STRAND platform,  said David Pope, PharmD, Creative Pharmacist Co-Founder. Were confident this partnership will demonstrate the value of clinical community pharmacists in effort to move the profession forward.

Gateway Health is grateful for the opportunity to partner with PPCN to bring comprehensive medication therapy management services to our Pennsylvania Medicaid population, stated Dr. Sarah Wegner, Gateway Health Pharmacy Quality Manager. We are looking forward to being able to measure the programs success, not only on medication-related outcomes, but its overall impact on disease outcomes, improved health care utilization, and coordination of care.

Through this partnership, PPCN and Creative Pharmacist will be able to provide pharmacists with cutting edge technology to document the care provided to Gateway members and capture outcomes that demonstrate the value community pharmacists bring to patients and the healthcare community.

PPCN is thrilled to be working with Creative Pharmacist and Gateway Health, said Dr. Mindy Kozminski, executive manager, PPCN, and Senior Program Manager, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Through partnerships with their other health care providers, our pharmacists will be able to engage with Gateway members and help them live healthier lives through better medication management and controling their chronic disease states.

Working with the Creative Pharmacist platform, community pharmacists will also have the ability to develop a Pharmacist eCare Plan, a shared document detailing a patients current medication regimen and health concerns, including drug therapy problems and medication support needs, in addition to the pharmacy's interventions and the patient's health outcomes over time. The goal is for the community pharmacist to communicate with the rest of the healthcare team in the way they are used to working with other providers.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy is committed to engaging pharmacists in their communities to provide enhanced care. This partnership is the culmination of a team effort to develop, train, and engage community pharmacists in order to improve the health and well-being of people in Pennsylvania, said Melissa Somma McGivney, PharmD, Associate Dean for Community Partnerships, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Member, PPCN Board of Directors. The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy is proud to have been a founding partner with the PPA in the development of PPCN and is excited to continue this partnership.

About Creative Pharmacist

Co-founded by a community pharmacist and a technology expert in 2008, Creative Pharmacist, developer of the STRAND clinical platform, is the U.S. market leader in helping pharmacists launch clinical services within their community. They support community pharmacists across the country in engaging patients with chronic disease, such as diabetes, through STRAND, a wide-reaching intervention, documentation, and education platform capable of developing the new Pharmacist eCare plan. Their mission is to transform the community pharmacy marketplace by inspiring and empowering pharmacists to engage clinical pharmacy practice to improve both the health of their business and the health of their patients. For more information, please visit: http://www.creativepharmacist.com.

About Gateway Health

Gateway Health is a nationally ranked managed care organization that focuses on providing the best possible healthcare to a growing number of Medicaid and Medicare Advantage consumers. A not-for-profit organization, Gateway Health serves the needs of at risk and vulnerable citizens with not only healthcare coverage, but services such as disease management, health and wellness programs and preventive care. The organization provides Medicaid services in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia and Medicare cover in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and North Carolina. Our commitment to helping our members and their communities get and stay healthy is what keeps members, providers, communities and partners Good with Gateway. To learn more about Gateway Health, visit them online at http://www.gatewayhealthplan.com.

About PPCN

PPCNs mission is to be a premier professional network of pharmacists collaborating to optimize medication use and promote positive patient outcomes. PPCN is a service of and wholly owned subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA). PPCNs vision is to improve patient outcomes by connecting pharmacists to the patients that need their help and partnering with payers so that this service is fairly reimbursed and sustainable. Ultimately, by providing medication management services to those that need them, PPCN pharmacists will be able to improve patient outcomes, increase quality measure ratings and lower overall health care costs. For more information, please visit: http://www.papharmacistsnetwork.com.

About the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy has been developing leaders who are driving the future of pharmacy for over 135 years. Faculty members investigate, discover, and create ways to improve patient health, including patients in the community. Faculty personalize the education of students, incorporating award-winning approaches to education and assessment as well as patient simulators, educational games, real world experiences with interprofessional teams. Among its outstanding programs is work to stem the misuse and abuse of opiates through interventions, policy, and research. Chartered in 1878, the School of Pharmacy ranks ninth in US News & World Report and is the oldest of the University of Pittsburghs Schools of the Health Sciences. For more information, please visit: http://www.pharmacy.pitt.edu.
Ibis Capital, an independent wealth management firm for successful families seeking to achieve financial freedom, announced today that it will hold its annual Fall client education event on Thursday, September 28.

This years topic will feature a timely discussion about cyber security, presented by industry veteran John OConnor, president of Birch Meadow Advisors, a provider of risk and security services.

I am thrilled to have John lead the discussion about such a critical subject. With cybercrime at an all-time high, we need to arm ourselves with as much information as possible to protect ourselves, said Robert Meyer, CEO and CIO of Ibis Capital. John draws on decades of experience in the financial security industry, making him a valued expert in this field.

Businesses and private citizens alike are made targets as cyber intrusions become more commonplace, more dangerous, and more sophisticated, says the Federal Bureau of Investigations cyber division.

We believe that educating our clients on such a universally impactful topic is part of our commitment to serving their best interests. Knowledge is power, said Meyer.

Current and prospective clients are invited to attend the event, which will include appetizers, cocktails, and dinner.

Ibis Capital Cyber Security Event

Cyber Security: Learn How to Protect Yourself Online, At Home and When You Travel

Thursday, September 28, 2017

5:00  7:00 p.m.

For location information and to register for the event, visit the Ibis Capital events page at http://ibiscapital.com/events/cyber-security-event/ or email partners(at)ibiscapital.com.

About John OConnor

John OConnor is president of Birch Meadow Advisors, LLC. Until June of this year, Mr. OConnor was executive vice president, Fidelity security services, and served as Fidelitys chief security officer. For over a decade, he oversaw the protection of information and assets for 45,000 employees and 60 million customer accounts. He now serves as a consultant to Fidelity and the FBI. Mr. OConnor also serves as a guest lecturer at Boston Colleges graduate program in cyber security. Prior to joining Fidelity, Mr. OConnor spent 20 years as a forensic accounting partner at Deloitte with significant risk and security expertise. His experience also includes investigative roles at the United States attorneys office in Boston and the Massachusetts attorney generals office. Mr. OConnor received his bachelors degree from the University of Massachusetts, and is a certified public accountant.

About Ibis Capital

Ibis Capital is an independent wealth management firm that offers a holistic financial planning approach to clients with additional services including advanced estate planning, tax mitigation strategies, and behavioral economics. Its business model provides expanded solution offerings and the talented team required to offer top-tier service to choice clientele. Ibis Capital has approximately $350 million in assets under advisement and services approximately 95 clients, including high-net-worth families, middle market business owners, pension plans, endowments, and foundations. For more information, please visit http://www.ibiscapital.com or follow Ibis on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Ibis Capital and Stratos Wealth Partners do not provide legal or tax advice or services. Please consult your legal advisor regarding your specific situation.

Investment advice is offered through Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd., a registered investment advisor.
Bestowing the top honor on Bessant this year reflects the increasing interrelationship of strategy and technology in the banking industry

American Banker has announced the honorees for its 15th annual Most Powerful Women in Banking awards program.

Cathy Bessant, chief operations and technology officer at Bank of America, is ranked No. 1 on the Banking list this year. Bessant is leading her company through the digital revolution that is upending the banking sector and is a thought leader in the industry. The 1,000-person team she leads represents roughly half of B of As workforce.

Bestowing the top honor on Bessant this year reflects the increasing interrelationship of strategy and technology in the banking industry, said Executive Editor Bonnie McGeer, who chairs American Bankers Women in Banking Editorial Committee. She isnt just a leader at one of the largest banks in the banking industry, she is a leader at one of the largest technology companies.

American Bankers work to recognize the role women play in financial services gives us a moment to reflect on our progress, said Bessant. It also serves as a call to action to move decisively, farther and faster. Gender diversity is a cultural and a business and economic development imperative.

Marianne Lake, the chief financial officer at JPMorgan Chase, is No. 2, with Ellen Alemany, the chairman and CEO of CIT Group, and Nandita Bakhshi, president and CEO of Bank of the West, moving into the ranking at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively.

Complete rankings can be viewed online at American Banker and are featured in the October 2017 issue of American Banker Magazine. The honorees will be celebrated at an awards dinner on Oct. 5 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York hosted by American Banker and parent company SourceMedia. In addition to the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking, American Banker each year selects 25 Women to Watch, the 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance, and the Top Teams in Banking.

Leading 2017s Watch list  which spotlights women taking on consequential new roles and challenges over the past year  is Mary Mack, the new head of community banking for the embattled Wells Fargo. Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, once again tops the Finance list.

Companies selected for the Top Teams honor  Bank of America, Bank of the West, BMO Financial, Centric Financial and Zions Bancorp.  have strong female leaders who are making powerful contributions to their companies bottom lines, and share a commitment to initiatives that help more women advance into the senior ranks.

About American Bankers Most Powerful Women in Banking

American Bankers Most Powerful Women in Banking recognizes the professional achievements and influence of the top-performing female executives in banking and financial services. The annual program, now in its 15th year, encompasses four lists: the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking, the 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance, the 25 Women to Watch, and the Top Teams in Banking. Rankings and details about the awards dinner are available at americanbanker.com/women-in-banking.

About American Banker

American Banker, a SourceMedia brand, is the essential resource for senior executives in banking and financial services, keeping its users updated on vital developments and focusing sharply on their most important concerns. Financial industry professionals turn to American Banker to stay maximally informed and engage with an authoritative community of analysts, practitioners and innovators through opinion content, research reports, social media, and live events. American Banker Magazine is a monthly print publication of American Banker, focusing on the ideas, the people, and the companies that are changing the way bankers do business.

About SourceMedia

SourceMedia, an Observer Capital company, is an innovative, growing digital business information and performance media company serving senior-level professionals in the financial, technology and healthcare sectors. Brands include American Banker, PaymentsSource, The Bond Buyer, Financial Planning, Accounting Today, Mergers & Acquisitions, National Mortgage News, Employee Benefit News and Health Data Management.
Chicago-based Signature Bank transitioned its URL from a dot com (http://www.signature-bank.com) to a dot bank domain (http://www.signaturebank.bank) to offer customers the highest level of security available to banking institutions. Only verified banks that meet robust security technologies and practices can register a dot bank website or email, thereby minimizing the ability of fraudsters and cybercriminals to engage in spoofing or phishing attacks.

At Signature Bank, we are on the front lines of fighting fraud for our customers, said Anne Doligale, Senior Vice President of Treasury Management at Signature Bank. With the uptick in email and website spoofing, our dot bank domain goes a step further in protecting our customers from cyber threats and fraud attempts.

Mandatory verification, email authentication, strong encryption, and website integrity are the key business values of the dot bank domain. This extra layer of security and higher level of verification is largely the reason banks are making the transition.

The dot bank domain is a real differentiator for Signature Bank, said Signature Bank President and CEO Michael G. Mick ORourke. The banking landscape in Chicago is competitive and this really sets Signature apart as a bank who has zero tolerance for fraud.

Signature Bank has long been at the forefront of using technology to improve and protect its customer experience. The institution is one of the first Chicago-based banks to make the transition to the higher security domain. Visit http://www.signaturebank.bank to learn more.
For 21 years, Robert Robbins didnt have to think too hard about his living arrangements. In prison, there was always a bed for him.

But out on his own, the situation can change daily.

Released on parole last year for a 1995 murder, he has since stayed at an offender housing ministry, a bug-infested motel, the Community Crisis Center and a homeless shelter.

He has also slept behind St. Patricks Co-Cathedral downtown. He spent a night in the hospital after getting sick when vodka mixed poorly with his medication. Last Monday night he slept in the back of a friends car with a borrowed sleeping bag, where he felt safe, if not comfortable.

Serious ex-cons like Robbins rarely have an easy time finding a place to live. And it isnt always the fear landlords or neighbors may feel about having a killer or sex offender under their roof. Many ex-cons have poor credit, little or no money saved and limited job prospects. And some ex-cons, like sex offenders, are limited by law in where they can live.

But studies show its stable housing, along with other support services, that can help deter convicts from committing more crimes and winding up back in prison.

Sen. Cynthia Wolken, D-Missoula, said its not just people like Robbins who would benefit from better offender housing options.

For sexual and violent offenders, its really important that we know where they are, she said. It really is, in my mind, a public safety issue.

Robbins story

Robbins, 53, grew up in Florida. In his late 20s, he moved to Great Falls, where he was homeless and living what he called a dysfunctional lifestyle, heavy on drugs and alcohol.

In the summer of 1995, Robbins beat a man to death in the stairwell of a parking garage. Charging documents say he was broke and did it for money, taking about $60 from the man after he killed him.

Im a different guy now, he said. Twenty-two yearsll change a person.

When Robbins was released from prison last year, he was driven to the bus station, where a one-way ticket to Billings was waiting for him.

First he went to the Adullam House, a South Side ministry that houses sex offenders and others with criminal records. But that didnt work out. Robbins, who suffers from bipolar disorder and PTSD, wasnt getting along with another resident of the house hed known from prison.

So he went to the one of the citys motels that rent rooms on a weekly basis for anywhere from $196 to $315. At $784 per month on the low end, its not a rent most people fresh out of prison can afford. For comparison, it cost Montana around $3,500 a month to house Robbins at the Montana State Prison.

Robbins left the motel after several months. Hed quit his job at Stellas Bakery and was behind on rent money. Plus, he said, the place had bed bugs.

So he landed at the Montana Rescue Mission, which he liked. He had friends there, and there was usually enough food at mealtime for second helpings.

But about two weeks ago, Roberts smoked pot and drank a beer, ending nine months of sobriety, and was kicked out of the homeless shelter. (He'd enrolled in a new life skills class with strict expectations, meaning, he said, he was held to a higher standard.)

So far this year, the Rescue Mission saw an average of 20 people a month arrive straight from prison. The state is now required to collect data on such prison-to-shelter releases, under a new law passed this spring to improve housing options for offenders.

Local options

After leaving prison, people often crash with friends or family. But Robbins and many others like him dont have that option. In some cases, offenders cant go back to wherever they consider home, since parole officials try to keep the offender away from victims or old friends who might pull the person back into criminal behavior.

The options are limited.

Private landlords sometimes charge up to three times the normal deposit rate for someone with a criminal record.

It happens all the time, said Lucy Brown, executive director of the Housing Authority of Billings.

The Housing Authority, which issues federally funded housing vouchers, has 481 units it rents out. Some offenders are automatically ineligible, like sex offenders and anyone who has been evicted from a public housing facility for making meth on the property.

Others with criminal records can apply, but the approval process is tough, and no one is guaranteed a spot. Also, demand for Housing Authority space is high; about 2,200 families are on the agencys waiting list.

There are about two dozen private landlords who open their doors to people with criminal records. But due to high demand, their openings are infrequent.

Kellie Gardner, one such landlord who owns a company called Classic Endeavors LLP, said it can be expensive to rent to offenders.

In the 20 units in downtown Billings the company keeps open to offenders, shes had to replace windows, carpet and doors. When she has to evict someone, she hires an attorney.

A lot of renters come to Gardners apartments after staying at a prerelease center, where they have classes on things like budgeting. But when they get out, they lose that structure.

They almost always are late with rent the first month, she said.

And there can be other risks. Three years ago, a man was shot dead outside of a downtown building Classic Endeavors owns.

Despite the downsides, Gardner still keeps her doors open to people with criminal convictions, and she wishes more landlords would.

People should have the right to a decent place to live, no matter what the circumstances, she said.

State plans lose steam

A law passed this spring to help expand housing options for offenders lost much of its steam when lower-than-expected state revenues prompted budget cuts.

Money intended to provide temporary housing vouchers for people newly released from prison is on the chopping block, as is money for new initiatives.

That had included $400,000 for the next two years to support things like risk mitigation funds for landlords, which act as insurance in the event a renter damages the property or leaves before the lease is up. These funds have worked in cities around the U.S., and Missoula County has been planning to start one as well.

If the proposed budget cuts are finalized, the Board of Crime Control would need to pursue federal grants to launch the initiative in future years.

Robbins' future

After a week of crashing on friends' couches and sleeping on the streets, Robbins got some good news: Hed been accepted back into Adullam House, the South Side ministry for violent and sexual offenders.

Robbins knows theres a possibility he wont get along with other residents, as before. But the opportunity also means he will be off the streets, secure, with his own bed each night. Hell have to find a job. And hell be living, once again, alongside other ex-cons who share his struggles.

The housing, Robbins said, would pretty much help me get it together, so to speak.
A former Marvel editor and author has released the first book in a magical series revolving around the niece of famed magician Harry Houdini. Piper Houdini: Apprentice of Coney Island, by author Glenn Herdling, is a fast-paced, young adult thriller that throws Piper Houdini into the ultimate battle of good versus evil.

Set in 1920s New York, Island follows 12-year-old Piper Houdini as the life she once knew turns on its head. After meeting a man who claims to be her father, she is sent to live with her uncle, who turns out to be renowned magician Harry Houdini. When she settles into her new home and starts to learn about her enigmatic past, a menacing force begins wreaking havoc on New York, killing sideshow freaks. Slowly piecing her life together, Piper Houdini must face this evil and attempt to defeat it once and for all.

This book is perfect for folks who are looking to fill the void left by Harry Potter, the author said. And maybe readers will wind up learning a thing or two about a fascinating time in U.S. history.

Piper Houdini: Apprentice of Coney Island is a thoroughly amazing adventure that will capture the imaginations of readers ages 8 to 80, a reviewer wrote about the book. Mr. Herdlings research into the language, fashions and tropes of the roaring 20s should be applauded.

An action-packed thriller for teens and adults alike, Piper Houdini: Apprentice of Coney Island will make readers want to try out a few magic tricks themselves.

Piper Houdini: Apprentice of Coney Island

By Glenn Herdling

ISBN: 978-1-5043-4972-7 (softcover); 978-1-5043-4974-1 (hardcover); 978-1-5043-4973-4 (electronic)

Available at the Balboa Press Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Glenn Herdling is an author currently living in River Vale, N.J. He is a former writer and editor with Marvel Comics, having written and overseen The Adventures of Spider-Man, The Avengers and Deadpool, to name a few. For more information, please visit his website.

###

Review Copies & Interview Requests:

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Chris Pena

480-306-7065

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General Inquiries:

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Bryan Beach

480-306-6554

bbeach(at)lavidge(dot)com
We are pleased that DataON and Intel have created a Select Solution with Windows Server 2016 Storage Spaces Direct. Having a solution that is validated by both Microsoft and Intel should give customers the greatest confidence in their choice to deploy a Windows Server hyper-converged infrastructure.

DataON, an industry-leading provider of hyper-converged cluster appliances (HCCA) and optimized storage systems for Windows Server environments, today announces the Lightning series of DataON TracSystem hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) featuring Intel Xeon Scalable Processors with Intel C620 Series Chipsets and powered by Intel Optane SSDs.

DataON TracSystem is a fully integrated and turnkey Windows Server 2016 HCI solution that delivers on the promise of simplicity, scalability and affordability. Comprised of DataON S2D Server Ready Nodes that are field proven with over 600 customers and over 100PB deployed, the TracSystem is customized, performance-tuned and simple-to-deploy with DataONs MUST visibility, monitoring and management tool.

The TracSystem Lightning series is the first Intel Select Solution with Windows Server Software-Defined Storage. It leverages the Intel Xeon Scalable Processors Family, Intel Optane Technology and NVM Express (NVMe) to deliver breakthrough performance and incredible responsiveness, with greater VM density.



Breakthrough performance and dramatically reduced disk latency with 30% greater IOPS performance (over the previous generation) for write-intensive workloads by leveraging Intel Optane SSDs that are NVMe-based for the fast cache tier in Window Server 2016.

Greater VM density per cluster with Intel Xeon Scalable Processors, delivering up to 28 cores per socket, 18 DIMMS per CPU memory density, and 224 physical cores for a 4-node Storage Spaces Direct HCI deployment.

Highest networking efficiency and throughput with SMB3 RDMA fabric delivering 2x throughput compared to TCP/IP, less than 1 sec latency from VM-to-VM communication, and fewer CPU cycles per I/O with better core utilization.

Every TracSystem HCI is pre-configured with DataON MUST (Management Utility Software Tool) infrastructure visibility, monitoring and management software, which provides SAN-like storage monitoring features and system alerts based on Windows Health Service faults. The inclusion of MUST is what completes a Windows Server 2016 solution as a viable SAN replacement.

The First Intel Select Solution with Windows Server Software-defined Storage

DataON and Intel have collaborated to create an Intel Select Solution for Windows Server Software-Defined Storage.

Intel Select Solutions are workload-optimized data center solutions that simplify and accelerate the process of selecting and deploying the hardware and software needed for todays workloads and applications.

Intel Select Solutions:

Simplify evaluation and eliminate guesswork via tightly specified hardware and software components

Have pre-defined settings and system wide tuning enabling smooth deployment

Are designed and benchmarked to perform optimally for specific workloads

Based on Intel Xeon Scalable processors, Intel Select Solutions enable enterprises to make confident choices in deploying data center infrastructure. The Intel Select Solution for Windows Server Software-Defined Storage features:

Intel Xeon Scalable processors with Intel C620 Series chipsets

Intel Optane SSD DC P4800X Series or Intel 3D NAND SSDs in the cache tier featuring the NVMe interface

All-flash in the capacity tier with Intel 3D NAND SSDs using the NVMe or SATA interface

Intel Select Solutions are rigorously tested and benchmarked at a system-wide level. Well-known third party and industry benchmarking tools that simulate real-world loads are used to identify and eliminate pressure points.

DataON is exclusively focused on customers who have made the Microsoft choice for their software-defined data centers, said Howard Lo, vice president of sales and marketing, DataON. We are proud to collaborate with Intel and Microsoft to deliver the first Intel Select Solution with Windows Storage Software-Defined Storage, featuring Intels newest Xeon Scalable processor.

Data center buyers will benefit from the engineering expertise baked into this solution recipe for Windows Server Software-Defined Storage, said Lisa Spelman, vice president and general manager of Intel Xeon Products and Data Center Marketing at Intel. Having a verified Intel Select Solution that includes Intel Xeon Scalable Processors, Intel Optane SSDs and 3D NAND SSDs provides optimized performance, agility, and efficiency, while accelerating customer paths from evaluation to installation.

This Intel Select Solution has also achieved Windows Server 2016 Logo Certification and workings towards Windows Server Software-Defined program certification. These certifications give customers confidence that this pre-configured and stress-tested solution follows Microsofts requirements and best practices for a software-defined data center. The Lightning series is the first platform featuring Intel Xeon Scalable processors with Intel C620 Series chipsets to achieve this certification.

Subodh Bhargava, Senior Program Manager, Windows Server Software Defined, Microsoft said, We are pleased that DataON and Intel have created a Select Solution with Windows Server 2016 Storage Spaces Direct. Having a solution that is validated by both Microsoft and Intel should give customers the greatest confidence in their choice to deploy a Windows Server hyper-converged infrastructure.

This DataON and Intel Select Solution with Windows Server Software-Defined Storage will be featured at the DataON (#1726) booth at Microsoft Ignite 2017, from September 25-29, 2017 in Orlando, Florida.

Designed for Windows Server 2016 Storage Spaces Direct

DataON TracSystem solutions are built to optimize the full stack of Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct in a hyper-converged platform. They are designed with integrated compute, network and storage infrastructure with near-linear scalability to simplify and maximize the deployment of Microsoft applications, virtualization, data protection and hybrid cloud services. These pre-configured clusters can support over 40 Hyper-V VMs per nodes, for expanded capacity and operational flexibility.

These solutions can achieve over 3M IOPS in a 4-node cluster. They combine high-performance Intel Optane NVMe SSDs with all-flash storage and SMB3 networking to maximize performance and capacity. These appliances run on the Cluster Shared Volumes Resilient File System (ReFS) to maximize data availability, deliver high resiliency, and improve data integrity across scale-out file server (SoFS) and software-defined data center stacks.

Every TracSystem solution is performance tuned for your workloads and benchmarks, includes a customized deployment guide, and is backed by a single point of support from DataON.

Preconfigured 4-node HCI clusters  Provides expanded capacity with scalable and operational flexibility, with up to 16 nodes.

Industry-leading application performance  Provides 3M IOPS performance (running VM Fleet) using the latest all-flash Intel Optane SSD DC P4800X cache and Intel 3D NAND SSDs with NVMe technology to scale IOPS intensive workloads.

Hyper-V virtualization  Supports more than 40 Hyper-V virtual machines per node.

Storage and networking with SMB3 over RDMA  Increases CPU efficiency while delivering the highest throughput and low latency.

Hyper-converged scalability  Delivers incremental compute, networking and storage resources while providing near-linear scalability. The HCI cluster can also be expanded via 12GB/s SAS JBODs.

Automated out-of-the-box deployment  Accelerates time to deployment for Windows Server 2016, Storage Spaces Direct, and Storage Replica environments.

Integrated data protection and guarded fabric  Supports Windows Server 2016 with Shielded VM and TPM 2.0 trusted attestation for security and business continuity.

High availability and resiliency  Forms one Windows Server 2016 failover cluster with Cloud Witness as low-cost, low footprint quorum technology.

Built for Microsoft services and I/O intensive applications  Supports VDI, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and Microsoft Power BI deployments.

Fault tolerant  Uses local drives and leverages Storage Replica with Azure Site Recovery.

Managed by MUST

All DataON TracSystem solutions are pre-configured with DataON MUST (Management Utility Software Tool) infrastructure visibility, monitoring and management software. Fully integrated with the Windows Storage Health Service API (SM-API), it provides advanced cluster monitoring, performance metrics, system health statistics, and automated system alerts for Windows Server 2016 Storage Spaces Direct.

MUST delivers SAN-like storage monitoring features through a single pane of glass, providing real-time dashboard level metrics for IOPS, latency, throughput on cluster nodes and volumes. With system alerts based on Windows Health Service faults and SAN-like call home services, systems administrators can be automatically notified of hardware failures, configuration issues and resource saturation.

DataON is the first to market with a tool that provides visibility, monitoring and management of Windows Server 2016 deployments.

The DataON Difference

DataON is exclusively focused on customers who have made the Microsoft choice to deploy a Windows Server-based storage solution. Our team of Microsoft experts know how to design, deploy and support Windows Server storage and will work with you to performance tune your workloads with benchmarks. DataON solutions are:

Customer-proven with over 600 enterprise deployments and greater than 100PB of DataON Storage Spaces Direct storage deployments.

Optimized by our team of Microsoft experts to ensure successful deployments into your IT environment, tuned to your workloads.

Certified for Windows Server 2012, 2012R2 and 2016.

Certified for Windows Server 2016 Server Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) Premium and Standard editions.

DataON has a proud history of supporting Windows Server environments, including:



The FIRST certified enterprise JBODs for Windows Server 2012 R2.

About DataON

DataON is the industry-leading provider of hyper-converged cluster appliances (HCCA) and storage systems optimized for Microsoft Windows Server environments. Our solutions are built with the single purpose of rapidly and seamlessly deploying Microsoft applications, virtualization, data protection and hybrid cloud services. Our company is exclusively focused on customers who have made the Microsoft choice and we provide the ultimate platform for the Microsoft software-defined data center (SDDC). DataON is a division of Area Electronics. For more information, go to http://www.dataonstorage.com or call +1 (714) 441-8820.

All trademarks, registered trademarks, service marks, brands and names mentioned herein are property of their respective owners.
Phunware, whose mobile application lifecycle management platform helps brands engage, manage and monetize mobile application users worldwide, today announced its placement on two of Austins high-growth lists, the Austin Business Journal Fast 50 and Austin Innos 50 on Fire for B2B Tech. Both awards recognize Phunwares impressive growth during 2017.

For the second year in a row, Phunware has landed on the Austin Inno 50 on Fire, the annual list identifying the hottest companies and executives within the Austin innovation economy. Phunware is one of five companies listed as winners in the B2B Tech category and is in the running for a second honor, an Austin Inno Blazer. One company from each of the ten "50 on Fire" categories will be announced as an Austin Inno Blazer winner at the awards celebration on October 4, 2017 at Gather on North Lamar.

Phunware has also been honored as one of Austin Business Journals Fast 50 for the third consecutive year. The annual list highlights and ranks companies that have experienced dramatic revenue growth in the preceding three years. Austin Business Journal will reveal Fast 50 rankings along with details about winning companies growth at the Cocktail Reception and Awards Presentation on October 26, 2017 at the Hilton Austin.

Its truly exciting to receive these two recognitions in such short succession, said Alan S. Knitowski, CEO and co-founder of Phunware. Weve come a long way at Phunware in our eight years of leadership in mobile innovation, and these awards continue to motivate our team as they create category-defining experiences for the worlds most discerning mobile audiences.

The two honors highlight a year of impressive growth and accolades for Phunware and Knitowski, including his nominations to QuantumShifts 2017 Class of Top Entrepreneurs in America, and the Austin Business Journal Best CEO shortlist, his ranking as Owlers top-rated Austin CEO and the companys recent placement on the Inc. 5000 list for the fifth consecutive year, joining the Honor Roll of five-time honorees. Founded in 2009, the Phunware platform now touches more than 800 million active devices and more than 1 trillion database events per month.

To learn more about Phunwares continued growth and how the company is powering mobile experiences for some of the worlds most respected brands, visit http://www.phunware.com. For more information on the 50 on Fire awards, visit http://www.americaninno.com/austin. For news about Austins business sector and more details on the 2017 Fast 50, visit http://www.bizjournals.com/austin.

About Phunware

Phunware is the pioneer of Multiscreen as a Service (MaaS), a mobile application lifecycle management platform that allows brands to engage, manage and monetize mobile application users worldwide. Phunware creates category-defining mobile experiences for the worlds most respected brands, with nearly 800 million devices touching its platform each month. For more information about how Phunware is transforming the way consumers interact with mobile in the virtual and physical worlds, visit http://www.phunware.com and follow @Phunware on all social networks.
Author Raj Lowenstein has released her debut novel, Through the Fire, that follows the story of Michael, a beautiful woman who is mute and communicates through American Sign Language as she tries to escape her past while falling in love with her protector.

Filled with back stories, steamy romantic episodes, gender-related issues, investigation, and an evil antagonist this unique story for modern-day readers builds up to an intense and gripping conclusion.

Lowenstein has always had a passion for writing and created a lead character who was mute as she herself is deaf and communicates through American Sign Language and wanted readers to experience the life and struggles of a deaf person. She also explores the topic of gender-related issues as her family has strong ties to the GLBT community and knows this is a very important topic to discuss in America right now.

Through the Fire received the Gold Seal of Literary Excellence from Trafford Publishing and Lowenstein is already receiving critical praise:

Key to Lowensteins writing style is the use of engaging dialogue to generate dynamic characters who are developing their relationships and facing lifes challengesKudos to Lowenstein for creating an edgy and eye-opening debut!  Recommended by the US Review of Books

To learn more please visit the authors website.

Through the Fire

By Raj Lowenstein

ISBN: 978-1-4907-6839-7 (e), 978-1-4907-6838-0 (sc), 978-1-4907-6840-3 (hc)

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Village Books (Fairhaven, WA)

About the author

Author Raj Lowenstein has a Bachelors Degree in American Sign Language Interpreting with a Minor in Jewish Studies from the University of Houston. She started writing Through the Fire in 2004 while attending Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. for a semester. Even though she has had poems published in literary magazines, it took her only 40 years to decide that it was OK to actually have her book published. This is her first of many books so stay tuned! Lowenstein currently lives with her husband and fat Chihuahua in the Pacific Northwest and they have three children and three grandchildren.

For Review Copies & General Inquiries Contact:

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We believe Hover Array Systems will be a disruptive, distributed energy resource for commercial rooftops.

Hover Energy, LLC (Hover or the Company) announced today that Dr. Carsten Westergaard will serve as Chief Operating Officer for the Company. Dr. Westergaard brings more than 25 years of experience in wind energy to Hover. He began his career as an aerodynamics blade designer with LM Wind Power, the largest wind turbine blade manufacturer in the world. Later, he served as the Director of Global Technology for Vestas Wind Systems (Vestas) in Denmark and the U.S. Vestas is currently the largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world.

Most recently, Dr. Westergaard served as Professor of Practice at the National Wind Institute at Texas Tech University, where he performed research and taught graduate courses in wind energy. He is the founder of Westergaard Solutions, Inc., a company that assists nascent renewable energy companies, national laboratories, and suppliers with their business and technological advances.

I am happy to be leading Hovers engineering efforts and developing the business even further. Our technology incorporates aerodynamic advances and a vertical-axis unit to deliver onsite wind power for the built environment, commented Dr. Westergaard. We believe Hover Array Systems will be a disruptive, distributed energy resource (DER) for commercial rooftops. Over the past year, we have significantly improved the efficiency of our units by refining their aerodynamics and design in preparation for our unique, rooftop array systems. Currently, we are performing advanced wind tunnel testing at Texas Tech to validate our design system and configure the units to produce unparalleled energy conversion efficiencies for DER applications.

Dr. Westergaard received both an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a specialty in Physics and a Ph.D. in Physics with a focus on laser technology and fluid dynamics from the Technical University of Denmark. He has authored more than 70 articles and 30 patents.

Albert McLelland, Chief Executive Officer of Hover, added, Carsten has been a valuable advisor for Hover and has contributed to both our business development and technical progress. We are excited to have him take on a senior leadership role, which will accelerate our innovation.

About Hover Energy, LLC

Hover Energy, LLC possesses a transformative wind power generation technology. The Company expects to remake the onsite wind energy market by providing an impactful wind power solution with high energy density and a wide range of applications, including the built environment. Additional information is available at http://www.hoverenergy.com.

(NO STOCK EXCHANGE, SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.)

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain statements concerning the development and completion of a wind power generation technology and the timing of its delivery, as well as other expectations, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions and information about future events, efficiency, outcomes, applications, conditions, results of operations or performance that may constitute forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect.
"Highest Overall Satisfaction for Repeat Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms." The team works hard to exceed the expectations of its customers...

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, an HSF Affiliates LLC company, today announced that the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices real estate brokerage network ranked Highest Overall Satisfaction for Repeat Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms in the J.D. Power 2017 Home Buyer/Seller Satisfaction StudySM.

The 10th annual study measured customer satisfaction among the nations largest real estate brokerage companies and their agents through March and April. Overall satisfaction was gauged across five factors of the real estate process: agent/salesperson, closing process, real estate company marketing, real estate company office, and package of additional services. The study was based on responses from 4,170 consumers.

Among repeat home sellers, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices scored 858 on a 1,000-point scale, performing particularly well in the categories agent/sales person, closing process and real estate company marketing. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices stands for top-quality real estate representation in markets across America, said Gino Blefari, CEO and president of the network. Were proud to accept this award, as it spotlights the exemplary service network agents and their brokerages provide every day.

The ranking, highest for repeat home seller satisfaction, speaks volumes, Blefari added. Repeat home sellers have been through the real estate process before and have a clear understanding of the work and expertise involved in a successful home sale, he explained. This type of satisfaction means Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network agents are excelling when it comes to communicating with clients and listing and marketing clients homes. Thats the heavy lifting of real estate.

J.D. Powers study yielded several key findings about the real estate process.

Among them:



An agents relationship with a buyer is the most important factor in determining customer satisfaction. For sellers, marketing of the home is the most important factor, as it is the most visible way for the seller to gauge the agents support.

Satisfaction is strongly influenced by the amount of time agents invest in keeping customers informed vs. when they are not kept informed. Among first-time buyers and sellers, satisfaction is 117 points higher among buyers and 93 points higher among sellers. Among repeat buyers and sellers, satisfaction is 210 points higher among buyers and 192 points higher among sellers when they receive a timely response to questions and concerns vs. when they do not.

Word-of-mouth remains important: First-time home buyers and sellers report good reputation and recommendations from friends, family and colleagues as the two main reasons for selecting a real estate company.

The team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty works hard to exceed the expectations of its customers  sellers and buyers alike, explained Rei L. Mesa, President, and Chief Executive Officer. In todays market, customers need the expertise of top real estate sales professionals, he said. Through our local-market expertise, brand strength and processes, we provide award-winning service as we help people achieve their real estate goals and dreams.

About J.D. Power

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. These capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., and has offices serving North/South America, Asia Pacific and Europe.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices received the highest numerical score among five real estate companies for repeat home sellers in the J.D. Power 2017 Home Buyer/Seller Satisfaction Study, based on 5,117 evaluations from 4,170 consumers, measuring the perceptions and experiences of people who bought and/or sold a home between March-April 2017. Your experiences may vary. Visit http://www.jdpower.com/resource/us-home-buyerseller-satisfaction-study for details.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty serves 19 counties throughout Florida with over 40 locations and approximately 1,800 Sales Professionals. The full-service brokerage company, founded in 1999, is a subsidiary of Lennar Corporation, a Fortune 500 company and is a franchise member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network, one of the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name. The company offers residential and commercial services as well as seasonal rentals, property management, REO & Foreclosures, corporate relocations, referral services, mortgage, title, home service plans, and personal concierge services. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty ranks in the Top 10 in the network. The company is the overall No. 1 fundraiser for The Sunshine Kids Foundation, having generated more than $3.37 million since 2001. Visit http://www.BHHSFloridaRealty.com.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, based in Irvine, CA, remains one of the nations fastest-growth real estate brokerage networks with 43,500 agents and 1,320 offices named to the brand since its launch in fall 2013. The network, among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name, brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of trust, integrity, stability and longevity. Visit http://www.berkshirehathawayhs.com.
"Ambassador Haley has been relentless in her advocacy of helping people with disabilities. We are excited to honor her support with this award.

The award is named in honor of Betty Pendler who was renowned for her tireless efforts in helping those with disabilities. Each year the award is given to those who exemplify the mission of Community Options and demonstrate their commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities live their best lives in communities of their choosing. Recent recipients of this award include Governor Tom Kean, Elaine Katz of Kessler Foundation, Senator Joe Kyrillos, and Gail B. and Senator Robert Gordon.



Ambassador Haley is being recognized for her contributions to individuals with disabilities and programs that provide homes and employment to people with disabilities throughout her career as a public servant. As governor, she signed numerous proclamations in support of the rights of disabled persons and signed the ABLE Act into law in South Carolina, allowing people with disabilities the opportunity to contribute to a tax-exempt savings account without losing necessary benefits. Community Options had the good fortune of hosting then-governor Haley at a tour of one of its homes for disabled individuals in Columbia, SC in late 2013. At the time of her visit, she said, It was an honor to tour the Community Options home in Columbia. They offer quality care and provide adults with special needs the opportunity to live an independent life style. We will continue to support these kinds of services for individuals with disabilities.



Robert Stack, president and CEO of Community Options said, Ambassador Haleys visit to one of our homes for people with disabilities had a tremendous impact on the public perception of people with disabilities living side by side in a neighborhood, just like anyone else. She has been relentless in her advocacy of helping people with disabilities. We are excited to honor her support with this award.



On Tuesday, September 26, 2017, Stack, along with Community Options board chair, Phil Lian, of Princeton, NJ, will present the award to Ambassador Haley. It will be accepted on her behalf by her former chief of staff, Swati Patel, at the Community Options iMatter Conference on Supported Employment held at the Francis Marion Hotel in downtown Charleston.



About Community Options, Inc.:



For 28 years, Community Options has developed housing and employment programs for people with disabilities  serving thousands of people through more than 40 offices across 11 states. Community Options provides advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities because all people  regardless of ability level  should live and work in the community with dignity, choice and self-determination. For more information please visit our website: https://www.comop.org and to follow along with the ComOpCares campaign, search #ComOpCares on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Fine wine and spirits importer Wilson Daniels and iconic Tuscan producer Biondi-Santi are proud to announce that effective October 1, 2017, Wilson Daniels will become the sole US importer of the wines of Biondi-Santi, renowned for making Brunello di Montalcino one of the worlds most famous wines.

We are thrilled to begin this relationship with Biondi-Santi, which fits perfectly into our portfolio of the most exclusive wines in the world, said Wilson Daniels president Rocco Lombardo. Our goal is to set the benchmark for fine wine in the United States, and having the opportunity to import one of Italys iconic wines is an important step in achieving that aim.

Jacopo Biondi Santi stated, We are confident that this partnership is a wonderful opportunity to accelerate the international development of Biondi-Santi. Wilson Daniels experience and expertise in fine wine in the United States was essential for us in choosing them as our exclusive importer, and we are very excited to be re-entering the US with a partner that we know very well. Our partnership will also be essential in continuing to grow the awareness and excellence of the brand in the United States.

The first Biondi-Santi wines to be imported in October will be the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Annata and the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. The Annata, made from vines aged ten to 25 years old, are aged for at least 36 months in barrel and 12 months in bottle. The Riserva, made from only the best vines over 25 years old, and only in the best vintages, are also aged for 36 months in barrel and usually spend more than 24 months in bottle. In addition, access to library wines dating as far back as the late 1800s will be part of the long-term plan for future offerings in the US market since Biondi-Santi Brunello is particularly renowned for its elegance and extraordinary longevity.

About Wilson Daniels

Founded in 1978, Wilson Daniels is a family-owned importer and marketer representing a portfolio of luxury wines and spirits. Based in Napa Valley, Wilson Daniels upholds the high standards set by founders Win Wilson and Jack Daniels  with a keen focus on long-term strategic partnerships with family-owned and operated properties that possess a profound respect for terroir. To learn more, visit http://www.wilsondaniels.com.

About Biondi-Santi

Biondi-Santi, founded in the 16th century in Tuscany, is one of the most renowned wine estates in Italy. The Biondi Santi family, at the origin of the celebrated Brunello di Montalcino wine, has ensured the excellence of its wines for seven generations, reaping awards from leading international wine experts on numerous occasions. Jacopo Biondi Santi, 6th generation, has been the Winemaker since 2010 and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tenuta Biondi-Santi Spa in 2017 when EPI (French Luxury Group owner of Piper-Heidsieck, Charles Heidsieck, Chateau la Verrerie, Bonpoint and J.M. Weston) signed a strategic partnership with the Biondi-Santi family. His son Tancredi is also member of the Board and now serves the family estate along with his father. Olivier Adnot, was appointed CEO of Biondi-Santi Tenuta Greppo Srl and overlooks the expansion of the brand along with the Biondi-Santi family.
First Multi-vendor Mission Critical Push-To-Talk Multicast Integration

Expway, the LTE Broadcast expert and leader, Bittium, the manufacturer of reliable and secure Bittium Tough Mobile, and innovative MC-PTT (Mission-Critical Push-To-Talk) provider Nemergent, today announced the successful demonstration of a 3GPP Rel13 compliant end-to-end multicast group calls with Mission Critical eMBMS (evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services) bearers.

The three companies integrated their products over standard compliant interfaces on the core side (MB2-C/U) and between the MC-PTT Application Server and Application Clients. This important milestone opens up new opportunities for experimentation and field trials, eventually aimed at increasing the safety, and enhancing the experience of first responders while at the same time optimising the use of radio resources.

Public safety agencies are starting to evolve their narrowband LMR (Land Mobile Radio) technologies to LTE (Long Term Evolution) based solutions. LTE is 3GPP standards based and used as commercial cellular network technology worldwide and it has been proven to offer high performance, spectrum flexibility and security. With MC-PTT as part of the LTE 3GPP Release 13, LTE has emerged as the perfect technology for mission critical push to talk.

Nemergent has worked hard to develop carrier-grade enhanced-push-to-talk technology, and is the first to support MC-PTT over LTE Broadcast, said Claude Seyrat, Expway co-founder and CMO. Bittium is the first device manufacturer to offer Push-To-Talk, including group calls, over LTE Broadcast.

Multicast transmission is a mandatory feature to provide efficient group communications over mobile broadband networks. eMBMS is the technology that provides multicast communications in LTE networks for different applications including video/audio broadcasting and mission critical communications.

We are fully committed to support mission-critical-push-to-talk (MCPTT) technology, said Jose Oscar Fajardo, CEO at Nemergent Solutions SL. Integrating our MCPTT product with Expways LTE Broadcast server and client middleware, and with the Bittium devices is a logical progression of the companys commitment to interoperable communications."

In mid 2016, the 3GPP made a big leap forward towards standardized mission critical communications with the definition of an MC-PTT suite of protocols in its Release 13. The resulting ecosystem includes MC-PTT Application Servers, core configuration and management servers, and MC-PTT mobile devices. Aimed at fostering the deployment of commercial MC-PTT solutions, one of the critical aspects is assuring the interoperability of the eMBMS anchors between the MC-PTT service and the LTE network components both at the server and client sides.

It was our pleasure to work with companies like Expway and Nemergent in this demonstration, Said Tero Savolainen, Vice President in Bittium. With a reliable and standards based solution, agencies can adopt broadband devices and services for their first responders and also utilize the potential besides MC-PTT, including video, situational awareness and other data applications."

About Expway

Expway is the LTE Broadcast expert, enabling mobile carriers, device manufacturers, and content delivery networks to monetize the mobile video-streaming explosion. Expway delivers content efficiently and cost effectively through the last mile, from the mobile carrier antenna to the end-user device, with consistent high-quality-of-experience. Expway is the only vendor to offer a complete end-to-end, open solution, providing both the LTE-Broadcast server and the device middleware. For more information visit http://www.expway.com

About Nemergent

Nemergent Solutions SL is a brand-new company located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. The company integrates a founding team with large experience in designing and prototyping novel Public Safety solutions over mobile broadband technologies, with an agile development team with vast experience in Internet technologies. Nemergents portfolio includes a complete and fully standard MCPTT ecosystem made up of early implementations concerning MCPTT clients, MCPTT AS and MCPTT management servers. The server-side components are designed as NFV components, fostering agile and flexible deployments. The innovation-driven nature of the company promotes the establishment of research links with different UE, IMS and EPC leading companies. For further information please visit https://www.nemergent-solutions.com

About Bittium

Bittium specializes in the development of reliable, secure communications and connectivity solutions, leveraging its 30 year legacy of expertise in advanced radio communication technologies. Bittium provides innovative products and customized solutions based on its product platforms and R&D services. Complementing its communications and connectivity solutions, Bittium offers proven information security solutions for mobile devices and portable computers. For more information visit http://www.bittium.com
For more information about the class action lawsuit filed against Guild Mortgage Company please call (866) 771-7099 to speak to Nicholas J. De Blouw at Blumenthal, Nordrehaug and Bhowmik.

The San Diego employment law lawyers at Blumenthal, Nordrehaug and Bhowmik filed a proposed class action Complaint against Guild Mortgage Company for allegedly failing to provide their California employees with the legally required thirty minute uninterrupted meal periods and allegedly failing to pay all overtime due to their California employees. The Guild Mortgage Company lawsuit, Case No. 37-2017-00034799-CU-OE-CTL is currently pending in the San Diego County Superior Court for the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read by clicking here.

The lawsuit filed against Guild Mortgage Company alleges that the company as a matter of corporate policy, practice and procedure, intentionally, knowingly and systematically failed to reimburse and indemnify its employees for required business expenses incurred by the employees in direct consequence of discharging their duties on behalf of Guild Mortgage Company. Under California Labor Code Section 2802, employers are required to indemnify employees for all expenses incurred in the course and scope of their employment.

Additionally, the complaint further alleges Guild Mortgage Company committed acts of unfair competition in violation of the California Unfair Competition Law, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code  17200, et seq. (the UCL), by engaging in a company-wide policy and procedure which failed to accurately record overtime worked by their employees.

The Complaint also alleges that the employees working in California for Guild Mortgage Company were not always able to take their thirty minute uninterrupted meal breaks before their fifth hour of work. California law requires employers to provide their non-exempt employees paid on an hourly basis with thirty minute meal periods before the employee works five hours. The penalty for failing to provide adequate meal breaks is one hour of pay under the California Labor Code.

Blumenthal, Nordrehaug and Bhowmik is a California employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties that dedicates its practice to helping employees, fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. Get assistance by contacting one of their employees today by clicking here.

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The state of Montana would claim rights to minerals and require a state lease for mining beneath a creek in Meagher County related to a proposed copper mine.

Tintina Resources Black Butte Copper Project near White Sulphur Springs proposes underground mining of copper-containing ore. Sheep Creek, a Smith River tributary, flows through the private land where the project is proposed.

Opponents of the mine approached the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation with evidence that Sheep Creek falls under the definition of a navigable stream, which makes the streambed, and minerals beneath it, owned by the state of Montana.

The agency agrees.

Its never been adjudicated but we have notified Tintina of this claim, said DNRC Trust Land Division administrator Shawn Thomas.

Thomas explained a complicated framework that defines the creeks classification. DNRC has evidence that commercial logs were floated in Sheep Creek around the time of statehood. Streams used for commerce at statehood fall under the navigable river laws, which essentially give the state legal standing to claim the streambed as state land and the minerals below it, he said.

Proposals from Tintina show a portion of one ore body below Sheep Creek, although the company and DNRC say it is too early to know the true extent of the ore body. Current maps delineating ore bodies do not necessarily show where mining will take place, they said.

Its sort of premature -- its really almost impossible to determine because of limited drill data, Thomas said. At this time we dont have adequate information to pursue a lease.

Thomas characterized the potential state claim as a sliver of one area.

If the state were to lease the minerals, approval would come via the Montana Board of Land Commissioners.

In an interview Jerry Zieg, Tintina vice president of exploration, said the company is not looking at the potential state claim as an issue right now.

We acknowledge that a very small portion of mineral interest may extend directly under Sheep Creek, but we believe it is unproductive to engage in discussions regarding this question until we have completed enough testing to actually identify if there is in fact a mineable resource under Sheep Creek, he wrote in a letter to DNRC.

Derf Johnson, with the Montana Environmental Information Center, which opposes the mine, said the state mineral interest challenges Tintinas marketing of the mine as a purely private land project.

Its state trust land, state property, held in trust for the state of Montana, and characterizing it as private property is patently not true, he said.

Black Butte has been controversial with MEIC and other opponents publicly campaigning against it, bringing concerns about potential pollution. Supporters see the economic potential and say that modern mining practices can protect the environment.

Johnson believes that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, which recently launched an environmental impact statement as it considers permitting the mine, must evaluate the mine as a both private and public land project. He further questioned DEQs deeming of Tintinas application as complete, saying the application was deficient for not including state mineral interests.

Johnson stopped short of saying MEIC would legally challenge the project over the concerns.

I think at this point, we just want to see a really robust process so that Montanans have a much better idea of what is being proposed here, he said.

Zieg disagreed with Johnsons private-public characterization, saying the project centers on private land and the stream does not bisect the ore body.

Until a resource is found under the stream, its not an issue of extracting anything from public lands, he said. If it comes to that point, well be very open and straight forward, about the plans.

DEQs Kristi Ponozzo said the issue is one her agency would likely consult with DNRC, and disclose in the environmental impact statement.
ISONAS is extremely excited on the release of our new SDK for hardware integration with third party software manufacturers. Our business is committed to becoming the defacto standard for IP Access Control hardware, states Robert Lydic, Global VP of Sales at ISONAS.

ISONAS Inc., a leading Pure IP access control system manufacturer, today announced the company will be launching its new Software Development Kit (SDK) at ASIS International in Dallas, TX. The ISONAS SDK allows a simple integration with the ISONAS Pure IP hardware solutions, giving customers real choice in their access control hardware. An open platform philosophy is nothing new to ISONAS. The company has a long history of integrations and with this significant investment into a modern SDK, ISONAS is furthering its mission to become a global player in open architecture hardware and software.

This comprehensive software development kit from ISONAS, makes it easy to integrate 3rd party access control software with the ISONAS Pure IP hardware families. While other SDKs use low-level, error-prone TCP/IP communication to integrate, the ISONAS SDK platform supports high-level management mechanisms for event management, local discovery, communication and configuration. Using the .NET framework, the ISONAS SDK allows users to customize which features and functions of the ISONAS hardware to implement. With the ISONAS SDK, partners can add choice to their access control hardware solutions and go to market in no time.

ISONAS is extremely excited on the release of our new SDK for hardware integration with third party software manufacturers. Our business is committed to continuing to grow our list of integrated software manufacturers and becoming the defacto standard for IP Access Control hardware, states Robert Lydic, Global VP of Sales at ISONAS. We strongly believe that our SDK will set the standard for ease of use, ease of integration, and significantly reduce development time for implementation. Partners can now create a powerful solution and add the next evolution in access control hardware to their product selection; while benefiting from future proofing their selections, reducing costs and giving them choice in their access control hardware. The ISONAS SDK uses a higher-level protocol; making the connections simple, easy and fast. It also utilizes a standard .NET event subscription model which eliminates the need to build a subscription model for events; in the end saving customers time on development.

ISONAS continues to carry out its mission of becoming the defacto standard for IP access control by bringing a modern SDK with open architecture hardware to the market; while helping partners achieve powerful integrations seamlessly. For further information on the new ISONAS SDK stop by Open Options booth #625 at ASIS International or email sales@isonas.com.

About ISONAS Inc.

Since 1999 ISONAS has been revolutionizing access control with one simple solution and is todays leading manufacturer of Pure IP Access Control hardware. When paired with their industry leading cloud hosted software solutions or 3rd party full featured access control software, a complete access control platform is formed. An ISONAS system provides the perfect product solution for securing facilities while reducing costs and providing all of the advantages that Pure IP technology brings to the door. ISONAS is based in the global technology hub of Boulder, Colorado, and has one goal; to change the global access control market, and provide a product solution that is secure, reliable, trusted, and more technologically advanced than anything before. Today, the company is realizing that vision with the ISONAS solution installed globally in over 30 countries in a wide variety of vertical markets. ISONAS has been recognized as one of Boulder Countys fastest growing companies as well as by industry partners such as Milestone Systems, year after year for its powerful video and access control integration. For more information, visit: http://www.isonas.com or call 800-581-0083.

ISONAS Company Contact:

Melissa Stenger, VP of Product Management & Marketing

ISONAS Inc.

Phone: 303-951-7216

Email: melissas(at)isonas(dot)com

ISONAS PR Contact:

Monique Merhige, President

Infusion Direct Marketing & Advertising, Inc.

Phone: 631-846-1558

Email: monique(at)infusiondirect(dot)com
Wholesale Property Depot (https://paycash4houses.net) is currently buying homes in Jacksonville, Florida that have been damaged by Hurricane Irma.

Our company is right here in Jacksonville, so we know, first hand, what the residents of city are going through, says spokesperson Veronica Hernandez. Some homes have flood damage. Some have minor cosmetic damage, and others have been rendered uninhabitable. A lot of residents are weighing their options right now. Some want to move and some want to stay. Wholesale Property Depot buys houses in any condition  and yes, this includes hurricane damaged homes. Consider selling your hurricane damaged home to us for cash. Its an option that can help you move on or rebuild elsewhere.

The advantage of using a cash home buyer is that the homeowners never have to do any repairs or staging to make the sale. Wholesale Property Depot buys all sorts of homes, from brand new to condemned. With the companys experience in the cash home buying business, it knows that selling a hurricane damaged house might be the only option for the homeowner, but after the trauma of Hurricane Irma, finding cash to fix it up for sale could be impossible. Thanks to Wholesale Property Depot, homeowners can sell without lifting a paintbrush or hammering a nail, even if the house is knee deep in flood waters.

Hurricane Irma was devastating, but life does not stop, says Hernandez. Now its time to decide how to best move your family forward. If selling is on your mind, please get in touch. We buy hurricane damaged homes in any condition, and we look forward to helping you move on quickly with a cash sale for your home, if you so choose.

Should you decide that selling your house quickly for cash is what you want to do after Hurricane Irma, fill out the form at paycash4houses.net, or call 904-531-3113 for a quote. Quotes are hassle-free and non-obligatory, emphasized Hernandez.

About Wholesale Property Depot

Wholesale Property Depot buys houses in Jacksonville, Florida, and we pay you for your house in cash! This means you can get a quick sale no matter what condition the house is in. Free yourself from the nightmare of cleaning, renovating and staging your home, and simply go the new and progressive way to sell your house in Jacksonville  fast, for cash.

Contact Details:

Veronica Hernandez

6001-21 Argyle Forest Blvd. #32244

Jacksonville, FL 32244

Phone: 904-531-3113

Source: Wholesale Property Depot

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Essa Thiry, Business Development

Azadian Group, a commercial lender headquartered in New York City, has announced the opening of a full-time office in downtown Los Angeles, to service existing clients in the Western U.S. and to capitalize on opportunities in California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and the surrounding areas.

We are seeing an ever-increasing amount of business demand west of the Mississippi and we are very excited to establish a foothold in Los Angeles which will serve as a base of operations enabling us to expand in this important and dynamic region, stated Raffi Azadian, CEO of Azadian Group.

The company has also announced that it has hired Essa Thiry to head up the companys business development efforts out of Los Angeles. Essa was most recently managing West Coast business development efforts for Hana Financial, a commercial lender based in New York and L.A.

We are thrilled to have Essa as part of our growing team, especially as we open our first West Coast office and start to focus on building out that territory said Raffi Azadian.

Founded in 2003, Azadian Group provides short-term financing to small and medium businesses. Its solutions have included:



Bridges to third-party financing, M&A or liquidity events

Subordinated stretch pieces and over-advances in conjunction with senior institutional lenders

Interim working capital to improve a business financial condition in preparation for bank/non-bank financing

Azadian Group prides itself on its fast transaction turnaround (as short as 1-2 days from submission) and flexibility with deal terms, repayment structures, collateral mixes and other deal aspects.

For additional information, please visit the companys website at http://www.azadiangroup.com or email to info(at)azadiangroup(dot)com. To reach Essa Thiry directly, email to essa(at)azadiangroup(dot)com.
Representatives with The Creativity Workshop announced today that it will host its spring workshop in Florence.

This will be the second time well teach our workshop in Florence in the spring, said Ceci Glusman, spokeswoman for The Creativity Workshop. We've been teaching it in Florence for 14 years now, but in the summer, so were doing something a little different this year.

The spring workshop will be held March 10-14, 2018.

Glusman explained that the five-day creativity workshop in Florence will meet for three and a half hours per day (from 09:00 AM to 12:30 PM).

Attendees will have the rest of the time to meander around this breathtaking city, home of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli, Glusman said.

Class, according to Glusman, will be held at Hotel Montebello Splendid, located in a peaceful residential area, just a few blocks from the Arno River and the Opera House, and a 15 minute walk to the Duomo (Florence's magnificent Gothic cathedral) and the famous Uffizi Gallery.

Many people who have taken the Workshop say that it was a transformative experience, helping them to write their books, start new companies, complete long overdue projects, transition to rewarding retirements, and change the way they look at life, Glusman said, before adding, While your experiences and surroundings in Florence will ignite your imagination, the creativity exercises we do in class will enhance the way you see this vibrant city.

Heidi Lang, teacher of gifted students at Falls Church City Public Schools in Falls Church, VA, said she highly recommends the workshop in Florence.

The Florence Creativity Workshop taught me the value of sharing my ideas and work with others, Lang stressed. The observation exercises had me noticing all sorts of new things. In the past my rolls of film might have been filled with the typical pictures of the Duomo. The Workshop changed all that. Now I've captured on film, or in writing, or simply in my memory, images of the delicate turn of a leaf, the petals of a hydrangea on a terra cotta terrace, the contrast of a freshly fallen lemon on a bed of grass.

Glusman noted that The Creativity Workshop chose Florence to be one of its worldwide locations due to its one-of-a-kind inspirational offerings.

Renowned for its art and architecture, Florence is filled with sights that are sure to spark your imagination, whether you're admiring the works of Renaissance painters, strolling across the Ponte Vecchio, or soaking in the scene over a delicious meal or some refreshing gelato in one of the city's many piazzas, Glusman said.

For more information, please visit http:creativityworkshop.com/whoweare and http://www.creativityworkshop.com/faq.

About The Creativity Workshop

The Creativity Workshop is based in New York City and is taught around the world.

The Creativity Workshop was established in 1993 by educator and writer Shelley Berc and multimedia artist Alejandro Fogel. The organization is dedicated to teaching individuals and groups about creative processes.

Contact Details:

The Creativity Workshop

One Columbus Place

40th Floor Suite N40F

New York, NY 10019

Tel: (212) 203-3252

Email: questions(at)creativityworkshop.com

Source: The Creativity Workshop
eXact handheld spectrophotometer At Labelexpo, we will be showing how eXact along with ColorCert help validate that a printer has calibrated its processes to G7 and PSO guidelines and can monitor print quality moving forward to ensure it stays in compliance.

X-Rite Incorporated, a global leader in color science and technology, and its subsidiary Pantone LLC, today unveiled new versions of ColorCert Suite 3.0 process control software and the award-winning eXact handheld spectrophotometer. Both releases support all G7 and PSO metrics and guide operators in determining whether printed output is compliant with those guidelines. The new products, combined with X-Rites InkFormulation Software, offer commercial printers and packaging converters an integrated, end-to-end solution for managing color consistency in a G7 or PSO process workflow. X-Rite and Pantone will showcase the new products in the Esko stand #3C50 at Labelexpo, September 25-28 in Brussels.

A growing number of brand owners are investigating extended color gamut printing or CMYK plus Orange, Violet and Green (CMYK +OGV) as a way to achieve more than 90 percent of brand colors using process printing. In addition, brand owners, especially those in North America and Asia, are requiring G7 and/or PSO compliance from labels and packaging converters as a way to ensure consistent color across printing processes. G7 provides a structure that guides process print to achieve a common appearance for output across presses, printing technologies and production sites. Adopting the framework can help printers and converters meet brand owner requirements while increasing press uptime and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

At Labelexpo, we will be showing how eXact along with ColorCert help validate that a printer has calibrated its processes to G7 and PSO guidelines and can monitor print quality moving forward to ensure it stays in compliance, said Ray Cheydleur, Printing and Imaging Product Portfolio Manager, X-Rite. With this solution, converters can provide their customers with real-time ColorCert Scorecard data that confirms compliance with these brand owners specifications, speeding approval processes and often eliminating the need for expensive and time consuming on-site press checks.

Operators can now quickly measure output with the X-Rite eXact and export the data to ColorCert Pressroom for immediate G7 or PSO compliance determination. The new ColorCert software provides guidance as to how to quickly address any issues, including adjustments to density or ink strength using the BestMatch feature. By integrating X-Rites InkFormulation Software to this color workflow, operations can also ensure accurate ink formulations, validating the quality of inks upon receipt, as well as quickly creating ink recipes, including the use of leftover inks to create spot colors when required.

New Interface Improvements in eXact

The new release of eXact features many user interface enhancements. Operators can now choose one-step setup for G7 and PSO jobs for an 86% performance improvement over previous tools. A new quick menu tab on the front screen offers easy access to the most commonly used features in eXact. This includes one-click access to the Density/TVI tool for CMYK print processes and the L*a*b* tool for spot colors. X-Rite eXact still offers an enhanced mode for access to advanced features for power users, making it a flexible instrument for operators of all skill levels.

While print consultants and other technical stakeholders require access to in-depth G7 and PSO metrics, a majority of press operators only need tools to quickly help them determine whether print output is compliant, and guidance on how to correct any color problems, continued Cheydleur. This latest release of eXact makes it easy to measure against G7 and PSO targets. Operators no longer need to manually select each job using multiple clicks. Now the instrument guides the user through the process automatically in one step.

For more information about X-Rite solutions visit http://www.xrite.com/.

About X-Rite

Founded in 1958, X-Rite Incorporated is a global leader in the science and technology of color and appearance. With its wholly owned subsidiary Pantone, X-Rite employs more than 800 people in 11 countries. The companys corporate headquarters are located in Grand Rapids, Mich., with regional headquarters in Europe and Asia and service centers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. X-Rite Pantone offers a full range of solutions used by manufacturers, retailers, printers, photographers and graphic design houses to achieve precise management and communication of color and appearance throughout their processes. X-Rite Pantone products and services are recognized standards in the printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles and medical industries. For further information, please visit http://www.xrite.com. For the latest news, information and conversations, connect with X-Rite on LinkedIn, Vimeo, Twitter, and Facebook.

About Pantone

Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, has been the worlds color authority for nearly 50 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers paint and designer-inspired products and services for consumers. More information is available at http://www.pantone.com. For the latest news, trends, information and conversations, connect with Pantone on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

2017 X-Rite, Inc. All rights reserved. X-Rite is a registered trademark of X-Rite, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. PANTONE and other Pantone trademarks are the property of Pantone LLC.  2017. All rights reserved.
We required a solution that covered the strategic elements of real estate planning and supported the execution of our plan." - Rajesh Chhablani, SVP Real Estate, Store Design & Construction at Tailored Brands

Tailored Brands, Inc. (NYSE: TLRD), a recognized leader in mens tailored apparel operating over 1,400 locations in the U.S. and Canada, has selected Tangos Strategic Store Lifecycle Management Solution to facilitate all aspects of their real estate strategy and store development activities needed to support growth of the companys iconic brands, including Mens Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Joseph Abboud, Moores Clothing for Men and K&G. Tailored Brands has licensed Tangos Market Planning & Site Selection, Program & Project Management, Lease Administration and Facilities Maintenance products.

While leveraging technology to manage our real estate and store development processes is not new to Tailored Brands, existing tools were not meeting our requirements and we wanted to explore the next generation of solutions, explains Rajesh Chhablani, SVP Real Estate, Store Design & Construction at Tailored Brands. We required a solution that covered the strategic elements of real estate planning and supported the execution of our plan. We also sought a partner with deep industry knowledge and experience, and a user friendly, innovative product. Not only did Tango meet all of these requirements, they could also get us up and running faster and more cost-effectively.

An important consideration for Tailored Brands was ensuring compliance with the new lease standards put forth by FASB. Tangos lease accounting software is unique in the marketplace, in that unlike other solutions that will require retrofitting to ensure compliance, Tangos lease accounting functionality was developed with compliance as part of the foundation.

Being selected by a sophisticated company like Tailored Brands, who was an early adopter of store lifecycle management solutions more than 10 years ago, further demonstrates that the Tango platform is the next generation of strategic store lifecycle management, says Pranav Tyagi, Tangos President & CEO. Taking a step beyond the functionality we built into our software, we sought independent verification from a top accounting firm that the lease accounting calculations in our solution are consistent with FASB Accounting Standards and International Accounting Standards Board requirements. We are the only company in the market that has successfully done so, which is an important distinction.

Tangos Total Solution is unique in an industry that typically offers software which only addresses a portion of the real estate lifecycle. Companies like Tailored Brands see the value in a single solution that crosses all the departments involved in real estate strategy and store development execution, facilitates smarter decision making and avoids the information silos which inevitably occur with disjointed solutions.

About Tailored Brands

Tailored Brands, Inc. is a leading authority on helping men dress for work, special occasions and everyday life. We serve our customers through an expansive omni-channel network that includes over 1,400 locations in the U.S. and Canada as well as our branded e-commerce websites. Our brands include Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Joseph Abboud, Moores Clothing for Men and K&G. We also operate an international corporate apparel and workwear group consisting of Dimensions, Alexandra and Yaffy in the United Kingdom and Twin Hill in the United States.

About Tango

Tangos purpose-built retail solution unites customer and location predictive analytics with online GIS and store development execution into a single platform. The Tango team has worked with over 500 leading retail and restaurant companies, and brings that knowledge and those best practices to Strategic Store Lifecycle Management. Our cloud-based SaaS and mobile solutions are used across more than 140 countries by concepts ranging from a few dozen locations to large global brands with more than 40,000 stores. For more information, visit http://www.tangoanalytics.com.
AvePoint, the Microsoft Cloud expert, today will reveal GroupHub, its new, simple interface that complements Office 365 Groups. The reveal will take place during the Microsoft Ignite conference being held until September 29 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. GroupHub makes it easy to access all Office 365 Groups and services from a single view. Throughout Ignite, attendees can visit the AvePoint booth (#301) to receive a demo of GroupHub.

About AvePoint GroupHub

AvePoint designed GroupHub as a central point of access for all Office 365 Groups and group collaborative tools in Office 365 such as related files, conversations, calendars, SharePoint sites, Planner boards, and notebooks. Two clicks give the user access to Group functionality without having to leave the GroupHub application, which can be added to and accessed from the Office 365 App Launcher. In addition to accessing these resources, users can review and modify group memberships or create new groups from within the application. GroupHub has a responsive web design that enables accessibility from any device on any platform.

GroupHub includes three features that help users organize their Office 365 Groups  tags, filters, and hubs. Users can tag groups with meaningful labels so they can find them later, while built-in filters help the user find groups they own or are members of. The hub feature allows users to save curated lists of groups for easy future access.

GroupHub also integrates with AvePoint Governance Automation Online (GAOL). For organizations using GAOL, integration with GroupHub provides an alternate provisioning mechanism for Office 365 Groups, and allows administrators to create a more governed approach with controls such as approval processes, lifecycle and inactivity tracking, flexible naming conventions, and additional metadata for tracking groups after creation. For those who prefer the native Office 365 management controls, GroupHub offers a simple user interface for configuring what are otherwise PowerShell-only Office 365 Group settings.

GroupHub is intended for organizations that are seeing great adoption of Office 365 Groups and now need more advanced tools for both admins and end users to access, navigate, and manage them. Business users can focus on being productive rather than hunting for their groups, and admins can implement just the right level of control and management based on their organizational needs. Were excited about how GroupHub will support sustainable Office 365 Groups adoption, said John Peluso, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy at AvePoint.

AvePoint at Microsoft Ignite Booth #301

Peluso will be among the experts at Microsoft Ignite demoing GroupHub, Governance Automation Online, Cloud Recordsan online tool that automates activities associated with information classification, retention and disposal, and auditing and physical records managementand the latest release of Cloud Backup, now with unlimited backup.

Learn more about AvePoint activities at Ignite. For more information on Microsoft Ignite 2017, please visit the event website.

About AvePoint

AvePoint is the Microsoft Cloud expert. Over 15,000 companies and 5 million cloud users trust AvePoint to accelerate the migration, management, and protection of their Office 365 and SharePoint data. AvePoints integrated cloud, hybrid, and on-premises software solutions are enhanced by 24/7 support and award-winning services. Organizations across six continents and all industries rely on AvePoint to ease transition to the Microsoft Cloud, increase IT administrator productivity, and satisfy governance and compliance objectives.

A four-time Microsoft Partner of the Year, AvePoint has been named to the Inc. 500|5000 six times and the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 five times. AvePoint is a Microsoft Global ISV Partner, a Microsoft Gold Partner in Application Development, Cloud Platform, Cloud Productivity, and Collaboration and Content, and a US Government GSA provider via strategic partnerships. Founded in 2001, AvePoint is privately held and headquartered in Jersey City, NJ.

AvePoint Media Contact

Vanessa Copeland  Senior Public Relations Manager

Tel: 804.372.8080 ext. 3229

Email: vanessa.copeland(at)avepoint(dot)com

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.
eGambit Endpoint Security The French company TEHTRIS joins the world's top 10 Endpoint Security with its product "eGambit"

After a busy summer in Silicon Valley, a panel of independent experts and distinguished executives announced, via Enterprise Security Magazine, the world's Top 10 cybersecurity solutions in 2017, to protect IT workstations and servers from current threats. This effectively raised the French solution called "eGambit" in today's best "Endpoint Security" software.



The "eGambit" product protects IT infrastructures from America to Asia, through the Middle East and Europe, its scientific cradle. "eGambit" detects and neutralizes advanced cybersecurity threats: abnormal behaviors, privilege escalations, lateral movements, stealthy and persistent intrusions, vulnerability exploitations, specific offensive techniques (powershell, malicious Office documents, ransomwares). These smart sensors complete the action of traditional antiviruses that painfully struggle with cybercriminals.



One of the eGambit components, its Artificial Intelligence, obtained the Award for the best solution in 2016 against real-time threats via an independent third party in Beijing. In seconds, this AI identifies attacks such as the Wannacry ransomware, or the sabotage weapons that were able to stop electricity in Ukraine.



TEHTRIS, an innovative French cybersecurity company, specializes in the fight against cyber threats, in particular with its flagship product "eGambit", the only Cyber Defense Arsenal. In the US, TEHTRIS is hosted by the FrenchTechHub in San Francisco, California.

Enterprise Security Mag: TOP 10 Endpoint Security
UAF students and Crowley scholarship recipients, from left: Kendrick Hantala, Carlton Hantala, Keenan Sandersen and Gabriel Smith

Crowley Fuels announced today that it has awarded $10,000 in Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships to four University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) students: Keenan Sanderson, Gabe Smith and twin brothers Carlton and Kendrick Hautala. Chosen for their academic achievements and meeting other scholarship criteria, each student received $2,500 toward his tuition from Crowley.

Crowleys financial support, administered by the UAF College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, can be used towards any area of study, and preference is given to recipient students from Crowley-served rural communities throughout the state, including Aniak, Bethel, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Ft. Yukon, Galena, Glennallen, Hooper Bay, Juneau, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kotzebue, Naknek, Nenana, Nome, Palmer, St. Marys, Talkeetna, Valdez and Wasilla.

"Crowley is proud to contribute to the academic success of these highly-motivated UAF students, said Crowleys Jasper Hall, vice president, highway petroleum distribution. Established in 2010, this program continues to support students who are committed to pursuing higher education as a means to help their communities and Alaska. Each of these recipients is passionate about maintaining our states natural resources, an endeavor that Crowley is pleased to support.

Sanderson, class of 2019, of Ketchikan, is pursuing a fisheries and ocean sciences degree, and is next considering earning a masters degree and possibly a doctoral degree in a related field. A current member of the American Fisheries Society, he has also participated in two internships, including one with the Hydaburg Cooperative Association, to research sockeye salmon escapement from hatcheries. He intends to take part in an undergraduate research program with the Deer Mountain Hatchery in Ketchikan to explore fishery feeding strategies and efficiencies. After he completes his academic studies, Sanderson plans to pursue a career in the Alaska fisheries industry.

Smith, class of 2019, of Nome, is majoring in wildlife biology with a minor in fisheries. He said his academic pursuits, as well as his experience as a fisheries technician for Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, are preparing him for his goal of a future career with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Smith also has a passion for hunting and fly fishing, and is working towards earning his private pilots license, which he says will allow him to more readily conduct wildlife surveys.

Carlton Hautala, class of 2018, of Kwethluk (near Bethel), is currently pursuing a fisheries degree as well as his private pilots license. Prior to attending the University, he earned college credits through the Rural Alaska Honors Institute and the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, and for the past four summers has worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, where he was recently promoted to crew leader for the Lower Kuskokwim River Tagging project. After graduation, Hautala is considering a career as a fisheries biologist along the Kuskokwim River or a wildlife enforcement officer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Bethel or Fairbanks, locations that allow him to maintain his subsistence lifestyle.

Kendrick Hautala, class of 2018, also of Kwethluk, is pursuing a natural resource management degree at UAF. Before attending the university, Hautala also took advantage of educational summer sessions offered by the Rural Alaska Honors Institute and the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program for college credits, allowing him to develop his career opportunities in resource management. After graduation, he intends to settle down near his home in the Yukon Delta area, or possibly Juneau or Sitka, to secure a job managing the regions natural resources.

# # #

About Crowley in Alaska

Crowley is a leader in the Alaska fuel industry, providing marine and highway transportation, distribution and sales of petroleum products to more than 280 communities across Alaska. Crowley has made substantial investments in new equipment  including vessels, trucks and tank trailers  that have helped to achieve higher dependability, productivity and safety, key factors for Crowley Fuels being awarded the Alaska Safe Truck Fleet of the Year 4 out of the last 5 years. Our fleet of double-hulled marine vessels sets the standard for safety and environmental stewardship in Alaska. To learn more about Crowley in Alaska, visit: http://www.crowley.com/What-We-Do/Alaska-Fuel-Sales-and-Distribution/Overview

To learn more about Crowley Maritime Corporation, the 125-year-old, privately held company providing project solutions, transportation and logistics services around the world, please visit: http://www.crowley.com.
Now that the $100-million US 150 road widening project is slated to move forward, Mooresville property and business owners in its path are starting to receive offers from the NCDOT for their property.

If history is any guide, many of these offers may amount to less than what their property is worth, say former NCDOT attorneys at the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm.

The lawyers suggest that owners may want to exercise their eminent domain rights  one of which is the ability to negotiate for a second check.

Exploring this second check approach to try to reach maximum fair value for property is among the topics scheduled to be discussed at this educational seminar, Thursday evening, October 19th, at 7 P.M. at the Hampton Inn Mooresville.

Attorney Jason Campbell warns property owners to be careful when negotiating with the state implementing a project of this size and scope.

Homeowners receive a very official offer and think that is the law for what they are able to receive, Campbell said. If an offer has been made, there may be a more complete and satisfactory offer to be gained through reappraisal and negotiations.

Second Check Approach

Property owners whose land or businesses are targeted for acquisition will eventually receive an offer from the state. Just like any other real estate negotiation, the owner does not have to accept that offer. If the owner chooses not to accept the offer, the state will still acquire the property and deposit the amount of the original offer with the County Clerk for the owner.

This is where the NC Eminent Domain Law Firms second check approach comes in. In most cases, the property owner is then free to pursue a potentially better, fairer arrangement, without losing the first offer.

If continued negotiations are successful, the property owner will receive a second check in addition to the first offer. If continued negotiations do not change the offer, the owner still has the first offer.

We dont like it when we see property owners get less money than they should, simply because they didnt know the full extent of their rights, said Stan Abrams, also a former NCDOT attorney with the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm.

The NC Eminent Domain Law Firm will host a free informational session on Thursday, October 19th at The Hampton Inn Mooresville (119 Gallery Center Drive, Mooresville, NC 28117) to answer property and business owners questions. Those questions typically include:



For more information about the meetings, please call the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm at 1-877-393-4990.

About:

A division of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm is dedicated solely to representing property owners throughout North Carolina, who may be impacted by eminent domain law. The NC Eminent Domain Law Firm is led by attorneys Stan Abrams and Jason Campbell, both of whom previously worked as Assistant Attorneys General for the North Carolina Department of Justice in the Transportation Section, where they litigated condemnation cases for the NCDOT. They have over 25 years of combined experience working exclusively on eminent domain cases. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin has the legal resources of 43 attorneys and is based in Durham, North Carolina, with 13 additional offices throughout the state to serve its clients.

Contact Information:

Stan Abrams

1-877-393-4990

NC Eminent Domain Law Firm

1001 Morehead Square Drive

Suite 350

Charlotte, NC 28203
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.

Beth Taylor Wilson is a member of the leadership committee for 350.org Montana.
We are dedicated to providing the highest level of customer experience in the third party maintenance market.

Zensar Technologies, a leading digital solutions and technology services company that specializes in partnering with global organizations across industries on their Digital transformation journey, announced today it has been mentioned in the Gartner Competitive Landscape: Partnering with Third Party Maintenance Providers for Data Center and Network Maintenance Cost Optimization [G00327262] authored by Gartner analyst Christine Tenneson.

Zensar is listed in the hardware support market landscape of providers as a Multi-Vendor Support (MVS) provider, defined as a hybrid of resale/collaborative/TPM service providers. The report provides an analysis of competitive trends, market players and the future of competition in the TPM market.

According to Gartner analyst Christine Tenneson, By 2020, the number of TPM-related RFI/RFPs that are multiplatform/multivendor will increase by 35% as TPM becomes more mainstream and is no longer considered a point solution for servers, storage or networking.

Commenting on this citation, Sandeep Kishore, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Zensar Technologies stated, We feel this mention for the second year in a row is indicative of our 30 year track record of delivering flexible, customized multi-vendor services that not only improve systems reliability, availability and performance; but also provide significant cost savings. This helps clients remain competitive in todays marketplace. Zensar is committed to helping our clients along their digital transformation path, enabling them to realize Return on Digital.

Pinaki Kar, President and Head, Infrastructure Management Services & Cloud Business, Zensar Technologies added, We are dedicated to providing the highest level of customer experience in the third party maintenance market. As clients drive further towards digitization across their enterprises, Zensar continues to develop customer-centric digital solutions. For example, this year we launched a fully integrated eSupport mobile app engineered to enable client access to world-class support functionality with the ease and agility of a truly digital experience  anytime, anywhere and anyplace.

Linda York, Senior Vice President Multivendor Services, Zensar Technologies stated, As one of the largest independent providers of global third party maintenance in todays rapidly growing market, we have long standing relationships with some of the worlds most recognizable brands. We feel this inclusion reflects our proven track record and commitment to service excellence in supporting complex, highly available, multi-platform data center environments across the globe.

Zensar offers three customized Multi-Vendor Support (MVS) packages; MVS, MVS+ and MVSlifecycle which provide enterprises:



Continuous improvement from proactive alerting to trending analysis through state of the art technology, enabling higher visibility into IT infrastructure

Comprehensive asset tracking and reporting

Dedicated account management team, on-site field engineering, remote technical support teams and a world class global logistics organization

Flexible SLA model and agile delivery methodology to meet the unique needs of every organization

eSuppport mobile app for convenient mobile access to comprehensive case management, field engineering and technical support

Zensar has also recently been recognized in Gartners June 2017 Magic Quadrant for Data Center Outsourcing and Infrastructure Utility Services, North America [G00313892] authored by Gartner analysts William Maurer, David Edward Ackerman, Mark D. Ray, Stephanie Stoudt-Hansen, Robert Naegle and Leah Ciavardini. A complimentary copy of the full report is available from Zensar by visiting http://bit.ly/2u6EakE.

Source: Gartner Competitive Landscape: Partnering with Third Party Maintenance Providers for Data Center and Network Maintenance Cost Optimization [G00327262], July 7, 2017, analyst Christine Tenneson.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Zensar (http://www.zensar.com)

Zensar is a leading digital solutions and technology services company that specializes in partnering with global organizations across industries on their Digital Transformation journey. A technology partner of choice, backed by a strong track record of innovation; credible investment in Digital solutions; and unwavering commitment to client success, Zensar s comprehensive range of digital and technology services and solutions enables its clients achieve new thresholds of business performance. Zensar, with its experience in delivering excellence and superior client satisfaction through myriad technology solutions, is uniquely positioned to help its clients surpass challenges they face running their existing business most efficiently, helping in their legacy transformation, and planning for business expansion and growth through innovative and digital ways.

Follow Zensar via:

Zensar Blog: http://www.zensar.com/blogs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Zensar

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zensar-technologies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zensar

About RPG Enterprises (http://www.rpggroup.com)

Mumbai headquartered RPG Enterprises is one of India's largest industrial conglomerates. With over 15 companies in its fold, the group has a strong presence across core business sectors such as Infrastructure, Tyre, IT and Specialty. Established in 1979, RPG Enterprises is one of Indias fastest growing business groups with a turnover in excess of Rs 22,000 crore.

PR Contacts (Global Headquarters - India):

Lavanya Jayaram

Chief Marketing Officer

Zensar Technologies

+91 9922243544

Aradhana Prabhu

Public Relations

Zensar Technologies

+91-9765999749

PR Contact  (US)

Julie Machnik

Director of Marketing, US

Zensar Technologies

Tel: +508 621 4753

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, withdrawal of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.
Nissar Darmani, PhD, with his team, from left: Weixia Zhong, PhD, Denise Rodriguez, Research Technician, and Denise Henry, second-year MSBS student. (Jeff Malet, WesternU) The findings of this proposal will not only help patients suffering from the evoked nausea and vomiting, but will also introduce several new classes of broad-spectrum antiemetics, which will lower the cost of prevention of nausea and vomiting in diverse patient communities."

Nissar A. Darmani, PhD, has been awarded a record WesternU research grant of more than $1.5 million to help cancer patients suffering from chemotherapy-evoked nausea and vomiting. Dr. Darmani is Associate Dean of Basic Medical Sciences in the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP).

The five-year grant is from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) arm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is to investigate vomiting signals and crosstalk within brainstem and gut nerves as well as cells responsible for delayed-phase vomiting in the course of cancer chemotherapy with cis-platinum.

The findings of this proposal will not only help patients suffering from the evoked nausea and vomiting, but will also introduce several new classes of broad-spectrum antiemetics, which will lower the cost of prevention of nausea and vomiting in diverse patient communities suffering from cancer, HIV or gastrointestinal disorders, Darmani said.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death globally and was responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. The total annual economic cost of cancer worldwide in 2010 was $1.16 trillion, according to the World Health Organization.

Expenses associated with the prevention of the first and delayed phases of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are costly, especially inpatient hospitalizations. Strategies to reduce CINV can help to reduce health care utilization and costs, according to Burke, T.A., Wisniewski, T. & Ernst, F.R. Support Care Cancer (2011) 19: 131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0797-x

This is wonderful news. Not only has Dr. Darmani been awarded a major NIH grant, but his work may will bring a long-sought remedy for the stubbornly awful syndromes of nausea, particularly as often afflict cancer patients, said WesternU President Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD. It is noteworthy he has brought in the largest homegrown grant in the history of WesternU, so such an achievement is all the more impressive in the current NIH era of quite constricted funds.

Darmani believes his research project earned NIH funding because of its strong preliminary data, as well as his recent publications deciphering the sequence of intracellular emetic signals for early-phase cisplatin-evoked vomiting.

Serotonin as the major vomit neurotransmitter for the induction of early-phase has been known since the late 1970s. Cisplatin causes the release of serotonin in the gut, which subsequently activates serotonin 5-HT3 receptors present on vagal afferent nerves in the gut, leading to activation of brainstem machinery to evoke vomiting.

However, the ensuing biochemical events occurring inside nerves/cells in both the brain and gut to produce the early-phase vomiting remained unknown until 2014, when Darmanis laboratory published the sequence of emetic events in the least shrew model of vomiting.

The cost of the best antiemetic (anti-vomiting) regimen (Akynzeo) containing a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (palonosetron) and a substance P neurokinin NK1 receptor antagonist (netupitant) is currently more than $500 per pill in the U.S., according to Darmani.

Darmanis current research objective is to define the vomit signal transduction pathways for the delayed phase that occurs following release of substance P, and subsequent activation of NK1R in the central (brainstem) and peripheral (enterochromaffin cells in the gut) emetic loci in the least shrew model of emesis.

He suggests that some intracellular NK1 receptor emetic signals may overlap with those of the serotonergic 5-HT3 receptor system. The attained results from his future experiments are expected to:

1 Reveal downstream PLC signals play a major role in NK1 receptor-evoked vomiting.

2 Show calcium mobilization is necessary for the evoked vomiting.

3 Identify a point(s) of emetic signal convergence whose antagonism/blockade could lead to the development of new classes of highly potent antiemetics against diverse causes of vomiting.

4 Availability of diverse classes of antiemetics will bring the cost of vomit prevention down,

5 Explain why NK1 receptor antagonists behave as broad-spectrum antiemetics.

Based upon future results, potential cancer chemotherapeutics that do not modulate the identified emetic signals could be further developed clinically, which would save time, effort and research dollars in the quest for development of improved cancer therapeutics, Darmani said.

This NIH grant research award represents scientific peer recognition of the creative series of studies Dr. Darmani has proposed to understand the critical brain circuitry and neurochemical pathways underlying cancer chemotherapy-induced emesis, said Steven Henriksen, PhD, Vice President for Research and Biotechnology at WesternU.

This will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying a debilitating side effect of chemotherapy in cancer patients, and may potentially lead to better treatments and compliance strategies for human cancer patients," he said.

Dr. Darmanis path to investigating evoked vomiting and nausea in cancer patients

Darmani, originally from Afghanistan, left the United Kingdom and immigrated to the US in 1988 to pursue postdoctoral research in the field of drug abuse at Medical College of Virginia (MCV).

Reading published literature, Darmani found that physicians treating marijuana-smoking cancer patients experienced less vomits than the general cancer population when treated with cisplatin-like cancer chemotherapeutics. This finding led to the idea that marijuana may have antiemetic effects.

In 1991 Dr. Darmani accepted a faculty position in the department of pharmacology at A.T. Still University (ATSU), Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) in Missouri. There he came across a laboratory-bred colony of least shrews and found that the species can also vomit. Least shrews are a small species about the size of the human thumb, and live in the wild in the Midwest.

Darmani began to characterize vomit circuits in this tiny species. He was the first investigator to define the receptor mechanism by which the major psychoactive component of the marijuana plant, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, produces its antiemetic effect against cisplatin-evoked vomiting in the shrew. To pursue his marijuana anti-vomit research at KCOM, Darmani obtained several RO1 grants through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which are major divisions of the National Institute of Health (NIH). One of his funded RO1 grants for more than $800,000 was transferred to COMP/WesternU upon his arrival in 2005.

RO1 grants are highly revered sources of extramural funding for research institutions in the United States.

About Western University of Health Sciences

Western University of Health Sciences (http://www.westernu.edu), located in Pomona, Calif. and Lebanon, Ore., is an independent nonprofit health professions university, conferring degrees in biomedical sciences, dental medicine, health sciences, medical sciences, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine. WesternU is home to the Patient Care Center, where the best in collaborative health care services is offered. The Chronicle of Higher Education named WesternU a Great College to Work For in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter speaks at Museum Opening The Oneida Nation is pleased to partner with the Museum of the American Revolution to present our peoples role in the founding of America with this film premiere, especially on a day that so often omits Indigenous People altogether.

On Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 9, which has recently gained momentum as Indigenous Peoples Day, the newly opened Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia will hold a premiere for its film about the Oneida Indian Nations unique role in Americas history People of the Standing Stone. Narrated by Academy Award-winner Kevin Costner and directed by award-winning documentarian Ric Burns, the films premiere will be paired with a panel discussion on how the roles of many of our countrys multiethnic ancestors have often been misrepresented inor altogether excluded fromthe telling of our nations history.

In an increasingly diverse country, it is more critical than ever for people today and future generations to learn about and appreciate Americas multicultural roots and history, said Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter. The Oneida Nation is pleased to partner with the Museum of the American Revolution to present our peoples role in the founding of America with this film premiere, especially on a day that so often omits Indigenous People altogether.

At 6 p.m. on Oct. 9, the Museum will present a special showing of the 25-minute film. The documentary traces the history of the Oneida Nation and how it stood in solidarity with General George Washington to help America forge its independence during the Revolutionary War. The film also explores how, despite that history, the Oneida peoples land was slowly appropriated by the federal government and European settlers.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion entitled Our Shared History: Lifting Up Lesser Known Stories of our Nations Founding. Panelists include Kevin Gover, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian; Ray Halbritter, Oneida Nation Representative, Nation Enterprises CEO, and a Museum Board Member; Rosalyn J. McPherson, president of The ROZ Group, which managed community relations and oversaw historical content for The Presidents House Project in Philadelphia, among many others; and Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, the Museums Vice President of Collections, Exhibitions and Programming. It will be moderated by Sara Lomax-Reese, President and CEO of WURD 900-AM.

Tickets to the screening and discussion are $15 for general admission, or $5 for Museum members and students (must show ID on site), and can be purchased here. The Museums exhibits will remain open until the screening at 6 p.m. A printed gallery guide highlighting Native American artifacts and exhibits throughout the Museum will also be available.

On Monday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., ahead of the films screening, dancers from the Oneida Indian Nation will perform traditional Haudenosaunee social dances, incorporating drumbeats and chants, in authentic dress in the Museums Patriots Gallery. Darren Bonaparte, a member of the Mohawk community of Ahkwesahsne will also perform in the Patriots Gallery on Saturday, Oct. 7, Sunday, Oct. 8, and Monday, Oct. 9.



The Museum showcases personal stories of the diverse range of individuals who were part of establishing our nation, including women, free and enslaved people of African descent, and Native peoples, including the Oneida Nation. The entire second-floor atrium at the Museum is named for the Oneida Indian Nation, and a prominent multimedia gallery, complete with recreated settings and recreated recordings of Nation discussions, pays homage to the rich historical account of the Oneida Nations heritage.

The Museum of the American Revolution gives voice to the lesser-known people of our nations founding and explores the stories that have often gone untold, said Museum President and CEO Michael Quinn. History is rarely simple and it is a disservice to all of us to gloss over the pieces that dont fit in with a desired narrative. We invite visitors to wrestle with those complexities in our nations history, many of which are still present today.

About the Museum of the American Revolution

The Museum of the American Revolution explores the dynamic story of the American Revolution using its rich collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, letters, diaries, and works of art. Immersive galleries, theater experiences, and recreated historical environments bring to life the events, people, and ideals of our nations founding and engage people in the history and continuing relevance of the American Revolution. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, Carpenters Hall, and Franklin Court, the Museum serves as a portal to the regions many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit http://www.amrevmuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.

About the Oneida Indian Nation

The Oneida Indian Nation is a federally recognized Indian nation in Central New York. A founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Six Nations or Iroquois Confederacy), the Oneida Indian Nation sided with the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was thanked by Congress and President George Washington for its loyalty and assistance. Today, the Oneida Nation consists of about 1,000 enrolled Members, most of them living in Central New York. The Nations enterprises, which employ more than 4,500 people, include Turning Stone Resort Casino, Yellow Brick Road Casino, the SavOn chain of gas stations and convenience stores, RV Park, three marinas, Indian Country Today Media Network  the premier national multi-media source for American Indian news and information, and Four Directions Productions - a 3D animation HD cinematography studio. Proceeds from these enterprises are used to rebuild the Nations economic base and provide essential services, including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs, to its Members.
Leading with a big, bold, sex-positive brand, Tia celebrates women's right to own their body and own their choices. "At a time when womens health faces so many threats, we believe that user-friendly, low-friction solutions like Tia can bridge access gaps in health information and help women navigate an increasingly complex world of healthcare with confidence."  Carolyn Witte, Co-Founder & CEO

Today, Tia announced $2.5 million in seed financing from Combine, Homebrew, and Compound to further its mission of reimagining womens healthcare through the lens of the millennial female. Leading with a big, bold, sex-positive brand that celebrates women's right to own their body and own their choices, Tia has set out to build a "one-stop-shop" for women's health  unifying the burgeoning, but fragmented market.

Founded by Carolyn Witte and Felicity Yost, Tia launched their first product in June  a free, personal, private womens health advisor app  an answer to the one-size-fits-all WebMD answers common when Google-ing your health. Made with doctors, but designed to feel like chatting with a friend, Tia is a trusted confidante for data-driven birth control recommendations, cycle tracking, and all those sexual health questions that are difficult to say out loud.

Since launching the Tia app in June, Tia has had over 100,000 conversations with women, answering questions from how can I get an IUD covered by my insurance? to what does an abnormal pap smear mean? to how does stress affect my sex drive?. Through a private 1:1 conversation, Tias equal parts sass and science persona shines when making women feel heard, less judged, and less alone.

All too often, women are making healthcare decisions  about birth control, sex, pregnancy, and beyond  from a place of fear, anxiety, and shame," said Co-Founder & CEO, Carolyn Witte. "At a time when womens health faces so many threats, we believe that user-friendly, low-friction solutions like Tia can bridge access gaps in health information and help women navigate an increasingly complex world of healthcare with confidence.

Through the thousands of conversations Tia has each day, weve learned that compassion and making women feel heard is as, if not more important than the information itself," added Co-Founder & Head of Product, Felicity Yost. "Believing that women fundamentally want a relationship  not a disparate set of providers, trackers, and devices that each address a narrow slice of your health  weve designed the entire product around a private 1:1 conversation thats all about cultivating trust.

A message from CEO Carolyn Witte can be found here - https://medium.com/@ask_tia/backed-by-2-5-million-tia-gets-one-step-closer-to-redesigning-womens-health-15665b66b344

ABOUT TIA - Tia is a next-gen women's health platform for millennial women by millennial women. Founded in 2016 by Co-Founder & CEO, Carolyn Witte, formerly at Google Creative Lab, and Co-Founder & Head of Product, Felicity Yost, a former product manager at Bridgewater and Owler, Tia is based in San Francisco, CA. Tia's first product  a personal, private, womens health advisor  is available for iPhone in the U.S. App Store and at http://www.asktia.com
Dr. Edward Hebert I count my blessings daily for the opportunity that the field of dentistry offers me each and every day. The interactions with my patients is what I look forward to the most. The relationships I have with my patients is my most valuable asset. Past News Releases RSS Scott Hannaman, D.D.S. and Edward...

Scott Hannaman, D.D.S. and Edward...

Dr. Edward Hebert is celebrating his 33rd anniversary as a dental practitioner in Lake Charles, LA. I could not imagine doing anything else, said Dr. Hebert. I count my blessings daily for the opportunity that the field of dentistry offers me each and every day. The interactions with my patients is what I look forward to the most. The relationships I have with my patients is my most valuable asset.

During the course of his distinguished thirty-three year career, Dr. Hebert has been active in his local and state dental associations. He also had the pleasure of serving as the president of the Louisiana Dental Association from 2010-2011.

In addition to the Louisiana Dental Association, Dr. Hebert is a member of the Southwest District Dental Association and American Dental Association. He is also active in a variety of civic and volunteer organizations, that include Kiwanis Club of South Lake Charles, Dental Lifeline Network, and Donated Dental Services.

Upon leaving dental school and about to enter private practice 33 years ago, I asked one of my professors at school what was his success to practice. He made a simple comment: Always treat your patients as if they were family. Everything else will take care of itself, noted Dr. Hebert. I Have remembered that to this day and will continue to have respect and compassion for my dental family.

Recently, Dr. Hebert partnered with Dr. Scott Hannaman, who has taken on the legacy and administrative role of the practice. Dr. Hannaman is also a member of the Southwest District Dental Association, Louisiana Dental Association and American Dental Association, and is currently pursuing a fellowship with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry with Dr. Hebert.

As a younger dentist, I am humbled and proud to join an excellent team of oral health professionals, concluded Dr. Hannaman. Dr. Hebert and I enjoy educating ourselves and travel often to hear from some of the best in dental education. I look forward to implementing research-founded technology and methods to our growing dental family care. I will continue Dr. Heberts legacy of putting the patient first and treating them with care and respect.

About Dr. Scott Hannaman and Dr. Edward Hebert, Family Dentistry

Dr. Scott Hannaman and Dr. Edward Hebert serve the residents of Lake Charles and surrounding communities. Their practice offers a full range of dental procedures, including advanced treatments such as same-day crowns and dental implants. They incorporate the latest technology to provide world-class care in a comfortable and relaxed setting. For more information, please call (337) 474-4892, or visit http://www.smhdds.com. The office is located at 1540 Country Club Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
HubStor We are excited about partnering with TransVault because the integration makes it easier for customers to use the Microsoft Azure cloud platform for searchable email retention that is both convenient and secure without the fear of being locked in to another archive - Geoff Bourgeois, CEO HubStor

TransVault, the leading archive migration software vendor, and HubStor, the leading data-aware cloud archive and storage tiering solution, have today announced a technology integration for

secure migration and archiving of email records into the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

The two companies are collaborating to give clients unmatched freedom and flexibility for the long-term preservation of corporate email in Microsoft Azure.

As businesses move their on-premises messaging infrastructure to Microsoft Office 365, in addition to migrating user mailboxes, they must move on-premises email archives. The archive migration process typically uncovers large volumes of data from ex-employees as well as public folders and journal archives.

The TransVault and HubStor partnership enables clients to move their legacy email data into a secure, searchable archive that leverages Microsofts low-cost cloud infrastructure. Clients have the option of hosting the fully-managed storage solution in their Azure account, and the service can run in any Azure region around the world.

By integrating the two technologies, TransVault enables its channel partner network of over 100 service providers around the world to move email workloads with full chain-of-custody into Azure. Unlike legacy email archives, HubStor does not present a lock-in problem because customers have the ability to extract their data easily and can cancel at anytime without penalty.

According to CEO Barney Haye, We are excited to collaborate with HubStor and be a part of providing the next generation of intelligent cloud storage that can truly add value alongside Office 365.

TransVaults integration to HubStor gives customers added assurance that if they change strategy in the future, they can move their email archives out of HubStor and directly into their new preferred destination with full chain-of-custody and in a format that is 100% usable.

Continued Haye, For TransVault customers that might decide to leave HubStor in the future, TransVault will provide an entry-equivalent data migration licence for free, allowing clients or our partners to move the original data directly into a new destination where possible.

In addition to finding a new home in Azure for the legacy archive data, companies can also satisfy their compliance journaling requirements with HubStor. Typically, businesses that must journal messages are surprised to find that Office 365 does not offer support for journal mailboxes. Instead, their Office 365 tenant must journal to an external mailbox. However, with HubStor, TransVaults clients and partners can now meet journaling and eDiscovery requirements alongside Office 365 in Microsoft Azure.

Geoff Bourgeois, CEO at HubStor commented, HubStor includes advanced data governance, WORM compliance, and discovery features that are superior to many of the legacy email archive products, and for a fraction of the cost.

The integrated solution is available today from TransVaults channel partner network.

Continued Bourgeois, We are excited about partnering with TransVault because the integration makes it easier for customers to use the Microsoft Azure cloud platform for searchable email retention that is both convenient and secure without the fear of being locked in to another archive.

Visit http://www.TransVault.com/HubStor for more information.

ABOUT TRANSVAULT

TransVault is an independent software vendor dedicated to helping organizations protect the viability and integrity of their information archives as they move between different platforms and technologies.

Our products build on over 23 years experience with high-end corporate messaging systems and 12 years of implementing and supporting enterprise archiving solutions. This has resulted in a product suite able to address the unique and often very site-specific challenges that can arise during migration.

To date TransVault is behind over 1,500 migration projects, including some of the largest in the world.

Our proven track record and status as a Microsoft Gold Partner, Symantec (now Veritas), IBM and HP partner means you can rely on TransVault to ensure that your email records remain a discoverable asset as your IT strategies and infrastructures change.

TransVault products are available exclusively through a specialized international network of partners that offer a range of bespoke migration services for their customers.

ABOUT HUBSTOR

HubStor is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) for secure cloud archiving of unstructured data. Serving enterprise clients around the globe exclusively from the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, customers use HubStor for searchable cloud backup, secure long-term data retention, ransomware protection, legal hold, Office 365 journaling, seamless file system storage tiering, and WORM compliance storage.

HubStor is a CIOReview 20 Most Promising Azure Solution Provider in 2016, a Microsoft Partner, and a member of the Microsoft Enterprise Cloud Alliance.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Elizabeth Lam

HubStor Inc.

Email / Skype for Business. liz(at)hubstor(dot)net

Steve Bird

TransVault

Email / Skype for Business. steve.bird(at)transvault(dot)com

Tel. +44 3333 407316

Source: HubStor and TransVault Software
WASHINGTON -- President Trump is making us ill. He's also driving us crazy.

Since I wrote last week about the possibility that Trump is literally killing me (in the form of high blood pressure), the reaction has been, as the kids say, sick.

From the left came a flood of responses from people experiencing all manner of symptoms, real or imagined, of what I called Trump Hypertensive Unexplained Disorder: Disturbed sleep. Anger. Dread. Weight loss. Overeating. Headaches. Fainting. Depression. Irritable bowel syndrome. Tightness in the chest. Shortness of breath. Teeth grinding. Stomach ulcer. Indigestion. Shingles. Eye twitching. Nausea. Irritability. Racing pulse. Shaking limbs. Hair loss. Acid reflux. Deteriorating vision. Stroke. Heart attack.

It was a veritable organ recital.

From the other side came a similar profusion of responses, in email, on Facebook and from the cesspool known as Twitter, of people wishing me dead. "Hurry up and die already! .?.?. DO US ALL A FAVOR AND JUST CURL UP AND DIE !!!!!!!!! .?.?. With any luck at all Milback (sic) will succumb. .?.?. just see a dr. You know, Dr Kevorkian." Dozens of Trump supporters delighted in responding by making vulgar references to vaginas, and one wrote to my wife to say it gave him "endless satisfaction" to report that my death is likely.

Then there was somebody under the Twitter handle @deacongfrost: "I HAPPILY KILL YOU."

I wrote the original piece half in jest, but the response showed something deeper: A large number of people reporting stress-reduced illnesses in the Trump era, and another large number of people so consumed by political disagreement that they desire the death of someone who has different views. Clearly, Trump is causing, or at least aggravating, mental-health problems on both sides.

A timely new paper discusses this phenomenon in the Trump era and the challenge it has caused to the mental-health profession, which is moving toward giving political views a more prominent place in psychotherapy. The paper, by New York analyst Matt Aibel, will be published in January in the journal "Psychoanalytic Perspectives." Aibel, a college friend of mine, gave me an advance copy.

"Since the start of Trump's rise to power," Aibel writes, analysts "have become acutely attuned to traumatic arousals" in patients from the political environment. "Several colleagues have shared that many formerly eating disordered patients were retriggered to bulimic episodes that hadn't occurred in many years until Trump's candidacy. ... In the run-up to the election, mental health providers of all stripes were reporting 'a striking number of anxious and depressed clients who are fixated on the election, primarily fearful of Trump.' Since Election Day, such colloquialisms as Trump Slump, Trump Anxiety and Trump Affective Disorder achieved cultural and perhaps even clinical currency (in an informally diagnostic sense, of course) along with increases in reported incidents of bullying" and the like.

Those on the right might label this "Trump Derangement Syndrome," much as I and others detected an "Obama Derangement Syndrome" previously. But the mental trauma caused by politics has reached a point, Aibel argues, where psychoanalysts must rethink how they do things.

"Freudian psychologists had little interest in the political. But the profession is coming to realize that 'the personal' and 'the political' are in reality not distinct," as Aibel puts it. In our current us-vs.-them, zero-sum politics, "dearly held self-representations distort perceptions, alter judgment, resist disconfirming factual evidence and remain impervious to rational argument, a phenomenon well-documented in the political and social science literatures ... and disconcertingly demonstrated by the Trump faithful's clinging to their 'alternative facts.'" Aibel acknowledges the unique difficulty in getting people to examine the unconscious parts of political perceptions, because of the "strong pulls of tribalism and moral certitude," but it must be attempted.

Partisanship drives so much of our lives: where we live, who our friends and spouses are, where we worship and go to school. Mental-health professionals can't expect to understand or help their patients if they don't take into account the socio-political beliefs that determine so much about who we are and how we think.

I hope the new approach works, though I fear that those most likely to subject themselves to psychotherapy are not the ones who send social-media messages wishing for my death.

As the mental-health professionals sort this out, I'll be contemplating the many suggestions helpful readers sent in for treating my own Trump-induced illness: acupuncture, Himalayan herbs, vitamin supplements, yoga, flossing, playing with puppies -- and the most common suggestion, unplugging from the news. If only I could.

Dana Milbank is a columnist for The Washington Post.
This is an expansion of the preexisting travel ban that has spurred fierce legal debates over security, immigration and discrimination.

These African countries are Libya, Somalia and Chad.

The travel ban comes on the day the key portion of President Trumps travel ban, one which bars the issuance of visas to citizens of six majority-Muslim countries, was due to expire.

As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people, Trump wrote in a proclamation announcing the changes for visitors from specific nations. On Twitter, he added: Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet.

An official from the White House said the new restrictions will not affect anyone who already holds a U.S. visa. For those visitors affected by the changed restrictions, the new rules will go into effect Oct. 18.

The Central African country Chad is the latest African country whose citizens will face restrictions on entry to the United States under a controversial and expanded travel ban.

It was added alongside North Korea and Venezuela due to significant terrorist presence in its borders, and for not adequately sharing security-related information with American officials.

Critics have raised an argument about Chad's travel ban taking into consideration the countrys close relationship with Washington, and especially when it comes to regional counterterrorism efforts.

Reports say Chad is positioned at a key strategic point in a region teeming with revolts and terrorism. As such, from the beginning, Chad has been a Key member of the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, a US inter-agency program that helps governments defeat terrorists in the Sahel and West Africa regions.

The US marines and navy personnel have also provided training for Chadian officers, even deploying troops to Chad to help find the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls.
When protests erupted in Ferguson in 2014, St. Louis area law enforcement struggled to keep pace with what quickly became one of the biggest political social media movements of the decade.

According to Twitter, #Ferguson was the most used social activism hashtag within the first 10 years of the platform with more than 27 million tweets.

But while activists spread their message and mastered tools like live-streaming video and sharing photos that characterized protests and the issue of police brutality, local police departments often let the narratives go unanswered on the platforms where they were shared.

Not anymore.

As St. Louis sees a new mass protest movement following the acquittal of former St. Louis police Officer Jason Stockley in the killing of Anthony Lamar Smith, the departments are deploying a proactive social media strategy designed to quash rumors, give constant updates and spread the police viewpoint directly into thousands of social media feeds.

"Were going to tell our own story," said Schron Jackson, public information officer with the St. Louis Police Department, who helps run the social media pages. "We dont want our officers to be mischaracterized, so we have to be their voice."

Tough lessons from Ferguson

"I think Ferguson taught us all something," said Jackson, who has been with the department for 18 years. "I understand what we were missing, so when things happen here thats always my first thought."

A review of police conduct during the 2014 protests by the Department of Justice concluded: The police on the scene in Ferguson had no concept of the effect of social media until it was too late, and all they could do was play catch-up with the massive amounts of data being shared.

For example, the St. Louis county police, the lead agency in the investigation of the shooting of Michael Brown which ignited the protest, waited 23 hours before addressing the incident on social media.

The first Facebook post gave almost no details, but told the public to "please keep watching this page for more information to come on this incident The next update about the incident on the page came 15 days later. Meanwhile, protesters and others on social media quickly shaped the narrative.

The twitter hashtag #handsupdontshoot began to define the shooting, after witnesses claimed they saw an officer shoot Michael Brown while Brown's back was turned and he was attempting to surrender. A review of witness statements by the Department of Justice later disagreed with those early accounts.

There were constant rumors about the protestsspread both about police and the protestersthrough social media.

Claims that officers made arrests for no reason were later debunked by a St. Louis Post-Dispatch photographer. There were tweets claiming a group of protesters looted a McDonald's, when journalists later reported that the store owners had welcomed protesters. The hacker group Anonymous spread private information about a St. Ann Police Department dispatcher who the group claimed was Michael Brown's killer. The posts lead to death threats, but the man had nothing to do with the shooting.

Law enforcement agencies soon began to adapt.

Social media was once an add-on duty for county police, but it became a full-time job about three months after Michael Brown was shot when the department hired Vera Culley as its first social media coordinator.

Culley still handles social media for the department.

"We were losing," Culley said of the time before she was hired. "Social media is where that story happened and we weren't there at the beginning."

Social media during the Stockley protests

The lead police agency during the Stockley protests, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, tweeted more within the first 10 hours of the Stockley verdict than the county did in the first two months after Michael Brown was shot.

The posts are also reaching a bigger audience.

Both the county and city police Facebook likes have more than doubled since the early days of the Ferguson unrest. And they continue to grow.

Since the Stockley verdict was announced Sept. 15, the St. Louis city police Twitter account has gained more than 10,000 followers.

Police posts about the protests have fallen into several categories, each with their own rationale for spreading the police message.

Play-by-play alerts and warnings  Both departments' social media accounts have shared up-to-date alerts about road closures and the status and location of protests, more than in the early days of Ferguson.

They've posted when the departments determine a protest is no longer peaceful and share orders to disperse and warnings of arrest.

The reason behind these posts is simple, according to Jackson: Give the public in the area information for their plans or safety.

Proof of escalation  The departments have also shared images and descriptions of property damage or threats to police from protesters.

Jackson says these posts are shared to give context for when police advance on protesters or use force to disperse a crowd.

City police posted images of broken windows and weapons confiscated.

And both departments have shared posts recounting aggression toward officers, including images of red liquid, bottles and rocks they say were thrown at the police line.

This type of post first became standard procedure during the unrest in Ferguson, said Culley.

"There was a lot of live video coverage, but you would see the police line start moving forward and the tone was that they're moving in and nothing is happening," Culley said. "But there's so much that they're not seeing. There are things being thrown at officers, but the camera doesn't show that."

While the departments view these posts as balancing the narrative, some protest supporters on social media have complained they overemphasize a few instances of violence while protests have been mostly peaceful.

In one example, a tweet by St. Louis County Police included a photo of two spray bottles with the description: "Officers confiscate bottles with unknown chemicals used against police tonight in downtown."

An close-up image of one of the bottles showed it was labeled "apple cider." Many protesters believed it was apple cider vinegar, said to lessen the effects of tear gas used by police.

Activists ridiculed the department claiming the description of "unknown chemicals" over-emphasized the threat.

The county's page did not ignore the complaints.

"If they're using it against officers, it becomes a weapon," the department's Twitter account posted.

The liquid inside the bottles is still being tested by county police. "It was not apple cider," Culley said.

Rumor control  Rumors were rampant in the early days of Ferguson, but police departments have been aggressive this time in debunking false claims.

The clearest example is the city department's response to a rumor that officers were breaking windows in the Central West End and blaming damage on protesters.

It started with a video shared on Facebook the morning of Sept. 16 by documentary filmmaker Chris Phillips, who has been posting regular updates from the protests. Phillips speculated that the video showed a St. Louis police officer breaking a window at Culpeppers restaurant, 900 North Euclid Avenue.

The footage included the sound of glass breaking and the camera swinging to show an officer walking away from the restaurant, but did not show the officer breaking the glass.

The story was shared widely. St. Louis' alt-weekly, the Riverfront Times, published a story about the video with the original headline: "Did Cop Shatter Culpepper's Window During Protest?"

The St. Louis Police Department responded on social media with two surveillance videos showing a protester hurling a chair through the window earlier in the night.

In a tweet directed to the Riverfront Times, the department said: "Presenting facts, not sharing false narrative, is important."

Police later tweeted that the uniformed man in the video was a firefighter who was removing a dangerous piece of broken glass.

Jackson said the city police communications team will post video or photos whenever possible.

"If we have a video to support what were saying, you know we will share that," Jackson said. "People need to see it for themselves because whatever we say, a lot of people won't believe it."

But rumor control and response to complaints has been a regular part of the departments' social media during the protests.

The city police account recently pointed out a digitally manipulated image where a Twitter user added a gun to a St. Louis police officer's hands.

The account also responded to critics who stated that an older woman was knocked down without reason by police during a Friday protest. The police department posted on Twitter that she "failed to obey officers' orders & was charged w/ "Interfering."

On Wednesday night, county police clarified initial reports of mass arrests, including legal observers, at protests on Brentwood Boulevard near the Galleria.

"Clear: no arrests made," the account tweeted less than a half hour after the first report of arrests was posted.

Pro-police stories  Some posts are about support for the department  community members donating snacks and drinks for officers, positive interactions with community members and messages of support from the public.

These posts simply put a human face on police and support officers, Jackson said.

"These officers are human, but on the front lines they aren't able to speak out," said Culley. "But we can."
Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Kushner following Politico's report on Sunday detailing the adviser's use of private email while serving in the White House.

"Before requesting copies or calling for the public release of all official emails you sent or received on your personal email account, I first request that you preserve all official records and copies of records in your custody or control and that you provide the information requested below," Cummings wrote. "Your actions in response to the preservation request and the information you provide in response to this letter will help determine the next steps in this investigation."

Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, set up a private email account in December and has used it since to discuss official government business with fellow administration officials, Politico reported.

Some of those officials included former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, and National Economic Council chairman Gary Cohn.

Though Kushner's lawyer said the adviser "uses his White House email address to conduct White House business," he admitted that Kushner had utilized a personal email account to discuss government business.

"Fewer than 100 emails from January through August were either sent to or returned by Mr. Kushner to colleagues in the White House from his personal email account," the lawyer said. "These usually forwarded news articles or political commentary and most often occurred when someone initiated the exchange by sending an email to his personal rather than his White House address."

"Kushner has adhered to government record-keeping requirements by forwarding all the emails to his account," the lawyer added.

Cummings highlighted a March 8 request that he and former Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz sent to White House Counsel Donald McGahn asking whether any senior-level administration officials used private email accounts to conduct official government business. Cummings' release pointed to an April 11 response from White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short, who said, "There are no senior officials covered by the PRA [Presidential Records Act] with multiple accounts."

"This statement appears to be inaccurate," Cummings wrote. "Although it is possible that Mr. Short was referring to senior officials with multiple official governmental email accounts and that he did not know about your personal email account at the time he wrote this letter to the committee."
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The Mayor of London said the US president is "playing their game" by using a "clash of civilisations" rhetoric.

Khan, a practicing Muslim, urged Trump to "think about what you are saying" when he speaks about the faith.

He also said he was offended by the travel ban to the US on majority-Muslim countries, and the president's offer to make an exception for Khan.

He told a Guardian event at the Labour Party's annual conference on Sunday: "My view was firstly 'Im not exceptional' and secondly 'Think about what you are saying.' Because what you are saying is not dissimilar to what Daesh or so-called IS says.

"They say that there is a clash of civilisations, it is not possible to be a Muslim and a westerner, and the west hates us. And you are inadvertently playing their game, you are helping them."

Khan said that Trump's travel ban, which restricts access to the US from a number of Muslim-majority countries, gives the "wrong impression" of the religion.

On Sunday the White House changed up the specifics of the travel ban, adding Chad, North Korea and Venezuela while dropping Sudan.

Khan said: "Im a westerner, but also a very proud Muslim. There are some people who want to divide our communities  Im not going to let them."

The Mayor of London also said that he was a "reluctant participant" in the argument between himself and Trump, which included the US president tweeting criticism of Khan after the London Bridge attack.

On Monday morning Labour's shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said that the way Trump speaks is like a "rogue dictator," and complained that "This government and this Tory prime minister pathetically go along with it all."

Thornberry labelled the government "supine, sycophantic and spineless" over its failure to stand up to the US president.

It was Corbyn wot won it

When asked why Labour managed to achieve 40% of the vote in the general election and deprive the Conservatives of a parliamentary majority, Khan said there was one main reason: "Jeremy Corbyn."

The Mayor of London said that Labour had "let Jeremy be Jeremy" and praised the party's manifesto and Corbyn's success in motivating old and young people to vote for him.

He said the Labour leader spoke in tune with the public's concerns over inequality: "He wasnt doing it to triangulate. He was authentic. Jeremy has always believed that."
The company's immediate response on Friday was firm and resolute, indicating that the company would waste no time and appeal at its earliest to keep the operations running.

Khosrowshahi's response in The Evening Standard, on the other hand, is a little more meek, in that it opens by apologising to Londoners for Uber's past mistakes.

"On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologise for the mistakes we've made," the letter reads.

The petition launched by Uber on Friday is well on its way to reaching a million signatures, and Uber is reportedly trying to get in touch with TfL to talk about ways to renew the license. An appeal is still to be expected, too:

"We will appeal this decision on behalf of millions of Londoners, but we do so with the knowledge that we must also change," Khosrowshahi wrote. "As Uber's new CEO, it is my job to help Uber write its next chapter."

You can read the letter in full at the tweet below, from Alex Belardinelli, Uber UK's head of communications:
The excited mum took to social media to share her testimony of how she welcomed her baby boy and a set of twins after being told she had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Narrating her ordeal, Mrs Onibata disclosed that she got the diagnosis shortly after getting married in 2012 and was unable to conceive.

Read her harrowing ordeal which she shared with a brilliant snap of herself and her family via Instagram.

She said: I was told shortly after I got married in 2012 that I had PCOS and I would find it difficult to conceive because I wasnt ovulating. I refused to let the doctors report sink in but held on to Gods promises. Few months after my period flow changed, instead of having the normal blood flow of 5 days, I bled for 60-90 days and had just 2-3 weeks break.

"How I survived that period, I dont know but God kept me. At a point, my GP said I was Anemic. And then people began to ask when we will be having our babies and my constant answer was, we were not yet ready.

"Then came August 2013 during the Holy ghost convention (I watched the Live transmission on TV) and Pastor Adeboye asked those who had their babies within the period of the Last convention and that service to come with their babies. While they danced to the altar, I cried to God silently asking for my own baby..

"Then my hubby #kaykums who was oblivious of my prayers just spoke and said by this time next year, we will have a son and he named him. And yes, God honoured it. Exactly what time the next year we had a son. It was a miracle.

"Two years after I began to panic, I wanted to be sure God had healed me and I could have more children then we began trying for another babyI saw my period again. I was devastated and I wept.. (I am sure God must have been laughing at me) the next month, I had a dream where my mum was telling me I was pregnant. Few weeks after I was confirmed pregnant.

"Not just that, I was carrying a set of twins. I was in awe of Goda set of twins!! From being told I was not ovulating to carrying a set of Twins. Haba this God!!! And after 9months, a week after our wedding anniversary they were delivered. I dont know what you have been told but One thing I know is if God could bring to brought a negative report he is able to turn your situation around.

"Nothing can STOP him from fulfilling his promises concerning you. I have decided to share my testimony of God Mercies today to bring Glory to his name and encourage someone today.
In February this year, Daniella Hirst, 29, and Craig Smith, 31, were captured on CCTV committing the said offence in the Dominos shop in Scarborough.

According to a BBC report, Hirst, of Bridlington, pleaded guilty to the charge and Smith, of Bridlington, was found guilty in his absence by Magistrates in Scarborough.

The case was however adjourned until 17 October where the court is expected to pronounce its sentence.

To clear any likely doubts, chair of the bench that heard the matter, Angela Beardshall hinted that a custodial sentence is probable.

The video showed the couple going into the Dominos shop, on Castle Road, and ordering food.

READ ALSO: University professor loses memory after obtaining 145 degrees in 30 years

It further showed Hirst performing oral sex on Smith.

As the affection heightened beyond control, they were then seen having sex leaning against the shop counter.

The magistrates Court bench chair, Ms. Beardshall expressed disgust at the act, saying This offence was in a public place. It was a lengthy incident.

Members of the public were present as were staff.

The shop was on a public thoroughfare and members of the public should not have to put up with this disgusting behaviour.

Hirst was present in court as the video was played, but Smith who was in prison for other matters, was not present.
Luckily, the answer will make sex better for you, too, according to a recent study from the University of Indianas Kinsey Institute.

After researchers surveyed more than 2,000 men and women about their sexual behaviors, they found that both men and women desire affectionate and romantic behaviorslike saying sweet things during sex, setting the mood, and kissing or cuddling more oftenmore than say, talking dirty, watching porn together, and getting kinky.

Its not the first time science has backed up the importance of intimacy, particularly cuddling. In fact, cuddling after sex can be just as important to a womans pleasure as foreplay, according to a survey from the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada. The researchers found that cuddling boosted sexual satisfaction for men, too.

Thats because your body is flooded with oxytocinthe bonding hormoneafter sex, which makes you crave more affection, Robin Milhausen, Ph.D., a professor of human sexuality at the University of Guelph told us last September.

Its one of the easiest things you can do to improve your relationship, Milhausen explains. Its a really important, but often missed, opportunity for connection.

So, light some candles, kiss her passionately, tell her how amazing it feels to be with her, and take the time to hold her after sexshell more than likely return the favor and youll both enjoy making each other feel good.

Now, thats not to say that trying new sex positions, being raunchy, using sex toys (like this awesome couples massager from the Mens Health store), and doing it in a new place dont have their momentsthose behaviors can still help keep the spark going when things get stagnant in bed.
He was arrested on Monday at Tsito in the Ho West District of the Volta Region by a special unit of the National Security at the Flagstaff House while escorting a vehicle to Accra, with items that had not been taxed appropriately by authorities.

He is currently in cells at the Regional Police Headquarters, Accra-based Citi FM reports.

The suspect was said to have been sacked from the Ghana Police Service for his involvement in an alleged robbery.

He was later appointed at the beginning of the year to head the Regions Security unit, with many wondering if he was fit for that job.
The chaos occurred following the heavy downpour that hit the national capital, Accra early this morning.

READ MORE: 2 missing as trotro bus plunges into Teshie Lagoon

There is hardly a day passing without accidents on the Accra-Tema Motorway, due to the fast-deplorable nature of the over 5-decade old road, which has not seen any renovation since its inauguration by the countrys first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Unlike the other roads in the country, the Tema Motorway was constructed with concrete, hence the surface is so smooth that whenever it rains friction between the road and vehicles tyres reduces drastically, if not completely absent.

Despite this fact however, drivers who ply that road are always under the notion that they must run at the fastest speed because they are on the Motorway.

Police officers from the Airport Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit had to race against the rain to help in towing the vehicles that were involved in the chaotic situation, and also to ensure free flow of traffic without any further aggravation of the situation.

Speaking to Pulse.com.gh, Station officer for the Airport MTTU, Chief Inspector Abraham attributed the situation to reckless driving despite the rains.

He said If we can educate the drivers to exercise patience especially on the motorway when it rains, it will help. This road is slippery when it rains because it was built with cement, but drivers still want to speed even as it rains.

As to the official number of cars involved in the chaos, Inspector Abraham estimated it to be about 15 cars at the time of this interview, saying This is just from Tetteh Quarshie Interchange to where we are currently, I cant talk about what the situation is at the Tema stretch."
SPRINGFIELD  A Decatur woman died Sunday evening after a fatal crash occurred on Interstate 55 near Springfield, the Sangamon County Coroner said.

Andrea Force, 25, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, Coroner Cinda Edwards said in a news release. An autopsy was conducted in Springfield on Monday morning, and Edwards said preliminary results indicate that Force died from injuries she suffered during the crash.

Edwards said the Illinois State Police is investigating the crash, and that additional studies from the autopsy are pending. No further information was available Monday afternoon.

At 5:43 p.m., Force's silver Chevrolet Trailblazer abruptly swerved to the left and then to the right, causing her to lose control and drive off the road into the ditch, state police said. The vehicle rolled and struck two trees. Force was thrown from the vehicle and fatally injured, police said.

Four other passengers were in the vehicle. Two children were thrown from the vehicle. Only the two infants, restrained in child safety seats, were wearing seat belts. All four children were taken to HSHS St. Johns Hospital in Springfield. Their conditions were unavailable.
A statement signed and issued in Accra by the Director-General of the Public Affairs Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police, David E. Eklu, said said the police on receiving the information conducted a security checks on the mall and found the information to be false.

The police in the statement "strongly" cautioned persons behind such false information to desist from it since it has serious implications for the security of the whole country.
For my little understanding, an acting chief is a chief since that person was nominated and enskinned in accordance with the relevant provisions under the customary law and practice. To throw more lights on the above , I would therefore refer my readers to Section 58 of the Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759 as amended which talks about categories of Chiefs and these are ?a? Asantehene and Paramount chiefs ?b? Divisional chiefs ?c?Sub -Divisional Chiefs ?d?Adikrofo ?e?other chiefs recognise by the National House of Chiefs.I will rely my argument on the last category of chiefs, that is other chiefs recognise by the National House of chiefs. Issues .?1?Whether or not an acting chief is being recognised by the National House of Chiefs. ?2?Whether or not an acting chief must be someone who hails from the appropriate family and lineage as emphatically stated in Article 277 of the 1992 constitution and Section 57 subsection ?1?of the chieftaincy Act. Yes, an acting chief is been accepted by the house of chiefs to represent his traditional council at any meeting and to perform his customary duty as customs and traditions demand.Per the letter and spirit of article 277 of the 1992 constitution and Section 57?1) and 58 respectively of the chieftaincy Act, 2008 , Act 2008 one cannot be nominated or selected as chief or Acting chief without coming from the appropriate family.In this regard , Hon Nii Laryea Afoto Agbo cannot continue to hold himself as Member of parliament for the good people of Kpone Katamanso in view of the fact that , he has been nominated and installed as the Acting chief of Kpone Katamanso which is contrary to Article 276 of the 1992 constitution, which states that , a chief shall not take part in active politics, and any chief wishing to do so must or shall abdicate his stool or skin.This was re- stated in section 57?3?of the chieftaincy Act, Act 759 as amended. In the aforesaid, Parliament of Ghana under the Chairmanship Prof Aron Mike Quaye is mandated to inform the Electoral Commission to organize a bye- elections at Kpone  Katamanso .Failure to do that , amounts to tarnishing the image of the 1992 constitution. Be Continued. My best Regards
Just on Thursday, September 21, 2017, president of the United States,Mr Donald Trump . He praised the country for its qualitative health care system. To the Africans, this is an act the Hollywood is popular for.

Hollywood and many western writers are obsessed with creating mythical African nations. Rather than looking at the map of the region, they curate names and territories by melding with names of existing entities. As a result, there are countries like Kenyopia, Ligeria, Gamba, Botswanga and others.

Early this month, the British Airways Inflight magazine stated that Lupita Nyongo. Really, the reputable airline failed to realize Wakanda is a mythical land created by Marvel for its Black Panther series.

How 400-year old Nigerian language inspired Wakanda language

This explains the reason the act should stop, as political leaders and corporate organizations may think these mythical regions really exist.

Here are some of these fictional territories and their locations in Africa, as it will be something of great interest to visit these locations one day.

1. African Confederation

According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation, African Confederation is the birthplace of Geordi La Forge. Geordi is one of the few black characters in the Star Wars movie franchise.

The geographical area called African confederation includes the present-day Somalia.

2. Bahari

Bahari is a small North Africa nation located along the Sahel deserts. According to the CBS television service, The Scorpion, the nation is a former Nazi German colony, as such it is ridden with several military bases of the Nazi German military.

3. Birani

Birani is stated to be located near Namibia and Angola. The Banana forest nation was curated for the movie  The Gods Must be Crazy.

Dumgase is noted to host the vast Banana plantation in the country.

4. Bulungi

Bulungi is an African country situated between the south of Cote d'Ivoire and southeast of Liberia. The capital of Bulungi is Yabba-Dabba.

The satirical newsgroup, The Onion, stated the country was created by the United States Ambassador to Bulungi.

5. Kamanga

Kamanga is a Southern African country located between Namibia and Mozambique. According to the Chris Ryans novel, Tenth Man Down, the country is a former British colony and blessed with uranium, diamonds and bauxite as natural resources.

Kwacha is its national currency.

6. Kambezi

According to the several episodes of MacGyver, Kambezi is a Southern African country very close to Zimbabwe.

The nation is noted to have a huge population of black Rhinos and heavily depends on smuggling of Cannabis Sativa (dagga).

7. Lombuanda

Lombuanda is an independent African country on the Gulf of Guinea. According to the Mission Impossibles episode "The Diamond", the country is ruled by French-speaking settlers.

8. Matobo

Matobo is the most popular mythical country as it has featured in two Hollywood movies - The Interpreter in 2005 and some episodes of 24: Redemption.
According to the email sent by the BBC world service to media houses in Nigeria, Bill Gates was interviewed by three top child-rights activists using the Pidgin English. These personalities are Hadiza Bala Usman of the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign Tonte Ibraye of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and Papa Omotayo of the Child Life Line organization.

This version of English is mostly spoken in the Southern part of Nigeria,large swathes of West Africa and parts of Cameroon

Mr Gates said in Pidgin English about Nigeria and the work of his foundation in the country.

Im talk say Nigeria dey very "important" for di world and for di kain work wey im Foundation dey do 2because of di country population.

Di health situation for Northern Nigeria dey very challenging, Mr Gates remarked.

He also responded to one of the questions which asked about how his foundation is helping IDPs in Nigeria to access proper medical care.

Im talk about how im organisation, Gates Foundation, dey help try reduce number of mama and pickin dem wey dey die for di country.

Mr Gates no dey work alone; e talk say im dey work with government dem and NGOs plus people, including Africa's richest man wey be Aliko Dangote, Mr Gates responded.

The BBC Pidgin service was launched on August 21, 2017, as one of the local languages expansion programs of the BBC global media network.
Located on the outskirts of the Sunset District, the charming micro-neighborhood has no shops or restaurants. But it draws homebuyers with its affordability, suburban feel, and great views. A whopping 86% of homes in Golden Gate Heights sell above asking price, according to Redfin.

I moved to San Francisco two years ago and I'd never heard of Golden Gate Heights before. I recently set out for a day of exploration in the micro-neighborhood to see what the hype is.

When I told my office that Golden Gate Heights had been named one of Redfin's hottest neighborhoods of 2017, you could almost make out the record scratch sound effect.

Golden Gate Heights sounds like a realtor's attempt to rebrand an existing neighborhood with a pleasant-sounding moniker in order to lure prospective homebuyers, like.

None of us had ever heard of it.

A quick search revealed that at least Google Maps thinks it's real. Golden Gate Heights is tucked between the popular Inner Sunset and Forest Hill neighborhoods on the west side.

The neighborhood is stretched across two of the tallest hills in San Francisco: Larsen Peak at Golden Gate Heights Park and Grandview Park. I wanted to go from one peak to the other.

Source:

I hopped an Uber to the micro-hood's biggest attraction, Golden Gate Heights Park.

I passed a few people walking their dogs but was otherwise totally alone. The fog rolled in through the tree tops, making me feel like I had been transported to an episode of "The Twilight Zone."

It was then that I realized I left my iPhone in the backseat of the Uber car.

For context, I can't make it out of a driveway without Google Maps. I am certified navigation-challenged. My heart began to race and my fingers itched for the feeling of a phone in hand.

I thought about asking around to find the nearest public transportation stop, but I decided to continue blindly with my tour.

I set off down a residential street and admired the houses, which looked like faded LEGO bricks standing upright on a hill. Street parking was plentiful. Some homes had yards.

Golden Gate Heights is more affordable than some trendy San Francisco neighborhoods, but it's still expensive. The median sale price is $1.59 million, 21% higher than the median sale price in the city overall. Homes typically sell at 120% of the listing price, according to Redfin.

Getting around was like a StairMaster workout. In Golden Gate Heights, the streets break away from the grid that patterns much of the area.

I couldn't tell where the hills of Golden Gate Heights started or stopped, and I didn't want to waste my time in the wrong location. So I started asking people where Golden Gate Heights was.

Their answers were surprising.

"I'm not exactly sure," a middle-aged woman walking her dog told me.

"It's kind of hard to describe," said a young woman canvassed with tattoos.

Even people living in the vicinity of Golden Gate Heights couldn't identify its boundaries.

I wandered a bit longer before coming across a steep staircase. I figured I could climb it for a better view of the area.

The view  combined with the climb  took my breath away.

On clear days, you can supposedly see the Marin Headlands and the Golden Gate Bridge.

I noticed that the homes grew bigger and more extravagant further up the rocky inclines.

I stopped a local woman with bangs cropped high on her forehead and a bundle of silvery gray foliage in her hand. She told me I was in Grandview Park, the second highest hill in the neighborhood after Golden Gate Heights Park. A feeling of success welled up inside of me.

I knew that by hiking from Golden Gate Heights Park to Grandview Park, I had  without my phone or GPS to guide me  traveled the length of the neighborhood from south to north.

Still, I asked the young woman, "Am I in Golden Gate Heights neighborhood?"

"I don't know if it's technically considered that," she said.

Three locals told me they didn't know where Golden Gate Heights is, while standing in that very neighborhood. I started to think the micro-hood was a made-up place after all.

But three people hardly make for a reliable survey. On my way out, I discovered a stone wall at the bottom of the hill that proudly bore the name "Golden Gate Heights."

I'm still not sure of the legitimacy of Golden Gate Heights. But I would go back for a hike.

For families looking for a remote neighborhood within the borders of a major city, Golden Gate Heights  real or not  is an ideal spot. But houses there won't remain a bargain for long.
CAN had earlier argued that the Federal governments Sukuk bond is just another way to Islamise the country.

A statement by the Deputy Secretary General of the NSCIA, Salisu Shehu, has many reasons for why this is untrue, adding that CAN is simply Islamaphobic.

Daily Post reports that the statement said: CAN cannot claim ignorance of the fact that even the World Bank has been involved in issuing SUKUK and the floating of SUKUK Bonds.

Interestingly also, several non-Muslim countries across Africa, Europe and Asia have also instituted Islamic Financial System generally and SUKUK in particular. Worthy of mention here are Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Russia, China, Singapore and a number of firms in the United States.

Less than two years ago, Britain hosted a World Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance and David Cameron, the then British prime minister, openly declared that their intention was to make UK the hub of Islamic Finance in the World.

It would certainly be embarrassing for CAN to be told that the first and foremost state in Nigeria to submit an application for a loan to the Islamic Development Bank is a Christian-dominated state in the South-East.

ALSO READ: Muslim group reacts to new Islamisation claims

The NSCIA went on to call CAN an Islamophobic organisation.

The group said, We have not been talking of Christianisation because Sunday has been forced on us as a work-free day, or the Cross as our hospital sign and symbol, our membership of the International Red Cross, and many other things including almost all the titles of the heads of academic institutions (Chancellor, Provost, Dean, Rector, etc.).

Despite this remarkable tolerance from Muslims over the years, CAN appears to be increasingly becoming Islamophobic and paranoid about its hate and intolerance of Islam, casting aspersions, unnecessarily overheating the polity and unjustifiably creating fear and distrust in the minds of peace-loving citizens of our great country.

We are poised to advise CAN to, in the spirit of Biblical injunctions, uphold the truth for its sake and tread the path of honour and refrain from statements capable of causing disaffection and promoting disharmony that may lead to conflict in the country.

ALSO READ: Adeosun says Sukuk Bond is definitely not an attempt to Islamise Nigeria

Meanwhile, the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has stepped in to defend CANs statements.

According to a statement by its Chairman, Chief Solomon Asemota, the Sukuk bond is contrary to Sections 1 and 10 of the 1999 Constitution.

The group argues that the Nigerian Constitution forbids such infraction, even if it is adopted by other nations.

Sharia and democracy can never co-exist in harmony. Proponents of Sharia-Compliant Finance (SCF) often convey the impression that SCF is an ethical financial system whose roots and practice are to be found in the Quran, hadiths and traditions of early Islam.

In fact, it was invented out of whole cloth in the mid-20th century by Muslim Brotherhood figures like Sayyid Qutb and Sayyid AbulAla Al-Mawdudi.

Its purpose was to provide yet another method to penetrate and undermine non-Sharia societies by stealthily insinuating Sharia into their free markets, the Chairman explained.

Concerning the NSCIAs allegation that CAN is Islamophobic, the group referred to the inability of the Islam leaders to stop Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen from attacking Christians, churches, and so on.

Based on this, the group said, it would be unfair and unjust for the same leaders of Islam to turn around and accuse Christians of Islamophobia.

It is akin to slapping a man and yet complain that the man screamed. Do leaders of Islam expect Christians to keep mute while violent Jihad (Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen) and stealth Jihad is also known as stealth jihad with money (Sukkuk) are all used to negate Section 38 (1) of the constitution and destroy the secularity of the Nigerian state?
BLOOMINGTON  Five former management officials of the arena owned by the city of Bloomington face a total of 111 indictments accusing them of stealing city funds, money laundering, wire fraud, filing false sales tax returns and conspiracy to commit tax evasion.

The indictments, returned Sept. 20 by a McLean County grand jury, were unsealed Monday after all five defendants posted bond.

Charged are John Y. Butler and Bart Rogers of Central Illinois Arena Management (CIAM), and their employees Jay C. Laesch, Paul E. Grazar and Kelly W. Klein.

The charges follow an 18-month-long investigation by Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Revenue into alleged mismanagement of funds at the facility, then known as U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The probe was initiated after Bloomington police cited a conflict of interest in reviewing CIAM's operations.

Questions about CIAM's management surfaced in August 2016 as the city was working to close the arena's financial books during the management transition from CIAM to the new managers, VenuWorks, city officials said at the time.

The investigation focused on Coliseum operations while CIAM was in charge, according to the city.

In a statement Monday from the state police, the agency said it "conducted a thorough investigation and presented their findings to the McLean County State's Attorney. On Sept. 20, 2017, a grand jury convened and signed indictments on the five suspects."

The office of McLean County State's Attorney Jason Chambers is handling prosecution of the case.

CIAM managed the arena until March 31, 2016, when its contract with the city ended. VenuWorks, took over the next day. CIAM had opted not to renew its contract with the city.

Forty-four counts are filed against Butler, 58, of Bloomington, including 22 for theft of government funds, and multiple counts of money laundering, wire fraud, filing false sales tax returns, and conspiracy to commit tax evasion. If convicted of the most serious theft charges, Butler is eligible for six to 30 years in prison.

Responding to the charges, Bloomington alderman and Mayor Pro Tem Karen Schmidt said, We have, and always will be, committed to seeing crimes committed against the city uncovered and prosecuted. We are appreciative to all those involved in the investigation. I am confident these serious allegations will be handled properly by the judicial system.

Butler, who is represented by Urbana lawyer Steven Beckett, was released after posting $30,035 bond.

Rogers, 47, of Morton, is accused of 13 counts of theft of government funds.

Kelly W. Klein, 57, of Bloomington and former assistant general manager for finance at the time, is charged with theft and money laundering.

Paul Grazar, 50, of Normal, former food and beverage director for CIAM, faces 13 charges of theft, money laundering, tax evasion and conspiracy to commit tax evasion.

Jay C. Laesch, 27, Heyworth, ex-finance director of BMI Concessions, the venues one-time food and beverage service, was indicted on the same charges as Butler  theft, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit tax evasion.

ISP said the investigation is ongoing.

This story will be updated.
INM says the call is necessitated following their earlier acts of silence, indifference, and passive support that allowed the Indigenous People of Biafra [IPOB], to metamorphosed into a full-blown terror group.

The INM believes that the silence displayed by the Igbo leaders of thought is what has given the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the opportunity to hijack the Igbo agitation for fairness to incite hatred across the land.

Reacting to a visit to Gombe State on a peace mission by Ohanezes President General, Chief John Nwodo, and other Igbo leaders, the INM expressed relief that the period when the organization and Igbo leaders played politics with what is ordinarily a nationwide quest for a better deal is over.

Commending the Nigerian Army for having the will to tackle IPOB as a festering sore that was on the verge of compromising the security and peace of the nation, INM posited that there is nowhere in the world where terrorists are allowed to flourish unchallenged as earlier canvassed by certain Igbo and Ohaneze leaders with vested interests.

In a statement by Mazi Igwe Ifeanyi, the National Leader of INM explained that some top members of Ohaneze and Igbo political leaders that had banked on using IPOB and Kanu to score political points, have discovered that they were as much the victims of a terror infrastructure but had become too ashamed to accept their sins and dilemma until the launch of Operation Python Dance II, which some of them still kicked against out of habit.

Mazi Ifeanyi said it is reassuring that the same people that were supporting IPOB, even when they were hostages, are today relishing the freedom procured for them through the success recorded by Operation Python Dance II, which has empowered them to again grow in courage to visit the same people that Kanu had vilified without them calling him to order.

It said in its sincere opinion, the least Ohaneze, its leader, Chief Nwodo and other Igbo leaders can do is to retract their past statements on the Operation Python Dance II and to encourage troops to root out other evils that have made Igboland a place that other Nigerians avoid.

According to the group, the ill-conceived quit notice to Igbos by some Northern youths had exposed how groups like IPOB placed Igbos at a disadvantage because Igbos settle in other parts of the country in large numbers while only a few persons of other ethnic groups make Igboland their homes because of attitudes like the one exhibited by Kanu.

INM noted that going forward, the expectation is that Ohaneze and anyone that genuinely calls himself a leader in Igboland must put the interest of Igbo people above their personal interests and this includes accepting that IPOB was a monster that was set to consume the genuine cause which every Igbo man had vigorously pursued in the past.
There's the old, questionable pull-out method, when a guy who's about to ejaculate hurriedly withdraws his penis to keep the baby juice away. There are condoms. There's the IUD. And then there's the pill, which uses a cocktail of estrogen and progesterone to prevent ovulation. But there's no real male birth control method that's equivalent to the pill (and no, the Jiftip does not work).

Sure, guys could get a vasectomy and tie their tubes, but that's a huge medical commitment. Earlier this year, scientists were able to show that rhesus macaques were rendered sterile after using Vasalgel, a non-toxic, injected gel that offers the potential to be a "reversible" vasectomy for men who might not want to be dads right now, but want to be a pop later on. Vasalgel, however, is still in the experimental stage, it hasn't been reliably proven to be reversible, and it's expensive.

The quest for the male contraceptive is about to take a turn, according to an article in Science News that looks at the future of contraceptives. Apparently, we are tantalizingly close to a male contraceptive, thanks to a breakthrough from a synthetic compound called H2-gamendazole.

So what is H2-gamendazole? In the mid-2000s, along with his team at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Joseph Tash started looking at an anticancer drug with the unique ability to almost erase sperm production. The drug turned out to be potentially dangerous to human males, but Tash and his team were intrigued about its potential as a male contraceptive. So they worked in the lab to create a version of the anticancer drug that would be palatable to males and maintain its sperm reduction superpower. That lab-created compound was H2-gamendazole.

H2-gamendazole works by stepping in during the last stage of sperm development, before the little swimmers become full-fledged sperm. Sertoli cells help nourish the sperm up to this point by being literally tethered to them so that they can only swim away when they're developed. H2-gamendazole steps in at this crucial stage, snipping away this tether before sperm can really become fully developed, which means the suckers are destined to die by the testes. If theres no perfect sperm, theres no way sperm can ever even make it to the ovary for conception, which means this very well might be an effective method of male contraception.

There have been numerous tests done with H2-gamendazole: in one study, rats were given one oral dose of H2-gamendazole once a week, and within two weeks, they were sterile. But here's the kicker: H2-gamendazole is apparently reversible, because ten weeks after they were taken off their once-a-week dose, the rats were fertile again. Tash's team replicated this experiment with mice, rabbits, dogs, and monkeys, and for each animal, there was a "block in sperm production just exactly like we see in the rats," he told Science Magazine. Because it can be taken orally, the testes are especially responsive to it, which means that H2-gamendazole doesn't have a chance to mess around with other tissues and produce unwanted side effects.
It is believed by most people that a job with a good pay gives people an opportunity to save more. This means with this kind of job, you can afford so many things without worrying about your income and can also save a substantial amount of the income for other projects.

Well, the truth is you have not gotten that job with a huge pay yet, so you need to prepare yourself for that big-paying job coming soon by learning how to take some really drastic frugal saving steps to save more with a monthly job.

Here are seven ways to save more as a monthly salary earner.

1. Hitch a ride with a colleague

Instead of taking your car or a public transport to work in the morning or when leaving the office at the close of business in the evening, you can hitch a ride with a colleague who owns a vehicle.

Find someone, not necessarily a colleague, it could be someone who works around your office. All the money spent on transportation and fuel could be saved for other purposes.

2. Go for a cheaper data plan with lots of bonus

Data subscriptions are quite expensive in Nigeria. Try quitting your expensive data plan and look for a telecommunication service with cheaper data plans and that give a whole lot of awoof (freebies) and bonuses.

You end up saving extra that could have been spent on an expensive data plan.

3. Make more of online calls

As small as it looks, buying airtime is expensive when you calculate how much you spend on calls and texts. With a new cheap data plan, try to make more of online calls and chats instead of calling and texting at network providers call and text rate.

WhatsApp and Facebook are good examples of social applications that provide online chat, video and voice calls.

4. Take a bit out of your colleague meals

Most workers don't have the time to wake up as early as 3 a.m to cook for work, so they buy lunch at the office. If you fall into the category of people who can't cook from home, you don't have to buy lunch every day at work.

You can skip breakfast and just have a cup of tea or coffee which could sustain you till midday and you can just eat a bit out of some of your colleague's food until you are satisfied.

Ridiculous as it sounds, people do it. You just have to find the colleagues that won't frown at it. It would save you extra cost of not having to spend on lunch at work.

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5. Learn how to bargain

Some people are natural bargainers. They know how to bargain on anything. Try to up your negotiation skills.

With the power of bargaining, goods and services that are said to be expensive, you can get them for good and reasonable price. Bargaining helps to save the extra that could have been spent buying goods and services.

6. Ask for discounts

People don't really ask for discounts when shopping for goods and also services. Be confident and ask for a discount. It is your money you are about to spend. The worst they can tell you is that there is no discount.

Speaking of discounts, there are some supermarkets that put large discounted sales on some products that are about to expire, probably six months to expiration.

If I am not sure of any I know about one of the largest supermarkets in Nigeria that gives such discounts on products. Take advantage of such discounts because you tend to save more from them.

7. Reduction of daily consumption

We all have household essentials that we need for daily use like toothpaste, bathing soaps, hair cream, shampoo, detergent. You can save daily consumption by reducing the amount you use.

If you are fond of dispensing toothpaste that covers the whole brush, you can just cut it by half. You can reduce and still get the output you need.
The EFCC's effort has been allegedly thwarted by Binns of BCL Solicitors, who has been representing the ex-minister in legal matters in the United Kingdom, where she has been staying since 2015.

An occurrence of Binns' effort to thwart possible opportunity to interrogate the accused ex-minister was in March 2017 when EFCCs team of investigators, led by Abdulrasheed Bawa tried to meet her in the UK but proved abortive as Binns refused to allow the commission.

In a counter-affidavit filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, the EFCC says it had been investigating Diezani for various allegations of corrupt practices, including abuse of office, money laundering, stealing of public funds and illegal acquisition of properties within and outside Nigeria.
According to reports, Buhari went to London to meet up with a medical appointment after he attended the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Also, the Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad confirmed his boss arrival in a series of tweets on his timeline.

ALSO READ:Atiku begs Nigerians to stop distracting President Buhari

Meanwhile, former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has praised President Buhari over his speech at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr John Gaul-Lebo, disclosed this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Gaul-Lebo explained that the bill would check security breaches in border communities and protect the dwellers.

He said the bill, if passed into law, would also help to establish Border Security and Protection Agency for its full implementation.

He observed that security was a top priority of Governor Ben Ayades Administration, adding that the bill would equally enhance community policing in the state.

We understand the importance of security in our individual and economic well-being. That is why we enacted the Homeland Security Bill in pursuit of effective security in the state.

To complement the homeland security outfit, we have concluded plans to introduce the `Cross River State Border Security and Protection Bill to address insecurity in our border communities, he said.

The speaker also said that the eighth assembly had passed over 44 bills into law, adding that other bills were still at various stages in the house.

He pledged the commitment of the assembly in enacting bills that would have direct economic benefits on residents and tourists in the state.
Al-Makura made the pledge when he received the newly-posted Commissioner of Police to the state, Mr Mohammed Uba-Kura, at the Government House, Lafia.

He said that the collaboration between the state government, the Police and other security agencies had helped to contain violent crises in the past and reduced crime in the state.

He said the recent donation of a new State Command Headquarters to the police was in appreciation of its doggedness and commitment in fighting crime and securing lives and property in the state.

The governor expressed optimism that the pedigree of the new police commissioner would be exploited to build on the successes recorded by his predecessors in sustaining the peace in the state.

He said that the inauguration of community-based conflict resolution committees in local government areas by government was a way of complementing Police effort at resolving crises at community level.

This mechanism, which has yielded great results, was aimed at minimising pressure on the Police and allowing the force to focus mainly on crime fighting and very serious security challenge, the governor said.

The Uba-Kura assured the state government that the Police command under his watch would not relent to deliver on its constitutional mandate of securing lives and property in the state.

He appealed to the state government to strengthen existing vigilance groups and encourage communities to establish such groups where none existed.

He said membership of such groups should be devoid of partisan or religious inclinations, adding that government; either at the state or local level, should support the groups with funds.
DECATUR  A judge told a Decatur man Monday that the public needed to be protected from him before handing down a prison sentence of 4 years.

Charles C. Deberry, 18, had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a gun by a felon related to charges that dated to February. Deberry was actually sentenced to 4 years on each charge, but Macon County Circuit Judge Thomas Griffith said the prison terms would run concurrently.

Griffith noted Deberry's young age in sentencing him but also pointed out that he had never held a job since being expelled from high school and had a racked up a criminal history that includes a previous weapons charge, possession of a stolen vehicle and attempted burglary.

Sworn police statements from his latest case said Deberry had been the passenger in a vehicle uniformed police had stopped at a car wash on West Eldorado Street after receiving a tip about a man armed with a gun.

A search of the vehicle had found a loaded 9 mm pistol with one live round in the chamber, police said. Next to the gun were more than 2 grams of cocaine in five tied baggies.

Police told Deberry he was under arrest and said he tried to pull away and escape as officers were securing him in handcuffs. Police said they stopped him by performing a take down maneuver that also resulted in one officer suffering an injury to his right knee.

Referring to the latest charges, Judge Griffith said he was concerned that the evidence showed Deberry had resisted a police officer and the offenses involved a volatile mix of illicit drugs and a firearm. Concluding there was a substantial probability of Deberry offending again, Griffith told him: A sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections is necessary to protect the public.

Earlier, Deberry's public defender, Steve Perbix, argued that the defendant's prior criminal history was not extensive, and, because of his young age, he deserved a lesser prison sentence. Perbix suggested Deberry might be suitable for impact incarceration, a kind of military-style boot camp within the Department of Corrections that gives offenders the chance to significantly reduce their sentence.

But Assistant Macon County State's Attorney Jane Foster urged the judge to order Deberry to serve a six-year prison sentence, saying Deberry's behavior threatened the public with harm.

He seems to want to possess firearms, and that is a danger to our community, especially when you mix it with other criminal activity, such as drugs, she said.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, the governor directed security agencies to ensure that the masterminds are swiftly arrested, interrogated and brought to justice.

He vowed not to brook anyone or group of people desirous of bringing back the regime of violence and brigandage to the state.

Ajimobi reiterated his commitment to the security and protection of lives and properties of all citizens of Oyo State, which he said that his administration laboured hard to restore and maintain in the last six years.

News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) reports that five yet-to-be identified gunmen invaded the Olubadan palace at Popoyemoja in Ibadan where the monarch was conducting an installation ceremony of newly appointed traditional rulers.

The gunmen, who arrived the scene in a space bus, fired gunshots but no casualty was recorded in the incident.

One of the gunmen was said to have released volleys of gunshots into the air via the open roof of the vehicle, while others reportedly shot through windows of the vehicle.

An eyewitness said the gunmen wore black clothes and tied red clothes around their heads displaying pump action rifles and A-K47 rifles.

Men of the state joint security task force `Operations Burst arrived the palace within five minutes of the incidence to restore normalcy.
The Biafra groups spokesman, Emma Powerful also described the military exercise as tyrannical and an attempt to suppress the truth.

He said You rose up to condemn evil and their well oiled propaganda machinery that sought to turn truth upside down and make us believe that light is now darkness and darkness light.

Your collective and individual condemnation of the evil Python Dance II, staged by the Buhari regime to suppress legitimate agitation for freedom through intimidation, slaughter of the innocent and military occupation has earned you an enduring legacy which history will never forget.

We also commend those men and women of good conscience from across all ethnic divides in Nigeria and across the globe that condemned the genocidal campaign of this Buhari regime against innocent civilian populations across Biafraland.

ALSO READ: IPOB has legally been proscribed

With this public display of courage, we are hopeful that many more courageous men and women across West Africa and Africa in general will rise up against this APC tyranny and oppression in black Africa as other races have managed to do.
The Head of the Zoo, Dr. Andy Ehanire, was also abducted by the attackers.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Minister described the attack on one of the countrys foremost tourist destinations as a big blow to ongoing efforts to lift the tourism sector in the country.

The success or failure of a tourism destination depends largely on a safe and secure environment.

Incidences such as the attack on the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park therefore negate the concept of tourism as well as governments determination to develop our tourism industry as a tool for socio-economic development.

The killing of the three policemen attached to the zoo to provide security for fun seekers, the abduction of the zoo boss and the trauma suffered by the visitors who witnessed the attack are saddening, condemnable and most unfortunate, he said.

ALSO READ:Lai Mohammed to stop the production of videos abroad

Mohammed said the government will step up security in all the tourist sites across the country in order to prevent a recurrence.

He urged the abductors of Ehanire to quickly release him unharmed.
Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, made the appeal in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowokere, Deputy Director Press in the ministry on Monday in Abuja.

Ngige expressed deep regret over the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union and appealed to them to call off their industrial action.

The minister pleaded with them to return to their different beats in the hospitals and institutions.

He said that their calling off the strike would prevent unnecessary hardship and death of patients in the hospitals.

For the avoidance of doubt, however, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, working in concert with the Ministry of Health, has fixed another conciliatory meeting for tomorrow Tuesday, 26th Sept. by 2 p.m.

He called on members of JOHESU to resume work as serious efforts were being made to meet their grievances, such as the payment of shortfalls of salaries, promotion arrears, repatriation allowances among others.

He said that the grievances have already been addressed by government through various negotiations with other unions representing the interest of workers.

The minister said the unions are the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the last three weeks.

I also wish to place on record that JOHESU had wrongly issued a seven-day strike ultimatum on Sept. 14, instead of the mandatory fifteen-day notice the law requires of those on essential duties.

The body took another wrong step by routing its notice of action to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) instead of the Labour and Employment Minister.
Obono-obla also said that the sureties might face the wrath of the law if Kanu does not appear in court for his next case.

The IPOB leader is expected to appear at the Federal High court in Abuja on October 17, 2017, Vanguard reports.

Kanu was granted bail Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, with the following conditions:

1. He must produce three sureties, including a highly respected and recognised Jewish leader.

2. He must also produce a highly placed person of Igbo extraction such as a Senator.

3. The IPOB leader must also produce a highly respected person who is resident and owns landed property in Abuja.

4. He must not attend any rally or protest.

5. He must sign an undertaken to make himself available for trial at all times.

6. The IPOB leader was also ordered to surrender his Nigerian and British international passports to the Nigerian authorities.

The IPOB leader however satisfied the requirements of his bail application on Friday, April 28, 2017.

The three sureties who signed his bail bond are: Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom Okabemadu and a Chartered Accountant resident in Abuja, Tochukwu Uchendu as demanded by the court.

Speaking further, the presidential aide said The Federal Government has already filed a motion to set aside Kanus bail.

Following the military exercise carried out in Umuahia, Abia State and the subsequent proscription of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has not been seen and may have gone underground.

So it is not likely that he will appear in court on the next adjourned day for fear of being arrested by the police or security agencies. Kanu had sureties that entered into recognizance or signed bail bonds as ordered by the court that led to his release.

What is a recognizance? In law, recognizance is a security entered into before a court with a condition to perform some act required by law; on failure to perform that act a sum is forfeited.

The position of the law as provided under Section 173 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, is that a defendant whom recognizance was entered on his behalf and who is subsequently released on bail is bound to appear before the court at every time and place to which during the course of the proceedings, the hearing may from time to time be adjourned.

The court also may issue a warrant of arrest where a defendant (Kanu) bound by a recognizance or bond fails to appear before a court or police station. It follows that if Kanu fails to appear before the Federal High Court on the next adjourned date, the Judge will likely order a warrant for his arrest.

The implication of the failure of Kanu to appear in court on the next adjourned date on those who stood sureties for his recognizance is that his recognizance shall be forfeited.

ALSO READ:Nnamdi Kanu is using the Biafra agenda as a business venture

The court shall order his bond entered by his sureties to pay the penalty or to show sufficient cause why the penalty should not be paid.

It follows that Kanus three sureties will be ordered to pay N100 million each. Where sufficient cause is not shown by the sureties or the persons bound and the penalty is not paid, the court may recover the penalty from the person bound or from his estate if he is dead, in the manner laid down in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 for the recovery of fine

However, where the penalty is not paid and cannot be recovered in the manner laid down by the law, the person bound shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

Meanwhile, following Nnamdi Kanus sudden disappearance, IPOB recently alleged that the Army might have killed their leader.
The ICTA, the flagship conference of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), which is scheduled to hold in Abuja between September 26, 2017 and September 29, 2017 has as its theme: 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 United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters.

Five of the six members are from ATAF member countries and two of these are on the ATAF Council. They include Tunde Fowler (Nigeria), Chairperson of the ATAF Council; and Mrs Elfrieda Stewart Tamba (Liberia).

Their membership of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters is regarded as an 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 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.

ALSO READ: UN sec-gen names FIRS boss as member tax matters committee

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 programme 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.
He said that because of this belief, the people of the state may not be part of any secession agenda.

The Governor made this known at the 57th Independence Church Service, which held at Saint Marks Anglican Church in Port Harcourt.

God has blessed this country, we are not part of those who want to secede, Rivers State will never be part of that, the Governor stressed.

The governor, however, advised the Federal Government to ensure good governance to end the increasing agitation for self determination among ethnic groups in Nigeria.

In as much as you continue to have bad governance, people will continue to agitate across the country, we give God the glory that we are still one, despite the agitations and challenges, he added.

He called for justice and equity for all citizens.

He also advised Nigerians to always speak out against injustice.

Gov. Wike noted that part of the reasons why politicians behaved irrationally was based on the fact that they knew that results could be manipulated for them.

The Governor harped on better security and justice system for all the federating units.

He stressed that such gesture would give all Nigerians, a sense of belonging and reduce tension across the nation.

Wike reinstated his call for the investigation of the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Rivers.

In his sermon, the Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt. Rev Innocent Ordu, noted that Nigeria had developed, regardless of the challenges facing the nation.

The Bishop called on Nigerians to respect the constitution of the country as well as respect and support constituted authorities and work for the development of the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sheikh Ibrahim Garuba Akinola died on Sunday at the age of 79. He was inaugurated as the 9th Chief Imam of Lagos on July 30, 2000.

Tinubu, in a condolence message in Lagos said Sheikh Akinola would be sorely missed because he always put his deep knowledge and understanding of Islam at the disposal of many in Lagos.

 I am deeply saddened by the death of the Chief Imam of Lagos. But as Muslims, we must take every occurrence as the will of Allah.

As the leading Islamic scholar in Lagos, Sheikh Akinola will be sorely missed not only by Muslim faithfuls but by the people of Lagos and South-west.

Through his sermon and Khutbat, he drew attention to the various societal ills and suggested corrective steps.

 I will miss him personally. He brought calming words during our period of turmoil.

 I mourn with members of his immediate family. I mourn with Muslim Ummah in Lagos, across the country and the world. May Almighty Allah grant him Al Jannah Firdaus, Tinubu said.

In his message, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State expressed sadness over the death of the highly revered Chief Imam of Lagos, saying that the state had lost a fearless cleric

Ambode described the development as a great loss to the Muslim community, the state and the country in general.

He said the late cleric would be sorely missed and remembered for his bold and courageous sermons which stood him out in present-day Nigeria.

The governor said the late cleric was a great man of God who spoke truth to power not minding whose ox was gored and contributed immensely to the growth and development of the state.

It is with deep sense of great loss but total submission to the will of God that I note the demise of the Chief Imam of our dear state, Alhaji Garuba Akinola.

He was indeed a respected cleric who was always mindful of his integrity and used his sermons to engineer positive changes in the behaviour and character of his followers.

He was a devout Muslim; humanist and bridge builder and would be remembered for his fairness, boldness and thought-provoking sermons,  he said,

Ambode urged the family of the late cleric to take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life and contributed immensely to the peaceful coexistence in the state.
Melaye made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

The senator, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, is facing a recall by his constituents who in a petition on June 23, 2017, called on INEC to recall him.

He was accused of poor of representation of the constituency at the Senate.

But, Melaye told newsmen that accepting any purported petition from INEC would amount to breaching the 1999 Constitution (Amended).

According to him, the window provided by the Constitution for the service of recall petition had elapsed and I would not be seen to be breaching the law.

It is clear that by the provisions of Section 69(b) of the 1999 Constitution, INEC must act on the petition purportedly presented to it on June 23, 2017 by conducting a referendum within 90 days of receipt of the petition.

The 90 days period as provided for in the Constitution for conducting the referendum after our verification, elapsed on Sept. 23, 2017.

The time having elapsed, I cannot under the circumstance, aid and abet INEC to further infringe on the provisions of the Constitution, which I have sworn to defend, he said.

The lawmaker pointed out that his position on the matter had been affirmed by various Supreme Court decisions.

He cited the case of Nyako v. Adamawa State House of Assembly and others (2016) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) v. Alhaji Mohammed Goni and others.

He said that from the apex courts decision, the Constitution could not be amended by mere pronouncement of a court of law.

Melaye added that it was only right to respect the provision of the Constitution.

The trial judge failed to respect that provision of the Constitution when he elongated 90 days provided for, saying the process was paused when the interim order for maintenance of status quo was granted.

I am not evading the service of any purported petition on me by INEC.

As a matter of fact, my lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, served INEC a notice to produce the said petition in the course of hearing of this matter but INEC failed to produce the petition in court.

I have also instructed my lawyer to challenge the jurisdiction of the trial court to entertain an ex parte application for the service on me.

In view of the lapse of time, I shall no longer be in a haste to take any further step in this matter so as not to aid any party, especially INEC in breaching the Constitution, he said.

Melaye said that having asked his lawyer to file appeal against the judgment by the court, he was aware that the matter was sub-judice.
DECATUR  Trains move swiftly and quietly along their straight metal tracks. People walking on or driving across railroad tracks assume that they will hear or see a train coming, but it is deceivingly quiet, which can lead to fatal results: Every three hours, someone in the United States is hit or killed by a train.

You dont see it or hear it before it is on top of you, said Marianne Manko, spokesperson for the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Illinois is second in the nation for fatalities. Last year in Illinois, 142 people were hit by a train, and 46 were killed, Macon County sheriff's Lt. Jamie Belcher said Monday.

Belcher and others spoke at a news conference hosted by Norfolk Southern Corp., the Macon County Sheriffs Office and the Illinois Commerce Commission to spread awareness for Rail Safety Week, which Gov. Bruce Rauner proclaimed began Sunday and continues through Saturday. This week also marks the first National Rail Safety Week by Operation Lifesaver Inc.

The organizations plan to step up enforcement of railway citations as well as education efforts. Throughout 2017, Norfolk Southern has offered free training for first responders on a 23-city safety train tour. Its Operation Awareness & Response program helps responders learn the best practices for dealing with railway accidents and injuries.

The sheriffs office will devote two deputies per day to watching rail property, rail crossings and heavier traffic areas to make sure people are following the laws and procedures, Belcher said.

With railroads crisscrossing Central Illinois and lines cutting through most every town, particularly Decatur's many crossings with three Class I railroads, Belcher said it is important for people to pay attention and follow safety regulations.

The railroad crossings with the most traffic accidents in Decatur are near Archer Daniels Midland Co., Tate & Lyle and Caterpillar Inc., Belcher said. Other areas include crossings on Illinois 105, U.S. 36 and the rural areas of the county.

In town, trains go much slower, but in rural areas they may go as fast as 60 or 70 mph. Belcher acknowledged that it can be annoying to wait for trains, but the frustration is better than the alternative.

Its not worth your life to possibly get struck by a train, he said.

He also called it selfish to try to beat a train, because people are risking their own lives as well as their family and the conductor of the train, many of whom are scarred emotionally by accidents involving cars or pedestrians.

Most citations were given out for disobedience to signals, gates, lights indicating the approach of a train, for drivers and pedestrians, according to the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

Sgt. Ryan Nauce with the Illinois Commerce Commission Police, said the citation procedure is not as simple as a speeding ticket. People must appear before a judge and can go to jail for up to a year for walking on the railroad tracks or being on railroad property, Nauce said.

He said the ICC police focus on three E's: education, enforcement and engineering. They hope to teach people to be safe near trains, enforce the laws and build the safest possible railroad crossings.

People like to take photos on railroad tracks, Nauce said, leading to an increase of trespassers during homecoming and prom seasons. People also like to take senior pictures and engagement photos on tracks.

People dont understand the real danger of taking pictures or walking along railroad tracks, said Manko with the ICC. Weve read too many (accident) reports where someone is in a prom dress and heels on railroad tracks.

Belcher said they try to educate people that taking photos on the railroad tracks is extremely dangerous. He encourages people not to "try to be cute" or to get "that awesome shot" on or around railroad tracks.

You wouldnt take your selfie standing in the middle of the interstate, so why do it on a set of tracks? he said.

Trains are on a straight track with lights or signs at crossings. Trains don't hit people, but people put themselves in a position to be hit, Manko said. It is more truthful to say people drove in front of a train or walked where they knew a train could be, she said.

Parents should make sure their children know about railroad safety and guidelines, Manko said. Many parents whove had children injured or killed have said they didnt know their children even played or walked near railroad tracks and didnt know to tell them not to.

If there is a train coming dont make the assumption you can run or drive across that track, Manko said. Its an optical illusion. You cant tell how fast that train is coming at you, and we lose people every single day.
Timmermans will seek the support of member states to take action if Poland's Law and Justice Party (PiS) refuses to back down over controversial judicial reforms that Brussels says pose a "systemic threat" to the rule of law.

And if Warsaw fails to halt the measures, the Commission has also warned it could trigger Article Seven of the EU's treaties -- the so-called "nuclear option" that could freeze Poland's EU voting rights.

Hungary has vowed to veto any such step against its Polish ally.

"I don't expect fireworks just now," an EU official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "But hopefully (there will be) a useful exchange of views and support."

Timmermans gets tough

Timmermans, the right-hand man to European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, has been leading efforts for months to get Poland to comply with EU democracy standards.

Now he is taking a tougher approach and seeking the support of the European affairs ministers from the 28-nation bloc meeting in Brussels to move ahead with firm steps, if necessary.

In July, Timmermans said the Commission was ready to trigger Article Seven if Poland goes ahead and sacks supreme court justices, the most extreme of the laws.

Article Seven can be invoked by the Commission -- the executive arm of the bloc -- if an EU state is deemed to pose a systemic threat to the rule of law, and EU states can approve this by a majority.

But moving on to actual sanctions against Poland must be approved by all the remaining member states, meaning it could be vetoed by Budapest, which has also clashed with Brussels over democracy issues.

And Timmermans is also waiting to see how the Polish president, an independent allied with PiS, moves ahead with judicial reforms, an EU official said.

Progress report

In July, Duda surprised many when he vetoed one bill that would have reinforced political control over the Supreme Court and another that allowed parliament to choose members of a body designed to protect the independence of the courts.

In Warsaw, a spokesman said Duda would publish his amended draft laws on Monday.

It was not immediately clear whether the proposed changes will be cosmetic or whether they will reduce the justice minister's role in appointing judges.

The new drafts are due to be discussed in parliament and could be modified further.

A senior EU official said the ministers were expecting Timmermans to say how much, if any progress, has been achieved in his talks with the Polish government since he addressed them in May.

In July, the Commission also launched separate legal action against Poland over one of the reforms which could see Warsaw hauled before the EU's top court and fined.

The Polish government is also defying a European Court of Justice injunction to suspend logging in the Bialowieza Forest, Europe's last primeval woodland.
"The air raids struck several locations and villages in the Jisr al-Shughur area of the province bordering Turkey, leaving 27 dead among civilians, 10 of them children," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

After several months of calm, Idlib province has for the past two weeks been the target of heavy air strikes by the regime and its Russian allies, following a jihadist assault in neighbouring Hama province also covered by the de-escalation accord for Syria's war that has cost more than 330,000 lives since 2011.
Despite enjoying strong ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Turkey fears Monday's vote could stoke separatist aspirations among its own Kurdish minority. Erdogan also hinted the Turkish military were ready to act if needed.

"Entrance-exit will be closed" at the Habur border crossing, Turkey's sole land border crossing with Iraq, Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.

He said there were currently crossings allowed to the Iraqi side only but travel would be closed in both directions this week.

He added: "After this let's see through which channels they will send their oil through... and who they will sell to. The valve is with us. It's finished the moment we close it."

Iraqi Kurdish oil is exported through Turkey and its southern Ceyhan port, a key economic lifeline for the region.

Erdogan said "irrespective of the result, we see this (referendum) as null and void and say it is illegitimate".

'All options on table'

Erdogan said Turkey was ready to take "all the steps" needed "on political, economic, trade and security fronts" and appeared not to rule out military action.

Last week the Turkish armed forces began a military drill in the region around the border town of Silopi including 100 military vehicles, which continued with reinforcements this weekend.

"The armed forces did not take necessary steps in Silopi for no reason. There is no compromise," Erdogan promised.

Erdogan warned the KRG of a cross-border operation by the Turkish army similar to that taken in northern Syria last year against the Islamic State group and Kurdish militants.

Dubbed Euphrates Shield, Ankara supported Syrian opposition fighters in northern Syria clear territory from IS and stop Syrian Kurdish militia from joining up their northern cantons. The operation -- begun in August -- was completed in March.

Turkey views the YPG and the PYD as "terror groups" linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a separatist insurgency inside Turkey since 1984 and has its rear bases in northern Iraq.

"The northern Iraqi administration must take a step backwards. We will absolutely not allow a federal state. In the same way, we will not allow a terror state formed in Syria," said Erdogan.

Recalling the lighting offensive that kicked off Euphrates Shield, he added: "As I said, we can come unexpectedly in the night."

"We did this with Euphrates Shield. All the options are on the table right now," Erdogan said, adding: "In Iraq, when necessary, we will not shy away from taking these types of steps."

'Protect the Turkmen'

Voting also took place in the city of Kirkuk -- shared with Arabs and Turkmen -- where control is disputed between the Kurds and the federal government in Baghdad.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later warned any intervention against "our Turkmen brothers" would lead to an immediate military operation by Ankara.

"It is our most natural duty to protect the rights of the Turkmen," quoted by state-run news agency Anadolu.

The Turkish parliament on Saturday had approved overwhelmingly a one-year extension of a mandate to use troops abroad in Syria and Iraq.

Premier Binali Yildirim said Ankara would take steps with regard to air space "before it is too late" although flights to northern Iraq from Turkey are reported to be running as normal.
Cage has campaigned since 2003 on behalf of people who have allegedly suffered abuses in the United States' fight against terrorism.

Rabbani told the court he wanted to protect a Qatari client.

"It was a case involving the US against an individual who was allegedly tortured over the course of 12 or 13 years in US custody," he said.

"There were around 30,000 (documents) which I was especially uncomfortable handling and I felt an enormous responsibility to try and discharge the trust that was given to me," he said.

But the court dismissed Rabbani's arguments and handed him a 12-month conditional discharge, meaning no further action would be taken unless he commits a further offence.

Rabbani, 36, was also ordered to pay a fine of 620 ($835, 705 euros) and police have seized his phone and laptop.

Speaking outside court, Rabbani said the law amounted to a "digital strip search" and called for the legislation to be changed.

"I took the decision not to raise the details of an important torture case before my arrest and ultimately I have been convicted of protecting the confidentiality of my client," he said.

"If privacy and confidentiality are crimes, then the law stands condemned."

The head of London's counter-terrorism command, Dean Haydon, said the law under which Rabbani was convicted was crucial "to help keep the public safe".

"Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is a vital tool in the fight against terrorism and we are committed to ensuring the power is used appropriately and proportionately, as it was in this case," he said in a statement.

Schedule 7 was also used in 2013 against the partner of Glenn Greenwald, the US journalist behind the Edward Snowden intelligence leaks.
But the White House stressed that the measure was to protect the United States from terror attacks.

"We are taking action today to protect the safety and security of the American people by establishing a minimum security baseline for entry into the United States," Trump said in a statement.

"We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation."

Iraq kept off list

Sudan, one of the six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list.

The US has recently praised Sudan's efforts in fighting terrorism ahead of a decision expected in October on whether to lift decades-old sanctions on Khartoum.

Full bans were newly placed on nationals from North Korea and Chad, and extended for five countries on the original list: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

Limited restrictions meanwhile were placed on Venezuela, for officials from government agencies including interior and foreign ministries, the main police and intelligence services, and other agencies. Trump's order said Caracas was not cooperating on security issues.

Officials speaking on background stressed that the decision was taken after an extensive review of high-risk countries by the Department of Homeland Security, which were all given the opportunity to improve their security standards.

The DHS report also said that Iraq did not meet its baseline security requirements.

But because Baghdad is a close ally and supports the presence of large numbers of US troops and civilians, officials said, the White House opted not to place Iraq on the list. But US-bound travelers there will face much tougher vetting.

"If you can't screen people effectively to know who's coming into your country, then you shouldn't allow people from that country to travel," said White House National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster.

Trump administration officials stressed that the restrictions are "conditions-based, not time-based," indicating that significant improvements by countries could see them delisted from the travel ban.

Not a 'Muslim ban'

The officials also said the addition of North Korea and Venezuela demonstrated that the measure was based on security standards and was not a "Muslim ban," as detractors have argued.

That accusation was accepted by federal appeals courts in lawsuits that blocked the first efforts by Trump to set the ban, in January and March. The ban, which also included a broader, 120-day ban on refugees that expires next month, will be argued in the Supreme Court on October 10.

"Religion, or the religious origin of individuals or nations, was not a factor," a senior government official told reporters.

"The inclusion of those countries, Venezuela and North Korea, was about the fact that those governments are simply not compliant with our basic security requirements."

But Becca Heller, director of the International Refugee Assistance Project, said that of the three countries added, "Chad is majority Muslim, travel from North Korea is already basically frozen and the restrictions on Venezuela only affect government officials on certain visas. You can't get any more transparent than that."

On the decision to remove Sudan, she said: "Last week, the government ended Temporary Protected Status for Sudan, suggesting that the government of Sudan was pressured into agreeing to accept massive numbers of deported Sudanese nationals from the US in exchange for being dropped from the travel ban."

"President Trump's original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list," added Anthony Romero of the American Civil Liberties Union.

North Korea, locked in a dangerous face-off with Washington over its nuclear weapons program, was added, the order said, because Pyongyang "does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect."

Chad was added to the list even though Trump's order called it "an important and valuable counterterrorism partner." It pointed to the presence in the northern African country of designated terror groups like the so-called Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram, and said the government does not adequately share security and terrorism-related information.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Horticulturists and greenhouse operators will have an opportunity to network with industry experts and Purdue Extension specialists during the 2017 Indiana Flower Growers Association (IFGA) Purdue Conference.

The conference will be held 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 10, at the Daniel Turf Center, 1340 Cherry Lane, West Lafayette.

Topics and speakers will include:

* Technology and Automation: Krishna Nemali, assistant professor, Purdue Controlled Environment Agriculture

* Soil Moisture / Electrical Conductivity Sensors: Krueger Maddux

* Marketplace Opportunities: Marvin Miller, Ball Horticulture

* Greenhouse Production  It is All About the Details: Allen Hammer, Dummen Orange

* Worker Protection Standards: Joe Becovitz

Lunch will be provided with registration. Cost is $45 for the first IFGA member and $20 for additional IFGA members. For non-members, the fee is $60 for the first attendee and $35 for additional attendees.

To register, contact Lori Jolly-Brown at ljollybr@purdue.edu or call 765-494-1296.

Writer: Cheri Frederick, 765-494-2406, cfrederick@purdue.edu

Sources: Krishna Nemali, 765-494-8179, knemali@purdue.edu

Lori Jolly-Brown, 765-494-1296, ljollybr@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;

Shari Finnell, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, sfinnell@purdue.edu

Agriculture News Page
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Indiana high school students who are considering studying digital media are invited to attend an event Saturday (Sept. 30) at Purdue University.

The free event is 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Beering Hall, 100 N. University St. Registration is required by Thursday (Sept. 28) by calling 765-494-3429. Lunch will be provided for participants. The Brian Lamb School of Communication is organizing the event.

Students who are interested in mass communication will have the opportunity to learn about careers in TV news broadcasting, film and television production, radio, music video production and other digital media. There will be hands-on demonstrations and a panel discussion from industry experts. Students and parents also will find out how to prepare for the real world and what students should study upon high school graduation to place them ahead of their peers.

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Dustin Grove, co-director of Indiana High School Digital Media Conference, grove5@purdue.edu
DECATUR  Vieweg Real Estate will roughly double its number of brokers by acquiring the Decatur real estate franchise of Coldwell Banker, managing broker and owner Tim Vieweg confirmed Monday.

Vieweg said the acquisition would take effect at the end of September. Coldwell Bankers office at 333 E. Pershing Road will become a second location for Vieweg, which has offices in downtown Decatur at 225 S. Main St.

Both companies have about 20 brokers, Vieweg said. While Vieweg Real Estate handles commercial and residential real estate, Coldwell Bankers agents focus solely on residential sales, he said.

Its always good to add seasoned agents. Its fun to get brand new agents, but you have to train them and spend a lot of time with them, Vieweg said. Its nice to take a giant step forward.

A representative for the Coldwell Banker office referred all questions to Vieweg.

He said the deal came together in about a week. It feels like its the right thing, Vieweg said. Sometimes when you have to work too hard at something, maybe its not the right thing, but this fell together pretty quickly and I think its gonna be good for all of us.

Coldwell Banker is a real estate franchise company with headquarters in New Jersey and offices in 49 countries and all 50 United States. Vieweg said he looked forward to learning how to incorporate some of the franchise's office management methods into his independent offices.

"Although we have a lot of momentum, we hope to gain a little knowledge from them also," he said.
STONE PARK, Ill. (AP)  Police say a west-suburban Chicago man faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his ex-girlfriend and 4-year-old son.

Authorities say 32-year-old Daniel Barraza of Melrose Park was charged after police arrested him Saturday night when he returned to the Stone Park home where 31-year-old Marian Cruze Hurtado and Corbin Dallas Barraza were found dead Thursday night.

The Cook County medical examiner's office said autopsies Saturday found that the boy died of multiple stab wounds and the woman died from multiple injuries from an assault. Both deaths were ruled homicides.

Stone Park police say the deaths appear to have happened during "an isolated domestic violence incident."

Barraza is to appear Monday in bond court. He didn't have a listed phone number in Melrose Park to request comment.
The Wall Street Journal has been relentless in its criticism of Illinois in recent years, largely because of our budget and political problems. To read its editorial pages, you would think we had contracted The Plague.

For a book I co-authored a couple of years on Fixing Illinois (University of Illinois Press, 2014), I was invited to visit Rochelle, in the central-northern part of our state. This small city belies the rap that business wont come to Illinois.

Below is an op-ed I submitted recently to the WSJ. The short piece is an illustration of how I think we must change the narrative about Illinois and stop flailing ourselves with barbed whips:

"Illinois has taken a beating on these pages in recent years. Nevertheless, vibrant Rochelle, IL is hands-down the best place in America to build a planned new Toyota-Mazda manufacturing facility.

"Sounds like typical boosterism, right? You bet it does, and here is the proof.

"Rochelle sits smack-dab in the middle of a venerable manufacturing belt known worldwide for building the best -- from John Deere on the Mississippi to Caterpillar on the Illinois to UTC Aerospace in Rockford.

"Talk about being in the middle. Yes, Rochelle is literally the Heart of the Heartland, at the crossroads of the nation. Two million folks live within working distance of this small city.

"Rochelle is a hub of multiple Class I railroads/intermodal ramps and fiber trunks. Up the road 20 miles is the Chicago-Rockford International Airport (RFD), which is a top-tier cargo airport that moves freight across its ramps at a fraction of the time and cost of other airports.

"And just down the interstate is OHare, which the Center for Air Transport at MIT in 2013 named the best air hub in the nation for domestic connections -- and for international connections as well!

"Dont forget the critical workforce, with rural kids who have been brought up fixing equipment on the farm, as well as city kids whose fathers and grandfathers worked long and hard at manufacturing plants across northern Illinois. Its in their blood.

"These kids now often hone their skills at one of the more than 40 community/technical colleges in Illinois, five of which are located a stones throw from Rochelle.

"So, its no wonder that since 2003 Rochelle has generated $1.2 billion in capital investment in logistics, manufacturing, energy, and data centers. And more than a thousand new jobs.

"When Nippon Sharyo chose to manufacture electric rail cars in Rochelle, the company found the highway, rail, and utility infrastructure already in place, plus an abundance of workers ready to go.

"Rochelle is hot, and it has every reason to be.

"Sure, Illinois has been through a rough patch recently. Our 13 million people are a diverse, feisty lot, and we squabble. Name me a state that doesnt have conflicts?

"Illinois is working its way through its challenges. At long last, we have a new state budget, and we recently revived an economic development incentive program to make us competitive in that game once again."

"Rochelle has been identified as one of several places under consideration by a Toyota-Mazda venture to build a new auto plant.

"As the incredible success in recent decades of the Japanese auto industry attests, Japanese auto executives know the auto business better than anyone else in the world.

"I believe they will look closely at the unmatched transportation resources, ideal geographic location, and skilled workforce in Rochelle and conclude that Illinois is the place to build -- regardless of what the WSJ says."
The US Class 1 railway says it re-established rail service in most of the southeast US within hours, into and out of northern Florida within 24 hours, and throughout the vast majority of the state within one week.

Restoring service required clearing nearly 8000 fallen trees from obstructed tracks and deploying hundreds of generators to operate signals and crossings in response to widespread commercial power outages. Prior to the storm, CSX evacuated more than 1500 wagons from Florida, and held nearly 200 trains and thousands of wagons to avoid damage from the hurricane.

In addition to restoring rail operations, CSX also has been active in helping communities and individuals recover from the impacts of Hurricane Irma through charitable contributions and in-kind donations to local, state and national relief agencies. Among them, CSX has contributed $US 100,000 and up to $US 50,000 in in-kind transportation services to Feeding Florida, to provide food and supplies to residents of the state affected by Irma. CSX also has worked with the State of Florida to expedite critical shipments of propane, animal feed and other commodities essential for residents of the peninsula.

Im extraordinarily proud of our team of dedicated railroaders, who worked tirelessly to prepare for and respond to the impacts of Hurricane Irma, said CSX President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison. Thanks to the dedication of these individuals, CSX was able to quickly and safely restore service to customers

 The Norfolk Southern Foundation is donating $US 100,000 and will match certain NS employee gifts as part of efforts to help people recover from Hurricane Irma. The Foundation, Norfolk Southerns charitable giving arm, will give $50,000 to the American Red Cross and $25,000 each to the Feeding Tampa Bay and Feeding South Florida food banks. It will also match employee donations to the American Red Cross and Feeding America food banks.
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Moscow court upholds sentence for unauthorized rally participant

MOSCOW, September 25 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court has upheld a 2.5-year prison sentence for Stanislav Zimovets, a participant of the unauthorized March 26 rally in Moscow, found guilty of attacking a police officer, RAPSI correspondent reports from the courtroom on Monday.

The court dismissed an appeal filed by the defendants lawyer insisting on Zimovets innocence.

According to prosecution, Zimovets threw a stone at a police officer during the rally. As a result, lieutenant-colonel Vladimir Kotenov received an injury. Police seized a nonlethal pistol and a knife during his arrest.

Earlier, the court ruled in three other similar cases related to the rally. Yury Kuliy was sentenced to 8 months in penal colony settlement, Alexander Shpakov received 1.5 years and Andrey Kosykh was sentenced to 4 years in prison. All three defendants pleaded guilty.

According to police, about 500 people were arrested on March 26 during the unauthorized rally. Overall number of people present in the area at the time was estimated at as high as 8,000 people.

The Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny, arrested during the rally, claimed that Moscow authorities refused to greenlight the rally in the citys center and proposed alternative areas only a day before it was to take place. Navalny said that in this case Russian legislation allows organizers to hold an event at the area, which was listed first.
Detention of Ukrainian journalist charged with spying extended for another two months

MOSCOW, September 25 (RAPSI) - The detention of Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who stands charged with espionage, on Monday was extended until November 30, RAPSI reports from the Moscow City Court.

The ruling will be appealed, lawyer Mark Feygin wrote on his Twitter account.

According to Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ukrainian citizen has "purposively collected classified information about the Armed Forces and National Guard of Russia." Leak of data abroad could cause damage to the national defense capability, the FSB claimed earlier.

On October 7, 2016, charges were brought against Sushchenko. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Ukrinform news agency earlier confirmed that Sushchenko has been acting as its reporter since 2002. Since 2010, he has been working as Ukrinforms personal correspondent in France. According to the agency, Sushchenko arrived in Moscow on private business during his vacation and was arrested immediately upon his arrival.

Ukrinform repelled accusations against Sushchenko calling him "a journalist with years of unblemished professional reputation."
One more Russian citizen sentenced for cyber fraud in U.S.

MOSCOW, September 25 (RAPSI)  The U.S. District Court for Central District of California has sentenced Russian national Dmitry Fedoseyev to 33 months in prison in a large-scale cyber fraud case.

The defendant was also ordered to pay $232,000 in damages, according to the court documents obtained by RAPSI.

The court found Fedoseyev guilty of possession of 15 or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft. Other eleven counts of charges initially brought against the defendant were dropped by U.S. prosecutors because the man had pleaded guilty.

Upon release from imprisonment, he will be placed on supervised release for a term of 3 years, the judgment reads.

Fedoseyev has a right to appeal the sentence.

The criminal case reached the U.S. court in April 2016. Soon after, Russian nationals Timur Safin, Irina Fedoseyeva, Dmitry Fedoseyev, Christina Gerasimova and Belorussian national Sergey Patapau went on trial.

The indictment reads that Safin, Fedoseyev, Fedoseyeva and Patapau fraudulently got access to credit cards with limits of up to $5 million and used those to obtain luxurious products for further resale or exchange.

During the searches, law enforcement officers found hundreds of fake credit cards and equipment for their production as well as personal data of legal bank accounts owners used for production of credit cards. The U.S. Ministry of Justice estimates damage caused by the fraud from $3 to $5 million.

In June, the court passed the sentence on Safin and Fedoseyeva.

Safin received 3 years in prison and was obliged to pay victims $250,000 in compensation. His lawyer said that this is the first breach of law by his client and that he may be deported to Russia after serving his time despite having a legally obtained permanent residence in the United States. Safin has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and use of unauthorized access devices.

Fedoseyeva, who also pleaded guilty to the use of unauthorized access devices, was given 14 months in prison. Additionally, the court ordered the woman to pay about $232,700 in damages.
On Tuesday, September 12, Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu sat with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. According to Russian embassy social-media posts they discussed joint cooperation against Islamic State. This comes on the heels of the Syrian army reaching the city of Deir ez-Zor on the Euphrates River in eastern Syria and breaking a two-and-a-half-year siege. Russia has played a key role in the Syrian armys successes, which increasingly means that Russian-backed Syrian forces are coming into contact with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). On September 16th the US-led coalition said a Russian airstrike east of the Euphrates river wounded several members of the SDF. As ISIS declines, its vacuum is filled with groups whose agendas are not the same and, in the case of Washington, whose policy remains unclear in eastern Syria. That is leading to greater Iranian influence across Iraq and Syria, and it leaves U.S. allies in the Gulf, Israel and on the ground in Syria wondering what comes next.

Days after the Syrian armywith aid from the Russian air forcebroke the siege of Deir Ez-Zor, the U.S.-backed SDF launched an offensive to reach the city from the other side of the Euphrates River. Kurdish media network Rudawreported that they had reached the citys industrial zone on September 10. Deir Ez-Zor is strategically significant because it is the largest city of the Deir ez-Zor Governorate that stretches on both sides of the Euphrates River to the Iraqi border. The Islamic State expanded along this area in 2014, using it as a conduit to enter Iraqs mostly Sunni Anbar province via the crossing at Abu Kamal. As the map of ISIS-controlled areas shrinks by the day, with its capital of Raqqa about to be taken by the SDF, the United States, Russia and their allies are eying the next stage of the conflict in Syria and Iraq.

Jonathan Spyer, director of the Rubin Center for Research in International Affairs at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya says the current situation raises important questions, especially about Iranian support for the Syrian regime. We know what the Syrian regime is doing, trying to defeat ISIS and re-assert regime control. The Iranians want the border crossing at Abu Kamal and the land corridor that is part of that, Spyer says. Control of the crossing and the road helps Iran achieve its goal of linking the Shia militias it backs in Iraq with Hezbollah in Lebanon via its Damascus ally. We know what the Iranians want, what do the SDF and the Americans want, it is less clear . . . there is no overarching U.S. strategy other than ISIS needing to be destroyed, he says. Spyer argues that the Iranians see Iraq, Syria and Lebanon as a single space on which they play a masterful strategic game across the region. That is why Hezbollah has been fighting in Syria and its men have been spotted in Iraq. It is why Iraqi militias have served in Syria. The United States by contrast sees each country differently, working with Iraqi prime minister Haider Abadis government in Baghdad against ISIS, working with the SDF in Syria, and working with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariris government in Beirut. Spyer argues that turning over management of the Syria file to the Russians would amount to turning over Syria to Americas adversaries.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg, a Kurdish affair analyst who is in Syria and familiar with the SDF points out that the Russians and Americans have sought to deconflict as their forces draw closer. I dont think the policies of the SDF is to go through Deir Ez-Zor city, maybe some neighborhoods, but the city is for the regime, Wilgenburg says. The SDF wants to take the countryside and it appears the Americans are interested in them moving towards the Iraqi border, Wilgenburg says. I think that is the plan, but they make a line with the Syrian [regime], but the Iranians wont like it. Russia and Americans will try to coordinate it. The major question is whether the United States will openly say its policy is to contain Iranian influence and draw attention to the border area as a place to do that.

U.S.-Russia relations in Syria currently work through a deconfliction mechanism that has avoided air forces coming into contact. In late August a convoy of several hundred ISIS fighters was allowed to leave the Al-Qalamoun area on the Lebanese-Syrian border under an agreement with Hezbollah. They were supposed to transit to Abu Kamal, because the regime was preparing the Deir Ez-Zor offensive and didnt want to have to run into the ISIS fighters again. Under pressure from Iraq, which didnt want the convoy crossing the border, the U.S.-led coalition, targeted a road to prevent the convoy moving on. In a statement the coalition said that it had communicated to the Russians to deliver a message to the Syrian regime that the coalition will not condone ISIS fighters moving further east to the Iraqi border. Although coalition air operations crossed the Euphrates River, the coalition continually stresses that it has no fight with the Syrian regime or its allies in the counter-ISIS fight.

The Russians seem to be hardening their stance on the U.S. role in Syria. On Sunday, September 10, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov was reported as saying that anyone who is on Syrian soil or in Syrias airspace without Damascuss consent, including the United States, violated international law. In early September, Sputnik News, which is considered close to the Russian government, reported that US aircraft evacuates 20 Daesh [ISIS] commanders from Deir ez-Zor source. This was obviously misinformation, but it was designed to paint the United States as a bad actor in Syria. On September 11, responding to claims that the United States had struck the Syrian army, the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman tweetedthat the rumors were false, our fight is with ISIS, 22 strikes this week.

Despite the rumor mongering and quiet war of words, there are also signs that Moscow views the role of the SDF amicably. On September 13 the Russian military was reported to have said that 85 percent of Syria had been liberated from enemies. According to the Associated Press, Lt. Gen Alexander Lapin said 15 percent of the country remained to be retaken. That would indicate that the SDF areas of control, which is around 35 percent of the country, are not seen as controlled by the enemy. Russian military observers have played a role in places like Afrin that are controlled by the SDF but where the United States is not present.

This leaves a major question as to what U.S. policy will be as its allies seek to liberate more areas along the Euphrates River Valley toward the Iraqi border. Currently, the other side of the Iraqi border is controlled mostly by Iranian-backed Shia militias, called the Hashd al-Shaabi, which are officially part of the Iraqi security forces. These forces want to move down and take Al Qaim across from Abu Kamal. They would then like to link up with the Syrian regime forces and its own Iranian-backed militias. The United States remains committed solely to defeating ISIS, and in Iraq U.S. forces assisting the Iraqis have worked next to the Shia militias in recent campaigns such as Tal Afar. However, in Iraq the coalitions official policy is not to work with the militias, only the Iraqi army, federal police and other units. This is a convenient bifurcation that is meaningless on the ground, as all these forces are intermingled in the war on ISIS.

What the United States and its SDF allies decide to do in the next months in Syria will likely begin to determine the next stage of the future in the Middle East. If the United States begins to sketch out a policy of containing Iranian influence, then it can do that with its partners. If the United States is only there to defeat ISIS, then its post-ISIS strategy in Iraq and Syria leaves its non-Iranian aligned partners with an unclear future. This has repercussions that stretch beyond the Euphrates River Valley. It affects how Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, the Kurds and Turkey see U.S. commitments and policy.
Efforts to create a new state are always contentious and frequently violent. The Iraqi Kurds move toward independence, however, is even more contentious and complex than usual. The unfolding crisis affects many countries besides Iraq, including the United States, Russia, Turkey and Iran. But theres one country that is in prime position to not just be affected by the crisis, but to shape its outcome: Turkey.

As long as it doesnt give in to mounting pressure to cancel, the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq is expected to hold an independence referendum on Sept. 25. In the likely event that the yes vote prevails, the KRG leadership would use the result as the foundation for a negotiated exit from the Iraqi state. It will be an uphill battle from there. The Shiite-led central government in Baghdad has no reason to negotiate away its territory.

To make matters worse, the Kurds want to take with them disputed territories that are well south of the three provinces (Dahuk, Irbil and Sulaimaniyah) that formally constitute the KRG. These include significant parts of Ninevah, Salahuddin, Kirkuk and Diyala  areas that are energy-rich and heavily Kurdish, but also areas that Baghdad is unlikely to give up without a fight. And it wont be alone: The government will have the full backing of its patron, Iran. Furthermore, the Sunnis  who are either a majority or a significant minority in the provinces in question  will be major participants in whatever comes next. The Islamic State, in particular, will look to exploit the situation to change its fortunes.

Unlikely Partners

With so many actors aligned against them, the Kurds will need help from a major player. Turkey may be just the partner that theyre looking for. All things being equal, Turkey should be vehemently opposed to the emergence of an independent Kurdish state across the border from its own restive Kurdish area. The political statements coming out of Turkey certainly give the impression that the government in Ankara will not tolerate the Iraqi Kurds making a run at full sovereignty. Reality is not so simple, however.

The Turks are certainly not thrilled with the prospect of the KRG becoming the Republic of Kurdistan  definitely not at a time when the Kurds in Syria are galloping toward their own de facto Kurdistan. The Kurdish community is far from monolithic and suffers from deep divisions in all four countries where they make up a sizable share of the population. The Iraqi Kurds dont deal much with the Kurds in Turkey, but Syrias Kurdish separatists are closely allied with Turkeys Kurdish rebels, the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. No country has a larger concentration of Kurds than Turkey, so this is a major concern for the Turks. Fortunately for Ankara, however, it has options.

For the better part of the past decade, Turkey has been forging deeper relations with the KRG to the point that the KRG has almost become a client statelet. It has taken full advantage of the fact that the KRG is landlocked and surrounded by hostile forces. Though the Shiites who dominate the Iraqi central government agreed to give the Kurds regional autonomy, they have always sought to severely limit its scope. The key to doing so was to constrain Irbils ability to export the ample supply of hydrocarbons in the KRG.

The only export routes ran south through most of Iraq to the Persian Gulf  routes controlled by the Shiites. Until 2014, the KRG relied heavily on exports by road, which limited their output to roughly 60,000 barrels of oil per day. The breakthrough came when the KRG constructed a pipeline that connected to Turkeys pipeline network and export terminals at the port of Ceyhan. This pipeline provided the KRG with an escape route from its dependence on Baghdad.

In the process, however, the KRG has come to depend on Turkey. Most of the 600,000 bpd that the KRG exports today run through Turkish territory. As much as 90 percent of the KRGs operating budget comes from oil proceeds. Over the years, Turkish companies have begun to dominate the various sectors of the KRGs economy, and Turkish goods dominate its markets. In this way, Turkey has become more than a close partner for the Iraqi Kurds; its become a necessary partner.

For Turkey, this relationship could be helpful on many fronts. First, imports from the KRG help Turkey to diversify its sources of energy. Second, the KRG has helped Turkey contain the PKK insurgency. It provides Turkey with intelligence on PKK hideouts and doesnt make a big deal of Turkish military operations in northern Iraq. Finally, the relationship prevents Turkeys historical rival, Iran, from enjoying a near-monopoly over influence in Iraq.

Trying Times

Its a useful arrangement, but its being tested by the Iraqi Kurdish move to secede from Iraq. Turkeys entire southern flank is chaotic, and Ankara is already busy in Syria dealing with the Syrian Kurds, the Assad regime, the Islamic State and other jihadists, Iran and Russia. Publicly, Turkey has warned the KRG that it will shut down oil exports if Irbil does not cancel the referendum. In truth, Turkey would likely be able to live with an independent Kurdistan because the new state would be so reliant on Turkey for its well-being. Its not independence itself that complicates things for Turkey  its the timing.

The Turks arent about to throw away their entire investment of so many years by assuming an uncompromising attitude toward the Iraqi Kurds. At the same time, the KRG isnt going to alienate the one state on which the entire political economy of its envisioned state relies. But the Kurdish leadership in Iraq has already mobilized the masses, and it cant back down now from at least holding the referendum  if not following through on independence, should the yes vote prevail. It would thus not be a surprise to see Irbil and Ankara eventually reach an understanding whereby Turkey has a major seat at the table where the future of Kurdistan is being shaped gradually.

Though this is a risky move that could embolden the Syrian and Turkish Kurds to emulate their Iraqi counterparts, if an independent Kurdistan arises from the shattered state that is Iraq, it wouldnt mean the sky is falling for Turkey. The Turks will have to carefully navigate the aftermath, but the relationship they have cultivated with the KRG gives them a lot of leverage to manage the Kurds on a regional level. The Turks can live with a Kurdistan that is beholden to them, and in fact, it will provide them with a way to manage the Syrian Kurds and to roll back Irans growing influence in the region. What the Turks say publicly, however, is a different story.
Seen from Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, U.S. and other foreign pressure to postpone the September 25 referendum on independence is, as Talleyrand once said, worse than a sin  it is a mistake. Popular enthusiasm for independence, and moral arguments about Kurdish suffering and self-determination, partly explain this predominant view. But among the most thoughtful Kurds, beyond any such emotional or ethical drivers, four good practical reasons account for their support for the referendum.

First, and most important, the Kurds themselves have consistently and credibly declared that the referendum, even if passes by a landslide, does not mean a unilateral declaration of independence. Rather, they acknowledge that the next step must be a process of negotiation with Baghdad, with Kurdistans other neighbors, and with the international community about the terms of future separation, confederation, or perhaps even an improved version of their existing autonomy. They know this is a gamble, fraught with risks, but feel that the referendum might on balance strengthen their future bargaining position. As a result, most Iraqi Kurds see opposition to the referendum as at best premature.

Second, most Kurds see the specific anti-referendum arguments as illusory. The notion that it jeopardizes the war against the Islamic State seems to them bizarre, on many counts. For one, it is the Kurds who played an outsized role as U.S. allies in the entire campaign against the Islamic State over the past three years, and continue to protect not only large swaths of territory but also two million mostly Arab refugees on Kurdish soil. Moreover, the war against the Islamic State is now mostly won, so the Kurds understandably believe it is high time to move on. And, they say, there is simply no evidence at all that the referendum stands in the way of any further plans against a possible resurgence of the Islamic State.

Related to this point is the Kurds unimpeachable claim that any assurances about potential compromises with Baghdad at some later date, provided only that the referendum is canceled, are just not believable. This reasonably reflects their long and bitter experience with a whole series of unfulfilled promises and constitutional commitments from Iraqs central government: about a referendum in Kirkuk and other disputed territories, about oil revenue sharing, about payments for the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, and more. As a consequence, the Kurds can hardly be blamed for doubting that any new promises made today will ever be fulfilled.

The third, more forward-looking reason most Kurds offer in defense of their referendum is that current overreactions to it will moderate once the vote takes place. It will then be a fait accompli, and outsiders will have little choice but to deal with the aftermath in a pragmatic fashion. As one senior Kurdish official put it privately to the author this week, We hope that wisdom will prevail. There is surely some merit to this position, if only because the alternatives appear worse to all parties. For Turkey, in particular, its strenuous rhetorical protests and symbolic military maneuvers against the referendum right now are one thing; but opening up a serious new front against a new enemy on its borders would be something else entirely. Indeed, in separate conversations with the author this week, some senior Turkish officials privately allowed that while their government might well impose some sanctions against Kurdistan if the referendum proceeds, it would be a tragedy for both sides if the remarkable Ankara-Erbil alliance of the past decade collapsed completely afterward.

Fourth, and finally, the other foreign neighbor that looms even larger over this picture is Iran. Many Kurds rightly ask why that should not be one more crucial reason to look past the referendum and on to the larger international interests at stake. Iran is vehemently opposed both to the referendum and to any Kurdish national rights, which would stand in the way of its own hegemonic ambitions in Iraq and well beyond, all the way across Syria and Lebanon to the Mediterranean. So if the United States is serious about confronting that Iranian challenge, the Kurds reason, it should switch gears and stand up for Kurdistans defiance of Irans increasingly menacing threats.

The best counterargument to this logic is that such a policy adjustment might come at the expense of other partnerships against Iranian expansionism. But the Kurds answer that Ankara, Baghdad, and others all have a common interest in containing Tehran, overriding their narrower concerns about Kurdistan. This is a debatable proposition, but one well worth pursuing in the aftermath of the referendum.

Altogether, for U.S. policy going forward, the preceding considerations strongly suggest a fresh look at the future of Kurdish-American friendship and strategic cooperation, which has borne such good fruit against Saddam Hussein, the Islamic State, and other common enemies for the past quarter-century. The referendum should not be the end of this story, as the most recent State Department statement implied. Instead, the United States should now concentrate on how better to navigate and reconcile the competing demands, and the common concerns, of our diverse potential partners in the region. That includes Turks and Arabs, of course, but also Kurds and others. Handled more wisely, this will still be a daunting yet not impossible task.
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'The hour is very late, and the choice between triumph and tragedy knocks at our door,' says Ajay Shah.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

High- and low-productivity firms manage to coexist in India when low-productivity firms cheat on compliance.

To the extent that a sound GST improves compliance, many low-productivity firms will exit.

A sound GST will also disrupt many vertically integrated firms and we will see more trades between specialised industries.

The banking crisis has slowed the traditional ways of ever-greening, which keeps zombie firms aloft.

RBI reforms, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and the resolution corporation will help shift capital from weak firms to healthy firms.

These factors suggest that a large restructuring of the economy is underway.

This is a daunting scale of churning in the economy.

Done right, this will give a new wave of GDP growth. Implementation teams in government hold the key.

Three forces are now reshaping the Indian economy.

The first is the impact of the goods and services tax on low-productivity firms.

Under normal conditions, competition in markets induces creative destruction. Weak firms exit.

This improves the supply of labour and capital to healthy firms at lower prices. It also improves the pricing power of healthy firms.

When capitalism works, the exit of weak firms improves the profitability of healthy firms.

This is not what we see in India.

High-productivity and high-compliance firms coexist with low-productivity and low-compliance firms.

Low-productivity firms survive by violating health/safety/environment regulations, and cheating on taxes.

This harms overall productivity and GDP.

The self-enforcing nature of the GST will reduce cheating on taxes. Many firms will be forced to either raise productivity or exit.

The second element is also related to the GST.

In India, we have traditionally had taxation of transactions.

In the delicate jargon of public finance, all transaction taxes are 'bad taxes'.

If production is organised as firm A making engines and firm B making cars, then the taxation of transactions results in double taxation.

This encourages vertical integration: Automobile companies would prefer to make their own engines. However, the essence of high productivity is specialisation.

A sophisticated economy is one in which there are a large number of highly specialised firms that trade with one another.

GST reduces the extent of taxation of transactions and thus reduces the artificial incentive for vertical integration.

Many firms have gone through great pain in recent decades to achieve vertical integration.

These firms will encounter difficulties when India achieves more specialised industries that trade intensively with one another.

The third element is about zombie firms.

In an ideal world, when it is clear that a firm does not work, it should be rapidly dissolved.

In India, these walking dead have been kept alive by injections of capital from banks. This process is coming under increasing stress.

Any one operational creditor who is not paid on time can trigger the IBC.

Any one employee who is not paid a salary on time can trigger the IBC.

Any one financial creditor can trigger the IBC.

Once any one person initiates the IBC proceedings, it becomes impossible for banks to keep up the facade of a standard asset.

High-productivity firms will be able to bring in enough equity capital and run a tight finance operation so as to make all payments on time.

Low-productivity firms will stumble. This will give more exit of low-productivity firms.

A Joint Parliamentary Committee of Parliament is examining the law that creates the 'Resolution Corporation' (RC), envisaged by Justice B N Srikrishna's Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC).

This will improve the pace of exit of weak financial firms, and thus bring greater discipline upon the use of financial capital in the economy.

These three forces add up to a large-scale churning of the economy.

Each of the three will impact upon the length and breadth of the country, upon firms large and small.

Even with the best implementation teams on the policy side, there will be a slow process of reconstructing Indian capitalism in these directions.

This will require new conceptions of the boundary of the firm, and of processes and technologies within firms. These changes call for building new kinds of organisational capital in all firms.

As an example, there will be opportunities for high-productivity firms to grow dramatically. These firms may be able to buy going concerns or assets that come up for sale through the IBC.

These firms will see an economy with lower wages, cheaper capital, and higher product prices. Their challenge will be in reshaping themselves to harness these opportunities.

These are valuable and positive features of the outlook for India. However, there are four bottlenecks in the zone of public policy.

What do policymakers need to achieve?

A sound GST is one with a single rate, a low rate, a comprehensive base, and a unified and capable administration.

Bankruptcy reform requires the following inputs: Fixing the mistakes in the 2016 law; building the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) into a high-performance organisation; sound regulations; three new private competitive industries for information utilities (IUs), insolvency professionals (IPs), and insolvency professional agencies (IPAs); a capable National Company Law Tribunal and Debt Recovery Tribunal; correcting mistakes in regulation which shapes how financial firms use the levers of the IBC; and correcting mistakes in regulation which hampers the pool of buyers for distressed assets.

RBI reforms are required to put banking regulation and supervision on a sound footing.

The Resolution Corporation requires enacting a sound law.

After the FSLRC report of 2013, the ministry of finance had set up a 'Task Force on the Establishment of the Resolution Corporation' led by M Damodaran, in 2014.

It has written an implementation plan for constructing the Resolution Corporation. This plan needs to be put into motion so that a high-performance organisation is built rapidly.

If good implementation teams are put into these four areas, India will translate this phase of structural change into stunning growth.

If weak implementation persists, this great churning will turn into a decade-long stagnation.

The hour is very late, and the choice between triumph and tragedy knocks at our door.

Ajay Shah is a professor at National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi.
Consumers can easily file cases against e-tailers now.

Tinesh Bhasin reports.

While there has been a phenomenal rise in e-commerce, redressal of complaints was always been a sore area.

For example, earlier, if an individual had made a purchase from Delhi and was unhappy with the product or service, the case could only be filed in the city where the company's registered office was situated, say Bengaluru.

Things have become a lot simpler.

The Supreme Court recently upheld the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's order which clarified from where an individual could file a complaint against an e-commerce company.

A consumer can file a complaint in the city where he made the transaction or at the forum where the office of the company is located, according to the NCDRC's and state forum's orders.

"We have been asking consumer fora to consider this for a long time. Going by the Consumer Protection Act, they always asked us to file a complaint with the consumer forum where the office of the e-commerce company was located. They didn't consider the place where the consumer did the transaction," says Arun Saxena, president, International Consumer Rights Protection Council.

According to Saxena, the recent order will help consumers get speedy redressal to disputes as the issue of jurisdiction is now clear and resolved.

"The order considered the spirit of the Consumer Protection Act, which seeks to empower individuals to seek speedy relief without spending much," says Nishit Dhruva, managing partner, MDP & Partners.

To provide relief to consumers, the court relied on the Information Technology Act, 2000, which says that if two parties enter into a contract for goods and services over the Internet, it is deemed that the contract originated at the place where the goods or service provider is located and received at the place where the buyer places the order.

For consumer cases, it will be the location of the device on which the goods or services were booked with the e-commerce player.

The order also gives consumers more options to choose a forum.

In this case, the consumer had booked return flights from New Delhi to Bagdogra in West Bengal, which had a stopover at Kolkata for a change of airlines.

While returning, the flight from Kolkata to New Delhi got cancelled.

The consumer had to make fresh bookings and missed the connecting bus from Delhi to Chandigarh, her place of residence.

She filed a case in Chandigarh for relief from the airline that was to take her from Kolkata to New Delhi.

The airline argued that the district and state forum didn't have jurisdiction to hear the case since travel was on the Kolkata-New Delhi sector and the airline office was located at Gurugram.

But the NCDRC said she could file a case at Chandigarh, Kolkata, Gurugram or New Delhi.

"This is known as places where the cause of action occurs. It includes places where the contract is performed or is to be performed, where the money is paid or payable or where repudiation of the contract is received," says Prashant Mali, an advocate and international cyber law and cyber security expert.

As a result, territorial jurisdiction over a consumer complaint would lie with the consumer forum situated at any place where the cause of action arises.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Marina del Castell/Creative Commons
Demand will boom in the US and China, but exporters say it will be difficult for India to tap these markets.

Subhayan Chakraborty reports.

Global trade growth is expected to rebound in 2017, but India may not be able to take advantage of this in the US and China -- major markets where consumer and industrial demand is set to drive trade forward.

Recently, the World Trade Organisation raised the estimate for growth in world merchandise trade volume for 2017 to 3.6 per cent from 2.4 per cent it had projected earlier.

The revision is because of positive economic trends in North America and China that are leading to a resurgence of industrial and consumer demand.

However, exporters and trade experts said it would be difficult for India to tap this demand in the near term.

The US is the largest destination for Indian exports, earning $42 billion in 2016-17.

The share of goods heading to the US has increased over the past five years to 15.3 per cent in 2016-17.

However, major export categories such as textiles and gems and jewellery have stagnated in the US market.

India's textile exports to the US, across categories such as apparel, made-ups and accessories, have suffered over the last few years due to cheaper alternatives from Bangladesh, Vietnam and the Philippines.

"Our market share has stagnated in the low single digits and I do not see a change anytime soon, either in the US or in Europe," said S K Jain, chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council.

India's exports of gems and jewellery, especially rough or processed diamonds, were $9.7 billion, up 12 per cent in the last year.

But experts said the trend might be reversed next year.

The US is a major market for Indian manufacturers of generic drugs, almost half of which, by volume, reach US shores.

"In the US, almost 80 per cent of generics are sourced from India. However, the market share has stagnated while growth in value terms has slowed down," said P V Appaji, former executive director at Pharmexil.

This was mainly due to price erosion, he added.

On the other hand, India is ill equipped to expand exports to China, its largest trading partner.

Only 3.68 per cent of India's exports find their way to China.

Facing a $51 billion trade deficit with China, India is trying to upgrade its basket of exports to the country.

Cotton, iron ore and copper, the mainstay of Indian exports to China, have come under increasing scrutiny as both the government as well as exporters try to shift towards value-added exports in an attempt to cap the growing trade deficit.

Then commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said export focus should shift away from raw materials.

The commerce ministry has identified industries such as hardware, electronics, pharmaceuticals, textiles and automobile components to realign and boost exports.

With a burgeoning middle class and rising wages, China is expected to relinquish its dominance over labour intensive, low-end manufacturing in the near future. This is an opportunity the Indian industry is hoping to exploit.

Changing consumption patterns have also shaped greater demand for consumer goods in China, where overall demand in the first half of 2017 was driven by growth in industry (up 6.4 per cent) and services (up 7.7 per cent).

"We are trying to harness our strength in labour intensive sectors where India enjoys significant advantage over other developing nations," a commerce ministry official said.

The top five export categories to China are all input products. These are used by China to manufacture goods that it ships abroad, often back to India.

These, along with other raw materials like iron and iron ore, constituted more than 70 per cent of India's exports to China, said Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Exports Organisations.

These export categories were subject to volatile global commodity prices and should be swapped for products higher in the value chain, a trade expert based in Delhi said.

Photograph: Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters
'Make in India is one of the priorities identified by Nirmala Sitharaman and this is our great weakness,' warns Vice Admiral Premvir Das.

With Nirmala Sitharaman's appointment as defence minister India has a woman in that pivotal position for the first time.

The notion that Indira Gandhi had preceded her is not entirely correct. While the then prime minister had, indeed, held additional charge of defence for a while, the ministry was ,em>de facto run by the minister of state, or MoS, for defence.

In later years, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi held charge of defence, but the ministry was run by the MoS, Arun Singh.

So, Ms Sitharaman is, indeed, our first de jure and de facto full-time woman defence minister and full marks to her for saying that, for her, it will be a full-time job. It needs to be.

India's armed forces have come a long way in the last seven decades. From less than 300,000 in early the 1960s, the army now numbers 1.2 million.

In this same period, the navy has grown from a motley dozen-odd sea-going ships to a force that fields more than a hundred long-range vessels including an aircraft carrier, ships and submarines, at least two of them nuclear-propelled and one capable of launching nuclear weapons.

Our air force now operates hundreds of contemporary aircraft of different types which have extended our 'reach' very considerably.

All three wings have special forces which can perform the most complex tasks and are equipped with modern weapons.

In these 70 years the armed forces have fought three full-scale wars, a rather unfortunate one with China in 1962, another with Pakistan in 1965 with honours more or less even, and one in 1971, again with the same country, this one leading to bifurcation of that country.

There was another war with Pakistan in 1999 in which some of our posts captured by its troops in the Kargil mountain ranges were recaptured by use of force.

Add to this some tense moments with the Chinese in the mid-1980s and one standoff that has just ended at Doklam, and it becomes apparent that our military is a battle-hardened one.

This is quite aside from almost continuous deployment in counter-insurgency operations, which is unlikely to cease anytime soon.

In short, India's armed forces have seen seven decades of almost continuous combat and are battle-proven.

On land, at sea and in the air, they rate among the top five or six military capabilities in the world.

This is the power that the incoming minister is inheriting.

Yet, there are some serious inadequacies to our defence preparedness.

From two aircraft carriers in the mid-1980s the navy is down to just one; from 20-odd submarines of contemporary technology at that time, it is now down to a dozen, the most modern of which is more than two decades old; their replacements will only now begin to make their appearance.

The indigenous aircraft carrier being built at Kochi will not see operations for another few years and multi-purpose helicopters essentially required for ocean-going ships, whose numbers are not enough, are nowhere in sight.

The strength of fighter aircraft squadrons in the air force has fallen to less than 35 and dwindling, against an authorised strength of 45; the indigenous light combat aircraft continues to struggle for operational certification.

In the army, the indigenous Arjun tank is heavier than specified and, therefore, constrained in its deployment.

The 155 mm artillery gun is three decades old.

There are shortages in important ammunition categories which have been articulated often; all this when the army chief seeks readiness for a two-front war.

'Make in India' is one of the priorities identified by Minister Sitharaman and this is our great weakness, leave aside some strengths in ship design and construction.

Draft policies in process centre on identifying some groups in the private sector as 'strategic' agencies that can tie up with foreign vendors for transfer of technology and production.

Following this direction of the government some of them have already entered into joint venture arrangements with those Indian private sector companies which, in their assessment, might enter this 'strategic' space.

This is a great idea were it to be practicable.

None of these parties, even the largest, have any experience in the manufacture of sophisticated platforms or equipment needed by the military and the last thing that the country can afford is to waste time in getting them to learn these sophisticated processes.

The public sector may not have produced the most efficient value for money invested, but its expertise and capabilities are unmatched and it would be unwise not to exploit them fully.

It would, therefore, be advisable if 'Make in India' policies involve the public sector more proactively.

Concurrently, measures could be taken to build capacities in the private companies so that the two, together, produce the desired results.

The men - and women - of our armed forces, despite the occasional unfortunate incident that comes to light, are among the most motivated and their professional skills unmatched.

They constitute a very important arm of our military power and their needs, not many, require considerate and sympathetic attention albeit consistent with 'good order and military discipline'.

Finally, at less than two per cent of GDP, the funds allotted for defence are not enough but, in absolute terms, Rs 2.74 lakh crore is not a small sum.

Inability to utilise even the small amount allotted for modernisation -- year after year, including in the last three -- is a cause for serious concern.

There is neither enough clarity on the fundamentals of our national strategy nor articulation of the required interfaces that it must generate with military and economic imperatives.

A visibly inefficient higher defence organisation which essentially follows practices passed down decades ago continues to bedevil our system and absence of time-bound implementation of even funded projects adds to this negative baggage.

The border roads infrastructure limps along and its inadequacy imposes limitations on deployment.

In sum, the new defence minister inherits a well-trained and professional armed force with capabilities as well as shortcomings.

It is now her job to look at some things afresh and to fill in the blanks.

Vice Admiral Premvir Das is a former Director General Defence Planning Staff. He has also served in the National Security Advisory Board.

IMAGE: Squadron Leader Vidhu and Flight Lieutenant Kishan explain to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman the working of the cockpit of a Mirage fighter at the Indian Air Force Station in Gwalior. Photograph: Kind courtesy @nsitharaman/Twitter
'India showcased its ability to launch multiple Special Forces strikes simultaneously across a well defended front.'

'Through these strikes Pakistan was given a glimpse of the full range of India's military capabilities,' says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).

On the night of September 28, 2016, several teams of the Special Forces of the Indian Army crossed the Line of Control, walked stealthily through gaps in the forward defences of the Pakistan army.

The highly trained commandos quietly made their way across some of the most difficult mountainous terrain in the world under the very noses of Pakistani soldiers.

Their targets were terrorist launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

The operations were meticulously planned and brilliantly executed.

The strikes were launched at six to eight terrorist launch pads across the LoC and a large number of terrorists were killed. Pakistani soldiers who were in these launch pads were also killed.

The commandos struck with deadly effect and carried back photographs and video recordings as evidence.

Then, as quietly as they had come in, they exfiltrated back across the LoC.

Lady Luck was with them and the personnel of the Special Forces did not suffer any casualties, except one mine injury.

In carefully measured words, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, then the director general military operations, said during a press briefing on September 29, 2016 that India's Special Forces had 'inflicted significant casualties' on the terrorists and their infrastructure in surgical strikes the previous night.

From the interviews published in newspapers and recent books and reports of Pakistani radio chatter, it is evident that 70 to 80 terrorists or their handlers were killed that night.

There was panic on the Pakistani side. The Pakistan army denied that the surgical strikes had taken place, but the Pakistani media soon nailed the lie.

The army was placed on a high state of alert and the leave of soldiers was cancelled. Muhamed Saeed and Masood Azhar, the Lashkar e Tayiba and Jaish e Mohamed terrorists respectively, went into hiding and were not seen for a month.

Since then, India-Pakistan relations have deteriorated steadily and plumbed new depths.

The informal cease-fire on the LoC is being observed more in the breach and artillery exchanges have been frequent.

On the diplomatic front, the SAARC summit that was to be held in January 2017 was cancelled. And, the 'comprehensive bilateral dialogue' process with Pakistan remains suspended.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of cease-fire violations and the attempts made by Pakistan's 'Deep State' -- the army and the ISI -- to infiltrate terrorist groups across the LoC.

The number of incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir has gone up. Consequently, there has been an increase in the number of terrorists killed and the casualties suffered by Indian security forces.

Six months after the surgical strikes, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said there had been a 45 per cent drop in infiltration attempts. Over the summer months infiltration levels increased.

The home minister said at Jammu in September 2017 that more than 400 infiltration attempts have been made this year, a figure that is much higher than last year.

Citing government sources, Sushant Singh, a defence analyst, has written, 'Since the surgical strikes, 178 militants have been killed, both in the Kashmir valley and on the LoC' (while) 'thirty-eight army personnel were killed between January and September last year -- including 19 who died in the Uri attack -- since the surgical strikes, the army toll has gone up to 69.'

'While there were 228 ceasefire violations on the LoC last year,' Singh writes, 'the number till September 14 this year has already touched 444.'

What, then, has been gained from the surgical strikes?

In order to analyse the net gains, it is necessary to first examine the aims and objectives.

Despite grave provocation from Pakistan -- the attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001, multiple terrorist strikes at Mumbai on November 26-29, 2008 and several other incitements -- India showed immense strategic restraint.

Knowing fully well that the remaining roots of militancy in J&K are now in PoK and Pakistan, India restricted its counter-insurgency campaign to its own side of the LoC.

By not taking the fight across the LoC into PoK, India avoided escalation to full-fledged war with Pakistan with nuclear undertones.

While this strategy succeed in ensuring uninterrupted economic growth, it failed to create any disincentives for Pakistan's Deep State to force it to stop its war for Kashmir through asymmetric means.

Hence, besides revenge for the terrorist attack at an army camp at Uri, the aim of the surgical strikes was to send several messages.

The foremost message was that with the terrorist attack at an army camp at Uri, India's threshold of tolerance had been crossed.

Secondly, India signalled that self-imposed restrictions in its counter-insurgency operations will no longer be observed and that terrorists will be hunted down wherever they are found.

Finally, the aim was to warn Pakistan to expect an even more vigorous response for every act of terrorism that its entities perpetrate on Indian soil.

It would have become clear to Pakistan that here onwards India will progressively raise the cost for waging a war for Kashmir through asymmetric means.

At another level, India showcased its ability to launch multiple Special Forces strikes simultaneously across a well defended front.

Through these strikes Pakistan was given a glimpse of the full range of India's military capabilities.

Lieutenant General D S Hooda, then army commander, Northern Command, said in a recent interview: 'The surgical strike goals were not really about finishing terrorism in Kashmir or drying up infiltration. It was about the range of our response to terrorism emanating from Pakistan.'

'The signal that we wanted to send was that we would not limit our actions only on our side of the border but also hit Pakistan in their territory,' General Hooda said.

'This message was sent successfully and we scored a definite moral victory.'

The surgical strikes dealt a hard blow to the morale of trained terrorists who were waiting to be inducted.

Also, the Pakistan army was forced to move the location of the terrorist launch pads well behind the LoC.

This has imposed costs in terms of the logistics of induction and infiltration.

India exercised a range of political, diplomatic, economic and military options in conjunction with the surgical strikes.

Efforts to isolate Pakistan and designate it as a State sponsor of terrorism were initiated and are making progress.

Finally, the credit for the spectacular success of the trans-LoC raids goes to the leadership and the brave warriors of India's Special Forces.

The political leadership also deserves to be complimented for showing firm national resolve for the first time since the 1971 war with Pakistan.

Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal is Distinguished Fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.

IMAGES: TOP: Major Rohit Suri of the 4 Para (Special Forces) was awarded the Kirti Chakra for showing exemplary leadership and courage in the surgical strikes.

BOTTOM: Naib Subedar Vijay Kumar was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his role in the surgical strikes.

Apart from these two heroes, 17 other commandos from the 4 and 9 Para Special Forces featured in the 2017 Republic Day gallantry awards list for the surgical strikes.

Four soldiers were awarded Shaurya Chakras while 13 were awarded Sena Medals.

Colonel Harpreet Sandhu and Colonel Kapil Yadav, the commanding officers of the 4 and 9 Para battalions respectively, were awarded Yudh Seva Medals.

Photographs: Press Information Bureau
'The BJP doesn't have to do anything except nudge the AIADMK in one direction.'

'As the BJP does not have strength at the grassroot level, they are playing the Rajinikanth card.'

The political scene in Tamil Nadu these days resembles a production from the Theatre of the Absurd.

Nobody knows who is with who in the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

No one knows if Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan -- Tamil movie superstars -- will plunge into what their contemporary Amitabh Bachchan once described as a 'cesspool' -- politics.

Dr P Sudarshan, co-ordinator, Tamil Nadu Election Watch, and trustee, Association of Democratic Reforms, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier what could happen in the days to come.

Do you see an end to this anytime soon?

Nobody wants an election; not the AIADMK, not the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), not the DMK, not even the people of Tamil Nadu.

The Lok Sabha elections are coming in 2019. We have not had local body elections for a long time.

In fact, there is election fatigue in the state.

The government was staggering from one crisis to another, but with the disqualification of 18 MLAs who were with the T T V Dinakaran camp, it appears the situation is slowly stabilising.

More and more people may move to the OPS-EPS (Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami) group soon because they are not going to gain anything by being with Dinakaran.

Only those who are extremely loyal to him and (Dinakaran's aunt and ousted AIADMK leader V K) Sasikala will remain with the group which may not be more than 10.

The disqualification may lead to by-elections which means more MLAs to the EPS-OPS camp.

That also means the AIADMK government will not be a minority government.

Dinakaran and the DMK label the disqualification of 18 MLAs by the assembly speaker as unconstitutional. Is it really unconstitutional?

If the number of MLAs defected is less than 25% of the legislature party, it does not come under the anti-defection law and the party can disqualify the MLAs.

I think that's why the AIADMK cleverly waited till enough number of MLAs moved to their side and the Dinakaran camp has less than 25% people on their side.

Is half the battle won for the OPS-EPS camp now that Dinakaran and Sasikala are out of the party? Will the aunt and nephew make a comeback?

I don't see them making a comeback.

There are so many cases against Dinakaran, so, legally, there is a long battle ahead for him.

And Sasikala has control only in the Thanjavur area, but that's not the case with either EPS or OPS.

Both of them have grassroot support from most of the areas in Tamil Nadu.

Both of them together can run the party as they have the support of a majority of the MLAs.

I don't see Dinakaran and Sasikala making a comeback.

People were behind them because they controlled the finances of the party and even Jaya TV.

Now that the party has expelled Sasikala from the party, slowly, they will take over the finances including Jaya TV.

Once the party gets back the money, they will not need Dinakaran or Sasikala anymore.

Can EPS or OPS win another election for the AIADMK?

Yes, that is a big question.

They still have no vision for the party or the state.

The people of Tamil Nadu knew what Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi stood for and what their ideology was on all the issues the state faced.

Both had an aura around them too. But what do EPS and OPS stand for? Nobody knows.

We also know that they are dependent on the Centre.

It is true that they need funds for the state. But they give the impression that the BJP is in control of the party.

It is said the BJP had a hand in the merger too. Do you think the BJP is trying to make a mark in the state through this government?

I would say the BJP is sitting pretty right now.

They don't have to do anything except nudge these people into one direction. They can sit back and enjoy.

That is because the DMK is not in a position to take advantage of the situation as there are so many cases against many of their prominent people like Kanimozhi, Maran, Raja, etc.

If some of them go to jail, the DMK will once again be in a huge turmoil.

In the case of the AIADMK, there is no leadership and no direction.

As the BJP does not have strength at the grassroot level, they are playing the Rajinikanth card.

But the question is, whether Rajinikanth wants to go with the BJP or not.

The BJP needs Rajinikanth, but Rajinikanth doesn't need the BJP.

A survey found that 25% to 30% of the people want him (Rajinikanth) as the CM and after Stalin, he is the most popular person.

Will Rajinikanth plunge into politics?

I do see that he has political interest.

He is quite clever in that he is waiting for the right time to announce the decision.

If there is going to be an election in a year, we will see both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth plunging in right now.

Since there is so much uncertainty, they cannot plan strategies now.

That is why I am saying the BJP is sitting pretty.

Everybody is in wait and watch mode as nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.

Rajinikanth has to be the CM candidate and has to have the support of a few parties too.

The BJP cannot be the only party he would like to have in alliance.

Now that the 18 MLAs from the Dinakaran camp have been disqualified, will OPS and EPS start administering the state, at least for their own survival?

They have to. Otherwise, they will not survive.

The DMK has a solid vote bank of 26% to 27% who will stay with the party for many more years which is an advantage for Stalin.

This is not the case with the AIADMK.

Jayalalithaa saw to it that there were no second rung leaders.

People like OPS, EPS, Sengottian etc have been with the party for so long. They need to form a consensus group and take decisions together, and if they do that, they may even win the elections next time.

Do you see this government continuing till the next election?

Unless some other external force plays a game, I feel this government will continue, at least till the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

If the OPS-EPS combination feel they are ready to face the people, they may go for an election in 2019.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami welcomes Prime Minister Narendra D Modi in Coimbatore, February 24, 2017.
Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah on Modnay criticised Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on dynastic politics and said the BJP believed in the politics of performance while the Congress banked on the politics of appeasement and dynasty.

In his inaugural address at the BJP national executive, Shah said President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached their position due to their work, despite their humble origins.

It was a closed door event but Union minister Piyush Goyal briefed the media about the speech.

Taking on Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on dynasty in the country during his recent visit to the United States, Shah said the Congress vice president had undermined India.

"The Congress believes in the politics of appeasement and dynasty, whereas BJP follows politics of performance," Goyal quoted Shah as saying.

"Both the Congress and Gandhi disapprove of the politics of performance, but BJP will continue to work for the country on the basis of such politics," Shah said.

Discussing the economy, Shah said it had become stronger under the Narendra Modi led government than it was under the United Progressive Alliance.

He also elaborated on the benefits of both demonetisation and GST and explained that both the measures would curb black money and bring more transparency in the system.

The BJP chief cited various figures to make his point about economy, Goyal told reporters while briefing them on Shah's speech.

Shah's comments came amid the opposition's criticism of the government's handling of the economy.

The Rs 60,000 crore per year the government would save through the direct benefit transfer scheme would be used for welfare schemes for the poor, he said.

Praising the government over its handling of Naxalism and terrorism, Shah said more terrorists were killed in its three years of rule than any other spell of three years.

The BJP president also discussed the recent stand-off with China in Doklam near Sikkim and said India displayed its perseverance and decisiveness to the entire world.

The party chief appreciated External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's speech at the United Nations said she had exposed Pakistan.

Attacking the TMC government in West Bengal and the Left government in Kerala for alleged political violence targeting BJP workers, Shah announced that he would launch a 15-day padyatra in Kerala from October 3.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the meeting in the evening and is expected to counter the opposition's criticism of the state of the economy.

Modi will also launch a new scheme for providing electricity connections to poor in the evening, Goyal said.

A key highlight of this extended national executive meeting, which began on Sunday, is the presence of the party's elected lawmakers -- close to 1,400 MLAs, 337 MPs and all MLCs -- and its core group leaders from states.

Photograph: PTI Photo
Sitharaman has completed just 19 days as defence minister and is also pre-occupied with the Gujarat assembly election, notes Ajai Shukla.

IMAGE: US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis will meet Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday, September 26 -- their first meeting. Photographs: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters, Kham/Reuters

When United States Defence Secretary Jim Mattis meets his Indian counterpart, Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Tuesday, it will be a first handshake between an unusually powerful American incumbent and a greenhorn Indian one.

General Mattis is a vastly experienced combat soldier who has commanded an infantry battalion in Iraq in 1991, an expeditionary brigade in Afghanistan after 9/11, a US Marine division in Iraq in 2003 and eventually the US Central Command, which covers the world's most dangerous hotspots from Pakistan to West Asia and North Africa.

He is also a member of United States President Donald J Trump's cabinet and of the US national security council. Most significantly, with the US president embroiled in domestic political battles, General Mattis calls the shots in defence more than any recent predecessor.

In contrast, Sitharaman will have served just 19 days as defence minister when she meets General Mattis.

Further, she is preoccupied with the Gujarat elections for which the Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed her sah-prabhari.

With the Prime Minister's Office retaining control of important defence ministry issues, there is little expectation that Sitharaman will go beyond her talking points when she meets General Mattis.

American and Indian officials agree there are few deliverables on the table.

Instead, they are playing the Mattis-Sitharaman meeting as an opportunity to establish personal rapport -- like that between previous US defence secretary Dr Ashton Carter and Manohar Parrikar between 2014 and 2016.

US officials privately admit to concern over Sitharaman's reserved presence which contrasts with Parrikar's gregariousness.

"As a commerce minister she came off as cold and haughty and her lack of confidence caused her to stick to her positions. That effectively stalled the trade dialogue," says a senior American industry leader.

Sources say General Mattis will discuss with Sitharaman the implications of Major Defence Partner, a category that Washington placed India in last year; and how New Delhi proposes to enlarge Indian 'economic assistance and development' in Afghanistan, which Trump called for last month.

General Mattis himself is a key driver of an expanded US presence and role in Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan will be a big part of Mattis' discussions in New Delhi. He will be going straight from Delhi to Kabul," says a US official, speaking off the record.

The US defence secretary will raise the issue of China, with India having recently come off the Doklam confrontation.

The two sides will also discuss rejuvenating the sputtering Defence Technology and Trade Initiative, with progress stalled in cooperating on jet engine technology, and in building India's next aircraft carrier.

During then US president Barack Obama's visit to New Delhi in 2015, two joint working groups had been set up to pursue these projects.

With little progress on those, three more JWGs are on the agenda.

"We could see three new JWGs for cooperation in space, cybersphere and on ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)," says a US industry insider.

Finally, Mattis will urge New Delhi to push through a Communications Compatibility And Security Agreement, which would allow the US to supply India with advanced communications equipment for greater interoperability. This has been stuck for years, with drafts repeatedly exchanged, but little agreement on a final text.

Notwithstanding media reports about US pressure on India to transfer the F-16 production line to India; and to buy 22 Sea Guardian drones, US officials say General Mattis will only flag these "opportunities".

Meanwhile, US stakeholders, including General Atomics, which builds the Sea Guardian, are reminding New Delhi through various channels that much political capital has been invested in clearing that drone sale in Washington.

"There is worry that India might be using the Sea Guardian offer to create the impression of a multi-vendor procurement, but has already decided in favour of an Israeli drone," says one US industry analyst.

"The heightened public focus on the F-16 is because the production line in Forth Worth, Texas, is shutting down soon and Washington needs to know quickly if India wants it," he says.

General Mattis' visit comes in the backdrop of delay in scheduling the 'two-plus-two' dialogue, which will have US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and General Mattis meeting jointly with Sitharaman and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

This format replaced the earlier 'strategic and commercial dialogue', which involved the foreign and commerce ministers (then Sitharaman).
The Rohingya crisis -- where members of Myanamar's Muslim community have been driven out of their homes by the Myanmarese army's brutal repression -- is said to be the worst humanitarian crisis confronting the world today.

About 40,000 Rohingya live in India, having fled Myanamar for fear of their lives.

Ignoring criticism at home and abroad, the Narendra D Modi government plans to send the Rohingya back to Myanmar in a decision that overturns everything that this great nation has stood for for centuries -- as a safe haven for communities like the Jews and Zorastrians in earlier times, and the East Pakistan refugees in 1971, fleeing persecution and likely death.

Uttam Ghosh asks the prime minister and his government why the Rohingya are a threat to our country.
India on Monday slammed Pakistan for using a fake picture in the United Nations General Assembly to push a completely fake narrative, a day after its Permanent Representative presented an image of a girl from Gaza as a victim of pellet guns in Kashmir.

Exercising her right to reply hours after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj blasted Pakistan for its support to terrorism, Pakistans Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi, in a major goof-up, held up a photograph of a woman whose face was peppered with alleged pellet gun wounds.

This is the face of Indian democracy, Lodhi said of the picture which had no connection with Kashmir.

The picture of 17-year-old Rawya abu Jomaa of Gaza, an alleged victim of an Israeli attack was actually taken by award-winning American photo journalist Heidi Levine in July, 2014.

The Permanent Representative of Pakistan misled this Assembly by displaying this picture to spread falsehood about India. A fake picture to push a completely false narrative, said Paulomi Tripathi, a junior most Indian diplomat at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations.

Tripathi took the floor of the General Assembly to exercise Indias right to reply to the blistering attack by Lodhi.

The Permanent Representative of Pakistan, in her statement, yet again sought to divert attention from Pakistans role as the hub of global terrorism. She did so by callously holding up a picture of an injured girl, Tripathi said.

The picture was taken on July 22 2014 by an American photographer Heidi Levine. This photograph was published by New York Times on March 24, 2015 under the caption Conflict, Courage and Healing in Gaza, she said.

In view of this cynical and misleading attempt by Pakistan, we are constrained to show this assembly, a photograph that reflects the real picture of pain inflicted by the nefarious designs of Pakistan on India, she said showing a picture of Lieutenant Umar Fayaz.

Umar, 22, who was posted with 2 Rajputana Rifle, was picked up from his house at Harmein in Kulgam in May. The body of the young officer was later found three kilometres from his house.

This is a real and not a fake picture of Lt Umar Fayaz. A young officer from the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. Umar Fayaz was kidnapped at a wedding celebration. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan supported terrorists in May 2017, Tripathi said showing the picture.

This is a true picture. It portrays a harsh and tragic reality. A picture of terrorism emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have to struggle with, every day.

This is the reality which the Permanent Representative of Pakistan sought to obfuscate. The true face of Pakistan is not hidden from anyone, Tripathi said as she displayed the two pictures again to the international community.

Pakistan, meanwhile, continued with its fake narrative against India.

Speaking on behalf of Pakistan, Tipu Usman, counselor at Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN, claimed, Kashmiris want freedom form brutal Indian occupation.

They will continue to rise again and again and again, he said.

Kashmiris will take bullet after bullet; pellet after pellet but will never give up. The real issue is of human life, of human eyes, of children and infants blinded forever,

he said.

Usman alleged that Indias diversionary tactics will not change the situation on ground.

It is the situation on ground that India has to answer for. It is the call for legality, morality and conscience that it has to answer for, he said.
Jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Monday moved the Punjab and Haryana high court, challenging a special Central Bureau of Investigation courts verdict sentencing him to 20 years in prison for raping two disciples.

The CBI court in Panchkula on August 28 had sentenced Ram Rahim to 20 years in prison after his conviction.

We have filed an appeal today in the Punjab and Haryana high court. Through this, we have challenged the order of the CBI court, defence counsel Vishal Garg Narwana said.

He said the CBI verdict has been challenged on several grounds.

One of the grounds was that there was a delay of more than six years in recording the statements of the women (victims) by the CBI after the incident, the defence counsel said.

The CBI had claimed that the two women followers were sexually exploited in 1999 and the agency recorded their statement in 2005, Garg said.

He alleged that the CBI had also concealed some portion of the victims statement.

Ram Rahim was convicted by the special CBI court on August 25, following which violence and arson had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa districts which left 41 people dead and scores of injured.

The judge pronounced two sentences of 10 years rigorous imprisonment in each of the two rapes that date back to 2002.

The controversial sect head is currently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak district of Panchkula.

In April 2002, an anonymous letter was written to the then chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court, complaining about the alleged sexual exploitation of woman followers at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa.

In May 2002, the high court directed the Sirsa district and session judge to probe the allegations in the letter. In September 2002, the high court handed over the matter to the CBI after the district court indicated the possibility of sexual exploitation

In December 2002, the CBI registered a case of rape, criminal intimidation against Ram Rahim.

The CBI filed a chargesheet against the Dera head in Ambala court in July 2007. The chargesheet mentioned the sexual exploitation of two sadhvis between 1999 and 2001.

In September 2008, the special CBI court framed charges of rape and criminal intimidation against Ram Rahim.
North Koreas Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on Monday accused United States President Donald Trump of declaring a war, saying that gives his country the right to shoot down US bombers even if they were outside its airspace.

The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country, Ho, who is here to attend the annual UN General Assembly Session, told reporters.

Since the US declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country, he added.

North Korea has no diplomatic relationship with the US.

Tensions have dramatically risen on the Korean peninsula after North Korea early this month conducted its biggest nuclear test, which its state-run KCNA news agency described as a hydrogen bomb.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have traded increasingly threatening and personal insults as Pyongyang races towards its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the US.

Trump on Saturday warned North Korea, saying if the countrys foreign minister was echoing thoughts of his supreme leader Kim Jong-Un in his threatening speech at the UN, they wont be around much longer.

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at UN. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they wont be around much longer! Trump tweeted.

Responding to Trumps tweet, the top North Korean diplomat said the question of who wont be around much longer will be answered then.

Ro had attacked Trump at the UN General Assembly, deriding him as a mentally deranged leader whose threats had increased the chances of military confrontation.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over note ban, GST and the Gujarat model of development as he started a three-day tour of the poll-bound state where his party has been out of power for over two decades.

IMAGE: Gandhi rides on a bullock cart during a road show at Hanjadapar village in Dwarka district of Gujarat. Photograph: PTI Photo

The 47-year-old Congress leader, who started the day by offering prayers at the famous Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, interacted with people during a road show.

He also had a bullock cart ride on the Dwarka-Jamnagar route in Saurashtra where he was welcomed at several places.

Gandhi was greeted by Hardik Patel, quota stir spearhead and a bitter critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party dispensation in the state. Hardik welcomed Gandhi to Gujarat, the home state of Modi, through a tweet this morning.

Congress ke rashtriya upadhyaksh Rahulji ka Gujarat mae hardik swagat hai..Jay Shri Krishna (a warm welcome to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat...), Patel tweeted.

IMAGE: Rahul Gandhi offering prayers at Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka district of Gujarat. Photograph: PTI Photo

In his short speeches at various places, Gandhi assailed Modi over demonetisation and a host of other issues.

He highlighted the issue of unemployment under the National Democratic Alliance rule and promised to solve the problems being faced by Gujarat farmers if his party is voted to power in the state.

Gandhi, travelling in a specially-designed bus, sought to connect with villagers by interacting with them at regular intervals.

From Dwarka, Gandhi headed to Hanjrapar, where he was accorded a traditional welcome by villagers. He even took a bullock cart ride to show solidarity with the farming community.

At Hanjrapar, he interacted with villagers and responded to some of their questions.

Gandhi came down heavily on Gujarats BJP government on the issue of privatisation. He alleged the government has snatched the right of affordable education and health from the poor by introducing privatisation.

Privatisation is happening in every sector under this government, be it education or health sector. Due to this policy of the BJP government, poor people are not getting education or health services.

The government must make sure that people are not deprived of these basic facilities, Gandhi said in his brief speech.

IMAGE: Rahul interacts with village children during his visit to Dwarka. Photograph: PTI Photo

He promised to provide free medicines and medical treatment if the Congress is voted to power in Gujarat.

Accusing the BJP government of being anti-farmer, Gandhi demanded that the government announce complete farm loan waiver for cultivators in Gujarat.

If the government can waive loans given to businessmen, why not farmers? The Indian government gave away Rs 1.30 lakh crore to 15 large business houses while Rs 7 lakh crore in loans were not returned to banks. They (businessmen) will get all the benefits, while you (farmers) will be jailed for not repaying loans, said Gandhi.

The Congress MP also posed questions to the media on the issue of farm loan waiver.

The media questions my demand for farm loan waiver, claiming it will spoil farmers. I want to ask them whether the same applies to businesses or not. How come they do not get spoilt? I firmly believe if business houses are given relief, the farmers must also get relief by way of waiver.

IMAGE: Rahul Gandhi enjoys a cup of chai at Hanjrapar village with family members of Pal Ambalia, one of the party's strong supporters. Photograph: @OfficeofRG/Twitter

Before visiting Hanjrapar, Gandhi made several halts along the route, including at Bhatia village. In his address there, Gandhi slammed the Modi government for failing to address basic problems of people.

He said around 20,000 educated youths come out of institutes every day in search of jobs but the central government manages to give employment to only 400 of them.

You go to any corner of this country and ask farmers whether they get proper price for their produce. All of them will promptly say, no, Gandhi said.

When the Congress vice president asked people gathered outside his bus whether farmers in Gujarat are getting remunerative prices for groundnut produced by them, they responded with a resounding no.

Our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji declared demonetisation without consulting anyone. This was a massive blow to our economy.

Farmers were badly hit, as they do not do transaction through phone or debit card. They use cash to buy seeds or pay to farm labourers, said Gandhi.

He claimed the Goods and Services Tax has broken the back of small traders and shopkeepers.

Gandhi said though the Congress told the government to keep only one tax rate under the GST, it introduced five different slabs. He claimed lakhs of businesses have been shut due to the GST.

IMAGE: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi meeting the supporters during his visit to Dwarka in Gujarat on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo

He alleged the poor have no place in the Gujarat model of development, which according to him, benefited only a handful of businessmen.

Business houses get everything, be it water, land or electricity. But, the poor are always neglected. This is the difference between them (the BJP) and us (the Congress). I promise our government will be of the poor, farmers and the youth.

After Bhatia, Gandhi reached Nandana village, where he addressed school children.

Our country has made huge progress in the last 70 years. When we got independence, we did not have many good schools, big universities or companies. Whatever exists today is because of the hard work of your parents as well as grandparents, he said.

Gandhi was accompanied by Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki and AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Ashok Gehlot.

On Tuesday, he will visit towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot. Gandhi is also scheduled to meet local milk producers and leaders of the cooperative movement.

Party sources said Gandhi will campaign in north, central and south Gujarat later as part of the campaign ahead of the assembly elections to be held later this year.
Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said on Monday that surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control could be repeated, if necessary, seeking to send a stern message to Pakistan.

He said cross-border infiltration will continue because camps across the Line of Control, from where terrorists are launched, are still operational, and warned that the Indian Army is ready to receive them and keep dispatching them to their graves.

The strike was a message we wanted to communicate to them and they have understood what we mean...that things could follow up, if required, Rawat said

He was speaking at the launch of a book Indias Most Fearless authored by two defence journalists, Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh.

The book chronicles personal accounts of soldiers and their valour in extreme and hostile conditions, including of officers who participated in the surgical strikes.

Later, responding to a question by reporters on infiltration attempts, Rawat said, Terrorists will keep coming because the (terror) camps are operational there (across the LoC). Even we are ready. We will keep receiving them (infiltrators) to dispatch them two-and-a-half feet below the ground.

The surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC were conducted on the intervening night of September 28-29 last year, following a militant attack on an army camp that killed 19 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.

The strikes were carried out by the Special Forces of the army who had crossed the LoC. An unspecified number of terrorists waiting to sneak into India were killed in action by the Indian Army.

When asked what impact did the surgical strikes had, Rawat said, (It sent a message that) we are a stronger nation capable of taking decisions when time comes.

Rawats predecessor Gen Dalbir Singh (retired), who was the army chief when surgical strikes were carried out, echoed similar views on their impact.

They had struck well as deterrence and have enhanced Indias image abroad, Singh said.

When asked about what was the difficult part of the surgical strikes carried out in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Singh said the worrying part was extricating the soldiers without any casualty.

When asked about an operation conducted by the army against National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, after they killed 20 soldiers in an assault in Manipur in 2015, Singh said he took up the matter with the defence minister for training the Special Forces for such operations and upgrading their equipment.

When I visited the Northern (Army) command after that (strike), I told the command that we need to train our people, and if people are required to be pulled out from the Valley for training lets do that, Singh said.
United States President Donald Trump has issued a new order to impose travel resctrictions on citizens from eight countries including North Korea, expanding the list of nations covered by his original travel ban that has been widely labelled a 'Muslim ban' by critics.

Trump unveiled a revamped travel ban as his controversial immigration order covering six Muslim-majority nations was coming to an end.

The new rule, which will come into effect on 18 October, will continue to target travellers from Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Iran, but also adds North Korea, Chad and Venezuela to the original list of targeted countries.

Trump's original travel ban had been signed as an executive order in the first days of his presidency.

Sudan has been dropped from the administration's new list and Iraqi citizens will be subjected to 'additional scrutiny' but will not face any blanket ban.

"Following an extensive review by the Department of Homeland Security, we are taking action today to protect the safety and security of the American people by establishing a minimum security baseline for entry into the US," Trump said.

"We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation," he said.

The White House said that for the first time in history there has been establishment of enhanced national security measures, aimed at creating minimum requirements for international cooperation to support visa and immigration vetting and adjudications for individuals seeking entry to the US.

This is a critical step toward establishing an immigration system that protects Americans' safety and security in an era of dangerous terrorism and transnational crime, it said.

The White House said North Korea did not co-operate with the US government 'in any respect' and failed all requirements -- and so all travel to the US by its citizens has been banned.

Tensions have flared up between the US and North Korea over the the latter's ballistic missile programme.

Trump's original ban that included Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia was highly controversial. It was subject to a range of legal challenges.

Critics have accused the president of discriminating against Muslims in violation of constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and equal protection under the law, breaking existing US immigration law and stoking religious hatred.

Trump had called for a 'total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States' during his election campaign.

Noting that all countries share responsibility to prevent terrorist attacks, transnational crime, and immigration fraud, the White House said if nations do not meet the US Governments traveller vetting and information sharing requirements, their nationals may not be allowed to enter the United States or may face other travel restrictions, with certain exceptions.

The new restrictions being imposed on eight countries are conditional and may be lifted as they work with the United States Government to ensure the safety of Americans.

In a statement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Council on American-Islamic Relations, and National Immigration Law Center condemned the new presidential proclamation.

"This new nonsensical ban continues to discriminate against immigrants, refugees, and visitors from a group of majority Muslim countries. We will continue to stand up for our communities and fight against any attempt at a Muslim Ban," said Elica Vafaie, Staff Attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

The new proclamation marks the administrations third move to limit travel into the US. The first one, which was chaotically rolled out in January, targeted refugees and seven Muslim-majority countries.

It was subsequently abandoned by the administration after a series of federal courts blocked it on grounds it violated the US constitutions protection of religious freedom.

The second order, issued in March, targeted six of the same countries. A limited version of the ban was allowed to come into effect over the summer following a temporary ruling by the supreme court.

The new policy is likely to throw a major hurdle in front of the ongoing supreme court challenge to Trump's second order. The nations highest court was due to hear arguments in that case on October 10.

Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Amit Malviya has been pilloried for allegedly threatening journalists, indulging in fake news and generally bringing a bad name to his party.

Archis Mohan reports.

Amit Malviya, the chief of Bharatiya Janata Party's social media cell, is in the eye of a twitterstorm.

His tweets and statements subsequent to the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh have brought much criticism at the doorstep of the mild-mannered former banker.

Malviya, left, has been pilloried for allegedly threatening journalists, indulging in fake news and generally bringing a bad name to his party.

Malviya's story to the top of the party's social media hierarchy and how it has become aggressive and vituperative under his watch is fascinating.

Towards the end of 2016, Sadhavi Khosla, a former member of BJP's digital cell, made public the alleged ugly side of the party's troll army.

She accused former IT cell chief Arvind Gupta of authorising the trolling of anyone who criticised the BJP and the Narendra Modi government.

Among Khosla's allegations, published in a book by journalist Swati Chaturvedi, was that the Gupta-led social media team handled at least 20 WhatsApp groups, subdivided on the basis of gender and age group 'to spread filth, lies and misinformation'.

Gupta, who by mid-2015 had found himself replaced by a much younger Malviya, claimed Khosla was never a member of the team.

He said the BJP 'never encouraged trolling'. But under much media scrutiny, Gupta admitted in an interview that he had not 'directly supervised social media activities since 2015 when the party structure was reorganised'.

Party chief Amit Shah brought in several changes in the party organisation within months of being elected as president for a three-year term in 2015.

This included replacing Gupta with Malviya.

Now in the government and receiving flak for failing to deliver on its election promises, losing assembly polls in Delhi and Bihar, criticised for 'intolerance', the BJP, by the end of 2015, needed a social media strategy different from the one it had pursued to build a positive narrative around Modi in 2014.

A speech by Malviya at a seminar organised by the India Foundation offers a glimpse into his strategy.

At India Foundation's '5th Young Thinkers' Meet' at Patnitop in Jammu in August 2016, Malviya moderated a discussion on the 'Role of Social Media: Construction and Manipulation of Dominant Narratives'.

In the speech, a gist of which is available on the India Foundation Web site (www.indiafoundation.in/5th-young-thinkers-meet-2016/), Malviya said that 'from the BJP's perspective, in the next two years, governance would continue to be the key'.

Significantly, according to the Web site, Malviya said 'the party would also closely work with many unaffiliated groups and mediums to increase outreach and awareness about issues'.

Malviya came into his own in the run-up to and after the 2017 Uttar Pradesh election results.

The UP digital campaign was helped since Malviya knew the territory, having lived in Allahabad and studied in Agra.

WhatsApp group messages from unaffiliated groups were the spine of the Sangh Parivar's social media strategy for these polls.

While he did not respond to a request to speak for this article, Malviya has in recent times become more accessible to journalists.

He is written about more often in the mainstream media and regularly addresses press conferences and has been on studio discussions as his party's representative.

Malviya's social media presence, in the context of recent controversies, might give an impression of him being an intemperate man, and an ambitious one who can go to vituperative extremes to browbeat critics of his party's policies and its leadership. But Malviya remains a soft-spoken person.

"He is an archetypal backroom boy, and revels when he is trusted by his bosses, but is faceless to the public. This controversy has pushed him into public glare where he has had to take positions, which must be a new experience from him," says a former associate who does not want to be named and who now works with a social media team of an Opposition party.

Malviya is clearly trying to reinvent himself into a BJP spokesperson, and follow in the footsteps of successful spokespersons such as Arun Jaitley and Piyush Goyal.

But if the likes of Jaitley and Goyal are admired for their reasonableness, Malviya now has an image of a provocateur.

Subsequent to the criticism that Prime Minister Modi follows a Twitter handle that abused those who protested Lankesh's murder, Malviya put forth a statement that stood out for its brazenness.

Malviya went on to provide a twisted defence of how Modi has never unfollowed or blocked anybody, and that he also follows Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, one of whom is 'an accused of loot and fraud' and the other is someone who has abused Modi on Twitter.

A senior party leader said the statement was poorly drafted.

Soon, several articles that termed Malviya a 'liability' (external link) for his party and instances of him indulging in fake news and misinformation surfaced.

In the midst of this, Malviya further riled journalists with a tweet on how BJP youth leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga has filed a defamation case against Chaturvedi, the journalist.

In November 2016, when a judicial magistrate convicted Lankesh in a defamation case against BJP Karnataka leader Prahlad Joshi, Malviya had tweeted: 'Prahlad Joshi, BJP MP from Dharwad, gets Gauri Lankesh convicted in a defamation case.'

The tweet ended with a dire warning. 'Hope other journos take note.'

Malviya comes from a middle-income family. According to his LinkedIn profile, he completed his bachelor of business management from Agra in 1998 and received a post-graduate diploma in management from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies in Pune.

He then moved to Mumbai to work as a banker for ICICI Bank and HSBC, among others, and was with the Bank of America in Bengaluru from 2010 to 2012.

His Facebook posts of until 2010 paint a picture of a man devoted to his family and a keen traveller.

During his Mumbai stint, Malviya impressed some of the BJP's senior leaders, particularly Goyal, who was then the party treasurer and had worked out the party's social media outreach in the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

It was called 'Friends of BJP' and exhorted the 'non-voting middle-class' to go out and cast their ballot.

This was before the Twitter and WhatsApp era, and BJP relied on text messages, Orkut and Facebook to reach out to potential voters.

That Lok Sabha campaign failed for the BJP, but it helped the party identify young leaders who would form the core of its social media team when it started preparing for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under Modi's leadership.

After several successes, Malviya is now in uncharted territory.

The Opposition has become social-media savvy. The Modi government is increasingly being questioned, particularly on WhatsApp, on the state of the country's economy.

The work Malviya does is under the scanner. It would be interesting to see if he succeeds in reinventing himself or ends up earning more criticism for his social media strategy.

That criticism is only bound to get shriller with the BJP hoping to rely on its core ideological issues, like the Ram Janmabhoomi, to win the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Amit Malviya's pPhotograph: Kind courtesy @malviyamit/Twitter
Only a handful of missile builders -- in the US, Russia, Europe and China -- have mastered the technologies that go into air-to-air missiles.

India joins that elite group.

Ajai Shukla reports.

The defence ministry last week announced the successful development of the most challenging missile India has developed so far -- the Astra.

Fired from a fighter aircraft travelling at over 1,000 km an hour, the Astra destroys an enemy fighter 65 to 70 km away.

According to the ministry, the latest round of trials conducted off the Odisha coast on September 11 to 14 saw seven Astra missiles being fired from a Sukhoi-30MKI at pilotless aircraft that were designated as targets.

All seven Astras hit their targets.

This round of tests 'has completed the development phase of the (Astra) weapon system successfully', stated a defence ministry release.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation which developed the Astra; Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, which integrated the Astra onto the Su-30MKI fighter; and over 50 private firms that participated in building the missile.

The Astra -- designated as a 'beyond visual range air-to-air missile' or BVRAAM -- involves radically different technology challenges compared to ballistic and tactical missiles.

For one, a typical Astra engagement has both the launcher and the target moving at speeds in excess of 1,000 kmph.

Fired from a pylon on the wing of a Su-30MKI, the Astra's smokeless propellant quickly accelerates it to about 4,000 kmph.

The fighter tracks the target continuously on its radar, and steers the missile towards it over a data link.

About 15 km from the target, the Astra's on board radio seeker locks onto the target; now, it no longer needs guidance from the Su-30MKI.

When it reaches a few metres from the enemy fighter, the Astra warhead is detonated by a 'radio proximity fuze', spraying the target with shrapnel and shooting it down.

Only a handful of missile builders -- in the United States, Russia, Europe and China -- have mastered the technologies that go into air-to-air missiles.

India is now joining that elite group.

The Astra is fired from the Russian Vympel launcher -- a rail under a fighter aircraft's wing from which the missile hangs.

The Vympel launcher is integrated with all four of India's current generation fighters -- the Su-30MKI, MiG-29, Mirage 2000 and the Tejas -- allowing the Astra to be fired from all of them.

Astra components that have been developed indigenously. But the missile's seeker head is still imported.

This is a key development thrust for the DRDO. On the drawing board is a longer-range Astra Mark II, intended to shoot down enemy fighters up to 100 km away.

With the Indian Air Force operating 600 to 700 fighter aircraft, there will be a need for several thousand Astra missiles.

With air-to-air missiles costing in the region of $2 million each, the Astra will provide major business opportunities to Indian firms.

IMAGE: Flight tests of the Astra missile fired from an Su-30MKI fighter. Photograph: Kind courtesy @DefenceMinIndia/Twitter
Maldives: Opposition MP must get a fair trial

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 22 September 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Maldives: Opposition MP must get a fair trial, 22 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8b7484.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Amnesty International has serious fair trial concerns in the case of opposition MP, Faris Maumoon, who faces a hearing on Monday on charges stemming from his attempt to move a vote of no-confidence in the Speaker of Parliament.

Faris Maumoon was arrested by the Maldivian authorities on 18 July 2017, amid charges that he attempted to bribe parliamentarians into supporting a vote of no-confidence against Abdullah Maseeh, the Speaker of Parliament and a key ally of Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen. Maumoon's home was raided and property taken, including documents, over the course of four hours.

"The Maldives has long denied members of the political opposition a fair trial. There have been convictions on trumped-up charges, for all sorts of alleged offences from trespassing to terrorism. There are serious concerns that Faris Maumoon will suffer the same fate. He must be given a fair trial in line with international standards," said Biraj Patnaik, Amnesty International's South Asia Director.

The no-confidence motion against the Speaker, initiated by Maumoon, has sparked a crisis in parliament. Members of the opposition have been barred from entering parliament, including through the use of heavy-handed measures. During recent sessions of parliament, Maldivian security forces have taken control of proceedings to stop the vote of no confidence from going ahead.

Maumoon's hearing comes in the wake of an assault on the Maldivian criminal justice system, with more than 50 lawyers suspended by the Department of Judicial Administration for submitting a petition questioning the independence of the judiciary.

Amnesty International is concerned that the government is behind a relentless assault on the rule of law in the Maldives that has compromised the ability of the judiciary to carry out its functions independently.

"For the Maldivian justice system to be worthy of the name, judicial independence must be restored. As long as judges remain beholden to the political whims of the government, travesties will ensue," said Biraj Patnaik.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Greece: Court decisions pave way for first forcible returns of asylum-seekers under EU-Turkey deal

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 22 September 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Greece: Court decisions pave way for first forcible returns of asylum-seekers under EU-Turkey deal, 22 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8b7ae4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Amnesty International has serious fair trial concerns in the case of opposition MP, Faris Maumoon, who faces a hearing on Monday on charges stemming from his attempt to move a vote of no-confidence in the Speaker of Parliament.

Faris Maumoon was arrested by the Maldivian authorities on 18 July 2017, amid charges that he attempted to bribe parliamentarians into supporting a vote of no-confidence against Abdullah Maseeh, the Speaker of Parliament and a key ally of Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen. Maumoon's home was raided and property taken, including documents, over the course of four hours.

"The Maldives has long denied members of the political opposition a fair trial. There have been convictions on trumped-up charges, for all sorts of alleged offences from trespassing to terrorism. There are serious concerns that Faris Maumoon will suffer the same fate. He must be given a fair trial in line with international standards," said Biraj Patnaik, Amnesty International's South Asia Director.

The no-confidence motion against the Speaker, initiated by Maumoon, has sparked a crisis in parliament. Members of the opposition have been barred from entering parliament, including through the use of heavy-handed measures. During recent sessions of parliament, Maldivian security forces have taken control of proceedings to stop the vote of no confidence from going ahead.

Maumoon's hearing comes in the wake of an assault on the Maldivian criminal justice system, with more than 50 lawyers suspended by the Department of Judicial Administration for submitting a petition questioning the independence of the judiciary.

Amnesty International is concerned that the government is behind a relentless assault on the rule of law in the Maldives that has compromised the ability of the judiciary to carry out its functions independently.

"For the Maldivian justice system to be worthy of the name, judicial independence must be restored. As long as judges remain beholden to the political whims of the government, travesties will ensue," said Biraj Patnaik.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Myanmar: Video and satellite evidence shows new fires still torching Rohingya villages

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 22 September 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Myanmar: Video and satellite evidence shows new fires still torching Rohingya villages, 22 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8b8334.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Amnesty website

Amnesty International has assessed three new videos taken inside Rakhine State as recently as Friday afternoon showing large plumes of smoke rising from Rohingya villages, one of which was already deserted, as well as satellite imagery with smoke visible over burnt-out structures.



Local sources in northern Rakhine State claim the fires were started by members of the Myanmar security forces and local vigilante mobs.



"This damning evidence from the ground and from space flies in the face of Aung San Suu Kyi's assertions to the world that what she called military 'clearance operations' in Rakhine State ended on 5 September," said Tirana Hassan, Crisis Response Director at Amnesty International.



"Almost three weeks later, we can see in real time how there is no let-up in the campaign of violence against Rohingya in northern Rakhine State. Rohingya homes and villages continue to burn, before, during and after their inhabitants take flight in terror. Not satisfied with simply forcing Rohingya from their homes, authorities seem intent on ensuring they have no homes to return to.

"The time has come and gone for giving Myanmar's military and political leadership the benefit of the doubt. The international community must be unequivocal in its condemnation and take effective action to halt this ethnic cleansing campaign as well as bring the perpetrators to account."



One video, taken on 21 September near the village of Hpar Wat Chaung village, northern Maungdaw township, shows agricultural land in the foreground with a large plume of smoke rising from a settlement located amid a group of trees. A local resident told Amnesty International that Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) and vigilante groups started the fires in the early afternoon, and that there were further burning operations that same evening.



Amnesty International reviewed satellite imagery of Hpar Wat Chaung from 16 and 22 September. Smoke is still visible in the later image, which clearly showed the village had been set ablaze and structures standing just days earlier had been burnt to the ground. Additionally, satellite sensors detected a recent active fire in the village, further corroborating the incident.

Two more videos, taken from different angles reportedly outside Nga Yant Chaung village in Buthidaung township, show the village in flames on Friday afternoon. Activists, including a source in Rakhine State itself, have told Amnesty International that the burning began between 1:30pm and 2:00pm local time.

Scorched-earth campaign

On 14 September, Amnesty International published irrefutable evidence of a mass-scale scorched-earth campaign across northern Rakhine State, where Myanmar security forces and vigilante mobs have been burning down entire Rohingya villages and shooting people at random as they try to flee. The violence is part of an unlawful and disproportionate response to coordinated attacks on security posts by a Rohingya armed group on 25 August.



The organization's analysis of active fire-detection data, satellite imagery, photographs and videos from the ground, as well as interviews with dozens of eyewitnesses in Myanmar and across the border in Bangladesh, show how an orchestrated campaign of systematic burnings has targeted Rohingya villages across northern Rakhine State.



The violence has prompted more than 429,000 people to flee to Bangladesh as refugees since 25 August. In legal terms, these are crimes against humanity - murder and deportation or forcible transfer of population.



Tens of thousands of other people - including members of Rakhine State's other ethnic minority communities - have also been displaced as a result of the violence.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Disclaimer

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
Interpol: Address China's 'Red Notice' Abuses

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 25 September 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Interpol: Address China's 'Red Notice' Abuses , 25 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8c68f4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Interpol should address China's misuse of the "red notice" system during its upcoming meeting in Beijing, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the international police organization. Human Rights Watch also raised concerns about respecting human rights under the leadership of Interpol's new president, Chinese Vice-Minister for Public Security Meng Hongwei. Interpol's 86th General Assembly will convene in China's capital on September 26-29, 2017.

Against Interpol regulations, China has issued politically motivated "red notices" - alerts seeking the arrest and extradition of wanted people - against dissidents and others abroad whom China deemed problematic. China's record of arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearance, as well as unlawful forced repatriation, raise concerns that those subject to Interpol red notices from China will be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

"Interpol claims to operate according to international human rights standards, but China has already shown a willingness to manipulate the system," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. "And with China's vice-minister of public security - a notoriously abusive agency - as president, Interpol's credibility is on the line."

Dolkun Isa, who campaigns from Germany on behalf of the ethnic Uyghur community in Xinjiang, has been subjected to a red notice for over a decade but has been unable to access or remove it, interfering with his international travel. United States-based activist Wang Zaigang, believed the red notice against him was in retaliation for his pro-democracy activism outside of China.

Human Rights Watch also raised concerns about the ability of Meng, who assumed Interpol's presidency in November 2016, to maintain Interpol's neutrality, and to respect and protect human rights as stipulated in the organization's constitution. Meng is a powerful vice minister in the Ministry of Public Security, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and tasked with silencing dissent. The ministry has harassed, arbitrarily detained, and tortured countless people for exercising their fundamental rights.

Interpol should explain how it will prevent abuses of the "red notice" system under Meng's leadership, why it has not addressed outstanding examples of that problem, and how it ensures that suspects returned to China are not subjected to ill-treatment or torture, Human Rights Watch said.

"By choosing a top official of an abusive police force as its president, Interpol has inflicted a wound on its own reputation," Richardson said. "Interpol needs to explain how it will avoid becoming an arm of the Chinese government abroad, using red notices against dissidents and forcing people back to torture in China."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Mohammad Khir Amayry v Migrationsverket (Sweden)

Publisher European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union Publication Date 13 September 2017 Citation / Document Symbol C60/16 Related Document(s) Opinion of Advocate General Bot: Mohammad Khir Amayry v Migrationsverket (Sweden) Cite as Mohammad Khir Amayry v Migrationsverket (Sweden), C60/16, European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union, 13 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/cases,ECJ,59c8c8db4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Third Chamber)

13 September 2017 ( )

(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 - Determination of the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national - Article 28 - Detention for the purposes of transfer of an applicant for international protection to the Member State responsible - Deadline for carrying out the transfer - Maximum period of detention - Calculation - Request to take charge accepted before the detention - Suspension of the implementation of the transfer decision)

In Case C60/16,

REQUEST for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 TFEU from the Kammarratten i Stockholm - Migrationsoverdomstolen (Administrative Court of Appeal for Immigration Matters, Stockholm, Sweden), made by decision of 29 January 2016, received at the Court on 3 February 2016, in the proceedings

Mohammad Khir Amayry

v

Migrationsverket,

THE COURT (Third Chamber),

composed of L. Bay Larsen (Rapporteur), President of the Chamber, M. Vilaras, J. Malenovsky, M. Safjan and D. Svaby, Judges,

Advocate General: Y. Bot,

Registrar: C. Stromholm, Administrator,

having regard to the written procedure and further to the hearing on 25 January 2017,

after considering the observations submitted on behalf of:

- Mr Khir Amayry, by S. Stoeva, advokat,

- the Migrationsverket, by F. Beijer and F. Axling, acting as Agents,

- the Swedish Government, by L. Swedenborg and by A. Falk, C. Meyer-Seitz, U. Persson and N. Otte Widgren, acting as Agents,

- the Belgian Government, by M. Jacobs and C. Pochet, acting as Agents,

- the German Government, by T. Henze and R. Kanitz, acting as Agents,

- the Netherlands Government, by M.K. Bulterman and B. Koopman, acting as Agents,

- the Polish Government, by B. Majczyna, acting as Agent,

- the United Kingdom Government, by C. Crane and M. Holt, acting as Agents, assisted by D. Blundell, Barrister,

- the Swiss Government, by C. Bichet, acting as Agent,

- the European Commission, by M. Condou-Durande and K. Simonsson, acting as Agents,

after hearing the Opinion of the Advocate General at the sitting on 1 March 2017,

gives the following

Judgment

1 This request for a preliminary ruling concerns the interpretation of Article 28(3) of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person (OJ 2013 L 180, p. 31) ('the Dublin III Regulation').

2 The request has been made in proceedings between Mohammad Khir Amayry and the Migrationsverket (Migration Board, Sweden; 'the Board') concerning the decision of the latter to hold Mr Khir Amayry in detention pending his transfer to Italy pursuant to the Dublin III Regulation.

Legal context

EU law

Directive 2013/33/EU

3 Article 8 of Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (OJ 2013 L 180, p. 96; 'the Reception Directive') states:

'1. Member States shall not hold a person in detention for the sole reason that he or she is an applicant in accordance with Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection [OJ 2013 L 80, p. 60].



3. An applicant may be detained only:



(f) in accordance with Article 28 of [the Dublin III Regulation].

 '

4 Article 9 of the Reception Directive, entitled 'Guarantees for detained applicants', states, in paragraph 1:

'An applicant shall be detained only for as short a period as possible and shall be kept in detention only for as long as the grounds set out in Article 8(3) are applicable.

Administrative procedures relevant to the grounds for detention set out in Article 8(3) shall be executed with due diligence. Delays in administrative procedures that cannot be attributed to the applicant shall not justify a continuation of detention.'

Dublin III Regulation

5 Recital 20 of the Dublin III Regulation is worded as follows:

'The detention of applicants should be applied in accordance with the underlying principle that a person should not be held in detention for the sole reason that he or she is seeking international protection. Detention should be for as short a period as possible and subject to the principles of necessity and proportionality. In particular, the detention of applicants must be in accordance with Article 31 of the [Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, signed in Geneva on 28 July 1951]. The procedures provided for under this Regulation in respect of a detained person should be applied as a matter of priority, within the shortest possible deadlines. As regards the general guarantees governing detention, as well as detention conditions, where appropriate, Member States should apply the provisions of [the Reception Directive] also to persons detained on the basis of this Regulation.'

6 Article 27(3) and (4) of that regulation states:

'3. For the purposes of appeals against, or reviews of, transfer decisions, Member States shall provide in their national law that:

(a) the appeal or review confers upon the person concerned the right to remain in the Member State concerned pending the outcome of the appeal or review; or

(b) the transfer is automatically suspended and such suspension lapses after a certain reasonable period of time, during which a court or a tribunal, after a close and rigorous scrutiny, shall have taken a decision whether to grant suspensive effect to an appeal or review; or

(c) the person concerned has the opportunity to request within a reasonable period of time a court or tribunal to suspend the implementation of the transfer decision pending the outcome of his or her appeal or review. Member States shall ensure that an effective remedy is in place by suspending the transfer until the decision on the first suspension request is taken. Any decision on whether to suspend the implementation of the transfer decision shall be taken within a reasonable period of time, while permitting a close and rigorous scrutiny of the suspension request. A decision not to suspend the implementation of the transfer decision shall state the reasons on which it is based.

4. Member States may provide that the competent authorities may decide, acting ex officio, to suspend the implementation of the transfer decision pending the outcome of the appeal or review.'

7 Article 28 of that regulation states:

'1. Member States shall not hold a person in detention for the sole reason that he or she is subject to the procedure established by this Regulation.

2. When there is a significant risk of absconding, Member States may detain the person concerned in order to secure transfer procedures in accordance with this Regulation, on the basis of an individual assessment and only in so far as detention is proportional and other less coercive alternative measures cannot be applied effectively.

3. Detention shall be for as short a period as possible and shall be for no longer than the time reasonably necessary to fulfil the required administrative procedures with due diligence until the transfer under this Regulation is carried out.

Where a person is detained pursuant to this Article, the period for submitting a take charge or take back request shall not exceed one month from the lodging of the application. The Member State carrying out the procedure in accordance with this Regulation shall ask for an urgent reply in such cases. Such reply shall be given within two weeks of receipt of the request. Failure to reply within the two-week period shall be tantamount to accepting the request and shall entail the obligation to take charge or take back the person, including the obligation to provide for proper arrangements for arrival.

Where a person is detained pursuant to this Article, the transfer of that person from the requesting Member State to the Member State responsible shall be carried out as soon as practically possible, and at the latest within six weeks of the implicit or explicit acceptance of the request by another Member State to take charge or to take back the person concerned or of the moment when the appeal or review no longer has a suspensive effect in accordance with Article 27(3).

When the requesting Member State fails to comply with the deadlines for submitting a take charge or take back request or where the transfer does not take place within the period of six weeks referred to in the third subparagraph, the person shall no longer be detained. Articles 21, 23, 24 and 29 shall continue to apply accordingly.

4. As regards the detention conditions and the guarantees applicable to persons detained, in order to secure the transfer procedures to the Member State responsible, Articles 9, 10 and 11 of [the Reception Directive] shall apply.'

8 Article 29(1) and (2) of the same regulation is worded as follows:

'1. The transfer of the applicant  from the requesting Member State to the Member State responsible shall be carried out in accordance with the national law of the requesting Member State, after consultation between the Member States concerned, as soon as practically possible, and at the latest within six months of acceptance of the request by another Member State to take charge or to take back the person concerned or of the final decision on an appeal or review where there is a suspensive effect in accordance with Article 27(3).



2. Where the transfer does not take place within the six months' time limit, the Member State responsible shall be relieved of its obligations to take charge or to take back the person concerned and responsibility shall then be transferred to the requesting Member State. This time limit may be extended up to a maximum of one year if the transfer could not be carried out due to imprisonment of the person concerned or up to a maximum of eighteen months if the person concerned absconds.'

Swedish law

9 Under Chapter 1, Paragraph 8, of the utlanningslag (Law on aliens, SFS 2005, No 716), the law is to be applied in such a way that an alien's freedom is not restricted more than is necessary in each individual case.

10 Chapter 1, Paragraph 9 of that law provides that the provisions thereof relating to deportation also apply mutatis mutandis to transfer decisions under the Dublin III Regulation.

11 Chapter 10, Paragraph 1 of the same law allows aliens aged 18 years or over to be detained with a view to preparing or implementing the execution of a decision on deportation.

12 Chapter 10, Paragraph 4 of the Law on aliens provides that an alien may not be detained for a period longer than two months unless there are serious reasons for a longer period and specifies that, if there are such reasons, the alien may not be detained for a period longer than three months. Where it is probable that implementation of a transfer decision will take longer due to a lack of cooperation by the alien or it takes time to obtain the necessary documents, detention may not last for a period longer than 12 months.

The dispute in the main proceedings and the questions referred for a preliminary ruling

13 Mr Khir Amayry lodged an application for international protection in Sweden on 19 December 2014.

14 A check on the Eurodac system having brought to light the fact that Mr Khir Amayry had travelled to Italy on 6 December 2014 and that, on 17 December 2014, he had already applied for international protection in Denmark, the Board requested, on 15 January 2015, that the Italian authorities take charge of Mr Khir Amayry.

15 The Italian authorities accepted the request to take charge of Mr Khir Amayry on 18 March 2015.

16 On 2 April 2015, the Board dismissed Mr Khir Amayry's application for a residence permit, including his application for international protection, closed the case relating to the declaration of status and decided to transfer him to Italy. Furthermore, taking the view that there was a significant risk of his absconding, the Board decided to detain him.

17 Mr Khir Amayry appealed against those decisions to the Forvaltningsratten i Stockholm - Migrationsdomstolen (Stockholm Administrative Court, ruling on immigration matters, Sweden). Following the lodging of that appeal, the Board decided to suspend the implementation of the transfer decision.

18 The Forvaltningsratten i Stockholm - Migrationsdomstolen (Stockholm Administrative Court, ruling on immigration matters) dismissed that appeal on 29 April 2015, in particular finding that there was a risk that, if he were removed from detention, Mr Khir Amayry would abscond, evade the authorities or otherwise prevent the implementation of the transfer decision. He appealed against this judgment to the referring court.

19 On 8 May 2015, the transfer decision was put into effect. Subsequently, Mr Khir Amayry returned to Sweden where, on 1 June 2015, he made a fresh application for international protection.

20 On 30 July 2015 the referring court decided not to grant leave to appeal regarding the part of the judgment of the Forvaltningsratten i Stockholm - Migrationsdomstolen (Stockholm Administrative Court, ruling on immigration matters) concerning the issue of the transfer, but granted leave to appeal concerning the detention.

21 In those circumstances, the Kammarratten i Stockholm - Migrationsoverdomstolen (Administrative Court of Appeal for Immigration Matters, Stockholm, Sweden) decided to stay the proceedings and to refer the following questions to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling:

'(1) If an [applicant for international protection] is not in detention at the time when the Member State responsible agrees to take charge of him but is detained at a later date - on the ground that only then is the assessment made that there is a significant risk that the person will abscond - may the time limit of six weeks in Article 28(3) of the [Dublin III] Regulation ... be calculated in such a situation from the day on which the person is detained or is it to be calculated from another time and, if so, when?

(2) Does Article 28 of the [Dublin III] Regulation preclude, in a situation where an [applicant for international protection] is not in detention at the time when the Member State responsible agrees to take charge of him, the application of national rules which, in Sweden, mean that an alien may not be kept in detention pending [transfer] for longer than two months, if there are no serious reasons for detaining him for a longer period, and if there are such serious reasons, the alien may be kept in detention for a maximum of three months or, if it is probable that [the transfer] will take longer due to a lack of cooperation from the alien or it takes time to obtain the necessary documents, a maximum of twelve months?

(3) If [a transfer] procedure is recommenced when an appeal or a review no longer has suspensive effect (see Article 27(3) [of the Dublin III Regulation]), does a new period of six weeks for implementation of the transfer start to run or is there a deduction to be made, for example, of the number of days the person has already spent in detention after the Member State responsible agreed to take charge of him or take him back?

(4) Is it of any importance whether the [applicant for international protection] who appealed against a transfer decision has not himself applied for the implementation of the transfer decision to be suspended pending the result of the appeal (see Article 27(3)(c) and (4) [of the Dublin III Regulation])?'

Consideration of the questions referred

The first and second questions

22 By its first and second questions, which it is appropriate to examine together, the referring court asks, in essence, whether Article 28 of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as precluding national legislation, such as that at issue in the main proceedings, which provides that, where the detention of an applicant for international protection begins after the requested Member State has accepted the request to take charge, that detention may be maintained for no longer than 2 months in principle, no longer than 3 months if there are serious reasons for a longer period in detention and no longer than 12 months if it is probable that the transfer will take longer due to a lack of cooperation by the person concerned or if it takes time to obtain the necessary documents.

23 It is clear from Article 8(1) of the Reception Directive that a person may not be detained for the sole reason that he or she has applied for international protection.

24 However, Article 8(3)(f) of that directive allows an applicant for international protection to be detained in accordance with Article 28 of the Dublin III Regulation.

25 It follows from Article 28(1) and (2) of the Dublin III Regulation that, if Member States may not detain a person in order to secure transfer procedures for the sole reason that that person is subject to the procedure established by that regulation, the Member States may, however, under certain conditions, detain a person when there is a significant risk of that person absconding.

26 That power is, in particular, regulated by Article 28(3) of that regulation, which specifies, in its first subparagraph, that detention is to be for as short a period as possible and is to be for no longer than the time reasonably necessary to fulfil the required administrative procedures with due diligence until the transfer is carried out.

27 In order to give specific expression to that principle, the second and third subparagraphs of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation lay down specific periods for submitting a take charge or take back request and for carrying out the transfer. It is also clear from the fourth subparagraph of Article 28(3) of that regulation that, when the requesting Member State fails to observe with those deadlines, the person is no longer to be detained.

28 With regard to the period for carrying out the transfer, the only factor which is relevant in a situation such as that at issue in the main proceedings, where the request to take charge has already been accepted before the person concerned was detained, is that the wording of the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of that regulation does not, in itself, make it possible to determine whether that provision applies in all situations in which a person is detained pending his transfer or only when a person is already detained when one of the two events set out in that provision takes place, namely, first, when the request to take charge or take back is accepted and, second, when the suspensive effect of the appeal or review against a transfer decision ends.

29 That being said, it is clear from the settled case-law of the Court that, in interpreting a provision of EU law, it is necessary to consider not only its wording but also its context and the objectives pursued by the rules of which it is part (judgment of 19 December 2013, Koushkaki, C84/12, EU:C:2013:862, paragraph 34 and the case-law cited).

30 In that regard, it should be pointed out that the purpose of the procedures for taking charge and taking back established by the Dublin III Regulation is, in short, to enable the transfer of a third-country national to the Member State designated, in accordance with that regulation, as responsible for the examination of the application for international protection lodged by that third-country national.

31 In the context of those procedures, the power, under certain conditions, to detain the person concerned seeks, as specified by Article 28(2) of that regulation, to secure transfer procedures by avoiding that person absconding and thus preventing a possible transfer decision made in respect of him from being carried out.

32 In that context, the choice of a period of six weeks within which to carry out the transfer, such as that provided for by the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation, shows that the EU legislature took the view that such a period could be necessary in order for the transfer of a detained person to be carried out.

33 In so far as none of the periods established by the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation runs from the moment of detention, to consider that that provision applies in all situations in which a person is detained pending his transfer would imply that the detention must end six weeks after the acceptance of the take charge or take back request, even if the detention began only after that acceptance.

34 Accordingly, in such a situation, detention for the purposes of carrying out the transfer would necessarily have to be for a period of less than six weeks and any detention would be completely excluded once six weeks had elapsed following that acceptance.

35 In those circumstances, a Member State would have the power to begin the detention of the person concerned only during a small portion of the six week period granted to it under Article 29(1) and (2) of the Dublin III Regulation for the finalisation of the transfer, even if the risk of that person absconding, which could justify that detention, only becomes apparent at a later date.

36 Furthermore, whilst Article 29(2) of that regulation states that the transfer deadline is extended to no longer than 18 months if the person concerned absconds, a person who absconds for at least six weeks can no longer be detained in the situation where he would once again be available to the competent authorities.

37 In light of those considerations, it is apparent that the interpretation envisaged in paragraph 33 above, first, would be such as to appreciably limit the effectiveness of the procedures provided for by that regulation and, second, would risk encouraging the person concerned to abscond in order to prevent their transfer to the Member State responsible, thus barring the application of the principles and procedures of the same regulation (see, by analogy, judgments of 17 March 2016, Mirza, C695/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:188, paragraph 52, and of 25 January 2017, Vilkas, C640/15, EU:C:2017:39, paragraph 37).

38 Moreover, that interpretation would be inconsistent with the wish of the EU legislature, expressed in recital 20 of the Dublin III Regulation, to allow detention while limiting its duration, since it would result in the limitation or cancellation of the detention, not on the basis of the time during which the person concerned was actually detained, but merely on the basis of the period of time elapsed since the requested Member State accepted the take charge or take back request.

39 The third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must therefore be interpreted as meaning that the period no longer than six weeks within which the transfer of a detained person must be carried out, laid down by that provision, applies only in the situation where the person concerned is already detained when one of the two events covered by that provision takes place.

40 Consequently, when the detention of the person concerned pending his transfer begins after the requested Member State has accepted the take charge or take back request, the duration of the detention is circumscribed by one of the specific deadlines set out in Article 28(3) of that regulation, where appropriate, only from the date on which the appeal or review loses is suspensive effect in accordance with Article 27(3) of that regulation.

41 Failing any maximum duration of detention being set out in the Dublin III Regulation, such detention must nonetheless be compatible with, first of all, the principle laid down by the first subparagraph of Article 28(3) of that regulation that the detention be for as short a period as possible and not for longer than the time reasonably necessary to fulfil the required administrative procedures with due diligence until the transfer is carried out.

42 Next, the competent authority must, in accordance with Article 28(4) of that regulation, comply with the provisions of the Reception Directive which regulate the detention of applicants for international protection, in particular Article 9(1) of that directive, under which, in particular, the administrative procedures relevant to the grounds for detention are to be executed with due diligence.

43 Lastly, that authority must take account of Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in so far as Article 28(2) of the Dublin III Regulation provides for a limitation on the exercise of the fundamental rights to liberty and security (see, to that effect, judgments of 15 February 2016, N., C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraph 49, and of 15 March 2017, Al Chodor, C528/15, EU:C:2017:213, paragraph 36).

44 In that context, it is therefore incumbent upon the competent authority, under the supervision of national courts, to carry out diligently the transfer procedure and not to extend the detention for a period of time beyond what is necessary for the purposes of that procedure, assessed by taking account of the specific requirements of that procedure in each specific case (see, by analogy, judgment of 16 July 2015, Lanigan, C237/15 PPU, EU:C:2015:474, paragraphs 58 and 59).

45 Furthermore, the person concerned may not be detained for a period vastly in excess of six weeks during which the transfer could be reasonably carried out, in so far as it follows from the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation that that period is, in principle, sufficient as regards, in particular, the simplified nature of the transfer procedure between the Member States established by that regulation so that the competent authorities proceed with the transfer (see, by analogy, judgment of 16 July 2015, Lanigan, C237/15 PPU, EU:C:2015:474, paragraph 60).

46 Consequently, given that the fact that the detention of an applicant for international protection begins after the requested Member State has accepted the take charge request is not such as to render the transfer of that applicant particularly difficult, detention of 3 or 12 months during which the transfer may be reasonably carried out exceeds the period of time which is reasonably necessary for the required administrative procedures with due diligence until the transfer is carried out to be satisfied.

47 By contrast, in such a situation, as regards the discretion enjoyed by the Member States in the adoption of measures seeking to implement EU legislation, a period of detention of two months would not be found to be necessarily excessive, its suitability in relation to the facts of each specific case having nevertheless to be assessed by the competent authority under the supervision of national courts.

48 However, in the situation where, after the detention has begun, the review or the appeal loses its suspensive effect in accordance with Article 27(3) of the Dublin III Regulation, that detention may not, pursuant to the third and fourth subparagraphs of Article 28(3) of that regulation, be maintained for more than six weeks from that date.

49 It follows from the foregoing that Article 28 of the Dublin III Regulation, read in the light of Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, must be interpreted as meaning that:

- it does not preclude national legislation, such as that at issue in the main proceedings, which provides that, where the detention of an applicant for international protection begins after the requested Member State has accepted the take charge request, that detention may be maintained for no longer than two months, provided, first, that the duration of the detention does not go beyond the period of time which is necessary for the purposes of that transfer procedure, assessed by taking account of the specific requirements of that procedure in each specific case and, second, that, where applicable, that duration is not to be longer than six weeks from the date when the appeal or review ceases to have suspensive effect; and

- it does preclude national legislation, such as that at issue in the main proceedings, which allows, in such a situation, the detention to be maintained for 3 or 12 months during which the transfer could be reasonably carried out.

The third question

50 By its third question, the referring court asks, in essence, whether Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as meaning that it is necessary to deduct from the six week period established by that provision, from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has suspensive effect, the number of days during which the person concerned was already detained after a Member State has accepted the take charge or take back request.

51 It should be recalled that the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation states that, when a person is detained pursuant to Article 28 of that regulation, the transfer is to be carried out as soon as practically possible, and at the latest within six weeks of the acceptance by another Member State of the take charge or take back request or from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has suspensive effect in accordance with Article 27(3) of that regulation.

52 It thus follows from the wording of Article 28 of that regulation that the latter establishes two distinctive periods of six weeks, without indicating whether they are to be taken together or whether the duration of the second period should be reduced in certain situations.

53 That interpretation is supported by the function assigned to those deadlines by the EU legislature.

54 Although the deadlines set out in the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation have the effect, pursuant to the fourth subparagraph of Article 28(3) of that regulation, of limiting the maximum duration of detention, the fact nonetheless remains that they are intended to determine the period during which the transfer must be carried out and that they thus substitute, in certain circumstances, for the normal deadlines established for that purpose by Article 29(1) of that regulation.

55 As long as an appeal or review lodged against a transfer decision has suspensive effect, it is, by definition, impossible to carry out the transfer, hence the deadlines set out for that purpose can, in that case, begin only when the future implementation of the transfer is in principle agreed upon and only the details of the transfer remain to be determined, namely from the date on which that suspensive effect is lifted (see, by analogy, judgment of 29 January 2009, Petrosian, C19/08, EU:C:2009:41, paragraph 45).

56 In such a situation, each of the two Member States is confronted with the same practical difficulties in organising the transfer as those that it would have had to confront if the transfer had been carried out immediately following the acceptance of the take charge or take back request and should thus have the same six week period in which to determine the practical details of the transfer and carry out that transfer (see, by analogy, judgment of 29 January 2009, Petrosian, C19/08, EU:C:2009:41, paragraphs 43 and 44).

57 The fact that the person concerned was already detained on the date on which the suspensive effect of the review or appeal was lifted is not, in itself, such as to substantially facilitate the transfer since the Member States concerned cannot regulate the practical details of the transfer when neither its subject nor, a fortiori, its date is settled.

58 Furthermore, in the situation where the person concerned had lodged an appeal or a review only after several weeks in detention, a possible reduction of the second period established by the third paragraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation equal to the number of days during which that person was already in detention could, in practice, deprive the competent authority of any possibility of carrying out the transfer before the detention ends and also prevent it making effective use of the power laid down by the EU legislature to hold the person concerned in detention in order to counter the significant risk of that person absconding.

59 Consequently, the answer to the third question is that Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as meaning that the number of days during which the person concerned was already detained after a Member State has accepted the take charge or take back request need not be deducted from the six week period established by that provision, from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has suspensive effect.

The fourth question

60 By its fourth question, the referring court asks, in essence, whether Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as meaning that the six week period beginning from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has suspensive effective, established by that provision, also applies when the suspension of the execution of transfer decision was not specifically requested by the person concerned.

61 It is clear from the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation that the second deadline for carrying out the transfer, established by that provision, runs from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has suspensive effect in accordance with Article 27(3) of that regulation.

62 As noted in paragraph 55 above, that rule is designed to give the competent authority sufficient time to carry out the transfer of a detained person, taking account of the fact that, when an appeal or a review brought against a transfer decision has suspensive effect, it is possible to proceed with the transfer only once that suspensive effect has been lifted.

63 It must therefore be stressed that the fact that an appeal or review is recognised as having suspensive effect is, in that regard, decisive, in so far as it would prevent the transfer, without the intervention or lack of intervention of a prior request for the suspension of the transfer decision by the person concerned playing a decisive role.

64 It must moreover be noted that the EU legislature refers to the lifting of the suspensive effect 'in accordance with Article 27(3)' of the Dublin III Regulation, without drawing a distinction between the Member States which have decided to give an appeal or a review an automatic suspensive effect pursuant to Article 27(3)(a) and (b) of that regulation and the Member States which have chosen to make the grant of that suspensive effect subject to the intervention of a judicial decision to that effect on the request of the person concerned within the meaning of Article 27(3)(c) of that regulation.

65 In this respect, it should be recalled that the EU legislature did not intend the judicial protection enjoyed by applicants for international protection to be sacrificed to the requirement of expedition in processing applications for international protection (see, to that effect, judgment of 7 June 2016, Ghezelbash, C63/15, EU:C:2016:409, paragraph 57).

66 It follows that Member States wishing to strengthen the judicial protection of applicants by giving automatic suspensive effect to an appeal or a review brought against a transfer decision may not, for the sake of meeting the requirement of expedition, be placed in a less favourable situation than those Member States which did not deem it necessary to do so. Such would be the case if the former Member States did not have a sufficient period in which to carry out the transfer when the person concerned is detained and that person has decided to lodge an appeal (see, by analogy, judgment of 29 January 2009, Petrosian, C19/08, EU:C:2009:41, paragraphs 49 and 50).

67 Admittedly, Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation does not directly make reference to the situation provided for by Article 27(4) of that regulation in which the suspension of the execution of a transfer does not follow from the effects of legislation or a judicial decision but from a decision taken by the competent authority.

68 However, in such a case, the person concerned finds himself in a situation in every respect comparable to that of a person whose appeal or review is recognised as having suspensive effect pursuant to Article 27(3) of that regulation.

69 In those circumstances, it appears, first, that the detention may also remain necessary in that situation pending the lodging of an appeal or a review and, second, that extending that detention for more than six weeks after the intervention of a final decision on appeal or review would not be justified.

70 Furthermore, owing to the similarity of the terms used in the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) and the first subparagraph of Article 29(1) of the Dublin III Regulation and owing to the fact that the purpose of both those provisions is to determine the period during which the transfer must be carried out, a more restrictive interpretation should normally be applied to each of those provisions, in which only the suspensive effect stemming from Article 27(3) of that regulation is referred to.

71 Consequently, such an interpretation would mean, pursuant to Article 29(1) of the Dublin III Regulation, that, when the competent authority makes use of the power laid down in Article 27(4) of the same regulation for the benefit of a person who has not been detained, the deadline for carrying out the transfer should also be calculated from the moment of acceptance by another Member State of the take charge or take back request. That interpretation would therefore, in practice, be such as to greatly deprive that provision of its utility, since it could not be used without the risk of preventing the transfer being carried out within the time limits laid down by the Dublin III Regulation.

72 Nor, it is also important to note, can that interpretation be preferred on the grounds that it would contribute to further protecting the freedom and security of the person concerned. The opposite interpretation does not lead to expanding the possibilities for maintaining the detention but rather to ensuring the application of a precise limit to the maximum period of detention in all cases in which that detention has been extended owing to the suspensive nature of the appeal or review.

73 In light of the foregoing, the answer to the fourth question is that Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as meaning that the six week period beginning from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has suspensive effective, established by that provision, also applies when the suspension of the execution of the transfer decision was not specifically requested by the person concerned.

Costs

74 Since these proceedings are, for the parties to the main proceedings, a step in the action pending before the national court, the decision on costs is a matter for that court. Costs incurred in submitting observations to the Court, other than the costs of those parties, are not recoverable.

On those grounds, the Court (Third Chamber) hereby rules:

1. Article 28 of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person, read in conjunction with Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, must be interpreted as meaning that:

- it does not preclude national legislation, such as that at issue in the main proceedings, which provides that, where the detention of an applicant for international protection begins after the requested Member State has accepted the take charge request, that detention may be maintained for no longer than two months, provided, first, that the duration of the detention does not go beyond the period of time which is necessary for the purposes of that transfer procedure, assessed by taking account of the specific requirements of that procedure in each specific case and, second, that, where applicable, that duration is not to be longer than six weeks from the date when the appeal or review ceases to have suspensive effect; and

- it does preclude national legislation, such as that at issue in the main proceedings, which allows, in such a situation, the detention to be maintained for 3 or 12 months during which the transfer could be reasonably carried out.

2. Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as meaning that the number of days during which the person concerned was already detained after a Member State has accepted the take charge or take back request need not be deducted from the six week period established by that provision, from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has suspensive effect.

3. Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as meaning that the six week period beginning from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has suspensive effective, established by that provision, also applies when the suspension of the execution of the transfer decision was not specifically requested by the person concerned.

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DR Congo: Security Council condemns attack against UN peacekeeping mission

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 21 September 2017 Cite as UN News Service, DR Congo: Security Council condemns attack against UN peacekeeping mission, 21 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8ce2d4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Security Council has strongly condemned the attack this past Sunday in Mamundioma, in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), that killed a United Nations peacekeeper from Tanzania and injured another.

In a press statement issued today, the 15-member body called on the Congolese Government to swiftly investigate all attacks against the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Council underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

It also expressed its deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of the peacekeeper that was killed, as well as to the Government of Tanzania and MONUSCO, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
UN officials urge sustained support for humanitarian efforts in Lake Chad Basin

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 21 September 2017 Cite as UN News Service, UN officials urge sustained support for humanitarian efforts in Lake Chad Basin, 21 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8ce9a4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

United Nations officials today underscored the need for sustained international support for the humanitarian response in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region, where millions are in need of emergency assistance.

"We can and must help the millions of people displaced by the crisis as well as those hosting the displaced across the beleaguered Lake Chad region," Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock told participants at a ministerial event held on the margins of the General Assembly's high-level session.

Mr. Lowcock, who is also UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, visited Niger and Nigeria earlier this month to raise the global profile of the Lake Chad Basin crisis, which is affecting some 17 million people in the region.

In Niger, the number of food-insecure people is around 1.8 million. Some 800,000 children are affected by acute malnutrition and almost 250,000 people are either internally displaced persons, returnees or refugees from Nigeria.

In northeast Nigeria, around 6.5 million people need life-saving assistance. Nearly 5.2 million are severely food-insecure and 450,000 children will suffer from severe acute malnutrition, this year.

The $1.1 billion appeal for the country is currently only 48 per cent funded.

"Together, we have managed to avert famine, but we cannot pause or slow down. We must continue to step up so that the millions of people who are still just a step away from starvation are not allowed to perish," said Mr. Lowcock.

Humanitarian needs likely to remain high

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed noted that for the past eight years, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria have suffered the horrendous consequences of the Boko Haram insurgency.

"Humanitarian needs will unfortunately remain high into next year and beyond. Sustained support is essential."

The Deputy Secretary-General also noted that the crisis is "a powerful example" of the complex, multi-dimensional and interlinked challenges that the region faces, and shows why an integrated, comprehensive and coherent approach is needed to address the humanitarian-development nexus and its link to peace.

These challenges, she said, are driven by under-development, economic and political exclusion, environmental degradation linked to climate change, demographic shifts and structural fragility. Countries in the region are dealing with violent extremists at the same time as they are hit by economic recession and low oil prices.

"I myself grew up in Maiduguri in Nigeria - the heart of the Boko Haram insurgency," she said. "I know better than anyone that no child is born a terrorist. Children and young people are indoctrinated and radicalized by circumstances, conditions and influences.

"Governments must act to address the root causes of violence, including the full spectrum of social, political, economic and religious grievances."

She added that preventing crises requires investment in strengthening resilience and building the capacity of institutions and communities; investment in people and in social cohesion; reducing inequality and vulnerabilities; and expanding opportunities for all.

"The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development is the best preventive tool we have," she stated, referring to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by world leaders in 2015 to end poverty, reduce inequality and tackle climate change.
K. v Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie

Publisher European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union Publication Date 14 September 2017 Citation / Document Symbol C18/16 Related Document(s) Opinion of Advocate General Sharpston: K v. Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie Cite as K. v Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie, C18/16, European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union, 14 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/cases,ECJ,59c8d0334.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Fourth Chamber)

14 September 2017 ( )

(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Standards for the reception of applicants for international protection - Directive 2013/32/EU - Article 9 - Right to remain in a Member State during the examination of the application - Directive 2013/33/EU - First subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) - Detention - Verification of identity or nationality - Determination of the elements on which the application for international protection is based - Validity - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union - Articles 6 and 52 - Restriction - Proportionality)

In Case C18/16,

REQUEST for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 TFEU from the rechtbank Den Haag zittingsplaats Haarlem (District Court, The Hague, sitting in Haarlem, Netherlands), made by decision of 13 January 2016, received at the Court on 13 January 2016, in the proceedings

K.

v

Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie,

THE COURT (Fourth Chamber),

composed of T. von Danwitz (Rapporteur), President of the Chamber, E. Juhasz, C. Vajda, K. Jurimae and C. Lycourgos, Judges,

Advocate General: E. Sharpston,

Registrar: A. Calot Escobar,

having regard to the written procedure,

after considering the observations submitted on behalf of:

- the Netherlands Government, by M. Bulterman and M. Noort, acting as Agents,

- the Belgian Government, by M. Jacobs and C. Pochet, acting as Agents,

- the Estonian Government, by K. Kraavi-Kaerdi, acting as Agent,

- Ireland, by E. Creedon and L. Williams and by A. Joyce, acting as Agents,

- the European Parliament, by T. Lukacsi and R. van de Westelaken, acting as Agents,

- the Council of the European Union, by M. Chavrier F. Naert and K. Plesniak, acting as Agents,

- the European Commission, by M. Condou-Durande and by H. Kramer and G. Wils, acting as Agents,

after hearing the Opinion of the Advocate General at the sitting on 4 May 2017,

gives the following

Judgment

1 This request for a preliminary ruling concerns the validity of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (OJ 2013 L 180, p. 96).

2 The request has been made in proceedings between Mr K. and the Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie (State Secretary for Security and Justice, Netherlands) concerning his detention.

Legal context

The ECHR

3 Under the heading 'Right to liberty and security', Article 5 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 ('the ECHR') provides, in paragraph 1:

'Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be deprived of his liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with a procedure prescribed by law:



(f) the lawful arrest or detention of a person to prevent his effecting an unauthorised entry into the country or of a person against whom action is being taken with a view to deportation or extradition.'

European Union law

The Charter

4 Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ('the Charter'), entitled 'Right to liberty and security', provides:

'Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person.'

5 Under Article 52 of the Charter, entitled 'Scope and interpretation of rights and principles':

'(1) Any limitation on the exercise of the rights and freedoms recognised by this Charter must be provided for by law and respect the essence of those rights and freedoms. Subject to the principle of proportionality, limitations may be made only if they are necessary and genuinely meet objectives of general interest recognised by the Union or the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others.



(3) In so far as this Charter contains rights which correspond to rights guaranteed by the [ECHR], the meaning and scope of those rights shall be the same as those laid down by the said Convention. This provision shall not prevent Union law providing more extensive protection.



(7) The explanations drawn up as a way of providing guidance in the interpretation of this Charter shall be given due regard by the courts of the Union and of the Member States.'

Directive 2011/95/EU

6 Under the heading 'Assessment of facts and circumstances', Article 4 of Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted (OJ 2011 L 337, p. 9), is worded as follows:

'(1) Member States may consider it the duty of the applicant to submit as soon as possible all the elements needed to substantiate the application for international protection. In cooperation with the applicant, it is the duty of the Member State to assess the relevant elements of the application.

(2) The elements referred to in paragraph 1 consist of the applicant's statements and all the documentation at the applicant's disposal regarding the applicant's age, background, including that of relevant relatives, identity, nationality(ies), country(ies) and place(s) of previous residence, previous asylum applications, travel routes, travel documents and the reasons for applying for international protection.

'

Directive 2013/32/EU

7 Under the heading 'Definitions', Article 2 of Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection (OJ 2013 L 180, p. 60), provides:

'For the purposes of this Directive:



(c) "applicant" means a third-country national or stateless person who has made an application for international protection in respect of which a final decision has not yet been taken;



(p) "remain in the Member State" means to remain in the territory, including at the border or in transit zones, of the Member State in which the application for international protection has been made or is being examined;

'

8 Article 9 of that directive, entitled 'Right to remain in the Member State pending the examination of the application', provides in paragraph 1:

'Applicants shall be allowed to remain in the Member State, for the sole purpose of the procedure, until the determining authority has made a decision in accordance with the procedures at first instance set out in Chapter III. That right to remain shall not constitute an entitlement to a residence permit.'

9 Article 13 of that directive, entitled 'Obligations of the applicants', provides in paragraph 1:

'Member States shall impose upon applicants the obligation to cooperate with the competent authorities with a view to establishing their identity and other elements referred to in Article 4(2) of Directive 2011/95/EU. '

Directive 2013/33

10 Directive 2013/33 states, in recitals 2, 12, 15, 17, 20 and 35:

'(2) A common policy on asylum, including a Common European Asylum System, is a constituent part of the European Union's objective of progressively establishing an area of freedom, security and justice open to those who, forced by circumstances, legitimately seek protection in the Union.



(12) The harmonisation of conditions for the reception of applicants should help to limit the secondary movements of applicants influenced by the variety of conditions for their reception.



(15) The detention of applicants should be applied in accordance with the underlying principle that a person should not be held in detention for the sole reason that he or she is seeking international protection, particularly in accordance with the international legal obligations of the Member States and with Article 31 of the Geneva Convention [relating to the Status of Refugees, signed in Geneva on 28 July 1951 (United Nations Treaty Series, Vol 189, p. 150, No 2545 (1954)), as supplemented by the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, concluded in New York on 31 January 1967]. Applicants may be detained only under very clearly defined exceptional circumstances laid down in this Directive and subject to the principle of necessity and proportionality with regard to both the manner and the purpose of such detention. Where an applicant is held in detention he or she should have effective access to the necessary procedural guarantees, such as judicial remedy before a national judicial authority.



(17) The grounds for detention set out in this Directive are without prejudice to other grounds for detention, including detention grounds within the framework of criminal proceedings, which are applicable under national law, unrelated to the third country national's or stateless person's application for international protection.



(20) In order to better ensure the physical and psychological integrity of the applicants, detention should be a measure of last resort and may only be applied after all non-custodial alternative measures to detention have been duly examined. Any alternative measure to detention must respect the fundamental human rights of applicants.



(35) This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter . In particular, this Directive seeks to ensure full respect for human dignity and to promote the application of Articles 1, 4, 6, 7, 18, 21, 24 and 47 of the Charter and has to be implemented accordingly.'

11 Under Article 2 of Directive 2013/33, entitled 'Definitions':

'For the purposes of this Directive:



(b) "applicant" means a third-country national or a stateless person who has made an application for international protection in respect of which a final decision has not yet been taken;



(h) "detention" means confinement of an applicant by a Member State within a particular place, where the applicant is deprived of his or her freedom of movement;

'

12 Article 8 of that directive, entitled 'Detention', states:

'(1) Member States shall not hold a person in detention for the sole reason that he or she is an applicant in accordance with Directive 2013/32 

(2) When it proves necessary and on the basis of an individual assessment of each case, Member States may detain an applicant, if other less coercive alternative measures cannot be applied effectively.

(3) An applicant may be detained only:

(a) in order to determine or verify his or her identity or nationality;

(b) in order to determine those elements on which the application for international protection is based which could not be obtained in the absence of detention, in particular when there is a risk of absconding of the applicant;



(e) when protection of national security or public order so requires;



The grounds for detention shall be laid down in national law.

(4) Member States shall ensure that the rules concerning alternatives to detention, such as regular reporting to the authorities, the deposit of a financial guarantee, or an obligation to stay at an assigned place, are laid down in national law.'

13 Under Article 9 of Directive 2013/33, entitled 'Guarantees for detained applicants':

'(1) An applicant shall be detained only for as short a period as possible and shall be kept in detention only for as long as the grounds set out in Article 8(3) are applicable.

Administrative procedures relevant to the grounds for detention set out in Article 8(3) shall be executed with due diligence. Delays in administrative procedures that cannot be attributed to the applicant shall not justify a continuation of detention.

(2) Detention of applicants shall be ordered in writing by judicial or administrative authorities. The detention order shall state the reasons in fact and in law on which it is based.

(3) Where detention is ordered by administrative authorities, Member States shall provide for a speedy judicial review of the lawfulness of detention to be conducted ex officio and/or at the request of the applicant. When conducted ex officio, such review shall be decided on as speedily as possible from the beginning of detention. When conducted at the request of the applicant, it shall be decided on as speedily as possible after the launch of the relevant proceedings. To this end, Member States shall define in national law the period within which the judicial review ex officio and/or the judicial review at the request of the applicant shall be conducted.

Where, as a result of the judicial review, detention is held to be unlawful, the applicant concerned shall be released immediately.

(4) Detained applicants shall immediately be informed in writing, in a language which they understand or are reasonably supposed to understand, of the reasons for detention and the procedures laid down in national law for challenging the detention order, as well as of the possibility to request free legal assistance and representation.

(5) Detention shall be reviewed by a judicial authority at reasonable intervals of time, ex officio and/or at the request of the applicant concerned, in particular whenever it is of a prolonged duration, relevant circumstances arise or new information becomes available which may affect the lawfulness of detention.

'

Netherlands law

14 Article 8 of the Vreemdelingenwet 2000 (Law on Foreign Nationals 2000, 'the Law on Foreign Nationals') provides:

'A foreign national is lawfully resident in the Netherlands only:



(f) pending a decision on an application for the issue of a [residence permit of limited duration issued to persons granted asylum], where, pursuant to this Law or a provision adopted under this Law or pursuant to a judicial decision, deportation of the applicant is not to take place until a decision has been taken on the application;



(h) if, pending the decision on an objection or appeal, a provision adopted on the basis of that application or a court order provides that the deportation of the applicant should be deferred until a decision has been taken on the objection or the appeal;

'

15 Article 28 of the Law on Foreign Nationals provides:

'The Minister shall be authorised:

 to approve applications for the grant of residence permits of limited duration, 

'

16 Article 59b of the Law on Foreign Nationals provides:

'(1) A foreign national who is lawfully resident on the basis of Article 8(f) , may, in so far as an application for the issue of a residence permit [on grounds of asylum for a fixed period] is concerned , be detained by the Minister, if:

(a) detention is necessary in order to determine the identity or nationality of the foreign national;

(b) the detention is necessary to collect information needed for assessing an application for a residence permit for a fixed period, as referred to in Article 28, in particular if there is a risk of the foreign national absconding;



(2) The detention under paragraph 1(a), (b) or (c) shall not last longer than four weeks, unless Article 39 of the Law on Foreign Nationals is applied. In that case the detention shall not last longer than six weeks.

'

The dispute in the main proceedings and the question referred for a preliminary ruling

17 The applicant in the main proceedings, a third-country national, arrived at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam (Netherlands), on 30 November 2015 on a flight from Vienna (Austria). His intention was to fly to Edinburgh (United Kingdom) on the same day.

18 During a control of documents carried out before boarding the Edinburgh flight, he was suspected of using a false passport and he was, accordingly, detained.

19 On 15 December 2015, the criminal court declared the action brought by the criminal prosecution against the applicant in the main proceedings to be inadmissible. By means of an 'immediate release' order dated 16 December 2015, his release from detention was ordered.

20 On 17 December 2015, the applicant in the main proceedings made an application for asylum. By decision of that day, he was detained, in accordance with Article 59b(1)(a) and (b) of the Law on Foreign Nationals, adopted in transposition of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33. That decision was based on the need to resort to such a measure in order to establish the identity or nationality of that applicant, and to obtain data necessary for the assessment of his application, as there was a risk of him absconding.

21 On 17 December 2015, the applicant in the main proceedings lodged an appeal against the decision ordering his detention and applied for compensation.

22 At the time of the hearing before the referring court, on 28 December 2015, K. had been heard once in relation to his application for asylum without a decision having been taken on that application. Therefore, at the time the order for reference was made, no return decision had been adopted in relation to him.

23 In the main proceedings, K. claims that the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33 is contrary to Article 5 of the ECHR and, therefore, to Article 6 of the Charter.

24 The referring court points out the similarity between the main proceedings and the case giving rise to the judgment of 15 February 2016, N.(C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84), which concerned the validity of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(e) of that directive.

25 Endorsing, mutatis mutandis, the issues raised by the Raad van State (Council of State, Netherlands) in the case giving rise to that judgment, in the main proceedings, the referring court questions the validity of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of that directive in the light of Article 6 of the Charter.

26 Like the Raad van State (Council of State), the rechtbank Den Haag zittingsplaats Haarlem (District Court, The Hague, sitting in Haarlem, Netherlands) states, first, that according to the Explanations relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights (OJ 2007 C 303, p. 17), the rights provided for in Article 6 correspond to those guaranteed by Article 5 of the ECHR and, in accordance with Article 52(3) of the Charter, they have the same meaning and scope. Consequently, the limitations which may legitimately be imposed on them may not exceed those permitted by the actual wording of Article 5 of the ECHR.

27 The referring court invokes, secondly, paragraph 29 of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 22 September 2015, Nabil and Others v. Hungary (CE:ECHR:2015:0922JUD006211612), according to which any deprivation of liberty under the second limb of Article 5(1)(f) of the ECHR is justified only for as long as deportation or extradition proceedings are in progress. If those proceedings are not prosecuted with due diligence, the detention ceases to be permissible under Article 5(1)(f) of the ECHR. In the main proceedings, no deportation or extradition proceedings are currently in progress.

28 In those circumstances, the rechtbank Den Haag zittingsplaats Haarlem (District Court, The Hague, sitting in Haarlem) decided to stay the proceedings and to refer the following question to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling:

'Is the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33 valid in the light of Article 6 of the Charter:

(1) in a situation where a third-country national is detained under the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of that directive and, under Article 9 of Directive 2013/32, has the right to remain in a Member State until a decision on his asylum application has been made at first instance, and

(2) given the Explanation relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights that the limitations which may legitimately be imposed on the rights in Article 6 of the Charter may not exceed those permitted by the ECHR in the wording of Article 5(1)(f), and the interpretation by the European Court of Human Rights of the latter provision in, inter alia, the judgment of 22 September 2015, Nabil and Others v.Hungary (CE:ECHR:2015:0922JUD006211612), that the detention of an asylum-seeker is contrary to the aforementioned Article 5(1)(f) if such detention was not imposed with a view to deportation?'

29 On 1 February 2016, the referring court informed the Court that, by a judgment of 25 January 2016, it declared the action brought by applicant in the main proceedings against the detention measure then in force to be well founded and ordered that measure to be lifted as from the latter date.

Procedure before the Court

30 At the request of the referring court, the designated Chamber examined the need to deal with the present case under the urgent preliminary ruling procedure provided for in Article 107 of the Court's Rules of Procedure. On 1 February 2016, after hearing the Advocate General, the Chamber decided not to accede to that request.

Consideration of the question referred

31 By its question, the referring court asks, in essence, the Court to consider the validity of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33 in the light of Article 6 of the Charter.

32 First of all, it should be noted that whilst, as Article 6(3) TEU confirms, fundamental rights recognised by the ECHR constitute general principles of EU law and whilst Article 52(3) of the Charter provides that the rights contained in the Charter which correspond to rights guaranteed by the ECHR are to have the same meaning and scope as those laid down by that convention, the latter does not constitute, as long as the European Union has not acceded to it, a legal instrument which has been formally incorporated into EU law (judgments of 26 February 2013, Akerberg Fransson, C617/10, EU:C:2013:105, paragraph 44, and of 5 April 2017, Orsi and Baldetti, C217/15 and C350/15, EU:C:2017:264, paragraph 15 and the case-law cited). Therefore, the examination of the validity of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33 must be undertaken solely in the light of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Charter (see, to that effect, judgments of 15 February 2016, N., C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraph 46 and the case-law cited, and of 28 July 2016, Council of Ministers, C543/14, EU:C:2016:605, paragraph 23).

33 It must be noted, in that regard, that the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of that directive allows an applicant for international protection to be detained in order to determine or verify his identity or nationality, or to determine the elements on which his application is based which could not be obtained in the absence of detention, in particular when there is a risk of the applicant absconding. By authorising such a measure, that provision provides for a limitation on the exercise of the right to liberty enshrined in Article 6 of the Charter.

34 Under Article 52(1) of the Charter, any limitation on the exercise of the rights and freedoms recognised by the Charter must be provided for by law and respect the essence of those rights and freedoms. In observance of the principle of proportionality, limitations may be imposed on the exercise of those rights and freedoms only if they are necessary and genuinely meet objectives of general interest recognised by the European Union or the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others.

35 In that regard, it should be noted that the limitation on the exercise of the right to liberty resulting from the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33 is provided for by EU legislation and that it does not affect the essence of the right to liberty laid down in Article 6 of the Charter. The first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of that directive does not render the guarantee of that right less secure and - as is apparent from the wording of the provision and recital 15 of the directive - the power that it confers on Member States enables them to detain an applicant only on the basis of his individual conduct and under the exceptional circumstances referred to in the same provision, those circumstances also being circumscribed by all the conditions set out in Articles 8 and 9 of the directive (see, by analogy, judgment of 15 February 2016, N., C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraphs 51 and 52).

36 As was stated by the Advocate General in points 56 and 58 of her Opinion, it is apparent from Article 78 TFEU that the proper functioning of the Common European Asylum System, based on the application of criteria common to the Member States, is an objective of general interest recognised by the European Union. According to recital 2 of Directive 2013/33, that system, moreover, contributes to the achievement of the European Union's objective of establishing progressively an area of freedom, security and justice open to those who, forced by circumstances, legitimately seek protection in the European Union. A measure based on the grounds set out in the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of that directive meets the objective of ensuring the proper functioning of the Common European Asylum System, in so far as it allows the persons applying for international protection to be identified and for it to be established whether they satisfy the conditions to qualify for such protection, so as to avoid, in the event that it does not do so, that they enter or stay in the territory of the European Union illegally.

37 As regards the proportionality of the interference with the right to liberty that has been found to exist, it should be recalled that the principle of proportionality requires, according to the settled case-law of the Court, that measures adopted by the EU institutions do not exceed the limits of what is appropriate and necessary in order to attain the legitimate objectives pursued by the legislation in question, since the disadvantages caused by the legislation must not be disproportionate to the aims pursued (judgments of 15 February 2016, N., C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraph 54 and the case-law cited, and of 9 June 2016, Pesce and Others, C78/16 and C79/16, EU:C:2016:428, paragraph 48 and the case-law cited).

38 In the assessment of the proportionality of that interference, it is necessary to take account, in accordance with Article 13(1) of Directive 2013/33, of the fact that applicants for international protection are obliged to cooperate with the competent authorities, in particular for the purpose of determining their identity, their nationality, and the grounds justifying their application, which amounts to supplying, as far as possible, the required supporting documents and, where appropriate, the explanations and information requested.

39 In those circumstances, the detention of an applicant in order to determine or verify his identity or nationality, or in order to determine the elements on which the application for international protection is based which could not be obtained without that detention, in particular where there is a risk that that applicant will abscond, allows the applicant to be available to the national authorities so that they are able, inter alia, to interview him and, consequently, to contribute to the prevention of possible secondary movements of applicants referred to in recital 12 of Directive 2013/33 and pursued by Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person (OJ 2013 L 180, p. 31) (see, to that effect, judgment of 17 March 2016, Mirza, C695/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:188, paragraph 52). It follows that that measure is, by its very nature, able to ensure the proper functioning of the Common European Asylum System and also capable of contributing to the achievement of the objective pursued by the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of that directive, as identified in paragraph 36 of the present judgment.

40 As regards the power which that provision confers on Member States to detain an applicant, the Court stresses that, in view of the importance of the right to liberty enshrined in Article 6 of the Charter and the gravity of the interference with that right which detention represents, limitations on the exercise of the right must apply only in so far as is strictly necessary (judgment of 15 February 2016, N., C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraph 56 and the case-law cited).

41 In that regard, it is apparent both from the wording and context of Article 8 of Directive 2013/33 and from its legislative history that that power is subject to compliance with a series of conditions whose aim is to create a strictly circumscribed framework in which such a measure may be used.

42 First, the first subparagraph of Article 8(3) of Directive 2013/33 lists exhaustively the various grounds which may justify recourse to detention and each of those grounds meets a specific need and is self-standing (see, to that effect, judgment of 15 February 2016, N., C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraph 59). In that regard, it is apparent from the wording of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) of that directive that an applicant may be subject to such a measure only where he has failed to communicate his identity or nationality or the identification papers justifying that, notwithstanding his obligation to cooperate. Likewise, it results from the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(b) of that directive that an applicant may be detained only where certain elements on which his application for international protection is based 'could not be obtained in the absence of detention, in particular when there is a risk of absconding of the applicant'.

43 The second subparagraph of Article 8(3) of Directive 2013/33 provides, in addition, that the grounds for detention are to be laid down in national law. It should be recalled in that regard that, when a directive allows the Member States discretion to define transposition measures adapted to the various situations possible, they must, when implementing those measures, not only interpret their national law in a manner consistent with the directive in question but also ensure that they do not rely on an interpretation of the directive that would be in conflict with fundamental rights or with the other general principles of EU law (judgment of 15 February 2016, N., C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraph 60 and the case-law cited).

44 Secondly, the Court has already held that the other paragraphs of Article 8 of Directive 2013/33 place significant limitations on the Member States' power to detain a person. Article 8(1) of the directive makes clear that Member States may not hold a person in detention for the sole reason that he has made an application for international protection. Furthermore, under Article 8(2) of the directive, detention may be ordered only when it proves necessary and on the basis of an individual assessment of each case, if other less coercive alternative measures cannot be applied effectively. Article 8(4) of Directive 2013/33 provides that Member States are to ensure that the rules concerning alternatives to detention, such as regular reporting to the authorities, the deposit of a financial guarantee, or an obligation to stay at an assigned place, are laid down in national law (see judgment of 15 February 2016, N., C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraph 61).

45 Similarly, Article 9(1) of Directive 2013/33 provides that an applicant is to be detained only for as short a period as possible and may be kept in detention only for as long as the grounds set out in Article 8(3) of that directive are applicable. Moreover, in accordance with Article 9(2) to (5) of that directive, when a decision is taken to detain an applicant, significant procedural and legal safeguards must be observed. Thus, under Article 9(2) and (4) of Directive 2013/33, the decision must state, in writing, the reasons in fact and in law on which it is based and certain information must be provided to the applicant in a language he understands or is reasonably supposed to understand. Article 9(3) and (5) of Directive 2013/33 sets out the procedures which the Member States must establish for review by a judicial authority of the legality of the detention (see judgment of 15 February 2016, N., C 601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraph 62).

46 Thirdly, the Court has also held that the grounds for detention provided for in the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) to (c) of Directive 2013/33 are based on the Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on measures of detention of asylum seekers of 16 April 2003 and on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) Guidelines on Applicable Criteria and Standards Relating to the Detention of Asylum Seekers of 26 February 1999, from which it is clear, in the version adopted in 2012, that, first, detention may be used only exceptionally and that, secondly, detention is to be used only as a last resort, when it is determined to be necessary, reasonable and proportionate to a legitimate purpose (see, to that effect, judgment of 15 February 2016, N., C601/15 PPU, EU:C:2016:84, paragraph 63).

47 The limitations on the exercise of the right conferred by Article 6 of the Charter contained in the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of that directive are also not disproportionate to the aims pursued. In that regard, it should be noted that the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) is based on a fair balance between the general interest objective pursued, namely the proper functioning of the Common European Asylum System, allowing applicants who are genuinely in need to be granted international protection and refusing, on the one hand, applications from those who do not satisfy the conditions and, on the other hand, interference with the right to liberty resulting from a detention measure.

48 Although the proper functioning of the Common European Asylum System requires, in practice, that the competent national authorities have at their disposal reliable information relating to the identity or nationality of the applicant for international protection and to the elements on which his application is based, that provision cannot justify detention measures being decided without those national authorities having previously determined, on a case-by-case basis, whether they are proportionate to the aims pursued. Such a determination involves ensuring that all of the conditions referred to in paragraphs 44 to 46 of the present judgment are satisfied and, in particular, that, in each individual case, detention is used only as a last resort. Moreover, it must be ensured that that detention does not exceed, in any case, as short a period as possible.

49 In the light of the above, it must be concluded that, in adopting the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33, the EU legislature struck a fair balance between, on the one hand, the applicant's right to liberty and, on the other, the requirements relating to the identification of that applicant or of his nationality, or to the determination of the elements on which his application is based, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the Common European Asylum System.

50 Finally, it should be noted that, in so far as the Charter contains rights corresponding to the rights guaranteed by the ECHR, Article 52(3) of the Charter seeks to ensure the necessary consistency between the rights contained in it and the corresponding rights guaranteed by the ECHR, without thereby adversely affecting the autonomy of EU law and that of the Court of Justice of the European Union (see, to that effect, judgment of 28 July 2016, JZ, C294/16 PPU, EU:C:2016:610, paragraph 50 and the case-law cited). Account must therefore be taken of Article 5(1) of the ECHR for the purpose of interpreting Article 6 of the Charter. By adopting the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33, the EU legislature did not disregard the level of protection afforded by the second limb of Article 5(1)(f) of the ECHR.

51 In this case, although it is apparent from the request for a preliminary ruling that the referring court enquires about the influence of the second limb of Article 5(1)(f) of the ECHR on the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of that directive, that request does not, however, contain elements allowing it to be concluded that the facts at issue in the main proceedings are covered by that provision of the ECHR or to establish to what degree the case-law deriving from the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 22 November 2015, Nabil and Othersv.Hungary (CE:ECHR:2015:0922JUD006211612), could affect the examination of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of that directive in the present case. On the contrary, the information in that request, according to which the applicant in the main proceedings was not subject to a return decision, would appear to exclude that action is being taken against him with a view to deportation or extradition, for the purposes of that second limb.

52 As regards the guarantee enshrined in the first limb of Article 5(1)(f) of the ECHR, in accordance with which no one is to be deprived of his liberty, except in the case of the lawful arrest or detention of a person to prevent his effecting an unauthorised entry into the country, as interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights, it should be noted that that guarantee does not preclude necessary detention measures being taken against third-country nationals who have made an application for international protection, provided that such a measure is lawful and implemented in accordance with the objective of protecting the individual from arbitrariness (see, to that effect, ECtHR, 29 January 2008, Saadiv.United Kingdom, CE:ECHR:2008:0129JUD001322903, paragraphs 64 to 74, and 26 November 2015, Mahamed Jamav.Malta, CE:ECHR:2015:1126JUD001029013, paragraphs 136 to 140).

53 As is apparent from the reasoning set out in connection with the examination of the validity, in the light of Article 52(1) of the Charter, of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33, that provision, whose scope is strictly circumscribed, satisfies those requirements.

54 It follows from all the foregoing considerations that the answer to the question referred is that the examination of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33 has disclosed nothing capable of affecting the validity of that provision in the light of Articles 6 and 52(1) and (3) of the Charter.

Costs

55 Since these proceedings are, for the parties to the main proceedings, a step in the action pending before the national court, the decision on costs is a matter for that court. Costs incurred in submitting observations to the Court, other than the costs of those parties, are not recoverable.

On those grounds, the Court (Fourth Chamber) hereby rules:

The examination of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection has disclosed nothing capable of affecting the validity of that provision in the light of Articles 6 and 52(1) and (3) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Copyright notice: Cour de justice des Communautes europeennes L-2925 Luxembourg. Telephone switchboard: (352) 4303.1; fax: (352) 4303.2600
Nepal: UN chief welcomes holding of local elections as 'crucial step' for upcoming polls

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 21 September 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Nepal: UN chief welcomes holding of local elections as 'crucial step' for upcoming polls, 21 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8d1574.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the holding of the third phase of the local elections in Nepal earlier this week and congratulated the people of the South Asian nation for the peaceful conduct of the polls.

"This marks a crucial step in the transition towards federalism as enshrined in the 2015 Constitution, and will be followed by elections to State Assemblies and the Federal Parliament," noted a statement issued by the Secretary-General's Spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

"The Secretary-General encourages the Government of Nepal and political parties to continue their efforts towards ensuring peaceful and inclusive upcoming elections."

Mr. Guterres also encouraged all stakeholders to continue the implementation of the Constitution in line with its principles of inclusion and representative governance.

"The United Nations stands ready to support such efforts."
Security Council approves probe into ISIL's alleged war crimes in Iraq

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 21 September 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Security Council approves probe into ISIL's alleged war crimes in Iraq, 21 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8d1a04.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The United Nations Security Council today authorised the establishment of an investigation team to support Iraq's domestic efforts to hold the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) accountable for acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in the country.

According to the unanimously adopted resolution, the team will be headed by a Special Adviser to be appointed by the Secretary-General, and will consist of both international and domestic experts who will work "on equal footing," with an initial mandate of two years.

The Council underscored that the team should operate with full respect for the sovereignty of Iraq and its jurisdiction over crimes committed in its territory. In addition, evidence of crimes collected and stored by the team in Iraq should be for eventual use in fair and independent criminal proceedings conducted by competent national-level courts, with the relevant Iraqi authorities as the primary intended recipient.

Another Member State may request the team to collect evidence of acts committed by ISIL on its territory, but only with the approval of the Security Council, which may request the Secretary-General to submit separate terms of reference.

The Council requested the Secretary-General to establish, as a supplement to financing by the UN, a trust fund to receive voluntary contributions to implement the resolution.
Iraq: Security Council voices concern over planned referendum in Kurdistan Region

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 21 September 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Iraq: Security Council voices concern over planned referendum in Kurdistan Region, 21 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8d2054.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The United Nations Security Council today expressed concern over the "potentially destabilizing impact" of the Kurdistan Regional Government's plans to unilaterally hold a referendum next week.

In a statement issued to the press, members of the Council noted that the planned referendum is scheduled to be held while operations to counter Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) - in which Kurdish forces have played a critical role - are ongoing.

The referendum "could detract from efforts to ensure the safe, voluntary return of over three million refugees and internally displaced persons," the 15-member body added.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier this week voiced similar concerns about the timing of the vote in a statement issued by his Spokesman, which noted that all outstanding issues between the federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government should be resolved through structured dialogue and constructive compromise.

"The Secretary-General calls upon the leaders across Iraq to approach this matter with patience and restraint. The United Nations stands ready to support such efforts."
Sustained engagement vital to address immense humanitarian needs in Syria  UN official

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 21 September 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Sustained engagement vital to address immense humanitarian needs in Syria  UN official, 21 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8d2ed4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Sustained international attention and engagement is vital as the Syrian conflict moves into its seventh year and the suffering of civilians shows no signs of waning, a top United Nations official said today.

"Life-saving humanitarian needs remain enormous and the delivery of assistance through the most direct routes remains critical," Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock told the High-level Meeting on Syria, held in the margins of the General Assembly.

Mr. Lowcock, who is also UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, reported that de-escalation has resulted in calm in some parts of the country. But an increase in operations in the east to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) has caused fresh suffering and displacement.

"From Raqqa, to Idleb, to Deir ez-Zor, civilians continue to face serious protection concerns as fighting and access constraints continue. This year alone, another one million people have been internally displaced," he stated, adding that all parties to the fighting must be pressured to respect international humanitarian law.

In April in Brussels, some $6 billion was pledged by over 40 governments for the humanitarian response this year, with a further $3.7 billion pledged for 2018.

"There was also a clear agreement that the civilians whose lives have been destroyed by years of conflict must remain at the forefront of the international community's agenda," said Mr. Lowcock.

"That was expressed by voicing unconditional support to meet humanitarian needs inside Syria and the region; and by highlighting the importance of support for early recovery and resilience-building for displaced Syrians and their hosts."

Mr. Lowcock stressed the need for all pledges to UN-coordinated appeals for Syria and the region turned into contributions, noting that the humanitarian response plan for inside Syria is only 36 per cent funded, while the regional refugee and resilience plan just 39 per cent funded.

"We can and we must do better for the Syrian people," he stated. "Ultimately of course, the only sustainable way to address the humanitarian crisis is to end the conflict through a credible political agreement."

Among the other participants at the meeting were the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
UN scales up response as number of Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar nears 500,000

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 September 2017 Cite as UN News Service, UN scales up response as number of Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar nears 500,000, 22 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8d41a4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

With the number of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar arriving in south-east Bangladesh edging towards half a million, United Nations agencies are stepping up delivery of life-saving aid to two official refugee camps, where the health concerns are quickly growing.

At the request of Bangladeshi authorities, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is speeding up the distribution of plastic sheeting to get as many people as possible under at least minimal protection from monsoon rains and winds.

"On Saturday, we plan to begin distribution of kitchen sets, sleeping mats, solar lamps and other essential relief items to an initial 3,500 families who have been selected by community leaders," UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic told a press briefing in Geneva.

Refugee volunteers and contractors are helping newly arriving refugees moving into emergency shelter, but it is vital that UNHCR site planners have the opportunity to lay out the new Kutupalong extension in an orderly way to adequately provide for sanitation and to make sure structures are erected on higher ground not prone to flooding.

In total, more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees are now believed to be in Bangladesh; 420,000 of them have arrived in the past three and a half weeks.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi will be in Bangladesh this weekend to get a first-hand look at the scale of the crisis as well as UNHCR's response, and meet with refugees.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that camps are bursting at the seams and there is a huge risk of disease.

"WHO is very concerned about the health situation on the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh, given the very crowded settlements, most of them spontaneous," said Fadela Chaib, the agency's spokesperson in Geneva.

"It has been challenging to roll out the emergency response, not least because of the difficult terrain and the very heavy rains, and the fact that the population in question is dispersed, mobile and often injured," she added.

Ms. Chaib said the greatest risk is related to water and sanitation, with poor conditions increasing the risk of vector- and water-borne diseases. Cholera, which is endemic in Bangladesh, cannot be ruled out. WHO has provided some 20,000 people with water purification tablets.

"Immunization rates among children is very low," she said, explaining that when children are malnourished and exposed to the elements, the risk of childhood diseases such as measles are very high.

WHO, together with other agencies, recently launched an immunization campaign against polio and measles. Owing to the poor weather conditions and the continuous influx of people, the campaign has been extended.

Around 40 WHO staff have been dispatched to Bangladesh, and the agency will deploy a team of epidemiologists over the weekend to support risk assessment for infectious diseases.

For its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) has now reached at least 385,000 people with food aid as of today. Together with its partners, WFP feeds more than 5,000 people daily in the area.

"The situation is dire and WFP is on the frontlines trying to reach people as quickly as possible," spokesperson Bettina Luescher told reporters in Geneva.
Funding shortfall jeopardizes humanitarian response in Yemen, UN aid chief warns

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 September 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Funding shortfall jeopardizes humanitarian response in Yemen, UN aid chief warns, 22 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8d4744.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, currently the world's largest, are being hampered by insufficient funding and other challenges, the top United Nations relief official warned today.

"Despite the extraordinary scale of the suffering linked to the brutal conflict, including the threat of famine and the world's worst cholera outbreak, Yemen does not receive the international attention it deserves," Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock told a high-level event held in the margins of the General Assembly.

Mr. Lowcock, who is also UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, noted that nearly 21 million people are in need of emergency aid or protection, most of them children, and that this year's humanitarian response plan for Yemen is just 45 per cent funded, which means short-changing famine prevention efforts, and discontinuing programmes.

The World Food Programme (WFP) did reach 7 million people last month, helping to avert potential famine - but this came at the cost of cutting rations for about half of recipients to 60 per cent of the normal level.

"Yemen is an absolute catastrophe," WFP Executive Director David Beasley said at a separate event today. "Of the less than 30 million people that live there, 20 million literally don't know what's going to happen from day to day; 17 million of them are on the brink of famine."

He noted that WFP has received about half of the funds its needs, adding that the Gulf States, in particular, need to "step up and fill in the gap."

Mr. Lowcok called on donors to provide full funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan, noting that the Yemen Humanitarian Fund is one of the quickest and most effective ways to support the most urgent priorities.

Although only negotiations and a political settlement can put an end to this appalling, man-made crisis, all parties to the fighting in Yemen must be repeatedly reminded to comply with international humanitarian law, taking constant care to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure, he said.

The coordinated effort by partners in all sectors is making an enormous difference, he added, but much more remains to be done.

Among the other challenges faced, Mr. Lowcock cited the delay or blockage of humanitarian assistance or the movements of humanitarian staff - including for the cholera response by de facto authorities in Sana'a; commercial imports restrictions; the closure of Sana'a airport to commercial traffic; and salary arrears for health workers, teachers and water and sanitation staff that are accelerating the collapse of essential services.

"Overcoming each of these obstacles is within the reach of the international community," said Mr. Lowcock.

In an interview with UN News, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen Jamie McGoldrick said he met with Member States this week in New York and asked them to provided more funding.

Mr. McGoldrick also met with those involved in the conflict and reminded them of their obligations to abide by international humanitarian law.

"Enough is enough," he said. "The suffering should not be the DNA of the people in that country."
Darfur: AU-UN mission urges restraint after clashes at camp for displaced persons

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 September 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Darfur: AU-UN mission urges restraint after clashes at camp for displaced persons, 22 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8d4e64.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur today urged "the utmost restraint" by all parties after clashes between government forces and internally displaced persons at the Kalma camp led to the death of at least three IDPs and injuries to some 26 others.

"I call upon everyone involved in this situation to restore calm as soon as possible. A peaceful resolution of differences is the only way forward for the Darfuri people," said Jeremiah Mamabolo, the Joint Special Representative and head of the AU-UN mission (UNAMID).

A medical team from UNAMID is currently at Kalma camp, located in South Darfur, to assist local authorities in treating the injured. The mission is also engaging with the state government and IDP leaders to peacefully resolve the issue.

The incident reportedly occurred after Sudanese Government forces dispersed a group of IDPs protesting against President Omar Al-Bashir's visit to South Darfur.
Opinion of Advocate General Bot: Mohammad Khir Amayry v Migrationsverket (Sweden)

Publisher European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union Publication Date 1 March 2017 Citation / Document Symbol C60/16 Related Document(s) Mohammad Khir Amayry v Migrationsverket (Sweden) Cite as Opinion of Advocate General Bot: Mohammad Khir Amayry v Migrationsverket (Sweden) , C60/16, European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union, 1 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/cases,ECJ,59c8d6cc4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

OPINION OF ADVOCATE GENERAL BOT

delivered on 1 March 2017 ( )

Case C60/16

Mohammad Khir Amayry

v

Migrationsverket

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Kammarratten i Stockholm -Migrationsoverdomstolen (Administrative Court of Appeal for Immigration Matters, Stockholm, Sweden))

(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 - Determination of the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national - Article 28 of the regulation - Detention of the person concerned for the purpose of his transfer to the Member State responsible - Period within which the transfer must be carried out - Calculation of the period - National legislation authorising the person's detention and the extension of that detention for a period longer than two months - Lawfulness)

I. Introduction

1. In this case, the Court is requested to interpret Article 28(3) of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 ( ) in order to determine the periods applying to the procedure for transferring an applicant for international protection who has been detained pending his transfer to the Member State responsible for considering his application.

2. To ensure that this transfer is implemented, the European Union legislature allows Member States to detain the person concerned, where it is apparent, on the basis of an individual assessment, that the person concerned might evade the transfer procedure, only if the detention is proportionate and other less coercive measures cannot be applied.

3. To ensure that detention is for as short a period as possible, the legislature established the time limits applicable to the procedure for determining the Member State responsible and for actually carrying out the transfer procedure in Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation - the interpretation of which is requested here - having regard to the principles of necessity and proportionality.

4. In its request for a preliminary ruling the referring court raises questions concerning the arrangements for calculating those time limits in a situation not envisaged by the EU legislature.

5. The applicant was not, in fact, detained at an early stage of the procedure, as expressly provided for in Article 28(3) of the regulation - that is to say, before the requesting Member State submitted its request to the Member State it considered to be responsible to take charge of or take back the applicant -, but at a later stage, when the Member State responsible had accepted that request and only the practical arrangements for carrying out the transfer therefore remained to be determined.

6. Although the answer to the questions raised by the referring court is not apparent from the language of Article 28(3) of the regulation, it can nonetheless be inferred, primarily, from the broad scheme of the article and, in particular, from the principles of proportionality and necessity on which the time limits applying to the procedure for transferring an applicant held in detention are based, then from the objectives pursued by the EU legislature in this context and, finally, from the case-law of the Court.

7. At the end of my analysis, I shall be proposing that the Court should rule that, in a situation such as that at issue, the Member States concerned have a period of six weeks, commencing on the applicant's detention, within which to carry out his transfer.

8. I shall also be explaining that, where the applicant has appealed against the transfer decision or requested a review of that decision, that period starts running again from the moment that appeal or review no longer has a suspensive effect, whether the suspension is automatic, has been decided by the competent national court or tribunal or whether it has been requested by the individual concerned, in accordance with Article 27(3) of the Dublin III Regulation.

9. Lastly, I shall explain the reasons for my view that, in the light of that interpretation, Article 28(3) of the regulation precludes a national law such as that at issue under which an applicant may be kept in detention pending his transfer for a period longer than six weeks, which may be extended up to a maximum of twelve months, on grounds that do not satisfy the requirements of clarity and predictability which are essential to the adoption of measures involving a restriction of liberty.

II. Legal context

A. European Union law

1. Directive 2013/33/EU

10. Article 8(3)(f) of Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection ( ) states:

'An applicant may be detained only:



(f) in accordance with Article 28 of [the Dublin III Regulation] ...'

11. Under the heading 'Guarantees for detained applicants', Article 9(1) of the directive provides:

'An applicant shall be detained only for as short a period as possible and shall be kept in detention only for as long as the grounds set out in Article 8(3) are applicable.

Administrative procedures relevant to the grounds for detention set out in Article 8(3) shall be executed with due diligence. Delays in administrative procedures that cannot be attributed to the applicant shall not justify a continuation of detention.'

2. The Dublin III Regulation

12. Recital 20 of this regulation is worded as follows:

'The detention of applicants should be applied in accordance with the underlying principle that a person should not be held in detention for the sole reason that he or she is seeking international protection. Detention should be for as short a period as possible and subject to the principles of necessity and proportionality. In particular, the detention of applicants must be in accordance with Article 31 of the Geneva Convention[, of 28 July 1951, relating to the status of refugees]. The procedures provided for under this Regulation in respect of a detained person should be applied as a matter of priority, within the shortest possible deadlines. ...'

13. Article 27 of that regulation, under the heading 'Remedies', provides:

'1. The applicant  shall have the right to an effective remedy, in the form of an appeal or a review, in fact and in law, against a transfer decision, before a court or tribunal.



3. For the purposes of appeals against, or reviews of, transfer decisions, Member States shall provide in their national law that:

(a) the appeal or review confers upon the person concerned the right to remain in the Member State concerned pending the outcome of the appeal or review; or

(b) the transfer is automatically suspended and such suspension lapses after a certain reasonable period of time, during which a court or a tribunal, after a close and rigorous scrutiny, shall have taken a decision whether to grant suspensive effect to an appeal or review; or

(c) the person concerned has the opportunity to request within a reasonable period of time a court or tribunal to suspend the implementation of the transfer decision pending the outcome of his or her appeal or review. Member States shall ensure that an effective remedy is in place by suspending the transfer until the decision on the first suspension request is taken. Any decision on whether to suspend the implementation of the transfer decision shall be taken within a reasonable period of time, while permitting a close and rigorous scrutiny of the suspension request. A decision not to suspend the implementation of the transfer decision shall state the reasons on which it is based.

4. Member States may provide that the competent authorities may decide, acting ex officio, to suspend the implementation of the transfer decision pending the outcome of the appeal or review.'

14. Article 28 of the Dublin III Regulation, which comes under Section V thereof under the heading 'Detention for the purpose of transfer' is worded as follows:

'1. Member States shall not hold a person in detention for the sole reason that he or she is subject to the procedure established by this Regulation.

2. When there is a significant risk of absconding, [( )] Member States may detain the person concerned in order to secure transfer procedures in accordance with this Regulation, on the basis of an individual assessment and only in so far as detention is proportional and other less coercive alternative measures cannot be applied effectively.

3. Detention shall be for as short a period as possible and shall be for no longer than the time reasonably necessary to fulfil the required administrative procedures with due diligence until the transfer under this Regulation is carried out.

Where a person is detained pursuant to this Article, the period for submitting a take charge or take back request shall not exceed one month from the lodging of the application. The Member State carrying out the procedure in accordance with this Regulation shall ask for an urgent reply in such cases. Such reply shall be given within two weeks of receipt of the request. Failure to reply within the two-week period shall be tantamount to accepting the request and shall entail the obligation to take charge or take back the person, including the obligation to provide for proper arrangements for arrival.

Where a person is detained pursuant to this Article, the transfer of that person from the requesting Member State to the Member State responsible shall be carried out as soon as practically possible, and at the latest within six weeks of the implicit or explicit acceptance of the request by another Member State to take charge or to take back the person concerned or of the moment when the appeal or review no longer has a suspensive effect in accordance with Article 27(3).

When the requesting Member State fails to comply with the deadlines for submitting a take charge or take back request or where the transfer does not take place within the period of six weeks referred to in the third subparagraph, the person shall no longer be detained. Articles 21, 23, 24 and 29 shall continue to apply accordingly.

4. As regards the detention conditions and the guarantees applicable to persons detained, in order to secure the transfer procedures to the Member State responsible, Articles 9, 10 and 11 of Directive 2013/33/EU shall apply.'

15. Article 29(1) of the Dublin III Regulation, which is included in Section VI under the heading 'Transfers', provides:

'The transfer of the applicant  from the requesting Member State to the Member State responsible shall be carried out in accordance with the national law of the requesting Member State, after consultation between the Member States concerned, as soon as practically possible, and at the latest within six months of acceptance of the request by another Member State to take charge or to take back the person concerned or of the final decision on an appeal or review where there is a suspensive effect in accordance with Article 27(3).

'

B. Swedish law

16. In Chapter 1, Paragraph 8, the Utlanningslagen (Law on Aliens) of 29 September 2005 ( ) provides that the law is to be applied in such a way that the freedom of the person concerned is not restricted more than is necessary in each individual case.

17. It provides, in Chapter 1, Paragraph 9, that the provisions on deportation also apply mutatis mutandis to decisions on transfer under the Dublin III Regulation.

18. The rules on detention and monitoring of aliens are found in Chapter 10 of that law.

19. Under Paragraph 1, second subparagraph (3) of that chapter, aliens aged 18 years or over may be detained with a view to preparing or implementing the execution of a decision on deportation.

20. Under Chapter 10, Paragraph 1, third subparagraph of the law, a decision on detention may be granted only where there is otherwise a risk that the person concerned will undertake criminal activity in Sweden, abscond, evade the authorities or otherwise prevent execution of the transfer decision.

21. Under Chapter 10, Paragraph 4, second subparagraph of the Law on Aliens, an alien may not be detained pending transfer for a period longer than two months if there are no serious reasons for a longer period in detention. If there are such reasons, an alien may not be detained for a period longer than three months. Where it is probable that implementation of a transfer decision will take longer due to a lack of cooperation from the alien or it takes time to obtain the necessary documents, detention may not be for a period longer than twelve months.

22. Chapter 12, Paragraph 13, of this law states that the Migrationsverket (Immigration Board, Sweden) may take a decision to suspend the procedure for implementing the deportation decisions if there are specific reasons for doing so.

III. Facts and questions submitted for a preliminary ruling

23. Mohammad Khir Amayry submitted an application for international protection in Sweden on 19 December 2014. Checks in the Eurodac system, however, brought to light that he had travelled to Italy a few days earlier, on 6 December 2014, and that he had also applied on 17 December 2014 for international protection from the Danish authorities. In accordance with Article 13(1) of the Dublin III Regulation, the Immigration Board consequently requested on 15 January 2015 that the Italian authorities take back the applicant.

24. The Italian authorities accepted that request on 18 March 2015.

25. On 2 April 2015, the Immigration Board therefore dismissed as inadmissible the applicant's application for a residence permit, including his application for international protection, and decided to transfer him to Italy. As it considered that there was a significant risk of his absconding, the Immigration Board also decided to detain him.

26. Mr Khir Amayry then appealed against those decisions to the Forvaltningsratten i Stockholm (Administrative Court, Stockholm, Sweden). Following the lodging of that appeal, the Immigration Board decided to suspend execution of the transfer decision in accordance with Chapter 12, Paragraph 13, of the Law on Aliens and Article 27(3)(c) of the Dublin III Regulation. The appeal was dismissed on 29 April 2015, the Forvaltningsratten i Stockholm (Administrative Court, Stockholm) in particular considering there to be a risk that, if he were removed from detention, Mr Khir Amayry would abscond, evade the authorities or otherwise prevent the execution of the transfer decision. He appealed against this judgment to the referring court.

27. On 8 May 2015, the transfer decision was implemented. Subsequently, Mr Khir Amayry returned to Sweden where, on 1 June 2015, he made a fresh application for international protection.

28. On 30 July 2015 the referring court decided not to grant leave to appeal regarding the question of transfer but granted leave to appeal regarding detention.

29. In those circumstances, the Kammarratten i Stockholm - Migrationsoverdomstolen (Administrative Court of Appeal for Immigration Matters, Stockholm) (Sweden) decided to stay the proceedings and refer the following questions to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling:

'(1) If an [applicant for international protection] is not in detention at the time when the Member State responsible agrees to take charge of him but is detained at a later date - on the ground that only then is the assessment made that there is a significant risk that the person will abscond - may the time limit of six weeks in Article 28(3) of the [Dublin III] Regulation  be calculated in such a situation from the day on which the person is detained or is it to be calculated from another time and, if so, when?

(2) Does Article 28 of the [Dublin III] Regulation preclude, in a situation where an [applicant for international protection] is not in detention at the time when the Member State responsible agrees to take charge of him, the application of national rules which, in Sweden, mean that an alien may not be kept in detention pending [transfer] for longer than two months, if there are no serious reasons for detaining him for a longer period, and if there are such serious reasons, the alien may be kept in detention for a maximum of three months or, if it is probable that [the transfer] will take longer due to a lack of cooperation from the alien or it takes time to obtain the necessary documents, a maximum of twelve months?

(3) If [a transfer] procedure is recommenced when an appeal or a review no longer has suspensive effect (c.f. Article 27(3) [of the Dublin III Regulation]), does a new time limit of six weeks for implementation of the transfer start to run or is there a deduction to be made, for example, of the number of days the person has already spent in detention after the Member State responsible agreed to take charge of him or take him back?

(4) Is it of any importance whether the [applicant for international protection] who appealed against a transfer decision has not himself applied for the implementation of the transfer decision to be suspended pending the result of the appeal (c.f. Article 27(3)(c) and (4) [of the Dublin III Regulation])?'

IV. My analysis

30. I shall be addressing the first, third and fourth questions referred in turn, each of which relates to the interpretation of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation, before finally turning to the second question and addressing the scope of that interpretation in the light of the provisions of the national law at issue.

A. The first question referred

31. By its first question, the referring court is asking the Court, in essence, whether, in a situation such as that at issue, in which the requesting Member State has detained the applicant following acceptance by the Member State responsible of the request that it take charge of or take back that applicant, Article 28(3) of the regulation must be interpreted as meaning that the period of six weeks granted to those States for carrying out the transfer starts to run from the day on which the applicant is detained. If that is not the case, the referring court then asks the Court to state the time from which the six-week period starts to run.

32. In other words, the referring court is asking the Court to provide clarification on the legal rules to which the person concerned is subject and, in particular, to identify the time limits for implementing the transfer procedure that is to apply to him.

33. The answer to this question cannot be found in the language of Article 28(3) of the regulation, in so far as the legislature did not provide expressly for a situation such as that at issue here.

34. However, the answer can be inferred, on the one hand, from the broad scheme of that provision and, in particular, from the principle laid down by the legislature in the first subparagraph and its application in the third subparagraph and, on the other hand, from the objectives pursued by the Dublin III Regulation.

35. In the first subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the regulation the legislature establishes the principle that detention is to be 'for as short a period as possible and [is to] be for no longer than the time reasonably necessary to fulfil the required administrative procedures with due diligence until the transfer  is carried out'. ( )

36. The legislature has thus transposed the principle set out in recital 20 of the regulation, that the period during which the applicant is detained must be subject to the principles of necessity and proportionality.

37. Observance of those principles means that restrictions on the applicant's right to liberty will be imposed within the confines of what is strictly necessary and that the authorities of the Member States concerned will be afforded the material conditions to facilitate their proper implementation of the transfer.

38. The legislature relies on those two principles as it goes on to define, in the second and third subparagraphs of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation, the time limits it considers reasonable to enable the Member States to complete all the measures necessary, first, for determining the Member State responsible, and secondly, for transferring the applicant where he is already detained.

39. The second subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the regulation applies to the early stage of the procedure prior to the requested Member State's acceptance of the take charge request. The legislature accordingly determines the time that the requesting Member State has to submit its take charge or take back request to the Member State it deems responsible as well as the time that the latter Member State has to reply to that request.

40. Under that subparagraph, the requesting Member State has a maximum period of one month from the lodging of the application for international protection within which to submit its take charge or take back request to the Member State it deems responsible. The latter Member State then has a two-week period within which to reply. Failure to reply within that period means that responsibility is transferred to the requested Member State.

41. The third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the regulation, for its part, applies to the later stage of the procedure after the requested Member State's acceptance of the request to take charge of or take back the applicant and the adoption of the transfer decision. The legislature expressly addresses the time limit for transferring the applicant from the requesting Member State to 'the Member State responsible', which suggests that the latter Member State has indeed been established and has agreed either implicitly or explicitly to take charge of or take back the applicant. The legislature indicates further that the transfer is to be carried out 'as soon as practically possible', ( ) which implies that a prior decision established that the applicant would, in principle, be transferred from the requesting Member State to the Member State responsible.

42. By that provision, the legislature thus determines the time that the requesting Member State has to make the practical arrangements and to implement the transfer for the purpose of which the applicant has been detained.

43. The legislature therefore considers that the period reasonably necessary for carrying out the transfer is no longer than six weeks from the implicit or explicit acceptance of the take charge or take back request or from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has a suspensive effect. In that situation the legislature calculates the six-week period from the time the future implementation of the transfer is agreed upon and certain, and only the practical details of the transfer therefore remain to be determined.

44. Lastly, the fourth subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation establishes the consequences relating to a failure to comply with the time limits mentioned previously. Those time limits impose a strict time-frame for implementation of the transfer procedure for the purpose of which the applicant is detained, since the requesting Member State will be obliged to cease his detention if it does not manage to submit its request or transfer the applicant within the period prescribed, regardless of any grounds that the requesting Member State might cite.

45. What conclusions can be drawn from the broad scheme of these provisions?

46. I note that the time limits laid down in the second and third subparagraphs of Article 28(3) of the regulation are part of a procedure in which the applicant has been detained at a very early stage, that is to say, before the requesting Member State has submitted a request to take charge of or take back the applicant.

47. This is apparent not only from the wording of the second subparagraph of that provision, inasmuch as the legislature determines the period allowed for submitting the request, but also from the wording of the third subparagraph of that provision, inasmuch as the six-week period established by the legislature is to start to run from acceptance of that request. The period accordingly prescribed by the legislature in the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of that regulation is part of the logical progression of the provisions set out in the preceding subparagraph and is based on the fact that the applicant is already in detention when the take charge or take back request is submitted by the requesting Member State.

48. Consequently, the time limits laid down in the second and third subparagraphs of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation are not intended to apply in a procedure such as that at issue in which the applicant has been detained after the requested Member State agreed to take charge of him or take him back but before the practical details of his transfer have been arranged.

49. There are, therefore, no specific provisions covering the situation where, because of his detention, the applicant shifts from falling within the scope of Article 29(1) of the regulation - which provides for a broad scheme and a maximum six-month period within which to transfer an applicant who has not been detained - to being caught by the provisions of Article 28 of the regulation - which establishes specific provisions and special arrangements governing the procedure for transferring detained persons.

50. However, I do not consider that we face a legal vacuum.

51. As I have mentioned, ( ) the answer to the question referred by the national court can be found, first, in the general principle that the EU legislature sets out in the first subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation. Accordingly, detention is to be for as short a period as possible and, under the principles of necessity and proportionality, is to be for no longer than the time reasonably necessary to accomplish the measures required for carrying out the transfer.

52. It is then essential to refer to the manner in which the EU legislature actually applied that principle in the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of that regulation.

53. The legal position of the person concerned here can relatively easily be seen to be comparable to that described in the context of that provision as, in both instances, the individual is detained once the transfer has been agreed between the Member States concerned and the practical arrangements for the transfer may, therefore, be initiated.

54. In the circumstances of this case, I can therefore see no reason to deviate from that six-week period laid down by the legislature in that provision since, as I have stated, ( ) the legislature considered this period to be reasonably necessary for the Member States concerned to make the practical arrangements for the transfer, from the time the future implementation of the transfer is agreed upon and certain (either owing to acceptance of the request or because the appeal or review no longer has a suspensive effect), and only the practical details of the transfer therefore remain to be determined. In the circumstances of this case, the requested Member State, namely the Italian Republic, has indeed agreed to take back the applicant.

55. That period must accordingly allow the two Member States concerned to collaborate with a view to carrying out the transfer and, in particular, the requesting Member State to determine the practical details for implementing the transfer, which is carried out in accordance with that State's legislation. It is a period that both Member States are deemed to require in full in order to determine the practical details for carrying out the transfer. ( )

56. By imposing a six-week limit on implementing the transfer, as from the time the future implementation of the transfer is, in principle, agreed upon and certain, the EU legislature therefore weighed the requirements relating to implementation of such a procedure, which may be fraught with practical and organisational difficulties, against the seriousness of the interference, in the form of detention, with the applicant's right to liberty enshrined in Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

57. The time from which the six-week period starts to run can only be the date on which the applicant was actually detained. After all, it is clear that, in a situation such as that at issue here, the six-week period cited in the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation cannot start to run from acceptance of the take charge or take back request. In such circumstances, the applicant's detention might occur some weeks, or even months, after the acceptance and this time clearly cannot be deducted from the six-week period granted to the Member States concerned for carrying out the transfer. This period might be reduced to nothing and, in any event, be reduced so that the requesting Member State would not only be unable to implement this transfer but would also be forced to end the detention, thus depriving the procedure established in that provision of its effectiveness.

58. In the light of all those factors, I consequently take the view that the first subparagraph of Article 28(3) of this regulation should be interpreted as meaning that, in a situation such as that at issue where the requesting Member State has detained the applicant for international protection after the requested Member State agreed to take him back, those Member States have six weeks, as from the moment the applicant is detained, within which to implement his transfer.

B. The third and fourth questions referred

59. By its third and fourth questions, which should be examined jointly, the Court is called upon to indicate the manner in which the six-week period granted to Member States for transferring the detained applicant should be calculated where the applicant himself has brought an action against the transfer decision or has requested a review of that decision.

60. In particular, the referring court seeks to ascertain whether Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as meaning that Member States have a further time limit of six weeks for implementing the applicant's transfer commencing when the appeal or review no longer has suspensive effect or whether there is a deduction to be made of the number of days that the applicant has already spent in detention after the Member State responsible agreed to the request to take charge of or take back the applicant.

61. Moreover, the referring court is uncertain whether, for the purposes of this assessment, the fact that the person concerned has not requested that the competent national court suspend implementation of the transfer decision should be taken into account.

62. First, I take the view that the interpretation requested here of Article 28(3) of the regulation can be taken from the Court's case-law and, specifically, from the considerations it set forth in the judgment of 29 January 2009 in Petrosian and Others. ( )

63. In that case, the Court was called upon to interpret the provisions of Article 20(1)(d) of Regulation EC No 343/2003, ( ) under which the transfer of an asylum seeker to the Member State responsible was to be carried out as soon as practically possible, and at the latest within six months of acceptance of the take charge or take back request or of the decision on an appeal or review where there was a suspensive effect.

64. The Court had been asked whether the period for implementation of the transfer mentioned in that provision began to run as from the time of the provisional judicial decision suspending the implementation of the transfer procedure, or only as from the time of the judicial decision ruling on the merits of the procedure.

65. To answer that question, the Court primarily adopted a teleological approach to the provision at issue, focusing on the objective pursued in setting a period within which Member States were to carry out the transfer.

66. The Court pointed out in that regard that the purpose of the six-month period cited in Article 20(1)(d) of Regulation No 343/2003, in view of the practical complexities and organisational difficulties associated with implementing the transfer, was to allow the two Member States concerned to collaborate with a view to carrying out the transfer and, in particular, the requesting Member State to determine the practical details for implementing the transfer. ( ) It consequently considered, in the light of that objective, that the start of the period for implementing the transfer was to be determined in such a manner as to allow the Member States a six-month period to determine the practical details for carrying out the transfer. In those circumstances, that period could begin to run only as from the time the future implementation of the transfer was agreed upon and certain, and only the practical details of the transfer remained to be determined, which meant, therefore, that it began to run only as from the time of the judicial decision ruling on the merits of the procedure.

67. To my mind, that analysis can be applied mutatis mutandis to this case.

68. While Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation determines the period for implementing the transfer of a detained person, the objective pursued by the legislature in this context is the same as that mentioned in connection with Article 20(1)(d) of Regulation No 343/2003. As I have already shown, this six-week period granted to the Member States, as from the time of acceptance of the take charge or take back request or as from the moment the appeal against the transfer decision or the review no longer has a suspensive effect, must allow those Member States to determine the practical details for carrying out the transfer of a detained person.

69. There is no question, therefore, of reducing this - already short - period during which the applicant for international protection has been detained.

70. It must be borne in mind that the applicant's detention pending implementation of his transfer must be distinguished from the penalty of imprisonment. This situation is not connected with penalties, where the number of days already served are to be deducted; it concerns an administrative detention measure whose duration, which must be as short as possible, must allow the authorities to carry out the person's transfer.

71. Moreover, the concern is to ensure the effectiveness of Article 28(3) of the regulation. The period for implementing the transfer cannot, therefore, be reduced by the number of days that the applicant was detained after the Member State responsible agreed to take charge of him or take him back. After all, if that were the case, we might see a situation where the period that Member States have for transferring the applicant would be reduced by the amount of time necessary for the national courts to rule on the merits of the transfer decision. In such circumstances, that period might be reduced in such a manner that the Member States concerned might not be able to organise the applicant's transfer within that extremely brief period and would in that case be required, in accordance with the fourth subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the regulation, to end the person's detention.

72. Consequently, the time from which that period begins to run must be determined in such a way that the Member States in effect have six weeks within which to determine the practical details for this transfer; to my mind, it starts to run as from the time when the appeal against the transfer decision or the review of that decision ceases to have suspensive effect, as provided for in the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation.

73. Secondly, this reading of the law cannot, in my view, vary depending on whether the transfer decision is automatically suspended, whether it is suspended by the competent national court or tribunal or upon a request from the person concerned.

74. I would point out that, under Article 27(3) of that regulation and for the purposes of guaranteeing a right to an effective remedy for the applicant against the transfer decision, Member States are to provide in their national law that the appeal or review confers upon the person concerned the right to remain in the requesting Member State pending the outcome of the appeal or review (under (a) of this provision), 'or' that the transfer is automatically suspended, a court or tribunal in that case examining within a certain reasonable period of time whether to grant suspensive effect to the appeal or review (under (b)), 'or' that the person concerned has the opportunity to request that the implementation of the transfer decision be suspended pending the outcome of the appeal or his request for a review (under (c)).

75. As is apparent from the wording used by the EU legislature in Article 27(3) of the regulation and, in particular, from the coordinating conjunction 'or' that the legislature used in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this provision, these are alternative measures.

76. First, I should point out that, in the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation, the legislature sets the six-week period as beginning to run from the moment when the appeal or review no longer has a suspensive effect 'in accordance with Article 27(3)' of the regulation. The legislature therefore calculates that period in the same manner, whether the suspension of the transfer decision is automatic, for the purposes of Article 27(3)(a) of the regulation, whether it has been decided by the competent national court or tribunal, in accordance with Article 27(3)(b) of the Dublin III Regulation, or requested by the individual concerned by virtue of the opportunity afforded to him by Article 27(3)(c) of the regulation.

77. Secondly, it is my view that, in the light of the discretion enjoyed by the Member States under Article 27(3) of the regulation, regarding the procedure and the practical details involved in the suspension of the transfer decision, the six-week period mentioned in Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation can therefore only be an objective period which starts to run from the moment the suspensive effect of the appeal against the transfer decision or the review ends, irrespective of the legislative choice made by the Member States.

78. In this case, it is clear from the facts as described by the referring court in its request that a suspension of this kind was decided on by the Immigration Board under Chapter 12, Paragraph 13, of the Law on Aliens.

79. In the light of those considerations, I therefore propose that the Court should rule that the third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as meaning that, where the applicant has appealed against a transfer decision or has requested a review of that decision, the Member States concerned have six weeks within which to transfer him, once the appeal against the transfer decision or the review of that decision no longer has a suspensive effect, whether the suspension is automatic, for the purposes of Article 27(3)(a) of the regulation, whether it has been decided by the competent national court or tribunal in accordance with Article 27(3)(b) of the regulation or requested by the individual concerned under Article 27(3)(c) of the regulation.

C. The second question referred for a preliminary ruling

80. By its second question, the referring court is asking the Court of Justice, in essence, whether Article 28 of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as precluding a national law such as that at issue, under which, for the purpose of transferring an applicant for international protection from the requesting Member State to the Member State responsible, a person may be kept in detention for a maximum period of two months where there are no serious reasons for detaining him for a longer period, for a maximum period of three months where there are such reasons and, lastly, for a maximum period of twelve months where it is probable that implementation of the transfer will take longer in the absence of cooperation from the applicant or the documents necessary for implementing the procedure.

81. The answer to this question can be derived, primarily, from the interpretation of the wording of Article 28(3) of the regulation that I adopted in the course of examining the first question referred.

82. For the reasons set out above, I take the view that Article 28(3) of the regulation must, in a situation such as that at issue, be interpreted as meaning that the Member States have a maximum period of six weeks, starting from the applicant's detention, within which to transfer him to the Member State responsible.

83. A national law such as that at issue, under which an applicant for international protection may be detained for longer than six weeks and up to a maximum period of twelve months, appears, to my mind, to be entirely at odds with the interpretation that should be adopted of a provision that is both mandatory and directly applicable, such as Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation, and therefore has the binding force associated with EU regulations.

84. Secondly, by allowing detention to be extended on vague grounds for up to a maximum of twelve months 'where it is probable that implementation will take longer due to a lack of cooperation from the alien or it takes time to obtain the necessary documents', ( ) the provisions of this national law are, in my view, not only contrary to the principles of necessity and proportionality on which the detention of the applicant for international protection must be based but also fail to meet the requirements of clarity and foreseeability essential to the adoption of measures restricting liberty.

85. I would point out that, in Article 28 of the regulation, the EU legislature seeks to ensure that the restrictions imposed on the exercise of the applicant's right to liberty will apply within the limits of what is strictly necessary to enable the Member States concerned to implement his transfer.

86. Under Article 28(2) of the regulation, the detention of an applicant for international protection is authorised on one ground only, relating to the applicant's conduct, the authorities being required to show that he presents a significant risk of absconding.

87. Moreover, the detention may not be extended beyond the periods expressly laid down by the second and third subparagraphs of Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation. Those periods set a strict limit on the implementation of the procedure. The EU legislature provides no reason capable of justifying an extension of those periods and the requesting Member State will ultimately have no other choice than to end the applicant's detention if it cannot, in the period prescribed, submit its take charge or take back request or transfer the applicant.

88. The national legislation clearly deviates from those principles.

89. First, the legislation allows the detention to be extended.

90. Secondly, the legislation bases the extension of that measure involving deprivation of liberty on the existence of a risk or chance ('where it is probable that' ( )), which is clearly contrary to the requirement of foreseeability and does not guarantee the necessary legal certainty for the individual detained.

91. Thirdly, the legislation allows the detention of the applicant for international protection to be extended for 'serious reasons' which are not specified or on other grounds that I do not find convincing.

92. By allowing the detention to be extended up to a maximum period of twelve months, where it is 'probable that the implementation of a transfer decision will take longer due to a lack of cooperation from the alien or it takes time to obtain the necessary documents', ( ) the legislation is in conflict with the grounds on which the detention may be ordered pursuant to Article 28(2) of the Dublin III Regulation.

93. I observe that the objective of detaining the applicant for international protection is to facilitate the administrative and practical measures for his transfer, by guaranteeing, in particular, that he will remain at the disposal of the competent authorities and will not jeopardise the implementation of the transfer procedure. Therefore, from the moment the applicant is detained for the purpose of ensuring the proper implementation of the transfer, any claim that the applicant is failing to cooperate, even though he is deprived of his liberty, cannot, in my mind, serve to justify extending the detention.

94. Furthermore, as regards the ground that the documents necessary for carrying out the transfer are not available, it should be noted that the EU legislature expressly stated in Article 9(1) of Directive 2013/33 that '[d]elays in administrative procedures that cannot be attributed to the applicant shall not justify a continuation of detention'.

95. In view of these considerations, I suggest therefore that the Court should rule that Article 28(3) of the Dublin III Regulation must be interpreted as precluding a national law such as that at issue under which, for the purpose of transferring an applicant for international protection from the requesting Member State to the Member State responsible, a person may be kept in detention for a maximum period of two months where there are no serious reasons for detaining him for a longer period, three months where there are such reasons and, lastly, twelve months where it is probable that implementation of the transfer will take longer in the absence of cooperation from the applicant or the documents necessary for implementing the procedure.

V. Conclusion

96. In the light of the foregoing considerations, I propose that the Court should answer as follows the questions referred by the Kammarratten i Stockholm - Migrationsoverdomstolen (Administrative Court of Appeal for Immigration Matters, Stockholm) (Sweden):

(1) The first subparagraph of Article 28(3) of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person must be interpreted as meaning that, in a situation such as that at issue where the requesting Member State has detained the applicant for international protection after the requested Member State agreed to take him back, those Member States have six weeks, as from the moment the applicant is detained, within which to implement his transfer.

(2) The third subparagraph of Article 28(3) of Regulation No 604/2013 must be interpreted as meaning that, where the applicant has appealed against a transfer decision or has requested a review of that decision, the Member States concerned have six weeks within which to transfer the applicant for international protection, once the appeal against the transfer decision or the review of that decision no longer has a suspensive effect, whether the suspension is automatic, for the purposes of Article 27(3)(a) of the regulation, whether it has been decided by the competent national court or tribunal in accordance with Article 27(3)(b) of the regulation or requested by the individual concerned under Article 27(3)(c) of that regulation.

(3) Article 28(3) of Regulation No 604/2013 must be interpreted as precluding a national law such as that at issue under which, for the purpose of transferring an applicant for international protection from the requesting Member State to the Member State responsible, a person may be kept in detention for a maximum period of two months where there are no serious reasons for detaining him for a longer period, three months where there are such reasons and, lastly, twelve months where it is probable that implementation of the transfer will take longer in the absence of cooperation from the applicant or the documents necessary for implementing the procedure.

Original language: French.

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person (OJ 2013 L 180, p. 31), the 'Dublin III Regulation'.

OJ 2013 L 180, p. 96.

Article 2(n) of the regulation defines the 'risk of absconding' as meaning 'the existence of reasons in an individual case, which are based on objective criteria defined by law, to believe that an applicant or a third-country national or a stateless person who is subject to a transfer procedure may abscond'.

SFS 2005, No 716, the 'Law on Aliens'.

Emphasis added.

Emphasis added.

See point 34 of this Opinion.

See point 43 of this Opinion.

See judgment of 29 January 2009, Petrosian and Others (C19/08, EU:C:2009:41, paragraphs 40 and 44).

C19/08, EU:C:2009:41.

Council Regulation of 18 February 2003 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national, which was repealed by the Dublin III Regulation.

See judgment of 29 January 2009, Petrosian and Others (C19/08, EU:C:2009:41, paragraph 40).

See Chapter 10, Paragraph 4, second subparagraph, of the Law on Aliens. Emphasis added.

See Chapter 10, Paragraph 4, second subparagraph, of the Law on Aliens. Emphasis added.

See Chapter 10, Paragraph 4, second subparagraph, of the Law on Aliens. Emphasis added.

Copyright notice: Cour de justice des Communautes europeennes L-2925 Luxembourg. Telephone switchboard: (352) 4303.1; fax: (352) 4303.2600
Photojournalists physically assaulted while reporting in Trinidad and Tobago

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 22 September 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Photojournalists physically assaulted while reporting in Trinidad and Tobago, 22 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8d7008.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reporters without borders (RSF) is concerned to learn that a photographer for Trinidad's Guardian newspaper was assaulted last Friday while on a reporting assignment in the town of Penal. RSF strongly condemns this act of physical violence against a journalist who was simply doing his job and calls on authorities to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

On the afternoon of September 15, Guardian senior photographer Kristian De Silva was seeking to interview Hanif Nazim Baksh, the owner and CEO of private oil company A&V Drilling with his colleague, senior reporter Sascha Wilson. While De Silva took photographs of the company's main offices from Nazim avenue, a public road, he noticed a car speeding towards him. Though he jumped to avoid being hit, the vehicle accelerated again. The driver of the vehicle then exited and shouted expletives at De Silva, claiming he was on private property.





De Silva then identified himself as press and was physically assaulted by the driver. He told RSF "the man continued towards me, pushing and shoving me...caus[ing] my glasses to fall...onto the ground. The man proceeded to physically attack me, punching me...on both sides of my face and bursting my lip. While bracing the attack, I bent down and placed the camera on the ground[when] another man came from the side of me and hit me on the left side of my head." The second man who assaulted De Silva then smashed the camera and De Silva's glasses that had fallen to the ground.





When De Silva and his colleague reported the incident at the Penal police station, they learned that the first attacker was Baksh himself, and the second was a Senior police officer, Acting Sergeant Billy Ramsundar, from the Siparia police station in a nearby town. They both claimed that the journalists were trespassing on Baksh's property.





Journalists Phil Britton and Leona Nicholson from TV6 were also attacked on Wednesday September 13 while on assignment in the same area. Cameraman Britton was on a public road taking cover shots outside A&V Oil's main offices when he heard glass bottles landing on his car. The bottles appeared to come from a house owned by Baksh. A back glass on the cameraman's vehicle was broken and a door was dented on impact. Britton and Nicholson then reported the incident to the nearby Penal police station.





A similar incident of physical violence also took place involving a Newsday photographer who was reporting in the same area last week.





"These violent attacks against journalists who were simply covering a story are deplorable, said Margaux Ewen, Advocacy and Communications Director for RSF North America. "We strongly condemn any attempt to bar press coverage of an issue of public interest, especially when such attempts result in physical violence against reporters. We urge the authorities to quickly investigate this matter and hold those responsible accountable for their actions."





A&V Drilling is currently implicated in a scandal with state oil company, Petrotrin. It is being alleged that Baksh was paid millions of dollars by company Petrotrin for oil the company never received, as revealed during a recent internal company audit.





Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley condemned the attack on September 17 as "wholly unacceptable" and said such incidents "should not be initiated or encouraged by any person, under any circumstances."





In a statement issued on September 18, Baksh offered an apology but claimed that the media workers had entered his property without permission and that the company had a right to defend its property.





De Silva had to seek medical attention for injuries resulting from the assault. He told RSF that he is also being treated for anxiety and remains concerned for the safety of himself and his family.





Trinidad and Tobago ranks 34 out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index.
Held for four months, Madagascan radio journalist finally goes on trial

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 22 September 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Held for four months, Madagascan radio journalist finally goes on trial, 22 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8d75c13.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reporters without borders (RSF) is concerned to learn that a photographer for Trinidad's Guardian newspaper was assaulted last Friday while on a reporting assignment in the town of Penal. RSF strongly condemns this act of physical violence against a journalist who was simply doing his job and calls on authorities to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

On the afternoon of September 15, Guardian senior photographer Kristian De Silva was seeking to interview Hanif Nazim Baksh, the owner and CEO of private oil company A&V Drilling with his colleague, senior reporter Sascha Wilson. While De Silva took photographs of the company's main offices from Nazim avenue, a public road, he noticed a car speeding towards him. Though he jumped to avoid being hit, the vehicle accelerated again. The driver of the vehicle then exited and shouted expletives at De Silva, claiming he was on private property.





De Silva then identified himself as press and was physically assaulted by the driver. He told RSF "the man continued towards me, pushing and shoving me...caus[ing] my glasses to fall...onto the ground. The man proceeded to physically attack me, punching me...on both sides of my face and bursting my lip. While bracing the attack, I bent down and placed the camera on the ground[when] another man came from the side of me and hit me on the left side of my head." The second man who assaulted De Silva then smashed the camera and De Silva's glasses that had fallen to the ground.





When De Silva and his colleague reported the incident at the Penal police station, they learned that the first attacker was Baksh himself, and the second was a Senior police officer, Acting Sergeant Billy Ramsundar, from the Siparia police station in a nearby town. They both claimed that the journalists were trespassing on Baksh's property.





Journalists Phil Britton and Leona Nicholson from TV6 were also attacked on Wednesday September 13 while on assignment in the same area. Cameraman Britton was on a public road taking cover shots outside A&V Oil's main offices when he heard glass bottles landing on his car. The bottles appeared to come from a house owned by Baksh. A back glass on the cameraman's vehicle was broken and a door was dented on impact. Britton and Nicholson then reported the incident to the nearby Penal police station.





A similar incident of physical violence also took place involving a Newsday photographer who was reporting in the same area last week.





"These violent attacks against journalists who were simply covering a story are deplorable, said Margaux Ewen, Advocacy and Communications Director for RSF North America. "We strongly condemn any attempt to bar press coverage of an issue of public interest, especially when such attempts result in physical violence against reporters. We urge the authorities to quickly investigate this matter and hold those responsible accountable for their actions."





A&V Drilling is currently implicated in a scandal with state oil company, Petrotrin. It is being alleged that Baksh was paid millions of dollars by company Petrotrin for oil the company never received, as revealed during a recent internal company audit.





Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley condemned the attack on September 17 as "wholly unacceptable" and said such incidents "should not be initiated or encouraged by any person, under any circumstances."





In a statement issued on September 18, Baksh offered an apology but claimed that the media workers had entered his property without permission and that the company had a right to defend its property.





De Silva had to seek medical attention for injuries resulting from the assault. He told RSF that he is also being treated for anxiety and remains concerned for the safety of himself and his family.





Trinidad and Tobago ranks 34 out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index.
Chad: Treatment of revolutionary movement sympathizers by authorities along the border with Libya (2011-November 2016)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 1 December 2016 Citation / Document Symbol TCD105692.FE Related Document(s) Tchad : information sur le traitement reserve par les autorites aux sympathisants des mouvements revolutionnaires dans la region frontaliere avec la Libye (2011-novembre 2016) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Chad: Treatment of revolutionary movement sympathizers by authorities along the border with Libya (2011-November 2016), 1 December 2016, TCD105692.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8da034.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Revolutionary Movements Along the Border with Libya

Information about revolutionary or rebel movements operating along the border with Libya during the relevant period was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response

In its Transformation Index 2016 report on Chad, which assesses the country's transition toward democracy and a market economy, the German research foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung states that there is a "lack of threats" from rebel movements along Chad's borders; "[n]onetheless, Chad continues to suspect that Libya is hosting Chadian rebels and training camps" (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2016, 1, 3, 37). The same source adds that "[f]ears that Chadian rebel groups might use the 2011 crisis in Libya to invade the country from the north did not materialize" (ibid., 6).

In a report published in 2011, the International Crisis Group describes the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (Mouvement pour la democratie et la justice au Tchad, MDJT) as being the "last active armed group in the extreme north of the country"; the MDJT signed a peace agreement with the government of Chad [in 2005 (DW 19 Aug. 2005)] (International Crisis Group 21 Oct. 2011, 2). For more information about the MDJT, please see Response TCD100538, posted in September 2005.

However, the report of the International Crisis Group notes that there are "residual elements" of the MDJT in the north, and that

peace is precarious in Tibesti [along the border with Libya]. The central government [of Chad] closely monitors any armed groups that might be hidden in the region's mountains waiting for a favourable opportunity to make an appearance. (ibid. 2, 11).

However, an April 2016 an article by Voice of America (VOA) Afrique announces that a [translation] "new" political-military "rebellion" known as the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (Front pour l'alternance et la concorde au Tchad, FACT), opposed to the government of Idriss Deby, had just been created in northern Chad (VOA Afrique with AFP 8 Apr. 2016). Similarly, an article published by the Chadian daily Le Visionnaire reports on the creation of FACT in April 2016 (28 June 2016). The VOA Afrique article describes the rebellion as [translation] "a dissident branch of the former Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (Union des forces pour la democratie et le developpement, UFDD), a movement founded by one of the most influential rebel leaders, General Mahamat Nouri" (VOA Afrique with AFP 8 Apr. 2016). FACT is allegedly led by Mahamat Mahdi-Ali, who claims that his movement has some 1,500 men at its disposal (Le Visionnaire 28 June 2016; VOA Afrique with AFP 8 Apr. 2016) at the border with Libya (ibid.).

On 22 April 2016, the French Christian newspaper La Croix reported that [translation] "initial fighting" had pitted FACT against Chadian soldiers in southern Libya. In June 2016, Le Visionnaire reported that, in the preceding days, Chadian soldiers had been deployed to the far north of the country [translation] "to prevent any advance by [FACT] rebels," who, according to the same article, "had increasingly been threatening the authorities in N'Djamena" since April (28 June 2016). Additional information on FACT or the treatment of its members by the authorities could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Treatment of Revolutionary Movement Sympathizers

Information on the treatment of sympathizers of revolutionary movements operating along the border with Libya during the relevant period was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer practising in N'Djamena stated the following:

[translation]

Regarding the treatment of individuals seen as sympathizers of revolutionary movements by the authorities, it should be noted that the authorities essentially consider them to be participants in these revolutionary movements; consequently, their treatment does not differ from that of activists or members of these movements. (lawyer 2 Dec. 2016)

According to the lawyer, [translation] "there is a distinction with regard to the level of punishment meted out to sympathizers (forced labour of a limited duration or for life, depending on the case) and members of or activists in revolutionary movements (death penalty)" (ibid.). According to article 92 of the Chadian Penal Code (Code penal tchadien), [translation] "participation in an insurrectional movement shall be punished by forced labour of limited duration. In the event of an armed insurrection, the punishment shall be forced labour for life. Individuals who used weapons shall be punished by death" (Chad 1967). Article 93 of the Code provides the following:

[translation]

Anyone who directed or organized an insurrectional movement or who, knowingly and intentionally, provided or procured weapons, munitions and instruments of crime or supplies, or who, in any way, provided intelligence to the directors or commanders of such a movement shall be punished by death. (ibid.)

According to the lawyer, [translation] "individuals accused of fundraising for [revolutionary movements] are seen in the same light as those who wilfully participated in these movements and, consequently, they are punished by death pursuant to article 89, paragraph 2, of the Chadian Penal Code" (lawyer 2 Dec. 2016). Article 89, paragraph 2, of the Chadian Penal Code states that

[translation]

[the death penalty] shall be applied to anyone who conducts the association, raises or is behind the raising, organizes or is behind the organization of gangs, or who, knowingly and intentionally, provides or procures supplies, weapons, munitions and instruments of crime, or who sends supplies to them, or who, in any other way, provides intelligence to the directors or commanders of gangs. (Chad 1967)

The lawyer added that individuals accused of fundraising for revolutionary movements [translation] "are also considered as having committed acts of terrorism within the meaning of article 20 of Law Number 034/PR/15 of 5 August 2015 on the suppression of terrorism (Loi numero 034/PR/15 du 5 aout 2015 portant repression des actes de terrorisme) and, consequently, are punished by the death penalty (lawyer 2 Dec. 2016).

According to article 20 of Law Number 034/PR/15 of 5 August 2015 on the Suppression of Terrorism:

[translation]

shall be punished by death anyone who, with the goal of financing acts of terrorism and by any means, directly or indirectly

provides and/or collects funds provides and/or offers financial services (Chad 2015).

An original French-language copy of this law is attached to this Response.

Corroborating information concerning the information provided by the lawyer could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Bertelsmann Stiftung. 2016 "Chad Country Report." Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index (BTI) 2016. <> [Accessed 12 Sept. 2017]

Chad. 2015. Loi numero 034/PR/15 du 5 aout 2015 portant repression des actes de terrorisme. Excerpts translated by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada. Sent to the Research Directorate by a lawyer practising in N'Djamena.

Chad. 1967 (amended in 1970). Ordonnance 67-012 1967-06-09 PR/MJ: Ordonnance portant promulgation d'un code penal. Excerpts translated by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada. [Accessed 6 Dec. 2016]

La Croix. 22 April 2016. Laurent Larcher. "Au Tchad, reelection sans surprise d'Idriss Deby." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2016]

Deutsche Welle (DW). 19 August 2005. "Tchad : Accord de paix avec le MDJT." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2016]

International Crisis Group. 21 October 2011. Africa without Qaddafi: the Case of Chad. Africa Report N180. [Accessed 13 Sept. 2016]

Lawyer, N'Djamena. 2 December 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Le Visionnaire. 28 June 2016. Murrow Issa Changengar. "Encore des bruits de bottes dans l'extreme nord du pays." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2016]

Voice of America (VOA) Afrique with Agence France-Presse (AFP). 8 April 2016. "Le 'FACT' nouvelle rebellion creee dans le nord du Tchad." [Accessed 1 Dec. 2016]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Association tchadienne pour la non-violence; Association tchadienne pour la promotion et la defense des droits de l'homme; journalist and human rights activist; leader of the opposition in exile; Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'homme.

Internet sites, including: Alwihda Info; African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights; ecoi.net; France - Cour nationale du droit d'asile; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; Ialtchad.com; IHS Jane's; Internation Federation for Human Rights; IRIN; The Jamestown Foundation; Journal du Tchad; Lexadin; Makaila.fr; International Labour Organization - NATLEX; Political Handbook of the World; Reporters sans frontieres; Small Arms Survey; Tchad Actuel; Tchadinfos.com; Tchadonline; United Nations - Refworld, ReliefWeb; United States - Department of State.

Attachment

Chad. 2015. Loi numero 034/PR/15 du 5 aout 2015 portant repression des actes de terrorisme. Sent to the Research Directorate by a lawyer practising in N'Djamena.
Slovak Republic and Hungary v Council of the European Union

Publisher European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union Publication Date 6 September 2017 Citation / Document Symbol C643/15 and C647/15 Cite as Slovak Republic and Hungary v Council of the European Union , C643/15 and C647/15, European Union: Court of Justice of the European Union, 6 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/cases,ECJ,59c8dac04.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Grand Chamber)

6 September 2017 ( )

Table of contents





I. The contested decision: context, history and content

A. Context of the contested decision

B. History of the contested decision

C. Content of the contested decision

II. Procedure before the Court and forms of order sought

III. The actions

A. Overview of the pleas in law

B. Preliminary observation

C. The pleas alleging that Article 78(3) TFEU is not a proper legal basis for the contested decision

1. The Slovak Republic's second plea and Hungary's first plea, relating to the legislative nature of the contested decision

(a) Arguments of the parties

(b) Findings of the Court

2. The first part of the Slovak Republic's fifth plea and Hungary's second plea, alleging that the contested decision is not provisional and that its period of application is excessive

(a) Arguments of the parties

(b) Findings of the Court

3. The second part of the Slovak Republic's fifth plea, alleging that the contested decision does not satisfy the conditions for the application of Article 78(3) TFEU

(a) Arguments of the parties

(b) Findings of the Court

D. The pleas relating to the lawfulness of the procedure leading to the adoption of the contested decision and alleging breach of essential procedural requirements

1. The Slovak Republic's first plea and Hungary's seventh plea, alleging infringement of Article 68 TFEU

(a) Arguments of the parties

(b) Findings of the Court

2. The third part of the Slovak Republic's third plea and the first part of its fourth plea, and Hungary's fifth plea, alleging breach of essential procedural requirements in that the Council did not comply with the obligation to consult the Parliament laid down in Article 78(3) TFEU

(a) Arguments of the parties

(b) Findings of the Court

3. The second part of the Slovak Republic's fourth plea and Hungary's third plea, alleging breach of essential procedural requirements in that the Council did not act unanimously, contrary to Article 293(1) TFEU

(a) Arguments of the parties

(b) Findings of the Court

4. The first and second parts of the Slovak Republic's third plea and Hungary's fourth plea, alleging breach of essential procedural requirements, in that the right of the national parliaments to issue an opinion in accordance with Protocol (No 1) and Protocol (No 2) was not respected and that the Council failed to fulfil the requirement that the deliberations and the vote within the Council be held in public

(a) Arguments of the parties

(b) Findings of the Court

5. Hungary's sixth plea, alleging breach of essential procedural requirements in that, when adopting the contested decision, the Council did not comply with the rules of EU law on the use of languages

(a) Arguments of the parties

(b) Findings of the Court

E. The substantive pleas in law

1. The Slovak Republic's 6th plea and Hungary's 9th and 10th pleas, alleging breach of the principle of proportionality

(a) Preliminary observations

(b) The Slovak Republic's sixth plea, in so far as it alleges that the contested decision is not appropriate for attaining the objective which it pursues

(1) Arguments of the parties

(2) Findings of the Court

(c) The Slovak Republic's sixth plea, in so far as it alleges that the contested decision is not necessary in the light of the objective which it seeks to attain

(1) Arguments of the parties

(2) Findings of the Court

(d) Hungary's ninth plea, alleging that the contested decision is not necessary in the light of the objective which it seeks to attain

(1) Arguments of the parties

(2) Findings of the Court

(e) Hungary's 10th plea, alleging breach of the principle of proportionality because of the particular effects of the contested decision on Hungary

(1) Arguments of the parties

(2) Findings of the Court

2. Hungary's eighth plea, alleging breach of the principles of legal certainty and of normative clarity, and also of the Geneva Convention

(a) Arguments of the parties

(b) Findings of the Court

IV. Costs





(Actions for annulment -- Decision (EU) 2015/1601 -- Provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic - Emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries into certain Member States -- Relocation of those nationals to other Member States -- Relocation quotas -- Article 78(3) TFEU -- Legal basis -- Conditions under which applicable -- Concept of 'legislative act' - Article 289(3) TFEU -- Whether conclusions adopted by the European Council are binding on the Council of the European Union - Article 15(1) TEU and Article 68 TFEU - Essential procedural requirements - Amendment of the European Commission's proposal - Requirements for a further consultation of the European Parliament and a unanimous vote within the Council of the European Union - Article 293 TFEU - Principles of legal certainty and of proportionality)

In Joined Cases C643/15 and C647/15,

ACTIONS for annulment under Article 263 TFEU, brought on 2 and 3 December 2015 respectively,

Slovak Republic, represented by the Ministerstvo spravodlivosti Slovenskej republiky (C643/15),

and

Hungary, represented by M.Z. Feher and G. Koos, acting as Agents (C647/15),

applicants,

supported by:

Republic of Poland, represented by B. Majczyna and M. Kamejsza, acting as Agents,

intervener,

v

Council of the European Union, represented by M. Chavrier, K. Plesniak, N. Petho and Z. Kupcova, acting as Agents,

defendant,

supported by:

Kingdom of Belgium, represented by J. Van Holm, M. Jacobs and C. Pochet, acting as Agents,

Federal Republic of Germany, represented by T Henze, R. Kanitz and J. Moller (C647/15), acting as Agents,

Hellenic Republic, represented by M. Michelogiannaki and A. Samoni-Rantou, acting as Agents, with an address for service in Luxembourg,

French Republic, represented by D. Colas, F.-X. Brechot and E. Armoet, acting as Agents,

Italian Republic, represented by G. Palmieri, acting as Agent, and by L. D'Ascia, avvocato dello Stato,

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, represented by A. Germeaux, C. Schiltz and D. Holderer, acting as Agents,

Kingdom of Sweden, represented by A. Falk, C. Meyer-Seitz, U. Persson, O. Widgren, E. Karlsson and L. Swedenborg, acting as Agents,

European Commission, represented by M. Condou-Durande and K. Talaber-Ritz (C647/15) and by J. Baquero Cruz and A. Tokar (C643/15) and G. Wils, acting as Agents, with an address for service in Luxembourg,

interveners,

THE COURT (Grand Chamber),

composed of K. Lenaerts, President, A. Tizzano, Vice-President, R. Silva de Lapuerta, M. Ilesic, L. Bay Larsen and A. Prechal (Rapporteur), Presidents of Chambers, J.-C. Bonichot, A. Arabadjiev, C. Toader, M. Safjan, E. Jarasiunas, C.G. Fernlund, C. Vajda, S. Rodin and F. Biltgen, Judges,

Advocate General: Y. Bot,

Registrar: I. Illessy, Administrator,

having regard to the written procedure and further to the hearing on 10 May 2017,

after hearing the Opinion of the Advocate General at the sitting on 26 July 2017,

gives the following

Judgment

1 By their applications, the Slovak Republic and Hungary seek annulment of Council Decision (EU) 2015/1601 of 22 September 2015 establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece (OJ 2015 L 248, p. 80, 'the contested decision').

I. The contested decision: context, history and content

A. Context of the contested decision

2 The context in which the contested decision was adopted is described as follows in recitals 3 to 7 and 10 to 16 thereof:

'(3) The recent crisis situation in the Mediterranean prompted the [European] Union institutions to immediately acknowledge the exceptional migratory flows in that region and call for concrete measures of solidarity towards the frontline Member States. In particular, at a joint meeting of Foreign and Interior Ministers on 20 April 2015, the [European] Commission presented a 10-point plan of immediate action to be taken in response to the crisis, including a commitment to consider options for an emergency relocation mechanism.

(4) At its meeting of 23 April 2015, the European Council decided, inter alia, to reinforce internal solidarity and responsibility and committed itself in particular to increasing emergency assistance to frontline Member States and to considering options for organising emergency relocation between Member States on a voluntary basis, as well as to deploying European Asylum Support Office (EASO) teams in frontline Member States for the joint processing of applications for international protection, including registration and fingerprinting.

(5) In its resolution of 28 April 2015, the European Parliament reiterated the need for the Union to base its response to the latest tragedies in the Mediterranean on solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility and to step up its efforts in this area towards those Member States which receive the highest number of refugees and applicants for international protection in either absolute or relative terms.

(6) Besides measures in the area of asylum, Member States at the frontline should increase their efforts to set up measures to cope with mixed migration flows at the external borders of the European Union. Such measures should safeguard the rights of those in need of international protection and prevent irregular migration.

(7) At its meeting of 25 and 26 June 2015, the European Council decided, inter alia, that three key dimensions should be advanced in parallel: relocation/resettlement, return/readmission/reintegration and cooperation with countries of origin and transit. The European Council agreed in particular, in the light of the current emergency situation and the commitment to reinforce solidarity and responsibility, on the temporary and exceptional relocation over 2 years, from Italy and from Greece to other Member States of 40 000 persons in clear need of international protection, in which all Member States would participate.

...

(10) Among the Member States witnessing situations of considerable pressure and in light of the recent tragic events in the Mediterranean, Italy and Greece in particular have experienced unprecedented flows of migrants, including applicants for international protection who are in clear need of international protection, arriving on their territories, generating significant pressure on their migration and asylum systems.

(11) On 20 July 2015, reflecting the specific situations of Member States, a Resolution of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the [European] Council on relocating from Greece and Italy 40 000 persons in clear need of international protection was adopted by consensus. Over a period of 2 years, 24 000 persons will be relocated from Italy and 16 000 persons will be relocated from Greece. On 14 September 2015, the Council [of the European Union] adopted Decision (EU) 2015/1523 [establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and of Greece (OJ 2015 L 239, p.146)], which provided for a temporary and exceptional relocation mechanism from Italy and Greece to other Member States of persons in clear need of international protection.

(12) During recent months, the migratory pressure at the southern external land and sea borders has again sharply increased, and the shift of migration flows has continued from the central to the eastern Mediterranean and towards the Western Balkans route, as a result of the increasing number of migrants arriving in and from Greece. In view of the situation, further provisional measures to relieve the asylum pressure from Italy and Greece should be warranted.

(13) According to data of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (Frontex), the central and eastern Mediterranean routes were the main areas for irregular border crossing into the Union in the first eight months of 2015. Since the beginning of 2015, approximately 116 000 migrants arrived in Italy in an irregular manner ... During May and June 2015, 34 691 irregular border crossings were detected by Frontex and during July and August 42 356, an increase of 20%. A strong increase was also witnessed by Greece in 2015, with more than 211 000 irregular migrants reaching the country ... During May and June 2015, 53 624 irregular border crossings were detected by Frontex and during July and August 137 000, an increase of 250%. A significant proportion of the total number of irregular migrants detected in those two regions included migrants of nationalities which, based on the ... data [of the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat)], meet a high Union-level recognition rate.

(14) According to Eurostat and EASO figures, 39 183 persons applied for international protection in Italy between January and July 2015, compared to 30 755 in the same period of 2014 (an increase of 27%). A similar increase in the number of applications was witnessed by Greece with 7 475 applicants (an increase of 30%).

(15) Many actions have been taken so far to support Italy and Greece in the framework of the migration and asylum policy, including by providing them with substantial emergency assistance and EASO operational support. ...

(16) Due to the ongoing instability and conflicts in the immediate neighbourhood of Italy and Greece, and the repercussions in migratory flows on other Member States, it is very likely that a significant and increased pressure will continue to be put on their migration and asylum systems, with a significant proportion of the migrants who may be in need of international protection. This demonstrates the critical need to show solidarity towards Italy and Greece and to complement the actions taken so far to support them with provisional measures in the area of asylum and migration.'

B. History of the contested decision

3 On 9 September 2015, the Commission submitted, on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU, a Proposal for a Council Decision establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy, Greece and Hungary (COM(2015) 451; 'the Commission's initial proposal').

4 On the same day, the Commission also submitted, on the basis of Article 78(2)(e) TFEU, a Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a crisis relocation mechanism and amending Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third country national or a stateless person (COM(2015) 450).

5 The Commission's initial proposal provided for the relocation of 120 000 applicants for international protection, from Italy (15 600 persons), Greece (50 400 persons) and Hungary (54 000 persons), to the other Member States. The Annexes accompanying that proposal contained three charts allocating those applicants from each of those three Member States among the other Member States, with the exception of theUnited Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark, in the form of quotas determined for each of those Member States.

6 On 13 September 2015, the Commission forwarded that proposal to national parliaments.

7 By a letter of 14 September 2015, the Council forwarded the proposal to the Parliament for consultation. In that letter the Council asked the Parliament to give its opinion as quickly as possible in view of the critical situation in the Mediterranean Sea and on the western Balkans route and undertook to keep the Parliament informed, on an informal basis, about developments in the case within the Council.

8 On 17 September 2015, the Parliament adopted a legislative resolution approving the proposal, having regard, in particular, to the 'exceptional situation of urgency and the need to address the situation with no further delay', while asking the Council to consult the Parliament again if it intended to substantially amend the Commission's initial proposal.

9 At the various meetings held within the Council between 17 and 22 September 2015, the Commission's initial proposal was amended on certain points.

10 In particular, Hungary stated at those meetings that it rejected the notion of being classified as a 'frontline Member State' and that it did not wish to be among the Member States benefiting from relocation as were Italy and Greece. Accordingly, in the final version of the proposal, all reference to Hungary as a beneficiary Member State, including in the title of the proposal, was deleted. Likewise, Annex III to the Commission's initial proposal, concerning the distribution of 54 000 applicants for international protection whom it had initially been planned to relocate from Hungary was deleted. On the other hand, Hungary was included in Annexes I and II as a Member State of relocation of applicants for international protection from Italy and Greece respectively and allocations were therefore attributed to it in those annexes.

11 On 22 September 2015, the Commission's initial proposal as thus amended was adopted by the Council by a qualified majority. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and the Slovak Republic voted against the adoption of that proposal. The Republic of Finland abstained.

C. Content of the contested decision

12 Recitals 2, 22, 23, 26, 30, 32, 35 and 44 of the contested decision state:

'(2) According to Article 80 TFEU, the policies of the Union in the area of border checks, asylum and immigration and their implementation are to be governed by the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility between the Member States, and Union acts adopted in this area are to contain appropriate measures to give effect to this principle.

...

(22) In accordance with Article 78(3) TFEU, the measures envisaged for the benefit of Italy and of Greece should be of a provisional nature. A period of 24 months is reasonable in view of ensuring that the measures provided for in this Decision have a real impact in respect of supporting Italy and Greece in dealing with the significant migration flows on their territories.

(23) The measures to relocate from Italy and from Greece, provided for in this Decision, entail a temporary derogation from the rule set out in Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council [of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person (OJ 2013 L 180, p. 31, 'the Dublin III Regulation'),] according to which Italy and Greece would otherwise have been responsible for the examination of an application for international protection based on the criteria set out in Chapter III of that regulation, as well as a temporary derogation from the procedural steps, including the time limits, laid down in Articles 21, 22 and 29 of that regulation. The other provisions of [the Dublin III Regulation] ... remain applicable ... This Decision also entails a derogation from the consent of the applicant for international protection as referred to in Article 7(2) of Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council [of 16 April 2014 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, amending Council Decision 2008/381/EC and repealing Decisions No 573/2007/EC and No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decision 2007/435/EC (OJ 2014 L 150, p. 168)].

...

(26) The provisional measures are intended to relieve the significant asylum pressure on Italy and on Greece, in particular by relocating a significant number of applicants in clear need of international protection who will have arrived in the territory of Italy or Greece following the date on which this Decision becomes applicable. Based on the overall number of third-country nationals who have entered Italy and Greece irregularly in 2015, and the number of those who are in clear need of international protection, a total of 120 000 applicants in clear need of international protection should be relocated from Italy and Greece. This number corresponds to approximately 43% of the total number of third-country nationals in clear need of international protection who have entered Italy and Greece irregularly in July and August 2015. The relocation measure foreseen in this Decision constitutes fair burden sharing between Italy and Greece on the one hand and the other Member States on the other, given the overall available figures on irregular border crossings in 2015. Given the figures at stake, 13% of these applicants should be relocated from Italy, 42% from Greece and 45% should be relocated as provided for in this Decision.

...

(30) With a view to implementing the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility, and taking into account that this Decision constitutes a further policy development in this field, it is appropriate to ensure that the Member States that relocate, pursuant to this Decision, applicants from Italy and Greece who are in clear need of international protection, receive a lump sum for each relocated person which is identical to the lump sum provided for in Article 18 of Regulation ... No 516/2014, namely EUR 6 000, and is implemented by applying the same procedures. ...

...

(32) National security and public order should be taken into consideration throughout the relocation procedure, until the transfer of the applicant is implemented. In full respect of the fundamental rights of the applicant, including the relevant rules on data protection, where a Member State has reasonable grounds for regarding an applicant as a danger to its national security or public order, it should inform the other Member States thereof.

...

(35) The legal and procedural safeguards set out in [the Dublin III] Regulation remain applicable in respect of applicants covered by this Decision. In addition, applicants should be informed of the relocation procedure set out in this Decision and be notified with the relocation decision which constitutes a transfer decision within the meaning of Article 26 of [the Dublin III] Regulation. Considering that an applicant does not have the right under Union law to choose the Member State responsible for his or her application, the applicant should have the right to an effective remedy against the relocation decision in line with [the Dublin III Regulation], only in view of ensuring respect for his or her fundamental rights. In line with Article 27 of that Regulation, Member States may provide in their national law that the appeal against the transfer decision does not automatically suspend the transfer of the applicant but that the person concerned has the opportunity to request a suspension of the implementation of the transfer decision pending the outcome of his or her appeal.

...

(44) Since the objectives of this Decision cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of the scale and effects of the action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 [TEU]. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.'

13 Under Article 1 of the contested decision, which is entitled 'Subject matter':

'1. This Decision establishes provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and of Greece, in view of supporting them in better coping with an emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries in those Member States.

2. The Commission shall keep under constant review the situation regarding massive inflows of third country nationals into Member States.

The Commission will submit, as appropriate, proposals to amend this Decision in order to take into account the evolution of the situation on the ground and its impact upon the relocation mechanism, as well as the evolving pressure on Member States, in particular frontline Member States.'

14 Article 2 of that decision, which is entitled 'Definitions', provides:

'For the purposes of this Decision, the following definitions apply:

...

(e) ''relocation'' means the transfer of an applicant from the territory of the Member State which the criteria laid down in Chapter III of [the Dublin III] Regulation ... indicate as responsible for examining his or her application for international protection to the territory of the Member State of relocation;

(f) ''Member State of relocation'' means the Member State which becomes responsible for examining the application for international protection pursuant to [the Dublin III Regulation] of an applicant following his or her relocation in the territory of that Member State.'

15 Article 3 of the contested decision, which is entitled 'Scope', provides as follows:

'1. Relocation pursuant to this Decision shall take place only in respect of an applicant who has lodged his or her application for international protection in Italy or in Greece and for whom those States would have otherwise been responsible pursuant to the criteria for determining the Member State responsible set out in Chapter III of [the Dublin III Regulation].

2. Relocation pursuant to this Decision shall be applied only in respect of an applicant belonging to a nationality for which the proportion of decisions granting international protection ... is, according to the latest available updated quarterly Union-wide average Eurostat data, 75% or higher. ...'

16 Under the title 'Relocation of 120 000 applicants to Member States', Article 4(1) to (3) of the contested decision provides:

'1. 120 000 applicants shall be relocated to the other Member States as follows:

(a) 15 600 applicants shall be relocated from Italy to the territory of the other Member States in accordance with the table set out in Annex I;

(b) 50 400 applicants shall be relocated from Greece to the territory of the other Member States in accordance with the table set out in Annex II;

(c) 54 000 applicants shall be relocated to the territory of the other Member States, proportionally to the figures laid down in Annexes I and II, either in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article or through an amendment of this Decision, as referred to in Article 1(2) and in paragraph 3 of this Article.

2. As of 26 September 2016, 54 000 applicants, referred to in point (c) of paragraph 1, shall be relocated from Italy and Greece, in proportion resulting from points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1, to the territory of other Member States and proportionally to the figures laid down in Annexes I and II. The Commission shall submit a proposal to the Council on the figures to be allocated accordingly per Member State.

3. If by 26 September 2016, the Commission considers that an adaptation of the relocation mechanism is justified by the evolution of the situation on the ground or that a Member State is confronted with an emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries due to a sharp shift of migration flows and taking into account the views of the likely beneficiary Member State, it may submit, as appropriate, proposals to the Council, as referred to in Article 1(2).

Likewise, a Member State may, giving duly justified reasons, notify the Council and the Commission that it is confronted with a similar emergency situation. The Commission shall assess the reasons given and submit, as appropriate, proposals to the Council, as referred to in Article 1(2).'

17 Article 1 of Council Decision (EU) 2016/1754 of 29 September 2016 (OJ 2016 L 268, p. 82) added the following paragraph to Article 4 of the contested decision:

'3a In relation to the relocation of applicants referred to in point (c) of paragraph 1, Member States may choose to meet their obligation by admitting to their territory Syrian nationals present in Turkey under national or multilateral legal admission schemes for persons in clear need of international protection, other than the resettlement scheme which was the subject of the Conclusions of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council [on] 20 July 2015. The number of persons so admitted by a Member State shall lead to a corresponding reduction of the obligation of the respective Member State.

...'

18 It follows from Article 2 of Decision 2016/1754 that the latter entered into force on 2 October 2016 and is applicable until 26 September 2017 to all the persons who, for the purposes of Article 4(3a) of the contested decision, have been admitted from Turkey by the Member States as from 1 May 2016.

19 Article 4(4) of the contested decision provides for the possibility of Ireland and the United Kingdom taking part, on a voluntary basis, in executing the decision. Ireland's participation was subsequently confirmed by the Commission and the Council set a number of applicants who were to be relocated to that Member State and adapted the quotas of the other Member States accordingly.

20 Article 4(5) of the contested decision provides that in exceptional circumstances a Member State may, subject to the conditions laid down in that provision, request, by 26 December 2015, a temporary suspension of the relocation of up to 30% of the applicants allocated to it.

21 That provision was applied at the request of the Republic of Austria and the matter was dealt with by Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/408 of 10 March 2016 on the temporary suspension of the relocation of 30% of applicants allocated to Austria under [the contested decision] (OJ 2016 L 74, p. 36). Article 1 of Decision 2016/408 provides that the relocation to Austria of 1 065 of the applicants allocated to it under the contested decision was to be suspended until 11 March 2017.

22 Article 5 of the contested decision, which is entitled 'Relocation procedure', provides:

'...

2. Member States shall, at regular intervals, and at least every 3 months, indicate the number of applicants who can be relocated swiftly to their territory and any other relevant information.

3. Based on this information, Italy and Greece shall, with the assistance of EASO and, where applicable, of Member States' liaison officers referred to in paragraph 8, identify the individual applicants who could be relocated to the other Member States and, as soon as possible, submit all relevant information to the contact points of those Member States. Priority shall be given for that purpose to vulnerable applicants within the meaning of Articles 21 and 22 of Directive 2013/33/EU [of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (OJ 2013 L 180, p. 96)].

4. Following approval of the Member State of relocation, Italy and Greece shall, as soon as possible, take a decision to relocate each of the identified applicants to a specific Member State of relocation, in consultation with EASO, and shall notify the applicant in accordance with Article 6(4). The Member State of relocation may decide not to approve the relocation of an applicant only if there are reasonable grounds as referred to in paragraph 7 of this Article.

...

6. The transfer of the applicant to the territory of the Member State of relocation shall take place as soon as possible following the date of the notification to the person concerned of the transfer decision referred to in Article 6(4) of this Decision. Italy and Greece shall transmit to the Member State of relocation the date and time of the transfer as well as any other relevant information.

7. Member States retain the right to refuse to relocate an applicant only where there are reasonable grounds for regarding him or her as a danger to their national security or public order ...

...'

23 Article 6 of the contested decision, which is entitled 'Rights and obligations of applicants for international protection covered by this Decision', provides:

'1. The best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration for Member States when implementing this Decision.

2. Member States shall ensure that family members who fall within the scope of this Decision are relocated to the territory of the same Member State.

3. Prior to the decision to relocate an applicant, Italy and Greece shall inform the applicant in a language which the applicant understands or is reasonably supposed to understand of the relocation procedure as set out in this Decision.

4. When the decision to relocate an applicant has been taken and before the actual relocation, Italy and Greece shall notify the person concerned of the decision to relocate him in writing. That decision shall specify the Member State of relocation.

5. An applicant or beneficiary of international protection who enters the territory of a Member State other than the Member State of relocation without fulfilling the conditions for stay in that other Member State shall be required to return immediately. The Member State of relocation shall take back the person without delay.'

24 Article 7 of the contested decision contains provisions concerning operational support to the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic.

25 Article 8 of that decision lays down further measures that are to be taken by those two Member States.

26 Article 9 of the decision empowers the Council to take provisional measures under Article 78(3) TFEU if the conditions laid down by that provision are met. It states that such measures may, where appropriate, include a suspension of the participation of the Member State which is faced with a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries in the relocation provided for by the contested decision.

27 That provision was applied at the request of the Kingdom of Sweden and the matter was dealt with in Council Decision (EU) 2016/946 of 9 June 2016 establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Sweden in accordance with Article 9 of Decision 2015/1523 and Article 9 of Decision 2015/1601 (OJ 2016 L 157, p. 23). Article 2 of Decision 2016/946 provides that the obligations of the Kingdom of Sweden as a Member State of relocation under Decision 2015/1523 and the contested decision are to be suspended until 16 June 2017.

28 Article 10 of the contested decision makes provision for financial support for each person relocated pursuant to that decision, such support being given to both the Member State of relocation and to either the Hellenic Republic or the Italian Republic.

29 Article 11 of the contested decision provides that, with the assistance of the Commission, bilateral arrangements may be made between those two Member States and the 'associated' States, namely the Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the Swiss Confederation and that, where such bilateral arrangements are made, the Council is accordingly to adapt, on a proposal from the Commission, the allocations of Member States by reducing them in due proportion. Such agreements have subsequently been concluded and the associated States are thus participating in the relocation for which the contested decision provides.

30 Article 12 of the contested decision provides, inter alia, that the Commission is to report to the Council every six months on the implementation of the decision. The Commission subsequently undertook to submit monthly reports on the implementation of the various measures adopted at EU level for the relocation and resettlement of applicants for international protection, including the contested decision.

31 Finally, under Article 13(1) and (2) of the contested decision, the latter entered into force on 25 September 2015 and is to apply until 26 September 2017. Article 13(3) provides that the decision is to apply to persons arriving on the territory of Italy and Greece from 25 September 2015 until 26 September 2017, as well as to applicants having arrived on the territory of those Member States from 24 March 2015 onwards.

II. Procedure before the Court and forms of order sought

32 In Case C643/15 the Slovak Republic claims that the Court should annul the contested decision and order the Council to pay the costs.

33 In Case C647/15 Hungary claims that the Court should:

- principally, annul the contested decision;

- in the alternative, annul that decision in so far as it concerns Hungary; and

- order the Council to pay the costs.

34 In Cases C643/15 and C647/15 the Council asks the Court to dismiss the actions as unfounded and to order the Slovak Republic and Hungary, respectively, to pay the costs.

35 By decision of the President of the Court of 29 April 2016, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of Sweden and the Commission were granted leave to intervene in support of the form of order sought by the Council in Cases C643/15 and C647/15.

36 By the same decision, the Republic of Poland was granted leave to intervene, in Case C643/15, in support of the form of order sought by the Slovak Republic and, in Case C647/15, in support of the form of order sought by Hungary.

37 The parties and the Advocate General having been heard in this regard, it is appropriate, on account of the connection between the present cases, to join them for the purposes of the judgment, in accordance with Article 54 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court.

III. The actions

A. Overview of the pleas in law

38 In support of its action in Case C643/15, the Slovak Republic relies on six pleas in law, alleging (i) infringement of Article 68 TFEU and Article 13(2) TEU, and breach of the principle of institutional balance; (ii) infringement of Article 10(1) and (2) TEU, Article 13(2) TEU, Article 78(3) TFEU, Articles 3 and 4 of Protocol (No 1) on the role of the national parliaments in the European Union, annexed to the EU and FEU Treaties ('Protocol (No 1)'), and Articles 6 and 7 of Protocol (No 2) on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, annexed to the EU and FEU Treaties ('Protocol (No 2)'), and breach of the principles of legal certainty, representative democracy and institutional balance; (iii) breach of essential procedural requirements relating to the legislative process and infringement of Article 10(1) and (2) TEU and Article 13(2) TEU, and breach of the principles of representative democracy, institutional balance and sound administration (in the alternative); (iv) breach of essential procedural requirements and infringement of Article 10(1) and (2) TEU and Article 13(2) TEU, and breach of the principles of representative democracy, institutional balance and sound administration (partly in the alternative); (v) failure to meet the conditions under which Article 78(3) TFEU is applicable (in the alternative); and (vi) breach of the principle of proportionality.

39 In support of its action in Case C647/15, Hungary relies on 10 pleas in law.

40 The first and second pleas allege infringement of Article 78(3) TFEU, since, in Hungary's submission, that provision does not afford the Council an appropriate legal basis for the adoption of measures which, in the present case, entail a binding exception to the provisions of a legislative act, which are applicable for a period of 24 months, or indeed of 36 months in some cases, and the effects of which extend beyond that period, something which, in its view, is incompatible with the concept of 'provisional measures'.

41 The third to sixth pleas allege breach of essential procedural requirements, in that (i) when adopting the contested decision, the Council infringed Article 293(1) TFEU by departing from the Commission's initial proposal without a unanimous vote (third plea); (ii) the contested decision contains a derogation from the provisions of a legislative act and is itself a legislative act by virtue of its content, so that, even if it were decided that the contested decision could properly have been adopted on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU, it would have nonetheless been necessary, at the time of its adoption, to respect the right of the national parliaments to issue an opinion on legislative acts, laid down in Protocol (No 1) and Protocol (No 2) (fourth plea); (iii) after consulting the Parliament, the Council substantially amended the text of the proposal without consulting the Parliament again on the matter (fifth plea); and (iv) when the Council adopted the contested decision, the proposal for a decision was not available in all the language versions corresponding to the official languages of the European Union (sixth plea).

42 The seventh plea alleges infringement of Article 68 TFEU and of the conclusions of the European Council of 25 and 26 June 2015.

43 The eighth plea alleges breach of the principles of legal certainty and normative clarity, since on a number of points it is, in Hungary's view, unclear how the contested decision should be applied or how its provisions interrelate with those of the Dublin III Regulation.

44 The ninth plea alleges breach of the principles of necessity and proportionality, in that, as Hungary is no longer among the beneficiary Member States, there is no reason why the contested decision should provide for the relocation of 120 000 persons seeking international protection.

45 The 10th plea, which is submitted in the alternative, alleges breach of the principle of proportionality and infringement of Article 78(3) TFEU so far as Hungary is concerned, since the contested decision attributes a mandatory quota to it as a host Member State, even though it is recognised that a large number of migrants have entered Hungary irregularly and have made applications for international protection there.

B. Preliminary observation

46 Since it is the legal basis of a measure that determines the procedure to be followed in adopting that measure (see, to that effect, judgment of 10 September 2015, Parliament v Council, C363/14, EU:C:2015:579, paragraph 17), it is appropriate to examine, first, the pleas alleging that Article 78(3) TFEU does not provide a proper legal basis for the contested decision, secondly, the pleas alleging that procedural errors were made when the decision was adopted and that such errors amounted to breaches of essential procedural requirements and, thirdly, the substantive pleas.

C. The pleas alleging that Article 78(3) TFEU is not a proper legal basis for the contested decision

1. The Slovak Republic's second plea and Hungary's first plea, relating to the legislative nature of the contested decision

(a) Arguments of the parties

47 The Slovak Republic and Hungary maintain that even though the contested decision was adopted in accordance with the non-legislative procedure and is therefore formally a non-legislative act, it must nevertheless be classified as a legislative act because of its content and its effects, since - as is expressly confirmed in recital 23 of the decision -- it amends a number of legislative acts of EU law and, moreover, does so fundamentally.

48 They argue that that is particularly true of Article 13(1) of the Dublin III Regulation, under which the Hellenic Republic or the Italian Republic, as the case may be, are in principle responsible for examining the application for international protection, a rule from which Article 3(1) of the contested decision derogates.

49 Although the contested decision classifies these amendments as mere 'derogations', the distinction between a derogation and an amendment is, in the applicants' view, artificial, since, in both cases, the effect is to exclude the application of a normative provision and, by the same token, to undermine its effectiveness.

50 However, it follows, so they argue, from the provisional and urgent nature of the measures referred to in Article 78(3) TFEU that that provision is intended to provide a legal basis for support measures capable of accompanying legislative acts adopted on the basis of Article 78(2) TFEU. The measures concerned are, in particular, rapid-response measures to manage or alleviate a crisis, including financial or technical assistance or the provision of qualified personnel.

51 Thus, they argue, Article 78(3) TFEU does not provide a legal basis for the adoption of legislative measures, since that provision gives no indication that the measures adopted on the basis of it must be adopted in accordance with a legislative procedure.

52 The Slovak Republic maintains in particular that a non-legislative act based on Article 78(3) TFEU, such as the contested decision, can under no circumstances derogate from a legislative act. It submits that the extent of the derogation and the question whether or not the provision derogated from is essential are irrelevant. Any derogation, however limited its scope, by a non-legislative act from a legislative act is prohibited given that it amounts to a circumvention of the legislative procedure, in the present case the procedure provided for in Article 78(2) TFEU.

53 Hungary argues that, in any event, even though the derogations from legislative acts for which the contested decision provides are limited in time, they interfere with the fundamental provisions of existing legislative acts relating to the fundamental rights and obligations of the individuals concerned.

54 Finally, Hungary maintains that Article 78(3) TFEU can be interpreted as meaning that the requirement to consult the Parliament, laid down in that provision, should be regarded as 'participation' of the Parliament within the meaning of Article 289(2) TFEU, with the consequence that the special legislative procedure applies. In that case, Article 78(3) TFEU could in fact constitute a valid legal basis for the contested decision, as a legislative act.

55 However, if that interpretation of Article 78(3) TFEU were accepted, the procedural requirements associated with the adoption of a legislative act would have to be observed, in particular the participation of the Parliament and of national parliaments in the legislative process: that clearly did not occur in the present case.

56 The Council contends that it follows from Article 289(3) TFEU that the test for determining whether or not an act is a legislative act is exclusively procedural in the sense that, whenever a legal basis in the Treaty expressly provides that an act is to be adopted 'in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure' or 'in accordance with a special legislative procedure', the act in question is a legislative act. It disputes the allegation that the contested decision amended a number of legislative acts of EU law and should thus be classified as a legislative act on account of its content. Nor is there any ground for maintaining that the derogations introduced by the contested decision are means of circumventing the ordinary legislative procedure, as provided for in Article 78(2) TFEU.

(b) Findings of the Court

57 Consideration must be given, first, to whether, as Hungary maintains, Article 78(3) TFEU is to be interpreted to the effect that acts adopted under it must be classified as 'legislative acts' on the ground that the requirement for consultation of the Parliament which that provision imposes constitutes a form of participation of that institution within the meaning of Article 289(2) TFEU, with the consequence that such acts must follow the special legislative procedure. That did not occur in the case of the contested decision.

58 In the words of Article 289(3) TFEU, legal acts adopted by legislative procedure are to constitute legislative acts. Accordingly, non-legislative acts are those that are adopted by a procedure other than a legislative procedure.

59 The distinction between legislative and non-legislative acts is undoubtedly significant, since it is only on the adoption of legislative acts that certain obligations must be complied with, relating, inter alia, to the participation of national parliaments in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of Protocol (No 1) and Articles 6 and 7 of Protocol (No 2) and also to the requirement that the Council is to meet in public when considering and voting on a draft legislative act, which arises from Article 16(8) TEU and Article 15(2) TFEU.

60 In addition, it is clear, on reading Article 289(1) TFEU in conjunction with Article 294(1) TFEU, that the ordinary legislative procedure, which is characterised by the joint adoption of an act of EU law by the Parliament and the Council on a proposal from the Commission, applies only where the provision of the Treaties forming the legal basis for the act in question '[makes] reference' to that legislative procedure.

61 As regards the special legislative procedure, which is characterised by the fact that it envisages the adoption of an EU act either by the Parliament with the participation of the Council or by the Council with the participation of the Parliament, Article 289(2) TFEU provides that it is to apply 'in the specific cases provided for by the Treaties'.

62 It follows that a legal act can be classified as a legislative act of the European Union only if it has been adopted on the basis of a provision of the Treaties which expressly refers either to the ordinary legislative procedure or to the special legislative procedure.

63 A systemic approach of that kind provides the requisite legal certainty in procedures for adopting EU acts, in that it makes it possible to identify with certainty the legal bases empowering the institutions of the European Union to adopt legislative acts and to distinguish those bases from bases which can serve only as a foundation for the adoption of non-legislative acts.

64 Accordingly, contrary to what is argued by Hungary, it cannot be inferred from the reference -- made in the provision of the Treaties that forms the legal basis for the act at issue -- to the requirement for consultation of the Parliament that the special legislative procedure applies to the adoption of that act.

65 In the present case, whilst Article 78(3) TFEU provides that the Council is to adopt the provisional measures referred to therein on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the Parliament, it does not contain an express reference to either the ordinary legislative procedure or the special legislative procedure. By contrast, Article 78(2) TFEU expressly provides that the measures listed in points (a) to (g) of that provision are to be adopted 'in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure'.

66 In view of the foregoing, it must be held that measures which are capable of being adopted on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU must be classified as 'non-legislative acts' because they are not adopted at the end of a legislative procedure.

67 The Council, when it adopted the contested decision, was therefore fully entitled to take the view that it had to be adopted following a non-legislative procedure and was accordingly a non-legislative EU act.

68 As a consequence, there arises, secondly, the question whether, as the Slovak Republic and Hungary maintain, Article 78(3) TFEU was not a proper legal basis for the contested decision because the decision is a non-legislative act which derogates from a number of legislative acts, whereas only a legislative act can derogate from another legislative act.

69 In that regard, recital 23 of the contested decision states that the relocation from Italy and Greece provided for in the decision entails a 'temporary derogation' from certain provisions of legislative acts of EU law, including (i) Article 13(1) of the Dublin III Regulation, under which the Hellenic Republic or the Italian Republic would in principle have been responsible for examining an application for international protection on the basis of the criteria set out in Chapter III of that regulation, and (ii) Article 7(2) of Regulation No 516/2014, which requires the consent of an applicant for international protection.

70 Article 78(3) TFEU does not define the nature of the 'provisional measures' that may be adopted pursuant to it.

71 Therefore, contrary to what is maintained by the Slovak Republic and Hungary, the wording of Article 78(3) TFEU does not in itself support a restrictive interpretation of the concept of 'provisional measures' to the effect that the concept covers only accompanying measures which support a legislative act adopted on the basis of Article 78(2) TFEU and deal, in particular, with financial, technical or operational support to Member States confronted with an emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries.

72 That finding is borne out by the overall scheme and objectives of paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 78 TFEU.

73 They are in fact two distinct provisions of primary EU law pursuing different objectives and each having its own conditions for application, which provide a legal basis for the adoption, in the case of Article 78(3) TFEU, of provisional, non-legislative, measures intended to respond swiftly to a particular emergency situation facing Member States and, in the case of Article 78(2) TFEU, legislative acts whose purpose is to regulate, generally and for an indefinite period, a structural problem arising in the context of the European Union's common policy on asylum.

74 Accordingly, those provisions are complementary, permitting the European Union to adopt, in the context of the common policy on asylum, a wide range of measures in order to ensure that it has the necessary tools to respond effectively, both in the short term and in the long term, to migration crises.

75 In that regard, a restrictive interpretation of the concept of 'provisional measures' in Article 78(3) TFEU to the effect that it permits only the adoption of accompanying measures which supplement the legislative acts adopted on the basis of Article 78(2) TFEU, but not the adoption of measures derogating from such acts, would, apart from the fact that such an interpretation finds no support in the wording of Article 78(3) TFEU, also significantly reduce its effectiveness, given that those acts have covered, or may cover, the various aspects of the common European asylum system listed in points (a) to (g) of Article 78(2) TFEU.

76 That is specifically the case of the area mentioned in point (e) of Article 78(2) TFEU, concerning criteria and mechanisms for determining which Member State is responsible for examining an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, which is covered by a full set of rules, at the forefront of which are the rules laid down by the Dublin III Regulation.

77 In the light of the foregoing, the concept of 'provisional measures' within the meaning of Article 78(3) TFEU must be sufficiently broad in scope to enable the EU institutions to adopt all the provisional measures necessary to respond effectively and swiftly to an emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries.

78 Although, with that end in mind, it has to be accepted that the provisional measures adopted on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU may in principle also derogate from provisions of legislative acts, both the material and temporal scope of such derogations must nonetheless be circumscribed, so that the latter are limited to responding swiftly and effectively, by means of a temporary arrangement, to a specific crisis: that precludes such measures from having either the object or effect of replacing legislative acts or amending them permanently and generally, thereby circumventing the ordinary legislative procedure provided for in Article 78(2) TFEU.

79 In the present case, the Court finds that the derogations provided for in the contested decision meet the requirement that their material and temporal scope be circumscribed and have neither the object nor the effect of replacing or permanently amending provisions of legislative acts.

80 Indeed, the derogations from particular provisions of legislative acts for which the contested decision provides apply for a two-year period only, subject to the possibility of extending that period under Article 4(5) of the decision, and will, in the event, cease to apply on 26 September 2017. Moreover, they concern a limited number of 120 000 nationals of certain third countries who have made an application for international protection in either Greece or Italy, who have one of the nationalities referred to in Article 3(2) of the contested decision, who will be relocated from either Greece or Italy and who arrive in those Member States between 24 March 2015 and 26 September 2017.

81 In those circumstances, there is no ground for maintaining that the ordinary legislative procedure provided for in Article 78(2) TFEU was circumvented by the adoption of the contested decision on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU.

82 In view of the foregoing, the fact that the contested decision, whose classification as a non-legislative act cannot be called in question, entails derogations from particular provisions of legislative acts did not prevent its adoption on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU.

83 The Court also rejects, on the same grounds, the Slovak Republic's arguments alleging infringement of Article 10(1) and (2) TEU and Article 13(2) TEU and breach of the principles of legal certainty, representative democracy and institutional balance.

84 The Slovak Republic's second plea and Hungary's first plea must therefore be rejected as unfounded.

2. The first part of the Slovak Republic's fifth plea and Hungary's second plea, alleging that the contested decision is not provisional and that its period of application is excessive

(a) Arguments of the parties

85 The Slovak Republic and Hungary maintain that Article 78(3) TFEU does not provide a proper legal basis for the adoption of the contested decision, since the decision is not provisional, contrary to the requirements of that provision.

86 They submit that, since the contested decision applies, pursuant to Article 13(2) thereof, until 26 September 2017, that is, for a period of two years which may, moreover, be extended by one year under Article 4(5) and (6) of the decision, it cannot be classified as a 'provisional measure' within the meaning of Article 78(3) TFEU.

87 That is a fortiori the case, according to the Slovak Republic and Hungary, given that the temporal effects of the contested decision vis-a-vis the applicants for international protection concerned will far exceed that period of two or even three years. In their view, the decision will, in all likelihood, result in lasting ties being created between the applicants for international protection and the Member States of relocation.

88 The Council explains that the contested decision, in accordance with Article 13(2) thereof, will apply for 24 months, that is, until 26 September 2017. An extension by up to 12 months in the specific context of the suspension mechanism provided for in Article 4(5) of the contested decision is no longer possible. It submits that the duration of the effects which the contested decision may have with regard to persons who have been relocated is irrelevant for the purpose of determining whether the decision is provisional. The question of the provisional nature of the contested decision must be assessed by reference to the temporal application of the relocation mechanism for which it provides, namely a period of 24 months.

(b) Findings of the Court

89 Under Article 78(3) TFEU, only 'provisional measures' may be adopted.

90 A measure may be classified as 'provisional' in the usual sense of that word only if it is not intended to regulate an area on a permanent basis and only if it applies for a limited period.

91 Nevertheless, by contrast with Article 64(2) EC, under which the period of application of measures adopted on the basis of that provision could not exceed six months, Article 78(3) TFEU, which is the successor to that provision, no longer provides for such temporal limitation.

92 Accordingly, Article 78(3) TFEU, whilst requiring that the measures referred to therein be temporary, affords the Council discretion to determine their period of application on an individual basis, in the light of the circumstances of the case and, in particular, of the specific features of the emergency situation justifying those measures.

93 It is clear from Article 13 of the contested decision that the decision is to apply from 25 September 2015 to 26 September 2017, that is, for a period of 24 months, to persons arriving in Greece and Italy during that period and to applicants for international protection having arrived on the territory of those Member States from 24 March 2015 onwards.

94 As for Article 4(5) of the contested decision, it provides that, 'in exceptional circumstances' and where a Member State has given notification by 26 December 2015, the 24-month period referred to in Article 13(2) of the decision may be extended by up to 12 months in the context of the mechanism for the temporary and partial suspension of the obligation of the Member State concerned with regard to the relocation of applicants for international protection. It thus confirms the temporary nature of the various measures in the contested decision. Moreover, since that mechanism could no longer be triggered after 26 December 2015, the contested decision will definitively expire on 26 September 2017.

95 Accordingly, the contested decision must be found to apply for a limited period.

96 Moreover, the Council did not manifestly exceed the bounds of its discretion when it set the period of application of the measures provided for in the contested decision, given that it took the view, in recital 22 of the decision, that 'a period of 24 months is reasonable in view of ensuring that the measures provided for in this Decision have a real impact in respect of supporting Italy and Greece in dealing with the significant migration flows on their territories'.

97 That choice of a period of application of 24 months is justified in view of the fact that the relocation of a large number of persons, such as that provided for in the contested decision, is an unprecedented and complex operation which requires a certain amount of preparation and implementation time, in particular as regards coordination between the authorities of the Member States, before it has any tangible effects.

98 The Court also rejects the argument put forward by the Slovak Republic and Hungary that the contested decision is not provisional since it will have long-term effects because many applicants for international protection will remain in the Member State of relocation well beyond the 24-month period of application of the contested decision.

99 If, in assessing whether a relocation measure is provisional within the meaning of Article 78(3) TFEU, it were necessary to take into account the duration of the effects of that measure on the persons relocated, no measures for the relocation of persons in clear need of international protection could be taken under that provision, since such more or less long-term effects are inherent in such relocation.

100 Nor can the Court accept the argument of the Slovak Republic and of Hungary that, for a measure to be considered provisional within the meaning of Article 78(3) TFEU, the period of application of the measure in question must not exceed the minimum period necessary for the adoption of a legislative act based on Article 78(2) TFEU.

101 Quite apart from the fact that such an interpretation of Article 78(2) and (3) TFEU is not supported by any argument based on the wording of the provisions and disregards the complementary nature of the measures referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of that article respectively, it is very difficult, or even impossible, to determine in advance the minimum period that would be necessary for the adoption of a legislative act on the basis of Article 78(2) TFEU, with the consequence that that criterion appears impossible to put into practice.

102 That is also illustrated by the fact that, in the present case, although the proposal for a regulation including a permanent relocation mechanism was submitted on 9 September 2015 -- namely on the same day as the Commission submitted its initial proposal which would later become the contested decision -- it has not been adopted as at the date of delivery of the present judgment.

103 In view of the foregoing, the first part of the Slovak Republic's fifth plea and Hungary's second plea must be rejected as unfounded.

3. The second part of the Slovak Republic's fifth plea, alleging that the contested decision does not satisfy the conditions for the application of Article 78(3) TFEU

(a) Arguments of the parties

104 The Slovak Republic contends that, in three respects, the contested decision does not satisfy the condition for the application of Article 78(3) TFEU, namely that the Member State benefiting from the provisional measures must be confronted by 'an emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries'.

105 First, according to the Slovak Republic, the inflow of nationals of third countries into Italy and Greece at the time of the adoption of the contested decision or immediately before its adoption was reasonably foreseeable and therefore cannot be described as 'sudden'.

106 It submits in that regard that the statistics for 2013 and 2014 and the early part of 2015 indicate that the number of nationals of third countries heading for Greece and Italy had been steadily increasing and that, from late 2013 until early 2014, that increase was considerable. In addition, so far as Italy is concerned, the data for 2015 instead suggested a year-on-year fall in the number of migrants.

107 Secondly, the Slovak Republic submits that, at least as regards the situation in Greece, there is no causal link between the emergency situation and the inflow of third country nationals into that Member State, although such a link is required as a result of the emergency situation referred to in Article 78(3) TFEU being qualified by the word 'characterised'. It is not disputed that there have long been serious shortcomings in the way the Hellenic Republic's asylum policy is implemented, which have no direct causal link with the migration phenomenon characteristic of the period in which the contested decision was adopted.

108 Thirdly, the Slovak Republic maintains that, whilst the purpose of Article 78(3) TFEU is to resolve existing or imminent emergency situations, the contested decision addresses, at least in part, hypothetical future situations.

109 In its view, the period of application, of two, or even three years, of the contested decision is too long for it to be possible to assert that, throughout that period, the measures adopted will respond to the emergency situation, whether present or imminent, affecting the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic. Thus, during that period, the emergency situation may cease to exist in those Member States. Furthermore, the mechanism for relocating 54 000 persons provided for in Article 4(3) of the contested decision is intended to address wholly hypothetical situations in other Member States.

110 The Republic of Poland supports that point of view and maintains that Article 78(3) TFEU is directed at a pre-existing and current crisis situation which requires the adoption of immediate corrective measures and not, as the contested decision is, at crisis situations that may arise in the future but whose incidence, nature and degree are uncertain or difficult to foresee.

111 The Council and the Member States supporting it contend that the unprecedented emergency situation that gave rise to the contested decision, which is illustrated by the statistical data mentioned in recitals 13 and 26 of the decision, was both characterised and principally caused by a sudden and massive inflow of nationals of third countries, in particular in July and August 2015.

112 The Council further submits that the fact that the contested decision refers to future events or situations does not mean that it is incompatible with Article 78(3) TFEU.

(b) Findings of the Court

113 It is appropriate, first, to consider the Slovak Republic's argument that the inflow of nationals of third countries to Greece and Italy in 2015 cannot be classified as 'sudden' for the purposes of Article 78(3) TFEU, since it represented the continuation of what was already a large inflow of such nationals in 2014 and was therefore foreseeable.

114 In that regard, an inflow of nationals of third countries on such a scale as to be unforeseeable may be classified as 'sudden' for the purposes of Article 78(3) TFEU, even though it takes place in the context of a migration crisis spanning a number of years, inasmuch as it makes the normal functioning of the EU common asylum system impossible.

115 In the present case, as the Advocate General has noted in point 3 of his Opinion, the contested decision was adopted in the context of the migration crisis, alluded to in recital 3 of the decision, which affected the European Union from 2014, then became more acute in 2015, in particular in July and August of that year, and of the catastrophic humanitarian situation to which that crisis gave rise in the Member States, in particular in frontline Member States such as the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic, which faced a massive inflow of migrants, most of whom came from third countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Eritrea.

116 According to statistics from the Frontex Agency, provided in an annex to the statement in intervention of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in 2015, for the European Union as a whole, 1.83 million irregular border crossings were detected at the Union's external borders as against 283 500 in 2014. Moreover, according to statistical data from Eurostat, in 2015, almost 1.3 million migrants applied for international protection in the Union as against 627 000 in the previous year.

117 In addition, the statistical data included in recital 13 of the contested decision, which were provided by the Frontex Agency, specifically show that the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic were confronted, in the first eight months of 2015 -- and, in particular, in July and August of that year -- with a massive inflow of third country nationals into their territory, in particular of persons whose nationality was among those referred to in Article 3(2) of the decision, with the consequence that the migratory pressure on the Italian and Greek asylum systems increased sharply in that period.

118 Thus, according to those data, 116 000 irregular crossings of the Italian Republic's external borders were detected in the first eight months of 2015. In July and August 2015, 34 691 migrants arrived in Italy irregularly, representing an increase of 20% as compared with May and June 2015.

119 The statistical data for the Hellenic Republic, which are mentioned in recital 13 of the contested decision, give an even clearer indication in that sharp increase in the number of migrants arriving. In the first eight months of 2015, more than 211 000 irregular migrants arrived in Greece. During July and August 2015 alone, the Frontex Agency counted 137 000 irregular border crossings, an increase of 250% as compared with May and June 2015.

120 Moreover, recital 14 of the contested decision states that, according to Eurostat and EASO figures, 39 183 persons applied for international protection in Italy between January and July 2015, as against 30 755 in the same period of 2014 (an increase of 27%), while a similar increase was witnessed in Greece, where there were 7 475 applicants (a 30% increase).

121 It is also stated in recital 26 of the contested decision that the Council specifically set the total of 120 000 persons to be relocated on the basis of the overall number of third country nationals who entered Greece and Italy irregularly in July and August 2015 and were in clear need of international protection.

122 It follows that the Council thus identified -- on the basis of statistical data that have not been challenged by the Slovak Republic -- a sharp increase in the inflow of third country nationals into Greece and Italy over a short period of time, in particular during July and August 2015.

123 It must be held that in such circumstances the Council could, without making a manifest error of assessment, classify such an increase as 'sudden' for the purposes of Article 78(3) TFEU even though that increase represented the continuation of a period in which extremely high numbers of migrants had already arrived.

124 It should be recalled in that regard that the EU institutions must be allowed broad discretion when they adopt measures in areas which entail choices, in particular of a political nature, on their part and complex assessments (see, to that effect, judgment of 4 May 2016, Poland v Parliament and Council, C358/14, EU:C:2016:323, paragraph 79 and the case-law cited).

125 With regard, secondly, to the argument, raised by the Slovak Republic, concerning the strict interpretation of the word 'characterised' qualifying the 'emergency situation' referred to in Article 78(3) TFEU, the Court observes that, although a minority of the language versions of Article 78(3) TFEU do not use the word 'characterised' but rather the word 'caused', in the context of that provision and in view of its objective of enabling the swift adoption of provisional measures in order to provide an effective response to a migration crisis, those two words must be understood in the same way, namely as requiring there to be a sufficiently close link between the emergency situation in question and the sudden inflow of nationals of third countries.

126 It is apparent from recitals 12, 13 and 26 of the contested decision and from the statistical data mentioned in those recitals that a sufficiently close link has been established between the emergency situation in Greece and Italy, namely the significant pressure on the asylum systems of those Member States, and the inflow of migrants throughout 2015, in particular in July and August of that year.

127 That finding of fact is not undermined by the existence of other factors that may also have contributed to that emergency situation, including structural defects in those systems in terms of lack of reception capacity and of capacity to process applications.

128 Moreover, the inflow of migrants with which the Greek and Italian asylum systems were confronted in 2015 was on such a scale that it would have disrupted any asylum system, even one without structural weaknesses.

129 Thirdly, the Court must reject the Slovak Republic's argument, which is supported by the Republic of Poland, that the contested decision could not properly be adopted on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU because, instead of an existing or imminent emergency situation affecting the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic, it sought to resolve, at least in part, hypothetical future situations, that is to say, situations which, at the time of the adoption of the contested decision, could not have been claimed to be sufficiently likely to arise.

130 In fact, recitals 13 and 26 of the contested decision make clear that the decision was adopted on account of an emergency situation with which the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic were confronted in 2015, more specifically in July and August 2015. Accordingly, that situation had patently arisen before the date on which the contested decision was adopted even though it is apparent from recital 16 of the decision that the Council also took account of the fact that the emergency situation would very probably continue owing to the ongoing instability and conflicts in the immediate vicinity of Italy and Greece.

131 In addition, in view of the fact that migration flows are inherently likely to evolve rapidly, notably by shifting towards other Member States, the contested decision contains various mechanisms, in particular in Article 1(2), Article 4(2) and (3) and Article 11(2), to adapt its arrangements in the light of any change in the initial emergency situation, in particular in the event of such a situation arising in other Member States.

132 Article 78(3) TFEU does not preclude the provisional measures taken under it being supplemented by such adjustment mechanisms.

133 That provision confers a broad discretion on the Council in the choice of the measures that may be taken in order to respond rapidly and efficiently to a particular emergency as well as to any possible developments in the situation.

134 As the Advocate General has observed in point 130 of his Opinion, responding to the emergency does not mean that the response cannot evolve and adapt, provided that it retains its provisional nature.

135 The second part of the Slovak Republic's fifth plea must therefore be rejected.

D. The pleas relating to the lawfulness of the procedure leading to the adoption of the contested decision and alleging breach of essential procedural requirements

1. The Slovak Republic's first plea and Hungary's seventh plea, alleging infringement of Article 68 TFEU

(a) Arguments of the parties

136 The Slovak Republic and Hungary maintain that, since the contested decision was adopted by qualified majority although it followed from the European Council's conclusions of 25 and 26 June 2015 that the decision had to be adopted 'by consensus' in a manner 'reflecting the specific situations of Member States', the Council infringed Article 68 TFEU and breached essential procedural requirements.

137 The Slovak Republic and Hungary submit that the Council should, at the time of the adoption of the contested decision, have followed the guidelines deriving from those conclusions, in particular the requirement that a distribution of applicants in clear need of international protection between the Member States should be by a decision adopted unanimously or in the form of voluntary allocations agreed by the Member States.

138 They submit that it was particularly important that the Council abide by the conclusions of the European Council since the Council should have taken account of the fact that the relocation of applicants for international protection is a politically sensitive question for several Member States given that such a relocation measure significantly undermines the present system under the Dublin III Regulation.

139 Hungary submits in particular that, since the conclusions of the European Council of 25 and 26 June 2015 expressly provided for the Council to take a decision only in respect of the relocation of 40 000 applicants for international protection, the Council was not entitled to decide on the relocation of 120 000 additional applicants without having obtained the European Council's agreement in principle in that regard. Consequently, both the Commission's presentation of a proposal for a decision entailing such additional relocation and the Council's adoption of that proposal constitute, in its view, an infringement of Article 68 TFEU and a breach of essential procedural requirements.

140 The Council contends that there is no contradiction between the contested decision and the European Council's conclusions of 25 and 26 June 2015.

141 The Council further submits that the conclusions whereby the European Council defines 'directions' do not provide the action taken by the other institutions either with a legal basis or with rules and principles by reference to which the Court reviews the legality of the acts of the other EU institutions, even though such directions are binding on the European Union under Article 15 TEU and are therefore not purely political in nature.

142 The Commission argues that, as the conclusions of the European Council are not binding but merely have effects at a political level, such conclusions cannot determine or limit, from the legal standpoint, the Commission's right of initiative to propose measures on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU or the Council's power to adopt a decision under that provision after consulting the Parliament.

(b) Findings of the Court

143 The conclusions of the European Council of 25 and 26 June 2015 state that the Member States should agree 'by consensus' on a distribution 'reflecting the specific situations of Member States'. On that point, those conclusions expressly refer to 'the temporary and exceptional relocation over two years from Italy and Greece ... to other Member States of 40 000 persons in clear need of international protection' by means of 'the rapid adoption by the Council of a decision to this effect'.

144 That mechanism for the relocation of 40 000 persons formed the subject matter of Decision 2015/1523, which was adopted on 14 September 2015 by consensus. Thus, on that point Decision 2015/1523 implemented those conclusions in full.

145 As regards the alleged effect of the 'political' nature of the conclusions of the European Council of 25 and 26 June 2015 on both the Commission's power of legislative initiative and the voting rules within the Council, as provided for in Article 78(3) TFEU, such an effect -- assuming it to be established and discussed within the European Council -- cannot be a ground on which the Court may annul the contested decision.

146 First, the power of legislative initiative accorded to the Commission by Article 17(2) TEU and Article 289 TFEU -- which reflects the principle of conferred powers, enshrined in Article 13(2) TEU, and, more broadly, the principle of institutional balance, characteristic of the institutional structure of the European Union -- means that it is for the Commission to decide whether to bring forward a proposal for a legislative act. In that connection, it is also for the Commission, which, in accordance with Article 17(1) TEU, is to promote the general interest of the European Union and take appropriate initiatives to that end, to determine the subject matter, objective and content of the proposal (see, to that effect, judgment of 14 April 2015, Council v Commission, C409/13, EU:C:2015:217, paragraphs 64 and 70).

147 Those principles also apply to the Commission's power of initiative in the context of the adoption, on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU, of non-legislative acts, such as the contested decision. In that regard, as the Advocate General has also observed in point 145 of his Opinion, Article 78(3) TFEU does not make the Commission's power of initiative conditional upon the European Council's having previously defined guidelines under Article 68 TFEU.

148 Secondly, Article 78(3) TFEU allows the Council to adopt measures by a qualified majority, as it did when it adopted the contested decision. The principle of institutional balance prevents the European Council from altering that voting rule by imposing on the Council, by means of conclusions adopted pursuant to Article 68 TFEU, a rule requiring a unanimous vote.

149 Indeed, as the Court has already held, as the rules regarding the manner in which the EU institutions arrive at their decisions are laid down in the Treaties and are not within the discretion of the Member States or of the institutions themselves, the Treaties alone may, in particular cases, empower an institution to amend a decision-making procedure established by the Treaties (judgment of 10 September 2015, Parliament v Council, C363/14, EU:C:2015:579, paragraph 43).

150 The Slovak Republic's first plea and Hungary's seventh plea must therefore be rejected as unfounded.

2. The third part of the Slovak Republic's third plea and the first part of its fourth plea, and Hungary's fifth plea, alleging breach of essential procedural requirements in that the Council did not comply with the obligation to consult the Parliament laid down in Article 78(3) TFEU

(a) Arguments of the parties

151 The Slovak Republic and Hungary claim that, since the Council made substantial amendments to the Commission's initial proposal and adopted the contested decision without consulting the Parliament afresh, it breached the essential procedural requirements laid down in Article 78(3) TFEU, with the consequence that the contested decision must be annulled. The Slovak Republic maintains that, in proceeding in that way, the Council also infringed Article 10(1) and (2) and Article 13(2) TEU and breached the principles of representative democracy, institutional balance and sound administration.

152 It is argued that the most significant amendments to the Commission's initial proposal concern the fact that, in the contested decision, Hungary is no longer among the Member States that benefit from relocation as do the Hellenic Republic and the Italian Republic, but is instead among the Member States of relocation. That entailed, in particular, the deletion of Annex III to the Commission's initial proposal, which concerned relocation quotas from Hungary, and the inclusion of Hungary in Annexes I and II to the contested decision.

153 The Slovak Republic mentions other amendments which were made to the Commission's initial proposal and are included in the contested decision, including the fact that that decision does not lay down an exhaustive list of the Member States that may benefit from the system of relocation which it establishes but provides, in Article 4(3), that other Member States may benefit from it if they satisfy the conditions set out in that provision.

154 The applicants take issue with the Council for having failed to consult the Parliament again after making those amendments to the Commission's initial proposal, even though, in its resolution of 17 September 2015, the Parliament had asked the Council to consult it again if it intended to substantially amend the Commission's proposal.

155 Although the Presidency of the European Union regularly informed the Parliament, in particular the Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, of how the Council's dossier was progressing, that cannot, in the applicants' submission, replace a formal resolution of the Parliament adopted in plenary session.

156 Hungary refers in that regard to two letters sent by the President of the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee to the President of the Parliament, in which it is stated that that committee had reached the conclusion that the Council had substantially amended the Commission's initial proposal by removing Hungary from the group of beneficiary Member States and that the Parliament should therefore have been consulted again.

157 The Council's primary contention is that, in view of the urgent nature of the case, its consultation of the Parliament was sufficient, enabling the latter to familiarise itself, in good time, with the substance of the final text of the contested decision and to express a view on the matter. In any event, the text of the contested decision, as finally adopted and taken as a whole, did not substantially depart from the text on which the Parliament had been consulted on 14 September 2015.

(b) Findings of the Court

158 It should be noted as a preliminary point that the Council contends that the letters from the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, which were produced by Hungary in an annex to its reply and are mentioned in paragraph 156 of the present judgment, are inadmissible as evidence since they were improperly obtained. It requests that the Court, as a precautionary step, remove those letters from the file in the present cases. Like Hungary, it asks the Court to adopt a measure of inquiry inviting the Parliament to confirm whether the letters are authentic and, if they are, to clarify their legal status and to let the Court know whether it would agree to Hungary using the letters as evidence.

159 In that regard, the Court considers that, since it has been sufficiently informed of the facts relating to the question whether, in the present case, the Council complied with its obligation to consult the Parliament, as provided for in Article 78(3) TFEU, it is in a position to decide that question of law without it being necessary to address the requested measure of inquiry to the Parliament.

160 As for the substance, it must be recalled that due consultation of the Parliament in the cases provided for by the Treaty constitutes an essential procedural requirement disregard of which renders the measure concerned void. Effective participation of the Parliament in the decision-making process, in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Treaty, represents an essential element of the institutional balance intended by the Treaty. This function reflects the fundamental democratic principle that the people should take part in the exercise of power through the intermediary of a representative assembly (see, to that effect, inter alia, judgments of 11 November 1997, Eurotunnel and Others, C408/95, EU:C:1997:532, paragraph 45, and of 7 March 2017, RPO, C390/15, EU:C:2017:174, paragraphs 24 and 25).

161 The Court has consistently held that the obligation to consult the Parliament in the decision-making procedure in the cases provided for by the Treaty means that the Parliament must be consulted again whenever the text finally adopted, taken as a whole, differs in essence from the text on which the Parliament has already been consulted, except in cases in which the amendments substantially correspond to the wishes of the Parliament itself (see judgments of 11 November 1997, Eurotunnel and Others, C408/95, EU:C:1997:532, paragraph 46, and of 7 March 2017, RPO, C390/15, EU:C:2017:174, paragraph 26).

162 Amendments which go to the heart of the arrangements established or affect the scheme of the proposal as a whole are to be regarded as substantial amendments (see, to that effect, judgment of 1 June 1994, Parliament v Council, C388/92, EU:C:1994:213, paragraphs 13 and 18).

163 In this regard, the various amendments to the Commission's initial proposal which related to the change of Hungary's status were made by the Council after Hungary had refused to be a beneficiary of the relocation mechanism provided for by the proposal. Nevertheless, taking account in particular of the fact that Article 78(3) TFEU concerns the adoption of provisional measures for the benefit of one or more Member States confronted with an emergency situation within the meaning of that provision, the determination of the Member States benefiting from those provisional measures is an essential element of any measure adopted on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU.

164 It must therefore be held that the text of the contested decision as finally adopted, taken as a whole, differs in essence from the Commission's initial proposal.

165 It must, however, be noted that on 16 September 2015 the President of the Council stated at an extraordinary plenary sitting of the Parliament:

'Given the urgency of the situation and as mentioned in the letter consulting the Parliament, I am taking the opportunity to inform you that there will be a significant departure from the [Commission's] initial proposal.

Hungary does not consider itself to be a frontline country and has told us that it does not wish to be a beneficiary of relocation.

The Parliament will be able to take this information into account in its opinion.'

166 Accordingly, in its legislative resolution of 17 September 2015 expressing its support for the Commission's initial proposal, the Parliament must necessarily have taken account of that fundamental change in Hungary's status, which the Council was bound to respect.

167 Furthermore, although the Council made other amendments to the Commission's initial proposal following the Parliament's adoption of that legislative resolution, those amendments did not affect the very essence of the proposal.

168 Moreover, the Council Presidency, within the framework of the informal contacts mentioned in the consultation letter, kept the Parliament fully informed of those amendments.

169 The obligation to consult the Parliament laid down in Article 78(3) TFEU was therefore complied with.

170 In view of the foregoing, the Court rejects as unfounded the third part of the Slovak Republic's third plea and the first part of its fourth plea and Hungary's fifth plea.

3. The second part of the Slovak Republic's fourth plea and Hungary's third plea, alleging breach of essential procedural requirements in that the Council did not act unanimously, contrary to Article 293(1) TFEU

(a) Arguments of the parties

171 The Slovak Republic and Hungary maintain that, in adopting the contested decision, the Council breached the essential procedural requirement imposed in Article 293(1) TFEU, in that it amended the Commission's proposal without complying with the requirement for unanimity laid down in that provision. The Slovak Republic submits that, in so doing, the Council also infringed Article 13(2) TEU and breached the principles of institutional balance and sound administration.

172 The applicants argue that the requirement for unanimity laid down in Article 293(1) TFEU applies to any amendment of the Commission's proposal, including where the amendment is minor and regardless of whether the Commission has explicitly or implicitly accepted the amendments made to its proposal during the discussions within the Council.

173 They also claim that there is nothing to indicate that, during the procedure leading to the adoption of the contested decision, the Commission withdrew its proposal and submitted a new proposal drafted in identical terms to those of the text that was finally adopted. On the contrary, it follows from the minutes of the Council's sitting of 22 September 2015 that the Commission neither lodged a new proposal nor made a preliminary declaration concerning the amended proposal as finally adopted by the Council.

174 However, the Commission is required to endorse actively and explicitly the amendments concerned before it can be considered to have altered its proposal within the meaning of Article 293(2) TFEU. The present case is, they submit, different in this respect from that at issue in the judgment of 5 October 1994, Germany v Council (C280/93, EU:C:1994:367).

175 The Council replies that, on 22 September 2015, during the Council meeting at which the contested decision was adopted, the Commission, represented by its First Vice-President and by the Commissioner responsible for asylum and immigration, agreed to all the Council's amendments to the Commission's initial proposal. That agreement -- even if it were considered to be implicit -- would amount to an alteration of the proposal on the part of the Commission.

176 The Commission similarly submits that it amended its proposal in accordance with the amendments adopted by the responsible Commissioners on its behalf in order to facilitate the proposal's adoption.

(b) Findings of the Court

177 Article 293 TFEU attaches to the Commission's power of initiative -- in this case the power conferred by Article 78(3) TFEU in the framework of a non-legislative procedure -- a twofold safeguard. On the one hand, Article 293(1) TFEU provides that where, pursuant to the Treaties, the Council acts on a proposal from the Commission, it may amend that proposal only by acting unanimously, except in the cases referred to in the provisions of the FEU Treaty which are mentioned in Article 293(1) and which are of no relevance in the present case. On the other hand, Article 293(2) TFEU states that, as long as the Council has not acted, the Commission may alter its proposal at any time during the procedures leading to the adoption of an EU act (see, to that effect, judgment of 14 April 2015, Council v Commission, C409/13, EU:C:2015:217, paragraphs 71 to 73).

178 It follows that if, under Article 293(2) TFEU, the Commission amends its proposal during the procedure for adoption of an EU act, the Council is not subject to the requirement for unanimity laid down in Article 293(1) TFEU.

179 So far as Article 293(2) TFEU is concerned, the Court has already held that the amended proposals that the Commission adopts do not have to be in writing as they are part of the process for adopting EU acts, a characteristic of which is a degree of flexibility, necessary for achieving a convergence of views between the institutions (see, to that effect, judgment of 5 October 1994, Germany v Council, C280/93, EU:C:1994:367, paragraph 36).

180 Such considerations as to flexibility must, a fortiori, prevail in the case of the procedure for adopting an act on the basis of Article 78(3) TFEU, since the purpose of that provision is to make it possible for provisional measures to be adopted quickly so as to provide a rapid and effective response to an 'emergency situation' within the meaning of that provision.

181 It follows that, in the particular context of Article 78(3) TFEU, the Commission may be considered to have exercised its power of amendment under Article 293(2) TFEU when its participation in the process for adopting the measure concerned clearly shows that it has approved the amended proposal. Such an interpretation is consistent with the objective of Article 293(2) TFEU, which seeks to protect the Commission's power of initiative.

182 In the present case the Commission does not consider its power of initiative under Article 78(3) TFEU to have been undermined.

183 It submits in that regard that it amended its initial proposal since it approved the amendments made to that document at the various meetings held within the Council.

184 It states that it was represented at those meetings by two of its Members, namely its First Vice-President and the Commissioner responsible, inter alia, for immigration. They were duly empowered by the College of Commissioners, pursuant to Article 13 of the Commission's Rules of Procedure, to approve amendments to its initial proposal in keeping with the priority objective, set by the College of Commissioners at its meeting of 16 September 2015, which was that the Council should adopt a binding and immediately applicable decision concerning the relocation of 120 000 persons in clear need of international protection.

185 In this connection, it follows from Article 13 of the Commission's Rules of Procedure, interpreted in the light of the objective of Article 293(2) TFEU of protecting the Commission's power of initiative, that the College of Commissioners 
Chad: Treatment of members of the Gorane ethnic group [also known as Goran, Daza, Toubou, Dazaga and Dazagada] by the authorities since the presidential elections of April 2016 (April-October 2016)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 21 October 2016 Citation / Document Symbol TCD105654.FE Related Document(s) Tchad : information sur le traitement reserve aux membres de l'ethnie gorane [egalement connue sous le nom de goran, daza, toubou, dazaga et dazagada] par les autorites depuis les elections presidentielles d'avril 2016 (avril-octobre 2016) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Chad: Treatment of members of the Gorane ethnic group [also known as Goran, Daza, Toubou, Dazaga and Dazagada] by the authorities since the presidential elections of April 2016 (April-October 2016), 21 October 2016, TCD105654.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8dc644.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Information on the treatment of members of the Gorane ethnic group by the authorities since the presidential elections of April 2016 was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. For information on the Gorane and their political activities, please consult Response to Information Requests TCD104695 of December 2013 and TCD105337 of October 2015. For information on their treatment by the authorities from 2013 to February 2014, please consult Response to Information Request TCD104790 of March 2014.

1. Ethno-political Background

In the presidential elections [held on 10 April 2016 (DW 22 Apr. 2016)], Idriss Deby was re-elected to a fifth term as leader of Chad (US 5 May 2016; DW 22 Apr. 2016). He comes from a clan of the Zaghawa ethnic group (MRG n.d.; USA 27 Feb. 2014, 17). The Gorane identify with former president Hissene Habre, who is a member of their ethnic group (MRG n.d.; Human Rights Watch 9 Jan. 2007). Between 1990 and 1991, he was replaced as the country's leader by Idriss Deby in a coup d'Etat (BBC 2 Aug. 2016; MRG n.d.). For information on relations between the Gorane and the Zaghawa, particularly under Hissene Habre, then under Idriss Deby, please consult the Response to Information Request TCD104695 of December 2013.

A reading of the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013, published by the United States (US) Department of State, shows that, in general, ethnicity plays a role in appointments to government positions and in political alliances in Chad, that political parties have identifiable ethnic or geographical bases, and that ethnic groups in the north [the Goran are mostly found in the north (Human Rights Watch 9 Jan. 2007], particularly the Zaghawa, are "overrepresented in key institutions, including the military officer corps, elite military units, and the presidential staff" (US 27 Feb. 2014). According to Freedom House, the Zaghawa and the ethnic groups of the north control Chad's political and economic systems (Freedom House 18 Aug. 2016. The Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index (BTI), a global ranking that analyzes and assesses democracy, market economy and the quality of political management in 129 countries, also points out that, in Chad, access to political and economic power depends on ethnic origin and religion and that "[p]referential treatment is primarily given to members of the ruling clan and the family of the president, then to other northerners and Muslims (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2016, 1, 8). According to Minority Rights Group International (MRG), juntas and military leaders have been trying to use violence to further the interests of particular clans and ethnic groups since the 1960s (MRG n.d.).

2. Treatment of Members of the Gorane Ethnic Group by the Authorities since the Presidential Elections of April 2016

An independent researcher, who is an expert on Chad and Darfur and was a senior analyst for International Crisis Group from 2012 to 2015, and a representative of the Chadian Association for Non-Violence (Association tchadienne pour la non-violence, ATNV), an association based in Moundou that promotes peace and human rights, both agree in correspondence sent to the Research Directorate that the Gorane are not currently victims of any particular treatment by the authorities as a result of their ethnic affiliation (independent researcher 1 Oct. 2016; ATNV 5 Oct. 2016). The researcher indicated that most Gorane rebels allied themselves with those in power in 2010, and while they were not particularly [translation] "well received," they were not "mistreated" either (independent researcher 1 Oct. 2016). According to him, only the [translation] "senior rebel leaders," Gorane or not, might find it "risky" to return to Chad (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The ATNV official added that, while they were not targeted for any particular treatment because of their ethnicity, they could be targeted for their political, union or association affiliations, because those in power consider that taking certain positions in those areas are [translation] "acts of rebellion." (ATNV 5 Oct. 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

As for their participation in politics, the researcher was of the opinion that the Gorane are [translation] "overrepresented" in the government (independent researcher 1 Oct. 2016). The ATNV official added that they are to be found in almost all ministries and that many of them have [translation] "central" positions in the Ministry of Finance (ATNV 5 Oct. 2016).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Association tchadienne pour la non-violence (ATNV). 5 October 2016. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate.

Bertelsmann Stiftung. 2016. "Chad Country Report." Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index (BTI) 2016. [Accessed 11 Oct. 2016]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 2 August 2016. "Chad Country Profile." [Accessed 19 Oct. 2016]

Deutsche Welle (DW). 22 April 2016. "Chad Election Commission Declares Fifth Term for Deby." [Accessed 19 Oct. 2016]

Freedom House. 18 August 2016. "Chad." Freedom in the World 2016. [Accessed 12 Oct. 2016]

Human Rights Watch. 9 January 2007. "Ils sont venus pour nous tuer" : Attaques de milices et agressions ethniques contre les civils a l'est du Tchad. [Accessed 18 Oct. 2016]

Independent Researcher. 1 October 2016. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate.

Minority Rights Group International (MRG). N.d. "Chad: History." World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. [Accessed 13 Oct. 2016]

United States (US). 5 May 2016. Department of State. "Final Results of the Presidential Elections in the Republic of Chad." [Accessed 19 Oct. 2016]

United States (US). 27 February 2014. Department of State. "Chad." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. [Accessed 18 Oct. 2016]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Research fellow, Pole de recherche pour l'organisation et la diffusion de l'information geographique (PRODIG); research director, Langage, langues et cultures d'Afrique noire (LLACAN), Centre national de recherche scientifique (CNRS); professor emeritus, Universite Bordeaux Montaigne.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Ethnologue; Factiva; Federation internationale des ligues de droits de l'homme; International Crisis Group; IRIN; Political Handbook of the World; Radio France internationale; United Nations - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Refworld, ReliefWeb.
Washington Post staff writer Amy Goldstein talks about her book, "Janesville: An American Story," during a Cap Times Idea Fest session on Wisconsin's uneven recovery.
Netherlands: Validity of a Temporary Residence Permit after leaving the Netherlands

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 19 May 2017 Citation / Document Symbol NLD105809.E Related Document(s) Pays-Bas : information sur la validite du permis de residence temporaire apres avoir quitte les Pays-Bas Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Netherlands: Validity of a Temporary Residence Permit after leaving the Netherlands, 19 May 2017, NLD105809.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8ddab4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a senior immigration lawyer from a Dutch law firm that specializes in immigration law provided the following information:

As long as a permit has not been withdrawn, it is valid until its expiry date. However, with a Dutch temporary residence permit, residency outside the Netherlands for more than 6 consecutive months, or for 4 consecutive months over 3 consecutive years, can be grounds for withdrawal of the permit unless the holder of the permit can prove that his/her absence from the Netherlands for an extended period is caused by circumstances that are outside his/her control (incarceration/detention abroad is expressly excluded). (Senior Immigration Lawyer 31 Mar. 2017)

The page entitled "primary residence" on the website of the Netherlands Immigration and Naturalisation Service (Immigratie en Naturalisatie Dienst, IND) states that a holder of a Dutch residence permit is allowed to be abroad for short durations, as long as the residence permit holder does not move their primary residence (Netherlands n.d.a). The maximum stay allowed depends on the residence permit: holders of Dutch temporary residence permits are allowed to stay a maximum of six consecutive months within one year outside of the Netherlands (Netherlands n.d.a). Within three consecutive years, a holder of a Dutch temporary residence permit is permitted to stay outside the Netherlands for a maximum of four months per each of the three years (Netherlands n.d.a).

The same web page further states that a [translation] "holder of a Dutch residence permit" needs to have their "primary residence" in the Netherlands (Netherlands n.d.a). According to the same source, a primary residence is the location where the person resides [translation] "permanently" (Netherlands n.d.a). If the holder of a Dutch residence permit changes their primary residence to a foreign country, the residence permit will be revoked (Netherlands n.d.a).

According to the same web page, IND decides that the holder of the Dutch residence permit has moved their primary residence abroad in the following situations:

the permit holder used their [translation] "right to remigration" upon departure from the Netherlands, for example in accordance with "the Remigration Law;"

the permit holder has been outside of the Netherlands for longer periods than allowed (Netherlands n.d.a).

The information in the following paragraph was provided on the same IND webpage:

There are several situations that the authorities use to identify whether someone has changed their primary residence, including de-registration from the Dutch Municipal Personal Records Database [Basisregistratie Personen, BRP (Netherlands n.d.b)]. Other examples include: the residence permit holder notifying the Dutch Tax Services (Belastingdienst) of a move to a foreign country; notifying the Police Department for Foreigners (Vreemdelingenpolitie) of a move abroad; resigning from employment or workplace closure; closing of a bank account; transfer of periodic monetary benefits to an address outside of the Netherlands; cashing out of pension rights; clearing furniture from the residential home in the Netherlands and moving furniture across the border; subletting the residential home in the Netherlands to others. There may also be [translation] "other situations" in which the IND deems that a holder of a Dutch residence permit has changed their primary residence (Netherlands n.d.a.).

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an official from the IND stated that

[w]hether or not a person has moved his or her principal residence is established by the entire body of facts and circumstances surrounding an individual situation. A brief residence abroad for purpose of employment while one's family remains in the Netherlands or for purpose of an internship will not likely lead to termination of one's lawful residence since sufficient ties with the Netherlands exist, whereas residence abroad for purpose of employment along with partner and/or children could lead to revocation since this is an indication that the core of one's activity has been moved. In addition, please note that when the holder of a regular temporary residence permit unregisters from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP), a revocation procedure will be triggered since that is reason for us to conclude that the foreign national has departed from the Netherlands.

In the absence of knowledge about such facts and circumstances, the [IND] assumes that principal residence has been moved after a consecutive absence of 6 months, or after a consecutive absence of four months in three consecutive years. Exceptions do apply for designated categories of foreign nationals.



Before a permit is revoked, we inquire with the holder of the permit whether there are personal circumstances that we should take into account. This inquiry is [not done] if we intend to revoke the permit [because] the holder is unregistered from the BRP. (Netherlands 25 Apr. 2017, italics in original)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Netherlands. 25 April 2017. Immigratie and Naturalisatie Dienst (IND). Correspondence from an official to the Research Directorate.

Netherlands. N.d.a. Immigratie en Naturalisatie Dienst (IND). "Hoofdverblijf." [Accessed 4 May 2017]

Netherlands. N.d.b. "The Municipal Personal Records Database." [Accessed 4 May 2017]

Senior Immigration Lawyer, Everaert Advocaten. 31 March 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Netherlands - Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ottawa; two immigration law firms in the Netherlands.

Internet sites, including: Netherlands - Police Department for Foreigners.
Ghana: State involvement in chieftaincy matters, such as blood rituals for deceased chiefs and their successors, including legislation; consequences of divulging a secret ritual to another member of the same ethnic group, including the Kotokoli in the Volta region; state protection available to individuals that do not comply with chieftaincy rules and traditions (2014-April 2017)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 2 May 2017 Citation / Document Symbol GHA105792.E Related Document(s) Ghana : information sur l'ingerence de l'Etat dans les affaires des chefferies, telles que les rituels de sang pour les chefs decedes et leurs successeurs, y compris les lois a cet egard; les consequences de la divulgation d'un rituel secret a un autre membre du meme groupe ethnique, y compris chez les Kotokoli de la region de la Volta; la protection offerte par l'Etat aux personnes qui ne respectent pas les regles et les traditions des chefferies (2014-avril 2017) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: State involvement in chieftaincy matters, such as blood rituals for deceased chiefs and their successors, including legislation; consequences of divulging a secret ritual to another member of the same ethnic group, including the Kotokoli in the Volta region; state protection available to individuals that do not comply with chieftaincy rules and traditions (2014-April 2017), 2 May 2017, GHA105792.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8e0584.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. State Involvement in Chieftaincy Related Blood Rituals

1.1 Blood Rituals

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor emeritus of anthropology at Haverford College, who has recently authored a book on chieftaincies in Northern Ghana, stated that

although the press loves to report scandalous rumors of infant deaths related to supposed sorcery, and one cannot rule out the possibility, I am confident that no human sacrifice or "ritual killing" is part of any chief's burial or enskinment in modern times, i.e., since 1920. Once upon a time such deaths were part of certain southern rituals  It is possible that people believe in deaths caused by "supernatural" means, but literal "ritual murder" does not happen. (Professor Emeritus 19 Apr. 2017)

Similarly, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor of political science at the University of Ghana who has published several academic articles on chieftaincy in Ghana, stated that

such notions as blood sacrifices or human blood libation when a chief dies are more mythical than real.  There has not been a single evidence of such rumours. (Professor of political science 15 Apr. 2017)

In contrast, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana's Department of Sociology, whose research interests include chieftaincy and law, stated that

[i]n some traditional kingdoms and chiefdoms, particularly in southern Ghana, the burial of a traditional leader is accompanied by ritual killing. This is totally detested by the state and punishable by the state law as a criminal act. However, it is done in secrecy. (Senior Lecturer 14 Apr. 2017)

Information on instances of chieftaincy related blood rituals could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014 for Ghana provides the following regarding ritual killing:

Ritual killings continued to occur. For example, in August [2014], police in Bolgatanga Municipality, Upper East Region, found a decapitated head, severed genitals, a chain padlock, the wing of a bird, and a pair of slippers buried in a building under construction. Police suspected the killing was committed for ritual purposes and arrested the owner of the building, but no charges had been pressed by year's end. (US 25 June 2015, 23)

The Country Reports 2015 for Ghana states that "[r]itual killings continued to occur" (US 13 Apr. 2016, 20). According to Country Reports 2016, "[u]nlike in prior years, there were no reports of ritual killings" (US 3 Mar. 2017). However, an article published on Ghanaian online news source GhanaWeb states that in May 2016, a "fifteen year old girl  was nearly abducted and killed for ritual purposes by unknown assailants" in the Western Region (GhanaWeb 14 May 2016). In January 2017, the Ghanaian Times, a government-owned daily newspaper, reported that a seventeen-year-old girl who was found dead in the Greater Accra Region was "believed to have been killed for ritual purposes, according to residents of the area" (The Ghanaian Times 24 Jan. 2017).

1.2 Legislation Related to Blood Rituals

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Copenhagen, who wrote a PhD thesis on the role of traditional authority in Northern Ghana, stated that, according to the 1992 Constitution, "practices such as blood sacrifices that undermine [fundamental human rights] would be illegal, and ritual killings would be considered unlawful. However, I think voluntary bloodletting is permitted but is unusual" (Postdoctoral Fellow 20 Apr. 2017). Without providing further detail, the Professor of political science stated that "Ghanaian legislation frowns upon all forms of killing or shedding of blood whether for ritual purposes including libation in the context of the burial of a deceased chief in the South or the enskinment/enstoolment of a new chief in the northern part of the country" (Professor of political science 15 Apr. 2017). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

1.3 Effectiveness of State Protection Against Blood Sacrifices

The Postdoctoral Fellow stated regarding the legislative protection against blood sacrifices that "the interesting element is whether, and to what extent, the law around ritual killing/murder is enforced" (Postdoctoral Fellow 20 Apr. 2017). The same source explained that

stakeholders may  frame an event explicitly as "traditional" or "ritual" to excuse it from investigation  [M]atters of a "traditional" nature are a grey zone and sometimes a no-go area for law enforcers as well as public officials - simply because people are scared to be accused of interfering with another group's customs. In brief, I would say that the question of whether law is enforced or not is not always related to the seriousness of the crime , but is closely related to the incentives and disincentives of the different actors involved to either pursue or not pursue the case, and to the potential political sensitivities of the case. (Postdoctoral Fellow 20 Apr. 2017)

Without providing further detail, the Professor Emeritus indicated that the Ghanaian constitution "forbids the government from interfering in traditional affairs" but also "obliges the government to uphold human rights" (Professor Emeritus 19 Apr. 2017). According to the same source, "[t]here can be argument about how to draw the line between these two obligations" (Professor Emeritus 19 Apr. 2017). The Professor Emeritus further stated that "[a]nimal sacrifice is common, but the government does not tolerate human sacrifice" (Professor Emeritus 19 Apr. 2017). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. State Protection for Individuals Who do not Comply with Chieftaincy Rules and Traditions

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a former extraordinary professor of anthropology at the University of Wroclaw whose research included chieftaincy in Northern Ghana, stated that

it is maintained in Ghana that traditional matters, unless involving criminal acts as defined by law, are to be resolved by traditional authorities such as Traditional Councils, Houses of Chiefs, etc. The state intervenes only when public order is threatened or breached by chieftaincy conflicts. (former Extraordinary Professor 13 Apr. 2017)

Regarding state protection for individuals who do not comply with chieftaincy rules and traditions, the Professor of political science explained that "[e]very traditional area or community has its rules  Those in the community are expected to abide by such rules and traditions. However, such rules must not be an affront to the constitution of the country" (Professor of political science 15 Apr. 2017). Without providing further detail, the same source further stated that the state will "offer protection in situations where the fundamental rights of the person are flagrantly abused by the chief" (Professor of political science 15 Apr. 2017).

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a social anthropologist at the University of Ghana whose research includes chieftaincy in Ghana, stated that the "traditional state" has its by-rules and regulations "which all those living within the chiefdom area should abide by" (Social anthropologist 17 Apr. 2017). Without providing further detail, the same source indicated that the rulings of the traditional court "can however be appealed" (Social anthropologist 17 Apr. 2017). According to the same source, in practice, the protection of the individual guaranteed by the constitution of Ghana "is not always effective," adding that this protection

depends on the individual who feels aggrieved and what he is willing and able to do to defend his or her rights. If he or she does not take the matter to the courts, the constitution cannot come into play. Fear of reprisals or the intervention of family and relatives may prevent a person from seeking redress in the courts. (Social anthropologist 17 Apr. 2017)

The Postdoctoral fellow stated the following regarding state protection for individuals who do not comply with chieftaincy rules:

I am quite sure there is no such protection available and the lack of protection points to a massive discrepancy between what the law intends to do and what actually happens in practice. Statute in recent years has actually strengthened the powers of chiefs, which was the case of the 2008 Chieftaincy Act. Interestingly, this made it illegal for anyone to refuse an order given by a chief: The Act states that a person who "deliberately refuses to honour a call from a chief to attend to an issue commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than two hundred penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than three months or both." This section was later struck out by the Supreme Court that found it undermines basic liberties and freedom of movement. Still, it exemplifies the strength of chieftaincy in the country and the will of governments to increase the everyday powers of chiefs. It obviously depends on the situation, but an individual who seriously falls out with a chief or gets involved with a chiefly affair may have to move or face expulsion from an area. (Postdoctoral Fellow 20 Apr. 2017)

2.1 State Protection for Individuals Who Refuse a Chieftaincy Position

The Professor of political science stated that, to his knowledge, "one is free to accept or refuse a chieftaincy position in any part of Ghana" and that state protection is therefore not needed in this field (Professor of political science 15 Apr. 2017). Similarly, according to the social anthropologist, the "recalcitrant individual may be persuaded to accept the office but no one to my knowledge can be compelled to accept the office" (Social anthropologist 17 Apr. 2017). The Professor Emeritus similarly stated that "[n]obody would be penalized for not wanting the job" (Professor Emeritus 19 Apr. 2017).

The Senior Lecturer stated that "[t]here is no physical punishment for refusing a traditional position" but that

[t]radition hardly allows an unwilling chieftaincy candidate to have his way simply because the candidate's refusal to accept a chieftaincy position is a denial of a whole family, or section of it (ruling/royal gate) of such an opportunity and subsequently, denies such a family or a section of it the opportunity to present candidates for the particular chieftaincy position. (Senior Lecturer 14 Apr. 2017)

Concerning state protection for individuals who refuse a chieftaincy position, the Postdoctoral Fellow stated that, to his knowledge, "there are no protection systems in place" (Postdoctoral Fellow 20 Apr. 2017). Concerning consequences for refusing a chieftaincy position, such as ostracism or social chastisement, the Professor Emeritus stated the following:

There might be. In Ghana generally, in daily life, public order depends more on collective action than on policing  So, for example, individuals (usually older women) may be identified as witches and abused accordingly. (Professor Emeritus 19 Apr. 2017)

3. Consequences of Divulging a Secret Ritual to Another Member of the Same Ethnic Group

Without providing further detail, the former Extraordinary Professor stated that "divulging secrets might call forth some ritual sanction, wrath of gods, etc." (former Extraordinary Professor 13 Apr. 2017). However, according to the same source, "the traditional institutions have no right to impose physical sanctions, this is the prerogative of the state of Ghana because criminal offences are [an] exclusive domain for the state (former Extraordinary Professor 13 Apr. 2017).

According to the Postdoctoral Fellow, the consequences of divulging a secret ritual to another member of the same ethnic group "could easily range from 'absolutely none' to 'life endangering.' It would depend very much on the context. For example, who divulged what, to whom, for what purpose, how was it used, who is accusing whom, and why etc." (Postdoctoral Fellow 20 Apr. 2017).

According to the Professor Emeritus,

[s]omeone who divulged a ritual secret to unauthorized persons, or who did not "comply with chieftaincy rules," or was at least accused of so doing, might well be subject to a local lynching, but so might anyone in the right circumstances; a suspected thief, for example. Government might or might not be willing or able to intervene in such situations, although in theory it defends human rights. (Professor Emeritus 19 Apr. 2017)

Information on divulging a secret ritual among the Kotokoli in the Volta region could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Former Extraordinary Professor of anthropology, University of Wroclaw. 13 April 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

The Ghanaian Times. 24 January 2017. Agnes Opoku Sarpong. "Police Investigate Murder of Girl, 17." [Accessed 24 Apr. 2017]

GhanaWeb. 14 May 2016. "15-year Old Girl Narrowly Escapes Ritual Killing." [Accessed 24 Apr. 2017]

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Copenhagen. 20 April 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Professor Emeritus of anthropology, Haverford College. 19 April 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Professor of political science, University of Ghana. 15 April 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Ghana. 14 April 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Social anthropologist, University of Ghana. 17 April 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

United States (US). 3 March 2017. Department of State. "Ghana." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016. [Accessed 28 Apr. 2017]

United States (US). 13 April 2016. Department of State. "Ghana." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015. [Accessed 21 Apr. 2017]

United States (US). 25 June 2015. Department of State. "Ghana." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014. [Accessed 21 Apr. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Center for African Studies, University of Florida; Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh; Human Rights Advocacy Centre (Ghana).

Internet sites, including: All Ghana News; Amnesty International; BBC; ecoi.net; Factiva; Freedom House; Ghana - Government of Ghana; Ghana News Agency; Human Rights Watch; Integrated Regional Information Networks; Jeune Afrique; Radio France internationale; UN - Human Rights Council, Refworld.
Ghana: Information on the chieftaincy dispute in Bimbilla, including the process for choosing a chief (1999-April 2017)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 27 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol GHA105791.E Related Document(s) Ghana : information sur le conflit a l'egard de la chefferie de Bimbilla, y compris sur le processus de selection d'un chef (1999-avril 2017) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: Information on the chieftaincy dispute in Bimbilla, including the process for choosing a chief (1999-April 2017), 27 April 2017, GHA105791.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8e13c4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor emeritus of Anthropology at Haverford College, who has recently authored a book on chieftaincies in Northern Ghana, stated that "the chieftaincy dispute is ultimately about the paramount title of Bimbilla Naa in Nanun (Nanumba), a traditional area in the Northern Region of Ghana" (Professor Emeritus 4 Apr. 2017). In a 2013 academic article entitled "Political Culture in Nanun, Northern Ghana," published in the journal Afrika. Studies in Art and Culture/Studije umetnosty i kulture, Peter Skalnik [1] explains that Nanun is "represented by a paramount chief, the Bimbilla Naa (chief of Bimbilla), who resides in a palace at the capital of Bimbilla" (Skalnik 2013, 4). In a 2009 book entitled An Ethnographic Study of Northern Ghanaian Conflicts: Towards a Sustainable Peace, Albert K. Awedoba, a social anthropologist and Deputy Director of the University of Ghana's Institute of African Studies (African Books Collective n.d.), states that "the town of Bimbilla is the traditional capital of Nanun, the Nanumba Kingdom,  [and] [a]ll Nanumba people acknowledge the chief of Bimbilla as their paramount chief" (Awedoba 2009, 190).

2. Succession Procedures

The Professor Emeritus indicated that succession is "supposed to alternate between two royal houses," adding that the "Lion House" and the "Bangle House" both have their own "internal factions or 'gates'" (Professor Emeritus 4 Apr. 2017). According to Peter Skalnik's article,

Naam [the chieftaincy] is being passed not only from a person to person but from one chiefly house to another. Alternation of naam between two houses, Gbuxmayili (lion's house) and Banyili (bangle house) has been a rule for the last two hundred years. (Skalnik 2013, 5)

Similarly, Albert K. Awedoba states the following regarding the succession of the Bimbilla chieftaincy:

The skin of Bimbilla, the kingship of Nanun, is reached through the two established gates of Gbomayli and Bangyili which should take turns to occupy a vacant Bimbilla skin. This is common knowledge to most Nanumbas. Given the rule of alternation, everyone knows the gate of the deceased and the next gate to take over, even if the identity of the individual to succeed is not always known long in advance. (Awedoba 2009, 190)

The same source adds that "[ideally], Nanumba royals should not access the paramountcy straight away, but have to reach there through a promotional ladder beginning from a lower chiefdom" (Awedoba 2009, 190). Similarly, Peter Skalnik indicates that "still, the succession is not a smooth affair" because of "competition between the entitled candidates, members of [the] the succeeding chiefly house" (Skalnik 2013, 5).

Without providing further detail, the Professor Emeritus explained that the succeeding chief "must be approved and invested by a group of non-royal elders (the Naa Kamba, 'kingmakers') and of ritual specialists ('earth priests,' Tindamba) connected to certain shrines" (Professor Emeritus 4 Apr. 2017). According to Peter Skalnik,

[t]he nine naakpamba [litt. chief's elders] fulfill the role of electors. The naakpamba are chiefs who are naam incumbents in several villages to the east and south of Bimbilla. Theses chiefs are enskinned by the Bimbilla Naa but they cannot ever aspire to the naam of Bimbilla. (Skalnik 2013, 9)

Further and corroborating information regarding the process to choose a chief could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. The Chieftaincy Dispute in Bimbilla

3.1 Causes of the Dispute

According to the Professor Emeritus, "the dispute has been going on since the death of Bimbilla Naa Abarika Attah II [Naa Abarka] in 2001" adding that the dispute was between two of the kingmakers, who each claimed "primacy in the investiture ('enskinment') of a new Bimbilla Naa" (Professor Emeritus 4 Apr. 2017). According to the same source "[t]wo gates of the Lion House each invested someone as Bimbilla Naa" (Professor Emeritus 4 Apr. 2017). In a 2012 academic article entitled "Chieftaincy Succession Dispute in Nanun, Northern Ghana: Interrogating the Narratives of the Contestants," published in the Ghana Journal of Geography, Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya and Steve Tonah[2] state that:

though the dispute is essentially a power struggle between two princes for the highest traditional office among the Nanumba, it is also a contest for power between two of Nanun's most powerful kingmakers, the Kpatihi Naa and the Juo Naa. (Anamzoya and Tonah 2012, 83)

The same source explains that

[t]he current chieftaincy dispute in Bimbilla dates back to 1999, when the ruling Bimbilla Naa, Naa Abarika died. Since he was from the Bangyili gate, his successor was expected to come from the Gbugmayili gate in accordance with Nanun tradition. The funeral of the deceased king was performed in 2003, which was to be immediately followed by the selection and enskinment of his successor by the nine kingmakers of Nanun. However, six of the kingmakers (led by the Kpatihi Naa) decided on Mr Andani Dasana Abdulai, a son of a former king of Nanun, as the next king while the other three kingmakers (led by the Juo Naa) selected Alhaji Salifu Dawuni, the sitting Nakpa Naa, as the successor to the deceased king. The kingmakers could thus not agree on the legitimate successor to the Bimbilla skin. Two princes emerged from the Gbugmayili gate, each claiming to have been selected by the appropriate authority as the Bimbilla Naa. (Anamzoya and Tonah 2012, 88)

Similarly, Albert K. Awedoba states that three years after the death of the late paramount chief of Bimbilla

divisions began to show up. Some people preferred  Alhaji Salifu Dawuni because he was the only chief from the gate entitled to succeed, who held a senior chiefship title that opens to the kingship. His opponents objected pointing out that Alhaji Salifu Dawuni's father had never been king of Nanun and he could not therefore be qualified. The six kingmakers who thought the king must have been the son of a previous monarch then proposed Andani Dasana, whose father had been a king. For the supporters of Alhaji Salifu Dawuni, Andani Dasana had not been a sub-chief and could not by tradition move from scratch to kingship. (Awedoba 2009, 193)

Anamzoya and Tonah further explain that

the political system relies on the existence of consensus amongst the elders and kingmakers in the selection of a new king. In the absence of such consensus, as is currently the case in Nanun, the political system becomes paralyzed as no single individual is able to act in the absence of a king. Attempts by supporters of Andani Dasana to claim the kingship through the use of the democratic principle by virtue of having obtained the support of the majority (six out of the nine) of the kingmakers in Nanun was also rejected outright because this practice has not been used in the past. (Anamzoya and Tonah 2012, 99)

3.2. Incidents of Violence

According to the US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005

"gun battles returned to Bimbila, the site of a long-standing chieftaincy dispute. The clashes between rival factions vying for the chiefta[i]ncy resulted in gunshot wounds to one and machete wounds to four others as well as five arrests." (US 8 Mar. 2006)

Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to the UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), in 2006,

[s]upporters of two rivals for the vacant paramount chieftaincy of the Nanumba ethnic group clashed in their main town Bimbilla on 9 January. Scores of people were rushed to hospital with gunshot and machete wounds, though there were no fatalities.

Local newspapers say the violence in Bimbilla, which lies over 400 kilometres north of the capital Accra, started after supporters of one candidate for the throne blamed a power cut at a child's naming ceremony on supporters of their rival. (UN 31 Jan. 2006)

Sources indicate that authorities enforced a curfew in Bimbilla as a result (UN 31 Jan. 2006; Freedom House 2007), which was lifted at the end of April 2006 (Freedom House 2007).

The Professor Emeritus stated the following regarding the status of the dispute:

There were years of sporadic fighting, burning of houses and farms, etc., such that most women and children fled the area.



In 2014, amid further fighting  Andani Salifu Dawuni was killed; his family wants him to be buried as "Bimbilla Naa," over the opposition of the other gate. His body has been in cold storage since then. In February of [2017], amid continuing tension and seemingly minor disputes about who was entitled to do what, there were more killings. 

The Northern Region House of Chiefs is supposed to settle the dispute but has been unable to (by law, the government of Ghana is forbidden to intervene in chieftaincy matters; in practice, each faction appeals for support to one or other of the two dominant political parties). (Professor Emeritus 4 Apr. 2017)

Further and corroborating information about the status of the dispute could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to Freedom in the World 2016, in July 2015, "four people were killed and another injured in violence related to a chieftaincy dispute in Bimbilla" (Freedom House 2016). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources indicate that in February 2017 10 (GNA 18 Feb. 2017) or 11 people were killed in chieftaincy related clashes in the Bimbilla area (The Ghanaian Times 16 Feb. 2017). According to The Ghanaian Times, a Ghanaian daily newspaper, among the dead were men, women and children, and "[s]ome others who sustained gunshot wounds are  receiving treatment at the Bimbilla government hospital" (The Ghanaian Times 16 Feb. 2017).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] According to the website of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Studies (IUAES) Peter [Petr] Skalnik was Extraordinary Professor at the Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology of the University of Wroclaw in 2013, and he has researched and written on the role of Nanumba chieftaincy in modern Ghana (IUAES Sept. 2013)

[2] Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya is a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana's Department of Sociology, whose research interests include chieftaincy conflicts (University of Ghana n.d.a). Steve Tonah is a professor at the University of Ghana's Department of Sociology whose research includes chieftaincy and traditional rule (University of Ghana n.d.b).

References

African Books Collective. N.d. "Albert K. Awedoba." [Accessed 19 Apr. 2017]

Anamzoya, Alhassan Sulemana and Steve Tonah. 2012. "Chieftaincy Succession Dispute in Nanun, Northern Ghana: Interrogating the Narratives of the Contestants." Ghana Journal of Geography. Vol. 4.

Awedoba, Albert K. 2009. An Ethnographic Study of Northern Ghanaian Conflicts: Towards a Sustainable Peace. Accra: Sub-Saharan publishers.

Freedom House. 2016. "Ghana." Freedom in the World 2016. [Accessed 2 Mar. 2017]

Freedom House. 2007. "Ghana." Freedom in the World 2007. [Accessed 2 Mar. 2017]

The Ghanaian Times. 16 February 2017. Malik Sullemana. "'NPP, NDC to be blamed for Bimbilla district'." [Accessed 2 Mar. 2017]

Ghana News Agency (GNA). 18 February 2017. Frederica Kyeremateng. "Regional House of Chiefs Visits Bimbilla." [Accessed 2 Mar. 2017]

International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Studies (IUAES). September 2013. "Professor Petr/Peter Josef Karel Skalnik." [Accessed 19 Apr. 2017]

Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Haverford College. 4 April 2017. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Skalnik, Peter. 2013. "Political Culture in Nanun, Northern Ghana." Afrika. Studies in Art and Culture. Vol. 2.

United Nations (UN). 31 January 2006. Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). "Chieftaincy Tussle Brews Conflict in Northern Town." [Accessed 2 Mar. 2017]

University of Ghana. N.d.a. "Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya." [Accessed 19 Apr. 2017]

University of Ghana. N.d.b. "Steve Tonah." [Accessed 19 Apr. 2017]

United States (US). 8 March 2006. Department of State. "Ghana." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005. [Accessed 2 Mar. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Associate Professor, Ohio State University; Associate Professor, Temple University; Associate Professor, York University; Center for African Studies, University of Florida; Lecturer, Centre Population et Developpement, Universite Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cite; Lecturer, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Bordeaux; Lecturer, Institut des mondes africains; Professor, Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh; Professor, Department of History, Washington University in St. Louis; Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Ghana; Professor, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; Jeune Afrique; Minority Rights Group International; Radio France internationale; UN - Human Rights Council, Refworld.
As refugee crisis grows, Rohingya struggle in roadside settlements

Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Author Tim Gaynor Publication Date 24 September 2017 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), As refugee crisis grows, Rohingya struggle in roadside settlements, 24 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8e4434.html [accessed 14 November 2022]

Clutching an empty rice sack, Rohingya mother-of-seven Sara Khatun says she has nothing left to feed her children.

After three weeks sleeping under a thin plastic sheet held up by bamboo poles, her son and daughter, aged about eight and 10, look pinched and exhausted.

"My children are getting thinner and thinner," says the 33-year-old refugee from Myanmar. "If they don't get help soon, they will die."

Some 429,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar since a violent crackdown on the Rohingya community began a month ago following a series of attacks on security posts.

The vast majority, like Sara and her family, are now living in informal camps and spontaneous settlements that have sprung up in Bangladesh, clinging to hillsides and strung out along busy roads.

Their need for food, shelter, access to healthcare and child protection is particularly acute.

While barely clinging to life on the outskirts of Kutupalong refugee camp, one of two formal refugee camps operated by the Bangladesh government, Sara is - incredibly - more fortunate than many.

Along the road south from the camp, single mother Agida, 35, and her four children sleep rough on the mud-churned verge, strewn with discarded trash and clothes.

She survives on occasional aid packages handed out or tossed from trucks by private donors, and by begging from passing cars. Exposed to the monsoon downpours, she is also terrified for her children.

"It's not safe here for them here," she says with a desperation in her voice nearing panic. "Someone could take them while I sleep."

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is stepping up all efforts to safeguard the most vulnerable refugees - like Sara, Agida and their families - caught up in a tragic crisis unprecedented in the region in decades.

"People have fled unspeakable violence, and their needs are enormous," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi as he toured Kutupalong camp and the sprawling new adjacent extension today during a visit to Bangladesh.

"Despite huge challenges at the beginning, there was a phenomenal outpouring of local generosity and support," Grandi added. "International support is also now being stepped up, under the leadership of the government. But these efforts must be accelerated and sustained."

At the start of a three-day visit to Bangladesh, Grandi walked through the existing camp, which was founded in 1992 in response to previous outflows from Myanmar, and has schools, health and community centres.

Accompanied by UNHCR field staff and Bangladeshi officials, Grandi also walked to an adjoining site recently assigned for the new arrivals, where UNHCR staff were today delivering cooking equipment, sleeping mats, solar lamps and other essential relief items to an initial 3,500 families selected by community leaders.

At the request of Bangladeshi authorities, the agency is also putting up hundreds of family tents and distributing thousands of plastic sheets to help shelter refugees like Sara. The UN Refugee Agency, with the help of backers such as the UAE and the courier service UPS, has now sent four planes loaded with relief items into the country.

With heavy monsoon rains lashing Bangladesh, that help cannot come soon enough for Rohingya mother Tahera Begum, 22, whose extended family live in a dirt-floored shack in a precarious settlement south of Kutupalong.

To escape flooding, they had carved a niche for their shelter in a rain-swept hillside. As she slept, her six-month old son Mohammad Sohail wriggled out and slid down the hillside. By sheer chance he was unhurt.

Grandi asked mothers gathered in the makeshift camp what their children needed most. "Everything," they replied.

* Additional reporting/editing by Kitty McKinsey
Bangladesh elephant rampage highlights dangers for refugees

Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 25 September 2017 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Bangladesh elephant rampage highlights dangers for refugees, 25 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8e4d14.html [accessed 14 November 2022]

After fleeing flames and gunfire in Myanmar, Rohingya refugee Jane Alam thought danger was behind him in Bangladesh.

But as he slept last night in a fragile shelter in a forested area near Kutupalong refugee camp, rampaging elephants crashed in on top of his family.

The 18-year-old's father and a seven-month-old baby were killed in the attack, which also injured seven of his relatives.

Grazed on the cheek, neck and hip, he trekked barefoot up a hillside overlooking the makeshift camp this morning to bury them.

"We thought we would be safe here," he says, numb with disbelief, standing beside his father's grave, marked with small bamboo stakes.

A few paces away, the tiny body of his infant relative lies on the muddy ground, wrapped in a white cloth. A man scoops out her shallow grave with a farm tool as a group of men stand solemnly by.

The deaths highlight one of the unexpected dangers facing refugees and the risks as humanitarian actors respond to the arrival in Bangladesh of at least 429,000 people who have fled the latest outbreak of violence that erupted in Myanmar on August 25.

As two formal refugee camps in Bangladesh are overwhelmed, thousands are seeking shelter where they can - some in an uninhabited forested area outside Kutupalong camp.

"The area is currently completely wild, so the people who are settling-in where there is wildlife," says Franklin Golay, a staff member for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, who is working to provide water, sanitation and shelter at the informal camp.

"There are elephants roaming around that pose a threat," he says.

Asian elephants are considered a critically endangered species in Bangladesh, where conservationists estimate there are presently just 239 living in the wild. Many roam in the Chittagong area in the southeast of the country, where the refugee influx is concentrated.

Local residents say the elephants are drawn to populated areas in the Monsoon season, when fruit including mangos and jackfruit ripen.

Securing the rugged and partially forested area to mitigate the risk could be achieved with lights or electric fencing, Golay says.

But for Alam's grieving family, who fled persecution across the border in Myanmar, the attack is a stark reminder that their trials are not yet over.

"We ran from danger, and we are still in a dangerous situation now," says Ali Hussein, the dead man's uncle. "This cannot be forgotten."
India: Government fails to address key human rights concerns during UN review

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 21 September 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, India: Government fails to address key human rights concerns during UN review, 21 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8e62b4.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The Indian government has not addressed serious human rights concerns during India's third Universal Periodic Review (UPR), FIDH and its member organizations People's Watch and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) said today.

India's third UPR was held on 4 May 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. The outcome of the UPR was adopted today during the 36th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. While India accepted more than half (152 of 250) of the recommendations it received from UN member states, the Indian government failed to accept all recommendations related to the rights to freedom of expression (seven) and association (six). The government also refused to accept key recommendations on the death penalty, the use of force by law enforcement officials, and the rights of women, children, minorities, migrants and refugees.

Regrettably, India did not accept all six recommendations that called for the amendment of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) to bring it in line with the right to freedom of association, as recognized in Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India is a state party. In October 2016, India's Ministry of Home Affairs refused to renew the license of People's Watch to receive foreign funding under the FCRA. Despite India's National Human Rights Commission finding that the license non-renewal was neither legal nor objective in November 2016, the Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to reverse its decision, which would allow People's Watch to receive foreign funding. These severe and ongoing restrictions on People's Watch's ability to operate violate India's international obligations under the ICCPR.

With regard to the death penalty, the government failed to accept all 16 recommendations that called for abolition, a moratorium on capital punishment, and the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR (ICCPR-OP2).

The government also refused to accept specific recommendations on the use of force by law enforcement officials, including those that called for a revision of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the enactment of the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill. India failed to accept similar recommendations during its second UPR in 2012.

With regard to women's rights, the government did not accept recommendations to criminalize marital rape, to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (OP-CEDAW), and to ensure the participation of women in legislative roles.

Regarding child rights, the government did not accept recommendations on prohibiting child labor in family enterprises. On a positive note, it committed to consider becoming a state party to the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor and ILO Convention 138 on Minimum Wage.

India also refused to accept recommendations that called on the authorities to "take effective measures to combat rising instances of religious intolerance, violence and discrimination" and to decriminalize same-sex relations. India declined to accept four recommendations to repeal Article 377 of the Criminal Code to ensure that same-sex relations are not criminalized.

With regard to the ratification of international human rights instruments, the Indian government refused all recommendations to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED), and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

FIDH, People's Watch, and CHRI call on the government to reconsider its position vis-a-vis non-accepted recommendations whose implementation is necessary for India to be in compliance with its international human rights obligations.
Kyrgyzstan Officially Launches Presidential Race

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Timur Toktonaliev Publication Date 22 September 2017 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Kyrgyzstan Officially Launches Presidential Race, 22 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c8f1c54.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

As Kyrgyzstan prepares to go to the polls on October 15 to elect a new president, some analysts predict that incumbent Almazbek Atambaev is positioning himself to retain influence even after he leaves office.

Atambaev will step down December 1 after a six-year term, and is constitutionally barred from seeking another. But one of the leading candidates, former prime minister Sooronbai Zheenbekov of the SDPK presidential party, is widely viewed as Atambaev's chosen successor.

Zheenbekov, considered a quiet and rather passive politician, had been serving for five years as an unremarkable official in the key southern region of Osh before being suddenly appointed prime minister in the spring of 2016.

Observers speculate that Atambaev's team was considering Sooronbai as a future successor, and he served as premier for barely a year before stepping down in August to run for the presidency.

"No matter what post-election plan Atambaev has, he needs to have a loyal individual to implement these plans," said Medet Tyulegenov, a political science lecturer at the American university of Central Asia. "For this, a person should be a moderately prominent politician, yet not an entirely independent and active politician. From this point of view, Zheenbekov is probably suitable."

Revolutions in 2005 and 2010, the latter followed by massive constitutional changes in 2010, have made Kyrgyzstan Central Asia's most progressive democracy.

But Sergey Masaulov, director of the Center for Perspective Studies, said that it was still important for any Central Asian president to ensure a secure future and a position of prestige after he or she stepped down.

Former president Roza Otunbaeva, who was the interim leader after the 2010 revolution, had failed to do this, Masaulov continued. Atambaev had publicly criticised her, failed to invite her to important events and made light of her achievements.

Although Atambaev said early on in his presidential term that he would not interfere in politics after he stepped down from power, in recent years he has made it clear that he would remain engaged in party activities.

He has also been criticised for his increasingly authoritarian tendencies, and issues such as widespread corruption remain of serious concern in Kyrgyzstan.

But Atambaev can also point to some successes as president. He presided over his country's accession to the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and won favourable conditions for around a million Kyrgyz migrant workers in Russia. There have been major infrastructure projects funded by Chinese loans and Atambaev's team recently presented a national development strategy running until 2040.

Zheenbekov has explicitly linked his programme to this scheme and promised his support even as he announced his candidature.

"We need to keep and increase whatever has been achieved by the president of our country," Zheenbekov said. "We should go down the same path."

Tyulegenov said that the success of this apparent strategy was by no means assured.

"The scenario with a mastermind who would pull the strings from behind is possible as well, but it depends on the post-election configuration," he continued. "Suppose everything happens as they plan: Zheenbekov is the president, Isakov is the prime minister, this scenario could exist for some time. But this, of course, is a short-term scenario. It will depend on people's loyalty, whether they will last for one year or less."

CAMPAIGN SEASON

The other frontrunner out of the 13 candidates registered with the Central Election Committee (CEC) is businessman Omurbek Babanov, who leads the Respublika party.

Although Babanov lacks the organisational capital and loyal officials of the presidential SPDK party, he is one of the country's richest people and has spent more than any other candidate on promotional materials.

"In my opinion, the fight is between money or administrative resources," said Elmira Nogoibaeva, head of the analysis department of the Polis Asia think tank.

According to the CEC, Babanov has already spent more than 110 million soms (1.6 million USD) as compared to Sooronbai's 36 million soms (500,000 USD).

Main roads and busy junctions across the capital have been plastered with Babanov's posters.

Babanov's Respublika faction has avoided confrontation with the ruling party and consistently supported its initiatives, including the recent appointment of Sapar Isakov as prime minister.

Speaking about the contest this summer, Atambaev was complementary about Babanov, even telling reporters that he would have voted for him had his own party not nominated Zheenbekov.

Nonetheless, Babanov's team has complained that the ruling party's candidate is being unfairly favoured.

They have already filed complaints about pressure allegedly put on university students and regional officials to campaign for Zheenbekov.

Analysts say that Babanov, 47, has the image of a politician who does not keep his promises. Pledges made by his party in previous years, including special loans for farmers and significant salary rises for teachers and doctors, never materialised.

There are also lingering suspicions that he would favour his own business interests over the public good. But he has nonetheless attracted people with his relative youth and dynamism, as compared to the 58-year-old Zheenbekov.

Both main candidates launched their campaigns in the densely populated south  Babanov in the Osh region, and Zheenbekov in the Jalal-Abad region.

Zheenbekov belongs to the same influential southern clan as other politicians including former parliament speaker Asilbek Zheenbekov as well as prominent diplomat Zhusupbek Sharipov, ambassador to Kuwait. After Kurmanbek Bakiev's overthrow in 2010, the Zheenbekov clan helped to win SDPK votes in the south of the country and for Atambaev in the presidential election the following year.

A number of politicians from the southern regions had planned to club together to nominate a single candidate, but halted their efforts shortly before the campaign began.

One of them, Ata Zhurt Party co-chairman Kamchybek Tashiev, recently announced he would be supporting Zheenbekov, while the leader of the Onuguu Progress faction, Bakyt Torobaev, has thrown his support behind Babanov. Analysts said that possible compensation could be the post of Prime Minister.

Adakhan Madumarov, the leader of Butun Kyrgyzstan Party, was registered to run himself but is now in talks to also join forces with babanov.

Nogoibaeva said that the potential kingmakers had already used up all their political capital.

"When they consolidated, they used to be a force, but I don't see any significant influence for each individual," she concluded.

Although the two front-runners are clear, another candidate might be the surprise winner of the competition. Former prime minister Temir Sariev is the only candidate to highlight judicial and law enforcement reforms. He has support from parts of the educated, urban middle class, but is believed to have too few financial or human resources to be a serious contender.

THE RUSSIAN FACTOR

Russia remains Kyrgyzstan's key partner in the spheres of economy and security, and is believed to influence its domestic policy too.

In 2010, Russia played a prominent role in the transfer of power. Candidates held talks with senior Russian officials, their meetings broadcast on Kyrgyz television.

This time, according to analysts, Russia will be happy with either of the leading candidates.

"As long as we don't have any candidates who clearly oppose Russia, Russia will not now influence or support anyone. They will work with whoever is elected," said political analyst Sergey Masaulov.

"Because [Russia] believes that any candidate who wins the presidential election will pursue a policy consistent with the logic of the country's development, as long as he is reasonable. The source of Kyrgyzstan's existence and development is primarily the interaction with Russia, so no one will change it," Masaulov continued.

Masaulov predicted that the main candidates would not be able to get 50 per cent of votes in the first round and a run-off will have to be scheduled.

This would also have the benefit of reassuring the public about the validity of the result, he said, adding, "The second round is necessary for the safety of the country and to make sure the situation is alright society will be confident."

Copyright notice:  Institute for War & Peace Reporting
EU: Countries have fulfilled less than a third of their asylum relocation promises

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 25 September 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, EU: Countries have fulfilled less than a third of their asylum relocation promises, 25 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c908264.html [accessed 14 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

European countries have utterly failed to fulfil their commitments to relocate asylum-seekers from Greece and Italy, Amnesty International said, as the two year period in which asylum-seekers are eligible for the relocation scheme comes to a close on 26 September 2017.

"Two years after this scheme was agreed, most EU member states have fundamentally failed refugees and asylum-seekers, shirking their responsibilities and leaving thousands abandoned in Italy and Greece," said Iverna McGowan, Director of the Amnesty International European Institutions Office.

"This isn't about paying lip service to doing right by refugees and asylum-seekers, it is a legal obligation. EU countries must now step up and make good on the promises they made, or risk being taken to the European Court and potentially facing tough penalties."

Among the worst offenders are Poland and Hungary, both of which have refused to accept a single asylum-seeker from Italy and Greece. Slovakia, which unsuccessfully challenged the relocation scheme in the European Court, has only accepted 16 of the 902 asylum-seekers it was assigned, and the Czech Republic only 12 of 2691.

Spain has fulfilled just 13.7% of its quota, while Belgium has fulfilled 25.6%. The Netherlands has fulfilled 39.6% of the target it committed to, and Portugal 49.1%.

Malta is the only EU country that has fulfilled its quota. Norway and Lichtenstein opted in to the scheme voluntarily, and have both fulfilled their commitments to relocate 1500 and 10 respectively.

Notably, Finland has welcomed 1,951 asylum-seekers (or 94% of its legal commitment). Ireland has taken in 459 asylum-seekers, or 76.5% of its legal commitment.

Amnesty International is calling on European governments to step up their efforts to fulfil their quotas under the relocation scheme, as well as to accept individuals with protection needs in Italy and Greece through other means, including through work visas and swift family reunification procedures.

The relocation scheme, agreed in September 2015, offered asylum-seekers the chance to rebuild their lives in safety after surviving war and persecution and then perilous journeys to reach Europe. In Greece, where thousands of asylum-seekers without family reunification claims have been trapped since the closure of the Greek-Macedonian border in March 2016, relocation has been one of very few formal options available for most people to safely move elsewhere in Europe.

Asylum-seekers who arrived on the Greek islands since the EU-Turkey deal was agreed on 20 March 2016, have unlawfully been excluded from the relocation scheme, and many remain trapped on the islands.

"Everybody who arrives in Greece and Italy before the impending deadline should be made eligible for relocation. As well as allowing them to carry on with their lives in safety and dignity, making these people eligible would relieve pressure and improve conditions on the Greek islands, which have deteriorated as arrivals have risen over the summer months," added Iverna McGowan.

After the deadline for asylum-seekers to become eligible for the relocation scheme passes, governments can, and must, continue to relocate those already eligible, in line with their obligations.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
UNHCR Chief calls for stepped-up support for Rohingya Refugees, thanks Bangladesh for keeping borders open

Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 25 September 2017 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNHCR Chief calls for stepped-up support for Rohingya Refugees, thanks Bangladesh for keeping borders open, 25 September 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59c915554.html [accessed 14 November 2022]

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi today called for support to be ramped up for an estimated 436,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar in the last month, and the communities hosting them, and commended the Government and people of Bangladesh for their hospitality.

"Their situation remains desperate, and we risk a dramatic deterioration if aid is not rapidly stepped up," he said, following a visit yesterday to Kutupalong Refugee Camp and other areas along the border where people have made their own shelters on tiny slivers of land. "The people I met were deeply traumatised, and despite having found refuge in Bangladesh, they are still exposed to enormous hardship," Grandi said on the final day of his visit to the country.

'The spontaneous outpouring of support from the local community and people, companies and associations across the country has been phenomenal,' he said, noting that the government had mobilised efforts at all levels, and that UNHCR and other partners are also scaling up.

"Despite every effort by those on the ground, the massive influx of people seeking safety rapidly outpaced capacities to respond, and the situation has still not stabilised. "More is needed, and fast, if we are to avoid further deterioration," Grandi said.

UNHCR has now airlifted three planes loaded with relief items into the country, and is distributing emergency shelter kits, kitchen sets and solar lamps. Our experts are working closely with the government to set up an organised site with water, sanitation and other facilities, and to register the new arrivals. Other international agencies and NGOs are also on the ground and playing an important role.

Grandi arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday - to see conditions for himself -- after discussing the situation with Prime Minister Sheik Hasina, whom he met last week in New York at the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly. In Dhaka he is meeting the foreign minister as well as the ministers for home affairs and disaster management and relief.

"I thanked Sheik Hasina and I thank Bangladesh for keeping its borders open to receive these refugees," Grandi said. "In today's world that is something that cannot be taken for granted and should be appreciated."

Grandi's visited the area around Cox's Bazar, where the UN Refugee Agency has been supporting the government in running two official camps since 1992. Over the years the number of registered refugees in the two camps has fluctuated and now stands at some 33,000. Before the latest influx, there were also an estimated 300,000 unregistered Rohingya refugees living in the area who fled Myanmar over the years.

Grandi met families who have lived in Kutupalong since 1992 and who have taken newly arrived refugees into their homes.

"I talked to people who had experienced the most unimaginable horrors," Grandi said. "They had seen villages burned down, families shot or hacked to death, women and girls brutalized. Many of the refugees said they would like to go home, but there needs an end to violence, and a restoration of rights inside Myanmar," Grandi said. "The report issued in August by the Rakhine Advisory Commission, led by Kofi Annan, provides an important road map for addressing the root causes that have contributed to the current crisis."

Grandi discussed the importance of working towards solutions with Bangladeshi authorities and they agreed that a proper registration - conducted by the government and supported by UNHCR - will be crucial. A registration system would document where each individual refugee comes from and could help ensure everyone is eventually able to exercise the right to return when the time is right. UNHCR has maintained an international presence inside Northern Rakhine State, from where these refugees fled, although access has been restricted since the end of August.

"Solutions to this crisis lie within Myanmar," Grandi said. "But for now, our immediate focus has to be to dramatically increase support to those who are so desperately in need."
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin held a press conference Sunday morning to urge Wisconsinites to speak out against the Graham-Cassidy bill that would repeal Obamacare.
HARTFORD >> A broad-based sales tax increase is no longer under consideration as part of negotiations on a two-year state budget, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz said Monday, but documents show raising revenue through electronic tolls remains on the mind of Gov. Dannel Malloy.

In terms of sales tax, House Democrats had originally proposed an increase to 6.85 percent and as part of his compromise proposal, Malloy on Friday put forward a plan to increase the sales tax to 6.5 percent. House and Senate Democratic leaders met with Malloy over the weekend and the proposal is to leave the tax at 6.35 percent..

On electronic tolls, the House in June failed to muster enough support to pass legislation to set up electronic highway tolling, but legislative support may not matter as the compromise budget proposal Malloy put forward last week has language to create a Transportation Finance Authority to possibly authorize electronic tolling. We are proposing the creation of a quasi-public that will be focused on analyzing the revenues dedicated to the Special Transportation Fund, projecting out-year revenues and expenditures, and ensuring the solvency and adequacy of the Special Transportation Fund, Meg Green, a spokeswoman for Malloy, said.

The governors sales tax proposal would raise $87 million in 2018 and $133 million in 2019.

At the moment theres no proposal to fill the hole left by scrapping the sales tax increase.

Were looking at additional cuts and efficiencies to see if we can come up with a deal that works for everybody, Aresimowicz said.

Under the current proposal the sales tax would remain at 6.35 percent but Democratic lawmakers and Malloy are still considering a 7 percent sales tax on food and beverages and an increase in the hospital tax.

Of a sales tax increase on restaurants, Aresimowicz said its not going to have much of an influence.

Moderate Democratic lawmakers in both the House and the Senate were opposed to a sales tax increase.

Read more on sales tax. Read more on tolls.

This story has been modified from its original version. See the original at ctnewsjunkie.com.
Contributed photo / Contributed photo - not for resale

WASHINGTON  Founded as an independent institute in 1968, The Glenholme School devoted the next five decades growing into an innovative leader in special education. In 2018, Glenholme will celebrate its first 50 years and set a course for the next half century.

Glenholme, formerly a horse farm for Hackney show ponies, was generously donated by Jean White Van Sinderen to Devereux in 1968. The bucolic property, comprised of over 100 acres and dozens of buildings, became The Glenholme School with the purpose of educating special needs students who were without quality services essential to leading successful lives. Since then, the school has positively impacted over 3,000 students from around the world who are challenged with high functioning autism, ADHD, OCD, Tourette, depression, anxiety, and various learning differences.
In the American Revolutionary War, the Flying Camp was a military formation employed by the Americans in the second half of 1776.

After the British evacuation of Boston in March 1776, General George Washington met with members of the Continental Congress to determine future military strategy. Faced with defending a huge amount of territory from potential British operations, Washington recommended forming a flying camp, which in the military terminology of the day referred to a mobile, strategic reserve of troops. Congress agreed and on June 3, 1776, passed a resolution that a flying camp be immediately established in the middle colonies and that it consist of 10,000 men .

The men recruited for the Flying Camp were to be militiamen from three colonies: 6000 from Pennsylvania, 3400 from Maryland, and 600 from Delaware. They were to serve until December 1, 1776, unless discharged sooner by Congress, and to be paid and fed in the same manner as regular soldiers of the Continental Army.

Congress appropriated $38,500 (in Spanish Dollars at 7s 6d [shillings and pence] per paper Continental dollar) for the Regiments support. The pay rate per month was dictated by Congress: Colonel 450s, Lt. Colonel 400s, Major 350s, Captains 300s, Lieutenants 200s, Ensigns 160s, Sergeants 90s, Corporals 60s, and Privates 50s. Mounted dragoons, artillerymen, and militia serving outside their state received a 2s 6d bonus.

Brigadier-General Hugh Mercer of Virginia was commissioned as its commandant. Samuel Patterson (a miller from Christiana Bridge, Delaware) was appointed its battalion colonel. The town of Christiana Bridge is located on Old Kings Road, which was one of the first major inland routes in the colonies between Baltimore, MD in the South, and Philadelphia, PA, in the North. The Flying camp was to be composed of troops from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware for the immediate defense of New Jersey while the Main Army focused on the defense of New York. No such numbers were ever realized for this purpose, the total being under 6,000, but Maryland and tiny Delaware seemingly managed to fulfill their quotas. Delaware was assigned to provide 600 men from among those it had already recruited for one year, and the unit was to be engaged to the first day of December next [1776]. Pennsylvania sent some 2,000 men, many of whom were quickly drafted into other service by Washington in New York. (Volo and Volo)

A list of the Flying Camp Battalions initially formed in Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania in 1776 includes (Miller):

 Delaware: 1st Battalion Flying Camp (Haslets)

 Maryland: 1st Regiment Flying Camp (Smallwoods)

 Maryland: Flying Camp Regiment (Ewings)

 Maryland: Flying Camp Regiment (Griffiths)

 Maryland: Flying Camp Regiment (Richardsons)

 Pennsylvania: 1st Regiment Flying Camp (Swopes)

 Pennsylvania: 1st Regiment Flying Camp of Lancaster County

 Pennsylvania: 2d Regiment Flying Camp (McAllisters)

 Pennsylvania: Baxters Battalion Flying Camp

 Pennsylvania: Clotz Battalion Flying Camp, Lancaster County

 Pennsylvania: Hallers Battalion Flying Camp

 Pennsylvania: Watts Regiment Flying Camp

A further Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment (of the Flying Camp) was authorized June 17, 1776 but was assigned to the Main Army. The Regiment was to consist of the three existing companies, two from Maryland and one from Virginia, plus two new companies to be raised in Maryland, and four new companies to be raised in Virginia. Captain Daniel Morgans company enlisted in (West) Virginia was the first from the South to reach the field. A German Battalion unofficially referred to as the 8th Maryland Regiment composed of eight companies from Pennsylvania and Maryland was also enlisted. Several Maryland militia companies were mustered into service and attached to the 400 that made up the Maryland Line (1st Maryland Regiment) and was ordered to New York, on July 4, 1776. There the Marylanders and those from Delaware took part in the fight at Brooklyn Heights. This was their baptism of fire in the war and a very costly battle for them as well. The soldiers from tiny Delaware, fighting alongside the 1st Maryland Regiment, may well have prevented the capture of the majority of Washingtons army, an event that might have ended the colonial rebellion then and there. Some 300 of the 400 men from Maryland died, along with 31 of the men from Delaware. The British buried the dead in a mass grave consisting of six trenches in a farm field. Ultimately, of the original Maryland muster, 96 returned, with only 35 fit for immediate duty. Historian, Thomas Field, writing in 1869, called the stand of these troops an hour more precious to liberty than any other in history. (Field)

Swopes and McAllisters Pennsylvanians were mostly made prisoner at the fall of Fort Washington. The remainder of the Pennsylvania Flying Camp marched home. Despite the best efforts of Gen. Mercer, the flying camp was fraught with difficulties almost from its inception, and never realizing its full potential. Colonel Patterson tallied the number of men remaining during the retreat across New Jersey at 461 (officers included) when the Flying Camp battalion arrived at Perth Amboy on 5 October, and at 480 of all ranks five days later. It was disbanded by the end of November. (Volo & Volo)

The Flying Camp was an early and short-lived experiment with the concept of Extra Continental regiments, a national rather than a confederate force, which was to be distinct as having formed without any administrative connection to any individual state. Sixteen additional Continental regiments were approved by Congress as a separate group on December 27, 1776, specifically in response to a request from Washington for more troops other than mere militia, and Congress expressly delegated the formation of these regulars directly to him. All Additional Continental regiments were organized in the spring and summer of 1777. In contrast to both the Extra and Additional regiments, all other infantry regiments of the army were organized and supported under the direct authority of individual state governments.

Source(s): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Battalion_Flying_Camp
Cambodia opposition chief Kem Sokhas appeal hearing against his provisional detention on charges of treason will take place without him due to security concerns, a government-aligned media outlet reported Monday, prompting his lawyers to threaten to boycott the proceedings.



Kem Sokha, head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was arrested without a warrant in the capital Phnom Penh on Sept. 3 and accused of treason in a move critics say shows Prime Minister Hun Sen is intensifying his attacks on political opponents ahead of national elections scheduled for 2018.



CNRP lawmakers have been turned away from visiting him at Trapeang Phlong Prison in Tbong Khmum province after the investigating judge in the case said that only the party leaders family members and lawyers may see him before his trial.



On Monday, Fresh News quoted Ministry of Interior spokesperson Khieu Sopheak as saying Kem Sokha will not be brought to his Tuesday hearing due to security concerns, after the ministry learned that the third hand may incite crowds planning to gather at the Appeals Court in the capital.



While Khieu Sopheak did not provide details on who the ministry believes may try to stir up trouble at the hearing, his comments followed a Sept. 3 statement by Hun Sen in response to Kem Sokhas arrest in which he referred to the U.S. government as the third hand in a plot by Cambodias opposition to overthrow his government.



Speaking to RFAs Khmer Service on Monday, Kem Sokhas lawyer Som Sokong said that no one on the opposition chiefs legal team had received official notice of the Ministry of Interiors decision.



He said that he and the four other lawyers representing Kem Sokha plan to attend the hearing Tuesday to challenge the court over the CNRP presidents absence, rather than the substance of his appeal.



We will attend to debate the procedures regarding the failure by the authorities to bring Kem Sokha to the hearing, he said.



We will also look into the relevant international laws on this matter. We stand by our position that Kem Sokhas presence is necessary in all judicial proceedings. Any hearing must be conducted in the presence of the charged person.



Som Sokhong added that if the court decides to continue with the appeal against provisional detention in Kem Sokhas absence, his legal team will need to consider whether to boycott the proceedings.



The concerns from Kem Sokhas legal team came as senior CNRP Member of Parliament Son Chhay said he plans to lead several of his fellow opposition lawmakers and activists to the Appeals Court Tuesday to observe the hearing.



We will also decide whether we remain in the courtroom to observe the proceedings if Kem Sokhas lawyers choose to leavewe will cross that bridge when we come to it, he said during a press conference he chaired at CNRP headquarters in Phnom Penh.



Advocacy campaign



Son Chhay also revealed details of the opposition partys advocacy campaign for the release of its leader, which kicked off in Kampong Cham Monday, saying posters bearing Kem Sokhas image and a call for his immediate and unconditional release would be posted at CNRP offices throughout the country.



Responding to the CNRPs plans, ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) spokesperson Sok Eysan said in a statement Monday that the opposition was walking into a fish trap.



This demonstrates that the whole opposition party is undeniably involved in the movement to topple the legitimate government, just like Kem Sokha, he said.



Sok Eysan warned that the CNRP would not be exempt from the recently amended Law on Political Parties, which bans parties from associating with or using the voice, image, or written documents of anyone convicted of a criminal offense.



The opposition party will face the newly amended law on political parties, he said.



If the Ministry of Interior finds that the opposition is guilty of any breaches under the new law, it can propose that the Appeals Court investigate. The fate of the opposition will be at the mercy of the mitigating circumstances.



Son Chhay hit back at the CPP spokesperson, maintaining that the CNRPs campaign is in adherence to law, and advising Sok Eysan to study the constitution.



Kem Sokha remains innocentthe courts have not found him guilty of any crimesand the party is advocating for his release to find justice for him, he said.



I also call for restraint from threats and intimidation against those who are exercising their rights guaranteed by the constitution.



The opposition lawmaker expressed hope that a solution might be found to ease political tensions in Cambodia, calling for dialogue with the assistance of the international community, and suggesting that the countrys King Norodom Sihamoni could play a role in improving the current climate.



Our former king used to play a much-needed role in finding solutions to Cambodias conflicts and I believe that our current king may intervene in this current crisis, he said of Sihamoni, who is currently abroad in an undisclosed location seeking medical treatment.



I am optimistic about dialogue. We shouldnt be perceived as a nation that is always involved in internal conflict and we should be able to find a way out soon.



Royal request



Son Chhays hopes for an intervention by the king followed a letter published on Sunday by veteran politician Lu Lay Sreng, a former senior member of the royalist Funcinpec party, calling on Sihamoni to return to Cambodia to help mediate between the CPP and CNRP.



We are saddened and worried, as our hearts lack comfort in this toxic environment, after the Law on Political Parties was amended, NGOs have been shut down, and several radio stations and independent media outlets were banned, the letter said.



The two main political parties are now locking horns. We would find comfort again if you return to Cambodia to mediate for a solution to this.



Since Aug. 22, the government has expelled U.S.-funded NGO the National Democratic Institute (NDI), suspended some 20 radio stations that aired content by U.S. broadcasters Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, and targeted the English-language Cambodia Daily with a hefty tax bill, leading to the outlets closure.



Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
After China's vice minister of public security Meng Hongwei took over the presidency of international police organization Interpol, human rights activists say Beijing has been misusing the crime-fighting body's system of "red notices."



On the eve of the opening of Interpol's annual general assembly in Beijing, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it doubts Meng's ability to maintain Interpols neutrality and to respect and protect human rights as head of the organization.



In an open letter to Interpol secretary general Jurgen Stock, HRW said the ruling Chinese Communist Party has broken Interpol regulations by issuing "politically motivated red notices" targeting peaceful critics of the regime.



"Since President Xi Jinping assumed power ... the Chinese government has carried out its harshest and most systematic crackdown on human rights since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989," HRW China director Sophie Richardson wrote.



"Authorities have ... increasingly reached beyond Chinas borders to intimidate or silence those they perceive as problematic, often using law enforcement as a pretext for forcing someone to go to China," the letter said.



Police operations codenamed Fox Hunt and Skynet have been used to bring back "hundreds" of overseas former officials wanted on corruption charges, often from jurisdictions with weak legal protections, it said.



But while Interpols red notice is an alert to seek the arrests of wanted persons with a view to extradition, China's human rights record makes it a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands.



"China's record of arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearance of dissidents and activists, as well as the politicized nature of judicial proceedings in past cases of forced repatriation, raise serious concerns," the letter said.



It said Beijing is increasingly working with foreign governments, for example, in Kenya and Egypt, to repatriate Chinese and even Taiwanese nationals with scant legal redress.



It cited the 2015 abduction of Swedish national and Hong Kong-based publisher Gui Minhai from his holiday home in Thailand and his subsequent detention at an unknown location in China, along with the repatriation of ethnic minority Muslim Uyghurs from Cambodia in 2009.



"These cases demonstrate Chinas disdain at home and abroad for human rights protections, including the right to a fair trial, to freedom of movement, and to be free of torture or ill-treatment," Richardson wrote.



Politically motivated



Interpol is constitutionally obliged to operate within the parameters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the organization is barred from "undertak[ing] any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious, or racial character."



But Beijing has "tried to control and persecute dissidents and activists abroad by issuing politically motivated red notices through Interpol," the letter said.



One such red notice was issued against Dolkun Isa, a Uyghur man who was granted refugee status in Germany in 1996 and was subsequently naturalized as a German citizen.



According to Beijing, Isa is "wanted by the Interpol for severe criminal and violent terrorist activities including bombing, robbery and murder."



Isa is unable to challenge the notice without the cooperation of Chinese officials, Richardson said, and China has refused to discuss the notice. However, it is believed to be behind Isa's repeated questioning and detention in various countries that he visits or travels through.



As vice minister of public security, Meng oversees China's powerful state security police, as well as counterterrorism teams targeting Muslim communities in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, HRW said.



It said it has documented many incidents of police harassment, arbitrary detention, torture, imprisonment, or forced disappearances of individuals, particularly Uyghurs, in Xinjiang for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights.



The group called on Interpol to detail steps taken to prevent human rights abuses and unconstitutional red notices during Meng's tenure.



Unstable regime



Wu Fan, editor in chief of the U.S.-based Chinese-language magazine Chinese Affairs, told RFA, "The persecution perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party overseas shows that this regime is extremely unstable,."



"They are terrified that overseas forces could throw the Chinese government into crisis."



Meanwhile, U.S.-based democracy activist Xie Zhongzhi said the cross-border detentions of five Hong Kong booksellers including U.K. national Lee Bo, and Hong Kong residents Lui Por, Lam Wing-kei, and Cheung Chi-ping had sent shock waves through the city, which was promised the maintenance of a separate jurisdiction following the 1997 handover to Chinese rule.



Lee Bo was taken directly from his workplace in Hong Kong, while colleagues Lui, Lam, and Cheung were detained as soon as they crossed the border into China.



Lui, Cheung, and Lam were released with a set of instructions from China's state security police: to reappear in Hong Kong, refute reports of their disappearance, and claim to be voluntarily helping police with their inquiries.



"Cross-border law enforcement has had a huge impact on the confidence of Hong Kong people," Xie said. "The promise of one country, two systems, is already dead in the water."



"It has become one country and one system."



In July, veteran democracy activist Wei Jingsheng and fellow Chinese dissidents and journalists demonstrated outside Germany's federal police bureau over similar concerns.



Wei told the gathering that his name has long been on the Chinese government's Interpol wanted list, leading to his brief detention in Switzerland when he traveled there to attend an event, and said that the organization shouldn't become "a hit man for dictatorial regimes."



Dissidents have pointed to a precedent for such a takeover when Interpol's predecessor organization was controlled by key figures in the German secret police during the Nazi years..



But Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock have declined to discuss their concerns, saying he doesn't engage in politics.



With 190 member countries, Interpol is the second largest intergovernmental organization next to the United Nations.



Meng was elected president at the Interpol General Assembly held in 2016 and will serve until 2020.



China already wields increasing influence among its smaller neighbors, who have proved willing to detain dissidents fleeing persecution and send them back again without the need for Interpol's help.



Chinese dissidents who have sought political refuge in Thailand have described a climate of fear for exiles in the country.



Reported by Lin Ping for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.




The nationwide rollout of facial recognition and artificial intelligence technology is enabling wide-reaching and detailed surveillance of citizens by Chinese police, recent reports have indicated.



Chinese citizens are already monitored by more than 20 million surveillance cameras as they go about their daily business in public places, according to a recent documentary by state broacaster CCTV.



Now, artificial intelligence can identify and "tag" individual cars, cyclists, and pedestrians with distinguishing information that can be stored and searched for descriptions of wanted individuals.



The smart video tool correctly identifies the gender, age, and clothing descriptions of passersby, as well as distinguishing between motorized and nonmotorized vehicles, recent media reports say.



The technology comes amid a growing trend towards using facial recognition as a secure form of ID, including to identify rail and airline passengers, physical and e-commerce customers, and missing persons cases.



Facial recognition technology is already used by ride-sharing and robotic package delivery apps, airport and college dorm security, and social credit schemes, as well against jaywalkers.



Facial recognition can be used in tandem with the "Skynet" technology to track someone in real time, making a powerful "smart" video surveillance tool that can track many of the country's 1.3 billion people, especially in cities.



Stability maintenance



Rights activist Jia Pin said that government monitoring is typically used for a massive domestic security operation known as "stability maintenance."



"The purpose from their point of view is to monitor those who they think of as unstable elements, including petitioners and dissidents," Jia said. "They use various forms of online surveillance software."



"They are very closely monitored indeed," he said, adding that the authorities routinely breach citizens' right to privacy to this end.



Veteran Beijing political activist Zha Jianguo said technology in itself is neutral.



"It can be used to do both good and evil," Zha said. "There are security cameras everywhere in Beijing."



"When I moved into my new apartment in a residential compound, they told me that one day the police had come over to check the surveillance footage, to seen where I had been."



Stepped-up measures



China's state security police have stepped up round-the-clock monitoring of dissidents and rights activist ahead of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's five-yearly national congress on Oct. 18.



Activists' cell phones and social media activities are being closely followed by police, which has a direct impact on their activities, Guizhou Human Rights Forum member Liao Shuangyuan said in a recent interview.



"I am now subject to continual monitoring and persecution," Liao said. "There are usually people stationed at the bottom of my apartment building to watch and follow me."



"The Human Rights Forum is only able to meet up sporadically and in small groups these days," he said. "We are down to about 10 percent of our former membership."



Since 2008, taxicabs in Beijing have been fitted with video cameras and satellite technology that transmits a live audio feed of what is being said in the cab back to a computer for monitoring and linguistic analysis.



Official media have reported that cameras and satellite systems have been fitted in taxicabs in other major cities, including the far-west Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, sparking complaints in the press over privacy.



In some cities, the cameras automatically take at least one picture of every occupant as a back-up in case of later criminal activity.



Official media say the cameras in taxis are aimed at guaranteeing the safety of drivers, who suffered an unprecedented number of attacks across the country in 2003.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman gives an opening statement at the ASEAN-U.S. Ministerial meeting in suburban Manila, Aug. 6, 2017.

Tensions between Malaysia and fellow ASEAN states have deepened over the blocs handling of the Rohingya Muslim crisis in Myanmar and Bangladesh, with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman rebuking ASEANs latest statement on the issue.

The minister issued an unusually sharp statement on Sunday night saying Malaysia disagreed with and was detaching itself from a separate statement sent out earlier in the day by the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who spoke on behalf of the 10 ASEAN foreign ministers.

Anifah let it be known that the Malaysian government was angry because the ASEAN statement made no mention of the word Rohingya, members of a stateless Muslim minority group who allegedly have been targeted in atrocities in Myanmars Rakhine state.

During the past month, more than 400,000 Rohingya have crossed into southeastern Bangladesh as they fled the latest cycle of violence in Rakhine.

Malaysia would like to dissociate itself with the chairmans statement as we are of the view that it is a misrepresentation of the reality of the situation. In this regard, Malaysia has made known its concerns but they were not reflected in the chairmans statement, Anifah said.

Hence, the chairmans statement was not based on consensus. The statement also omits the Rohingyas as one of the affected communities, Malaysias foreign minister added

He was referring to one of ASEANs founding principles stipulating that all collective statements be agreed to unanimously by its 10 members.

Myanmars military and local Buddhist militia in Rakhine have been blamed for targeting Rohingya civilians in atrocities such as killings and the burnings of hundreds of homes and villages belonging to the minority. Authorities in Myanmar, which is a member of ASEAN, have instead accused an insurgent group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), of fomenting violence in Rakhine.

The cycle of violence began on Aug. 25, when ARSA insurgents launched deadly attacks on Myanmar police outposts in Rakhine.

The word Rohingya is a controversial in Myanmar, whose government has refused to grant citizenship to members of this minority group. The Buddhist majority refers to Rohingya pejoratively as Bengalis, because of their physical similarities with people from neighboring Bangladesh and to imply they are undocumented immigrants.

In his statement, Anifah said Malaysia condemned the ARSA attacks on police, but that the clearance operations by Myanmar authorities were disproportionate in that [these have] led to deaths of many innocent civilians and caused more than 400,000 Rohingyas to be displaced.

He also called on Myanmar to end the violence in Rakhine and stop destruction to lives and properties.

Out of respect for its position

On Monday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that the Philippines respected Malaysias stance on the Rakhine issue and its decision to disavow its participation in the wording that went into Cayetanos official statement as the ASEAN chairman.

ASEAN is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the northern Rakhine State and since Malaysia has different views on some issues, out of respect for its position, we decided that instead of a foreign ministers statement, we would issue a chairmans statement that would reflect the general sentiments of the other foreign ministers, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in its statement on Monday.

The ASEAN statement was issued after extensive consultations with Malaysia, the DFA added.

The Philippines as chair tolerates the public manifestation of dissenting voices, the department said. This demonstrates a new level of maturity on how we implement ASEANs consensus principle when confronted with issues affecting national interests.

The Philippines is this years holder of ASEANs chair, which rotates among its 10 members.

Anifahs statement was the second this month criticizing ASEANs handling of the crisis in Rakhine state.

In early September, Anifah said the Malaysian government had lost confidence in the regional bloc over its response to the Rakhine issue.

Malaysia has voiced concern to Myanmar and other ASEAN countries in meetings and they have pledging to solve the matter but the issue has not been addressed and what we see now is the violence against Rohingya Muslim has increased, Anifah said after meeting with the Brazilian foreign minister in Putrajaya on Sept. 6.

In my opinion, ASEAN is no longer able to address this issue. I am no longer hoping for the organization to solve the problem of Rohingya Muslims, he added.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
Children account for about 60 percent of the Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh, the U.N. says

Nearly one-quarter million Rohingya children have fled to the relative safety of Bangladesh in the last month, but they are sheltering amid precarious conditions and some are alone, according to the U.N. and NGOs focusing relief efforts on an unprecedented wave of refugees from Myanmar.

A UNICEF cargo plane carrying 100 tons of supplies including water purifying tablets, hygiene kits and sanitary materials, arrived in Dhaka from Copenhagen on Sunday. The supplies were to be transported by truck to southeastern Cox Bazar district to provide aid to the 429,000 refugees who have crossed into Bangladesh since Aug. 25 to escape violence in Myanmars Rakhine state.

The U.N. agency estimates that six of every 10 refugees who fled Rakhines latest cycle of violence are children.

Ensuring that children and families have safe water for drinking and washing is absolutely essential in order to protect them against diarrhea and other waterborne diseases, said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh. This is a very real threat given the current situation in the camps and makeshift settlements where the Rohingya are now living, especially amid the current heavy rains.

In Teknaf last week, a 6-year-old girl told a BenarNews reporter that she hoped to be able to eat.

I havent had any meals in the last four to five days so I am waiting beside the street to get some food, she said, adding her mother was elsewhere, begging for food.

A 9-year-old boy echoed her plight. I am from Gojobil in Myanmar. I havent had a meal in the last four days, after crossing the border to escape from the torture in Rakhine, he told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

Save the Children estimated that as many as 1 million Rohingya, including 600,000 children, could arrive in Bangladesh by years end even though reports showed that the influx of refugees had slowed in recent days.

Beneath the hardship and suffering faced by the Rohingya whove arrived in Bangladesh, there is a child protection crisis on our doorstep. Were seeing numbers of children arriving alone and in desperate need of help, said Mark Pierce, the director of Save the Children in Bangladesh.

Exposed to criminal exploitation

Even as aid trickles into refugee camps, rights activists expressed concern that many Rohingya women and children could be exploited by human traffickers and others.

This is a real concern as these children are in an especially vulnerable position, being at increased risk of exploitation and abuse, as well as things like child trafficking, Pierce said in a statement.

Those risks are real, said Afrozul Haque Tutul, an additional superintendent of police in Coxs Bazar. He said a group of criminals had been actively trying to exploit Rohingya.

I just caught a person who was trying to traffic a Rohingya girl. The man has a Bangladeshi national identity card. He hails from Teknaf. We are examining whether his national identity card is genuine, Tutul told BenarNews.

Since Aug. 25, police had arrested more than 200 brokers who were trying to exploit Rohingya, he said. The suspects were involved in different types of criminal activities, including human trafficking.

Salma Ali, chief of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, said she witnessed gangs and human traffickers catching unattended children and young girls at the Shahporirdwip entry point along the Myanmar border two days ago.

I saw no checking, no obstruction either from the Border Guard Bangladesh or the police, she told BenarNews.

I saw three women crying at Shahporirdwip. As I asked, they informed me that the human trafficker took away three young Rohingya girls as they got on board the fishing boat to cross into Bangladesh, she said.

These women and children will be trafficked to India, Pakistan and beyond for sexual servitude and slavery, no doubt, Ali added.

Large number pregnant, breastfeeding

Pregnant women face a different set of hardships. More than 15,000 pregnant Rohingya women were among the new refugee arrivals in Bangladesh, and the government has faced the challenge of ensuring that they receive proper reproductive health services, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malik told BenarNews.

Women do not stop getting pregnant or having babies just because an emergency hits, said Iori Kato, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) activing representative in Bangladesh.

Earlier this month UNFPA announced that it had deployed dozens of midwives, many with special training in humanitarian response, to Coxs Bazar to support health personnel already there.

Thirteen percent of the newly arrived women were pregnant or breastfeeding, UNFPA said in a news release.

The women who are coming for check-ups all have a terrified and exhausted look, Sumaya, a UNFPA-supported midwife posted at the Nayapara refugee camp, said. We keep hearing stories from them of walking through jungles and across hills for days without food, their children carried over their shoulders. Theyve lost their homes.

Aid arriving, more needed

In Dhaka on Monday, Filippo Grandi, the U.N.s high commissioner for refugees, held a news conference on the humanitarian situation in southeastern Bangladesh, where he briefed reporters about his visit to refugee camps in Coxs Bazar.

The people I met were deeply traumatized, and despite having found refuge in Bangladesh, they are still exposed to enormous hardship, Grand said.

Despite every effort by those on the ground, the massive influx of people seeking safety rapidly outpaced capacities to respond, and the situation has still not stabilized. More is needed, and fast, if we are to avoid further deterioration, he added.

Also on Monday, India brought in about 900 tons of relief materials aboard the ship INS Gharial. The food, clothing and basic medical supplies were to be delivered to the port in Chittagong on Thursday.

Indias relief to Rohingyas would not only ease the financial burden on Bangladesh struggling to maintain the Rohingya refugees but would also earn sympathy among the Rohingya Muslims. Its a win-win situation, Dushyant Nagar, a political analyst, told BenarNews.

UNICEF, meanwhile, announced that it was seeking U.S. $7.3 million in funding to provide aid in southeastern Bangladesh over the next three months. Officials expect that figure to grow as the refugee population increases.

The United States plans to provide nearly $32 million in new humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees, bringing the total commitment to nearly $95 million in this fiscal year, the U.S. State Department announced last week.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
Authorities in a Tibetan prefecture of northwestern Chinas Qinghai province summoned the heads of local Buddhist monasteries last week to warn against the use of social media to view or spread illegal content while top-level Party meetings are held in Beijing in October, sources say.



The gathering, which was held from Sept. 14 to 18 in Tsolho (in Chinese, Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures Trika (Guide) county, brought together the leaders of all Tibetan monasteries, both large and small, in Tsolho, a local source told RFAs Tibetan Service.



Authorities explained that the meeting was being conducted on the orders of higher authorities to tell the prefectures monks and nuns that they must not use social media to listen to, or to view and share photos and video clips of, illegal material during the period of the 19th Congress of the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



Severe consequences were threatened for anyone found violating the ban or enticing others to do so, the source said the assembled monks were told.



Protests challenging Chinese rule by Tibetans living in western Chinese provinces have brought a clampdown by authorities on internet communications, with police regularly monitoring social media sites for evidence of news-sharing with media contacts outside China, Tibetan sources say.



During the meeting, the officials emphasized the importance of expressing loyalty to the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China, RFAs source said, adding that one official cited the case of a monk in Tsolhos Mangra (Guinan) county who had been caught viewing banned material and been jailed for three years.



He also noted that ten Han Chinese nationals are currently being investigated for listening to and distributing illegal political material and could be sentenced at any time now for not obeying the rules, he said.



Authorities in China have stepped up nationwide "stability maintenance" measures targeting anyone with a critical opinion of the Chinese Communist Party or Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the Partys 19th Congress, which will be held in Beijing from Oct.18 to 28.



Among other moves, authorities have banned travel to Tibet from outside the politically sensitive region while the top-level meetings are held, sources say.



Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.




Rights groups have called for international pressure on Chinas government to unconditionally release Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti on the third anniversary of his sentencing to life in prison for separatism after he spoke out in support of equal rights and greater autonomy for members of his ethnic group.



An outspoken economics professor who regularly highlighted the religious and cultural persecution of the mostly Muslim Uyghur ethnic minority in northwest Chinas Xinjiang region, Tohti was handed a life sentence on Sept. 23, 2014 following a two-day show trial.



The complete version of the ruling has never been made public, but the court decision cited Tohtis interviews with overseas Uyghur, Chinese, and English-language media outlets, his commentaries on events concerning Uyghurs in Xinjiang, his criticism of Beijings ethnic policies, and his work founding and running the Chinese-language website Uighurbiz.net, which was shut down by authorities in 2014.



Over the weekend, the Germany-based Ilham Tohti Initiative slammed authorities in the Xinjiang capital Urumqis No. 1 Prison for holding Tohti under conditions it said were in violation of Chinese law and demanded Beijing free the scholar, whose detention was termed arbitrary by a United Nations panel in 2014.



In spite of [what] the Chinese law stipulates, he is not enjoying his right of proper visitations and is de facto kept incommunicado, the Initiative said in a statement, adding that such treatment amounted to a calculated and cruel deprivation.



The group cited a combination of reduced visits, denial of communication, gag orders, and family reprisals, which it said had been carefully engineered to punish the Uyghur scholar with degrading treatment and psychological torture, while at the same time keeping the attention on his plight from the outside world to a minimum.



The Initiative noted that Tohti had promoted peace and dialogue between majority Han Chinese and Uyghur communities, and specifically opposed separatism, the use of terror to voice grievances, and any act that sparks ethnic tensions, as well as government policies he said marginalize the Uyghur people.



By speaking out, the group said, he had been fulfilling the duty of a public intellectual.



We call on the Chinese government to unconditionally release Prof. Ilham Tohti  and urge the International Community, including the UN human Rights Institutions, the governments, the European Union and all human rights NGOs to press for his freedom, the statement said.



Treatment in prison



The Initiatives call for Tohtis freedom came a day after rights watchdog ChinaChange.org called on the U.N. to ensure that the Uyghur scholar is receiving fair treatment in prison under Chinese law.



In a statement, the group noted that Tohti has only been granted one strictly monitored family visit every three months, despite laws allowing one visit each month, had been held in solitary confinement until at least early 2016, and has been deprived of the right to communicate with family and friends.



ChinaChange.org said Tohti had been denied the right to apply for a retrial since losing an appeal in November 2014, and that his family had apparently received a gag order from authorities to prevent them from speaking about his case.



The group also expressed concerns over Tohtis health condition, noting that his prison provides little Muslim food, and that his wife reported that he had lost a substantial amount of weight after she visited him in July last year.



In addition to urging investigations into the conditions under which Tohti is being held, ChinaChange.org urged U.N. human rights institutions and governments to continue to press for the total freedom of the Uyghur scholar, as well as seven of his students, who were sentenced to up to eight years in prison after assisting him on Uighurbiz.net, and his 25-year-old niece, who was given a 10-year sentence for possessing photos of him.



Earlier this month, Sarah Brooks of International Service for Human Rights had highlighted Tohtis case while addressing the U.N. Human Rights Council as part of its call on Beijing to end its practice of detaining lawyers and critics of the government.



In response, Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed Chinese diplomat as saying Tohtis case had nothing to do with human rights, and that the scholar was trying to justify the acts of terror, divide the country and incite hatred, which no country could tolerate.



An essential player



On Monday, Sophie Richardson, China director for New York-based Human Rights Watch, told RFAs Uyghur Service that Tohti must not be forgotten by the international community.



He is a peaceful, thoughtful government critic who we think is an essential player in the discussion between the central government and multiple different ethnic minority communities, and the fact that he has instead been treated as a subversive and given a life sentence says everything you need to know about how hostile Beijing is to open criticism of these issues, she said.



Everybody should be insisting on his immediate and unconditional release  and I think it is very important to talk about him a lot, particularly as an exemplar of tolerance and of peaceful debate about ethnic policies in Chinanot to allow this narrative that he is somehow a criminal or a terrorist to crowd that out.



Ilham Tohti was the recipient of the Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award from the PEN America Center in 2014 and the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders in 2016.



Reported by RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
A Uyghur student sits at a restaurant table in Cairo while police detain others behind him.

Egyptian authorities have released up to 25 of more than 100 Uyghur students from northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region who were detained earlier this year in the countrys notorious Tora Prison, though armed police put black hoods on 16 others and took them away, three recently released Uyghurs said.

The three students, who were released in early September, told RFAs Uyghur Service that they do not know why the 16 were whisked away or whether they were deported to China, though prison guards told them the students were in trouble.

One of them was 17 years old, they said.

Egypts secret police began detaining Uyghur and ethnic minority Kazakh Muslims from China en masse on July 4, in an operation activists said was requested by Beijing, sources told RFA at the time.

The 200 students, many of them religious students at Cairos Islamic Al-Azhar University, were rounded up in restaurants or at their homes, with others seized at airports as they tried to flee to safer countries, the sources said.

The Egyptian government has not disclosed the charges, the number of detentions, the whereabouts of the detainees, or whether any were sent back to China.

Repeated efforts by RFA to seek comment from Egyptian authorities have been met with no reply.

Ethnic minority Kazakh Muslims from China were among some 200 ethnic minority holders of Chinese passports targeted in July by Egypt's secret police

The three Uyghur students who were later released said that the detainees were first interrogated by Egyptian security officials, and later by Chinese security officials.

The Egyptian officials gave every Uyghur student a form in Arabic to fill out, though many could not fully comprehend the questions because of their poor Arabic skills and responded yes to all items out of fear, they said.

The students were then divided into three categories in prison  red, yellow, and green  according to their interrogation results, answers on the forms, and the contents of their mobile phones, they said.

The ones placed in the green category are those who had legal status in Egypt and were enrolled in Al-Azhar or other Egyptian universities.

The ones in the yellow category had either status issues or were not enrolled in a university, and those in the red category had cell phones with content that Chinese security officials deemed problematic. It was unclear what kind of content was found on their mobile devices.

Prior to the mass detentions, the majority of Uyghur students in Egypt used the Chinese instant messaging service WeChat to communicate with family and friends at home and abroad.

WeChat is an app developed by Chinas internet company Tencent, which shares all private user data with the Chinese government.

Many Uyghurs in Xinjiang have gotten in trouble with the Chinese authorities in recent years because of the content on their mobile phones, including the sharing of political and religious content on WeChat.

Police frequently check the mobile phones of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and detain them for possessing unapproved content.

Divided up into jail cells

One recently released Uyghur student in Egypt who spoke on condition of anonymity said that more than 100 Uyghur students were divided into two huge jail cells after they were detained on Aug. 31 and their mobile phones were confiscated.

We were first interrogated by the Egyptian police, but not tortured or mistreated, he said. After the interrogations, they told us that they had detained us because of a Chinese government request that we were terrorists.

The police said they could not find any evidence of terrorism after the interrogations and would soon release the students, noting that this is politics between two countries, he said.

In our jail cell, there were 54 students, including me, he said. Suddenly fully armed police came in that day and told us in Arabic to face the wall.

The police handcuffed some of the students and took them away, he said.

We saw altogether 16 were taken from both cells, the Uyghur student said. Later when we asked prison guards where they had been taken, they simply said that they were in trouble. These 16 Uyghurs belonged to the red category.

Another Uyghur student from Al-Azhar University who spoke on condition of anonymity said he was placed into the green category because authorities could not accuse him of any criminal conduct.

The 25 students who were released were all placed into the green category, he said, adding that some in the yellow category may have been released as well.

This place is no longer safe for any of us now, he said. But what worries me most is the fate of 16 who belonged to the red category. There is no sign of them. They simply vanished.

A third Uyghur student who fled to Turkey soon after his release from prison said that he and others who were detained by Egyptian police on July 4 were divided into two jails cells at Tora Prison, a detention complex for criminal and political detainees on the southern outskirts of the capital Cairo.

We were not tortured, but we were terrified of being possibly deported to China, said the student who spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity.

The Arab [Egyptian] police didnt treat us badly, but the Chinese security officials put black hoods on our heads and repeatedly interrogated us, asking questions like, Why did you come to Egypt? [and] Which organizations did you participate in?

In the end, I was released after the Eid [al-Adha] holiday [on Aug. 31], so I guess some of those who belonged to the yellow category may have also been released, he said.



Sent back home?

Both released Uyghur students and Uyghurs in hiding in Egypt said they fear that the 16 others who have vanished may have been sent back home in light of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisis visit to China to attend the BRICS Summit in early September and strengthen economic ties with Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Sisi to participate in the summit as a reaffirmation of Egypt's position and its economic, political and commercial status that qualifies it to become a member of the BRICS, according to the Egyptian governments information service.

During Sisis visit on Sept. 3-5, some major trade deals were signed between Egypt and China, including a memorandum of understanding for Beijing to finance a U.S. $739 million rail link that will connect a new, yet-to-be-named capital the North African country is building to an industrial zone.

Reported by Gulchehra Hoja for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Alim Seytoff. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Vietnamese fishermen, who were arrested after allegedly trespassing in Philippine waters, wave as they prepare to depart during a send-off ceremony led by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (not pictured) in Sual town, Pangasinan province, north of Manila, Nov. 2, 2016.

Updated at 3:40 p.m. EDT on 2017-09-26

The Philippines on Monday assured Vietnam that it would carry out an impartial probe into the deaths of two Vietnamese fishermen who were gunned down after a local navy ship fired warning shots during a sea chase at the weekend.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said a thorough investigation was being carried out two days after the incident, which occurred about 34 miles off the coast of Cape Bolinao in northern Pangasinan province.

The area was well within (Manilas) exclusive economic zone, Abella said in a statement issued in Manila.

The incident led to the death of two Vietnamese nationals and the DFA [foreign office] is closely coordinating with the officials of the Vietnamese Embassy in Manila to update them on the developments and to facilitate their access to the five other Vietnamese fishermen taken into custody by the Philippine Navy, Abella said.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano also extended the Philippines condolences to his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Bin Minh, during an informal meeting in New York, where Southeast Asian ministers were attending a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly.

He said the Philippine Navy, the coast guard, as well as the local maritime police have conducted an investigation into the incident.

We would like to offer our sympathies over the unfortunate loss of life and give you our assurance that we will conduct a fair and thorough investigation into this matter, Cayetano said.

The police, in a report, said the Vietnamese fishing vessel was allegedly engaged in illegal fishing in Philippine waters.

A joint team from the police, the coast guard and the navy saw six Vietnamese fishing vessels in the area. But one of the fishing vessels immediately turned off its lights and sped off, triggering a chase and prompting the local authorities to fire warning shots, the police report said.

Despite numerous and repeated orders through marine-band radio and megaphone to stop fleeing, the Vietnamese vessel initiated a dangerous maneuver and subsequently rammed the Philippine Navy patrol boat in an attempt to escape, the report said.

When the Philippine ship caught up with the Vietnamese boat, Philippine sailors saw two dead bodies lying on its deck, it said, adding that the two bore gunshot wounds to the head and body, although no contraband were seen inside the Vietnamese vessel.

Fellow ASEAN members

An initial investigation by the maritime police showed that the Vietnamese vessel had seven crewmen on board.

Cayetano said the five other arrested Vietnamese fishermen would be treated fairly and that Vietnamese Embassy officials would not be barred from visiting them.

However, the foreign office also said, the Vietnamese boat was clearly at fault and by initiating very dangerous maneuvers that led to the incident.

Forty-nine people aboard the Filipino naval vessel, the BRP Malvar, were placed under investigation. It was not clear whether they were restricted to the ship or were apprehended.

"We dont agree with the 'inhumane' behavior of the Philippines, Nguyen Viet Thang, president of the Vietnamese Fisheries Association, told RFAs Vietnamese Service on Monday.

The Philippine president has just visited Vietnam and offered many humane solutions for Vietnamese fishermen. But we dont know why such incidents still happened, he said.

Speaking from Bolinao, where the surviving fishermen were staying on their boat, Captain Pham To told RFA that his vessel did not ram the Filipino naval boat.

We were trying to run to save ourselves. They let us go. We had a wooden ship and we are afraid of guns because in Vietnam guns are not allowed for public use. How dare we attack other boats while ours is wooden? Theirs are 20 times bigger than ours, said To.

Bereaved family members of the two slain fishermen, Pham Van Liem and Le Van Reo, told RFA they would need financial help to bring the mens bodies back to Vietnam.

Liems sister said his parents are 70 years old and poor and only learned of their sons death through newspaper reports.

We dont know how to bring him back home now, because we dont have money, said the sister, who gave only her first name, Lien.

Reos wife, Quyen, told RFA she is heartbroken and has lost the breadwinner for her two small children.

The city authorities came to our house today and they said that it will cost a lot of money to bring their bodies back. We asked if the government will help with that money but they said they will only help with a small part of that.

In August, the Philippine Coast Guard detained 10 Vietnamese fishermen on suspicion of poaching off a remote southwestern Philippine island after they found 70 dead sharks in their boat.

The Philippines and Vietnam are among six nations that have territorial claims in the South China Sea. The others are Brunei, China, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Frequent arrests of fishermen have often been the cause of tension in the South China Sea, a strategically important and potentially mineral-rich region that straddles vital commercial and fishing lanes.

Carl Thayer, a Southeast Asia expert based in Australia who has taught at several defense universities, said the Southeast Asian neighbors, formally allies, needed to work together to stop violence and work out legal ways to deal with inevitable disputes.

This is reprehensible among ASEAN states. They shouldnt have to kill each other's fishermen, he told RFA, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"These incidents of Indonesian or Vietnamese or fishermen going into each other's waters are quite common and it needs to be regulated," added Thayer.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, and by RFA's Vietnamese Service. Vietnamese translation by Emily Peyman.


Former Rep. Anthony Weiner was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison for sexting with a minor.

In addition to the prison term, Weiner also was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

"This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment," Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York said.

In May, Weiner, 53, pleaded guilty to one charge of transferring obscene material to a minor in federal court in Manhattan. The charges stem from communications that the former congressman had with a 15-year-old girl on social media sites between January and March 2016. Weiner is the estranged husband of Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton's former adviser.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of 21 to 27 months in jail, arguing Weiner's pattern of behavior "suggests a dangerous level of denial and lack of self-control warranting a meaningful incarceratory sentence." Defense attorneys asked that Weiner receive probation.

The 15-year-old girl initially contacted Weiner through a direct message on Twitter in January 2016. Weiner and the girl continued to communicate on social media sites, including Facebook Messenger, Skype, Kik, Confide and Snapchat. The last three messaging applications delete images and messages after users view them.

Weiner asked the teen 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," prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum. Weiner was fully aware of the girl's age when they were communicating, prosecutors said.

Weiner's attorneys said his crimes were a "product of sickness" and maintained he wasn't a sexual predator.

"He responded as a weak man, at the bottom of a self-destructive spiral, and with an addict's self-serving delusion that the communications were all just Internet fantasy," the defense wrote.

"I knew this was as morally wrong, as it was unlawful," Weiner said in his guilty plea in court. "This fall, I came to grips for the first time with the depths of my sickness. I had hit bottom."

A downward spiral

Weiner's personal and professional life had been collapsing around him for half a decade even before the sexting case.

He resigned from Congress after a lewd picture appeared on his Twitter page in June 2011. At first, he claimed his account had been hacked but later revealed that he had lied. Sexually charged, sometimes explicit, texts with women also emerged around this time.

Weiner insisted his marriage with Abedin was intact. She gave birth to a son, the couple's only child, six months later.

In 2013, Weiner sought to revive his political career by running for mayor of New York. Two months after he announced his candidacy, screenshots surfaced of sexual conversations that Weiner had with a woman the previous year.

At the time, Abedin joined Weiner in a news conference, saying that although her husband had made some "horrible mistakes ... what I want to say is I love him, I have forgiven him, I believe in him ... we are moving forward."

During the 2016 campaign, it was revealed that emails from Hillary Clinton containing classified information were forwarded by Abedin to a computer used by Weiner. A decision by former FBI Director James Comey to alert Congress just days before the election about his agency's investigation into messages potentially related to Clinton's personal server has been cited by Clinton as a key reason she lost the presidential race. Investigators ultimately determined the emails were mostly ones they had previously seen and Clinton was ultimately cleared by the FBI two days before the election.

In May, Abedin filed for divorce around the time Weiner pleaded guilty in the sexting case.

CNN's Jean Casarez, Sonia Moghe, Theodore Schleifer and Dan Merica contributed to this report.
Richmond-based upscale trendy clothing company Need Supply Co. recently moved some operations into a 60,000-square-foot fulfillment center at 540 Eastpark Court in eastern Henrico County.

Rob Dirom of commercial real estate firm CBRE | Richmond represented the tenant in the lease negotiations.

Founded in Richmond in 1996, Need Supply has grown into an international clothing company. Customers are attracted to the companys curated mix of expensive designer fashions alongside more affordable brands.

The company maintains its headquarters and flagship store at 3100 W. Cary St. and also has space in Scotts Addition where it operates a photo studio. Need Supply also is providing operational support to luxury clothing retailer Totokaelo, acquired last year by Cormack Capital Corp., which has a minority ownership stake in Need Supply.

Christopher Bossola, Need Supplys co-founder and CEO, answered a few questions about the new fulfillment center and other plans:

Q: Did you retain all of your existing space in Scotts Addition?

A: Yes, mostly for offices and our photo studio operations.

Q: Did you add any additional employees? If so, how many?

A: In preparation for the move, weve added about a dozen positions to our fulfillment operations and will continue to hire for both temporary and permanent positions as we approach our peak holiday season.

Q: How is the space divided? Is it offices or warehouse areas or call center?

A: Mostly fulfillment space with a small office for that team. Our experience specialist team (call center) remained with the e-commerce and photo studio teams in Scotts Addition.

Q: Why the need for more space?

A: Fulfillment for our growing e-commerce business at Need Supply and Totokaelo, plus distribution to the stores in Richmond, New York (Totokaelo store), Seattle (Totokaelo store) and Japan.

Q: Any plans for opening more stores in the U.S. or elsewhere?
The Richmond Times-Dispatch is searching to find the best area places to work for its fifth annual Top Workplaces program.

But we need to know which area employers  private, public, government and nonprofit  should be considered.

Nominations may be made at www.Richmond.com/Top-Workplaces or (804) 977-9367. The deadline is Oct. 20. Anyone can nominate a business, as long as the company has at least 35 employees.

The Times-Dispatch is partnering with WorkplaceDynamics, a Pennsylvania-based employee research firm The company surveyed 2.8 million employees at nearly 7,000 businesses in 2016.

WorkplaceDynamics will send a 24-question confidential survey this fall to employees of companies that agree to participate. The questions will be on numerous topics affecting their workplace life, from pay and benefits to training and work-life balance.

The Times-Dispatch and Richmond SHRM, a chapter of the national Society for Human Resource Management, will honor the Top Workplaces companies by presenting the Sterling Workplace Awards in May to shine a light on the top businesses.

The employers also will be recognized in a Top Workplaces special section.

Sixty companies were recognized this past May at the Sterling Workplace Awards ceremony.

At that program, the awards were based on company size: mega (1,000-plus employees); large (400-999); midsize (125 to 399); and small (124 or fewer).

Five companies were recognized in each of the mega and large categories, 20 businesses in the midsize category, and 30 firms in the small category.

The first-place winners for 2017 in their respective categories  and named the Sterling Workplace Award winner  were automotive retailer CarMax Inc.; wireless provider T-Mobile; financial planning software firm PIEtech; and medical eye care provider Commonwealth Eye Care Associates.
Authorities charged 30-year-old Gregory P. Veres with second-degree murder after his girlfriend was found dead on the ground Friday outside the rear gate of Blue Ridge Shores in Louisa County.

Dawn Marie Meade, 40, appeared to have been struck by a vehicle around midnight Friday, according to a release from the Louisa County Sheriffs Office. Her body was found eight hours later.

Veres and Meade had been dating for about two years and moved to Louisa from Connecticut a few months earlier, the release states.
As the Richmond region continues to get more diverse, schools and housing continue to be segregated, a new report has found.

As part of our legacy of discrimination, students and their families from minority segregated communities face higher levels of poverty, higher unemployment rates, lower levels of educational attainment and worse health measures, the authors of the report wrote. Compounded, these differences have lasting influences on students educational attainment and future success.

The report, which was completed this summer after about three years of work, is being presented to local officials by the authors: Genevieve Siegel-Hawley, an education professor at Virginia Commonwealth University; Brian Koziol, the director of research and consulting services at Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia; John Moeser, a fellow at the University of Richmond; Taylor Holden, a technician in the Spatial Analysis Lab at the University of Richmond; and Tom Shields, the chair of graduate education at the University of Richmond.

White students make up 48 percent of school enrollment, yet 64 percent of white students classmates are also white. Black students, who make up 35 percent of enrollment, have 57 percent same-race classmates. The same is true of Latino students, according to the report, whose isolation is rapidly intensifying. Latino student same-race exposure has increased 40 percent since 2010.

In a fully integrated system, those numbers would be closer to 50 percent.

The fact is, schools today are still separate and continue to be unequal, the study says.

According to the report, three in five black students would have to change schools in order for all schools to reflect the overall share of black students in the region. About one in two Latino students would have to do the same.

The average black student, the report says, goes to a school where two out of every three students are low-income. That number drops to one in four for typical white, Asian or non-poor students.

This lack of integration hurts white students, too, according to the report.

White children who grow up without meaningful, equal status contact with the new racial majority will be ill prepared to navigate color lines as adults in their workplaces, neighborhoods and democratic institutions, the report says.

This segregation brings unequal opportunity in schools, the report says. Low poverty communities in the Richmond area reported higher enrollment in Advanced Placement courses, which help boost students grade-point averages and can lead to college credit if students pass an end-of-year exam.

Students who have access to the AP program typically attend better-resourced schools in communities of higher socioeconomic status, and these students tend to perform better in college, a 2013 Stanford University study said.

Across the Richmond region, the proportion of students enrolled in AP classes differs greatly. About 9,300 public school students across Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond were reported as having enrolled in at least one AP class during a 2013 federal survey of public schools, but only 455 of those were from Richmond.

That accounted for about 5 percent of the regions AP enrollment. Chesterfield had the largest share, at 41 percent, with 3,844 students participating; Henrico had 40 percent, with 3,738 students participating; and Hanover accounted for 14 percent, with 1,258 students participating, federal data show.

Much of this comes back to where students live. Neighborhoods have an impact on a childs development and future success.

School segregation flows from residential segregation, the report says. When school officials draw attendance boundaries around the neighborhoods closest to a school, existing segregation in those neighborhoods will likely be replicated in schools.

The reports charts clearly show the overlap in school accreditation standing, subsidized housing and enrollment by race.

Every school in Hanover, for example, is fully accredited. Maps show little subsidized housing while enrollment skews white. Richmond, by contrast, has less than half of its schools fully accredited while school enrollment, with its heavily subsidized housing population, is made up of majority black students.

The district lines continue to be a barrier, said Siegel-Hawley, one of the authors.

Richmond area schools serving overwhelmingly high shares of black and Latino students are heavily concentrated in communities with the lowest opportunity, while predominantly white and Asian schools tend to be located in high or very high opportunity communities, the authors wrote in the report. School segregation by race maps closely onto school segregation by poverty in the Richmond area. That, in turn, closely reflects childhood poverty rates in surrounding communities.

The layers of segregation  in schools and in housing  adversely affect minorities, the authors said.

All of this stuff is designed to keep people of color and low-income people in their place, said Holden, one of the authors.

Because of the lack of engagement in school and housing desegregation policy, the authors wrote, there is an urgent need to have the two work in tandem with one another.

The authors proposed about 30 solutions  short-term and long-term  to help desegregate schools and housing. Theyll be keeping an especially close eye on CodeRVA, a new regional computer science school in Richmond that opened this year.

Students at CodeRVA come from about a dozen different school divisions and its lottery was set up to ensure a diverse class. The split of boys and girls in the incoming class is about 50-50, similar to the schools makeup of white students and minorities.

The schools success could drive a larger system of regional magnet schools, which is listed as a long-term education solution in the new report.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Del. Greg Habeeb received a text message Thursday reminding him of the election in Virginias 8th House of Delegates district this fall.

But the text message went further, and encouraged Habeeb  a Republican from Salem who represents the 8th District  to vote for Steve McBride, the Democrat trying to unseat him Nov. 7.

The generic election messages have popped up on the cellphones of registered voters in the 8th District and across the state.

The text messages have raised questions about how volunteers have obtained voters cellphone numbers and the legality of contacting voters through text messages.

We have made the determination for our campaigns that it is both inappropriate legally and just a bad idea to spam text people using this technology, said Habeeb, a partner at Roanoke law firm Gentry Locke. I dont in my personal life or in my campaigns play in gray areas and this is, at best, a very gray area.

The Federal Communications Commission classifies unsolicited text messages as illegal spam and requires the sender to get a phone owners permission before sending messages. Federal law also states that using an automated-dialer, which randomly generates phone numbers, is illegal.

While Win Virginia uses a software program to bring up phone numbers, volunteers are ultimately the ones typing out the messages and hitting send on their computers or telephones.

Federal law also includes exemptions for non-commercial messages like those related to politics and fundraising, according to the commissions website. The FCC did not return a call for comment.

A spokesman for Win Virginia  the political action committee led by former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello  responded to Habeebs allegations in a statement.

Peer-to-peer texting is a tool increasingly used by campaigns in recent years, said Chris Liddell-Westefeld. Weve been excited to see the positive reaction of voters as they engage with the volunteers and learn more about the upcoming elections for delegate on November 7.

The federal government treats contact via cellphone different from contact via landlines because some cellphone users have to pay for incoming calls and texts, said Trevor Stanley, a partner at Baker Hostetler in Washington, D.C., where he advises political candidates and campaigns. Hence, the federal government requires consumers to opt-in to receive such text messages, said Stanley, who is a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association.

Unsolicited political text messages are both illegal and a breach of the consultants ethical responsibilities, he said. We would never advise our clients to engage in this practice.

Win Virginias text messages start off following a template, but change the names of the volunteer, the message receiver and the name of a particular House of Delegates candidate.

The message Habeeb received read:

Hi Gregory, Im Katie, a volunteer with Steve McBride for Delegate. Do you know that theres an election on November 7 and that Steve is running to represent Virginias 8th district?

McBride, the Democratic nominee in the 8th District, called the text messages a convenient way to connect with voters on their own time. Through a third-party system, volunteers text cellphone numbers found through registered voter data, he said.

The text messages allow campaigns to connect one-on-one with voters, McBride said.

The opening script may be the same, but after that, youre having real conversations, he said.

McBrides messengers are a mix of about 15 local and non-local volunteers, some of whom are participating through Win Virginia.

Because some of the volunteers live outside the district, they dont always know whom they are texting, which could explain why a volunteer contacted Habeeb, McBride said. But then again, Habeeb is an 8th District voter so its good that he received a text message, he said.

I cant say why they did it, but he is a voter and its perfectly reasonable to send a text to a person in the district, McBride said.

Voters from the New River Valley to Virginia Beach have received the text messages, all asking residents to support Democrats running for House of Delegates seats. Hours after Habeeb received the text message regarding his opponent, his wife received a message encouraging her to support a Democratic candidate in a district near Richmond.

Messaging volunteer and Democrat Debbie Winstead has sent text messages on behalf of several Virginia Democrats, McBride included. Winstead grew up in Salem and considers herself a lifelong Virginian, but now lives in New York.

Over the past month, Winstead has been texting for Virginia candidates whenever she has free time.

Responses vary. Sometimes the recipients respond with curses and vulgar language. Others may ask questions about the candidates or their platforms, she said. Many recipients dont respond.

Outside of voting in presidential elections, Winstead was never politically active. That is, until Donald Trump was elected president. Afterward, she did some research and learned of Virginias GOP majority in the House of Delegates, of which all 100 seats are up for re-election this year, and decided to get involved for her family back home.

Salem is my home, she said. Virginia is my home. New York is not my home.

Roanoke County resident Michael Clark said the text message from McBrides campaign only encouraged him to vote for Habeeb. Politically, Clark leans independent and tends to vote against incumbent candidates, but the text message was too annoying to ignore, he said.

If he [McBride] is going to ship the cost of his electioneering of his campaign to the citizens, whats he actually going to do when hes in office? Clark said. That bugs me.

Upon receiving the text message, Clark responded, demanding to know how the person on the other end found his cellphone number. The phone number came from registered voter data, the person texted back.

After receiving the text Sept. 8, Clark reported the incidence to the Virginia Department of Elections, and has yet to hear back.
A Madison-area startup hopes it can revolutionize an industry by jet-propelling salt.

SaltCo promises its customers  homeowners and businesses  will never have to physically handle another bag of salt when refilling brine tanks for water softeners.

To accomplish this, the Prairie du Sac-based company has built a custom delivery truck that shoots salt through a dedicated piping system into the tank.

A sensor then monitors the levels and lets drivers know when a customer needs to be topped off.

When the tank gets low, were on the go, said CEO Dave Gerry. Were going to head out and take care of that customer, and the customer does nothing.

To make the system possible, the company installs two 3-inch PVC plastic pipes leading from the exterior of a building to the salt tank. One line acts as a delivery conduit where air from the truck forces salt through the pipe.

The other line, the return pipe, is an outlet for the air to travel back to the truck. This creates a closed-loop system, which eliminates pressure buildup and allows for the salt to drop directly into a tank without creating dust, said President Mark Landgraf, who said he brought the idea for the company to Gerry.

A delivery driver attaches hoses from the truck to the intake and outtake ports and blasts in salt at 100 pounds per minute.

It really is revolutionizing a delivery system for one product: salt, said Landgraf, who founded Landgraf Construction.

Making it a reality

In January, the company started working hard on its research and development and finalized a delivery vehicle in June, built on the chassis of a Dodge Ram 5500 heavy-duty pickup truck with a hopper that can hold 10,000 pounds of salt.

Gerry, who also owns the Princeton Club gyms, said more than $1 million had been invested during that phase.

He brought on his son, Teddy Gerry, to invent the mechanical components. The biggest breakthrough, the younger Gerry said, happened when the team came up with the closed-loop system. A test with only a pipe to let air in ended with an expanding tank and a bang.

All of a sudden, it just blew, and it sounded like a shotgun going off, said the younger Gerry, who is the vice president.

While he worked on the systems muscles, Craig Detter joined the team to develop its brains as the chief technology officer. With a background of working for Google and Motorola, Detter made a sensor that communicates the salt levels through a dedicated 3G or Wi-Fi network to SaltCo. The company then knows when a refill is needed and electronically sends an invoice to its customers.

Various components of SaltCos system are patent pending.

Im convinced it works exactly the way its supposed to, Dave Gerry said.

Step Saver Inc., a company in Morton, Minnesota, began a similar business that pumps salt directly to tanks in 1995. President Chuck Steffl said the business has licensing agreements in six states and thousands of customers.

In lieu of the electronic monitoring SaltCo uses, Steffl said, Step Saver schedules refills based on salt consumption and tank capacity.

Finding a customer base

Both commercial businesses and personal residences are being targeted as potential users. The former is charged $30 per month and the latter $15 per month as a subscription fee, with which installation costs are waived.

The customer must also pay for salt itself, the price of which varies depending on the volume purchased.

Dan Olszewski, director of UW-Madisons Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship, said the biggest challenges startup companies face are finding its target user and effectively marketing to them.

That is especially true for this product, or service, because its something that clearly is valuable to the right customer, but for a lot of customers they might say, Its not that big of a deal, getting salt is not a big problem for me, Olszewski said.

Its important for SaltCo to look for the people who are most affected by physically filling tanks, he said, such as businesses that use large quantities and people who might have physical difficulties.

Your initial customer is usually someone who has the biggest pain point with the current system, Olszewski said.

Currently, SaltCo has nine vehicles and 11 employees to service around 50 residential and commercial customers. The first customers were largely friends and family of those involved to ensure the system worked properly, Dave Gerry said.

SaltCo installed a system at Blessed Sacrament Parish and School on Madisons Near West Side this summer. Landgraf, a longtime parishioner there, brought the concept forward to a committee hes involved with that oversees the grounds.

Andrew Henter, the parishs director of buildings and grounds, said he was intrigued by the service. Its building is heated by steam, and soft water is needed to keep the system running properly. The service saves him from carrying hundreds of pounds of salt and monitoring the tanks level, Henter said.

It sounds like a goofy thing to get excited about, water softener salt, but being in facilities management, maintaining that water quality saves you a lot in the long run, he said.

Although it is still establishing a foothold in the Madison area, the company already has set its sights beyond the Badger State. Dave Gerry said there are people interested in franchising the business in Minnesota, Arizona, California, Texas and Illinois.

Were set to do this in a very big way. Our goal is go across the United States, he said. Once you see it and you realize it works, its just a matter of repeating it.

Environmental benefits

Gerry sees environmental benefits to the business. He estimates that one truck could prevent 100,000 plastic bags from entering a landfill per year by distributing the salt in bulk.

SaltCo has a 15,000-square-foot facility in Sauk City that holds its installation supplies and the salt.

Landgraf said the plan is to have people come to the location for a weeklong training session to learn how to assemble the system, operate a truck and market the service.

Thats ultimately the goal, Landgraf said. To have people from all over the country come and learn how to do this.
After an explosion seriously injured its founder, Sector67 is looking to regain its momentum as members of the Madison maker space move into a new East Side building.

Chris Meyer was injured Wednesday night in a small propane explosion at the nonprofits future location. Sector67  an organization that provides work space and classes for metal- and woodworkers, programmers, hobbyists and others  is in the middle of renovating a warehouse at 56 Corry St. to become the maker spaces permanent home.

Chris poured his life into the organization and this building process also, not only with the hours that he was putting in, but the knowledge, capability and relationships he brought in to make this project, said Sector67 board member Scott Hasse.

On Sunday afternoon, Hasse joined about 10 volunteers to continue renovation work, which includes insulating the building, adding windows and making the space compatible with the community workshops programming.

One of the major components involves lifting the roof up 10 feet for a second story to be built. The building will nearly double the available square footage compared to the organizations current leased space at 2100 Winnebago St.

Theyre literally raising the roof, said Sector67 member Forrest Woolworth.

As executive director, Meyer took the lead on the project. But the blast has put him in the burn unit at UW Hospital, and his recovery is expected to take months.

To assist Meyer and to keep Sector67s renovations on track, the organization has started a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of collecting $50,000 in donations.

Hasse said he will take over some responsibilities in the interim and a governance structure will be developed in Meyers absence.

Its carrying forward very earnestly, Hasse said. Were turning a warehouse into an education facility.

Founded in 2010, the workshop provides its about 100 members access to lathes, 3-D printers, computers, welding machines and a variety of other equipment.

After the physical renovations are completed, all the equipment will need to be transported less than a mile to the new location.

Hasse said the goal is to have the Corry Street location running sometime next year as Sector67 has a looming deadline to leave its current space. The former pole barn off Winnebago Street is slated to be demolished as part of a co-housing development project to begin construction in fall 2018.

While contractors have been hired for the renovation, workshop members are also volunteering their time to make the $750,000 project happen on time, Hasse said.

One of the blessings of Sector67 as an organization is a very active community of capable, creative people, he said.

Once completed, the Corry Street location will allow Sector67 to save around $50,000 per year in rent and an additional $40,000 put aside annually to buy a building, Hasse said.

The extra funds will help to expand the programming and let the nonprofit bring on some paid staff, he said.
CHICAGO  This past weekend I saw a few cars flying Mexican flags.

My first reaction was fear  I live in an area where youre as likely to see a Si se puede sticker on a car as you are a Confederate flag or a Make America Great Again yard sign. Naturally, I was concerned that whatever brave soul dared to conspicuously celebrate Mexican Independence Day was courting danger.

I honked to offer moral support. And I recalled that just the other day I said to my class of Hispanic students  in the most deadpan voice I could muster  Soon itll be Hispanic Heritage Month. Yay.

This is arguably the worst month of the year.

Not because there isnt beauty and pride to be found in the spotlighting of folkloric dances and music, traditional cooking and the works of artists of Latin American descent. But because (like everything else these days) it is so fraught with symbolism and politics that it has become a designated period of grievance-airing.

It used to be that the celebration would inspire mere political pandering and insane product marketers adding a taco, pinata or mariachi hat to packaging in order to feign relevance to the Latino community.

Over the past couple of years some have renamed Hispanic Heritage Month to Latinx Heritage Month  because the term Hispanic is, to them, passe and Latino is not gender inclusive enough.

Others put down the whole thing as illegitimate. Political observer Adriana Maestas recently wrote: People of Mexican, Central American and South American descent shouldnt have to celebrate heritage that is tied to invaders and colonizers.

This rolls straight into bitter arguments, impassioned pleas and (hopefully nonviolent) protests sparked by those who believe Columbus Day should be renamed Indigenous Peoples Day.

This is all topped off by a whole Octobers worth of manufacturers and retailers taking the looks and styles of the religious Day of the Dead traditions practiced across Latin America and selling them as cheap Halloween decorations and costumes.

Its beyond exhausting. The so-called conversations about these issues that permeate the internet at this time of year are a colossal waste of time and energy within an already very loosely united populace. Sure, these people all share a common tie to Latin America but they diverge widely when it comes to country of origin, language, customs, culture, political views and interest in what it means to be what the U.S. Census calls the Hispanic population.

I trace some of these troubles to the obsessive  and completely ineffectual  fixation on the semantics of Hispanic identity.

The hours and hours of time, effort, money, talent and energy that some have spent arguing about whether Hispanic or Latino is the better moniker, lobbying for the term illegal immigrant to be banned, and policing the use of the word American (the logic being that anyone from North and South America is an American, though there isnt a soul outside the United States who would call someone from Chile or Mexico or Canada anything other than a Chilean, Mexican or a Canadian) have been fruitless.

And the next frontier seems to be the phrase nation of immigrants.

People who use it typically do so to defend immigrants and portray them as an integral part of our countrys fabric. Critics say that this phrase excludes and marginalizes Native Americans, Hawaiians, Puerto Ricans and blacks.

In the Chicago Sun-Times, Natalie Moore explained it: When we hear platitudes like we are a nation immigrants (sic) or immigrants built this country, it feels like an erasure  not just of native people but black Americans who are descendants of enslaved Africans.

Victor Landa, editor-in-chief of the Hispanic-focused news website NewsTaco, said in a recent Facebook Live video that we need to stop saying the term because it has become lip service: Why do we celebrate going to Chinatown or Little Italy but get mad when we see a neighborhood where the business signage is in Spanish?

These are interesting concepts to question and vital conversations to engage in  and we shouldnt relegate them to a made-up heritage month. But its worth noting that while words do matter, they become a brick wall if we cant get beyond terminology to actually participating in meaningful dialogue.

Cepeda is a columnist for The Washington Post Writers Group.
It always amazes me how so many of us fight to ensure that we keep doing the same thing, even when it clearly doesnt work. Two examples stand out.

The first is trickle-down economics, the idea that if we just cut the taxes on the wealthy and big corporations, well free them up to innovate, invest and create wealth, which will then trickle down to the rest of us. This idea has driven our economic debate and policies since Ronald Reagan brought it front and center in 1980. Its the essence of President Trumps tax and economic plans. The problem is, it doesnt work. Never has.

The 1950s through the early 70s saw sustained economic growth and widening prosperity in the US. During that period, corporate taxes were at 50 percent and the top tax bracket on the rich was more than double what it is now. During those same years, not only did the economy grow substantially, but the main beneficiaries of that growth were working people and the middle class, whose incomes and wealth grew far more, proportionately, than those of the rich.

Since then, through nearly 40 years of tax-cutting trickle down, the results have been starkly different: An economy thats nearly three times bigger, with extraordinary increases in overall wealth, yet the vast majority of Americans treading water or going backwards. Trickle down hasnt, it doesnt and it wont. But that hasnt shaken the confidence of its many proponents.

The second example is this: the strategy of the Democratic Party (Im a Democrat). Once aligned with labor unions and working people, with helping the poor and vulnerable, with fighting for rural as well as urban prosperity, it has steadily morphed into the party of the elite, the highly-educated, the technically-competent and the well-to-do. As an alternative to the Republicans full-on embrace of the rich and powerful, we Democrats have been a miserable failure. Our messages and our messengers  with too many words and too much nuance  have further befuddled and alienated so many people. Thats especially true in Southwest Virginia and other predominantly rural parts of the state.

For a moment following the election of Trump, it seemed that the Democratic Party might be ready for a little soul searching; that given not only Clintons electoral loss, but the decade-long hemorrhaging of Democratic seats from state houses to Congress, it was time for some candid self-examination; that if regions like the Fighting 9th began to receive sustained attention, resources and respect, we might rekindle the progressive streak that had once been a part of its politics.

Youd think. But much like the continued embrace of trickle down in spite of its demonstrative failures, the Democratic Party continues to marginalize large swaths of the country, including the 9th District of Virginia and countless other rural communities.

It was in this context that Michael Hudson and I reached out to a small group of Southwest Virginians last December in hopes of changing the debate. Michael is a veteran and an IT guy from Blacksburg. Progressive 9th as we call ourselves, also includes farmers, students, small business owners, school teachers, academics and activists, from eight different counties, spanning much of the district.

As described in the August 28th Roanoke Times editorial The rural liberals, this group has written a Rural Progressive Platform, released in June. We wrote it to confront the failings of both parties, but also to assert that what we most value  a healthy landscape, meaningful and dignified livelihoods, and strong communities are progressive values in the truest sense of the word.

The platform is neither comprehensive nor prescriptive. Were not seeking endorsements. Rather we offer it as a discussion starter, to begin to rethink not only our language, but our understanding and priorities.

Youve probably heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting a different result. Like pushing trickle-down policies that have failed for four decades; like Democratic strategy that ignores the very communities we need to win back. I dont know if thats insanity, but Im pretty sure its flat out stupid. For Democrats wanting to transform their party, rather than give up on it  like many of us in Progressive 9th  the platform could be a good place to start. For independents and others who just want more honest and productive debate, it might also be of interest.

The platform is available at our website, https://ruralprogressivepolitics.wordpress.com.
After prosecutors took just two hours arguing in federal court that Joseph Jakubowski stole and then illegally transported 20 firearms during his run from the law last April, Jakubowski one-upped the prosecutors efforts during his trial Monday when he confessed from the witness stand to committing both crimes.

After Jakubowskis attorney asked him if he was in court to tell the truth, the 33-year-old Janesville man, sporting a scruffy goattee while wearing a buttoned-down gray shirt and black pants, said in his low voice, Yes I am.

The 10-man, two-woman jury will begin deliberations Tuesday morning at the U.S. District Court in Madison after the trial for the man who was the subject of a nationwide manhunt last April after he wrote a 161-page anti-government manifesto and mailed it to President Donald Trump, then stole the guns, burned his car and disappeared. He was captured 10 days later on private land in Vernon County.

Jakubowski told the Wisconsin State Journal during an interview before the trial that he wanted the case to go to court because it provided a platform for him to speak publicly about how he believes the U.S. government is corrupt. But U.S. District Judge William Conley squashed those plans when he granted the prosecutors pre-trial motion to exclude testimony or any other evidence from Jakubowski of any claimed necessity defense.

The prosecution was rarely knocked off course after the jury was selected Monday morning and opening statements were made. The only surprise was that Jakubowski, who had refused to stand to honor judges in previous court hearings, was polite and stood when told to stand after the jury was selected.

Jurors saw a video interview of Jakubowski on the day of his arrest describing how he broke into Armageddon Supplies in Janesville and stole the guns. In the video, Jakubowski tells federal agents that he had checked out the gun shop twice before he robbed it and that the robbery was as easy as it gets.

The jury watched surveillance video of a person wearing a hooded sweatshirt breaking into and stealing guns from the store that matched what Jakubowski described during his confession.

A DNA expert from the State Crime Lab said blood found at the gun shop matched blood taken from Jakubowski.

The prosecution also presented photos of the campsite where Jakubowski was found and of five guns and a silencer found in the tent. Federal agents testified the weapons matched those stolen from Armageddon Supplies.

Jakubowski was on the stand for just a few minutes. Prior to testifying that he was there to tell the truth, he told the court that he broke into and robbed Armageddon Supplies on April 4 and took guns, magazines and bullets.

When asked what he did next, he said, I took off northwest.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio M. Trillo made just a brief closing argument. Theres an overwhelming amount of evidence ... that (Jakubowski) is guilty of the charges, he told the jury.

Jakubowskis attorney, Joe Bugni, cross-examined just two of the prosecutions witnesses: Scott Kuhl, the owner of Armageddon Supplies, and Jimmy Holford, the Janesville police officer who arrested Jakubowski in 2008 after he said Jakubowski resisted arrest and tried to disarm him. Jakubowski was convicted in that case.

Kuhl testified under cross examination that he did not have a separate license hanging in his business that showed he was a gun dealer but said later in further questioning from prosecutors that he didnt need one because of the type of manufacturers license he had.

Jakubowskis hopes rested on Bugnis efforts to convince jurors that they had to find Jakubowski not guilty because he was wrongly convicted of disarming Holford in 2008. But under questioning from Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow, Holford said the incident was more clear to him than any he has been involved in during his 11-year career with Janesville police.

When asked why, Holford answered, Because the defendant tried to kill me.

During his closing argument, Bugni rattled off evidence presented by the prosecution and asked the jury, Is that everything you need to convict? Its not. But Trillo said Bugni was trying to confuse the jury with a technicality and said Holfords testimony proved they arrested the right man.

(Jakubowski) is a prior felon, Trillo said.
Some of the alcohol seized in Hellaby

A GANG of beer smugglers who evaded 3.8 million in tax have been jailed for a total of 19 years.

Ozgur Kaplan (below), of Brinsworth, and three other defendants from Doncaster, were found guilty of conspiring to cheat the public revenue.

They used false paperwork to bring in truckloads of beer  including Budweiser, Carlsberg and Stella  from France, Belgium and Germany.

Assistant director Stuart Taylor, from HMRCs fraud investigation service, said: This was a sophisticated and shameful attack on the UKs alcohol trade that undoubtedly harmed legitimate and hardworking businesses.

Zerze and his criminal gang stole millions of pounds which should have been used to fund our public services and now they are paying the price behind bars.

HMRC will continue to pursue organised crime gangs which think stealing from the public is a legitimate way to do business.

The four men were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, when Kaplan (27) was jailed for two years.

Huseyin Zerze (31), of Lonsdale Avenue, Doncaster, was sentenced to seven years; Ibrahim Mayil (38), of Sandall Park Drive, Doncaster, was given five years; and Huseyin Mayil (36), of Wheatley Hills, Doncaster, was jailed for five years.

HMRC said proceedings were under way to recover any profits made.
Williamson production to remain suspended for up to three months  Petra Petra Diamonds says a preliminary estimate suggests that production at its 75%-owned Williamson diamond mine in Tanzania will be temporarily suspended for up to three months until a new tailings storage facility (TSF) is commissioned.

Chinas wholesale gold demand dips due to seasonality and COVID disruptions in October The average Shanghai-London gold price premium remained elevated in October but fell during the second half of the month as COVID-related uncertainty clouded local gold demand prospects. Seasonal weakness and COVID-related disruptions weighed on Octobers...

Nornickel introduces automated remote-controlled drilling at Norilsk mines The automated drilling technology significantly enhances performance, improves safety, and ensures a stable workflow and delivery against the targets.



Iamgold revises 2022 production guidance upwards Dual-listed Iamgold produced 184 000 ounces (oz) in the third quarter from three of its operations compared to 153 000 oz, a year earlier. Of the three operations, its 90%-owned Essakane Mine in Burkina Faso delivered strong results and achieved...
Petra Diamonds said workers at its Finsch mine and Kimberley Ekapa Mining joint venture in South Africa have gone on an industrial action.

It said in a statement that the labour disruptions started Monday night.

The company is currently assessing the impact on both operations, it said.

Although underground and surface mining have been affected, plant treatment is continuing at near normal capacity at both operations treating surface material and available stockpiles.

Petra said normal operations were continuing at Cullinan and Koffiefontein.

The company also said that it was in ongoing discussions with the National Union of Mineworkers to resolve the situation and was closely managing the situation to ensure the least possible impact on group production.

Petras full year production jumped 8 percent to 4.0 million carats compared with 3.7 million carats produced the previous year.

Its full-year revenue also leaped 11 percent to $477.0 million from $430.9 million, a year earlier, due to an increase in volumes sold, offset by lower sales from exceptional diamonds during the year, contributing only $10.9 million.

However, the companys adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) slowed 4 percent to $157.2 million from last years $164.3 million.

The decrease was mainly due to the increase in mining and processing costs, partially offset by increased revenues.

Operations at its 75 percent-owned Williamson in Tanzania also resumed after a four-day stoppage.

However, a parcel of diamonds (71,654 carats) seized by the Tanzanian government were not released for export.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Two people were injured Saturday night after a pickup truck struck their motorcycle and immediately left the scene, the Dodge County Sheriff's Office said.

A truck was traveling east on Highway 60 near Highway R in the village of Hustisford when it started to pass a line of vehicles headed in the same direction. The truck merged back into the eastbound side and side-swiped the motorcycle around 8:35 p.m., the sheriff's office said.

The motorcycle's driver and passenger were thrown, and neither had on helmets, according to the sheriff's office.

The passenger was seriously injured and taken to a hospital by helicopter, while the driver was taken by ambulance with injuries that weren't life-threatening, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities are searching for the driver of the truck, which was described as a newer model white or silver Ford Super Duty with side mirrors and marker lights.

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Dodge County Sheriff's Office at 920-386-3726.
Canadian National

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), is spearheading the inaugural Rail Safety Week (RSW) in the U.S. Sept. 24-30. Class 1s are supporting the focus on rail safety with their own efforts throughout the week.

According to OLI, While the number of highway-rail crossing collisions, deaths and injuries has dropped over the past five decades, its still a startling fact that about every three hours in the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit by a train. OLI says the goal of RSW is to raise awareness across the United States of the need for rail safety education and empower the general public to keep themselves safe near highway-rail grade crossings and railroad rights-of-way.

Canadian National

Canadian National (CN) is inviting the public to take an online safety pledge at mysafetypledge.com, which asks people to share rail safety tips in their community, talk about rail safety at their local schools or report unsafe behavior around trains or railway property. Additionally, members of the CN Police and Risk Mitigation Service will conduct more than 60 scheduled safety initiatives, enforcement blitzes and community events at commuter stations and grade crossings across its U.S. network.

Trespassing fatalities along railway tracks are entirely preventable, and tragedies at railway level crossings can be avoided by simply obeying crossing signals, said Stephen Covey, chief of police and chief security officer at CN.

Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific (CP) launched its own safety program, CP RailSense, with a simple goal: encourage safe behavior around tracks and trains and eliminate injuries and fatalities. CP wants to boost situational awareness around the railroad through education, targeted communications and outreach. The Class 1 will also participate in enforcement and public awareness events in New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota. Outreach efforts include presentations to students, speaking to patrons of businesses close to tracks, enforcement efforts at grade crossings and media events.

CSX

CSX plans network-wide outreach including crossing safety blitzes, safety presentations for first responders and community members, college campus engagement and more. There will also be events that focus specifically on truck driver and commuter rail education.

CSX notes that a key partner of its safety message is Wide Angle Youth Media, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that provides youth with media education and opportunities for compelling storytelling. Two new rail safety videos, created by students in the program, are debuting during Rail Safety Week on csx.com/railsafetystories.

Union Pacific

Union Pacific (UP) plans outreach events during the week that include Crossing Accident Reduction, Education and Safety (UPCARES) events with law enforcement officers who monitor driver behavior at railroad crossings from inside a Union Pacific locomotive.

Rail Safety Week participation will help raise awareness about the importance of drivers and pedestrians using caution anytime they approach railroad crossings, said Rod Doerr, Union Pacific vice president  Safety. We care about our communities and urge everyone to slow down, look both ways and stop for approaching trains to prevent accidents.
(Agencia CMA Latam) - Merval, the main index of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, rose 1.73% to settle at 25,005.88 points Friday, breaking a new historical record by closing above 25,000 points. In the week, the Merval climbed 5.40%.

In addition to the good indicators known in recent days, today's rise was driven by a successful share offering made by Mirgor, which ended up skyrocketing 13.96%.

The shares of Macro (+4.86%), Comercial del Plata (+3.59%), Galicia (+3.14%), Petrolera Pampa (+2.72%), and TGN (+2.57%) also rose, while Central Puerto (-2.04%), Distribuidora de Gas (-1.63%), and Autopistas del Sol (-1.61%) fell.

The locally traded U.S. dollar, meanwhile, rose 0.17%, closing at 17.30 pesos, completing a good recovery week after four weeks falling.

"With the upward movement experienced this week, the greenback returned to the level of August," said Gustavo Quintana, an analyst at PR Corredores de Cambio.

by Agencia CMA Latam

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(Agencia CMA Latam) - Colcap, the main index of the Colombian Stock Exchange, rose 0.15% to close at 1,486.15 points Friday, boosted by Bancolombia and Avianca. During the week, however, the Colombian market fell 0.45%.

Andres Fonseca, an analyst at Alianza Valores, said that a court ruling that favored Avianca in a litigation to the pilots union of pilots led to a 1.56% increase in shares.

Meanwhile, Bancolombia's preferred shares rose 1.42% following a report by Morgan Stanley recommending the shares of the bank traded abroad.

The ordinary shares of Bancolombia (+1.53%), Conconcreto (+0.99%), ETB (+0.97%), and Nutresa (+0.67%) also rose, while Cemargos (-1.02%), Davivienda (-0.90%), Celsia (-0.53%), Grupo Aval (-0.38%), and Ecopetrol (-0.36%) fell.

Meanwhile, the locally traded U.S. dollar closed the day at 2,905.80 Colombian pesos, marking a 0.32% fall, due to the increased perceived risk of political tensions between the United States and North Korea.

Wilson Tovar, an analyst at Acciones & Valores, pointed out that the greenback is giving way to other reserve currencies abroad, especially the Japanese yen.

by Agencia CMA Latam

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paragon AG, a developer of automotive electronics, e-mobility and body kinematics, announced Monday that its Management Board approved the price range for the planned IPO of its electromobility subsidiary, Voltabox AG.

The company noted that Voltabox has set a price range of between 20 euros and 24 euros per share. The offer is to contain mainly 5 million new shares plus a greenshoe option of 0.825 million additional new shares from a capital increase of Voltabox.

Existing shareholder paragon AG will also sell an additional 0.5 million shares in the offer. Based on the assumption that all offered shares will be fully placed, the placement volume is expected to range between 126.5 million euros and 151.8 million euros. Of this, Voltabox would generate between 116.5 million euros and 139.8 million euros in gross proceeds.

paragon said it would generate between 10 million euros and 12 million euros in gross proceeds from the placement of 0.5 million shares. The expected post-IPO free float will be approximately 40%.

paragon AG intends to remain the majority shareholder of Voltabox for the foreseeable future.

Subject to the prospectus' approval by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, which is expected over the course of today, the period during which institutional investors can subscribe to the offered shares is to commence on September 26 and end on October 10.

Trading in the Prime Standard segment is expected to start on October 13, 2017.

Bankhaus Lampe KG will be the sole global coordinator in the IPO and acts as joint bookrunner alongside Hauck & Aufh?user Privatbankiers AG.

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Energy giant BP Plc (BP.L,BP_UN.TO,BP), together with the Ministry of Oil & Gas of the Sultanate of Oman, announced Monday that production has begun from the giant Khazzan gas field ahead of schedule and under budget.

The field is operated by BP in partnership with Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production. The Phase One of the major tight gas project is expected to deliver 1 billion cubic feet of gas per day or bcf/d to Sultanate of Oman.

Khazzan is BP's sixth and largest major project start-up so far this year. The company noted that the Khazzan tight gas reserves lie at depths of up to five kilometres in narrow bands of extremely hard, dense rock. These complex and challenging conditions require specialized drilling equipment, the precise drilling of both vertical and horizontal wells, and well stimulation to free the gas.

The production sharing agreement for Block 61, which contains the Khazzan field, was first signed in 2007 and was amended in 2013 and extended in 2016.

The first phase of development of the field was sanctioned in December 2013. Phase One of the Khazzan development is made up of 200 wells feeding into a two-train central processing facility.

Once the second phase of the Khazzan is fully up and running production is expected rise to 1.5 bcf/d. In total, approximately 300 wells are expected to be drilled over the estimated lifetime of the Khazzan field. Phases One and Two will together develop an estimated 10.5 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas resources.

BP provided advanced seismic, hydraulic fracturing and well design expertise, while many local Omani businesses contributed to the Khazzan Project. In fact, approximately 38% of the total contract spend to date has been awarded to local oil and gas services companies, BP noted.

BP expects to start-up seven Upstream major projects in 2017. These seven projects are expected to make a significant contribution to the 800,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of production that BP expects to add by 2020.

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Japan is taking a strong control over virtual currency exchanges in the country. The Financial Services Agency or FSA of Japan's move would be applicable to Bitcoin and all other digital currencies. Japan has been a nerve center of bitcoin exchange .

The regulator is aiming for a sound market development, while Bitcoin has been climbing high from January 2017. The price and demand increased in the last eight months - from $997 in January to more than $4500 in the last few months. Currently the value is around $3919.

There are around 20 crypto-currency exchanges in Japan - all run by private companies. FSA has directed the exchanges to register prior to the end of of September. The agency will also conduct surveillance and on-site inspections.

The fluctuation of the value of digital currencies has been a concern for authorities in several countries. Recently funds have been raised through initial coin offering of crypto-currencies.

A few weeks back, China also started cracking down of Bitcoin trading. Initial Coin Offering were banned in China to check issuance of virtual token instead of shares. The efforts of Chinese authorities have put much pressure on the digital currency exchanges, leading to the decline in value.

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(Agencia CMA Latam) - A Chinese authority delegation is expected in Colombia next month as part of the procedures aimed at verifying the conditions of production of Hass avocado in the South American country before the start of its exports to China.

The Colombian government said that the good moment for local avocado producers is reflected in the fruit's export figures, which increased 41% in between January and July, compared to the same period in the previous year.

Colombia's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Aurelio Iragorri, stressed the potential of this product and noted that "while we continue to celebrate admissibility in the United States, the final arrangements to enter China are ready."

by Agencia CMA Latam

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New Zealand posted a merchandise trade deficit of NZ$1.235 billion in August, Statistics New Zealand said on Tuesday.

That missed forecasts for a shortfall of NZ$825 million following the NZ$98 million surplus in July.

Exports were up NZ$306 million or 9.0 percent on year to NZ$3.69 percent - missing forecasts for NZ$4.05 billion and down from NZ$4.63 billion in the previous month.

Fruit had the largest rise of any export commodity group in August, up NZ$70 million (29 percent) to NZ$311 million. Kiwifruit led the rise in fruit, up NZ$73 million (37 percent) to NZ$268 million. Gold kiwifruit rose NZ$45 million (55 percent) in value, and 26 percent in quantity. Green kiwifruit rose NZ$28 million (25 percent) in value, and 17 percent in quantity.

Milk powder, butter, and cheese exports fell NZ$12 million (2.6 percent) in value, and 25 percent in quantity. August months are generally lower-value and lower-quantity months for dairy commodity exports.

Other key changes in commodity export values for August were: petroleum products (including crude oil) - up NZ$54 million (56 percent); and food preparations (such as infant formula) - up NZ$44 million (50 percent).

The monthly movements for New Zealand's top export destinations included: Australia - up 152 million (22 percent) to NZ$860 million, with increases across a range of commodities; China - up NZ$85 million (13 percent) to NZ$724 million, led by kiwifruit, up NZ$58 million; and European Union - up NZ$33 million (8.8 percent) to NZ$413 million, led by kiwifruit, up NZ$15 million.

Imports advanced an annual 6.5 percent or NZ$301 million to NZ$4.92 billion versus forecasts for NZ$4.80 billion after showing NZ$4.53 billion a month earlier.

Crude oil led the rise, up NZ$147 million (93 percent). Mechanical machinery and equipment climbed NZ$82 million (13 percent), led by a rise in aircraft parts, up NZ$48 million. Electrical machinery and equipment rose NZ$39 million (11 percent), with rises across a range of commodities. Vehicles parts and accessories were little changed (up 0.1 percent).

The monthly movements for New Zealand's top import destinations were: European Union - up NZ$107 million (12 percent) to NZ$1.0 billion, led by a rise in vehicles, parts, and accessories, up NZ$69 million; Australia - up NZ$48 million (8.2 percent) to NZ$637 million, with increases across a range of commodities; United States - up NZ$37 million (8.2 percent) to NZ$494 million, led by a rise in aircraft, up NZ$18 million; China - up NZ$26 million (2.7 percent), led by a rise in laptops, up NZ$15 million; and Japan - down NZ$50 million (14 percent), led by a fall in motor vehicles, down NZ$46 million.

Annual goods exports were valued at NZ$50.8 billion, an increase from NZ$50.5 billion in July, while annual goods imports were valued at NZ$54.0 billion, an increase from NZ$53.7 billion in July and the annual trade deficit was NZ$3.2 billion in August, little changed from the previous month.

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(Agencia CMA Latam) - The Venezuelan government rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose a travel ban to its citizens through a decree that was signed Sunday.

"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the irrational decision of the government of the United States of America to once again catalog the noble Venezuelan people as a threat to their national security, this time under false assumptions that they pose a terrorist threat," Caracas said.

On Sunday, Trump issued a new travel ban to block the entry into the country of people from eight countries, including citizens of Venezuela, North Korea and Chad.

The decree replaces a previous one, released in March, banning travelers from six Muslim-majority countries. The new travel ban comes into force on October 18 for Venezuelan, North Korean and Chadian citizens, while is valid since yesterday for people from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia. The new travel ban has no expiration date.

by Agencia CMA Latam

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Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, a farmer from western Wisconsin who has spent the last decade in the Legislature, launched her run for governor Monday.

Vinehout, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in the 2012 recall and briefly in 2014, released a campaign video and planned to address supporters Monday night in Black River Falls.

I am running for governor to put people first, at the center of state policy and the top priority when it comes to spending the states dollars, she said in her prepared remarks. My vision for tomorrow is very different from where the state is today.

Vinehout becomes the seventh announced Democratic candidate hoping to take on Republican Gov. Scott Walker next year. There are about 10 other Democrats who have said they are considering getting into the race. The primary is just under 11 months away on Aug. 14.

Walkers campaign manager Joe Fadness, who rarely weighs in on developments on the Democratic side, criticized Vinehout in a message on Twitter, referencing her vote in 2007 for a universal health care plan in Wisconsin that would have been paid for with $15 billion in tax increases.

No greater contrast: tax-cutting governor v. author of largest tax hike in WI history, Fadness tweeted. Walker cuts taxes for families, Vinehout raises them.

The Healthy Wisconsin health care plan Vinehout and all other Democratic state senators supported in 2007 died under Republican opposition.

Vinehout, of Alma, said that as governor she wants to turn the states priorities upside down by emphasizing local control and accepting the federal Medicaid money Walker has repeatedly rejected to pay for other priorities, including alternatives to prison.

Vinehout criticized Republican tax breaks for the wealthy and large corporations, as well as the $3 billion incentive package for electronics manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature and signed into law by Walker last week.

Wisconsin needs a real leader, a leader who listens, who does their homework and focuses on solving the problems people have in their daily lives, Vinehout said in her video.

Vinehout, 59, was first elected to the state Senate in 2006 after working 10 years as a college professor and 10 years as a dairy farmer. Shes up for re-election next year but wont seek the Senate seat for a fourth term because shes fully committed to her gubernatorial run, Vinehout spokesman Greg Leaf said.

Vinehout first ran for governor in the 2012 recall election against Walker, coming in third in the five-person primary with 4 percent of the vote. She was mounting a run in 2014, but dropped out in January of that year as she recovered from a car crash.

Democrats already in the race this year include state Superintendent Tony Evers, state Rep. Dana Wachs, Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik, political activist Mike McCabe and political newcomer Bob Harlow.

Gronik said he has great respect for Vinehout and welcomed her to the race, saying, I love competition. McCabe said, The more the merrier. Evers campaign spokesman declined to comment, and Wachs campaign manager issued a statement that did not address Vinehouts joining the race.
Back in April, President Donald Trump ordered a U.S. missile strike on a Syrian military airfield, punishing the regime for a chemical weapons attack. Bashar Assad has no friends on Capitol Hill, but some lawmakers, from both parties, objected to Trumps decision to carry out an act of war without congressional consent.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., spoke for this group when he said, The administration is also going to have to set out the legal justification for tonights action and any future military operations against the Assad regime as part of its consultations with Congress.

Turns out the administration didnt have to do any such thing. The pushback came to naught. The administration used military force as it saw fit, and Congress stood by, twiddling its thumbs, much as it has done for years under Presidents Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

Last week came the latest abdication. Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., pushed legislation to repeal a 2001 measure and force Congress to authorize future wars, beginning in six months. Reed and 60 others voted to kill it. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., saw grave dangers in repealing such a vital law before we have something to replace it with.

Congress could banish that fear by approving a new AUMF, or Authorization for Use of Military Force, before retiring the old one. But it has shown no interest in taking such responsibility.

After the 9/11 attacks, it was different. A surprised nation, aware of what had happened but not of all its origins or implications, sought to respond urgently  in part to thwart any still-unfolding plot. So Congress approved the AUMF granting the president the right to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons.

The language was intended to confer broad latitude to fight al-Qaida, the Taliban and those who had partnered with them. It served as the basis for invading Afghanistan, and Congress passed a similar bill for the Iraq War.

But the 2001 measure has been converted into an all-access badge. President Obama relied on it for his attacks on the Islamic State  which had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks because the group didnt exist then. A report last year by the Congressional Research Service found the AUMF had been the basis for 37 military actions in 14 countries.

And guess what? Congress has been a profile in passivity. Obama even asked it to approve a new AUMF in 2015, saying it was unwise to continue to grant presidents unbound powers  powers he nonetheless continued to use after Congress declined his request.

Presidents may say they are entitled to use military force whenever they think its in the national interest, with or without such authorization. The framers would disagree. They assigned the power to declare war to Congress. But there has been no declaration of war since World War II. Presidents routinely send our men and women into harms way without asking Congress to agree.

The arrangement works for most members because it insulates them from the consequences of military action. If it goes well, they can cheer. If it goes badly, they can heap blame on the president. ...

Thats an unhealthy approach. The value of congressional votes is that they force a serious debate on matters fraught with danger. They compel the president to make a case that commands popular support. They offer some assurance that if the going gets tough, the public will be prepared for the sacrifices needed to prevail.

Instead, Americans find their government using force in a host of places without much public knowledge or concern. Recently, Congress said in effect that the less it has to bother with such matters, the better.

Paul noted that he was merely advocating a decision on whether or not we should be at war  one of the most momentous decisions a government can make. It should be a simple vote, he said. It is like pulling teeth.

Wrong. Pulling teeth is not impossible. Getting Congress to take responsibility for our wars seems to be.
By SA Commercial Prop News

Nedbank Corporate Property Finance Managing Executive, Frank Berkeley retires after spending 20 years with the group.



Nedbanks Corporate Property Finance Divisions managing executive, Frank Berkeley is to retire at the end of August 2014 after spending two decades in post, Nedbank announced today.

Mr Berkeley, who is also independent non-executive director of JSE-listed property funds Sycom and Acucap, made steady growth on Nedbanks loan books.

With his enormous respect for the accounting profession, he has been at the helm of the divisions stellar performance since taking the reins in 2004, successfully positioning Nedbank as the leading bank in commercial property finance with a market share well ahead of its competitors.

Mfundo Nkuhlu, Managing Executive of Nedbank Corporate says "I would like to express my gratitude to Frank for his outstanding leadership, wealth of knowledge and business acumen in building a formidable commercial property team in Nedbank Corporate."

"He leaves the business in a strong position for sustainable performance and growth in the period ahead," Nkuhlu said.

Berkeley who decided to take early retirement, will remain in charge of the business until end August. Nkuhlu will oversee the business in need if the appointment of a successor is not finalised by 1 September 2014.



Berkeley spent his career in property finance, first at Syfrets, then at Nedcor Investment Bank (NIB). The month of August marks his 20th anniversary with the Nedbank Group after having joined in August 1994.

In a statement to announce his retirement he said the property industry has certainly had its share of challenges and opportunities.

"Our message has consistently been that even in tough economic times, we have remained open for business and partnered with our clients to provide finance where opportunities are realised," says Berkeley.

"We have a strong leadership team with more than 150 years property experience between us. This, and the fact that we solely focus on property, has seen us achieve many goals, including that of reaching R100bn in book size at the end of June 2014, a milestone that we can attribute to the entire staff of Nedbank Corporate Property Finance," Berkeley concludes.
Shark sightings and attacks in Samoas waters are not new.

So alerts the Assistant Chief Officer Legal for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Maoiautele Amitonu Brigitta Faafiti-Lo Tam.

She was responding to questions from the Samoa Observer about a man who was recently attacked by a shark while he was fishing in the lagoon at Nofoalii.

There have been past incidents of shark attacks, and the most recent attack as reported by your paper, Maoi'autele said.

The presence of sharks is a good indication of a healthy reef and good population of fish.

Maoiautele said sharks are predatory in nature and are territorial animals.

Sharks are attracted to fish.

There are shark species known as grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, and black tip reef sharks which are normally found in the lagoon areas (aloalo) and some observed close to shore.

The displays of aggression towards humans vary from one species to another and sharks can mistake people swimming or wading on reefs for prey in the presence of food.

Maoi'autele also warned members of the public to be alert.

Today, a young man from the village of Nofoalii is still recovering at the hospital.

He survived a shark attack that had left villagers deeply disturbed.

The man was fishing in the lagoon when the incident happened.

One of the villagers who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the incident has left villagers concerned, especially since many of them depend on fishing for their daily upkeep.

Ive been told that the shark came out of nowhere while the young man was trying to get a fish he had caught, the villager said

The young man sustained injuries to his hands and legs.

A relative told the Samoa Observer he was in I.C.U. His condition was initially serious but he is improving.
Member of Parliament, Olo Fiti Vaai, has called on the government to end commercial sex work in Samoa.

He has also strongly criticised plans by the Ministry of Health to offer educational and counseling services to commercial sex workers as part of a bid to promote healthy living.

Samoa is a Christian state and the sexual activity procuring money should not be allowed in our country, said Olo.

What hypocrites. Samoa was recently declared a Christian country and yet they are offering services to prostitutes. Is this a joke?

Last month, the Ministry of Health said it wanted to educate and counsel commercial sex workers.

The plan is revealed in a 98-page National HIV, AIDS, and S.T.I Policy 2017-2022 report, obtained by the Samoa Observer.

Earlier this year, the Samoa Observer revealed that the number of female sex workers in Samoa was estimated at around 400.

It was also revealed that most women are doing sex work for economic reasons. The age during which some of them begin sex work ranges from 13 to 21 years old.

The commercial sex workers came under the prevention segment of the M.O.H. Policy report, which indicates that services are available to promote safer sex practices.

Information Education Communication (I.E.C) and counseling services shall be made free of stigma and at no cost to commercial sex workers in order to enable them to adopt safer sexual practices, the report reads.

According to Olo, the government needs to find sex workers and offer them employment opportunities.

The Ministry of Health are encouraging them by providing counseling and education for them to have protected sex using the condoms they are distributing publicly.

But what about giving them a solid solution and making sure these girls refrain from doing this permanently, by giving them jobs?

According to a recent report an estimated 400 sex workers are in Samoa. What is the government doing about it? Nothing. And they are just offering them sex education and condoms?

Why are these women in this position? The reason is very clear, its due to economic reasons. These girls are forced into this lifestyle.

He believes the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of the government.

Olo also pointed out the amendments that need to be made in the law to reflect that Samoa is a Christian State.

The government should also revise the local laws that coincide with the reality of Samoa being a Christian State, in terms of law enforcement against the Sodom and Gomorrah lifestyle found in our Country, said Olo Fiti.

He told the Samoa Observer, the Attorney General and the Ministry of Police should not sit idle on this issue.

The A.G. is the one who supported Samoa becoming a Christian State, he should also look at the local law banning prostitution activity in Samoa.

We hear it here and there, it does exist, what is the government doing about it nothing.

The Ministry of Police should be concerned about this and investigate them, after all this is the government report in which they should take serious and do their mandates in accordance to the law and investigate and look for where the prostitution activities are located and raid those places.

According to the Pacific Multi-country Mapping and Behavioral Study 2016, most women are doing sex work for economic reasons. The age during which some of them begin sex work range from 13 to 21 years old.

The report was rubbished by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi who laughed at claims that poverty and hardship are to blame for the growing number of sex workers in Samoa.

Tuilaepa attacked the newspaper over its coverage of the issue describing the reporting as rubbish.

If that is true then you shouldnt find that in America, the wealthiest country in the world, yet there are a lot of women like that in America, Tuilaepa said. Thats where its wrong; you cant control this type of behavior.
A new hotel will soon take shape in Sogi.

Next month, Digicel Samoa, is expected to host a groundbreaking ceremony to kick-start their $40million tala hotel development.

The hotel will be located on S.I.F.A land, where the government parked all the cars and buses during the S.I.D.S Conference

This was confirmed by the Chairman of Digicel Samoa, Pepe Fiaailetoa Fruean.

To be called the Lava Hotel, Pepe told the Samoa Observer they are looking at 55 rooms.

The Planning and Urban Management Agency (P.U.M.A) division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E) has already approved and issued the development consent for the construction to take shape.

Were really happy we are finalizing the development design with the architecture and the engineers, Pepe told the Samoa Observer, adding that they are ironing out just the few final details.

And we are well placed, we are moving forward and we would expect some positive news in October, 2017.

Pepe said Digicel is excited to be able to help grow the Samoan tourism industry by adding 55 more rooms to what is already available.

I suppose I would like the hotel to speak for itself. Its a really exciting project, he said.

Our main business is obviously communications. Weve invested so much in our core business as a result the company continues to do well at the end of the year.

The government through its hotel development plans had this opportunity for businesses to invest in infrastructure and we saw the opportunity.

We thought well, lets take the opportunity further and recommit to Samoa in a different area in tourism, where weve never been to in Samoa.

Pepe added that the Digicel Group is not new to the tourism business.

In the Caribbean for instance, the Digicel Group owns the Marriot Port-au-Prince Hotel.

Asked about the challenges currently faced by hoteliers in Samoa  including low occupancy rates - Pepe said there are a lot of challenges but there is also a lot of potential.

There have been several studies, at least two studies, independent studies which seem to point to the fact that we need a lift and its basically, airlines, he said.

The government has recommitted to our Samoa Airways and thats a positive development.

It will take us a year to develop the hotel and by that time we would like to think that Samoa Air will be increasing flights and competing with the New Zealand and Australia route, opening new markets for us in Hawaii.

Having an extra flight from Hawaii, is vital because we know that Northern American tourists is a very valuable one for Samoa.

And when we lost that Air New Zealand flight that was flying from LA, New Zealand Tonga, we lost a significant contribution to our tourism.

So now through these new partnerships, and alliances with Fiji Airways and Samoa Air, in my Lava hat, this would place Samoa in a much better situation.

Not only for our hotel; but for other hotels as well.

That is the positive thing, once the tourist comes and stay at one place, they are eating at the restaurant, they are going to the makeki, they are buying fresh fruits, theyre taking tours around Samoa, our people are benefiting and we just need more people spending money.
Satya Nadella, the Microsoft CEO who kept the company relevant as its primary PC software business faded, could write a book about the challenges he faced.

And he has ... but it's not a tell-all memoir. Instead, Nadella, who has worked at the company since the early 1990s, has positioned himself as the embodiment of the story Microsoft wants to tell about its transformation into a forward-thinking outfit focused on artificial intelligence, cloud software, virtual worlds and quantum computing.

"Microsoft is known for rallying the troops with competitive fire," Nadella writes in "Hit Refresh," his new autobiography. "The press loves that, but it's not me."

Nadella isn't brash or outspoken in the manner of his predecessors or many of his Silicon Valley peers. His thoughtfulness stands out in an industry known for big egos and awkward detachment from the real world. He talks a lot about empathy and mindfulness. Those who know him say he means it.

"Companies that try to understand other people's problems tend to be more successful," said K. Vairavan, a professor emeritus of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, who was chairman of the school's computer science program when Nadella obtained a master's degree there in 1990. Even then, Nadella combined intellectual vision with a warm personality, Vairavan said.

Nor did he ever seem stressed out  though the professor once walked into the research lab one Monday morning to find Nadella's sleeping bag on the floor  a sign of a long weekend spent finishing a thesis.

A PASSAGE FROM INDIA

Nadella's book recounts some personal and professional struggles, including details not widely known about his upbringing in India and adjusting to his children's disabilities.

In a surprising passage about the "perverse logic" of U.S. immigration law, Nadella reveals how during his early years at Microsoft, he gave up the security of a green card  which grants permanent American residency  for a temporary work visa because it was the only way his wife, Anu, could join him in the United States.

"I went back to the U.S. embassy in Delhi in June of 1994, past the enormous lines of people hoping to get a visa, and told a clerk that I wanted to give back my green card and apply for an H-1B," Nadella writes. "He was dumbfounded."

Risking his career gave him instant notoriety on the Microsoft campus.

"Anu was my priority," he writes. "And that made my decision a simple one."

NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION

In the first executive meeting after Nadella took over from his predecessor, Steve Ballmer, in 2014, Nadella brought a copy of a book about nonviolent communication for everyone in the room.

"It was a little bit of a surprise," said Microsoft President Brad Smith. "Steve Ballmer was not somebody who brought in books. There was definitely a sense that this was something different."

Nadella's push for cultural shift  and hiring "learn-it-alls" instead of "know-it-alls"  is largely meant to jolt enthusiasm for a new era of innovation at the company. Microsoft had long depended on the success of its flagship Windows operating system and the royalties it gets for each PC sold with it. But the global PC market is declining, and Microsoft fell behind as Apple and Google led the shift to smartphones.

Nadella doesn't take any shots at Microsoft's co-founder and first CEO Bill Gates  who wrote the book's forward  or Ballmer. But he's frank about their disagreements, especially over Ballmer's disastrous $7.3 billion acquisition of Nokia's phone business in 2014. Nadella also refers to the company's previous organizational structure as a "confederation of fiefdoms" and recounts negative feedback received from employee surveys and emails.

"The company was sick," Nadella writes. "Employees were tired. They were frustrated. They were fed up with losing and falling behind despite their grand plans and great ideas. They came to Microsoft with big dreams, but it felt like all they really did was deal with upper management, execute taxing processes and bicker in meetings."

LEARNING FROM MISSTEPS

In a book full of techno-optimism and enthusiasm about the company's future, it's about as critical as Nadella gets. He also largely steers away from political controversy, except to reject comments about Asian tech executives once made by Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump's former chief strategist.

"Even when some people in positions of power have remarked that there were too many Asian CEOs in technology, I've ignored their ignorance," Nadella writes, without naming Bannon. Trump barely merits mention  and gets no criticism  although the index references several pages about former President Barack Obama, all positive.

Even Nadella's biggest public controversy  a 2014 comment suggesting that women don't need to push for pay raises  has become a lesson in how business leaders should acknowledge their mistakes, said Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd College and a former Microsoft board member who was interviewing Nadella when he made the remarks.

His swift apology cast Nadella "as a very different kind of leader from Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer," his two predecessors, Klawe said. "Somebody who has a lot more humility and is a lot more willing to learn."

He promises not to squander the new energy felt by employees after years of frustration. So far, it seems to be paying off; Microsoft shares have doubled since he took the top job in early 2014, and the company is attracting buzz for its work in AI, augmented reality and a new effort in futuristic computing.

"I think he has built a much more collaborative culture," Klawe said. "He has made people believe in the future of Microsoft in a way that neither Bill nor Steve really did."
Think a minuteA cemetery in Indiana, America has a gravestone with these words on it: Stop stranger, when you pass me by. As you are now, so once was I.

As I am now, so you will be. So prepare to die, and follow me! A person walking by added these words underneath: To follow you Im not content, until I know which way you went! Do you sometimes wonder where your family and friends whove died are now? Do they want you to come where they are?

Dont you wish they could talk to you? Where are all those people now who suddenly died in the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001?

Jesus Christ made it very clear that we already know where were going after we die, since its only now that we can choose where well live after we die.

He warns us that it will be too late after we die to choose or change our mind. Jesus said there are only two choices: to completely believe Him and live His way everyday, or, to keep living our own way.

Heaven or hell. Jesus said theres no in-between place for nice, good people who wont ask for His gift of forgiveness and live for Him every day.

None of us is perfect. Weve all done some things wrong that we need Jesus to forgive us for and start changing in our character and way of living.

So we dont need to talk to the dead to find out about life after death.

Jesus Christ has already told us the truth and everything we need to know to go where we want to live after we dietogether with Him and His true family in heaven.

So for your own peace of mind and safety, wont you ask Jesus to forgive you for living your own way before its too late?

Then ask Him to take full charge of your heart and help you start living His way every day, for the rest of your life. Just Think a Minute
Tulip mania hit its peak in 1637 when a box of 40 bulbs sold for 100,000 florins or the equivalent today of approximately one million euros. Seeds from tulip bulbs flower after seven to 12 years, but when they die, the buds become bulbs of their own, and so the process can go on forever. During the tulip mania, many people bought and sold bulbs that they never took possession of; in other words, this was the beginning of the speculative futures market. They bought bulbs at one price hoping to sell to some other investor at a higher price, which sounds a bit like our current stock market.

Tulip mania was popularized by a Scottish journalist, Charles Mackay, who wrote a book in 1841, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds. Unfortunately, the story of the tulip madness turns out to be mostly untrue. In 2007, Anne Goldgar did research that mostly debunks the myth and argues that tulip mania was mostly practiced by a very small group of merchants (it has been called a meaningless winter drinking game), and that the economic fallout was quite limited.

However, the economic theories that have used the tulip as its basis are legion  efficient market hypothesis, the dot-com bubble, and the subprime mortgage crisis being a few. The reason I bring this hoary tale up is that I am fascinated by the wisdom (or lack thereof) of crowds and how hard it is to pick a winner.

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The latest big idea to change the world that has completely tanked is Juicero. It went out of business last week. Now lots of companies go out of business, but this one was fantastic. Juicero made a $700 juicer that worked on Wi-Fi, delivering very small glasses of cold pressed juice to you in the comfort of your own kitchen. It had raised $120 million. The investors included Google Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, as well as the Campbell Soup Company. The idea was just like Nespresso or Keurig. You buy the machine, and then you buy little packets of organic juice for between $4 and $10..

Doug Evans, the founder and CEO, said You extract the water molecules, the chlorophyll, the anthocyanin and the flavonoids, and you are getting this living nutrition. Its like drinking the nectar of the earth. Gimme a break. $120 million for some juice.

My suspicion is that this product was solving a problem that did not really exist, and the market for this gizmo was going to be limited to two residential streets in Palo Alto and one in Beverly Hills.

Yet really smart people made the bet to back this company. The famous line is it seemed like a good idea at the time, but after the fact, the insanity is obvious. The latest tulip idea pitched to me last week was to use cryptocurrency to take a non-existent company public. Everyone knows about bitcoin (even if you cant explain it and cant touch it, you can use it to buy a Tesla), but this latest digital asset is even more exotic. I am not going to try to explain it (why should I demonstrate my technical inadequacy?); I am simply going to marvel at the wisdom of crowds and the unlimited ability of the human mind to invent and create.

The word crypto has the same talismanic magical sound like plastics (from the movie The Graduate), and to prove it, a new company Brave, founded by Brendan Eich, of Mozilla fame, raised $35 million dollars in 30 seconds in what is called an initial coin offering. The payment system uses Basic Attention Tokens. I am not making this stuff up. The investors did not get equity in the company, they got tokens that can be converted into a cryptocurrency called Ethereum.

They should try to use those tokens in the New York subway system and see if they can get to Queens on the D train.

I must sound like a troglodyte. Technical innovations are coming, and even if you cant understand the concept of electricity in a non-zero force field, you still need to flip the light switch on the wall if you want to see where you are going.

Neil Senturia, a serial entrepreneur who invests in early-stage technology companies, writes weekly about entrepreneurship in San Diego. Please email ideas to Neil at neil@blackbirdv.com.

Rule No. 530: Make mine orange juice  squeezed from an orange.
Imagine shopping in the future:

Stores are showrooms and your purchases are delivered to your home.

Malls are places where you work out and then eat, go to your office and live around the corner.

An autonomous car takes you to and from other shopping centers and parking lots are repurposed for a higher and better use.

Artificial intelligence makes it possible to order a piece of apparel without even trying it on or leaving the couch  but you still go out because you crave human interaction.

Such were the prospects offered recently by a panel of retail experts, gathered at the University of San Diegos Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate forum to peer into the near-term future.

Of all the (real estate) product types, retail is perhaps the most dynamic, said panel moderator Brad Geier, co-managing partner at Merlone Geier Partners, a retail-focused real estate investment company.

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Its particularly topical right now, he added. Everybodys got some direct experience with it, everyones an expert and so that makes it much more interesting for a group like this.

With the U.S. having seven times more square feet of retail than the next closest country, said Jim Young, CEO of the Realcomm tech conference planning group, mall owners face the prospect of filling empty buildings after retailers downsize and embrace e-commerce.

You feel the old model is becoming obsolete, he said.

Ryan Perry, general manager of Westfield UTC, used the $600 million expansion nearing completion as an example of many changes retail centers will likely see in coming years.

Food and beverage will play a much bigger role in mall activity and the CBRE brokerage will open a 35,000-square-foot office.

I think these big centers of plus-1 million square feet  that stool needs three legs, Perry said. They need to have food and fitness, office and residential. Those three components are critical to growing an asset.

In a previous renovation, a department store became a gym and movie theater. The next phase at UTC will include a 300-unit luxury high-rise apartment. E-commerce companies, such as Amazon and Warby Parker eyeglasses, have already opened brick-and-mortar outlets.

Every single piece of clothing I have on I did not get at a physical store, Perry said.

He visited the Bonobos mens store, tried on a suit and ordered it for delivery to his home in two days. Such online retailers open up physical locations because they want to create an emotional connection with consumers.

But even online/in-store shopping may change further with advancements in artificial intelligence, said Stuart Tanz, president and CEO of ROIC, which owns neighborhood retail centers anchored by groceries and drug stores.

Thats a whole other aspect of our business that no one is even focused on and the impact it could have on retailers, Tanz said. I know people are working on AI software where you put on a pair of glasses, go into (a virtual) Nordstrom and at the blink of an eye, you buy and dont even have to leave your couch.

Tanz said his centers will not be as radically altered because people still need to buy fresh produce and, because of legal issues, order prescriptions in person.

Large stores may be subdivided into stores-within-stores and kiosks.

The middle aisles of supermarkets likely will change as packaged goods get delivered via Amazon and other such services. That space might then be repurposed to handle take-out meals.

Meanwhile, Tanz said, ethnic groceries have not yet attracted much attention from investors. But they represent a growing niche that is not yet online-driven.

Anjee Solanki, national retail director for the Colliers International brokerage, said for all the talk of e-commerce, it represents only 10 percent of all sales. And consumers still like to mingle with one another.

We are humans, so we will constantly want interaction, though we may be using various devices, she said.

With department stores losing business, landlords wonder what to put in their place. Solanki imagined more popup stores and flash retail outlets, where new products are briefly marketed.

She reported a more fundamental change in consumer habits. Women buy fewer items per year because they live in smaller homes.

In the 1990s, they typically bought 70 items of apparel per year. The latest surveys show they buy only 30 to 40.

In all this change, landlords have to rethink how their properties will be valued and what to charge tenants.

Traditionally, the benchmark has been sales per square foot the higher sales, the more rent is charged and the more the property is worth.

Now, retailers book sales in a store and online and aim to make the physical experience so pleasant that customers come back again and again.

Its no longer sales per square foot, its experience per square foot, Solanki said.

As for big-box stores, smart retailers are learning how to lure customers to visit, even if they plan to make an online purchase.

One of Best Buys successes is the educational component, she said. Youre being educated on a product and staying longer in the store. You need to buy an accessory or understand a component. Theyve trained staff to upsell. Margins are 30 to 40 percent and thats where profitability starts to make sense.

Another trend affecting the retail world is the pending arrival of autonomous cars. They are expected to reduce the need for parking spaces.

At Westfield UTC, management plans to use parking spaces more efficiently by charging after the first two hours starting next year, thereby discouraging freeloading poachers from nearby businesses and institutions from parking there all day for free.

Architects report developers asking them to design parking garages that can be repurposed for something else if parking demand declines. Parking lots and obsolete retail buildings will be prime spots for new uses, too.

When you own real estate in primary markets like San Diego, Tanz said, youll be able to potentially rip down (buildings) and get a higher and better use. If were so over-retailed, what are these centers going to look like when the big boxes begin to close down.

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roger.showley@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-1286; Twitter: @rogershowley
More than 20 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in North County cities, including 11 in Escondido and 7 in Oceanside, according to statistics released by county health officials Friday.

Both cities, each with homeless populations of roughly 525, are working with San Diego County on measures to prevent the further spread of the virus.

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County foot patrols have teamed up with the Oceanside Police Departments homeless outreach team to offer vaccinations in areas where homeless people congregate, City Manager Michelle Skaggs Lawrence said in an email.

The county is doing the vaccinations, she said.

Vaccinations also are being offered to all of Oceansides first-responders, such as police, firefighters and paramedics, and to others such as housing and parks and recreation workers who may come in contact with the homeless.

We expect at least 500 city staffers to be vaccinated by no later than mid-October, Lawrence said.

In Escondido, officials said the Police Department has been proactive in fighting the virus.

About a half-dozen times over the past few months our homeless outreach officers have been taking the county people out to do vaccinations, Escondido Police Chief Craig Carter said.

Weve been working with them to get our homeless population vaccinated. We take (health workers) out with us because we know where (the homeless) are at and its a safer environment for them.

Carter said the city also is considering installing hand-washing stations in certain areas where the homeless congregate.

A few other hepatitis A cases have been reported in Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas and Poway. Health officials will say only that fewer than five cases were reported in those cities. There have been no cases reported in Carlsbad.

The Sheriffs Department is partnering with health department workers in all the cities that contract with them for law enforcement services, as well as throughout the unincorporated county, by offering vaccinations and information in areas where cases have been reported or where officials think there could be an outbreak.

Were evaluating and determining what areas are most vulnerable and where we should spend our time, he said.

In Vista, the sheriffs station teamed up with public health nurses earlier this month for a small, pop-up vaccination event in Wildwood Park. About 15 transients showed up for the shots. More such events will likely follow in different parts of the city.

In San Marcos, the city said it is taking part in the countys efforts to educate people, and also sharing the countys message on the citys social media platforms.

Downtown San Diego is experiencing a deadly outbreak of the virus, which is spread by unsanitary conditions and a lack of public restrooms. That city has reported 444 cases since November, including more than 300 that required hospitalization and 16 that were fatal.

Homelessness is a problem throughout San Diego County, and many cities struggle to deal with it. This years count, taken in January, showed Oceanside leads North County with 531 homeless individuals, followed closely by Vista with 529 and Escondido with 523.

Anyone living on the street can be especially susceptible to hepatitis A.

Information about the virus, how it is spread, and what Oceanside is doing to prevent it was posted Thursday on the citys website.

Oceanside also has asked the county to place hand-washing stations in areas that the homeless frequent and where hand-washing is not available, the website states, and to provide the homeless with hygiene kits and information. Lawrence said the wash stations will be installed at locations yet to be determined.

City crews routinely pressure-wash and sanitize many downtown areas, including the Pier View Way pedestrian underpass, sidewalks and stairs around the pier, sidewalks and benches along Pacific Street, and common areas around the Oceanside Transit Center and its parking structure.

Downtown bus stops, public buildings, high-use parking lots, parks and playgrounds also are being cleaned, according to the citys announcement.

Hepatitis A can be spread by the ingestion of even microscopic amounts of fecal matter, by touching objects, eating food, or sharing cigarettes or drugs handled by someone with the virus, or by any close contact with an infected person.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
A North County-based nonprofit that works with homeless families is among a handful of programs the federal government wants to hold up as a model of how to effectively address poverty and family homelessness.

Clarence Carter, a Trump administration appointee who heads the Office of Family Assistance, said in a phone interview last week that Solutions for Change shares his focus on moving people permanently out of homelessness and emphasizing employment.

From everything that we have been able to glean  and we did tear up the floorboards on this  it is a model that serves homeless families well, Carter said of Solutions.

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Solutions works with  and provides housing for  163 North County families. It runs what it calls Solutions University, a full-immersion, 1,000-day program designed to teach parents self-sufficiency. Solutions also runs an aquaponics farm and sells its produce to school districts, and has spread into real estate, buying or building apartment complexes that house its families.

Ironically, while Solutions showed up on Carters radar under the flag of the Department of Health and Human Services, the nonprofit faces funding shortfalls because it refuses to meet relatively new requirements of another federal agency: Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.

Funding priorities at HUD have changed to focus on getting homeless people into housing first, then addressing substance abuse and other issues. The approach has been embraced as effective. But organizations using money from that particular pot cannot require drug testing for their clients. Solutions, which insists on sobriety, decided to turn back the roughly $600,000 it had expected.

Carter oversees a number of programs in his Washington, D.C.-based office, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, a cash-assistance program most commonly thought of as welfare. His office addresses family poverty.

Carter said part of his vision is for the federal government to be an incubator to help models become self-sustaining. The idea is to be a catalyst to help solve problems, not be the problem solver.

His plan is to hold up the Solutions model for possible use as a template for organizations regionally and perhaps beyond as a potentially good way to address family homelessness.

Solutions operates independent of the regional coalitions whose members work together to address homelessness. Some of those groups also deal with chronically homeless people, a much different type of population.

Carter, who was appointed to his job over the summer, said he first came across Solutions when it was recently highlighted in an online news and opinion site run by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. He looked into Solutions, then reached out to founder and CEO Chris Megison and asked Megison to present the organizations model at a conference of state officials who oversee cash-assistance programs.

Carter said his team is scouring the country for other programs  10 in the West, 10 in the East  that can serve as models whose approaches have been effective for addressing issues linked to families in need. So far, his office has tapped five, including Solutions. Others organizations tackle issues such as literacy and job training.

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Solutions for Change asking for help to cover funding gap

Megison said that Carters interest caught him by surprise, and that working with Carter has left him fired up.

Twenty-six years into this Serve to Solve mission and I have never been more excited, Megison said in an email Tuesday.

Megison said it costs Solutions roughly $24,000 a year, per family, and that the average family is a millennial-aged single mom with two kids.

Federal money counts for roughly 12 percent of Solutions budget, Megison said. For years, Solutions worked toward weaning itself from federal money, and Megison hopes it will be entirely funded by private sources and their social enterprise work by 2019. The farm is part of that future funding plan.

But for now, the organization is hoping local funds from five North County cities can help cover the hit taken when they walked away from federal HUD funds.

Still, Solutions move toward self-sufficency also resonated with Carter.

It just closed the deal for me, he said.

Carter is aware that San Diego has a large homeless population  You turn down Imperial (Avenue) and you would think you are in a Third World country, he said. The Solutions model could not solve the whole problem, he said, but it could be a part of it, and he wants to encourage others in the region to take a look at it.

Carter took a trip to San Diego earlier this year to learn more about the countys Live Well San Diego program, which he said he found to be a really impressive approach to addressing community wellness as a whole.

I think that is a model that goes beyond our silos approach of the existing safety net, he said.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
The coastal enclave of Del Mar, among the first California cities to ban single-use plastic bags, polystyrene take-out containers and cigarettes in public places, is now taking aim at wood-burning fireplaces.

City council members have asked staffers to draw up regulations that would ban wood-burning fireplaces in all new residential construction. They also plan to require any homeowner who spends more than 50 percent of the value of their house on a remodeling project to include a retrofit of any existing fireplace to burn only natural gas.

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The health impacts are really profound here, said Councilman Dwight Worden. Whats coming out of fireplaces is really worse than cigarettes, which we dont allow.

Wood smoke may be hazardous, but it is not a significant pollutant in San Diego County, said Robert Kard, a director at the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, which works with cities and other agencies throughout the county to improve air quality.

We just dont have that problem, Kard said.

Smoke is more of a problem in regions that often get stagnant air, such as the states Central Valley, known for its tule fogs, and Los Angeles, with its smog, he said, and some cities there ban or restrict wood burning when air conditions are poor. In San Francisco, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has prohibited wood-burning fireplaces and stoves in new construction since 2016.

Del Mar would be the first city in San Diego County to ban wood-burning fireplaces, Kard said.

We think it is a great idea, he said. Gas is a lot cleaner. You are not polluting your indoor air, and you are not bothering your neighbors. Its never good to breathe smoke.

Except for people living in the mountains or the desert, almost no one in the county heats their home with a fireplace.

We are really long past needing a traditional fireplace, Kard said.

Del Mar City Council members on Monday voted 4-1 for the proposal, noting the adverse effects of wood smoke on peoples health and the environment.

Only Mayor Terry Sinnott opposed the idea, saying the ban would be difficult to enforce and that instead he would rather promote incentives for people to burn natural gas instead of wood in their fireplaces.

Councilman Dave Druker emphasized that the ban would only be on new construction.

We are not going to go back and make everybody take out their wood-burning fireplaces, Druker said.

At a recent meeting, no one spoke in favor of a flaming hearth, its cozy warmth or its familiar smell, but two Del Mar residents supported the fireplace ban.

We on the Design Review Board have been struggling with this for years, said board member Bill Michalsky. We want to protect the neighbor upwind.

Its not the overall air quality that matters as much as the fireplace next door, said Rick Ehrenfeld, a former Del Mar planning commissioner and review board member.

If Im sitting next to someone whos smoking a cigarette, I dont care what the overall air quality is, Ehrenfeld said.

A ban on wood-burning fireplaces in new residential construction will eventually eliminate them in all homes, he said.

Pizza shops and other restaurants that use wood for cooking would not be affected by the proposed ban.

The council also considered requiring a catalytic converter or some other device on fireplaces to control smoke, but decided an outright ban would be easier to enact and enforce.

I say we either ban them or allow them, Druker said. Keep it simple.

A spokesman for the San Diego County Building Industry Association, Senior Public Policy Advisory Mike McSweeney, said Tuesday he hadnt heard of Del Mars proposal, and that he would need to discuss it with association members before taking a stance.

It sounds like a solution in search of a problem, McSweeney said.

City staff members are expected to present a proposed ordinance to the council next month. The work will be done in-house, using examples adopted in other jurisdictions, so the costs should be limited to staff time.

Worden suggested the staff also look at ways the city could provide incentives for people to convert existing wood-burning fireplaces to natural gas.

Del Mars council unanimously voted in February 2016 to ban single-use plastic bags, and followed that up a few months later with a prohibition on take-out food containers made of polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam.

In 2014, the city banned the use of battery-powered e-cigarettes in all places where public smoking is prohibited.

Smoking has been prohibited at the citys beaches and parks since 2006.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
The art world is back on Pacific Standard Time.

In the fall of 2011, the Getty launched an initiative to flesh out the story of Southern Californias postwar efflorescence as a center for making and exhibiting art. Over 60 cultural organizations participated in Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980, with six months of deep and wide programming. Museum shows and the publications accompanying them made art history twice over, broadening a sense of the regions present through an expansive re-telling of its past.

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Now, PST is back for another rewarding round, this time focusing on Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles. Over 70 institutions throughout L.A., as well as Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Riverside, Orange County and San Diego, are taking part in the collaborative feast of exhibitions, performances, film series, educational offerings and more, starting this month and continuing through early 2018. Dozens of unofficial, offshoot events at galleries and other venues are also on deck.

Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA has a wider lens, both geographically and temporally, than the first iteration. Work from Argentina and Brazil to Uruguay and Venezuela are in the mix, as are ancient ceremonial objects on up to contemporary social practice. With help from Getty grants, new scholarship will offer fresh perspectives on themes of Borders, Diaspora and Displacement, Definitions of Identity, Art and Activism and much more.

Six of San Diegos major artistic institutions are participating. Collectively, the breadth of their offerings mirrors that of the larger PST enterprise. Check with each individual organization for information on a wealth of corollary programs, and head to pacificstandardtime.org for the full schedule of exhibitions and events.

Mingei International Museum

Art of the Americas: Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican Art from Mingeis Permanent Collection

Sept. 16-Feb. 18

The most comprehensive exhibition of the museums holdings from the ancient cultures of Mexico, Central and South America features more than 125 works, from vessels in clay to sculptures in stone. Highlights include rare Maya textile fragments and ancient bead strands. The selection encompasses objects made for everyday domestic use and for ritual purposes  spindle whorls, jars, musical instruments, ear plugs, roller stamps for decorating cloth, figurines  some adorned with geometric patterns and images of plants, others assuming the shapes of gods and animals.

Oceanside Museum of Art

UnDocumenta

Sept. 23-Jan. 28

A play on the name of Documenta, a major contemporary art exhibition taking place every five years in Germany, the Oceanside show focuses on the fertile ground at the convergence of Latin America and Southern California. Artists from both Tijuana and San Diego present recent work that builds upon the legacy of earlier practitioners and border collectives. Look for the border fence to be made undeniable, in Marcos Ramirez ERREs metal sheath around the museum, and invisible, in video of Ana Teresa Fernandezs performance where she painted the fence blue to match the sky.

Museum of Photographic Arts

Point/Counterpoint: Contemporary Mexican Photography

Sept. 30-Feb. 11

MoPA director Deborah Klochko worked with three curators from Mexico City to assemble the work of 19 artists, spanning the formal and political. The show, which explores themes of cultural identity, otherness and the body, the border, appropriation and abstraction, features photographs by Gerardo Suter, Yvonne Venegas, Daniela Rossell, Teresa Margolles, Maya Goded and more. In a time of conflict, fear of others, and a lack of compassion, the exhibition, says Klochko, highlights the power of art to open communication. Throughout the run of the show, MoPA will host several Community Conversations encouraging discussion of the issues it raises.

University of San Diego, Robert and Karen Hoehn Family Galleries

Xerografia: Copyart in Brazil, 1970-1990"

Sept. 15-Dec. 16

Ordinary materials used for replication and dissemination are turned to aesthetic and subversive ends by the 20-plus artists in this show. Included are blueprints, faxes, photocopies on paper, as well as images printed on wood, metal and glass. Innovation meets accessibility and political expression in the wide-ranging work on view, little known outside of Latin America.

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Memories of Underdevelopment

Sept. 17-Jan. 21

Organized in collaboration with Mexico Citys Museo Jumex and the Museo de Arte de Lima, this shows ambition is made clear through its numbers: 400 works by 50 artists from 8 Latin American countries. The focus is on Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Venezuela during the 1960s-80s, when postwar utopian ideals broke down, giving way to political oppression and military dictatorships. Artists turned from abstraction to conceptual and performance-oriented work, forms that functioned outside of institutional settings and involved more direct engagement with local communities.

San Diego Museum of Art

Modern Masters from Latin America: The Perez Simon Collection

Oct. 21-March 11

Telecommunications magnate Juan Antonio Perez Simon began collecting art in the 1970s. Born in Spain and living in Mexico, Perez Simon has assembled what amounts to a highlight reel of modern art from across Latin America. The 100 works here are by 75 artists, hailing from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua and beyond. Among them are Frida Kahlo, Rufino Tamayo, Fernando Botero, Roberto Matta, Wifredo Lam, Diego Rivera, Joaquin Torres-Garcia and Jose Clemente Orozco. Co-curated by SDMA director Roxana Velasquez and Rocio Guerrero, the exhibition addresses themes of landscape and identity, the representation of indigenous cultures, Latin Americas role in developing the international style, and more.

Ollman is a freelance writer.
Another glass ceiling in our nations military was smashed today when a female second lieutenant became the first woman to graduate from the Marine Corps Infantry Officers Course.

Because the infantry is the beating heart of the Corps and the most revered and influential group within the tribe, the significance of her achievement cannot be overstated.

Despite its well-established legacy of tactical competence in combat, the Marine Corps has always served as a boat anchor dragging behind the rest of the services when it comes to social change.

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The service resisted desegregation following World War II, opening aviation to women, and allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly.

And when the Obama administration signaled it would change the ground combat exclusion policy  which was originally established in 1948 to limit the roles of women -- the Marine Corps experienced a collective heart attack.

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And in 2015, then commandant and now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joe Dunford was so opposed to the idea of women in the infantry, he requested an exception to the policy change for the Corps from the Secretary of Defense.

As a result, the number of Marine women pursuing ground combat roles is lagging far behind the Army, which has exceeded its recruiting mission for women in the new roles this year.

Because the infantry is the beating heart of the Corps and the most revered group within the tribe, the significance of her achievement cannot be overstated.

So far, only 36 women have attempted IOC and just one has succeeded. But as the Army has proven, while physiologically different than men, women are physically and mentally equal to the task of serving in ground combat roles.

The fact that only one woman has been able to complete IOC is a testament to the rigors of the course, but it also proves that some women are fully capable of outperforming men in this environment.

The staff should be commended for keeping course standards high while ensuring a tough and fair training environment for this female lieutenant and her peers.

But to encourage more women to pursue ground combat jobs and change the strong perception that the service is resistant to women serving in these new roles, the Corps should be singing this news from the mountaintops.

So far, they have done a poor job of telling the story.

1st woman graduates Marine infantry officer course 

Assistant Commandant Gen. Glenn Walters recently lamented in an interview with the Marine Corps Times, These are the successes that never seem to get out in the press. His comments are somewhat hypocritical since the Corps has stated the lieutenant will not be available for interviews and the IOC graduation was closed to the press and public -- though Marine officials released a video congratulating the woman and her classmates.

As a result, the service is missing a great opportunity to attract and recruit more women like her.

This hard-charging woman, whoever she is, has overcome personal challenges and decades of resistance to expanding the roles of Marine women. But in the wake of the Marines United scandal, one female infantry officer is not enough to foster the positive change the Corps needs when it comes expanding the roles of women based on demonstrated performance.

To improve the Corps troubled track record on women, leaders like Walters must ensure that there are many more qualified women in the recruiting and training pipeline and that the American people -- including aspiring women infantry officers -- are made aware of these recent successes via the media.

So where should the Corps go from here?

The Army has done a great job of working with the media to celebrate the women who have successfully completed Ranger School and since integrated into combat jobs.

The Corps should do the same to attract more high-quality talent. If access to the new female graduate is going to be restricted to protect her privacy, the Marine Corps should allow the media to interview the school staff about her performance.

Such transparency will help refute the inevitable claims by current and former Marines that standards were lowered to allow her to pass.

Furthermore, the Corps should collect and publicly disseminate the lessons learned by the more than 30 other women who attempted the course so that females entering the course in the future might better prepare for the challenge.

While we dont advocate that the Marine Corps provide extra training or preparation for female infantry officer candidates, leaders should communicate to women how to best prepare on their own.

This is no different than what we normally expect from recruiters, who are tasked to provide helpful training information to male and female recruits preparing for entry-level training -- whether officer candidate school or boot camp.

The graduation of the first female infantry officer on Monday represents a historic milestone -- one that the Marine Corps should take every opportunity to publicly acknowledge via the media in order to ensure more women follow in her footsteps.

By doing so, the Corps will attract more high-quality women and become a stronger, more diverse, and more operationally capable force.

Kate Germano is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. You can reach her at germanoki@gmail.com.

Joe Plenzler is a retired 20-year Marine Corps combat veteran. He served as an infantry officer and public affairs officer.

Guest Voices is always open to new points of view. If you have an opinion to put forth in a column, email us at jen.steele@sduniontribune.com
A female Marine Corps officer made history Monday by graduating from the Corps infantry officer course and earning the right to lead Marine grunts in combat  one of the toughest physical tests facing women who want to serve in formerly all-male combat roles.

The lieutenant will be assigned to Camp Pendletons 1st Marine Division. She has asked the corps to keep her identity private.

Before her, more than 30 women have attempted the grueling 13-week course and failed to finish  most of them during a Marine Corps research experiment that ended in 2015, when the branch was studying integration of women in combat units.

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I am proud of this officer and those in her class who have earned the infantry officer MOS (military occupational specialty,) Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said in a statement released by the Marine Corps.

Infantry officer positions first became a possibility for women in April 2016, as part of a Defense Department-wide shift that opened all military jobs to women if they can meet the physical standards.

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RELATED: Female Marine officer smashes glass ceiling of infantry  lets learn from it 

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The Marine infantry officer course focuses on leadership, infantry skills and character  all things that are considered requirements to serve as infantry platoon commanders in the fleet.

The course is difficult for both genders: 131 Marines started the course July and 88 graduated in Quantico, Virginia, Marine officials said.

Marines expect and rightfully deserve competent and capable leaders, and these IOC graduates met every training requirement as they prepare for the next challenge of leading infantry Marines; ultimately, in combat, Neller said in his statement.

Female Marines have enjoyed earlier success in other previously closed job categories.

In June 2016, the Marine Corps graduated its first two women field artillery officers.

And in April, the first female Marine officer met the requirements to lead a tank platoon.

On the enlisted side of the ledger, the first three women reported for duty in infantry jobs at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, in January.

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Rescue operations in Mexico City from Tuesdays 7.1 magnitude earthquake have begun to dwindle as sniffer dogs sent inside collapsed buildings and thermal imaging devices turn up fewer signs of life.

At a news conference Monday, Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said rescuers are still looking for no more than 40 to 50 people amid the ruins of five buildings around the city.

Several bodies were found Monday morning, he said, most of them pulled from the remains of an office building in the neighborhood of Roma.

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The death toll from the Sept. 19 earthquake stands at 326 across the country, 187 of them in Mexico City. Thirty-eight buildings collapsed in the capital, mainly apartment buildings or offices.

While officials say they remain focused on rescues, many city employees returned to work at their offices Monday and Mancera said the city would be ready to present a reconstruction plan Tuesday.

In the buildings ruled to have no more survivors, workers have begun to use heavy machinery to remove mountains of debris. The scramble of the first few days after the quake, which saw masses of people using picks, sledgehammers and shovels to get to survivors, began to cease. Many funerals took place over the weekend.

Eighteen countries, including the United States, have sent rescue teams to help.

Unable to return to their homes until they are assessed for structural damage, thousands are homeless. Officials reported that nearly 13,000 people have stayed overnight in a shelter since the earthquake hit. Thousands of people have received medical and psychological support.

The government has repaired 146 significant aqueduct leaks but hundreds remain. Mancera said several million pesos have been spent related to the earthquake. The city activated a fund worth $167 million when it declared the earthquake an emergency.

Seven schools have been declared unsafe for reentry. On Monday, just 103 of the citys 8,700 schools reopened.

One of them was Kalpilli primary school, west of Mexico City, where about 100 children and their parents arrived Monday morning and many immediately asked about structural safety.

Deputy principal Mindy Alejandra Sanchez Ruiz told them they had authorization to operate normally, but parents insisted on entering the facility themselves to verify that it had no damage. Authorities allowed a group of 30 parents to enter and after an hour, the parents reported that although they could see no damage, they were requesting a review with independent experts, not just the brigade that had been sent by the secretary of public education.

We do not trust in the expertise of the education authorities, said Carlos Armando Diaz, 42, father of two children.

Sanchez Ruiz said the school has an enrollment of 696 students, but only 30 students resumed classes Monday.

We cannot convince parents to leave their children, she said.

Ursula Torres, 35, echoed the fears of many people around the city as they returned to work and school.

Many buildings were damaged, nearby houses were damaged, and I will not leave my daughters if I am not sure everything is fine, she said. I prefer to take them with me and that they miss their classes than to be worried about them all day.

Despite the progress in Mexico City, volunteers say rural areas, especially in the states of Morelos and Oaxaca, have yet to receive enough support. Jazmin Pedroza, a former civil protection agency employee, and her team of 20 volunteers, including a doctor and an architect, brought aid to residents in Tlacayapan, a town of 15,000 on the east side of the state of Morelos.

People have been without support, seated amid the rubble, under the rain, she said. The outskirts are the worst.

Still, there have been some signs of hope. On Sunday, a Japanese search and rescue team pulled a small white dog alive from the rubble of an apartment building in the southern part of the capital. Eight other pets have since been found, mostly dogs, officials said.

One animal rescue in Roma Sur, La Casa del Mestizo, has taken in 19 dogs and one cat that became lost after the earthquake, said owner Silvia Garcia. Two others that were injured are at a pet hospital.

At the shelter, which is also Garcias home, a brown pitbull mix that shes calling Chocolate, wagged his tail and whimpered. He had a deep gash on his front left leg and his back left paw was swollen. Garcia thinks some rubble fell on him.

She can tell the dogs have owners by how different they look from street dogs.

Hes not dying of hunger, and he has a collar, she said. If no one comes for him and the others within a month, she plans to put them up for adoption.

At least 20 people have stopped by looking for their pets, Garcia said. Only one person has found their pet at the shelter, a woman who is now homeless. Garcia agreed to care for the dog until the woman can find a new place to live.

Outside the shelter, many people had posted lost pet signs. Baloo, a small brown terrier, ran out during the earthquake. His owners were offering a reward of 1,000 pesos. Another posting sought information on Ginger, a black lab. She isnt aggressive, her owners wrote. Please!

andrea.castillo@latimes.com

@andreamcastillo

UPDATES:

7:55 p.m.: This story was updated with information about the recovery of lost pets.

This story was originally published at 2 p.m.
A Los Angeles firefighter shot and killed his wife before taking his own life in Long Beach early Saturday morning, coroners officials ruled on Monday.

Wayne Havron, 53, of Long Beach was identified Monday as the gunman in a murder-suicide in the 7100 block of Island Village Drive, according to Ed Winter, deputy chief of investigations for the Los Angeles County coroners office.

Long Beach police were responding to a domestic violence incident on Island Village Drive around 10:45 a.m. Saturday when they found a husband and wife with gunshot wounds inside a home, according to a statement issued by the citys Police Department.

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The male was pronounced dead at the scene. The female was taken to an area hospital where she died a short time later, police said.

Investigators are treating the shootings as a murder-suicide and recovered a weapon at the scene, according to the statement.

Havrons cause of death was ruled to be suicide, Winter said. His wife, whose identity was not released, was killed in a homicide, according to Winter.

The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that one of its officers was involved in a a tragic incident in Long Beach on Saturday morning while off-duty, but declined to identify Havron or offer any information about them.

We are cooperating with law enforcement during their investigation, and we offer our sincerest condolences to the family of the victims, the Fire Department said in a statement.

Havron was a fire captain who was with the LAFD for more than 20 years, according to public records.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.

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Los Angeles County health officials warned residents Monday to protect themselves against the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus, as the number of people killed by the disease in L.A. County this year reached seven.

The department launched a campaign Monday called Its Not Just A Bite to try to raise awareness about mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile.

Though most people with West Nile virus dont have symptoms, a small number experience paralysis and brain damage that can be permanent or fatal. People who are at least 50 years old or have compromised immune systems are the most likely to suffer from these severe consequences, experts say.

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L.A. County health department officials reported six deaths this year so far. A resident of Long Beach was also killed by West Nile this year but was not included in the tally because the city has its own health department. State data show that there have also been two West Nile deaths in Yolo County and one each in Kern and San Bernardino counties.

Anyone can contract West Nile, and September is typically when most cases occur in L.A. County. The virus is transmitted to humans through a mosquito bite.

So far, 98 cases have been reported to the L.A. County health department, but the actual number infected is probably much higher because most people dont have symptoms and wouldnt go to a doctor to get tested, experts say.

Most of the cases reported were serious. Health department data show 74 cases of encephalitis or meningitis  a swelling of the brain or the lining of the brain  and five cases of paralysis.

Health officials say there are mosquitoes that transmit West Nile throughout the county. But cities where people are already infected are most likely to have more cases.

West Nile cases have been reported in the San Gabriel Valley, Antelope Valley, the Pomona area, Torrance, the San Fernando Valley, Glendale and Los Feliz. Testing shows that there are abnormally high numbers of mosquitoes carrying West Nile in Glendale, Los Feliz, Atwater Village and Elysian Valley, he said.

Experts recommend wearing insect repellent when outside, especially at dawn and dusk when the mosquitoes that spread West Nile are most active.

Homeowners also should clear out standing water from flower pots or fountains, which can breed mosquitoes, and make sure to check their pool pumps are working so there isnt stagnant water in which insects can breed.

soumya.karlamangla@latimes.com

Twitter: @skarlamangla

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State and local judicial leaders beamed with pride on June 5 when they cut a ceremonial yellow ribbon marking the opening of the gleaming, half-billion-dollar San Diego Superior Court building downtown.

This is a courthouse built for the future, Judge Jeffrey Barton, San Diegos presiding judge, said during the ceremony in front of 400 people, that maximizes the benefits of the digital age.

California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye was there to usher in a new era in justice in San Diego, and acknowledge the work to build the states largest and most expensive court construction project.

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But that era hasnt arrived yet.

After a decade of planning and three years of construction, the 22-story, $555 million building at Union and C Streets is still not ready for the public.

At the end of last year, as the building was entering the final phase of construction, court leaders hoped they would take possession of the building in March, and be moved in by May.

Then when that didnt work out, they aimed for a late summer move. Both deadlines passed because emergency fire systems, especially a balky smoke control system, would not work properly.

The state fire marshal hasnt issued a final Certificate of Occupancy, which would clear the way for the local courts to begin moving judges and court staff into the new courtrooms.

The smoke control system is supposed to limit the migration of smoke during a fire, said Chief Ernie Paez of the State Fire Marshals Office.

The system is supposed to automatically close doors, pressurize and de-pressurize areas and perform other tasks, and work in concert with the buildings fire alarm system, he said.

Paez has to sign off on the building and issue a Certificate of Occupancy before it can be permanently occupied.

Paez said last week that he hoped to issue a certificate of occupancy by the end of October. An official with the state Judicial Council, which is in charge of construction, gave a shorter timeline of mid-Ocotober before the building would be ready.

But on Friday, Paez said that after months of work the contractor Rudolph and Sletten reported that the smoke system is ready for a final inspection by the state.

Paez said that would happen as soon as Monday, and the certificate could be issued as soon as Tuesday.

That would be a relief to local court officials. But it would not mean the courthouse would be fully open any time soon.

Even if the system is working and the Paez issues his final certificate, it will take six to eight weeks to schedule movers to move judges and staff.

Then, the actual move-in process will take five to six weeks after that, according to Superior Court spokeswoman Karen Dalton.

The building was the largest and most expensive new courthouse in the state in years, financed via state legislation that allows the courts to renovate and build courthouses using money generated by court user fees  not the general fund.

The delay in opening has clearly bothered state court officials. It is late, and it is frustrating to all of us, said Mike Courtney, director of the Facilities Services Office for the Judicial Council.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Runston G. Tony Maino has been an outspoken critic of the projects cost and how the Judicial Council has handled the work.

It is terribly embarrassing to the court to have a formal ceremony in which we praised the building, its architect, and general contractor, and then we have this delay, he said in an email when asked about the delay.

He called for an independent audit of the project.

The taxpayers deserve detailed answers as to what has happened here, he said. The time has long passed in which the taxpayer should accept feel good answers from the Judicial Council. Before the Judicial Council is permitted to build additional courthouses throughout California the public needs to be confident that they are competent to do it.

Courtney could not say where the fault lies with the balky system  the vendor, contractor Rudolph and Sletten or others.

Were focused on getting the system operational and approved through the fire marshals office and getting the building open, he said. No one right now is playing the blame game. That will happen when we get done.

Well have to assess was this a problem with the contract, or were mistakes made in the design

The building is not completely closed. Paez has issued two temporary occupancy certificates since the summer that allow court employees and others access to the building during the day to set up computers and other limited stuff, he said.

The 700,000-square-foot structure will house 71 courtrooms and other court operations. Some court hearings were already scheduled in the new courthouse when the court believed the building would be open, forcing court officials to redirect people reporting each day to the new facility, back to the old building a block away.

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A dedication ceremony was held Monday for the new $555.5 million Central Courthouse in downtown San Diego. More than 350 invited guests, including judges, lawyers and local politicians, attended.

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greg.moran@sduniontribune.com
Folks interested in volunteering and helping to organize this years CicloSDias event, which will be held for the first time in downtown San Diego, plan to meet on Thursday afternoon at a public gathering hosted by the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition.

The coalitions monthly Bikes on Tap happy hour will focus on planning for the event that will close city streets to car traffic from Barrio Logan through downtown and into Little Italy. Thursdays event starts at 5:30 p.m. at Tiger!Tiger!, 3025 El Cajon Blvd., in North Park.

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Weve got a lot to do, said Andy Hanshaw, the coalitions executive director. Weve got a lot of planning of activities. Essentially youre creating a public park in the streets and allowing people to be healthy and connect with their community.

CicloSDias will be held on Sunday, Oct. 29, two days before Halloween. Participants from pedestrians to skateboarders to bicyclists are encouraged to dress in costume for the free event.

Having the event downtown is a huge victory for the open-streets movement in San Diego, Hanshaw said.

Ultimately, wed like to see three or four of these happen every year in different parts of the city, he said. At the moment, all we can do is about one a year. Were hoping the city will see the benefit to this and help us do this more often.

The event, Hanshaw said, will include demonstrations of the network of protected bike lanes planned for the citys urban core in the next two years. Under the Downtown Mobility Plan, city planners are preparing to push parking along targeted corridors away from sidewalks to make room for protected paths for cyclists.

Those helping to support this years event include Civic San Diego and the Downtown San Diego Partnership, as well as the associations of Barrio Logan, Gaslamp Quarter, East Village and Little Italy.

The free, rolling street fair took place in San Diego in 2013 and 2014 but didnt materialize in 2015 before coming back last year, drawing thousands of participants. For more information visit: sdbikecoalition.org

CicloSDias is part of the open-streets movement, which includes dozens of events across the country, according to the Miami-based Open Streets Project. Many cities, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Washington D.C. regularly shutdown city streets for such events, most commonly on Sundays.

Twitter: @jemersmith

Phone: (619) 293-2234

Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com
Of the 2.2 million people who fled their countries and sought refuge in Europe during 2015 and 2016, about half were still awaiting final decisions on their asylum applications at the end of December, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.

Most of the asylum seekers had fled war-torn Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq and endured a treacherous journey to Europe by taking small boats from Turkey across the Mediterranean to Greece or Italy.

The mass migration in 2015 and 2016 was one of the largest waves of people seeking refuge in Europe since World War II, accounting for 20% of all asylum applications in Europe since the mid-1980s.

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The study, released Wednesday, found that by the end of 2016, an estimated 885,000  or 40% of the total  had their asylum applications approved.

About 760,000 were still waiting for an initial ruling. An additional 385,000 were rejected and were waiting for decisions on their appeals.

An estimated 75,000 were sent back to their home countries or other nations not in the European Union.

Phillip Connor, a senior researcher at Pew and the author of the study, said the sheer number of applicants had overwhelmed immigration systems in many countries, leading to long waits.

The story of Ali Hayderi is typical.

He fled Afghanistan with his wife in 2015 and eventually arrived in Greece, where they spent four months at a makeshift shelter housing thousands of migrants in the abandoned Ellinikon airport in Athens. The couple then made their way to Germany and filed for asylum.

In May, after waiting nearly a year, they were told their application had been rejected. We cant go back to Afghanistan. It is dangerous for us there, Hayderi said. We have a home here now and my wife is six months pregnant.

He said he plans to hire a lawyer and appeal the decision. If that fails, the couple could be subject to deportation.

Many migrants cross several borders within Europe before applying for asylum.The greatest number  45% of applicants in 2015 and 2016  filed in Germany, the study found.

Applying for asylum in Europe isnt an easy process. Each country in the European Union has different rules governing the process.

Wait times also vary country to country and sometimes by the nationality of the asylum seeker. Germany established an expedited process for Syrians, who had to wait three months on average.

In contrast, 94% of applicants in Hungary and 90% of those in Greece were still waiting at the end of last year, the study found.

Continent-wide, applicants from Syria got decisions faster than those from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran.

In all, 77% of Afghan and Iranian applicants and 62% of Iraqi applicants remained in limbo, while 80% of those from Syria had answers.

melissa.etehad@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad
San Diego city and county governments have squirreled away about $1.61 million that doesnt belong to them, and some of the money wont make it back to its rightful owners.

The funds, in the forms of uncashed checks written by the city and the county to creditors, as well as overpaid property taxes and various deposits given to the county, belong to thousands of people, businesses, and other governments. The city and county try to make sure the cash is returned to the right person or business, but get to keep the money if their attempts at reunification are not successful.

In the last five years the county has returned about $520,000 in overpaid taxes and fees, but has transferred an additional $1.3 million into its budget. The county doesnt formally track how many uncashed checks are eventually resolved, but a quick analysis found that about 82 percent is eventually paid before the money would otherwise be transferred permanently to the government. It currently has nearly $750,000 in uncashed checks.

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The city said it has returned about $657,000 in the last five years, 67 percent of all the funds in its control.

The $1.61 million comes from three sources. The Treasurer-Tax Collector has received overpaid and double-paid property taxes payments. It also has deposits and fees paid for various county services and permits that need to be refunded. The taxes and deposits and fees amount to about $435,000.

Finally, the city and county have written checks, but for whatever reason, the recipients did not cash them after six months, causing the checks to become stale dated and cannot be cashed. This accounts for the bulk of the funds, with $432,387.53 in the citys control and $745,921.52 in the countys.

The uncashed checks are inevitable in any large organization that works with thousands of vendors, contractors, and service providers, and the city and county governments have taken steps to make sure the money gets to the intended beneficiary.

The county updates a list of unpaid checks every month.

The purpose of this list is to allow the public an opportunity to identify any outstanding payments that are still owed to them, Tracy Drager, the countys assistant auditor and controller. People looking for heirs often submit public records requests to get more information about some of the bigger accounts, she said.

The county also tries to track down potential recipients that have well-known names or who are owed more than $1,500.

Departments are constantly researching and reissuing warrants that have gone stale dated, Drager said.

San Diego Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister has several media events per year to try to alert people that the county has their money. The office also publishes lists online and in print of the various accounts that are due cash. McAllister also speaks with different organizations, and lists of unclaimed monies are given to homeless shelters.

McAllisters staffs investigators use property tax and ownership records, business listings, and other records to try to locate the moneys rightful owners who might have moved, shuttered their business, or died. There are as many as four attempts to contact a party before their money is transferred permanently to the county.

In some cases people receive a check, but they just forget about it for so long that the check can no longer be cashed unless it is reissued, and it appears like the rightful beneficiary has vanished, a spokeswoman for the Treasurer-Tax Collectors Office said.

Our contact with parties entitled to a refund has provided us with feedback that people sometimes put the refund aside and forget about it. The party receiving the refund must deposit or cash the refund to avoid the item becoming stale dated, spokeswoman Andie Jokerst said.

The city of San Diego, like other local governments, has an online list of unclaimed monies that it updates quarterly. The city did not respond to questions about any other efforts to contact anyone owed money.

While there are attempts to get money back to the rightful owner, sometimes well-known organizations that are due funds are somehow overlooked even though theyre just a Google search away. Some of the rightful owners are even other governments.

Between San Diego city and countys accounts, theres at least $64,000 in holding thats the rightful property of other cities and counties and state and federal agencies.

The city of San Diego is holding onto $23,000 in unclaimed money that is supposed to go to county. Other debts are more modest, like the $87 the city owes San Diego Unified School District.

The mix-ups are mutual. The county has a $1,190 property tax refund, plus $1,017 in unclaimed money thats rightfully due to the city of San Diego. Theres $3,279 for Fresno County, $5,046 for the Social Security Administration, the Warner Unified School District is owed about $4,440, while the U.S. Treasury is due $435.

In one instance the county owed itself $12,365, the countys records show.

While the county Treasurer-Tax Collectors office might have money for another government, returning the funds isnt that simple, Jokerst said.

The challenge with agencies is that with the way a public entity takes title to property, a property will just be listed as The City of San Diego, without any information about which department it is related to. So a refund or notice sent to the address listed in our system may be difficult for the recipient figure out who needs to cash it, she said.

The amount one government owes to another is a rounding error in their multi-billion dollar budgets. But alongside the various funds one government owes to another are churches, charities, businesses, and private citizens who are also owed money, and could have significant impacts on their finances. Some of these people and organizations, while private, are easier to find than others.

The county owes Sonia Garcia (whoever she is) $32,000 for some unspecified reason, and has about $22,000 that belongs to AT&T Mobile. The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, a community organization that provides social services, is due nearly $6,900.

The city has nearly $27,000 with Verizon Wireless name on it, and Carlsbads fire department is owed $595. Sharp healthcare, General Atomics, the State Bar Association and the IRS are also owed.

Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
With warmer days, low humidity and gusty winds predicted for San Diego County for much of the week, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is beefing up its staffing starting Monday.

Fire season is a year-round reality in our region, requiring firefighters and residents to be on heightened alert for the threat of wildland fire, Fire Chief Brian Fennessy said in a statement. As history has demonstrated time and again, there is no greater threat to life and property in the city and region than wildland fire.

Officials said five brush engines, each staffed by a crew of four, will be available between Monday and Thursday. Those engines are capable of going off-road and carry 600 to 1,500 gallons of water. In addition, the city is staffing two water tenders, which can carry up to 3,000 gallons of water and supply crews at vegetation fires.

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Fire officials say there is an increased fire risk not only because of this weeks predicted hot, dry weather conditions but because heavy rains this past winter left the region with thick underbrush and grass that can serve as fuel during a wildfire.

Forecasters at the Southern California Geographic Coordination Center.expect coastal foothill areas to see winds blowing east to northeast from 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts of up to 30 mph.

CalFire crews in San Diego County have been at full staffing since early summer and fire officials believe they have adequate resources for the week, said Cal Fire Capt. Jon Heggie. He noted the National Weather Service has not issued a red flag alert.

No local resources are deployed elsewhere in the state right now, Heggie said, so crews are ready to fight fire if needed.

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com
This is my final column for the Union-Tribune. The road ahead has a bend in it and Im eager to see what hides beyond, and hope it doesnt require Xanax.

Newspapers, my lifes work, are struggling for survival. Just a few years ago, they were the Michael Jordan of mass media, scoring at will. However the Internet in a couple of decades has reduced them to the fleeting sepiatone image of the village blacksmith watching the horseless carriage put-putting by. He has no expression; he has no anger. That is swallowed up by woeful acceptance of what cant be stopped.

Newspapers know the future is online. No one has yet made any money on it, but there has to be a way, somewhere, somehow, and smart people are looking for it.

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And it will be found. The hunger for news is as inevitable as those two other things.

Until that day, journalists peck away at keyboards and try to push out of their minds the fear of downsizing and missing the next payment on the kids braces. They are you. They drive 7-year-old Hondas and buy their shirts and skirts at Ross.

Even if you sometimes dont like what they write, they write it for you. And that makes it really important.

They work twice as hard  yeah, twice  as 20 years ago when huge newspaper profits were more of a sure thing than a back-alley hustler with shaved dice.

These journalists and the people who work with them are good people, middle-class citizens who do what they love and are quietly terrified that market forces  that shadow behind the screen  will make them stop doing it. But they soldier on, and be thankful they do.

Ive known lots of shady people in other trades, but I dont know a crooked journalist.

The reporters job is made more difficult by austerity. Opportunists can spot an opening as easily as a salamander can a beetle. PR people, corporate and especially political, see the opportunity of slim staffs and harried reporters and try to sneak in slanted, self-serving stories. And, surprise! Those announcements make their bosses look good, often to the detriment of accurate information to the public. When that happens, weep for society and your own wellbeing.

To combat this, I urge reporters and editors to strap on their breastplate and sharpen their swords against the blandishments of the public-service press release. Insist on talking to the administrator or politician flesh to flesh and voice to voice. Thats where the truth lies. When they hide from you, they hide from the public. And they always have a reason.

Though they are swimming upstream, newspapers have to battle for readers the same way Hearst, Pulitzer and James Gorden Bennett had to in the New York newspaper circulation battles at the turn of the 20th century.

Journalists love the fight, love the words, and love the story. Glorious things all.

Cheer for the good guys. Hang in there with them. You need each other; ultimately, you more than they. Thats the truth.

**

This is my U-T valedictory. (Words like that are candy on my tongue.)

You have been a warm audience, and for that I am grateful, because my soul smiles at an artful phrase, just as does a mechanics to a purring engine.

Thanks to Jeff Light for trusting me with his audience. Thanks to my editor, Hieu Tran Phan, for enduring my whines and bluster as I argued for phrases that were important only at that moment.

If my efforts have helped some people who needed it, or challenged or chided others whom I felt also needed it, or made some easily amused readers chuckle, then the effort has been well spent. Remember, as I say  Your life is an adventure.

You have changed me a lot. And I you, maybe just a little.

Be well. Be happy. Be kind.

I go.

freddickey1@gmail.com
. To do so, first type the original number into the text box. Then click on the "Scientific Notation" option located at the top of the floating window. Finally, click on the "Standard" button found beneath the text box to display your result. This program is useful for scientists and engineers working with decimal-based numbers. It provides easy access to those who need to convert those numbers into more compact forms without having to do heavy math calculations first.

Scientific notation is a way to express very large or very small numbers. It is used in physics, chemistry and other fields where large numbers are common. Those numbers are written as a power of 10 followed by a number with an exponent. For example, 1,000,000 (one million) is written as 1  103. The exponent shows how many zeros are after the first digit. For example, 1,000,001 is written as 1  102. Scientific notation is a useful tool for making calculations easier. You can use it to write down very big or very small numbers in one step instead of writing out both the large and small numbers separately. You can also use it to express large or small numbers in terms of other units like centimeters or millimeters.

Scientific notation solver is an online tool that can be used to convert any number into scientific notation. Simply enter any number to the left of the decimal point and it will automatically convert it into a scientific notation equivalent. This web tool can be very helpful when you need to convert a large number into scientific notation. However, please note that this online tool can only convert numbers that are in scientific format. For example, it cannot convert a non-scientific number like "1,085" into a scientific notation equivalent. It is also important to keep in mind that this web tool only works when converting numbers from one particular format to another. For example, if you want to change a non-scientific number like "1,085" into standard format, then you will have to use another online tool like NumberFormatting.com.
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For Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter-day Saint movement, September 22 was a noteworthy date. From 1823 to 1826, he allegedly met with an angel named Moroni near his home in Manchester, New York, each year on that day. When the next September 22 rolled around in 1827, exactly 190 years ago today, Smith retrieved the golden plates on which was inscribed the Book of Mormon. According to Smiths translation from an ancient language, the plates told the story of two civilizations that inhabited the Americas around and before 600 BC.

Joseph Smiths profound legacy is one of religious fervor, persecution, and mystery. Smith, as a self-proclaimed prophet, began a movement that now claims a global membership of around 16 million people. According to the LDS Church itself, since 1996, there have been more Mormons living outside the U.S. than U.S. members.

Despite the modern Mormon practice of proselytism, the religious group spent many years in Utah in relative isolation. The evolving American sentiment toward Latter-day Saints throughout the 20th century can be seen in the archives of The Saturday Evening Post.

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In 1905, a harsh critique of Mormon ambitions (The Mormon System by H.C. Williams) claimed the tradition had no genesis save the cataleptic or hysterical visions of Smith and the Prophets who succeeded him. While skeptical of the Mormon faith, Williams was more anxious about the perceived political and economic threat that the large Utah group posed as they began to integrate with mainstream society: As the assumption of inspiration is the cornerstone of the system, and belief in it is sincere in the minds of 80 percent of the Mormon population, democratic ideals and practice are reduced to nothingness, and assertions that Utah is governed by American political institutions are mere sham. The report came only nine years after Utah was admitted into the U.S. and only one year after Mormon leader Joseph F. Smith (nephew of the founder) publicly announced a ban on plural marriages in the church.

In 1922, Joseph Hergesheimer chronicled the story of the Mormons in his Post series, The Magnetic West. Hergesheimers history covers the Latter-day Saints from Smiths revelations to the groups westward journeys. The article is far less inflammatory than Williams 1905 piece; Hergesheimer remains lukewarm toward the LDS Church while considering their circumstances:

The Mormon migration had not been from choice, they had not voluntarily left an ungodly world for the pure but sterile desert. No, the truth was that, until they settled beside the Great Salt Lake, they had been driven from place to place, from state to state. This, they proclaimed, was the result of religious persecution; and the murder, at Carthage, of the Smiths, gave them that claim to martyrdom inseparable from beginning religions. The Latter-Day Saints laid their unpopularity to persecution; but the various regions, the people, that knew them for various but short periods, denying this, asserted that there were civic and political and social reasons for the forced removals. The Republicans, it seemed, would welcome the Church cordially, and vote it against the Democrats; and, in turn, the Democrats, generally speaking, would greet it as a barrier opposed to inordinate Republican ambitions; but in the end both national parties invariably united against the saints. (December 9, 1922)

Throughout the 20th century, Mormonism would side invariably with the Republican party. The Mormon values of family, abstinence, and work ethic were largely revered in the onslaught of the turbulent 60s and 70s. In 1950, the Post published Good Mormons Dont Go Broke, a profile of the Mormon owner of the Hot Shoppes franchise. And in 1980 came The Mormons: Healthy in Body and Soul, which asked, Could it be that family stability, physical fitness, abstinence, hard work, and self-reliance are not outmoded virtues after all?

Over the course of a century, the Latter-day Saints had found national admiration where there used to be enmity. Mitt Romneys 2012 campaign for president as the Republican nominee was a major Mormon Moment in America according to Deseret News. The Mormon story is a purely American one, with drama, scandal, and ultimately, prosperity. Joseph Smith has been named among the most influential and significant Americans by both The Atlantic and Smithsonian magazine, and his movement permanently shaped the American West in its formative years.

Dr. Richard Lyman Bushman, a practicing Mormon and professor of history at Columbia University, has authored several acclaimed texts on Joseph Smith and Mormonism that seek to understand how the 19th-century treasure hunter began a worldwide religion. In the PBS documentary The American Prophet, Bushman gives a possible explanation for Smiths potential for influence: Joseph said I am another one of those prophets.  Joseph said we will build the new Jerusalem. In a Bible culture, to use those powerful Bible words and make them literal enabled the people of his time not just to read the Bible, but to live it. If Smith was able to launch a movement by appealing to his constituents desire for immersive faith, the Latter-day Saints expressed a steadfast patience over decades to regain the approval of mainstream America.
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On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day OConnor was sworn in as the first woman member of the Supreme Court.

That distinction alone would have earned her a place in the American history books. But Justice OConnor also proved to be memorable for several of her judicial opinions, which had far-reaching consequences. For example, she was the pivotal vote in Bush v. Gore, which resolved Floridas disputed presidential election results and decided the presidential election of 2000.

Though generally conservative in her opinions, OConnor would occasionally show an independent streak when she sided with the courts more liberal judges. She provided the crucial swing vote in Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992, which upheld the Courts earlier opinion in Roe v. Wade.

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In our 1985 article, Her Honor: The Ranchers Daughter, writer Joan S. Marie presents a more personal side of OConnor, including the morning aerobics classes she organized at the Supreme Court, stories of her childhood on an Arizona ranch (bobcat included), and the antics of Family Olympics Day. Typical of working woman profiles of the era, Marie spends as much time showing how OConnor managed her family as she did her caseload, and even works in a recipe (crab enchiladas).

But OConnors determination to excel at her profession shines through. She shares how hard she had to work to even get into the legal profession. When she graduated from law school in 1952, she had difficulty even finding work because no law firm was interested in hiring a woman. She eventually opened her own law firm, became Arizonas assistant attorney general, a state senator, a superior court judge, and a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals. In 1981, the call came from the Reagan White House.

In the 1985 article, OConnor anticipated that America would soon see more women on the bench: In our law schools today, at least half the students are women. I fully expect to see the percentages of women in the practice reflected in the roughly similar percentages on the bench and in other activities in which lawyers are generally engaged. So I certainly do think we are going to see that reflected  not only here but in judicial offices across the nation.

OConnor served on the Supreme Court for 25 years, until her retirement in 2006. She was the first woman Supreme Court justice, but, of course, she wasnt the last. Clinton nominee Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Obama nominees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan followed in her path.

Featured image: Sandra Day OConnor being sworn in by Chief Justice Warren Burger in 1981 (White House Photographic Office, National Archives)
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/25/2017 -- The telecommunication sector is advancing all across the globe in order to offer a solid source of interaction to the population. In Brazil, the market for telecommunication services has been gaining momentum in terms of revenue. According to the findings of a new study, Brazil is passing through a sustainable market repair in 2017 with the improvement of its macroeconomic situation, which will support the telecom and pay-TV revenue trend. Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently added a new market research study to its wide offerings, which is titled as "Brazil Telecom Industry Intelligence Report", which provides an in-depth analysis of telecom market size and trends in Brazil compared with other countries in the region. In addition, economic, demographic and political context; regulatory environments and trends; demand profile, service evolution and competitive landscape are well described.



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In the first part of the study, an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Brazil today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021 is presented. As per the research findings, Brazil's total telecommunications and pay-TV services revenue to reach $40.2bn (R128.1bn) in 2017, up by 10.8% in US-denominated value (1.2% in local Brazilian currency) over 2016, primarily led by growth in mobile data, fixed broadband and pay-TV revenue. During the forecast 2017-2022, the total revenue of the telecom and pay-TV services markets in Brazil is set to grow at a 2.3% CAGR in local currency (-1.8% in US$ due to exchange rate fluctuation). Mobile data and fixed broadband will be key segments driving growth in the total market over the next five years, with a combined $6.1bn kick.



Moreover, near-term opportunities and precise telecom sector analysis covering fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, and mobile data services are detailed. A quantitative analysis of service adoption trends by network technology and by operator, as well as of average revenue per line/subscription and service revenue through the end of the forecast period. The analysts also find that in Brazil, due to growing consumer migration toward OTT-based communications solutions and inclusion of free calling offers in bundled plans by operators, the mobile voice market will see its revenue decline by a huge margin.



Browse Full Report with TOC- http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/brazil-country-intelligence-report-report.html



Later, a detailed competitive landscape has been included an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months. Another broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive, actionable detail will help operators, equipment vendors and other telecom industry players succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in Brazil. Some of the prime players profiled in this study include TIM, Claro, Vivo and Oi.



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About Market Research Hub

Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRH's expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.



MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.



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Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/25/2017 -- Focusing on the China coffee market, a new report has been included in the wide repository of Market Research Hub (MRH). This research report is titled "China's Coffee Market Outlook- September 2017", and discusses the present as well as the future standing of the overall coffee production, consumption, and trade linked to the Chinese region. The readers can also gain knowledge about the various innovative trends in the sector which tend to impact the market significantly.



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As per key research findings, the strong growth momentum of Chinas coffee market is expected to continue with blossoming innovations as well as surging interest from younger consumers. Further, it is noticed that consumers show great importance to safety and authenticity and tend to limit sugar intake for health reasons, while on the other hand, emotional causes effectively drive larger consumption. The study also focuses on the level of competition prevailing in the Chinese coffee market; there is a rising competition from localization of international brands as well as the strong presence of local roasters. This factor is shaking the brands up or down during ever-changing competitive landscape.



The research study starts with the executive summary which includes details about the market status. This section reveals that instant coffee varieties are poised to shrink in terms of market share. The readers can carefully analyze this fact through a figurative aspect, that is, coffee retail value market share, by segmentation, China, 2012-17, added to the smart research report. A further focus on the key players highlights that leading brands are challenged by smaller manufacturers.



As the report proceeds, knowledge about the consumer population discourses. The rise of coffee on premise underpinned by young females as well as the shift from instant and RTD to fresh coffee are some of the factors mentioned in this section. Later, issues and insights covering facts and implications are targeted for keen analysis. Readers can further learn about the market size and forecast; it indicates robust growth in the China coffee industry to continue in the coming years. A precise data directing at the retail market value of China's coffee market, 2012-17, is added to this report section. Different market drivers are mentioned that include, rising coffee machine ownership fuels consumption and Chongqing to become the next major coffee distribution hub.



Browse Full Report with TOC- http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/coffee-china-september-2017-report.html



The concluding section of the report works to present the competitive strategies, consumption frequency, brewing method and interesting flavour innovations. All such data is beneficial for the new entrants to frame necessary measures for their advantage.



Enquire about this Report- http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1324519



About Market Research Hub

Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRH's expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.



MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.



Contact Us

90 State Street,

Albany, NY 12207,

United States

Toll Free : 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)

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Website : http://www.marketresearchhub.com/

Read Industry News at - https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/
From refugee to global education advocate

Education doctoral student earns fellowship to study ways to make education more accessible to girls in West Africa

In 1991, Noella Binda Niati was forced to flee her home in the Democratic Republic of Congo, amid intense violence and political upheaval. At just 6 years old, she became a refugee along with her family, fleeing to Nairobi, Kenya. Her family would flee once more when she was 10 years old and find refuge in the United States. With many worries and few answers to what their future would hold, they started a new life in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

We were in culture shock, remembers Niati. We left behind all of our extended family. It was just my father, mother, brothers and me. We were grateful to be safe, but it was a huge change.

The years to come would lead Niati and her family to various parts of the U.S. including Nebraska, New York and South Carolina. Her father, a French professor, and her mother, a nurse, always stressed the importance of education.

They believed, and I do too, that every child deserves the opportunity to have an education. Education is a human right and should be accessible to everybody, stresses Niati.

Binda Niati, pictured here with a friend who she met during her studies in Senegal, hopes to improve education for girls in West Africa.

Niati, who is now working towards her doctoral degree in Educational Foundations and Inquiry, is putting those words into action in the continent she left more than two decades ago. This year, she earned the prestigious Fulbright Public Policy Award to travel to the Ivory Coast. She will spend 10 months working as a special assistant to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. She will research educational policies and study ways to encourage children to stay in school and increase access to quality education.

Education, especially for girls, is not a priority for many families in West Africa. In fact, even though more than 90 percent of children attend primary school, only around 45 percent of them continue past the sixth grade, Niati says.

Many girls must take on financial responsibilities to contribute to their familys livelihood  often working as maids or fieldhands.

As they grow older, you end up with a lot of young people with limited skills and education. This leads to many problems for the developing country. So, I will be focused specifically on researching the best ways to encourage young people to stay in school through high school and beyond. A solid education will not only improve their personal lives, but can play a positive role in the country overall, Niati says.

She believes the key to political stability in many struggling African countries is engaging youth through civic education and social engagement. She stresses that the higher students go in school, the more likely they are to participate, be heard and instigate change in their communities.

Take my home country for example  the Congo has been in turmoil for decades, says Niati. Leaders are corrupt and very little changes  limited infrastructure, no support for education. They barely invest in social systems that will improve communities: health care, education, buildings and roads. That is the case for other African countries, too. My hope is that change can, and will, happen. Encouraging youth to stand up to social and political injustices and become involved in positive and nonviolent ways is key.

Niati has seen, firsthand, how youth engagement can lead to political and social change. Last year, she received a Boren Fellowship to study French and Wolof, one of the countrys native languages, in Dakar, Senegal. The Boren Fellowships African Flagship Languages Initiative enables U.S. students to add an important international and language component to their education by participating in overseas language immersion in various countries. She interned with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) where she focused on empowering people of all ages to actively work towards resolving global challenges and become proactive contributors to a more peaceful and secure world.

Im a refugee from Congo whose life was enhanced through education, and I hope to bring those opportunities to young people in Ivory Coast and beyond.

While in Senegal, she conducted research on Yen a Marre, an internationally recognized social movement group led by rappers and journalists, founded in 2011. Initially formed to protest the frequent power outages in the capital city, the group gained popularity when they contested the attempted coup detat of the Senegalese constitution by then president Abdoulaye Wade. Wade tried to change the constitution in order to run for a third term and lower the number of votes needed to win office.

One of the founding members of Yen a Marre was a rap duo known as Keur-Gui. At 17 years old, one of the rappers was beaten and arrested because the lyrics to one of his songs spoke out against the mayor. Later, their first album was censored by the government. From then on, the group committed themselves to addressing social and political issues, a feature that is still visible in their music.

These musicians were able to connect with young people, unite them in nonviolent action and encourage them to vote. And it worked. The president lost and there was a peaceful transition of power," Niati says. Now, the spirit of Yen a Marre has spread to other countries, corrupt leaders are being voted out of office, and youth are voting in much higher numbers. This goes beyond Ivory Coast or Senegal. It has worldwide implications. This is what democracy in action looks like and we as young people need to see and experience this.

Niati continues to study how attitudes towards education might be improved by using hip-hop music and culture as a pedagogical tool to connect with children and teens.

Maybe there is a way that educational systems across the continent can use the momentum created by Yen a Marre to increase engagement and influence access to education. Im a refugee from Congo whose life was enhanced through education, and I hope to bring those opportunities to young people in Ivory Coast and beyond, Niati says.

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An international team of scientists from the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany has produced the first high-quality genomic sequence for the white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata), a staple tuber crop that contributes enormously to the subsistence and socio-cultural lives of millions of people, principally in West and Central Africa.

Yam is a collective name for tuber-bearing crops belonging to the monocotyledonous genus Dioscorea in the family Dioscoreaceae.

This genus contains approximately 450 species which are primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Approximately ten species have been independently domesticated in West Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific and Caribbean islands.

Yam cultivation is constrained by many factors. Yam is an annual climber that requires stakes for support and is highly vulnerable to a plethora of pests and diseases. Seeds are not often used as starting materials; instead, yams are commonly propagated clonally using small whole tubers or tuber pieces. Yam tubers can grow to over 1.5 m and weight 70 kg.

The white Guinea yam is the most popular species in West and Central Africa, the main region for yam production worldwide, which contributed 96% of the 63 million tons of yam produced globally in 2013.

Having a reference sequence for the white Guinea yam gives us the unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of dioecy (plants having separate males and females), a very rare trait in flowering plants, in a species thats very evolutionarily differentiated from most of whats been sequenced so far, said co-author Dr. Benjamen White, of Earlham Institute, UK.

Understanding this trait and having a genomic resource for white Guinea yam will be invaluable in breeding a better yam, one that will improve food security in West and Central Africa, and the livelihood of smallholder farmers there.

Dr. White and colleagues assembled a 594-Mb genome of the white Guinea yam and identified 26,198 genes.

They also identified the genomic region associated with sex in yams and found yam sex to be female heterogametic (male=ZZ, female=ZW).

Phylogentic analysis revealed that yam is a unique lineage of monocotyledons distinct from the Poales (rice), Arecales (palm), and Zingiberales (banana).

This is an important breakthrough. It means that yam has joined those crops with a full DNA sequence, a development which started with rice some years ago, said co-author Dr. Robert Asiedu, R&D Director for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture-West Africa in Ibadan, Nigeria.

The full DNA sequence will greatly facilitate our understanding of the genetic control of key traits such as flowering, diseases, and others including quality traits, and this in turn will make the breeding of new varieties both faster and more precise.

This will help to overcome some of the many challenges facing yam farmers in Africa and other parts of the world, added co-lead author Professor Ryohei Terauchi, of Kyoto University and the Iwate Biotechnology Research Centre in Japan.

These include pests and diseases, post-harvest losses and the need to develop more sustainable systems of farming for the crop.

The findings are published in the journal BMC Biology.

_____

Muluneh Tamiru et al. 2017. Genome sequencing of the staple food crop white Guinea yam enables the development of a molecular marker for sex determination. BMC Biology 15: 86; doi: 10.1186/s12915-017-0419-x
In April, Rauner indicated that he would oppose the legislation because of sharp divisions of opinion about taxpayer-funding of abortion. However, word out of Springfield is that the Governor may be reconsidering his position. That said, Governor Rauner absolutely needs to keep his promise and veto HB 40 -- most importantly because thousands of innocent lives depend on it.

Earlier this year, the Illinois legislature passed the controversial HB 40, insuring that abortion remains legal in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned. More importantly, HB 40 would also require taxpayer funding of abortion for low income women through Illinois Medicaid program.

There is a considerable amount of debate among scholars about various aspects of abortion policy. However, when it comes to the issue of taxpayer subsidies, there is a very broad consensus among both pro-life and pro-choice researchers that funding abortion through Medicaid significantly increases abortion rates. In 2009, the Guttmacher Institute  which until 2007 Planned Parenthoods research arm  published a literature review on the research about public funding of abortion. They found that 19 of 22 studies found taxpayer funding of abortion increased the incidence of abortion.

Similarly, in 2010, the Center for Reproductive Rights did an analysis of the Hyde Amendment, which limits the ability of federal Medicaid dollars to pay for abortions. They found that the Hyde Amendment prevented over 1,000,000 abortions since 1976. My 2016 analysis of the Hyde Amendment, published by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, updated the Center for Reproductive Rights study. It found that the Hyde Amendment has stopped over 2.1 million abortions in 40 years.

Furthermore, the Hyde Amendment has stopped 144,721 abortions in Illinois since 1976 and protects 3,800 unborn children in Illinois every year.

In addition to being good policy, vetoing HB 40 would be wise politically for Governor Rauner. Very few politicians support taxpayer funding of abortion. Since the 1970s, the Hyde Amendment has consistently passed with broad bi-partisan majorities in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Furthermore, pro-choice Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both willingly signed appropriations bills that included Hyde Amendment protections. The Democratic Partys platform was silent on the matter of taxpayer funding of abortion every election cycle up until 2016.

Furthermore, a substantial body of survey data finds that taxpayer funding of abortion is unpopular among the general public. For instance, a 2016 poll conducted by Politico and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health showed that 58 percent of likely voters oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. Additionally, four consecutive surveys conducted by the Marist Poll have all found that over 60 percent of Americans oppose having taxpayer dollars fund abortion. Opposition to taxpayer funding of abortion is strong among a range of demographic groups. For instance, the 2016 poll found that over 60 percent of African-Americans, Hispanics, and independents all oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.

Additionally, while there are 15 states that fund abortions through Medicaid, in 11 states this policy was decided by a judicial ruling. Furthermore, in the four states where the funding policy came about through the democratic process  it did so indirectly. Hawaii, Maryland, New York, and Washington all legalized abortion prior to Roe v. Wade. Subsequently, administrative agencies in these states decided Medicaid would cover abortions. Language about taxpayer funding for abortion was nowhere to be found in the actual legislation. As such, if Governor Rauner signs HB 40 he would literally be the first Governor to sign legislation that would start taxpayer funding for elective abortions in his state.

Most candidates who argue that abortion should be legal  often say it should only be a last resort. When campaigning for President in 1992, Bill Clinton stated abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. President Obama at times expressed interest in trying to get abortion numbers down. Furthermore, until recently, very few pro-choice politicians have supported taxpayer funding of abortion. Vetoing HB 40 gives Governor Rauner a unique opportunity. As the governor of a large state, Governor Rauner could show the country these pledges made by pro-choice politicians to reduce abortion numbers are more than just empty rhetoric.

After all, 3,800 innocent lives are at stake.

Michael J. New is an Associate Professor of Economics at Ave Maria University and an Associate Scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_J_New


Illinois' immigrant rights groups demanded sanctuary city status from GOP Gov Rauner

AUSTIN - A federal appeals court revived Texass anti-sanctuary city law Monday, allowing key parts to take effect  including a prohibition on cities and states trying to thwart cooperation with deportation officers, the Washington Times is reporting Monday.

Texas's "anti-sanctuary city law" moves the Lone Star state directly opposite to how Illinois' law officials are now required to handle federal immigration detainer requests.

While local municipalities in Texas are now required to comply with federal law officials, after Governor Rauner signed SB 31, Illinois local law enforcement is banned from working with feds.




Rob Natelson, Washington Times -

This year marks the 250th anniversary of one of the most influential series of writings in American history: the first of John Dickinsons Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, which appeared in 1767. These letters  12 newspaper op-eds later collected in book form  asserted the colonial cause against imperial British overreach and helped to lay the groundwork for the U.S. Constitution drafted two decades later. The letters also presented important ideas about resisting usurpation.READ MORE
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For the upcoming 2017-18 season in Singapore, Sapphire Princess will be making 3- to 13-night sailings in Southeast Asia, bringing over 40,000 international guests to the region from November 2017 to March 2018.

The 2,670-guest Sapphire Princess will visit the ports of Bali, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Port Klang, Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Nha Trang, Phuket, Ko Samui, Laem Chabang (Bangkok) and Sihanoukville (Cambodia).

From late November 2018 to March 2019, guests will have the option of cruising on both Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess from Singapore. Diamond Princess will be deployed in Singapore with 10 to 11-day voyages in December 2018 and January 2019. Nearly 70% of guests are expected to come from overseas to depart from Singapore.

Princess Cruises established operations in Singapore in 2012 and has witnessed increasing demand among Singaporean and Southeast Asian travelers, opting for cruise travel to explore the region. Our commitment to homeporting in Singapore for a fifth consecutive year reflects our goal to meet this demand by offering new travel experiences, said Farriek Tawfik, director of Southeast Asia, Princess Cruises.

Tawfik also said a series of events will be planned this coming November to celebrate the fifth anniversary and kick-off Princess Cruises upcoming homeporting season in Singapore.
He added that Malaysian ports are also among the most efficient in the world with the capability to meet their requirements of shipping lines at very competitive rates.

Liow suggested that this might be an opportunity draw the lines back to Port Klang. "It makes more sense for each of the alliance to locate its hub in different ports so that it can compete leveraging on the strength of its supply chain," he said.

But now, they are competing within a single hub in the same port without deriving any strategic advantage. Instead of having a pool each for themselves, they are now competing within a single pool.

"It is not far-fetched to say that with shipping lines intensifying competition against one another in Singapore, Port Klang will potentially become an attractive alternative hub in the future. It is a golden opportunity for shipping lines," Liow added.

Malaysian ports' competitiveness, particularly Port Klang, remains unaffected despite the move by Ocean Alliance to relocate their operations to the Port of Singapore.

"It is only a short-term ripple effect due to the move by Ocean Alliance, and mergers and acquisitions of CMA CGM, he said.
In June 2016, Wisdom Marine approached the Japanese shipyard with the intent to build the pair of aframax newbuildings for a total price of $100m.

The Taiwanese shipowner announced last Friday that the cancellation has no impact for the company as the two parties have not signed a binding contract for the new vessels and no financial transactions have been made.

The newbuilding plans were aborted due to changes in our operational plans and conditions of the market, as well as taking into consideration the interests of our shareholders, Taipei-listed Wisdom Marine stated.

The order was supposed to be Wisdom Marines first move into the aframax sector. According to the company website, Wisdom Marine operates a fleet of 120 ships, among which just 16 are supramax tankers and the rest are bulk carriers of mainly handysizes.
Robert Holland, Townhall -

A prime-time special simulcast on all four major broadcast networks on September 8, called XQ Super School Live, featured a lively mix of youthful song, dance, comedy, and commentary about education policy. Viewers were treated to lots of glitz and glitter. Even celebrities such as Tom Hanks, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Timberlake, MC Hammer, Samuel L. Jackson, DJ Khaled, and dozens of others participated in the event.

Their message: Its time for a total remake of Americas high schools. But many viewers surely wondered about underlying agendas. I sure did.

READ MORE
In April, Governor Rauner said he would veto the measure. Last week he told reporters he was now undecided. He's been talking to abortion advocates - including his wife Diana - and now pro-lifers are concerned the Republican governor could sign HB 40 into law.

CHICAGO - Democrats moved a bill that would cause taxpayers in Illinois to pay for abortions for low income women and state employees to the governor's desk Monday morning.

"In 2014, Bruce Rauner promised Illinois taxpayers a tax cut and a 3% income tax rate. Instead, we ended up with a 32% increase in the income tax rate," McSweeney said. "On April 14th, Governor Rauner promised Illinois citizens he would veto HB 40, which would expand state funding for abortions. I sure hope that Governor Rauner actually keeps this promise."

Illinois Right to Life President Rosemary Hackett made a rare public statement on political issues Monday morning in a mailing to the group's supporters.

"If Governor Bruce Rauner signs HB40, he will be publicly repudiated by pro-lifers throughout the entire state of Illinois," Hackett wrote.

"He promised to veto this horrendous legislation, which would force all Illinois taxpayers to pay for free abortions for those on Medicaid and state employees, which can be done through all nine months of pregnancy and for any reason - even when the unborn child can feel pain and survive outside the womb.

"Illinois Right to Life, alongside Illinois citizens who do not want their tax dollars going toward the, poisoning, dismemberment, and killing of unborn children in abortion, urge Governor Rauner to hold true to his promise and veto HB 40," she said.

For approximately 36 years, Illinois' policy has been that its citizens should not be required to pay for other peoples abortions. Under current law, Medicaid covers abortions for those in the cases of rape, incest, and when the health or life of the mother is deemed to be at risk. House Bill 40 expands Medicaid coverage for abortions, providing free abortions for any reason.



While the number of abortions across the country is steadily declining, abortions in Illinois rose last year by 3.5% to nearly 40,000 abortions a year. Based on data from the last time Medicaid covered abortion on-demand, HB 40 will increase the number of abortions by potentially thousands every year.
Press Release

September 25, 2017 POE BLASTS MAINTENANCE PROVIDER FOR BANGKAL-BOUGHT SPARE PARTS Senator Grace Poe censured the maintenance provider Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI) for suing an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for graft, saying it was the firm that was defrauding the government. BURI should instead be held liable for supplying spare parts that did not undergo the necessary inspection and certification, which puts in peril the lives of the people taking the train, she said. DOTr Undersecretary Cesar Chavez recently bared that BURI bought the vehicle logic unit (VLU) from a shop in Bangkal, Makati City identified as Diamond Pearl Development and Marketing Corp., which was owned by William and Marlo dela Cruz, who were associated with the maintenance provider. VLU is a highly specialized equipment that functions as the train's automatic protection system. "BURI was even brazen enough to sue the DOTr when it was the one defrauding the government," Poe said. The maintenance contractor recently filed a graft case against Chavez for withholding payment for the VLU. "Tingnan po natin ang record ng BURI, at isang salita lang ang maiisip natin: kahindik-hindik. Masyado namang garapal para sila pa ang magdemanda," Poe added. According to Chavez, from January 2016 to July 2017, there were 3,824 train removals; 833 unloading incidents; 98 service interruptions; and, six derailments. "Matagal ko nang sinasabi na 'yang maintenance issues ng MRT ay isang ongoing train robbery. Kung totoo ang paratang, saan ka ba naman makakakita na ang isang precision device ay binili sa isang lugar na kilalang bilihan ng chop-chop spare parts," she said. BURI is demanding reimbursement for its purchase of VLU purportedly worth P4 million made by Canadian firm Bombardier. Chavez, however, revealed that no such equipment had been ordered from Bombardier Transportation Signal Ltd., the maker of MRT-3 safety components for signalling system. Poe said her office was able to obtain a copy of the sales invoice that showed the purchase of two pieces of VLUs worth P4 million. "Kung sabi ng Bombardier na walang order o binili sa kanila, may misteryo nga na dapat nating malaman. That is the 4-million-peso question. I am referring to the VLU for which BURI was seeking reimbursement," she said. Chavez had said that the Commission on Audit requires that spare parts procured must have a certificate of origin, manufacturer's inspection report, certificate of warranty, invoice receipt, inspection report. Without these, the payment could not be made, and the official who will order the payment will be liable for graft. Another big mystery is the ownership of Diamond Pearl, which has Marlo dela Cruz as one of its incorporators. "Siya yung taong ilang beses nabanggit sa mga reports, affidavits, investigative documents, and court papers who allegedly attempted to extort money from the Czech ambassador. Tapos dito sumulpot na naman ang pangalan niya," Poe said. The senator said she may call for another hearing on the frequent MRT breakdowns and compel the attendance of the Dela Cruz brothers. Marlo dela Cruz did not appear in the hearing called by Poe last May, citing the "sub judice rule" as he was already facing criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court. The senator also noted that the DOTr has been moving slowly in taking definite action against BURI, several months after it raised the possibility of terminating the contract due to the series of incidents linked to the maintenance of the train system. "I am raising these concerns because we are in the midst of the budget season. We have here the DOTr asking for billions of pesos, but which cannot guarantee something very basic - that the MRT will run, and will run safely," she said. For 2018, the DOTr is asking for a P61.05-billion budget, including P7.51 billion for the MRT-3. Included in the P7.51-billion budget is the P1.73-billion appropriations for MRT-3 operation and maintenance. Poe said she would ask the Senate finance committee to cut the amount appropriated for the operations and maintenance until the DOTr can justify that it would be used for the benefit of the public. "Are we going to give this maintenance firm more millions from the budget?" she said. "May matibay na basehan para hindi sila bayaran dahil niloloko nila ang gobyerno," Poe said.
Political events in the Bay Area

Town hall: Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-San Ramon, holds a town hall meeting at the Orinda Library auditorium, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Voter registration: Volunteers will help new U.S. citizens register to vote after swearing-in ceremony. Sponsored by Democracy Action, which works to advance Democratic candidates. 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday outside the Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. https://demaction.us

D.A. candidates: Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley and 2018 challenger Pamela Price hold a town hall, sponsored by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and Starbucks. 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Merritt College student lounge, 12500 Campus Drive, Oakland. http://bit.ly/2xkrDvH

Food stamps: Alameda County Community Food Bank hosts an event to raise awareness about SNAP (food stamps) and urge Congress not to cut antihunger programs. Free. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 7900 Edgewater Drive, Oakland. www.accfb.org

Conservation and cannabis: A discussion of the effects of legalized marijuana cultivation on Bay Area public and private lands, sponsored by the Bay Area Open Space Council. 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley. Tickets are $30 for nonmembers. Information and tickets: http://bit.ly/2w3dTm4

Veg fest: The 18th World Veg Fest promotes health, social justice and sustainability through vegetarian eating. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 Ninth Ave. at Lincoln in Golden Gate Park. Tickets are $5 to $25, children 12 and under admitted free. http://bit.ly/2xgD7A9

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Politics and media: Longtime San Francisco journalist Tim Redmond discusses media coverage and the Trump administration. Event begins at 2 p.m. Oct. 7 in the Richmond Meeting Room of the Sen. Milton Marks Branch Library, 351 Ninth Ave., San Francisco. http://bit.ly/2wJub72

To list an event, email Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com.
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Get ready to feel the heat  again.

Forecasters expect temperatures to rise in the Bay Area on Tuesday and Wednesday, reaching the mid-80s in San Francisco and low 90s in parts of the East Bay and South Bay.

The warm-up is expected to be more uniform throughout the region compared to other heat waves this summer that brought wildly varied temperatures, according to Roger Gass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Things like 105 inland are not expected this time, he said. Its more of a mid- to upper 80s, closer to 90s event, and were not expecting huge variation in the Bay Area.

The latest hike in temperatures is the result of a high-pressure system moving in from the eastern Pacific Ocean, Gass said. The new system is pushing inland a front that brought cooler weather to the Bay Area in recent days and is causing winds to blow toward the coastline instead of in from the ocean, he said.

That change in direction cuts off our natural-occurring air conditioning, Gass said.

Temperatures in San Francisco are expected to cool slightly after Wednesday, though the city will still see temperatures in the 80s on Thursday.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health tweeted an advisory Monday instructing people to stay inside with air conditioning on when possible  especially vulnerable populations, including infants, young children and the elderly.

A heat wave over the Labor Day weekend this month set record temperatures for around the Bay Area. In downtown San Francisco, thermometers hit 106 degrees on Sept. 1, breaking the previous record of 103 set on June 14, 2000. On Sept. 2, San Francisco hit 101, making it the third time the city had seen back-to-back days of triple-digit heat since 1874.

The sweltering weather was suspected of causing the deaths of six people in the Bay Area, three in San Francisco and three in San Mateo County. All six were elderly. In San Francisco, all three lived alone and 911 call records show that none had called for medical help before their bodies were discovered.

The San Francisco medical examiners office said it was likely that the three victims in the city died of heat-related causes. San Mateo County confirmed that the other three victims died of shock caused by heatstroke.

Annie Ma is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ama@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anniema15
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A line of men and women decked out in leather, leashes and lingerie waited to be flogged and spanked in an enclosed stage as hundreds of spectators watched and snapped photos Sunday.

It was just another day at the Folsom Street Fair, a celebration of all things kink and an annual San Francisco event since 1984. Tens of thousands of fans of bondage, discipline and sadomasochism  along with the merely curious  filled the South of Market street.

It gives people the opportunity to experience something they might not otherwise feel safe doing, said Beatrice Stone, who was coordinating the spanking and flogging to raise money for local charities. If someone comes for the first time, we make sure its safe  we have experienced tops.

Zack, 25, made a spur-of-the-moment decision to be flogged onstage. The South Bay resident, who declined to give his last name, said it was pretty fun  the organizers made sure he felt comfortable, and they checked in often to see that he was OK as his legs became weaker from the lashing.

Its great to have a space where we can come out and not feel so weird about being weird, Zack said.

As the sun beat down on the self-proclaimed worlds biggest leather event, bare skin was on full display, with many people walking the street fully naked.

On one large stage in the middle of the festival, near-naked men simulated sex as the crowd called out suggestions. Nearby, dozens of people dressed up as dogs barked and howled in a large pen. At other booths, people were intricately bound in rope.

The fair, which had a suggested $10 entrance fee, raises money for community groups. The nonprofit that organizes it and other events says it has donated nearly $6 million to charities since the festival began.

While many of the booths were hawking sex toys, others were advocating for safer sex and services directed toward the LGBT community.

Black Brothers Esteem, a support program of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation that works with gay and bisexual African American men, was handing out condoms and information about HIV prevention.

Tony Bradford, the programs assistant director of community engagement, said it was the programs first year at the festival. The group decided to participate after hearing that the event had become more diverse, he said.

People of color who used to be closeted kinky are out now, said Bradford, who has been coming to the fair for years. Ive never seen a crowd here this diverse.

Thierry Rocchia, 52, said he knew of the fair only from photos until he attended Sunday. He said he expected it would be rougher, but was pleasantly surprised by the friendly and fun atmosphere.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Theres nothing like this in the United Kingdom, and Im not sure we could have a festival like it there, the London resident said.

Melvin Morgan, who has been coming to the Folsom Street Fair since the 1990s, said it has become more touristy over the years. But one thing hasnt changed, he said: the fairs body-positive atmosphere.

People are walking around naked and bare, and I love that, he said. We came into this world naked, and thats how it should be.

Joaquin Palomino is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jpalomino@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoaquinPalomino
Ultraconservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos prayed, signed autographs and took selfies for about 15 minutes on the steps of Sproul Hall at UC Berkeley on Sunday, an appearance that cost the university an estimated $800,000, university officials said.

Hoping to prevent the kind of violence that shut down a scheduled speech by Yiannopoulos on Feb. 1, UC officials brought in an unprecedented number of police officers  they declined to reveal how many  from about 10 jurisdictions, including the little Kern County city of Taft, as well as police from other University of California and California State University campuses.

Security included a labyrinth of orange barriers, which prohibited access to Sproul Plaza until shortly before noon, requiring attendees to pass through a single metal detector to enter the area. In the end, only about 150 people in Sproul Plaza saw Yiannopoulos. Hundreds were still outside waiting to get in when he left.

Because we were operating and planning in the blind  we just were not getting information from the student group  we had to plan for what we felt was going to happen with speakers of this magnitude here, said UC Berkeley Police Chief Margo Bennett. And thats why we staffed it the way we did.

Bennett said that campus police and administrators would decide Sunday night whether to provide special security for the rest of the week.

Yiannopoulos arrived on the steps of Sproul Plaza shortly after noon, fulfilling his vow to show up even after student organizers canceled what had been billed as Free Speech Week, a four-day event that was to include Steve Bannon, President Trumps former White House adviser, and controversial conservative author Ann Coulter.

Despite calling the event a defense of free speech, Yiannopoulos didnt give a speech. He was shouted down as he tried to talk. He wasnt allowed to use an amplification system, a rule university officials said would apply to any private citizen who would seek to make use of the Sproul steps for a similar purpose.

Wearing a U.S. flag hoodie and accompanied by an entourage that included private security, he greeted supporters for several minutes, knelt down to pray, took selfies, signed autographs and then started singing the national anthem as protesters yelled at him, challenging him on his views regarding immigration.

Then, security escorted him from Sproul Plaza while police held back people who tried to follow him.

No, I didnt get to say much, Yiannopoulos told The Chronicle later in a text message, adding that he plans to return later this week or sometime in the next several months. We will be back to Berkeley over and over again, until the university starts treating its conservative students fairly.

He also criticized police, saying they prevented people from entering.

Nonsense, said UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof. He said the security screening was slowed after one person was caught with plastic knuckles, a weapon that wouldnt be caught by a metal detector.

Our job as a campus and as a police department wasnt to facilitate this event, Mogulof said. What drove our arrangements and our preparations and our decisions was the safety and security of the public, the campus community and any private citizens that may have come onto Sproul.

Several hundred people descended on the south side of the campus in anticipation of Yiannopoulos visit, split between those who supported him and those who didnt.

Throughout the morning, verbal sparring and a few scuffles occurred between the two sides, as well as competing chants of, USA! and Fascists go home!

Police banned weapons of any kind as well as face masks, perhaps deterring groups like the black bloc or antifa from participating.

Eleven people were arrested on various charges, most for carrying banned weapons, police said.

As the protests wound down Sunday afternoon and the crowd dissipated, university officials said that they would likely be looking at changing policies on events and speakers.

Its unclear if existing rules can accommodate these kinds of unprecedented protests, Mogulof said, adding that Chancellor Carol Christ is considering putting together an advisory group of students, faculty, experts and administrators to review those policies.

He noted that the event was initiated by a student group called Berkeley Patriot, organized by two students after Yiannopoulos first speech was canceled.

We need to ask ourselves, Should a relatively small student group have the ability to schedule four straight days of events? he said. Theres a lot for us to examine and think about.

Jill Tucker, Kimberly Veklerov, Lizzie Johnson and Nanette Asimov are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com, kveklerov@sfchronicle.com, ljohnson@sfchronicle.com, nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JillTucker, @LVeklerov, @lizziejohnsonnn, @NanetteAsimov
San Franciscos epidemic of car burglaries may be spreading even faster than the already alarming 28 percent increase reported by police this year.

Statistics obtained from the citys 911 center show it received 25,031 calls about auto break-ins during the first six months of 2017  7,061 more than the 17,970 reported by police.

The difference is that car-burglary victims first reaction is often to call 911  but they dont always follow through by filing an online report, and the cops dont send anyone to the scene unless a smash-and-grab is in progress.

What goes into the official crime stats? Police responses and victims reports. A 911 call with no follow-up doesnt count.

Police spokesman Michael Andraychak cautioned that 911 calls could include reports from several witnesses of a single break-in. But theres no doubt some burglaries simply arent registering in the stats.

Supervisor Hillary Ronen, whose district includes the Mission, ground zero for the break-in explosion, said she wouldnt be surprised if the number (for the year to date) is even higher than 25,000.

Ronen said shes talked to several people who have stopped bothering to file police reports.

Ive had people tell me this being their third or fourth break-in, Ronen said. Its like a tax for living here.

In fact, after five break-ins, Ronen said, one woman in Bernal Heights put a sign out saying, F you. The car is unlocked. There is nothing in the car. Nothing in the glove box.

Tony Ribera, a former San Francisco police chief who now teaches criminal justice at the University of San Francisco, said cops tell him auto break-ins are often done by petty criminals working in teams. With auto burglary classified as a nonviolent crime, and citations issued for possession of stolen goods worth less than $950, those arrested often roll in and out of the court system.

Police reported making 303 arrests in the first six months of the year.

Some of them have been arrested 15 to 20 times, Ribera said. I mean, it is ridiculous.

Tower talk: Millennium Tower condo owners say theyve got proof that planners of the next-door Transbay Transit Center ignored their legal obligation to prevent the residential high-rise from sinking.

Lawyers for 250 Millennium homeowners who are suing the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, the public agency building the mega bus station, have filed a freshly amended complaint pointing to the transit centers pre-construction environmental impact report. The document said the authority was required to do prep work to protect existing structures from excessive ground movements during construction and monitor adjacent buildings for movement.

If any buildings were indeed moving  like, sinking into the ground or leaning to one side  the transit centers builders would take immediate action to control the movement, the report said.

Despite the monitoring, none of the other steps happened, and the consequences were disastrous, said David Casselman, lead attorney for the homeowners.

In fact, the Millennium had already sunk 10 inches by time the digging began for the $2.4 billion bus and rail hub in 2010. Casselman said the bulk of that was expected building settlement and it had all but stopped before transit center construction began.

As of July, the skyscraper had sunk another 7 inches and was tilting nearly 14 inches to the northwest at the roofline, increasing the likelihood that it will become impossible to return the building to its original upright position, the lawsuit says.

Transbay authority officials are sticking to their defense that the Millennium was sunk by a bad design, one that didnt provide for pushing the 58-story buildings pilings to bedrock.

Taxpayers should not be on the hook for the developers shortcuts, the authoritys lawyers said in a statement.

The Millennium Tower had settled twice as much as the developer and its geotechnical consultant had predicted before (the authority) began its excavation ... and is continuing to sink and tilt at about the same rate even after (the authority) stopped digging, the lawyers said.

There are practical reasons that the homeowners are suing the public authority and not Millennium Partners, the buildings developer: If they win, they keep the entire judgment  with their attorney and expert witness fees charged separately to the transbay agency, under laws designed to protect private property owners from public excesses.

Not to mention that the transbay authority would have an easier time paying up  because, unlike the developer, its a public entity and can float a bond to pay for the judgment.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
The newly released Apple Watch  with its added feature of cellular connectivity  is reigniting concerns among some public health researchers and medical experts over the potential health risks of long-term exposure to radiation from cell phones.

There is no definitive data from federal health regulators showing a direct link between cell phone radiation  also known as radio frequency radiation  and health problems in humans. But recent research indicates that exposure to cell phone radiation is the likely cause of malignant growths in the brains and hearts of male rats, and can cause neurological damage in rats born to mothers that were exposed to the radiation during pregnancy.

The advent of Internet-connected wearables like watches  which come in direct contact with the body virtually 24/7, not just for short bursts throughout the day, like phones  raises questions about whether constant, direct exposure to cell phone radiation could cause harm to consumers.

Thats going to up the exposure and probably increase the risk to the user over the long term, said Joel Moskowitz, a researcher at UC Berkeleys School of Public Health. I dont think theres anyone who can say definitively this is going to hurt the user. But many scientists would say we dont have enough information to claim these devices are safe.

Moskowitz successfully sued the state of California to release records showing public health officials had drafted  but did not release  guidelines warning the public about the potential health risks of cell phones. The draft guidelines were made public earlier this year after a judge ordered health officials to do so as a result of the lawsuit.

The National Toxicology Program, a division within the National Institutes of Health, last year released partial data on studies that found incidences of malignant gliomas in the brains and tumors in the hearts of male rats who had been exposed to radio frequency radiation similar to that emitted by cell phones.

The tumors in the brain and heart observed at low incidence in male rats exposed to (cell phone radiation) in this study are of a type similar to tumors observed in some epidemiology studies of cell phone use, the draft report said. These findings appear to support the International Agency for Research on Cancer conclusions on the possible carcinogenic potential of cell phone radiation.

Dr. Devra Davis, an epidemiologist and toxicologist who has studied cell phone radiation for a decade, said there is emerging evidence to suggest that exposure to radiation can affect fertility.

We have evidence that levels of radiation far weaker than those of a cell phone can be damaging to human sperm as well as to the progeny produced by animals that are pregnant and exposed to this throughout their pregnancy, said Davis, a visiting professor of medicine at Hebrew University and founder of Environmental Health Trust, a nonprofit that studies environmental and health issues.

One 2017 study published in the Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology journal, for instance, found that maternal exposure to Wi-Fi radio frequencies led to adverse effects in neurodevelopment of the offspring.

Experts say that people should try to keep cell phones away from their body because even a tenth of an inch of distance can significantly reduce the amount of radiation exposed to the body.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Representatives for Apple did not return requests for comment. Apple includes a legal notice in the Settings section of iPhones that says the phone has been tested and meets the limits for radio frequency exposure. The phone is tested by positioning it against the head, with no separation, and against the torso, with two-tenths of an inch of separation.

CTIA, the national trade group representing the wireless communications industry, did not immediately return a request for comment. The group has said the Federal Communications Commission has concluded that cell phones are safe, and has sought to block efforts by consumer advocates and local officials to pass ordinances in Berkeley and San Francisco requiring retailers to display warnings about cell phone radiation in stores that sell the phones.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
I thought at first that the press release was a put-on. The Polls are open in the 2018 Americas Best Restroom Contest, said the headline, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the 10 finalists. The annual contest is sponsored by Cintas, which creates restrooms for offices and public spaces. The public may vote at www.bestrestroom.com/us.

SFMOMA credits Snohetta, designers of the new museum, for using the restrooms to activate visitors senses and inspire them to explore another floor. Restrooms, in differing colors on differing floors, are works of art unto themselves. Insider tip: Look for the green flash after exiting the red restroom on the second floor, a classic example of after-image using complementary colors.

Surely we have this potty competition pretty much wrapped up? Not so fast. When diners use the restroom at Off the Waffle in Portland, another finalist, they can flip the light switch to disco mode, thus transforming the facility with flashy lights and music.

Sleek as the local contenders are, we may be chopped liver in the competition.

Poignant subject line on the Southern Marin Mothers Club daily blog/digest, as cited by Roger Thornhill: Best place to sell wedding ring?

At its Dream for Inclusion gala on Sept. 15, the Chinese Culture Center bestowed a lifetime achievement award on Kary Schulman, who presides over San Franciscos Grants for Arts program (and asked if the award meant she could take a break from achieving). Also honored with achievement awards: Richard and Tatwina Lee (she was board chair of the San Francisco Foundation); and H&L Partners, sponsors of the Chinese New York Parade and other community festivities.

Mark Leno expressed his desire to become the citys next mayor, an arts mayor  and Chinese Culture Center Executive Director Mabel Teng, with whom Leno had served on the Board of Supervisors, predicted hed succeed. (Asked about wins for the 49ers, Teng said she couldnt make any predictions.)

Listening to a Commonwealth Club podcast, Anthony Tusler was taken by Kara Swishers observation: San Francisco is assisted living for Millennials.

Some of the suggested names for the new Salesforce Tower: The Twinkie (Diane Wright); Steely Dan (Ellyn Kutch); the Suppository (John Law); the Tampon (Mark Morgan); the Finger (Carmen Hermida); the Vibrator (reader in Petaluma). The names seem to reflect some hostility to the tech brethren who have made such major marks on our city, so in my role as Pollyanna, Im going to suggest some alternatives: the Beanstalk; the Rocket, the Shaft. (As in elevator shaft ... but then again, maybe not.)

Filmmaker Rick Tejada-Flores, whose family came to the United States from Bolivia, traveled there to learn about his roots. In his documentary My Bolivia, Remembering What I Never Knew, which will be shown on KQED World on Oct. 8, he discovers that his grandfather was president during a bloody war with Paraguay, that the family had huge land ownings and that the Nazi Klaus Barbie had, for a time, managed one of the family businesses. What bothers him most is that some of the older rural people who worked for his family when they owned vast estates remember the cruelty of their overseers. At the end of the film, he promises them he will try to help them, to bring purified water to a region that has not had it.

So after the movies story was told, the filmmaker came back to the United States to try to fulfill his pledge.

I thought it would be easy, since Ive had lots of success raising money for films, he says. I have had very bad luck with the water project, only raised a couple of thousand after four years. ... Im thinking about doing a crowdfunding campaign. I cant go back to Bolivia without the money I committed to raising, or theyll say Im just another gringo who makes promises and never keeps them.

Conversation Lisa Ochs overheard while waiting for an elevator in an Upper East Side apartment building in New York:

Adolescent boy to grandmother: Bubbie, do you know what a satyr is?

Grandmother: A seder?

Boy: No, a satyr. Its half person, half goat.

Young woman eavesdropping: Like Anthony Weiner.

Grandmother: I know what youre talking about.

Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @leahgarchik

Public Eavesdropping

This is a great weekend if it wasnt for all that jazz.

Woman at the Monterey County Fairgrounds the weekend of Monterey Jazz Festival, overheard by Rick Sylvester
As of Friday, more than 600 bills passed by the Legislature awaited the governors signature before the Oct. 15 deadline. Some address community concerns long in need of attention; some favor one interest over another; some are specious. The Chronicle has endorsed these six and urges Gov. Jerry Brown to sign them into law. Heres why:

Gender pay gap (AB1209): The opportunity for women to earn a good life is diminished when men are paid more for similar work. Studies persistently show a gender gap in pay in California and beyond. This bill marshals transparency to spotlight inequities by requiring large companies to submit median and average salary data by gender and job classification to the state.

Drug prices (SB17): Transparency is needed, too, from drugmakers to address the most-often-heard complaint in Sacramento from constituents  that drug prices are rising too fast and too high for families to keep up. Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina (Los Angeles County) has doggedly worked to require that the prescription drug industry notify state and private insurers before raising prices. This time, his effort must succeed.

Nonbinary gender (SB179): We can argue it is a civil right for individuals who do not identify as either male or female or with the gender assigned at birth to have accurate representation. We also can acknowledge that having the state affirm their nonbinary gender bestows respect on an aggrieved community and harms no one. Since July, Oregon residents can select M, F or X as their gender on licenses and ID cards. California residents should have that option, too.

Rape kits (AB41): Public outrage over untested rape kits languishing in police evidence lockers for years prompted Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, to write a bill that requires law enforcement to report rape kits as they are collected and examined, or explain why they are not. How is it that DNA evidence is collected from rape victims but never tested, leaving victims without closure and rapists at large?

March primary election (SB568): California, the most populous and diverse state, hardly has a say in electing a president. Why? Because our last-in-the-country primary election allows others to determine the presidential contenders. Moving Californias presidential primary to March indefinitely would make Californias voice heard.

Political ad funding disclosure (AB249): Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo, is determined to let voters know who funds political ads, be they print, television, audio or digital. This bill improves standards for disclosures of who the campaign donors are  and whose interests are served.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
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Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands last week. In Puerto Rico, it was one of the strongest storms to ever hit the island. These U.S. territories suffered devastating losses to their power grids, agriculture and housing stock.

Coming on the heels of Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria has dealt a staggering blow to U.S. territories that were already struggling. Food, potable water and electricity will be scarce in these places for months.

But whats even worse than the hurricanes has been Washingtons anemic response.

Disasters tend to illuminate and exacerbate existing social inequities. In this case, the inequity shown is just how little attention national politicians have paid to the plight of these islands  and the millions of American citizens who live on them.

The islands will need a multibillion-dollar aid package, similar to the one Congress approved after Hurricane Harvey. None has been approved. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency has shown up to help, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossellos request for assistance from the Department of Defense has not gotten the response it deserved. Other agencies will be crucial, too  how are these islands supposed to recover without reliable electricity?

Private citizens, Puerto Rican celebrities and some state governments have tried to step into the void. (Impressive relief efforts have been launched by the both the city and the state of New York, along with pop star Jennifer Lopez.)

This generosity should be encouraged and celebrated. But the ultimate responsibility for these islands security, protection and renewal belongs to the federal government.

The Trump administration needs to offer real assistance to our territories, and Congress needs to fund it.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
SHANGHAI  China has largely blocked the WhatsApp messaging app, the latest move by Beijing to step up surveillance before a big Communist Party gathering next month.

The disabling in mainland China of the Facebook-owned app is a setback for the social media giant, whose chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, has been pushing to re-enter the Chinese market, and has been studying the Chinese language intensively. WhatsApp was the last Facebook product to still be available in mainland China; the companys main social media service has been blocked in China since 2009, where its Instagram image-sharing app is also unavailable.

In mid-July, Chinese censors began blocking video chats and the sending of photos and other files using WhatsApp, and they stopped many voice chats, as well. But most text messages on the app continued to go through normally. The restrictions on video, audio chats and file sharing were at least temporarily lifted in the following weeks.

WhatsApp now appears to have been broadly disrupted in China, even for text messages, Nadim Kobeissi, an applied cryptographer at Symbolic Software, a research startup in Paris, said on Monday. The blocking of WhatsApp text messages suggests that Chinas censors may have developed specialized software to interfere with such messages, which rely on an encryption technology that is used by few services other than WhatsApp, he said.

This is not the typical technical method in which the Chinese government censors something, Kobeissi said. He added that his companys automated monitors had begun detecting disruptions of WhatsApp in China on Wednesday, and that by Monday the blocking efforts were comprehensive.

Facebook declined to comment, following past practice when asked about WhatsApps difficulties in China.

Lokman Tsui, an Internet communications specialist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said that WhatsApp seemed to have been severely disrupted starting Sunday. But he said that some WhatsApp users might still manage to communicate.

Chinese authorities have a history of mostly, but not entirely, blocking Internet services, as well as slowing them down so much that they become useless. The censorship has prompted many in China to switch to communications methods that function smoothly and quickly but that are easily monitored by Chinese authorities, like the WeChat app of the Chinese Internet company Tencent.

Keith Bradsher is a New York Times writer.
San Francisco clothier Levis and search engine giant Google will begin selling a new form of electronic gear this week: a denim jacket for bicyclists that can make it easier to receive texts and phone calls.

The $350 product looks and feels like a denim jacket, but the wearer can snap an electronic tag on the cuff that uses Bluetooth technology to connect with a users smartphone, which must be nearby.

After programming an app, someone wearing the jacket could swipe upward on their left arm to play music or switch tracks  actions much easier for cyclists than fiddling with a phone. The rider could also instruct the phone, with a double tap or swipe of the jacket, to tell the time aloud.

The introduction of the jacket culminates three years of work for Googles Ivan Poupyrev, who has said one of the major challenges was creating conductive yarns in Japan that wouldnt be damaged through the manufacturing process.

Its almost like a miracle, looking back, Poupyrev said of the jackets arrival.

In the future, clothing with embedded technology could help people improve how they lift weights, or position their hands on a keyboard to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome, he said.

In 2016, smart clothing generated $150.7 million in revenue, and it is expected to jump to $3.7 billion by 2022, according to research firm Tractica.

Clothing brands such as Ralph Lauren and Under Armour have explored or sold technology-enabled clothing; often the functions include measuring heart rate.

The jacket, whose technology is known as Jacquard, will be sold at Kinfolk in Brooklyn, N.Y., Fred Segal in Santa Monica, and Concepts in Boston starting on Wednesday. On Oct. 2, it will be available online and in several Levis stores, including the San Francisco location on Market Street. The new jacket can stand about 10 washes, according to Google.

Making the case for why shoppers should buy a $350 jacket whose capabilities resemble those of smartwatches may be challenging. A new $399 Apple Series 3 smartwatch with a cellular plan can make and receive calls and exchange texts without an iPhone nearby, as well as play music.

Clothing with technology embedded into its fabric could one day be used in a variety of ways, according to Cary Pint, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt Universitys mechanical engineering department. Energy storage devices like batteries could be in clothing, making smartphones more light-weight  or color-changing technology in fabric could make it easier for troops to change their camouflage colors to match different terrain, Pint said.

As we start to integrate electronics and energy into clothing and wearables, we are going to generate a lot more data, Pint said. That data can be used to help us.

The jacket from Levis and Google will provide data to the companies on how consumers use the jacket; the information will include what time of day it is used, or whether it is worn at all. The data, which will not identify the wearers, will also show which of the jackets features are most popular.

If it ends up in the back of the sock drawer like other wearables, well know that because it wont be active, said Paul Dillinger, vice president of Global Product Innovation for Levis which already peddles a line of clothing directed at bike commuters. Thats honest guidance that we love, and weve never gotten before..

As wearable technology settles into clothing, companies need to be mindful of protecting consumers privacy, analysts said.

Data gathered from athletes, or patients struggling with medical issues, needs to be safeguarded and users assured of appropriate usage, said Sherril Hanson, a research analyst with Tractica.

John OMeara, a University of San Francisco marketing professor, said he believes the jacket could help Levis attract new customers.

Its an opportunity for them not just to launch this new product, but to make their brand relevant with a younger, hipper generation, OMeara said.
LONDON  The new CEO of Uber apologized for past mistakes on Monday in a public attempt to show London authorities that the company, known for aggressive tactics, is willing to change to retain its right to operate in the city.

Days after Londons transport authorities decided not to renew Ubers license to operate, citing a lack of corporate responsibility, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi acknowledged that the company has got things wrong during its global expansion.

The San Francisco company will appeal the decision of Londons transport authority but will do so with the knowledge that we must also change, Khosrowshahi said in an open letter to Londoners published by the Evening Standard newspaper.

We wont be perfect, but we will listen to you, he said. We will look to be long-term partners with the cities we serve; and we will run our business with humility, integrity and passion.

Now Playing: Uber is looking to renew its license in London after being banned from the city. The firm has been pushing to meet with the city's mayor Sadiq Khan but those requests have been rejected since Khan's election in 2016. More than 630,000 people have already signed a petition to keep the ride-hailing service operating in London. Video: Wibbitz

But even as Khosrowshahi was striking a conciliatory note, the company was also pursuing a more political strategy keeping with the rulebook that former CEO Travis Kalanick honed during years of battles with cities around the world. Even as it appealed, Uber threatened to take the city to court and started an online petition that now has more than 750,000 signatures. The first result of a Google search for Uber London is an ad linking to the petition. Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in London, told the London Sunday Times that his company would like to meet to resolve the situation.

Rival Lyft, also based in San Francisco, may be positioning itself to benefit from Ubers demise in the capital after holding meetings with London transport officials in the past year, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed Khosrowshahis apology and said he was pleased to see the company acknowledge the issues it faced in London. Transport for London said last week it wouldnt renew Ubers license when it expires Sept. 30. Uber can continue operating while it pursues an appeal.

Even though there is a legal process in place, I have asked (Transport for London) to make themselves available to meet with him, Khan said of Khosrowshahi.

Uber has struggled with a series of scandals this year, ranging from accusations of sexism to suggestions that it used software to hide information from regulators. Khosrowshahi took over as CEO this month after co-founder Kalanick was ousted following complaints about his management style.

Transport for London said Friday that it wouldnt renew Ubers license because the company isnt fit and proper to operate in the city, where it has 3.5 million users and 40,000 drivers. Uber didnt report serious criminal offenses, including a sexual assault, to London police, authorities said, and failed to conduct proper background checks on its drivers. The regulator also cited Ubers use of a phony app to deceive regulators in the U.S.

Some Uber supporters say the critique is a smokescreen for a politically motivated decision that was designed to appease London taxi drivers, not protect public safety. Uber has long been a target of cabdrivers who complain that Uber and its drivers dont have to comply with the same licensing standards, giving the ride-hailing service an unfair advantage.

Khosrowshahis apologetic letter comes after days of tense media exchanges between Uber representatives and Khan, who said any operator of taxi services in the city needs to play by the rules and that people angry about the decision should blame the ride-hailing company.

Its the first crisis for Khosrowshahi, an executive with a reputation for high ethical standards who was hired last month from travel booking site Expedia. The row interrupted Khosrowshahis orientation at Uber, where he spent his first few weeks riding with drivers and getting to know the company.

In a note to employees after Fridays decision, Khosrowshahi said he disagreed with the decision made by Transport for London, and it would be tempting to call it unfair. But he also said that Uber must look at how it got into the mess.

The truth is that there is a high cost to a bad reputation, he wrote. Going forward, its critical that we act with integrity in everything we do, and learn how to be a better partner to every city we operate in.

The London ruling, while bad news for Uber, does give Khosrowshahi a chance to show how Uber is changing, said Jan Dawson, chief analyst for Jackdaw Research in California. Khosrowshahi should get on the next plane to London to speak with regulators and work out a plan to address their concerns, Dawson said.

Bloomberg News contributed to this report.

Danica Kirka and Tom Krisher are Associated Press writers.
Thats how much organic chicken U.S. producers sold last year, up 78 percent from 2015, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Total organic farm sales were up 23 percent to $7.6 billion. More than a third of the value comes from just one state: California. Acres dedicated to organic food increased by 15 percent, the report showed. Chickens were one of the fastest-growing organic commodities last year.

Something doesnt add up here

Theres math, and then theres courtroom math. In the case of Waymo vs. Uber, Alphabets self-driving car division now says the San Francisco ride-hailing company only owes it $1.859 billion, not $2.6 billion, for allegedly stealing its autonomous-vehicle trade secrets. Waymos explanation for the discrepancy, according to a court filing noted by TechCrunch: Waymos numbers are not additive.

A real shoe-in

Airbnb is starting local tours and other experiences in New York City this week, with one listing promising an unforgettable shoe-shopping experience led by Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker, whose bio describes her as an actor, producer, businesswoman ... and a proud New Yorker. For $400 apiece, each participant will get a pair of shoes from her SJP Collection at Bloomingdales, with a stop at the department stores Forty Carrots cafe for frozen yogurt before the guests head off to the ballet. Proceeds will benefit the New York City Ballet.

Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techchronicle
One young man was killed and another was wounded when gunfire broke out Sunday night on a residential street in Oakland, officials said.

The men were shot just before 8:30 p.m. on the 7700 block of Bancroft Avenue, near 77th Avenue, in the citys Eastmont neighborhood, police said.
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Every year the California Department of Justice takes a long look at homicides, and the latest report offers mixed news. Killings around the state jumped 3.7 percent from 2015 to 2016, but were down 14.5 percent from a decade ago.

Overall, 1,930 people were slain last year, translating to 4.9 victims per 100,000 state residents. The new report contained some insight into who killed whom  and why. Among the findings:

Guns do the job:

Seventy-two percent of 2016 killings in which the weapon was known were done with a firearm, typically a handgun.

Disputes unseat gangs as top motive:

Thirty-two percent of killings with a known motive were traced to an unspecified argument; 31 percent were seen as gang-related; 8 percent were a result of domestic violence; and 7 percent stemmed from robberies, rapes or burglaries. Gangs had been cited as the top motivator for homicides in 2015.

Men dominate the booking logs:

Eighty-nine percent of those arrested for murder were male. Nearly 52 percent of those arrested were ages 18 to 29.

Most victims are male and nonwhite:

More than 83 percent of those killed were male. In cases where a victims race was known, 43 percent were Latino, while 30 percent were black and 19 percent were white.

Age varies:

Latino and black victims tended to be younger, with more than 45 percent between 18 and 29. White victims were older, on average, with 56 percent over 40.

Domestic violence cuts along gender lines:

Males (39 percent) were more likely than females (14 percent) to be killed by a stranger. But women were far more likely than men to be slain by a spouse (21 percent for women, compared with less than 1 percent for men). While 49 percent of female victims were killed in their own home, the biggest proportion of male victims (43 percent) lost their lives on a street or sidewalk.

When women are killed in California, domestic violence is the leading cause by far. At least 80 women were slain by domestic abusers in 2016, accounting for 38 percent of the killings of women in which the motive was known. For male victims, the number was 1.6 percent.

BY THE NUMBERS: Violent crime up in CA, according to FBI reports

Death Row grows:

Executions have been on hold in California since 2006, but people are still being given the death penalty. In 2016, there were nine such sentences, after 14 the year before. All of the defendants were men and three-quarters of them were sentenced in Southern California. The high year for death sentences was 1999, with 42.

Just one death penalty was handed down in the Bay Area last year. The defendant was Darnell Williams Jr., who killed 8-year-old Alaysha Carradine in 2013 by spraying bullets into a sleepover party in Oaklands Dimond neighborhood and then gunned down a 22-year-old man during a robbery two months later in Berkeley.

Six officers were killed:

Six police officers, five men and one woman, were slain in the line of duty last year in California, the highest number in at least a decade. All were killed with guns. In the last 10 years, 37 officers in the state have been killed violently on the job.

Police killings:

The Department of Justice reported that police killed 102 people statewide in 2015, down from 130 the year before, suggesting that a national focus on such cases might be making a difference, at least in California. All but three of those killed were men. Forty-six percent were Latino, 30 percent were white and 19 percent were black.

The state figures, however, do not appear to be comprehensive: A national database created by the Washington Post identified 138 people who were shot to death by California police in 2016, down from the newspapers count of 188 the year before.

 Demian Bulwa, dbulwa@sfchronicle.com

Homicide in California

To read the state Department of Justice report on killings in 2016: https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/resources/publications
It wont win any awards for innovation, but the Norwegian-Irish World War II drama The Kings Choice demonstrates that there is still a place for moviemaking that is straight-ahead and old-fashioned, in the good sense. Its the compelling story of how neutral Norway was overrun by Germany, and the response of King Haakon VII, Norways constitutional monarch.

Viewers who might dismiss the film as a prestige picture (it was Norways official Oscar nominee) aimed at stirring Norwegian patriotism (it recounts an act of anti-Nazi defiance) would be making a mistake. The Kings Choice is an affecting and handsomely made historical drama about an individual  albeit a king  who makes a difficult moral decision, and its the right decision.

The story takes place over a three-day period in April 1940. German ships began sailing into Norwegian waters on the grounds that the British had mined the nations harbors. What Germany was really after was Norways plentiful iron ore, and all Norway had to do was submit quietly. Any resistance  and its an understatement to say that Norway was no military match for the invaders  would be crushed.

The king (intensely played by Jesper Christensen) has no real political power, and his initial aim is to preserve Norwegian neutrality. Hes a thoroughly decent man who loves playing with his grandchildren, and wants nothing but the best for Norway  and he has no illusions about Germany. The monarchs adult son (Anders Baasmo Christiansen) also sees the Nazis for what they are, though hes a bit of a hothead, prone to shooting from the hip. Some of the lesser lights among the politicians seem very slow to realize what Germany is up to.

There isnt any doubt about the outcome of the invasion. The Germans roll through Norway in a matter of hours, the Norwegian Cabinet flees Oslo, and Hitler himself wants to see the Norwegian puppet government in the hands of a politician whose views he finds sympathetic, Vidkun Quisling. Quisling never appears on camera, but has a key offscreen role.

After the king and his son, the major character, and maybe the films most complex, is Curt Brauer (Karl Marcovics), the German envoy to Norway. He believes in Norwegian neutrality, and has little use for the military types who are shouldering him aside. Like Norwegians, he doesnt seem to have fully grasped the depth of Nazi malice. As the film progresses, he grows less sympathetic, especially as he carries out Hitlers order to find the king (who is in hiding with his family) and persuade him to tell his subjects not to resist the invaders.

Though the king is a figurehead, with the government now in shambles, his public stance becomes vital  it could end up costing (or saving) many lives.

Director Erik Poppe sees the king in frankly heroic terms  Haakon VII is humane, fully accepts his responsibility and weighs the costs of knuckling under versus showing defiance. He makes the correct choice. The contrast with Brauer, who turns out to be a hollow man, is telling. Poppe also impresses in the films two battle scenes  early on, when an aged Norwegian commander fires on a German warship, and later, when a bunch of green and boyish Norwegian troops take a stand against a German military convoy.

The film strays a bit in following the misfortunes of a secondary character whose story seems melodramatic and a distraction from the films main thrust. But the titular monarch is a genuinely admirable character. Haakon VII is a hero in Norway, and The Kings Choice tells us why.

Walter Addiego is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: waddiego@sfchronicle.com

The Kings Choice

Drama. Starring Jesper Christensen, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Karl Markovics. Directed by Erik Poppe. (Not rated. 135 minutes.)
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LOS ANGELES  The Giants season has reached its final week. Hold your applause.

Over their final six games, they will see if they can avoid 100 losses after hitting 95 Sunday, bid farewell to Matt Cain and learn how high they will pick in the 2018 amateur draft, before everyone goes home to see how quickly they can forget 2017.

The Giants penultimate week ended Sunday with a 3-1 loss to the Dodgers that will be remembered for Mac Williamson hitting a moon shot over the center-field fence against Clayton Kershaw and little else.

Williamson and Hunter Pence each had three hits against Kershaw, matching the total number of three-hit games by a Giant against the big left-hander since he arrived in 2008. Joaquin Arias and Buster Posey had the other two, both in 2015.

Otherwise, Kershaw did Kershaw things for eight innings and earned his 22nd win against the Giants, mostly by getting them to beat the ball into the ground. Posey, Nick Hundley, Tim Federowicz and Brandon Crawford all hit into double plays.

Chris Stratton allowed three runs over four innings in his first start of what should be many against the Dodgers. Yasmani Grandal got him for a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer.

Ty Blach relieved Stratton, pitched for the first time since Sept. 11 and threw three shutout innings.

Thats a valuable asset to have in the bullpen, someone to sit as long as he had and throw strikes like that, manager Bruce Bochy said.

Both rookie pitchers had intriguing years.

Blach was the rotation savior when he took Madison Bumgarners place after the dirt-bike spill. When Blach began to falter in August, Stratton, the Giants first-round draft pick in 2012, seemingly came out of nowhere and became one of the teams most consistent starters.

Sundays game could be a preview of how Stratton and Blach are used next year, assuming both are on the team. Stratton looks more like a starter, with a live fastball and three good secondary pitches. Blach could be a long reliever and get lefties out here or there.

Come March, they could be competing for one open spot in the rotation.

Possibly, Bochy said. Well see how we get through the winter. I think we have two good ones there. Both can start. Both can pitch out of the pen. Its nice to see them come up an do well.

Williamsons role in 2018 is cloudy after a season that began on the wrong foot  or leg, to be more accurate  when he injured a quadriceps in spring training and could not compete for a bench job.

He struggled for much of the year in the minors and has not played much since his call-up. But the Giants have to respect the power he showed in the eighth inning when he broke up Kershaws shutout with a homer that cleared the center-field wall by plenty.

Williamson is trying to find a spot in winter ball to get much-needed catch-up at-bats, but his agent has a tough assignment. With political strife and violence in Venezuela, and Puerto Rico reeling from hurricanes, American ballplayers are homing in on the Dominican league.

They can pick and choose whom they want to come down there, Williamson said. Its not like there are a ton of spots.

The Giants fell to 61-95, which means they need to win two of their final six games to prevent 100 losses.

In ending their season series against the Dodgers at 8-11, losing seven of the final nine games, the Giants broke a tie with the Phillies and again own the worst record in the majors. The free-falling Tigers and Phillies are a game better at 62-94, with the White Sox still in the running for worst record if they have a really bad week.

Chances are the Giants will have no worse than the third pick in the draft, their highest since they took Matt Williams with the third pick in 1986.

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: hschulman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hankschulman
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Walk the ninth-floor hallway of the historic Flood Building on Market Street and you may detect an office sound that has all but vanished, even from the Flood, which has not changed much since 1904.

It is the frantic staccato of twin IBM Selectric II typewriters, their typeballs pressing letters into a page at 60 words per minute. The symphony comes from the offices of Minard Capital, which sends out 1,000 letters per year, individually typed, folded, sealed in wax and posted in the U.S. Mail.

On Tuesday evening, Sept. 26, that same music will be created by an impromptu orchestra of manual and electric at California Typewriter, a holdout of a repair shop in Berkeley. Bring your own machine, or the store will supply one for the Live! Type-In to advance California Typewriter, a feature-length documentary set largely in this store.

Released a year ago on the festival circuit, the film has found legs, and is opening Friday at Opera Plaza Cinema in San Francisco, the Shattuck in Berkeley, and the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael. The film is by Doug Nichol of San Anselmo, and the hero is repairman Ken Alexander of Richmond, stoic for 20 years in the service of the typewriter.

Douglas Philips, chief operating officer of Minard Capital, is among his admirers. Philips has six IBM Selectrics, the narrow early-80s Personal model, in heavy rotation. Two are in use, two are on reserve in a glass display case and two are usually in the shop.

Philips scenes in the film, which include him crossing the Bay Bridge at rush hour with a typewriter strapped to the front of his scooter for an emergency repair, were, regrettably, left on the cutting room floor.

But there is still plenty of action, starting with a re-creation of the moment in 1966 when artists Ed Ruscha and Mason Williams impulsively threw a manual Royal out the window of a speeding Buick LeSabre on Interstate 15 in the Nevada desert. The wreckage stretched across 190 feet of asphalt and formed the plot of the book Royal Road Test.

This is the rave of typewriting, says Canadian poet Darren Wershler in describing the scene. This is the moment when it stopped being one thing and started being something else.

In comes Tom Hanks, actor and everyday typist, who claims 250 typewriters in his collection. Make that 249, because Hanks has donated a Smith Corona to be raffled off in support of the film. Sure to be entering is Martin Howard, shown in the film as an oddball obsessive from Toronto, on the hunt for a Sholes & Glidden made in Milwaukee in 1874.

That search, by the way, brings him to San Francisco, where Jim Rauen had the foresight to begin collecting typewriters 50 years ago and wont sell any. Rauen is saving them for a typewriter museum.

I would come and visit that museum, Howard says. The past is a luxurious pursuit, which Ive been able to indulge.

But museums and collectors wont save the typewriter. Neither will the Boston Typewriter Orchestra, which performs in the film, or Jeremy Mayer, the San Francisco artist who build sculptures out of typewriter parts, or Millennials and hipsters who buy typewriters as conversation pieces.

People typing are the only hope for the typewriter. Chronicle columnist Herb Caen and his Loyal Royal are long gone, but author Herb Gold is still out there, high on Russian Hill, banging away at a Royal that looks like the one Ruscha threw out the window.

Gold just submitted a typewritten collection of poems, and he is at work on a lurid nonfiction account of his Hollywood years in the employment of Natalie Wood. Gold just has to wait for a few of the principals to die off.

A starlet that she fixed me up with is still alive, says Gold, who is 93. Given that he has been in the same rent-controlled apartment for 57 years and it has never been upgraded, it could be surmised that Gold is not one who leaps to embrace change.

But he is willing to give technology a try.

I have a telephone, he argues in his defense. He also tried an electric typewriter in the 1950s, but the noise made him nervous.

Id stop to think and the electric typewriter would go hummmm, arent you going to do something? he says. So I gave that up.

He had another go at modernity with a computerized scriptwriting program. But he constantly worried that his work would vanish from the screen, a worry that was proved by the test of time, by the way.

So Gold hunts and pecks at his Royal, which is indestructible, though he has tried.

For me, writing is an act of sculpture, he says. I get mad at the words I put on the page and I can rip the page out. I can kick it when Im annoyed.

For Philips, who is 53 but would like people to think he is 93 like Gold, there is a pragmatic business reason behind his use of the typewriter. He is courting investors to an annual conference. These are serious money people who get invitations every day. The one that comes in a typed envelope with six vintage stamps fixed on it is the one likely to be opened.

This low-tech subsidiary is called the Minard Guild, to distinguish it from Minard Capital, which is so high-tech that it has a contract with Apple to upgrade its entire system every two years. Philips can get somebody else to type his letters, but here he sits at one end of a conference table centering each address on the envelope and flaming up the wax to drip onto the seal.

When he is not typing, he is waxing, says Lisa Larkworthy, who sits at the other end of the conference table

When asked to explain his fixation, Philips fails in his attempt to truthfully articulate an answer, so he loads in a fresh sheet and types one out:

The moment the key of my typewriter strikes the page, the embossing and ink has forever changed it  leaving a small mark, something of me, it reads. My typewriters, specifically my IBM Selectric II Personals, have allowed me to have a voice which has taken me a long time to find.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: @sfchronicle_art

Video: Douglas Philips plays his IBM Selectric at http://bit.ly/2ffjnTG

Event: The Live! Type-In at California Typewriter is Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 2362 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley.

Film: California Typewriter opens Friday, Sept. 29, at the Opera Plaza Cinema in San Francisco, Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley, and Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael. californiatypewritermovie.com.
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After thousands of bicycles were abandoned at this year's Burning Man gathering, two organizations are looking into bringing some of those bikes to hurricane victims in Houston and the Caribbean.

Despite the Burning Man ethos of "leave no trace" at Black Rock Desert, the festival experiences 1,000-2,000 bikes left behind annually. This year, however, organizers said an estimated 5,000 bicycles were abandoned on the playa and overwhelmed their usual charity partners, the BBC reported.

Please don't leave your bikes at Burning Man. #burningman #dpw2017 #leavenotrace A post shared by Logan Mirto (@loganmirto) on Sep 11, 2017 at 4:31pm PDT

A photo of the bicycles went viral, prompting some shaming from fellow Burners, but also inspiring two groups into finding and refurbishing bikes for those who've lost their mode of transportation from hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Meg Kiihne was one of the many people who saw the bikes from the viral photo and arranged to pick up and store about 110 bikes that she and friends saved from those abandoned in the desert.

Kiihne set up a GoFundMe and is looking to raise money to ship the bicycles from Reno to Florida, and eventually Turks and Caicos, and other neighboring Caribbean islands.

"Bikes can enable somebody who may have lost their home and staying with a friend, [so] they can get to their job at a resort so they can continue to make money to help rebuild their home," Kiihne said in an interview. "...They can get around on a bike and get to food."

Kiihne, who also once owned a bike shop on Turks and Caicos, is now working on cleaning up the bikes while raising money to cover the shipping costs.

An estimated 500,000 vehicles (and counting) were likely damaged in Houston, and Matthew Rockwell with charity Disaster Hack pulled out 500 of the abandoned Burning Man bikes for salvage.

Rockwell plans to take 100 of them to Houston in the next couple of weeks, according to the BBC, with plans to make other trips back to Texas with more bikes, once he knows what's needed in the area. (He also reportedly plans to keep a few in the state of Nevada for leasing to Burners next year.)
ST. LOUIS  Several elected officials and faith leaders on Monday called for an investigation into the way police arrested and incarcerated protesters at a suburban St. Louis mall, with many referring to the altercation as a police riot.

Police from both agencies involved in the arrests defended the officers actions, saying demonstrators got out of hand Saturday at the St. Louis Galleria in Richmond Heights and officers had no choice but to take some of them to the ground.
WASHINGTON  The House intelligence panel will interview two of President Trumps associates behind closed doors this week as congressional committees step up their investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Longtime Trump associate Roger Stone and former staffer Boris Epshteyn will talk to the House panel. Stone confirmed his interview, which will be held Tuesday. Epshteyn will also speak to the committee this week, according to a source familiar with the interview who declined to be named.

The interviews come as the House and Senate intelligence panels are looking into the meddling and scrutinizing the spread of false news stories and propaganda on social media. The Senate intelligence committee will speak to officials from Twitter on Thursday, also behind closed doors.

Stone is a Republican strategist who has known Trump for many years and informally advised him during the 2016 campaign. He has said he communicated during the presidential campaign with Guccifer 2.0, the unnamed hacker who has taken credit for breaking into Democratic National Committee email servers. But Stone has denied that he worked with Russian officials to influence the presidential election.

Stone has been outspoken in his own defense and asked for his appearance to be public. But he said the House panel insisted on holding a closed session.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, suggested in March that Stone had a direct line to Russian hackers based on his comments predicting the release of former Clinton campaign chairman John Podestas emails.

Stone said then that Schiff had slimed me in public, and Id like to have an opportunity to defend myself in public. Last week, in an interview with the Associated Press, Stone continued his criticism of the California Democrat, saying the committee is full of Schiff.

Epshteyn, who grew up in Moscow, worked a short time in the White House press office. He left in March.

The committees plan for a busy October, with the Senate intelligence panel bringing Trumps personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in for a public hearing Oct. 25. Senate committee leaders have also said they want Facebook and other social media outlets to appear publicly next month.

Tom Lobianco and Mary Clare Jalonick is an Associated Press writer.
A gunman wearing a ski mask stormed into a church near Nashville on Sunday, shooting seven people before attacking a church usher who then confronted the man with a weapon and subdued him, police said.

The shooting, which left at least one person dead, occurred shortly before noon at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, about 12 miles southeast of Nashville. Police identified the alleged shooter as Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, of Murfreesboro.

Don Aaron, a spokesman for the Nashville Police Department, said Samson drove up to the church and shot and killed a woman who was standing near her vehicle in the parking lot. The gunman then entered the church through a rear door, shooting and wounding six people inside.

At some point during the rampage, the gunman also pistol-whipped a church usher, causing significant injuries to the man, Aaron said. The usher, 22-year-old Robert Engle, confronted the gunman, police said, and during a struggle, Samson was injured with a shot from his own gun. The usher then ran to his car and retrieved a handgun, police said.

Aaron said the usher ensured the gunman did not make any more movements until officers arrived on the scene. It would appear he was not expecting to encounter a brave individual like the church usher, Aaron said.

Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson praised Engle for intervening: We believe he is the hero today.

The six surviving gunshot victims, all described as being between the ages of 60 and 83, were being treated at Nashville-area hospitals, as was the usher. Police said the shooter also was treated and released from a hospital.

Aaron said the gunman left his vehicle idling after he pulled up to the church, and he was wearing a neoprene mask, best described as a ski mask. About 50 parishioners were inside the church at the time, police said.

In an interview with Nashvilles ABC affiliate, a man who lives near the church said the gunman appeared to have targeted at least one of his victims.

He shot the lady in the back and then rolled her over and shot her in the face, Joe Love, the witness, said, referring to the victim who was found in the parking lot.

Aaron said authorities are working on a motive for the shooting but are not ready to release it publicly.

Tim Craig and Brandon Gee are Washington Post writers.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico  Puerto Ricos nonvoting representative in the U.S. Congress said Sunday that Hurricane Marias destruction has set the island back decades, even as authorities worked to grasp the full extent of the damage.

The devastation in Puerto Rico has set us back nearly 20 to 30 years, said Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez. I cant deny that the Puerto Rico of now is different from that of a week ago. The destruction of properties, of flattened structures, of families without homes, of debris everywhere. The islands greenery is gone.

Engineers on Sunday examined the roughly 90-year-old Guajataca Dam, which holds back a reservoir covering about 2 square miles in northwestern Puerto Rico. The government said it suffered a large crack after Maria dumped 15 inches of rain on the surrounding mountains and that it will collapse at any minute. Nearby residents had been evacuated, but began returning to their homes Saturday after a spillway eased pressure on the dam.

Puerto Ricos National Guard diverted an oil tanker that broke free and threatened to crash into the southeast coast, said Gov. Ricardo Rossello, and officials still had not had communication with nine of 78 municipalities.

This is a major disaster, he said. Weve had extensive damage. This is going to take some time.

The death toll from Maria in Puerto Rico was at least 10, including two police officers who drowned in floodwaters in the western town of Aguada. That number is expected to climb as officials from remote towns continue to check in with officials in San Juan.

Across the Caribbean, Maria had claimed 31 lives, including at least 15 on hard-hit Dominica.

Mike Hyland, a spokesman for the American Public Power Association, which represents the Puerto Rican power agency, said Sunday that restoration is a long ways off. The organization is working with U.S. Energy Department crews as well as New York Power Authority workers sent down by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to fly over the island and assess damage.

Crews hoped to get helicopters and drones in the air over the next two days to assess the damage, but Hyland said they need to be patient and let the military continue rescuing people before focusing on restoring power.

We are trying to get an understanding of the extent of the damage over the next 48 hours to then begin to work with our federal partners to get the right crews and equipment down to Puerto Rico, Hyland said.

Large amounts of federal aid have begun moving into Puerto Rico, welcomed by local officials who praised the Trump administrations response but called for the emergency loosening of rules long blamed for consigning the U.S. territory to second-class status.

Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York said she will request a one-year waiver from the Jones Act, a federal law blamed for driving up prices on Puerto Rico by requiring cargo shipments to move only on U.S. vessels as a means of supporting the U.S. maritime industry.

Danica Coto is an Associated Press writer.
1 Police protests: Several protesters gathered Sunday outside the St. Louis County Justice Center to show support for 22 people arrested at an upscale shopping mall. The protest was one of two Sunday. A smaller group stood outside a hotel near St. Louis Lambert Airport, where former White House strategist Steve Bannon spoke to a conservative group. The demonstrations were the latest in a series of demonstrations since a judge on Sept. 15 acquitted former police officer Jason Stockley in the shooting death of a black man. One of those protests was Saturday at the St. Louis Galleria in Richmond Heights, Mo. Seven of the 22 arrested were charged with rioting and resisting arrest. It wasnt immediately clear what charges the others face.

2 Charter jets: Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price says he will stop flying private planes on official business while an internal review of the flights is being done and that he welcomes the review. The HHS inspector generals office said the agency is reviewing Prices charter flights to see if they violated government travel regulations. Congressional Democrats chastised Price, saying he wasted taxpayer money by chartering private flights when cheaper travel options were available.

3 Abortion laws: Ohio is the latest state to consider banning abortion if the procedure is based on a diagnosis that a baby would be born with Down syndrome. Physicians convicted of performing an abortion under such circumstances could be charged with a fourth-degree felony, stripped of their medical license and held liable for legal damages under the proposal. The pregnant woman would face no criminal liability. Opponents say the measure would undercut a womans legal right to an abortion and harm the doctor-patient relationship. The National Down Syndrome Society has not taken a position.

4 Immigration: Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, says she trusts President Trump to keep his word and support legislation to protect from deportation young immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who came here as children. The House Democratic leader and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have said they had an agreement with Trump to protect those immigrants while also bolstering border security  as long as his long-promised wall with Mexico is addressed separately. Republicans in Congress insist there isnt a deal. Pelosi said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press that she expects Congress to act on legislation before Christmas.

5 Weiner sentencing: Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, 53, is to be sentenced Monday for sending obscene material to a 15-year-old girl. Federal prosecutors in New York City have asked for a sentence of slightly more than two years behind bars because of the seriousness of the crime, in which Weiner sent adult porn to the girl and got her to take her clothes off for him on Skype. Weiners attorneys contend he is a changed man who has finally learned his lesson, calling his compulsive sexting a deep sickness best treated without time behind bars. The sentencing will be the latest chapter in the spectacular downfall of Weiner, a once-promising politician.

6 Bus driver stabbed: An unruly passenger stabbed and seriously wounded the driver of a Las Vegas-bound Greyhound bus in the desert along Interstate 15 about 24 miles from the California line, the Nevada Highway Patrol said. The 55-year-old male driver was stabbed late Friday outside the bus after he pulled over while trying to get the passenger to either get off or sit down in his seat, Trooper Jason Buratczuk said. The drivers injuries  two chest wounds and one in the thigh  were serious but not life-threatening, Buratczuk said. Armando Juarez, 31, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken to a hospital for evaluation after he ran across traffic lanes into the median and tried to punch passing vehicles, he said. A replacement driver was driven to the scene and drove the bus to Las Vegas.

Chronicle News Services
Nine days after Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg dismissed as crazy the idea that fake news on his companys social network played a key role in the U.S. election, President Barack Obama pulled the youthful tech billionaire aside and delivered what he hoped would be a wake-up call.

For months leading up to the vote, Obama and his aides agonized over how to respond to Russias intervention on behalf of the Donald Trump campaign without making matters worse. Weeks after Trumps surprise victory, some of Obamas aides looked back with regret and wished they had done more.
WASHINGTON  Republican senators at the forefront of the latest effort to undo the Affordable Care Act plan to release a revised version of their bill Monday sending more health care dollars to the states of key holdouts, as hardening resistance from several GOP senators left their proposal on the verge of collapse.

According to a summary obtained by the Washington Post, Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina will propose giving Alaska and Maine more funding than initially offered. Those states are represented by Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, who have expressed concerns about the bill.

The Cassidy-Graham legislation would overhaul the ACA by lumping together the current laws spending on insurance subsidies and expanded Medicaid and redistributing it to states in the form of block grants. Alaska would get 3 percent more funding between 2020 and 2026 than under current law, and Maine would get 43 percent more funding during that time period, according to a summary obtained by the Post.

The plan was distributed among Republicans late Sunday, with party leaders just one no vote away from defeat and as Republican senators from across the political spectrum were distancing themselves from the previous draft.

Aides to Murkowski and Collins did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Sunday. Republicans close to the process have long counted Collins as an eventual no.

Collins, a moderate Republican who has opposed previous efforts that cut Medicaid and eased coverage requirements, said in a CNN interview earlier Sunday that it was very difficult to envision herself voting for the health care bill.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has stated definitively that he opposes the current measure, showed no signs of backing down without dramatic changes to the bills core approach that probably would come at the cost of other Republican votes.

Collins voted against a repeal bill in July, and she is a key vote in the current dynamic. She said she chatted at length with Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday, but it wasnt enough to sway her. She said she wants to see the limited analysis due out this week from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office before making a final decision.

Two Republican senators  Paul and John McCain  have already said they will vote against Cassidy-Graham. A third would be enough to defeat the bill, since no Democrats are expected to support it. Republicans hold a 52-48 advantage in the Senate and can lose only two votes from their own party and still pass legislation with the help of a tiebreaking vote from Pence.

Sean Sullivan, Paige Winfield Cunningham and Abby Phillip are Washington Post writers.
NEW YORK  Anthony Weiners sexting compulsion cost him his seat in Congress, his shot at becoming New York mayor and his marriage, and may have even denied Hillary Clinton the presidency. On Monday, it cost him his freedom.

Weiner, 53, dropped his head into his hands and wept as a federal judge sentenced him to 21 months behind bars for illicit online contact with a 15-year-old girl, his tears flowing long after the gavel came down on a case he called his rock bottom.

As his parents but not his wife looked on in the courtroom, the New York Democrat was given until Nov. 6 to report to prison for misconduct that included getting the North Carolina high school student to strip and touch herself on Skype and Snapchat.

In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote cited a need in such a highly publicized case to make a statement that can protect other minors.

The judge said Weiners habit of exchanging sexually explicit messages and pictures with young women shows a very strong compulsion  so strong that despite two very public disclosures and the destruction of his career on two occasions, he continued with the activity.

Calling himself a very sick man for a very long time, Weiner tearfully apologized to the teen and sought to assure the judge he had finally learned his lesson. He has been undergoing therapy.

Wearing a wedding band, he also spoke of his devotion to the 5-year-old son he has with his wife, Huma Abedin, formerly Clintons closest aide. The couple are going through a divorce.

But prosecutor Amanda Kramer urged the judge to give Weiner a significant prison sentence to end his tragic cycle of getting caught sexting.

Weiners habit led him to resign his House seat in 2011, doomed his 2013 run for mayor, and rocked Clintons 2016 presidential campaign during the closing days of the race, when FBI agents investigating his contact with the teen came across emails on his laptop between Abedin and Clinton.

That discovery prompted then-FBI Director James Comey to announce in late October 2016 that he was reopening the probe of Clintons use of a private computer server.

Two days before Election Day, the FBI declared there was nothing new in the emails. But in a recent interview, Clinton called Comeys intervention the determining factor in her defeat.

Weiner, once he has completed his prison sentence, must undergo Internet monitoring and enroll in a sex-offender treatment program. He also was fined $10,000.

Tom Hays and Larry Neumeister are Associated Press writers.
Now Playing: Two Oakland officers injured after crash with SUV. Alex Savidge reports Video: KTVU

Two Oakland police officers racing to back up a sergeant conducting a high-risk traffic stop were among three people injured Monday when their patrol cruiser collided with another vehicle at an intersection, officials said.

The officers and another driver were treated at a hospital and were all listed in stable condition.
A large riot erupted at the California Mens Colony prison Sunday morning, leaving one inmate dead and several injured.

Nearly 170 inmates were involved in the melee at the prison that houses more than 4,000 people in San Luis Obispo County, prison officials said.

Ive been here over 22 years, and this is the largest riot I have ever experienced and it is the only time I can remember having a fatality as a result of a riot, said Lt. Monica Ayon, a spokeswoman for the prison.

Multiple inmates were stabbed during the riot, which began just before 11 a.m. in the East Facility medium-custody yard. Nine men were taken to an outside hospital for further treatment, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Mathew Cook, 25, suffered a stab wound during the riot and was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon, prison officials said. Cook, who was convicted in April 2015, was serving a 14-year sentence for several counts of first-degree burglary in San Joaquin County.

ALSO SF police fatally shoot man in Russian Hill apartment

After the riot broke out, prison staff responded immediately, firing less-than-lethal rounds and chemical agents to try to control the situation, state officials said. Deadly force was not used, and no staff members were injured.

Staff are focused right now on getting things done, making sure people are where they need to be, Ayon said. Im sure in the next couple of days the entire incident will hit them, but right now theyre just focused on doing their job.

Prison officials are still in the preliminary stages of investigating the incident, and the cause of the riot is not known.

Joaquin Palomino is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jpalomino@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoaquinPalomino
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A rat race of sorts is happening in San Francisco, where rodent complaints have surged in the past five years.

Since 2012, San Franciscans have steadily reported more rat sightings to 311, San Francisco's official site for information and complaints. This year, the agency received around 848 calls from January through August and, if the numbers continue at the same rate, it's projected that there will be about 1,272 calls made by the end of 2017.

San Francisco's 311 received 824 rodent calls in 2015, and 1,039 in 2016.

We get complaints for rats all over the city, said Nader Shatara, senior environmental health inspector for the Vector Control Program at the Department of Public Health.

When residents call 311 to report a rat sighting, 311 directs those calls to the Department of Public Health where investigations are opened and can eventually lead to service requests.

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Shatara says that the Vector Control Program responds to those complaints by surveying the areas to determine the source attracting rats. But before they do that, they need to identify the rat species  roof or Norway rat.

Roof rats are climbers and usually live above ground, such as in attics, while Norway rats, commonly known as sewer rats, are stockier rodents and burrow underground in building foundations, rubbish or woodpiles. Both are introduced species.

More for you New rat traps may be causing rise in skunk injuries around Bay Area

Regardless of rodent dwelling preference, one of the main culprits that summons each species is excess and uncovered garbage.

If food or garbage is mismanaged, that would attract both types of rats, Shatara said. They could travel about 1,000 feet from their nest to a food source and everyone has the potential to see them, but when it becomes very frequent we try to address that.

The city is in fact addressing these issues. According to the DPH, San Francisco oversees a budget of $200,000 thats used to tackle rodent concerns and abate sewers around the city. Half of that money goes straight to Chinatown alone, while the rest is split up amongst other neighborhoods in SF.

Were there [in Chinatown] pretty much every other week, said Luis Agurto, president and CEO of pest-control firm Pestec. There are some very old brick-lined sewer systems there, so there are more crevices for rats to go in.

Thats not to say that Chinatown has the most rats compared to other neighborhoods, said Lisa OMalley, principal environmental health inspector from the Food and Safety Program.

The initial revenue was determined several years ago, since Chinatown is the most densely populated neighborhood in SF with a large residential and commercial mixed community, OMalley said.

Still, Agurto noted that rodent pressures have historically existed in Chinatown and excess waste in the areas have additionally contributed to rat problems there.

Similarly, SOMA and the Mission corridors have higher populations of people and also produce a lot of waste, which makes those neighborhoods rat hotspots, according to Agurto.

Trash is certainly one factor that attracts rodents, but it's not the only thing.

Construction zones around SF play another role in the number of rats people keep seeing on streets, according to Larry Kessler, manager of the Healthy Home Vector Program.

Theres tunneling projects here, lots of digging and lots of vibrations that disrupt where they live and that spreads where they are, Kessler said.

It can even spread rodents to where youd least want to see them: Agurto says that construction can cause breaks in underground pipes that may lead to residential buildings  and offer rats an awkward entrance into your bathroom.

Sometimes they can come out of toilets, Agurto said. That happened three or four times last year.

Adding to the list of reasons why rats get exposed is the the rainy season, which can cause sewers to flood and push rats onto streets. That doesnt mean the population has grown, however. It just means that they were driven out of their habitats, Shatara said.

Pestec helps abate sewers in Chinatown and other neighborhoods by using lethal rodenticide bait blocks. The bait is placed in manholes through wires; once rats consume them, they die in a matter of days.

Since the ingredients used in the bait can cause secondary poisoning, Agurto says the bait blocks are limited to underground surfaces where rats are less likely to get picked up by other creatures trying to eat them.

Rebecca Dmytryk, owner of Humane Wildlife Control, doesnt think killing rats is the right solution to combat rat woes, and wants people to know they have another choice.

Youre never going to win the war on rats outside if youre trying to do it by lethal means, Dmytryk said. You have to look at them as the symptoms, not the cause.

Humane Wildlife Control addresses the problem by sealing holes in buildings that can create entry points for rodents, and then they set up live catch traps to capture rats. Once rats are caught, they're released right in the backyard. Dmytryk believes people can still protect their property by controlling resources that attract rodents in the first place, like food and shelter.

The houses that have the worst infestations are the ones that have clutter everywhere, inside and out, Dmytryk said. If we kept our city clean, where we didnt provide food and shelter for these animals, we wouldnt see as great a presence.

As the city continues to address rats, Shatara believes San Francisco's rat issue isn't an epidemic, but rather an endemic feature of the area.

Rats are part of the fauna in the city and there is always an occurrence, but when they start to harbor thats when we step in to address them, Shatara said.

If you see a rat in your neighborhood you can report the sighting to 311 by calling or visiting their website or direct your call to the Department of Public Health at (415) 252-3930.
Four mountain climbers had to be rescued from England's highest peak after they became "incapable of walking due to cannabis," police say.

The drug-induced predicament caused a three-hour rescue operation Saturday on 3,210-foot Scafell Pike in Cumbria's Lake District.

A police spokesperson posted the following on social media:

"Persons phoning Cumbria police because they are stuck on a mountain, after taking cannabis. Now having to deploy [mountain] rescue, air support and ambulance to rescue them. Words fail us ..."

Tim Graham/Getty Images

The four men were safely brought down by Wasdale mountain rescue volunteers at 9:45 p.m., police said.

It was not clear if the hikers had been smoking marijuana or if they ingested the cannabis in another form.

The incident triggered a flurry of comments on social media, most unsympathetic with the hikers' plight.

"Send a pizza. It seems to work on the constant stream of idiots who climb on the roofs in Grimsby," wrote someone who goes by the handle ClangerDropper.

Many thought they should foot the bill for the rescue.

"Does being on a mountain in the beautiful Lake District not get one high enough? Charge the flaming idiots the cost of rescue," wrote Jo Austin.

Others were skeptical that cannabis could have actually incapacitated the hikers.

"Really? Bullocks! Cannabis is not like drugs. You get too high you just wait an hour, all better," Robert E. McCallum suggested.

Cumbria police affirmed their priority was the hikers' safety.

"(We will) always ensure people are safe regardless of choices they make that put them in a dangerous position #safeguarding," they wrote.
BAUTZEN, Germany  The nationalist, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany swept into third place with a robust showing in the former communist East German states, where discontent is widespread over dim economic prospects and Chancellor Angela Merkels decision to open the countrys doors to migrants has met with its greatest resistance.

The hilltop town of Bautzen, in Saxony near Germanys borders with the Czech Republic and Poland, has been a visible example of such disillusionment, with clashes breaking out in the streets last year between residents and asylum seekers.

In Sundays election, voters in the town of 40,000 turned strongly to Alternative for Germany, known as AfD, ousting Merkels Christian Democratic Union party from a seat it had held for more than 25 years.

Ive voted for the CDU for the last 40 years, and this was the first time I voted for a different party, said Jens Hamburger, a 72-year-old retiree. It wasnt easy for me, but this woman should have gotten an even bigger knock over her head, he added, angrily poking his cane into the air as he talked about Merkel.

He said many eastern Germans felt that Merkel, who grew up in the former East Germany, had betrayed them by not doing more to improve living conditions in the east.

AfD won 12.6 percent of the vote overall, but captured 22.5 percent in the east. Its success followed a campaign focused on criticism of the chancellors decision to open the countrys doors to more than 1 million asylum seekers over the past two years.

All mainstream parties have ruled out working with AfD, and co-leader Alice Weidel said in Berlin on Monday that its plan was to provide constructive opposition.

In the capital, the leaderships first appearance after election night was marred by a public eruption of long-running disagreements. Co-chairwoman Frauke Petry  who was recently sidelined after she urged her party to exclude members who express extremist views  stormed out of a news conference.

An anarchic party ... can be successful in opposition, but it cannot make voters a credible offer for government, Petry said, adding she wouldnt join AfDs parliamentary caucus.

The Anti-Defamation League has called the AfD result a disturbing milestone, saying its leaders have made anti-Semitic statements and played down the evil of the Nazi regime.

Kirsten Grieshaber and David Rising are Associated Press writers.
A court in Brussels has ordered a former Belgian lawmaker to visit five Nazi concentration camps and write about his experiences as punishment for publicly denying the Holocaust, a crime in Belgium.

Laurent Louis, a far-right politician and self-proclaimed anti-Zionist, was convicted of Holocaust denial in 2015 after he wrote blog posts publicly doubting whether Jews were killed en masse in Nazi gas chambers during the Second World War. He was sentenced to a roughly $20,000 fine and a six-month suspended prison sentence.
IRBIL, Iraq  Iraqi Kurds voted Monday in a landmark referendum on supporting independence, a move billed by the Kurdish leadership as an exercise in self-determination but viewed as a hostile act by Iraqs central government. Neighboring Turkey even threatened a military response.

To Baghdad, the vote threatens a redrawing of Iraqs borders, taking a large part of the countrys oil wealth with it. For Turkey and Iran, leaders feared the move would embolden their own Kurdish populations.

The vote  likely to be a resounding yes when official results are revealed later this week  is not binding and will not immediately bring independence to the autonomous region. Nevertheless, it has raised tensions and fears of instability in Iraq and beyond.

Just hours after polls closed Monday night across the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, the Defense Ministry announced the launch of large-scale joint military exercises with Turkey.

Earlier in the day, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey threatened the Kurdish region with military intervention. Iran  which also opposed the vote  held military exercises along their border Sunday.

Speaking in Istanbul, Erdogan said Turkey doesnt recognize the referendum and declared its results would be null and void.

The Iraqi Kurdish push for independence has been made even more combustible because Kurdish forces captured extensive territory in fighting against the Islamic State group in the past year. Those areas run from northwestern Iraq to the Iranian border on the east  including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. Baghdad claims those territories, but the Kurds say they are part of their zone and some residents there are participating in the referendum.

An escalation in rhetoric within Iraq set the stage for increased tensions as Iraqi Kurds lined up to vote.

The Kurdish regions president, Masoud Barzani, and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi both threatened to use force ahead of Mondays vote.

Barzani softened his tone before he voted. He told a news conference Sunday that he believed the vote would be peaceful but acknowledged the path to independence would be risky.

We are ready to pay any price for our independence, he said.

Al-Abadi had said on the eve of the referendum that the vote threatens Iraq and is a danger to the region.

We will take measures to safeguard the nations unity and protect all Iraqis, he warned in a televised address from Baghdad.

The United States came out as an early opponent to the vote, initially urging it to be called off. But the Kurdish region pressed on with the vote despite the concerns.

U.S. officials warned that the vote is likely to destabilize the region and take resources and attention from the fight against Islamic State.

The promise of an independent state has long been at the center of Iraqi Kurdish politics. When colonial powers drew the map of the Middle East after World War I, the Kurds were divided among Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq.

That dream was evident among some of the voters in the disputed city of Kirkuk.

I feel so great and happy. I feel well be free, said Kurdish resident Suad Pirot after voting. Nobody will rule us. We will be independent.

Susannah George is an Associated Press writer.
1 Rights violations: Russia has committed multiple and grave human rights abuses in Crimea since reclaiming the territory three years ago, the United Nations said Monday, including arbitrary arrests, torture and the imposition of Russian citizenship on residents of the former Ukrainian region. U.N. investigators have documented evidence of arbitrary detentions, torture and abductions since Russian troops annexed the Crimean Peninsula, according to a report presented in Geneva on Monday and linking abuses to the Federal Security Service, Russian police officers and a paramilitary group.

2 Syria fighting: U.S.-backed forces in eastern Syria say Russia bombed their positions on Monday in a major natural gas field they recently captured from Islamic State militants. The Syrian Democratic Forces said a Russian air strike killed one of its fighters and wounded two others in the Conoco gas field in Deir el-Zour province. Russias Defense Ministry denied the report. It was not the first time the SDF has accused Russia of targeting its forces in oil and gas-rich Deir el-Zour, where Russian backed Syrian troops are waging a separate offensive against the extremists. The two sides are racing to defeat the militants and snap up oil and gas fields, fueling fears of conflict between the two groups and their superpower sponsors.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico  Margarita Aponte and her relatives cleared the road in front of her house with two oxen, then drove an hour from her devastated hometown in central Puerto Rico to the old telegraph building in the capital of San Juan.

There, thousands of Puerto Ricans gathered for a chance at a resource nearly as precious as power and water in the wake of Hurricane Maria  communication.

Its ringing, its ringing, its ringing! Aponte, a janitor, screamed as her phone connected to free Wi-Fi and her Facetime call went through to the mainland.

Her eyes filled with tears as she talked with nephews, uncles, brothers and sisters in Florida and Massachusetts for the first time since Maria destroyed nearly every cell phone and fiber optic connection on the U.S. territory of 3.4 million people.

The low murmur at one of two free Wi-Fi hotspots is occasionally interrupted by the cheering of someone getting through the largely jammed network. Most spend hours frowning at their phones, unable to connect.

Theres no communication. Were in Gods hands, Yesenia Gomez, a kitchen worker, said as she left a message for her mother in the neighboring Dominican Republic.

Dozens of other Puerto Ricans opted to pull over to the side of the road along various highways where cell phone signals were strongest.

Carlos Ocasio, a maintenance worker, picked his way through tree branches and broken glass bottles to find a spot with a good signal. Soon, he was able to reach his brother in New Jersey.

My throat got a little choked up and I couldnt talk for a minute, he said. Theyre calling me from everywhere, asking when Im going to arrive.

Others in Puerto Rico and abroad called a local radio station to provide names, numbers, exact addresses and pictures of their loved ones in hopes of reconnecting.

But for hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans living on the U.S. mainland, there has been only silence from the island.

Some in Puerto Rico expressed anger over what they said was a lack of communication from cell phone providers about which towers were working so they could drive in that direction.

Theyre not giving us any information, said Ricardo Castellanos, a business consultant. Were in a state of emergency.

Castellanos visits the Wi-Fi hotspots twice a day to try to reach his two daughters in the central town of Gurabo.

Danica Coto is an Associated Press writer.
Richard Drew/Associated Press

North Korea threatened Monday to shoot down U.S. warplanes even if they are not in the countrys airspace, as its foreign minister declared that President Trumps threatening comments about the country and its leadership were a declaration of war.

The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country, the foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho, told reporters as he was leaving the United Nations after a week of General Assembly meetings in New York.
The liquidators of the failed Mainzeal group of companies will face off in court with the building firm's directors next year in what's scheduled to be a six-week hearing.

Liquidators Brian Mayo-Smith and Andrew Bethell of BDO have largely pinned any substantial return to out-of-pocket Mainzeal creditors on achieving a significant recovery from a suit against the companies former directors, Richard Yan, Peter Gomm, Jenny Shipley, Clive Tilby, Paul Collins and Siew Kwan. They filed proceedings in the High Court alleging breaches of directors' duties through a series of restructuring in the two years before Mainzeal fell over, reckless trading, and claims against related parties.

In their latest six-monthly update released today, the liquidators said a six-week hearing has been scheduled to start on Sept. 3, 2018. The action is backed by a third-party litigation funder, which provided $349,000 between Feb. 28 and Aug. 27. Legal fees amounted to $280,000 in the latest period.

The liquidators received 1,400 claims from unsecured creditors totalling $157.7 million, and at the time of the latest report, they had admitted 1,396 claims in full or in part totalling $117 million.

"We do expect that there will be some funds available for distribution to unsecured creditors," they said. "The quantum of any ultimate distribution to unsecured creditors will depend on the liquidators being able to achieve significant recovery from actions available to the liquidators, the companies and KFL (King Facade Ltd)."

The Mainzeal liquidators have had to contend with court action from the construction group's principal, Richard Yan, who opposed the inclusion of Richina Global Real Estate (RGRE) and Isola Vineyards to the administration.

In 2015, the Court of Appeal upheld Yan's bid to set aside the liquidation of RGRE and exclude Isola Vineyards, saying it was premature to do so before disputed debts were determined. Prior to the hearing, the liquidators had complained about the veracity of information they had received relating to RGRE.

The liquidators had previously said they were investigating RGRE's transactions with related parties in New Zealand and internationally, including the restructures of related party debts that occurred around July and December 2012, saying the commercial rationale wasnt evident.

The December 2012 restructure saw the $15.2 million debt owed to Mainzeal Property & Construction transferred to MGL Trading in exchange for shares.

Related companies Mainzeal Property & Construction and Mainzeal Living were tipped into receivership on Feb. 6, 2013, and 200 Vic joined them on Feb. 13. Liquidators were appointed to the Mainzeal group later that month on Feb. 28.

The receivership of Mainzeal Property & Construction left a surplus of $1.1 million for the liquidators of the wider group, who represent unsecured creditors. The receivers were appointed by BNZ, which was owed $11.3 million, the bulk of which was over the Mainzeal headquarters building on Aucklands Victoria St.

(BusinessDesk)

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26-year-old Shraddha Walker was strangled to death by her live-in partner Aaftab Amin Poonawala, who chopped her body into nearly 35 pieces and dumped them across Delhi. This is how the police nabbed the killer after 5 months of the incident.
By PTI: Simdega (Jharkhand), Sep 24 (PTI) Three ultras of the Peoples Liberation Front of India (PLFI) were killed, while its chief Dinesh Gope was injured in an encounter with the police at Kullatuttu jungle in Simdega district of Jharkhand today.

Acting on a tip-off that Gope along with his squad members had assembled in Tonia Kullatuttu jungle to commit a crime, a police team reached the spot, police said.

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The ultras started firing on the police team, forcing the police to retaliate, Superintendent of Police, Rajiv Ranjan Singh said, adding three PLFI activists were killed in the encounter while Gope suffered injuries and managed to escape.

The bodies of the three ultras have been recovered, he said.

The security personnel have recovered an AK47, Light Machine Gun (LMG), carbine and daily core items, Singh said.

Police fired around 300 rounds in response to the firing by the ultras during the encounter that lasted for one and a half hour, the SP said.

Security personnel comprising the CRPF and district police have launched a massive search operation in the area.

Singh, who inspected the area after the incident, said more ultras might still be hiding in the area, but expressed confidence that they would be nabbed soon. PTI COR BS RG SRY

--- ENDS ---
This column is written by the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com collegiate correspondent.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- There's a unique Staten Islander who is making a name for herself through social media and traveling the world. Alicia Platt, a Staten Island native and graduate of New Dorp High School, is a YouTuber and blogger who posts about her adventures in other countries.

Alicia, the daughter of Charles and Maria Platt, grew up in the Richmondtown area and has always loved watching Youtube videos. She would watch everything from makeup tutorials to tech videos to daily vlogs. She always secretly wanted to become a YouTuber, but she never knew what to post.

After thinking about it for a while, she decided that studying abroad gave her a great opportunity, and even an excuse, to start a Youtube channel.

"I was finally doing something exciting and worth sharing. I thought that at the least I would have fun videos to look back on, and I was right. Vlogging my experiences abroad was one of the best decisions I ever made because I can revisit them anytime I want," shared Alicia.

"It's like a reminder that I was there and I actually saw and did those incredible things. I continue to post now for that same reason, and because I've fallen in love with video as an art form. It's a great creative outlet."

Alicia has visited six countries and over fifteen cities and towns while studying abroad, but she plans on travelling to many more. The country she enjoyed visiting the most is England. Alicia explained that she chose to study abroad in London because the city feels like a home away from home to her. During her time abroad, she made an effort to see as much of England as she could so she toured around a long list of cities all across England and fell in love with every single one of them.

Her least favorite trip was to Paris, France. "My friend and I traveled to Paris during one of our first weekends in Europe, but it wasn't under the best of circumstances. When we arrived in London there was a mix up with our visas and we couldn't register for our classes until we sorted it out. Unfortunately, to fix the mix up we had to leave the country and come back in again. The whole thing was ridiculous, and very stressful, so it put a bit of a damper on our Paris trip. I would love to go back and give both the city, and the country, a second chance though," explained Alicia.

Alicia loves looking back on the funny moments during her time abroad because most of them happened when she was stressed, exhausted, freezing, and lost at the time. She shared that when she was traveling almost every weekend for months, she became accustomed to not eating or sleeping for days at a time so that she could see everything while spending the least amount of money possible.

"One funny moment was when my friend and I got lost for over an hour while trying to find our Airbnb in Chester, England, only to discover it was about a block from where we started. In the moment I was miserable, but looking back I can't help but laugh," said Alicia.

Alicia is currently a student at SUNY Cortland studying to be a high school history teacher, but once she gets her degree, she plans to spend some time traveling and exploring her passion for filmography and photography. "Another thing traveling has taught me is to plan out every detail and then abandon it all and just go with the flow. At the very least, you'll always have that plan to fall back on," shared Alicia.

The one piece of advice Alicia has for other people who want to study abroad is to document everything. "You spend so much time planning out your time abroad, but people forget to think about what will happen when they get home," explained Alicia.

"Save all of your ticket stubs, take as many pictures as you can, start a travel Instagram, be that annoying person on Facebook, make Youtube videos, keep a journal, and start a blog. Do anything to document what you did and how you felt doing it, because once you're home it'll feel as though it never even happened."

To follow Alicia's adventures, subscribe to her Youtube channel. Check out her blog at AlmostAlicia.wordpress.com and follow her at Instagram.com/almostalicia/.

-- Staten Island native Charista Mroczek is a freshman at Barnard College of Columbia University.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city Health Department says there have been 46 recent cases of hepatitis A among New York City residents.

The infected population is primarily men who have had sex with men -- or anyone who has had sex with an infected individual -- between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, 2017, according to the city Health Department.

Thirty-seven of the 46 patients reported no travel to countries where hepatitis A is prevalent, says the Health Department.

This is a significant increase over the last six years when the Health Department identified an average of only three cases annually of hepatitis A infections among men who have had sex with men.

"As we see this troubling rise in hepatitis A infections among men who have sex with men, we remind New Yorkers that this disease is easily preventable," said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett.

"Hepatitis A can potentially lead to long-term complications, but staying up-to-date with vaccinations is the best way to protect yourself and your fellow New Yorkers. Vaccinations are readily accessible and available at our immunization clinic and eight sexual health clinics," she added.

CASES REPORTED

One of the cases reported by the Health Department was a female patient reporting sexual contact with a bisexual male. Fifteen of the 46 patients were hospitalized, and all patients have since recovered.

Patients resided in all five boroughs and ranged in age from 19 to 55 years, according to the Health Department.

Of the 46 cases, only three patients with infection reported previously receiving a hepatitis A vaccine.

Since June 2016, there have been ongoing outbreaks of hepatitis A among men who have sex with men in 16 Western European countries, and several U.S. jurisdictions have reported unusual increases in cases of the disease, according to the Health Department.

VACCINES AVAILABLE

Vaccines are available at many clinics and provider offices throughout New York City. For sexually active men who have sex with men and have difficulty accessing immunization services, the city's sexual health clinics offer hepatitis A vaccines at low or no cost.

The hepatitis A vaccine is also available at the city's immunization clinic.

"Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease," said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, deputy commissioner for the Health Department's Division of Disease Control.

"Men who have sex with men who are unvaccinated - and their providers - need to be alert to this emerging risk. The clear call to action is to get vaccinated as soon as possible. It's just good healthcare to get this shot, especially in the setting of increasing transmission in our and other communities. If you can't talk to your doctor about your sex life, don't let that be a deterrent to taking care of your health," he added.

The Health Department will continue to promote hepatitis A vaccinations among men who have sex with men by using targeted messaging through dating applications and promoted social media.

Visit nyc.gov/health/lgbtq to find an LGBTQ-knowledgeable provider near you.

FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While the world did not end on Sept. 23, one conspiracy theorist claims there's a new apocalypse date in October.

Self-published author and conspiracy theorist David Meade of Wisconsin said the Earth will encounter a rogue planet named Nibiru and will start the apocalypse, according to his work on Biblical numerology.

While Meade had said the world would not end on Sept.23 -- he claimed that the prophecies in the Book of Revelation would bring disaster starting on that date.

But now, catastrophe will begin on Oct. 15, according to the latest astronomical data, Meade said. The date is 40 days after the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21.

On his website, Meade wrote that September is the "Sign Month" and it is possible that by the end of October, the world will enter into a seven-year period of tribulation followed by 1,000 years of peace.

When "Wormwood" -- a star mentioned in the Book of Revelations -- appears, expected solar flares and possible loss of electrical grid may occur.

Oct. 15 will be the day the events start, Meade wrote.

According to theories, Nibiru was originally supposed to collide with Earth in 2003, but when nothing happened, conspiracy theorists were forced to reschedule the collision for 2012. Five years later, the same doomsday theories have surfaced.

NASA addressed the apocalyptic rumors and said the planet Nibiru poses no threat because it doesn't exist.

"Various people are 'predicting' that world will end Sept. 23 when another planet collides with Earth. The planet in question, Niburu, doesn't exist, so there will be no collision. The story of Niburu has been around for years (as has the "days of darkness" tale) and is periodically recycled into new apocalyptic fables," NASA wrote on their website.

NASA senior scientist Dr. David Morrison explained in a video: "If there were a planet headed into the inner solar system and it was going to come close to the Earth... it would be bright, it would be easily visible to the naked eye. All of us could see it."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Thousands of parents and guardians of New York City public school students will be able to borrow a free Wi-Fi hotspot to use in their home during the school year.

As part of the New York Public Library's Library HotSpot Program, eligible patrons who do not have access to home internet can register online to attend a Patron Lending Event at a local branch.

The program is in collaboration with the Department of Education to provide thousands of K-12 students with free Internet access. It is intended to help public school students access online resources at home and to raise their digital exposure and confidence.

It addresses the needs of more than one in five households that do not have home access to high-speed Internet services.

Parents can check out a Library HotSpot device from their branch during the event. When patrons bring the device home, they can connect their phone, tablet or computer to access free Wi-Fi.

The eligibility requirements are as follows:

You must have at least one child in a NYC public school.

You must have no household Internet access.

You must be 18 years or older and have a valid New York Public Library card.

You must have less than $15 in outstanding fines.

The borrowing limit is one device per household. Devices are due back to the library by July 5, 2018.

The Port Richmond library branch and the Stapleton library branch are holding Patron Lending Events during October.

Pre-registration is required and there is a maximum of 20 hotspots per event. You can find an event and register online, visit your local library, or call 917-275-6975 for help with online registration.

To register for an event, you can choose from the list of Patron Lending Events. Clicking on an event will bring you to a new page that will allow you to register for the event at your chosen branch, date and time.

There are no fees for the device or service. If the device is lost or not returned, the fine is $100, and your library card will be blocked until the device is returned or the fine is paid.
By India Today Web Desk: Abhishek Bachchan has had no releases this year, unless you count a framed picture of him hanging on the wall in Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar 3. The actor was last seen on the big screen in Sajid Khan's Housefull 3. Fans were excited when Abhishek announced that he would be a part of JP Dutta's Paltan, but he has now bowed out of the project.

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The filmmaker's daughter Nidhi Dutta confirmed to The Indian Express, "Abhishek Bachchan is no longer part of Paltan for personal reasons best known to him. It has come as a shock to us as this happened less than 24 hours before our unit left to shoot in Ladakh."

"But we also believe that especially in the movies we make it's the soldiers sitting up there that choose who will play them and recreate their lives on screen. Nevertheless we wish him luck with his future endeavors. We are already in Ladakh filming with our entire cast and crew and Army personnel. We will announce the actor who is replacing Abhishek in the film soon," she added.

Incidentally, it was JP Dutta who had given Abhishek his first break in Bollywood, with Refugee. The two have also collaborated on LOC Kargil and Umrao Jaan.

ALSO WATCH: Abhishek Bachchan says it is scary being a father

--- ENDS ---
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rep. Daniel Donovan "fully supports" President Donald Trump's most recent iteration of his travel ban that bars travel from seven countries indefinitely.

The new permanent travel restrictions apply to five of the original countries included in the past bans: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Sudan is no longer included.

Instead, Trump has added Chad and North Korea to the list.

Certain Venezuelan officials and their families will also be restricted from traveling to the United States.

Donovan said Monday, "Protecting the homeland from rogue nations and terrorist organizations that wish Americans harm is our government's number one responsibility. I fully support President Trump's executive order, which recognizes new, evolving threats our nation faces from North Korea and Chad, and I applaud the administration's commitment to prioritizing American security interests. Reviewing and strengthening our vetting procedures is not only common sense during the heightened threat level our global community faces, it's necessary to breaking down terrorist pathways and preventing enemies from reaching our shore."

He had supported all past versions of the ban, although had some criticisms of the initial ban that was implemented overnight, leaving some travelers stranded.

Donovan fully supported the second ban, which removed Iraq from the travel ban list, decreased the length of the Syrian refugee ban, and no longer permitted waivers for members of minority religions in the region, like Christianity, which had led many to call it a Muslim ban.

Trump made the announcement on Sunday, citing inadequate vetting procedures in those countries that might not keep the United States safe.

The announcement came the same day as Trump's previous 90-day ban expired. The new travel restrictions go into effect Oct. 18.

Waivers will be permitted on a case-by-case basis, according to the Associated Press.

The president tweeted on Sunday, "Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet."
CITY HALL -- New York City voters will choose their mayor in six weeks -- and we want to help Staten Islanders cast their ballots.

Each week until the general election on Nov. 7, the Advance will select a reader question on a Staten Island issue and pose it to the campaigns for Mayor Bill de Blasio and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis.

There are several other candidates in the race, but we're limiting this exercise to the two main party nominees in order to foster a more productive dialogue about the future of this city and Staten Island. De Blasio, the incumbent Democrat, and Malliotakis, the Republican candidate, are widely seen as the top two contenders.

Priority will be given to topics of general interest to Staten Islanders, like the opioid epidemic and traffic, as opposed to more narrow questions about issues specific to individual voters, such as a problem only found on one block or in one neighborhood.

Please include your name, age and neighborhood of residence. We will prioritize those from readers who provide this information.

Please let us know if there are circumstances that require you to remain anonymous.

We'll pick a question and/or topic for the week by Wednesdays at 11 p.m., but suggestions from readers will be accepted on a rolling basis. The answers and responses we get from the candidates and campaigns will be published on Fridays.

This series will run from Sept. 29 until Nov. 3.

SUBMIT A QUESTION!

Submit a question with your full name, age and neighborhood of residence by email to asanders@siadvance.com or by leaving a comment on this article.
Having returned from their summer recess to work in chambers and meet in conference, the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court kick off the 2017-2018 term next Monday when they resume entertaining oral arguments. The dynamic of the court hasn't changed much philosophically, despite the fact that Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's appointee to the bench, has established himself as the reliable conservative that Republicans had anticipated him to be. With the court's four liberal justices notoriously sticking together in every case where political ideology matters, they've needed to snare only one additional vote to prevail.

They've been highly successful at doing precisely that too, with Justice Anthony Kennedy their most frequent convert. An appointee of President Ronald Reagan, but long-regarded as a philosophically-moderate "swing justice," Kennedy's jurisprudence has moved distinctly leftward in recent years. Primarily, although not exclusively, because of him - Chief Justice John Roberts has defected at times too - the court's liberal wing has engineered a string of victories of a magnitude and consequence not seen since the Earl Warren era. There's no reason to believe this will change in the upcoming term.

Four key cases

Four cases scheduled to be heard this term stand out as especially important. They include a challenge to the Trump Administration's travel ban; a challenge to a Wisconsin redistricting plan that, if successful, could invalidate the widely-employed partisan gerrymander; and a case involving the legality of a warrantless search and seizure of cellphone records that revealed the user's location and movements for over four months. The fourth, discussed here today, is Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a case in which the constitutional rights to both the free exercise of one's religion and freedom of expression clash head-on with a state's anti-discrimination statute. The facts are straightforward.

It's undisputed that Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, is a devout Christian with sincerely-held religious beliefs. In addition to closing his Denver-area bakery on Sundays, he routinely refuses to design wedding cakes containing alcohol, celebrating divorce, or promoting Halloween.

After he informed Charlie Craig and David Mullins that he would not design a custom cake for their same-sex wedding celebration because of his religious beliefs, the two men filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

Agency ruling

The state agency ruled in favor of the two complainants, finding that Phillips had violated state law barring discrimination in places of public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation. Phillips was ordered to henceforth accommodate same-sex couples, implement comprehensive staff training to ensure compliance, file quarterly compliance reports for two years, and document all persons denied service, explaining the reason for it. The commission ruling was subsequently upheld by a Colorado appellate court.

Challenging that ruling before the Supreme Court, Phillips asserts that he has both a constitutional right and a moral duty to exercise his religious beliefs in every aspect of his life, including his business-related interactions with the public. He further argues that Colorado has "no legitimate--let alone compelling--interest in forcing artists to express ideas that they consider objectionable." Respecting his rights would have little-to-no impact on the public, Phillips contends, because gay-themed cakes could easily be obtained from other area bakers. Which, incidentally, is precisely how Craig and Mullins got their cake, free no less.

Weak defense

Defending the commission's ruling, Colorado, joined by the two complainants, counters that no "reasonable observer would understand the Company's provision of a cake to a gay couple as an expression of its approval of the customer's marriage, as opposed to its compliance with a non-discrimination mandate." That argument however, misses the point. How others might perceive Phillips's action is irrelevant. What matters is that Phillips, himself, believes that making such a cake violates his deeply-held religious beliefs. And it's not the role of government to tell him otherwise. Nor does it matter that the expression for which Phillips seeks constitutional protection doesn't involve words. It is well-established that people express themselves non-verbally in countless ways, including silence, applause, paintings, tattoos and stained-glass windows.

The case has enormous implications for religious freedom in the United States, particularly since Kennedy and the Supreme Court's liberals have elevated same-sex marriage to the status of a constitutional right. Even in that controversial ruling, however, they recognized that "many who deem same-sex marriage to be wrong reach that conclusion based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises," emphasizing therefore that "neither they nor their beliefs are disparaged here." However, forcing a master cake-designer to create a cake promoting conduct he believes to be morally repugnant would, indeed, disparage and trivialize his religious beliefs.

The Trump administration has filed a brief in support of Phillips, while numerous advocacy groups have weighed in with amicus briefs supporting one side or the other. No argument date has yet been set, although some time in December seems likely.

[Daniel Leddy's column appears each Tuesday on the Advance Editorial Page. His e-mail address is column@danielleddylaw.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/LegalHotShots.]
STATEN ISLAND,N.Y. -- Richmond or Richmond Town, as locals call it, is a quiet sort of sleepy neighborhood on Staten Island. It is located on the east side of the Island, created by geographic constraints such as a large salt-marsh from the fresh kills streams, and sweeping hills, such as Lighthouse Hill, which connects with Richmond Road. This coming together of roads has created a perfect spot for a community to flourish, and it is today called Richmond.



Originally called Coccles Town because of the abundance of oysters and clams found in the streams of the nearby Fresh Kills, Richmond Town obtained its existing name in 1728 when the village, now preserved as Historic Richmond Town, was established. The village became the county seat of Richmond County and remained as such until the development of St. George in around 1898.



The annual Richmond County Fair is held on the grounds of Historic Richmond Town during Labor Day weekend. The Christmas holiday brings candlelight tours and, on St. Patrick's Day, the pub is open with live Irish fiddle music. They have in the recent past held war reenactments at Historic Richmond Town, which reminds us of the influx of the British during the Revolutionary War.

The town was settled at the base of Lighthouse Hill with New Dorp and Oakwood to the east. Richmond has seen a lot of new home construction since the mid-1960s. Homes range from simple, one-story ranches and townhouses, to brand new mini-mansions. Always a peaceful community with a strong sense of family,

this town is also home to one of the 10 remaining volunteer fire departments in New York City, Richmond Engine Co. 1.



Staten Island history is being preserved by Historic Richmond Town as landmarked homes continue to be moved to the site . And, it continues to reveal the everyday life of days gone by through tours and celebrations.
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Honorable Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel, requested 2 garbage trucks from the Government of The Netherlands to assist with the waste situation post Hurricane Irma and Maria.





The two garbage trucks will be assisting the trucks in the areas Cay Hill, Bush Road and Cole Bay under the operation of Meadowlands NV.





Civil Mission Head Mr. Erwin Arkenbout is on the island with a group of 15 specialists assessing the current situation on the island. They will also assist with housing, water distribution, reconstruction of schools and much more to help rebuild Sint Maarten.





Minister Emmanuel expressed his gratitude to the Dutch Government with assisting thus far. He is also looking forward to the additional heavy equipment and materials arriving on the Joint Logistic Support Ship His Majesty Karel Doorman.





Photo caption  Civil Mission Head Erwin Arkenbout, Representatives of Meadowlands NV, Honorable Minister C. Emmanuel, Head of Department of Infrastructure Management Claudius Buncamper, Chief of Staff of the Cabinet of the Minister Marisha Richardson




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00:31 Jackie O to temporarily step away from radio program Radio presenter Jackie 'O' Henderson has announced she will be stepping back from her hit program on KIIS-FM for health reasons.

01:27 Australias share market at its best level in five months CommSecs Tom Piotrowski says the local share market is now at its best levels in around five months.

05:51 NASA ready to launch Artemis 1 moon rocket ANU astrophysicist and cosmologist Dr Brad Tucker says NASA thinks it's ready for the third attempt at the Artemis 1 launch after a fuel leak...

09:17 Construction businesses will go broke from union attacks if IR bill gets up Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie says small to medium enterprises in the civil construction sector will go broke from targeted attacks...

00:31 Adelaide homes without power after storm More than 80,000 homes across South Australia are without power after severe thunderstorms hit the state.

02:55 New task force announced to combat cybercriminals The federal government has announced a new task force to combat cybercriminals after attacks on Optus and Medibank.

00:46 Crypto giant FTX files for bankruptcy Cryptocurrency trading platform FTX has filed for bankruptcy with its former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried reportedly fleeing to Argentina.

01:22 CEO awards encapsulate extraordinary people doing extraordinary things CEO Magazine Editor Ruth Devine says the CEO awards night encapsulated extraordinary people doing extraordinary things.

00:34 Elon Musk warns staff Twitter may not survive New Twitter CEO Elon Musk has warned staff that social media giants need to find more ways to make money, or its survival may be at stake.

06:17 Its definitely picking up in the auction market: Auction market set to ramp up REA Group Economist Anne Flaherty says with the Christmas period approaching there are a lot of people who are looking to put their properties...

KFC apologises for insensitive mobile push notification Fast-food chain KFC has apologised to its German customers after accidentally sending a push notification commemorating Kristallnacht to users of its mobile app.

02:15 Australias home building boom is at its end: Report Australia's new home building boom comes to an end amidst interest rate hikes and a drop in new house sales, according to a Housing Industry...

Anti-Musk Twitter activists running out of companies to harass after forcing advertiser exodus This panic from activists and advertisers isn't about hate - or disinformation - or even "brand safety". It's about the fact they will soon lose control of the platform's narrative.

03:23 Central banks forecasts have been woefully wrong in the past The Australians Washington Correspondent Adam Creighton says it is in the interest of the central banks and treasury to claim a soft landing...
By PTI: Srinagar, Sept 25 (PTI) Security forces today recovered body of a militant near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri area of Kashmir, taking the number of ultras killed in the operation there to four.

Security forces this morning resumed the anti-militancy operation, which was launched yesterday, following information about presence of more militants in the area.

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"We have recovered body of another militant, which takes the number of militants killed in the operation to four," an Army official said.

"The operation resumed this morning after there were reports of more militants hiding in the area," the official said.

He said the area of operation was expanded to ensure that no militants get away from the security forces cordon.

Three Pakistani militants were killed yesterday in the gunbattle with security forces in Kalgai area of Uri.Three civilians and a soldier were injured in the operation.

Director General of Police S P Vaid had said the militants were planning a suicide attack like the one carried out on an Army base last year in Uri that left 19 soldiers dead and several others injured.

"A big tragedy has been averted.Like the suicide attack on the Army base last year, they (militants) had similar plan this time also but the police and the Army got information before hand," Vaid told reporters. PTI MIJ DV

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By PTI: Amaravati, Sep 25 (PTI) The Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau today raided the houses of two officials of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department and unearthed assets worth crores, which they suspect are disproportionate to their known sources of income.

While the book value of the assets in both the cases is around Rs 30 crore, the actual market value could be about Rs 150 crore, according to ACB sources.

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Raids were conducted simultaneously by 20 teams of the ACB officials on the properties of Director of Town and Country Planning, G V Raghu, and Junior Technical Officer in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), N V Sivaprasad, at Mangalagiri, Vijayawada, Gannavaram, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Chittoor, and in Shirdi (Maharashtra).

According to sources, Sivaprasad was benami (a conduit) for Raghu and operated several real estate firms in Vijayawada.

Sivaprasad worked under Raghu when the latter was City Planner in VMC in 2002.

Interestingly, many of the assets were in the name of Sivaprasad and his wife Chintamaneni Gayatri, who too previously worked as an assistant engineer in VMC.

Several parcels of land, many residential flats and houses, a convention centre in AP and Telangana and a lodging house (in Shirdi) were among the assets discovered, sources said.

Raghu, who joined government service in 1988, served in key positions like City Planner and Chief City Planner in the top three cities in undivided AP ? Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad.

The real estate boom in those periods that saw the springing up of several apartment complexes, commercial buildings and malls enabled him to strike it rich through dubious deals, a top official revealed.

"Countless number of illegal structures came up in a city like Hyderabad and obviously this man was at the helm, overseeing building permissions and regulations. He, thus, amassed a lot of wealth in collusion with unscrupulous builders," the official added.

Sivaprasad opened at least four real estate firms in the name of his wife, who took voluntary retirement in 2015, in Vijayawada and purchased several tracts of land in Krishna, Guntur and East Godavari districts.

As much as eight kgs of gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 4 crore was found in Sivaprasads possession, besides Rs 43 lakh in cash. Also, 23 kg of silver was also seized.

ACB Director General RP Thakur said in Vijaywada that they recovered Rs 8.20 lakh in cash, gold worth Rs 4 lakh, and a four-wheeler from Raghus residence.

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The two officers were arrested and the investigation is on. PTI DBV CORR NSK

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Round Two of the innovative two-day, multiple sprint format Super League Triathlon  Jersey finished on a cool, rainy day where competitors had to play it conservatively on the slick bike course. After the Eliminator format whittled the fields down to 10 men and 10 women in the final stages this Sunday, Katie Zaferes of the United States and Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway raced away with the victory.

Zaferes and Blummenfelt won both the Day 1 Triple Mix sessions and the Day 2 Eliminator competition to achieve perfect 50-point scores and earn $18,000 checks for the overall titles.



Its just so cool, Zaferes told Super League media announcer Emma Frodeno after the race. Its a different style of racing. Its a fun style but it is so painful and so you cannot hide anywhere. I would love to do more of these.



Cook relied on her vaunted run to nip Spirig for the days runner-up and overall runner-up. I knew when I made the pass [on Spirig on the final Eliminator stage] I had to gap them or else it was game over. So I really just went for it and I tried not to look back. I was running pretty scared at the end but it worked out.

Blummenfelt, who finished his WTS season with a flourish with a 2nd place at the Grand Final and 3rd overall in the WTS series, continued his hot streak at Jersey with some grit and tactical expertise. "I tried to play a little bit safe in the beginning [of the 3 Eliminator Stages Sunday] and just make it inside the top 15 and top 10. But it's just so hard to hold back when I like racing. Hopefully I get winter off training now and I'll be fit for next year."



Blummenfelt went to the front in the final lap of the final stage on the bike and charged to a big lead at the start of the run. Brownlee fought hard to keep Blummenfelt in sight and stave off a last lap surge by Murray. "I had a massive advantage there with British weather and British crowds so thank you to everyone for coming out even in this weather, he told Super League media. I actually think I got fitter from yesterday, but Kristian was far better than us all the whole weekend and I was absolutely nowhere near him today.



Summer Cook of the U.S. finished third on Saturday and 2nd on Sunday to score 39 points and take home the womens overall runner-up check for $12,000. 2012 Olympic gold medalist and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Nicola Spirig of Switzerland finished 2nd on Saturday and 3rd on Sunday, also scoring 39 points. However, Sundays results were given preference, so Spirigs 39 points earned her 3rd overall and a check for $8,000.



Brownlee, the 2012 Olympic Triathlon bronze medalist and 2016 Olympic silver medalist, finished 3rd on Saturday and 2nd on Sunday, earning 39 points and a $12,000 check. Hamilton Island Super League champion Richard Murray of South Africa fell into the same problem as the women as he finished 2nd on Saturday and 3rd on the more heavily weighted Sunday results, so his 39 points earned him $8,000 for third place overall.



While Super League Triathlon officials advertised a total purse of $260,000 (with $130,000 going to the men and the women), the big checks awarded at the finish did not match the $100,000 won by Richard Murray for his win, $50,000 to Mario Mola for his second place finish and $30,000 to Jake Birtwhistle for his third place finish at the inaugural Super League Triathlon held on Hamilton Island, Australia in March. That race invited only men, and received criticism for failing to offer a field for women. Organizers said that the March race was a test event, and appeared to answer critics with fields for men and women in Jersey.



Race co-organizer Chris McCormack said on live streaming commentary for the event that Super League planned to have a third event later this year, but hurricanes in the Caribbean forced cancellation. McCormack added that Super League plans to put on a series in 2018.

Super League Triathlon - Jersey

Jersey, Channel Islands, Great Britain

September 23-24, 2017



Saturday Day 1 Triple Mix



Triple Mix is a three-stage race with a 10-minute break between stages and a pursuit-style start in Stages 2 and 3. S one lap 300 meters / B 5 laps 5.5k / R 2 laps 2k.

Stage 1: Swim-Bike-Run

Stage 2: Run-Bike-Swim

Stage 3: Bike-Swim-Run



Accumulated Day 1 results  Men qualifiers



1. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) Points 25 Total time 56:51

2. Richard Murray (RSA) Points 21 Total time 57:14

3. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) Points 18 Total time 57:30

4. Henri Schoeman (RSA) Points 16 Total time 60:20

5. Mario Mola (ESP) Points 14 Total time 60:17

6. Matthew Hauser (AUS) Points 12 Total time 60:22

7. Alessandro Fabian (ITA) Points 10 Total time 60:27

8. Andreas Schilling (DEN) Points 8 Total time 60:23

9. Aaron Royle (AUS) Points 6 Total time 60:34

10. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) Points 4 Total time 60:41

11. Ryan Fisher (AUS) Points 3 Total time 61:23

12. Ben Kanute (USA) Points 2 Total time 61:26



Accumulated Day 1 Results  Women qualifiers



1. Katie Zaferes (USA) Points 25 Total time 65:23

2. Nicola Spirig (SUI) Points 21 Total time 65:44

3. Summer Cook (USA) Points 18 Total time 65:50

4. Kirsten Kasper (USA) Points 16 Total Time 65:55

5. Claire Michel (BEL) Points 14 Total time 65:53

6. Sophie Coldwell (GBR) Points 12 Total time 66:08

7. Carolina Routier (ESP) Points 10 Total time 66:16

8. Jodie Stimpson (GBR) Points 8 Total time 66:25

9. Rachel Klamer (NED) Points 6 Total time 66:35

10. Anastasia Abrosimova (RUS) Points 4 Total time 67:03

11. Barbara Riveros (CHL) Points 3 Total time 67:28

12. Laura Lindemann (GER) Points 2 Total time 68:07

13. Taylor Spivey (USA) Points 2 Total time 68:09



Saturday Day 2 Eliminator



The Eliminator format has three stages of swim-bike-run whittling the field down to the fastest 15 and then 10 to race for victory in Stage 3. Unlike Day 1, position is all and times are irrelevant.

S one lap 300 meters / B 5 laps 5.5k / R 2 laps 2k.



Eliminator Stage 3 Final Results - Women



1. Katie Zaferes (USA) 25 points

2. Summer Cook (USA) 21 points

3. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 18 points

4. Kirsten Kasper (USA) 16 Points

5. Jodie Stimpson (GBR) 14 Points

6. Sophie Coldwell (GBR) 12 Points

7. Charlotte McShane (AUS) 10 points

8. Rachel Klamer (NED) 8 Points

9. Melanie Santos (POR) 6 Points

10. Emmie Charayron (FRA) 4 points



Eliminator Stage 3 Final Results  Men



1. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) 25 points

2. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 21 points

3. Richard Murray (RSA) 18 points

4. Matthew Hauser (AUS) 16 points

5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 14 points

6. Aaron Royle (AUS) 12 points

7. Ben Kanute (USA) 10 points

8. Mario Mola (ESP) 8 Points

9. Alessandro Fabian (ITA) 6 points

10. Andreas Schilling (DEN) 4 points



Super League Jersey Final Podium Results



Finals stage Eliminator points are 25-21-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4 and when combined with Day 1 points count for the overall results with $18,000 for the win, $12,000 for second place, and $8,000 for third.



Women



1. Katie Zaferes (USA) 50 points - $18,000

2. Summer Cook (USA) 39 points - $12,000

3. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 39 points - $8,000 *in case of ties, preference given for Day 3 result.



Men



1. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) 50 points - $18,000

2. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 39 points - $12,000

3. Richard Murray (RSA) 39 points *in case of tie, preference given for Day 3 result.
Police have filed FIR against 1200 students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) after their protest turned violent following lathicharge by cops. Here's all that has happened so far.

By India Today Web Desk: Hours after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a probe into Saturday night's violence inside the prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus , the police have filed FIR against 1200 students.

More than a dozen students were detained on Sunday after their protest turned violent as the police used force to evict them. A video of a woman student being beaten with batons by cops added fuel to the row.

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Station Officer (SO) Lanka, CO Bhelupur and one Additional City Magistrate (ACM) have been removed following the violence at the BHU campus.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW:

A group of students had staged a sit-in at the main gate of the university after a female student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men on the campus. The protesting students were allegedly lathicharged by the police on Saturday night. A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police. Heavy police personnel deployed at Banaras Hindu University. (PTI Photo The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the vice chancellor at his residence. Following the violence, the district administration declared holidays till October 2 in all colleges and universities in Varanasi. The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from September 28. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP over the police lathicharge on woman students. Attaching a link to a video of the students who alleged that they were beaten up by male policemen at the campus,Gandhi tweeted, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU." The BHU issued a statement last night saying that the 'dharna' by the students just a day before Prime MinisterNarendra Modi's visit was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university. The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police had been sought to maintain peace in the campus. Nearly 1,500 police personnel, including contingents of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), have been deployed to maintain law and order in the campus.

In Delhi, youth Congress members protested against the lathicharge on BHU students. Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas said the alleged police action on protesters in BHU took place "when the Prime Minister and the chief minister were in the same city". Vishwas said the vice-chancellor of BHU "must quit if he has some shame".

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav condemned the police action on BHU students. "The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty," the former UP chief minister tweeted.

WATCH: Campus or Prison: Gender discrimination at Banaras Hindu University

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Access Canberra has resisted calls to publish its wait times in its annual statistics, saying the numbers would not "effectively" measure the job its staff were doing.

After annual report hearings in February, the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism recommended Access Canberra publish yearly the number of clients it dealt with, the time taken to respond to queries and the number of queries finalised.

The average wait time across the Access Canberra contact centre in January was 129 seconds and 71 seconds in February, the committee heard. Credit:Sean Davey

The average wait time across the Access Canberra contact centre in January was 129 seconds and 71 seconds in February, the committee heard.

Labor backbencher Suzanne Orr said she hung up after being told she was "something like 13th or 15th in line".
The sun was shinning, the parks were full and the wind didn't deter families from being out and about to celebrate Canberra's last Family and Community day.

While parents watched on as kids played on bikes, the Mont Adventure Racing team braced the chilly waters at Casuarina Sands on Monday to put in a last minute practice before next week's five-day Wildside Adventure Race.

Mont Adventure Racing Team members Lee Rice, Alex Orme, Paul Cuthbert, and Tom Brazier inflate pack rafts at Casuarina Sands. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

Family and Community Day will be replaced with Reconciliation Day from 2018 onwards. The first Reconciliation Day holiday will be celebrated on 28 May.
Major manufacturers are warning the gas shortage is crippling the industry and have called for urgent action to divert gas to the domestic market.

"Shortages of gas in the east coast market is a cruel and unfair blow to an Australian manufacturing industry," said Australian Advanced Manufacturers Council chief executive Mark Goodsell.

"Those that use gas for energy or for feedstock are all caught in this black comedy that is our energy market and our attempts to bring sense to it."

The comments come as a report from the competition regulator forecast a shortfall of between 55 petajoules and 108 petajoules.
The Myanmar that's advertised in travel brochures doesn't match up with the heartbreaking reality we're witnessing in daily news reports. The country is often marketed as the "golden land of a thousand smiles", a place of majestic Buddhist monuments and peace-loving monks and pilgrims.

As someone who lived there for almost five years, I can attest there is a different and disturbing side to the mostly Buddhist Burmese society. It's the side playing out in Rakhine State right now against Rohingya Muslims, but it's not something that is confined to that area  casual racism and religious bigotry (including towards people from neighbouring Muslim-majority Bangladesh) is commonplace even in urban hubs such as Yangon.

My Bangladeshi husband, and myself by extension, were frequently subjected to it. This time last year, we had to abruptly leave the country for good because Myanmar refused to allow my husband to apply for a new business visa from the Burmese Embassy in Thailand.

When Sherpa pleaded with the visa officer, explaining that his wife was in Myanmar and waiting for him to return, the visa officer sneered and offered a racist jibe.
In less than a month more than 400,000 people have fled Myanmar's Rakhine State, across the border to Bangladesh. Hundreds have been shot and dozens of villages burned. Reports from refugees indicate the military has led the attacks, assisted by Buddhist villagers from the state's Rakhine majority. The primary targets are the state's Rohingya population, a Muslim ethnic minority group that Myanmar's government considers illegal immigrants.

In a New York Times op-ed and in an appearance on ABC's 7:30 last week, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd argued that Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who leads Myanmar's government, has few options available if she wants to stop what UN Human Rights Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has called "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing".

With Aung San Suu Kyi as the face of the government, sanctions on Myanmar have been dropped and the country has been partly rehabilitated in the eyes of the international community. Credit:AP

The situation in Rakhine State is complex and to be fair, Rudd is grappling with the best way to approach a crisis to which there are no easy answers. But his analysis is flawed, cites facts not in evidence and makes recommendations that are likely to lead to greater suffering. Suu Kyi is almost certainly in a stronger position than he suggests.

Rudd is right to point out that Suu Kyi's power is curtailed by the 2008 constitution, which gives the military control of the security forces, three ministries, 25 per cent of the seats in the legislature, and thus a veto on any changes to the constitution.
Swastikas and vile phrases such as "vote no to fags" have been scrawled on trains, and homes flying the rainbow flag have been attacked, in an outbreak of homophobic violence and vandalism accompanying the postal survey on same-sex marriage.

Tasmanian police have also laid charges over the alleged assault of a transgender teenager in Hobart on Friday, just a day after former prime minister Tony Abbott was headbutted by a self-proclaimed anarchist DJ in the same area.

The incidents further test Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's claim that "overwhelmingly, Australians are engaging in this debate respectfully", with six weeks to go until the deadline for survey forms to be received by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In Sydney, photos surfaced of obscene graffiti inside a train carriage, including swastikas and the phrases "vote no! to fags" and "faggots not welcome". The photos were uploaded to the Reddit website last week by a user who said they saw the "absolutely f--king disgusting" graffiti on a train journey to Circular Quay.
If you're tuning into Channel 7's red carpet coverage you may recognise this bloke. He is former Carlton player, I'm A Celebrity contestant and the person who took and circulated nude photos of Lara Bingle, Brendan Fevola.

Still not ringing any bells?

Fev, a man who resembles a bloated Willie Mason, was also behind one of the Brownlow's less glamourous moments on The AFL's Footy Show a few years back.
When it comes to fashion month  a bi-annual circus that sees the world's top designers, most powerful fashion players and loads of impeccably dressed hangers-on convene for the shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris  it's hard to go past the City of Love for the ultimate fashion fix.

For Virginia Martin from the label bul there's a certain magic about being an Australian designer showing in Paris during Fashion Week.

Aje designers Edwina Robinson and Adrian Norris say there is an appetite for Australian fashion overseas. Credit:Esteban La Tessa

"It's exciting," she says, "There aren't so many Australians showing in Paris just yet  there's Ellery and Mativeski going really well  [but we're] still quite unknown."

"It's a great time for Australian design, we're really unique, really different from what's out there and people get quite excited by it."
The Brownlow red carpet carries a Mean Girls mystique but in 2017 the similarities to the cult movie were scary.

Every second guest appeared to be wearing pink. Which was odd as the AFL's night of nights was held on a Monday, not on Wednesdays when we're supposed to wear pink.

The usual red carpet Queen Bees like Rebecca Judd and Nadia Bartel were also missing in action which left the field wide open for the next generation of fashion loving players, wives and girlfriends to step up to the mark and boot a stylish major.

As stylists are becoming more popular than drinking games at the annual knees up, the fashion choices are becoming more polished than in days gone by. But despite there being no glittering g-strings, diamante encrusted bras or Geoff Edelsten, here's some of the best on ground and best bits from the arrivals hall.
"Making people safe is not necessarily what they want  they want to be valued," Singh says. "They would rather fall over and be loved and loving than tied down in a geri chair and not be allowed to fall over. We've moved away from physical restraints but simply replaced them with pharmacological restraints." As it currently stands, it is little wonder many of the 170,000 Australians in aged care feel as though a part of themselves "is lost". We are an ageing population, all heading in the same direction, but the picture painted of life as we near the end is rather bleak. Physical treatment is provided but too often there is little consideration for the human or their quality of life. One aged care resident told Fairfax last week that she had spent $800,000 on a deposit to get her room and yet received meals that looked liked regurgitated vegetables on a pallid piece of toast.

Those with dementia are just given the kitchen slops. In aged care facilities, psychotropics are frequently used (their use is even higher among those with dementia), up to 80 per cent of residents have chronic pain and about 40 per cent are suffering depression. People who have been married for 60 years are not allowed to sleep in the same bed and beloved pets are forbidden for hygiene reasons. "No one ever died of cat hair as far as I know but lots of people die every day from loneliness," Singh remarks. "Not allowing people to have a care-giving role is really detrimental to them physically and mentally." Similarly, by trying to keep people safe via physical or psychotropic restraint, telling them when to get dressed, what to eat, when to take pills and who they can sleep beside or touch, we remove autonomy. "I think we have completely misconstrued what's important in people's lives," Singh says. "A sense of autonomy prevents us from allowing that in our own lives and yet we impose that on other people. We think we're doing good for them because we're keeping them safe ... ironically, we're destroying the last years of their life and the ability to contribute to people around them."

Dr Bill Thomas, a Harvard-trained geriatrician, is vocal in his belief that people are being treated rather than cared for and they are dying because of it. "He said what we need to give back to people is the ability to care for others and love others," Singh says of Thomas. "He brought in plants and animals and all sorts of other things. He showed that, by doing that, he was able to reduce mortality and infection rate and increase happiness ... the idea was giving back the ability to care for others and be a part of something that was bigger than themselves." This applies even to those with dementia, which is about 85,000 of those in aged care homes. "Somebody who is demented  all they have left is the moment," Singh says. "So, if I put my hand on their shoulder and touch them, will they feel that human touch? Will they perceive the smile on my face or will they feel happy if they hear a piece of music or taste a piece of chocolate. Is there any pleasure in this moment right now?" If there is joy, then there is quality of life.
There are endless possibilities for a family to punish a gay partner after the death of their child or sibling, should they choose to do so.

Like many people, Stuart didn't leave a will. My mother gave his assets to Gurny, but this was her decision, not a legal requirement. Stuart's superannuation was also paid to Gurny, but only because he was specifically nominated. Otherwise this, too, would probably have been paid to my mother.

Stuart's employer also communicated with mum to tie up his affairs, and invited our family (but not Gurny) to a memorial service.

While some of these organisations were happy to change their first impression of the situation, this confusion in itself demonstrates that if a couple aren't viewed as clearly equal in the eyes of the law, they will not always be treated as being so, and they are vulnerable to misunderstandings and even mistreatment.

There were a number of other instances of authorities organisations being confused about who was Stuart's legal next-of-kin, and in several cases my mother had to intervene to clarify and ensure Gurny's rights were protected.

After any sudden death, confusion adds to the natural grief. And when the rights of those left behind are also in confusion, this adds massively to the stress. As well as grieving the loss of her beloved baby boy, my mother had to negotiate complex legal issues with various authorities; negotiations that simply would not have arisen had Stuart been legally married or in a straight partnership.

The emotional burden involved was a lot heavier than it needed to be. I'd like to say my mother was generous to Gurny, but she merely did what any ethical person would do, which was to accept Gurny as Stuart's partner and force others to do so too.

To his credit, Gurny also behaved generously, although he was not obligated to. I'm not sure, though, that he felt he had a choice.

He was a foreign national and although he'd lived in Australia for years and his English was fine, he was not as at-home with Australian authority as an Australian citizen would have been. In fact, some weeks after Stuart's death, he admitted he'd been terrified the day we met with the funeral director to plan Stuart's service, believing he'd be erased from the ceremony and perhaps even barred from attending.

He knew we had no problem with him, but he wondered if we'd be swayed by other relatives or convention when push came to shove. When this didn't happen he was grateful, but gratitude shouldn't have been required. I was mortified he'd even been thinking like this, and it occurred to me again how bitterly unfair the situation was.
Sunny Leone and husband Daniel Weber have revealed that one of their industry friends would be entering the Bigg Boss 11 house.

Sunny Leone has confirmed that Vikkas Gupta is part of the current season.

By India Today Web Desk: Bigg Boss 11 premiere is a couple of days away and fans are waiting for the premiere episode with bated breath. While the speculated names are doing the rounds in media, according to reports none of them would be part of the final list.

However, Sunny Leone and Daniel Weber might have leaked one of the final contestants. The Jism 2 actress has confirmed to media that one of her good friends Vikkas Gupta will enter the BB 11 house .

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"My friend Vikkas Gupta is going. I want to wish him all the best. Hopefully when he comes out of the house, he would be sane and not go crazy," she told the media.

Like all BB fans, Sunny too is looking forward to the upcoming season.

"My expectations are similar to everybody's expectations--a lot of drama. Watch these contestants on the show, it's very difficult to be in the house. I wish them all the luck," said Sunny.

Bigg Boss 11 is all set to premiere on October 1 at 9pm on Colors TV

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Beijing: Chinese police who want to question suspects in Australia will need to obey a new set of formal rules which include having an Australian Federal Police officer present for any interaction.

Chinese police have in the past pursued the country's nationals who are suspected of "economic crimes" into other jurisdictions, including Australia.

In Beijing for an Interpol conference: AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The new rules, negotiated between Australia and China, also mean that interviews must be recorded on video by Australian authorities, with an independent translator.

The Australia Federal Police has also banned the parading of returning fugitives in front of Chinese television cameras  a regular sight in Beijing as planes arrive at the capital's airport and handcuffed suspects are marched down the stairs for nightly news bulletins.
Three and a half years ago then NSW deputy premier Andrew Stoner announced a memorandum of understanding with energy company Santos to "fast track" development of its Narrabri gas project in the Pilliga Forest.

With the issue of a looming gas shortage gaining momentum, Stoner noted the project's "capacity to directly supply up to 25 to 50 per cent of the State's natural gas needs".

Then-energy minister Anthony Roberts said the project "has the potential to play an important role in reducing the impact of energy prices on the cost of living in NSW".

Stoner added that an approval by 2015 would mean the gas could start flowing by 2017.
The Berejiklian government has comprehensively failed to develop enough gas reserves to help Australia head off grave shortages and keep power bills low, according to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, amid predictions of a looming national gas shortfall three times worse than first thought.

The Prime Minister took aim at his NSW Coalition stablemate on Monday, as he ordered state governments and gas giants to shore up gas supplies to east coast consumers or face strict export limits.

Mr Turnbull on Monday said the government had received two reports from the Australian Energy Market Operator and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, showing gas shortages in the east coast domestic market over the next two years "will be considerably higher than that estimated six months ago".

"It's estimated there will be a shortfall ... of around 110 petajoules of gas  more than three times the figure we were advised earlier in the year," Mr Turnbull said.
The driver who allegedly struck and killed a teenager in a hit-and-run in Sydney's south-west returned to the scene 11 minutes later before fleeing again, police say.

Police are still searching for the driver of the white ute who struck Natasha Gadd on Henry Lawson Drive, Milperra, at 4.30am on Sunday before driving away.

Paramedics were unable to revive the the 19-year-old, who was on her way home with two friends, and who died at the scene.

Police on Monday said CCTV footage had now revealed the driver of the ute returned to the crash scene and would have been fully aware of what had occurred.
An investigation has been launched into an air-traffic control outage at Sydney Airport that caused major disruptions for thousands of passengers after more than 340 flights were delayed or cancelled.

The system went into meltdown shortly after 5am on Monday at Australia's largest airport, just as passengers began arriving to catch flights for the start of school holidays.

Chaotic scenes played out throughout the morning as passengers on all airlines at the domestic and international terminals were told they would not be able to depart due to the outage.

It took Airservices, the agency managing the country's airspace, about two hours to resolve the software fault but most of the rest of the day to clear the massive backlog of flights from the incident, which caused a knock-on effect throughout the network.
One minute Susan Baker was dancing with a female friend at a NSW caravan park, the next they were screaming and trying to ward off a machete attack by her estranged husband Clint Baker.

"You are my f---ing wife, you are my f---ing wife," he yelled as she tried to use her body to shield Caitlyn Grayson who had fallen to the ground and was being struck with the machete.

On Monday in the District Court in Sydney, Baker, 32, was jailed for at least four years and nine months after pleading guilty to a string of offences.

Noting Baker was of previous good character and respected by his acquaintances, Acting Judge Anthony Garling said the crimes appeared to flow from "a brain snap fuelled by alcohol".

His admitted offences included wounding Ms Grayson with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, recklessly wounding Ms Baker, breaching an AVO order and using a carriage service to threaten to kill.
A body has been pulled from the ocean at the Gold Coast after a riderless boat was spotted doing circles.

Police were called after the empty tinnie was seen about 2.30pm on Monday near Wavebreak Island.

About 2.45pm, jet ski riders reported seeing someone swept out in rough water at the Gold Coast Seaway.

Water police and the Rescue 500 helicopter began a search and found a man's body about 3.50pm.

A police spokesman said they were not looking for any other people at this stage.
A 23-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to murder on the first day of a trial over the 2013 killing of a South Korean student found dead in an inner-city Brisbane park.

Alex Reuben McEwan was led into the dock in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday morning, for a trial that had been set down for two weeks.

He was arraigned just before 10.30am and pleaded not guilty.

South Korean woman Eunji Ban, 22, was found dead in Wickham Park, Spring Hill, on November 24, 2013.
He said no no, I just punched someone in the face, kept kicking her, punching her, and dragged her body, Mr Appleton said. The 23-year-old was gobsmacked and responded with thats f---ed bro, he told the court. The accused, also an apprentice spray painter, had spent much of the past evening with Mr Appleton, going to the Victoria Park golf course and drinking together in Mr McEwans Spring Hill apartment for much of the night. Mr McEwan said he did not notice anything unusual about his friend, except that he was not smoking marijuana because he was trying to give up. The only thing out of the ordinary Mr Appleton could think of when asked was a statement Mr McEwan made as they were both talking on the balcony in the early hours of the morning.

Its good hanging out with you bro, its been nice just chillin with ya, Mr McEwan said, according to his friend. I didnt think anything weird at the time. Its the only thing I can recall, Mr Appleton said. He and the accused, who was wearing a light blue shirt and dark blue shorts that exposed a spider web tattoo on his right knee, made eye contact as the witness left the courtroom but did not say anything. Another friend, Hayden Buchanan, told the court he took a call from the accused the morning of Ms Bans death. When Luke and Blake left in the morning he (Mr McEwan) felt like killing someone so he went for a walk and bashed some chick, Mr Buchanan told the court.

I said like why would you bash a chick, thats the worst part. He said he felt like killing someone. Later in the day Mr McEwan called back asking his friend to go for one last pub meal, the court heard. Both men and another friend, Emma Maidens, said they did not notice anything significantly out of the ordinary about the accused in the months or hours before he killed Ms Ban. The men both said they called Crime Stoppers the following day.

The court heard he was normally placid, a nice guy, and was not somebody who was cruel or a bully. Defence admits killing, raises insanity defence Defence counsel John Allen, QC, raised the insanity defence in his brief opening statement while formally admitting his client killed Ms Ban. An illustration of Alex McEwan during proceedings at the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Credit:AAP

The court heard Alex Reuben McEwan told police he was troubled by a "demon" and "felt like he was possessed". The real issues in this trial dont relate to so much what Mr McEwan did but to his mental state at the time he did it, Mr Meredith said. The jury heard it could take into account Mr McEwans mental health in deciding whether he should be found guilty of murder, manslaughter or acquitted entirely. The defence of insanity would be available if it was found the 23-year-old did not have the capacity to understand what he was doing, control his actions or know that he ought not to do what he did. Mr Allen briefly alluded to evidence of McEwan telling detectives he "felt like he was possessed" and having been plagued by "a demon".

He said important evidence on these issues would not be heard in the prosecution case and urged jurors to keep an open mind Mr Allen said his client went on to say he felt like he was watching someone else kill Ms Ban. "He referred to a demon that had been troubling him his whole life," the barrister said. The court earlier heard Mr McEwan told friends and police he had gone out looking to kill someone on the night he allegedly murdered Ms Ban.

The Crown's opening Crown prosecutor David Meredith told the court Ms Ban unfortunately crossed paths with Mr McEwan about 4am, when he allegedly bashed the woman in Albert Street and dragged her up some steps into Wickham Park, Spring Hill. The parents of murdered Korean student Eunji Ban (2nd and 3rd left) are seen outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane Credit:AAP The court heard a witness would tell how he saw a shirtless man whose description fitted the accuseds dragging the woman up the stairs. The jury was shown a hand-drawn map of the area, just a few hundred metres from the Brisbane Supreme Court where the murder trial was sitting, as the prosecutor described how the witness circled the park to see what was happening.

Mr Meredith said the accused, now 23, tried to hide the body but jumped a chain-wire fence when the witness approached before returning to his family unit in Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill. He said the accused, who had a broken hand when he told his sister the next morning he had done something "really bad", later told friends and police that hed gone out looking to kill someone. Alex McEwan almost immediately, when he returns to his unit about 5am, rings a number of friends that Sunday morning and confesses that he killed a girl by bashing her, Mr Meredith said in his opening address. He gives a similar but more detailed version to police on the night and into the morning of Monday-Tuesday the 25th and 26th of November. The jury heard the witness found Ms Bans body under a bush in Wickham Park and called triple zero about 4.45am but paramedics could not save her and she died of significant facial injuries.

Mr Meredith said it was likely the case would be about mental capacity, saying the prosecution would call witnesses to dispute any argument by the defence that Mr McEwan was of unsound mind or diminished capacity at the time of the alleged murder. The court heard that several of Mr McEwans friends had not noticed anything unusual about the apprentice spray painter on the night before Ms Bans death. The accused's parents were away and a group of people were drinking at his Spring Hill unit, where the court heard he drank half a bottle of rum and six cowboy shots, Mr Meredith said. But the next morning, Mr McEwan made a series of calls confessing to killing the Korean student, the court heard. I just felt like killing someone. I saw her and did it, he allegedly told one friend over the phone.
Red fire ants have broken containment lines in south-east Queensland once again after three nests were found more than 15 kilometres south of the biosecurity zone.

The latest discovery came more than a year after the imported insects were found for the first time in the Somerset Regional Council area.

Fire ants have broken the containment line in south-east Queensland, being spotted as far as 15 kilometres from the last known nest. Credit:SMH supplied picture

Biosecurity Queensland officers destroyed the latest nests after finding them during routine surveillance last Wednesday.

The latest discovery was made in Beaudesert, about 15 kilometres south-east of Allenview which is the nearest suburb within the red fire ant biosecurity containment zone.
Sharad Yadav, who has taken a stand against his party's National President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and snapped ties with the RJD and Congress to form government with the BJP will be touring 8 districts of Bihar.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Rajya Sabha MP and rebel JDU leader Sharad Yadav has embarked on his second leg of Bihar Yatra today.

Sharad Yadav, who has taken a stand against his party's National President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and snapped ties with the RJD and Congress to form government with the BJP will be touring 8 districts of Bihar in the next four days and will be holding public meetings against newly formed JDU-BJP government.

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The rebel JDU leader has accused Nitish Kumar of insulting the mandate given to the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar in 2015 Assembly Elections and forging an unholy alliance with BJP. During his four day visit to the state Sharad Yadav will be traveling to Patna, Ara, Buxar, Sasaram, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Gaya and Jehanabad. He will be holding 30 public meetings during this period. Sharad had undertaken a similar exercise in August during the first leg of his Bihar yatra where he toured 8 districts.

It is notable, that the stand taken by Sharad Yadav to protest formation on JDU-BJP alliance has upset CM Nitish to the extent that JDU has recommended termination of his Rajya Sabha membership after meeting the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Venkaiah Naidu. JDU has accused Sharad of indulging into anti- party activities. The decision in this regard is pending with Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

The rebel JDU leader apart from slamming Nitish Kumar for allying with BJP has maintained that though Mahagathbandhan has broken at the political level but he has appealed that the Mahagathbandhan should continue at the ground level amongst the voters. Sharad had also attended RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's "Desh bachao, Bhajpa bhagao" rally held on August 17 in Patna which had infuriated his own party leaders.

Recently Sharad Yadav, backed by other opposition leaders had claimed that the JDU headed by Nitish Kumar was not the real JDU and he had staked claim with the Election Commission that the JDU he was heading was the real JDU. Sharad led faction of JDU and even staked claim on the party symbol "arrow". However, the Election Commission refused to recognise the Sharad faction has the real JDU.

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Spitting in the eye of Channel Nine, Star Trek finds a new home after a decade lost in space.

It's a double celebration in the Turner household this week. For starters it's ten years since the birth of the Gadgets on the Go blog, which began life focusing on mobility but almost 1500 posts later has morphed into an eclectic mix of all things tech.

What the Ferengi: Star Trek fans no longer need to hurl abuse at Channel Nine each week.

Fellow freelancer and long-time Fairfax blogger John Birmingham also clocked up ten years recently, reminiscing about all that's changed in the last decade. Ten years ago Australia was waiting for the iPhone to arrive, 3G networks were just finding their feet and the NBN was still a twinkle in Kevin Rudd's eye.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world, a humble online DVD rental service was beginning to dabble in video on demand. Not long after I started sneaking in, bypassing geoblocking and paying in greenbacks to see how the other half live.
The ringleader of a seven-year, multimillion-dollar conspiracy to defraud taxpayers and rig the awarding of public transport contracts to himself and his corrupt colleague has been sentenced to almost nine years in jail.

Public servant Barry Wells pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the public of at least $3.7 million, in a scam described by Supreme Court Justice John Dixon as "corruption that strikes at the very heart of democracy".

Barry Wells was the ringleader of the contracts scam. Credit:Eddie Jim

He will be eligible for parole after six years and three months at the earliest, for a series of white-collar crimes described in sentencing remarks as "fraud on a grand scale".

Wells, 51, used his senior position in Victoria's transport bureaucracy to funnel at least $17 million in contracts to family-linked businesses he and a colleague controlled.
Melbourne Express: Tuesday, September 26, 2017

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WA brewery Gage Roads Brewing Co has beaten international companies to win the sole beer and cider contract at the new Perth Stadium.

The Palmyra-based company, which specialises in craft pale ales and lagers, won the five-year, multi-million dollar contract, announced by Premier Mark McGowan on Monday.

Gage Roads Brewing Co has won Perth Stadium's multi-million dollar beer contract. Credit:Gage Roads Brewing Co

Gage Roads Brewing Co spokesman Marcel Brandeburg told Nine News Perth the contract was a win for the little guy.

"It was a massive David and Goliath battle, we were up against some of the largest multi-national breweries in the world and we've come out on top so today was one for the little guy," he said.
Berlin: Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany recoils from the idea that she is now, almost de facto, the leader of the Western world, the defender of trans-Atlantic alliances and multilateralism. But like it or not, she and the country she will lead for a fourth term have become global actors.

Germany may be a "reluctant hegemon," but it is a hegemon nonetheless, the largest, richest and most important country in Europe, itself the richest region on the globe. It is often said that Germany is too big for Europe and too small for the world.

But with the presidency of Donald Trump and the newly aggressive and authoritarian leaders of Russia, Turkey, Hungary and Poland -- and a rearing of the far-right in Germany's election Sunday -- Merkel has had leadership thrust upon her.

Despite her careful approach to power, however, after 12 years in office "she's gotten the taste for it," said Stefan Kornelius, her biographer and a senior editor at Suddeutsche Zeitung.
Brighton: It is the issue that dominates the political and media landscape in Britain, consumes and threatens Theresa May's Tory government but Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party has decided it is not important enough to debate at the party's conference underway in Brighton, England.

The vote to block a debate on Brexit prompted fury from Labour moderate and pro-EU MPs, many of whom are outspoken critics of Mr Corbyn's socialist agenda and laid bare the divisions between those MPs and their supporters and the dominant hard-left pro-Corbyn faction called Momentum.

It also exposed the rift between Mr Corbyn's own Euroscepticism and the growing push among Labour Party members to either avert a Tory-led "hard Brexit" or abandon it altogether.

Before the vote by delegates to exclude Brexit from a list of eight topics to debate at the conference, Mr Corbyn told the BBC that Britain's membership of the single market pressures governments to privatise national assets. One of Mr Corbyn's key pledges is to renationalise the railways.
North Korea's foreign minister has accused President Donald Trump of declaring war on North Korea, saying that Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures including shooting down US strategic bombers even if they are not in the country's air space.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country," Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters in New York on Monday, local time.

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country."

Ri, who made the remarks just before leaving New York where he had attended last week's UN General Assembly, made the statement then returned from his car to the press microphones to add: "In light of the declaration of war by Trump, all options will be on the operations table of the supreme leadership of the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea)."
Washington: The US military launched six drone strikes against Islamic State positions in Libya, months after militants were driven from safe havens there.

Officials announced the operation on Sunday, saying 17 militants had been killed and three vehicles destroyed when unmanned aircraft targeted a desert camp about 240 kms south-east of Sirte, a coastal city where ISIS fighters were defeated by US-backed Libyan forces last September.

An MQ-9 Reaper drone, some of which been used for air strikes in Libya in the past. Credit:AAP Image/University of NSW

Sirte served as an important logistics and planning hub for ISIS leaders, and it was considered a potential fallback if the terror group were to lose its de facto capital in Syria.

The attack on Friday comes as President Donald Trump seeks to further relax restrictions on attacking terrorists outside active war zones. Since assuming office in January, his administration has sought to roll back Obama-era regulations restricting strikes that put civilians at risk or where there is no "continued and imminent threat" to US personnel.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Honorable Minister of VROMI Christopher Emmanuel, requested 2 garbage trucks from the Government of The Netherlands to assist with the waste situation post Hurricane Irma and Maria.

The two garbage trucks will be assisting the trucks in the areas Cay Hill, Bush Road and Cole Bay under the operation of Meadowlands NV.

Civil Mission Head Mr. Erwin Arkenbout is on the island with a group of 15 specialists assessing the current situation on the island. They will also assist with housing, water distribution, reconstruction of schools and much more to help rebuild Sint Maarten.

Minister Emmanuel expressed his gratitude to the Dutch Government with assisting thus far. He is also looking forward to the additional heavy equipment and materials arriving on the Joint Logistic Support Ship His Majesty Karel Doorman.

DCOMM Press Release
City of Buffalo, NY Partners With Socrata on New Open Data Portal to Increase Transparency and Access to Data

SEATTLE, WA  (Marketwired)  09/25/17  Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown today announced the City of Buffalo has selected , the market leader in making government data discoverable and usable for government workers and the people they serve, as the citys Open Data Buffalo data platform provider.

Im pleased to announce the Citys new partnership with Socrata to unleash the power of the data that the City collects each and every day, while improving services to the residents of Buffalo, said Mayor Byron W. Brown.

The Citys new open data portal will offer a great deal of data that will help us as we continue building a city of opportunity for all. The proactive public release of our data will also increase transparency of how the City of Buffalo functions, while offering residents, government leaders, businesses and researchers easy access to information that will provide opportunities for external analysis and generate new ideas on how to use information for the public good. Creation of the portal will also help us work smarter by increasing internal data sharing, improving workflow and end duplicative data collection, and give our City departments the ability to tell their everyday stories through interactive tables, charts, graphs, and maps.

The City of Buffalo plans to launch the open data site in October. The new site will enable residents, businesses, media, researchers and developers to access datasets around citizen services, policing, parking, and more. Beyond simple downloadable spreadsheets, the site enables visitors to engage with the data, creating visualizations and building applications that automatically update when new data enters the system.

Our partnership with Socrata will bolster data-driven decision making in City Hall while also giving citizens greater insight into the day-to-day activities of the government, said Kirk McLean, program manager of Open Data Buffalo. For example, utilizing the Socrata platform, every commissioner will have the ability to quickly map 311 data to show where their departments services are most in demand.

The City of Buffalo partnered with Socrata because it wanted a new program to streamline and more efficiently deliver large amounts of data in a rapid, organized and easy-to-use manner. The City previously relied on PDFs and other formats that were difficult to update and access. Socratas platform will enable secure, automatic uploading and sharing of the Citys data, saving staff hours of time once spent on manual updates.

Plus, data on Socratas platform is machine-readable via application programming interface (API), making it possible for businesses, researchers and organizations to build applications using the data. Examples of successful businesses using Socrata-hosted, public data are Yelp, Redfin and Porch.

We are excited to partner with the City of Buffalo to create an intuitive and efficient way for residents and businesses to access open data, regardless of their skill set, said Kevin Merritt, founder and CEO of Socrata. This transformation is significant because it updates how citizens and the City of Buffalo interact, increasing collaboration for improved quality of life.

The City of Buffalo joins New York City and New York State as Socrata customers and leaders in the open data movement.

Socrata is the market leader in making existing government data discoverable, usable, and actionable for government workers and the people they serve. Socrata provides a data-as-a-service platform and cloud applications exclusively for city, county, state, and federal government organizations. Socrata delivers unprecedented, data-driven innovation and cost-savings by bringing together disparate systems and leveraging the cloud to dramatically enhance the effectiveness of government programs, to improve quality of life for residents, positively impact local economies, and achieve excellence in government operations. The technology is optimized on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Public Sector cloud and delivered using the exclusive Socrata Blueprint Methodology.

Elise Oras

206-340-8008

Sharon Linstedt

716-851-4246
BJP president Amit Shah today hit out at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over his Berkeley speech stating that dynasty works in India.

By Himanshu Mishra: Referring to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's Berkeley speech, BJP president Amit Shah today told the party leaders that "the longer Rahul Gandhi will be in politics the more it will favour us."

His comments came in the view of Rahul Gandhi's statement in the US university saying that dynasty is "how India works". In his address to the Berkeley audience last week, Rahul Gandhi had made a candid admission that he was in national politics because his great-grandfather, grandmother and father were all in politics.

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Rahul Gandhi had also named personalities like Ambanis, Abhishek Bachchan, MK Stalin and Akhilesh Yadav while making his point across. At the BJP national executive meet in New Delhi today, Amit Shah said the nation rejected Rahul Gandhi's ideology.

Amit Shah also said that Rahul Gandhi has lowered the prestige of India with his comments at Berkeley University in California last week. "Due to various public welfare schemes of PM Modi, India's prestige has soared in the world. At the same time, Rahul Gandhi is working to lower the dignity of India."

Briefing about Amit Shah's address to the national executive meet of the BJP, senior party leader and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said, "Condemning Rahul Gandhi's comments justifying dynasty culture in India, Amit Shah said that politics should be such which thinks about betterment of all."

Speaking at Berkeley, Rahul had hit out at the Narendra Modi government on several fronts. He also raised the issues of polarization and attacks on liberals and journalists.

"Hatred, anger and violence and the politics of polarisation has raised its ugly head in India today," Rahul Gandhi said, adding, ""Liberal journalists being shot, people being lynched because they are Dalits, Muslims killed on suspicion of eating beef, this is new in India and damages India very badly."

"The nation has rejected the kind of appeasement politics Rahul Gandhi does. The BJP believes in the politics of performance," Piyush Goyal quoted Amit Shah as saying at the BJP national executive, which was attended by over 2,000 party leaders including 13 chief ministers.

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Corvil Joins Splunk Adaptive Response Initiative

DUBLIN, IRELAND and WASHINGTON, DC  (Marketwired)  09/25/17  , a leading provider of streaming network security intelligence for the security operations ecosystem, today announced that Corvil has joined the Splunk Adaptive Response Initiative. Powered by a growing list of leading cybersecurity technology vendors, Adaptive Response is a best-of-breed security initiative that leverages end-to-end context and automated, continuous response to help organizations better analyze, assess, and respond to advanced attacks within their Security Operations Center (SOC). The announcement was made at .conf2017: the 8th Annual Splunk Conference.

provides a flexible framework for all security architectures, enabling customers to interact with data, extract and share new insights, gather more context, and invoke actions across key security and IT domains. Ultimately, this allows customers to detect threats faster, make analytics-driven decisions, and improve operational efficiencies within their Security Operations Center (SOC).

With the majority of cyberattacks carried out by inadvertent or malicious insiders, it is critical that organizations continuously monitor and analyze the behaviors of application communications and users to take rapid action where required. Corvils participation in Adaptive Response enables customers to achieve new levels of communications insight and user context with which to streamline investigations, reduce false positives, increase analyst efficiency and execute precision response actions, said David Murray, Chief Business Development Officer, Corvil. By combining Splunks centrally positioned Enterprise Security platform along with Corvils unique network user activity tracking and live intelligence from machine learning applied to real-time layer 2 to layer 7 decoding of packet data, we are able to help security professionals around the world gather more context to detect threats quicker and enable a more automated and continuous response against advanced attackers.

While many organizations employ a layered, multi-vendor approach to security, most individual solutions are not designed to work together outside of the box. Splunk Enterprise Security, working in conjunction with technologies like Corvil Network Security Analytics helps improve detection, investigation and remediation times by centrally automating retrieval, sharing and response. As a result, customers have the power to detect and eliminate growing cyber threats like ransomware and attacks on the Internet of Things (IoT) faster than ever.

Increasingly sophisticated threats cannot be eliminated with any single technology  there is no silver bullet for security, said Haiyan Song, senior vice president and general manager of Security Markets, Splunk. We created the Adaptive Response Initiative to enable organizations to efficiently and flexibly combat advanced attacks with their existing security architectures. Members like Corvil are key to the success of Adaptive Response. We look forward to working with them as the world embraces an analytics-driven approach to security.

Since its launch in 2016, the Adaptive Response Initiative has brought together over 34 industry leading security companies covering a wide range of security technologies, including next generation firewall, endpoint security, threat intelligence, identity management, incident response and more. To learn more about Corvil and Adaptive Response at .conf2017, visit Corvil in the Splunk Pavilion, Booth M16.

Corvil is the industry leader for deriving Security, Operational, and Business intelligence from network data. As companies adopt faster and smarter machine technology, it becomes critical to tap into richer and more granular machine data sources to safeguard the transparency, performance and security of critical infrastructure and business applications. The Corvil streaming analytics platform captures, decodes, and learns from network data on the fly, transforming it into machine-time intelligence for network, IT, security and business teams to operate efficiently and securely in this new machine world. Corvil uses an open architecture to integrate the power of its network data analytics with the overall IT ecosystem providing increased automation and greater operational and business value outcomes for its users. The Corvil solution is trusted by leading financial institutions to safeguard their businesses across the globe involving 354 trillion messages with a daily transaction value in excess of $1 trillion.

LaunchSquad for Corvil

212-564-3665
SafeBreach Experts and Expertise in Demand for Upcoming Information Security Trade Events

SUNNYVALE, CA  (Marketwired)  09/25/17  , the leading provider of Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS), will be participating in several upcoming information security trade events, presenting new techniques for using threat intelligence to protect networks and data, new research into novel security vulnerabilities and also a competitive technology demonstration.

The SafeBreach Breach and Attack Simulation platform is gaining tremendous momentum as more and more organizations learn how continuously validating security defenses with real hacker breach methods, can give them the advantage over hackers before the next attack occurs, said SafeBreach co-founder and CTO . Meanwhile, the SafeBreach Labs team is also grabbing attention with its research and analysis of new exploits and attacks to help give organizations a hackers point-of-view of the threats they face.

: VP of product management at SafeBreach, , and SafeBreach partner Visa Threat Intelligences Senior Director, Glen Jones, will present on how to use breach and attack simulation in combination with threat intelligence indicators of compromise to anticipate, mitigate and thwart attacks against the enterprise before they occur.

Wednesday, September 27 at 9:15 a.m. PDT

South San Francisco Conference Center | 255 S Airport Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080

Moderator: Joe Franscella, contributing writer, DevOps.com | Presenters: Ayal Yogev, vice president of product management, SafeBreach; Glen Jones, senior director, Visa Risk Products, Visa

An invite-only session where companies from across the U.S. and across the globe have been selected to participate in this product pitch to a panel of CIOs, CISOs and other security professionals from southeastern U.S. companies and governments. SafeBreach will demonstrate its grounding Breach and Attack Simulation platform in this competitive format.

Wednesday, October 4 at 11:15 a.m.  12:15 p.m. ET

Georgia Tech Global Learning Center | Room 222 | 84 5th St NW Atlanta, GA 30308

: Given the rise of cyberattacks, companies are depending on threat intelligence to receive notification of attacks, allowing organizations to react quickly before they become victims. However, this poses the question of how to operationalize and weaponize this threat intelligence data. Using the payment card industry as a case-study, SafeBreachs and Visa Threat Intelligences Steve Mason will present ways to weaponize threat intelligence, from publicly-available tools to more sophisticated approaches that transform indicators of compromise (IoCs) into breach simulations.

Tuesday, October 10 at 12:15 p.m.  1:00 p.m. PT

Track: Infrastructure | Nautilus 3 | Sheraton Hotel & Marina in San Diego, California

Presenters: Itzik Kotler, CTO and co-founder, SafeBreach; Steve Mason, senior director, Visa Threat Intelligence

SafeBreach is a pioneer in the emerging category of breach and attack simulation. The companys ground-breaking platform provides a hackers view of an enterprises security posture to proactively predict attacks, validate security controls and improve SOC analyst response. SafeBreach automatically executes thousands of breach methods from an extensive and growing Hackers Playbook of research and real-world investigative data. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, the company is funded by Sequoia Capital, Deutsche Telekom Capital, Hewlett Packard Pathfinder and investor Shlomo Kramer. For more information, visit or follow on Twitter @SafeBreach.

Kayla Krause

CHEN PR for SafeBreach

781.672.3148
Enghouse Interactive Announces Microsoft Office 365 Contact Center Solutions for North America at Microsoft Ignite 2017

ORLANDO, FL  (Marketwired)  09/25/17  Today from 2017, introduced for , providing organizations in North America a choice of contact center deployment strategies, including hosted, hybrid and on-premise environments. This offering delivers rich contact center capabilities and deployment choices to a wider range of Microsoft unified communications users, on Office 365 or Skype for Business.

Office 365 is synonymous with collaboration and teamwork, so it is naturally aligned with the needs of contact centers, said Enghouse Interactive President of the Americas, Ernie Wallerstein. With over 550 contact center deployments on Skype for Business around the world, Enghouse is in a unique position to bring our products, knowledge and expertise to the Office 365 community.

The new offering is based on Communications Center, a key part of the overall Enghouse Interactive portfolio of solutions with a goal of maximizing the value of customer communications. The companys Microsoft-integrated portfolio also includes (CCSP), a public cloud contact center solution offered by service provider partners, with thousands of customers globally. The suite also includes recording solutions, operator consoles and contact center solutions built for the needs of specific geographies, such as Europe and Asia-Pacific. With its strong product development efforts, Enghouse Interactive continues its focus on deep integration to Microsoft communication solutions, spanning a 10-year history with Microsoft OCS, Lync, Skype for Business, and now Office 365.

The Communications Center solution on Office 365 and Skype for Business offers a number of contact center deployment strategies. One of these, now available in North America, is a fully hosted, managed service contact center, integrated to Office 365. With this offering, customers require absolutely no on-premise equipment or IT burden, yet have the advantage of complete control over their contact center environment, from configuration to scheduled upgrades. The solution also includes advanced functionality such as omni-channel interaction management, recording and quality management, CRM and data integration, and industry-leading contact center dashboards and reports. Priced on an OpEx subscription basis, customers may choose their own contact center setup and use it as they see fit, without taking on its operation or upkeep. All of these worries are eliminated as part of the managed service.

The Managed Service approach to contact centers is the best of both worlds. It gives the contact center an extremely rich set of features and capabilities, without the requirement for IT knowledge and infrastructure. Its delivered via a private cloud with powerful capability and tight integration to Office 365, added Wallerstein.

The Managed Service offering is hosted in two geographically-redundant software-defined datacenters, ensuring business continuity, resilience, performance and the efficiency of a tier-1 managed service. By virtualizing networking, storage, CPU and security, the facilitys infrastructure provides an inherently higher level of data protection, VM mobility, availability, data and cost efficiency.

Also available is , a lightweight, server-less application that empowers call center agents with skills-based routing, CRM screen pop, call recording, directory searching for experts, call categorization and control, graphical reporting and real-time dashboards. Integrated to Office 365 directly from the desktop, TouchPoint Agent is available at a price-point significantly lower than full omni-channel offerings and caters to productivity-driven call centers that leverage voice for customer interactions.

At Microsoft Ignite, Enghouse Interactive will be demonstrating these new offerings, as well as the TouchPoint Attendant Console for Office 365, a highly graphical and easy-to-use tool for receptionists and operators.

These solutions include Enghouse Interactives award-winning graphical interface, TouchPoint, leveraging intuitive interaction handling, context-sensitive control and colorful metrics. By leveraging the common TouchPoint interface, it is simpler for customers to migrate to higher levels of functionality without the need for user retraining.

Enghouse Interactive solutions leverage native integration to Office 365 and Skype for Business, utilizing Microsoft-endorsed APIs, trusted conferences and contact federation. End-users enjoy the unique combination of Enghouse Interactive solutions with their choice of configurations and deployment options. A tenured Microsoft partner, Enghouse Interactive earned its Gold Application Development and Communications competencies in March of 2015, distinguishing itself within the top 1 percent of Microsofts partner ecosystem.

Enghouse Interactive () delivers technology and expertise to maximize the value of every customer interaction. The company develops a comprehensive portfolio of customer interaction management solutions. Core technologies include contact center, attendant console, predictive outbound dialer, knowledge management, IVR and call recording solutions that support any telephony environment, on premise or in the cloud. Enghouse Interactive has tens of thousands of customers worldwide, supported by a global network of partners and more than 1500 dedicated staff across the companys international operations.

Enghouse Interactive is a subsidiary of Enghouse Systems Limited, a software and services company traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol ENGH. Founded in 1984, Enghouse Systems is a consistently profitable company, which has grown both organically and through the acquisition of well-regarded specialists including AndTek, Arc, CosmoCom, Datapulse, IAT, IT Sonix, Presence Technology, Reitek, Safeharbor, Syntellect, Telrex, Trio, Voxtron and Zeacom. Learn more at .

:

Mostafa Razzak

JMRConnect

202-904-2049
AVST Addresses Enterprise UC Migration at Microsoft Ignite

Posted by Publisher Software

ORLANDO, FL  (Marketwired)  09/25/17   While many enterprises continue to invest in premise-based Unified Communications (UC) solutions, sweeping technology changes like cloud and Skype for Business have enterprises asking critical UC migration questions. How can Skype for Business successfully co-exist with my current UC infrastructure? How can I migrate to the cloud and Skype for Business on my own terms? What UC solutions do I need today to create my future UC reference architecture? This week at , (AVST) addresses three of the most pressing Microsoft migration challenges for enterprises.

Recently, that as of July 2018 they will be discontinuing support for Session Border Controllers used to connect third-party PBX systems to Exchange Online Unified Messaging (UM). This news is forcing many Microsoft customers to seek an alternative UM solution for Office 365 in the near term. For Microsoft customers not yet ready to make the move to Skype for Business as their phone system, AVST offers an alternative, best-of-breed UM solution for Office 365 that can connect to any existing on-premise PBX systems.

While it may be simple for smaller companies to make the full transition to Skype for Business as a phone system replacement, it is a much bigger challenge for large organizations and enterprises with significant existing telephony and IT investments. AVST recognizes that implementing an enterprise-wide deployment of Skype for Business is a long-term process that can take anywhere from one to three years. With its UC platform, , AVST delivers critical UC interoperability that enables enterprises to deploy Skype for Business while co-existing with their current telephony infrastructure. CX-E plays a critical role in any large enterprises UC reference architecture by unifying disparate pieces of its UC infrastructure. Thats why many of the largest hospitals, universities, enterprises, and major government agencies worldwide rely on CX-E.

When an enterprise is briefed on the capabilities of our CX-E platform, they quickly understand what distinguishes AVST and its unique value proposition from other enterprise UC vendors, said Tom Minifie, Chief Technology Officer at AVST. You can put us in a room with an enterprise that has the most complicated, multi-location, multi-vendor IT infrastructure and our CX-E solution will, in many cases, become the critical component of their UC reference architecture that enables them to achieve their long-term digital transformation goals.

CX-E UC Platform Highlights:

With 35 years of continuous development, CX-E has built a reputation as the industrys most interoperable, enterprise-class UC platform;

Integrates with all major PBX and email platforms, instant messaging, calendar, mobile devices, and enterprise databases  enabling a transition to the cloud and Microsoft Skype for Business at an organizations own pace;

World-class uptime metrics via its resilient multi-server architecture supporting enterprise business continuity and disaster recovery objectives;

Industry-leading scalability; and

Renowned reliability supporting thousands of large enterprises and organizations worldwide.

AVST continues to focus on helping enterprise customers deliver positive business outcomes, leveraging existing PBX investments combined with Skype for Business, said Kevin Kieller, UCStrategies Expert. This provides the customer with valuable options as they plan their journey to UC and the cloud.

For those enterprises that have already deployed Skype for Business as their phone system, CX-E offers the following applications to enhance their Skype for Business experience:

Departmental Automated Attendant to handle complex call processing across multiple PBX brands simultaneously;

Speech-enabled name directories;

Click-to-call from the Skype for Business client to place a call through an existing PBX;

Voice messaging for compliance and confidentiality support;

Hybrid Unified Messaging that integrates to Office 365 and Exchange simultaneously;

Mobile client to address secure messaging requirements; and

Informal Call Center for team communications.

Visit AVST in Booth #1957 to learn more about CX-E. To learn more about how AVST can help future-proof communications infrastructure investments for Microsoft customers, please visit .

With more than 35 years of continuous innovation, Applied Voice & Speech Technologies, Inc. (AVST) is a trusted developer of software-based, enterprise-class Unified Communications (UC) solutions.

Our mission is to design, deliver and support communications solutions that transform the productivity of individual workers, teams and enterprises while leveraging the value of their existing and evolving IT infrastructure.

Thousands of businesses worldwide rely on AVSTs advanced voice, mobility, team communications, and business process UC solutions to meet their mission-critical communications requirements. The world-class interoperability and flexibility of AVSTs UC platform provides a future-proofed bridge to their digital future.

Headquartered in Orange County, California, AVST maintains facilities in Seattle, Washington, Victoria B.C., Canada, the United Kingdom, and has remote sales offices throughout the United States. AVSTs UC solutions are sold and supported worldwide by an extensive network of resellers and OEM partners. To learn more about AVST, our products and partners, please visit or you can follow us at , or .

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Stephanie Olsen

Lages & Associates

(949) 453-8080
TC Transcontinental Packaging launches new flexible packaging for supermarket perimeter

MONTREAL, QUEBEC  (Marketwired)  09/25/17  Note to editors: An image is included with this press release on Marketwireds website.

TC Transcontinental Packaging is delighted to introduce Oven N Done, Fresh Meals Made Easy, a new innovative packaging solution for the supermarket perimeter. Developed and created by the teams at Robbie in Lenexa, Kansas, this new solution offers supermarkets the opportunity to package fresh seafood or poultry meals with vegetables using their own stores chef inspired recipes, spices and seasonings. The bag, offered in black or a brown kraft design, can go directly in the oven or the microwave. Customers who are looking to enjoy healthy, fast and fresh meals made easy can choose one of the prepackaged meals or customize their own version. Oven N Done, Fresh Meals Made Easy, is available since August to supermarkets and retailers across North America.

This new packaging is strategic for TC Transcontinental Packaging as it allows us to penetrate the Seafood department at the retailer, while expanding our existing footprint in the Deli, said Rebecca Casey, Senior Director, Marketing at TC Transcontinental Packaging. The new bag was also developed with retailers in mind, blending science, technology and art together to create the perfect flexible packaging and meet their evolving needs. Oven N Done, Fresh Meals Made Easy gives the supermarkets an alternative to increase their perishable sales by offering their customers convenient prepacked meals that are fresh and healthy.

Research shows consumers are demanding a wide range of conveniently packaged food products that result in quick meals without sacrificing quality. Consumers want to buy, store, prep and serve with the minimum amount of time and effort that it takes to effectively get the job done(1). This leaves the seafood counter and deli with a unique opportunity to offer fresh prepackaged seafood, poultry or veggies combined to create healthy and delicious meal solutions.

Oven N Done thus helps position retailers as a destination for fresh meals especially at the seafood counter, where they might not have had the right product offering to provide a fresh  not frozen  meal solution that is convenient and hassle free. The Deli, Produce, and now Seafood departments can now offer customers convenient meal solutions by leveraging TC Transcontinental Packagings innovative bags and pouches. The division also offers a total program solution complete with point of purchase (POP) signage that delivers step by step instructions to the consumer.

About TC Transcontinental Packaging

TC Transcontinental Packaging, which has close to 900 employees in the United States and Canada, ranks among the 25 leading flexible packaging suppliers in North America. Its platform includes one premedia studio and five production plants specializing, among others, in the flexographic printing and lamination of plastic films as well as the manufacturing of bags and pouches. The division offers an array of innovative solutions to a variety of industries, including the dairy, coffee, snack foods, confectionery, fresh and frozen food, cigar, pet food markets, non-food applications, and supermarket fresh perimeter.

TC Transcontinental Packaging is a division of Transcontinental Inc. (TSX: TCL.A)(TSX: TCL.B), which has more than 7,000 employees in Canada and the United States, and revenues of C$2 billion in 2016. Website:

To view the image accompanying this press release, please visit the following link:

(1) Source: plasticstoday.com

Image Available:

Contacts:

TC Transcontinental Packaging

Rebecca Casey

Senior Director, Marketing

Telephone: 630-240-9384

TC Transcontinental

Melanie Montplaisir

Specialist, Public Relations and Brand Management

Telephone: 514-954-4157
Media Advisory: Travelling Elevator for the TELUS Pitch Lands in Vancouver for Startup Week

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA  (Marketwired)  09/25/17  Interview and Photo Opportunity

On Tuesday, September 26 the TELUS Pitch Elevator will descend upon Vancouver Startup Week as a part of the competition. The life-size travelling elevator will give local Vancouver entrepreneurs the chance to enter the competition by stepping inside and delivering their best .

Running until October 29, the TELUS Pitch is an annual competition aimed at accelerating success through the adoption of technology. For one lucky small business owner, it gives them the opportunity to receive $100,000 cash, and others a shot at $50,000 in additional prizing from TELUS Small Business Solutions, making it the largest payout in Canada for a small business competition.

Media are invited to check out the travelling elevator in action on Tuesday, September 29 between 9 a.m.  12 p.m. PT and conduct interviews with onsite spokespeople.

Note to editors: Cameras and reporters welcome to attend. Media are encouraged to coordinate interviews in advance.

Follow the conversation on Twitter using #TELUSPitch.

Contacts:

To coordinate interviews and/or camera time in advance or to

receive more information please contact:

Erica Salvalaggio

PR Account Coordinator

416.944.2722

Jill Yetman

TELUS Social and Media Relations

416-992-2639
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According to sources, an economic resolution is also likely to be passed today in the meet, which will hail demonetisation as a 'brave and bold' step.

By Anindya Banerjee: The BJP National Executive meet that will take place in Talkatora Stadium today is being touted to be a clarion call for the 2019 general elections.

PM Modi's valedictory address to around 2,000 BJP members, including Union ministers, CMs of BJP-ruled states and a host of MPs, MLAs and others, will be the highlight of the conclave.

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BJP State President Amit Shah also held a meeting on Sunday on the sidelines of the national executive meet today, that saw several state-incharges, state presidents of BJP and even state general secretaries in attendance.

The meet was scheduled to review the party performance and discuss the road ahead to fulfilling the agendas set and boost the morale of party cadres, among other things.

ON AMIT SHAH'S MEET

BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav while speaking to reporters said, "The 50000km tour that Shah took across the country was presented and explained in the meet..."

Highly placed sources have told India Today that West Bengal and Kerala will find prominent mention today in the meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Particularly West Bengal because of the ongoing Durga immersion row where the Calcutta High Court also had to intervene to overturn Mamata government's immersion ban on the day of Muharram.

This, the BJP feels has strengthened the narrative of Mamata indulging in appeasement politics and thus it will be discussed on how to exploit it.

ON ROHINGYA CRISIS

The Government has already called the Rohingya issue, a matter of national security, accusing sections of Rohingya Muslims having links with terror organisations.

The government has submitted an affidavit to this effect in the Supreme Court as well. It is likely to be discussed that how this matter will be explained by party leaders in their electorates.

India Today has learnt that an economic resolution is also likely to be passed which is going to hail 'demonetisation' as a brave and bold' step to bring the economy of the country on the right track.

It is likely to credit Narendra Modi for the move accepting that the fruits will be seen in the long run.

This move becomes extremely significant considering that the Modi government has been at the receiving end from opposition parties over the dwindling GDP and job losses which are believed to be the byproducts of demonetisation.

--- ENDS ---
Speaking at the BJP's National Executive meeting in New Delhi, Modi is reported to have told his partymen that the party "should be taken beyond elections" and made an "instrument of mass participation".

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked the BJP to stop thinking about the forthcoming Lok Sabha election scheduled in 2019, and instead focus on serving and reaching out to people.

Speaking at the BJP's National Executive meeting in New Delhi, Modi is reported to have told his partymen that the party "should be taken beyond elections" and made an "instrument of mass participation".

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Briefing reporters after the meeting today, Jaitley, quoting Modi, said that the "the fight will go on till corruption has been wiped out". "The country comes first, party second," the PM is reported to have said.

Jaitley said Modi also accused the Opposition of using "harsh words" in its criticism when "there is no specific allegation". "Harsh language cannot be a substitute for substantive charge," Jaitley, quoting Modi, said.

"When the opposition was in government, power was a means of enjoyment for it. Now they do not know how to behave as opposition," Modi told the meeting, according to Jaitley.

Opposition parties have been attacking the Modi government over demonetisation and cited the recent RBI figures to corner it.

Modi attended the closed-door day-long meeting since morning today. BJP chief Amit Shah delivered the inaugural address, in which he criticised Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on dynastic politics.

The meeting was attended by 13 BJP chief ministers, six deputy chief ministers, over 60 Union ministers, besides party MPs and MLAs among others.

SAHAJ BIJLI HAR GHAR SCEHEME

Meanwhile, the government has also announced a major scheme "for the poor" called Saubhagya scheme. Following are the details of the Saubhagya Yojna:

Main features of Saubhagya scheme to be launched by PM Modi.

--- ENDS ---
Speaking at the BJP national executive meeting in New Delhi, party president Amit Shah slammed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on dynasty politics in India while on US tour.

By India Today Web Desk: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah addressed the party's mega meeting in New Delhi today and dedicated a major part of his speech slamming Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over his controversial remarks at Berkeley in California earlier this month.

"It is a problem in all political parties in India. That's how the entire country is running. So don't just go after me....That's what happens in India," Rahul Gandhi had said responding to a question regarding dynasty politics in India.

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"It (dynasty politics) is a tradition of the Congress and not of India," Amit Shah speaking on the second day of BJP's two-day national executive meet in the national capital today.

"Rahul Gandhi ji has been undermining India these days, Amit Shah ji gave a befitting reply with facts. The longer he stays in politics, the better for us," said Piyush Goyal while interacting with reporters after Shah's speech.

#Visuals from BJP National Executive Meet in Delhi pic.twitter.com/slrL5L15gZ- ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

"The win in 2019 will be bigger than 2014," Goyal added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be speaking at the meeting later in the day.

WATCH: Rahul Gandhi's Berkeley speech: Dynasty and democracy cannot go together, says Naidu

--- ENDS ---
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Germans went to the polls on Sunday, where they gave enough votes to Angela Merkel's party to ensure her reelection for a fourth term as chancellor. But they also severely punished the parties of the current government coalition, including Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats and the center-left Social Democrats, who had their worst showing in postwar German history. Sunday's vote also represents a watershed moment historically given that the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany will now enter parliament as the third-strongest party. Parts of the party are openly far-right extremist in its views and its presence in parliament could very well change the nature of political debate in Germany.
The AfD: There won't just be a sprinkling of renegades representing the AfD in parliament. The right-wing populists will be the third-largest party in the Bundestag and they have announced their intention to "chase down" the chancellor as one of the party's two leading candidates expressed it on Sunday. The election campaign already gave a taste of what might be coming, with AfD supporters loudly venting their hatred and anger at events held by Merkel's CDU.

Merkel, who isn't known for being the world's best public speaker, will now be confronted by them on a daily basis. And the conservatives will also have to ask themselves what share of the responsibility they carry for the AfD's success. What can they do to win back disappointed voters? More than a million voters are believed to have flocked from the CDU and the CSU to the AfD. And most of them say that it was the chancellor's refugee policies that led them to vote for the right-wing competition.
Initial, off-the-record forecasts already began circulating in the afternoon, some of them indicating a result that was potentially even higher. The difference between those numbers and the projections released after polls closed at 6 p.m. may be the result of AfD voters being particularly motivated and casting their ballots early in the day.

At the Traffic Club, guests begin taking advantage of the alcoholic beverages on offer early in the evening, with the refrigerators behind the bar already having to be refilled at 5 p.m. The space in front of the stage, normally filled with dancers during the club's party nights, people are crowding forward, with sweaty AfD functionaries fighting with camera operators for the best spots. Loud music is pumped into the room: "Crying at the Discoteque."
And the center-left Social Democrats were unable to settle on a strategy early on -- or at least they were unable to stick to the tactics they found late in the campaign. It was only after the election, at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday evening, that the disappointed SPD, no longer bound by the discipline of the campaign, finally managed to define what differentiates it from Merkel's Christian Democrats -- which was touchingly awkward. Because in democracies, after the election is too late.

No Substantive Foundation

It seems clear what will now happen: a coalition matching Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) with the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) and the Green Party -- almost certainly under the leadership of a Merkel who suddenly seems shrunk and fainthearted , and whose days as her party's leader no longer seem infinite. The only alternative would be new elections or -- in a few weeks -- a reversal on the part of the SPD. The party pledged on Sunday night that it would not be part of a coalition with Merkel going forward, and an about-face would be extremely damaging.
No, this is more than just common European right-wing populism. This is an attack on our liberal democracy -- and the other political parties, indeed the rest of society, must resist it. That will be our main task over the next four years.

The Only Good News

That's why it was right for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) to declare early in the evening that it does not intend to enter into another grand coalition government together with Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). One can only hope, for the sake of the country and the SPD itself, that the party sticks to this unambiguous position. For if it doesn't, by the time the next election rolls around the Social Democrats will be lucky to be considered worthy of any coalition at all. They will no longer be a relevant party. Now they're in a position to rediscover their role in German politics, as a truly social democratic party and as a "bulwark of democracy in this country" against the far-right, as the visibly unshackled SPD leader Martin Schulz told party members in his first appearance after the election. The fact that the SPD wants to join the opposition is the only really good piece of news on this election night -- because this step, and not the entry of the AfD, might lead Germany back to the political norm.
Bir-Lehlou, Sep 25, 2017 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, has called on the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to protect the Saharawi citizens in the occupied zones of Western Sahara from the daily violence of the Moroccan repression apparatus.

In a letter on Sunday to Mr. Guterres, The President of the Republic indicated that Sahrawi citizens had been preparing for a peaceful protest in El-Aaiun, the capital of occupied Western Sahara, when Moroccan forces surrounded houses of the families of Gdeim Izik group prisoners and besieged the squares and entrances to Samara Street and Matalah neighbourhood, using dozens of vehicles and trucks loaded with various tools of repression and persecution.

He highlighted that the Moroccan forces had also intervened brutally against a similar peaceful demonstration organised on the same day in the occupied city of Boujdour, to demand the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence, and release of Gdeim Izik group prisoners and all Sahrawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons.

He added that the Moroccan brutal intervention had left many Sahrawi civilian casualties, including members of families of political prisoners, former abductees and political prisoners, human rights activists, bloggers, journalists and others.

He stressed that this new Moroccan intervention had confirmed the urgent need for the intervention of the international community, represented by its highest body, the United Nations, to implement the requirements of international law and international humanitarian law through the immediate release of Gdeim Izik prisoners and all Sahrawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons, and drop the unfair judgments and conduct independent international medical expertise on Gdeim Izik prisoners and their transfer to Western Sahara, in accordance with the requirements of the Fourth Geneva Convention. (SPS)

062/SPS/TRA




A 17-year-old boy from Panchkula committed suicide after falling into the trap of the deadly Blue Whale Challenge.

By India Today Web Desk: Blue Whale Challenge has striked again, this time in Haryana's Panchkula.

Karan Thakur, a 17-year-old boy from Panchkula committed suicide after falling into the trap of the deadly online challenge Blue Whale Challenge. The Blue Whale Challenge as most of us know is an online challenge which drives vulnerable teens and adults to killing themselves and involves deadly tasks to be completed.

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Karan, a class 10 student, was studying in Panchkula sector-8's DAV school. Karan, who was living in Panchkula's sector 4, committed suicide by hanging himself to death.

According to Suraj, Karan's relative, his family performed his last rites after the post-mortem process.

When the police searched his belongings, they found out various diagrams which included ways to die. The police even found out a version of "Blue Whale Game" in his mobile phone.

Although, there is no GAME/APP version available on the internet of this game, many claim that there are. Alternatively, you can check out the myths related to this twisted online challenge here.

It was percieved that Karan chose to hang himself from the list of ways to die that he had prepared.

This case of Blue Whale death is the first case in Haryana. Watch: All about the Blue Whale Challenge

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Brussels, Sep 25, 2017 (SPS) -The European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) agreed upon "renaming" their summit between Europeans and Africans scheduled for 29-30 November in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), the EU-AU summit, Algeria's ambassador Amar Belani said Sunday in Brussels.

"The AU and the EU agreed upon renaming their next meeting +EU-AU Summit+," which is expected to take place on 29-30 November 2017 in Abidjan, named in the previous editions EU-Africa Summit," Belani told APS.

This agreement between the Pan-African and European institutions "thwarts the manoeuvres and pressure exerted directly by Morocco on the EU or through European countries that support it, with a view to excluding the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), founding country of the African Union, with which Morocco had agreed to sit by acceding to the Pan-African institution and by ratifying its constitution, without conditions or reservations."

The European Parliament welcomed the "renaming" of the next Abidjan Summit through the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), which has recently adopted an opinion about "the draft report on the EU-Africa strategy: Accelerating development," an opinion, in which it "considers the fact that AU encompasses the entire African continent as a very positive step towards pan-African integration and welcomes the initiative to rename the EU-Africa Summit, EU-AU Summit."

"Given this convergence of views between the two regional organizations, Morocco is warned of any attempt to foil the forthcoming EU-AU Summit because it will bear full responsibility, as was the case in the humiliating attempt thwarted in Maputo on the occasion of the ministerial meeting on the development of Africa (TICAD-VI), held from 23 to 25 August," warned Amar Belani. (SPS)

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New York, Sep 25, 2017 (SPS) - Angola has called for ensuring the application of the United Nations and African Union resolution on the issue of Western Sahara.

During the General Debate of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, Angola's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr. Ismael Abraao Gaspar Martins, called for the effective implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council and the African Union concerning the Saharawi question.

In this regard, Angola encourages the parties to the conflict to continue the dialogue to resolve the conflict. (SPS)

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Brussels, Sep 25, 2017 (SPS) - The Green Group in the European Parliament denounced Monday the continuation of negotiations between the European Union (EU) and Morocco aimed at circumventing the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, underlining that this bargaining infringes the decision of the Court and the international law.

By legitimating Moroccos continued exploitation of the natural resources of Western Sahara, EU seems to be engaged in a trade negotiation process which directly infringes the decision of the Court of Justice and the fundamental principles of international law, wrote the European deputies Florent Marcellesi, Bodil Valero, Barbara Lochbihler, Pascal Durand, Bart Staes et Margrete Auken in the blog of the Green Group of the European Parliament.

These Euro-deputies consider that the continuation of EU-Morocco negotiations aim at normalizing the occupation of Western Sahara, pointing out that neither the United Nations, nor any State member of the European Union recognizes the alleged sovereignty of Morocco over this territory.

The European commission obtained in May from EUs member States a mandate to re-examine the liberalisation agreement with Morocco to include products coming the occupied territories of Western Sahara. (SPS)

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Jack Depledge has been named best student for 2017 by the National Gamekeepers' Organisation, (NGO) which represents gamekeepers in England and Wales.

Jack, who is 18, took his Extended Diploma Game and Countryside Management course at the college's Penrith centre, Newton Rigg, where his tutor has described him as a model student. The award included the prestigious NGO Frank Jenkins Memorial Trophy, sponsored by Musto.

Curtis Mossop, Senior Lecturer and Course Manager at Newton Rigg College said:

Jack has a maturity well beyond his years, and is superb academically and practically. He takes pride in what he does, is trustworthy, dependable and eloquent in explaining to the public the benefits of gamekeeping. I would describe him as a model pupil and am proud that his hard work and dedication have led to this significant award.

Newton Rigg College has been successfully delivering specialist gamekeeping courses for more than two decades, attracting students from across the UK and beyond. Students benefit from the extensive range of resources including a grouse moor, Purdey award-winning driven partridge shoot, deer management forest as well as rearing and larder facilities and gundog kennels.
Optimum cable TV operator Altice USA stated it is hundreds of millions of dollars apart from ESPNs controlling owner Walt Disney in negotiations for a new carriage agreement, and that Walt Disney has threatened to pull other popular networks like ABC and Disney Channel.

Optimum holds cable TV franchise rights for communities extending from Greenwich to Milford on Long Island Sound  including Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk  and several towns inland. Optimum also provides service in Torrington and seven other Litchfield County towns.

In a statement sent to Hearst Connecticut Media, Altice indicated it has offered Walt Disney a reasonable rate despite Optimum viewership declining in the double digits for years of ESPN programming. It said Walt Disney is demanding exorbitant fee increases for ESPN and doubled rates for ABC.

Hearst Corp. owns a 20 percent, noncontrolling stake in ESPN.

In its own statement mass distributed to media outlets, Burbank, Calif.-based Disney wrote it is fully committed to reaching a deal and is hopeful it can do so, adding it has never had a disruption of service for what it described as its family of networks.

ESPN is among Connecticuts larger employers with some 4,000 people at last report at its Bristol headquarters studio, representing half its total workforce. The networks programming packages include Monday Night Football; the College Football Playoff and regular season games; the NBA; Major League Baseball; and several major tournaments including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in tennis.

Disney has attributed lower profits in its media networks division of late in part to ESPN, with the company exploring direct to consumer initiatives for ESPN that would bypass cable networks.

At an investor conference in early September sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Disney CEO Bob Iger said ESPN plans to launch an app next spring that will allow consumers to buy access to some 10,000 live streams of sporting events and related programming that are not currently carried on the networks linear channels, not dissimilar to consumers purchasing content on iTunes.

Youll be able to subscribe to significantly more sports programming than you get just through the linear channels, Iger said. Over time, I think the way you have to look at this is, this will be a sports marketplace platform.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; www.twitter.com/casoulman
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Chowdafest  the New England competition where you get to be the judge  is marking its 10th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 1, and director Jim Keenan said this years event features the best lineup of restaurants hes ever seen.

Theres even a new category for vegetarian entries, a beefed up specialties section (think artisan breads, cheese and salsa), plus a canine cafe for folks who want to bring their well-behaved, leashed animals to the festival.

Come early and come hungry, said Keenan, who limits the event to 40 restaurants, and personally invites each competitor. This years field features all of last years defending champions, some from years before that, plus many newcomers.

Half the field is new to the event, he said. We try to tweak the level of competition each year. If you think youre the best, you want to beat the best to prove it, and thats what weve got.

The outdoor festival takes place at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, and is expected to attract more than 10,000 people. Keenan is hoping for a nice dry day, with a little nip in the air. That puts people in the mood for comfort food, he said.

Chowdafest has grown more popular each year. Even Yankee Magazine has noticed; this year marks the second time it has listed Chowdafest as a top event in New England. Thats pretty cool, when you consider all the fall events that take place in New England, he said.

More Information Sherwood Island State Park, Sherwood Island Connector, exit 18 off I-95, Westport. Sunday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults $20, kids (6-12) $5, parking free. AAA members save 25 percent on adult ticket online or at gate (must have card). 203-216-8452, chowdafest.org See More Collapse

Its also cool because Chowdafest, presented by Stop & Shop, raises money to feed hungry people. Food Rescue U.S., a Norwalk-based charity, makes it happen.

We hope to fund over half-a-million meals, Keenan said. Food isnt the problem, theres plenty. The problem is its poorly distributed. Food Rescue U.S. figures out where theres excess food and redistributes it to shelters and groups that need it.

For those who havent been, heres how Chowdafest works: Everyone gets a spoon, ballot and pencil to determine the best chowder, soup and bisque in New England, while enjoying unlimited sampling.

The five categories include classic New England clam chowder, traditional chowder (reserved for Rhode Islands clear broth and tomato-based Manhattan clam chowders), creative chowders (one of 2017s entries is smoked salmon and oyster chowder), soup and bisque (everything from seafood gumbo to a cheddar and ale soup) and vegetarian (with such entries as zucchini blossom bisque).

The ballots are the kind where you fill in bubbles, like the ones students used for exams in the 70s. With each taste, rate the quality of the soup on a scale from 7 to 10.5, in half-point intervals. Scanning takes place throughout the event, so the new champions can be announced the same day  shortly after the last spoonful is slurped.

lkoonz@newstimes.com; Twitter: @LindaTKoonz
Clocking in at about two pounds, it makes a thud when it hits the counter.

Its got eight meats and cheeses in there, says executive chef Kevin Allmashy of one of his perennial favorites, The Vito Corleone sandwich, known affectionately as The Godfather. He has served up this monster of a sandwich since he first opened the Executive Corner Deli and Catering in 2005 in Greenwich.

I knew we needed an Italian sandwich that was out of this world and the only way to do that was to get every single Italian meat that was available to me in there, he says. While he eschews head cheese and other meats that appeal to a more esoteric bunch, this wedge is stuffed full with hot capicola, prosciutto, hot and sweet soprosata, mortadella, Genoa salami, ham, provolone and fresh mozzarella. Lettuce, tomato, red onion and roasted red and vinegar peppers serve as the vegetables, while extra virgin olive oil and red-wine vinegar round it all out.

Allmashy created the sandwich in homage to Francis Ford Coppolas movie, The Godfather, released 45 years ago. Several special events, including cast reunions, and screenings have occurred this year to honor the film based on Mario Puzos best-selling novel. It became an instant classic and a cultural phenomenon, which continued with Part II and III. The 1972 film, which tells the story of a mafia family as it struggles to retain power in a post-war America, starred Marlon Brando as mob boss Vito Corleone.

Although there is no empirical or even anecdotal proof the movie spawned a wave of godfather-inspired dishes, several delis in the area have a version  sometimes offered as a special or, as its more generically called, the Italian combo.

Everybody does it a little differently, says Salvatore Tramontano, an owner of the G-Ville Deli in Greenwich, whose offering includes prosciutto, capicola, soprosata, ham, provolone, lettuce, tomato, oil and vinegar. To further confuse the situation, Enzos Italian Fine Food in Stamford offers a godfather that is breaded eggplant, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers and balsamic vinegar. And Vito Corleone has inspired a pizza. At Famous Pizza in Bethel, the Godfather, with pepperoni, sausage, meatballs and crispy bacon, is the most popular pie. Perry Anastasakis, whose family runs the restaurant, says The Godfather is his favorite movie of all time. Its incredibly delicious, he says of the pizza. It honors its slogan, The pizza you cant refuse. 

In creating his version, Allmashy wanted to give his wedge a bit more heft. I have made Italian combos all my life, he says, its just that they never had all the meats that need to be in there.

Allmashys Vito Corleone has been commanding respect since it debuted. Recently, however, he has seen an uptick in interest, to the point the deli is churning out about five a day (on a recent day, his crew made 10). Considering it takes about 8 minutes to make one, thats nothing to sneeze at. He is considering a contest, somewhere down the line, for those who can finish the whole thing in one sitting. It may be stretching it, but it seems possible to feed a family of four with just one.

This is the type of sandwich you cant mess with, he says, with a wide smile. Affable, accommodating and funny, watching him prepare it is a treat itself.

Allmashy, a Johnson and Wales-trained chef who enjoyed a career as a corporate chef before opening his deli, takes his time when it comes to layering the sandwich; he doesnt get sloppy. You are supposed to taste all the things you are supposed to be tasting in multiple layers. Every bite should have a different taste. As a chef, you cant cut corners.

Allmashy is a fan of The Godfather trilogy, as well as other Italian-American fictional dramas that have captured the publics attention. He has the Tony Soprano sandwich, by the way, as well as the Tony Montana.

The latter, actually, is a nod toward the classic Cuban sandwich, and Al Pacino, who played the character in the 1983 movie Scarface. It honors, in a way, Pacinos star turn as Michael Corleone in The Godfather.

Allmashy knows the Godfather is just a sandwich, but he never once wanted to hear Whadda ya doing? Are ya kiddin me? from true aficionados of great Italian sandwiches  many of whom are his customers. And, he hasnt.

There are some serious customers in that movie, and Im talking about serious business, he says, as he attempts to contain the sandwich with an ample wrap of white butcher paper. If I was to serve one of these sandwiches to them, Im sure they would be like, This is unbelievable.

chennessy@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @xtinahennessy
A man who was granted 10 years in jail for sexually assaulting his niece argued that he should be granted bail because the girl had two boyfriends and was sexually active.

By India Today Web Desk: The Bombay High Court has rejected the bail plea of a rape convict after the convict argued that the victim had two boyfriends "with whom she had sexual relations", the PTI reported.

Justice AM Badar has denied bail to a man who was booked under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) for repeatedly raping his minor niece.

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"A woman might be of easy virtue but that does not mean that all and sundry can take advantage of this fact. She has a right to say no," Justice Badar said.

"Even if we were to assume that the victim in this case had two boyfriends, the same does not empower or authorise the applicant to commit penetrative sexual assault on her," he said.

The man was sentenced to 10 years of prison in 2016 for repeatedly assaulting his niece. The court stated that the victim was not of legal consensual age at the time of the act. The court also said that the victim had "categorically said in her statement that the convict had repeatedly assaulted her".

The man had applied for bail in the High Court stating that he is sole bread earner of the family. Moreover, he argued that since the victim did not report the incident immediately after it happened, the incident did not happen.

In an effort to strengthen his argument, the man said that the victim had two boyfriends and was sexually active.

The court has rejected his plea stating that the argument of being the sole breadwinner isn't enough grounds to grant him bail in such a sensitive matter.

"The offence in question is a serious one and the applicant has been held guilty of the offence after a due trial. Hence, no case for grant of bail is made out," Justice Badar said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Police said Sanjay Singhal's body has been sent for post-mortem and a probe has been launched.

By India Today Web Desk: Owner of Charms India Private Limited Sanjay Singhal committed suicide in Ghazibad late on Sunday. Singhal's bullet riddled-body was found at his house in Shastri Nagar area under Kavinagar police station early today.

Police said Singhal's body has been sent for post-mortem and a probe has been launched.

According to reports, Singhal's wife and son were present in the house when he shot himself. The gun used by Sanjay Singhal has been recovered.

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Sanjay Singhal founded his real estate company Charms India Private Limited in 1996. The company, which has its registered office in Patparganj, east Delhi has several residential projects to its name. The company is currently developing a huge residential apartment complex - Charms Castle - at Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad.

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MITCHELL  About 150 area students spent the last full day of summer, Sept. 21, learning a full gamut of rural safety and health information at the Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds Pavilion.

Many in agriculture know someone whose life has been affected by a farm-related injury or death. According to the National Childrens Center for Rural and Agricultural Heath and Safety, every day about 33 children are injured in an agriculture-related incident, and every three days, a child dies in an agriculture-related incident, of which 25 percent of deaths involve machinery, 17 percent involved motor vehicles and ATVs, and 16 percent involved drowning.

Those statistics are sobering.

However, the overall numbers of farm injuries are declining, thanks to the Progressive Agriculture Foundations Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program, which has brought its crusade of training and resources to farming communities in need since 1995.

John Dillman, regional sales manager for Betaseed, said that this was the seventh year the safety day has been held at the fairgrounds. By the end of the day Thursday, Dillman said about 1,100 students have taken part in the program in Mitchell since 2010, and 280 volunteers have helped with the station. In total, Dillman said Progressive Agriculture has held 6,600 safety days with 328,000 volunteers helping 1.2 million students across 37 states and nine Canadian provinces.

Thats a pretty huge impact, Dillman said.

The safety day featured a number of demonstrations from Nebraska State Troopers, the Scottsbluff Fire Department, Roosevelt Public Power District, Pathfinder Irrigation District, HorizonWest, Farm Credit Bureau, First National Bank, Western Sugar, Panhandle Research and Extension Center and others.

Students from the Scottsbluff FFA chapter were among the volunteers that followed along with the groups and helped keep watch over the students.

The volunteers do such a great job of keeping things organized, Dillman said.

According to the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, evaluations have shown that safety day participants decreased their risky behavior following participation in a safety day to a greater extent than children who did not participate in a safety day, and self-reported injuries decreased among safety day participants.

There were also significant increases in safety knowledge and decreases in exposure to risk for both boys and girls. The increases in knowledge were apparent for both farm and non-farm children.

I dont know how many kids are actually farm kids anymore, Dillman said. But hopefully this will help them keep safe, too.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Shares of Coffee Day Enterprises tumbled over 8 per cent today after I-T searches at the properties of V G Siddhartha, founder-owner of Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) group, revealed undisclosed assets worth Rs 650 crore.

Coffee Day Enterprises runs Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) chain.

The stock plunged 8.39 per cent to close at Rs 212.45 on BSE. During the day, it plummeted 11.75 per cent to Rs 204.65.

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On NSE, shares of the company slumped 7.79 per cent to end at Rs 212.25.

Searches at the properties of V G Siddhartha, the son- in-law of former Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna and founder-owner of CCD group, have revealed undisclosed assets worth Rs 650 crore, the Income Tax department said today.

"The searches in a group involved in coffee, tourism, information technology and other areas concluded with an admission of previously concealed income exceeding Rs 650 crore," said an I-T department official.

Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd in a filing to BSE today said that search/survey was carried out by the Income Tax authorities on the company and its subsidiaries starting September 21 and ending September 24.

It said, "We wish to inform that we have extended full cooperation to the Income Tax authorities. Further, we submit that there is no information discovered which would have a significant impact on the financial position of Coffee Day Enterprises and its subsidiaries."

"Further any information which is considered to have material impact in nature discovered later will be intimated to the exchange immediately," it said. PTI SUM SBT

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A white University of Kentucky student accused of physically assaulting a Black student worker while repeatedly using racial slurs says she will withdraw from the school. The decision announced Tuesday by a lawyer for 22-year-old Sophia Rosing came after hundreds of students rallied on campus the night before. News outlets report the students called for unity and for the university to quickly address the situation. Officials say Rosing has been charged with assault, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. She pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Monday afternoon. The altercation at Boyd Hall was captured on video and posted to multiple social media platforms.
Minister-delegate for European Funds Rovana Plumb said on Monday after a meeting the Social Democratic Party's National Standing Bureau (BPN) that she is innocent and has no reason to resign after the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) requested permission for her prosecution in the Belina case. "I am not guilty; I have always followed the law, and I will always do so. During my office tenure in the various positions I have held, I have always acted in good faith and in the interests of the citizens, while acting with utmost responsibility and seriousness to defend the rights of Romanians. As far as my resignation goes, I do not think that I have to step down as long as I have always thought about Romania. First of all, it is because I have not done anything wrong and I am not guilty; I have observed the law and the European funds; their absorption at this moment is vital to Romania and there must be continuity and we will proceed accordingly," said Plumb.

Asked if anyone has put pressure on her, Plumb replied: "I have never worked under pressure and I will never do, and nobody has ever asked me for anything." PSD floor leader in the Chamber of Deputies Ioan Munteanu has announced that the PSD's National Standing Bureau (BPN) has decided to support Deputy Prime Minister Sevil Shhaideh and Deputy Minister of European Funds Rovana Plumb. "They have followed the law. They have claimed their innocence and their colleagues have asked them not to step down," said Munteanu, who participated in the BPN meeting.

The decision of the PSD leadership comes after Friday chief prosecutor with the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi asked that the Chamber of Deputies be notified of a request for the criminal prosecution of Rovana Plumb, a minister of environment and climate change at the time of the commission, for complicity to abuse of office in a case that concerns Deputy Prime Minister Sevil Shhaideh, regarding the illegal switch of a part of the Belina Island and the Pavel Branch to the administration of the Teleorman County Council.

Agerpres.
Scarce investment is the great suffering of Romania, and although the country's officials want to set up a fund to invest, I feel like things are not going that way, Adrian Vasilescu, strategy consultant with the National Bank of Romania (BNR), told a conference on Monday organised by Bursa newspaper. "If we, at this moment in this country, had a great deal of suffering, that would be because of a scarcity of investment. I think any institution dealing with investment is welcome to this country. I am convinced that for Romania at this moment to go forward and design a sustainable development model that meets the needs of this country needs, three things are required: wise laws, powerful and efficient institutions, and highly performing teams," said Vasilescu.

He voiced regret that in Romania there is not much of the three things that are essential for sustainable development. "Starting from this triad of laws, institutions and teams, (...) I read once in an older novel that when coffee was not made by devices, a customer in a cafe told the owner of the place: "This is good coffee you are making here; I do not know your secrets." To which he said: "It's simple: coffee, water and sugar. What do you mean by secret?" The customer remarked: "But the atmosphere in the pub, the way it is served, the quality, the foam, all of this is part of a combination of the three elements - coffee, water and sugar - that together give a very good coffee with foam to add." It would be very good if this Sovereign Investment Fund of Romania would be the foam of the natural coffee that we want and which we cherish. But for that to be the foam, the cream, there is much to be done. We could we do? A fund to invest. I've got a feeling that they are not headed that way. It's just my impression," said Vasilescu.

He also said that it is the investment that multiplies the money. "Such a fund, in my view, has to do two important things: to raise money and then invest it in order to multiply it, then to raise money back to increase their investment fund and to invest in important things for this country, which yearns for investment. I think that is the goal and I cannot further my judgment because it has not been clear from the Government how they want to do it. They want to make an investment fund, but what next?," added Vasilescu.

The Bursa Press Group organised the 6th edition of a conference on the future of the Romanian capital market that discussed the latest developments in promoting the Bucharest Stock Exchange to an emerging market, and the alternative investment fund law.

Agerpres.
President Klaus Iohannis on Monday sent a congratulations message to Chancellor Angela Merkel, following the result of the legislative elections on Sunday in the Federal Republic of Germany, according to a Presidential Administration release. "Your winning the federal parliamentary elections gives me the occasion to address the most sincere congratulations, together with wishes of success in your new chancellor mandate. The relation between Romania and Germany is an excellent one, of a strategic nature, an aspect also fully confirmed through the intensity of the political dialogue, the economic and sectoral cooperation and the interhuman relations, as well as through sharing the same fundamental democratic values. Romania represents, at the same time, a stable and trustworthy partner for Germany, a promoter of consolidating the European project," President Klaus Iohannis' message reads.

The head of state underscored that the year 2017 holds a special significance through the 50th anniversary since the establishment of Romanian-German diplomatic relations and 25th anniversary since the signing of the Treaty on friendly cooperation and partnership in Europe. Moreover, Iohannis mentioned that the meeting with Merkel in June this year, in Berlin, confirmed the solidity of the bilateral partnership and provided the prospects for a close cooperation on a European level, including in terms of the discussions with the future of Europe, as well as in the perspective of Romania's exerting the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first semester of 2019.

The release shows that President Iohannis voiced conviction that the two countries will be able to continue the "excellent" collaboration, to the benefit of the Romanian and German peoples, as well as for the future of Europe.

Agerpres.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) The Congress today condemned the attack on noted dalit writer and thinker Kancha Ilaiah, describing it as another attempt to stifle democracy, and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for their silence over the assault.

Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewala asked Modi and Shah why they had not condemned the incident, and urged them to take action against a TDP MP who had allegedly threatened the writer.

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Ilaiah had on September 23 filed a police complaint in Parkal in Warangal, Telangana, alleging that four people attacked his vehicle in the town and tried to kill him.

"Strangulating the voices of free thinkers and rationalists has become the new normal in Narendra Modis New India," Surjewala said.

He said in a statement that "an atmosphere of hate and intolerance" was being created to "stifle the voice of those holding divergent views".

The Congress leader said the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh and of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi were a "definite pattern" and alleged that "lumpen elements having proximity to the ruling government take the law in their own hands and physically assault those who do not agree with a certain ideology".

"The series of killings of rationalists, free thinkers and journalists has created an atmosphere that dissent, differences and divergence of views can endanger ones life. This disturbing trend cannot be and should not be tolerated," he said.

Taking on the TDP leadership after its MP allegedly issued an edict against Ilaiah, the Congress leader asked why the BJP, TDP, TRS and their allies were encouraging the offenders "who threaten a noted professor and activist with such brazenness".

The Congress demands that the TRS Government in Telangana register an FIR and order an enquiry into the attack and intimidation of Ilaiah, he said, and urged TDP chief and Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu to take action against the MP.

"The BJP, which flaunts a mask of being the messiah of dalits and backwards, is maintaining a conspiratorial silence on the entire issue," he said, and asked Modi and Shah to condemn the incident and direct action against the MP.

A police official in Parkal had said on Saturday that members of the Arya Vysya community had been protesting over Ilaiahs book Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu (Vysyas are social smugglers). PTI SKC BDS

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ST. LOUIS  A group of pastors and elected officials said Monday that local, state and national authorities should investigate the weekend arrest of 22 protesters at the St. Louis Galleria.

They said police used excessive force and denied people of their right to free speech.

We are not anti-law enforcement, but we are against extreme police tactics that can only be explained as a police riot, state Rep. Stacey Newman, D-Richmond Heights, said at a news conference at St. Peters AME Church, 4730 Margaretta Avenue.

This is not acceptable in our state.

She was flanked behind the podium by two dozen other leaders calling for a thorough review of the incident, as well as others in the region since former St. Louis police Officer Jason Stockley was acquitted of first-degree murder on Sept. 15.

We need to look at how we are training people who are supposed to protect us, said the Rev. Karen Anderson, pastor of Ward Chapel AME Church in north St. Louis County.

Twenty-two people were arrested Saturday, including an African-American woman whose apprehension by a white police officer was widely publicized. A photo taken by a Post-Dispatch photographer also shows her arrest, with a police officers hand at her neck. Protesters complained that she was being choked.

It almost looked like he had a damn smile! said St. Louis Alderman John Collins-Muhammad, 21st Ward, hitting the podium hard one time with a clenched fist.

Police say the woman, the Rev. Karla Frye of St. Peters AME Church, jumped on an officers back as she tried to stop him from making an arrest. Other images taken by the Post-Dispatch show her grabbing an officer from behind as he appears to be trying to arrest someone. Police say the officer was taken to a hospital to be treated for a back injury.

Defendant resisted her own arrest with physical force, a court document filed in her case says. It says Frye and others collectively refused police commands to disperse, and reacted to police commands with physical force and violence.

Family and lawyers say Frye was responding to the rough treatment of her 13-year-old grandson by police. The boy was taken into custody but later released to relatives who say he was bruised and hurting from the encounter. His arm was not broken, as had been rumored.

At the news conference Monday, speakers said protesters were denied access to medicine and lawyers while being held in jail at the St. Louis County Justice Center.

Lets have equity. Lets have fairness, said state Rep. Joe Adams, D-University City. Lets understand the Constitution of the United States gives us all a right to peacefully protest. We will have to get to the bottom of all this.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said any use of force at the Galleria was documented and would be reviewed.

The St. Louis County Police Department has used an incredible amount of discretion during these periods of civil unrest, Belmar said in a statement.

Citizens have been allowed to exercise their First Amendment Rights; however, when those protests descend into criminal activity, law enforcement has no other choice but to intervene, the county chiefs statement said.

St. Louis Alderman Megan Green, 15th Ward, vowed to fight any tax increases for police until there are suitable changes and better oversight power.

Not one more dime goes into this system until we get some accountability, some change, and we get a police department that protects us, she said.
JEFFERSON CITY  Attorney General Josh Hawley says he will hire an independent investigator to probe whether the office of Hawleys predecessor, Chris Koster, improperly withheld evidence before Anthony Lamar Smiths family settled a wrongful death case in 2013.

St. Louis police Officer Jason Stockley shot and killed Smith after a pursuit in 2011. Stockley was acquitted of first-degree murder charges this month, sparking waves of protests across the St. Louis region.

In 2016, Albert Watkins, an attorney representing Smiths daughter, said the city of St. Louis and Kosters office failed to turn over all evidence in the case to Smiths family attorneys before they won a $900,000 settlement in 2013.

The police department was under state control at the time, so the attorney generals office represented the city in the civil case.

Watkins said last year the city and state did not turn over reports saying that only Stockleys DNA was found on the revolver police recovered from Smiths car. He also said the city and state did not turn over cellphone footage a witness filmed after the shooting.

On Monday, Watkins told the Post-Dispatch that Hawleys announcement was prudent on the part of the state, but cautioned, Our patience in this regard is tempered by the reality that time is of the essence in this case.

Koster, who now works for Clayton-based Centene Corp., could not be reached Monday. A spokeswoman for the St. Louis Police Department referred an inquiry to City Counselor Julian Bush, who declined to comment.

Hawleys office announced the investigation after it received a letter last week from Watkins.

In the letter, Watkins quoted Joel Poole, then chief counsel of the litigation division in the attorney generals office, as saying in 2016 that the office had turned over every report and every video in possession of the Attorney Generals office to Watkins during the case.

Mr. Pooles response was not responsive, Watkins wrote last week to Hawleys office.

After an initial review of Watkins letter last week, Hawleys office on Monday announced the independent counsel would have full access to files and personnel to ensure a comprehensive and unbiased review of the potential wrongdoing.

The attorney for the family of Anthony Lamar Smith has raised serious allegations of wrongdoing by the Koster Administration, Hawley said in a news release. As Mr. Smiths family states, these allegations deserve a full, accurate, and transparent accounting.

On Monday, Watkins speculated that the independent investigation would reveal one of three things: that Kosters office had the evidence and failed to provide it to him; that the city had the evidence and failed to provide it to Kosters office; or that both parties knew of the evidence and colluded to not produce it.

The real value of an independent investigator is that they can ascertain what happened, Watkins said.

Depending on what investigators uncover, Watkins said his clients options could include moving to set aside the $900,000 settlement and reopening the case, filing a motion for contempt and pursuing sanctions, pursuing federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, action and potential civil conspiracy charges.
By PTI: Varanasi, Sep 25 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government today removed three additional city magistrates and two policemen in connection with the baton-charge on students in the Banara Hindu University during a protest over an alleged eve-teasing incident.

Station Officer of Lanka Police Station Rajiv Singh has been removed and sent to police lines. Station officer of Jaitpura Police Station Sanjiv Mishra has been posted in his place, police officials said.

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Also the Circle Officer of Bhelupur, Nivesh Katiyar has been removed and Circle Officer of Kotwali AyodhyaPrasad Singh posted in his place

A release from Varanasis District Information office said three additional city magistrates, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh have also been removed.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the varsitys vice chancellor at his residence.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A BHU spokesperson had said that some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VCs residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students, he said.

The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathicharge.

The police sources said some of its personnel were injured in the clashes during which the students allegedly indulged in arson.

Following the violence, the district administration has declared holidays from today till October 2 in all colleges and universities in Varanasi. The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from September 28.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), criticised the government and condemned the police action.

"I have sought a report from the divisional commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident," Adityanath said in Lucknow yesterday.

The baton charge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some scribes staging a sit-in near the chief ministers residence. They later submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty."

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Congress leaders Raj Babbar and P L Punia, along with scores of party activists, were detained yesterday when they tried to visit the BHU. They were later released.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP over the police lathicharge allegedly on woman students.

Attaching a link to a video of the students who alleged that they were beaten up by male policemen at the campus, Gandhi had tweeted, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU."

The BHU had issued a statement saying that the dharna by the students just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university.

The alleged eve-teasing incident had occurred on Thursday night after which the students started the protest.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police had been sought to maintain peace in the campus.

Nearly 1,500 police personnel, includingcontingents of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), have been deployed to maintain law and order in the campus.

BHU students said that they undertook the protest near the universitys main gate against rising incidents of alleged eve-teasing on the campus.

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A woman student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel, triggering the dharna.

According to the complainant, the men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts.

The woman alleged that security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop them.

She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel.

The wardens response angered the students who sat on a dharna at the main gate midnight Thursday.

BHU students have alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants. PTI CORR DV

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CLAYTON  Twenty-two protesters arrested during a demonstration Saturday at the St. Louis Galleria were released Sunday as the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri raised concerns about force used by police in taking them into custody.

About 200 protesters gathered Sunday afternoon outside the St. Louis County Justice Center in Clayton to meet those released. At times they blocked the street or marched through downtown Clayton as they waited for the final arrestees to be freed.

Seven were charged with state crimes, including misdemeanor counts of rioting and interfering with or resisting arrest. One woman was also charged with a felony, assaulting a law enforcement officer.

Police say the woman, the Rev. Karla Frye of St. Peter AME Church in St. Louis, jumped on an officers back as she tried to stop him from making an arrest. Police say he was taken to a hospital to be treated for a back injury. There was no update on his condition.

Photos taken by a Post-Dispatch photographer show her grabbing an officer from behind as he appears to be trying to arrest someone. A photo also shows her arrest, with a police officers hand at her neck. Protesters complained that she was being choked.

Defendant resisted her own arrest with physical force, a court document filed in her case says. It says Frye and others collectively refused police commands to disperse, and reacted to police commands with physical force and violence.

Family and lawyers say Frye was responding to the rough treatment of her 13-year-old grandson by police. The boy was taken into custody, but later released to family who say he was bruised and hurting from the encounter. But his arm was not broken, as had been rumored.

Bail for Frye, 56, of Bellefontaine Neighbors, was set at $10,000, with 10 percent needed in cash to free her. Protest leaders gathered donations from demonstrators outside the Justice Center to pay the bail.

Of the six other people charged, at least one had been arrested a week earlier during a protest in St. Louis that brought its own set of controversial arrests.

Fifteen other people were held overnight at the county jail but released without state charges. They will be referred to the Richmond Heights Municipal Court for local charges, police said.

Police say the arrested protesters had failed to head warnings to leave the Richmond Heights mall Saturday during a protest amid the continuing reaction to the acquittal Sept. 15 of a white police officer in the shooting death of a black drug suspect.

Police said about 150 other people followed dispersal warnings and peacefully left. But some protesters told the Post-Dispatch they had not heard an order to disperse, just whistles and then police moving in to arrest people.

The ACLU of Missouri complained about the nature of those arrests in a letter to St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, St. Louis Police Chief Jon Belmar and Richmond Heights Mayor Jim Thomson on Sunday.

Weve seen images of what appears to be unnecessary use of force by police at the St. Louis Galleria, such as tackling people to the ground, and arresting them in ways that cause bodily injury, wrote Anthony Rothert, legal director of the organization.

Yet again, the nation watches St. Louis, the letter said. This is a unique time in our region. In order to move forward, we must learn from the lessons of our past. That means we must continue to allow nonviolent, robust freedom of speech. We must allow the community to continue to express its outrage, pain, and grief.

The nonprofit ArchCity Defenders law firm, meanwhile, complained that its lawyers had difficulty reaching clients inside the jail. The group said the courthouse was simply shut down.

At every turn, our lawyers were met with delay, miscommunication, and a general indifference to the rights of the people arrested and the attorneys who work with them, Thomas Harvey, executive director and co-founder of ArchCity Defenders, said in the statement.

Among those released Sunday was Zach Becker. On Saturday, a friend had worked to get needed medication to the jail for Becker, who had a kidney transplant. After the friend had trouble getting police attention at the jail, a legal observer got in touch with a nurse to get the medication inside.

Upon his release, Becker said he was going to a hospital to get checked out.

Denise Hollinshed of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  A man was critically injured Sunday night when a woman stabbed him in the chest in the city's Marine Villa neighborhood.

Police released few details, but said the victim and suspect know each other. The woman, 35, stabbed the victim, 30, during an "altercation" in the 2200 block of Chippewa Street about 10:30 p.m., the St. Louis Police Department said.

The woman fled after the stabbing. The victim sought help around the corner in the 3800 block of Wisconsin Avenue, where officers found him with a stab wound to the chest.

He was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition. Police are seeking the suspect, but have not released her name.
There are 29 active national emergencies in place today in the United States. The latest is the one that President Donald Trump declared on Aug. 10: The opioid crisis is an emergency, and I am saying, officially, right now, it is an emergency. Its a national emergency. Were going to spend a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of money on the opioid crisis. It is a serious problem the likes of which we have never had.

In spite of Trumps penchant for hyperbole, this declaration was a wise decision and came in response to draft recommendations of a presidential commission Trump appointed last spring. Unfortunately, its been six weeks since the emergency was declared, and the only step the administration has taken is to form a public-private partnership on the issue with some of the drug companies that have profited mightily from the addiction crisis.

At least 21,000 overdose deaths were attributed to opioids last year. An additional 30,000 overdose deaths are attributed to heroin and powerful synthetic opioids. Feuds among drug dealers are contributing to higher homicide rates in St. Louis and elsewhere. So yes, its a national emergency. And America needs to act like it.

In Trumps defense, hes had more immediate emergencies from hurricanes to deal with in the past six weeks, both of them drawing down funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. If the opioid crisis were treated as a real national emergency, FEMA would have statutory authority for dealing with it  though its expertise in drug abuse is negligible. Congress had natural disasters in mind when it passed the 1988 Stafford Act to govern federal emergency response.

In fact, most of the other 28 national emergencies still on the books impose economic sanctions against individuals doing business with governments we dont like or terrorist organizations. The oldest dates from 1979 and blocks Iranian government property. A president can invoke the National Emergencies Act of 1974 and claim certain statutory powers to deal with the crisis of the moment.

In the case of the opioids emergency, the presidential commission, chaired by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, urged Trump to force Congress to focus on funding.

The commission endorsed the gold standard of making medication-assisted treatment freely available. Experience has shown that by substituting less addictive drugs for opium-derived painkillers or heroin, addicts have a far better chance of recovery.

But such treatment is both expensive and controversial. Tens of billions of dollars would be required, as well as a recognition that addicts do better in treatment centers than prison.

The Senate had $45 billion for opioid treatment in its first Obamacare replacement bill. It has zero in the health care bill its considering now. Real national emergencies require real national leaders.
If you use towels that haven't been washed in two days, you might end up with more bacteria on your face than a toilet.

By Lipi Upadhyay: How many times have you mindlessly used a towel for two weeks straight, without so much as sparing a thought to the bacteria that's accumulated on it with repeated use? Well, all that is set to change today, once you read this.

A new study has found that 90 per cent of bathroom towels carry harmful disease-causing bacteria. According to TIME, Dr Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, discovered while working on a yet-unpublished study that 14 per cent of bathroom towels carries E. coli. Yes, the same bacterium found in the digestive tract of humans. For the uninitiated, that's the bacteria spread by human faeces.

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Now, what is more shocking is that in the same research, he also found traces of salmonella.

Also Read: The best toilet-paper gowns are now being given away to brides who need them

WHY, THOUGH?

Not many of us realise that towels double-up as great bacteria traps. These fluffy things we depend on for drying our body every day may end up giving us some really nasty diseases in return.

Basically, every time you use a towel, you transfer your natural skin germs onto the fibres, and because it is damp and moist, bacteria and other micro-organisms begin to grow on it.

We often hang our towels in the bathroom itself after using them, which is not exactly the ideal thing to do. The damp towel provides petri-dish like conditions for bacteria like E. coli to breed.

Also Read: Here's why India also needs durable and potentially antibacterial nail colouring

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

Surprisingly, washing towels with regular detergent may not be enough, as bacteria can survive the wrath of the detergent. Dr Gerba strongly suggests using products with activated oxygen bleach.

Also, one should make sure that the towel dries up completely between uses, and if you have an open wound or cut, avoid using someone else's towel, as it may let germs into your system.

While all of it may sound very dangerous, thankfully, most experts do agree on one thing, that as long as you are using your own towel and washing it regularly, it is quite unlikely that it will make you sick.

But after studying germs for over three decades, Dr Gerba has now switched to paper towels completely. Well, it seems he isn't taking any chances.

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Citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen will face new restrictions in travelling to the United States based on the latest proclamation signed by President Donald Trump.

The new rules, announced on Sunday, will go into effect on October 18.

The range of restrictions imposed on each state is different, for example in the case of Venezuela, only certain government officials and their families are affected.

They range from an indefinite ban on visas for citizens from countries such as Syria to more targeted restrictions.

The Republican presidents ban has been challenged in courts and censured by human rights activists on multiple occasions.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump said in a tweet shortly after the proclamation was released.

On Friday, the president received policy recommendations from acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke and was briefed by other administration officials, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a White House aide told Reuters earlier in the day.

His former ban on travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, which was enacted in March, expired on Sunday evening.

It was supposed to target those who lacked a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States."

'Same Muslim ban with cosmetic adjustments '

The new proclamation removes Sudan but adds Venezuela and North Korea, which have been engaged in bitter rows with the Trump administration recently.

"North Korea does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements," the proclamation said.

Johnathan Smith, the legal director of the advocacy group Muslim Advocates, dismissed the new move as the "same Muslim ban" and an effort "to undermine our Constitution."

"Let us not be fooled by the administration's attempted tricks and semantics, this is still the same Muslim ban," he told the Associated Press. "The administration is once again making cosmetic adjustments to the Muslim ban in hopes that it will pass the barest possible definition of anything else; but they've failed again."

People from the six Muslim majority countries were banned from entering into the US for 90 days in the expiring ban.

Revised a few times, the ban originally followed 2016 campaign pledge by Trump for a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the US on the pretext of the so-called war on terror.
Scores of Rohingya women who were aggressively sexually assaulted while fleeing Myanmars violence-wracked Rakhine State are being treated for injuries consistent with horrific sex attacks, according to UN medics.

A total of eight medical professionals working in Bangladesh reported treating 25 women between them since late August who had physical injuries that were consistent with violent attacks.

The injuries include bite marks, vaginal tearing and signs that a firearm was used to penetrate women, according to Tasunba Nourin, a doctor with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Pramila Patten, the UNs Special Representative on Sexual Violence, has said she is gravely concerned about security operations in Rakhine that the UN has described as textbook ethnic cleansing.

She recalls survivors describing sexual violence being used as a calculated tool of terror to force targeted populations to flee.

Almost all the victims told UN doctors that the perpetrators were men in uniform who they identified as Myanmar soldiers.

One woman said she was raped by five soldiers while others looked on.

It is rare for UN doctors and aid agencies to accuse a states armed forces of alleged rape, given the sensitivity of the matter.

Zaw Htay, spokesman for Burmas de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said the authorities would investigate any claims of rape.

Those rape victim women should come to us, he said. We will give full security to them. We will investigate and we will take action.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate widely condemned for failing to speak-up for more than one million Rohingya, promised last week that any perpetrators on abuse in Rakhine would face the full force of the law. But her government has refused to allow a UN fact-finding mission to go to Rakhine that was set up to investigate what a UN report in February said amounted to a calculated policy of terror under the guise of a military lockdown of Rohingya villages months earlier.

A report by UN investigators, who recently arrived in the Bangladesh camps to investigate the atrocities, including sexual attacks, has described how soldiers raped women, stomped on the stomach of a woman in labour and slit the throat of an eight-month-old baby when he started crying while his mother was being raped.

The Myanmar government, having been accused of ethnic cleansing by the United Nations, has denied any claims of aggression and said it has been targeting terrorists.

Around 429,000 Rohingya have fled Burma, where many of their families lived for generations. Most refugees are living in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, living off small aid packages from sympathetic locals and aid agencies.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has complained to the UN that Myanmar soldiers have been laying internationally banned anti-personnel landmines across the border, the Press TV reported.

Dhaka has also banned telecommunication companies from selling mobile phone connections to the Rohingya refugees, imposing a communication blackout on the persecuted community.

Bangladeshs four mobile phone providers were threatened with fines if they provide any of the nearly 430,000 newly-arrived refugees from Myanmar with SIM cards while the ban is in force.

The persecution of the Rohingya Muslims, a stateless minority of about one million people that mostly lived in the Rakhine state in western Burma, comes after alleged attacked by Rohingya on government forces last October and in August this year, sparking a strong crackdown.

Since the most recent escalation, more than 1,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.

As thousands of people arrive each day from restive Rakhine state to the refugee camps, Unicef estimates that 50,000 of the new arrivals are pregnant women.

The United Nations has described the practices against the Rohingya Muslims in Buddhist-majority Myanmar as ethnic cleansing.

Agencies
The DMK's request to have 11 AIADMK lawmakers disqualified comes days after the Tamil Nadu Assembly speaker removed 18 of his own party's MLAs, all of whom are loyal to sidelined leader TTV Dhinakaran - a man seen by the state government as a threat.

MK Stalin's DMK chief whip Sakkarapani today filed a writ petition in Madras High Court court, seeking the disqualification of eleven AIADMK MLAs who supported O Paneerselvam - when he rebelled against VK Sasikala earlier this year.

Panneerselvam, now the deputy chief minister in the Edappadi Palaniswami administration, had then opposed VK Sasikala's elevation as legislature party leader. Later, he and the 11 lawmakers whom the DMK want disqualified voted against Palaniswamy in a floor test.

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Back then, Palaniswamy was seen as Sasikala's proxy. He was elevated after she was convicted by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker recently disqualified as many as 18 AIADMK legislators loyal to TTV Dhinakaran, Sasikala's nephew - and a new power centre within the party. The Madras High Court has said elections cannot be held for their seats, and prohibited any floor tests - a DMK request - until further orders.

"The DMK doesn't want to remain a silent spectator to the wheeling and dealing and horse trading that's taking place," DMK spokesperson Manu Sundaram told India Today.

"We waited to see whether the Speaker will initiate action against MLAs who defied party whip but instead there's been a quid pro quo. EPS (Edappadi Palaniswami) has given OPS (O Panneerselvam) and K Pandiarajan minister ships, and in return K Pandiarajan has withdrawn his petition before the Hon'ble Supreme Court wherein he challenged the EPS chief ministership."

AIADMK RESPONSE

The Palaniswami-Panneerselvam combine's IT wing representative shot back, "Stalin does not have any right to do this. It is the discretion of the speaker. As per assembly rules - if I am not wrong - (the) speaker should take action with fifteen days of floor test."

"But now it (has been) close to eight months. No one can interfere in Speaker's decision," he said.

The Tamil Nadu government now finds itself in a precarious situation. The DMK is the main Opposition party, and has as many as 98 MLAs in a 234-member assembly. And TTV Dhinakaran threatens to eat away at its majority by taking away more MLAs.

VIDEO: Tamil Nadu politics has become a thrill-a-minute ride. An AIADMK lawmaker recently said he and others were forced to lie about former CM Jayalalithaa's death.

--- ENDS ---
"We will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country," a news report quoted North Korea's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho as saying.

By India Today Web Desk: Donald Trump has declared war on North Korea, the news agency AFP quoted Kim Jong Un's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho as saying, a day after the US President said in a tweet that the Asian nation "won't be around much longer" if the minister echoed the "thoughts of Little Rocket man."

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country," Ri said, according to a report in the Independent.

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"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country," the report quoted him as saying.

"The question of who won't be around much longer will be answered then ," he added.

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

Donald Trump's rhetoric has been extraordinarily aggressive, at a time when Kim Jong Un has been conducting missile and nuclear tests.

North Korea tested a hydrogen bomb earlier this month, after which the US imposed sanctions on Pyongyang. "It is only a forlorn hope to consider any chance that the DPRK (North Korea) would be shaken an inch or change its stance due to the harsher sanctions by the hostile forces," Ri told the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

VIDEO: Here's what Donald Trump recently told the United Nations about North Korea.

--- ENDS ---
After North Korea's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho's speech at the UN General Assembly, Donald Trump tweeted that those who echo with the ideas of the "Little rocket man" will not be around much longer.

By India Today Web Desk: Diplomacy is passe.

Donald Trump after North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho's speech at the UN General Assembly that they "won't be around much longer" if they keep resonating with the ideas of the "Little Rocket Man" (obviously referring to Kim Jong Un).

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

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Ri told the United Nations General Assembly earlier on Saturday that targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after "Mr Evil President" Trump called Pyongyang's leader "rocket man".

Donald Trump in his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly had stressed on the fact that US is ready to take extreme steps to curb North Kora. Meanwhile, in a direct attack North Korea on Friday released a statement where Trump was described as a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard".

Tensions between the two countries have been escalating since North Korea tested a Hydrogen bomb earlier in September. The UN imposed sanctions on North Korea which angered the North Korean administration even further. Infact, the sanctions did not deter the North from announcing that it might test another hydrogen bomb over the Pacific ocean.

"It is only a forlorn hope to consider any chance that the DPRK (North Korea) would be shaken an inch or change its stance due to the harsher sanctions by the hostile forces," Ri told the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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The measures help fulfill a campaign promise Trump made to tighten US immigration procedures and align with his "America First" foreign policy vision.

By Reuters: President Donald Trump on Sunday slapped new travel restrictions on citizens from North Korea, Venezuela and Chad, expanding to eight the list of countries covered by his original travel bans that have been derided by critics and challenged in court.

Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia were left on the list of affected countries in a new proclamation issued by the president. Restrictions on citizens from Sudan were lifted.

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The measures help fulfill a campaign promise Trump made to tighten US immigration procedures and align with his "America First" foreign policy vision. Unlike the president's original bans, which had time limits, this one is open-ended.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," the president said in a tweet shortly after the proclamation was released.

Iraqi citizens will not be subject to travel prohibitions but will face enhanced scrutiny or vetting.

The current ban, enacted in March, was set to expire on Sunday evening. The new restrictions are slated to take effect on October 18 and resulted from a review after Trump's original travel bans sparked international outrage and legal challenges.

STILL A MUSLIM BAN

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from the original, mostly Muslim-majority list.

An administration official, briefing reporters on a conference call, acknowledged that the number of North Koreans now traveling to the United States was very low.

Rights group Amnesty International USA condemned the measures.

"Just because the original ban was especially outrageous does not mean we should stand for yet another version of government-sanctioned discrimination," it said in a statement.

"It is senseless and cruel to ban whole nationalities of people who are often fleeing the very same violence that the US government wishes to keep out. This must not be normalised."

The American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement the addition of North Korea and Venezuela "doesn't obfuscate the real fact that the administration's order is still a Muslim ban."

The White House portrayed the restrictions as consequences for countries that did not meet new requirements for vetting of immigrants and issuing of visas. Those requirements were shared in July with foreign governments, which had 50 days to make improvements if needed, the White House said.

A number of countries made improvements by enhancing the security of travel documents or the reporting of passports that were lost or stolen. Others did not, sparking the restrictions.

The announcement came as the US Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments on October 10 over the legality of Trump's previous travel ban, including whether it discriminated against Muslims.

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NORTH KOREA, VENEZUELA ADDED

Trump has threatened to "destroy" North Korea if it attacks the United States or its allies. Pyongyang earlier this month conducted its most powerful nuclear bomb test. The president has also directed harsh criticism at Venezuela, once hinting at a potential military option to deal with Caracas.

But the officials described the addition of the two countries to Trump's travel restrictions as the result of a purely objective review.

In the case of North Korea, where the suspension was sweeping and applied to both immigrants and non-immigrants, officials said it was hard for the United States to validate the identity of someone coming from North Korea or to find out if that person was a threat.

"North Korea, quite bluntly, does not cooperate whatsoever," one official said.

The restrictions on Venezuela focused on Socialist government officials that the Trump administration blamed for the country's slide into economic disarray, including officials from the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service and their immediate families.

Trump received a set of policy recommendations on Friday from acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke and was briefed on the matter by other administration officials, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a White House aide said.

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The rollout on Sunday was decidedly more organized than Trump's first stab at a travel ban, which was unveiled with little warning and sparked protests at airports worldwide.

Earlier on Sunday, Trump told reporters about the ban: "The tougher, the better."

Rather than a total ban on entry to the United States, the proposed restrictions differ by nation, based on cooperation with American security mandates, the threat the United States believes each country presents and other variables, officials said.

Somalis, for example, are barred from entering the United States as immigrants and subjected to greater screening for visits.

After the Sept. 15 bombing attack on a London train, Trump wrote on Twitter that the new ban "should be far larger, tougher and more specific - but stupidly, that would not be politically correct."

The expiring ban blocked entry into the United States by people from the six countries for 90 days and locked out most aspiring refugees for 120 days to give Trump's administration time to conduct a worldwide review of US vetting procedures for foreign visitors.

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Critics have accused the Republican president of discriminating against Muslims in violation of constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and equal protection under the law, breaking existing US immigration law and stoking religious hatred.

Some federal courts blocked the ban, but the US Supreme Court allowed it to take effect in June with some restrictions.

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One person is in police custody after an armed callout in Maungatapu.

Part of Maungatapu Road was cordoned off last night as police reported to an incident just before 10pm.

Callers to SunLive reported multiple Armed Offenders Squad officers in the area around Wikitoria Street, at the north end of the peninsula off Maungatapu Road.

Police blocked the road access in the vicinity of the marae and rugby ground.

A police spokesperson says police were called to Maungatapu Road at 9.14pm to assist a vulnerable person.

The spokesperson says the person has now been taken into custody.
Tauranga airline Sunair remains grounded after a CAA official has resigned over the issues.

Northland politician Shane Jones is accusing the authority of stitching up the airline.

Sunair was grounded for the second time on September 8. The Civil Aviation Authority suspended the Air Operator Certificate of Sunair Aviation Ltd, and also suspended the Certificate of Airworthiness for the Sunair fleet of aircraft.

A CAA spokesperson says it was initially for 10 days, but on Friday September 22, Sunair owner Daniel Power says they have heard nothing from CAA.

Northland resident and NZ Firsts Shane Jones says the grounding of Sunair is related to the resignation of CAA deputy director chairman Peter Griffiths, who resigned last week after passing on information regarding the suspension of Sunair to Great Barrier Island-based Barrier Air, which he owns 25 per cent of.

Im astounded at the Cynical Aviation Authority, that they have been allowed to get away with this stunt at a time when they should be working with this provincially important operator, says Shane.

They have taken a nut cracker approach. The fact that the deputy chairman has had to resign only further strengthens my belief that the chairman should have gone as well.

Its been a gross collapse in governance. You need to bear in mind that the CAA have form in conflict of interest. They were investigated a number of years ago and found to be wanting.

Their conduct towards Sunair I think is reprehensible. Sunair are valuable contributors to our tourism and our economy up in the north and also they have held an important contract in relation to our DHB.

All these things are extremely important to us.

CAA chairman Nigel Gould confirmed on Stuff that Griffiths acted before the latest suspension was in place, in the press release acknowledging the error.

When he initiated the contact with Barrier Air he did not realise that the suspension was not yet in place," says the CAA.

"It should be acknowledged that Peters intent was to offer Barrier Air assistance to Sunair in order to minimise the adverse effect on its customers.

"Despite that good intent, Peter freely admits to an error of judgement and has submitted his resignation from the board."

The CAA says the decision to ground Sunair is the result of an audit of Sunair records which found a number of anomalies and omissions in maintenance records.

"These findings created a reasonable doubt about the airworthiness of the aircraft operated by Sunair and the Operators maintenance control and the quality assurance systems intended to ensure their airworthiness," says an earlier CAA statement.

Daniel Power says the airlines last audit was a year ago, and on maintenance practices it was found to be excellent.

And now we find for reasons that we dont fully understand, they now have concerns, says Daniel.

And in the last 12 months our maintenance practices and procedures have not changed.

The airline was previously grounded by the CAA on December 6, 2016 over concerns about the airlines management structure.

The CAA became concerned the companys senior team was too small for the size of the business. That issue was successfully resolved and Sunair returned to the skies on December 16 2016.

When contacted for comment, the CAA released the following statement to SunLive.

When asked why it was necessary to suspend Sunairs Air Operator Certificate and the Certificate of Airworthiness for its fleet when Sunair had reported the issues under CAR Part 12 and they were being deal with.

The CAA reply is: "The decision to suspend Sunair resulted from an audit of Sunair maintenance records, conducted as a component of a recent change of their Maintenance Controller.

"The findings of this audit highlighted a number of anomalies and omissions in maintenance records that called into question the reliance that could be placed upon the operators control and conduct of aircraft maintenance.

"These findings created a reasonable doubt about the airworthiness of the aircraft operated by Sunair and the Operators maintenance control and the quality assurance systems intended to ensure their airworthiness.

"For this reason, the Director of Civil Aviation suspended the Sunair Air Operators Certificate, along with the Certificates of Airworthiness of its aircraft. (See section 17 of the Civil Aviation Act.) Sunair has the right to appeal these decisions to the District Court in accordance with section 66 of the Civil Aviation Act."

When asked if CAA considers it acceptable practice that a senior member of its board has acquired shareholdings in two air transport operators while he is the role, and when he is in the position of being privy to commercially sensitive information, CAAs reply is:

"By way of context, it is important to highlight that the Board is not involved in regulatory decision-making.

"This is done by the Director of Civil Aviation utilising powers that are independent of the Board. Having established that important fact, while acknowledging the obvious risks of having people with sector knowledge or involvement on the Board, there are also advantages to be gained from at least some of those providing governance of the CAA being familiar with the sector it regulates.

"Section 72A(5) of the Civil Aviation Act recognises this fact when it requires the Minister of Transport to consult with aviation industry bodies on the appointment of two of the CAA Board members.

"On balance, providing that conflicts of interest are managed correctly and Board members do not act on information held then the benefits of having some sector knowledge/involvement on the Board outweighs the risks."

CAAs answer to the question why it was necessary to suspend Whitianga operator FlyStarks operations for three months from May to July 2017 over an incident of superficial damage to one of its aircrafts wings, CAA replies:

"The aircraft in question was a Gippsland GA-8. Wingtip damage requires a maintenance inspection before the next flight, yet FlyStark flew. The maintenance manual for that aircraft requires that any damage to the outboard wing area, regardless of how minor it may appear, must be inspected by a maintenance engineer before the next flight (see section 17 of the Civil Aviation Act).

"For this reason The Director of Civil Aviation decided to suspend the aircraft certificate of airworthiness until such time as an inspection had been completed and to suspend the Air Operators Certificate while the root causes were being investigated.

"Although this CAA investigation was completed within a couple of weeks, FlyStark management elected to extend their operational suspension until they were fully satisfied that they were ready to recommence safe air transport operations."
The Zespri board of directors has appointed long-serving Zespri executive Dan Mathieson as the companys new chief executive, taking over from Lain Jager with immediate effect.

Zespri chairman Peter McBride says Dan has an impressive track record over his 15 years with Zespri, with his most recent role as president of global sales & marketing.

I am confident he will lead Zespri well and deliver growth and increasing value for our industry and shareholders, building on the strong legacy that Lain Jager leaves behind, says Peter.

In his time leading our sales and marketing operations and offshore markets, Dan has successfully delivered a demand-led strategy, growing mature markets and diversifying into new markets. Our sales and marketing function has developed significantly under his leadership, with an increased focus on consumer insight, distributor and retailer relationships, and marketing excellence.

Dans tremendously optimistic about Zespris future and excited about the opportunities ahead.

As chief executive Im looking forward to helping continue the momentum we have in our business as we work toward increasing global sales to $4.5 billion by 2025. The growing strength of our Zespri brand underpinned by an unrelenting focus on quality and our strong supplier and customer partnerships provides us with an outstanding opportunity to rapidly increase demand, increase supply and innovate to sustain and grow returns to growers and shareholders.

Delivering Zespris strategy means an increasing focus on our international markets, as we continue to increase demand ahead of supply and expand our 12-month supply business. As Chief Executive I will focus significantly on these elements so I will base myself between our head office in New Zealand and our sales and marketing hub in Singapore.

Our industry is the heart of everything we do and I realise the huge importance of working closely with New Zealand growers and industry leaders and I will spend substantial time at Zespris head office in Mount Maunganui. A strong and empowered New Zealand executive will also play a key role in maintaining these strong industry relationships.

Around half of Zespris nearly 500 staff are based offshore and Dan welcomes the opportunity to lead this increasingly globalised team.

Peter notes the extraordinary opportunity ahead to grow year-round demand for Zespri Kiwifruit, maximise the potential of SunGold around the world and continue to grow the Zespri brand.

Dans appointment is the logical evolution of Zespris strategy to grow market demand and create value for customers and consumers, along with growing sustainable returns for Zespris grower-shareholders.

This appointment reflects the development of Zespri and the industry over the last five years, along with the continuation of our strategy to market the worlds leading portfolio of kiwifruit 12 months of the year. The board regarded Dans exceptional international sales and marketing background, together with deep knowledge of our industry and his strong ability to lead diverse groups of people in his appointment to the role of chief executive.

I would like to acknowledge the outstanding performance of Lain Jager as chief executive for the past nine years. His record speaks for itself, managing the challenges and opportunities of growth with volumes doubling under his leadership, alongside growing value for growers and shareholders.
In front of a large Tauranga crowd the Bay of Plenty Steamers were unable to close out the win over Counties Manukau, concluding the match in a 31 all draw.

The Bay of Plenty Steamers made their intentions known early in the first half.

Unable to finish off a superb break from centurion Culum Retallick, Richard Judd made amends for dropping the ball and charged down Baden Kerrs clearing kick to set up prop Solomona Sakalia to flop on the ball over the try line.

Twenty minutes later Mike Delany burst through the Counties Manukau defence to setup Terrence Hepetema for the try.

Counties Manukau managed to bounce back first through a short-range try to Fotu Lokotui to keep them in the match and then to tie up the match through Augustine Pulu.

A late Steamers penalty gave saw the Steamers take a 17-14 lead at the break. Returning from the break Counties Manukau scored two unanswered tries, firs with Albert Nikoro then Nigel Ah Wong crossing the line.

Counties Manukaus Tevita Nabura was penalised for un-sportsman like behaviour allowing the Steamers to attack again this time through Lalakai Foketi.

Foketi pulled out some impressive footwork to level the scores. The Steamers were hot on attack again when referee Mike Lash was forced to call off play when Pulu bizarrely opted to rip the pad off the goalpost on defence.

The match was restarted by a scrum which Bay of Plenty dominated and No 8 Jesse Parete crossed for the try.

With the match on the line Nanai-Williams led a charge down the field that resulted in a try to replacement halfback Liam Daniella, setting up the pulsating finish.

After a Bay of Plenty fight back, Counties Manukau countered as they levelled the scores in the 75th minute to set up a helter-skelter finish.

Veteran first five-eighth Mike Delany pushed a 40m penalty wide of posts in the 78th minute.

Delany then cramped up as he attempted a dropped goal two minutes into extra time.

Counties Manukau swung back onto attack, but a forward pass was ruled concluding the match at the relief of the spectators.

Bay of Plenty: 31 (Solomona Sakalia, Terrence Hepetema, Lalakai Foketi, Jesse Parete tries; Mike Delany 3 con, pen)

Counties Manuaku: 31 (Fotu Lokotui, Augustine Pulu, Albert Nikoro, Nigel Ah Wong, Liam Daniella tries; Baden Kerr 3 con)

HT: 17-14
The special event has been arranged to allow local businesses affected by the April floods to showcase their products and services, and spread the news that Edgecumbe is back in business.

Emirates Team New Zealand representatives will bring the Auld Mug to Riverslea Park on Monday October 9 from 12 - 2 pm.

Local businesses are invited to make the most of the crowds by hosting stalls, free of charge, at the venue.

The event will see Emirates Team New Zealand and the Cup welcomed onto the Rata Street Park, first by local iwi and Deputy Mayor Judy Turner, followed by local business and District Recovery Team representatives.

A brief question and answer session will be followed by an opportunity for people to get their photo taken with the Cup, before the Team departs at 2 pm.

Whakatane District Council Tourism and Events Advisor, Nicola Burgess, says the event is a locally-led initiative.

We are very lucky to have people in the local business community who came up with the idea and put it out there.

When it was brought to their attention, Emirates Team New Zealand generously agreed to create this unique opportunity for the Edgecumbe community, and the Council is very happy to help make it happen.

The visit is expected to boost morale for the small township, which was impacted by massive flooding when the Rangitaiki River breached its stopbanks on 6 April this year, causing a local Civil Defence State of Emergency and the complete evacuation of the township.

Some 300 homes and a number of businesses and surrounding rural properties sustained significant flood damage.
Fonterra is defending the skyrocketing of its chief executives $8.3 million pay packet for the year, up nearly 80 percent from last year.

Theo Spierings was paid $4.6m last year, slightly less than in 2015.

The Fonterra chair, John Wilson, says Theo Spierings base salary did not increase from last year, but his bonuses did.

He says short-term and senior executive incentives were met, which brought in about $2 billion of cash and working capital.

"Clearly these numbers are high from a New Zealand perspective and we absolutely respect and understand that, from an Australasian and a global perspective which is the nature of our business, theyre actually well within the bands of what those global executives earn."

Meanwhile, Fonterra has reported a weaker full-year profit, as the rebound in milk prices hits its profit margins.

The dairy co-operatives net profit for the year ended July fell 11 percent to $745 million, compared with last years $834 million.

Revenue climbed about 12 percent to $19.2 billion, but milk volumes fell about 3 per cent.

-RNZ
Yes, we need to keep it under control

No, we need to learn to live with it
The attachment was done on grounds that Karti is trying to frustrate the ED's probe and attachment proceedings by closing these accounts.

By Meetu Jain: In what could spell further trouble for the Chidambaram's, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday attached assets worth Rs 1.16 crore of Karti Chidambaram, beleaguered Chennai businessman and son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, in the Aircel Maxis case.

A fixed deposit of Rs 90 cr in Karti's bank account and another Rs 26 lakh of FDs in the name of a firm, Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited, were seized by the ED. This firm is allegedly linked to Karti and the ED said it was "controlled" by him through a proxy.

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The attachment was done on grounds that Karti is trying to frustrate the ED's probe and attachment proceedings by closing these accounts. ASCPL, the ED alleges is owned by Karti through a proxy, S Bhaskaraman. The ED has also alleged that Karti sold off a property in Gurgaon allegedly bought using money earned in the Aircel deal accounts in order to frustrate the process of attachment" under the PMLA. The agency is probing the Aircel-Maxis deal after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR in the case. This property was rented out to a multinational firm for whom FDI approval had been granted in 2013.

In ED note accessed by India Today explains the route through which the money was allegedly routed. The ED alleges that a Chess company owned by Karti and his cousin, A Palaniappan, received USD 2 lakh from Maxis group for a "legal compliance software. This software became operational only at a much later date, after payments were received from the Maxis group".

Meanwhile, P Chidambaram has reacted to the latest ED action as "a crazy mixture of falsehoods and conjectures". "I will not be intimidated," Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram said that the Enforcement Directorate's allegations are "intended to intimidate me and to silence my voice". The ED has cleverly skirted the issue of jurisdiction as the only charge sheet filed in the case (Aircel-Maxis) has been quashed by the lower court.

Chidambaram said as and when the attachment order is served, "suitable action will be taken in accordance with law." Chidambaram said that the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) officials, who were examined by the CBI, have affirmed that the FIPB, consisting of secretaries to the Indian government, correctly approved and recommended the case and placed the minutes before the finance minister (who was the competent authority) for approval.

"Approval was granted in the normal course," he said.

WATCH | Tamil Nadu: CBI conducts raids at Chidambaram's Chennai residence, son Karti's house in Karaikudi

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: (Updating with background)

Abu Dhabi, Sep 25 (PTI) Eman Abdul Atti, a 37-year-old Egyptian national once believed to be the worlds heaviest woman, died today in a hospital in the UAE due to complications from her weight, the hospital said.

Eman weighed roughly 500 kilogrammes when she arrived in India in February, but had lost an astonishing 323 kilogrammes after undergoing a series of medical procedures.

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She died at the Burjeel Hospital hospital in Abu Dhabi due to complications from the underlying comorbid conditions, including heart disease and kidney dysfunction, according to medical experts at the hospital.

In medicine, comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional diseases or disorders co-occurring with a primary disease or disorder.

Eman had been admitted at Burjeel hospital on May 4 after arriving in the UAE from India.

She had been under the supervision of over 20 doctors from different specialities, who were managing her medical condition.

Initially, she underwent treatment at the Saifee Hospital in Mumbai for severe obesity.

Eman underwent bariatric surgery in March in India in which doctors reduced the size of her stomach by two-thirds, so as to reduce her food intake. Her genetic tests had showed that she had a rare gene mutation that cannot be cured through surgery.

Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is used as a last resort to treat people who are dangerously obese - having a body mass index of 40 or above, or 35 plus other obesity-related health conditions.

Her treatment in India was abruptly stopped after her sister Shaimaa, on social media, alleged that Eman was not receiving proper treatment in India.

She had alleged that the doctors at Saifee, made "false claims" about Emans recovery and weight loss.

Eman, a resident of Alexandria in Egypt, had not stepped out of her house for more than two decades due to her obese condition followed by a stroke that left her paralysed on one side a year ago.

She had celebrated her 37th birthday on September 9, surrounded by family and friends.

Eman?s problems appeared at birth when she was born overweight and continued to rapidly grow, struggling to walk even as a young girl.

She never attended school because of her size, and doctors believe her condition is caused by a fluid retention problem, meaning that large amounts of extra water are being retained in her body. PTI NSA AKJ NSA

--- ENDS ---
Disrupting The Market

One of the things that separated Steve Jobs from every other CEO in Silicon Valley is that Steve Jobs believed that engineers were artists

Some people will love what you do, some people will hate what you do. It's OK.

You have to learn to ignore the naysayers

"Huh! That person is a loser." That's not a dangerous bozo. [Because] who listens to losers? Other losers. That's why that bozo isn't dangerous.

Changing your mind is a sign of intelligence. It's not a sign of stupidity or making a mistake

If you're an engineer, you need to create a product that's unique and valuable. If you're a marketing person, you need to convince the world that it's unique and valuable.

Letting a 100 flowers blossom for a disruptor means that you take your best shot at positioning and branding and figure out who you are unique and valuable for -- and then you ship it

I believe in God. And one of the reasons why I believe in God is that there is no other explanation for Apple's continued survival than the existence of a benevolent God

What we can do in Silicon Valley better than anyone in the world is that we know how to declare victory.

Once you've shipped, you need to completely change your mindset and churn. Churn means version 1 becomes 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, and 2.0

One of the most valuable lessons that I learned from Steve Jobs is [...] that if you want to be an innovator, if you want to be a disruptive force, if you want to dent the universe, if you want to change the world, you need to embrace the attitude that some things need to be believed to be seen

The main keynote speaker during the event was, FormerEvangelist and current Chief Evangelist of, a free graphic design website. With more than 30 years of experience in marketing tech products and managing start-ups, Mr. Kawasaki is certainly one of the brightest minds in our industry today.I was lucky to have had the chance to meet him personally and to listen to his talk at ACC 2017. I'd like to share that good fortune with you by giving you these quotes and paragraphs that he said during his keynote about"Make sure you appreciate great design. Great design is the key to Apple; It's in their user interface, it's in their industrial design.. It wasn't about lines of codes, it wasn't about that kind of productivity. It was about art. And I think if you want to disrupt the market, you have to think of your engineers as artists; That they are making art that's an expression of their soul. Make design count.""Polarize people.The worst case is that people don't care about what you've done; That you're irrelevant.". The naysayers are going to tell you that it can't be done; That it shouldn't be done and that it isn't necessary. When Apple came up with Macintosh, many people predicted its demise. When Apple decided to do the Apple Store, many said that there's no way that the Apple Store would work; You can't possibly support a store with a single brand. And yet today, per square foot, Apple is the most successful retailer in the world.""Naysaying is typically done by people who are bozos. They're stupid. They're negative. There are two kinds of bozos in the world. One kind of bozo is obviously a loser; You look at this person, this person is disgusting with body odor, rusty car, Japanese watch -- and you say,"The dangerous bozo is the winner bozo. The dangerous bozo is the bozo that is famous, that is rich, that is powerful; Dresses in all black. The dangerous bozo owns a lot of things that end in "I" like Armani, Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes is OK. People look at that person and they think being rich or famous parses to smart. But being rich and famous often parses to lucky, not smart. So you should never assume someone who's rich and famous is smart.""To be successful as a disruptor, you have to be willing to change your mind.. Changing your mind is a good thing.""This is all the marketing you need to know as a disruptor: Niche thyself. I think the marketing of disruption comes down to a very simple point.When the iPod first came out, it was unique and valuable; It was the only way you could buy songs from the six major music publishers easily, legally, and cheaply. Unique and valuable.". And then, you wait and you see what happens. And in many cases, you'll notice something very interesting, which is your intended audience may not embrace your product and if you're lucky, an unintended audience starts buying your product or service. This absolutely happened to us at Apple.""So in the 1980's, we thought Macintosh would be a spreadsheet, database, and word processing machine. We were zero for three there. Large companies didn't embrace Macintosh for those three functionalities. Luckily, quite luckily, companies started to use Macintosh for desktop publishing. Desktop publishing is not something we anticipated, not something we created. I think that desktop publishing - all these page maker, Adobe postscript - I think they were gifts from God to the Apple Computer. God wanted to save Apple..""Let me give you some tactical advice:So we said, 'Of course, Macintosh is good for desktop publishing. That's why we created Macintosh.' The way it works in Silicon Valley is you take a lot of shots, you take a lot of risks, you fund a lot of startups, you throw them all against the wall, a very few of them will stick and you go up the wall and you paint the bull's eye around what stuck to the wall and you say, 'Hallelujah! I hit the bull's eye again!' That's how it works in Silicon Valley." If you want to believe that at the start of eBay, Youtube, Apple, Facebook, or Google, that we knew that they were going to be successful, God bless you. I'm telling you, it's not true. All of that happened after the fact. It's a great skill to declare victory.""Churn, baby, churn! This is the most difficult thing for a disruptor to do.. Macintosh started in January of 1984 and it took until 2017 to get computer like an iMac Pro. I will tell you that one of the big learning lessons for me in my life was I thought that Macintosh was so great that by January of 1985, Apple would control the computing world. It never happened like that. It took 20 to 30 years for Apple to truly be successful. I never thought it would take that long. The lesson here is that you need to jump to the next curve. When you jump to the next curve, that curve doesn't have to be perfect. I'm not saying you should ship crap but I'm saying that if you jump the next curve; That first refrigerator was not perfect, right? That first laser printer was not perfect, that first digital camera was not perfect but once you've shipped, you need to churn, baby, churn -- and this is the toughest thing for a disruptor to do because you have to go from ignoring feedback to listening to feedback.". If you believe in the internet of things, if you believe in Macintosh, if you believe in iOS, if you believe in Android, if you believe that people will rent out their spare rooms to strangers on the internet, if you believe that people will get in a car that is from a company that you're quite sure is properly insured and licensed. If you believe that that can happen, then you will see the Lyfts, the Ubers, the Apples, and the AirBnBs, and all the companies that change the world. Some things need to be believed to be seen -- and that is the art of disruption."
A team of experts found that app-based treatment methods for depression can significantly ease symptoms of depression. Can this accessible method help the millions of people around the world who are suffering from the disorder?

Worldwide Depression

This year, the World Health Organization declared depression as the world's leading cause of illness and disability. In fact, the latest Global Burden of Disease study revealed major depression as one of the 10 leading causes of death in all but four countries worldwide.

Depression is a condition that is often misunderstood, underrated and shrouded in stigma. As such, health organizations and even companies all over the world are continuous in educating the public and looking for ways to diagnose, help and treat people with the condition. From yoga and even sleep deprivation, experts are looking at all sorts of ways to ease depression symptoms.

App-Based Treatments

A new report is now confirming that app-based treatments are effective in easing the symptoms of depression. The team of researchers from Australia's National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM), The University of Manchester, Harvard Medical School, and the Black Dog Institute studied 18 randomized trials which examined 22 different smartphone-based mental health interventions and involved 3,414 participants aged 18-59 with conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, insomnia, major depression, and mild to moderate depression.

Their main findings show that app-based treatments elicited positive effects on depressive symptoms, and could potentially be significant tools in mental health management. Specifically, the researchers found that the apps are best suited for individuals with mild to moderate depression. Further, apps which focus on mental health showed greater effects on depression outcomes compared with apps that focus on cognitive training.

Treatment Accessibility

By all means, researchers aren't implying that app-based treatments alone could replace traditional therapies and antidepressant medications, but the importance of their findings lies in having yet another tool that can help people around the world to somehow have quick and easy access to something that can help manage their mental health.

Further, with the array of mental health management apps already launched, their research can help to begin identifying which apps actually work, and which apps do not.

Lead author of the paper, Joseph Firth, of NICM describes the importance of these findings especially with regards to the unusual method's accessibility:

"Combined with the rapid technological advances in this area, these devices may ultimately be capable of providing instantly accessible and highly effective treatments for depression, reducing the societal and economic burden of this condition worldwide."

The study is published in the journal World Psychiatry.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Pressure has been growing in the past few weeks for politicians and regulators to clamp down on the monopoly power of Big Tech. Indeed, scrutiny is growing among media watchers and corporate leaders as the growing value and vast gains being made using personal data.

In my view, the owning of IP, and the data to generate it, will totally overturn the patent system. Traditionally, the creation of IP was based on ideas and concepts that could be clearly defined, but now it has become based on data and ownership of that data, and giving away the IP means the system is really not free at all.

A key consideration that everyone overlooks, and the point I want to make, is that most terms and conditions allow vendors to use your data freely in any way they select, if it is within that organization. So, all your pictures on Facebook are used to teach networks for facial recognition. Now, what if that was then used later, say in 10 years, for an autonomous killing system in a war zone? You did not give permission for this to be done, but you did give permission to use your data and actually taught the system with your actions and tagging.

In a recent blog post by my colleague Laurie Brasner, Seals general counsel, she wrote about her experiences in performing various tasks as a young lawyer early in her career, and working hard to understand not just the task at hand, but the why within the task--to understand the bigger picture.

Today, many people overlook some or all of the finer details of tasks, and also grasp the bigger pictures of legal work. It may be because they just dont have the time or willingness to put in the extra hard yards. But, as Laurie detailed, its those hard yards that can really count. It was this view that made me ponder the question within the title of this blog  do people know who they are working for, and providing valuable Intellectual property for free?

In this digital age, information about peoples lives is held as a set of linked elements within applications. From private applications, like medical records, to public ones, such as Facebook. Our purchase history is used to target further advertisements, and companies such as Facebook use this information to make vast revenues from advertisements. When you look closely at the market, just two firms control over 90 percent of all digital marketing and revenue.

So, how did those companies achieve such market dominance? The simple answer is because you and I let them. All of us helped them, some knowingly, some or most unknowingly. Every time you post or comment on a post on Facebook, or react in some way to a public event, its recorded, tracked and used to learn from. Therefore, it shouldnt come as a surprise that the two most dominant marketing and advertising, social and information distribution networks are also two of the largest four AI (artificial intelligence) players.

The information we share with those applications is done without a thought, in many cases, for how that data will be used or kept. You are giving away hours of work without knowing it. Just think for a moment about your own Facebook account. It automatically presents you with stories that are relevant to you, and filters away items that it thinks are less interesting. Over time, users are presented with a view of the world that conforms to their own views and opinions.

Humans are like AI--we learn from the data that is fed to us, and our views are formed by the items and events that surround us from the moment we are born. So, if we are only given information that reinforces our views, you can guess what happens.

An example of what could happen is Tay.AI. This bot learned in a similar way as humans might, being fed information and learning from it, without supervision or corrective actions. As we later discovered, the results were far from positive. So, with all the data we produce, how do we know its going to be used correctly, and effectively, and not used to create a monster?

It is not just social applications that amass information. Various businesses and law firms are also freely giving away intellectual property that they have developed without knowing it. The value of intellectual property is hard to quantify when you are creating it, but once you have lost the IP or someone else controls it, it becomes priceless, as its impossible to regain, once its given away.

Many cloud vendors have terms and conditions that hide or obfuscate complex interlinking clauses about who owns the IP that is created on their platforms. Very often it isnt the customers or the end users that provided it who own the data, but the cloud and application providers themselves.

As organizations start to use AI, they are looking to gain an edge. They spend many hours creating new and better ways to detect and extract information from within contracts, often creating new classes of information extraction and interpretation, but is all that work ownable? In most cases its notits owned by the platform on which they are creating the data sets. Those firms are effectively working for someone else, and giving away their IP, without knowing it.

Losing ownership of the IP can be disastrous. Just imagine when your company is looking to use all that hard work to create competitive advantage, yet, you suddenly find out you dont own any of it, and at worst, that other law firms have access to the models or improvements you created.

Some platforms understand this issue, and at no time is any customer IP owned by anyone else than the customer. The best platforms enable customers to take control of the info they wish to share, and with whom, via encrypted distribution and digital applications for information extraction.

The creation of extraction packs allows businesses to issue private extraction applications to only predetermined groups or companies, and to revoke access if they need to. All information is secured and encrypted in such a way that only the target users can run the models, and even if someone has access to running the models, they are not able to see or interact in any way with the data. At no time do the original contracts ever leave the customers systems, and they dont unknowingly work for someone else.

In my view, the goal of data-driven platforms should not be to own their customers IPit should be to allow their customers to create, own, and distribute information, when, how and to whom they see as appropriate. Companies can collaborate on extractions safe in the knowledge that customer data is never given away. Companies can learn from each other and build the applications to automate information retrieval on a shared basis.

Everyone should be aware of the real terms and conditions they are agreeing to, and more specifically, how any information or actions are used to learn from and kept. That is especially important for businesses that create intellectual property, to know who the real owner of any models or training is, as you should know what you will be giving away freely. Like Laurie says, you should read and take time to understand the contracts T and Cs, to fully understand what you will give awaybefore its too late.

About the Author: Kevin Gidney has held various senior technical positions within Legato, EMC, Kazeon, Iptor and Open Text. His roles have included management, solutions architecture and technical pre-sales, with a background in electronics and computer engineering, applied to both software and hardware solutions.

Edited by Mandi Nowitz
The Punjab State Aids Control Society (PSACS) has released a pamphlet claiming that AIDS is caused by shaking hands and using the same mobile device as the infected person. What's the truth?

By India Today Web Desk:

Claim:

The following claims have been made about the spread of AIDS:

Shaking hands with the infected person can cause AIDS.

Using the same utensils as the infected person.

Using mobile devices and computers used by the infected person.

Using toilets used by an infected person can cause AIDS.

Rating:

False

Origin:

This information is being spread by the Punjab State Aids Control Society (PSACS) itself. The PSACS has released a pamphlet in an effort to spread awareness about AIDS and the mentioned claims are made in the pamphlet.

The Truth:

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AIDS being a sensitive issue and a topic not widely discussed in the Indian society has always been a victim of misinformation. HIV/AIDS is an infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS usually spreads through unprotected sex and exchange of bodily fluids as well.

Thus, the conversations around AIDS, its spread and prevention are very less in the common discourse in India, because it involves talking about sex.

The above mentioned points have been one of the most commonly misconceptions when it comes to AIDS. According to AVERT.org, an organisation working towards the prevention and spread of information about HIV and AIDS, an individual cannot contract HIV from: - Kissing- Hugging- Sharing Food- Toilet Seats- Insect Bites- Bathing- Sneezes and Coughs- Sweat

Instead, AIDS is commonly caused by:

Unprotected sex

From mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding

Use of infected needles

Infected blood donations and organ transplants

Getting the blood of an infected person inside their body by a healthcare worker

The increasing amount of misinformation surrounding the disease leads to discrimination.

People suffering from HIV/AIDS have to deal with discrimination on a daily basis at their workplace and home. They're not allowed to sit, eat, touch the non-infected people around them thus making them feel like untouchables.

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Farooq Ahmad Dar, the man who was tied to an Army jeep in a controversial incident in Kashmir, was indeed a voter and had gone out to cast his ballot on the fateful day when he was picked up by the Army unit.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu, India Today Web Desk: Who was Farooq Ahmad Dar, the man tied to an Indian Army jeep in Srinagar by Major Leetul Gogoi? Was he just a man out to vote in the April 9 Srinagar by-election, as Dar claimed in news interviews? Or was he an 'instigator', provoking protesters to pelt stones, as claimed by the Army?

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The Jammu and Kashmir police, which is conducting an investigation into the 'human shield' incident, has contradicted the Army and backed Dar.

This is according to a J&K Police report, which was submitted by the Senior Superintendent of Police (Budgam) to Jammu and Kashmir Police's chief SP Vaid last month. The report was recently seen by India Today.

In the report, the J&K Police has contradicted the Army, finding that not only was Dar a voter, he was "lifted" by Army personnel and kept under "wrongful confinement".

The report says that further investigation into the case is needed, and is being carried out. The probe will be completed after an analysis of video clips and after obtaining more information from Election Commission officials and the commander of the 53 Rashtriya Rifles, the Army unit involved in the incident.

The report, however, states that Farooq Ahmed Dar had indeed gone out to vote on April 9, as was claimed by him later. "During investigation it came to surface that Dar cast his vote at [a] polling booth installed in his village of Chill [and] after casting his vote left... for a condolence to village Gampora," the report says.

The report also says that Dar was with one Ahmad Magray. "On reaching Utligam crossing [Dar was] lifted by Army during stone pelting and tied to the bonnet of the car... keeping [sic] him in wrongful confinement and paraded within the area. Later he was released," the report further says.

The April 9 incident caused nation-wide furore after images and videos of Dar being driven around an Army jeep while tied to its bonnet went viral.

The Army, however, stood by Major Gogoi though chief General Bipin Rawat did clarify that using human shields was not a standard operating procedure for the force.

Gogoi later said that Dar appeared to be "instigating" a mob of stone-pelters that had gathered around a polling booth in Utligam during the Srinagar by-election.

Speaking to the media in May, Major Gogoi said that he came upon the idea of trying Dar to the jeep when a mob of 1,200 people started pelting stones at polling staff. Gogoi said he did not want to open fire at the crowd as that would have resulted in significant casualties and so, he tied Dar to the car.

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WATCH | I'm not even a stone-pelter, says Kashmiri man tied to jeep

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According to the complaint, she was misled to the centre by her own family.

By P S Gopikrishnan Unnithan: A female Ayurveda doctor from Thrissur in Kerala has lodged a complaint with Thripunithara police alleging that she has been harassed and tortured in an alleged religious counselling centre for marrying a Christian guy. The 28-year-old who did not wished to reveal her identity, has made serious allegations against Yoga and Charitable Trust in Kochi.

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According to the complaint, she was misled to the centre by her own family. The Udhayamperur police have registered a case against 6 people including the woman's brother-in-law, Manoj Guruji, who runs the yoga centre and 4 others.

Last year the woman got married to a Christian man inspite of immense opposition from her family members. Under the guise of reconciliation, Manoj and his parents invited the victim to their sister's house at Avoli, Muvattupuzha on July 28 and from there they took her to the Yoga and Charitable Trust at Kandanad run by Manoj Guruji on July 31.

"Manoj had arranged the entire conspiracy, torture and he misled me to accompany my sister for yoga learning there. Then for 22 days, I was subjected to torture and cruelty by the accused. The 2nd accused introduced as an advocate of High Court, the 1st accused claimed as Guruji and the accused 3 to 5 were the counsellors. They illegally confined me there, confiscated my mobile phone and belongings, tied my hands, mouth, legs using cloth from behind and assaulted repeatedly.

They threatened me with the evil consequences of marrying a Christian and when I objected and tried to escape from illegal confinement they physically assaulted me and outraged my modesty by tearing my dress. There were classes regarding the evil spirits of Christianity and Islam and they used to promote enmity towards Islam and Christ", says the woman in her complaint.

Further, she adds that Guruji even showed photos of her husband claiming that he is being followed by his men. "Guruji threatened me that if I go with my husband they will kill him. They induced me to marry a Hindu which my father will arrange. There were such 65 girls illegally detained and tortured and many had complained about sexual abuses. I was forced to do the works of housemaid including cleaning and preparing dishes for 65 inmates. I spent my time there in tears but I was not allowed to contact anyone outside. The above 65 inmates were undergoing incarceration there and the 1st accused told that no court or police will touch them and that they are running this business for the last 15 years.

On August 21, I pretended as I agreed to their terms and my parents took me to my elder sister's house at Muvattupuzha from where I escaped and joined my husband", the women narrates he agony in the complaint.

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Taking things further, Thrippunithara CI has handed forwarded the complaint to Udhayamperoor SI. The Udhayamperoor SI have registered a case against the Yoga and Charitable Trust which falls under their jurisdiction. The woman has filed a case against the alleged trust in Kerala High Court, which will be considered on Tuesday.

Also Watch : Gauri Lankesh murder: Another voice of dissent silenced?

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She posted a picture on her Instagram account where she is seen sitting on a wheel chair.

By India Today Web Desk: Former Bigg Boss contestant Sofia Hayat is nursing her injured knee. She met with an accident recently when her car crashed with a fair ground bumper car.

She posted a picture on her Instagram account where she is seen sitting on a wheel chair in the hospital.

In her post she wrote: "I am at the hospital. I can't walk. :( send me healing energy. Hoping its not seriouse. I jever have accidents! I was in a fair ground bumper car and crashed and my car. My knee is swollen and bruised. Luckily we met Vlads friend 2 mins after by chance. They rushed me to the hospital in Accident and Emergency. Waiting now. Cross fingers." (sic)

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She also posted a video message for all parents:

Becareful on fairground rides please!!! A post shared by Sofia Hayat (@sofiahayat) on Sep 24, 2017 at 10:32am PDT

Get well soon, Sofia!

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U.S. Sen. John McCain, 81 years old, fighting cancer and nearing the end of a storied three-decade career in the upper chamber, is in legacy mode.

While McCain's votes haven't always conformed with his straight-shooting, independent image, he's embarking on quite a run of public gestures that put the country and the institution he serves ahead of partisan priorities.

That's what he did when he provided the dramatic, decisive vote to kill the last GOP attempt to ram through a massive upheaval of the nation's health care system by bypassing the normal hearings, fact-finding and other processes meant to produce sober-minded legislation. It's what he did when he signed a bipartisan legal brief aimed at reducing the toxic effects of partisan redistricting, even though Republicans have benefited far more than Democrats.

And it's what he did last week, when he came out against yet another last-ditch attempt, authored by his good friend Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Louisiana's Bill Cassidy, to undo the signature accomplishment of the man who ended his presidential dreams, Barack Obama. McCain said he could not in good conscience support the latest repeal-and-replace bill, which proposes sending money to states and letting them come up with their own plans, leaving the bill on life support as the Sept. 30 deadline to pass it with just 51 votes looms.

So here's what I'm wondering: What about Cassidy's good conscience? And what about his legacy?

Compared to McCain, Cassidy is on the opposite end of the seniority spectrum. He turns 60 this week but has been in the Senate for less than three years following a relatively brief stint in the U.S. House. He has no major legislation to his name and, until recently, was unknown outside of Louisiana. His real career was as a gastroenterologist in the state's charity system, which he often cites as a credential for leading the health care fight.

Right now, all that's done is make him a public face of a bill that only 20 percent of Americans support, according to a new CBS poll; that's been shredded by every major patient, medical, insurance and hospital group; and that would take money away from his own state and many others that worked to insure the very patient population that Cassidy once treated.

It's put him in a losing battle with comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who has easily held the upper hand by focusing attention on Cassidy's earlier promise to preserve protections for people with pre-existing conditions and who require expensive care over the long haul. Cassidy had sought to capitalize on Kimmel's emotional monologue about his newborn son's heart surgery by inventing something he called the "Jimmy Kimmel test," but after he started promoting a bill that falls short of that, Kimmel called him a liar and demanded that he stop using his name.

Cassidy's push also has made him complicit in diverting a genuinely bipartisan effort to shore up the part of the current health care law that has caused the real problems Republicans campaigned on. Those are the high costs and deductibles associated with some private insurance policies for people who don't get coverage through an employer and don't qualify for government subsidies, and the limited options in some states. Instead, Graham-Cassidy undermines many of the law's popular provisions and takes aim at something that predated Obama  Medicaid's very existence as an entitlement program.

Cassidy campaigned to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and he's been a consistent critic of its mandate that individuals carry coverage. Still, until now, he's often been a voice of reason, arguing in favor of expanding coverage in other ways and for understanding the financial implications of any proposed change. Facing voters who were furious over the repeal drive at a series of town hall meetings this summer, he treated them respectfully. People who know him better than I do vouch for his caring and character.

All of which makes his insistence on pushing this universally panned proposal inexplicable. The New Yorker's medical writer, a surgeon named Atul Gawande, put it this way: "I find it baffling that a person with (Cassidy's) experience would not recognize the danger of this bill." He's far from the only one.

Because with everything Cassidy knows and all he's done, nobody's better positioned to be a productive force in the health care debate than he is. If there's shame in blowing things up and taking health care away from people who need it, there's honor in getting it right.

And it's never too soon to start thinking legacy.

Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com.
A Canberra man charged over an explosion outside the Australian Christian Lobby offices has killed himself.

The 36-year-old died on Sunday.

The remains of a van outside the Australian Christian Lobby offices. A Canberra man was charged over the explosion.

He was set to fight allegations of arson and property damage at trial, arguing he was mentally impaired when he drove a van packed with gas cylinders into Eternity House at Deakin in 2016.

His defence lawyer, Peter Woodhouse, said on Monday the man's death was further evidence that his alleged offence had "always been a mental-health issue and nothing more than that, despite what those opposite would like to assert".
BMC had given a report earlier stating that Shitap had carried out unauthorised work on the ground floor of Siddhi Sai building in Ghatkopar which weakened it.

By Vidya : About 11 families, who lost their loved ones and their homes in the Ghatkopar building collapse today filed an intervention application in the Bombay High Court asking it to reject the bail application of Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap.

The Mumbai Sessions Court in August had refused to grant bail to Shitap, who was arrested in connection with the Ghatkopar building collapse on July 25. BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) had given a report earlier stating that Shitap had carried out unauthorised work on the ground floor of Siddhi Sai building in Ghatkopar which weakened it.

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In his bail application, Shitap said that since investigation is over, no purpose was served in keeping him behind bars. Shitap claimed that he had appointed contractors to conduct a structural audit of the building in 2015 and found that urgent repairs were needed. He blamed the residents for not cooperating with the repairs while the building was in a dilapidated condition. He had also claimed that political rivals has implicated him in the case.

The Ghatkopar residents in their intervention application said, "In 2015, Shitap, his wife and mother, all three bought flats on the ground floor of the collapsed building. They converted the usage of the premises owned by them from residential to commercial without any prior permissions or consent of the society."

"In July this year Shitap carried out extensive alterations in the flats. During this time he removed all the load bearing internal walls and also removed 6 columns and beams of the collapsed building," read the application by the residents.

The application further stated that the remaining load bearing beams and columns had also been tampered with and many such massive structural changes on the ground floor had resulted in the fatal incident that took the lives of 17 people and left 14 people injured.

Advocate Sujay Kantawala and Ashish Mehta, who are representing the interveners have said that they will oppose the bail application of Shitap which is listed for hearing on tuesday Before justice R Mohite-Dere.

Also Watch : Mumbai: 12 dead in four-storey Ghatkopar building collapse

--- ENDS ---
You're in for a sunny day for your first day back at work after the long weekend, with a top of 20 degrees. It dropped to a chilly 2 degrees last night.

Australia leapt out of the space race starting blocks in 1967, becoming just the third nation in the world to build and launch its own satellite.

Fifty years later, it lags behind countries such as Kazakhstan, Bolivia and Peru as one of the only developed economies without a national space agency.

The federal government's announcement on Monday to establish such a body was met with enthusiasm and excitement.

Steven Trask has more.

How long have you been on hold with Access Canberra?
Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin has been cleared to play in Saturday's grand final. Do you agree? Here is the case for and against.

The AFL's match review panel was deciding whether Cotchin could be suspended over his high bump on Giants midfielder Dylan Shiel.

Cotchin's hopes of playing in Richmond's first grand final since 1982 hung in the balance and had the whole of Melbourne talking after he delivered the hit during the first quarter of the club's historic preliminary final win.

Shiel played on after the hit but later failed a concussion test and was ruled out from playing the three remaining quarters.
Fonterra says Australian farmers are on a waiting list to supply it. Credit:Bloomberg

Asked what was attractive about Murray Goulburn to Fonterra, Mr Dedoncker said: "It's more about our strategy. We know cheese and we know whey and nutritionals, those three areas, better than anybody else. And it's products that come from that that serve consumer food service and ingredients, that's fundamentally our strategy. And our investment that we're making is all in line with that. Where there's any synergy from Murray Goulburn, in respect to that strategy, that's where there's value. But it's limited to that as well."

While a number of companies have been named in media reports as being interested in Murray Goulburn, Fonterra is the first to have publicly declared its interest.

Fonterra also revealed on Monday that its Australian milk volume, the amount of milk it receives from farmers, is on track to jump by about 25 per cent this year to about two billion litres.

"That 25 per cent increase in milk I think talks to the confidence of farmers in terms of their attraction to moving across to Fonterra," Mr Dedoncker said.
Myer chief executive Richard Umbers faced criticism from Mr Lew. Credit:Josh Robenstone But he remains "bitterly disappointed' with the department store. He was particularly scathing of Myer's recent decision to create floors within their stores for discounted stock, some of which he reckons is three years old: "The Salvation Army wouldn't take in the stock", adding that one would be "horrified if you saw what was going on out there". Lew points to the fact that Myer told the market in March there would be no more discounting. In defending his move in March to buy Myer shares, he implied that in effect that he had been hoodwinked by the management's positive market statements that the department store chain was "on the up and up".

Lew has both patience and determination. He said Myer made no mention at the time of the impending crisis with its investment in Topshop, which ultimately was placed into administration in Australia. Nor, says Lew, did Myer mention the extent of the troubles inside its Sass & Bide brand. Asked if he thought Myer had breached any continuous disclosure provisions, Lew deftly skipped a response. He revealed instead that he had been originally approached by Topshop in Britain about doing something with the Australian business at the same time Topshop spoke with Myer. Lew went to the UK to meet Topshop's founder, Sir Philip Green, but rejected the opportunity to become involved in the Australian franchise. Myer mistakenly  with the benefit of hindsight  embraced the concept.

Lew was less prepared to say what happens next. The wily retailer appears to be keeping his powder dry for now  happy to shoot from the sidelines. He suggests some of the problems stem from the fact that the chief executive is not a retailer and neither are any of the board directors and he noted that many experienced retailers have left the company. "It has lost a lot of good retailers and is being run primarily by consultants. The business has got too much of what the consumer doesn't want," he said. However, there is no point in Lew suggesting it can't be saved. Lew sat in as a minority shareholder in Country Road for years of its underperformance before ultimately selling out for a good price. Since then the business has been revived.

He needs someone to take Myer out for a good price or do it himself  a move that carries plenty of risk. Lew has both patience and determination. "I am not in the business of losing money," he reminded analysts and media on Monday. He may need to be prepared give that patience a good work-out. It is widely believed Lew entered the Myer register in the belief that South African based Woolworths (the owner of David Jones) had been sniffing around Myer with an eye to a bid.
If the decision by the big four banks to scrap their universally detested inter-bank ATM fees was a $500 million bid to stave of the threat of a royal commission then it has paid off.

Scott Morrison, a long-standing opponent of the royal commission push being led by the ALP and the Greens, was quick to reaffirm his previous commitments to the banks on this issue on Monday.

He argued that reforms such as the abolition of the ATM fees would be delayed for years if the government had to wait for a royal commission report.

Others are not convinced. ACT Labor senator Katy Gallagher is of the view that if just the threat of a royal commission can propel the banks into this sort of action then what could the real thing achieve?
Some archaeologists claim to have discovered the origins of agriculture at Gobekli Tepe in Anatolia, where hunter-gatherers met for ritual purposes, arguing that by growing grain especially to brew beer for ceremonial feasts these were the first people to invent agriculture. An alternative hypothesis suggests that the impetus for the invention of agriculture and its symbiote the family was not a thirst for beer but the need to find new sources of food when the ending of the last Ice Age, some 10,000 years ago, created dry lands in the Sahara and Mesopotamia.

Initially, humans lived communally in hunter-gatherer groups that enjoyed a promiscuous, matriarchal culture: children were primarily cared for by their mothers, and collectively by the group's adults. When family-based farming communities replaced forager groups, patriarchy reigned supreme and children were put to work.

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott tells us that marriage was created for the safety of women and children. Far from being protected by marriage and family, it conscripted women and children into agricultural servitude.

Throughout almost all of human existence there was no such thing as family and marriage. Family and marriage first appeared around the same time as agriculture: the two were symbiotic.

During the Ice Age, what is now the Sahara Desert was open savannah. Archaeologists found that prehistoric hunter-gatherers foraged in the area. Signs of human activity were also discovered beneath the Black Sea, which appeared when Ice Age melt water raised the sea level by more than 100 metres. Many food plants and game animals must have died from drought or were victim to the rising flood. These natural disasters forced people to migrate to the big rivers: the Nile, the Tigris, the Euphrates.

Both agriculture and the family appeared at around the same time in the widely separated river lands of Egypt and Mesopotamia. The over-exploitation of customary food plants and wild game by concentrations of climate change refugees foraging in these river areas would have caused people to begin cultivating seeds that previously were simply gathered when in season. Necessity spawned both agriculture and its workforce, the family. The Gobekli Tepe society most likely represents a transitional-stage culture.

The transition from foraging to farming is memorialised in the Bible as the Adam and Eve expulsion from Eden story. As a punishment for "sin" humans were cast out of a hunter-gatherer paradise and condemned forevermore to eat bread gained by the sweat of their brows. And who would willingly trade the highly social activity of a few hours hunting and gathering (now, for many, a recreational pastime) to toil from dawn to dusk in non-mechanised subsistence agriculture?

Unlike foragers for whom land was communally shared "country", farmers regard land as a private asset. And since agriculture required many workers, having numerous children became elemental. But a landowner needed to be quite certain that the sons who were to inherit his property were actually his. This was managed by the close supervision of women to ensure that only a husband ever copulated with "his" wife. Hence family, thus marriage. Along with this came the notion of adultery and the insistence that women (though not men) be virgins when "given" in marriage.

Some 7000-8000 years stretch between the emergence of agriculture and the family and the time when age-old customs were preserved in the Hebrew script of the Old Testament: time enough to create a "tradition" of marriage as a God-created institution rather than being a human social construct. But it was neither monogamist nor life-long; polygamy and divorce were normative.
Change took the United Kingdom from a small island to a mighty global empire. Change has seen most of that lost. Globes in schoolrooms are no longer predominantly pink. While not oblivious to this salutary fact, they still enjoy a hearty rendition of Rule Britannia (even though she no longer does)  a testament to their sense, both of humour and history.

We are one of the few countries in the Anglosphere not to allow same-sex couples to have their relationships formally recognised as a marriage by the state. Gay marriage was introduced by the Conservative government under David Cameron about four years ago.

Given predictions of gloom from the "no" campaigners on sames-sex marriage, I wondered, on a recent visit to the UK, if life would be very different in "Old Blighty", as fans of the Anglosphere might say. After nearly half a decade of gay marriage would the world have turned upside down? Apparently not. Nothing has changed.

In the face of what one might call an onslaught of terrorism the British people "keep calm and carry on". The courage and stoicism that personified the British people during World War II is still clearly evident. One wonders if many Americans today recognise that it was the British who held the fort for freedom well before Roosevelt finally, and thankfully, took the United States into the war. We know they are not a nation of sops. They stick to their principles. They'll fight for them.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Bill English. Credit:AP And it's also true that the AfD won 13 per cent of the vote, giving it some 90 seats in the Bundestag. That gives it the third-biggest share, after Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats and the centre-left Social Democrats. But we need a sense of proportion about this. The overall result of the election is that the government won the largest vote share, and in all likelihood Merkel will now enjoy a fourth term as chancellor. This would make her the first chancellor since the reunifier of modern Germany, Helmut Kohl, a colossus of 20th century politics, to win four terms. German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Credit:AP This is a remarkable feat of continuity, not a right-wing revolution. And while the AfD's haul of 90 seats sounds impressive, the Bundestag has a total of 630 seats. All the other parties have vowed not to ally or cooperate with the AfD. This should isolate its MPs, rendering them powerless to legislate.

A professor of politics at Germany's Mainz University, Jurgen Falter, says that rather than being a "cause for concern", the parliamentary debut of the AfD represents "a normalisation of German politics after our history". Till now, Germans didn't have a way of talking openly about the problems of immigration. Now they do. Till now, Germany was the only major democracy in Europe that did not have a far-right party. Now it does. Taken together with the outcome of the other election last weekend, New Zealand's, these results are actually extraordinary not for any radical disruption so much as for their conspicuous continuity. This is supposed to be the great disruption, the era of tumultuous change and triumphal populism, the time of Trump and Brexit, Le Pen and Hanson. But these two developed democracies have instead produced a strong counterpoint - pro-incumbent electorates have delivered continuity and stability. Like Merkel's election to a fourth term, New Zealanders have delivered a likely fourth consecutive term to National, the centre-right party. National has turned in an uncannily steady performance in its four wins - it won 45 per cent of the vote in 2008, then 47, another 47, and now 45 once again.

Do the German and NZ experiences offer lessons in how other countries can manage to avoid the worst excesses of the new populism? One strong clue - Germany and NZ have experienced solid economic growth. "People are doing well" under Merkel explains Michael Broening, a policy analyst at an institute aligned with the rival Social Democrats, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Unemployment has hit a record low 5.7 per cent. "There just isn't this desire for fundamental change". And in NZ, where there is not even a hint of any new populist movement, the doyen of the country's analysts, Colin James, explains simply: "Because things are going along sort of okay here." The economy is not charging ahead but "it's been chugging along and the workforce participation rate is high and the unemployment rate is low". Immigration is a contested issue, and there is a veteran populist politician, Winston Peters, who wants a drastic cut to the intake. But Peters "is nothing like a Trump or a Le Pen or an AfD or even a Hanson - he's populist, but he's more centrist and he's mild," says James. Which is probably just as well because National didn't win enough seats for a majority and Peters' NZ First party is its likely coalition partner and in a strong negotiating position. What of the much-publicised new Labor leader, Jacinda Ardern? She did benefit from a growing concern with inequality but fell well short of victory. Her initial poll surge was not sustainable, says James, and, importantly, she was subject to an old-fashioned economic scare campaign by National, a campaign so untruthful that James calls it "awful". But there's nothing new or populist about that - old-fashioned political deceit.
The political instability seen throughout the West has now arrived in Germany. Angela Merkel will serve a historic fourth term as German Chancellor, but her party has been significantly weakened.

Her coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), has achieved its worst-ever election result, and together Dr Merkel's CDU/CSU and the SPD  the two main centrist parties  now account for barely more than half the votes.

Angela Merkel, Germany's Chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader, casts her vote. Credit:Bloomberg

Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has stormed into the German parliament with 13 per cent of the vote.

The SPD have governed in a "grand coalition" with Merkel's CDU/CSU twice in the past 12 years, but its new leader Martin Schulz was adamant that his party would move to opposition and seek to disrupt Germany's centrist political status quo. Results show that the SPD, Germany's oldest political party, has reached a low-point with just over 20 per cent of the vote.
The looming gas crisis is three times worse than previously thought, according to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who has ordered gas giants and state governments to shore up gas supplies to east coast consumers or face strict export limits.

Mr Turnbull on Monday said the government had received two reports from the Australian Energy Market Operator and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, showing gas shortages in the east coast domestic market over the next two years "will be considerably higher than that estimated six months ago".

"It's estimated there will be a shortfall ... of around 110 petajoules of gas  more than three times the figure we were advised earlier in the year," Mr Turnbull said.

He said recent rises in gas costs were the "single biggest factor in the current rise in electricity prices" because gas sets the wholesale electricity price.
The BJP, which contested all the 35 seats of the Gurgaon Municipal Corporation,managed to win just 13 seats. Independents bagged 21 seats.

By Press Trust of India: Election for the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has thrown interesting results. Independents won 21 of the 35 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) polls while the ruling BJP had to remain content with just 13 seats.

Significantly, 15 of the 35 candidates who emerged victorious were women. While independents bagged the lion's share, the BJP could get just 13 seats. The party had contested all the 35 seats.

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HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) managed toclinch one seat. Soon after the result was declared, Haryana PWD ministerRao Narbir Singh said that several independent candidates who have won would support the BJP.The mayor would be from the BJP, he said. However, state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar claimed thatthe results signified a rejection of both the BJP and the INLD. "The result are a clear indication that if the Congresshad contested on its symbol, the party would have won 25-30 seats and would have got the mayor's post as well," Tanwar claimed. Of the independents who won, three were supported by the Congress while two were backed by the INLD. Of the 15 women candidates who were elected, 10 wereindependents, while five were from the BJP. This is for the first time that so many women have emerged in Gurgaon civic body polls, officials said. During the polling today, there were reports of minorskirmishes, the police said adding that two persons were arrested on charges of attempting to vote on fake voter IDs. Like the previous elections in 2011, polling in urban areas was less as compared to the rural parts. The highest voter turnout was at the Kherki Daula senior secondary school where 681 out of 796 voters cast their votes. There are a total 5,58,884 voters in Gurgaon out of which 2,76,420 cast their votes at 546 polling booths.

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The Taliban in the Afghanistan province where Australians fought and died have forced the shutdown of dozens of health clinics as part of a push to have doctors treat their wounded fighters in further signs the country is sliding back into chaos.

The new tactic by the insurgents, who control large swathes of the province of Oruzgan, amounts to an effort to set up their own parallel administration and services, including demanding their own dedicated healthcare.

Australian soldiers patrol and search the Puza Bridge for bombs in Oruzgan Province in January, 2013. Credit:Kate Geraghty

It represents the steady deterioration that much of Afghanistan  and particularly the south where Oruzgan lies  has experienced since the bulk of Western forces withdrew at the end of 2013, including most Australians.

Multiple sources in the provincial capital of Tarin Kot, where Australians were based for seven years, have told Fairfax Media that representatives of the provincial government are in discussions with the Taliban but in the meantime, healthcare for ordinary Afghans is being crippled.
A handsome butcher's block is topped with help-yourself cutlery and a bowl of succulents, there's a housemade condiments station, a smoking rotisserie slowly turning and a bain marie showcasing all manner of steamy goodness  a tray of roasted chats, potato gratin, heavy on sweet leeks instead of cream and cheese, a glistening roast of the day and hunks of charry wood barbecued carrots, brussels and onions.

Cookshop is a laidback little space; a corner shop sashed with leadlight windows and lined with a few low stools and benches for eating in and gazing out onto a grafitti'd bluestone laneway.

"I wasn't going to take the chicken away from the locals," he says, knowing what a reliable staple the neighbourhood chook shop is. What he did was bring it back with a chef's masterful touch.

Rotisserie chicken is the main game here  it's juicy and moist, the skin flamed to a deep, dark lacquer. Aware that locals are still concerned with price point, Logan offers the choice of La Ionica or Bannockburn birds. You can get your chook with veg or a salad that's dressed to order. We're not talking a begrudging Greek with three token olives placed like a decoy on top here. We're talking barbecued eggplant with sesame, rocket and tahini crema, or buckwheat and broccoli with mandarin and feta.

Half rotisserie chicken with cauliflower cous cous salad. Credit: Simon Schluter

For a hearty take-home dinner, you can get a whole bird with your choice of sides, but locals are already proving keen on the daily specials  the kind of old-school dishes his mum used to make, like a smoky rich beef goulash with spatzle and sour cream.

For a quick lunch, the "on the roll" menu features the meat of the day  lamb shoulder one day, pork ribs the next  with gravy and slaw, as well as a beef burger, a crumbed chicken breast with salad or a simple cold chicken, iceberg and mayo combo. Logan picks up the crusty rolls and soft white buns (straight up, no brioche) from the bakery at Piedimonte's first thing every morning.

Cookshop has only just started, but already Logan has plans for the summer, expanding the offering to homemade drinks, prepped meals in the fridge and a catering option.
Three teenagers are lucky to be alive after they crashed a stolen four-wheel-drive straight into a concrete wall in Brisbanes inner north overnight.

The group were driving the 4WD, taken from a Lyons Terrace address in Windsor earlier that night, along Somerset Street when they crashed into a retaining wall just before 2am.

The stolen vehicle burst into flames after it hit the retaining wall. Credit:Nine News Brisbane

The boys yelled out for help and were pulled from the vehicle by neighbours before the vehicle burst into flames, Queensland Ambulance operations supervisor Peter Batt said.

The young lads had hit the wall at reasonable speed and done extensive damage to the vehicle, he said.
Apple launch of the iPhone 8 kicked off with less fanfare than new models in previous years in the United States, Asia, Australia and Britain, as fans held out for the premium iPhone X, due out in early November.

In San Francisco's Union Square, 80 kilometres from Apple's Cupertino headquarters, just 80 people were lined up at the company's flagship store, a sharp contrast to years past when lines stretched for blocks when new products were released.

In Australia, hundreds of people usually gather at Apple's Sydney city store, with queues winding down George Street in the CBD. But there were fewer than 30 people lining up before the store opened on Friday.

Apple's flagship store in London's Regent Street also experienced a slim turnout.
When the McNamara family lace up their runners for the City2Sea event they will not just be walking and running for themselves.

Colac-based couple Adam and Hayley McNamara are participating in the fun run with their children, Tanner, 8, and Imogen, 4, in memory of their daughter Asha Louise McNamara  and to raise money in her honour.

Hayley and Adam McNamara with their daughter Imogen and son Tanner at last year's City2Sea event.

The November 12 Sunday Age City2Sea, presented by Westpac, has helped raise millions of dollars for charities since its inception.

In 2011, Asha, aged only four months, died. She suffered from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart condition where the left side of the heart is abnormally small and cannot support the main blood circulation around the body.
Supporters taking public transport to the MCG for Saturday's grand final will pay reduced fares or travel for free, the government has announced.

The Free Tram Zone will be extended again this year to include the stadium and there will be extra trains and trams for the celebrations along Punt Road on Sunday if Richmond win the premiership.

Tigers fans have something else to cheer about.

Up to 40,000 Tigers diehards are expected to flood Punt Road Oval on Saturday afternoon as well as the 100,000 Adelaide and Richmond fans who will fill the MCG.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan announced on Monday that extra trains will also run on Friday and Saturday.
A grandmother who beat her husband to death with an African wooden club after he demanded she engage in group sex is fighting to stay in Australia.

Eileen Mary Creamer, 60, became the first woman in Victoria to be convicted of defensive homicide in 2011 after claiming she killed her husband David Creamer in self-defence.

Eileen Creamer outside the Supreme Court in Melbourne in 2011, where she was sentenced to 11 years' jail for killing her husband. Credit:AAP

South African-born Creamer, who is also a former New Zealand resident, was sentenced to 11 years' prison, with a minimum term of seven years.

She bashed her husband with a traditional South African weapon called a "knobkierie" and then fatally stabbed him in the stomach in their home in the eastern Victorian town of Moe in February 2008.
Noting that being a citizen and resident of Delhi is a matter of pride, he said this pride would, however, be punctured if Delhi was not made clean and the garbage issue was not addressed properly.

By Mail Today Bureau: Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday appealed to Delhiites to swing into collective action to overcome the problem of garbage collection which he said had reached a crisis proportion. He said the country could not be made clean without fixing the garbage problem in Delhi, stressing the need for residents of the national Capital to swing into a collective action for effective solid waste management.

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The housing and urban affairs minister was addressing a gathering after participating in a 'Swachhta Hi Sewa' (Cleanliness is Service) event in Bhikaji Cama Place in South Delhi. Noting that being a citizen and resident of Delhi is a matter of pride, he said this pride would, however, be punctured if Delhi was not made clean and the garbage issue was not addressed properly.

Observing that the central government has accorded high priority to the issue of sanitation, he said about five crore toilets have been constructed across the country including over 38 lakh in urban areas in a short span of three years.

The minister also noted that solid waste management in cities is among the major challenges in urban areas over the next two years of the cleanliness mission. Puri unveiled 'My Home-My Neighbourhood - Ghar Bi Saaf-Pados Bhi Saaf' campaign, focusing on motivating the residents of neighbourhood against throwing garbage in open spaces, adopting a nearby park or open place for collection and waste segregation, compost making from wet waste within the premises , among others.

He said the neighbourhood action plan would be launched in all the cities and towns across the country on the occasion of the third anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2. Delhi generates about 10,000MT trash a day and the three waste-toenergy plants (WTEs) of the city are able to process only 6,250MT. The rest is dumped at the four landfills in Ghazipur, Okhla, Bhalswa and Narela-Bawana. No segregation or composting is done. The central and state governments realised how big a problem garbage is after the east MCD could not find any alternate landfill site following the Ghazipur mishap where two persons were killed.

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About a tonne of the industrial solvent known as "bute" that has been responsible for dozens of drug overdoses in clubs and at music festivals has been seized in Melbourne's inner-north.

The latest haul is expected to put even more pressure on the federal government to close a loophole that allows the chemical to be legally imported.

Along with the near tonne of bute, almost 28,000 ecstasy tablets were seized at a Coburg property on September 14.

A 29-year-old man, who Fairfax Media has decided not to name, has been charged with trafficking large commercial quantities of both drugs. He was remanded to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court next month.
Doctors are treating scores of Rohingya women who have fled Myanmar's violence-wracked Rakhine State for injuries consistent with horrific sex attacks.

Tasunba Nourin, a doctor with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) told Reuters injuries include bite marks, vaginal tearing and "signs that a firearm was used to penetrate women".

Nourin Tasnupa, who works at a UN-run clinic in a refugee camp near the Bangladesh border called Leda told Agence France Press (AFP) that most of the survivors she had treated were beaten and raped and had bruising on their bodies and bite marks on their breasts and genitals.

"People don't want to share these incidents even with family members," she said.
Broadway's biggest stars and fans gathered along 44th and 45th Streets at the 31st annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction on Sunday, September 24.

More than 50 tables full of Broadway memorabilia lined the streets, with an autograph table and photo booth based on the deck of Junior's in Shubert Alley. Check out TheaterMania's photos in the gallery below.

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The Grand Auction, held at the end of the day, offered exclusive Broadway experiences including walk-on roles in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Kinky Boots, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Wicked, and more; backstage visits at Aladdin, Anastasia, The Book of Mormon, Come From Away, and Hello, Dolly!; sketches hand-drawn onstage and signed by Jake Gyllenhaal during this year's revival of Sunday in the Park With George; show memorabilia autographed by Cate Blanchett, Christian Borle, Glenn Close, Kristin Chenoweth, and others, plus much more.

The event benefited Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
By PTI: Chandigarh, Sep 25 (PTI) Punjab and Haryana High Court today impleaded CBI as a respondent in a petition seeking bail filed by the three Ryan International Group trustees following the recent killing of a student in the groups Gurgaon school.

Justice Inderjit Singh observed that since the investigation in this case had been taken over by the CBI, therefore, this case be listed as per roster after obtaining orders from the High Court Chief Justice.

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In view of the oral request of the counsel for the petitioner, Central Bureau of Investigation is impleaded as a respondent, Justice Singh said.

CBI counsel, who was present, said that he had no objection if the CBI was impleaded as a respondent.

The Haryana government had recommended a CBI probe in the students killing earlier. The premier investigating agency took over the probe in the case on Friday.

"The case will be listed as per roster after obtaining orders from the High Court chief justice. In the High Court, there is a special bench which takes up CBI matters and the order of the single bench today is that this case be listed as per roster...The case will now be heard by a separate bench," counsel of the trustees, Arshdeep Singh Cheema, said.

He said the court today did not pass any order to provide any relief and the status quo remains for the time being.

The groups CEO Ryan Pinto and his parents Augustine Pinto, the founding chairman, and Grace Pinto, the groups managing director had approached the High Court recently, seeking anticipatory bail.

Last week, Justice A B Chaudhari had recused himself from hearing anticipatory bail plea of three trustees of Ryan International Group.

On September 14, the Bombay High Court had rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of three trustees of Ryan group in connection with the killing of the 7-year-old.

The Pintos, who are based in Mumbai, had approached the Bombay High Court as they apprehended arrest after the school faced allegations of negligence in the death of Pradhuman Thakur.

A class 2 student, Thakur, was found with his throat slit in a school washroom in Gurgaon on September 8. Schoolbus conductor Ashok was arrested in connection with the crime. PTI SUN CHS VSD ADS

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Perhaps the defining trait of globalisation is how companies stretched their assembly lines around the world so that goods were made across many countries a long way from where they were sold. Innovations such as barcoding, the pallet, the shipping container (especially) and industrial forklifts that reduced transport costs and times, the arrival of instant communications that allowed management to coordinate production, the welcoming of foreign investment in emerging countries and the cheap labour found in these places prompted western companies to create global supply chains over the past three decades. Importantly, the inexpensive workers of the emerging world didnt need to be highly educated to operate the machinery in the factories that were moved to China or elsewhere.

The shifting of low-paid factory jobs to the emerging world (where they became sought-after well-paid work) has had vast longer-term political consequences because it boosted inequality within countries while it reduced inequality between countries. The changes wrought by globalisation that have the most political currency are the US trade deficit with China and the widening inequality in the US that helped elect Donald Trump as president in 2016. A rise in protectionism and the rebuilding of immigration barriers that could occur over Trumps time in power are often flagged as the greatest threat to the free flow of goods, people and money around the globe.

But there is a larger, longer-term development that is likely to lead to a faster unwinding of globalisation. This catalyst is the coming of the industrial internet, a term coined by General Electric in 2012.1 Advances driving artificial intelligence and the internet of things (when devices communicate with one another), and their offshoots such as 3D or additive printing, robotics and automation will revitalise manufacturing in the developed world while dimming the appeal of locating factories in the emerging world for two reasons. The first is that western industry will rely more on highly educated workforces to commercialise the latest technology and to build and operate smart factories, and these skilled people can be found at home. The other is the digital world will be a capital-intensive one. Thus, western manufacturers will have less need for the cheap labour found in the emerging world. The economic, investment, social and political consequences that will follow as technological advances unwind globalisation are vast. They will unfold for decades.

To be sure, the economics of making uncomplicated (or low-end) manufactured goods may still justify global production chains sprinkled through the worlds poorer countries where cheap labour abounds. Todays robots cant yet do every intricate task traditionally done by hand. Smart factories still employ lower-skilled staff. The workers supervising robots at Amazons distribution centres dont have to be highly educated. Western countries will still encounter much tech-driven disruption, while the coming home of US manufacturing might feel empty when it doesnt create enough jobs to compensate for those lost in recent decades. (US manufacturing employment has fallen from 17.6 million workers in 1987 to 12.4 million now.) Rather than being spurred by technology, its higher labour costs in China that is prompting many western companies to relocate factories back home (or to elsewhere in Asia). Other businesses may favour production at home for political reasons.

But partisan deliberations, wage relativities and rising protectionism are shorter-term considerations. The technology advancements associated with what many call the fourth industrial revolution are long term. Todays technological leaps point to western companies locating factories close to their customers; and for western companies their most important markets are in the west. The winners when global supply chains crumble will be the developed countries that are home to the most innovative companies, the smartest workforces and the largest consumer markets but also developing countries with big markets and large pools of educated workers at reasonable cost. The losers stand to be the worlds poorest countries that will miss out on attracting foreign investment, the worlds most basic manufacturing hubs, and advanced countries that fail to take advantage of the shift, a list that could include Australia.

The 3D difference

Technology has always driven the greatest developments in manufacturing. Before the steam revolution of the 1830s, villages produced most of what they consumed. The invention of railways and steamships in the 19th century slashed transport costs so much that production and consumption became separated for two reasons. The first was that cheap transport created the economies of scale that justified mass production. The other was that industry found that locating in clusters reduced the cost of coordinating bulk production. The result was the modern worlds first globalisation from 1870 to 1914, which was centred in parts of Europe, Japan and North America.

The worlds second great globalisation from 1980 occurred because technological advances allowed western businesses to exploit the cheap unskilled labour of the emerging world. The world of artificial intelligence and the internet of things heralds consequences of similar magnitude. But in reverse.

Consider the microeconomic consequences to be provided by 3D printing, which forms part of robotics and relies on the internet of things. Additive manufacturing (3D printings other name) was invented in 1983 by Chuck Hall of the US who, when using UV light to place plastic veneer on furniture, thought of a way to create three-dimensional products. His innovation was to develop a process that shone light on photopolymer, which solidifies under light, while tracing the shape of one level of an object. Subsequent layers are printed until the product is finished. By 1988, the first commercial products were being 3D printed. Nowadays, software using a virtual representation prints items layer by layer.

The commercial value of additive manufacturing traces to the fact that fine-tuning software is cheaper and quicker than resetting machinery on factory production lines, especially when it comes to one-off or low-volume goods. This attribute reduces the need for multiple specialist factories and overturns the theory underpinning economies of scale, which is built on the finding that the average and marginal costs of making items decline with volume  or, looked at another way, that mass production denotes greater efficiency. Reduced economies of scale and the need for fewer factory assembly plants undercut the justification for global supply chains.

An acceleration of 3D-printing speeds (by using digital light synthesis rather than polymer-based processes) has allowed its use in mass production, and further dented the economics driving global production lines. Adidas, for example, is setting up 3D-printing factories in Germany and the US that will allow the footwear maker to deliver fashionable trainers to western shopping centres within weeks of design, whereas it takes months to fulfil orders via Asian-based factories using traditional techniques. Another advantage of mass 3D printing is that it reduces the need for warehouses full of spare parts. Thanks to 3D printing, US construction equipment makers Caterpillar and John Deere are moving their warehouse to the cloud.3 That brings production home to where head office and tech skills are located. Every advance in additive manufacturing gives western companies more incentives to bring home production.

The way 3D printing undermines the raison detre of global supply chains is echoed across other forms and uses of artificial intelligence and the internet of things. Twenty-four-hour industrial robots lower marginal production costs while displacing the need for cheap human labour to perform tricky tasks. The digitalised world enables robots and devices to communicate across production chains to maximise efficiency, placing a premium on the skilled labour who can build and oversee high-tech plants. Sensors compiling big data that is then run through software (algorithms) boosts efficiency, by forecasting interruptions to production better than factory foremen can. Other sensors will let customers know their items are about to break down, allowing for better client service. The nternet of things will propel driverless vehicles, robotrucks, pilotless planes and automated drones and boost the economics of local, land-based logistics far more than it will smooth international delivery across the seas. Smart grids will lower energy costs in advanced countries, another reason for factories to head homeward.



Future traits

The localisation and regionalisation of production will have huge macroeconomic and political consequences. The rich world, with its corporate titans, educated labour force, financial centres, innovation edge, more stable politics, well-regulated institutions and its large consumer market, is better placed to benefit from smart manufacturing. Europe (especially Germany), Japan and the US are likely to host more sophisticated manufacturing. Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan are advanced enough to do likewise, but to a lesser extent, if other advantages make up for their distance from western consumers. Emerging countries such as Mexico that are located close to western markets and have enough skilled labour will attract high-end factories.

Evidence is mounting that US manufacturing is already enjoying better health. US manufacturing output reached a record high in real terms this year, when it topped the previous record set in 2008 (and did so with 1.4 million fewer workers), to be 29% above its level of 1987. In 2016, for the first time since the 1970s, more manufacturing jobs returned to the US than left, according to Reshoring Initiative, which says that 25,000 factory jobs returned to the US last year  parity was reached in 2014 and 2015. Companies are commonly citing skilled workforce as the motive for bringing back jobs to the US, said the group, which advises US companies on onshoring. US companies such as IBM and Intel have said they will expand US workforces in coming years while Taiwans electronics firm Foxconn3 and South Koreas LG Electronics4 are expanding US operations.

Boston Consulting says many US companies have the same intent. The consultants 2015 survey of manufacturers that have US$1 billion or more in revenue found that 31% of responding companies said they are likely to boost production in the US within five years for goods sold in the US, while only 20% said they will add to capacity in China. This compares with the results of 2013 when 26% said they would add to US capacity while 31% opted for more production in China. Moreover, the share of executives saying that their companies are actively reshoring production increased  by about 250% since 2012, the group said. In another positive sign, government reports show that since 2012 in the US the number of manufacturing job openings has exceeded hires. These results are fulfilling the predictions of those who for years have tipped technological change and more competitive labour costs would inspire a US manufacturing renaissance.

Losing out from the industrial internet will be the worlds poorest countries located far away from the industrialised west. Poverty in Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia is likely to become entrenched now that the 20th-century pathway to rising living standards will be much narrower. Sewing technologies that allow machines to produce clothing such as Sewbots developed by US-based SoftWear Automation or Amazons custom-clothing patent threaten to hamper the clothing industry in South Asia that employs millions of people (estimates vary) across countries such as Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Economist Dani Rodrik of Harvard University calls the threat from technology that will stall industrialisation in such countries at much lower levels of income premature deindustrialisation. As the rise of organised factory labour helped build modern democratic states, the weakness of organised labour in todays developing societies is likely to foster different paths of political development, not necessarily friendly to liberal democracy, Rodrik warns. The world, in short, will host more failing autocratic states.

The changes heralded by the industrial internet will do little to help rich countries such as Australia that are a long way from western markets attract manufacturing investment from multinationals.

China, which was losing low-end production to countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam because Chinese wages have risen, is taking steps to attract high-end manufacturing to ensure unemployment stays low to minimise social unrest. Chinas vast domestic market including its high number of internet users, its large pool of tech-savvy workers, the presence of local tech manufacturers such as telecom Huawei and electronics maker Xiaomi, and government coercion, subtle or not, is likely to ensure that foreign companies locate modern factories in China. One sign of this occurring is that China last year overtook Japan as the country with the most industrial robots.

More robots in select countries and more idle workers in poorer places will be a common feature as the industrial internet breaks up global supply chains in coming decades.

>> BACK TO THE NEWSLETTER: Click here to read other articles from this weeks newsletter

Originally published by Michael Collins, Investment Specialist, Magellan Asset Management
By PTI: Washington, Sep 25 (PTI) India and the US have a "historic" opportunity to set a refreshed partnership built on shared values of democracy, freedom of expression and human dignity, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has said as he embarked on his visit to New Delhi.

Mattis, the first Cabinet Minister of the Trump Administration to visit India from tomorrow, said that for America India was clearly a pillar of regional stability and security.

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"We have a historic opportunity to set a refreshed partnership between our nations, and its a partnership built on respect, trust and the shared values of democracy, freedom of expression and human dignity. And our vision aims to support an open, just and rules-based global order," Mattis told reporters travelling with him to India.

He said he will discuss the joint efforts to advance common goals through a broader strategic exchange of views during his visit from September 26-27.

"Basically putting meat on the structure, not only in terms of US-India partnership, but how the United States and India can work together to build partnerships across the region," he said.

"India, from our perspective, is clearly a pillar of regional stability and security. We share a common vision for a peaceful and prosperous vision in the Indo-Pacific region, one thats based on that strong, rules-based international order, and the peaceful resolution of disputes and territorial integrity," he said.

Mattis said the two countries shared vision of partnership was neither based on narrow interests nor to the exclusion of any other nation.

"In particular, I want to applaud Indias invaluable contributions, significant contributions, to promote Afghanistans democracy, stability and security in the fight against terrorism. Plus, we have a host of other issues to work with more vigour as well, as we look toward the future," he said.

During his India visit, Mattis will lay a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and inspect tri-service guard of honour at the South Block lawns. He will also hold talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

"I will meet with Minister Sitharaman for the first time," he said.

Noting that the US-India defence cooperation has steadily expanded in recent years, underpinned by their common objectives and goals in the region, Mattis said this relation will benefit both economies while reducing any legacy and trust issues.

He said the Department of Defences designation of India as a major defence partner reflected the progress made in strengthening the two countries security cooperation.

Mattis said the goal of his trip was to promote pragmatic progress between the two countries defence partnership, delivering defence interoperability aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trumps direction as security is on of the key strategic pillars.

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"We will continue this discussion in the future with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Modi, a discussion that will continue to broaden and deepen in the months ahead, when Secretary Tillerson and I meet together with our counterparts. Steady engagement will be our watchwords for the path ahead," he said.

"We will be working on this trip and in the future to bring our bureaucracies up to speed by underlining our commonalities in our approaches and our objectives," he said. PTI LKJ MRJ

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Loch Lomond Inchmoan 10 Year Old announced

The new Loch Lomond Inchmoan 10 Year Old global travel retail exclusive single malt whisky is set to land in Cannes next week.

Loch Lomond Groups Global Travel Retail range is expanding with the addition of a new GTR exclusive single malt Scotch whisky - the Loch Lomond Inchmoan 10 Year Old.

The new expression, which will only be available to duty free and travel retail shoppers, is to be launched at the 2017 TFWA World Exhibition and Conference in Cannes.

During the event, Loch Lomond Group, which owns the award-winning Loch Lomond, Glen Scotia and Littlemill Scotch whisky brands, will also be announcing details of a new ultra-premium expression which will be its oldest-ever release.

The group is attending the annual TFWA event for a second year in a row. Last year it chose the Cannes global gathering to unveil plans for its new bespoke GTR range for both its Glen Scotia and Loch Lomond Scotch whisky brands.

The Loch Lomond GTR Scotch whisky collection, which is packaged in distinctive travel-retail specific gift tubes that underline the quality and provenance of the liquid inside, was first launched at Glasgow Airport in February 2017 and quickly became its top-selling Scotch whisky brand.

Since then, the Loch Lomond GTR Scotch whisky collection has gone from strength to strength and is now available in 11 World of Whiskies throughout UK airports including branches in Edinburgh and London Heathrow.

Both the Glen Scotia and Loch Lomond GTR Scotch whisky ranges have also been rolled out to the Nordic region where a new partnership with Stockholm based distributor Five Eyes, part of the Solera Bevarage Group, will target further growth. Each of the GTR ranges continue to gain listings in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East.

The rich and smokey Loch Lomond Inchmoan 10 Year Old Single Malt 1L global travel exclusive is distilled at the groups Alexandria distillery, where it takes its name from Inchmoan Island located in Loch Lomond. Inchmoan means 'the island of the peat' in Scottish Gaelic.

The expression is born from a combination of malt whiskies from the distillerys traditional swan neck and unique straight neck stills to create an unconventional peat character with depth and balance. It is designed to complement the existing Loch Lomond GTR collection which includes the Loch Lomond Inchmurrin Madeira Cask Finish, light and packed with fruit character and the beautifully balanced Loch Lomond 12 Year Old.

Andre de Almeida, managing director of GTR at Loch Lomond Group, says: This is a fantastic addition to our existing GTR range and it will provide travellers with an even greater choice of flavours from Loch Lomond Group whiskies. Whats also exciting is that it showcases the wide range of flavour profiles that we can achieve at our Alexandria distillery thanks to our unique stills.

We are extremely proud of the success to date of the Glen Scotia and Loch Lomond GTR Scotch whisky collections and we look forward to working with partners who are keen to offer consumers something different for them to discover, and grow their sales in the process.

The Loch Lomond Inchmoan 10 Year Old GTR exclusive Single Malt 1L will be available from travel retail outlets early 2018 and priced at 42.

25 September 2017 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor in chief
By Poonam Sharma: On the run since August 25, Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's constant companion, Honeypreet has moved the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The bail petition has been filed in the name of Honeypreet Taneja. Honeypreet's maiden name was Priyanka Taneja.

The Delhi High Court is likely to hear the anticipatory bail petition tomorrow. The high court will remain closed for Durga Puja from Wednesday.

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If the Delhi High Court admits her bail plea, it is possible that Honeypreet gets transit bail for a few days and then the high court transfers the case to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh.

But, there is also a possibility that the Delhi High Court asks Honeypreet to surrender before the police first and then apply for regular bail. Honeypreet has been untraceable since the day Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted of rape and sexual exploitation of two sadhvis in a 15-year-old case.

The Haryana police teams have conducted several raids in the state, Rajasthan and gone to Nepal border searching for Honeypreet. Some reports suggested that she might have fled the country. But, her anticipatory bail plea indicates that she could be hiding somewhere in the country.

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Glenfiddich unveils Winter Storm expression

William Grant & Sons has added to the Glenfiddich Experimental Series range with the launch of limited edition Glenfiddich Winter Storm, finished in icewine casks.

Winter Storm is inspired by Glenfiddich malt master Brian Kinsman's visit to Peller Estate in Niagara. Kinsman returned to the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, where he started experimenting with several French oak Icewine casks from the Canadian winery  filling them with various Glenfiddich aged malts for up to six months.

Kinsman comments: Only the rarer whiskies, those aged for 21 years, could cope with the extra Icewine intensity. Having more tannins, extracted from years in oak, these malts brought out a uniquely fresh lychee note instead of being swamped by sweetness.

Peller Estates VP of winemaking, Craig McDonald adds: It was a privilege to work with Brian on this experiment. We go to extreme lengths to produce our intensely sweet Icewine and are always looking for ways to push the boundaries of taste, so I was intrigued to see how it could be used to create a new unexpected whisky. The resulting liquid is a unique combination of the warming soul of whisky and the frozen cold of Icewine.

Glenfiddich Winter Storm is the newest expression in the Glenfiddich Experimential Series line up, joining Glenfiddich IPA Experiment and Glenfiddich Project XX which both launched in 2016.

Glenfiddich Winter Storm will be available from October, priced at 199 at 43% ABV, in a white ceramic bottle and embossed presentation box.

25 September 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor
"The storms and flooding sweeping the world in these last few months are yet another environmental wake up call", the shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the Labour party conference in Brighton today.

"This country has huge natural, renewable resources. And we have an immense heritage of scientific and engineering expertise. Yet this Government has slashed the funding, the renewables industry needs to find its feet."

He added: "Labour will ensure we become world leaders in decarbonising our economy. With a publicly owned energy supply based on alternative energy sources.

Significantly broaden ownership

"Where the Tories have dithered and delayed, to deliver zero-carbon electricity, we will absolutely commit for example to building projects like the Swansea Tidal Lagoon."

The shadow chancellor reconfirmed the Labour party's pledge to nationalise the energy sector, alongside the rail networks and water utility companies. Royal Mail would also be renationalised.

He said: "Ours will only become an economy for the many, if we significantly broaden ownership. That means supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, the genuinely self-employed and massively expanding worker control and the co-operative sector."

Taking them back

"Building an economy for the many also means bringing ownership and control of the utilities and key services into the hands of people who use and work in them. Rail, water, energy, Royal Mail: we are taking them back."

The latest polls from YouGov show that 42 percent of the electorate would vote Labour at a snap election - putting McDonnell in Number 11 as chancellor of the exchequre.

This compares to a 41 percent vote for Theresa May and the Conservatives, and a dysmal seven percent for the Liberal Democrats. A further 10 percent would vote for other parties.

This means there is currently a genuine prospect of Jeremy Corbyn forming the most radical Labour government in history - and delivering on the promises made today by McDonnell to transform the energy industry and make Britain a world leader in reducing carbon emissions.

This Author

Brendan Montague is Acting Editor of The Ecologist website, and tweets at @EcoMontague.
The 45-year-old Sri Lankan man was arrested on Sunday at the Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo as he was about to depart to India, said Sri Lankan customs' media spokesperson Sunil Jayarathna.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Sri Lanka's airport police have arrested a man for allegedly trying to smuggle gold articles weighing one kilogram hidden in his rectum, an official said on Monday.

The 45-year-old Sri Lankan man was arrested on Sunday at the Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo as he was about to depart to India, said Sri Lankan customs' media spokesperson Sunil Jayarathna.

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Customs officers found four small gold bars and eight jewellery pieces, two of them in white gold, inside the suspect's rectal cavity, Efe news reported.

The spokesperson said that despite the unusual choice of concealment, it had become an increasingly common way of smuggling gold to India.

"There are various methods and hiding the contraband in the smuggler's body has become common over the years," said Jayarathna.

He said that the man was released after paying a $660 fine.

Sri Lanka's customs authorities have, so far, detected 44 similar incidents in 2017.

Gold often arrives from Dubai or Singapore, where it is cheap to purchase, and then it is either sold in the local market or in neighbouring India.

Smugglers in the region buy gold in places like Dubai and Singapore, where it is relatively cheap, and then bring it to sell it in the local market or in neighbouring India at a profit.

A customs officer told BBC Sinhala they spotted the man because "he was walking suspiciously". Metal detectors then identified the hidden luggage, "carefully packed in polythene bags and neatly inserted", according to a custom officer.

Last week a Sri Lankan female, also travelling to India, was caught by customs while trying to smuggle 314.5 grams of gold pieces concealed in her rectum.

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All our applications to rent have been denied: Refugees face Halifax housing roadblocks

Many refugees landing in Halifax think everything will be smooth sailing, until they try to find a place to live and realize that many doors are closed to them. They come here thinking Oh, Im going to be greeted at the airport and someone is going ...
NORWALK  Leo J. Motyka Jr., of Norwalk, visited the Demilitarized Zone while serving in the Army during the Korean War. He remembers seeing American soldiers on one side of the white line that marked the divide between North and South Korea and seeing the North Korean soldiers on the other.

I was only 19 years old, but it was a reality check that things could escalate in a hurry, Motyka said. I was there 60 years ago and I cant believe its still going on.

While there have been military encounters at the border repeatedly over the decades, some leading to casualties, its the conduct of the two heads of state that has many concerned.

Saturday, President Donald Trump sent out a tweet that many worried could bring the nations closer to war.

If he, referring to the foreign minister of North Korea, echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they wont be around much longer! Trump wrote. He had already promised to totally destroy North Korea if the country threatened the U.S. during his first address to the United Nations. Rocket Man is how Trump has referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Twitter.

In response, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters, Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.

Ris assertion that war had been declared caused consternation in Connecticut and across the country.

Its not a very good situation, I can tell you that right now. And it could get escalated in a heartbeat, Motyka said. If somebody makes the wrong calculation and starts firing weapons, whether its us or them, the other side is going to retaliate. And theres plenty of firepower there on both sides.

Norwalk is home to nearly 300 people of Korean descent and 400 Korean War veterans, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Some experts believe North Korea has missiles that could reach the East Coast. Near North Korea, over 136,000 Americans live in South Korea according to the Korea Times, and roughly 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea.

The Rev. Jae Kim, pastor of the Connecticut Korean Mission Church in Norwalk, said his congregation was concerned.

A members father and brother live in Korea, and sometimes she gets anxiety attacks, said Kim. We do pray for peace in Korea.

Kims friend, David Kim of Norwalk, had just returned from a trip to South Korea last month, and said he noticed a difference between the response there and here. Most Koreans who live in America worry about the war. But most Koreans who live in Seoul do not, he said.

David Kims nephew lives in Seoul, and Kim said, Even if he were worried, what could he do? Theres nowhere to go because thats a small country.

Mark Albertson, a military historian at Norwalk Community College, thought Ris recent comment was overblown.

According to your Constitution, the president cannot declare war, Congress does, he said. So what youre hearing from the minister of Korea is rhetoric. Theyre ratcheting up the language is what theyve done. Its: Can you top this? 

Many saw todays situation as inevitable.

This is something that has been festering since July 27, 1953, Albertson said of the day most consider the end of the conflict. Because that wasnt a peace treaty signed. That was a ceasefire.

David Kim outlined the motivations he sees as leading the escalating tensions.

What North Korean people want is two things. One, to be recognized as a nuclear power. Second, recognition of Kims regime as legitimate, he said. Americans dont want North Korea to have nuclear weapons, but I think North Korea will never forfeit their nuclear weapons.

Keep in mind what Kim Jong Un sees, Albertson said. He believed the mindset of North Korean leadership has been shaped by the fate of Ukraine, which held a large portion of the Soviet Unions nuclear arsenal when it declared independence from the union. It was the worlds third or fourth nuclear power.

The U.S., Britain and Russia entered an agreement with Ukraine to protect the countrys borders and sovereignty if Ukraine destroyed its weapons. Ukraine did so, and is no longer a nuclear power. But far from protecting Ukraines borders, Russia is now engaged in a military intervention in the country.

Kim Jong Un see that and thinks, if Ukraine was allowed to keep its nuclear weapons, do you honestly think it would be a battlefield right now? Albertson said. And dont think the Iranians didnt take a look at this as well.

According to David Kim, the big question is not what North Korea will do  he does not think the country has the power to attack the U.S. Instead, he finds it harder to predict what Trump will do. I dont know what to think because I dont know what Trump is thinking.

Since the war has never officially ended, Albertson thought a peace treaty was a theoretical way to reverse growing tensions. And even if North Korea declines, we look like a hero because we offered a peace treaty, he said.

Lee Seymour, a Korean War veteran and member of the Norwalk Veterans Memorial Committee, said, I think they all need to sit down and have a good talk, and quit the fooling around.
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NORWALK  It seems most everything has a national recognition day, and now lobsters have clawed their way onto the list.

Senators from New England states sponsored a successful resolution declaring Sept. 25 the first ever National Lobster Day, and Norm Bloom and Sons marked the event by hosting U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, state Sen. Bob Duff, and Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling for a tour of their operations.

Blumenthal had a full day planned and came to East Norwalk to pay homage to the lobster industry before heading to Hartford and then back to Washington, D.C.

Im here to celebrate the lobster industry as well as all of the aquaculture here and to recognize the hardworking men and women in the industry, Blumenthal said. Aquculture is a critical part of our economy and also reminds us to pay attention to environmental protection and climate change. We need to make sure that our water is as pure as possible and the Sound is pristine. The issue is much bigger than the lobster.

A lobsterman in Long Island Sound for more than 40 years, Mike Kalaman said that harvests of the crustaceans are becoming more and more plentiful since a dismal die-off nearly 20 years ago.

It was terrible 18 years ago, Kalaman said. We had a decent year this year. It is coming back.

In a previous interview with The Hour, Kalaman credited the come-back with a state law passed in 2013 that was co-sponsored by Duff and restricts the application of two mosquito pesticides.

The passing of that bill was absolutely instrumental in giving lobsters a fighting chance, Kalaman said.

The pesticides, Kalaman and other lobstermen believe, are harmful to lobsters and by reducing their usage, along with other favorable environmental conditions, have helped Long Island Sound lobsters.

National Lobster Day points out the importance of the shellfish industry to the local economy, Duff said.

Long Island Sound is our farm, Duff said. We have to take care of it and ensure that the area remains not only a tourist destination, but as a place for jobs.

Rilling cited the worldwide recognition of locally harvested shellfish.

The oysters and lobsters that are harvested here not only boost the local economy, but give Norwalk recognition, Rilling said. Copps Island oysters are shipped all over the country and outside of the U.S. Its great to tour the facilities here and hear about how they do it.

In Blumenthals full Monday agenda, and in light of hurricane devastation in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, he gave a press conference at the State Capitol to lobby for generator safety.

We learned an important lesson (about generator safety) from the tragic deaths on the Gulf Coast and in Florida. Puerot Rico is struggling ... Generators are potentially deadly, Blumenthal said. We want the makers of generators to lower emissions, and to have carbon monoxide detectors installed, along with having longer cords so that generators will be used only outdoors.

Blumenthal also expressed concern Monday about what he termed overnight political horse-trading in an attempt to pass the Graham-Cassidy health care bill.

There was a development in the health care bill last night, Blumenthal said Monday morning. Republican leaders are making a last-ditch desperate effort. Its horse-trading-political dealing at its worst-special breaks are being offered to Alaska and Maine in exchange for favorable votes.

He said passage of the cruel bill will have catastrophic consequences in Connecticut and nationally.

I hope to persuade senators to do whats right for the nation, rather than just their states, Blumenthal said.
By PTI: Indore, Sep 25 (PTI) A 65-year-old woman died of swine flu here today, taking the total number of deaths in the city due to the infection to 25 this year, a medical official said.

The woman died during treatment at a city hospital, Dr Asha Pandit, district in-charge of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) said.

"She had been on life support since the last three days," Pandit added.

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According to her, of the 90 patients, who tested positive for swine flu, 25 have died during treatment at different hospitals in the city so far this year.

Out of the total number of deceased, 10 persons had come to Indore for treatment from other districts, Dr Pandit added. PTI HWP LAL NP

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STAMFORD  The owner of a city dental practice who used the records of a retired dentist to bill insurance companies for more than 10 years of work that was never performed has been sentenced to a year and one day in jail.

Elena Ilizarov, 45, of Stamford, was facing up to 20 years in jail for bilking the insurance companies of nearly $600,000, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.
Sarah Treffer of Cozad became a grand champion Sunday, mostly because her horse avoided a four-beat gait.

A four-beat gait is too slow for the judges tastes. Treffers horse, Cruz, loped at a three-beat pace, which is why Treffer took first place in Junior Western Pleasure.

Twenty competitors took part in the event, which was part of the second day of the Aksarben horse show at the Thompson Foods 4-H Arena.

Cruz doesnt go too fast or too slow, and he also listens to me really well, Treffer said. Hes good at listening to my legs and my cues, she said. In addition to giving clues verbally, Treffer might also send a message by sitting deeper in the saddle.

The Aksarben 4-H Stock Show seems to be settling into the saddle nicely in its first year in Grand Island. Exhibitors and entry totals are both up over last year. The total of 323 entries is 47 more than last year, said Kate Pulec, horse superintendent for the Aksarben 4-H Stock Show. About 84 exhibitors, or individuals, showed horses. All of the people in the show must be 4-H members.

Its fun to listen to horse people talk about their animals.

How would Megan Pokorny of LaVista describe her horse?

She is a goofball, Porkony said of Reddee to Be Noticed. She loves her job. She loves what she does. At the barn, shes really playful. The horse likes to knock things over, Pokorny said.

If I have a water bottle sitting on the counter, shell go knock it over, she said.

Together, Pokorny and Reddee to Be Noticed got a purple ribbon in the 3-year-old Snaffle Bit Western Pleasure class Sunday. Pokorny, 17, is the only person whos ever ridden the horse. She broke the animal as a 2-year-old.

Cauy Bennett of Elwood earned a purple ribbon in Junior and Senior Pony Pleasure Sunday. His horses name is Kittens Majic Doll. But we call her Sassy, he said.

Bennett, 16, said the personality of the horse depends upon the day.

Some days shes really good. Some days, shell be a pain. But today shes acting really well and shes willing to move and respond to whatever I ask, he said.

How would Treffer describe Cruz? Hes really laid-back. He doesnt really care whats going on around him, said the 13-year-old.

In addition to watching how horses move, judges also look at a horses expression.

If it looks like a horse isnt enjoying an event, points may be taken off, Pokorny said.

Bennett said the judge was hoping to see consistency and a smooth, pleasureful ride.

Some of the competitors are busy young people. Payton Schiller of Scribner runs cross country at West Point Public School.

After she gets home from cross country practice, the 15-year-old does her homework. Then she rides her horse, sometimes until 10 p.m.

Melissa Johnson of New Market, Iowa, says that showing horses teaches young people responsibility and patience and teaches them to strive for something. She is the mother of 13-year-old Allyson Johnson. Back in New Market, the family owns five horses and a donkey.

Speaking of offbeat animals, Tessa Walkinshaw was riding a mule Sunday.

The Griswold, Iowa, resident rode horses until she got dumped really bad in a hunter jumper barn. Shes grown to love mules.

They are a lot smarter and stronger than a horse, depending on the mule, said Walkinshaw, 14.

Mules are very strong. You cant do certain things the way you do with horses. You cant force them through things, she said.

With mules, you have to take your time. Horses react and mules think, she said.

The horse show competitors seemed to like Fonner Park.

I like it. Its a really nice arena with some great staff, Treffer said.

Pokorny said in Grand Island, there is more space, extra practice room and more people, I think. Its a lot of fun.

I think its awesome, because this is actually my first year at it, Bennett said. Hes glad Grand Island is close to Gosper County so he didnt have to travel a long way.

Therese Horner of Kearney owns Horner Performance Horses of Kearney. Shes also a 4-H leader. She brought two members of the Denim N Diamonds 4-H club to Grand Island.

Horner is glad to see the horse show in Grand Island because its another chance for the kids to compete at the state 4-H pen, she said, referring to the Thompson Foods 4-H Arena. And its also centrally located.

The Aksarben 4-H Stock Show resumes with livestock Thursday.
Alabamas Senate race is seriously scrambling Republican politics.

Two GOP candidates will meet on Sept. 26 for the right to oppose Democrat Doug Jones in December. One is the incumbent Luther Strange, who was appointed to the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions when he became Attorney General. Strange enjoys the strong support of Senate leader Mitch McConnell, many pro-business groups and President Trump, who will campaign for him this weekend.

However, Stranges opponent, former state judge Roy Moore, is campaigning as the One True Trumpian with the backing of religious conservatives and Breitbart, the alt-right news site headed by Trumps former adviser Steve Bannon. Moore and his allies have assaulted Strange, a former Washington lobbyist for the natural gas industry, as a swamp monster and Capitol insider.

Democrats would have trouble beating either opponent in a deep red state like Alabama, but thats not the point. Moore is leading in the polls, and Republican strategists fear that if he wins, hell encourage other primary challenges from the right against sitting GOP senators next year and through 2020.

Alabama is the big enchilada, Scott Reed, chief political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, told the Washington Post.

To Reed and other charter members of the partys governing wing, an epidemic of right-wing primary challenges would lead to disaster,. History backs this up. In recent years, Republicans have nominated hardline purists in at least five states  Colorado, Indiana, Nevada, Delaware and Missouri  who then lost winnable Senate battles to moderate Democrats. A few more self-inflicted wounds like that and Democrats could retake the Senate.

Another possible outcome is almost as bad for the Republican leadership: more Roy Moores and fewer Luther Stranges in the Senate would seriously complicate their ability to assemble a working majority. Thats already happened in the House where 40 or so from the Freedom Caucus have long crippled the ability of their leaders to negotiate legislative compromises. They drove former Speaker John Boehner so crazy he quit in frustration.

So where does President Trump fit in this GOP civil war? Since he is wildly impulsive and consistently inconsistent, the answer is far from clear. As a candidate, he was happy to attack his rivals as swamp monsters, and hes openly feuded with his Congressional leaders, Sen. McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan.

One whole part of his political strategy is to maintain his outsider status and stir up his base with repeated attacks on the Washington elites. In fact, a study by the Post shows a strong overlap in Alabama between Trump and Moore voters.

Outside of Alabama, he has viciously attacked GOP incumbents he considers disloyal and encouraged primary challengers in the Roy Moore mold to take them on next year.

A good example is Arizona, where Republican Sen. Jeff Flake published a book denouncing Trump as all noise and no signal and deriding the Republican Party for accepting his leadership. We pretended the emperor wasnt naked, he wrote.

In return, Trump has openly cheered on Flakes potential challenger next year, Kelli Ward. In a recent tweet he said, Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. Hes toxic!

Another potential battleground is Nevada, where lawyer Danny Tarkanian is attacking incumbent Dean Heller by portraying himself as a loyal Trumpian and his opponent as a dangerous establishmentarian captured by Washington power brokers. Conservative money types are also looking at Mississippi, where two-term incumbent Roger Wicker could face a challenge next year from right-wing favorite Chris McDaniel.

So what is Trump up to? Why would he defend Strange in Alabama while undermining Flake in Arizona? Will he support primary challengers in Nevada and Mississippi?

The answer reveals a tension running through the heart of the Trump presidency. In one sense hes still part of the Hell No Caucus himself, the Swamp Drainer-in-Chief who revels in exciting his core supporters with anti-Washington rhetoric and eviscerating opponents like Flake.

But Trumps also devoted to winning, and to pass any meaningful legislation he has to work with the party structure he despises  and even Democrats on occasion. The Outsider must become an Insider. He needs swamp monsters like Mitch McConnell and Luther Strange more than they need him.
By PTI: By Aditi Khanna

London, Sep 25 (PTI) A Singaporean member of the dreaded ISIS group has challenged Britains Prince Harry to fight the jihadists and threatened to send him to "hellfire".

The man identifying himself as Abu Uqayl, appeared in a three-and-a-half minute video in which he encourages would-be terrorists to fight for ISIS in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

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"To Harry, you come to Singapore and tell such stories to gain sympathy for the London terror attacks. Why dont you come here and fight us if youre man enough, so that we can send you and your Apaches (helicopters) to hellfire," says Uqayl in the video.

The reference is to the fact that the 33-year-old prince flew Apache attack helicopters in Afghanistan when he served as a soldier in the British Army in the past.

The fifth in line to the British throne had visited Singapore soon after an ISIS-claimed terror attack in London in June during which three knifemen had used a van to ram pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing people in restaurants and pubs around Borough Market area of London.

In his speech, Harry had made a reference to the attack, which had claimed eight lives and injured 48 others.

Singaporean authorities have identified the man in the video as 39-year-old Megat Shahdan bin Abdul Samad, who left the city-state to work in the Middle East in 2014.

"Our security agencies have been aware for some time now of the presence in Syria of a Singaporean, Megat Shahdan bin Abdul Samad, 39, and have been monitoring his activities," the countrys Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

"It is believed that the person in the video calling himself Abu Uqayl is Shahdan."

Prince Harry is currently in Toronto, Canada, at the Invictus Games ? a sporting event he founded for injured war veterans. PTI AK AMS AKJ AMS

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The fight for civil rights in this country has a long history. It became particularly notable in the 1960s with the passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Yet, such a law did not include any prohibition against gender discrimination in public education and federally assisted programs. After some legislative battles, Indiana Democratic Sen. Birch Bayh proposed in 1971 a provision that would eventually become Title IX within the Higher Education Act of 1965 and was signed into law by President Nixon in 1972.

In the words of Bayh, this provision would provide an equal chance (for women) to attend the schools of their choice, to develop the skills they want, and to apply those skills with the knowledge that they will have a fair chance to secure the jobs of their choice with equal pay for equal work.

This legislation was used by the Obama Administration to investigate an increasing number of cases of sexual assaults on campuses. By 2014 nearly a hundred colleges and universities were under investigation for cases that ranged from sexual harassment to sexual assault.

Because the way these cases were being poorly handled by many institutions of higher education, the Department of Education issued as series of guidelines during the Obama Administration aimed at making colleges take allegations of sexual assault more seriously by demanding the lowest standard of proof, preponderance of evidence, in deciding whether a student is responsible for sexual assault. The reason for that was that many institutions of higher education receiving federal funds were found to be biased against women who sometimes were depicted as the one provoking the sexual assaults, including the widespread use of certain drugs at campus parties that made females to lose conscience become easier targets of sexual assault.

Last Friday Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos scrapped a key part of government policy on campus sexual assault, saying she was giving colleges more freedom to balance the rights of accused students with the need to crack down on serious misconduct. She said that the new standard would be clear and convincing evidence.

This was in fulfillment of the only specific promise made in the Republican platform in that last election cycle regarding higher education. This new policy has been heralded by conservative groups as a major victory.

Despite the announcement by DeVos, the change of standards is not mandated, so colleges and universities can continue to use old standards. Further, almost 50 percent of the states have enacted laws that effectively mirror the standards recommended by the Obama Administration.

Womens and legal groups have already condemned changes in policy by arguing that it will discourage students from reporting assaults and will create uncertainty for schools on how to follow the law, making campuses less safe.

The problem with these cases is that they are a matter of he-said, she-said, so there is rarely hard evidence one way or another. Under the Obama interpretation of the law, the preponderance rule means colleges must find a student responsible if it is more likely than not that the student conducted a sexual act without the partners consent. Also,

the definition of clear and convincing case meant that it was highly probable the misconduct occurred. Add to that the fact that many sexual assaults on campuses involve the use of alcohol and drugs and no witnesses.

Other effects of the change of policy by DeVos is that she eliminated a requirement that investigations be completed in 60 days, suggesting now that the investigation should be concluded reasonably prompt. The department will also allow mediation  sessions in which an accuser and accused hash out their differences  if both sides agree. Mediation was not permitted under the Obama administration guidelines, in the belief that women would feel pressure to participate and confront alleged offenders.

This approval of mediation will create a slippery slope, leaving schools giving the thrust of the resolution of the case to others while maintaining secrecy of the outcome. Colleges and universities, for the most part, tend to be very secretive about these issues out of fear of bad publicity. This new rule will only enable even less public scrutiny.

But make no mistake about it, sexual assaults in colleges and universities are a widespread problem with more than 350 cases currently investigated by federal officials. Anyone well-informed about sexual assault statistics know that they represent only a small fraction of the number of actual cases, mostly because many women feel shame that prevents them from coming forward with their complaints. Further, there have been numerous complaints by women who feel that their schools have not appropriately handled their accusations.

For those of us who have been involved in higher education for many years, we all know that our institutions do not always handle well these types of accusations, nor do we create a climate of intolerance toward this kind of conduct. All you need to know to be convinced about the seriousness and magnitude of this problem is the read the news, particularly the pages of the Chronicle of Higher Education, where these kinds of incidents  and the scholarly studies about them  are commonly reported.

It is time for colleges and universities to change the climate about sexual assault on campuses by establishing rules that diminish the chances for incidents to occur, for everybody to see that the administration will act decisively and fairly to all complaints, and that they will be completely transparent about the handling of all cases. After all, more than half of the higher education population in this country is women whose rights must be protected.

Dr. Aldemaro Romero Jr. is the Dean of the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College-CUNY. He can be contacted through his website at: http://www.aromerojr.net.
Addition of tanks and armoured personnel carriers underlines New Delhi's determination to prevent any more surprises in this area from across the Line of Control.

By Sudhi Ranjan Sen: The crucial Chammb-Jaurian sector in south-west Jammu and Kashmir which proved to be India's vulnerability during the 1965 and 1971 war with Pakistan has new defenders- tanks and mechanised infantry.

Top sources in the government termed the addition of tanks and mechanised infantry in Chammb and Jurian sector as a "major development."

Top Indian Army sources told India Today that the Akhnoor-based Division of the Indian Army tasked to protect the Chammb-Jaurian sector has been "rapidised."

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"Rapidised" or "Rapid" units stands for 'Reorganised Army Plains Infantry Divisions'. In layman's language it means addition of armoured and mechanised infantry units.

Sources said that the Akhnoor based formation has been given two additional T-72 tank regiments and two mechanised infantry regiments.

According to sources there are at least 100 odd tanks and equal number of armoured personnel carriers have been added on to the division. The concept was developed in the 1980s by the former Chief General K Sunderji.

"Adding tanks and mechanised infantry increases the flexibility of the army. It allows army to go an offensive and respond to threats faster. Troops can be moved and deployed faster to thwart a thrust by Pakistan," sources aware of the developments told India Today.

During the 1965 Indo-Pak war and the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Pakistan tried to push its armoured columns through these fertile plains to cut-off India's access to Kashmir valley. Pitched tank battles have occurred in these plains in these two wars.

The Akhnoor division is tasked to tackle the threats at the Chammb-Jauriyan sector. Addition of the tanks and armoured personnel carriers underlines New Delhi's determination to prevent any more surprises in this area from across the Line of Control.

The Akhnoor formation will retain its infantry elements. Typically all "rapid" units contain within them a engineering unit, a reconnaissance unit and a signals unit that is equipped with the latest surveillance and target acquisition units.

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TheInternationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World

By Oona A. Hathaway and Scott J. Shapiro

Simon & Schuster. 581 pp. $30

---

With their volleying threats of mutual destruction in recent weeks, neither Kim Jong Un nor President Trump has seemed much concerned that international law prohibits states from starting wars. From what we know of these two leaders, we should not be terribly surprised. North Korea is a serial violator of United Nations Security Council resolutions aimed at stemming its nuclear and missile tests. Trump was elected to the presidency having called into question the United States' engagements with NATO, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Paris climate accord, the Iran nuclear deal and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, among others. The crisis on the Korean Peninsula follows a string of controversies that have strained the most basic rules of the international order: Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China's assertion of sovereignty over its homemade islands in the South China Sea and Syria's use of long-banned chemical weapons.

This seems an especially difficult moment to make a persuasive case that the international move in the last century to outlaw war "has largely, if not perfectly, worked." But it is exactly the argument that Yale Law School professors Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro put forward in their new book. "The Internationalists" is partly a rich history of the emergence of the modern international legal order and partly an empirical study of the change in war the authors say the law helped produce.

As a legal history, the book is indispensable. It traces the intellectual origins of today's international legal order to the much-maligned Paris peace pact of 1928 - the agreement in which the United States and 14 other nations renounced "recourse to war" as an "instrument of national policy," only to embark upon the most destructive war in world history scarcely more than a decade later. Indeed, a version of the pact's rule would not be formally codified into law until the 1945 adoption of the U.N. Charter, a treaty to which the United States and every other nation in the world is party today, and which prohibits the threat or use of force "against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state." But as Hathaway and Shapiro demonstrate in richly researched detail, the watershed moment in legal thought was contained in the 1928 idea: that it was time to abandon the "old world order" in which war was not only a common but also a lawful means of resolving disputes. When war was legal, non-warring states could not impose economic sanctions on an aggressor state without risking their own status as neutral parties; diplomacy was regularly conducted at the point of a gun; and territory belonged to the side whose weapons were best. The move to outlaw war carried logical - and in time actual - consequences for all of these old customs. States that started wars in the new world were now violating the law and could thus be punished by other states economically or even criminally for their transgressions. Agreements concluded under threat of force could no longer be valid. And while aggressor states, of course, still had the power to conquer territory by force, that territory would no longer be recognized as legally theirs.

Among the greatest strengths of "The Internationalists" is the authors' acute attention to the role of individual thinkers, some long overlooked, and to the impact of happenstance - the ways, for instance, an idealist's memo could land in a pragmatist's hands. So it was, for example, that Salmon Levinson, son of German immigrants and Yale Law School graduate, was able to persuade his former Yale classmate and Secretary of State Henry Stimson to proclaim in 1932 that the United States would no longer recognize any international conquest or agreement "brought about by means contrary to" the peace pact. The United States did not join the League of Nations, but with Stimson's engagement it agreed to work with league members to deny Japan the economic benefit of its conquest of Manchuria. Even in great-power politics, personalities matter.

It is a shame the authors don't focus as strongly on personalities in the book's chapters on how the law changed behavior. Instead, they turn their attention to demonstrating statistically that interstate wars resulting in lasting territorial conquest became dramatically less significant after the 1928 peace pact. This shift was not, the authors stress, because interstate war dropped off dramatically after 1928 - that decline did not begin until after World War II. Rather, they argue, it was because most territory taken in wars after 1928 was later returned to its pre-1928 owners or, if not, was far smaller in area than the vast land conquests of the old world order.

Yet even accepting the finding that the nature of land claims changed after 1928, it remains far from clear that this shift in state behavior came about in some measure because of the prewar revolution in law the authors so ably describe. As they acknowledge, the advent of nuclear weapons and the spread of democracy and trade may also help explain the change in state behavior in the latter half of the 20th century. Without greater insight into, for example, the internal deliberations among officials in the United States, Britain and France after World War II, it is difficult to know for sure whether any decision-maker would point to the pact of 1928 - or the legal developments it prompted - as influencing their decision in 1945 to claim no important new territory for themselves.

Understanding whether law makes a difference in states' behavior is a notoriously difficult problem. Governments are complex organisms, led by individuals who regularly reach decisions after consultation with sometimes warring casts of advisers, each one with his or her own reasons for urging a particular action, reasons that can include strategy, morality and law (or none of these) at the same time. In such circumstances, looking at what states do - whether they follow the law or not - can tell us only a little about why they do it.

"The Internationalists" provides a great service in illustrating the ways in which law can speak powerfully to individual decision-makers. An even greater service would be to show us more about what kind of decision-maker it takes to listen.

---

Pearlstein is a professor of constitutional and international law at the Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University.
The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office

By Jeremi Suri

Basic. 343 pp. $32

---

When I was covering the waning days of the Obama era, a troubling thought often came to me: Why don't we just abolish the presidency? This dark rumination had little to do with President Barack Obama, or the poisonous campaign to replace him, or even his successor, President Trump.

Rather it was inspired by the preposterous demands of the office. So I couldn't have been more excited to read historian Jeremi Suri's new book, "The Impossible Presidency," which traces how the exalted office has evolved into something that dooms even its most talented leaders to tragic failure.

Suri's history shows how the occupants of the Oval Office have acquired ever more power, how their ambitions have soared to absurd heights and how the combination has made it impossible to satisfy the electorate. The gap between power and performance has perhaps never been more evident than it is today. In his introduction, Suri writes, "This book is not about Trump's election, but one of its aims is to help us understand the deep historical forces that made it possible."

The smart and engaging first half of the book tracks the rise of the presidency, beginning with its origins as a radical new idea. The nation's Founding Fathers saw the president as someone who would almost float above the politics of the day. He would be "impartial, fair, forward-looking, and unifying ... [a] model of virtuous behavior," Suri writes. This was the view that produced George Washington, who Suri describes as a "fatherly 'guardian.'"

From there Suri ably documents how the office grew. Andrew Jackson "re-defined the presidency as the voice and protector of the people." Abraham Lincoln was first to institute the draft, putting 1 million men under arms to fight the Civil War.

All presidents are obligated to play the role of minister in times of war, heartbreak and national tragedy. Suri traces the origin of this tradition to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. "His beautiful words made him a new kind of leader for a new kind of nation," Suri writes. Lincoln's greatest speeches gave meaning to the carnage and sacrifice of the Civil War, and Suri eloquently describes him as an "active visionary" and our "collective redeemer."

Wielding his "big stick" foreign policy, Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to project American power overseas: "the first imperial presidency," Suri argues. At home, Roosevelt expanded the power of the office by butting heads with the country's business elite, breaking up monopolies and interceding in labor disputes. "When he spoke of the 'National Government,' Roosevelt meant himself."

Confronted by the Great Depression and World War II, Franklin Roosevelt was compelled to transform the president into a "local provider" of opportunity and "as close to a true leader of the world as anyone has come, before or since."

And this is where both the presidency and Suri's incredibly ambitious book begin to unravel.

Suri reveals much about the changing nature of the presidency by carefully breaking down presidential daily calendars. Franklin Roosevelt's was the last to be written in longhand and was positively sleepy compared with his successors'. "A day in the life of Roosevelt's presidency, even after a traumatic event like the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, seems humane - even 'slow' by later standards," he writes.

Twenty years later, even as John F. Kennedy was confronting nuclear armageddon in the form of the Cuban missile crisis, he was struggling to find time to deliberate with his closest advisers. His calendar was packed. The problem: a massive expansion of presidential power and responsibility. "From the beginning, these enormously energetic and talented men were running on tracks they did not choose, control, or really care about," Suri writes. "Tactical brilliance crowded out strategic focus." Instead of pursuing big goals, they became captives of their backbreaking schedules. Instead of focusing on issues that mattered most to them, they were too often stuck managing the crises of the moment. "Their presidential power elicited expectations, commitments, and hubris that drove their daily behavior," Suri writes.

There's an element of truth to Suri's argument. But by focusing on the presidents and their schedules, Suri overlooks the many changes underway in the country and the world outside the White House. As a result, by the time we get to Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Obama, Suri's presidential portraits seem less clear-sighted. He praises Reagan for his big-picture approach to his presidency, writing that "he was not concerned with the details, but the vision and the promise." But, he concludes, even Reagan was taken captive by the office's immense power and his own runaway ambitions. On the Clinton and Obama presidencies, Suri is sometimes borderline incoherent. "For a country where women and people of color became the majority of the electorate, these two men feminized and blackened the presidency," he writes. It's a sentence that makes no sense.

A president's success depends on his ability to rally the nation. Here, Franklin Roosevelt stands out as the exemplar. Midway through the book, Suri quotes a striking passage from writer Saul Bellow describing cars parked bumper to bumper in Chicago on a summer's evening, their radios tuned to a speech by Roosevelt. "Everywhere the same voice, its odd eastern accent, which in anyone else would have irritated Midwesterners," Bellow writes. "You could follow without missing a single word as you strolled by. You felt joined to these unknown drivers, men and women smoking their cigarettes in silence, not so much considering the President's words as affirming the rightness of his tone and taking assurance from it."

Of Clinton and Obama, Suri writes: "They had the ability to communicate with the eloquence of Lincoln and the clarity of Roosevelt, but they doubted a divided country would listen."

This was not true of Obama, who believed, perhaps naively, in the power of his rhetoric. His unfulfilled outreach to the Muslim world took the form of a hugely ambitious speech in Cairo. He certainly recognized the growing rancor and distrust in the country, but right up to the last days of his presidency, Obama believed he could help repair the damage with his words. "There's no doubt a president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide, and I guarantee I'll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office," he said in his last State of the Union address in 2016.

The problem, though, was not Obama's words or even his policies. Nor was it really the ever-expanding office of the presidency. Suri traces Trump's rise to a desire in the electorate to blow up the office that had so often disappointed them. "They elected an anti-leader, Donald Trump, whose main qualification was that he had never served in public office and had no desire to act like a traditional public servant," Suri writes. This analysis, however, discounts the real passion that Trump inspired among his supporters, who still see him as both a strongman and a savior.

There's no doubt that the office of the presidency has changed since the nation's earliest days, and Suri's effort to trace its long expansion is worthwhile and important. But the truth may be that the country has grown too big, diverse and messy for one man or woman to represent it.
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Linkedin Frank Palmos (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 09:18 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21d7ce5 4 Art & Culture Movie,history,international-relations,Madura Free

My work as a translator for the Colombo Plan in 1961-62 took me across Java to the historic port of Surabaya, once the biggest city in the Dutch East Indies.

When Joseph Conrad wrote Lucky Jim in the early 19th century, readers didnt have to look at the map to find Surabaya  it was known worldwide as a hub of Asian and international trade.

The Japanese Occupation forces used Surabaya as a major base, which led to the city becoming the true birthplace of the Indonesian Revolution. It was the first free city under Republican rule in October 1945, and the focus, later, of my two histories on the Republic.

When the semi-trailer carrying new RRI transmitters from Jakarta caught up with us in Surabaya, I left my temporary job on the Djawa Pos to go with the Colombo Plan team by ferry across to Bangkalan on Madura. We drove east to our Sumenep guesthouse near the salt port of Kalianget, which had a very popular open-air cinema, the first I had seen in Indonesia. My three nights at the cinema watching films outdoors were by far the most entertaining week on this assignment.

The Madurese people welcomed me, almost embracing me as one of their own as the only European in the audience, coming to share their movies. The cinema was in a big park where an old projector was hooked up to a generator, partly buried to reduce the engine noise. Large bamboo poles supported the big, white canvas screen.

Read also: Hariadi: Tracing history through celluloid films

The foreground was a smooth grassed area where about 300 people sat in family groups, with small stoves to heat meals, mattresses for infants to sleep on (the movies were very long) and cushions, thermos flasks, snack packets and cigarettes, sold from trays by busy young vendors who watched the movies as they sold. Tickets were about 2 US cents, with the best places up front taken early.

A small Chinese gentleman from Surabaya owned the projector. He set the films rolling around 7:30 p.m. each evening. All the films were from India, the worst of the worst, so to speak, which featured for no particular reason, very long dance segments that had no obvious connection to the stories.

The films had been shot using actors speaking Hindi and English, with puzzling English subtitles. Sometimes Bahasa Indonesia was added, written by someone battling with the spoken words, so there was a lot of guesswork. The Indian actors spoke in old-style, 1930s Kiplingesque English, using archaic expressions, which flummoxed the translator as well as the audience.

In my first film, a richly adorned elderly prince is sitting on a throne as irrelevant elephants nearby sway back and forth.

His prime minister approaches, saying: Your Excellency, there is a challenge to your kingdom from the son of the rival you killed on the battlefield.

Prince: What manner of person is this challenger?

Minister says in English: A cocky young fellow! which no one in the audience understands.

The subtitle reads: A young upstart warrior with very large private parts.

The minister calls the son of the princes rival bumptious, an archaic expression from the 1930s, a word the translator does not know, so he writes: The challenger is badly deformed.

The second nights movie had long dance scenes in which lovely girls in bright costumes emerged spontaneously from flimsy looking movie-sets, singing in high-pitched voices and twirling for 10 or so minutes. Ever practical, the Madurese used these long, boring sequences to cook snacks, feed children and stretch their legs and chat, until the main story resumed.

The themes were all similar: handsome, impoverished and unfairly wronged young men in love with princesses trapped in metaphoric golden cages, where they languished, forlorn and miserable. Somehow the young heroes would rescue their beloveds from wicked overlords. These young heroes in the first half are clean-shaven, but when saving princesses, they suddenly have black, manly moustaches, like the Javanese folk character Gatotkaca.

Another scene: An old lord in richly bejeweled jacket, a leer in his eye, says in baritone English to a beautiful young lady, her eyes downcast: You are a lovely songbird, like a princess, a tonic for my poor eyes.

The English subtitle was: You are a lovely plump hen. I have sore eyes.

The films came in two silver canisters. On the last night  I was a regular VIP by then  the Chinese operator played the second half of a film first, so we got the happily-ever-after scene first.

When the second canister was run, several warriors, who had been killed half an hour earlier, sprang back to life. The audience, much displeased, complained loudly and demanded a refund. Too late! The operator had fled the scene, leaving the projector running.

I stayed to see the reverse story in the hope of seeing at least one more confrontation between overlord and princesses. I was well rewarded:

Scene: Beautiful, bejeweled maiden with heavy make-up is complaining in English about losing her love and freedom: I am betrothed to marry a rich, old prince  my parents insist  but I love a young childhood friend.

The English subtitle read: My parents force me to take a bath with a rich man and his young friend.

The RRI transmitter, by the way, was an immediate success, extending the broadcasting reach to audiences across Madura and nearby smaller islands.

As for the Madurese people, they are fiercely patriotic, make wonderful soldiers and friends, but are formidable enemies if crossed.

One hero, whose courage I have recorded in Student Soldiers (Obor, 2016), was the Madurese schoolteacher Hasanuddin Pasopati, who commanded a 500-strong militia force during the Battle of Surabaya, described in detail by Suhario Padmodiwiryo, his second-in-command during the battle in November 1945. In 1994, Suhario (by then a General) had published, Autobiografi seorang mahasiswa prajurit (Hario Kecik: Autobiography of a Student Soldier), which I translated into English.

***

Frank Palmos was 21 years old when he began his foreign correspondent career in the relatively new Republic of Indonesia in March 1961. To reach the skill and experience level to succeed in his plan to open the first foreign newspaper bureau in Jakarta, he immersed himself in Indonesian society for two years, at universities, towns and villages, and accepting assignments as a translator.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 17:25 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21f24a9 4 Art & Culture batik,traditional-arts,Indonesian-Embassy,Laos Free

The Indonesian Embassy held a workshop entitled How to make nice batik on Sept 24 at the Vientiane Center Mall, Vientiane, Laos. The workshop was held in conjunction with the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Indonesian-Laotian bilateral relations.

We chose to hold a batik workshop because it is our deeply rooted culture and technically easy to do. We want to introduce more Indonesian culture to Laos, said Wishnu Krisnamurthi, the head of the organizing committee of the 60th Anniversary RI-Laos event.

Read also: Batik: a cultural dilemma of infatuation and appreciation

The Indonesian Embassy in Vientiane brought batik makers from Indonesia to host the batik workshop. The reception from locals was positive, as reported by Antara News Agency.

The locals are very interested in Indonesian batik. Laos also has a beautiful woven culture, but not everybody can weave because its not as easy as making batik, Wishnu said.

The batik workshop attracted 70 local participants including mall goers, art school students, art galleries and members of the Laos ethnic arts community.

Khamheng Phommasy, a participant from the Laos Institute of Arts said, Making batik is a very good and fun activity. I loved learning how to use the canting to create the patterns. Phommasy was also interested in Indonesian batiks unique patterns, I love Indonesian batik because I like designing on cotton cloth, he adds. (asw)
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Linkedin Sebastian Partogi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 09:45 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21d7dfd 4 Books Book,history,Java-island Free

An Indonesian translation of historian Peter Careys interpretation of the British occupation of Java from an old Javanese manuscript propels us to rethink Indonesias position in the global world.

In conjunction with the 200th anniversary of Thomas Stamford Raffles seminal work The History of Java ( 1817 ), Carey, who is British, released the Indonesian translation of his book called The British in Java, 1811-1816.

The book was originally published in English in 1992 through Oxford University Press and the publisher for the Indonesian version is Kompas.

Seeking to present an alternative view of Raffles book, which recounts Javanese history from the British perspective, Careys work presents the islands history under the British occupation from 1811 to 1816 based on chronicles written by a senior prince named Aryo Panular, who lived between 1772 and 1826.

Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (Biography.com/File)

The book is based on a very interesting manuscript by Pangeran [prince] Panular, a diary of someone living in the early 19th century, who can write every little sort of detail of life in Java at that time, Carey told The Jakarta Post during a recent interview.

Carey added that the book would show three significant historical aspects that prevailed during the British occupation of Java at that time.

First, the period marked the first time Indonesia became involved in a global conflict. During the occupation, the British battled the French in the Indian Ocean, where the latter had control over a number of islands in what is now Indonesia.

Secondly, the period also demonstrated the significance of British naval power. The Royal Navy came to Indonesia with 83 ships and 12,000 men. For the first time, a European power was not just a force to be reckoned with commercially, but also militarily and politically. During this period, Europeans and Indonesians were also pretty much on equal footing as the former needed the latters help as allies.

Occupation begins: An illustration of the British arrival in Batavia, modern-day Jakarta. (British Library Blogs/File)

The [Europeans] needed to have the eyes and ears of the peranakan Chinese [Indonesians of Chinese descent] to open up local markets. There was also respect for and a certain kind of fear [on the Europeans part] of the Javanese, who were perceived as a warlike people, he explained.

This has to do with the final socio-historical relevance of the book, which is countering the inferiority complex felt by the citizens of many post-colonial countries as a result of the prejudice expressed by European colonists; the book demonstrates that Indonesians are the equal of Europeans.

In 1847, [painter] Raden Saleh visited London and he was invited to dine with Queen Victoria. In 1857, the Mangkunegara IV king composed gamelan music titled Gending Puspowarno that was later recorded for the Voyager 2 expedition, Carey said.

In 1916, a Javanese journalist named Sosrokartono wrote a report on the First World War in four different languages: Russian, French, Spanish and English,

He believed that drawing from such inspiring examples, Indonesians needed to have their voice heard more on the international stage.

Translated: Peter Carey poses with the Indonesian-language edition of his book, The British in Java, 1811-1816. (JP/Sebastian Partogi)

According to Carey, he has chosen to have his works translated into Indonesian because of a paucity of local historical texts available in local bookstores.

You have several texts recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO] as world heritage manuscripts. Yet, when you go to bookstores, youre not going to get [ancient texts like] Negarakertagama, or I La Galigo or Babad Diponegoro, or anything to do with Panji, he lamented.

Read also: Great Indonesian literature: Tales of Panji

He said that this happened because Indonesian culture insufficiently valued or engaged with texts. He added that this was a pity as ancient texts actually served as a foundation to form a secure and strong national character.

In the United Kingdom, for instance, [the works of William] Shakespeare and [Percy Bysshe] Shelley are required reading in schools. Over time a situation develops in which the texts become part of how your brain works. Here [in Indonesia], we dont have that foundation. During the Dutch time you had books published by Balai Pustaka, but now not anymore, he said.
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Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 15:13 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21e8c10 1 Health passion-fruit,diabetes,diabetic-cookies,health Free

Three students from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) have used passionfruit skin to create diabetes-friendly cookies. Named Diakies, the cookies won them second place at Scientific Week of Pharmaceutical Students, which was held from Sept. 4 to 10 at the Indonesia Muslim University (UMI) in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

At the beginning, Devi Nathania, Fanny and Sandra Novitasari were concerned with the fact that most people only consumed passionfruit seeds, while their skin was actually beneficial to prevent diabetes. Said to be fully based on natural ingredients, Diakies is made from powdered passionfruit skin, flour and stevia.

Read also: House-cleaning, walking to work, staves off death: study

Diakies cookies. (itb.ac.id/File)

Diakies, which has two types of toppings; chocolate chips and oat-raisin, has many advantages. It not only uses a sugar substitute but also has an anti-diabetes effect that can lower blood sugar levels, especially because the passionfruit skin contains Piceatannol and pectin.

Hopefully these cookies will be able to help diabetes patients, so they can have healthier snacks, said Devi Nathania in an official statement from ITB. Also, we hope that [we] can help in processing passionfruit waste in a better way and [the product] can be utilized in a new field for home industry. (asw)
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Arbil, Iraq  Mon, September 25, 2017 17:37 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21f3573 2 World Kurds,independent,referendum,Iraq Free

Iraqi Kurds voted in an independence referendum Monday, defying warnings from Baghdad and their neighbors in a historic step towards a national dream.

The non-binding vote, initiated by veteran leader Massud Barzani, has angered not only Iraq's federal government but also neighboring Turkey and Iran, who are concerned it could stoke separatist aspirations among their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.

Iran closed its border with Iraqi Kurdistan on Monday in the latest move by neighboring countries to put pressure on the Iraqi Kurds.

The United States and other Western nations have also raised concerns, saying the vote could hamper the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group in which cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurds has been key.

Kurdish flags were festooned in all the streets, on cars and outside homes across Iraqi Kurdistan.

Voters headed to the polls early Monday, many men dressed in traditional Kurdish dress of brown shirt and billowing trousers for the occasion.

Young girls wore caps emblazoned with the Kurdish colors of red, white, green and yellow, and regional flags around their necks and shoulders.

"I came very early to be the first to vote for a Kurdish state," Diyar Abubakr, 33, said outside a polling station in regional capital Arbil.

"It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion," he said.

One voter even brought a cow to slaughter before the start of the referendum.

"I brought this cow as today the state is born and it's tradition to slaughter a cow for a birth," Dalgash Abdallah, 27, said.

Initial results are expected to be announced 24 hours after polls close. An overwhelming "Yes" outcome is expected, but Kurdish officials have said there are no plans for an immediate declaration of independence.

Topics : Kurds independent referendum Iraq
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates  Mon, September 25, 2017 20:07 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21fc43f 2 World Abu-Dhabi,Egypt,obesity,surgery Free

An Egyptian believed to be the world's heaviest woman died Monday of heart and kidney failure at an Abu Dhabi hospital, following months of treatment to help her lose weight and one day walk again.

A team of more than 20 doctors had been caring for the bedridden Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, 37, since her arrival at Burjeel Hospital in May.

El Aty first sought treatment in India, travelling from the port city of Alexandria to Mumbai aboard a specially modified Airbus in early February.

She had a long wait as no airlines were willing to fly her due to her health complications.

She had not left home in more than two decades and weighed around 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds).

Her request for an Indian visa was initially denied, but she was granted passage after the doctor who volunteered to do her initial surgery tweeted a plea for help directly to India's foreign minister, who intervened.

She underwent bariatric surgery -- a stomach-shrinking bypass procedure -- the following month, initially shedding 100 kilograms at Saifee Hospital.

Her family told the doctor that as a child she was diagnosed with elephantiasis, a condition that causes the limbs and other body parts to swell, leaving her almost immobile.

By the time she left Mumbai, doctors said El Aty had lost more than half her original weight.

El Aty left Mumbai when her sister clashed with the hospital, disputing her progress and treatment.

In Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Hospital, doctors were hoping to help El Aty walk again, according to a report in the Indian Express.

El Aty celebrated her birthday last month with her family and doctors by her side.

The Alexandria native had dreamed to one day visit the beach again, the Indian Express said, quoting her sister
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 17:11 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21f0b9e 1 City firefighters,allowance,increase,proposal Free

The Jakarta City Council proposed a 70 percent allowance increase for firefighters, having taken into account their risky work and round-the-clock shifts.

Firefighting is very risky, secretary to the councils Commission A, which oversees financial issues, Syarif said on Sunday.

In addition to firefighters, Syarif also proposed that employees at the Jakarta Public Order Agency and investigators at Jakarta Inspectorate also receive special treatment because of their functions.

He said, however, that increasing the allowance of civil servants at the three agencies may result in the reduction of allowances at other agencies.

If it is inevitable, we will have to accept that because there are some agencies who deserve special treatment, Syarif said as quoted by kompas.com.

Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat said previously that he would raise the allowance of Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency employees considering the risks associated with their job. (dis)

Topics : firefighters allowance increase proposal
By PTI: graft

Jammu, Sep 24 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP today asked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to give sanction to prosecute over 90 government officials named in graft cases, a day after she sought the help of state officials to eradicate corruption.

Mufti yesterday termed corruption "a scourge which eats the vitals of the society" and urged state government officials to support her in providing an "honest and responsive" administration to the people of the state.

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The BJP, a partner in the ruling alliance, said if the states General Administration Department "sits over 34 cases" of corruption involving 93 government officials, which includes two IAS officers, for two years in violation of a Supreme Court order, "how can the scourge of corruption be routed from the state".

BJP state spokesperson S S Bijral said Mufti should prioritise prosecution in the cases pending with the GAD.

He said in a statement that if the prosecution process is started "the critical honest and responsive government shall find its way".

He said the BJP-PDP government in 2014 inherited from the National Conference-Congress a state which has been termed by the Transparency International as one of the most corrupt.

Corruption affects the states economy and forces youth to take up guns with the help from "our neighbour for a proxy war," he said.

The BJP spokesman termed Muftis statement on corruption "worrisome" and urged her to consider her role critically in providing an honest and responsive administration to people.

He said "its the leader alone" that determines win or defeat for an operational strategy and other bench marks. PTI TAS ABH

--- ENDS ---
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 23:13 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21fd757 2 Business Cikarang-Listrindo,coal-fired-power-plant,West-Java Free

Publicly listed independent power plant producer PT Cikarang Listrindo has increased its total installed capacity to 1,144 megawatts (MW), as its second coal-fired power plant begins operations.

Cikarang corporate secretary Christanto Pranata said the commissioning of the second unit was an important step in enabling the company to meet the electricity demand from five industrial estates in Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java.

This is a significant milestone for the company, with a new type of electricity generation. We are also delighted with both units performance, he said in a press statement on Monday, adding that the first unit of the coal-fired power plant was currently running at its base load.

Read also: Cikarang Listrindo to finish new coal plant in first half

The company selected steam turbines from the Germany-based Siemens AG, the leading energy provider for reliable high-technology products. It also installed boilers with a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology from Finland-based firm Valmet Technologies Oy.

The boilers have been designed for a low combustion emission, better than the standard set by the World Bank and the Environment and Forestry Ministry. The boilers are also equipped with electrostatic precipitators (ESP) to reduce particle emissions into the air. (ags)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 18:22 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21f7455 1 City jakarta,contract-worker,protest Free

Hundreds of contract employees of Jakarta Transportation Agency and Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) staged a demonstration on Monday, demanding the government appoint them as permanent workers.

The coordinator of the protest, Heri, said 1,620 Satpol PP officers and 180 workers of the Transportation Agency had not been appointed as permanent employees.

"We want to voice our demands so that the contract workers who have long served the administration will be appointed as permanent workers," Heri said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

Some of the workers left their duties to participate in the protest, Heri said.

Roads near the Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry in South Jakarta, the site of the street protest, were closed in the morning. (cal)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 18:07 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21f497e 1 City health,Mitra-Keluarga-Hospital,sanction,management Free

The Jakarta Health Agency issued a sanction against the Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Kalideres, West Jakarta, for a suspected negligence which resulted in the death of a baby earlier this month.

In a press conference held on Monday, the agency ordered the removal of all administrators of the hospital, up to its highest level.

"The sanction for owner of the Mitra Keluarga hospital in Kalideres, PT Ragam Sehat Multifita, is for it to restructure its management, in this case, its leadership, within one month after this decision is made," head of Jakarta Health Agency Koesmedi Priharto said as quoted by kompas,com.

The agency also ordered Mitra Keluarga to join a new accreditation process within the next six months and that it also has to renew the process once every two years.

Koesmedi said that if Mitra Keluarga failed to comply with the order, the agency would take a drastic measure of shutting down its operation.

Four-month-old Tiara Deborah Simanjorang died at the hospital on Sept. 3 after the hospital refused to provide treatment in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), because her parents failed to conduct the required advance payment.
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Linkedin Winny Tang (The Jakarta Post) Busan, South Korea  Mon, September 25, 2017 13:22 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21e11a4 1 Business ITU-Telecom-World-2017,Rudiantara,Busan,South-Korea Free

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara emphasized on Monday that the adoption of innovative digital technology had great potential to solve the growing wealth disparity within the society.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecom World 2017 event in Busan, South Korea, Rudiantara offered two strategic measures to address income disparities through digitalization.

The first measure is by empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for rapid adoption and practical application of innovative and disruptive digital economy business models, the minister said.

Some digital business models in Indonesia have proven to bring positive impacts in providing job opportunities, and thus have contributed to reducing income disparities, such as online marketplace Tokopedia and homegrown ride-hailing app Go-Jek, Rudiantara argued.

The second measure is by supporting MSMEs in underserved regions to develop their potential by enabling them to enjoy access to digital connectivity, he added.

In Indonesia, the government has been able to gradually improve broadband connectivity across the archipelago by utilizing Universal Service Obligation (USO) funds, which come from telecommunication companies.

ITU Telecom World 2017 is an event that brings together information and communication technology ministers, business leaders and small and medium enterprises in the ICT sector to discuss ideas and collaborate. The event will run from Sept. 25-28.

Around 8,000 officials and experts from governments, academia and the business sector have joined the event. Countries such as Japan, China and South Africa are showcasing their latest technological developments. (bbn)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25 2017

Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has clarified that the raw rattan export ban was still in place following the introduction of a ministerial regulation on forestry product exports.

The Indonesian Furniture and Craft Association (HIMKI) voiced their concerns that new Trade Ministry Regulation No. 38/M-DAG/PER/6/2017 would allow exporters to sell raw rattan, whereas the domestic industry needed a steady supply of raw rattan to maintain production.

Enggartiasto said on Thursday the government would continue to ban raw rattan exports, but would allow the export of partially processed rattan to benefit both furniture and rattan producers.

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 18:26 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21f75fe 2 National terror-attack,IS,Samarinda,Court,verdict Free

An extremist who carried out a deadly attack on a church with a group of militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group was jailed for life on Monday.

Juhanda was found guilty of an act of terrorism that killed a toddler and hurt three other small children In Samarinda, East Kalimantan last November.

"The defendant has been proven guilty of committing a terrorism act," Judge Surung Simanjuntak, from the East Jakarta District Court, said.

Prosecutors said Juhanda travelled to the Oikumene Protestant church in Samarinda by motorbike, intending to carry out the attack.

But instead he fell from the bike and detonated a Molotov cocktail in front of the church where the youngsters, aged between two and four, had been playing.

Two-year-old Intan Olivia Marbun was killed in the blast.

Juhanda was arrested along with four others, with all five accused of belonging to the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah group (JAD), a local militant outfit that supports IS.

One of his co-conspirators, Joko Sugito, was jailed on Monday for seven years for his part in the attack.

The three other defendants involved in the case have received sentences ranging from six years to six years and eight months in prison.

Police said Juhanda learned the bomb-making technique in Aceh from the group of Southeast Asias most wanted terrorist Dulmatin, who was killed in 2010.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 19:00 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21f93c9 1 City YLBHI-attack,LBH-Jakarta,operation,1965-mass-killing Free

Activities at the headquarters of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) in Menteng, Central Jakarta, returned to normal on Monday after hundreds of protesters had besieged it for days.

They believed that the office was hosting an event related to the disbanded Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Our clients can now visit the office again, Jakarta Legal Aid Institute director Alghiffari Aqsa said on Sunday, according to tempo.co.

He added that YLBHI clients helped the foundation clean the office after the protest turned violent on Sept. 18 when protesters, who claimed to belong to an anti-communist group, began pelting it with rocks and bottles. At least five police officers were injured during the scuffle.

On Sept. 16, a group of scholars, activists, victims of the 1965 communist purge and their families attempted to hold a discussion titled Conveying the truth on the history of 1965/1966.

It was stopped after police said the organizers did not have a permit to host the event. (vny)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 10:34 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21dc6c9 1 Business Mount-Agung,eruption,bali,Ngurah-Rai-International-Airport,Volcano,#MtAgungVolcano Free

The government is preparing nine airports to redirect airplanes heading to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on the resort island of Bali, should the airport be closed in the event of a Mount Agung eruption.

The nine airports are Juanda Airport in Surabaya, Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi, Adi Sumarmo Airport in Surakarta, Lombok Airport in West Nusa Tenggara, Komodo Airport Labuan Bajo, Hassanudin Airport in Makassar and Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado and Pattimura Airport in Ambon.

It is part of our mitigation plan, said Transportation Ministrys air transportation director general Agus Santoso during a coordination meeting at Emergency Operation Center (EOC) at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Sunday.

Read also: Thousands flee rumbling Mount Agung

More than 34,000 people have reportedly fled from the rumbling volcano as the magnitude of volcanic tremors grow, prompting fears it could erupt in the coming days.

He said the ministry would monitor the volcanic activities, particularly the volcanic materials in the air from the volcano through satellite imagery operated by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), numeric digital reports from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) in Darwin and based on pilots observations.

He said his office would close the airport if the three parties issued recommendations. If there is only one recommendation, we cannot close it. We will validate the report, he said as reported by Antara.

If the volcano erupted, but the volcanic materials did not flow to the airport, the ministry would not close the airport, he added. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 14:50 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21e76c9 1 Politics Pindad,TNI,Wiranto,Gatot-Nurmantyo,BIN,firearms,rifles,weapon Free

State-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad has confirmed that the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) has ordered 517 weapons.

The rifles are currently still with the company and have yet to be sent to the agency

"Yes, there is a contract between PT Pindad and BIN for 517 [weapons]," PT Pindad secretary Bayu A. Fiantori said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

Bayu also said that the National Police planned to order 5,000 weapons from his company.

"The police plans [to order] 5,000 weapons but we have yet to make any contract," he said, refusing to give any details as to what kinds of weapons BIN and the Police were going to buy.

Bayu only revealed that the weapons had different specifications from those belonging to the Indonesian Military (TNI).

"[The weapons BIN has ordered] are non-military. The weapons have different specifications from the TNI weapons," Bayu said.

Read also: Soeharto was a great role model: TNI chief

Controversies arose after TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said in front of retired military personnel on Friday he had received intelligence information that a number of institutions had ordered a shipment of 5,000 "illegal" firearms without President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's consent.

On Sunday, however, Coordinating Political, Security and Legal Affairs Minister Wiranto clarified that there had been a "miscommunication" regarding the firearms procurement.

"There is a procurement order for 500 non-TNI standard firearms to Pindad, not 5,000. It was BIN that made the order for intelligence education purposes," Wiranto claimed. (foy/bbs)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura  Mon, September 25, 2017 17:50 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21f3ad9 1 National Freeport-Indonesia,Papua,Tembagapura,Mimika,Timika,security,shooting Free

Ronald Sajensolar, a driver of a patrol car, sustained injuries to his cheek and shoulders from shards of a broken window, after the car he was traveling in was shot at by unknown assailants at Mile 60 in the mining area of PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua on Monday.

It was the second shooting incident in the area in two days.

On Sunday, a water tanker truck and patrol vehicle reportedly belonging to Freeport were shot at by unknown assailants while traveling to Mile 61 in the mining area.

''Ronald is receiving medical treatment at Tembagapura Hospital at Mile 68,'' Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. AM Kamal said in Jayapura on Monday.

Security officers from the "Amole Task Force" are on standby at Mile 61 in Tembagapura in Mimika, Papua, on Sunday. Two vehicles belonging to miner PT Freeport Indonesia were shot at by unknown assailants while traveling to Mile 61 in the mining area on Sunday. (Courtesy of Papua Police/file)

The shooting occurred when Ronalds car was traveling with 30 other vehicles carrying mining workers from Timika to Tembagapura. The gun shots were heard from the left side of the road.

Following the incident, 20 of the vehicles could not immediately continue their journey to Tembagapura.

Kamal said the police had been investigating the case and looking for the perpetrators.

Freeport Indonesia spokesman, when asked about the incident via test message, only replied, we are still looking for confirmation [over the incident].

Read also: RI open but firm on Papua separatist issue

He added all scheduled journeys for employees between Timika and Tembagapura had been postponed until further notice.

Mimika Legislative Council Speaker Eltinus Mom said he was concerned over the two shootings in the area, while none of the perpetrators had been arrested.

The shootings are acts of terror that worry people, Eltinus said in Timika. (bbs)
By PTI: Varkala (Ker), Sep 25 (PTI) A journalist of a regional Malayalam daily was allegedly manhandled by the police at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, the latest in a series of attack on media persons across the country.

Sajeev Gopalan (49) was allegedly beaten up by two police personnel at his house last night, triggering protests from media fraternity.

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Gopalan, local correspondent of Kerala Kaumudi, was admitted to a private hospital here with injuries. His family members alleged that the journalist had recently published a news item on the abduction of a girl and the alleged involvement of some police officials in protecting the accused.

This must be the reason for the attack against the journo, they claimed.

The incident took place when Gopalan was standing in front of his house to see off his two friends who had come for dinner.

Police have started a probe into the incident, P Asok Kumar, Thiruvananthapuram rural police chief, said. "Based on media reports, Attingal ASP has been asked to conduct an inquiry," he said.

Thiruvananthapuram district unit of Kerala Union of Working Journalists condemned the incident and submitted a memorandum to DGP Loknath Behera seeking speedy action.

Senior Kannada journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, known for her left-leaning outlook and forthright views against Hindutva politics, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at her residence on September 5.

Senior journalist K J Singh and his mother were found dead in Mohali on September 23.

In another incident, unidentified gunmen had shot dead a journalist at Bihars Salkhani village earlier this year. PTI JRK RC SRY

--- ENDS ---
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 15:36 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21eb656 1 Business Silangit-airport,North-Sumatra,Budi-Karya-Sumadi,international-airport Free

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that Silangit Airport would get international status on Oct. 28 as part of the effort to support tourism in North Sumatra, especially Lake Toba and surrounding areas.

Starting on Oct. 28, it will be operated as an international airport. We will also add various supporting services outside the airport, said Budi on Sunday as reported by tempo.co.

The airport has fulfilled all the requirements as an international airport, the minister said, adding that, however, the improvement of its facilities, including the runway, terminal and other supporting facilities would continue to be implemented before Oct. 28.

He explained that the airport already had a 2,650-meter runway, with a pavement classification number between 20 and 35.

For all Boeing 737 planes to land, it needs an additional overlay. I have asked Angkasa Pura II (the state-owned airport operator) to finish it before Oct. 28.

With all the improvements, many more airline companies were expected to use the airport, he added.

The airlines that already fly to the airport include flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air and Wing Air.

Data from PT Angkasa Pura showed that the airport accommodates 300,000 passengers annually. (bbn)
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Linkedin Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post) Jember, East Java  Mon, September 25, 2017 18:20 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21f684f 1 National tobacco,cigarette-producers,East-Java,Jember,NTB Free

Tobacco farmers in East Java and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) have asked the government to expand the partnership scheme between farmers and industry players.

Chairman of the Kasturi Tobacco Farmers Association (APTKI) Jember, Abdurachman, said the majority of tobacco farmers were still anxious despite a good harvest, since there was uncertainty about whether their products would be absorbed by the industry or not.

He said such a scheme would benefit both parties. For farmers, it would maintain a good selling price during harvest season while for the companies, it would provide certainty over tobacco supplies.

Farmers are often in a difficult situation when they see no one is going to buy their crops, he told The Jakarta Post recently.

According to Abdurachman, only 20 percent of the 5,000 hectares of tobacco farm in Jember were part of partnership programs with cigarette makers.

Read also: Tungguk Tembakau a tobacco harvest ritual with prayers

Similarly, Mukmin, a Virginia tobacco farmer from North Pijot village in Keruak district in East Lombok regency, NTB, said he had enjoyed much benefit after joining a partnership program with PT Sadhana Arifnusa in 2016.

Previously, I was often forced to sell my crops at very low prices to avoid greater loss, he said.

Previously, Agus Wahyudi from the Directorate General of Plantation at the Agriculture Ministry claimed the government had been formulating a partnership scheme that would be able to involve more farmers.

He said that cigarette makers would be obliged to purchase local tobacco if they proposed a tobacco import permit. (bbs)
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Mon, September 25, 2017 14:08 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21e614f 2 World US,trump,travel-ban,North-Korea,venezuela Free

President Donald Trump issued a new open-ended travel ban Sunday that saw North Korea, Venezuela and Chad among a list of eight countries cited for poor security and lack of cooperation with US authorities.

The new restrictions replace an expiring 90-day measure that had locked Trump in political and legal battles since he took office in January over what critics alleged was an effort to block Muslims from the country.

But the White House stressed that the measure was to protect the United States from terror attacks.

"We are taking action today to protect the safety and security of the American people by establishing a minimum security baseline for entry into the United States," Trump said in a statement.

"We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation."

Sudan, one of the six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list.

The US has recently praised Sudan's efforts in fighting terrorism ahead of a decision expected in October on whether to lift decades-old sanctions on Khartoum.

Full bans were newly placed on nationals from North Korea and Chad, and extended for five countries on the original list: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

Limited restrictions meanwhile were placed on Venezuela, for officials from government agencies including interior and foreign ministries, the main police and intelligence services, and other agencies. Trump's order said Caracas was not cooperating on security issues.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Manila, Philippines  Mon, September 25, 2017 16:22 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21eea36 2 SE Asia Fisherman,Philippines,SouthChinaSea,death Free

Two Vietnamese fishermen were found dead with gunshot wounds and five others were arrested after the Philippine navy chased suspected poachers in the South China Sea at the weekend, authorities said Monday.

A Philippine patrol ship pursued six Vietnamese fishing boats 56 kilometres (30 nautical miles) off the northern coastal town of Bolinao before dawn Saturday, a regional military spokesman told AFP.

The bodies of the two men were found after a Vietnamese boat slammed into the Philippine vessel, said Lieutenant Jose Covarrubias.

The five fishermen in custody would face poaching charges as they were within Philippine waters, he added.

"The navy ship spotted the six fishing boats (which were) using bright lights to attract fish. While it was chasing the boats, one boat manoeuvred and hit our vessel," said Covarrubias.

"The officers boarded and searched the boat, resulting in the apprehension of the five and they found the two dead bodies."

The Philippine foreign affairs department said navy personnel had fired warning shots after the Vietnamese vessel had initiated "very dangerous manoeuvres".

Covarrubias said he could not confirm this.

A police report released Monday said it found gunshot wounds on the bodies of the two fishermen while their vessel sustained six bullet holes.

The fishermen's bodies would undergo an autopsy, the report said.

Foreign fishermen have often been caught trespassing in Philippine waters. Last year President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the release of 17 Vietnamese fishermen caught in his nation's waters.

In 2013 the Philippines apologised to Taiwan over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by Filipino coastguards who said his vessel had illegally sailed into local waters.

Taiwan suspended the hiring of Philippine workers and recalled its de facto representative to Manila in protest.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines would conduct a "fair and thorough" investigation into the deaths of the Vietnamese, according to a foreign department statement.

Topics : Fisherman Philippines SouthChinaSea death
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Linkedin News Desk (Vietnam News) New York  Mon, September 25, 2017 16:16 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21edc54 2 SE Asia #UN,#UNGA,#UnitedNations,#GeneralAssembly,#ASEAN,#ASEAN-China,#SouthChinaSea,#SouthChinaSeaDispute Free

ASEAN foreign ministers have endoresed a proposal by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh for the ASEAN-China Summit in November to issue an official statement on the start of negotiations over a Code of Conduct for the East Sea.

Addressing his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a meeting on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday, Minh stressed the significance of maintaining stability, overflight and maritime security in the East Sea (South China Sea) for regional peace.

He called on concerned parties to adhere to the principles of peaceful settlement of disputes, in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

ASEAN and China should make greater efforts to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and build a pragmatic and legally-binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), he added.

Minh also underscored the need for the ASEAN to strengthen its intra-bloc unity and central role in regional and international issues, especially those regarding peace, stability and development.

The ministers expressed deep concern over the complex developments on the Korean Peninsula as well as the escalating violence in Myanmars Rakhine state.

ASEAN appealed to the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) to promptly stop its nuclear weapons tests and strictly abide by relevant UN Security Council resolutions, they said.

The ministers called on the DPRK to return to the negotiating table in order to seek long-term and inclusive solutions to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

The ASEAN FMs also met with UN Secretary General and the President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly Antonio Guterres, with whom they agreed to enhance ASEAN-UN co-operation.

Earlier, Minh and the Colombian FM co-hosted a meeting between the ASEAN FMs and their counterparts from the Pacific Alliance.

Minh suggested the two sides step up their co-operation in economy, trade, investment, education, people-to-people exchange, science-technology and sustainable development, thus creating a momentum for pragmatic ties.

In his address at the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (GA) in New York on Friday, Minh said that "maintaining peace is always a top priority, requiring countries to work together to promote multilateralism".

The UN, he added, should serve as a coordinator of joint efforts to deal with global challenges based on more comprehensive regulations and standards.

Regarding the East Sea, Deputy PM Minh called on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and solve disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Also on Friday at the UN, Deputy PM Minh, authorised by President Tran ai Quang, signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The signing reflects Viet Nams consistent support for global nuclear disarmament.

On the sidelines of the GA, the Vietnamese leader met with the Deputy PM and FM of Nepal and FMs of Venezuela and the Ivory Coast on Saturday and the foreign ministers of Hungary and Saudi Arabia and the managing director of the World Economic Forum the previous day.

He also received representatives of major US corporations, such as Boeing, ExxonMobile, Uber, AES, MetLife and Pfizer. The US businesses spoke highly of Viet Nams determination to boost comprehensive economic reform, improve the business climate and provide optimal conditions for foreign investors.
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 13:05 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21dfbc9 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Tourism-Ministry Free

Tourism ministry is set to gather all tourism department heads from across Indonesia and representatives of the ministrys Pentahelix (Academic, Business, Community, Government and Media) for the 3rd Tourism National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) that will be held for two days on Sept. 26  27 at Bidakara Hotel, Jakarta.

The meeting will discuss the Calendar of Events (CoE) 2018 plan in order to achieve next years target of 17 million international tourists and 270 million domestic tourists.

In the event, tourism minister Arief Yahya is set to deliver a keynote speech. Coordinating minister for maritime affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and coordinating minister for human development and cultural affairs Puan Maharani are also set to attend.

500 participants are also expected to attend the meeting. Apart from discussing next years Calendar of Events, there will also be a signing of a partnership deal with several governmental and non-governmental institutions such as the health ministry, SBM ITB and the ministrys tourism institutions.

The meeting will also welcome Yogyakarta governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, North Sulawesi governor Olly Dondokambey, Ogilvy Indonesia CEO Anne Ridwan and Jember Fashion Carnaval founder and president Dynand Fariz as speakers.

Read also: Ubud listed among 'world's top 15 cities'

The synergy for Wonderful Indonesia Calendar of Events 2018 is very important because we want to have more than 100 international-scale premium events to increase tourist visits in 2018. Thats why each region should be encouraged to come up with international events that will be included in the Calendar of Events, explained Arief.

Arief added that CoE 2018 is an important program in strengthening the 3As elements of Attraction, Accommodation, and Accessibility, in particular cultural, nature and man-made tourist attractions.

The meeting itself will be divided into three parts: Pre-event, Event and Post-event.

In the meeting, we will discuss what kind of stimulus needed in each region, how to set up a standard indicator for international events and how to create a sustainable event that has these three elements: Pre-event, event and Post-event, Arief added.

Arief admitted that creating a sustainable event is difficult as it is related to financial support from sponsors.

No matter how good an international event is, if it doesnt create profit it will be hard to maintain its sustainability, he said.

Indonesia so far has several sustainable events such as Jakarta Fashion Week, Java Jazz, Jakarta Culinary Festival and Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen that has been growing rapidly lately. This year, Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen had teams from 29 countries taking part in the event.

Indonesia will be the host of Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang that will be held in August and IMF-World Bank Annual Meeting 2018 in Bali in October. These two events will definitely help the ministry in achieving their target of 17 million international tourists. (asw)
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 14:03 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21e5829 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Wonderful-Indonesia Free

Wonderful Indonesia recently participated in Otdykh Leisure event that was held at Expocentre, Moscow, Russia from Sept. 19 - 21. The Otdykh Leisure tourism exhibition has been held for 23 times and the Wonderful Indonesia brand has taken part in 12 of them.

This is a strategic step in attracting Russian tourists who are going to spend their winter holiday in Asia Pacific countries including Indonesia, explained tourism ministry's deputy minister for Overseas Promotion, I Gde Pitana.

Read also: Jomblang Cave, a vertical cave with heaven-sent view

At the expo, the ministry presented 12 tourism practitioners consisting of four tour operators and eight hotels from Bali and Raja Ampat. The event itself catered for both Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Customer (B2C) approaches.

The Indonesian booth welcomed high-ranking employees and owners of tour operators, hotels and other tourism businesses from Russia and other areas. To attract visitors, the booth served Indonesian coffee and showcased a traditional dance performance.

Within the months of January until July this year, the number of Russian tourists visiting Indonesia was 66,074, about a 57.16 percent increase from the same period last year that only had 42,042 visitors. In a year, the increase was about 22,000 averaging around 1,800 tourists per month.

The ministry is targeting to welcome 108,000 tourists from Russia this year. (asw)
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 15:03 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21e7d42 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Japan,Wonderful-Indonesia Free

A total of 41 tourism industry practitioners and 10 tourism departments from Indonesia took part in Japan Tourism Expo (JTE) 2017 that was held for four days from Sept. 21 - 24 at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center in Japan.

This is our momentum to attract tourists from Japan, we dont want the number of Japanese tourists to decrease in 2017 and 2018. This exhibition is the right platform for Yogyakarta as one of the nations leading destinations, said Yogyakarta tourism department head Aries Riyanta.

Aries came to Japan together with other tourism department representatives from East Java, South Sulawesi, South Sumatra, DKI Jakarta, Bali, Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands, West Nusa Tenggara and Central Kalimantan.

Tourism ministry's deputy minister for overseas promotion I Gde Pitana expressed his gratitude for the presence of tourism departments and tourism practitioners at the exhibition.

We are optimistic that the development of Japanese market will improve despite the decrease last year. The number of Japanese tourists within the months of January until July this year was 287,208 people, an increase of 1.03 percent from the same period last year, said Pitana.

There are three success elements that the ministry relies on in order to attract Japanese tourists. The first is Japans economy that keeps on increasing every year as well as the peoples buying power. The second one is the elderly Japanese population that is known as the Golden Generation, people who are above 60 years old still occasionally travel to Indonesia.

Read also: Japanese Embassy in Jakarta to move visa application service to new center

The last one is access, We received a good news from Japan Airlines that wants to open flights to Japan [from Indonesia]. Currently, there are already three airlines who travel to Indonesia namely Garuda Indonesia, ANA Air and Air Asia, explained Pitana.

We will soon have a talk with related parties about charter airplanes. Japan Airlines or any other airlines that arrive in Bali and Jakarta can take in passengers from Indonesia or Singapore for their return flight, added the ministry's special staff for Infrastructure, Judi Rifajantoro.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of Bali Rasa Sayang, a big travel agent in Japan, Makiko Iskandar said she is optimistic that Japanese will soon shift their focus from Hawaii to Indonesia.

If more direct flights to Indonesia are made available, we will sell plenty of packages to Japanese people. Japan doesnt have a sea and I believe that the people will be mesmerized by the beauty of Bali, they also love the culture of Yogyakarta. Currently, Balis competitor is Hawaii, we believe if there are more direct flights, Japanese will forget about Hawaii, told Makiko.

Meanwhile, tourism minister Arief Yahya also seemed to be very positive about the Japanese market. He mentioned that the ministrys role is to make regulations that make it easier for the tourism industry to develop its business.

Industry leads, the government supports. It is what is needed to build a business ecosystem that gives room for development, Arief said.

The government should never become a [tour] operator. The government only acts as a regulator, the operator part is the [tourism] industrys job, he added. (asw)
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Mon, September 25, 2017 16:03 1876 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a21ece65 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,yogyakarta-tourism,amusement-park Free

The Yogyakarta Indonesian Association Amusement Parks and Recreation (PUTRI) has been working hard on improving the service and capacity of tourism in Yogyakarta.

Recently, the leader of the association, GKR Bendara who is the youngest daughter of Sultan Hamengkubowono X, met with Indonesian Charms Generation (GenPI) Yogyakarta chapter.

The meeting was attended by volunteers of GenPI Yogyakarta consisting of photographers, videographers, social media activists and Instagram influencers.

GKR Bendara encouraged GenPI Yogyakarta members to keep on promoting Indonesian tourism, especially Yogyakarta. She also reminded everyone that the promotion should walk hand-in-hand with the readiness of the tourist destinations.

We promote intensely but then when tourists come they dont find anything satisfying and they end up feeling disappointed, please dont let this happen, she said.

Read also: International Artswitch lights up Jogja Gallery

GKR Bendara moreover said that with the new international airport in Kulonprogo, the international tourists' target for 2021 will be 15 million tourists. Currently, the number is three million people.

Yogyakarta itself offers plenty of tourist destinations ranging from nature, cultural, historic and man-made.

Meanwhile, tourism minister Arief Yahya thanked GKR Bendara for meeting with GenPI Yogyakarta. Arief said that GenPI always promotes three main things on social media, which are tourist destinations, calendar of events, and tourism policies that the public should be aware of.

GenPI will become a community who is active in social media, it will be one of the ministrys Pentahelix strengths. GenPI has the cultural value that in the future will play a strategic role in developing a commercial value together with Indonesia Tourism Xchange (ITX), said Arief. (asw)
People are desperate for a leader who could reflect their voices, be it in the Cabinet or on Twitter. They need someone to empathise with them. Kamal Haasan has been quick to seize the opportunity.

By Srivatsan: In July this year, media went berserk after Rajinikanth's explosive statement that he's willing to enter politics if that's "Aandavar's (God) wish". Call it ironical, but Kamal Haasan is dearly addressed as 'Aandavar'. And now, it's the latter who is racing ahead in what appears to be a political race.

Earlier in January, Kamal Haasan created quite a storm on social media following his infamous "ban biryani" statement during jallikattu. Since then, Haasan has been a soft target of armchair critics, political commentators and more importantly the ruling state government.

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A few months ago, Haasan was accused of 'Twitter politics' by the MLAs of the now-merged EPS and OPS camps, who supposedly misinterpreted and took offence for the television reality show, Bigg Boss, as some sort of a satirical take on their pleasant stay at a Koovathur resort.

Often known for his rhetorical statements, Haasan vehemently criticised the AIADMK and levelled corruption charges. For what seemed like a mere criticism at first, turned out to be vendetta after the ministers, including Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy took several jibes at the actor and 'challenged' him to enter politics.

It's important to quote filmmaker Bharathiraja, who perhaps cautioned the ministers not to annoy Haasan. He said, "If Kamal doesn't understand politics, let him be. Don't compel him, as he would master it to perfection and taunt you."

With a calculative use of Twitter and Bigg Boss, Haasan has now positioned himself as a potential third front that may have a ripple effect in the upcoming elections. As we speak; as we write, Haasan is moving a step beyond political tourism towards what he quite candidly calls a 'crown of thorns' .

Unlike his counterpart Rajinikanth, who has only been making news for almost two decades, Hassan was quick to confess that he's an opportunist - that might as well earn him a book 'The Accidental Chief Minister'. Now that he has come out in the open and said he wants to "serve the people", we must also understand that politics is a strenuous business.

Haasan isn't stupid to make such comments. Or we choose to believe so. While the state is witnessing a political vacuum, the elected 'puppet' government is busy taking a dip in the Cauvery. The difference, however, is that people perceive the puppeteer to be at the Centre this time.

People are desperate for a leader who could reflect their voices, be it in the Cabinet or on Twitter. They need someone to empathise with them. Kamal Haasan has been quick to seize the opportunity. He has spoken about many thorny issues while the other star Rajinikanth has chosen silence to be golden. There are reasons now to believe Haasan makes a better alternative.

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PERIYARIAN AND GANDHIAN POLICY

Kamal Haasan is a staunch believer of the Periyarian and Gandhian principles that has echoed in his films like Unnal Mudiyum Thambi and Hey Ram. The Dravidian movement is possibly the best thing that could have happened to Tamils. The fact, however, remains that the state is driven by caste-based votes. Especially the other backward castes that constitute 68 per cent of the population. For someone who vouches for a caste-less society, it would be a hurricane task to garner votes. Haasan would still be targeted for his Brahminical roots, despite the fact that he's a self-declared atheist.

POTENTIAL THREAT FOR HINDUTVA

It's an open secret that Rajinikanth is the last hope for the BJP to sow its seeds in Tamil Nadu. For years, veteran journalist-satirist Cho Ramaswamy, an RSS sympathiser, has envisioned Rajini as a successor in Tamil Nadu. At the same time, Kamal has always been critical of the Hindutva norms, be it beef ban or Hindi imposition.

He's been strongly opposing the rising communal tension in the country. Perhaps it's one of the reasons why he made Hey Ram, where the Indian flag transforms and turns into a Lotus. After his recent educational trip to Kerala, some even predicted a strong opposition with a combined force of Pinarayi Vijayan and Kamal Haasan.

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Kamal Haasan himself doesn't identify with the left and insists he is a centrist. But while being a Centrist, he so clearly leans Left. Rajinikanth on the other hand leans Right if he is not aloof.

Tamil Nadu is one of the very few states where communal riots are not a regular phenomenon. Now that the DMK has been a disappointing opposition amid rising intolerance, chances are high that Haasan's left-inspired Centrism will find support. It's worth mentioning that Kamal Haasan is ambidextrous, in case he has to deal with the other party.

No work no pay only for Govt. Employees?. How about horse trading politicians languishing in resorts?- Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) September 15, 2017

From the on and off-screen persona, Kamal Haasan seems to have modelled himself after the path-breaking Tamil poet Subramania Bharathi, who's known for his whimsical take on casteism and women empowerment.

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The 'Tamil Pride' has always translated to vote banks. And Haasan is a staunch Dravidian, as much he's a Tamilian. Even in a recent interview, Haasan said that he's taking the plunge for the people - a gimmickry that politicians often intend to use. On the other hand, he was the first actor to disown his fan clubs and started a welfare organisation called 'Narpani Iyakkam' that has implemented many welfare activities for the past 37 years.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal met Kamal Haasan in Chennai earlier this month sparking speculations that the megastar may join the AAP.

In fact, Pinarayi Vijayan appreciated the organisation and advised Haasan to take a concrete step. Considering the recent events and Haasan's bold stand on NEET among other issues, the state deserves a leader who could negotiate with the Centre without burning the bridges.

That said, in a conservative state like Tamil Nadu, it's very unlikely to have a rationalist ruling the hearts. And Haasan seriously needs to stop making statements like "black includes saffron too", as it may lead to further confusions - like his tweets.

"We expect leaders to take us where we want to go. Failing which, they become something else. They become politicians." That is a popular quote and Kamal Haasan knows what it means. In a television interview, he said, "Don't elect and tolerate me for five years. If I fail you, sack me immediately." From what we comprehend, Haasan is aiming for political reforms.

His main planks, in his own words, are corruption, agriculture, education and health. Corruption has been endemic in this otherwise progressive state. Agriculture has been a source of worry for decades as Tamil farmers find themselves at the mercy of the vagaries of nature. Education has come into sharp focus especially after the recent NEET controversy and healthcare for poor remains in misery. One can say he has got his issues in place.

Kamal Haasan is one of the biggest actors India has seen. In a macro second, he can impersonate Marlon Brando or John Wayne. But can he do an MG Ramachandran? Well, if he doesn't intend to end up as Sivaji Ganesan, he will have to put all his passion into politics.

WATCH: It is a crown of thorns, but I am willing to wear it: Kamal Haasan on joining politics

--- ENDS ---
Following a deadly charter bus crash in Queens, attention once again focuses on Yep Tour, a notorious Chinatown/Lower East Side operator with a shaky safety record. Bottom line: local officials are powerless to stop Yep and other intercity bus companies from doing business in New York City. [New York Times]

Safety records show that three Chinatown bus operators are among the nations worst when it comes to safety. [New York Post]

Party activists tonight will push Democratic leader Keith Wright to give up his lobbying gig. Wright was instrumental in choreographing the undemocratic process to select former State Sen. Daniel Squadrons successor. [New York Post]

Here are the details for tonights Democratic Party meeting. [Facebook]

Two men tied up workers of a Canal Street jewelry store and made off with items worth $600,000. [Daily News]

After punching a principal from a neighboring high school in the face in 2016, a teenager formerly enrolled at Murry Bergtraum High School got a gift from a local judge: conditional release. [New York Post]

Janet Russek and David Scheinbaum are photographers documenting whats left of the Jewish Lower East Side. Amy Stein-Milford, former associate director of the Museum at Eldridge Street, shares some thoughts about their important work and about her own experience working and living in the historic neighborhood. [Tablet]

At the Dimes grocery store on Division Street, youre not just buying organic kale and heirloom tomatoes. Youre embracing a lifestyle brand. [Eater]
The ED has attached assets of Karti Chidambaram and frozen his bank accounts in connection with Aircel Maxis case.

By Shivendra Srivastava: The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram. According to the ED, Karti Chidambaram was trying to sell most of his assets and close certain bank accounts.

The ED has frozen bank accounts including fixed deposits worth Rs 90 lakh of Karti Chidambaram. The ED has taken action against Karti Chidambaram in connection with Airce Maxis case of 2G scam.

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During investigation, the ED found that the FIPB approval given in the Aircel Maxis case was decided by former Finance Minister P Chidambaram exceeding his mandate.

The FIPB approval was supposed to go to Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs, however, P Chidambaram approved on his own. Investigation also found that the amount for FIPB approval was wrongly projected to conceal the facts.

According to the ED, the investigation into Aricel Maxis case showed that a company promoted by Karti and A Palaniappan - a nephew of P Chidambaram - received USD 2 lakh from Maxis Group in the guise of software consultancy.

Karti recently sold a house in Gurgaon, which the ED was planning to attach. This house was given on rent to a company that was granted FIPB approval by P Chidambaram.

--- ENDS ---
That it faded towards the finish line and fell just short of the highest distinction is not to dismiss the merit of its ideas and, for the large part, execution. If it had finished before the third act, I have no shame in saying that I would have struggled to walk down the dark alleyway back to the train station. That the fear dissipated was partly a result of loss of momentum, but in fairness to the director the narrative is driven by the characters collective overcoming of fear itself. I should admit that I am familiar with neither Kings novel nor the American mini-series of which the rictus grin of Tim Currys Pennywise is the lasting image. Yet the lack of acquaintance with the paraphernalia of the It phenomenon has as its compensation a higher sensitivity to the way in which this 2017 version draws on horror universals. And not just horror universals, but human universals as well. The suffering of a young black man, accepted by the main group of friends while being tormented by the bullies of the town, is certainly not a token gesture to the fight against racism. Traumatic conflict with parents and fellow school pupils illustrates the evil of which the human heart is capable, more even than Pennywise. The Youtube reviewer Chris Stuckmann expressed the soul of the film well when he referred to the resemblance of the protagonists to the children in Spielbergs E.T., who battle injustice and learn the value of empathy. The protagonists are a group of young outsiders whose friendship keeps them sane, and this, along with a healthy distrust of adults and a flame of deeper love, is eventually the entity that conquers the empty signifier of fear, which Pennywise embodies. This structure already has echoes of Nightmare on Elm Street (the visual reference is telling) and the more recent It Follows (2015). In fact, it is to the themes and narrative arc of the latter that this Stephen King adaptation holds fast. They are both inspired and flawed at roughly a 2:1 ratio, and often for the same reasons. The suspense is masterful at times; yet why does the villain always have to be crushed in a literal fight? The melodramatic denouement takes something away from the psychological sophistication developed up to that point. Horror paradigms become more stark as the film progresses. But let's dwell on the virtues of It.In ancient historiography, scholars talk about the embedded focalisation of another's perspective into an author's narration. It exploits this ambiguity in a similarly effective way. Not only through the more obvious elements of reality versus dark imagination, as played out in the scene in which the audience sees a room covered in blood, although an adult isn't privy to this horroras with many of the children's anxieties, but also in the fate of Georgie, since these painful images are always-already inflected with the older brother's pathological fear. The verbal comedy in the dialogue doesn't always work, and the bathos sometimes feels cheap instead of deflating tension. The young actors' performances are nonetheless commendable, precisely because they make you care. As for Pennywise, it is a mark of Skarsgards conviction in the role of a clown that his menace never once slips into absurdity. Sexuality creeps its way along the subterranean depths of the film as the children explore the town's drains. The curse mythos is another nexus of overlap with It Follows. The contemporary HIV/AIDS threat (the setting is Derry, Maine, in the late 1980s, transplanted from the 1950s for the purposes of a planned sequel that will address the adult section of the story) is subtly integrated, while the leper scare has a more ancient resonance. It is perhaps not within the remit of a film based on a horror novel to stray too far from the text, and I have already confessed I have not yet read the novel, but more focus on the history of Derry and Pennywise's pestilential preying upon it would have enriched the film further. The old newspaper cuttings do not leave a paper trail, and one characters moral courage could have been better fleshed out in these terms. Then again, when that same character mentions that Derrys rate of disappearing children is far above the national average, the film at least does not succumb to the temptation to become a murder-mystery. In terms of other cinematic allusions, when the well was discovered, the threshold of a certain lair, who didn't think of Samara for a moment? Perhaps excessive homage is paid to The Ring in the bathroom scene, too (what is the obsession with regurgitated hair in modern horror?). The blood, on the other hand, is viscerally and disturbingly redolent of the humiliation in King's Carrie. Lets hope this film is testament to a horror awakening. For too long audiences have been content with poorly made films in this notoriously difficult genre. Aronofsky's Mother is the next piece of work to submit to that test.
Theres no such thing as a free lunch, especially if you are a cheeky food blogger looking for a freebie at this Michelin-starred restaurant in Kilkenny, Ireland.

Campagne Garrett Byrne, chef and proprietor of, had absolutely no time for reviewers who asked for a free meal for two in exchange for significant online exposure.

In a tweet on the restaurants social media account, Byrne posted a section of the email that said: We will be in Kilkenny specifically on 10 October.

The start of another week in paradise..pic.twitter.com/zLP3bhBORV  campagne restaurant (@campagnekilkenn) September 19, 2017

In exchange for a vegan meal for two (we would ideally like to try several items on the menu), we would be happy to provide significant online exposure on both our blogs and social media accounts.

In addition to writing various blog posts, the bloggers also promised they would be live tweeting, Facebook, Instagram as we visit your restaurant.

I stopped at several dishes  campagne restaurant (@campagnekilkenn) September 19, 2017

Byrne, who declined to identify the bloggers, said he gets around 10 similar requests a year but this one, for some reason, got a reaction from him.

It wasnt any different to the other ones, he said. I was reading this email the first thing in the morning and I thought, Oh here we go again.

Normally I wouldnt even respond but I did to this one. I just said no.

Garrett Byrne, chef and proprietor of Campagne (Campagne)

Byrne says he finds these requests really weird, ading: I wouldnt go down to the doctor and ask for an appointment, then ask for something free and tweet about it or put it on Instagram.

I know requests like these (free meals) happen but I am just not into that kind of thing.

Byrnes light-hearted response appeared to be well-received on Twitter, with many coming up with their own hilarious suggestions and demands.

In exchange for cash my wife and I would like to eat a meal, and tell absolutely nobody on social media. #OldSchool #Notions  Stevie Cahill (@StevieCahill) September 19, 2017

Would love to eat there, if you pay for my airfare I'll gladly post positive reviews.  joshua hascup (@THEJoshHascup) September 22, 2017

Some fellow bloggers appeared to be embarrassed on their behalf.

Urgh. They are giving the rest of us travel writers an awful name. Trust, we arent all THIS bad - and idiotic.  Lara Ceroni (@LaraCeroni) September 22, 2017

Although not everyone agreed.

I don't see anything wrong with this. My blog is my business and I wouldn't make money if I didn't pitch to brands!  Kirstyleanne (@kirstyleannee92) September 22, 2017

Byrne said people take photos of their meals at Campagne all the time but they dont ask him for free meals.

He also added that he understood why some bloggers and businesses do it but said that kind of publicity wasnt for him.

Campagne restaurant in Kilkenny (Campagne)

Its just too ridiculous, he added.

Byrne said his tweet has received a lot of attention from the other side of the Atlantic but believes their chances of coming here are slim, although he admits he was surprised by the overall positive response on social media.

And as for free meals at Campagne?

After this, I dont think I am ever going to get an email request again, he joked.
Imagine a body that meets to help decide laws that has no elected members. It consists of people that have been judged to be of an appropriate standing and the children of previous members (who elect one another amongst themselves) as well as some long-serving bishops. That, in a nutshell, is the House of Lords.

Traditionally, the Lords has been more powerful than the Commons.

In 1911 and the 1940s, legislation was changed to tip the balance of power in favour of those elected to sit in on the green benches of the lower house.

Those sitting on red benches, cannot stop legislation, only delay it. They cannot force amendments which the Commons doesn't want and cannot delay a bill for more than two parliamentary sessions or one year.



It's vital to have an upper chamber, in my view.

This prevents complacency in the lower chamber and keeps the chance of majoritism at a low. In the same way that a credible opposition does.



religious But the House of the Lords isn't really fit for purpose. The way in which hereditary peers are selected, though losing their influence is a flashback to a more autocratic era. 26 Church of England bishops are in play, but more than half of Britain is no longer describing itself as

Now, I'm someone, who doesn't often discuss my religious views, because they're quite complicated and confused. But what I do believe is that whilst religion has a positive role to play in society and individual lives, it shouldn't play a role in government.

The proverbial really hits the fan when that happens.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (pictured above) was a staunch secularist despite being a strong, religious man. By founding the Republic of Turkey as a secular, democratic state, he moved it on from the corrupt "sick man of Europe" days of the old Ottoman Empire.

Turkey grew and the current President is trying to undo his vision, look at how that's going.

To be truly democratic, I think you must be secular, how can everyone be equal under the eyes of the law, if one religious group constitutionally (albeit un-written) has more influence than an another?

Members of the Lords are entitled of up to 300 per day, plus travel expenses and subsidised costs in restaurants. They can opt out and get a measly 150 instead.



Attending the Lords can mean as little as walking into the Palace of Westminster and walking straight back out after you've been seen by others.

There are over 800 members (798+27 on a leave of absence or disqualified) too, only China's People's Congress is a large government chamber, it's worth mentioning the Chinese state has a population of around 1,200,000,000.

All these Lords are claiming taxpayer's money on expenses.

Reform would involve a more streamlined number, a smaller house would cost far less and could help remove members not that interested in turning up. All members would have to turn up and contribute.

Which they would also be more inclined to do if the chamber was more democratically elected.

Currently, there is no proportion.

Despite receiving around 80% of the votes at the last general election, the Tories and Labour have only just over half of the seats in the Lords combined with 452 of the 798 current members. The Liberal Democrats who have performed atrociously in the last two general elections and look a million miles away from even their zenith under Kennedy are on 100 seats.

There are several different ways that an alternative Lords might like.

One might argue it should be done based on proportional representation of General Elections. But there can be massive swings in opinion in between elections. Also, proportional representation isn't an idea that I buy.

It certianly shouldn't be used for the Commons, it creates weak governments and forces parties into coalitions of chaos - remember that term?

They will more than likely be a reality rather than hyperbole under PR in the Commons.

Having it in one chamber and not the other can lead to arguments that it should be used in both and then we need to look at the reality of an exactly proportional Lords.

UKIP would've gained 13 seats in 2015 if the Lords was capped to 100 members. This more than the Lib Dem's with 8 and SNP with 5. First Past the Post can often cut out fringe parties and only give them power when a significantly spread number of the electorate want them to.

If everyone in London wanted UKIP to gain power for example, that would be 73 seats in the Parliament. If no-one else did, then that wouldn't be enough to form a government, perhaps in this extreme scenario it may be enough to be a junior coalition in power, but as much of that 73 would be Labour seats, I suspect the Tories could hold onto power.

Now, proportionally as a size of the electorate, those London votes alone would account for 14 seats in a 100 seat Lords, and presumably, a significant percentage would come from outside of London, giving UKIP a higher figure. FPTP helps prevent certain parts of the country having too much influence, although I would admit in Scotland there's a demographic deficit due to the size of constituencies.

An FPTP Lords would be little more than an extension of the Commons.

Thus, the third way would be similar to the Welsh Assembly.

In this system, there will be constituencies who can elect members, these constituencies would be larger and be under a first past the post system.

Then you "top it up" - using PR - half elected by FPTP and the other by PR - creating a balance where perhaps the most popular party is a slightly better position, but a lot more compromise is necessary and fringe/extremist groups are kept in check.

And if there's one thing you need in upper chambers - it's compromise . You need it in all aspects of politics, but here is the one place more than others it is non-negotiable. Upper chambers exist to ensure there's moderation and compromise.

That is just one solution, and I'm sure over the coming years, more and more solutions will be put forward. But one thing is certain - the House of Lords is far from democracy and any reform to make it more democratic would be welcome.
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The survivors allege that they had no choice but to quietly follow the Peer's directions as their families had blind faith in him. Some of the rape survivors have reportedly developed medical complications after being sodomised.

By Sneha Agrawal: Peer Aijaz Sheikh has indeed left indelible scars on his alleged victims. Speaking to Mail Today, the rape survivors recall chilling tales of abuse, fear and pain inflicted upon by Sheikh, who has been accused of raping minor boys in Kashmir on the pretext of warding off evil by summoning jinns .

The alleged victims of Sheikh, known as Maulvi Sahab among locals, were so naive that some of them even thought that they would get pregnant and for years lived in the fear of having contracted sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some of the rape survivors have reportedly developed medical complications after being sodomised.

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The victims alleged that they had no choice but to quietly follow the Peer's directions as their families had blind faith in him. Sheikh is currently out on bail and the next hearing of the case in scheduled for September 27.

RAPE SURVIVORS SPEAK UP

"I was 11-year-old when my uncle took me to Aijaz Sheikh. I was sexually abused several times. One night, there were around 10-11 children in the age group of 11 to 14 at his house. He forced us to perform sexual acts from evening until next morning. He used to watch us and would then decide to rape the most attractive boys present there," alleged a victim. Similarly, another victim said Sheikh was a sadist and he was so obsessed with sexual exploitation that he would actually rape kids in front of each other in different positions.

"Once, he sexually abused me to the extent that I fell down on the ground and was badly hurt. I was so innocent that I asked myself what if I get pregnant? What am I going to tell my parents if that happens? For years to come, I feared that I might have also contracted some STDs. Having come out against the accused makes me feel scared for my life." The alleged victims, some of whom are in their teenage now, still can't forget the nightmares. One of the teen rape survivors, who claim to have been abused for four years, told Mail Today, "I was forced to drop out from school as I had to oblige the Peer's demands. I miss school. Wish I had never gone there. I want to go back to school and finish my studies."

Interestingly, the Peer's alleged abuse dates back to the time when he used to teach Quran and Arabic in a school. "I was in Class 4 when I met the Peer. One day he took me to his leisure house in Dangerpora. He would tell his followers to bring a child aged 12 or below, and let the child to spend the night with him. When I was there he told me that I had to sleep in his room, for which I would get money. Soon I found his dark side. He would rape me while pretending to be possessed by jinn. But one day, he mistakenly exposed himself to me and then I realised that I was being abused. I got angry on hearing this and gathered courage to threaten him," said an alleged victim, who was also his student.

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SURVIVORS SHOWING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

Mail Today also spoke to the psychologist who is counseling some of the rape survivors in this case. She said these victims have shown symptoms of depression, anxiety, guilt and fear.

"It is not just their physical health, but even their emotional and mental wellbeing have been deeply impacted. The incident has affected their desire to live." While the matter is in the court, the absence of a child protection Act like POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) has devoid the victims of the sensitive approach to deal with such cases. According to child rights' activist and advocate Anant Asthana, a special law like POCSO is the need of the hour in Jammu and Kashmir to help child victims of sexual offences in availing support from authorities, immediate compensation and a stringent criminal justice system for speedy trial.

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"Good thing in POCSO Act is that it not only takes in account the vulnerabilities of victims but also takes cognisance if criminals are the persons who hold authority, influence or dominance over the child in any manner. May be not the entire POCSO Act but a substantial part of it, which strengthens a child victim of sexual offence, must be legislated in J&K. It brings in focus that victims of sexual offences can also be a male child and it is as horrendous as rape of a female child." Asthana said not only a special law but also an independent and strong state commission for protection of child rights in J&K is very essential. "In fact, we need to think of bringing a law better than POCSO because circumstances of children in J&K are much more difficult and complicated. We need to pay more attention on aspects of maintaining absolute privacy of children, more effective measures for protection of victims and witnesses and increased financial allocations for rehabilitation of victims of sexual offences."

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A Gibraltar woman was shot by someone carrying a BB gun near Parsons Elementary School at about 9:30 a.m. Sept. 22.

The woman called police to report that she was on Fryer north of Navarre when she was hit with the BB.

After speaking with the woman, police from Gibraltar, Rockwood, Trenton and Woodhaven all searched the area for a vehicle that matched the description the woman gave.

Within 15 minutes of the report being made, two suspects were arrested.

The investigation is still open and a decision on charges hasnt yet been made.

The victim was treated by the Gibraltar Fire Department and released.
An Uber driver from Kochi was beaten by two women in broad daylight over an "Uberpool" tiff.

By P S Gopikrishnan Unnithan: An Uber driver from Kochi was beaten and assaulted by two women on last Monday over a small tiff.

The incident took place in Vyttila area in Kochi.

What really happened?

As the cab arrived, the two women noticed there was another passenger in the car. The driver informed the women that they booked an UberPool but the women claimed they didn't.

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The verbal tiff then turned into a physical fight between the two parties.

According to the driver, the women punched him in the face repeatedly and attacked him with heavy objects.

Though, the driver filed a complaint against the two women, it was alleged that the police let them go without any charges.

In the video, it was seen clearly that the driver was beaten up badly by the women. The driver was hospitalised after the incident and is critical.

The Uber drivers in Kochi have called for a strike and are demanding strict action against the two.

Watch:

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By PTI: Jayanti

New Delhi, Sep 24 (PTI) Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has handed over a wooden charkha to Indias High Commission in Kampala in Uganda as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhis significant work in Africa.

This would be first charkha (spinning wheel) to be installed on foreign soil under the aegis of KVIC.

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KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Executive Officer B H Anil Kumar handed over the charkha to the high commission representative.

The charkha, which weighs around 25 kilograms with the acrylic box packing, is made of high-quality teak wood and 3.6 feet long, 1 foot 11 inch tall and 1.5 feet wide.

The KVIC chairman said that it was a proud moment for the commission and the country as it would not only cement a long-lasting relationship with a continent that had shaped Gandhijis career but also immortalise and spread his legacy in Africa and beyond.

"By putting up this charkha in Uganda, we will commemorate a great man, who worked hard to spread a message of peace, non-violence and self-reliance in the world," he said.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh also hailed the KVICs decision to provide this charkha for Gandhi Jayanti celebrations in Uganda on October 2.

The KVIC had recently installed a high-quality stainless- steel climate-resistant charkha at Connaught Place in New Delhi.

Earlier, the KVIC had installed a four-ton worlds largest Charkha (30 feet long, 17 feet tall and 9 feet wide), made of high-quality Burma teak wood at Terminal 3 of Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. PTI PKS RKS SMN

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The Iraqi Kurdish referendum vote for independence, scheduled for September 25, is more than likely to pass by an overwhelming majority of the Kurdish population. Sadly, however, not a single country (with the exception of Israel) expressed its support for the Kurds impending historic decision to finally realize their decades-old dream of establishing a state of their own. Although the passage of the referendum will not automatically lead to statehood, it represents a crucial step forward that opens the door for negotiations with the Shiite-led government in Baghdad to reach an agreement.

Regardless of how difficult these negotiations will be, and notwithstanding the opposition to the referendum even by the Kurds allies, especially the US (presumably because it is ill-timed), the Kurds must remain resolved to proceed as planned, which is decades overdue.

To put things in perspective, a brief historical account of the Kurds plight is warranted. The Kurds are an ethnic group originating from the Middle East and are predominately Sunni Muslims, speaking a distinct language and sharing a singular cultural identity despite being scattered across four countries. For centuries, the Kurds have been the largest stateless ethnic group (currently 30 million) in the Middle East, living under various empires and despots where they have faced discrimination and oppression while being denied the right to enjoy their unique culture.

When the Kurds did attempt to establish a homeland, their efforts were short-livedan independent Kingdom of Kurdistan that emerged in the aftermath of World War I lasted less than two years (1922-1924) before it was parceled out between Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria. In 1946, Iranian Kurds (with the support of the Soviet Union) declared a republic called Mahabad, but it collapsed in the same year when Iranian forces retook the territory.

Unsurprisingly, the four countries that oppose Kurdish independence are the worst offenders of Kurdish human rights. They have systematically and ruthlessly oppressed their Kurdish minority, which left an indelible mark of resentment and disdain toward their countries of residence.

Turkey houses the largest Kurdish community (15 million, approximately 18 percent of the Turkish population). They have been fighting to preserve their ethnic identity and way of life consistent with their long and rich cultural heritage. The abuse of the Kurds under the brutal reign of Turkeys President Erdogan is hard to enumerate. A UN report documented human rights violations including killings, disappearances, torture, destruction of houses, and prevention of access to medical care, while leaving the area in ruins. Scores of Kurdish journalists are in jails and a dozen Kurdish parliamentarians were arrested, while collective punishment tactics are employed against Kurdish towns and villages.

The eight million Kurds in Iran (nearly 10 percent) officially enjoy political representation but have historically experienced profound socio-political inequality, which emboldened the militant wing of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iran (KDPI) to turn to violence. In recent years, the conflict between the two sides has further intensified, forcing many Kurdish civilians to flee.

In Syria, the two million Kurds (about 9 percent) have largely been politically inactive under the Assad regimes. In the past five years, they have taken advantage of the civil war and established a semi-autonomous region which Turkey vehemently opposes, fearing that it could prompt its own Kurds to seek autonomy a la the Iraqi Kurds.

None of these countries have the legal or moral right to oppose the referendum. At this stage, the Iraqi Kurds must fight with all their might to preserve their inherent right to be free and independent, because the time of their continued subjugation must come to an end.

There are seven million Iraqi Kurds (roughly 15 percent of the population) who have been the target of persecution from day one following the establishment of the state of Iraq in 1922. The Kurds were mercilessly victimized under Saddam Husseins regime, which killed at least 50,000 Kurds during the 1980s; more than 5,000 men, women, and children were gassed to death in 1988. Since 1991, they have consolidated autonomous rule under American protection, which gave the Kurds space to build an autonomous region which now enjoys all the markers of an emergent independent state.

Years of subjugation, mistreatment, discrimination, and brutal repression left the Iraqi Kurdish community determined to never again subject themselves to the whims of any Iraqi government. Kurdish nationalism is the real engine behind their drive toward statehood, and they will never compromise that regardless of the near-universal opposition to their political independence.

Every Kurdish political party, including President Barzanis traditional rival the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and many other affiliates to the main parties, hold fast to the objective of an independent nation.

President Barzani rejected a warning from the US that pursuing independence at this juncture will further destabilize the region and irreparably divide Iraq. When he said, have we ever had stability and security in this region that we should be concerned about losing it? When was Iraq so united that we should be worried about breaking its unity? Those who are saying these, they are just looking for excuses to stop us.

The irony is that while the Iraqi, Iranian, and Turkish governments want their Kurdish communities to be loyal citizens, they never understood that the Kurds allegiance to their respective countries depends on the way they are treated, the freedoms they are granted, and the civility they are accorded. To demand from the Kurds unconditional loyalty while robbing them of their basic human rights is the height of hypocrisy and falsehood.

Moreover, the raging madness in the Middle East further strengthens the Kurds resolve to seek, fight, and die to establish autonomous rule, if not independence, as is the case in Iraq.

The Iraqi government will eventually resolve to negotiate with the Kurds with the objective of establishing an independent state, provided that Kirkuk is not included. Kirkuk is a contentious issue because of its huge reservoir of oil, and nearly half of its population are Arabs and Turkmen. Although Barzani insists that Kirkuk must be included in the referendum, he must abide by the results and work with the Iraqi government to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution.

The US and the EU must demonstrate that human rights, freedom, and democracy are the inherent rights of every ethnic group wherever they may reside, especially when they are grossly mistreated and their basic civil and human rights are systematically violated. Otherwise, preaching the gospel of human rights but denying it to the people who have been subjected to persecution and marginalization is hypocritical, deceitful, and sinister.

The US hypocrisy is particularly daunting because the Kurds have and continue to faithfully fight side-by-side the US and its allies against ISIS. Rejecting their quest for self-determination after years of suffering brutalization by successive Iraqi regimes, especially under Saddam Hussein, is unconscionable and shameful.

The US and EU must be in the forefront in supporting Iraqi Kurds to achieve independence, and bring an end to the historic travesty that has been inflicted on all 30 million Kurds.

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com Web: www.alonben-meir.com

What is your take? Please post your comments below:


Following 14 years of civil unrest, Liberia appreciated a fragile peace from 2003 until its democratically-elected government took the wheels in January 2006. As a nation, we moved on and rose above our hurts despite our frustration and anger; we settled on the foundation of reconciliation to put Liberia's interest ahead of ours.

A peaceful election is essential to Liberias emerging democracy. Though it is obvious that elections and democracy are not the same in terms of principle, but elections continue to be a fundamental practice in any political space for participatory democratic governance.

We cannot have democracy without elections. Besides, elections abode in the heart of democracy and it should be taken very seriously to augment peace. The October presidential and legislative elections are an essential pedal for improving the lives of our people, modifying the economy, strengthening accountability and transparency in government. On top of that, a peaceful election in Liberia will avert electoral threats and violence.

It is not strange that Liberia elections always exacerbate tensions among political surrogates and undecided voters. The youthful populations have become a leading force in electoral politics in Liberia. Young Liberians are encouraged to vigorously debate the issues during these elections, but should be civil in their approaches and avoid unnecessary tension that may lead to electoral violence. Even though we may be members of different parties; Liberia remains our common denominator.

Recent political jamborees, social media exchanges, and talked shows have shown that youth are critical in bringing about social and political transformation in Liberia. The issues of heated political rhetoric and blackmailing have had commonplace in our political discourse instead of discussing platforms and their implementation. The inclusion of youth in political processes enhances POLITICAL STABILITY AND PEACE. However, heated political rhetoric and blackmailing have the propensity to encourage electoral violence and lead to political instability. It is our duty as responsible citizens (youth) to refrain from insults and personal attacks that lack validity, and concentrate our debate and exchanges on the differences in our respective platforms.

This years election reveals to be a very tight and open race. Tensions started to rise from last year as the elections approached. While other political parties started to use ethnic tactics (Congo and Country) to mobilize electoral support, and underpinning political divisions for their pursuit political power. Let our voices be heard through the ballot box by electing the right candidates based on sound platforms, honesty, and competence. Sentiments should not be the way forward in our democratic space. Our choice should be based on the candidates track record, their vision for the country, and their ability of bringing about transformative change in the lives of the Liberian people.

Like Liberia, most of Africa is undergoing political transition, and come January 2018, Liberia will be experiencing a democratic transition (the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another), something that has been unprecedented in modern Liberian political history. Political transition on the continent has been a major source of conflict and Liberia has had its fair share. At this crucial stage in our countrys history, we need to do all we can to consolidate our hard earned peace and promote our fledgling democracy, rather than engage in activities that will move us toward chaos again.

The National Elections Commission of Liberia has released the total of 1.9 million (1,903,229) registered voters that will elect presidential and legislative candidates from 22 political parties come October 10, 2017. Millions of Liberians will be marching in various queues to vote on October 10 to decide the fate of this great nation. PEACE and stability must be the main focus of our decisions in these elections because there is no progress without peace and stability.

Democracy has been further strengthened in Liberia due to an active role of activism, media engagement, and opposition political participation in the midst of political constraints. And civil society continues to play an essential oversight role to support democratic processes in maintaining our peace. As such, political participation by stakeholders has strengthened democracy in Liberia. October 10, 2017 Elections in Liberia has been considered as a key democratic election that is keenly followed by international observers and citizens.

Lesson Learn from Recent African Elections:

This is the time to be realistic in casting our votes as the expectations about our elections in the global society are high. Our African counterparts have been realistic in Radical changes of its political processes in Africa. They voted on platforms and contribution! Therefore, we can do the same by considering the below progressive path of democracy and improving on their mistakes (election threats and violence). Liberia deserves better and we should vote based on competency, achievable platform, Honesty and track record.

Nigeria

There are many reasons why Goodluck Jonathan lost the election to Gen Muhammadu Buhari. Though Goodluck tried to build a muscular defense in convincing the people of Nigeria on his reelection bid, he maneuvered to debate on the issues of the economy, Boko Haram and security, and it did not suffice because opposition political parties managed to unite under the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defeat the ruling establishment.

Unlike Nigeria, about 19 opposition parties are battling the ruling establishment for the presidency; each on its own. Therefore, the ruling Unity Party stands a better chance of winning the pending election because of the oppositions refusal to merge forces and put out a united front to unseat the Unity Party.

Ghana

Nana Akufo-Addo from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) was one of the strongest opposition parties who won the recent Ghanaian election against John Mahama (NDC). Mahama was defeated on many grounds. One of which needs to be carefully looked at is, political violence. It is evident that the NDC had the record of having violence in all 10 regions of Ghana during their own internal elections. Dejectedly, NDC defeat further extended due to their failure.

For Liberia, instead of opposition parties discussing their platforms as a means of convincing weary voters, they are now declaring themselves winner. This is sad for our democracy. Out of 22 political parties, we have ALP, UP, ANC, LP discussing their platforms and how these platforms will positively affect the lives of the Liberian people.

Gambia

Yahya Jammeh is regarded as a long serving leader of The Gambia. On the contrary, he may have lost to Adama Barrow, an opposition leader due to complacency in discussing his platforms. His victory was assured by God according to him and further said the biggest landslide in the history of the country" after casting his vote. Barrow, a former businessman and opposition leader who is currently serving as President of The Gambia was discussing his platform and capitalizing on the failures of Jammeh. President Barrows track records, competence and contributions to The Gambia as a business guru actually resonated with the people.

CONCLUSION

Liberians from all parts of the country are invited to take part in this new movement by embracing a peaceful election and vote wisely on October 10. We will be given the chance to help shape the direction of our country by excising our political franchise. Therefore, we should not be fed up with parties ideologies and platforms.

Many at times, people refer to the recent election of the above countries, but do not take into consideration the context of political struggle in those elections. Their tactics in unseating the ruling establishment are far different from Liberian politics. They were able to successfully frontline the debate and using political strategies in making their case to unseat the ruling Government.

In the case of Liberia, the political landscape is crowded with deceit and vindictiveness among political surrogates and the core issues are not discussed. Sadly, many voters still remain doubtful as to whom to be voted. This is due to the issue or platform that is not fully discussed. Major opposition parties are escaping national discourse and leaving us in doubt that they have the country at heart. On which basis do you have the country at heart? What has been your contribution to the Nation? Okay, what is your platform should you be voted upon?

is a blogger and Technical Researcher of The Research Consortium for Public Health, Energy and Environmental Development. He holds a Bachelor and Master degrees. He can be reached at recopeed.liberia@gmail.com

Abdul Kawiu is a young Liberian writer and motivational speaker; he obtained a bachelors degree in Management with an emphasis in Economics from Stella Maris Polytechnic and a prospective Master candidate at the University of Liberia. He also served as guest speaker on the day of the African Child in Liberia (June 16, 2017). He can be reached at abdulkiawu10@gmail.com

What is your take? Please post your comments below:


By PTI: revoked

Islamabad, Sep 25 (PTI) The license of a senior pilot and a first officer of the Pakistan International Airlines have been revoked by the countrys civil aviation regulator for carrying more passengers than the maximum allowed on a flight to Saudi Arabia in January, according to a media report today.

Warning letters have also been issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the ground staff including the terminal manager and the flight supervisor of Pakistans flag carrier, Dawn newspaper reported.

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The PIA had allowed seven passengers to travel standing in the aisles all the way from Karachi to Madina on January 20, prompting a probe into the serious breach of security regulations by the loss-making airline.

Senior pilot Anwer Adil and first officer Adeel Javed had operated the flight in which excess number of passengers had to stand throughout the over three-hour-long flight which was a serious threat to air safety, the newspaper quoted highly- placed sources as saying.

The Boeing 777 aircraft has a seating capacity of 409, including jump seats for staff, while flight PK-743 carried 416 passengers.

The CAA directive, issued on August 30, ordered that the pilots license of Capt Adil be revoked for a year, while that of first officer Javed for three months.

"Terminal manager Shah and flight supervisor Shahani are issued with a letter of warning under intimation to the CAA.

"Senior purser Hina Turab be awarded a letter of advice," stated the directive sent to PIAs director of flight operations.

Earlier it was reported that the senior purser (flight attendant), Hina Turab, had informed the captain about "chaos" in the cabin because the passengers were "over and above" the configuration, but the captain told her to "adjust" those passengers as the aircraft was on the taxi way.

The boarding passes issued to the extra passengers were hand-written and not computer-generated, reports had said. PTI KIS AKJ KIS

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Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was present at the New Zealand High Commission for the launch of five gender-positive books for children published by Katha. The launch was attended by students and teachers from Delhi government schools and the Katha Lab School.

Sisodia, who holds the Education portfolio, also donned the cap of a storyteller and read to the children from one of the five books. Congratulating the New Zealand High Commission and Katha for the unique initiative, he said, I believe books like these are what humanity needs for us to nurture kids, who are still pure at heart, so they can lead us to a more gender-balanced society, he said.

This literature, available in both English and Hindi, has been produced with support from the High Commissions Head of Mission Fund, which supports projects for wider community-well-being. With the help of these five childrens storybooks, Katha aims to develop children as agents of change and promote gender equity and female empowerment.

Supporting a project that seeks to break down gender stereotypes through storytelling was really an easy decision for us, because New Zealands Head of State, our Deputy Prime Minister, our Chief Justice and our representative to India, are all women, added Joanna Kempkers, New Zealand High Commissioner to India.

Talking about the partnership, Geeta Dharmarajan, the founder of Katha and author of three of these books, said, Katha is happy to partner with the New Zealand High Commission to bring out this series of books that will help child readers understand the stereotypes that bind them to stagnation and lack of opportunities. Katha believes that each child is capable of building a kinder world for herself. These books are a testament to that belief.

The books will be disseminated, through libraries, to primary school age children attending government schools and living in slum communities, as well as to students attending the Katha Lab School in Delhi. As many as 90,000 children will directly benefit from this project.

By using these books, that portray women in a gender-sensitive manner, Katha hopes to reduce gender stereotypes and challenge the fundamental constructs of gender.
Twenty-five Youth Ambassadors from Taiwan completed their visit to India recently. The five-day journey was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Taiwan governments New Southbound Policy aims at strengthening Taiwans engagement with South-eastern and South Asian countries to help youth participate in international affairs and promote peopleto-people exchanges.

The Youth Ambassadors visited the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India (TECC) and met members of the Taiwan Alumni Association, who introduced Indias Act East policy and Make In India, Digital India as well as Smart Cities initiatives. The Youth Ambassadors were then divided into two groups.

One group visited Mukti Ashram under the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, founded by Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi. The other group visited Fo Guang Shan Educational and Cultural Centre, a Buddhist monastery in South Delhi for a days social service. Over the following days, the group undertook a guided tour of Parliament House. They visited the AfricanAsian Rural Development Organisation in Delhi to learn more about the functions of the organisation and its commitment to assist its members to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, India Gate and the Delhi Study Group.

To showcase Taiwans rich culture, they staged the Night of Taiwan for over a hundred guests from Parliament, academies, media and Taiwanese business community in Delh.

A well-orchestrated performance demonstrated the aboriginal rhythm of the Austronesian tribes in Taiwan as well as the well-preserved art of calligraphy. Chen Wen-Ting, spokesperson for the Taiwan Youth Ambassadors, said that he learnt a lot from this trip to India.

What is written in textbooks and seen in movies about India are actually very different from reality, he said, adding that the experience in India has been more than memorable for him.
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday said it has set up an inquiry commission headed by retired High Court Justice A Arumugaswamy to go into the death of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami had announced the governments decision to set up an inquiry commission to be headed by a retired High Court judge to go into the death of the AIADMK supremo.

Ever since Jayalalithaas death, there have been hints of foul play in her death, with critics pointing fingers at the now jailed VK Sasikala.

The AIADMK camp of Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had laid down a probe into the death as one of its demands before merging the faction with that led by Palaniswami.
Ambassador Jorge Castaneda has had a career as a Peruvian diplomat since about 47 years. He has been previously posted as Ambassador to Poland, Canada, Thailand (twice) and now India, where he has been since November 2016. In this interview with The Statesman, he talks about the growing bilateral relations between his country and India and the strengthening of friendship through a number of initiatives. Excerpts:

India and Peru recently started negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). By when do you think the agreement is likely to be signed?

Last August, the first round of negotiations took place in Delhi, to reach a comprehensive bilateral FTA in order to enhance economic relations between India and Peru. It involves not only trade in goods but also other substantial matters: services, investment promotion, mining, intellectual property, traditional knowledge, tourism, creative industries and others. It is the first of its kind in that India is negotiating with a Latin American country. Both governments have expressed their commitment to reach this agreement in the shortest time possible but it is difficult to say how soon the agreement is likely to be signed.

Trade between the two countries has grown steadily and Peru has become Indias fourth ranking trading partner in Latin America. Likewise, there is a growing interest among investors and entrepreneurs of both the countries to develop new ventures and to internationalise their businesses. In that sense, Peru offers an open economy and an expanded market thanks to the 21 FTAs ~ bilateral and multilateral ~ that it has signed with the main world economies. Peru is the founder member of the Pacific Alliance which includes Colombia, Chile and Mexico. It has been an APEC member since 1998 and part of the group of 12 countries that concluded negotiations of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

How do you look at India-Peru relationship given the geographical distance between the two nations?

The relationship between Peru and India is based not on the geographic issue of vicinity but rather on a shared vision of democratic values, respect for human rights, multiculturalism, and the right of every individual to develop their potential, free enterprise and access to markets. After 54 years of diplomatic relations, we can say that 2017 is turning out to be the most magnificent year as far as strengthening, expanding and diversifying bilateral relations is concerned. The recent Joint Commission held in Lima, the signing of three bilateral agreements, the start of the negotiation of the FTA, the opening of the Art Gallery of the Embassy of Peru and the upcoming official visit to India of the President of Peru, HE Pedro Pablo Kuczinski, in which important agreements will be signed, is clear proof that our bilateral relations are at their peak.

Do you support Indias candidature for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council?

Peru is committed to the causes of the world and to the values and principles of the United Nations ~ an organisation which believes in multilateralism and in the need to modernise and strengthen international forums and organisations, in particular its principal organs and specialised agencies and organisations in the areas of security and development, in order to make them more legitimate, representative, accountable and effective. Indeed, amongst them is the Security Council.

Within such a view, Peru is a longstanding supporter of the reformation and expansion of the Security Council as well as of the aspiration of the Indian government to become a permanent member of the Security Council.

What is being done by the two countries to promote people-to-people contacts?

One of the most significant unilateral steps to promote people-to-people contacts has been the liberalisation of visa issuance to Indian travellers holding a visa from either the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Schengen countries, Australia or Canada, with a minimum validity of six months, who are then able to enter Peru as a tourist/business traveller for a period of 90 days.

The Indo-Peruvian Friendship Association (INPEFA) recently relaunched in New Delhi with individual and corporate members, The Friendship Association Peru India, the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of India in Peru and the recently inaugurated Art Gallery of the Embassy of Peru in India are concrete steps to bring the people of our two countries closer.

We believe that it is through culture and mutual knowledge that we can bring our people closer. It is also in this space that we are interested in promoting a better understanding of our respective realities and the challenges we face in order to achieve integral inclusive social development, highlighting the potentialities we have and the bonds that unite us.

Peru is a very attractive country with a huge tourism potential. How do you propose to attract Indian tourists to Peru?

Besides the unilateral relaxation of visa rules from Perus side, various tourist promotional activities are organised on a permanent basis, both by the Embassy of Peru in India and the Peruvian Economic and Commercial Office, with the collaboration of the best Indian publications and travel houses, in order to ensure that the Indian traveller to Peru is a well-informed traveller.

It must be highlighted that the interest of Indian travellers in Peru has increased exponentially in the last few years.
Durga is unique in Delhi because of the community feeling that it fosters. It also show cases the inherent Bengali talent in fashion, art, music, poetry, recitation, drama, literature, cuisine and much else.

Puja pandals thus become melting pots of creativity and local artistes and children get as much opportunity to display their talent as professional artistes. A noteworthy feature of almost every community puja is the Ananda Mela, or the Ladies Fair, organised by the local women on the inaugural day of the Durga Puja celebration, where they are encouraged to sell their wares ~ mouth-watering eatables, handicrafts and so on ~ at nominal prices.

The food stalls set up at most of the puja venues offer a rich fare of Bengali and Mughlai cuisine and attract huge crowds. The Puja souvenirs published by the puja committees, though primarily a vehicle for collection of funds, also boast of scholarly articles on religion, art and culture by local litterateurs.

Puja budgets have been rising over the years, even exceeded Rs 1 crore depending upon the scale of celebrations. Donation, therefore, takes a back-seat and corporate sponsorships and souvenir advertisements sustain the Pujas.

Its now fashionable for major Puja committees to out-compete each other by roping in eminent artistes and cine-stars from Kolkata and Mumbai. A few decades back, one could spot Hemant Kumar or Manna Dey regaling mesmerised audiences or President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi offering prayers at New Delhi Kali Bari and Kashmere Gate.

On the morning of Dusshera, married ladies bid the Goddess goodbye and smear vermilion on each other with gay abandon, a ritual called sindur-khela.The immersion ceremony is held on the banks of the River Yamuna.

The Joint Durga Puja Procession Committee, established as early as 1959, has been responsible for the procession of Durga idols of the various community pujas. Extensive arrangements are made to facilitate the immersion process of the idols using mechanised cranes and boats.

After the customary Dhunuchi Naach (dancing with burning incense), the idols are immersed one by one. Going green, some Puja committees have now started immersing their idols in makeshift ponds at the Puja venue itself.

The images are also made with natural non-toxic elements that are easily soluble in water. After immersion, the holy water of the Yamuna, is brought back to the puja-pandalsin metal vessels and sprinkled among the devout as Shanti Jal by the priests amid chanting of Vedic Peace Mantras, bringing down the curtain on the Puja festivities.

Arjan and The Statesman

It is with genuine pride that this newspaper recalls that Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh was one of its most committed readers. He once said he had begun to read The Statesman during his college days, and subscribed to it ever since.

He had been interviewed by the paper several times, and was always incisive in thought and analysis. One memorable interaction was during the first Gulf War when he waxed eloquent on the strategic employment of air power.

Though he did not say so on that occasion, it was a reminder of his regret that the IAF was not used to blunt the Chinese assault in 1962. Arjan Singh had a special love for The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally in the Capital, which he flagged-off twice.

First when Chief of the Air Staff, and again when elevated a five-star General. When invited to do so a second time, his immediate response was I would be delighted.

Expectations

Come festive days, whether its Puja or Diwali, its a traditional ritual to give gifts and sweets to helps and maids at home.

The gifts are usually in the form of clothes and/or cash. It depends on individual households as well as the relationship with the help, how much or expensive the gifts are. Sharing her experience, a colleague narrated how maids now start expecting good gifts.

Since they work in more than one house (generally four to five), they even start comparing. Last year, during Diwali, our colleague recalled, she gave the usual clothes and sweets. The maid instantly began grumbling, saying, What is this you have given me? You are a working woman and can certainly afford to give better than this! Dumbstruck, our colleague could barely control retorting that she had to take care of the rest of the family too.

Another colleague recounted how her maid did not like the choice of clothes, even though it was bought from a good, high-end shop. It is better to just give her money and ask her to go buy whatever she wanted with it, our colleagues asserted.

Tailpiece

Our inhouse wag wonders how Rahul Gandhi will succeed where UPA and BJP governments failed ~ creating jobs.

(Contributed by: Dilip Guha, RV Smith, Bhaskar Roy, Keith Flory, Swimmi Srivastava and Asha Ramachandran)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Executive which is being attended by around 2,500 delegates from across the country and will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi began here on Monday, officials said.

Being organised at Talkatora Stadium in Lutyens Delhi, the meeting will see participation of 15 BJP Chief Ministers, six Deputy Chief Ministers, 1,400 MLAs, 85 members of legislative councils, 280 ministers and 336 MPs.

Chaired by BJP chief Amit Shah, the day-long session will be the first-ever televised National Executive meet of the party with the economys slowing growth and next round of assembly polls topping the agenda.

Shah will deliver the inaugural address on Monday while Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the concluding session.

Modi is likely to address the concerns over the state of the Indian economy and is all set to list the achievements of his government in the last three years.

On Sunday, Shah inaugurated the office-bearers meeting to finalise the agenda and resolutions likely to be passed at the Monday meet.

A political and an economic resolution is set to be passed by the National Executive.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the government was in the process of addressing challenges posed by the economy which had seen "a little dip" in the last quarter.

Jaitley, however, rejected the oppositions criticism that the economy had been adversely affected by demonetisation, which was described as a "severe attack on black money" by BJP President Amit Shah in his address to the partys national executive.

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Stating that the countrys economy was sound, Jaitley said macro economic data in the last three-and-a-half years had shown it was "sounder than ever before" except for the "little dip" in the last quarter.

"In the last quarter there has been a little dip in the GDP which I have already addressed," he added.

"Whatever steps are required to change the (economic) environment we are certainly in the process of addressing them," Jaitley said.

Taking on the opposition, the Finance minister said the Congress-led UPA had not "taken a single step" against black money and corruption and added that tackling graft and eliminating black money were never a part of the UPAs political and economic agenda.

"It is obvious that any step against black money and corruption will never be supported by any UPA leader," he told reporters after the BJPs national executive meeting here.

In the last three and half years of NDA rule, the government had taken several steps, he said, adding that those at the receiving end would be "uneasy" about these measures.

He said despite a slowdown in the last quarter, the services sector had actually improved in the April-June period.

It is manufacturing which brought the GDP down, he added.

The minister attributed the slowdown to weak investment in the private sector that is dependent on banks ability to support growth and to destocking ahead of the launch of GST on July 1 this year.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters that "teething problems" happen when major reforms such as the GST and demonetisation are undertaken.

The BJP in its resolution said the government consistently resolved difficulties faced by the people and traders during the initial period of the implementation of the GST.

Asserting that the economy was stronger under the Narendra Modi-led government than during the UPA rule, Shah talked about various benefits of both demonetisation and GST, including bringing more transparency to the system.

The BJP chief cited several figures to make his point about the economy. PTI JTR KR PYK BDS

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Let new India arise out of the peasants cottage, grasping the plough, out of huts, cobbler and sweeper.

~ Swami Vivekananda

The village has for long been viewed as a convenient entry-point for understanding Indian society. At the beginning of the 20th century Mahatma Gandhi had emphatically declared: The soul of India lives in its villages.

In his reckoning, the village represented authenticity, for Jawaharlal Nehru it was centre of backwardness, and for B R Ambedkar the village was a place of oppression where the institution of caste presented itself in its most brutal and inhuman form. Notwithstanding their differences on the nature of the Indian village, there are many ways in which the three great visionaries seemed to agree. Village, for them, represented the real India.

Indeed, the Indian village had a pan-Indian structure. Even after 70 years of Independence, in the wake of urbanisation, villages are at the core of the economy, society and politics. Professional sociologists and social anthropologists regard a village as India in microcosm, an invaluable observation centre where one examines the real India, its social organisation and cultural life. By studying a village, one can generalise on the social processes and problems that are witnessed in large parts of the country.

In terms of statistics, more than 70 per cent of the countrys population live in villages. The majority are extremely poor and dependent on manual labour. They are directly dependent on agriculture. Since Independence, peasant societies have emerged with four core features ~ the family is the basic unit of production and consumption; land husbandry is the major source of livelihood; a distinct traditional culture is linked to the community; and an elite group dominates over the peasantry.

As in every other country, the poor villagers have been subjected to gross exploitation, but over the years they have evolved a strategy which has enabled them to survive a variety of predators. Villagers are silent but not without ideas, who remain uneducated but are politically literate and increasingly aware of their citizenship rights. Given an opportunity, a village has the potential to be rich socially, scientifically, economically and environmentally. Mahatma Gandhi was the ideologue of the village.

Though he was not born in a village and did not even have an ancestral village to identify with, he was preoccupied with the concept since his days in South Africa. He toured the villages extensively and much of his social and political philosophy revolved around the idea of the village. He celebrated the village life as no one else did.

A champion of participatory democracy and grassroots development, Gandhi believed that making villages self-contained and sustainable was the first step towards empowering India. He visualised self-reliant villages and wanted to ensure that every village is organically linked to the larger spatial bodies. They must have the freedom to decide on the affairs of the particular area.

He wanted political power to be distributed among the villagers for building the structure of pure democracy inch by inch directly from below. He preferred the term Swaraj (Self-Rule) to describe what he called true democracy where peoples power rests on the individuals and each one realises that he or she is the real master of ones self.

However, Gandhi could not rest by merely formulating his ideas on rural reconstruction. Beginning with his visit to Champaran in 1917, he tried to practise the same. He settled in a village called Segaon (later renamed as Sevagram near Wardha) and successfully implemented on an experimental basis his ideas on rural reconstruction. The idea of alternative India, more precisely rural reconstruction, has been best spelt out by Gandhi himself in Harijan (1942). He wrote: My idea of village swaraj is that it is a complete republic, independent of its neighbours for its own vital wants, and yet interdependent for many others in which dependence is a necessity. For the benefit of members of the Congress, Gandhi first presented a concrete programme in the form of a booklet in 1942, which was further revised by him in 1945.

Even on 29 January 1948, the day before his assassination, he advised the Congress in his Last Will and Testament to go into voluntary liquidation and asked Congressmen to devote themselves wholly to the education and organisation of the masses for Swaraj. In the system that he contemplated, the individual is at the centre and the village, and the group of villages encompassing each other in concentric circles, In the structure composed of innumerable villages, there will be ever-widening, never-ascending circles (Oceanic Circle). Life will not be a pyramid with the apex sustained by the bottom.

The individual will rise to the occasion and be prepared to sacrifice everything for the cause of his/ her village. Gandhi emphatically said: Under such a decentralised structure governing rural India, the outermost circumference will not wield power to crush the inner circle, but will give strength to all within and derive its own strength from it.

If there ever is to be a republic of every village in India, then I claim verity for my picture in which the last is equal to the first, or in other words, no one is to be the first and none the last. (Harijan, 28 July 1946). Gandhi was explicitly antiutilitarian. In his opinion, the doctrine of utility sacrifices the interests of the minority in order to promote the greatest good of the greatest number. Fundamental to the Gandhian social and political thought is the contention that true freedom can be ensured in human society only by the greatest good of all.

Every individual represents an end-initself, and the curtailment of freedom of a minority of individuals leads to a qualitative deterioration of the freedom of the whole society. To such a concept of universal freedom, Gandhi gives the name of Sarvodaya (the rise of all), a Sanskrit word used by him as the title for his Gujarati translation of Ruskins Unto This Last. He believed that Sarvodaya involves the promotion of the greatest good of all. Gandhis dream of establishing an ideal non-violent sociopolitical and economic order assures the participation of the masses in the discussion of their own affairs through the three levels of the Panchayat Raj system.

He advocated decisions by consensus as the main thrust of democratic functioning. His concept of consensus does not mean that there should not be two opinions on an issue or that people must think identically. It envisages the resolution of all differences so that the minutest may not feel ignored or tyrannised. Gandhis concept of rural development envisages the creation of model villages for transforming Swaraj (self-rule) into Su-raj (good governance). As part of the scheme, the villagers will prepare their own development agenda, plan activities and fix targets for achievement.

He visualised his model village as: An ideal Indian village will be so constructed as to lend itself to perfect sanitation. It will have cottages with sufficient light and ventilation built of material obtainable within a radius of five miles of it.

The village lanes and streets will be free of all avoidable dust. It will have wells according to its needs and accessible to all. It will have houses of worship for all, also a common meeting place, a village common for grazing its cattle, a cooperative dairy, primary and secondary schools in which industrial education will be the central fact, and it will have panchayats for settling disputes. It will produce its own grains, vegetables and fruit, and its own khadi.

This is roughly my idea of a model village. (Harijan, 9 January1937). More than seven decades have passed since Mahatma Gandhi framed his constructive programme and successive governments have also undertaken programmes for socio-economic development in rural areas. But the lack of spatial planning and convergence of various schemes programmes have unfortunately not yielded the desired impact.

A major reason for the failure is that our development model has been supply-driven. Gandhi had recommended a demand-driven model. There should be an urge towards that end within the village itself.

(The writer is a retired IAS officer)
If immersion of Durga images is a matter for the courts to decide, there may be life yet in the debate on occasional judicial over-reach.

Yet last Thursdays directive of Calcutta High Court (coram: Rakesh Tiwari, Acting CJ; and Harish Tandon, J), withdrawing the West Bengal governments curbs and thus allowing immersion on 1 October (Muharram) ought ideally to ensure the finest moment of secularism in West Bengal, concordant with the certitudes of communal harmony.

It is a noble opportunity for both communities and the government to buttress their secular credentials. Having said that, the states DGP does have a point when he avers in the immediate aftermath of the ruling that permission will be granted only if the situation is fit. And such permission will be denied if the situation is unfit.

Clearly, the governments stand is based on exgigence; no administration can possibly risk a Muharram tazia to coincide with puja immersion. A not dissimilar stand has now been announced by Bihars Nitish Kumar.

The Division Bench has couched its order with the directive that the government must chalk out designated routes for both events.

Religious sensitivity is central to the issue and the court is acutely aware that public order is a matter within the domain of the state legislature and executive and hence it would not be proper to make interference. Yet the same is not an absolute proposition and depends on the facts and circumstances of each case.

It is a pregnant observation by any reckoning, one that has been reinforced with the caveat that we make it clear that the state does not have any right to curb or do away with the rituals of any community on a certain date.

The fineprint of the observation must be that the government need not proceed from conclusion to premise. Mercifully thus far, there is not an iota of evidence of the possibility of untoward incidents, the Bench has ruled. Point taken; but in the context of the recent communal mayhem from Malda to Basirhat via Dhulagarh, fears of communal tension on 1 October cannot readily be ruled out.

And most particularly in Taki, where vessels from Bengal and Bangladesh ~ across the river ~ are mobilised to immerse the images in the Ichamati.

Yet with clear demarcation of routes and stringent policing, the state can bear witness to two simultaneous processions ~ immersion and tazia. DGP Surajit Kar Purakayastha has advanced a timely warning that the police will take stern measures if anybody tries to foment violence. But he is a mite vague on the point that outsiders who come to Bengal during the Pujas might foment trouble. Has the influx escalated in recent months?

Or is it an allusion to the Rohingya exodus? Suffice it to register that if conducted peacefully and with due regard to the rule of law and religions, it will mark the triumph of reason over frenzy.

Let peace prevail on 1 October.
Hope of Indias defence industry taking a short-cut to advanced technologies using the SP (strategic partner) formulation when entering into joint-ventures with reputed American producers could have run into trouble. Even as they pledge support to the governments make in India effort, the US-India Business Council has articulated reservations of American firms in parting with proprietary technologies. This raises questions if the SP route is markedly different from the licensed production of yesteryear? As of now only US firms appear to be holding back on complete technology transfers, but that could well be the norm other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) will favour. Was it wishful thinking on the governments part to think all doors would be opened? Were is not for the likelihood of triggering a political row, it would be pertinent to seek information on the extent of the technology transferred in deals with British, French, German and Russian firms. That would put the present complication into realistic perspective. On an immediate hit list could be the Lockheed Martin-Tata tie up to produce over 100 single-seater F-16 fighters, and the Boeing proposal to supply the Navy F-18s for its aircraft carriers. An alternative to the F-16 is already under evaluation, the Swedish Gripen for which its OEM has tied-up with the Adani group, while a version of the French Rafale could also be considered for the Navy ~ provided the Swedes and French are less fussy about transferring advanced technologies. It is therefore impossible not to lament the failure of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, despite having spent vast sums, to provide the military state-of-the-art technology. True that a limited number of Tejas fighters have been ordered, but HALs production line cannot deliver enough planes to meet the shortage faced by the IAF. Maybe a system could be worked out by which HAL undertakes development, and production is entrusted to private sector firms.

Even that has its pinpricks. The Council, apart from its reservations technology-transfer, says US firms would not be liable for glitches in equipment produced by their Indian partners ~ that could be a fall-out of the Russians contending that India-made components had been responsible for the Nashik-built Mig-21s having acquired notoriety. A representative of a leading US firm recently told a seminar in India that to expect firms with no experience in aircraft manufacture to churn out sophisticated fighters was something of a pipe-dream. The government would do well to come clean on all these complications, opt for direct imports to address the IAFs immediate shortages, and recast its make in India plans in more realistic light. For far too long have defence issues been camouflaged under the blanket of security interests and patriotism ~ how far behind does the domestic industry actually lag?
As my flight glided to a stop at Geneva, I felt immensely relieved. I had missed the earlier flight, and the present flight was bringing me to Geneva no more than three hours before a dinner meeting with the distinguished group, Club of Rome.

The relief was short lived: the airlines could not find my suitcase. The speculation was it had gone to Frankfurt.

I was in jeans! The airlines gave me an Overnight Kit and some cash as temporary relief, but late on the Saturday evening where would I find an evening suit when the stores were already closed in Geneva? I called my host frantically on the way to the hotel and explained the awkward circumstances.

Calmly, he asked how much I weighed and how tall I was. Half an hour later, he arrived in my room with two shirts, two ties and an evening suit, all his own. These fitted me perfectly. No surprise, he said, because his height and weight were coincidentally the same as mine.

The meeting went well and I was delighted. When I returned to my hotel, a message was waiting for me. My suitcase hadnt gone to Frankfurt; it had been picked up by mistake by another passenger and he had since returned it to the airport.

Could I come and collect it? It had been a long day, but I went to collect it nonetheless. The next morning the key didnt work well, but I managed to open the suitcase after some effort. Womens clothes spilled out of the suitcase in profusion.

Exhausted, I hadnt noticed the previous night what wasnt easily noticeable: the suitcase looked like mine but wasnt mine. Another wasteful trip to the airport, another Property Irregularity Report and Overnight Kit.

The airlines representative worked twenty minutes on his computer and came up, smiling, with the news that the missing suitcase had been located in Amsterdam and would be in Geneva the next day.

But, since I would be in London by that time, I suggested that the suitcase be sent there. I was assured that it would be there before my arrival. It wasnt. It wasnt even when I left three days later. The suitcase came two days after I returned to Washington, DC. I was told it was waiting for me in Tokyo.

(The writer is a Washington-based international development advisor and had worked with the World Bank. He can be reached at [email protected])
Mention the Treaty of Yandaboo to any reasonably well-informed Indian and in all probability he will draw a blank even when the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine province of Myanmar has been the focus of the global media.

This correspondent, however, was made aware of this treaty soon after arriving in Jorhat on being posted to Assam in 1967. Under the terms of the Treaty, signed in 1826 at Yandaboo, near Rangoon, the Burmese king ceded the Ahom kingdom he conquered in 1810 to the British following the Burmese defeat in the first Anglo Burmese War of 1824.

Thus, Assam, the territory of the Ahom kingdom, was made a part of Bengal Presidency  the British bridgehead in India. One also learnt about the horrifying atrocities committed by the occupying Burmese on the hapless people of Assam during their brief rule from 1816-17 to 1826, which form a part of Assamese folklore and memory.

The Treaty further ensured the withdrawal of Burmese sway from Manipur and Cachar, now a part of Assam, and transfer of the Lower Burma areas of Arakan, now Rakhine and Tenasserim, to Bengal Presidency  A long coastal strip along the high hills, covered with sub-tropical rain forests and teak, minerals and endowed with varieties of marine resources and deep sea natural harbours.

The Treaty shaped the history of the North-east, Burma and the Malay Peninsula, as it strengthened British control over the Bay of Bengal and brought the British close to Rangoon, the Burmese capital. Arakan remained a district of Bengal till 1885, when the British took over upper Burma following the second Anglo Burmese War and made Burma a separate province of British India.

The Rohingya story also began from 1826 when, in recognition of the logistical support provided by the Chittagong Muslims as Lashkars to the advancing British forces to Burma during the war, the new government and British companies engaged them in Arakan in extractive commercial ventures in mining, felling of teak trees and building roads and bridges.

This migration of labour, mostly Muslim from predominantly Musliminhabited neighbouring Chittagong, continued for over a century, much like the way the migrant Adivasi labour sustained rapid growth of tea plantation in Assam, helped the growth and consolidation of the Muslim presence in Arakan.

In the 1872 census, these Muslims were enumerated as Arakan Muslims, though in later records, the British made a distinction between the Burmese Muslims and the Indian Muslims by defining the former as those who inhabited Arakan prior to the arrival of the British.

A recent International Migration Institute study, Number 76 of 2013 by C Pugh, held that a majority of Muslims living in Rakhine today are the descendants of the later migrants from Chittagong, a position heartily endorsed by the Government of Myanmar as it enforced 1826 as the cut off point for grant of citizenship.

One must note here that for centuries Rakhine had a political and Buddhist cultural identity, distinct from that of the majority Bamar Buddhists, the dominant among the 135 notified ethnic groups of today  Rohingya is not in this list. The Gazetteer of Eastern Bengal and North East, edited by four ICS scholar civilians led by BC Allen, noted that the Maghs as the Arakan Buddhists were known in Bengal, ruled over Chittagong for long spells in the 16th and 17th centuries and even earlier till the Mughals restored their authority in 1666, only to lose it to the British in 1770.

However, Arakan continued to exist as a strong state till 1784 when it was conquered by the Bamar king. In its heyday, Arakan was so powerful that the Muslim rulers of Bengal paid tributes to the Arakan king to avoid pillage of riverine Bengal by joint operations of Magh and Portuguese pirates.

This interaction between what is Rakhine now and Chittagong and South Bengal was long and varied, which took a new form after the British takeover of Rakhine. The rapid spread of the colonial mode of production brought Muslim migrants and demographic change.

Nevertheless, the Rakhine Buddhists have been steadfast in assertion of their Buddhist cultural and political identity and fiercely opposed any dilution of their power and authority in Rakhine even when the Muslims acquired in the North Rakhine some features of a geo-political minority  a minority group in Rakhine but a majority in areas bordering what became East Pakistan and developed a sense of power.

Thus, emboldened by partition and the ease with which East Pakistan survived and got away with regular persecution of the Hindu minority, whose presence got reduced to just 10 per cent of the population from 26 per cent at the time of partition, some Muslim settlers of Rakhine in the 1950s started to advocate for the northern part to become an autonomous Muslim zone or alternatively merge with East Pakistan as brought out in a recent ISPW strategy Series study, issue Number 485 May 2017.

It also observed that in choosing the name Rohingya the Muslim insurgents known as Muhjahid identified themselves with the history and geography of the Rakhine state and thereby aimed to legitimise their fight for autonomy. Against this backdrop the Rohingya, as a distinct group, have their origin first and foremost in a political movement that emerged from a separatist movement and since then has been reinforced by their shared suffering. It is therefore, not realistic to look at it as only a humanitarian issue or a human rights issue of denial of citizenship.

No doubt that the issue has been simmering, for about eight lakh Rohingya Muslims have been in Bangladesh following violence in 1978, 1991 and 1992, including over four lakh after the crackdown last August and a good number must have melted in with the Muslim majority districts of Assam, Bengal and North Bihar.

Though the problem was aggravated by the decision of the Myanmar Army-led state in 1982 to withdraw citizenship altogether, the real issue is a continuing trust deficit between the Buddhist majority and the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine caused to a great extent by the Rohingya separatist movement, which stands no chance of success given the terrain and the asymmetry of power and the stand taken by India and China on the issue of terror.

Further, Bangladesh has still on her hands the stateless stranded Pakistanis -Bihari Muslims  since 1972 whom she denied citizenship and ironically who were rejected by Pakistan. The Pakistani support could only cause further damage to the Rohingya cause and the experience of Muslim insurgencies in the Philippines and Thailand is not encouraging either.

In this scenario the UN Secretary Generals call to Myanmar to stop military operation in Rakhine and facilitate the return of refugees seems to be the only sensible course for the international community to adopt. To begin this peace process, the Rohingya Muslims must disband their armed outfits and seek a negotiated settlement of the citizenship issue under the auspices of the UN.

From a North-east perspective, restoration of peace in Rakhine is critical for completion and functioning of the Kaladan multi-modal project, including upgradation of the historic Akyab  now Sittwe port  to provide the region an access to the sea.

The Rohingya problem underlines the geopolitical importance of Bengal border lands and the North-east for security and development of eastern India and the unfinished task of nation and state building in multiethnic and multi-religious Myanmar.

In the situation that prevails in Myanmar today, the UN efforts to restore democracy appear to be a case of putting the cart before the horse. The travails of the Rohingya also underline how nearly impossible it is to remove a settled rural population by any state even when there is evidence of their illegal presence.

The real challenge before Myanmars leaders is to initiate a national peace and reconciliation process involving all warring ethnic groups, including the Rohingya Muslims. It is thus time now for the nation to convene the 21st century Panglong conference to begin the reconstruction of Myanmar as a modern state founded on the rule of law, justice and equity.

The writer is a retired IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre and has served as a scientific consultant in the office of the principal scientific advisor to the government of India.
Security situation in the South Asian region including Afghanistan and terrorism, and high ticket defence deals are set to be on table as US Defense Secretary James Mattis meets Indian leadership on his official visit to India that starts Tuesday.

This is the first US Cabinet-level visit to India under President Donald Trumps administration. It would also be the first major interaction for Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with a foreign counterpart after taking charge of the crucial portfolio.

According to the US embassy, Mattis will arrive in India on Monday evening, and will hold a series of meetings and attend several events between September 26 to 28.

Welcoming Mattis, Sitharaman and hoped India-US engagement will continue to grow.

Welcoming Honble Defence Secretary of the USA, Gen James Mattis to India. Hope our engagement will strengthen strategic and defence cooperation between our two great democracies, she said in a tweet on Monday.

On Tuesday, Mattis will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sitharaman, apart from other leaders and officials.

He will also participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, and will be accorded a Guard of Honour at the lawns of South Block, which homes the Defence Ministry.

According to officials of the US embassy, Mattis visit emphasises that the US views India as a valued and influential partner, with broad mutual interests extending well beyond South Asia.

The Secretary during his visit will also express US appreciation for Indias important contributions toward Afghanistans democracy, stability, prosperity, and security, an official said.

The situation in Afghanistan is likely to figure prominently in the talks, which come a month after the US unveiled its latest Afghanistan policy that held a warning that US will take action if Pakistan did not stop backing terrorists battling American forces. In a first, Trump also asked India to help us more with Afghanistan.

According to sources, in its ambit, the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistans soil will also be discussed during Mattis visit. The situation in the South China sea, and Chinas growing presence in the Indian Ocean region is also likely to figure in the talks.A

Apart from the regional security scenario, US is likely to push for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to India, with Lockheed Martin tying up with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd to produce F-16 fighters in India, shifting its Fort Worth, Texas plant here.

Discussions are also likely on sale of Sea Guardian remotely-piloted vehicles, other pending deals as well as the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, and other bilateral agreements.
The White House today rejected claims that the United States has declared war on North Korea as absurd in the latest exchange of barbs and insults between the two nuclear powers.

We have not declared war on North Korea and frankly the suggestion of that is absurd' said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

North Koreas foreign minister today accused US President Donald Trump of declaring war against his country and said Pyongyang was ready to defend itself by shooting down US bombers.

The latest threats stoked a week-long war of words that began when the American leader threatened in his address to the United Nations General Assembly to totally destroy North Korea if it launches an attack.

Sanders also took issue with the suggestion that Pyongyang would have the right to shoot down US planes near North Korean airspace.

Its never appropriate for a country to shoot down another countrys aircraft when its over international waters, she said.
The last days of the Newfie Pride

There were many nights he didnt sleep. The numbers and scenarios turned over and over in his mind, making rest impossible. Id get up two, three oclock in the morning, night after night, come out to the kitchen table and work the numbers every ...
A female sub-inspector performed the puja to set up the idol of Goddess Durga as the temple priest refused to perform the rituals at the last moment.

The woman police officer offered to perform puja when the temple priest backed out at the last moment.

By Hemender Sharma: A woman police sub-inspector performed the role of a 'pandit' in setting up the idol of Godess Durga in village Kotra in district Damoh, Madhya Pradesh after Brahmins refused to do so.

The idol was being set up by village dalits as part of the ongoing Durga puja celebrations but the village Brahmins felt dalits should not be allowed to do so.

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Dalits of village Kotra bought the idol of the Goddess and had also informed the village 'pandit' beforehand, but the pandit refused to come. The dalits saw it as caste discrimination and informed the police.

Sub-inspector Anjali Udayniya, who reached the village told the dalits that she too was a Bahmin and knew how to perform the rituals.

The dalits were more than happy in allowing the sub-inspector to perform the puja.

According to Kripalu, the dalits informed the police only after Brahmins tried to pressurise them saying they could not install the idol of the goddess.

"We had consulted the village priest before bringing the Idol. At that time the priest said he would perform all the rituals but refused at the last moment due to pressure from other village brahmins. He also tried to pressurise the dalits not to install the idol of the Goddess. It was only after this that we decided to inform the police," Kripalu said.

The police, however, have not registered a case against any upper caste member of the village.

Sub Inspector Anjali Udaynia while trying to play down the incident said, "I came to know that the dalits were not able to set up the idol of the goddess because of non availability of the temple priest. I told them that I too was a brahmin and they were more than happy. There is no caste conflict in the village as such," she said. The village priest who joined the puja as the police sub-inspector performed the rituals said he had nothing against the dalits setting up the idol and could not come as he had to perform puja elsewhere.

"I had just told them to arrange some other priest," he said.

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By PTI: (Eds: Upgrading)

By Lalit K Jha

New York, Sep 23 (PTI) US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis will visit India and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman to reaffirm that Washington considers New Delhi a valued and influential ally.

This is the first visit by a cabinet-level official to India under the Trump administration.

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"The secretary will emphasise that the United States views India as a valued and influential partner, with broad mutual interests extending well beyond South Asia," the Pentagon said in a statement yesterday.

During his two-day visit starting from September 26, the Pentagon chief will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the India Gate, and meet the prime minister and Sitharaman in New Delhi.

"The secretary will also express US appreciation for Indias important contributions toward Afghanistans democracy, stability, prosperity and security," the Pentagon said.

Mattis visit to India comes after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, held a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting here.

During the meeting, the two leaders among other issues discussed Pakistan, Afghanistan and terrorism.

They also discussed the strategic relationship between Washington and New Delhi.

Modi and President Donald Trump had announced a two plus two strategic and defence dialogue between the two countries at the White House in June after the India-US summit. PTI LKJ ASV CPS

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But the tribe has a long way to go
With more than 15 lakh candidates trained under various skill development programmes and thousands of companies ready to hire, LinkedIn could not let go off this huge opportunity in India. The blue collared job revolution might not be exactly new but the world's largest professional networking company has just put its foot into it. This may be transformational not just for LinkedIn but also for the blue collared segment in India, to get into an organised platform.

To be sure, the government has been toying with the idea of an online platform to connect job seekers with companies, but nothing effective has come so far. There are start-ups such as Quikr and Aasanjobs, already catering the segment. But the entry of a biggie such as LinkedIn is expected to create a significant impact in the blue collared job segment.

So what made LinkedIn which is primarily a white collar jobs platform to get into the blue collared segment. The opportunity that this category presents is the main reason. With companies looking to hire such workers in large numbers, there is immense potential for platforms like LinkedIn to grow. Especially with a thrust on manufacturing, there is expected to be a lot of demand for manual labour.

"The vision of LinkedIn is to create an economic opportunity for every individual. Our dream has always been to expand to all professionals. It hasn't been to restrict them. The core product in India is really doing healthily. In some ways, this is a pilot to think about our future", said Akshay Kothari, India head of LinkedIn.

As a first step, the company has tied up with IL&FS Skills, a vocational training services provider to help trained students from IL&FS get a job through LinkedIn. Its interface will enable students to create a profile, access learning content, build their network by connecting with seniors and get a job.

The programme will begin with an initial batch of 400 job seekers looking for careers in hospitality sector. LinkedIn will use this pilot programme to understand the scale of market and will then expand the programme to other disciplines.

India is not the first country where LinkedIn has got into blue collared jobs segment. It is already present in what is known as the "middle jobs segment" in the US.

For anything to do with India, the scale is pretty massive. We are looking at 100 million workers in India, said Kothari.






Filmmaker A.R. Murugadoss says forthcoming Tamil-Telugu bilingual spy thriller Spyder, which stars superstar Mahesh Babu in the role of an Intelligence Bureau officer, was a very challenging project.



Having delivered blockbusters such as Ghajini, Thuppakki and Kaththi, Spyder marks Murugadoss's maiden bonafide bilingual.



"It's not that I never wanted to make bilinguals in the past. The plan somehow didn't materialize. Also, most of my films get dubbed in Telugu and have had a good run. But from the beginning, the plan was to make Spyder as a bilingual," Murugadoss said.



The project marks Murugadoss's first-time collaboration with Mahesh Babu.



It has been his long-time desire to work with the Okkadu actor.



"We've been planning to work together for a decade now. In fact, I had even planned to remake Ghajini in Telugu with Mahesh but things didn't fall into place and the film later got dubbed. Both of us are glad that we collaborated for Spyder," he said.



The film marks Mahesh's debut in the Tamil industry.



Asked how it feels to launch a superstar in a new language, Murugadoss said: "Mahesh felt like a debutant, but for me, it was as important as any other film. Agreed, with him on board, there was more pressure to deliver, but it kept us motivated."



Shooting a bilingual took a toll on the entire team.



"In the beginning, the idea of a bilingual got us very excited. It was only after we started shooting, did we realize how challenging it was. Each scene and even the songs had to be shot twice. It was physically taxing, especially when most of the shooting happened at night," he added.



Murugadoss is all praise for Mahesh Babu, who he says was very accommodating.



"We had 80 days of night shoot. Not many stars would be willing to shoot through the nights so extensively. Mahesh is an exception and he never complained about night shooting. In fact, he offered to shoot extra days if needed," he said.



Slated for release on September 27, Spyder also stars Rakul Preet Singh, SJ Suryah and Bharath.
India hit out at Pakistan saying it has callously exploited the picture of an injured Palestinian girl to spread falsehoods about India and to divert attention from Islamabad's role as the hub of world terrorism.

Paulomi Tripathi, a first secretary in India's UN Mission, on Monday held up both the fake picture used by Pakistani Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi and the photograph of Lt. Umar Faiyaz, a young soldier from the Indian Kashmir who was kidnapped and tortured by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

The picture showed the body of Faiyaz surrounded by mourners.

The photograph of Faiyaz "reflects the real pain inflicted by the nefarious designs of Pakistan on India", Tripathi told the General Assembly, contrasting it with the fake picture used by Lodhi on Saturday while reacting to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The picture of the injured girl that Lodhi displayed, was on the other hand, that of Rawya Abu Jom'a taken in July 2014 and published by The New York Times in March 2015 under the caption, "Conflict, Courage and Healing in Gaza," she pointed out.

Holding up both pictures, Tripathi directed attention to the picture of the Indian soldier and said: "This is a real picture and not a fake picture of Umar Faiyaz. A young officer from the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, Umar Faiyaz was kidnapped at a wedding reception. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan-supported terrorists in May 2017."

"This is a true picture," she said. "It portrays a harsh reality. A picture of terror emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in the Jammu and Kashmir have to struggle with every day."

"This was the reality that the Permanent Representative of Pakistan sought to obfuscate," Tripathi said.

Lodhi "yet again sought to divert attention from Pakistan's role as the hub of global terrorism," Tripathi said. "She did so by callously holding up a picture of an injured girl."

"The Permanent Representative of Pakistan misled the Assembly by displaying this picture to spread falsehood about India," Tripathi added. "A fake picture to push a completely false narrative."
Has the unhindered movement on the Indo-Myanmar border brought the Rohingya militancy closer home for New Delhi? The Union home ministry has literally set out to answer this question by reviewing the "free movement regime" which allows access into the four northeastern states through India's open border with Myanmar.

India and Myanmar share an unhindered open border of 1,643 kilometres. The home ministry has decided to review the free movement regime and the effectiveness of the rules and regulations put in place by the states to ward off national security threats. The FMR committee is chaired by special secretary (internal security) in the home ministry.

The review has come at a time when the intelligence agencies have raised an alarm over the movement of Rohingya militants taking advantage of the free border regime.

Government sources said the committee recently visited the four northeast states which implement the free movement regime (FMR). Special secretary (internal security) Rina Mitra and the joint secretary (northeast) visited all four states with FMR regimeArunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.

Several border exit points were also visited by the team to study the existing system in place. The MHA team also held meetings with the respective state Chief secretaries, DGPs and Commissioners and law enforcement agencies like the Assam Rifles among others.

Unlike the Indo-Bangladesh border, which has dedicated cross over points, the movement on Myanmar border is relatively free. The committee will study whether there is a need to regulate the FMR in a way that while it enables free movement, there are enough checks to detect criminals and anti-national elements. This could be done through creation of dedicated crossing points in border areas.

When home minister Rajnath Singh visited Mizoram in June this year, he had met the chief ministers of the states where the issue was flagged.

Following his interactions, the home minister had said on Twitter that the free movement regime was being misused by militants and trans-border criminals who smuggle weapons and fake Indian currency.

The free movement was also allowing them to escape to safer hideouts after committing crimes. So, has the time come for the government to regulate movement on the Indo-Myanmar border? This question is something that will be answered when the high-level committee of the home ministry submits its report.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes out with a message to his party men every time he speaks within the party fora. The BJP's national executive was no different. Modi sought the support of party leaders for turning various government initiatives into mass movements. BJP chief Amit Shah also listed six programmes which the party would support for fulfilling them by 2022.

Both leaders in their separate speeches hit out at the opposition for using harsh language in absence of any substantive charges. Shah was more direct as he picked up Rahul Gandhi for his 'dynasty' remarks during a speech at Berkeley.

In what was interpreted as message to the opposition, Modi said he would continue his fight against corruption. Whosoever is caught will not be spared, Modi said during his valedictory speech at the BJP national executive meeting here. "I don't have a relative," he added in an apparent reference to his partymen and opposition that he would spare none when it comes to issue of corruption.

His views came on a day Enforcement Directorate attached former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's son, Karti Chidambaram's assets in a corruption case.

Interestingly, BJP had gathered all its elected representatives which included 13 chief ministers, six deputy chief ministers, over 60 central ministers, 232 state ministers, 1515 MLAs and MLCs, 334 MPs to participate in the extended national executive meeting to mark the end of birth centenary celebrations of Sangh ideologue Deen Dyal Upadhaya. This was seen as an attempt to give a big boost to the NDA government's schemes which were still lagging behind in terms of making desirable changes on the ground. As less than two years remain for the next elections, BJP is expected to propagate central schemes at mass levels.

But the big expectation that the prime minister and the BJP chief might refer to the slowing down of the economy in their speeches went in vain. The big gathering had raised hopes among the party workers that something big was planned, but the national executive appeared to stop short of it.

Instead, the big announcements came immediately after the BJP meet was over. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the first time after assuming power, constituted a five-member economic advisory council headed by NITI Aayog member Bibek Debroy.

Secondly, he announced the electricity drive for providing power to non-electrified villages and also giving out free connections to the poor. This schemes appear to be inspired for the successful free LPG connection schemeUjjwala Yojnawhich not only helped the poor, but it gave rich electoral dividends to the BJP.

The party did not take up the areas which were feeling the stress like the economy and the jobs cuts. Apparently, this was done as a strategic move as it would have generated negative comments about the government. Instead, a political resolution was adopted at the meet and subsequent speeches lauded the successful missions of the government.

The political resolution lauded the government on its war on black money and for providing transparent economy. It also congratulated the government on introduction of the GST.

On economy, two central ministersArun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkariduring the press conferences held as part of the national executive reiterated that all steps required to boost would be taken.

From now, the BJP would get into poll mode for the upcoming Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections. BJP chief Amit Shah said there was a huge enthusiasm in cadre and people across the country. He asserted that party will win a historic mandate in these two states.

He referred to Modi's six points for 2022, which include cleanliness, poverty, corruption, terrorism, casteism, and appeasement.

Shah lauded the prime minister on issue of resolving border dispute at Doklam and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for her speech at the UNGA.
The patron of Samajwadi Party Mulayam Singh Yadav has put a complete stop on forming any new political front, but bitterly castigated his son and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav at a press conference on Monday. Assailing Akhilesh, Mulayam said, People will never trust one who can deceive his father. But my blessings are with him because Akhilesh is my son.

It was expected that he might announce something biga new political outfit, at the press meet. But nothing came of the political speculations. Immediately after the press conference, Akhilesh tweetedNetaji (Mulayam Singh) zindabad Samajwadi Party zindabad.

Mulayams younger brother Shivpal Yadav abstained from the press conference after sensing that there would be no announcement on the formation of new political party. It may be recalled that in the tug of war between Mulayam and his son Akhilesh, Shivpal stood by Mulayam. He had been harping on the formation of a new political party ever since.

Earlier this year, in a coup, Akhilesh had unseated Mulayam and had become the national president of the party. As retaliation, Mulayam did not take part in campaigning for the SP. In the recently concluded state executive meet of the party, Akhilesh targeted his uncle Shivpal Yadav by cautioning the party cadres to beware of fake Samajwadi leaders. He avoided saying anything against his father Mulayam Singh. As a mark of protest, Mulyam and Shvipal did not take part in the state executive meet.

Mulayam attacked both the central and the state governments and raked up the recent BHU issue. He attacked Yogi government saying, "There is no rule of law in Uttar Pradesh. He said that the Modi government had not done anything substantial in the past three years and pulled up the government for skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel.
Gurjot Singh (20) was brought dead to the hospital after a car dragged him for over a kilometre.

By India Today Web Desk: A video has been doing the rounds which shows a man being dragged for over a kilometre by a car. The incident took place at the Mohali-Ludhiana highway and is being investigated by the police.

Manjit Singh, the station house officer of Balongi Police Station, said the driver of the vehicle would be traced soon.

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Meanwhile, the victim identified as a student, Gurjot Singh, has succumbed to the injuries. Gurjot (20) was studying hotel management at a private university in Mohali. The doctors declared him brought dead.

Gurjot was returning from college with his friend when he was hit by a car from behind. He was dragged for almost a kilometre by the car which bears a Chandigarh registration number.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Former home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi took over as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on Monday.

Mehrishi succeeded Shashi Kant Sharma, who demitted office on Friday, officials said. President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mehrishi (62) at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was attended by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi among other dignitaries, they said.

According to the officials, Mehrishi's appointment was recently cleared by the government. Mehrishi, a 1978 batch (retired) Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Rajasthan cadre, completed his two- year fixed term as the home secretary last month.

Sharma had taken over as the CAG on May 23, 2013. He was defence secretary prior to his appointment as the CAG. Mehrishi will have a tenure of about three years.

The CAG is appointed for a term of six years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

As a constitutional functionary, the CAG is primarily entrusted with the responsibility of auditing the accounts of the Union government and of the state governments. CAG reports are laid before Parliament and legislatures of the states.

Mehrishi, who hails from Rajasthan, holds Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (UK). He also possesses Master of Arts (MA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees from Delhi University.

He has held several posts in both his state cadre Rajasthan and in the Centre. Before his appointment as the home secretary, he worked as economic affairs secretary and chief secretary of Rajasthan. Mehrishi has also worked as secretary in departments of chemicals and fertilisers, and Overseas Indian Affairs.
Eman Ahmed, world's heaviest woman, passed away on Monday morning at Abu Dhabi's Burjeel hospital, barely two weeks after she celebrated her 37th birthday.

According to a statement released by Burjeel hospital, Eman breathed her last at 4:35am due to complications from the underlying co-morbid conditions including heart diseases and kidney dysfunction.

Egyptial national Eman who used to weigh 500 kg was brought to Mumbai in a cargo freight using money from a massive crowdfunding initiative and funds of Mumbai's Saifee Hospital. She underwent bariatric surgery at Saifee hospital on March 7, following which her weight had dropped to 300 kg.

Eman had left Saifee hospital on May 4 for Abu Dhabi for further treatment. Her sister Shaimaa, had decided to approach doctors at Burjeel hospital following a spat with bariatric surgeon Dr Muffazal Lakdawala and his team at Saifee hospital. Since then, Eman was being treated in a VIP room of the Abu Dhabi hospital by a team of 20 doctors, including a psychiatrist. Other than suffering from morbid obesity, doctors said the right side of her body was left paralysed following a stroke three years ago. Other than that, she was also left mute due to the stroke attack. Eman also suffered from cardiac issues, severe depression, acute kidney failure, a urinary tract infection, and hypothyroidism.

However, in a recent interview with this correspondent Dr Yassin El Shahat, Chief Medical Officer of Burjeel hospital had said, Her kidney functions are now normal following extensive treatment and her urinary tract infection had also subsided. With the help of our endocrinologist, her thyroid levels are also normal and with the help of regular counselling and anti depressants, her mood had drastically improved.

Eman was slated to undergo plastic surgery in October, to which doctors at Burjeel hospital had said she was eagerly looking forward to.






Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday returned to the country from the UK to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal.

He was in London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

Sharif, 67, decided to return after consultations with senior party leaders including his younger brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London, party officials said.

The aircraft carrying him landed here at around 7.30 AM and a confident Sharif came out, waved to his supporters and left in official protocol, TV news reports showed.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials said that he would stay in Punjab House in Islamabad and hold meetings with party leaders on Monday and Tuesday.

"He (Sharif) would appear before the accountability court tomorrow (September 26) to defend himself in three corruption cases," the officials said.

Sharif stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sonsHassan and Hussain, daughterMaryam, son-in-law -- Safdar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Accountability Court in Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

The anti-graft body last week froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court.

Earlier, Sharif skipped a court hearing last week to defy the cases. His family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated.

Maryam said that Sharif was returning to face cases for the sake of his people.

"Knowing what he faces is not accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about this person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million (Pakistanis)," she said in a tweet.

Sharif last month went to London to see Kulsoom who has undergone three successful surgeries for her cancer.

Kulsoom contested on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won.

Their children are still in London as he prepares to appear before the court in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The court has also summoned Maryam, Hussain, Hasan and Safdar but it was not immediately known if they would appear before the court on Tuesday.

Meanwhile finance minister Dar, who also returned from London, appeared today in an anti-corruption court.

The court had issued a bailable arrest warrant against him for failing to appear before it.

Dar's lawyer had deposited surety bonds worth Rs one million to avoid his arrest.

The court, after brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income.
Sen. Luther Strange and challenger Roy Moore head into their final full day of campaigning in Alabama before Tuesdays Republican runoff for U.S. Senate.

Vice President Mike Pence will stop Monday in Birmingham to urge support for Strange. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon will speak at a south Alabama rally for Moore along with Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson.

Moore and Strange are vying for the GOP nomination to fill the remainder of Attorney General Jeff Sessions Senate term.

The runoff winner will face Democrat Doug Jones on Dec. 12. Jones is a lawyer and former U.S. attorney during the Clinton administration.

Strange is the states former attorney general and was appointed to the seat in February. Moore is the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.

(AP)
Often called the Trinamool Congress' election manager, Mukul Roy's exit from the party may hurt its future electoral performances.

By India Today Web Desk: In February last year, Mukul Roy was brought back at the helm of the Trinamool Congress as party's vice-president, a post specially created for him.

Roy, a Rajya Sabha MP, then said, "My aim will be to ensure that the party wins the upcoming Assembly election with more than 250 seats and we defeat the enemies of Bengal--Congress, CPI(M) and the BJP".

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In the next two months, Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress swept West Bengal in the Assembly election, winning 211 seats, and rode to power for a second term, putting to rest questions on any challenge from the BJP or a Left-Congress combine in the state.

Often called the Trinamool Congress' election manager, Mukul Roy's exit from the party may hurt its future electoral performances. More than that, if speculations of Roy joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are indeed true, it could mark a turnaround for the party in West Bengal.

SHE PULLED THE CROWD, HE ENSURED THEY VOTED FOR HER

Known for his organisational ability, Mukul Roy is largely credited for the Trinamool Congress' electoral successes. While Mamata Banerjee reached out to people through massive rallies, Mukul Roy ensured that the public euphoria translated into votes.

His understanding of voting patterns, his connect with block and district panchayats helped the Trinamool Congress tap the grassroot sentiment in the Assembly elections.

"Mukul knew which booth had a vote deficit and how to make up for the loss, beating the Marxists at their own game of scientific rigging. He perfected the art to the extent that the crowd that cheered for Mamata actually voted for her," a Trinamool minister said.

One of the founding members of the Trinamool Congress, Mukul Roy, many believe, played a crucial role in containing a Maoist insurgency in West Midnapore. He reportedly wielded significant influence in the party to the extent that he controlled transfers and postings of police officers after party rode to power in 2011.

A STRONG LOCAL FACE WHO CAN MOBILISE MASSES

The fall-out with Mamata Banerjee dates back to January 2015 when Mukul Roy was interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam. Following a five-hour grilling by the CBI, Mukul Roy expressed faith in the investigating agency and offered full cooperation.

The statement was in contrast to Mamata Banerjee's stand that the NDA government was using the CBI to take on political rivals. Subsequently, Mukul Roy was removed as the party's all-India general secretary in 2015 and replaced as party's leader in Rajya Sabha.

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With Mukul Roy sidelined in the party, the Nationalist Trinamool Congress (NTC) was formed in 2015 and registered with the Election Commission, but Roy himself preferred to stay behind the scenes, projecting his aide Amitabha Majumdar as the founder-president.

The party which became dormant after Mukul Roy was named as TMC vice-president in February last year is looking at reviving itself, according to some reports.

Political corridors have been abuzz with speculations of Mukul Roy likely to join the BJP, which is trying to expand its base in the state. As a strong local face, Mukul Roy can give the cadre direction and mobilise the masses ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, pitted against Mamata's persona and popularity, will he be able to pull it off?

READ THE DETAILED STORY HERE: Best friends no more: Is it splitsville for Mamata Banerjee and Mukul Roy?

ALSO WATCH: Calcutta High Court revokes Mamata's Durga idol immersion order

--- ENDS ---
Iranian state television released video footage Friday claiming to show the launch of a new type of medium-range ballistic missile which they claimed could reach Israel, a few hours after it was displayed during a military parade in Tehran.

But it turns out Iran never fired a ballistic missile, sources say.

The video released by the Iranians was more than seven months old  dating back to a failed launch in late January, which resulted in the missile exploding shortly after liftoff, according to two U.S. officials.

President Trump had originally responded to the reported launch in a late-Saturday tweet, saying, Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel. They are also working with North Korea. Not much of an agreement we have!

Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel.They are also working with North Korea.Not much of an agreement we have!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

READ MORE: FOX NEWS
Fuel prices could be set to rise after oil rose above $58 a barrel

Oil soared to its highest level for more than two years on global commodity markets last night.

Brent crude rose above $58 a barrel for the first time since July 2015, but the surge spells bad news for motorists facing higher fuel prices at the pumps and families turning up the heating as winter approaches.

With petrol and diesel hovering around 120p a litre, motoring groups have accused petrol stations of operating 'rocket and feather' pricing  where fuel prices shoot up as soon as the oil price increases but fall slowly when it goes down.

The oil price has been pushed up by rising demand around the world and a threat to crude exports from Iraqi Kurdistan where voters are going to the polls in a landmark referendum on independence.

Iraq does not recognise the referendum and has called on foreign countries to stop buying Kurdish oil.

'If this boycott call proves successful, a good 500,000 fewer barrels of crude oil per day would reach the market,' Commerzbank said in a note.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he could cut off a pipeline carrying oil from the Kurdish region of northern Iraq a move that gave the price further upward momentum.
No tears were shed by investors in Boohoo yesterday, with broker Panmure Gordon issuing an enthusiastic 'buy' note on the Manchester-based fashion website days before its first-half results.

The fast-fashion company, which listed in March 2014, trades at a whopping 116 times earnings, according to Thomson Reuters, compared to its rivals' average of 16 times earnings.

In English, this means investors are so confident in Boohoo's potential they are willing to pay far more for shares than they will currently earn from them just to be in with a chance of netting sky-high future profits.

And it's no wonder. Boohoo has jumped 91 per cent this year alone after buying youth brands Pretty Little Thing and Nasty Gal and raising 50million to fund a mega warehouse which will house stock worth 2billion.

Boohoo has jumped 91% this year alone after buying youth brands Pretty Little Thing and Nasty Gal

Despite acknowledging Boohoo's 'eye-watering' valuation, Panmure analyst Peter Smedley said the firm is more than capable of meeting expectations  provided it encounters no hiccups as it continues to grow.

Raising his price target to 290p, Smedley said Boohoo is even underplaying its own prospects with full-year revenue growth guidance of 50 per cent  a fact he thinks will be evidenced in Wednesday's interim results.

'We think Boohoo's justified lofty valuation highlights in particular its strength in seizing the online young fashion market opportunity,' he added.

'Our checks of online traffic measurement tools and social media platforms indicate that customer engagement levels with all three Boohoo brands have significantly increased in the past three months or so, well beyond our expectations.'

STOCK WATCH - AVOCET MINING Troubled Avocet Mining warned investors it could run out of money. The firm has been negotiating a restructuring of its balance sheet with creditors in a bid to keep its struggling Burkina Faso mine open after a series of disruptions. But yesterday it warned that it is unclear whether a restructure can be agreed before all its money has been exhausted. Nevertheless, optimistic investors led shares to rise 1.1 per cent, or 0.25p, to 23.12p.

Shares yesterday rose 2.5 per cent, or 6.25p, to 257.5p.

Global private healthcare provider Mediclinic International saw 258million wiped off its value after analysts at Jefferies lowered their price target to 550p from 650p over a number of concerns.

The broker said Mediclinic will continue to be hit by regulatory pressures in Abu Dhabi as well as growing competition in Dubai.

A treatment surcharge in Abu Dhabi left Mediclinic in ill health last November, and it remains down 30.6 per cent over the year as concerns continue to linger despite shares partially recovering when the tax was removed in April.

Jefferies also said Mediclinic is likely to suffer a knock-on effect from a downgrade in sentiment towards peer Spire Healthcare.

Spire has tanked this month since revealing profits slumped almost 75 per cent in the first half of the year as it was forced to settle claims from patients subjected to unnecessary operations by disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson, jailed for 20 years in August for wounding patients with intent.

Mediclinic fell 5.1 per cent, or 35p, to 645.5p. Spire was down 1.1m per cent or 2.7p to 228p.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.1 per cent, or 9.35 points, to 7301.29 as investors cut their exposure to risky assets like financials and mining firms following the potentially shaky outcome of Germany's general election.

Pharmaceutical firm Indivior edged up after announcing it had reached a partial solution to the patent infringement court case which demolished its shares earlier this month.

More than 1billion was wiped off Indivior's value after a ruling cleared the way for rivals to push copycat versions of its opioid addiction treatment Suboxone Film, which accounts for 80 per cent of its revenue.

Yesterday it revealed it had fended off copycat drugmaker Mylan with a settlement agreement for an undisclosed sum.

But with Indivior filing patent lawsuits against five other firms, the battle is far from over. Shares rose 1.2 per cent, or 3.9p, to 329p.
MBABANE  We were violated!

Public Sector Associations (PSAs) have claimed to be the ones violated by government amid a statement issued by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Evart Madlopha.

Madlopha, in a press statement he released last week, said PSAs had violated the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) agreements in that they discussed the ongoing cost of living negotiations in another forum other than the negotiation table.

To this, the PSAs have flipped the coin and said government was first to engage the issues that were still on the negotiating table in other forums disregarding the stipulation of the JNF Constitution, which governs matters of the forum.

The associations further noted that in the first weekend of September, the Minister of Public Service, Owen Nxumalo, propagated a statement addressing the subject in the media.

They said preceding that, the minister had in parliament said: Public servants were still enjoying the effects of the salary review.

The minister, who is part of the principals of the GNT, was clearly engaging on the cost of living adjustment matter in a forum outside of the JNF. By this action the minister made it clear that he was was open to engagement with our principals. Our principals were only coming to the minister on September 20, 2017 as a continuation of the engagement initiated by the minister in the media.

PSAs constitute the Swaziland Nurses Association (SNA), Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP), National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) and the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT).

In a joint statement, the associations expressed agitation in the manner the press statement purported to portray them as irresponsible people by conducting themselves in a manner not consistent with the agreement they entered into with the employer.

Madlopha on Thursday said PSAs held a march on the cost of living adjustment yet the matter was still pending before the JNF. The associations denounced the act by government to release a press statement last week Friday citing that the PS had rushed to the events of September 20, 2017 and while he conveniently left out the conduct of the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) from November 2016 when they engaged on the salary review.

To this, the PSAs said: For Mr Madlopha to suggest that the march of September 20, 2017 made it impossible to continue with negotiations is spurious and disingenuous to say the least. Negotiations have been held numerous times with protests ongoing outside the ministry.
MBABANE  One man was killed on the spot and three are critical after an accident which happened near Elangeni yesterday.

The vehicle they wee travelling in, a Honda SRV, which had four passengers on board and one of them was a female, was headed towards the Manzini direction and it is suspected they were from Mbabane.

This accident happened at around lunchtime yesterday when the vehicle veered off the road and overturned several times for a distance of about 100 metres before it came to a stop.

Those who were present at the scene stated that the deceased, who was occupying the passengers seat next to the driver, was left in the vehicle for some time alone while people attended to the survivors.

It could not be ascertained at the time what caused the accident as the Lobamba police had to rush the three who were in too much pain and unable to talk, to Mbabane Government Hospital.

Some people who were driving by when the accident happened assumed the driver failed to negotiate a corner as the vehicle was allegedly driving at a high speed.

The names and ages of the other occupants could not be obtained as the police had not recorded a statement with them and the name of the deceased could not be released since his next off- kin had not been informed.

Superintendent Khulani Mamba, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, confirmed the accident.

There are ongoing investigations on what could have caused the accident. One of the passengers died on the spot and the other three were rushed to hospital, Mamba stated.
PIGGS PEAK  The life of an 18-year-old pupil from Mhlatane High School ended abruptly after he was allegedly bludgeoned to death by a 46-year-old man who allegedly caught him red-handed engaging in a sexual act with his wife.

The deceased Mlandvo Dlamini, who had been doing Form V at Mhlatane High School, is also a son to Ntfonjeni former Member of Parliament (MP) Henry Dlamini.

It is alleged the wife at the centre of the gruesome incident is a 28-year-old woman who was also allegedly not spared but she luckily survived the assault.

For now, the allegation is that when the alleged killer husband *Sipho arrived at his homestead, he found Mlandvo with his wife in the act.

The veracity of the allegation is still yet to be tested in court.

*Sipho is alleged to have used an iron rod to attack the teenager in a fit of rage, until he succumbed to the injuries he sustained from the alleged assault.

Though the teenager was assaulted all over his body, it is believed he could have died from the injuries he sustained to his head.

After the gruesome incident, *Sipho then decided to call the emergency line to report that he had killed someone.

Emergency personnel, including the police, rushed to the scene hoping that the victim may still be alive, however, he had already died.

The shocking incident happened at a time when the school is preparing for the 2017 Speech and Prize-giving Day, which will be held on Friday.

Since the murder suspect, *Sipho, has not yet appeared before court, his name will not be mentioned for ethical reasons.

However, it has been established that *Sipho has already appeared at the magistrates court for a confession prior to his first public appearance in court today.

The incident is said to have happened after midnight yesterday when the husband walked in on the two love birds.

The assault is alleged to have lasted several minutesSuperintendent Khulani Mamba, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer confirmed the incident.

He said the 46-year-old husband was arrested and that he is expected to appear before court today.

Mandla Dlamini, the Head teacher at Mhlatane High School, was shocked when reached for comment as he said he had not yet heard about the incident.
Hours after Mukul Roy said he is resigning from the Trinamool Congress, the party expelled him for six years.

By Romita Datta Sengupta, India Today Web Desk: In a big setback for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), senior leader and MP Mukul Roy has resigned from the party's working committee.

Once a trusted lieutenant of TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Mukul Roy today announced that he will resign from the party's primary membership and the Rajya Sabha MP's post after Durga Puja. "I will reveal why I am resigning from the party after Durga Puja," said Mukul Roy, adding that he was "forced" to leave the party.

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Hours after Mukul Roy's announcement, the Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee said that Roy has been expelled from the party for six years.

Mukul Roy's son Subhransu Roy, however, maintained that he will continue to be with the Trinamool Congress. "(There is) no question of quitting TMC," he said.

Speculations are rife in West Bengal's political corridors that Mukul Roy could be joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). If that happens, it could be a big boost for the saffron party in West Bengal where it has been trying to make inroads.

Taking a question on whether he would join the BJP, Roy said, "Whatever I have to say, I will say it after Durga Puja. But I would like to mention that people of Bengal don't like political controversies during Durga Puja".

MUKUL-MAMATA FALLOUT

Reports of Mukul Roy allegedly cosying up to the BJP leadership were believed to have riled Mamata Banerjee and the TMC leadership following which he was removed as the chairman of Parliament's standing committee on transport and tourism. Roy was earlier removed as the party's leader in Rajya Sabha.

While Mukul Roy made a formal announcement of his resignation from the Trinamool Congress today, talks of him leaving the party have been doing the rounds for a while.

A few days ago, a senior Trinamool Congress leader said that "if Mamata is the heart of the Trinamool Congress, Mukul is the head. It looks like the heart and head are drifting apart".

Mukul Roy was once considered Mamata Banerjee's closest confidant, troubleshooter and political advisor. The recent episode of Trinamool MLAs cross-voting in favour of NDA's presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind exposed the deep faultlines in the party. A red-faced Trinamool Congress stripped Mukul Roy off the party observer's post in Tripura.

Within the party circles, Mukul Roy is largely credited for the Trinamool Congress' meteoric rise in West Bengal. His exit from the party can change the political landscape of West Bengal.

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ALSO WATCH: My Take: Mamata should tread carefully on path of minority vote bank

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Mumbai/New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane, who has quit the Congress, met BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi today.

Rane quit the Congress earlier this week amid speculation that he was keen on joining the BJP.

Rane met several Maharashtra BJP leaders, including state BJP chief Raosaheb Patil Danve, earlier in the day before meeting Shah, sources said.

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"Rane met Shah this evening. There was no political discussion during the meeting," state BJP sources said here.

Rane had gone to Delhi to invite Shah for inauguration of a hospital at Padwe in Kudal in Sindhudurg district, a source close to the Maratha leader said.

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, when asked recently about the possibility of Rane joining the saffron party, had said that a decision in this regard would be taken by Shah, as Rane is a senior leader and a former chief minister.

Announcing his decision to quit the Congress in his home turf of Sindhudurg district in the coastal Maharashtra, Rane had accused the Congress of reneging on the promise of making him the states chief minister when he joined the party 12 years ago after leaving the Shiv Sena.

He was the chief minister of Maharashtra in 1999 while in the Shiv Sena.

"I have not yet decided where to go," he said while announcing his exit from the Congress, adding that he would make an announcement before Dussehra, which falls on September 30.

The former firebrand Sena leader had joined the Congress in 2005.

Speculation about Rane joining the BJP was triggered by reports suggesting that he had met Shah in Ahmedabad a few months ago.

During the recent Ganesh festival, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had visited Ranes residence. PTI VT KRK KR KJ

--- ENDS ---
Did you vote in the midterm elections as if your countrys existence depended on it?
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TROY  A police sergeant who has been on paid administrative leave for 17 months since fatally shooting a Watervliet man in April 2016 has returned to active duty, the police department said Monday.

Sgt. Randall French went back to work Friday in the detective bureau, a department spokesman said. French had been on leave since April 17, 2016, when he fatally shot Edson Thevenin, 37, during a DWI traffic stop.

French returned to work just days after a Rensselaer County grand jury was empaneled in the city of Rensselaer for the state attorney general's office to investigate Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel E. Abelove's handling of the fatal shooting case.

The attorney generals grand jury proceeding has drawn strong public interest as it comes during contested elections to control the County Legislature and the county executives office. Tensions between Attorney General Eric Schneidermans office and Abelove have mounted since the shooting.

Schneidermans office has argued that Abelove did not follow an executive order that allows the attorney general to intervene in a fatal police encounter when, "in his opinion, there is a significant question as to whether the civilian was armed and dangerous at the time of his death."

Testimony was expected to begin before the grand jury Monday, but the session was cancelled. Officers who were at the scene when French fired his service weapon into Theveins vehicle and detectives who investigated the case have been subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.

City police officials have said that the shooting was justified because Thevenin was technically armed because of the way he was allegedly driving his car. They have maintained that Thevenin drove forward pinning Frenchs legs against his police car before the sergeant fired eight times into the vehicle, killing Thevenin. French was treated for soft tissue injuries at Albany Medical Center Hospital and released.

Schneiderman's office has investigated Abelove's actions in presenting evidence about the shooting to a county grand jury. The Times Union reported last year that Abelove did not require French to sign an immunity from prosecution waiver when he testified before the grand jury that cleared him five days after the shooting.

The only record on file in the county clerk's office regarding the case is sealed.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order in February granting Schneiderman's office authority to investigate Abelove's actions.

French has had strong support from his fellow officers in the 130-member police department. The Troy Police Benevolent Association has supported his return to duty.

Were glad to get him back, said Officer Nicholas Laviano, the Troy PBA president.

Michael A. Rose, the attorney representing the Thevenin family in its federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Troy, said that while the family had "no say in the day to day operations of the Troy Police Department, we can bring about change through the civil justice system."

"The current litigation on behalf of Edson Thevenin's family will raise questions about this decision," Rose said in a statement. "The Thevenin family looks forward to their day in court."

French was assigned to the patrol division working the midnight shift when the fatal shooting occurred. French returned to work as a detective sergeant due to bidding for the position, which is based on seniority. Prior to working in patrol, French had been assigned to the detective bureau. Frenchs last reported annual pay was $79,645, according to the website seethroughny.net, which tracks public employee salaries at all levels of government in New York State.

Capt. Daniel DeWolf said he could not comment on the decision that cleared French to return to duty. Laviano said he was not aware of the specific reasons.

While he was off duty, French was regularly seen at the departments public events.
Other part-time members of the council are Surjit Bhalla, Rathin Ray and Ashima Goyal. Ratan Watal, Principal Advisor, Niti Aayog is the member-secretary of EAC-PM.

By India Today Web Desk: The Prime Minister has constituted the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) to be chaired by Niti Aayog's member Bibek Debroy for analysing economic issues and advising on them, an official statement said today.

Other part-time members of the council are Surjit Bhalla, Rathin Ray and Ashima Goyal. Ratan Watal, Principal Advisor, Niti Aayog is the member-secretary of EAC-PM.

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The main terms of reference of the EAC will be to analyse any issue, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the Prime Minister and advising him it.

It will also address issues of macroeconomic importance and presenting views on them to the Prime Minister.

"This could be either suo-motu or on reference from the Prime Minister or anyone else," the statement said.

It will also attend to any othe task referred by the Prime Minister from time to time. The PM-EAC has been constituted several times since Independence.

The last chairman of the council, C Rangarajan resigned in May 2014 after the defeat of Congress-led UPA regime in the general elections.

--- ENDS ---
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A Gansevoort family is facing eviction after their 5-year-old son fell in a septic tank last Friday.

Jayden Commissiong was following the maintenance man at the Crest Inn Cottages and Suites when he went near a septic tank lid about 25 yards from his familys cottage.

What exactly happened next is unclear, but somehow Jayden ended up in the pipe hanging on to its lip. Jaydens family said its because the propertys management failed to secure the septic tank tops with screws. The owners say theyve secured the tanks tops and arent sure how one came off.

The state Health Department said it was investigating the incident.

The maintenance man noticed Jayden had disappeared, turned around and pulled him out, said Jaydens father, Wayne Commissiong.

A septic tank is, like, everyones bacteria, he said. You cant breathe it. Once you open that tank its like poison gas.

Jaydens mother, Lateisha Brookins, said they brought the boy to Saratoga Hospital after stripping his clothes off and bathing him. On Monday, she said they were bringing him back to the hospital after he woke up not feeling well.

If my son didnt have the sense to grab on to that pipe, he would have been dead," she said.

Arslan Hussain, who runs the property with his father Shahyer, said when he heard what happened he offered the family $100 to replace Jaydens clothes, help with any medical bills and a free months rent in compensation. He said the family wanted more cash up front.

Thats not how that works, Hussain said. I told them it has to go through our lawyers, our insurance.

Commissiong said he has contacted a lawyer, and just wants the Hussains to make things right.

The Crest Inn is used as transitional housing for low-income residents and has had safety violations in the past. In May, the property was briefly shut down after a former resident complained to state and local officials. The Hussains said a vindictive former tenant damaged the property and called authorities.

The Huusains were told just last Tuesday that they needed to secure the septic tanks. One of the town's code enforcement officers was at the property for another matter and noticed he could move the tank's top with his boot, said Wilton's building inspector Mark Mykins. The tanks are supposed to be held in place by screws.

The town has repeatedly cited the property since the Hussains purchased it, Mykins said.

"It's just been a cycle of them having an issue and then they're in compliance," he said.

When Commissiong brought the Times Union into the property management office to view security footage of the incident, Hussain informed him that they would begin eviction paperwork over the dispute.
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Rensselaer

Every three hours, a person or vehicle somewhere is struck by a train. On Saturday, that somewhere was Saratoga County.

On Monday, Evan Eisenhandler cited that statistic as railroad and law enforcement officials gathered at the Rensselaer CDTA rail station to mark the start of Rail Safety Week.

Eisenhandler is executive director of Operation Lifesaver/New York, an organization that promotes safety near railroad tracks. The organization has administered training programs to bus drivers and school groups.

New York last year had the fourth-worst record for trespassing casualties, with 54 incidents  27 of them fatal.

Locally, an unidentified Wilton teen added to this year's tally when he attempted to retrieve his dog from railroad tracks Saturday afternoon. He was injured when struck by a passenger train, and the dog was killed.

Trains are unable to stop quickly, sometimes taking a mile or more to do so. And freight trains take up even more distance to stop as they've grown in length and weight.

The Capital Region has been relatively fortunate. The Federal Railroad Administration maintains a database ranking grade crossings, as they're called, by the likelihood of a collision, based on a number of factors specific to each crossing. The database shows zero collisions during a period from 2012 through 2016 in the four-county area.

The Putnam Road crossing on CSX in Rotterdam was ranked highest, with a predicted collision rate of 0.029 accidents per year, followed by the CSX Burdeck Street crossing, also in Rotterdam, with a nearly identical predicted annual accident rate. (The difference was 0.00009.)

Penalties also have increased in recent years for such offenses as pedestrians trespassing on railroad property. Eisenhandler said it's now a misdemeanor instead of a violation, although in many cases the charges end up being reduced.

As passenger train speeds have increased, such improvements as four-quadrant gates intended to block motorists from driving around a gate, and gates to block sidewalks, have been made to a number of crossings statewide. Other crossings have been eliminated, and in some cases bridges have been built to separate the road and the railroad.

But awareness among motorists and pedestrians remains a critical part of the safety effort, said Lou Frangella, region grade crossing/trespassing manager for the FRA.

"Education is the key to this," Frangella said.
All of the "Law & Order" franchise have featured plots and story lines that were  as executive producer Dick Wolf describes it  ripped from the headlines. The stories have been fiction but they were inspired by true events. In the case of his latest NBC series, "Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders," the story line comes from the years of headlines surrounding the arrest of Lyle and Erik Menendez in 1989 for the shotgun murder of their parents through their sentencing in 1996.

The eight-episode offering  scheduled to start Tuesday  takes a dramatized look at the notorious murder where the brothers were tried on national TV for brutally killing their parents in Beverly Hills. The arrest and trial became a national sensation and a media circus because it had all the elements of money, power, abuse and two good looking young men charged with the crime.

The task of playing the brothers fell to a couple of relatively unknown actors: Fresno State University graduate Miles Gaston Villanueva portrays older brother Lyle while New York native Gus Halper takes on the role of Erik. Neither actor was old enough to remember the Menendez case when it was originally making all those headlines. Halper said he knew nothing about the case until his audition.

"I actually feel like that was a benefit (in) approaching the character, because we didn't have to break through all these preconceptions of them I think a lot of people had because of the media frenzy about the case," Halper said. "So that was actually kind of nice. I'm grateful that I didn't know anything about it. I had to approach it with a fresh set of eyes."

More Information Tune in "Law & Order True Crime" season debut When: 10 p.m. Tuesday Where: WNYT Ch. 13, NBC See More Collapse

One of the elements Halper focused on in playing Erik was how devastating it would be to be emotionally, physically and psychologically abused by their parents their entire lives. The biggest key to finding the character was that the brothers also said that if the abuse were ever made public, their parents would kill them.

Halper can't think of anything more traumatic than what happened in the Menendez household all those years.

Villanueva knew a little about the case, but he discovered with the first script that there's a lot of the story that was never told, despite the massive amount of attention the story got from the media. The research that executive producer-writer Rene Balcer had done revealed private moments that came through with a lot of emotional power.

Neither Halper nor Villanueva had the opportunity to talk with the Menendez brothers before, during or after the filming. If he had the chance, Halper would have asked Erik: "If you were free, and able, what would he most want to do to help victims of sexual abuse? I would like hear the answer, because it would be very revealing about his own experience."

As with every part of his "Law & Order" kingdom, Wolf is the executive producer, but the series has been written by Balcer and directed by another executive producer, Lesli Linka Glatter. Wolf wasn't certain there was enough in the Menendez story to fill an eight-episode series. He was assured by Balcer and Glatter that would not be a problem.

"The research revealed things that none of us knew, and that's one of the things that I think is most impactful about the eight hours. I don't care what attitude you go in. Your mind is going to receive information that I think will change a lot of people's attitudes," Wolf said.

"We've made some great shows from the headlines. This is on a different level. It's also the only time that we've had sort of a collective agenda, which is this is one of the crimes of the century.

It's absolutely horrible, but when you see the information, I think people are going to realize, 'Well, yeah, they did it, but it wasn't first degree murder, with no possibility of parole.' They probably should have been out eight or 10 years ago, because they should have been convicted of first degree manslaughter, which is a different punishment than first degree murder. "

The script focuses on the testimony of the brothers: that they had been molested by their father and mother, an accusation corroborated by testimony from relatives and some photographs that were found. Court documents show that Erik, who was 18 at the time of the murder, had been molested by his father two weeks before the murders.

All the research showed the writer and director that this was a very dysfunctional family. Glatter also believes that privilege had a lot to do with the investigation and trial.

"In the beginning, privilege helped the boys. They didn't do a gun residue test the night of. If this would have been poor kids, that would have been done immediately, game over," Glatter said. "So it protected them in the beginning, but in the end, it hurt them.

"So the celebrity, the money, killing your parents for the money became the headlines. So it's, again, looking deeper underneath that."

At the heart of that examination will be four-time Emmy Award winner Edie Falco, who plays defense attorney Leslie Abramson. The defense she presented at trial was that the murders were the result of years of parental abuse.

Falco was drawn to the series because of the chance to play Abramson, an attorney who was very passionate about her work in general, but showed an even more zealousness for the Menendez case. Abramson was not popular, a trait Falco has used in her work from "The Sopranos" to "Nurse Jackie."
ALBANY  An ex-mortgage broker from New Jersey who fleeced an East Greenbush man out of $132,450 in retirement savings was sentenced to two years in federal prison Monday.

Federal prosecutors in Albany described Michael Pampalone, 35, also known as Michael Hernandez, as a cunning but cruel grifter who heartlessly swindled his victim, who was trying to help his son buy a home in California.

"The defendant had absolutely no scruples stealing the victim's hard earned money," Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Myers wrote in a pre-sentencing memo to Judge Mae D'Agostino. "He saw an honest man who had placed trust in him ....and then schemed to exploit that trust."

The victim's wife has had to continue working into her planned retirement, the prosecutor wrote.

"The nature of the defendant's crime, and his history, suggests a man who is, quite simply, morally bankrupt," Myers stated. He said the defendant "has a long history of deceit and criminal conduct reflective of his poor character, including using aliases, jumping bail, physically assaulting his mother and then fleeing police, selling drugs, fleeing police in a stolen car, and resisting arrest."

Pampalone, of Elizabeth, met the victim in 2012 when the man wanted to refinance his home through Guaranteed Home Mortgage Company, where Pampalone worked.

In September 2013, Pampalone told the victim he no longer worked at Guaranteed, but would still get him approved for the mortgage. Pampalone instructed the victim to wire him the money so he could supposedly show underwriters he had liquid funds for a down payment. Pampalone stole the money.

He pleaded guilty in April to wire fraud.

As part of the sentence, Pampalone must repay the victim $132,450. The judge also imposed three years of supervised release.
East Greenbush

A new center at the University at Albanys Health Sciences campus will use brain-computer interface technology to help patients who have lost verbal skills communicate with nothing but their thoughts.

The opening of g.tec neurotechnology USAs Center for Neurotechnology in East Greenbush expands the Capital Regions expertise in futuristic technologies that allow patients to communicate via caps fitted with electrodes, using the electrical activity in their brains.

The National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies (NCAN), at the states Wadsworth Center laboratories in Albany, has focused on developing such aids to help patients with brain and spinal cord damage. In operation for more than 30 years, the lab run by scientists Jonathan Wolpaw and Gerwin Schalk earned the National Center designation from the National Institutes of Health two years ago.

Were an Austrian company, but Albany is well-known as a leading neurotechnology research center in the U.S., said Slav Dimov, manager of the local office.

NCAN purchases EEG caps from g.tec, and Schalk has collaborated with the company, which is based in Austria and has a secondary office in Barcelona.

The company plans to open its new Center for Neurotechnology with a ceremony on Oct. 3. It will take advantage of UAlbanys Start-Up NY program, which provides tax breaks to new and growing companies, or those that are new to the state.

The Center for Neurotechnology will include a recoveriX-gym, where stroke patients can re-learn to move their arms and legs through a virtual reality system and electrical muscle stimulation. As Dimov explained it, a patient fitted with an EEG cap will be able to see, for example, animated hands on a screen in front of him. As the patient thinks about moving his hands, that movement is reflected on the screen. The intent is to aid the recovery of actual movement.

The center will also include a system called mindBEAGLE for evaluating and even communicating with patients who have impaired consciousness, including those who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or have been diagnosed as minimally conscious.

The system was named for the dog chosen for police work because of its superior sense of smell. Like the beagle that finds drugs that are otherwise undetected, the system sniffs around for conscious awareness that cannot be seen, Dimov said.

MindBEAGLE is used to determine whether patients can understand and follow basic instructions, even though they are not able to speak. Patients who can follow conversations are then able to answer yes or no through the brain-computer interface, making it possible for them to communicate with doctors and family members.

The system can offer objective proof that a patient retains some consciousness, Dimov said. MRI scans can reliably do the same. But the lower cost and portability of MindBEAGLE offers the flexibility of doing several assessments a day, reducing the chance of evaluating a patient while conscious awareness is ebbing.

The center expects to initially treat patients from the Capital Region, and then branch outward, Dimov said. It currently has two patients  one from Albany and the other from Australia (that patient has local relatives).

The company also has plans to franchise its technology, allowing physical and occupational therapists to open their own recoveriX-gym or mindBEAGLE assessment centers.

Note: The name of g.tec neurotechnology USA was incorrect in an earlier version of this article.
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TROY  Evidence in murder cases changes with the times.

In 2017, cell phone data, street surveillance video and global positional system (GPS) devices are all part of the criminal justice landscape.

And prosecutors in Rensselaer County want to use another technology  Google Location Services  to bolster their murder case against Johnny Oquendo, the man accused of choking Noel Alkaramla, 21, and dumping her body in a suitcase in the Hudson River in 2015.

The attorney for Oquendo, 40, is trying to keep that evidence from reaching trial.

Jury selection in Oquendo's second-degree murder trial was supposed to begin Tuesday in the Rensselaer County Courthouse. State Supreme Court Justice Andrew Ceresia adjourned the case until Oct. 30 as he awaits oral arguments on the admissibility of the Google evidence.

Assistant Public Defender William Roberts asked the judge to toss the evidence or at least allow a hearing to determine the admissibility of the science. The judge set a hearing for Oct. 16.

Prosecutors could use the Google Location Services evidence to show jurors where they believe Oquendo's cell phone and, in turn, Oquendo, were during key time periods during the night.

But Roberts contends Google Location Services technology is not the same as typical GPS technology. He argued it has no legal basis to be allowed at the trial.

"The manner in which Google estimates the location of a phone has not been held to judicial scrutiny in the State of New York," Roberts stated.

In a motion, Roberts described GPS as a "space-based radio navigation utility owned by the United States that provides highly accurate positioning, navigation and timing services worldwide to any device equipped with a GPS satellite receiver."

"To determine the location of a cell phone using GPS technology, special hardware in the user's handset calculates the latitude and longitude of the cell phone in real time based upon the relative strengths of signals from multiple satellites," Roberts wrote.

By contrast, Google Location Services uses publicly broadcast WiFi data access points, cell phone tower and sensor data, he said.

"The manner of the estimation has never been proven to be reliable and generally accepted by the scientific community," Roberts wrote.

Adam Scott Wandt, a professor of public policy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan who sits on the Digital Forensics and Cyber-Security Master Program, said there are differences between GPS technology and the Google system.

"Google Location Services is just as reliable as GPS in some circumstances. It is not as reliable in others," he said.

Wandt said Google Location Services can be powerful evidence, especially in an urban setting with tall buildings.

"The chance of it being wrong is small," he said. "The chance of it showing (Oquendo) him in an area where he's not is highly unlikely."

Google Location Services evidence was part of a trial in La Porte County, Indiana. The defendant, Alan Landry, was found guilty of the 2015 murder of Nekia Nichelle Hyler in Michigan City after prosecutors tracked the victim to the killer through her cell phone and Google Location Services, the Michigan City News-Dispatch reported.

On Nov. 22, 2015, Alkaramla disappeared after a coworker at Verdiles restaurant in Troy dropped her off on Third Street, the street where the defendant lived, about 9 p.m. The victim's cell phone records indicate she phoned Oquendo about 9:10 p.m. And she was allegedly witnessed with a man in a black jacket and dark hat fitting the description of Oquendo.

"Johnny Oquendo eagerly awaits his day in court. The only evidence in this case is circumstantial evidence and we embrace that evidence because it clearly demonstrates that Mr. Oquendo is innocent," Roberts told the Times Union.

Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel E. Abelove's office declined to comment. The prosecution, to be led by Assistant District Attorney Andy Botts, had not filed a response to the defense motion as of Monday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Saratoga Springs City School District has narrowed its field of candidates to replace retiring superintendent Dr. Michael Piccirillo.

After interviewing 22 candidates, the school's board of education has selected three semifinalists.

They are:

Dr. Michael Patton, superintendent of South Glens Falls Central School District

Douglas Silvernell, assistant superintendent of 21st Century Teaching and Learning at Saratoga Springs City School District

Dr. Timothy Terranova, deputy superintendent of West Irondequoit Central School District

The three will now present their vision to the public in forums in the High School Teaching Auditorium, Room H102. Terranova is scheduled to speak at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26; Silvernell, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27; and Patton, at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3.

All community members, parents, staff and students are invited to the presentations. The board of education will then conduct final interviews.

"Over the past few months, the Board of Education has sought advice from members of the community and our advisory committees," said Board President JoAnne Kiernan. "After reviewing applications and interviewing a slate of highly qualified candidates, we are confident that the three outstanding individuals we are advancing to the final round are well suited to lead our school district into the future. We look forward to an informative week of presentations and discussion before we make our final decision."

While the board has the final say, the search for the superintendent was handed over to WSWHE BOCES District Superintendent James Dexter who has helped to select many of the sitting superintendents of the school districts throughout the Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.

As part of the national search, which began in May, the board invited district residents to take an online survey about the characteristics, skills and experience they would like to see in their school leader. More than 500 people responded to the survey.

The district also created two advisory committees, one headed up by a district employee and one headed up by a community member. The committees interviewed each candidate and provided feedback to the board, which will make the final decision.

"I was pleased with the professional and rigorous process that the Board put in place," Dexter said. "The Board and I are appreciative of the 24 individuals from across the community who participated in the Advisory Committees. Both committees conducted their assigned tasks in a professional and thoughtful manner."

Piccirillo will retire on Dec. 31.
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New York

It seemed as if Anthony Weiner had hit rock bottom when he resigned from Congress in 2011.

"Bye-bye, pervert!" one heckler shouted as the Democrat quit amid revelations that he had sent graphic pictures of himself to women on social media. Time has shown his self-destructive drama had only just begun.

Weiner, 53, is set to be sentenced Monday for sending obscene material to a 15-year-old girl in a case that may have also have played a role in costing Hillary Clinton  former boss of Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin  the presidential election.

Federal prosecutors have asked for a sentence of slightly more than two years behind bars because of the seriousness of the crime, in which Weiner sent adult porn to the girl and got her to take her clothes off for him on Skype.

"The defendant did far more than exchange typed words on a lifeless cellphone screen with a faceless stranger," prosecutors wrote to the judge. "Transmitting obscenity to a minor to induce her to engage in sexually explicit conduct by video chat and photo  is far from mere 'sexting.'"

But Weiner's attorneys contend he is a changed man who has finally learned his lesson, calling his compulsive sexting a "deep sickness" best treated without time behind bars. The memo also suggested Weiner himself was a victim of the scandal, saying the North Carolina high school student initiated contact with him because she "hoped somehow to influence the U.S. presidential election" and write a tell-all book.

Some legal observers doubt the wisdom of the defense in questioning the girl's motivations.

The strategy "is fraught with peril since an attack on a victim can be read by the judge as undermining the defendant's claim that he has accepted full responsibility," said Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor. He added that he expects Weiner to get jail time, "given the nature of the charges and the lack of any real mitigating factors here."

The sentencing will be the latest chapter in the spectacular downfall of Weiner.

The trouble began in 2011, when an explicit photo of Weiner, then a congressman representing part of New York City, sent from his Twitter account became public. He first claimed his account had been hacked but later resigned after admitting he'd had explicit online contact with at least a half-dozen women.

Weiner tried to resurrect his career by running for mayor in 2013 and surged to the lead in the polls. But once again, more racy online messages, where he used the cheesy moniker "Carlos Danger," surfaced to doom his candidacy.
By PTI: New York, Sep 25 (PTI) North Koreas Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho today accused US President Donald Trump of declaring a "war", saying that gives his country the right to shoot down US bombers even if they were outside its airspace.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country," Ho, who is here to attend the annual UN General Assembly Session, told reporters.

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"Since the US declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country," he added.

North Korea has no diplomatic relationship with the US.

Tensions have dramatically risen on the Korean peninsula after North Korea early this month conducted its biggest nuclear test, which its state-run KCNA news agency described as a hydrogen bomb.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have traded increasingly threatening and personal insults as Pyongyang races towards its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the US.

Trump on Saturday warned North Korea, saying if the countrys foreign minister was echoing thoughts of his supreme leader Kim Jong-Un in his threatening speech at the UN, "they wont be around much longer."

"Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at UN. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they wont be around much longer!" Trump tweeted.

Responding to Trumps tweet, the top North Korean diplomat said the question of "who wont be around much longer will be answered then."

Ro had attacked Trump at the UN General Assembly, deriding him as a "mentally deranged" leader whose threats had increased the chances of military confrontation. PTI LKJ ZH

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After being on the market for a little more than a year, one of the Seattle-area's most distinctive homes has a buyer. And before you ask -- no, they haven't been knighted.

The Denning Castle in Graham first came on the market in August 2016. The home -- named after its builder and former owner, Ron Denning -- spans 2,700 square feet. Since its construction in 1992, it has served as the setting for numerous weddings, tours and two films. The interior, which features weapons, armor and other medieval artifacts, is furnished from Denning's world travels. All items were sold along with the home.

The home's listing agent, Wes Jones, said the property saw a range of prospective buyers, which included the Seattle Knights, the local Renaissance fair and a group that wanted to turn the home into an events center. The original list price of $725,000 was dropped to $600,000, and it was eventually sold to a family for $595,000.

"The new buyers are interested in preserving the castle just the way it is," Jones said.

Here's the story we wrote about the home when it first came on the market last August:

The first thing Ron Denning tells you about himself is that in a previous life, he was a knight.

In the 1940s, while other kids had cowboy and Indian figurines, Denning was playing with bow-legged knights that snapped onto the backs of plastic horses. He admired the nobility, and maybe the simplicity, of the time. Knights were honorable, he says, and women were ladies.

As he got older he played wooden swords and cardboard shields, and his interest -- or rather, loving obsession -- grew. He held on to those knights and horses, and he knew he would live in a castle.

Later on Denning traveled to Europe and visited dozens of real castles, collecting details and elements he liked from each. Along the way he also collected medieval artifacts,and his most prized possession is a full suit of armor from Spain. He says it's museum quality, and he got it tailored to fit him. It's nearly impossible to move in it because the joints are riveted, but he'll let people try it on after they don a special undersuit so the metal doesn't pinch.

"It's been fun to collect this stuff," he says.

In 1992, Denning took the plunge and decided to make his boyhood dream come true. He put an ad in a newspaper looking for five to 10 acres of secluded property. He said he got dozens of calls, but few of them fit his requirements. He needed the property to be wet and marshy, just like the area in southern Spain where the Moors landed in 711.

RELATED: 'Snow White' cottage listed in Olalla

Finally he got a call about a property for sale just outside Graham, a small town about 45 miles south of Seattle. It was on a peninsula of sorts, with a dry point of land that crept out into a marsh. He bought it and watched it for awhile, making sure the land didn't fully flood and could sustain a structure. It withstood his test, and he decided to build.

It wouldn't be his first construction project. Denning built a "weird" house in Gig Harbor in 1976. It looked like a Herfy's Hamburger stand, and was tilted at a 17-degree angle. "Everyone thought it was a spaceship," he says. He eventually lost the home in a divorce.

The castle that now sits on the Graham property is Denning's boyhood fantasy realized. Not to mention the stuff of legends. Every inch of the 5-story home was built by Denning, who says he doesn't have a construction background but rather is just good with his hands.

RELATED: Cozy up in these homes with fireplaces from $595K

The home has two bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a 52-foot spiral staircase, two turrets, a dungeon and a wine cellar. The walls are 18 inches thick and there's 82 yards of concrete in the foundation. Most of the materials are locally sourced, right down to the stones in the home's facade and driveway. He bought them in Tacoma after seeing an ad announcing the city was selling off rubble from a deconstructed road. The stones were 50 cents each, and he bought ten truckloads.

The whole thing took him just 15 months to build.

"It's just a fantasy I was able to pursue and fulfill," he says.

He decorated the home with weapons from his travels, including thrusting daggers from India, a beheading axe from England and a samurai sword he bought from an officer who claims he saw the blade slay three Allied troops during World War II. "I don't show that one," he says. He's also got longbows, crossbows and throwing stars. In total, there are 134 weapons throughout the home.

Your guide to living in the Capital Region, Hudson Valley and beyond New in town? Looking for a change of scenery? Find your new home or apartment. Your guide to living in the Capital Region, Catskills and Hudson Valley

RELATED: Gem overlooking Columbia River Gorge offers sunny vacation getaway

Elsewhere less threatening items like taxidermy animals and knight shields adorn the walls. He's even got chastity belts, which he says aren't displayed in the photos for the listing. "You gotta have a sense of humor in this place," he says.

And of course there's his full suit of Spanish armor, which is on display in what he calls the Great Room.

The rest of the 20-acre property displays more of his handiwork. He built a "village" with three smaller structures. The first was a greenhouse for his late wife, who he lost to cancer last year.

"She was quite creative at saving plants," he said. "After she died, I made it into a gift shop."

The second structure is a fully-equipped blacksmith shop, complete with hammers, tools and a 400-pound anvil. The final structure is a maintenance building that houses a John Deere tractor and miscellaneous tools. This is all in addition to a detached three-car garage.

RELATED: Funky island cabin listed for $400,000

Although secluded, the home hasn't gone unnoticed. Over the years it has been the backdrop for numerous weddings, one funeral and two films, which Denning describes as "low-budget Monty Python spin-offs." He says he's never asked for any money in return for the use of his property.

These days, Denning lives in the home alone save for his late wife's dog, a Scottish Terrier named Maggie May. He's selling the home because he turns 72 next week, and a previous back injury makes it hard to get up the stairs and care for the sprawling grounds. He can no longer maintain the dream he built, but he has high hopes for the next owners.

"I've been here 23 years, I know this house inside and out," he said. "I'm going to miss it, but it's time to share it with someone else."
By PTI: Bhubaneswar, Sep 25 (PTI) The Goods and Services Tax rate on handicraft and handloom products has been slashed by the GST council due to demands of Odisha government, official sources said.

Odisha Finance Minister S B Behera said the GST on Sabai ropes and cups and plates stitched from Sal/Soali leaves has been reduced from 18 per cent to 5 per cent while the tax rates on idols made of clay which was 28 per cent, have been exempted.

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Behera said that Khadi fabric sold through Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC) and KVIC certified institutions/ outlets have also been exempted from tax.

The tax rate on idols of stone has also been reduced from 28 per cent to 12 per cent. The tax rates on different handicraft goods were 28 per cent, 18 per cent or 12 per cent under GST.

Behera said that Odisha had been demanding tax exemptions for handicraft and handloom goods. "In this regard, Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to exempt handicrafts and handloom goods from GST," Behera said.

Behera himself had also written a letter to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to exempt handicraft and other goods under GST.

Behera said he had also put forth arguments in favour of exempting these goods in the meetings of the GST Council since the livelihood of the tribal and poor artisans depend on these goods.

The finance minister said the demand of Odisha was also discussed in the 21st meeting of the GST Council held in Hyderabad.

Considering the demands of Odisha, the GST Council reduced the tax rate on other handicraft goods from 18 per cent to 12 per cent, he added. PTI AAM KK KK

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[September 25, 2017] BidPal Hosts Central Florida Community Celebration Benefitting Tampa-Area Fundraisers on October 8

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tampa-area event fundraisers are invited to a free evening of networking and learning at the Central Florida Community Celebration sponsored by BidPal. The event will be held Sunday, October 8, beginning at 4 pm at the Rooftop 220 at Armature Works. Click to Tweet .

The gala event will include an auction, networking, cocktails and food. The entire eventfrom registration through auction checkoutwill be run on the BidPal event fundraising software platform. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, DeBartolo Family Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, Mike lstott Family Foundation and Ryan Nece Foundation.



The Central Florida Community Celebration is a great way for us to thank current BidPal customers and raise funds for local charities and foundations, said Jason Champion, Central Florida Area Director. These fundraising executives are typically at work behind the scenes of their own galas, so wed like to treat them to their own night out. At the same time, fundraisers can network with each other and learn how their causes can benefit through the use of event fundraising software. Complimentary registration is online at https://one.bidpal.net/cfgala/ticketing .

Sponsors include Botanica International Design & Decor Studio, Puff n Stuff Catering, Extravaganza Productions Incorporated, Armature Works, and Titos Handmade Vodka. About BidPal, Inc.

BidPal creates user-friendly fundraising software that helps nonprofits engage donors, raise more money and save valuable time and resources. Our cloud-based mobile and payment solutions have helped thousands of organizations raise more than $1 billion through 10,000 events and connect with over one million unique donors. Located in the marketing technology hub of Indianapolis, BidPal has been recognized on the Inc. 500 list of Fastest Growing Companies and has received a Techpoint MIRA award for Mobile Technology Excellence & Innovation. Connect with us on Facebook at Twitter. For information contact: Linda Muskin, 847.432.7300

[email protected] Mara Conklin, 847.816.9411

[email protected]

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[September 24, 2017] Swiss Supply Chain Startup AMBROSUS Launches Token Generation Event

ZUG, Switzerland, September 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Launch follows successful presale and smart contract security audit from Validity Labs Ambrosus, the blockchain-based ecosystem for the supply chain, has announced the launch of its Token Generation Event (TGE), commencing today at 2 P.M. CET and concluding October 22, 2017. Combining high-tech sensors, blockchain technology and smart contracts, Ambrosus was founded to overcome the current deficiencies and challenges of current global supply chains and markets. Ambrosus will issue AMB tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. Ambrosus CEO and Co-founder Angel Versetti said: "Ambrosus would like to thank its early participants for their support in the project, which I believe represents the future of essential global supply chains. Following the success of the token pre-sale, Ambrosus is delighted to present its highly anticipated AMB token to the broader community." "Ambrosus aims to become the world's first publicly verifiable and community-driven system to assure the quality, safety, and origins of food, pharmaceuticals and other essential products. Despite rapid technological development in many industries, the world's system of commodity production and distribution has been slow to capitalise on the ground-breaking advancements of our time. Proceeds secured through our TGE will continue to fuel the development of a better ecosystem for global commodity markets," added Versetti. Token Generation Event proceeds have been earmarked primarily towards research and development on the Ambrosus protocol, API and ecosystem (35%), research and development on Ambrosus sensor systems (25%) and other critical uses which are detailed on the company's website. Within these additional uses, Ambrosus plans to allocate approximately 10% of proceeds towards a food quality research lab. Ambrosus CTO and Co-founder Dr Stefan Meyer said: "With a dynamic ecosystem of complementing emeging technologies, we have devised a bold rethinking of how the global supply chains and markets can operate. Blockchain can protect the integrity and verifiability of sensor data; while smart contracts can enable automatic governance of supply chains and manage commercial relationships between the different actors within them."



Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Ambrosus is the first blockchain project to become an official partner of the United Nations 10YFP, which is responsible for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Officially endorsed by EIT Food, Ambrosus has received financial backing from the Government of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The Ambrosus advisory board consists of globally recognized leaders such as Oliver Bussmann, President of Crypto Valley Association and former Group CIO of UBS and ex-Global CIO of SAP; Jaron Lukasiewicz, former CEO of Coinsetter and Cavirtex bitcoin exchanges; Jehan Chu, founder of the Ethereum Hong Kong Community; David Wachsman, founder and CEO of Wachsman PR; and David Drake, President of LDJ Capital. In addition, Parity will serve as Ambrosus' Core Technology Partner.

The Ambrosus Token Generation Event will take place from September 22 to October 22, 2017, where participants can use ETH and major fiat currencies to participate in the sale. It begins on 22 September 2017 at 14:00 Swiss time. The Ambrosus Token Generation Event will be capped at 328'103 ETH. Ambrosus previously collected 22,836,104.23 CHF in presale. The Token Generation Event will sell Amber tokens at a rate of 1 ETH = 1000 AMB. Thus, a total of 328,103,000 AMB will be offered for a public crowdsale. Following a successful security audit of the Ambrosus smart contract by Validity Labs, the Ambrosus TGE is open to all interested participants who complete a strict KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure, which requires proof of identity and proof of residence for the owner of Ethereum wallets. More information at https://tge.ambrosus.com/

Ambrosus will not accept participation from the citizens and residents of North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and the United States. "Today, global systems of commodity production and distribution do not adequately serve the needs of our society. Ambrosus is driven and supported by a community of individuals who share a vision of transparent, sustainable, and safe supply chains. We believe our continued commitment to drive innovation and change in traditional industries will transform the way we produce, package, and purchase essential goods," concluded Versetti. For more information, visit http://www.ambrosus.com/ Ambrosus Co-Founders Angel Versetti and Dr Stefan Meyer are available for interview About Ambrosus: Founded in 2016 by Angel Versetti and Dr Stefan Meyer, Ambrosus is the world's first publicly verifiable and community-driven system to assure the quality, safety, and origins of essential products, such as medicine, food and commodities. Combining high-tech sensors, blockchain technology and smart contracts, Ambrosus brings transparency to the supply chain, aiming to overcome the current deficiencies and challenges of current global food and pharmaceutical markets. Ambrosus features an underlying ERC20-standard token called Amber that will serve to fuel the development of the Ambrosus ecosystem. Built on the Ethereum Blockchain, Ambrosus' Core Technology Partner is Parity Technologies. For more information, or to see technical papers for Ambrosus sensors, marketplace and non-invasive analytics, visit http://www.ambrosus.com. SOURCE Ambrosus

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[September 24, 2017] AT&S advocates unleashing the power of innovation in the Chongqing Free Trade Zone

SHANGHAI, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Hannes Androsch, AT&S Supervisory Board Chairman and member of Chongqing Mayor's International Economic Advisory Council (CMIA), attended the 12th Annual Meeting of the CMIA in Chongqing, China on September 24th. He hosted a panel discussion themed "the Innovation Focus and Strategies for Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Zone". It is the third consecutive year for AT&S to participate in this most influential event. Over the past years, Androsch has been sharing his insights and suggestions to support Chongqing's sustainable development by CMIA annual meetings. During the meeting, he was appointed by the Chongqing Mayor Zhang Guo Qing as the chairman for the 13rd Annual Meeting of the CMIA in 2018 due to his great contributions and knowledgeable insights. At the panel discussion, Androsch kicked off the topic with a key note and underlined that the government plays a key role in fostering innovation in the Chongqing Free Trade Zone and on this matter, he proposed four recommendations. Above all, the government should drive innovation in the financial sector, so that foreign firms are encouraged to move into the Free Trade Zone, and domestic firms are encouraged to establish themselves abroad. For instance, the government could ensure its corporate tax rates are competitive with other capable regions or countries. This measure will attract a greater level of foreign direct investment into the Free Trade Zone. The governmnt can furthermore help domestic firms gain a foothold overseas by providing them with financing, such as loans or grants, which will enable them to establish their presence abroad. Enabling domestic firms to expand their operations overseas will increase the revenue streams of those firms, thus helping the local economy.



In addition to financial innovation, the government should focus on cultivating innovative entrepreneurs. More specifically, the government needs to create an environment within the Free Trade Zone that encourages those entrepreneurs to create innovative products. For example, the government should ensure private and public funding is available to support the innovative ventures of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs should also have access to a qualified pool of labor, since highly skilled workers are essential for implementing innovative projects. The government is advised to relax migration laws and create attractive living facilities to attract highly skilled workers from other Chinese cities or abroad. The government should moreover make it easy for entrepreneurs to access cutting-edge, innovative knowledge. This can be accomplished through encouraging collaboration between entrepreneurs and academics or scientists. For instance, the government can create innovation hubs or districts, where research institutions and companies collaborate in terms of research and development, such as through joint-research projects which involve both entrepreneurs and academics. Such measures will help to create an innovative culture within the Free Trade Zone and inspire entrepreneurs to design innovative products. Androsch pointed out the importance of e-governance. This involves the government using information technology to integrate its service platforms, reduce complexity of paper works and finally push innovation. Technology developed by AT&S helps make e-governance a reality. In particular, e-governance requires mobile devices, computers and servers for data storage, exchange and analysis, as well as the facilitation of online communication and transactions. Mobile devices, computers and Servers are built using advanced IC substrates and Substrate-like-PCBs (SLP), all of which are produced by AT&S, including in AT&S's manufacturing plants in Chongqing.

Finally, he advises the government to encourage firms to utilize crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing involves companies using online competitions to receive creative design ideas from potentially hundreds to thousands of people around the world. Crowdsourcing enables businesses to select the most innovative ideas out of an ocean of entries. Those ideas can then be used to develop more innovative and competitive products. The Chongqing government could encourage crowdsourcing by educating firms about the process and how it can help firms innovate in their product and service offerings. At the meeting, Androsch shared AT&S's growing experience with Chongqing and China. With the combination of existing and new technologies particularly established in Chongqing, AT&S offers a comprehensive high-end range interconnect solutions for miniaturization and modulization for the semiconductors industry but also for the high-end microelectronics industry/supply chain. It is therefore a perfect match for the national policy - Made in China 2025, which is to develop the country into a high-tech manufacturing powerhouse. AT&S is fully committed to investing in technology and innovation in Chongqing and contributing to the development of high-end and value-added manufacturing industry in China. AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG - First choice for advanced applications AT&S is the European market leader and one of the globally leading manufacturers of high-value printed circuit boards and IC substrates. AT&S industrialises leading-edge technologies for its core business segments Mobile Devices & Substrates, Automotive, Industrial, Medical and Advanced Packaging. AT&S has a global presence, with production facilities in Austria (Leoben and Fehring) and plants in India (Nanjangud), China (Shanghai, Chongqing) and Korea (Ansan, near Seoul). The company employed an average of 9,526 people in the financial year 2016/17. For more information visit www.ats.net Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170925/1949154-1-a

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170925/1949154-1-b

SOURCE AT&S (China) Co., Ltd.

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[September 24, 2017] Samsung Expands FD-SOI Process Technology Leadership and its Design Ecosystem Readiness

Samsung (News - Alert) Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced it has expanded its differentiated FD-SOI process technology leadership by offering derivatives that include RF and eMRAM. Samsung already established a full set of FD-SOI design enablement solutions with key ecosystem partners for the 28-nanometer (nm) FD-SOI (28FDS) process technology. By accomplishing industry first eMRAM testchip tape-out milestone on 28FDS process technology, Samsung Foundry has demonstrated its 28FDS readiness with eMRAM technology leadership with the long commitment and expertise of Samsung's semiconductor technology R&D capability. "Samsung has started mass production of its 28FDS process technology last year and has already reached the desired process maturity earlier than originally scheduled," said Ryan Lee, Vice President of Foundry Marketing at Samsung Electronics. "So far we have taped out more than 40 products based on FD-SOI process for various customers. With the addition of RF and eMRAM on 28FDS and 18FDS technologies, we expect increasing number of product engagements." Samsung eMRAM is the newest addition to the family of embedded non-volatile memories and it offers unprecedented speed, power and endurance advantages. "By adding only three layers in the back-end of the process, we can simply integrate the new eMRAM cells into the existing baseline FD-SOI process," said Gitae Jeong, Senior Vice President of the Advanced Technology Development Team at Samsung Electronics. "Combined with Samsung's memory technology leadership nd its differentiated FD-SOI technology, we finally succeeded in incorporating eMRAM into various commercial applications."



"Samsung is working with NXP on a test chip to deliver eMRAM macro capability which is optimized for embedded processor integration and manufacturing." said Ron Martino, VP and GM for NXP's iMX Applications Processor (News - Alert) product line. "This test chip is complete and will produce results in the 4th quarter. This work will further enable the vision of integrating diverse SOC components on a single SOC in a cost effective manner." Samsung has completed its full set of 28FDS technology eco-system solutions with various eco- system partners including Cadence and Synopsys (News - Alert). Customers can access Samsung certified 28FDS reference flows from Cadence and Synopsys along with application-specific IP offerings.

"Through our collaboration with Samsung, our mutual customers can access the 28FDS certified, comprehensive Cadence RTL-to-GDS reference flow," said KT (News - Alert) Moore, vice president, product management in the Digital & Signoff Group at Cadence. "The Cadence tools integrate the back-biasing and multi-bit flip-flop design optimization features included with the Samsung 28FDS process technology, enabling designers to quickly and easily develop high-quality SoCs with optimal power and performance." "Early joint collaboration on PDKs, reference flows and IP is a hallmark of the Samsung/Synopsys relationship," said Michael Jackson (News - Alert), corporate vice president of marketing and business development for the Design Group business unit at Synopsys. "For Samsung's 28FDS, our mutual customers can design with confidence, knowing that it has been fully certified for Synopsys' Design Platform and Design Ware IP." Details on the recent updates to Samsung Foundry's cutting-edge process technology including FD-SOI technology roadmap and readiness will be presented at the Shanghai FD-SOI Forum on September 26th, 2017, by ES Jung, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Foundry Business at Samsung Electronics. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170924005018/en/

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[September 25, 2017] Red Hat launches Open Innovation Labs in Asia Pacific

Red Hat reinforces Red Hat's commitment to accelerate innovation and digital transformation across the region SINGAPORE, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced the launch of its first Red Hat Open Innovation Labs in the Asia-Pacific region in Singapore. Red Hat Open Innovation Labs help customers integrate people, methodology, and technology to catalyze innovation and solve business challenges in an accelerated fashion by working collaboratively in an immersive, residency-oriented lab environment with Red Hat experts at the new physical lab in Singapore or in a pop-up lab at a customer's site. Through Red Hat Open Innovation Labs, IT teams work closely with Red Hat consultants, engineers and subject matter experts to modernize existing applications or create new ones with open source and DevOps. The typical Red Hat Open Innovation Labs residency lasts anywhere from one to three months and provides IT professionals with the technologies, methods, and skills to accelerate business initiatives. Through hands-on instruction, teams can also learn how to adopt agile development methodologies, DevOps practices, and get immediate and direct experience with the open principles and open culture that underlie many open source communities. As digital transformation reshapes industries, organizations of all sizes and across industries are rethinking their approach to innovation and how technology can help them compete more effectively. Red Hat Open Innovation Labs launched in 2016 based on customer interest in applying Red Hat's vast open source expertise to help them solve these business and IT challenges. Red Hat Open Innovation Labs provides a prescriptive environment designed for customers to develop applications with speed, agility, scalability and increased security. As part of the Red Hat Open Innovation Labs engagement, customers can use microservices, deploy them in containers, and deliver them using DevOps methodologies across physical, cloud and mobile environments to more quickly scale up or down on-demand and help meet new requirements. In addition to its location in Singapore, Red Hat also has physical Red Hat Open Innovation Labs in Boston and London. Core features of an Open Innovation Labs residency include: Solve legacy problems or entirely new challenges: Customers can take advantage of mentoring and technology to help their organization design and develop solutions to modernize legacy applications or take on entirely new challenges developing applications, architectures, and features for mobile, cloud, microservices, and more.

Customers can take advantage of mentoring and technology to help their organization design and develop solutions to modernize legacy applications or take on entirely new challenges developing applications, architectures, and features for mobile, cloud, microservices, and more. Work on real business problems from day one: Using Red Hat's push button infrastructure and automated development environments, customers can quickly start development, resulting in quicker time to value and measurable outcomes.

Using Red Hat's push button infrastructure and automated development environments, customers can quickly start development, resulting in quicker time to value and measurable outcomes. Learn to work the open source way: Customers can collaborate with Red Hat experts and with the open source community on upstream projects using an agile-based methodology, open source tools, and best practices for application development.

Customers can collaborate with Red Hat experts and with the open source community on upstream projects using an agile-based methodology, open source tools, and best practices for application development. Innovate anywhere: With a more secure cloud environment, any authorized team members can ork together from anywhere at any time. Development can happen at customer's site, in an Open Innovation Labs facility, or virtually.



Supporting Quotes Dirk-Peter (DP) van Leeuwen, senior vice president and general manager, Red Hat Asia Pacific

"Businesses across Asia Pacific are innovating, while many companies are using digital technologies to create greater value and a better customer experience. We recognize their needs to fuel faster innovation and are excited to bring Red Hat Open Innovation Labs to this region. The vision for Red Hat Open Innovation Labs is to introduce Red Hat's unique DNA and the open source way of working to our customers in a residency-style, virtual or pop-up setting. Through these engagements, we hope to benefit businesses with the best of open source tools and methods to help them achieve greater business outcome." Additional Resources Learn more about Red Hat Open Innovation Labs

Download the Open Innovation Labs e-book Connect with Red Hat Learn more about Red Hat

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Follow Red Hat on LinkedIn About Red Hat, Inc. Red Hat is the world's leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to provide reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As a connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to the ability of the Company to compete effectively; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; delays or reductions in information technology spending; the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; fluctuations in exchange rates; the effects of industry consolidation; uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; the ability to meet financial and operational challenges encountered in our international operations; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company's growth and international operations; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic and political conditions, governmental and public policy changes and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Red Hat, the Shadowman logo, and Open Innovation Labs are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170713/1898465-1LOGO Media Contact: Kelly Chiew / Dinda Citrini

Text100 Singapore for Red Hat, Inc.

+65 6603 9000

[email protected] SOURCE Red Hat, Inc.

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[September 25, 2017] Internationally Renowned Virologist Christian Brechot Appointed President of the Global Virus Network (GVN)

The Global Virus Network (GVN), an international coalition of the world's foremost medical virologists, comprising 40 Centers of Excellence in 24 countries, dedicated to identifying and researching, combatting and preventing, current and emerging pandemic viruses that pose a critical threat to public health and wellbeing, today announced the appointment of Christian Brechot, MD, PhD as President of the GVN. Dr. Brechot, who recently stepped down as President of France's internationally renowned Institut Pasteur, will assume his new position with the GVN effective October 1, 2017. The announcement was made during the opening address of the 9th International Global Virus Meeting in Melbourne, Australia by Prof. Robert Gallo, MD, the GVN's co-founder and scientific director, and by Prof. Sharon Lewin, MD, PhD, director of The Peter Doherty (News - Alert) Institute for Infection and Immunity, a GVN Center of Excellence. Said Dr. Gallo, who is also The Homer & Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine and Director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a GVN Center of Excellence, "When the GVN was founded in 2011, our mandate was to safeguard mankind from potential catastrophic and devastating pandemic virus by coalescing the finest public health expertise in order to undertake collaborative research, to train the next generation of virologists as well as to catalyze, engender and foment advocacy amongst leaders of government, the private sector and the scientific community throughout the world. While we have made great strides in the last six years, having the unprecedented expertise, inspired vision and consummate leadership of Dr. Brechot, a man of extraordinary ability in public health and basic science virology, will enable the GVN to fulfill its mandate and realize its ultimate potential for the betterment of mankind," continued Dr. Gallo. "When Bob introduced me to the GVN, I was impressed with the phenomenal caliber of virologists deeply engaged and committed to the vision of the organization," said Dr. Brecht. "The world needs the GVN's network of invaluable, diversified experts to be talking to each other, sharing information freely, and mitigating and preparing for viral threats. The GVN is an invaluable and critical global resource. I look forward to helping the GVN grow and develop, both operationally and financially as well as to working with Bob Gallo without whom the GVN would not be possible."



Prof. Lewin said, "I joined the GVN because I agreed with my colleagues that there is a palpable need to engage with and empower the world's foremost virologists to address current and future pandemic threats. I am thrilled that Dr. Gallo and I have the honor of making this important announcement at the 9th International Global Virus Meeting. We are enthusiastic about working with Dr. Brechot and the GVN to defend mankind from dangerous and deadly viruses." Since October 2013, Dr. Brechot has served as President of the Institut Pasteur developing programs to recruit eminent scientists, implementing an international multidisciplinary education and teaching program, fostering collaborative research and training strategies with major universities and research organizations, coalescing the international network of 33 Pasteur Institutes to encompass a global scientific vision and coordinated training activities, and positioning an ambitious and internationally oriented strategy for technology transfer and fundraising.

Dr. Brechot held previous leadership positions with the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), the Institut Merieux, and the BIOASTER Technology Research Institute. He previously served as a university professor, hospital practitioner, and head of departments of hepatology and cell biology. In 1982, Dr. Brechot received a Doctor of Medicine from Paris Descartes (News - Alert) University (Paris VII) and a PhD in biochemistry from the Paris Descartes University. Throughout his career, Dr. Brechot's research has focused on viral hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), particularly regarding their role in liver cancer and to the molecular mechanisms that drive liver regeneration and cancer. He is a member of numerous scientific committees and societies and has received a myriad of prestigious awards. Dr. Brechot has authored more than 350 articles published in prestigious medical and scientific journals. Dr. Gallo, who conceived and co-founded the GVN, is distinguished and revered for co-discovering HIV as the cause of AIDS and for developing the HIV blood test, along with colleagues from the Institut Pasteur. The GVN concept began back in the 1980's when a small group of medical virologists realized that virtually no working virologist had a global directive for researching the cause of AIDS during the earliest years of the epidemic. Conversely, important groups such as the World Health Organization which did have a global mandate for combatting the new disease had virtually no resident expertise in the kind of virus that was subsequently shown to be the cause of AIDS, namely, a retrovirus. Examining the history of other great epidemics of the 20th century, Influenza, Polio, and the more recent outbreak of SARS as well as several other viruses, reveals similar disconnects between available expertise and the urgent public need to identify causation and prevention modes. About the Global Virus Network (GVN) The Global Virus Network (GVN), a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, is an international coalition of the world's foremost medical virologists, comprising 40 Centers of Excellence in 24 countries, dedicated to identifying and researching, combatting and preventing, current and emerging pandemic viruses that pose a critical threat to public health and wellbeing. Founded in 2011, the GVN was founded to safeguard mankind from potential catastrophic and devastating pandemic virus by coalescing the finest public health expertise in order to undertake collaborative research, to train the next generation of virologists as well as to catalyze, engender and foment advocacy amongst leaders of government, the private sector and the scientific community throughout the world. It is the world's only network of top basic medical virologists from around the globe covering all classes of human viral threats. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @GlobalVirusNews View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170924005053/en/

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[September 25, 2017] ETSI and OpenFog Consortium collaborate on fog and edge applications

MEC Congress, BERLIN, Germany, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ETSI and the OpenFog Consortium will collaborate to develop fog-enabled mobile edge applications and technologies. The two organizations have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with intent to benefit organizations working to develop 5G, mission-critical and data-dense applications through fog computing and networking and thus reduce technical overlap across the multitude of domains.

This OpenFog-ETSI MOU is a significant step in our efforts to build interoperability for efficient and reliable networks and intelligent endpoints operating along the Cloud-to-Things continuum, said Helder Antunes, chairman of the OpenFog Consortium and Senior Director, Cisco. Were now positioned to leverage our respective work to give the industry a cohesive set of standards around fog computing in mobile environments, while eliminating any redundancy in our respective efforts. Establishing a cooperation framework with OpenFog represents a significant step towards adoption of our standards by the industry, said Alex Reznik, Chairman of ETSI MEC ISG. This alignment of a leading industry consortium and a leading standards setting organization in the fog/edge space should make it easier for both application developers and infrastructure solution providers to develop towards a common, open and interoperable edge computing environment. OpenFog will work with the ETSI Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) Industry Specification Group (ISG). The two organizations will cooperate on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) standardization and interoperability requirements by sharing and applying selected technical work in process. MECs work addresss multiple multi-access edge hosts deployed by different operator-owned networks which run edge applications in a collaborative manner. The OpenFog Reference Architecture will extend the mobile edge with a physical and logical multi-layered network hierarchy of cooperating fog nodes that interface between cloud and edge, allowing for interoperability across operators.



One of the first initiatives from the agreement will be focused on Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) which support edge computing interoperability. The recently released package of MEC APIs contain important properties that can be adapted and used in the OpenFog Reference Architecture. The ETSI MEC specifications also include API framework which provides a framework for delivering services to be consumed or offered by locally hosted or remote authorized applications. By adopting and re-using APIs across the OpenFog and MEC architectures, it will be easier for developers to create common architectures, unify management strategies, and write a single application software modules that run on both OpenFog and MEC architectures. About the OpenFog Consortium

The OpenFog Consortium was formed to accelerate the deployment of fog computing technologies through the development of an open architecture that identifies core technologies and capabilities such as distributed computing, networking and storage that will support intelligence at the edge of IoT. The OpenFog Consortium was formed by ARM, Cisco, Dell, Intel, Microsoft Corp, and Princeton University in November 2015, and has members in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information visit www.openfogconsortium.org and on Twitter @openfog. About ETSI

ETSI produces globally-applicable standards for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), including fixed, mobile, radio, aeronautical, broadcast and internet technologies and is officially recognized by the European Union as a European Standards Organization. ETSI is an independent, not-for-profit association whose over 800 member companies and organizations, drawn from 68 countries, determine its work programme and participate directly in its work. Media Contacts: OpenFog:

Ken Zeszutko [email protected]

321-213-1818 ETSI Claire Boyer [email protected]

Mob: +33 (0)6 87 60 84 40

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[September 25, 2017] Secure Channels Inc. Lays Growth Foundation Through Four Strategic New Hires

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Secure Channels Inc., provider of innovative security solutions designed to complement existing security investments, announced today the appointment of new hires across a range of company departments. The appointments include Dr. Thomas Fryer as Chief Technology Officer, Henry J. Sienkiewicz as the Chief Innovation & Revenue Officer, Hiro Ochi as the new Senior Vice President, Global Strategy and Enterprise Architecture and Timothy Smith as the Director of Technology Transformation. "Our industry continues to evolve, as do the complexity, frequency and severity of cyberattacks on businesses and consumers alike," stated Richard Blech, Chief Executive Officer of Secure Channels Inc. "With these new hires, we remain focused on staying inventive and solution focused in the space while strengthening and validating our patented encryption protocol PKMS2, for which our chief cryptographer, Dr. Jonathan Katz will be publishing his mathematical proofs that will confirm the strengths and efficacy of the patented protocol. Over the next several months, we will be unveiling expansion into new market verticals, as well as product developments and strategic partnerships, which the new executives will be instrumental in seeing through." The new hires each bring the following to their respective positions: Henry J. Sienkiewicz is the former Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Designated Authorizing Authority (DAA) for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), provider of IT services for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD.), its mission partners and the Executive Office of the President (EOP.) He is also the author of Amazon best-selling book, "The Art of Cyber Conflict." He will lead the team in areas such as market analysis, revenue and pipeline analysis.

is the former Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Designated Authorizing Authority (DAA) for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), provider of IT services for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD.), its mission partners and the Executive Office of the President (EOP.) He is also the author of Amazon best-selling book, "The Art of Cyber Conflict." He will lead the team in areas such as market analysis, revenue and pipeline analysis. Hiro Ochi is a proven leader in enterprise architecture, information security and strategic planning across Global markets, through his work with US and Israeli organizations in successful entry into Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Chinese and other Asia-Pacific markets. He will be instrumental in ensuring Secure Channels remains agile and consistent in cross-market delivery of solutions, as well as a key force in expansion initiatives.

is a proven leader in enterprise architecture, information security and strategic planning across Global markets, through his work with US and Israeli organizations in successful entry into Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Chinese and other markets. He will be instrumental in ensuring Secure Channels remains agile and consistent in cross-market delivery of solutions, as well as a key force in expansion initiatives. Timothy Smith brings diverse technical experience, working for companies ranging from start-up to mid-sized firms, most recently serving as Chief Operations Officer for Creedenz Solutions, a mid-market CRM provider. He will work closely with the engineering team as a core leader in product and system transformation, where his expertise in project management, track record of customer satisfaction, and operational insight at the SMB level will tie in closely.



About Secure Channels Inc.:

Secure Channels Inc. offers innovative, agile security solutions designed to seamlessly integrate with organizations' existing solutions. Agnostic by nature, solutions customize to user environments without compromising protection. Our mission is to help organizations make the most of their active security tools used for authentication and data protection, while providing a cost and performance effective solution to address the ever-increasing security challenges organizations face today. For more information, visit www.securechannels.com.

Media Contact: Jonathan Gluskin

847-308-1314

[email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/secure-channels-inc-lays-growth-foundation-through-four-strategic-new-hires-300524676.html SOURCE Secure Channels Inc.

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[September 25, 2017] Lenovo Recognized on Interbrand's Best Global Brands List for 3rd Consecutive Year

Lenovo (SEHK:0992) (Pink Sheets:LNVGY) has been named today as one of the Best Global Brands in Interbrand's annual top 100, marking the third straight year Lenovo (News - Alert) has been part of the list. Interbrand's annual Best Global Brands list features an elite group of the world's most powerful and recognizable global brands, selected based on a combination of attributes that capture a brand's cumulative value, including the ability to transcend geographic and cultural boundaries. More information and the full rankings are available here. At the core of Lenovo's business values and practices is the philosophy that "Different is Better," a point of view that advocates pushing the limits of technology, design and engineering to create products that are not only innovative but ultimately benefit the lives of customers in unprecedented ways. This recognition from Interbrand is an affirmation of the pursuit of this philosophy, as well as the unifying platform the brand plays for a product portfolio that spans mobile phones to data centers. Now in its 18th year, the Interbrand Best Global Brands list identifies and ranks the top 100 international brands by analyzing the ways a brand impacts and benefits an organization, from attracting top talent to delivering on customer expectations and driving economic value. The ranking is based on a combination of attributes that contribute to a brand's cumulative value, including financial performance, the role a brand plays in influencing customer choice and more. For more infomation about the Interbrand Best Global Brands list visit:



Main report home page here

Full top 100 listing here

Lenovo Interbrand profile page here Quotes "It's an inspiring time to be leading a brand like Lenovo. As we've transformed from a PC-only company just a few years ago to one that now transcends a huge spectrum of tech, we've redefined what the Lenovo brand stands for," said David Roman, chief marketing officer, Lenovo. "This is a prestigious honor to receive as we continue embracing the Different is Better philosophy; put our customers at the heart of everything we do, and grow the worldwide recognition and influence of the Lenovo brand."

"Lenovo continues to be recognized as a Best Global Brand", said Jez Frampton, Interbrand's Chief Executive Officer, "Their innovation has taken them past PC production, into mobile, data, and now cloud technology. All have become major areas of growth-a testament to their forward-thinking approach to the market." noted Jez Frampton, Interbrand's Global CEO. About Lenovo Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$43 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and data center technology. Our portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs (including the legendary Think and multimode Yoga brands), workstations, servers, storage, networking, software (including ThinkSystem and ThinkAgile solutions), smart TVs and a family of mobile products like smartphones (including the Motorola (News - Alert) brand), tablets and apps. Join us on LinkedIn, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (News - Alert) (@Lenovo) or visit us at http://www.lenovo.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170925005756/en/

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[September 25, 2017] Synup Raises $6 Million In Series A; Aims to Achieve 10x Growth in the Next 3 Years

BANGALORE, India, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synup, a provider of SaaS-based solutions that enables local businesses to manage their online presence, today announced it has completed a $6 million (approx INR 40 crores) Series A round of financing. The fresh round of investment is led by Vertex Ventures along with Synups existing investor, Prime Venture Partners, who also participated in the round. The investment will help the company to rapidly expand its sales and marketing efforts as well as broaden and accelerate product development.

The Series A financing builds on an exceptional year for Synup which saw a rapidly growing roster of clients, and market momentum. Just after its launch in 2015, Synup achieved $1 million in ARR in the first 9 months, and since then over 50,000 locations in the U.S. & Canada have used its solutions. The company has already started to generate a positive cash flow and aims to grow 10x in the next 3 years. Currently, local businesses are getting discovered in hundreds of fragmented consumer platforms on the web & mobile. Most of these listings have to be manually updated across all the platforms and it takes approximately 8 hours a week for a store manager to just update location data. The listings also do not provide the business with any analytics or insight into user reviews. Synup offers a complete local marketing solution that makes it easy for businesses to manage their location data, presence, reputation and analytics. Synup tracks hundreds of thousands of business profiles & monitors millions of interactions to provide businesses with automated marketing as well as insights that they would otherwise not get. It also manages and boosts local SEO efforts for agencies, enterprises and small businesses with multiple locations. Synup works with both digital agencies and businesses directly to manage their listings on over 50 of the most imporant local search destinations. Additionally, it tracks customer reviews and analyses rankings on different search engines.



In the next six months, the company wants to go beyond location data management and offer a wider breadth of products to its customers. The company is bullish on its growth as out of the total 28 million local businesses in the U.S., only about a million (3.57%), use automated location-marketing services like Synup. Synups founder Ashwin Ramesh is a serial entrepreneur having started his first business when he was still in high school. Currently, the company has over 40 employees and is looking to hire across all sections of the business. Synup plans to expand into Europe and United Kingdom by mid - 2018.

Supporting Quotes

Ashwin Ramesh, Founder & CEO, Synup

These are exciting times at Synup. There is an undisputed need for an automated marketing solution for millions of local businesses across the globe. We are fortunate to have partnered with two top tier investors such as Vertex and Prime, who bring both a deep understanding of our business as well as operational expertise. We have built a unique and cost effective solution and have seen some excellent growth so far and aim to take this to other geographies soon with a wider product offering. Ben Mathias, Managing Partner, Vertex Ventures

Synup has been able to solve a difficult problem in a market that is largely underpenetrated. Their strong early customer traction is a testament to the efficacy of their approach to address this massive market opportunity. We have been impressed with the experience of their team and the thoughtful design of their product, and look forward to helping scale this company. Shripati Acharya, Managing Partner, Prime Venture Partners

Prime is thrilled to continue our partnership with Synup. Synup is amongst the first wave of global SaaS companies to come out of India and we are looking forward to being a part of this journey along with Vertex. When we initially invested, Synup was just starting their journey. However, the clarity of vision from Ashwin in understanding both the opportunity and the execution of it left little doubt in our minds that we wanted to back Synup. In two years Synup has achieved rapid customer traction and revenue growth and is well positioned to scale to the next level. About Synup

Synup is a Bangalore-based startup with operations in U.S. & Canada. Founded by serial entrepreneur, Ashwin Ramesh, Synups SaaS solution enables local businesses to manage their online presence. Synup tracks hundreds of thousands of business profiles & monitors millions of interactions to provide businesses with automated marketing as well as insights that they would otherwise not get. Further details at: www.synup.com About Vertex Ventures

Vertex is a leading global venture capital group supporting entrepreneurs to transform their innovative ideas into world-class businesses. With cumulative committed capital in excess of $2.5 billion, Vertex invests in early-stage IT and healthcare opportunities in China, Silicon Valley, India, Israel, and South East Asia. Since 1988, Vertex is honoured to have partnered with the founders of global leaders such as Waze, 91, Grab, IGG, CyberArk, Reebonz, SolarEdge, Force10, FirstCry, Yatra and Changba. Vertex Ventures SEA is one of the pillars of the Vertex Group's network of Funds focusing on early stage opportunities in the Information Technology sector in SEA and India. Further details at: http://www.vertexventures.com/southasia/ Prime Venture Partners

Prime Venture Partners is a Bangalore-based seed fund led by serial entrepreneurs Shripati Acharya, Sanjay Swamy, and Amit Somani. The fund is focused on building disruptive product companies out of India, and addresses a much needed gap in the Indian startup ecosystem - by bringing a combination of first-hand entrepreneurial experience, operating expertise and meaningful capital. Prime Venture Partners portfolio includes exciting startups such as KredX, Maya, AffordPlan, MoneyTap, NiYO, Ezetap, SmartOwner, Synup, HackerEarth, happay, Nimble Wireless, Vidgyor and ZipDial (acquired by Twitter). Further details at: www.primevp.in Contact Information:

Ashwin Ramesh

8442282852

[email protected]



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By Baishali Adak: How does one kill an old and protected natural habitat?

The Okhla bird sanctuary on the Delhi-Noida border seems to be a textbook example for this frightful objective. Once a prized haven for resident and migratory birds - including gulls, geese, ducks and flamingoes that came from as far as Europe and Russia in thousands - the sanctuary has hardly witnessed any chirping of late.

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Experts blame the buzz emanating from high-tension electric lines, poor maintenance of floating water plants, heavy sewage inflow at Kalindi Kunj, excessive construction and traffic on all sides, the chopping away over 10,000 trees for BSP leader Mayawati's Prerna Sthal , and 24x7 light and noise pollution for the prevailing situation. And if these were not enough, the site is going to be drained of all water this season .

"It is unfortunate," said Ishwar Chandra Singh, forest ranger with additional charge of the Okhla sanctuary, "The UP Irrigation Department is going to change 18 of the 27 gates in the barrage which are in a rusting and collapsible situation." Singh said while the replacement of gates was necessary, it should have taken place at a period not coinciding with the migratory period.

But the tardy process of government clearance will ensure no winged visitors this year. "The irrigation department had applied, in fact, much earlier for the work to be completed between April and June, when it would not have coincided with the birds' season, but they received the permission only now. The birds are most likely to fly away to nearby Delhi Zoo, Surajpur wetland, Yamuna Biodiversity Park, but not come here at least till next winter now," Singh said. Nature lovers describe the draining of water as merely the last nail.

"The sanctuary exists only in name now," said well-known birder KB Singh. "First, it was the Dalit Prerna Sthal which took away so many trees that provided nesting spots to terrestrial birds. Then came the high-tension wires which make a constant humming sound and distract the birds. Now, there is the continuously flowing traffic and a number of townships coming up on Sarita Vihar side . Birds are peace and quiet-loving species, how do you expect them to roost here?" The other issue pertains to the maintenance of the sanctuary.

"It is baffling that the sanctuary management doesn't care to clean up the floating plants, water hyacinth, and typha reed grass despite influx of huge funds from the government," Vikrant Tongad, an RTI activist and nature lover, told Mail Today.

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"As per an RTI reply received by us, a total of Rs 1.22 crore have been allocated by the UP government just for this task in last three years. It is essential for these plants to be cleared. For, birds flying overhead will be able to see the water and creatures beneath, which are food for them, only when this foliage is removed."

Anand Arya, who has been visiting the Okhla sanctuary for decades now, told Mail Today, "There are housing societies coming up right up to the water's edge. Plus, birds which come from the west and north direction use the Yamuna as a guiding map. In a lot of these stretches of the river, agriculture or mining is going on now. This had harmed the migratory influx." "Even 5-10 years back, we used to spot up to 100 species of birds. I have seen flocks of 500-600 flamingoes at a time here, but they hardly come here now. There's nothing to see and I doubt a revival is on the cards," he added.

The sanctuary was declared protected by the UP government in 1990 after the formation of a large wetland due to creation of the Okhla barrage where the Yamuna leaves Delhi and enters Noida. It is one of the state's 15 wildlife sanctuaries. Several rare species of birds like ferruginous pochard, black-bellied tern, grey-headed fish eagle, Baikal teal, Baer's pochard and sarus crane, among others have been seen here before.

--- ENDS ---

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[September 25, 2017] Korean VR Startup Introduces 360 Social Media Platform

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Aeon Inc. a member company of the K-ICT Born2Global Centre, announced the official launch of its virtual reality brand, YouVR. On September 25th, YouVR 360 and YouVR Maker will be available on Google Play Store and App Store. This innovative mobile solution will change the way people engage with 360 degree photos and virtual reality tours. With the aim to democratize VR, Next Aeon has developed an easy, affordable and fun way people can create and share VR content. The first of its kind, YouVR 360 is a social media platform where people can upload and share 360 degree photos anytime, anywhere. Originally conceived as a 360 camera app, it soon transformed into a social media app once the developers at Next Aeon realized that 360 degree photos were scattered all over the internet. There was no collective platform where people could freely upload, see and comment on panorama photos, as they do on Instagram or Facebook. Inviting photographers, IT enthusiasts, bloggers and anyone with a taste for adventure to partake in this new forum of exchange, YouVR 360 is more than a hand-held camera that takes panorama images. With YouVR, users can take 360 degree photos, upload instantly and interact with fellow users all over the world. It also offers a range of filters you can use to add dramatic effect. Traditional 2D photos have not changed greatly since their invention and people are ready for a new way of perceiving and capturing the world around them. YouVR 360 also supports 360 cameras, such as Ricoh Theta and Samsung Gear360. For those that have a more professional need, Next Aeon also released YouVR Maker. This app allows users to create VR tours on the spot as they take a series of 360 degree pictures. The app automatically connects scenes creating the effect of a tour - moving from room to room, from one space to another. The demand for VR content has risen over the last couple of years, but there is still a major lack of content. Existing VR-related devices and software programs are too expensive and difficult for the average user. YouVR overcomes these obstacles by making VR content creation an management affordable, easy and fast.



The key to making this possible is in its technology. Early this year, Next Aeon developed the fastest image stitching technology on mobile devices and incorporated it into the YouVR apps. The successful implementation of this technology is a feat on its own. Existing image stitching processes take up to a minute on PC. Next Aeon's mobile technology takes just one second to 'stitch' six photos into a 360 degree image using the iPhone 7. It automatically detects the overlapping parts - feature points - between images, stitches them together and adjusts the light and color contrast to produce a seamless high-quality 360 degree image. The amazing thing about this is that all this is done on the smartphone.

"Given the limited CPU and memory on a smartphone and other mobile devices, realizing this technology is extremely difficult. There are external factors to consider, such as the amount of light in one corner of the room to another, but there are also internal obstacles in a smartphone setting. Overcoming these limitations, we are able to democratize VR by making it available to anyone who has a mobile device," says Ken Kim, CEO of Next Aeon. Next Aeon recently became the official partner of the Korea Association of Realtors (KAR) and launched YouVR as a full-fledged VR CMS platform. YouVR will be available to over 100,000 realtors in Korea. This is just the start. The possibilities are endless. When asked about his motivation behind the development of YouVR, Ken replied, "I wanted to make VR common place. As ubiquitous as our world is now, immersive media content has not been able to catch up. The problem was that it was too difficult to make. YouVR was meant to be DIY from the beginning." He added, "I envision a world where everyone has VR at their fingertip. Just as smartphones have become a natural part of our daily lives today, YouVR will be a household name in the near future." Next Aeon is looking ahead and beyond. Having partnered with KAR in Korea, it believes that its product will benefit agents, sellers, buyers and transform the real estate market globally. As the first step, it will be showcasing YouVR at the REALTORS Conference and Expo held in Chicago in November. "We participated in the same event last year and got really positive responses. People were ready to buy immediately. That experience gave me the confidence to push forward and expand globally. When it comes down to it, we all have the same problems when it comes to home searching and selling," says Ken. "YouVR will change how we deal with spaces." This ambitious startup is already preparing to introduce yet another newly developed technology. Also under the YouVR brand, Next Aeon will release a 360 degree hybrid video mobile app in October. Currently in the final stages of development and testing, this new technology integrates image and video to create an immersive VR experience on the smartphone. When compared to regular 360 degree videos, YouVR 360 degree hybrid video is only quarter the size ensuring that the quality of the video is consistent in any environment. For more detailed information on the Next Aeon and YouVR, please check out http://next-aeon.com/

https://www.youvr.io/ Related link: https://www.born2global.com/ Contact: Jade Choi, Communications & PR Manager of Next Aeon

[email protected] Jina Lee, PR Manager of Born2Global

[email protected] About Next Aeon Next Aeon Inc. was established in 2011 with the vision to democratize the way people capture and share their world. This vision set the momentum and the following years were focused on developing the technology that would make this vision become reality. YouVR is the embodiment of the dedication and determination of the team at Next Aeon. As a leading VR company in Korea, Next Aeon has been recognized as a K-Global 300 Companies by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning in December 2015. For two consecutive years (2016-2017), we were selected as a Global Marketing Program Member Company by Born2Global, a Korean Government Agency, and with the help of industry experts patented our technology in the US. In November 2016, YouVR was Good Design Certified and Next Aeon was invited to show case YouVR at the Good Design Selection. To add to the list, this year, YouVR also received the gold medal for software in Korea - Good Software Certification. In 2016, it set up a local subsidiary in the US, YouVR Inc., and set the cornerstone of its global network. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/korean-vr-startup-introduces-360-social-media-platform-300524898.html SOURCE K-ICT Born2Global Centre

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[September 25, 2017] Minister Chagger joins Prime Minister Trudeau for Gateway '17 in Toronto

The event, hosted by Alibaba, brought together Canadian small businesses to learn how to better access the growing Chinese market TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada and China enjoy strong and deep people-to-people and business-to-business ties, and there is tremendous opportunity for further growth. This was the message delivered by the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism, during her introduction of the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, at Gateway '17. Gateway '17, a business fair hosted by Alibaba, brought together Canadian small businesses to encourage them to expand into the Chinese market, particularly using the Alibaba platform. Alibaba is the largest online retailer in the world. During her remarks, Minister Chagger spoke about the Government of Canada's commitment to building stronger ties with China, especially through increased tourism during the Canada-China Year of Tourism in 2018 and for years to come. The Minister also commended Jack Ma, Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, for organizing the She-ERA Global Conference on Women and Entrepreneurship in Hangzhou, China, this past July. Minister Chagger represented the Government at the conference, and in her keynote address, she emphasized Canada's continued commitment to promoting equality through empowering women entrepreneurs. The conference, which also featured a vieo from Prime Minister Trudeau, was an impressive discussion about the valuable contribution women are making to business and the work that still remains to achieve full equality.



Quote "Canada and China have strong ties, built on mutual cooperation and deep family connections. Events like Gateway '17 are a great way to encourage Canadian SMEs to take full advantage of the potential market that China's growing middle class represents. I wish all of the SMEs at Gateway '17 tremendous success in the years to come, and I commend Alibaba for hosting this impressive event. As we approach the Canada-China Year of Tourism in 2018, I look forward to seeing our tourism operators welcome a record number of Chinese tourists and show them why Canada is a great place to visit."

 The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism

Quick facts Gateway '17 aims to increase Canadian SME awareness of how to conduct business in China , while highlighting the demand for Canadian products in the Chinese market.

, while highlighting the demand for Canadian products in the Chinese market. Prime Minister Trudeau was a keynote speaker at the conference, which also featured Jack Ma , Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group; Michael Evans , President of Alibaba Group; as well as a number of Canadian success stories such as Michele Romanow , a star of CBC's Dragons' Den and Co-Founder of Clearbanc; Husayn Remtulla, President and CEO of Viva Naturals; and, Laurent Potdevin , CEO of lululemon athletica.

, Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group; , President of Alibaba Group; as well as a number of Canadian success stories such as , a star of CBC's Dragons' Den and Co-Founder of Clearbanc; Husayn Remtulla, President and CEO of Viva Naturals; and, , CEO of lululemon athletica. China plays a central role in Canada's Tourism Vision, which includes a commitment from the Government to double the number of Chinese visitors by 2021.

plays a central role in Tourism Vision, which includes a commitment from the Government to double the number of Chinese visitors by 2021. China is currently Canada's third largest tourism source market and is projected to soon become the second largest.

is currently third largest tourism source market and is projected to soon become the second largest. In 2016, Canada welcomed more than 610,100 Chinese visitors, up 23.6% over 2015.

welcomed more than 610,100 Chinese visitors, up 23.6% over 2015. China is Canada's second largest trading partner. In 2015, the two countries conducted more than $85 billion worth of trade.

is second largest trading partner. In 2015, the two countries conducted more than worth of trade. Alibaba is China's biggest online commerce company. Associated links Gateway '17

Canada's Tourism Vision Follow Minister Chagger on social media.

Twitter: @MinofSBT

Instagram: minofsbt SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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[September 25, 2017] Australia - The National Broadband Network - Moving into 2018 - Research and Markets

The "Australia - The National Broadband Network - Moving into 2018" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. This annual publication provides analysis on the National Broadband Network moving into 2018. It includes forecasts, overviews and discussions on: The NBN Company

Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTP) and Fibre-to-the-Basement

(FTTB) roll outs

Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) and VDSL

HFC Networks

Fixed Wireless and Satellite Networks

Statistics and Surveys

Overview of Major Contracts

Policies and Regulations

Other Market Analysis The Australian telecommunications market will change dramatically over the next ten years. Accelerated by government policies in relation to broadband infrastructure and the National Digital Economy Strategy these changes will drive the transformation of the telecom industry as well as a range of economic sectors dependent on telecom infrastructure. These developments will be further accelerated by a range of dependent sectors such as cloud computing, M2M and big data. The over-the-top (OTT) players are also becoming more and more prominent in the telecoms industry and this will start blurring some of the borders between infrastructure, IT and applications. In its original plan under the previous government, the nbn, the company overseeig Australia's National Broadband Network (News - Alert) (NBN) project, would connect 93% of homes, schools and workplaces to an optical fibre network (fibre-to-the-premises - FTTP), providing high-speed broadband services to Australians in urban and regional towns. The remaining 7% of premises would be connected to an LTE (News - Alert)-based fixed wireless network, and for those outside these footprints to a satellite network.



With the arrival of a new government, the new plan was estimated to cost $41 billion (which has since been increased to approximately $50 billion). It is a move away from a pure FTTP plan to a multi-technology-mix approach deploying FTTP, Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN), Fibre-to-the-Basement (FTTB) and cable (HFC) in addition to fixed wireless and satellite. Key Developments:

14 NBN wholesale providers now offer a mix of backhaul and wholesale aggregation services to RSPs.

FTTP will connect 20% of premises by 2020, while a further 38% will be served by FTTN.

nbn is expected to operate services based on the DOCSIS3.1 at the end of 2018, capable of delivering data at 1Gb/s.

It is also actively looking at other cable networking advances such as full-duplex DOCSIS technology, which is capable of 10Gbps symmetrical speeds.

Fibre-to-the-curb will be deployed to a potential footprint of up to 700,000 premises across the country. Key Topics Covered: 1. Market analysis 2. The NBN Company 3. Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTP) and Fibre-to-the-Basement (FTTB) roll outs 4. Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) and VDSL 5. HFC networks 6. Fixed wireless and satellite networks 7. Other statistics and surveys 8. Overview of major contracts 9. Policies and regulations Companies Mentioned Active8me

Austar; Ericsson; Visionstream; Optus (News - Alert)

Bordernet

Clear Networks

CSIRO

Fibercorp

Harbour IT

iiNet

Internode

LBNCo

NBN

Neighbourhood Cable

OPENetworks

OptiComm

Optus

Pivit

Reachnet

RedTrain

Rivertel

SkyMesh

Space Systems/Loral

Telstra

TransACT

ViaSat (News - Alert) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c7zsfr/australia_the View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170925006084/en/

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[September 25, 2017] Cielo Returns to #1 Placement on Baker's Dozen List of Global RPO Providers

Cielo Also Recognized as #1 Healthcare Provider for Fourth Consecutive Year BROOKFIELD, Wisconsin, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cielo (formerly Pinstripe), the world's leading strategic Recruitment Process Outsourcing partner, today announced its first-place ranking on the annual "Baker's Dozen" list of global recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) firms based on client satisfaction surveys and published by HRO Today magazine. In addition to ranking No. 1 overall for RPO providers in 2017, Cielo is celebrating its fourth consecutive No. 1 placement on the Healthcare Industry Providers ranking. The HRO Today Baker's Dozen list is a particularly compelling ranking as it is based exclusively on customer satisfaction ratings by buyers of RPO services. The firm was specifically recognized as: #1  Global RPO Providers Overall

#1  Quality of Service

#1  Breadth of Service

#1  Size of Deal

#1  Healthcare Industry Providers "Most important to us is the number one position in Quality of Service, which is the way the survey rates customer satisfaction with their providers. As the most technology-enabled RPO provider, we work hard to balance intgrating automation into our solutions with delivering an outstanding customer experience. The strength of our ranking is validation that our high-tech-enabling-high-touch model is providing great value to our clients," said Sue Marks, CEO of Cielo.



"Cielo continues to dominate the Recruitment Process Outsourcing industry based on their innovation, technology and determination to develop new and better systems and approaches. They lead in every dimension that HRO Today measures, and continue to top our healthcare industry ranking. Cielo has emerged as one of  if not the  dominant player in RPO," said Elliot Clark, CEO of HRO Today. Top rankings across the Baker's Dozen categories follow an already successful year of recognitions for Cielo. Analyst group Everest Group named Cielo a PEAK Matrix Leader and included Cielo as a top five RPO service provider with the highest buyer satisfaction in a 2017 report that further recognized high buyer satisfaction with Cielo's superior next-generation metrics. Additionally, Cielo was honored at the HRO Today Services and Technology Association's North America Forum with the Employer Brand Excellence Award for its work with client partner Surgical Care Affiliates (SCA) and Healthcare Talent Management Program of the Year with client partner Health First.

About Cielo

Cielo is the world's leading strategic Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) partner. Under its WE BECOME YOU philosophy, Cielo's dedicated recruitment teams primarily serve clients in the financial and business services, consumer brands, technology and media, engineering, life sciences and healthcare industries. Cielo's global presence includes 2,000 employees, serving 143 clients across 91 countries in 33 languages. Cielo knows talent is rising  and with it, an organization's opportunity to rise above. For more information, visit cielotalent.com. About the Ranking

HRO Today's Baker's Dozen rankings are based solely on feedback from buyers of the rated services; the ratings are not based on the opinion of the HRO Today staff. We collect feedback annually through an online survey. In order to determine an overall ranking, we analyze results across three subcategories: service breadth, deal sizes and quality. Using a predetermined algorithm that weighs questions and categories based on importance, we calculate scores in all three subcategories as well as an overall score. The rankings are based on those scores. While we do not claim that our methodology is the only viable ratings program available, we do vouch for its statistical validity. Cielo Contact:

Bethany Perkins

[email protected]

+1 262 439 1443 Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/561195/Cielo_Logo.jpg

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[September 25, 2017] ProfNet Experts Available on The Human Side of Data and AI, More

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform EXPERT ALERTS The Human Element to Data

'Debugging' Your Employees for Peak Performance

Millennials Are Redefining Work Happiness MEDIA JOBS Editor, Gears & Gadgets  The Wall Street Journal (NY)

White House Reporter  MLex (DC)

Writer/Editor, Electronics  Consumer Reports (NY) OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES 2017 Global Social Journalism Study

9 Tips: Defeat Your Inner Editor to Write Better and Faster

Blog Profiles: TV Blogs ------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPERT ALERTS: The Human Element to Data

Chris Astle

CEO

QSR International

"You can't forget the human element to data. From rebuilding after a natural disaster to elections to managing customer satisfaction to sales, the human voice can and should be filtered out from all of the data that you are probably sitting on, or certainly will gather. We used data analysis to help the leaders of Christchurch, New Zealand, rebuild a better city after a natural disaster destroyed it. It was necessary to listen  really listen -- to the residents whose homes were decimated and make the right change. Ignoring their data would have been the greater tragedy."

Astle is a humanitarian with more than 20 years of experience in leadership and data analytics. He can share stories and lessons learned from working with hundreds of leaders -- primarily in government, academia, and commercial (luxury and household name) brands -- to improve or make decisions based on data, both numerical (quantitative) and unstructured (qualitative). He is a seasoned communicator with a warm, inviting tone, authoritative, knowledgeable demeanor, and intoxicating English accent. Key topics of expertise include disaster relief, hurricane recovery, earthquake rebuilding, polling, voting, infrastructure, government, policy-making, healthcare, corporate leadership, customer experience, product development, software, academic research, Big Data, data science, and data analytics. He has been quoted in GCN (Government Computer News) and Community College Week, and was published in Route Fifty. He was also interviewed as a thought leader in Big Data for One Million by One Million and in The Middle Market Thought Leader podcast.

Website: www.qsrinternational.com

Contact: Kristina Groves, [email protected]



'Debugging' Your Employees for Peak Performance

Dr. Dave Sharar

Managing Director

Chestnut Global Partners

A workforce dominated by "artificial intelligence" doesn't have HR issues: robots work 24/7, don't demand a competitive benefits package, feel stress or show up to work with aches and pains. Despite these built-in advantages, we humans should be employable for many years to come -- but we'll need all the help we can get to stay competitive. When AI-driven systems break down, they're debugged and re-programmed; when we "break down," it's typically due to stress, depression, etc., that causes lack of focus, absenteeism, and any number of counterproductive behaviors. Says Dr. Sharar: "Optimizing workforce performance isn't as easy as a software update or patch -- we're 'debugged' by getting mental health and wellness support to address or 'fix' impediments to productivity."

A recent study by Chestnut Global Partners and the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) assessed over 16,000 EAP counseling cases, and showed the correlation between employee assistance programs (EAP) and positive effects on absenteeism, presenteeism, work engagement, workplace distress, and life satisfaction. The study can be downloaded here: http://www.eapassn.org/2017WOSReport

Website: http://chestnutglobalpartners.org

Contact: Charles Epstein, [email protected] Millennials Are Redefining Work Happiness

Jody B. Miller

CEO

C2C Executive Search & Strategic Management

"Millennials didn't get to have the same freedom in childhood as previous recent generations. Technology made parents more aware  then, after 9/11, fear became a part of daily life. Safety became families' number one concern. Millennial kids were driven to and from everything and never really had time to explore on their own. School and education were the main focus. With all that structured time and intense schoolwork behind them, adult Millennials naturally feel the need to change the rules and 'do their own thing.' They didn't get as much freedom in childhood, so they want freedom now."

As a work happiness expert, Miller, author of the new book, "From DRIFT to SHIFT: How Change Can Bring True Meaning and Happiness to Your Work and Life," has helped thousands of people find true meaning in their work and in their lives. Her previous positions include investment banker, strategic consultant to Fortune 100 corporations, CEO of a software startup, assistant producer for a PBS television series, and sales and marketing executive for CBS Television. She is also the author of "HIRED! in 2017" and "Hired! Expert Advice from A Leading Wall Street Recruiter." These books provide roadmaps for getting hired in today's competitive job world. Miller contributes to Ignites Financial Times Magazine, LinkedIn and The Huffington Post, and has written numerous articles about job satisfaction, work/life balance and finding meaning. Her books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.

Online Press Kit: http://jodybmiller.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: www.JodyBMiller.com

Contact: Jennifer Thomas, [email protected]

**************** MEDIA JOBS: Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/ Editor, Gears & Gadgets  The Wall Street Journal (NY)

White House Reporter  MLex (DC)

Writer/Editor, Electronics  Consumer Reports (NY) ***************** OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES: Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected] 2017 GLOBAL SOCIAL JOURNALISM STUDY. It's the sixth in a series of studies published by Cision that survey and chart changes in how journalists use social platforms. The study also closely examines problems social media has created for the industry (Read: Battling fake news and the increased focus on speed vs. analysis): http://bit.ly/2ymJCiM

9 Tips: Defeat Your Inner Editor to Write Better and Faster. Don't let your inner editor become a bully. Here are nine reminders to help write stronger pieces, and more often: http://prn.to/2xBCYsD

BLOG PROFILES: TV BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry/subject and profiles a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at TV blogs:http://prn.to/tvblogs **************** PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. To contact ProfNet: [email protected] or 800-776-3638, ext. 1 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/profnet-experts-available-on-the-human-side-of-data-and-ai-more-300525146.html SOURCE ProfNet

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Addressed to PM Narendra Modi, the letter that alleged gangrape by two staff members at a public school in Haryana may not be authentic. Police said this could be an attempt to malign the image of the school.

By Munish Pandey: The Sonepat police investigating a case of alleged gangrape of an Om Public School student believe that the anonymous letter written to Prime Minister Narandra Modi accusing two employees of rape is a conspiracy to malign image of the school and staff.

Sonepat police received an anonymous letter on Saturday alleging that a girl (complainant) was gangraped by two staff members of Om Public School at Gohana town of Sonepat district in Haryana.

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India Today has accessed the copy of letter which was written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking action against alleged perpetrators and school authorities who, according to the claim made in the letter, refused to act on victim's complaint.

THE LETTER IN QUESTION

The content of the letter is reproduced here under:

Shri Narendra Modi,

I am student of Om Public School, Gohana, Sonepat. Sukhbir and Karamveer sexually harassed me inside school. They showed me an adult clip and forcefully raped me. They asked me to call my friend to rape her. I wanted to commit suicide but my friend convinced me to file complain(t) before school authority.

I informed my class incharge who assured me that the matter will be taken to principal. Later on she told that principal said that "ye sab chalta hai" (these things happen. I decided to speak to director then thought it will be of no help.

I am writing to you Modi uncle as my life has been destroyed. I managed to save my friend. I was eve-teased by both (Karamveer and Sukhbir) inside Office and PRO Office. One evening I was taken to a hotel in Gohana where I was raped by both of them. I am from a village and if my brother comes to know about this, I will (be) killed by him. I will anyhow die but want justice before that.

If director madam gets this letter first then please take action against them. If this does not happen then I will commit suicide inside school and director of school will be responsible for it.

The letter ends here.

'LETTER IS A CONSPIRACY'

India Today spoke to the Director of school, Nirmal Lather, who said "Tthis letter has been written to malign the image of the school. We questioned both our employees, checked all 122 CCTV cameras and questioned all the female students but nothing has been found. With full confidence I can say that this letter is written by someone else and not by a student of school."

The sexual harassment committee of the school, too, is said to have investigated the case but did not find any evidence. "We have zero tolerance for any such activities. We are cooperating in the investigation and have handed over both the employees in question to police but even after three days, no evidence has been found against the school," said Manjeet Khasa, Principal of Om Public School.

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IS THE LETTER AUTHENTIC?

The Sonepat police lodged a case on Saturday after receiving the letter through social media under relevant sections of the IPC. "We have checked all the CCTV footage and hotel records to verify the complaint but nothing has been found. We also questioned the school authority, staff and both the employees but no one was able to authenticate the complaint," said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mukesh Kumar.

According to police, as there is no complainant in the case, it will be difficult to prove the allegations as "not a single evidence has been found in this case." Based on letter, the police have booked the two officials under charges of rape and illegal confinement. However, no arrest has been made so far.

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Junior Indian diplomat Paolomi Tripathi slammed Pakistan for lying to the United Nations in its rebuttal of Sushma Swaraj's speech. As the world watched, she raised a picture - a real picture - of Lt Ummer Fayyaz, a Kashmiri victim of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

By Geeta Mohan: Paolomi Tripathi, the junior-most diplomat in India's mission to the United Nations, today responded to Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi, who tried to pass off a Palestinian woman as a victim of pellet gun fire in Kashmir yesterday.

And she did her job with aplomb.

"The Permanent Repesentative of Pakistan misled this Assembly by displaying this picture to spread falsehoods about India. A fake picture to push a a completely false narrative," she said.

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Tripathi wasn't done. She fought, shall we say, picture with picture - a "real picture."

"This is a real picture, of Lt Ummer Fayaz, a young officer from Jammu and Kashmir. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan-supported terrorists," she said, as she held the photo up for the world to see.

Maleeha's Lodhi mendacious performance at the General Assembly was a response to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's take-down of Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who accused India of committing war crimes in his own speech to the UNGA.

People who listened to Abbasi were saying, "Look who's talking," Swaraj said in a bravura oratorical display.

Here's Tripathi's statement.

Photo courtesy: @AkbaruddinIndia/Twitter

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As if in swift response to AMD's nearly year-long Zen onslaught, Intel will release the desktop parts (S Series) of its 8th Gen Coffee Lake CPU on October 5, a mere 10 months after unsheathing Kaby Lake. The upcoming products include Core i3, i5, and i7 CPUs in both locked and unlocked versions. More importantly, the Core i5 and i7 will feature six cores (a first for the i5 part), and the Core i3 will have four cores (also a first).

As we reported in early August, these CPUs will require a new chipset (Z370) and thus new motherboards. Intel has also confirmed that previous generation CPUs will not work with the new chipset. The company said that there will be more than 50 new Z370 motherboards to support these CPUs. We've reported on other rumors that suggest next year we'll see eight-core parts and yet another (Z390) chipset.

Intel indicated that this 8th-generation part is built on what it calls a 14nm++ process. The company would not comment on the die size or transistor count at this time. However, Intel is promising gamers an approximately 25% improvement in performance over Kaby Lake--this is using a direct comparison of the Core i7-8700K versus i7-7700K in Gears of War. You can bet that we'll provide a thorough set of benchmarks across several taxing games come launch time.

The company has added a few more knobs for the overclocking crowd to turn, as well. Turbo Boost 2.0 is still supported, but you now get per-core overclocking, a maximum memory ratio up to 8,400 MT/s, memory latency control, and PLM Trim controls.

We've included a slide from Intel's press deck below. It lists some of the key specs and pricing. Notably, the high-end Core i7 part is $20 higher than initial Kaby Lake pricing; the Core i5 sits $15 higher. This move is likely designed to cover the additional costs of the silicon along with avoiding cannibalizing the existing Kaby Lake models. Cache sizes are higher and base clocks are lower, comparatively, but the single-core max frequencies are higher. TDP is also higher, presumably to support the higher core count.

This information was initially under embargo until October 5, but a media leak has convinced Intel to let us run with the information immediately. We'll provide a more detailed breakdown and analysis in the ensuing hours.
Buses, Yes Buses, Are 'the Hottest Trend in Transit' A few years ago, as the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) was marking the 40th anniversary of its bus service in the Columbus area, a new employee came into the office of Curtis Stitt, the agency's president and CEO. She brought him a copy of a 1974 annual report that she had stumbled upon while going through the archives.

AWESOME reader suggestion as the new hotness in public transit is a bit of a retro rediscovery and realization that getting people where they want to go is way more important than development scheme. Take a look:
Enrollment at University of Missouri drops to lowest level since 2008 - Hot Air The University of Missouri released fall enrollment numbers last week and, as expected, they are down once again. The freshman class this year will be about 2/3 the size of the freshman class in 2015 before protests rocked the campus.

Reactionaries across the world of GOP media continue to celebrate the harsh times that. . . The Mizzou losing weekend featuresand here's a sign that the radical right wants to see the destruction of a public university in order to garner political satisfacton:
The Grandview Police Department is investigating two separate violent incidents that occurred early Monday. Officers were first called to an area outside an apartment in the 11900 block of Newton Ave. around 2 a.m. Investigators said a disturbance resulted in a 33-year-old man being punched and taken to the ground by a 31-year-old man.
Saying that the state government is "not just broke, it's broken," former Kansas Rep. Mark Hutton officially launched his bid for the Republican nomination for governor Monday. Hutton, the founder of Wichita's Hutton Construction, said the state needs a governor "who will do what's right for Kansas, not just what's right for their own political agenda."
As the world marks the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation in October, lots of Kansas City's Protestant churches know that today they're in another major theological upheaval. This one isn't as violent (yes, the Protestant Reformation turned viciously violent for decades) as the one in 1517, but it may be as game-changing.
Rolling Kansas City Coverage

KC Cyclist Follows Monarch Migration, And Stories Of Deported Veterans From Mexico to Montreal, the migration of the monarch butterfly is truly Odyssean in nature. Today, we visit with a Kansas City cyclist who is pedaling the butterflies' 10,000-mile voyage to raise awareness for their declining population. Then, we hear stories of America's deported veterans and learn how the practice is affecting the families and communities expelled service members leave behind.

Sexting Consequences

Anthony Weiner sentenced to 21 months in sexting case Former Rep. Anthony Weiner was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison for sexting with a 15-year-old girl in a case that rocked Hillary Clinton's campaign for the White House in the closing days of the race and may have cost her the presidency.

New Midtown Digs

Design in the City Opens 2cd Location in Brookside You may have noticed a new shop along 63rd St in Brookside: Design in the City has moved into the former Reading Reptile location. This is the second location for Design in the City; the first one is in Briarcliff. Proprietor Mindy Diaz told me there were two reasons she chose this spot: many of...

Show-Me Gun Play Tragedy

Toddler playing with gun kills sleeping father in Missouri Police say a 2-year-old boy has accidentally killed his father while playing with a gun in St. Louis. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that police say the toddler shot 27-year-old Darrion Noble in the neck Saturday afternoon. The shooting happened while the boy was handling the firearm in a bed where his father was sleeping.

Sunflower State Labor Shortage

Kansas has jobs, but where are the workers? Companies that employ thousands of Wichitans may face a choice in the not-so-distant future: Keep jobs here or move them elsewhere. Kansas is thirsty for skilled workers - the kind that work at Spirit AeroSystems or Textron Aviation - but it can't find enough.

Pitch Plans This Week

Supper Club at the American, Cinder Block's birthday and Oktoberfests: the week's food and drink events Cinder Block Brewery (110 East 18th Avenue, North KC) celebrates four years in business today with the beginning of a week of special tappings and events. Today, enjoy $3 year-round beers. Tuesday brings the release of Cinder Block's champagne cider and some free trivia.

Football Distraction Persists

America is going to be seeing a lot of the Chiefs Hello, America. Get to know the KC Chiefs because you're going to be seeing a LOT of them over the next six weeks. The Chiefs are 3-0 and beat the Patriots in their own house so they were going to...

Let's reset with Charley , sit down with some of the top Kansas City links right now and take a peek at our agenda.Checkit:And this is thefor right now . . .
TTV Dhinakaran today slammed E Palaniswamy's ministers for going back on their words and hampering their own image.

By Pramod Madhav: Deputy General Secretary of AIADMK, Dhinakaran has now raised fingers at Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswamy for losing the trust of people with their U-turns.

Earlier VK Sasikala's brother Dhivakaran had met with TTV Dhinakaran at his Adyar residence and held a meeting for a couple of hours. Later TTV Dhinakaran clarified that Sasikala's husband, M Nagarajan's health has deteriorated and is hospitalised waiting for a liver transplant.

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Speaking about the recent comments made by Minister Dindigul Sreenivasan, he stated that such comments by the ministers have only caused them to lose face with the public.

TTV alleges that the conspiracy about Jayalalitha's death had only risen back to diminish Sasikala's popularity among the people.

"Back in January, Sasikala's pictures were torn away from posters. Why isn't that being done now? Though the chief minister announced a probe nothing has occurred till now," he questioned.

He stated that he welcomed any kind of probe but it should be headed by a sitting judge. "When Stalin raised questions about discrepancy over Jayalalitha's fingerprints being used on election nomination papers, why did the election commission accept it," he asked.

He then took a funny dig at Environment and Pollution Control Minister KC Karuppanan's unreasonable statement that Coimbatore the froth in Chennai's Noyyal river was caused because of people bathing with soap.

"Now you know why Amma never let them speak. As they are left with no one to head, their colours are emerging. Their IQ is very high and their General Knowledge is very high and that is why he found out this truth using his team," he commented in a funny tone.

But returning back to serious business, TTV stated that he'll submit the video footage to a probe panel when the need comes and that is when everyonew will have to face problem.

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From the historic cave of the Papanikolis submarine to the Ortholithos, its sights you will not forget

What makes the Ionian Sea that special? Its the blend of emerald waters, a beautiful seabed, sheltered coves and secluded beaches. All the beautiful scenes youll encounter in the wider Ionian area  and in particular the renowned sea caves  are what makes this part of Greece stand out. Nature has done its part in creating a unique geophysical phenomenon which you can see by simply embarking on a tour boat. Visit these well-kept secrets of an astonishing blue colour!

Put your swimsuits on and dont forget to bring along your camera; youll definitely want some pictures to show back home to your friends and family.

Blue Cave Zakynthos (Zante)

Come across the most renowned sea caves in Greece at the Keri peninsula located among numerous beaches and bays. The Blue Cave stands out and is the center of attention. The bright morning sunlight is reflected on the surface of the water, awarding us with multiple shades of blue against a breathtaking backdrop of rock formations.

Take a look at the stalactites hanging from the ceiling within the rock cavities. Dive in the crystal clear blue waters and explore the seabed with its colourful corals. You can reach the caves by taking a rental sightseeing boat from various parts of the island, such as Keri, Makris Gialos Beach, Agios Nikolaos Port and Cape Skinari.

Papanikolis Cave Lefkada

At only 12 nautical miles east from Lefkada Island youll find the worldwide biggest and most spectacular underwater cave at Meganisi. The caves name is borrowed from the historic submarine Papanikolis who used to use the cave as a refuge base during the Second World War.

Due to its size and ideal positioning it is still used as a safe haven for sail boats when the weather gets rough. The caves entrance leads to a 120 meters tunnel, which is 60 meters wide to start with, tapering to 23 meters as you advance. The crystal clear waters let the beautiful seabed reveal itself, while the stalactites and a tiny sandy bank create a marvelous backdrop.

Reach the cave by boat, which you can take from Nydri.

Paxos Caves

Forty stunning sea caves with impressive arches are located on the westernmost side of the island of Paxi. Among all these caves, the ones that stand out are: the big cave of Ypapanti, Trypitos (with arched rock formations), Ortholithos (a tall rock whose underwater part is visible due to the clarity of the water) and Paxis own well known Blue Cave. These are in fact caves that interconnect. Enter the first one with a small boat and be amazed with the mind blowing turquoise clear waters.

Daily excursion boats will take you there, which you can take from various areas on the island as well as from Parga, Syvota and Corfu.

Palaiokastritsas Caves

Palaiokastritsa Bay on the island of Corfu is a tourist hub. Its high cliffs and astonishing clear waters are home to some beautiful sea caves. The most famous one is Nafsika  daughter of the Phoenicians King  which according to Homers works this is where she took care of Odysseus.

Dont forget to wear your swimsuit. You will be tempted to jump in for a dive when you view the astonishing clear waters, which let the sunlight go all the way through, down to the seabed.

Let your journey begin from Palaiokastritsa by hopping in a tour boat to explore the caves!

Source: visitgreece.gr

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Nico Achimastos License: CC-BY-SA

Source: protothema.gr
Travellers expectations have changed drastically during the pandemic and the travel industry needs to better understand the behaviours and expectations of the new traveller in order to respond to them, says Roshan Mendis of Sabre.
The UAE has announced the first five projects under the $50 million UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund across Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Announced in January 2017, the fund is a partnership between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Mofaic), which leads the initiative, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, which provides the grant financing, and Masdar, which is responsible for technical management and international competitive project tendering.

These projects are aimed at significantly reducing energy costs in the region, as well as improving resilience to natural disasters, such as Hurricane Irma, said a statement from ADFD.

The projects represent the first funding cycle. The fund aims to announce projects with up to 16 Caribbean countries over the next two to three years.

"We are honoured to open this new chapter in the growing UAE-Caribbean relationship," remarked Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation.

"The two oceans between us are not the barrier they once were, and we are bringing fresh eyes and enthusiasm to each others markets and aspirations. We are especially pleased to join forces under the UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund, which can simultaneously drive achievement of the Paris climate agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals."

The fund is one of the largest grant renewable energy initiatives in the Caribbean region.

The projects, selected through months of joint due diligence between each country and Masdar, aim to enhance local expertise in the renewable energy sector and pave the way for further deployment, as well as immediately cut energy costs and improve energy security.

The Caribbean region has strong potential for solar, wind, geothermal and waste-to-energy solutions, which can redress its challenging electricity and transport costs, among the highest in the world.

Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the director-general of ADFD, said: "Renewable energy has been at the heart of UAE-Caribbean partnership, and ADFD is proud to continue investing in high-impact and innovative projects through the fund."

"The renewable energy sector stimulates economic growth and employment, drives low-carbon innovation, and capitalises on environmentally-friendly resources, making it an integral part of both ADFDs and the Caribbean countries visions for long-term growth," he noted.

"This fund is another example of our governments keenness to boost bilateral relations between the UAE and the Caribbean island countries," he added.

Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said the Caribbean islands have vast untapped renewable energy potential which can provide far-reaching benefits in terms of costs, resilience and, ultimately, to drive sustainable economic and social development.

"Masdar has tremendous experience in delivering impactful clean energy projects in remote and challenging locations, and this has been invaluable during the due diligence process to help us identify innovative, commercially-viable projects which respond to the needs of the local community," noted Al Ramahi.

"We are now looking forward to leading the implementation phase of these first five projects, in continued close collaboration with government bodies and other local stakeholders," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
NMC Health, a leading integrated healthcare provider operating across the UAE, has announced that it has received all regulatory approvals for its long-term care facility, Chronic Care Specialty Medical Center (CCSMC), in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

CCSMC is believed to be one of the first greenfield medical facilities in Saudi Arabia to be established by a non-Saudi Arabia company.

Prasanth Manghat, CEO of NMC Health, stated: NMC would like to thank the Saudi government for the support it has offered us during the regulatory approval process. As one of the first foreign entrants into the KSA healthcare sector, we have learned a great deal over the past year and intend to use this knowledge to better navigate the Saudi regulatory landscape moving forward. With a total licensed capacity now at about 700 beds, we see the Kingdom as an important part of NMCs growth strategy and will continue to identify areas in which we can fill gaps in the countrys healthcare offerings.

In line with the growth strategy set in 2016, NMC Health has adopted a three-pronged strategy to pursue its expansion plans in Saudi Arabia, through both organic and inorganic growth. The plan includes:

1. Offering specialised services such as long-term care, home health and fertility in larger tier-1 cities where competition remains high in the multi-specialty segment;

2. Targeting assets under any of NMCs verticals in tier-2 cities which lack adequate medical services and continue to receive lesser investment than the larger cities; and

3. Pro-active participation in the privatization process planned by the Saudi Arabian government, including any Operation & Management opportunities that become available.

Chronic Care Specialty Medical Center

The 220-bed long-term care facility initiated operations with 50 beds . All beds are fully committed to patients currently residing in short-term acute care hospitals in Jeddah and the surrounding areas and the migration of patients will begin on September 26. A phased ramp up is planned and the hospital is projected to be at full capacity by H1 2019.

NMCs expansion within Saudi Arabia

NMC Health has reached agreements to acquire a multi-specialty hospital in each of the northwestern and southern regions of Saudi Arabia for an aggregate consideration of $40 million. In addition, NMC intends to establish a greenfield multi-specialty facility in Al Khobar after the encouraging operational success of the recently acquired As Salama Hospital.

1. Multi-specialty hospital in Najran: NMC agreed to acquire a 60 per cent stake in a new hospital in the southern Saudi city of Najran. The hospital initiated outpatient operations in late 2016 and commenced inpatient services in Q1 2017. The facility boasts state-of-the-art clinical equipment and is well positioned to provide tertiary care services to this area of Saudi Arabia. The acquisition is expected to close later this year. The hospital houses 100 beds with adjacent land for future growth.

2. Multi-specialty hospital in Hail: NMC has agreed to fully acquire a hospital in the northwestern city of Hail. The hospital began outpatient operations in 1991 and is a pioneer in private healthcare in the NW region. The hospital holds 60 beds, but plans are under way to utilize existing land to increase capacity to greater than 100 beds. The hospital currently provides multi-specialty services to Hail and the surrounding area. The acquisition is expected to close later this year.

3. 170 bed multi-specialty hospital in Al Khobar: A shell and core, greenfield project is planned in the Western Province of Saudi Arabia with a projected capacity of 170 acute care beds. The facility is expected to be operational in H1 2019.



Chronic Care Specialty Medical Center, along with the acquisition of two existing facilities (both of which are profitable) and the planned greenfield project, are expected to positively impact NMCs EBITDA from 2018 onwards. Both acquisitions, as well as the greenfield project in Khobar, will be funded through a combination of cash on the balance sheet and utilization of available debt facilities, the company said.  TradeArabia News Service
Sharjah's Research, Technology, and Innovation Park, said it has signed a MoU with the China Arab International Technology Transfer Company, the main platform for technology transfer and scientific cooperation between China and Arab countries.

Located adjacent to American University of Sharjah (AUS) campus, the Park will develop and manage an innovation ecosystem within a free zone that promotes R&D and supports enterprise activities and the triple helix collaboration of industry, government, and academia.



The new agreement is aimed at the setting up of a centre for technology transfer while also helping in the creation of newer partnerships between research institutions, companies and entrepreneurs, and in line with the objectives of the China Belt and Road Initiative.



The MoU was signed by Hussain Al Mahmoudi, the chief executive of AUSE and Sharjah's Research, Technology, and Innovation Park and Xiaojing Louis Zhang, the founder and CEO of the China Arab International Technology Transfer Company.



The soon to be established center is expected to play a significant role in the move to support the growth of the national economy--driving in new partnerships with research institutions, and innovation focused companies in the UAE, particularly in Sharjah.



The center will also add social and cultural impact through its promotion of economic exchange, dissemination and enrichment of knowledge and key scientific research.



The initiative is also being seen as a proponent in helping the Sharjah Park become a regional platform for the promotion of innovation, research and development and technology exchanges in the fields of renewable energy, environment, water technology, transportation, information technology, architecture and industrial design.



The move will also benefit staff working across various disciplines--helping improve their experiences and enrich the knowledge of students from the American University of Sharjah by leveraging the center as an active campus partner.



In line with all of these, the new center is predicted to leave a positive footprint in the overall efforts to achieve fiscal sustainability while also enhancing the reputation of the Chinese group across local and international levels.



On the deal, Al Mahmoudi said it demonstrates the excellent relations between China and the rest of the Arab region while also contributing in the strengthening of relations via significant fields such as knowledge transfer, innovation and development.



"To date, the UAE is home to more than 4,200 Chinese companies and 300,000 Chinese nationals - which makes this MoU more significant in the move to reinforce our ties with China. As per the terms of this agreement, the focus will be on key areas such as 3D printing, energy, renewable technologies, digital transformation and industrial modernization," he noted.



The new centre will enhance Sharjah's status as a regional capital for education, science research and development, and reflects the vision of the UAE government to become a knowledge-based economy, he added.



Zhang said its cooperation with the Sharjah Park is seen as an added value in the areas of research, technology and innovation, as it is a free zone that contributes to enhance these respective fields.



"We are confident that this new China-Arab innovation center will achieve its set goals and objectives of promoting joint innovation, knowledge transfer and technology between China and the Arab region and support the move to become a knowledge based economy," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
ShriVallabh Pittie Group (SVP), one of the largest manufacturers of cotton yarn in India and a global leader in the sector, has signed a land lease agreement to establish a new $300-million plant in Sohar Freezone to manufacture a wide range of cotton yarn.

Sultan Bin Salim Bin Said Al Habsi, chairman of Sohar Port and Freezone, led a high-level delegation from Oman to Jaipur, India yesterday, and met with officials of SVP.

Abdullah Humaid Al Mamary, chairman of Bank Sohar, together with acting-CEO Sasi Kumar and other senior officials from the bank, were also part of the delegation.

The plant, to be operated as SV Pittie Sohar Textiles FZC-LLC, will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Bombay-listed SVP Global Ventures.

The facility will eventually provide over 1,500 jobs and is expected to start commercial operations in late 2019.

Bank Sohar has been awarded the syndication mandate to fund the entire project in two phases. An agreement to this effect was entered into with SVP Group.

The bank has currently underwritten phase-one debt, to achieve financial closure. On successful completion of phase-one, the bank plans to syndicate a term debt for phase-two, along with a share of phase-one debt, to interested lenders, said a statement.

Sasi Kumar said: We are honoured to be the finance partner for a project of this magnitude that is expected to have a significant impact on the development of the region. It demonstrates our commitment to collaborate as a one-stop financial services provider catering to the diverse needs of individuals and large corporate customers.

The plant will import 100,000 metric tons of cotton fibre annually through Sohar Port, with around 50 per cent coming from the US and the remainder split between Australia and India. The plant will produce around 75,000 tons of finished yarn each year, which will be exported back through the Port to China and other global markets including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Portugal and Turkey.

Chirag Pittie, SVP Groups managing director, said: With over 200 years of experience in the textile business, our company has a highly skilled and experienced management team with a strong focus on automation and technology. We source best-in-class machinery from leading global companies to ensure the highest levels of productivity and efficiency.

The new SVP facility will be the first step in establishing a fully-fledged textile cluster in Sohar Freezone. Downstream investments in knitting, weaving, spinning and fabric manufacturing could create a thriving industrial cluster providing thousands of new jobs for local households, the statement said.

Sohar Freezone CEO Jamal Aziz said: Todays agreements showcase the great things we can offer to investors in Sohar Freezone: the safest haven in the Middle East for foreign direct investment combined with high levels of government support; project financing with an Omani bank; 100 per cent foreign ownership; our optimal location and seamless connectivity to key global markets through our adjacent port; highly competitive land and energy rates; and a young, well educated local workforce. Taken together, this is a sure fire recipe for business success. - TradeArabia News Service
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been re-elected for a fourth term while nationalists have made a historic surge in federal elections, BBC reported.



While her alliance has remained the largest party, it is the worst result for the alliance between the Christian Democrat (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) since 1949, when national elections were held in Germany for the first time after World War Two, it said.



Its current coalition partner, the social democratic SPD, says it will go into opposition after historic losses.



The nationalist AfD has won its first seats and is set to be the third party, a result that sparked some protests.



Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the right-wing, anti-Islam party's headquarters in Berlin, some with placards saying "Refugees are welcome". Protests were also held in Frankfurt and Cologne.



Addressing supporters, Merkel, who has been in the job for 12 years, said she had hoped for a "better result". She added that she would listen to the "concerns, worries and anxieties" of voters of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in order to win them back.



Merkel also said her government would have to deal with economic and security issues as well as addressing the root causes of migration - one of the main reasons behind the AfD's result.



"Today we can say that we now have a mandate to assume responsibility and we're going to assume this responsibility calmly, talking with our partners of course."


Daimler Commercial Vehicles (DCV) Mena FZE has honoured 11 winners of its 'Actros Mileage Millionaire' campaign with the highest mileage of Actros Trucks in UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia with a combined 16 million km travelled.



The campaign was launched last November to mark the occasion of 20 years of Actros in the Mena region.



While the total mileage covered was an equivalent of 389 trips around the world or 20 round trips to the moon, the highest record was 2.3 million km without an engine overhaul.



Roland Schneider, president & CEO of Daimler Commercial Vehicles (DCV) Mena commented: After celebrating the Actross 20th anniversary, this is another success story for us as the campaign did not only reveal the existence of many trucks in the region that have a mileage well beyond 1 million kilometres, but the customer loyalty based on the unprecedented reliability of the Actros.



Among the winners some are still the first generation which is running perfectly and this shows that the Actros is a real Truck you can Trust. When business is tough, it is important to be able to try on your material and Mercedes-Benz Trucks is an investment for the fleet owners.



The Mileage Millionaire winners were invited to exclusive events hosted by the Mercedes-Benz General Distributors in the respective markets, where the owners of the vehicles were offered vehicle health checks, rejuvenation parts packages and entered into a draw to win a VIP trip to Germany.



Two lucky winners were flown in to Germany on April 24-27 and visited the birthplace of the iconic Actros flagship truck in Woerth. A diverse program of activities including an interactive driving experience in the unique off-road test area of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, a visit to the plant for Remanufactured Parts in Mannheim and the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart were also highlights of the trip.



That was really a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to see all the engineering and expertise that goes into our Actros trucks. For us, our trucks are a vital part of our business and we have relied on these vehicles day after day and have not been let down, said one of the winners.



We are very delighted to celebrate these remarkable achievements with our customers and we look forward to seeing many more Actros Mileage Millionaires in the coming years, added Schneider.  TradeArabia News Service
Indian diplomat Paulomi Tripathi tore in to Pakistan at the UNGA, holding two pictures up- A Palestinian girl being imposed as a Kashmiri and martyr Lt Umar Faiyaz's who was killed by terrorists in Kashmir.

By Geeta Mohan: Exercising its 'Right of Reply', India gave a stinging response on Monday to Pakistan envoy Maleeha Lodhi raking up the issue of Kashmir and passing off a photo of a Palestinian as a Kashmiri, who allegedly suffered pellet gun injuries on her face during violent clashes in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir (J-K).

In its response that stunned the General Assembly, Paulomi Tripathi, a young Indian diplomat handling human rights issue at the Permanent Mission of India in New York- dramatically displayed two photographs declaring, "True face of Pakistan is not hidden from anyone".

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In one hand, Tripathi held Lodhi's photo of the Palestinian girl, terming it as a fake photo depicting a false narrative.

In the other hand, she held up a photo of martyred Indian Army officer Lieutenant Umar Faiyaz who was abducted and killed by terrorists in J&K's Shopian district.

"This is a real and not a fake picture of Lt Umar Faiyaz, a young officer from the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Umar Faiyaz was kidnapped at a wedding celebration. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan supported terrorists in May 2017," said Tripathi.

She thrashed Pakistan in an unprecedented manner contrasting Pakistan envoy Maleeha Lodhi's fakery with harsh reality of the havoc Pakistan sponsored terrorists are causing in Jammu and Kashmir.

"This is a true picture. It portrays a harsh and tragic reality. A picture of terrorism emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have to struggle with, every day. This is the reality which the Permanent Representative of Pakistan sought to obfuscate," she added.

India exercised its 'Right of Reply' (RoR) on the last day of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This was in response to the RoR exercised by Pakistan in response to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, where Pakistani envoy Maleeha Lodhi accused India of adopting a 'predatory' approach in the region.

The Pakistan ambassador, acting in haste to corner India used the picture of Palestinian victim to pass off as a Kashmiri woman who was allegedly injured in pellet firing by Indian security forces.

The picture which she confidently displayed is actually of a girl named Rawya Abu Jom'a (17), who was injured when two Israeli airstrikes hit her family's apartment in Gaza during the 2014 war.

Paulomi Tripathi accused Lodhi of yet again seeking to divert attention from Pakistan's role as the hub of global terrorism. "She did so by callously holding up a picture of an injured girl," she exclaimed.

India waited patiently to formulate its RoR against the Pakistani tirade. Pakistan now stands accused of misleading the UN by producing false evidence on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly.

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Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : LAURENT A. VOIVENEL - SVP MEA & INDIA FOR SWISS-BELHOTEL INTERNATIONAL-SPEAKS ON DIGITALIZATION IN HOTELS AT TOP HOTELS PROJECT WORLD TOUR DUBAI Industry: Events

Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India



(TRAVPR.COM) UAE - September 24th, 2017 - Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India, Swiss-Belhotel International, addressed delegates at Top Hotels Project World Tour Dubai on Digitalization in Hotels yesterday. The conference presented a unique mix of critical industry insights and power networking in an interactive and inspirational programme.



Speaking on whether digitalisation is a disruptor or experience enhancer, Laurent said, The hotel industry is no doubt being reshaped by the latest innovations and technological advancements. Digitalization is affecting the entire value chain of the travel and tourism industry; from influencing traveling decisions, to collecting feedback and improving the delivery of products and services. This is revolutionizing the complete customer lifecycle  right from booking to hotel-stay experience, and beyond. The disruption that digitization is bringing to todays travel and tourism industry requires new skills and a shift in strategies. So instead of becoming digitally disrupted, hotels should take advantage of the digital age.



During the discussion at the conference, Laurent highlighted the need for making technology user-friendly. He stressed, Technology is a plus and enhancer as long as it is simple and user-friendly. It should not be complicated like we hoteliers make it. We are not here to train the customers. As hoteliers we are here to deliver on their expectations and give our customers what they want. Ultimately, technology is for the well-being of people and it should be easy to use.



Smartphone penetration in the GCC is amongst the highest in the world, reaching 100% in Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE. This is higher than the USA which currently has only 80% smartphone penetration. Over 70% of hotel bookings made by GCC travellers in January 2017 were made via mobile devices, compared to 54% in 2016.



Laurent said, Speed is perhaps the single most important thing that is necessary at every step of a guests journey. Right from the moment he makes the booking to when he steps into a hotel. And this is where technology plays a critical role in enabling seamless connectivity and mobile integration. Technology makes it possible to check-in with Apps, have keyless room entry, control lighting, room temperature, TV, curtains and wake-up call with a single smart device. In addition, intuitive technology is moving fast and will continue to grow in the region. For example it allows us to anticipate the needs and desires of our guests to the extent of monitoring blood pressure, sleep patterns and stress levels and accordingly adjust music and lighting.



For further information visit http://www.swiss-belhotel.com



For media contact:

Hina Bakht

Vice President

MPJ (Marketing Pro-Junction)

Mob: +971 50 697 5146

Email: h.bakht@mpj-pr.com

http://www.mpj-pr.com



About Swiss-Belhotel International

Swiss-Belhotel International currently manages a portfolio of more than *145 hotels, resorts and projects located in China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Tanzania. Awarded Indonesia's Leading Global Hotel Chain for six consecutive years, Swiss-Belhotel International is one of the world's fastest-growing international hotel and hospitality management groups. The Group provides comprehensive and highly professional development and management services in all aspects of hotel, resort and serviced residences. Offices are located in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, United Arab Emirates. swiss-behotel.com

*Numbers may fluctuate ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release :



CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Hina Bakht Company: Marketing Pro Junction Phone: 044387007 Email: pressrelease@mpj-pr.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGS


Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : SWISS-BELHOTEL INTERNATIONAL SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR SWISS-BELHOTEL AL AZIZIYA MAKKAH IN KSA Industry: Hotels

Swiss-Belhotel International (SBI) has announced its debut into the Holy city of Makkah with the signing of Swiss-Belhotel Al Aziziya Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Featuring 525 rooms, the upscale 4-star property is owned by Cardamom International Property Management LLC and is superbly located in the rapidly expanding hotel hub of Makkah only a few minutes drive away from Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Al Aziziya. The hotel is expected to be ready for opening by the second quarter of 2018.



(TRAVPR.COM) UAE - September 25th, 2017 - Swiss-Belhotel International (SBI) has announced its debut into the Holy city of Makkah with the signing of Swiss-Belhotel Al Aziziya Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Featuring 525 rooms, the upscale 4-star property is owned by Cardamom International Property Management LLC and is superbly located in the rapidly expanding hotel hub of Makkah only a few minutes drive away from Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Al Aziziya. The hotel is expected to be ready for opening by the second quarter of 2018.



Making the announcement, Mr Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India, Swiss-Belhotel International, said, Saudi Arabia is a key development market for us and we are proud to debut in the Holy City of Makkah with this outstanding project. We are truly grateful to Cardamom International Property Management for giving us this fabulous opportunity. With its prime location and excellent facilities, Swiss-Belhotel Al Aziziya Makkah will offer a distinctive hospitality experience to pilgrims when it opens its doors early next year.



Mr Nawaf bin Mansour bin Saleh Al Sharif, Owner of Cardamom International Property Management, stated, The steady growth of religious tourism in Makkah is fuelling demand for high-quality hotels in the city. Swiss-Belhotel Al Aziziya Makkah is a very significant project for us and we are pleased to partner with Swiss-Belhotel International that is a globally successful company and well equipped to meet the needs of the Saudi hotel sector in accordance with the best international standards.



Included in the hotels 525 rooms are a good mix of rooms for groups and families tailored to meet the market needs. The hotel will also feature a restaurant, a lobby cafe and extensive banquet facilities.



Mr Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said, The hospitality industry in Makkah is witnessing remarkable growth at the moment and we are very excited to be part of it. Swiss-Belhotel International is well-positioned in the Middle East region and we are confident Swiss-Belhotel Al Aziziya Makkah will add tremendous value to our growing presence in the region and further strengthen our portfolio. We look forward to a fruitful relationship with Cardamom International Property Management.



Saudi Arabia currently has the most hotel rooms under construction in the Middle East and North Africa, with 36,742 keys in 85 projects. Makkah is one of the biggest hotel markets in the Kingdom, with 27,000 rooms (compared to 11,000 in Riyadh and 9,400 in Jeddah). The Saudi 2030 Vision recognises the role religious tourism can play in diversifying the economy with religious pilgrims currently contributing 2-3% of Saudis GDP. There are plans to roughly double the capacity to accommodate both Umrah and Hajj visitors to around 15 million and five million respectively by 2020. In addition to massive development of hotels, the Saudi government is investing in major transport infrastructure to grow tourism such as the new Jeddah airport (open 2018) and the Haramain High Speed Rail line (2018) linking the holy cities of Medina and Mecca via King Abdullah Economic City, Rabigh, Jeddah, and the new Jeddah airport. ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release :



CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Hina Bakht Company: Marketing Pro-Junction Phone: +971506975146 Email: pressrelease@mpj-pr.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGS
Farooqui was accused of raping a 35-year-old woman from Columbia University who was in India for research on her doctoral thesis.

By India Today Web Desk: The Delhi High Court today acquitted Mahmood Farooqui, co-director of acclaimed 2010 Hindi film "Peepli Live", who was accused of raping an American woman.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar set aside the trial court order convicting Farooqui and sentencing him to seven years jail in August last year. Farooqui had challenged the trial court order in the High Court claiming his innocence.

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Farooqui was accused of raping a 35-year-old woman from Columbia University who was in India for research on her doctoral thesis. The woman, who moved to Delhi in June 2014, was looking for contacts for her work in Gorakhpur and came in contact with Farooqui through a common friend.

The alleged incident occurred on March 28, 2015 when Farooqui invited her for dinner at his house. According to the police chargesheet, the woman, who reached his house at 9 p.m., found Farooqui was very intoxicated, and he asked her to go to the other room which was his office.

After 20 minutes, she left the office room to smoke in the porch when he told her to come in and sit down, it said. After talking with her for a while, he suddenly kissed her and forced himself on her, the prosecution said, adding that the woman was scared after the incident.

During the trial, the American researcher stood by her complaint and alleged that Farooqui had raped her, while he denied the allegations, and claimed he was falsely implicated.

ALSO WATCH: Peepli Live co-director Mahmood Farooqui held on rape charges

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Specialist tour operator, Acacia Africa is discounting selected Christmas and New Year departures by up to 20%



(TRAVPR.COM) UK - September 25th, 2017 - It may seem like a world away, but Christmas will be here before you know it, so Acacia Africa have picked out a few fabulous guaranteed to go overland tours for your virtual stocking.

Arno Delport Sales & Marketing Manager comment, If you book now youll pay our 2017 prices, and youll be quids in on your travels too, flights almost always coming in cheaper if you pin down dates at least two months before the festive season starts.

Pitch a tent or as its a special occasion upgrade to an accommodated overland tour. The Africa specialist is offering a 20% discount on selected camping overland departures and a 10% saving on selected accommodated overland departures if booked before 30 September. Once youve chosen your dream safari, get ready to soak up the rays, the sunny Yuletide weather often mixed in with afternoon thunderstorms (making your insta pop) that clear quickly, leaving an earthy, uniquely African smell in the air.

SAVE 20% (339pp) East Africa will have your festive season sorted, the 24 day South East Adventure tour arriving in the Masai Mara the night before Christmas. Thats right, you could be game driving in this world renowned Big Five haven on the 25th and sipping cocktails beachside on New Years Eve in Bagamoyo. Have your camera at the ready as you might well spy the magnificent snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, Africas highest peak (5895m), en route to the Tanzanian town. Departing 24 December. From only 1,356pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from 1,080pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Starts Nairobi - ends Livingstone. Full tour price 1,695pp. Book by 30 September.

SAVE 20% (211pp) Book yourself on the trip-of-a-lifetime and go gorilla viewing before the year is out. The 14 day Gorilla Encounter departs on 16 December and stops in Jinja on the 25th, so why not make a splash in Africa this Christmas and go white water rafting down the Nile. From only 844pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from 100pp + gorilla and chimp permit from 540pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Starts Nairobi - ends Nairobi. Full tour price 1,055pp. Book by 30 September.

SAVE 20% (265pp) Go wild on Christmas day and swap Netflix for 24/7 wildlife viewing in Namibias Etosha National Park. On New Years Eve youll be Botswana bound so you can ring in 2018 poolside with Natas elephants  your campsite a pachyderm paradise. Departing 16 December. 19 day Desert Tracker from only 1,060pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from 370pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Starts Cape Town - ends Livingstone. Full tour price 1,325pp. Book by 30 September.

SAVE 20% (265pp) Love the tour, but still cant get away for Christmas. Opt for a later 19 day Desert Tracker departure. Spend your New Years Eve day chilling in Namibia by the Orange River and in the evening up the tempo and get ready to party on into 2018 (live music/DJ still to be announced)! Departing 30 December. From only 1,060pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from 370pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Starts Cape Town - ends Livingstone. Full tour price 1,325pp. Book by 30 September.

SAVE 20% (148pp) Opt for an African Christmas this year, and treat yourself to a game drive in South Africas Kruger National Park. Tempted? Book yourself on the seven day African Insight southbound departing 20 December. From only 592pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from 80pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Starts Livingstone - ends Johannesburg. Full tour price 740pp. Book by 30 September.

Wake up to the sights and sounds of Botswanas Okavango Delta on Christmas day. Book a seat on the 19 day South West Safari, the tour departing on 20 December, and youll also have the opportunity to get down in the Namibian desert on New Years Eve. Our top tip: head for Swakopmunds Tiger Reef as they usually put on a big bonfire and have fireworks to mark the occasion! From only 1,325pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from 330pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Starts Livingstone - ends Cape Town.

SAVE 20% (345pp) Treat yourself to some fun in the sun this Christmas and hit the sandy shores of Lake Malawi on 25 December. The 22 day Zanzibar, Victoria Falls & Kruger departs on 19 December and winds its way through to Livingstone on the 31st  the ideal location for an unforgettable New Years Eve bash! From only 1,380pp (no single supplement) including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Starts Dar es Salaam - ends Johannesburg. Full tour price 1,725pp. Book by 30 September.

Do the festive season like a bona fide backpacker and book yourself on the 14 day Mozambique & Zimbabwe Explorer. Spend the big day under the blue in Tofo, the hippy dive haunt lying on Mozambiques southern coast, and celebrate the New Year in Bulawayo, the ambience at this Zimbabwean hangout leaving you feeling chilled. A top tour, kick off 2018 with a heart racing rhino safari in Matobo National Park! Departing 21 December. From only 1,485pp (no single supplement) + Adventure Pass from 210pp including transport, camping accommodation, most meals and services of a tour leader/driver. Excludes return flight. Starts Johannesburg - ends Victoria Falls.

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Acacia Africa (020 7706 4700). SATSA membership No. 1931, ATTA membership no. 20151, ATOL No. 6499 and ABTA No. W4093 PROTECTED.

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has invited Sharjah Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi to invest in his state to help him fulfil his dreams of Nava Keralam.

By Jeemon Jacob: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has taken an unusual step to please the Royals in Gulf for building Nava Keralam, his dream project to build a new Kerala and to consolidate his vote bank at a time when the BJP is looking to expand its base in the state.

Kerala rolled out a red carpet to welcome ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi who is on a state visit to Kerala and received D.Lit from University of Calicut.

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Chief Minister and his Cabinet met Sultan and appealed to him to invest in Kerala.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented five projects before the Sultan to draw his attention to the investment opportunities in Kerala and requested his cooperation in sectors like information technology, tourism, healthcare, ayurveda and education.

The CM told the visiting ruler of Sharjah that Kerala is planning a mega investment to the tune of Rs 5000 crore in the infrastructure development of the state in next four years and "need support from Kerala friendly nations to transform the state as the most developed destination in India".

The CM also requested the Sultan to provide land to build Kerala Family City in Sharjah, a community housing project for Malayalis working in Sharjah. Kerala also wants to build an international education and cultural centre showcasing Kerala's history and art and an ayurveda hub.

According to the CM's office, the visiting delegation from Sharjah has responded to Pinarayi Vijayan's request positively and soon a high level team of Sharjah investors are going to visit Kerala to identify the area interest of mutual cooperation and investment.

The delegation from Sharjah has shown interest in investing in education and health sectors in Kerala.

This is the first time the Kerala government has invited investment from gulf countries.

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 24

Amid the festive season, the police today carried out a search operation in different parts of the city, including railway station, near Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple and other religious shrines.

Sniffer dogs and the anti-sabotage team was also pressed into service during the search operation. Nakas were established at various points of the city and vehicles were checked.

Police Commissioner SS Srivastav said this was done to ensure safe and secure environment during the festive season. All festivals are celebrated with great fervor here. Therefore anti-national elements, who are always in search of an opportunity to disrupt the peace, may come up with their nefarious designs in the region.

Necessary instructions have been given to the officials concerned at meetings. They were asked to remain alert and take all possible steps to ensure safe and secure environment, he said, while urging the people to remain on alert too.

The search drive covered Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Mata Lal Devi temple in posh Model Town area, Shivala Temple and the railway station.

The city top cop said such search operations would continue in the city. He said special focus was on the entry and exit points of the city where checkpoints had been established.
Jayshree Sengupta

Jayshree Sengupta

ACCORDING to the recent Trade and Development Report (2017) from UNCTAD, Geneva, India and China are no longer the growth poles of the world. The global economy needs a stimulus because its growth rate has slowed down to 2.5 per cent from 3.2 per cent in the pre-financial crisis days and India did provide a boost in the past. Today India's GDP growth has slipped to a lower position than China's (6.7 per cent).

While China has experienced high growth for nearly three decades, today it is facing a challenge of high wages and high input costs. For India it is a different story. The industrial and export sectors' growth has slowed and the service sector growth has been facing problems for almost a year. The informal sector has been badly hit by demonetisation and the GST, and its output has contracted. The decline in the output of the informal sector, when properly measured, will show even a sharper decline in the GDP growth than the 5.7 per cent recorded in the April-June quarter of 2017-18.

The unorganised or informal sector constitutes an important part of the economy contributing, according to the landmark National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector report (2009), 50 per cent of the GDP. Even though it employs around 90 per cent of the labour force, the conditions of work in the sector are dismal and demonetisation has hit it hard. According to the NSSO 68th Round on the Informal sector and conditions of employment in India 2011-12, 80 per cent of the informal sector employees have no written contract and 72 per cent get no social security benefits. The average earning of the informal sector worker is Rs 225 per day, while the formal sector average is Rs 401 a day. Three-fourths of all workers in the informal sector are in enterprises with less than six persons.

The informal sector includes workers in manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, transport, household workers like cooks, maids, drivers, security guards, and agricultural workers. It also includes child labour. Most of the Informal sector workers are denied social benefits like pension, gratuity, insurance against life and sickness, and maternity benefits. They are the most vulnerable section of the population.

The informal sector is cash-based and few workers are able to operate their bank accounts even when they have one. In the aftermath of demonetisation, thousands of informal sector workers lost their daily earnings and moved back to their villages in droves. Many found jobs in MNREGA, the much maligned employment guaranty scheme started by the Congress government in 2005. MNREGA offered a sort of cushioning to the informal sector workers. Many of the workers have not returned to cities to work after the sudden disruption in their lives.

Similarly the Goods and Services Tax has hardly been understood by the informal sector, many owners of enterprises are semi-literate and not used to digital or complicated paper work. There are many reports about small producers and exporters finding it difficult to file returns on inputs for which they could claim credit later. Already GST paper work is blocking their working capital. Medium-sized informal businesses have had to hire accountants at extra costs which they cannot afford. All these are having a multiple impact on manufacturing growth. Maybe later on all these glitches would be smoothened out.

In any case, the informal sector will not vanish in future because there are not enough new jobs being generated in the formal sector. There were only 1.5 lakh new jobs in 2016 and even after taking into account the service sector jobs, only 2.31 lakh jobs were created in 2015. As is well known, there had been a jobless growth in the earlier period when the organised sector adopted capital-intensive production techniques to remain competitive. More companies are going for digitisation and artificial intelligence to beat competition. India needs to create one million jobs a month as more than 10 million young people are joining the labour force every year.

The informal sector has also been hit by difficulties in obtaining formal sources of credit from public sector banks which are burdened with a mountain of NPAs. Thus they are facing a high-interest burden. Even though the informal sector is taking a beating from this shock treatment, it will remain important because it absorbs all the unemployed as there are no barriers to entry and no special skills are required. Only thousands of workers will suffer more under unbearable hardships. Even minimum wages, which are low by world standards and are binding by law on the employers, are not given to informal sector workers. Many are denied bonus and sick leave and have no health insurance. According to the NCEUS report, 47 million people recede into poverty every year because of one major illness in the family.

The Modi government has pledged to take a rights-based approach to the provision of social security to the informal sector workers and the low premium life and accident insurance and pension schemes were begun in 2014. The government has also promised healthcare cover for all. If health insurance and cashless treatment becomes a reality in public hospitals, something really significant would be achieved by the NDA government.

Currently the budgetary allocation for health has not improved and is below 2 per cent of the GDP. Crowds in front of AIIMS and other major public hospitals are increasing. India's out-of-pocket expenditure on health for an average person is one of the highest in the world. The ratios of doctor per 1000 inhabitants at 0.7 and hospital beds per 1000 population at 0.5 remain lower than in all the members of BRICS. Private hospitals are thriving as a result and there is hardly any regulation on their healthcare services or charges.

Rahul Gandhi has probably hit the right note by targeting informal (unorganised) sector workers because they are not only huge in numbers and are badly in need a social safety net but they also want to transition to formal sector jobs. Anyone who looks after their needs and jobs will be successful politically.
By PTI: London, Sep 25 (PTI) Scientists have discovered sizable chunks of plastic near the North Pole, raising fears that melting ice will allow more of the material to be released into the Arctic Ocean - with detremental effects on wildlife.

A team of scientists drawn from the US, Norway and Hong Kong and headed by marine biologist Tim Gordon of Exeter University in the UK found polystyrene chunks 1,609 kilometers from the North Pole in the area that was previously inaccessible because of sea ice.

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They found two large pieces on the edge of ice flows between 77 degree and 80 degree north, in the middle of the international waters of the central Arctic Ocean.

It is one of the most northerly sightings of such debris in the worlds oceans, which are increasingly polluted by plastics and confirm just how far plastic pollution has spread, The Guradian reported.

The finding has prompted fears that as the ice melts, because of climate change, plastic that has long been trapped in it is flowing into the Arctic.

"Finding pieces of rubbish like this is a worrying sign that melting ice may be allowing high levels of pollution to drift into these areas," said Gordon.

"This is potentially very dangerous for the Arctics wildlife," he said.

More than five trillion pieces of plastic are estimated floating on the surface of the worlds oceans. It has been claimed that there is now enough plastic to form a permanent layer in the fossil record.

A significant concern is that large plastic pieces can break down into "micro plastics" ? tiny particles that are accidentally consumed by filter-feeding animals.

The particles remain in animals bodies and are passed up the food chain, threatening wildlife at all levels from zooplankton to apex predators such as polar bears, researchers said.

"Many rivers that are often a source of plastic pollution lead into the Arctic Ocean, but plastic pollution has been literally trapped into the ice. Now the ice is melting we believe microplastics are being released into the Arctic," said Ceri Lewis from University of Exeter.

Some projections indicate that the entire Arctic Ocean will be ice-free in summer by 2050, allowing human exploitation such as commercial fishing, shipping and industry of the newly opened waters. PTI APA MHN SAR MHN

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CP Bhambhri

CP Bhambhri

IN his very candid interview at the University of California, Berkeley, on September 13, 2017, the "real Rahul" has spoken about his own self, and about the reality of his own Congress party, as also made insightful comments on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rahul was on to some thing: the tallest BJP leadership led by Amit Shah decided to vehemently and forcefully criticise his statements and observations of September 13 at Berkeley.

1 It is for the first time since 2014 that Rahul frankly admitted that the party failed in 2014 because "a certain arrogance crept into the Congress party and they stopped having that conversation." This was a very forthright criticism of the party leadership that had lost contact with its own second rank leaders and the rank and file of the party. Rahul also observed that the Congress vision document had lost its relevance in 2012 and it was not renewed. Rahul blamed his own "people" for the electoral defeat of 2014. He did not hide behind any excuses by blaming the others who had succeeded in snatching the victory in elections of 2014. It is for the first time in the history of India that a leader of the party has taken the blame for electoral defeat because of the serious lapses on the part of its own leaders.

2 Second, Rahul squarely faced the criticism which is generally levelled against the Congress that it practices "undemocratic dynastic politics" where the top leadership post is "reserved" for the family members of Nehru-Indira Gandhi.

Incidentally, the Jan Sangh/BJP has always targeted the Congress for practising dynastic politics, though normally, it should be left to every party to decide about its internal affairs and the system of nomination of its supreme leader. Parties in Western democracies have evolved different mechanisms to elect their own leaders. The best example is that of British parties which follow a practice different from the two American parties.

However, dynastic politics has become an issue in India. It is convenient for the BJP to attack the Congress on this. Rahul appropriately responded, saying that "most parties in India have that problem." He identified many regional parties the practising dynasty rule. Incidentally, the BJP should be the last party to attack the Congress on the political culture of the "nomination" of a top leader because Narendra Modi himself was picked up by Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS Supremo to act the Chief Election Campaigner for the Lok Sabha elections of 2014. Later, Bhagwat announced that Narendra Modi would be the BJP's prime-ministerial candidate for the Lok Sabha elections of 2014. Modi was the choice of the RSS Supremo in spite of the fact that LK Advani and some other BJP leaders were annoyed with RSS' procedure of nominating Modi as the prime-ministerial candidate.

Politics should be focused on party programmes and the qualities and weaknesses of the leaders of competing parties; not on how a leader is selected or nominated.

3 Third, it is for the first time in post-Independence India that any Opposition leader, has shown the courage of publicly admitting the leadership qualities of his opponent. Rahul showed this courage in his speech of September 13. While, comparing himself with Narendra Modi, Rahul said, "He (Modi) has certain skills. He is a very good commentator and understands how to deliver a message to three or four groups in a crowd." It requires great courage for a leader of party to praise his opponents' communication qualities which really matter in the Indian democracy where mass meetings of hundreds and thousands of people have to be addressed, especially during the elections.

On the other hand, Rahul also observed that Modi was controlling "a 'BJP machine' of 1,000 people to abuse him online in the social media."

This comment should be seen in the context of media'a portrayal of Rahul Gandhi. Rahul has been a whipping boy of the media owned and controlled by big corporate houses, especially television, and a section of the print media. The big industrial houses turned against Sonia Gandhi's Congress in 2012 and this opposition of the corporate houses and their media has been directed against Rahul. His capacities as a leader have been questioned as he is presented as a weak and immature person in comparison to Narendra Modi. This hostility of media has impacted the image of Rahul and this is the context in which Rahul's interview should be seen and analysed.

4 Finally, Rahul attacked the policies followed by the Modi government in the last about four years which have divided and completely polarised society on the basis of religious and caste, where violence takes place every day, either in the name of "protection of the holy cow" or Dalits whose profession of skinning of a dead cow is attacked.

Modi has not only been practising 'divisive polices', but his government's economic policies have also created a crisis leading to the a slowing down in economic growth. While the Modi government may dismiss Rahul's criticism, his statement on mismanagement of the economy is collaborated by UNCTAD's Trade and Development 2017 Report. Referring to India and China, the report observes that India's "output growth is likely to slow down to 6.7 per cent in 2017 from seven per cent in the previous year". It further states that "in addition, the informal sector which still accounts for at least one-third of the GDP, was badly affected by the government's demonetization move in November 2016 and it may be further affected by the rollout of the GST from July 2017".

Rahul's speech is quite revealing as it clearly shows that the "real Rahul" is not as the one painted by the biased and prejudiced media and the army of RSS workers and BJP organisations. The "real Rahul" is transparent and can be trusted to lead the country not only because he has a clear understanding of the political economy, but also because he is clear on ideological issues on which he is fighting against the RSS-controlled and -guided Sangh Parivar and BJP. Rahul represents a pole of Indian politics which is based on the ideology of pluralism, secularism, social inclusion and economic growth, with programmes of welfare state that were pursued by the Manmohan Singh government from 2004 to 2014. The other 'pole' of politics is represented by the RSS-controlled Sangh Parivar and BJP which is opposed to the foundational principles of a secular, democratic, accommodative Republic of India. Indian politics is engaged in a fundamental 'clash of ideologies' and the battle lines have been drawn.

The writer is Professor Emeritus, Centre for Political Studies, JNU
Melbourne, September 25

Hindu groups in Australia have held peaceful demonstrations against a controversial advertisement which they described as insulting to their faith for featuring Lord Ganesha in a lamb roast along with several other deities and prophets.

The protests came after Australias advertising watchdog dismissed complaints filed by Hindu groups against the advertisement launched earlier this month by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

Also read: Australian ads feature Hindu, Christian gods to 'sell' meat

The community members on Sunday organised rallies in major Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, against the advertisement.

According to Kushagra Bhatnagar of Overseas Friends of BJP (Australia), the demonstrations were held to create awareness about Lord Ganesha.

Lord Ganesha is a vegetarian and laddoos is what we should offer not lamb, Bhatnagar said.

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In Melbourne, demonstrators offered laddoos to the people at Federation Square. In Sydney, several Hindus formed a human chain to express their angst. The demonstrators held placards reading Stop insulting Hindu Gods.

The protests were organised by Hindu Council of Australia and other Hindu organisations.

Indian Forum Australia (IFA) president Nihal Agar said the advertisement had hurt the sentiments of Hindus and the protests were held to express anger, frustration and disappointment with the MLA.

This is not the multicultural Australia that we truly love, he said.

Earlier this month, Indias High Commission in Canberra lodged a complaint with the Australian government asking for the ads removal.

However, Australias Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) said while many Hindus are vegetarian, vegetarianism is not a requirement of the faith.

It said the depiction of Lord Ganesha was simply symbolic of the Hindu faith and his inclusion is part of the message of an inclusive multi-faith meal. PTI
Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar/Bhiwani, September 25



INLD leader Ajay Chautala, who is currently out on parole from Tihar Jail where he is serving time in a JBT recruitment case on Monday arrived at Ninan village of Bhiwani district to attend the party rally to mark the 104th birth anniversary of his grandfather and former deputy PM Devi Lal.

Ajay, who arrived at the rally site accompanied by brother Abhay Chautala and JD (U) leader KC Tyagi, earlier stayed at the makeshift media centre at an adjoining resort near the rally site. They arrived in a helicopter from Delhi.

Hisar party MP Dushyant Chautala and brother Digvijay Chautala are managing the rally affairs.

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Ajay, who is undergoing 10 years imprisonment, has come to the rally after five years. In 2012 he had last attended the anniversary rally. The party organises the rally every year on September 25 to celebrate the birth anniversary of Devi Lal.

A large number of INLD activists wearing green attire and carrying green flags have poured in to attend the rally. The workers have been travelling in tractor-trolleys and buses while the youth wing activists have been marching towards Ninan village on the outskirts of Bhiwani.

INLD leaders have been projecting Bhiwani as the karambhoomi of Ajay Chautala, who was convicted in the JBT recruitment scam along with father and former CM Om Prakash Chautala.

Addressing the gathering, Abhay Chautala said that on coming to power, the INLD would waive farm loans. He also assured free power to the agriculture sector and promised to cut domestic power bill by half.

On behalf of jailed former CM Om Prakash Chautala, Abhay promised to increase the old-age pension to Rs 3,200 per month. He also lured youth by promising to ensure one job to each family.

Later, Ajay Chautala also addressed the gathering.

Meanwhile, the INLD has decided to organise another rally in March next year.

The party also promised safety of women while lambasting the state BJP government for its alleged failure to put a curb on crime against women.
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 25

Himachal Congress continues to face a distressing status quo with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh adamant with respect to the demand for the replacement of state unit president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.

Speaking to The Tribune in Delhi today, AICC general secretary in charge of Himachal Pradesh Sushil Kumar Shinde said Everything will be sorted out. Asked what the future holds for the state Congress in the wake of this bitter CM-Sukhu spat ahead of elections, Shinde said, We have seen worse times in 1993 when I was in charge of Himachal Pradesh. We will sort everything out.

The Congress is now keeping its fingers crossed hoping the Chief Minister will attend the AICC organised dalit conference in Kumarhatti on September 28.

The Chief Minister will come for the conference. It is an AICC event, Shinde said today. All eyes are now on September 28 to see whether the CM comes to Kumarhatti where Sukhu will also be present. So far Virbhadra Singh has been skipping all party events where Sukhu is present, including the events which Sushil Kumar Shinde has attended.

With the CMs position being as hard as it is, the ball is in the court of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi who is expected to meet Virbhadra Singh after returning from his Gujarat tour.

The Chief Minister, who was earlier unable to attend a meeting on Himachal affairs between Gandhi, Shinde, AICC secretary Ranjeet Ranjan and Sukhu, is likely to come to Delhi after September 28 to meet with Central leaders and sort things out.

Congress legislators in Himachal Pradesh are waiting to hear about the fate of the Chief Minister, who has said he will sit at home the moment Model Code of Conduct is imposed and will not campaign unless Sukhu is replaced.

The BJP is running an aggressive campaign in the state. One union minister is in Himachal every day these days. BJP chief Amit Shah has already visited and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming on October 3. The Congress, on the other hand, does not have any election committee or publicity or campaign committee. We are in the race but the voters want to know who the leader is and what is the CMs fate, a senior MLA said today.

Within the AICC also, there is growing understanding that Virbhadra Singh will have to be placated. The party is feeling the heat considering the shortage of time at hand ahead of state elections. There is such little time left that replacement of state chief has become unfeasible. Its equally true that we have no leadership alternative other than the Chief Minister. Something will have to be done soon, said a Congress source.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 25

One more militant was killed today in a fresh gunfight in the Uri sector in north Kashmirs Baramulla district taking the toll of militants killed in the operation that began on late Saturday to four, the Army said.

The Army on Monday claimed that it foiled a major attack on an Army base by killing four fidayeen close to the Line of Control in the Kalgi area.

A joint operation was launched late Saturday after the security forces received information from civilians about suspicious movement of some non-local militants who were heavily armed in the Kalgi area of Salamabad, Uri, 110 km from Srinagar.

We had killed three terrorists yesterday and during the combing today a fresh gunfight erupted in which another fidayeen was killed, the Army said, adding that the search operation was still underway and it might take a day or two for the combing.

Officiating Commander of the Uri Brigade Col Harpreet Singh said the Army had foiled a major militant attack on its Kalgi camp on the Uri-Kaman road in the early hours of September 24.

These terrorists had infiltrated with explosives and intended to carry out a major attack on the Kalgi camp. The alertness and resilience of the troops who engaged and neutralised the terrorists resulted in foiling a devastating terrorist strike, Colonel Singh said, adding that the recoveries included IEDs, which were later destroyed.

He said the body of the fourth militant was lying in the forest area. Going by the way things are exploding near the body, he must have equipped himself with a suicide belt, the Officiating Commander said.

Sources said inflammable material was also recovered from the slain militants, indicating that the group was on a fidayeen mission to attack the strategic artillery unit in Kalgi.

Last year on September 18, an Army base in Uri came under attack when a group of four fidayeen of the Lashkar-e-Toiba stormed it. As many as 19 soldiers were killed in the attack. This was followed by the Army launching surgical strikes on militant launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus plied normally on Monday.
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 25

The shutdown called by several traders bodies against the National Investigating Agencys summons related to the terror funding case affected normal life here today.

Shops and business establishments in and around the Lal Chowk area and most of the old city areas remained shut. Not many public transport vehicles were seen on roads. However, shops were open in the civil line areas of the city and private transport too was normal there.

As restrictions were in place in areas under five police stations of the old city, normal life remained affected. Several schools also remained shut as the separatist leaders too had extended support to the shutdown call.

The shutdown had been called to protest the NIA summons issued to the president of Kashmir Traders Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), Mohammad Yasin Khan, who also heads a faction of the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA).

The traders also held a sit-in in the Pratap Park area to protest the high-handednesses of the NIA. They are unnecessarily harassing the business community and they do not want the businesses to flourish in Kashmir. Traders from all districts of the Valley took part in the protest to express solidarity with us, said KTMF media head Farhan Kitab, who is also the secretary general of the Regal Chowk Traders Association.

Kashmir Inc is not against the NIA investigations but against their ways of investigations. Such methods adopted by New Delhi will only lead to further chaos and destruction of business sector in the trouble-torn region, he added.

Kashmir Traders Federation (KTF) chief spokesperson Aijaz Shahdhar said the summoning of Khan by the NIA had created fear among the business community.

We condemn the summoning and harassment This has created fear among traders as we feel the businesses will get affected as a result. The traders community is feeling intimidated and we will continue to raise our voice against this, he said.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 24

Security forces today foiled a Uri-style fidayeen attack, killing all three infiltrators close to the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmirs Baramulla district, even as a special police officer (SPO) in Sopore, showing exemplary bravery, threw away a grenade that landed inside a security vehicle with more than 15 personnel.

Seven persons, including the SPO, were injured when the grenade exploded in a Sopore market.

This is the second grenade attack in Kashmir in the past four days. On Thursday, J&K minister Naeem Akhter had escaped a grenade attack in south Kashmirs Tral.

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The encounter near the LoC in Kalgai Uri, 110 from Srinagar, erupted when the Army spotted three militants late Saturday evening. A cordon was laid around a built-up area where the militants were hiding. A gunfight ensued at 2 am as searches were being carried out close to the Uri Kaman road. Many civilians were evacuated, said defence sources.

Three militants have been killed and three weapons recovered. The combing operation is underway, an officer said, adding that two civilians and a soldier had been injured too. The militants are yet to be identified.

Addressing the media in Srinagar, state police chief Shesh Paul Vaid said: They were planning a suicide attack on an Army base like the one last year. The police and the Army, acting on prior information, foiled their plan.

On September 18 last year, the Army base in Uri was attacked by four fidayeen of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. At least 19 soldiers were killed. In retaliation, the Indian Army launched surgical strikes on militant launch-pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). As per initial reports, the militants killed in Kalgai may have infiltrated on Friday night. They planned to target an artillery Army base in the vicinity of the village early Sunday morning, top sources said. Meanwhile, the forces have busted a militant hideout in Kupwara and recovered arms and a war-like store.
Jasmine Singh

Larissa Waters, a Greens MP in Australia, breastfed her baby while moving a motion in parliament; the rules had been changed last year, allowing mothers to breastfeed in the chamber. Earlier, mothers had to leave the chamber to do so.

And now, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation plans to launch lounges for women with an aim to provide a separate space for lactating mothers. This makes a lot of sense; if there can separating smoking spaces, then it is only basic to ask for a separate room for lactating mothers in offices, airports, bus stands, hotels, restaurants and public spaces in general! Women in the Tricity feel see this as their mandatory right.

Tough job

Anandita Rajput, 29, a dentist from Sector-15, is a new mother who has to rush to a lonely spot, preferably her car, with her sister or whosoever accompanying her doubling up as a blind and guard while she breastfeeds her nine-month old son, Kaustav. The thought of feeding my kid in a washroom of a swanky hotel too sounds repulsive to me and there are times when I cannot leave the dinning or lunching group of friends. So, I prefer feeding him in the car, but it gets slightly embarrassing. Anandita wants to get rid of the last word embarrassing.

It is the embarrassment of feeding the kid in public, which forces young women to either feed their kids bottled milk or just make a dash for their home, from wherever they are. Breastfeeding Support For Indian Mothers organised an event in Bengaluru in August where the group spoke about breastfeeding in public. However, exposing her breast in public is too much of a bold thing for any lactating mother, especially in India.

Social angle

This is why we need a law to enable women to breastfeed in public, Mohali-based doctor Taranpreet Ahuja suggests. There is some kind of social stigma attached to women breastfeeding in public; in our Indian set up it is an exercise that should be performed away from public gaze. Even family members should not be a party to it.

In fact, this is what Larrisa Waters had also said after she breastfed her kid in the Australian parliament. Women are going to have babies, and if they want to do their job and be at work and look after their baby, the reality is that we are going to have to accommodate that, added Larrisa.

Modern woman

Although women in the city voice their concern, are the other people comfortable with the idea of coming up with separate room for lactating mothers? Says Munish Bajaj, CEO, Tress Lounge, Chandigarh, These days women are smart and outgoing, balancing their personal and professional life pretty well. They like to spend as much time as they can with their kids. I think creating a separate room for them would be the least we can do.

A good number of women still feel uncomfortable with breastfeeding in public; they sure want a viable and safe alternative for it. jasmine@tribunemail.com
Doraha: The police have recovered 138 boxes of illicit liquor in two cases near the Gurthali bridge near here. At a naka was set up on the bridge, the police signalled a vehicle coming from Ludhiana to stop. It was found Gaurav Tiwari, along with his companions Gosha and Gurkirat, were carrying 82 boxes of illicit liquor on the vehicle. While Gaurav was nabbed, the other two escaped. In another case, Satnam Singh of Mamadpur in Sangrur and Mana of Alipur in Sangrur, who were coming from Khanna on a private car, were found carrying 56 boxes of liquor on the vehicle. While Satnam was arrested, Mana escaped. OC

Flesh trade racket unearthed

Ludhiana: With the arrest of five persons, including two women, the Salem Tabri police on Monday claimed to have unearthed a flesh trade racket being run in Bhagat Singh Nagar area. The arrested persons included Vijay Masih, alias Happy, of Batala; Rupinder Singh of Kailash Nagar, and Dalbir Singh of Bank Colony. The woman kingpin of the racket escaped. The police have also booked Gurpreet Singh, alias Kaka, owner of the house from where the racket was being run. Salem Tabri SHO Amandeep Brar said they had conducted a raid at the house following a tip-off. A case has been registered under Section 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Immoral Trafficking Act. TNS

Drug peddler gets 3-year jail

Ludhiana: Additional Sessions Judge Dilbagh Singh Johal has convicted Kulwinder Kumar, alias Kindi, of Mohalla Khijian, Phillaur, on the charge of illegally possessing poppy husk. He was ordered to undergo an imprisonment for three years and also ordered to pay a fine of Rs 25,000. The accused was found possessing 30-kg poppy husk. He was booked under the NDPS Act at the Focal Point police station on December 8, 2014. According to the prosecution, a police party stopped him near area Dhandari bridge. During search, poppy-husk was recovered from him. oc

Three nabbed with drugs

The city police have arrested three persons and recovered drugs from them in separate incidents. In the first case, the police arrested Surinder Kumar Ahuja of Basti Jodhewal and recovered 15-gram heroin from him. In-charge of anti-narcotics wing, Surinderpal Singh, said the accused was going on an Activa, when the police stopped him and recovered the drug from him. In another case, the police arrested one Sunny from Sector 32, Chandigarh Road, and recovered 20-gram heroin from him. In the third case, the police said they have arrested one Basant Singh Santu and recovered 20-kg poppy husk from him. ACP Ramandeep Singh Bhullar said the accused was facing several cases of drug peddling in different police stations of Ludhiana Rural. Further investigations are on.

Two booked for kidnapping

The Police Division Number 3 have registered a kidnapping case against one Sonu of UP on the basis of the statement made by the father of 16-year-old girl. According to Raj Kumar of Shivaji Nagar, the accused took his daughter on the pretext of marriage, on September 23. In a similar case, the Focal Point police booked Pradeep Kumar of Ekta Market, Dhandari Kalan for kidnapping. Jai Shree, father of a 14-year-old girl, said on August 15 his daughter went somewhere without informing anyone. After enquiring, the family came to know that Pradeep had taken her along on the promise of marrying her.  TNS
New Delhi, September 25

The Delhi High Court on Monday acquitted Mahmood Farooqui, co-director of Bollywood film Peepli Live, in a rape case involving a US researcher.

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Justice Ashutosh Kumar set aside the trial court order which had awarded a seven-year jail term to Farooqui after convicting him for the alleged rape of a 30-year-old American researcher at his south Delhi residence in March 2015.

The High Court directed that Farooqui, who is presently in jail, be released forthwith.

Farooqui had challenged his conviction and the sentence given by the trial court. PTI
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Alleged hawala dealer Mohammad Aslam Wani, arrested along with Kashmiri separatist Shabir Shah in connection with a decade-old money laundering case for alleged terror funding, today withdrew his bail plea from a Delhi court.

36-year old Wani told Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma that since the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recently filed a charge sheet against him, he may move a fresh plea after going through the contents in the probe report.

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The ED had on Saturday filed its charge sheet against Wani and Shah, whose bail application was dismissed on August 22 in the 2005 case.

Wani was arrested by the ED from Srinagar on August 6 with the help of the state police and is currently in judicial custody. Shabir Shah was arrested by the agency from Srinagar on July 26.

The ED action against the two was in pursuance of an August 2005 case in which the Delhi Polices Special Cell had arrested Wani, who had claimed he had passed on Rs 2.25 crore to Shah.

In 2010, a Delhi court had cleared Wani of terror funding charges but convicted him under the Arms Act. The ED had registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Shah and Wani.

On August 26, 2005, Wani was arrested allegedly with Rs 63 lakh, which was allegedly received through hawala channels from the Middle East, besides a large cache of ammunition. PTI UK ARC

--- ENDS ---
Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, September 25

Trouble on the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus is likely to snowball after the Varanasi police registered cases for vandalism and arson against 1,000 unidentified students of the university. Fourteen students have already been arrested. Two police officials have also been removed.

With the hostels almost empty and the university closed till October 2, the campus appeared deserted. Still approximately 1,500 policemen, including personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, are stationed there ostensibly to maintain law and order.

A BHU girl student, who was forcibly evicted from the hostel by the BHU administration on Sunday, complained, We face sexual harassment on the campus. When we complain, the university administration pays no heed, when we protest we are lathi-charged and then we are being implicated in criminal cases. What kind of justice is this? Students pointed out that when they were taking out a peace march on the campus on Sunday, the police again stopped them near the International Hostel and used batons to disperse them.

A number of students, mostly girls, were attacked with batons by the police on Saturday night inside the campus, injuring many of them. The students had been protesting the BHU administrations apathy to act against molestation of a girl student on September 21 and its failure to provide security measures such as CCTVs and proper lighting on the campus.

The district administration has removed Station Officer of Lanka police station Rajiv Singh and Circle Officer of Bhelupur police station Nivesh Katiyar as well as three additional city magistratesManoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh.

On CM Yogi Adityanaths orders, Chief Secretary Rajiv Kumar has asked Varanasi divisional commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokarn and ADG Vishwajeet Mahapatra to jointly investigate the Saturday night lathi-charge, arson and vandalism on the campus and submit a report soon.

The UP Government appears to be under pressure as the PM spoke to Yogi to inquire about the BHU incident, which has rocked his parliamentary constituency for the last two days.

After being released by the district administration, the Congress delegation, including UPCC chief Raj Babbar and PL Punia, staged a dharna at Lanka crossing today after they were not allowed to visit the campus. The district administration did not allow the Samajwadi Party delegation near the campus and even used force to disperse party supporters.

Find out reason for unrest: Ex-Chancellor

Expressing distress over events in Varanasi, veteran parliamentarian and former Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University Karan Singh on Monday asked the university authorities to institute an impartial inquiry to identify the cause of the situation. I am deeply distressed at the recent unrest in the great Banaras Hindu University with which I was closely associated for 15 years. The incident involving our precious girl students was most deplorable, Singh said. TNS

Sack VC: Cong

The Vice-Chancellor has been utterly insensitive and incorrigible and must be sacked. A sitting high court judge should investigate how this happened and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak up. Why is the PM silent on this preposterous and shocking incident. What is his stand on this atrocity? Manish Tewari, Cong spokesperson
Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 25

India has reorganised an Army division to hold tanks and armoured vehicles in its arsenal and located it to tackle threats from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the lower parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The division is tasked with countering the threat in the Chammb-Jaurian sector, west of Akhnoor.

The area is of immense strategic importance. During the 1965 and 1971 wars, Pakistan had tried to run its armoured columns through these fertile plains located smack on the LoC in an attempt to cut off Indias access to Kashmir, resulting in pitched tank battles.

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The existing 10th Infantry Division of the Indian Army based at Akhnoor has now been converted into Rapids or Reorganised Army Plains Infantry Divisions. It will hold two regiments of tanks (around 100) and another two regiments of mechanised armoured vehicles (100). The Army uses the Russian-built BMP as armoured vehicles.

This will be the first of the series under Armys Northern Command. The first ones came up at locations under the Western Command in the late 1980s. Former Army Chief General K Sundarji (retd) is credited with the creation of Rapids.

Each of Rapids also consists of two infantry brigades, artillery elements, a reconnaissance and support battalion, an engineer regiment, a signals regiment and latest surveillance with target acquisition equipment.

On September 1, 1965, the Pakistan army had launched Operation Grand Slam to take control of the Akhnoor bridge in a bid to cut off the Nowshera-Rajouri-Poonch area from Jammu. In 1971, the tactic was repeated.
United Nations, September 25

India hit out at Pakistan saying it callously exploited the picture of an injured Palestinian girl to spread falsehoods about India and to divert attention from Islamabads role as a global terror hub.

Paulomi Tripathi, a First Secretary in Indias UN Mission, on Monday held up the fake picture used by Pakistani Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi and the photograph of Lt Umar Faiyaz, a young soldier from Kashmir who was kidnapped, tortured and killed by terrorists.

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Poinitng to Faiyazs picture, Tripathi said: This is Lt Umar Faiyazs real picture, not fake. The officer from Jammu and Kashmir was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan-supported terrorists in May 2017.

This is a true picture. It portrays a harsh reality. A picture of terror emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in J&K, have to struggle with daily, Tripathi said.  IANS
Varanasi, September 25

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday removed three additional city magistrates and two police officials in connection with the lathicharge on students at Banaras Hindu University during a protest over an alleged eve-teasing incident.

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Station Officer of Lanka Police Station Rajiv Singh has been removed and sent to police lines while Station officer of Jaitpura Police Station Sanjiv Mishra has been posted in his place, police officials said.

Also the Circle Officer of Bhelupur, Nivesh Katiyar has been removed and Circle Officer of Kotwali Ayodhya Prasad Singh posted in his place

A release from Varanasis District Information office said three additional city magistrates, Manoj Kumar Singh, Sushil Kumar Gaund and Jagdamma Prasad Singh have also been removed.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the incident on Thursday, wanted to meet the varsitys vice chancellor at his residence.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A BHU spokesperson had said that some students wanted to forcibly enter the Vice-Chancellors residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by outsiders who had joined the students, he said.

The police baton charged the students in a bid to disperse them.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathicharge.

The police sources said some of its personnel were injured in the clashes during which the students allegedly indulged in arson.

Following the violence, the district administration has declared holidays from today till October 2 in all colleges and universities in Varanasi. The BHU had earlier announced that the holidays would start from September 28.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), criticised the government and condemned the police action.

I have sought a report from the divisional commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident, Adityanath said in Lucknow on Sunday.

The baton charge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some scribes staging a sit-in near the Chief Ministers residence. They later submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty.

Congress leaders Raj Babbar and P L Punia, along with scores of party activists, were detained yesterday when they tried to visit the BHU. They were later released.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP over the police lathicharge allegedly on girl students.

Attaching a link to a video of the students who alleged that they were beaten up by male policemen at the campus, Gandhi had tweeted, BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU.

The BHU had issued a statement saying that the dharna by the students just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit was politically motivated to malign the image of the university.

The alleged eve-teasing incident had occurred on Thursday night after which the students started the protest.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police had been sought to maintain peace in the campus.

Nearly 1,500 police personnel, including contingents of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), have been deployed to maintain law and order on the campus.

BHU students said that they undertook the protest near the universitys main gate against rising incidents of alleged eve-teasing on the campus.

A woman student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus while she was returning to her hostel, triggering the dharna.

According to the complainant, the men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts.

The woman alleged that security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop them.

She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel.

The wardens response angered the students who sat on a dharna at the main gate midnight Thursday.

BHU students have alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants. PTI
Jitendra K Shrivastava

Tribune News Service

Patna, September 25

Two Army jawans of Bihar Regiment Centre were found dead in a rented house near Danapur Cantonment Area in Patna district on Monday.

The jawans were identified as Santosh Kumar Singh and Rinkesh Kumar. Santosh hailed from Saran district and Rinkesh from Arahr. They were friends and lived together at Mangalam Colony.

Both reportedly died of gun shots. Police found their bodies lying in a pool of blood.

The licensed rifle of Santosh was recovered from the spot. Prima facie, it seemed that Santosh shot dead Rinkesh before committing suicide.

A team of forensic laboratory is yet to reach the spot, a police officer said.

Since the probe is underway, police refused to comment. The deceaseds families have reached the spot.

Rinkesh allegedly had an affair with a girl, who was a relative of Santosh, which might have led to an altercation.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 25

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said here today that his government was committed to improving infrastructure in the key sectors of health and education despite inheriting a poor fiscal condition from the previous rulers.

Addressing a select gathering of healthcare luminaries at the launch of The Tribune coffee table book, Doyens of Healthcare, Capt Amarinder expressed confidence that his government would succeed in bringing the state out of the mess.

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Even after 70 years of Independence, 24,000 primary schools in the state dont have basic amenities such as benches and toilets. Public health centres are also in bad shape, he said, adding that the government intended to rechristen health centres as primary healthcare centres to facilitate early scanning of ailments in children and a basic check-up of the people once or twice a year.

He said the government was striving to ensure that Punjabs education system came on a par with that of states such as Himachal Pradesh and healthcare rivalled that of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Capt Amarinder, who presented excellence awards to several healthcare experts, said the government was investing in the Patiala and Amritsar medical colleges, besides setting up a new one in Mohali to boost healthcare.

Stressing the need for a medical college in Malwa, the CM said his government was keen on setting up more high-end medical institutions.

Earlier, welcoming the CM, The Tribune Editor-in-Chief Harish Khare said the people of Punjab had reasonable expectations from Capt Amarinder. Khare said the criticism while reporting about the CM and his work often emanated from the hope that being a person with a sense of public responsibility and personal integrity, he would do something about it.

The Tribune General Manager Vinay Verma and senior members of the newspapers editorial and marketing sections were also present.
Jamnagar/Dwarka, September 25

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over note ban, GST, farm policies and 'Gujarat model' of development, Rahul Gandhi today voiced confidence about winning the upcoming Assembly elections, claiming there is a strong undercurrent in favour of Congress in Gujarat.

Talking to journalists on arrival in Jamnagar for a road show on the first day of his three-day tour of Gujarat, Gandhi said people are regretting having voted for the BJP.

"There is a strong undercurrent in favour of Congress in Gujarat. People want change and Congress will definitely come to power this time. People of Gujarat are unhappy with the ruling party as they feel cheated after giving their votes to the BJP," said Gandhi, adding that Congress will help Gujarat develop.

The Congress is out of power in Gujarat for over two decades.

The 47-year-old Congress leader, who started the day by offering prayers at the famous Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, interacted with people during his trip from the holy city to Jamnagar, passing through Saurashtra region.

In his short speeches at various places, Gandhi assailed Modi over demonetisation and a host of other issues.

He highlighted the issue of unemployment under the BJP dispensation and promised to solve the problems faced by Gujarat's farmers if his party is voted to power in the state.

Travelling in an especially-designed bus, he interacted with villagers at many places.

From Dwarka, Gandhi headed to Hanjrapar, where he was accorded a traditional welcome by villagers. He even rode a bullock cart and interacted with villagers.

Gandhi came down heavily on Gujarat's BJP government on the issue of privatisation.

"Privatisation is happening in every sector under this government, be it education or health sector. Due to this policy of the BJP government, poor people are not getting education or health services," Gandhi said.

He promised free medicines and medical treatment if the Congress is voted to power in Gujarat.

Accusing the BJP government of being "anti-farmer", Gandhi demanded that the government announce complete farm loan waiver in Gujarat.

"If the government can waive loans given to businessmen, why not farmers? The Indian government gave away Rs 1.30 lakh crore to 15 large business houses while Rs 7 lakh crore in loans were not returned to banks. They (businessmen) will get all the benefits, while you (farmers) will be jailed for not repaying loans," said Gandhi.

Before visiting Hanjrapar, Gandhi made several halts along the route, including at Bhatia village. In his address there, Gandhi slammed the Modi government for "failing" to address basic problems of people.

Around 20,000 youths pass out of educational institutes every day but the Central government manages to give employment to only 400, he claimed.

"You go to any corner of this country and ask farmers whether they get proper price for their produce. All of them will promptly say, no," Gandhi said.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared demonetisation without consulting anyone. This was a massive blow to our economy.

"Farmers were badly hit as they do not do transaction through phone or debit card. They use cash to buy seeds or pay farm labourers," said Gandhi.

He claimed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has broken the back of small traders and shopkeepers.

Gandhi said though the Congress told the government to have a single tax rate under the GST, it introduced five slabs. He claimed lakhs of businesses have shut down due to the GST.

The poor have no place in the 'Gujarat model' of development that has benefited only a handful of businessmen, the Congress leader said.

"Business houses get everything, be it water, land or electricity. But the poor are always neglected. This is the difference between them (the BJP) and us (the Congress). I promise our government will be of the poor, farmers and youth," he said.

After Bhatia, Gandhi reached Nandana village, where he addressed school children.

"Our country has made huge progress in the last 70 years. When we got independence, we didn't have many good schools, big universities or companies. Whatever exists today is because of the hard work of your parents as well as grandparents," he said.

On Tuesday, Gandhi will visit towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot.

Notably, Gandhi was greeted by Hardik Patel, leader of the Patel quota agitation, on his Gujarat visit. "A warm welcome to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat," Patel tweeted in Hindi this morning. PTI
Tribune News Service & IANS

Kolkata, September 25

West Bengals ruling Trinamool Congress today suspended its founding member Mukul Roy for six years for anti-party activities, hours after the former Railway Minister announced that he would quit the party after the Durga Puja.

Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee told mediapersons here of the punitive action against Roy  a Rajya Sabha member.

We have heard news of Mukul Roy. He has decided to quit the party after the puja. For the past few years, he has been indulging in anti-party activities and trying to weaken it from within. The Trinamool Congress disciplinary committee has recommended punishment against Mukul Roy to the partys leader and chairperson Mamata Banerjee. Accordingly, Roy has been suspended for six years from the party, a party communique said.

Accusing Roy of succumbing to the pressure of Central agencies  a reference to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate probing the Saradha chit fund scam and the Narada sting footage in which Roy has been interrogated  Chatterjee wondered why he did not resign from his Rajya Sabha seat immediately.

He has been weakening the party for his own interest and through his own plan. We wanted him to resign (now)... if he has decided to resign after puja, let him resign right now. The pujas will not be stalled if he puts in his papers now, Chatterjee said.

Addressing a press conference earlier in the day, Roy had said he would also resign from the Rajya Sabha and quit the primary membership of the TMC after the Durga puja. He said he would send a mail to the partys secretary general Partha Chatterjee informing him about his decision of resigning from the partys working committee immediately after the press conference.

Roy, who is rumoured to be planning to join the BJP, was earlier removed from the TMC vice-presidents post by the party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. At her instance, Roy was also dropped from various parliamentary committees.

Roy, whose stint in the Rajya Sabha would end in the middle of next year, said that after the Durga puja was over he would give an elaborate explanation about the reasons for his quitting the TMC. Roy also refused to answer questions about the possibility of his joining the BJP.
Chennai, September 25

Tamil Nadu government on Monday set up an inquiry commission headed by a retired high court judge to probe AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa's death, amid renewed demands for a thorough investigation after a state minister claimed their party leaders had lied about her health condition.

Justice (Retd.) Arumugasamy will head the inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Jayalalithaa on December 5 last year after 75 days of treatment at corporate Apollo Hospitals here.

An official release said: "To conduct inquiry and submit a report on the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, an inquiry commission headed by retired high court judge Justice Arumugasamy has been constituted".

A government order had been issued for this purpose, it added.

Doubts have been raised over the events leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation on September 22, 2016, and her death by various quarters with opposition parties including the DMK demanding a CBI probe.

The probe into the AIADMK supremo's demise was a key pre-condition of rebel leader and now Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for the merger of two factions led by him and Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

Four days ahead of the merger, Palaniswami had on August 17 announced that a commission of inquiry would go into the death of Jayalalithaa.

After Panneerselvam had made a demand for a probe claiming there were doubts in the minds of people, the Apollo Hospitals had arranged a media conference in February last seeking to put to rest any such apprehensions.

A team of doctors, including UK-based specialist Richard Beale, who had treated Jayalalithaa, had explained in detail the medical attention given to her during hospitalisation.

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Monday's announcement by the government came amid renewed demands by opposition parties for a probe after Forest Minister Dindigul C Srinivasan last week told a public meeting in Madurai that AIADMK leaders had lied about Jayalalithaa's well being during her hospitalisation.

He had claimed that they had only repeated what Jayalalithaa's close aide V.K. Sasikala wanted them to state.

The minister had also demanded that the Sasikala camp make public the video evidence that it claimed to possess on the treatment of the late leader.

The government's announcement came even as sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V Dhinakaran earlier in the day asserted he would submit before any probe agency a video of Jayalalithaa shot by his aunt Sasikala.

He also sought an inquiry commission headed by a serving senior judge.

Dhinakaran said his family was in possession of a video of hospitalised Jayalalithaa shot by Sasikala and was ready to submit it before any probe agency, including the CBI.

He claimed it had not been released so far since Jayalalithaa at that time was clad in a "nightie".

"Amma (Jayalalithaa) had lost a lot of weight... it was a video shot by my aunt (Sasikala) herself. You all know none would have seen Amma in a nightie, not any functionary.

"Even when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Amma following her accident in 1989, she was fully attired... she always maintained that dignity," Dhinakaran said.

The video of Jayalalithaa, attired in a "loose nightie", was shot by Sasikala after the former was shifted from the ICU to a room in the hospital, he told reporters here.

According to Dhinakaran, when the opposition had earlier raised doubts over Jayalalithaa's treatment and death, Sasikala had suggested that "we ourselves should seek a judicial probe" into the matter.

If that video is released by us now, there would be a debate on its authenticity," he said, adding it could be given to the probe panel.

"We are ready to submit it at an appropriate forum, whether the CBI or even Interpol. We have nothing to fear," he said.

Srinivasan had also claimed that out of fear of Sasikala, they had publicly stated that Jayalalithaa ate idlies, consumed tea and was given sweets.

No one was allowed to meet the late chief minister. Whoever came, would be briefed by Sasikala's relatives that she was "all right", he had said seeking the pardon of public.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals for fever and dehydration on September 22, 2016. After a prolonged hospitalisation, she had died on December 5, 2016, following a cardiac arrest. PTI
Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 25

Farmer leaders, protesting at Mehmadpur grain market near here, today threatened to hold a mega show of strength tomorrow with members of farmers families expected to join the protest.

Thousands of farmers, meanwhile, continued to pour in at Mehmadpur as their protest against the state government entered into its fourth day.

The government has directed bus operators not to ferry farmers to the protest site. In spite of the crackdown, hundreds of farmers from across the district are reaching Mehmadpur. We have made arrangements for them to reach the protest site, a farmer leader said, adding unions were awaiting a nod from the district administration for a peaceful protest march in the city.

Farmers unions rejected the governments waiver of up to Rs2 lakh as peanuts.

We demand a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops according to the Swaminathan Commission report, land ownership rights to tenant cultivators and a permanent solution of the stray cattle menace, said Kisan Sangharsh Committee leader Avtar Singh.

Prof MS Swaminathan, an agriculture scientist, has recommended crop prices at 50 per cent over and above the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Leaders said they would continue with the protest till all their demands were met. The government is yet to invite us for talks, said union leader Jagmohan Singh.

No meters on farm tubewells, says CM

Chandigarh: Accusing the Akalis of spreading false propaganda, CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday ruled out the installation of meters on farm tubewells. The power subsidy for farmers would continue. There is no question of withdrawing the subsidy or putting meters on tubewells, the CM said in a statement. During the June Assembly session, the CM had announced continuation of power subsidy for the agriculture sector. TNS

Debt claims another life

Muktsar: A farmer of Ghumiara village in the Lambi constituency allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison. Jaswant Singh (45), who owned 3 acres, was under debt of Rs 6.5 lakh. He allegedly consumed poison at his fields on Thursday. He was taken to hospital in Bikaner, where he died on Sunday night. The police have started inquest proceedings. TNS
As Congress vice-President Rahul Gandhi embarks on a three-day yatra across Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah's home state ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls, here's a look at the challenges the Grand Old Party faces.

By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today launched the party's campaign for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections. The Nehru-Gandhi scion descended on the religious city of Dwarka as part of the three-day visit to the poll-bound state.

Rahul Gandhi's Gujarat campaign seems to be high on symbolisms and hype just as it was in the run up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

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The aim seems to be countering the influence of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, who belong to the state.

TEMPLE VISITS

Before embarking on the three-day yatra today, Rahul Gandhi sought the blessings of Lord Krishna at Dwarkadhish Temple. Ever since the 2002 Godhra and Ahmedabad riots, the state has got deeply polarised on communal lines.

Riding on the roused passions, the BJP was a beneficiary of this communal divide. It won not just the Assembly elections held later that year but also the ones held in 2007 and 2012.

Rahul Gandhi seems to be wooing the Hindu votes by launching his yatra by visiting the ancient temple in Dwarka.

Began the three day Navsarjan Yatra in Gujarat with darshan at Dwarkadhish Temple pic.twitter.com/PkFz0s3Z7v- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) September 25, 2017

Just as in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi had launched the UP poll campaign on September 6 last year by visiting Dugdheshwarnath temple in Deoria and getting his forehead smeared with 'tilak'. He had even visited Ayodhya on the fourth day of his yatra and sought blessings in Hanumangarhi temple.

In Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi's aim seems to be wooing Hindus in general while in UP he had Brahmins in mind.

FARMERS

The Congress vice-president launched the 'Youth employment and farmers' right rejuvenation yatra' today. The yatra obviously targets the farmers besides the youth.

Rahul Gandhi is visiting Gujarat's agrarian Saurashtra region which is dominated by Patels and Patidars. Saurashtra returns 58 MLAs in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. The Patidars have been traditional supporters of the BJP.

However, a section of the Patidars has parted ways with the BJP ever since last Hardik Patel launched the agitation last year for reservation to the community in government jobs and educational institution under the OBC category.

In UP too, Rahul Gandhi had launched the Kisan Yatra in Deoria about a year ago. Rahul Gandhi's pitch was loan waivers and other sops for farmers.

BULLOCK CART AND KHAAT SABHA

In view of the attack on Rahul Gandhi's carcade during his previous visit to the state, the Gujarat Police refused permission to him for an open-jeep roadshow. The Congress leader covered a small stretch of the trip in a traditionally decked up bullock cart.

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Rahul Gandhi entered Hanjrapar in Jamnagar from Dwarka in a decked up bullock cart. In UP, Rahul Gandhi had organised 'khaat sabha' (meetings on wooden cots) which had tuned a fiasco with the villagers running away with the four-legged charpoys.

CHALLENGES BEFORE RAHUL

Despite the symbolisms in UP, the Congress had come a poor fifth winning just seven of the 403 Assembly seats.

The Congress may not perform as bad in Gujarat as it did in UP but the political atmosphere in the poll-bound state is not quite conducive to the party either. It is beset with several organisational issues.

The party suffers from a leadership crisis. After the exit of Shankersinh Vaghela, the Congress has yet to find a leader who can lead the party to victory.

Vaghela not just quit alone but was instrumental in the exit of 13 other Congress MLAs, 10 of whom joined the ruling BJP. This has dealt a severe blow to the principal opposition party in the state.

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The Congress perhaps faces the toughest challenge from the contest becoming a multi-cornered one. Vaghelas 'Jan Vilap' (Peoples Alternative) front, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Sharad Pawar-headed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have also decided to jump into the fray.

All these three parties may split the Congress votes. This would only benefit the BJP.

Despite the hype and symbolisms, Rahul Gandhi's foray in Gujarat seems to be fraught with challenges. The excitement in the Congress circles may not yield any fruit if the party fails to meet them.

VIDEO: For whom will young Indians vote for in 2019, Rahul Gandhi or Narendra Modi? Watch this debate, from India Today's youth festival MindRocks 2017.

--- ENDS ---
Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 25

The Punjab Congress is trying to rope in former state convener of Aam Aadmi Party and film personality Gurpreet Singh Waraich (Ghuggi), it is learnt.

Getting the actor-politician on board will give a boost to the campaign of state party president Sunil Jakhar, who is contesting the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection.

Sources said parleys are on and Ghuggi is likely join the party soon, though Ghuggi could not be reached for comments.

Other than Ghuggi, who had resigned from AAP in protest against his unceremonious removal from the post of state convener after the Assembly elections, another AAP leader, Kanwalpreet Singh, has also resigned today. He is learnt to be cosying up to the SAD-BJP combine. He had unsuccessfully contested from Qadian.

The two leaders joining rival parties may not augur well for the AAP candidate in the Gurdaspur byelection, Suresh Kumar Khajuria. As it is, Majha region has not been AAPs stronghold. The party could not win a single seat in Majha during the Assembly polls.

Ghuggi had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly election from Batala. He was reportedly not taken into confidence when AAP replaced him with Bhagwant Mann. Feeling slighted, Ghuggi had resigned. Since then, he had meetings with minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, giving rise to speculation of his joining the Congress. Sources say Ghuggi held a series of meetings with senior Congress leaders and poll strategists.
Chandigarh, September 25

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday asked state officials to ensure that his photographs are not carried on government owned ambulances.

In the previous SAD-BJP regime, these ambulances carried the pictures of the then chief minister Prakash Singh Badal.

Two years ago the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) rapped the Punjab government for foregoing central grants under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) on account of its refusal to remove Badal's pictures from the emergency ambulances, an official spokesperson said.

In its 2015 report, the CAG had said that Punjab had lost out Rs 23.8 crore of central grant for ambulances over three fiscals from 2012 for not following a prescribed colour code of the NRHM, he added.

Amarinder Singh directed officials here that a fresh notification should be issued to ensure that chief minister's pictures are not carried on the ambulances, the spokesperson said.

Chief Minister Singh's pictures were not put on these ambulances. He had made it clear that he wanted to ensure that the ambulances align completely to the NRHM rules, the spokesperson said.

The move to remove the chief minister's picture from government owned ambulances follows a series of initiatives taken by the Punjab government to wipe out VVIP culture, the spokesperson added.  PTI
Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 25

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) seems to have played havoc with Punjabs fragile economy. Not only has the poor inflow of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) hit the state government, which is unable to meet its committed liabilities, it has also adversely affected the industry.

The industry rues that it is facing the worst liquidity crunch ever and industrial production too is slowing down like never before. With huge reserves of their money locked in GST refunds, exporters say that anything between 30 and 56 per cent of their working capital is now locked in refunds. This means that the industry has no money to purchase raw material, transport goods to customers or for shipping goods to buyers abroad.

A top auto parts manufacturer in Ludhiana told The Tribune that the credit and cash cycle was now broken. The payment cycle in the business in Ludhiana was between two to three months wherein credit was extended to buyers. Before the GST rollout, the VAT rate was lower, thus refund was much lower. VAT had to be paid each quarter, while the GST has to be paid each month and the tax rate is higher too, he said.

Badish Jindal, president, Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association, said the GST had come as another big blow to the industry after demonetisation. Its been three months since the GST rollout. Around 56 per cent of manufacturers working capital is stuck. Sales are under pressure and no one is building stocks. As a result, the banks too have lowered our borrowing limit, he said.

AK Kohli, senior vice-president, Punjab Chamber of Small Exporters, said: The government, sensing some anomaly in huge refunds sought by exporters, has initiated an audit of all cases where refund is more than Rs 1 crore. At least 30 per cent of my working capital is stuck. How do you expect me to run my business?

Realising the economic slowdown arising with the shift in tax regime, the Punjab Excise Department has initiated its own process of releasing old VAT refunds. We have realised that the industry is going through a crisis. We are in the process of releasing VAT refunds worth Rs 300 crore pending with the state government, Excise and Taxation Commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh said.
New York, September 25

Anthony Weiner, the disgraced former US congressman and estranged husband of Hillary Clintons close aide Huma Abedin, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for sexting a schoolgirl.

Weiner, 53, had pleaded guilty in May to sending explicit photographs and messages to a 15-year-old student last year as his wife worked on Clintons presidential campaign.

This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment, US District Judge Denise Cote said. Manhattan US Attorney Joon Kim said Weiner asked a girl who he knew to be 15 years old to display her naked body and engage in sexually explicit behavior for him online.  Reuters
Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 25



Activists in Nepals Madhes and Terai region have rejected outcomes of recent local body elections conducted in the regions on June 28 and September 18.



CK Raut, Coordinator for Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM)  a coalition of Madhesi people, activists and parties  have claimed that the elections were conducted on gunpoint with very high military deployment.



Demanding recount of all ballots in Madhes and Terai, which have seen agitations since promulgation of the new constitution in Nepal, the release said: In their absence, the Alliance is going to conduct the local elections of Village/Municipality Swaraj Councils throughout the districts of Madhesh/Terai and declare local governments under Self-rule.



However, Nepalese authorities have rejected these allegations emphasising that the polls were free and fair. Speaking to The Tribune from Kathmandu, Nepalese Election Commission spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal said: The last phase of election saw nearly 77 per cent voter turnout, which was higher than 74 per cent turnout in the second phase. All political parties, in some districts all 45, including national, regional and Madhesi parties participated.



Nepalese envoy to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay also rejected the allegations saying there was no question of declaring those results invalid. All the parties have participated, the turnout was very good and result is very balanced reflecting the desire of people, said Upadhyay.



With the conclusion of the long pending local bodies elections, Nepals political transition process closely watched by India, will now witness the provincial and parliamentary elections scheduled for November 26 and December 7, respectively










Islamabad, September 25

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday returned to the country from the UK to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal.

He was in London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

Sharif, 67, decided to return after consultations with senior party leaders, including his younger brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London, party officials said.

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The aircraft carrying him landed here at around 7.30 AM and a confident Sharif came out, waved to his supporters and left in official protocol, TV news reports showed.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials said that he would stay in Punjab House in Islamabad and hold meetings with party leaders today and tomorrow.

"He (Sharif) would appear before the accountability court tomorrow (September 26) to defend himself in three corruption cases," the officials said.

Sharif stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons -- Hassan and Hussain, daughter -- Maryam, son-in-law -- Safdar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Accountability Court in Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

The anti-graft body last week froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court.

Earlier, Sharif skipped a court hearing last week to defy the cases. His family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated.

Maryam said that Sharif was returning to face cases for the sake of his people.

"Knowing what he faces is not accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about this person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million (Pakistanis)," she said in a tweet.

Sharif last month went to London to see Kulsoom who has undergone three successful surgeries for her cancer.

Kulsoom contested on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won.

Their children are still in London as he prepares to appear before the court in Islamabad tomorrow.

The court has also summoned Maryam, Hussain, Hasan and Safdar but it was not immediately known if they would appear before the court tomorrow.

Meanwhile, finance minister Dar, who also returned from London, appeared today in an anti-corruption court.

The court had issued a bailable arrest warrant against him for failing to appear before it.

Dar's lawyer had deposited surety bonds worth Rs one million to avoid his arrest.

The court, after brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income. PTI
Washington, September 25

US President Donald Trump has announced new travel restrictions for eight countries, including North Korea, replacing the previous ban on six Muslim-majority countries, citing threats to national security posed by letting their citizens into Washington.

Starting next month, most citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad, Venezuela and North Korea will be banned from entering the US, Trump said in a proclamation released on Sunday night.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump tweeted just after the proclamation was released.

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In a statement, the White House called the new restrictions a "critical step toward establishing an immigration system that protects Americans' safety and security in an era of dangerous terrorism and transnational crime," CNN reported.

"We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country.

"My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation," Trump said in the White House statement.

For the last three months, the administration used an executive order to ban foreign nationals from six Muslim-majority countries -- Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan -- from entering the US unless they had a "bona fide" relationship with a person or entity in the country.

Individuals with that "bona fide" exception, such as a foreign grandparent of a US citizen, can still apply for visas until October 18. After that date, the new restrictions will begin.

According to the new list, travel will be broadly suspended, while in other cases, travellers will have to undergo enhanced screening and vetting requirements.

For instance, foreign nationals from North Korea are banned, but a student from Iran will be allowed in, subject to "enhanced screening and vetting requirements", CNN quoted the White House statement as saying.

However, no current validly issued green cards, visas or travel documents will be revoked.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that with the new restrictions, "the President is carrying out his duty to protect the American people.

"The State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner... We will continue to work closely with our allies and partners who share our commitment to national and global security." A revised travel ban effecting those from six-Muslim majority countries officially expired earlier on Sunday, reports CNN.

Trump signed the initial travel ban during his first week in office, but it was met with immediate legal challenges, which have continued to hinder implementation of the full scope of the executive order.

The administration released a second version in March, which included substantial changes.

The US Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the legality of the travel ban next month.

IANS
Istanbul, September 25

Turkey will take all measures under international law if the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum being held on Monday generates threats to Turkeys national security, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry issued the statement as voting started in northern Iraq in a referendum organised by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), despite regional and international fears that it will fuel instability and violence across the Middle East.

Turkeys foreign ministry said it did not recognise the referendum and would view its outcome as null and void, adding that the KRG was threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and the whole region.

It warned of the possibility of radical elements and terrorists engaging in acts which target national security in the aftermath of the referendum.

We stress again that we will take all measures arising from international law and the Turkish parliaments authority in the face of every kind of threat to our national security in Iraq generally, the ministry said.

In a separate travel warning, the ministry said it strongly recommended that Turkish citizens in the Iraqi Kurdish provinces of Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaimaniya should leave as soon as possible if they are not obliged to stay. Reuters
Abu Dhabi, September 25

Eman Abdul Attis efforts to shed her extra kilos ended in a tragedy at a hospital here when the 37-year-old Egyptian national, known as the world heaviest woman, died on Monday due to complications from her weight.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Eman weighed roughly 500 kg when she arrived in India in February, but had lost an astonishing 323 kg since undergoing a series of medical procedures.

Eman died at the Burjeel Hospital hospital in Abu Dhabi due to complications from the underlying comorbid conditions, including heart disease and kidney dysfunction, according to medical experts at the hospital.

Eman had been admitted at Burjeel hospital on May 4 after arriving in the UAE from India.

She had been under the supervision of over 20 doctors from different specialties, who were managing her medical condition.

She was undergoing treatment at the Saifee Hospital in Mumbai where she underwent treatment for severe obesity.

Eman underwent bariatric surgery in March in India in which doctors reduced the size of her stomach by two-thirds, so as to reduce her food intake. Her genetic tests had showed that she had a rare gene mutation that cannot be cured through surgery.

Her treatment in India was abruptly stopped after her sister Shaimaa, on social media, alleged that Eman was not receiving proper treatment in India.

She had alleged that the doctors at Saifee, made false claims about Emans recovery and weight loss.

Eman, a resident of Alexandria in Egypt, had not stepped out of her house for more than two decades due to her obese condition followed by a stroke that left her paralysed on one side a year ago. PTI
Since the state police has refused him permission for an open-jeep roadshow citing security concerns, Rahul Gandhi will now cover a small stretch of the the trip in a traditionally decked up bullock cart.

By India Today Web Desk: Ahead of the crucial Assembly election in Gujarat, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will start his three-day campaign in the state today.

Since the state police has refused him permission for an open-jeep roadshow citing security concerns, Rahul Gandhi will now cover a small stretch of the the trip in a traditionally decked up bullock cart.

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The Congress vice-president will cover the Saurashtra region of Gujarat in his three-day trip, starting with a visit to the Dwarkadheesh Krishna temple. From the temple, Rahul Gandhi will drive down to Jamnagar.

Congress VP Rahul Gandhi's Navsarjan Yatra set to focus on demonetisation, GST, development, urban poor & farmers' issues. #RahulInGujarat pic.twitter.com/ONO6924vbs- Congress (@INCIndia) September 24, 2017

HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAHUL GANDHI's THREE-DAY GUJARAT TRIP: Rahul Gandhi starts his three-day trip of Saurashtra region which sends one-third of the legislators in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. The Congress vice-president will start his trip from Dwarka and then drive down to Jamnagar where he will interact with locals at various educational institutions as well as businessmen. "Rahul Gandhi will start his three-day road show from Dwarka in Saurashtra. He will address the public at different points and will interact with them along the way," senior Congres leader Shaktisinh Gohil said. Denied permission to cover the 135-km stretch from Dwarka to Jamnagar in an open jeep, Rahul Gandhi will now travel in a specially designed luxury bus equipped with CCTV cameras. In Hanjrapar, which is nearly 25 km from Dwarka, Rahul Gandhi will enter the village in a decked up bullock cart. From Hanjrapar, which is dominated by the Ahir caste, Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet bullion traders and representatives of Jamnagar's popular brass parts industry. After staying at Jamnagar for the night, the Congress vice-president will start for Rajkot on Tuesday morning, covering towns such as Dhrol and Tankara along the way. Rahul Gandhi's Rajkot visit is significant given that it is the home turf of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. In Rajkot, the Congress vice-president will also offer prayers at the Khodaldham Temple, the deity of Patidar community. He will also interact with local traders and industrialists in Rajkot. On Wednesday, the Congress leader will reach Surendranagar where he is expected to visit the Chotila Temple. "He will cover Chotila, Jasdan, Virpur, Jetpur and other towns before concluding the campaign at Khodaldham," said Shaktisinh Gohil. Rahul Gandhi will wrap up his tour at Viramgam on the entry to Ahmedabad district, which is the home town of Hardik Patel who led the Patidar agitation. The Saurashtra region has been electorally tough for the Congress for the last two decades and it won only 12 of the 52 seats here in the 2012 Assembly election. The Congress, this time, is looking at improving the tally given the Patidar sentiment against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the farmer distress in the state. Rahul Gandhi's visit is expected to boost the morale of the party cadres ahead of the Assembly election in Gujarat. The Congress vice-president is scheduled to make similar visits to north, central and south Gujarat regions before the election.

(inputs from IANS and PTI)

ALSO WATCH: Rahul's US tour not an image-making competition with Modi: Pitroda

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Ri Les frantic, desperate escape from Vietnam, on the day Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese, was fueled by an overwhelming desire to survive.

On April 29, 1975, as the North Vietnamese overran Saigon and the few remaining Americans were being flown off the roof of the U.S. Embassy, Ri Le started driving an abandoned Jeep.

He didnt know where he was going or what he was looking for as he sped through the streets of Saigon.

Then, he spotted an abandoned helicopter. Ri Le, a helicopter pilot in the South Vietnamese air force, loaded the chopper with 13 passengers.

I had no idea if it would fly or not, said Ri Le. When it started, I had no idea if we had enough gas to go anywhere.

All I knew was that there were a lot of American ships out on the ocean (South China Sea) off the East Coast. So we headed east.

All 13 passengers and Ri Le, who had to ditch the helicopter in the ocean next to a cargo ship just as it ran out of gas, survived.

Fate, said Ri Le. I dont know how else to explain it.

Ri Les unlikely story of survival and success continues to this day. He owns and operates one of Oklahomas most successful and highly acclaimed restaurants, Ri Le Vietnamese (on 91st Street just east of Yale Avenue).

The Vietnam War, one of the most tumultuous events in our countrys history, changed not only the United States but altered the trajectory of Ri Les life. The story of the war is being told in a documentary from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on PBS. It is a 10-part, 18-hour film that started on Sept. 17 and continues through Sept. 28.

No, I havent been watching, said Ri Le. Im too busy working. But I want to see it.

I know it is hard. Some memories are not so good. But we have to be happy. I could not have imagined the life Ive lived.

The life he has lived, since that race to escape what could have been death or years of forced labor, is a shining example of the American dream.

I didnt know where I was going or how I was going to get there, said Ri Le. I just knew I had to leave.

His wife and small child had escaped South Vietnam months earlier.

However, as a pilot in the South Vietnamese air force, he had stayed behind to continue to fight to the end with his American allies.

When it came time to leave, I had no plan. I was lucky. I found a helicopter that worked and had just enough gas to get to a cargo vessel off the coast. How lucky was I?

It started an unlikely journey for Ri Le. He was reunited with his wife and son, and they eventually were assigned to Fort Chaffee outside Fort Smith, Arkansas.

His family was sponsored by Tulsans Dick Freeman and Tom Elliff of Eastwood Baptist Church, so they moved to Tulsa.

I didnt have a penny in my pocket, said Ri Le. I had no skills.

But we were happy. We had smiles on our faces. We were alive, and we had a new life ahead of us.

They moved into public housing in west Tulsa, and Ri Le started doing odd jobs.

I was mopping floors, he said. I was cleaning bathrooms. Whatever it took I was willing to do. I had to work to support my family.

He was working about 23 hours a day in the early 1980s. He had a job with a local company, and when he ended his shift there, he worked overnight at a small doughnut shop he had opened.

Thats when Suzanne Holloway (legendary Tulsa World restaurant critic for nearly a quarter century) wrote a story about our shop, said Ri Le. We had so much business after that story that I could quit one of my jobs and just open a restaurant.

These days, Ri Le Vietnamese remains one of the most iconic Tulsa restaurants.

No one knew anything about Vietnamese food when we got to Tulsa, said Ri Le. Of course, we didnt know anything about Oklahoma.

We learned. And people seemed to like our food.

In the 42 years since he arrived from Vietnam, Ri Le has carved out a career and raised a family of four children. We now have eight grandchildren and another on the way, he said. We are very lucky. We have had a good life.

American veterans often visit him at his restaurant, and they talk of the war. He understands the mixed feelings. He had them, also.

I was very angry for about the first 10 years I was here, said Ri Le. I had to let it go. It is in the past. I had to let go of the bad memories. It is like the television. If you dont like something, you change the channel. So it is with people.

Life is too short. Enjoy every minute. The best gift we can give is to smile. Everyone can give it. If you smile, you make people happy.

Hes made several trips home. He took his entire family because he wanted his parents to see his four children.

Then, about three years ago, his father died at age 97. So he made the long trip (including a nine-hour drive from Saigon) to his hometown of Nha Trang.

Now, he has two brothers who farm on the patch of land where he grew up.

If things had been different, maybe I would be a farmer, too, said Ri Le. But Im not. Im here, and Im happy. I have a wonderful family and friends. I have lots of reasons to be happy, so I am. I smile a lot.
The former chief public defender for Tulsa County died Sunday morning after stepping down from the position this summer because of health concerns.

Recently named chief public defender Corbin Brewster confirmed Rob Nigh Jr.s death to the Tulsa World on Sunday afternoon.

Nigh, 57, took over as chief public defender in March 2015, after serving as interim chief public defender for three months. Hed been practicing law for three decades when he took the job.

After resigning from the public defenders office in July because of a serious medical condition, Nigh went to work at the Brewster & DeAngelis law firm as he underwent treatment.

Rob Nigh stood for something beyond himself. He was a fierce advocate of the rule of law on both sides of the courtroom, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said.

He led by example in everything he did, and he did it with a sincerity that you could not help but admire. He will be greatly missed by myself and the rest of the legal profession.

As chief public defender, Nigh worked with Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado to allow defendants to visit with their attorneys at the jail soon after video arraignments. That allowed clients to have access to a more comprehensive defense, including help with housing and child care, the Tulsa World has reported.

Our prayers and thoughts are with the family and friends of Former Chief Public Defender Rob Nigh, as we all mourn his passing, said Regalado. He was a gentleman and true professional. He will be missed.

In his legal career, Nigh represented Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Timothy McVeigh from his indictment to his 2001 execution. He also advocated for defendants like Jacob England, who pleaded guilty to Tulsas Good Friday shootings; Robert Bever, who pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing his five family members in Broken Arrow; and Stanley Majors, who was accused in the alleged racially motivated fatal shooting of his Lebanese Christian neighbor.

Brewster said he didnt have any further comments, pending a discussion with Nighs family.
A decision to apply $7 million in Vision Tulsa funding to extend the rapid-transit bus route misses the spirit of its initial proposed use and feels like a slap in the face, says the leader of a north Tulsa group.

Lana Turner-Addison, president of the North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative and former Tulsa Public Schools board member, said she found out last week that the $7 million in Vision Tulsa funding related to a project she personally pitched to the City Council in 2015 had been planned for months to go toward extending the rapid-transit route on Peoria Avenue.

Im hurt, Turner-Addison said. This felt like a slap. Emotionally, I was offended. If I had one word, it feels like theft.

The Vision Tulsa project Peoria Connections was initially pitched in 2015 as a $21 million proposal for general infrastructure along Peoria Avenue from Mohawk Boulevard north to the city limits.

Through Vision Tulsa negotiations, the eventual project voted on was just $7 million for general improvements along the corridor.

Turner-Addison said she envisioned it largely going toward streetscaping and infrastructure to lure businesses and development in the area.

Nick Doctor, Mayors Office chief of community development and policy, told Turner-Addison the plans for the $7 million last week  to apply it toward extending the Aero rapid-transit bus route.

The mayor and council defined the project as Peoria Avenue improvements between Mohawk Boulevard and 56th Street North,  Doctor said. Following Visions passage, the mayor, council and city staff began the work of implementing projects according to the ordinances passed to guide Vision Tulsa.

Doctor said the Vision Tulsa advisory committee decided the highest, best use of the $7 million, in accordance with its legislative language, would be to use it for the bus route, which is anticipated to increase economic development and access to grocery stores and other services for the entire stretch of Peoria.

Asked if Turner-Addison was ever consulted or given the opportunity to defend her intent for the project she pitched, Doctor said she wasnt.

Is this final? Turner-Addison said she asked Doctor. He said, Yeah, its final. $900,000 is going to planning, $3 million is going to bus stations, and the next $3 million is paying for buses.

Doctor said the difference between the Vision Tulsa transit tax and the Vision Tulsa economic development tax on the bus-route project is that the transit tax is going only to operations, while the economic-development tax is being applied only to capital expenditures.

It feels like theft, Turner-Addison said. Its theft. It doesnt have to be your personal money. Its for the community. You can say BRT is for the community. It is. But you can go to other pots of money.

Turner-Addison said she doesnt think the use of the money for the bus route is necessarily illegal  it just felt wrong to her and like back-room dealing.

Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper, who represents the projects council district, said she supports the application of the $7 million for the bus route but also said she would support Turner-Addison having an opportunity to defend the original intent of her project.

Hall-Harper does not serve on the Vision Tulsa advisory committee.

If she requests a meeting with the committee, I would be in favor of that  that she be heard, Hall-Harper said. I do believe and stand behind the decision that has been made. Could it have been done better? Yes.

Councilor Blake Ewing, who serves on the advisory committee, said the question before the committee was simple: How can the $7 million be best spent to benefit the community?

It does allow the BRT line to go all the way to the city limit, which I think will spur development, Ewing said. It might not be how she (Turner-Addison) envisioned it, but Im convinced the BRT line running through that section of north Tulsa will help economic development.  It is the highest and best use.
She was killed by a family who suspected her of witchcraft resulting in the severe illness of their son. She was dragged and tied to a pole and was beaten mercilessly.

By Rohit Parihar: Rajasthan witnessed a shocking incident of witch branding on Saturday, which killed a 70-year-old woman, Champa Devi, in a village in Udaipur district.

She was killed by a family who suspected her of witchcraft resulting in the severe illness of their son. She was dragged and tied to a pole and was beaten mercilessly. Her son later rushed her to the hospital where she was declared brought dead.

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After local media highlighted how villagers under the influence of so-called tantriks and Bhopas were labelling women as a witches, seven such tantriks were arrested.

Witch doctors have a large following in tribal areas, despite the government having rural roads and transport network deep into interiors. The state has failed to have any effective policy to stop them despite having a law in place.

Unfortunately, in many such places, as it is happening in case of Champa Devi, her family members try to settle such murders by seeking compensation from accused which is known as the death price.

In a similar incident, last month, a woman was branded a witch and made to eat faecal matter in Ajmer last month. She too died after continous assaults.

Watch: After Gauri Lankesh's murder, Sagarika Ghose receives threat on Facebook; FIR registered

--- ENDS ---
A Sapulpa woman died Sept. 19 at a Tulsa hospital, four days after a two-vehicle collision on Oklahoma 51.

A 1999 Harley Davidson motorcycle and a 2012 Chevrolet Cruz collided on Sept. 15 on Oklahoma 51, about a mile west of Sand Springs, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report. Troopers state the cause of the collision and how it happened are still under investigation.

Ronny Elliott, 56, and his passenger, Rebecca Harris, 44, of Sapulpa, were flown to St. John Medical Center in critical condition with head, chest, arm and leg injuries, according to the report. Harris died at the hospital four days later.

The Cruz driver Roger Wall, 51, of Tulsa and two juvenile passengers were transported to a local hospital but were not admitted, according to the report.

Troopers state that helmets were not in use.
More than a year after a wastewater spill killed fish and turtles in Bird Creek in Osage County, water monitoring continues while oil producers, rejecting the Environmental Protection Agencys conclusions, are continuing their own operations.

Three producers were asked to shut down seven wastewater injection wells along a northern tributary of Bird Creek on the Chapman Ranch in August. All have either continued operations or resumed pumping with objections to the EPAs order.

As part of their appeals, public hearings will take place at the Tulsa County Courthouse on Oct. 11.

An oily sheen and dead fish and turtles first were reported Aug. 14, 2016, in Bird Creek and extreme temperatures and salinity levels were recorded on several occasions afterward.

Last month the EPA issued an order to cease injection operations at seven wells operated by Warren American Co., Jireh Resources and Novy Oil and Gas, on operations located on the Chapman Ranch, just west of the boundary of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.

The producers had 30 days to comply or register their objections to the order.

EPA Region 6 Administrator Sam Coleman said the agency stands by its decision to ask producers to stop wastewater injection, but he characterized the continuing process as a collaborative effort to work with producers to find a solution.

It is a process, he said. They can appeal, and they have this right, so we have to go through the process. ... Were going to see what information they provide and what evidence they will put to their side of the story.

Jireh Resources owner Lanny Woods said representatives of his company met with EPA officials at the site recently, saw water readings that were within acceptable levels and came away with a different view of the situation. His company is working through a Freedom of Information Act request process to obtain more of the EPAs data from Bird Creek for its own experts to analyze, he said.

There was a spill or something  no doubt something occurred, but it looks more to us like it was a one-time occurrence. Its not continuing, or the creek would be really salty still, he said. We wouldnt keep producing if we thought it was a problem; we dont want to mess up the creek by any stretch of the imagination. Hopefully down the road we can get their data and show what we believe happened and go from there.

Warren American Oil Co. initially shut down its wells but has resumed pumping, according to an email statement from John Burroughs, drilling and operations vice president in Tulsa. The company issued an email statement.

Warren American Oil Company is committed to help resolve the Bird Creek contamination issue, even though we believe that our operations are not responsible for the problem. We had recently shut-in our wells in the area, at the request of the EPA, to show our commitment to the environment. We have since re-started our operations in order to conduct diagnostic testing that will provide information to prove our innocence.

The company is working with its own consultants in the fields of hydrology and petroleum engineering, according to the statement.

The statement continues: The limited data that the EPA has thus far provided, in addition to the data we have recently collected, is very encouraging and indicates the Bird Creek contamination was not caused by our injection wells or operations. Warren American Oil looks forward to presenting our information at the public hearing that is in Tulsa on Oct. 11.

Three consecutive hearings in front of an EPA judicial officer, one for each company, will be held beginning 9:15 a.m. in Room 119 of the Tulsa County Courthouse, 500 S. Denver Ave., Coleman said.

A court reporter will be there to record all of the proceedings, and though attorneys likely will be present, its not a back-and-forth; its not that kind of hearing, he said.

The companies will have an opportunity to submit additional information or make presentations for the public record if they wish. Members of the public who have information specific to the situation at Bird Creek also will be welcome to sign in and testify, he said. The EPAs findings already are considered part of the record.

It will be highly technical information, most of it, specific to that situation at Bird Creek, Coleman said. The hearings are purely opportunities to present information on the record for the respondents as well as the public.

Technical information collected over several months is what led to the EPAs decision, he said.

We have kicked this around a lot, Coleman said. From my perspective it did take us awhile to analyze the data and collect enough information that we felt comfortable with the decision we proposed, which was to shut down the injection operations.

A decision based on all of the information gathered through the hearing process will be issued through the Region 6 office. If the companies disagree, they will have the option to take the matter to federal court, he said.
After more than a year of training to navigate massive bomber planes for the military, Tom Freeman suited up for his first combat mission. It would also be his last.

It was common knowledge that Germany was on the brink of surrender when the Eighth Air Force prepared for what turned out to be its final assignment of the war  destroying the last weapons manufacturing plant controlled by the Axis powers.

The target was Skoda Armament Works in Czechoslovakia, and its termination was decreed on April 25, 1945. Adolf Hitlers death came less than a week later. Germany officially surrendered less than two weeks after.

Many bemoaned being ordered to embark on a dangerous mission so close to the end of the war in Europe.

So why bother taking the risk? It wasnt to tack on another punch in the Allies clobbering of the Axis. It wouldnt speed up their defeat.

Rather, the U.S. military wanted to keep the weapons out of the hands of the Russians, whose army was quickly advancing and would soon be in position to capture the plant.

Freeman, a 19-year-old from the New York suburbs who landed in Europe a month earlier, accepted the news in stride.

Its what we were trained to do, said Freeman, now 92 and living in Tulsa. I didnt think about it.

Anxiety began to sink in when Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower notified the plant of the precise time the bombing was set to take place. The factory employed an estimated 40,000 people, mostly Czech civilians, and Eisenhower was more interested in wiping out its armament than its workers.

The Germans intercepted Eisenhowers message and sought to meet the incoming planes with as much artillery as they could muster.

It was just plain stupid, Freeman said about the generals announcement, though he also understood the importance of saving civilian lives.

The day of the attack was overcast. Low visibility forced the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress occupied by Freeman and nine other men to circle the target three times before the bomber could release its payload.

Flak from the anti-aircraft guns filled the sky, and 16 of the roughly 300 planes were shot down. Some of the downed airmen were captured, while others reportedly were executed by Germans and civilians.

The bombing run was a success, however, and the majority of planes safely returned to base in England. When Freeman exited his B-17, he noticed every aircraft received extensive flak damage. Holes the size of BBs pockmarked the fuselages and wings. It wouldnt have taken much to finish off the planes.

We were fortunate, he said. I had seen a plane spin out of the sky and watched the parachutes go down. It was an initiation for a first flight. And then all I could think about was how I was glad I didnt have to do that 25 more times.

As luck would have it, Freemans list of combat missions ended with his first. That number could have skyrocketed if he arrived in Europe a month or two earlier.

Freeman never was interested in combat. Every boy in his high school senior class knew they would be going to the military. His father encouraged him to seek a branch of service that required long training and kept him from the front lines. The idea came about that flying planes was the way to go.

He enlisted at 17 and set out for basic training after his 18th birthday. It didnt take long for him to learn he wasnt cut out to be a pilot, which didnt surprise him because he couldnt drive a car, either.

Navigation felt natural to him.

I qualified and did well on the navigational part of my exams, Freeman said. Id always been a reasonably good student in high school, and math was easy. I became a navigator.

It became his responsibility to calculate the aircrafts position to ensure the crew gets to where they need to go. Flight technology was more primitive then, and Freeman relied on tracking ground fixtures and celestial bodies to guide the plane.

The training for navigating a B-17 bomber took 18 months, keeping Freeman away from some of the bloodiest parts of the war.

Following Germanys surrender, Freeman was sent to Belgium to learn photo-reconnaissance work, which he did for about a year.

One of his more memorable experiences during this time was a day trip to the Nuremberg trials to witness the prosecution of prominent Nazi party members.

Freeman noticed a bulletin board one Friday afternoon with a signup sheet for anyone wanting to ride in a truck to Nuremberg, located about 50 miles from base. Most officers wanted to spend the weekend drinking, but Freeman was younger than his peers and didnt care to join them.

He hopped on the truck the next morning and found himself at the Palace of Justice  a court building chosen as the site of the trials because it was untouched by the war.

Hundreds filled the courtroom, along with 24 of the highest-ranking Nazis.

All of the major war criminals were there, the ones still living, Freeman said. What stuck to my mind was (Hermann) Goering. He was a big fat slob of a man. Just think of all the misery he had caused.

At the time I didnt really think so much about the trials. But later in life, I looked at that really as a unique experience. I realized it was really a part of history. These were men that had dominated the Nazi party and put on the war.

Freeman returned home in August 1946 and started college that fall to study psychology and English. He still finds it odd to think about what he accomplished before the age of 21.

Eventually he met the headmaster of Tulsas Holland Hall during a conference in New York. The headmaster persuaded Freeman to work at the school, so he moved to Tulsa and oversaw students for more than two decades.

Looking back at his time in the air corps, Freeman believes his experience helped prepare him for a career in education.

I think dealing with middle school students, you have to have a sense of humor, and it helped, he said. In the military, the only way you can really survive is to have a sense of humor about it all. Though I dont think I could have gone through the infantry. I dont know how I would have survived.
Cybercriminals cracked the computer system of Equifax and got away with critical financial information on 143 million American consumers.

The security breach of one of the nations three major consumer credit reporting agencies leaves a huge portion of the American public at risk of credit fraud and other forms of identity theft. The bad guys got away with names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and other sensitive records. The New York Times reports that credit card numbers for 209,000 consumers also were stolen.

Theyve got all they need to pull off the most massive theft in human history. Every American consumer  everyone with anything worth saving  should be very frightened.

Adding insult to the potential for enormous injury is frustrating response from Equifax. The breach started in May and lasted until July, and was discovered by the company on July 29, but was not reported to the victims and the public until September. The companys suggested responses  for consumers to review their credit reports and considering credit file freezes and fraud alerts  seem less than adequate and, thanks to the companys inability to deal with the situation, impossible to accomplish.

Nothing less than the stability of the U.S. economy is potentially at risk, which makes it an issue of national security.

Its time for Washington to assure us that the mighty weight of the U.S. intelligence network is being brought to bear to find and stop cyberattacks on our nations people and its economy. The crooks responsible for the Equifax breach must be found, stopped and prosecuted. To protect against the inevitable next effort, the nation must find truly secure systems for protecting itself against these attacks.

Its time for Congress to act to make sure that companies holding such vast storehouses of critical information have cybersecurity systems that are actually secure, and that they deal with breaches fully, quickly and effectively.

We should be able to sleep soundly, assured that our life savings are safe and that those who hold the electronic keys to those assets arent putting us at risk of ruin.
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By PTI: to seek SC nod to file report

Kochi, Sep 24 (PTI) The Kerala Womens Commission today said it would seek the Supreme Courts nod to file a fact- finding report on allegations of rights violations of a Hindu woman here, who married a Muslim man after converting to Islam, in the custody of her parents.

The decision to move the apex court was taken in view of complaints from various quarters that the rights of the 24- year-old woman were allegedly being violated, commission chairperson M C Josephine told reporters here.

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The woman was sent back to her parents house after the Kerala High Court recently annulled her marriage with the Muslim man, terming it as an instance of "love jihad".

The Supreme Court had, on August 16, ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to look into the conversion and marriage of the woman as the agency claimed it was not an isolated case but there was a "pattern" emerging behind these incidents in Kerala.

Josephine said the commission had received representations from various organisations, seeking its intervention following allegations of violation of the womans rights.

Since the matter was under the Supreme Courts consideration, the commission required its permission to meet the woman and her parents and file a fact-finding report before it, she added.

Josephine said the commission had received a legal opinion from an expert yesterday and based on it, it had decided to approach the top court.

Slamming a social media campaign being run by various groups in connection with the matter, she alleged that it was not being done to protect the rights of the woman.

"The commission is not interested in going after such a campaign. Such campaigns are not good. Such matters should be dealt strictly within the purview of law. All should cooperate to protect the democratic rights of the woman," Josephine said.

Directing the NIA to carry out an investigation into the incident under the supervision of a retired judge, the Supreme Court had said it wanted the probe to be fair.

The NIA, being an independent agency based outside Kerala, could carry out such an impartial investigation, it had added.

The apex court had directed the NIA to submit its final investigation report before it.

Challenging the high court order, Shafin Jahan, who had married the woman in December 2016, had moved the Supreme Court.

It had been alleged that the woman was recruited by the Islamic States mission in Syria and Jahan was only a stooge.

Ashokan K M, the womans father, had alleged that there was a "well-oiled, systematic mechanism" for conversion and Islamic radicalisation in Kerala. PTI TGB SS VS RC

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The key info

The matches

Tuesday's games



Group E: Sevilla v Maribor, Spartak Moskva v Liverpool

Group F: Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk, Napoli v Feyenoord

Group G: Besiktas v RB Leipzig, Monaco v Porto

Group H: Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid, APOEL v Tottenham Hotspur

Wednesday games

Group A: Basel v Benfica, CSKA Moskva v Manchester United

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munchen, Anderlecht v Celtic

Group C: Qarabag v Roma, Atletico Madrid v Chelsea

Group D: Sporting CP v Barcelona, Juventus v Olympiacos

All games at 20:45CET execpt Qarabag v Roma (18:00CET)

Matchday two memories

How to follow

Play and win

The big five: what to watch



Together again, naturally

Dortmund and Madrid are meeting in this competition for the ninth time in five years, and those previous eight games produced 27 goals, including two 2-2 draws in last season's group stage. In these side's 12 meetings overall, there have been no away wins.

The road to the (2019) final

Estadio Metropolitano stages its first European game this week Getty Images

Last week, Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano was picked to host the 2019 UEFA Champions League final and on Wednesday it stages its first European game as Chelsea visit Atletico, neither team having lost this season.

Messi's latest milestone

After striking twice against Juventus a fortnight ago, Lionel Messi is stood tantalisingly on 99 UEFA club competition goals. Cristiano Ronaldo did make it there first last season, but if Messi reaches his century on Wednesday, he will have done so in 121 games to the 144 is took his Portuguese rival.

Baku in the big time

Qarabag become the first Azerbaijani team to stage a UEFA Champions League group game, welcoming Roma to Baku's Olympic Stadium, named last week as venue for the 2019 UEFA Europa League final.

Match of the week?

Lots of candidates, but after their convincing opening wins, the showdown between Paris and Bayern stands out. Who would be surprised to see them meet again come May in Kyiv?
Dhaka  UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi today called for support to be ramped up for an estimated 436,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar in the last month, and the communities hosting them, and commended the Government and people of Bangladesh for their hospitality.

Their situation remains desperate, and we risk a dramatic deterioration if aid is not rapidly stepped up," he said, following a visit yesterday to Kutupalong Refugee Camp and other areas along the border where people have made their own shelters on tiny slivers of land. "The people I met were deeply traumatized, and despite having found refuge in Bangladesh, they are still exposed to enormous hardship," Grandi said on the final day of his visit to the country.

"The spontaneous outpouring of support from the local community and people, companies and associations across the country has been phenomenal," he said, noting that the government had mobilized efforts at all levels, and that UNHCR and other partners are also scaling up.

"Despite every effort by those on the ground, the massive influx of people seeking safety rapidly outpaced capacities to respond, and the situation has still not stabilized. More is needed, and fast, if we are to avoid further deterioration," Grandi said.

UNHCR has now airlifted three planes loaded with relief items into the country, and is distributing emergency shelter kits, kitchen sets and solar lamps. Our experts are working closely with the government to set up an organized site with water, sanitation and other facilities, and to register the new arrivals. Other international agencies and NGOs are also on the ground and playing an important role.

Grandi arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday  to see conditions for himself  after discussing the situation with Prime Minister Sheik Hasina, whom he met last week in New York at the annual gathering of the UN General Assembly. In Dhaka he is meeting the foreign minister as well as the ministers for home affairs and disaster management and relief.

I thanked Sheik Hasina and I thank Bangladesh for keeping its borders open to receive these refugees, Grandi said. In todays world that is something that cannot be taken for granted and should be appreciated.

Grandis visited the area around Coxs Bazar, where the UN Refugee Agency has been supporting the government in running two official camps since 1992. Over the years the number of registered refugees in the two camps has fluctuated and now stands at some 33,000. Before the latest influx, there were also an estimated 300,000 unregistered Rohingya refugees living in the area who fled Myanmar over the years.

Grandi met families who have lived in Kutupalong since 1992 and who have taken newly arrived refugees into their homes.

I talked to people who had experienced the most unimaginable horrors, Grandi said. They had seen villages burned down, families shot or hacked to death, women and girls brutalized. Many of the refugees said they would like to go home, but there needs an end to violence, and a restoration of rights inside Myanmar, Grandi said. The report issued in August by the Rakhine Advisory Commission, led by Kofi Annan, provides an important road map for addressing the root causes that have contributed to the current crisis.

Grandi discussed the importance of working towards solutions with Bangladeshi authorities and they agreed that a proper registration  conducted by the government and supported by UNHCR  will be crucial. A registration system would document where each individual refugee comes from and could help ensure everyone is eventually able to exercise the right to return when the time is right. UNHCR has maintained an international presence inside Northern Rakhine State, from where these refugees fled, although access has been restricted since the end of August.

Solutions to this crisis lie within Myanmar, Grandi said. "But for now, our immediate focus has to be to dramatically increase support to those who are so desperately in need."



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Seven-year-old Lera Holovko was all smiles as she entered school on September 1, holding a bouquet of red roses and ready to start the first lesson of her life.

Lera smiled despite the fact that she had woken up early to take a crowded bus to get to a school in Velyka Verhunka, a suburb of Luhansk, because the school in her village of Krasny Yar had been destroyed by shelling back in 2014.

The conflict in Ukraine has cost more than 10,000 lives and damaged at least 700 schools, including 55 since the beginning of 2017. Frequent exchanges of fire in areas near the line of contact continue to damage civilian infrastructure, and safety and security remain major concerns for nearly 800,000 people living in the countrys eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"I see some questions in their eyes. I see they are worrying."

On her first day at the newly reconstructed school, Lera proudly wore a big white bow on her head  a common local tradition  and a blue UNICEF rucksack on her back with essential stationery, delivered by UNHCR.

Teacher Antonina Strelets gave the first graders sheets of paper with sketches of white doves drawn on them.

Kids, what is the most important thing in life? she asked her class, as they began to color the sketches. Peace, they replied in unison. Someone added: And love.

Strelets, 53, said it was hard for her to be at the grand opening of the school year because it brought back memories of summer 2014, when her mother had been killed by shells that landed on her house.

On her first day at school, Lera proudly wore a big white bow on her head.  UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova

Students enjoy their first lesson at the reconstructed school in Luhansk.  UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova

Students take part in physical exercise after their first lesson.  UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova

The children attend an official ceremony marking the start of the school year.  UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova

The conflict in Ukraine has cost more than 10,000 lives and damaged at least 700 schools.  UNHCR/Anastasia Vlasova

Now the teacher notices that schoolchildren often have sad eyes. I see that they are anxious and tense, she said. I see some questions in their eyes. I see they are worrying  they get these worries from their parents.

She has also seen the conflict make many families significantly poorer, with children often experiencing a shortage of food and basic items such as clothes, books and toys. Many also miss their parents who must travel to make their living.

Leras mother has been disabled since childhood and the family live very modestly, without a father. They survive thanks to her grandmother who has worked as a concierge in Moscow for the last 15 years and earns around USD$245 per month.

With little money to prepare Lera and her sister Dasha, 13, for school, the family were delighted when Oleksandr Bakshy, the UNHCR shelter associate in Luhansk, brought a box of personal hygiene products, donated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the day before the school started.

I ran to the school and saw our caretaker crying at the entrance."

Bakshy also promised that his team would install a new door on their house after the previous one was destroyed by shelling.

Since opening its office in Luhansk in autumn 2015, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has become a major supplier of UN assistance in this area. Its staff have delivered shelter repair materials to more than 1,500 families, rehabilitated 88 houses and, in 2017 alone, helped to repair 89 schools.

Leras school in Velyka Verhunka is one of them. Back in August 2014, a mortar shell fell in the playground, smashing windows and starting a fire.

I ran to the school and saw our caretaker crying at the entrance, saying: Our school is burning, the school principal Olga Sergeyeva said. She said 13 civilians had been killed in the town, but fortunately all of the children survived.

"Its always loud in our school so we dont hear the sounds of shelling."

Now the hole from the shell is covered with grass, but the school walls and iron gymnastic bars are still pierced by shrapnel. A colorful bear, bunny and cat made from old car tires brighten up the playground and distract children from the conflict. It is never far away  the children know that a forest plantation behind their playground is a mined area and are told never to approach the Siversky Donets river, which is now a frontline. The presence of unexploded ordinance around civilian areas threatens local populations and affects livelihoods.

Principal Sergeyeva, 57, who has worked at the school since the early 1980s, said that children are often afraid of thunder and do not like fireworks. But the teachers try to involve them in various activities to help them forget about the ongoing conflict.

Its good that its always loud in our school so we dont hear the sounds of shelling here, Sergeyeva said.

With the conflict in Ukraine now in its fourth year, UNHCR continues to call on all parties involved to ensure protection of civilians and civilian areas from the consequences of fighting and shelling.
While most parents feel that the school is doing all it can to ensure safety on campus, a few still remain skeptical.

By Shalini Lobo: Ryan International School re-opened its Bhondsi branch on Monday after remaining shut for two weeks following the brutal murder of 7-year-old Pradhyuman Thakur inside the school's lavatory. The school opened on September 18, but each class hardly had an attendance of 5 students. Today, 845 students out of the school's total strength of 1200 students, were present.

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Parents have been personally assured by the Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh that their children's safety and security is priority for the administration and staff, and it is not something the authorities will comprimise with.

"The school has assured us of our child's safety through messages, notices and meetings. We can even see a change with CCTVs and more guards put in place", said Virendra Yadav, a parent who came to drop his child to school.

Around 45 CCTVs have been installed in the Bhondsi campus. A temporary boundary wall has been put up and construction of the boundary wall has begun. All the teaching and non-teaching staff have undergone police verification and now wear ID cards.

A metal detector has been placed as one enter the school premises. People are frisked by guards who enter. Parents have been provided ID cards. Visitors have to provide a proper identity proof.

Ryan International has even changed their security service providers. While most parents feel that the school is doing all it can to ensure safety on campus, a few still remain skeptical.

"I am scared to send my child to school and I know my son is scared as well. I've asked for a TC (transfer certificate) and the school has obliged", said Aravind. While Ryan International Bhondsi has been taken over by the state administration, many still ask who is monitoring the other branches of Ryan International group.

Are there any precautions put in place by the administration of several other branches Ryan group holds? And the big question still lurks, where is Ryan Pinto?

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By PTI: Jaipur, Sep 25 (PTI) Self-styled godman Swami Kaushlendra Prapannachari Falahari Maharaj, who was arrested on charges of raping a law student, has undergone a virility test, the police said today.

The samples will be sent to a forensic laboratory for confirmatory tests, SHO of Aravali Vihar police station Shishram Meena said.

The self-styled godman was arrested on Saturday by the Alwar Police after a 21-year-old women from Chhattisgarh, whose parents were his followers, filed a rape complaint earlier this month.

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Police have seized laptops, CDs, other gadgets and CCTV footage from Falahari Maharajs room and sent it for forensic examination, Meena said.

His judicial remand will end on October 6, he said. PTI AG DPB MIN DPB NSD

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UW Fall Semester Enrollment Increases

UW students socialize on Prexys Pasture during the Presidents Welcome Back Barbecue Aug. 30. UWs fall 2017 enrollment is up over last year, driven by increases in first-time freshmen and transfer students. (UW Photo)

Driven by a robust rise in first-time freshmen and transfer student numbers, enrollment at the University of Wyoming has increased in the fall 2017 semester.

Census data collected on the 15th day of classes tallied 1,696 new freshmen, an increase of 145 students, or 9.3 percent, from fall 2016. Additionally, 1,086 transfer students enrolled, up 119, or 12.3 percent, from last fall.

Overall, a total of 12,397 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled at the university, compared to 12,366 last fall. The 15th class day is used because it falls after the class drop/add deadlines, and after the first tuition and fee payment is due.

The increase reverses several years of declines in new student enrollment at UW.

The university leadership set a vision for enrollment growth, and the university community responded in a meaningful way, says Kyle Moore, UWs associate vice provost for enrollment management. UW ramped up its marketing and recruitment efforts; faculty and staff across campus engaged in student recruitment activities; and even alumni across the state and region joined in by writing letters to prospective students. Its this kind of collaborative effort and pride that sends a clear message to students that UW is serious about each students success.

UWs new freshman class is made up of 925 students from Wyoming and 771 from outside the state -- a 12 percent increase from last fall for residents and 6 percent increase for nonresidents.

The new transfer students come primarily from Wyoming -- 771, up from 717 last fall -- while out-of-state transfers rose to 315 from 250 last fall.

Those increases helped offset a 122-student drop in UWs senior class, as the university saw its largest-ever graduating class during the past academic year.

Also playing a role in the increase was a continuing rise in UWs fall-to-fall retention of first-time students. A record 78.1 percent of UWs first-time freshmen in the fall 2016 semester returned to the university this fall, the fifth straight year the retention rate has increased.

The total number of student credit hours increased by 1.7 percent to 151,524 this fall, a possible indication of continued movement in UWs efforts to encourage progress toward degree completion.

Here are some other highlights from the fall 2017 enrollment report:

-- The average ACT score for new freshmen is 24.7, up from 24.4 last year.

-- The Laramie campus has 10,396 students, compared with 10,341 last fall.

-- The number of graduate students increased to 2,606 from 2,578 last fall, a 1.1 percent increase.

For additional information or questions about UW enrollment, contact Moore at (307) 766-4286 or kyle.moore@uwyo.edu. Students interested in scheduling campus visits should call UW Admissions at 800-DIAL-WYO or go online at www.uwyo.edu/admissions/visit/index.html.
By PTI: By Aditi Khanna

London, Sep 25 (PTI) A seventh man was today arrested by British Polices counter-terrorism officers in connection with the bomb attack on a London underground train that injured 30 people earlier this month.

The 20-year old man was arrested at an address in Cardiff, Wales, early this morning under Section 41 of the UK?s Terrorism Act.

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He has been taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody, Scotland Yard said in a statement.

The arrests were carried out by officers from the Metropolitan Polices Counter-Terrorism Command, supported by colleagues from the Welsh Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU) and South Wales Police.

Officers are also carrying out a search at an address in Cardiff as part of the ongoing investigation into the attack at Parsons Green station in London on September 15 which injured 30 people.

It was Britain?s fifth major militant attack so far this year.

"So far, seven people have been arrested as part of the investigation being carried out by the Met?s Counter-Terrorism Command; one person has been charged in relation to the attack, three people remain in police custody and three people have been released with no further action,? the Met Police said.

Ahmed Hassan, believed to be of Middle Eastern origin, was the first suspect to be formally named by Scotland Yard last week as officers produced him before Westminster Magistrates? Court in London on Friday.

The 18-year-old, arrested a day after the London Tube bombing on September 15, was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey court in London on October 13.

The police had also revealed the explosive used by the prime suspect in the terror attack as triacetone triperoxide (TATP), similar to ingredients used in some of the previous terror attacks in Europe such Paris in November 2015. PTI AK PMS AKJ PMS

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By PTI: Patna, Sep 25 (PTI) Rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav today blamed the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh for the "barbaric" lathicharge on Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students.

"The students were staging a protest over a genuine demand. It was a small matter but the administration in Varanasi resorted to a barbaric lathicharge on them," he told reporters at the airport here.

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"The BHU is among the oldest educational institutions in the country. Such a sordid event has never happened anywhere in the country in the 70 years since Independence. This is the reason we are fighting against such forces," Yadav said.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the BHU, where a protest against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent on Saturday night.

Accompanied by suspended JD(U) Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar and former MP Arjun Rai among others, Yadav said he would tour Bihar for four days, starting today, to take feedback from the people against the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

He attacked the Narendra Modi government for allegedly not honouring its poll promises in the first three years of its rule.

"Modi had made promises like creating two crore jobs for the youth every year and enhancing the minimum support price to farmers, but none of the promises was kept," Yadav alleged.

He added that going by the prime ministers words, six crore jobs should have been created in the country by now, but instead, three crore jobs were lost "due to demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST)".

Yadav also came down heavily on the JD(U)-BJP government, headed by Nitish Kumar, in Bihar on the law-and-order situation in the state.

"The law-and-order (in Bihar) is ruined," he alleged.

The JD(U) faction, headed by Kumar, however, made light of Yadavs Bihar tour and dubbed the former party president as a "political tourist".

"Being a politician, he (Yadav) has the right to go to any place he wishes to. The people of Bihar are very happy with the new JD(U)-BJP government headed by Kumar. Hence, no one will pay any heed to Yadav during his tour of parts of Bihar as a political tourist," state JD(U) chief spokesman Sanjay Singh told PTI.

Both the JD(U) factions, headed by Kumar and Yadav respectively, have approached the Election Commission for recognition as the original party. PTI SNS NN RC

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For the past 25 years, Chinese investments in Vietnam and bilateral trade between the two nations has grown steadily despite issues such as the South China Sea and increasing cooperation between Vietnam and countries such as US, India, and Japan. The Chinese mainland has emerged as the eighth largest investor in Vietnam, with the actual FDI much higher if we include their affiliates in Hong Kong and Macau. Over 60 percent of all Chinese FDI focuses on manufacturing and processing, with a majority of the investment focused on labor-intensive industries.

Trade agreements

Both countries are parties to the ASEAN China FTA, which created the largest free trade area in the world. Apart from ASEAN China FTA, both countries are currently negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which includes the ASEAN member states, and the six states with which ASEAN has existing free trade agreements, which include Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.

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Bilateral trade

Trade volumes between the two nations have increased significantly in the last few years. Vietnamese exports to China increased at a faster pace in comparison to its imports. According to Chinese statistics, its exports to Vietnam grew by an average annual rate of 18 percent during 2010-2016, and its imports from Vietnam grew by 26 percent.

Major imports

Over 70 percent of Chinese imports into Vietnam are intermediate goods such as machinery, electrical and electronic products, textiles and fabrics, base metals and minerals, and chemicals. In the last 2-3 years, other goods such as plastic and clothing products for consumer purposes also accounted for a small part of Chinese imports in Vietnam.

In the first seven months of 2017, China has emerged as the largest exporter to Vietnam at US$ 31.59 billion, an increase of 15.3 percent compared to the same period in 2016. The below information is the percentage share of different product in total imports.

Major exports

Major Vietnamese exports to China include machinery, electrical and electronic products which account for more than half of the total exports. Other products include food items, cotton, fuel, and oil products.

Vietnams exports in the first seven months of 2017 stood at US$ 15.62 billion. The below information is the percentage share of different product in total exports.

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Chinese FDI in Vietnam

Chinas first FDI in Vietnam was in 1991 when a Guangxi enterprise (China) joint ventured with a Vietnam group to open Hoa Long restaurant in Hanoi. Since then, Chinese FDI has increased, although not consistently. For example, Chinas FDI in Vietnam in 2012 was US$ 312 million, while in 2013; it rose to US$ 2.3 billion. Chinas 2016 FDI in Vietnam accounted for 7.7 percent of the total FDI at US$1.88 billion.

Cumulative FDI

As of March 2017, the cumulative Chinese FDI stood at US$ $11.19 billion for 1,616 active projects. The average capital per project was US$6.9 million, much lower than the overall average. Chinese investment is mostly in the processing and manufacturing industry, accounting for 61.4 percent of total investment capital, followed by production and distribution of electricity, gas, and water, and air conditioning at 18.2 percent and real estate at 5.6 percent.

Binh Thuan province attracted the most FDI, with total registered investment capital of US$2.03 billion, for only seven projects, accounting for 18.1 percent of the total FDI from China.

Market entry strategy for FDI firms

As much as 80 percent of all engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts in Vietnam are awarded to Chinese contractors, accounting for 18.4 percent of total registered capital to be in the form of build-operate-transfer (BOT), build-transfer (BT), and build-transfer-operate (BTO) contracts. In a close second, joint ventures, business cooperation contracts, or joint stock companies account for 15 percent of the total registered capital. In terms of FDI, investments from affiliates in Macau and mostly Hong Kong have outweighed FDI from the Chinese mainland.

Commercial presence

There are numerous ways to establish a commercial presence in Vietnam.

Representative Office

This is the most common form of presence in Vietnam for foreign companies, particularly those in the first stage of a market entry strategy. A representative office cannot conduct commercial or revenue generating activities.

Limited-liability Company

It may take the form of either:

A 100% foreign-owned enterprise; or

A foreign-invested joint-venture enterprise between foreign investors and at least one domestic investor.

Joint-stock Company

A joint-stock company is a limited liability legal entity established through a subscription for shares. By law, this is the only type of company that can issue shares. A joint-stock company may be either 100 percent foreign-owned or a joint venture between both foreign and domestic investors.

Partnerships

A partnership can be established between two individual general partners.

Business Cooperation Contract (BCC)

A BCC is a cooperation agreement between foreign investors and at least one Vietnamese partner in order to carry out specific business activities.

Public and Private Partnership Contracts

A Public and Private Partnership (PPP) contract is an investment form carried out based on a contract between the government authorities and project companies for infrastructure projects and public services.

Major FDI projects

Overall, the Chinese mainland is the eight largest investor in Vietnam, with the US$1.76 billion Vinh Tan 1 power plant being the biggest investment. In addition, other major projects include the US$400 million Viet Lan Tire Plant in Tay Ninh province and the US$337.5 million Vietnam-China Mining and Metallurgy project in Lao Cai province.

In the textile industry, Texhong Group built a US$300 million fiber plant in Quang Ninh Province in 2013. To further their investments in 2014, they also started building the Texhong Hai Ha Industrial Zone with a total investment of US$215 million and another US$300 million for a few more textile plants in the zone.

Some of the other major projects in Vietnam include the Hung Nghiep Formosa Dong Nai Textile Limited Company project in Nhon Trach Industrial Park, Viet Luan tire project in Tay Ninh province, Tan Cao Tham rubber processing plant, the Vietnam-China Mining and Metallurgy project in Lao Cai province, the Thai Nguyen iron and steel plant extension, the Cat Linh- Ha Dong urban railway project, and the Da River water pipeline project.

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Vietnams Competitive Advantages

Vietnams current competitive advantages are very similar to that of Chinas around 10 to 15 years ago; low wage, low-tech, and export-focused manufacturing. As China moves up the value chain, Vietnam is taking its place and emerging as an alternative for investors.

Major advantages in Vietnam include:

Low minimum wages

According to Trading Economics, the average minimum wage in 2016 in Vietnam was US$136/month, while in China it was much higher at around US$300/month. Wage difference has led numerous labor-intensive industries such as textiles and footwear to shift their manufacturing hubs to Vietnam;

Trade agreements

Chinese investors increased their investments in the last few years in the anticipation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was unfortunately canceled under the new US administration. However, while China pushes for their own China EU FTA, the EU Vietnam FTA is expected to be ratified, hopefully by next year, offers investors an alternative way to reach the EU market;

Infrastructure and connectivity

Vietnam has over 100 ports throughout the country, with major ports being the Hai Phong, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. In anticipation of growing exports, ports in Vietnam are currently undergoing upgrades to increase capacity.

In addition, the railway infrastructure also is a major component of the economy. In the first quarter of 2017, 166,200 tons of freight was shipped by rail on the trans-border line, which was a 66.2 percent increase from the same period last year, and a 12-year record.

Around 60 percent of the rail network in Vietnam are in the Northern provinces, with several new railway lines proposed to increase the connection between the North and South.

RELATED: China  India Business Relations Robust Despite Border Hype

The need to do more

In the last two decades, Vietnam has implemented numerous investor-friendly reforms to attract investments, but going forward it needs to do more. The country needs to develop their support industries and move up the value chain. The government has introduced incentives policies for the development of support industries and aims to meet 45 percent of local production demand by 2020, and 70 percent by 2030.

Vietnam also needs to move up the value chain and not just highlight itself as an alternative to China. The country lacks R&D investments and high-skilled labor and needs to make changes in the education sector, IP protection laws, and high-tech investor-friendly policies for a sustainable growth. As of now, manufacturers investing in Vietnam still have to rely on the Chinese mainland or other neighboring regions for high-tech production processes.

Future of bilateral relations

Going forward, China has to focus on their existing projects in Vietnam to gain consumer confidence to be successful in the Vietnamese market. Recent China-backed projects in areas such as urban railway, metals, textiles, and energy have suffered from quality concerns, delays, and cost overruns leading to public scrutiny.

In spite of numerous geopolitical differences, both countries will continue to focus on increasing economic cooperation. Vietnam is seeking more investments in high-tech industries, support industries, renewable, clean energy, and tech transfer; however, China will be pushing for a more balanced trade and Chinese companies will continue to invest in industries such as agriculture, aviation, environment, high technology, transport, tourism, and healthcare. Economic exchanges will continue to act as a stimulus for the revival of bilateral relations.

Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure

Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN, and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam. Compiled by Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, this guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, payroll, and social insurance in this dynamic country.



Managing Contracts and Severance in Vietnam

In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the prevailing state of labor pools in Vietnam and outline key considerations for those seeking to staff and retain workers in the country. We highlight the increasing demand for skilled labor, provide in depth coverage of existing contract options, and showcase severance liabilities that may arise if workers or employers choose to terminate their contracts.
This is the fifth year that Honeywell has sponsored this scholarship programme. In addition to serving Hanoi University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, and PetroVietnam University, the scholarships this year also will include students from Danang University of Science and Technology.

Five students from each university will be offered cash scholarships. In addition, four of the scholars will conduct internships at the US research and development campus of Honeywell UOP, a recognised global leader in refining and petrochemical technology. The chemical engineering students selected for internships will further develop their skills through direct participation with UOP technology.

Not only does this scholarship programme provide funds for these students education, but it also allows them to experience working side-by-side with our engineers and experts, said Jim Rekoske, vice president and chief technology officer of Honeywell UOP. Working with leading universities in Vietnam, our program invests in the next generation of Vietnams scientific and research talent, which will benefit the countrys refining, gas processing and petrochemical industries for many years.

The eight-week internship was a valuable opportunity for me to obtain the latest knowledge and experience from the leading company in petroleum engineering, said Dinh Thi Ha Phuong, student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, and one of the students who completed an internship at Honeywell UOP last summer. I was invigorated by the experience, and I look forward to applying my new expertise in my work in Vietnam.

In addition to the scholarships and internships, Honeywell UOP also provides an annual lecture series in refining and petrochemicals to each of 12 leading universities in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and The Philippines. The lecture series contributes greatly to the academic curriculum in chemical engineering at these institutions, helping to develop a strong pool of talent in the industry across the region.

Honeywell started operations in Vietnam in 2005 with offices set up in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Technologies from Honeywell UOP are being used in PetroVietnams Dung Quat refinery, the first refinery to be built in Vietnam, and many others.

Honeywell also provides a wide range of solutions and technology in Vietnam, including avionics systems, power equipment and parts for aircraft engines, security systems, process control solutions, building automation solutions and specialty materials.

Honeywell Educators at Space Academy welcomes eight Vietnamese participants Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and long-term partner, the US Space & Rocket Center (USSRC), welcomed more than 200 middle school teachers from 33 countries and 45 US states and territories to Honeywell Educators at Space Academy (HESA).

Honeywell acquires industrial cyber security firm Nextnine Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced signing a definitive agreement to purchase Nextnine, a privately held provider of security management solutions and technologies for industrial cyber security.

Honeywell upbeat about Vietnamese growth American conglomerate Honeywell anticipates to raise its market share in Vietnam, one of its top growing markets.
The district of An Minh is believed to have suffered most from the landslides, with nearly 37km of shore damaged.

Vo Thi Kim Loan, of An Minh Districts Van Khanh Commune, said her house was located in a place surrounded by mangrove forest five years ago. However, the landslides have seriously damaged the forest.

It puts my house at risk of being affected by landslides, she said.

This forced her to pay dozens of millions of ong to reinforce the sea dyke near her house to prevent landslides each year, she said.

Nguyen Thanh Dien, a forest protector in Van Khanh Communes Kim Quy B Village said that ten years ago, the mangrove forest protected all aqua farms, but in recent years, landslides had reduced the area of mangrove forest in the village from more 40,000sq.m to 4,000sq.m.

Shrimp and fish raised in aqua farms were often swept away by high tides because there was no protective forest, he said.

Vo Minh Le, secretary of the districts Party Committee said, Serious landslides are strongly impacting the daily lives of local residents.

If we dont devise a workable solution for the situation, the protective forest will totally disappear in the next two years, he said.

Administrations efforts

Nguyen Van Tam, director of the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department said the agricultural sector had worked with localities to make plans to fix the situation.

Evacuating local residents in areas facing serious landslides was a short-term solution, while in the long-term, the sea-dyke system should be re-built and the mangrove forest recovered to prevent landslides, he said.

Previously, the provincial Peoples Committee ordered the agricultural sector to work with the Peoples Committee of An Minh District to give solutions for the situation.

The provincial Peoples Committee also asked district authorities to create mudflats along the 4-km seashore to reduce the impacts of high waves, worth VND120 billion (US$5.2 million).

The provincial committee said it sent a report to the National Steering Committee on Natural Disasters Prevention and Control to ask for financial support to deal with the situation.

Huynh Dang Khoa, deputy director of Project Management Division under the agricultural department said the province was finishing procedures to soon implement a project of Mekong Delta Integrated Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods in 2018.

The project, worth VND736 billion (US$32.3 million), would build infrastructure, prevent seashore erosion and support people in aqua farming in two districts of An Bien and An Minh.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles during a statement on the parliament election at the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Union CDU in Berlin. ( Photo source: AP/Matthias Schrader)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles during a statement on the parliament election at the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Union CDU in Berlin. ( Photo source: AP/Matthias Schrader)

Merkel, who after 12 years in power held a double-digit lead for most of the campaign, scored around 33 per cent of the vote with her conservative Christian Union (CDU/CSU) bloc, according to exit polls.

Its nearest rivals, the Social Democrats and their candidate Martin Schulz, came in a distant second, with a post-war record low 20-21 per cent.

But in a bombshell for the German establishment, the anti-Islam, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) captured around 13 per cent, making it the country's third biggest political force.

Commentators called the AfD's strong performance a "watershed moment" in the history of the German republic. The top-selling Bild daily called it a "political earthquake".

Supporters gathered at the party headquarters in Berlin cried out with joy as public television reported the outcome, many joining in a chorus of the German national anthem.

The four-year-old nationalist party with links to the far-right French National Front and Britain's UKIP has been shunned by Germany's mainstream but was able to build on particularly strong support in ex-communist eastern Germany.

It is now headed for the opposition benches of the Bundestag lower house, dramatically boosting its visibility and state financing.

Alarmed by the prospect of what Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel branded "real Nazis" entering the Bundestag for the first time since World War II, the candidates had used their final days of campaigning to implore voters to reject the populists.

'BIG NEW CHALLENGE'

Merkel basked in her win but admitted that she had fallen far short of the 40 per cent goal her party set.

"There's a big new challenge for us, and that is the entry of the AfD in the Bundestag," said Merkel, adding: "We want to win back AfD voters."

Germans voted in a splintered parliament, reflecting an electorate torn between a relatively high degree of satisfaction with Merkel and a desire for change after more than a decade of her leadership.

Another three parties cleared the five per cent hurdle to be represented in parliament: the liberal Free Democrats at around 10 per cent and the anti-capitalist Left and ecologist Greens, both at about nine per cent.

As Merkel failed to secure a ruling majority on her own and with the dejected SPD ruling out another right-left "grand coalition" with her, the process of coalition building was shaping up to be a thorny, potentially months-long process.

Merkel, 63, often called the most powerful woman on the global stage, ran on her record as a steady pair of hands in a turbulent world, warning voters not to indulge in "experiments".

Pundits said Merkel's reassuring message of stability and prosperity resonated in greying Germany, where more than half of the 61 million voters are aged 52 or older.

Her popularity had largely recovered from the influx since 2015 of more than one million mostly Muslim migrants and refugees, half of them from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

BREAKING TABOOS

But the AfD was able to capitalise on a wellspring of anger over the asylum issue during what was criticised as a largely lacklustre campaign bereft of real clashes among the main contenders.

The party has made breaking taboos its trademark.

Top AfD candidate Alexander Gauland has called for Germans to shed their guilt over two world wars and the Holocaust and to take pride in their veterans.

He has also suggested that Germany's integration commissioner Aydan Ozoguz, who has Turkish roots, should be "disposed of in Anatolia".

Law student Sabine Maier dismissed the AfD as "too extreme" as she voted in Berlin.

But she also criticised the media for lavishly covering the most outrageous comments by the upstart party. "They aren't all fascists," she said.

MERKEL BOUND FOR 'JAMAICA'

The SPD said its catastrophic result would lead it to seek a stint in opposition to rekindle its fighting spirit.

"This is a difficult and bitter day for German social democracy," a grim-faced Schulz, a former European Parliament chief, told reporters, adding that he hoped to remain party leader.

This would leave Merkel in need of new coalition partners.

If the SPD sticks to its refusal to play ball, mathematically the most likely scenario would be a link-up with the pro-business Free Democrats, who staged a comeback after crashing out of parliament four years ago, and the left-leaning Greens.

That so-called "Jamaica" coalition, based on the party colours and the Caribbean nation's flag, would be a risky proposition, given the differences between the parties on issues ranging from climate policy to migration issues.

Schulz, 61, struggled to gain traction with his calls for a more socially just Germany at a time when the economy is humming and employment is at a record low.

The SPD also found it hard to shine after four years as the junior partner in Merkel's grand coalition, marked by broad agreement on major issues, from foreign policy to migration.
The festival, themed flying over ripening rice fields, was part of the Muong Lo Culture Tourism Week, which was underway in Nghia Lo town of Yen Bai province until September 29.

The two-day festival aimed to honour the beauty of local terraced fields as well as encourage the protection of natural landscape and highlight the hard work of local people over the centuries to create the fields.

It is the biggest annual paragliding event of Vietnam, attracting thousands of people to Khau Pha pass, one of the longest mountain passes in Vietnam at more than 1,200 metres above sea level.

Vu Tien Duc, Chairman of Mu Cang Chai district Peoples Committee, said the festival contributes greatly to promoting images of Vietnams terraced fields and specialties of the district.

Mu Cang Chai served an average of about 30,000 visitors each year before and the figure was 45,000 in 2016.

In May, a paragliding festival was also held in Khau Pha, with 100 paragliders participating in the event as part of the Yen Bai Tourism Year in response to the 2017 National Tourism Year.
Experts are calling on the Government to reform the system of credit guarantee funds that are designed to increase SMEs access to long-term financing.- VNA/VNS Photo

Though SMEs account for 97 per cent of the countrys firms and 60 per cent of the total number of jobs throughout the country, they face a range of problems, including limited technology and management expertise and a lack of available financing -70 percent of SMEs report they have been unable to access credit. The Government has been eager to support such firms, but the Ministry of Planning and Investment pointed out that the impact of 80 per cent of SME support programmes and policies have not been evaluated, while others, including credit guarantee funds, have demonstrated clear problems.

According to Dang Duc Anh from the National Centre for Socio-Economic Information and Forecast, the efficiency of these funds in supporting SMEs credit access remains disappointing. The funds were established to provide credit for firms unable to meet banks stricter lending standards.

Duc Anh pointed out that it has been over 16 years since the last Prime Ministers decision on issuing SME credit guarantee funds was issued. Since then, only 27 such funds have been established, while many have minimal financial capacity and have not even reached the minimum capital requirement of VND30 billion (US$1.3 million).

The total charter capital of SME credit guarantee funds is estimated at only around VND1.5 trillion, which provides guarantees for just 3.2 per cent of SMEs total outstanding loans of VND1.3 quadrillion.

The funds have also not significantly improved SMEs ability to secure financing: nearly three-quarters of SMEs have failed to access credit, according to the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Credit guarantee funds have demanded excessively strict requirements for SMEs to receive their guarantees, including requirements on mortgage assets that are little different from the lending policies of banks, according to Duc Anh.

If SMEs already have mortgage assets, they can borrow money from banks and might not need guarantees from the funds, he added.

Nguyen Thi Lan from the University of Foreign Trades Finance and Banking Faculty told chinhphu.vn that credit guarantee funds should not seek to avoid risks by limiting their operations or setting excessively strict lending requirements. The funds must provide other options, she added.

Experts have stressed that a policy of risk sharing between credit guarantee funds and banks should be adopted. Under such a policy, the funds and banks will share the responsibility of paying off the remaining debts of enterprises if they become insolvent. The potential ratio could be 80 per cent for the funds and 20 per cent for the banks, or 70 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively. The funds are currently responsible for paying off 100 per cent.

Tran Thi Thanh Tu from Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, stressed that credit guarantee funds should co-operate with SME associations in evaluating loan guarantees.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold talks with her US counterpart James Mattis here tomorrow with the focus on taking bilateral military ties to the next level.

During his India visit from September 26-27, the US Defence Secretary will also meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.

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This is the first Cabinet-level visit from the US to India under the Trump administration.

Prior to holding talks, Mattis will lay a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and inspect tri-service guard of honour at the South Block lawns.

Discussions between the two sides are expected to focus on developing new institutional mechanisms to elevate the status of India-US defence relationship, the sources said.

The focus will also be on taking the ties to the next level and the sale of high-tech defence equipment.

Mattis is also expected to discuss how to move forward on Indias major defence partner designation, the sources said.

The two leaders are likely to discuss the US new Afghan strategy and the developments in the Indo-Pacific, amid increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

Trump, while announcing his new Afghan policy, had asked India to do more to help Afghanistan with its developmental needs.

While no specific defence trade deal is likely to be announced during Mattis India visit, the sources said there would be discussions on two specific proposals of F-16 and F- 18A under Modis Make in India campaign, along with efforts to identify new projects under the ambitious Defence Technology and Trade Initiatives (DTTI).

The Trump administration wants to sell F-18 and F-16 fighter planes to India, built by American companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin respectively. Both companies have offered to assemble these planes in India. PTI PR ASK ASK

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The Ministry of Finance's inspection found Uber's tax payments lacking

After inspecting Uber BVs tax records since it started operations in Vietnam in 2014 to June 2017, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Taxation has requested Uber BV to pay its tax arrears.

Notably, Uber BV will have to pay VND10.5 billion ($461,589) in withholding tax, as well as VND26.3 billion ($1.16 million) of VAT and more than VND14.6 billion ($641,841) applied to personal income tax.

Besides, the taxation authority issued a fine of VND10.3 billion ($452,805) for its false declaration leading to the lack of tax that the company has to pay and the company will have to repay the tax worth VND4.9 billion ($215,412) that it has yet to pay due to false declaration.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Taxation asked Uber BV to pay the tax arrears of VND66.68 billion ($2.93 million) within ten days of receiving the authoritys decision, otherwise it will be subject to enforcement measures.

Nguyen Nam Binh, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Taxation told Vnexpress that Uber BV agreed with the authoritys findings, with the exception of the corporate income tax. It also requested the taxation authority to provide an exemption over this tax, as the enterprise operates as a foreign contractor in Vietnam.

Damian Kassabgi, Uber's director of public policy for the Asia-Pacific, promised that the company will comply with Vietnamese regulations. However, Uber BV had yet to grasp their tax obligations in Vietnam and was unaware of the arrears until MoFs recent official letter clarified their situation.

Previously, traditional taxi firms claimed that they have been subject to a variety of taxes and charges, while Uber and Grab Taxi were only subject to a tax rate of 4-5 per cent.

With about 30,000 taxis in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, traditional taxi firms must pay an average VND2 trillion ($91.7 million) in taxes annually, while the tax agencies have collected only VND20 billion ($879,234) per year from the 31,000 Uber and Grab cars.

Before traditional taxi firms started voicing complaints, in July, the General Department of Taxation sent a document requesting the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Taxation to inspect both Uber BV and GrabTaxi. However, only the investigation results of Uber BV has been disclosed.
Britain's restaurant sector could face an annual shortage of up to 60,000 workers skilled staff after Brexit, a survey showed. AFP/Tolga Akmen

LONDON: As EU nationals leave Britain in ever greater numbers ahead of Brexit, restaurants like pizzeria chain Franco Manca are reporting shortages that could spell trouble for a sector that relies on immigrant labour.

The number of EU nationals leaving Britain, most of them from central Europe, rose by 33,000 to 122,000 people during the 12 months to March, according to the latest data following last year's Brexit referendum.

Franco Manca's parent company, Fulham Shore, said the prospect of new controls on immigration when Britain leaves the bloc was "already affecting the availability of skilled European restaurant staff".

The company, where only 20 per cent of the staff are British, said it was implementing "a number of incentive schemes" to persuade Europeans to stay.

Owners worry that British workers may not be able or willing to fill the gap left by departing Europeans.

The hospitality industry currently has the highest proportion of unfilled jobs in Britain, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

And the situation is worsening, with 4.3 per cent of hospitality jobs vacant in June to August 2017, compared with 3.5 per cent a year earlier.

"DIFFICULT" TO FIND BRITISH STAFF

Alex Wrethman, the head of Charlotte's group of bistros in west London, said EU nationals were being put off by the sharp fall in the value of the pound against the euro since the Brexit vote.

The currency devaluation was "effectively a pay cut for them" as it decreased the value of remittances.

Wrethman said he struggled to find Britons who were as committed to the job as their European colleagues.

"It's difficult to find a British person to get out of bed to wash dishes," said Wrethman, who started working in the restaurants he now owns as a teenager.

"It's tied up with something historic. It's a class thing," Wrethman said.

On a break from chopping avocados and smoked salmon for brunches, the head chef of Charlotte's newest restaurant complained of a "bleak time for the industry", where he thinks his British background and willingness to work long hours make him a rarity.

"We're very reliant on Eastern Europeans ... There's very few British chefs," Mike Carter said.

"I genuinely believe the industry is two or three years away from imploding."

Leaked government proposals for restricting the stay of low-skilled EU workers to just two years, would be "catastrophic" for the industry, according to trade body, the British Hospitality Association.

"Reports of hospitality businesses struggling to recruit new staff are becoming increasingly common," BHA chief Ufi Ibrahim told AFP.

"The decline in the value of the pound is a factor, but so too is the prospect of a more restrictive immigration regime."

A BHA-commissioned KPMG survey warned that if EU immigration is halted after Britain's EU exit in March 2019, the sector would face a "recruitment crisis" and an annual shortage of 60,000 workers.

SLOGANS ON BEER MATS

However, Tim Martin, chief executive of JD Wetherspoon, has a markedly more sunny outlook for his chain of pubs, which employs 37,000 staff of whom around five per cent are EU nationals.

A major supporter of Brexit, Martin printed pro-Leave slogans onto beer mats in the run-up to the referendum and donated 200,000 ($27,000) to Vote Leave.

Tim Martin, chief executive of British pub chain JD Wetherspoon, who printed pro-Leave slogans onto beer mats in the run-up to the Brexit referendum, said it has become "a bit more difficult to recruit". AFP/OLI SCARFF

He derides the free movement laws designed by "unelected bureaucrats" in the EU, but would welcome immigration based on "some sort of points system like the United States or Australia or New Zealand".

As bar staff served customers English breakfasts, he said he was not facing any staff shortages but conceded that "it has become a bit more difficult to recruit".
Homes lay scattered after the passing of Hurricane Maria in Roseau on Saturday. Maria hit Dominica last Monday with Category 5 winds of 160 mph.
Equifax CEO Richard Smith and his company are facing tougher regulations from the credit monitoring industry after the company announced that Social Security numbers of about 143 million Americans was exposed.
What exactly a giant like Nestle gets when it buys an upstart like Blue Bottle
The offices and residence of CCD's founder owner VG Siddharthawere searched for last four days. I-T department founr Rs 650 crore concealed income.

By Indo-Asian News Service: The Income Tax Department raids on Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) retail chain since Thursday found Rs 650 crore concealed income from the documents seized, said an official on Sunday.

"Documents seized from the search operations at 25 places of Cafe Coffee Day and its group companies in Karnataka, Mumbai and Chennai have revealed concealed income of over Rs 650 crore," a senior tax official told IANS here.

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The search and seize operations, which began on September 21, concluded on Sunday evening in the offices of the group involved in coffee, tourism, IT and other areas.

"The searches concluded with the group's officials admitting to concealed income exceeding Rs 650 crore and the detection of undisclosed income, which is expected to be a much higher figure," said another tax official in an e-mail to IANS.

The offices and residence of CCD's founder owner VG Siddhartha and its other officials in Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Mysuru across Karnataka were also searched during the last four days. Siddhartha is the elder son-in-law of former External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, who was also Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004 but earlier this year left the Congress to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"There are a number of other issues, including violations of other statutes on which there is no disclosure but relevant evidence has been found. These will be pursued effectively as part of our investigation," added the official in the e-mail.

The raids were conducted under the directions and supervision of the Income Tax Department's Investigation Cell Director-General B.R. Balakrishnan.

The corporate office of the Amalgamated Bean Coffee (ABC) Trading Company, which runs the CCD's retail outlets across the country, its branch offices at Chikkamagaluru, Mudigere and Sakeleshpur in Karnatakas' Malnad region were also searched during the exercise.

"Though we have found and seized a number of documents related to properties, business transactions and other dealings, they are subject to scrutiny for violations, if any," added the official.

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The Ministry for Heritage has announced that three new interpretation panels have been placed within our Old Town in order to provide information on our Medieval History, namely our Islamic and Spanish Periods.
Mr and Mrs Wahnons 60th Wedding Anniversary

Mr and Mrs Leslie Wahnon recently celebrated their Diamond Wedding (60th Wedding Anniversary). To make the occasion all the more special, they received a personalised message from Her Majesty The Queen.

His Excellency The Governor said, This is such a wonderful occasion; and it should not go by without being recognised and celebrated as a truly fantastic milestone. I wish them both many more happy and fulfilling years together.
Joint Ministerial Council on Brexit Meets in London

The fourth meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council between the Gibraltar and United Kingdom Governments took place this morning at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall.

The Gibraltar delegation was led by the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and included the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, who is responsible for work related to Gibraltar's departure from the European Union, the Attorney General Michael Llamas, the Financial Secretary Albert Mena and U.K. Representative Dominique Searle.

The meeting was chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Exiting the EU Robin Walker MP and included Economic Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Barclay MP. There were officials present from the Cabinet Office, the Department for Exiting the European Union, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office, the Treasury, DEFRA, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of International Trade.

The meeting reviewed the positive progress that has been achieved by the working groups over the summer months on on-line gaming and financial services. It was also agreed to establish new groups on the border, the environment, trade and investment and transport.

There will now be detailed follow-up work with lead departments on the discussion papers which the U.K. published over the summer.
When Sonam Kapoor is gracing a red carpet, how can heads not turn in amazement?

By Shivani Chhabra: Every time Sonam Kapoor saunters down a red carpet, we have a re-realisation of why we can never get enough of this gorgeous lady and her fashionable appearances.

From being the forerunner of avant-garde fashion in the country to making basic Indian traditional attires look trendy, Sonam has mastered the art of acing the best of both worlds.

Photo: Yogen Shah

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Also Read: Sonam Kapoor in Indian-fusion attires against the New York skyline is a sight to behold

While we're still in awe of those innumerable looks that Sonam has bestowed upon us time and again, she just gave us all the more reason to go gaga over her brilliant red-carpet fashion choices.

Photo: Yogen Shah

Sonam graced the glitzy red carpet of the Vogue Women of the Year Awards, and looked nothing less than the Queen of the Jungle, in her amazon-green gown.

Ms Kapoor was a majestic sight in the green ensemble by Fouad Sarkis Couture, which was dripping with elegance, thanks to the eye-catching, massive bishop sleeves. The strapless number looked royal, as it exuded just the right amount of sheen, and boasted some subtle ruffles around Sonam's waist.

Photo: Yogen Shah Photo: Yogen Shah

Also Read: Sonam Kapoor's tacky skirt and gold jewellery will make you feel uneasy

Though the attire had a decent train and flare emerging from the waistline, we can't really get over how magnificently the fish-cut attire accentuated Sonam's lean body.

The diva that Sonam is, she pulled off a bright red lip colour with this bold number that further jazzed up her sultry look. She finished the look with a pair of well-matched emerald drop-down earrings, and rocked this sexy number with a vintage-y hairstyle that gave her whole look an edge.

Photo: Yogen Shah

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Photo: Photo Credit: Alex Bailey/Twentieth Century Fox

This piece was originally published during San Diego Comic-Con 2017.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Giada De Laurentiis broke bad? I started to after an infamous appearance on Ellen where the Food Network host struggled to wrangle Nicole Kidman and Ellen DeGeneres during a cooking segment gone oh so wrong. As De Laurentiis tried her best to whip up some risotto balls and focaccia, DeGeneres and Kidman continually shaded her, refused to follow orders, and ultimately mocked her focaccia for being too tough. The audience laughed as De Laurentiiss stock plummeted, and though she kept a smile plastered on her face, there was murder in her eyes.

Maybe De Laurentiis will find viewing Kingsman: The Golden Circle to be cathartic when it comes out this September. Fox teased the spy sequel at San Diego Comic-Con yesterday, and while co-star Halle Berrys bourbon-soaked brio had audiences buzzing, I was even more taken with a few clips from the film, including a high-speed car chase with hero Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and, most delicious, the introduction of Julianne Moores new villain Poppy, a honey-voiced, hamburger-fixing crime boss that Moore plays like a demented Giada. Whatever shes cooking up with this performance looks good enough to eat.

You get only the briefest glimpse of Moores baddie in the new Kingsman trailer, so let me fill you in on what we saw of her during the extensive sneak peek. Poppy is a drug baron who lives in a hidden jungle outpost shes transformed into a sunny replica of 1950s Americana, adding a bowling alley, a salon, and a retro diner that serves as her headquarters. When we meet her in the clip, shes in the middle of a sales pitch to one of her henchman and his friend, a brand-new bad guy whod like to become part of her operation. Moores voice has the upbeat, overly familiar tenor of a television host, and as she beckons the two men over to the diner counter  pulling on a stylish apron as she moves across the set  she lets the axe fall even though her friendly demeanor never changes. Poppy tells the newcomer that if he wants to work for her, he must kill his friend in the next ten seconds.

Put him in the mincer, kay? she says.

As the henchman realizes his number is up, he tries to escape, but smiling Poppy summons two robot dogs named Benny and Jet to guard the exit of the diner. Perhaps she didnt need to bother, since the new baddie leaps into action to punch his friends lights out, then maneuvers the doomed henchman into the churning, stainless-steel mincer. His legs kick as he goes in face-first, but his top half is spit out the other end as hamburger meat.

Well, Poppy is just delighted by her new goons drive and eagerness to please. Go next door for your makeover! she coos. (And truly, too few movies have Julianne Moore coaxing murderous thugs to get a makeover.) Once the man has returned from a teeth-sanding, fingerprint-scrambling salon session, he finds that Poppy has scooped his friends remains into a patty, grilled it with some seasoning on top, and is now offering it to him between two buns as a beautifully plated human hamburger. Eating it will be the last test of his loyalty, and if he spits it out like Nicole Kidman did with that focaccia, he might as well leap into the mincer next.

Moore is clearly having a ball with this role, just as Samuel L. Jackson did in the first Kingsman with his lisping mass murderer. We wouldnt even think about doing a sequel unless we had a great bad guy, co-writer Jane Goldman told me after the panel. When she and director Matthew Vaughn were brainstorming for the sequel, they knew they wanted a drug-lord foe that Eggsy could go toe-to-toe with, but they didnt even think to make her a woman until Goldman misinterpreted one of Vaughns white-board scrawls. Matthew had written Poppy, as in heroin flowers, and I said, Oh, are you thinking of a female villain?

Though Poppy isnt the most intimidating name a bad guy could possess  its not exactly Doctor Doom  Goldman and Vaughn decided to lean into it, playing up Poppys performative femininity and mining her perfect veneer for chills. You dont have to have masculine traits to be terrifying, said Goldman She runs a business where absolutely everyone is terrified of her, but she doesnt have to be militaristic and tough.

In the footage we saw, Moores Poppy never got upset or modulated her voice, keeping that Giada smile on at all times even when ordering a hit. Whether youre running a drug empire or a cooking show, you cant lose your cool, suggested Goldman. Like in Devil Wears Prada, where Meryl Streeps Miranda Priestly spoke in a hushed whisper that nevertheless intimidated everyone around her, its such a fascinating dynamic, because all of those allegedly feminine traits that are associated with gentleness can, with the right person, be quite menacing.

And by investigating those qualities, Moore had the crew members of Kingsman quaking in their boots every time she spoke in a happy sing-song. As Poppy, people were quite terrified of her on set, said Goldman. And shes the loveliest, most gentle woman!
With only one episode left to go (maybe ever?), Rick and Morty is finally honing in on its biggest themes: Beths desperate need for Ricks attention; Jerrys cowardice and what it does to his family; Ricks ability to love his family as filtered through his nihilism; and Summer and Morty as the Greek chorus, reflecting themes back to their clueless parents and acting as the moral core, while taking on different aspects of their sordid lineage. All of this comes to a head in The ABCs of Beth, which concludes that Beth isnt just messed up because she was raised by Rick  shes messed up because shes exactly like him. But whether shes doomed to repeat his same mistakes is another question entirely.

Beth is shocked at the news that a famous murderer is finally going to be executed for eating his son Tommy, who was Beths childhood best friend. Beth reveals that her way of coping with the trauma was to pretend her friend had gone to live in Froopyland, an imaginary land that felt real to her as a kid. Overhearing this, Rick uses a bubble gun to get Summer and Morty out of the room, and then he reveals to Beth that Froopyland was real  because he invented it. Rick opens the portal to Froopyland, where Beth hopes she can still find Tommy.

Being back in Froopyland digs up Beths long-repressed memories of being locked there by Rick for long periods of time. Rick demonstrates that it is impossible to get hurt or die in Froopyland (he built it with bouncy ground and breathable water), but is quickly abducted by a giant creature with razor-sharp claws.

Meanwhile, the bubble-gun bubbles deliver Summer and Morty to Jerrys motel room. They expect to be depressed by Jerrys bachelor life, but instead find that Jerry is centered, calm  and telekinetic. Jerry introduces his kids to Kiara, an alien warrior-priestess he met on an interstellar dating service who is teaching him how to control objects with his mind.

Back in Froopyland, Rick loses an arm to the bird-monsters talons. Beth tries to get him to admit that he shouldnt have locked her in another dimension for most of her childhood, but Rick stubbornly changes the subject, noting that human DNA has found its way into the gentle Froopyland creatures. Beth quickly picks up on Ricks theory: Tommy is still alive, hes creating (and eating) evil human-animal hybrids, and hes now considered the god of Froopyland. On cue, woodland creatures apprehend Beth and Rick, taking them prisoner for King Tommy.

Getting sushi with Jerry and Kiara, Rick and Summer are unsettled at how quickly their dad has become soul-bonded to his new girlfriend  especially since, to Kiaras species, thats an incredibly serious commitment. Jerry thinks theyre just racist against aliens. Meanwhile, Kiara finds and vanquishes the last of the species she came to Earth to destroy, and proposes they celebrate with a hunt.

Beth and Rick meet King Tommy, who tries to introduce himself, but Rick and Beth are already steps ahead of him. Even so, Tommy insists on explaining his origin story through a play performed by his alien-human offspring children. In the play, Little Tommy is brought to Froopyland by Little Beth, who is jealous of Tommys friends and attentive dad. Little Beth pushes Tommy into a honey swamp in an attempt to kill him. Little Tommy then humps everything in sight, creating a hybrid Froopy beast that he can eat. Its  unsettling.

Rick promptly sends himself and Beth back home, although Beth insists they return to Froopyland to save Tommy. Rick believes in Tommys play over Beths feelings, and they argue about his lack of involvement in her childhood. Rick reveals that he didnt make Froopyland to get rid of Beth, but actually because Beth was a scary little kid. He was trying to protect the neighborhood. Beth insists she just wanted her dad to spend time with her, which is why she had him make an endless series of terrifying inventions, and goes to Froopyland herself to try and save Tommy. Ricks response: Whatever you say, Stone Cold Steve Austin.

On the hunt, Morty, Jerry, and Summer are absolutely exhausted, and Jerry realizes he has to get out of his soul-bond if he wants to avoid constant hunting. He asks Summer and Morty to help him, but they refuse to be thrown under the bus just because Jerry is a baby and an idiot. Summers takedown of Jerry as a beta-male sexist is just fantastic. They leave Jerry to clean up his own mess.

In Froopyland, Beth tries take Tommy back to the real world so they can exonerate his father. When Tommy realizes that she is Beth, however, things take a turn: He asks for an apology and Beth refuses to give him one, which leads her to realize that she is Rick. At first that realization upsets her, but then it empowers her. She happily begins slashing through Tommys horrifying offspring.

Back on Earth, Jerry interrupts Mortys math class to take Morty and Summer to Alaska. Jerry blamed his kids when he broke up with Kiara, and now she wants to murder them.

Beth returns from Froopyland covered in blood. She asks Rick to make a clone of Tommy from the finger that she severed (He gave you his finger?) and Rick offers to let her help. They successfully clone Tommy, who shows up to his dads execution just in time to save his life. Beth tells Rick what shes realized: The truth isnt that hes an amazing guy and shes nothing like him; its that hes a bad guy and theyre exactly the same. Beth asks Rick what she should do, now that she knows how smart she is and how meaningless that makes everything. Rick offers to make a clone of her to take care of the kids and do her job while the real Beth travels the multiverse. Beth asks Rick why hed do that for her if nothing matters, and he comes out with it: Maybe I love you. Beth considers the possibilities.

Kiara catches up to Jerry, Morty, and Summer. He finally tells Kiara that hes the one who wants to break up, and that he was just dating her to make Beth jealous. Just then, Kiaras ex shows up, and Jerry realizes that he was her rebound, too.

Summer and Morty come home to find Beth and Rick chipper and happy. Which version of Beth is this? Which version of Rick is this? Rick spent Beths childhood traveling the multiverse without paying much attention to his daughter, and she grew up to get the exact same opportunity, even knowing how it will affect her children. So did she take it?

If the fact that The ABCs of Beth comes right after Mortys Mind-Blowers is at all significant, we might conclude that theyve done all of this before and theyll continue to do this again, in every conceivable universe, until the end of time. But as Rick  or Beth  might remind us, it doesnt really matter. Nothing does.

Dispatches From the Multiverse

 Bitch, my generation gets traumatized for breakfast. Team Summer forever.

 If you havent checked out the namesake of this episode, The ABCs of Death, its on Netflix and its a solid Halloween watch.

 Wow, it was really the wrong night for an episode that includes the line, Im not kneeling, suck my dick to air.

 Mr. Goldenfolds algebra lesson isnt just inappropriate  it also seems mathematically unsound.

 The song that plays during the cloning sequence  Every daughter is a doo-doo from her fathers butt  is the Fathers Day carol weve always deserved.
Star Trek: Discovery The Vulcan Hello Season 1 Episode 1 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next   Previous Episode Next Episode  Photo: CBS

I was put on this Earth to do two things: chew gum and love Star Trek. I have plenty of gum on my person and a brand-new Star Trek series to watch; the larks on the wing, the snails on the thorn, Gods in His heaven, and alls right with the world. I am a simple man, with a simple and easy-to-please heart. Nothing pleases me more than when, for example, a cocksure pilot in a sci-fi movie says Weve got company in a tone that suggests that the company in question is not in fact invited and expected guests, but enemy pilots who are shortly going to shoot at our heroes. Oh-ho, chortles my easy-to-please heart, company indeed.

The premiere episode of Star Trek: Discovery opens with a shot of a galaxy slowly turning into an iris, which is a sci-fi trope I have loved ever since I first saw it during Men in Black. I loved it just as much tonight as if I had never seen it before. This is quickly followed by a bit of banter (Youre lost, Technically, we are lost) that further relaxed me into a state of pure lizard-brain enjoyment. Said banter is exchanged between a calm and confident captain  Captain Philippa Georgiou of the U.S.S. Shenzhou  and her skeptical, measured first officer  Michael Burnham, (also called Number One, in a nice nod to Majel Barretts short-lived role in The Cage)  as they explore the surface of a desert planet belonging to a race known only as the Crepusculans (Hes crepuscular! Get him, boys!), a name that immediately and eternally endeared them to me.

In the grand tradition of Starfleets Prime Directive (Kind of do whatever you want as long as nobody sees you do it!), Georgiou and Burnham attempt to, essentially, bomb a local well into decontaminating the surrounding water table (Sure! Me). Every Star Trek incarnation has to decide its own relationship to the Federations status as an ostensibly demilitarized body, and to what degree Starfleet can be understood as either a peaceful, scientific endeavor or as essentially an interstellar navy. There are endless possibilities, and from the outset Discovery seems honestly committed to exploring a number of them  some in good faith, others less so. This conflict is nowhere more strongly lampshaded than in Lieutenant Commander Michael Burnham herself, a human raised on Vulcan according to Vulcan tradition, and the ward of no less than Sarek, Spocks father. I profoundly appreciated the fact that she seemed to have acquired the innate sense of Vulcan Time Estimation through her education, because it supports my long-standing and totally unsupported belief that I, too, could be punctual and disciplined instead of always texting Im five minutes away, as I get into my car, had I been raised by Vulcans.

I want very much to avoid coming across as the superfan from The Simpsons who attended an Itchy & Scratchy Q&A panel and asked the question, In Episode 2F09, when Itchy plays Scratchys skeleton like a xylophone, he strikes the same rib in succession, yet he produces two clearly different tones. I mean, what are we to believe, that this is a magic xylophone, or something? Boy, I really hope somebody got fired for that blunder, but I found myself genuinely surprised when, at the episodes climax, Burnham performs a Vulcan nerve pinch on her commanding officer, a move that I had previously believed non-Vulcans to be incapable of delivering. (Data, Odo, and a melded-with-Sarek Picard all standing out as notable nonhuman and enhanced-human examples.) Upon rereading this paragraph, I can confidently say I have failed in my initial objective, but I confess I find myself wildly curious about Burnhams upbringing. I want to know everything: Was she expected to complete the kahs-wan at age 11, like everybody else? Did they let her bring some, I dont know, whatever the Vulcan equivalent is of Gatorade (A tri-ox compound? Me), on account of how humans are pretty easily dehydrated in comparison with Vulcans? Vulcan teachings are often intricately bound up in Vulcan physiology  the various meditation levels that require telepathy and so on  and I have so many questions about what a biological humans experience of the way of Surak might look like, not to mention the obvious comparisons to her apparent foster-brother Spock and his own struggles growing up as the child of both Vulcan and human parents on the same planet.

Next, I would like to cheerfully admit to welling up at the following moments:

 When the credits began.

 Again during the credits when they showed, like, a blueprint for a communicator.

 Every time I heard the good old communicator chirp.

 During the Klingon funeral, specifically the part where all the surviving Klingons bellowed their rage to the skies and shunked Rejacs coffin out of a porthole.

 When Lieutenant Commander Burnham and Lieutenant Commander Saru start squabbling just like Spock and Bones, and Captain Georgiou leaned back in her chair as if to silently say, Im really getting a kick out of how you two express your mutual concern for my safety and respect for our mission by saying passive-aggressive things about one anothers methodology, shoving each other away from the science console, and making sweeping comments about biological determinism.

 When Ensign Connor (henceforth Earnest Space Baby) does a cute, chipper little fake-pilots announcement for Burnhams solo EVA-suited jaunt out to examine a damaged interstellar relay, and then again a minute later when I reconsidered it as an indirect tribute to Anton Yelchins similar chipperness.

The primary conflict of this premiere is centered around an ambiguous encounter with a Klingon artifact, which appears to have damaged one of Starfleets interstellar relays. Whether the damage was intentional, whether the damage was intended to draw a Starfleet response, whether the Klingons are guaranteed to attack or simply open to the possibility  everythings up for debate. Burnham reflexively defends herself against the lone Klingon manning said artefact, killing him, which leads to the hands-down best line of the entire episode: Burnham wakes up in a sick bay being treated for radiation sickness, learns shes been unconscious for three hours, then immediately lets herself out of the decontamination chamber early (why is there even a button for a patient to unlock the doors of their own decontamination chamber?) to head for the bridge, causing the always-fantastic Maulik Pancholy to deliver the line, I NEED YOU BACK IN THE ANTIPROTON CHAMBER, with perfect sincerity and not the slightest hint of a wink.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, a cadre of Klingons mourns Rejac, their fallen Torchbearer, by encasing him in the most fabulous sarcophagus I have ever seen with my unworthy eyes. Theres something to be said for a really hefty set-dressing budget. (Oh my God, I wrote in my notes, This room looks like the H.R. Giger Outer Space Vatican.) Rejacs brother, OrEq, respectfully declines the suggestion that he take up his brothers post due to insufficient belief in the power of Kahless and also a real lack of team spirit. Voq, son of nobody, volunteers with an odd, indirect allusion to Ephesians 2:8, and proves his worthiness by briefly setting his hand on fire. Everyone else thinks this is fantastic. I am worried about his hand, and choose to believe there is a cut-for-time scene somewhere of a Klingon Nurse Chapel going over it with a medical tricorder for a few passes.

The bulk of the episode is given over to flashbacks from Burnhams Vulcan upbringing and the Klingon-led attack that killed her parents, which led, somehow, to her being raised by Sarek. Shes weighed down with a particularly traumatic past, as well as having her motives constantly questioned by her commanding officer, the Starfleet admiralty, and Sarek himself. Part of me wonders if, in an attempt to correct for the perception that previous Starfleet captains and XOs have gotten away with too many violations of the Prime Directive as well as cowboying it in general, Discovery is trying instead to put one of its protagonists under relentless external and internal scrutiny.

Burnham attempts to make a case for attacking after the Klingons fail to respond to the Captains request they either open communication or exit Federation space, citing numerous case histories of Vulcan-Klingon encounters. After an unprovoked attack on a Vulcan vessel 240 years ago, the Vulcans made it official policy to fire upon any Klingon warbird they encountered until formal relations were established. They said hello in a language Klingons respected, she says. Lets give them a Vulcan hello. Burnham suggests that the Shenzhou follow the same strategy, but Captain Georgiou insists that Starfleet doesnt fire first (which is  sometimes true!). Its a tense situation: Wheres the line between prudence and belligerence? When does a legitimate threat merit escalation? How do ones preconceived notions about the behavior of a perceived but inactive enemy prevent one from seeing reality? But what happens next abandons a number of potentially more interesting long-term possibilities, and creates a high-stakes standoff at what feels like the expense of Burnhams character.

After being repeatedly dismissed by her captain, her colleagues, and her foster-father, being reminded again and again that her own personally traumatic history makes it impossible for her to see their present situation clearly, Burnham takes matters into her own hands, nerve-pinches Captain Georgiou, and commands the crew to fire on the Klingon ship, a move that felt out of place and an artificial attempt to very quickly ratchet up the stakes. The captain returns just before the credits to pull a phaser on her erstwhile first officer and remand her to the brig. Its an awfully bold move  sort of like opening TOS with The Menagerie, rather than with Where No Man Has Gone Before  but Im not sure that it works. Were only one episode in, so there are of course ways this could eventually pay off that at present remain to be seen. Wherever were going, Im just happy to be here.
Freddie Highmore in The Good Doctor. Photo: Eike Schroter/ABC

The guiding principle of The Good Doctor is summarized right there in its title. This is an ABC drama about a promising young surgeon who wants to make a positive impact and should be celebrated  and probably will be in every episode, if the pilot is any indication  for his extraordinary capacity to perform medical miracles.

In fact, less than ten minutes into the first episode, which airs tonight at 10 on ABC, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) is already performing one of those miracles, using his borderline telekinetic ability to diagnose and treat a boy suffering from a serious accidental injury in the San Jose airport. The first half of the episode, the only one ABC made available in advance, toggles between those suspenseful moments, as Shaun attempts to bring breath back into the childs lungs, and a board meeting at St. Bonaventure Hospital, where Shauns mentor, Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff), is arguing that Shaun should be brought on staff despite the fact that he is autistic. The initial portion of the hour also sprinkles in some flashbacks to Shauns childhood, as well as scenes involving other members of the St. Bonaventure staff, who mix business with pleasure to a degree that suggests they may have stumbled over to The Good Doctor after a stint on Greys Anatomy.

Every time the action cuts away from the dire situation Shaun is dealing with, all the tension in the episode gets punctured, which speaks to an overall tendency on The Good Doctor to soften every conceivable edge. Theres a lot going on here; too much, really. Like so many TV pilots, this one is auditioning for our attention and trying to cram every key character, theme, and backstory into that first tryout. Its possible that once the show settles in, it could improve. It certainly has some factors that, at least theoretically, should work in its favor.

The Good Doctor comes from executive producer and writer David Shore, who created Foxs House, a medical drama centered around a lead character who was nothing but edges. Its two leads, Highmore and Schiff, are both excellent and manage to make some very heavy-handed dialogue sound less didactic than it otherwise might. (He sees things and analyzes things in ways that are just remarkable, in ways that we cant even begin to understand, Schiff says of Shaun. This is not the last time the actor will remind us that The West Wing provided excellent training for grounding overly earnest moments.) Seth Gordon  executive producer and a director of Netflixs Atypical, another recent series about an autistic protagonist  directed The Good Doctors pilot, which is why some of the visual cues that convey autistic sensory overload may feel a tad familiar.

The Good Doctor is one of multiple new or recent shows centered around young men on the spectrum. In addition to Atypical, the best of the lot so far, there is also Young Sheldon, the Big Bang Theory prequel that, like The Good Doctor, emphasizes the magnificence of its young heros mind but, unlike The Good Doctor and in keeping with Big Bangs approach, never outright discusses his condition.

The ABC series, like Dr. Glassman, is very open about Shauns autism and the fact that he has savant syndrome. But its mostly on a mission to prove that he is capable of doing extraordinary things, able to express compassion, and, most important from the shows perspective, deserving of the audiences empathy. Basically, Shaun is a superhero, right down to the X-ray vision and the extremely tragic childhood that made him realize he had a calling to help others in need.

There is nothing wrong at all with making a show about an autistic character that emphasizes his skills and talents, but, as with any lead on any drama, he should also have what every person has: some flaws. While The Good Doctor doesnt shy away from presenting Shauns difficulties with communication and social norms, it tends to spin those qualities into a positive. When he says things in an overly blunt fashion  like telling a superior that he is very arrogant, then asking, Does that make you a better surgeon? Does that hurt you as a person?  it frames this as honest, laudable truth-telling rather than an ill-advised comment.

Shaun exists not only to make patients better, but, apparently, to make everyone around him a better person. Theres not a lot of nuance in that. Hopefully The Good Doctor will find some more of it in the episodes ahead. If it doesnt, all the over-the-top sentimentality is going to make viewers feel sick pretty quickly.
Sources with the ED office confirmed Indiatoday.in that Mallya has allegedly laundered "money of around Rs 3000 crore, outside India.

By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is working on its second (supplementary) chargesheet against beer baron Vijay Mallya, and would file it by December end.

Sources with the ED office confirmed Indiatoday.in that out of Rs 6027 crores of bank loan taken from 17 banks, Mallya has allegedly laundered " Vijay Mallya, of around Rs 3000 crore, outside India".

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"For this purpose, at least 5-6 shell companies have been created in different countries. The agency has issued letter rogatory (LRs) to ten countries seeking specific details", the source said.

The supplementary charge sheet would include content of Mallya and his links with shell companies, details of diverted money and proceed of crime (PoC), list of foreign properties created Mallya and so on.

"The first charge sheet of around 5000 pages was filed by the agency on the basis of FIR filed by IDBI Bank (Rs 900 crore). While the next charge sheet which is under process would be on the grounds of second FIR filed by State Bank of India (leading the consortium of 16 banks)", the source said.

There is no deadline to file the supplementary charge sheet.

"Ideally, the agency would try to file it by December 2017, but it would remain flexible. It has nothing to do with December hearing, which would take place on the ground of complaint filed by IDBI Bank", the source said.

Investigation revealed that, out of total Rs 900 crore loan sanctioned and disbursed by IDBI Bank, around Rs 423 crore was remitted outside India, without informing the regulatory and with collusion of bank officials.

Now, further probe against foreign properties and shell companies located outside India is still underway. Crucial details related to Mallya are awaited from US, UK, France, Ireland, BVG and few more countries.

The State Bank of India (SBI) had a maximum exposure of Rs 1600 crore with now defunct-Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. While other public sector banks are Punjab National Bank with an exposure of Rs 800 crore, Bank of India with Rs 650 crore, Bank of Baroda with Rs 550 crore, Central Bank of India with Rs 410 crore, UCO Bank with Rs 320 crore, Corporation Bank with Rs 310 crore, State Bank of Mysore with Rs 150 crore, Indian Overseas Bank with Rs 140 crore and others.

Also Watch: Demonetisation deals a blow to left-wing extremists hoarding black money worth Rs 1000 crore

--- ENDS ---
General Rawat added that not only surgical strikes but there were also other ways of counteraction.

By India Today Web Desk: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today said that the surgical strikes were a message to Pakistan. He added that if the adversary did not behave such activities will be repeated.

The comments were made a day after an Uri-style attack was foiled by security forces in the Uri sector on Sunday. General Rawat added that apart from surgical strikes there were also other measures of counteraction.

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General Rawat made the statements while interacting with media persons today evening.

Incidentally, reports suggested that Pakistan had planned an attack on the first anniversary of the Uri attack that claimed the lives of 23 soldiers and left several others injured.

However, security forces, who were alerted by locals about the suspicious movements in Kalgai region of Kashmir's Uri district, carried out an encounter killing three militants who had barged in to carry out an attack.

The slain militants were believed to be a part of a group of 15 Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists who infiltrated from Pakistan.

The attack took place while both India and Pakistan traded charges of terrorism against each other at the United Nations General Assembly.

While Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj called Pakistan a terror factory, Pakistan's Ambassador to UN Maleeha Lodhi called India south Asia's largest hypocrisy.

Lodhi was also under fire after she held aloft an image of a Palestinian woman to suggest India's atrocity in Kashmir.

--- ENDS ---
On Saturday, Sushma Swaraj excoriated Pakistan for its support of terrorism. Pakistan responded to the UN General Assembly speech by sharing an incorrect photo to allege atrocities in Kashmir and by attacking the Narendra Modi government.

Pakistan's permanent representative to UN Maleeha Lodhi holds a photo of a girl she suggested was injured in pellet gun fire in Kashmir (Photo: Twitter/@PakistanUN_NY)

By India Today Web Desk: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday tore in Pakistan for its support of terrorism. Speaking at the annual United Nations General Assembly session, Swaraj took Islamabad to task in an address that, perhaps, will be most remembered for her quote: 'India made IITs, IIMs, Pakistan made Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen'.

Responding to India's stinging denunciation, Pakistan took the unusual step of fielding a top-level diplomat to counter Swaraj. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan's Representative to the UN, came out at the UN General Assembly to exercise Islamabad's right of reply.

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Lodhi, however, was caught in an embarrassing gaffe when it turned out that a photo of girl she said was the 'face of Indian atrocities' turned out to be a victim of air strikes in Gaza.

Lodhi, who claimed that India and not Pakistan was the "mother of terrorism in South Asia, spectacularly brandished a photo of a girl with facial injuries, suggesting that the woman was injured by pellet gun fire in Jammu and Kashmir.

That, however, turned out to be a lie. The woman was not a Kashmiri. She was not a victim of pellet fire. She was 17-year-old Rawya abu Jom'a, a Palestinian woman who was injured in air strikes in Gaza, according to a report in the Guardian.

We produced scholars, doctors, engineers. What have you produced? You have produced terrorists: EAM Sushma Swaraj on Pakistan #UNGA pic.twitter.com/v5LBmLBu2J- ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2017

Lodhi, a former journalist, has not yet commented on the faux pax.

In her speech, Lodhi stuck to Pakistan's old record of raising Kashmir at international fora and criticised Swaraj for ignoring the 'core issue' of Jammu and Kashmir. She accused India of carrying out a "campaign of brutality... including shooting and blinding of innocent Kashmiri children with pellet guns."

Lodhi more or less echoed her Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who in his UNGA address from earlier this week, demanded an international investigation into alleged brutalities in Kashmir. "UN should take steps to investigate India's massive human rights violations in Kashmir, end the impunity enjoyed by India's security forces, lift the draconian laws and punish those responsible for genocide in Kashmir," Lodhi.

TAKES AIM AT MODI

Maleeha Lodhi, among the senior-most officers of Pakistan's diplomatic corps, also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government.

She invoked the Gujarat 2002 riots to attack the current Indian leadership. "Current political luminaries [in India] belong to an organisation that has the blood of thousands of Muslims of Gujarat on their hands," the Pakistani representative said.

"This so called democracy is the world's largest hypocrisy," Lodhi said, going on to allege that the Indian government is one "in which a racist and fascist ideology is embedded".

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Lodhi did not explicitly name PM Modi or even the Bharatiya Janata Party. But it was clear whom she was referring to when she said that the Indian government appointed a "fanatic" as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

"[India's] leadership emanates from RSS, [which is the] same extremist group accused of assassinating mahatma Gandhi," Lodhi went on to say.

The current Indian government has "allowed" lynching of Muslims, Lodhi claimed as she invoked Booker-winning author Arundhati Roy to attack Swaraj's UN General Assembly speech.

Lodhi quoted from Roy's November 2015 statement: "These horrific murders are only a symptom. Life is hell for the living too. Whole populations of Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, and Christians are being forced to live in terror, unsure of when and from where the assault would come."

Meanwhile, in a related development, a Pakistani media report claimed that Islamabad has been lobbying in the United Nations to get India declared a 'state sponsor of terrorism', a tag that carries with it threats of international sanctions.

Pakistan lobbying in UN to get India declared state sponsor of terror https://t.co/OmGTexMVlC- The Express Tribune (@etribune) September 24, 2017

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The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan is approaching China, Russia and the United States, three of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council, over the matter that Islamabad would bring in a resolution in the UNSC soon.

WATCH | Pakistan's UN envoy tries to pass off Palestinian as pellet gun victim from Kashmir

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Delhiites

New Delhi, Sep 24 (PTI) Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri today appealed to Delhiites to swing into "collective action" to overcome the problem of garbage collection which he said had reached a "crisis proportion".

He said the country could not be made clean without fixing the garbage problem in Delhi, stressing the need for residents of the national capital to swing into collective action for effective solid waste management.

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The housing and urban affairs minister was addressing a gathering after participating in a Swachhat Hi Sewa (Cleanliness is Service) event in Bhikaji Cama Place in South Delhi.

Noting that being a citizen and resident of Delhi is a "matter of pride", he said this pride would, however, be "punctured" if Delhi was not made clean and the garbage issue was not addressed properly.

Observing that the central government has accorded high priority to the issue of sanitation, he said about five crore toilets have been constructed across the country including over 38 lakh in urban areas in a short span of three years.

Noting that solid waste management in cities is the major challenges in urban areas over the next two years of the cleanliness mission, he laid stress on "collective action" to ensure the success of the solid waste management.

The minister also unveiled My Home-My Neighbourhood - Ghar Bi Saaf-Pados Bhi Saaf campaign, focussing on motivating the residents of neighbourhood against throwing garbage in open spaces, adopting a near by park or open place for collection and waste segregation, compost making from wet waste within the premises, among others.

He said the neighbourhood action plan would be launched in all the cities and towns across the country on the occasion of the third anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2. PTI MP SMN SMN

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The conflict started when some Dalits organised a dahi-handi event in the village as part of Krishnashtami celebration which allegedly irked upper caste families.

By Ashish Pandey: While India got its second Dalit president in Ram Nath Kovind a few months ago, for villagers in Nizamabad district of Telangana, such news has failed to put an end to the caste discrimination they face.

Nearly 110 Dalit families in Bejjora village of Bheemgal Mandal in Nizamabad are facing alleged social boycott by village development committee (VDC) members. The Dalit families have been allegedly prohibited from entering the temples. These families alleged that they have been warned against participating in the Navratri celebrations.

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According to the villagers, the conflict started when some Dalits organised a dahi-handi event in the village as part of Krishnashtami celebration which allegedly irked upper caste families. These upper caste families as well as the village development committee allegedly told Dalits to stay away from Navratri celebrations and also stalled their Ganpati celebration.

"We did nothing wrong but they have stopped our entry at the temple. We wanted to install a Durga idol in Navratri but they (VDC) are not allowing us to do so. We tried resolving the issue with the upper caste families but they are not even turning up for the meeting. We have approached the DSP and the tehsildar but no fruitful outcome has emerged," the Dalit families alleged.

The Dalits alleged that the village development committee members have asked them not to enter the temple. The families protested against the alleged social discrimination at the revenue division's office (RDO) in Armoor, in Nizamabad.

Bheemgal sub-inspector told India Today that police have not received any official complaint from the Dalit families. The officer was however aware of the matter and said that it has been resolved peacefully.

Nizamabad constituency is represented by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha in Parliament while a Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) MLA represents it in the state Assembly.

ALSO WATCH: Dalit man, mother beaten up for skinning dead cows in Gujarat's Anand, FIR lodged

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) The NIA today examined the head of a traders body and a Kashmir University PhD student in connection with a case related to the funding of terror activities in Kashmir, officials said.

Yasin Khan of Kashmir Traders and Marketing Federation, and PhD scholar Aala Fazil have been examined here, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) spokesman said.

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They were summoned by the probe agency to appear before it today. The duo were questioned about alleged funding to various groups that pelted stones at security forces, he said.

The NIA had registered a case on May 30 against separatist and secessionist leaders, including unidentified members of the Hurriyat Conference, who have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar- e-Taiba (LeT) and other outfits and gangs.

The case was registered for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and for causing disruption in the Valley by pelting the security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India, the NIA said in the FIR.

Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based chief of the Jamaat-ud- Dawa, the front of the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar- e-Taiba (LeT), has been named in the FIR as an accused.

The FIR also names organisations such as the two factions of the Hurriyat, one led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the other by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, an all-women outfit of separatists.

The NIA has also secured confessional statements from two of the accused in the case.

A confessional statement is recorded before a judicial magistrate. The accused confirms in it that he or she is giving a statement without any pressure from the probe agency.

The entire process is videographed and no investigation officer is present in the court premises during the proceedings. In case of retraction later, the agency can file a case of perjury.

The NIA has arrested 10 people so far in connection with its probe into the funding of terror activities in parts of Kashmir. They include Altaf Ahmed Shah, the son-in-law of Geelani, and noted businessman Zahorr Watali.

Geelanis close aides Ayaz Akbar, who is also the spokesperson of the hardline separatist organisation Tehreek- e-Hurriyat, and Peer Saifullah have also been arrested.

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Others arrested are Shahid-ul-Islam, spokesperson of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Nayeem Khan, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, photo-journalist Kamran Yusuf and Javed Ahmed Bhat. PTI AKV SKL SMN

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Dhaka, Sep 25 (PTI) Three Bangladeshi soldiers on a peacekeeping mission have been killed in a militant attack in strife-torn Mali, the countrys military said here.

Four others, including a major, were injured yesterday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, the Inter-Service Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), the Banladeshi militarys media wing, said in a statement.

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Those injured were being treated at a hospital in Gao city of Mali, BDnews24.com reported.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack.

The Secretary-General extended his condolences to the government of Bangladesh and to the bereaved families, and wished swift recovery to the injured, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Guterres reaffirmed the UNs determination to support efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and security in Mali and urged the government and the signatory armed groups to expedite the implementation of the peace agreement, it said.

The UN deployed peacekeepers in Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, in 2013 after the Malian and French forces launched an operation in response to territorial gains by Islamist rebels.

According to the UN, 15,209 uniformed personnel are working in the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The number of Bangladeshis working in the UN peacekeeping missions is 7,636.

Until August 31 this year, 129 Bangladeshis have lost their lives in UN peacekeeping missions, and six of those casualties have been in MINUSMA, the report said. PTI KIS AKJ KIS

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: storm

Srinagar, Sep 25 (PTI) Within a few hours of its release, a promotional film by Tourism Department in Kashmir, to counter the negative perception about the Valley, has taken the social media by a storm.

The film has drawn over 1.6 million views in less than 48 hours after its release.

The five-minute film titled Warmest Place on Earth has also been shared by Bollywood celebrities like Karan Johar, Imtiaz Ali and Alia Bhatt.

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The lyrics of the background song in the film have been written by 2009 UPSC topper Shah Faesal.

The video, released by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday, has drawn more than 1.6 million views on the official page of the states tourism department alone in less than 48 hours.

It has also been watched by about 40,000 people on YouTube, while also shared widely on Twitter and Instagram.

Interestingly, Mufti also took to Twitter to share the short film in her first tweet ever.

The new campaign is drawing huge response from people across various social media platforms.

"It was much needed, should have come before but better late than never," Director Tourism Kashmir, Mehmood Shah told PTI, adding there has been an enormous response to the short film ever since its release.

Let us hope it helps in attracting tourists to the Valley, he said.

Many celebrities have joined the tourism department in promoting the destination on social media.

Filmmaker Karan Johar shared the film on Twitter writing "The beauty and warmth of Kashmir."

Actress Alia Bhatt said the film truly captures the essence of Kashmir. "This short film truly captures the essence of Kashmir!!! The warmest place on earth! Please watch!" she tweeted.

Netizens appreciated the short film, with several of them narrating their own experiences of visiting Kashmir. PTI SSB MIJ SNE NSD

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Venezuela and Chad

(Eds: Updating with more inputs and reax)

By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Sep 25 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has imposed new travel restrictions on citizens from North Korea, Venezuela and Chad, expanding to eight the list of nations covered by his original travel ban that has been widely criticised as anti-Muslim and challenged in court.

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For the last three months, the Trump administration used a controversial executive order to ban foreign nationals from six Muslim-majority countries - Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and Sudan - from entering the US unless they have a "bona fide" relationship with a person or entity in America.

Trump unveiled a revamped travel ban as his controversial immigration order covering six Muslim-majority nations was coming to an end.

The new rule, which will come into effect on October 18, will continue to target travellers from Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Iran, but also adds North Korea, Chad and Venezuela to the original list of targeted countries.

Sudan has been dropped from the administrations new list and Iraqi citizens will be subjected to "additional scrutiny" but will not face any blanket ban.

The new list of countries notably includes several non- Muslim majority nations, including North Korea and Venezuela. In most instances, travel will be broadly suspended, while in other cases, travelers will have to undergo enhanced screening and vetting requirements.

"Following an extensive review by the Department of Homeland Security, we are taking action today to protect the safety and security of the American people by establishing a minimum security baseline for entry into the US,"Trump said.

"We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation," he said.

The White House described the move as a critical step toward establishing an immigration system that protects Americans safety and security in an era of dangerous terrorism and transnational crime.

It said North Korea did not co-operate with the US government "in any respect" and failed all requirements - and so all travel to the US by its citizens has been banned.

Tensions have flared up between the US and North Korea over Pyongyangs nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

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Trumps original ban was subject to a range of legal challenges and several large-scale protests, and is due to be considered by the US Supreme Court in October, having been partly reinstated in July.

Critics have accused the president of discriminating against Muslims in violation of constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and equal protection under the law, breaking existing US immigration law and stoking religious hatred.

Trump had called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" during his election campaign.

The new restrictions being imposed on eight countries are conditional and may be lifted as they work with the US Government to ensure the safety of Americans.

In a statement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union rights group said the addition of the new countries "doesnt obfuscate the real fact that the administrations order is still a Muslim ban".

Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and National Immigration Law Center (NILC) have also condemned the new presidential proclamation.

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"This new nonsensical ban continues to discriminate against immigrants, refugees, and visitors from a group of majority Muslim countries. We will continue to stand up for our communities and fight against any attempt at a Muslim Ban," said Elica Vafaie, Staff Attorney at the AAAJ.

The new proclamation marks the administration?s third move to limit travel into the US. The first one, which was chaotically rolled out in January, targeted refugees and seven Muslim-majority countries.

It was subsequently abandoned by the administration after a series of federal courts blocked it on grounds it violated the US constitution?s protection of religious freedom.

The second order, issued in March, targeted six of the same countries. A limited version of the ban was allowed to come into effect over the summer following a temporary ruling by the supreme court.

The new policy is likely to throw a major hurdle in front of the ongoing supreme court challenge to Trump?s second order. The nation?s highest court was due to hear arguments in that case on October 10. PTI LKJ NSA AKJ AKJ

--- ENDS ---
The Union Finance Ministry is launching a Mudra Promotion Campaign on national basis from September 27 to October 17 in different parts of the country.

By India Today Web Desk: The Union Finance ministry is launching a Mudra Promotion Campaign on national basis from September 27 to October 17 in different parts of the country.

The campaign will be held at various places including at Patna, Shimla, Chandigarh, Chennai, Srinagar, Indore, Ludhiana, Meerut Johdpur, Bhuvaneshwar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Daman, Nagpur, Panaji, Rajkot, Shillong, Bhopal, Kavaratti, Kolkata, Silvasa, Mumbai, Muzaffarpur, Aizawl, Salem, Hubli, Thiruvanantpuram, Puducherry, Jaipur, Ranchi, New Delhi, Faridabad, Gorakhpur, Jammu, Jamnagar, Mangalore, Gangtok, Pune, Imphal, Kohima, Port Blair and Itanagar.

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According to an official release, the campaign will start on September 27 in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal will be participating in the function organised on this occasion.

Total 50 such Mudra Promotion Campaigns will be organised in different parts of the country where the Union Ministers will be participating among others. Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, is organising the campaign.

Mudra has been formed with the primary objective of developing the micro enterprise sector in the country by extending various support including financial support in the form of refinance, so as to achieve the goal of "funding the unfunded". It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8, 2015.

As part of its promotion campaign, a similar function being organised on October 2 at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will be participating in that programme. On the same day, functions will also be held at Dehradun, Uttarakhand and Guwahati, Assam where Union Minister of State for Textiles Ajay Tamta and Minister for State for Railways Rajen Gohain will participate.

On October 3, three events are being organised in different parts of the country. One such campaign will be held at Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh where the Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will be participating.

In Raipur, Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai will be participating. A third function will be held at Agartala, Tripur where Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor will be participating.

State Level Banking Committee (SLBC) of different states will actively participate and coordinate all the campaigns.

Also Watch : Rahul's US tour not an image-making competition with Modi: Pitroda

--- ENDS ---
The BHU is on the boil following alleged molestation of a student on Thursday evening by three men as the university officials refused to take action and blamed the victim, instead.

By Prabhash K Dutta: There is no BHU girl who has not been harassed or molested on the campus. This is how girls protesting in the BHU premises summed up their safety on the most prestigious university campus in Uttar Pradesh.

Hundreds of girls are out in protest demanding assurance from the administration about their safety inside the university premises and action against alleged molesters and security guard who refused to help a student, who was molested on Thursday evening.

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The BHU termed their protest as politically motivated as Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent two days in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency. But, the protest continues even two days after PM Modi departed from the city.

WHAT HAS BROUGHT GIRLS ON WARPATH?

Their protest is going on for past four days. This began midnight on Thursday after three men riding a motorbike molested a student of the Bachelor of Fine Arts course of the Mahila Mahavidyala of the BHU.

The alleged molesters hurled abuses, passed lewd remarks and touched her inappropriately only a few metres from where a security guard was present. The girl, the protesters said, cried for help but the security guard did not move.

The girl was traumatised when she reached her hostel. When her hostel-mates gave her confidence, she narrated the incident. Concerned over everyday eve-teasing and frequent molestation of the girls on the campus, a group of students of the hostel went to report the matter to the warden.

The girls complain that instead of listening to their grievances and addressing their safety concerns, the warden blamed the victim for the incident. "What were you doing outside your hostel so late? Why were you returning to your hostel so late in the evening," the warden allegedly asked the victim. The incident had happened little after 6 pm, the protesters said.

GIRLS REFUSED TO BUDGE

Angry at warden's response, the girls sat on dharna outside his office at around midnight on Thursday. The girls went back after some time but they staged a bigger protest at the Lanka Gate of the BHU campus on Friday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Varanasi.

Friday was a tense day at the BHU campus. The girls from other hostels and other courses also joined the band of protesters. The protesters now demanded action from V-C Girish Chandra Tripathi, who, the girls said, wanted 10 of the protesting girls to meet him his chamber.

The girls refused. ""What happens is that the V-C calls around 10 students and warns them against raising their demands. The students are suspended without being given a chance to present their case. The matter ends there. We don't want to follow the same old line. We are concerned about our safety," Akansha Singh, one of the protesting girls told India Today yesterday.

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The protest took a violent turn on Saturday night. Police resorted to lathicharge on the protesters. Several girls were injured. Many received serious injuries on head, hands and legs. Police allege that students pelted stones at them. However, the protesters rejected the allegation.

They said that "those who created troubles, resorted to violence were outsiders. They were not even the students of the BHU." Later, the BHU issued a statement saying that the protest by the girls demanding safety on the campus was politically motivated.

Interestingly, unlike the Delhi University or the Jawaharlal University, the BHU does not have a student union. There is no politically affiliated body in the BHU. Teaching staff too don't have declared political affiliations. Students of all political ideology mingle here.

SILENT MARCH ON SUNDAY

After the violence on Saturday, the girls of the BHU took out a silent march. A large number of male students also came out in support and joined the silent march from the hostels to the Lanka Gate of the BHU.

But, police had problem with their silent march also. One of the students who participated in the silent march told India Today that as they took out the silent march, police started chasing them. They were made to flee.

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"We are running as police personnel are behind us wielding their lathis. Is this the way to deal with silent and non-violent protest on the campus," Akansha Sahay, a protesting student, had told India Today over phone.

Yet, the girls lead the march, joined by male students. The demands of the protesters are simple considering the standard safety protocol adopted by universities across the country. They want installation of CCTV cameras, proper lighting of the campus and gender sensitisation of university staff and security personnel.

The girls lament that there is no restriction on any outsider entering the BHU campus, which has a big hospital, which caters to the medical need of people living all over the eastern Uttar Pradesh and adjoining districts of Bihar. But, if outsiders' entry can't be controlled, then at least, the security guard and university staff can respond appropriately to their concerns, the girls said.

WHAT HAS ADMINISTRATION DONE?

While a case of molestation was mishandled by the warden and the university administration and police thrashed girls in the middle of night, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath yesterday sought a report from the Varanasi commissioner on the entire episode.

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The government today removed five officials for negligence of duty and transferred them to other places. They are Manoj Kumar Singh, Susheel Kumar Gaur and Jagdamba Prasad Singh (all ACMs) and two others.

An internal inquiry, apparently, found them responsible for alleged disturbance and violence. They were removed to ensure fair enquiry. Meanwhile, police have booked 1,200 students for violence.

--- ENDS ---
Almost 18 years after working to designate an official McLennan County flag, former Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ray Meadows realized this week he never got one.

It just hit me I dont have one, Meadows said while recalling the events in 1999 that led to the countys adoption of a flag. I wish I had one.

Recent requests from individuals wanting their own McLennan County flag led Purchasing Director Ken Bass to ask commissioners for permission to order more flags. The county ordered about 30 almost two decades ago, but interest has spiked for the locally designed memento.

County staff is looking for a new company that can reproduce the flag because the company that made the original 30 has since gone out of business.

The county flag is essentially the state flag with McLennan County in black lettering across the white field, 1850 across the red field and a modified star, with the McLennan County Courthouse dome for the top point and the middle of the star cut out.

Downtown, it flies in two places along Washington Avenue: in front of the county Records Building at Ninth Street and in front of the courthouse at Sixth Street.

According to the minutes of the Sept. 29, 1999, commissioners court meeting, Meadows gave a presentation about the early history of the county and recounted an earlier attempt to come up with a county flag. About a decade earlier, the county held a flag design contest that solicited ideas from art students at Texas State Technical College, but Meadows said those designs were too modernistic for his taste, according to Tribune-Herald coverage.

The commissioners court finally adopted the county flag on Oct. 5, 1999, according to meeting minutes.

I am just tickled to death to have a county flag, Meadows said at the time. Whatever we put on it, I think it will be nice.

Meadows said this week he remembers wanting to designate a flag for the county as a way to bring pride back to the area.

There wasnt a lot of pride in this county at the time, he said. I ran it up the flagpole at commissioners court to see what they thought. I just wanted something simple that people could recognize if they saw it.

Meadows recalled presenting a county flag to the family of longtime sheriff Jack Harwell, who died in March 2000.

Harwells son, County Clerk Andy Harwell, remembers that moment as well. I still have that, Harwell said.

Jack Harwell had served as the county sheriff from January 1973 to his passing, and remains the longest serving county sheriff, Andy Harwell said.

He and I held office together at the same time, Andy Harwell said.

At the time of discussions surrounding adopting a flag, the county was renovating the Heart O' Texas Coliseum, now known as the Extraco Events Center, said former County Engineer Steve Hendrick, who retired in December. Rocky Kelley, a local artist, had painted murals on part of the coliseum during the renovations and was recruited to help create a flag, Hendrick said.

Kelley presented several options, but commissioners requested something simpler, Hendrick said. In response, Kelly came up with the modified lone star with a silhouetted courthouse dome, and with its Themis statue on top, and placed the design over the state flag and added the words.

Kelley said his work was all over the county at the time, but he had never designed a flag of that scale before. After meeting with commissioners, he remembers going home with suggestions and trying to piece them together.

Suggestions for symbols representing the county ranged from a locomotive or the Waco Suspension Bridge to an image of cotton, Hendrick said.

It definitely was a collaborative effort from a bunch of people, Hendrick said.
On September 18th, while Edwards Air Force Base personnel were on the ground going about their work evaluating new military aircraft and systems, a quartet of WWII-vintage warbirds circled overhead, preparing to land. The B-25J Mitchell, TBM-3E Avenger, FG-1D Corsair and P-51D Mustang from the Texas Flying Legends Museum in Houston, Texas, were arriving! A C-12 Huron from the 419th Flight Test Squadron escorted them to the hallowed air field, once known as Muroc, where many of Americas most important aerospace innovations first took flight. Indeed, the warbirds are here to pay tribute to one of these important milestones. They will take part in the celebrations surrounding the 70th Anniversary of Supersonic Flight. The legendary Chuck Yeager was the first man to officially break the sound barrier in level flight on October 14th, 1947, coaxing his Bell X-1 rocket plane to Mach 1.06 high over Muroc that day.

The 412th Test Wing will host the 70th Anniversary of Supersonic Flight celebrations (#70SSF). They will pay tribute to the team of Air Force and NASA test pilots and engineers who made supersonic flight a reality 70 years ago. Four major events are scheduled for October 13th/14th, 2017 at Edwards Air Force Base. For more information please click HERE.

As a sidetone, the 412th Test Wings origins date back to November 29th, 1943, when the 412th Fighter Group activated at Muroc Army Air Field, California. They were testing Americas first jet fighter, the Bell P-59 Airacomet at a site on the north shore of Rogers Dry Lakebed, about six miles away from the training base at Muroc.

Nowadays the 412th Test Wing plans, conducts, analyzes, and reports on all flight and ground testing of aircraft, weapons systems, software and components as well as modeling and simulation for the U.S. Air Force. There are three core components for this mission: flying operations, maintenance and engineering. Through a maintenance group of over 2,000 people and an operations group of 3,000, the test wing maintains and flies an average of 90 aircraft with upwards of 30 different aircraft designs and performs over 7,400 missions (over 1,900 test missions) on an annual basis.
The B-17 Flying Fortress, Aluminum Overcast, operated by the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA), will arrive in Atlanta for the fourth annual Atlanta Warbird Weekend at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport, Oct.7-8. Ground tours will be available, and rides can be purchased for flights Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 5-8. The aircraft will join the Tuskegee Airmen program for the weekend, which is fitting because The Tuskegee Airmen gained their reputation escorting the Flying Fortress over Europe.

EAAs B-17G-VE, serial number 44-85740, was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945. Although delivered too late to see action in World War II, the airplane has has flown more than one million miles as a cargo hauler, an aerial mapping platform and in pest control and forest dusting applications. The airplane was donated to EAA in 1983. Memorable B-17 rides can be purchased HERE.

To honor the Tuskegee Airmen, every type of aircraft flown by them, from training to front line, will be present except for the P-39. The flight line will include a PT-17 Stearman, BT-13, T-6 Texan, P-40, P-47, P-51C, P-51D and the B-25 Mitchell bomber.

While known primarily as fighter pilots, many Tuskegee Airmen flewB-25s with the 477th Bombardment Group, and the beautiful B-25 Killer B will appear to honor that history. The B-25J-30-NC SN 44-86697, now flying as Killer B, was delivered in1945. Surplus to U.S. military needs, she served with the Royal Canadian Air Force until 1962, when she was sold to a commercial operator in Montana. The aircraft was then sold to the Fuerzas Aereas Venezolanas and later to the Bolivian Air Force. After many civilian owners, she was acquired by Tom Reilly in 1992. This aircraft also served as the camera ship for the filming of Battle of Britain in 1968.

The Dixie Wing is hosting the annual Atlanta Warbird Weekend, and will bring five of its aircraft from its home base in Peachtree City, all available for rides. The aircraft include the P-51 Mustang, the SBD Dauntless dive bomber, and three trainer planes  the T-34, T-6 and PT-19. Rides can be booked HERE.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Sep. 25, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 25, 2017 | 03:48 PM | PADUCAH, KY

A Paducah man faces several charges after an armed standoff with police Monday morning in the Lone Oak area.



The McCracken County Sheriff's Department says deputies responded at 9:43 a.m. to a home on Brunswick Circle to do a welfare check, after someone reported a man and woman arguing in front of the home. Deputies said they learned the man, 42-year-old Courtland Neal Eugene Smith, had a handgun. Smith had reportedly told deputies that a woman was also inside the home, and "if the cops responded this was not going to end well".



The woman was able to get away from the home, and told deputies another person was still inside asleep. Deputies made contact with the sleeping man on his cell phone and were able to get him out of a window safely without alerting Smith.



Deputies surrounded the home, and Smith ran out the back door. He then ran back inside. After an hour of negotiating deputies used a flash grenade, and were able to take Smith into custody. Smith's handgun was later found to be an air pistol.



Smith was arrested and taken to the McCracken County Regional Jail without incident. He was charged with disorderly conduct, alcohol intoxication, resisting arrest.
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By The Associated Press Sep. 25, 2017 | 04:51 AM | FORT CAMPBELL, KY

More than 100 members of the 101st Airborne Division are returning to Fort Campbell after a six-month mission in Africa.

The Army post is having a welcoming ceremony on Monday. The soldiers of the 327th Infantry Regiment were part of the East African Response Force, a rapid-response and security force for U.S. interests in the Horn of Africa. Most were stationed at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.

The members conducted day and night maneuvers and live-fire exercises in case they were deployed somewhere within the African continent.

Fort Campbell says in a news release that the soldiers helped improve readiness and strengthen partner relationships on the continent of Africa.
Ben Murphy aged one bounces back from year of surgeries and heartbreak as his mother is named Wexford Carer of the Year
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At the age of 19, Swansea-born actress Ria Jones became the youngest person to play Eva Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita. This was followed by her West End debut in Rice's Chess and further West End credits in Cats, Les Miserables and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

In 1991 she originated the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard at the Sydmonton Festival, a role she returned to last year when she understudied Glenn Close in the ENO's production at the London Coliseum. She now revives her performance in a UK tour production which opens this week at Curve, Leicester.

Rehearsals are so exciting, I'm savouring every moment. Even now I keep thinking 'pinch me, is this really happening?' It's been a dream of mine to play this role for a long time, so it's quite emotional.

It's a completely different production to the one at the Coliseum last year. Of course, the score is still the same and the orchestra sound incredible  there might only be 16 of them but they sound just like they did in the Coliseum. I'm so excited to be singing with them every night.

When we did the first performance of Sunset in '91, I remember saying to Andrew 'I wish I was old enough to play Norma, maybe one day I'll do the revival'. Fast forward 26 years and here I am.

I've still got the original letter from Andrew [Lloyd Webber]. It's so old it's written on a typewriter  and it says 'Dear Ria, I just wanted to thank you for bringing Norma Desmond to life.' I'm so glad I kept that.

Understudying Glenn Close was one of the best decisions of my career, if not the best. I learnt so much, learnt the music again, and watched the show every night from the wings. I thought that if I got on that would be a bonus, but if I didn't I'd still come away learning so much.

Lots of friends originally said understudying the role was like I'd be going backwards. But it wasn't at all, how often do you get the chance to sit in and watch a Hollywood A-List actress recreate a role for which she won a Tony on Broadway? It was like a masterclass every day, she was very generous.

The response I got when I went on at the Coliseum was crazy. How four performances can change your career path is incredible. I saw the power of social media and felt the whole of the West End get behind me. It was a wonderful ride and so emotional. I lost my dear friend Victoria Wood the day before I first went on in that role, and I very much wanted to dedicate my performance to her because she definitely would have been there.

Sunset Boulevard runs at Curve in Leicester until 30 September and then tours the UK until April 2018.
Winona

Friday

2:13 p.m.  Darrell Ramond Campbell, 45, Winona, was cited for disorderly conduct at Walmart after swearing at several people and spitting on one.

8:49 p.m.  Charges of third-degree burglary, theft by shoplifting and trespassing were referred against Shawn Michael Fort, 26, Winona, after he was attempting to shoplift at Walmart, where hed been previously trespassed from.

10:51 p.m.  Travis Jace Hensley, 18, Brainerd, and Brady John Loch, 20, Albert Lea, were cited for underage consumption following the search of a car on the 700 block of East Lake Boulevard after someone reported a person laying on the ground on the shoulder of the road. Luke Anthony Hepner, 18, Mabel, was charged with fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance for having lisdexamfetamine that was not prescribed to him.

Saturday 1:41 a.m.  Brittany Jane Borchardt, 19, Hillsboro, Wis.; Tara June Theissen, 19, Franklin, Wis.; and Shelby Clarice Ebner, 19, Preston, were all cited for public consumption near Eighth and Wilson Streets.

11:54 p.m.  Kenneth Francis Fox, 18, Rochester, was cited for public consumption after being stopped near Fifth and Franklin Streets.

Sunday

12:29 a.m.  A 15-year-old and 17-year-old from Cochrane, Wis., and a 17-year-old boy from Winona were cited with minor consumption on the 50 block of East Fifth Street while Xzaviar Dominickryan Aune, 19, Winona, was referred to his probation officer.

9:59 p.m.  A woman reported her iPhone missing from her car on Fairfax Street.

Winona County

Friday

8:52 a.m.  A 17-year-old Lewiston boy was cited for disorderly conduct after demanding to leave school and making a disturbance.

11:36 a.m.  Garry Paul Buehler, 62, La Crescent, was cited for burning without a permit near Nodine on County Road 16.

11:56 p.m.  Charges of second-degree drunken driving, test refusal and driving in violation of a restricted license were referred against Travis Lee Schultz, 33, Stockton, after he had hit a parked truck driving an ATV in St. Charles and police came upon him attempting to wave down traffic on Main Street, bleeding from lacerations on the face.

Saturday

10:21 p.m.  Charges of third-degree drunken driving were referred against Bryant Taylor Phillips, 22, Minnesota City, after he stopped in front of a Sheriffs deputy while turning slowly from West Sixth Street in Stockton onto Hwy. 23, also crossing the fog line. His blood alcohol was .22.

10:23 p.m.  Charges of driving while intoxicated were referred against Adam Michael Wencl, 23, Winona, after he ran away from a car that had started on fire near County Road 7 and Hwy. 61 as the Pickwick Fire Department responded. He was later seen by Sheriffs deputies and stopped and charged by the Minnesota State Patrol.

11:46 p.m.  Charges of fourth-degree drunken driving were referred against Matthew Dennis Fabian, 36, Winona, after being stopped for failing to dim his lights near Hwy. 61 and Mankato Avenue when passing. His blood alcohol was .09.

Sunday

1:15 a.m.  Charges of domestic assault causing fear and harm were referred against Douglas Everett Hill, 48, Altura, after he allegedly threw a stool and grabbed a womans arm, pushing her and causing bruises in an argument at a residence near County Road 26.

9:40 a.m.  The body of a missing 47-year-old La Crescent woman was fond deceased in rural New Hartford township. The Sheriffs department has not released any information about cause of the death yet.

6:10 p.m.  Charges of second-degree drunken driving were referred against Zachary Ryan Bjorge, 31, Winona, after he was stopped for speeding and after pulling over, tipped the motorcycle causing his passenger to be thrown into a ditch. His blood alcohol was .22 and he was also cited for no proof of insurance, speeding and not having a motorcycle endorsement.
MINNEAPOLIS  Alexa, forget my grocery list and morning traffic reports. Tell me about CPR.

Alexa, Amazons voice-activated digital assistant for the home, has learned a new skill  dispensing medical information about first aid from one of the best-known names in medicine, Minnesotas Mayo Clinic.

The information is accessible by speaking to the Amazon device, which users might appreciate if theyre busy doing something with their hands, like putting aloe on a burn or examining someone who has stopped breathing.

Users who enable the free Mayo Clinic First Aid program and then ask Alexa for information about CPR are told, multiple times, to call 911. The device also advises in its robotic-female voice to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation for one minute and then call 911 if the person is unresponsive from suffocation. If the user asks for it, the device will go on to discuss specific techniques for doing CPR on an adult, child or baby.

We provide health information in a print newsletter, digital newsletter, desktop web, mobile web, Mayo Clinic app. We view this voice interface, specifically the Amazon Alexa application, as basically a new channel to provide that information, said Jay Maxwell, a senior director in health information with the Mayo Clinic Global Business Solutions, which developed Mayo Clinic First Aid.

Although the program includes a disclaimer that Mayo Clinic First Aid should not be used in a life-threatening medical emergency, instructions for CPR is one of the suggested topics in the programs description, along with tell me about spider bites and how to treat a cut.

Online mega-retailer Amazon sells a variety of hands-free home assistant devices like the Echo and the Echo Dot that can listen to human voices and respond to commands like add eggs to the grocery list, check traffic or play streaming music. Alexa is a cloud-based system that responds directly to the user, similar to Apples Siri program.

And just as apps can be downloaded at will for smartphones, Alexa-enabled devices can add new skills created by outside companies like the Pizza Hut program that can order a pie for delivery, or the U.S. Bank program that can securely check balances and recent credit card purchases.

Amazon spokesman Daniel Gabis said Mayo developed its First Aid program using Amazons self-service Alexa Skills Kit, as other organizations have.

Were excited that Mayo Clinic developed its health information skill for Alexa customers. Other developers such as WebMD have built skills for Alexa using our self-service Alexa Skills Kit, Gabis said via email.

The WebMD Alexa program, and similar ones like DexMD, include explicit disclaimers that the programs do not provide medical advice. Mayos First Aid program says it is for information purposes only and should not be used in an emergency medical situation or in place of professional medical advice. Rather, the Mayo program offers instructions for self care for dozens of everyday mishaps and other situations.

Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, associate medical director of Mayo Clinic Global Business Solutions, said the content was adapted from entries in the medical library that Mayo already offers for free online. The information is updated in real time as medical evidence evolves.

One of the biggest challenges was adapting the information from a format where users can move their eyes around a web page to find what they want, to one in which Alexa reads all the information aloud and users have to wait to hear what they want and think of deeper questions to ask.

It has to be conversational. You cant just read a textbook, Pruthi said. I think its more understandable when its presented this way.  The way that I talk to my patient today is the way that I would want this to come across on Amazon Alexa.

Amazon is not paying Mayo for the content, and there are no ads in the free download program. Mayo already had a relationship with Amazon, through its 60-second audio news feed for medical stories called Mayo Clinic Flash Briefing, before the launch of the First Aid program.

A spokeswoman in Mayos public relations office acknowledged that services like the First Aid program give a boost to Mayos brand awareness with the public, but she said the primary motivation was to continue to extend the not-for-profit Mayo Clinics health knowledge beyond its four walls.

The voice-enabled experience is a new and growing global innovation, and may be the largest shift in how people interact with devices since the development of smartphones, Mayo spokeswoman Duska Anastasijevic wrote in an email. Mayo Clinic is among the first health care organizations in the voice space, and will take what it learns to apply it toward other projects that provide trusted information or potentially address a market or consumer need.
Maybe Im noticing kindness more because the world is such an insane and cruel place these days.

Because not a day passes when something awful doesnt happen, like monster hurricanes and earthquakes that wipe out whole islands and communities. Among those killed in the Mexico City earthquake were 11 people who gathered in a church to celebrate the baptism of a baby girl. The baby died, too.

It seems like every day something horrendous takes my breath away. A college president hosting black students with cotton centerpieces. Naval nurses flipping off babies on social media and holding an infant, making it dance to rap music.

The president of the United States calling a murderous dictator with an itchy trigger finger Rocket Man, and his supporters giggling as if when things go south, which at this rate should have been yesterday, his supporters will somehow be spared.

You get the idea.

Even with all that, all that, Ive started to notice this civility, these small acts of kindness  especially on my commute. People holding doors for each other. Smiling, even. Helping each other out. Cutting each other a break.

Not everyone, of course. This is Philly. But enough to notice.

The other day, I watched a middle-aged black man rushing to catch the bus. Behind him, an elderly white couple was doing the same. The husband was in a wheelchair. It was clear that the couple wasnt going to make it. And then the other man turned around and told them not to worry: Hed get to the bus and make sure it didnt leave without them.

I stood there and watched him do exactly what he promised and thought: Maybe this isnt accidental. Maybe these acts of kindness arent all random. Maybe this is what we do when the world comes undone. Our way to cope when so much feels out of our control.

When I posed the question to readers, some said I havent been paying enough attention or giving people enough credit, that every day the world proves itself to be better than we think. We just need to stop focusing on all the noise.

But others shared their own stories. I especially liked this one from Bridget Kernan, of Philadelphia:

The other day Kernan fell while walking on Chestnut Street. Totally wiped out, she explained. Face first, dropping all of my bags.

Before she knew what had happened, a young black man grabbed her bags and her hand to help her up.

He made a comment about the trolley tracks tripping her, making her feel less awkward about falling. He told her she should take a minute to catch her breath.

It wasnt just that he wanted to make sure I was OK before I got back on my way, she wrote to me. He convinced me that I COULD dust myself off and get back on my way. Like, its OK  you got this.

His kindness, she said, made her feel like she wasnt alone. He was gone before she knew it, but she hopes he reads this so she can thank him properly.

Maybe Im suffering from a wicked case of wishful thinking as the world turns into a bigger dumpster fire. But right now, I want to focus on the kindness. I need to, and I dont think Im alone.

I want to believe that maybe, just maybe, through these little acts of kindness we can find our way back to one another, to some sanity.
He likes us, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer said of his fellow New Yorker Donald Trump recently. This was after Chuck joined Nancy  House Democratic leader Pelosi from California  in a White House gathering that resulted in a deal on DACA reform, unless it didnt.

Whatever the interpretation of what happened during that chummy get-together, and there was a different one for every person who attended or heard about it first, second or third-hand, the president reportedly reveled in the positive headlines that followed.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, on the other hand, was supposedly the guy in the doghouse. That member of Trumps Cabinet was the one Trump railed against, according to reports, the one the president blamed for the dogged investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, appointed after Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation.

At a contentious time, everyone loves a love story, a distraction or a momentary beam of light, so its no wonder the Trump-Schumer bromance fascinated so many, including, apparently, Schumer himself, with more swooning than grumbling over the shaky and brief bipartisan detente.

Those expecting brand-new consistency from Trump, however, are bound to be disappointed. When it comes to immigration, Trump may express a bit of empathy, but he invariably returns to Sessions immigration hard line. That was evident when the president defended his travel ban on people from certain Muslim-majority countries with tweets about a London bombing before the facts were in  and was chastised by British leaders for doing so.

But while this storyline was fading and another developing, with the president calling the North Korean leader Rocket Man on the floor of the United Nations, peace at home was looking more elusive. As protests after a St. Louis police shooting and acquittal simmered with occasional bursts into rage on both sides, as the president is fond of saying, there was not a peep from the countrys leader. Considering his priorities, that was not really surprising.

But should politicians  of both parties  who advocate police reform be standing up, as events on the ground would seem to demand? Is pulling back from progress seen as a way to avoid talking about issues of justice and race deemed divisive or unpleasant?

At election time, the Democratic Party certainly depends on its most loyal base  black, brown and poor communities affected most throughout history by unequal treatment in the streets and the courts. Since the civil rights movement, they have been faithful voters for the party that professes to care about their well-being.

Yet in 2016, voters of color were alternately blamed for not voting in high enough numbers or for emphasizing identity politics by their very existence  while the white voters who, across economic lines, voted in the majority for Trump, were excused from having an identity at all.

And Republicans, who make noises about concern for all, often retreat to a law and order mantra that trumps nuanced policy on policing and justice.

In a bipartisan gesture, Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky have introduced the Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act to accelerate progress and encourage states to replace their bail systems, which disadvantage those who dont pose a risk but cant afford bail, as Harris wrote in The Root.

But top-down moments of cooperation on justice issues are rare.

Trump can count on his Sessions-led Justice Department to be a true partner in sharing a tough view that would seem to exacerbate events in St. Louis.

During the last week, the departments Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, ended an Obama-era effort that investigated problems in local police departments, publicized them and worked with them to develop solutions before more formal interventions such as a court order were initiated.

The Justice Department will continue to investigate individual cases, though not in St. Louis. (Remember that after protests in nearby Ferguson, Mo., the Obama administrations Justice Department decided after investigation not to bring charges against the officer involved in a shooting but uncovered an unjust and widespread system that financed city government with debts and fines.)

This course correction, as Sessions characterized it, along with Trumps recent decision to resume transferring military surplus equipment to state and local police departments, is a reversal of Obama administration efforts to improve relationships between law enforcement and the minority communities they serve and make interactions more transparent.

Is this the right direction when those relationships are more fraught than ever?

In St. Louis, a black police officer broke through the blue line to stand against her white former police colleague in the shooting of a fleeing black suspect, and got vilified in the process, showing more bravery than politicians avoiding voices demanding to be heard.

In Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday was the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott and the protests that followed about economic mobility, opportunity and other issues also at the heart of similar incidents and protests across the country.

If ever there were a chance to leverage a hint of bipartisanship to improve on criminal justice reform and the relationship between urban communities and the police who protect and serve them, now would be the logical moment to take it.

But with health care, disaster relief and foreign hot spots on the table, will politicians expend political capital on such tough conversations that, if entered into in good faith, could lead to compromise and solutions?

When it comes to politicians with an eye on how everything will play at the ballot box and who likes whom, the answer is, not until the voices clamoring for resolution and reform can no longer be ignored.
Years ago, in Camden, N.J., I taught a class on contemporary politics. One day, a distressed student approached me after class. She was undocumented, she told me, and worried about applying to college.

The student asked if I thought filing an application for federal financial aid could put her family in danger of deportation. She was just 3 years old when her family had moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic; New Jersey was the only home she ever knew. The shame in her eyes was heart-wrenching.

I pointed the student to resources to sort out her options and rights. At the time, I was unsure of what would happen.

A year later, happily, the student had graduated from high school and was headed to college. Her dream was possible because of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, implemented by the Obama administration.

DACA protects young undocumented immigrants who meet certain requirements from deportation, allowing students like mine to remain in the country they call home to work or obtain a college education.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that the DACA program would end in March 2018.

We already know that DACA improves the lives of its recipients and their families, and that DACA recipients are making significant contributions to the economy by creating new jobs, starting businesses and buying cars and homes. All of this translates into more revenue for states and municipalities in the form of sales and property taxes.

But there is another, less discussed harm that repealing DACA will do.

Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Courts 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe, public schools must educate all children, including those who are undocumented. While schools nationwide serve DACA recipients and DACA-eligible students, urban public schools take in the majority of students in this category.

Already, these schools are struggling with declining student enrollment as wealthier families turn to well-funded suburban districts or privately run schools.

Eliminating protections for the roughly 1 million undocumented K-12 students in the U.S. threatens a core group of those who still attend urban public schools. Removing these students from our country  and our schools  further endangers public education in our nations cities.

As public schools decline and close, many, including Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, frame school privatization as the logical option to fill the gap. DeVos bizarrely told DACA-protected and DACA-eligible students to take courage following the administrations announcement, as if to say there was nothing she could do. Meanwhile, five former secretaries of education have come out against Trumps action.

The president has stated that he supports legislation to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. But his initial statement contains words that can only set off alarms. Under DACA, Trump said, few in Washington expressed any compassion for the millions of Americans victimized by this unfair system. Before we ask what is fair to illegal immigrants, we must also ask what is fair to American families, students, taxpayers and jobseekers.

DACA recipients are a proven benefit to our country and our economy. A byproduct of their removal will be the hastened shuttering of public schools in Americas cities.
W&M welcomes U.S.-Spain Council to campus

Visiting W&M: Members of the U.S.-Spain Council enjoy a luncheon at the Muscarelle Museum of Art on Saturday. Photo by Skip Rowland '83

Sharing research: Paul Mapp, associate professor of history, discusses his research in the Spanish archives during the Saturday luncheon. Photo by Skip Rowland '83

Meet and greet: (From left) U.S. Sen. Timothy M. Kaine and U.S. Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis talk with Max Sterling '18, Hayley Burton '19 and Maj. Dustin Menhart Saturday morning at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business. Photo by Skip Rowland '83

Meet and greet: (From left) U.S. Sen. Timothy M. Kaine, Max Sterling '18, Hayley Burton '19, U.S. Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis and Maj. Dustin Menhart pose for a photo together Saturday morning. Photo by Skip Rowland '83

Meet and greet: W&M President Taylor Reveley (left) talks with U.S. Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis on Saturday morning. Photo by Skip Rowland '83 Photo - of - Hide Caption

Some of the top business and government officials from the United States and Spain  including the defense leaders of both countries  gathered at William & Mary on Saturday as part of the 2017 U.S.-Spain Council Forum.

The Sept. 22-23 event included sessions at locations throughout Williamsburg and was brought to the city by U.S. Sen. Timothy M. Kaine (D-VA), who serves as honorary chairman of the council. The group, which aims to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Spain, includes leaders in business, government, education and culture from both countries.

Its grand that the 22nd running of the United States-Spain Forum has come to Williamsburg and especially nice for William & Mary that the forum is meeting on our campus today, said President Taylor Reveley during a luncheon at the Muscarelle Museum of Art Saturday.

That morning, students from the universitys ROTC program and Maj. Dustin A. Menhart, chair of the military science department, had the opportunity to meet and take a photo with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis before he joined Maria Dolores de Cospedal, Spains minister of defense, at William & Marys Raymond A. Mason School of Business for a discussion about the future of NATO.

Accompanied by Kaine, Mattis talked to Hayley Burton '19, a public policy major, and Max Sterling '18, an international relations major, about their ROTC activities, including training for the next Ranger Challenge, as well as their futures as U.S. Army officers.

It was very inspiring, said Menhart. Hes just a brilliant man, leader and person, and to hear some of the things he was saying was quite amazing.

Later that morning, Business Dean Larry Pulley signed a memorandum of understanding between W&M and the Fulbright Commission in Spain to provide the opportunity for one eligible Spanish Fulbright candidate each year to pursue the two-year MBA program in the Raymond A. Mason School of Business.

During a luncheon held at the Muscarelle Museum of Art, Karin Wulf, director of the universitys Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, discussed the work of the institute. Paul Mapp, associate professor of history, and Molly Warsh, an assistant professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh  both of whom held National Endowment of the Humanities postdoctoral fellowships at the institute  shared insights from their research in Spanish archives.

Early America was vast  chronologically and geographically, Wulf later said. Here in Virginia we sit at the very center of that vast early America, at the eastern edge of North America, and the western edge of an expansive Atlantic world, for example, in which Spain played a critical role.

Because the Omohundro Institute is the leading research and publication organization for the study of this expansive early America, the U.S.-Spain Council meeting was a wonderful opportunity to share award-winning research by two of our scholars.

Reveley also addressed the luncheon attendees, discussing W&Ms history and accomplishments and detailing its close ties to Spain.

Spain is among the three most popular study abroad venues for our students, and we have ties to many Spanish universities, said Reveley. Here on campus Spanish is the foreign language with the highest enrollments among our students. Many William & Mary professors have deep research commitments and interests in Spain. Today an agreement was signed between William & Marys business school and Fulbright Spain, making it possible for a highly talented graduate student from Spain to study in our MBA program, starting next academic year.

In short, William & Mary has significant ties to Spain, which we value enormously, he said.

The forum takes place annually, alternating its location between the U.S. and Spain. In addition to William & Mary, this years sessions took place at venues in Kingsmill and Colonial Williamsburg. Friday morning, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine joined other dignitaries including Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer of Microsoft, and Erin Egan, vice president and chief privacy officer for Facebook to announce the completion of the Marea transatlantic cable, which stretches from Virginia Beach to Bilbao, Spain, and can transmit 160 terabits of data per second.




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[September 25, 2017] Allied Universal Announces New GSOC Services and Partners at ASIS 2017

SANTA ANA, Calif. and CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Universal, a leading facility services company and the largest security force in North America, today announced its new Global Security Operations Center as a Service (GSOCaaS) offering. Available in the company's Monitoring and Response Center, based in Richardson, Tex., the driving force of GSOCaaS is Swan Island Network's TX360 situational awareness and threat intelligence platform and ThreatMinder's social media monitoring product combined with Allied Universal's monitoring and response center analyst and operator infrastructure. The new GSOC offerings also include LiveSafe mobile safety communications software and Groupdolists, a platform that digitizes Security Operations Center operating procedures and processes. "Businesses are seeking the best practices and technology to prepare and prevent threats, minimize risk and keep their employees and assets safe," says Ty Richmond, Allied Universal President, Integrated Security Solutions and Technology. "Through our new integrated GSOC offerings and partners, we're providing a single sourcing capability with the latest platforms and tools to accomplish this in an ever-evolving and complex world." Through Allied Universal's Monitoring and Response Center (MaRC), a focused recruiting operation provides pecialized sourcing of GSOC operators and analysts that can be dedicated at a client's location or reside inside the MaRC. These resources are critical to the analysis, reporting, and communication of critical events as well as to managing all physical and operational information work flow.



An overview of the new platforms and products follow: TX360 sorts through over 1,000 open source data channels to efficiently identify situational intelligence that is critical during a crisis, allowing security professionals to make faster, better informed decisions with highly relevant, real-time alerts and a comprehensive common operating picture of intel from around the world or down the street. The cloud-based platform enables highly secure and targeted delivery of critical information to identify and manage the most relevant emerging risks and threats.

sorts through over 1,000 open source data channels to efficiently identify situational intelligence that is critical during a crisis, allowing security professionals to make faster, better informed decisions with highly relevant, real-time alerts and a comprehensive common operating picture of intel from around the world or down the street. The cloud-based platform enables highly secure and targeted delivery of critical information to identify and manage the most relevant emerging risks and threats. Threatminder monitors potential threats to corporate assets across the Web, dark web and social media. Using proprietary technologies to monitor, analyze and notify businesses of online threats, the 24x7 system provides valuable insight into possible risk and liability. Analysts will also categorize and communicate possible danger in real time when a threat is detected, enabling a proactive response.

monitors potential threats to corporate assets across the Web, dark web and social media. Using proprietary technologies to monitor, analyze and notify businesses of online threats, the 24x7 system provides valuable insight into possible risk and liability. Analysts will also categorize and communicate possible danger in real time when a threat is detected, enabling a proactive response. LiveSafe puts a mobile security system in the hands of everyone in an organization, deputizing employees so they can feel involved and empowered to do something when they see something. Users can send text, photos, videos and precise location information to report incidents ranging from routine maintenance needs to suspicious activity to safety threats. LiveSafe's cloud-based command dashboard receives tips in real time and allows security officials to respond via secure live chat.

puts a mobile security system in the hands of everyone in an organization, deputizing employees so they can feel involved and empowered to do something when they see something. Users can send text, photos, videos and precise location information to report incidents ranging from routine maintenance needs to suspicious activity to safety threats. LiveSafe's cloud-based command dashboard receives tips in real time and allows security officials to respond via secure live chat. Groupdolists, powered by Centrallo, simplifies team coordination during routine and emergency events, instantly creating a common operating picture across Security Operations Centers and dispersed response teams, keeping them synchronized throughout the life cycle of any situation. Groupdolists increases transparency, provides greater accountability, and can be shared with leaders to reduce distractions and interruptions and help ensure deployment of the right resources, at the right time. Allied Universal will debut these platforms and applications at ASIS 2017. Held Sept. 25-28 in Dallas, Tex., the show is the largest industry event held annually to address priorities, education and issues for security management professionals. Show attendees are invited to visit Allied Universal at Booth #2733 for a demo of GSOC software and applications. Learn more about Allied Universal's show activities, including participation in education sessions, at this link.

About Allied Universal Allied Universal, a leading facility services company and the largest security force in North America with over 150,000 employees, provides unparalleled security services and solutions. With headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif., and Conshohocken, Pa., Allied Universal combines people and technology to deliver evolving, tailored solutions that allow our clients to focus on their core business. An unrelenting focus on clients' success creates partnerships rooted in quality and value, and is supported by experience gained from being in business for over 60 years. Through our people and leading services, systems and solutionsAllied Universal is there for you. For more information, please visit www.aus.com. Contact: Nancy Thompson, Vorticom Public Relations

Phone: 212-532-2208 Email: [email protected] View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allied-universal-announces-new-gsoc-services-and-partners-at-asis-2017-300524584.html SOURCE Allied Universal

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Strategic plan for uranium remediation in Central Asia

25 September 2017

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The European Commission (EC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the republics of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have signed a joint commitment on coordinating efforts to achieve the safe and sustainable environmental remediation of uranium legacy sites in Central Asia, under a newly published strategic master plan.

The parties at the signing ceremony (Image: IAEA)



Central Asia was an important uranium-producing region in the former Soviet Union from the mid-1940s, particularly in the mountainous areas above the Syr Darya river and the Ferghana valley, where the borders of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan intersect. Most of the uranium mining and ore processing activities had ceased by the mid-1990s, leaving a large accumulation of radioactive contaminated material at mines and placed in waste dumps and tailing sites. Very little remediation of either mining sites or tailings storage facilities has been carried out.

The Strategic Master Plan has been developed with the Central Asian countries by core members of the IAEA's Coordination Group for Uranium Legacy Sites, which was formed in 2012 to help coordinate national and multilateral remediation activities in Central Asia. The plan aims to ensure a coordinated, timely and cost-effective approach in accordance with international conventions and agreements. It ranks remediation measures in terms of risks and priorities, and develops an integrated approach for evaluating the remediation needs of each site.

The plan was signed on 18 September by Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the IAEA, the EC and the EBRD at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna. The Kyrgyz Republic and Russia are also expected to join it.

The overall costs of remediating the uranium legacy sites covered in the plan, together with supporting activities, are estimated at about 210 million. 56 million of this has already been provided by the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the World Bank. Most of the 160 million still required is for the cost of the actual remediation work.

Work on seven priority sites will be covered by the EBRD's Environmental Remediation Account for Central Asia at an estimated cost of 85 million, to which the EC has so far contributed 16 million. A donor conference is to be held next year with the aim of closing the funding gap, the EBRD said.

IAEA Deputy Director General Juan Carlos Lentijo, head of the agency's Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, said the partners were working together to help create a safe environment for current and future generations. "Effective coordination will help ensure that remediation will be addressed in a timely, cost-effective and sustainable manner," he said.

Balthasar Lindauer, EBRD Deputy Director, Nuclear Safety, said the bank welcomed the agreement. "This key document will be our joint roadmap for addressing the urgent issue of the legacy of uranium mining in Central Asia," he said. "Today's signing marks very important progress and also demonstrates the determination of all parties present today to address this challenge. We appeal to the international community to join this effort to create a safe and healthy environment for the people of Central Asia."

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
The Burney Falls are sometimes lauded as the most beautiful of waterfalls in the state of California. The falls are nestled in the widely visited Burney Falls Memorial State Park. The habitat in the park hosts different plant and animal species, and the waterfall itself is a marvel of nature, as it constantly flows all year round, as its fed by underground springs formed through unique geology.

History Of The McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

Signboard providing important information regarding the Burney Falls.

Burney Falls is a 129 ft tall and 250 ft wide waterfall, located in the picturesque 910 acre McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, in Shasta County, California. Its named after Scot Samuel Burney, the foremost settler who arrived there in the 1850s. While there, he built a log cabin, barn, and corral for livestock. Burney was friendly to Indians and even learned their language, but the Indians killed him during a raid in 1856 in his log cabin with a hatchet strike to his head. McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park also derives the first part of its name from Johh and Catherine McArthur. They arrived after Burney had been killed in 1856, according to California State Parks history. The MacArthurs bought thousands of acres of land in the area and opened a mercantile store. McArthurs' descendants saved the Burney waterfalls and land from development by buying the area, and giving it as a gift to California State in the 1920s.

A Natural Spectacle

The spectacular Burney Falls.

Although the Burney fall is not the largest or the highest waterfall in California, it is touted as the most stunning of them all. Its magnificence made President Teddy Roosevelt declare it as the 8th wonder of the world. In 1984, the waterfall was also officially declared a National Natural Landmark by the US National Park Service. At the waterfalls, converging waters from springs create a stunning misty basin. The Burney Creeks origins are from the underground springs and they get larger as they get near to the fall, and flow to Lake Britton. Even when the upper section of Burney Creek dries, groundwater keeps flowing through the fractured basalt geology to Burney Falls. Then, the water comes back to the surface and flows over the top, and out of the face of the falls, all year. The waterfall has constant water flow even in summer as its fed by the parks underground springs making it a year round waterfall. The Burney Falls flows at the rate of 100 million gallons of water daily. This unique phenomenon is due to the geology of the area which is formed like the Modoc Plateau geomorphic lands to the north east of California.

Wildlife

Wildflowers growing in the McArthurBurney Falls Memorial State Park.

The habitat around Burney Falls and McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park consists of coniferous forests with the ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir tree species growing along the Burney Creek. This is home to western fence lizards, woodpeckers and tiny animals. There is also a mixed hardwood forest dotted predominantly by the California black oak and Oregon white oak, plus the montane chaparral shrub land. In this habitat are wildlife like the ground squirrels, porcupines, gray foxes, and coyotes.

Bird species like the American white pelicans, ospreys, pileated woodpeckers, chestnut-backed chickadees, and the peregrine falcons live in this habitat. There are also migratory American black swifts and the endangered bald eagle which soars above this habitat. There are viewing sites for birders in the park. The montane chaparral is the choice habitat for rabbits, insects, and birds which feed on chaparral seeds. The mule deer which is preyed on by the mountain lion is found here.

Each season, dry areas in the McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park become wet meadow habitat when the soil can no longer absorb more water. These conditions foster the growth of herbs and grasses. Insects then inhabit the wet meadow but when it dries out, small rodents move in. The rodents then attract raptors like the northern harriers and the red tailed hawks who feed on them. The tree laden Burney Creek wetlands provide habitat to the American dipper bird, western pond turtles, Pacific tree frogs, river otters, and the non-native bullfrogs.

Visiting The Burney Falls

A woman enjoying the beautiful sight of the Burney Falls.

From April to October tourists flock the McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in addition to holidays and summer weekends. When this happens, the park fills to capacity and then it closes. Within the park are many recreation activities available for tourists. For campers, there are about 121 family camping sites accessible after a brief hike from the lake and the Burney Waterfalls. There is also an RV sanitation station at the campgrounds north end. A five mile hiking trail winds through the evergreen forests and the Pacific Crest Trail. The Burney Creek Trail leads to the Burney Waterfalls and passes through trees like, ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, incense cedar and diverse oaks.

Stand By Me Bridge, Lake Britton, California.

The Pioneer Cemetery Trail ideal for hiking and biking, follows a historic wagon trail that leads to the Pioneer Cemetery. Anglers can also fish at the Burney Creek where brook and rainbow trout fishes are aplenty in October and at Lake Britton where trout, bass, bluegill and crappie fish species are available. Lake Britton is accessible via the Burney Creek trail or by use of a vehicle, however, Anglers need legal permission before fishing according to California State Parks. McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park also has a picnic area that can accommodate 100 people and can be rented for occasions. There are about 24 one or two roomed cabins within walking distance to the falls and camp store. The cabins are insulated against chilly nights through heating. Tourists can also go canoeing at Lake Britton.

Threats

Like many natural resources in the state of California, Burney Falls and its surrounding environment, the McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, faces threats attributed to urbanization. Rapid urban expansion is encroaching on the parks habitat with protected indigenous plant and animal species. Also, the introduction of non native or exotic plants and animal species is threatening the native species in the McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State park. The effect of these foreign species has led to natural flora and fauna in the park being classified as endangered or at extinction risk if protective measures are not taken. Natural break out of cycles of wild fires which leads to natural propagation of certain species has also been hampered by the presence of these foreign species.
Asia ranks as the biggest continent, and it occupies almost 29.1% of the Earth's landmass. The continent extends for 17,139,445 square miles and is home to 4.1 billion people. Some people regard Asia and Europe as being a single continent thus making it the largest by far.

Geography Of The Largest Continent In The World

Asia occupies the eastern area of the Eurasian supercontinent with Europe making up the western portion. Asia borders the Indian, Arctic, and Pacific Oceans and it can be subdivided into deserts, mountain chains, plains, saltwater, and freshwater environments, and plateaus. Asia is home to the 1,550-mile-long Himalaya Mountains which separate the Indian subcontinent from the other parts of Asia. The Himalayas are so long that they are divided into three mountain belts. Other Asian mountain systems include the Tien Shan Mountains and the Ural Mountains. Asia is also home to multiple plateaus including the Tibetan Plateau which is famous as the highest region on Earth. Much of the territory of Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan lies on the Iranian Plateau. The most extensive region of continuous flatland lies in Asia and more specifically in Russia called the West Siberian Plain. The largest sand sea also lies in the continent namely the Rub' al Khali Desert. Notable water bodies in Asia include Lake Baikal of Russia, the Yangtze River, the Tigris-Euphrates river system, the Persian Gulf, the Bay of Bengal, and the Sea of Okhotsk.

Economy Of The World's Largest Continent

Asia prides as having the second highest nominal GDP among the world's continents just behind Europe. However, when the GDP is measured by Purchasing power parity Asia has the highest. The largest Asian economies include Japan, South Korea, China, Indonesia, and India. The economies of India and China particularly have been registering annual growth rates of over 8%. Asia has such significant natural resources as silver, petroleum, rice, forests, copper, water, and fish. Asia's manufacturing industry is strong in China, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, and India. The continent's four primary financial hubs are Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. 3.3 million millionaires lived in Asia in 2010.

Demographics Of Asia

The largest continent is home to an estimated 56% of the world population. India and China together have more than 2.6 billion inhabitants. The Central Asian people include the Mongols, Iranians, Russians, and the Turkic people. Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, and Sino-Tibetan Peoples are categorized as East Asian People. The people of Northern Asia include the Tungusic, Finno-Ugric people, and the native communities of Siberia. The ethnic groups of Pakistan and India are categorized as South Asian people as are the Munda people, Dravidians, and Indo-Aryans. The ethnic groups of Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia as well as the Tai, and Austronesian People are grouped as Southeast Asian people. The West Asian communities include Arabs, Samaritans, Jews, Peoples of the Caucasus, Druze and the ethnic minorities in Iraq and Iran.

Modern Conflicts In Asia

The world's largest continent has had its share of conflicts after the 2nd World War. Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Nepal, Burma, and Syria have experienced civil wars. For nations like Syria, the war is ongoing. A handful of Asian states have gone to war with each other such as Iraq and Iran who fought from 1980 to 1988. India and Pakistan have engaged one another in four wars since British India was partitioned to form Pakistan and India. Other conflicts have engaged more than two nations such as the Arab-Israeli conflicts involving the Arab nations of Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, and Syria.
A young man wanted to make a point about racism in the United States, but his plan backfired when he was exposed for a liar by police. 20-year-old Khalil Cavil of Texas was working at the Saltgrass Steak House in Odessa when he claimed he was discriminated against because of his Muslim name. Cavil took
[September 25, 2017] Zscaler Presents on Office 365 and Azure Networking at Microsoft Ignite Conference

Zscaler, Inc., the leading cloud security company, today announced it will participate in two speaking sessions at the Microsoft (News - Alert) Ignite Conference in Orlando, Florida. Session: State of the Union for Microsoft Azure Networking: New Network Services, Features, and Scenarios Zscaler CEO Jay Chaudhry will join Microsoft Corporate VP Yousef Khalidi and Gigamon VP of Product Ananda Rajagopal (News - Alert) for a customer session on Azure Networking services and Microsoft's Global WAN infrastructure. This session is built for new and existing Microsoft Azure customers and will include major announcements on new and updated product features, as well as real-life customer stories on how Azure networking is being used in cutting-edge cases to catapult businesses. Tuesday, September 26, 2017

12:30 PM EDT

Hyatt Regency Orlando, Windermere Ballroom X



Session: Secrets to Optimizing O365 Performance In this theater session, Zscaler Director of Product Management Dhawal Sharma will discuss how Microsoft Office 365 is not to be blamed for network performance issues. Instead, the blame lies with legacy network equipment that was never intended for cloud traffic. Other takeaways from this session include:

Lessons from early large-scale deployments

How local Internet breakouts and cloud optimizations enable a faster user experience

How cloud firewall accelerates deployment

How automated IP and URL updates simplify administration Monday, September 25, 2017

5:05 PM EDT

Expo Hall, Expo Theater 3 Visit Zscaler at booth 1936. About Zscaler Zscaler enables the world's leading organizations to securely transform their networks and applications for a mobile and cloud first world. Its flagship services, Zscaler Internet Access and Zscaler Private Access, create fast, secure connections between users and applications, regardless of device, location, or network. Zscaler services are 100 percent cloud-delivered and offer the simplicity, enhanced security, and improved user experience that traditional appliances are unable to match. Used in more than 185 countries, Zscaler operates the world's largest cloud security platform, protecting thousands of enterprises and government agencies from cyberattacks and data loss. Learn more at zscaler.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @zscaler. Zscaler is a trademark or registered trademark of Zscaler, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170925005505/en/

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Health Board reiterate commitment to tackling substance misuse in Wrexham following criticism from deputy council leader

This article is old - Published: Monday, Sep 25th, 2017

The deputy leader of Wrexham Council has called on the Health Board to do more to tackle issues with substance misuse in the town.

Wrexhams issues with New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)  formerly known as legal highs  have been well-documented over the last year, along with various ideas to attempt to tackle the problem. All this came to a head in March 2017 when a series of images went viral on Facebook  resulting in national coverage and the local newspaper headline Druggy Town.

In late 2016 new legislation was introduced to specifically focus on tackling the sale, production and misuse of what was then known as legal highs such as spice and mamba

Previously such substances, which were also rebranded as NPS could be purchased openly in shops or online. However under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 those found producing, supplying and importing NPS could face seven years imprisonment.

There have been questions as to whether the legislation works, goes far enough or if it has created further issues. This is also highlighted by Wrexham Council, who note along with others that in many ways NPS are harder to police than the old-style drugs.

Locally there have been attempts to tackle the seemingly growing problem in Wrexham, including two everyone in a room events  which brought together service users and relevant agencies to offer support to what has been described as a vulnerable cohort of individuals.

Last month a statement released by Wrexham Council said that things are happening and there are people doing incredible work in a bid to offer reassurance and inform the public on the work being done locally to tackle NPS use.

However Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, has now called on the Health Board to do more to tackle issues with NPS in Wrexham and to work in closer partnership with the council and police.

Cllr Jones said: Were all aware of those concerns which have been raised around the use of non-psychoactive substances, or NPS, in Wrexham.

The recent growth in NPS has made life even more difficult for vulnerable people already dealing with issues around mental or physical health, family breakdown or homelessness.

Wrexham is not unique in this, but in other towns and cities in the UK where NPS has posed a problem, a lot of work in this area has been led by the Health sector.

A lot of good work is being done in Wrexham and progress is being made, but it would benefit further from greater involvement from our NHS partners.

I recently attended a meeting of the Safeguarding, Communities, Wellbeing and Scrutiny Committee, and members supported my view that not enough was being done by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) with respect to this issue.

He added: I have written to the Chief Executive and the Chair of the Health Board, asking for greater focus on those challenges which were facing in Wrexham, as well as more expediency in dealing with requests for support from the other parties involved.

I have said before that we have a good partnership in place between Wrexham Council, North Wales Police and a variety of agencies, all of whom are striving to tackle this problem.

This partnership is a unique grouping of specialised parties, all of whom cover issues of public safety, drug rehabilitation treatment, homelessness and others, but without stronger backing on the part of the Health Board, we can only go so far.

I would urge the Health Board to work closer with all of us on that partnership, and to speed up responses where support is requested.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Boards Chief Executive, Gary Doherty, responded: Over recent months and weeks, additional outreach sessions have been provided by our Harm Reduction Service and we are currently looking at ways to allocate additional resources to target the most problematic and hard to reach NPS users.

Our priority is to make contact and develop a trusting relationship with people who use NPS before we are able to motivate and promote positive behaviour change.

This complex problem is bigger than any one organisation and its vital that we work together with our partners to ensure that NPS users in Wrexham receive the intensive support they need. We will be writing to Cllr Jones to reaffirm our commitment to tackling this problem, and to look at ways we can strengthen our partnership working.

Over the weekend Wrexham.com reported that the encampment on the Groves site had been vacated, with fire crews seen dampening down a makeshift bonfire on Saturday afternoon.

That report also contains some tweets between a Lead Councillor and the Police and Crime Commissioner, the latter pointing out Councillor Hugh Jones is Lead partner for Crime and Disorder is @wrexhamcbc and @hugh_wre  you can read that here.
Wrexham to feature as part of 1.4m project to put specialist mental health support into schools

This article is old - Published: Monday, Sep 25th, 2017

Dedicated mental health practitioners are to be recruited to a number of schools across Wrexham as part of a Welsh Government pilot scheme.

The project, which was unveiled this morning, comes as a result of a 1.4 million investment from Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething and Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams to strengthen the support from specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to schools.

As part of the unique initiative children and teachers in Wales will receive the emotional and mental health support they need, when they need it, with dedicated CAHMS practitioners set to be recruited to work with pilot schools in three areas across Wales.

Wrexham, along with Denbigshire has been selected as the two areas that will receive the support in North Wales, with 104 Primary Schools, 1 Middle School and 16 secondary schools taking part in the scheme.

The practitioners will provide teachers with on-site help and advice, ensuring pupils experiencing difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, and compulsive self-harm or conduct disorders receive early help in schools from suitably trained staff, preventing more serious problems occurring later in life.

Welsh Government say the model will enable:

 Support for teachers to better understand childhood distress, emotional and mental health problems, and reduce stress experienced by teachers concerned about their pupils, by up-skilling them to recognise and deal with low level problems within their competence;

 Ensuring that when issues are identified that are outside teachers competence and skills, that specialist liaison, consultancy and advice is available to enable the young person to be directed to more appropriate services such as CAMHS or Local Primary Mental Health Support Services, and to support the teacher and school in providing for the young persons educational needs

 Ensuring systems are in place to share appropriate information between CAMHS and schools, shared care arrangements are agreed for those young people requiring more intensive support, and that arrangements are in place to escalate/de-escalate as the young persons needs dictate.

Initially operating as a pilot programme, the initiative will commence by the end of 2017 and cover two full academic years, concluding in the summer of 2020. The results will be evaluated, and take into account a broad range of measures from the perspective of both teachers and pupils.

Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething explained that the initiative will ensure children and teachers receive support to promote good emotional and mental health.

He said: One in four people in Wales will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives. Getting the right treatment at an early stage, coupled with greater awareness of conditions, can in many cases prevent long term adverse impacts.

This unique new initiative were unveiling today will see specialist NHS Wales services extend into the classroom. This will ensure children, teachers and others charged with caring for children in our schools, receive support to promote good emotional and mental health. It will help identify and address issues early, helping to prevent more serious problems occurring later in life.

One of the Welsh Governments key aims is to improve the health and well-being of the people of Wales. This will help us achieve our ambition of prosperity for all, while taking significant steps to shift our approach from treatment to prevention.

We hope this initiative will improve accessibility to support services, better address school related stress, and ease pressures on specialist CAMHS by reducing inappropriate referrals. We also hope it will facilitate a wider culture which promotes and values positive mental health and wellbeing within our schools.

Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams added: Most young people spend a large part of their time in school, so there is a clear need for teachers to be able to help and support them should they experience difficulties in life, such as anxiety, low mood, compulsive self-harm or behaviour disorders.

Through this new initiative, we are making schools places that actively promote positive mental health and wellbeing, providing evidence-based prevention and early intervention where its needed.

For children and young people, it will enable them to have their problems addressed earlier, before they escalate. For teachers, it will help ensure they feel able and confident in dealing with emotional distress, and know where to go to seek support.
Kezia Dugdale, the eighth leader in 18 years of the Labour Party in Scotland, resigned last month after two years in the job.

Dugdale, a right-wing careerist devoid of principles or any record of struggle in the working class, was from the first at odds with Jeremy Corbyns leadership of the British party. Her career points to the hollowed-out character of Labour and underscores how Corbyns refusal to wage a struggle against the right-wing has played the central role in maintaining its dominance of the party.

At times, it seemed Dugdale was more loyal to Scottish First Minister and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon. But no campaign was mobilised against her, and her departure was not even anticipated. Rather, she simply walked away from a post that had become politically tiresome and personally awkward.

Dugdale joined the Labour Party as an unemployed law graduate at a loose end, having had an interest in student welfare on the student union. She considered politically-minded students as geeks. She was selected as a member of the Scottish parliament (MSP) in 2011 via the list system and quickly appointed as shadow minister for youth employment. By 2014, still a complete unknown, she was elected deputy leader to arch right-winger and Blairite Jim Murphy.

Murphy led the Labour Partys campaign for a No vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, which was waged on an entirely right-wing, pro-imperialist basis, arm-in-arm with the hated Conservative government, rather than opposing efforts to divide Scottish and English workers. Despite voters rejecting independence by a 55 to 45 percent majority, the Labour Party went on to suffer the most catastrophic electoral collapse in its history, with the party viewed, on the basis of its long record in local as well as national government, as indistinguishable from the Tories. Labour, for decades the dominant party in Scotland, lost all but one of its 41 Westminster seats in the 2015 general election to the SNP.

Murphy immediately resigned to be replaced by Dugdale, who won 72 percent of the vote among Labour members against fellow right-wing nonentity Ken Mackintosh. Dugdales main credentials for office appeared to be that she was right-wing and female. Shortly after her election in Scotland, however, Corbyn won the leadership of the British Labour Party which, in a highly distorted way, reflected political shifts to the left among broad sections of workers.

Dugdale opposed Corbyn from the first and voted for the Blairite candidate, Yvette Cooper. She supported successive efforts to unseat Corbyn by the right-wing, and in June 2016 called on him to resign. Two months later, she voted for Owen Smith, who challenged Corbyn for Labour leadership. When Corbyn again won, Dugdale immediately stated Corbyns chances of winning an election were slim to nonexistent. Twenty-four hours later, realising which way the wind was blowing and confirming her lack of political convictions, she insisted the exact opposite, stating, Of course Jeremy Corbyn can win a general election.

Dugdale, nevertheless, continued her efforts to undermine Corbyn. In September 2016, both the Scottish and Welsh Labour parties won autonomy within Labour to set their own policies and to have representation on the partys powerful National Executive Committee (NEC). The move deprived Corbyn of a majority on the NEC. Dugdale trumpeted her success and promised to be a loud and passionate voice for Scotlands intereststhat is, for the right-wing Labour apparatus and its business backers in Scotland.

The NEC dispute also highlighted tensions between Dugdale and Corbyn on the constitutional question. Since being elected, Dugdale had attempted to triangulate Labour into a position where it was less vulnerable to the Scottish nationalist claims that Labour in Scotland was merely a branch of Labour in London. In the partys election manifesto, 20 years after Labours original devolution legislation, Labour offered, with Dugdales backing, the option of a more federalised countrydangling the possibility of a further extension of powers to the regional elite, while avoiding a breakup of the UK.

Dugdale also consistently gave the impression of being closer to the SNP than sections of her own party. As deputy Labour leader, she had already professed herself a fan of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. In the immediate aftermath of the 2016 Brexit vote, Dugdale went as far as to confess that it was not inconceivable that she might back another Scottish independence vote if it helped keep Scotland in the European Union.

By early 2017, it emerged that Dugdale, whose father is an SNP supporter, was actually dating an SNP MSP, Jenny Gilruth, Parliamentary Liaison Officer for SNP deputy leader, John Swinney. Extraordinarily, the two appear to have met on a tour organised by the US State Departmentwhich notoriously holds such recruiting events for prospective CIA assets.

Labour, in the event, did better than expected in this years snap June 8 election, winning 30 seats, including six recovered in Scotland. Corbyn embarked over the summer on a tour of 64 key marginal seats which Labour needs to win to form a government without support from one of the minority parties. Eighteen of these are in Scotland and all are currently held by the SNP.

Had Corbyn had the slightest interest in a struggle against the right-wing in his own party, this tour, through Labours lost industrial heartlands in Scotland, would have been the time and place to do it. He could have denounced Dugdales campaign against him and exposed Labours fostering of the political climate in which the SNP could emerge. He could then have denounced the SNP in power for its implementation of Tory policies and revived the accurate term Tartan Toriesonce coined by Labour to describe the nationalists.

Instead, although matters do indeed appear to have come to a head during Corbyns tour, it was over what tactics best served business interests. Dugdale spoke on BBC radio late August of her view that Corbyn was very open to her repeated calls for Scotland, in the context of Brexit, to develop distinct employment policies in line with the needs of Scottish-based employers. Corbyn rejected this, but from a rival view of what was best for business: I think that becomes very complicated because if you are trading, companies exist in Scotland, exist in Wales, exist in England, they are making things, doing things together, it would be very, very difficult if not impossible to see how we could separate those out. It has to be a UK-wide agreement.

Dugdale resigned days later.

Only two candidates have come forward to replace her. Anas Sarwar, reportedly the favourite, is a right-wing multi-millionaire MSP and a shareholder in his familys low-wage cash-and-carry empire.

Sarwars opponent is Richard Leonard, the preferred candidate of Corbyn supporters in Scotland around the Campaign for Socialism group. Leonard, formerly an organiser for the GMB trade union, has also been supported by Simon Fletcher, who organised Corbyns 2015 leadership campaign based on recruiting a layer of new party members. He is supported by the pseudo left. The Socialist Party Scotland, for example, hailed Leonards candidacy, claiming that Labour can be a party that fights for the interests of the working class if only it changes its position to support Scottish independence.
IGEL Featured in CRN's 2017 Cloud Partner Program Guide

IGEL, a world leader in endpoint management software for the secure enterprise, announced today that is has been recognized by CRN  , a brand of The Channel Company, in the 2017 Cloud Partner Program Guide. This annual list features the channel's leading technology vendors with cloud related partner programs and who are enabling the growth of their solution provider partners' cloud initiatives.

"Over the last year, we've made some significant investments in our channel sales organization that are now helping our channel partners build thriving businesses around IGEL's industry-leading endpoint management solutions," said Jed Ayres, President and CEO, IGEL North America. "These investments have led to an astounding 890% increase in our software revenues in the U.S. market in the first half of 2017 and 156% growth worldwide. We are looking forward to a successful second half of the year and we will continue to promote true alignment with our channel partners through compelling resources, tools and incentives that accelerate business growth and profitability."

Some of the investments IGEL has made in its partner program over the last year include:







The Cloud Partner Program Guide will be featured in the October issue of CRN and can be viewed online at www.crn.com/cloud-ppg.

IGEL on Social Media

Twitter (News - Alert): www.twitter.com/IGEL_Technology

Facebook: www.facebook.com/igel.technology

Google (News - Alert)+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101270758605662221044

LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/igel-technology

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IGELTechnologyTV

About IGEL

IGEL delivers powerful unified endpoint management software that is revolutionary in its simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise. The company's world-leading software products include the IGEL OS, Universal Desktop Converter (UDC), IGEL Cloud Gateway (News - Alert) (ICG), IGEL UD Pocket (UDP) and Universal Management Suite (UMS). These solutions enable a more secure, manageable and cost-effective endpoint management platform across nearly any x86 device. Additionally, IGEL's German engineered and manufactured thin, zero and all-in-one client solutions deliver the industry's best warranty (5 years), support (3 years after end of life) and management functionality. IGEL enables enterprises to precisely control all devices running IGEL OS as well as Windows OS from a single dashboard interface. IGEL has offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170925005058/en/
Since San Diego officials declared a public health emergency following a hepatitis A outbreak on September 1, two more people have died bringing the total for the current outbreak to 16 fatalities. The city has taken a slow response to contain the infectious disease, only in the last month installing 40 portable hand-washing stations downtown and vaccinating about 28,000 people.

The outbreak is the deadliest in the United States in decades and has wreaked havoc on the citys homeless population. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), San Diegos mortality rate for the disease is 4 percent, four times the national average of 1 percent.

The city has begun power-washing the streets with bleach, a practice borrowed from Los Angeles which has reported an outbreak of hepatitis A as well.

The disease, which affects the liver, is extremely contagious especially given the conditions in downtown San Diego, where human waste and trash exist alongside homeless encampments of men, women, and children. More than half the hepatitis A cases in San Diego are homeless people.

Experts have cautioned San Diegans to practice good hygiene, but given the lack of public toilets and washing facilities this has proven especially difficult for homeless people.

Officials in San Diego first identified the outbreak in March but were aware of the first case last November. Only after 14 people had died and the outbreak became international news did the city offer any plans to combat the spread of the disease. So far, city officials have only offered cosmetic policy changes while doing nothing to address the root cause of the problem: the lack of affordable housing combined with the criminalization of the homeless population.

An Emergency Operations Center was opened on Friday in coordination with the Office of Homeland Security in City Hall which will oversee the citys response to the crisis.

As of last week, there have been 444 recorded cases of hepatitis A, including 305 hospitalizations, compared to just 22 cases in all of 2015. Santa Cruz County in Northern California has reported 69 cases since April. Los Angeles has reported 10 cases this year, citing the deplorable housing conditions in Los Angeles, health officials have warned that the disease may easily spread there as well.

The San Diego Police Department has continued its daily sweeps of the homeless encampments in the downtown area, pushing the population away from the tourist areas. In the last year, arrest of homeless people under Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer have increased by 68 percent.

The disease has now spread to the jails, where the homeless are routinely locked up for anti-vagrancy tickets. Already, 21 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in jails throughout San Diego County. Of the 5,800 inmates across the county, more than 2,300 have received vaccinations.

Health officials have stated that because the disease has an incubation period of 15 to 50 days, the outbreak may continue for another six months. Although the cases in San Diego have affected homeless individuals and intravenous drug users, over one third of the number do not fall into either category.

San Diego County's chief medical officer, Dr. Nick Yphantides told NBC 7, Based on history, prior to the availability of the vaccine in the late 1990s, we expect this outbreak will last longer, and will likely have an additional number of further cases.

Officials have known that a public health crisis was brewing years before the current outbreak. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the public records of four grand jury reports since 2000 revealed that officials were warned of the potential risks of human waste on the city streets and the lack of toilets as the citys homeless population exploded.

The official response to these reports was that additional bathrooms would be too costly, require more security, and that the suggestions themselves deserved more study.

In 2013, the San Diego Sheriffs office and the Countys Chief Administrative Officer rejected one such grand jury report which recommend vaccinating inmates in the jails in compliance with federal guidelines. Needless to say, the guidelines were not implemented.

The outbreak has already threatened the citys much celebrated tourism industry, with a cookie convention being called off at the San Diego Convention Center last weekend. It for this reason, bad publicity for Americas finest city, that Mayor Faulconer and the political establishment have shown more interest in solving the hepatitis A outbreak, or at least paying lip service to it.

The Mayors office has promised three shelters which can accommodate 100 beds with restrooms and showers. Officials said the first one or two shelters might open by the end of the year. However this does not even begin to solve the problem as there are more than 9,000 homeless individuals in San Diego County according to the latest homeless survey.

Moreover, the shelters promised had already been announced last January by the Faulconer and private donators had announced two months ago they would pay for the program. The mayors staff had looked at the proposed sites for the shelters previously and gave many reasons why they would not work, but now that the hep A outbreak has occurred the sites were now deemed acceptable.
Plainclothes agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took four men into custody outside Brooklyn Criminal Court on September 13. Three of the four men had no prior criminal record despite accusations by ICE that they were gang affiliated. All four men are undocumented Mexican nationals. Sergio Perez, Juan Villa, Fredy Rosas and Eduardo Romero had been arrested on misdemeanor trespass charges. Only Romero had a prior record, a misdemeanor charge for which he did community service.

The men were appearing to answer charges of trespassing in late July after police responded to a noise complaint of a gathering taking place at a construction site in Brooklyns Sunset Park neighborhood.

The District Attorneys office was alerted that ICE officials had been spotted on the eighth floor of the courthouse and sent a criminal court supervisor to inform them that they needed to disclose if they were planning to make arrests. The DAs office reported that ICE agents refused to identify themselves and one officer outright denied being an ICE agent.

The blatantly anti-democratic act of arresting immigrants who are attending court hearings for minor violations, such as traffic infractions, acts as a mechanism for justifying the crackdown on immigrants as failure to present for court is grounds for deportation. It also discourages immigrants from appearing as criminal witnesses.

In an attempt to limit public outrage, ICE spokeswoman Rachel Yong Yow, announced that the four men admitted to having been gang members or affiliates. Emphasis should be placed on the or affiliates. As part of the Secure Communities initiative enacted under George W. Bush and widely expanded under Barack Obama, immigration officials obtain access to state and federal police databases including gang databases, notoriously wrought with errors. An audit in 2016 of California databases found that 42 infants one year old or younger had been entered into the system with 28 who supposedly admitted to being gang members.

Scott Hechinger, attorney and director of policy at Brooklyn Defender Services is quoted in DNA Info as saying Accusations of gang affiliation are often unverified, and can be based simply on being friends on Facebook with someone whos in a gang. It winds up trapping people who have absolutely no involvement in a gang.

According to ICE the men were affiliates of the Mexican street gang Ninos Malos. They have provided zero evidence to support this claim.

Reports indicate that groups of two to four ICE officials has expanded the practice of carrying out arrests in front of courthouses in plain-clothing and without brandishing their badges. Earlier this year Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman demanded ICE stop arresting immigrants in New York courtrooms. Witnesses have characterized these arrests as kidnappings as groups of men swarm on an individual throwing them into an unmarked van.

Lee Wang, a member of the Immigrant Defense Project told the New York Post, They are in jeans and a sweatshirt, they are in khakis and polos, sometimes they have a visible badge, and sometimes they dont. I think what is very disturbing is that they will often not identify themselves even to defense attorneys.  They wont even say who they are or show any kind of warrant. They are really acting as rogue operators in the courts.

In spite of the objection from local officials and attorneys ICE continues to target immigrants at courtrooms. There have been about 60 arrests by ICE in New York courts this year, with at least eight of those in Brooklyn, according to a report published by the Immigrant Defense Project. The effect of these arrests has been to make immigrants fearful of the courts and thus unwilling to come forward as witnesses or even as victims of crimes.

Such tactics by ICE expose the spurious nature of claims by New York officials of the city being a sanctuary city and underscore the limited abilityor willingnessof local officials to oppose such measures.

City officials have requested that ICE not carry out raids at sensitive locations such as places of worship, schools and courtrooms. ICE has clearly rejected this request.

There is no law which prevents ICE agents from entering a public building or operating immediately outside of one. Democratic Party officials in New York or other so-called sanctuary cities are not only incapable of defending immigrant workers but have given US Immigration officials the green light to continue to round up millions with undocumented status.

Earlier this year Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio openly voiced his agreement to work with the Trump administration to increase the number of offenses that are grounds on which to deport undocumented immigrants. "If there are some offenses that we should add, we are willing to do that always," de Blasio said with respect to expanding the list which already includes 170 offenses.
World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke with attorney Al Watkins in St. Louis last week following the not guilty verdict in the criminal case of former police officer Jason Stockley, who shot and killed Anthony Lamar Smith in December 2011. When Missouri Circuit Court Judge Timothy Wilson released the ruling on September 15, protests swept St. Louis. The ongoing demonstrations have been met with brutal police repression, including the kettling and mass arrest of peaceful protesters.

St. Louis police murder - Interview with the lawyer for the family of Anthony Lamar Smith

Watkins represented Smiths family members in a civil rights lawsuit against officer Stockley and the city of St. Louis. The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners agreed to a $900,000 settlement with the family in 2013, ending the civil lawsuit.

In a stage of the lawsuit known as discovery, Watkins requested that the city provide any DNA evidence involving a revolver allegedly brandished by Smith as well as additional video footage of the killing. Investigative notes by the FBI as part of its federal criminal investigation made reference to both DNA evidence and the video footage that Watkins requested. The city denied that it had either of these pieces of evidence.

Watkins told the WSWS: During our court-ordered mediation in the civil rights case, the city failed to turn over DNA evidence linking Stockley to the revolver, as well as the additional video footage. It became clear to us during Stockleys criminal prosecution that the city had had this evidence back when we were in mediation.

Had we had this evidence prior, it would have increased the settlement value of the familys claim. I brought this to the attention of the Missouri attorney general who handled Stockleys defense in the civil case, and his response was, We gave you everything that our office [the attorney generals office] had in its file. That is not the legal standard for discovery. They had a duty to hand over not just what was in their file, but what was in the possession of the city of St. Louis, which they did not do.

Failure to comply with a discovery request is grounds for disbarment or the permanent removal of an attorneys license to practice law. It may also have criminal implications.

Watkins continued: The whole package of justice in this case, not just the criminal case but in the civil remedies, the federal lawsuit, was compromised.

It is not uncommon for wrongful death lawsuits involving police shootings to result in settlements or verdicts reaching millions of dollars.

Watkins also commented on the 30-page judicial opinion handed down by Judge Wilson on September 15 exonerating Stockley on charges of first degree murder and armed criminal action. The verdict turned both the evidence in the case and the applicable law upside down.

Any objective review of the videos of the police pursuit and subsequent killing of Anthony Smith, which document multiple violations of police department policy, as well as the dash cam audio of Stockley telling his partner, Were killing this motherfucker, dont you know, shortly before Stockley pumped five bullets into Smith, who was sitting in the drivers seat of his car, make it clear that the cop committed murder.

Watkins explained: You have to remember, Smith is on paper, on parole, and has an ongoing bad relationship with Stockley. At the beginning of the encounter, Stockley is brandishing his own, personal AK-47 [a semiautomatic rifle with a 30-round magazine].

A bystanders video shows Stockley removing his gloves after the shooting, then rummaging in the police car and placing something in the victims car. At trial, Stockley claimed that Smith had a gun in his car, but the evidence showed that the only DNA on the weapon was his own.

He said he went back to get a clot pack, designed to assist, like in combat, the cessation of bleeding, Watkins said. He explained that this was contrary to police practice. If Smith had a gun, as Stockley claimed, the first task of the officer would have been to secure the gun, not provide first aid.

Most significantly, the footage does not show Stockley with the clot pack or anything else in his hands after he leaves the victims car for the second time. Attorney Watkins told the WSWS that the only explanation for this is that Stockley was planting a revolver in the victims car to fabricate evidence for his self-defense claim.

Watkins commented as well on the judges attempt to downplay Stockleys recorded death threat. The judge says, Youve got to look at subsequent actions to see what was meant in that stressful situation. So if you look at subsequent actions, the subsequent action is, quite interestingly, that Stockley shot and killed Smith. Were not talking about a day later; were not talking about a few hours later. Were talking about maybe, not quite, a minute later. Okay, so lets look at that subsequent action. And the judge doesnt. The judge simply dismisses it outright. So the whole concept of intent is, in effect, trashed.

Watkins continued, He [Judge Wilson] says that an urban heroin dealer who did not carry a gun is an anomaly. What does he mean by urban? He means black. And the only thing he [Smith] had ever been found guilty of was stealing items from cars.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraqs, oil-rich, predominantly Kurdish north is proceeding today with a referendum on Kurdish independence. The vote is expected to endorse the KRGs call for the creation of a separate state.

Washington has long served as a patron of the KRG. But it and the European imperialist powers are opposed to todays referendum, as are Iraqs central government, and Turkey, Iran, and Syria, which are all home to significant Kurdish minorities.

Turkey has been adamant in demanding the KRG scrap the referendum, with Turkish government officials issuing warnings late into the night Sunday of dire consequences for the KRG if the referendum is held. Calling the referendum a threat to the national security and territorial integrity of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag, declared, "We are telling (KRG President) Barzani and his administration: It is not over yet. Stop playing with fire and cancel the referendum decision."

For its part, the US fears a Kurdish independence bid will further destabilize its already fragile puppet regime in Baghdad and inflame or trigger fratricidal ethno-religious conflicts across the region, thereby cutting across its own drive to establish unbridled hegemony over the worlds most important oil-exporting regionin particular, its plans to mobilize its local clients for confrontation and war with Iran.

In pursuit of its predatory geostrategic interests, US imperialism has waged virtually uninterrupted war in the Middle East for the past quarter-century, destroying whole societies and razing state structures. A key element in this process has been the inciting of ethnic and religious sectarian divisions, including the promotion of Kurdish nationalism.

Following George W. Bushs illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003, Washington cooperated closely with the KRG, while in neighbouring Syria, the Pentagon and CIA have backed the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the US war for regime change in Damascus.

KRG President and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani announced the referendum via an executive decree last June, although his term as president ended more than two years ago. The referendum was endorsed at a barely quorate parliamentary session earlier this month.

Barzani, seeking to bargain with the major imperialist powers as Kurdish nationalists have done for decades, insists that todays vote is merely consultative and will not result in the immediate formation of an independent Kurdish state.

Apart from Barzanis KDP, among the many fractious parties of the Kurdish elite only the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) has unequivocally supported the referendum. The KRGs second-largest party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which is led by former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and has ties to Iran, has been badly divided over whether to back the referendum.

Intensifying regional conflicts

Echoing the position of the US and the European powers, the UN Security Council issued a statement last Thursday expressing concern over the potentially destabilizing impact of the Kurdistan Regional Government's plans to unilaterally hold a referendum next week.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis, as well as British Defence Minister Michael Fallon, have all visited the KRG capital, Erbil, in recent weeks to try to persuade Barzani to cancel or at least postpone the vote.

US imperialism fears that the political and probable military conflicts unleashed by the referendum will cut across its chief immediate Mideast goals: preventing Tehran from establishing a land corridor to supply its allies in Syria and Lebanon and preparing for an all-out clash with Iran.

The Kurdish vote takes place as a new and even more dangerous phase of the war in Syria between the US and the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian backers looms, as they scramble to gain control of territory vacated by vanquished ISIS forces. Last week, Trump used his UN General Assembly address to denounce Iran as a criminal and rogue regime and serve notice that he could scuttle the Iran nuclear deal in coming days.

Support for the Kurdish referendum has come from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu giving an explicit endorsement. For decades, Tel Aviv has maintained close ties to the KDP, which has been led by the Barzani family since its formation. It views the emergence of an independent Kurdistan on Irans borders as a weapon to be wielded against Tehran. Russia, which enjoys substantial commercial relations with Erbil, including through sizeable investments by the energy giant Rosneft, has avoided condemning the vote.

Until recently, Turkey has enjoyed close and lucrative relations with Barzani and the KRG. But it vehemently opposes the referendum, fearing that a vote for independence, let alone the emergence of an independent Kurdish state on KRG territory, could boost Kurdish nationalist-separatist forces in Turkeys southeast.

Since 1984, Turkish security forces have waged a ferocious war against a Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)-led insurgency that has led to the deaths of some 40,000 people, the destruction of 40,000 villages and the forcible displacement of up to one million people.

On Saturday, an emergency meeting of the Turkish parliament extended special authorization for its troops to act in Iraq and Syria in the interests of national security.

Ankara is concerned that the KRG referendum will also encourage the PKK-aligned YPG (People's Protection Units) in northern Syria to try to turn the autonomous zones they control along the Turkish border into a separate state. The YPG has emerged as the backbone of the US-sponsored proxy army in Syria, even as Washington has assured Turkey it supports the integrity of Syria.

On Friday, in defiance of pronouncements from Washington, the Kurdish authorities in northern Syria held the first stage of planned elections at district, municipal and regional levelselections that they say could be followed by an independence bid if Damascus refuses to recognize them.

The sectarian partition of Iraq

Within Iraq, the referendum is especially contentious because it will include not only the three KRG provinces of Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaimaniyah, but the so-called disputed territories of Khanaqin, Sinjar, Makhmor, and oil-rich Kirkuk.

The disputed areas are currently controlled by KRG Peshmerga forces, but lie outside the recognized borders of the three northern provinces that make up the KRG and include large Arab, Turkmen, and Arabic-speaking religious minorities.

This raises the prospect that non-Kurdish peoples could be forcibly incorporated into an independent Kurdish state and the danger of violent ethnic conflict.

This is especially true in oil-rich Kirkuk province, which was annexed by the KRGs Peshmerga fighters in 2014 in the wake of Islamic States offensive across northern and western Iraq. With the referendum excluding the Arab district of Hawija still occupied by Islamic State, a pro-independence vote in Kirkuk seems assured.

Other disputed territories are now less homogeneously Kurdish following the former Baathist regimes deliberate transfer of Arab populations into them in order to reduce local Kurdish dominance.

As a result of fears stoked by the referendum, local Turkmen leaders have called on Baghdad to declare martial law in Kirkuk and deploy armed forces to prevent the referendum.

The referendum is also contentious in some towns within the KRG. Demonstrations that led to angry clashes took place earlier this month in Mandali, in Diyala province, one of the three provinces that form the KRG, protesting against the towns inclusion in the referendum.

Some of those in favour of Kurdish independence question the referendums timing, arguing that it is a ploy to consolidate Barzanis power in Kurdistan and strengthen his bargaining hand with Baghdad.

Last Monday, following a vote in the Iraqi parliament opposing the referendum, Iraqs Supreme Court ordered the suspension of the referendum pending an investigation into its legality. The Iraqi constitution guarantees the unity of Iraq and grants no right of secession.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who has come under increasing pressure from his political opponents to come out forcefully against the referendum, declared that Iraq might resort to force to protect our population, to protect our Kurdish population and our Arab and Turkmen and other ethnic populations of our own country.

The reactionary character of Kurdish nationalism

The attempt to create an independent, capitalist Kurdish nation-state through the reshuffling of the borders that British and French imperialism imposed on the Middle East at the end of World War I is reactionary. It would not serve the interest of Kurdish workers and toilers, never mind the regions myriad other peoples, but would only create more favourable conditions for imperialist-incited nationalist, ethnic and religious movements to flourish.

The rhetoric about self-determination for the Kurds notwithstanding, more than a century of historical experience has demonstrated that the Kurdish bourgeoisie is incapable of establishing independence from imperialism, the principal obstacle to realizing the democratic and social aspirations of all the peoples of the Middle East.

While the Kurdish peoples in Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria face discrimination, the record shows that the separatist and communalist programs of the Kurdish nationalist parties only serve to divide the working class along ethnic, cultural and religious lines, and are devoid of any genuine democratic or progressive content.

In pursuit of its own selfish class interests, the Kurdish bourgeoisie has time and again made the Kurds the pawns and proxies of the imperialist and regional powers, who once their predatory objectives have been realized cruelly abandon the Kurdish people to their fate.

Washingtons war drive in the Middle East since the 1991 Gulf War has exposed the Kurdish nationalists as tools of imperialism. In exchange for a few crumbs from imperialist plunder and exploitationsuch as limited autonomy in Iraqthey have hired themselves out as proxy forces for imperialism.

The Kurdish nationalists welcomed the illegal US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, even though Washington had tacitly backed Baghdads suppression of a Kurdish uprising just after the Gulf War. Despite Talabanis Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Barzanis Kurdish Democratic Party having supported opposing sides in the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, they joined forces in the corrupt Kurdistan Regional Government established in 2005.

The KRG worked with the US occupation and is now playing a leading role in the US-led war against Islamic State. It provided manpower for the bloody imperialist-led offensive against the ISIS in Mosul, an ethnically diverse, Sunni Arab-majority city. In the course of this onslaught, numerous reports point to blatant acts of ethnic cleansing by Kurdish forces aimed at driving Arab and other minority populations from areas that they intend to integrate into a Kurdish state.

The oppression faced by the vast majority of the Kurdish population, together with workers and toilers across the Middle East as a whole, can be overcome only in a united struggle in opposition to the continued domination of the region by imperialism.

As Leon Trotsky, co-leader with Lenin of the Russian Revolution, established in his theory of permanent revolution, the outstanding democratic tasks in countries of a belated capitalist development can be accomplished only as part of the struggle for socialism. The fight for such a program demands not the repartition of the Middle East on ethnic and sectarian lines, but rather the unification of the workers and toilers in the fight for the United Socialist States of the Middle East as part of the struggle for socialism globally.
On Saturday, Jean-Luc Melenchons movement, Unsubmissive France (LFI, La France Insoumise), held its national rally in the Place de la Republique in Paris amid growing protests against President Emmanuel Macrons decrees scrapping the countrys Labour Code. Between 30,000 and 150,000 people came to Paris for the protest. Whatever the precise number, the rally was noticeably smaller than the protest organised in Paris by the trade unions in the context of a national day of action on September 21.

WSWS reporters spoke to a number of the protesters in attendance. The rally was extremely heterogeneous, with many teachers, IT workers and youth having mobilised to protest Macrons decrees, which aim to destroy legal obstacles to unfair dismissal, wage and job cuts, and permanent temp contracts. Others joined the protest because they agreed with the perspective outlined by Melenchon, who demanded that the union bureaucracy maintain its domination of workers protests against Macron.

In his speech Melenchon, wearing a patriotic tricolour sash, declared: We are ready to rally behind them [the unions].  We are aware of the strength of the trade union organisations and of salaried workers. He sowed the illusion that thanks to his collaboration with the unions, the tiny LFI parliamentary group in the National Assembly could somehow block the adoption of the decrees. The struggle is not finished, it is only beginning, he said.

The various union bureaucracies, however, have been working hand in glove with the government since Macron was elected in May. They are negotiating the decrees and preparing future attacks with Macron, while trying to stabilise Prime Minister Edouard Philippes government by blocking the growing opposition of workers and youth to Macrons policies of austerity and war. The unions are holding secret meetings with the government, and individual union bureaucrats are joining the staffs of various ministries.

Melenchons appeal to the unions to lead the protest thus signifies an attempt to strangle protests against the decrees and to give tacit support to Macrons reforms. Melenchon is also working with the New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA), the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF), and the former presidential candidate of the Socialist Party (PS), Benoit Hamon. They are preparing an alternate government for French imperialism, should the Philippe government collapse.

The alliance between Melenchon and Hamon, whose Socialist Party was the first to include decrees like Macrons in early drafts of its labour laws in 2016, underscores the cynicism of Melenchons pose of opposition to the current presidents austerity policies. He is not at all trying to break with the corrupt, anti-working class forces that have passed for the left in France since the 1968 general strike. Rather, following the collapse of the PS in the presidential elections in May of this year, Melenchon is trying to regroup PS forces and its various allies into a new political tool for the ruling class.

The NPA participated in the rally in Place de la Republique, as did PCF national secretary Pierre Laurent and Hamon, who said he wanted the mobilisation to continue. Philippe Poutou, the NPAs 2017 presidential candidate, called on Melenchon: Launch an appeal to everyone to start something, youve got the means to do it more than us.

Melenchon responded, Im trying to find the right dose. I dont want to send you all into the wall. And by letting the unions dose the protests, that is, isolate them industry by industry and bottle them up in France alone despite growing social anger across Europe, Melenchon is working to block the emergence of a revolutionary, international struggle of the working class.

A certain proportion of the protesters were fairly open about supporting Melenchons reactionary and anti-worker perspective. They told WSWS reporters that they were not necessarily favourable to forcing the retraction of all of Macrons decrees, and insisted they did not want to discuss the link between Melenchon and his Greek ally, the pro-austerity Syriza government of Alexis Tsipras.

Others said they were looking for a way to oppose Macron and the rising dangers of war internationally and dictatorship inside France. They were sceptical about the union protests and were waiting to see what Melenchon would propose.

Ninon, a teacher, declared: I think we have to call a stop to all these measures against the workers. I am in solidarity with the other workers, even if I am not the person who will be hit first in the public service. This is a government that is on the side of business, of big business and finance, not of the workers.

When the WSWS asked Ninon if she believed Melenchons perspective would allow him to change these policies, she replied: In the short term, he cant, he is not in power. I dont believe in it so much, however. Im waiting to see. Many people will be mobilised today and in October. I am convinced that the government will not back down. But I cant simply stay home, either.

Ninon also expressed her opposition to the state of emergency and dramatically expanded police and surveillance powers in France: It should not last. But it will, we know it. It will always be a way to impose the laws rapidly, to spy on political opposition figures. I am against it. I do not think it is very effective in terms of fighting terrorism. That is not where the problem comes from.

She also condemned Trumps threats of nuclear war against North Korea: Its quite clear. He [Trump] is crazy, he is dangerous, thats obvious. If it continues, there will be a very real danger.

Jocelyn, an IT student, said she was attending her first protest and that she opposed both Macrons labour decrees and the state of emergency, which, she said, does not serve a useful purpose.  It does not stop any attacks, I dont think. For me its clear, its a dictatorship. In any case, the election was rigged, from the moment all the media started attacking all the candidates except Macron. He was being brought forward. From that moment on, you could see France isnt a democracy.  It is a dictatorship, too.

Maximilien, a musicology student, also explained that he was demonstrating not only against the decrees, but also against the state of emergency and war: I am absolutely against war. I dont know what to think about it. It is so sad that we have gotten this far. Im for peace. That is one of the major reasons I am here today.

Laurent, an IT worker, pointed to the increasingly deep disenchantment of the French people with the established political parties: We saw it in the legislative elections, there was an extraordinary level of abstention. Elections dont get people to go vote.  Im not an LFI member but its one of the parties I feel closest to. But if tomorrow its proposals dont please me, I will leave.
For the first time since the fall of the Nazis, a right-wing extremist party is entering Germanys national parliament. With 13 percent of the vote in Sundays federal election, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) became the third largest party in parliament, finishing behind the governing Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which suffered an electoral collapse. The CDU/CSU obtained 33 percent of the vote, its worst result in over 60 years.

The AfD has acquired political influence far beyond its actual strength. It set the tone in the election campaign with its agitation for a crackdown on refugees and the strengthening of the states repressive apparatus. All of the establishment parties sought to outdo the AfD with pledges to hire more police and deport more refugees, thereby bolstering the far-right party. Why vote for the more established parties versions of the AfDs chauvinist and authoritarian politics when you could vote for the real thing? The CDU/CSU lost more than a million voters to the AfD, while the SPD lost 470,000 and the Left Party lost 400,000.

That being said, the AfDs right-wing extremist programme does not enjoy mass support. Even among AfD voters, 60 percent said they backed the party as a protest and not because they support its policies. The AfDs rise is, above all, the result of the rightward lurch of all of the established parties, which, with the support of the media, are doing all they can to channel mounting social discontent in a right-wing direction.

In the past, nominally left parties would be expected to benefit from a social crisis such as that which is gripping Germany, including the explosive growth of low-wage jobs, the rise of poverty and homelessness, the lack of affordable housing, the catastrophic conditions in the schools and hospitals, and the growing danger of war. But neither the SPD nor the Left Party are capable of making a social appeal to voters.

The SPD is politically bankrupt and reviled. Having imposed the Hartz laws, tax cuts for big business and the rich, and an increase in the retirement age to 67, the SPD bears chief responsibility for the outrageous levels of social inequality.

An even more abject role is played by the Left Party. Workers long ago stopped taking its combination of left phrases and right-wing policies seriously. The Left Partys main task consists in blocking a movement of workers to the left. In eastern Germany, where the Left Party long dominated, the AfD finished in second place behind the CDU. There, the far-right party won 22 percent of the vote. The AfD even managed to take first place among men, with 27 percent of the male vote.

The ruling elite came to terms with the AfD even before the votes had been counted. It is only a matter of time before it integrates the right-wing extremist party into government.

CSU leader Horst Seehofer declared that the AfD won votes because the CDU and CSU left open their right flank. He pledged that they would change this in the future and take a clear stand.

The historian Michael Wolffsohn rejected describing the AfD as Nazis. It is, he said, a reaction to major social problems such as the flood of refugees, for which the other parties have no answers. Political scientist Jurgen Falter warned against overdramatising the AfDs entry into parliament. Far from being a cause for concern, it represented a normalisation of German politics after our history.

The established parties horror at the AfDs right-wing extremist policies was hypocritical from the outset. This is shown by the case of Jorg Baberowski. The professor at Berlins Humboldt University, who cleared the way for the AfD with his agitation against refugees and his downplaying of the crimes of the Nazi regime, received unanimous backing from the established parties and the media when the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGPSocialist Equality Party) publicly criticised him. The SPD, whose leading member Sabine Kunst is the president of Humboldt University, and the Left Party played a prominent role in the defence of Baberowski. Even when a court confirmed that Baberowski could be described as a right-wing extremist, they continued to support him.

The AfDs rise is the result of the rightward shift of the entire ruling class, which is responding to the global capitalist crisis and the growth of internal and external tensions by returning to its most despicable traditions. In the 1930s, business associations, the military, bourgeois politicians and academics reacted to the intensification of the class struggle by backing Hitler and supporting his appointment as chancellor.

This must be taken by the working class as a serious warning. None of the establishment parties, least of all the SPD and Left Party, are willing or able to stand up to the right-wing extremists.

Similar developments are taking place in other European countries. In France, the right-wing extremist candidate for the National Front, Marine Le Pen, made it to the second round of the presidential election. In Austria, the participation of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) in government following elections in October is seen as all but certain. The social democrats as well as the conservatives are ready to form a coalition with it.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei is the only party that stood in the federal election on a left-wing and socialist platform. With their right-wing policies, the SPD, the Left Party and the Greens facilitate the growth of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the SGPs election statement declared. This right-wing extremist party can pose as an opposition force only because none of the establishment left parties oppose the ruling class with a socialist perspective.

The rise of the right-wing extremists can be stopped only through the construction of a socialist party that unites workers around the world in the struggle against nationalism, social inequality and war. That party is the SGP and the International Committee of the Fourth International.
Already reeling from a bankruptcy crisis and demands of Wall Street for debt repayments, Puerto Rican society has now been devastated by hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Saturday began in San Juan with rising temperatures a heat wave is predicted. Desperate patients and their families in the crowded emergency room of the Rio Piedras Medical Center complained of the failure of the air conditioning system. Some of them were interviewed by San Juans El Nuevo Dia newspaper.

I got here yesterday said Edna Torres, whose husband was injured by a telephone cable that came down as he was helping clean up in the El Coco community in the city of Salinas, in the south coast of Puerto Rico over 40 miles away from the medical center; there were lots of people that had no air. She appealed to family members, who brought in a fan to cool her husbands space in the hospital.

Frances Gonzalez brought her husband, who suffered a head injury and internal bleeding from falling while cleaning the roof of their home, to this emergency room from Ponce, 70 miles away said; he suffered a blow to his head. Now we are here among many many patients, and with no air conditioning.

Jesus Velez, spokesperson for the Puerto Rican Medical Services Administration (ASEM) reported that this emergency room is serving 160 patients daily, up from 15 to 20 on the night of the storm. We have attended all kinds of conditions, cut hands, falls, broken bones, everything, declared Velez. Many of these patients are forced to travel long distances by their own means.

Every hospital and clinic is taxed to its limit. Jose Sanchez Gonzalez, mayor of the city of Manati (pop. 45,000), west of San Juan, spoke in tears about the islands water shortage: Hysteria is starting to spread. The hospital is about to collapse. Its at capacity; we need someone to help us immediately."

That so many where injured while helping their community and neighbors is an indication of the efforts and sacrifices of workers and youth in the aftermath of this storm. These efforts and the solidarity of Puerto Ricans and other workers living in the US stands in marked contrast to the indifference and criminal negligence of the corporate elites.

The Financial Oversight and Management Board, appointed in 2016 by the Obama administration to impose a bankers dictatorship over Puerto Ricos budget, just announced that it will authorize a maximum of one billion dollarsbarely one tenth of the islands approved debt-driven budgetto be used for hurricane response, a pittance, taking into account that preliminary estimates put the cost of the hurricanes destruction at over $30 billion.

Beyond being a natural disaster, Hurricane Maria is a social one. It devastated and flooded every Puerto Rican city, its electrical system, farms, industries and road network.

That all these damages, and those caused by Hurricane Irma, had been predicted is an indictment of the criminal system of capitalism that puts private property and profits ahead of human needs.

Also scientifically predicted is the growing frequency and intensity of hurricanes across the globe. They are affected by climate change which produces rising sea temperatures, caused by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere derived from industrial activity. The solution to this critical problem continues to be ignored by bourgeois governments around the world, because it interferes with the drive for profits.

This violent storm ravaged a Puerto Rico that was already suffering the assault of Wall Street. Puerto Rico has defaulted on $74 billion in public debt. Its publicly owned electric utility (AEE), starved for funds for many years, was forced to default on a debt of $9 billion. The collapse of the electricity system was in fact widely anticipated by political leaders as the storm was approaching.

It is not just electricity that is in short supply, but fuel, food, water and other basic necessities of life.

Public schools are shut down, as are many factories and places of business. With no electricity, no jobs, hospitals and clinics stretched to their maximum, Puerto Rico is being rapidly pushed back to the conditions of the nineteenth century.

The social fallout of Hurricane Maria and the indifference of the US and local financial aristocracies is bound up with the islands fiscal bankruptcy, the subordination and looting of the Puerto Rican economy by Wall Streets hedge and vulture funds and the economic slump and growing social inequality that make it impossible for many Puerto Ricans to find decent jobs, healthcare and education.

On Saturday, Puerto Ricos governor, Ricardo Rossello, participated in the distribution of an initial shipment of emergency supplies sent in by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): one million quarts of water, half a million meals, four thousand cots, and 31 gas-powered generators.

Such a shipment represents little more than a small hand-out, spare change, a humiliation really, relative to the enormous needs.

Puerto Rico was occupied by the United States in 1898 during the Spanish-American War and transformed into a US colony. Following World War II and both in the context of the Cold War and violent resistance by Puerto Ricans themselves to US rule, part of the global wave of independence movements, US imperialism allowed limited autonomy to Puerto Rico in the early 1950s. It attempted to transform its perfumed colony into a showcase of benefits of US imperialism by providing tax exemptions to US corporations in order to take advantage of the islands low wages.

By 1996, when the tax exemptions were eliminated, and as cheaper labor platforms became available in Asia and elsewhere, there were over 150,000 industrial jobs on the island, mostly in petrochemical and drug industries. By 2010, after companies fled Puerto Rico, that number had been cut in half, feeding an exodus of Puerto Rican workers for the mainland United States.

At the same time, Wall Street investors funded succeeding Puerto Rican administrations with mountains of tax-free debt. Under conditions in which the Puerto Rican people bore all the risks and an increasing tax burden, hedge funds and Wall Street financiers reaped the benefits.

Weakened economically, with a decaying infrastructure and subject to the financial dictates of US imperialism, Puerto Rico was left open to the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and to the usurious demands of Wall Street racketeers.

What is urgent now is a massive public works program to reconstruct the island. For this, what is required is the repudiation of the debt to Wall Street, the abolition of the Financial Supervision and Management Board and the expropriation of the wealth of the financial oligarchy to meet the desperate needs of working people.

This cannot be accomplished by an isolated Puerto Rico. It demands the independent and united mobilization of Puerto Rican and US workers who face the same enemy and the same attack on social conditionsarmed with a socialist program
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - Two juveniles face burglary charges after Valdosta police arrested them in the act of breaking into a church Sunday evening.

An anonymous caller informed police of the break in at the church, in the 800 block of West Magnolia Street.

About 8:30 p.m. Sunday, an officer saw the two juveniles at the rear of the church, where a window had been broken. The two were trying to enter the church.

One juvenile fled the scene but other officers soon found the juvenile attempting to hide underneath a car. That juvenile faces the additional charge of misdemeanor obstruction.

Police Chief Brian Childress said the teenagers - one 13, the other 14 - are facing felony charges through the Juvenile Criminal Justice System.

"Until we as parents and guardians start supervising our children and holding them accountable, this will continue to be a problem," Childress said.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed ministers of the Security Cabinet Sunday evening of his decision to postpone a meeting scheduled for this week of the West Bank Civil Administration's planning committee following a request by US President Donald Trump.

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Justifying his decision to hold off on the meeting by a week or two, which is likely to startle the pro-settlement elements in his coalition, the prime minister told the ministers present he had no intention of humiliating the pro-Israel Trump administration by making decisions relating to settlements, particularly in light of the upcoming visit to the Middle East by Trumps special advisor Jason Greenblatt.

PM Netanyahu and President Trump (Photo: AP)

During the long Cabinet discussions Netanyahu apprised the ministers of the recent talks he had held with Trump, Egypts President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and other leaders on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly gathering in New York last week.

Regarding the Iranian nuclear deal, which was the centerpiece of Netanyahus UN speech , the ministers were informed that the Americans fully understand Israeli concerns and are considering, together with Israel, various possibilities that could improve the agreement and intensify sanctions against Tehran.

While a final decision has yet to be reached on issue, Netanyahu said that Washington and Jerusalem would continue to be in contact to discuss how to proceed.

Despite rising tensions between the US and North Korea, particularly given Trumps UN speech during which he threatened to totally destroy North Korea if his country had no choice, Netanyahu told his ministers that no immediate fallout has been caused that could directly affect Israel.

Most of the talks however were dedicated to the Palestinian issue, with the prime minister outlining the details of an American request to establish an industrial area near the West Bank city of Tulkarm and to pave a road in the Rawabi area near Ramallah for the Palestinians.

Greenblatt is scheduled to arrive in the region on Tuesday in order to keep up the momentum on the ongoing efforts to forge peace as the administration gears up to hold negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
For the first time since they began their struggle, police on Monday fined disabled demonstrators blocking a road.

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About 10 disabled demonstrators blocked Highway 1 in the Latrun Interchange area on Monday morning, as part of their struggle to bring disability pensions to minimum wage levels.

Police forces arrived at the scene to disperse the protesters as usual, but this time they came armed with pen and papershanding out NIS 500 ($142) tickets to any person they found participating in the blockade.

The blockade, and the fine (Photo: Alice Hayman)

The protest took place after the police announced Sunday it would no longer allow the disabled protesters to block roads as part of their struggle.

"While serious distruptions continue, the police will enforce traffic laws," the police said in a statement, adding that their decision came "following an increase in severe violations by the protest movement for disabled rights."

The demonstrators who blocked the road did not operate within the framework of the three main organizations that lead the protest, who are still debating how to act in light of the change in police policy.

The organization "Disabled Panthers" stated, "On Tuesday, we will have a meeting with the Israel Police regarding roadblocks. Until then, we will not block roads. Afterwards, we will decide on our next steps and what form our struggle will take."

Photo: Alice Hayman

A representative of the police's traffic enforcement division phoned Naomi Moravia, the head of the "Struggle for the Disabled" group, to notify her of the policy change and propose "alternative protest methods that do not create serious disruptions to traffic."

"We started talking about alternatives and about holding our protests with their authorization, and with advance notice," Moravia said. "The police know we always open a lane and do not disrupt traffic for more than an hour or so."

Moravia harshly criticized both the police and the government. "We are just days before Yom Kippur, and the government of Israel will have to bring their bad decision before God. We have just begun the ten days of repentance, and they still have time to go back on their decision. I do not think arresting and beating disabled people will make for good publicity.

"We have no choice but to lament Israeli government's choice to use the Israel Police force against people with disabilities, instead of solving the real problem of the meager allowances given to a quarter of a million people who spent Rosh Hashanah dinner with empty tables.

"Regarding the roadblocks, we will sit down to talk, we will make a decision, and we will probably continue blocking roads."
CHARLESTON  Liz Hagemann, manager of Education and Outreach for the area Alzheimers Association, recently told the Charleston Rotary Club about the organizations services.

Hagemann, assisted by Development Manager Maggie Schnittker, also promoted the Walk to End Alzheimers on Sept. 30 in Mattoon. The central Illinois chapter of the Alzheimers Association serves Coles and 13 other counties and is based in Bloomington.

The Alzheimers Association envisions a world without Alzheimers, and its mission is to provide education and raise funding. Hagemann said the association believes that a child in elementary school today will be the first person to be cured of Alzheimers.

Currently, one in three seniors die with Alzheimers, she said. Death usually comes about as a complication from Alzheimers. Alzheimers is the most common type of the 70-plus forms of dementia, Hagemann said.

With Alzheimers, those afflicted live an average of seven to 10 years, but each case is unique. There are three stages to the disease: early, with a lessening in the ability to communicate; middle, with communication made through body language, behavior, and verbal repetition; and late, where all communication is lost.

The Alzheimers Association provides a wide range of services for those suffering from the disease and for their caregivers: a 24/7 help line (800-272-3900) to provide strategies; in-person education programs; strategies for those afflicted; a medical alert/safe return program with med-alert bracelets worn both by those afflicted and by caregivers to provide critical information for first responders; and scholarships.

To sign up for the Sept. 30 Walk to End Alzheimers, log onto alz.org/walk or phone 309-319-9066. Other ways to support the Alzheimers Association can also be found online at alz.org.

The Charleston Rotary Club is a service club that meets at noon each Tuesday at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library.
Iran's foreign minister has criticized US President Donald Trump for his administration's new travel ban.

Mohammed Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter early Monday: "Trump's fake empathy for Iranians rings ever more hollow, with his new and even more offensive travel ban against such outstanding citizens."

Zarif, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, has taken to Twitter before to criticize Trump.

Iran previously was among the six majority Muslim nations targeted in the travel ban.

The new travel ban applies indefinite restrictions to citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and North Korea. The changes will take effect October 18.
The Syrian government rejects the independence referendum organized by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, Syria's foreign minister has said.

Voting started on Monday in northern Iraq despite intense international and regional pressure to call the vote off.

"We in Syria only recognise a united Iraq and reject any procedure that leads to the fragmentation of Iraq," Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said, as reported by Syrian state news agency SANA.

"This step is rejected and we do not recognise it and yesterday I informed the Iraqi foreign minister of this stance."

The Syrian government, which is regaining territory with Iranian and Russian military backing, also opposes steps taken by Syrian Kurds towards autonomy in northern Syria since the start of the country's civil war in 2011.

Kurdish-led regions in Syria held elections for community leaders on Friday, the first in a three-phase vote that will culminate in the election of a parliament and the establishment of a federal system of government.

Syrian Kurds insist independence is not their aim and they want to remain part of a decentralised Syria.
A group of bereaved families is currently setting up an association to fight what they say is the government's lenience in its treatment of convicted terrorists and their families.

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More than 40 bereaved families are expected to take part in establishing the association, which will lobby for stricter conditions for terrorists imprisoned in Israel and harsher sanctions on the families of the terrorists, such as deporting them, denying them employment and demolishing their homes.

Representatives of the bereaved families (Photo: Yariv Katz)

A group of Israelis who lost loved ones during the 2015-2016 wave of terror attacks have been calling for harsher sanctions on terrorists and their families over the past two years.

A few weeks ago, after holding several meetings with politicians and public figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, representatives of the aforementioned group reached the conclusion nothing new was being done about the treatment of the terrorists and their familiesand decided to take action themselves.

"Ever since Danny was murdered two years and four months ago, I no longer have sun in my life. I dedicate my life to ensure this will not happen to other citizens of this country," said Dvora Gonen, whose son, 25-year-old Danny Gonen, was murdered in a shooting attack in the Binyamin region of the West Bank.

After the attack, Dvora said, "I unfortunately discovered how terrorists imprisoned in Israel are treated. It's absurd, we completely lost our deterrence. The government knows what needs to be done. They make promises to the bereaved families, but in practice they do nothing. We decided to put an end to it."

Rina Ariel, the mother of 13-year-old Hallel Yaffa Ariel who was murdered in her bedroom in Kiryat Arba a year and a half ago, plays an active role in the establishment of the association. She believes the national discourse must change.

"We as a society and as a government don't do enough," she said. "We must increase deterrence, deny citizenship to terrorist families, and carry out more house demolitions."

"At the same time, we must understand it cannot be allowed for a terrorist to come out alive from an attack," she added. "We must not feel sorry for savages. The 17-year-old boy who murdered my daughter was incited to violence by people around him, and they have to suffer for it as well."

Hadas Mizrahi, who lost her husband Baruch Mizrahi in a shooting attack on the way to Kiryat Arba, in which she was also wounded, said, "I demand the government to demolish the house of the terrorist's family and even expel them immediately, and I have no doubt the new association will help."

"It is inconceivable that those released in the Shalit deal will go free and kill our loved ones. The time has come to impose a death sentence on convicted terrorists," she added.

Im Tirtzu, a right-wing NGO, is aiding the families in establishing the association.

"Terrorists enjoy the rights and benefits criminal prisoners can't even dream of," said Matan Peleg, the NGO's director. "This is unacceptable."
A religious ceremony in memory of former Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Mahdi Akef was held in Umm al-Fahm on Saturday.

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The Muslim Brotherhood is a patron of both Hamas and the outlawed northern branch of the Islamic Movement.

Akef was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted, along with the rest of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, for his involvement in the killing of demonstrators outside the organization's offices in Cairo during the wave of mass protests against the regime of Mohamed Morsi in 2012.

The prayer in Umm al-Fahm

The ceremony in his memory was held at a mosque in the Israeli Arab city of Umm al-Fahm, with several dozens of people in attendance.

Dr. Mashoor Fuaz, a prominent religious leader in the city, led the ceremony. "The Islamic nation lost one of its great preachers, who stood firm in the face of tyrants and refused to serve as a tool for oppression," Fuaz said in his eulogy. "He preferred to live behind bars than give up his religious and political principles."

Most Arab states barred religious services in Akef's memory, and ceremonies that were held were mostly done in secret. In Egypt, the family had to bury him in a small ceremony late at night to prevent the Muslim Brotherhood from taking advantage of the funeral to hold a rally.

Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Mahdi Akef

The only places where public ceremonies were held in Akef's memory were Turkey and the Gaza Strip, two countries with strong affiliation to the Muslim Brotherhood and its worldviews.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, slammed Hamas for holding a memory for Akef, saying "It appears Hamas can erase from its flag the empty words and leave only its true symbol: the two swords of the Muslim Brotherhood, their real leaders."

Mordechai's comments were made before the memorial service in Umm al-Fahm.

One of the participants at the Umm al-Fahm ceremony told Ynet, "It doesn't matter if we're attacked for holding a prayer in memory of the former Muslim Brotherhood leader. He deserves more than this. We don't care about any objections, only about doing what we believe. The Muslim Brotherhood is always portrayed as a group of terrorists, but the truth is they want to make life good and safe."

The prayer in Umm al-Fahm

Another participant insisted that "All we can do is hold prayer in his memory. A person like this contributed a lot. We will never forget him."

Umm al-Fahm has been in the spotlight in recent months as the home of three Israeli Arab terrorists who carried out a shooting attack on the Temple Mount, killing two Israeli Border Policemen

The attack led to a temporary closure of the Temple Mount complex, followed by the addition of security measures, which caused violent rioting in east Jerusalem and in the West Bank and to a crisis in Israel's relations with Jordan and with the Palestinian Authority.

Thousands took part in the funerals of the three attackers in Umm al-Fahm, calling them "heroes" and "martyrs."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Monday he will call a snap election for parliament's more powerful lower house for next month.

Abe said at a news conference that he will dissolve the 475-seat chamber on Thursday when it convenes after a three-month summer recess. The election is to be held Oct. 22.

Support ratings for Abe's government have started to rebound after attacks on him over cronyism scandals faded during the recess. Also, opposition parties are regrouping and unprepared for an election. Opposition lawmakers have said there is no need to hold an election now.

"I expect opposition criticism is going to focus on (the scandals), and it's going to be a very difficult election," Abe said.
RAMALLAH -- Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah will travel from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday of next week in a step toward reconciliation with the rival Hamas militant group.

Hamas welcomed Hamdallah's announcement on Monday, and the United Nations offered to help.

Hamas offered this month to cede control to Abbas' government. But many thorny issues, including the fate of Hamas' armed forces, remain unresolved.
Alexander Gauland, the co-leader of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), said Monday Jews have nothing to fear from his party's third-place election finish that took it into parliament.

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Several major Jewish groups expressed dismay and concern Sunday about the strong showing of AfD.

The Anti-Defamation League also called the AfD result a "disturbing milestone," saying "its leaders have made anti-Semitic statements and played down the evil of the Nazi regime."

AfD co-leader Alexander Gauland (Photo: Reuters)

Still, Gauland insisted that "there is nothing in our party, in our program, that could disturb the Jewish people who live here in Germany."

He added that he hadn't met with Jewish leaders, but was "ready at any time" to do so.

Germany's mainstream parties have all ruled out teaming up with AfD, which is one of six caucuses in the new parliament after winning 12.6 percent of the vote. Including the seat Petry won, it has 94 of the 709 seats.

Co-leader Alice Weidel told reporters their plan was to provide "constructive opposition."

"We have a very clear mandate from the voters, and there is no time to waste," she said.

AfD's leaders hold a press conference after their election success (Photo: MCT)

AfD drew support from people who previously voted for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc and from many who didn't previously vote at all. To a lesser extent, it also drained support from the center-left Social Democrats and others.

Its success followed a campaign focused on criticism of the chancellor's decision to open the country's doors to more than 1 million asylum-seekers over the past two years. It performed most strongly in Germany's formerly communist and less prosperous east, capturing 22.5 percent of the vote there27 percent among male voters.

However, long-running cracks at the top of the party, known by its German acronym AfD, erupted in public when co-chairwoman Frauke Petryone of AfD's best-known faces but sidelined over recent monthsstormed out of a press conference. That left three other top party leaders chuckling and smirking, but briefly speechless.

"An anarchic party ... can be successful in opposition, but it cannot make voters a credible offer for government." Petry said, adding she wouldn't join AfD's parliamentary caucus. She walked out of the room without taking questions.

Frauke Petry storms out of press conference ( : )

X

Co-chairman Joerg Meuthen apologized "on behalf of the party" for the episode, saying it was "not discussed with us," before moving on. Persistent leadership infighting so far has failed to do the party significant harm.

Petry turned AfD from opposing eurozone bailouts to a focus on migration after she ousted the party's founding leader in 2015, but recently had been sidelined after urging AfD to exclude members who express extremist views, with the aim of attracting moderate voters. While she said she wouldn't join the parliamentary group, she didn't say she was leaving the party.
Investigators have concluded that the IAF Apache helicopter that crashed last month at the Ramon Air Base was caused by a rare malfunction in the helicopter's cyclic control stick's connection to the tail rotor.

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According to the conclusions of the second interim report of the accident, the malfunction led to the disconnection of the control stick and the loss of control over the helicopter.

The pilot, Maj. (res.) David (Dudi) Zohar, was killed in the crash while his co-pilot, Lieutenant On, was seriously wounded.

An Apache helicopter, and the late David Zohar (Photo: IAF)

The commander of the air force, Major General Amikam Norkin, ordered the return of the Apache helicopters that were grounded in the wake of the accident to operational duty.

The head of the Air Force's safety and quality assurance department, helicopter pilot Colonel Yoav, said Monday morning that Major Zohar's decision to return to land at the base despite the difficult flight conditions is what apparently saved the life of the co-pilot.

"The return of the crew to the base was essential because of the landing conditions and the emergency forces waiting for them," Col. Yoav said.

The crash took place 45 minutes after the two took off for a training flight in the south. Col. Yoav commended the late Maj. Zohar for being able to return the helicopter in the condition it was in.

"A disconnection of the cyclic control stick can be likened to, when driving a car, realizing that there is a malfunction in the steering wheel and the vehicle turns only to the left and not to the right."

The IAF noted that the investigation would continue for a few months and that there was no suspicion of negligence.

"A malfunction in the installation of the control stick led slack in its freedom of movement, which eroded it over time," Col. Yoav explained, noting that the erosion "developed until the stick disconnected entirely.

"We detected gaps in the installation guidelines for these control sticks, which are installed in Israel after they arrive from a US manufacturer. From meetings we held with representatives of the US military and the manufacturer, we learned that there has never been such an accident anywhere before."

Instructions for installing the control stick are expected to be updated in accordance with the findings of the investigation.

In addition, an examination is set to be launched to uncover how the control stick's erosion was not detected in the periodic inspections of the helicopters, and if such erosion could be detected at all.
BERLIN  Four asylum-seekers have gone on trial in Germany accused of executing 36 members of the Syrian security forces while they were members of the Nusra Front extremist group.

Prosecutors say the four men killed their victimspolice officers, security officials and soldiersat a garbage site in the Syrian city of Tabqa in March 2013.

The defendants appeared before Stuttgart's regional court Monday on charges of war crimes, murder and membership in a foreign terrorist organization.
BEIRUT  US-backed forces in eastern Syria say Russia bombed their positions on Monday in a major natural gas field they recently captured from Islamic State militants.

The Syrian Democratic Forces said a Russian airstrike killed one of its fighters and wounded two others in the Conoco gas field, in Deir ez-Zor province. Russia's Defense Ministry denied the report.

SDF fighters captured Conoco field, Syria's largest, from IS militants on Saturday.
As expected, Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops finalized their $5 billion merger on Monday.

Cabela's earlier this month received approval from the Federal Reserve to sell its World's Foremost Bank subsidiary, which was the last regulatory hurdle to clear.

The companies said in a news release that as part of the deal, World's Foremost Bank was sold to Synovus Financial, which in turn sold the credit card portfolio to Capital One.

Though Sidney-based Cabela's has now ceased to be its own company, the Cabela's name will live on, as Bass Pro has said it will keep most Cabela's stores open and has no immediate plans to rebrand them.

We look forward to growing and celebrating conservation as we work to provide our combined customer base with enhanced product offerings, unique outdoor experiences and unrivaled services, Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops said in a news release.

Still to be determined, however, is how many people will lose their jobs.

Though Morris said Bass Pro plans to keep a significant presence in Sidney, he did concede that there will be layoffs. Cabela's employs about 2,000 people in the city of about 7,000 people.

Bass Pro has said it expects to keep some operations in Sidney, but it is expected to consolidate redundant headquarters jobs in Springfield, Missouri.

The uncertainty about Cabela's has hurt business around Sidney and slowed down the local real estate market.

The news for employees of the credit card operation in Lincoln is better. Capital One, which has a 10-year contract to market the Cabela's Club credit card, has said it will keep the operation in Lincoln and retain virtually all the more than 500 employees. There are some other Cabela's employees based in Lincoln, and it's not known at this point what will happen to them.

Were very pleased that the acquisition has closed, and were excited to move forward, Jimmy Cannon, executive vice president of card partnerships at Capital One, said in a statement.

Bass Pro paid $61.50 a share as part of the deal, which made it worth about $4 billion in cash. The company also assumed about $1 billion in debt.

Customers of the stores wanting to know more about how the merger affects them can go to basspro.com/together.
GENEVA  The UN human rights office said in a report Monday that Russia is violating international law in Crimea, including by imposing Russian citizenship on its people and deliberately transferring hundreds of prisoners and detainees to prisons in Russia.

The report, drawn up under an existing request from Ukraine's government, chronicles alleged rights violations and abuses in Crimea since Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Russia has refused to budge despite international outrage and biting US and European Union sanctions against Moscow.

A Russian diplomat in Geneva insisted that the UN rights mission didn't have competency to examine the situation in Crimea, insisting that the peninsula was part of Russia now.
Interpol will be discussing the Palestinian Authority's request to join its ranks.

The discussion will be held following Interpol's Executive Committee failing to secure a postponement recommendation.
The Knesset Subcommittee on Security Perception and Strength Building published Monday the section of its report regarding the IDF's " Gideon " multi-year plan designed to streamline military procedures, drawing the conclusion that neither the political nor military ranks are prepared for the eventual next round of hostilities.

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The subcommittee, chaired by MK Ofer Shelah (Yesh Atid) and part of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, highlighted worrying findings in its report, the content of which was entirely classified save for the portion made public Monday.

Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman (Photo: Shaul Golan)

The report is the culmination of two years of work by the subcommittee, which accompanied the drawing up of, and implementation of, the "Gideon" plan.

Conclusion in the report were adopted by all members of the committee, both coalition and opposition, led by Shelah and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee MK Avi Dichter (Likud).

The committee's members signed the confidential report which was delivered to the prime minister and the defense minister, as well as to the cabinet ministers, the IDF, the National Security Council (NSC) and other operational agencies.

Tanks standing near the Gaza Strip during Operation Protective Edge (Photo: EPA)

Severe deficiencies were also highlighted in the report regarding the political echelons' functioning, about which it was said were giving the IDF improper instruction.

Moreover, the report also set tasks and target dates for politicians, as well as the prime minister, to ensure the army reaches maximal readiness to achieve its various goals and missions.

The subcommittee's chairman MK Ofer Shelah and the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's Chair Avi Dichter signed off on the report (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Eli Elgarat)

On the one hand, Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot was lauded in the document for his daring and managerial capabilities in drafting a program that includes a vision and complex organizational challenges and for harnessing the entire army to achieve the goals it set.

On the other, members of the committee claimed they have found shortcomings in the rate of forming certain essential capabilities in the army. This failing, the report documents, was the result of the political ranks not fulfilling its role of setting policy to then be implemented by the army.

For instance, the paper stated the cabinet first discussed the "Gideon" scheme three months after it had already been implemented. The National Security Council, on the other hand, was not kept abreast of the plan's intricacies for months.

The National Security Council (NSC) was singled out for being an institutionally weak agency, and it was hinted it was being deliberately weakened further. In its current framework, the report claimed, without involvement or even knowledge of relevant details, the NSC has become patently irrelevant.

A Hezbollah combatant. The report stated the army's ability to meet its objectives was hampered (Photo: AFP)

This irrelevancy, the committee claimed, stemmed from the fact both the politicians and the army officials consider it to be such. The report even went so far as to charge that should the NSC cease to exist, nothing would change in building the army's agenda.

The report's non-classified section further elaborated that the failings in the work of political echelons and the NSC identified by the State Comptroller of Israel during Operation Protective Edge were still unresolved, and no conclusions were drawn or implemented. This stood in stark contrast, the report pointed out, to the fruitful inquiry carried out by the army.

The "Gideon" program, Shelah's report posited, saw the spending of hundreds of billions of shekels of taxpayers' money in order to maintain the country's security.

Israel's elected officials, however, shirked their responsibility as the army's commanders-in-chief to provide it with clear instructions and to ensure they are followed.

The government has also failed in opening an effective communications channel with the army ensuring the latter would be directed towards achievable goals and worthwhile aims.

Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot was praised for drafting the "Gideon" plan

This breach of trust by the elected officials, it was stated, endangers the army's ability to accomplish its objectives.

The report's main conclusion was that the "prime minister and the cabinet's lack of engagement and skirting away from responsibility does demonstrable harm to the IDF's ability to be prepared for the threats Israel faces. The army works from the bottom up with neither instruction nor the support of the elected officials, who consistently abstain from setting clearly defined goals and achievements for the army."

The report then went on to set goals and timetables for mending the situation it protested:

By the third quarter of 2019 (the next elections), the army must communicate a validated and public national security perception, with the prime minister, cabinet and National Security Council heading this effort;

By the end of 2019 the minister of defense and NSC must formulate the IDF's strategy (operative perception);

Building a multi-year operational plan by 2020.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Lieberman were given a copy of the full report (Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO)

"The political ranks' failure to carry out their responsibilities endangers the army's ability to meet its objectives. Security often has many secrets, some of which I've been privy to. But security itself is no secret, and the society providing the IDF with its resources not only should receive a truthful bill of goods for how they're being used, but should also act as the backbone of what allows the army to operate," said MK Shelah after the report's publication.

"The chief of staff understood this point when he made the IDF's strategy public. The committee and I followed the same perception," he continued.

Following its publication, the IDF issued its own response. "The subcommittee's report was received by the IDF and a detailed response was provided. The report's conclusions will be studied as part of the general staff's operations. The IDF welcomes any control and oversight measures on its activity," the army said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu barred the Israeli government from commenting on Monday's Kurdish independence referendum in Iraq, two officials said, after his September 13 endorsement of Kurdish statehood irked Turkey.

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The plebiscite was held despite objections from the United States and Turkey, a regional power whose ties with Israel have long been troubled. The autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has also voiced misgivings about overt Israeli backing.

PM Netanyahu (Photo: Flash90)

Asked to comment on the referendum, one Israeli cabinet minister declined, telling Reuters on condition of anonymity: "Bibi (Netanyahu) asked us not to." A second Israeli official confirmed the order, saying the subject was "too sensitive."

Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Israel has maintained discreet military, intelligence and business ties with Kurds since the 1960s, viewing the minority ethnic groupwhose indigenous population is split among Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iranas a buffer against shared adversaries. Israel also has a sizeable Kurdish Jewish immigrant community.

Israel has backed Kurdish independence in the pastmost recently in the September 13 statement by Netanyahu.

Centrist Israeli lawmaker and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, a former minister in Netanyahu's conservative coalition, tweeted on Monday: "The Jewish people know what it is to struggle for a homeland. The Kurds have a moral right to a state of their own. I wish them luck today."

Photo: Reuters

But Kurdish officials said such rhetoric is unsolicited and damaging. Our adversaries attack us as a second Israel in the region and this kind of Israeli talk contributes to that, one Kurdish official said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday Netanyahu's position on the Kurds affected Ankara's relations with Israel.

Speaking in Istanbul, Erdogan said that while visiting New York for the UN General Assembly he met US Jewish leaders who had quoted Netanyahu as describing Israeli-Turkish ties as "not going well".

"How could that be? There is no one recognizing the KRG (referendum decision) except him. We are in a different position," Erdogan said.
JERUSALEM  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu barred Israeli government comment on Monday's Kurdish independence referendum in Iraq, two officials said, after his Sept. 13 endorsement of Kurdish statehood irked Turkey.

The plebiscite was held despite objections from the United States and Turkey, a regional power whose ties with Israel have long been troubled. The autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has also voiced misgivings about overt Israeli backing.

Asked to comment on the referendum, one Israeli cabinet minister declined, saying: "Bibi (Netanyahu) asked us not to." A second Israeli official confirmed the order, saying the subject was "too sensitive".

Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Cairo  An up-and-coming challenger to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi may be barred from running against him after receiving a jail sentence on Monday for public indecency.

A Cairo court sentenced human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate Khaled Ali to three months in prison for making what was deemed an obscene hand gesture on the steps of a courthouse after winning a case against the government.

Ali's political profile has soared since he won the case in January nullifying an unpopular government transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

He has not formally announced if he will oppose Sisi in the elections, but has indicated he intends to.
Tel Aviv's Kaplan Street was blocked by participants in a protest for recognition of the "kidnapping of Yemenite, eastern and Balkan children."

The protest was attended by some 700 people, who have demonstrated in front of the Government Quarter and later went down to the road.
PARIS  The Lebanese president says he wants some 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in his country to henceforth start returning to their homes, voluntarily or not.

President Michel Aoun, in a state visit to France, said Monday that UN assistance given to aid Syrian refugees in "camps of misery" in Lebanon would be better used to return them to their country "from now on."

"We don't want to wait for their voluntary return," Aoun insisted, speaking at the Elysee Palace alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

Aoun said that most of the Syrian regions from which the refugees hail are "now secure."
The United States says an American citizen may have gone missing in Yemen.

A State Department official says the US is aware of reports of a missing American but can't discuss any individual's situation. The reports had indicated an oil worker was taken hostage in the capital of Sanaa, currently controlled by Shiite rebels known as Houthis (HOO'-theez).

The State Department official says the US urges all Americans living in Yemen to leave as soon as they safely can. The official wasn't authorized to comment by name and requested anonymity.

The State Department says there's a high security threat to Americans because of terrorist activities and armed groups in Sanaa that have detained US citizens before.

A Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis in Yemen since March 2015.
Bryan Stevenson spends a lot of his time in jails and prisons, and with inmates on death row, and he has ideas borne of those places and the people he sees there as part of his legal practice, Equal Justice Initiative.

The author of the best-selling book, "Just Mercy," and recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation genius grant, brought some of those ideas to a Nebraska Wesleyan symposium this month.

He recited the statistics about the large numbers of people locked up in this country.

In 1972, the number was 300,000. In 2017, it has climbed to 2.3 million people. Six million people are on probation or parole, and 70 million Americans have criminal arrest records, which means when they try to get jobs or loans, they are hindered by their criminal history.

Nebraska also has imposing statistics. In 1972, the state housed 952 in its prisons. Ten years later, that number had nearly doubled, with 1,759 sitting in prisons designed for 1,095.

By fiscal year 2017, 35 years later, the population is at 5,343. Prisons are overcrowded, and 1,258 men and women are on parole.

The number of women sentenced to prison has drastically increased, many of them single mothers whose children are then displaced.

"The United States has become the most punitive society on the planet," Stevenson told a full Wesleyan University auditorium.

Prison crowding is a "tremendous problem" in this country, he said. And the most effective way to deal with it is to reduce the numbers, and to begin talking more honestly about rehabilitation, correction and restorative justice principles.

He made a bold statement: The prison population in Nebraska could be reduced by half without risk to public safety.

"You have so many people in jails and prisons who are not a threat to public safety. They're there for drug crimes. They're there for nonviolent crimes. They're there because of disabilities," he said.

Stevenson went further. There's probably not a warden in the state, he said, who couldn't identify dozens or hundreds of people in their prisons who could be released tomorrow without a negative effect on public safety.

Gov. Pete Ricketts might have been thunderstruck by those words. He has been steadfast in his opposition to any early release of prisoners, citing public safety.

Many of those Stevenson is talking about are people convicted of drug crimes and nonviolent offenses.

"We have mass incarceration in this country because we decided to treat people with drug addiction and drug dependency as criminals," he said.

What if drug abusers were considered to have a health problem or disorder, as alcoholics are, rather than to be lawbreakers? And what if the health care system could respond to addiction and dependency, instead of the criminal justice system, he asked.

Attempts are being made in the Legislature to reform sentencing so more offenders, in particular nonviolent ones, can be rerouted from prison to probation, or to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for some drug crimes.

Prosecutors have opposed eliminating or limiting mandatory minimums.

The ACLU of Nebraska has sued the prisons on behalf of inmates due to overcrowded conditions and inadequate health care. If successful, that could lead to a forced reduction in population. And Omaha Sen. Bob Krist has promised to introduce a bill in January to force a declaration of an emergency over prison crowding.

Lincoln Sen. Mike Hilgers, also an attorney, and a member of the Legislature's Nebraska Justice System Special Oversight Committee, visited some of the state's prisons this summer. That tour, in which committee members got to hear from corrections officers and inmates, was eye-opening, he said.

There's a growing bipartisan consensus, he said, that incarceration strategies should be reconsidered, not only in Nebraska but across the country. And that would pertain especially to low-level drug crimes.

But he is not ready to say it would be easy to know who could be safely and quickly released back to their communities.

Even the professionals -- wardens, judges, probation officers -- would have a hard time determining that, Hilgers speculated.

There's a lot that goes into distinguishing those inmates, including their mental health history, drug abuse history and what programs and supports are needed for them to succeed.

Hilgers, instead, is putting his faith in the sentencing reforms (LB605) of the past couple of years, even though he knows they are taking awhile to impact the prison population. Over time, they should reduce the number of inmates, he said.

He would like to see the sentencing reforms deepen and harden, and see those results before the state is put in a position of releasing inmates or building prisons to reduce crowding.

Regardless of the lawsuit, the Legislature has enough internal pressure to do the right thing.

"We've got urgency," he said.

Stevenson doesn't seem convinced.
YORK  It has been announced that the new police chief in York is currently a police lieutenant in Alliance.

The job was offered to and accepted by Edward Tjaden, according to York City Council President Barry Redfern.

Redfern presided over this past weeks council meeting, in the absence of Mayor Orval Stahr who was attending a meeting of the Nebraska League of Municipalities.

Redfern explained to the council that York City Administrator Joe Frei was bringing forward the appointment for ratification by the council. Frei was also at the League meetings, Redfern said, and added that Frei would be introducing the new police chief to the council at their next meeting.

According to Tjadens resume, he has been in law enforcement for the past 17 years, with 10 of those years in supervisory roles.

From August, 1999, to October, 2005, he was a patrol officer with the Gering Police Department.

Then, from October, 2005, to August, 2016, Tjaden worked as a police lieutenant/sergeant with the Gering Police Department.

He was a narcotics investigator for the Gering Police Department and the WING Drug Task Force from September, 2014, to November, 2016. During that period, he conducted narcotics and violent crime investigations in a multi-jurisdictional setting, disseminated intelligence and performed many more duties.

Then, since November, 2016, to the present, he has been working as a lieutenant/operations commander with the Alliance Police Department. In this capacity, he has been supervising day-to-day operations of 20 employees, covering police services, investigations, code enforcement/animal control and dispatch services. He has been responsible for executive level duties in the absence of the chief of police there, as well.

Tjaden received his associates degree from Western Nebraska Community College and his bachelors degree in criminal justice administration from Peru State College. In his resume, he indicates he is currently evaluating advanced degree programs.

He has had other educational opportunities as well, including attending the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center, and through studies through Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Institute of Police Technology and Management, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
YORK  Initially, Anthony Hoy, 26, formerly of Adams County and later a resident of York County, was charged with first degree sexual assault of a 4-year-old child.

Later, the charge was amended to felony child abuse, a Class 3A felony, which carries a possible maximum sentence of three years in prison with 18 months of post-release supervision.

The case was prosecuted by Jason Bergevin, a special prosecutor for the Nebraska Attorney Generals office.

Hoys defense attorney has been Christina Marroquin.

During earlier court proceedings, it was stressed by the prosecution that the assaults against the child victim were done repeatedly and over a period of time.

The York Police Department conducted the investigation, as the assaults took place in York.

Also involved in the investigation was the Nebraska Child Advocacy Center.

No details from the factual basis proceedings or court documents can be published because they are extremely graphic in nature and not publishing further information is also in an effort to protect the identity of the child.

The amended charge and subsequent offense, however, does not require Hoy to register as a sex offender.

On Monday, Hoy was brought from the York County Jail for sentencing.

I received an impact statement from the mother of the victim, Bergevin told Judge James Stecker and that letter was included in the pre-sentence report.

This defendant has been convicted of intentional felony child abuse and we are recommending a maximum of three years in prison which is warranted because he betrayed the victims trust. He violated and abused that childs body. There has to be a period of time that he cannot harm children. We are asking for the maximum allowable term of three years in prison with 18 months of post-release supervision.

We are asking the court to consider his minimal prior record, Marroquin said. We are also asking for credit for 285 days already served.

Hoy said he had no comments for the court.

You have priors including assaults and false reporting, Judge Stecker said to Hoy. You are a risk to reoffend and you have shown no responsibility for your actions. You were in a position of trust and there was repeated abuse is no reason to excuse or justify this offense. And you benefitted from a very favorable plea agreement.

The prison term is to begin immediately, Stecker said, as he sent him back to jail in preparation of transport.
YORK  Michael Butcher, 35, whose last addresses were listed as York and Sutton, has been sent to prison, for a lengthy period of time, for sex crimes against children.

This case began when York police officers conducted an investigation regarding allegations of criminal sexual conduct with a 3-year-old child, as chronicled in court documents in the affidavit of probable cause.

The child was interviewed by the Child Advocacy Center.

After that interview, according to court files, two more children (under the age of 11) were interviewed.

After those interviews, police further investigated Butcher as there were implications that he sexually assaulted a 10-year-old.

The investigation included DNA sampling that was taken to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory.

No other details of the case can be published, as they are graphic in nature.

According to earlier factual basis proceedings, Deputy York County Attorney Benjamin Dennis said Butcher admitted to the offenses during a conversation with a special investigator for the Nebraska Attorney Generals office.

A plea agreement led to the charges being amended from two counts of first degree sexual assault to two counts of incest, both of which are Class 3 felonies.

On Monday, Butcher (who has remained in custody at the York County Jail since his arrest) appeared with his attorney, Matthew McDonald.

Judge James Stecker told Butcher he now has to register as a sex offender and Butcher signed the notification paperwork.

Deputy York County Attorney Benjamin Dennis said the time calculated, that Butcher has already served in the county jail, was 397 days.

This case is very, very serious, Dennis told the court. It involves a child and the defendant used his position as a caretaker to sexually assault her multiple times. This is an extremely serious case. In his mind, he thinks he is the victim. When asked (during the pre-sentence interview) what was the worst thing he ever did, he said he cant remember anything hes ever done. He shows no remorse and during an investigative interview he admitted to the offense.

Dennis then read aloud very graphic details told by Butcher in earlier interviews regarding his criminal conduct  none of which can be published.

Due to the seriousness of this crime, his lack of remorse, and the fact he is a high risk to reoffend, we are asking for a straight sentence with the department of corrections and that each sentence, for each count, be served consecutively, Dennis concluded.

He does take responsibility, said McDonald. He knows she was the victim. There are letters from support from his parents. It was terrible. We are asking for a sentence of no more than 5-10 years.

I take responsibility, Butcher said. The nature of my conduct was not becoming.

I reviewed your pre-sentence report, Judge Stecker said to Butcher. You are 35 years old, you have your GED, you have no employment and your prior record shows a juvenile sexual assault, theft and more. You are a risk to reoffend. You say now that you take responsibility  the court cannot ignore the seriousness of this offense and what occurred. This is a sexual assault against a child and the court cannot disregard the age of the child and the circumstances. Incarceration is appropriate in order to protect society. There is no reason to excuse or justify the offense. Of particular concern is a statement you made about very young children (which was in the pre-sentence report and not made public) and it appears this was not isolated.

Butcher was given a sentence of 10-20 years for each count  because they are to be served consecutively, the total sentence is 20-40 years. He was given credit for time already served.

Transport to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services was to take place immediately.
A morning hold-up at a Union Bank branch in south Lincoln marked the ninth bank robbery in Lincoln this year, the latest in a concerning uptick, the city's public safety director says.

The robber screamed and demanded money but didn't display a weapon while inside the branch at Southwood Drive and Nebraska 2 shortly before 9 a.m., witnesses told police. He left in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The robbery comes one week after an attempt at a Havelock bank and another hold-up in Bethany, where a masked man brandished a gun and pepper-sprayed a teller, police said.

"Its just a pretty unusual year for bank robberies, Lincoln Public Safety Director Tom Casady said Monday.

Casady said 2017 could be a peak year for bank robberies in the city's history.

The robberies this year are Lincoln's most since 2003, when 11 banks were hit, according to police department statistics.

The city's record number of bank robberies in a single year is 13 in 2001, said Casady. Police records go back to 1941.

Casady believes this year's number is due in part to a wave of bank robberies in the Omaha area, where police have joined forces with the FBI in hopes of catching the culprits.

FBI officials said in May they believed 33 of the 42 armed bank robberies that had taken place there since early 2015 appeared to be related.

"Lincoln and Omaha in some respects function as a hunting ground for criminals who are committing this kind of crime, Casady said.

Often those arrested in Lincoln cases hail from Omaha, he said.

Two banks, the Pinnacle Bank branch at 70th Street and Lincolnshire Road and the U.S. Bank at 56th Street just north of Nebraska 2, have each been robbed twice.

Over the past two years, Pinnacle Bank branches in Lincoln have been robbed six times, the most of any bank in the city during that time.

This summer, Pinnacle Bank increased branch security by making customers ring a doorbell and be let into the bank by staff.

That move follows robbery prevention trends nationwide, and while it might be cumbersome, it's an effective way to prevent these dangerous crimes, Casady said.

"In one way it pains me that businesses have to take such measures because it can inconvenience their customers," he said. "But on the other hand, prevention is the key and much more effective than arresting a bank robber after the fact."
San Juan: Puerto Rico`s medical services are in critical condition in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

The strongest storm to hit the island in decades has left hospitals flooded, strewn with rubble and dependent on diesel generators to keep the neediest patients alive.

The precarious shape of the islands medical facilities is adding to the misery and devastation of this US territory, whose 3.4 million residents are American citizens. For some, the only option is to evacuate to the United States for treatment.

Among them is Cheira Ruiz and her baby girl Gabriellyz, who was born two weeks ago with a serious heart defect.

The newborn was admitted to the Centro Cardiovascular de Puerto Rico in the capital shortly before Maria slammed into the island last Wednesday, but it was impossible for doctors to operate in such precarious conditions.

Gabriellyz was among the first infants cleared to take a medical flight out of Puerto Rico since the storm.

Her parents, who live two hours south of the capital, found out the good news Friday when emergency officials knocked on their door in the town of Guanica and told them to pack for the trip to Miami.

With phone service out, the doctors had called one of the island`s radio stations, which broadcast their plea for help in locating the couple.

Hours before the flight was scheduled to depart, the parents learned there was only room for one of them. Mother and baby would fly alone to Miami.

Im trying to be strong, Ruiz said on Saturday.

In the days since the storm, the island`s residents have awakened to an altered reality. Food is in short supply. The island`s electrical grid is down and may remain so for months. Motorists and pedestrians queue for blocks trying to secure scarce fuel to power vehicles and generators.

Cellular service, internet, and email have virtually disappeared, hurling a modern society into a bygone era; radio has become a primary source of information.

For hospitals across this region, the challenges are mounting. After the power went out, backup generators at some hospitals failed quickly.

Other hospitals are running critically low on diesel.

Fuel is so precious that deliveries are made by armed guards to prevent looting, according to Dr Ivan Gonzalez Cancel, a cardiovascular surgeon and director of the heart transplant program at Centro Cardiovascular.

Another hospital wants to transfer two critical patients here because they dont have electricity, Gonzalez Cancel said. We cant take them. We have the same problem. Medical staffers are also running low on gasoline for their daily commutes to work.

Puerto Ricans are queuing as long as seven hours at the island`s few functioning filling stations. Marilyn Rivera Morales, a nurse at the center, said she had enough petrol to drive to the hospital for two more days.

How will they keep coming here if they dont have gas? Gonzalez Cancel wondered.

Doctor's Orders: "Leave"

Fuel is just the beginning. The cardiovascular center was in shambles, Gonzalez Cancel said. Without air conditioning, the walls of the operating room were dripping with condensation and floors were slippery, he said.

Most patients had been discharged or evacuated to other facilities, but some patients remained because their families could not be reached by phone.

On the sidewalk outside the cardiac center on Saturday, Jorge Rivera and his wife Dorca approached Gonzalez Cancel to ask about the womans father, a patient still inside waiting for triple bypass surgery. The couple is residents of Savannah, Georgia who was in Puerto Rico to care for their loved one.

With the hospital scaling down operations and the island`s infrastructure on its knees, Gonzalez Cancel estimated he would not perform another open heart surgery for a month or more. His advice to the couple: leave.

I am talking to you, not as a physician, I am talking to you as a human being, he said. Get him on a plane. You can be in Miami in two and a half hours.

But leaving is not simple. With the island`s main airport still crippled, Gonzalez Cancel said he needed to secure a special waiver from authorities to obtain the medical evacuation flight for baby Gabriellyz. Travelers at the airport on Sunday were told that passengers who do not already have tickets may not be able to secure flights out until October 4.

"People Aare Going To Start Dying"

Officials here expect the situation at Puerto Rico`s hospitals could worsen before it improves. At Centro Medico, the island`s largest public hospital, the disaster medical assistance team of the US Department of Health and Human Services is setting up makeshift hospital units.

I think this might be a calm before we see an influx as other hospitals lose generators, said Commander Michael Garner, a regional coordinator for the effort.

The devastation caused by Maria is similar to that wrought by hurricanes Katrina, Harvey and Irma. But Puerto Ricos remoteness, lack of communications and fragile infrastructure exacerbate the logistical challenges of recovery on a very grand scale, Garner said.

US Air Force Colonel Michael Valle, who arrived in Puerto Rico on Friday to help with recovery efforts, agreed.

To me, this is a lot worse, because you cant drive in from other states. Everything must come by boat or by air, Valle said.

Adding to the worries, a Puerto Rico dam damaged by heavy rains was in danger of failing on Sunday, posing a risk to communities along the rain-swollen Guajataca River. If the dam fails, the flooding would be life-threatening, the National Weather Service warned. Stay away or be swept away, it said.

At least 10 people have died so far in Puerto Rico, where the humanitarian crisis is growing.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been posting images on Twitter of US responders on the ground in Puerto Rico, including the US Coast Guard and FEMA search-and-rescue teams.

But patience is starting to fray with the speed of the aid response.

"We need a massive military response," surgeon Gonzalez Cancel said.

Waiting for news about his father-in-law, Rivera, the Georgia resident and a 49-year-old Iraq War veteran, said the US military could only do so much. He forecast the island would take months to get back on its feet.

"You need God pretty much to fix every light bulb," he said.

Dr Juan Carlos Sotomonte, the medical director of the Centro Medico`s cardiovascular unit, said intervention  divine or otherwise  is needed fast.

"If this is not taken care of, people are going to start dying," he said.
Washington: The Trump administration`s announcement on Sunday that it is issuing new travel restrictions on people entering the United States from eight countries could lead to an upcoming Supreme Court case on its previous more controversial ban ending with a whimper rather than a bang.

The new presidential proclamation set restrictions on citizens from eight countries and is set to go into effect on Oct 18, eight days after the court is due to hear oral arguments over the legality of Trump`s earlier ban.

The Trump administration on Sunday night asked the high court to consider hearing a new briefing on the case before the oral argument to address "the effects of the proclamation on the issues currently pending before the court in these cases."

Now the nine-justice court could skip deciding the case altogether, legal experts said.

The March 6 order under Supreme Court review banned travellers from six Muslim-majority countries and limited refugee admissions. Challengers say the order discriminated against Muslims in violation of the US Constitution.

A decision on that issue would be consequential not just for Trump but also future presidents who would be bound by it. But with the challenged policy no longer on the books, the court has various options to resolve the dispute without issuing a ruling.

The 90-day travel ban, which covered Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, ran until Sunday. The 120-day refugee ban expires on Oct 24.

Even before Trump`s latest announcement, experienced Supreme Court lawyers and immigration law experts had expressed doubts about whether the nine justices would want to issue a decisive ruling, in part because of a desire to stay out of such a contentious issue.

"If the court can avoid entering into the fray, that may be appealing to them," said Anil Kalhan, an immigration law professor at Drexel University School of Law.

With the travel restrictions expiring, the court has an easy way out because it could simply say that the case is no longer a live issue and therefore, in legal parlance, moot.

The Supreme Court has already intervened three times since March in limiting the scope of lower court rulings that struck down the March order. Its most significant action came in June when it allowed both bans to go into effect in a limited fashion.

The unsigned decision suggested that the court`s four liberals and two of its conservative majority, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy, were keen on a compromise. Three other conservatives, including Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch, said both bans should have been allowed to go into effect in full.

The Trump administration has yet to say what it would prefer the court to do, but former Justice Department lawyers say it is likely to request that if the court does dismiss the case, it also throws out the lower court rulings that struck the bans down.

The benefit for the administration is that it would wipe out those precedents, including the broad decision by the Richmond-based 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals that said the order discriminated against Muslims. The decision cited Trump`s campaign statements in concluding that the order was motivated by anti-Muslim bias. The Trump administration says the order was needed for national security reasons.

"It`s certainly in the government`s interest to get adverse ... opinions off the books because those decisions constrain executive authority," said Washington lawyer Pratik Shah, who previously worked at the Justice Department.

The March order took effect on June 26, following a Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the scope of lower court rulings.

Litigation continued over the summer on who exactly was covered by the bans, culminating in a Supreme Court decision on Sept 12 that allowed Trump to enforce the refugee ban broadly but kept lower court restrictions that prevent close family members from being denied entry.

The March 6 order was itself Trump`s second attempt to impose a travel ban after his original, much broader Jan 27 plan was blocked by the lower court following turmoil at US airports caused by its abrupt rollout.
New Delhi: The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has opened bookings for the new version of S-Cross, which it plans to launch later this week.

The new S-Cross can be booked with an initial payment of Rs 11,000 at any of the 280 plus Nexa showrooms, MSI said in a statement today.

The model would feature 1.3 litre diesel engine (DDiS 200) with smart hybrid technology.

The engine now comes packed with a host of features like idle-stop-start, torque assist, brake energy regeneration system and a gearshift indicator.

The S-Cross was earlier available with 1.6 litre diesel engine option as well which will not be available in the new version of the crossover vehicle.

Launched in August 2015, S-Cross was the first premium offering to debut from the company?s premium retail channel NEXA.

Maruti Suzuki India has sold over 53,000 units of S-Cross in the domestic market and exported over 4,600 units so far.
New Delhi: Speculations were rife that Saif Ali Khan - Amrita Singh's daughter Sara Ali Khan is throwing tantrums on the sets of Kedarnath. The movie is already much awaited by fans since Sara will be making her Bollywood debut and it also stars the much- loved actor, Sushant Singh Rajput.

The producer of the film, Arjun N Kapoor has spoken up about the issue and has dismissed all rumours with regards to Sara acting pricey on the sets. Here's what the producer told DNA-

These reports are not just incorrect, but also malicious towards our young actress who is extremely professional. Sara is giving her 100 per cent to the film. For someone who is doing her first film, she was very comfortable in front of the camera and a big outdoor unit.
Chennai: Ousted AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran claimed on Monday that his aunt and expelled party General Secretary VK Sasikala has a video recording of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa when she was undergoing treatment at a hospital here.

The video will be submitted to the committee probing Jayalalithaas death, he said.

Sasikala has video of Jayalalithaa while she was admitted in a hospital, we will give this video to the probe committee, TTV Dhinakaran was quoted as saying by ANI.

The latest revelation about Jayalalithaa was made a day after a Tamil Nadu minister claimed that they lied about former AIADMK supremo as they were afraid of Sasikala.

Dhinakaran also said that his faction will knock at the doors of the Election Commission to stake claim to the party's 'two leaves' symbol.

We will go to Election Commission on September 29 regarding 'two leaves' symbol case, TTV Dhinakaran was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Election Commission is set to hear claims made by the warring factions of Tamil Nadu's ruling party over AIADMK's frozen 'two leaves' poll symbol on October 5.

The poll body has earlier told the warring factions to submit any fresh submissions latest by September 29.

In a major blow to ousted Dhinakaran, the sacked AIADMK deputy general secretary, the Speaker of Tamil Nadu's State Assembly, P Dhanapal, recently disqualified 18 MLAs loyal to him.

18 MLAs backing TTV Dhinakaran were disqualified under 1986 Tamil Nadu Assembly Members party defection law.

The rebel MLAs were demanding the removal of EK Palaniswami as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Dhinakaran had last week warned that he will throw the incumbent K Palaniswami-led government in Tamil Nadu after the ruling AIADMK General Council removed him and his aunt VK Sasikala from top positions in the party.

''Most of the ministers are scared that they will lose elections and that's why they are accusing us of conniving with the DMK,'' TTV Dhinakaran said while reacting to the developments.

TTV Dinakaran also challenged his rivals to hold fresh elections if they felt that they enjoyed popular support.

The reactions from Dhinakaran came shortly after the AIADMK general council cancelled the appointment of jailed VK Sasikala as party General Secretary.

Dinakaran's appointment as Deputy General Secretary of AIADMK also stands cancelled, said RB Udaykumar, a senior party leader.

The decision was announced at the AIADMK party's general council meeting recently.

Sasikala was appointed as General Secretary last December following the death of party supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Sasikala had appointed Dhinakaran as Deputy General Secretary before going to jail.

Importantly, the AIADMK general council also declared late J Jayalaithaa as the party's ''eternal general secretary''.

The general council also resolved to restore all those who were party office bearers appointed by Jayalalithaa. They will continue to hold office now, it said.

The council also nullified the decisions taken by Dhinakaran.

The council also ratified the recent merger of the two factions led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.
Mumbai: Artificial intelligence banking platform Payjo on Monday said it has launched an AI-powered chat assistant for State Bank of India to addresses customer enquiries.

The chat assistant, known as SBI Intelligent Assistant, or SIA, will help customers with everyday banking tasks just like a bank representative, the company said in a statement.

"SIA is a revolution in the banking industry. It is set to disrupt the way banks and customers interact," Payjo founder and CEO Srinivas Njay said.

SIA has been set up to handle nearly 10,000 enquiries per second, or 864 million in a day, which is nearly 25 per cent of the queries processed by Google every day.

"SIA will enhance customer service several notches above. Payjo's expertise in the conversational banking domain helped us build SIA as a superior chatbot in the global banking space.

"We look forward to taking SIA and simplifying the customer's lives on multiple customer interaction platforms in partnership with Payjo," SBI chief technology officer Shiv Kumar Bhasin said.

With SIA, the bank will reduce significant operational expenditure over time.

Currently, SIA can address enquiries on banking products and services.

It is trained with a large set of knowledge and is adept at answering frequently asked questions as well.
New Delhi: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party with its thirteen Chief Ministers, 1400 legislators, 280 lawmakers - in all around 2,500 delegates - will be holding a National Executive committee meeting at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium on Monday.

Chaired by BJP chief Amit Shah, the day-long session will be the first-ever televised National Executive meet of the party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to deliver a speech that might shape the political discourse in the run-up to the winter session of Parliament, and assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

With election season round the corner, preparations for the upcoming state polls and the 2019 General Election will be part of the agenda.

The meeting will focus on arming the delegates with an array of arguments against the critics of the government's economic policy.

The meeting will also serve as the closing ceremony of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya birth centenary programme.

On Sunday, the party began the two-day event with an internal meeting to finalise the programme.

With ANI inputs
New Delhi: The adopted daughter of jailed Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Honeypreet Insan, against whom an international alert has been sounded, moved the Delhi High Court on Monday seeking transit anticipatory bail.

She has been missing since the day the Dera chief was sent to Rohtak Jail.

Priyanka Taneja alias Honeypreet tops the list of 43 persons 'wanted' by the Haryana Police in connection with incidents of violence that had followed Ram Rahim's conviction in the rape cases.

Earlier, a lookout notice was issued against her by the police.

Her lawyer Pradeep Kumar Arya told PTI that they have filed the anticipatory bail petition in the Delhi HC and the matter would be mentioned tomorrow before a bench headed by acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal for early hearing.

On the other hand, as per ANI, Arya confirmed that Honeypreet visited his office in Delhi's Lajpat Nagar today afternoon.

An international alert has also been sounded for two other Dera sect functionaries - Pawan Insan and Aditya Insan.



The Haryana Police has booked all three on charges of sedition, inciting violence and criminal conspiracy.

Several teams of Haryana Police have travelled across the country, including the Indo-Nepal border, to trace the whereabouts of Honeypreet.

Convicted by the CBI court in Panchkula on two counts of rape of female disciples in 1999, Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by the CBI court and a fine of over Rs 30 lakh.

Honeypreet had accompanied the Dera head when he had come to the special CBI court on August 25.

She had also travelled along with him in the special chopper which ferried them to Rohtak from Panchkula after the conviction.

The controversial sect head is currently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak district of Haryana.



His conviction led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana.

Isolated incidents of violence were also reported from Delhi and several other places in Punjab.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: According to reports, scientists have discovered sizable chunks of plastic near the North Pole, raising fears that melting ice will allow more of the material to be released into the Arctic Ocean  with detremental effects on wildlife.

A team of scientists drawn from the US, Norway and Hong Kong and headed by marine biologist Tim Gordon of Exeter University in the UK found polystyrene chunks 1,609 kilometers from the North Pole in the area that was previously inaccessible because of sea ice.

They found two large pieces on the edge of ice flows between 77 degree and 80 degree north, in the middle of the international waters of the central Arctic Ocean.

It is one of the most northerly sightings of such debris in the world's oceans, which are increasingly polluted by plastics and confirm just how far plastic pollution has spread, 'The Guradian' reported.

This comes at a time when climate change-induced melting of Arctic ice has been a pressing matter for scientists across the world.

The finding has prompted fears that as the ice melts, because of climate change, plastic that has long been trapped in it is flowing into the Arctic.

"Finding pieces of rubbish like this is a worrying sign that melting ice may be allowing high levels of pollution to drift into these areas," said Gordon.

"This is potentially very dangerous for the Arctic's wildlife," he said.

More than five trillion pieces of plastic are estimated floating on the surface of the world's oceans. It has been claimed that there is now enough plastic to form a permanent layer in the fossil record.

A significant concern is that large plastic pieces can break down into "micro plastics" ? tiny particles that are accidentally consumed by filter-feeding animals.

The particles remain in animals' bodies and are passed up the food chain, threatening wildlife at all levels from zooplankton to apex predators such as polar bears, researchers said.

"Many rivers that are often a source of plastic pollution lead into the Arctic Ocean, but plastic pollution has been literally trapped into the ice. Now the ice is melting we believe microplastics are being released into the Arctic," said Ceri Lewis from University of Exeter.

Some projections indicate that the entire Arctic Ocean will be ice-free in summer by 2050, allowing human exploitation such as commercial fishing, shipping and industry of the newly opened waters.

Plastic waste is a menace that is the result of industrialization and to an extent, human activities, without realizing that it ends up affecting our health as well.

Plastic is considered inexpensive and durable, which is why it is most commonly used for packaging.

However, due to its slow degradation process, plastics can severely affect living organisms, especially marine life, through entanglement, direct ingestion of plastic waste, or through exposure to chemicals within plastics that cause interruptions in biological functions.

(With PTI inputs)
Bicycling enthusiasts called on motorists to respect their right to the road Monday following the death of Randall "Randy" Gibson, a Lincoln cyclist killed Saturday by a suspected drunken driver.

Among the dozen gathered at an afternoon news conference at the Jayne Snyder Trails Center was Corey Godfrey, who went to look for Gibson after being alerted by Gibson's family that he hadn't returned from his ride.

The two have been friends for more than a decade.

"It's been a pretty hard 48 hours," Godfrey said.

Gibson, 52, was doing what Nebraska traffic laws required of him as a bicyclist, Lancaster County Chief Deputy Sheriff Todd Duncan said Monday morning.

"This was totally preventable," Duncan said of the crash, calling it a tragedy.

Gibson's death is Lancaster County's first stemming from a car-bike crash since 2014.

Prosecutors Monday charged the driver, Zygmunt Spicha, 66, 2232 Vavrina Lane, with motor-vehicle homicide due to driving under the influence.

Spicha's Jeep Cherokee hit Gibson's bike while both were headed east on West Sprague Road near Southwest 58th Street, Duncan said.

Gibson died at the scene of the crash, which happened just after 5:30 p.m.

Spicha, who remained at the scene after the crash, appeared drunk and told deputies Gibson's bike "came out of nowhere," investigators wrote in an affidavit to arrest him.

He showed signs of impairment during a field-sobriety test and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.13 percent in a breathalyzer test, the affidavit said.

Gibson was wearing a bicycle helmet.

Deputies were still trying to determine where Spicha had been drinking before the crash on the two-lane, asphalt road with no paved shoulders.

A judge set Spicha's bond at $50,000 and barred him from driving and from possessing or drinking any alcohol if he posts bail.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Gibson is one of three cyclists killed on Nebraska roads this year in crashes with motor vehicles, said Julie Harris of Nebraska Bicycling Alliance.

The death of an experienced biker such as Gibson has the bicycling community reeling, she said.

His death came two days after a crash in Lincoln where a suspected drunken driver hit a cyclist who was using the protected bike lane on N Street at Antelope Valley Parkway.

"This does definitely shake our confidence," Harris said.

A 24-year-old bicyclist struck by a car Friday at Old Cheney Road and 31st Street was in fair condition Monday. Witnesses told police the man lost control of his bike before being struck.

To date, 97 bicyclists have been hit by cars in city limits, Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said.

No amount of legislation will stop cars from hitting bikes on the road, said the chief, who is also a cyclist.

Drivers and cyclists both need to hold themselves accountable on the road, he said. Nebraska law requires cars passing cyclists to give them at least 3 feet of space.

Godfrey, 42, was one of the 97 hit this year, but it hasn't kept him from riding.

He broke a bone in his ankle and ruined his bike when a car hit him in June, but prosecutors dropped their case against the driver.

He worries that tragedies such as Gibson's death will deter people who are thinking about biking from ever starting.

Harris hopes continued enthusiasm among cyclists and advocacy to improve road safety and bike awareness will prevent would-be bikers from being discouraged.

"Today I think we just all need to take a deep breath and go through all those feelings that we're feeling with all of our friends who have been hit or killed and keep working hard," she said.
Brussels: The fourth round of Brexit talks will begin here on Monday, a first opportunity for the European delegation to respond to British Prime Minister Theresa May`s proposal of a two year transition period for Britain`s withdrawal from the EU.

However, European Union negotiators will be expecting more details on, for example, what payments the UK is prepared to make as it departs, informed sources told the BBC.

Next month, EU leaders are due to decide on separation issues, including the rights of citizens, the Irish border and the "divorce bill" or financial settlement, to allow talks to move on to the future of the bilateral trade relationship, as the UK would like.

In her speech on September 22, May offered to continue paying into the EU for a two-year transition after the UK leaves in 2019 to ensure the bloc is not left with a budget black hole.

She sought to reassure member states that they would not lose out financially during the current EU budget period, which runs to 2020.

However, UK`s Brexit Secretary David Davis has insisted that May`s speech was not influenced by a 4,000-word article by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, in the run-up to the event, setting out his own vision for the withdrawal, the BBC reported.

The speech "had been coming for a long time", he said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the UK and Scottish governments are due to hold a fresh round of talks on Brexit in London on Monday.
New Delhi: The much talented actress, Priyanka Chopra is already making us proud overseas with her impeccable performance in American TV series, Quantico and her other Hollywood ventures.

From posting a picture with Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and supporting women empowerment, to hosting the Global Citizen fest like a pro, the actress is breaking the internet with her latest photographs in a floral outfit.

Priyanka took to Instagram to share pictures of the GC fest evening in which she absolutely rocks the floral dress and thigh-high matching boots.

Here is the Instagram post by Priyanka:

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Sep 23, 2017 at 7:02pm PDT

Way to go Pee Cee!
Ahmedabad: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday requested the judge, who is hearing the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case, to visit the site of the incident to understand the topography of the area.

Special SIT judge P B Desai agreed to visit the site on an application filed by prosecutor Suresh Shah. Desai asked the lawyers of the accused and the victims to submit a joint application with the SIT regarding the same, which they did.

The court is likely to pass order on the application tomorrow.

The court had last week concluded recording of testimonies of 187 witnesses, including BJP chief Amit Shah who appeared as a witness for BJP leader Maya Kodnani, an accused in the case.

The SIT said that it wanted the judge to visit Naroda Gam on the outskirts of Ahmedabad where the riot took place on February 28, 2002, so that he gets a better idea of its topography.

The visit will help the judge verify the claims made by the witnesses, it said.

The SIT has filed a charge sheet against 82 people including Kodnani in the case.

The judge asked the lawyers to specify the places he will need to visit.

The lawyers suggested that the judge may visit areas including Muslim Mohalla, the gram panchayat office, a lane near Bank of India, Mayur Hotel and Nandu Miya's shop near the mosque which have figured in the descriptions given by the witnesses.

Naroda Gam massacre is one of the nine major 2002 communal riots cases which were investigated by the Supreme Court-appointed SIT.

Eleven Muslims were killed in Naroda Gam during a bandh call given to protest the Godhra train burning incident of February 27, 2002.

Kodnani, who later became a minister in (then) chief minister Narendra Modi's government, has been sentenced to 28 years in jail in the Naroda Patiya riot case.
New Delhi: With an eye on voters in Gujarat, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will begin his three-day campaign from state's Saurashtra region on Monday.

According to reports, the Congress no. 2 will visit the famous Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka and offer prayers there.

The Gandhi scion will then meet workers and supporters at Bhatiya village.

He will hold a discussion with elected panchayat representatives at Vadtra Village in Dwarka district, and meet farmers, fishermen, and traders also.

He will then proceed to Jamnagar town where he will make a night halt.

On September 26, Gandhi will visit towns such as Dhrol and Tankara by road before reaching Rajkot.

He will interact with traders and industrialists after reaching Rajkot in the afternoon.

''Rahul Gandhi will make a night stay in Rajkot. The next morning he will cover Chotila, Jasdan, Virpur, Jetpur and other towns before concluding the campaign at Khodaldham, a senior party leader was quoted as saying by PTI.

The Congress is out of power in the BJP-ruled Gujarat for nearly two decades. The main opposition party saw desertions by several of its MLAs ahead of the August 8 Rajya Sabha polls.

The home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to go to the polls by the year-end.
Dwarka: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will begin his three-day campaign for the Gujarat Assembly elections on Monday from the crucial Saurashtra region with the state police refusing him permission to hold an open-jeep roadshow, but leaving him with a consolation to take out a bullock cart yatra.

Over a fortnight after he held a lively interaction with thousands of party workers at Ahmedabad Sabarmati Riverfront, the 47-year-old Congress scion is going out on a whirlwind tour of the Saurashtra region, which sends one-third of the legislators in the 182-member State Assembly, from the famous religious town of Dwarka.

He will begin his day by offering prayers at the Dwarkadheesh Krishna temple, from where he is expected to drive down to Jamnagar, interacting with locals at various educational institutions, women and businessmen.

With the police refusing him permission to cover the 135 km stretch from Dwarka to Jamnagar by an open jeep and stage roadshows citing security reasons, Gandhi would now be taking a specially done up luxury bus for him equipped with CCTV cameras. The open-jeep connect with the people might not be possible for now.

However, this does not seem to have dampened the spirits of the Congress workers, for instance, in Hanjrapar village some 25 km from Dwarka, Gandhi will enter in a traditionally decked up bullock-cart.

"Not only his welcome, but we have also made all sitting arrangements for everyone here, including that of Rahulji, in typical Saurashtra cultural style," Palbhai Ambaliya told IANS on Sunday night.

There are three levels of seating, says Ambaliya, who is also the party`s ticket aspirant to the Dwarka Assembly seat represented at present by the Congress` Meraaman Ahir.

"The first level is people sitting on the ground, just like the beginning of our civilisation when there were no cots or chairs.

"Then at the next level are the traditional cots, just as our civilisation progressed. The last level of the seating for the people will be chairs, as is the modern world. For Rahulji, we have this special traditional cot when he interacts with us," Ambaliya said.

From the village of Hanjrapar which has a voter population of 1,107 from the Ahir caste, the Congress Vice President is scheduled to meet bullion traders and representatives of Jamnagar`s widely known brass parts industry.

After a night halt at Jamnagar, on Tuesday morning he will drive down to Rajkot, the hometown of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and also the key nerve centre of the Saurashtra region.

Gandhi would also offer prayers at the Khodaldham Temple, the deity of Patidar community.

On Wednesday, the Congress leader will reach Surendranagar. Here, he is expected to climb the long-winding stone stairs to the popular hilltop Chotila Temple.

He will wrap up his tour at Viramgam on the entry to Ahmedabad district, which incidentally happens to be the native hometown of the young Patidar (or Patel) agitation spearhead Hardik Patel.

The Saurashtra region has been electorally tough for the Congress for the last two decades and it won only 12 of the 52 seats here in the 2012 assembly elections.

This time the party is looking at significantly improving the tally given the Patidar sentiment against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the overall farmer distress owing to various issues.

Congress hopes that Rahul Gandhi`s staying put in the region for the first time for three days at a stretch will pep up the party cadres and energize them to work for victory sinking all their differences.

The Congress Vice President is also scheduled to make similar appearances in north, central and south Gujarat regions before the December elections.
Dwarka: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his government's decision to ban the old currency notes of high denomination and the faulty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, which, he said, has badly hurt the Indian economy.

PM Modi has made a blatant attack on the economy through notes ban and the GST, Rahul Gandhi said.

The PM did not stop there and introduced the GST which has made the lives of small traders miserable, he added.

Attacking the Narendra Modi government for not paying heed to the farmers' plight, the Congress leader said, Does the farmer use digital payments? No, he uses cash. So, the BJP governments move has hit the downtrodden.

Rahul also tore into the Gujarat model and said it was only meant to profit big corporates. This Gujarat model provides land, electricity and all the help to corporates but leaves the common man high and dry, he said.

Congress vice president earlier began his three-day campaign for the Gujarat Assembly elections from the crucial Saurashtra region.

With the state police refusing him permission to hold an open-jeep road show, Rahul decided to take out a bullock cart yatra.

Over a fortnight after he held a lively interaction with thousands of party workers at Ahmedabad Sabarmati Riverfront, the 47-year-old Congress scion is on a whirlwind tour of the Saurashtra region, which sends one-third of the legislators in the 182-member State Assembly, from the famous religious town of Dwarka.

He began his day by offering prayers at the Dwarkadheesh Krishna temple, from where he is expected to drive down to Jamnagar, interacting with locals at various educational institutions, women and businessmen.

From the village of Hanjrapar which has a voter population of 1,107 from the Ahir caste, the Congress Vice President is scheduled to meet bullion traders and representatives of Jamnagar's widely known brass parts industry.

After a night halt at Jamnagar, on Tuesday morning he will drive down to Rajkot, the hometown of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and also the key nerve centre of the Saurashtra region.

Gandhi would also offer prayers at the Khodaldham Temple, the deity of Patidar community.

On Wednesday, the Congress leader will reach Surendranagar. Here, he is expected to climb the long-winding stone stairs to the popular hilltop Chotila Temple.

He will wrap up his tour at Viramgam on the entry to Ahmedabad district, which incidentally happens to be the native home town of the young Patidar (or Patel) agitation leader Hardik Patel.

The Saurashtra region has been electorally tough for the Congress for the last two decades and it won only 12 of the 52 seats here in the 2012 assembly elections.

This time the party is looking at significantly improving the tally given the Patidar sentiment against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the overall farmer distress owing to various issues.

Congress hopes that Rahul Gandhi's staying put in the region for the first time for three days at a stretch will pep up the party cadres and energize them to work for victory sinking all their differences.

The Congress Vice President is also scheduled to make similar appearances in north, central and south Gujarat regions before the December elections.
Gurugram: Amid concerns over the safety of students, Ryan International School in Gurugram's Bhondsi reopened on Monday, several days after the murder of a class II student Pradyuman Thakur in its premises.

Despite repeated assurances from the Haryana government, the parents are deeply concerned about the safety of their children going to the school.

Children are in fear, just asking one question-do we go to the toilet, or go to drink water? They say they won't go: Father of a student pic.twitter.com/gGFC2vflHh  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

Meanwhile, a new principal and vice-principal have been appointed for the Bhondsi branch of the Ryan International School.

A seven-year-old student was found dead with his throat slit inside the school's washroom on September 8.

The murder of the class two student in the prestigious school brought the safety of school children into sharp focus and sparked protests in many parts of the country.

A conductor of a school bus was arrested for the murder and the state government later handed over the probe into the incident to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In view of public outcry over the incident, the Ryan management has take a slew of measures to strengthen the security in and around the school.

The construction of the school's boundary wall also began last week along.

The Ryan school management has also appointed a full-time safety and security officer (SSO) to look into all safety and security aspects of the school.

The school has also decided to issue ID cards for parents. Besides, the school has also issued instructions that all visitors will need to take prior appointments before coming to the campus and will require a valid ID proof to enter the premises.

They will be issued a visitor pass from the gate, the school said.

Additional CCTV cameras are being installed to cover the entire premises, including corridors, staircases and the area outside washrooms.

The school has also appointed new security guards and additional guards have been deputed in key areas.
New Delhi: BJP chief Amit Shah on Monday took a dig at Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for his comment on 'dynastic politics' before an international audience.

BJP believes in politics of performance, while Congress in dynasty and politics of appeasement, said Shah.

Shah's statement came at the ongoing BJP's National Executive Meet which is being attended by nearly 2,500 party members, including 13 Chief Ministers.

Hitting out at Rahul for defending dynastic politics, Shah said, The Prime Minister, President and Vice-President reached their position due to performance, not dynasty.

Shah's comment on Gandhi was briefed by Railway and Coal minister Piyush Goyal.

Rahul Gandhi has been undermining India these days. Amit Shah gave a befitting reply with facts, said Goyal.

In an attempt to deflect criticism on political dynasties in India, Gandhi told an international audience, That's how India works.

Dynastic politics is a problem in all political parties. Most of the country runs like this. Akhilesh (Yadav), (MK) Stalin and even (actor) Abhishek Bachchan are dynasts. Even (Prem Kumar) Dhumals son (Anurag Thakur) is a dynast, so dont go just after me, he said on September 12 at the University of California  Berkeley.

The comments were met with heavy criticism from several counters.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani called him a failed and arrogant politician. "A failed dynast today chose to speak about his failed political journeys in USA," she said.

Shah also lined out the party's course of action at BJP National Executive meet.

"From October 3 to 17, BJP workers will do a 'padyatra' in Kerala and connect with the people," said Goyal.
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Monday unveiled his latest big-ticket scheme. The Saubhagya Scheme that he launched was another visible policy initiative that ties in with his messaging for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Saubhagya Scheme is aimed at ensuring electrification of every household in the country. The Rs 16,000 crore project proposes to use solar power to sidestep grid connectivity to remote areas, which has been the biggest challenge to last-mile electricity connections.

The electrification of every household in the country was a key, and high-visibility promise that Narendra Modi had made as part of his campaign in 2014.

This is hardly the first big-ticket announcement that the PM has used to link back to his poll promises. His governments unprecedented announcement of the surgical strikes against Pakistan-backed terrorist infrastructure across the Line of Control had tied into his message of taking a hard line on terror.

He had then followed up with his November 8, 2016, announcement of demonetisation. This had been packaged into his promises to crack down on black money and corruption.

Another major economic agenda that the Modi government had used to bolster its reform narrative was the rollout of the Good and Services Tax (GST) beginning July 1.

Having won the last election at least in part because of a promise of economic growth, Modi has turned every large announcement of his government into an extension of the development narrative that propelled him to power.

At the launch of the Saubhagya Scheme, Modi claimed the government had ensured the creation of a sufficient manufacturing backbone to ensure the programmes success. However, it is probably not mere coincidence or fortune that the projects deadline is set for March 31, 2019. That would probably be just months before the next Lok Sabha elections.
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Monday slammed the protest in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) as a ''naxalite movement''.

ANI quoted Swamy saying that "I support the vice chancellor in this matter because it looks like a naxalite movement, which means they wanted to enter the vice chancellor`s office and there they would have conducted violence."

Backing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said that he was doing the right thing by asking for a comprehensive report on the same.

"This looks like a contrived thing because they say there was eve teasing while we have no clear identity as to who did it and how these students came to know, and did the girl make an immediate report or not," he added.

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday baton-charged on BHU students, who were protesting inside the campus since three days against alleged molestation of a university girl.

Reportedly, the protesting students tried to enter the residence of varsity Vice-Chancellor.

The deployed security forces tried to stop them, after which they became violent and attacked the police.

The security forces then used force and resorted to lathicharge on the students to disperse them.

The ongoing protests outside the BHU campus were triggered when a first-year fine arts student alleged that she was molested by three bike-borne men outside the varsity campus on Thursday.

The BHU administration's media termed the protest political in nature and stated that it was timed with the PMs visit, with the intention of soiling the image of the university.
New Delhi: China intimidated India and Bhutan by deploying a staggering 12,000 troops, 150 tanks and artillery during the Doklam standoff, a new book has claimed.

The book, "Securing India The Modi Way: Pathankot, Surgical Strikes and More", written by defence analyst Nitin Gokhale, contains quotes from National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, military chiefs and other senior Indian officials.

The number of Chinese troops was 10 times more than what was earlier reported, a media report quoted the book as saying. China had also used portable loudspeakers to intimidate India, the book, which also contains drone images of the area, claimed.

China deployed its troops in the Chumbi Valley close to the Indian border in Sikkim during the standoff, the book said, adding the Indian Army did not move its troops close to the border as they were not far away.

The book also claimed Chinese soldiers forcibly jostled their Bhutanese counterparts and "escorted" them to their posts after threatening them.

The Bhutanese troops later informed the Indian Army that China had warned the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) to not interfere with the road construction they were about to undertake, after which the Indian Army decided to increase vigil.

The book gives a step-by-step account of the how the conflict escalated between China and India, which included Indian troops delivering a message through a loud-hailer from Doka La to stop construction.

The dispute erupted after India objected to the Chinese building a road through the mountainous area.

Small incursions and troop stand-offs are common along with other parts of the contested 3,500-km (2,175-mile) frontier, but the Doklam impasse was marked by its length and the failure of talks to resolve the dispute.

However on August 28, India and China agreed to withdraw troops from the disputed trijunction, ending the 73-day stand-off.

A chapter of the book would be released by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu in Delhi on Friday.
Lucknow: Launching an attack on the BJP-led Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government, former Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said that incidents of communal violence has spiked under the regime of Modi government in the last three years.

Girls are not safe in BHU. There's no law and order in Uttar Pradesh, said Singh, a three-time chief minister of UP. The Yogi government is not fulfilling any of its promises.

Violence erupted inside Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus after students, protesting against an alleged eve-teasing incident. Dozens of students were detained in connection with the violence later. FIRs against 1,000 students has also been filed.

Speaking on the demonetisation, the septuagenarian said, Demonetisation was a setback for people. They had to give in their hard earned money.

I had given employment to people, but nothing is happening for job creation now, said Yadav.

Forget villages, even Lucknow is not getting uninterrupted power supply, said the veteran political leader.

My blessings always with Akhilesh as a father, but I don't agree with his decisions, he added.

Speculations were rife on Singh's announcement of the new party along with virtually defunct Lok Dal.

The hint of an imminent split in the SP came on Sunday when Mulayam and his brother-aide Shivpal Yadav stayed away from a state convention of the party - which they had founded 25 years ago - saying they were not invited.
Kolkata: The BSF has enhanced patrolling along 22 sensitive and vulnerable spots in West Bengal and is using local language skills as well as intel to check the influx of Rohingyas into the country.

In most cases, the Rohingyas try to pass themselves off as Bangladeshis if they are apprehended by the BSF, officials said.

To counter this, jawans adept in Bengali language are used for questioning.

"If a person crossing the border illegally is apprehended, he is questioned by the jawans. And although Rohingyas try to identify themselves as Bangladeshis, in most of the cases their accent of Bengali betrays them. The accent of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are a bit different," said a senior BSF official.

A detailed questioning reveals their identity.

The 22 spots are spread across North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, and Krishnanagar districts.

"These spots were there but after this issue of Rohingya came up, we have reviewed those sensitive spots from where both Bangladeshis and Rohingyas can cross. We have increased our vigil and are using local skills to identify them," said PSR Anajaneyulu, IG, BSF (South Bengal).

According to BSF sources in South Bengal frontier, patrolling in those areas has been enhanced and the ground level forces with boosted jawans who are adept in Bengali language.

As many as 175 Rohingyas have been apprehended by the BSF out of which seven were in 2017, BSF officials said.

The BSF is also enhancing its local source base and working with different central agencies to track the movement and identify Rohingyas.

Of the 4,096-km-long Indo-Bangladesh border, 2,216.7 km is in West Bengal.

Terming the Rohingya refugees as "illegal" immigrants, the government on September 18 told the Supreme Court that some of them were part of a "sinister" design of Pakistan's ISI and terror groups such as the ISIS, whose presence in the country will pose a "serious" national security threat.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, described by the UN as the most persecuted minority in the world, fled their homes in Rakhine state in Myanmar recently to escape a military crackdown.
New York: Exposing Pakistan's false propaganda at the United Nations, India on Monday slammed the neighbouring country for its nefarious designs in Jammu and Kashmir.

Exercising the right to reply, India's representative Paulomi Tripathi said, "Permanent representative of Pakistan (Maleeha Lodhi) in her statement sought to divert attention from their role as the hub of global terrorism. She did so by callously holding up a picture if an injured girl. It was the photo of Rawya abu Joma from Palestine."

"Pakistan mislead Assembly by displaying the picture to spread falsehoods about India, fake picture to push a false narrative. We are constrained to show a photo that reflects real picture of pain inflicted by nefarious designs of Pakistan on India," she added.

Showing the photo of the young Kashmiri Army officer who was killed by militants, Tripathi said, "We are constrained to show a photo that reflects real picture of pain inflicted by nefarious designs of Pakistan on India. This is a real picture, of Lt Ummer Fayaz, a young officer from J&K. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan-supported terrorists."

"This is the reality that the permanent representative of Pakistan sought to obfuscate," she pointed out.

Meanwhile, Syed Akbaruddin, India's ambassador/permanent representative to the UN tweeted, "Pakistan uses fake pictures to push false narrative, India uses true pictures of Pakistani terror's true face."

A tale of 2 narratives @UN



Pakistan uses fake picture to push a false narrative

India uses true pictures of Pakistani terror's true face pic.twitter.com/UMZ8N8Ujta  Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) September 25, 2017

A tale of 2 narratives @UN



Pakistan uses fake pictures to push false narrative

India uses true pictures of Pakistani terror's true face. pic.twitter.com/2iKbmkMNtt September 25, 2017

In a major goof-up, Lodhi on Sunday had flashed a picture of an injured Gaza girl with no connection to India while alleging that she was a victim of pellet guns in Kashmir.

Exercising her right to reply, hours after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj blasted Pakistan for its support to terrorism, the Pakistani envoy, on the floor of the UN General Assembly, had held up a photograph of a woman whose face was peppered with alleged pellet gun wounds.

"This is the face of Indian democracy," Lodhi had claimed.

The picture of 17-year-old Rawya of Gaza, an alleged victim of an Israeli attack, was actually taken by award-winning American photo-journalist Heidi Levine in July, 2014.

The picture is available on multiple news websites.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday declared that the government's fight against corruption is 'uncompromising' and nobody indulging in graft can escape.

"My battle against corruption will be uncompromising. Anybody caught in this cannot escape. I have no relatives," the PM said.



He also said, at the valedictory address to the BJP national executive meeting, that the battle against terrorism will continue and disclosed that 90 hardcore wanted terrorists have been deported to India from other countries.

Briefing the media on PM's closed-door speech, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "The main point of his speech was that we should take BJP beyond elections and make it an instrument of mass participation. We hold the country first and party as secondary."

"Public participation, improvement of the quality of life of people - this was the thrust of PM's speech," the FM reiterated.

"The PM said that anybody caught indulging in corruption cannot escape," Jaitley.

At the same time, the PM took on the Opposition for criticism of his government, saying that they "used power for consumption. They do not know how to sit in the Opposition," and added, "Harsh language cannot be a substitute for any substantive charge against the government."

"The Prime Minister also referred to change in the nomenclature of lavatory in Uttar Pradesh where it is now called 'izzat ka ghar' (the home of dignity). People's idiom has to change. It has to be simple to become popular," the FM said.

Talking about the state of India's economy, he said, "There is a dip in the GDP in the last quarter. Dip in GDP was due to lack of investments and manufacturing."

On the massive electoral gains made by his party, Jaitley said, "No other political party in the country is as active as the BJP. Democracy must be seen beyond elections."

Exuding confidence regarding the next General Elections Jaitley said, "We are sure of a victory in 2019 and that 'New India' will be made under us."

He also revealed that a run for unity will be organised on October 31.

Meanwhile, BJP chief Amit Shah today criticised Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on dynastic politics during his recent visit to the US and said that his party believed in the politics of performance while the Congress banked on the "politics of appeasement and dynasty".

In his inaugural address at the meet, he pointed out that President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and PM Modi had reached their position due to their work, despite their humble origins.

Shah added that Gandhi the Congress vice president had undermined India.

It was a closed-door event but Union Minister Piyush Goyal briefed the media about the speech.

The meeting was attended by 13 CMs, six Deputy CMs, more than 60 Cabinet ministers, 232 state ministers, 515 MLAs and 334 MPs.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: Jailed Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh reportedly took 'viagra', claims controversy queen and Bollywood actor Rakhi Sawant.

Sawant, who's been in headlines for her upcoming biopic on self-styled godman Singh, allegedly saw viagra lying in his room.

I was once invited to the Marriott to meet Ram Rahim by his secretary C P Arora and guess what I saw in Babas room? Viagra! What was Viagra doing in a godmans room? Mera toh dimaag hil gaya (my mind was boggled). I decided that I will expose him one day, so here I am, the controversial actor told The Quint.

Jail doctors, who examined Singh in Rohtak prison, called him a sex-addict, displaying symptoms of withdrawal. He also forced aides to turn homosexuals, revealed Gurdas Singh Toor, a former Dera follower.

Sawant also claimed that she was stunned to see the godman surrounded by girls in skimpy outfits.

Speaking on Honeypreet, the adopted daughter of Singh who's currently absconding, Sawant said, I have known Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his adopted daughter Honeypreet since last three-and-a-half years and met them on several occasions during this period. I once went inside the 'Gufa' (cave) built in the Dera premises. Gurmeet had invited me on his birthday."

"I realised that Honeypreet was uncomfortable seeing my close proximity with Gurmeet and even feared that I may become her 'Sautan' (lover's wife) by marrying him. I was ignorant about Gurmeet's exploitation of his female disciples or that he made his male follower impotent," she said.

Singh was sentenced to 20-years in prison after being convicted of raping two sadhvis or female followers in a 15-year-old case on August 28.
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday said it has set up an inquiry commission headed by retired High Court Justice A. Arumugaswamy to go into the death of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.



Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami had announced the government`s decision to set up an inquiry commission to be headed by a retired High Court judge to go into the death of the AIADMK supremo.

Ever since Jayalalithaa`s death, there have been hints of foul play in her death, with critics pointing fingers at the now jailed V.K. Sasikala.

The AIADMK camp of Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam had laid down a probe into the death as one of its demands before merging the faction with that led by Palaniswami.
New Delhi: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Monday that surgical strikes were a message to Pakistan.

At the same time, he hinted at more if necessary.

Speaking after the launch of a book, he said, "Surgical strikes were a message we communicated."

"If required and if the adversary does not behave and if we have to, with these kinds of activities, we will continue," Rawat added.

However, he pointed out that there were "other ways of doing these, it need not take the same form."



The Pakistan-based terror outfits were severely hit in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads carried out by the Indian Army.

In a well-calibrated operation, on the intervening night of September 28-29, 2016, the Indian Army had moved across the LoC and smashed terror launch pads.

The strikes had been carried out days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had warned that Uri attack would not go unpunished.

Meanwhile, Pakistan dismissed the strikes as "fabrication of truth".

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: In a bid to counter China's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region, the Indian Navy is mulling to buy at least 22 Sea Guardian remotely-piloted vehicles from the United States.

Reports said on Monday that the sale of Guardian Drones to India is also the top priority of the US Secretary of Defence, James Mattis, who will be arriving here on Monday.

The USD 2-billion deal for the sale of Guardian Drones, if sealed, could see the Indian Navy acquire the world's most advanced maritime reconnaissance drone.

Senior officials close to the deal have reportedly said that the sale of Sea Guardian is one of the top priorities of visiting US Secretary Mattis since "maritime security is of common interest due to Chinese aggression with submarines in the Indian ocean.''

The United States administration led by President Donald Trump had in August approved the sale of 22 Guardian drones to India, as per reports.

New Delhi's request to buy these unarmed drones was seen as a key test of ties with the US under the new Trump administration.

The Obama administration had earlier declared India a major defence partner, giving it the same status for co-development and co-production of defence equipment as close allies, and this has been endorsed by Trump administration officials.

The deal had the support of Congress and the White House and the concerns expressed by the State Department were sorted out, according to reports.

The remotely-piloted drones which India is keen on buying are fully weapons-capable and come with seven external stations for carriage of payloads.

The Sea Guardian Multi-Mission Maritime Patrol Aircraft can fly non-stop for 27 hours at an altitude of 50,000 feet. It can be remotely piloted or operate fully autonomous missions. Equipped with a multi-mode maritime radar, the Sea Guardian can observe the movement of Chinese warships and submarines when they surface.

The deal holds strategic importance for India as China has, in past few years, deployed nuclear attack submarines in the Indian Ocean region along with fleet support ships and warships, apparently to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia.

The Indian Navy believes that the Chinese presence in these waters has less to do with the fight against lightly armed Somali pirates and more to do with Beijing's elaborate plans to strategically encircle India by establishing ports and military facilities in the Indian Ocean region such as its new logistics hub in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.
Mangaluru: I was tortured like an animal," says the recently rescued 42-year-old Karnataka woman. A victim of human trafficking, Jacintha Mendonca was forced to work like a "slave" in a household for more than 14 months.

Lured by a Mumbai-based recruiting agency, which promised to get her a well-paying job in Qatar, Mendonca was first taken to Dubai. She was later flown to Saudi Arabia without her knowledge and made to work in a household at Yanbu, where she had been virtually "enslaved" for the last 14 months.

"I had a hellish experience in Yanbu...I was made to work day in and day out at three mansions belonging to the employer's mother, his three wives and their children...I was tortured like an animal," she told news agency PTI, adding the children called her 'gaddama' (slave).

Mendonca was forced to stay inside the four walls of the house, never allowed to venture outside.

In November 2016, she tried to escape but was caught by the police who sent her back to the employer.

The escape bid brought more hardship for her.

She was badly beaten up, head banged against the wall. The employers even refused to give her water, she alleges.

Mendonca was rescued after the Human Rights Protection Foundation of Udupi contacted the head of the NRI Forum Rodrigues in Saudi Arabia in April this year. On September 22, she was reunited with her family in Mundrangady in Udupi district.

Mendonca has asked the authorities to take action against recruiting agency who cheated her.

Ravindra Shanbagh of Udupi Human Rights Foundation said they could locate the employer in Saudi Arabia only after a series of attempts.

The efforts of the NRI Forum in Saudi Arabia succeeded in getting Jacintha back home on September 22 through lawful measures, he said.

With PTI Inputs
New Delhi: US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived here on Monday on a two-day official visit during which he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss ways to boost strategic ties.

"This is a historic opportunity for our two democracies at a time of strategic convergence," Mattis told reporters on his flight.

The trip comes weeks after Trump unveiled a new Afghanistan strategy and urged India to increase assistance to the war-torn nation's economy. He also chided Pakistan for offering safe haven to "agents of chaos".

India, he said, has been a constant supporter of the fight against terrorists in Afghanistan.

"India, from our perspective, is clearly a pillar of regional stability and security. We share a common vision for a peaceful and prosperous vision in the Indo-Pacific region, one that's based on that strong, rules-based international order, and the peaceful resolution of disputes and territorial integrity," he said.

During his India visit, Mattis will lay a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and inspect tri-service guard of honour at the South Block lawns.

He lauded India for contributing tens of thousands of dollars for building infrastructure in Afghanistan and training Afghan officers.

"They've been a great asset, and we would see them continuing along the lines they have already chosen, and looking for any other areas that they may believe appropriate to the relationship with Afghanistan," he added.

No nation has probably contributed more bilaterally than India in building that hope," he said.

Responding to a question on Pakistan, Mattis said it has come out recently again saying that they are fighting the terrorists. "I think Pakistan will find nothing out of line with India and the US alignment in the same fight," he said.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: Pakistan has stored its nuclear weapons in at least nine locations, suggest recent assessment by American scientists. The neighbour nation also has a rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal systems of 130140 warheads and an increasing portfolio of delivery systems.

Out of the nine locations, four are near Pakistan's Punjab, three near Sindh province and one each around Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The report published by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) says Islamabad is quantitatively and qualitatively increasing its arsenal and deploying weapons at more sites, yet the locations are difficult to pinpoint.

The report, authored by Hans M. Kristensen and Robert S. Norris, estimates that Pakistan has stored its nuclear arsenal in the following nine locations:

1. Akro Garrison, Sindh (Possible underground weapons storage site)

2. Gujranwala Garrison, Punjab (Possible weapons storage with components in remote depot)

3. Khuzdar Garrison, Balochistan (Possible underground weapons storage site)

4. Masroor Depot (Karachi), Sindh (Potential storage of bombs for Mirage Vs at Masroor AB)

5. National Development Complex (Fatehjang), Punjab (SSM launcher assembly and potential warhead component storage)

6. Pano Akil Garrison, Sindh (Possible weapons storage with components in remote depot)

7. Sargodha Depot, Punjab (Possible storage site of bombs for F-16s at nearby Sargodha AB and warheads for SSMs)

8. Tarbala Underground Depot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Potential warhead storage)

9. Wah Ordnance Facility, Punjab (Possible warhead production, disassembly, and dismantlement facility)

The scientists used commercial satellite images, expert studies, and local news reports and articles to derive the locations.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on September 20 threatened to attack India, claiming that Islamabad has access to short-range nuclear weapons and will not deter to use it against the Indian Army.

The country's statement came amid North Korea's escalating threats of nuclear warfare.

Abbasi further said that the country's nuclear arsenals are safe and secure. "We have a very robust and secure command-and-control system over our strategic nuclear assets," he said.

Expressing doubts, a previous FAS study on Pakistans Nuclear Weapons suggested that instability in Pakistan can lead to radicals and extremists taking over the nuclear arsenal.

...instability in Pakistan has called the extent and durability of these reforms into question. Some observers fear radical takeover of the Pakistani government or diversion of material or technology by personnel within Pakistans nuclear complex. While U.S. and Pakistani officials continue to express confidence in controls over Pakistans nuclear weapons, continued instability in the country could impact these safeguards, it stated.
Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested the third terrorist believed to be behind the recent attack on a Sashastra Seema Bal camp in Banihal in which a jawan was killed.

According to ANI, the arrested terrorist has been identified as Aquif.

Aquif hails from Kaskoot and is a student of Government Degree College at Khannabal in Anantnag district.

A China-made pistol has also been recovered from him.

After attacking the SSB personnel, he had been on the move from one place to another to evade arrest.

Aquif's uncle was a divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police had earlier arrested two terrorists - Gazanfar Ahmad (21) and Arif (25) - both Banihal residents.

On Wednesday, the three terrorists attacked a SSB unit just when the troops were returning to their camp after patrolling the Jawahar tunnel. They snatched two weapons from the SSB personnel before fleeing.

An SSB head constable was killed and an ASI injured after these three terrorists had attacked them in Banihal on the night of September 20 and fled after snatching their weapons.

The terrorist attack in the area had come after a long time as Banihal had been terrorist free after security forces and police had killed two militants in the area over six years ago.

Police then said id that all the three were new terrorist recruits who were in touch with both the Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba outfits. However, for their formal joining in any of these outfits, they were tasked to first snatch weapon from police or security forces personnel.
New Delhi: The NIA here on Monday questioned a Kashmir University PhD student and the head of Kashmir Traders' and Marketing Federation in connection with its ongoing Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case.



The student Aala Fazili and the traders body chief Yasin Mohammad Khan were questioned at the National Investigation (NIA) headquarters here, an official said.



They were summoned by the agency last week to appear before the investigators in the case, he said.



Informed sources said they were questioned about alleged funding to various groups which pelted stones on security forces on several occasions.



Meanwhile, the Kashmir traders' body staged a protest in the Valley over over the summons issued to its chief in connection with the case.



The NIA had registered a case on May 30 against separatist and secessionist leaders, including unknown members of the Hurriyat Conference, who have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other outfits and gangs, officials said.



The case was registered for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and for causing disruption in the Valley by pelting security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India, the probe agency said in its FIR.



Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the front of the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been named in the FIR as an accused.



The FIR also names organisations such as the two factions of the Hurriyat, one led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the other by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Hizbul Mujahideen and Dukhtaran-e-Millat, an all-women outfit of separatists.



The NIA, so far, has arrested 11 persons in the case.


Srinagar: The security forces on Monday shot dead the fourth terrorist after a prolonged gunbattle in the Uri sector, foiling their plans to carry out a 2016-like attack on an Army base in 2016.

All the four terrorists neutralised by the security forces belonged to dreaded Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The security forces had on Sunday killed three terrorists in a fierce gunbattle in Kashmir's Uri.

A massive operation was launched in Kalgai forest area following specific information about a group of heavily-armed militants hiding there.

As the security forces tightened the cordon around the area, the hiding militants opened fire at the security forces triggering a gunfight, reports said.

"A cordon was laid and search operation was started in Kalgai area of Uri following information about the presence of militants in the area," an Army official said.

"Three militants have been killed in the operation while one soldier has sustained injuries," the official added.

He also said that three civilians were also injured in the gunbattle.

Director General of Police SP Vaid told reporters that the militants were planning a 'suicide' attack like the one carried out on an Army base in Uri last year.

On September 18 last year, four militants had stormed Army brigade headquarters in Uri, close to the Line of Control, killing 19 soldiers before being neutralised.
New Delhi: After making American television host Jimmy Kimmel a fan, the viral song - Entammede Jimikki Kammal - is still continuing to rule the Internet. The excitement and craze for this track went up a notch recently when Malayalam superstar Mohanlal joined the league and featured in a video of the popular number.

The clip was posted on Facebook by the 57-year-old actor and, within a span of few hours, it has garnered more than five million views. Yes, you read that right. Well, this is the stardom of Mohanlal.

In the video, Mohanlal can be seen surprising his fans by making a sudden appearance and grooving to the tunes of the song. Have a look:

Entammede Jimikki Kammal was first published on YouTube on August 6. Since then, a lot of fan videos have surfaced on social media, giving the track some exciting styles of choreography.
New Delhi: Vogue Women of the Year Awards became one of the year's most star studded affairs, where the finest of the Bollywood industry were at their fashionable best.

Padma Lakshmi, the renowned Indian-origin author and actress, was also present at the event and shared a picture that will surely put a smile on your face.

The television host took to Instagram and shared a snap with Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

She captioned the picture, "@iamsrk #aishwaryaraibachchan @gaurikhan and lil' ol me going all #Bollywood @vogueindia #voguewomenoftheyear."

A post shared by Padma Lakshmi (@padmalakshmi) on Sep 24, 2017 at 12:39pm PDT

The 'Ae dil hai Mushkil' actress looked gorgeous in a black embellished gown with feathers on the hem and exaggerated sleeves with feather details.

'King Khan' looked dapper in a white shirt, a black suit and black trousers along with a black bowtie and black shoes, while Padma Lakshmi looked gorgeous in a red J. Mendel gown.

On the professional front, Shah Rukh is currently shooting for Aanand L. Rai's movie which will see the actor play a dwarf. The movie also stars Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma as the leads and is slated for a Christmas 2018 release.

Meanwhile, Aishwarya will soon commence shooting for Atul Manjrekar's 'Fanney Khan' which also stars Anil Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao and Divya Dutta as the leads.
Mumbai: Bollywood's quintessential romantic hero Shah Rukh Khan, who attended the Vogue Women of the Year Awards here, said that all the women in his life are important and it is extremely satisfying to have an award for them.



"All the women in my life are important to me, starting with my mother, wife, daughter, sister and all the ladies who have worked with me... The list is big because I've been working for 30 years, so there are lots of them, some 20-30 of them, all of them are important," Shah Rukh said at the event here on Sunday night.



"I think women are important, so to have an award for them, I think it is extremely fulfilling and satisfying, not just for the women who get the award, but for the men who don't win it... Bystanders like myself, who can come and applaud for them," added Shah Rukh, who was given the Vogue Entertainer of the Decade Award.



Shah Rukh is making a comeback on television with Star Plus' new show "TED Talks: Nayi Soch".



Asked about it, he said: "I have no idea when the show is starting... I have to check for the details," he said when asked about the progress of the show.



On the film front, the actor is busy with Aanand L Rai's next. The movie is yet untitled, but it will reunite Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma with Shah Rukh after Jab Tak Hai Jaan.



"Aanand L Rai's film shooting is going on. Katrina Kaif has joined us and Anushka Sharma will join us in a day or two. Shooting is going on at various places... It is going well," Shah Rukh said.



The Vogue Women of the Year Awards saw Gauri Khan, Shweta Bachchan, Karan Johar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Twinkle Khanna, Athiya Shetty, Radhika Apte, Anil Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Natasha Poonawalla, Kiran Rao, Deepika Kumari, Rajkummar Rao and Jim Sarbh among others in attendance.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday acquitted Mahmood Farooqui, co-director of Bollywood film Peepli Live, in a rape case involving a US researcher, saying he was entitled to benefit of doubt as the testimony of the victim was not reliable.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar set aside the trial court order which had awarded a seven-year jail term to Farooqui after convicting him for the alleged rape of a 30-year-old American researcher at his south Delhi residence in March 2015.

The High Court, in its 85-page judgement, directed that Farooqui, who is presently in jail, be released forthwith.

It held that the woman's testimony was not reliable and the accused can be given the benefit of doubt.

"Whether such an incident happened, if it has happened, it did happen with the consent of the prosecutrix. This remains in doubt," the court said.

Farooqui had challenged his conviction and the sentence given by the trial court.

During arguments, Farooqui's lawyer had denied the allegation of rape levelled by the woman and said "no such incident took place on that day".

His counsel had referred to messages exchanged between his client and the woman before the case was lodged and contended that the two were in a "relationship" since January 2015.

The argument was opposed by Delhi Police's counsel who had said that rape had taken place and the trial court had given reasons while convicting and sentencing 45-year-old Farooqui.

A trial court had on August 4 last year sent him to jail for seven years, observing that he had taken advantage of the situation when the victim was alone in his house.

The court, which on July 30, 2016 had held Farooqui guilty of raping the American woman in 2015 in a drunken state, had also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him.

The police had on?June 19, 2015, lodged the FIR against Farooqui on the woman's complaint after which he was arrested.

On July 29, 2015, the police had filed its charge sheet against Farooqui alleging he had raped the research scholar from Columbia University at his Sukhdev Vihar house in South Delhi on March 28, 2015.
New Delhi: Mahira Khan, the beautiful Pakistani actress who made her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees made headlines last week.

The actress was trolled for sharing a cigarette with B Town chocolate boy, Ranbir Kapoor. While a number of haters slut- shamed the actress, Bollywood stood up in her defence with actors like Ali Zafar, Varun Dhawan, Parineeti Chopra and Zarine Khan speaking against the haters.

Pakistani actors Momina Mustehsan and Osman Khalid Butt also took to Twitter to support Mahira and Ranbir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor made official statements in the actress's defence.

Here is the photograph that resulted in this much chaos:

A post shared by    (@ranbirscupcake) on Sep 22, 2017 at 4:51am PDT

Let us now have a look at the reaction of each celeb, in Mahira's defence, in detail:

To begin with, here is the open letter that Ali Zafar wrote on the issue. Here is his Twitter post:

Humaima Malick, Osman Khalid Butt and Momina Mustehsan are well known Pakistani actors, here's what they posted on Twitter.

Ok so now you can't date anyone , can't smoke , can't go out , can't wear what you want to just because you are a celebrity wah yar had hai  HUMAIMA MALICK (@HumaimaMalick) September 22, 2017

Im assuming those bashing @TheMahiraKhan are saints & would happily put every moment of their lives up for scrutiny. To each their own guys!  Momina Mustehsan (@MominaMustehsan) September 22, 2017

'SHOCKING: Behaya male actor cigarette-noshi kartay huay pakray gaye - sharmnaak manazir'.. said NO ONE EVER.

F*** your double standards. pic.twitter.com/t91Owh1D1i September 22, 2017

Varun Dhawan, whose Judwaa 2 is set to release, told PTI in an interview- "Shame on them for shaming her,"

And actress Parineeti Chopra, who has always raised a voice against injustice told PTI at the trailer launch of Golmaal Again- "I'll just say one line. It's a little unfair. Everybody knows it's unfair and it'll stop. Today, because of social media, everything becomes too big a deal."

In an interview with The Indian Express, actress Zarine Khan who could almost relate with Mahira, spoke- "Oh, she is a girl, she is wearing a short dress and she is a Muslim, she is from Pakistan. I know all these things,"

With different reactions pouring in from different celebs, we couldn't wait for Ranbir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor to speak on the issue. It was Rishi Kapoor who spoke in his son's and Mahira's defence. He told HT- I only saw them on Twitter, not on Instagram or Facebook, because I am only on Twitter. Its not that I saw these pictures before or I know anything about this already. You see, Ranbir is a young star, he is unmarried, hes a bachelor. He can meet anybody whoever he wants to, and if people are going to invade in his privacy, its not done. And I cant say anything about all this because hes a young man and he has the choice of meeting any girl.

And finally here's the reaction from Mahira's 'Partner in Crime', Ranbir.

The actor told NDTV- Ive gotten to know Mahira in a personal capacity over the last few months. She is somebody who I admire and respect, for her achievements and even more for the person she is. It is very unfair the way she is being judged and spoken about. What is also sad is the inequality in judgment just because she is a woman. I request you to stop the negativity and move on with your beautiful god gifted lives.
The growing uncertainty faced by immigrants  both for those in the U.S. legally and those who are not  has created a secondary effect at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Law.

Interest in immigration law is on the rise since President Donald Trump took office in January and immediately signed an order banning travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries into the U.S.

Its what I would call the Trump bump, said Kevin Ruser, a clinical professor who oversees Nebraska Law's legal clinics.

UNL law students have used grants from the U.S. Department of Education to work with immigrants since President Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 legalizing those who entered the U.S. illegally before 1982.

The Immigration Clinic broke from UNL's Civil Clinic in 1998, separating students who provide advice on a wide range of issues that go before civil courts from students taking a deep dive into a complex immigration system each year.

Ruser said that while a few students have interest in the Immigration Clinic each year, the transition of power to a new president who ran a campaign critical of immigration helped spike interest in the program.

"We've had 14 second-year students express interest in the Immigration Clinic next year," he said. "The class in their second year now has a lot of first- and second-generation immigrants, many from Spanish-speaking cultures, and they are all very interested in it."

While the political environment may have generated new interest in the Immigration Clinic, the three students currently serving in the clinic say their job is to cut through the rhetoric to help their clients.

On Sunday, Morgan Nelson, Phong Tran and Miranda Rogers hosted a legal clinic for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in the Marvin and Virginia Schmid Clinic Building that opened earlier this year  the first clinic to be hosted in the new facility.

The Trump administration announced on Sept. 5 it was ending the Obama administration program that protects nearly 800,000 undocumented youth brought into the country illegally as children from being deported while also giving them permission to work.

As the program is ended, the Trump administration said DACA recipients whose permits expire before March 5 can apply for a renewal by Oct. 5, and Democratic leaders have signaled a desire to work with the president on passing legislation to protect those young immigrants.

Shortly after the announcement, UNL said it would host a legal clinic in conjunction with the Mexican Consulate for DACA recipients to help them in renewing their permits or seek to understand their options.

"That's why we're all here  to help those we can help," Tran said. "We're here to let people know their rights and what their options are as far as immigration law."

It's not clear how many DACA recipients live in the Lincoln area. Colleges and universities do not request that information on applications, and those students are not required to reveal their status.

But the Immigration Clinic believes many of the so-called Dreamers planning to renew their permits before Oct. 5 already have, Nelson said.

"I think the people who are eligible to renew have taken advantage of it," she said. "We're here to facilitate and help those who maybe haven't done a renewal yet, or who are looking to get some assistance during this time."

The opportunity to provide legal assistance at a time of change is an exciting learning experience and chance to offer help to those in need, each of the clinicians said.

"Just because of the way immigration law exists, it's subject to change every four years," said Nelson, a West Point native. "Every administration changes immigration laws, and I think that's one of the reasons I find it interesting."

The constant changes to immigration law  as well as some of the heated dialogues surrounding the issue and the confusion it can introduce  represents a need for professionals who understand it.

"It's really important to be able to explain to people what is going on and how you can help them," Rogers said.

Tran, who immigrated to Lincoln from Vietnam with his parents, said the importance of working with others on these issues is demonstrated in the consequences.

"What happens really impacts peoples' lives," he said. "Especially when you have an administration change or a policy change that affects a million people  that matters a lot.

"If you want to help people and be there for people, right now is a good time to go into immigration law," Tran added.
Mumbai: Former actress Somy Ali, who hails from Pakistan, has come out in support of Mahira Khan, after she was slut-shamed for smoking and wearing a short dress.

After Ali Zafar, Somy has defended Mahira and slammed trolls.

She (Mahira) is smoking a cigarette, why is this such a big deal? She looks sexy and beautiful in that dress and theres nothing wrong with that. I agree smoking is bad for you, but does it deserve ignorant nasty comments? Not at all. Mahira is old enough to know what she is doing; its her prerogative. And haters are going to hate no matter what, DNA quoted Somy as saying.

She is very pretty and successful and that comes with a price, of course. But in the bigger scheme of things, this is quite petty and only the petty-minded would troll her. These comments are absurd and the epitome of ignorance, and those commenting seem to still be in the Stone Age, Somy added.

Last week, a few photographs of Mahira and Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor had surfaced online. The two were apparently out for a smoke break. They were reportedly spotted by the paparazzi and soon photos of the two appeared online there triggering rumours about their affair.
Jaipur: An 18-year-old woman in Rajasthan was on Monday reportedly set on fire for refusing a marriage proposal.

The incident took place at Isarvla in Rajasthan's Banswara district.

The victim, Seema, was attacked in her home by a man and his father, following which she was admitted to MG Hospital in Banswara with 75 per cent burns.

She is currently in a critical condition in a hospital in Udaipur.

As per the victim's father, Seema had rejected the proposal of a man named Ravi. Agitated by this, the man along with his father committed the crime.

The victim's father also said that earlier he had lodged a complaint regarding Ravis harassment but authorities didn't take any action.

An FIR was registered in the hospital police station and an investigation is underway.
New Delhi: The market size of housing for senior living could jump six fold to USD 7.7 billion by 2030 on rising demand of homes for elderly, according to a survey report by industry chamber PHDCCI.

"In India, there are about 10,000 units across senior housing properties with a market size of USD 1.26 billion," PHDCCI said in its report 'Senior Housing: A Sunrise Sector in India' released on Monday.

According to the survey, developers felt that the size of the sector is estimated to rise up to USD 7.7 billion by 2030 from USD 1.26 billion in 2016 helped by conducive framework.

Senior housing has been defined as a mix of real estate, hospitality and care with high-quality housing and nursing care facilities for senior citizens.

India has 120 million seniors which is almost equal to entire population of some countries, Association of Senior Living India (ASLI) Founder and Chairman M H Dalal said.

The share of elderly population in India's total population has increased from 5.6 per cent in 1961 to 8.6 per cent in 2011 and is estimated to reach to 10.7 per cent in 2021, 12.4 per cent in 2026 and 23.6 per cent in 2050, PHDCCI said in a statement.

To boost supply, real estate developers which are into senior housing sought support from the government in areas like land availability, tax incentives, easy availability of finance, skill development and subsidies.

DLF CEO Rajeev Talwar said it is necessary to recognise that senior citizens are a valuable resource for the country.

He stressed on creating an environment that provides them with equal opportunities, protects their rights and enable their full participation in society.

Ajay Dua, former commerce secretary, emphasised on affordability of senior housing and said the government should promote senior housing sector to meet demand.

Ankur Gupta, Joint Managing Director, Ashiana Housing, said there is a need to better understand the senior living in India and it should be taken seriously.

The government should lay more emphasis on senior housing in terms of land availability throughout the country and make senior housing attractive for developers by giving some kind of benefits on GST or RERA, Gupta said.
New Delhi: Karnataka government, which has been experiencing drought over the last few years, would urge the Supreme Court to allow it to release lesser quantum of Cauvery water to the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, a state minister said on Monday.

Karnataka's water resources minister MB Patil met senior advocate Fali S Nariman here to finalise the final written submission in this regard to be placed before the top court.

The apex court has reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the 2007 award of Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT), which had ordered Karnataka to release 192 tmc of water for Tamil Nadu every year from June to January.

Karnataka has been maintaining that the CWDT award was impractical and cannot be executed due to lack of water in the Cauvery reservoir.

"The fact and the truth remains that Karnataka has been affected. We expect some relief to the state. We have asked the court to reduce it from 192 tmc to 100-102 tmc of water. We will see what the Supreme Court decides," Patil told reporters after the meeting here.

The written submission in this regard will be finalised and placed before the apex court, he said.

Sources said that the submission would cover nine key areas, including the plea for allowing it to release less water and the state's opposition to the formation of a Cauvery Water Management Board.

Patil said that the state is hopeful of getting the relief in Supreme Court's final verdict keeping in view the fact that it has been hit with water shortage for drinking and irrigation purposes.

The apex court, while reserving the verdict, had asked all the parties including Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, to submit their written submissions.
New Delhi: Telecom operators have requested the sector regulator Trai to defer new call drop rules by six months in order to tune their networks as per the new norms.

"We have written to Trai that give us two quarters to actually tune networks to implement the new regulation. Trai has said that they would consider it. However, the regulator has not come back to us. It is a measurement issue. We are facing problem in getting space for installing cell towers," COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews told reporters.

He was speaking on the sidelines of curtain raiser of the three day industry event India Mobile Congress, starting from September 27 in Delhi.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on August 18 issued stricter version of quality of service rules which will be come into effect from October 1. Under the new rule, penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh will be imposed if telecom operators fail to meet call drop benchmark and call drop will be measured at mobile tower level instead of telecom circle.

Mathews said in states like Delhi the telecom companies have gone in court against local civic bodies to get space for mobile towers at reasonable terms.

"We got permission for installing mobile towers in government premise but getting on to government land is a challenge. Not one of member company has refused to put up cell towers if a sight is available. In just last nine months 3.6 lakh base stations have been installed to improve coverage," he said.

Mathews said that the Department of Telecom has been helping industry in getting space for mobile towers and has notified right of way (RoW) rules for easier and faster deployment of mobile towers but majority of states have not adopted it.

"We have been in negotiation with every major state. We have said provide us timely permissions. DoT has put notification on RoW and we are asking states to adopt it. Telangana, Rajasthan, Haryana and Odisha have done it but many have not implemented it," he added.

Mathews said there have been issues with some of the dual SIM smartphones.

"Certain snartphone have shown some particular issues. We don't have control over customer purchase decision but all mobile phones sold in the country have to comply with BIS, TEC norms," Mathews said.
Varanasi/Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday removed senior police officials in connection with the alleged crackdown on protesting students at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Sunday.

According to ANI, the Station House Officer (SO) Lanka, Circle Officer Bhelupur and one Additional City Magistrate (ACM) have been removed for failing to handle the violence inside the varsity campus.

While the university authorities have blamed ''outsiders'' for the violence inside the campus, the city Police Commissioner has called for a detailed probe into the incident.

Dozens of students have been detained in connection with the violence that erupted on the varsity campus on Sunday after the police used force to evict them.

An FIR against 1,000 students has also been filed at the Lanka Police Station for arson and other charges, Varanasi SSP said.

The atmosphere inside the Banaras Hindu University still remains tense, and theres a heavy police deployment on campus.

The BHU authorities have decided to call Dussehra breaks, three days before the scheduled holidays begin, and suspended all classes till October 2.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has, meanwhile, sought a report from Divisional Commissioner about the lathi-charge by the police on BHU students, including women.

"I have sought a report from the Divisional Commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident," the CM said in Lucknow.

Violence inside the campus erupted after some students, protesting against the alleged eve-teasing incident of Thursday, went to meet the Vice Chancellor at his residence.

The protesting students were demanding action against those involved in the alleged eve-teasing of a woman student of Arts, while she was returning to her hostel on Thursday.

Three bike-borne men had abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts, according to the complainant.

The woman alleged that varsity security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop the men.

She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel.

The warden's response angered the student's colleagues, who sat on a 'dharna' at the main gate midnight Thursday. One of the students even got her head tonsured.

BHU students alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants.

Police and BHU professors tried to pacify the students yesterday, but they refused to end their protest and sought assurance from the university vice-chancellor.

The varsity issued a statement last night, saying the 'dharna' by the students just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police is sought from time-to-time to maintain peace in the campus.

On the other hand, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has strongly condemned the lathi-charge of the students in BHU.
Lucknow: The feud in the Samajwadi Party seems far from over with its founder Mulayam Singh Yadav reiterating his differences with former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and son Akhilesh Yadav.



Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Monday, the Samajwadi leader said that though his blessings remained with son Akhilesh, he did not agree with the decisions taken by him.



My blessings are with Akhilesh as he is my son, but I do not agree with the decisions taken by him, he said.



When asked by reporters on which decisions he disagreed with, the veteran politician refused to elaborate.



The former UP chief minister, however, urged all Samajwadi leaders to unite and take on the divisive forces.



He further took on the Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath governments, accusing them of not fulfilling any of their promises.



The hint of an imminent split in the SP came on Sunday when Mulayam and his brother-aide Shivpal Yadav stayed away from a state convention of the party - which they had founded 25 years ago - saying they were not invited.

Following the press conference by the SP founder, Akhilesh took to Twitter to hail his fathers decision to not float a new party. He tweeted:
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah have spoken to UP Chief Minister Yogi Aditynanath following a police lathi-charge on BHU students and asked him to redress the issue at the earliest.

"The BHU incident is unfortunate. Any amount of sadness expressed over it is not adequate," Union minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters here.

He said that Modi and Shah have spoken to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister and asked him to redress the issue as soon as possible.

The violence erupted after some students, protesting against an incident of sexual harassment, wanted to meet the varsity's vice chancellor (VC) at his residence.

Security guards of the university stopped the students and informed the police, according to university sources.

A Banaras Hindu University (BHU) spokesperson had said that some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the BHU security guards.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathi-charge. The government has removed some officers as the incident attracted widespread criticism.
Lucknow: All eyes are on veteran socialist leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is expected to make major announcements at a press conference in the state capital on Monday.

It is speculated that Mulayam may announce a new political outfit during the press conference which is expected to start around 11:00 am at the Ram Manohar Lohia trust.

According to sources, Singh is likely to announce the new party along with virtually defunct Lok Dal and is also likely retain the 'samajwadi' tag in its name.

The hint of an imminent split in the SP came on Sunday when Mulayam and his brother-aide Shivpal Yadav stayed away from a state convention of the party - which they had founded 25 years ago - saying they were not invited.

Even as the SP prepared for the convention, sources said the two brothers pondered over the formation of a secular front under the banner of Lok Dal, hinting fresh differences in the party weakened already by the factional feud which proved to be its nemesis in the Assembly polls earlier this year.

The strains were palpable ahead of its state and national convention, with Mulayam replacing Akhilesh Yadav-loyalist Ram Gopal with Shivpal Yadav as the secretary of the Lohia Trust.

Mulayam's brother Shivpal had in June announced that he would float the Samajwadi Secular Front "to fight communal forces".

Asked about Singh's claims that the two brothers will work under the banner of Lok Dal, another Shivpal-loyalist said, "Mulayam may not like to shun the Samajwadi tag. The situation will be clear when Netaji will disclose his future course of action."

Importantly, the posters at the SP convention did not have pictures of Mulayam and Shivpal, giving ample hints about their place in the party.

The convention saw a realignment of forces within the SP as senior leader Azam Khan attended the event and lashed out at the "people who have betrayed the party", in an apparent reference to Shivpal, his one-time friend, and confidant.

Another surprise presence was that of SP MP Beni Prasad Varma, whose inclusion in the party last year was said to have triggered the battle within the family.

To top it all, SP president Akhilesh Yadav in his address cautioned his supporters against "fake samajwadis".

In Election Commission records, Lok Dal is a registered, unrecognised party that was formed by veteran socialist leader Charan Singh way back in 1980 and Mulayam was its founder- member.

Lok Dal has the old election symbol of a farmer ploughing the field. Fighting on the symbol, Charan Singh had become the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Mulayam, who was opposed to the SP-Congress alliance during the Assembly elections, was offered Lok Dal symbol and president's post by Sunil Singh.

The Yadav family feud came to the fore about a year ago and led to Akhilesh snatching the mantle of the SP national president from his father at an emergency national convention of the party here on January 1.

Taking full control of the party after being crowned as its head and alloted the 'bicycle' symbol by the EC on January 16, Akhilesh has been going the whole hog consolidating his grip over the party.

With PTI inputs
Kolkata: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy on Monday announced that he will tender his resignation and as the Rajya Sabha MP after Durga Puja.

"I will reveal why I am resigning from the party, after Durga Puja," said the senior politician at a press conference.

Roy alleged that he has been forced to quit after Durga Puja.

Last week, Trinamool leaders reprimanded Roy for allegedly hobnobbing with BJP leaders it was keeping a close watch on him.

Asked whether he would join the BJP in days to come, Roy said, "Whatever I have to say. I will say it after Durga Puja. But I would like to mention that people of Bengal don't like political controversies during Durga Puja,".

Once the second-in-command in the TMC after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Roy was absent from an event to unveil the Durga Puja edition of the TMC mouthpiece, Jago Bangla, on September 19.

Banerjee and the entire TMC top brass, barring Roy, was present at the event.

Roy was recently removed as the TMC vice president after the party decided to restructure its committee.

He was earlier removed as the party's in-charge of Tripura, where the TMC was steadily making inroads till its members switched over to the BJP earlier this year.

With PTI and ANI inputs
Berlin: Chancellor Angela Merkel`s conservatives beat their rivals on Sunday to win her a fourth term in an election that will also bring a far-right party into Germany`s parliament for the first time in more than half a century, exit polls showed.

After shock election results last year, from Britain`s vote to leave the European Union to the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, many look to Merkel to rally a bruised liberal Western order, tasking her with leading a post-Brexit Europe.

She must now form a coalition government - an arduous process that could take months as all potential partners are unsure whether they really want to share power with her.

Merkel`s conservative bloc won 32.5 percent of the vote, making them the largest parliamentary group, an exit poll for broadcaster ARD indicated. However, that was down from 41.5 percent in the last election, in 2013.

Support for their closest rivals, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) which are currently junior partners in a so-called "grand coalition" with Merkel, slumped to 20.0 percent - a new post-war low. The SPD ruled out a re-run of that tie-up.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by finishing third and entering parliament for the first time with 13.5 percent of the vote.

Merkel, Europe`s longest serving leader, joins the late Helmut Kohl, her mentor who reunified Germany, and Konrad Adenauer, who led Germany`s rebirth after World War Two, as the only post-war chancellors to win four national elections.

SPD deputy leader Manuela Schwesig said her party would now go into opposition. That would rule out a re-run of Merkel`s existing alliance with the SPD.

An alternative coalition for Merkel would be a three-way tie-up with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the ecologist Greens. That is a combination as yet untested at national level and known as the "Jamaica" option because the three parties` colours are those of the black-gold-green Jamaica national flag.

Both the FDP and the environmentalist Greens have played down the prospect of a Jamaica coalition, but as they have been out of government for four and 12 years respectively, they may be lured into an alliance by the prospect of power.

NEW ERA

Whatever the make-up of her coalition, Merkel, 63, faces four years of government in a fragmented parliament after the return of the FDP - unrepresented at national level for the last four years - and the arrival of the AfD.

Founded in 2013 by an anti-euro group of academics, the AfD has morphed into an anti-immigration party that has profited from Merkel`s 2015 decision to leave German borders open to over 1 million migrants, most of them fleeing war in the Middle East.

The party`s entry into the national parliament heralds the beginning of a new era in German politics that will see more robust debate and a departure from the steady, consensus-based approach that has marked the post-war period.

The other parties elected to the Bundestag all refuse to work with the AfD, which says it will press for Merkel to be "severely punished" for opening the door to refugees and migrants.

After the AfD hurt her conservatives in regional elections last year, Merkel, a pastor`s daughter who grew up in Communist East Germany, wondered if she should run for re-election.

But with the migrant issue under control this year, she threw herself into a punishing campaign schedule, presenting herself as an anchor of stability in an uncertain world.
Nashville: A woman was killed and at least six people were injured when a gunman opened fire at a church in Nashville on Sunday morning, officials said.

The woman died in the parking lot and medical officials were treating at least six wounded church-goers after the shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, according to the Nashville Police Department.

All but one of the wounded were over 60 years old and were being taken to nearby hospitals, Joseph Pleasant, a Nashville Fire Department spokesman, told Reuters. The gunman was among the wounded, according to Pleasant and the police.

The church is in Antioch, about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of downtown Nashville in Tennessee.

The church`s pastor was shot in the chest and was being treated at a hospital, the WKRN television news channel reported, citing the pastor`s son.
Tokyo: A panda cub born in a Japanese zoo three months ago has been christened "Xiang Xiang" to evoke the image of a blooming flower, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike said on Monday.

After showing a video clip of the baby panda being hugged by proud mum Shin Shin, Koike explained that the name Xiang Xiang  derived from the Chinese character for "fragrance"  was chosen from among more than 320,000 suggestions from the public.

The naming of Xiang Xiang threatened to overshadow strong speculation that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would call a snap election. It provided welcome light relief after weeks of tension over North Korean nuclear tests and missile launches.

Shin Shin gave birth at Tokyo's Ueno zoo on June 12, when Xiang Xiang weighed a fragile 100 grams and was tiny enough to fit into a human palm.

Shin Shin, who mated with Ri Ri in February, had previously given birth in 2012  the zoo's first panda delivery in 24 years  only for the cub to die from pneumonia six days later.

Zookeepers have since given the pandas some private space in a bid to create an environment for the bashful creatures to mate successfully  a notoriously difficult process.

Until recently considered an endangered species, it is estimated that around 2,000 giant pandas remain in the wild, in three provinces in central China.
Berlin: The nationalist alternative for Germany was hit by party infighting Monday, just hours after winning its first seats in parliament, with its co-chief Frauke Petry declaring that she won`t join its Bundestag group.

Citing "dissent" with more hardline colleagues, Petry dropped her bombshell at a morning party press conference, catching other key AfD figures by surprise as she abruptly left the room.

The spectacle played out before the media put the spotlight on the tug-of-war within the party between radical and more moderate forces at the top, and raised questions on how far right it planned to position itself.

Although its beginnings as an anti-euro party were rooted in populism, the AfD`s rhetoric veered further right in the run-up to Sunday`s elections.

Key members challenged Germany`s culture of atonement over World War II and the slaughter of six million Jews in the Holocaust.

It also rolled out provocative posters declaring "Burkas? We prefer bikinis" and "New Germans? Let`s make them ourselves", featuring a heavily pregnant white woman, to push its Islamophobic and anti-migrant campaign.

Outraged mainstream politicians have heaped on criticism, including Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel who had labelled leaders of the party "real Nazis".

But even Petry herself had openly criticised one of her party`s two key candidates Alexander Gauland over his claim that Germany should be proud of its war veterans, saying that would lead voters to shun the party.

On Monday, seated next to Gauland, she declared that "there is dissent in the AfD over the issues".

"I decided after careful reflection that I will not sit with the (AfD) parliamentary group" in the Bundestag, said Petry who added she will serve as an independent MP.

Hours later, four AfD local MPs said they were leaving party ranks and forming their own group in the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Pomerania.

The open squabbling put a damper on the party`s success, and pointed to a potentially rocky future for the party in parliament.Alice Weidel, another top AfD candidate in the election, revealed that Petry had not spoken to either her nor Gauland "for months" even though the duo were the leading faces of the AfD`s campaign.

For now, Weidel and Gauland appear to have prevailed, as they basked in the fact that the party has become Germany`s third biggest political force with 12.6 percent of the vote.

It even came in just on top of Chancellor Angela Merkel`s Christian Democratic Union in the eastern state of Saxony, home of the anti-Islam PEGIDA protest movement, as it lured away voters angry with the arrival in Germany of more than a million asylum seekers since 2015.

Gauland, who had also come under fire from Petry over his vow to "go after" Merkel and her government, stood firm on his tone.

"No one would be surprised in the British parliament if someone said they would go after the government," he said, adding that "of course one must go after a government, go after it in a parliamentary debate."

Gauland also minced no words about his party`s anti-migrant platform, declaring that "we will get our country back."

"I don`t want to lose Germany to an invasion of foreign people from foreign cultures," he vowed.

Reiterating his opposition to double nationality, Gauland took aim at ethnic Turks in Germany, saying he had "little understanding" for those who have German citizenship but who still voted in favour of a referendum in Turkey to increase President Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s powers.

"On that, one can at least ask the question whether these people have really arrived in this country and whether they are really part of the German society," he said.Analysts said breaching such taboos over German identity could well become the norm in the Bundestag with dozens of AfD MPs seated on the opposition benches.

But the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung cautioned against just dismissing the AfD as extremists.

"Nazi smears against the AfD are cheap -- dealing with them in parliament will require a great deal more energy and imagination," it said.

"The other parties must distance themselves from the AfD while endeavouring from day one to win back voters from the AfD," it said, adding that "this is a serious test for German democracy."
Islamabad: Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday returned to the country from the UK to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal.

He was in London to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

Sharif, 67, decided to return after consultations with senior party leaders including his younger brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London, party officials said.

The aircraft carrying him landed here at around 7.30 AM and a confident Sharif came out, waved to his supporters and left in the official protocol, TV news reports showed.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials said that he would stay in Punjab House in Islamabad and hold meetings with party leaders today and tomorrow.

"He (Sharif) would appear before the accountability court tomorrow (September 26) to defend himself in three corruption cases," the officials said.

Sharif stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons  Hassan and Hussain, daughter  Maryam, son-in-law  Safdar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Accountability Court in Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

The anti-graft body last week froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court.

Earlier, Sharif skipped a court hearing last week to defy the cases. His family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated.

Maryam said that Sharif was returning to face cases for the sake of his people.

"Knowing what he faces is not accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about this person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million (Pakistanis)," she said in a tweet.

Sharif last month went to London to see Kulsoom who has undergone three successful surgeries for her cancer.

Kulsoom contested on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won.

Their children are still in London as he prepares to appear before the court in Islamabad tomorrow.

The court has also summoned Maryam, Hussain, Hasan and Safdar but it was not immediately known if they would appear before the court tomorrow.

Meanwhile, finance minister Dar, who also returned from London, appeared today in an anti-corruption court.

The court had issued a bailable arrest warrant against him for failing to appear before it.

Dar's lawyer had deposited surety bonds worth Rs one million to avoid his arrest.

The court, after a brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income.
Pyongyang: A North Korean committee has sent an open letter to several international parliaments condemning the belligerent attitude of US President Donald Trump, a state-media report said on Monday.

The letter sent on Sunday, whose recipients were not disclosed, by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme People`s Assembly (North Korean Parliament) condemned the "ignorant" comments that Trump made in his UN General Assembly speech on September 19, in which he threatened to "totally destroy" Pyongyang and referred to its leader Kim Jong-un as "Rocket Man", the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in the report.

Pyongyang called Trump`s comments an "intolerable insult to the Korean people, a declaration of war against North Korea and grave threats to the global peace", Efe news quoted the report as saying.

"If Trump thinks that he would bring North Korea, a nuclear power to its knees through nuclear war threat, it is a big miscalculation and ignorance," the letter read.

It added that "from the first day of his office, Trump has conducted high-handed and arbitrary practices, scrapping international laws and agreements", giving priority to the US` own interests "at the expense of the whole world", and urged the parliaments to exercise "sharp vigilance" with regard to Washington.

Pyongyang expressed its "belief" that "parliaments of different countries in the world loving independence, peace and justice would take this opportunity to fulfil their due missions and duties", calling on them to be vigilant of the "heinous and reckless moves of the Trump Administration" which is trying to drive the world "into the horrible nuclear disaster".

On Sunday night, Trump announced new travel restrictions for citizens of eight countries including North Korea.
New Delhi: A Russian family has reportedly confessed to killing and eating at least 30 people in a reign of terror which lasted for more than 18 years.

The remains of the victims were stored in a cellar of their house where the couple also took selfies with body parts, the Daily Mail reported.

Police have already found eight body parts and are continuing their search for more human remains to assess the veracity of the confessions, it said.

Dmitry Bakshaev, 35, and his wife Natalia, 42, a nurse, who were part of the cannibal family, have been detained and are being probed.

Natalia is alleged to have confessed to at least 30 cases of killing and cannibalism by the couple.

They stored the remains in a fridge and also preserved them in jars as a pickle, the investigators said.
Moscow: A Russian general was killed while battling Islamic State group militants near the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor, Moscow's defence ministry has said.

"Division general Valeri Assapov was killed when a shell exploded during shelling by IS fighters," the ministry was quoted as saying by local media yesterday, adding that the officer was serving as an advisor to Syrian government troops.

The ministry said Assapov would be posthumously decorated for his service.

Deir Ezzor province, on Syria's eastern border with Iraq, is rich with oil and gas fields that served as a key revenue stream for IS at the peak of its power.

Russia intervened in support of the Damascus government in September 2015 and has been assisting regime forces in an assault on Deir Ezzor from the west.
The Nebraska Children and Families Foundation started a community response project in 2012 to preserve families with local community help.

That project has expanded to 11 coalitions and partnerships that provide help to families in 22 Nebraska counties. In fiscal year 2016-17, about 8,000 children in 2,100 families got direct help.

Monday, Nebraska first lady Susanne Shore brought attention to the local partnerships helping prevent children and families from getting tied up in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

At a news conference, Shore said she has been involved in child welfare for 18 years as a volunteer, a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Omaha and on the boards of agencies.

"Any child in need is not the state's problem, or Washington's problem, or some nameless, faceless agency's issue to deal with," she said. "They're our kids. These are Nebraska kids. And each one of us needs to be part of the solution."

Shore and her husband, Gov. Pete Ricketts, will champion the cause to give it a sense of priority and a name, Bring Up Nebraska, and a presence on the internet, bringupnebraska.org.

"The reason I'm supporting it is because I believe it's the most effective way to get long-term change for our kids and our families in need," she said.

Ashley Ulmer Schmit, a single mom from Lincoln, spoke at the news conference about the help she got from a visiting nurse from Healthy Families America, which promotes child well-being for families in need.

Ongoing weekly visits from the nurse helped Ulmer Schmit and her children by connecting her with community resources and classes. Although the nurse was visiting to help the mom with her newborn, she was also able to recognize Ulmer Schmit's concerns about her 3-year-old's development and help evaluate him for autism and get him help, too.

"She ended up being this invaluable resource to my family," the mom said. "She's amazing. I'm glad she'll be visiting for another two years."

Shore said each community looks at the needs of families and the resources available.

"What we're trying to do is bring a new light to what they're going to accomplish," she said. "The big point for me is that this focuses on prevention. And the best way to do that is for the local communities to assess what they need, and for us, at the state level to help them succeed."
Klungkung: Nearly 35,000 people have been evacuated from near a volcano on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali that officials say is becoming more active and could erupt soon.

Authorities imposed a 12-km exclusion zone around the crater of Mount Agung, as increasing volcanic activity on Sunday sent strong tremors through areas in the eastern part of one of the world`s most popular tourist destinations.

Officials urged the public to remain calm amid false reports and videos circulating online of an eruption.

"The latest analysis indicates that Mount Agung`s seismic energy is increasing and has the potential to erupt," the National Vulcanology Center said in a statement.

"However, no one can predict exactly when there will be an eruption," it added.

Flights at Bali`s international airport were operating normally on Sunday as were tourist spots across the rest of the island.

Thousands of evacuees were being housed in makeshift shelters including town halls and school gyms and tents in villages around the volcano, and authorities expect the numbers to climb.

"The biggest challenge is we can`t predict the number of evacuees," said Putu Widiada, head of the local disaster management agency in Klungkung district.

"If the number of evacuees exceeds our maximum capacity, we have asked that every public hall in the district be prepared to become evacuation camps."

The shelters were well stocked with food, water, blankets and tents.

The National Disaster Management Agency has sent food and logistical supplies to the area, while also calling for public donations.

Many residents are still making daytime trips to their homes and life is largely continuing as normal in the area.

Indonesia has nearly 130 active volcanoes, more than any other country. Many Indonesians live near volcanoes because lava flows can make the surrounding soil and land fertile for farming.
Erbil/Sulaimaniya: Kurds voted in large numbers in an independence referendum in northern Iraq on Monday, ignoring pressure from Baghdad, threats from Turkey and Iran, and international warnings that the vote may ignite yet more regional conflict.

The vote organised by Kurdish authorities is expected to deliver a comfortable "yes" for independence, but is not binding. However, it is designed to give Masoud Barzani, who heads the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a mandate to negotiate the secession of the oil-producing region.

Turnout among 5.2 million eligible voters was 78 percent, the Kurdish Rudaw TV station said, and vote counting had started. Final results are expected within 72 hours.

Voters were asked to say yes or no to the question: "Do you want the Kurdistan Region and Kurdistani areas outside the (Kurdistan) Region to become an independent country?"

For Iraqi Kurds - part of the largest ethnic group left stateless when the Ottoman empire collapsed a century ago - the referendum offered a historic opportunity despite intense international pressure to call it off.

"We have seen worse, we have seen injustice, killings and blockades," said Talat, waiting to vote in the regional capital of Erbil, as a group of smiling women, in colourful Kurdish dress, emerged from the school showing their fingers stained with ink, a sign that they cast their ballot.

At Sheikh Amir village, near the Peshmerga front lines west of Erbil, long lines of Kurdish fighters waited to vote at a former school. Most emerged smiling, holding up ink-marked fingers.

In the ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk, Kurds sang and danced as they flocked to polling stations.

Opposition to the vote simmered among the Arabs and Turkmen who live alongside the Kurds in the northern Iraqi city and there were rumours that the vote would not take place in mixed areas. Officials later ordered an overnight curfew.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered security services "to protect citizens being threatened and coerced" in the Kurdish region, after unconfirmed reports that Arabs in a small town in eastern Iraq were compelled to vote yes. Kurdish officials say no such coercion happened.

The Kurds also say the vote acknowledges their contribution in confronting Islamic State after it overwhelmed the Iraqi army in 2014 and seized control of a third of Iraq.

But with 30 million ethnic Kurds scattered across the region - mainly in Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria - Tehran and Ankara fear the spread of separatism to their own Kurdish populations.

President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey could cut off the pipeline that carries oil from northern Iraq to the outside world, piling more pressure on the Kurds.

"After this, let`s see through which channels the northern Iraqi regional government will send its oil, or where it will sell it," Erdogan said in Istanbul. "We have the tap. The moment we close the tap, then it`s done."

The Iraqi army started "major manoeuvres" with the Turkish army at the border, the Iraqi defence ministry said, outlining coordinated measures by the two countries against the Kurds in retaliation for the referendum.

Turkey later took the Rudaw TV channel off its satellite service TurkSat, a Turkish broadcasting official told Reuters.

The U.S. State Department warned the Kurds last week that "holding the referendum in disputed areas is particularly provocative and destabilising".

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning told reporters on Monday: "We hope that it does not become a distraction and take away the focus on destroying ISIS (Islamic State) and beyond that obviously this (is) an issue for Iraq, you know, they are going to have to sort that out."

The referendum was held not only in the Kurdish autonomous region of Iraq, but also in areas in the north of the country where Kurdish forces have advanced against Islamic State. These areas also have large non-Kurdish populations.

Turkey said it did not recognise the referendum and would view its outcome as null and void, adding that the Iraqi Kurdish government was threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and the whole region.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said his government was evaluating possible punitive steps regarding its border with northern Iraq and air space in response to the vote.

Erdogan said traffic was only being allowed to cross from the Turkish side of the border into Kurdish areas of Iraq.

Ankara`s forces are again fighting a Kurdish insurgency in Turkey following the collapse of a peace process.

Iran announced a ban on direct flights to and from Kurdistan on Sunday, while Baghdad asked foreign countries to stop direct oil trading with the Kurdish region and demanded that the KRG hand over control of its international airports and border posts with Iran, Turkey and Syria.

Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military adviser to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, said Iran regarded the referendum as "treason" against the Iraqi Kurds.

"Iran has blocked air traffic to this region but we are hopeful that the four neighbouring countries will block the land borders with Iraq too," he was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

Tehran supports Shi`ite Muslim groups who have been ruling or holding security and government positions in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion which toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Syria, embroiled in a devastating civil war and whose Kurds are pressing ahead with their own self-determination, rejected the referendum.

Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barxani said he hoped to maintain good relations with Turkey and the referendum was not a threat to Ankara.

"The referendum does not mean independence will happen tomorrow, nor are we redrawing borders," he said in Erbil. "If the `Yes` vote wins, we will resolve our issues with Baghdad peacefully."

Opposition to the vote emerged among non-Kurdish populations in areas disputed by the KRG and Baghdad, mainly the oil-rich region of Kirkuk.

"Iraq is against the Kurds, so are the Turks, the Iranians, the whole Arab region and Europe. They are going to live in a cage," said Mohammed Mahdi al-Bayati, a Shi`ite Turkmen and a local leader of the Iranian-backed Badr Organisation paramilitary group in Tuz Khurmato, south of Kirkuk.

In Sulaimaniya, a centre for political groups opposed to Barzani, queues at polling stations were shorter than in Erbil. There were fewer billboards celebrating the referendum, reflecting resentment that a yes vote could be seen as a plebiscite for the Kurdish leader.

"I will not vote, the referendum is not good, and it could be dangerous because of the threat from Turkey and Iran," said a shop owner in Sulaimaniya, Ali Ahmed.
United Nations/Beijing/Seoul: North Korea's foreign minister said on Monday that President Donald Trump had declared war on North Korea and that Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down US bombers even if they are not in its airspace.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country," Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters in New York.

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to take countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country," Ri said.

"The question of who won`t be around much longer will be answered then," Ri said in a direct reference to a Twitter post by Trump on Saturday.

The increasingly heated rhetoric between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is raising fears of a risk of a miscalculation by one side or the other that could have massive repercussions.

China called on Monday for all sides in the North Korea missile crisis to show restraint and not "add oil to the flames."

Ri told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after "Mr Evil President" Trump called Kim a "rocket man" on a suicide mission.

"Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won`t be around much longer!" Trump said on Twitter on Saturday.

North Korea, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programmes in defiance of international condemnation and economic sanctions, said it "bitterly condemned the reckless remarks" of Trump. They were an "intolerable insult to the Korean people" and a declaration of war, the North`s official news agency said on Monday.

Pyongyang accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies. The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with North Korea because the 1950s conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

U.S. Treasury yields fell to session lows after Ri`s comments on Monday.

`DERANGED`

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim described Trump as a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard" whom he would tame with fire.

Kim said North Korea would consider the "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history" against the United States and that Trump`s comments had confirmed his nuclear programme was "the correct path".

Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address last Tuesday to "totally destroy" the country of 26 million people if North Korea threatened the United States or its allies.

Asked how concerned China was the war of words between Trump and North Korea could get out of control, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described the situation as highly complex and sensitive.

It was vitally important everyone strictly, fully and correctly implemented all North Korea related U.N. resolutions, Lu said, resolutions which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

All sides should "not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present", Lu told a daily news briefing.

"We hope all sides do not continue doing things to irritate each other and should instead exercise restraint."

Speaking to British Prime Minister Theresa May by telephone, Chinese President Xi Jinping repeated Beijing`s position that the North Korean issue should be resolved peacefully via talks, state media said.

China hopes Britain can play a constructive role in easing the situation and pushing for a resumption in talks, Xi said. May, like some other U.S. allies, has pushed for China to do more on North Korea.

Downing Street said the two leaders agreed there was a particular responsibility for China and Britain, as permanent Security Council members, to help find a diplomatic solution.

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear bomb test on Sept. 3. Pyongyang said on Friday it might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

While China has been angered by North Korea`s repeated nuclear and missile tests, it has also called for the United States and its allies to help lessen tension by dialling back their military drills.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on Saturday in a show of force the Pentagon said indicated the range of military options available to Trump.

In response to a question about the exercises, Chinese spokesman Lu said: "A continued rise in tensions on the peninsula, I believe, is not in the interests of any side."

Wang Jingdong, president of the world`s largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), told reporters during a briefing the bank will "strictly implement U.N. Security Council decisions related to North Korea and carefully fulfil relevant international responsibility".

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said his decision to call a snap election would not distract his government from responding to North Korean threats.
Damascus: The US has sent large shipments of military gears to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to help them in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria`s, the SDF said on Sunday.

The large quantities of weapons aim to help the SDF in their fight to completely clear Raqqa from IS, said the group.

Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS, is almost liberated and people started returning to their homes, Xinhua reported.

On Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said the SDF fighters were mopping up the last IS holdouts in Raqqa.

The Observatory, which says it relies on a network of activists on ground, said the IS had lost its main stronghold in Syria by losing Raqqa to the Kurdish-led SDF, adding that the remaining IS fighters are hiding in basements and underground shelters in the city centre.

The anticipated victory comes following a 110-day battle by the SDF and allied fighters to drive out IS from Raqqa, which the terror-designated group self-declared as its capital in 2014.

The SDF fighters, backed by US special forces, are combing the city to defuse the bombs left by IS, said the Observatory.

The London-based watchdog also said the SDF will declare the full capture of Raqqa once the city is fully cleared of IS militants.

According to the monitor group, 80 per cent of the city has been destroyed, and about 3,100 including IS militants have been killed during the months-long offensives in the city.
News

Facebook Relents to Developer Pressure, Relicenses React

The open source licensing issue that threatened to derail the popular React JavaScript library has been resolved, with Facebook agreeing to relicense the project without a controversial patent grant.

Facing backlash from individual developers and companies alike -- many of whom vowed to discontinue using React -- Facebook reversed a decision to issue React and other popular software under a "BSD + Patents" license that it enacted in an attempt to avoid "meritless" patent litigation.

To that aim, Facebook introduced the patent grant to its open source BSD license, creating the "BSD + Patents" license.

"The patent grant says that if you're going to use the software we've released under it, you lose the patent license from us if you sue us for patent infringement," Facebook Engineering's Adam Wolff said in an Aug. 18 blog post. "We believe that if this license were widely adopted, it could actually reduce meritless litigation for all adopters, and we want to work with others to explore this possibility."

However, the Apache Software Foundation (ASF), a main player in the open source space, subsequently ruled that the BSD + Patents license would not be accepted in Apache products. As those products include a vast array of software, that was a huge blow to React and other projects.

The ASF said:

The Facebook BSD + Patents license includes a specification of a PATENTS file that passes along risk to downstream consumers of our software imbalanced in favor of the licensor, not the licensee, thereby violating our Apache legal policy of being a universal donor. The terms of Facebook BSD+Patents license are not a subset of those found in the ALv2, and they cannot be sublicensed as ALv2.

Facebook dug in its heels against the ASF decision, which came shortly before a major new release of React, called React 16, featuring a big tech rewrite of core technology nicknamed "React Fiber." The licensing kerfuffle served as a distraction from the new React 16, whose impending official release is just days away.

"We won't be changing our default license or React's license at this time," said Wolff, who apologized "for the amount of thrash, confusion, and uncertainty this has caused the React and open source communities." Furthermore, he said, "We know this is painful, especially for teams that feel like they're going to need to rewrite large parts of their project to remove React or other dependencies."

One developer in that camp is Matt Mullenweg -- the main guy behind the popular WordPress platform -- who threatened to redo project Gutenberg, a "block editor" from the WordPress community designed "to make adding rich content to WordPress simple and enjoyable."

"The Gutenberg team is going to take a step back and rewrite Gutenberg using a different library," Mullenweg said in a Sept. 14 post. "It will likely delay Gutenberg at least a few weeks, and may push the release into next year."

Other companies and developers weighed in with similar thoughts, though some developers seemed confused about the technical aspects of the patents grant and what real-world effect the BSD + Patents license would actually have on their operations.

"Well my company is shying away from react now ... this is sad," said one Reddit commenter about the impending release of React 16. The reader attributed the problem to "some open source issue." Other readers said they or their companies were also rethinking the use of React, though others reported their legal teams had approved the continued use of React, anticipating no litigation problems.

And the debate about the open source licensing brouhaha continued on multiple forums.

On Friday -- exactly five weeks after Wolff's post -- Facebook changed its mind.

"Next week, we are going to relicense our open source projects React, Jest, Flow, and Immutable.js under the MIT license," Wolff said in a new post. "We're relicensing these projects because React is the foundation of a broad ecosystem of open source software for the Web, and we don't want to hold back forward progress for nontechnical reasons."

That move pleased several companies and developers, including Mullenweg.

"I am surprised and excited to see the news that Facebook is going to drop the patent clause that I wrote about last week," Mullenweg said in a new post yesterday. "They've announced that with React 16 the license will just be regular MIT with no patent addition. I applaud Facebook for making this move, and I hope that patent clause use is re-examined across all their open source projects."

Some were glad to see the licensing issue resolved, so developers can get back to worrying about development, including Wolff.

"We'll include the license updates with React 16's release next week," he concluded in Friday's post. "We've been working on React 16 for over a year, and we've completely rewritten its internals in order to unlock powerful features that will benefit everyone building user interfaces at scale. We'll share more soon about how we rewrote React, and we hope that our work will inspire developers everywhere, whether they use React or not. We're looking forward to putting this license discussion behind us and getting back to what we care about most: shipping great products."

For those interested in more details about the case, an exhaustive Hacker News thread provides plenty of fodder.

Among other things, the thread brings into question the fate of other Facebook-sponsored open source projects that weren't included in the relicensing that affects React, Jest, Flow and Immutable.js. That includes React Native, a young, popular approach building upon React that puts JavaScript to work in the same way, except for building native iOS and Android apps.

One Hacker News reader said:

ReasonML - https://github.com/facebook/reason/blob/master/PATENTS.txt

GraphQL - https://github.com/graphql/graphql-js/blob/master/PATENTS

react-native - https://github.com/facebook/react-native/blob/master/PATENTS

PlanOut - https://github.com/facebook/planout/blob/master/PATENTS

Flow - https://github.com/facebook/flow/blob/master/PATENTS

Haxl - https://github.com/facebook/Haxl/blob/master/PATENTS

Flux - https://github.com/facebook/flux/blob/master/PATENTS

"So which FB project still have a BSD+patents license. I count:

So stay tuned for more open source licensing debate.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenia restaurant presenting Armenian cuisine operates in Pattaya - one of the cities on Thailands eastern Gulf coast known for its beaches, since 2007.

Everything started several years ago when owners of the current restaurant decided to go to Thailand for a rest. Vitali and Arayik Muradyan and Karen Serobyan visited Pattaya  a city which every year hosts millions of tourists from different countries of the world. It hosts more tourists than its own population within a year. Armenians made a decision to establish a joint restaurant which will be called Armenia.

The restaurant opened in March 2007. Before that, significant preparation works have been carried out. Cooks were invited from Armenia who worked with the already formed professional team, a serious advertisement campaign was held in the city. Initially, the main targets were the tourists from the CIS countries, mainly from Russia majority of whom were aware of the Armenian cuisine. For most of them it was enough to read the name of the restaurant  Armenia. The visitors can taste Armenian dolma, yogurt, lavash and etc. The restaurant owners, however, are not limited with this, they try to attract tourists from different countries as well. They also include dishes representing other countries cuisines in the menu.

The owners told ARMENPRESS that there was a period when there was a queue outside the restaurant, many were waiting until there was a free place to sit. Taking account this activeness, the owners decided to increase the number of Armenia restaurants. Being in Pattaya, visiting Armenia restaurant it becomes clear that it is not just a business. From the entrance one can see the items symbolizing Armenia. Armenians are less among the visitors. If there are Armenians, they are mainly from Russia.

Several years ago when the situation changed in Russia for political reasons, which was followed by economic sanctions and depreciation of Ruble, the flow of tourists from Russia to Pattaya sharply decreased. This affected both hotels and restaurants. At the moment there are two Armenia restaurants in Pattaya. Despite difficulties, the owners maintain it by trying to attract more tourists. Today there are Europeans, Chinese among the visitors.

The restaurant owners say they are going to give new impetus to the restaurant and enrich the menu. It not only ensures the Armenian presence in Pattaya, but also became a unique meeting place for the local Armenians. Over 20 Armenians living in Pattaya regularly visit the restaurant celebrating various events, meeting with each other or just tasting Armenian dishes.

Anna Gziryan

Pattaya-Yerevan
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Lieutenant-General Valery Asapov, of the Russian armed forces, has been killed after coming under shelling from Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants near Deir ez-Zor, the Russian Defense Ministry has announced, RT reported.

In its statement, the ministry said that Asapov was at a command outpost manned by Syrian troops, assisting commanders in the liberation of the city of Deir ez-Zor.

Asapov has been described as one of the senior Russian military advisers in Syria.

"As a result of a sudden mortar shelling by IS militants, Lieutenant-General Valery Asapov was fatally wounded by an exploding shell, the MoD said.

In recognition of his services, Lieutenant-General Asapov is to be presented with a state decoration posthumously.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Embassy in Lebanon on September 23 organized a reception in Beiruts Kempinski Summerland hotels events hall dedicated to the 26th anniversary of Armenias Independence, press service of the Armenian foreign ministry told Armenpress.

The event was attended by Lebanese Presidents representative, state minister Nicolas Tueni, representatives of the Lebanese prime minister and parliament speaker, spiritual leaders, ambassadors accredited in Beirut and representatives of diplomatic corps, current and former members of the Lebanese government and parliament, Army generals, UNIFIL servicemen, heads of different structures of Armenian community, businessmen and numerous other guests.

Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Samvel Mkrtchyan delivered welcoming remarks at the event presenting Armenias achievements over the past 26 years and the governments programs aimed at countrys further development in different spheres. The Ambassador touched upon the reforms made in the economic field over the past year which were directed towards creating predictable and favorable investment environment, ensuring free access to broader economic markets.

In his remarks on Armenias foreign policy, the Ambassador presented the countrys main foreign policy priorities and the existing problems, as well as the ongoing efforts aimed at solving them. He also highlighted with satisfaction the fact of relations between Armenia and Lebanon which are developing and strengthening for 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties on March 4, 1992 and outlined the steps aimed at further deepening them.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government has designed and implemented a reasonable fiscal policy in 2017, which is proved by the response of international structures towards this policy, Armenias finance minister Vardan Aramyan told a press conference on September 25.

As you know, weve been in a serious crisis for two years 2014-2015, during this time the indicator of our foreign debt increased by 13%. If we were to continue increasing the debt in the subsequent years, naturally it would be followed by a negative response of international structures, the investors in our bonds, however we succeeded in designing and implementing a fiscal policy in 2017 which ensured positive trends, the minister said.

He stressed that Moodys, Fitch and the IMF responded positively to this fiscal policy.

This proves that our actions were effective, and we succeeded in overcoming the difficulties which had appeared after the crisis and we were able to stabilize the situation, he said.
HARTINGTON  Randolph mayor Dwayne Schutt has pleaded not guilty to four counts of child sexual abuse and one of intentional child abuse.

Court records say Schutt, 61, entered the pleas Monday in Cedar County District Court in Hartington. The judge scheduled a pretrial conference for Nov. 27. The records don't show that a trial date has been set.

Schutt has been mayor of Randolph since 2011. The Cedar County city has about 940 residents.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Plenty impressions, new discoveries, unforgettable faces: this is how Lithuanian blogger Stanislav Gorbunov characterized his visit to Armenia and Artsakh.

The blogger mentioned in his article that right now is the time to hurry and visit Artsakh, as long as the international tourism industry isnt yet greatly interested with this region.

The blogger was mostly impressed with the nature, picturesque sites, ancient history and mountainous monasteries.

Anyhow, in my opinion the most interesting in this all are the local people. I was admired by their joy, kindness and readiness to interact. We had the chance to meet numerous interesting people in the city streets, markets and remote villages. They were very photogenic and unique, he said.

The blogger also published the photos.

Stanislav Gorbunov pointed out the hospitality of the locals

We had the chance to be present at the Wine Festival in the village of Togh. Tourists from all around the world were there. It seems the black-list didnt intimidate them, he said.

Despite all the difficulties the Artsakhis went through, they remain kind and happy, the blogger said.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenias government carried out significant reforms in the public procurement sector in 2017 which simplified the procurement process, ensured transparency and competitiveness, finance minister Vardan Aramyan told reporters at a press conference on September 25, reports Armenpress.

In December 2016 the Parliament adopted the new law on Procurement which entered into force in 2017. As a result the procurement forms have decreased, the procedure organization and participation conditions have been simplified, the possibility of overloading the participants with formal requirements has been ruled out, the minister said.

He added that an effective and independent procurement appeal system has been formed taking into account the international experience. In order to increase the transparency and publicity level of procurement processes, preventing possible corruption cases, as well as increasing the level of civilian control over other processes, a system excluding simultaneous participation of persons affiliated to the procurement processes has been installed, he said.

An Internet-based procurement accountability program has also been introduced which enables the concerned persons to receive complete information on the procurement processes, as well as make analysis through a flexible search system.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Director of the Caucasus Institute, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan doesnt expect any serious change in the current situation over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

He said although the border tension has decreased compared to the previous year, it still exists, and its difficult to say whether there would not be new military operations.

The Karabakh conflict is not in the stage where any serious progress can be expected. We know that the Minsk Group deals with restraining violence in the border, rather than in settling the conflict. And the talks on monitorings, investigative and control mechanisms are directed towards restraining violence, but not settling the conflict, he told reporters, Armenpress reports.

Commenting on the process of talks, the political scientist said it must be maintained since it is necessary. Its just necessary to show that the settlement process continues, he said.

On September 23 in New York the meeting between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov took place, which was attended by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, Stephane Visconti and Andrew Schofer, as well as Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. During the meeting issues related to the organization of the upcoming meeting of Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan were discussed. It was agreed that the Minsk Group Co-Chairs will visit the region in October.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Eurasian Economic Commission and Jordan signed a memorandum of cooperation on September 20 in Amman. The memorandum was signed by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply of Jordan Yaroub Qudah and Minister in charge of Integration and macroeconomics of the EEC Tatyana Valovaya during a meeting in the Jordanian capital.

The Jordanian minister said the signing of the memorandum was a long-awaited event in the history of relations between EEU member countries and Jordan.

This is our first framework document in the Jordan-EEU format, with which we laid the foundation for a new phase of cooperation, Qudah said.

Yaroub Qudah said Jordan is not only ready to increase commercial turnover with EEU member states, but also to discuss the possibilities of deepening economic integration and launching joint industries.

A task force for partnership between the EEU and the Jordanian government will be created to execute the memorandum. The first session of the task force is planned to be held in May 2018 in Moscow.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The main phase of the Dragon 2017 NATO massive military exercises will kick off today in Poland.

The general command of Polands Armed Forces said the wargames will be held in various training facilities in the country.

Today the important event will be the loading of the RBS 15 mk3 missilies on ships and the operation of missile frigates in the sea, authorities told TASS.

The military exercises officially began on September 20. 3,5 thousand units of equipment and 17 thousand soldiers participate in the drills.

The Dragon 17 wargames were launched in Zegrze near Warsaw, RT reported.

Despite being a national exercise, the Polish authorities invited troops from NATO member states  the US, UK, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, as well as Georgia and Ukraine, which are seeking to join the bloc  to take part.

The drills will also see Polands new Territorial Defense Forces, which prepare civilians to assist the military, participating for the first time.

Polish Deputy Defense Minister Michal Dworczyk told Radio Poland that the drills were aimed at testing cooperation between the Polish military and NATO forces.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Armenias Parliament Ara Babloyan arrived in Georgia on official visit on September 25, press service of the parliament told Armenpress.

The Armenian delegation includes MPs Armen Ashotyan, Armen Rustamyan, Vardevan Grigoryan and Lena Nazaryan.

The delegation members met with Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze. During the meeting the Armenian Parliament Speaker thanked for the warm reception and said the Armenian Parliaments official visit to Georgia will give new impetus to further strengthening the bilateral inter-state ties and inter-parliamentary partnership.

Speaker Babloyan in particular noted that the Armenian leadership attaches great importance to the development and expansion of cooperation with Georgia since the very first days of the restoration of independence. In the relations with each other we have always been guided by one true principle: there are no unresolved issues between us. He expressed hope that the productive cooperation will continue in future as well. He proposed to his Georgian counterpart to make more frequent the cooperation of the two parliaments in the formats of mutual visits, joint discussions.

The Georgian Parliament Chairman, speaking about the Armenian-Georgian relations, said although this year marks the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the Armenian-Georgian friendship has a history of centuries. Irakli Kobakhidze assured that the Georgian all parliamentary forces have the same stance according to which the relations with Armenia should be friendly and steps must be taken to further strengthen them. He introduced to his Armenian partners on the main directions of ongoing reforms in Georgia.

The officials also discussed economic, social, cultural, educational and other issues.

After the meeting Ara Babloyan and the parliamentary delegation visited the Square of Heroes fallen for Georgias territorial integrity.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenias national cinema center and Irans Farabi Cinema Foundation signed a cooperation agreement on September 25 in the Armenian culture ministry in Yerevan.

From the Armenian side, the document was ratified by Shushanik Mirzakhanyan, director of Armenias national cinema center, and from the Iranian side  Alireza Tabesh, director of the Farabi Foundation.

Both sides expressed hope that the agreement will contribute to the development of new cinema processes.

According to Mirzakhanyan, the new document enables to expand and enhance the long-lasting Iran-Armenia cultural cooperation.

Tabesh said the agreement will open a new chapter for partnership between the filmmaking sectors of the countries.

The document has numerous directions for cooperation, ranging from script development up to post-production, distribution of films, educational programs, formation of Armenian-Iranian film market, development of festival partnership and others.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory message to Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel on Christian Democrats Unions victory in the parliamentary elections, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

President Sargsyan expressed confidence that under her wise governance, the friendly people of Germany shall continue along the path of development and progress, while the country will strengthen its position on the international arena.

The German citizens vote of confidence to the CDU is a vivid evidence of peoples strong trust in the Christian Democrats Union and the effectiveness of its political, economic and social policies implemented over the past years.

During your tenure of office, the agenda of the Armenian-German partnership has been developing dynamically, adding a new relish to political dialogue, activating reciprocated high-profile visits, expanding and deepening economic, humanitarian, inter-parliamentary and decentralized ties.

An important achievement for us is that Germany is today one of the most reliable and stable partners of Armenia, supportive of democratic processes in our country and advocating the furtherance of EU-Armenia cooperation.

I am keen to see the consistent development of inter-party ties, especially on the margins of the European Peoples Party, the value system of which is shared by the Republican Party of Armenia and the Christian Democrats Union of Germany.

I am hopeful that during the forthcoming session of the Bundestag the Armenian-German cooperation will be expanded and replenished with new mutually beneficial programs for the welfare of our peoples.

Excellency, reiterating my congratulations on the victory of the CDU party, I wish you every success and new achievements in your activities, reads the Presidents congratulatory message.
Russian border guards of Artashats checkpoint arrested an unidentified man who illegally crossed the Armenian-Turkish border in the Yeraskh section.

The border guard service of Russias FSB told ARMENPRESS the man attempted to use a special device to disable the alarm system. The trespasser didnt have any ID on him upon arrest and did not show any resistance. He tried to cross the border through an underpass designed for wild animals.

According to the trespasser, he is a 32-year-old Iranian citizen. The National Security Service of Armenia is currently clarifying the identity of the trespasser. This is the second border crossing attempt in a week.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenian delegates must be ready to counter Azerbaijan at any platform and format, Mane Tandilyan  Yelk faction MP, member of the Armenian delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, told reporters on September 25, reports Armenpress.

She visited Baku together with chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs Armen Ashotyan to take part in the session of the Euronest PA from September 21 to 23.

Azerbaijani media were actively working, and the Armenian delegation was in particular in the spotlight of everyone. Our delegation made a decision to take part in that session, and I think it was quite a right decision. I was more convinced on that when I saw how they were trying to turn that session into an anti-Armenian propaganda. I understood that we should not in general miss any chance and platform to present Armenia since the Azerbaijani side is actively working on the anti-Armenian propaganda. We should understand that they will use any international platform for gradually reaching success. This session also could turn into such platform if our responses and stance were not restraining factors, the MP said.

She said the war situation continues, and it exists in each platform. One must visit Baku to understand in what atmosphere he/she is and acts. They have received a proper response to questions out of agenda, and we managed to stop the actions which were gradually turning into anti-Armenian ones. We had also talks with our European partners, and they also stated that Azerbaijan tries to make each occasion an anti-Armenian one or strives to that, Mane Tandilyan said, adding that she is ready to visit everywhere and present Armenia, especially in Baku.
On Sept. 14, United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos joined me for a tour of St. Marys Catholic School in downtown Lincoln.

She talked with teachers and administrators. She took the time to read with enthusiastic students. She was greeted in each classroom the same way all visitors are, by a room full of children who looked her in the eye and said Good morning. God bless you.

While she was visiting, Secretary DeVos learned that many of St. Marys students come from families of refugees and immigrants. She learned that a dozen different languages are spoken in the homes of St. Mary's students. She learned that more than 50 percent of St. Marys students live in poverty, and qualify for free and reduced lunch programs.

She learned that many of our students have learning challenges and real special education needs. She learned that St. Marys students consistently outperform their peers on standardized tests, and graduate ready for high school, and eagerly look forward to college.

She also learned about St. Marys partnership with Ec3 Academy, a private nonprofit that employs University of Nebraska-Lincoln students to provide one-on-one tutoring in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM. St. Marys was the first school in Lincoln to open its doors to the program, and participating students have seen their test results and overall confidence dramatically improve.

St. Marys does all of this extraordinary work without the benefit of financial and personnel resources available to Nebraskas public schools. St. Marys teachers, all of whom are appropriately licensed and credentialed, earn a fraction of what their counterparts in public school earn.

St. Marys humble facilities, across the street from our State Capitol, are maintained only through the donations of hard-working Catholics who care about the impact of Catholic education and also pay taxes to support public schools.

There are more than 28,000 students in Catholic schools across Nebraska. Many come from tiny farming communities, and from struggling urban neighborhoods. A large number come from single-parent families, from foster care and from Nebraskas immigrant and refugee communities.

Our students come from all faiths and from no faith. Sometimes they come to our schools hungry, with learning disabilities or without the money for school supplies. Catholic school students come from all corners of Nebraska, and we welcome them, through the generosity and support of Catholic families.

We do not educate our students because they are Catholic. We educate them because we are Catholic.

Our schools are not for the elite. The Gospel -- and the long history of Catholic schools in Nebraska -- compels us to open our doors to as many students as possible, regardless of their ability to pay.

Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Steve Joel told reporters last week that Nebraska is a choice state. Students can attend any school they want to -- and do." Of course, every state is a choice state, but the thousands of students who come to our schools come only through the generosity of Nebraskans who care about Catholic education.

Because these supporters have limited financial resources, hundreds, if not thousands, of more students are not able to attend the school of their familys choice. Just look at the example of Childrens Scholarship Fund in Omaha, which provides private-school scholarships to nearly 2,000 students a year -- but has to turn away hundreds of more students annually for lack of funds.

Currently, the Legislature is considering LB 295, which would authorize tax credits for donations to nonprofits that have the sole focus of providing private-school scholarships for low-income students.

These credits would take no money from the public-school funding model. They merely incentivize private donations to help more families choose the school that is best for their children.

Parochial schools do not wish to compete with our public schools. Nor do we have the resources to do so. But we believe that parents who want to choose parochial schools should have a real chance to do so.

We believe that our funding models should focus most on whats best for children, not whats best for teachers unions and public school administrators. We believe that all Nebraskans want whats best for our children. Supporting real school choice helps make that a reality.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenian rescue crews of the ministry of emergency situations are participating in the September 24-30 NATO international field exercises in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The exercises, titled Bosnia and Herzegovina 2017, have been organized by NATOs Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC).

30 countries are participating in the 18th international field exercises.

The Armenian delegation consists of 22 rescuers, who represent the rescuer force and civil protection and elimination of disaster consequences department of the Rescue Service, the Disaster Medical Center, the special rescue detachment and Shiraks regional rescue department.

The scenario of the exercise is a theoretical flooding of rivers in north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina due to heavy rainfalls, which resulted in a collapse danger of dams, and nearby settlements are threatened with floods. According to the scenario, the floods are followed by an earthquake, leading to casualties.

In 2010, this exercise was held in Armenia.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Russia is among the largest tourism markets for Armenia and there is a need to carry out daily works aimed at increasing Armenias recognition there, Ara Khzmalyan  director of the Tourism Development Fund of Armenia, told a press conference in Armenpress, summarizing the results of  2017 annual international expo in Moscow.

Most of the state program focuses on marketing activities that aim at correctly positioning Armenia in all domains. In general, our country doesnt appear on the internet with favorable features, whereas we have many attractions, advantages compared to numerous other countries. Today our main task is to inform about these advantages, Ara Khzmalyan said.

He highlighted the fact that this year Russian citizens can already visit Armenia with internal passports, but few know about it. Our task is to inform the citizens about this opportunity, and this is a major impetus to choose Armenia. I was talking to a group of Russian tourists, they said they were informed about the internal passports via the internet and arrived in Armenia. They said it became a serious reason to choose Armenia, Ara Khzmalyan added.

He said despite shortcomings, many leave Armenia with positive impressions and the promise to return to Armenia. He said peoples hospitality, humanism and the significant effort of the private sector also play a key role.

Commenting on the  2017 annual international expo, Ara Khzmalyan said the concrete results, the contracts signed, the agreements reached will be clear after the participating tour-operators present their reports.

Our task is to provide complete information about Armenia, comprehensively present all directions  adventure tourism, cooking culture, museums, historical-cultural sites. Our goal is fill the information gap, Khzmalyan said.

Ara Khzmalyans delegation departed for Moscow on September 18 to take part in the  2017 expo. The Center for Strategic Initiatives and the Tourism Development Fund of Armenia have conducted Lets Armenia large-scale campaign throughout Russia with the assistance of the State Tourism Committee.

Within the frames of closed-format event, 14 leading tour specialists from Armenia presented the countrys main tour destinations within 30 minutes.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenias foreign debt will increase by over 400 million USD by the end of 2017, comprising 5.4 billion USD, finance minister Vardan Aramyan told reporters at a press conference on September 25, reports Armenpress.

The foreign debt, including the debt of the Central Bank, was 4.8 billion USD as of late 2016.By the end of this year we will have an increase of foreign debt by over 400 million USD and that of domestic debt by over 30 million USD. Based on the 2017 results, Armenias foreign debt will comprise over 5.4 billion USD, and the domestic debt  1 billion 269 million USD, the finance minister said.

The minister said in this case it is right to look at the debt-GDP ratio than to nominal figures. It is a global rule to follow the relative figures, Aramyan said.

He added that by the end of 2016, Armenias overall foreign debt, including the CBAs debt, comprised 56.6% in the GDP. By the end of this year this figure will approach to over 58.8%.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Despite Turkeys efforts, Armenias proposal to respect the socio-cultural traditions of national minorities and indigenous peoples and recognize their values and rights has been accepted at the UN.

Summarizing the results of the 22nd session of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly, Mekhak Apresyan  Vice President of the State Tourism Committee, told a press conference in Armenpress that during the session a special committee was formed to discuss the draft convention on Ethnics of Tourism which was joined also by the Armenian delegation. As a result of discussions provisions insisted by the Armenian delegation on respecting the socio-cultural traditions of national minorities and indigenous peoples and recognizing their values and rights were involved in the draft convention.

The Turkish delegation insisted to remove the provision of recognizing the rights of national minorities from the article 4th of the draft convention, as well as not to include the provision of promotion of human rights of national minorities and indigenous peoples in the Article 5th. The Armenian delegation stated in its remarks that in all communities the local people, regardless of the political situation, have a right to present their culture and tourism opportunities. After our remarks, the issue was put up to voting and our proposal was accepted, Mekhak Apresyan said.

On the sidelines of the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly, the Armenian delegation had several meetings with tourism heads of other countries, ministers, discussed the tourism opportunities. Armenias proposal to form tourism result in the Silk Road was also reaffirmed. Apresyan also informed that they met with Chinese media representatives. A Chinese reporter has been invited to Armenia to get acquainted with the countrys tourism opportunities.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani discussed the situation around the Iranian nuclear program, outlined the importance of full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during a phone conversation, the Kremlin press service said, reports TASS.

During the exchange of views on settling the situation around the Iranian nuclear program the sides noted the importance of full implementation of the JCPOA as an important factor for ensuring regional stability and security, the press service said in a statement.

The sides also discussed vital issues of bilateral cooperation in various areas and cooperation in Russia-Iran-Azerbaijan format. The leaders agreed to maintain contacts.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Russian and Turkish Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed in a telephone conversation to meet in Ankara on September 28.

"It has been decided [during the two leaders conversation] to continue exchange of opinions on the regional and bilateral agenda during a working meeting in Ankara on September 28 this year," the Kremlin press service reported.

Russia and Turkey believe it is important to further coordinate efforts on Syria, where the setting up of four de-escalation zones opens the way for peace.

The leaders discussed in detail the Syrian issue including in the light of positive results of the sixth international meeting in Astana on September 14-15. "It was emphasized that the setting up of four de-escalation zones in the Syrian Arab Republic opens the way for ending a civil war and for a political settlement of the crisis on the basis of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country," the report said. "The importance of further close coordination of efforts by Russia and Turkey on the Syrian trajectory was emphasized," it added.
YEREVAN, 25 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 25 September, USD exchange rate is down by 0.41 drams to 477.89 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 6.13 drams to 567.97 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is up by 0.02 drams to 8.33 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 2.61 drams to 646.20 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price is up by 24.45 drams to 19893.98 drams. Silver price is up by 0.09 drams to 260.74 drams. Platinum price is up by 18.43 drams to 14365.82 drams.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received Minister of Education and Science of the RF Olga Vasilyeva. Greeting the guest the President of the Republic noted that issues of humanitarian cooperation, including those in the sphere of education and science, have an important place in the agenda of Armenian-Russian strategic partnership.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Armenian Presidents Office, Serzh Sargsyan hoped that the visit of the minister will give new impetus to that cooperation. Like anywhere else, we also highlight the development of the educational system in Armenia, and put a task in front of that system to prepare highly qualified specialists demanded in the labor market. Of course, there are numerous problems here, and we seek to solve them cooperating also with our friends and partners, President Sargsyan said in the meeting with the Russian minister.

Minister Olga Vasilyeva noted that the Armenian-Russian cooperation in the spheres of education, science and culture has deep historical roots, thats why it is easier to further develop and expand it.

The Russian minister briefed the President on the results of her meeting with her Armenian counterpart, stressing that an agreement has been reached to work and implement exchange of experience for the development of engineering-technical professions apart from humanitarian specializations. In this context Minister Vasilyeva spoke with admiration about teaching chess as a mandatory subject at the secondary schools of Armenia, which significantly fosters mathematical knowledge of the pupils documented by the achievements of Armenian pupils in International Science Olympiads in the recent years. The Russian Minister of Education and Science said she will do her best to apply that practice in the Russian secondary schools as well.

During the meeting the President of the Republic and the Russian Minister exchanged ideas over the issues of cooperation in the sphere of education and science, exchange of experience, and preparation of qualified specialists.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The residents of a number of cities of Iraqi Kurdistan have come into the streets to celebrate the end of the independence referendum, ARMENPRESS reports the correspondent of Ria Novosti informs.

Crowds of people have gathered in the center of the city of Erbil, folk music can be heard from cars and homes, people dance in the streets. The flag of Kurdistan and photos of the President of the Autonomy Masoud Barzani can be seen on the cars. Similar situation is in the second largest city of Kurdistan  Suleymaniye.

According to preliminary information, 80% of the eligible people have voted. According to the Independent High Commission, 5.2 citizens were eligible to vote. Not only the regions that are officially part of Iraqi Kurdistan, but also the residents of nearby Provinces Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah ad Din have participated in the referendum.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of the RF Dmitry Medvedev will participate in the meeting of the EEU Intergovernmental Council in Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, the Head of the Executive of Russia said during a consultation with the Deputy Prime Ministers on September 25.

I will go on with the discussion of these issues during the meeting of the EEU Intergovernmental Council that will take place in Armenia, Medvedev said.

The Russian Premier told this in response to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Igor Shuvalov, who was speaking about the necessity to improve the process of tax administration.
RACINE  A 33-year-old Racine man has become the latest person to face felony charges for allegedly selling heroin to someone who could have died from an overdose had they not been revived.

Kevin A. Robinson, of the 900 block of Wisconsin Avenue, was charged Friday in Racine County Circuit Court with first-degree recklessly endangering safety and two counts of manufacturing or delivering heroin.

If convicted on all counts he faces up to 22 years in prison.

The charges stem from an April incident: Police were reportedly called to a home in the 900 block of Blaine Avenue for a woman who had been found unresponsive by her mother.

The officers administrated the drug Narcan to the woman. After she was revived, it was surmised that she had suffered a heroin overdose, according to the criminal complaint.

When an investigator responded to the emergency room at Ascension All Saints Hospital, the woman reportedly stated that she had made contact with a drug dealer she knows as Fat Cat.

Using Facebook, she arranged for Fat Cat to meet her at her Blaine Avenue home, where she purchased a $20 bag of heroin, the criminal complaint states.

A few days later, police reportedly provided the woman a booking photo of Robinson, whom she positively identified as Fat Cat.

On May 30, police conducted a controlled drug buy in which they had a cooperating citizen contact Robinson for the purposes of buying heroin. The citizen made contact with Robinson, who allegedly directed the sale to one of his associates, the criminal complaints states. The pair allegedly completed the sale at a home in the 3300 block of Victory Avenue, purchasing 0.6 grams of the drug.

The complaint does not indicate how or when Robinson was apprehended or arrested. According to online jail records Robinson has been incarcerated at the Racine County Jail since Aug. 8.

He remained in the jail on Sunday night on a bond of more than $10,500, according to those records.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Iraqi Armed Forces will launch joint military exercises with Turkey on the border with Iraqi Kurdistan, ARMENPRESS reports the statement issued by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iraq says.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iraq announces about the launch of Iraqi-Turkish joint massive military exercises, reads the statement.

Independence referendum was held in Iraqi Kurdistan on September 25. The regional authorities organized the referendum without the consent of Baghdad. The authorities of Iraq have announced that they will not recognize the results of the referendum since it is a violation of the Constitution. The Premier of Iraq has announced about their readiness to take measures to restore the territorial integrity of the country, including by military means.

The referendum has been condemned by the USA, Iran, Turkey and a number of other countries, as well as the countries of the Arab League.
The Democrat leadership has made constant, profound and incredible pronouncements that one's supportive vote for Republicans is tantamount to surrendering Democracy forever. Understanding their sincere thinking in their extreme position: How will you still vote on this election day?

Democrat; because the continuance of this Democracy from the existential threat of extreme Republicans is paramount.

Republican; the process of having a choice is the democratic method within what so called "Democracy" does exists.
Opinion poll: The popularity of the Czech oligarch Babiss Ano is growing, the only Czech openly pro-European party will fail to enter parliament

25. 9. 2017

cas cteni 1 minuta









In September 2017, the popularity of the Czech oligarch Andrej Babiss movement ANO has grown to 30,9 per cent, while the support of the Czech Social Democrats has dropped to 13,1 per cent. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia has 11,1 per cent, the right wing nationalistic Civic Democratic Party 9,1 per cent, the populist xenophobic anti-immigrant party of Tomio Okamura has 7,3 per cent, The Pirate Party has 6,4 per cent and the Catholic party 6,2 per cent. This is information from an opinion poll, carried out by the CVVM polling organisation.





TOP 09, a right-of centre political party which is openly pro-Brussels, will not pass the 5 per cent the barrier of entry into Parliament, it is supported by only 4,4 per cent of the voters at the moment. The fiercely anti-EU Freedom Party of Petr Mach is supported by only 1,8 per cent of the voters, as is the Green Party.





The general election in the Czech Republic will take place on 20th and 21st October 2017.





Further information in Czech HERE





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London's Nova Victoria development includes two office buildings that just won the non-coveted Carbuncle Cup for the UK's ugliest building. Via BD magazine:

According to developer Land Securities' marketing literature, 'Nova North and Nova South are two distinct, architecturally daring buildings within the Nova scheme. Together, they create a new landmark business address in London'.

The judges disagreed, describing the building as 'crass', 'over-scaled' and 'a hideous mess' Judge Catherine Croft said, "Nova should have been good as it's a prestige site. It makes me want to cringe physically. It's a crass assault on all your senses from the moment you leave the Tube station."
That revamped IT film is bringing clowns, downright terrifying ones, right back into the pop culture spotlight.

One donut shop in Texas is leveraging the trend by offering a scary clown delivery service. On Monday and Tuesday, September 25 and 26, you can have Hurts Donut (great name!) in the Dallas suburb of Frisco do the dirty deed for you. And by "dirty deed," I mean "have an evil clown deliver your friends donuts."

In an interview with Dallas area site GuideLive, Hurts Donut co-owner Kas Clegg denies the service was directly inspired by IT clown Pennywise, "We always try to keep up with the trends, and clowns are trending right now We just love scary clowns."

Have future enemies in the Frisco area? Call 469-214-8001 to schedule delivery. The clown delivery fee is $5 in addition to the regular delivery fee of $5. So, $10 plus whatever the donuts cost.

The donut shop notes on Facebook, "If we have enough interest in surrounding communities, let us know in the comments below, we may pick a day for out of town clown deliveries as well!"

Thanks, Chris!

Previously: Steven King's "It" hurting the clown business
American businessman Martin Shkreli is locked up with the general population at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City. It will be his home for the next four months, until he's sentenced for securities fraud early next year. The 34-year-old pharma executive was out on $5 million bail while awaiting sentencing and was finding comfort in writing Facebook posts, but a judge put him behind bars last week for putting a bounty on a strand of Clinton's hair, including the follicle. He has no access to the Internet.

From The LA Times

Although far less notorious than city-run Rikers Island, the Brooklyn facility has a checkered history. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, dozens of mostly Arab or Muslim men "of high interest" were detained at MDC. Many said guards there regularly slammed them against walls until officials began videotaping them as a safeguard.

More recently, prosecutors have alleged that MDC was the scene of sexual assaults by guards on female inmates. A federal magistrate last year expressed reluctance to remand a woman there, citing a report saying there was an "absence of fresh, clean air, the complete absence of sunlight, and the absence of ANY outdoor time and activities."

In a court filing, lawyers for Jacob "Kobi" Alexander, the convicted former chief executive of Converse Technology, complained about a lack of recreation time, saying he "spends large parts of his day walking in circles in his unit when he is permitted to do so."
[UPDATE 9/26/2017 12:05pm PT The Marijuana Police Project updated its report: "Data omitted from original analysis shows 653,249 marijuana arrests in 2016. Some reporting law enforcement agencies do not distinguish between types of drug arrests or possession and distribution violations."]

One person gets arrested for marijuana possession every 71 seconds in the United States, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's annual Crime In the United States (CIUS) report. This is great news to drug cartels, police departments, racists, corrupt politicians, the prison industry, and the involuntary rehab clinic racket. It's bad news for everybody else.

"Arresting and citing nearly half a million people a year for a substance that is objectively safer than alcohol is a travesty," said Morgan Fox, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project. "Despite a steady shift in public opinion away from marijuana prohibition, and the growing number of states that are regulating marijuana like alcohol, marijuana consumers continue to be treated like criminals throughout the country. This is a shameful waste of resources and can create lifelong consequences for the people arrested."

There are currently eight states that regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol for adults, four of which voted to do so in November 2016. Marijuana possession is also legal for adults in the District of Columbia. Twenty-three states and D.C. considered legislation in 2017 to regulate marijuana, including in Vermont where the legislature approved such a measure before the governor vetoed it.

"Regulating marijuana for adults creates jobs, generates tax revenue, protects consumers, and takes money away from criminals," Fox continued. "It is time for the federal government and the rest of the states to stop ruining peoples' lives and enact sensible marijuana policies."
Zaria Forman was inspired to create large-scale pastel drawings of icebergs and glaciers after going on a scientific expedition. She created this one earlier this year while she was artist in residence at the Mountainside Northstar resort.

Zaria spoke with with Jim Cotter about how her work came to be.

 Zaria Forman (Timelapse on YouTube / Mountainside Northstar)
13 Best Christmas Gifts for Your Boss

Looking to Impress Your Employer This Holiday Season?

The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

Product photos from retailer sites.

Shopping for loved ones is already a grudging task. Now just imagine the pressure that comes with gifting the executive in your life. The typical gift card or co-worker options probably wont cut it, for only the most prestigious present(s) will win them over. Meanwhile, the pandemic has likely added a new stress factor into the mix, since you're probably seeing less and less of your boss, and the right gift is the perfect opportunity to remind them of your attentive and thoughtful qualities.

RELATED: Christmas Gifts for Men 2020

So what exactly is on the docket? Well, how about something that strikes the balance between, form, function, serviceability, and on occasion, personal pleasure? Guiding you on the right path, we weaved through the endless choices on the market to assemble this must-own collection of Christmas gifts that any boss would find pleasure in unwrapping. Whether you're purchasing this present solo or getting together with colleagues as a group gift, there's a gift idea to suit all interests and budgets.

Best for the Neat Freak

Classic Pigskin Leather Catchall

An extremely handsome catchall is made with elegant pigskin leather that will patina over time and holds all manner of desktop bits and bobs, from keys to paperclips to cufflinks. For a personal touch, gold foil monogramming comes at just $12.

$99 at Markangraham.com

Best for the Wine Lover

McBride Sisters Wine Club

If you know your boss enjoys a glass of vino, you really cant go wrong with the Christmas gift of a membership to a monthly wine club. In the case of the McBride Sisters Wine Club, you can rest assured that all wines are high-quality and since each shipment is adjusted for the season they wont get bored of the flavors, either.

From $40 at McBrideSisters.com

Best for the Art Director

Deep Sea Sand Art

For the boss whose walls are covered with a veritable array of art by name-dropping artists, gift a statement piece that will appeal to their senses. This desktop sculpture highlights shimmering colors of sand that move and weave with each other in a mesmerizing, calming display.

$85 at UncommonGoods.com

Best for Digital Assistance

Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)

Every managerial figure can use an extra hand managing their daily tasks. Amazons virtual assistant will help keep them interconnected with their business affairs and afford them common mandates all executed through voice commands. Ask it whats on the calendar, get stock quotes, perform calculations, request an Uber ride, and use it as a media hub to control the playlist through any compatible wireless speaker.

$49.99 at Amazon.com

Best for the Green Thumb

The Sill Plant

During these dark winter months they are sure to appreciate the unique gift of greenery. Through The Sill, you can find a wide variety of desk-friendly plants that will thrive even in dimly lit spaces and they all come with a stylish planter, as well.

From $25 at TheSill.com

Best for a Personalized Gift

Minted Personalized Stationery

Sure, they likely do most of their communication over email and Slack, but when the occasion calls for something a little more special, they will love reaching for this personalized stationery. No matter if you want something really clean and simple or creative and vibrant, youre sure to find just the right style in Minteds extensive list of options.

From $35 at Minted.com

Best for Vacation Planning

Atlas Obscura

So they've explored the catacombs of Europe and enjoyed an omakase in Japan. But the world is full of utterly unique, off-the-beaten tracks, and that is what Atlas Obscura captures in its pages. Expect stunning images of nature's curiosities, many of which you never existed. It's wacky, curious, enthralling, and dares you to book a ticket ASAP.

$14.50 at Amazon.com

RELATED: Christmas Gifts for Co-Workers

Best for the Boss With a Bar Cart

James Scott Decanter Set

No higher-ups office is complete without a fine decanter set. This crystal-glass vessel with bundled glassware serves as a great gift for the leader who gives pause to hectic workdays by wetting their whistle. Fill the beauty with their favorite spirit and make it the centerpiece of any work suite.

$39.98 at Amazon.com

Best for On-the-Go Power

Mophie PowerStation Plus

Executives, like the rest of us 9-to-5ers, are attached to their gadgets. Which makes portable power even more valuable for the guy or gal with a battery in the red zone. Mophies external batteries come to the rescue providing up to 34 hours of battery life for smartphones and tablets (Apple or Android), while featuring a slim profile that sits comfortably in any pocket or purse.

$45.59 at Amazon.com

Best for the Boss Who Needs a Quiet Workspace

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

While these noise-canceling headphones are great for traveling, they are equally fitting for creating a quiet work atmosphere. Not only will they remain comfortable on the ears for hours on end, but they provide top-of-the-line audio quality for when they need some tunes to fuel productivity. Not to mention, when assistance is required, all they have to do is tap and Alexa is there.

$199 at Amazon.com

Best for the But First, Coffee Boss

Nespresso VertuoLine Coffee and Espresso Maker

Every worker needs their morning mug of Joe once stepping into the office. For the heavyweight that demands coffee or espresso, bless them with this caffeinated souvenir. Nespressos java maker requires nothing more than VertuoLine capsules and the push of a button to feed ones caffeine addiction.

$178.99 at Amazon.com

Best for the On-the-Go Exec

Incase Eo Travel Roller

While they might not be traveling at the moment, you can get them pumped for future ventures with this Christmas present. Incases duffel keeps things sophisticatedly casual with a soft-touch finish, multiple organizer pockets, and massive compartment storage for all your overnight essentials. It even makes luggage maintenance far more accommodating when flying business class by complying with most international airline carry-on size requirements.

$118.74 at Amazon.com

Best for Worldly Inspiration

Replogle Globes Franklin World Globe

Whether they are working from home or back in the office, the thoughtful gift of a globe will not only elevate the aesthetic of their space, but it can help them brainstorm for future travels or global business pursuits.

$55.50 at Amazon.com

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RACINE  The citys Uptown district is an area many residents know only as a route in and out of the citys Downtown and lakefront areas. On Saturday, Sept. 30, all are invited to come and take a closer look at the district during a new event called the Treasures of Uptown.

Presented by the Racine Revitalization Partnership, Treasures of Uptown is a free, community festival that is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday along Junction Avenue, between 14th and 16th streets. It offers everything from live music and dancing to food trucks, a car show, childrens activities, art exhibits and demonstrations, poetry and more. And its goal  in addition to being a good time  is to allow community members to rediscover the many treasures to be found in Uptown.

Uptown is a neighborhood of diverse businesses and residents where everyone knows each other and people look out for one another, according to Ed Miller, executive director of the Racine Revitalization Partnership.

It is home to antique shops, restaurants, physicians offices, a music store, taverns, a florist and more. And, the festival is designed to not only bring attention to what is already there, but to help people see the potential for further development.

We want to bring people back to Uptown and show them the cooperative nature and spirit of the people here, Miller said. I think people will be surprised by what they find and will want to be part of it.

Vital Art Project

One of the highlights of the Treasures of Uptown will be The Vital Art Project  a month-long exhibition of more than 100 works of art, by 30 artists from throughout Wisconsin and Illinois, which will be launched during Saturdays event. The exhibit will be shown in temporary, storefront galleries located in the 1300-1500 blocks of Washington Avenue and will continue its run with gallery hours every weekend in October, from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Facilitated by local artist and Uptown resident Mimi Peterson, The Vital Art Project looks at the complex nature of the transformation of community and culture, public policy and self. During the festival, it will offer visitors interactive options, including print- and paper-making demonstrations. And, overall, it will serve as an invitation for people to come to Uptown and to stay and linger, Peterson said.

The whole event is really about bringing people together, showing off what we have here and looking to the future, she said.

Building community

Uptown is the initial area of focus for the RRP, a collaborative, nonprofit organization with the mission to build a better Racine through social, physical and economic revitalization of its neighborhoods (see http://revitalizeracine.com for more information). Its plan for Uptown includes developing quality housing and promoting increased home ownership, as well as recruiting new businesses to the area. And one of the first steps in doing so is to build community, Miller said.

When people take pride in their neighborhood, they develop a sense of place and that is something that can be built on, he said. It is really about building community before you start to build.

Linea Anthony  co-owner of the Racine Merchandise Mart, 1512 Washington Ave, and a resident of Uptown for more than 10 years  said that she and others in the area are proud of what theyve accomplished so far. Anthony also said she hopes that the ideas and problem-solving that come out of Uptowns revitalization will eventually radiate throughout Racine, to revitalize other neighborhoods.

By this time next year, youre going to see a lot of changes here, said Anthony, who is also president of the Uptown Business Improvement District Board. This is a great opportunity for our community, as a whole, to feel good about itself.
With 500 mg of calcium per glass, Orange juice is yummy, likable and light. Orange juice fulfills your Vitamin C requirement too, so besides healthy bones and teeth you can expect a healthy and supple skin too.

After tearing through the Caribbean, Hurricane Irma piled through the heart of Florida's citrus growing region, completely destroying some groves, and causing damage that will not only send prices higher, but also possibly threaten the health of the entire industry.

In his address to the Florida Department of Citrus late last week, the state's agriculture commissioner, Adam Putnam, put a brave face on what growers are dealing with.

"It has decimated our industry. The path of this storm could not have been any worse for Florida agriculture and Florida citrus specifically. But we're tougher than that storm. And Florida citrus will pick up, replant and move on, " Putnam said.

70-100% crop loss

He said some operations in Southwest Florida suffered anywhere from 70 per cent to 100 per cent crop loss.

"There are adjusters on the ground right now writing 100 per cent losses. There are groves still under water. Carpets of rotting fruit, mature trees entirely defoliated," he said, adding that now, a week later, the damage continues to be done as heat and sun on exposed citrus tree roots threaten their recovery.

He said with the total crop loss in some areas of the state, Florida's citrus industry will definitely need federal help to rebuild.

The plight of Florida's farmers will be felt up here says Atif Kubursi, professor emeritus of economics at McMaster University in Hamilton. Irma's wrath couldn't have come at a worse time, he adds.

"This is the time when the crop is about to bear -- September and October are the two months when some of the citrus fruit would be at their prime," he said. And he added, unlike some crops, such as strawberries, citrus fruit has only one growing season.

Canada drinks a lot of Florida juice

Huge crop losses could mean big price hikes for Canadians for products like orange juice, predicts Kubursi, more so than other produce imported from Florida. According to the Florida Citrus Mutual, Canada is the main destination for the state's orange exports.

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"The story around the citrus fruit is very unique. Other fruits and vegetables we can make up for it here: carrots and tomatoes. They are producing tomatoes as far north as Kirkland Lake in hot houses where they draw thermal energy from the earth," he says. "When it comes to citrus fruits, our weather and soil is not suitable."

That's not to say that Florida is the only citrus supplier .Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico are also big sources. But they have also faced challenges. Mexico's producers are recovering from Hurricane Katia and last week's earthquake.

It all adds up to bad news for citrus juice lovers, says Kubursi, who estimates 90 per cent of the fruit from citrus groves in Southwest and Central Florida are used for juice  which Canada typically imports.

"Pure economics tell you that if you have something in short supply, the price will rise. The extent to which it will rise depends on three factors. First, the extent to which the supply has been knocked out,. The second is the extent to which it can be replaced, say from Brazil or Mexico. Mexico and other places are really in trouble. And the third one is the extent to which people are going to go without," he says.

Consumers may decide to go without

Consumers choosing the "go without" option is a big concern to Florida's citrus industry. There are some indications that orange juice consumption is trending downward due to health and lifestyle changes, such as concern over consuming too much sugar.

Its popularity with consumers has been sliding since a peak in the late-1990s, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture. And a price hike could turn even more people off.

"People may turn to apple juice, which is produced in many regions of Canada," says Kubursi.

Hurricane Irma is just the latest challenge to Florida's citrus industry. Growers have been battling a disease called citrus greening for more than a decade. The disease causes deformities in the fruit and also leaves them bitter tasting.

Growers had been optimistic that this year's crop would mark a comeback year for the citrus industry. But that all changed when Irma hit.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will issue a report on the extent of damage to the Florida's citrus industry next month.
Chelsea Manning was convicted of passing classified government material to WikiLeaks. Photo from Twitter

Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. intelligence analyst who was convicted for the biggest release of classified data in American history, revealed on Twitter that she has been barred from entering Canada.

Just earlier today, Manning tweeted out an image showing a notice from Citizenship, Refugees and Immigration Canada saying that she had been barred from entering due to prior convictions in the U.S. Manning was convicted for releasing nearly a million classified or unclassified but sensitive documents to Wikileaks, one of the largest leaks of classified information in the U.S. The leaks included the 2010 release of the infamous video, Collateral Murder, which showed a U.S. helicopter gunship crew gunning down two Reuters employees and a number of civilians in Baghdad, and the Afghan and Iraq War logs, which revealed troves of information hidden from the public about both wars.

The revelations eventually landed her in prison, charged with 22 offences, a number of which fell under the Espionage Act which carries heavy penalties. She pleaded guilty to 10 of the 22 charges, the most serious of which was aiding the enemy.

so, i guess canada has permanently banned me ?  @CitImmCanada denied entry b/c of convictions similar to treason offense pic.twitter.com/xp0JOEEOGd  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) September 25, 2017

The notice of inadmissibility doesnt surprise Joel Sandaluk, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer. The thing with offences like treason or espionage is that those type of offences tend to be very, very broadly construed, he says. So its quite likely that a person convicted of an offence like that in many Western countries would also be convicted had these same acts occurred in Canada in relation to the Canadian government.

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People trying to enter Canada who have been charged with serious crimes are always reviewed, says Sandaluk. As seen in Mannings notice, the government says it can reject entry to people convicted of an offence outside of Canada that, if committed in Canada, would constitute an offence under an Act of Parliament punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years.

Even a presidential pardon, which was floated at the time former President Barack Obama said he was commuting Mannings sentence, would not allow her into the country.

The way that Canadian law works is that because pardons in the United States are made under a different type of legislative framework than in Canada, American pardons arent to a Canadian pardon or record suspension. We dont respect theirs and they dont respect ours, said Sandaluk. So even had she been pardoned, she would still be inadmissible for Canada.

Manning does have an avenue for redress however, which she also announced on Twitter shortly after her initial post.

will be challenging denial of entry at a canadian admissability hearing in the future (no date yet) https://t.co/I2AVmXdEnb  Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) September 25, 2017

Meanwhile, the ministry of immigration has said that it cannot comment on the case due to privacy laws.

Our government is committed to ensuring that every case put forward to IRCC is evaluated based on its merits and in a fair manner. All applicants can expect impartial, professional treatment and clear, accountable decision-making, said a spokesperson to the CBC in an email statement.
Communication

Signal Vine Adds Quick Messaging Tool, Improved Support

Signal Vine, a text messaging tool designed to help higher ed institutions improve student recruitment and retention, has been updated to make it easier to communicate with groups and improve user support.

Signal Vine allows schools to communicate through two-way personalized text messages that are sent to students based on data such as GPA, major, FAFSA status and more. Users can schedule messages in a calendar, use automatic replies based on machine learning or respond to students personally.

With the new update the company has added a "quick message" feature designed to save time and make it easier to send personalized messages to selected students or other groups. The new feature allows users "to send or schedule texts to your entire program, one or more groups, or selected students," according to information from the company. "Pull in participant profile data to take your text messages to the next level. A button is available on every screen to help you easily send a text to one student, or many, with personalization.

The other new feature is the "signal support center," which features video guides, tutorials and answers to frequently asked questions.

"With a nationwide counselor-to-student ratio of one to 450, institutions must invest in technology solutions that help them build real relationships with students. Now more than ever, texting is that solution," said Signal Vine CEO Brian Kathman in a prepared statement. "By adding Quick Message and the Signal Support Center to the Signal Vine platform, our higher ed partners have even more tools to elevate their student support and engagement efforts."

For more information about the new features, visit signalvine.com.
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Spain releases Turkish journalist arrested on Ankaras request

Spanish authorities yesterday released the leftist writer Hamza Yalcn, who they had arrested in August at the request of the Turkish government, according to the daily Evrensel.

CPJ documented that police arrested Yalcn, a citizen of Turkey and Sweden, at Barcelonas El Pratairport on August 3 and detained him pending an extradition hearing on Turkish charges of insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and maintaining terrorist links with the banned Revolutionary Peoples Liberation Party/Front, according to media reports from that time.

The writer, a Turkish and Swedish citizen, is not allowed to leave Spain, according to the Evrensel report.

An extradition hearing is scheduled to take place on October 11, according to Evrensel.

Yalcn frequently wrote for the leftist monthly Odak Dergisi, which is often critical of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, CPJ documented.

[September 29, 2017]

Turkey turns off two Kurdish TV channels

Turkish authorities on September 25 removed the Kurdish television channels Waar TV and Kurdistan24 from the TurkSat satellite service in the wake of the Kurdish referendum on independence, according to Turkeys Anatolia News Agency and Kurdistan24.

Earlier in the week, CPJ documented that Turkish authorities removed another Kurdish channel, Rudaw, from TurkStat.

All three channels are supportive of Masoud Barzani, the Iraqi Kurdistan president.

[September 28, 2017]

Cumhuriyet journalist released, still faces trial

Turkish authorities yesterday ordered the release of Kadri Gursel, a columnist and publishing adviser for the Cumhuriyet and the Turkish National Committee chair of the International Press Institute, who is on trial for terrorism-related charges, Cumhuriyet and Agence France-Presse reported.

A video on Cumhuriyets website showed police releasing the journalist this morning.

The trial is adjourned until October 31.

Turkish prosecutors accuse Gursel and other journalists at the paper of being or aiding followers of exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom the government accuses of masterminding a failed military coup in July 2016, and of aiding the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey classifies as a terrorist group. The journalists deny the charges.

Akn Atalay, a lawyer and chairman of Cumhuriyet Foundations board of directors, Murat Sabuncu, the papers chief editor, and Ahmet Sk a reporter, will remain in custody during the trial.

Turkey turns off Kurdish TV channel

Turkish authorities yesterday removed the Kurdish television channel Rudaw from the TurkSat satellite service following the Kurdish referendum on independence, according to media reports. The channel is supportive of Masoud Barzani, who is currently the defacto Iraqi Kurdistan president. CPJ could not determine how long the ban on Rudaw is in effect.

[September 26, 2017]

Police release pro-government journalist

Istanbul police today released pro-government journalist Omer Turan, who was under investigation for his tweets and an article he wrote about the Turkish Intelligence Chief Hakan Fidan, the online newspaper T24 reported. Authorities detained Turan on September 22. It is unclear if Turan is still under investigation.

Cumhuriyet trial continues

The trial of 20 journalists and employees from the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet continued today in Istanbul. Turkish prosecutors accuse the journalists of being or aiding followers of exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom the government accuses of masterminding a failed military coup in July 2016, and of aiding the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey classifies as a terrorist group. The journalists deny the charges.

[September 25, 2017]
A Tennessee man avoided a possible death penalty by agreeing Saturday to a sentence of life in prison plus 50 years for the kidnapping, rape and killing of nursing student Holly Bobo.





Judge C. Creed McGinley told a jury that Zachary Adams made a deal with prosecutors just minutes ahead of his sentencing hearing. Adams, 33, was convicted Friday of murder, especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape after an 11-day jury trial in Savannah, Tennessee.





Under the agreement, Adams received a state prison term of life without parole for Bobo's killing. He was sentenced to consecutive terms of 25 years for both the kidnapping and rape convictions.





Bobo was 20 when she disappeared from her home in rural Parsons on April 13, 2011. Her remains were found by 2 men who were hunting for ginseng not far from her Decatur County home in September 2014.





Bobo's vanishing led to a massive search of the farms, fields and barns of western Tennessee. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has said that the Bobo investigation is the most exhaustive and expensive in the agency's history.





But investigators found no DNA evidence connecting Bobo to Adams. Instead, they relied on testimony from friends and jail inmates who said Adams spoke of harming Bobo.





In court Saturday, McGinley told the jury the deal was reached with "some reluctance." The judge asked Adams if he voluntarily agreed to the deal that may have saved his life.





"Yes sir," Adams responded in a soft voice.





Bobo's mother Karen addressed the jury, telling the panel that her daughter was a loving person who "appreciated the small things in life."





"She was the sweetest soul I ever knew," Karen Bobo said.





She also pointed at Adams and called him an "animal." She said Adams has showed "absolutely no remorse."





Adams did not testify during the trial.





Karen Bobo also said she saw her husband Dana smile for the 1st time since their daughter went missing 6 years ago.





"I didn't know the man had dimples," prosecutor Jennifer Nichols told reporters after the court hearing.





Two other men, Jason Autry and Adams' brother, John Dylan Adams, also face charges of kidnapping, raping and killing Bobo.





Autry testified against Adams, telling jurors that Adams told him that he, his brother and their friend, Shayne Austin, had raped Bobo. Autry also said that he served as a lookout as Adams shot Bobo near a river in the day she was reported missing.





Autry was on a list of witnesses offered immunity in the case. He said he testified because he wanted leniency.





Autry's lawyer has told the judge that a trial does not need to be set for Autry, indicating he has reached a deal with prosecutors. A trial date has not been set for John Dylan Adams.





Prosecutor Paul Hagerman said none of the men charged in the case showed any grace for Holly Bobo.





Yet, the Bobo family "chose to end this thing with grace."

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde

The Associated Press, September 24, 2017
Devil Is In Details of Sanders' Single Payer Proposal

Ross Marchand, E21 Double-digit premium increases have left Obamacare reeling. Despite this clear failure of central planning, some lawmakers think that the answer is for the government to take over the provision of all health care. This would be a mistake. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a longstanding advocate of taxpayer-funded medicine, has finally released his single-payer bill to much fanfare from liberal supporters. The rabid show of support by the grassroots left shows that old ideas die hard. Read more here....
WATERFORD  When the Waterford Graded School District began gathering input from residents during the lead up to their strategic plan, one of things they heard back from those community members was a question.

Asked to look at the districts facilities, some taxpayers wanted to know how officials planned to make the roughly 50-year-old Fox River Middle School into a modern learning environment.

It is a very solid building, but it was designed for a very different time, when the objective of schools was for students to come in an orderly fashion, sit in assigned rows, and listen to a teacher, District Superintendent Ed Brzinski said. We are not preparing students for an assembly line anymore. We need students who are problem solvers, who can work well with each other, who are involved in designing their education.

The district, which serves grades 4K-8, hired Milwaukee-based Plunkett Raysich Architects last year to conduct surveys and inspections for all of its facilities.

When the district, which serves the Village of Waterford, parts of the towns of Waterford, Dover and Norway and part of the Village of Rochester, later began drafting its strategic plan, it made modernizing Fox River one of its goals.

Flash forward to 2017, and the district is continuing to study how it might do that.

The district recently held a number of community input sessions to gauge what approaches might be amenable to voters, and now it is in the process of working on a community survey that should provide further insight, Brzinski said.

We had it down to about six options that we got input on during our community sessions, and I think we have probably narrowed it down a little bit more, he said, adding that the options basically fall into two categories: rebuild or remodel.

The goal is to have a survey out to voters sometime in October, Brzinski said.

At this point it is one of our strategic goals and we are just exploring it, he added. Once we get some feedback from the community, we will have a better idea if the community will support a new concept for the middle school, and at what level.
News stories about the Catalonia independence issue.

In a bid to sow division within the European Union, Russias online disruption machinery is working at full speed to equate the Catalan crisis to the Crimean or Kurdish conflicts in the eyes of public opinion.

A detailed analysis of pro-Russian media shows that these have multiplied their coverage of Catalonia in Spanish, English, German and Russian, and that all of this output systematically portrays the Spanish government and justice system as guilty of violent repression in the northeastern region. These news organizations claim that Madrid has sent paramilitary troops to Barcelona, and warns that a civil war is imminent as the EU passively stands by.

A story published by 'Hispan TV' in 2016 with the headline An independent Catalonia will recognize Crimea as part of Russia.

The Russian media compared these events to Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and the Kurdish referendum vote that will be held today despite it being deemed illegal by the central government in Baghdad.

One pro-Kremlin news organization, the daily Vzglyad, on Wednesday wrote: Spain forcibly suppresses the Catalan spring, followed by the assertion that the Crimean spring has moved to the Pyrenees.

This outlet also notes that only the intervention of the Russian military was able to uphold the popular right to expression in the peninsula [of Crimea].

On September 8, the same newspaper wrote that Catalan politicians are already discussing what theyll do after proclaiming independence. One of them told Vzglyad that Catalonia will seek recognition for Abjasia and South Ossetia, referring to territories that proclaimed their independence from Georgia in the 1990s, and which have only been recognized by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru, a tiny island in Micronesia.

The source of those statements is Enric Folch, the international secretary for a party called Catalan Solidarity for Independence. In 2015 and 2016, Folch was a delegate at a meeting in Moscow that was organized by the pro-government Anti-globalization Movement of Russia. The conference was partly sponsored with Russian public funds.

What Russia fundamentally seeks is to create division, to slowly undermine Europes democracy and institutions Brett Schaffer, analyst at the Alliance for Securing Democracy

Folch is an old source for propagators of pro-Russian fake news. A year ago, several news outlets published a story stating that an independent Catalonia would recognize Crimea as part of Russia  a territorial claim that the Kremlin has been making since 2014. The source of this insider information about the Catalan governments alleged intentions: Enric Folch, a member of a party with no presence whatsoever in the Catalan parliament.

The basic premise of the pro-Russian disruption machinery is to create information that is sometimes real, sometimes fake.

Were not talking about Soviet propaganda or anything like that. Its not all fake news, says Brett Schaffer, an analyst at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a project of the German Marshall Fund created in the wake of Russian meddling in the US elections, and whose goal is to publicly document and expose Vladimir Putins ongoing efforts to subvert democracy in the United States and Europe.

This does not mean that Russia wants Catalonia to be independent at any cost. What it fundamentally seeks is to create division, in order to slowly undermine Europes democracy and institutions, he adds.

The Alliance for Securing Democracy has been tracking Russian influence operations on Twitter, and found that between September 16 and 23, among trending topics, a thread of pro-secession movements was visible, including support for Kurdistan, Catalonia, and, more subtly, a travel guide for Crimea.

A Pravda headline reading: Anger in Madrid: Barcelona recreates the scenario in Crimea.

One of the most-shared tweets on September 23 on the German-language channel of the Russian media outlet Sputnik carried the headline: Searches and arrests in the Catalan government  students demonstrate against the paramilitaries.

And Pravda on Thursday ran a story in Russian claiming that Barcelona recreates the Crimea scenario. This story was shared on Twitter by two Pravda accounts (@pravda.ru and @pravdaonline) both with a following of 230,000 users. The story clearly says that if Catalans hold the referendum and unilaterally declare independence, there will be a precedent for the EU similar to Crimea.

One of the Twitter accounts that most aggressively advances the Kremlins interests is Voice of Europe (@V_of_Europe). In recent days this account has retweeted stories supporting the line that the Catalan conflict is breaking up the EU, such as Spain BOILS: EU REFUSES to act for Catalonia despite Spain violating basic human rights, or Spain in CRISIS: Troops sent in as 40,000 protest over WAR on Catalan independence vote.

Russian news organizations with ties to the Kremlin, such as RT and Sputnik, do not publish outright fake news but twist real stories. On Wednesday, RT ran the headline: State of siege: Catalan officials, including vice-minister of economy, arrested over referendum papers.

RTs Spanish-language Twitter account, with 2.74 million followers, and Facebook account, with 5.1 million followers, are also disseminating messages such as Catalonia: the dictator Francisco Franco has returned victoriously.

English version by Susana Urra.
The founder of Japanese fashion giant Uniqlo, Tadashi Yanai, is not bothered by comparisons with Amancio Ortega, the Spanish head of Inditex  the world-beating fashion group that includes Zara. The suggestion even makes him smile. Last week, Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, opened its first store in Spain. The company, with 1,900 outlets in 19 countries, racked up profits of 930 million and sales of 11.4 billion in the first nine months of the financial year. It now hopes to expand in Spain with Madrid as a possible next step.

Tadashi Yanai, president of Fast Retailing, in Barcelona. CARLES RIBAS

Question. It took Uniqlo a long time to set up in Barcelona. What made it difficult?

Answer. We wanted to make sure we had the best location and the best store. The first step is very important.

Q. Spain is the country of Zara and Mango. Doesnt that make it difficult for Uniqlo? Is there too much competition?

I cant tell you how many times I have failed. You only learn if you fail

A. I dont think so; the more competition there is, the better. No one can monopolize the market. We are very different from Inditex and Mango. We come from Tokyo. Every company has its unique personality. We are committed to the idea of healthy competition.

Q. The year 2020 is your target for equaling Inditex in size.

A. It could be difficult, and perhaps we wont achieve it, but my dream is to be bigger than Inditex in the future. It doesnt matter how long it takes.

Q. Have you learned anything from Amancio Ortegas group?

A. In the 1980s, the British group Next grew exponentially over the course of eight years. Inditex looked at their example. When we looked at how Inditex achieved that, we thought we could do the same in Japan. But Inditex and [Swedens] H&M grew faster thanks to the European market.

Inditex founder Amancio Ortega. Gtresonline

Q. In Barcelona, you are diagonally opposite Zara and H&M in the same street. Is that a deliberate strategy?

A. We can draw in customers that way and in the end it is them who will decide.

Q. In Japan, Uniqlo is based in the large department stores. Have you thought of implementing the same strategy in Spain, perhaps with Spanish chain El Corte Ingles?

A. I dont think so  we want to remain independent. If the rent was very, very low, it would be an interesting proposition and we would consider the possibility. But that is not the case, so we prefer to have our own stores.

Q. There is a price war in Europe when it comes to the fashion sector, with brands like Primark and Lefties leading the way. Is that a problem?

A. We dont compete on price: we do it with truly innovative clothing. We want to compete in terms of quality and the products we offer. High quality at affordable prices.

I have a lot of shares in Uniqlo but this doesnt mean I have a lot of cash

Q. How much money do you invest in innovation?

A. I am not sure how much. The Japanese firm Toray, which has around 1,000 engineers, is our partner and we work together. Toray provides carbon fiber to Boeing and also provides the liquid crystal displays for Samsung.

Q. Uniqlo was born more than 30 years ago, before the internet. How has it adapted to the online market? What share of your sales come through this channel?

A. We hope to boost our internet results. Online sales currently represent 5% to 6% of sales, but we want to grow this to 30% as quickly as possible. I think that to buy clothes you have to touch them and test their quality, but we need both channels  online sales and physical stores.

Q. Is Amazon a rival or an ally?

A. Amazon, Google, Facebook, Alibaba, Inditex and H&M are all competitors but at the same time we try and work together. For example, our cloud-based service is facilitated by Amazon. Its like shaking hands and fighting at the same time.

Q. You are the richest man in Japan.

A. I have a lot of shares in Uniqlo and they are going up in value. Its only on paper, and it doesnt mean I have a lot of cash. You never know when the market will fall; its like a beauty contest  everything depends on how people feel.

My advice to entrepreneurs? Think deeply about things but act immediately

Q. What advice would you give an entrepreneur?

A. Think deeply about things. Give things serious thought but act immediately. Sometimes what happens is people who are given to deep reflection never act, and those who act quickly never think deeply.

Q. How many times have you failed?

A. I cant tell you how many times I have failed. My experience is full of failures. You only learn if you fail.

English version by George Mills.
The Catalan pro-independence movement bases its claims on a set of emphatic and oft-repeated assertions. These range from historical beliefs (that there was, for example, a war of secession in 1714 that resulted in a subjugated Catalonia) to economic maxims (Spain is robbing us, wed be richer outside Spain).

These assertions are all false. EL PAIS has analyzed 10 of the myths that are used to support the separatists story, and found that not one of them withstands detailed scrutiny.

For instance: it is not true  and European treaties reflect this  that an independent Catalonia would automatically join the European Union. On the contrary, it would have to embark on a long and winding institutional and international journey, with the United Nations as a middle stage.

Nor is it true that the Spanish system of devolved powers to the regions (el estado de las autonomias) has failed. Or that voting is an exercise in democracy in all cases (dictatorships also organize referendums). Or that the October 1 ballot is legal  it is illegal in content, in the manner it was passed by the Catalan parliament and in the way it violates referendum standards set by the Council of Europes Venice Commission.

It is also untrue that Catalonia can legally secede from Spain by invoking the right to self-determination, as this right is reserved for nations under colonial rule. Nor is the 1978 Constitution hostile to Catalans.

1. IN 1714 THERE WAS A WAR OF SECESSION

The pro-independence movement falls back on old, romantic historical material claiming that the War of the Spanish Succession  a 12-year-long European conflict caused by the death in 1700 of Charles II, the last Hapsburg monarch of Spain  was in fact a war of secession involving Catalonias independence from Spain. Separatists claim that Catalonia was an independent and democratic nation that was conquered, and its freedoms abolished. Comparisons are drawn with the American colonies and their struggle for independence from Britain (Give Catalonia its freedom to vote, The Independent, 10/10/2014).

But thats not the way it happened. When Charles II died without any direct heirs, a European battle broke out over control of the Spanish crown, which at the time ruled over a global empire. The two main candidates to succeed him were Philip, of the House of Bourbon (and grandson to Louis XIV of France) and the Archduke Charles of Austria, son of Emperor Leopold. The Austrian candidate was backed by the Dutch Republic and England, who feared excessive French power on the continent.

The war between different monarchies also became a war between different projects: Anglo-Dutch free-market views versus French protectionism; trade-oriented bourgeoisies against an alliance of farming and courtesan aristocracies; the early confederacy system practiced by Vienna pitted against the absolute centralization championed by France; the peripheries versus central Europe.

These dividing lines found supporters in various parts of the Iberian peninsula: although the alliances were short-lived, the kingdom of Castille was more in sync with French positions, while the principality of Catalonia, more trade-oriented, sided with the Austrian candidate.

However, Catalans had originally received the Bourbon monarch enthusiastically, as described by chroniclers who specialize in the era such as Joaquim Albareda (La guerra de sucessio i lOnze de setembre, Empuries; y Politica, economia i guerra, Barcelona 1700, Coleccio La Ciutat del Born).

The Spanish War of the Succession was not fought over secession or patriotic ideals

Standing before the Catalan Courts in 1701 (the first time that the courts had convened since 1599, suggesting not much activity on their part) Philip swore allegiance to the Catalan constitutions that dated back to the Middle Ages and awarded some trade advantages. But pushed by an anti-French syndrome, as well as an invasion of French manufacturers and despotic measures by the viceroy, the Catalans changed allegiance and supported the Archduke, who abandoned them to get himself crowned emperor in Vienna.

It was not a war pitting one nation against another, or one that was fought over secession or patriotic ideals. Instead, old Catalan laws and constitutions were used by both sides for their own purposes. The war brought disasters with it, but it did not destroy the principality. The end of the war catapulted Catalonia toward an economic revolution, first in farming, and later in an incipient industrial sector, as noted by the historian Pierre Vilar in Catalunya dins lEspanya moderna (Ediciones 62).

The father of the Spanish Constitution including Miquel Roca (first on the right) and Jordi Sole Tura (with his back the camera). EFE

2. THE 1978 CONSTITUTION IS HOSTILE TO CATALANS

Separatists claim that it is necessary to move beyond the 1978 Spanish Constitution because it is hostile to Catalans. And they plan to repeal it based on the 1.9 million votes that went to pro-independence parties (Junts pel Si and CUP) at the 2015 regional election. These votes represent 47.7% of voters. Yet the Constitution was approved by 2.7 million Catalans, representing 91.09% of voters, at the constitutional referendum that was held on December 6, 1978. That is nearly twice as many. Only 4.26% of Catalans rejected it, compared with the national average of 7.89%. And turnout was 67.91%. Catalonia and Andalusia were the two regions where support for the Constitution was most overwhelming.

It seems obvious that repealing the current constitutional framework would require at least a similar majority today.

The fact is, the 1978 Constitution is typical of a deeply decentralized state.

Unlike France or Italy, which are highly centralized, Spain modeled its constitution after the German Federal Republic. Thus, Section 2 recognizes and guarantees the right to autonomy of the nationalities and regions of which it is composed and the solidarity among them all.

The 1978 Constitution is popularly referred to as the Catalan constitution because two eminent Catalans, Miquel Roca Junyent and Jordi Sole Tura, worked on its text; also because it was partly inspired by the Republican Constitution of 1931 and the Catalan Statute of 1932.

The system born out of that constitution, and which some now deride as the 1978 regime, awarded Catalans a historically unprecedented degree of direct participation in the running of Spanish politics, with an active presence in Congress, the Senate and countless public agencies.

Parties such as the Catalan Socialists (PSC) played prominent roles in the Socialist administrations of Felipe Gonzalez beginning in 1982, while the Catalan nationalists of CiU  then a moderate group  often played the role of kingmaker in Congress, conditioning all Socialist (PSOE) and Popular Party (PP) governments.

3. THE AUTONOMIA MODEL HAS FAILED

Separatists say that the nearly 40 years of self-government only serve to demonstrate the systems failure, that there has been a recentralization movement, and that the next logical step is independence.

The 1979 Catalan Estatut, which followed up on the Constitution, established a system of self-government without precedent in the entire history of Spain. Catalan became an official language and the language used by default, leading to its notable recovery. Progress was made on fiscal co-responsibility and tax-collection powers; basic welfare services (health, education) were devolved, followed by control over the prison system and police force.

The 2006 Estatut went even further in advancing self-government in Catalonia, despite the fact that a Constitutional Court ruling from 2010, based on an appeal lodged by the PP, curtailed it. This controversial decision was a watershed in popular perceptions over Catalonias place in Spain and increasingly radical nationalist views about a break in the underlying constitutional agreement.

Although the court ruling only eliminated one section of the new Estatut and modified 13 more out of 238, the qualitative effects of the decision were much bigger than the quantitative ones. Catalonia viewed it as an affront.

Despite that setback, which was followed by recentralizing laws passed by the PP since 2012, the degree of self-government enjoyed by Spanish regions, and most notably Catalonia, is far from passe, as some would argue. On the contrary: even if it could use some improvements, it is still a role model in international terms: Spain ranks seventh in OECD countries on a chart of Fiscal federalism, and first for decentralization between 1995 and 2004 (Fiscal federalism, OECD, 2016).

Catalan Premier Carles Puigdemont in 2016. Albert Garcia

4. SPAIN IS AN AUTHORITARIAN STATE

Spain is an advanced democracy that enjoys the highest levels of freedoms and respect for individual and collective rights. That is certified by all of the international institutions to which the country belongs, as well as all of the centers of study that are dedicated to evaluating the quality of democracy in different states.

Internally, the rule of law and the division of powers are guaranteed by the courts. Internationally, Spain is a signatory to all human-rights conventions, and political and civil freedoms conventions from the United Nations, and is a member of the European Council and its agreements on the protection of rights. It is also a member of the European Union and a signatory of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

All of its national legislation and the rulings of its courts are submitted to the courts in Strasbourg (Council of Europe) and Luxembourg (European Court of Justice). As the cases of Hungary and Poland show, EU states are subject to a strict regime of vigilance on the part of European institutions to detect any deviation of power, violation of rights or attack on freedoms or the separation of powers.

Neither the central government nor the Catalan regional government, nor any kind of pro-independence organism, has turned to any of these international organizations to denounce any type of violation of rights, nor has the Spanish state been recognized or sentenced  inside or outside the country  for this kind of incident.

Freedom House awards Spain with the highest score for political and civil rights: 95/100, the same score as, for example, Germany. The Economist awards Spain an 8.3 out of 10 on its democracy index, which places the country between France (7.92) and Germany (8.6). The Polity IV Project, which measures authoritarianism and the progress of democracy, has placed Spain with the maximum score for democracy (10) since 1982.

Whats more, in its report in 2017 on human rights, the organization Human Rights Watch makes no mention of the alleged suppression of rights in Catalonia, nor does it mention Catalonia as a specific issue.

And while in its last report on Spain, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europes (OSCE) High Commissioner on National Minorities, warned about the integration of Gypsies, neither that text nor its report on linguistic rights made any mention condemning Spain.

Freedom House awards Spain with the highest score for political and civil rights: 95/100, the same as Germany

5. SPAIN IS ROBBING US

Opposition deputies led by Ines Arrimadas (Ciudadanos) stage a walkout from the regional Catalan parliament during a vote to approve regional breakaway laws on September 6. MASSIMILIANO MINOCRI

This untruth was put into circulation by the regional government under premier Artur Mas in 2012, when he published a calculation claiming that Catalonia is paying 16.4 billion into the countrys common budget. The supposed robbery of 8.4% of Catalonias GDP was circulated by the former regional premier Jordi Pujol: Paying around 9% of GDP in the form of solidarity, and often even more than that, is becoming a plundering that is seriously damaging Catalonia and its people.

This calculation is nonsense. The nationalist study that in 1994 launched the concept of plundering calculated the balance at 7.56% of GDP, of which the contribution to inter-regional solidarity accounted for 2.44 percentage points. The study, from Jordi Pons and Ramon Tremosa, cited the excess of deficit in something over five points, not nine. Figures that are not so far from the fiscal deficits of more prosperous territories in federal countries, at around 3.85%.

In reality, Catalan nationalists defended their proposal of a fiscal pact with a model similar to that of the Basque Country with a solidarity quota of 4% of GDP (reduced to 2% in some versions), meaning that the excessive fiscal deficit would not be eight points, but rather four. But the double totem figure of 16.4 billion (8.4% of GDP) was the one used for propaganda purposes. And it was subject to a lot of criticism as being excessive, given that it was calculated according to one of two methods (and six variations) of the scientific calculations of the balances (monetary flow: territory where the public spending is taking place), less adequate than its alternative (benefit to each population, independently of the place where spending is taking place).

The economist Antoni Zabalza differentiated between the economic cycles. In the book Economy of a plurinational Spain (Economia duna Espanya plurinacional), he calculated that if in boom times the Catalan deficit oscillated around 8%, in times of crisis it was much lower or even became a surplus. Along a similar line, Josep Borrell and Joan Llorach, in their book The accounts and the tall tales of independence (Las cuentas y los cuentos de la independencia), used an estimation of the regional government according to which the imbalance for Catalonia would reach in 2015 3.228 billion  i.e. just 1.6% of its GDP.

So after having become the official truth of the [independence] process, the fervor over the legend of the lost 16.46 billion gradually lost traction thanks to greater economic literacy.

In reality, there is a certain consensus that Catalonia contributes what is due according to its own capacity and its wealth; but that it receives much lower investment than what is adequate for the size of its GDP and its population: from 2011 to 2015, state investment for the whole country fell by 36.6%, but by 57.9% in Catalonia; and even less was actually carried out. This is one of the appropriate ways to correct the dysfunctions  not plundering  of the current situation. In any case, the official budgets of the government for 2014 indicated that Catalonia was not the top net contributor (fiscal deficit of 9.892 billion, 5.02% of GDP), but the second, after Madrid (19.205 billion, 9.8% of its GDP).

While those imbalances do not strangle the growth of the most prosperous territories, their greater net contribution derives from the principle of progressive taxation (greater wealth, higher taxes), as is the case with individuals.

Whats more, the fiscal deficit compensates its trade surplus (the industrial occupation of the less-developed regions): this is the case in the EU between the north and the south. When the net [European] contributors have rebelled and have demanded to pay less into the common budget, the Catalan authorities have not sided with them. Its the same thing!

6. WE WILL BE MORE WEALTHY ON OUR OWN

Deputy Catalan Premier Oriol Junqueras (left) and Catalan Premier Carles Puigdemont leave a session of the regional parliament. Albert Garcia

The argument that Catalans would be richer on their own is something of a daydream.

It is true that, along with Madrid, the Basque Country and the Balearics, the region is one of the most prosperous.

It is also true that they have maintained and even increased their level when compared to the rest of Europe  in terms of prosperity, measured in GDP per capita  with very advanced regions, such as Rhone-Alpes (France), Lombardy (Italy), and Baden-Wurttemberg.

And it is true that, at least until the start of the Great Recession, it was doing better than these three. It did so, crucially, as part of Spain, as part of the Spanish economy, as part of what is defined by secessionists as the Spanish state, one that it considers to be hostile, an enemy: but in its bosom, Catalonia has done nothing but progress.

The radicalized version of nationalism paints a rosy picture in the case of separation, ignoring or minimizing the costs of doing so. As with the indirect costs, too: the loss of economic synergies and intellectual stimulus obtained by belonging to a large European economic space, one that is a world leader in trade, assists with development and an advanced social model.

As such, the publicists of secessionism argue that, once independent, Catalonia would be much richer than it is right now. It would see its GDP rise and its levels of employment, and would improve its debt levels, its pensions and its social services.

This argument is expounded by  albeit with a very wide range of scenarios and concrete figures  a group of economists known as the Wilson Collective; many of the authors of the book Questions and answers about the economic impact of independence (Preguntes i respostes sobre l'impacte economic de la independencia (Col.legi dEconomistes, 2014)); and issue 2016/1 of the Revista de Catalunya.

But a dark scenario emerges from this position. The Economy Ministry guarantees that secession would reduce GDP by 25% to 30%, costing as much as 63 billion. A separate study from the Foreign Ministry puts the negative impact for Catalonia at nearly 37 billion, close to 19% of its GDP (Consequences of a hypothetical independence for Catalonia, 17/2/2014).

Between a glorious scenario and a catastrophic one, the data and comparative studies indicate that Catalonia would face a serious crisis (one that would also affect Spain as a whole), likely nearing that caused by the Great Recession, which saw Spanish wealth, as measured by GDP, fall by 9.2% between 2008 and 2013.

Some international comparisons can offer us clues, although their contexts differ. Sticking just to the impact on GDP of the reduction and increased cost of internal commerce, the fifth official British study on the impact of independence on Scotland calculated that the nation would lose 4% of its GDP  that translated to the size of Catalonia would mean a loss of 3%, the Revista de Catalunya admits.

The precedent of the partition of Czechoslovakia (1993) disallows any minimizing of the commercial downturn of breakups (even when they are agreed, as that one was). From then until 2011, Czech exports to Slovakia fell from 22% to 9%, and those coming the other way from 42% to 15% (La fabrica de Espana, EL PAIS, 22/11/2012). And the separation of Slovenia saw its total exports withdraw 23.5% in 1992, and 5.5% of its GDP, according a study by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce (El sector empresarial a Catalunya i Espanya, 5/6/2014).

That report, which is less militant than its official counterparts, calculates that, just due to the effect of a fall in trade, Catalan GDP could drop as much as 5.7% (and a minimum of 1.1%), while the negative effect of Catalan secession would reach a maximum negative 1.4%.

Among other reasons, this would be because Catalonias dependence on exports to the Spanish market, close to a third of the total, is much greater than the inverse; and because its positive balance (22.685 billion in 2011) compensates the negative Catalan trade balance abroad (15.325 billion).

It is clear that an adverse impact of 5.7 points (or of three points in the case of the comparison with Scotland) is not comparable to the nine points lost by the Spanish economy during the Great Recession.

But it must be pointed out that these figures are limited to the strict effects of commercial progress, the element that has been thus far most explored. And whats more, in the case of Catalonia the estimates are limited to a scenario whereby the separation goes without a hitch, without any interruptions to its membership of the EU, something that has been denied by the Treaties and by member states.

Other adverse flows must be added: those of foreign investment (up to now positive), tourism, ease of access to foreign credit, and the aforementioned loss of positive effects of belonging to a large, integrated economic space. Catalonia could then be economically viable on its own (Uruguay is, for example). But far from immediately turning into a paradise  perhaps also a lethal inferno  it would result in an eventful and dramatic purgatory.

Former Catalan premier Artur Mas signs the decree green-lighting the non-binding independence referendum held in Catalonia in September 2014. JORDI BEDMAR (AFP)

7. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SECEDE

It is false that, as what the suspended referendum law says in its explanatory statements, Catalonia has the inalienable and indefeasible right to self-determination and that this has been recognized by international law. The contrary is true, rather.

The United Nations own norms (the foundational charter of 1945, General Assembly Resolutions 1514 and 2625, International Covenant on Civil Rights) recognize the right to self-determination but do so in an internal way: as a right for citizens to express themselves politically, vote in democratic elections and participate in institutions.

Only in very specific cases can this right become an external form of self-determination, meaning secession. These cases are limited to the particular situation of peoples under colonial or other forms of alien domination or foreign occupation. (UN Resolution 50/6)

But the resolution goes on to say that this shall not be construed as authorizing or encouraging any action that would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and thus possessed of a Government representing the whole people belonging to the territory without distinction of any kind.

In other words, democracies.

And in this particular case, the Spanish democracy was built with decisive contributions from the Catalans, beginning with their participation in drafting the 1978 Constitution. Catalans have participated in 38 elections at the local, regional, national and European level, and they have voted in four legal referendums (on the Constitution, on both regional Estatuts in 1979 and 2006, and on the EUs Constitutional Treaty). They are not under colonial rule, and they do not live in a dictatorship or a military regime.

In even more exceptional cases there is talk about remedial secession as a last resort to end a massive violation of human rights and democratic freedoms. But these extreme cases must be greenlighted by the UN Security Council, as was the case with Kosovo.

Other states have emerged out of the disintegration or implosion of larger ones (such as the USSR and Yugoslavia), but that does not automatically entail a generic right to secession. Scotland, Canada and Montenegro all held referendums on self-determination, but always within the bounds of their own national legislations and with authorization from the central government, never unilaterally. South Sudan is a similar case.

The Spanish Constitution does not contemplate a territorys right to break away  nor does any other constitution in Europe, or indeed, practically any other country in the world. A change to that status would require constitutional reform via a method requiring approval by two-thirds of Congress and the Senate; the reform would then have to be put to a national referendum, where all Spaniards would have a say in the matter. There is a possibility for the government to directly consult the citizens on matters of particular import, but this kind of consultation is non-binding, as per section 92 of the Spanish Constitution.

Other referendums that violated similar constitutional rules, such as the one in Ukraine over Crimean secession, have been radically disapproved by the European Council, the UN General Assembly and the Council of Europes Venice Commission.

8. WE WOULDNT LEAVE THE EU

It is not true to say that an independent Catalonia would continue to form part of the European Union, as the secessionist movement wants.

Since 2004, successive presidents of the European Commission (which is the guardian and interpreter of the Treaties in the first instance), Romano Prodi, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso and Jean-Claude Juncker, have been arguing the same thing, with very little variation in the formulation of the arguments: If a territory of a member State is no longer part of that State because that territory has become an independent State, the Treaties can no longer be applied to that part of the territory. And the new independent region will become, due to the effect of its independence, a third country. This new state would have to request its admission once more if it wants to be a member.

This definition derives directly from the text of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). Its article 52 mentions, one by one and with its complete name, the 28 member states of the Union. Catalonia does not appear, which means that its affiliation with the European community derives from the fact that it forms part of the Kingdom of Spain. It is not that Catalonia is facing its expulsion from the community club; it would in fact be excluding itself.

But, what is more, the TEU, in its first article (which has a more constitutional character), obliges all members to respect the constitutional order in every member state and their territorial integrity, in the following terms:

The Union shall respect the equality of Member States before the Treaties as well as their national identities, inherent in their fundamental structures, political and constitutional, inclusive of regional and local self-government. It shall respect their essential State functions, including ensuring the territorial integrity of the State, maintaining law and order and safeguarding national security.

This is not a case of derived or optional legislation, but rather of constitutional order.

As such, in the case that Catalonia should become an independent state and want to join the EU, this would not be automatic, but rather it would have to apply to do so, according to Article 49 of the TEU, and it must be validated by the 28 member states  including Spain, something that would be more than a little complicated, in particular if the separation were unilateral.

But to be a candidate they would have to meet two basic requirements established in that article. The first is to be a European state, and the second to be a state that respects the [democratic] values proclaimed in Article 2, as the prestigious former European Council legal counsel Jean Claude Piris explained in an article in EL PAIS (Cataluna y la Union Europea, EL PAIS, 29/8/2015).

If these conditions were met, the country would also have to be able to accredit that it constitutes a European state. And to constitute a state, international recognition is needed. As Artur Mas admitted on March 25, if no-one recognizes you, independence is a disaster.

And the indisputable path for this recognition is membership of the UN. For the UN to accept a new state, the Security Council must first recommend it (among the permanent members of the council with a right to veto is France, a country that is not at all inclined to favor territorial ruptures and sensitized to questions such as Corsica or its own Catalan territories); and later approve it in the General Assembly with a two-thirds majority.

The way these obstacles are being minimized by politicians who insist on the capital role that Catalonia plays in Europe, and how the latter badly needs to hold on to the former, are in stark contrast with the unanimous way in which governments and European institutions oppose fragmentation; it also ignores the problems that this precedent would set for many member states that are suffering from domestic breakaway tensions; and ignores the very foundational objective of the current EU of reconciling Europeans on foundations such as the unaltered maintenance of the internal borders established after the Second World War.

And in the face of an appeal of an attempted internal expansion relative to the supposed conservation by Catalans of their condition as European citizens, the Commission has left well established that only those people who have nationality from a member State are citizens of the EU, according to article 20 of the TEU (C(2022) 3689 final, 30/5/2012).

The consolation prize would be staying in the euro. In any case, Catalonia is going to be in the euro there are countries that are not in the EU and have the euro, Catalonia would have it if it wanted it, said Mas in September 2013. That is not the case. Being in the euro is to form part of the monetary union, and only member states of the EU are allowed in.

The next best thing would be to use the euro: create their own currency and peg it to the European euro, but this mechanism, the currency board, requires a unanimous prior agreement (art. 219.1 of the TEU) from the 28 member states. And while this is the system used by Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican and Andorra, it is not adequate for diversified economies, according to the IMF. The next best thing after the next best thing would be to use it with no agreement, something that the experts consider to be contrary to the Treaty. And it would also deprive Catalan banks of the protection of the massive financing offered by the ECB, which in the best of cases (counting on affiliates in the euro zone), could only allocate symbolic support, such as that awarded to third countries.

9. THE OCTOBER 1 REFERENDUM IS LEGAL

The Catalan government claims that the vote it has called for October 1 is legal. And the deputy premier, Oriol Junqueras, takes things to an even higher level when he adds that the Criminal Code does not prohibit voting. This is a misleading statement.

For an electoral vote to be legal, it has to be allowed by the law. And the Spanish Constitution awards exclusive referendum-calling powers on matters of particular import to Spanish parliament and the central government. The October 1 ballot has been unilaterally called by a Catalan government decree.

Both laws that were fast-tracked through the Catalan parliament on September 6 and 8 to provide a legal framework for the referendum and for the transition to an independent republic are illegal.

First, they are illegal from a procedural standpoint. They were voted through without the two-thirds majority that the Catalan charter, the Estatut, establishes for reform; the bills passage also skipped an essential step in Catalan legislative procedure: a request for oversight by the Consell de Garanties Estatutaries, the regional equivalent of the Constitutional Court, and a body that makes sure that regional bills conform to the law.

This Consell had already issued several decisions against various legal elements of the secession process. On September 6, it issued a new one that was duly ignored. Catalan parliament lawyers also warned about the concomitant illegality of the procedure employed by the separatist majority in the chamber to push the bills through while annulling essential guarantees in the lawmaking process.

But the referendum law is also illegal in content. An ordinary law cannot self-proclaim that it will prevail hierarchically over the higher-ranking regional Estatut and national Constitution.

The law also infringes all the main guidelines established by the Council of Europes Venice Commission, which says that election legislation must be in place a year before the referendum date (in this case, it has been under a month); that there must first be serious negotiations among all the actors; or that no public funds may be used by authorities for campaign purposes (which the Catalan public broadcaster is doing).

As for the law paving the way for a transition to an independent republic, and meant to serve as an interim constitution, it would go into effect two days after the ballot and without being voted on in a constitutional referendum. It sketches out the outline of an authoritarian state that would end the rule of law, cancelling the separation of powers and nixing the independence of the judiciary. The head of the Supreme Court would be appointed by the president of the Catalan republic (who would also be its prime minister); all judicial appointments would be made by a mixed committee where the government would enjoy an absolute majority. All of which is in sync with the dictatorial evolution of Poland.

And the parliament that would emerge, though in theory imbued with constituent powers, would in fact lack them, as it would be bound by an earlier mandate dictated by a citizen participatory process predictably dominated by secessionist agitators.

These laws approving the sovereignty of Catalonia are fundamentally illegal because the Spanish Constitution clearly states in Section 1.2 that sovereignty resides exclusively and indivisibly with the Spanish people. The Constitutional Court has made this point clear in its rulings, as well as the fact that the only possible referendum is the one set out in the Constitution, requiring participation by all Spaniards.

A series of court decisions have detailed this doctrine, evidencing that the referendum and its framework are also illegal by virtue of case law.

And while it is obvious that the Criminal Code does not prohibit voting, it is equally obvious that it does punish disobedience, officials who deliberately make unlawful decisions, and the misuse of public funds in legally banned electoral processes.

10. VOTING IS ALWAYS DEMOCRATIC

Referendum is democracy, is the main slogan of the secessionist campaign for the October 1 referendum, and which is used with a number of variations.

Formulated as such, with no nuances, the principle is misleading and leads to errors. It is true that the use of referendums as mechanisms of direct democracy can constitute a good complement to representative democracy. And this frequently is the case in some very specific countries, ones that are small, with very intense local politics and a great tradition (constitutionalized) in votes on any subject, as is the case with Switzerland.

But referendums have also been used by the worst dictatorships. The Nazi occupiers of Austria ratified the Third Reichs Anchluss through this route, on April 10, 1938. Among other details, the Yes box doubled the size of the no. Result: 99.73% in favor.

The Franco regime used the same means with its Organic State Law of December 13, 1966, without the freedom to disagree, nor the existence of parties, nor any kind of democratic rights. Result: 95% of favorable votes, which at some polling stations exceeded 100% of the electorate.

Whats more, arguing that the only solution to the (highly improvable) fit of Catalonia in Spain is a referendum on independence has no sense: this demand was not in the electoral manifesto of the main pro-secession party, Junts pel Si, given that the positive result of the unofficial referendum held on November 9, 2014 was valid. There was no vote, in that case, on any kind of referendum. There is, in effect, no electoral mandate for one to be held, but rather just an attempt to capture voters for other parties and those who are in favor of an agreed consultation (this is not it).

For a referendum to be democratic it must be celebrated within a democratic regime and respecting the constitutional framework. Celebrating a referendum that is unconstitutional contravenes in all cases the European standards, the European Council ruled (Venice Commission, which supervises all referendums in the continent) in the case of the separatist referendum of Crimea in respect of Ukraine (ruling 762/2014).

And the use of referendums should comply with the legal system as a whole, especially the procedural rules []. The referendums can not be held if the Constitution or a law does not authorize it, the organisms Code of Good Practices states (document 371/2006). And article 2 of the Ukrainian Constitution establishes that its sovereignty extends over its entire territory, which is a single state and that its border is indivisible and inviolable.

The president of the Venice Commission warned on June 2 in the letter to the Generalitat that any referendum must be agreed with the government and carried out in full compliance with the Constitution, something that will not happen in this case because the Catalan referendum law (which has been suspended by the Constitutional Court) is above and on the margins of the Constitution, and the regions governing Estatut.

As such it is false to say that the exclusion of a referendum in affairs of sovereignty is characteristic of low-quality democracies, as the regional government claims. All advanced economies in continental Europe exclude the calling of secession referendums. The two most recent episodes in this respect are Italy and Germany.

The Italian Constitutional Court (sentence from 29/4/2015) ruled that the sovereignty of all citizens is a value of the united Republic that no reform can change without destroying the very identity of Italy. And that attacking this imperative implicates institutional subversion that is radically incompatible with the fundamental principles of unity and indivisibility of the Republic. And that is because the unity of the Republic is one of the elements that is so essential to constitutional order that it is even removed from the power or revision of the Constitution. A restriction that is not applicable in Spain, given that all articles of its Constitution can be revised.

In a similar sense and in a much more concise manner, the German Constitutional Court refused a request for an independence referendum for Bavaria on December 16, 2016, given that there is no space for secessionist aspirations in a federated state in the framework of the Constitution: they violate the constitutional order. And in the Federal Republic, as a national State whose constituent power resides with the German people, federated States are not the lords and masters of the Constitution.

As such secessionist referendums are not (European) democracy.

English version by Susana Urra and Simon Hunter.
(Reuters) - U.S.-backed Syrian militias said Russian warplanes struck their positions in Deir al-Zor province on Monday, near a major natural gas field they seized from Islamic State in recent days.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias fighting with the U.S.-led coalition, said the attack killed one of its fighters and injured two others.

There was no immediate comment from Moscow.

Russia and the United States back separate offensives against Islamic State militants in eastern Syria, with both advancing in oil-rich Deir al-Zor bordering Iraq.

The assaults converged on Islamic State from opposite sides of the Euphrates river that bisects Deir al-Zor, Islamic State's last major foothold in Syria.

With Russian air power and Iran-backed militias, Syrian troops closed in from the west. The SDF has advanced from the east with U.S. jets and special forces, capturing the large gas field on the river's bank this week.

"Russian and regime forces have mounted a treacherous attack against our forces...with artillery and aircraft," the SDF statement said.

"We will not stand by with our arms crossed and we will use our legitimate right to self-defence," it said.

Russian and U.S. battles against Islamic State in Syria have mostly stayed out of each other's way, with the Euphrates often acting as a dividing line. But their offensives have at times raised fears of clashes that could stoke tensions between the competing world powers.

Last week, the Pentagon accused Moscow of bombing SDF positions on the eastern side of the river. Russia denied this, warning the United States it would target the SDF if its own forces came under fire.

Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, has denied that Washington was racing with Moscow over Deir al-Zor. Contacts were increasing to avoid confrontation, he said.
While hundreds of workers at the Azarab and Hepco industrial units in the city of Arak in central Iran are still on strike, the chief executive officer of Azarab has been detained.

As the Justice Department has issued the order for detention of Azarab factorys CEO, there is no further information available, Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA) cited a representative of the Cooperation, Labor, and Social Welfare Ministry, Mohammad Taqi Abaei Hezaveh, as saying.

The provinces police commander, Kioumars Azizi, also confirmed that Azarabs CEO was legally summoned and detained by police on September 24.

The reason behind the detention is soon to be announced by judicial officials, Azizi said.

However, in an interview with ILNA, the head of the Center for Coordination of Islamic Labor Councils in the central province, Abolfazl Pourvafaei, maintained, Azarabs CEO was one of the elements of recent days unrest in the province.

Furthermore, Pourvafaei told ILNA, After Azarab workers held a protest assembly and its subsequent unpleasant events, Azarabs officials settled 18 million rials (roughly $536) wages of each worker; whereas they could have done that before the outbreak of protests. Therefore, it is believed that the unpleasant events that endangered the provinces security were the outcome of mismanagement by Azarabs CEO.

Pourvafaei was referring to the anti-riot police forces that stormed the protest assembly and reportedly beat Azarab and Hepco workers on September 19.

A day later, the anti-riot police once again stormed Azarab, shooting tear gas and attacking the protesters with batons. An unknown number of workers were wounded and taken to hospitals.

The violent clashes were followed by waves of criticism.

In two separate letters, 11 MPs addressed Interior Minister Abdor-Reza Rahmani Fazli. No response from the minister has yet been reported. However, four years ago he told ILNA that confrontation is not a suitable response to workers demands and one should listen to both sides.

The deputy speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Motahari, insisted on September 24, The right to protest is not only the workers, but everyones, provided being unarmed and not contradicting Islamic rules. No one should confront such protests.

Trade unions have also joined the chorus, condemning the bloody events in Arak.

Nevertheless, on September 21, Azizi defended its forces reaction to the protests. The police forces are in no way against workers livelihoods, but in some cases they are dutybound to use their legal means to preserve law and order, he said.

Meanwhile, Hepco and Azarab workers have ended their protest gatherings but are continuing their strike.

Azarab and Hepco workers are present at their workplace but in protest of their unpaid wages have stopped working and are lying around the industrial compounds, Hezaveh told ILNA on September 25.

Azarab and Hepco are privatized factories manufacturing heavy equipment, including for road construction, oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. Each has the capacity to employ more than 3,000 workers but has only 900 workers.
For the first time, Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps displayed the S-300 advanced Russian air defense system in the heart of capital Tehran near the parliament building.

Iran has been celebrating the 29th anniversary of the end of the Iran Iraq war, with military parades and public gatherings.

The S-300 air defense system was displayed on Sunday, September 24, as part of the celebrations.

Iran had been trying to possess the $800 million system for 10 years but Russia was delaying the delivery due to the UN sanctions.

Finally, Russia began delivering components of the system in February 2017.

Iranian media have published photos and videos of the S-300 next to ballistic missiles Sejjil and Ghadr.

Tehrans ballistic missile program is the focal point of criticism by the United States, its European allies and specially by Israel and some Arab countries. United States has described missile tests by the IRGC as a violation of the spirit of the 2015 nuclear agreement Iran signed with world powers.

Israel was also lobbying the Russian government for a long time not to sell Iran the S-300 system.

On Saturday, the IRGC announced that it had successfully tested Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile. Tasnim News Agancy called the Khorramshahr Israels nightmare. In a Tweet, U.S. President Donald Trump used the occasion to renew his criticism against the nuclear deal.

Last month, Mr. Trump signed a bill imposing penalties on those involved in Iran's ballistic missile program and anyone who does business with them. He also has said that he might renegotiate the nuclear deal or abandon it.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said recently that Tehran would react strongly to any wrong move by Washington on that issue.
The number of intercepted consignments worth more than 5 billion rials (roughly $150,000) smuggled into Iran showed a 57 percent increase during the past five months compared with the same period last year, the commander of the Iranian Police Crime Unit has reported.

During the same period, the number of legal cases filed for the uncovered and confiscated smuggled consignments worth between 1 billion and 5 billion rials also showed a 50 percent increase, the governments official news agency (IRNA) quoted Commander Mohammad Reza Moghimi as saying.

Computer equipment, cosmetics, and hygiene products were at the top of the list of contraband goods smuggled into Iran, Moghimi said.

Fundamental action is needed to prevent and confront the flow of contraband oil products into Iran, he emphasized. During the first five months of the [Iranian calendar year, starting March 21] current year, nearly 20 million liters of illegal oil products were uncovered, which shows a 53 percent rise compared with the same period last year.

Furthermore, according to Moghimi, the number of uncovered contraband inflammable and explosive products also showed a 27 percent rise.

Fighting against contraband goods and smuggling foreign currencies is the polices priority, he said, adding, Fighting organized smuggling and concentrating on larger contraband consignments are also on our agenda.

Announcing the establishment of a special center for fighting smugglers in the Police Crime Unit, Moghimi notes, The special centers main duty is monitoring and tracking major smugglers, stopping the flow of contraband products into Iran, and fighting the storing and circulating of illegal goods in the country.

However, in 2016, the overall volume of goods smuggled into Iran amounted to $15.5 billion, according to Qassem Khorshidi, spokesman for Irans Central Task Force to Combat the Smuggling of Commodities and Currency, cited on Tasnim News website. That number has now shrunk by almost $3 billion, he said.

Later, a senior member of Irans parliament accused the government of President Hassan Rouhani government of being involved in smuggling. A number of governmental institutions are directly or indirectly involved in smuggling, Hassan Norouzi, spokesman for the parliaments Judiciary Committee, maintained on July 1.

In an interview with Fars News Agency (FNA), a website close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Norouzi added that some ministers are involved in smuggling to run companies and factories. Not mentioning any names, Norouzi also accused the daughter of a Rouhani cabinet minister of smuggling.

The spokesman for the Judiciary Committee was apparently referring to Rouhanis education minister, Fakhruddin Ahmadi Danesh-Ashtiani, whose daughter was accused of smuggling Italian contraband garments into Iran. She was later officially acquitted of all charges.

Moreover, Danesh-Ashtiani was dismissed and replaced by Mohammad Bathaei in Rouhanis new cabinet.

Earlier in 2011, then President Mahmud Ahmadinejad accused the IRGC of using its military ports to smuggle cigarettes into Iran. The value [of cigarettes smuggled into Iran] makes any first-class international smuggler greedy, let alone our very own Smuggler Brothers.

IRGC Chief Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari retorted back, These accusations are made to deviate the public's mind by people who are beneficiaries themselves in our opinion.

According to Iranian officials, there are 150 customs points across Iran through which a significant amount of contraband goods illegally pass.
Faezeh Hashemi, the youngest daughter of the late former speaker of the Iranian Parliament, president, and chairman of the Expediency Council, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has bitterly complained about her familys plight in recent months.

Five of the members of my family have been barred from leaving Iran or are repeatedly summoned to different courts, Hashemi lamented in an interview with the Tehran daily Shahrvand.

Born in the sacred Shiite city of Qom, Hashemi -- who once garnered more than 860,000 votes and served as Tehrans representative to parliament (1996-2000) -- says she is one of the Rafsanjanis legally barred from leaving Iran by the Justice Department.

The former MP and publisher of womens rights magazine Zan (Woman, banned in 1999) insists she has experienced mounting problems since her fathers death in January.

I have never had so many legal cases against myself. Well, I was sued a couple of times before. Yet during the past four or five months, I have received summons on a constant basis, she said.

Hashemi always complies with the court summons but, Whenever I present myself, the court finds out that complaints against me are totally unfounded. Nevertheless, it seems that summoning me to the courts of law are endless.

Four years ago, in a court in Tehran, Hashemi was sentenced to six months in prison and banned for five years from any media or political activity. Based on her interview with an Iranian news website outside Iran, Roozonline, she was accused of propaganda against the regime and convicted.

In the interview with Roozonline, Hashemi had vehemently criticized violations of individual and human rights, management of economy affairs, and Irans foreign relations with outside world.

Meanwhile, she had decried an attack against her and several companions by a gang of so-called Hezbollahis in the city of Shahr-e Rey.

The attack was widely reported on social media, triggering an avalanche of responses condemning the attackers impunity and arrogance.

Referring to the assailants, Hashemi had explicitly regretted, Iran is run by these rogue elements, mobs, and thugs, today.

Her campaign for womens right to ride bicycles, attending gatherings with her former inmates, including Faran Hosami, a Bahai, and courageously visiting the tomb of the former king of Iran, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in Cairo are a few examples of cases that dragged Faezeh into the limelight.

Faezeh, who supported the incumbent Hassan Rouhani in his second bid for the presidency, has not lost the chance to present her disappointment over the absence of women in ministerial positions, in Rouhanis new cabinet.

President Rouhani should be held responsible for the absence of women in his new cabinet, she said. Probably more than 50 percent of those who voted for Rouhani are women. Ignoring such a fact and disregarding womens absolutely reasonable demands are unfair.

Injustice against Iranian women is not limited to their omission from cabinet positions, she told Shahrvand.

I have always asked why there is no female representative to the Expediency Discernment Council, why there are no female deans managing Iranian universities, and so many more similar questions, she said.

Hashemis father was unquestionably one of the pillars of Iran since the 1979 revolution who acted as the main decision maker in the political drama to install current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the successor of the founder of the regime, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Hashemi Rafsanjani continued to be a major player in Iranian politics, at times, only second to Khamenei. His power also brought with it allegations of corruption and a vast wealth the family seemed to have amassed. This was later used by Rafsanjanis political enemies.

After the 2009 controversial presidential elections, the hardliners turned against Rafsanjani, for his support of the Green Movement. His younger son, Mehdi was accused of corruption and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is still behind bars.

Rafsanjani died on January 8 of a heart attack at age 82, reportedly while swimming in his private pool. Since then, his death has been a base for conspiracy theorists. Their main question is why he was allowed to swim in relatively cold weather in a pool where CCTV cameras were turned off and none of his bodyguards was present.

Moreover, skeptics wonder why an autopsy was never allowed.

One of Hashemis brothers, Mehdi, is still behind bars after being sentenced to 10 years in 2015 for alleged financial corruption.

Her elder brother, Mohsen, was recently elected president of Tehrans City Council.

at/ms/fg
President Donald Trump has issued new restrictions on people trying to enter the United States from eight nations -- adding North Korea and Venezuela to a list that also includes Iran -- to replace his expiring travel ban.

Trump signed a proclamation on September 24 implementing a range of restrictions that will apply to citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea, and Venezuela.

Limitations on citizens of Sudan were lifted while Iraqi citizens face enhanced scrutiny, or vetting, but will not be subject to travel prohibitions.

The new restrictions will go into effect on October 18, eight days after the court is due to hear oral arguments over the legality of Trump's previous ban.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump said a tweet.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif criticized Trump's order earlier on September 25, writing on Twitter: "Trump's fake empathy for Iranians rings ever more hollow, with his new and even more offensive travel ban against such outstanding citizens."

Zarif issued the statement from New York, where he has been attending sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.

The measures restricting travel to the United States include an indefinite ban on visas for citizens of countries like Syria.

A suspension of nonimmigrant visas for citizens of Venezuela will apply only to certain government officials and their immediate families.

Venezuela and North Korea are the only two non-Muslim majority nations on the list.

The previous ban, which sparked international outrage and legal challenges when enacted in March, expired on September 24.

The new policy may complicate the Supreme Court's review of the expired ban, which is scheduled for argument next month.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian in New York was rather technical, where the sides discussed ways out of the current stalemate in the region.

At the meeting, Mammadyarov and Nalbandian agreed to continue serious negotiations on the existing documents which are on the negotiating table.

The essence of these documents was voiced by former US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Richard Hoagland in the middle of summer. This is an open public document now, in which the first point by priority is the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

In New York, the sides also discussed the possibility of arranging a meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. Such a meeting will be significant only if the negotiators, as well as Azerbaijan and Armenia have a clear and specific agenda to be discussed by President Aliyev and President Sargsyan.

According to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen, such an agenda has been outlined and the sides are ready for substantive negotiations, at which concrete actions, rather than abstract ones, will be discussed.

If the proposals, voiced by Hoagland, are approved at the presidents meeting, it will be necessary to begin to implement these agreements, the first point of which is the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

By the way, the so-called Lavrovs plan implied the same point, namely, the Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from the occupied Azerbaijani territories and internally displaced people must return to their native lands.

Hoaglands statement, by the way, implies that the US and Russian negotiators are unanimous on many points. France supports the main development, which also means the EU's support. The UN also supports this process.

However, the number one issue in this situation is whether President Sargsyan will come to the meeting.

For example, following the meeting in St. Petersburg in 2016, at which a concrete plan of action was discussed, Sargsyan organized a tragicomedy with hostage-taking in Armenia to avoid the necessary steps to resolve the conflict.

---

Elmira Tariverdiyeva is the head of Trend Agencys Russian news service
When it comes to funding government, were adamantly opposed to borrowing in lieu of making potentially unpopular cuts or finding new ways to fund government services. To choose to borrow is to kick the can down the road: While there may be some satisfaction in getting the can away from you, you dont make the can go away.

We had hoped, and thought we saw, some appetite for new approaches in dealing with the projected $1 billion shortfall in the states transportation fund as the budget progressed. Instead, as the ink dried late last week on Gov. Scott Walkers signature on the biennial budget, we ended up with more of the same and a definitive rejection of taking one new idea into consideration.

The Legislatures Joint Finance Committee broke a road-funding impasse on Sept. 5 by imposing new state registration fees of $100 for electric vehicles and $75 for hybrid vehicles.

But the plan announced that same night borrowed slightly more than $400 million for transportation, compared to Walkers budget, which called for borrowing $500 million.

If you owe $100, borrowing $40 or $50 to deal with the debt is a short-term fix which creates a long-term problem.

We understand that the gasoline tax is an important component of the current transportation funding formula. We have previously advocated in this space for some recognition that while hybrids and electric vehicles dont use nearly as much gasoline  all-electric vehicles obviously dont use any  they do use the states roads and contribute to their wear and tear. Therefore, we have argued, hybrids and electrics should be taxed differently.

But that discrepancy raises a question: Is dependence on the gasoline tax an outdated way to fund our highways? In the 1970s, when nearly everyone was driving a big, gas-gulping sedan, relying on the gasoline tax made sense. Here in 2017, when even larger-model cars are far more fuel-efficient than their equivalents from 40 years ago, a user-fee approach  one tied to actual miles driven, vehicle weight, or driving through a tolling checkpoint  seems like a much fairer way to share the burden of state road funding.

The vetoes to the state budget, which runs through June 2019, include a number of promises Walker made earlier this month to three Republican senators  Sens. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield; Steve Nass, R-Whitewater; and Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville  to secure their support on the spending plan, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

As part of the deal with the three senators, among Walkers vetoes was the elimination from the $76 billion budget of a $2.5 million study looking into toll roads in Wisconsin.

That $2.5 million constitutes 0.000033 percent of the biennial budget. Its nearly equivalent to a rounding error when talking 11-figure dollar amounts.

When it comes to state transportation funding, especially in light of the budget shortfall, its at least worth studying methods which are new to Wisconsin. But with his veto pen, the governor decided toll roads arent even worth studying. Or, at the very least, he acquiesced to the wishes of one of the three senators who demanded the tolling-study veto in exchange for his vote.

When our elected officials refuse to even consider new methods for transportation funding in favor of borrowing more money, its kicking the can down the road in its worst form. Its continuing to fund government in the old way and sticking our children and grandchildren with the bill.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

OSCE PA will do everything possible for peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Kristian Vigenin, OSCE PA special representative for South Caucasus, said.

He made the remarks Sept. 25 at a meeting with IDPs in the Masazir settlement, Absheron District, Azerbaijan.

Vigenin got acquainted with the living conditions of the IDPs and talked with them.

The IDPs expressed concern that their motherlands have been under the Armenian occupation for more than 25 years.

Kristian Vigenin is visiting Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia on Sept. 24-30.

During his visit to Azerbaijan, Vigenin is scheduled to hold meetings in the Foreign Ministry, the Parliament and other structures.

Influence of long-lasting conflicts on peoples lives in South Caucasus will be discussed during the visits.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to provide funding for construction of the Shorkand-Beshtali-Banka-Shirvanli road in Neftchala District.

Under the presidential order, 21.5 million manats are allocated from the state budget for construction of the road connecting 21 residential areas with a total population 37,000 people.
Eighteen graduates of Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) with Bachelor Degree in Petroleum Engineering started working at SOCARs Azneft Production Union. A meeting with new staff members gathered SOCAR Vice President for Geology and Geophysics Bahram Huseynov, SOCAR Vice President for Field Development Yashar Latifov, Azneft Director General Dashgin Iskenderov, and BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov.

SOCAR Vice President for Field Development Yashar Latifov extended his congratulations to the Higher School graduates and wished them a successful professional career. BHOS graduates have a big potential, as they are talented and well-trained young people who constantly aspire after new knowledge. I am confident that they will grow into excellent specialists, he said. SOCAR Vice President for Field Development Yashar Latifov emphasized that implementation of large-scale international oil and gas projects in Azerbaijan requires young professionals possessing contemporary qualifications and skills. He said that new national specialists shall do their best to meet expectations of their teachers and managers.

In the words of Director General of Azneft Dashgin Iskenderov, it is important that future engineers obtain not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills. On-the-job training arranged by BHOS management helps them to apply their knowledge into practice. He said, During the internship, BHOS students prove themselves as qualified and skilled specialists. We are very pleased to see them as our new employees.

BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov also congratulated the graduates and said that they should continue developing their professional qualification. I am very proud of our first graduates who were invited to work so soon. It proves that we have created excellent conditions for professional training of the Higher School students and provided them with good opportunities for successful career, he said. The Rector expressed his confidence that the undergraduates currently studying at BHOS would also become promising engineers. Elmar Gasimov informed that 30 graduates of the Higher School already started working at PETKIM and STAR facilities; seven persons became staff members of BP in Azerbaijan, while other graduates work now at Maire Technimont Group, Halliburton and other transnational companies.

Speaking at the meeting, Head of Production Department of Azneft Parviz Akhmedov and Head of Field Development Department of Azneft Farid Abadly told about the role played by young specialists in the Production Union activities and in the development of oil and gas industry of the country.

BHOS graduates Aytekin Gasimova and Roman Rahimly currently working at Azneft Production Union expressed their gratitude to management of SOCAR, Azneft and the Higher School, and promised to bear a name of BHOS graduates with honor.

At the end of the meeting, the BHOS graduates were presented with badges of staff members of Azneft Production Union.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Orhan Bayramov has resigned as secretary general of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan, the organizations website said Sept. 25.

This position is still vacant.

It should be recalled that Bayramov was appointed secretary general of the confederation in January 2017. Prior to that, he headed the Azerbaijan Insurers Association (AIA) since 2013.

The National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan was founded in 1999 and is a non-governmental organization that helps improve the business environment in the country.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

India intends to purchase uranium from Uzbekistan to replenish its strategic reserves. The parties are currently negotiating on this matter.

The first meetings of the delegations took place two months after the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, RIA Novosti reported.

The strategic reserves of uranium are necessary for India to guarantee the uninterrupted operation of nuclear power plants of the state for five years in case of imports shortage.

Today, India purchases uranium mainly from Russia, Kazakhstan and Canada. The country also develops cooperation in this area with Australia.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Ali Mustafayev - Trend:

Talgat Abilgazy, deputy director of the Department for Electric Power and Coal Industry of the Kazakh Energy Ministry, has commented on the issue of coal price rise in the country, a correspondent of Kazinform, the Kazakh international news agency, reported.

He was answering the question of journalists on the sidelines of the 16th ERRA Energy Investment and Regulation Conference in Astana.

To date, the coal industry in our country is competitive, Talgat Abilgazy said. We have about 400 fields. All the mining enterprises set the price independently. That is, the coal price is regulated by the market, by the supply and demand. At present, the prime cost of coal mining ranges within 3,000-5,000 Kazakh tenges ($8.79  $14.66 as of Sept. 25), and the prices set at the mining enterprises reach 8,000 tenges.

He added that the price further increases as the product reaches the end user.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

Trend:

Regular air traffic may be stopped in Kazakhstan due to the termination of aviation kerosene supplies from Russia and the upcoming suspension of the Shymkent oil refinerys activity, Kazinform news agency reported citing Air Astana airline and flag carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan as saying.

According to Air Astana, regular air traffic may be stopped despite the State Program for Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2010-2016 developed upon the presidents decree dated May 15, 2009.

One of the priority areas of the program was the comprehensive development of the oil refining industry. The ultimate goal was to provide the domestic market with domestic aviation kerosene, gasoline and diesel fuel in 2016.

However, the situation with aviation kerosene supply exacerbated in 2017, Air Astana said in a message.

According to Air Astana, among the companies mainly exporting aviation kerosene in Kazakhstan are PJSC Gazprom Neft, PJSC Rosneft, PJSC Lukoil and PJSC Tatneft.

The aggregate average monthly volume exported by those companies in 2017 decreased to 15,000 tons compared to 44,000 tons in 2016. Moreover, for October those companies have not confirmed the supplies due to high demand in the Russian market.

In particular, PJSC Gazprom Neft notified about the resumption of aviation kerosene export not earlier than May 2018.

Meanwhile, in 2017, the Kazakh civil aviations needs 800,000 tons of aviation kerosene, of which 241,000 tons are produced by the Shymkent Oil Refinery, which is the only stable producer of aviation kerosene in Kazakhstan.

However, this plants activity will be stopped for maintenance in autumn 2017. As a result, the situation is more exacerbated.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

Trend:

Kazakhstans Energy Ministry has commented on a statement made by Air Astana which warned of a risk of fuel shortage due to suspension of operations at the Shymkent Oil Refinery.

There have been statements by Air Astana that the Shymkent Refinery will be overhauled. We believe Air Astana, before making such statements, could consult with us, especially since we have a direct contract, said the Energy Ministry, Kazinform reports.

The airline warned of a possible termination of regular flights in Kazakhstan.

We always discuss any problematic issue with them [Air Astana], said Kazakhstans Vice-Minister of Energy Asset Magauov at a press conference.

He said no overhaul that will affect the plants operations is expected.

According to him, in spring, all equipments were modernized at the plant after the overhaul and meet the requirements of ecological classes K4 and K5.

A diesel fuel hydro-treating unit will be modernized at the Shymkent Refinery, said Magauov, adding this will not affect the production of kerosene and gasoline.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on Sept. 25 making a change to the March 6, 2008 decree that approved the Azerbaijani composition of the Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Joint Commission for Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation.

Under the change, the words Ziya Mammadov, Minister of Transport of Azerbaijan in part 1 of the decree are replaced with the words Heydar Asadov, Minister of Agriculture of Azerbaijan.

Thus, Heydar Asadov has been appointed the new Azerbaijani co-chairman of the Joint Commission on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to forward to the Bulgarian side a relevant notice of the change made by the decree.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Israir Airlines and Tourism will carry out flights to Baku, the Israeli companys CEO Uri Sirkis said at a meeting with Azerbaijans Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nazim Samadov, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Sept. 25.

The flights will be carried out from Tel Aviv to Baku starting from Oct. 2, three times a week, as part of tourist packages.

Sirkis and Samadov noted the importance of flights for mutual increase in tourism turnover.

At the end of the meeting, the parties also agreed on mutual activity in the field of marketing.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.21

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

If OPEC decides not to extend its agreement by at least 3 months, demand will likely struggle to catch up with supply, Christopher Haines, head of oil and gas at BMI Research, (a Fitch Group company) told Trend.

"Stronger demand is the best way to get out of a glut, but that will only sustain if the price is right. Global growth is looking better in 2017, though the oil supply side of the market still remains strong," he said.

Spencer Welch, director of the oil markets and downstream team in the London-based IHS Markit for his part, told Trend that ultimately, in the long term demand rules.

"When no one needs oil anymore then the oil industry is finished. However, people will still be using oil well into the 22nd century, albeit at a lower levels than today because of efficiency improvements and fuel substitution," he believes.

Welch noted that in the short-term (next 5 years) supply and demand are equally important for the oil industry in terms of setting the market price.

"Currently global demand for oil is still growing strongly, by around 1.5 million barrels per day every year. So the worlds thirst for oil is still strong and the future of the oil industry is healthy for a good while yet," he added.

OPEC said in its September Oil Market Report that in 2017, world oil demand growth was revised higher by around 50,000 barrels per day (b/d),

The upward revision is a result of betterthan-expected performance from OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development ) America and Europe in 2Q17, according to the report.

"Hence, world oil demand growth is now pegged at 1.42 million b/d, with total global consumption at 96.77 million b/d," said the cartel.

World oil demand growth for 2018 was also revised up by around 70,000 b/d from the previous months report; it is now anticipated to be 1.35 million b/d, with total global consumption of around 98.12 million b/d.

This reflects higher growth expectations for OECD Europe and China, according to the report.

Based on the latest available data, OECD oil demand growth was revised upward for the second consecutive month by 60,000 b/d to average 0.37 million b/d.

Oil demand has been quite robust in 2Q17, particularly in the Americas and Europe, said the cartel.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

Trend:

Energy-rich Kazakhstan intends to increase the export and transit of gas to China up to 100 billion cubic meters per year.

This was announced by Erkanat Temirkhanov, Deputy General Director for Transformation and Development of KazTransGas JSC, who spoke at the 16th ERRA conference on investments and energy regulation, Kazinform reported.

"In connection with the commissioning of Beiney-Bozoy-Shymkent at full capacity, we are building a powerful compressor station. We want to increase the export and transit of gas to China to 100 billion cubic meters per year, and maybe even more," he said.

Kazakhstan holds 0.8 percent of the worlds natural gas proven reserves, and produces 0.6 percent of the worlds total gas output, according to the BPs statistics 2015.

The country serves as a major transit country for gas exports from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan that are destined to Russia and China. Volumes from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are transported through the Central Asia-China gas pipeline network that links with CNPC's Second West-East Pipeline in western Xinjiang province at the border with Kazakhstan.

The volume of gas exports rose by 7.9 percent in 2016 to 13.7 bcm.

In a bid to increase the country's gas industry in 2018-2024, the government is considering the Amangeldy deposit not only as a resource base, but also storage.

The Amangeldy gas field in Jambyl region of Kazakhstan will be used as a large gas storage facility, according to Temirkhanov.

KazTantransGas has a subsidiary company Amangeldygas, through which it is planned to bring the volume up to 500 million tons a year. It's our subsidiary located in Jambyl region, he said.

Temirkhanov added: "For now, we are ready to transport 10 billion cubic meters of gas only to China. But we are working with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Russia - its Gazprom.

Today, together with our scientists and other investors, we are developing a project for using Amangeldygas as a large gas storage facility. The available capacities for us are already not enough. We are thinking about the prospects for the growth of gas transportation to China, we will need a large gas storage facility in the south," Temirkhanov explained.

KazTransGas JSC is the largest gas supply company in the Republic of Kazakhstan, representing the interests of the state on domestic gas market and worldwide. KazTransGas operates natural gas transport via main gas pipelines, sales natural gas on domestic and foreign markets, develops, finances, constructs and maintains pipelines and gas storages.

KazTransGas operates a huge gas transportation system, which includes more than 30,000 kilometers of gas distribution networks, more than 15,000 kilometers of main gas pipelines, 56 compressor stations that have installed 316 gas compressor units and 3 underground gas storage.

Currently, KazTransGas is represented in 10 regions of Kazakhstan which are Almaty, Aktobe, Atyrau, East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan, Kostanai, Kyzylorda, Mangystau and South Kazakhstan regions.

Kazakh gas is expected to face strong competition from Turkmen, Uzbek and Russian gas supplies under long-term contracts with China.

A majority of Kazakhstans proved natural gas reserves and natural gas production is possible thanks to the Karachaganak field. The Karachaganak field's gas reserves are estimated at 1.35 trillion cubic meters while oil and liquid condensates around 1.2 billion tons.

About 49 percent of Kazakhstan's gas production and 18 percent of its produced oil are extracted from this field.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

Trend:

Russias Lukoil is reconsidering the terms of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) on the Gissar project with Uzbekistans authorities due to decline in gas prices, President of Lukoil Vagit Alekperov said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV channel.

All our investments were calculated based on profitability of about 14-16 percent, he said. Unfortunately, with the change in gas prices in the global market, the projects efficiency fell. However, we are negotiating with the government of Uzbekistan to carry out economic adjustments. The Uzbek government understands us.

Lukoil is operating in Uzbekistan for implementation of two projects based on PSAs  Kandym-Hauzak-Shady and South-West Gissar.

Total volume of gas produced by the company in Uzbekistan has exceeded 40 billion cubic meters. As part of the first two projects, Lukoil plans to produce up to 18 billion cubic meters of gas by 2020 and raise the volume of investments to $8 billion.

According to the Uzbek state investments program, Lukoil will invest $1.217 billion in implementation of the two PSAs in 2017.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.25

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe is a necessary infrastructure for Italy, said Italys former prime minister Matteo Renzi.

He urged to accelerate the implementation of the TAP project in Italys Salento, Italian media reported.

Renzi pointed out that today, those who seriously want to fulfill energy policy in Italy, should support the creation of the necessary infrastructure in the country.

TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union. The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.

The pipeline will connect to the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italys south.

TAP will be 878 kilometers in length (Greece 550 kilometers, Albania 215 kilometers, Adriatic Sea 105 kilometers, and Italy 8 kilometers).

TAPs shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.25

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Fourteen companies have presented their proposals for engineering, procurement, installation, commissioning services for the construction of Underground Gas Storage (USG) on Samgori South Dome Field in Georgia, said the message from Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation.

Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation announced an open international tender on July 14 for engineering, procurement, installation, commissioning services for the construction of Underground Gas Storage (USG) on Samgori South Dome Field.

Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation said that in total, 55 companies were registered for the tender, of which 14 presented their proposals.

The companies, which will be selected for the tenders second stage will be required to provide detailed technical proposals in early 2018, according to the message.

Earlier, Georgias Energy Minister Ilia Eloshvili told Trend that gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field will be stored in the underground gas storage facility to be built on Samgori South Dome Field.

Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation plans to start the construction work in the first half of 2018.

Within the frames of the first stage of construction, two appraisal wells are to be drilled. The gas storage is planned to be completed by 2021.

After the completion of the underground gas storage project, the facility will be capable to store up to 300 million cubic meters of gas.

The cost of the project will exceed $250 million.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

Baurzhan Bekeshev has been appointed deputy minister of the Kazakh national economy in accordance with the decree of the countrys government, said the website of Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev.

Since 2014, Bekeshev worked as the director of the Department for Entrepreneurial Development of the Eurasian Economic Commission in Moscow.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev have discussed bilateral relations during a telephone conversation, said the official website of the Kazakh president.

The conversation took place on Russias initiative.

During the conversation, the two presidents discussed the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, as well as topical issues of the regional and international agenda.

The Russian president congratulated the Kazakh president on the successful holding of the 6th high-level International Meeting on Syria in Astana September 14-15.

Putin also informed Nazarbayev about Russias efforts to resolve the conflict in Syria.

In addition, the two presidents discussed the schedule of forthcoming meetings, including the preparations for the meetings of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) and the CIS Council of Heads of State.

The presidents of the two countries agreed to continue regular dialogue on the whole range of issues of bilateral cooperation.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

Trend:

The Uzbek government has decided to allocate additional funds for the purchase of medicines for public health institutes, said a message posted at the Uzbek news agencys website www.podrobno.uz

Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov ordered the countrys finance ministry to provide the health ministry with an interest-free budget loan worth 300 billion soms by the end of September.

Moreover, the finance ministry has been entitled to allocate additional 240 billion soms from the state budget for the purchase of medicines, if necessary, by late 2017.

The allocation of 3 billion soms to the Republican foreign economic state enterprise O'zmedexport in the form of a contribution to its statutory fund will be another measure of support for the countrys public health sector.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Ali Mustafayev  Trend:

Russian company "LUKOIL" intends to invest $3 billion in projects in Uzbekistan by 2022, said Vagit Alekperov the head of the company, UzDaily reported.

He added that the company needs to invest an additional $3 billion to fully develop all the facilities in Kandym and Gissar regions.

After the completion of this investment cycle, LUKOIL may start investing in new projects in Uzbekistan, said Alekperov.

Meanwhile, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has ordered to prepare new projects after the investment cycle is completed.

By the end of 2017, the total amount of LUKOIL's investments Uzbekistans projects will reach $6 billion.

"LUKOIL" is expected to bring the level of gas production in Uzbekistan up to 16 billion cubic meters by 2020, 8 billion cubic meters will be produced in Kandym, 5 billion cubic meters in Gissar and 3 billion cubic meters in Khauzak.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

Trend:

President of the India-CIS Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sandeep Chandra has had a meeting with representatives of Uzbekistans Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, the UzDaily.uz news portal reported.

The two sides discussed the current state and prospects of trade, economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.

The parties noted the importance of timely fulfillment of the agreements reached during the visit of governmental delegation of Uzbekistan to India. It should be noted that the delegation of Uzbekistan visited India on August 21-23, 2017.

Uzbekistan and India plan to hold a meeting of the intergovernmental commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation in Tashkent until the end of 2017.

Meanwhile, the two sides identified a number of promising areas of mutually beneficial cooperation, including increasing supplies of Uzbek fruits and vegetables and wine products to India.

The parties also discussed the development of hotel business in Uzbekistan by attracting Indian investments and best practices.
12 cos to issue rights shares worth Rs5.71b

The Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) has granted approval to 12 companies to issue rights shares worth Rs5.71 billion to their shareholders in the first two months of the current fiscal year.
New York has hosted a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the five Central Asian countries where they voiced a need to boost up efforts for expanding the regional cooperation, Azernews reported.

The Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen and Uzbek Foreign Ministers discussed the pressing issues of cooperation in the Central Asian region, including within the framework of international and regional organizations, and exchanged views on ways of constructively addressing existing issues.

The meeting was held in accordance with the agreement reached in Tashkent on April 7, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, informed his colleagues about the main provisions of the speech of the Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.

Particular attention was paid to concrete initiatives of the Uzbek president, aimed at strengthening cooperation between the Central Asian nations.

The parties supported the initiative of Uzbekistan to hold the International High-Level Conference entitled "Central Asia: One Past and Common Future, Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Prosperity", which will promote the development of joint regional solutions based on constructive dialogue, the principles of equality, mutual benefit, respect and consideration of each other's interests.

The conference will be held in Samarkand in November 2017.

The participants of the meeting confirmed their interest in joint efforts for Central Asia to become a region of stability, sustainable development and good-neighborliness. They also highlighted the usefulness of such five-sided regular meetings at various levels.

Central Asia is extending from the Caspian Sea in the west to the border of western China in the east. It is bounded on the north by Russia and on the south by Iran, Afghanistan, and China. The region consists of the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan.

Central Asias economic activity is centered on irrigated agriculture in the south and on heavy and light industry and mining in Kazakhstan.

Of the five Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan, with a population of 30.9 million, is the most populous Central Asian country.

Over the past decade, Central Asia has emerged as a vital region in the global energy market as the worlds economic center has shifted eastward.

Central Asia has long possessed large volumes of oil and natural gas, but for decades, Central Asias energy infrastructure remained underdeveloped due to a number of reasons.

Kazakhstan is the regions leading oil producer and ninth-largest country in the world. Turkmenistan is the regions main gas exporter, and exports its reserves directly to China through the Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline. Uzbekistan also supplies gas through the upgraded pipeline network.

Turkmenistan is also among the main cotton exporters of the world. The country seeks to achieve about 1.05 million cotton harvest this year.

Tajikistan is the smallest oil reserve holder in Central Asia. The country has 4.4 gigawatts (GWe) of generating capacity, about 90% of which is hydroelectric.

Now, the Central Asian seek to diversify their export destinations and are viewed as favorable investment opportunities by many Western companies.
Honey, a healthy foodstuff which improves human nutrition and boosts immunity, has long tradition as a food source in Uzbekistan, Azernews reported.

Currently, beekeeping continues to develop dynamically in this Central Asian country. Special attention paid to the development of beekeeping and saturation of the domestic market with affordable and high-quality products has a positive impact on the expansion of honey production.

This year it is planned to produce more than 1,700 tons of honey in the Fergana region, UzA reported.

Uzbekistan pays special attention to the further development of beekeeping and wide popularization of best practices in the field. The consistent reforms implemented in Uzbekistan serve to ensure abundance in the markets, supplying the population with quality and affordable vitamin products.

Annual honey making in Uzbekistan remains quite low, fluctuating around the mark of 13,000 tons.

Bees and products of their life activity is a real gift of nature to people, however, long-standing roots and traditional methods do not prevent beekeeping from remaining an actual business idea.

Association of beekeepers of the Fergana region is carrying out large-scale work on further development of the industry. The Association, which previously consisted of 10-15 beekeepers, now unites more than 1,200 qualified specialists in its ranks. Among them there are a lot of those whose experience is studied and highly valued not only in Uzbekistan, but also abroad. Together with their families, they raise up to 1,500-2,000 bee colonies.

Special attention is paid to strengthening cooperation with specialists from the United States, Israel, Russia, Spain, Canada, Switzerland and other countries, studying and making extensive use of their experience. Beekeepers throughout the year exported more than 30,000 bee queens and received a good income.

Beekeepers of the Fergana region have established an exchange of experience with their colleagues from Israel. Their experience of obtaining large volumes of quality honey was well studied and widely introduced in the region.

Beekeeping from an ecological point of view is definitely a "green" business, which makes it even more attractive. Bees pollinate not only fruit trees and flowering herbs, but also agricultural crops, increasing their yield by 30-40 percent and increasing the productivity of land.

Beekeeping farms receive honey and beekeeping products for 10 billion soums per year, while 120 billion soums of profit is received due to pollination of cotton, wheat and other plants. In this regard, opportunities will be created to expand and improve the effectiveness of this work at the level of modern requirements.

Earlier, the training center under the Association was created. The center has a research laboratory, training halls, a specialized library, an electronic archival database, a workshop for processing and packaging honey, a sewing workshop as well as a workshop for making wax frames, equipment and beehives. A special school for the training of young beekeepers has been opened.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited this training center during his trip to the Fergana region in June and familiarized with the work carried out here. He also gave instructions on the development of beekeeping and training of specialists in this sphere. At present, large-scale work is being carried out in this direction.
Tehran, Iran, September 22

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

A senior Iranian banker believes that Oberbanks deal to finance projects in Iran renders a "positive and constructive" turning point in Irans banking ties with other countries.

Oberbank (OBER.VI) on Thursday said it had signed a one-billion-euro deal with Iran, enabling it to finance new ventures there and making it one of the first European banks to do so since sanctions on Iran were eased in 2016.

"This will encourage more banks, the rather bigger and more conservative banks, also to attempt strengthening ties with Iran," Bahaoddin Hosseini Hashemi, former president of Sarmayeh Bank, told Trend September 22.

The nuclear deal Iran struck in 2015 with six major powers lifted many sanctions against the country in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities and paved the way for international business deals.

But many banks have stayed away for fear of inadvertently breaking remaining U.S. sanctions, which could lead to huge fines.

"The world has realized the economic importance of Iran, as the 19th biggest economy in the world, with high national payment power, low debt-to-GDP ratio, and rich energy resources," Hashemi noted.

Oberbanks President Franz Gasselsberger said after signing the deal that Irans economy is attractive to Austria and the world in general, adding that Iran has all that is needed for it to turn into a leading economy.

He also explained that the deal will cover development projects in areas of health and infrastructure, among others.

U.S. President Donald Trump has created new uncertainties over the U.S. stance toward the Iran nuclear agreement. Trump told reporters this week he had made a decision on what to do about the agreement but would not say what he had decided.

Oberbank, Austrias seventh-biggest bank, with a balance sheet of roughly 20 billion euros ($24 billion), signed the deal at its headquarters in Linz along with representatives from Irans central bank and the Finance Ministry.

Oberbanks agreement with Iran covers projects by Austrian companies in Iran lasting more than two years in areas that were previously under sanctions. Oberbank already finances exports to Iran in areas such as food.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Fatih Karimov Trend:

The National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) intends to grant the provision of H2S gas monitoring services to a well known and qualified contractor through a two-stage public tender.

Tender NO : 5042 33/6  P/96

Brief of the scope of required services: Provision of H2S gas monitoring services on board of three jack up drilling units.

Tender guarantee: 54,764 euros

The participants may obtain pre-qualification and tender draft documents by sending their formal application to the NIDC's Contracts Department via Fax or email.

Fax: +98-61-34148320-1

Email: [email protected]

Parties should submit the completed pre-qualification documents no later than Oct. 11, 2017 to the following address: Hall #107, 1st floor, Tender Committee, Operations Building, NIDC, Airport Sq., Ahwaz, Iran.

Final tender documents will be sent to the Emails of the competent and qualified contractors approved by NIDC.

The participants which have more than four active contracts with NIDC, have no right to participate in the present tender or any other tenders. 
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

The effect of confrontation of US President Donald Trump with Iran can backfire, as a result of which the world will lose hope for curbing Irans nuclear program and, ultimately, will face unpredictable consequences.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said if the US withdraws from the nuclear deal, Iran has a number of options in response.

Therefore, Tehran intends to respond to threats by US President Donald Trump to break the agreement unilaterally, Zarif told CNN.

Meanwhile, the foreign minister noted that his country has an accurate plan of action for such development of events.

Iran has a number of options which include walking away from the deal and going back with greater speed with its nuclear program, which will remain peaceful but which will not address and accept the limitations that we voluntarily accepted over our nuclear program, said Zarif.

"This means that, first of all, Iran will not allow any inspections on its nuclear facilities, and then the world will have to guess what happens there, he added.

Today, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the only authority engaged in the issue of Irans nuclear program, and inspections of IAEA confirm that Tehran respects all terms of the deal with the West. However, for some reason, the US doesnt trust the IAEA, and always talks about doubts on Irans compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, Iran is well aware of its advantageous position in the confrontation with the US, given that it is supported by all Western countries.

Zarif, in his recent interview with The New York Times, rejected any new negotiations with the United States over extending the length or conditions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying that Iran would talk about changing the deal only if every concession it made  including giving up nuclear fuel  were reconsidered.

What the administration really wanted, Zarif continued, was to keep the Iranian concessions while trying to extract more from Iran  but with no new concessions from the United States or other parties.

Tehran made a good move  in exchange for Washingtons desired change in the deal, to get preferences for Iran, given that the US hasnt fully fulfilled its promises and hasnt lifted all sanctions off Iran.

However, what will this game of giveaway lead to  is a big question. The fragile agreement, which gives the world the right to hope that nuclear weapons will not appear in Iran in the next few years, can shatter because of a principled dislike of a particular president towards a country.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have exchanged views regarding an imminent trilateral meeting between Russia, Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic in Tehran.

The discussion took place over phone, Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of the Iranian president for political affairs, wrote on Twitter on Monday.

The official declined to provide the exact date of the upcoming meeting.

The presidents of Iran and Russia also discussed the latest regional developments during the phone conversation, Aboutalebi added.

The sides stressed on the need for serious fight against terrorism. Putin and Rouhani also called for protecting unity in Iraq as well as stability in the region, the presidential aide suggested.
Tehran, Iran, Sept. 25

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Things on all sides indicate that the collapse of Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) is imminent, a former Iranian lawmaker and political expert says.

On the ground, things are not like they used to be two years ago. At that time, the terrorists held much of Syria, but now they have lost so much ground and are limited to a small area, Mohammad Saleh Jokar, former member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament told Trend Sept. 25.

The liberation of Aleppo as well as new inroads by the Syrian forces into Dayr al-Zawr have been key advancements, the MP noted.

Last week, commander of Irans Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, who led Irans advisory mission in Syria and Iraq, said he expected the demise of IS in less than two months.

On Sept. 24, the Revolution Guards bombarded some IS positions in Syria using drones.

Irans anti-IS push found new momentum in June when the Guards fired six medium-range ground-to-ground ballistic missiles into IS bases in Dayr al-Zawr in retaliation for twin terrorist attacks in the Iranian capital Tehran, which killed 17 people and injured over 50 others.

On June 7, gunmen mounted almost simultaneous assaults on Irans Parliament and the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. IS claimed responsibility for the assaults.

Jokar went on to add that the gains of the Syrian government against terrorists and dissident groups are not limited to ground operations.

There have been diplomatic advancements as well. The dissidents have also given way, and an atmosphere of understanding as a common ground has grown bolder.

Disagreements among countries that used to support the terrorists have also been of impact, he said, adding, All in all, we will hopefully see the collapse of IS in near future, much to the benefit of Syria and regional countries.
Iran's President communicated 'counter America's terrorist and adventurist actions' act to the Foreign Ministry, IRNA reported.

The anti-US act which was overwhelmingly approved in the Iranian parliament in August is aimed at countering Washington's adventurous and terrorist activities in the region as well as violation of human rights by Washington.

The bill secured 240 yes votes and one abstention. A total of 247 lawmakers were present at the parliament session.

The legislation is a reaction to a bill ratified recently in the US Senate allowing Washington to impose non-nuclear sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iranian officials have declared the bill wisely tried and Abbas Araqchi, top Iranian nuclear negotiator said recently that 'The bill has very wisely tried not to violate the JCPOA and also give no chance to the other party to manipulate it'.

According to the bill submitted to the parliament's Presiding Board, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Intelligence, as well as the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), the IRGC Quds Force, and the Islamic Republic Army, based on their hierarchy and in coordination with the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, are obliged to, within a period of six months following the ratification of the bill, devise a comprehensive strategic plan to counter the US threats.

The plan should be aimed at addressing the US bullies and threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Washington's hegemonic, terrorist and divisive policies, its illegal military and security interferences in the region, and the US military and intelligence support of terrorism and extremism.

The bill also urges the above-said ministries and military bodies to annually report to the Majlis on the implementation of their plans.

The bill also, with regard to the US overt and covert military and intelligence support for terrorist groups and the confession made by some US officials, including US former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, that the Washington is behind the formation and propping up of Daesh (ISIS), recognizes the US forces in the region, both military and intelligence, as promoters of terrorism.

Therefore, the following entities won't be granted a visa to enter Iran, and they are not going to be allowed to do any transactions at the Iranian banks, while their accounts will be blocked and their properties in Iran will be confiscated.
Mexicans packed churches on Sunday to pray for the victims of the countrys deadliest quake in 32 years as rescue teams searched against the odds for any survivors trapped under rubble since Tuesdays tremor shook Mexico City and nearby states, Reuters reported.

As another aftershock jolted southwestern Mexico on Sunday, the death toll from Tuesdays 7.1 magnitude earthquake climbed to 320 people. With thousands of buildings damaged, survivors slept on the street outside their homes and estimates of the cost of the earthquake ran as high as $8 billion.

Many have been traumatized by the second major quake to strike Mexico City in their lifetime after a devastating 1985 tremor killed an estimated 10,000 people.

In the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the national shrine of the majority Roman Catholic country, thousands of people gathered to pray.

I came to ask God for strength for those who lost loved ones and for the Virgin to watch over us and keep us safe, said 69-year-old Maria Gema Ortiz. Thanks to all those who came from other countries to help. Thanks to all and long live Mexico!

Makeshift places of worship have popped up next to the crumbling cement and mangled steel of collapsed buildings in the deeply religious country.

In upscale Roma, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods of the capital, a priest led mass for nearly two dozen people under a blue tarp while a nun handed out small cards with an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who according to the Catholic faith first appeared to an Aztec convert in 1531.

More than 44,000 public schools in six states were due to reopen on Monday, but only 103 of the 4,000 public schools in Mexico City would open so as not to impede rescue and relief efforts.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump banned or restricted travel visas to the US from eight countries, Sputnik reported.

The new order restricts five of the six countries Trump listed in his original travel ban, including Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, and lifts restrictions on Sudan as well as adding new restrictions on visitors and immigrants from North Korea, Venezuela and Chad.

Trump banned the issuance of all visas from North Korea and Syria, but for Iran, he blocked all visas except those of students and exchange visitors. Immigrant, business and tourist visas from Libya, Yemen and Chad have all been banned.

The new executive order also suspends visas for government officials on business or tourist travel from Venezuela and Somali immigrants, reported NBC.

The visa suspensions will begin October 18 for Chad, North Korea and Venezuela, while for the five remaining countries, the exceptions to the ban for close family members will remain until October 18.

The administration also added that they will modify the bans for each country based on whether that country shares information about travelers' criminal histories or employs electronic passports with traveler information.

"The goal is not to indefinitely block certain nationals from coming to the United States. It is to protect Americans until foreign governments do comply with our standards and no longer pose a risk," Miles Taylor, counselor to Homeland Security secretary Elaine Duke, recently said, according to Nbcnews.com.

"We had a range of countries, from total willful non-compliance and non-engagement to countries that maybe couldn't meet the requirements but were interested in doing so," Taylor said last week.

"Some countries didn't even have the courtesy to say, 'Go fly a kite,'" he added, cited by Nbcnews.com.
14 arrested for staging protest against Medical Edu Act

Police have arrested 14 youth for staging a protest in front of the Parliament building in Kathmandu on Monday.
Turkey and Iraq will launch a joint military exercise on the Turkish-Iraqi border on Tuesday following a controversial referendum in northern Iraq, according to the Turkish military late Monday, Anadolu reported.

Turkey started its military manoeuvers in southeastern Silopi region on Sept. 18, a week ahead of the referendum on independence in northern Iraq.

On Monday, Iraqis in areas held by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) -- and in a handful of territories disputed between Erbil and Baghdad  voted to decide whether to secede from Iraq.

Along with Baghdad, Turkey, the U.S., Iran and the UN have all spoken out against the poll, saying it will only distract from the ongoing fight against Daesh and further destabilize the region.

In a brief statement on its official website, the Turkish General Staff said the third phase of the military exercise will start on Tuesday jointly with the Iraqi military in the Habur border gate, also known as Ibrahim Khalil border crossing, on the Turkish-Iraqi border in Silopi district of Sirnak province.

The area sits to the north of the Syrian and Iraqi borders and contains the Habur border crossing, which provides the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq with its main access point to the outside world.

Across the Syrian frontier from Silopi lies territory controlled by the PKK/PYD. Counter-terrorism operations targeting the PKK on the Turkish side of the border are ongoing, the statement said.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the EU and U.S. as well as Turkey, although only Turkey has designated the PKK/PYD as a terror group in Syria, where it is used by the U.S.-led coalition to fight Daesh.
By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - Sep 25, 2017 - 15:21 | World, All

North Korea opened an annual international trade fair Monday involving over 250 companies, amid toughened U.N. sanctions and growing calls in the United States to tighten the screws on its economy.

The four-day event to run through Thursday, intended by North Korea to increase its trade with the outside world, has attracted about 80 foreign entities from 14 countries, including China, Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan, to set up booths.

"The fair will create opportunities for the development of friendship and external economic relations," O Ryong Chol, a vice minister of external economic relations, said at the opening ceremony at an exhibition hall in Pyongyang.

He also stressed that North Korea, united around leader Kim Jong Un, is accelerating its production and innovation power, regardless of intensifying economic sanctions driven by the United States and other "hostile forces."

The number of participating companies is more or less the same as last year.

The 13th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, featuring items ranging from electric appliances and machinery to food and health products, comes as many countries try to clamp down on trade and reinforce the implementation of U.N. sanctions to compel North Korea to alter its behavior.

The United Nations imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea in August and September in response to its continued nuclear and missile tests.

The sanctions now ban 90 percent of North Korea's publicly-reported exports and limit the amount of energy sources it can import.

In addition, independent measures from the United States and its allies, including Japan and South Korea, prevent firms and individuals from financing and facilitating trade with North Korea.

Taiwan recently completely banned trade with the country.

Jones Wang, whose Taipei-based medical firm has been taking part in the fair since 2007, however, said he was not aware of the self-ruled island government's order.

"They love Taiwan medicine," Wang said, adding that his company's products are increasingly becoming popular as they are "high-quality" and said he was not concerned about the current political situation.

China has also ordered its major banks to freeze accounts of North Korean firms and individuals in its northeastern province of Liaoning, through which about 70 percent of trade between the two countries runs, according to people with knowledge of the situation, although Beijing does not officially confirm this.

Among foreign booths, those of companies from China, North Korea's economic lifeline, were the largest in number.

Wei Li, an executive of China's leading heavy machinery maker Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., said the North Korean market is still very small, but it has decided to participate in the exhibition to assess future business opportunities.

"It is not easy yet," Li said. "They want to buy all of these things but the problem is always money."

He said transferring money from North Korea to China is becoming harder, but the future could be a "lot brighter" for the company's business, given that numerous construction projects have been under way in Pyongyang in recent years.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 25, 2017 - 19:49 | World, All

Malaysia on Sunday slammed an ASEAN statement on the humanitarian situation in Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine State, calling it a "misrepresentation of the reality" that has caused more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

"Malaysia would like to disassociate itself from the chairman's statement," Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said after the Philippines, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said ASEAN foreign ministers had "expressed concern" over developments in the state.

Anifah said Malaysia had made known its concerns to its fellow ASEAN members, "but they were not reflected in the chairman's statement. Hence, the chairman's statement was not based on consensus."

He also lamented that the chairman's statement omits specific mention of the Rohingya Muslims -- a stateless, persecuted and unrecognized ethnic minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar -- and merely refers to "affected communities."

Myanmar's government has rejected any use of the term "Rohingya."

Regarding the ASEAN statement's condemnation of attacks by Rohingya militants' against Myanmar security forces on Aug. 25, Anifah said Malaysia does too, but it recognizes that the Myanmar military's crackdown have been "disproportionate," leading to the "deaths of many innocent civilians" and causing the mass exodus to Bangladesh.

He urged Myanmar authorities "to end the violence, stop the destruction to lives and properties, allow immediate unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Rohingyas and all affected communities, and to resolve the Rohingya refugee problem."

Malaysia is worried that the recent conflict could result in another influx of Rohingya refugees into the predominantly Muslim country, which already hosts almost 60,000 of them from earlier rounds of violence in Rakhine.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, in a statement Monday, said the ASEAN statement was issued after "extensive consultations with Malaysia" and taking into account the sentiments of the other members of the 10-member regional bloc.

"ASEAN is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the northern Rakhine State, and since Malaysia has a different view on some matters, out of respect for its position, we decided that instead of a Foreign Ministers' Statement, we would issue a Chairman's Statement that would reflect the general sentiments of the other foreign ministers," it said.

As this year's ASEAN chairman, the Philippines is allowed a "certain level of flexibility" in the statements it issues on various matters, according to the department.

On Saturday, Anifah said in an address to the U.N. General Assembly that "horrifying crimes against humanity" were occurring in Rakhine, with "indiscriminate violence" being perpetrated against the Rohingya people.

"Such atrocities have unleashed a full-scale humanitarian crisis that the world simply cannot ignore but must be compelled to act," he said.

"If the current situation is not addressed judiciously, the desperate people in Rakhine will become easy prey to recruitment by extremists. Prolonged frustration, anger and deprivation provide fertile breeding ground for it," he warned.
The Suits set had a royal visitor earlier this week. While in town for the Invictus Games, Prince Harry surprised his girlfriend Meghan Markle on the Toronto set of her hit USA Network show. "He was super low key, met some crew and was so happy to watch his lady," a source excitedly tells HELLO!. "He's incredibly supportive of her work."

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VIEW GALLERY

Meghan Markle supported Prince Harry at the Invictus Games after he supported her on set Photo: Getty Images

The 36-year-old, who is known for playing lawyer Rachel Zane on the legal drama, has her love in town until September 30 for his Paralympic-style games. "Meghan showed him around set," the insider adds. "Everyone was so excited."

RELATED: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make first public appearance together at 2017 Invictus Games

The news comes merely a day after Meghan supported her prince at Saturday night's Invictus Games opening ceremony in Toronto. Although the actress was seated a section away from her royal boyfriend, it still technically marked their first public appearance together. Harry, 33, was seated in more of an official spot, alongside First Lady Melania Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

VIEW GALLERY

Prince Harry was seated a section away from Meghan at the opening ceremony Photo: Getty Images

Meghan was her stunning-self in a plum-colored midi dress from Wilfred at Aritzia, a matching leather jacket from Mackage and clutch. She looked on with pride and clapped as Justin Trudeau gave a welcome speech and as the competitors entered the booming stadium. The actress was joyfully seated next to Markus Anderson, who introduced Meghan and Harry to each other over a year ago.

GALLERY: HIGHLIGHTS FROM HARRY'S INVICTUS GAMES 2017

Meghan's appearance at the opening ceremony is believed to be a further sign that an engagement is in the cards. Harry and Meghan, who have been quietly dating for just over a year, are expected to make an announcement before the year ends. Up until now, they have tried to keep their romance out of the public eye with only a few snatched pictures of them as a couple taken.
When the strong winds that circle the Arctic slacken, cold polar air can escape and cause extreme winter chills in parts of the Northern hemisphere. A new study finds that these weak states have become more persistent over the past four decades and can be linked to cold winters in Russia and Europe. It is the first to show that changes in winds high up in the stratosphere substantially contributed to the observed winter cooling trend in northern Eurasia. While it is still a subject of research how the Arctic under climate change impacts the rest of the world, this study lends further support that a changing Arctic impacts the weather across large swaths of the Northern Hemisphere population centers.

"In winter, the freezing Arctic air is normally 'locked' by strong circumpolar winds several tens of kilometers high in the atmosphere, known as the stratospheric polar vortex, so that the cold air is confined near the pole," says Marlene Kretschmer from PIK, lead-author of the study to be published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. "We found that there's a shift towards more-persistent weak states of the polar vortex. This allows frigid air to break out of the Arctic and threaten Russia and Europe with cold extremes. In fact this can explain most of the observed cooling of Eurasian winters since 1990."

Warm Arctic, cold continents

Despite global warming, recent winters in the Northeastern US, Europe and especially Asia were anomalously cold - some regions like Western Siberia even show a downward temperature trend in winter. In stark contrast, the Arctic has been warming rapidly. Paradoxically, both phenomena are likely linked: When sea-ice North of Scandinavia and Russia melts, the uncovered ocean releases more warmth into the atmosphere and this can impact the atmosphere up to about 30 kilometers height in the stratosphere disturbing the polar vortex. Weak states of the high-altitude wind circling the Arctic then favors the occurrence of cold spells in the mid-latitudes. Previous work by Kretschmer and colleagues identified this causal pathway in observational data and it is further supported by several climate computer simulation studies.

"Our latest findings not only confirm the link between a weak polar vortex and severe winter weather, but also calculated how much of the observed cooling in regions like Russia and Scandinavia is linked to the weakening vortex. It turns out to be most," says co-author Judah Cohen from Atmospheric and Environmental Research/Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US). "Several types of weather extremes are on the rise with climate change, and our study adds evidence that this can also include cold spells, which is an unpleasant surprise for these regions." The effect is stronger over Asia and Europe than over the US.

"Circulation patterns drive our weather"

"It is very important to understand how global warming affects circulation patterns in the atmosphere," says co-author Dim Coumou from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands. "Jet Stream changes can lead to more abrupt and surprising disturbances to which society has to adapt. The uncertainties are quite large, but global warming provides a clear risk given its potential to disturb circulation patterns driving our weather - including potentially disastrous extremes."

###

Article: Marlene Kretschmer, Dim Coumou, Laurie Agel, Mathew Barlow, Eli Tziperman, Judah Cohen (2017): More frequent weak stratospheric polar vortex states linked to cold extremes. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. [DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0259.1]

For further information please contact:

PIK press office

Phone: +49 331 288 25 07

E-Mail: press@pik-potsdam.de

Twitter: @PIK_Climate

http://www.pik-potsdam.de
36,000 families in jhapa dont have Toilets

More than 36,000 households in Jhapa still do not have toilets at their homes, according to a study of Division Office of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Agitating docs picket Health Ministry

More than 200 medical doctors have picketed the Health Ministry since this morning putting forth various demands.
The Allergan logo is seen in this photo illustration November 23, 2015. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration/File Photo (Reuters)

(Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Allergan Plc <AGN.N> on Monday authorized a $2 billion buyback of its common stock, sending its shares up after a week of disappointing news on its drug development pipeline.

Allergan shares have fallen by around a fifth in value since late July but were up nearly 4 percent in morning trading on Monday.

The company also said its Chief Financial Officer Tessa Hilado, 53, would retire.

The planned stock buyback follows Allergan's completion of a separate $15 billion repurchase, and after the company reported mixed trial data for its experimental treatment of NASH liver fibrosis.

Allergan on Friday also received a "refusal to file" letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an expanded approval for its Vraylar drug to treat symptoms associated with schizophrenia in adults.

Allergan said it had begun to search for a new finance chief, but declined to provide further comment on Hilado's departure.

Analysts at Bernstein, based on discussions with Allergan's investor relations team, said Hilado's departure was her personal decision and should not be viewed as suggesting "issues this year or 2018."

Hilado did not have broad support among Allergan investors and her exit would not be a "particularly strong negative," they added.

Hilado joined Allergan in 2014 and will continue in her current role until a successor is named.

Allergan, which said it was committed to boosting its dividend payout annually, also backed its 2017 financial guidance and its commitment to pay down $3.75 billion of debt in 2018.

The drugmaker had $30.24 billion in current and long-term debt and capital leases as of June 30.

"While the CFO's departure may create greater uncertainty, we take the company's reaffirmation of 2017 guidance and third quarter revenue projections as offsetting positives," Wells Fargo analyst David Maris said.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra and Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)
Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term in office on Sunday but will have to build an uneasy coalition to form a government after her conservatives hemorrhaged support in the face of a surge by the far-right.

The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by winning 13.1% of the vote, projected results showed, a result that will bring a far-right party into parliament for the first time in more than half a century.

Merkels conservative bloc emerged as the largest parliamentary party but, with just 33.2% of the vote, saw its support slump to the lowest since 1949  the first time national elections were held in post-war Germany.

Her main Social Democrat rivals also received their worst result since the 1940s  just 20.8%  after nearly half of voters repudiated the two parties that have dominated Germany since World War Two.

With parliament now fragmented, Merkel appears likely to cobble together a tricky three-way coalition with a pro-business group and the Greens.

Merkel said the success of the far right was a test for Germans. It was important to listen to the concerns of their voters and win them back.

Of course we had hoped for a slightly better result. But we mustnt forget that we have just completed an extraordinarily challenging legislative period, so I am happy that we reached the strategic goals of our election campaign, Merkel said.

We are the strongest party, we have the mandate to build the next government  and there cannot be a coalition government built against us, Merkel added.

The election was fought on the tense backdrop of surging support for far left and far right parties across Europe.

Germany in particular is coping with the arrival of more than 1 million refugees and other new migrants, with tension with Russia since Moscows incursions into Ukraine, and with doubt about Europes future since Britain voted to quit the EU.

After shock election results last year, from the Brexit vote to the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, leaders of Europes establishment have looked to Merkel to rally the liberal Western order.

Story continues

But after acting as an anchor of stability in Europe and beyond, she now faces an unstable situation at home as she must now form a coalition, an arduous process that could take months.

Immediately after the release of exit polls, the deputy party leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in a grand coalition with Merkels conservatives for the last four years, said her party would now go into opposition.

For us, the grand coalition ends today, Manuela Schwesig told ZDF broadcaster. For us its clear that well go into opposition as demanded by the voter.

Without the SPD, Merkels only straightforward path to a majority in parliament would be a three-way tie-up with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens, known as a Jamaica coalition because the black, yellow and green colors of the three parties match the Jamaican flag.

Such an arrangement is untested at the national level in Germany and widely seen as inherently unstable. Both the FDP and the Greens have played down the prospect of a three-way coalition, but neither won enough seats on Sunday to give Merkel a majority on its own.

NEW ERA

Whatever the make-up of her coalition, Merkel, 63, faces four years of government in a fragmented parliament after the return of the FDP  unrepresented at national level for the last four years  and the arrival of the AfD.

Founded in 2013 by an anti-euro group of academics, the AfD has surged as an anti-immigrant group in the wake of Merkels 2015 decision to leave German borders open to over 1 million migrants, most of them fleeing war in the Middle East.

The partys entry into the national parliament heralds the beginning of a new era in German politics that will see more robust debate and a departure from the steady, consensus-based approach that has marked the post-war period.

The other parties elected to the Bundestag all refuse to work with the AfD, which says it will press for Merkel to be severely punished for opening the door to refugees and migrants.

After the AfD hurt her conservatives in regional elections last year, Merkel, a pastors daughter who grew up in Communist East Germany, wondered if she should run for re-election.

But with the migrant issue under control this year, she threw herself into a punishing campaign schedule.

Despite losing support, Merkel, Europes longest serving leader, will join the late Helmut Kohl, her mentor who reunified Germany, and Konrad Adenauer, who led Germanys rebirth after World War Two, as the only post-war chancellors to win four national elections.
President Donald Trump on Saturday upbraided Arizona Senator John McCain for disappointing the voters of his state, saying the senator 'let Arizona down' by opposing the GOP's latest effort to reform health care, imperiling the Republicans' drive to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. For the second time in two months, The 2008 Republican nominee dealt a fatal blow to his party's attempt to fix Obamacare . In a statement on Friday, McCain said that he could not, "in good conscience," vote for the proposal known as Graham-Cassidy  despite the legislation being sponsored by South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, one of McCain's closest Senate allies. In a dramatic late-night vote in July, McCain  who has cultivated a reputation as a "maverick" with an independent streak  voted no on a similar attempt by the GOP to reform health care. On Twitter, Trump blasted McCain for his refusal to vote for the bill, saying he "never had any intention" of voting for Graham-Cassidy, adding that he "let Arizona down" by opposing it.John McCain never had any intention of voting for this Bill, which his Governor loves. He campaigned on Repeal & Replace. Let Arizona down!Arizona had a 116% increase in ObamaCare premiums last year, with deductibles very high. Chuck Schumer sold John McCain a bill of goods. Sad The proposal has also been criticized by the Medicaid directors in all 50 states, who issued a joint letter this week that said Graham-Cassidy would place a massive financial burden on the states. Large Block Grants to States is a good thing to do. Better control & management. Great for Arizona. McCain let his best friend L.G. down! The bill passage hinged on support from four undecided Republicans. Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine, said she is leaning toward voting no on Graham-Cassidy. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has already expressed his opposition to the bill, which he said didn't fully repeal the Affordable Care Act. Trump, however, praised Paul on Saturday, predicting he would ultimately back an effort "for the good of the party."I know Rand Paul and I think he may find a way to get there for the good of the Party!--CNBC's Christina Wilkie contributed to this report. President Donald Trump on Saturday upbraided Arizona Senator John McCain for disappointing the voters of his state, saying the senator 'let Arizona down' by opposing the GOP's latest effort to reform health care, imperiling the Republicans' drive to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. For the second time in two months, The 2008 Republican nominee dealt a fatal blow to his party's attempt to fix Obamacare . In a statement on Friday, McCain said that he could not, "in good conscience," vote for the proposal known as Graham-Cassidy  despite the legislation being sponsored by South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, one of McCain's closest Senate allies. In a dramatic late-night vote in July, McCain  who has cultivated a reputation as a "maverick" with an independent streak  voted no on a similar attempt by the GOP to reform health care. On Twitter, Trump blasted McCain for his refusal to vote for the bill, saying he "never had any intention" of voting for Graham-Cassidy, adding that he "let Arizona down" by opposing it. John McCain never had any intention of voting for this Bill, which his Governor loves. He campaigned on Repeal & Replace. Let Arizona down! Arizona had a 116% increase in ObamaCare premiums last year, with deductibles very high. Chuck Schumer sold John McCain a bill of goods. Sad The proposal has also been criticized by the Medicaid directors in all 50 states, who issued a joint letter this week that said Graham-Cassidy would place a massive financial burden on the states. Large Block Grants to States is a good thing to do. Better control & management. Great for Arizona. McCain let his best friend L.G. down! The bill passage hinged on support from four undecided Republicans. Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine, said she is leaning toward voting no on Graham-Cassidy. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has already expressed his opposition to the bill, which he said didn't fully repeal the Affordable Care Act. Trump, however, praised Paul on Saturday, predicting he would ultimately back an effort "for the good of the party." I know Rand Paul and I think he may find a way to get there for the good of the Party! --CNBC's Christina Wilkie contributed to this report.



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Integrated energy company, Chevron Corporation CVX recently divested its whole operating interest in oil producing assets at Puesto Flores and Estancia Vieja in the Neuquen Basin, Argentina to an upstream energy company, President Energy PLC.

Deal Details

Per the deal, Chevron received $400,000 from President Energy. The acquirer will pay $15 million and an additional $7 million by 2018 to the Rio Nego Province, where the basin is located. The deal will be closed by the end of September 2017. Till then, Chevron will manage the assets on behalf of President Energy.

The assets in Argentina have production capacity of more than 1,300 barrels of oil per day. The assets sold by Chevron have the capacity to generate positive cash flow of $1 million per month. Chevron has owned the assets for the last 15 years.

Other major players operating in the Neuquen Basin are Dutch integrated Royal Dutch Shell plc RDS.A, U.S. oil mammoth ExxonMobil Corporation XOM and France's Total S.A. TOT.

Deal Rationale

The deal is in line with Chevrons last years plan to divest $10 billion assets during 2016-17. This will enable the company to focus on its deepwater assets. The divestment plan is part of the companys strategy to increase its cash margin. Chevron has plans to generate a total of $400 million from divestments in the second quarter of 2017.

Chevron's divestment plans of lower margin barrels include assets in Bangladesh, Canada, South Africa, Gulf of Mexico and Indonesia. Among these, sales and purchase agreements have already been signed for Bangladesh, Canada downstream and South Africa. The Indonesian properties brought $2.1 billion to the company.

About the Company and Zacks Rank

San Ramon, CA-based Chevron is one of the largest publicly traded oil and gas companies in the world, based on proved reserves. It is engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, refining and marketing of petroleum products, manufacturing of chemicals, and other energy-related businesses. Chevron, in its present form, resulted from the 2001 merger between Texaco and Chevron Corporation. The companys operations are divided into two main segments: Upstream and Downstream.

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Chevron is one of the largest integrated energy players in the world. The companys oil and gas development project pipeline is among the best in the industry. However, with deficits in its operating cash flow, the company has to look for other avenues like asset sales to meet the shortfall.

Chevron presently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Price Performance

Chevron has lost 0.4% of its value year to date compared with 0.6% fall of its industry.

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Oil prices extend streak of weekly gains

Investing.com - Oil prices settled a bit higher on Friday, hovering close to their best levels in months amid optimism that the crude market was starting to rebalance.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures tacked on 11 cents, or around 0.2%, to end at $50.66 a barrel by close of trade, not far from its highest level since May 25 at $51.11 reached on Wednesday.

For the week, U.S. oil prices gained about 1.5%, their third-straight weekly climb.

Meanwhile, Brent crude futures, the benchmark for oil prices outside the U.S., rose 43 cents, or roughly 0.8%, to settle at $56.86 a barrel after touching a more than six-month peak of $56.91 earlier in the session.

The global benchmark closed the week with a gain of 2.2%, its fourth-consecutive weekly climb.

Major oil producers convening in Vienna for an OPEC-led committee meeting on Friday boasted record compliance with their production-cut agreement, but, as expected, decided to wait a bit longer to see if any further action was needed.

OPEC and non-OPEC compliance with the deal to curb output rose to 116% in August, the committee said, a strong increase from the 94% compliance achieved a month ago.

Kuwaiti Oil Minister Essam al-Marzouq, who chaired the meeting, said the market "is evidently well on its way towards rebalancing."

In May, OPEC and non-OPEC members led by Russia agreed to extend production cuts of 1.8 million barrels per day for a period of nine months until March 2018 in a bid to reduce global oil inventories and support oil prices.

But so far rising production from the U.S., Nigeria and Libya has undermined the cartels efforts to curb excess supply.

Russias energy minister suggested that January is the earliest date that an extension to the global accord can be considered, although other ministers suggested such a decision could be taken before the end of this year.

The committees next meeting is set for November 29 in Vienna, just a day ahead of OPECs regularly scheduled meeting.

Story continues

Elsewhere, in the U.S., market participants mulled over data showing the number of oil rigs continued to decline, suggesting a possible tightening in domestic production.

Oilfield services firm Baker Hughes said its weekly count of oil rigs operating in the U.S. declined by 5 to 744, marking the third weekly decline in a row.

The weekly rig count is an important barometer for the drilling industry and serves as a proxy for oil production and oil services demand.

Meanwhile, gasoline futures inched up 1.9 cents, or 1.2%, to end at $1.626 on Friday. It closed around 0.4% higher for the week.

Heating oil finished flat at $1.808 a gallon, but still ending roughly 1% higher for the week.

Natural gas futures added 1.4 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $3.021 per million British thermal units. It saw a weekly loss of nearly 2.2%.

In the week ahead, market participants will eye fresh weekly information on U.S. stockpiles of crude and refined products on Tuesday and Wednesday to further weigh what the impact of recent storm activity was on supply and demand.

Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.

Tuesday, September 26

The American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, is to publish its weekly report on U.S. oil supplies.

Wednesday, September 27

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is to release weekly data on oil and gasoline stockpiles.

Thursday, September 28

The U.S. government is set to produce a weekly report on natural gas supplies in storage.

Friday, September 29

Baker Hughes will release weekly data on the U.S. oil rig count.

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U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil traded in a narrow range most of the week as traded shrugged off the weekly inventories data while waiting for a key OPEC and non-OPEC members meeting that would determine whether the current program to trim production would be extended or deepened.

November West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures settled the week at $50.66, up $0.22 or +0.44%.

As it turned out, the oil producing group reached no decision and may wait until January before deciding whether to extend their output curbs beyond the first quarter.

Russias energy minister said no decision was expected before January, although other ministers suggested such a decision could be taken before the end of this year.

I believe that January is the earliest date when we can actually, credibly speak about the state of the market, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said. Other ministers suggested a decision could come this year.

In other news, oil services firm Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs operating in U.S. fields fell by 5 to a total of 744.

The fact that the OPEC and non-OPEC members failed to reach a decision wasnt much of a surprise. Nonetheless, the market continued to be supported by stronger demand forecasts from OPEC and the International Energy Administration. Some bullish traders also believe the market is getting close to rebalancing.

Weekly November West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil

Weekly Technical Analysis

The main trend is up according to the weekly swing chart. The trend turned up two weeks ago for the first time this year. If the upside momentum continues then look for a test of the next main top at $52.62. The main trend will turn back down on a trade through $46.14.

The main range is $58.37 to $42.80. Its retracement zone is $50.59 to $52.42. This zone was tested last week. This zone is very important to the longer-term structure of the market. Essentially, we are currently testing 50% for the year so a sustained move over $50.59 will be bullish and a sustained move under $50.59 will be bearish.

Story continues

The short-term range is $46.14 to $51.11. Its retracement zone is $48.63. If buyers cant overcome $50.59 then look for possible pullback into $48.63 to $48.04.

Weekly Forecast

Based on last weeks close at $50.66 and last weeks price action, the direction of the November WTI crude oil market this week is likely to be determined by trader reaction to the major 50% level at $50.59.

A sustained move over $50.59 will indicate the presence of buyers. This will also indicate that investors are willing to buy strength. This move could generate the upside momentum needed to challenge the major Fibonacci level at $52.42 and the main top at $52.62. Look for an acceleration to the upside if this top is taken out with conviction.

A sustained move under $50.59 will signal the presence of sellers. This will indicate that investors would rather buy a pullback into support instead of strength. If the selling pressure persists then look for a possible correction into $48.63 to $48.04. Since the main trend is up, buyers are likely to come in on a test of this zone.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

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Google's Android domintes the market, running most smartphones in the world (AFP Photo/JOSH EDELSON)

Washington (AFP) - With a handful of US technology giants growing more powerful and dominant, debate is intensifying on whether big tech's growth is healthy or not.

Over the past few years, Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Facebook and Amazon have become among the world's most valuable companies.

Along with stalwarts like Microsoft and rising stars like Netflix, the tech firms exercise enormous control over what people see and how they live.

Increasingly, policymakers and others have begun to consider breaking up or regulating the biggest technology companies, although imminent action appears unlikely.

While many consumers welcome innovation from the tech sector, critics have complained about the power of "gatekeepers" of information and other content.

Google holds around 90 percent of the internet search market in the United States and Europe. Facebook and Google scoop up some 60 percent of digital ad revenues and are eating up 90 percent of new ad growth in the United States.

Google's Android and Apple's iOS power the overwhelming majority of mobile devices. Amazon accounts for nearly half of US online sales and is expanding into new sectors.

- Concentration of power -

Barry Lynn, executive director of the Open Markets Institute, said three firms -- Google, Facebook and Amazon -- "have more power than any previous monopolies we've dealt with in the past century."

"We have to be incredibly concerned about the power of Facebook, Google and Amazon," said Lynn, who launched his research center last month after his team was ousted from the Google-funded New America Foundation.

"They have their hands on the flow of news, the flow of books and they are manipulating that flow in a conscious way to promote their interests."

Even though the idea of taking on the tech giants appears extreme, the upheaval in US politics over the past year has brought together allies from across the spectrum worried about their concentration of economic power.

Story continues

The recently formed "New Center" political alliance that includes leaders from the traditional right and left has placed "challenging big tech" on its agenda.

Bill Galston, a former White House advisor under Bill Clinton and co-founder of New Center, argued that tech monopolies are hurting wages, entrepreneurship and could be distorting the political landscape.

"The big tech firms have almost unlimited funds they can throw into lobbying, and they have been ramping this up steeply," Galston said. "Is that a good thing for democracy?"

Lou Kerner, partner at the investment firm Flight Ventures, said this monopoly power is more concentrated than any in recent history, and expressed concern it will "strangle innovation" and increase income inequality.

But Kerner said he opposes heavy-handed regulation or breakup of the tech giants.

"By their nature regulators move slowly and by the time they address the problems they are no longer problems," Kerner said.

"Historically the market has been much better at addressing monopoly powers in technology."

- Rewriting the book -

Ed Black, president of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which represents firms including Google, Facebook and Microsoft, said breaking up the tech giants could have a "chilling effect on innovation."

"If our goal is really to maintain innovation, spur the entire economy, and grow higher paying jobs, asking the government to penalize a successful foundational economic sector, absent bad behavior or consumer harm, seems illogical," Black said.

European regulators have taken a more aggressive approach, imposing a hefty fine on Google after concluding the search giant illegally favored its own shopping services, one of three antitrust investigations into the company.

In Washington, the rise of Donald Trump suggests a possible shift in US policy after years in which Silicon Valley was seen as close to the White House.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon said recently he was leading an effort within the administration to turn Facebook and Google into "public utilities."

But Federal Trade Commission chief Maureen Ohlhausen, who would lead any US antitrust action, signaled any effort to break up tech firms is remote.

"Given the clear consumer benefits of technology-driven innovation, I am concerned about the push to adopt an approach that will disregard consumer benefits in the pursuit of other perhaps even conflicting goals," Ohlhausen said in a speech at Georgetown University.

She said some tech critics want "to rewrite the modern rules" of antitrust enforcement to "pursue a wide variety of goals other than consumer welfare."
Leading fire-grilled chicken chain, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. LOCO, currently has more than 470 restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas and Utah. The company is looking to further expand its footprint in key markets through a mix of franchisee and company-owned stores.

In fact, El Pollo Loco has opened 18 restaurants year to date, with another seven slated to open in the coming weeks.

On Sep 21, the company opened its latest 2,660-square-foot outlet in Scottsdale, AZ. Located at 15255 N. 64th St., the resturant can accommodate about 60 guests.

The outlet features the brands new Vision Design and has an open kitchen layout to display the preparation of its signature dish. Also, it marks El Pollo Locos third restaurant in Scottsdale and 24th in the greater Phoenix area.

However, despite vigorous domestic expansion, El Pollo Loco loses out in terms of international presence. While other restaurant chains like Yum! Brands, Inc. YUM, McDonalds Corporation MCD and Papa Johns International, Inc. PZZA pursue aggressive global expansion policies, El Pollo Loco seems to be weak on this front.

Additionally, shares of the company have underperformed its industry year to date. The stock has been down 13.9%, as against the industrys growth of 8.3%. Moreover, earnings estimates for current quarter and current year have moved down 5.3% and 2.9%, respectively, over the past 60 days.

A challenging sales environment, given lower consumer spending in the U.S. restaurant space, remains a potent headwind to the companys top line. Meanwhile, higher costs related to sales initiatives and wage rate increases may continue to hurt profits too.

Nevertheless, this chicken chain's continuous expansion plans are anticipated to add immensely to the top line and boost its overall performance as well.



Going forward, El Pollo Loco expects to drive growth through a number of initiatives such as its authentic advertising campaign, the recently launched mobile and online ordering app, loyalty program and delivery system. Also, menu innovation and limited time offers are likely to boost traffic at its restaurants.



Currently, El Pollo Loco has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).



You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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FILE PHOTO: A logo of Toshiba Corp is seen on a printed circuit board in this photo illustration taken in Tokyo July 31, 2012. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao/File Photo (Reuters)

By Taro Fuse

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp <6502.T> told its main banks on Monday it has not signed the $18 billion sale of its semiconductor business because Apple Inc <AAPL.O>, a member of the buyer group, has not agreed on key terms, two people involved in the deal said.

The struggling Japanese conglomerate announced last Wednesday it had chosen a consortium led by U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital LP to buy the prized chip unit - a move that would end a nine-month sale process and plug a vast hole in Toshiba's finances, preventing it from being removed from trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

But the signing of the deal to sell the world's No. 2 producer of NAND memory chips, initially expected the following day, has dragged on, forcing Toshiba to explain the predicament to its bankers on Monday, the people said.

They told Reuters that Toshiba asked the lenders to roll over 680 billion yen ($6.1 billion) in credit lines set to expire on Sept. 30.

The lenders have been demanding that Toshiba sign a definitive agreement with the Bain-led group, which also involves South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix Inc <000660.KS>, as a condition for the funding.

Details of the issues with Apple couldn't immediately be ascertained.

Toshiba said in a statement to Reuters: "While we cannot comment on the detail of the deal procedure, we aim to sign the agreement with the purchaser as early as possible."

Apple didn't immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.

Press representatives for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp and Mizuho Bank, the biggest of Toshiba's seven main lenders, couldn't immediately be reached outside office hours.

Apple, which is considering investing in the unit through preferred shares, has not submitted the necessary commitment letter, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the talks were private.

The consortium also has not received approval from the lenders on 600 billion yen ($5.4 billion) in financing for the sale, due to legal challenges posed by unsuccessful bidder and joint-venture partner Western Digital Corp <WDC.O>, the people said.

California-based Western Digital has taken Toshiba to court to stop any sale without its consent.

(Reporting by Taro Fuse; Writing by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by William Mallard and Ian Geoghegan)
China helps rebuild school

Suning Group Company Limited and China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA), has helped a school to reconstruct its building in Nagarjun Municipality in Kathmandu.
Germans go to the polls on Sunday to elect the members of their federal parliament, or Bundestag, and thereby decide wholl run the country as chancellor for the next several years.

Heres everything you need to know to keep track of whats going on.

Whos running?

Angela Merkel, the current chancellor, and her center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), are supported by their sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), which only stands in the state of Bavaria.

The pair, referred to as the union, are considered the favorites, having been consistently well ahead in the polls for the whole campaign. At the moment, theyre on about 36 percent. Of course, this is 2017, so were ruling nothing out...

Martin Schulz and his center-left Social Democrats (SPD) are the other possible victors. Theyre polling at about 22 percent.

Then there are several significant smaller parties. One or more of these could actually end up in government, since whoever wins will probably have to form a coalition.

The Greens are environmentalists, but relatively centrist compared to other eco-parties around the world. Theyre polling around 8 percent of the vote, lowest among the significantly-sized parties.

The Free Democrats (FDP) are centrist classical liberals with a pro-business platform. Theyre considered the natural coalition partners to Merkels conservative CDU and are polling at around 10 percent.

The Left Party is a distant descendent of the old East German communist party (though it is now a democratic socialist party committed to the German parliamentary system), and is consequently especially popular in the North East of the country. It is polling around 9 percent, but historically parties of the left and the right have both declined to enter into coalition with it.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is a hard-right, anti-Islam party with ties to the likes of Frances National Front and Britains UKIP. No other parties will work with it, and it seems to have lost some popularity since the start of the year, but it could still end up as the largest of the smaller parties, which would be a shock to Germanys centrist establishment.

Story continues

What time are results?

Polls close at 6pm local time (12pm EST), and right away there will be a projection of results, which is normally considered accurate; it is similar to the results projects that proved relatively reliable in the French election back in May.

These projections will then be updated as results come in throughout the night. We should have a final call by around 3am local time (9pm EST.)

How can I watch?

If you want to follow the action yourself but arent in Germany and/or dont speak German, the broadcaster Deutsche Welle has a great English-language service and will be covering the news as it happens.

You can watch it via its website.

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megyn kelly met gala

Megyn Kelly, the no-holds-barred former litigator who rose to stardom at Fox News, debuted her new show on NBC on Monday.

The network jump came after a tumultuous 2016 for Kelly  from clashing publicly with Donald Trump and his supporters to detailing allegations of sexual harassment against Roger Ailes. She announced in January that she was leaving Fox News.

She signed on with NBC for a multiyear contract, the amount of which hasn't been made public. Kelly was reportedly making $10 million to $12 million a year at Fox News and is most likely making $15 million to $20 million a year at NBC.

In her memoir released last year, "Settle for More," Kelly described how she landed her first job as a lawyer fresh out of law school in 1995, and she offered advice for anyone applying for a new job in any field.

"I did something all job applicants should do  I asked for the job," she wrote. "I told them that if they extended an offer, I would accept it on the spot, that I had done the research and investigation, and this was where I wanted to be."

After that meeting with the law firm, she said, it offered her a job paying $85,000 a year, a welcome sum to a recent grad with $100,000 in student-loan debt.

"Don't underestimate the power this message can have on a potential employer," Kelly wrote. "Everyone likes to be flattered. Of course it works better if it's true."

"Settle for More" was on the New York Times Best Sellers list for weeks after it debuted on November 15. "Megyn Kelly Today" airs weekdays on NBC at 9 a.m. ET.

NOW WATCH: 'Do you even understand what you're asking?': Putin and Megyn Kelly have a heated exchange over Trump-Russia ties





More From Business Insider


Satya Nadella

In December 1992, future Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella married his wife, Anu, who still lived in their native India.

And then, things got complicated.

"It was a happy time, but the complications of immigration would soon prove a challenge," Nadella writes in his new book, "Hit Refresh," which officially releases on Monday.

At the time, Nadella had just started as a technical evangelist at Microsoft's Redmond headquarters. He had been in the United States since he entered graduate school in 1988. Importantly, he enjoyed permanent resident status, meaning he had a "coveted" green card.

Following the wedding, Nadella intended to bring Anu over to the US to live with him. The problem was, the immigration authorities rejected Anu's visa application  there was a long waitlist for the spouses of permanent residents, Nadella writes. She was able to get a short-term tourist visa, but had to return to India before long.

Microsoft's immigration lawyer suggested an ingenious but extremely risky manuever to circumvent that waitlist. If Nadella gave up his green card, he could reapply for a H1B skilled worker visa. Unlike a green card, an H1B visa is temporary and must be renewed. However, H1B workers could bring over spouses, no waiting required.

"Such is the perverse logic of this immigration law," writes Nadella.

So in June 1994, a year into this mess, Nadella went to the US embassy in Delhi and asked to give back his green card to a "dumbfounded" clerk. "Miraculously, it all worked," writes Nadella, and the family was reunited. Nadella would go on to eventually obtain his American citizenship, which he holds today.

However, the story has kind of a funny postscript: Nadella's unconventional immigration move did not go unnoticed by his colleagues at Microsoft.

"What I didn't expect was the instant notoriety around campus," writes Nadella. "'Hey, there goes the guy who gave up his green card.'"

Story continues

More recently, Nadella has engaged President Donald Trump on H-1B reform, pushing to tamp down on loopholes in the system and making it easier for companies like Microsoft to bring over qualified talent.

NOW WATCH: I switched from Mac to Windows and I'm never going back  here's why





More From Business Insider


More than 3,300 personnel are taking part in the month-long exercise: QinetiQ

A huge new military exercise involving thousands of troops, ships and fighter jets has been launched in Scotland to practise shooting down nuclear missiles.

Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, said Formidable Shield would combat the threat posed by North Korea and other rogue states, amid intensifying tensions between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump.

North Korean tests have shown the danger of rogue states developing longer range missiles, he added.

By hosting this cutting-edge exercise in anti-missile defence with allied navies, Britain is at the forefront of developing a more effective response to this growing threat.

Pyongyang has fired two ballistic missiles over Japan in the past month, sparking warnings for people to take cover, after appearing to make significant advances towards creating a rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

North Koreas intensifying experiments appear to have prompted the Formidable Shield exercise, which is the first time that Nato allies have practised defending against incoming ballistic missiles with no prior warning in Europe.

It launched the day after the US sent bombers and fighter jets over waters east of North Korea to send a clear message that the President has many military options to defeat any threat.

Donald Trump appeared to threaten regime change in the country over the weekend, causing the North Korean foreign minister to accuse the President of declaring war in a speech at the United Nations.

American forces are leading the exercise off the coast of the Scotland, alongside troops from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) hailed Formidable Shield as one of the most sophisticated and complex air and missile exercises ever undertaken in the UK.

A Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer and two Type 23 frigates are being joined by 11 other ships, 10 aircraft and 3,300 personnel for the month-long exercise.

They will work together to detect, track and shoot down live anti-ship and ballistic missiles.

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Nato said the major exercise in the Outer Hebrides aimed to foster cooperation between allies in the face of possible threats from missile attacks.

Ships are being deployed to detect, track and defend against a range of live anti-ship and ballistic missiles, while being watched by Nato aircraft ensuring the airspace is clear.

Major components of Natos missile defence include four US Navy destroyers armed with the Aegis missile defence system based in Spain, a land-based system in Romania and an early warning radar in Turkey, all commanded from Ramstein base in Germany.

Commanders for the US 6th Fleet said Formidable Shield is planned to be a recurring event every two years designed to assure allies and deter adversaries.

Captain Shanti Sethi, commander of integrated and missile defence for the exercise, said it would refine capabilities and collective defence, adding: As missile technology advances, maritime forces must be prepared to play an important role in providing swift and accurate defensive measures to deter adversaries.

Exercises will continue until 18 October in the MoDs Hebrides Range, off the north-west coast of Scotland.

The Government and defence contractor QinetiQ have recently spent 60m on modernising facilities in the protected area, with a further 16.8m planned for new and upgraded radars.
Northrop Grumman Corp.s NOC unit, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., has secured a contract to offer support to the AN/APR-39 program.



Valued at $124.7 million the contract has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.



Per the agreement, Northrop Grumman will provide engineering, management and logistics support to manufacture, assemble, test and deliver 127 D(V)2 processors, 40 C(V)2 processors.



Also, it will offer462 D(V)2 antenna detectors, 290 D(V)2 radar receivers, 121 D(V)2 low band arrays, 168 D(V)2 battery handle assemblies, 20 D(V)2 circuit card assemblies, 63 C(V)2 antenna detectors, 131 C(V)2 radar receivers.



Additionally, the contract covers supplying 19 C(V)2 upgrade kits and two test stations that increases production capacity to meet essential fielding needs. These services will support the Navy, Army, and the governments of Japan, Austria, and Canada.



The deal covers 63% of the purchases for the Navy, 32% for the Army, 5% for the government of Canada, 3.5% for government of Japan and 1% for the government of Austria, under the foreign military sales program.



Scheduled to be completed by February 2020, majority of the work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, IL and the rest will be executed in various locations across the United States.



Development in Defense Space



Rising terror activities and current tension between the United States and North Korea have added to growth of the industry. In sync with this, the United States along with its major allies has been strengthening their defenseto combat the internal and external threats.



On this note, the U.S. Senate recently passed fiscal 2018 defense policy bill worth $700 billion, which was proposed in July 2017. This bill provides about $640 billion for Pentagons main operations like buying weapons and paying the troops. The rest $60 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations will be utilized to fund the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. Consequently, the current scenario in the defense industry is anticipated to further aid large companies like Northrop Grumman, The Boeing Co. BA and Lockheed Martin Corporation LMT.



Our View



Northrop Grumman benefits from a strong presence in Air Force, Space & Cyber Security programs. Moreover, the companys product innovation and focus on strengthening its ISR wing will help maintain a stable earnings stream amid rapidly changing requirements of the defense landscape.



Being one of the largest domestic defense contractors, Northrop Grumman also getsregular orders from the various verticals of the U.S. Defense. In addition, it receives orders from the international market through foreign military sales (FMS). Markedly, the companys international market accounted for 13.1% of its business in 2016.



Furthermore, the APR-39 programs have witnessed several upgrades in the last few years. Meanwhile, Northrop Grummans constant technological innovation efforts have helped the company to receive funding from the military.



Price Movement



Shares of Northrop Grumman have rallied 5.4% since Northrop Grumman's announcement of Orbital ATK OA acquisition compared with the industrys gain of 3.2% during the same time.

Story continues





This shows that the news of the acquisition has received positive response from the market.



Zacks Rank



Northrop Grumman currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.



Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.



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U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil finished higher last week in a mostly lackluster trade. Both markets continued to be underpinned by a bullish outlook for demand based on reports from OPEC and the International Energy Administration, however, investors were generally disappointed that OPEC failed to extend its production cuts program.

November West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures settled at $50.66, up $0.22 or +0.44% and December Brent crude oil futures ended the week at $56.42, up $1.00 or 1.80%.

Weekly November WTI Crude Oil

OPEC failed to reach a decision on extending its production cuts and may wait until January before deciding whether to extend their output curbs beyond the first quarter.

Russias energy minister said no decision was expected before January, although other ministers suggested such a decision could be taken before the end of this year.

I believe that January is the earliest date when we can actually, credibly speak about the state of the market, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said. Other ministers suggested a decision could come this year.

Weekly December Brent Crude Oil

In other news, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. stockpiles jumped the week-ending September 15 as imports and production increased, as operations resumed from the impact of Hurricane Harvey which hit the Texas Gulf Coast on August 25.

Crude inventories rose for a third straight week, building by 4.6 million barrels. Traders had priced in a 2.8 million barrel build.

Gasoline stocks fell 2.1 million barrels, in line with analysts expectations while distillate stocks inventories fell 5.7 million barrels, the biggest weekly draw since November 2011.

Oil services firm Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs operating in U.S. fields fell by 5 to a total of 744.

Forecast

Despite the disappointing news from OPEC, WTI crude oil remains in a position to extend the rally. It all depends on whether investors want to buy strength or a pullback into support.

Story continues

A sustained move over $50.59 on the weekly chart will indicate that they are willing to buy strength. Taking out last weeks high at $51.11 will indicate the buying is getting stronger. This could trigger an acceleration into $52.42 to $52.62.

A sustained move under $50.59 will signal that investors are playing for a pullback into $48.63 to $48.04.

The drop in the rig count wont mean anything unless it leads to a decline in production. We wont know its effect until the U.S. Energy Information Administration releases its weekly inventories report on September 27.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
CPN-UML Standing Commitee to decide on candidate selection

The Central Committee meeting of the main opposition CPN-UML on Sunday authorised the partys Standing Committee to prepare the criteria for selecting candidates for the upcoming federal and provincial elections. Party Chairman KP Sharma Oli, however, will have the final say on the candidates.
By Dave Graham, Robin Respaut and Hilary Russ

PUERTO RICO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chan Lo is racing against the clock to save thousands of dollars of supplies at his sushi restaurant in San Juan's Condado beachfront community.

He has roughly $16,000-worth of perishable goods stored in his restaurant Nagoya Sushi & Tiki Bar - in jeopardy as the battered island waits for power and water to be re-established.

"I give it about three or four days maximum if the (power) doesn't come back on and there are no generators available," he said. "Everything will have to be thrown out."

Puerto Rico's economy was already fragile before Hurricane Maria barrelled into the island, but the strongest storm to hit the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico in nearly 90 years could inflict heavy damage on the island's health.

Small businesses like Lo's will be a significant part of the recovery, as they account for 80 percent of all private sector workers, according to a New York Federal Reserve report. And getting energy to them, and to manufacturers and hotels and other engines of the economy will be crucial for the island's ability to bounce back.

After Maria made landfall midweek on the island of 3.4 million people as a major Category 4 hurricane, the storm's wind and water downed nearly all power and communications.

A man walks among the debris after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico September 24, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Governor Ricardo Rossello said the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority's grid was so severely hit by the storm that it could be months before electricity is restored to all customers. Making matters worse, PREPA has been in bankruptcy since July.

Disaster modeller Enki Research estimates damage to the island at $30 billion, with $20 billion in direct physical damage and $10 billion in economic impact.

"Puerto Rico is in a precarious state," said Chuck Watson, a disaster modeller at Enki.

'A MEASURABLE IMPACT'

Puerto Rico has none of the economic might of other places hit hard in this active hurricane season, like the states of Texas and Florida. The island has spent most of the last ten years in recession. Its GDP shrank by more than one percent for seven of the last 10 years through 2016, the poverty rate is over 40 percent and unemployment stands at 10 percent.

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The chaos unleashed by the breakdown in basic services, a lack of cash and gas shortages has put many businesses into limbo, and the short-term effects are likely to be severe. Some Puerto Ricans are, however, already looking ahead to the economic boost that could be delivered by investment in the recovery.

The timeliness of U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds will play into how quickly Puerto Rico gets back on its feet, said S&P Global Ratings analyst David Hitchcock.

People wait in line for aid items to be handed out, after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico September 24, 2017. REUTERS/Alvin Baez

Meanwhile, the hurricane has pushed back the island's bankruptcy process. Struggling under $72 billion in debt, Puerto Rico filed the biggest government bankruptcy in U.S. history earlier this year but that is now on the backburner, sources said on Thursday.

"This is an island that has been riddled with bad news," said Jonathan Mondillo, Alpine Woods Capital Investors LLC, which holds insured Puerto Rican bonds. "It's going to have a measurable impact on their economy locally."

MANUFACTURING HEART

In the aftermath of the storm, businesses both big and small around the island were assessing the damage and putting contingency plans in place. Puerto Rico boasts investments from a number of U.S. multinationals, such as Wal-Mart, Amgen and Eli Lilly.

A spokesman for Honeywell International Inc, said the company's "folks on the ground are making sure everyone's accounted for and what their needs are ... we're still assessing the facilities."

Manufacturing is still the heart of Puerto Rico's economy and any blow to industry could have a significant impact. It makes up nearly 49 percent of the islands GDP, according to a 2015 report from the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association.

But the manufacturing sector is much diminished after the U.S. Congress decided to gradually phase out a 1976 tax credit programme. That programme ended in 2006, after which many companies left and the island had lost nearly half of its manufacturing jobs by 2014.

A woman looks at the damages to her house after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico September 24, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

HIT TO GROWING TOURISM

Just as concerning to the island is likely to be the impact Hurricane Maria has caused to tourism - which will be especially hard felt since it was one area of the economy that had been growing.

Travel and tourism had grown from 7.3 percent of GDP in 2014 to an estimated 8.4 percent in 2017 and was projected to rise to 10.7 percent by 2027, including direct and indirect spending, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

Hotels and resorts were struggling to stay open in the days after the hit. Reynaldo Rey, general manager of the AC Hotel San Juan, said businesses were facing a race against the clock if emergency power supplies and water ran out because generators would only keep hotels operating for a few days.

"Everything depends on when the supply lines are re-established," Rey said. "We risk a complete shutdown."

Raul Brito, 24, a security guard for the state tourism agency in the capital's upscale Condado neighbourhood, said business was now in limbo at the worst time possible.

"Companies don't know if they are going to be able to start up again because they don't know yet if they will have the money," he said.

(Additional reporting in New York by Laila Kearney, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jenn Ablan, David Randall, Bill Berkrot, Caroline Humer, Richa Naidu and Nick Brown in Houston; Writing by Megan Davies; Editing by Mary Milliken)
Job hopping has been one of the few surefire ways for many workers to land a bigger paycheck in Americas post-recession job market. Decent raises appear largely limited to workers in select fields, such as technology and health care.

Still, you might want to think twice before quitting your job for a better-paying gig. There are hidden costs to job hopping, according to CNBC, which recently reported on seven such costs.

Four of the most common financial setbacks you can face by leaving one employer for another include:

Losing out on employer contributions to your retirement plan : Taking full advantage of an employers retirement plan contribution matches is among the best ways to financially prepare for your golden years. But you can jeopardize that free money by quitting.

According to CNBC, about one-third of companies award their match on a different schedule than per pay period.' Quit too early in the year, and you can miss out on future contributions. In addition, you can lose out on contributions already made to your account if they arent fully vested.

Citing data from Fidelity Investments, CNBC reports that workers who transition to a new job end up forfeiting an average of $1,520, or 18 percent of their account balance. So research the policies that govern your employers retirement plans, including how long it takes before contributions are officially vested.

Forfeiting unused vacation : Dont assume you will be paid in full  or at all  for unused vacation time if you quit. Thats determined by state law, with only about half of states requiring employers to pay departing employees for their unused vacation days.

However, an employer can opt to provide this parting payment anyway and many do. So check your companys policy before handing in your resignation letter.

Missing out on educational reimbursements : The vast majority of employers offer a college tuition reimbursement program worth up to a median maximum of $7,500 per year, CNBC reports. But they commonly require workers to stay with the company for a certain period  usually one year  after being reimbursed. Leave before then and youd have to give back that reimbursement.

Story continues

Additionally, your new employer could require you to work for that company for a certain period before you are eligible for tuition reimbursements.

Starting the clock over on health care expenses : Lets imagine a scenario where you have employer-sponsored health insurance and have met all or most of the deductibles for this year. If you quit your job today, you will start over as far as your deductibles are concerned  and thats assuming your new job comes with health insurance benefits.

According to the CNBC report, starting over with new deductibles mid-year can cost some workers several thousand dollars.

If youre looking to leave your employer for better benefits rather than better pay, youll want to check out a different article  7 Ways to Get the Job With the Best Benefits.

Have you encountered any unexpected costs after leaving a job? Tell us about your experience below or over on our Facebook page.

This article was originally published on MoneyTalksNews.com as 'Before You Say I Quit, Know These 4 Hidden Costs of Job Hopping'.

More from Money Talks News
* Deal valued at $350 million - Israeli media

* Gigya ranked market leader in identity access used by marketers

* Deal positions SAP for 2018 European privacy regulations (Adds details on company, market and competitive context)

FRANKFURT/JERUSALEM, Sept 24 (Reuters) - SAP, Europe's biggest technology company, has agreed to buy U.S.-Israeli customer identity software company Gigya to strengthen its position in the booming market for online customer relationship marketing, the company said on Sunday.

The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, will tie together Gigyas user identity access and management platform with SAP's Hybris customer profile data-matching software so businesses can market services to online customers.

Several Israeli media put a purchase price on the deal of $350 million for Gigya, which was founded in Israel in 2006 before relocating its headquarters to Silicon Valley. Both companies declined to comment on price of the deal.

Gigya software enables companies to manage customer marketing profiles and preferences, while giving consumers themselves the power to opt-in and give their consent, helping users to keep control of their data at all times, SAP said.

The acquisition beefs up SAP's ability to help companies doing business in Europe to comply with privacy regulations such as the EU's upcoming General Data Protection Regulation. Gigya currently manages 1.3 billion customer identity profiles.

"Major independent analyst firms, most recently Forrester Research, have positioned Gigya as a top vendor in this field," SAP said in a statement announcing the deal.

Forrester ranks Gigya as leader in the niche field of user identity management against rivals such as Salesforce, Ping Identity, Auth0 and Microsoft, singling Gigya out for its more intuitive user interface and security.

It counts 700 big businesses as users, including half of the top 100 U.S. web properties, and European brands such as retailer ASOS, pharmaceutical maker Bayer, cosmetics firm L'Oreal and airline KLM, according to Gigya.

Story continues

Gigya will be incorporated into SAP's Hybris marketing business, which offers so-called "ommichannel" integration that allows businesses to keep tabs on customers whether they shop in stores, online or on their phones, SAP said.

Since 2013, Gigya has been a partner of Hybris, which SAP acquired the same year.

The transaction is expected to close in the final quarter of 2017, subject to regulatory approval, SAP said.

(Reporting by Eric Auchard, Vera Eckert and Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Tova Cohen and Jane Merriman)
Science Applications International Corp. SAIC has recently received a $165 million information technology (IT) contract from the Commonwealth of Virginia to serve as a multisourcing service integrator (MSI).

Per the contract, Science Applications will be assisting Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) in modernizing the states IT infrastructure.

VITA is a provider of consolidated technology services and solutions for the commonwealth and it is in charge of all technology related operations of the state including procuring products and services and supervision of major IT projects.

This award has a five-year base period and two 2-year options, which add up to a potential value of $272 million, if all options are exercised.

SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORP. Revenue (TTM)

SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Revenue (TTM) | SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Quote

The contract entrusts Science Applications with the responsibility of monitoring the state executive branch agencies IT infrastructure services suppliers. This will also involve diversification of the states suppliers portfolio and improvement of the quality of service delivery. It will also look into cost effectiveness and provide a transparent view of the entire service delivery platform.

Frequent Contract Wins by SAIC: A Boon or a Bane?

Notably, Science Applications has been steadily winning contracts from the federal government, but these low-margin deals have affected the companys profitability.

In the recently reported fiscal second-quarter 2018, the company won a contract worth $621 million (if all options are exercised) from the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM). Moreover, the GSA, on behalf of the Army Software Engineering Directorate (SED), awarded another contract worth $404 million (if all options are exercised).

Science Applications also won contracts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) GSFC Omnibus Multidisciplinary Engineering Services, U.S. Navy - Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), NASA Joint Operations, and National Institute of Mental Health.

Story continues

These contracts ensure recurring revenues but adjusted operating income margin contracted 120 basis points (bps) to 5.5% in the reported quarter. The deals with the federal civilian bodies and re-competed supply chain management contracts weigh the most on margins. Also, an increase in cost reimbursement type contracts compared with fixed price contracts are a headwind.

Nevertheless, we believe that the frequent government deals have increased the companys prominence in the market and have positively impacted its top line.

Zacks Rank and Key Picks

Science Applications currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Better ranked stocks in the broader technology sphere include Applied Materials, Inc. AMAT, Lam Research Corp. LRCX and Micron Technology, Inc. MU, all sporting a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The long-term earnings growth rate for Applied Materials, Lam Research and Micron are projected at 17.1%, 17.2% and 10% respectively.

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BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi oil minister Jabar al-Luaibi said on Sunday talks are continuing with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) on the Majnoon oil field that the company is said to be seeking to quit.

"There are still negotiations, things are not clear," Luaibi told a news conference in Baghdad. "We haven't initiated talks with other companies."

A letter signed by Luaibi, dated Aug. 23 and seen by Reuters, gave approval for Shell to quit Majnoon, a major oilfield near Basra which started production in 2014.

Industry sources told Reuters last year that Shell was considering selling out of its oil fields in Iraq as part of its global $30 billion asset disposal programme.

(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Sen. Luther Strange on Sunday said President Trump is doing all that he can to help get the GOPs latest plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare passed in the Senate.

Hes pulling out all the stops to try to get us to 50 votes, Strange, R-Ala., told Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, though he said the chances of Trump seeing a bill this week are getting slimmer.

In addition to working on health care legislation, Strange, who is a member of the Senate Budget Committee, said he has met with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to get a tax reform plan to the Senate floor.

I think its a good plan thatll bring together the House, Senate and the White House, he said. But weve got to turn to that quickly because if were going to get it done, its gotta be donein my viewbefore Thanksgiving to take effect next year.

Trump is expected to unveil a new tax plan crafted by the Big Sixtop GOP tax reform leaders in Congress and the Trump administrationincluding Mnuchin, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch from Utah and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohnon Wednesday during a speech in Indiana. The plan calls for the corporate tax rate to be reduced to 20% from the current 35%, though the president had pushed for 15%, according to The Washington Post.

The thing that Id like to see is the lower rates, simplicity that will be a part of this. And I think youll also eliminate some of the arguments about reducing taxes on the super wealthy in this country. I dont think thats going to be part of the package, so I think that helps us, Strange said, regarding the new plan.

As for the individual tax code, the White House announced in April the goal is to reduce the number of brackets from seven to three10 percent, 25 percent and 35 percentallowing Americans to fill out their taxes on a postcard.

Currently Strange, who was appointed this year to fill the Senate seat Attorney General Jeff Sessions once occupied, is in the midst of a GOP Senate primary runoff against Roy Moore, a former chief justice on the Alabama Supreme Court. On Friday, Trump held a rally in the state to show his support for the senator who is currently behind in the polls.

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Lines for US customs and border control

The Trump administration has issued a new travel ban, with changes that are sure to negatively impact immigrants working and going to school in the United States.

On Sept. 24, the White House unveiled the revised ban, which places an indefinite ban on nationals from Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The restrictions will go into effect on Oct. 18.

After evaluating the safety of nearly 200 countries, the administration says that these seven countries remained deficient with respect to their ability to identify travelers and share information. Unlike previous bans, these restrictions will not end in 90 days.

I am committed to our ongoing efforts to engage those countries willing to cooperate, improve information-sharing and identity-management protocols and procedures, and address both terrorism-related and public-safety risks, Trump said in the order.

The administration faced criticism and widespread protests at U.S. airports after issuing the original travel ban in January. Some argued that the ban was unconstitutional and directly discriminated against Muslims. A revised ban was issued in March (it expired on Sept. 24) and challengers of the order were scheduled to take their case to the the Supreme Court on Oct. 10. However, that case was removed from the argument schedule on Monday. Instead, Bloomberg reports that both sides were told to file briefs discussing the impact of a new revised policy.

Although the new order still includes countries from the previous travel ban, the new additions of Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela will make it harder for judges to question its constitutionality because those countries are are not Muslim-majority.

The ban also comes with a different set of rules for every country in terms of how visas will be handled. According to officials, legal permanent residents will not be impacted and people with valid visas issued by the countries will not have their visas revoked.

Story continues

That said, people whose visas expire after Oct. 18 will be subject to the rules imposed by the travel ban. This means companies with international employees and students studying at U.S. universities could be impacted. Here is a breakdown of the types of visas affected, and how specific countries will be impacted.

Types of visas

B-1 visas: This is a business visa that allows entrants to attend a scientific, educational or professional conference or convention. It also allows holders to consult with business associates, settle an estate or negotiate a contract.

B-2 visas: Are given to entrants wishing to visit the U.S. for vacation or leisure. This visa also allows entrants to visit family, receive medical attention, participate in social events held by a service organization, or participate in an amateur musical or sporting event.

Student visas: These come in two categories. Those in the F group allow students to enter if they are attending a university, college, high school, seminary, or conservatory. The M category is for those attending a vocational or other recognized non-academic institution.

J-1 visas: These are nonimmigrant visas for individuals approved to participate in an exchange visitor program through a designated sponsoring organization. This includes things like working as an Au Pair, camp counselor or summer work travel.

Countries impacted

Border control

Chad

The entry into the U.S. of nationals as immigrants and nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas is suspended.

The entry into the United States of nationals of Chad, as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, is suspended.

Iran

The entry into the U.S. of nationals as immigrants and as nonimmigrants is hereby suspended, except that entry by such nationals under valid student (F and M) and exchange visitor (J) visas is not suspended, although such individuals could be subject to enhanced screening and vetting requirements.

Libya

The entry into the U.S. of nationals as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, is suspended.

North Korea

The entry into the U.S. of nationals as immigrants and nonimmigrants is suspended.

Syria

The entry into the U.S. of nationals as immigrants and nonimmigrants is suspended.

Venezuela

The entry of officials of government agencies involved in screening and vetting procedures, including the Ministry of the Popular Power for Interior, Justice and Peace and their immediate family members is suspended.

Nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, are also suspended. Further, nationals who are visa holders could be subject to appropriate additional measures to ensure traveler information remains current.

Yemen

The entry into the U.S. of nationals as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, is hereby suspended.

Somalia

The entry into the U.S. of nationals as immigrants is hereby suspended. Additionally, visa adjudications for nationals and decisions regarding their entry as nonimmigrants should be subject to additional scrutiny to determine if applicants are connected to terrorist organizations or otherwise pose a threat to the national security or public safety of the U.S.

Brittany is a reporter at Yahoo Finance.

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Deuba highlights peace, security and sustainable development at UNGA

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba addressed the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Sunday.
It's been the talk of the summer in Silicon Valley. CEOs at Uber and SoFi lost their jobs after whistleblowers came forward, alleging sexism and harassment. Powerful venture capitalists, including Dave McClure from 500 Startups lost their jobs after women, including Sarah Kunst, accused him of making inappropriate advances when seeking a job at his venture firm.

Workplace harassment isn't new, but we're talking about it more than ever. So what's inspiring these women to speak up?

Kunst, who joined us on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt, said that she felt encouraged after watching other women share their stories. "Seeing women like Elen Pao, seeing women like Susan Fowler come forward tell their stories, be believed and realizing that thats what it took." She said that she first tried to address the situation privately, but it wasn't resolved.

Kunst, who's a founder and CEO at Proday, says that too many work environments aren't receptive to a discussion about these problems. "If youre a managerand no one has ever come to you with an issue about being harassed or feeling discriminated against, you are not encouraging open communication in your company," she said, suggesting that these issues are common enough that they're happening everywhere.

She was joined on the panel by Kim Scott, a former Google exec who now advises executives at companies like Dropbox and Twitter. She also authored the book, "Radical Candor." Hilary Gosher, managing director at Insight Venture Partners and board member at Parity Partners was on stage as well.

"For so long women were told youll never get a job, youll blow up your life if you come forward," said Scott. She advocates "teaching people the importance of bringing it up early. Not making a big deal of it is going to prevent these big explosive blowups later."

Gosher believes that "people arent going to change unless theyre forced to change." She said that the dramatic Uber situation should be a warning for other leaders. "Some of the boards like Uber turned a blind eye for many months until things became very obvious."

The conversation was largely solutions-driven, focusing on what men and women can be doing to improve work environments, making them an inclusive place for everyone.

Click the link above to watch the full conversation.
Vote counting was under way after a large voter turnout for a referendum on independence in Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region that came despite warnings from the United Nations, the United States, Turkey, and Iran that the ballot would fuel tensions in the region.

After the German news agency dpa reported late on September 25 that initial results from the election commission in the Kurdish capital, Irbil, showed more than 90 percent of voters supported independence, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced he would not hold talks with Kurdish leaders on what he called an "unconstitutional" referendum.

Baghdad previously had warned that it will fight to retain Iraq's unity, including by cutting off vital oil revenues to the northern Kurdish region.

The president of the regional government, Masud Barzani, had said the nonbinding vote is the first step in a long process to negotiate independence for the region, which has been autonomous since 1991 and has played a major role in the war against Islamic extremists.

Turnout was 72 percent, with 3.3 million of 4.58 million registered voters taking part, the election commission said.

The ballot that voters were asked to consider had one question on it, written in Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, and Assyrian: "Do you want the Kurdistan region and Kurdistani areas outside the [Kurdistan] region to become an independent country?"

Preliminary results were expected as early as September 26 and final results by September 28, the election commission said.

Abadi said on September 25 that he ordered security forces "to protect citizens being coerced" in the northern Kurdish region.

Abadi said Baghdad would take the "necessary measures" to protect the unity of the country, warning that the vote ''could lead to ethnic divisions, exposing [the Iraqis] to disastrous dangers that only God knows.''

Iran, Turkey, and the Baghdad government all held military exercises near the borders of the Kurdish region in the days surrounding the vote.

UN, Western Concerns

The UN -- as well as the United States and other Western powers -- expressed concern that the referendum would pull attention away from the war against Islamic State militants.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement late on September 25 that Washington was "deeply disappointed" that the ballot went ahead.

"The United States' historic relationship with the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region will not change in light of today's nonbinding referendum, but we believe this step will increase instability and hardships for the Kurdistan region and its people," she said.

In New York, UN chief Antonio Guterres also said he was concerned about the "potentially destabilizing effects" of the referendum.

While saying he supported "the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity of Iraq," Guterres called for "structured dialogue and constructive compromise" between Baghdad and Kurdish leaders to resolve their differences.

The referendum took place in the three provinces that officially make up the Kurdish autonomous region -- Dahuk, Irbil, and Sulaymaniyah -- and some neighboring areas.

These areas include disputed cities such as oil-rich Kirkuk, Makhmour, Khanaqin, and Sinjar, over which Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have established control while fighting against IS militants who captured large parts of Iraq in 2014.

"The partnership with Baghdad has failed and we will not return to it," Barzani told a news conference on September 24.

The referendum is also opposed by neighboring Turkey and Iran, both of which have sizable Kurdish minorities. Turkey has waged a war against Kurdish militants within its borders for years.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry said Ankara will take "all measures" under international law if the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum generates threats to Turkey's national security.

The ministry said it did not recognize the referendum and accused the Kurdish regional government of threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and the whole region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late on September 25 threatened to cut off the pipeline that carries oil from the Kurdish region of Iraq to the outside world, saying, "We have the tap. The moment we close the tap, then it's done."

According to a statement published by Abadi's office, the Iraqi government has asked the Kurdish region to hand over international border posts and its international airports.

It called on foreign countries to deal with Iraq's central government in regard to airports and borders and to stop oil trading with Kurdish regional authorities.

Ankara Warns Of 'Chaos'

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme National Security Council spokesman Keivan Khosravi said the country halted all flights between the Islamic republic and Iraq's Kurdish region at the request of the government in Baghdad, Iranian state media reported.

Officials in Ankara said Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin touched on the referendum during a telephone call on September 25 and that they agreed the vote puts strains on the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria.

Erdogan's office said that he and Iranian President Hassan Rohani also discussed their concerns about the vote in a telephone conversation, saying the referendum will cause "chaos in the region."

In brief statements about Putin's separate telephone talks with Erdogan and Rohani, the Kremlin did not mention the referendum.

Barzani said that he expected the strong reactions of the international community opposing Kurdish independence ''not to last forever'' after the vote is held.

He also dismissed concerns that the referendum could destabilize the region and pledged not to seek a redrawing of the region's borders.

With reporting by AP, AFP, IRIB, dpa, and Reuters
English Swedish

Ever since he entered C-RAD as Chairman, Lars Nyberg has had a central role and made decisive contributions to the companys successful development. His solid experience from international business at the highest level, together with extraordinary acumen, has helped us build a platform for continued success, says Per Hamberg, speaking for his family and three additional major C-Rad shareholders, who combine for 30.57 percent of equity and 40.12 percent of voting interest.

We also want to state our full confidence in and support for Lars Nyberg through the legal proceedings, adds Per Hamberg.

The other major shareholders who declare their support are Olle Stenfors, Lars Kling and Lennart Agren, through Svea Ekonomi.

For further information:

Per Hamberg, Phone +46-70 883 04 00

C-RADs business is to develop and sell cutting-edge solutions for patient positioning within radiation therapy globally. C-RADs solutions ensure exceptionally high precision, safety and efficiency, helping to cure more cancer patients and improve their quality of life.

The company is going through an extensive growth period, which requires the board to have both commercial and international competence, as well as strategic skills to cover global adherence in the medical markets with rapidly changing technology.

Lars Nyberg brings valuable competence and experience to the board, thanks to his long and successful career both within Sweden and internationally.

Lars was during 2007-2013 President and CEO at TeliaSonera AB. 1995-2003 Chairman of the Board and CEO of the US-based IT company NCR Corp (NYSE:NCR). He continued as Chairman of the Board until 2005. Lars has held several managerial positions in Philips and he was a member of the Philips Group Management Committee. Elected in 2003, Lars is President for Entrust Datacard. Previously, Chairman of Autoliv, Micronic, IBS and Cashguard and part of the Board for Sandvik and Snap-On tools in the United States.
TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Antler Hill Mining Ltd (TSXV:AHM.H) (the Corporation or Antler Hill) wishes to announce an update on its progress to identify and reach an agreement in principal for a Qualifying Transaction. Since taking control of the board on June 22, 2017, your companys directors have accomplished several milestones. The company changed its focus from seeking an oil and gas asset to seeking precious metals assets in the Americas. In light of the change in focus, the company changed its name to Antler Hill Mining Ltd. from Antler Hill Oil and Gas Ltd, its ticker to AHM.H from AHO.H. The CUSIP number is 03719L109 and the ISIN number is CA03719L1094.

Antler Hill has to date identified a number of precious metals assets in the Americas and is now in advanced stages of discussions with the potential vendors.

Peter Bures, CEO and Director of Antler Hill, stated: We would like to thank our shareholders for their patience and continued support while we move toward advancement of a Qualifying Transaction. We have identified a number of opportunities in the form of potentially large-scale gold assets in the Americas and are now proceeding with discussions with the owners. We continue to look forward to closing a qualifying transaction prior to year-end. We believe your company has assembled an excellent team of industry professionals with the experience and desire to successfully grow your company.

The following is a description of the backgrounds of the current directors:

Peter Bures, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mr. Bures spent the first few years of his career at Placer Dome mines in Timmins, Ontario followed by ten years on the sell side in equity research. Mr. Bures worked at Deutsche Bank, HSBC in New York and Toronto, and as Precious Metals & Mining Analyst/Strategist for Orion Securities (Toronto). In 2007 Mr. Bures transitioned to the buy side with Sentry Investments as an associate portfolio manager, specializing in metals and mining where he comanaged several top-ranked funds. Mr. Bures joined the BMO Capital Markets institutional sales desk in New York in 2011 as Director Global Mining Sales. Mr. Bures was most recently with Canaccord as VP analyst covering gold and silver producers and royalty companies. Mr. Bures holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (geological and mineral engineering) from the University of Toronto.

Matthew Wood, Chairman and Director

Mr. Wood is an outstanding mineral resource explorer and developer with over 25 years global industry experience in mining and commodities investment. He has managed successful deals in diamonds, coal, energy, ferrous metals, base and precious metals and other commodities. His unique skills in technical and economic evaluation of resource opportunities has been proven by an impressive record of nurturing resource deals from early stage, to market listings and successful exit strategies for his investors. Mr. Wood has an Honours Degree in Geology from the University of New South Wales and a Graduate Certificate in Mineral Economics from the Western Australian School of Mines.

Aneel Waraich, Director

Mr. Waraich is the co-founder and Executive Director of Steppe Gold Ltd., a near-term precious metals producer in Mongolia. Mr. Waraich is also founder and managing partner of ATMA Capital Markets and ATMACORP LTD. and is a financial services professional with progressive experience in both the asset management and corporate finance businesses. Mr. Waraich focuses primarily on advising public and private companies in the Natural Resources sector. In previous roles at Goodman and Company Investment Counsel and Dundee Capital Markets he worked as an analyst valuating private equity companies. Most recently Mr. Waraich worked as an investment banker focusing on deal origination, going-public transactions and financings for both public and private companies in the resource and technology sectors. Mr. Waraich completed his MBA from the Goodman Institute of Investment Management at the John Molson School of Business and is also a level III Candidate for the CFA  program.

Ali Haji, Director

Mr. Haji has extensive knowledge of the financial services sector after having spent over 11 years in the Asset Management Industry performing strategic and process improvement roles. He started his career as a technology analyst at Invesco Ltd. in 2006 and advanced into various roles including Technology Risk, Controls, Program Management, and Process Improvement with international assignments involving mergers and acquisitions in Hong Kong, U.S.A and Australia. Most recently, he was also a principal contributor to the creation of a Center of Excellence in London, England for Invesco Ltd. Mr. Haji attended The University of Western Ontario and holds a BSc in Computer Science.

Antler Hill currently has 61,000,000 shares outstanding, no debt, and has closed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $750,000 on September 11.

For further information, please contact:

ANTLER HILL MINING LTD.

Peter Bures, CEO and Director

Phone: 437-997-8088

E-Mail: peter@antlerhillmining.com

Web: www.antlerhillmining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, Inc. nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.




**NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES**

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wealth Minerals Ltd. (the Company or Wealth) - (TSXV:WML) (OTCQB:WMLLF) (SSE:WMLCL) (Frankfurt:EJZN), is pleased to announce that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement (the Placement) of up to 2,492,533 shares (the Shares) of the Company at a price of $1.50 per Share for gross proceeds of up to $3,738,800. All shares issued in the Placement will have a hold period in Canada of four months from the closing of the Placement. Finders fees are payable on a portion of the Placement. The Company also announces the issuance of 800,000 common shares, which are being issued as bonus shares, and 224,000 common shares, which are being issued to settle $421,120 in debt. Completion of the Placement is subject to the acceptance for filing thereof by the TSX Venture Exchange.



The net proceeds from the Placement are intended to fund option payments on the Companys projects, the costs for the review and assessment of additional potential lithium mineral property acquisitions in South America, exploration work on the Companys existing projects and for general and administrative expenses and working capital.

Wealth continues to assess additional potential lithium mineral property acquisitions in South America on which the Company is actively negotiating.

This press release does not constitute an offer of sale of any of the foregoing securities in the United States. None of the foregoing securities have been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act) or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Wealth Minerals Ltd.

Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile. The Company's main focus is the acquisition of lithium projects in South America. To date, the Company has positioned itself to develop the Aguas Calientes Norte, Pujsa and Quisquiro Salars in Chile (the Trinity Project), as well as to work alongside existing producers in the prolific Atacama Salar, in addition to the Laguna Verde lithium project acquisition. The Company has also positioned itself to play a role in asset consolidation in Chile with the Five Salars Project.

The Company continues to pursue new acquisitions in the region, the latest of which is the Seven Salars Project and is eager to move the projects forward into production. Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary of this future mismatch of supply and demand. The Company also maintains and continues to evaluate a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration-stage projects.

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's website (www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

WEALTH MINERALS LTD.

"Hendrik van Alphen"

Hendrik van Alphen

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Marla Ritchie

Phone: 604-331-0096 Ext. 3886 or 604-638-3886

E-mail: info@wealthminerals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, the Companys expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral properties, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the closing and amount of the Placement, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in the Placement, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including acceptance by the TSX-V, required for the Placement, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Companys latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Companys Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Companys mineral properties.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.
A Nigerian lady has come out to share her testimony of how she welcomed her baby boy and a set of twins after being told she had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

The woman, who was identified as Moni Onibata on Instagram, shared a family picture as she narrated her ordeal.

Onibata disclosed that this happened after she got married in 2012, and could not deceive. She explained how her menstrual cycle changed from 5 days to 60-90 days with just two weeks break.

Moni Onibata with her husband and children

READ ALSO: The devil used me - Jealous housewife who threw stepchildren into the well confesses (photos)

She said: I was told shortly after I got married in 2012 that I had PCOS and I would find it difficult to conceive because I wasnt ovulating. I refused to let the doctors report sink in but held on to Gods promises. Few months after my period flow changed, instead of having the normal blood flow of 5 days, I bled for 60-90 days and had just 2-3 weeks break. How I survived that period, I dont know but God kept me. At a point, my GP said I was Anemic. And then people began to ask when we will be having our babies and my constant answer was, we were not yet ready. Then came August 2013 during the Holy ghost convention (I watched the Live transmission on TV) and Pastor Adeboye asked those who had their babies within the period of the Last convention and that service to come with their babies. While they danced to the altar, I cried to God silently asking for my own baby.. Then my hubby #kaykums who was oblivious of my prayers just spoke and said by this time next year, we will have a son and he named him. And yes, God honoured it. Exactly what time the next year we had a son. It was a miracle.

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Moni with her husband

Two years after I began to panic, I wanted to be sure God had healed me and I could have more children then we began trying for another babyI saw my period again. I was devastated and I wept.. (I am sure God must have been laughing at me) the next month, I had a dream where my mum was telling me I was pregnant. Few weeks after I was confirmed pregnant. Not just that, I was carrying a set of twins. I was in awe of Goda set of twins!! From being told I was not ovulating to carrying a set of Twins. Haba this God!!! And after 9months, a week after our wedding anniversary they were delivered. I dont know what you have been told but One thing I know is if God could bring to brought a negative report he is able to turn your situation around.Nothing can STOP him from fulfilling his promises concerning you. I have decided to share my testimony of God Mercies today to bring Glory to his name and encourage someone today.

See post below:

Congratulations!

Watch Legit.ng video below:

Source: Legit.ng
Dr KC begins 12th hunger strike

Senior orthopedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC, who has already staged 11 rounds of hunger strikes demanding reforms in medical education sector, began his fast-unto-death for the 12th time on Monday.
Govt asks irrelevant questions to fire Gautam

Speculations that the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had harboured ill will against the head of the aviation sector regulatory body while seeking clarification from him have turned out to be true, as the government body has acknowledged that it made a mistake by asking irrelevant questions.
It also raises questions about Irans relationship with North Korea and confirms what many have feared.

A senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, said that the missile could carry multiple warheads and could go as far as 1,250 miles away. He also suggested to reporters that it has a MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) that would enable multiple targets to be hit. He also said that it is a more appropriate size than previous models and will soon be operational.

After analysing the video, experts cannot say for sure if it is actually able to carry multiple warheads. If Irans claims are true, the missile could reach the whole of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Israel. Parts of Central Asia, East Africa and Eastern Europe could also be within reach.

The announcement was made during Sacred Defense Week in Iran, and President Hassan Rouhani said during a speech that the countrys defensive and military power will be promoted as we deem necessary. He also said that Iran would not be looking for permission from anyone to defend its land.

It is likely that the display and rhetoric from Iran is in response to President Trumps speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Trump criticised Iran for its testing of ballistic missiles and slammed the nuclear deal, labelling it an embarrassment to the United States. He called the Iranian regime murderous and said that it cannot continue to destabilise the region.

Although the nuclear deal does not technically address the ballistic missile issue, several UN Security Council resolutions do prohibit Iran from developing them if they are capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

Next month, Iran could decide that Iran will not be certified with compliance with the nuclear deal. If this happens, Congress will have 60 days to decide whether sanctions that were lifted as a result of the signing of the nuclear deal will be reimposed.

Some believe that if the United States pulls out of the nuclear deal, Iran will speed up its development of advanced ballistic missiles and a nuclear weapon.

However, it is very clear that Iran is already working toward this with the help of North Korea, despite claims to the contrary. The missiles flaunted by both countries have several likenesses such as engine configuration.

Also, if you look back on the timeline of test launches of ballistic missiles, it seems much more than just a coincidence that shortly after North Korea tests one, Iran follows suit with something similar not too long later. If the two countries are cooperating on their ballistic missile programs, would it be too far-fetched to suggest they are cooperating on their nuclear programs?
This decision will have consequences further afield than Iran. One country that may be affected in particular is North Korea.

nalysts of the situation in the Middle East say that Iran is keeping a close eye on what is happening between the United States and North Korea so that it can see how far it can push the US.

On the other hand, others argue that North Korea is getting the message that the United States cannot be trusted as it is prepared to go back on deals that have already been negotiated.

Although Trump has certified Irans compliance twice already, he has hinted that he will not do so for a third time. He told reporters that a decision had already been made, but he was not ready to share it.

During his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last week, Trump called the nuclear deal an embarrassment to the United States and made it clear that the Iran threat and the North Korea threats are closely linked. He insulted the North Korean leader and threatened to destroy the country, then continued to speak about another reckless regime  Iran.

Although he would not comment on the relationship between Iran and North Korea, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, General John Hyten, said that when the US takes action somewhere, attention is paid elsewhere too. He meant that every move made by the US delivers a strategic message to adversaries across the world.

Speaking specifically about the Iran nuclear deal, Hyten said that although Iran was technically complying with the nuclear deal, he said it was very worrying that missile tests are not included. The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also confirmed Iran was technically compliant.

Scrapping the nuclear deal will not be as easy as that, however the US has very few remaining options. The military options are not ideal and sanctions are not having any effect. Some say that diplomacy is the only real solution, but it will be difficult for North Korea to trust the United States as it tears up the nuclear deal with Iran.

Trumps criticism of the Iran deal is reminiscent of Bushs criticism of the North Korea deal. Lessons should be learned and the Trump administration should create additional agreements instead of scrapping the current one.

Meanwhile, Iran has left critics with no doubt that there is cooperation with North Korea as it announced its new Khoramshahr medium-range ballistic missile. Trump took the opportunity to again emphasise that Irans belligerence shows no respect for the nuclear deal. He said on Twitter: Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel. They are also working with North Korea. Not much of an agreement we have!
The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security recently began investigating three companies under the state-owned gas and oil group PetroVietnam. The companies may have tried to divert more than $5 million from a Vietnamese financial institution called OceanBank.

The case has brought attention to Vietnams continued problems with corruption, as the country experiences economic growth.

Frederick Burke is a lawyer with the firm Baker McKenzie in Ho Chi Minh City. He said, In terms of corruption in Vietnam, I do think its a serious problem here and I think the government recognizes that.

Experts say corruption could affect the countrys continued economic growth. Vietnams economy grew at least 5 percent each year between 2012 and 2016. Export manufacturing has been a main driver of the growth.

The nonprofit group Transparency International placed Vietnam at 113th out of 176 countries and areas that it studied in 2016 for perceptions of corruption. Most countries in the Asia-Pacific area placed in the lower half of the index.

The New York-based group Gan Integrity calls corruption pervasive -- or everywhere -- in Vietnam. It says companies are likely to face bribery, political interference and facilitation payments in many industries, especially in the fields of land development and construction.

Reasons for the corruption

Low salaries for government workers are one of the causes for corruption, said Trung Nguyen. He is the international relations dean at Ho Chi Minh University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Complex rules have also led companies to seek permitting shortcuts, another source of corruption, Nguyen said.

People with money or property sometimes hold back expansion to avoid getting involved in graft -- a dishonest activity in which people in power use their position to get money and advantages.

Nguyen said that Vietnamese may face graft when they ask government offices for documents or when police stop them in traffic. Such actions reduce citizens trust in government services.

I think its very bad, Nguyen said. I have so many friends and they dont want to open big businesses in Vietnam because they think that they will have to deal with the government, and they have to bribe them, and it violates their ethics and their principles.

PetroVietnam probe

The PetroVietnam case is part of a bigger issue at OceanBank, according to VNExpress. The English-language news website says more than 50,000 people and 400 organizations benefited from what lawyers call illegal interest payments totaling more than $70 million.

From 2010 to 2014, bank officials offered loans and set deposit rates above state-approved limits to some important customers, local media have reported. This included PetroVietnam.

VnExpress calls the case one of the biggest bank fraud problems ever brought to court in Vietnam.

Anti-corruption efforts

The government has tried to reduce corruption. In October 2016, the government gave an unusually honest report to the legislature, saying several officials had been neglecting their duties and failing to uphold moral standards and political virtues, VnExpress reported.

But Transparency International says it sees little public information about the results of anti-corruption efforts.

Nguyen says he does not feel that Vietnams top leaders are, in his words, united in stopping the problem. I dont think they have political will to end corruption.

Im Ashley Thompson.

Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

divert - v. to change the direction or use of (something)

perception - n. the way you think about or understand someone or something

index - n. an ordered list

pervasive - adj.  existing in every part of something : spreading to all parts of something

bribery - n. the act or crime of giving or accepting a bribe.

bribe - v. something valuable (such as money) that is given in order to get someone to do something

dean - n. a person who is in charge of one of the parts of a university (such as a college or school)

shortcut - n. a quicker or easier way to do something

graft - n. dishonest activity in which people with power (such as political leaders) use their position and influence to get money and advantages

benefit - v. to be useful or helpful to (someone or something)

fraud - n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person
Travelers to the United States from eight countries face new restrictions under a document that President Donald Trump signed on Sunday.

The new restrictions are to take effect on October 18. They will affect citizens from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Chad, North Korea and Venezuela.

The Trump administration described the new measures in a statement on Sunday. It said these countries have refused to share information about terrorism and other issues with the United States.

The new measures do not apply to Sudan. Iraq also does not face entry restrictions, although travelers may face greater screening security. Those two countries had been included in earlier versions of Trumps travel bans.

Countries added to travel restrictions list

Chad, North Korea and Venezuela are new additions to the travel ban.

The presidential proclamation states that, North Korea does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements.

Venezuela was included for failing to cooperate in showing if travelers present national security or public-safety threats. U.S. officials also said Venezuela does not willingly receive Venezuelans deported from the U.S.

The Trump administration called Chad a valuable and important partner in fighting terrorism. But it noted that the country had not shared terrorism-related and other public safety information.

The statement says the restrictions are conditional and that the countries can take actions to ease the measures.

Human rights groups react

Human rights groups largely disapproved of the new ban.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a Muslim civil rights group based in Washington D.C. In a statement, the group denounced the policy, saying it was, in the groups words, part of the administrations ugly white supremacist agenda.

The London-based rights group Amnesty International also criticized the new restrictions. It said families had been torn apart since the last travel ban. It also said the ban unfairly targeted whole nations of people because of the crimes of a few. The group said the action did not keep anyone safe.

In the proclamation, the president said: The restrictions announced are tough and tailored, and they send a message to foreign governments that they must work with us to enhance security.

Trump released an executive order in March that placed travel restrictions on six Muslim-majority countries.

However, that order was immediately disputed and suspended in U.S. courts. Critics said the ban unfairly targeted Muslims.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court permitted parts of the order to go into effect.

The earlier order placed entry restrictions on citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Citizens of those countries were required to have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.

Two of the three new countries placed on the travel ban list -- North Korea and Venezuela -- are not Muslim-majority. Chad is estimated to be majority Muslim. However, it has large populations of other religious groups, as well.

Im Mario Ritter

Smita Nordwall reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English with additional materials. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

screening n. the act of examining people to see if they can do something

proclamation n. a statement by a public official calling for some action

deport v. to cause a person who is not a citizen to leave a country

conditional adj. describes something that will happen only if something else happens

tailor v. to make something fit a certain situation, person, group or country

enhance v. to improve or increase

bona fide adj. in good faith

entity n. something that exists separately, such as a business, organization, government or political groups

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
American colleges are deciding whether to change how they investigate sexual assaults after a directive from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

Last Friday, DeVos withdrew official guidance on how college and university officials deal with sexual assault cases. Those rules were established during the presidency of Barack Obama.

DeVos became education secretary after Republican Donald Trump replaced Obama as president. She said the Obama rules used the lowest standard of evidence and sometimes denied a fair hearing to students accused of sexual attacks, including rape.

The Obama administration had called on colleges to use a standard that held a preponderance, or majority, of evidence was enough to decide guilt. Obamas Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, had said the guidelines were needed because some colleges were not taking sexual assaults and dating violence seriously enough.

DeVos will let colleges choose between the preponderance standard and another measure -- clear and convincing evidence. That second standard is harder to meet.

Legal experts say a change in evidence requirements can be important because often no one saw the sexual assault other than the victim and person accused of the attack.

Stephen Schulhofer is an expert on criminal justice issues and a professor at New York University's School of Law.

Schulhofer said that if both the victim and accused make statements, a preponderance standard requires only a determination which version is more likely to be true.

In contrast, he said, a clear and convincing standard is much harder to meet, requires real confidence that one version is true, the other not true.

Stephanie Spangler directs the Office of Health Affairs and Academic Integrity at Yale University in Connecticut.

She said, We remain committed to policies that effectively address sexual misconduct and processes that are fair to all."

Spangler said she believes that Yales current policies meet new requirements announced by DeVos and Connecticut state laws.

Janet Napolitano is president of the University of California system. She formerly served as Homeland Security Secretary in the Obama administration.

Napolitano said she is deeply worried the new rules will in effect weaken sexual violence protections.

DeVos said that the Education Department is not backing away from strong actions to stop sexual assault.

Schools must continue to confront these horrific crimes and behaviors head-on, DeVos said.

In her announcement last week, she also removed an Obama administration rule that called on colleges to decide sexual assault cases within 60 days.

Some critics had said that 60 days was not enough time for colleges to collect evidence. But others said a 60-day time period was needed so assault victims are not put under more pressure by the accused and their friends to drop charges.

Elizabeth Boyle works with Know Your IX, a group that helps survivors of sexual assault. She fears the new guidelines will make even more victims of sexual assault unwilling to report the crimes.

As it is, she said, many victims of sexual assault are afraid to report being attacked for fear that their charges will not be taken seriously.

These changes will only make things worse, she added.

Boyle is a student at Notre Dame University in Indiana.

But the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education said that the Obama administration guidelines made it difficult for people falsely accused of sexual assault to get a fair hearing.

It made it impossible for campuses to serve the needs of victims while also respecting the rights of the accused, said Robert Shibley, the groups director.

Now, he said, the U.S. finally has the chance to get it right.

DeVos said the Education Department will spend the next few months developing new rules on sexual assault through a public process.

She said the department will not allow sexual assault to be "swept under the rug." By swept under the rug, she meant hiding something to avoid looking bad.

In a series of questions and answers sent to college officials, the Education Department said it is looking for fair treatment of both sexual assault victims and people accused of such attacks.

"Any process made available to one partyshould be made equally available to the other party, the department said in one answer. It noted that both the victim of sexual assault and the person accused should be able to bring the advisor of their choice to hearings.

Im Bruce Alpert. 

And I'm Alice Bryant.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

assault - n. the crime of trying or threatening to hurt someone physically

standard - n. a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable

dating  adj. of or related to meeting someone for a social outing

convincing - adj. causing someone to believe that something is true or certain

confidence - n. a belief that a statement is true

address - v. to deal with a problem

confront - v. to deal with a problem in a direct and forceful way
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House panel passes civil servants adjustment bill

Civil servants will be adjusted in the federal, provincial and local layers on the basis of seniority, their choice of affiliation with one of the three levels of government and their permanent address.
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.
Ford Motor Company is the second largest US auto manufacturer by market cap and market share and ranks 4th globally. The company was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford following a series of cars that led to the introduction of the Model T. The Model T revolutionized the automobile industry not only because it made vehicles affordable for the budding middle class but it changed the way manufacturing was done. The Ford factory features the worlds first moving assembly line, an introduction that not only improved the pace of production but lowered the cost of its vehicles.

Other prominent innovations made by Mr. Ford include the strict standardization of parts that allowed for easy construction and repair and the standardized workweek. Henry Fords switch to a $5 workday and 8-hour shifts allowed him to run 3 shifts per day and improve productivity while providing his employees with the power to buy their own products.

Today, Ford Motor Company makes and markets a large lineup of cars, trucks, SUVs, EVs, and Lincoln luxury vehicles globally. The companys iconic F-series of trucks is the worlds best-selling pickup truck for decades running and the new all-electric Lightning is on track to dominate the top spot in the EV market. Other iconic brands in the Ford lineup include the Thunderbird introduced in 1954, the Mustang in 1964, and the Transit work van in 1965. The Mustang, notably, was created for the Worlds Fair and expected to sell 100,000 in its first year but shocked the industry with 22,000 units sold on the first day.

The company operates through four segments including Ford Blue (ICE vehicles), Model e (EVs) Mobility, and Ford Credit. The Ford Blue and Model e segments sell Ford and Lincoln vehicles, parts, and accessories while the Mobility segment designs and builds advanced technologies including but not limited to self-driving autonomous car systems.

The Ford Credit segment primarily offers commercial and retail loans to auto dealers and car buyers. This segment not only provides financing for new purchases and dealer inventory but makes loans for new dealerships and expansions of old ones.

Ford has fully embraced the switch to EV and is planning for an all-EV future. To that end, the company pledged to spend up to $50 billion on EV infrastructure by 2026. The plans include the build-out of an entirely new campus dedicated to EV manufacture from batteries to motor platforms, manufacturing capacity, and new vehicles. In regard to total capacity, the company is targeting 2 million in total annual EV sales by that same year.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. provides early education and child care, back-up care, educational advisory, and other workplace solutions services for employers and families. The company operates through three segments: Full Service Center-Based Child Care, Back-Up Care, and Educational Advisory and Other Services. The Full Service Center-Based Child Care segment offers traditional center-based child care and early education, preschool, and elementary education services. The Back-Up Care segment provides center-based back-up child care, in-home child and adult/elder dependent care, school-age camps, virtual tutoring, and self-sourced reimbursed care services through child care centers, school-age campuses, and in-home caregivers, as well as the back-up care network. The Educational Advisory and Other Services segment offers tuition assistance and student loan repayment program administration, workforce education, and related educational consulting services, as well as college admissions advisory services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 1,014 child care and early education centers in the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, and India. The company was formerly known as Bright Horizons Solutions Corp. and changed its name to Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. in July 2012. Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts.
Illegal mining ramps up as Dashain begins

Illegal mining of sand and other construction materials at locations around Trishuli River have become a common occurance as the authoritys monitoring have waned with the beginning of Dashain, the main festival of Hindus.
Energizer Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes household batteries, specialty batteries, and lighting products worldwide. It offers lithium, alkaline, carbon zinc, nickel metal hydride, zinc air, and silver oxide batteries under the Energizer and Eveready brands, as well as primary, rechargeable, specialty, and hearing aid batteries. The company also provides headlights, lanterns, and children's and area lights, as well as flash lights under the Energizer, Eveready, Rayovac, Hard Case, Dolphin, Varta, and WeatherReady brands. In addition, it licenses the Energizer and Eveready brands to companies developing consumer solutions in gaming, automotive batteries, portable power for critical devices, LED light bulbs, generators, power tools, household light bulbs, and other lighting products. Further, the company designs and markets automotive fragrance and appearance products, including protectants, wipes, tire and wheel care products, glass cleaners, leather care products, air fresheners, and washes to clean, shine, refresh, and protect interior and exterior automobile surfaces under the brand names of Armor All, Nu Finish, Refresh Your Car!, LEXOL, Eagle One, California Scents, Driven, and Bahama & Co; STP branded fuel and oil additives, functional fluids, and other performance chemical products; and do-it-yourself automotive air conditioning recharge products under the A/C PRO brand name, as well as other refrigerant and recharge kits, sealants, and accessories. It sells its products through direct sales force, distributors, and wholesalers; and through various retail and business-to-business channels, including mass merchandisers, club, electronics, food, home improvement, dollar store, auto, drug, hardware, e-commerce, convenience, sporting goods, hobby/craft, office, industrial, medical, and catalog. Energizer Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Muluki Ain (Civil Code) Bill passed

A meeting of the Legislature-Parliament on Monday passed the Muluki Ain (Civil Code) Bill, 2074 BS.
A new survey finds breast cancer patients' actual radiation therapy experiences largely exceeded their expectations. The survey, which addressed the fears and misconceptions regarding radiation therapy for breast cancer, found that more than three-fourths of the breast cancer patients surveyed found their experiences with radiation therapy, including overall and specific long-term and short-term side effects, to be less "scary" than anticipated, according to research presented today at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

"Radiation oncologists know firsthand that our patients come in with fears and sometimes misconceptions. Unlike many other treatments and fields of medicine, it is very hard to imagine what radiation therapy is like," said Narek Shaverdian, MD, lead author of the study and a radiation oncology resident at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). "Still, it is surprising to find that upwards of 90 percent of women surveyed agree that if future patients knew the reality of the radiation therapy experience, they would be less afraid of treatment.

"Advances in radiation therapy technologies over the past several decades and the increased use of hypofractionationwhere radiation is given in larger doses across fewer sessionshave afforded patients more convenient treatment options, as well as lower toxicity rates in many situations," said Dr. Shaverdian.

"Our study shows that women who received modern breast radiation therapy overwhelmingly found the treatment experience far better than expected. The negative stories out there are frightening and pervasive, but they generally are not reflective of the actual experience," said Susan McCloskey, MD, MSHS, assistant professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Director of the Breast Service at UCLA Radiation Oncology and senior author of the study.

Surveys were sent to all patients who received treatment for breast cancer at a UCLA-affiliated multidisciplinary breast cancer clinic between 2012 and 2016. Eligible patients had six or more months of follow-up and were without tumor recurrence. Sixty-five percent of these 502 patients returned surveys, and study findings are based on these 327 responses. The median age of survey respondents was 59 years (range 28-89 years).

Patients represented various disease stages; 18 percent had stage 0 breast cancer; 38 percent stage I; 34 percent stage II; and 9 percent stage III. Eighty two percent underwent breast conserving surgery, 13% had axillary dissection, 37% received chemotherapy, and 70% received endocrine therapy. All patients received radiation therapy (RT), delivered as either standard whole-breast RT with or without regional nodal coverage, hypofractionated whole-breast RT, post-mastectomy RT, or partial breast RT.

Patients completed the survey a median of 31 months (range 6-61 months) after completing radiation therapy. Survey questions assessed fears and beliefs about breast cancer treatment and side effects, as well as how the actual experience compared to initial expectations. Specifically, patients were asked if the treatment experience, short-term side effects and long-term side effects were as expected, worse than expected or better than expected.

Nine in ten patients (90%) found the actual experience of breast radiation therapy to be "less scary" than anticipated. Overall short-term and long-term side effects of radiation were better than expected or as expected for 83 percent and 84 percent of respondents, respectively. Patients also reported that side effects were less severe than or as expected for short-term breast pain (75%), skin changes (61%) and fatigue (78%), as well as for long-term appearance changes (85%), breast pain (79%), breast size changes (73%) and breast textural changes (70%).

More than two-thirds (68%) of these breast cancer patients reported that they had little to no prior knowledge of radiation therapy at the time of their diagnosis, yet nearly half (47%) also shared that they had previously read or heard "frightening" stories of serious side effects from radiation therapy. Nearly all women surveyed (94%) responded that they were initially fearful of receiving radiation therapy. The most common initial fears related to radiation therapy were concerns about damage to internal organs (40%), skin burning (24%) and becoming radioactive (7%). Very few patients found confirmation for these negative stories during treatment, however; among 327 respondents, eight women (3%) found the negative stories they previously read about radiation therapy to be true and six women (2%) found the negative stories they heard from family and friends to be true. The trend of finding negative stories to be largely untrue was even more pronounced among patients who underwent breast conservation therapy. Nine in ten survey respondents agreed that "After treatment, I now realize that radiation therapy is not as bad as they say it is," and/or that "If future patients knew the 'real truth' about radiation therapy, they would be less scared about treatment."

"We hope that these data, which reflect the voices of past breast cancer patients, can help to counsel future patients and their physicians on the actualities of the modern breast radiation therapy experience," said Dr. Shaverdian. "Patients who have received this treatment provide the most credible account of its actual impact, and their accounts show that outdated, negative stereotypes of breast radiation are almost universally found to be untrue."
Victorian MPs are about to debate an assisted dying bill. How can they sift through competing claims? Credit: Shutterstock

Assisted dying in Australia is no longer a matter of "if" but "when". Will the "when" be 2017 through the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill likely to be tabled in the Victorian parliament this week?

The politics of assisted dying are notoriously unpredictable, and how our politicians ultimately vote may turn on last-minute lobbying. However, a robust process to develop the bill, coupled with government and high-profile political support, means reform is a real possibility.

As with previous Australian assisted dying bills, Victorian parliamentarians have been offered a conscience vote. As politicians ponder how they will respond, interest groups on both sides of the debate are lobbying fiercely. MPs are being provided with a range of conflicting information about how assisted dying regimes operate overseas and the risks or benefits of these regimes.

How can politicians sift through and assess these competing claims?

Claims about facts or about morals

A starting point is to distinguish between claims that something should or should not happen (a moral claim about right and wrong), and claims that something is or is not happening (a factual or empirical claim). This distinction matters, because what justifies each type of claim is different.

For example, a claim that the bill should not be enacted because it is wrong for doctors to be involved in deliberately bringing about the death of a patient is a moral claim. This moral claim is based on values  that killing a person is always wrong, and/or it is wrong for doctors to be involved in such a practice.

Politicians should ask those making such claims what values they are relying on. This allows them to assess if those values are justifiable in contemporary Australia, recognising that our society respects a plurality of viewpoints.

On the other hand, a factual (or empirical) claim depends on evidence. For example, a claim that vulnerable people will be at risk if the bill is enacted is a factual claim. This claim should be supported by evidence, and politicians should ask the claimant for that evidence.

Is the evidence reliable?

If no evidence is provided for a factual or empirical claim, it should be ignored. If evidence is provided, the question then becomes: how reliable is it? There are established ways to evaluate evidence, as shown by the pyramid below.

Key considerations are how high up the pyramid of quality the evidence is, and whether it has been robustly tested. An example of low-quality evidence is anecdotal evidence, which hasn't been independently verified, about a small number of cases in an overseas assisted dying regime.

At the other end of the spectrum, high-quality evidence could be a peer-reviewed systematic review that analyses all existing research to determine what sorts of people are receiving assistance to die in a particular country.

End of life law and policymaking in Canada. Credit: Health Law Institute, Dalhousie University

Politicians must also support their claims

In putting forward their views on assisted dying legislation, politicians are also making claims. This means the arguments outlined above apply to them too.

Politicians making a moral claim can rely on different values and so reasonably reach different conclusions on the permissibility of assisted dying. If so, they should be transparent about this, making clear their values and why they believe in them.

Importantly, they should not confuse the issue by cloaking value claims as empirical or factual claims. For example, a politician should not claim that safeguards cannot stop inappropriate use of assisted dying regimes (a factual claim) if their real concern is a principled one (based on values) that killing is always wrong.

Likewise, with empirical claims, politicians must not only test the evidence that is presented to them, they must also satisfy themselves of the reliability of the evidence they are relying on.

Fortunately, there is a significant body of reliable evidence that examines how assisted dying regimes in other countries work that can inform these assessments. We invite politicians to critique this evidence for themselves, but here we tackle two empirical claims that are commonly made in the debate.

Two common empirical claims

The first claim is that safeguards cannot protect the vulnerable in society. But a reliable body of peer-reviewed evidence now demonstrates that assisted dying regimes are not disproportionately used by vulnerable groups. The available body of peer-reviewed research was further tested by the courts in Canada, and upheld by the Supreme Court, which concluded that it was possible to design a regime that adequately protects the vulnerable.

Those making claims contrary to this established body of reliable evidence need to provide their high-quality evidence in support of their position.

The second common claim is that the law will inevitably expand over time to allow new and broader groups to have access to assisted dying. But this factual claim doesn't reflect what has happened elsewhere. There have been virtually no changes in the regimes that permit assisted dying overseas.

The best comparison for the proposed Victorian model is Oregon, as it permits only physician-assisted suicide (a doctor prescribes medication to a person, who must then take it themselves). Oregon's law has not changed in the 20 years it has been in operation.

A limited exception to this trend is Belgium. In 2014, it extended its laws to permit assisted dying for competent terminally ill people under the age of 18 in restricted circumstances. But this expansion of law has been very limited, with only two young people using it in the three years since.

As the Victorian bill is tabled in parliament, we will continue to hear claims about assisted dying in the media. No doubt many such claims will also be made to politicians behind closed doors.

As informed members of the public, we must closely analyse these claims. It is even more important that our politicians do the same. They should recognise moral claims for what they are  claims underpinned by personal values. And they should challenge those who are making factual claims to name the evidence, then test how reliable that evidence is.

Important issues are at stake, and lazy debate and discussion should not be permitted.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Credit: Alex Borland/public domain

The consumption of meat is not merely a question of taste as is generally assumed. It also necessarily involves beliefs that the killing and eating of certain animals is justified. German and American researchers looked at the attitudes expressed by meat consumers in three surveys in which nearly 1,000 persons participated. The research team developed a questionnaire that would enable them to assess these beliefs and that differentiated between two aspects of the beliefs of meat-eaters, i.e., that meat consumption is justified and that human beings naturally have a position of dominance over animals. As a result of these surveys, the psychologists were able to confirm that meat eating is associated with attitudes that endorse hierarchical structures. Their findings have been published in the eminent specialist journal Appetite.

People's most common answer to the question why they eat meat is because it "tastes good." However, the theory of carnism postulated by Melanie Joy assumes that there is an underlying belief system that preconditions people to eat certain animals while paradoxically treating others as inedible, such as pets that are considered to be members of the family. The German-American team of researchers now empirically investigated this carnistic viewpoint for the first time. Dr. Tamara Pfeiler of JGU's Institute of Psychology and Christopher Monteiro of Cornell University, the two primary authors of the published article, first developed a questionnaire, the so-called Carnism Inventory, in order to investigate specific attitudes. In the survey, participants were asked questions such as whether people should continue to eat meat because they have already been doing so for thousands of years, whether eating meat is better for their health, whether meat production causes animals to suffer, and whether human beings have the natural right to kill animals.

The Carnism Inventory proved to be a suitable tool for determining the beliefs of the survey participants. The results reveal that meat consumption is not merely a matter of taste but is also associated with carnism-related defense arguments that justify the killing and eating of animals. "We came to the conclusion that, just as in the case of vegetarianism and veganism, there is an underlying set of beliefs underpinning the eating of meat," stated Dr. Tamara Pfeiler. The survey findings also differentiate between two different forms of outlook. In the one hand, carnism offers a justification for the eating of meat and there is a correlation between the extent of meat consumption and the belief in this justification; on the other hand, carnism also proposes that humans are naturally dominant and are thus allowed to kill animals for meat, while this process is actually determined by the fact of whether an animal has already been slaughtered for the purposes of meat production.

There are also correlations between carnistic beliefs and specific political and social attitudes that tend to be more conservative and favor the establishment of hierarchies within human groups. "Carnistic beliefs also seem to be associated with an attitude that approves of dominance within social structures and could thus encourage the development of prejudices towards certain social categories. However, this does not mean that meat-eating people are automatically more likely to exhibit prejudice towards other groups of people," emphasized Pfeiler. There are correlations but no evidence of a causal relation. Future investigations are planned in order to establish the precise links between carnism, the consumption of meat, and the acceptance of hierarchical structures.

More information: Christopher A. Monteiro et al. The Carnism Inventory: Measuring the ideology of eating animals, Appetite (2017). Journal information: Appetite Christopher A. Monteiro et al. The Carnism Inventory: Measuring the ideology of eating animals,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.02.011
Around 80 per cent of people with Parkinson's disease develop dementia. Credit: University of Exeter

New research involving King's College London and the University of Exeter has highlighted the benefits of a promising new treatment which could relieve psychosis in thousands of people with dementia related to Parkinson's disease.

Around 80 per cent of people with Parkinson's disease develop dementia, totalling around 100,000 people in the UK. ,The majority of these individuals will experience psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, often particularly intense in Parkinson's disease.

These symptoms can be terrifying and have a devastating effect on individuals and their families, yet commonly-prescribed sedative antipsychotic medications only have a marginal benefit in reducing psychotic symptoms. Currently, clinicians are advised only to prescribe antipsychotics as a last resort, because of their terrible impacts on health, quadrupling the risk of stroke and death, as well as worsening symptoms of Parkinson's diseases.

The paper, in Nature Reviews Neurology, presents key new information regarding the benefits of pimavanserin, - a novel antipsychotic treatment that follows a completely different mechanism of action than widely-used drugs, and improves psychosis effectively without the damaging impact of other drugs.

A previous paper in The Lancet in 2014 reported a rigorous six week, randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, in which 199 people were allocated to groups to receive pimavanserin or a placebo. The study demonstrated benefits in treating psychosis in people with Parkinson's disease, leading to the licensing of pimavanserin for this purpose in the USA.

The newly published results from the same trial, presented in the current paper, indicate that pimavanserin is even more effective in improving psychotic symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease dementia. The treatment is well tolerated, causes less negative impact than other antipsychotics in a particularly vulnerable group for whom psychotic symptoms are a major challenge.

Professor Clive Ballard, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said: "Quite rightly, campaign groups have urged clinicians to reserve antipsychotics as a last resort because of the damaging side-effects, however the new results from our clinical trial of pimavanserin show that it effectively improves psychosis in people with Parkinson's disease dementia without this terrible impact. This is a crucial step towards changing an unacceptable situation for millions of people living with Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's disease dementia worldwide.."

Parkinson's Disease and the related disease dementia with Lewy bodies affect up to 15 per cent of all people with dementia  around six million people worldwide. People with these dementias are far more likely to experience highly visual and distressing psychotic episodes.

All other antipsychotics target a receptor for a chemical messenger on neurones called dopamine. This has proved effective in treating psychosis in Schizoprenia, but in Parkinson's Disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, where these receptors are already being lost as a result of the disease, this blocking can significantly worsen motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease causing tremor, slow movements and resulting in problems with walking and falls..

Pimavanserin works differently. It targets the brain's 5HT2A receptors, restricting the activity of another chemical messenger, serotonin.

According to Professor Dag Aarsland at King's College London, "Psychosis in Parkinson's disease is often extremely distressing to patients and their carers, and until now there have been few treatment options available. These findings are extremely encouraging, and we hope that our continuing work in this area eventually leads to better treatment options for the thousands of people in the UK and worldwide affected by this condition."

Claire Bale, Head of Research Communications and Engagement at Parkinson's UK, said: "This new analysis suggests that pimavanserin is even more effective for treating psychotic symptoms  like hallucinations and delusions  in people with Parkinson's dementia than in those with Parkinson's without dementia.

"This is extremely promising because psychotic symptoms are a very common and distressing feature of Parkinson's dementia and current treatment options are extremely limited.

"Pimavanserin has been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US but has not yet been submitted for approval to the European equivalent, the European Medicines Agency.

"It is now imperative that pimavanserin goes through the European approval process to be made available to people who would benefit hugely from the drug. People with Parkinson's can't wait any longer for better treatments."
A religiously sensitive educational effort designed to address barriers to mammography for Muslim women increased the women's perceived likelihood of getting the breast screening and their eventual receipt of mammograms, according to results of a study presented at the 10th AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held here Sept. 25-28.

"Routine mammograms have helped significantly reduce mortality from breast cancer, but we know that some religious and cultural beliefs discourage Muslim-American women from getting mammograms," said the study's lead author, Aasim Padela, MD, MSc, director of the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, associate professor of medicine in the Section of Emergency Medicine, and an associate investigator of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Chicago. "We wanted to see if we could engage these women within the framework of their faith to encourage them to obtain mammograms."

Padela said that previous research has shown that about 50 percent of Muslim-American women get mammograms every two years, compared to 67 percent of all American women. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women between ages 50 and 74 get mammograms every two years; younger women are encouraged to consider risk factors and decide with their doctors when to begin receiving mammograms.

Padela and colleagues conducted focus groups and interviews with women from Muslim organizations, seeking to learn about their beliefs about mammography. They then designed a curriculum and messages for a series of health education classes to be held in Chicago-area mosques. They recruited peer educators from the mosques, and taught them messages to use in conjunction with talks from physicians and breast cancer surgeons. Finally, they surveyed participants before the classes, then again immediately afterward, six months after the classes, and one year after the classes.

Padela said the researchers identified numerous "barrier beliefs" that prevented Muslim women from getting mammograms. For example, many believed that God controls diseases and cures, so screening would not be beneficial. Also, because the Islamic faith places a high priority on modesty, many Muslim women may feel discomfort exposing their bodies for mammograms or having male practitioners, Padela explained.

The research team designed interventions that considered these religious ideas while still communicating the importance of mammography screening. For example, Padela said, the peer educators told the women that while God may control disease, religious teachings also stress that women must be good "stewards" of their bodies, so it is important to obtain information about one's health.

To reframe the women's feelings about modesty, Padela said, "We reflected with them that while maintaining modesty is critically important, it is not the ultimate value. Religious scholars note that if no option is available, mammography can be performed by a male technician. However, we also shared that most centers have female staff."

At the six-month follow-up interviews, 20 of 47 participants (42 percent) had already obtained a mammogram. Overall, the women reported being significantly more likely to get a mammogram than they had been before the classes.

"It's a challenge to frame healthy behaviors within the context of religious beliefs and cultural values," Padela said. "But we believe that by engaging with such deeply held aspects of identity, we can meet people where they are and encourage them to uphold their beliefs in a way that also benefits their health."

Padela said the study's primary limitation was its small size. Also, because the participants were regular attendees at their mosques, they may have been more religious than the Muslim population as a whole and, as such, these findings may not be applicable to the broader Muslim population.

Padela declares no conflicts of interest.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Sleep disorders and sleep deficiency are hidden costs that affect employers across America. Seventy percent of Americans admit that they routinely get insufficient sleep, and 30 percent of U.S. workers and 44 percent of night shift workers report sleeping less than six hours per night. In addition, an estimated 50-70 million people have a sleep disorder, often undiagnosed. Costs attributable to sleep deficiency in the U.S. was estimated to exceed $410 billion in 2015, equivalent to 2.28 percent of the gross domestic product.

Analysis of existing data, using a new Fatigue Cost Calculator tool developed through the Sleep Matters Initiative at Brigham Health for the National Safety Council (NSC), reveal that a U.S. employer with 1,000 workers can lose about $1.4 million dollars each year in absenteeism, diminished productivity, healthcare costs, accidents and other occupational costs associated with exhausted employees, many of whom have undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorders.

The Fatigue Cost Calculator is a free online tool, developed by experts at Brigham Health and introduced at the NSC Congress and Expo, and is available for employers to determine the financial cost of sleep deficiency to their business. Employers enter specific data, including workforce size, industry and location to predict the prevalence of sleep deficiency and common sleep disorders among employees. Using an algorithm generated by integrating information from sleep science literature and publicly available government data, the calculator can estimate the prevalence of sleep deficiency in the workplace and the resulting financial losses. The calculator also provides an estimate of the savings that might be expected with the implementation of a sleep health education program that includes screening for untreated sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia, to improve sleep behavior and overall health.

"We estimate that the costs of fatigue in an average-sized Fortune 500 company consisting of approximately 52,000 employees, is about $80 million annually," said Matthew Weaver, PhD, a scientist working in the Brigham Health Sleep Matters Initiative who worked on the development of the cost calculator."

The mission of the Sleep Matters Initiative, led by investigators from Brigham Health and Harvard Medical School, is to foster excellence in the treatment of sleep and circadian disorders in order to improve health, safety, and performance; and to promote widespread change in social norms that will engender a culture of sleep health.

"Promotion of healthy sleep is a win-win for both employers and employees, enhancing quality of life and longevity for workers while improving productivity and reducing healthcare costs for employers," said Charles A. Czeisler, PhD, MD, FRCP, director of the Sleep Matters Initiative at Brigham Health and the Baldino Professor of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Additionally, Occupational Fatigue Management Programs can increase knowledge of sleep disorders, educate participants on the impact of reduced alertness due to sleep deficiency and teach fatigue countermeasures, as well as screen for untreated sleep disorders."

Other findings revealed by the Fatigue Cost Calculator developed by the Brigham Health Sleep Matters Initiative for the NSC include:

A national transportation company with 1,000 employees likely loses more than $600,000 annually in decreased productivity because of tired employees. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of workplace deaths, underscoring the need for alert, attentive employees.

More than 250 employees at a 1,000-worker national construction company likely have sleep disorders, which increase the risk of being injured or killed on the job. The construction industry has the highest number of on-the-job deaths each year.

A single employee with obstructive sleep apnea can cost an employer more than $3,000 in excess healthcare costs each year.

An employee with untreated insomnia is present but not productive for more than 10 full days of work annually, and accounts for at least $2,000 in excess healthcare costs each year.

An average Fortune 500 company could save nearly $40 million annually if half of its workforce were engaged in a sleep health program.

"This research reinforces that sleepless nights hurt everyone," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO off the National Safety Council. "Many of us have been conditioned to just power through our fatigue, but worker health and safety on the job are compromised when we don't get the sleep we need. The calculator demonstrates that doing nothing to address fatigue costs employers a lot more than they think."

Development of the Fatigue Cost Calculator was supported by a contract from the National Safety Council to the Brigham and Women's Physicians Organization.

Brigham Health is a global leader, devoted to maintaining and restoring health for people everywhere. Brigham Health is composed of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, and Brigham and Women's Physicians Organization, a physician governed organization, dedicated to enabling its members to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing healthcare environment.
Steve Jobs' sandals sold for more than $200,000

Armenian PM accuses Azerbaijani leader of terrorizing Armenian civilians

Azerbaijan shells Armenian positions on border again

OPEC downgrades its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2022

White House: Biden and Xi Jinping agree on Blinken's visit to China

CNN: CIA chief Burns meets with SVR director Naryshkin in Ankara

Turkish FM Cavusoglu thanks Ararat Mirzoyan for condolences

Putin signs decree allowing stateless persons to serve in Russian army

Airbus CEO: There is no question of them breaking off trade ties

Armen Grigoryan receives Igor Khovayev

Britain and France sign agreement on strengthening cooperation on illegal migration

US updates its sanctions list for Russia: Milur Electronics LLC, an Armenian company listed

Potatoes prices grow by 20%: expert claims agriculture collapse in Armenia

Peskov says Russian-American talks in Ankara initiated by Washington

Morgan Stanley: UK and euro zone economies are likely to face recession

Xi Jinping hopes for comprehensive dialogue between NATO, the EU and the US and Russia

Japan proposes to deploy Australian nuclear submarines

Biden calls talks with Xi Jinping at G20 summit frank

WB: Debt levels among low- and middle-income countries soared in 2021

Xi Jinping: China does not intend to challenge the U.S.

Scholz: Adopting a joint G20 summit statement is a tough task

Biden and Xi Jinping oppose use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Nikol Pashinyan receives Russian co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group

IMF head warns of risks for world economy because of rivalry between China and US

Irakli Garibashvili: Georgia is ready to promote in every possible way the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Red Wings airline launches direct flights from Makhachkala to Yerevan

Olaf Scholz: EU should expand its cooperation with Southeast Asian countries

Global Leadership Foundation will visit Armenia

Kurdistan Workers' Party denies its involvement in Istanbul terrorist attack

NATO Secretary General says they must not make mistake of underestimating Russia

IRGC resumes strikes on Iraqi Kurdistan

French and German central bank heads call for speeding up EU capital markets union

Control of U.S. House of Representatives depends on several tight races

Artsakh FM speaks with his Transnistria counterpart

Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus say they cannot accept migrants

Cavusoglu thanks Mirzoyan for condolences on terrorist attack in Istanbul

Xi Jinping and Joe Biden begin first face-to-face meeting in Bali

Zelenskyy arrives in Kherson

Armenian Defense Minister: After expiration of contract service 5 million drams will be provided to servicemen

Turkey refuses to accept U.S. condolences after terrorist attack in Istanbul

Defense Ministers of Georgia and Azerbaijan sign military cooperation plan for 2023

Russian Foreign Ministry denies reports about Lavrov's hospitalization in Bali

Yellen hopes Biden and Jinping meeting leads to engagement on macroeconomic issues

Russian Defense Ministry confirms violation of ceasefire in Artsakh by Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Artsakh MOD denies accusations of Azerbaijani MOD

Azerbaijani Defense Minister holds talks in Georgia

Armenian MOD denies another lie of Azerbaijani MOD

Germany warns its delegation about Egyptian spies at COP27

NSS of Armenia reveals channel of illegal migration

Azerbaijani State Security Service announces disclosure of 'Iranian spy network'

Politico: Indonesia, hosting G20, lobbies West to soften criticism of Russia in final communique

Ararat Mirzoyan expresses condolences to Mevlut Cavusoglu over Istanbul explosion

Iranian lawmakers sharply criticize Aliyev

Ambassador-at-Large: Azerbaijan's attacks on Armenia are a terrorist attack

Germany needs to diversify its business interests in Asia to reduce dependence on China

Head of U.S. Treasury Department says sanctions against Russia should remain in force even after war in Ukraine

Natasa Pirc Musar to become Slovenia's first woman president

IMF: World economic outlook even bleaker than predicted

Pashinyan: Azerbaijan calls Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh 'our citizens' and at the same time shoots at them

Turkish Interior Minister announces arrest of suspect in attack on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul

Alpine to make 3 electric crossovers

Number of injured in Istanbul blast rises to 81

Paul McCartney sells guitar for $77,000 to support Ukraine

Erdogan says preliminary findings after Istanbul bombing point to terrorist attack

Erdogan says number of victims of Istanbul bombing rises to six

Authorities forbid TV channels to broadcast from Istanbul bombing site

Istanbul blast: Governor reports 4 dead and 38 wounded

Media: Terrorist attack considered as one of versions of bombing in Istanbul

Blast in Istanbul: victims reported

Reuters: National Bank of Ukraine prepares banking system for power outages

Explosion hits pedestrian street in Istanbul

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin calls for Turkey to be recognized as sponsor of terrorism

Bloomberg columnist says Japan may be preparing for war with China

Reuters: U.S. to demand EU colleagues to continue aid to Kyiv at G20

Washington Post: U.S. intelligence believes UAE tried to interfere in U.S. politics

Yeni Safak: Turkey increases sales of winter products, blankets in EU by almost third since beginning of year

Fox News: Trump has been silent on social media for over 24 hours amid Republican failures

Lebanon extradites to Iraq relative of Saddam Hussein

Financial Times: Kyiv plans to nationalize more private companies

U.S. Senate declares 'death' of Republican Party after congressional elections

Head of U.S. Customs resigned

President of Georgia Zourabichvili says about 100 thousand Russians settled in country

CNN: Democrats to retain control of Senate after congressional elections

Alen Simonyan: We are truly and sincerely committed to the peace agenda

Artak Beglaryan: Genocidal purpose is apparent

French maritime services rescue more than 140 migrants trying to swim across English Channel

Biden says he is satisfied with results of midterm elections in U.S.

Slovenia holds second round of presidential elections

'Witch' burned alive in India, 14 arrested

COVID-19 cases are expected to surge in Germany this winter

Dollar makes worst showing in week since early days of COVID-19 pandemic

Macron confirms France's readiness to support normalization of relations between Yerevan and Baku

Germany withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty

Is Jordan country that has not supplied arms to Armenia?: 'The press usually has reliable information'

European Commission approves nationalization of Russian Gazprom's German subsidiary

Pashinyan: If the state interferes with the exchange rate unnecessarily, the economy will only suffer

U.S. to work with strategic coalition of Southeast Asian countries

Armenian PM: To reform army, it is necessary to make military service more attractive

Defense Ministry: Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire at Armenian positions

Putin and Raisi discuss topical issues of the bilateral agenda
Nepali envoy to India aims federal parliament seat

Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay is considering to return home after the Dashain festival to contest the upcoming federal parliament elections from his home town Kapilvastu.
YEREVAN.  The matter of fast transportation between Armenia and Iraq needs to be discussed.

The Minister of Agriculture of Iraq, Falah Hassan Zaidan, on Monday stated the above-said speaking at the Fourth meeting of the Armenian-Iraqi Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which has kicked off in Armenias capital city of Yerevan.

In the ministers words, conducting this talk shows to what extent Baghdad attaches importance to cooperation with Armenia.

We have a basis for the deepening of cooperation; we must eliminate all the problems that exist in various domains, said Zaidan. We can achieve progress in transport and transportation between Armenia and Iraq.

Furthermore, the Iraqi official stressed the need for cooperation between the two countries also in the oil sector, electricity, agriculture, and light industry.

We have to discuss the matter of fast transportation between the two countries, he noted, and recalled that now, there is solely one flight per week between Yerevan and the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad.

We want to increase the number of Yerevan-Baghdad flights, added Falah Hassan Zaidan. I see that Armenia is a beautiful country, and it should be of interest to tourists, first of all.
Chairman of the Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA), Ara Babloyan, on Monday commenced his official visit to Georgia. The NA delegation, led by Babloyan, met with Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze of the Parliament of Georgia.

The RA NA speaker noted that the NA delegations official visit to Georgia will be a serious impetus for the further strengthening of the state relations between the two countries, especially in parliamentary cooperation, the NA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Ara Babloyan particularly stressed that Armenian authorities attach great importance to the development and expansion of cooperation with Georgia. The head of the RA Parliament noted: In relations between each other, we have been guided with one true principle: there are no unresolved problems between us.

He expressed the hope that productive cooperation will continue, and new ways will be found for the rapprochement of various contacts.

Ara Babloyan proposed his Georgian colleague to make more frequent the cooperation between the parliamentarians of the two countries, in the format of mutual visits and joint discussions.

Talking about the Georgian-Armenian relations, the speaker of the Georgian parliament, for his part, particularly noted that although this year marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Georgian-Armenian friendship has a history that goes back several centuries. Kobakhidze assured that all parliamentary forces of Georgia share the view that relations with Armenia should be brotherly, and steps should be undertaken to further strengthen them. Also, the head of the Georgian parliament thoroughly presented the main directions of the ongoing reforms in Georgia.

Also, the interlocutors discussed the economic, social, cultural, educational, and several other domains.
Nepali voters viewed local elections as historic and hence a high turnout

The Election Commission has received flak for being unable to reprimand political parties for violating the election code of conduct and being biased towards the government,
The Hayrapetyan brothers from Russia have been named the winners of the Contest for Young Scientists and Innovators launched by Discovery Science.

The contest was underway un a number of countries, and is supported by Ucom company in Armenia.

Samson and Hrant Hayrapetyan created a gadget that will help the deaf-and-dumb people translate hand movements into speech and then convert speech into video via holographic camera.

Two Armenian teams won special prizes. Narek Harutyunyan, 12, from Gyumri was awarded a special prize for a system of virtual communication. The system creates 3D images of several people in one place.

For example, I am in Gyumri, one of my friends is in the Athens and the other is in Paris, but we want to meet in Dresden. The program will enable to show a place where we meet on display and 3D images of my friends and me, Narek said.

The jury also awarded three students of Ayb school  Ani Aznavuryan, Aren Aznavuryan and Davit Abrahamyan. They are working on the idea of sending signals using the root system of plants.

Congratulating future scientists and engineers, Ucom General Director Hayk Yesayan said: Your work is your and our prosperous future. You will replace me in a few years, and new guys will replace you.
PM Deubas Oman visit: 11 Omani ministers to welcome PM Deuba

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who recently attended the 72nd session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, US, is making a four-day official visit to Sultanate of Oman before returning home.
What gives.

Rick Smith, the CEO of Equifax Inc. (EFX) - Get Free Report , the credit reporting agency under fire for potentially exposing the private information of 143 million Americans to hackers, has benefited during his tenure from a long relationship with the majority of the company's independent directors. The long relationship raises the question of whether the board was providing the right checks and balances on Smith and his executive team.

Smith has served as chairman and CEO for nearly twelve years. He's also a member of the advisory board of venture capital-backed DocuSign Inc., valued at $3 billion in its last fundraising round, according to BoardEx, a relationship mapping service of TheStreet Inc.

Equifax's board, excluding Smith, has an average tenure of 9.2 years, above the average director tenure of 8.7 years. Seven of Equifax's ten independent directors have exceeded that average tenure. The director with the longest tenure is Phil Humann, who's served on Equifax's board since 1992. Humann, a former CEO of SunTrust Banks Inc. (STI) - Get Free Report , has had similarly long experience on the boards of Coca-Cola European Partners plc (CCE) and Haverty Furniture Cos. Inc. (HVT) - Get Free Report .

The newest additions to Equifax's board are Elane Stock and Tom Hough, both of whom have served less than a year. Stock, a Kimberly Clark Corp. (KMB) - Get Free Report veteran, also sits on the board of Yum Brands Inc. (YUM) - Get Free Report , the parent of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. Hough, former Americas vice chair of Ernst & Young, also sits on the board of privately held Publix Super Markets Inc.

Hough and Stock both sit on the company's technology committee, which may be responsible for cybersecurity. The committee is chaired by John McKinley Jr., a former chief technology officer at Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. (FOXA) - Get Free Report and Time Warner Inc. (TWX) . Also on the technology committee are former Citrix Systems Inc. (CTXS) - Get Free Report CEO Mark Templeton and former telecom executive Mark Feidler.

According to Securities and Exchange Commission filings, all the directors on the technology committee except Hough were paid over $238,000 as compensation for their service at Equifax in 2016. Smith's compensation that year of $14.9 million represents a 15.5% raise from his compensation the prior year.

Until now, shareholders mostly haven't suffered from the over-tenured board. Equifax stock's three-year compound annual growth rate of 6.1% trails the S&P 500's 7.7%, but the stock's compound performance has exceeded the S&P's over the past five, 10, 20 and 30 year periods, according to FactSet data.

Equifax's management has also come under fire, with its chief information officer and chief security officer both "retiring" on Friday, Sept. 15. New interim CIO Mark Rohrwasser only joined Equifax last year, when he began to lead the company's international IT operations. Russ Ayres, vice president of Equifax's IT organization, will be interim chief security officer and will report to Rohrwasser.

In addition, three executives, including CFO John Gamble, sold stock worth almost $1.8 million a few days after the company discovered the breach in July and six weeks before the breach was disclosed. Equifax said those executives were not unaware of the breach at the time of the stock sales.

36 U.S. Senators, led by Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, and John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, asked the Federal Trade Commission to "conduct a thorough examination of any unusual trading, including any atypical options trading, for violations of insider trading law." The FTC has already confirmed it's investigating the breach itself. The attorneys general of 31 states and the District of Columbia also criticized Equifax in a letter.

More of What's Trending on TheStreet:

Editors' pick: Originally published Sept. 17.


The new beatles!











Edited at 2017-09-25 12:43 am (UTC) Kings of Pop!The new beatles!

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Those colored contacts. Nah thanks but nah

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Jin looks even more pretty when he cries omg.



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Yaas! So happy for them.

It's truly beautiful

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i heard prettymuch on the radio was shocked. i didn't even know they were getting radio play.

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sing lmao, idk about cuter either



Edited at 2017-09-25 05:07 am (UTC)

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bts is like the ugliest boygroup with a bunch of very below average singers. they're more like western boybands than you think.

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YAS KINGS. I hope I get to see them live again.

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are we rly gonna have a post for everything they do lol... i thought that was what omona was for

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You mad because no one cares about your flop group?

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that was almost a cute attempt lol





anyways its just interesting to me bcus mods reject posts actually relating to events in the us all the time and this is like the third bts post since theyve came back

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Don't acknowledge them.

They'll just sign onto their second account and start the EXO fans are original and we're going to knock the BTS ARMY out circlejerk they did in the last post.

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All that boasting & mediaplay about itunes yet yall flopped to #2 on the the 1st day while Power stayed at #1 for 3 days & is the only kpop album to do so All that boasting & mediaplay about itunes yet yall flopped to #2 on the the 1st day while Power stayed at #1 for 3 days & is the only kpop album to do so

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Exo is the highest selling kpop boyband and sold 1mil copied within days of their last album release so theyre far from flopping lmao



Edited at 2017-09-25 03:00 am (UTC)

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lol damn lisa, don't hold back.

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I mean, they're charting in the top ten of the Billboard 200 chart... They're not relevant enough to get their own posts here.

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Who is your bias?

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Taehyung obviously.



I underappreciated Jin until I got to see them live, so he's now my #2.

I love the vocal line mostly but appreciate what the rappers bring. + J-Hope's dancing and charisma!

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Edited at 2017-09-25 12:52 am (UTC) My first bias was Jungkook but now I'm so in love with V, I mean Jungkook still my bias but V is so hot

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v but also suga

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Of the 2, only Jimin has talent.



We have a winner.



Jimin and Jin are the only remotely likable membersOf the 2, only Jimin has talent.We have a winner.

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Tae/V since day one but Jimin is really beautiful this comeback???

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jin and namjoon. jimin's up there too but only when he has darker hair.

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Jungkook ever since he came out of King of Masked Singer. He is truly the golden maknae- great singer and solid dancer.

I never found rapmon handsome but I appreciate what he do behind the scenes like songwriting. He was funny in runningman when they had the genius celebrities episode. Turns out rapmon has an iq of 148 and scored in top 1% of the college entrance exams.

Suga is warming up to me. He's just got no chill and everyone is scared of him.

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namjoon

with either jungkook or hoseok as a close second





with either jungkook or hoseok as a close second

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Jimin, but I relate more to Suga so he's up there too

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forever and always my precious fluffy bunbun kookie.

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Jimin and Hoseok

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everyone's bias wrecker is my bias. sorry not sorry.

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Taehyung from the start but Jimin is a demon trying to suck out my soul and Id let him

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Tae/Jimin.. and Suga xD

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Jungkook <3

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I'm rapline trash tbh

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Jungkook, Suga, Jin.



Not the ones who've done the dreads though, for obvious reasons.



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taehyung, but namjoon is a very close second

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the album is really good, i even like the chainsmoker song lmao.

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this is the first video from them I watch and I love the outfits. the song is ok, but I really love the visuals.

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Nah, I'll say Fire and Dope are their best singles.

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jeongguk looks so motherfucking good in this, i am in heat, i might just fuck the next lamp that looks at me.

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Jin is getting better at performing!

International fans also appreciate his visuals + personality/laugh.

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i dont understand how Jin is considered a visual when there is taehyung and jungkook like... wtf?

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lmao your opinion is wrong but it's okay



jin is saving them on the variety scene currently, in terms of variety shows where BTS is not by themselves

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I dont understand this when V and Jimin exist. And JK is glowing up every comeback like damn boy slow down



Is it cos V has too much melanin for Korea...?

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I too felt the same at one time. But now it's too late. He is there for the long haul. He's like the mascot now. Can't get rid of the mascot ya know? And I got to give it to the guy, he's worked hard at something he was not built for personality or talent wise. That's got to take a level of dedication and strong mentality cause I think he and the boys both know it. I've got to give him props for sticking it out. I would have left myself.

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Suga, V, and JHope. I agree!

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i'm more in awe that kpop stan fans have spilled over onto ontd lmfao.



i like dna and the album is pretty good.

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I'd say 2006 if we are talking about K-pop artists. I remember reading Rain back then on here because of appearing at MSG for Rainy Day tour.



But my earliest Korean entertainment related this was fucking Daniel Henney on here that was before 2006.

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While ONTD is still really racist the last few years it's much easier to post kpop topics as of late. I do think that's related more to the site lacking content and being willing to post topics that weren't favored before

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There has definitely been K-pop posts before on ONTD before like third generation K-pop emerged or the inception of OMONA.



Earliest K-pop posts that I remember seeing dated back to like Rain during It's Raining era when he was at MSG, Lee Hyori coming back with It's Hyorish, and Wonder Girls during the NOBODY era.



In regards to Korean entertainment, my earliest memories of it on ONTD was Daniel Henney being part of a Bean Pole campaign with Gwyneth Paltrow. I remember any Daniel Henney thread back in the day reaching over 200+ comments. The thirst for him back then was heavy on ONTD.



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Wasn't Omona created cuz the mods wouldn't let kpop be posted here for the longest?

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I became a kpop fan because of an ontd post lol. Someone linked a 2pm video and that was it, I was sucked in.

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lmao i fucked up and meant to say kpop stan fan wars oop @ me!

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I mean they've always been there but now that particular brand of crazy that has to pit one fanbase against the other have come out. Which is hilarious at first but now sucks.

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cool. hey, how's jeff benjamin doing?

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We don't speak that name anymore hahaha.

Honestly, idk. That was too much.

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He's currently promoting the potential Oscar contender "No Better Feelin'" available on ITUNES and SPOTIFY



#NewMusicFriday Nearly forgot to share @chaelinCL's super-fun soundtrack song. Love the carefree feel & whistle: https://t.co/PoopczVvnU  Jeff Benjamin (@Jeff__Benjamin) September 24, 2017

I'm so glad you asked.He's currently promoting the potential Oscar contender "No Better Feelin'" available onand

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please keep him!

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I hate your fave but I genuinely wish she pays you lol. You do good work for her

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lol

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Yasss! Good going guys! This group is my current escape from all the crap going on in the US. I spend my day on twitter retweeting all these articles about healthcare repeal, calling my crappy senator Marco Rubio and trying to donate and fume about the non response to our countrymen in Puerto Rico/the islands. Then I open up YouTube and just enjoy these hard working talented guys fulfilling their dreams.

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I'd say this is my least favorite title but no, that goes to Danger. DNA is growing on me but I do wish Mic Drop had been the title instead, especially since they keep performing it but I'm just so glad for them and it warmed my heart that they've been performing no more dream. Can we get a War of Hormone stage too plz??

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War of Hormone was such a great debut.

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Mic Drop is actually so good, hopefully they might do a B-side MV for it, their live performance of it is killer!

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There is speculation that there will be a second music video but it's not confirmed.



I'm hoping for Best Of Me tho.

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well goddamn @ those pure sales. I almost went to global citizen since my friend had extra tickets but went to another concert instead



and I still have yet to stream the new album, shame on me

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I hope one day I find someone who is dedicated in loving me the way you love Brandon, OP. I've been streaming music since 2011 and haven't looked back.

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bb. i would stan you the way i've stanned "Kiss it Better" since before the song was even available in full and it was just a shitty little LQ clip from behind the scenes.



that dedicated tbh.

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I love a good suit but tbh leather jacket Brandon is still the best Brandon tbh >

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waiting on that One Direction thief to steal that look from him too. he'll never be bflow.







You know I'm one of a kind

There'll never be another me

Can't get me out of your mind

You're lost in your own fantasy

And when you look in my eyes

Is it hard for you to realize

She'll never be me



mte. leather bflow does things to me.waiting on that One Direction thief to steal that look from him too. he'll never be bflow.

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one direction thief lmao, ppl in the train giving me looks now

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God Armie was so hot in this movie.

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unf

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the album came with every concert ticket purchased so i am sure that had a lot to do with their sales.

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Something 5H and their fucking team should have done. ugh

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do they count? i'm sure it helped if so i just wonder what the rules on that are.

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I mean their shows still sell like crazy. Plus they only count if you redeem the album and people are lazy as fuck even for a free CD.

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every artist should do this it's such easy sales lmao

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every concert i've both in the last few months has done this.....lcd soundsytem..arcade fire..now these guys.. so it counts towards the sales $? that's pretty cool if i does in my opinion..it's kinda like you're forced to pay for the cd tho with ticket price lol

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CD period.



I fucking hate streaming with a passion and I hate how much it counts towards sales. With the way record companies/artists complain about profit off songs & declining album sales, you think they would invest more in incentives for physical sales.

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yeah i wish they'd give people more incentives for buying a physical copy.



i've never purchased an album digitally...only a single. i need something tangible if i'm buying an album.

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This is why I buy vinyls, its more expensive but at least you've got the really pretty big copy of everything. I do agree that buying CD's has completely lost its appeal though.

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iTunes period for me.

I stopped buying CD's years ago because it was redundant. I'd just rip them to mp3 anyway, and its another physical item i don't mess with anymore.



And yes, streaming services are too overwhelming. When you have countless options, it's too much. I'd rather download the album/songs and know what I have

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what a beautiful post

Here for the flawless OPwhat a beautiful post

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I bought the CD, but couldn't find the deluxe anywhere so I had to buy the bonus track from iTunes. Skipped the remixes tho because I don't care about remixes.

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op, did you get my pm? :)

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i didn't? that's weird.

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Just head to ontd_musicshare's Sept. 18 request post!

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You forgot Torrent OP.

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I'm not feeling the album. I mean, I guess. It's better than Battle Born. I think. I love The Man & Run for Cover but outside of those...I was really feeling The Calling, but it's just Mormon propaganda isn't it? Tyson vs Douglas is also great, but again, with the meaning behind the song.

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Edited at 2017-09-25 05:03 am (UTC) i asked who it was when that song came on. i didn't answer the door and they left a pamphlet on the screen door tbh.

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I liked Battle Born more I think, at least with the first few initial listens.

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i wanna see him make fuck.

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Waiting for my email saying the Deluxe vinyl I ordered has shipped. But I've been streaming on Spotify and so far I dig it!

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I'll never go to Global Citizen Fest ever again after I waited hours for a shit spot for No Doubt. This year's lineup was amazing but never again. I honestly don't know why they didn't play any new songs to promote the new album? Regadless, I'm happy they're getting the #1. They better since they're getting 7 copies from me for the concert ticket bundle.

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all i really wanna know is - how does caitlyn feel about all this

i have nothing negative to say about kylie tho. i just feel bad for her. and then i think that she could probably take a shit and sell it and put my kids through school and i feel dumb for feeling bad for her - but i still do.

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caitlyn only cares about caitlyn

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I feel like a lot of people feel bad for Kylie. She is a product of her toxic environment and doesnt know any better. Then on top of that she was groomed by tyga. Like the girl had no chance.

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exactly this. when she first started fucking with her face and body, an actual parent should have taken that time to, you know, parent. poor girl.

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this. i couldn't articulate it because she's a grown woman having a baby and i want to feel like it's her decision, but it's so not.

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All we really know is that cate don't really care about it.

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~sources~ are saying she thinks Kylie is too young.

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have we even heard from caitlyn lately? I feel like she's been kinda quiet

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FWIW, I think it's healthy to feel bad for someone who has issues and had a bad childhood even if they want for nothing materially. If that's all you focus on or you start a "Save Kylie" campaign, that would be wrong. But I think it's reasonable to feel bad for her given that she was taught from a young age that her worth is based on how she looks, was seemingly ignored by both parents, and was allowed to date a guy who groomed her from a young age.

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why does god insist on continuing allowing me, personally, to suffer.

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Has she said anything yet about the pregnancy?

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I dont even know what Im looking at.



All I see is a person who gets so insanely objectified it makes me mildly nauseous.

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pretty much sums up her whole life... objectified and thrust to the spotlight by her own family since age 12.

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I don't feel sorry for her though. She is part of her own problem. And she probably doesn't feel it as such because her bank account is super comfortable.

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She looks so sad. Theres no sparkle in her eyes. She looks completely lifeless.

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I think she's not very bright. Only Khloe has some kind of spark to her.

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This girl never stood a chance.

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i'm so confused, is she pregnant or nah?

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what am i looking at? and am i the only sucker who watched a bit of their show last night to see if they confirmed or denied the pregnancy? >__

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This is like the time ancient ONTD conspiracy theorists tried to tell us that Kylie was in Terror Jr





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this bop

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wait is that not her?

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I watched too lol, but I think it was taped a while ago

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i cant believe there is a fucking video of her blinking her motionless ass face with basic glitter on it for 4 minutes...

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i can't believe i watched it to the end

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I feel like this is the second video like this. A few months ago another one was released where she did nothing but look "sexy". I'm not really sure what the target market for this is.

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Jesus

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Omg Rill Queen!!!!! I feel nostalgic for her now that its the time for staged photo shoots in pumpkin patches. Wheres this child now lol?

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i just went to her instagram and the first picture i clicked on, and the first comment i read was "wow you're getting old fast :("





it's too early for that shit

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She's appearing on the current season of Million Dollar Matchmaker on WE tv!



(I don't watch the show plz donut judge me. I binge on Law n Order marathons and those commercials for MDM are on alllll the time.)

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Nnnnnnnnnnnn

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I have a make up question.... what's everyone's favorite highlighter? I used to use the becca opal sample but I don't think that was best for my skin tone. Any suggestions? I also prefer liquid, but open to powders!

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I used Becca Opal as well, and found that it looked horrible on my complexion. I am on the fairer side, so anything with a hint of bronze in it looks like I've rubbed dirt on my face or something.



I really like Tarte's highlighters. All of them go on pretty translucent, even the more rose gold ones look more natural and blend really nicely.



The Fenty Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal highlighting duo also leaves a nice pearly glow. Some say that it is too glittery, but I don't find that to be the case. Plus one of the highlighters is more muted.



Smashbox also has a nice highlighting stick (since you said you prefer creams.) I use Hollywood & Highlight - sheer pink pearl and its the perfect shade, and easy to apply anywhere (cheek bones, brow bones etc)





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Thank you!

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What is your skin tone/ budget? These are both two higher end options.



I personally love the Ilia illuminator, it's a cream form, I use the lightest one because I'm quite fair and I love it.



However, I only wear vegan / cruelty free products on my own face.



For powder, the Charlotte Tilbury highlighter / bronzer duo is fantastic. Actually, all of her makeup is really easy to blend, so for someone who is not a professional, I always recommend it. If you care, her products are cruelty free but not vegan. :)

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I like glossier haloscope in quartz



or for a very subtle highlight I love the becca backlit primer or w/e it's called

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Becca's Opal- I want to love it but I feel like it's too light for my skin.



Depending on your skintone and concerns re. animal testing, I used to like MAC's Mineralized Skin Finish.

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Benefit High Beam liquid is still the best if you're fair-skinned.

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depends on what finish you like? i prefer subtle glow, so for me highlighters from rms (creamy), glossier (creamy), and charlotte tilbury (powder) work the best. i think all of them would look good on any skin tone.

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krimson ivy jenner-scott is coming <3



i'm sure the good sis kris is living rn <3

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Well that was embarrassing

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Why Sway?

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I feel like I'm supposed to be seeing shots of her baby bump but the cinematography is so bad that I'm not even sure.

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All Eyes on Indianapolis

The 2017 National Safety Congress & Expo has brought thousands of safety professionals and exhibitors from around the world to an eye-popping conference in this city's sparkling downtown.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Scenes of mammoth storms and flooding can't be far from the thoughts of many EHS professionals attending this week's National Safety Congress & Expo here, as Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Mexico City still try to recover from a cascade of recent natural disasters, but the weather and setting for this event are ideal. The conference, taking place in downtown Indianapolis, which is experiencing an unusual fall heat wave, shifted into high gear on Sept. 25 with the opening keynote and the expo's first day as highlights.

There's a lot to take in here at the Indiana Convention Center: the National Safety Council's CEO, Deborah A.P. Hersman, starting the day in the opening session, sharing the stage with keynoter Kyle Petty, and then unveiling a new tool to combat employee fatigue, a key problem spotlighted in many accidents and an issue that the council and her former organization, the National Transportation Safety Board, have been concerned about for years.

Petty, part of one of U.S. auto racing's royal families, traced his family's history in the sport, from his grandfather to his own son, who died in a racing accident. He said the sport has been made much safer in recent years, with softer walls and car modifications introduced that have become standard equipment. He discussed a North Carolina camp the family founded as a memorial to his son, a camp for children suffering from serious illnesses or injuries, and Petty said the camp has welcomed more than 27,000 children during its 14 years in operation.

The expo will continue Tuesday and Wednesday, with numerous Learning Lab sessions taking place in the expo hall and about 125 technical sessions presented in meeting rooms of the convention center.
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? You're in the right place.

It only makes sense that a city next to one of the biggest freshwater lakes would maybe have what Milwaukee historian John Gurda called "a wet subconscious," a thirst that for many can only be quenched by one beverage: beer.

But what came first: the thirst for beer or being in a spot susceptible for stewing up some suds? After all, one doesnt have to be a particularly dedicated hop head to know water, eh, kind of a key component in brewing up beer  and sitting next to a giant body of freshwater would only seem to make that part of the process easier. According to Gurda, the thirst came first thanks to the German immigrants flooding in  and the lake was just a convenient spot to settle at the time.

"They chose Milwaukee because, in the years when Milwaukee began, everything traveled by water. So people got here by water through the Great Lakes  and wherever you had a river, you had a port, so thats why there is a Milwaukee," Gurda explained. "The reason the Germans settled here was not because it looked like Germany, but basically because this is the area of the country that was open when they were coming in large numbers in the mid-1800s. It was very basically a matter of timing."

And with them, they brought a passion for beer to the shores of Lake Michigan  not that the lake was of much particular help for their delicious hobby. In those early days, brewers largely used ground water and well water, and while the nearby rivers and smaller inland lakes were essential for cutting out ice for keeping the beer cool before the invention of mechanical refrigeration  something Milwaukee had over other brewery cities like St. Louis and Cincinnati  Lake Michigan was normally too rough for ice. The lake wasnt even all that useful as a shipping lane for brews, as rail typically took over the travel.

"In terms of direct association with beer, (a connection with Lake Michigan) is pretty tenuous," Gurda said.

As the years went by, however, the relationship between beer and the big body of water to our east only grew. Gurda  who is actually wrapping up work on a new book, "Milwaukee: A City Built on Water," for Wisconsin Historical Society Press, on that very topic  noted that Lake Michigans role transformed dramatically over the decades, from a lifeline to the East Coast to commercial fishing to the citys "faucet and toilet" to, now, a recreational hub.

Its role with beer also drastically changed as well, as it turns out the convenient landing spot of Lake Michigan became a blessing for modern Milwaukee breweries. Some of the advantages are obviously; Good City Brewing co-founder and brewmaster Andy Jones, for instance, noted that merely having a massive nearby supply of water is an advantage not every city can brag about.

"Im friends with brewers that are brewing in Colorado or California or other places where theyve had shortages in recent years, and they have to really worry about it and they get charged more for it," Jones said. "Just the fact that its pretty plentiful here in the Great Lakes, were kind of blessed with that."

Having all that water also helps in a critical  if not exactly scintillating  part of the brewing process: the cleaning.

"Theres huge amounts of cleaning everyday  youre cleaning out the tanks, youre sterilizing things  so it takes a lot of water to do that, the constant scrubbing and rinsing and cleaning," said Chris Ranson, environmental program director and tourism manager at Lakefront Brewery. "A lot of industries dont have to do that; we have to do that."

The lake provides other small but significant advantages the citys ancestors could never have anticipated  thanks to science.

"The Lake Michigan water is really good for brewing beer because it has the right amount of minerals, and the water quality is really good," Ranson said. "We dont have to add or take anything out of the water, really, for most types of beer. Very rarely, we have to add a little calcium, but for almost all the other beers, its ideal in its makeup."

"A pilsner is traditionally brewed with an extremely soft water, very low in mineral content, which is a little bit more similar to Lake Michigan water," Jones added. "If we wanted to brew an IPA, which is traditionally a British style thats brewed with very hard water, high in calcium sulfate content, we can build the water up from there. It makes our job a little bit easier to have a blank slate rather than to have to start with a high mineral content."

And in response to this naturally balanced resource, many Milwaukee breweries do their best to give back to the lake that gives them so much. Lakefront Brewery works with the advocacy organization Riverkeeper for the "Adopt-a-river" program, helping take care of its nearby river from Humboldt to Pleasant and picking up trash so it doesnt pour into lake.

Good City Brewing chooses not only to can its beers because its a recyclable and non-breakable container, but they also use eco-friendly PakTech plastic can holders which are made from old milk jugs and 100 percent recyclable. And just last Friday, Miller Brewing Company employees worked with Sweet Water to clean South Shore Beach.

So Lake Michigan isnt just a picturesque view for your next pint; it probably helped make it.
By Katja Iversen, Michael Myers - In India, if you are living in poverty, you and up to four family members should be able to access select inpatient health services at little to no cost./p>

Content produced in this Healthy Horizons series solely represents the views of the contributing organization and not that of other contributing organizations. The participation of a contributing organization in the series does not imply the existence of any relationship or collaboration with other contributors.
RJP-N wins in Janakpur

The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal has emerged victorious in Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City, a centre of the Madhes agitation, as the vote counting of the third-phase local elections in Province 2 nears its end.
Ryan Arsenault (center), assistant professor of Animal and Food Sciences, with members of his research team Casey Johnson (left) and Bridget Aylward (right). Credit: Evan Krape/ University of Delaware

Researchers at the University of Delaware are looking into what causes that gut feeling in livestock animals such as cows and chickens.

Ryan Arsenault, assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences in UD's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), arrived at UD in 2015 and since that time, he has worked to set up a lab looking specifically at the gut health of production livestock animals.

Members of Arsenault's labspecifically Bridget Aylward, a doctoral level student in CANR, and Casey Johnson, a Master's level student in CANRhave presented their findings at international conferences such as the European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition in Spain as well as Keystone conferences in Banff, Canada and Dublin, Ireland.

Arsenault said that gut health is a big topic in agriculture as many researchers are looking for alternatives to antibiotics which are almost all focused on the gut.

"We can't use antibiotics like we used to in food animals," said Arsenault. "Antibiotics have been used in animal agriculture to keep animals disease free and grow larger. In Europe, it's totally gone, has been for years and years, and it's getting pulled more and more from the American market so things like probiotics, pre-biotics, post-biotics, feed additives and feed enzymes, everyone's looking at those as this silver bullet to solve the antibiotic alternative issue."

Many of his research projects are funded by industry and look at mode of action and mechanisms for antibiotic alternatives such as yeast cell wall extracts, feed enzymes and feed modifiers.

The trend towards no-antibiotics basically boils down to two main points: the concerns regarding antibiotic resistance that bacteria develop and the negative perception consumers have with regards to the use of antibiotics in animals.

Arsenault said that the gut is important to understand because it's the center of animal production.

"You need an efficient gut because that's where all the nutrients are absorbed. You're not going to have a growing animal without a functioning healthy gut and it's also the site of entry for a lot of disease causing pathogens," said Arsenault. "It's linked to pretty much every other system. For example, the second most innervated organ in the body besides the brain is the gut."

There is also a huge immune component as more than 50 percent of the immune system is found in the gut.

"The gut is sort of this nexus of everything," said Arsenault. "It's basically your gut microbiotathe resident commensal bacteria in your gutare a big part of being healthy. If you have the 'good' bacteria in your gut, you're more likely to be resistant to infections, your gut's functioning more efficiently, you can maintain a healthier weight. Diseases like Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative colitis are, people think, predominantly microbiota related."

The acquisition of a microbiome as a young chick, baby calf or a baby human has consequences for an entire life span because of how it helps develop an appropriate immune system and an appropriate immune response.

For instance, a lot of allergies and autoimmune diseases are linked to how one acquires a microbiome in infancy.

Arsenault said that his lab is interested in looking into how chickens or cows acquire a healthy or unhealthy microbiome and what signals this is providing to the host animal, which feeds into the probiotics question of what the animals should be fed in order to give them a healthy microbiota so their immune system is optimum and they're absorbing the optimum nutrients.

Focusing on the gut is a trend in human health as well, as probiotics have taken off in popularity and the work being done in Arsenault's lab ties into the One Health concept, the idea that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment. The most common type of zoonotic diseasediseases that can be passed from animals to humansare classified as zoonotic gastrointestinal diseases, this includes Salmonella, E.coli and Campylobacter.

For their presentations, Johnson and Aylward both focused on issues related to the gut.

Johnson looked at feed additives as alternatives to antibiotics and how they respond with necrotic enteritis, or inflammatory dead gut disease, in chickens which is a huge problem facing the Delmarva poultry industry due to antibiotic feed restrictions.

"We were looking at their products which is crude yeast cell wall extracts which trigger immune receptors and we were looking at the purified forms of these yeasts cell wall extracts and at the differences and the efficacies of these as antibiotic alternatives. The more purified products seemed to have a better response," said Johnson.

Because yeast is a fungus and not a bacteria, they initiate and bind to different receptors in the gut and do different things to the immune system than bacteria.

Arsenault explained that there's been a lot of work in poultry on yeast feed additives as immune modulators because "They're not really stimulating the immune system, they're not dampening the immune system, they're kind of priming or modulating it."

Aylward's poster presentation in Banff looked at pattern recognition receptors, which are receptors in the immune system that recognize a specific universal microbe motif such as a set of nucleic acids in a form only found in bacteria, with regards to chicken macrophage cell lines.

A macrophage is a large cell found in stationary form in the tissues or as a mobile white blood cell, especially at sites of infection.

The macrophages were treated with butyrateconsidered a post-bioticand forskolina plant extract that people use as a weight loss supplement.

Aylward worked on the kinome array analysis of how signaling in the cells changed after administration of these different feed additives.

Her presentation in Dublin looked at eight random dairy cows that were free of pathogens to establish the baseline normal immune cell signaling in the gut of those cows.

In addition to his research on gut health, Arsenault is also on the organizing board of the annual Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals, an international conference on all aspects of gut health for all food animal species. He has been invited to speak on the topic of gut health in Brazil, Spain, Canada and the U.S. and co-edited an e-book on gut health research.

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences also has Amy Biddle, assistant professor of animal and food sciences, who co-teaches a gut microbiome microbial and host perspectives class with Arsenault.

Biddle's work includes the Equine Gut Microbiome project in which her lab is tackling many of the fundamental questions behind the role of bacteria in the horse gut in health and disease.

Robert Dyer, associate professor in ANFS, and Tanya Gressley, associate professor and dairy nutritionist in ANFS, are also looking carefully at the gut health of animals.
ESA's Gaia satellite mapping the stars of the Milky Way. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab; background: ESO/S. Brunier.

(Phys.org)A team of astronomers led by Andreas Koch of the Lancaster University, U.K., has recently conducted a detailed chemical abundance study of the recently discovered star cluster Gaia 1. The research, published Sept. 12 on arXiv.org, offers new insights into the nature of this newly found cluster.

Gaia 1 is a large, massive, nearby star cluster first identified in May 2017 in the Data Release 1 (DR1) from the Gaia space observatory operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). Located some 15,000 light years away from the Earth, this cluster has a half-light radius of about 29 light years and a mass of approximately 22,000 solar masses.

Although fundamental parameters of Gaia 1 are known, the researchers are still uncertain about its age, metallicity and origin. The cluster was initially classified as an intermediate-age (6.3 billion years old), and moderately metal-rich system. However, further studies found that Gaia 1 is about 3.3 billion years younger and more metal-rich than previously thought. Moreover, some astronomers have suggested the possibility of extragalactic origin for Gaia 1, given that its orbit leads it up to 5,500 light-years above the Milky Way's disk.

Now, Koch's team has performed a new chemical analysis of Gaia 1 with the aim of clarifying these uncertainties. The researchers have measured detailed chemical abundances of 14 elements in four red giant members of the cluster.

"This work focuses on a detailed chemical abundance analysis of four red giant members of Gaia 1, based on high-resolution spectroscopy, which we complement by an investigation of the orbital properties of this transition object," the authors wrote in the paper.

The four stars were observed with the Echelle spectrograph at the 2.5-m du Pont telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. Besides the previously estimated iron content, this instrument allowed the researchers to obtain abundances of lithium, carbon, oxygen, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, calcium, titanium, scandium, vanadium, chromium, cobalt, nickel and zinc.

The analysis revealed that Gaia 1 is associated with the Milky Way's thick disk and is more metal-poor than previously estimated. Moreover, they suggest that the system is a massive open cluster rather than a low-mass globular cluster.

"Our abundance analysis revealed alpha abundances that are consistent with the thick disk (...) Despite the presence of mild light element variations in Na, Mg, and Al no obvious (anti-) correlations are seen between those elements as would be expected in galactic globular clusters. Since its stellar mass of a few ten thousand solar masses places Gaia 1 at the boundary between very low-mass globular clusters and very luminous open clusters, our analysis rather comforts the latter view," the paper reads.

In concluding remarks, the scientists noted that the exact formation and origin of Gaia 1 still remains unclear. They hope that the Gaia satellite could deliver crucial data such as precise and accurate parallaxes that could be helpful in resolving this issue.

More information: Detailed chemical abundance analysis of the thick disk star cluster Gaia 1, arXiv:1709.04022 [astro-ph.GA] arxiv.org/abs/1709.04022 Abstract

Star clusters, particularly those objects in the disk-bulge-halo interface are as of yet poorly charted, albeit carrying important information about the formation and the structure of the Milky Way. Here, we present a detailed chemical abundance study of the recently discovered object Gaia 1. Photometry has previously suggested it as an intermediate-age, moderately metal-rich system, although the exact values for its age and metallicity remained ambiguous in the literature. We measured detailed chemical abundances of 14 elements in four red giant members, from high-resolution (R=25000) spectra that firmly establish Gaia 1 as an object associated with the thick disk. The resulting mean Fe abundance is 0.620.03(stat.)0.10(sys.) dex, which is more metal-poor than indicated by previous spectroscopy from the literature, but it is fully in line with values from isochrone fitting. We find that Gaia 1 is moderately enhanced in the -elements, which allowed us to consolidate its membership with the thick disk via chemical tagging. The cluster's Fe-peak and neutron-capture elements are similar to those found across the metal-rich disks, where the latter indicate some level of s-process activity. No significant spread in iron nor in other heavy elements was detected, whereas we find evidence of light-element variations in Na, Mg, and Al. Nonetheless, the traditional Na-O and Mg-Al (anti-)correlations, typically seen in old globular clusters, are not seen in our data. This confirms that Gaia 1 is rather a massive and luminous open cluster than a low-mass globular cluster. Finally, orbital computations of the target stars bolster our chemical findings of Gaia 1's present-day membership with the thick disk, even though it remains unclear, which mechanisms put it in that place.

 2017 Phys.org
Click beetles can jump without the aid of their limbs when they are tipped onto their backsides. A team of University of Illinois researchers are examining this mechanism to engineer self-righting robots. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer.

Robots perform many tasks that humans can't or don't want to perform, getting around on intricately designed wheels and limbs. If they tip over, however, they are rendered almost useless. A team of University of Illinois mechanical engineers and entomologists are looking to click beetles, who can right themselves without the use of their legs, to solve this robotics challenge.

The researchers presented their findings at Living Machines 2017: The 6th International Conference on Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems at Stanford University, and later won second place in a student and faculty research competition at the international BIOMinnovate Challenge, in Paris, France - a research expo that showcases biologically-inspired design in engineering, medicine and architecture.

"This idea came to life when a group of insect physiology students decided to take a closer look at what makes click beetles jump as part of a class project," said department of entomology research scientist and study co-author Marianne Alleyne.

The beetles have a unique hinge-like mechanism between their heads and abdomens that makes a clicking sound when initiated and allows them to flip into the air and back onto their feet when they are knocked over, Alleyne said.

"Very little research had been performed on these beetles, and I thought this legless jumping mechanism would be a perfect candidate for further exploration in the field of bioinspiration," said Alleyne, who teaches a bioinspiration design course with mechanical sciences and engineering professor, co-author and lead investigator Aimy Wissa.

The researchers looked at several species of click beetles, ranging in size from a few just few millimeters to several centimeters in length.

"Each insect goes through an assembly line of analyses that involve basic characterization, high-speed filming to observe the jump and measurements in the Materials Tribiology Lab with co-author and mechanical sciences and engineering professor Alison Dunn, to determine how much force it takes to overcome the friction of the hinge within an individual beetles jumping mechanism," Wissa said. "We observe, model and validate each stage of the jump with the hopes that we can later integrate them into a self-righting robot."

The group has already built several prototypes of a hinge-like, spring-loaded device that will eventually be incorporated into a robot, the researchers said.

"This study is a two-way street - engineers are informing the biologists and vice versa," Wissa said. "We look forward to seeing where this research will take us and are very proud of the attention it received at the BIOMinnovate Challenge expo."
The effects of climate change are felt particularly acutely in developing countries. Credit: UFZ / Andre Kunzelmann

Internationally subsidised agricultural insurance is intended to protect farmers in developing countries from the effects of climate change. However, it can also lead to undesirable ecological and social side effects, as UFZ researchers and their US colleagues at the University of Oregon have explained in a review article in the latest issue of Global Environmental Change. The article also contains recommendations for improved insurance schemes which in future should also take account of ecological and social aspects in addition to economic issues.

The effects of climate change are felt particularly acutely in developing countries. A range of international initiatives develop and promote risk insurance. One example is the G7 climate risk insurance initiative InsuResilience, which aims to insure 400 million people in developing countries against climate-related risks by 2020. The initiative includes "agricultural insurance", which is designed to insure farmers against major losses, for example as a result of extreme drought. "Agricultural insurance can be a secure and extremely helpful tool for farmers in affected areas," according to Dr Birgit Muller, socio-ecological modeller at UFZ. "However, in their current format, the insurance policies are not always well thought out. They can bring about unwanted environmental and social side effects, and so do little to help farmers adjust to long-term changes in environmental conditions."

For the current review article, Birgit Muller worked with Professor Leigh Johnson, geographer at the University of Oregon, and her UFZ colleague David Kreuer to collect empirical and model studies from around the world to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential impact of agricultural insurance. "Previous studies have concentrated primarily on economic aspects. Little attention has been devoted to the socio-ecological system as a whole," says Muller. "But one thing is becoming clear: agricultural insurance can have a range of unwanted side effects, for example changes to farmers' land use strategies."

Pastoralist camel herds in northern Kenya. Herds like these can be covered with index-based livestock insurance. Credit: Leigh Johnson, Oregon University

Small-scale farmers in developing countries traditionally grow a wide range of crops in their fields to ensure that at least one crop can survive a potential drought. However, farmers are frequently reverting to monocultures because the agricultural insurance is often linked to specific crops and does not take effect if farmers cultivate a different crop. And this has far-reaching ecological consequences: a decline in agricultural biodiversity, deterioration in soil quality, increased use of fertilisers and pesticides, which in turn increases the risk of water pollution. However, even if agricultural insurance is not linked to specific crops, farmers with insurance cover may be inclined to grow riskier crops which promise high yields but also bring greater losses in an emergency. Because the farmers have insurance, it is not absolutely necessary to adopt a sensible cultivation strategy.

Apart from ecological effects, the scientists also reveal some potential social side effects of agricultural insurance, such as the weakening of networks of small farmers in developing countries. As a general rule, farmers help each other in the wake of major crop failures. Agricultural insurance can lead to an insured farmer no longer helping another farmer who could have taken out insurance. "Agricultural insurance and the resulting changes in land use strategies can cause this kind of unintended ecological and social feedback, which can in turn lead to further problems and costs," warns Leigh Johnson. "In the long term, this could have a far-reaching impact on individual farms."

In their review, the researchers therefore put forward proposals on how to improve the design of agricultural insurance in future. For example, the insurance policies should take effect only in emergencies such as extreme droughts; farmers would deal with medium droughts using their own risk management measures. Muller: "Lessons have already been learned in the USA in terms of agricultural insurance, where the insurance premium is only subsidised by the state if a minimum quantity of cultivated crops is maintained and management has not been extended to ecologically valuable marginal areas," explains Muller. "We hope that our review will contribute to the development of cohesive insurance schemes which take account of environmental and social aspects - it is important that development funds are channelled into well thought-out concepts that are effective and economic in the long term."

More information: Birgit Muller et al, Maladaptive outcomes of climate insurance in agriculture, Global Environmental Change (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2017.06.010
For more than a decade now, our love affair with three high-profile tech companies has been torrid.

Google answers our every query. Facebook keeps us connected. Amazon anticipates our shopping desires and delivers them fast.

But as the importance of these software-driven, data-collecting, money-making giants in our lives has mushroomed, so too have concerns that these sprawling businesseswhose combined market cap is a whopping $1.6 trillionhave grown too big, too influential, too unmonitored. Too much the Big Brother that dystopians warn about.

What's particularly striking about the growing chorus criticizing Google, Facebook and Amazon is it comes from all corners, from consumers to congressmen, from the conservative right (including President Trump's former advisor Steve Bannon) to the liberal left (Sen. Elizabeth Warren).

Conservatives charge that platforms such as Facebook suppress pages expressing their views, while companies such as Google unfairly demonize employees who raise controversial issues. And liberals decry Facebook's role in the Fake News groundswell that played a role in the presidential election, and sound antitrust alarms as Amazon looks to dominate yet another industry.

Consumers also have fears. They don't trust the computer algorithms that determine what Facebook updates they see from friends. They wonder about the veracity of the search links that Google delivers. And they fear that Amazon, the "everything" store, will put every brick and mortar retailer out of business.

Patsy Wehner, 44, who works at a military store in Severna Park, Md., adores her Amazon Prime membership, something she shares with around 85 million Americans. But she also senses she's "in a Catch-22 of sorts," trading short term convenience for long term troubles.

"I feel that monopoly companies are just bad for business," she says. "Because then, when all of the other stores are gone, they can change prices to be sky high and we won't be able to do anything about it besides gripe."

The price of convenience

Long praised as shining examples of American innovation, Internet companies for years enjoyed a collective pass from consumers and lawmakers enamored with their ease and seemingly overnight ability to vault us into the future.

Antitrust laws anchored to a singular concernfair competition for the benefit of consumersdidn't touch disruptive companies providing goods and services that were often cheaper, if not free.

But while few experts predict the breakup of big tech in the way that railroads and oil companies were dismantled, Silicon Valley's biggest players are now facing the kind of grilling usually reserved for Wall Street hedge funds and big banks.

Facebook and Google have come under the most intense pressure from U.S. lawmakers they've ever facedscrutiny that's likely to at least prove a new cost. Consider the $2.7 billion fine recently levied against Google by European regulators, which said Google gave an unfair advantage to its own shopping service in its search results. Google has denied any wrong doing.

This new pressure could possibly hamper growth. Facebook, in response to Congressional investigators looking at the sales of $100,000 in Russian ads on its platform during the U.S. election, has already promised a change to how it sells political ads.

While Amazon's rampant business deals rarely caused a stir in the past, its recent $13.7 billion purchase of Whole Foods was flagged for its monopolistic implications by some Democrats.

The deal eventually was approved by the Federal Trade Commission, citing no evidence it would lessen competitionlikely a reflection of Amazon's mere 2% share of the $600 billion grocery market. Yet the debate put a new spotlight on the Seattle-based company's tightening yoke over all facets of retail shopping, from books to shoes to music, and now, fresh food.

"We should really be concerned about the influence these companies have on the ways we structure out thoughts and our lives," says Siva Vaidhyanathan, professor of media studies at the University of Virginia and the author of The Googlization of Everything: (And Why We Should Worry).

"Our everyday interaction with Google and Facebook seems to imply no danger or annoyance," he says. "But that doesn't mean there is nothing to worry about."

In a Survey Monkey poll for USA TODAY, 76% of respondents felt technology companies were getting too influential in the lives of everyday Americans, with 52% describing this influence as a bad thing.

When asked if they were concerned about unchecked growth, such as the recent Whole Foods deal, opinions were almost evenly split, the SurveyMonkey poll found, but monopolies concerned 30% of respondents, and layoffs 19%. On the flip side, some felt such consolidations increased innovation (28%) and lowered prices (19%).

"In the back of my mind I'm thinking, 'Yes, I am paying a price for this (convenience),'" says Lisa Carey, 50, who runs a social media marketing company in Houston and is regularly logged onto dozens of platforms daily. "People give out so much information (to tech companies), and they think it doesn't mean anything but it does."

Worries over tech companies getting too big have rippled across the political divide.

Lina Khan of Open Markets Institute, who wrote a case study using Amazon to argue for remaking antitrust laws, says that liberals and conservatives are in rare agreement over the fact that "this level of gatekeeper power among a handful of companies is anathema to democracy."

Last year, Bernie Sanders and Warren warned that Google and Amazon were trying to "snuff out competition," while Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) this month said Facebook's Russian ad debacle is "the tip of the iceberg" for the social network.

Conservative Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson, echoing the sentiments of former White House adviser Bannon, recently argued that large tech companies should be regulated as utilities, citing in particular its "power to censor the Internet."

The right recently rallied around James Damore, the Google engineer who released a treatise criticizing Google's efforts to hire and promote more women and people of color, lambasting the company for a "politically correct monoculture that maintains its hold by shaming dissenters into silence." He was dismissed by the company for suggesting women weren't as biologically suited to tech as men.

'Americans don't like bigness'

"It doesn't matter which side of the political aisle you're on, what matters is these are the largest corporations in the world and they accumulated too much political power," said Jonathan Taplin, also a tech-as-utility advocate and author of Move Fast and Break Things: How Facebook, Google, and Amazon Cornered Culture and Undermined Democracy.

Taplin notes that Microsoft ran into the same sort of controversy when it was sued in 2001 by the U.S. government on grounds that it had created a software monopoly.

"People didn't like Microsoft and AT&T because they were monopolies, and now they're waking up to the fact that Google and Facebook are as well, and Amazon is on the cusp."

Exhibit A could be the fact that Google and Facebook have come to utterly dominate the U.S. digital ad market, according to a new study by research firm eMarketer. The two are now expected to rake in a combined 63.1% of U.S. digital ad spending in 2017, up from eMarketer's previous prediction of 60.4%.

That sort of control is bound to have repercussions, says Scott Galloway, professor at NYU's Stern School of Business and author of the upcoming book The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. "The worm has turned," he says.

Galloway predicts that within the next year European regulators will levy "the mother of all fines, maybe $10 billion" against a U.S. tech company, "mainly because where we in the U.S. see most of the upsides from these companies, Europeans don't get the financial impact and see most of the downsides."

He also expects that what can be best described as the arrogance of some tech companieshe cites Amazon's recent competition among U.S. cities to provide it with the best subsidies for its second headquarterswill prove to be fodder for upcoming politicians. Amazon has framed this contest as a search for "second home" that will bring $5 billion in investment and 40,000 jobs.

"Amazon's trying to extract billions in tax credits instead of being the best corporate citizen in the world," says Galloway. "That's short-sighted, because soon people will say that what's good for the consumer might not be good for society."

Some experts suggest that a call to curtail the power of some tech companies may come from new political actors eager to tap into these growing Red and Blue State grumblings. While Trump administration officials have not displayed an eagerness to curtail Facebook, Google and Amazon, those vying for the White House next may sing a more modern antitrust tune.

"Americans don't like bigness, whether it's big businesses or big government," says Margaret O'Mara, a University of Washington history professor who focuses on the high tech economy. "You can always win an election by getting up on a podium and railing against bigness."

That said, their fate ultimately could be sealed by the inherently cannibalistic nature of the tech industry itself, she says. While the government can step in to break up a monopoly, "there's also an argument that the next new thing will come along and that market dominator won't be anymore."

Indeed, a growing list of once dominant tech companies are now in the history books, from Palm (the digital device rage before iPhone) to Yahoo (Google before Google).

"Nothing in this landscape is stable," says Silicon Valley futurist Paul Saffo. "Given the challenges in the tech sector, it's hard to say if all these companies will be major forces in the next 10 years. You don't have to worry about breaking them up. They're facing enough challenges on their own."

While waiting around to see if the big tech companies police themselves may work for some, Bernetta Knighten, 40, a blogger from Tampa, Fla., tries to be more proactive. She says she uses Amazon and Google daily, but with some regrets and much caution.

Shopping online is convenient, "but it's scary to see so many businesses that we grew up with closing down because of technology."

When it comes to her kids using the Google Home assistant to help with homework, she's concerned about the singular answers that are served up. She herself often digs deep into search results to get past the answers that Google serves up first.

Technology's quick advance is frightening, says Knighten. "But I really don't know what I can do about it, outside of not using it."

2017 USA Today

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
UC student Madisen Kimbrel prepares a tick for study in professor Joshua Benoit's biology lab. Credit: Jay Yocis/UC Creative Services

Ticks are nasty little survivors, outlasting even dinosaurs as they resist drought, tolerate cold and go months without a meal.

They carry a host of diseases that they spread by plunging their barbed mouths into you like a grisly oil derrick. They're hard to remove and even harder to kill.

Is your skin crawling yet?

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are examining the tick's defenses, looking for ways to prevent tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease.

Biology students and professors in UC's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences are studying the distribution of ticks in southwest Ohio, the diseases they carry and their ability to withstand Midwest winters. Improving our understanding of these cringe-inducing parasites could help hikers, dog walkers and nature enthusiasts stay healthy.

"There are still so many things we don't know about ticks," said UC assistant professor Joshua Benoit, who is supervising the research. "They're known for transmitting even more diseases than mosquitoes."

Four species are found in southwest Ohio. They are shaped like a watermelon seed but can vary in size from a poppy seed to the head of a push pin, with eight legs and a hard, protective shell. Hungry for a meal, they climb to the tip of a blade of grass or twig and wave their extra-long, hook-tipped forelegs in the air, a behavior called "questing," until a rabbit, deer or human brushes past. They can detect carbon dioxide from their would-be host so they are ready to latch onto fur - or denim - if given a chance.

Ticks have ferocious barbed mouthparts like ratchets that allow them to pierce deeply into the skin and remain embedded while feeding on the host's blood. They transmit diseases through their saliva in the form of spirochetes, corkscrew-shaped bacteria that whirligig through the host's bloodstream.

Students in UC's Department of Biological Sciences regularly collect ticks at parks in Hamilton and Butler counties. Ticks are expensive to cultivate in a lab. They require a live host such as a mouse or rabbit. So for some studies, UC buys ticks from a lab at Oklahoma State University.

Surveillance research begins at UC's Center for Field Studies northwest of Cincinnati next to Miami Whitewater Forest. The field station is home to other UC research projects examining the natural world from native birds to butterflies.

On a recent morning, UC postdoctoral fellow Andrew Rosendale and students Alicia Fieler, Benjamin Davies and Madisen Kimbrel dragged flags made of fleece over bushes and meadows full of summer wildflowers to collect ticks for their study.

Davies, 19, of West Chester, Ohio, and a graduate of Lakota West High School, initially found ticks revolting for the same reasons everyone does. UC's biology labs also study cockroaches and mosquitoes.

"Among those three species, ticks were the best choice," he said. "And working at the field station is a good way to get outside and experience nature."

Fieler, 21, a graduate of the Cincinnati-area Oak Hills High School, wants to become a nurse practitioner. She has contributed to three published research papers on ticks so far as an undergraduate. The fieldwork at UC is giving her valuable experience both inside and outside the lab, she said.

"I've learned so much - lab techniques and even simple things like safety protocols and basic lab procedures, how to run assays and bring all the data together," she said. "Having this background in science will help me with future research as well."

Kimbrel, 20, a biology major from Monroe, Ohio, said studying a topic that has potential medical implications is a good research fit since she wants to pursue a career in medicine.

"It's great because you can take what you've learned in the classroom and apply it to the real world," she said.

UC biology students drape cloth flags over tall grass to collect ticks for study. Credit: Jay Yocis/UC Creative Services

Back at professor Benoit's biology lab, the students measure the levels of lipids, proteins and glycogen in the tick specimens. Higher fat content is an indication of good tick nutrition. And they can identify what diseases, if any, the ticks carry.

Once tick eggs hatch, the baby parasites seek a blood meal in each of their next three lifecycles: larvae, nymph and adult.

"They can transmit the disease at any stage of their life if they get infected. It's much more common to be bitten by an adult around here. But they can pick up the disease as a larvae or a nymph as well," UC's Rosendale said.

And they live for up to six years.

Rosendale, co-author of numerous studies on ticks, said the goal of the research is to find ways to slow or halt the spread of disease.

"We want to find better ways to kill them by studying the mechanisms of resistance of ticks to pesticides," he said.

Fossil evidence suggests ticks fed on dinosaurs and other Cretaceous creatures 90 million years ago. Today, ticks contract Lyme and other diseases from animals such as mice that serve as reservoirs for the bacteria.

"Ticks carry countless diseases. New ones are identified all the time," Benoit said.

Besides Lyme, ticks in many Midwestern and Northeastern states are known to carry diseases such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The bite of some lone star ticks in Kentucky and Indiana has been linked to an immune response that causes some people to become allergic to red meat, a disorder called alpha-gal.

"It's a bizarre condition. People talk about it but it's relatively rare," he said.

Doctors have to be vigilant about tick-borne illnesses, even those not commonly observed in this area, said Dr. Carl J. Fichtenbaum, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

"Lyme is uncommon here. We see a handful of cases each year," he said. "Someone goes to Cape Cod for vacation and gets bitten by a tick and comes back with an infection."

Typically, patients with Lyme complain of flu-like symptoms: headache, fever and achy joints or muscles, he said.

"They may get the characteristic bullseye rash around the bite, but that doesn't happen in everyone," he said.

Unlike mosquitoes, which transmit viruses such as West Nile or Zika in their bite, ticks transmit bacteria when they bite us, Fichtenbaum said.

"With tick-borne diseases, we don't have immunity to bacterial infections. We can get infected over and over again. Our body isn't capable of fending it off," he said.

A simple course of antibiotics cures most tick-borne diseases. Fichtenbaum said surveillance efforts such as UC's ongoing study are invaluable in helping doctors understand the likelihood of patients contracting diseases from local ticks.

UC biology students are studying how ticks can survive summer drought and northern winters. A tick in a test tube. Credit: Jay Yocis/UC Creative Services

"I think it's great to sample the population of animals and insects to understand zoonosis, disease transmitted by live animals," he said. "It's always good if we're keeping track of what's out there so we know the possibilities."

So far Lyme has not been found in the ticks Benoit's team has collected locally. But one species, the dog tick, is a known carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which causes headache and fever and, sometimes days later, a spotted rash. It's prevalent in Midwest and mid-Atlantic states.

Left untreated, tick-borne diseases can cause a cascade of problems from hearing loss to neurological complications.

Lyme disease affects far more people in the United States than any pathogen carried by mosquitoes in the United States.

About 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease was observed in patients across 40 states in 2015. But this does not capture all diagnosed cases - or the many suspected cases that go undiagnosed each year, the agency said. A 2015 study by the CDC used medical-insurance claims between 2005 and 2010 to estimate that 329,000 people contract Lyme each year in the United States.

"The vast majority of research into tick-borne illness is where Lyme disease is prevalent - in the Northeast and upper Midwest," UC's Rosendale said. "It hasn't received a lot of attention in Ohio because historically Lyme disease hasn't been as common. We didn't have the blacklegged tick here. But recently we've been seeing more and more of that species and so Lyme disease is becoming more of an issue."

Anyone who has plucked a tick off a pants leg knows they are tough. But UC research is demonstrating just how hardy they are.

A UC study published in 2016 by the journal Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases suggests that ticks have little problem surviving a typical Ohio winter. Benoit, Rosendale and their student co-authors examined the cold tolerance of the American dog tick by exposing them to temperatures as cold as -9 degrees Fahrenheit. They determined that no ticks survived more than two hours at that temperature. But ticks could withstand temperatures just above 0 degrees and most survived temperatures in the 20s for at least two weeks.

The same group co-authored another study in the Journal of Experimental Biology that found that ticks could withstand long periods of drought, enduring dehydration even when they go without food for as long as 18 weeks.

Some tick species appear to be expanding their range, which means the diseases they carry could be an emerging concern, Rosendale said.

"We expect to see more reported cases of Lyme disease," he added. "Warmer temperatures and milder winters are allowing them to survive. We're seeing a change in population distribution and increases in numbers as well."

Local parks are paying close attention to the UC research. As part of the permit, UC agreed to share its surveillance findings.

"It is a public health issue. We want to be aware of what we have in our parks - if there are diseases present and how people can protect themselves," said Zurijanne Carter, natural resources specialist for the Great Parks of Hamilton County.

The park district occasionally gets calls from residents concerned about disease after finding a tick, she said.

"The research UC is doing would go a long way toward knowing more about ticks in Ohio," Carter said. "It's similar research in how we monitor mosquito-borne illness."

Benoit has published research on a variety of parasites, including tsetse flies. He traveled to Antarctica this year to study a different kind of arthropod, mites.

But ticks abide even there, in one of the most hostile and remote parts of the planet. They live off - what else? - penguins.

More information: Andrew J. Rosendale et al, Dehydration and starvation yield energetic consequences that affect survival of the American dog tick, Journal of Insect Physiology (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.06.012 Journal information: Journal of Experimental Biology
Glyphosate is the main component in the best-selling herbicide Roundup produced by the US agro-chemicals giant Monsanto, but there have been concerns it may cause cancer

France is planning to cut back on use of all pesticides, the government said Monday, though it rowed back on an announcement of an outright ban on controversial chemical glyphosate.

Government spokesman Christophe Castaner had said earlier Monday that FranceEurope's biggest food producerintended to phase out glyphosate completely by 2022 over fears that it may cause cancer.

But he later reversed his comments, saying that by the end of President Emmanuel Macron's five-year term "the government is committed to seeing significant progress on all pesticides".

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in one of the world's most widely used weedkillers, Roundup, produced by the US agro-chemicals giant Monsanto.

The European Commission has proposed extending the licence for the use of the chemical for 10 years, which France has said it will vote against and try to block.

France's biggest farming union, the FNSEA, said Monday that it was "out of the question" for the country to go it alone, worrying that a French ban could put them at a disadvantage against European competitors.

"A sudden ban, noa path for reducing it and finding solutions, if the solutions are good economically and technically, we can see it happening," said FNSEA chief Christiane Lambert.

Europe limited use of glyphosate last year pending further research.

The EU's chemical agency said glyphosate should be not be classified as cancer-causing.

But this is challenged by scientists and environmentalists who point to a finding by the International Agency for Research on Cancer that glyphosate is "probably carcinogenic".

Some 1.3 million people have signed an online petition calling for a ban on the chemical.

 2017 AFP
The fishery for Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) is a major source of income to many around the Caribbean. Credit: RKF Unsworth

Hurricane Irma  one of the strongest on record to hit the Caribbean  recently scoured the islands leaving catastrophic damage in its wake. And just as we began to piece together the devastating and potentially longterm impacts of Irma, Hurricane Maria has now left another path of destruction. Puerto Rico, the British dependency of the Turks and Caicos, and many other Caribbean islands have suffered what have been described as "apocalyptic conditions".

When the world talks of the tragic and devastating consequences of severe hurricanes, the focus tends to be on the land, and the people who live in affected communities. Indeed, nearly 30 people have been reported killed, while Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez has said that the hurricane has set the country back by "20 to 30 years". We see images of toppled trees, torn off roofs and severe flooding. But marine environments can be also badly affected by hurricanes, with potential long-term effects.

The force of hurricane winds, and the resultant tides and waves are so strong that both plants and animals are ripped from the sea floor leaving lifeless rubble and sediment behind. Hurricanes have a washing machine effect: they mix up coastal sediments with knock-on effects for marine life. Suspended matter left floating in the water column limits the amount of sunlight that reaches marine habitats and so reduces growth and recovery. Meanwhile in shallow coastal environments, debris, sewage and run-off continue to flow in to the sea long after the hurricane has passed.

Human dependency on the sea

The devastation of coastal environments, particularly seagrass meadows, can also result in long-term losses of the benefits that humans receive from them, such as fisheries support or coastal protection. Damage to these ecosystem services consequently impacts human well-being, because people can no longer rely on them for their livelihood and food supply.

Some of the most severely affected areas of the recent hurricanes in the Caribbean  Florida, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the British Virgin Islands  all house extensive seagrass meadows. These shallow water marine habitats support valuable lobster fisheries, as well as shrimp, conch, and finfish fisheries. Seagrass also stabilises sediments and protects the white sand beaches that attract so many tourists to the region.

Caribbean spiny lobsters depend on clams they find in seagrass. Credit: Benjamin Jones

Previous hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons (weather events which are essentially the same but have different names depending on where the storm happens) across the globe have shown the severe negative effects they can have on these vital seagrass meadows. The seagrass plants are ripped up or buried under sediments, leading to their suffocation. The extensive associated murky water leads to widespread loss of seagrass, as was seen in the years that followed hurricane Katrina hitting the US.

Initial indications from the Everglades in Florida show that seagrass destruction in the wake of Irma is extensive, with large piles already being washed far onshore. This should ring alarm bells for Caribbean fisheries, as hurricanes Katrina and Rita led to losses in the seafood industry that reached billions of dollars. The Caribbean spiny lobster fishery business alone is worth more than US$450m, and directly employs 50,000 people. Healthy seagrass provides the best fishing grounds with the greatest revenue, and the recent hurricanes have the potential to decimate this.

Environmental impact

But this is not just about money. Seagrass loss also threatens marine biodiversity and the health of charismatic species. After a severe cyclone in Australia in 2011, turtles and dugong starved due to the damaged meadows. In addition, seagrass is a marine powerhouse, which stores vast amounts of carbon in meadow sediments. When the seagrass is removed, this carbon is released back into the environment.

Hurricanes have always been a part of life in tropical seas. The destruction they cause and their recovery have been observed throughout human history. What is alarming now, however, is the apparent increased frequency and intensity. The already poor state of the Caribbean marine environment restricts the ability of habitats such as seagrass meadows and coral reefs to recover from the effects of severe storms. Poor water quality and over-fishing, for example, promotes the overgrowth of algae, preventing recovery. With repeated hurricanes occurring over time periods that are insufficient for recovery to occur, this will only get worse.

The severity of hurricanes Irma and Maria are a wake up call. We need a fundamental shift in how marine environments are protected to enable long-term sustainability for the food and income they provide. Many locations in the Caribbean, for example Puerto Rico, have ineffective marine protection rules and so destructive practices continue unchecked, meaning that when a disaster does occur, the environment is unable to recover.

Although local actions against climate change are difficult to achieve, it is possible to manage river catchments to improve water quality, and focus on small scale immediate actions, such as implementation of marine protected areas to limit immediate and direct damage to coastal resources. Coordinated small scale actions will ultimately help enhance the resilience of the Caribbean Sea, and make sure that the environment can better recover from any future extreme events.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
New Zealand race horses fare better than those overseas. Credit: Massey University

New research has shown that racehorses in New Zealand have a lower risk of injury than in other countries, with further work needed to explain why.

The study, from Massey University's Equine Research Centre, examined New Zealand race records and reports over six racing seasons between 2005 and 2011. During this time there were 188,616 race starts for 16,646 individual horses, with only 177 horses failing to complete a race for health-related reasons.

Musculoskeletal injuries on race-day, which include fractures, tendon and ligament injuries, lameness and soft tissue injuries, accounted for the majority (77 per cent) of these non-completions, occurring at a rate of 0.72 injuries per 1000 starts.

When these numbers are compared to other racing jurisdictions worldwide, the rate is significantly lower, with recent work from the United Kingdom showing a race-day musculoskeletal injuries of 2.1 injuries per 1000 starts and research in Kentucky in the United States reporting a rate of 4.1 injuries per 1000 starts. Cardiac and respiratory events accounted for the further 23 per cent of non-completions.

Massey's Dr Charlotte Bolwell says, "while we can speculate that the lower rate of musculoskeletal injuries may be due to the management and training of horses in New Zealand, the research requires further information about the horses' training to make these connections or to establish other factors.

Establishing a direct link between management and training of horses in New Zealand and the rates of injury during racing will require more work, but the numbers show that such a study is needed to protect animal welfare by further understanding what causes injuries to be lower or higher.

"For this further work to be truly effective, it will need to involve the cooperation of international bodies so that regional similarities and differences can be measured across all racing jurisdictions."

Some early risk factors identified showed the condition of the track and the length of the race had an effect on non-completion, with tracks that were described as 'dead' or 'slow' showing less incidence of musculoskeletal injuries, as well as races less than 1200 metres.

More information: Charlotte Bolwell et al. Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injury during Racing on New Zealand Racetracks 20052011, Animals (2017). DOI: 10.3390/ani7080062
On Sept. 22 at 1:45 p.m. EDT (17:45 UTC) Hurricane Maria was over Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas when NASA's Aqua satellite saw the storm. Maria's eye had become cloud-filled by high clouds. Credit: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team

Satellite imagery from NASA shows that Hurricane Maria continues to move in a northerly direction while its eye remained east of the Bahamas. NASA's Aqua satellite showed high clouds over the eye on Sept. 22 and one side of the hurricane over the Bahamas. On Sept. 23, NOAA's GOES East satellite revealed a more clear eye but a less symmetric storm as Maria moved away from the Bahamas.

On Sept. 22 at 1:45 p.m. EDT (17:45 UTC) Hurricane Maria was over Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas the MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of the hurricane. At the time of the image Maria's eye had become filled in with high clouds.

The next day, NOAA's GOES East satellite provided a visible view of Hurricane Maria. On Saturday, Sept. 23 at 8:15 a.m. EDT Maria was moving past the Bahamas and regained a clear eye. The National Hurricane Center noted of the image, "the 35 nautical mile wide eye has become better defined in satellite imagery."

The GOES image also showed Maria is experiencing about 15 knots of southwesterly vertical wind shear, "which is likely the reason for an asymmetric distribution of convection in the eyewall at this time," said National Hurricane Center forecaster Jack Beven.

NOAA manages the GOES East satellite and the NASA/NOAA GOES Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. created the image.

The National Hurricane Center noted on Saturday, September 23, 2017 that warnings on Maria were discontinued for the Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands while high swells are expected to increase along portions of the Southeastern United States coast.

NOAA's GOES East satellite provided this visible view of Hurricane Maria on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 8:15 a.m. EDT. Maria was moving past the Bahamas and regained a clear eye. Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Saturday, September 23, 2017 the center of Hurricane Maria was located near 24.8 degrees north latitude and 72.0 degrees west longitude. That's about 165 miles (270 km) east-northeast of San Salvador and 340 miles (545 km) east of Nassau. Maria was moving toward the north-northwest near 9 mph (15 kph), and the National Hurricane Center expects this general to continue through tonight.

Maximum sustained winds are now near 120 mph (195 kph) with higher gusts. Maria is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Fluctuations in intensity are expected during the next couple of days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 952 millibars.

A turn toward the north is expected on Sunday, Sept. 24. On the forecast track, Maria should move away from the Bahamas into the open waters of the western Atlantic today.

Swells generated by Maria are affecting Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the northern coast of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas. These swells will begin to increase along portions of the southeastern United States coast and Bermuda today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
RJP objects to same ballot paper for two polls

The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal registered its serious objection at the Election Office on Sunday over the use of the same ballot paper for the upcoming federal and provincial polls.
An image from a microscope reveals how the two metals, copper alloy and Inconel, mix and interlock to form a strong bond created by the innovative 3-D printing process during manufacturing of the igniter prototype. Credit: NASA/UAH/Judy Schneider

Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, tested NASA's first 3-D printed rocket engine prototype part made of two different metal alloys through an innovative advanced manufacturing process. NASA has been making and evaluating durable 3-D printed rocket parts made of one metal, but the technique of 3-D printing, or additive manufacturing, with more than one metal is more difficult.

"It is a technological achievement to 3-D print and test rocket components made with two different alloys," said Preston Jones, director of the Engineering Directorate at Marshall. "This process could reduce future rocket engine costs by up to a third and manufacturing time by 50 percent."

Engineers at Marshall, led by senior engineer Robin Osborne, of ERC, Inc. of Huntsville, Alabama, supporting Marshall's Engine Components Development and Technology branch, low-pressure hot-fire tested the prototype more than 30 times during July to demonstrate the functionality of the igniter. The prototype, built by a commercial vendor, was then cut up by University of Alabama in Huntsville researchers who examined images of the bi-metallic interface through a microscope. The results showed the two metals had inter-diffused, a phenomenon that helps create a strong bond.

A rocket engine igniter is used to initiate an engine's start sequence and is one of many complex parts made of many different materials. In traditional manufacturing, igniters are built using a process called brazing which joins two types of metals by melting a filler metal into a joint creating a bi-metallic component. The brazing process requires a significant amount of manual labor leading to higher costs and longer manufacturing time.

Majid Babai (center), advanced manufacturing chief at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, along with Dr. Judy Schneider, mechanical and aerospace engineering professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and graduate students Chris Hill and Ryan Anderson examine a cross section of the prototype rocket engine igniter created by an innovative bi-metallic 3-D printing advanced manufacturing process under a microscope. Credit: NASA/MSFC/Emmett Given

"Eliminating the brazing process and having bi-metallic parts built in a single machine not only decreases cost and manufacturing time, but it also decreases risk by increasing reliability," said Majid Babai, advanced manufacturing chief, and lead for the project in Marshall's Materials and Processes Laboratory. "By diffusing the two materials together through this process, a bond is generated internally with the two materials and any hard transition is eliminated that could cause the component to crack under the enormous forces and temperature gradient of space travel."

For this prototype igniter, the two metals  a copper alloy and Inconelwere joined together using a unique hybrid 3-D printing process called automated blown powder laser deposition. The prototype igniter was made as one single part instead of four distinct parts that were brazed and welded together in the past. This bi-metallic part was created during a single build process by using a hybrid machine made by DMG MORI in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The new machine integrated 3-D printing and computer numerical-control machining capabilities to make the prototype igniter.

While the igniter is a relatively small component at only 10 inches tall and 7 inches at its widest diameter, this new technology allows a much larger part to be made and enables the part's interior to be machined during manufacturingsomething other machines cannot do. This is similar to building a ship inside a bottle, where the exterior of the part is the "bottle" enclosing a detailed, complex "ship" with invisible details inside. The hybrid process can freely alternate between freeform 3-D printing and machining within the part before the exterior is finished and closed off.

"We're encouraged about what this new advanced manufacturing technology could do for the Space Launch System program in the future," said Steve Wofford, manager for the SLS liquid engines office at Marshall. "In next generation rocket engines, we aspire to create larger, more complex flight components through 3-D printing techniques."

Provided by NASA
Giant pandas live in scattered populations in the wet, cool bamboo forests of China's mountainous Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, making it difficult for scientists to monitor their populations and extinction risks. Credit: Binbin Li

A study by Chinese and U.S. scientists finds that while populations of the iconic giant panda have increased recently, the species' habitat still covers less area and is more fragmented than when it was first listed as an endangered species in 1988.

The study, published Sept. 25 in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, used geospatial technologies and remote sensing data to map recent land-use changes and the development of roads within the panda's habitat.

"The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently changed the status of the giant panda from 'endangered' to the less threatened 'vulnerable,' " said Stuart L. Pimm, Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment. "This was based on the increasing numbers, which are a very encouraging sign, of course."

"But what my colleagues and I wanted to know was how the panda's habitat has changed over the last four decades, because the extent and connectivity of a species' habitat is also a major factor in determining its risk of extinction," Pimm said.

The team, led by Zhuyan Ouyang and Weihua Xu of the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, used satellite imagery to examine changes across the panda's entire geographic range from 1976 to 2013.

"We found complex changes," Xu said. "Habitat decreased nearly 5 percent from 1976 to 2001, but has increased since. However, the average size of the habitat patches decreased by 23 percent from 1976 to 2001. It has increased only slightly since."

Study co-author Jianguo Liu of Michigan State University, who began studying the human and natural forces driving habitat loss in the panda's geographic range in 1996, noted that some of the changes that have occurred in the region are encouraging.

"Banning commercial logging in natural forests, establishing nature reserves and helping residents in the reserve change behaviors that damaged habitat has been beneficial," said Liu, who published Pandas and People (Oxford University Press) last year with four other authors of the new study. "But conservation is a dynamic process with humans and nature in a constant push and pull to survive and thrive, so new solutions always are in demand."

Other changes, though highly beneficial to the region's human population, present challenges from a conservation standpoint.

"The most obvious changes in this region since Professor Liu and his colleague Professor Zhiyun Ouyang first visited it together in 2001 have been the increase and improvement in roads and other infrastructure," Pimm said. "These have been the major factor in fragmenting the habitat. There was nearly three times the density of roads in 2013 than in 1976."

"We suggest several solutions," Ouyang concluded. "One of the most important will be to establish protected corridors through which pandas can move to prevent their isolation into small and unsustainable populations."

More information: Weihua Xu et al, Reassessing the conservation status of the giant panda using remote sensing, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0317-1 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution
DIG HOLE: Satellite images of the ancient city of Mari in southeast Syria clearly show how the plundering of cultural artefacts leaves its mark. The image on the left is from 4 August 2011, while the image on the right was taken on 11 November 2014. Credit: DigitalGlobe | U.S. Department of State, NextView License | Analysis AAAS

Illicit trade in cultural artefacts destroys historical knowledge and finances terrorism. "Professionals have to say no to authenticating cultural artefacts of questionable or dubious ownership history," says researcher Josephine Munch Rasmussen.

"Here is the artefact.

Hakon Roland from the Museum of Cultural History carefully presents a sword that is several thousand years old. It is from an important Bronze Age culture in Western Iran.

"The police seized the sword from a private person because they suspect that it was illegally removed from the country of origin. We will look after it until it is potentially returned to Iran," Roland says.

If the Iranian sword was illegally removed from the country of origin, this is far from being an isolated case. Illegal trade in cultural artefacts is a widespread problem.

Knowledge is lost

Looting is taking place right now in countries such as Iraq and Syria, Bolivia and Peru, Cambodia and China. Art and cultural artefacts are being stolen from archaeological sites and illegally transferred for sale on seemingly legal markets in wealthy countries. Important historical knowledge is lost forever.

"We lose an enormous amount of knowledge because of this," says Josephine Rasmussen.

According to the researcher, documented finds provide a completely different level of knowledge than individual artefacts without any other specific information.

"An individual artefact, for example a Roman coin, can be exciting for collectors and numismatists, but if we don't know where it was found, the potential for it providing information is rather limited. If the coin has in fact an archaeological context from India, and not the Roman Empire, we lose important knowledge about contact and trade," she says.

Islamic State selling to the West

In addition to destroying the scientific basis for knowledge about previous cultures and societies, income from the illegal sale of cultural artefacts is used to finance acts of war.

Credit: University of Oslo

Terrorist organisations, including IS, have been responsible for widespread plundering in Iraq and Syria and artefacts from these actions have ended up on illegal markets in Europe, the Arabian peninsula and the USA.

"IS has made a big show about their iconoclasm and wish to destroy all traces of other religious practices or historical eras. However, at the same time, the plundering and sale of artefacts from the areas they destroy are an important source of income," Rasmussen says.

Increasing awareness

Rasmussen wrote both her master's thesis and doctoral dissertation on the illicit trade in cultural artefacts.

She is part of a research group at the University of Oslo that received special praise from international researchers in the latest evaluation of humanistic research in Norway. Rasmussen and her colleagues were commended for having contributed to highlighting the problems with and raising awareness about the purchase and sale of cultural artefacts.

At the start of the 2000s, there was little focus from the police and decision-makers on putting a stop to the illegal market. However, the situation is now completely different.

In 2007, Norway ratified UNESCO's 1970 convention that protects physical cultural artefacts from illegal trade. The Norwegian cultural authorities, police and customs, and museums are working together to stop the illegal market.

Due to IS' income from plundering, the UN Security Council resolved in 2015 to instruct all member states to implement measures to prevent the illegal trade in cultural artefacts from Iraq and Syria.

"For various reasons, there has been an enormous increase in the focus on combating the illegal market and that is very pleasing," Rasmussen says.

Require evaluations from Professionals

At the same time, Rasmussen is of the view that professionals have the most important means of putting a stop to the market. The illegal trade of cultural artefacts is seldom punished. It is difficult to determine the legal status of an artefact.

When artefacts that have been stolen or plundered appear in the market, there will be little information that can link these to a specific place of origin or rightful owner. It is therefore also extremely difficult to prove that an individual artefact originates from, for example, an illegal excavation.

An attempt was made to illegally import this Buddha statue into Norway in 2011. This summer, Foreign Minister Bjrge Brende returned the sculpture to Myanmar from where it was originally stolen. Credit: Museum of Cultural History, UiO/Ellen C. Holte

"An evaluation from a professional is often a key factor when artefacts are sold." Professionals are therefore involved in influencing the market in a manner that many are probably not aware of," Rasmussen says.

"If an expert has vouched for the authenticity and cultural historical significance of an artefact, this will most often increase the sale value. Plundering will continue as long as there is demand for these types of artefacts in the art and antiquities market, but the market is also dependent on experts and professionals.

Professionals have to say no

Rasmussen calls for greater caution to be shown by institutions that are invited to work together with private collectors and market players, and for more ethical awareness from professionals who are used to evaluate artefacts that may be part of the illegal market.

"If the ownership history of an artefact is not clear and it cannot be proven that it was obtained in a legal manner, researchers should say no to evaluating it," she says.

Rasmussen understands that it may be difficult for a researcher to refuse to study something that appears to be of major interest. However, when something suddenly appears that seems too good to be true, it most often is.

"Typically, cultural artefacts without a documented track of ownership are either fakes, or they have been obtained through destructive plundering."

Difficult evaluations

Hakon Roland agrees that professionals play an important role in stopping the illegal market. He emphasises that the Museum of Cultural History follows international ethical guidelines and that professionals shall not evaluate artefacts when they are uncertain as to whether these were legally obtained.

At the same time, Roland admits that there can often be difficult tradeoffs:

"There are also grey areas. Sometimes we receive artefacts that will be melted down and destroyed if we do not accept them. We then end up with a tradeoff between preventing the loss of items that are of cultural historical value and being in breach of ethical guidelines," he says.
Scientists have used satellite data to monitor underground water reserves in California's Silicon Valley, discovering that water levels rebounded quickly after a severe drought that lasted from 2012-15.

The research points to the success of aggressive conservation measures. It also helps to lay the groundwork for low-cost monitoring of subterranean water reserves in California and elsewhere in the world.

Underground stockpiles of waterhoused in layers of porous rock called aquifersare one of the world's most important sources of drinking water. They sustain human populations in places from Silicon Valley to Beijing. Some 2.5 billion people on Earth rely on aquifers for water, and many of these repositories are being drained more quickly than they can be refilled, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Yet, keeping tabs on these precious reserves is expensive, says Estelle Chaussard, PhD, an assistant professor of geology in UB's College of Arts and Sciences and the lead author of the new research.

"To monitor aquifers, you have to monitor water levels in as many wells as possible," she says. "So if you have 300 wells in the area, you have to either have someone who physically goes there all the time, or instruments in each well that monitor permanently, which is very costly.

"We wanted to see if we could use a low-cost remote sensing method that doesn't require ground monitoring to understand how our aquifers are responding to a changing climate and human activity."

The research was published on Sept. 22 in the Journal of Geophysical Research. The team included Pietro Milillo and Eric J. Fielding from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Roland Burgmann from the University of California, Berkeley; Daniele Perissin from Purdue University; and Brett Baker from the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Silicon Valley's aquifer began rebounding mid-drought

During the 2012-15 drought, the Santa Clara Valley Water District employed an array of conservation measures. These included restricting sprinkler use and asking customers to take shorter showers and convert lawns and pools into less thirsty landscapes. The district also imported water from outside the region.

Chaussard says these actions may have helped to stave off irreversible damage to the valley's aquifer. She explains that when groundwater levels reach a record low, the porous clay in which the reserves reside can dry up so much that the clay can't soak up water anymore.

The new study shows that this did not happen in the Santa Clara Valley. Due to intensive water management efforts, the Santa Clara Valley aquifer actually started to rebound by late 2014, when the drought was still going strong, the research found. Groundwater had returned to pre-drought levels by 2017.

Chaussard notes that this does not mean aquifers do not need protection: Urban, agricultural and other uses can overtax these basins even in times of abundant rainfall, and many of California's aquifers are not adequately monitored.

The recent drought heightened awareness of the importance of groundwater, with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 requiring local and regional authorities to manage this resource sustainably for the first time in state history after decades of neglect. Chaussard says satellite tracking could provide an avenue for monitoring groundwater levels across California in near-real time, a key factor in preventing overuse.

Measuring tiny movements of Earth's surface

Chaussard's team used a technique called InSARInterferometric Synthetic Aperture Radarto capture the tiny up-and-down movements of the Earth's surface that occur when water levels rise or fall underground.

"InSAR allows us to precisely measure small movements of the Earth's surface over large areas," Chaussard says. "Scientists have used it to measure surface deformation related to volcanoes and earthquakes, we expanded its use by applying it to tracking groundwater."

She first employed InSAR to monitor aquifers in 2014, and says the method can work anywhere in the world where satellite data is available, including in developing nations with few resources for monitoring.

The technique marks an improvement over traditional methods because it allows scientists to gauge changes in water levels across a large region with great frequency. The data in the new study came from COSMO SkyMed, a constellation of four Italian satellites that provided information for the entire Santa Clara Valley aquifer as often as once a day.

"If you're monitoring wells, even if you have lots of them, you are never going to have full coverage of what is going on," Chaussard says. "Our method provides a more complete picture and helps fill in the gaps."

More information: Estelle Chaussard et al, Remote sensing of ground deformation for monitoring groundwater management practices: application to the Santa Clara Valley during the 2012-2015 California drought, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (2017). DOI: 10.1002/2017JB014676 Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research
The world-famous French TGV would be part of an Alstom-Siemens merger

France's Alstom and Germany's Siemens have a deal ready to sign that would merge their rail businesses in the face of Chinese competition, German business daily Handelsblatt reported Monday.

Alstom, which makes the French TGV high-speed train, confirmed Friday that it was talking to Siemens about a possible railway tie-up, but said no decision had been taken.

Handelsblatt however, citing "insiders" familiar with the deal, said Monday the two groups have overcome past reservations about a joint venture with a "balanced agreement acceptable to both sides.

But Siemens has also been courting Canadian firm Bombardier, whose European operations are based in Berlin, and the two companies have their own detailed plan for two joint ventures covering rolling stock and signalling.

The Munich-based group's supervisory board is set to meet Tuesday to discuss the two options, Handelsblatt reported, while Alstom's executive board will also meet.

Waiting for board meetings

Both companies declined to comment on the report when contacted by AFP, but a source familiar with the talks backed it up, adding that the firms would make a statement on their plans once the boards have met.

Siemens and Alstom discussed a rail tie-up in 2014-15, but the French firm decided in the end to partner with General Electric, selling its energy division for 9.5 billion euros ($11.3 billion) to become a rail specialist.

A joint venture would bring together the engineering giants that make their countries' flagship high-speed trains, including the world-famous TGV.

Siemens would hold the presidency of the supervisory board under the plans, leaving Alstom chief Henri Poupart-Lafarge in place as chief executive.

The German firm brings in 7.8 billion euros of revenue annually from rail, while Paris-based Alstom boasts sales of 7.3 billion euros.

Combined, they would be more of a match for the 18.1 billion euros in revenue at Chinese giant CRRC, which is eyeing Skoda Transportation in the Czech Republic as a potential foothold in Europe.

Handelsblatt reported that European authorities were expected to smile on the deal as it would create an EU-based champion on global markets.

French government officials under President Emmanuel Macron are especially keen on creating an "Airbus for rail", and according to media reports have pushed for the idea in talks with their opposite numbers in Berlin.

French business daily Les Echos reported last week that Paris recently sent an envoy to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Before winning a fourth term in office Sunday, Merkel gave her "green light" to deepen the discussions, the French daily reported.

A Franco-German deal would limit competition concerns in Germany compared with a Siemens-Bombardier tie-upand mean fewer politically difficult job cuts, according to Handelsblatt.

 2017 AFP
A team of researchers from the UK and Russia have successfully demonstrated that a type of 'magic dust' which combines light and matter can be used to solve complex problems and could eventually surpass the capabilities of even the most powerful supercomputers.

The researchers, from Cambridge, Southampton and Cardiff Universities in the UK and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Russia, have used quantum particles known as polaritons - which are half light and half matter - to act as a type of 'beacon' showing the way to the simplest solution to complex problems. This entirely new design could form the basis of a new type of computer that can solve problems that are currently unsolvable, in diverse fields such as biology, finance or space travel. The results are reported in the journal Nature Materials.

Our technological progressfrom modelling protein folding and behaviour of financial markets to devising new materials and sending fully automated missions into deep spacedepends on our ability to find the optimal solution of a mathematical formulation of a problem: the absolute minimum number of steps that it takes to solve that problem.

The search for an optimal solution is analogous to looking for the lowest point in a mountainous terrain with many valleys, trenches, and drops. A hiker may go downhill and think that they have reached the lowest point of the entire landscape, but there may be a deeper drop just behind the next mountain. Such a search may seem daunting in natural terrain, but imagine its complexity in high-dimensional space. "This is exactly the problem to tackle when the objective function to minimise represents a real-life problem with many unknowns, parameters, and constraints," said Professor Natalia Berloff of Cambridge's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, and the paper's first author.

Modern supercomputers can only deal with a small subset of such problems when the dimension of the function to be minimised is small or when the underlying structure of the problem allows it to find the optimal solution quickly even for a function of large dimensionality. Even a hypothetical quantum computer, if realised, offers at best the quadratic speed-up for the "brute-force" search for the global minimum.

Berloff and her colleagues approached the problem from an unexpected angle: What if instead of moving along the mountainous terrain in search of the lowest point, one fills the landscape with a magical dust that only shines at the deepest level, becoming an easily detectible marker of the solution?

"A few years ago our purely theoretical proposal on how to do this was rejected by three scientific journals," said Berloff. "One referee said, 'Who would be crazy enough to try to implement this?!' So we had to do it ourselves, and now we've proved our proposal with experimental data."

Their 'magic dust' polaritons are created by shining a laser at stacked layers of selected atoms such as gallium, arsenic, indium, and aluminium. The electrons in these layers absorb and emit light of a specific colour. Polaritons are ten thousand times lighter than electrons and may achieve sufficient densities to form a new state of matter known as a Bose-Einstein condensate, where the quantum phases of polaritons synchronise and create a single macroscopic quantum object that can be detected through photoluminescence measurements.

The next question the researchers had to address was how to create a potential landscape that corresponds to the function to be minimised and to force polaritons to condense at its lowest point. To do this, the group focused on a particular type of optimisation problem, but a type that is general enough so that any other hard problem can be related to it, namely minimisation of the XY model which is one of the most fundamental models of statistical mechanics. The authors have shown that they can create polaritons at vertices of an arbitrary graph: as polaritons condense, the quantum phases of polaritons arrange themselves in a configuration that correspond to the absolute minimum of the objective function.

"We are just at the beginning of exploring the potential of polariton graphs for solving complex problems," said co-author Professor Pavlos Lagoudakis, Head of the Hybrid Photonics Lab at the University of Southampton and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, where the experiments were performed. "We are currently scaling up our device to hundreds of nodes, while testing its fundamental computational power. The ultimate goal is a microchip quantum simulator operating at ambient conditions."

More information: Realizing the classical XY Hamiltonian in polariton simulators, Nature Materials (2017). DOI: 10.1038/nmat4971 Journal information: Nature Materials
T-Mobile and Sprint are at it againtalks of a merger, that is. The nation's No. 3 and No. 4 wireless providers have actively sparred in recent years as they battled to capture a larger market share in the competitive industry.

But the two companies have also considered combining forces, attempting a merger three years ago. That plan was abandoned because regulators were expected to nix the deal. The Trump Administration's arrival has led to the resurgence of a possible tie-up.

Sprint, T-Mobile, Softbank and T-Mobile's parent company Deutsche Telekom have been in discussions recently, according to CNBC and Reuters. The latest rumblings suggest Deutsche Telekom would own the majority of the combined company, with Softbank owning a large minority stake.

While not officially confirming the plans, the companies have publicly chatted up the potential for a deal in recent months. "It may make sense from a scale standpoint" to combine the companies, said T-Mobile CEO John Legere in January.

Since then, Masayoshi Son, the founder and CEO of Tokyo-based telecom and Internet company Softbank, which controls Sprint, has tried to make a deal to improve the carrier's positionand eyed T-Mobile, as well as Charter Communications. And last month, Sprint CEO and President Marcelo Claure said the company would have an announcement "in the near future" about merger discussions.

Mobile users have benefited from the price wars stoked by T-Mobile and Sprint, especially the spread of "unlimited" data plans, as well as other goodies competition has thrust their way. It's uncertain whether prices for various plans could rise, or temper their decreases, if a deal goes through.

Why do Sprint and T-Mobile want to merge?

A union is attractive because of the scale and potential for cost-cutting a combination would bring, allowing the bigger company to increase investments in areas like 5G, thus gaining an edge on the larger wireless carriers. The pairing of T-Mobile, which has about 70 million subscribers, and Sprint, with its nearly 54 million, would create a bigger competitor to industry leaders AT&T, which has 135.7 million and Verizon, with 114.5 million.

And the companies could save as much as $4 billion annually, wrote Craig Moffett, partner and senior analyst at research firm MoffettNathanson in an investor note last month. "The financial logic of a Sprint/T-Mobile deal is compelling enough that we've always assumed the two parties would find a way to at least try," he wrote.

I'm a loyal Sprint customer and have noticed T-Mobile's perks. What might a merger mean to me?

Should the companies merge, Sprint subscribers might see some new pricing arrangements available and could become eligible for T-Mobile promotions such as free Netflix subscriptions and MLB.tv mobile viewing.

Sprint customersand all wireless customerscould eventually pay more or get fewer perks because a decline in competition could mean result in higher prices industry-wide, former Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler and former assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, Bill Baer, contend in a CNBC.com opinion piece posted in May when speculation about a merger resurfaced.

The administration rebuffed Softbank's entreaties to acquire T-Mobile, they say, and subsequently, wireless prices have fallen, while cable TV prices have risen.

There could also be some disruptions in customer service or snafus when it comes to getting new phones or new services as the two companies' systems are combined. "Maybe it will be small, it may be significant," said Bill Menezes, a mobile services analyst for research firm Gartner. "It depends on how well they execute."

I'm a T-Mobile customer. What's in it for me?

Subscribers to T-Mobile might be less likely to see any disruptions and they might get access to premium music streaming service Tidal, which Sprint acquired a 33% stake in earlier this year.

They could also see higher prices eventually. Beyond that, all customers of the combined company could get better coverage as their wireless networks are merged. And that could be done quickly because there's already a service that uses both Sprint and T-Mobile's networks: Google's Project Fi service, which also uses the U.S. Cellular network and Wi-Fi for its connections on a small lineup of Android phones. "It would mean more areas and faster data speeds," Menezes said.

But eventually, the two companies' wireless spectrum will benefit all customers. "Any carrier is going to have areas where it has a little weaker coverage or maybe an outright coverage hole where somebody else has coverage," he said. "In some secondary and outlying markets, a Sprint customer could pick up new coverage for 4G, simply because that is where T-Mobile has been acquiring a lot of spectrum."

The companies would want to keep current subscribers on board. "Obviously, they are not going to do the deal and hope to lose subscribers, unless maybe there is a swath of subscribers that are not as profitable as others," said Donna Hitscherich, a senior lecturer at Columbia Business School and an expert in mergers and acquisitions.

Would regulators approve the deal?

The companies walked away from an earlier merger attempt because they expected Obama Administration regulators to give it a thumbs down. But they consider the new administration as more willing listeners.

"It is interesting how this has bubbled up before. Are they sending up trial balloon to see how the market and the regulators will react?" Hitscherich said.

Shares in both companies are up more than 4% since Tuesday when reports of merger talks began resonating again. Sprint (S) shares closed at $8.52 Friday, while T-Mobile (TMUS) shares were $64.06.

Where the Obama Administration and then-FCC chairman Wheeler shied away from losing a major player in the market, officials under Trump could view competition differently. "You could imagine a situation where by putting two companies together that creates a viable alternative to ... incumbents," Hitscherich said.

2017 USA Today

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Bathymetry of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, indicated with shaded colors and contours with numbers, the schematic of the Kuroshio pathway, and the location of the PN section. Credit: Science China Press

The world's oceans are warming, and the marginal seas exhibit more notable warming than the open ocean due to their proximity to land and other unique regional factors. The Yellow Sea and East China Sea (YECS, Fig. 1) are marginal seas east of China, and have warmed steadily in the last century. In fact, the warming trend of the sea surface temperature (SST) in the YECS is more pronounced than the global mean state. The increasing SST can cause sea level rise, change ocean currents and atmospheric air flows, and affect ecosystem conditions.

Researchers exploring the underlying physical mechanisms have often been inhibited by the innumerable factors related to SST, while the corresponding records are limited to the temporal coverage and data quality. Therefore, the existing explanations of SST trend of the YECS are diverse.

For example, Dr. Liping Zhang from the Ocean University of China and her colleagues found that the increasing SST trend over the China marginal seas was accompanied by increased wind speed and enhanced heat loss (from ocean to atmosphere), which in turn acted to inhibit the warming rate [Zhang L., L. Wu, X. Lin, and D. Wu. Modes and mechanisms of sea surface temperature low-frequency variation over the coastal China seas. Journal of Geophysical Research, 2010, 115, C08031]; on the other hand, Professor Sang-Wook Yeh and his colleague from Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea, found the increasing SST trend in the YECS in winter was accompanied by weakened northerly winds over the YECS during winter, which helped increase SST through latent and sensible heat fluxes [Yeh Sang-Wook, and Cheol-Ho Kim. Recent warming in the Yellow/East Sea during winter and the associated atmospheric circulation. Continental Shelf Research, 2010, 30: 1428-1434]. These opposing findings show the need for further investigation.

Studies on regional atmospheric and oceanic environment reveal that the SST warming trend in YECS is accompanied with atmospheric and oceanic changes and influenced by them, according to Hailun He, a scientist at the Second Institute of Oceanography of State Oceanic Administration, in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.

In an article coauthored with Yuhua Pei and Xiaohui Xiu, colleagues at the same institute, the researchers sought possible factors that affect the increasing SST trend in the YECS by analyzing associated new data products. These data include the surface net heat flux, surface wind, temperature, geostrophic current velocity at a section transecting the Kuroshio (PN section), and air temperature in Japan. "These data can be used to depict some major influencing factors, both from the atmosphere and ocean. These analyses provide evidence for critical consideration of the mechanisms for increasing SST in the YECS," the authors write.

First EOF mode of temperature in the PN section: (a) spatial mode, and (b) principle component. The grey line in (b) indicates the trend. Credit: Science China Press

The warming is not limited in SST. The researchers write, "The warming rate in the specific section decreases steadily with depth and turns to a cooling trend in the intermediate layer, which results in an increase in stratification, and facilitates SST warming." (Fig. 2)

The study, published in the Science China Earth Sciences, further reports that the low-frequency trend in the air-sea flux is insufficient to explain the SST warming trend. "Accompanying the increasing YECS SST, there is a decreasing surface heat flux (downward positive), as indicated from the 'OAFlux' product, which can inhibit the SST increase. Therefore, SST warming seems to be induced from the oceanic thermal advection but not direct surface forcing."

However, ocean thermal advection cannot be measured directly and its effect cannot be evaluated from current observational data. "It is a big challenge to adequately evaluate the contribution from thermal advection on the SST warming," says Dr. Hailun He, the corresponding author of the research.

"Changes in surface wind can affect SST warming through the turbulent heat flux, downward/upward airflow, and upwelling/downwelling in the ocean. However, these trends are quite small and have large uncertainties, so their effect on SST warming is uncertain," the researchers write. "In this study, associated up-to-date data products are analyzed to provide evidence for critical consideration of the mechanisms for increasing SST in the YECS." The results provide valuable reference for the regional climate change in YECS.

However, the researchers also say it was challenging to draw firm conclusions on the dominant mechanism of SST warming in the YECS. They write, "In the future, climate models that can correctly simulate the western boundary currents and assimilate historical observations would be helpful in solving this problem."
Voodoo rituals are more than mere show. As Yvonne Schaffler was able to demonstrate with the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, such rituals fulfill important social and therapeutic functions. As a cultural and social anthropologist, she studied practices relating to possession by spirits in the Caribbean.

Voodoo means deity or spirit. Voodoo practitioners in the Dominican Republic usually speak of "misterios." People possessed by such beings are at the heart of the voodoo religion. Under the influence of Hollywood cliches, one associates voodoo with mysterious rites and horror stories. But many religions include the concept of being possessed by spirits in various ways to this day. The difference lies in how religions deal with this phenomenon. Whereas Christian and Muslim priests seek to banish possessing spirits, voodoo is about accepting them and integrating them into everyday life.

"Many voodoo centres are reminiscent of Catholic chapels: numerous images of saints, flowers, candles and other devotional items are arranged into small altars. Often you find them in private premises," reports Yvonne Schaffler from her field research in the Dominican Republic, where the cultural and social anthropologist spent several years studying the societal assimilation of possession with the help of a Hertha Firnberg Grant that is awarded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF to young women researchers. The issues Schaffler investigated included questions such as what forms and functions possession can assume and in which phases of life it emerges.

Possession refers to a temporary state of trance (dissociation) during which individuals feel that external powers such as ancestors or deities take control of their body. These states tend to first appear at a young age. Afterwards, those "possessed" often cannot remember what they said or did during their trance. In more than 100 video-recorded episodes, Schaffler documented these events, their unfolding and the rites involved. In addition, she recorded the life histories of 19 individuals who are either voodoo practitioners or who experienced involuntary episodes of possession. The practitioners fulfil important social functions, as the anthropologist was able to illustrate. As "healers" they occupy special positions and offer services such as consultation meetings for those in a state of possession at spiritual centres. "Thanks to their position they enjoy an increase in (economic) autonomy, status and social security," explains Schaffler.

Those involuntarily possessed feel stressed by the trance-like states, since the spirits contact them spontaneously and defy their will. Their distress is often expressed in disorganised or aggressive behaviour. "I found that the sufferers had often experienced painful things such as domestic violence, loss of close friends or relatives or discrimination," reports the scientist. In addition it was shown that these individuals also tend to have physical symptoms such as sleeplessness or headaches. Traumatic experiences are also frequently found in the life history of the unwittingly possessed. Only recently have researchers devoted attention to this aspect, i.e. the connection between possession and trauma. Formerly, most of the studies highlighting this connection were conducted in civil-war regions in Africa. Schaffler's data confirm these results and provide important insights for trauma and dissociation research.

Investigating the involuntarily possessed is also potentially interesting from a therapeutic standpoint. Schaffler noted, for instance, that a hostile social environment and the attempt to exorcise the "demons" through rituals only increase the suffering and stress of the affected individuals. A so-called initiation process, on the other hand, can serve as a coping strategy. This process involves the repeated practising of states of possession under professional guidance. "In this way, what used to be an uncontrolled trance becomes structured and controllable," notes Schaffler. Thus, both the individual's biography and the social environment condition the perception of personal experience and behaviour that is often hard or even impossible to describe.

Similar to the therapeutic approach of psychodrama, which has participants work on their issues by means of performing real live scenes, also voodoo rituals allow for the re-enactment of past experiences in a benevolent environment, which may have positive effects. This probably explains why in Afro-American cultures possession is not regarded as something that needs to be prevented as a general rule. Instead, it is welcomed as a form of getting into contact with the spirits and opening up improved possibilities of self-expression. Voodoo rituals are fundamentally focused on positive energies and healing forces. "People don't want to be at loggerheads with the spirits," is how the researcher puts it.

"Accordingly, many rituals are entertaining, amusing and even feel like a party," notes Yvonne Schaffler. Particularly in times of economic problems such as those currently experienced in the Dominican Republic, spiritual practices flourish, and healing or protective rituals and other practices are not a phenomenon limited to marginal groups. "Many practitioners have clients in New York," notes Schaffler. New Orleans, for instance, is also a voodoo hotspot, where the popular ragdolls are considered to be protective spirits. The nasty voodoo doll into which one sticks needles to hurt an adversary is the exception rather than the rule and mainly occurs in Hollywood movies. This said, the Caribbean also harbours a "black magic" branch. However, practitioners "working with both hands," one that heals and one that inflicts harm, do not engage in group-rituals. They prefer to practise alone, in places far from their homes.

More information: Yvonne Schaffler: Treating "wild" spirit possession in the Dominican Republic: Parallels and Differences between Local and Euro-American Therapeutic Approaches www.agem-ethnomedizin.de/downl  Inhalt+Editorial.pdf Cardena, Etzel & Yvonne Schaffler: "He who has the spirits must work a lot: A Psycho-Anthropological Account of Spirit Possession in the Dominican Republic", Ethos (submitted). Cardena, Etzel & Yvonne Schaffler: "He who has the spirits must work a lot: A Psycho-Anthropological Account of Spirit Possession in the Dominican Republic", in: Ethos (submitted). Yvonne Schaffler & Bernd Brabec de Mori: A Multi-Perspective Analysis of Videographic Data on the Performance of Spirit Possession in Dominican Vodou, in: OAW (Ed.) International Forum on Audio-Visual Research. hw.oeaw.ac.at/0xc1aa500e_0x0033cbcf.pdf Yvonne Schaffler et al. Traumatic Experience and Somatoform Dissociation Among Spirit Possession Practitioners in the Dominican Republic, Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry (2015). DOI: 10.1007/s11013-015-9472-5
Sajha chair Sharma sacked

The Ministry of Education on Sunday sacked Dolendra Sharma as chairman and managing Director of Sajha Publication.
House panel directs govt to scrap Budhi Gangadki contract with Chinese company

The Agriculture and Water Resources Committee of the Legislature-Parliament on Monday directed the government to scrap its decision to award the contract to construct the Budhi Gandaki Hydroelectric Project to a Chinese company.
GroupBy Secures Patent for Augmenting Search Engines for eCommerce Information Retrieval

TORONTO  September 25, 2017  GroupBy Inc. (www.groupbyinc.com), a leading provider of relevancy-focused eCommerce solutions and one of Canadas fastest growing technology companies, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 9,672,552 protecting the technology behind the Companys site search and navigation solutions. The patent protects a system for facilitating queries against search engines such as Lucene, Solr, Elastic Search or any other readily available search engines to provide meaningful content for the purpose of supporting any eCommerce website.

The grant of this patent recognizes the leadership of GroupBy and our technology in the marketplace along with the need for improved search and navigation solutions for retailers to compete in an ever-growing competitive marketplace, said Roland Gossage, CEO at GroupBy Inc and one of the inventors listed on the U.S. Patent. Having designed, developed and delivered the most impactful search and navigation enhancement technology for digital retailers, this marks a tremendous milestone in the Companys history and we are proud to bring this level of recognition to our product team, our deployment team and to our shareholders.

The U.S. Patent, entitled Methods of Augmenting Search Engines for eCommerce Information Retrieval was granted on June 6, 2017, and defines in detail the protected methods that provide for an intelligent abstraction to know when and how to generate a set of queries as they relate to digital commerce and includes areas such as the configuration of metadata used by a search engine to define relevant results specifically for eCommerce. This innovation was designed to augment and improve the deficiencies found in generic search engines as they relate to search, navigation, merchandising and overall user experience, which in turn works to improve conversion rates, average order values and other tangible benefits for retailers online.

The challenge of serving relevant search results by simply querying a search engine such as Lucene, Solr or Elastic Search does not effectively solve the users search intent and therefore GroupBy had to create this innovation and subsequent patented method to solve this problem for eCommerce, said Will Warren, CTO at GroupBy Inc and one of the co-inventors for the Patent. This method of analysing, evaluating and augmenting the query and subsequent returned response allows us to achieve this fundamentally better user experience for eCommerce.

This award by the U.S. patent law regime solidifies the importance of what GroupBy has achieved in terms of innovation excellence within the eCommerce space, continued Gossage. This patent is the first granted among a series of patent applications that we have pending and we will proudly protect and enforce all of our intellectual property rights in relation to these valuable assets.

GroupBy serves many of the worlds most successful online retailers including CVS, Urban Outfitters, Crate & Barrel, Pier 1 Imports, Jos A. Bank, Cabelas, Lancome, BuildDirect, Columbia Sports, Zoro Tools, The Shopping Channel and dozens more. GroupBy has a comprehensive patent strategy in place with additional applications under review in the U.S. and internationally.

About GroupBy Inc.

GroupBy Inc. transforms the way retailers interact with their consumers online through data-driven commerce, media, and knowledge management software solutions. The company supports the online retail efforts of many of the worlds leading online retailers by driving more targeted site traffic and increasing revenues through its Searchandiser platform. GroupBys solutions provide industry-leading features for search, navigation, merchandising, search engine optimization (SEO) and search as you type (SAYT). On June 5, 2017, GroupBy announced that it had acquired US-based product data enrichment software provider, Edgecase. Founded in 2013, GroupBy is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has offices around the world. For more information, please visit www.groupbyinc.com.

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Todays small-business owners face a competitive marketplace. Businesses such as restaurants, auto shops, dry cleaners, and salons are affected by an inevitable ebb and flow, either finding and maintaining success or shutting down. Although some factors that cause small businesses to fail are unavoidable, owners and managers can work to promote their businesses with effective marketing and advertising. Coupon advertising is a tried-and-true strategy that local businesses have found success with, and IndoorMedias new guide illustrates the numerous advantages of this approach. Among the e-books features:

Four benefits coupons offer for small businesses

Components of a good coupon

Descriptions of several different types of coupons, including register tape advertising and shopping cart advertising.

Small businesses spend millions of dollars on television, newspaper, radio, direct mail, and other media to draw customers into their stores, says IndoorMedia senior executive Eric Shafer. Showing a ROI on many of these channels can be difficult, but not with coupon advertising, which offers hyperlocal distribution, low cost, and low barrier to launch. Our new e-book explores the different types of coupon advertising available to small businesses and offers advice to help them choose a method that works best for them.

To learn more about this e-book or IndoorMedias impactful in-store advertising solutions, visit www.indoormedia.com.

About IndoorMedia

IndoorMedia is the largest in-grocery store advertising company in the U.S. and Canada. We work with small businesses and franchises to help them increase sales and customers through register tape advertising, shopping cart advertising,and custom printed receipts. IndoorMedia delivers connections between our customers and theirs with simple-to-implement and proven advertising strategies. For more information, visit www.indoormedia.com.

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Mastercard Names Fabrizio Burlando as President of Prepaid Management Services

PURCHASE, N.Y,  September 21, 2017  Mastercard today announced the appointment of Fabrizio Burlando as president of prepaid management services. In this role, he will lead the team that works with issuers and merchants to manage their prepaid programs and bring them to market within as quickly as three months.

Andrea Scerch, president of processing services at Mastercard, said: Consumers are increasingly looking to prepaid for safety, budget control, and convenience. Fabrizio Burlando brings a wealth of experience to help issuers and merchants maximize the impact of their prepaid programs into the future.

Burlando joined Mastercard in 2008 and was most recently the European lead for Mastercard Advisors, focused on improving customers payment businesses  from strategy development to marketing planning and implementation.

Before joining Mastercard, Burlando worked for the Boston Consulting Group, where he led large projects in the financial and technology sectors across different functions such as strategy, operational effectiveness, and change management.

Burlando holds a Masters of Business Administration from INSEAD (Paris and Singapore), as well as a Masters of Bioelectronic Engineering from the University of Genoa. He will be based in the UK.

About Mastercard

Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the worlds fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities  such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances  easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MastercardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

PointofSale.com, now in its 8th year, does not sell products or services and we rely on sponsors to keep the site up. We are independently owned and operated. Please visit the POS software pages and POS hardware pages (see left side menu above) to find great POS products from various vendors. For more info, contact us through the Footer menu below.

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Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether 

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Women rights activist attacked for witchcraft

A Birgunj-based women rights activist was attacked over witchcraft allegation in her apartment on Sunday.
One month after the latest influx of Rohingya Muslims began, Bangladesh faces the unenviable dual task of looking after 700,000 wretched people and trying to persuade Myanmar to take them back. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has earned praise for opening up the frontier to the desperate stream of humanity, but, diplomats and experts say, she cannot expect much international help in either campaign. And, they warn, Bangladesh's warm welcome so far could easily cool if solutions are not found. "Bangladesh can't deal with this crisis alone," said Champa Patel, head of the Asia Programme at the Chatham House international affairs institute in London. "It is densely populated, poor and already home to a historically displaced Rohingya community. While currently welcoming, this could change if the situation becomes protracted without any clear end in sight." About 430,000 people -- mainly Muslims -- have trudged into Bangladesh since August 25 when attacks by Rohingya militants in Rakhine state unleashed a blitz by the Buddhist-majority Myanmar's military. The influx adds to about 300,000 Rohingya already in camps around the Bangladesh town of Cox's Bazar. There is not enough food, water or medicine to go around. Roads around the camps are littered with human excrement, exacerbating UN fears that serious disease could quickly break out. The country has reacted with compassion to the horrific tales of rape and killing refugees have brought with them. Scores of trucks carrying aid donated by the public arrive each day in Cox's Bazar. But it is not enough. At the UN General Assembly last week, Hasina sought global help to solve the problems of the Rohingya, left stateless by Myanmar's refusal to give them citizenship. She called for the establishment of safe zones for the Rohingya. Myanmar has not responded. - Zero influence - Hasina wants pressure on Myanmar to force it to take back a group that has been in Rakhine for generations. But neither Bangladesh nor the Western countries who have been shocked by events in Myanmar have any real clout with its de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi or the generals who hold the effective power. "The Myanmar army holds the key to resolve the crisis, in the immediate and short term," Ali Riaz, a professor of Illinois State University in the United States and an expert on Bangladesh-Myanmar relations, told AFP. "An extremist Buddhist nationalist political force has thrived in past decades in Myanmar," Riaz said. Bangladesh has "few effective instruments of statecraft at its disposal" to make Myanmar take back the refugees, according to Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington and a specialist on Southeast Asian security. No regional group has shown a desire to get involved either. There have been demonstrations in Indonesia and Malaysia for the Rohingya. Both are members with Myanmar of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "Bangladesh could try to work with Malaysia and Indonesia to pressure Myanmar through ASEAN. But that is not going to work. The Rohingya issue is very divisive within ASEAN," said Abuza. China and India are the keys to influencing Myanmar, but neither seems likely to step in. Both have supported the Myanmar government out of economic interest, said Patel at Chatham House. They "have investments in the country that they would not want to be undermined because of the current crisis." The Myanmar generals are not listening to anyone anyway, according to Abuza. "The Burmese military leadership has factored in the diplomatic costs of its actions. I think it is important to understand that they have been itching to do this for a long time," he said.
It was a tale of just two economies when the 13th Pyongyang International Trade Fair opened in the North Korean capital on Monday, with two-thirds of the exhibitors domestic firms, and almost all the others Chinese. Eight sets of progressively tighter United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes have left its economy progressively more isolated. The latest, passed earlier this month after its sixth atomic test -- which it said was a hydrogen bomb -- bans all joint ventures with North Korean entities, with just a few exceptions, and requires existing ones to be closed within 120 days. The only European firm at the show was Italian shipping company OTIM, which in 2001 was the first EU freight forwarder to open a representative office in Pyongyang. Initially business was good, said company president Mario Carniglia, but "then the sanctions came and it became more and more difficult". Now the firm mostly handles inbound humanitarian shipments under UN and European Union aid programmes, with its commercial cargoes "practically nil at this stage". Chinese customs inspections were becoming increasingly strict, a colleague added. Among the few North Korean items still being exported to Europe, said Carniglia, were spare parts for accordions, a musical instrument that is unusually popular in the North. "Just parts because if it is a complete accordion it is considered a luxury good and you cannot import it in Europe." Russian ambassador Alexander Matsegora told AFP that unlike in the past, there were no Russian companies taking part. "Maybe they have not much interest in this market." Some foreign firms were doing business with North Koreans, he said, but "most of those companies are of Chinese origin". - Cooking pots, health tonics - Organisers said there were 253 exhibitors at the fair, held in a cavernous hall on the outskirts of the capital, with 81 from overseas. Pride of place at the entrance went to an official Syrian stall displaying a small selection of famous Damascene Aghabani cloth and a few bars of green laurel soap from war-torn Aleppo. Cuba and Indonesia were the only other embassies to take exhibition space. Most of the Chinese firms were traders bringing cooking implements and domestic appliances to sell to retail buyers, rather than manufacturers looking for long-term deals or state-owned enterprises promoting infrastructure projects. Li Likun, of Shenyang Xiangbo Trading Company, offered a selection of belts and electric massage machines. It was his fifth or sixth visit, he said, and business was good. "Every time I come here it's getting better and better." North Korea has quietly engaged in some market reforms under leader Kim Jong-Un, and Seoul believes it enjoyed its fastest growth since 1999 last year. However, officially it insists that it is sticking to the orthodoxy of Kim's father and grandfather Kim Jong-Il and Kim Il-Sung, the founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Buyers at the fair paid in US dollars and some products were aimed squarely at Pyongyang's growing middle class -- two bottles of New Zealand green-lipped mussel extract capsules supposed to help joints from Australian food supplements firm Koast cost $110. For now trade was "okay", said Kim Kum-Ran, from its local agent, "but it will get tougher". "I wish the Americans will stop torturing us with useless sanctions and recognise us as a nuclear state so that all trade can be done freely and there will be peace in the world." - Leadership 'under pressure' - The North does not publish any official trade statistics of its own, regarding them as a state secret -- shrouding the exact details of its commerce in mystery. But according to the Souths Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the North had exports of $2.8 billion and imports of $3.7 billion last year, with China accounting for more than 90 percent. "The trade with China of course is continuing and ongoing," said Peter Ross, who works for an EU development programme in Pyongyang. "That is a fact and a reality that sustains most of the business here." Sanctions, he said, were "definitely making it more and more difficult for this country" particularly against a backdrop of popular expectations for growing personal prosperity. "That's a challenge which the government has to meet," he added. "Sanctions are making this harder and harder, so in that indirect way they are putting pressure on the government."
PARIS (Reuters) - French far-right leader Marine Le Pen congratulated the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on its breakthrough result in Sunday's German parliamentary election. "Bravo to our AfD allies for this historic showing! It is a new sign that the people of Europe are waking up," tweeted Le Pen, the leader of France's National Front who reached the run-off of the French presidential election in May. According to early projections, the AfD was set not only to enter the national parliament for the first time, but to become Germany's third-biggest party with 13.5 percent. It is the first time that the far-right has been represented in the parliament for more than half a century. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
DUBAI/ISTANBUL/ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iran halted flights to and from Kurdish regions in northern Iraq on Sunday in retaliation to a plan by the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to hold a referendum on independence. It also started wargames at the Kurdish border. The air embargo is the first concrete retaliatory measure against Monday's Kurdish referendum which is rejected by the government in Baghdad and by Iraq's powerful neighbours, Iran and Turkey. Iranian authorities stopped air traffic to the international airports of Erbil and Sulaimaniya, in Iraqi Kurdistan, upon a request from Baghdad, Fars News Agency said. Tehran and Ankara fear the spread of separatism to their own Kurds. Iran also supports Shi'ite groups who have been ruling or holding key security and government positions in Iraq since the 2003 U.S-led invasion which toppled Saddam Hussein. Turkey, meanwhile, said on Sunday its aircraft launched strikes against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq's Gara region on Saturday after spotting militants preparing to attack Turkish military outposts on the border. "Turkey will never ever tolerate any status change or any new formations on its southern borders," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. "The KRG will be primarily responsible for the probable developments after this referendum. The KRG has resisted calls to delay the referendum by the United Nations, the United States and Britain who fear it could further destabilize the region. The vote, expected to result in a comfortable "yes" to independence, is not binding and is meant to give the KRG a legitimate mandate to negotiate the secession of the autonomous region with Baghdad and the neighbouring countries. The KRG says the vote acknowledges the Kurds' crucial contribution confronting Islamic State after it overwhelmed the Iraqi army in 2014 and seized control of a third of Iraq. Iranian State broadcaster IRIB said military drills, part of annual events held in Iran to mark the beginning of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq, were launched in the Oshnavieh border region. The war games will include artillery, armored and airborne units, it said. Clashes with Iranian Kurdish militant groups based in Iraq are fairly common in the border area. INSURGENCY On Saturday, Turkish warplanes destroyed gun positions, caves and shelters used by PKK militants, a military statement from Ankara said. Turkey's air force frequently carries out such air strikes against the PKK in northern Iraq, where its commanders are based. Turkey's parliament voted on Saturday to extend by a year a mandate authorising the deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq and Syria. The PKK launched an insurgency in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict. It is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The U.S. embassy in Iraq cautioned its citizens that there may be unrest during a referendum, especially in territories disputed between the KRG and the central government like the multi-ethnic oil-rich region of Kirkuk. Three Kurdish Peshmerga fighters were killed and five wounded on Saturday when an explosive device blew up near their vehicle south Kirkuk, security sources said. The explosion happened in Daquq, a region bordering Islamic State-held areas, the sources said. Islamic State's "caliphate" effectively collapsed in July, when a U.S.-backed Iraqi offensive, in which the Peshmerga took part, captured their stronghold Mosul, in northern Iraq. The group continues to control a pocket west of Kirkuk and a stretch alongside the Syrian border and inside Syria. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom and Daren Butler in Istanbul. Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Toby Chopra)
French President Emmanuel Macron's grand Europe plan could be stymied by Angela Merkel's disappointing election score, with the liberal party tipped to join her coalition rejecting his proposals for radical eurozone reform. On Tuesday, Macron will deliver a speech setting out his vision for Europe's future to an audience of French and foreign students at the Sorbonne university in Paris. The europhile French centrist had been waiting for the German election to put forward his proposals on how to re-energise the EU after last year's seismic Brexit vote. Since Sunday, he has spoken twice with Merkel, as well as with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. He also plans to consult the Italian and Spanish prime ministers before his speech, his office said. Presidential advisors say he will argue for a multi-speed EU, where ad hoc coalitions of willing states could move ahead together on key issues "without being held back by those who are opposed". He will also set out plans for EU-wide "democratic conventions" to give citizens more of a say in the functioning of a union widely seen as out of touch. But some of his proposals, particularly on eurozone integration, could prove a tough sell in post-election Germany. Merkel's Christian Union CDU/CSU bloc scored its worst result in decades, losing over a million votes to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), now the country's third-strongest party. The humbled chancellor now faces potentially lengthy coalition talks, during which Macron's EU wish list -- including a common budget, finance minister and parliament for the 19-member currency zone -- could be significantly whittled down. The pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) -- one of two parties seen as possible coalition partners for Merkel, along with the left-leaning Greens -- have already rejected Macron's proposals for a common budget for investments across the eurozone. "Providing money for French state spending or to compensate for Silvio Berlusconi's mistake is inconceivable for us and will be a red line," FDP leader Christian Lindner, who has been sharply critical of eurozone bailouts, said Sunday. A French government spokesman warned Monday of the rise of a "very violent, very hard, very radical far right" in Germany. But the presidency attempted to play down the threat to his wider reform plans. "We have four years of stable government in France and Germany ahead of us," a presidential advisor said. He noted that both the FDP and Greens with whom Merkel is tipped to form a three-way pact are pro-Europe, despite the liberals' reticence on bailouts. - 'Cart before the horse' - Macron has gone out of his way to build ties with Germany's leader of 12 years, visiting Berlin on his first foreign trip and pushing through labour reforms he sees as key to restoring France's credibility with Berlin. But his rash of announcements on European reform have caused some irritation in Berlin. "The debate launched by the French president is being followed with some exasperation in the chancellor's office," the conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper wrote at the weekend. "He talks about solutions before the question has even been properly discussed," the paper added, accusing him of "putting the cart before the horse". Germany is particularly wary about Macron's proposal to create a eurozone budget amounting to several percentage points of the bloc's GDP. Berlin estimates that this could amount to up to 300 billion euros, of which Germany -- the eurozone's biggest economy and chief bailout bankroller -- would have to pay the lion's share. Macron's idea of the eurozone being able to borrow money collectively is also acutely sensitive in Germany. Merkel has nonetheless been keen to support 39-year-old Macron as a bulwark against the eurosceptic, anti-migration National Front and a partner in the fight against populism post-Brexit. "There is a very strong realisation in Germany, in particular in Mrs Merkel's party, of the urgent need to do something," Helene Miard-Delacroix, a historian specialising in French-German relations at the Sorbonne, told AFP. burs-cb/kjl/js
The Philippines has banned companies from compelling women to wear high heels to work under a government order hailed by a labour group Monday as a victory against sexism and pain. The labour department order took effect on Sunday as the government took up the cudgels for long-suffering shopping mall clerks, hotel receptionists and flight attendants. Employers should implement the use of "practical and comfortable footwear" to improve the health of workers who stand for long periods, said the order, which applies to heels measuring 2.54-centimetres (one inch) or higher unless the employee chooses to wear them. "It's a form of torture. It's a form of oppression and slavery. Imagine having to endure that pain for eight to 10 hours a day," Alan Tanjusay, spokesman for the Associated Labor Unions, told AFP. "It's also a form of sexism because culturally employers say women wearing high heels look taller and sexier and are then more attractive, more effective in selling products. They don't know the women are suffering." The department order said female sales clerks and security guards who had been compelled to work in high heels suffered from sore feet, aching muscles and "hazardous" pressure on joints. "These (work shoes) should not pinch the feet or toes; are well-fitted and non-slipping; provide adequate cushion and support to the arch of the feet; either flat or with low heels that must be wide-based or wedge type," it said. The labour department also ordered companies to give these workers rest periods or seats to reduce the time they spend standing or walking. Tanjusay said unions lobbied the labour department last month following complaints from saleswomen, hotel receptionists and flight attendants. Malls are a mainstay in the Southeast Asian nation, mainly employing women as sales clerks, cashiers and so-called "promo girls". Most of these women are short-term contract workers, Tanjusay said. Under the department order female workers can still wear high heels if they prefer them, Tanjusay added.
After years of being washed, perfumed and fed in ancient Egypt, the statue of a revered Egyptian deity was given a proper burial with other "dead" statues more than 2,000 years ago, a new study finds.

Ancient Egyptians buried the statue of the deity Ptah  the god of craftsmen and sculptors  with other revered statues, including those of a sphinx, baboon, cat, Osiris and Mut, in a pit next to Ptah's temple.

The statue of Ptah had likely sat in the temple for years, but it and the other sacred objects were respectfully buried after they accumulated damage and were declared useless by the ancient Egyptians, the researchers said. [See Photos of the Ptah, Sphnix and Other Statues]

"We can consider that when a new statue was erected in the temple, this one [of Ptah] was set aside in a pit," said study co-researcher Christophe Thiers, director of the French-Egyptian Center for the Study of the Temples of Karnak. "The other artifacts were also previously damaged during their 'lifetime' in the temple, and then they were buried with the Ptah statue."

Archaeologists discovered the pit in December 2014 at Karnak, an Egyptian temple precinct, and spent about a month excavating its rich assemblage. The pit held 38 objects, including:

Fourteen statuettes and figurines of Osiris.

Eleven fragments of inlay from statues. The inlay included that of an iris, a cornea, a false beard, a cap, a strand of hair and an inlay plaque.

Three baboon statuettes (representing the god Thoth).

Two statuettes of the goddess Mut (one with hieroglyphic inscriptions).

Two unidentified statuette bases.

One head and one fragmentary statuette of a cat (Bastet).

One small fragmentary faience stele (a stone slab) recording the name of the god Ptah.

One head of a statuette of a man in gilded limestone.

One lower part of a statue of the seated god Ptah, sawn and repaired.

One sphinx.

One unidentified metal piece.

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The favissa contained 38 objects, including (starting at the top left and going clockwise) a male head made of gilded limestone, the lower part of the limestone statue of the god Ptah, a statuette of Osiris and a limestone sphinx. Copyright J. Maucor/CFEETK-CNRS-MoA; Copyright Antiquity

It appeared that the artifacts were buried in a certain order. After digging the pit, also known as a favissa (a cache of sacred objects that are no longer in use), the ancient Egyptians would have put down the lower part of Ptah's limestone statue. The statue was large, and it probably took two to three people to carry it, the researchers said.

Next to the statue, the Egyptians would have placed a wooden effigy of the god Osiris that had metal applique, including a beard and two feathers in its crown. Then, the other artifacts would have been distributed around these two artifacts, which were then covered with about 8 inches (20 centimeters) of backfill. This is where the ancient Egyptians placed a statue of a small limestone sphinx.

The pit was then covered with more backfill. At the top, the Egyptians placed a small male head made of gilded limestone, likely for protection, the researchers said.

The objects were made at different times, the researchers found. The statue of Ptah dates to the New Kingdom; the style of the sphinx supports a late Ptolemaic date; and the gilded head dates to the early Ptolemaic period, the researchers said. However, by studying the site's rock layers, the researchers found that the artifacts were buried by the temple's priests during the second half of the Ptolemaic period, between the second century B.C. and the middle of the first century B.C., the researchers wrote in the study. [7 Amazing Archaeological Discoveries from Egypt]

Rebirth awaits

The vast number of buried Osiris figurines and statues intrigued the archaeologists. Osiris was the god of fertility and of the dead in the underworld, but also of rebirth. It's possible the priests placed Osiris with Ptah because of his role in rebirth and regeneration, the researchers said.

"[Ptah] is waiting for rebirth," study lead researcher Guillaume Charloux, an archaeologist with the French-Egyptian Center for the Study of the Temples of Karnak, told Live Science. "It's protected by the sphinx. It's surrounded by the Osiris statues. We have the feeling here that it's waiting for rebirth, like mummies of pharaohs."

The study was published online today (Sept. 21) in the journal Antiquity.

Original article on Live Science.

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The visiting US commerce secretary told China's premier on Monday that the warm reception he received in Beijing "augurs very well" for Donald Trump's upcoming visit, amid tensions over trade and North Korea. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross met with Premier Li Keqiang at the headquarters of Communist Party leaders ahead of the US president's trip to China, which is expected to take place in November. "China and the United States are the largest trading partners with each other, so I think it is fair to say that our common interests far outweigh our differences and divergences," Li told Ross. "I hope your current visit will be conducive to further deepening the existing economic and trade relations between China and the United States," he said. Ross's visit comes a month after Trump ordered a trade investigation into China's intellectual property practices, which prompted Beijing to warn of potential retaliation. The world's two top economies have also been at odds over how to handle North Korea's nuclear threat, with Beijing repeatedly calling for peace talks and the United States pressing for massive economic pressure on China's ally. But Ross and Li only had praise for each other during the public portion of their meeting. "We have been greeted very warmly by your associates here during the two days that we've been in town and we think that augurs very well for the forthcoming visit between President Trump and President Xi (Jinping)," Ross told Li. He voiced hope that the meetings would result in "some very good deliverables" for the two presidents. Trump called Xi a "friend" for whom he has "great respect" after they met at the US leader's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in April. But relations have soured over North Korea since then, with Trump repeatedly pressing Xi to do more to squeeze Pyongyang. China has since agreed to a slew of United Nations sanctions against North Korea, including a new package of measures restricting some oil shipments following Pyongyang's sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif branded Washington "unreliable" Sunday in response to threats over the future of a nuclear deal with Iran. "What the United States is doing, in addition to being unpredictable -- which might sometimes work -- is proving that it is unreliable," Zarif told CNN. The deal, agreed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers -- the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany -- lifts economic sanctions put in place in 2005 in exchange for curbs to Tehran's nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is responsible for verifying that Iran meets the terms of the agreement. But since arriving in the White House, Donald Trump has attacked the deal on numerous occasions, vowing to tear it up. "Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it," he told the UN General Assembly Tuesday. The president cast further doubt over the deal after the Islamic republic tested a new medium-range Khoramshahr missile Saturday. "Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel. They are also working with North Korea. Not much of an agreement we have!" Trump tweeted. But Zarif brushed off the threat, saying Washington cannot act alone to end the agreement. "This is not a bilateral agreement," he told CNN's Fareed Zakaria. "It's not even a multilateral treaty. It's a Security Council agreement and the United States is a member of the Security Council." The foreign minister added that Donald Trump's certification of whether Iran is abiding by the deal -- due mid-October -- is an "internal procedure" that in itself does not endanger the agreement. "The only authority that has been recognized in the nuclear deal to verify is the IAEA," he said. But according to diplomats, "non-certification" by Trump would lead to re-imposition of sanctions and the "political death" of the agreement. Zarif said Iran will "consider its options" if Trump tells Congress on October 15 he believes it is not complying with the deal and it is not in US interests to stick by it. "Iran has a number of options, which include walking away from the deal and going back with greater speed with its nuclear program, which will remain peaceful -- but which will not address and accept the limitations that we voluntarily accepted over our nuclear program," he said.
A former model, whose conviction in a murder-for-hire case was overturned last year, says she was found guilty in the first place because her attractive appearance and sexy outfits turned jurors against her.

Tara Lambert, 34, of Ohio, was dressed to kill in court, donning five-inch stilettos, tight-fitting dresses and an eye-popping diamond ring as she faced felony charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated murder.

A black and white checkered dress Lambert donned during the trial sold out everywhere after she was pictured wearing it in court.

But Lambert believes her choice of courtroom attire may have negatively impacted the people who mattered most: the jury.

They were worried about my wardrobe rather than what was really going on, she told Inside Edition.

Lambert was accused of hiring a hit man to kill her husbands ex, Kellie Cooke.

Read: Man Who Accidentally Burned His Wife Leaves Her, Says He Has Nothing to Apologize For

She allegedly set up the hit during a meeting in a parking lot, unknowingly meeting with an undercover detective.

Nice to meet you, Lambert can be heard saying to the man in footage captured by a hidden camera.

What do you want done with her? the man asks.

Just put her in a chopper  like one of those lumberjack chopper things, she says.

The undercover officer responds, saying, I dont carry a lumberjack chopper, but "

Lambert cuts him off, saying: Oh, just kidding. Like, thats how much I hate her, though.

Police busted Lambert 20 minutes later.

She was stunned after investigators told her the hit man she met was a cop and everything she said had been recorded.

What? she says in a video recorded by police.

Yes.

During her trial, which took place outside Columbus, the jury heard that Lambert had 24 cosmetic surgeries during her career as a model.

She also believed she was portrayed unfairly by the media as a brainless, heartless, ex-model, she said.

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Read: Investigation Finds Disturbing Number of Massage Clients Inappropriately Touched Across the Country

Her outfits also apparently backfired.

Sometimes people focus on the wrong details and when they are confronted with those details day after day after day, sometimes what matters gets lost, her new attorney, Sam Shamansky, told Inside Edition.

It took the jury just 42 minutes to find her guilty.

Lambert was sentenced to seven years in the Marysville Reformatory for Women, a womens prison considered so tough it was featured on National Geographics Hard Time.

It was just traumatizing, Lambert said.

But she appealed, and in June, a judge overturned her conviction in light of an error made in the language of the indictment.

A conspiracy to commit aggravated murder charge requires prosecutors to state a specific overt act on Lamberts part.

Did she buy a gun, for example? The prosecutor had to spell out exactly what that underlying overt act was that contributed here, Shamansky told The Columbus Dispatch. The state did not do that.

Lambert, who is no longer married to her husband, was set free and it could be many months before she can be retried. Prosecutors are asking the Ohio Supreme court to reverse the decision which led to her release.

If she does go to trial again, Shamansky said his client will not be wearing designer duds during trial.

Juries pick up on things and when you are in a court of law you are not at a discotheque, he told Inside Edition. You ought to dress accordingly.

Watch: Third Trial's a Charm as Woman Is Convicted of Hiring Hit Man to Kill Husband

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Marine archaeologists have uncovered the wreck of a World War I German U-Boat off the coast of Belgium, thanks to a sharp-eyed reanalysis of sonar scans from an undersea survey that was carried out several years ago.

The discovery of the wreck was announced at a news conference on Tuesday (Sept. 19) by the governor of Belgium's West Flanders province, Carl Decaluwe. "It's quite amazing that we found something like this," he told reporters, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Archaeologists have identified the wreck as a Type UB-II submarine built by Germany during World War I, when up to 18 such vessels were based in occupied Belgian ports to carry out raids against British ships. [Sunken Treasures: The Curious Science of 7 Famous Shipwrecks]

Damage to the hull of the submarine suggests it sank after hitting a marine mine, say the discoverers. It's thought that the remains of the 23 crewmembers are still inside the vessel.

Marine archaeologist Tomas Termote, who made the first dives to the wreck in June, said the sub was first "discovered" by a government survey of Belgian waters in 2014, but was thought to be the wreck of a World War II landing craft, which are common in the area.

"[It] was already in the government database," Termote told Live Science, "but by analyzing the multibeam sonar scans, we realized it wasn't just a normal wreck."

Termote added that it became obvious from the scans that the wreck was a U-boat  "pointed at both ends, with a tower in the middle," he said.

The U-boat wreck is now entirely covered with weeds, anemones and barnacles after almost 100 years on the seafloor. Tomas Termote

Secret location

Termote and his dive team found the 88-foot-long (27 meters) submarine lying on its starboard (right-hand) side at a 45-degree angle, at a depth of about 90 feet (27 m).

The exact location of the wreck is being kept secret until it can be granted formal protection from looters under Belgian law, Termote said.

The wreck is now entirely covered with anemones, barnacles and weeds: "For a trained eye, it is easily recognizable as a U-boat, but to a layman it's just a big heap of iron," Termote said.

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The discovery was a surprise because there was no record of a German sub sinking at that location, he added.

"We did not expect another U-boat to be found in that specific area," Termote said. "I don't think anybody expected this, because one thinks almost all the [U-boat] wrecks are accounted for nowadays."

To date, 10 German U-boats have been found in Belgian waters, making this the 11th such discovery, he said. [Photos: British Warships from WWI and WWII Discovered Near Norway]

A squadron of 18 Type UB-II German U-boats were based in occupied Belgium during World War I. Tomas Termote/Archive

Although the sub's hull is mostly intact, heavy damage near the bow suggests it sunk after hitting a marine mine. One of the torpedo tubes, at the front of the vessel, had been blown away by the blast, Termote said.

"All the pieces are lying in the sand next to the wreck, so it must have been instantaneous," he said. "The explosion happened and it sank immediately."

Both of the remaining crew hatches were firmly closed, while the third hatch had been torn away, likely as the result of fishing activity since the vessel sank, Termote said.

Curiously, both of the periscopes on the wreck are bent at a forward angle, and Termote thinks this damage may have been caused when the U-boat was rammed near the surface by a British warship.

"One possibility is that [it] got rammed, and the British reported [it] was sunk," he said. "But [it] probably escaped underwater, and got hit by a mine just before reaching friendly waters."

The U-boat hull is mostly intact and probably still holds the remains of the 23 crewmembers that were onboard when the vessel sank, according to marine archaeologist Tomas Termote. Tomas Termote

War grave

Termote and his colleagues have made two dives to the wreck and hope to make another dive to try to learn the vessel's official identification number.

"It's still a bit of a mystery," he said. "There are three possible identification numbers which it could be, so I hope to find out in the next diving session."

Termote said identifying the wreck may be challenging because the only way to find out the number is from markings on the propeller.

He added that the governor of West Flanders province, who authorized the dives to the wreck, had notified the German ambassador of the discovery.

"The Germans will want to know which U-boat number it is, and we will try to get that solved so they can inform the families [of the crew]," Termote said. "I hope we can do a ceremony next year on the wreck site with the German Navy, to pay our respects."

Termote said it's unlikely that Germany would want to salvage the U-boat or recover any of the remains. "It's almost full of sand and silt, and you'd have an enormous job to suck out the sand. And at a depth of 90 feet it would take many dives and many divers to do that," he said.

"So, salvaging the wreck would be a very costly affair, and I think the best solution is to try to identify her and then leave the crew to rest there," Termote said.

Original article on Live Science.

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HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean police arrested activist pastor Evan Mawarire of the #ThisFlag movement as he stepped down from his pulpit, accusing him of subversion for a series of social media posts that charged Robert Mugabe's government had wrecked the economy, his lawyer told Reuters on Sunday. Lawyer Harrison Nkomo said Mawarire was arrested and charged with subversion, which carries a maximum term of life imprisonment, for a Facebook video he posted on Saturday lambasting the government over its economic policies. Over the last few days, shortages of basic goods and fuel have emerged, resulting in panic buying by consumers. Prices of imported products are also going up, which businesses blame on shortages of foreign exchange. Mawarire has been at the heart of a protest movement against Mugabe's 37-year rule. In 2016, he led a stay-at-home demonstration that resulted in the first of his now three arrests for what the state says are attempts to overthrow the government. Mawarire was already due to face trial of subversion over the 2016 protests at a High Court trial on Monday. "He is due to appear in court tomorrow on subversion charges emanating from last year. So we really don't know how the state will proceed," said Nkomo. Press and social media reports, including Mawarire's post, on shortages of basic goods and foreign exchange were meant to cause alarm in the country, said Ignatius Chombo, minister of home affairs, the ministry in charge of the police, said in a statement. "Government is closely monitoring the press and social media reports in question with a view to taking decisive action to deal a telling blow to the perpetrators of the crime in terms of the laws of the country's justice system," Chombo said. A statement on the website of the United States embassy in Harare published on Friday said it would be monitoring the pastor's trial, and called for "an end to arbitrary arrests and intimidation for political purposes." Mugabe, 93, has held power since independence from Britain in 1980. He is under mounting pressure from angry Zimbabweans, as well as his war veterans allies, who last year rebuked him as a manipulative dictator and called for him to step down. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Writing by Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by Larry King)
The Mail's censure shows which media outlets are biased on climate change

Posted on 25 September 2017 by dana1981

Back in February, the conservative UK tabloid Mail on Sunday ran an error-riddled piece by David Rose attacking Noaa climate scientists, who had published data and a paper showing that there was never a global warming pause. The attack was based on an interview with former Noaa scientist John Bates, who subsequently admitted about his comments:

I knew people would misuse this. But you cant control other people.

The UK press regulator, the Independent Press Standards Organization (Ipso) has now upheld a complaint submitted by Bob Ward of the London School of Economics. Ipso ruled that the Mail piece failed to take care over the accuracy of the article and had then failed to correct these significantly misleading statements, and the Mail on Sunday was required to publish the Ipso adjudication.

The Mails manufactured controversy

Essentially, Bates had expressed displeasure in the way the data from a Noaa paper had been archived at the organization. Rose and the Mail blew this minor complaint into the sensationalist claim that world leaders were duped into investing billions over manipulated global warming data. It would be hard to find a better example of fake news than this one. The piece included a grossly misleading chart that Nasa Goddard Institute for Space Studies director Gavin Schmidt described as a "hilarious screw up." In fact, the Noaa data and paper in question had already been independently verified by other researchers, and are in close agreement with global temperature data from other scientific groups.

And of course the paper itself had undergone rigorous peer-review prior to its publication in one of the worlds most highly-regarded scientific journals, Science. All signs pointed to the Noaa data and paper being based on sound science that had been reproduced and verified. But that didnt fit the preferred denialist narrative of Rose and the Mail on Sunday, so they weaved a conspiracy theory that then reverberated through the right-wing media echo chamber.

Misinformation spread through right-wing media outlets

Roses story seemed to have all the climate denial components that biased conservative media outlets crave. A lone wolf scientist whistleblowing his former colleagues with accusations of data manipulation for political purposes? Despite the glaring errors in the story that were immediately called out by climate scientists and reputable science journalists, this narrative proved irresistible to the conservative media: Breitbart, Fox News, Drudge Report, Rush Limbaugh, The Daily Caller, The Washington Times, and more ran with Roses story. Meanwhile, legitimate news outlets like The Guardian, The Washington Post, Carbon Brief, E&E News, Ars Technica, Science Insider, RealClimate, and numerous other science blogs quickly debunked Roses falsehoods.

The errors really arent surprising. Rose and the Mail have a long history of climate denial, including error-riddled stories on Arctic sea ice, Antarctic sea ice, human-caused global warming, even the very existence of global warming. And the Mail has such a long history of inaccuracies in general that Wikipedia editors consider it an unreliable source and banned its use. But Breitbart, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and other right-wing media outlets have no qualms with publishing inaccuracies from unreliable sources, as long as the story advances their climate denial agenda.

House (anti-)science committee echoed the Mail falsehoods

Lamar Smith (R-TX), the chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, has been attacking the Noaa scientists since they published their pausebuster paper in 2015. Roses piece was almost perfectly timed for one of Smiths frequent anti-climate science congressional hearings just two days later, but alas, by then reputable journalists had already soundly debunked the story. Smith could only plead with attendees to believe that the story may be more serious than you think.

As Ipso has verified, it wasnt.

Click here to read the rest
Targeta.k.a. Walmart for Democratsannounced today that it would increase the minimum wage it pays employees from $10 to $11 an hour next month, as it looks to recruit workers heading into the holiday shopping season. More tantalizingly, the company also promised to raise its pay floor to $15 an hour by 2020, thus ensuring the companys name will be mentioned in every argument you hear about the minimum wage for at least the next three years.

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Were investing to make sure that we recruit and retain the existing team, that we attract new team members, and, importantly, that we provide an exceptional service environment, Chief Executive Brian Cornell told reporters. It is unclear precisely how many of Targets 323,000 permanent employees will benefit from the hike, but it will apply to the 100,000 seasonal workers it plans to hire for the holidays.

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In some ways, its not a total surprise to see this move from a major retailer. A handful of major chains have been raising their entry-level wages over the last couple years to reduce worker turnover and help with hiring in a tightening labor market. The Gap led the pack by going to $10 an hour a few years back, while Ikea said it would set local pay rates based on MITs living wage calculator. Target itself raised its minimum to $10 last year to catch up to Walmart, which had already made the move to much fanfare.

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Meanwhile, a handful of states and citiesmost notably, California and New Yorkhave already passed $15 minimum wage laws that will force major retailers to adjust their business models in those places. Public policy has forced the industrys hand here, at least a bit.

Still, Targets announcement is fairly dramatic. To put it in context, Costco, a company regularly lauded for its generous pay, increased its minimum wage to $13 last year. The decision is especially striking coming from a company that, as the Wall Street Journal notes, is trying to pull itself out of a slump; its all-important Christmas sales tanked in 2016, and the stock has dropped 19 percent for the year. Target executives seem to think the pay bump will pay for itself through a more stable, efficient workforce, at least initially; the company didnt change any of its financial projections for the coming year, despite the added compensation costs. That feels a tad unrealistic, given that Walmart claims its own, comparatively modest wage increases have eroded its profits, but maybe Targets spreadsheets say otherwise. If the company can pull it off profitably, itll suggest thatcontra conventional wisdombig box retailers can actually compete on pay with the likes of Costco and Trader Joes. If that happens, Target will quickly become the labor movements favorite talking point.
Small Business Trends founder and publisher Anita Campbell was on the ground and saw first hand the devastation as Irma headed through Naples, Florida. Here is the first in a series of articles describing her experience.

When I saw the streetlight rocking back and forth a foot in either direction during Hurricane Irma, I realized first hand what it means to be in a ferocious storm.

Hurricane Irma passed right over our home in southwest Florida. I was glued to the window (with hurricane impact glass, so it was safe enough). I couldnt tear my eyes away. So I started filming and taking pictures.

Then after the fury, we experienced the calm eye of the hurricane. It was just like its portrayed in movies.

I never thought Id be writing a first hand account of hurricane Irma. But having survived it from Naples, Florida, near where it made its second U.S. landfall, Im now in a position to talk about it.

Two weeks later, the powers been restored. Were back in our home. We have mobile phone and internet connectivity once again. Weve cleaned up. Things are returning to normal  at least for us, although not for tens of thousands of Floridians who were harder hit.

Ive learned a lot about hurricanes  my very first. One of the things I learned is that news footage cant convey how truly disruptive a hurricane is. Oh, you get some sense of the blowing winds and rain during the storm. You see the flooding and damaged buildings afterwards.

But what news accounts cant really convey is the fear of worrying that your window, door or roof might blow off. News accounts cant possibly describe the anxiety of watching flood waters rise a foot, then two then three in a matter of minutes, and praying the water will subside before reaching your front door.

And the news cant convey the level of advance preparation required and the hard work cleaning up in the aftermath. Hurricane Irma consumed me for nearly three weeks nonstop when you add up the preparation, sheltering and clean-up afterwards.

For our family, of course, it was very disruptive. And as a small business owner, it was disruptive to be unable to focus on my business for weeks. Its like taking a surprise vacation from business  but without the fun and relaxation.

As I first started writing this opening account, wed taken refuge in a friends condo. We stuck it out for six days without power at my home and office following hurricane Irma, but then we couldnt take it any longer. With temperatures in the 90s, and near 100% humidity, it was very uncomfortable staying in a house without power and air conditioning in Florida. When our friends offered to let us stay in their vacation condo that had power and an internet connection, we jumped at the chance. With nothing to do except wait it out, I started writing.

Working Toward Hurricane Recovery

Thankfully, our home and home office escaped major damage.

We didnt incur enough property damage to even file an insurance claim. Some outdoor electrical outlets shorted out, we lost a metal part for the air conditioner, our mailbox was mangled, all our food spoiled in the freezer, and we had considerable landscape damage  that was it for us. Oh it cost us, but not enough to substantially exceed the deductible so we elected not to file an insurance claim.

It took us the better part of two days to stake up blown-over trees, and clean up dead bushes, flowers ripped out of the ground, and downed palm fronds. Cleaning every inch of the refrigerator which somehow managed to grow mold in a week without power, took another afternoon Id rather have spent doing something else. Restocking food and arranging for a new mailbox also took time.

And two weeks later were still discovering damage such as the torn-off air conditioner part. Not to mention, occasionally a neighbor will drop by with something-or-other thats been discovered in a corner of the yard, wondering who it belongs to.

We got off easy compared to others. We still have a house, with a roof, windows, and power.

Tens of thousands of residents and small businesses here in Florida lost everything and are still without power.

Their homes and business buildings were damaged or destroyed utterly. They are trying to put body and soul back together. They are now going through the laborious process to figure out where to live and get food and clothing, and apply for disaster recovery assistance so they can rebuild. It will be months before some of them achieve any sense of normality.

We were fortunate. I am grateful for having come through relatively unscathed.

See Also: Why Analytics Are the Hot Topic at This Small Business Conference

Yet its a bit surreal. When I headed to the airport for a business trip to New York this week, you couldnt even tell from the airport that a hurricane had been through the area. The Ft. Myers airport was filled with vacation travelers returning home! Just two weeks after a category 4 hurricane. Who would be taking a vacation in a place that just went through a hurricane, I wondered? Well apparently, more than a few people.

This week Ill be publishing a five part series based on my firsthand experience with Hurricane Irma, as a small business owner and as a person. This is the part 1. Parts 2 through 5 will be published each day this week.

Its my hope this account can help small business owners and citizens prepare for a hurricane. Whats even more important is to understand how to deal with whats even worse: the aftermath including the impact on infrastructure, supply chains and communications.

Our Florida public officials  from Governor Rick Scott all the way to local county and city officials  did an amazing job in the midst of a terrible natural disaster. They were visible and showed leadership that the citizens desperately needed. And the local weather reports and news outlets overall did well. Some large corporations, churches, non-profits and the Federal government also provided much needed support. My hat is off to them all.

As well prepared as I felt we were, its impossible to anticipate everything with a category 4 hurricane. I learned a lot. Although I hope to never go through another hurricane, there are things Id do differently next time. And Ive got a bit of advice for public officials and local news stations from the perspective of someone who spent days listening to a battery operated radio as our only source of information.

My footage showing the street light rocking during Irma accompanies this article. (The street light stayed up although its now leaning. A street light across the street ended up on the ground.) Future articles will have additional on-the-ground footage.

Check back each day this week for the following accounts in this 5-part series:

Hurricane Irma: My Experience in the Eye of a Hurricane

Hurricane Irma: Prepping Lessons for Families and Small Business Owners

Hurricane Irma: Problems to Expect in a Hurricane Aftermath

Hurricane Irma: What Id Do Differently (Why Evacuation is Not Always an Option)
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PPC  its a staple for most small and medium-sized businesses, in one form or another. And its no wonder: In their latest Economic Impact report, Google reports that businesses generally make an average of $2 in revenue for every $1 they spend on AdWords.

The entire process is getting smarter, too. Googles 2017 AdWords product roadmap heavily features AI and machine learning, which they say is critical to helping marketers analyze countless signals in real time and reach consumers with more useful ads at the right moments.

This new technology promised to help brands track and measure the customer journey across channels, which will help ads be more relevant and yield higher returns.

At the same time, the process is becoming increasingly complex. Google is expanding their available programs, with new formats, the mobile AMP for Ads initiative, better audience targeting, the new Purchases on Google program currently in beta, etc.

PPC Tips for Small Businesses

All of this can leave SMBs floundering, and not seeing the kind of returns they expected. But theres hope. Lets look at five specific areas that often turn into real pitfalls for SMBs, so you can run a strategic PPC campaign that moves the right needles.

Get Real About Ad Fraud

Ad fraud is a reality that SMBs must understand and protect themselves from. Business losses from ad bot fraud are expected to reach a staggering $16.4 billion in 2017, and its only going to escalate from there. The Wall Street Journal reported that a single Russian ad fraud operation was costing U.S. businesses upwards of $3 million a day.

While ad fraud is a somewhat well-known issue facing the online marketing world, its estimated that for every dollar marketers spend on online advertising, almost half of the value is lost due to ad fraud, writes Stephen Hoops in SEMRush. And while ad fraud can be committed by malicious software and human actions, the majority of ad fraud is carried out by automated bots.

Many ad campaign managers, especially in SMBs, rely on Google and other search engines to detect fraud on their behalf. I recently spoke to Clickcease Founder Yuval Haimov about why this might not be enough to protect your budget.

Yes, Google does detect click fraud, Haimov explains. Google will typically credit AdWords account hours (or more) after the fraud takes place. Meanwhile, your ad budget is quickly exhausted and your ad could be offline for hours.

The solution is to get a good fraud protection plan in place. For example, Clickcease offers real time reporting that highlights organic traffic versus suspicious clicks (shown in orange), automatically blocks them, and also automatically claims refunds from Google for any misspent budget dollars.

Considering how much of your ad budget is likely going to waste, the investment youll make in a service like this will be well worth it.

Go for the Long Tail Keywords for Best Results

Much of your success in PPC campaigns will come down to choosing the right keywords. And it can be a challenge to get it right.

The first think youll want to do is look at some long tail keywords, instead of draining your budget in a flash with the highly competitive short tails. As search algorithms and search users get more sophisticated, long tail keywords are getting 70% of search traffic.

For example, I would use the following long-tail keyword short black cocktail dresses instead of black dresses, explains Ronald Dod in this post on long tail keywords.

Take advantage of the free tools you can use to help undercover the right keywords. SEMrush has a great one that lets you type in your main keyword, then gives you a report of related keywords and matching phrases, along with current bid rates and search volumes.

One way for really understanding the complexities of all of this is Tim Soulos Ahrefs Guide to Keyword Research.

Soulo explains that your own keyword research will depend on several factors, including your websites authority, size, your goals, budget and the competitive landscape.

Its also important to remove underperforming keywords from your campaign as you go. You might find that only about 20% of your keywords are driving in the bulk of the revenue. Once your campaign runs for a few months, download the report and delete any that are delivering very low conversions. If you arent sure you want to delete them, you should at least put them on pause for a while, to avoid eating up your budget with wasted clicks.

Optimize Landing Pages

After protecting yourself against fraud, and getting the right keywords into your campaign, theres another place to check to see if youre wasting money.

Your campaign landing pages are often a place where the best planned campaigns can go off the rails. Several factors can come into play that will impact your bounce rate. Pop-up ads, poor page design, long load times and irrelevant content can all cause visitors to bounce. And those bounces hurt, because the cost of those clicks has already been charged to your account by the time they arrive.

Not sure what a decent bounce rate should be? Try checking your own bounce rate against your industrys benchmark, using Googles benchmarking tool. If you find its higher than it should be based on your industry or niche, the following fixes might help:

Make sure the content is highly relevant to the keyword.

Check your page load speed and take the recommended steps to improve it.

Get rid of pop-up ads; this is often a reason for fast bounces.

Make sure any links on your page open in a new window.

If youre doing lead gen on your site, make sure you optimize your sign-up forms as well.

Continue to monitor your bounce rate and tweak those pages until it improves and at least meets  but ideally beats  your industry benchmark.

Get Your Budget Right

The first step in setting your PPC budget is to understand your goals. How much do you expect to earn from new leads? What is the expected lifetime value of the customers you hope to gain? Understanding the end game will help you decide how much to spend to drive those clicks.

Youll also want to take steps to avoid blowing through your budget too fast. This usually happens when your keywords arent specific enough (see above choosing the right keywords). Make sure to turn off the broad match option in your campaign settings, to avoid getting less targeted and less relevant traffic.

Also consider setting up some negative keywords. Adding these to your campaign will prevent your ad from being triggered by a certain word or phrase. The classic example of this is the word free. If you do not give free samples, free trials, or free downloads, for instance, you might not want your ad to show when someone includes free in their search. You can do the same for certain industry terms that are close, but not a good match, to what you offer.

At the end of the day, you have to spend enough to make an impact. It can be hard to convince yourself to do this before having any proof that it will work, but its a double-edged sword: You have to put a big enough commitment into to know if youll be getting a reasonable return.

Monitor, Test, Tweak

Finally, as in all marketing and ad campaigns, you must be disciplined about monitoring results and tracking ROI. Its not easy: Hubspots State of InBound 2017 report shows that proving the ROI of marketing activities is among the top challenges business face:

Again, it goes back to understanding your goals. Are you looking for leads? You should be measuring how well they are converting. Looking for direct sales? Check revenue from those clicks.

PPC can be tough to get right, and ROI is also not the easiest thing to get a handle on.

In paid search there are a lot of rough Adwords accounts out there, writes Joanna Lord in MOZ. Youve seen them Im sure. I know Ive worked on them. We get brought in to assess the situation and make some big decisions around whether an account has potential or whether it would be better just to start fresh.

This is one of the most common questions we get asked  how am I doing? Lord continues. Moz recommends the AdWords Performance Grader, a free, quick and insightful tool that will help make sense of it all.

In spite of the ad fraud, the challenges and the discipline required to do it right, PPC still has good potential for most SMBs. But the potential pitfalls can cost you, in a big way. With some sound strategy and the right technical support, youll soon be able to maximize your ROI.
All of the damage and chaos created by hurricanes Harvey and Irma in recent weeks have highlighted the need for small businesses to be prepared in the case of a natural disaster. Up to 40 percent of small businesses never recover after a natural disaster. And while dealing with those situations is never easy, having a plan can make it easier for you to navigate your business through the process.

Small Business To Dos to Survive a Disaster

Since there are so many different factors to consider, Small Business Trends spoke with some experts who offered tips on various aspects of disaster preparedness and recovery. Here are 10 tips that can help your business survive a disaster.

Create Drills for Potential Disaster Scenarios

James R. Bailey, Professor and Stacy and Jonathan Hochberg Fellow of Leadership Development at the George Washington University School of Business, said in an email to Small Business Trends, Advance planning require scenario forecasts. Considering every possibility, no matter how unlikely, should be entertained, rehearsed, and drilled.

Back Up All Important Records in the Cloud

According to Kevin Miller, CMO of business expense management software Neat, the best possible option for small businesses is to keep important documents in a cloud solution that also organizes your records and makes them searchable. But its also acceptable for small businesses to use a simpler cloud solution. Or, if you must keep hard copies of certain documents, keep them in a separate location or a fire and flood proof safe.

Get a Second Opinion on Insurance Coverage

Having the right insurance coverage can make a huge difference in your businesss ability to successfully make it through a natural disaster. For that reason, its paramount that you have coverage that doesnt include gaps. Jeff Dudan, CEO of mold and water damage cleanup company AdvantaClean, said in a phone interview with Small Business Trends that small businesses should really have an agent that specializes in protecting businesses. And it also cant hurt to get a second opinion and reexamine your coverage annually in case you might need to make any updates.

During the Disaster, be Sure to Act Decisively

Once youre actually facing a disaster situation, the time for planning is over. And its time for you to actually take action. In that case, it might be necessary for you to adjust your leadership style.

Bailey explains, Theres a real difference between management and leadership. In calm times, a steady hand is best. Level, analytic, measured. Management is the order of the day. But in a crisis, quick and decisive action is called for. Consensus is usually the best path, but consensus takes time. In a disaster  however construed  time is of the essence. Strong and forceful and, sometimes, uncompromising, leadership rules the day.

Assess Any Damages to Your Business Before Resuming Normal Operations

Once the disaster is past, Dudan cautions, when assessing damages make sure your business location is actually safe before re-entering. That means taking a look at the foundation of the building, ensuring that water has receded and looking out for any broken electrical wires. Be sure the building is safe before asking your employees to return.

Make the Physical Health and Well Being of Your Team a Top Priority

Its also a good practice to invest in some protective equipment, include eye protection and ventilation masks, especially if there might be mold or other water damage in the building. Additionally, Dudan says that it can be easy for people doing cleanup after disasters to get overworked and fatigued. So he recommends making sure you have enough snacks and bottled water on hand, as well as scheduling regular breaks.

Be Sure About Filing a Claim Before Contacting Insurance Companies

If your location has significant damage, youll of course want to contact your insurance company as quickly as possible to file a claim. However, if youre dealing with some minor damage and are unsure about filing a claim or not, Dudan said its best to price out your options before contacting your insurance company. Contacting insurance companies about an issue can count as a claim on your coverage and impact your future rates even if you decide to take care of the problem yourself.

He said, Your primary responsibility is to take reasonable means to mitigate any further damage to the building or property. So if youve hired a restoration professional, then youve acted reasonably. Just dont unreasonably delay the process and be timely and communicative and keep good records.

Keep Track of All Disaster Related Expenses

Throughout the recovery process, you also need to keep track of all peripheral expenses for your records, especially if youre dealing with insurance claims. This doesnt just mean tracking your actual repair expenses. You should also track things like the hours youre paying employees to do cleanup work rather than their regular duties, food and water youre providing for workers and sales that your business has lost during the recovery period.

Give Yourself Time to Recover Records

From there, youll need to get to work on recovering your records and getting back to your everyday operations. Even if you have backup records, getting re-organized can take time. So especially if youre dealing with a disaster right around or before tax season, Miller recommends applying for an extension to give yourself some breathing room. The IRS often grants extensions to businesses that have been impacted by disasters. So this gives you more time to get organized while still dealing with all of the chaos that comes with recovering from a natural disaster.

Reach Out to Banks and Vendors

If you have lost any important records or missed any payments, Miller also suggests reaching out to your bank and your vendors to recover that important information. You can request virtual or hard copies of your financial records, contracts, invoices and other important documents. This should help you build up a pretty decent base of records. You can also work with your vendors to see about extensions for payments or payment plans to help you manage your expenses while you deal with recovery efforts.
As businesses grow, travel tends to become more of a fixture. However, with business travel, risks are involved, and managing travel risks as best as possible is essential. Many companies have developed a travel risk management plan as the business grows. If youre looking to keep traveling employees safe while also protecting your business  thats why travel risk management is crucial.

What is Risk Management in Business Travel?

Risk management in business travel can encompass many different elements. Risk management aims to minimize the impact of unforeseen events as much as possible and keep business travelers safe through a well-designed communication plan honoring the duty of care.

For an international organization where traveling abroad is necessary, these measures ensure that potential travel risks are planned for, and there is a structured approach toward employee safety, security, and organizational resilience.

Examples of dangers while traveling could include:

Civil unrest

Political instability

Severe weather

Terrorist attacks

Disease outbreaks

Major incidents regarding safety

Sudden travel warnings

Employee health incident

Crime incidents

Any other potential threats and risks

Extra Factors to Consider with Travel Risks

When it comes to managing risk and performing risk assessments, identifying the type of risk is just one aspect of business continuity and employee safety. If there is a frequent travel-related risk, such as business trips to high-risk countries, companies must dedicate internal resources to ensuring employee safety.

As a starting point, businesses should consider additional safety measures such as medical evacuation, political risk, and travel insurance. However, you may also need to consider training employees on how to deal with a medical emergency and emergency response training. In addition, you may need to include other travel safety measures, such as an emergency communications process and emergency contact information based on travelers locations.

What Should a Travel Risk Management Program Contain?

A comprehensive travel risk management program has two goals: Protecting employees from high risks where possible and ensuring business continuity. There are many resources to help design a travel risk assessment and program. Well look at some of the core features a corporate travel risk assessment and the program should have:

Create clear business travel policies for employees: The first step is to create clear guidelines for international travel that employees must follow. This includes outlining potential risks, critical security information, and how to protect themselves in their travel destination based on the situation. Real-time information sources: Emergency situations are never cut and dry, and travel plans can change in the blink of an eye. Ensure that processes for controlling travel and approving travel take into account threat intelligence and other real-time information sources for up-to-date travel advice. Clear communication: As situations change, employees must be armed with as much information as possible pre-trip to protect themselves and the company. Outline the companys duty of care, security measures in place, and how to contact other members of the organization in case travelers face emergencies during the trip. Official advice: Include any government advice, such as travel advisories and resources that travelers can consult. You can also use resources such as the Global Business Travel Association to develop a holistic policy.

3 Travel Risk Management Tips that Mitigate Risks

Risk management is about protecting the company and the employee, and it can be challenging to balance the two entirely. Well go through some key tips to consider when designing a program for a business trip to keep in mind.

READ MORE: Travel Safety Tips for Women

1. Create or Reconfigure Your Travel Management Program

Consider your organizational structure and how that relates to risk management. Make it as streamlined and straightforward as possible for employees to understand when embarking on a business trip. Your travel management program needs to address risk from pre-trip planning and destination until company employees are back on native soil. An all-encompassing policy ensures that the company is protected in the face of unforeseen events, including employee safety, data preservation, and security measures.

You can appoint designated travel managers who are in charge of employee security, well-being and managing travel risks as they arise during employee travel. Also, ensure that employees have access to comprehensive health coverage during travel and resources to help them monitor constantly evolving situations during an emergency. You can also provide additional information on how to travel with company devices and equipment and any data concerns that must be kept in mind.

2. Build Out Your Travel Risk Management Strategy

Your strategy will largely depend on which destinations employees are going to and accounting for changes in the near future. But key points to consider include information security, operational resilience, and employee protection. In addition, employee protection and how the company functions in case of significant threats and risks must be considered.

A risk assessment framework before travelers leave for their trip enables companies to enforce travel risk management policies more easily. Consider using broader business travel industry standards such as the ISO 31030:2021  Travel risk management  Guidance for organizations to design your strategy.

3. Use Digital Technology to Make Your Risk Management Plan More Effective

Luckily with so much technology in place, there are more resources than ever when it comes to risk mitigation. Within the travel manager role, there should definitely be processes in place where employees do regular check-ins with wider teams and provide GPS data access on work devices to ensure they can be found easily in case of an emergency. Depending on the number of employees traveling, there can also be measures in place for incident reporting and real-time updates.

Places Employees Can Get Help During Emergencies

As part of travel risk management, employees should be aware of emergency resources they can contact as part of the companys duty of care strategy and manage travel risks.

If employees need medical care or there are natural disasters, they should get in touch with local embassies and/or authorities as their first step to get help. They should also be made aware of local and national organizations that can help them, as well as any company resources the company may be able to provide in case of an emergency.

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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.

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Ecopetrol S.A. operates as an integrated energy company. The company operates through four segments: Exploration and Production; Transport and Logistics; Refining, Petrochemical and Biofuels; and Electric Power Transmission and Toll Roads Concessions. It engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas; transportation of crude oil, motor fuels, fuel oil, and other refined products, including diesel, jet, and biofuels; processing and refining crude oil; distribution of natural gas and LPG; sale of refined and petrochemical products; supplying of electric power transmission services; design, development, construction, operation, and maintenance of road and energy infrastructure projects; and supplying of information technology and telecommunications services. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 9,127 kilometers of crude oil and multi-purpose pipelines. It also produces and commercializes polypropylene resins and compounds, and masterbatches; and offers industrial service sales to customers and specialized management services. It has operations in Colombia, the United States, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, South America, and internationally. The company was formerly known as Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos and changed its name to Ecopetrol S.A. in June 2003. Ecopetrol S.A. was incorporated in 1948 and is based in Bogota, Colombia.
Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. provides natural gas compression services and equipment to the energy industry in the United States. It fabricates, manufactures, rents, and sells natural gas compressors and related equipment. The company primarily engages in the rental of compression units that provide small, medium, and large horsepower applications for unconventional oil and natural gas production. As of December 31, 2021, the company had 2,023 natural gas compression units in its rental fleet with 418,041 horsepower. The company also engages in the design, fabrication, and assembly of compressor components into compressor units for rental or sale; engineers and fabricates natural gas compressors; and designs and manufactures a line of reciprocating compressor frames, cylinders, and parts. In addition, it is involved in the design, fabrication, sale, installation, and service of flare stacks and related ignition and control devices for the onshore and offshore incineration of gas compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gases. Further, the company offers customer support services for its compressor and flare sales business; and exchange and rebuild program for small horsepower screw compressors. Its primary customers are exploration and production(E&P) companies that utilize compressor units for artificial lift applications; E&P companies that focuses on natural gas-weighted production; and midstream companies. Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Midland, Texas.
Jellyfish has been construed to be one of Earths first and most primitive animal and latest study on the activities of these ancient animals reveal that even they need sleep that too without a brain. Sleep is a complex activity that includes REM (Rapid Eye Movement) which is the time when we dream. Performing this action without a brain is something that seemed impossible up until now.

According to a demonstration held by scientists on Thursday, a primitive type of jellyfish called Cassiopea goes to sleep every night. Apart from this, sleep has been confirmed in other invertebrates such as worms and fruit flies. The Jellyfish is the most evolutionarily primitive ancient animal that is subjected to sleep at night.

Ravi Nath, a biologist from the California Institute of Technology, explained, sleep is one of the most ancient behaviors amidst animal kingdom which is deeply rooted within their lineage. The results of the study suggest that even those animals which lack a centralized nervous system require sleep for sustaining life.

When we take a look at the origin of Cassiopea Jellyfish, it has swum the oceans of Earth for at least 600 million years now. Upon comparison, Dinosaurs appeared roughly 230 million years ago, and humans started walking the Earth only 300,000 years ago. It makes the Jellyfish such a primitive creature which raises hundreds of questions about the origin of sleep and its purpose.

The study was published in the journal Current Biology and was lead by Nath who further stated that it is not yet known to us whether sleep is just limited to animals or goes deep into the microbial community.

Sleep is a task which is genetically encoded into our behavior. Genes and neural circuits interact to generate the state of sleep. It can be hard to demonstrate the sleep behavior in the microbial community, but it is highly possible that the sleep state we know of may have been co-opted from the period of passiveness in organisms as diverse as plants, bacteria, and fungi.

Although they lack brain, spine or central nervous system, Cassiopea Jellyfish are among the first animals to have developed neurons/ nerve cells. Cassiopeia thrives in the bright, shallow, tropical waters of the Pacific and Western Atlantic oceans. They survive by eating plankton and measure about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in diameter. They have been named the upside-down jellyfish as they lie on the sea floor in an inverted position inside the water with their tentacles facing upward.

The results of this study have been concluded in the Cassiopea Jellyfish via three important sleep criteria which are, periods of decreased activity which is called behavioral quiescence, a reduced response to external stimuli and an increased sleep drive after being sleep deprived. The study did not include whether the Jellyfish are subjected to dreaming or not.

Last year, NASA scientists have taken a breathtaking image of jellyfish-shaped Nebula using Chandra X-ray Observatory In the image we can clearly see a gigantic yellow coloured jellyfish floating in the dark sky along with millions of twinkling stars.

See Also:

Award Winning Jellyfish photo at National Geographic

The biggest and the smallest animals at risk of extinction

Aliens Hints Their Existence, Scientists Discover Cosmic Rays From Far Galaxy
Watch two asteroid love buds with come like features as seen by NASA Hubble

The US space agency, NASAs Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has uncovered a mysterious object present in the asteroid belt that has features of both, an asteroid as well as a comet. Astronomers have spotted two asteroids that orbiting each other just like love buds but exhibit features of a comet like a bright halo of material, called a coma, and a long tail of dust.

Earlier astronomers thought that the strange object is only a single asteroid. However, as the asteroid named 300163 (2006 VW139) made its closest approach to the Sun back in September 2016, the Hubble Space Telescope has snapped crisp images which revealed that it was actually not one, but two asteroids of almost the same mass and size, orbiting each other at a distance of 60 miles.

Astronomers first discovered the asteroid 300163 (2006 VW139) in November 2006 under NASAs Spacewatch program. Another NASA program called Pan-STARRS also spotted the asteroid, but found comet-like properties and named it as 288P. This makes the object the first known binary asteroid that is also classified as a main-belt comet.

The more recent Hubble observations revealed ongoing activity in the binary system. We detected strong indications for the sublimation of water ice due to the increased solar heating  similar to how the tail of a comet is created, explained team leader Jessica Agarwal of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany.

The combined features of the binary asteroid  wide separation, near-equal component size, high eccentricity orbit, and comet-like activity  also make it unique among the few known binary asteroids that have a wide separation. Understanding its origin and evolution may provide new insights into the early days of the solar system. Main-belt comets may help to answer how water came to a bone-dry Earth billions of years ago.

The team estimates that 2006 VW139/288P has existed as a binary system only for about 5,000 years. The most probable formation scenario is a breakup due to fast rotation. After that, the two fragments may have been moved further apart by the effects of ice sublimation, which would give a tiny push to an asteroid in one direction as water molecules are ejected in the other direction.

The fact that 2006 VW139/288P is so different from all other known binary asteroids raises some questions about how common such systems are in the asteroid belt. We need more theoretical and observational work, as well as more objects similar to this object, to find an answer to this question, concluded Agarwal.

The research is presented in a paper, to be published in the journal Nature this week.

Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., in Washington, D.C.

The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and since then it is the largest telescope in space. HST has helped scientists in exploring the deepest corners of the universe and has beamed back millions of stunning shots in its entire career. However, HST will be replaced by the James Webb Telescope in 2018 as it has thrice larger lens when compared to HST.

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Mars has always been the centre of attraction for many researchers and scientists. And recently scientists have discovered some astonishing facts about the interaction of comet Siding Spring with Mars that took place three years ago. On October 19, 2014, Comet C/2103, known as the Siding Spring came very close to the red planet and this encounter was defined as the closest encounter by a comet in the recorded history.

At its closest approach, comet Siding Spring was only 90,000 miles away from Mars, and this distance is measured to be one-third of the total distance between our Earth and its Moon. At the time of interaction, the tail of the comet dumped heavy debris towards the thin atmosphere of Mars, and to observe this exciting meteor shower event, various space agencies coordinated multiple spacecraft. The meteor shower was the largest in the recorded History.

But now scientists have found out that the Sun was also involved in this special event. It had actually launched a very powerful and intense coronal mass ejection (CME) towards Mars just 44 hours before the comet interaction. Actually, CME is a giant cloud of solar plasma drenched with magnetic field lines that are blown away from the Sun during strong, long-duration solar flares and filament eruptions.

During a special session of the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2017 in Riga, Latvia, many eminent scientists told that the CME coming out of the sun resulted in significant disturbances in the upper atmosphere of Mars and thus complicated the analysis of the data.

Beatriz Sanchez-Cano of the University of Leicester informed that the comet interaction with Mars was one of the most exciting events as at that time Mars was literally engulfed by the coma (comets outer atmosphere) for many hours. But when the data of the closest comet interaction with Mars was studied closely, it was found out that the CME interaction by the Sun with Mars complicated the analysis process. Also as at that time Mars was at the peak of its dust season, hence scientists were not able to get a clearer picture of real cometary effects on Mars. But the close encounter of Comet Siding Spring with Mars was a very interesting event as this type of rare event happens only once in every 100,000 years.

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Mysteries dark side of Venus stun scientists!
(Left) Lego modules with three different shapes (heart, square, and circle) with the same and different teeth. Scale bar is 5 mm. (Right) Flexibility of an assembled device with Lego-electronics. The LEDs are on where epoxy was applied and off where there is no epoxy. Credit: Shaikh et al. 2017 Wiley-VCH

(Tech Xplore)One of the biggest challenges in the drive to miniaturize electronic devices is the difficulty in aligning and assembling the increasingly tiny electronic components with the necessary precision, which is challenging even for robots. In a new study, researchers have developed a method for converting integrated circuits into "Lego-electronics," whose simple lock-and-key design could ease the manufacturing process, enhance the production rate, and reduce the failure rate of the micro-scale interconnects.

To demonstrate the simplicity of assembling the Lego-electronics, the researchers have shown that the Lego-modules can not only be assembled by robots, but also by a blindfolded person, suggesting that the technology could open up work opportunities in the electronics industry for individuals who are visually impaired.

The researchers, led by Muhammad M. Hussain at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, demonstrate the Lego-electronics in an upcoming issue of Advanced Materials Technologies.

"The demonstration decisively increases throughput and yield in CMOS manufacturing systems, especially the emerging area of flexible electronic system production," Hussain said. "By providing geometrical identities to modules, we have demonstrated that a blind person can also assemble it, which may lead to the disruption in employment of blind personnel in the manufacturing and fabrication industrytraditionally believed to have no room for blind individuals."

As the researchers explain, most conventional integrated circuits all have the same geometry and are connected by large numbers of tiny pins on the sides of the devices, which require very precise alignment in order to fit together properly. However, this alignment is a complex process, and even a single interconnect failure may result in overall system failure.

By comparison, the new Lego-electronics have two-layer geometrical shape recognition: the integrated circuits themselves have a unique shape to allow for quick identification, and the devices also have different teeth designs so that they bind only with complementary host sites. Here the researchers demonstrated the lock-and-key concept with hearts, circles, and squares, for devices with dimensions of 3 mm x 3 mm x 0.25 mm, which is the approximate size of a typical integrated circuit.

In experiments with early prototypes, the researchers found that it was necessary to apply light pressure to the Lego-modules in order to ensure that the connection was tight enough to light up an LED, or otherwise apply a microdrop of epoxy at the binding site to ensure the connection.

The researchers also showed that the Lego-electronics can be assembled either by hand or by a robotic pick-and-place tool. To demonstrate robotic assembly, the researchers programmed the robot to identify the component geometries and teeth shapes of the Lego-modules. The robot then achieved a 100% success rate of Lego-module placement, both with and without the epoxy.

Further, the researchers showed that the Lego-modules also have the potential for flexibility when fabricated on flexible substrates. The researchers showed that the devices can undergo extreme bending and retain their functionality when epoxy was used.

While the Lego-modules can be fabricated as original components, the researchers also demonstrated a method for converting existing integrated circuits into Lego-modules. This process involves laser etching a specific pattern on the back of the integrated circuits, creating Lego teeth.

The researchers expect that the Lego-module concept has the potential for widespread adoption, and could one day be used to assemble everything from wearable electronics, flexible displays, health monitoring systems, electronic paper, and an endless variety of sensors that are predicted to play a prominent role in the "internet of everything."

In the future, the researchers plan to investigate how the Lego-modules can be self-assembled.

"The next stage can be to demonstrate the self-assembly process of these modular components," Hussain said. "Guiding the modules to their binding sites using fluidic agitation or surface-tension-driven self-assembly may eliminate the necessity of manual handling of individual modules as well increase the throughput."

More information: Sohail F. Shaikh, Mohamed T. Ghoneim, Rabab R. Bahabry, Sherjeel M. Khan, and Muhammad M. Hussain. "Modular Lego-electronics." Advanced Materials Technologies. To be published.

 2017 Tech Xplore
Policy Trends

Poll: Academic Achievement Less Valuable than Career Prep

Academic achievement is highly over-rated  at least to many Americans. The U.S. public would like to see their education dollars to go into programs that support career preparation and soft skills while giving a thumbs-down to vouchers and standardized testing.

Those are the results from the latest PDK Poll of the Publics Attitudes Toward the Public Schools, which surveyed randomly selected 1,588 adults by phone in English or Spanish earlier this year. The goal: to understand the broader trends of U.S. opinion on public education. The poll is financed by the PDK Educational Foundation, a non-profit set up by Phi Delta Kappa International; and the results are published in the organization's magazine, Kappan. The survey project has been going since 1969.

This year's study also included a pair of statewide samples, which focused on Georgia and New York, each of which received coverage in separate reports.

According to the results, more than eight in 10 respondents (82 percent) support job and career skills classes, even if students need to spend less time in academic classes. The same number believe it's important for schools to help students develop their interpersonal skills, such as cooperation, respect and persistence.

Interest in academics gets a lower rating; 76 percent of respondents said advanced academic classes were "highly important indicators of school quality." Just 42 percent stated the same about performance on standardized tests; only 13 percent pronounced test scores as "extremely important." In comparison, three times as many people (39 percent) ranked interpersonal skills that high, and 37 percent put technology and engineering instruction in that category.

The idea of using publicly funded vouchers to send students to private school isn't gaining favoritism. Most Americans said they were opposed to it (52 percent vs. 39 percent). When the issue was described in more detail to respondents, opposition rose  to 61 percent. When the question was refined specifically to refer to the use of vouchers for attending religious schools, which make up 69 percent of private schools in the country, disapproval shot up even higher  to 73 percent  among those who have no religious affiliation or profess a non-Christian religion.

The Georgia state survey exposed an even number of respondents supporting and opposing vouchers for private schools (48 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed). New Yorkers, on the other hand, were more likely oppose public funding of private schooling (51 percent opposed vs. 42 percent supporting).

A slight majority of national respondents (54 percent) said they'd stick with a public school even if they were offered vouchers to attend a private school, if the voucher covered all the cost of tuition. If the voucher covered just half of the expense, the number of people who said they'd stick with public schools rose to 72 percent.

A fifth of survey participants (21 percent) agreed that vouchers erode the quality of public schools. A more common argument was that vouchers didn't use public funds appropriately.

"This year, as in many recent years, the poll showed a wide gap between what the most strident policy makers and reformers are advocating and what the American public actually wants and believes," wrote Joshua Starr, CEO of PDK International in an editorial for the survey, as he urged school leaders to "help close that gap." While those individuals "hear directly from parents and other community members," they're also able to influence policy makers and "help them translate the publics desires into policies that make sense for schools and for kids."

When all is said and done, overall, many Americans are happy with their public schools just the way they are. According to the report, the number giving their public schools an "A" grade was 35 percent, the "highest in more than 40 years of PDK polling." Six in 10 (62 percent) gave the public schools in their communities an A or B grade, compared with fewer non-parents (45 percent). When parents grade the schools their own children attend, the number of As and Bs goes higher, to 71 percent.

Yet nationwide, only 24 percent of respondents issued As or Bs  a gap, the pollsters insisted, that has remained consistent over the last 30 years. Why the difference? "Awareness of a few poor schools can diminish the ratings of all schools together, driving down scores nationally while leaving local scores far better," the report explained.

Just over a quarter of New Yorkers (27 percent) would grant an A or B to public schools nation-wide; whereas half of them would issue the same high grades to their local schools. Slightly more parents in New York than in Georgia would give an A grade to their own child's school (39 percent vs. 31 percent).

The in-depth results of the survey are openly available on the PDK Poll website. The two state polls are also available on a compendium page.
Celia Hollingworth

A British woman who was mauled to death and partly eaten by a pack of stray dogs while on holiday in Greece has been named as Celia Hollingworth.

The 63-year-old retired academic was attacked by the pack of animals in northern Greece, close to the border with Turkey, as she walked back to her guesthouse, according to Athenian authorities.

She is understood to have phoned her family as she lay dying of her injuries.

Her family then contacted local authorities who began a search of the mountainous area.

Her body was discovered on Saturday, two days after she went missing.

A senior police officer involved in the investigation told The Times: It was a tragic sight. Her body was found shredded to pieces, some of it devoured.

Even experienced forensics crews were shocked when they faced the harrowing sight.

Ms Hollingworth was staying in the small town of Maroneia, and had hiked to a nearby archaeological site, Mesimvria.

The Mesimvria archaeological site (E-evros)

Neighbours at her home in Bradford in Avon, Wiltshire, said the kind and friendly woman was active in her community.

Andrew Otto, 54, said: Celia was always very friendly. Ive only lived here for a year but when we moved in she offered to store boxes for us.

She told she was going to Greece about five weeks ago. That was the last we heard from her.

She didnt give a lot away about herself but she was always active in the community and would often go round with petitions.

Human rights campaigner Ms Hollingworth was an active member of community groups in Bradford-on-Avon and Bath.

She was a long-standing member of the Bristol Greece Solidarity campaign, supporting those struggling with austerity following the European financial crisis.
By Pawel Sobczak and Anna Koper WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's president unexpectedly dropped his demands for a greater say in nominating judges on Monday, in an effort to secure broader political support for an overhaul of the judiciary that the European Union fears will harm democracy. Andrzej Duda, an ally of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, conceded that it should ultimately be for parliament to pick Poland's top judges, hours after saying he would seek a constitutional amendment to give himself the final say on such appointments. In July, Duda unexpectedly vetoed the ruling party's own reform proposals following nationwide protests and warnings from Poland's Western allies about politicisation of the courts. Earlier on Monday, he made counter-proposals which still envisaged greater political control over the courts but to be exercised by the president as well as by parliament. However, lawmakers from both PiS and opposition parties criticised his plans. After meeting the heads of parliamentary factions, Duda said it was clear he would be unable to win the required parliamentary majority to change the constitution. "The point is not about me, as the president, to have the power to choose, the point is about the choice being a cross-party one," Duda said after the meeting. The eurosceptic PiS says reform of the judicial system is needed because the courts are slow, inefficient and steeped in a communist-era mentality. But critics of the government plans said its proposed rules were part of a drive towards authoritarianism. The EU is already at loggerheads with the PiS government over a range of issues and a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers on Monday was expected to gauge the appetite for taking punitive action against Warsaw. POWER STRUGGLE After Duda's U-turn, parliament will still need a three-fifths majority to appoint new top judges - but if lawmakers cannot agree, a special voting mechanism in parliament will decide the issue rather than the president. PiS currently has a parliamentary majority, but not three-fifths. Duda also said the retirement age for Supreme Court judges should be set at 65 and that the president should decide whether they can work longer. Under the vetoed reforms, all current Supreme Court judges would have stepped down immediately unless they had the approval of the justice minister, who is also prosecutor general. Since coming to power, PiS has not only increased government influence over the courts but has also brought prosecutors and state media under direct government control and introduced some restrictions on public gatherings. PiS denies retreating on democracy and argues that it has a broad mandate to implement reforms. It says its plans aim to improve a poorly functioning state, bolster Poland's standing in the global arena, preserve its conservative values and correct mistakes by previous governments that it argues were too dependent on foreign influence. In proposing his own judiciary reforms, Duda had to weigh their potential impact on his re-election prospects in 2020. Though he remains Poland's most popular politician, with approval ratings of more than 70 percent, Duda may need PiS support to win enough votes. Jaroslaw Flis, a sociologist at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, said the rift between Duda and the government was "an internal power struggle" among Poland's conservatives. "Duda knows his legislative proposals need PiS support, but PiS also needs him. They cannot push anything through without the president," Flis said. (Additional reporting by Marcin Goettig, Agnieszka Barteczko and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Writing by Justyna Pawlak and Lidia Kelly; Editing by Gareth Jones and Hugh Lawson)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian government rejects the independence referendum organised by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, Syria's foreign minister has said. Voting started on Monday in northern Iraq despite intense international and regional pressure to call the vote off. "We in Syria only recognise a united Iraq and reject any procedure that leads to the fragmentation of Iraq," Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem was cited as saying by Syrian state news agency SANA. "This step is rejected and we do not recognise it and yesterday I informed the Iraqi foreign minister of this stance." An assistant to the Syrian foreign minister told the pro-government Syrian newspaper al-Watan that what is happening in Iraq "is a product of American policies that aim to fragment the region's countries and create conflict between its parts." The referendum "harms Iraq and harms our Kurdish brothers," Ayman Soussan added in the comments published on Monday. The Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad has maintained relations with Damascus throughout the country's war, even as other Arab states cut ties with President Bashar al-Assad's administration. Iraqi Shi'ite militias have fought on Assad's side against Syrian rebels and Islamic State. The Syrian government, which is regaining territory with Iranian and Russian military backing, also opposes steps taken by Syrian Kurds towards autonomy in northern Syria since the start of the country's civil war in 2011. Kurdish-led regions in Syria held elections for community leaders on Friday, the first in a three-phase vote that will culminate in the election of a parliament and the establishment of a federal system of government. Syrian Kurds insist independence is not their aim and they want to remain part of a decentralised Syria. (Reporting by Sarah Dadouch; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthi forces have detained a U.S. citizen in the capital Sanaa for reasons that were not immediately clear, two colleagues of the man said on Monday. The Iran-aligned Houthis control much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa, and are battling a Saudi-led coalition that is trying to restore the internationally recognised government. Nadia Burch told Reuters that her husband, Danny Lavon Burch, was seized on Saturday after taking his children to school. He had been working in Yemen since the late 1980s, currently with the oil company Safer, said Burch, a Yemeni. "He has no problems or disputes with anyone, which is why he didn't leave as others did," she said. "I ask for the release of my husband and his safe return to me." A U.S. State Department official said they were aware and concerned about the report. The Houthi movement did not respond to a request for comment and the Safer oil company was also not immediately available for comment. Two of Mr. Burch's colleagues in Sanaa said Houthi forces were responsible, without elaborating. But Nadia Burch said the kidnappers had not contacted her and she was unsure of their identity. More than 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen's civil war. It began in March 2015 when the Houthis advanced on the interim headquarters of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in the southern port city of Aden, forcing him to flee the country and seek Saudi help. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Sandra Maler)
Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland.
BWX Technologies, Inc. manufactures and sells nuclear components in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Nuclear Operations Group, Nuclear Power Group, and Nuclear Services Group. The Nuclear Operations Group segment provides precision naval and critical nuclear components, reactors, nuclear fuel, and assemblies for the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration's Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and other uses; missile launch tubes for United States Navy submarines; close-tolerance and equipment for nuclear applications; and converts Cold War-era government stockpiles of high-enriched uranium, as well as receives, stores, characterizes, dissolves, recovers, and purifies uranium-bearing materials; supplies research reactor fuel elements for colleges, universities, and national laboratories; and components for defense applications. The Nuclear Power Group segment offers commercial nuclear steam generators, nuclear fuel, fuel handling systems, pressure vessels, reactor components, heat exchangers, tooling delivery systems, and containers; engineering and in-plant services for nuclear power plants; designs, manufactures, commissions, and services nuclear power generation equipment; in-plant inspection, maintenance, and modification services, as well as non-destructive examination and tooling/repair solutions; and supplies medical radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for research, diagnostic, and therapeutic uses. The company was formerly known as The Babcock & Wilcox Company and changed its name to BWX Technologies, Inc. in June 2015. BWX Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group Public: 360 Connect S.A., 3@ Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus  Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way  Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U.  Portugal Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU, Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB, Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG, Vodafone Erste Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Vodafone Espana S.A.U., Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited, Vodafone Euro Hedging Two, Vodafone Europe B.V., Vodafone Europe UK, Vodafone European Investments, Vodafone European Portal Limited, Vodafone Finance Limited, Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Finance Sweden, Vodafone Finance UK Limited, Vodafone Financial Operations, Vodafone Financial Services B.V., Vodafone Fixed Ltd, Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A, Vodafone Ghana Mobile Financial Services Limited, Vodafone Global Content Services Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E., Vodafone Global Network Limited, Vodafone Global Network Limited  Slovakia Branch, Vodafone Global Services Private Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Services GmbH, Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited, Vodafone Group Services Limited, Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited, Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited, Vodafone Hire Limited, Vodafone Holding A.S., Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited, Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U., Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Receivables Pty Limited, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited, Vodafone India Digital Limited, Vodafone India Limited, Vodafone India Services Private Limited, Vodafone India Ventures Limited, Vodafone Institut fur Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH, Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited, Vodafone International 1 S.a.r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone International 1 S.a r.l., Vodafone International 2 Limited, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Vodafone International Holdings Limited, Vodafone International M S.a r.l., Vodafone International Operations Limited, Vodafone International Services LLC, Vodafone Investment UK, Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Investments Australia Limited, Vodafone Investments Limited, Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited, Vodafone Ireland Ltd., Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited, Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited, Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited, Vodafone Italia S.p.A., Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited, Vodafone Jersey Finance, Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings Unlimited, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field Services GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH, Vodafone Kenya Limited, Vodafone Leasing Limited, Vodafone Libertel B.V., Vodafone Limited, Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K., Vodafone M-Pesa S.A, Vodafone M.C. Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal  Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V..

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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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EPAM Systems, Inc. provides digital platform engineering and software development services worldwide. The company offers engineering services, including requirements analysis and platform selection, customization, cross-platform migration, implementation, and integration; infrastructure management services, such as software development, testing, and maintenance with private, public, and mobile infrastructures for application, database, network, server, storage, and systems operations management, as well as monitoring, incident notification, and resolution services; and maintenance and support services. It also provides operation solutions comprising integrated engineering practices and smart automation; and optimization solutions that include software application testing, test management, automation, and consulting services to enable customers enhance their existing software testing and quality assurance practices, as well as other testing services that identify threats and close loopholes to protect its customers' business systems from information loss. In addition, the company offers business, experience, technology, data, and technical advisory consulting services; and digital and service design solutions, which comprise strategy, design, creative, and program management services, as well as physical product development, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality. It serves the financial services, travel and consumer, software and hi-tech, business information and media, life sciences and healthcare, and other industries. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
President Biyas inadequate response to the Anglophone crisis has only aggravated the situation.

The Social Democratic Front (SDF) for the Republic of Cameroon strongly condemns curfews, restrictions on movement of the population and all forms of violence perpetrated by the Government in the South-West and North-West regions of the country. Cameroon is now at a crossroads. President Biyas inadequate response to the Anglophone crisis has only aggravated the situation and caused further instability. The governments failure to stem social unrest has compromised its leadership. It is time for President Biya to resign immediately.

Freedom of movement in Cameroon is a constitutionally guaranteed right. By prohibiting the mobility of people in the heavily militarized North-West and South West regions, the Government is treating our compatriots like second-class citizens. We warn that these inflammatory actions only breed new resentments and embolden those who espouse secession. Even at the height of the war against Boko Haram, no such extreme measures were applied as like now on the Anglophone citizens.

The SDF has repeatedly voiced strong condemnations for bad governance, dysfunctional state institutions, endemic corruption, blatant disregard of the rule of law and free press, and non-application of the 1996 constitutional requirements with regards to decentralization and reform of state institutions. President Biyas government is responsible for continuous state-sponsored electoral fraud, has disregarded any proposals from national and international communities to reform government, and has closed all avenues to inclusive national dialogue. This has led to an irreversible escalation of violence in Cameroon for which the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement is solely responsible. The President has failed to meet with any civil society leaders or visit with the Anglophone regions since the crisis started nearly one year ago. His inability to draw the conflict to a close has risked more bloodshed and violence. The SDF calls for the military to show restraint and to protect all Cameroonians from abuse.

Cameroonians now have a choice to make between a free, inclusive and democratic Cameroon or stick with President Biyas current regime. The SDF clearly chooses a free, inclusive and democratic Cameroon where its people can come and go in peace.

YAOUNDE, Cameroon, September 25, 2017

Hon. Joshua N. Osih

1st National Vice-President
Ethics board subpoenas DCI for investigation into Noem's state airplane use

The Government Accountability Board subpoenaed the DCI for a report relating to an investigation if Gov. Kristi Noem misused the state airplane.
Kyoorius Designyatra will return to Goa with its 12th edition this year, with the theme: Optimism. The event will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, over a period of three days  October 12 to October 14, 2017. The theme Optimism brings attention to the light beyond the gloom, and focuses on how even though the world around us has changed there is hope for a brighter tomorrow

Kyoorius Designyatra is the biggest annual conference on design and innovation. The event will include workshops, discussions and breakout sessions which will offer delegates an opportunity to gain insights and knowledge on industry trends and enable them to interact with some of the most innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs from across the globe. Every year, Kyoorius Designyatra attracts some of the biggest names in global creative and design industry from different fields. Designyatra offers the opportunity to expand professional networks while celebrating creativity.

This year the line-up of speakers includes:

o Andy Chen, Partner, Isometric Studio

o Cheryl Heller, Chair, MFA Design for Social Innovation at SVA

o Graham Fink, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy & Mather, China

o Stephen Burks, Principal, Stephen Burks Man Made

o Waqas Jawaid, Partner, Isometric Studio

o Lord Christopher Laverty,, Author, Clothes on Film

o Leeroy New, Artist and Designer, Lab New

o Jackson Tan, Creative Director and Co-Founder, BLACK and PHUNK

o Prasanna Sankhe, Founder & Creative Head, HYPHEN

o Lizzie Mary Cullen, Pen and ink Illustrator and Writer, Lizzie Mary Cullen

o Jon Noorlander, Executive Creative Director, Method Studios

o Madhav Raman, Partner, Anagram Architects

o Morag Myerscough, Founder & Designer, Studio Myerscough

o Thomas Widdhershoven, Director and Designer, Thonik

o Noriaki Onoe, Creative Director, Dentsu Inc.

Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder CEO of Kyoorius says The 12th edition of Kyoorius Designyatra is aimed at reflecting the hope people have imbibed in todays gloomy environment. It is acting as a platform where creativity and design will signify new hope and a better tomorrow. As a platform, Designyatra allows the participants to not only discuss the latest trends in creativity, brand, design and digital but also creates a unique pool of varied creative minds from across the world. The stimulating lectures and workshops encourage the participants to not only think innovatively but also not to be bound by the barriers of age, experience and backgrounds.

Now in its 12th edition, Designyatra has been attended by over 16500 delegates from across Asia and has featured some of the biggest names in global creative and communications industry including Michael Wolff, Stefan Sagmeister, Piyush Pandey, Sir Martin Sorrell, Oliver Jeffers, Malika Favre, Irma Boom, Robert Wong, Ajaz Ahmed and many more

For more details on Kyoorius Designyatra 2017, visit http://www.designyatra.com/
Sandeep Amar, a senior leader in the Indian Digital space, has joined iTV Network as the CEO of iTV Digital. In his new role, Sandeep will focus on building the digital assets for iTV Network and launch multiple new projects, he will be reporting directly to Mr. Kartikeya Sharma, Founder & Promoter, iTV Network. Before joining iTV Network, Sandeep was the CEO of Indian Express Digital, where he led Indian Express Digital to the number 2 digital publisher in the country. Prior to that, he worked as the CEO for India.com, a ZEEL and Penske Media JV. India.com properties also reached leadership positions, including the number 2 digital publisher network, during his tenure.

Earlier, he had also worked as Head of Marketing, Audiences, and Pre-sales at Times Internet Limited. He has also worked in Citigroup, Times Business Solutions, Zee Telefilms and The Times of India, and has an experience of over 20 years. Sandeep Amar is a six sigma black belt and alumni of FMS, Delhi. Besides the active operational roles, Sandeep has been an avid blogger and speaker in digital space and considered as a thought leader in digital space in the country.

Speaking on Sandeeps role with iTV Network, Mr. Kartikeya Sharma, the Founder and Promoter of iTV Network said, "We are happy to have Sandeep on board at a time when the group is promoting several new-edge media solutions and working feverishly towards making information available in formats that will appeal to todays tech-savvy consumers. I feel that the digital video space backed by future product vision and technology is the future of digital business, and our focus will be to launch multiple projects in this space. Sandeep has achieved some amazing success in the digital publishing business in last few years, I am confident with the vision and resources of iTV network, we will be creating multiple successes in the near future.

On the new role, Sandeep said It is a fantastic entrepreneurial assignment, we will be launching multiple projects including video first properties, strong multi-platform digital video content properties, powerful native platforms and future tech projects in AI and Machine Learning. I think the key is to focus on building the future of digital publishing businesses as the metrics and environment are changing very dynamically, the future is mobile, vernacular, video and strong product vision backed by future tech. I am really excited to work with Mr. Kartikeya Sharma and iTV Network, Kartikeya is an amazing entrepreneur who has built some of the fastest growing solid media businesses in the country."
Spatial Access, Indias first and largest media audit company, has a new leader at the helm. VineetSodhani takes over as CEO.

Meenakshi Menon, Co-Founder and Chairperson, Spatial Access is very excited about the transformation underway. As media moves into a new era of complexity, Spatial Access, under its new leadership, will simplify it for its clients with custom solutions, many of which will be first time in the industry! With Vineets strong background in research and strategy, we will provide valuable insights, a lot of it in public domain, so that the industry gets more value.

Vineet has a wide range of experience spanning two decades in media strategy, sales and marketing in India and the US. In the past he has worked for Times Television Network, StarcomMediavest Group, Hansa Research Group, AC Nielsen and ORG-MARG. In 2012 he co-authored Guide to Indian Markets and is presently working on his second book.

I am excited to join Spatial Access to create an even more dynamic and vibrant organisation, said VineetSodhani, CEO, Spatial Access. Spatial Access has that rare combination of a great customer and knowledge base. This strength will be used to drive value for every rupee spent on advertising, be it ATL, BTL or digital. We will raise some critical questions, for example, transparency, ROI and wastage. This may raise eyebrows as well as tempers, but if it results in improving benchmarks, we will feel we have delivered value to our clients.
We all love have our own favorite Bollywood celebrities. We always want to know What are they upto, what are they wearing, who are they with, what movie are they shooting, what are they eating and lots more. We love to keep our B.Q (bollywood quotient) up to the minute. Keeping the love and the obsession alive,Zareen Khan has come forward with her own OTT mobile app.

Never before an app has been customised to keep the fans first, Zareens app is a way to be connected with her fans 24/7.

The app has a dedicated interactive LIVE stream corner which enables a 2 way LIVE with her fans, she along with her fans can send each other a variety of gifts from the gift store. Not to mention a VOD platform with the option of a paywall.

Fans who keep liking/commenting are in a treat as Zareen along with all other app users can see the top fans in the Zees Fav section.

Zareens app is an amalgamation of a social network along with an OTT platform with LIVE capabilities.

The app will soon have a 360 corner, where custom made 360 content around Zareen would be made live as well.

The app is built on ARMS app builder platform. With ARMS, a celebrity can own the I.P - which is the first in the industry, the platform, the rights, and most importantly - the control and monetization of the fan base & content around the world.

Speaking on the same, Zareen said Am very excited for this project, with so much clutter on social media, an app is a perfect way to stay in touch dedicatedly with my fans.There are some very cool features we have planned for the coming months,i hope all my fans enjoy the entire experience

Sonu Lakhwani-Proprietor of Wingman Talent Agency(the company managing Zareen) had an interesting take, Throughout an actors public life, he really never owns anything except for co-productions/royalties, with this app & such initiatives, we are creating a monetizable digital asset for the actor throughout & beyond his days of stardom.

Anshul Gupta Founder & Director of Razr Media,Luxembourg(the company behind the app) said, The way clutter is increasing on social & other platforms, the future calls for personalisation in this age of netflix.Zareen has 20MN fans in her social universe, through her app we plan to consolidate her audience on one single platform & offer niche content to dedicated fans. We have combined the power of social & OTT together as an offering. If you see the design too, its very colorful,jovial,totally as per her personality.

Sunil Bhandi Founder & CTO Razr Media said,Her app is built to function like a social media platform combined with the functionalities of an OTT. Unlike any other OTT platform,Zareen's app can manage loads of traffic. We have given the actor maximum control via our producer app,its an app like instagram where she can upload/edit/post photos/videos on the app & social media directly."

The app is available on the Google playstore as well as the Apple play store. Search Zareen Khan official App

Link for Playstore app: http://bit.ly/2wNSvk8

Promotional Creatives: http://bit.ly/2wJ2H2n


SEATTLE, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for Digital English Language Learning products in Asia Pacific is 10.7% and revenues will surge to $2.7 billion by 2022, up from the $1.6 billion reached in 2017, according to the new report by Metaari called "The 2017-2022 Asia Pacific Digital English Language Learning Market."

Forecasts for twenty-one Asia Pacific countries are included in this report: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macao), India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Metaari has revised our Asia Pacific forecasts for Digital English Language Learning products significantly upward from previous forecasts.

There are six major catalysts driving the current Digital English Language Learning market in Asia Pacific: the rollout of high-speed 5G networks over the forecast period, the strong consumer demand for English language learning products, digitization initiatives in the academic segments and large-scale adoption of learning technology in the schools (particularly in developing economies), new national language learning policies related to English instruction in the schools, and the booming tourism industry that is driving the demand for tourism English.

In 2017, China was the top buying country, followed by South Korea, Japan, and India. By 2022, Indonesia will be the fourth-largest buying country after China, South Korea, and Japan.

"In terms of growth rates, the highest growth rate for Digital English Language Learning in the region (and in the world) is in Sri Lanka at 49.8%, followed by Laos at 43.0%," comments Sam S. Adkins, CEO of Metaari and author of the report. "The next highest growth rates are in Myanmar (Burma), Mongolia, and Thailand at 41.4%, 37.2%, and 35.3%, respectively."

The highest growth rates are in countries that were once nascent (emerging) markets for digital English that were still generating relatively low revenues for suppliers as recently as 2013. These countries are now vibrant revenue opportunities for suppliers. Suppliers competing in these countries are experiencing significant revenue growth.

The Digital English Language Learning revenues in Asia Pacific are heavily concentrated in China. In 2017, China accounted for 61% of all revenues for Digital English Language Learning products in Asia Pacific. By 2022, China will still account for 54% of all revenues in the region. The report identifies the top revenues for suppliers competing in China.

The report is 170 pages and has 32 forecast tables and 5 figures. It can be purchased for $4,275.00 USD.

To request a free Executive Overview, email: contact@metaari.com

There are two sections in this report: a demand-side analysis and a supply-side analysis. In the demand-side analysis, revenue forecasts are broken out by 21 countries. Additionally, a breakout for six buying segments is also provided for China.

The supply-side analysis breaks out revenues for five learning technology types: packaged Self-paced eLearning (courseware), Collaboration-based Learning (live online classes and live online tutoring), Digital Reference-ware (eTextbooks, ePhrasebooks, audio books, and digital videos), Mobile Learning apps, and Mobile Learning Value-added Services (VAS). A supply-side analysis by these five product types is also provided for China.

"In 2017, mobile English language learning products generated the highest revenues for suppliers in Asia Pacific. Mobile language learning products in the form of educational apps and Mobile Learning VAS subscriptions are now the top selling types of Digital English Language Learning products in Asia Pacific," reports Adkins. "Mobile Learning VAS has the highest growth rate at 11.5%. The revenues for Mobile Learning VAS products are heavily concentrated in China and India, yet the growth rates are much higher in mobile-only countries."

Eleven countries out of the 21 countries analyzed in this report are now mobile-only countries with mobile devices being the primary device used to access the web. There is a near insatiable demand for early childhood learning games and language learning apps in every country in the region, but the demand is particularly high in the eleven mobile-only countries identified in this report.

Over 500 suppliers operating in specific countries in Asia Pacific are cited in this regional report to help international suppliers identify competitors and local partners, distributors, resellers, and potential M&A targets.

About Metaari

Metaari (formerly Ambient Insight) is an ethics-based quantitative market research firm that identifies revenue opportunities for advanced learning technology suppliers. We track the learning technology markets in 122 countries. We have the most complete view of the international learning technology market in the industry. Metaari focusses solely on advanced learning technology research on products that utilize psychometrics, linguistics, neuroscience, game mechanics, robotics, cognitive computing, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality.

Media Contact: Sam Adkins, Metaari, 360-805-4298, sam@metaari.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE Metaari
Virtual Forge, leading provider of security solutions for SAP systems, is expanding its international presence with a branch office in Dubai and an office in Singapore. In the United Arab Emirates, Virtual Forge is working closely with local CAFM specialists IMSWARD (http://www.imsware.com). In the Asia-Pacific region, a Virtual Forge hub is being established in Singapore.

Solutions from Virtual Forge have already been seeing success on the Arabian peninsula for some time. Virtual Forge has taken a first step closer to customers by entering into a close, local partnership with IMSWARE in Dubai. The two companies have joined together to support SAP customers directly under the brand Virtual Forge Middle East.

In addition to having a local presence, carrying out operations in the Middle East will now be much easier, explained Andreas Fritz, Director of Strategic Management. Training, implementations and consulting projects will be significantly more flexible and less complex.

Likewise, a growing number of companies in the Asia-Pacific region have come to trust Virtual Forges experience as their trusted advisor for SAP security, compliance and quality. To provide the best possible support for customers, partners and interested parties in the APAC region, a new Virtual Forge hub with an office in Singapore is being established. Virtual Forge APAC will provide comprehensive support from local experts on the markets in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and China.

ERP expert Leo Ip has been brought in to lead the new office. I am excited to work for the market leader in SAP security. The timing for boosting the market presence in APAC could not be better and I am confident that we will quickly see success, said Mr. Ip.

According to Jochen Fischer, Head of International Sales at Virtual Forge, the advantage of the branch office in Singapore is that we can carry out risk analyses, penetration tests and audits rapidly and efficiently at a local level for customers. Consequently, we will be able to immediately react to risks concerning SAP and ensure long-term security and compliance.

Virtual Forge has been active in both regions for years from within Germany and has already won prestigious customers. We intend to build on this success by attracting new customers and projects, stated Virtual Forge CEO Dr. Markus Schumacher.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170925005676/en/

Virtual Forge GmbH

Nicole Hellweg

+49(0)6221-868-90-0

nicole.hellweg@virtualforge.com
We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain.
A number of promotional materials depicting what appear to be the Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro leaked online on Monday, having originally been shared by one tech blog from France. While no new real-life images of the devices have been revealed as part of the latest leak, the materials disclose many hardware specifications and other features of whats believed to be Huaweis most powerful Android flagship lineup to date. The renders of the Mate 10 Pro that can be seen below show a device with a Leica-certified dual camera setup on its rear panel entailing two vertically arranged sensors which seem to protrude from the handset to a significant degree. The lenses are accompanied by a dual-LED (dual tone) flash unit to their left and are situated above a circular fingerprint scanner, with the phone itself having no physical Home button as it boasts extremely slim top and bottom bezels.

Just like some previous rumors suggested that the Mate 10 will feature a Home key on its bottom bezel, the newly uncovered images indicate that the device will indeed have such a key despite featuring a nearly bezel-free design, though not all of the renders depict it with a Home button. On the other hand and contrary to some reports that the two models are both meant to adopt a tall 18:9 aspect ratio, it seems that only one of them will feature the 2:1 image format, with the other one being set to boast a widescreen 16:9 display panel. The latter model is presumed to be the regular Mate 10 which is said to feature a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED screen with a QHD resolution of 2,560 by 1,440 pixels, whereas the Mate 10 Pro is expected to have a 6-inch panel and a QHD+ resolution of 2,880 by 1,440 pixels. The two handsets will seemingly be IP67-certified for resistance to water and dust particles, in addition to being available in at least three colors  black, blue, and what looks like rose gold or light brown.

The newly uncovered promotional materials also suggest that Huaweis Mate 10 series is to ship with two sensors with an aperture of f/1.6 which the Chinese company claims is the widest in the mobile industry, though the same figure was previously achieved by LG Electronics and its V30 flagship which is expected to become commercially available in the West by the time the Mate 10 lineup launches. The f/1.6 sensors will presumably be similar to some previous camera setups seen on high-end devices from Huawei, meaning that one of them could be exclusively tasked with capturing colors, whereas the other one is likely to be of the monochrome variety. Wide-angle lenses are generally easier to design the longer the focal length is, and Huawei and Leica presumably took advantage of that principle while working on the main imaging system of the Mate 10 family which will seemingly mark the return of the Summarit H mobile lenses.

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The default camera app found on the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro also seems to be relying on some artificial intelligence processing, the leaked materials suggest, revealing that the handsets will be capable of recognizing 14 different photography scenarios in real time and adjust the parameters of their sensors accordingly. AI applications dont end there, with both handsets being listed as featuring the HiSilicon Kirin 970, a premium system-on-chip that the Shenzhen, China-based company describes as an industry first as far as machine learning and general AI technologies are concerned. The Kirin 970 ships with a dedicated AI processing unit that will seemingly power a broad range of functionalities found inside the Mate 10-series devices. Another unique feature of the handsets is their ability to utilize optical character recognition (OCR) technologies to translate photographs similar to how Google Translate does even without an internet connection, according to the latest leak.

The battery found inside the two handsets will apparently be of the non-removable variety and have a capacity of 4,000mAh, whereas the Android-based software of the device is supposed to stay extremely fast for at least 18 months following your purchase, the newly uncovered promos suggest. A USB Type-C port unsurprisingly appears to be part of the package here alongside Huawei Super Charge support and a 4G LTE modem capable of achieving download speeds of up to 1.2Gbps. The Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer is currently in the process of teasing its upcoming flagships by mocking Apple and has already promised to announce them on October 16 in Munich, Germany.
Googles new Daydream View headset was possibly sighted as part of a leaked LG V30 promo shared by industry insider Evan Blass earlier today. The image that can be seen below suggests that the South Korean phone maker will be looking to entice people to purchase its latest Android flagship by attaching a free headset to it for a limited period, though its currently unclear whether this is supposed to be a pre-order deal or one that will simply run while supplies last or until a certain date. With the headset being previously rumored to cost $99, it seems that Googles VR Content Package mentioned by the promo is meant to have a value of $45.95 and include at least a dozen or so games and other virtual reality experiences.

LGs new high-end offering was already confirmed as having Daydream support out of the box, though the smartphone itself still doesnt have a firm release date attached to it. The Seoul-based tech giant officially announced the device at the latest iteration of IFA and went on to commercialize it in its home country but no other markets have yet received either model of the handset. All four largest mobile service providers in the United States previously confirmed theyll be carrying the flagship but are yet to share its availability details. Apart from getting a new VR headset from Google free of charge, consumers in the U.S. will also be eligible to extend their warranty to two years by registering their handset on LG.com within three months of making the purchase, AT&T revealed over the weekend.

The headset depicted in the newly leaked promo seems to be essentially identical to the one Google released last year, whereas previous reports suggested that while the company will be sticking with its overall design, the second-generation Daydream View series is to feature a different type of fabric, which doesnt seem to be the case here. The headset seen below may also be the Slate variant of the last-generation Daydream View meant as a placeholder image until Google officially announces the device, which is likely to happen on October 4th when the tech giant is also set to unveil the Pixel 2 series and a number of other offerings. The address of the promotional website (www.lgv30promo.com) mentioned by the promo still isnt live and will presumably be launched once LG discloses the U.S. availability details of its new Android flagship.
OPPO is one of Chinas largest smartphone manufacturers at the moment, and it seems like the company is planning to release a new flagship smartphone in the near future, at least according to the latest leak, rumor and benchmarking info. An image of the OPPO Mix Geekbench listing just surfaced in China, though this listing dates back to July 14. In any case, according to the provided info, the OPPO Mix will packs in 6GB of RAM, and the Snapdragon 835 64-bit octa-core processor, which is Qualcomms most powerful chip at the moment. This Geekbench image says that this smartphone is fueled by Android 7.1.1 Nougat, though OPPOs custom UI will come pre-installed on top of Googles OS.

Now, its worth noting that this Geekbench listing cannot be found on the site, it leaked in China, and considering that it is not currently included on Geekbenchs website, we cannot confirm that it is legit. In any case, in addition to this benchmarking info, the source also claims that the OPPO Mix will arrive in November, and an alleged image of this phone has also appeared. This image is rather blurry, so we dont get to see all the details here, but according to the source, the OPPO Mix will ship with an AMOLED display which will be provided by Samsung. The source also claims that the phone will ship with a bezel-less display, and that its camera will be capable of utilizing a 5x optical zoom, which seems to be highly unlikely. This handset will not be a part of the companys Find series, it seems, at least according to the source, OPPO plans to launch a whole new line of devices by releasing the OPPO Mix. This handset managed to score 1,907 points in the single-core benchmark, while it scored 6,596 points in the multi-core test. We are still not sure whether this handset will be called the OPPO Mix, or is this just its codename, but if this info is legit, well find out in about two months.

OPPO had released a number of smartphones this year, but the company still did not release a high-end smartphone. The OPPO R11 and R11 Plus are OPPOs current flagships, and even though theyre rather interesting and powerful devices, they ship with the Snapdragon 660 64-bit octa-core SoC, which is Qualcomms mid-range processor. OPPO actually did not release a high-end phone for a while, and despite that, the companys sales have been really high in Asia for quite some time now.

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Samsung is developing multiple types of mobile chipsets specially made to run AI processes on-device, according to anonymous inside sources. The source says that these new chips will completely eliminate the need to connect to the cloud for any reason within the realm of AI, including data processing horsepower, data storage and recall, and even neural networking. Onboard AI processing capabilities will allow these new chips to run AI assistant programs like Bixby, use machine learning to process data, and run simulated neural networks, all without any kind of communication with a cloud server. Samsung is reportedly already deep into research and development for these new chipsets, and should have them out to market in commercially available consumer devices within the next few years.

Samsung will be competing with Qualcomm, whose Snapdragon 835 mobile chip, used in current generation flagships, is able to run AI operations on-device thanks to machine learning capabilities and full compatibility with Googles TensorFlow out of the box. The power on offer with Qualcomms kit and the new AI might that Samsung wants to offer will also have to compete against Huawei, who recently announced that it plans to roll out AI capabilities on a flagship mobile chipset for the first time with the Kirin 970, which will make its debut inside the Mate 10.

The race to bring powerful and effective onboard AI to the consumer mobile space is clearly on in the chipset world, which means it wont be very long until applications supporting those capabilities start coming to bear. Already, developers are working on bringing TensorFlow-compatible applications to the Snapdragon 835, Samsungs Bixby AI assistant is set to be enhanced by the AI features of these upcoming chips, and advanced assistants running on the principles of artificial general intelligence with simple mobile apps as their frontends are on the market. NVIDIAs AI prowess will likely remain in the realm of connected systems for vehicles and other specialized applications, meaning that Samsung and Huawei jumping into the onboard AI market will leave MediaTek as the only major player in the consumer mobile chip market to not be involved in the world of onboard AI.
Some Android Messages users stopped receiving notifications as of the latest update to Googles app, as evidenced by dozens of negative reviews which started appearing on the Google Play Store shortly after the company distributed the latest build of its mobile communications service. All affected users seem to be running the app version 2.5.207 which started rolling out on Thursday and should now be available for download in all parts of the world. The screenshot below shows some of the most prominently featured reviews complaining about the issue, though many more similar complaints can be found on the apps Google Play Store page.

The cause of the bug is presently unclear and the Mountain View, California-based tech giant has yet to officially acknowledge the issue on its Product Forums. Whats certain is that not all users have been affected by missing notifications as we werent able to reproduce the problem using the latest version of the app running on Android 7.0 Nougat. Some people who are reporting problems claim that they stopped receiving notifications as soon as they transitioned to the latest Android Messages build, whereas others say that the problem didnt manifest itself immediately. Rebooting a device reportedly does nothing to remedy the problem and neither does uninstalling the app itself or clearing its cache. Apart from manually installing an older version of the service or relying on a third-party notification system, users affected by the issue who remain adamant to stick with Android Messages until Google addresses the problem are seemingly out of options.

Android Messages is a successor to the Google Messenger app which the Alphabet-owned internet giant rebranded in early 2017, looking to position its app as the default SMS tool on Android devices. Some users who decided to voice their complaints about the problem introduced by the new build of the service are now claiming that Google cannot hope to compete with other SMS apps if it isnt able to ensure the consistency of some basic functionalities like notifications. It remains to be seen how widespread the problem actually is, with Android Messages still boasting a largely positive rating on the Google Play Store.

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Update: Google reached out to confirm its currently rolling out a fix for the issue. The companys Communications Products VP Nick Fox previously took to Twitter to say the firm identified the bug but has yet to elaborate on the matter. Affected users should hence have their problems resolved shortly, though it remains to be seen whether the fix is distributed as a client-side update or if a server-side switch will be enough.
AskMen's Ultimate Guide to Manscaping

The Dos and Don'ts of Manscaping Every Guy Needs to Know

The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

All illustrations by Sarah Bean. Product photos from retailer site.

Manscaping. The term itself can be a bit off-putting  its vague, mysterious and downright intimidating if you dont know what it implies or how to do it correctly. But its actually a false alarm; manscaping is just the guy way of saying body grooming. It means smelling good, keeping your parts in order and making a good impression on others in addition to feeling good about yourself. (Yes, manscaping can have a positive effect on your confidence levels.)

Are you going to feel better about yourself going on a blind date knowing that youre ready for an intimate evening just in case? Its simple logic: Manscaping isnt something to be afraid of, but rather embraced. Especially if you expect your partner(s) to maintain a certain appearance or beauty standard, you owe it to them to return the favor. And trust us, youll feel more relaxed heading into any close encounter knowing that youre in your best form.

RELATED: What Women Think About Pubic Hair

Manscaping isnt about excessive grooming either  its not a given that women appreciate a guy whos obviously spent hours in front of the bathroom mirror any more than a man who neglects the area completely. You dont need to buy a bunch of useless products and you dont need to be someone youre not. Its simply about polishing up your natural assets and showing pride in the person you want to present to others.

What Is Manscaping?

First, lets start with an official definition. Google states that manscaping is the removal or trimming of hair on a man's body for cosmetic effect.

Although simplified, hair control is the essential component of manscaping, although the definition could be expanded to include other grooming tasks. In any case, however, the real question you should be asking is: How to manscape? Well, to understand the male grooming practice is to examine its full range, which could involve outlining one specific region of the body, or its entirety.

Best Manscaping Trimmers, Tips, and Tools

Wax. Razor. Trimmer. Scissors. Choose your weapon. Each one complements another and works best on specific body parts. Trimmers mow down hair most efficiently, while razors come into play once hair is cut short or to stubble length, giving the blades enough room for a sleek shave. Keep these grooming instruments on your radar.

Equinox Professional Razor Edge Series Hair Cutting Scissors

The most basic of trimming tools, these grooming scissors arent only for the hair on your head. Take these professional level scissors to your pubes with confidence thanks to high quality Japanese stainless steel and a comfortable, ergonomic design. Start by trimming your pubes and get comfortable with those before you go below to your balls.

$19.97 at Amazon.com

Philips Norelco Body Groomer

A 3D pivoting shaving head combined with a built-in trimmer hosting five length settings, the Body Groomer practically accommodates every major body part. Abs. Chest. Shoulders. You name it. Even operate it as an electric shaver to earn a velvety mug. The self-sharpening blades will cut through shrubbery without any lubrication.

$69.50 at Amazon.com

Braun Grooming Kit

Mowing the entire lawn requires a one-stop manscaping shop. Braun blesses you with a full-on electric razor grooming kit designed for precision control across the body. The bundle comes equipped with four combs covering 13 precision setting lengths, plus a few other attachments and a Gillette Fusion ProGlide manual razor for final touches.

$41.99 at Amazon.com

Mangroomer Ultimate Pro Back Shaver

Not a beard trimmer in design, Mangroomers extended trimmer is a godsend for grizzlies struggling to manage their back and rear, propelled by two shock absorber flex heads and a Power Burst mode that shaves over super-thick hair with finesse. The ultra-sensitive blades are hypoallergenic to warrant long-term use, and the ergonomic rubberized grip of the handle supports maximum control for stabilized trims.

$49.99 at Amazon.com

Meridian The Maintenance Package

The Meridian body groomer has made quite a name for itself in the sensitive skin shaving game. This waterproof trimmer isnt like those other trimmers your private parts have seen before. Specifically designed to trim the hair down there, and not your facial hair, this electric trimmer uses sensitive skin shaver technology to keep shaving rash at a minimum. We suggest you opt for the full  package  with these two backup blades and the citrus-scented ball spray that helps with odor neutralization and skin irritation.

$95 at MeridianGrooming.com

Andis Personal Trimmer

Eyebrow hair, ear hair, and nose hair  arguably three of the most misunderstood spots on a mans body. The Andis portable trimmer has the grooming prowess to clean up your mug in all areas with recessed cutting blades for closer, safer trims. Pack the device in any dopp kit when traveling or store it in the cabinet with a protective cap to preserve blade sharpness.

$15.59 at Amazon.com

Gillette Fusion5 ProGlide Razor

Sure, you could use a disposable razor, but flexibility is everything in a razor, especially when aiming below the belt. The Fusion5 ProGlide Gillette razors support patented FlexBall Technology to let the razor head contour every angle and shape of the body. The streamlined comfort guard and enhanced lubrication strip adds relief and security to the chore.

$12.97 at Amazon.com

Best Manscaping Tools for Waxing

Nightmares of Steve Carrell having his chest transformed into a checkers board run rampant as we speak. The scary truth is that the more hair you have, the more painful the waxing experience is going to be. Follow protocol and trim first, or better yet, have a professional do it. Once in the waxing phase, results can last as long as four to eight weeks, with hair growing back softer (and thinner) than before.

Parissa Men's Wax Strips

These cold wax strips come 20 per box and are sized perfectly for the back, chest and shoulders. Each strip can also be cut to manage smaller spots. Perfect for last-minute touch ups or when heading on vacation, they make for great quick fixes and help eliminate the messiness that usually comes with at-home wax application.

$10.49 at Amazon.com

VidaSleek Waxing Kit

Listen, if youve never waxed yourself before, this might not be the best place to start. However, if youre one familiar with the wax, its hard to go wrong with this VidaSleek kit. This is one of the most effective amongst men thanks to its all-natural contents (lemon, salt and sugar derived from honey). Equipped with two wooden spatulas, a 10 oz jar of all natural wax and eight non-woven wax strips, it pulls hair at the root-level to meet your Brazilian needs.

$19.99 at Amazon.com

RELATED: I Got a Brazilian Wax for Men and This Is What I Learned

GiGi Starter Hair Removal Waxing Kit

If youre really looking to learn how to wax at home, this Amazon best seller is a complete waxing set which most customers claim is easy to use with the wax heating at perfect temperatures to dab across the body. Inside are professional-grade products including a wax warmer, Brazilian hard wax, wood sticks, pre-epilation oil and post-wax cooling gel.

$43.12 at Amazon.com

Best Manscaping Creams and Sprays

Creams and lotions get no love these days. Shame seeing as this category of products has helped lay down the foundation for many manscaping routines. Interestingly, the results are said to last just as long, if not a little longer than a complete shave. It's not laser hair removal, but it's a lot easier to keep up with than shaving hair, with shaving cream, shaving foam, or whatever else it takes to create a smooth pubes free surface. Furthermore, using these liniments will naturally exfoliate your skin  certainly a bonus.

Nair Hair Remover Spray

Nairs affordability and simplicity has made it a consumer favorite depilatory cream for over 20 years. Now packaged in an easy spray, it works best on limbs and the back and chest areas. However, its ability to activate while in the shower is what differentiates it from the crowd, producing a cleaner wipe-down removal. Spray it on, wait 10 minutes, then let the shower rinse it off.

$7.79 at Amazon.com

Nad's Hair Removal Depilatory Cream

All manscaping groin jokes aside, Nad's four minute lotion is suitable for every body part, including your balls. Aloe Vera is one of its signature ingredients to protect and soothe skin after eradicating it of rough hair right from the hair follicle. If you can tolerate the less-than-lovely scent, then consider your testes as smooth as Dominic Torettos dome.

$5.99 at Amazon.com

Moom Organic Hair Remover

Moom maintains its all-natural integrity with a phenomenal hair removal topical suited for your underarms, legs, underwear line  even your face. It takes the pros of both waxing and sugaring, blending it into one complex minus the drawbacks of its counterparts. Tea tree oil is the signature ingredient used here to repair and sterilize skin, plus the inclusion of chamomile helps to fade out spots and treat acne scars.

$20.04 at Amazon.com

Pre-Manscaping Essentials

A whole world of hurt awaits if you attempt manscaping on poorly skin. Same shaving dos and donts you practice on the face apply when manscaping your junk. Now meet the go-to products you should adopt before moving ahead.

Baxter Of California Exfoliating Soap

Shower gels are cool but theres more bang for the buck in Baxters 3-in-1 exfoliating bar soap. Not only will you scrub off grime from the skins upper layer, but the product features rich ingredients to nourish skin without stripping moisture. Leave your coat feeling cleansed and refreshed right out of the tub before taking a blade to your bits.

$19 at Amazon.com

eShave Pre Shave Oil

Mainly used for facial purposes, shave oils soften hair and protect the skin from irritation. eShave offers a great selection  cucumber, orange sandalwood and verbena lime  each well mixed to keep skin moisturized and protected from colder, dryer temps. Cover the body part being groomed with a few drops and massage it in to give the razor smoother glide action.

$22 at eShave.com

Harry's Shave Gel

Natural ingredients. Rich lather. Soothing texture. Harrys aloe-enriched formula relaxes hair and skin, not to mention the gel forms a cushiony layer for superior razor glide to execute close shaves and protect your sheath against razor burn, irritation, nicks and cuts. Then theres the manly scent that sticks to your skin, doubling nicely as a fragrance for at least a short period  Something to keep in mind before sex.

$5.99 at Target.com

Dr. Carver Shave Butter

A shaver cream, gel, and oil blended into one beautiful product, DSCs top-selling shaving aide borrows elements from every popular facial salve and comes in translucent form for seamless blade guidance. Its consistency is so silky  blades wont clog and you'll reduce the risk of cuts and the formula is loaded with gentle ingredients to fight off ingrown hairs and razor bumps.

$7 at DollarShaveClub.com

Post-Manscaping Routine

Hair removal takes its toll on the skin. Apply these skincare solutions to keep your skin feeling great before and after manscaping.

Fur Oil

The companys hero product is formulated with active ingredients to simultaneously soften hair in between manscaping as well as tackle razor bumps, irritation and ingrown hairs post-shave. Gently rub it into problem areas and allow absorption. Its potent yet soothing ingredients include grape seed oil to hydrate, clary sage to soothe redness and tea tree oil  a powerful antimicrobial  to prevent ingrowns.

$46 at FurYou.com

Anthony Ingrown Hair Treatment

Several ingrown hair treatments are available to rid the body of coarse and curly threads. One of our favorites is Anthonys specialty hair serum, which uses glycolic acid to rid skin of dead cells. This in turn releases ingrown hairs by freeing bacteria under the skin and calming inflammation.

$34 at Amazon.com

Grooming Lounge Super Body Powder

This is the talcum powder youll fancy to help keep your privates comfortable and dry at all times. Use it anywhere (except the face) to avoid odorous funk, in addition to reducing itchiness. A light, fresh scent is an added touch since its suitable for all skin types.

$19 at Amazon.com

Manscaped Crop Preserver Ball Deodorant

Additives used in common spray deodorants and antiperspirants can lead to some gnarly jock itch. Manscaped sells a much milder solution  an all-in-one deodorant that also acts as a moisturizer for the boy downstairs. The cleverly-named Crop Preserver uses a fast-absorbing gel talcum formulation with antibacterial and anti-chafing protection to give your balls some relief during long shifts.

$12.99 at Manscaped.com

How to Manscape Body Hair

Some get a rush flexing hairless chests at the beach. Others love the reaction they get in the bedroom unveiling their crown jewels. But what exactly falls under the manscaping pyramid remains a mystery to most guys. The reality is your whole body is fair game  tip-to-tail  and we all have our own sweet spots. So, to guide you in the right direction, weve provided a full breakdown of all the major sections to consider deforesting, alongside expert manscaping tips, illustrations, and yes manscaping treatments.

Remember, you can do as much or as little manscaping to your body hair as you feel comfortable with. While some will naturally prefer less body hair, others will enjoy maintaining a bit of their wild side. All are valid options and dont be afraid to see a professional the first time around to learn the ropes.

How to Manscape Your Groin

Some get a rush flexing hairless chests at the beach. Others love the reaction they get in the bedroom unveiling their crown jewels. But what exactly falls under the body hair manscaping pyramid remains a mystery to most guys. Reality is your whole body is fair game; we all have our different sweet spots. So, to guide you in the right direction, weve provided a full breakdown of all the major sections to consider deforesting, alongside expert manscaping tips, illustrations, and yes, manscaping treatments.

Note: Remember, you can do as much or as little manscaping as you feel comfortable with. While some will naturally prefer less pubic hair, others will enjoy maintaining a bit of their wild side. All are valid options.

Step 1: Trim and Apply Shave Gel

Depending on the situation down there, a pair of hair-cutting shears might suffice, though make no mistake, electric clippers perform better. The different guard lengths and shave settings will remove the bulk of pubic hair. Head below the waist at a 45-degree angle and transition your way down to the perineum  the area between the anus and scrotum commonly referred to as the taint.

Lets be clear: Vision is key here so we must insist on using shaving gels. They work best for lifting whiskers off the body, require less application and provide skin protection plus nourishment. Most importantly, its translucent presence lets you see where your grooming tools should work, while averting slip-ups in areas where the skin is most delicate.

Step 2: Taut and Razor-Ready

Tug the skin back with your non-shaving hand because you dont want it getting caught under the blade. Start at the balls and perform one stroke, followed by a quick rinse of the blade. Go at it again. Head towards the shaft and hold everything upright as to not go against the grain with the blade and rinse often. Be gentle. Feel free to pass through the perineum if necessary, just be careful since this area is friction-sensitive.

Step 3: Use a Post-Shaving Agent

Shaving any body part, let alone your balls and pubic hair, can lead to some inflammation. Aftershave splashes and lotions can be risky as most utilize alcohol or fragrances that sting like hell. Opt for an aftershave balm to cool down and hydrate skin. Any containing aloe or camphor help reduce irritability.

For more deets on how to shave yourself like a pro, take the plunge and read our full pubic hair guide on shaving your balls.

How to Manscape Your Armpit Hair

Step 1: Trim. It. Down.

Same as the pubic area, its all about cutting back the forest. Match your hair length to the proper comb attachment and buzz away. If volume is light, use the trimmer head as is.

Step 2: Exfoliate the Skin

This necessarily applies everywhere, but arms and pits benefit hugely from a nice scrubbing. Learn how to exfoliate the body and value a good exfoliant to purge clogged pores and rid yourself of dead skin. Youll produce a smoother landscape for grooming tools to work better. (Razor. Trimmer. Whatever.)

Step 3: Lather Up

Stick with a shaving gel for the same reasons weve previously preached. Itll be much easier to navigate through the contours of your arms and pits. Application is much easier as well, since only a little is needed.

Step 4: Shave It Off

Take a cartridge razor, one with a pivoting head and with no less than three blades. Start at the inside of the wrist and transition up to the forearm. Stop at the elbow and move across the forearm with soft strokes. Do the same when tackling the upper part of your arms. When working the pits, shave any way you please since underarm hair naturally grows in all directions.

Step 5: Rinse and Cool Down

Manscaping in the shower lets you rinse off debris instantly. Let the water from the shower head manage all the dirty work. Once finished, pat down arms and pits gently. Then top it off with a skin-soothing lotion featuring aloe vera or other cooling ingredients.

How to Manscape Your Leg Hair

Step 1: Shorten Hair Length

Ads and commercials might lead you to believe it all begins with a razor and some shaving cream. Hell no. You will need to pre-shave your legs with a beard or body trimmer.

Step 2: Scrub-a-Dub

Jump in the tub and apply some form of scrubbing agent on your legs (exfoliating body wash, shower gel, etc.). You can spread it across a shower grooming tool, like a loofah or exfoliating gloves, and rub it over the skin in slight circles to get rid of dead skin.

Step 3: Apply Gel

Foam up those calves, kneecaps, thighs, and ankles. A translucent gel will ensure you dont miss any lingering hairs.

Step 4: Put in Blade Work

The way you approached the arms is no different from what youll need to do here. Take on the thinnest patches first to determine the razors maximum hair volume. Keep strokes short and be sure to rinse the blades. Shave with the grain (in the direction hair grows)  going against it in sensitive areas like the inner thigh could irritate the skin.

Step 5: Heal Your Legs

A mans skin produces more natural oils than a womans. Use a good moisturizer or post-shave conditioner to enjoy healthy, smooth legs. These solutions will destroy any existing bacteria as well. Moisturize every day to prevent friction burns.

How to Manscape Your Chest Hair

Step 1: Comb Through the Frizz

Hairy chests are obviously common, and some might love chest hair. But if you want to clear it up, heres what you need to do. The last thing you want are the trimmer blades getting caught in tangled patches. End result: Pain. Keep a premium hair comb on hand to run through the chest and shoulders (if necessary), which will help untangle any hair knots.

Step 2: Trust the Trimmer

Your chest is prone to accumulate a good amount of fur over time. The abdominal area, not so much. And thats a good thing. Grab a trimmer and go as short as possible within a 45-degree angle in the direction of the natural grain of your hair. Doing so will give your razor some breathing room.

Step 3: Use a Shaving Agent

Get a good amount of gel out of the jar or tube, lather it up, and spread across the chest and shoulders.

Step 4: Shave It Off

Play it safe with short strokes and shave following the direction of hair growth. Expect to pass the razor through the same spots a few times, primarily around the sternum and (rock-solid) pecs. Flare-ups might occur. Still, its nothing you cant treat.

Step 5: Cool It Down

A quick rinse with lukewarm water and a pat down might be enough depending on how flared up your chest becomes. Then again, an aftershave balm is always welcome.

How to Manscape Your Back Hair

Step 1: Flex and Trim

Were looking at two of the most difficult spaces to trim  your back and shoulders. Using a trimmer with flexibility and a long reach is a no-brainer. If it supports adjustable comb lengths, even better. Start with a low guard, power that sucker up, and put your contortionist skills to the test snatching up back and shoulder hair.

Step 2: Start Gelling

Youre probably capable of managing shoulder duty on this one. But a second pair of hands are required for the back. Get a girlfriend or part-time lover to smear some shaving gel right down to your crack  or lower, if that's your thing.

Step 3: Choose a Hair Removal Solution

Razors on your shoulder are no sweat. Same cant be said for the back. Waxes or a topical cream remain the better option. Either way, youre going to need another person to get it on. If youre insistent on using a razor, have the operator shave with the grain.

Step 4: Wipe It Down

Treat these areas the same way you would your arms and pits. Rinse, pat down dry, and prepare an aftershave balm.

Step 5: Clean Up and Exfoliate ... Later

The occasional ingrown hair is inevitable. Prevention is the next course of action. Look into getting a back scrubber or have someone gently rub on a good body scrub. This should avoid any bumps, buildups, or redness. Don't forget to rinse off when you're through.

How to Manscape the Rest

Step 1: The Moisture Effect

Lotion works for a quick fix, but a shower is even better. Again, steam opens up pores and moistens hair follicles for leveled trims. If too time-consuming, apply a warm compression pad to the area youre working on.

Step 2: Use a Portable Multi-Trimmer

Most body trimmers host extra accessories to trim facial spots. The problem is that these machines are heavy and provide little to no versatility to reach difficult areas. Invest in a nose hair trimmer, one with multiple heads to clear off the checklist.

Step 3: Clean Up

Most of those trimmed stray hairs stick to your body. Use a wet washcloth to wipe off any lingering whiskers. Maybe take a shaving brush or borrow a girlfriends makeup brush if need be. Our personal suggestion is body wipes for the cleansing and hydrating elements. Stock up on some and never forget to rinse the head of the trimmer.

Now that you have all the manscaping tips and tricks you could ever want, get out there and groom that body of yours to your heart's content.

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Teams from Herbert Smith Freehills in Melbourne and Brisbane have been involved in two concurrent deals involving AU$300 million worth of Australian real estate assets.The firm acted for M&G Real Estate Asia in both deals, which saw the sale of one property and the acquisition of another. The other party in both deals was AFIAA Foundation for Real Estate Investments.The team from Melbourne acted for M&G on the sale of QBE House in the city for more than $180 million and was led by partner David Sinn assisted by senior associate Niresha Mudalige.Meanwhile, the Brisbane team acted for M&G on its acquisition of HQ South Tower in Fortitude Valley for almost $120 million. This deal was led by Brisbane partner Michael Back with the assistance of senior associate Lisa Di Marco.This deal of QBE House, along with the acquisition of HQ South Tower in Brisbane, shows that the commercial property market in Australian capital cities continues to strengthen, commented David Sinn. Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Macquarie Bank on a project financing to Perseus Mining Cote d'Ivoire, a subsidiary of Perseus Mining Limited.In what is believed to be a first ever project financing of a gold mining project in Cote d'Ivoire, and the first ever under the current Ivorian mining laws. The $40 million project loan facility will be used for development and operating costs of the Sissingue gold project.Norton Rose Fulbrights team was led by Perth partner Alen Pazin."This transaction is the first project financing in Cote d'Ivoire to involve taking security under its current mining laws. Navigating through the West African Central Bank monetary regulations was also a critical piece of structuring this deal, and we are proud to be one of very few firms with regulatory and structuring expertise of this sort in Francophone Africa, said Pazin.Facebook has dropped a plan which would have allowed its founder and chief executive to retain power even as he sells blocks of his shareholding.Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to give away all of his wealth during his lifetime and the company was proposing to issue a new non-voting stock class that would have meant him retaining his voting majority even as he sold other stock.A class action due to start today (26th September) claimed that Zuckerberg would be given an unfair economic advantage if the issue went ahead, it further challenged how the deal was negotiated."We're thrilled that Facebook has dropped the reclassification," said attorney Stuart Grant of Grant & Eisenhofer, representing several institutional investors. "Stopping the issuance of the non-voting C shares is all the relief we were asking for at trial. Today's move is a total victory for stockholders."
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AMG

With the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show now over, we're now looking to the big American shows for the debut. We know that the CLS III will be revealed officially in November, about two months from now. That means it will probably be shown during the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, though Detroit remains a possibility.Many small changes will make this car different to its predecessor, changes that make the CLE-Class name look very plausible. For example, just like the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, this sexy Merc won't have a V8.While Mercedes might eventually come up with an E63 2-door, the CLE 63 would overlap with the brand new four-doorGT, which is going to debut in January.The most powerful engine on the CLE is going to be a twin-turbo inline-six with hybrid assist pushing out a little under 500 horsepower. Rumors suggest it's called the CLE 53 , but that's mainly because of the 43 and 63 models' existence.The sight of an executive V8 bruiser drifting is precisely what made the CLS so famous. So we see this "downsizing" as a bit of brand dilution on Mercedes' part. But the change is partly driven by emissions regulations.There also won't be a CLS Shooting Brake anymore. Despite German rival Porsche recently introducing the Panamera Sport Turismo , the three-pointed star brand doesn't see a future for sexy wagons.The platform for the new four-door coupe is once again going to be derived from that of the E-Class. But the engine range will more closely mirror that of the updated S-Class, which has all its cylinders in a row already. The 350d and 400d versions will provide a good balance between economy and performance. A 9-speed gearbox should be standard across the range.
If you happen to belong to the BMW fan base, or simply enjoy sprinting brawls, we've got just the thing for you. We're talking about a velocity gathering that brought together no less than four of the Bavarian automaker's spiciest offerings, namely three M cars and an M Performance machine.The list of go-fast animals that engages in the drag races delivered by the event involves the M2 , the M3, the now-retired F10 generation of the M5, as well as the M235i.The Bimmers went for a rolling start, kicking things off at 50 km/h (31 mph), while engaging in one-kilometer (0.62-mile) races. The clip documenting the adventure also delivers the finish line numbers for each car, so you'll be able to get a good idea of how the German heroes performed.As much as we enjoy checking out such an M car-loaded piece of footage, we have to admit that there are plenty of reasons to lust for a more... update velocity gathering of the sort.First and foremost, the M machine everybody wants to see in action these days is the 2018 M5. With its 600 hp mill, which is an evolution of the replaced model's 4.0-liter V8, its all-wheel-drive and its torque converter automatic tranny, the newcomer provides plenty of hardware details that require a real-world demonstration.Secondly, there's the M2, which is on its way to receiving an even hotter CS (Club Sport) version . We should get to meet the revamped compact M Division animal by the second quarter of next year.As for the M235i , this has already been replaced by the M240i, which, as we've discussed on previous occasions, can get dangerously close to the M2 in terms of straight-line might. Nevertheless, one shouldn't make the mistake of believing the M Performance model can work as a substitute for the M2, since, for instance, the handling differences between the two are noticeable. To be more precise, while the M2 brings back the spirit of the golden era go-fast compact Bimmers, the M240i doesn't pack the same level of sharpness when it comes to the twisty bits.
The Japanese tuner had previously released a kit for the Sant'Agata Bolognese monster and yet the package didn't include the Japanese aftermarket specialist's signature fat fenders.Of course, this means that the tuner cut into the fenders of the Aventador SV to install the new elements, which is extremely outlandish when you think that the Italian automaker only brought 600 units of the SV Coupe to the world.Widebody approach aside, you can focus on the front lip, the side skirt extensions of the side air intake covers coming from Liberty Walk.Then we have the custom rims of the V12 animal, which comes from Sky Forged Performance Wheels. Thanks to the mix between the overly extrovert design and the screaming shade of blue used here, the rollers stand out for the distance.However, if you take a moment to think about Japan's crazy custom car culture (we're talking about the Lamborghini side of the JDM tuner realm here), the Aventador we have here suddenly doesn't seem all that crazy.Anybody who's spent enough time on the world wide web has come across Tokyo's LED-loaded Lamborghinis at least once. And while many stories on the topic focused on retired models, such as the Murcielago and the Gallardo, we'll remind you that the Aventador has also been touched by this.In fact, back in January, we discussed an example of the V12 Raging Bull that had been fitted with $30,000 worth of LEDs, a contraption we perceived as a V12 disco ball.
GT3 RSR Style! u  Photo: @hotelhanswirt A post shared by Porsche 911. LegendsNeverDie! (@911legendsneverdie) on Sep 22, 2017 at 5:24pm PDT

To be more precise, the GT3 RS we have here comes dressed in the same livery as the 2018 Porsche 911 RSR. You know, the insane racecar that went for a (somewhat) mid-engined layout. To be more precise, the positions of the flat-six motor and the gearbox were switched, with this marking a dramatic change in the bloodline of the 911.The formula, which was released earlier this year, already proved successful enough for plenty of privateers to require the automaker to build customer racing incarnations of the RSR.Oh, and the track-only incarnation of the Neunelfer also has one of the loudest voices out there, with certain aficionados arguing that the decibel experience delivered by the Porscha could be enough to overpower the V8 might of the Corvette C7.R - here's a sample of the 2017 Porsche 911 RSR's soundtrack.This example of the 991.1-generation Rennsport Neunelfer packs sweet-looking options that replicate the black and white contrast displayed by the livery of the thing. We're talking about the black finish of the wheels and the clear nature of the taillights.Truth be told, the still-reigning Porsche 911 GT3 RS must be the most wrapped model in the history of the Neunelfer. First of all, the timing is perfect, since the second skin industry constantly comes up with fresh designs in order to keep things alive.Then there's the uber-extrovert appearance of the PDK bearer, which basically invites owners to dress it in all sort of awesome liveries.And we'll drop two of the most impressive examples we've shown you so far, namely the Pink Pig and the Dirty Martini GT3 RS monsters.
The Skully fiasco will be remembered forever in the motorcycle world as the startup company promising a high-tech helmet able to offer the rider integrated audio, microphone, and head-up display, has repeatedly delayed production and shipping dates until two of its founders managed to syphon most of the money out of the company and throw it into bankruptcy.Most of the initial backers were left empty-handed, and no refunds were given. Mind you; were talking about pre-purchases costing between a couple hundred bucks to over 1,000, so you can imagine the scale of this hoax.However, a recent email sent to Skullys backers informs that the old company was bought by two investors who say they are determined to make this right.You are receiving this email because you are part of the SKULLY Nation and we are bringing back the SKULLY helmet, the email reads. We are happy to inform you that the assets of SKULLY, Inc., have been acquired by Ivan Contreras and Rafael Contreras, successful businessmen in a variety of global turnaround industrial and technology ventures, with the goal of fulfilling SKULLYs destiny.If youve never heard of these guys before, well tell you they have also been involved in reviving two other motorcycle-related companies, namely Torrot and Gas Gas. Both these companies are up and running so there hopes that Skully will finally come to life.The former SKULLY , Inc., is now named SKULLY Technologies and comes with a new leadership team with the headquarters now located in Atlanta, Georgia. The new company even has a new website , which should keep fans informed about its progress.Theres even an announcement saying that on October 16, 2017, at 10 a.m., the team will go live and allow previous backers to register so they could finally be refunded or to receive the much awaited intelligent helmet.We too are in a bit of shock and eager to see how all this will unfold.
While the former has been drifting all his life - he has a stable home, so we're talking literally here - the 23-year-old son has been taught not to do it. Starting off with karting, Sainz Junior was told the quickest way around a track is to maintain traction at all times, so going sideways was out of the question.The only time we see a Formula One car drift is when it's hopelessly heading toward the gravel trap, the tire stacks or the protective barrier. If an F1 single-seater loses grip, it usually ends with a crash. But they don't say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree for nothing, so Carlos Sainz Jr. might be just as adept at drifting as his father.It appears Red Bull had an issue with the "might" bit, so the Austrian energy drink that's well known for its ties with motorsport put together a little contest between the two. Like other short films you can find on the Internet, they even bothered to create a story behind it.The pair was enjoying a nice breakfast at their sunny home in Spain watching rally on TV, as any family does. The father looks to elevate small talk ("can I have some juice?") to medium talk by pointing at a nice jump performed by the rally car and rhetorically asking "not bad, right?"The junior is less than impressed, and he's quick to dismiss the skill involved, which leads us to believe this wasn't the first time the two had diverging opinions over which driving style is more difficult - rallying or track racing. This time, though, Carlos Sainz Sr. had had enough, so the gauntlet was thrown.And since they just happened to have two professionally-made Cross Cars lying around as well as access to a dirt track and a filming crew, the Sainz vs. Sainz clip was created. Expect the usual Red Bull quality , but the ending has us wondering whether there's also a sequel coming.After taking the cross cars out of one, once their little scuffle is over the pair ends up in another hangar where a Formula One car lies waiting. Moments before, the defeated son asked for a revenge match on asphalt, so we might get to see the two-times WRC and one-time Dakar Rally winner driving an F1 car for what we can only imagine would be the first time.
SUV

EV

The company must show its dedication to the use of clean propulsion after having its name tarred by the diesel emissions scandal. The two solutions most manufacturers embrace these days are battery-powered electric vehicles and those that use an onboard liquid hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity. While the debate between the two is still ongoing, the former appears to be gaining more and more ground, and Volkswagen might have just tilted the balance for good.Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai are the first three names associated with the fuel cell alternative, but others - like Mercedes-Benz, for example - are still toying with the idea. There's one brand even inside the Volkswagen Group that gave it a try, and we're thinking here of Audi. However, if the CEO is to be believed, it certainly appears like the technology is going to take a back seat to the battery-powered vehicles. Way back, in the third row.During his address at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Matthias Muller briefly mentioned Audi' s fuel cell models, saying they would arrive "one of these days." Another clear example of where the company's priorities lie was the onslaught of electric Audi concepts in Frankfurt, as well as the imminent launch of the first real e-tron model, the Quattro electric"The worst thing you can do is kind of half bake electric, then go off on another science project with fuel cells, then go running to another science project," Scott Keogh, president of Audi of America, told Automotive News . In other words, the Volkswagen Group is fully dedicated to itsambitions at the moment, so nobody should expect the German giant to support the expansion of the infrastructure needed for fuel cell vehicles.The company will, however, invest $2 billion over ten years in the U.S.A. alone to build a network of competitive fast-charging stations for long-distance traveling, much like what Tesla has done with its Superchargers.Volkswagen is actually well within the trend after both Toyota and Hyundai said their companies would switch focus from fuel cells to battery-powered EVs over the coming years, with the technology's only remaining supporter now being the Japanese at Honda.It looks like the industry has made its mind on where tomorrow's electric vehicles will get their power from, and everyone still betting on hydrogen fuel cells is essentially swimming against the current.
The Army has confirmed that one of its Blackhawk helicopters hit a drone while patrolling over New York City on Thursday. The collision occurred about 7:30 p.m. over Staten Island, Fox News reported. The station obtained photos of the marks left behind by the drone along with one of its rotor arms. Debris was found in the oil cooler and there were marks on the fuselage and rotor blades.

The helicopter was at about 500 feet providing security for the U.N. General Assembly when it hit the drone, said Lt. Col. Joe Buccino of the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg. Mechanics swapped out the rotor blades and put the Blackhawk into service the next day.
25 September 2017 18:04 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The Armenian authorities have failed to create promised jobs and investment in the country, while ordinary Armenians have lost hope in the future.

Armenians do not feel any positive shift in their life, but the government continues to assure them that brighter days will come.

The people are just being deceived when they [the government] say about some foreign investment in the country, Armenian economist Vilen Khachatryan has said at a meeting with journalists.

He reminded that there was no investment in January-June, and furthermore, $51.9 million were exported out of Armenia.

This means that much more money was exported from Armenia than it was received from outside, the expert said, adding that bulk of the money was exported to Russia.

Investing into Armenia was a failed project from the very beginning, and the authorities knew about that. However, they needed these tales about investment first to maintain the image of the new Prime Minister, and then to decorate the image of the ruling party in the parliamentary elections.

Prior to the April election, Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan promised the people to attract $3 billion if the ruling Republican Party of Armenia wins. The citizens believed in this, but they still have not seen the promised investment boom.

Armenian media note that the net inflow of foreign direct investment in the real sector of Armenian economy made -$51.9 million in January-June 2017, which is by 65 percent less than the figure for the same period of 2016.

Thus, instead of enjoying boom in investments, Armenia has to survive and maintain its poor economy by other ways that have long been running out.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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25 September 2017 18:09 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

The State Committee on Property Issues of Azerbaijan will hold next auction on privatization of state property on October 24.

The auction will offer 156 state objects, of which 25 are joint-stock companies, 64-small state enterprises, 67-non-residential areas.

Some of the properties were put up for auction together with land plot.

The properties, put up for sale together with land plot are located in Shamkir, Tovuz, Imishli, Jalilabad, Goygol, Naftalan and other cities of the country.

About 61 non-residential areas to be put up for the auction are located in the capital city, the rest-in Mingachevir, Sumgayit, Shirvan and Sabirabad.

About 300 state properties and enterprises are planned to be privatized until the end of 2017.

Earlier, Chairman of the State Committee on Property Issues Karam Hasanov said that revenues from the privatization of state property to the state budget of Azerbaijan will exceed 100 million manats ($59.33 million) until the end of 2017.

He added that to date, over 1,100 state objects and enterprises have been put up for privatization, as a result of privatization more than 93 million manats ($55.18 million) have been directed to the state budget.

Information about the auction is posted on the official website of the Committee, on the website privatization.az and on the facebook page.

The portal for privatization, launched in July 2016, reflects all necessary information about the facilities, their addresses, location, and even initial cost and aims at facilitation of the process. The website is available in two languages - Azerbaijani and English. Why Azerbaijan is special section available on the website explains the reasons and advantages of investing in the country.

The privatization process is designed to attract both foreign and local investors, as well as develop the business environment of Azerbaijan.

Moreover, the State Committee on Property Issues organizes electronic auction.

The "electronic auction" service, which is available on the website privatization.az, combines the privatization procedure of vehicles and equipment. In the future, it will be possible to privatize small state enterprises and facilities, joint-stock companies through electronic auction. Now, the corresponding work in programming is being implemented.

In order to protect state property and effectively manage it in the new economic realities, President of Azerbaijan signed a decree on May 19, 2016.

Under the decree, the acceleration of the state property privatization process has been defined as an important direction of the economic policy.

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25 September 2017 11:58 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

After the fall of the Soviet Union, many Soviet statues and sculptures were removed or moved to museums.

But, now Soviet monuments of Azerbaijan maybe convened in one place  a new park.

Rafael Huseynov, chairman of State Committee on National Culture, has voiced the initiative.

"When the monuments of the Soviet period were demolished in Baku, I suggested that they could be collected and installed in a separate park. So you could bring children here and introduce them to the history of the Soviet period. So that they could know that Azerbaijan was occupied but was able to regain independence," said Huseynov.

There were political figures, who at that time were considered heroes, streets were named after them. However, times have changed. On the other hand, during the Soviet period the names of republic founders were banned. The main thing is to bring a story to the future generations, as it is, he added.

The committee chairman reminded that the law "On decommunization" was adopted in Poland.

"This law provided for demolition of monuments reminiscent of the existence of communism. We are against the demolition of these monuments. This is a story, and it can not be touched," he noted.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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25 September 2017 11:15 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Baku has expanded the list of persona non grata banned from visiting Azerbaijan.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives David Valadao, Frank Pallone and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Foreign Ministry's list of undesirable persons, spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend.

Valadao, Pallone and Gabbard illegally visited the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian armed forces, grossly violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, as well as its Law on exit from the country, entry into the country, and passports and Law on the State Border of Azerbaijan.

Hajiyev said that by this illegal visit, the members of the House of Representatives, violating the norms and principles of international law and the Helsinki Final Act, justify and support the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, the bloody ethnic cleansing of more than a million Azerbaijani civilians in the occupied territories, and aggressive separatism.

Unfortunately, by such illegal and biased behavior, these individuals taint the image of the U.S. Congress in the eyes of the Azerbaijani and international public, the spokesman noted.

Hajiyev added that these acts, committed jointly with Armenia and Armenian lobby, nullify the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, which includes the U.S., aimed at ensuring sustainable peace in the region and resolving Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

By their actions these individuals have repeatedly proved that they are under the influence of the Armenian lobby operating in the U.S., in particular, under the financial influence of such a radical and racist organization as the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), he added.

The spokesman noted that relevant ethical committees of the Congress must investigate on which financial conditions these visits were made.

We also call on other members of the House of Representatives who are guided by spiritual and moral values, the rule of law at the national and international level, and their voters, Hajiyev said. We urge to correctly assess and condemn the acts of Valadao, Pallone and Gabbard.

Unauthorized visits to Nagorno-Karabakh and other regions of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia are considered illegal, and any individuals paying such visits are included in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's 'black list'. Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry and diplomatic missions pay special attention to the illegal activity in the occupied areas of Azerbaijan.

Baku has repeatedly warned foreign officials and diplomats of illegality of visits to its territories that are occupied by Armenia, calling them contradictory to international law. The work is constantly carried out to prevent such illegal actions.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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25 September 2017 16:48 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will do everything possible for peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Kristian Vigenin, OSCE PA special representative for South Caucasus, said on September 25.

He made the remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani IDPs in the Masazir settlement of Absheron district.

Vigenin got acquainted with the living conditions of the IDPs and talked with them. The IDPs expressed concern that their Motherland have been under the Armenian occupation for more than 25 years.

Kristian Vigenin is visiting Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia on September 24-30. During his visit to Azerbaijan, the special representative will hold meetings at the Foreign Ministry, the Parliament and other structures of the country.

Influence of the long-lasting conflicts on peoples lives in South Caucasus will be discussed during Vigenins visits.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Today the Armenian occupants continue to illegally remain in Azerbaijans internationally recognized territories. More than a million of Azerbaijanis who lost their homes and families due to Armenian aggression, are waiting for the day to return to their native lands.

With a population of over 9.8 million, Azerbaijan is among the countries carrying the highest IDP caseload in the world in per capita terms.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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25 September 2017 10:40 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Pakistan has undertaken commitments of the contract for the timely delivery of Super Mushshak aircraft to Azerbaijan.

Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force Sohail Aman said in Baku at a meeting with the commander of the Air Force of Azerbaijan, Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov.

In Baku, Sohail Aman and Ramiz Tahirov also discussed prospects of training Azerbaijani military pilots in the institutes of the Pakistan Air Force, Trend reported.

Sohail Aman also visited the Military Academy of Azerbaijans Armed Forces to deliver a lecture on The use of air forces in asymmetric warfare.

In July, Pakistan signed an agreement with Azerbaijan for sale of 10 Super Mushshak training aircraft to Azerbaijan Air Force.

The contract was signed in Azerbaijan, where Air Marshal Arshad Malik, Chairman of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at the town of Kamra represented Pakistan, whereas Azerbaijan was represented by Air Force Commander Azerbaijan Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov at the occasion.

The document also covers operational training and technical support and assistance to Azerbaijan Air Force.

The aircraft is already in service with Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran and South Africa.

Back in November 2016, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry and Pakistans Joint Staff Headquarters signed a plan of bilateral military cooperation in Islamabad. The sides agreed to continue cooperation in carrying out joint military exercises and discussed detailed cooperation in defense sector and joint military production.

Azerbaijan, which is in war with neighboring Armenia over the latter's territorial claims, keeps in focus the armament. The country, which enjoys the most modern army in the Caucasus, leaves behind many CIS countries to take its place among the first 60 strongest militaries of the world.

Pakistan is one of the oldest and closest allies and strategic partners of Azerbaijan in Asia. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is one of the first countries that recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on December 12, 1991.

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25 September 2017 10:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Azerbaijans energy giant SOCAR has increased the depth of oil refining at the Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev to 90.2 percent.

Last year this indicator equaled to 89.5 percent, the article of SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, published in the special issue of the newspaper Iki Sahil, reads.

"In total, over 8 months of this year, over 3.82 million tons of crude oil were processed, resulting in 783,900 tons of motor gasoline, 392,600 tons of jet fuel, 1.19 million tons of diesel fuel, 221,900 tons of furnace fuel oil, 130,600 tons of bitumen, 137,300 tons of coke, the article says.

At present, the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery, is being modernized and the modernisation will be completed by 2020. The production capacity of the refinery will be increased from 6 million to 7.5 million tons per year as a result.

SOCAR announced the liquidation of the Azneftyag refinery and its merger with the Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev, in 2015. This decision was made in the framework of works to improve and optimize the structure of SOCAR.

The refinery meets Azerbaijan's entire demand for petroleum products and exports 45 percent of the products. The petroleum products processed at the plant include automotive gasoline, aviation kerosene, diesel fuel, black oil, petroleum coke, and others.

The company plans to produce high-quality oil products as part of the next stage of the reconstruction work to be carried out at the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery. Under the program, the oil refinery will produce Euro-5 standard diesel in 2019 and the Euro 5 standard petrol in 2020.

The cost of upgrading the Baku Oil Refinery will be about $1.5-1.7 billion.

President Ilham Aliyev attended a ground breaking ceremony of a new bitumen production facility as part of reconstruction of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery on September 19.

Speaking at the ceremony President Aliyev said the project of reconstruction of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery has been launched and the work to be done here will enable to create a world-class plant.

By the construction of a new bitumen production facility, the current infrastructure of former Azerneftyag oil refinery will be fully decommissioned and the coastal areas will be emptied and handed over for the realization of White City project. Furthermore running costs of Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery will be optimized and the country will be provided with high-quality bitumen.

SOCAR is wholly owned by the government of Azerbaijan. SOCAR participates in joint ventures (including ventures in Georgia and Turkey), consortia, and operating companies established with SOCARs participation.

The company includes such production associations as Azneft (the enterprises producing oil and gas onshore and offshore), Azerikimya (the chemical enterprises) and Azerigas (distributor of gas produced in the country), as well as oil and gas processing plants, service companies, and the facilities involved in geophysical and drilling operations.

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25 September 2017 17:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Top oil nations that are party to the output cut deal are discussing the prolongation of production cuts after March 2018 for a period of three to six months, but consensus has not yet been reached on this issue.

A source in the OPEC told TASS that this question depends on indicators.

Some members want to extend, others do not, third want to increase quotas. Now consultations are in progress, we still have time. [Prolongation] is currently being discussed for a period of three to six months, the interlocutor said.

The issue of the fate of the deal after March 2018 will be discussed at a regular meeting in Vienna on November 30.

This will depend on the decision taken in November, the source said.

Previously, the Monitoring Committee on the implementation of the agreement on the reduction of oil production by the OPEC and non-OPEC countries urged all participants to fulfill their obligations.

The 5th meeting of the OPEC and non-OPEC Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee was held in Vienna on September 22, where the issue of extending the deal was discussed.

Following the meeting, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak stressed that it is best to make a decision on this issue not earlier than January.

Over 8 months that the agreement is operating, the surplus of global oil reserves decreased by 168 million barrels and now stocks exceed the five-year standard by only 170 million barrels., according to Novak.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih, in turn, said that his country will reduce oil exports in September and limit it at around 6.6 million barrels per day, which is 1 million less than a year ago.

Later, plans to cut exports were announced by the UAE.

The next JMMC meeting is scheduled for the day prior to the full ministerial meeting on November 30 in Vienna.

OPEC and non-OPEC producers reached an agreement in December 2016 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices. OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels per day from January 1.

Non-OPEC oil producers such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan, and South Sudan agreed to reduce output by 558,000 barrels per day starting from January 1, 2017.

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25 September 2017 11:39 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Voting has started in a controversial referendum on the secession of northern Iraqs Kurdish region amid regional and international opposition to the referendum.

The September 25 independence referendum is taking place in areas under the control of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq.

The KRG Independent High Electoral Commission announced that over 5 million people are expected to vote in the ballot, which is boycotted by Turkmens and Arabs.

Iraqs central government has threatened to intervene militarily if the vote leads to violence, while Turkey, the U.S., Iran and the UN have warned that the vote would distract from operations against Daesh and lead to greater instability in the region.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has said that results of the referendum are "null and void".

The referendum in the KRG, is null and void in terms of its consequences, the statement reads. We do not recognize this initiative, which lacks legal basis and legitimacy with regard to the international law and the Iraqi constitution.

The Foreign Ministry added that the National Security Council has already outlined the sanctions to be imposed on the Kurdish region in the event of a vote for independence, which were later agreed by the Cabinet.

We stress one more time that we will take every measure that emanates from the international law and from the authority granted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, in the event that some radical elements and terrorists, which may seek to exploit the circumstances that will emerge following the referendum, attempt to carry out acts that target our national security.

The ministry also extended a travel ban for Turkish citizens to Iraqs Erbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah provinces.

Meanwhile, mass protests are underway in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and other major cities of Turkey against the referendum in Kurdistan, Turkish media outlets reported.

Protest actions against the referendum also take place in such Turkish provinces as Aydin and Osmaniye.

Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim previously emphasized that a planned independence referendum in northern Iraq as "illegitimate".

"Any status change, any new formation on the southern frontiers of Turkey will never be tolerated," Yildirim said.

The head of Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, previously threatened war if the central government in Baghdad interferes with the holding of the referendum.

Barzani later added that a Yes vote would not result in an automatic declaration of independence but would simply lead to further negotiations with Baghdad.

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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25 September 2017 12:24 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The Uzbek government has decided to allocate additional funds for the purchase of medicines for public health institutes.

Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov ordered the countrys finance ministry to provide the health ministry with an interest-free budget loan worth 300 billion soums by the end of September, according to the message published on the Uzbek news agencys website podrobno.uz.

Moreover, the finance ministry has been entitled to allocate additional 240 billion soms from the state budget for the purchase of medicines, if necessary, by late 2017.

The allocation of 3 billion soums to the Republican foreign economic state enterprise O'zmedexport in the form of a contribution to its statutory fund will be another measure of support for the countrys public health sector.

Earlier, O'zmedexport was allowed to import socially important medicines under direct contracts at prices approved by the Republican Commission for Control of Provision of Health Facilities and Population with Medicines and Medical Products.

From January 1, 2017, prices for medicines are determined quarterly by the Republican Commission.

In total, the list of socially important drugs and products sold at fixed prices includes 116 domestic medicines (98) and medical products (18) and 227 imported medicines (201) and medical products (26).

The Uzbek government previously approved healthcare reforms meant to increase the number of qualified medical personnel in state clinics, improve emergency services and restrain drug prices.

Uzbekistan has a developed system of state medical facilities. Emergency care is free too.

The number of patients treated at state facilities rose 6% between 2010 and 2015, while the number of doctors working in those places rose only 4%, according to the Health Ministry. Some physicians joined private practices, while others left the field in search of higher incomes.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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25 September 2017 13:40 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Energy-rich Kazakhstan intends to increase the export and transit of gas to China up to 100 billion cubic meters per year.

This was announced by Erkanat Temirkhanov, Deputy General Director for Transformation and Development of KazTransGas JSC, who spoke at the 16th ERRA conference on investments and energy regulation, Kazinform reported.

"In connection with the commissioning of Beiney-Bozoy-Shymkent at full capacity, we are building a powerful compressor station. We want to increase the export and transit of gas to China to 100 billion cubic meters per year, and maybe even more," he said.

Kazakhstan holds 0.8 percent of the worlds natural gas proven reserves, and produces 0.6 percent of the worlds total gas output, according to the BPs statistics 2015.

The country serves as a major transit country for gas exports from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan that are destined to Russia and China. Volumes from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are transported through the Central Asia-China gas pipeline network that links with CNPC's Second West-East Pipeline in western Xinjiang province at the border with Kazakhstan.

The volume of gas exports rose by 7.9 percent in 2016 to 13.7 bcm.

In a bid to increase the country's gas industry in 2018-2024, the government is considering the Amangeldy deposit not only as a resource base, but also storage.

The Amangeldy gas field in Jambyl region of Kazakhstan will be used as a large gas storage facility, according to Temirkhanov.

KazTantransGas has a subsidiary company Amangeldygas, through which it is planned to bring the volume up to 500 million tons a year. It's our subsidiary located in Jambyl region, he said.

Temirkhanov added: "For now, we are ready to transport 10 billion cubic meters of gas only to China. But we are working with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Russia - its Gazprom.

Today, together with our scientists and other investors, we are developing a project for using Amangeldygas as a large gas storage facility. The available capacities for us are already not enough. We are thinking about the prospects for the growth of gas transportation to China, we will need a large gas storage facility in the south," Temirkhanov explained.

KazTransGas JSC is the largest gas supply company in the Republic of Kazakhstan, representing the interests of the state on domestic gas market and worldwide. KazTransGas operates natural gas transport via main gas pipelines, sales natural gas on domestic and foreign markets, develops, finances, constructs and maintains pipelines and gas storages.

KazTransGas operates a huge gas transportation system, which includes more than 30,000 kilometers of gas distribution networks, more than 15,000 kilometers of main gas pipelines, 56 compressor stations that have installed 316 gas compressor units and 3 underground gas storage.

Currently, KazTransGas is represented in 10 regions of Kazakhstan which are Almaty, Aktobe, Atyrau, East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan, Kostanai, Kyzylorda, Mangystau and South Kazakhstan regions.

Kazakh gas is expected to face strong competition from Turkmen, Uzbek and Russian gas supplies under long-term contracts with China.

A majority of Kazakhstans proved natural gas reserves and natural gas production is possible thanks to the Karachaganak field. The Karachaganak field's gas reserves are estimated at 1.35 trillion cubic meters while oil and liquid condensates around 1.2 billion tons.

About 49 percent of Kazakhstan's gas production and 18 percent of its produced oil are extracted from this field.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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25 September 2017 16:07 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have exchanged views regarding an imminent trilateral meeting between Russia, Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic in Tehran.

The discussion took place over phone, Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of the Iranian president for political affairs, wrote on Twitter on Monday.

The official did not provide the exact date of the upcoming meeting.

The presidents of Iran and Russia also discussed the latest regional developments during the phone conversation, Aboutalebi added.

The sides stressed on the need for serious fight against terrorism. Putin and Rouhani also called for protecting unity in Iraq as well as stability in the region, the presidential aide suggested.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 September 2017 17:51 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbek banks may be allowed to sell foreign currency to the public soon.

Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov announced that the government will allow the sale of cash foreign currency to the public from October 1, for the first time in decades, Reuters reported.

However, the Uzbek Central Bank has not yet made any statements on this matter.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan devalued the national currency  soum  by almost two times on September 5, setting the official exchange rate of US dollar at 8,100 soums/USD compared to 4,210.35 soums/USD on Sept. 4.

Simultaneously, restrictions were lifted for legal entities and individuals to convert the national currency.

Answering the question on whether the government plans further devaluation of the national currency, the prime minister told reporters that "the market will show this."

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered to remove restrictions from September 5 on currency exchange for the population.

Currently, Uzbek people can buy foreign currency solely on plastic payment cards, which can be used abroad without any restrictions.

Earlier, individual entrepreneurs and farmers in Uzbekistan were allowed to withdraw foreign currency from their bank accounts.

In addition, legal entities can purchase foreign currency in banks without restrictions for payment on current international transactions - for the import of goods, works and services, repatriation of profits, repayment of loans, travel expenses and other non-trade transfers.

At the time, physical persons can only sell currency to banks through exchange offices.

---

Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 September 2017 13:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Tourism industry in Azerbaijan is developing day by day, turning into one of the most important sectors of the economy.

The shores of the Caspian, the Mugan, Karabakh, the Mil plains, the mountains, forests, rivers, springs, lakes, summer recreation areas, and historical monuments are headline tourist attractions of Azerbaijan. The Land of Fire enjoys nine of the worlds 11 climate zones, adding to the range of destinations on offer.

The government of Azerbaijan has made developing tourism a priority by building new tourist facilities in the regions, and restoring cultural and historical reserves.

Now, Azerbaijan is working on cooperation with neighboring countries in the tourism sector.

Spokesperson of the National Tourism Propaganda Bureau Kanan Guluzade said that Azerbaijan, despite existing competition, is sharing a vast experience in tourism with a number of countries.

Moreover, it is also planned to create joint tourism routes, with the aim of attracting tourists to the country in a profitable way.

The spokesperson informed that part of those plans will be realized in the near future.

We are already in close cooperation with Turkey and Georgia in the field of tourism. Of course, tourism is very competitive field. But we are both rival and partner to Georgia. We hope that foreign tourists coming to Georgia will also travel along the route Lagodekhi-Gakh-Balakan-Gabala. It is also of interest to Georgia, he told Millli.az.

To this end, Azerbaijan also plans to further liberalize the border regime to ensure a comfortable transition of tourists. We want tourists smoothly cross the border, he said.

In addition, Guluzade noted that the country is holding negotiations with Dagestan and Iran to create joint routes.

For example, we want to create an opportunity for Iranians coming to Azerbaijan also visit Georgia and those visiting Dagestan come to Azerbaijan with the "Duma route" or and so on. So, first of all, we are trying to work closely with the neighboring countries in this field, he explained.

Azerbaijan is also cooperating with Turkey. Guluzade said: At present, the creation of a joint tourism route between Turkey and Nakhchivan is being discussed. The negotiations will probably be positive, since this is real.

Another project is that tourists, who will come to Georgia from the East of Turkey, then will arrive to Azerbaijan and the east of the South Caucasus.



This issue is a bit difficult. So far, discussions are under way. Covering three countries is not an easy task, he noted.

Azerbaijan, situated on the Great Silk Road, and divided partially between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, blended the best from both cultures, forming its own unique rich culture, which attracts more and more tourists to the country.

A sharp increase in number of tourists cannot but rejoice both the economy and the inhabitants of Azerbaijan, also known as the Land of Fires.

Hotels, restaurants, recreation areas, and shopping centers filled up with foreigners and this shows the interest of tourists in a newly chosen destination.

The state pays much attention to tourism sector and Strategic Roadmap for the Development of the Tourism Industry approved in 2016 stipulates a number of measures for achieving great steps in this area.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Kandace York

When you're ready to graduate in a couple months, and you've already completed four internships with a promising job prospect waiting, how do you spend your last summer as a Bowling Green State University student?

If you are Samantha Chapman of Westerville, Ohio, you study business and art history on two continents, traveling to seven countries in 12 weeks before you return just in time to walk in your commencement ceremony.

Chapman summed up the inspiration for her journey in just one sentence. "I'm an international business major, so it was important for me to spend time in other countries."

The 18,000-mile trek was a harder sell for her parents. Even though her father was a BGSU alumnus who supported the opportunities that College of Business offered, the trip's scope was intimidating.

"My parents weren't too keen on it at first; they were actually quite nervous about the whole thing," Chapman said. "But I told them I needed to do this to figure things out. I needed to see things from a different perspective."

Chapman mapped out a three-month education abroad session that started with five weeks in Florence, Italy, where she studied at Studio Arts Center International.

"That was important for my art history minor," she said. "I studied both art history and art conservation. My classes were incredible, but just walking around Florence, and seeing the art in person that I'd only seen in pictures my whole life, was amazing."

Despite her enthusiasm about studying in Florence, Chapman avoided one task that many travelers make an effort to include: learning the language before she left.

"As an international business student, I wanted to know how it would feel to be a business professional, stepping off the plane and not knowing a word of Italian," she said. "I wanted to feel uncomfortable so that I could understand the challenges of doing business in different countries."

This hands-on approach was part of her plan to focus on real-world applications for her academic studies.

"I had already interned as a page in the Ohio Senate and for the Ohio Auditor, because I wanted to learn more about state government," Chapman said. "But I also interned at the Walt Disney Co., where I learned the incredible Disney customer service mindset and started thinking about centering my life around other people."

After five weeks in Italy and a week "off" for extra traveling, Chapman headed to Hong Kong for a five-week course in business numeracy. This took her international experience to a whole new level.

She thought her time in Italy would be good preparation, but Hong Kong offered bigger differences  and opportunities  than she had expected.

"I was so nervous when I arrived," she said. "Out of 650 Asian students, I was one of eight foreigners and three Americans."

Hong Kong, as a major international city, did use English to some extent, "but the native language and alphabet were still completely different from what I'd known. Hong Kong is where I really learned what it's like to be an outsider and how to get things done in an unfamiliar setting."

Chapman said those 12 weeks, with all their opportunities and uncertainties, drove her to discover her real calling in life: using her experiences to help other people reach their business goals.

"One of the things Dean (Raymond) Braun tells us is that business is about people," she said. "I want to be in the business of helping people."
Bowling Green State University is among the nations most environmentally responsible colleges, according to the 2017 Princeton Review Guide to 375 Green Colleges.

The guide, released Sept. 20, profiles colleges with the most exceptional commitments to sustainability based on their academic offerings and career preparation for students, campus policies, initiatives and activities. BGSU was on the 2016 list as well.

We are pleased that our sustainability efforts have once again been recognized by the Princeton Review guide, said BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey. This recognition honors the students, faculty and staff who have taken leadership roles in making us a more environmentally aware and responsible institution.

In 2012, Mazey signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, lending BGSUs support to the effort to promote climate neutrality and sustainability. In 2014, BGSU submitted its Climate Action Plan and began to implement it.

The Princeton Review chose colleges based on Green Rating scores tallied using data from the 2016-17 application. On that application, administrators reported on their sustainability-related policies, practices and programs. Schools with Green Rating scores of 80 or higher made it into the 2017 guide.

The application is immense, time-consuming and all-encompassing, said Nicholas Hennessy, BGSU sustainability manager. It incorporates every aspect of the Universitys operation and daily activities. Everything from academic course offerings/research, to energy usage, purchasing, student activities, and buildings and everything in between is considered in determining a Princeton ranking.

The Guide is not only a recognition of BGSUs efforts and accomplishments in sustainability, but also creates a clearer plan for what needs to be done to move forward.

The ranking provides a good reference for prospective students who show a growing interest in attending colleges committed to the environment.

We strongly recommend BSGU and the other fine institutions in this guide to the many environmentally minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges, said The Princeton Reviews Robert Franek, senior vice president-publisher.

School profiles in the Green Colleges Guide include Green Facts, details on such things as the availability of transportation alternatives and whether the school employs a sustainability officer. They also provide information about each schools admission requirements, cost and financial aid and student body statistics. Academic areas across BGSU offers courses that educate students about the environment and sustainability, from the School of Earth, Environment and Society to construction management to biology to architecture and interior design, among others.
"She's never going to be successful in life." It wasn't the most promising of starts to high school.

My grade eight teacher had discovered that I was terrible at spelling and thought he best raise the matter with my parents - both school teachers - so they could manage my expectations. I was never going to get the Secretary General of the United Nations job when I grew up because I couldn't spell.

We have a long history of linking spelling skills to intelligence, despite evidence to the contrary. Credit:Paul Edmondson/Stocksy

My teacher was right about my spelling. Despite spending hours on spelling drills and memorising every spelling rule, it was still woeful.

Still, it came as shock to my 12-year-old self that my entire future would be decided by whether or not I could remember all the exceptions to the rule "i before e except after c".
Local firms have won $6.5 million in ACT government contracts since the start of a new policy aiming to boost Canberra region companies winning tenders.

The government two years ago pledged to create a new policy to level the playing field between local firms and interstate companies vying for territory contracts, a policy that has been officially operating since January this year.

ACT local industry advocate Kate Lundy with Chief Minister Andrew Barr. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos

Since then, the government has awarded $6.5 million in six contracts to local firms valued at $200,000 or more, out of 13 completed goods and services contracts since January, and $1.3 million in contracts between $25,000 and $200,000 to five SMEs, four local firms and another four that fit both categories.

The policy, which gives local firms a 10 per cent extra weighting, and demands companies explain how they will employ Canberra region workers or subcontractors, was integrated into the government's online tenders website in May.
Bomb squad officers called to investigate a suspicious package left on a Queensland street were relieved to find it was merely a pot of crabs.

A Queensland police spokesman said a street at Crestmead, south of Brisbane, was shut down on Monday morning after a resident called the national terrorism hotline to report that a pressure cooker had been left on a footpath.

He said bomb squad officers carefully approached the appliance, which was emitting a strange smell.

When they opened the pot they found it full of crabs.

Police were unable to confirm if the crabs were cooked or uncooked.
Fisheries Queensland director Andrew Thwaites died from carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide toxicity after his scuba tank was filled with "grossly high" levels of the dangerous gases, an inquest has heard.

It has also been alleged in court other tanks filled from the same compressor at the Underwater Research Group of Queensland clubhouse were found to have been contaminated with higher than usual levels of the gases.

Fisheries Queensland director Andrew Thwaites, 44, was found dead after failing to resurface on a diving trip off Moreton Island.

Mr Thwaites drowned during a dive at Henderson Rock off the east coast of Brisbane's Moreton Island on August 10, 2016.

The 44-year-old's body was found by police divers the next day in a rocky outcrop near the sea floor.
Researchers have identified what shuts down the heart's ability to repair itself and are closing in on identifying a drug that could reverse the process.

Dr James Hudson and Dr Enzo Porrello spent four years looking into the regenerative ability together, after meeting at the University of Queensland and discovering they had similar research interests.

Dr James Hudson from the University of Queenslands School of Biomedical Sciences.

Dr Porrello was looking into mice, whose hearts can repair themselves in animals less than seven days old. He was trying to establish the cause of the change so that the process could be reversed in adult hearts for regeneration.

Meanwhile, Dr Hudson was examining human heart tissue. He was trying to speed up the maturation process to adulthood and also establish the cause behind the change.
How the Queensland government splashes its cash after the next election will be decided by two similarly-named competing policies.

In July, Labor announced its Buy Queensland policy, with a test to be applied to all significant contracts, with businesses with a workforce within a 125-kilometre radius receiving a weighting of up to 30 per cent.

Acting Premier Curtis Pitt accused the LNP of copying Labor.

The Palaszczuk government policy, which came into effect on September 1, became mired in controversy after the conservative New Zealand government claimed it could breach trade agreements, but Labor MPs said the state would abide by its trade agreements.

At the weekend, the Liberal National Party announced its own procurement policy with a similar moniker - Buy Local.
The Queensland Labor government still has 50 election promises to deliver, but at least one educated observer believes that is unlikely to stop it from heading to the ballot box.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's government has completed 484 out of 553 - or 87 per cent - of the commitments it made before the 2015 election.

The Palaszczuk government has delivered almost 90 per cent of its commitments made before the 2015 election. Credit:Tanya Lake

That left 50 commitments "in progress" and 19 "superseded".

The government is yet to hold a public inquiry into links, if any, between donations to political parties and the awarding of tenders, contracts and approvals - one of Speaker Peter Wellington's demands to allow Ms Palaszczuk to form a minority government.
The federal government has announced that it will establish a new national agency to grow Australia's domestic space industry.

A working group chaired by former CSIRO chief Megan Clark will provide advice on the possible scope and structure of the agency to the federal government by the end of March next year.

Senator Michaelia Cash, the acting Minister of Industry, Innovation and Science, will on Tuesday tell the International Astronautical Congress that Australia will not have a NASA but an agency "right for our nation, right for our industry".

"It will provide the vehicle for Australia to have a long-term strategic plan for space - a plan that supports the innovative application of space technologies and grows our domestic space industry, including through defence space procurement," Senator Cash will say.
People still refuse to be evacuated because the mountain has not yet erupted and they worry about who will feed their animals. Credit:Alan Putra "Around 30 males still live in my village, the able-bodied, so when there is something we can evacuate immediately. Some of the old men who stayed behind said the eruption is still a long way off. They survived the 1963 eruption so they don't want to evacuate now. It's still a few months away they say." Mr Sutopo warned that when Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, more than 1500 people were killed and 1700 houses destroyed. Ni Luh Lestari and Ni Putu Citra Agustini were still on Mount Agung, Bali on September 25. Credit:Alan Putra "The kind of eruption is explosive, spewing stones, lava and pyroclastic flows (a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic material)," he said.

Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, said he would visit refugee camps on Tuesday. A family rests in a tent at an evacuee camp in Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia, on Sunday. Credit:AP Mount Agung is 71 kilometres from the tourist hot spot of Kuta. Mr Sutopo said tourism was still normal and flights had not been affected. He said ash and thick smoke would not reach Bali's capital, Denpasar. The travel advisory only warned people not to venture within nine kilometres south-east of Mount Agung and 12 kilometres, north, north-east, south and north-west of the crater. Villagers sit in a temporary shelter in Bali, Indonesia, on Saturday. Credit:AP

Mr Sutopo said contingency plans were in place if an eruption meant flights had to be-rerouted to cities outside Bali. He said if the volcano erupted between September 25 and October, volcanic ash would fly south-west. If it erupted between November and January the ashes would disperse to the east towards West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara. Villagers remained on Monday in the foothills of Mount Agung despite the increasing number of tremors. Credit:Alan Putra The governor of Bali, I Made Mangku Pastika, has declared a state of emergency and will assist affected regions. "Some two trillion rupiah has been allocated for the emergency situation," Mr Sutopo said.

Villages neighbouring those that had been evacuated would provide shelter under a "sister village" model. Mr Sutopo said he deeply regretted hoaxes, which suggested the volcano had already erupted, which he believed were circulated to increase traffic to websites. He urged the public to visit the official website for Mount Agung updates: magma.vsi.esdm.go.id. Volcanologist Ray Cas warned the highest danger posed by an eruption would be pyroclastic flows, which were responsible for many of the deaths when Mount Agung last erupted in 1963. He said volcanic mud flows, which channel into major valleys, could bury entire villages.

"If the population hasn't been evacuated there is a risk of a huge loss of life," Professor Cas, an Emeritus professor at Monash University and the immediate past president of the International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, said. "It is not just the preliminary eruption that poses enormous hazards and risks." He said Indonesia was one of the most volcanically active countries in the world and the Centre for Volcanology had a lot of experience in monitoring these types of events. "They are obviously taking it extremely seriously  because of such a high level of earthquake activity and such a long repose period since the last eruption." The 1963 eruption, which shot gas and ash up to 10 kilometres in the air, was ranked five on the Volcanic Explosivity Index, equivalent to the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens in Washington, which killed more than 50 people.
Beijing: The Chinese government will form a new anti-corruption agency as it seeks greater cooperation from international law enforcement bodies that have been reluctant to deal with the feared Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The CCDI is a Communist Party internal discipline body that was formed when the party took power in China in 1949.

The Communist Party internal discipline body spearheaded President Xi Jinping's crackdown on corruption. Credit:AP

It had recently shot to prominence spearheading Chinese President Xi Jinping's corruption crackdown on party officials, Operation Fox Hunt, as suspects had fled overseas to countries including Australia.

It is expected that a national law to establish the National Supervisory Commission will be approved by the 19th National People's Congress, the five-yearly meeting of the Communist Party leadership, to be held on October 18.




Most observers across the world will be congratulating the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, on her fourth straight victory in national elections on Saturday, and breathing a provisional sigh of relief. The result, assuming DrMerkel can form a coalition with minor parties to govern, confirms stability and continuity at the heart of Europe and in the wider world at a time when outbreaks of populism and disturbing upheavals in established norms of diplomacy and politics elsewhere have combined to threaten them.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But they will also be eyeing with disquiet the surprisingly good showing of the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (Alternative for Germany, AfD). The party, not yet five years old, but energised by a wave of disquiet over Germany's million-plus immigration intake of 2015, will be the third largest in the Bundestag. The latest count has it winning almost 13 per cent of the vote to 33 per cent for Dr Merkel's coalition, and 21 for the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).

Some will ask: is the extreme right on the rise in Germany again, after so long? Are the early 20th century's ghosts returning to haunt the world? There is no saying, of course, but circumstances are very different now.
Washington: President Donald Trump's son-in-law and close adviser, Jared Kushner, has used a private email account alongside his official White House account to exchange messages with other administration officials, Politico reported on Sunday.

Politico said the emails included correspondence about media coverage, event planning and other subjects.

Kushner's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said Kushner complied with government record-keeping rules by forwarding all the emails to his official account.

During Trump's 2016 election campaign, the Republican derided Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server for official correspondence when she was secretary of state under President Barack Obama.
Ryanair blames an internal "cock up," but its cancellation of 2,000 flights exposes the struggle that low-cost carriers face as they risk growing faster than their ability to recruit experienced pilots.

Junior pilots are readily available, with hundreds unemployed in Britain alone, but Europe's budget airlines require many extra captains who can take flights without needing lengthy and expensive training, or to accumulate flying hours.

Ireland's Ryanair, which has overtaken established carriers to become Europe's biggest airline by passenger numbers, is hiring around 600 pilots this year, as is Norwegian Air Shuttle. For British-based easyJet the figure is 450 and in all cases these are their highest ever levels of pilot recruitment.

"The low cost airlines are arguably more vulnerable to a pilot shortage because of their growth, which is now compounded by their size," said Gerald Khoo, an analyst with Liberum.

"Normally, in a tight labor market I would assume slightly higher staff costs or the airline could trim its capacity growth," he said. "Not getting the balance right results in the situation we have seen atRyanair in the past week."

Ryanair has disrupted plans for hundreds of thousands of travelers with the cancellations this month due to the pilot shortage.

The carrier put its problems down to too many pilots taking leave at the same time. But the shortages are being felt across an industry where the budget airlines are flying tens of millions more passengers each year, driving an increase in European short-haul capacity of around seven percent.

Norwegian is particularly jostling Ryanair for senior talent. Both have Boeing fleets, meaning that when pilots defect they fly similar aircraft, lessening training time and expense. Norwegian says it has poached more than 140 pilots from Ryanair; Dublin-based Ryanair puts the number at less than 100.

Ryanair is increasing wages for its pilots based in Frankfurt and Berlin in order to steal staff from Air Berlin, even though the insolvent German carrier flies Airbus jets rather than Boeings, making this a more expensive exercise.

Lufthansa's budget unit Eurowings is also making a bid for Air Berlin's experienced pilots.

Mark Simpson, an analyst with Goodbody Stockbrokers, said he didn't see a significant risk thatRyanair would have to curb its expansion plans. "This is a pinch they are facing," he said. "But it hasn't reached a crisis point."

Aside from Air Berlin, Italy's Alitalia, Latvia's Air Baltic and Romania's Tarom were all struggling and could to shed pilots, easing the shortage, he added.

The pressure is being felt acutely in senior roles, according to the British Airline Pilots' Association, which says around 500 of its more junior members are unemployed.

"We've seen huge recruitment drives .... in recent years. However, this recruitment tends to be for experienced pilots," said BALPA General Secretary Brian Strutton.

Recruitment web site Indeed.com said pilot vacancies in Britain were 60 percent harder to fill than other jobs, as measured by the number of positions still vacant after 60 days.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said captains have been targeted since the cancellations with a 10,000 euro sign-on bonus. "We may have got pilot pay a little on the low side," he told investors at Ryanair's annual general meeting this week.

He insisted the problems were localized and that certain parts of Europe had a surplus of experienced pilots.

Ryanair this week also announced wage increases in Dublin, where it says it believes Norwegian Air is trying to hire 40 of its pilots, and in London where it says pilots are being targeted by a number of rivals.

A spokesman for Norwegian Air said it saw significant competition for pilots, but was offering competitive conditions and the prospect of flying to destinations in southeast Asia and the United States that Ryanair could not match.

EasyJet declined to comment on whether it was struggling to attract senior pilots.

Ryanair is widely regarded to pay competitive wages to senior pilots. Captains earn 150,000-180,000 euros a year, while first officers get 80,000-120,000. But it has been criticized by some current and former staff about working conditions and the way the blunt-speaking O'Leary talks about his staff.

Pilots are often employed via agencies and do not enjoy standard benefits for sick pay, pensions or health insurance.

O'Leary insisted at the AGM he had a good relationship with his pilots, but said: "I would challenge any pilot to explain how this is a difficult job," expressing doubt that anyone could be fatigued after what he said was a maximum of 18 hours of flying per week.

Ryanair gets a rating of 2.4 on employee-review site Glassdoor, against 4.0 for easyJet.

Four years ago Ryanair was berated by investors for treating its customers badly, forcing a promise from O'Leary to stop "unnecessarily pissing people off" and launching its successful Always Getting Better customer service drive.

But unlike the current crisis, poor customer service never threatened the airline's core operations. Investors remain skittish, with its shares down 5.5 percent since the crisis broke to close at 16.44 euros on Friday.

There are signs that pilots are using the shortage to assert themselves. While Ryanair doesn't recognize trade unions, staff at a number of bases wrote a joint letter to management with a series of demands including the implementation of permanent local contracts under local employment law.

The European Cockpit Association said Ryanair may now have to treat its staff better as well as its customers.

"The Always Getting Better program could have been applied to staff too," ECA Secretary General Philip von Schooppenthau told Reuters. "It would certainly be welcomed by the crew and contribute to the success of the company." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Monday it was not possible to say that Britain had made sufficient progress to move onto the next phase of Brexit talks with the European Union, adding there was a "bit of a way to go yet."

"When it comes to making a recommendation as to whether sufficient progress has been made, it's too early to say. That's a decision that will be made by the 27 prime ministers including me when we meet in Brussels in October," Varadkar said after a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May in her Downing Street office.

"It's possible that between now and the decision point in October that may happen. I don't think at this stage it would be possible to say that sufficient progress has yet been made."

Varadkar said it was important that Britain had committed to not having any physical infrastructure on the border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.

He also said neither he did not believe there would be any advantage in having another election in Northern Ireland to solve an impasse in the British province after a power-sharing coalition collapsed in January - but added that he did not favor a return to direct rule from London. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Optimism about the business environment among Britain's financial services firms declined again in the third quarter of this year, the longest run of falling sentiment since the global financial crisis, according to a survey published on Monday.

The latest quarterly survey of 94 financial services firms by business lobby CBI and consultancy PwC found sentiment about Britain's overall business climate deteriorating, with banks and building societies especially pessimistic.

Confidence in the financial services sector - Britain's biggest source of corporate tax revenue and largest export sector - has now declined in six of the last seven quarters.

"While demand in the sector is expected to hold up in the near term, we can't ignore the fact that optimism has dropped in almost every quarter for the past two years," said Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist.

The uncertainty about Britain's future trading relationship with the European Union continued to weigh on the industry.

Britain will have to negotiate new trading terms with the EU and it is unlikely banks will retain access to sell their services and serve clients across the economic bloc.

Prime Minister Theresa May called on Friday for Britain to stay in the European Union's single market during a roughly two-year transition out of the EU while offering concessions on a divorce deal as she appealed for a revival of Brexit negotiations.

But the job market was broadly stable in the last quarter and firms are expected to step up the pace of hiring over the coming quarter, the survey showed. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
U.S. trade negotiators will only partially unveil new text on modifying a key chapter on investment under NAFTA, two well-placed sources said on Sunday, underlying the cautious pace of talks that are supposed to wrap up by the end of the year.

The sources, with knowledge of the effort to modernize the trilateral North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), said the proposal on investment would not elaborate on possible changes being weighed by Washington under Chapter 11 of NAFTA.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the administration was still consulting with stakeholders, including business, on the issue.

Trade experts say the sluggish tempo of the talks mean it is doubtful whether Canada, Mexico and the United States -- meeting in Ottawa for the third of seven planned rounds -- can come to a deal by the end of December.

Chief Canadian negotiator Steve Verheul said he did not expect the U.S. side to present detailed proposals in Ottawa on major issues such as dispute settlement, the dairy sector and tougher rules for North American content on autos.

"We're making good solid progress ... but the end game is always the hardest part and impossible to predict," he told reporters towards the end of the day.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who frequently describes the 1994 treaty as a disaster, is threatening to walk away unless major changes are made.

Verheul told reporters the talks were constructive, although they had occasionally "become a little more heated." He said had seen no sign so far that the U.S. delegation might be preparing to leave the talks.

NAFTA underpins more than $1 trillion in trade between the three countries a year, accounting for 39% of Canada's GDP and 40% of Mexico's, but just 5% in the case of the United States, the world's largest economy.

NAFTA's Chapter 11 allows an investor from a member country to sue a member government on the basis that it was not treated fairly.

While corporations want the administration to keep Chapter 11 -- the investor state dispute settlement -- in NAFTA, some U.S. lawmakers argue that it infringes on sovereignty by allowing foreign investors to sue the U.S. government over laws that are valid.

Canada is proposing a similar arrangement to the one it has in its free trade deal with the European Union, a senior Canadian source said. Canada and the EU have agreed to set up a permanent investment court to settle disputes.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told a U.S. Senate committee he was "troubled" by Chapter 11 but pushed back at suggestions that it should be abolished.

The sources said that when the U.S. team unveiled its proposal later in the round, it would focus on eliminating barriers to investment in all sectors in the NAFTA countries, but not weigh into possible changes to Chapter 11.

The three member nations want to seal a deal before Mexico's presidential election campaign kicks into high gear early next year.

Canadian officials said on Sunday there had been advances in less heated subjects such as the environment and small and medium-size enterprises. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
West Bengal Group D Recruitment Board (WBGDRB), Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms has released the written examination results of West Bengal Group D posts.

Where To Find The West Bengal Group D Recruitment Results 2017?

Candidates can check it out on the official website of the board the bgdrb.applythrunet.co.in and wbgdrb.in

Important dates

The results were announced on Aug 20, 2018

The WBGDRB held the written examination on May 20

Vacancy

There was a total of 6000 vacancies. Approximately, according to WBGDRB, around 18000 candidates - which is three times the vacancies notified - will be intimated for the interviews. The much awaited results of West Bengal Group D written examinations results can be accessed from these official webstites:.

How To Check The West Bengal Group D Recruitment Results 2017?

In order to check the West Bengal Group D Recruitment Results 2017, follow the steps given here:

Log on to the official website of West Bengal Group D Recruitment Board portal, www.wbgdrb.in

Click on the results tab

Click on the link "Result of Gr. D Examination 2017" from that page

Fill in the nine-digit application number and date of birth on the next page

Click to submit

The results will be displayed on the screen

Save it to your computer and take a print out of it for future reference

Selection process

The provisionally selected candidates will be informed about the West Bengal Group D Recruitment Interview schedule either through sms or email in their registered Mobile number or email Id.

Around 25 lakh candidates were present in the competitive written examination for 6000 Group D posts of the West Bengal government.

TISS Recruitment 2017: Apply for Software Developer and Assistant Manager Posts Now!
China is a year-round travel destination. Regardless of when you go, there is always a place that is worth visiting.

The Best Time to Visit China

Weather-wise,the best times to visit China are spring (AprilMay) and autumn (SeptemberOctober), when most of the popular places have their most tourism-friendly weather.

The cultural and historical destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian are hardly affected by weather conditions. They are suitable to be visited all year round. (See Best Time to Visit Beijing)

Recommended affordable private China tours:

The Worst Time to Visit China

Most of attractions are flooded with Chinese tourists during the festival and holidays as below:

Labor Day Holiday (May 1-3)

Chinese National Day Holiday (October 1-7)

Chinese New Year Holiday (in late January or early to mid February).

If you are travelling during the above periods, book well in advance and get ready for crowds of Chinese tourists.

See How to Avoid Crowds at China's 10 Busiest Attractions.

Visiting China in Spring (April to May)

The Li River in spring The Li River in spring

Weather: It is warm and comfortable. Temperatures average 1023C (5073F), warming up, with fresh air. Though relatively dry in north China, rain intensifies toward summer in south China.

Spring is one of the best times to visit China, especially for nature lovers. Flowers bloom and temperatures are cool to warm.

Wet weather needn't dampen travelers spirits in the south of China. The rains can actually enhance views, with mountain mists in areas like the Li River (Guilin) and the Yellow Mountains.

If youre bothered by rain showers, make your trip to drier Beijing and Xian. See more on Top Places You Should Visit in China's Warm Spring.

Recommended China tours for spring:

Visiting China in Summer (June to August)

Weather: Summer is hot. daily temperatures average 2533C (7791F); rainy season in most areas, especially south and east China

Zhangjiajie Forest Park Zhangjiajie Forest Park

Summer is in fact the time with most things to do in China - from city sightseeing and sunny mountain hiking to minority festivals.

It offers optimum conditions for mountain and highland destinations, such as Tibet, Yunnan, Guilin, and Zhangjiajie. .

Be prepared for heat and try to book in advance if you are visiting Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai. If traveling to southeast China, e.g. Hong Kong, be flexible with your itinerary in case of flight delays or cancellations caused by typhoons.

Summer (JuneAugust) is a good time to travel, except for the crowds and the heat. It is a peak travel time for Chinese families with school-age children, and students.

If the heat and crowds are challenges for you, a private tour will make your trip easier and more comfortable. Your guide can help you avoid the crowds and private air-conditioned transport will keep you cooler. See more on Top Places You Should Visit in China in Summer.

Recommended China tours for summer:

If you have other places you want to go, you can also contact us. We will create a trip according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements.

Visiting China in Fall (September to October)

Weather: Temperatures average 1527C (5981F), lower rainfall, more clear days

The Longji Rice Terraces in fall The Longji Rice Terraces in fall

Overall, autumn in China has the best weather conditions with less rain than spring or summer, and more clear days. Most of China has warm to cool temperatures, and the summer rains have stopped (apart from around Hong Kong). So it's relatively dry.

Many travelers choose autumn to visit China, especially outdoor activity lovers. The fall hues and variety of fresh local fruits will enhance your trip.

Get inspiration from Top Places to Visit in Autumn in China.

Recommended China tours for autumn:

Visiting China in Winter (November to March)

Weather: Average daily high temperatures of 8C (46F), in northern China its usually below zero

The Forbidden City is quiet in winter. The Forbidden City is quiet in winter.

China's winter low travel season is from November to (early) March. In the low season, although the weather is colder, you can save money on hotels, flights, and entry tickets, and you can avoid the tourist crowds.

Cities in China's north and northwest areas like Beijing, Xinjiang, and Harbin are gorgeous under a blanket of snow. The annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival opens in late December and lasts for around 2 months.

If you cant handle the chilly weather, south China has warm places, such as Hong Kong, Macau, Sanya, and southern Yunnan.

See more on our China Winter Travel Guide - Places to Go, Activities, Suggestions.

Recommended China tours for winter:

All our tours can be customized. The itinerary can be adjusted according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements. Just contact us.

Best Time to Experience China's Traditional Festivals

It's a Miao custom to offer visitors wine from a horn. It's a Miao custom to offer visitors wine from a horn.

If you are after China's traditional and ethnic culture, and are fond of colorful local pageantry, travel to China during a traditional festival, such as:

Join in the festive celebrations and experience authentic Chinese culture with our China festival tours. You can find out how locals celebrate the most important days in their calendars.

Let Us Help You Plan Your China Trip

Our clients enjoyed a tailor-made tour to a Miao village in Guilin. Our clients enjoyed a tailor-made tour to a Miao village in Guilin.

Our travel advisors are very glad to give you suggestions and guidance for your trip planning. They can tailor-make your trip according to your interests and requirements, and help to find the best time of year to go to China for you.

Let us help you design a trip now. Or you can have a look at our most popular customizable itineraries:

The Golden Triangle : Beijing  Xi'an  Shanghai (8 days)

: Beijing  Xi'an  Shanghai (8 days) Classic Wonders : Beijing  Xi'an  Guilin/Yangshuo  Shanghai (11 days)

: Beijing  Xi'an  Guilin/Yangshuo  Shanghai (11 days) Find more ideas on our China tours.

Or you can read our suggestions on how to plan your trip to China this year.

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Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali will address UKIP conference

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, will address the UKIP party conference as a keynote guest speaker this week.

Well-known in the church as a campaigner for traditionalist marriage, Bishop Michael will speak on the main stage of the party's conference in Torquay on Friday morning, shortly before the new leader is announced.

On the same day a 'senior member' of the AfD - the German far-right anti-immigrant and anti-Islam political group - will also address UKIP.

A UKIP party spokesman said the title of his address was 'Christianity and the Roots of our Civilisation' and he was invited 'because he has a lot to say about our national culture and can positively address issues that our members, and the wider population, are concerned about. Namely multiculturalism and citizenship, the Judaeo-Christian basis of our society, moral values and British values'.

Bishop Michael, who was the first Asian-born bishop in the Church of England, told Christian Today he would be speaking about 'Judaeo-Christian values as a basis for national life and how that can be a basis for an open society'.

Justifying his presence he said: 'I go to different party conferences. I have been at Labour's, I have been at the Conservatives many times.'

He said he did not want to endorse any party's policies but speaks 'as a church leader'.

He told Christian Today: 'It is no more an endorsement than if I went to Labour or the Conservative's conference.

'What I am going to say I could say anywhere.'

Born in Pakistan and an outspoken defender of persecuted Christians, Bishop Michael also holds strong views on the spread of Islam in the West but said he would not address those.

UKIP has become embroiled in a debate over whether it has become 'anti-Muslim' after Anne-Marie Walters, co-founder of anti-Islam group Pegida UK alongside former EDL leader Tommy Robinson, was allowed to run for leader.

Bishop Michael resigned from his role in the Church of England in 2009 saying he wanted to devote more time to working with Christians persecuted for their faith.

'Bishop Michael is hoping to work with a number of church leaders from areas where the church is under pressure, particularly in minority situations, who have asked him to assist them with education and training for their particular situation,' a spokesman said at the time.
Church apologizes after hosting fashion show 'glorifying demon worship'

An Anglican church in London has apologized for allowing a Turkish fashion designer to use its altar as a runway for models who donned outfits with demonic symbolism, including inverted crosses and devil horns, for what was publicized as a satanic fashion show.

St Andrew's Church in Holborn was used by designer Dilara Findikoglu to flaunt her spring/summer 2018 collection as part of the fashion week, but the Diocese of London says it didn't know what it entailed.

"The parish of St Andrew's has always supported London Fashion Week. We took this booking in good faith and were not aware of the content or design before the show took place," a spokesperson said in a statement to the U.K.'s Premier news portal.

"This was obviously a mistake, and the content of this show does not reflect the Christian faith of the Church," the Diocese added. "We will be looking at our booking processes going forward to ensure this does not happen again."

It "glorified demon worship," Adrian Hilton from the Archbishop Cramner blog told Premier, and called the church's decision to host the event  that included tarot card imagery and models exposing their breasts  "bizarre" because it "glorifies Satan."

"How can the Church ask godparents to reject Satan in its liturgy of christening when it's hosting this sort of event?" he asked. "There are people dressed up of Lucifer! There are women and men walking around with demonic symbols."

Hilton also criticized the church, asking, "How is this consistent with its (the church's) mission? Did the resident clergy approve this event? ... How is it possible that a sacred space can be used for what can only be described as Lucifer lauding? How does hosting a Satanic Fashion Show glorify God?"

Since the church requires that the backdrop be approved by it before an event, Hilton further asked, "Did they seriously consent to the altar being shrouded by pentagrams, goat heads, inverted crosses, all-seeing eyes and other occult paraphernalia?"

Designer Findikoglu, who grew up with Muslim parents in Istanbul, recently told Vogue magazine that she is interested in parapsychology, the occult and "magic stuff."

"I'm into parapsychology and all the occult and magic stuff, so when I was reading those books, they thought I was going to be a Satanist," she said. "I don't like how religion divides people into groups."

About her work, she said, "Most of my instinct comes from what I like and who I am. My work is mostly the things that are in me and I'm exploring. I use a lot of religious iconography  or occult symbols, magic symbols  even if I don't believe in them."

This article was originally published in The Christian Post.
Church in Wales closing more than 10 churches a year

More than 10 Anglican churches a year are closing in Wales.

The Church in Wales has shut 115 churches in a decade, about eight per cent of the total, leaving more than 1,300 still in use according to figures published by the BBC.

The figures follow the latest data from the British Social Attitudes survey which showed a massive collapse in numbers of Anglicans across the country.

There are 11 redundant churches advertised on the church's website. The former St Mary's Church in Bangor, advertised at 150,000, is sold subect to contract. The former St Andrew's in Colwyn Bay is for sale at 325,000.

Head of property, Alex Glanville, told the BBC: 'We're grouping a lot more parishes and congregations together, about 10-15 churches in an area, and thinking which ones can we sustain. There's a little bit more strategy  what's a sustainable congregation and where's the best place to do it?'

He said Wales had a lot of buildings in small and often remote communities with declining attendance.

Glanville told Christian Today: 'Nobody likes to see churches close and it is obviously sad for the whole community when they do. It's a decision never taken lightly by the local congregation.

'We still have more than 1,200 churches that are serving communities and when a church does close the community is served by another church in the area. Also, through our 2020 Vision strategy our churches are now working in larger "Ministry Areas" with congregations coming together for mission and ministry across wider communities. We are working very hard to find new and innovative uses for church buildings that do close, specifically affordable housing which is a major priority in Wales. Next month we are holding a conference for people across the Church to discuss creative and positive futures for closed church buildings.'

According to the latest census, Wales has the highest number of people with no religion in the UK.

Eddie Tulasiewicz of the National Churches Trust told the BBC he believed chapels were closing at the rate of about one a week. 'What may have been built in the 19th Ccentury for a population of 6,000 to 10,000 people has shrunk to 2,000 or 3,000 and there's no one left to go there.'
Man who tried to blow up Australian Christian Lobby HQ commits suicide

The man who was charged in connection with an explosion at the Australian Christian Lobby offices in Canberra has committed suicide.

Jaden Duong, 36, had been accused of lighting gas cylinders inside a van parked outside the building, causing $10,000 worth of damage.

He was expected to claim he was mentally unwell at the time.

His first committal hearing in court took place last month.

The ACL is among the groups that has been outspoken against gay marriage in the run up to the poll, warning that redefining marriage will threaten freedom of speech and take away religious freedom.

His defence lawyer, Peter Woodhouse, told the Canberra Times the man's death was further evidence that his alleged offence had 'always been a mental health issue and nothing more than that, despite what those opposite would like to assert'.

He said his client would probably have been found not guilty in the circumstances and urged others suffering mental health problems to reach out for help.

In an interview with police on the night of the explosion, after he had been treated in hospital for burns, Duong said he wasn't affiliated with any groups. He chose the ACL building because 'religions are failed'.

In a recent statement, police said they believed his main motive had been suicide: 'It is important for police to advise the public when an investigation into a terrorism incident has commence. It is just as important to advise the community where an incident is not believed to be terrorism-related.'
No, God Did Not Prescribe the Use of Cannabis in the Bible

Just when you think you've heard it all, a pastor calls your radio show asking how to respond to a congregant who claims that cannabis was sanctioned by God in the Torah. That's right, sanctioned by the Lord Himself, not to be smoked but to be burned in large quantities by the priests of Israel. Far out!

To be sure, there was a time in my life when I would have readily believed something like this, since I spent 1969-1971 as a heavy drug-using, hippie rock drummer, consuming everything from pot to LSD and from speed to heroin. Not surprisingly, when my two best friends starting reading the Bible, telling me about the more esoteric passages in the Scriptures  all kinds of visions and dreams and revelations  I asked them in jest, "What were they smoking?"

That, in fact, is what I asked the pastor (again, in jest) who called the show: What is this congregant smoking?

It turns out that there is an alleged scholarly basis for this bogus belief, namely, that the Hebrew words qaneh-bosem in Exod 30:23 refer to marijuana, or, more specifically, hemp. And note the apparent similarity in the words: qaneh-bosem and cannabis. That proves it, right?

According to the Herb Museum website, it was in 1936 that a little-known Polish professor named Sara Benetowa (later Sula Benet) wrote, "The sacred character or Hemp in biblical times is evident from Exodus 30:22- 23, where Moses was instructed by God to anoint the meeting tent and all its furnishings with specially prepared oil, containing hemp."

This was allegedly confirmed by other Hebrew scholars. And obviously, with the rising popularity of marijuana in today's culture, arguments like this have great appeal for Christians who want to get high. Not only did their state pass a pro-pot law, but God's into it too!

As one website proclaims in bold, red letters: "The fact is that the Holy Oil contained 6 Pounds of (Marijuana) with other spices boiled into one gallon of Olive oil! The Holy Oil of God is illegal to obtain today!!!"

Really!

During my drug-using years, I often went to rock concerts at the Fillmore East in New York, seeing groups like Led Zeppelin and the Who and the Grateful Dead and Jethro Tull, among many others.

It was the perfect concert atmosphere, seating only about 2,000 people and with a dynamic light show behind the performers. But it was also a hippie paradise, since the whole place smelled like pot. Is that what the ancient Temple smelled like in Jerusalem? Maybe the priests got high on mushrooms too!

Returning to reality, the alleged connection between qaneh-bosem and cannabis simply doesn't exist.

Note first that qaneh-bosem is two words in Hebrew, not one. And the words are easily translated, qaneh meaning a stalk or reed, and bosem meaning "sweet smelling."

Some scholars translate the words together to refer to "aromatic cane," "scented cane," or "sweet-smelling cane," others "sweet calamus" or "fragrant calamus."

But not a single scholarly, biblical Hebrew lexicon in the world connects these words with cannabis. I can say that emphatically because I own them all, in multiple languages. The alleged connection isn't there.

It is also certain, for various phonetic and linguistic reasons, that the word cannabis, which comes from the Greek kannabis, is not related to these two Hebrew words. To put it bluntly, there's no more connection between Hebrew qaneh-bosem and Greek kannabis than there is between "Moses" and "mice."

As for those who can't study the issue for themselves, note carefully this commandment to Aaron, the High Priest, and his successors: "Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations" (Lev. 10:9). Sobriety was a must for those coming into the presence of God.

This makes the claim all the more ridiculous that the Lord commanded large amounts of pot to be burning in this very same holy place. Yes, be sure not to drink any wine or strong drink, but go ahead and inhale deeply!

As for those Christians who feel that smoking pot "in moderation" is fine, since it's now legal in their state, a word of caution.

First, pot remains a gateway drug, often leading to the use of other, harder drugs, along with becoming addictive in and of itself.

Second, pot today is far more potent than when I smoked it more than 46 years ago.

Third, new studies are pointing to health risks and driving risks associated with marijuana. (See here on pot use in Colorado.)

Fourth, you'll have a hard time fulfilling the biblical mandate to "be sober and vigilant" (1 Peter 5:8) while smoking a joint.

In any case, people will have to sort out the question of smoking pot, just as they sort out the question of drinking. (The subject of medical marijuana is another question entirely.)

What I can tell you without hesitation is that God never prescribed pot  as incense or to be smoked  anywhere in the Bible. That's a fact.

Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Saving a Sick America: A Prescription for Moral and Cultural Transformation. Connect with him on Facebook or Twitter.
One woman killed, six others injured as masked gunman opens fire at Nashville church as service was ending

One woman and seven people were injured in a mass shooting at a church in the Nashville area as the morning service was ending.

Parishioners were leaving the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, in Antioch, close to Nashville, when a masked gunman opened fire in the parking lot.

One woman walking to her car was killed immediately by the gunman, according to Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron.

'A gunman wearing a neoprene mask arrived in the parking lot and one woman who was walking to her vehicle was immediately fatally wounded by the gunman,' Aaron said at a press conference, according to the Daily Mail.

After opening fire in the parking lot, the unnamed gunman then reportedly entered the main sanctuary of the church and opened fire.

Aaron said the gunman, a 26-year-old African American man, was injured by a self-inflicted shot to the chest during a struggle with a church usher.

The usher had bravely confronted the man after he entered the sanctuary and was, according to Aaron, pistol whipped. However, he was able to get to his car in the parking lot to retrieve his gun, which he had a permit to carry, and re-entered the sanctuary to stop the gunman from doing any more harm until the police arrived.

'There was a significant struggle between the two,' he said. 'During the struggle, the gunman shot himself, probably not intentionally.

'This particular church member has a handgun carry permit,' Aaron added. 'The usher went to his vehicle, got his gun, came back inside and made sure the gunman didn't make anymore movements until the police department arrived.'

The injured are all adults and at least two are in critical condition, according to The Tennessean.

The pastor, Joey Spann, and his wife Peggy were injured in the shooting, according to a statement by Bellevue school, where he leads Bible classes.

The school asked for prayers for the couple and all those impacted by events at the church as police work to establish the motive behind the attack.
The end of the world is postponed...until October

The end of world has been postponed.

At least according to conspiracy theorist and Christian numerologist David Meade who was forced to adjust his estimate after his initial prediction of 23 September came and went without incident.

Now is he claiming people misunderstood his theory and instead October 21 is the date to watch out for after which we are set for seven years of nuclear war and natural disaster.

He says 'nothing' will happen in September and instead October would be 'action month' and the start of seven years of 'tribulation'.

This could also include 'nuclear exchanges between the US, Britain and our enemies  Russia, China, Iran and North Korea', he told the Sun Online.

'It will involve cataclysmic climate events related to Planet X or Wormwood  those are the trumpet judgments of Revelation,' he said.

'The shelves on the grocery stores will be cleaned out inside of a day,' he added.

'Banks and ATMs don't work without electric current.

'Gas pumps won't be functioning. Food transportation will stop.

'Rioting and looting will be unrestrained.... society will be in chaos.'

It would be 'not a good time to be here, really,' he finished.

His comprehensive theory for the end times based on a mixture of supposed biblical studies and science was laid out in his self published book Planet X - the 2017 Arrival and centres around a non-existent planet Niburu which, Meade claimed, is due to collide with planet earth.

The suggestion was widely rubbished by experts including NASA with a spokesman saying: 'The planet in question, Niburu, doesn't exist, so there will be no collision.'

The space agency was forced to repeat its previous denouncement after rumours about Nibiru surfaced previously in 2012.

At the time NASA said: 'Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax. There is no factual basis for these claims. If Nibiru or Planet X were real and headed for an encounter with the Earth in 2012, astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye.'
#ThisFlag Pastor Evan Mawarire arrested again after attacking Mugabe's government

Zimbabwe's #ThisFlag Pastor Evan Mawarire has been arrested again  just as he finished preaching in Harare on Sunday.

The arrest came after Mawarire urged fellow Zimbabweans to stand up against the government's economic measures in a post on Facebook.

As he was preaching, he tweeted: 'I'm just about to finish preaching and I'm told the police are waiting for me outside.'

I'm just about to finish preaching and I'm told the police are waiting for me outside  #ThisFlag E Mawarire (@PastorEvanLive) September 24, 2017

He also posted a video on Facebook, where he had posted his original video attacking Mugabe's government for economic policies that have among other things led to renewed fuel shortages.

Those who protested his arrest included Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters who in a press release said they deplore the arrest: 'Any citizen of Zimbabwe has a constitutional right to peacefully protest. As such Mawarire and other democratic forces have a right to protest. All Zimbabweans are free to be spokes persons of the economically oppressed and exploited.

'This will enable all of us to ask and answer questions: where have we come from? And where are we going economically, socially and politically? These are questions of the moment and demand clear, resolute answers from all of us including Pastor Mawarire and other opposition parties, if we are to march boldly to economic recovery and greatness.

'ZEFF stands with those seeking economic freedom, democratic change in our country. Like us who were arrested for expressing the right of freedom of expression, Mawarire is indeed a victim of similar undemocratic and unjust practices by this government. We say to the authorities Stop it!!'

Harrison Nkomo of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights told New Zimbabwe.com: 'We are at the Harare Central police station where the police have charged him with inciting people to commit public violence.'

Mawarire's own lawyer told Reuters on Sunday he was arrested as he stepped down from his pulpit and charged with subversion after his Facebook post attacking the government of Mugabe, who is 93. The charge carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment.

Mawarire posted his Facebook live video after the reemergence of food, fuel and other shortages, leading to panic buying. Mawarire was already facing subversion charges over protests in 2016. Sunday's arrest is his third.

The United States embassy said on its website that it will monitor his trial and called for an end to arbitrary arrests and 'intimidation' for political purposes.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Why do temptations grow stronger after a person accepts Jesus Christ?

Being a Christian does not mean people will be exempted from sin and temptation. If anything, the Devil's lure to do wrong things will heighten even more once a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior.

A new Christian wrote to world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham and asked why his temptations are "stronger" now that he has Jesus in his life. He asked if there was anything wrong with him as his spiritual faith is being tested more than ever.

In response, Graham assured the man that nothing is wrong with him. "Just because you have given your life to Jesus doesn't mean you'll never be tempted to do wrong  because you will," he said. "In fact, we may face even stronger temptations once we give our lives to Christ  because Satan will do everything he can to discourage us and cause us to doubt our salvation."

Graham said Satan's main goal is to attack God in every way he can, and one of the strongest attacks he can think of is to discourage believers and let them waver from their faith. "If he tried to tempt Jesus, you can be sure he'll try to tempt you. But never forget: Satan is a defeated foe, and if we belong to Christ, we are on the winning side," encouraged Graham.

This was not the first time the evangelist talked about temptation. Earlier, he said that both believers and non-believers have good and bad thoughts, so Christians should not feel weighed down by the evil thoughts that run through their heads.

Even though they might feel burdened by their temptations, Graham said that Christians should feel confident about conquering these because Christ gives His followers the "strength to select the right rather than the wrong."

"It is not the temptations you have, but the decision you make about them that counts," he said.
Why I call myself a gay celibate Christian  and say 'no' to Nashville

As the news came out with the new Nashville Statement and Denver Statements, I wanted to articulate why I call myself a gay (or same-sex attracted) celibate Christian. The deeper reasons for this will be outlined in my up coming book, A War of Loves: The Story of a Gay Rights Activist Who Finds Jesus Christ. I wanted to write and clarify what I mean and why I use this term. As someone who became a Christian from being an anti-Christian gay activist, I do not, in every sense, want to distance myself from the community I come from and which I love and labour for in the Gospel.

The first reason is to maintain scriptural authority. Whilst scripture is clear homosexual acts are sinful, it also clearly maintains that the born again or regenerate Christian lives in tension between their fallen nature, or 'flesh', that is at enmity with God and the new self, which now desires to love and obey God. When we become born again believers, our flesh is crucified with Christ but is also still present in moments of temptation or testing. Our victories in Christ are manifested in our weakness and in our fallen flesh, not in a perfected body. Conversely, the regenerate self is born when we believe, repent from unrighteousness, and receive Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour. being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. John holds these two realities in tension: 'If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.'

Finding the moral empowering  and the grace and consolation  of the Holy Spirit 'in homosexual terms' is, it seems to me, what leads many of us to label ourselves 'celibate gay Christians'. To deny the present struggle and say I've been 'healed' from all temptations of the flesh is often the error the Corinthians made of thinking they were already resurrected or without a flesh and yet behind closed doors were still indulging sinful behaviours. The scholar Anthony Thiselton coins it, "over-realised eschatology." On the flipside, to deny that God will not transform us to live in victory over these desires is to commit the error of "under-realised eschatology." In other words, we are still being made holy and we aren't yet perfect. These are both scriptural errors that lead to sinfulness, to endorse or to deny the presence of such fallen desires is equally wrong, and hence why I call myself a gay celibate Christian.

My second reason is theological accuracy. For the gay or same-sex attracted person, this biblical vision of what it means to be redeemed is particularly complex. It is not like an addiction to alcohol, or a stronghold of judging others with pride, which are voluntary behaviours. To be attracted to the same sex is not a voluntary behaviour, but a result of the Fall. As Wesley Hill, a New Testament Professor and gay celibate Christian, states: 'Many suggest that a parallel case would be if someone were to label himself an "adulterous Christian" or a "stealing Christian". Those terms are self-evidently problematic in that they make sinful behaviors part of an identity description for believers, and therefore gay Christians should find their chosen label equally problematic.

'My response to this is that those are not, in fact, parallel cases. "Gay" in current parlance doesn't necessarily refer to sexual behavior; it can just as easily refer to one's sexual orientation and say nothing, one way or the other, about how one is choosing to express that orientation. So, whereas "stealing Christian" certainly denotes the behavior of stealing, "gay Christian" may simply refer to the erotic inclinations of the Christian who claims that identity and leave open the question of whether he or she is sexually active with members of his or her own sex.'

This is why I rarely, if ever, use the phrase 'gay Christian' without adding another adjective: 'celibate', meaning committed to a life of chasteness in Christ. To call myself a 'celibate gay Christian' specifies both my sexual orientation and the way I'm choosing to live it out. While it's not bad to desire companionship because humans were made in the image of God as relational beings, the reality is that we have all been impacted by the Fall. There's a particular entanglement for gay or same-sex attracted people in that the image of God and our fallen sexual desires mean that we cannot just simply enter into a union between one man and one woman. This is the very difficult conundrum we face.

Regeneration untangles the sinful aspect from the God-given desire for intimacy through celibacy or, for some, a special grace to be married to a particular member of the opposite sex. Very few homosexual people report that when they become Christians, these desires simply disappear. Rather, most find that these desires do not change, but that God gives them a special empowering grace to either be celibate or married. In my case, I have chosen a default of celibacy.

My third reason is to be prophetic. Those of us who are orthodox, evangelical Christians with same-sex attractions need to reclaim the label back from secular culture. Like those who are gay and actively in relationships, we have all had a similar experience with the same fallen desires and dealing with them in a fallen world that is prejudiced and unloving. We have the unique opportunity to break a culture of victimhood and restore a culture of dignity. The opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality, it is holiness. We need to stand for a different way to live in the gay community, and welcome them into the Church to receive Jesus' love. Also, many of those pressured by Christian culture to say they have been "healed" live with secret sexual sin and shame. We must break such a culture of silence in many churches and encourage a culture of repentant honesty before God and with each other. Anything else will allow spiritual darkness to fester, grieving the Spirit of truth.

The fourth reason is related to identity. When Christians receive Christ, we repent from what is sinful in our lives. But that doesn't mean we have to renounce our particular humanity which is shaped both by God and our experience in this fallen world and this fallen body. As a gay celibate Christian, Christ is my ultimate identity; gay and celibate come second. My identity is first and foremost in Christ, but secondarily anchored in the redemptive story of God's grace in my life.

The fifth reason is reconciliatory (or, to love my 'enemies'). I was saved when I was heavily involved in the gay rights movement, and I know not everything in the gay community is evil, 'licentious', or wrong, but rather the gay community is full of people who are loved by God and need to know His love and gospel. Furthermore, I am often opposed or attacked for my stance by the gay world as well as the Christian world. We as Christians have built a prejudiced stereotype and generalisation of the gay community. Promiscuity and sexual orientation must be separated in our thinking. Similarly, with the Samaritans, Jesus ignored the taboo of his day and went to speak to arguably one of the most "morally questionable" peoples of his time; not just that, but he also spoke to the woman at the well who also had a sexually broken past. There is a distinction between the gay scene, which is commercial, broken, and sexually libertine, and the gay community which is composed of all people who experience same-sex desire.

My sixth reason is strategic. Paul was a Jew and remained a Jewish Christian. However, his view of Judaism changed. The Law no longer made him right with God, but faith in Christ through grace. Paul was unique and in the rare situation of being both a Jewish national and a Roman citizen. His Roman citizenship protected him from certain deadly persecutions and opened huge doors for the Gospel. Like Paul, I and others like me have the unique capacity to speak to both gay culture and Christian culture. I still identify as a gay person but have given my sexuality entirely to God and died to it, letting it be crucified with Christ submitting to God's teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman and the only context for sexual intimacy.

My seventh and final reason is evangelistic. Mainstream secular culture does not understand the term 'same-sex attracted' and feels alienated by the term the 'gay lifestyle'. In the ministry I have been called to, I want to focus on in removing boundaries, both existential, intellectual, and spiritual to the gospel. Identifying in some way with others in the gay world opens a unique door to share the gospel, and speaks against the horrible treatment Christians have often meted out to the gay community.

For these and intellectual reasons, I cannot sign the Nashville Statement (and even more so the Denver statement for that matter!), especially article 7: 'We deny that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God's holy purposes as revealed in creation and redemption.' This is a blatant misunderstanding of Christian eschatology  people are not finally redeemed yet although marked for such redemption and thus must be real and honest about their humanity, broken and otherwise, identifying in their weakness as well as their strength. Same-sex attraction is a unique and complex entanglement of the image of God and the fallen human flesh or sin nature. To deny this, is to commit the error of 'over-realised eschatology', thinking Heaven has now come and the human flesh has disappeared, even if being crucified. It is to cut off the human good of desiring a partner embedded in homosexual or erotic desire, branding it entirely wrong or sinful.

It is not like other situations. Homosexual experience and identity needs to be listened to, understood and a new identity developed in Christ that can incorporate that reality in celibacy or interorientation marriage without leading to sinful realities like SSM marriage, forced marriages that are not given by grace or legalistic celibacy. I am deeply disappointed with the lack of conversation around this statement and it shows a failure to understand the anthropology of repentant SSA/gay people who choose to identify with the LGBTQI community on the level of their plight in 76 nations where it is illegal and seven nations where they can be executed and the incredible pain they go through, including the plight of thousands of refugees fleeing because of this from Russia, the Middle-east etc. This statement falsely makes the narrow path Jesus has designed pharisaically narrower. This is not Jesus' way.

I was once an anti-Christian gay rights activist who knows that to be on the other side. I vote no. I would sign if certain articles were better qualified to what exactly homosexual or transgender self-conception means. The theological anthropology present is erring on clumsily biblicist, not biblical exegesis and the statements do not represent all evangelically minded people. Until I see that, my response is no. Let's not communicate in a way that shuts down people like myself who are trying to reach the LGBTQI community with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and who are standing against the onslaught of liberal attacks on us. The last thing we need is friendly fire. I deeply love and respect my brothers and sisters of all kinds and stand in grace as we all work this out but for now I say no. We must lead from the front with the love and truth of Jesus Christ together, not from behind with a limited understanding of homosexual experience. I am praying for a better way forward in that grace  will you join me?

David Bennett will be telling his personal story from being an anti-Christian gay rights activist to meeting God in a pub, in 'A War of Loves' (published by Zondervan next year). He has completed first class postgraduate studies in theology this year at Oxford University and will be heading to complete a masters at St Andrews, Scotland.This is an edited version of a post that first appeared here.
The Creative Destruction of New York City: Engineering the City for the Elite, by Alessandro Busa (Oxford University Press, 332 pp., $29.95)

Perhaps youre among those people who think that life in New York City has improved in recent decades. After all, compared with the early 1980s, crime is lower, public spaces are safe and teeming with pedestrians and shoppers, fewer poor people require public assistance, and waves of new immigrantsboth the college-educated and the Third Worlds poorhave voted with their feet to come to Gotham.

A German-educated urban scholar has arrived to debunk the evidence of your own eyes. For ordinary people, writes Alessandro Busa in The Creative Destruction of New York City, surviving today in New York can be a living hell. He has in mind not just broke college students in Astoria but starving artists in Bushwick, teachers and firefighters, shoemakers and dry cleaners, even graphic designers, copywriters and other professionals, who are, he asserts, being priced out of the city. Chain stores, luxury high rises, and gentrification have transformed the city into little more than a consumption-based playground for an exceptionally affluent population of city consumers.

Such complaints are common in New York, often heard from poverty advocates or city council members. But Busa, fashioning himself a combination Tocqueville and Marx and Engels, believes that he is being original in identifying the villain: capitalism. Capitalism, he writes, can survive only by subjugating more and more of the urban experience under its rules. Its goal, he asserts, is the exaltation of private self-interest at public expense. The incessant restructuring of the built environment is a reflection of capitals ability to constantly find new avenues to reproduce itself . . . (leading to) a relentless disruption of existing communities, social ties, and cultural identities, he writes, as epitomized by rampant gentrification of inner-city districts since the 1980s. All this Busa calls creative destructionnever mind that Joseph Schumpeter, who coined that phrase, meant it as a neutral description of the way capitalism enables invention and reinvention, through new products and services. The dynamic is certainly disruptiverobots replace factory workers, industries seek lower costs and moveand neighborhoods change in response to new trends. Rising housing prices reflect that dynamism, too, and gentrification can uproot people.

For Busa, however, creative destruction is only negative. He laments Harlems gentrification, apparently longing for the days when the neighborhood was uniformly poor and black. That gentrification may lead to the renovation of derelict buildings and enable minority homeowners to sell for large windfalls does not occur to him. Nor does Busa note that, when all forms of subsidized housing are consideredincluding public housing and rent-stabilizationNew York has more affordable housing than any American city.

Part of the problem with this book is that, as Busa admits in his introduction, he doesnt have much experience of New York City. He lived here briefly on an educational-exchange visa, moving in and out of at least a half-dozen short-term sublets and shares. He lists the various rents he paidfrom $700 for a one-bedroom in the West Village to $1,400 for a room in his beloved Chinatown to $250 per week for a tiny room in a Bowery flophouseas though these terms are illustrative of New Yorks inexorable rise in rental prices. Theyre not: they are random data points in a massively complex housing market. Also, most working New Yorkers do not house their families in short-term sublets, rent individual rooms, or depend on what sound like apartment-sitting stints. Busa presents his brief time in New York City to credential himself as an expert on its housing market, but his transient, atypical living situations undercut his claims to authority on the topic.

For a university press book, the volume is replete with sloppy references and unsubstantiated numbers. Busa discusses the actions of New Yorks Department of Housing, presumably referring to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. No congressional act called the Federal Urban Renewal Program exists; rather, there is Title I of the National Housing Act of 1949. Busa calls former Commissioner of City Planning Amanda Burden Amanda Bloomberg. Citing Moody (not Moodys credit-rating service, it turns out, but the name of a left-wing polemicist), he informs us that, during just two years under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, the city lost over 1.3 million affordable (housing) units. Only 3.4 million residential units exist in the entire cityand more than 1 million of those are rent-stabilized, with another 176,000 owned by the public housing authority. According to the 1999 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey, the number of units under rent stabilization declined by 0.6 percent between 1996 and 1999, representing slightly less than 6,000 apartments, so it is unclear where the 1.3 million figure comes from. Errors of this magnitude in an ostensibly scholarly work are inexcusable.

The books biggest problem, however, is its main argument: that capitalism creates a tsunami of destruction at the expense of the poor. Busa identifies the villains of New York City as its real-estate titans, enabled by politicians, who do their bidding. He is not wrong that real-estate development in New York is an insiders game, one in which campaign contributions may help with property-tax exemptions and rezoning. What he fails to understand is that this kind of sleaze is not capitalism. If it resembles any system, it is German state capitalismwhat others might call crony capitalism or corporatism. It is no regime of free markets.

Its hard to understand how Busa can classify Robert Moses, and his regime of massive, eminent-domain-based subsidized-housing construction, as an agent of capitalism, rather than of well-connected builders in league with big-government progressives. Luxury high-rises such as One57 may be contemporary symbols of wealth, but nothing has harmed the poor, in New York and elsewhere, as much as public housing. Its construction required the demolition of slums, with their modest structures that were poor households and businesses only assets. Herded into subsidized rentals, the urban poor, especially African-Americans, lost their chance to accumulate wealth through property appreciationa setback that mattered far more than the current bugaboo about bank redlining. It was this combination of progressivism and cronyism that outraged Jane Jacobs, whom Busa cites, predictably, as a philosophical ally. In reality, Jacobs celebrated the dynamic, changing cityone that turned greenhorn immigrants into middle-class citizens, that fostered product innovation (the seamstress who invented the brassiere, for instance), and that shed its skin time and again, as New York always has. Busas confusion on this point runs deep. He seems to believe that if only Michael Bloombergs administration had not rezoned vacant waterfront buildings for new residential and commercial purposes, garment factories and longshoremen would have returned to areas that had been derelict for decades, and that if 125th Street had not been rezoned, jazz clubs and soul food restaurants would still be theredespite the decline in jazzs popularity and the exodus of the black middle-class from Harlem.

What does New Yorkor London, or other great citiesneed in place of the oppressive regime Busa has described here? He offers only vague platitudes: There must be something better than this. As people wake up and challenge the established consensus around city building there will be a chance for us to see another kind of creative destruction. And hopefully, it will be the creative destruction of established norms, slogans, and political practices that have made this system so disconnected from the needs of the citizens of New York, as well as the citizens of the world. For evidence of such a system, Busa might look farther back in New Yorks historyto a time before zoning and subsidized housing, when builders, free to construct residences as-of-right, built great swaths of brownstones in Brooklyn, apartments on the Grand Concourse, and two-family homes in Queens. Thats a system that responded to the needs of citizens. Its called capitalism.

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
A report published by a UK-based campaigning group has accused WWF of funding anti-poaching patrols which have committed widespread human rights abuses when evicting tribes from ancestral lands in the Congo Basin.

Survival International, a UK-based campaigning group for indigenous groups, has said that global conservation charity WWF has been complicit in anti-poaching patrols committing atrocities on people of the Baka or Bayaka tribe in Cameroon, the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.

Its report, How Do We Survive?, said that it had documented more than 200 instances of abuse visited upon Baka or Bayaka people in the Congo Basin by wildlife guards funded and equipped by WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) the parent charity of New Yorks Bronx zoo, since 1989.

But the WWF has strongly rejected claims it hires what it called eco-guards, and expressed shock and sadness at the violence being inflicted on the local Baka people.

Baka illegally evicted from their ancestral homeland

Survival International said its researchers spoke to many of the Baka and Bayaka people in Cameroon, Republic of Congo and Central African Republic, who claimed they were being illegally evicted from their ancestral homelands in the name of conservation.

Eye-witnesses and victims of abuse said that wildlife guards inflicted violence on the Baka, by pouring hot wax onto exposed skin, beating, and maiming with red-hot machetes. The report also said that guards harass, beat, torture and kill people of the Baka tribes, confiscate personal tools and even burn down camps and homes.

Survival said: Big conservation organisations like WWF are partnering with industry and tourism and destroying the environments best allies, and accusing indigenous people such as the Baka of poaching because they hunt to feed their families and they face arrest and beatings, torture and death, while big game trophy hunters are encouraged.

WWF rejects accusations

However WWF said it doesnt employ eco-guards.

A WWF spokeswoman said: We are shocked and saddened to hear of the violence and abuse of indigenous people. It is totally unacceptable. Protecting our planet is as much about respecting the rights of the people that depend on it as it is about protecting wildlife, and we do this by helping deliver access to education, healthcare and livelihoods to local communities through conservation projects.

Contrary to reports, WWF does not employ eco-guards. In fact we have repeatedly asked Survival International to share information that could help us to push the authorities who employ those accused to act. Despite our many requests Survival International has refused to share this information.
I began my career in journalism at a young age, while I was still in school. But not J-school. Elementary school.

To be candid, it was a case of nepotism. I was handed the reigns, in 1995, to the McHenry News from my grandmother, Beulah Hillard.

The McHenry News, which ran in local weekly papers like the Ohio County Times-News, was part of a once-vibrant tradition in community journalism: the society columns of rural towns. From births and anniversaries to sicknesses and deaths, all the happenings of a town were published for readers to see, once a week, with a dutiful reminder to keep those in the community facing tragedy or illness in your prayers.

As the gathering places of many small towns have dwindled, and our online conversations are increasingly polarized, I keep thinking back to how important these columns were to my family, and many of those around me, in connecting us to the other few hundred who lived in our little town.

My hometown of McHenry, Kentucky is a city (officially, with an elected mayor) of 400-some citizens. The McHenry News appeared in Ohio County papers alongside the latest happenings from Rosine, Cromwell, Taffy, No Creek, and other small towns in rural Ohio County, Kentucky.

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Im not certain when Mammaw Beulah began the McHenry News. I found a column from August 1966 that didnt bear her name but echoed her writing style. (News of out-of-state visitorsMr. and Mrs. Ike Ball, West Virginia, spent a week with Mrs. Ione Trail and other relatives.) In September 1971, under the name of Mrs. Hubert Hillard (which she used for much of her at least three-decade run), she reported a bit of her own news: Hillards Visit Santa Claus Land, the theme park in Santa Claus, Indiana, now known as Holiday World.

People called Mammaw Beulah on a regular basis to report news they hoped to see in the next weeks edition. Or they stopped her at church, or at the store. Occasionally, they might have mailed her something. She handwrote the announcements into a column and mailed them to the weekly newspapers offices, where the column would run in future editions.

My mammaw, and all her colleagues, were the curators of these news columnsthe Facebook feed of their time. Some, like Mammaw Beulahs, were succinct and factual. Others were more conversational, interspersing inspirational quotes, Bible verses, and occasional editorializing. Often, submissions would be run as is. A 1985 Los Angeles Times piece quotes a column by Myrtle Shoupe in Hima, Kentucky. After a town resident died when his home caught fire, Shoupe wrote that it could happen anybody but we dont know what going to happen next but when we got to bed and go sleep we better be saved for we dont know what going to happen in the night.

When I was 12, and my grandmother was suffering from some health complications, she asked me to take over the family enterprise. Suddenly, I was a boy among giants, names Id read in the paper my whole lifea cohort of fellow society column contributors, most of whom were women in their sixties and seventies. The steady stream of phone calls soon started on our phone line.

I enlisted my mom to take notes while I was at school. With her help, I became a fixture of the society news scene until my senior year of high school, when my momBetty Hillard Fordwent from silent partner to the official author of the McHenry News.

But the role left a lasting impression on me. I began working at rural newspaper offices. One of my first jobs was to receive the hand-written logs of these community contributors and translate them into print. (Some of them were quite the challenge to decipher.) I remained a writer at rural Kentucky newspapers until 2009.

I wasnt the only young person running a society column. In 2006, Ben Ashby16 or so at the timetook up the Centertown News. He ran it for five years, until growing up and moving around intervened, as it had with me.

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Ben, now 27, returned to publishing the Centertown News earlier this year, but with a twist. So I did something newwell something I havent done in six yearsI wrote a new column for the local paper, Ashby wrote to on his Facebook page, commemorating the publishing of his first new column in February. I also baked a chocolate chess pie. The recipe is in the column. The past year of politics has been hard on so many of my views about my hometown. Yall its hard being a liberal in a small Kentucky town. I needed to fix that. I needed to restore my pride of place. This year, Ben has published seven or so Centertown News pieces, telling stories of some of his favorite hometown people and of the past of this town of 300-some people.

My moms taken another path: the preservation of tradition. For the past few years, Betty Hillard Fords McHenry News has been the only society column youll find in the Ohio County Times-News, all year long. In addition to the time-honored traditions of the society column, she ends her piece every week with a special thanks to a dedicated reader. For instance, see the shout-out that ends this 2006 column available online: This week, I would like to thank Hazel Blair (of Cincinnati, Ohio) for reading the column each week. Hazel is a daughter of the late A.J. and Lola Phelps Wakeland and was from here. We enjoy hearing from her every Christmas and I appreciate her kind words about the column.

The McHenry News has been a printed space for many decades now for people who care about what was a dot on the map to othersa feeling of connection not just to those in the town you knew personally (and could befriend online), but to all those who felt a common connection.

Over the past 15 years, Ive watched as those columns slowly began disappearingas the curators of each of these small towns news fell ill or passed away, without anyone coming along behind them to take up the tradition, and as new communication platforms take on the functions these columns once had.

Cities like McHenry and Centertown all have city governments that no news outlet has the staff resources to give much coverage to. These towns have often lost the general stores, local diners, post offices, elementary schools, and other gathering places that once defined them. And the tone of polarization of communication in digital spaces do not necessarily lend themselves being the best venue for civic engagement at the most local of levels.

I hold on to how those columns engaged people like me, and Ben Ashby, at a young age; they made us feel a deep sense of place, and a lifelong connection to where were from.

Please keep these efforts in your prayers.

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Sam Ford lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and works as a consultant to media organizations. He is a Kentucky Press Association award-winning journalist and a former VP, Innovation and Engagement, at Univisions Fusion Media Group. He is also a fellow with Columbia Universitys Tow Center for Digital Journalism, where he is working on a current project about understanding and combatting polarization, and potential approaches for local/regional news organizations to take in addressing the polarized climate. More at https://samford.wordpress.com.
When I moved to New York City after graduating from college, I found a seemingly endless number of bars, restaurants, museums and shops to explore. It was easy to combine my love of food with inherently social nature of going out to eat. After work, going out to dinner with friends or grabbing drinks with coworkers became the norm. And usually, setting out to do one led to doing both. Instead of drinking on an empty stomach, we ordered food. Or, we reasoned, what's the harm in having a margarita or two with dinner? The harm is that the tab quickly adds up. After more than a few expensive weeknights, I knew I needed to rein in my spending habits. So I implemented a simple rule: I could either order alcohol or food, but not both.

Now, if I choose to go out to dinner, I skip the wine. If I head to the bar, I commit to cooking dinner myself when I get home. I usually make plans around three times a week. If I choose to forgo one $10 drink each time, that saves me around $120 a month. But since, more often than not, one drink turns into two, skipping two drinks three times a week saves $240. Deciding to do happy hour instead of dinner saves me even more. Looking back on what I've typically spent on dinners out in New York, it can run anywhere from $15 to $40. If I skip three $25 dinners a week, that's $300 in savings for the month.
President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, used a personal email account to communicate with White House colleagues, Kushner's attorney confirmed Sunday.



Kushner's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said that Kushner sent or returned fewer than 100 emails to colleagues in the White House from that account in the first eight months of the Trump administration. Lowell added that all non-personal emails were forwarded to Kushner's official address.



"Mr. Kushner uses his White House email address to conduct White House business. Fewer than a hundred emails from January through August were either sent to or returned by Mr. Kushner to colleagues in the White House from his personal email account," Lowell said in a statement.



She added that those emails were "usually forwarded news articles or political commentary and most often occurred when someone initiated the exchange by sending an email to his personal, rather than his White House, address."



The news was first reported by Politico, which said Kushner used his private account  set up during the transition last December  alongside his official White House email account.

He traded emails with senior White House officials, outside advisers and others about media coverage, event planning and other subjects, Politico reported, citing sources familiar with the correspondence.



Politico said that people who have exchanged emails with Kushner on his personal account since Trump took office in January included former chief of staff Reince Priebus, former chief strategist Steve Bannon, National Economic Council director Gary Cohn and spokesman Josh Raffel.



There is no indication that Kushner had shared any sensitive or classified material on his private account, according to Politico.



Use of personal emails to conduct official business had dogged much of Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential run, and was a key talking point for Trump's campaign.

As secretary of state, Clinton admittedly sent and received thousands of emails on her personal email account, using a server at her suburban New York home. That led to probes from the FBI to determine if the emails contained sensitive information.
Macau gaming company Dragon Corp. is looking to raise half a billion dollars through an initial coin offering (ICO), in an effort to integrate blockchain technology into the world's largest gambling market.

The tokens issued in the ICO would be utilized by VIP junket operators, which are middlemen who act as facilitators for the multi-billion dollar casinos, by offering credit on behalf of casino operators.

"This is the first time anybody has allowed the public to invest in a public junket or become a shareholder of a casino," said Chakrit Ahmad, CEO of Wi Holding, the Thai-based company behind the blockchain technology. "You're basically becoming a shareholder in a junket, utilizing blockchain technology, getting revenues from that, and plugging that back into the token."

The offering comes as Beijing begins a crackdown on so-called cryptocurrencies.

Among those backing the coin offering, according to a Tuesday report in the South China Morning Post, is Wan Kuok-koi, a 61-year-old who served 14 years in jail for "an array of gangland crimes."

That alleged connection, which CNBC was unable to confirm independently, could increase regulatory interest in the deal. Ahmad of Wi Holding was not immediately available to comment on the South China Morning Post report.
The future of New Zealand's next government lies in the hands of an opposition leader who has been likened to President Donald Trump.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters Hagen Hopkins / Stringer / Getty Images

An inconclusive general election on Saturday saw neither of the two leading parties win an outright majority, which means the South Pacific nation is headed for a coalition government. The final vote tally is expected on October 7, but preliminary results showed Prime Minister Bill English's ruling National Party, which has been in power since 2008, securing 58 of 120 parliamentary seats. Labour, the country's main opposition vehicle, led by Jacinda Ardern, secured 45 seats, while smaller factions New Zealand First and the Green Party obtained 9 and 7, respectively. The center-right New Zealand First must now form a coalition with either National or Labour, placing the spotlight firmly on New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. It's the third time 72-year-old Peters has held the balance of power in an election  a position that's earned him the title of 'kingmaker.' Straight-talking Peters, who is considered a populist, has been likened to Trump for his anti-immigration and protectionist policies. Having previously backed both sides during his four-decade career, it's not certain which way Peters will swing this time. Over the weekend, the outspoken figure said he intends to take his time in making a decision.

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Former Prime Minister John Key told CNBC that he expects Peters to eventually side with English. "I suspect in the end, he'll look at the vote and see National really won very comprehensively." It's hard to argue Peters would prop up Labor because "the only argument you could only really use for that is the country wants change, when it clearly showed through the ballot box that it doesn't want change," Key continued. With no clear deadline for Peters to make up his mind, the country remains mired in uncertainty. English, who remains prime minister in the interim, said on Monday that the process "could take weeks." "Peters wants to draw this out for as long as he can," Robert Ayson, professor of strategic studies at Victoria University of Wellington, told CNBC's "Squawk Box' on Monday. "He knows that once he signs a deal, his power declines to some degree," Ayson said. "We could be in for ten days, two weeks or maybe even slightly more to get a real sense of what this coalition is going to look like." Like Key, Ayson expects Peters to eventually give the nod to National. It would be "quite difficult" for him to pick Ardern over English as that would mean partnering with the Green Party, which have pledged to work with Labour, Ayson explained. "The Greens and New Zealand Firsts don't get on terribly well...New Zealand would also be a bit uncertain about the long-term prospects of a Labour-led coalition."

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Swiss power grid maker ABB will pay $2.6 billion for General Electric' s Industrial Solutions business, it was announced Monday.

Chief executive Ulrich Spiesshofer told CNBC he is "very confident" that ABB can build the unit back to a strong position.

Spiesshofer said the unit, which has an EBITDA margin of only 6 percent, has strong roots and brand legacy, but the problem is it was a non-core business in GE's portfolio.

"You know what happens to non-core businesses. They don't get enough oxygen and they don't prosper. For us, this business is absolutely right in the sweet-spot," he told CNBC's Squawk Box. "We are very confident that, jointly with the GE Industrial Solutions team, we will shape this business back to a strong position."

GE's Industrial Solutions business makes circuit breakers, switchgear, components for lighting control and power supply equipment, which overlaps with ABB's portfolio. The unit had sales of $2.7 billion in 2016, but its operating earnings before interest, taxes and amortization are just 6 percent of sales, compared to ABB's 15 percent operating margin.

Spiesshofer said he had received many calls from customers to congratulate him on the acquisition and saying ABB is the right home for the business. He also addressed how ABB will boost profit margins at the unit.

"We need to live up to that now and the way we will do it is harmonize the product and technology portfolio. We have leading edge solutions on the digital side," he said.

"Secondly, we have an overlapping footprint and we will do some restructuring in this context, but we will do this in a responsible way like ABB always does it and we will try to find a home for the very good people at GE in the growing parts of our business."

ABB expects $200 million of annual cost benefits from the acquisition deal and anticipates $400 million of integration costs.

The Zurich-based company's stock price rose 0.42 percent on news of the deal.

Reuters contributed to this report.
CEO Jean-Michel Mathieu poses during the launching of Joon, the new lower-cost airline subsidiary of Air France in Paris, France, September 25, 2017.

Air France thinks sneaker-clad flight attendants and organic food are the key to filling its planes with younger travelers, but low prices are more likely to do the trick.

The French arm of Franco-Dutch company Air France-KLM on Monday launched its lower-cost airline, called Joon, which it said is aimed at millennial travelers.

Joon's one-way fares start at 39 euros ($47) for travel within Europe, putting it at a similar price point as low-cost carrier EasyJet . Joon's flights from Paris to Berlin, Porto, Lisbon and Barcelona will begin in December. The carrier will also offer long-haul flights, between Paris and the Seychelles and to Fortaleza in northern Brazil in 2018.

The new airline isn't alone in its quest for price-conscious consumers. Lufthansa has expanded its low-cost Eurowings unit, while British Airways' parent, International Airlines Group, earlier this year launched airline Level, which offers fares that start around $200 for travel between Oakland, California, and Barcelona.

The airline's splashy debut touts in-flight streaming and flight attendant uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles. But customers will likely be most focused on price.

Price is by far the most important factor when travelers choose an airline, according to a 2015 study by the International Air Transport Association, an industry group that represents most commercial airlines.
Government officials won't be the only ones enforcing the Trump administration's latest curbs on travel to the U.S. when they take effect next month.

Commercial airlines are again on the front lines of the U.S. government's latest round of travel restrictions, which have had several iterations since the Trump White House's first, issued in January. The first set, placed upon citizens of seven majority-Muslim nations, threw airports into chaos.

Failing to scrutinize traveler documents is costly: Airlines have to pay to fly the passengers back home and sometimes pay hefty fines for passengers who are denied entry into the U.S. upon landing.

Immigration authorities worldwide turn away some 60,000 air travelers a year at destination or transfer points, according to the International Air Transport Association, an industry group. Those authorities can fine carriers an average of $3,500 for the error.

Gate agents and other airline employees this year have had to become quick studies in the sometimes vague and abruptly changing requirements on which documentation was acceptable for boarding U.S.-bound flights. They also were forced to change their boarding and luggage-loading procedures after the Trump administration in March issued a ban on personal electronics larger than a cell phone in the cabin.

The White House's latest rules added a ban on most U.S. travel from Chad and North Korea, to a list that included Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, and Iran. Sudan was removed from the list of countries that were in an earlier ban.

The administration also will bar the entry of some government officials and their families from Venezuela. The new restrictions will take effect Oct. 18, the White House said.

Unlike under previous travel bans, the restrictions differ country by country, which means airline employees need to review passenger documentation ever more carefully. For example, Iranian students with valid visas to study in the U.S. will still be admitted.

There are no scheduled nonstop flights from this list of countries, except Venezuela, but there is connecting service to the U.S. through airports in the Middle East and in Europe, so not only regional carriers will be affected.
GOP candidate for U.S. Senate Roy Moore Bill Clark | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images

Roy Moore's religious views put him far afield of the most conservative Republicans

To understand how Moore could upend the balance of the Senate, it's vital to understand his ideology  and why it puts him far afield from even the most conservative Republican currently in the Senate. In particular, experts note that Moore's goal isn't merely for the government to carve out a space for free religious exercise, as many conservatives demand; instead, he argues that Christian principles  or, more accurately, his interpretation of Christian principles  should provide the foundation for, and even supersede, the laws of men. "Moore's ideology is an express belief that God's law and his interpretation of God's law stand on top of man's law," said David Dinielli, deputy director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, who has tracked Moore's career for years. "It's an ideology that would allow those who think they know the unknowable and the mystic to impose their beliefs on everyone else."

It'd be like adding a mini thermonuclear weapon in the Republican caucus  with very dangerous consequences for those trying to reach compromise. Jim Manley top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on what would happen if Moore won

This conviction resulted in the two high-profile national stories that gave Moore the name recognition now powering his Senate run. (Moore came in first in the first round of the GOP primary ahead of Tuesday's runoff.) The first was his decision to install a monument to the Ten Commandments at his courthouse. Despite direct orders from a federal judge, Moore then refused to remove the monument or to cease holding a prayer session in his courtroom, leading to his suspension. "The Judeo-Christian God reigned over both the church and the state in this country, and [...] both owed allegiance to that God," he said at the time. Moore was suspended again in 2015 after refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. "Moore has ... encouraged lawlessness by attempting to assemble a virtual army of state officials and judges to oppose the federal judiciary and its 'tyranny,'" the SPLC wroteat the time. In a 2006 column arguing that Muslim American Rep. Keith Ellison should not seated by Congress, Moore argued that the Constitution is founded on specifically Christian principles, and that anyone whose beliefs fall outside Christian principles by definition fall outside those of the Constitution as well. "The Islamic faith rejects our God and believes that the state must mandate the worship of its own god, Allah," Moore wrote of Ellison. "Islamic law is simply incompatible with our law."

Moore could create havoc for McConnell

If Moore were running for a seat in the House, he'd join a coterie of conservatives in the Freedom Caucus that is already deeply right-wing. And his influence would be diluted as just one of 435 in a body where individual members have little choice but to follow the agenda put forward by leadership. But as a senator, Moore would have much more power  both because each member of the Senate has far more leverage and authority than the average House member and because he'd have a greater platform to spread his views. "One senator can really gum up the works," said Alan Abramowitz, a political scientist at Emory University. "The Senate rules give individual senators ways to throw a monkey wrench into the Senate if they choose to do so." Abramowitz stresses that there are limits for how much damage Moore can do. Despite rules that grant individual senators vast powers  like unilaterally blocking judicial appointments or preventing bills from coming to the floor  the Senate can ultimately rewrite its rules with 51 votes to limit Moore's influence. So his ability to pass legislation that reflects his worldview will likely be sharply circumscribed. "If he thinks he'll come in and start moving bills that will force the Ten Commandments to be hung outside of Sen. Sanders's office, he'll be sorely mistaken. He's hamstrung on the legislative front," said Manley, the former Reid aide. "The other senators will make sure he doesn't stray too far from the customs and norms of the Senate." Moreover, there's a chance that having McConnell lose a safe vote redounds to Democrats' benefit. "If you have a few more extreme Republicans in the Senate like Moore going off the reservation and not supporting compromise, it means McConnell needs more Democrats to get things done," said Bruce Oppenheimer, a congressional scholar at Vanderbilt University. "If there are people who are totally uncompromising, you have to look elsewhere." Still, Moore can make the body more conservative in a number of ways. He'll likely shift the center of gravity in the caucus to the right, giving the existing right-wing hardliners  Sens. Rand Paul (KY), Ted Cruz (TX), and Mike Lee (UT)  an additional vote to pull the party in their direction. "I can see him functioning as a quasi-Rand Paul, but perhaps more extreme," added Allen Linken, a political scientist at the University of Alabama.

Moore will get a big platform to inject his far-right views into the mainstream
In Tuesday's Republican U.S. Senate runoff, bombastic conservative Christian candidate Roy Moore faces the appointed, business-backed incumbent Sen. Luther Strange. Despite Strange's support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, GOP Senate leaders and President Donald Trump, Moore has consistently led in the polls.



If he wins the nomination and then the December general election, mainstream Republicans warn he would add a rebellious voice to a 52-member GOP Senate caucus. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell already has scant margin for error as he attempts to steer the tax reform debate to a more successful conclusion than the GOP has reached on health care.



There's even concern, improbable as it sounds, that Moore could prove controversial enough to lose in December against Democratic nominee Doug Jones. Moore has twice been forced from judicial office in Alabama for refusing to follow federal court rulings on church-state separation and same-sex marriage.



"It may put the seat in play if Moore wins," said Whit Ayres, a prominent Virginia-based GOP pollster. "I know it sounds ridiculous to think of a Democrat winning Alabama these days, but it also sounded ridiculous to think that Scott Brown could win in Massachusetts."



Ayres referred to the shocking 2010 Massachusetts special election that deprived President Barack Obama and Democrats of a critical Senate seat. That represents the ultimate GOP nightmare in the race to fill out the term of Jeff Sessions, who resigned the seat to become Trump's attorney general.



Even short of that, GOP strategists fear Alabama could complicate preservation of the party's Senate majority in 2018 midterm elections. A Moore victory could embolden less-electable populist challengers to other Republican senators, risking a repeat of unexpected 2010 and 2012 losses in red-leaning states.



Moreover, Moore's flamboyance and hard-right social views would make him a reliable magnet for national attention. The resulting publicity would represent one more obstacle to the GOP's desire to modernize and expand its lagging appeal among women and young people, among other groups.



Despite the president's stated public preference for Strange, the Trump factor in the race has been muddled. As Trump's base among white working-class conservatives remains aloof from the incumbent, ousted White House officials Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka have campaigned for Moore in their bid to counter more moderate voices in Congress and the administration.



Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has also praised Moore. Remarkably, so has the president, who told a rally in Alabama last week that he may have made a mistake and would help Moore's campaign if Strange loses.



The realclearpolitics.com average of public polls shows the incumbent approaching the Tuesday runoff behind by 10 percentage points. But low-turnout special elections are notoriously unpredictable, and GOP analysts say heavy spending by Strange's establishment allies has left him within striking distance.



The chamber, says top political strategist Scott Reed, is using novel employer-to-employee turnout techniques with Alabama business organizations in hopes to pulling out the victory. With Washington's business agenda on the line, he casts the election as an important precursor to 2018.



A Moore win "would open up the floodgates for others," Reed explained. "Got to shut it down, or else."


Unemployment has fallen, and the stock market has soared. So why has the economic expansion since the recession been so tame, with sluggish productivity and, at least until recently, anemic wage growth?

Economists say the answer, to some degree, can be found in a start-up slump  a decline in the creation of new businesses  and a growing understanding of what's behind it.

A total of 414,000 businesses were formed in 2015, the latest year surveyed, the Census Bureau reported Wednesday. It was a slight increase from the previous year, but well below the 558,000 companies given birth in 2006, the year before the recession set in.

"We're still in a start-up funk," said Robert Litan, an economist and antitrust lawyer who has studied the issue. "Obviously the recession had a lot to do with it, but then you're left with the conundrum: Why hasn't there been any recovery?"

Many economists say the answer could lie in the rising power of the biggest corporations, which they argue is stifling entrepreneurship by making it easier for incumbent businesses to swat away challengers  or else to swallow them before they become a serious threat.

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"You've got rising market power," said Marshall Steinbaum, an economist at the Roosevelt Institute, a liberal think tank. "In general, that makes it hard for new businesses to compete with incumbents. Market power is the story that explains everything."

That argument comes at a potent political moment. Populists on both the left and right have responded to growing public unease about the corporate giants that increasingly dominate their online and offline lives. Polling data from Gallup and other organizations shows a long-running decline in confidence in banks and other big businesses  a concern not likely to abate after high-profile data breaches at Equifax and other companies.

The start-up slump has far-reaching implications. Small businesses in general are often cited as an exemplar of economic dynamism. But it is start-ups  and particularly the small subset of companies that grow quickly  that are key drivers of job creation and innovation, and have historically been a ladder into the middle class for less-educated workers and immigrants.

Perhaps most significant, start-ups play a critical role in making the economy as a whole more productive, as they invent new products and approaches, forcing existing businesses to compete or fall by the wayside.

"Across the decades, young companies are really the heavy hitters and the consistent hitters in terms of job creation," said Arnobio Morelix, an economist at the Kauffman Foundation, a nonprofit in Kansas City, Mo., that studies and promotes entrepreneurship.

The start-up decline might defy expectations in the age of Uber and "Shark Tank." But however counterintuitive, the trend is backed by multiple data sources and numerous economic studies.

In 1980, according to the Census Bureau data, roughly one in eight companies had been founded in the past year; by 2015, that ratio had fallen to fewer than one in 12. The downward trend cuts across regions and industries and, at least since 2000, includes even the beating heart of American entrepreneurship, high tech.

Although the overall slump dates back more than 30 years, economists are most concerned about a more recent trend. In the 1980s and 1990s, the entrepreneurial slowdown was concentrated in sectors such as retail, where corner stores and regional brands were being subsumed by national chains. That trend, though often painful for local communities, wasn't necessarily a drag on productivity more generally.

Since about 2000, however, the slowdown has spread to parts of the economy more often associated with high-growth entrepreneurship, including the technology sector. That decline has coincided with a period of weak productivity growth in the United States as a whole, a trend that has in turn been implicated in the patterns of fitful wage gains and sluggish economic growth since the recession. Recent research has suggested that the decline in entrepreneurship, and in other measures of business dynamism, is one cause of the prolonged stagnation in productivity.

"We've got lots of pieces now that say dynamism has gone down a lot since 2000," said John Haltiwanger, a University of Maryland economist who has done much of the pioneering work in the field. "Start-ups have gone down a lot since 2000, especially in the high-tech sectors, and there are increasingly strong links to productivity."

What is behind the decline in entrepreneurship is less clear. Economists and other experts have pointed to a range of possible explanations: The aging of the baby-boom generation has left fewer Americans in their prime business-starting years. The decline of community banks and the collapse of the market for home-equity loans may have made it harder for would-be entrepreneurs to get access to capital. Increased regulation, at both the state and federal levels, may be particularly burdensome for new businesses that lack well-staffed compliance departments. Those and other factors could well play a role, but none can fully explain the decline.

More recently, economists  especially but not exclusively on the left  have begun pointing the finger at big business, and in particular at the handful of companies that increasingly dominate many industries.

The evidence is largely circumstantial: The slump in entrepreneurship has coincided with a period of increasing concentration in nearly every major industry. Research from Mr. Haltiwanger and several co-authors has found that the most productive companies are growing more slowly than in the past, a hint that competitive pressures aren't forcing companies to react as quickly to new innovations.

A recent working paper from economists at Princeton and University College London found that American companies are increasingly able to demand prices well above their costs  which according to standard economic theory would lead new companies to enter the market. Yet that isn't happening.

"If we're in an era of excessive profits, in competitive markets we would see record firm entry, but we see the opposite," said Ian Hathaway, an economist who has studied the issue. That, Mr. Hathaway said, suggests that the market is not truly competitive  that existing companies have found ways to block competitors.

Experts also point to anecdotal examples that suggest that the rise of big businesses could be squelching competition. YouTube, Instagram and hundreds of lower-profile start-ups chose to sell out to industry heavyweights like Google and Facebook rather than try to take them on directly. The tech giants have likewise been accused of using the power of their platforms to favor their own offerings over those of competitors.

Most recently, Amazon openly called for a bidding war among cities for its second headquarters  hardly the kind of demand a new start-up could make. Mr. Morelix said the Amazon example was particularly striking.

"We're saying that it's O.K. that they shape how a city charges taxes?" Mr. Morelix said. "And what kind of regulations they have? That should be terrifying to anyone that wants a free market."

In Washington, where for years politicians have praised small businesses while catering to big ones, issues of competition and entrepreneurship are increasingly drawing bipartisan attention. Several Republican presidential candidates referred to the start-up slump during last year's primary campaign. Progressive Democrats such as Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota have pushed for stricter enforcement of antitrust rules. In a speech in March, Ms. Klobuchar explicitly tied the struggles of entrepreneurs to rising corporate concentration.

In July, entrepreneurs achieved a mark of political relevance: their own advocacy group. The newly formed Center for American Entrepreneurship will conduct research on the importance of new businesses to the economy and push for policies aimed at improving the start-up rate. Its founding president, John Dearie, comes from big business  he was most recently the acting head of the Financial Services Forum, which represents big financial institutions.

"Everybody loves entrepreneurship, but they're not aware it's in trouble," Mr. Dearie said. "If new businesses are the engine of net new job creation, and if new businesses are the engine of innovation, and new business creation is at 30-year lows, that's a national emergency."
Elon Musk is increasingly out on his own with his doomsday predictions of a future where artificial intelligence threatens human existence.

"This is a case where Elon and I disagree," says Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, speaking with the WSJ Magazine and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

"The so-called control problem that Elon is worried about isn't something that people should feel is imminent," says Gates, according to a transcript of the interview published by the WSJ Magazine Monday. "We shouldn't panic about it."

Over the past few months, Tesla and SpaceX boss Musk has issued repeated, dire threats warning of a very scary future with artificial intelligence.

Musk says the global race for artificial intelligence will cause World War III and that governments will take AI technology "at gunpoint" if necessary. The billionaire tech icon has also says robots will be able to do everything better than humans. And "AI is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization" and poses "vastly more risk" than North Korea, according to Musk.

As the WSJ Magazine puts it, Musk is warning of a future where humans are the "house cats" of our robot overlords.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says that the company's CEO, Satya Nadella, is naturally great at a skill that took him years to learn: how to deliver feedback with empathy.

Gates and Nadella spoke to WSJ Magazine in an interview published Monday, a rare chat with two of the three men to ever run Microsoft.

"Early on we were speed nuts, staying all night [at the office, thinking], 'Oh, you're five percent slower as a programmer? You don't belong here.' It was very hard-core," Gates told the magazine, citing his rivalry with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. "I think as this industry has matured, so has what's expected of a CEO. Satya has a natural ability to work well with lots of people, to tell people they're wrong in a nice way and to let feedback come through to him more than I did."

Gates has reclaimed some oversight of Microsoft's products under the leadership of Nadella, who said that Gates has an inimitable way of "galvanizing" workers to do their best. Nadella, on the other hand, said that while being "hard-core" is still an important part of his job, he thinks humility is the only way to really put himself in his customers' shoes.

"The reason why I use the word empathy is because the business we are in is to meet the unmet, unarticulated needs of customers. That's what innovation is all about. And there's no way you're going to do that well without having empathy and curiosity," Nadella told the magazine.

Read the full interview at WSJ.com.
Brown University has initiated a $120 million campaign to drop all loans from financial aid packages awarded to their undergraduates.

Student debt is at an all-time high  the average outstanding balance is $34,144, up 62 percent over the last 10 years  and Brown will become the sixteenth U.S. institution, and the sixth in the Ivy League (excluding Cornell and Dartmouth), to offer all of its undergraduates a loan-free education.

In 2016, the average Brown student graduated with a debt of $23,810, compared with $8,908 for Princeton, which adopted the no-loans policy in 2001.

The plan aims to replace financial aid packages with grants that do not have to be repaid. All undergraduates  domestic and international  will be included, university President Christina Paxson said.

"If we're successful in raising one quarter of the total amount  $30 million  by December, Brown will eliminate loans in financial aid awards for all current and incoming students starting with the 2018-19 academic year," Paxson said in a statement.

The university plans to add $4.5 million to its financial aid budget each year to cover its 6,500 undergraduates.

Currently, Brown has a no-loans financial aid policy that is extended only to students who qualify for a Pell Grant or whose family earnings fall below $60,000. Brown was the second university to adopt that plan after Princeton in 1998.

Of the estimated 4,200 U.S. colleges and universities, only 58 have no loans for low-income students and just 15 have no loans for any of their undergraduates, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president of strategy at Cappex.com.

Brown's move is the latest in an effort to make higher education more affordable. In April, New York state made tuition free for community colleges and public four-year schools for state residents with annual incomes up to $100,000. In June, the University of Michigan announced it will offer up to four years of free tuition for in-state students with a family income of up to $65,000.

Most prior moves to help students with debt are specifically aimed at low-income families. Only a few American universities, including Springs College and College of the Ozarks, are tuition-free for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Brown's plan to eliminate loans may help its own students, but the real question is, will other institutions follow?

"One of the reasons Ivy League schools can do these programs is not only because they have large endowments but also because they have very few low-income students," Kantrowitz said. "Longer term, I would expect to see more focus on free tuition, as opposed to no loans."
When he was a candidate for president, Donald Trump said he planned to run the White House "like a business." Eight months into his presidency, small-business owners, and all Americans more generally, see more chaos than top-down, effective management.

We asked small-business owners  and everyone else  what they think of Trump's management style. As pollsters, we know the value of getting hard data about politics. For example, 51 percent of small-business owners and 40 percent of the general population said they approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, according to the third-quarter CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small Business Survey. Those are hard numbers that we track from quarter to quarter, and they're down in this poll. We can benchmark against approval numbers for past presidents at the same point in their tenures.

But on a human level it's incredibly insightful to get information in respondents' own words rather than on a preset rating scale. Particularly when responding to polls online, without human interviewers who may judge them, respondents tend to provide distinct, personal and sometimes colorful answers.

From Aug. 1017, we asked 12,912 respondents how they would describe Trump's management style  in one word. After combing through the responses, complete with misspellings and some unprintable portmanteaus, we came up with some interesting observations.

More from the CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small Business Survey:

Small-business confidence drops, most notably among conservatives



First, the No. 1 word used to describe Trump's management style was some variation of "chaotic" or "chaos," with a few people disregarding our request for one word to vent their frustrations (e.g., "chaotic mess," "absolutely chaotic and undisciplined," "manage by chaos").

Perhaps this "chaos" means different things to different people, but it's a succinct summary of the whirlwind of the past eight months. The Trump administration has had some notably high-level staffing shake-ups and a rather unconventional way of operating in Washington, both of which could be contributing to the perception of chaos.



Of the respondents, 2,282 were self-identified small-business owners  individuals who should be particularly appreciative of the need for a leader to have a positive management style. When we subset our analysis to examine responses from this population  more than 1,800 of them provided an answer to this open-ended question  we see the same response trends as we do among the general population. Below are the 40 words that were chosen by at least 10 business owners each.
A man watches a television news programme showing US President Donald Trump (C) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (L) at a railway station in Seoul on August 9, 2017.

China on Monday called for all sides in the North Korea missile crisis to show restraint and not "add oil to the flames" amid an exchange of increasingly bellicose rhetoric between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after "Mr. Evil President" Trump called Pyongyang's leader a "rocket man" on a suicide mission.

"Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" Trump said on Twitter late on Saturday.

Trump tweet

North Korea, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programs in defiance of international condemnation, said it "bitterly condemned the reckless remarks" of the U.S. president, saying they were an "intolerable insult to the Korean people" and a declaration of war, the North's official news agency said on Monday.

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim described Trump as a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard" whom he would tame with fire.

Kim said the North would consider the "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history" against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed his nuclear program was "the correct path."

Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address on Tuesday to "totally destroy" the country of 26 million people if North Korea threatened the United States or its allies.

Asked how concerned China was the war of words between Trump and North Korea could get out of control, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described the situation as highly complex and sensitive.

It was vitally important everyone strictly, fully and correctly implemented all North Korea related U.N. resolutions, Lu said, resolutions which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

All sides should "not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present," Lu told a daily news briefing.

"We hope all sides do not continue doing things to irritate each other and should instead exercise restraint."

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear bomb test on Sept. 3, prompting another round of U.N. sanctions. Pyongyang said on Friday it might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

While China has been angered by North Korea's repeated nuclear and missile tests, it has also called for the United States and its allies to help lessen tension by dialing back their military drills.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on Saturday in a show of force the Pentagon said indicated the range of military options available to Trump.

"A continued rise in tensions on the peninsula, I believe, is not in the interests of any side," Lu said, responding to a question about the U.S. air force exercises.

For its part, China says it is committed to enforcing sanctions against North Korea.

Wang Jingdong, president of the world's largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), told reporters during a briefing the bank will "strictly implement U.N. Security Council decisions related to North Korea and carefully fulfill relevant international responsibility."

The North accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies.

The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with North Korea because the 1950-53 conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said his decision to call a snap election would not distract his government from responding to North Korean threats, pledging to increase pressure if Pyongyang failed to halt its missile and nuclear weapons development.
Despite backlash from customers, Chipotle Mexican Grill is standing behind its queso  and that could be a big mistake.

"I think their statements about the queso have been peculiar," Dan Hill, CEO of crisis communications firm Hill Impact, told CNBC. "They are not very consumer friendly and it's almost like 'We know better than you about what you want and need,' which is a certain arrogance that a brand can have that doesn't sit well with people."

While the burrito chain is slated to see a bump in sales and foot traffic after the national launch of the cheese dip, it seems that repeat visits and sales could be hard to come by for the brand, analysts said.

"I think they'll get a bump out of the queso roll-out in the short-term, but the growth won't be sustainable or long-lived if the consumers don't like it, and indications are that it's a far cry from what they were expecting, and it could end up being a long-term negative if it doesn't live up to the hype," David Henkes, principal at Technomic, told CNBC via email.

In initial tests in Colorado and California, Chipotle's queso received tepid reviews, especially on Twitter. And that continued following its national rollout. Many said that the dip had a "grainy" texture while others applauded its smokey taste.

Chipotle has stood by its decision to launch the product nationwide, citing positive feedback during trials on the West Coast.

Company spokesman Chris Arnold told CNBC that 93 percent of diners who ordered queso on an entree during the tests on the West Coast said that they "liked or loved" the product. In addition, he said 76 percent of customers who ordered queso as a side with chips "liked or loved" it and 63 percent of respondents who tried the new menu item said it made them more likely to visit the restaurant more often.

However, Chipotle's "fundamental mistake" was the way that it launched its queso, Gene Grabowski, a partner at K Global, a crisis communications group, told CNBC. Grabowski said that because of the company's history with food safety outbreaks and its recent history of setbacks, customers and investors are more apt to scrutinize and criticize the brand.

More so, since Chipotle does not often launch new menu items, expectations are much higher when it does.

The company "painted a bull's eye on their back and invited people to take shots," Grabowski said. "You have no place to go but down when you announce it with trumpets and rose petals."

Grabowski said the company may have been more successful if it rolled out its queso more slowly and with less publicity. Of course, this can be difficult for the brand because of how much attention is paid to every move it makes.

The company needs to have better communication with its "front line," the employees that are interacting with customers every day, and needs to change how it approaches its consumers, Hill said.

In an email to employees obtained by Bloomberg last week, Chipotle's chief marketing officer, Mark Crumpacker, told staff that despite the most recent online reviews, customers do like the company's queso.

"I think that's a mistake, trying to force an organization to accept that it made the right decision in the face of information that says otherwise," Hill said. "If they want to be consumer focused and say that they are responsive to consumers that would also include being responsive when consumers are displeased."

Grabowski said that Chipotle's crisis management is "a little better" than it once was and that the company has learned a few lessons from its food safety struggles. However, he said that the company is still acting impulsively. He suggested that Chipotle find something else to talk about and let the narrative change away from queso.

"The franchise wasn't built on cheese," he said.
Apple's rollout of two major iPhone models this year may cause short-term issues for the company, according to one Wall Street firm.

Citi Research lowered its earnings and sales estimates for Apple's September quarter, predicting lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone 8 will cause the company to miss the Wall Street consensus.

"We are reducing our F4Q17 (Sept) to reflect more modest iPhone 8 and 8 Plus demand. Checks in US/Europe indicated similar demand patterns to those observed in Asia and Australia  i.e. modest crowds but definitely thinner than in the past while ship times for the devices ordered online were also quicker," analyst Jim Suva wrote in a note to clients Monday.

"We are not surprised that current ship times are quicker and lines shorter than prior launches, as we believe users will wait to compare to iPhone X before making a final purchase."

The iPhone X will be available Nov. 3 at a base model price of $999, while the iPhone 8 launched last week.



Suva reiterated his buy rating and his $170 price target on Apple shares, which is 12 percent higher than Friday's close.
watch now

Sometimes, there are days like Monday, when CNBC's Jim Cramer sees the stock market's "rocket ships" fly too close to the sun. "We actually had two rocket ships at work today: FANG and 'Rocket Man' himself, Kim Jong Un, a nuclear menace who's now become the short-sellers' best friend, this time with his pronouncement that our flyovers of North Korea amount to a declaration of war," the "Mad Money" host said. While FANG, Cramer's acronym for the stocks of Facebook , Amazon , Netflix and Google parent Alphabet , may have fallen out of favor with investors for climbing too much of late, some more uncommon stocks started to rally ahead of North Korea's latest statements. For example, oil stocks surged as the commodity topped $52 a barrel, even though the low $50s are usually where crude prices hit a ceiling before falling again. "We know the oils are rallying, but there's more to this move than just the strength in crude," Cramer said. "We've heard rumblings of mergers in the drilling business. After so many years in the price-cutting wilderness, it's about time these companies thought about combining forces."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (L) sits beside U.S. President Donald Trump during a leadership lunch at the White House in Washington. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

Stockpile CEO on Engaging New Investors

Avi Lele, CEO of Stockpile. Adam Jeffery | CNBC

Recent statistics show the number of Americans invested in stocks declining, but Stockpile co-founder and CEO Avi Lele told CNBC his fractional share trading platform can help change that. "[In] the last eight years, the tide has been rising. [The] stock market has been doing well, but most of us don't feel rich, right? Because our ships have been in dry dock. They haven't been in the water," Lele told Cramer in an exclusive interview on Monday. "And here, to get into the market, I think the easiest point of access is to invest in something you know, something that you love." Lele's privately held company is a clinic in making investing more accessible: It makes gift cards, sold online and at various physical locations, that function as fractional shares of stocks.

Bulls vs. Bears: BioTelemetry

Finally, Cramer examined the bull and bear cases for the stock of BioTelemetry , a small-capitalization medical device company known for its heart monitors. The company made a turnaround in early 2016, delivering consistently strong earnings results and making a series of acquisitions. But the bears struck this month with a scathing report from Off Wall Street, giving BioTelemetry's stock a $21 price target and a sell rating. "The bearish argument boils down to a pretty basic thesis: They believe the company's cardiac monitoring services division, which made up 80 percent of the business last year, is losing market share. It's just that these declines are being obscured by the company's many recent acquisitions," Cramer said. But more bullish voices from Lake Street and Dougherty & Co. chimed in, attributing the company's slowing revenue growth to Medicare cuts that will soon be reversed. Dougherty analysts said they expected BioTelemetry's volumes to grow by the high single-digits for the next few years, recommending the stock and giving it a $40 price target. "I've got to side with the analysts who've been covering the name for years rather than the naysayers at Off Wall Street," Cramer said. "BioTelemetry had run a great deal, but thanks to the sell-off, I think you can get into the stock at a discounted price. I think it's worth buying, cautiously, of course, because it's for speculation only. It's a small-cap stock, even as the newfound negativity has created what may be an excellent buying opportunity." In an emailed response to CNBC's request for comment, BioTelemetry President and CEO Joseph Capper outlined his bull case, saying his company's tech-enabled devices are in high demand because they can help cut health costs. "BioTelemetry's cardiac monitoring sales have been driven by a high performance sales organization that is second to none in the market. We have the most advanced technology, providing the highest diagnostic yield with the quickest turnaround time. We have the most robust I.P. portfolio and more published clinical proof studies than any other company in the market," Capper wrote, using shorthand to refer to BioTelemetry's intellectual property. Capper added that BioTelemetry is uniquely positioned to benefit from the popularity surge in wearable devices and their connection to health care. "That being the case, we were quite surprised to see the Off Wall Street piece. This came out of left field and was built around a flawed thesis and inaccurate statements. In short, we think "Off Wall Street" is "off the mark" on this one," the CEO wrote. "Look for BioTelemetry to continue to outpace the market, commercializing the most innovative connected health solutions both in and outside of the cardiac monitoring space. The BEAT goes on!"

Lightning Round: Veering Away from VRX
The Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas cruise ship arrives with refugees from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, in San Juan, Puerto Rico September 14, 2017.

Cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico won't be resuming this week after all.

With San Juan and the surrounding area still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Maria, Royal Caribbean late Sunday canceled a sailing out of the city scheduled for Wednesday.

The three-night trip to Antigua and St. Kitts on the 3,114-passenger Adventure of the Seas was just announced on Thursday. It was a shortened version of a seven-night voyage to the Southern Caribbean that originally was scheduled to begin this past Saturday but postponed after Maria struck.

More from USA Today:

Is your Caribbean cruise destination open? A port-by-port look

Nearly half of Carnival's fleet now displaced by Irma, Maria

Cruises to Dominica in doubt

Royal Caribbean on Sunday also suggested the Sept. 30 departure of Adventure of the Seas from San Juan was in flux.

"Given the impact of Hurricane Maria, we understand that there is uncertainty regarding travel to the island," the line said in a travel advisory posted on its website. "We continue to monitor the recovery efforts in San Juan and will make a final decision on this sailing early next week."

Adventure of the Seas is one of two cruise ships based in San Juan at this time of year. Also sailing from the city is Carnival's 2,056-passenger Carnival Fascination. Fascination was scheduled to depart San Juan Sunday on a trip to the Southern Caribbean, but late Friday the line canceled the voyage as well as the ship's Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 departures from the city. Carnival said its terminal in San Juan sustained extensive damage from Maria that will takes weeks to repair.

In addition, three Florida-based ships that were scheduled to visit San Juan this week on Eastern Caribbean sailings have been re-routed to other ports. The vessels include Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas  the world's largest cruise ship.

A prolonged delay in San Juan's reopening as a cruise hub could have significant logistical implications for the cruise industry. The city is a popular stop for cruise ships in the winter, and its use by lines as a hub for sailings grows in the winter, too. In addition to Adventure and Fascination, ships scheduled to use San Juan as a base over the coming winter include Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas, Viking Cruises' Viking Sea and Princess Cruises' Regal Princess.

Royal Caribbean on Sunday said passengers on Wednesday's canceled sailing on Adventure will receive a full refund, and the line also is offering them a 25% future cruise credit if they book a new trip within 30 days.

Customers booked on the Sept. 30 sailing of Adventure who want to cancel the trip also can get a full refund in the form of a future cruise credit, Royal Caribbean said.

Adventure is one of the ships that Royal Caribbean sent to aid hard-hit Caribbean islands earlier this month in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
"Coalition building will be extremely difficult," Carsten Brzeski, chief economist at ING, told CNBC Monday via email. "If Schauble would really no longer be Finance minister it would be a watershed for the entire euro zone. An exit of one of the main characters of the entire euro zone crisis clearly marks the end of a historical chapter," he said.

Schaeuble became the face of austerity and had a determinant role in bailout programs across the euro zone, namely Greece, and is often described as Chancellor Angela Merkel's co-chancellor, given his importance to the German government. However, given the tough political horse-trading that lies ahead, Merkel might not manage to keep her close ally.

Wolfgang Schaeuble, the German Finance minister, could soon lose his influence on Germany and the euro zone if coalition talks remove him from his key ministry.

In the aftermath of the German election, there could be one important casualty for markets.

Merkel's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister-party the Christian Social Union (CSU) won 33 percent of the vote, provisional votes showed, down from 41.5 percent in the previous election. The pro-business FDP party, which placed fourth with 10.7 percent of the votes, has said it is open for coalition talks with Merkel's CDU. The Greens are set to join coalition talks too, which could ultimately form Germany's first four-party government in decades.

In German politics, it's usually the case that the largest party chooses the chancellor, and the second largest group picks the next post. As such, the FDP could opt for the Finance Ministry and put an end to Schaeuble's eight-year reign.

The future for Schaeuble is "the question" from a market perspective, Carsten Nickel, managing director at Teneo Intelligence, told CNBC Monday.

"In the end, I think there is probably very little alternative to Schaeuble, right now, at least in terms of individual politicians. There's nobody who really comes to mind as the key person who would challenge him for that role. I wouldn't be surprised if he stays on in the end," he said.

If Germany were to lose Schaeuble as Finance minister, the current momentum for further euro zone integration could also be damaged.



"What it means for Germany's stance on further euro zone integration is too early to tell. If the FDP will join a coalition, expect a much slower integration process and many cold showers for (French President Emmanuel) Macron," Brzeski said, referring to plans from Macron to deepen economic and financial ties.

"I don't think that the FDP can implement its own views, but it will definitely slow down any new steps towards more integration," he added, given the FDP's view goes against what Macron and other EU leaders want to implement.

The 75-year-old Schaeuble hasn't given any signs that he is ready to retire from politics. If he loses the Finance Ministry, Merkel could still appoint him as the next speaker of the German Parliament. The role would include fewer powers from those that Schaeuble currently has, but it could become more important now that the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won its first ever parliamentary seats.
Here's what a former ambassador thinks would happen if the US strikes North Korea 11:41 AM ET Mon, 25 Sept 2017 | 00:53

The Trump Administration continues to pound away at North Korea, insisting military options are on the table, but so far the threats have not stopped Pyongyang from pursuing tests of its nuclear weapons and ballistic 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," said President Donald Trump at a speech to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday. "Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime," he said. "Rocket man' refers to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Trump warned last month that "all options are on the table" after the North launched a missile designed to carry a nuclear payload over U.S. ally Japan. That was followed by Pyongyang's 6th nuclear weapons test on September 3rd, and 12 days later, North Korea launched a second missile over Japan, just days after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed new sanctions against the North.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told CNN on Sunday that the UNSC has "pretty much exhausted" all its options, but indicated Defense Secretary Jim Mattis "has plenty of military options." And on CBS, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, "If our diplomatic efforts fall through, our military option is the only one left."

Earlier this month, Mattis said the U.S. will answer any threat from North Korea with a "massive military response, a response both effective and overwhelming." On Monday, when asked at a news conference about whether the U.S. has military options for North Korea that would not put Seoul at risk, Mattis said, "Yes there are. But I will not go into details."

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un has vowed to continue the North's weapons programs, saying the country is getting close to its goal of "equilibrium" to match U.S. military force.

The Cipher Brief's Kaitlin Lavinder asked Ambassador Joseph DeTrani, the former special envoy for Six Party Talks with North Korea and the former director of the National Counterproliferation Center, if he thinks a military solution is possible  and what the consequences would be.

The Cipher Brief: As the bellicose rhetoric from both the U.S. and North Korea continues, the U.S. is signaling that all options  including a military one  are on the table. Is there a realistic military solution?

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani: Given North Korea's provocative and threatening behavior, with 16 missiles launched this year, including an ICBM [intercontinental ballistic missile] and IRBM [intermediate range ballistic missile], a likely hydrogen bomb test, their sixth nuclear test, and the vitriolic hyperbole from Pyongyang, it's understandable that "all options are on the table" in dealing with North Korea.

Ideally, talks that halt the North's nuclear program and pursue comprehensive denuclearization is the preferred option. However, if North Korean leader Kim Jong-un eschews talks, then we should be prepared to intercept and destroy any ballistic missile that poses an imminent threat to the U.S. or its allies.

A declaratory statement should be sent to Pyongyang making it clear that any "imminent threat" will generate a pre-emptive strike, and Pyongyang should think twice about any response to this pre-emptive strike. In response, it's possible Kim Jong-un would provoke an attack on the Northern Limit Line (NLL)  similar to the Cheong An incident in 2010, when the North attacked a South Korean frigate, killing 46 sailors  or attack a South Korean island, as they also did in 2010.

TCB: What would a military solution look like? What would be the consequences?

DeTrani: If the U.S. were to conduct a "preventive" attack against a base or facility to deny the North the ability to attack, then I think they would retaliate in a more ferocious way, using conventional weapons to attack Seoul, at a minimum.

TCB: Would the U.S. risk this  an attack on a close ally, Seoul?

DeTrani: I can't foresee North Korea attacking Seoul if we intercepted a missile posing an imminent threat to the U.S. or South Korea. This is an internationally accepted responsibility of any government to protect his/her country and people. Seoul and Tokyo should understand and concur with this approach, given that missile defense systems are in South Korea and Japan.

To not respond to an imminent threat is the height of weakness, confirming we're a paper tiger. This would then encourage more aggression from North Korea if we didn't have a pre-emptive policy of intercepting and destroying any missile viewed as an imminent threat.

TCB: What should the U.S. do?

DeTrani: More missile defense deployments, enhanced joint military exercises with South Korea (which should also include Japan), additional sanctions and secondary sanctions, and more information into North Korea, with a declared pre-emption policy, is the approach I would recommend, if North Korea refuses to halt its nuclear and missile programs and enter into exploratory discussions with the U.S. and possibly South Korea.

This interview was originally published on The Cipher Brief.

Kaitlin Lavinder is a reporter at The Cipher Brief. Follow her on Twitter @KaitLavinder.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
This image shows wind turbines near Whitstable and Herne Bay on the Kentish coast. The U.K. has become a world leader in offshore wind.

The final turbine for the Nordsee One offshore wind farm has been installed and commercial operations are set to commence by the end of this year.

Tim Kittelhake, managing director and COO of Nordsee One, said in an announcement at the end of last week that turbine installation had been completed within seven months. The site is located in the North Sea, around 40 kilometers to the north of the island of Juist.

The scale of the project is significant, with the turbines measuring approximately 150 meters from sea level to blade tip.

According to Nordsee One its 54 turbines will generate, on average, 1.2 billion kilowatt hours per year and supply the equivalent of around 400,000 average homes with green electricity. This will help to save more than one million tons of CO2 when compared with a "conventional" coal fired plant.

"Most of the turbines are already feeding green electricity into the grid," Pierre Lestienne, managing director and CFO of Nordsee One, said in a statement. "We are very pleased with our progress so far. With another project milestone behind us, we remain focused on advancing the project into commercial operation."

Europe is something of a world leader in offshore wind. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, the U.K. is home to the largest offshore wind market in the world, closely followed by Germany.

Earlier this month, Dong Energy announced it had been awarded a contract to construct the world's largest offshore wind farm, Hornsea Project Two, off the east coast of England. The development will have enough capacity to power more than 1.3 million homes in the U.K.
U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel Ukas Michae/Pool/Getty Images

Berlin might be over 4,000 miles away from Washington DC but Sunday's election in Germany and forthcoming negotiations over a future coalition government will be closely monitored in the U.S. capital. Analysts, however, predict that the "world views" of U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will remain at odds. , with 33 percent, although it lost a lot of ground to the far-right, anti-immigrant and anti-euro party Alternative for Germany (AfD), which garnered 12.6 percent of the vote and is to enter the German parliament for the first time. Domestically, and in Europe, the coalition parties that form a government could determine how much Germany is willing to support ever closer political and economic union in the euro zone (the FDP is not keen). On an international level though, Merkel's foreign policy stance towards the U.S.  one of trying to get Washington to stick to an international climate agreement drawn up in Paris in 2016 and maintaining transatlantic trade and investment  is likely to stay the same, analysts and diplomats noted.

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Peter Wittig, German Ambassador to the United States, told CNBC on Monday that Merkel had a "clear mandate to form the government" and that her re-election meant continuity. "There will be a lot of continuity in Germany's role in Europe and the world. The chancellor has said she wants to continue her successful economic policies of ... free trade and she has clear view of reforming the European Union, so there will be a lot of continuity and, of course, Germany will be a very reliable partner to the U.S." Chris Scicluna, executive director and head of Economic Research at Daiwa Capital Markets Europe agreed that while the election will eventually result in a new coalition government for Merkel, "it seems unlikely to change much in terms of German economic or foreign policy." "So, for example, in marked opposition to the Trump world view, Merkel's foreign policy will be very much centered on supporting global institutions, while she will also remain at the forefront of defining a common European response to geopolitical challenges," Scicluna said. "And with the Greens likely to be on board, Merkel is hardly going to dilute her support for anti-climate change policies such as the Paris Accord."

Clash of world views

So far, Merkel's diplomatic relations with Trump have been reserved at best and their stances on trade, climate change and immigration are poles apart  with Trump advocating an "America First" policy, denying climate change and calling for strict immigration bans in the U.S. For his part, Trump has been characteristically vocal in his criticism of Merkel's move to allow over one million refugees to enter Germany in 2015 at the height of the region's migrant crisis, calling it a "catastrophic decision." That there's no love lost between the powerful politicians has not been lost on experts. "The relationship between the two of them is not good, but this does not affect the close institutional relationship between the two countries," Charles Linchfield, associate at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, told CNBC Monday. "(But) in general terms this election reminds us that Merkel is a leader of one country and has her own domestic muddles to get through. She doesn't have the time or resources to be the 'leader of the free world' and so she is still dependent on the U.S.'s military and even economic leadership," he added.

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Nonetheless, Merkel's stance towards Trump could also be influenced by her governing partners, according to Ricardo Garcia, head of European Macroeconomics at UBS, with particular mention going to the Greens who, unsurprisingly, would not be impressed with any U.S. withdrawal from an international agreement to limit global warming. Garcia told CNBC in an email Monday that the Greens would be likely to remain 'Trump-skeptic' particularly given their environmental credentials. Having said the Paris agreement was a "bad deal," Trump's administration is currently considering whether or not to withdraw from the accord. In addition, Garcia thought the Greens would pressure any potential coalition to increase spending on defense in line with Trump's insistence that NATO members should spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on its own defense per year.

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A former member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's government said Monday he's concerned about the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, which has secured a place in the Bundestag for the first time.

"It is a movement. It is a protest movement," said Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, who served as economics minister and then defense minister in Merkel's administration from 2009 to 2011.

"Part of this movement are people who are racist. Part of this movement are people who are openly anti-Semitic. Part of this movement are people who use language that we have heard in Germany about 80 years ago," Guttenberg said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" a day after Merkel got enough votes to win a fourth term as chancellor.

But the AfD won 12.6 percent of the vote. The party, founded only four years ago, will be the first right-wing nationalist party to enter the German parliament since World War II.

"It's not enough to stay silent" and hope the AfD goes away on its own, Guttenberg said. "So we have to be outspoken and clear about the risks that emerge out of such a group of people. And that's the task Germany has ahead of it."

Georg Pazderski, leader of the AfD's Berlin unit, brushed off questions that the party represents a turn toward divisive politics. "If you want to stigmatize a party, then you put out the Nazi wording and say these are Nazis, these are 'right-wing', don't vote for them because of our history," he said.

Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and its sister party Christian Social Union got 33 percent  not enough to govern alone. That means Merkel needs to forge a coalition with smaller parties in order to form a four-party government, which has not been seen in Germany for decades.

Not too long ago, Guttenberg was seen as a successor to Merkel. But the once-popular politician resigned from her Cabinet in 2011 after admitting to plagiarizing his doctorate.

In August, Guttenberg made a return to the political stage, saying in a speech that Germany would be "in the very best hands" with his "former boss" Merkel.

Guttenberg also said: "I want to thank those people who, quite rightly, sharply criticized me for my failings. I learned much from them." For the past six years, he's been working at an investment firm in New York.

 Reuters contributed to this report.
Michael Fuchs, German Chancellor and head of the German Christian Democrats (CDU) Angela Merkel, Chairman of CDU Rheinland-Pfalz Julia Kloeckner and Josef Oster, candidate for the German parliament, greet supporters after an election rally at the headland known as the 'Deutsches Eck' ('German Corner'), on August 16, 2017. Andreas Rentz | Staff | Getty Images

Angela Merkel looks set to be re-elected as German chancellor for a fourth term in office after her conservative alliance won a federal election Sunday, but the celebrations at party HQ could prove short-lived. Germany's political system is now in a state of flux with Merkel facing an uphill battle to agree a governing coalition with other smaller parties. In the meantime, the jobs of senior German politicians and ministers could hang in the balance as the post-election wrangling begins. CNBC looks at what will happen next.

No great victory

While Merkel's win is a victory for liberal, pro-European politicians and a relief for like-minded members of the electorate, the election saw Merkel's party lose substantial ground to the country's far-right, nationalist party. While the alliance comprising Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) received 33 percent of the vote, making it the largest parliamentary group, the allies saw a collective 8.6 percentage points decrease since the last vote in 2013. Germany's other main party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), also fared badly with 20.5 percent of the vote (down 5.2 percentage points from 2013), according to statistics from Germany's Federal Returning Officer.

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Carsten Brzeski, chief economist of Germany and Austria at ING Research, said Monday that the result was a "bittersweet victory" for Merkel and could be "the worst result for the CDU since 1949" and "the worst result since World War II" for the SPD. Many voters turned to the nationalist, anti-euro Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which had been predicted to do well in less affluent parts of the country, particularly in the former East Germany. Gaining 12.6 percent of the vote (up 7.9 percentage points since the last election), it is now the third largest party in Germany and is set to enter the national parliament for the first time. Merkel acknowledged the AfD's result, saying she would listen to the concerns of voters, and vowed to win them back. Whether voters who were disenchanted by Merkel's decision in 2015 to allow over one million refugees to enter Germany during the migrant crisis will forgive her remains to be seen.

No done deal

Although Merkel's CDU/CSU alliance won the highest share of the vote, it has not won enough that it can govern alone, meaning it will have to find coalition partners from smaller parties in order to form a four-party government not seen in Germany for decades. On a practical level too, the Bundestag has 30 days to convene following the election and then the parliament itself must elect the chancellor, although this will be Merkel, as Germany's biggest party always puts forward its leader as the candidate for chancellor. The CDU/CSU's former junior coalition partner, the SPD, said it would quit the "grand coalition" of the last four years and would instead go into opposition following its dismal election result. Calling the result a "bitter loss," Reuters reported, Martin Schulz, formerly head of the European parliament, said he would stay on as the party's leader. However, after what has been generally viewed as a lackluster election campaign, whether that position is tenable in the long-term remains to be seen. All political parties ruled out a coalition with the nationalist AfD party and setting aside the SDP, the most likely coalition is the so-called "Jamaica" option with the CDU/CSU approaching the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), which gained 10.7 percent of the vote, and the Greens, which gained 8.9 percent. The process of trying to form a governing coalition could take months, according to Societe Generale's research team Guy Stear and Brian Hilliard  and could affect the wider direction of the European Union (EU). "With a poor election result for the CDU and SPD we expect the forming of a new coalition to take longer than usual. In addition, with strong results for both the AfD and the FDP, we suspect that Germany's EU policies will be more cautious and restrictive, irrespective of which coalition takes office," they said in a note Monday.

No good for politicians

The election result could claim some top scalps with Schulz's position as head of the SDP looking vulnerable, as well as Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble, a popular veteran of the country's political establishment. It's traditional in Germany for the junior coalition partner to choose a ministry where it can place a minister of its choice, and with the pro-business FDP likely to be a junior coalition partner, the Finance Ministry is widely expected to be in its sights. A member of the FDP's national executive told the Bild newspaper earlier this month that "the FDP should enter no government in which it cannot name a finance minister," but the party has been tight-lipped since the result about any upcoming coalition talks.



CNBC contacted the FDP for comment on its Finance Ministry plans but no one was available for comment.

No good for Europe
Flickering hopes to repeal Obamacare this year rest on a simple Republican argument: By the virtues of federalism, states will do it better than Washington.

That's how Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy tout their plan to shrink Obamacare spending by $215 billion in 2026 and distribute the reduced amount to states through health-care block grants. Even with less federal cash, the sponsors say, states can improve health care through greater efficiency and appreciation for the needs of their residents.

The problem, according to experts on state government, is there's no reason to believe it will work out that way. Evidence doesn't back up the prospect of large efficiency gains. And in significant parts of the country, states have shown themselves unwilling or unable to implement the level of services Obamacare calls for.

"It would be very difficult for many states to be able to do that," said Christine Todd Whitman, the former New Jersey governor and Cabinet member under President George W. Bush. The current governor, her fellow Republican Chris Christie, opposes Graham-Cassidy on grounds that the projected the loss of $4 billion in federal funds would be "too injurious" to New Jersey.

Other states that would lose money are also not counting on their superior management to make up the difference. Republican governors such as John Kasich of Ohio, Bill Walker of Alaska and Susana Martinez of New Mexico have broken party ranks to oppose the bill.

"It's going to be impossible for the states to make up the shortfall with greater efficiencies," concludes Donald Kettl, a professor of public policy at the University of Maryland. He points to 2016 data on Medicare, which is administered by the federal government, and Medicaid, administered by the states. Their rates of improper payments  11 percent and 10.48 percent, respectively  were nearly the same.

By design, the Graham-Cassidy block grant formula takes money from states that have shown greater commitment and capacity to improve health care by expanding their Medicaid programs and signing up more people to state-level Obamacare marketplaces. It redistributes the money to states that have shown less commitment and capacity, without prescribing how they have to use it.

That design represents the marriage of partisanship to philosophy. States gaining money are mostly governed by the GOP, which favors a smaller government role in health care and other forms of public assistance.

For decades, the United States has moved to narrow disparities among states in top-priority services and protections. On health care, it began with the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s, and continued more recently with the Children's Health Insurance Program program and Obamacare.

Similar shifts toward uniform federal protections took place in other realms, such as the safeguards of the Clean Air Act of 1963, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The nation decided, as Kettl puts it, that "If we wait for the states, we're never going to get there."

If Graham-Cassidy were enacted, big differences among state political cultures would widen state-by-state differences in the quality of health services, predicts Richard Nathan, a leading authority on federalism at the Rockefeller Institute of Government. At a time when information technology gives Americans increasingly common national experiences in commerce and culture, Nathan calls such a move "incomprehensible."

"It is, to me, incredible that this is being seriously considered," said Nathan, who advised Republican President Richard Nixon as a top budget aide. He advocates both near-term stabilization of existing Obamacare marketplaces and longer-term tax policy shifts to reduce health costs nationally.

Whitman cites public opposition to an Obamacare repeal as a sign her party "would be wise" to accept the federal government's health-care role. She wants Congress to set aside the Graham-Cassidy proposal and resume bipartisan talks on improving marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act.

"On any issue this big and this complex, it needs to have everybody at the table," Whitman said. "It would make for much better legislation."
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Now sitting in the C-suite, Alexandra Shapiro is a long way from her humble start as an 18-year-old fleeing political unrest with her parents and then-5-year-old brother. These days, she's the chief marketing officer of BigCommerce, an e-commerce platform for merchants selling on the web. Back in 1991, the family of four only had their one-way tickets to San Francisco out of Ukraine, two bags of clothing per person, and $650 in cash, Shapiro said. "We were coming as refugees, looking for freedom," she said. "We were full of hope for starting something new, going after our dreams and going into a country of opportunity." But the road to finding that success was a tough one.

Alexandra Shapiro

Back home, Shapiro's father taught university-level calculus and computer science, while her mother worked as a chemical engineer. Both initially struggled to find work in the U.S. as emigres. They were overqualified for minimum-wage jobs and didn't have sufficient proficiency in English to compete for higher-level opportunities. Entrepreneurship was the key for the family's success in the U.S., and it also gave their young daughter a leg up when she began building her career. "Having a small business is a great way to get your foot in in this country," Shapiro said. "The ultimate goal isn't just to make money, but to gain experience, and that can transition to another job."

Living frugally

Education was a top priority for Shapiro, but she had to help her family cobble together a living from minimum-wage jobs. She worked during the day and went to school at night, starting first at the City College of San Francisco  where classes at the time were $10 per unit. The family kept costs low. "If we couldn't afford a TV, we wouldn't buy a TV," said Shapiro. "When we couldn't afford china, we bought paper plates."

Alexandra Shapiro (right) with her parents in 1992.

The same logic applied to higher education: Shapiro completed her undergraduate degree at San Francisco State University and graduated without debt. As a refugee, she was eligible for federal financial aid, but the low cost of tuition helped, too. Shapiro went on to business school at the University of California, Berkeley.

Jumping into entrepreneurship

Shapiro credits some of her career success to lessons she learned while helping her father open and run a computer shop in 1993. "The small business helped us get on our feet, learn the language and culture and get the experience we needed," Shapiro said. It's also where the future marketing executive honed her customer service skills. While the shop started out with selling computer equipment and software, Shapiro and her father distinguished their business and added revenue by offering network support and courses on programs, including Microsoft Office.

Alexandra Shapiro (right), her parents and younger brother.

"You have to think carefully about your customers and put yourself in their shoes so you can proactively offer solutions for their needs," she said. "This philosophy of working hard is still very important to me; generations of immigrants tend to do that." More from My Success Story This boss trains his hires and expects them to quit A 9/11 widow finds financial stability This couple did some serious cost cutting and paid off $159,000 in debt After her family sold the computer shop, Shapiro made her first big career move, becoming an associate at the management consultant McKinsey & Company in 1996.

Old world values
Women carry containers filled with water as workers use a backhoe loader to remove mud and debris from the street after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico September 24, 2017.

Hurricane Maria left the agricultural industry on Puerto Rico in shambles after dragging across the U.S. territory as a Category 4 storm last week, according to The New York Times.

About 80 percent of the crop value on the island is gone, according to Carlos Flores Ortega, Puerto Rico's secretary of Agriculture. The department's preliminary figures estimate a $780 million loss in agriculture yields across the territory.

Trees are stripped of both leaves and bark, with entire fields simply bare, blown away by Maria's unrelenting winds. The Times reported that it only took a matter of hours for the storm to become one of the costliest in the history of the island's agriculture industry.

Crops of banana, plantain and coffee were damaged the most, Agriculture department officials told the newspaper. Infrastructure for livestock, including chicken coops and dairy barns, were destroyed and entire plantations are gone.

Due to Puerto Rico's ongoing economic recession, the island imports around 85 percent of its food for consumption, the Times said.

Read the full report from The New York Times here.
Relations between Iran and the U.S. grew more strained over the weekend after the Middle Eastern country successfully tested a new ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers.

The Khorramshahr missile test took place Saturday; Iran state media said it could carry several warheads.

The weapon was first seen during a military parade Friday, during which Iran's President Hassan Rouhani promised to boost his country's missile arsenal.

"We will increase our military power as a deterrent. We will strengthen our missile capabilities," Rouhani said Friday in a speech broadcast on state television, according to Reuters.

The country's determination to expand its missile capabilities will remain a main source of friction between Washington and Tehran, according to Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal MENA analyst at Verisk Maplecroft.

"As Iran's missile program is beyond the scope of the 2015 nuclear agreement, both sides have seized on the issue to assert their national interests while still operating within the confines of the deal," he told CNBC via email.

"For Rouhani, reasserting Iran's ballistic missile ambitions provides cover against hard-line critics that see the nuclear agreement as a capitulation to world powers."

Following the missile launch Saturday, the U.S. imposed new unilateral sanctions on Iran, saying the test violated a UN resolution, according to Reuters.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump signed a presidential order that kept travel restrictions on Iran, along with seven other countries. The order blocks nearly all visas from Iran except for students and exchange visitors. On Saturday, Trump criticized the missile test on social media.

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Soltvedt said the missile tests allow Trump to expand sanctions against the country without violating the Iran nuclear deal.

"The net result is that Washington and Tehran are accusing each other of not living up to the spirit of the nuclear agreement," he said.

President Trump has previously criticized the agreement. During his address to the UN last week, he said the U.S. could not abide by the agreement if it provides cover for a nuclear weapons program.

Soltvedt added that missile tests would strain relations with Iran's Middle East neighbors.

"There is no doubt that Iran is in the ascendancy in the geopolitical battle for influence in the Middle East. Iran's ongoing efforts to boost its ballistic missile capabilities will only heighten the sense of insecurity among regional rivals," he said.

"While Iran's more assertive regional stance has put it on a collision course first and foremost with Saudi Arabia and the U.S., the pivotal role it plays in the Syrian conflict is also increasingly raising tensions with Israel."
Ireland will leverage on its imminent position as Europe's only English-speaking country to secure big economic gains, according to Frances Fitzgerald, the country's deputy prime minister.

As the sole country sharing a land border with the United Kingdom, Ireland is widely expected to be the EU member worst-hit by Britain's exit from the European Union in 2019.

However, the country's economic outlook remains positive, according to Fitzgerald, who is also the country's minister for enterprise and innovation.

In fact, Britain's absence from the EU could increase Ireland's attractiveness as a destination for foreign businesses and investors  many of whom are already coming to the country, she told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday.

One region that could significantly strengthen economic ties with Ireland is Asia, according to Fitzgerald.

"We see ourselves as the perfect post-Brexit solution for Asia-Pacific countries," she told CNBC, adding that the number of Asian companies investing in her country has increased significantly.

"We see banking, technology and aviation companies all interested in doing business in Ireland  the only English-speaking country in the EU now, with the departure of the U.K.," said the minister.

She emphasized that Brexit was not Ireland's choice, but the EU's decision.
Defense experts expressed skepticism the North would have an easy time shooting down advanced U.S. military aircraft.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Logan told CNBC on Monday, "Obviously North Korea is a threat." And he pledged the U.S. military will defend "both U.S. homeland and our allies against that threat."

Last week, Ri told reporters the regime might detonate a hydrogen weapon in the Pacific. Up to now, the North's nuclear tests have been underground.

On Monday, North Korea's foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho, accused President Donald Trump of declaring war against the hermit regime and threatened that the North has the right to shoot down U.S. strategic bombers even if they are flying in international airspace.

Meanwhile, a retired U.S. Navy admiral sees a 50/50 chance of a conventional conflict with North Korea although much less likelihood of a nuclear war.

A retired U.S. general said a Pentagon war scenario showed a conventional war with North Korea could result in about 20,000 deaths per day in South Korea , according to the Los Angeles Times .

A North Korean military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo made available April 26, 2017.

"North Korea's air defenses are not great," said Ian Williams, associate director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. "That's actually one area of missile technology where they haven't made huge advances in the past few years."

Analysts told CNBC the North's new KN-06 surface-to-air missile system could provide some protection for the regime and looks like Russia's S-300 air defense system. That said, not a lot is known about KN-06's radar capabilities. It has been trotted out at military parades, and Pyongyang's state media declared the anti-aircraft weapon operational in May.

Over the weekend, the U.S. Air Force said B-1B Lancer bombers and F-15C Eagle fighter jets flew in international airspace over waters just east of North Korea. The U.S. flexing its military muscle follows heated rhetoric recently between North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, and Trump, who last week in an address at the United Nations said that the U.S. could "totally destroy North Korea."

The B-1B bombers flew from the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, where the U.S. has military bases and an estimated 6,000 troops. Also, the U.S. has around 25,800 troops stationed in South Korea, as well as approximately 50,000 service members in Japan.

"Right now it's still a lot of words, and it's a lot of words by two leaders that tend to bluster a bit," Williams said. "One of them, particularly Kim Jong Un, if he feels that conflict is inevitable ... then his strategic position is one where he would gain a lot by taking the first move."

Ret. Navy Adm. James Stavridis, dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, put chances of a nuclear war with North Korea at 10 percent and the chance of a conventional conflict with the regime at 50/50, according to the Times.

The admiral told the paper a war could potentially start if North Korea fires a missile that strikes on Guam or lands near the U.S. territory. It could potentially result in the U.S. striking back against North Korea with Tomahawk cruise missiles, as it did on a Syrian government airbase after a chemical attack in April. And while Syria just took the blow, Kim Jong Un might respond more forcefully to avoid looking weak, including possibly firing artillery at U.S. military posts in South Korea.

Also, the Times said there's a possibility the North Korean dictator could resort to more drastic action, including even smuggling a nuclear weapon aboard a ship to a location where it could cause massive casualties. He also could use an aircraft to drop the weapon.

"We are closer to a nuclear exchange than we have been at any time in the world's history with the single exception of the Cuban missile crisis,'' Stavridis told the Times.

The paper said a Korean war could start with something such as "a relatively minor incident at the demilitarized zone ... or a provocation that develops into a conventional war and then escalates."

Nonetheless, some believe tension in the past after such incidents didn't produce outright war.

"Things are certainly very tense," said Dean Cheng, a defense expert and senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, the Washington-based conservative think tank. "The North Korea of right now is arguably seen as a real threat in a way that even in 2010 we didn't view it that way."

Experts say a lot of the North's military capabilities are ballistic missile-based weapons. Besides nuclear weapons, the North also is believed to have a large stockpile of chemical weapons.

According to Williams, the North's ballistic missiles are "use or lose assets" so its leader Kim would have an impetus to go first, which "ultimately raises the risk of conflict and the chance of miscalculation. It's hard to know what's going on in his mind, but that's my fear."

The recent expansion of the THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea could help reduce the threat of missiles, however, it probably won't help much in the greater Seoul area. About 25 million people, or half of the country's population, lives in the greater Seoul area.

The exact range of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is believed to be up to 200 kilometers (124 miles), although THAAD was installed about 227 kilometers (or 135 miles) away in Seongju.

"South Korea has devoted a fair amount of effort to building shelters, conducting civil defense drills and things like that," Heritage's Cheng told CNBC. He added that there's no reason to assume the North Koreans would not try to hit apartment buildings or other civilian targets.

The CSIS expert said there's also a risk the U.S. could push the North Korean regime leader "too hard and over the brink in terms of paranoia."

The North's propaganda has threatened in recent months to attack the U.S. homeland with nuclear-armed missiles. The regime also has conducted at least two tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles, including one in July that experts said proved the North is capable of reaching half, if not most, of the continental United States, including major East Coast cities such as New York and Boston.

Even so, the threat to South Korea is especially alarming for Seoul residents since the city is close to the North Korean border. The North is said to have thousands of underground locations where it stores rockets and other weapons as well as tunnels that could allow it to quickly enter South Korea.

"They've had pretty much since 1953 to burrow and dig and tunnel," said Cheng.

The Heritage expert described how the North Koreans have dug "hardened artillery sites" that are essentially bunkers with armored doors with a slip to stick artillery tubes through. He said the regime has thousands of these along the Korean DMZ and within range of Seoul.

Nuclear weapons the North could use obviously bring added risks but even without them the loss of life could be significant.

A Pentagon war scenario estimated there would be about 20,000 casualties in South Korea each day in a conventional war, the Times report said, quoting Rob Givens, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general who was once stationed on the Korean peninsula.

"Too many people have the view that it would be like the invasion of Iraq or Afghanistan, or like combat operations in Libya or Syria, but it wouldn't be remotely that," Givens told the Times.

"There is only one way that this war ends," he added. "With North Korea's defeat  but at what cost?"

Williams said the 20,000 deaths per day estimate seems a realistic estimate particularly for "the very beginning of the war, particularly if there wasn't much preparation or warning time."

Added Williams, "The scale of an artillery barrage [from the North] initially would be pretty massive. You'd be looking at several thousand rockets and artillery pieces being fired over the course of several hours."

Experts add that the use of chemical or biological weapons by the North, though, could produce even heavier losses in South Korea. By some estimates, the hermit regime has the world's third-largest chemical weapons stockpile  up to 5,000 metric tons of chemical agents.

Logan, the Pentagon official, declined to comment when CNBC asked about estimated casualties on the South Korean side.

The South is seen as particularly vulnerable to a saturation attack, using short-range Scud and other missiles targeting Seoul. There's also the possibility of an attack using submarine-launched ballistic missiles, with a recent Japanese report indicating the North is close to completing a larger submarine capable of firing multiple missiles.

Read the full article in the Los Angeles Times.
Nearly half of Americans are unsure of the legality of bitcoin, a new study last week suggests, yet a loyal group of its advocates embrace it as a symbol of financial and philosophical freedom.

"I believe there is a strong chance that it may someday revolutionize significant parts of our financial infrastructure," says Aaron Hanson, a software engineer from Chicago.

Hanson uses bitcoin wherever he can  to buy food at an empanada restaurant, airline tickets, his honeymoon in Africa this year  listing it alongside technology and individual freedom as his three beliefs in life.

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Austin Craig, a practicing Mormon who attended Brigham Young University, went a step further: He lived entirely on bitcoin during the first three months of his marriage and chronicled it in a documentary, "Life On Bitcoin".

"Mormons are descendants of pioneers who carved their livelihood out of the wilderness," he says, describing the cryptocurrency's appeal to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "There is a strong element of rugged individuals, self-sufficiency."

Welcome to the mind-set of a typical bitcoin owner. For many, it is a lifestyle, something to be valued more than gold for financial investments and shielding personal information from the prying eyes of a distrusted government.

Most Americans (78.5%) are familiar with the cryptocurrency, according to a survey of 1,000 Americans by LendEDU, a personal finance comparison site. But 48% aren't sure it's legal and 11% consider bitcoin ownership illegal in the U.S.

Still, 40% were open to using bitcoin in the future, says Michael Brown, research analyst at LendEDU.

For those with any doubt about the digital currency, they need look no further than its true believers, who have embraced bitcoin as a way of life and help drive its prices to record highs, causing some analysts to warn of a bitcoin bubble.

The digital currency, whose finite quantities are created by computer programs, trades outside the traditional financial system, an attraction for people who have doubts  or at least seek an alternative  to mainstream institutions.

"There's certainly a libertarian feel" to the beliefs of bitcoin users, says Melanie Shapiro, CEO of Token, an identity-ring maker in New York. "But we're technologists, and technology provides freedom" from centralized government systems.

Their long-term passion and principles have paid off handsomely: bitcoin closed Tuesday at $4,009 per token  twice its price in July, and significantly more than when Shapiro and her husband bought it for $2 in 2011.

The currency, which surfaced in early 2009 from someone using the name of Satoshi Nakamoto, has slowly evolved from cult curiosity to widespread lifestyle choice, with elements of political and religious fervor.

What began as a currency championed by libertarians advocating decentralized currency or criminals trying to avoid law enforcement has been embraced by venture capitalists and investors. It's not mainstream yet  too many people are wary of its high risk and complicated tools  but it's getting there.

"It is the first global, highly liquid form of currency," says Mike Jones, CEO of Science, a business incubator that owns and trades cryptocurrency. "Much more so than than gold. It is about opening financial markets globally."

"It is digital gold," says Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne, whose online retailer was one of the first to accept bitcoin payment.

There is a "doomsday sentiment" among many bitcoin users, who horde the currency along with nonperishable food and drinks in the event of an emergency. Byrne's Salt Lake City-based company has stockpiled several million dollars worth of cryptocurrency, $12 million in gold and a 30-day supply of food to feed all of its 2,000 employees there.

(Byrne is convinced the U.S. dollar will dramatically weaken, as has currency in Venezuela, because of a crippling debt, thus strengthening bitcoin and other digital currency.)

That, in part, is motivation for bitcoin fanatics  but not the entire story, financial analysts say.

"Devotees are motivated less by financial then their passion for distributing power to the masses," says Jawad Ansari, managing director of investment firm Boustead Securities.
Microsoft on Monday introduced a software bundle for so-called front-line workers like cashiers, truck drivers and factory employees.

The announcement at Microsoft's Ignite conference in Orlando, Florida, could help the company boost its usage and revenue numbers for some of its most important products at a time when it's dealing with competition from Google's Chrome OS and productivity apps like Google Docs.

Called Microsoft 365 F1, the new offering includes StaffHub, a recently launched app for managing shifts so that employees don't need to call in or stop by the main office to check a weekly schedule printed on a piece of paper.

It also comes with the Office 365, Windows 10 and Microsoft's Enterprise Mobility and Security suite, which companies use to manage and secure devices. Those products have been sold in other bundles in the past.

But while Microsoft 365 F1 might seem like just the latest attempt to put a new package around existing software, Kirk Koenigsbauer, corporate vice president for Microsoft's Office 365 client applications, suggested it's more than the sum of its parts.

"Internally we're totally changing the way we work to really revolve around this idea of Microsoft 365  the Windows, the Office and the Enterprise Mobility and Security teams are planning together, and we're laying out cadences in terms of when we plan to ship together," Koenigsbauer said. For one thing, he said, the group decided to integrate the administrative portals for Enterprise Mobility and Security and Office 365.

To make StaffHub more appealing, Microsoft will also be enhancing the app in a few ways. Employees will be able to clock in and clock out from within the app, as well as view tasks that managers have assigned to them.

The push for front-line workers also extends to hardware. Microsoft says Acer , HP , Fujitsu and Lenovo will be coming out with devices that would be well suited for front-line workers. They'll start at $275, making them considerably more affordable than Microsoft's own $999 Surface Laptop, and they'll be running Windows 10 S, the edition that meant to be more secure because it can run apps downloaded only from the Windows Store.

In some cases, though, it might not make sense to equip every last front-line worker at a company with a new HP laptop running Windows 10.

That's the case at Jackson Family Wines, whose wineries includes Kendall-Jackson. The company recently issued iPhones to its vineyard workers, who are using Office 365 services.

"Their focus is to prune grapes, spray them, take care of them throughout the year and make sure they're producing the plentiful berries that they need for the wine and not working on a Windows 10 machine, if you will," said Doug Brown, Jackson Family Wines' director of IT operations.

Managers and associates at the tasting rooms also need to coordinate and be informed of corporate announcements  and that communication happens in StaffHub. "They're less interested in getting email," Brown said.

Microsoft is also doubling down on the education market with a version of Microsoft 365 for education customers that comes with the Microsoft-owned game Minecraft, in addition to StaffHub.
President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday evening that Alaska, Arizona, Maine and Kentucky would be big winners under the Graham-Cassidy bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, pointedly mentioning states of four senators who have either said they are against or are leaning against the bill.

Trump tweet

It would appear that the president was referring to funding revisions in Sunday's draft of the bill, a copy of which was obtained by CNBC.

The amendments would improve funding for the four states whose senators have opposed the legislation, specifically benefiting low-density population states such as Alaska and Maine. Another provision would allow Native Americans who obtained health coverage under the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion to retain coverage under traditional Medicaid.

As a result of the revisions, Alaska would see $1.4 billion more in federal Medicaid funding between 2020-2026, or a 3 percent increase compared with Obamacare over the period, according to a worksheet reportedly prepared by Trump administration health officials. Under the original bill, Alaska stood to lose roughly $2 billion.

The three other states would also gain. Arizona would gain $4.2 billion under the new draft calculations, roughly 14 percent, compared with a loss of $19 billion under the original plan. Maine stood to lose $2 billion between 2020-2027, but under the revised draft would gain nearly $1.5 billion. Kentucky would go from losing roughly $11 billion compared with Obamacare, to gaining $1.1 billion or 4 percent.
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Earlier this month CIA Director Mike Pompeo suggested "the North Koreans have a long history of being proliferators and sharing their knowledge, their technology, their capacities around the world." My research has shown that North Korea is more than willing to breach sanctions to earn cash.

A checkered history

In the few public statements North Korea has made on the issue, it has generally denied that it will seek to export nuclear technology.

North Korean technicians allegedly assisted the Pakistanis in production of Krytrons, likely sometime in the 1990s. Krytrons are devices used to trigger the detonation of a nuclear device. Later in the 1990s, North Korea allegedly transferred cylinders of low-enriched uranium hexafluoride (UF6) to Pakistan, where notorious proliferator A.Q. Khan shipped them onward to Libya. UF6 is a gaseous uranium compound that's needed to create the "highly enriched uranium" used in weapons.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects the intermediate-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2's launch test in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, May 22, 2017. KCNA | Reuters

The most significant case was revealed in 2007 when Israeli Air Force jets bombed a facility in Syria. The U.S. government alleges this was an "undeclared nuclear reactor," capable of producing plutonium, that had been under construction with North Korean assistance since the late 1990s. A U.S. intelligence briefing shortly after the strike highlighted the close resemblance between the Syrian reactor and the North Korean Yongbyon reactor. It also noted evidence of unspecified "cargo" being transported from North Korea to the site in 2006. More recently, a 2017 U.N. report alleged that North Korea had been seeking to sell Lithium-6 (Li-6), an isotope used in the production of thermonuclear weapons. The online ad that caught the attention of researchers suggested North Korea could supply 22 pounds of the substance each month from Dandong, a Chinese city on the North Korean border. There are striking similarities between this latest case and other recent efforts by North Korea to market arms using companies "hidden in plain sight." The Li-6 advertisement was allegedly linked to an alias of a North Korean state arms exporter known as "Green Pine Associated Corporation." Green Pine and associated individuals were hit with a U.N. asset freeze and travel ban in 2012. The individual named on the ad was a North Korean based in Beijing formerly listed as having diplomatic status. As was noted when the Li-6 story broke, the contact details provided with the ad were made up: The street address did not exist and the phone number didn't work. However, prospective buyers could contact the seller through the online platform. This case  our most recent data point  raises significant questions. Was this North Korea testing the water for future sales? Does it suggest that North Korea may be willing to sell materials and goods it can produce in surplus? Was the case an anomaly rather than representative of a trend?

A supplier in search of markets?

In the few public statements North Korea has made on the issue, it has generally denied that it will seek to export nuclear technology. In 2006, for example, a Foreign Ministry official suggested that the country would "strictly prohibit any threat of  nuclear transfer." The U.N. sanctions regime would also prohibit the export of nuclear technologies  although North Korea has been happy to defy the U.N. regime since its inception that same year. Additionally, there have been significant developments in states which were customers, or have been rumored to have an interest, in North Korean nuclear technology in the past. Syria has spent the past six years in a chaotic civil war. Since the 2007 bombing of the reactor, the country has shown no public signs of interest in nuclear weapons.

After giving up its nuclear ambitions in a 2003 deal Libya has seen significant political changes and unrest following the collapse of the Qaddafi regime in 2011.

The 2015 nuclear deal with Iran saw the country agree to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, and procure nuclear technology through a dedicated channel. If it continues to adhere to the deal, it has no need for illicit nuclear purchases. While some analysts have speculated about nuclear transfers from North Korea to Iran, no public evidence supports this. It's unclear to what extent the Iran deal will survive the whims of the Trump administration, and what the longer-term implications are for Iran's program and other states who may seek to acquire nuclear technology as a "hedge" against Iran in the region.

Myanmar, another country with unfounded allegations of past North Korean nuclear collaboration, has undergone significant political change and has made efforts to wean itself off imports of North Korean arms. In other words, it's unclear who  if anyone  would buy North Korean nuclear technology. However, the nightmare scenario of North Korea selling it to the highest bidder merits consideration. It would not be the first time that an illicit procurement network turned to sales. Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan shifted his attention from procurement for Pakistan's program in the 1970s and 1980s to sales to Iran, Libya and North Korea in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The efforts of his network saw centrifuge enrichment technology, and even a weapons design, transferred in some of the most damaging transactions ever for the nonproliferation regime. Following the discovery of the Khan network, the U.N. and others developed better export controls, and capabilities to detect, inspect and interdict shipments. The international community is better prepared; however, many challenges remain in preventing illicit nuclear-related trade. Commentary by Daniel Salisbury, a Stanton Nuclear Security Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center. He is also a contributor at The Conversation, an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community. Follow him on Twitter @dbsalisbury. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.

WATCH: N. Korea accuses US of declaring war
The Graham-Cassidy repeal bill also poses a "threat" to the fiscal outlooks of state and local governments, as well as to not-for-profit health-care organizations, according to another analysis from S&P Global Ratings.

Those job and economic activity losses would ensure that growth in the U.S. gross domestic product "remains stuck in low gear of around 2 [percent] at best in the next decade," according to the analysis from S&P Global Ratings.

The last-ditch Republican bill to repeal Obamacare would result in 580,000 lost jobs and $240 billion in lost economic activity over the next decade, a new analysis warns.

A man dressed as the grim reaper, who is opposed to the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson proposal, stands outside the Senate Finance Committee hearing room ahead of a hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017.

The predictions come as GOP leaders face difficulty getting 50 Republican senators to support the controversial repeal bill pending in the Senate.

In one report, S&P Global Ratings said the bill would add "flexibility" for individual states by offering them block grants of federal funding to craft their own health insurance systems.

But the lower overall federal funding that they would get compared with what many of them currently get through Obamacare "would hurt the economy, states, and health insurers," that report said.

The analysis also said the bill would initially lead to fewer people with health insurance who earn between 133 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty line, an income band that encompasses most people eligible for Obamacare subsidies to help pay for health plan premiums.

And over time, there would be fewer people insured by Medicaid, the joint federal-state program that covers poor people, "as some states are unable to maintain current eligibility levels" because they will get less federal funding under Graham-Cassidy.

In another report, S&P Global Ratings said the bill "represents nothing short of an overhaul" to the fiscal relationship between federal government and individual states, which could increase pressure on states' budgets.

The company noted that funding by the federal government for Medicaid accounts for more than half of all federal funding to states, at a whopping $330 billion in 2016.

Federal Medicaid funding functions "as a fiscal stabilizer for state finances," because that federal money increases during economic downturns.

But the Graham-Cassidy bill "would upend Medicaid's status" as a program in which, currently, federal funding increases as a state's costs from the program rise. Under the bill, that increased federal funding would be capped, meaning states would get less money than they currently are projected to receive through Medicaid.

That would "result in more acute financial pressure on the states in economic downturns," according to the analysis.
A decade's worth of efforts to cut oil consumption in industrialised countries is at risk of being reversed, as low fuel prices boost demand and send motorists flocking back to larger gas-guzzling cars.

Figures from the International Energy Agency and other forecasters show OECD oil demand, which declined between 2005 and 2014, has been growing rapidly for the last three years after oil prices crashed from above $100 a barrel to about $55 today.

If the trend continues, roughly 62 per cent of the reduction in OECD oil consumption since 2008 will have been reversed by the end of next year, despite governments targeting fuel efficiency, alleviating air pollution and cutting reliance on foreign crude.

Robust oil use in the developed world, which for years had been expected to decline, just as emerging markets consume more, has cast uncertainty around when global demand will peak. Some energy companies, including Royal Dutch Shell, had warned this could happen as soon as next decade.

"This period of lower oil prices has slowed the energy transition, no doubt about it," said Cuneyt Kazokoglu, head of oil demand at energy consultancy FGE.

"If crude stays around today's [price] level the structural demand decline that everyone is expecting will be pushed further out."

The oil demand turnround has been marked. Oil use in the OECD peaked at 50.4m barrels a day in 2005 before falling by almost 10 per cent up to 2014 as higher prices crimped consumption.

Since then demand in these wealthier countries has expanded at an average annual pace of about 400,000 b/d, IEA data show, and it is forecast to reach 47.4m b/d next year. This is approaching a level seen a decade ago, before an oil spike to a record level near $150 a barrel led governments to prioritise fuel efficiency.

Michael Cohen, an energy analyst at Barclays in New York, said while demand was growing alongside a broader economic pick-up in North America and Europe, lower prices had played the biggest role in the shift by influencing consumer behaviour.

"The steady improvement we were seeing for a number of years in average vehicle fuel efficiency has largely stopped," Mr Cohen said.

"While not every motorist is buying a SUV (sport utility vehicle) they're certainly not choosing the super-efficient vehicles they may have picked when oil was above $100 a barrel."

While global emissions have flatlined, led by the US because of coal-to-gas switching, rising oil usage could pose a potential threat to this trend.

The rise of electric cars and hybrids, from Tesla's Model X to the Toyota Prius, have generated headlines for their potential to overhaul the relationship between motor cars and oil use. But many analysts say it is overshadowing today's reality.



FGE says that in the first half of 2017 for every new electric car that came on to the road in the US, Americans bought 60 new fuel-hungry SUVs. In China the ratio was 30 new SUVs to every electric car, and 25 in Europe.

In 2009 BP's then chief executive, Tony Hayward, forecast US gasoline demand would never again top the level seen the previous year before prices hit almost $150. But this August the US energy department estimated it had reached a new record of 9.9m b/d.

For oil producers and refiners, stronger demand has been a boon.

Total demand growth, which includes the more than 1m b/d of annual consumption increases seen from emerging markets, have helped the Opec oil cartel and allies such as Russia in their efforts to tighten up oil supplies.

US shale output, which propelled the 2014 crash, again threatened to swamp the market in early 2017, but international crude prices have since stabilised above $50 a barrel  a move many analysts attribute to evidence of growing consumption.

Oil refineries, rushing to turn the crude glut into higher demand for fuels, have seen profit margins rise.

Some environmental groups say governments should have used the period of lower crude prices to introduce higher retail taxes at the pump to combat the negative effects of rising oil use.

Others are relatively sanguine, arguing that the rebound is likely just a blip given other longer term trends.

Charlie Kronick, senior campaigner at Greenpeace, said a push by big Asian consumers in China and India to ban petrol and diesel cars would do more than any western policy to "tilt the global marketplace in favour of electric vehicles".

"The real issue isn't what happens in 2018, but what happens in the decades after 2020," said Mr Kronick.

But for an energy industry still adapting to the end of the $100 oil era, some analysts warn they cannot be complacent or ignore the significant shift in OECD consumption and its implications today, including the eventual need for more supply.

"The problem with the oil market right now is that while it seems to want to trade the next decade's potential slowdown in demand, it is ignoring the fundamental reality that exists today," said London-based consultancy Energy Aspects.

"Investors remain transfixed by an as-yet unrealised energy revolution."

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Future of US solar industry placed in Trump's hands

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Last Friday, McCain said he will not vote for the Graham-Cassidy bill pending in the Senate , which must be voted on by Saturday if it is to pass under the rules of reconciliation that would allow the bill to be approved without 60 senators supporting it.

McCain in late July dramatically cast the third and fatal Republican vote against an earlier Obamacare repeal bill.

"You can call it what you want, but that's the only reason we don't have it, because of John McCain," Trump said on the "Rick and Bubba" radio show, which is based in Alabama and airs across the South, according to The Washington Post.

Trump also said Sen. John McCain , R-Ariz., is the sole reason for the inability of the Republican-controlled Senate to pass health-care reform legislation.

Republicans, who have a 52-seat majority in the Senate, need at least 50 GOP members to vote for Graham-Cassidy to pass it, given total opposition to Obamacare repeal efforts among Democrats and two independent senators. But they have struggled for months to come up with the required 50.

A spokesman for Sen. Rand Paull, R-Ky., on Monday said he remains opposed to Graham-Cassidy, even after the release of a new version of that bill earlier in the day.

That is despite the fact that the bill was tweaked expressly to give Kentucky, Arizona, Maine and Alaska more money than under the prior version of the bill.

All four states have senators who have either stated their opposition to the bill publicly, Paul and McCain, or are suspected of being opposed, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Trump, during his radio interview, acknowledged the likelihood that Collins would come out as the third GOP senator against the bill, dooming it to defeat.

"Looks like Susan Collins and some others will vote against it," Trump said. "So we're going to lose two or three votes, and that's the end of that."

The president said Americans are entitled to feel frustrated at Congress for not passing an Obamacare repeal as Republicans have promised for years.

"They should be," Trump said. "It's disgusting."

"When I ran, I was told I'd have a bill on my desk. I'd sign it on Day One."

"Now when it matters because you have a president who's actually going to sign it, they don't do it," Trump said. "And they pander, and they grandstand."
Republicans plan to release an outline of their tax-reform plan this week, offering some of the first concrete details of a proposal they hope can accelerate American economic growth.

Six top White House officials and lawmakers have led the GOP proposal to overhaul the U.S. tax system. Republicans have set an ambitious goal to pass a bill before the end of the year to broadly chop tax rates and scrap most deductions.

"Republicans are going to announce bold tax reform that grows jobs, grows paychecks and vaults America into the lead," Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, told CNBC on Monday. The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee noted that the plan will offer specific numbers that include "the lowest rates on business in modern history."

The framework, expected to be released on Wednesday, will likely feature dramatically lower rates for most  if not all  households and businesses, according to several people familiar with the plans. However, as of Sunday night, the so-called Big Six had not yet finalized how much detail to provide on other key elements of tax reform, such as whether to allow full and immediate expensing and perhaps most critically, how to pay for the tax cuts.
Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi admitted the firm "got things wrong" Monday in a plea to London after the ride-hailing app was stripped of its license to operate in Britain's capital city.

"While Uber has revolutionized the way people move in cities around the world, it's equally true that we've got things wrong along the way," Uber's CEO said in an open letter published in the U.K.'s Evening Standard newspaper Monday.

Khosrowshahi added: "On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologize for the mistakes we've made."

His apology follows a decision by London transport authority Transport for London (TfL) to revoke the taxi start-up of its license to operate in the city last Friday.

The former Expedia CEO, who has served as Uber's CEO for almost a month, said Uber would "work with London to make things right."

TfL's shock decision not to renew Uber's private hire vehicle license dealt a huge blow to the start-up. Uber said it would appeal the decision, and has reportedly hired a top British lawyer, Thomas de la Mare, to fight its case.
Donald Trump has become increasingly frustrated with his administration's inability to deliver the nationalist trade agenda  and bold tariffs  he promised during his campaign. Now some US companies may be about to rescue him from that frustration.

Trade cases involving Chinese solar cells, South Korean washing machines and Canadian jets are expected to land on the president's desk in the coming weeks. Each has its own complexities, and each faces opposition both at home and abroad. Yet they may prove hard to resist for a president eager to wield his protectionist pen.

The cases and the tariffs that seem likely to emerge from them also illustrate the duelling personalities that corporate America is now displaying on trade.

Much of the US business community has been working furiously to convince the White House to preserve pacts like the North American Free Trade Agreement that Mr Trump has in his sights. Yet major companies like Boeing and Whirlpool are also finding much to like in the administration's muscular approach to enforcing anti-dumping and other less-used trade laws.

The first of those decisions came on Friday when the International Trade Commission ruled that US-based solar cell makers Suniva and Solarworld had suffered "injury" from cheap imports. The finding sets the stage for the ITC to recommend by November that the president order "safeguards"  or broad-based tariffs  on all imports of solar cells, giving Mr Trump the tariff moment he is said to crave.

Similarly, Whirlpool is turning to the administration to restrict imports of washing machines made by South Korean competitors LG and Samsung, which the US company accuses of waging "a relentless assault on US manufacturers . . . and the thousands of American workers they employ". Like the solar companies, Whirlpool argues that traditional anti-dumping measures targeting specific products from individual countries have failed to stop cheap imports as the South Korean manufacturers have moved production around the world to avoid US duties.

Boeing, meanwhile, has drawn the ire of Britain's Theresa May and Canada's Justin Trudeau over a more traditional anti-dumping case it has brought against Canadian rival Bombardier. Many experts expect that case to be given the green light by Mr Trump's commerce department on Monday despite lobbying and threats from the two US allies.

All three cases have prompted a question: would they have happened if Mr Trump was not president?

Trade lawyers in Washington say his administration has been good for business and invited a flurry of inquiries from US companies which see an opening to bring complaints that other administrations might have viewed with scepticism. But other experts are more cautious.

"These are not cases that are out of the blue. They have been trying to stop these imports for years," says Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "But would we have seen them under previous administrations? Maybe not."

The question is particularly pertinent for the "safeguards" cases launched by the solar companies and Whirlpool.

Such cases are rare though not without precedent. President George W Bush in 2002 used the same "safeguards" law to impose temporary tariffs on steel imports. The Obama administration in 2009 employed a similar manoeuvre to restrict imports of Chinese tyres.

Past administrations have also soured on such trade actions. Beyond drawing the ire of trading partners, studies have shown both the Bush and Obama decisions caused more job losses than gains. One study found the Bush administration's steel move led to 200,000 Americans  more than were employed in the entire US steel industry  losing their jobs due to higher steel prices.

In opposing the solar case, other parts of the solar industry  from home panel installers to companies such as Elon Musk's Tesla  have argued that tariffs would raise costs and threaten more jobs than they would save.

Supporters of Mr Trump's tough approach counter that protecting "upstream" manufacturing jobs and industries is more important to the US's long-run economic health than "downstream" jobs.

"America cannot afford to lose another manufacturing industry to imports, particularly one that combines high-tech and renewable energy like the solar industry," the Coalition for a Prosperous America, a group of manufacturers which back Mr Trump, wrote to the ITC this month.

Yet the battle over jobs is also more complex than that.

On the face of it Boeing's case against Bombardier pits a US industrial giant against a Canadian competitor. But the opposition of the UK prime minister, which is based on 3,000 Bombardier jobs in Northern Ireland she is eager to protect, points to the company's global operations, and her concerns are shared by some in the US.

In a letter to the Trump administration last month, members of Congress from Kansas and West Virginia complained that 2,000 Bombardier jobs in their own states were at risk. They pointed out that more than half of the parts in the Bombardier C series aircraft Boeing is trying to keep out are US-made.

Likewise, Whirlpool's petition has been opposed by officials from South Carolina, where Samsung in June broke ground on a home appliance factory in a move that drew praise from the Trump administration.

"Samsung's investment is great news for South Carolina and the United States," Wilbur Ross, Mr Trump's commerce secretary, said at the time. "And it is a direct reflection of the fact that America is becoming an even stronger destination for global businesses looking to grow."

More from the Financial Times:

Why America's tax and trade debate is wrong

Future of US solar industry placed in Trump's hands

Millennial coffee drinkers want farmers appropriately rewarded
Brent crude oil hit a new 2017 high on Monday, continuing a rally fueled by improving demand and expectations that producers will extend output cuts.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude surged more $1.56, or 3.1 percent, to end Monday's session at $52.22 a barrel, the highest closing level since April. WTI hit a session peak of $52.28, about $3 below its 2017 intraday high.

International benchmark rose $2.01, or 3.5 percent, to $58.87 by 2:09 p.m. ET, having touched the highest level since July, 2015.

U.S. WTI crude futures, year to date, source: Factset

Trader positioning shows the market believes there's more room for U.S. crude prices to run up.

Hedge funds raised their bullish bets on U.S. crude futures to the highest level in four weeks, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission reported on Friday. Wagers that oil prices will fall declined for a third straight week, according to the data covering trades through Sept. 19.

The positioning suggests that the prevailing bear case in the market is unraveling, said Tamar Essner, director of energy and utilities at Nasdaq Corporate Solutions. Traders were convinced that U.S. drillers would flood the market with oil whenever prices rose above $50 a barrel.

But American producers signaled a greater focus on fiscal discipline during second quarter earnings reports.
U.S. government debt prices were higher on Monday morning as investors digested an election result in Germany, and potentially another vote due to take place in Japan next month.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to price, was lower 2.216 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also lower at 2.758 percent.

Angela Merkel's conservative bloc will be the largest party in the next German parliament, but provisional election results point to a worse-than-expected majority for the German chancellor.

Merkel's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister-party the Christian Social Union (CSU) won 33 percent of the vote. It would make them the largest parliamentary group, but that is down from 41.5 percent in the last election in 2013 and lower than recent polling. It is also their worst result since 1949, according to Reuters.

In Asia, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced snap elections for next month and also ordered his cabinet to compile new economic stimulus measures in a package worth around 2 trillion yen ($17.80 billion).

Back in the U.S., President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday evening that Alaska, Arizona, Maine and Kentucky would be big winners under the Graham-Cassidy bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. It would appear that the president was referring to funding revisions in the September 24 draft of the bill, a copy of which was obtained by CNBC. The Senate Finance Committee will convene a hearing on Monday to learn more about the Graham-Cassidy proposal.

On the data front, Dallas Fed manufacturing data is due at 10:30 a.m. ET.
The approaching holiday season means more shopping, and as a result, more jobs in retail.

For some retail employees, it will also mean higher wages. Target announced today that it would raise its minimum wage above $10 beginning in October, eventually reaching $11 per hour for all U.S. stores. The retailer has already promised to add 100,000 jobs in the coming months and has committed to raising minimum wage to $15 by 2020.

Though many of these jobs may be temporary, they provide experience as well as a source of income, and knowing how major stores compare in terms of hourly pay could help you if you're in the market for a job.

Using Fortune's list of the 20 retailers with the greatest number of employees in the U.S., CNBC Make It looked at average hourly wages for the position of "sales associate"  a common consumer-facing, non-managerial role  at each company. Wages were determined using data submitted by employees to jobs and salary platform Glassdoor. Each company on the list was also contacted to provide information or comment.

Here's how the country's 20 biggest retail employers rank in terms of pay:
Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, founder of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy believes many of the world's conflicts can be traced to disputes over land rights.

"Environmental damage in the Amazon, wars in places like Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan, neighbors not being able to get along with each other  it's all because you don't know who owns what. That is the source of all problems," de Soto says.

"Until these issues are settled we will not be able to achieve a Western World situation where disputes are settled by property law, which is the civilized way of doing things."

With experience of advising more than 30 heads of state, de Soto is determined to ensure that property titles are given to billions of the world's poorest so that the process of peace, investment and prosperity can begin.

"If you give someone the title to their home, business or land it gives them security and a chance to borrow money and start businesses" de Soto argues.

Selected as one of UBS's Global Visionaries, de Soto is particularly passionate about providing legal land rights which open up investment opportunities that lead to sustainable development.

De Soto's strategy is to devise a secure computer system that registers property rights at a much quicker pace, using blockchain technology.
When you think about your smartphone, apps and interfaces are probably the first things that come to mind. Beneath all that surface-level stuff, though, our modern mobile devices are filled with files  folders upon folders of 'em!  just like the clunky ol' computers we've relied upon for ages.

We may not come face to face with our phones' file systems too often, but it's valuable to know they're there  and to know how they can work for us when the need arises. After all, your Android device is a productivity powerhouse. It can juggle everything from PDFs and PSDs to presentations and podcasts. It can even act as a portable hard drive and house any sort of important files you might need in your pocket (and not just on some far-away cloud). Your mobile device can carry an awful lot of data, and there may come a time when you want to dig in and deal directly with it.

Here's everything you need to know to get under the hood and tap into your phone's file managing powers.

Managing files on your Android phone

You might not realize it at a glance, but Android actually allows you to access a device's entire file system  even from the device itself.

The operating system has had its own native file manager since 2015's Android 6.0 Marshmallow release, and what started out as an experimental-seeming effort has evolved into a capable tool for basic data manipulation. With Android 6.0 through 7.1, the system-level file manager is somewhat hidden: You have to look in the Storage section of your system settings, then scroll all the way to the bottom and tap the line labeled "Explore" to find it.

With Google's Android 8.0 Oreo release, meanwhile, the file manager lives in Android's Downloads app. All you have to do is open that app and select the "Show internal storage" option in its menu to browse through your phone's full internal storage. You can then open, move, rename, copy, delete, and share files as needed.

And if you have Android 9 or higher on your phone, things get even easier: In those recent Android versions, the file manager exists in its own sensibly named Files app. Just open it up to browse any area of your local storage or a connected Drive account; you can either use the file type icons at the top of the screen or, if you want to look folder by folder, tap the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner and select "Show internal storage"  then tap the three-line menu icon in the upper-left corner and look for your phone's name.

JR Raphael/IDG The most recent version of the system-level Files app lets you browse through files in a variety of ways, including via a traditional folder-by-folder view.

If you don't see the Files app on your phone, odds are you're using a device by a manufacturer  such as Samsung  that opts not to include this system-level Android element in its software and instead to provide its own self-made alternative (ostensibly with the goal of pushing its own cloud storage service and/or a paid partner's cloud storage service alongside Google Drive). Such an app might exist within a folder bearing the manufacturer's name, in your app drawer, and might be called My Files  or something along those lines. You'll probably find the same basic sort of file management functionality within it, just with a somewhat different interface and set of options.

If you want to do more than the most basic on-device file management, meanwhile, a third-party file manager is the way to go. You can find my latest recommendations for various needs in my separate roundup of the best Android file manager apps.

Supplementing your phone's local storage

One little-known feature of Android is its ability to connect with external storage devices like USB memory sticks and even larger-capacity portable hard drives. A phone just has to support something known as USB On-The-Go, or USB OTG, in order for the connection to work.

A fair number of devices, including Google's Pixel phones and many Samsung Galaxy products, offer such support. If you aren't sure if your phone does, your best bet is to Google its name along with "USB OTG"; odds are, you'll find the answer fairly quickly.

Provided your device supports USB OTG, all you need is a USB-A to USB-C adapter like this one made by Amazon. (If you have an older device that doesn't have USB-C, you'll need a USB-A to micro-USB adapter instead; you can find plenty such options on Amazon or at pretty much any electronics retailer.) Use the adapter to plug the external drive into your phone, then look for a notification confirming the drive is connected.

Tap the "Explore" option within the notification, and that's it: You can now browse and access all the files on your external drive.

JR Raphael/IDG Look for the notification that pops up when an external drive is connected, and you'll be browsing the drive's contents in no time.

When you're finished, don't forget to go back to the notification and tap "Eject" before disconnecting the drive.

Transferring files between your phone and computer

In addition to supporting external hard drives, your Android phone can act as an external hard drive. Just plug your device into any Windows, Mac, or Chrome OS computer, and you can access its entire file system and drag and drop files between it and your desktop with ease.

With a Windows or Chrome OS system, it's essentially as simple as plug and play. With a Mac, you'll first need to install a special program on your computer before the connection can be established.

For step-by-step instructions on any of those fronts, click over to my comprehensive Android file transfer guide.

Transferring files wirelessly between devices

Want to transfer files between your Android phone and a computer (or another Android phone, iPhone, etc.) without the need for wires? No problem.

Your most basic option is to embrace a middleman  specifically, a cloud storage service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive. Just upload the files to a folder within the respective app on your Android phone, then find the folder within the same app on the receiving device (or vice versa).

You can get more advanced than that, though  and make your life significantly easier as a result. If you're transferring between two Android devices in the same physical area, Google's own Files app (which, confusingly, is not the same as the aforementioned Files app that comes preinstalled on many devices) will get the job done with minimal fuss and hassle. Just install the app on both devices, tap the Share tab at its bottom, and then tap the Send or Receive button to set up the transfer. The app will automatically encrypt any data it sends.

If you're using devices on different platforms  and/or devices that aren't in the same physical location  a handy tool worth considering is a multiplatform app called Join (which also has the ability to encrypt its transfers, though you'll need to look inside the app's settings to activate that option). Install the app on your Android device and then install that same app, the Chrome version, or the Windows 10 version on any other device with which you want to share files. You can also access the service via a regular website on any desktop computer  if, for instance, you use a Mac along with a browser other than Chrome.

Once you've signed into the apps on both ends, you're ready to initiate hassle-free file transfers in either direction. On Android, just share a file from any app  a file manager, an image gallery, or any other sort of file-using utility  and select Join as the destination. The file will appear on your desktop within seconds.

On a computer, meanwhile, sending a file is as simple as opening the Join app or extension, selecting your phone as the receiving device, and then dragging the file into the window.

JR Raphael / IDG Drop a file into Join on your desktop (left), and it'll appear on your Android device a second later (right).

Join has a bunch of other functions  including the ability to send a "Note to self"-style notification from a computer to your phone and even to paste text from a computer directly into your phone's clipboard  but even if you just use it for wireless file transfers, it's well worth keeping around. The app comes with a free (ad-supported) one-month trial and then requires a one-time $5 purchase if you want to keep using it.

Syncing your Android phone's storage with a computer

Maybe you like having certain files stored locally on your Android phone, but you also want those files to be backed up and saved on your computer. The best of both worlds, right?

Believe it or not, this is actually quite easy to pull off. Just grab an Android app called AutoSync, which is available for use with Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box. It'll let you create pairings between a local folder on your phone and a cloud-based folder  for free with a single folder pair and files smaller than 10MB or for a one-time $5 payment without any real restrictions.

Install the appropriate computer-side app for whichever service you prefer, make sure it's set to sync with your computer's hard drive  and there ya have it: Your Android device's folder is now effectively part of your PC.

You can even have the folders stay constantly synced in both directions  so if you add or update a file on the computer, the same changes will appear on your phone as well.

That's a wrap!

Congratulations: You've officially earned the title of Android file master. (For real  you can even type it into a document, print it out, and tape it to your desk so everyone knows.)

Next up: Make sure you understand the ins and outs of Android backups. They're ultimately made up of files, too, after all  and pretty important ones, at that.

This article was originally published in September 2017 and most recently updated in February 2020.
Cllr Kevin Davis is the Leader of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

In that first Global City of Rome, Nero fiddled while the city burnt. In the current Global city of London you cant help thinking that were Sadiq Khan a violinist he would be standing in City Hall plucking at his instrument whilst 40,000 former Uber drivers clogged London streets trying to pick up fares from 3.5m Londoners working out how to get home after the last train of the night.

There are so many reasons why banning Uber is a bad decision for London and why we need to be cynical about some of Khans motivations.

Lets start with the decisions relationship to the internal machinations of the Labour Party.

Mayor Khan put himself at odds with the increasingly rabid rise of the hard left in London by criticising Comrade Corbyn at the 2016 Labour Conference. In banning Uber he has made himself a fellow traveller with the Momentum brothers, asserted his opposition to innovation, business, and free markets and become a Luvvy to his new found friends. All this, at a time when he wants to speak at a 2017 party conference he has till now been excluded from, because of his supposedly too Blairite, anti-Corbyn view of the world. Maybe connecting the two issues is cynical, but, for Khan, it is quite convenient to suddenly have Union friends.

Put it in another context. His single biggest pledge at last years London Mayoral elections (yes, it was only last year) was that he would build more homes than Boris. That has not been going very well and yet, he is faced with the rise of a new socialist faction in his party that has turned its face against providing more homes on some crazy altar of better build no homes than let business make a profit doing it. Like Uber it seems that political expediency is the deciding factor for Mayor Khan, not the needs of the people who live in this City.

Such are the multiple failures of the Mayor I am getting distracted from Uber.

So why is banning Uber a mistake?

Uber is about the only hope London has for maintaining its night time economy. Uber stopped the circling nightclub mini cab drivers who were probably less regulated and less safe than any vehicle driven by an Uber driver. Uber is about the only way you can get back to the borough I lead once the trains stop and given the small number of intermittent night buses. Only a very inebriated Londoner would risk the phenomenal cost of a black cab from the centre to the suburbs of this great city.

Uber is about the only hope for cleaning up the road transport environment in London. Its mainly hybrid vehicles are a welcome relief from the grunging fumes of a black cab.

Yes, black cabs are a London icon, but in recent years we have had scandals involving black cab drivers and yet banning the entire industry was not an option when those crimes were discovered. Yes, black cabs are cleaning up their emissions. Yes, they now accept credit cards. Yes, they now have a black cab app. But you cant help thinking that the only reason they changed was because of the disruptive influence of Uber. That is the nature of disruptive innovations. They change the industry, change the discussions, and force market change.

Uber is the cab of choice for the young, the old and a whole range of users who want access to as many transport opportunities as the city and Mayor can provide. This is why the actions of Mayor Khan are a betrayal of all Londoners and a surrender to the forces of the London Labour movement, their unions, and the rising Momentum tide. I have written before on this site about Mayor Khan and his disgraceful politicisation of the Grenfell Tower disaster with his preference to blame rather than lead the City. This is yet another example  of which there are a growing list  of the Mayors Uber ego where the choices he makes are for short term political advantage rather than the long-term advance of the city. The Mayor should be working with Uber, finding solutions that mean Uber works in a way that gives us all confidence and helps support Londons complicated transport network.

Conservatives should be standing up for all those who will be feeling excluded by this decision. But we should also be standing against a Mayoralty that seems set to pander to the Labour momentum movement and powerless to stop the defenestration of moderate Labour Councils and their replacement with hard left councils. Momentum Councils will destroy our transport network, smash free enterprise, crush the hopes of young homeowners, and reduce Londons competitive ability just as Brexit demands we are at our best.

This decision by Khan signals the top of the slide by London into a new Labour Socialist experiment. But it also indicates that next years London Borough elections are not just a red/blue fight but a struggle to save London from something more threatening than the Corbyn advance at the June General Election.

Leading this City, like leading a London borough, requires the Mayor to bring people together around objectives and projects, not throw stones and ban things. London wont work if we dont work together and Brexit is going to be a tough period for London. It can emerge stronger and more successful but not if it is led by a Mayor who does not stride the international stage on behalf of all Londoners, but instead sends signals to the world that London does not embrace innovation, cant work with the worlds best businesses and cant stand by 3.5 million Uber users who live in London. Under Mayor Khan, not only is London closed for business but it now runs the risk of being closed for Londoners.
Nicky Morgan is Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, a former Education Secretary, and MP for Loughborough.

In politics, timing is everything: being in the right place at the right time to be selected to fight a seat, responding to a crisis at the right time, or biding your time to stand for a key position. Sometimes getting the timing right is obvious whilst, on other occasions, it works out more through luck than judgment.

The speech that the Prime Minister gave in Florence last Friday was both overdue and well-timed.

It was overdue because, from the summer of 2016 onwards, it has been obvious to anyone with any experience of commercial negotiations that compromises would be necessary if we are to leave the EU without inflicting long-lasting damage to both the UK economy and our national well-being.

And it was well-timed because it came on the heels of the Foreign Secretarys recent and exceptionally poorly-timed Daily Telegraph article, and it also took place before the Conservative Party Conference. I understand that the Theresa Mays advisers hope that by talking now about our EU negotiations, attention will turn to the Governments domestic policy agenda at our Manchester conference.

For the sake of the Conservative Partys future, it is vital that this does happen. Most people in the non-Westminster bubble are heartily sick of Brexit. Having heard the key points from the Prime Ministers speech they will now be wanting to hear from Ministers about the issues they care most about: schools, health, social care, crime and anti-social behaviour, transport  and the list goes on.

Mays speech was an example of a Conservative leader exemplifying the Party at its pragmatic best. The difference between the Conservative Party and the Labour Party is that we deal with the world and reality as it is  not as some utopia we would like it to be.

And the reality is that the British people did, by a small majority of those who voted on 23 June 2016, vote to leave the EU. They do want greater immigration control, for our Parliament to make our laws, and for us to have relationships with the whole world and not just continental Europe.

But they also want us to continue to co-operate on security and defence matters with our European neighbours, to recognise our geographical proximity to and shared history and values with continental Europe, and to accept that immigration brings many benefits to Britain.

So the Prime Ministers speech had to balance fulfilling the Leave vote whilst also respecting those who didnt vote to Leave; those EU citizens living here who are desperately worried about their future status; those employers who want and need to continue to recruit from abroad, and those businesses crying out for a transition period so they only have to make one set of changes to the way they work.

I think that May achieved that balance admirably. Going back to my timing theme, she knows that there has to be time to allow the EU negotiations to succeed, that there must be time for everyone to adjust  but that the transition must also be time-limited so that eventually everyone can move on.

But there was another inevitability about this speech.

There was always going to be a time when the most-pro Brexit voices would be ready to shout betrayal. Theyve been waiting for the time to accuse those leading the UKs negotiations of not fulfilling the referendum vote. Some have even tried to say that the reason a transition period is necessary is because customs and border computers  i.e: systems controlled by the Treasury/HMRC and Home Office where leading Brexit pragmatists are in charge  wont be ready in March 2019.

So its also time to push back against these fallacies. It is undoubtedly tough for new systems to be ready to implement complex changes which probably wont be fully agreed for months to come. It would be easy to say well lets leave anyway, and all will be well, but it would be much harder to sell the inevitable chaos of empty shelves, slow passport approvals and visas refusals to the British public.

Rather than shout betrayal, or look around for people and systems to blame, those who see an establishment plot to thwart Brexit in every dark shadow should ask themselves what practical things theyve been doing in the past 15 months to prepare for Brexit. Where were their position papers?

Unsurprisingly I, and many others in the Conservative Party who share my views on Brexit, were inundated in the days before the speech by media requests to appear in front of the cameras and speculate about what the Prime Minister might or might not say. We resisted, on the grounds that the Prime Minister deserved time and space to say what needed to be said.

Now she and other Ministers deserve time and space to get stuck into the negotiations and nail down the specifics of a future deal. And, finally, Parliament will need the time and space to debate and fine-tune all the Brexit Bills heading our way.
The question that will be asked most here about Germanys election result is: what does it mean for Brexit? The answer may well be  not a lot. The most likely government to emerge, since Angela Merkel failed to win a majority, is a so-called Jamaika coalition: the CDU, the more pro-free market FDP and the Greens. The FDP will be mildly pro-business and pro-deal  more inclined than the CDU to be sensitive to the desire of German firms to carry on exporting to Britain with minimum inconvenience. The Greens will be markedly anti-business, hostile to Theresa May and her party, and antipathetic to any Brexit deal that compromises the European ideal

This difference shows how incoherent any such new government could be, though some claim that a Jamaika coalition is working well enough in Schleswig-Holstein. First forming one (assuming this happens) and then running it will consume Merkels time and energy. Furthermore, getting any coalition together at all, in the manner of German government-forming in such circumstances, will take time. The CSU, Merkels more conservative Bavarian partner, dislike the Greens so much that some suggest they will balk at such a coalition altogether. They will probably go along with it in the end, but their reluctance shows how arduous the talks will be. So the re-elected Chancellor will probably be too busy in the near future to think much about Britain  even assuming that she wants the Brexit negotiation to move swiftly on to trade talks next month. All in all, the election outcome does nothing to make this more likely.

The party that Merkel will not be going into coalition with is the AfD which, as is so often the way with protest parties in these times, did better than the polls suggested and is now Germanys third force, winning Bundestag representation for the first time. Sometimes this global discontent comes from the Left (Syriza, Podemos, Corbyn), sometimes from the Right (Trump, Wilders, Le Pen). Emmanuel Macron beat the trend and burst through from the centre. Merkel declared last night that she wants former CDU voters who turned to the AfD back, but her unrepentant tone on immigration suggested that she will find doing so an uphill haul.

So watch for pressure on the Chancellor from the right within her own party. The name most often cited in this context is Jens Spahn, deputy finance minister in her last administration. Germany may not be the right country for those who want to keep their wife in a burka or niqab, especially now that we have become such a sought-after destination for so many, he told the Observer earlier this year. We need to send some strong signals about what is acceptable and what isnt. Expect more where that came from. Merkel is back in office, but her authority may be dented, as much because of her longevity in office as because of the result itself.

The AfD itself has changed almost beyond recognition from the party of anti-Euro, pro-EU professors that founded it. Die Zeit did a recent analysis of its top candidates, dividing them into moderate, economic liberal, national conservative (broadly a UKIP-type position in this case) and radical right (which includes people who go on about the evils of race-mixing and the shame of the Holocaust industry). According to the paper, 11 are moderate or economically liberal (including Frauke Petry, its Chairman), 26 national conservative, nine radical right and 23 unknown. 17 are ex-CDU, five ex-SPD and eight ex-FDP. Were the CDU and the SPD in a position to re-form their grand coalition, the AfD would have been the official opposition, which would have suited it very well. Now the latter must reform after a poor result, particularly in East Germany, where the AfD came second.

The wider read-over for Britain is obvious, at a time when the Government is looking to keep free movement, though in a confined form, during any implementation period for a Brexit deal. For Jeremy Corbyn, it is: watch your heartlands. Its voters want less immigration and will turn to other parties if you neglect them. For Theresa May, it is: find a credible plan to get migration down after implementation ends. In the meantime, push for more entitlement restrictions during transition, and hold your course on them. Merkel is back for a fourth term  a great electoral achievement  but the vultures are gathering. Extremists in parliament is a watershed moment for Germany.
The Glory Sea will homeport in Sokcho, South Korea, for a ten-month period starting this November, according to a statement from the port.

The ship will sail round-trip itineraries from South Korea to Japan and Russia on a charter program for Golden Bridge Cruise Company.

Deployment will see the ship call in Vladivostok, Russia as well as Shimonoseki and Maizuru in Japan. In addition will be one-night cruises and Korean coastal cruises.

While the ship 838-passenger ship will homeport in South Korea, it will also interport in both Russia and Japan.

We anticipate it will revitalize cruise tourism greatly in the Russian market moving forward, said a Sokcho port spokesperson. At the same time, it will contribute to help popularize cruise tourism in the Korea market.

Earlier this year, South Koreas Oceans and Fisheries Ministry announced an ambitious plan to drive forward the domestic cruise business in South Korea, including financial benefits for lines calling in the country and went as far as announcing the funding of a start up Korean cruise brand.
Carnival Cruise Lines Fascination has returned to the port of St. Johns, fulfilling a commitment made to Antigua and Barbudas Minister of Tourism, The Hon. Asot Michael, to bring hurricane relief to Antiguas sister-island Barbuda, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Irma.

With Antiguas cruise berths open, the port was added as one of the Carnival Fascinations ports of calls, following itinerary adjustments made by the cruise line after the hurricane.

The Carnival Fascination arrived on Friday September 22, with numerous supplies for distribution to Barbuda residents relocated to Antigua.

Gustavo Antorcha, EVP Guest Shipboard Operations, Carnival Cruise Line said: The operation from Carnival Fascination has been completed and we thank the ship team, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, and our agent, Brysons Shipping for supporting this important effort.

Carnival Cruise Line appreciates the long-standing relationship with the people of Antigua-Barbuda and the opportunity to support Carnival Corp and Government's efforts to bring relief as well as aid to those impacted by recent storms, said Antorcha.

In expressing his thanks for the relief supplies, Antigua and Barbudas Tourism Minister, The Honourable Asot Michael said: The humanitarian efforts by Carnival Cruise Lines shows our tourism partners commitment to our Caribbean destinations, not only as a business partner, but as a stakeholder with a vested interest in the development of the Caribbean and specifically to our twin-island state and the rebuild of Barbuda.

Your confidence in Antigua and Barbuda as a port of call, and your return to our shores with passengers and crew, increases the tangible support for our main industry of tourism which is a driver for economic growth and sustainable development in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finally notified election officials in 21 U.S. states about Russia trying to hack their election systems before the 2016 election.

It is completely unacceptable that it has taken DHS over a year to inform our office of Russian scanning of our systems, despite our repeated requests for information, said California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. The practice of withholding critical information from elections officials is a detriment to the security of our elections and our democracy.

[ Read more in Hacking the 2016 election: A timeline and bookmark CSO's daily dashboard for the latest advisories and headlines. ]

Padilla pointed out that DHS lied to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee when the agency testified in July, saying the owners of the systems within those 21 states have been notified. In Padillas words, This was simply not true, and DHS acknowledged they failed to contact us and two or three other states.

Although DHS did not release a list of what states the agency notified, the Associated Press reported the 21 states targeted by Russian hackers included Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

DHS told most of the states that Russian government cyber actors targeted and scanned the systems  including voter registration systems  but not vote tallying software. Illinois admitted hackers had breached its voter system. Arizona admitted hackers stole a username and password of a Gila County election official, but no voter registration system was compromised.

According to statements released by state officials, the other 19 states were targeted but allegedly not compromised. The Washington Post pointed out that Maryland and North Dakota have yet to comment about the success or failure of any cyber attack.

DHS told TechCrunch it is up to each state to decide if it wants to make the information public.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, also found it to be unacceptable that it took almost a year after the election to notify states that their elections systems were targeted.

Warners public statement added, While I understand that DHS detects thousands of attempted cyber attacks daily, I expect the top election officials of each state to be made aware of all such attempted intrusions, successful or not, so that they can strengthen their defenses  just as any homeowner would expect the alarm company to inform them of all break-in attempts, even if the burglar doesn't actually get inside the house.

Elsewhere, California Congressman Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, tweeted, DHS in future must notify states of attempted election hacking in real time, not a year later. And all states must fortify election systems.

Remember when states accused DHS of trying to hack their election systems?

Back in June, DHS cybersecurity official Jeanette Manfra admitted that DHS discovered in early October that internet-connected election-related networks, including websites, in 21 states were potentially targeted by Russian government cyber actors.

If DHS was aware of this in October 2016, then it seems that when the department was accused of trying to hack election systems in several states, that would have been a perfect time to explain why.

Instead, DHS issued denials about running any cyber hygiene scan prior to the election without first obtaining permission. A DHS spokesman said, When DHS conducts a cybersecurity scan of a network or system, we do so only with the cooperation and consent of the system owner.

However, Indiana, for example, said it did not give DHS permission, yet the attempted hacks occurred tens of thousands of time over a period of 46 days. Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson said, Between November 1 and December 16, we were scanned with about 14,800 scans, nearly 15,000 different times.

Although similar DHS-tried-to-hack-us accusations were made by Idaho, Georgia, West Virginia and Kentucky, none of those states were among the 21 informed that Russia had targeted their election systems.

More on the 2016 election hacking:
The smallest act can have a big impact on a members life.

Thats the belief employees at $202 million asset San Antonio (Fla.) Citizens Federal Credit Union hold, influencing their daily actions.

Consider the week of Thanksgiving. Employees hand out $25 gift cards to local businessessuch as coffee shops, restaurants, and even Christmas tree farmsto members who visit the branch on Black Friday, but the credit union also has door mats urging members to shop small on Small Business Saturday.

A local businessman who stopped in the branch last year mentioned to an employee that he loved the door mats. Melissa Cummings, an assistant branch manager, overheard his comments. When her workday was done, Cummings grabbed a mat and drove to the mans storea 20-mile round trip.

The man wasnt there, so she left the mat for him, ensuring hed be able to put it out for the Shop Small Business Saturday event.
STORY LINK Concerns about Next US-North Korea Clash Pushes EUR/USD Exchange Rate Higher

Euro Boosted by Forecast-Beating Economic Activity

Septembers PMI survey showed Germanys private sector economy in rude health, highlighting strong broad-based growth in both business activity and employment.



The powerhouse manufacturing sector again put in the stronger performance, though services also perked up in September to elevate the overall pace of expansion to the best seen since early-2011.



IHS Markits forecast of 0.7% GDP growth in the third quarter, therefore, remains well within the realms of possibility.

We have seen how in several countries the weight of the crisis has fallen disproportionately on the young people, leaving a legacy of failed hopes, anger and ultimately mistrust in the values of our society and in the identity of our democracy.

US Dollar Loses Ground as North Korean Situation Heats Up

I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire.

We have no idea about what actions could be taken as it will be ordered by leader Kim Jong-un. It could be the most powerful detonation of an H-bomb in the Pacific.

If the test doesnt go according to plan, you could [put the] population at risk. We are talking about putting a live nuclear warhead on a missile that has been tested only a handful of times. It is truly terrifying if something goes wrong.

Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before!.

EUR USD Forecast: Last-Minute USD Advance Possible on US PMI Stats

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On Thursdays trading session, the Euro steadily gained on the US Dollar. It initially opened at 1.1867 and closed at a higher rate of 1.1941.On the home front, the Euro has been supported against the US Dollar by initial PMI figures for September.On the month, Eurozone, French and German activity measures all showed growth against expectations. This was especially good news with regard to the German data, as Germanys economy is the largest in the Eurozone.Summarising the higher level of German activity was Phil Smith, IHS Markit Principal Economist. Smith observed that;In other news, European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi stressed that youth unemployment was still an issue. Draghi looked at the effects of the late 2000s financial crisis, stating;Proving that fighting fire with fire burns both sides, the US Dollar has fallen today due to the continually escalating tensions between the US and North Korea.Following Donald Trumps United Nations speech that suggested destroying North Korea if it made direct threats, NK leader Kim Jong-un retorted that;Musing on what the next North Korean action could be was Ri Yong-ho, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Doing little to calm the situation, Yong-ho said that;Needless to say, across the Sea of Japan there have been voiced concerns about any possible detonation.Speaking about the possible outcome of NK nuclear action in the Pacific has been Vipin Narang, a nuclear expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Narang has stated that;Trump has recently responded, showing no signs of letting up in this war of words. The President has said;The next source of Euro movement will be Germanys Federal Election, which is taking place on Sunday.The latest polls show that while the currently ruling CDU are likely to take the most votes, they may not have enough for a majority.The CDU is headed by Germanys longstanding Chancellor Angela Merkel and a victory for them could lead to the Euro appreciating.If the CDU has to form a second coalition with their ideological opposites, the SPD, the Euro may decline slightly due to the complications that this type of government entails.The last notable US announcements of the week will come shortly, consisting of PMI stats for September.Unfortunately for the US Dollar, the services and overall composite PMIs are both predicted to decline - this will represent a slowdown in the US economy.

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TAGS: Euro Forecasts
STORY LINK GBP USD Tumbles in the Wake of Theresa May?s Brexit Speech

Theresa Mays Calls for two-year 'period of implementation, GBP Continues to fall

US Dollar Hamstrung by Escalating Tensions with North Korea

GBP USD Forecast: Volatility Likely on US, UK GDP

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The Pound US Dollar exchange rate tumbled this afternoon in the wake of UK Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit speech, an event that failed to quell investor anxiety regarding Brexit negotiations.Sterling fell sharply at the end of this trading week as Mays Brexit speech in Florence, Italy, failed to give markets fresh information regarding the UKs Brexit position.A great deal of anticipation had built ahead of the speech, with the general expectation being that May would perhaps dislodge the on-going deadlock between the UK and the EU.Whilst May did confirm that there would be a two-year implementation period, there was no direct mention of a figure that the UK would be willing to pay in terms of financial obligations. This disappointed markets, as the divorce bill has remained a significant sticking point in negotiations thus far and the possible revelation of a proposed figure was anticipated by many.Whilst the speech was ultimately upbeat and optimistic regarding the future relationship between the UK and the EU, it was not necessarily enough to make up for the absence of details that the markets were expecting.There were some notable points contained within, however, even if they did not appease the markets: Regarding the future trading relationship between the two super-powers May insisted that trade disputes would be settled by external courts (neither the EU nor the UK) and on the subject of rights for EU citizens staying within the UK; May guaranteed that they would persist, though under regulation.The US Dollar also experienced its own fair share of problems today, chief amongst them being the latest escalation of tensions with hermit nation North Korea.North Korea issued a statement late on Thursday night - in response to US President Donald Trumps speech at the United Nations - threatening an open-air hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean.If such a test were to take place the implications would be numerous and severe, with the prospect of a militarised response from the US  nuclear or not  readied and on the table.Beyond this, Kim Jong Un also issued a first person statement directed specifically at Trump, essentially indicating that he is intent on becoming a nuclear power by any means necessary and that he would be taking the highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history towards sanctions and threats made by the western world.Whilst these exchanges likely remain sabre-rattling, the prospect of North Korea becoming a nuclear-capable nation (with effective long-range delivery systems) is one of extreme concern for its neighbours and the United States, especially considering their long history of human rights abuses.Ultimately this news drove demand away from the Greenback, with investors looking instead to safe haven currencies like the Swiss Franc (CHF) in relatively predictable form. This drop did not, however, allow Sterling to take the lead, instead GBP USD remained tumbling in the wake of Theresa Mays comments.Markets will likely be busy digesting Theresa Mays Brexit speech for some time, but there are some other notable releases on the horizon.Next week will feature consumer confidence figures from the United States, as well as a keynote address from Fed Chair Janet Yellen at the NABE conference. Investors will likely carefully assess the speech for any indication of hawkish, or dovish sentiment from Yellen, especially following the recent announcement of a possible December rate hike and the tapering of the US balance sheet in October.Beyond this expect US durable goods orders, US GDP and US employment figures on Thursday, along with UK net consumer credit, mortgage approvals and GDP figures on Friday.

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TAGS: Pound Dollar Forecasts
STORY LINK GBP ZAR Exchange Rate Volatile Following BoE?s Credit Report

Pound (GBP) Stumbles on FPC Stability Report

South African Rand (ZAR) Unstable on Mixed Performance of Commodity Markets

GBP ZAR Forecast: UK Mortgage Approvals to Rise?

Current Interbank Exchange Rates

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The Pound South African Rand (GBP ZAR) exchange rate has fluctuated this morning as the Bank of England (BoE) released its latest consumer credit report.Sterling found its attempts to rally from its losses at the end of last week cut short this morning as the BoEs Financial Policy Committee (FPC) released its latest financial stability report.The Pound was weakened by the report as the bank issued a warning about the pocket of risk posed by the UKs burgeoning consumer credit.The FPC warned that Britains banks were currently unprepared to deal with a potential downturn in the economy and the huge numbers of consumers who would then likely default upon their debt repayments.The FPC report read;This is not a material risk to economic growth, as consumer credit represents only 11% of overall household debt. It is a risk to banks ability to withstand severe economic downturns, because this asset class is disproportionately more likely to default. Although the overall credit quality of consumer credit has improved significantly since the financial crisis, the FPC judges that lenders overall are placing too much weight on the recent performance of consumer lending in benign conditions as an indicator of underlying credit quality. As a result, they have been underestimating the losses they could incur in a downturn.While the BoE does not expect anything as catastrophic as the financial crisis the central bank is pushing financial institutions to set aside an additional 10bn in order to help covers any losses incurred by such a scenario.The FPCs latest report has also worried investors as it also assessed the potential impact of Brexit on the UKs economic stability, particularly in regards the city of Londons colossal 20tn derivative contracts market which is reliant upon easy economic access to the rest of Europe.The South African Rand has been meet by volatility this morning being partly driven by movements in commodity prices.Part of this volatility was caused by a sharp drop in iron ore prices last week, which while only accounting for 3.7% of the nations exports, has plummeted 14.5% in the last couple of weeks, hitting a low of $63.56 a tonne by the end of trading on Friday.Meanwhile prices for South Africas single largest export, gold have risen again this morning, advancing by around 0.1% as the increased political uncertainty of the weekend drove investors towards safe haven assets and helping to offset the losses caused by the downturn in iron ore.However it wasnt just commodity markets which were impacted by the recent rise in political uncertainty as Rand sentiment was also pressured by the recent elections in both Germany and New Zealand as well as the growing tensions in North Korea.With investors seeking to wait out the current bout of uncertainty the historically riskier Rand has found itself out of favour as markets move towards the Japanese Yen and other more stable currencies.Looking ahead the GBP ZAR exchange rate may begin to push higher again on Tuesday as the British Bankers Association (BBA) releases its latest mortgage figures, with economists forecasting that the number of home loans approved by UK banks will have risen slightly in August.Meanwhile a lull in domestic data may leave the South African Rand a little directionless in the first half of this weeks session, with the first economic figures set to be released on Thursday, with an expected drop in South Africas Producer Price Index (PPI) unlikely to provide the Rand with much lift either.At the time of writing the GBP ZAR exchange rate was trending around 17.9069 and the ZAR GBP exchange rate was trending around 0.5533.

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TAGS: South African Rand Forecasts
Pa. Dems could flip the House of Reps. Here's what that might mean
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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CRH plc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes building materials. It operates in three segments: Americas Materials, Europe Materials, and Building Products. The company manufactures and supplies cement, lime, aggregates, precast, ready mixed concrete, and asphalt products; concrete masonry and hardscape products comprising pavers, blocks and kerbs, retaining walls, and related patio products; and glass and glazing products, including architectural glass, custom-engineered curtain and window walls, architectural windows, storefront systems, doors, skylights, and architectural hardware. It also offers precast concrete and polymer-based products, such as underground vaults, drainage pipes and structures, utility enclosures, and modular precast structures to the water, energy, communication, transportation, and building structures markets; and construction accessories, such as anchoring, fixing, and connection solutions, as well as lifting systems, formwork accessories, and other accessories used in construction applications. In addition, the company offers network access products, which include composite access chambers, covers, passive safety systems, retention sockets, sealants, and meter boxes; and paving and construction services. Further, it provides building and civil engineering contracting, contract surfacing, operates logistics and owned railway infrastructure; sells and distributes cement; and supplies access chambers and ducting products. It serves governments, contractors, homebuilders, homeowners, and sub-contractors. The company operates primarily in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. CRH plc was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
Douglas Dynamics, Inc. operates as a manufacturer and upfitter of commercial work truck attachments and equipment in North America. It operates through two segments, Work Truck Attachments and Work Truck Solutions. The Work Truck Attachments segment manufactures and sells snow and ice control attachments, including snowplows, and sand and salt spreaders for light trucks and heavy duty trucks, as well as various related parts and accessories. The Work Truck Solutions segment primarily manufactures municipal snow and ice control products; provides truck and vehicle upfits where it attaches component pieces of equipment, truck bodies, racking, and storage solutions to a vehicle chassis for use by end users for work related purposes; and manufactures storage solutions for trucks and vans, and cable pulling equipment for trucks. This segment also offers up-fit and storage solutions. It also provides customized turnkey solutions to governmental agencies, such as Departments of Transportation and municipalities. The company sells its products under the BLIZZARD, FISHER, SNOWEX, WESTERN, TURFEX, SWEEPEX, HENDERSON, BRINEXTREME, and DEJANA brands. It distributes its products primarily to professional snowplowers who are contracted to remove snow and ice from commercial and residential areas. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The following companies are subsidiares of Novartis: 1 A Pharma GmbH, Abadia Retuerta S.A, Admune Therapeutics, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications International SA, Advanced Accelerator Applications S.A., Advanced Accelerator Applications S.r.l., Advanced Accelerator Applications USA Inc., Aeropharm GmbH, Alcon, Alcon  Couvreur NV, Amblyotech, Amblyotech Inc., Arctos Medical, Arctos Medical AG, Australia Pty Ltd, Beijing Novartis Pharma Co. Ltd., BioMedical Research Co. Ltd., CELLforCURE, Cadent Therapeutics, Cadent Therapeutics Cambridge, Cellerys, Cellerys AG, CellforCure, Chiron Corporation, Ciba-Geigy Japan Limited, Co. Ltd, CoStim Pharmaceuticals, CoStim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Coalesce Product Development Limited, Corthera, Development Co. Ltd., EBEWE Pharma Ges.m.b.H Nfg. KG, Encore Vision, Endocyte, Endocyte Inc., Eon Labs Inc., Farmanova Saglik Hizmetleri Ltd, Fougera Pharmaceuticals, Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc, Gyroscope Therapeutics, HEXAL AG, Hexal, IDB Holland BV, Iberica S.L.U., Ilaclari Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, JSC Sandoz, Japat AG, Kedalion Therapeutics Inc., Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Lek S.A., Manufacturing Pte Ltd , Navigate BioPharma Services Inc, Neutec Pharma Limited, Novartis (Hellas) S.A.C.I., Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Novartis (Taiwan) Co. Ltd, Novartis (Thailand) Limited, Novartis Argentina S.A., Novartis Australia Pty Ltd, Novartis Austria GmbH, Novartis Biociencias S.A., Novartis Biosciences Peru S.A., Novartis Bioventures AG, Novartis Business Services GmbH, Novartis Capital Corporation, Novartis Chile S.A., Novartis Corporation, Novartis Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Novartis Deutschland GmbH, Novartis Ecuador S.A., Novartis Farma S.p.A., Novartis Farma  Produtos Farmaceuticos S.A., Novartis Farmaceutica S.A, Novartis Farmaceutica S.A. de C.V., Novartis Finance Corporation, Novartis Finance S.A., Novartis Finance Services Ltd, Novartis Finland Oy Espoo, Novartis Gene Therapies, Novartis Gene Therapies EU Limited, Novartis Gene Therapies Inc., Novartis Grimsby Limited, Novartis Groupe France S.A., Novartis Healthcare A/S, Novartis Healthcare Philippines Inc., Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, Novartis Holding AG, Novartis Hungary Healthcare Limited Liability Company, Novartis India Limited, Novartis Inflammasome Research, Novartis Integrated Services Limited, Novartis International AG, Novartis International Pharmaceutical Investment AG, Novartis Investment Ltd, Novartis Investments S.a r.l., Novartis Ireland Limited, Novartis Israel Ltd, Novartis Korea Ltd., Novartis Middle East FZE, Novartis Netherlands B.V., Novartis Neva LLC, Novartis New Zealand Ltd, Novartis Norge AS, Novartis Ophthalmics AG, Novartis Optogenetics Research Inc., Novartis Overseas Investments AG, Novartis Pharma (Logistics) Inc., Novartis Pharma (Pakistan) Limited, Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Pharma B.V. , Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma K.K., Novartis Pharma LLC, Novartis Pharma Maroc SA, Novartis Pharma NV, Novartis Pharma Produktions GmbH, Novartis Pharma S.A.E., Novartis Pharma S.A.S., Novartis Pharma Schweiz AG, Novartis Pharma Schweizerhalle AG, Novartis Pharma Services AG, Novartis Pharma Services Romania S.R.L., Novartis Pharma Stein AG, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Limited, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Novartis Poland Sp. z o.o., Novartis Portugal S.G.P.S. Lda., Novartis Ringaskiddy Limited, Novartis Saglik Gida ve Tarim Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, Novartis Saudi Ltd., Novartis Securities Investment Ltd, Novartis Services Inc., Novartis Slovakia s.r.o., Novartis South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Novartis Sverige AB, Novartis UK Limited, Novartis US Foundation, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Inc, Novartis Vietnam Company Limited, Novartis de Colombia S.A., Novartis de Venezuela S.A., Novartis s.r.o., Oriel Therapeutics Inc., PT. Novartis Indonesia, Protez Pharmaceuticals, Pte Ltd, Research Inc, Salutas Pharma GmbH, Sandoz A/S, Sandoz AG, Sandoz B.V., Sandoz Canada Inc., Sandoz Egypt Pharma S.A.E., Sandoz Farmaceutica S.A., Sandoz Farmaceutica Lda., Sandoz GmbH, Sandoz Hungary Limited Liability Company, Sandoz Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Sandoz Inc, Sandoz Industrial Products S.A, Sandoz International GmbH, Sandoz K.K., Sandoz Limited, Sandoz Manufacturing Inc., Sandoz NV, Sandoz Pharma K.K, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals d.d., Sandoz Philippines Corporation, Sandoz Polska Sp. z o.o. , Sandoz Private Limited, Sandoz Pty Ltd, Sandoz S.A. de C.V, Sandoz S.A.S., Sandoz S.R.L., Sandoz S.p.A., Sandoz South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Sandoz Ukraine LLC, Sandoz d.o.o. farmaceutska industrija, Sandoz do Brasil Industria Farmaceutica Ltda, Sandoz s.r.o., Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Shanghai Novartis Trading Ltd., Societe par actions SANDOZ, Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, The Medicines Company, The Medicines Company, Triangle International Reinsurance Limited, Trinity River Insurance Co Ltd, Vedere Bio, Vedere Bio ll, Xiidra, Ziarco, and Ziarco Group Limited.

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AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs. In addition, the company offers maintenance products, such as antifreeze and windshield washer fluids; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; brake and power steering fluids, and oil and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, cabin, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paints and accessories; refrigerants and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wipers. Further, it provides air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, interior and exterior accessories, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products, as well as towing services. Additionally, the company provides a sales program that offers commercial credit and delivery of parts and other products; sells automotive diagnostic and repair software under the ALLDATA brand through alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through autozone.com. As of August 27, 2022, it operated 6,168 stores in the United States; 703 stores in Mexico; and 72 stores in Brazil. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
The following companies are subsidiares of Prudential Financial: 210-220 E. 22nd Street SSGA Owner LLC, AIG Edison, AIG Star, AREF Cayman Co Ltd., AREF GP II Pte. Ltd., AREF GP Ltd., ASPF II - Feeder Fund GmbH, ASPF II - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, ASPF II Management GmbH, ASPF III Scots L.P., ASSURANCE, AST Investment Services Inc., Adlerwerke CB Investment LLC, Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Habitat S.A., Administradora de Inversiones Previsionales SpA, Aoba Life Insurance Company, Aoba Life Insurance Company Ltd., Asia Property Fund III GP S.a.r.l., Assurance IQ LLC, Assurance Intelligence LLC, BSC CP LP, Braeloch Holdings Inc., Braeloch Successor Corporation, Brazilian Capital Fund GP Limited, Broad Street Global Advisors LLC, Broome Street Holdings LLC, CB German Retail LLC, CLIS Co. Ltd., COLICO INC., Capital Agricultural Property Services Inc., Chadwick Boulevard Investment Holdings Co. LLC, Cibecue LLC, Coconino LLC, Colico II Inc., Columbus Drive Partners L.P., Commerce Street Holdings LLC, Commerce Street Investments LLC, Coolidge LLC, Coral Reef GP, Coral Reef L.P., Coral Reef Unit Trust, Cottage Street Investments LLC, Cottage Street Orbit Acquisition LLC, DICKENS AVENUE HOLDINGS VI LLC, DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI Ireland L.P., DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI US L.P., Dale/P Minerals Limited Partnership, Don Cesar Investor LLC, Dryden Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Dryden Finance II LLC, EVP II GP S.a r.l., EVP II Horizon GP S.a r.l., EVP II Sprint GP S.a r.l., Edison Place Senior Note LLC, Essex LLC, EuroCore GP S.a r.l., European Value Partners GP S.a.r.l., Everbright PGIM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Flagstaff LLC, GA 1600 Commons LLC, GA 333 Hennepin Investor LLC, GA BV LLC, GA Bay Area GP LLC, GA Bay Area Investor LLC, GA Belden LLC, GA CLARENDON LLC, GA Cal Crossings LLC, GA Collins LLC, GA E. 22nd Street Apartments Holdings LLC, GA East 86 Street LLC, GA JHCII LLC, GA MENLO PARK INVESTOR LLC, GA Manor at Harbour Island LLC, GA Metro LLC, GA TRITON INVESTOR LLC, GA W Paces LLC, GA/MDI 333 Hennepin Associates LLC, GIBRALTAR BSN HOLDINGS SDN BHD, GIBRALTAR INDIA SOLUTIONS LLP, Gateway Holdings II LLC, Gateway Holdings LLC, German Retail Income CP LP, Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad, Gibraltar International Insurance Services Company Inc., Gibraltar International Service LLC, Gibraltar Reinsurance Company Ltd., Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company, Glenealy International Limited, Global Portfolio Strategies Inc., Gold GP Limited, Gold II L.P., Gold L.P., Graham Resources Inc., Graham Royalty Ltd., Green Harvest Asset Management LLC, Green Tree GP, Green Tree L.P., Greenlee LLC, Halsey Street Investments LLC, Hirakata LLC, IVP Fund GP LLC, Impact Investments Bridges UK S.a.r.l, Inter-Atlantic G Fund L.P., Inversiones Previsionales Chile SpA, Inversiones Previsionales Dos SpA, Ironbound Fund LLC, Jennison Associates LLC, Kyarra S.a r.l., Kyoei Annuity Home Co. Ltd. Kabushiki Kaisha Kyouei Nenkin Home, LINEUP LLC, Lake Street Partners IV L.P., Lotus Reinsurance Company Ltd., MC GA COLLINS HOLDINGS LLC, MC GA COLLINS REALTY LLC, MC Insurance Agency Services LLC, Manor at Harbour Island LLC, Marble Canyon LLC, Maricopa LLC, Market Street Holdings IV LLC, Montana Capital Partners, Morenci LLC, Mulberry Street Holdings LLC, Mulberry Street Investment L.P., Mulberry Street Partners LLC, Mullin TBG Insurance Agency Services LLC, MullinTBG Insurance Agency Services, National Family Assurance Group LLC, New Savanna, Northbound Emerging Manager Fund A LP, Northbound Emerging Manager Fund II - A LP, Orchard Street Acres Inc., PAI Bay Farm LLC, PAI Bayrock Groves LLC, PAI Belvidere Farms LLC, PAI Big Cypress Farm LLC, PAI Corcoran 640 Ranch LLC, PAI DeKalb Farm LLC, PAI Delano 1500 Ranches LLC, PAI Desert Falcon Farms Manager LLC, PAI Flicker Orchard LLC, PAI Good Hope Farm LLC, PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC, PAI Hills Valley Ranches LLC, PAI Holly Hill Groves LLC, PAI Hunt Farm LLC, PAI Jackson Bayou Farm LLC, PAI Lake Placid Groves LLC, PAI River Bend Ranches LLC, PAI Wallula Gap Vineyard LLC, PCP V Cayman AIV GP L.P., PEREF II Co-Invest 1 GP S.a r.l., PEREF II GP S.a r.l., PFI EM-Tech Fund I LLC, PG Business Service Co. Ltd, PG Collection Service Co. Ltd., PG Friendly Partners Co. Ltd., PGA Asian Retail Limited, PGA European Limited, PGI Co. Ltd, PGIM AC Co-Invest GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM AVP IV GP S.a r.l., PGIM Advisory Shanghai Co. Ltd., PGIM Agricultural Investments GP LLC, PGIM Australia Pty Ltd, PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Fund L.P., PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Partners LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Feeder VI LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Fund VI L.P., PGIM Custom Harvest LLC, PGIM DC Co-Invest GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM DC JV GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM DC Solutions LLC, PGIM European Financing Limited, PGIM European Services Limited, PGIM Financial Limited, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund II L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives GP LLC, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives II GP LLC, PGIM Foreign Investments Inc., PGIM Holding Company LLC, PGIM Holdings Limited, PGIM Hong Kong Ltd., PGIM INDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM INDIA TRUSTEES PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM IRELAND LIMITED, PGIM Inc., PGIM International Financing Inc., PGIM Investments Ireland Limited, PGIM Investments LLC, PGIM Japan Co. Ltd., PGIM Korea Inc., PGIM LTIF Berlin GP S.a r.l., PGIM LTIF Berlin MLP S.ar.l., PGIM LTIF GP S.a.r.l., PGIM Limited, PGIM Loan Originator Manager Limited, PGIM M Campus GP S.a r.l., PGIM Management Partner Limited, PGIM MetaProp Investor LP LLC, PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Overseas Investment Fund Management Shanghai Company Ltd, PGIM Private Capital Ireland Limited, PGIM Private Capital Limited, PGIM Private Placement Investors Inc., PGIM Private Placement Investors L.P., PGIM QUANTITATIVE SOLUTIONS LLC, PGIM REF EUROPE SCSp, PGIM REF Europe GP S.a r.l., PGIM REF Europe Member LLC, PGIM REF Intermediary Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate CD S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Capital VII GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest L.P., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest SCSp, PGIM Real Estate Co-Invest Holdings LLC, PGIM Real Estate Debt GmbH, PGIM Real Estate Finance Holding Company, PGIM Real Estate Finance LLC, PGIM Real Estate France SAS, PGIM Real Estate Germany AG, PGIM Real Estate Global Debt GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Global Master Fund GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles II S de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles S. de R.L. de C.V, PGIM Real Estate Italy S.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Japan Ltd., PGIM Real Estate Loan Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate Luxembourg S.A., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Management Luxembourg S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Mexico S.C., PGIM Real Estate S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate U.S. CORE Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate U.S. Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate UK Limited, PGIM Scots Limited, PGIM Securities Investment Trust Enterprise, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management (Feeder) I LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management Fund I L.P., PGIM Shanghai Company Ltd., PGIM Singapore Pte. Ltd., PGIM Strategic Financing LLC, PGIM Strategic Investments Inc., PGIM Taronga Investor GP LLC, PGIM U.S. Agriculture Fund LP, PGIM USPF VI Manager LLC, PGIM Wadhwani LLP, PGIM Warehouse Inc., PGLH of Delaware Inc., PIFM Holdco LLC, PIIC Limited, PIISC Holdings UK Limited, PIM KF Blocker V Holdings LLC, PIM USPF V Manager LLC, PLA Administradora Industrial SRL, PLA Administradora LLC, PLA Administradora S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional II S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional S.de R.L. de C.V., PLA Co-Investor LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager I LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager II LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Blue LP, PLA Retail Fund I Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LP, PLA Retail Fund II Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II U.S. Carry/Co-Invest LP, PLA Services Manager Mexico LLC, PLAI Limited, PMCF Holdings LLC, PMCF Properties LLC, PPPF General Partner LLP, PR GA SCP Apartments LLC, PRAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP LLP, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP SCOTS FEEDER LLP, PRECO Account IV LLC, PRECO Account Partnership IV LP, PRECO III GP LLP, PREFG Hanwha Manager LLC, PREI Acquisition I Inc., PREI Acquisition II Inc., PREI Acquisition LLC, PREI HYDG LLC, PREI International Inc., PRIAC Property Acquisitions LLC, PRICOA Management Partner Limited, PRISA Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Pooled Manager LLC, PRISA III Fund GP LLC, PRISA III Fund PIM LLC, PRREF Debt Fund Manager LLC, PRREF II Fund Manager LLC, PRU 3XSquare LLC, PRUCO LLC, PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL ENERGY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT (FEEDER) LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP MEMBER LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP REIT LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE 2 LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE LLC, PT PFI Mega Life Insurance, Passaic Fund LLC, Pine Tree GP, Pine Tree L.P., Platinum GP Limited, Platinum II L.P., Platinum L.P., Pramerica Business Consulting Shanghai Company Limited, Pramerica EVP CP LP, Pramerica Financial Asia Headquarters Pte. Ltd., Pramerica Financial Asia Limited, Pramerica Fixed Income Funds Management Limited, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Pramerica Holdings Ltd, Pramerica Hong Kong Holdings Limited, Pramerica Insurance Agency China Company Ltd., Pramerica Luxembourg CP GP S.a.r.l., Pramerica PRECAP I GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP II GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP III GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP IV GP LLP, Pramerica Pan European Real Estate Scots LP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I GP Scots Feeder LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I Scotland Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital II Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital III Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Limited, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Scots Feeder LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V Netherlands GP LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital VI Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Scots CP GP LLP, Preco III Scotland Limited Partnership, Pru 101 Wood LLC, Pru Alpha Partners I LLC, Pru Fixed Income Emerging Markets Partners I LLC, PruVen Capital Partners Fund I L.P., Pruco Assignment Corporation, Pruco Life Insurance Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Pruco Securities LLC, Prudential 900 Aviation Boulevard LLC, Prudential Affordable Mortgage Company LLC, Prudential Agricultural Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors Inc., Prudential Annuities Holding Company Inc., Prudential Annuities Inc., Prudential Annuities Information Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, Prudential Bank & Trust FSB, Prudential Capital Energy Opportunity Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners Management Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV L.P., Prudential Capital and Investment Services LLC, Prudential Chile II SpA, Prudential Chile SpA, Prudential Commercial Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Equity Group LLC, Prudential Financial Inc., Prudential Fixed Income Global Liquidity Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Fixed Income U.S. Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Funding LLC, Prudential General Services of Japan Y.K., Prudential Gibraltar Agency Co. Ltd. Prudential Gibraltar Agency Kabushiki Kaisha, Prudential Global Funding LLC, Prudential Holdings of Japan Inc., Prudential Huntoon Paige Associates LLC, Prudential IBH Holdco Inc., Prudential Impact Investments Mortgage Loans LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Debt LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Equity LLC, Prudential Insurance Agency LLC, Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd., Prudential International Insurance Service Company L.L.C., Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC, Prudential International Investments Company LLC, Prudential International Investments LLC, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, Prudential Japan Holdings LLC, Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 1 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 2 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Capital Asset Holding Company LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Funding LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC, Prudential Multifamily Mortgage LLC, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Prudential Newark Realty LLC, Prudential QOZ Investment Fund 1 LLC, Prudential Realty Securities Inc., Prudential Retirement Financial Services Holding LLC, Prudential Retirement Holdings LLC, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, Prudential Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., Prudential Seguros S.A., Prudential Select Strategies LLC, Prudential Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Prudential Structured Settlement Company, Prudential Systems Japan Limited, Prudential Tax Services LLC, Prudential Term Reinsurance Company, Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., Prudential Trust Company, Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company, Prudential Workplace Solutions Group Services LLC, Prudential do Brasil Seguros de Vida S.A., Prudential do Brasil Vida em Grupo S.A., Prudential/TMW Real Estate Group LLC, Pruservicos Participacoes Ltda., QMA JP EM All Cap Equity Partners LLC, Quartzsite LLC, Residential Services Corporation of America LLC, Rio CP LP, Rock European Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock Global Real Estate LLC, Rock Kensington Limited, Rock Marty GP S.a r.l., Rock Oxford S.a r.l., Rock UK Real Estate II S.a.r.l., Rockstone Co. Ltd., Rosado Grande LLC, Ross Avenue Energy Fund Holdings LLC, Ross Avenue Minerals 2012 LLC, SCP Apartments LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERS VI GP LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUND VI GP LLC, SHP IV Carried Interest LP, SHP V Carried Interest L.P., SMP Holdings Inc., SVIIT Holdings Inc., Sanei Collection Service Co. Ltd. Kabushiki Kaisha Sanei Shuuno Service, Senior Housing Partners V LLC, Senior Housing Partnership Fund V LLC, Sterling Private Placement Management LLP, Stetson Street Partners L.P., Strand Investments Limited, TBG Insurance Services Corporation, TENSATOR HOLDINGS LTD, TF Proveedora S.C., TMW ASPF I Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, TMW ASPF Management GmbH, TMW Management LLC, TMW Real Estate Group LLC, TMW Realty Advisors LLC, TMW USPF Verwaltungs GmbH, TRGOAG Company Inc., The Gibraltar Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Keynes Dynamic Beta Strategy US Fund GP LLC, The Prudential Assigned Settlement Services Corp., The Prudential Brazilian Capital Fund LP, The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Prudential Home Mortgage Company Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, The Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., The Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America Inc., The WMF Group, Thurloe Commercial Guernsey Limited, USPF V - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, USPF V Carry LLC, USPF V Co-Invest LLC, USPF V Investment LP, United States Property Fund VI GP S.a r.l., VIP Australia Holding Company LLC, VIP Australia Trustee Pty Ltd, Vailsburg Fund LLC, Vantage Casualty Insurance Company, Wabash Avenue Holdings V LLC, Wabash Avenue Partners V L.P., Wadhwani Capital Limited, Waveland Avenue Holdings I LLC, Waveland Avenue Partners I Ireland L.P., Waveland Avenue Partners I US L.P., Wellness Services Ecossistema De Bem Estar Ltda., Wellness Services SRL, Yamato Life, and Yavapai LLC.

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Snap Inc. is a social media company operating globally. The company was founded in September 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy. Originally known as Snapchat, the company changed its name to Snap in order to represent its offerings better as it grew over the years. The companys headquarters are in Santa Monica, California and it is a very tightly held company. The original founders, Evan Speigel and Bobby Murphy own a combined 45% of non-dilutable shares with ownership transferable to the other upon death. The two remain active in the company today serving on the board and acting as CEO (Speigel) and CTO (Murphy).

The company was formerly known as Snapchat, Inc. and changed its name to Snap Inc. in September 2016. Snap Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Over the years it has been courted by most of the big tech companies including Facebook and Google but has always opted to remain a standalone company. The business went public in 2017 and raised $30 billion on its opening day which is about 10 times the expected amount.

Today, Snap operates as a camera company internationally. The companys main revenue streams are Snapchat, a mobile app for cameras and communications, and Spectacles, a wearable augmented reality device. Snapchat is a camera app that allows users to take pictures and tell stories, the platform also permits ad sales which is an integral part of the revenue and earnings. The companys mission? To empower people to express themselves in todays digital world.

Spectacles is a hardware device that can connect with Snapchat to deliver pictures and video from a point-of-view perspective. The company has since made three upgrades to the original version and has a Next Generation model available too. The Next Generation of Spectacles are not intended for sale but will be made available to creators who wish to push the boundaries of video and digital communications.

In October 2022 the company reported it had more than 347milion daily active users with more than 250 million engaging with AR each day. The platform had more than 250,000 Lens creators (Lenses are AR experiences) with more than 2.5 million lenses created. There were more than 6 billion lens plays each day and more than 75% of 13-34-year-olds in 20 countries were users.
Team, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides asset performance assurance and optimization solutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. It operates through Inspection and Heat Treating (IHT), Mechanical Services (MS), and Quest Integrity segments. The IHT segment offers non-destructive evaluation and testing, radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle inspection, liquid penetrant inspection, positive material identification, electromagnetic testing, alternating current field measurement, and eddy current testing services. This segment also provides long-range guided ultrasonic testing, phased array ultrasonic testing, terminals and storage inspection and management program, rope access, mechanical and pipeline integrity, heat treating, and robotics and inspection services. The MS segment offers engineered composite repair, emissions control/compliance, hot tapping, valve insertion, field machining, bolted joint integrity, vapor barrier plug and weld testing, and valve management services, as well as leak repair services for pipes, valves, and flanges, as well as other parts of piping systems, pipelines, and related assets. The Quest Integrity segment provides furnace tube inspection system-enabled, in-line inspection, pipeline integrity management, engineering and condition assessment, and robotics and inspection services. It also offers onstream services comprising of line stopping and on-line valve insertion solutions. The company serves refining, power, renewables, nuclear, liquefied natural gas, chemical, petrochemical, pulp and paper, automotive, mining, valves, terminals and storage, pipeline, offshore oil and gas, and aerospace and defense industries, as well as amusement parks, bridges, ports, construction and buildings, roads, dams, and railways. Team, Inc. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas.
Xylem Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and servicing of engineered products and solutions for the water and wastewater applications in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Water Infrastructure, Applied Water, and Measurement & Control Solutions. The Water Infrastructure segment offers various products, including water, storm water, and wastewater pumps; controls and systems; filtration, disinfection, and biological treatment equipment; and mobile dewatering equipment under the Flygt, Godwin, Wedeco, Sanitaire, Leopold, Wedeco, and Xylem Vue brand names for the transportation and treatment of water. The Applied Water segment provides pumps, valves, heat exchangers, controls, and dispensing equipment systems under the Goulds Water Technology, Bell & Gossett, A-C Fire Pump, Standard Xchange, Lowara, Jabsco, Xylem Vue and Flojet brand names for residential and commercial building services, and industrial water applications. The Measurement & Control Solutions segment provides smart meters, networked communication devices, and measurement and control technologies, as well as critical infrastructure technologies. It also offers software and services, including cloud-based analytics, remote monitoring and data management, leak detection, condition assessment, asset management, and pressure monitoring solutions, as well as testing equipment and managed services. This segment sells its products under the Pure, Sensus, Smith Blair, WTW, Xylem Vue, and YSI brand names. The company markets and sells its products through a network of direct sales force, resellers, distributors, and value-added solution providers. Xylem Inc. was formerly known as ITT WCO, Inc. and changed its name to Xylem Inc. in May 2011. The company. was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Rye Brook, New York.
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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Babcock International Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides value-add services for aerospace, defense, and security in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Africa, North America, Australasia, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Marine, Nuclear, Land, and Aviation. It designs, procures, operates, and manages critical utility and process equipment; offers asset management, defense and maritime training, information and intelligence, equipment and system, and facilities and infrastructure services, as well as naval platforms; and designs, manufactures, and provides through-life support for mechanical and electrical systems and equipment. The company also offers naval architecture, engineering, and project management services; submarines and complex engineering services in support of various decommissioning programs and projects, training and operation support, new build program management, and design and installation; critical vehicle fleet management, and equipment support and training services for military and civil customers; and designs, assesses, manufactures, installs, maintains, and decommissions vehicles for police, fire and ambulance, civil service, military, and other security-focused organizations. In addition, it provides plain line track renewal services; and engineering services for track projects, signaling, telecommunications, and on-track plants. Further, the company offers critical engineering services to defense and civil customers, including pilot training, equipment support, and airbase management, as well as operates aviation fleets that provide delivering emergency services. Babcock International Group PLC was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of prescription medicines. Its marketed products include Calquence, Enhertu, Faslodex, Imfinzi, Iressa, Koselugo, Lumoxiti, Lynparza, Orpathys, Tagrisso, and Zoladex for oncology; Brilinta/Brilique, Bydureon/Byetta, BCise, Byetta, Crestor, Evrenzo, Farxiga/Forxiga, Komboglyze/Kombiglyze XR, Lokelma, Onglyza, Qtern, and Xigduo/Xigduo XR for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism diseases; Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere, Daliresp/Daxas, Duaklir Genuair, Fasenra, Pulmicort, Saphnelo, Symbicort, and Tudorza/Eklira/Bretaris for respiratory and immunology; and Andexxa/Ondexxya, Kanuma, Soliris, Strensiq, and Ultomiris for rare diseases. The company's marketed products also comprise Synagis for respiratory syncytial virus; Fluenz Tetra/FluMist Quadrivalent for Influenza; Seroquel IR/Seroquel XR for schizophrenia bipolar disease; Nexium, and Losec/Prilosec for gastroenterology; and Vaxzevria and Evusheld for covid-19. The company serves primary care and specialty care physicians through distributors and local representative offices in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. It has a collaboration agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to research, develop, and commercialize small molecule medicines for obesity; Neurimmune AG to develop and commercialize NI006; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop eplontersen, a liver-targeted antisense therapy in Phase III development for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis; Proteros Biostructures GmbH to jointly discover novel small molecules for the treatment of hematological cancers; Sierra Oncology, Inc. to develop and commercialize AZD5153. The company was formerly known as Zeneca Group PLC and changed its name to AstraZeneca PLC in April 1999. AstraZeneca PLC was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Cambridge, the United Kingdom.
United Parcel Service, Inc. provides letter and package delivery, transportation, logistics, and related services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment offers guaranteed time-definite express options. The company also provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution and post-sales, and mail and consulting services in approximately 200 countries and territories. In addition, it offers truckload brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industry; shipping, visibility, and billing technologies; and financial and insurance services. The company operates a fleet of approximately 121,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; and owns 59,000 containers that are used to transport cargo in its aircraft. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Citigroup Inc. is one of the worlds largest financial institutions. It is the 13th largest bank globally by assets and 8th by market cap with operations in consumer and institutional banking. In the US, Citigroup is the 3rd largest bank by assets and one of the Big Four deemed systemically important and too big to fail.

Citigroup Inc. was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. The bank was run by Samuel Osgood who led the company with success for many years, even throughout the War of 1812. The bank was later renamed the National City Bank of New York in 1865 and by 1895 is the largest bank in the US. In 1913 it was the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a few years later it began to expand into overseas territories.

The bank became the First National City Bank of New York after another merger in 1955 and then later, the New York part was dropped off as part of the 150th-anniversary celebration. By 1974 the company is known as Citicorp which is still the operational branch of the business and a global banking powerhouse. A merger with Travelers insurance group in 1998 resulted in the name Citigroup but the joint venture did not last. By 2002 Travelers was publicly traded once again but Citigroup retained the new name.

Today, the company is headquartered in New York, New York but boasts more than 200 million customer accounts in 160 countries worldwide. As of mid-2022, it operated 2,649 branches in the United States, Mexico, and Asia. The company reports nearly 725 branches in the US and 1499 in Mexico with the rest scattered throughout its territory. Total annual revenue topped $75 billion in 2022.

Citigroup is a diversified financial services holding company that owns Citicorp among other assets. The companys mission is to serve as a trusted partner providing responsible financial solutions to its clients. Citigroup provides financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions. The company operates in two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG).

The GCB segment offers traditional banking services including deposit and saving accounts, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, and investment services. This segment operates through local branches and digital means. The ICG segment offers wholesale banking products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients.
Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao engages in the retail of food, clothing, home appliances, electronics, and other products through its chain of supermarkets, specialized stores, and department stores in Brazil. It operates in Brazilian Retail, Grupo Exito, and Other Businesses segments. The company sells non-perishables, beverages, fruits, vegetables, meat, breads, cold cuts, dairy products, cleaning products, disposable products, and personal care products; and home appliances and other non-food products, such as clothing and baby items, shoes and accessories, household articles, books, magazines, CDs and DVDs, stationery, toys, sports and camping gears, furniture, mobile phones, mattresses, pet products, and gardening equipment and tools, as well as electronic products, including personal computers, software, computer accessories, and sound and image systems. It also offers medications and cosmetics at its drugstores; and non-food products at gas stations, as well as rents commercial spaces and e-commerce sales. The company operates its supermarkets under the banners of Pao de Acucar, Extra Supermercado, Mercado Extra, and Compre Bem; hypermarkets under the banner of Extra Hiper; and proximity stores under the banners of Mini Extra, Minuto Pao de Acucar, Pao de Acucar Adega, and Aliados Minimercado; and gas stations and drugstores under the banners of Extra and Pao de Acucar, as well as sells its products through its Websites. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 667 stores, 74 gas stations, and 68 drugstores in 16 Brazilian states and the Federal District, as well as 15 distribution centers and warehouses across Brazil. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao operates as a subsidiary of Casino, Guichard-Perrachon S.A.
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.
National Fuel Gas Company operates as a diversified energy company. It operates through four segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering, and Utility. The Exploration and Production segment explores for, develops, and produces natural gas and oil in California and in the Appalachian region of the United States. As of September 30, 2021, it had proved developed and undeveloped reserves of 21,537 thousand barrels of oil and 3,723,433 million cubic feet of natural gas. The Pipeline and Storage segment provides interstate natural gas transportation and storage services through an integrated gas pipeline system in Pennsylvania and New York; and owns and operates underground natural gas storage fields. This segment also transports natural gas for National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, as well as for other utilities, industrial companies, and power producers in New York State; and owns and operates the Empire Pipeline. The Gathering segment builds, owns, and operates natural gas processing and pipeline gathering facilities in the Appalachian region, as well as provides gathering services to Seneca Resources Company, LLC. The Utility segment sells natural gas or provides natural gas transportation services to approximately 753,000 customers in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Jamestown, New York; and Erie and Sharon, Pennsylvania. The company markets gas to industrial, wholesale, commercial, public authority, and residential customers primarily in western and central New York, and northwestern Pennsylvania. As of September 30, 2021, the company also owned approximately 95,000 acres of timber property; and managed approximately 2,500 additional acres of timber cutting rights. National Fuel Gas Company was incorporated in 1902 and is headquartered in Williamsville, New York.
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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Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. (NYSE: HTA) is the largest dedicated owner and operator of MOBs in the United States, comprising approximately 25.1 million square feet of GLA, with $7.4 billion invested primarily in MOBs. HTA provides real estate infrastructure for the integrated delivery of healthcare services in highly-desirable locations. Investments are targeted to build critical mass in 20 to 25 leading gateway markets that generally have leading university and medical institutions, which translates to superior demographics, high-quality graduates, intellectual talent and job growth. The strategic markets HTA invests in support a strong, long-term demand for quality medical office space. HTA utilizes an integrated asset management platform consisting of on-site leasing, property management, engineering and building services, and development capabilities to create complete, state of the art facilities in each market. This drives efficiencies, strong tenant and health system relationships, and strategic partnerships that result in high levels of tenant retention, rental growth and long-term value creation. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, HTA has developed a national brand with dedicated relationships at the local level. Founded in 2006 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012, HTA has produced attractive returns for its stockholders that have outperformed the US REIT index.
Hilltop Holdings Inc. provides business and consumer banking, and financial products and services. It operates through three segments: Banking, Broker-Dealer, and Mortgage Origination. The Banking segment offers savings, checking, interest-bearing checking, and money market accounts; certificates of deposit; lines and letters of credit, home improvement and equity loans, loans for purchasing and carrying securities, equipment loans and leases, agricultural and commercial real estate loans, and other loans; and commercial and industrial loans, and term and construction finance. This segment also provides treasury management, wealth management, asset management, check cards, safe deposit boxes, online banking, bill pay, trust, and overdraft services; and estate planning, management and administration, investment portfolio management, employee benefit accounts, and individual retirement accounts, as well as automated teller machines. The Broker-Dealer segment offers public finance services that assist public entities in originating, syndicating, and distributing securities of municipalities and political subdivisions; specialized advisory and investment banking services; advice and guidance to arbitrage rebate compliance, portfolio management, and local government investment pool administration; structured finance services, which include advisory services for derivatives and commodities; sells, trades in, and underwrites U.S. government and government agency bonds, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds, as well as mortgage-backed, asset-backed, and commercial mortgage-backed securities and structured products. This segment also provides asset and liability management advisory, clearing, retail, and securities lending services. The Mortgage Origination segment offers mortgage, jumbo, Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Affairs, and United States Department of Agriculture loans. Hilltop Holdings Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
The following companies are subsidiares of HP: 3Com, 3PAR, ABB CADE, AOME Holdings Ltd., Albacore Holdings Jersey Ltd, Alpha Holding One B.V., Alpha Holding Two B.V., Anatolus Holding B.V., Apogee, Apogee Corp, Apogee Corporation Ireland Limited, Apogee Corporation Jersey Limited, Apogee Corporation Limited, Apogee Europe Limited, Apogee France Holdings SAS, Apogee France SAS, Apogee Germany Holding UG, Apogee Group Limited, Apogee Rentals Limited, Apollo Computer, AppIQ, Applied Optoelectronic Tech, ArcSight, Arnon Holding B.V., Arteis, Artivision Technologies, Aruba Networks, Atos Origin, Atos Origin Middle East group, Autonomy Corporation, Avantek, BAS - Burosysteme GmbH, BT & D Technologies, Balreed Digitec Group Limited, Balreed Digitec North Limited, Balreed Digitec SE Limited, Balreed Digitec UK Limited, Bamberga Holding B.V., Bitfone Corporation, Bluestone Software, Boonton Radio, Bristol Technology Inc., Bromium, Bromium UK Limited, CEC Europe Service Management, CGNZ, CaLan, China HP Co. Ltd Hangzhou Branch, China HP Co. Ltd., China HP Co. Ltd. Chengdu Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Guangzhou Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Jiangan Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Nanjing Branch, China HP Co. Ltd. Shanghai Branch, Choose Packaging, City Docs Limited, City Docs Solutions Limited, Colorado Memory Systems, Colubris Networks, Colubris Networks, Compaq Cayman Holdings Company, Compaq Cayman Holdings General Partnership II, Compaq Information Technologies, Compaq Information Technologies LLC, Computing and Printing Global Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Computing and Printing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Consera Software, ConteXtream Inc, Convex Computer, David Vision Systems GmbH, Dazzle, Digipro Limited, Division, EDS (Electronic Data Systems), EEsof, EYP Mission Critical Facilities, ElseWare, Eon Systems, Eucalyptus Systems, Eunomia Holding B.V., ExcellerateHRO, Exstream Software, Extreme Logic, F&M Scientific Corporation, F. Smith & Co Office Equipment Limited, F.L. Moseley Company, Flame Holding B.V., Fortify Software, Four Pi Systems, GNA Biosolutions GmbH, HP Austria GmbH, HP Belgium BV, HP Bilgisayar ve Baski Teknolojileri Limited Sirketi, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda. - Branch 01 Tambore, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda. - Branch 2 Sorocaba, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda. - Branch 3 Porto Alegre, HP Canada Co. HP Canada Cie, HP Canada Licensing L.P., HP China Holding B.V., HP Chongqing Co. Ltd, HP Chongqing Manufacturing Export Procurement and Settlement Co. Ltd, HP Colombia SAS, HP Computing and Printing Middle East FZ-LLC, HP Computing and Printing Nigeria Ltd, HP Computing and Printing Systems India Private Limited, HP Computing and Printing d.o.o., HP Deutschland GmbH, HP Deutschland Holding GmbH, HP Europe B.V., HP Europe B.V. - Abu Dhabi Branch, HP Europe B.V. Regional Dubai Branch, HP Europe BV Amsterdam Meyrin Branch, HP Finland Oy, HP France Holding SAS, HP France SAS, HP Global Trading B.V., HP Global Trading B.V. Kazakhstan Branch, HP Health Solutions Inc., HP Health Solutions Spain Sociedad Limitada, HP Hewlett Packard Group LLC, HP Inc AP Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Argentina S.R.L., HP Inc Bulgaria EOOD, HP Inc Chile Comercial Limitada, HP Inc Costa Rica Limitada, HP Inc Czech Republic s.r.o., HP Inc Danmark ApS, HP Inc Gulf, HP Inc Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Magyarorszag Kft., HP Inc Peru S.R.L., HP Inc Polska sp. z o.o., HP Inc Romania SRL, HP Inc Slovakia s.r.o., HP Inc Thailand Ltd., HP Inc Tunisie SARL, HP Inc UK Limited, HP India Sales Private Limited, HP Indigo B.V., HP Indigo Ltd, HP Information Technology R&D Shanghai Co. Ltd, HP International Pte. Ltd., HP International Pte. Ltd. Taiwan Branch, HP International Sarl, HP International Trading B.V., HP International Trading B.V. Puerto Rico Branch LLC, HP Israel Ltd, HP Italy S.r.l., HP Jade Holding LLC, HP Japan Inc., HP KSA Ltd., HP Korea Inc., HP Licensing Holding LLC, HP Luxembourg S.C.A., HP Malaysia Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., HP Nederland B.V., HP New Zealand, HP Norge AS, HP Onyx Holding L.P., HP PPS Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Australia Pty Ltd, HP PPS Costa Rica Limitada, HP PPS India Operations Private Limited, HP PPS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Maroc, HP PPS Philippines Inc., HP PPS Sales Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Services India Private Limited, HP PPS Singapore Sales Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Sverige AB, HP Pakistan Private Limited, HP Panama Sales and Distribution S. de R.L., HP Print Services Ireland Limited, HP Printing Korea Co. Ltd., HP Printing Shandong Co. Ltd., HP Printing and Computing Solutions S.L.U., HP Printing and Personal Systems Hellas EPE, HP Production Company Limited, HP Puerto Rico LLC, HP R&D Holding LLC, HP R&D Singapore Pte. Ltd., HP Schweiz GmbH, HP Scitex Ltd, HP Singapore Private Limited, HP Solutions Creation and Development Services S.L.U., HP South Africa Proprietary Limited, HP South Africa Trust, HP Taiwan Information Technology Ltd., HP Technology Holdings LLC, HP Technology Ireland Limited, HP Technology Israel Ltd, HP Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd, HP Technology Vietnam Company Ltd, HP Trading Kunshan Co. Ltd., HP Trading Shanghai Co. Ltd., HP Trading Shanghai Co. Ltd. Dalian Branch, HP Trading Shanghai Co. Ltd. Zhangjiang Branch, HP UK Development Limited, HP US Digital LLC, HP USA Manufacturing LLC, HPCP  Computing and Printing Portugal Unipessoal Lda., HPI Bermuda Holdings LLC, HPI Brazil Holdings LLC, HPI Federal LLC, HPI J1 Holdings LLC, HPI Luxembourg LLC, HPQ Holdings LLC, Heartstream, Hewlett-Packard A.O., Hewlett-Packard Angola Lda., Hewlett-Packard Company Archives LLC, Hewlett-Packard Copenhagen B.V., Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P., Hewlett-Packard Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard G.K., Hewlett-Packard Global Holdings B.V., Hewlett-Packard Global Investments B.V., Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Solutions Europe BV, Hewlett-Packard Ireland 1 Limited, Hewlett-Packard Ireland Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Japan Holding B.V., Hewlett-Packard Japan NK Holdings C.V., Hewlett-Packard KSA Ltd. Qatar Branch, Hewlett-Packard Lisbon B.V., Hewlett-Packard MENA FZ-LLC Libya Branch, Hewlett-Packard Mercator B.V., Hewlett-Packard Sunnyvale B.V., Hewlett-Packard West Indies Limited, Hewlett-Packard World Trade LLC, Hiflex Software, HyperX, IBRIX, IndiGo, Indigo America Inc., Iseo Holding B.V., Kale Holding B.V., Kale Holding B.V. Puerto Rico Branch LLC, Knightsbridge Solutions, Kopiervertrieb Rhein-Ruhr GmbH, Lefthand Networks, Limited Liability Company HP Inc, Logoworks, Lyra Holding B.V., MacDermid ColorSpan, ManageOne, Manzana Bidco Limited, Manzana Holdings Limited, Melodeo, Mercury Interactive, Metrix Network Systems, NUR Macroprinters, Neoware, Nihon HP Nin-I Kumiai, Novadigm, NuView ManageX, OOO Hewlett-Packard RUS, Office Perfection Limited, OneFlow Systems Limited, Opelin, Opelin, Open Skies, Opsware, Opsware, Optimization Systems, Optotech, OuterBay Technologies, OuterBay Technologies, PERSIST Technologies, PIXACO, PROLIN, PT Hewlett-Packard Indonesia, Palm, Palm, Peregrine Systems, Perigee Holdco UK Limited, Perigee Midco UK Limited, Perseus Holding B.V., PipeBeach, Poly, PolyServe, PrinterOn America Corporation, Printware Limited, Qosnetics, RLX Technologies, Regor Holding B.V., SPI Dynamics, Samsung Printing Solutions, Scitex, Scitex Vision, Scope Communications, Security Force Software, Shunra Software, Shunra Software, Silverwire Holding, Simpress Comercio Locacao e Servicos Ltda, Snapfish, StorageApps, Stratavia, Synstar, Tabblo, Talking Blocks, Tall Tree Insurance Company, Technology Partners, Telegra, Teradici Corporation, Teradici Inc., Teradici UK Limited, The Danwood Group Limited, The Technology Partners, Tower Software, Tower Software Engineering Pty Ltd, Transoft Networks, Trellis Software & Controls, Triaton, Trinagy, TruLogica, Trustgenix, VeriFone, Verifone, Versatest, Vertica Systems, Vital Technology Pte Ltd, Voltage Security, VoodooPC, Xact Document Solutions Limited, and Xera-Logic Group Limited.

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Dominion Energy, Inc. produces and distributes energy in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Dominion Energy Virginia, Gas Distribution, Dominion Energy South Carolina, and Contracted Assets. The Dominion Energy Virginia segment generates, transmits, and distributes regulated electricity to approximately 2.7 million residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in Virginia and North Carolina. The Gas Distribution segment is involved in the regulated natural gas sales, transportation, gathering, storage, and distribution operations in Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, Utah, southwestern Wyoming, and southeastern Idaho that serve approximately 3.1 million residential, commercial and industrial customers. It also has nonregulated renewable natural gas facilities in operation. The Dominion Energy South Carolina segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 772,000 customers in the central, southern, and southwestern portions of South Carolina; and distributes natural gas to approximately 419,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in South Carolina. The Contracted Assets segment is involved in the nonregulated long-term contracted renewable electric generation and solar generation facility development operations; and gas transportation, LNG import, and storage operations, as well as in the liquefaction facility. As of December 31, 2021, the company's portfolio of assets included approximately 30.2 gigawatt of electric generating capacity; 10,700 miles of electric transmission lines; 78,000 miles of electric distribution lines; and 95,700 miles of gas distribution mains and related service facilities. The company was formerly known as Dominion Resources, Inc. Dominion Energy, Inc. was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.
Installed Building Products, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the installation of insulation, waterproofing, fire-stopping, fireproofing, garage doors, rain gutters, window blinds, shower doors, closet shelving and mirrors, and other products in the continental United States. The company offers a range of insulation materials, such as fiberglass and cellulose, and spray foam insulation materials. It is also involved in the installation of insulation and sealant materials in various areas of a structure, which includes basement and crawl space, building envelope, attic, and acoustical applications. In addition, the company installs a range of caulk and sealant products that control air infiltration in residential and commercial buildings; and waterproofing options, including sheet and hot applied waterproofing membranes, as well as deck coating, bentonite, and air and vapor systems. It serves homebuilders, multi-family and commercial construction firms, individual homeowners, and repair and remodeling contractors through a network of approximately 210 branch locations. The company was formerly known as CCIB Holdco, Inc. Installed Building Products, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.
Halliburton Company provides products and services to the energy industry worldwide. It operates in two segments, Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation. The Completion and Production segment offers production enhancement services that include stimulation and sand control services; cementing services, such as well bonding and casing, and casing equipment; completion tools that offer downhole solutions and services, including well completion products and services, intelligent well completions, and service tools, as well as liner hanger, sand control, and multilateral systems; production solutions comprising coiled tubing, hydraulic workover units, downhole tools, and pumping and nitrogen services; and pipeline and process services, such as pre-commissioning, commissioning, maintenance, and decommissioning. This segment also provides electrical submersible pumps, as well as artificial lift services. The Drilling and Evaluation segment offers drilling fluid systems, performance additives, completion fluids, solids control, specialized testing equipment, and waste management services; oilfield completion, production, and downstream water and process treatment chemicals and services; drilling systems and services; wireline and perforating services consists of open-hole logging, and cased-hole and slickline; and drill bits and services comprising roller cone rock bits, fixed cutter bits, hole enlargement, and related downhole tools and services, as well as coring equipment and services. This segment also provides cloud based digital services and artificial intelligence solutions on an open architecture for subsurface insights, integrated well construction, and reservoir and production management; testing and subsea services, such as acquisition and analysis of reservoir information and optimization solutions; and project management and integrated asset management services. Halliburton Company was founded in 1919 and is based in Houston, Texas.
KBR, Inc. provides scientific, technology, and engineering solutions to governments and commercial customers worldwide. The company operates through Government Solutions and Sustainable Technology Solutions segments. The Government Solutions segment offers life-cycle support solutions to defense, intelligence, space, aviation, and other programs and missions for military and other government agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Its services cover research and development, advanced prototyping, acquisition support, systems engineering, cyber analytics, space domain awareness, test and evaluation, systems integration and program management, global supply chain management, and operations readiness and support, as well as command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services. This segment also provides various professional advisory services to deliver high-end systems engineering, systems assurance, and technology to customers across the defense, energy, and critical infrastructure sectors. The Sustainable Technology Solutions segment holds a portfolio of approximately 70 proprietary process technologies for ammonia/syngas/fertilizers, chemical/petrochemicals, clean refining, and circular process/circular economy solutions. This segment also includes advisory and consulting practices that focuses on energy transition and net-zero carbon emission consulting; and provides engineering, design, and professional services, as well as industrial solutions through KBR INSITE, a proprietary, digital, and cloud-based operations and maintenance platform that identifies opportunities for clients to achieve sustainable improvements in production, reliability, environment impact, energy efficiency, and profitability. KBR, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Morgan Stanley is the 6th largest financial institution in the US. The company is ranked 61st on the Forbes Fortune 500 list and is the 39th largest bank in the world. A financial holding company, Morgan Stanley provides a full range of financial services to clients around the world.

Morgan Stanley was formed in 1935 as a result of the Glass-Steagall Act. Glass-Steagall separated commercial and investment banking in a way that forced the then-largest bank J.P. Morgan & Co to split into two groups. J.P. Morgan & Co. chose to retain the commercial side of the business while partners Henry S. Morga, grandson of J.P., and Harold Stanley took the investment end. In its first year, Morgan Stanley did 24% of the IPO business and maintains a lions share of the market to this day.

The original company existed and grew through acquisitions until 1987 when it merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co. The new Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Discover & Co existed for 14 years until 2001 when the name was shortened back to Morgan Stanley.

The bank is credited in part with both beginning and ending the financial crisis of 2007/2008. The Process Driven Trading unit lost $300 million in one day due to a short-squeeze that popped the bubble in the housing market. After teetering on the brink of failure Morgan Stanley agreed to become a bank holding company regulated by the Federal Reserve, a key factor in the original decision to split from parent J.P. Morgan & Co. Ironically when given the chance, present-day J.P. Morgan refused to buy Morgan Stanley but that was for the better.

Today, Morgan Stanley operates through three segments via offices in 41 countries and employs more than 75,000 people. Revenue in 2021 topped $49 billion and total assets topped $1.15 trillion.

The operating segments are Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The Institutional Securities segment is by far the largest and most profitable. It offers a range of services and products for businesses, institutions, and entities that include capital raising, strategic advisory, underwriting, advice on M&A, restructuring, and real estate. The Wealth Management segment provides brokerage and investment advisory services for individuals and employers. The services include brokerage, financial planning, company stock-plan administration, insurance, mortgage loans, lines of credit, and retirement planning. The Investment Management segment provides investment products to a range of institutions, organizations, corporations, and governments.
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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The following companies are subsidiares of PerkinElmer: 2Cure LLC, Analytica of Branford, Applied Biosystems, Arnel Inc., ArtusLabs, Beijing Huaan Magnech Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Beijing Meizheng Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Beijing Meizheng Testing Lab Co. Ltd., Beijing OUMENG Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Bio Evolution SAS, BioLegend, BioLegend CNS Inc., BioLegend China Beijing Ltd., BioLegend Europe B.V., BioLegend France SAS, BioLegend GmbH, BioLegend Inc., BioLegend Japan KK, BioLegend Shenzhen Ltd., BioLegend Taiwan Ltd., BioLegend UK Ltd., BioLegend Ventures LLC, Bioo Scientific Corporation, Biosense Technologies Pvt Ltd., Boulder Diagnostics Europe GmbH, Caliper Life Sciences, Caliper Life Sciences Inc., Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Inc., CambridgeSoft, Ceiba Solutions, Chengdu PerkinElmer Medical Laboratory Co. Ltd., Cisbio Asia Pacific Ltd, Cisbio Bioassays SAS, Cisbio China Ltd., Cisbio.com, DIA.Metra S.R.L., DNA Laboratories Sdn. Bhd., Dani Analitica S.r.l., Dexela, Dharmacon Inc., EUROIMMUN AG, EUROIMMUN Brasil Medicina Diagnostica Ltda., EUROIMMUN Diagnostics Espana S.L., EUROIMMUN France SAS, EUROIMMUN Hangzhou Medical Laboratory Diagnostics Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Italia Diagnostica Medica S.r.l., EUROIMMUN Japan Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostics Canada Inc., EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostics China Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Medical Laboratory Diagnostics South Africa Pty Ltd., EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG, EUROIMMUN Polska Sp. z o.o., EUROIMMUN Portugal Unipessoal Lda., EUROIMMUN Schweiz AG, EUROIMMUN South East Asia Pte Ltd., EUROIMMUN Tianjin Medical Diagnostic Technology Co. Ltd., EUROIMMUN Turkey Tibbi Laboratuar Teshisleri A.S., EUROIMMUN UK Ltd., EUROIMMUN US Inc., EUROIMMUN US Real Estate LLC, Geospiza, Guangzhou EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostic Products Co. Ltd., Hangzhou EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostic Products Co. Ltd., Horizon Diagnostics Limited, Horizon Discovery, Horizon Discovery Biosciences Limited, Horizon Discovery Group Ltd., Horizon Discovery Inc., Horizon Discovery KK, Horizon Discovery Limited, Horizon Genomics GmbH, IDS Brasil Diagnosticos Ltda., Immunetics Inc., Immunodiagnostic Systems, Immunodiagnostic Systems Deutschland GmbH, Immunodiagnostic Systems France SAS, Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings Limited, Immunodiagnostic Systems Inc., Immunodiagnostic Systems Limited, Immunodiagnostic Systems SA, Inochem S.A. de C. V., Integromics S.L., Jiangsu Meizheng Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., LabMetrix Technologies, Labtronics, Nexcelom Bioscience, Nexcelom Bioscience Holdings LLC, Nexcelom Bioscience Instruments Shanghai Co. Ltd., Nexcelom Bioscience LLC, Nexcelom Bioscience Ltd., NovaScreen Biosciences Corporation, OZ Systems International SARL, OZ Systems USA LLC, Omni International Inc., Optimization Zorn Corporation, Opto Technology, Orchid Biomedical Systems Pvt Ltd., Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories UK Limited, Oxford Immunotec, Oxford Immunotec Asia Ltd, Oxford Immunotec Global Limited, Oxford Immunotec Ireland Limited, Oxford Immunotec KK, Oxford Immunotec Limited, Oxford Immunotec Shanghai Medical Device Co. Ltd., Oxford Immunotec USA Inc., Pediatrix Medical Group - Newborn Metabolic Screening Business, Perkin Elmer Chile Ltda., Perkin Elmer Instruments Philippines Corporation, Perkin Elmer Italia SpA, Perkin Elmer Sdn. Bhd., Perkin Elmer Yuhan Hoesa, Perkin-Elmer Argentina S.R.L., Perkin-Elmer de Mexico S.A., PerkinElmer Argentina Holdings LLC, PerkinElmer Automotive Research Inc., PerkinElmer BV, PerkinElmer CV Holdings LLC, PerkinElmer Cellular Technologies Germany GmbH, PerkinElmer Danmark A/S, PerkinElmer Diagnostics Global Holdings S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Diagnostics Holdings Inc., PerkinElmer Espana S.L., PerkinElmer Finance Luxembourg S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Finland Oy, PerkinElmer Genetics Inc., PerkinElmer Genomics Sweden AB, PerkinElmer Germany Diagnostics GmbH, PerkinElmer Global Diagnostics S.C.A., PerkinElmer Global Financing S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Global Holdings S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Health Sciences B.V., PerkinElmer Health Sciences Canada Inc., PerkinElmer Health Sciences FZ-LLC, PerkinElmer Health Sciences Inc., PerkinElmer Health Sciences Puerto Rico LLC, PerkinElmer Health Sciences Pvt Ltd., PerkinElmer Healthcare Diagnostics Shanghai Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Holding Luxembourg S.a r.l., PerkinElmer Holdings Inc., PerkinElmer Holdings Singapore Pte Ltd., PerkinElmer Hong Kong Ltd., PerkinElmer IVD Pte Ltd., PerkinElmer Inc., PerkinElmer India Pvt Ltd., PerkinElmer Informatics Inc., PerkinElmer Instruments Suzhou Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer International C.V., PerkinElmer Investments Ky, PerkinElmer Ireland Ltd., PerkinElmer Israel Ltd., PerkinElmer Japan Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer LAS Germany GmbH, PerkinElmer LAS UK Ltd., PerkinElmer Life Sciences International Holdings, PerkinElmer Life Sciences Singapore Pte. Ltd., PerkinElmer Limited, PerkinElmer Ltd., PerkinElmer Management Chengdu Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Management Shanghai Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Nederland B.V. , PerkinElmer Norge AS, PerkinElmer Oy, PerkinElmer Polska Sp. z o.o., PerkinElmer Pty. Ltd., PerkinElmer SAS, PerkinElmer Saglk ve Cevre Bilimleri Ltd., PerkinElmer Schweiz AG, PerkinElmer Shanghai Equity Investment Fund L.P., PerkinElmer Shanghai Equity Investment Fund Management Co. Ltd., PerkinElmer Shared Services Sp. z o.o., PerkinElmer Singapore Pte Ltd., PerkinElmer South Africa Pty Ltd., PerkinElmer Sverige AB, PerkinElmer Taiwan Corporation, PerkinElmer UK Holdings Ltd., PerkinElmer VertriebsgmbH, PerkinElmer chemagen Technologie GmbH, PerkinElmer do Brasil Ltda., Perten Instruments, Perten Instruments AB, Perten Instruments GmbH, Perten Instruments of Australia Pty Ltd., Qognit Inc., RHS Ltd, RayAl Ltd., SIRION Biotech, SIRION Biotech GmbH, SIRION Biotech International Inc., Sage Labs LLC, Shandong Meizheng Bio-Tech Co. Ltd., Shanghai Haoyuan Biotech Co. Ltd., Shanghai Spectrum Instruments Co. Ltd., Shanghai Spectrum Instruments Co. Ltd., Signature Genomic Laboratories, Singapore Biosciences Pte Ltd., Solus Scientific Solutions Ltd., SonoVol Inc., Suomen Bioanalytiikka Oy, Surendra Genetic Labs, Suzhou PerkinElmer Medical Laboratory Co. Ltd., Suzhou Sym-Bio LifeScience, Suzhou Sym-Bio Lifescience Co. Ltd., Synthetx Limited, Tulip Diagnostics, Tulip Diagnostics Pvt Ltd., Vanadis Diagnostics, Vanadis Diagnostics AB, ViaCell, ViaCord LLC, VisEn Medical, VisEn Medical Inc., Wallac Oy, Wellesley B.V., Xenogen Corporation, ZeLab SAS, and chemagen Biopolymer-Technologie AG.

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The following companies are subsidiares of PPG Industries: AIPCF V Texstars Blocker Inc., AkzoNobel, Alpha Coating Technologies LLC, Alpha Coatings Inc., Broad Range Development Limited, CG Holdings Manufacturing Co., Centro de Investigacion en Polimeros S.A. de C.V., Chemfil Canada Limited, Chorlton Trade Paints Limited, Comercial Mexicana de Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Comex, Comex Industrial Coatings S.A. de C.V., Consorcio Comex S.A. de C.V., Cristacol S.A., Cuming Microwave Corporation, Deutek SA, Dexmet Corporation, Dexmet Holding Corporation, Distribuidora Kroma S.A. de C.V., EPIC Insurance Co. Ltd., Eberle Design Inc., Empresa Aga S.A. de C.V., Ennis Canadian Holding Company, Ennis Paint Canada ULC, Ennis Paint Netherlands Holdings LLC, Ennis Paint U.K. Holding Company Limited, Ennis Traffic Safety Solutions Pty Ltd, Ennis-Flint, Ennis-Flint Inc., Foshan Bairun Chemicals Co. Ltd., Fpu Industrial S.A. de C.V., Grupo Comex S.A. de C.V., Hemmelrath Automotive Coatings (Jilin) Co. Ltd., Hemmelrath International Trade (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hodij Coatings B.V., Homax Products, Industria Chimica Reggiana I.C.R. SPA, Johnstones Paints Limited, Kalon Investment Company Limited, Kalon South Africa Proprietary Limited, Karl Woerwag Lack-und Farbenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Masterwork Paint, MetoKote Corporation, MetoKote Mexico Holdings Inc., MetoKote UK Limited, MetoKote de Mexico S. de RL de CV, Milamar Coatings LLC, OOO Tikkurila, PPG A P Resinas S.A. de C.V., PPG AC - France SA, PPG ALESCO Automotive Finishes Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PPG Aerospace Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Architectural Coatings (Puerto Rico) Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc./PPG Revetements Architecturaux Canada Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Ireland Limited, PPG Architectural Coatings Italy S.r.l, PPG Architectural Coatings UK Limited, PPG Architectural Finishes Inc., PPG Asian Paints Private Ltd., PPG Business Services S.A. de C.V., PPG COATINGS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., PPG Canada Inc., PPG Cetelon Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Cieszyn S.A., PPG Coatings (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, PPG Coatings (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., PPG Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Thailand) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Wuhu) Company Ltd., PPG Coatings (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings B.V., PPG Coatings Belgium BV, PPG Coatings Danmark A/S, PPG Coatings Deutschland GmbH, PPG Coatings Europe B.V., PPG Coatings Nederland BV, PPG Coatings S.A., PPG Coatings South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PPG DYRUP S.A., PPG Deco Czech a.s., PPG Deco Polska sp. z.o.o., PPG Deco Slovakia s.r.o., PPG Deutschland Business Support GmbH, PPG Deutschland Sales & Services GmbH, PPG Distribution S.A.S., PPG Europe B.V., PPG Finance B.V., PPG Finland Oy, PPG France Business Support S.A.S., PPG France Manufacturing S.A.S., PPG Guadeloupe SAS, PPG Hemmelrath Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Holdco SAS, PPG Holdings (U.K.) Limited, PPG Holdings Argentina USA LLC, PPG Holdings Latin America USA LLC, PPG Iberica S.A., PPG Iberica Sales & Services S.L., PPG Industrial Coatings B.V., PPG Industrial do Brasil - Tintas E. Vernizes - Ltda., PPG Industries (Korea) Ltd., PPG Industries (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Industries (UK) Ltd, PPG Industries Argentina S.R.L., PPG Industries Australia PTY Limited A.C.N. 055 500 939, PPG Industries Colombia Ltda., PPG Industries Delfzijl B.V., PPG Industries Europe Sarl, PPG Industries France S.A.S., PPG Industries International Inc., PPG Industries Italia S.r.l., PPG Industries Kimya a Sanayi VE Ticaret AS, PPG Industries LLC, PPG Industries Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Industries Lipetsk LLC, PPG Industries Middle East FZE, PPG Industries Netherlands B.V., PPG Industries New Zealand Limited, PPG Industries Ohio Inc., PPG Industries Poland Sp. Z.o.o., PPG Industries Securities LLC, PPG Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Investment (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Italia Business Support S.r.l., PPG Italia Sales & Services S.r.l., PPG Japan Ltd., PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes Canada LP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.K. LLP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.S. LLC, PPG Luxembourg Finance S.aR.L., PPG Luxembourg Holdings S.aR.L., PPG Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Packaging Coatings (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Performance Coatings (Hong Kong) Limited, PPG Powder Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Refinish Distribution Limited, PPG Romania S.A., PPG Reunion SAS, PPG SSC Co. Ltd., PPG Switzerland GmbH, PPG Trilak Korlatolt FelelosseguTarasasag (PPG Trilak Kft.), PPG Vietnam Co. Ltd., PRC-DeSoto Australia Pty Ltd., PRC-DeSoto International Inc., PT. PPG Coatings Indonesia, Painter's Supply, Paintzen, Peintures de Paris SAS, Plasticos Envolventes S.A. de C.V., Polymeric Systems Inc., ProCoatings B.V., ProCoatings BV, Protec Pty Ltd, Reno A&E LLC, Revocoat France SAS, Revocoat Holding SAS, Revocoat Iberica SLU, Revocoat S.A.S, Road Infrastructure Investment Holdings Inc., SEM Products Inc., Sealants Europe SAS, Sierracin Corporation, Sierracin/Sylmar Corporation, Sigma Marine & Protective Coatings Holding B.V., SigmaKalon (BC) UK Limited, SigmaKalon Group, Sikar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Spraylat International Ltd, Texstars LLC, The Crown Group Co., The Crown Group Inc, The Homax Group, Tikkurila Group, Tikkurila Oyj, Tikkurila Sverige AB, Traffic Safety Intermediate LLC, Traffic Safety Parent LLC, VF Specialty Products LLC, Vanex Inc., Vernisol S.p.A., VersaFlex Acquisition Corp., VersaFlex Inc., VersaFlex Intermediate Holdings LLC, Versaflex, Viasa S.A. de C.V., Whitford, Whitford B.V., Whitford Corporation, Whitford Jiangmen Ltd., Whitford Ltd. (HK), Whitford Ltd. (UK), Whitford Pte. Ltd., Whitford S.r.l., Whitford Worldwide Company LLC, and Worwag Coatings.

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Gains in energy futures boosted the commodities complex as Turkey said it could sever Kurdish exports passing through its territory on their way to the port of Ceyhan in protest over the region's referendum which began on Monday.

Both Turkey and Iraq were opposed to the possible secession of the Kurdistan region of Iraq from the remainder of that country, with the former concerned that it might ignite a quest for independence among its own Kurdish population.

In the wake of the above, traders brushed off news that the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries had decided on 22 September not to extend - for the time being - a previous output cut deal beyond March 2018.

Against that backdrop, front month Brent crude futures jumped 3.80% to reach $59.02 a barrel on the ICE, alongside a similar advance for West Texas Intermediate.

October 2017 RBOB gasoline futures also climbed, rising 3.33% to hit $1.7240 a gallon.

Natural gas futures were the exception in the energy patch, erasing 1.18% to trade lower at $2.92/MMBtu.

The claim from some OPEC officials, also on Monday, that the cartel and some non-OPEC producers had implemented over 100% of the agreed supply curbs in August was another factor behind the higher crude quotes, according to analysts.



In parallel, the intensifying frictions between Pyongyang and Washington and its allies boosted the price of gold by 1.11% to $1,311.90/oz. on COMEX even in the face of a small extension of the US dollar's recent rebound.

By 2031 BST, the US dollar spot index was 0.46% higher to 92.597.

Outside of tin and zinc, all the main base metals were lower by the end of the session on the LME, although trading conditions were described by some traders as thin.

Three-month copper on the LME finished at $6,450 a metric tonne, down from a Friday close of $6,486.

Soft commodities were mixed, with the December 2017 wheat contract on CBoT up 1.0% at $4.54 a bushel, even as CME-traded live cattle futures slipped 2.55% to $1.1443 a pound.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has hit out at Uber for making aggressive threats to sue Transport for London after it denied the ride-hailing firm a licence renewal last week.

The US tech firm has expressed outraged after the decision last Friday which banned it from operating in the UK capital, amid concerns over public safety and security.

Khan, who is also chairman of the transport authority, said Uber had used an army of lawyers to pressurise TfL.

"What you can't do is have a situation where unfair pressure is brought on a quasi-judicial body, where there are officials working incredibly hard, Khan said.

"I appreciate Uber has an army of PR experts, I appreciate Uber has an army of lawyers - they've also made aggressive threats about taking us to court."

Uber said on Sunday it would appeal the decision to remove its licence, and defended its operations in London.

Uber drivers in London pass the same DBS background checks as other private hire services  see their name, photo & TfL license number in-app, the company said.

But in August, the Metropolitan polices taxi and private hire team suggested Uber, which is backed by powerful investors such as Goldman Sachs and BlackRock, was putting concerns for its reputation over public safety as it was either not disclosing, or taking too long to report, serious crimes including sexual assaults.

However, after TfL's said Uber was being denied a licence extension due to its "lack of corporate responsibility representative" a representative for the company said on Monday that the company was still trying to work out what it had done wrong.

"Its just not clear for us what their concerns might be," head of cities Fred Jones told the BBC.

A petition set up on Change.org has garnered almost three-quarters of a million signatures, as it asks for Khan to reverse the decision made by TfL.

Last October, a London employment tribunal ruled against the ride-sharing company in a landmark case which will see the firm's drivers classed as full-time workers rather than self-employed, though in April this year it was granted the right to appeal the decision but agreed to grant drivers sick pay and injury cover as part of a security scheme costing 2 a week.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called early elections, citing the need for a new mandate in order to deal with the crisis on the Korean peninsula and for constitutional reform to strengthen the country's military.

After Abe said he would dissolve the lower house of parliament, local media reported the election would be held on 22 October.

The Prime Minister also said he was seeking a mandate to funnel the revenues from the sales tax increase scheduled for October 2019 into increased spending on social security and education, instead of debt reduction.

As recently as July, voter support for one of the country's longest serving leaders fell just below 30%, amid allegations of cronyism and of a botched cover-up by the defence minister of documents which might have swayed a debate on Japan's role in peacekeeping operations in South Sudan.

However, at the weekend a poll from Nikkei showed Abe had the backing of 44% of voters, with other recent polls handing him over 50%, on the back of recent rising tensions with North Korea.

Abe had responded with a hardline stance against provocations by Pyongyang, which had fired two ballistic missiles over northern Japan in just one month, calling for changes to Japan's Constitution in order to strengthen the country's military.

Nevertheless, roughly a fifth of those canvassed by Nikkei answered that they had yet to make up their minds, meaning it was unclear whether Abe would be able to muster the two-thirds parliamentary majority he needed in order to pass a Constitutional reform.

Another poll, from Kyodo News, put the percentage of undecided voters at 42.2%, which for some observers meant that bringing elections forwards by a year was not without risks for Abe.

Some analysts, like those at consultancy Capital Economics had in fact been hoping the tax hike would be postponed.

In parallel to the announcement of the dissolution of the lower house of parliament on 28 September, Abe unveiled Tokyo's supplementary budget for the current fiscal year, as was standard practice.

According to Capital Economics, that second budget would be the smallest since 2007 and in fact implied a "modest" fiscal tightening.

The consultancy also cautioned that the drive for constitutional reform risked dampening efforts for economic reform.

"None of this is new and it won't change the medium-term outlook for Japan's economy. The last update of the government's reform strategy, published in June, was distinctly uninspiring and contained few tangible reform steps.

"And if Mr Abe wins a two-thirds majority, he may squander precious time changing the pacifist constitution rather than on economic reforms. The upshot is that another four years of Abenomics would not be something for investors to cheer."
US President Donald Trump has extended his travel restrictions to the country to include North Korea , Venezuela and Chad .

Trumps travel ban sparked chaos at airports across the US earlier this year after mass confusion over whether travellers from the likes of Iraq and Syria would be allowed to board flights or not.

The controversial ban was first introduced by executive order and included Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Iraq and Iran.

Several courts had rejected different versions of the ban with judges saying that while Trump has discretion to set immigration policy, it was still subject to assessment in accordance with the US constitution.

Trump said in a statement the countries added to the ban 'remain deficient at this time with respect to their identity-management and information-sharing capabilities, protocols, and practices.'

During his maiden address in front of the UN General Assembly last week, Trump reserved special criticism for Kim Jong-uns regime and that of Nicolas Maduro.

"As President, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," he added.

The new proclamation will come into force on 18 October, with the countries being subject to varying degrees of restrictions.

Only several government officials and family members from Venezuela will be banned from entering the US, while citizens of Syria and North Korea face a total ban.
European stocks finished on a mixed note following a weak showing for Germany's two mainstream political parties in elections held at the weekend, amid some concerns regarding the potential implications of the upcoming referendum in Catalonia, with the latter apparently weighing on share prices in the periphery.

Fiery rhetoric out of Pyongang added to the downbeat sentiment, while boosting demand for safe havens such as gold.

Commenting on the result of the German elections, Holger Schmieding at Berenberg said coalition talks between Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU would be "difficult" after her party lost over eight percentage points of the ballots in comparison to 2013.

Although most of those votes went to the Freedom Party, the CDU/CSU also did quite poorly versus the right-wing Alternative for Deutschland in Bavaria.

Against that backdrop, at the closing bell the German Dax was edging up by 0.02% or 2.46 points at 12,594.81, but alongside a dip of 0.39% or 20.62 points to 5,270.26 for the French Cac-40.

Spain's Ibex 35 fared even worse, losing 0.86% to 10,216.50 amid reports that Spain's Basque nationalist party might withdraw its support for the central government in its attempts to gain parliamentary approval for the country's 2018 budget due to events in Catalonia.

In parallel, country risk in Spain and Italy, as measured by the spread between their 10-year government bond yields and those on similarly-dated German debt increased.

Meanwhile, euro/dollar was down by 0.92% to 1.1838 and at its session lows, due in part to events in Germany and Spain, but also because of dovish remarks from European Central Bank boss Mario Draghi.

According to Kathleen Brooks, Research Director at City Index, the German vote showed that populism was alive and well in Europe, although she expected the resulting weakness in the euro - possibly down to 1.1650 against the US dollar - to be "relatively muted".

Spain on the other hand was now the "bigger risk", she said, in so far as the illegal referendum planned for 1 October increases the risk that the region might secede.

"Thus, if the Catalonia referendum goes ahead we expect this to be a disruptive event for the euro, with the potential for a sharp decline of up to 5% initially in the single currency if the separatists win," Brooks said.

As for Draghi, in remarks prepared for a speech to the European Parliament's economic committee he said downside risks continued to exist, mainly relating to global factors and developments in foreign exchange markets.

In reaction, traders were quick to mark down the single currency's value.

Economic data also disappointed at the start of the week, with the IFO institute reporting that its widely-followed business confidence gauge for Germany fell from a reading of 115.9 for October to 115.2 in September (consensus: 116.0).

On the corporate front, France's Alstom and German rival Siemens were reportedly studying a combination of their rail activities.

In notable changes to broker recommendations, analysts at Berenberg upgraded Wacker Chemie from 'hold' to 'buy' and raised their target for the stock from 112 to 135.

For its part, in a research note entitled "Why Airbus is materially mispriced", Barclays hiked its target on shares of Airbus from 86 to 110.

Hellman & Friedman announced its intention to buy Nets A/S for $5.3bn (3.93bn).
European stocks were trading on a mixed note following a weak showing for Germany's two mainstream political parties in elections held at the weekend, amid news of possible delays in the approval of the Spanish government's 2018 Budget Law, which sent the single currency scurrying lower.

Commenting on the result of the German elections, Holger Schmieding at Berenberg said coalition talks between Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU would be "difficult" after her party lost over eight percentage points of the ballots in comparison to 2013.

Although most of those votes went to the Freedom Party, the CDU/CSU also did quite poorly versus the right-wing Alternative for Deutschland in Bavaria.

Against that backdrop, as of 1204 BST, the German Dax was up by 0.23% or 29.10 points at 12,622.57, but alongside a dip of 0.17% or 8.90 points to 5,272.39 for the French Cac-40.

Spain's Ibex 35 on the other hand was lower by a heftier 0.86% to 10,228.50 amid reports that Spain's Basque nationalist party might withdraw its support for the central government in its attempts to gain parliamentary approval for the country's 2018 budget due to events in Catalonia.

Meanwhile, euro/dollar was down by 0.62% to 1.1878.

According to Kathleen Brooks, Research Director at City Index, the German vote showed that populism was alive and well in Europe, although she expected the resulting weakness in the euro - possibly down to 1.1650 - to be "relatively muted".

Spain on the other hand was now the "bigger risk" in so far as the illegal referendum planned for 1 October increases the risk that the country might secede, she said.

"Thus, if the Catalonia referendum goes ahead we expect this to be a disruptive event for the euro, with the potential for a sharp decline of up to 5% initially in the single currency if the separatists win," Brooks said.

Economic data also disappointed at the start of the week, with the IFO institute reporting that its widely-followed business confidence gauge for Germany fell from a reading of 115.9 for October to 115.2 in September (consensus: 116.0).

Still on the economic calendar for later in the session, European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi was scheduled to speak before the European parliament at 1500 BST.

Stateside, the market spotlight on Monday was to be on Fedspeak, with New York Fed chief William Dudley set to take to the podium at 1330 BST, followed by his opposite number at the Chicago Fed at 1740 BST and Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari just before midnight.

On the corporate front, France's Alstom and German rival Siemens were reportedly studying a combination of their rail activities.

In notable changes to broker recomemdations, analysts at Berenberg upgraded Wacker Chemie from 'hold' to 'buy' and raised their target for the stock from 112 to 135.

For its part, in a research note entitled "Why Airbus is materially mispriced", Barclays hiked its target on shares of Airbus from 86 to 110.

Hellman & Friedman announced its intention to buy Nets A/S for $5.3bn (3.93bn).
NMC Health , the United Arab Emirates hospital operator, has won regulatory approval from authorities in Saudi Arabia to open a freshly built medical centre in the kingdom, where it has also agreed acquire two hospitals for a total of $40m.

FTSE 100-listed NMC, which believes the chronic care specialist medical centre in Jeddah will be one of the first greenfield medical facilities in the kingdom to be established by a non-local company, said the new developments will boost operating profits from 2018 onwards.

Both acquisitions, as well as a second greenfield project in western Saudi, will be funded through a combination of cash on the balance sheet and use of available debt facilities.

Chief executive Prasanth Manghat said: "As one of the first foreign entrants into the KSA healthcare sector, we have learned a great deal over the past year and intend to use this knowledge to better navigate the Saudi regulatory landscape moving forward.

"With a total licensed capacity now at about 700 beds, we see the Kingdom as an important part of NMC's growth strategy and will continue to identify areas in which we can fill gaps in the country's healthcare offerings."

The Jeddah chronic care hospital will eventually have 220 beds but will open its doors on 26 September with 50 beds, which are all committed to patients currently residing in short-term acute care hospitals in the area, with the centre projected to be at full capacity by the first half of 2019.

On top of this, NMC has agreed to acquire a 60% stake in a 100-bed tertiary care hospital in the southern KSA city of Najran that opened in late 2016, with the acquisition expected to close later this year and with adjacent land eyed for future growth.

NMC has also agreed to acquire 100% of a 60-bed multi-specialty hospital in the northwestern KSA city of Ha'il that opened in 1991 and has plans underway to expand on its existing land to increase capacity to more than 100 beds.

Furthermore, the company plans another greenfield project to build a 170-bed multi-specialty hospital in Al Khobar in the Western Province of KSA that would be expected to welcome patients in the first half of 2019.
Ultra Electronics said on Monday that its Staffordshire-based PMES business has won a 37m contract with BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines in relation to a UK naval defence programme.

The contract is for the final development and production of a hybrid electric propulsion system and Ultra will provide the remaining non-recurring engineering and qualification of the system, as well as an initial provision of equipment for the programme.

Chief executive Rakesh Sharma said: "We are pleased by this contract as it showcases our specialist technology which has received company funded R&D for many years and reinforces our position as a leading provider of submarine propulsion technology. We are also pleased to be further developing our relationship with BAE Systems."

The company also said in a separate statement that it and Sparton Corp have received a request for additional information from the US Department of Justice regarding Ultra's pending acquisition of Sparton.

"Ultra and Sparton have been cooperating fully with the DoJ as it conducts its review of the transaction and will continue to do so in connection with the second requests," it said.

The deal, which is expected to complete by 1 January 2018, remains subject to approval by Sparton's shareholders and other approvals, as well as other customary closing conditions. Ultra announced back in July that it had agreed to buy New York-listed -based Sparton - which provides design, development and manufacturing services for complex electromechanical devices - for $23.50 a share in cash, valuing the company's total equity at around $234.8m.

At 1245 BST, the shares were down 0.5% to 1,761.66p.
HAI DUONG  Protesters in Vietnams Hai Duong province have vowed to continue blocking the entrance to a textile factory that has apparently polluted local water supplies. The company has been told by local authorities to cease operations and relocate. Hong Kong textile firm Pacific Crystal own the factory in question, which has been claimed to have discharged black smoke into the atmosphere and caused water pollution.
Puerto Ricos humanitarian crisis continued to grow over the weekend, as officials described apocalyptic conditions across the island in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Many of the 3.4 million American citizens living on the island are without power and disconnected from communications, and officials estimate some areas wont see power restored for months.

Isolated towns and low-income communities are facing increasing shortages of supplies and fuel. Officials estimate the storm also destroyed around 80 percent of the islands crop value, while a dam compromised by heavy rain is causing worries about flooding and accessibility of drinking water.

The devastation in Puerto Rico has set us back nearly 20 to 30 years, Jenniffer Gonzalez, the islands nonvoting representative in Congress, told the AP.

I have four children and the youngest is 6 months old. We are preparing for six months, maybe even a year without power, Nina Rodriguez, a human resources manager in San Juan, told the New York Times.

All the infrastructure has collapsed. Everything we had before the hurricane is beyond reach, she added.

For a deeper dive:

Conditions: CNN, AP, Washington Post, Bloomberg, New York Times. Communications & power: NPR, Vox, NBC. Agriculture: New York Times. Dam: New York Times, Reuters, NBC, USA Today, CNN. Commentary: New York Times editorial

For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News.
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
United Nations: Pakistan on Sunday said that if the international community does not want to create an alarming situation with India, then it should call New Delhi to stop its provocative and aggressive caravans. Pakistans ambassador to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, termed India as the mother of terrorism in South Asia, alleging that New Delhi is sponsoring terrorism in many parts of Pakistan. Replying to the address by the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during the session of the United Nations General Assembly, Maleeha Lodhi alleged, In his sarcastic remarks, Sushma has ignored the main issue of Kashmir.

Sushma had targeted Pakistan to create terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Haqqani network. The External Affairs Minister did not mention Kashmir. Maleeha Lodhi said, If the international community wants to avoid a dangerous stalemate between India and Pakistan, then it should make India aware that it will stop provocating and aggressive actions. He should stop the ceasefire violation on the Line of Control. It should stop sponsoring terror groups against Pakistan. Generally, the response to the address in the General Assembly is given by the lower level officials of Foreign Service, but it is very important that the top diplomat of Pakistan responded against India.

India has not responded yet

India has not used the right to answer at this time. Pakistan, for the second time, alleged that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was interfering in Balochistan. Maleeha Lodhi said that if the concerned parties fail to resolve the dispute, then the United Nations and the international community have not only its right, but it is their commitment that they interfere and help in resolving the dispute. He said, the time for the UN Security Council resolutions does not end. There is no deadline to end the law. There is no end date for ethics sold. India cannot run away from its legal and ethical responsibility to comply with the recommendations of the Security Council. 

Pakistan also attacked Ajit Doval

Referring to Sushmas remarks on terrorism and emphasizing the need to define it, Miliha said that the United Nations should define terrorism. He alleged, In the definition of terrorism, we should also include government-sponsored terrorism. The Indian National Security Advisor, who invites the government-sponsored terrorism, is sponsoring Indias intelligence agencies in Balochistan province of Pakistan and it calls it a double pressure strategy. He said that the largest democracy is the worlds largest hypocrisy and It is administered by fascist ideology. Maleeha Lodhi alleged that Sushma criticized Pakistans Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in his address.

Something like this on Kashmir and Jinnah

He said that Pakistan is ready to discuss the issues of restoring overall dialogue with India and steps to maintain peace and security especially to resolve all issues of India, particularly Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani ambassador said, But the talks should be done with Indias end to the campaign of destructive activities and the elimination of government-sponsored terrorism. Foreign policy on the foundation of peace and friendship from Pakistans founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah On the claim of Shahid Khakon Abbasi to go, Sushma said that she does not know what Jinnah had advocated for the principles, but The straw can surely say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his hand to peace and friendship after assuming office. He said, The Prime Minister of Pakistan should answer that why your country has rejected this proposal.

Sushma had reminded Abbasi that when he reached Islamabad for the Heart of Asia Conference on December 9, 2015, then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had decided that India and Pakistan should restore the dialogue and give it the overall bilateral talks.
Developments in international policy, new standards and the promise of future demand from the aviation industry are pushing the voluntary carbon market forward, the top firms in Environmental Finance's 2017 rankings say

"I think the market is taking off, I think we're at an inflection point."

Kathy Benini, IHS Markit

A 31% decrease in the amount being spent on offsets in the voluntary carbon market has not harmed sentiment among leading industry figures, Environmental Finance's 2017 survey has found.

The amount spent fell in 2016 to $191.3 million, which offset 63.4 millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO 2 e), compared with $278 million to recover 84 MtCO 2 e in 2015, according to Ecosystem Marketplace.

Ecosystem Marketplace, an initiative run by US not-for-profit Forest Trends, said in its State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2017 report that oversupply led to many sellers being unable to find buyers for their offset credits.

The rise of compliance markets, such as the California cap-and-trade programme which began in 2013, were identified by the report's authors as another factor behind the decline in offset purchases.

However, Environmental Finance's 2017 survey, which polled the market as to who are the most highly regarded players across 16 categories, found market sentiment to be generally positive, with winners agreeing the future for carbon offsets is bright.

Category Winner Runner-up Best Trading Company South Pole Group First Climate Best Advisory/Consultancy Natural Capital Partners EcoAct Best Law Firm Baker McKenzie Norton Rose Fulbright Best Verification Company EPIC Sustainability SCS Best Wholesaler First Climate South Pole Group Best Broker Numerco Evolution Markets Best Project Developer, Renewable Energy South Pole Group EcoAct Best Project Developer, Energy Efficiency EcoAct South Pole Group Best Project Developer, Forestry and Land-Use South Pole Group Clean Air Action / Terra Global Capital Best Project Developer, Public Health Climate Care South Pole Group Best Project Developer, Overall South Pole Group Clean Air Action Best Offset Retailer South Pole Group / Natural Capital Partners Climate Care Best Registry Provider IHS Markit APX Best Voluntary Standard Gold Standard VCS Best Offsetting Project Wildlife Works  Kasigau Corridor Project Livelihoods Fund/ Climate Pal - Hifadhi cookstoves project Best Corporate Offsetting Programme Qantas  Future Planet scheme La Poste

Project developer South Pole Group, the winner of five of this year's awards, said it was excited to see new industries such as the IT sector, and corporate clients based in new geographies, seeing offsetting as a crucial part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy.

South Pole was voted Best Project Developer Overall, Best Project Developer in Forestry and Land-Use, Best Project Developer in Renewable Energy, Best Trading Company, and was joint winner of the Best Offset Retailer category, alongside Natural Capital Partners.

Nadia Kahkonen, head of communications at the company, says that over the past 12 months there has been growing demand for community-based projects such as cookstoves and water filters, as well as forestry projects.

K. Sudheendra, director at Epic Sustainability, which won Best Verification Company, predicts demand for offsets will increase in the coming years, and says that the market is "generally performing well".

Edward Hanrahan, director at Climate Care, which claimed the title of Best Project Developer in Public Health, says the outlook for the market is healthy partly because buyers are becoming more sophisticated, and are increasingly looking to what he calls "blended financing".

Climate Care has seen this part of its business grow between 10% and 15% in the past year as a result, he adds.

"Buyers are increasingly integrating pure carbon-related and environment-related activities into general sustainability. Projects that would previously have been seen as carbon projects, which deliver verified carbon credits, have become climate and development projects," Hanrahan says.

"The buyers are also making more of the opportunity to pre-invest in projects, rather than just saying they're going to buy carbon outcomes, or carbon credits, merging CSR or the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and carbon budgets, and they're much more interested in the underlying projects," he adds.

"CORSIA will definitely be a very important source of demand for carbon credits."

Marion Verles, Gold Standard

Hanrahan says that, overall, there has been more investment into projects but the financing is taking a different form, and the carbon credit instrument on its own is being utilised less. This may help explain the 31% decrease in the amount being spent on offsets quoted in the Ecosystem Marketplace report, he argues.

Similarly, as the voluntary carbon offset market matures, distributive projects such as those that distribute cookstoves continue to expand. The number of projects may not have grown hugely in 2016, but the number of offsets within these projects has, according to Hanrahan.

IHS Markit, which was awarded Best Registry Provider for the eighth straight year, has seen a 61% increase in issuance of credits from Verified Carbon Standard in the first six months of this year compared to the same time last year.

Kathy Benini, managing director at the company, says: "I think the market is taking off, I think we're at an inflection point.

"We're consistently going to see increased demand for corporate offsetting because of the number of companies committing to achieve SDGs along with carbon neutrality. It's a really strong movement which will shift us toward a much more robust market."

Among the reasons for positivity cited by many of the winners were advances in international policy that have, in many cases, been sparked by the Paris Agreement.

Climate Care's Hanrahan says that as the Agreement's framework undergoes adjustment by the UN FrameworkConvention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), he expects a framework where climate change "comes back onto the agenda" for companies.

"Since about 2008, it hasn't been the primary risk issue on the agenda of business: climate change is seen as an annoying longer-term issue. There are some corporates taking it very seriously but it hasn't been a number one risk management issue for a number of the corporates. It should at least be in the top three," he says.

However, Gerald Maradan, chief executive of France-based EcoAct, which was voted Best Project Developer in Energy Efficiency, is sober in his predictions as to what extent the Paris Agreement will be a driver of growth in the market.

"More and more companies have pledged to be carbon neutral by 2020 so we know there will be an increase in demand up to 2020. But there will be no big boom, it will be moderate," he argues.

Maradan hopes the "general framework" that exists in the Agreement today will be clarified to better define the tools and instruments surrounding offsets and to promote climate finance, as part of changes to the Paris Agreement rulebook that are scheduled for adoption by 2018.

Accurate counting of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the national targets which, as part of the Paris Agreement, set out the extent of a country's carbon emissions reductions, was cited by Ecosystem Marketplace as the biggest risk to voluntary offsetting post 2020.

"More and more companies have pledged to be carbon neutral by 2020 so we know there will be an increase in demand up to 2020."

Gerald Maradan, EcoAct

This is because a country could in theory count all carbon savings towards its domestic emissions reduction commitment, which as a result would prevent the sale of offset credits to overseas buyers in the voluntary carbon market as this would result in them being counted as offsets by the foreign buyer's country.

Martijn Wilder, partner at Baker McKenzie, the winner of Best Law Firm for the eighth year in a row, says this process, known as 'double-counting' is "something that's out on the horizon as a point of uncertainty" for the future of the voluntary carbon offset market.

Gareth Turner, co-founder and director of Best Broker winner, Numerco, agrees the Paris Agreement creates some uncertainty for the voluntary market. "Until 2020, or until the rules are made clear, many people are in a holding pattern," he says.

"Nonetheless, there are lots of positive signs from some of the proactive elements that have signed up to the Agreement - we now hope some of the less willing countries come to the table, too."

Within the policy space, Wilder also sees the recommendations made in June by the Financial Stability Board's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) increasing demand from companies for carbon offsets.

"As it becomes more transparent what companies are doing on carbon, what tends to happen is there is a big increase in shareholder activism and pressure placed on those companies.

"The companies then start to develop a climate change strategy, which quite often includes offsets," Wilder says.

The Ecosystem Marketplace report highlighted aviation as a promising emerging market for voluntary carbon offsets, as the International Civil Aviation Organization looks to create its own scheme, known as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

Under CORSIA, aircraft operators will be required to purchase offsets, or "emission units", for the growth in CO 2 emissions covered by the scheme.

From 2021 until 2026 the scheme will apply only to international flights between states that volunteer to participate. From 2027, participation will be mandatory for states meeting certain criteria related to their level of aviation activities.

Marion Verles, chief executive of Gold Standard, which claimed the crown for Best Voluntary Standard, says CORSIA "will definitely be a very important source of demand for carbon credits".

"However, there is a risk that the level of ambition is not going to be sufficient. There is enough supply of good quality projects so there's no need to look at lower quality projects to ensure demand is met. It's a view that's shared by many of the key civil society stakeholders involved in shaping CORSIA," she says.

"We will be keeping a very close eye on the eligibility criteria. We hope to see very stringent criteria for environmental integrity, paired with sustainability development considerations."

Qantas took the title of Best Corporate Offsetting Programme for its Future Planet voluntary offsetting scheme, which allows the airline's customers to opt in to support projects that counter the greenhouse gas emissions from their flights. Since 2007 the scheme has offset more than 2.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

The Paris Agreement was a "turning point" and a "landmark moment" for forestry carbon offset projects.

Mike Korchinsky, Wildlife Works

"Qantas has been deeply involved in the development of CORSIA since its inception, as a representative of the International Air Transport Association and [in discussions with] the Australian Government in the negotiation of its design," a Qantas spokeswoman told Environmental Finance.

The airline says significant growth potential exists in carbon offsets, within and outside the aviation industry. It already partners with businesses including General Electric and Tesla to share its knowledge and experience of carbon offsetting, it adds.

While CORSIA will eventually become mandatory, it could include offsets from sector-specific carbon credits such as Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).

IHS Markit's Benini says REDD+ is likely to be included as an acceptable offset in CORSIA, and will in turn increase demand that is already strong, she says.

In the past year, 78% of the registry provider's issuances were from REDD+ projects, while 19% were from renewable or non-renewable energy.

Sascha Lafeld, founder of First Climate, voted Best Wholesaler, and chief executive of First Climate Markets, says his position in negotiations and workshops to help develop CORSIA gives him a good view of its development, but there are major details that remain unresolved.

"CORSIA is still in the making. We're well informed about discussions, but even we are still uncertain what project types will be eligible. There should be greater clarity from 2019 onwards.

"It is hoped that REDD+ projects will be included, which makes sense because the market needs a lot of volume from big projects," he says.

Lafeld agrees with Benini's assertion that REDD+ projects are representing an increasingly large share of the market. "Since the price for Gold Standard-accredited projects has decreased we have seen much bigger uptake from these project types.

"They were previously marginalised because they were far too expensive. Buyers purchased only in small levels - but that has changed."

REDD+ projects, including the winner of 2017's Best Offsetting Project, the Kasigau Corridor forestry project in Kenya (see box) developed by Wildlife Works, accounted for the most offsets on both the primary and secondary markets, according to Ecosystem Marketplace. Wind and landfill methane projects were also responsible for a lot of offsets in the secondary market, with clean cookstoves featuring prominently in the primary market.

Mike Korchinsky, founder of Wildlife Works, says the Paris Agreement was "a turning point" and a "landmark moment" for forestry carbon offset projects.

"It confirmed the inclusion of REDD+ as a mitigation option post-2020, and that's made a significant difference to the level of interest in REDD+ in the last two years," he says.

Among the reasons REDD+ projects are so popular is backing from buyers who realise that, post-2020, the finite supply of suitable forest sites will be subject to increasing demand.

"Those that have realised are looking to sign long term agreements with REDD+ entities now," Korchinsky says. "In the last 18 months we've seen a move towards longer term contracts, which is extremely helpful for the projects."

To go back to the awards page click here.

Best Offsetting Project  Wildlife Works, Kasigau Corridor Initiative The Kasigau Corridor initiative, led by US-based REDD+ project developer Wildlife Works, was voted Best Offsetting Project for avoiding deforestation in east Kenya. It enables thousands of rural farmers to benefit from a voluntary agreement to protect an important migration corridor for endangered elephants. The project was supported by the International Finance Corporation, which issued a $152 million bond in October 2016 to support the project. Investors can choose to have the coupon paid in cash, or in carbon credits, or a combination of the two. Investors who opt to receive the REDD+ credits can either retire them to offset their carbon footprint or sell them in the voluntary offset market. All the credits were approved by the Verified Carbon Standard and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance. The IFC bond incorporated an innovative $12 million 'price support mechanism' from mining giant BHP Billiton which ensures that the project can sell a minimum quantity of carbon credits every year until the bond matures.
1. Age matters when it comes to ranking hospital quality

Including data from younger patients may improve accuracy of hospital mortality rankingsAbstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M16-2871 Editorial: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M17-2363 URLs go live when the embargo lifts

Hospital rankings based exclusively on heart attack mortality data for older patients may not accurately represent hospital quality for all ages. A study lead by Yale researchers found that hospital mortality rates after heart attack differ by age, suggesting a need to include data on younger patients in such assessments. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses data for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65 or older to calculate 30-day risk-standardized mortality rates after acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack, to rate hospital quality. It is not known if outcomes for older patients reflect outcomes for all patients, including younger ones.

Using data from the largest U.S. clinical registry of acute myocardial infarction, the researchers calculated mortality rates within 30 days of admission and ranked hospitals based on those rates for older and younger patients hospitalized for a heart attack. The researchers found that half of the hospitalized heart attack patients were under the age of 65, and that mortality rankings differed for older versus younger patient groups. These findings suggest that hospital rankings based solely on data for older patients are not generalizable and may not provide a complete picture of hospital quality.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Cara Graeff at cgraeff@acponline.org. To reach the lead author, Kumar Dharmarajan, MD, MBA, please contact Ziba Kashef at ziba.kashef@yale.edu or 203-436-9317. 2. Younger and higher income individuals more likely to use activity trackers

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M17-1495

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

Activity tracker use is on the rise, but varies based on age and income. Interventions designed to encourage use of activity trackers may need to be targeted based on individual sociodemographic characteristics. The findings of a brief research report are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Interest in tracking daily health behaviors using wearable devices and smartphones is growing, with many large employers using these technologies in workplace wellness programs. Understanding the characteristics of persons who use these devices could inform interventions designed to encourage adoption.

Researchers studied data for more than 4.4 million Humana subscribers with access to HumanVitality (now Go365), a wellness program offered across the United States, between 2014 and 2015 to describe rates of initial use of activity trackers, sustained use after 6 months, and step counts across different sociodemographic characteristics. The data showed that initial activation, use, and step counts varied across sociodemographic characteristics. Initial activation was low, particularly among older and lower-income persons; however, overall activation rates increased between 2014 and 2015. Sustained use and mean step counts were high among those who initially activated their devices, which could have been due to the program's use of gamification and incentives.

The study is the first national evaluation of activity tracker use among a large, diverse sample. The findings may help to inform interventions using wearable devices and smartphones.

Media contact: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Cara Graeff at cgraeff@acponline.org. The lead author, Mitesh S. Patel, MD, MBA, MS, can be reached through Katharine Delach at Katie.Delach@uphs.upenn.edu. 3. Trump-era immigration policy threatens clinical and biomedical research efforts

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M17-1304

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

Recently proposed changes to U.S. immigration policy threaten the long-standing ability of foreign medical graduates to train and practice in the United States, raising concerns about the impact on clinical and biomedical research. A commentary from Harvard Medical School is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Foreign medical graduates make up nearly a quarter of the physician workforce and disproportionately practice in underserved areas as well as in specialties with practitioner shortages. Some states and hospitals rely heavily on physicians in the H-1B visa program, which the Trump administration recently proposed revamping. With these changes in mind, some leading scientific and academic organizations have urged President Trump to rescind the recent executive order.

As support, researchers sought to examine the scientific contributions of foreign medical graduates to U.S. biomedical research. While published research was sparse, researchers were able to mine data from Doximity, a cross-sectional database of all U.S. physicians, and found that foreign medial students play a substantial role in clinical teaching, mentorship, and biomedical research. The data showed that 18.3 percent of U.S. academic physicians and 15.1 percent of full professors were foreign medical graduates. They were responsible for 18 percent of all publications, 18.5 percent of first-authored publications, and led 18.5 percent of clinical trials. These findings suggest that physicians educated abroad but working in the United States play a critical role in promoting and maintaining America's biomedical competitiveness.

Media contact: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Cara Graeff at cgraeff@acponline.org. The lead author, Anupam B. Jena, MD, PhD, can be reached through Ekaterina Pesheva at Ekaterina_Pesheva@hms.harvard.edu. 4. World faces potentially catastrophic shortage of yellow fever vaccine

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M17-1337

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

An accelerated, prolonged increase in the global stockpile of yellow fever vaccine is needed to avoid a potentially catastrophic shortage that could occur if the virus ever spreads in Asia. A commentary from a Georgetown University Medical Center professor is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that a single yellow fever vaccination provides lifelong protection from the mosquito-borne illness. However, shortages are already occurring. In 2016, an epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo caused a shortage, with about 7.5 million persons using only one-fifth of the normal dose per person, which does not provide life-long protection. In 2017, Brazil had to import vaccine and sharply increase domestic vaccine production to help stop an epidemic. And currently, in the United States, where there is only one yellow fever vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there is a vaccine shortage that began in mid-2017 and will last through mid-2018. If yellow fever epidemics occur before 2019 for the first time anywhere in Asia, where the mosquitoes that transmit the virus are present, then a severe vaccine shortage is likely.

The lead author will discuss this topic at the annual conference of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA, or IDWeek) on October 6th in San Diego.

Media contact: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Cara Graeff at cgraeff@acponline.org. The lead author, Daniel Lucey, MD, MPH, can be reached through Karen Teber at km463@georgetown.edu or 215-514-9751.

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Also in this issue:

Curing Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Best Practices From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Pamela S. Belperio, PharmD; Maggie Chartier, PsyD, MPH; David B. Ross, MD, PhD, MBI; Poonam Alaigh, MD; and David Shulkin, MD

Medicine and Public Issues

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M17-1073

URLs go live when the embargo lifts
Phase III trial demonstrates 32 percent overall survival rate at five years following standard-dose treatment for stage III NSCLC; trial also finds no additional benefit from cetuximab

SAN DIEGO, September 24, 2017 -- Long-term results of a phase III clinical trial indicate that survival rates for patients receiving chemoradiation for unresectable, locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be more than twice as high as previous estimates. At five years following treatment with a standard dose of 60 Gray (Gy) radiation delivered in 30 fractions, the overall survival rate was 32 percent, setting a new benchmark of survival for patients with inoperable stage III NSCLC. The trial, RTOG 0617, also confirms that a standard dose of radiation therapy is preferable to a higher dose and that cetuximab offers no additional survival benefit for these patients. Findings will be presented today at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in San Diego.

Lung cancer claims the most cancer-specific deaths of any tumor type, both in the United States and worldwide. The American Cancer Society, using data from the National Cancer Institute, estimates five-year survival rates of five to 14 percent for patients who present with stage III NSCLC. RTOG 0617 was a phase III randomized trial that compared a standard radiation therapy dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions with a higher dose of 74 Gy in 37 fractions for patients receiving concurrent chemotherapy with or without cetuximab for inoperable stage III lung cancer.

"Based on the two-year results reported in 2015, RTOG 0617 has already changed practice and established the standard radiation dose for patients receiving chemoradiation for stage III NSCLC," said Jeffrey D. Bradley, MD, FASTRO, the principal investigator of the RTOG 0617 trial and a professor of radiation oncology and director of the S.L. King Center for Proton Therapy at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

"When RTOG 0617 was initially reported, the results were surprising to most oncologists because the standard dose of 60 Gy was superior to the higher dose of 74 Gy in this setting. There have been numerous secondary analyses investigating the reasons for this result, and the data point toward greater radiation exposure to the heart in the high-dose arm being the main problem.

"The current report establishes an overall five-year survival standard for patients receiving standard-dose chemoradiation for stage III NSCLC that is substantially higher than previously estimated. This report also confirms that using a higher radiation dose is not beneficial and can lead to detrimental outcomes including lower survival rates and increase side effects."

Patients enrolled in RTOG 0617 were randomized to one of two chemoradiation dose groups. Standard-dose treatment consisted of 60 Gy total radiation dose, and high-dose patients received 74 Gy total dose. Radiation was delivered in 2 Gy daily fractions through either intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3-D CRT). All patients received concurrent weekly chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. Patients also were randomized to receive either cetuximab or a placebo. Full information on the trial design is available on the RTOG website.

Across the 185 institutions in the United States and Canada that participated in RTOG 0617, a total of 544 patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC were accrued and 496 were eligible for analysis. The median patient age was 64 years (interquartile range [IQR] 57-70 years). Most patients were male (59%) and white (41%).The median follow-up for surviving patients was 5.1 years (IQR 4.6 - 6 years).

Survival rates at five years following chemoradiation were higher for patients in the standard-dose treatment arm than for those in the high-dose arm. Median overall survival (OS) following standard-dose treatment was 28.7 months (95% CI 24 - 38.4 months), compared with 20.3 months (95% CI 18-24 months) for the high-dose cohort (hazard ratio [HR] 1.35, p = 0.004). Five-year OS rates were 32.1 percent and 23 percent for the standard-dose and high-dose arms, respectively (p = 0.004).

Progression-free survival (PFS) rates at five years were 18.3 percent and 13 percent for the standard-dose and high-dose arms, respectively (p = 0.055). Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models.

On multivariate analysis, differences in OS were driven by radiation dose (favoring the standard-dose regimen; p = 0.03), planning target volume (p = 0.022), the accrual volume of the treating institution (p = 0.017), presence of esophagitis/dysphagia (p = 0.008) and V5 heart dose/volume (p = 0.005).

Patterns of tumor recurrence, either in the same location or region as the initial tumor or further away, also favored the standard-dose regimen, although differences between the treatment arms did not reach statistical significance. Failure rates for the standard-dose and high-dose arms, respectively, were as follows: local failure in 38.2 percent versus 45.7 percent (p = 0.068); regional failure in 35.7 percent versus 38.4 percent (p = 0.5); and distant failure in 52.3 percent versus 57.6 percent (p = 0.3). Failure rates were estimated using the cumulative incidence method and evaluated through Fine-Gray models.

Treatment-related side effects were more pronounced with the high-dose regimen. There were three treatment-related deaths in the standard-dose arm, compared with nine in the high-dose arm. Rates of treatment-related grade 3 or higher toxicity for the standard-dose and high-dose arms, respectively, were as follows: dysphagia in 3.2 percent versus 12.1 percent (p < 0.0001); esophagitis in 5.0 percent versus 17.4 percent (p < 0.0001); and severe pulmonary events in 20.6 percent versus 19.3 percent (p > 0.05).

Cetuximab (delivered as a 400-milligram dose on day one, then 250-milligram doses weekly thereafter) did not confer a benefit for overall survival at five years. Median OS for patients who received cetuximab was 24 months (95% CI 20.4 - 30 months), compared with 24 months (95% CI 20.5 - 28.8 months) for those who did not (HR 1.0, p = 0.048). Moreover, there was no benefit of cetuximab for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) H-scores above 200, counter to earlier findings from the trial.

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The abstract, "Long-term results of RTOG 0617; a randomized phase III comparison of standard dose versus high dose conformal chemoradiotherapy +/- cetuximab for stage III NSCLC," will be presented in detail during a news briefing and an oral abstract session at ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting in San Diego (full details below). To schedule an interview with Dr. Bradley and/or outside experts in lung cancer, contact ASTRO's media relations team on-site at the San Diego Convention Center, September 24 through 27, by phone at 703-286-1600 or by email at press@astro.org.

ATTRIBUTION TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY (ASTRO) ANNUAL MEETING REQUESTED IN ALL COVERAGE.

This news release contains additional and/or updated information from the study author(s). Full original abstract and author disclosures available from press@astro.org or at http://www.astro.org/annualmeeting.

Study Presentation Details

* News Briefing: Sunday, September 24, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Pacific time, San Diego Convention Center, room 24C, webcast: http://www.bit.do/astro17-1

* Scientific Session: Tuesday, September 26, 4:45 - 6:15 p.m. Pacific time, San Diego Convention Center, room 7A/B

Resources on Lung Cancer and Radiation Therapy

* Videos: Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer (Spanish version), An Introduction to Radiation Therapy (Spanish version)

* Digital brochure: Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer (Spanish version)

* Additional brochures, videos and information on radiation therapy from ASTRO's patient site, RTAnswers.org

* ASTRO's clinical practice statements and guidelines

ABOUT ASTRO'S ANNUAL MEETING

ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting, the world's largest scientific meeting in radiation oncology, will be held September 24-27, 2017, at the San Diego Convention Center. The 2017 Annual Meeting is expected to attract more than 11,000 attendees from across the globe, including oncologists from all disciplines and members of the entire radiation oncology team. More than 2,800 abstracts sharing results from clinical trials and other research studies will be presented in conjunction with educational sessions and keynote addresses that underscore the meeting's theme, "The Healing Art and Science of Radiation Oncology." Led by ASTRO President Brian Kavanagh, MD, MPH, FASTRO, the 2017 meeting will feature keynote addresses from Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM, Chief Innovation Officer for the University of Colorado Health System; Lucy Kalanithi, MD, FACP, widow of Paul Kalanithi, MD, the best-selling author of "When Breath Becomes Air," with Heather Wakelee, MD, Paul's oncologist; and Vinay K. Prasad, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University. During the four-day meeting, more than 200 exhibitors will demonstrate cutting-edge technology and medical device innovations for radiation oncology. Visit us online for more information about ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting or press opportunities at the meeting.

ABOUT ASTRO

ASTRO is the premier radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 11,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals that specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research, and advocacy. ASTRO publishes three medical journals, International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics and Practical Radiation Oncology and Advances in Radiation Oncology; developed and maintains an extensive patient website, http://www.rtanswers.org; and created the Radiation Oncology Institute, a non-profit foundation to support research and education efforts around the world that enhance and confirm the critical role of radiation therapy in improving cancer treatment. To learn more about ASTRO, visit http://www.astro.org.
SAN DIEGO, September 24, 2017 -- A new study of patients at an urban cancer center points to a potentially serious problem that may limit the impact of clinical cancer care--undiagnosed depression. Among the 40 percent of patients at the center who were diagnosed with depression, three in four had not previously been told they were depressed. Female patients and disabled patients also were more likely to be depressed, according to research presented today at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

A web of physiological, psychological and socioeconomic factors associated with having and being treated for cancer--such as severe physical pain, side effects of medication, financial concerns, fears and anxieties about mortality and changes in lifestyle and life plans--place cancer patients at a higher risk of developing depression. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that 15 to 25 percent of the general cancer patient population has depression--a rate two to three times that of the general population. Approximately seven percent of U.S. adults experience major depression, according to the National Institutes for Mental Health (NIMH).

"Depression prevalence continues to be high among cancer patients, especially those receiving treatment at an urban cancer center, as well as those who identify as female or are disabled by their disease. Alarmingly, most of these patients remain undiagnosed and untreated, indicating an important gap in cancer care and an opportunity to improve patient outcomes," said Jason Domogauer, PhD, lead author of the study and an MD/PhD candidate at Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey.

Findings in this study are based on an examination of 400 cancer patients who received treatment at the University Hospital Cancer Center in Newark, New Jersey, between 2013 and 2016. Researchers assessed depression using a minimum score of 16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

The average patient age was 55 years (range 20-86 years), and 53 percent of patients were female. The racial/ethnic breakdown of patients was 48 percent African-American, 29 percent non-Hispanic white and 16 percent Hispanic. Nearly equal numbers of patients reported being able to work (including those working full-time, part-time and unemployed) (49%) or being unable to work due to disability (51%). Most patients (85%) received radiation therapy as part of their cancer treatment.

Depression was diagnosed in 40 percent of the patients at this urban cancer center, which is roughly twice as large as the NCI estimate of 15 to 25 percent for the general cancer patient population. Moreover, depression was previously undiagnosed in three-fourths of these cases, meaning that roughly 30 percent of the patients at this cancer center suffered from undiagnosed and untreated depression.

Depression was more common among female patients (47%) than among male patients (32%) (odds ratio [OR] 1.9, p = 0.007) and among patients who were unable to work due to disability (48% vs. 33% of those able to work; OR 1.9, p = 0.005). NIMH statistics for the general U.S. adult population also point to a higher risk of depression for women and people with a disability, particularly among older adults. Depression prevalence did not differ significantly among racial/ethnic groups. Logistic regression was used to compare depression prevalence among the patient groups.

Looking specifically at patients who were previously not diagnosed with depression, the effects of being female or unable to work persisted. Among this subgroup, depression was more common among women (43% vs. 29% male; OR 1.9, p = 0.02) and disabled patients (43% vs. 31% able to work; OR 1.9, p = 0.03).

"Depression is widely recognized as an underdiagnosed disorder, particularly among older adults and cancer patients. Our findings point to a clear need for action including depression screening during initial and continuing patient visits, initiation of mental health treatments for identified patients and increased collaboration with mental health providers in cancer treatment centers. These efforts are particularly important for patients in urban centers, those who are female and those who are unable to work because of their disease," said Dr. Domogauer.

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The abstract, "Study of total and undiagnosed depression in a cancer patient population at an urban cancer center," will be presented in detail during a news briefing and an oral abstract session at ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting in San Diego (full details below). To schedule an interview with Dr. Domogauer and/or outside experts, contact ASTRO's media relations team on-site at the San Diego Convention Center, September 24 through 27, by phone at 703-286-1600 or by email at press@astro.org.

ATTRIBUTION TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY (ASTRO) ANNUAL MEETING REQUESTED IN ALL COVERAGE.

This news release contains additional and/or updated information from the study author(s). Full original abstract and author disclosures available from press@astro.org or at http://www.astro.org/annualmeeting.

Study Presentation Details

Scientific Session: Sunday, September 24, 1:15 - 2:45 p.m. Pacific time, San Diego Convention Center, room 7A/B

News Briefing: Tuesday, September 26, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Pacific time, San Diego Convention Center, room 24C, webcast: http://www.bit.do/astro17-3

Resources on Cancer and Radiation Therapy

Video: An Introduction to Radiation Therapy (Spanish version)

Additional brochures, videos and information on radiation therapy from RTAnswers.org

ASTRO's clinical practice statements and guidelines

ABOUT ASTRO'S ANNUAL MEETING

ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting, the world's largest scientific meeting in radiation oncology, will be held September 24-27, 2017, at the San Diego Convention Center. The 2017 Annual Meeting is expected to attract more than 11,000 attendees from across the globe, including oncologists from all disciplines and members of the entire radiation oncology team. More than 2,800 abstracts sharing results from clinical trials and other research studies will be presented in conjunction with educational sessions and keynote addresses that underscore the meeting's theme, "The Healing Art and Science of Radiation Oncology." Led by ASTRO President Brian Kavanagh, MD, MPH, FASTRO, the 2017 meeting will feature keynote addresses from Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM, Chief Innovation Officer for the University of Colorado Health System; Lucy Kalanithi, MD, FACP, widow of Paul Kalanithi, MD, the best-selling author of "When Breath Becomes Air," with Heather Wakelee, MD, Paul's oncologist; and Vinay K. Prasad, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University. During the four-day meeting, more than 200 exhibitors will demonstrate cutting-edge technology and medical device innovations for radiation oncology. Visit us online for more information about ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting or press opportunities at the meeting.

ABOUT ASTRO

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the world's largest radiation oncology society, with more than 10,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. The Society is dedicated to improving patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research, and advocacy. ASTRO publishes three medical journals, International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics Practical Radiation Oncology and Advances in Radiation Oncology ; developed and maintains an extensive patient website, RT Answers ; and created the Radiation Oncology Institute , a nonprofit foundation to support research and education efforts around the world that enhance and confirm the critical role of radiation therapy in improving cancer treatment. To learn more about ASTRO, visit http://www.astro.org and follow us on our blog, Facebook and Twitter.
Once you've bought your first organic milk in the supermarket, you are highly likely to continue buying organic milk. With time, you are also likely to increase the number of different types of organic food products on your shopping list.

This is the result of new research from Aarhus BSS in which researchers have monitored the daily shopping habits of almost 10,000 households over a period of 20 months and have subsequently analysed the huge amount of data.

The organic escalator

"In connection with organic consumption, there has previously been talk of an 'organic staircase' in the sense that consumers are generally buying certain organic products before others. But our research shows that in fact we're dealing with an escalator where the upwards movement is taking place automatically. Once you've purchased your first organic product, you're not likely to stop. You'll continue and over time, you'll increase your organic shopping list. And you'll even be following a rather predictable consumption pattern," says Professor John Thgersen, the Department of Management at Aarhus BSS. He conducted the study together with Professor in Economics Hans Jrn Juhl and PhD student Morten H.J. Fenger from the Department of Economics and Business Economics. The study has recently been published in the internationally recognised Journal of Consumer Research.

In Denmark, milk represents the typical entry into organic consumption. But milk is not the organic product with the greatest market share. Oatmeal is. However, in terms of volume, milk is by far the main organic product.

Fixed pattern

Once you have started buying organic dairy products, you have paved the way for adding more organic products to your shopping list. The typical consumption pattern is that you go from dairy products to vegetables, eggs, baking ingredients until you are consistently buying organic products.

"What's interesting is that something is making the organic consumers stick to their guns. Something is making them stand fast. Our study doesn't tell us anything about why this is the case, but if we include our knowledge from previous research in the area, we're able to make an educated guess," says John Thgersen, who studies and teaches consumer behaviour.

According to the behavioural scientist, buying organic products is connected to our perception of ourselves as moral human beings. Once we have established that connection, there is no way back.

Moral values

Previous studies have thus shown that sustainability and environmental protection are some of the positive aspects that most consumers associate with organic products.

"It becomes a way in which we define ourselves. As a result, we build an identity around the notion of buying organic products, and we're highly unlikely to suddenly change our moral values," says John Thgersen.

Within behavioural research, this phenomenon is known as a behavioural "spillover" effect, which stands in contrast to the well-known phenomenon of "moral licensing". The latter deals with how we as people allow ourselves to become less moral, once we have performed one moral act.

"We're not questioning that moral licensing exists, but our study shows that in practise, it doesn't apply to our ethical or pro-environmental behaviour. Once a person has decided to do good, he or she will actually be even more likely to continue to do good," says John Thgersen.

Speeding up the escalator

The Danish supermarket giant Coop Danmark provided the data for the Aarhus BSS researchers and Head of CSR Thomas Roland is thrilled with the results.

Here, the results can be used to target the marketing of organic products to specific customer segments. This is a way of speeding up the organic escalator.

"In reality, we can use a number of different staircases or escalators. Based on the researchers' analyses, we have been able to establish a number of organic consumer segments. We conducted a test in which we exposed each of the segments to specific marketing messages. This has increased the organic consumption significantly in these customer groups," explains Thomas Roland. He sees great opportunities in analysing customers' actual purchasing patterns rather than relying on more traditional consumer analyses that are often based on attitude measurement.

"This analysis provides us with a mapping of the level and segments that consumers belong to right now. This is achieved by taking point of departure in the actual shopping patterns and then targeting our marketing accordingly. It could also be interesting to explore whether the same staircases and escalators apply to unbranded products e.g. local high-quality products," says Thomas Roland.

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A new two-dimensional film, made of polymers and nanoparticles and developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), can direct two different non-mixing liquids into a variety of exotic architectures. This finding could lead to soft robotics, liquid circuitry, shape-shifting fluids, and a host of new materials that use soft, rather than solid, substances.

The study, reported today in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, presents the newest entry in a class of substances known as bicontinuous jammed emulsion gels, or bijels, which hold promise as a malleable liquid that can support catalytic reactions, electrical conductivity, and energy conversion.

Bijels are typically made of immiscible, or non-mixing, liquids. People who shake their bottle of vinaigrette before pouring the dressing on their salad are familiar with such liquids. As soon as the shaking stops, the liquids start to separate again, with the lower density liquid - often oil - rising to the top.

Trapping, or jamming, particles where these immiscible liquids meet can prevent the liquids from completely separating, stabilizing the substance into a bijel. What makes bijels remarkable is that, rather than just making the spherical droplets that we normally see when we try to mix oil and water, the particles at the interface shape the liquids into complex networks of interconnected fluid channels.

Bijels are notoriously difficult to make, however, involving exact temperatures at precisely timed stages. In addition, the liquid channels are normally more than 5 micrometers across, making them too large to be useful in energy conversion and catalysis.

"Bijels have long been of interest as next-generation materials for energy applications and chemical synthesis," said study lead author Caili Huang. "The problem has been making enough of them, and with features of the right size. In this work, we crack that problem."

Huang started the work as a graduate student with Thomas Russell, the study's principal investigator, at Berkeley Lab's Materials Sciences Division, and he continued the project as a postdoctoral researcher at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Creating a new bijel recipe

The method described in this new study simplifies the bijel process by first using specially coated particles about 10-20 nanometers in diameter. The smaller-sized particles line the liquid interfaces much more quickly than the ones used in traditional bijels, making the smaller channels that are highly valued for applications.

"We've basically taken liquids like oil and water and given them a structure, and it's a structure that can be changed," said Russell, a visiting faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab. "If the nanoparticles are responsive to electrical, magnetic, or mechanical stimuli, the bijels can become reconfigurable and re-shaped on demand by an external field."

The researchers were able to prepare new bijels from a variety of common organic, water-insoluble solvents, such as toluene, that had ligands dissolved in it, and deionized water, which contained the nanoparticles. To ensure thorough mixing of the liquids, they subjected the emulsion to a vortex spinning at 3,200 revolutions per minute.

"This extreme shaking creates a whole bunch of new places where these particles and polymers can meet each other," said study co-author Joe Forth, a postdoctoral fellow at Berkeley Lab's Materials Sciences Division. "You're synthesizing a lot of this material, which is in effect a thin, 2-D coating of the liquid surfaces in the system."

The liquids remained a bijel even after one week, a sign of the system's stability.

Russell, who is also a professor of polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, added that these shape-shifting characteristics would be valuable in microreactors, microfluidic devices, and soft actuators.

Nanoparticle supersoap

Nanoparticles had not been seriously considered in bijels before because their small size made them hard to trap in the liquid interface. To resolve that problem, the researchers coated nano-sized particles with carboxylic acids and put them in water. They then took polymers with an added amine group - a derivative of ammonia - and dissolved them in the toluene.

This configuration took advantage of the amine group's affinity to water, a characteristic that is comparable to surfactants, like soap. Their nanoparticle "supersoap" was designed so that the nanoparticles join ligands, forming an octopus-like shape with a polar head and nonpolar legs that get jammed at the interface, the researchers said.

"Bijels are really a new material, and also excitingly weird in that they are kinetically arrested in these unusual configurations," said study co-author Brett Helms, a staff scientist at Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry. "The discovery that you can make these bijels with simple ingredients is a surprise. We all have access to oils and water and nanocrystals, allowing broad tunability in bijel properties. This platform also allows us to experiment with new ways to control their shape and function since they are both responsive and reconfigurable."

The nanoparticles were made of silica, but the researchers noted that in previous studies they used graphene and carbon nanotubes to form nanoparticle surfactants.

"The key is that the nanoparticles can be made of many materials," said Russell. "The most important thing is what's on the surface."

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Study co-authors from Oak Ridge National Laboratory are Weiyu Wang, Kunlun Hong, and Gregory Smith.

This work is supported by the DOE Office of Science. The Molecular Foundry at Berkeley Lab and the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are DOE Office of Science User Facilities.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory addresses the world's most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab's scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel Prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. For more, visit http://www.lbl.gov.

DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have developed a technique to produce synthetic steroids that could pave the way for a cascade of new drug discoveries. The process, published in the journal Nature Chemistry, facilitates access to rare, mirror-image isomers of naturally occurring steroid structures.

The technique, based on a series of new chemical reactions, significantly reduces the expense and time needed to develop therapeutics from a pharmaceutically privileged yet underexplored collection of molecules.

"This is a fundamentally new molecular strategy for steroid construction," said Glenn Micalizio, the New Hampshire Professor of Chemistry at Dartmouth. "This technology allows the preparation of either mirror-image isomer with equal ease, but with unprecedented efficiency."

The core molecular structure of steroids is a proven backbone in drug development. More than 100 different steroid molecules are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as therapeutics for a wide range of symptoms and diseases including inflammation and pain, cancer and bacterial infection.

Steroidal therapeutics arguably make up the most successful class of medicine inspired by a natural product. All known drugs in this class share a common structure comprised of only one of two possible mirror image skeletons - known as enantiomers. Such agents are typically available from chemical transformations of natural and readily available steroids.

According to researchers, molecules based on the unnatural mirror image isomer of steroids form the foundation of a vast collection of underexplored potential medicines. While these compounds share the basic drug-like physical properties of the natural class, they boast complementary 3-D structures with broad potential in the clinic.

"With this advancement, we now have the opportunity to investigate fertile regions of chemical space for the identification of untold numbers of unique, medicinally relevant agents," said Micalizio.

The process developed in the Micalizio Laboratory at Dartmouth, produces steroidal structures of either enantiomer with what researchers describe as unprecedented efficiency. Using inexpensive and abundant starting materials, the new class of synthetics can be produced in as few as five chemical steps.

The advance is based on a chemical reaction discovered in 2014 by Micalizio that forges half of the steroid structure. The breakthrough was made possible by inventing a simple procedure to advance these intermediates to steroid structures of either mirror image series.

While chemical synthesis has previously been described as a route to unnatural enantiomers of steroids, the process pioneered at Dartmouth allows scientists to more easily investigate their medicinal properties. Importantly, the time and cost of preparing collections of new compounds in this class - a requirement of most modern drug discovery efforts - has been drastically reduced.

"This is by far the most concise and flexible route to make a wide variety of novel steroids," said Micalizio.

To show the value of the technology in biomedical science, the research team demonstrated that one of the molecules prepared in their initial study has potent and selective growth inhibitory properties against three different human cancer cell lines.

"We're not just saying these things have potential," said Micalizio, "here is one example from the relatively small number of compounds that we produced that proves their potential value as anti-cancer agents."

Since synthetic mirror image isomers are not readily available from natural sources, pursuit of this class of drugs and their clinical value is dependent on the efficiency with which organic chemists can prepare them.

"The science of synthetic organic chemistry is an essential component of drug discovery, and advances in this field are directly responsible for our recent discovery," said Micalizio.

"Without the ability to create new collections of molecules, it is difficult to pursue many potentially exciting new directions in drug discovery. As such, advances in chemical synthesis, like this one, can have profound and rippling effects on biomedical science," Micalizio added

Building on the challenge to invent chemistry that fuels discovery in biomedical science, Micalizio's lab hopes to develop a new technology platform to explore unnatural isomers of steroids for the development of therapeutics.

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About Dartmouth

Founded in 1769, Dartmouth is a member of the Ivy League and offers the world's premier liberal arts education, combining its deep commitment to outstanding undergraduate and graduate teaching with distinguished research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and its three leading professional schools: the Geisel School of Medicine, Thayer School of Engineering and Tuck School of Business.
DURHAM, N.C. -- A study by Chinese and U.S. scientists finds that while populations of the iconic giant panda have increased recently, the species' habitat still covers less area and is more fragmented than when it was first listed as an endangered species in 1988.

The study, published Sept. 25 in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, used geospatial technologies and remote sensing data to map recent land-use changes and the development of roads within the panda's habitat.

"The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently changed the status of the giant panda from 'endangered' to the less threatened 'vulnerable,' " said Stuart L. Pimm, Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment. "This was based on the increasing numbers, which are a very encouraging sign, of course."

"But what my colleagues and I wanted to know was how the panda's habitat has changed over the last four decades, because the extent and connectivity of a species' habitat is also a major factor in determining its risk of extinction," Pimm said.

The team, led by Zhuyan Ouyang and Weihua Xu of the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, used satellite imagery to examine changes across the panda's entire geographic range from 1976 to 2013.

"We found complex changes," Xu said. "Habitat decreased nearly 5 percent from 1976 to 2001, but has increased since. However, the average size of the habitat patches decreased by 23 percent from 1976 to 2001. It has increased only slightly since."

Study co-author Jianguo Liu of Michigan State University, who began studying the human and natural forces driving habitat loss in the panda's geographic range in 1996, noted that some of the changes that have occurred in the region are encouraging.

"Banning commercial logging in natural forests, establishing nature reserves and helping residents in the reserve change behaviors that damaged habitat has been beneficial," said Liu, who published Pandas and People (Oxford University Press) last year with four other authors of the new study. "But conservation is a dynamic process with humans and nature in a constant push and pull to survive and thrive, so new solutions always are in demand."

Other changes, though highly beneficial to the region's human population, present challenges from a conservation standpoint.

"The most obvious changes in this region since Professor Liu and his colleague Professor Zhiyun Ouyang first visited it together in 2001 have been the increase and improvement in roads and other infrastructure," Pimm said. "These have been the major factor in fragmenting the habitat. There was nearly three times the density of roads in 2013 than in 1976."

"We suggest several solutions," Ouyang concluded. "One of the most important will be to establish protected corridors through which pandas can move to prevent their isolation into small and unsustainable populations."

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Funding came from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant #41671534); the Ministry of Science and Technology through the National Key Programme of Research and Development Project (grant #2016YFC0503200); the State Forestry Administration; the Worldwide Fund for Nature; and the U.S. National Science Foundation (grant #1340812).

CITATION: "Reassessing the Conservation Status of the Giant Panda Using Remote Sensing," by Weihua Xu, Andres Vina, Lingqiao Kong, Stuart L. Pimm, Jingjing Zhang, Wu Yang, Yi Xiao, Lu Zhang, Xiaodong Chen, Jianguo Liu and Zhiyun Ouyang. Nature Ecology and Evolution, Sept. 18, 2017. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0317-1
More than 5 million Americans today are affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). If nothing is done to stop this upward trajectory, there will be more than 16 million people with AD in the United States and more than 60 million people with AD worldwide by 2050. In the past 25 years, only five symptomatic medications for AD have met their primary clinical endpoints in Phase III clinical trials and successfully come to market; of these, four are still available.

There is increasing evidence that multiple medical conditions increase the risk of neurodegeneration and subsequent development of dementia. It also is becoming clear that a majority of those risk factors acts in amyloid- and tau-independent ways. Since 2003, every symptom- and disease-modifying agent has failed in Phase II or III trials because of challenges with safety or efficacy, including trials testing the amyloid hypothesis, anti-inflammatory agents, and early-phase anti-tau therapies.

With disease-modifying treatment trials unsuccessful at the present time and only medications to treat symptoms available, what now?

Thinking "out-of-the-box," a leading neuroscientist at Florida Atlantic University has developed an innovative program in the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at FAU called the "Dementia Prevention Initiative" (DPI), which abandons generalized methods used to research and treat AD. His secret weapon: a novel "N-of-1 design" that individualizes medicine down to a single patient. Instead of conducting a conventional trial of 100 people all getting the same treatment, he has switched it around and is conducting 100 single trials personalized to the individual. His youngest patient is 61 and the oldest is 86.

"Because Alzheimer's disease is heterogeneous in terms of risk factors, age of onset, presentation, progression, and pathology burden, designing a study to treat individuals as a homogenous population requires thousands of patients who have to be followed for years and even decades. This approach is very costly and burdensome on clinicians and patients," said James E. Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., associate dean for clinical research in FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, a world-renowned neuroscientist, a leading international expert on AD and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), and founder of the DPI.

The DPI is a two-year clinical trial and Galvin is developing a best-practice model of personalized care that looks at each individual as the sole unit of observation. The idea is to treat neurodegenerative diseases as a disorder that develops over a lifetime and individualize ways to build a better brain as we age. The ultimate goal is to prevent dementia from happening in the first place.

Galvin's approach follows a form of personalized treatment similarly used in cancer and delivers an individualized prevention plan, tailored to each patient's risk profile based on their genetic traits, biomarkers (blood, imaging, and electrophysiology), socio-demographics, lifestyle choices, and co-existent medical conditions. This approach specifically targets the heterogeneity of AD by identifying person-specific risk factors and applying a customized intervention directed against this risk profile. Galvin anticipates that this method will provide more rapid information on whether personalized prevention plans can improve person-centered outcomes.

"While we know that a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle may be the cornerstone of disease prevention and brain health, each risk factor such as vascular, lifestyle choices, psychosocial behavior may both act independently and potentiate the effects of each other. Therefore, a prevention initiative needs to be multimodal and tailored to address individual risks," said Galvin.

Although the single greatest risk factor for AD is age, AD is not inevitable. It is estimated that at age 85 there is a 42 percent risk of developing AD, which means that 58 percent of older adults do not develop dementia, even if amyloid can be detected in the brain. The reasons are unknown, but may be explained in part by a host of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Up to 30 percent of AD cases may be preventable through modification of risk factors and behavioral changes to mitigate the effect of those risk factors that can't be modified.

"We know what's good for the heart is good for the brain and we are changing people's blood profiles, controlling blood sugars, reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, and changing lipids and cholesterol," said Galvin. "Our patients say that they are in better overall health, their moods have improved and they are more physically fit than before."

Even if these precision approaches alone are not successful in preventing AD, Galvin believes that they may greatly improve the likelihood of amyloid- or tau-specific therapies reaching their endpoints by reducing comorbidities.

"Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease: Lessons Learned and Applied," was recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Nationally, if the onset of AD and related disorders is delayed by five years, 25 years later there would be approximately 5.7 million fewer cases, collective family savings would approach $87 billion, and societal savings would approach $367 billion.

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About the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine:

FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of approximately 147 accredited medical schools in the U.S. The college was launched in 2010, when the Florida Board of Governors made a landmark decision authorizing FAU to award the M.D. degree. After receiving approval from the Florida legislature and the governor, it became the 134th allopathic medical school in North America. With more than 70 full and part-time faculty and more than 1,300 affiliate faculty, the college matriculates 64 medical students each year and has been nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum. To further FAU's commitment to increase much needed medical residency positions in Palm Beach County and to ensure that the region will continue to have an adequate and well-trained physician workforce, the FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Consortium for Graduate Medical Education (GME) was formed in fall 2011 with five leading hospitals in Palm Beach County. In June 2014, FAU's College of Medicine welcomed its inaugural class of 36 residents in its first University-sponsored residency in internal medicine. For more information, visit http://www.med.fau.edu.

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU's existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit http://www.fau.edu.
In early August 2017, a team of scientists from the University of Sao Paulo (USP), the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil and France's Development Research Institute (IRD) began drilling boreholes and analyzing sediment removed from the Colonia Crater, a depression located in southern skirts of Sao Paulo City, with a diameter of 3.6 km, depths of up to 450 m and an area of 10.2 km2. Their aim was to reconstruct the past 1 million years of the biosphere and Atlantic Rainforest biome in that area.

"Accumulation of sediment was possible throughout the Quaternary [the past 2.6 million years] because of the bowl shape. The 50 m of sediment we're sampling will contain records of the last 800,000 to 1 million years," told Andre Oliveira Sawakuchi. Sawakuchi is a member of the project team and heads the Gamma Spectrometry & Luminescence Laboratory at USP's Geoscience Institute.

Equipment for the lab was purchased with Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) support, and this lab is one of the facilities where the materials will be analyzed. "The analysis will be done in labs at USP and in countries like Switzerland, France, the United States and Germany", said Marie-Pierre Ledru, a researcher at IRD, who shares the coordination of the project with Sawakuchi.

The researchers are analyzing the cores for any microbes, pollen, isotopes, greenhouse gases and algae, as well as for other items trapped in the sediment. All this is evidence of the variations in the amounts of sunlight received by the planet that caused the many glacial-interglacial cycles in the history of the planet and the impacts of the wet and dry periods on the Atlantic Rainforest.

"The questions we try to answer have to do with these natural cycles that are part of the Earth's climate. In the past 800,000 years, there have been glaciations roughly every 100,000 years. Our research project has several fronts, and we will obtain a wide-ranging analysis of this period," said Patricia Roeser, another member of the project team and a researcher at the European Center for Environmental Geoscience Research & Education (CEREGE) in France.

The sediment samples collected from the Colonia Crater are very rich with information concerning what occurred in the area and how the Atlantic Rainforest biome responded to various kinds of climate changes. By analyzing the organic compounds and isotopes (forms of chemical elements) in the sediment, the researchers can determine a great deal about the type of plant cover and even the composition of the rain that fell thousands of years ago.

"Plants absorb isotopes of hydrogen from rainfall, so the vestiges of plants trapped in the sediment represent a kind of climate archive," Sawakuchi said. Another source of information about the past of the Atlantic Rainforest is the pollen found in sediment cores, from which the scientists can draw conclusions regarding flora diversity.

Analysis of the gases trapped in the pores of the sediment enables the investigation of the subsoil communities of microbes, which produce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.

"Research of this kind has been done for temperate forests, but very few tropical areas have been studied in this way," highlights Ledru. "The information obtained relates not just to the forest itself but also to the amount of rainfall and to the periods of more intense drought and rain."

Integrated research centers

The project is being carried out in three stages. The first is drilling and core sample collection. The second is the analysis of greenhouse gases and microbiology.

"The drilling site is 100 m from our mini-laboratory. The material comes to the mini-lab, where the samples are divided up into smaller subsamples. We must do this fast to avoid contamination. The samples are then shipped to researchers in several countries," said Roeser, who is responsible for in situ analysis.

This third stage involves the analysis of remnants such as isotopes, pollen and algae by experts at research centers in several different countries. "After that, the cores will be returned to Brazil for storage in USP's archive," said Ledru. "It's an interdisciplinary project with 17 researchers who specialize in different areas."

Crater-lake-marsh

The research project, called Tropicol, is not the first to study the vegetation in the Colonia Crater. The area has been studied since the 1960s, but the initial focus was on how the crater was formed, probably by a meteorite. Studies focusing on climate and vegetation began in the 1980s.

"There isn't a lot of research of this kind in the world," Roeser said. "Continental deep drilling to study microbial activity, as opposed to oceanic surveys, began less than ten years ago. The first results showed a link between glacial-interglacial cycles and types of microbial communities. We're curious to see the results of the analyses, which will show whether this is also the case for the Colonia Crater."

Drilling in 2014, as part of the Thematic Project "Dimensions US-BIOTA Sao Paulo", produced 14 m cores of sediment, recording the past 250,000 years. In this case, the scientists discovered that there was a lake in the crater for a long period. They estimated that the change from a lake to a marsh occurred approximately 120,000 years ago.

"We know the sediment is rich in pollen and organic matter, all of which is good material to study the evolution of the Atlantic Rainforest," Sawakuchi said. "Another interesting fact is that, at depths below 11 m, we find lake-bottom sediment layers. Most of the crater's sedimentary infill is of this kind, meaning that the crater was a lake for a large proportion of its lifetime."

The crater is also known to have a maximum thickness of 450 m of accumulated sediment, according to the research project "Geophysical investigation of the Colonia structure, Sao Paulo, Brazil", which was supported by FAPESP. "The future goal is to drill down to collect cores from these 450 m," Ledru said. "It will then be possible to sample the basement rock at the bottom of the crater in order to define whether it really was caused by a meteorite impact. Satellite images of the crater leave no doubt, but this study will bring confirmation from the rock," Ledru said.

She added that the material that has been collected from the crater can be used in new studies concerning climate change and the Atlantic Rainforest.

"For future research, we're interested in studying how changes in solar energy affect biodiversity, creating processes of extinction and species emergence. These processes are still poorly understood. We don't have answers about the natural extinction processes, and we're currently experiencing a mass extinction largely caused by humans," Ledru said.

The planet is undergoing a new phase of the solar cycle, wherein the Sun's activity becomes more intense at intervals of approximately 11 years, while at the same time, greenhouse gases are at high levels.

"It will be important to determine the effects of these variations in solar energy on the tropical forest underlayer," Ledru said. "We can then know how energy variations may impact future extinctions and specie emergences, making a link between the past and the present era in which human activity is creating something completely new on Earth. It's still only a new research possibility. Studies of climates, paleoclimates and paleobiology need several indicators, such as those captured in the Colonia Crater."

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About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. For more information: http://www.fapesp.br/en.
ATLANTA--Georgia State University researchers have compiled a large solar dataset from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), making several hundred thousand solar events found on high-resolution solar images available to the public.

The massive dataset from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) mission gives unprecedented insight into the sun's activity. The mission has captured 70,000 images a day since February 2010, creating one of the richest and largest repositories of solar image data available to mankind. The data have led to advances in the detection of solar events.

The researchers standardized and curated the large-scale dataset in order to reduce the time scientists need to spend performing data acquisition and curation. Their work has improved the quality of the data and will accelerate computer vision research on these solar images. Details about the dataset are published in the journal Scientific Data.

The SDO is a spacecraft in an inclined geosynchronous orbit around Earth that will capture full-disk images of the sun for up to 10 years. The mission is an attempt to obtain scientific knowledge that will help scientists understand the influence of the sun on the Earth. Three different instruments were involved, and this dataset was built from images produced by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), which captures high-definition, full-disk images of the sun every 10 to 12 seconds in eight different wavelengths using four AIA telescopes.

"The dataset is 284 gigabytes of highly compressed, labeled data," said Dr. Rafal Angryk, professor of computer science at Georgia State and co-author of the study. "This is the largest benchmark ever released in solar physics. It's high-resolution data, 4,000 by 4,000 pixels, which is really high resolution. It's better quality data than your high-definition television (HDTV) or Blu-ray. The typical TV is 1,000 by 1,000 pixels.

"The problem with the SDO data, if you're not a solar expert, you don't know where to look for labels or events and you don't know what mergers are meaningful. We've built an image retrieval system from this data. In addition to searching for similar events or data, ranking the images (which requires a far more challenging task of ordering them based on their similarities), can be a problem. That's a really good application of this benchmark. I think that's what makes this benchmark unique. Most benchmarks are focused on labeling, but not ranking."

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Ahmet Kucuk, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Computer Science at Georgia State, is lead author of the study. Second author is Dr. Juan M. Banda, a former Ph.D. graduate from Angryk's Data Mining Research Lab, who is employed by Stanford University and will soon join Georgia State as a Next Generation Initiative hire in astroinformatics.

The study is funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA.
Scientists have discovered that antibodies taken from patients infected with Dengue virus are effective in treating Zika infection in rodents.

The team, led by researchers at Imperial College London and Washington University in St Louis, found that giving Zika-infected mice the antibodies was enough to treat the early stages of infection, and even protected unborn pups in pregnant animals.

According to the researchers, if the findings can be replicated in humans, the discovery could potentially lead to a single therapy to protect against both viral threats.

The findings build on previous work by the group, which looked at blood samples from patients in South East Asia infected with Dengue virus, discovering they produced antibodies which were highly effective against the virus. These Y-shaped proteins, which recognise the virus and stick to its surface, single out Dengue for destruction by the body's immune cells.

Last year, the group discovered that this same class of antibodies also recognised a close cousin of Dengue, the Zika virus.

Now, in a study published in the journal Nature Immunology, they have shown for the first time that these antibodies are effective in treating Zika infection in mice.

Dengue is found in multiple regions around the world, including the Pacific, South America, Africa and South East Asia. The virus, of which there are four types, is spread by mosquitoes and can lead to Dengue haemorrhagic fever, a complication which can lead to shock and eventually death if untreated.

Zika is from the same family of viruses (called Flaviviridae) as Dengue, occurs in many of the same regions and is transmitted by the same species of mosquito. Recent Zika outbreaks in South and Central America have been associated with deformities in newborns as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare but debilitating condition affecting the nerves.

Professor Gavin Screaton, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial and senior author, said: "This paper shows for the first time that antibodies we had previously found to be effective against Dengue potently protect against Zika virus in mice and can treat the early stages of infection."

In trials, animals infected with Zika were treated with the antibodies in the first five days of infection and monitored for 21 days. The researchers found that treatment with antibodies reduced deaths and weight loss in the rodents when compared to a control group.

They found that overall, the treatment was able to reduce the damage caused by the virus, Furthermore, tests in pregnant mice infected with Zika reduced the deaths of unborn pups to just one in 10, compared to a 90 per cent loss seen in infected control animals.

Further tests revealed that the antibody treatment was associated with a drastic reduction in the amount of virus detected in the brain and testes, sites known to be targeted by Zika.

Earlier studies have shown that being previously infected with Dengue has the potential to cause a more severe reaction to Zika, with the virus using the body's own immune cells as a Trojan horse. In a phenomenon called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), antibodies stick to the Zika virus and tag it for destruction, but the immune cells which destroy the virus are unable to finish the job, and become overrun with the virus.

However, the latest study - which focused on a subgroup of these immune proteins, called anti-EDE1 antibodies - found that modifying the antibodies slightly could overcome the problem, without losing their effectiveness.

The researchers explain that while their latest findings highlight a tantalising potential for a dual-Zika-Dengue vaccine, the findings need to be replicated in primates, which will be able to give a clearer idea of potential effects in humans and whether it could move towards clinical trials in humans.

The group is now exploring how to develop a vaccine based on the target of the antibodies, pairs of interlocking proteins on the surface of the Dengue virus. The hope is that by introducing these protein pairs into the blood stream, the body's immune cells will recognise them as a virus and start to make antibodies to counter them, leaving the host better prepared against future attack from Dengue and Zika.

Professor Screaton added: "This group of antibodies is unique in being able to target Dengue and Zika. The next step is to see whether they are effective in larger animal models, and potentially even humans."

The outbreak of Zika in 2015-16 made headlines around the world following a sharp increase in associated birth deformities, which were seen in countries including Brazil, Colombia and Mexico with some cases reported in the US. The wave of infection, and the associated cases of microcephaly seen in infants, seems to have passed, with a sharp drop off in cases being reported.

"The threat from Zika is clearly not as great as it was, but nobody knows when it's going to come back," said Professor Screaton. "It might be a number of years between now and the emergence of another big epidemic."

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The research was supported by the Wellcome Trust, with ongoing collaboration with the Pasteur Institute in Paris.

Human antibodies to the dengue virus E-dimer epitope have therapeutic activity against Zika virus infection by Fernandez, E. et al. is published in Nature Immunology.
Black holes appear to play a fundamental role in how galaxies evolve throughout their life during a phase in which they are active and consume material from the galaxy itself. During this phase, the galaxy hosts an active galactic nucleus (AGN), and the effect that this nuclear activity produces in the galaxy is known as AGN feedback. This feedback can take place in different forms: the AGN can heat, disrupt, consume and remove the gas available to form new stars, preventing further galaxy growth. In fact, AGN feedback is now required by simulations of galaxy formation to explain the observations of massive galaxies at cosmological distances. "If AGN feedback is not accounted for in the simulations", explains Cristina Ramos, "the predicted number of massive galaxies when the universe was younger is much higher than those that are observed".

Directly studying the influence of nuclear activity on galaxy evolution is challenging because of the different spatial scales and timescales involved in the two processes. Massive galaxies host extremely compact supermassive black holes of millions or even billions of solar masses in their nuclei. It is estimated that the phases of nuclear activity last for a short period of time, between one and a hundred million years, whereas galaxy evolution processes, such as bulge growth or bar formation last much longer. Thus, in order to study the connection between the AGN and the host galaxy, "we need," explains Claudio Ricci, "to look at the nucleus of galaxies, where the material that links them is found. This material consists mainly of gas and dust, which are normally studied in the infrared and X-ray band."

In this review, Cristina Ramos Almeida, researcher at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC), and Claudio Ricci, astrophysicist at the Institute of Astronomy of the Universidad Catolica de Chile, tried to give a comprehensive view of the current understanding, thanks to infrared and X-ray studies, of nuclear obscuration in AGN. This has greatly improved in the last decade thanks to observing facilities such as CanariCam on the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC), located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (Garafia, La Palma) and the Very Large Array Interferometer (VLTI) in the infrared range, as well as X-ray satellites like NuSTAR, Swift/BAT and Suzaku.

"We now know", adds Cristina Ramos, "that this nuclear material is more complex and dynamic than we thought a few years ago: it is very compact, formed by gas and dusty clouds orbiting the black hole and its properties depend on the AGN luminosity and accretion rate. Moreover, it is not an isolated structure but appears connected with the galaxy via outflows and inflows of gas, like streams of material flowing as part of a cycle. This gas flow cycle keeps feeding the black hole and regulates the formation of new stars in the galaxy".

Very recently, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has recently imaged for the first time the nuclear obscuring material in an active galaxy. ALMA operates in the millimiter and sub-millimeter range, and the latter traces the coolest dust and gas surrounding AGN. In the case of the galaxy NGC 1068, ALMA has shown that this material is distributed in a very compact disc-like shape of 7-10 parsecs (pc) diameter and, in addition to the regular rotation of the disk, there are non-circular motions that correspond to high-velocity gas outflowing from the galaxy nucleus. "Over the next decade, the new generation of infrared and X-ray facilities will contribute greatly to our understanding of the structure and physical properties of the nuclear material", concludes Claudio Ricci.

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The Kyaddondo East Member of Parliament Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi also known as Bobi Wine has vowed to continue with his campaign against the lifting of the age limit through audio messages and music.

Speaking to KFM, Kyagulanyi says the first audio message which he issued was just part one of what he still has to do.

In that message Kyagulanyi urges Ugandans to rise up and defend the constitution. He also calls on president Museveni to ensure a peaceful transition of power.

Kyagulanyis comments follow Fridays incident where Entebbe police blocked his procession as he returned from a New York trip.

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Montreal, Sept. 25, 2017 - It is estimated that 30-40 per cent of people living with HIV do not know their HIV status, which can have a serious effect on the spread of the disease. One of the approaches developed to help change this statistic, especially among populations at higher risk for infection and who lack access to care, is the development of HIV self-testing, which provides people with an HIV diagnostic test that they can use in private. Now this screening strategy is getting a global push thanks to a major new partnership between the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Sympact-X and The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), a key player in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This partnership with IAPAC will allow the implementation of HIVSmart! -- a software and cloud based application that facilitates HIV self-testing, linkages and retention in care - in high HIV burden Fast-Track Cities worldwide.

HIVSmart! is a multilingual, portable application that has been developed by a team of scientists and physicians based at the RI-MUHC and at McGill University. It has been tested in well-designed studies in Canada and South Africa in diverse patient groups, including high-risk men who have sex with other men; at-risk community clinic attendees; low-risk healthcare professionals; and student populations. The application, which works with any approved HIV self-test, is personalized, assesses user's HIV exposure risk, provides test interpretation, and links users to care. In addition, the app based program assists with retention in care through enhanced patient-provider communication. The platform is confidential and HIPPA compliant and is currently available in six languages."

The global scale up of HIVSmart! with IAPAC is a dream come true," says Dr. Nitika Pant Pai, who is an Associate Professor at McGill University, a Medical Scientist at the RI-MUHC and Founder/President of the RI-MUHC start-up Sympact-X. "It will help to bridge the gap between HIV services and populations who are most vulnerable to infection and less likely to be able to access diagnosis and treatment. HIVSmart! will also facilitate self-testing, plug service delivery gaps and provide rapid HIV treatment initiation, ultimately leading to what we hope will be an AIDS-free generation."

The Fast-Track Cities is a global partnership between the City of Paris, International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), in collaboration with local, national, regional, and international partners and stakeholders. Since its launch on World AIDS Day 2014, cities in every region of the world have joined the Fast-Track Cities network, pledging to attain 90-90-90 targets by 2020. The targets translate into 90 per cent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) knowing their status, 90 per cent of PLHIV who know their status linked to care and who are initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 90 per cent of PLHIV on ART achieving viral suppression. HIV self-testing and the use of apps to promote HIV self-testing, linkage to care, and retention in care are strongly recommended in the 2015 IAPAC Guidelines for Optimizing the HIV Care Continuum for Adults and Adolescents, as well as the 2017 IAPAC/ASLM Recommendations for the Rapid Expansion of HIV Self Testing in Fast-Track Cities.

"IAPAC is proud to partner with the RI-MUHC and SYMPACT-X to introduce and scale-up the implementation of the HIVSmart app as an innovative means of assisting Fast-Track Cities to attain the 90-90-90 targets -- starting with the first 90 without which we cannot succeed in reaching the estimated 40 per cent of PLHIV worldwide who do not know their status," says Dr. Jose M. Zuniga, President/CEO of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC).

"HIV self-testing is an empowering and innovative way of reaching key populations with undiagnosed HIV. There is often stigma and discrimination associated with going to an HIV clinic to be tested, but technology could play an important role to end the global HIV epidemic, and I am proud of our scientists, like Dr. Nitika Pant Pai, for being part of resolving this challenge," says Dr. Bruce Mazer, Interim Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the RI-MUHC.

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About IAPAC

The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) represents more than 30,000 clinicians and allied health care professionals in over 150 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of and increase access to HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services for men, women, and children affected by and living with HIV and comorbid conditions such as tuberculosis and viral hepatitis. For more information about IAPAC and its 30-year history of marshaling the health professions to end the AIDS epidemic, please visit http://www.iapac.org.

About the Research Institute of the MUHC

The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) is a world-renowned biomedical and healthcare research center. The Institute, which is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University, is the research arm of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) - an academic health center located in Montreal, Canada, that has a mandate to focus on complex care within its community. The RI-MUHC supports over 460 researchers and close to 1,300 research trainees devoted to a broad spectrum of fundamental, clinical and health outcomes research at the Glen and the Montreal General Hospital sites of the MUHC. Its research facilities offer a dynamic multidisciplinary environment that fosters collaboration and leverages discovery aimed at improving the health of individual patients across their lifespan. The RI-MUHC is supported in part by the Fonds de Recherche du Quebec - Sante (FRQS). http://www.rimuhc.ca

About Sympact-X

Sympact-X, is a Canadian social enterprise, based in Montreal, founded with the support of Grand Challenges Canada, (funded by the Government of Canada) and RI-MUHC. Its social mission is to take tested digital health innovations that plug service delivery gaps in diagnostics and treatment to scale worldwide to impact global health. Sympact-X aims to scale HIVSmart! with smart partnerships worldwide.

Media contact:

Julie Robert

Communications Coordinator - Research

McGill University Health Centre

514 934-1934 ext. 71381

julie.robert@muhc.mcgill.ca
Satellite imagery from NASA shows that Hurricane Maria continues to move in a northerly direction while its eye remained east of the Bahamas. NASA's Aqua satellite showed high clouds over the eye on Sept. 22 and one side of the hurricane over the Bahamas. On Sept. 23, NOAA's GOES East satellite revealed a more clear eye but a less symmetric storm as Maria moved away from the Bahamas.

On Sept. 22 at 1:45 p.m. EDT (17:45 UTC) Hurricane Maria was over Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas the MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of the hurricane. At the time of the image Maria's eye had become filled in with high clouds.

The next day, NOAA's GOES East satellite provided a visible view of Hurricane Maria. On Saturday, Sept. 23 at 8:15 a.m. EDT Maria was moving past the Bahamas and regained a clear eye. The National Hurricane Center noted of the image, "the 35 nautical mile wide eye has become better defined in satellite imagery."

The GOES image also showed Maria is experiencing about 15 knots of southwesterly vertical wind shear, "which is likely the reason for an asymmetric distribution of convection in the eyewall at this time," said National Hurricane Center forecaster Jack Beven.

NOAA manages the GOES East satellite and the NASA/NOAA GOES Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. created the image.

The National Hurricane Center noted on Saturday, September 23, 2017 that warnings on Maria were discontinued for the Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands while high swells are expected to increase along portions of the Southeastern United States coast.

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on Saturday, September 23, 2017 the center of Hurricane Maria was located near 24.8 degrees north latitude and 72.0 degrees west longitude. That's about 165 miles (270 km) east-northeast of San Salvador and 340 miles (545 km) east of Nassau. Maria was moving toward the north-northwest near 9 mph (15 kph), and the National Hurricane Center expects this general to continue through tonight.

Maximum sustained winds are now near 120 mph (195 kph) with higher gusts. Maria is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Fluctuations in intensity are expected during the next couple of days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 952 millibars.

A turn toward the north is expected on Sunday, Sept. 24. On the forecast track, Maria should move away from the Bahamas into the open waters of the western Atlantic today.

Swells generated by Maria are affecting Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the northern coast of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas. These swells will begin to increase along portions of the southeastern United States coast and Bermuda today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

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For forecast updates on Maria, visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
HOUSTON - (Sept. 20, 2017) - Rice University scientists have discovered a two-dimensional alloy with an optical bandgap that can be tuned by the temperature used to grow it.

The Rice lab of materials scientist Pulickel Ajayan grew the four-component alloy of transition metals molybdenum and tungsten with chalcogens sulfur and selenium in a chemical vapor deposition furnace. They found changes in temperature made subtle changes in the way atoms assembled and also altered the properties that determine how they absorb and emit light.

Their experiments were built upon work by the lab of Rice theoretical physicist Boris Yakobson, which created scores of models to predict how various combinations of the four elements should work.

The process should be of interest to engineers looking to make smaller, more-efficient devices. Because the bandgap falls in the optical range of the electromagnetic spectrum, the researchers said solar cells and light-emitting diodes might be the first beneficiaries.

The paper appears as a cover story in the current issue of Advanced Materials.

The team led by co-lead author and Rice research scientist Alex Kutana generated 152 random models of the material that showed the bandgap could be tuned from 1.62 to 1.84 electron volts by varying the growth temperature from 650 and 800 degrees Celsius (1,202 to 1,472 degrees Fahrenheit).

The experimental team led by Sandhya Susarla then made and tested the thermodynamically stable materials in a furnace at 50-degree increments. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory led by postdoctoral researcher Jordan Hachtel produced microscope images that identified and detailed the position of each atom in the materials.

"Labs have made 2-D materials with two or three components, but we don't believe anyone has tried four," said co-author and Rice postdoctoral researcher Chandra Sekhar Tiwary. "Having four components gives us an additional degree of freedom. With fewer materials, every adjustment you make to change the bandgap turns it into a different material. That's not the case here."

"What we've made should be very useful," added Susarla, a Rice graduate student. "For applications like solar cells and LEDs, you need a material that has a broad bandgap."

Tiwary said the material can be tuned to cover the entire spectrum of visible light, from 400- to 700-nanometer wavelengths. "That's a huge range we can cover by just changing this composition," he said. "If we choose the composition correctly, we can hit the correct bandgap or correct emission point."

"These materials are arguably the most important 2-D semiconductors because of their excellent optoelectronic properties and low cost," Kutana said. "Our high-throughput calculations permitted us to avoid prior assumptions about how the alloy bandgap behaved. The surprising outcome was how regular the bandgap changes were, resulting in optical properties that are both useful and predictable."

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Co-authors of the paper are visiting researcher Vidya Kochat, graduate student Amey Apte and senior fellow Robert Vajtai, all of Rice, and Juan Carlos Idrobo, a staff scientist at Oak Ridge. Yakobson is the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering and a professor of chemistry. Ajayan is chair of Rice's Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering and a professor of chemistry.

The research was sponsored by the Army Research Office Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Frequency Agile Materials for Electronics program, a center of the Semiconductor Technology Advanced Research Network sponsored by the Microelectronics Advanced Research Corp. and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Read the paper at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201702457/full

DOI: 10.1002/adma.201702457

This news release can be found online at http://news.rice.edu/2017/09/20/4-elements-make-2-d-optical-platform/

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Related materials:

Ajayan Research Group

Yakobson Research Group

Rice Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering

Images for download:

http://news.rice.edu/files/2017/09/0925_BANDGAP-1-WEB-165geez.jpg

Subtle changes in growth temperature alters the form of a four-component alloy created at Rice University. The alloy can be tuned to alter its optical bandgap, which may be of use in the design of solar cells and light-emitting diodes. (Credit: Alex Kutana/Rice University)

http://news.rice.edu/files/2017/09/0925_BANDGAP-2-WEB-r0yn9c.jpg

Rice scientists have discovered a two-dimensional, four-component alloy with an optical bandgap that can be tuned by the temperature used to grow it via chemical vapor deposition. A computer-modeled illustration is featured in the current issue of Advanced Materials. (Credit: Illustration by Alex Kutana/Copyright Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. Reproduced with permission.)

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,879 undergraduates and 2,861 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for quality of life and for lots of race/class interaction and No. 2 for happiest students by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. To read "What they're saying about Rice," go to http://tinyurl.com/RiceUniversityoverview.
A neuroimaging study published in JNeurosci reveals the neural network responsible for attributing the sense of touch to a location in space develops and operates differently in individuals blind from birth compared to sighted individuals.

Virginie Crollen, Olivier Collignon and colleagues replicated a previous finding in 11 blindfolded, sighted individuals, who performed much worse on a task that asks them to discriminate the order of air blasts applied to both their left and right fingers when their hands are crossed. The eight participants blind from birth did not show this deficit.

Using functional resonance imaging, the authors found that in sighted individuals performing this task with crossed hands elicited greater activity in parietal and premotor brain areas than with uncrossed hands. Although the blind individuals did not display any regional differences in activity between the two postures, the functional connectivity between their frontal and parietal brain regions was stronger in the crossed position compared to sighted participants, which may contribute to their superior task performance in this posture. Overall, the study highlights a crucial role of visual experience in the development of the brain network underlying the localization of touch.

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Article: Visual experience shapes the neural networks remapping touch into external space

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1213-17.2017

Corresponding authors: Virginie Crollen (University of Trento, Italy), virginie.crollen@unitn.it and Olivier Collignon (Universite Catholique de Louvain, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve Belgium), olivier.collignon@uclouvain.be

About JNeurosci

JNeurosci, the Society for Neuroscience's first journal, was launched in 1981 as a means to communicate the findings of the highest quality neuroscience research to the growing field. Today the journal remains committed to publishing cutting-edge neuroscience that will have an immediate and lasting scientific impact while responding to authors' changing publishing needs, representing breadth of the field and diversity in authorship.

About The Society for Neuroscience

The Society for Neuroscience is the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to understanding the brain and nervous system. The nonprofit organization, founded in 1969, now has nearly 37,000 members in more than 90 countries and over 130 chapters worldwide.
Sleep-deprived rats exhibited rapid transitions between wake- and sleep-like states associated with brief pauses in individual neuron firing

Sleep deprivation may disrupt the brain's ability to integrate information over time, potentially contributing to the decline in cognitive performance observed during extended time awake, suggests a study in rats published in JNeurosci.

Information processing is thought to depend on reverberating brain that supports the integration of information over extended time periods and across different brain regions. In their study of male rats, Christian Meisel and colleagues found that the long timescales characterizing persistent activity of neural networks while awake breaks down during sleep. Sleep-deprived rats, which the researchers kept awake by providing them with novel objects like blocks and balls, exhibited rapid transitions between wake- and sleep-like states associated with brief pauses in individual neuron firing. These "offline" periods led to a progressive disruption of the ongoing activity traces and their long timescales. Long timescales in network activity were restored after a consecutive recovery sleep period.

These findings suggest that different vigilance states exhibit varying degrees of information integration capabilities and that one function of sleep may be to reset the activity of neural networks to support optimal information processing while awake.

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Article: The interplay between long- and short-range temporal correlations shapes cortex dynamics across vigilance states

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0448-17.2017

Corresponding author: Christian Meisel (National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA), christian@meisel.de

About JNeurosci

JNeurosci, the Society for Neuroscience's first journal, was launched in 1981 as a means to communicate the findings of the highest quality neuroscience research to the growing field. Today the journal remains committed to publishing cutting-edge neuroscience that will have an immediate and lasting scientific impact while responding to authors' changing publishing needs, representing breadth of the field and diversity in authorship.

About The Society for Neuroscience

The Society for Neuroscience is the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to understanding the brain and nervous system. The nonprofit organization, founded in 1969, now has nearly 37,000 members in more than 90 countries and over 130 chapters worldwide.
(Prague, 26 September, 2017) Experts from United European Gastroenterology (UEG), presenting at the European Digestive Cancer Days (EDCD) Conference in Prague today, are calling on European governments to focus their efforts on developing early diagnosis techniques, in order to save thousands of lives from digestive cancers including a more targeted approach to ensure at risk patients don't 'slip through the early-detection net'.

Digestive cancers account for 3 of the top 5 European cancer killers, 23.4% of European cancer incidence and 30.1% of European cancer deaths(i).

Currently, of the 5 primary digestive cancers, only colorectal cancer (CRC) is screened for and whilst some significant progress has been made in CRC screening in many European countries, early detection of other digestive cancers is still not sufficiently developed, even in high risk patients.

Experts, legislators and patient organisations from across Europe are meeting at the EDCD to present and discuss new developments and research in digestive cancer screening and early detection and will be calling upon governments to focus their efforts on developing specific screening and early detection techniques.

"Today, we are recommending that European governments focus their efforts on improving early detection of digestive cancers by funding and encouraging research in four specific areas; to give at-risk patients the best possible chance of survival. Public health authorities also need to think smarter when delivering screening, including looking at opportunities to screen for more than one cancer at the same time and using new cancer profiling techniques as they become available." says UEG's Prof Thierry Ponchon.

UEG is highlighting specific areas for review in digestive cancer screening which they claim could not only improve outcomes but once developed could be straightforward to implement, such as:

Look to the future to implement faecal microbiota screening (FBS) to predict colorectal cancer (CRC) before it develops. Early studies show that gut microbiota-based prediction is more accurate than the current faecal occult blood test, with the potential to predict CRC before it develops rather than just detect its indicators (ii) this is a promising prospect for the future of CRC screening, once further research shows this is proven on a population level.

Look to screen patients with heartburn or acid-reflux, using the Cytosponge or 'pill on a string' within the doctor's practice, to increase early detection of Barrett's oesophagus - an early precursor to oesophageal cancer. Experts report that existing screening methods for oesophageal cancer are expensive and ineffective, with evidence from the United States showing that only about 7% of people with oesophageal adenocarcinoma are detected through existing endoscopic screening approaches (iii). However, evidence of the use of an affordable, easy, non-invasive test known as a 'pill on a string' has shown to be safe, preferable and accurate and if proven on a population basis, should be widely adopted.

Microbiota screening in alcohol dependent patients at risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to determine levels of cancer-protecting short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Research indicates that microbiota profiling in alcohol-dependent patients could determine whether the patient's gut is lacking cancer-protecting SCFAs and could more effectively verify the likelihood of liver cancer developing (iv).

Gastric cancer screening should be implemented alongside CRC screening in European countries with an intermediate incidence (10 > 100,000). New evidence presented at the EDCD (v) shows, for the first time, that screening for gastric cancer in at least 14 European countries with an intermediate incidence rate would be cost effective if combined with a pre-scheduled colonoscopy for CRC. There is currently no screening provision for gastric cancer in any European country.

Despite the significance of digestive cancer incidence and mortality, progress in establishing digestive cancer screening lags behind breast and prostate cancer and UEG expert, Monique van Leerdam concludes; "whilst we are making good progress in colorectal cancer screening, we need to focus research on developing new targeted opportunities for screening in all digestive cancers and ensure that we give every patient, especially those at higher risk, the opportunity for earlier intervention - it could save thousands more European lives".

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For more information, visit http://www.ueg.eu

Notes to Editors

Media Enquiries

For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact James M. Butcher on +44 (0)1444 811099 or media@ueg.eu

About Prof Thierry Ponchon

Professor Thierry Ponchon is from the Herriot University Hospital in Lyon, France. He is chairman of the UEG Public Affairs Committee, chairman of the European Digestive Cancer Days, a UEG endoscopy specialist and a member of the ESGE Quality Improvement Committee.

About Dr. Monique van Leerdam

Dr Monique van Leerdam is a UEG CRC screening expert. She is head of the department of Gastrointestinal Oncology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. She is a member of the UEG Public Affairs Committee, the ESGE Guideline Committee and the Advisory Council of the European Society for Digestive Oncology

About the European Digestive Cancer Days

The European Digestive Cancer Days: Prospects and Challenges in Prevention and Screening. Together with the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic, the UEG Public Affairs Committee is hosting the 3rd European Digestive Cancer Days, this year in Prague, Czech Republic.

The conference looks at prevention, screening and early diagnosis of digestive diseases in the light of cutting edge, up-to-date evidence and practical experiences. The conference is set to discuss the success and variances in existing screening programmes, propose steps for early detection of other digestive diseases and detail the priorities across the continent - covering cost effectiveness, programme methods, parameters for monitoring, quality assurance and logistic organisation.

The conference is taking place September 25-27, 2017 in Prague.

CRC Screening Leaflet

UEG have produced an information leaflet on Colorectal Cancer Screening across Europe, with a new edition being launched at the European Digestive Cancer Days. To view or download the leaflet, visit: https://www.ueg.eu/publications/

About UEG

UEG, or United European Gastroenterology, is a professional non-profit organisation combining all the leading European societies concerned with digestive diseases. Together, its member societies represent over 22,000 specialists, working across medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gastrointestinal oncology and endoscopy. This makes UEG the most comprehensive organisation of its kind in the world, and a unique platform for collaboration and the exchange of knowledge.

To advance standards of gastroenterological care and knowledge across Europe and the world, UEG offers numerous activities and initiatives, including:

UEG Week, the biggest congress of its kind in Europe, and one of the two largest in the world

UEG Education, the universal source of knowledge in gastroenterology, providing online and classroom courses, a huge online library and delivering the latest GI news, fostering debate and discussion

Training Support, funding for innovative training and educational programmes, as well as international scientific and professional co-operations

UEG Journal , published bi-monthly, covering translational and clinical studies from all areas of gastroenterology

, published bi-monthly, covering translational and clinical studies from all areas of gastroenterology EU Affairs, promoting research, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases, and helping develop an effective health policy for Europe

Follow UEG on Twitter

References

i.GLOBOCAN 2012 (IARC) Section of Cancer Surveillance (29/8/2017)

ii.Ai, Luoyan, et al. "Systematic evaluation of supervised classifiers for fecal microbiota-based prediction of colorectal cancer." Oncotarget 8.6 (2017): 9546.

iii.Vaughan TL, Fitzgerald RC. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015;12:243-8.

iv. United European Gastroenterology. 2017. Alcohol, GI cancer and microbiota. Available at: https://www.ueg.eu/education/latest-news/article/article/alcohol-gi-cancerand-microbiota/. [Accessed 23 June 2017].

v. Areia, Miguel, et al. "Endoscopic screening for gastric cancer: A cost-utility analysis for countries with an intermediate gastric cancer risk." United European Gastroenterology Journal (2017): 2050640617722902.
Researchers have found a way to chart changes in the speed of deep-ocean currents using the most modest of materials -- mud

Researchers have found a way to chart changes in the speed of deep-ocean currents using the most modest of materials - mud. The approach, reported in the journal Deep-Sea Research Part I, could provide scientists with a better basis for understanding the behaviour of ancient ocean currents and, in an age of mounting apprehension over climate change, could help them to judge what level of fluctuation can be considered cause for concern.

Acting like giant conveyor belts, ocean currents transport water warmed by the sun's powerful rays over the equator towards the poles. As the water cools and releases its warmth into the atmosphere, areas in the North and South benefit from the warm air. In turn, currents regulate temperatures along the equator by offering an escape route for some of the heat.

The speed of ocean currents is hugely variable, but scientists are increasingly concerned that man-made climate change is altering their natural flow. If rising sea temperatures and increased levels of fresh water from melting ice caps slow down currents, this could wreak havoc on global weather systems and impede the vital role they play in counteracting the uneven distribution of solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface.

In order to fully understand what is happening to currents today and whether it is extraordinary, researchers need to build a picture of how they have behaved over time.

Modern current meters made from steel and plastic have only been widely used to track currents far beneath the surface since the 1960s, so to get a sense of how currents naturally fluctuate over long periods, scientists rely on proxies - such as changes over time in the natural radioactivity of particles.

Now, new research led by Professor Nick McCave, Fellow at St John's College and Emeritus Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, has found a way to use the size of mud particles deposited on the ocean floor to measure changes in the speed at which ocean currents flow, offering another means for scientists to identify patterns in ancient current speeds.

Currents pick up and carry mud particles, dropping out larger grains as they slow down. Over time, a record of the size of particles deposited on the ocean floor is built up in layers of sediment.

For the study, McCave visited various deep sea mud deposits near the east coast of the United States, Iceland and Portugal where there have been modern current meters in operation. From research ships the researchers sent instruments down to depths of up to four kilometres beneath the water and extracted "cores", or samples of sediment, from the ocean floor.

The average rate of sedimentation in the world's oceans is about two to three centimetres per thousand years, but in the mounds of mud McCave was investigating up to 50 centimetres is deposited per thousand years, providing the researchers with a cross section of sediment layers with a much more clearly-defined picture of how strata of mud particles correspond with periods of time.

McCave obtained the records from the current meters and examined them for an average flow speed. Then, from the cores, he took the top two centimetres of sediment and looked for tiny particles measuring over 10 microns, where one micron is equal to one millionth of a meter.

By comparing the size of the mud grains to the data from the current meters, McCave was able to calibrate how the size of mud particles relates to the current speed.

McCave said: "While the calibration was not precise enough to say what the exact current speed was during a specific year of history, it can give an accurate measurement of how much current speed has changed between two points in time - for example between an ice age and a warm period like the present. That's about 20,000 years. But the variability of Atlantic current flow since the early 1800s can also be tracked and shown to be closely related to temperature changes.

"Using mud as a current meter gives us another means to look at long-term trends and could result in improved computer modelling that better incorporates deep ocean flow. We know that ocean current speeds can vary enormously, but having data that shows patterns going further back in time than the last 50 years could tell us what level of fluctuation should set off alarm bells."

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Relation of sortable silt grain-size to deep-sea current speeds: Calibration of the 'Mud Current Meter' is available in full via: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967063717300754
Molecules made in labs often have a downside that nature mysteriously avoids. The problem is that many molecules are chiral, which means they have an asymmetrical structure. A consequence of chirality is that when we synthesize a chiral molecule we also often make its doppelganger, a mirror image of the intended molecule. The two may look similar but, like the right and left hand, they aren't interchangeable.

Depending on the handedness, the molecule limonene smells like oranges or turpentine, ibuprofen can be four times more potent and thalidomide either treats morning sickness or leads to severe birth defects.

"Approximately 50 percent of drugs and 30 percent of agrichemicals are chiral, which means they can be left- or right-handed. Of those, more than 90 percent are sold as mixtures of both handed molecules because it's so hard to separate them," said Jennifer Dionne, associate professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford University. The normal chemical methods of separating molecules - to keep the good version and weed out the bad - are expensive, time-intensive or inefficient.

Dionne's lab has now shown one approach that holds promise for separating chiral molecules. It involves a nanostructured filter that, when illuminated with a laser, attracts one handed specimen while repelling its mirror image. The team published this technique in the Sept. 25 issue of Nature Nanotechnology.

A light handshake

Focused light can change the momentum of an object. This effect has been used to create incredible tools, called optical tweezers, which allow scientists to manipulate particles with highly focused beams of light. (It was his work with optical tweezers that earned Steven Chu, professor of physics at Stanford and professor of molecular and cellular physiology in the Stanford School of Medicine, the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997.) Although the idea of tweezing apart chiral forms has seemed appealing, many of the molecules we want to target are too small to be pulled apart by optical forces directly.

Yang Zhao, a postdoctoral fellow in the Dionne lab, overcame that weakness by creating a nanostructure that allows circularly polarized light to interact more strongly with small specimens. The light path in the nanostructure maps a spiral in one direction but not the other. Once the chiral light has passed through this path, it interacts with molecules that complement its shape and pulls those downward.

The researchers tested their prototype by measuring the forces exerted on chiral specimens. They built a tool called a chiral optical force microscope, which combines the optical tweezers with an atomic force microscope (AFM), a tool capable of resolving the chemical structure of a single molecule. A chiral AFM tip served as the chiral specimen and, at the same time, mapped out the forces specific to the handedness of the tip. They showed that the optical forces produced by their tweezers are strong enough to separate certain chiral molecules.

Building the optical filter

The team has not yet tested the tweezers on actual chiral molecules, but Zhao has begun quantifying the forces they are able to apply to DNA and certain proteins. These chiral molecules have a specific handedness in nature but can be either handedness if produced in a lab.

The next step will be assembling their tweezers into a sort of filter that can separate two forms of a drug or other molecules.

"We will put many of these nanostructures on a microfluidic chip where a drug of interest can be introduced," said Zhao. "If it works as we want it to, we should be able to have the drug separated upon illumination."

In addition to sorting drugs to make them safer or more effective, the researchers think their tweezers could be put to other uses, such as monitoring the folding or unfolding of a protein or enabling light-mediated synthesis of chiral chemicals.

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Stanford co-authors of this paper include Brian Baum, Justin A. Briggs, Alice Lay, Olivia Alexandra Reyes-Becerra and Amr A.E. Saleh, who is also of Cairo University in Giza, Egypt. Additional co-author Marie Anne van de Haar is at FOM Institute AMOLF in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Dionne is also a member of Stanford Bio-X, an affiliate of the Precourt Institute for Energy and a member of the Stanford Neurosciences Institute.

This research was funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and a European Research Council grant.
A completely new group of sponges has been discovered, which scientists believe could be a key indicator species in measuring future mining impact in a region targeted for deep-sea mining of polymetallic (metal-rich) nodules. They are likely to be the most abundant nodule-dwelling animal in the area.

The new discovery, described in the journal Systematics and Biodiversity, was made in the vast 5 million square kilometre region of the central Pacific Ocean known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). This area is incredibly rich in useful metals in the form of polymetallic nodules, potato-sized accretions of mineral that sit on the seafloor at depths of 4000-5000m. The new sponges, Plenaster craigi Lim & Wiklund, 2017 are described from the eastern region of the CCZ in exploration zones licenced to UK Seabed Resources Ltd and Ocean Mineral Singapore.

The animals were found living attached to the metal-rich nodules on two expeditions to the region in 2013 and 2015. Sponge expert and lead author Swee-Cheng Lim from the National University of Singapore participated in the second expedition and commented, "The unique morphology of the star-shaped spicules convinced me that these were a completley new group of sponges never seen before". Dr Helena Wiklund of the Natural History Museum, London, confirmed this with a detailed DNA-based study that placed them as a new genus of sponge.

The new sponges, although small, are remarkably abundant on the food-poor abyssal seafloor at a depth of 4000m. Principal investigator of the Deep-Sea Research Group at the Natural History Museum, Dr Adrian Glover said, "We were simply astonished to discover that the most abundant animal living on the metal-rich nodules was not only a new species, but from a new genus as well, despite the region being subject to many surveys in the past. It is clear that our taxonomic knowledge of the biodiversity in this region is still very limited".

The scientists believe that because the species is relatively easy to identify and count (now that it has been described) it could be a useful 'indicator' species to measure future mining impacts. "The fact that this is a small filter-feeding animal sitting on these nodules just a few centimetres above the sediment makes it a clear target for impact from a deep-sea mining plume" said Dr Glover. The scientists are now undertaking more detailed genetic and population studies of the animal to better understand its potential response to deep-sea mining.

Plenaster craigi have been named after their abundant stars inside their bodes, Plenaster, and the leader of the two successful survey expeditions, Prof Craig Smith of the University of Hawaii.

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Read the full article online here: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772000.2017.1358218

Additional information

Images

Download here https://www.dropbox.com/s/4ub82uk61xdadu5/Images.zip?dl=0

Captions for images in order:

1 Aboard the Research Vessel Thomas G Thompson in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, where Plenaster craigi was discovered (Image credit Thomas Dahlgren, Adrian Glover)

2 Seafloor at 4000m depth, central Pacific Ocean where Plenaster craigi was discovered (Image credit Craig R Smith University of Hawaii)

3 A box core sample is brought on board the research vessel from 4000m depth, central Pacific mining frontier (Image credit Thomas Dahlgren, Adrian Glover)

4 Surface of a 4000m core sample 50x50cm which appears devoid of life on first inspection, but is rich in biodiversity (Image Adrian Glover)

5 The new sponge group is visible on the surface of a large polymetallic nodule (arrowed) but had never before been described - it could be an easy-to-count indicator species for mining impacts (Image credit Adrian Glover, Thomas Dahlgren, H Wiklund)

6 Detail of polymetallic nodules 3-4cm in size, each with a Plenaster craigi (arrowed on one nodule) from 4000m deep, central Pacific mining frontier (scale bar 3cm) (Image credit Adrian Glover, Thomas Dahlgren, Helena Wiklund)

7 Plenaster craigi, detail shot of live animal from polymetallic nodule just recovered from the central Pacific at 4000m depth (Image credit Adrian Glover, Thomas Dahlgren, Helena Wiklund)

Video

Sampling methodologies including box core sampling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io7NlFKUmYI

Links

Natural History Museum Deep-Sea Research Group: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/deep-sea

Natural History Museum Oceans Hub: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/oceans
We already know that climate change has a hold on the earth's surface processes, such as erosion and fluctuations in sea levels... but do surface processes in turn have an influence on volcanic activity? This was the question raised by geologists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE, Switzerland) working in partnership with the University of Orleans, University Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris and the ICTJA-CSIC Institute in Barcelona. The researchers analysed volcanic data from the Messinian salinity crisis in the Mediterranean Sea, when the Strait of Gibraltar was blocked and the Mediterranean temporarily isolated from the Atlantic. After observing a sharp rise in volcanic activity during this period, and testing various scenarios, the geologists concluded that the increase in magmatic activity could only be explained by the almost total drying out of the Mediterranean. These results, which you can read all about in the journal Nature Geoscience, reveal the influence of surface processes -- largely controlled by climate -- on volcanic activity.

It is known that the Strait of Gibraltar was shut on a temporary basis during the Messinian Era (more precisely, from 5.96 to 5.33 million years ago) and that the Mediterranean Sea was isolated from the Atlantic. In fact, as far back as the 1970s scientists found layers of salt several hundred metres thick on the seabed. The only explanation for their formation is that there was no or very limited connection between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The scientists also discovered huge underwater canyons dating back to the same period, hollowed out by rivers running over land that is now submerged, suggesting that the sea level was much lower at the time. This also points to the massive drying up of the Mediterranean with enormous geographical and climatic disruption across the entire basin. This hypothesis, however, continues to be a source of debate.

Nevertheless, a team of UNIGE-led geologists has provided new evidence of the Mediterranean's drying up and the forcing of surface processes on magmatic activity.

Deep magmatic activity varies according to the earth's surface pressure

"We understand that what happens at the Earth's surface, such as a sudden sea level lowering, causes the pressure to change at depth and has an effect on magma production," says Pietro Sternai, researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences in UNIGE's Science Faculty. Given that the salinity crisis was capable of generating these changes in pressure, the geologists -- working on the hypothesis that the Mediterranean dried out -- studied the changes in volcanic activity during this period.

When a volcano erupts, the magma cools on the Earth's surface and the minerals crystallise. Based on these silent witnesses of volcanic activity, the scientists were able to establish that there were 13 eruptions around the Mediterranean between 5.9 and 5.3 million years ago. This is over twice the average activity, which is around 4.5 eruptions over a longer time length encompassing the salinity crisis. Why is the figure so high? "The single logical explanation", suggests Sternai, "is the hypothesis that the sea dried out, since this is the only event powerful enough to alter the Earth's pressure and magmatic production over the entire Mediterranean."

Numerical simulation of the Mediterranean drawdown

The geologists used numerical models to test the hypothesis that the Mediterranean dried up: they reproduced the history of the charging and discharging of the weight of water and sediment in the Mediterranean as it was drying out. Then they calculated the changes in pressure at depth and the impact on magma production.

Two scenarios were examined: the first factored in the salinity crisis with drastic lowering of the sea level, whereas the second excluded the drawdown. "The simulations showed that the only way to account for the proven increase in volcanic activity was that the level (and thus the weight) of the Mediterranean Sea dropped by about two kilometres," explains Sternai, before adding: "I leave it to you to imagine what the landscape looked like."

Climate and volcanism

In addition to providing further evidence of the drying out of the Mediterranean, the research also demonstrates the impact of climate change on the deep Earth. Climate change influences magmatic production, in particular via the effects on erosion and hydrology, which modify the pressure exerted at the Earth's surface on the deep layers. Although we have been aware of the impact of volcanism on the climate for quite some time, the results presented in the study have disclosed that the opposite is also possible. "This pioneering work opens up new perspectives for interdisciplinary studies about the coupling between the solid Earth and the fluid Earth, and -- for example -- involving volcanologists, geomorphologists and climatologists," concludes Sternai.

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By Damali Mukhaye

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and other leaders from Kampala are today set to meet to forge a way forward on their campaign against the lifting of the presidential age limit.

Last week police foiled plans by the leaders to meet and agree on a position.

Some of the political leaders were arrested while others were blocked from leaving their homes.

The leaders had planned to match to the Constitution Square to launch their campaign dubbed Tojibikula which is loosely translated as dont open it- a campaign aimed at countering the proponents of the constitutional amendment to lift the age limit.

Speaking to KFM, Lukwago says they are to discuss a range of issues including the police brutality which was meted out against them.
A recent study, affiliated with UNIST has presented a new way to advance the click chemistry. This is expected to be used in various areas, such as the synthetic chemistry of new drugs, development of functional high-molecules, and bio-imaging.

In the study, the research team has introduced a new synthetic method to obtain a novel triazole structure, used for the production of drugs and high molecules. This breakthrough has gotten much attention as it is capable of producing triazoles using water as a solvent at room temperature, instead of using high-temperature organic solvent.

This study has been led by Professor Sung You Hong in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST in collaboration with Dr. Goncalo J. L. Bernardes' group at University of Cambridge, Professor Sebyung Kang in the School of Life Sciences, as well as Professor Jung-Min Kee, Professor Jan-Uwe Rohde and Professor Wonyoung Choe in the School of Natural Science at UNIST.

The name triazole refers to any of the heterocyclic compounds with molecular fomula C2H3N3 that contain five atoms within the ring structure. The presence of three nitrogen hetero-atoms in five-membered ring systems defines the class of triazole. One of these is the 1,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazole compounds, a new synthetic method developed by Karl Barry Sharpless, the 2001 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry and has been widely applied in various fields, such as pharmacology, biology, and materials science.

The Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is a chemical reaction to access 1,2,3-triazoles, yet it suffers from the low regioselectivity. The Sharpless group demonstrated an elegant copper-catalyzed method to yield 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles in high yields under the mild conditions. The copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) has become the key example of click chemistry and has been widely utilized in medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, polymer chemistry, and materials science.

In 2005, the ruthenium-based chemistry to access complementary 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles was reported. Yet, the RuAAC is often sensitive to air and moisture and it requires elevated temperatures.

In the study, the research team reported nickel-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction to afford 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles. The reactions proceed in water and air at room temperature. Authors employed nickelocene precatalyst and Xantphos ligand to react the building units, an organic azide and an alkyne.

"The NiAAC reaction is performed under the mild reaction conditions. Therefore this approach can be applied in various research fields including chemical biology and materials science," says Woo Gyum Kim in the Combined M.S/Ph.D. of Energy and Chemical Engineering, the first author of the study.

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This study has been supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), IT R&D program of MOTIE/KEIT, and UNIST fund. This NiAAC reaction was published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

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Journal Reference

Woo Gyum Kim, et al., "Nickel-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition To Access 1,5-Disubstituted 1,2,3-Triazoles in Air and Water," JACS (2017).

JooHyeon Heo

Public Relations Team

Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)

E. joohyeonheo@unist.ac.kr | T. 052 217 1223 | M. 010 3880 6622

Off: Main Administration Bldg. 201, Room 407
A team of researchers from the UK and Russia have successfully demonstrated that a type of 'magic dust' which combines light and matter can be used to solve complex problems and could eventually surpass the capabilities of even the most powerful supercomputers.

The researchers, from Cambridge, Southampton and Cardiff Universities in the UK and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Russia, have used quantum particles known as polaritons - which are half light and half matter - to act as a type of 'beacon' showing the way to the simplest solution to complex problems. This entirely new design could form the basis of a new type of computer that can solve problems that are currently unsolvable, in diverse fields such as biology, finance or space travel. The results are reported in the journal Nature Materials.

Our technological progress -- from modelling protein folding and behaviour of financial markets to devising new materials and sending fully automated missions into deep space -- depends on our ability to find the optimal solution of a mathematical formulation of a problem: the absolute minimum number of steps that it takes to solve that problem.

The search for an optimal solution is analogous to looking for the lowest point in a mountainous terrain with many valleys, trenches, and drops. A hiker may go downhill and think that they have reached the lowest point of the entire landscape, but there may be a deeper drop just behind the next mountain. Such a search may seem daunting in natural terrain, but imagine its complexity in high-dimensional space. "This is exactly the problem to tackle when the objective function to minimise represents a real-life problem with many unknowns, parameters, and constraints," said Professor Natalia Berloff of Cambridge's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, and the paper's first author.

Modern supercomputers can only deal with a small subset of such problems when the dimension of the function to be minimised is small or when the underlying structure of the problem allows it to find the optimal solution quickly even for a function of large dimensionality. Even a hypothetical quantum computer, if realised, offers at best the quadratic speed-up for the "brute-force" search for the global minimum.

Berloff and her colleagues approached the problem from an unexpected angle: What if instead of moving along the mountainous terrain in search of the lowest point, one fills the landscape with a magical dust that only shines at the deepest level, becoming an easily detectible marker of the solution?

"A few years ago our purely theoretical proposal on how to do this was rejected by three scientific journals," said Berloff. "One referee said, 'Who would be crazy enough to try to implement this?!' So we had to do it ourselves, and now we've proved our proposal with experimental data."

Their 'magic dust' polaritons are created by shining a laser at stacked layers of selected atoms such as gallium, arsenic, indium, and aluminium. The electrons in these layers absorb and emit light of a specific colour. Polaritons are ten thousand times lighter than electrons and may achieve sufficient densities to form a new state of matter known as a Bose-Einstein condensate, where the quantum phases of polaritons synchronise and create a single macroscopic quantum object that can be detected through photoluminescence measurements.

The next question the researchers had to address was how to create a potential landscape that corresponds to the function to be minimised and to force polaritons to condense at its lowest point. To do this, the group focused on a particular type of optimisation problem, but a type that is general enough so that any other hard problem can be related to it, namely minimisation of the XY model which is one of the most fundamental models of statistical mechanics. The authors have shown that they can create polaritons at vertices of an arbitrary graph: as polaritons condense, the quantum phases of polaritons arrange themselves in a configuration that correspond to the absolute minimum of the objective function.

"We are just at the beginning of exploring the potential of polariton graphs for solving complex problems," said co-author Professor Pavlos Lagoudakis, Head of the Hybrid Photonics Lab at the University of Southampton and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, where the experiments were performed. "We are currently scaling up our device to hundreds of nodes, while testing its fundamental computational power. The ultimate goal is a microchip quantum simulator operating at ambient conditions."

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Ticks are nasty little survivors, outlasting even dinosaurs as they resist drought, tolerate cold and go months without a meal.

They carry a host of diseases that they spread by plunging their barbed mouths into you like a grisly oil derrick. They're hard to remove and even harder to kill.

Is your skin crawling yet?

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are examining the tick's defenses, looking for ways to prevent tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease.

Biology students and professors in UC's McMicken College of Arts and Sciences are studying the distribution of ticks in southwest Ohio, the diseases they carry and their ability to withstand Midwest winters. Improving our understanding of these cringe-inducing parasites could help hikers, dog walkers and nature enthusiasts stay healthy.

"There are still so many things we don't know about ticks," said UC assistant professor Joshua Benoit, who is supervising the research. "They're known for transmitting even more diseases than mosquitoes."

Four species are found in southwest Ohio. They are shaped like a watermelon seed but can vary in size from a poppy seed to the head of a push pin, with eight legs and a hard, protective shell. Hungry for a meal, they climb to the tip of a blade of grass or twig and wave their extra-long, hook-tipped forelegs in the air, a behavior called "questing," until a rabbit, deer or human brushes past. They can detect carbon dioxide from their would-be host so they are ready to latch onto fur - or denim - if given a chance.

Ticks have ferocious barbed mouthparts like ratchets that allow them to pierce deeply into the skin and remain embedded while feeding on the host's blood. They transmit diseases through their saliva in the form of spirochetes, corkscrew-shaped bacteria that whirligig through the host's bloodstream.

Students in UC's Department of Biological Sciences regularly collect ticks at parks in Hamilton and Butler counties. Ticks are expensive to cultivate in a lab. They require a live host such as a mouse or rabbit. So for some studies, UC buys ticks from a lab at Oklahoma State University.

Surveillance research begins at UC's Center for Field Studies northwest of Cincinnati next to Miami Whitewater Forest. The field station is home to other UC research projects examining the natural world from native birds to butterflies.

On a recent morning, UC postdoctoral fellow Andrew Rosendale and students Alicia Fieler, Benjamin Davies and Madisen Kimbrel dragged flags made of fleece over bushes and meadows full of summer wildflowers to collect ticks for their study.

Davies, 19, of West Chester, Ohio, and a graduate of Lakota West High School, initially found ticks revolting for the same reasons everyone does. UC's biology labs also study cockroaches and mosquitoes.

"Among those three species, ticks were the best choice," he said. "And working at the field station is a good way to get outside and experience nature."

Fieler, 21, a graduate of the Cincinnati-area Oak Hills High School, wants to become a nurse practitioner. She has contributed to three published research papers on ticks so far as an undergraduate. The fieldwork at UC is giving her valuable experience both inside and outside the lab, she said.

"I've learned so much - lab techniques and even simple things like safety protocols and basic lab procedures, how to run assays and bring all the data together," she said. "Having this background in science will help me with future research as well."

Kimbrel, 20, a biology major from Monroe, Ohio, said studying a topic that has potential medical implications is a good research fit since she wants to pursue a career in medicine.

"It's great because you can take what you've learned in the classroom and apply it to the real world," she said.

Back at professor Benoit's biology lab, the students measure the levels of lipids, proteins and glycogen in the tick specimens. Higher fat content is an indication of good tick nutrition. And they can identify what diseases, if any, the ticks carry.

Once tick eggs hatch, the baby parasites seek a blood meal in each of their next three lifecycles: larvae, nymph and adult.

"They can transmit the disease at any stage of their life if they get infected. It's much more common to be bitten by an adult around here. But they can pick up the disease as a larvae or a nymph as well," UC's Rosendale said.

And they live for up to six years.

Rosendale, co-author of numerous studies on ticks, said the goal of the research is to find ways to slow or halt the spread of disease.

"We want to find better ways to kill them by studying the mechanisms of resistance of ticks to pesticides," he said.

Fossil evidence suggests ticks fed on dinosaurs and other Cretaceous creatures 90 million years ago. Today, ticks contract Lyme and other diseases from animals such as mice that serve as reservoirs for the bacteria.

"Ticks carry countless diseases. New ones are identified all the time," Benoit said.

Besides Lyme, ticks in many Midwestern and Northeastern states are known to carry diseases such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The bite of some lone star ticks in Kentucky and Indiana has been linked to an immune response that causes some people to become allergic to red meat, a disorder called alpha-gal.

"It's a bizarre condition. People talk about it but it's relatively rare," he said.

Doctors have to be vigilant about tick-borne illnesses, even those not commonly observed in this area, said Dr. Carl J. Fichtenbaum, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

"Lyme is uncommon here. We see a handful of cases each year," he said. "Someone goes to Cape Cod for vacation and gets bitten by a tick and comes back with an infection."

Typically, patients with Lyme complain of flu-like symptoms: headache, fever and achy joints or muscles, he said.

"They may get the characteristic bullseye rash around the bite, but that doesn't happen in everyone," he said.

Unlike mosquitoes, which transmit viruses such as West Nile or Zika in their bite, ticks transmit bacteria when they bite us, Fichtenbaum said.

"With tick-borne diseases, we don't have immunity to bacterial infections. We can get infected over and over again. Our body isn't capable of fending it off," he said.

A simple course of antibiotics cures most tick-borne diseases. Fichtenbaum said surveillance efforts such as UC's ongoing study are invaluable in helping doctors understand the likelihood of patients contracting diseases from local ticks.

"I think it's great to sample the population of animals and insects to understand zoonosis, disease transmitted by live animals," he said. "It's always good if we're keeping track of what's out there so we know the possibilities."

So far Lyme has not been found in the ticks Benoit's team has collected locally. But one species, the dog tick, is a known carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which causes headache and fever and, sometimes days later, a spotted rash. It's prevalent in Midwest and mid-Atlantic states.

Left untreated, tick-borne diseases can cause a cascade of problems from hearing loss to neurological complications.

Lyme disease affects far more people in the United States than any pathogen carried by mosquitoes in the United States.

About 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease was observed in patients across 40 states in 2015. But this does not capture all diagnosed cases - or the many suspected cases that go undiagnosed each year, the agency said. A 2015 study by the CDC used medical-insurance claims between 2005 and 2010 to estimate that 329,000 people contract Lyme each year in the United States.

"The vast majority of research into tick-borne illness is where Lyme disease is prevalent - in the Northeast and upper Midwest," UC's Rosendale said. "It hasn't received a lot of attention in Ohio because historically Lyme disease hasn't been as common. We didn't have the blacklegged tick here. But recently we've been seeing more and more of that species and so Lyme disease is becoming more of an issue."

Anyone who has plucked a tick off a pants leg knows they are tough. But UC research is demonstrating just how hardy they are.

A UC study published in 2016 by the journal Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases suggests that ticks have little problem surviving a typical Ohio winter. Benoit, Rosendale and their student co-authors examined the cold tolerance of the American dog tick by exposing them to temperatures as cold as -9 degrees Fahrenheit. They determined that no ticks survived more than two hours at that temperature. But ticks could withstand temperatures just above 0 degrees and most survived temperatures in the 20s for at least two weeks.

The same group co-authored another study in the Journal of Experimental Biology that found that ticks could withstand long periods of drought, enduring dehydration even when they go without food for as long as 18 weeks.

Some tick species appear to be expanding their range, which means the diseases they carry could be an emerging concern, Rosendale said.

"We expect to see more reported cases of Lyme disease," he added. "Warmer temperatures and milder winters are allowing them to survive. We're seeing a change in population distribution and increases in numbers as well."

Local parks are paying close attention to the UC research. As part of the permit, UC agreed to share its surveillance findings.

"It is a public health issue. We want to be aware of what we have in our parks - if there are diseases present and how people can protect themselves," said Zurijanne Carter, natural resources specialist for the Great Parks of Hamilton County.

The park district occasionally gets calls from residents concerned about disease after finding a tick, she said.

"The research UC is doing would go a long way toward knowing more about ticks in Ohio," Carter said. "It's similar research in how we monitor mosquito-borne illness."

Benoit has published research on a variety of parasites, including tsetse flies. He traveled to Antarctica this year to study a different kind of arthropod, mites.

But ticks abide even there, in one of the most hostile and remote parts of the planet. They live off - what else? - penguins.

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Researchers at the University of Delaware are looking into what causes that gut feeling in livestock animals such as cows and chickens.

Ryan Arsenault, assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences in UD's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), arrived at UD in 2015 and since that time, he has worked to set up a lab looking specifically at the gut health of production livestock animals.

Members of Arsenault's lab -- specifically Bridget Aylward, a doctoral level student in CANR, and Casey Johnson, a Master's level student in CANR -- have presented their findings at international conferences such as the European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition in Spain as well as Keystone conferences in Banff, Canada and Dublin, Ireland.

Arsenault said that gut health is a big topic in agriculture as many researchers are looking for alternatives to antibiotics which are almost all focused on the gut.

"We can't use antibiotics like we used to in food animals," said Arsenault. "Antibiotics have been used in animal agriculture to keep animals disease free and grow larger. In Europe, it's totally gone, has been for years and years, and it's getting pulled more and more from the American market so things like probiotics, pre-biotics, post-biotics, feed additives and feed enzymes, everyone's looking at those as this silver bullet to solve the antibiotic alternative issue."

Many of his research projects are funded by industry and look at mode of action and mechanisms for antibiotic alternatives such as yeast cell wall extracts, feed enzymes and feed modifiers.

The trend towards no-antibiotics basically boils down to two main points: the concerns regarding antibiotic resistance that bacteria develop and the negative perception consumers have with regards to the use of antibiotics in animals.

Arsenault said that the gut is important to understand because it's the center of animal production.

"You need an efficient gut because that's where all the nutrients are absorbed. You're not going to have a growing animal without a functioning healthy gut and it's also the site of entry for a lot of disease causing pathogens," said Arsenault. "It's linked to pretty much every other system. For example, the second most innervated organ in the body besides the brain is the gut."

There is also a huge immune component as more than 50 percent of the immune system is found in the gut.

"The gut is sort of this nexus of everything," said Arsenault. "It's basically your gut microbiota -- the resident commensal bacteria in your gut -- are a big part of being healthy. If you have the 'good' bacteria in your gut, you're more likely to be resistant to infections, your gut's functioning more efficiently, you can maintain a healthier weight. Diseases like Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative colitis are, people think, predominantly microbiota related."

The acquisition of a microbiome as a young chick, baby calf or a baby human has consequences for an entire life span because of how it helps develop an appropriate immune system and an appropriate immune response.

For instance, a lot of allergies and autoimmune diseases are linked to how one acquires a microbiome in infancy.

Arsenault said that his lab is interested in looking into how chickens or cows acquire a healthy or unhealthy microbiome and what signals this is providing to the host animal, which feeds into the probiotics question of what the animals should be fed in order to give them a healthy microbiota so their immune system is optimum and they're absorbing the optimum nutrients.

Focusing on the gut is a trend in human health as well, as probiotics have taken off in popularity and the work being done in Arsenault's lab ties into the One Health concept, the idea that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment. The most common type of zoonotic disease -- diseases that can be passed from animals to humans--are classified as zoonotic gastrointestinal diseases, this includes Salmonella, E.coli and Campylobacter.

For their presentations, Johnson and Aylward both focused on issues related to the gut.

Johnson looked at feed additives as alternatives to antibiotics and how they respond with necrotic enteritis, or inflammatory dead gut disease, in chickens which is a huge problem facing the Delmarva poultry industry due to antibiotic feed restrictions.

"We were looking at their products which is crude yeast cell wall extracts which trigger immune receptors and we were looking at the purified forms of these yeasts cell wall extracts and at the differences and the efficacies of these as antibiotic alternatives. The more purified products seemed to have a better response," said Johnson.

Because yeast is a fungus and not a bacteria, they initiate and bind to different receptors in the gut and do different things to the immune system than bacteria.

Arsenault explained that there's been a lot of work in poultry on yeast feed additives as immune modulators because "They're not really stimulating the immune system, they're not dampening the immune system, they're kind of priming or modulating it."

Aylward's poster presentation in Banff looked at pattern recognition receptors, which are receptors in the immune system that recognize a specific universal microbe motif such as a set of nucleic acids in a form only found in bacteria, with regards to chicken macrophage cell lines.

A macrophage is a large cell found in stationary form in the tissues or as a mobile white blood cell, especially at sites of infection.

The macrophages were treated with butyrate -- considered a post-biotic -- and forskolin -- a plant extract that people use as a weight loss supplement.

Aylward worked on the kinome array analysis of how signaling in the cells changed after administration of these different feed additives.

Her presentation in Dublin looked at eight random dairy cows that were free of pathogens to establish the baseline normal immune cell signaling in the gut of those cows.

In addition to his research on gut health, Arsenault is also on the organizing board of the annual Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals, an international conference on all aspects of gut health for all food animal species. He has been invited to speak on the topic of gut health in Brazil, Spain, Canada and the U.S. and co-edited an e-book on gut health research.

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences also has Amy Biddle, assistant professor of animal and food sciences, who co-teaches a gut microbiome microbial and host perspectives class with Arsenault.

Biddle's work includes the Equine Gut Microbiome project in which her lab is tackling many of the fundamental questions behind the role of bacteria in the horse gut in health and disease.

Robert Dyer, associate professor in ANFS, and Tanya Gressley, associate professor and dairy nutritionist in ANFS, are also looking carefully at the gut health of animals.

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A new technique that targets drugs to specific cells could lead to improved therapies for diseases caused by an overactive immune response.

The approach could help people affected by conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases, where the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues.

Researchers focused on a group of immune cells called macrophages - some of which help the body heal after injury, while others can promote harmful inflammation.

The team at the University of Edinburgh sought to devise a new therapy to remove harmful macrophages while leaving healing cells unaffected

They coupled a drug compound to a carrier molecule that only becomes active in acidic conditions, such as those found inside harmful macrophages.

A fluorescent tag attached to the molecules enabled the team to track the cells affected by the drug.

Lab tests on human macrophages showed the treatment preferentially affected inflammatory macrophages and did not affect healing cells.

Studies with zebrafish, which share features of their immune system with people, found the treatment helped to improve the recovery of tissues after injury.

The team hopes their approach could lead to more effective therapies, with fewer side effects, for the treatment of immune-related diseases.

Their research was published in the journal ACS Central Science.

Dr Marc Vendrell, of the Medical Research Council Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh, who led the study, said: "This is an important step forward in the design of more precise drugs with fewer side effects. In future studies, we want to exploit this technology to improve the treatment of diseases in which macrophages and immune cells are important."

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The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Engineering has received a grant to provide scholarships, mentoring and internship opportunities to academically-talented, low-income engineering undergraduates. The goal of the scholarship program is to have students graduate into STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) advanced degree programs or secure jobs in STEM fields within six months of leaving UIC.

The $975,000 National Science Foundation grant will support a total of 30 incoming freshmen engineering students who start in either fall 2018 or fall 2019. Students from low-income households will be encouraged to apply for the scholarship program based on their high school grades and ACT or SAT scores.

"There's nothing more important to the College of Engineering than student success, and engineering and computer science education is an economic escalator for students coming from challenging economic backgrounds," said Peter Nelson, professor of computer science and dean of the UIC College of Engineering. "Our programs, including this new one sponsored by the National Science Foundation, provide a clear path to the upper middle-class and beyond for our students."

The UIC College of Engineering designed the new program in response to growing evidence suggesting that students from low-income backgrounds have lower graduation rates and are less likely to find jobs in their respective fields than their peers from higher-income families. "Lots of research shows that college success is dependent, in large part, on family income," said Houshang Darabi, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering and director of undergraduate studies in the UIC College of Engineering.

"Students who are the first in their families to go to college don't have parents that can talk to them about what it's like going to college to prepare them for the experience, and those parents are also often at a loss when it comes to providing guidance on finding a job in their child's chosen field," said Darabi, who is also the principal investigator on the grant. "This puts these students at a real disadvantage, and the goal of this new scholarship program is to try to reduce the disparities in graduation rates and job placements between our students from high- and low-income backgrounds."

In addition to providing scholarships toward tuition estimated to average $5,000 per student, scholars selected for the program will participate in activities in the summer before their first fall semester at UIC. In the summer bridge program, scholars will be matched with a student and a faculty mentor who will provide academic guidance, as well as an industry mentor who will provide career guidance. Scholars will also participate in paid summer internships either at a UIC engineering lab, or in one of more than 100 Chicago area companies.

"These internships are in addition to the UIC College of Engineering Guaranteed Paid Internship Program offered to every incoming freshman or transfer student," Darabi said.

In their sophomore and junior years, scholars will engage in service learning projects. "These projects focus the students on solving community problems using engineering concepts," said Darabi. "The goal of the service learning projects is to help build up each scholar's sense of identity as an engineer and cement the idea in them that engineers are people who have a lot to contribute towards improving the day-to-day lives of people. This is a very important concept for them to have. It also goes a long way towards improving graduation rates and the likelihood that these scholars will secure jobs in their chosen fields."

Darabi will closely monitor the program, and hopes that if it is successful, it can be made available to more students going forward.

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Nelson, Jeremiah Abiade, Ludwig C. Nitsche and Renata Revelo Alonso in the UIC College of Engineering are co-investigators on the grant.
Toronto - In the era of a renewed spotlight on offshore tax havens, a new study suggests U.S. tax reporting rules still make it easy for corporations to quietly shift and shelter profits in low-tax jurisdictions, avoiding public scrutiny.

Reviewing 12 years of public reporting data for U.S. multinationals, researchers found companies with more extensive operations in known tax havens were much more likely to group and report their foreign earnings by broader categories, rather than reporting by individual country. It is perfectly legal. U.S. corporate tax rules require companies to disclose which countries they are operating in. But the companies don't have to provide details as to how much they are earning in each place. Instead, they are allowed to -- and usually do -- report their foreign earnings more generally, such as by region, continent or even "total foreign earnings."

That makes it harder for watchdogs and other stakeholders to track earnings and ask hard questions, including which companies may be attempting to dodge higher taxes, by claiming more earnings in lower-tax havens.

Rather than pointing out potential tax cheats, "we are more interested in whether outsiders can learn anything about these activities from the information companies must provide. I think the quick answer to that is, 'Not too much, unfortunately,'" says Ole-Kristian Hope, the Deloitte Professor and a professor of accounting at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. Prof. Hope conducted the study with Herita Akamah of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Wayne B. Thomas of the University of Oklahoma.

The researchers are not aware of any other large-scale study like theirs. The study analyzed financial reporting data between 1998 and 2010 for every company incorporated in the U.S. Researchers manually sifted through the information to catalogue the countries where firms said they operated and compared that to how they disclosed and grouped their earnings.

In addition to their main finding, the study also found that larger companies, those working in natural resources, retail, or in industries with low competition were especially likely to stay vague about where they were claiming their earnings.

The results support calls by some policymakers and non-governmental organizations for U.S. tax authorities to require country-by-country earnings reporting in order to identify companies' tax avoidance practices.

"Just as in other aspects of firms' disclosure practices, most multinationals are loath to disclose something that may work against them, unless they are absolutely forced to," Prof. Hope said.

Reports show the use of tax sheltering has grown significantly over the last 20 years. The use of sheltering in key tax havens has shifted from just over 13 percent of foreign earnings among U.S. multinationals in 1998, to nearly 26 percent in 2010, according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data. An estimated $100 billion a year has been lost in tax revenue due to use of tax havens by Fortune 500 companies, reports the U.S.-based Citizens for Tax Justice.

The paper will be published in the Journal of International Business Studies.

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It has become an almost essential element of academic life, from college lecture halls to elementary classrooms: the group assignment.

Dreaded by some, loved by others, group projects typically aim to build teamwork and accountability while students learn about a topic. But depending on the assignment and the structure of the groups, a project can turn out to be a source of great frustration -- for instructor and students alike -- or the highlight of the school year.

Now a University of Washington-led study of college students has found that the social dynamics of a group, such as whether one person dominates the conversation or whether students work with a friend, affect academic performance. Put simply, the more comfortable students are, the better they do, which yields benefits beyond the classroom.

"They learn more," explained Elli Theobald, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biology and the lead author on the study, published July 20 in PLOS ONE. "Employers are rating group work as the most important attribute in new recruits and new hires. If students are able to demonstrate that they have worked successfully in groups, it would seem that they should be more likely to land the job."

Theobald is part of the UW's Biology Education Research Group lab, formed by several faculty members in the Department of Biology about a decade ago to research how to most effectively teach biology to undergraduates.

A separate study by the BERG lab on group work, published in the July issue of Active Learning in Higher Education, finds that college students, when given a choice of whom to sit and work with in a large classroom setting, gravitate toward those who appear most like them -- whether by gender, race and ethnicity, or academic skills.

Over the years, research spanning K-12 through post-secondary education has pointed to the value of group work in fostering collaborative skills and in cementing learning through interaction. In the sciences, labs are a common, though not the only, form of group work, Theobald said. As with many disciplines, STEM fields lend themselves to readings, worksheets and other activities that can be completed by multiple people working together.

For this study, researchers compared survey responses and test scores stemming from two different project styles -- single-group and "jigsaw" -- with three assignments each during two sections of an introductory biology class at the UW. Each of the 770 students enrolled in one of the two sections of the course experienced each project style at least once. In a single-group activity, student groups completed a worksheet together, relying on their notes and textbooks. In a jigsaw, student groups were assigned specific sections of the worksheet; students then were shuffled to new groups in which each person in the group had completed a different section of the worksheet and could teach their new groupmates what they had learned. Students took an eight-question test after each assignment.

The study found that students who reported a "dominator" in the group fared worse on the tests than those who didn't express that concern. It also found that students who said they were comfortable in their group performed better than those who said they were less comfortable.

The jigsaw activity appeared to result in more collaboration: Students were 67 percent less likely to report a dominator in jigsaws than in single-group activities. "This suggests that jigsaw activities with intentional structure more effectively promote equity than group activities with less intentional structure," researchers wrote.

The nearly 770 students who completed all the assignments, tests and surveys had formed two- and three-person groups with those who sat near them in class. (Jigsaw assignments later shuffled initial groups.) Two-thirds of participants were female; people of color, including students who identify as Asian, Under-Represented Minority, and International, made up more than half of respondents.

While the gender and racial and ethnic makeup of the participants informed the study, Theobald said, researchers don't have details on who worked with whom so as to extrapolate from the composition of groups. For instance, were the experiences of women who worked with men different from those of women who worked in all-female groups? If a group contained only one person of color, what was that person's experience compared to the rest of the group? That kind of information is ripe for further research, Theobald said.

However, one noticeable data point emerged: International and Asian American students were six times as likely to report a dominator than white American students. "Not all students experience group work the same way," researchers wrote in the study. "If one student dominates a conversation, it can be particularly jarring to students from cultural backgrounds that place more emphasis on introspection and thinking on one's own as opposed to a direct relationship between talking as a way to work through ideas."

Though the data was collected from college students, the findings translate to other settings, Theobald said. She pointed to a study Google conducted to determine what made groups successful -- establishing group routines and expectations ("norms") and adding a brief window at the beginning of work time for casual talk. Such findings, along with those of the UW study, can inform employers as well as K-12 teachers about productive group work, she said.

The younger the students, the more structure a teacher is likely to have to establish, Theobald added. But when teachers make an assignment sufficiently interesting and complex, and manage student behavior, there is a potential for students to work together happily and productively.

"If we can get our groups to be more comfortable, students should learn better and work better," Theobald said.

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The National Science Foundation funded the study.

Co-authors on the paper were Alison Crowe, principal lecturer in biology, and Benjamin Wiggins, faculty coordinator for biology instruction, both at the UW; Sarah Eddy of Florida International University; and Daniel Grunspan of Arizona State University.

For more information, contact Theobald at ellij@uw.edu.
The University of Washington is home to a new national center of excellence for research, education and training in materials science. The Molecular Engineering Materials Center is funded by a $15.6 million, six-year grant from the National Science Foundation as part of its highly competitive Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) program. The UW center is a partnership among UW faculty from the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering, the Clean Energy Institute (CEI) and the Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute (MolES).

The new center builds on the UW's record of innovative, collaborative and cross-disciplinary research in the materials sciences, and on a legacy of timely institutional and state investments in materials research at the UW. Initial research will focus on nanocrystals and thin films -- toward goals such as developing new materials for applications in clean energy, photonics and quantum computing.

"The primary goal of the UW MRSEC is to empower the next generation of science and engineering leaders," said center director and UW chemistry professor Daniel Gamelin. "This will involve engaging and supporting students and postdoctoral researchers -- and giving them the research and educational experiences, training and cross-disciplinary mentorship that they will need to forge careers on the cutting edge of materials science."

The center will embark on new research and training endeavors to:

Pursue so-called "moonshot" projects, which are research endeavors with potentially high payoff, but are generally beyond the feasibility of smaller research grants awarded to individual professors.

Implement new cross-disciplinary training and mentorship programs for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, including opportunities to conduct research with the center's industrial and international partners, and with partners at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and at other National Laboratories run by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Broaden educational and research opportunities for UW students and researchers, including advanced training on new equipment purchased with center funds.

Expand outreach and mentorship efforts to high school students from underrepresented minorities to encourage them to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education as undergraduates.

Implement comprehensive outreach efforts to recruit military veterans at the UW and at local community colleges into research and education for STEM careers.

Provide support for additional doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.

The center's inaugural team of 15 faculty come from a variety of disciplines across engineering and the physical sciences. In addition to their home departments in the College of Engineering and the College of Arts & Sciences, 10 are also faculty members in the CEI and 11 in the MolES. This diverse cohort reflects the center's goal to foster novel and innovative collaborations across traditionally separate disciplines.

The center will make use of existing research and education space across the UW campus, including in the Molecular Engineering & Sciences Building. The CEI and the MolES, both of which are headquartered in that building, will provide access to equipment for center research and training.

The center's outreach activities -- both within the UW and around the region -- emphasize education and training for materials science careers. Each year it will host a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program for students from around the country to conduct research with a UW faculty member during the summer. In addition, center scientists will mentor pre-college students from underrepresented minority groups, providing support and resources to help prepare them for college and encourage them to pursue STEM education. In an entirely new endeavor, the center also will set up programs to engage veterans in center research, very few of whom pursue STEM education and careers.

"With this NSF support, the center will bring new opportunities in STEM education to groups that are underrepresented in STEM careers," said UW professor of materials science and engineering Christine Luscombe, who is the center's executive director for education and outreach. "Programs like these are expanding access to science."

The center will focus on two broad research areas, in nanocrystals and thin films.

The first goal, co-led by Gamelin and Luscombe and including eight initial faculty members, is to pursue new approaches to engineer defects in nanocrystals such as semiconductor quantum dots. Though "defects" often have a negative connotation, in materials science they are opportunities to create substances with novel and technologically attractive properties. Precisely targeted defects or impurities, for example, could make a substance cool down -- rather than heat up -- when hit by a laser. These new materials could also lead to products such as solar-concentrating window films that absorb photons from sunlight and shunt them to photovoltaic cells for energy conversion.

The center's other focus is the creation of new ultrathin semiconductor materials with unique properties. This team will include seven initial faculty, and is co-led by associate professor of physics and materials science and engineering Xiaodong Xu and assistant professor of physics and electrical engineering Kai-Mei Fu. This research creates thin sheets of materials -- often just one layer of atoms thick -- and investigates the unique quantum-mechanical properties revealed when these sheets are layered together. These layered materials could form the basis of new ultrathin semiconductors for applications in clean energy, optoelectronics and other applications. In fact, using this approach, one UW team recently discovered a 2-D magnetic material.

"We chose nanocrystals and ultrathin semiconductors because they promise to yield basic, fundamental and impactful discoveries in materials science," said Gamelin. "And those advances will fuel new innovations and applications in growing industries -- from quantum computing to clean energy."

###

Gamelin, Xu and Fu -- along with assistant professor of chemistry Brandi Cossairt and electrical engineering professor Scott Dunham -- represented the UW team in Washington, D.C., during the final leg of the multi-stage competition for NSF-MRSEC support. Funding for the UW's Molecular Engineering Materials Center began Sept. 1. The NSF supports 20 MRSECs across the nation, and the UW's is one of only two on the West Coast.

For more information, contact Gamelin at gamelin@chem.washington.edu or 206-685-0901.
DALLAS  Sept. 25, 2017  Do you really need that MRI?

Your doctor may order an MRI based on factors other than your actual medical need for imaging, researchers in UT Southwesterns Center for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research found. Their study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that a physicians prior image-ordering habits, as well as ownership of the equipment, were strong indicators of unnecessary imaging orders.

Whether or not you get unnecessary imaging is partly explained by how much unnecessary imaging the clinician orders in general and whether or not the clinician owns the imaging equipment, said lead author Dr. Arthur Hong, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Sciences at UT Southwestern Medical Center. For patients who got an MRI but did not need one, which doctor they went to mattered more than the injury or symptom that they had. With people more on the hook for the costs of their care, its increasingly important for physicians to offer financially responsible care.

Uncomplicated back pain and uncomplicated headaches are two of the most common reasons patients with health insurance received low-value, or unnecessary, imaging such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Previous studies have shown that this kind of wasteful care may account for up to one-third of all medical expenditures. In addition, low-value services can trigger downstream cascades of unnecessary care and clinical harm, said Dr. Hong, a Texas Health Resources Clinical Scholar.

The JAMA Internal Medicine study examined the records and characteristics of 100,977 primary care physicians, specialist physicians, and chiropractors in search of predictors for unnecessary back pain and headache image ordering. They found:

Chiropractors and specialists were more frequent back pain imagers.

Primary care physicians who ordered more back pain imaging also ordered more headache imaging.

Next steps for researchers include examining other nonclinical factors that continue to influence clinician practice habits, and ultimately exploring how to help patients and clinicians make better clinical decisions together.

###

The study was completed in partnership with researchers from Harvard Medical Schools Department of Population Medicine at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

The UT Southwestern Center for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, established in 2013, helps facilitate studies designed to ensure delivery of high-quality, patient-centered, evidence-based, equitable care. The Center was established through a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). AHRQs mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other partners to ensure that the evidence is understood and used.

About UT Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institutions faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 22 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 18 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The faculty of more than 2,700 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, 600,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year.

###

This news release is available on our website at http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/news.

To automatically receive news releases from UT Southwestern via email, subscribe at http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/receivenews.
Kenyas Electoral Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati has sacked his personal assistant over leakage of information from his office.

According to Daily Nation Chebukati dismissed Gekara Muoni last evening for allegedly being behind the leakages after his two memos to Chief Executive Ezra Chiloba regarding the bungled presidential election got to the media.

In one of the memos last week, the electoral commission chairman demanded the suspension of the ICT director James Muhati, and coordinator Paul Mugo after efforts to send them home failed during a plenary of commissioners.

The sacking of Mr Muoni now brings to three the number of personal assistants sent home by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissions chair since February this year.

All these come as Kenya prepares for re-election scheduled for October 26 2017.
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I am surprised by how often grantmakers see their role as funder, but not as a provider of services for which there are customers. True, the philanthropic customer is different than a business customer. As a foundation, youre not selling a consumer good, but you are selling ideas, change, and a belief that communities can and should become better. And just as a private business needs customers to buy its products or services to keep its operation going, foundations need customers to buy into their missions and be willing to work as partners to achieve them.

Philanthropic customers include the nonprofits you serve, donors (especially if youre a community foundation), community partners, and even other funders who might align their work with yours. Board members, political leaders, and other community members may be customers as well.

For each of these customer bases, its critical that you build relationships that are mutually beneficial and foster a sense of trust. For nonprofit customers, that could mean simplifying and streamlining your grantmaking experience. For donors, it could mean creating an easy-to-use interface or providing opportunities for education and engagement. For all customers, it means being crystal clear about your mission, vision and goals so that they can see how their work aligns with yours and why you value their contributions.

I could go into greater detail about potential customer relationships and how to build them, but instead Ill share the following challenge. It was developed by my friend Noah Fleming, who knows a thing or two about customer service from his work as a business growth consultant and author of The Customer Loyalty Loop. Ive adapted it here for philanthropy.

Customer Service Challenge for the Week:

Ask everyone on your team (staff, trustees, your spouse) to write down a list of all your foundations customers, then identify the top 3-5 most important elements of the customers experience. For example, what are the 3-5 points that define your relationship with a potential grantee? A current grantee? A donor? A board member? A community leader? Determine key expectations for each customer interaction. What can and should they expect from your team? Then ask your team to write down exactly how they are meeting or exceeding those expectations. (If your staff is larger, be sure to compare answers across different departments within your foundation. Program, accounting, grants management, communications and other staff may have very different perspectives.) Identify areas for improvement and make plans to tackle them. Create a way to measure customer satisfaction going forward to help you continually inform and improve your practice. This could be anything from an annual broad customer satisfaction survey to a quick poll at the end of an online grant proposal submission process.

And never forget  customer service is ultimately about the golden rule. Treat your customers the way youd like to be treated if you were in their shoes. Youll end up with a wealth of grantees, partners and supporters who are strong allies for achieving your mission.

 2017 Kris Putnam-Walkerly. All rights reserved. Permission granted to excerpt or reprint with attribution.

______________________________________________________________________

Kris Putnam-Walkerly, MSW, has helped to transform the impact of top global philanthropies for over 18 years. A member of the Million Dollar Consultant Hall of Fame and named one of Americas Top 25 Philanthropy Speakers. Author of the award-winning book Confident Giving: Sage Advice for Funders, which was named one of The 10 Best Corporate Social Responsibility Books. For more ways to improve your giving, visit Putnam Consulting Group.

______________________________________________________________________

Trusted Philanthropic Advisor

Kris Putnam-Walkerly serves as a trusted advisor to foundation leaders and high-wealth donors across the globe. As an advisor, Kris transfers learning to leaders and their teams so they have the ability to build their own internal capacity to be successful in their work. Kriss clients report immediate and dramatic improvement in both personal performance and philanthropic impact.

Whether you are the CEO of a larger foundation, the sole staff member charged with decision-making, or a high-net worth donor, the questions Kris can address cover a broad spectrum of professional and personal issues. As an advising client, youll have unlimited access to Kris during regular business hours by phone, Skype, email and, when desired, face to face. With over 18 years of experience working with top global philanthropies, Kris understands how to build an impactful organization that integrates your philanthropic passions and the challenges that must be overcome to get there.

Learn more about this and other services offered or contact Kris today to begin a trusted advisor relationship.

Upcoming Speaking Events

Looking for a provocative yet practical speaker at your next event? Kris Putnam-Walkerly was named one of Americas Top 25 Philanthropy Speakers in 2016 and 2017. Learn more or book Kris today for your next conference or event.

September 27, 2017  Philanthropy West Virginia Annual Conference

Avoiding Delusional Altruism: How to Create a Legacy of Impact, Respect, and Value

October 16, 2017  CONNECT Conference, Exponent Philanthropy, Denver

Out of Your Bubble and Into Your Community

October 19, 2017  National Forum on Family Philanthropy

Achieving EquityHow Exactly?

November 14, 2017  Southeastern Council on Foundations Annual Conference, Trustees-Only Luncheon, Orlando, FL

How Will Trustees Lead Into the Future?

Book Kris for your next conference or event!
by Anthony Cervino | Sun, Sep 24th 7:09pm EDT

Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed (chest/ foot/ toe) is officially inactive for Week 3. (Redskins on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact:

Reed is officially ruled out for Sunday night's matchup against the Raiders with multiple injuries that includes his chest, foot and toe. In Reed's absence, Vernon Davis will enter step into the Redskins' TE1 spot for Week 3. Since Davis had had success in this offense in the past while Reed was sidelined, he could be an upside last-minute spot start for Reed owners.
Agribusiness analysts have revealed predictions that New Zealand is set to increase milk production by 4.5% when compared to the previous season.

According to Informas Agribusiness Intelligence, this comes at a time when dairy prices are increasing worldwide and panic orders continue across the EU.

Following a price crisis for world dairy farmers earlier in the decade, global prices for milk and other dairy products look set to grow strongly during 2017.

As demand outstrips increases in supply on international markets, global prices are predicted to roughly 30%, according to predictions from Informa.

As prices began to recover in the latter half of 2016, dairy production has seen an increase across the worlds biggest producers.

Despite an EU initiative to incentivise a reduction in output, milk production across the bloc still increased by 0.5% during 2016.

However more significant is the increase in dairy supply from New Zealand, where dairy output is expected to increase by 4.5% compared to the previous season.

China and infant milk forumla

Dairy demand had been predicted to surge due to the ending of Chinas One Child Policy in 2015.

During 2016, there were 16.9 million new births in China, an increase of 470,000 (or 2.78%) compared to the year before. This baby boom was expected to lead to a surge in demand for infant milk formula (IMF).

However, the increase in births and demand for IMF has not been as great as many expected and increased concern that China is over leveraged are suggesting that prices may cool in the latter half of 2017.

Weather remains a key concern

Informas Agribusiness Intelligence is predicting prices will face pressure later in the year as Oceania producers respond to favourable farm level margins and as rising commodity prices hamper demand as work their way through the supply chain.

However, if weather is unfavourable in Oceania during their peak production season, the dairy market will be in for a turbulent ride as supplies remain tighter than most market participants had expected.

Dairy prices have been soaring as buyers across the EU place panic orders, and there has already been talk of butter shortages by Christmas, commented Nate Payton, ?Director of Dairy Services at Informas IEG Vantage.

The good news is that the global market is beginning to respond, and an increase in supply from New Zealand and the US should go some way to cooling prices and filling the demand by the end of the year.
TV chef Mary Berry led twenty sheep across London Bridge in the annual Great Sheep Drive, an event to promote the British wool industry.

The peculiar event sees some 600 of London's Freemen of the City exercise their ancient right to drive the animals over the bridge.

Ms Berry was made a Freeman of the City in 2014. The event raises money for the Lord Mayor's Appeal.

It dates back to the 12th century, when traders were allowed to enter the City without paying a toll.

The ancient re-enactment is organised by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen as part of the annual Wool Fair, which hopes to throw a spotlight on the British lamb and wool industry.

They aim to promote the wool industry and interest in wool, wool products, sheep farming, shearing, wool production and textiles and design; research into appropriate veterinary procedures and practices; education relevant to the wool industry; and to promote the City of London in general and the Livery movement in particular.

Bill Clark, past master of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, said: "Sheep driving is a tradition rooted in more than 800 years of history. London Bridge was, in medieval times, the only crossing of the Thames and the sole route into the City for trading.

"As a Freeman of the City of London, you were not allowed to trade without paying taxes but also granted the right to bring the tools of your trade into the City itself.

"These days, the City trades more in stocks and share than lamb and wool, but Sundays event will enable us to re-connect with the past, and underlines Londons historic and continuing pre-eminence in world trade."
Dairy giant Muller will invest 100m over the next three years to develop a new generation of products, made from milk produced by British farmers.

Muller said it aims to strengthen in some parts of the dairy category, and expand into areas where it is not currently present.

Plans for expanding its yogurt and desserts business are guided by a category vision which identified a potential 233m of yogurt and desserts category growth by 2020.

To accommodate its plans, Muller aims to upgrade its three dairy processing sites in Shropshire, including doubling the size of the Telford facility by 2020.

It said it will also increase marketing spend by almost 25% over the next three years.

'Vibrant future'

Bergen Merey, Managing Director of Muller Yogurt & Desserts said it wants to build a "vibrant future" for British dairy.

This unprecedented level of investment will ensure that we can offer an increasing portfolio of great yogurt and desserts products made in Britain with milk from British farmers, which meet the needs of our customers.

Mullers approach in the UK within the yogurt and desserts and milk and ingredients sectors, is to grow our capabilities so that we can reduce the UKs dependence on imported dairy products, and build a vibrant future for the British dairy industry.

'Huge opportunities'

The announcement comes just one week after the AHDB said there are "huge opportunities" for UK dairy.

But AHDBs Head of Strategic Insight David Swales warned that to take advantage, UK industry would need to catch up with its global competitors with a targeted exports strategy and more competitive production base.

He said: The key challenge for the whole industry is how we can become more competitive, improve efficiency, drive down costs and align supply chains effectively so we can take advantage of these opportunities.

With the UK a massive net importer of dairy products, displacing some of these imports with domestic product was also identified as a big opportunity but requiring investment in processing capacity.
Northern Irish farmers will be 'disappointed' that the BVD incentivisation scheme is closing on 30 September, as a farming union urges farmers to submit their claim forms.

The Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) incentivisation scheme aims to remove persistently infected animals from herds and was pushed for by the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU).

We wanted schemes that would ensure the EU Exceptional Adjustment Aid (EAA) funding was used strategically and delivered benefits across our livestock sectors, Ulster Farmers Union deputy president Victor Chestnutt explained.

We wanted to see the aid package used in a way that provided genuine and lasting benefits to the industry.

The BVD, pig health and the soil sampling schemes, all delivered under the EAA, are excellent examples of what industry and government can achieve when we work together.

'Positive impact'

During the first seven months of the scheme, over 1,070 claims for PI calves were submitted. Mr Chestnutt said that the scheme has had a positive impact on the ground.

Persistently infected animals are being removed earlier and the scheme has helped farmers cope with the costs.

However, figures from the scheme indicate that a small number of farmers are holding on to persistently infected calves. The UFU said it is possible that more awareness raising needs to be done about the financial and welfare risks associated with BVD.

Research shows that retaining a single PI animal doubles the risk of having further PIs the following year. Less than 20% of PIs make it to a productive age, Mr Chesnutt explained.

Given this, it is highly recommended that any BVD PI animal is removed as quickly as possible, with or without an incentive scheme.

The UFU has supported calls for herd restrictions for farmers who retain PI animals. Ultimately, we want to see this preventable disease eradicated as quickly as possible.
Rosie Jeffries from Greatworth Hall, Oxfordshire has been acclaimed as the overall winner of the Bayer Farming and Countryside Education (Face) Awards for giving school children farm education.

The awards help celebrate the best in food and farming education across Britain.

Rosie Jeffries was one of five winners at a lunch in Londons Banking Hall in front of over a hundred guests from the world of agriculture and education, having earlier scooped the Farm School Partnership Award.

This award is presented to a farm or organisation which is making an outstanding contribution to improving young peoples understanding of the food and farming sector.

First-hand

Greatworth Hall, a 200ha arable farm, explains that children should experience farming and the countryside first-hand.

Farm Education Centre Manager and shepherd Rosie Jefferies has a BA (Hons) in Primary Education and is currently taking Forest School Leader Training. She runs the farm with her father.

The website states: "We unashamedly teach children where meat comes from, the lifecycle of a sheep and chicken, along with non-organic farming practices. This teaches and helps them to understand the countryside in an honest and clear way.

"Often farming is misrepresented by media or by people who simply do not know or understand the industry; we want to correct this image by being transparent and honest with children as we share our industry with them."

'Really impressed'

Head Judge, Janet Hickinbottom, National Education Officer at Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) the charity helping to organise the awards said the competition this year was "extremely fierce".

The judges were really impressed with how Rosie and the team at Greatworth Hall have been able to make farming and the environment relevant to all parts of the school curriculum, and we were delighted to present them with the Farm School Partnership Award.

Michael Muncey, Head of Business for Bayer Crop Science in the UK, which helped organise the competition, said: Greatworth Hall is a very worthy winner of this award. It is fantastic to see the sheer enthusiasm of people trying to reconnect young people with where their food comes from.

Farmers, growers and other organisations up and down the country are doing some amazing work when it comes to making UK agriculture relevant to the next generation, and we believe it is worth celebrating their achievements.
A new pork advertising campaign designed to inspire consumers to buy more pork will hit TV screens today as the industry worries about the meat's negative image.

The advert is a key part of a three-year strategy from the AHDB to rejuvenate the image of pork, amid declining sales.

Olympic swimming gold medallist and MasterChef semi-finalist Rebecca Adlington has been confirmed as the midweek meals celebrity ambassador to support the marketing push.

Research shows consumer perception of pork is that of a fatty, old-fashioned meat, a barrier to purchase for some consumers.

In order to demonstrate its health credentials, AHDB Pork commissioned nutritional testing to provide evidence that these cuts are low in fat and low in saturated fat.

Whilst TV advertising is a major investment, it is proven to yield the greatest results, reaching millions and helping to change perception and buying habits.

Rejuvenation

AHDB Head of Domestic Pork, Kirsty Walker, said: Focusing on pork fillet, which is mostly exported, and pork loin, which is regularly downgraded to European prices, is a bold move, yet a necessary one if we are to add value to these prime cuts and overall carcase.

Fillet and loin medallions provide us with a valuable solution to the consumer criteria for midweek meals in that they are tasty, quick, easy and low fat. This gives pork a reason to be on the dinner table during the week.

We want to improve the pork offering in stores as a solution to the inspiration consumers are looking for, in order to break their midweek meal rut.

Currently, consumers see pork as fatty, they are not sure what to serve it with and importantly, they dont know how to cook it. It is these challenges the rejuvenation strategy aims to address over time.

'Stuck in a rut'

The new TV advert taps into research which highlights how consumers are stuck in a rut when it comes to preparing meals during the week.

It will act as the prompt for consumers to re-evaluate their eating habits and to consider pork.

The TV campaign will reach 77 per cent of the target audience at least 6.5 times, as it airs between September 25 and November 5.

Recipe development with fresh pork loin medallions has been a critical part of the campaign. For consumers to adopt a change in behaviour and cook pork midweek, they need to have an enjoyable eating experience the first time, or they wont try it again.

Potential for exports

The pig industry isn't just looking at its domestic market for expansion. Pork has been touted as the meat that offers the best potential for exports to non-EU markets.

This is according to a new Brexit report looking at the UK's prospects for meat and dairy products in a global marketplace.

Of the individual meats, it is pig meat that offers the best potential, the report explains. 32 per cent of UK pig meat trade in 2016 went to non-EU markets.

It comes as news that exports of British beef, lamb and pork have surpassed the 500 million mark for the first six months of 2017  up 18 per cent year-on-year.

The success in exploiting the Chinese market is an example of what can be achieved, the report states.

In August, a new export deal with China was announced that will bring a 200 million boost to the UK food industry and support 1,500 jobs.
The Pictures Are Not Recent

''The pictures are from July this year, when RK was shooting for Dutt biopic in New York.''

It Was From Mahira's Hotel

''These pictures were taken outside the hotel where Mahira was put up.''

Both Ranbir & Mahira Were In New York

A source revealed, "Ranbir was in New York around the same time as Mahira.''

Their Friendship Started When They Met In Dubai

''She has family in the USA. The two had met during the award function in Dubai earlier this year and hit it off.''

Ranbir Went To Meet Mahira

''They had been in touch and therefore Ranbir went to meet her."

This Person Leaked The Pictures

''Someone from Mahira's team planted a photographer there, who took pictures without the actors' knowledge.''

Wanted To Reveal The Affair?

"Perhaps, one or both of them are keen on taking the relationship to the next level and therefore, making things public only helps the cause."

Do You Think It's True?

So readers, do you agree with the source and think the same?
By Ssebuliba Samuel:

The Kampala lord mayor Erias Lukwago has filed a complaint at Uganda human rights commission over brutality during his arrest by police last week.

Last week police allegedly brutally arrested Lukwago as he was addressing journalist at the gate of his home in Wakaliga.

According to Lukwago these squeezed his private parts, dehumanized him, yet he is a respectable leader Kampala.

Now Lukwago is demanding a compensation of 700 million from government.
Manju Warrier

Popular actress Manju Warrier, whose Udaharanam Sujatha is also releasing on the same date, came out in support of Ramaleela. The actress, in a Facebook post announcing the release date of Udaharanam Sujatha, wrote that such protests demanding the boycott of Ramaleela are disappointing. She also pointed out that, a film belongs to a team and not just a person and hence urged the audiences not to protest on the releasing of the film.

Murali Gopy

Murali Gopy, popular actor and writer, who is active on social media, did pen down his thoughts regarding the release of Ramaleela. He had some strong words against all those who are protesting the release of the movie and lent his support to the young film-maker, who is making an entry to the film-industry with Ramaleela.

Aashiq Abu

Aashiq Abu, the young film-maker who has never shied away from coming up with his opinions on various issues,took to Facebook to react to the Ramaleela issue as well. He stated that the hurling abuses at the accused and attacking the person's movies aren't correct.

Vineeth Sreenivasan

Vineeth Sreenivasan, the all-rounder of Malayalam cinema, extended his support to Ramaleela. He stated that Arun Gopy, the young film-maker has his own quality and he hopes that Ramaleela will also posses the same quality and brilliance. Vineeth Sreenivasan also assured that he will watch the movie.

Jude Anthany Joseph

Jude Anthany Joseph, took to Facebook to wish Arun Gopy and Ramaleela, all the very best. Incidentally, Jude Anthany Joseph has worked with Arun Gopy in the film Crazy Gopalan, in which both of them were a part of the directorial department.
Sheffield Resourcessecures a second binding off-take agreement for the future sale of premium zircon from its Thunderbird Mineral Sands project in Western Australia.The agreement was signed with Indias largest ceramic raw materials supplier Sukaso Ceracolors Ceramics.The deal is based on a minimum annual supply of 12,000 tonnes of premium zircon, representing about 24 per cent of the estimated total volume of premium zircon to be produced from stage 1 of the project.Total off-take under binding agreement for Thunderbird premium zircon now stands at more than one third of forecast stage 1 production.Thunderbird premium zircon pricing will be based on the $US dollar market price negotiated on a quarterly basis.Shares in Sheffield Resourceslast traded up 5.66 per cent to 56 cents per share.
Sky and Space Globalsays it is discussing strategic partnerships with industry players as it continues to work on its 3 Diamonds nano-satellites.The satellite developer is continuing to test its phone calls, instant messages, voice recordings and image transfers through its nano-satellites.The company said it is attracting interest from telco and satellite industry operators, and attended World Satellite Business Week in Paris last week.The technology aims to enable low-cost satellite connectivity in remote locations and in emerging markets that do not have access to communication network infrastructure.The service is a world first for aerospace, satellite and telecommunication industries, after the company conducted the first voice call via nano-satellites.Shares in Sky and Space Globalare trading 2.94 per cent higher to 18 cents a share.
HMD to unveil Nokia 2 and another smartphone; two Nokia phones receive CCC certification News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Two new Nokia phones coming soon.

HMD Global is hitting the tech headlines in the past few months as it is prepping to launch the entry-level Nokia 2. Also, the company is busy in testing the Android 8.0 Oreo update on its existing affordable flagship - the Nokia 8 along with the other smartphones and in releasing the Nokia 8 in the global markets.

Now, it looks like the company is not prepping to launch only the Nokia 2 in the market. It looks there will be another smartphone accompanying the entry-level smartphone that is all set to go official in the coming months. Though there is no specific timeframe when we can expect these smartphones to be launched, a recent report by Nokiamob citing the tipster Roland Quandt, hints that the launch will not be far away.

According to the report, two unknown Nokia smartphones have received the CCC certification in China with the codenames TA-1041 and TA-1042. These smartphones are listed seem to have the quick charge feature that was seen on the Nokia 8. Given that they have quick charge support, these smartphones might not be entry-level offerings. And, there are increased possibilities for these to be the variants of the Nokia 8 meant for China.

However, the Twitter-based tipster with a good reputation in revealing details about upcoming smartphones hints that HMD is working on another Android smartphone in addition to the Nokia 2. He states that the other phone will be launched by the company soon. There are chances for the same to be the true flagship - Nokia 9 or a watered-down variant of the flagship model - Nokia 7.

We can get to know more about the plans of HMD in the coming weeks. Having said that the render of the Nokia 2 shows the date as October 5, we can expect these phones to be unveiled then. However, we need to wait for a confirmation from the company about the same.

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Samsung Galaxy A (2018) series of smartphones to come with Bixby feature News oi -Chandrika The upcoming Galaxy A smartphones will be released in early 2018.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus's Bixby button is their one of the most talked about features. However, this particular feature was not available in all the markets initially. Also, currently, Samsung's Bixby is not supported by a lot of smartphones. Only the Galaxy S8 duo and the Galaxy Note 8 offer this functionality.

That being said, an industry insider has revealed an interesting piece of information on Weibo. According to the source, Samsung's Galaxy A (2018) series of smartphones will feature a dedicated Bixby button. This means the South Korean tech giant is planning to introduce its virtual voice assistant to mid-range smartphones as well. The source further suggests that the upcoming Galaxy A smartphones will be released in early 2018.

Well, it is in line with Samsung's usual product launch strategy, because the company starts to unveil its new offerings from January and February.

Unfortunately, the source did not provide any other information on this matter. However, the Samsung Galaxy A (2018) lineup has been the center of rumors for quite a while now.

It is speculated, some of the features that are exclusive to Samsung's flagship and high-end smartphones will arrive in mid-range devices as well. Apparently, the Galaxy A (2018) is the first mid-range lineup to get them.

Considering the past pattern, the Galaxy A series of next year should consist of the Galaxy A3 (2018), Galaxy A5 (2018), and the Galaxy A7 (2018). However, Samsung may decide to use some more creative and unique official monikers.

The Samsung Galaxy A (2017) lineup was introduced in January this year.

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By Sam Sebuliba:

FDC President Rtd. Maj. General Mugisha Muntu has added voice to those protesting the amendment of Article 102 (b) of the constitution to remove the presidential age limit.

He says removing the age limit will put the countrys future in a state of uncertainty.

Those against the move argue that such amendments would undermine Ugandas constitution and essentially give President Museveni lee way to rule for life. Museveni is 73 years old and with current constitution, he will not be eligible to contest since he will be above the age of 75 by 2021 when Uganda hold the next election.

Addressing journalists this morning, Muntu urged proponents of the amendment to reflect on the countrys history and avoid making decisions which may lead to war, arguing that Ugandas past political problems were rooted in the lack of democratic processes.

Meanwhile, he called on Ugandas security forces to stand with the people of Uganda and avoid being used by the state.
Vodafone introduces Roam Like Home Pack: Enjoy home tariff on roaming calls for 28 days News oi -Staff With the Vodafone Roam Like Home' pack priced at just Rs. 51, users can continue to enjoy home tariff on calls, for a period of 28 days.

With the onset of the festive season, Vodafone has now introduced a 'Roam Like Home' pack for its pre-paid customers in Delhi NCR. With the Vodafone 'Roam Like Home' pack priced at just Rs. 51, users in Delhi traveling out of the capital during the festive season, can continue to enjoy home tariff on calls, for a period of 28 days.

Extending his festive season greetings to all Delhiites Alok Verma Business Head, Delhi-NCR, Vodafone India said, "We have introduced the new festive offer for our prepaid subscribers to establish a stronger customer connect and add on to the grandeur of festivities. This roaming pack is strategically timed during the festive season, as people largely travel during this time."

He also added, "The roaming pack will also help a large migrant population living in the national capital, who frequently visits their home states. The offer will make calls more affordable for these customers, as they would be able to make calls at home tariffs and share the joy of festivities."

The Rs 51 pack can be availed at any of the 296 Vodafone stores and Mini Stores or from any of the 40,000 multi-brand outlets in Delhi-NCR. Customers can also recharge from Vodafone website or dial *444*510# to recharge directly from the phone.

How does Vodafone Rs. 51 Bonus Card work?

Well, a user can buy a normal tariff pack, for example, INR 348 which provides unlimited calling along with1GB/ day data benefits for 28 days. Customers can then top up with Rs. 51 pack and roam free with calling at home rates even when they are out of Delhi NCR.

The offer is applicable on STD and local voice calls as well.

Best Mobiles in India
U.S. bombers, jet fighters fly off DPRK coast: Pentagon

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:33, September 24, 2017

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers and F-15C Eagle fighter escorts on Saturday flew in international airspace over waters east of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), according to the Pentagon.

"This is the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) any U.S. fighter or bomber aircraft have flown" off the DPRK's coast in the 21st century, said the Pentagon in a statement, adding that the move underscored "the seriousness with which we take DPRK's reckless behavior."

"This mission is a demonstration of U.S. resolve and a clear message that the President has many military options to defeat any threat," the statement added.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly that the United States "will have no choice but to totally destroy" DPRK if forced to defend itself or its allies.

After the threat, the DPRK said it might test a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean.

China on Friday urged all relevant parties to avoid any action that may increase tension on the Korean Peninsula.

"The current situation on the peninsula is severe and complicated," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a daily press briefing. "Only if all sides bear their due responsibilities, can the peninsula nuclear issue be truly resolved and peace and stability restored to the region."

The DPRK knows well that China opposes its development of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests, Lu said. "What parties concerned should do now is to strictly and comprehensively implement UN Security Council resolutions and make positive efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue."

"China opposes unilateral sanctions imposed by any country outside the framework of the UN Security Council," Lu said.

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China, Singapore to begin new round of military exercises

People's Daily Online

(CRI Online) 15:01, September 24, 2017

China and Singapore are to begin a new round of army and naval drills to enhance cooperation in defense, according to Singapore's Defense Ministry.

Chinese Defense Minister, Chang Wanquan, met his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen in Beijing on Thursday. Chang said that the leaders of both countries attach great importance to the development of bilateral relations, and the two countries should back each other on their core interests and major concerns. Military ties are an important part of bilateral ties between the two countries, and China is willing to break new ground for cooperation with Singapore, he said.

Ng Eng Hen congratulated the People's Liberation Army on its 90th anniversary and expressed the will to deepen defense cooperation between the two countries.

Singapore's Defense Ministry said on its website on Friday that China-Singapore cooperation in defense based on common strategic interests, aims to boost bilateral relations and promote regional stability and development. The two countries will enhance cooperation in defense through bilateral meetings of defense leaders as well as the next round of army and naval joint drills.

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Hadi says Yemen conflict will be settled militarily

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 05:35PM

Yemen's former Saudi-backed President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi has said the conflict in the country will be settled militarily rather than politically.

Speaking in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Hadi told the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya channel that "the military solution is the more likely one for the Yemen crisis."

Hadi said a plan to hand over control of the country's main port of Hudaydah to a neutral party remained blocked by the Houthi Ansarullah movement and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Elsewhere in the interview, Hadi claimed that his administration "continues to extend its hand for peace because it is responsible for the Yemeni people and for lifting the suffering from it."

Hadi also accused former US President Barack Obama of turning a blind eye to advances by Houthis across Yemen.

Hadi, however, hailed the anti-Houthi stance taken by US President Donald Trump, saying, "But the position under the current administration is better because it stands on the basis that there should be pressure on the Houthis."

The Houthis, Hadi said, still had a chance to join the political process if they agreed to hand over weapons and formed a party to help pursue national reconciliation.

The Ansarullah movement has been running state affairs since 2014, when Hadi resigned and fled to Riyadh before returning to Aden later. The movement has also been defending the country against a campaign led by Saudi Arabia since March 2015.

The Houthis say they are willing to form a national unity government to represent the whole country.

Leading a number of its vassal states, Saudi Arabia launched the deadly campaign to eliminate Ansarullah and reinstall the Riyadh-friendly Hadi. The war, however, has failed to achieve either of the goals.

The Houthis say the Saudi-backed coalition seeks to foment "destruction" inside and outside the region.

UN-brokered talks between Yemen's warring sides have also failed to end the conflict.

The Saudi-led campaign has claimed the lives of more than 12,000 people, most of them civilians.

The United States and Britain have been providing the bulk of the weapons used by the Saudi-led forces against Yemen. The US is also providing other assistance, including the provision of intelligence, to the invading forces.

The aggression has been accompanied by a naval and aerial blockade on Yemen.

It has also taken a heavy toll on Yemen's infrastructure and led to a cholera epidemic in the country. Almost 2,000 people have died since the outbreak of the cholera epidemic in April, according to the latest figures provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).

An estimated 70 percent of Yemen's 28 million population are said to be in desperate need of humanitarian aid.

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Taliban target NATO convoy in Afghanistan

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 10:58AM

Taliban militants have targeted a military convoy of Danish NATO forces in the Afghan capital of Kabul. There have been no reports of casualties among the foreign forces but at least three civilians have sustained injuries.

Afghan officials said the incident took place early on Sunday when a bomber attacked a NATO convoy in the fifth district of Kabul.

"Around 11:02 am, a suicide car bomber detonated himself, targeted a convoy of foreign forces near Afshar neighborhood of Kabul city," Najib Danish, the interior ministry spokesman, told AFP. "Unfortunately as a result of the attack, three Afghan civilians were wounded."

The Afghan Tolo News television channel and Reuters, however, put the number of civilian casualties at five.

Captain William Salvin, a spokesman for the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, confirmed the attack on the military convoy and said that there had been no victims among the servicemen.

In a message posted on Twitter, the Taliban claimed to have killed and injured up to 16 American soldiers in Sunday's bomb attack.

More than 16 years after a US-led invasion of Afghanistan, security remains fragile. The US-led forces transferred security responsibilities to Afghan forces in 2014, although some 13,000 NATO soldiers, most of them from the US, are still stationed in Afghanistan.

The Taliban, which ruled the country before the 2001 invasion, are reportedly overrunning territory in the south and north.

The Takfiri terrorist group Daesh has also recently emerged in Afghanistan.

US President Donald Trump has allowed the deployment of another 4,000 US troops in Afghanistan and has repeatedly urged other NATO members to contribute more.

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Pakistan, India Trade 'Terrorism' Accusations At UN General Assembly

RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal September 24, 2017

Pakistan and India are trading accusations of state-sponsored terrorism against each other at the UN General Assembly in New York.

In the latest exchange, Pakistan responded angrily to accusations by India that Islamabad supports terrorists, saying that India itself is the "mother of terrorism" in South Asia.

The charge was made by Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, after Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj told the UN General Assembly on September 23 that Pakistan was a "terrorist factory" and labeled the country "Terroristan."

India accuses Islamabad of training and arming Islamic militants who infiltrate Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistan's territory in order to carry out attacks against Indian security forces.

Pakistan denies the claim.

Lodhi late on September 23 said India is accusing Pakistan of terrorism in order to divert world attention from "brutalities" she said are being committed by security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir against the region's predominantly Muslim population.

The Indian foreign minister earlier in the day told the UN General Assembly that India is recognized as an "information-technology superpower in the world" while Pakistan is recognized "only as the preeminent export factory for terror."

"We produced scholars, doctors, engineers," Sushma said. "What have you produced? You have produced terrorists."

Sushma's angry rhetoric came in response to allegations made a day earlier by Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Abbasi told the UN General Assembly on September 22 that India was a state sponsor of terrorism and routinely violates human rights in Indian-administered Kashmir.

"A country that has been the world's greatest exporter of havoc, death, and inhumanity became a champion of hypocrisy by preaching about humanity from this podium," Sushma said about Abasi's speech.

Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir and have fought two of their three wars over the divided Himalayan region since independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Radio Pakistan

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/india-pakistan -un-general-assembly-terrorism- accusations/28753932.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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Moldova's Socialist Party Launches Campaign For Increased Presidential Powers

RFE/RL's Moldovan Service September 24, 2017

Moldova's opposition Socialist Party says it is launching a campaign to increase the powers of the president and turn the country's current parliamentary system of government into a presidential one.

The party of Moldova's Russia-friendly President Igor Dodon made the announcement as his supporters held rallied in three Moldovan town and cities -- Anenii Noi, Balti, and Cahul -- on September 24, the same day as the president had been planning to hold a nationwide referendum that could have broadened his powers.

However, the Constitutional Court ruled on July 27 that the vote was unconstitutional, saying the questions that were to be posed in the referendum were "beyond presidential authority."

In the planned referendum, Moldovans would have been asked whether the president should be allowed to dissolve parliament and announce early elections; whether the number of deputies in the single-chamber legislature should be reduced from 101 to 71; and whether history classes that are called History of Romanians should be renamed History of Moldova.

The September 24 rallies come amid ongoing disputes between Dodon and the pro-Western Democratic Party that dominates parliament.

The president is also frequently at odds on foreign policy and other issues with Prime Minister Pavel Filip's government, which favors closer ties with the European Union and the United States.

Dodon rejected this month the government's nomination for defense minister, Eugen Sturza, recommending one of his close political allies for the post -- former Defense Minister Victor Gaiciuc.

The president also vetoed several bills previously passed by lawmakers that he said were aimed at limiting his powers as supreme commander of Moldova's armed forces in the interest of foreign powers.

Meeting in a special session on September 21, lawmakers overrode the presidential vetoes.

Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, has had three governments since 2015, after the disappearance of $1 billion from the banking system sent the country into a political and economic crisis.

The country has been marred by widespread corruption and high migration, as well as the frozen conflict with Transdniester.

An Association Agreement between the European Union and Moldova, signed in 2014, fully came into force in July last year.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-socialist- party-campaign-increased-presidential -powers/28754354.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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UN Secretary-General condemns killing of peacekeepers in Mali

24 September 2017  Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned today's attack against a convoy of the United Nations mission in northern Mali that killed three Bangladeshi peacekeepers.

Mr. Guterres reaffirmed the UN's determination to support efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and security in Mali and urged the Government and the signatory armed groups to expedite the implementation of the peace agreement, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Media reports said a convoy of the UN Multidimensional lntegrated Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) hit an explosive device while traveling in the Gao region. At least, three Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and five others were seriously injured.

"The Secretary-General recalls that Security Council resolution 2374 of 5 September 2017 provides for the imposition of sanctions against entities or individuals obstructing the implementation of the peace agreement and attacking United Nations personnel," the statement said.

The Secretary-General extended his condolences to the Government of Bangladesh and to the bereaved families, and wished swift recovery to the injured.

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Cameroon Council Silences Journalists, Media Outlets

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka September 24, 2017

Cameroon's National Communication Council, the government media regulator, has suspended 30 journalists or radio and TV programs for what it calls biased reporting.

Among the more than 30 media organizations and journalists the NCC has suspended or warned are newspapers La Nouvelle Expression, La Meteo, L'Anecdote and the capital city radio station Amplitude FM.

NCC president Peter Essoka said the media organizations and journalists were suspended from one to six months because of unprofessional conduct and refusal to respect norms and ethics of journalism.

"When a journalist comes up with a newspaper article and says a certain minister is known to be running with the prime minister's wife, how do you take that? It is indecent. It is indecent. And then he lists out that this minister is sleeping with this other minister, how does that help the society? It does not in any way. The media are supposed to play a very, very important role in its development, but then when we take on trivial things and say rubbish about lots and lots and lots of things, it hurts the heart," Essoka said.

Ministers, directors general, a lawmaker and a former army general had written to the NCC complaining their rights were abused by the journalists' reports.

But Journalist and IPS correspondent Mbom Sixtus said since its creation the NCC has been used as a tool to punish journalists.

"I have the impression that the National Communication Council was created to serve government officials or influential citizens. The Communication Council will hardly prove a minister wrong, so I do not think the council was created to regulate or bring order in the practice of journalism in Cameroon," Sixtus said.

Cameroon has about 600 newspapers, 200 radio, TV and online stations, and 15 news websites, according to the Ministry of Communication.

Reporters Without Borders in 2014 reported that Cameroon's Communication Council had taken a clearly tougher line towards journalists and media, which was reflected in the number of summonses it issued and the suspensions it had ordered.

Cameroon is ranked 126th out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders' 2016 World Press Freedom Index.

Last week, the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists reported Cameroon has been using its 2014 anti-terror law to "silence critics and suppress dissent."

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United Launch Alliance Launches US Spy Satellite Atop Atlas V Rocket

Sputnik News

11:00 24.09.2017(updated 14:11 24.09.2017)

The Atlas V rocket was launched in California; the launch was broadcast by the ULA.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  An Atlas V rocket, loaded with a US spy satellite and operated by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), was launched in California; the launch was broadcast by the ULA.

The NROL-42 satellite lifted off at 05:50 GMT from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base. The launch was initially scheduled to take place on Friday, but the ULA delayed it to replace a faulty battery on the rocket carrier.

Meanwhile, the launch had previously been delayed due to Hurricane Irma, which hit the south of the United States last week. The mission is the 25th launch carried out jointly by the ULA and US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) since 2006. It is also the sixth launch of an Atlas V rocket since the beginning of the year.

 Sputnik

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By Damali Mukhaye:

President Yoweri Museveni has made an impromptu visit to Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso district and vowing to bring an end to the senseless murders in the area.

The presidents comes after another woman whose body was last week discovered near a police post, bringing the number of women killed in Wakiso district in a period of three months to 23.

According to the presidential press secretary Lindah Nabusayi, president Museveni, who was unaccompanied carried a notebook and has been taking notes as residents narrated their horror to him.

She says president Museveni urged residents to cooperate with the security agencies and to report suspicious people.
Kim, Trump 'Kindergarten' Name Calling Brings Rest of World Together

Sputnik News

22:56 23.09.2017(updated 04:52 24.09.2017)

As the increasingly absurd rhetorical provocations between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump intensify, world leaders shake their heads, suggesting that pointless name-calling solves nothing.

Following the US president's first speech before the United Nations General Assembly on September 19, in which he threatened to "totally destroy" the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), and Kim's unprecedented and personal televised response on Friday calling Trump a "mentally deranged US dotard" who would "pay dearly" for his remarks, global leaders have reacted to the growing war of words.

Lu Kang, a spokesman for China's Foreign Minister, attempted to calm tensions on Thursday, stating that the "complicated and sensitive" nuclear issue called for "relevant parties to exercise restraint instead of provoking each other."

In Friday comments on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also called for restraint, offering that Kim and Trump's "kindergarten fight between children" must be eased.

"We have to calm down the hot heads," he said.

Others on the world stage, including leaders of those countries that have long countered US foreign policy, were less politic.

Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla, the Cuban Minister for Foreign Affairs, noted that Trump, in his heated remarks, "ignores and distorts history."

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani scolded Trump for the latter's "ignorant, absurd rhetoric," while his foreign minister noted Trump's "ignorant hate speech," cited by Vanity Fair.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza got to the heart of what many have long opined about the US, that, "of course the country that violates the human rights all over the world seems to have the moral authority to come and speak to the rest of the countries as if they were his employees."

Arreaza also noted that "Trump is not the president of the world."

Even long-serving Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe  no stranger to controversy  chimed in, declaring of Trump, "Bring us another monster, by whatever name, he will suffer the same consequences," according to CNN.

Leaders of developed countries were no less critical of the strikingly unpopular and politically-polarizing US president's latest tirade.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while specifically avoiding comment on the heated rhetoric between Trump and Kim, called out the US president for his decision to withdraw from the historic 2016 Paris Climate Accords, stating to the UN on Thursday that "no country on the planet that can walk away from the challenge and reality of climate change."

Luis Videgaray, the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs, questioned Trump's "America First" take on its UN participation, while French President Emmanuel Macron noted that, as nations, "we are inextricably linked to each other in a community of destiny," going so far as to mention a "planetary responsibility," that the US president was ignoring, to his, and his country's, peril.

But Trump's simplistic bellicose rhetoric impressed at least one leader, as Israel's beleaguered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gushed at the US president's comments, tweeting that he had "never heard a bolder or more courageous speech."

But Netanyahu's cheerleading fell on deaf ears outside of his own party supporters.

Taro Kono, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, remarked that Trump's increasingly verbal refutation of the Iran nuclear treaty, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), would be resisted globally, as it is "extremely important."

European Union foreign policy head Federica Mogherini, responding to Trump's bellicose commentary, stated that "we don't destroy countries."

Mogherini asserted that Europe will follow its own course if necessary, declaring, "we will make sure that the [JCPOA] agreement stays."

Trump's words are seen by many in the global academic community as alienating, especially the US president's threats of violence.

Daniel Serwer, the director of the Conflict Management Program at the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies in Washington DC, noted following Trump's UN speech that Washington's "European allies aren't with us on North Korea, Iran or climate change."

Trump is "pretending to lead but nobody is following, Serwer said, adding, "It's that bad."

 Sputnik

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North Korea: Nobody Except Trump Himself Is on a 'Suicide Mission'

Sputnik News

21:33 23.09.2017(updated 22:21 23.09.2017)

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho stated in his address to the UN General Assembly that nobody except US President Donald Trump himself is on a 'suicide mission'.

He added that by calling North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a "Rocket Man", Trump committed an irreversible mistake of making the country's rockets visit to the entire US mainland 'inevitable all the more'. Ri Yong Ho stated that Donald Trump will have to face the consequences over his offensive remarks about North Korea and its leader.

"We will make sure that he [Trump] bears consequences far beyond his words, far beyond the scope of what he can handle even if he is ready to do so," the minister said.

The North Korean foreign minister also called Trump 'a mentally deranged person full of megalomania' who is holding 'the nuclear button'. According to the minister, if innocent Americans are harmed by the suicide attacks, 'Trump will be held totally responsible'.

"In case innocent lives of the US are lost because of this suicide attack, Trump will beheld totally responsible," Ri added.

The foreign minister claimed that Pyongyang's ultimate goal is to establish the balance of power with the United States. He noted that the country's nuclear weapons are meant for self-protection.

Ri Yong Ho announced that North Korea will take preventive measures by 'merciless preemptive action' in case the US or its allies show any sign of conducting a kind of 'decapitating' operation in the country or in case of a military attack.

"We will take preventive measures by merciless preemptive action in case the US and its vassal forces show any sign of conducting a kind of 'decapitating' operation on our headquarters or military attack against our country," the minister said.

He added that Pyongyang doesn`t have any intention at all to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against the countries that do not join the US military actions against the country.

"We do not have any intention at all to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against the countries that do not join in the U.S. military actions against the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea]," Ri said in his address to the UN General Assembly.

The minister said that North Korea was not going to change its policy despite aggravating sanctions against the country.

"Through such a prolonged and arduous struggle, now we are finally only a few steps away from the final gate of completion of the state nuclear force. It is only a forlorn hope to consider any chance that the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] would be shaken an inch or change its stance due to the harsher sanctions by the hostile forces," Ri said.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called Kim a "rocket man" on a "suicide mission," in his first major speech at UN, and said Pyongyang faced a total destruction if it attacked the United States or its allies.

The North Korean leader in response to Donald Trump's speech accused US President of exhibiting a "mentally deranged behavior" and threatened him with a "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history".

 Sputnik

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North Korea May Accelerate Nuclear Program After Trump Threats

Sputnik News

02:02 23.09.2017

US President Donald Trump's new sanctions order and threat to obliterate North Korea will only embolden Pyongyang to accelerate its nuclear program, experts told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Trump issued an executive order Thursday that bolsters the US Treasury Department's ability to monitor individuals who provide materials, services or technology to North Korea. The punishing sanctions target North Korea's textiles, fishing and manufacturing industries.

On September 19 in a speech before the UN General Assembly, Trump claimed that, while the United States had great strength and patience, if forced to defend itself or its allies, the nation would have no choice but to "totally destroy" North Korea.

Trump also called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "rocket man" and accused him of being on a "suicide mission for himself and for his regime."

NUCLEAR ACCLERATION

Kim Jong Un will use Trump's provocative claims as a catalyst for accelerating the development of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capable of carrying a nuclear warhead that can reach the United States, experts told Sputnik.

"This will make Kim more convinced that a nuke is the only way to secure their national security," the director of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University, Dr. Gi-Wook Shin said on Friday.

Accordingly, he added, North Korea will continue with its nuclear and missile development and once they achieve what they want and or need, nuke capability with an ICBM, they will ask the United States to negotiate.

"The US and South Korea will then have to make another tough decision, whether to negotiate with nuclear North Korea or continue to press with sanctions," the professor said.

North Korea bolted from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 2003 and claimed it conducted its first underground nuclear test in Oct. 2006.

NORTH KOREA STRATEGY

The greatest threat to Kim Jong Un's control over North Korea would be to bow down to US and international pressure to relinquish its nuclear program. Its core national policy is to never capitulate to any outside power whether it's the United States or China, a Canadian regional expert posited.

"The political equilibrium inside North Korea is dependent on not capitulating to any foreign power, whether that be the USA or China," University of Toronto's Dept. of East Asian Studies chair Andre Schmid told Sputnik. "To capitulate would arguably be the single largest risk to Kim Jung Un's personal power."

And what happens when and if North Korea fields a fully capable nuclear tipped ICBM, the expert wondered rhetorically.

"Nobody knows what will happen after a nuke capable ICBM including possibly within North Korea, Schmid added. "It's that very uncertainty that underlies the escalating tension."

Technically, the United States and North Korea are still in a state of war. On July 27, 1953 the two nations signed an armistice to cease hostilities until a peaceful solution could be found.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on US and North Korean "hot heads" to scale down the rhetoric because unleashing war on the Korean peninsula was unacceptable.

 Sputnik

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US will certainly not strike North Korea for Pyongyang is armed with nukes: Russian FM

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 02:51PM

Russia's foreign minister says the United States will not conduct a strike on North Korea because the Americans know for certain that Pyongyang is equipped with nuclear bombs.

"Americans won't strike [North] Korea, because not only do they suspect, but know for sure that Pyongyang has nuclear weapons," Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russia's NTV television channel aired on Sunday, as cited by TASS news agency.

The top Russian diplomat added that he was not defending the North by making such comments but "almost everyone agrees with such an analysis."

An international uproar was created over Pyongyang's sixth and the biggest nuclear test to date, which was conducted on September 3. The bomb, detonated underground, was reportedly about 16 times the size of America's atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945. The North also staged an intermediate-range missile test over Japan some two weeks later, drawing Tokyo's strong condemnation.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened that the military option is on the table regarding North Korea, warning Pyongyang that it would be destroyed if it refused to do as it was told. The American president and the North's leader, Kim Jong-un, have recently been exchanging insults.

On September 19, Trump, in a speech before the United Nations General Assembly, mocked Kim as a "Little Rocket Man" who is on a "suicide mission." He also warned that the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary.

Furthermore, Trump called Kim a "madman" on Friday, a day after Kim referred to him as "mentally deranged US dotard."

Lavrov also said on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had "repeatedly" said it was impossible to "imagine that the US or someone else has 100 percent information on all of the [nuclear] objects" in North Korea.

The Russian foreign minister said Washington carried out strikes on Iraq only because it was "100 percent sure" that there were no "weapons of mass destruction."

Lavrov also strongly warned the US leaders that if they carry out a strike on the North without considering the nuclear might of Pyongyang, then "the situation could spiral out of control, so that thousands, dozens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands innocent people will suffer in South Korea, as well as in the North, certainly in Japan, with Russia and China nearby too."

On Saturday, Lavrov urged Washington and Pyongyang to reduce tensions and described the trading of insults between their leaders as a "kindergarten fight between children."

In addition to threats posed by Washington on the peninsular Asian country, stringent sanctions drafted by the US, including bans on textile imports and capping crude and petrol supply, were also passed at the UN Security Council without opposition earlier this month to further pressure the North to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.

However, it seems that the sanctions have had little effect, if any, on Pyongyang's will to complete its nuclear plans. Kim has already said that his country seeks to reach "equilibrium" of military force with the US.

On September 17, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley acknowledged that the Security Council had run out of options on containing Pyongyang's nuclear program, warning that the White House may have to turn the matter over to the Pentagon.

Russia and China have already warned that no military solution is available for resolving the escalating crisis in the Korean Peninsula, saying the current standoff will only be resolved through dialogue.

North Korea is under mounting international pressure over its missile and military nuclear programs and has been subjected to an array of sanctions by the United Nations. However, Pyongyang says it needs to continue and develop the programs as a deterrent against hostility by the US and its regional allies, including South Korea and Japan.

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Trump Tweets New Threat To North Korea After Foreign Minister's UN Address

RFE/RL September 24, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump says North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and leader Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer" if a speech Ri gave at the United Nations on September 23 echoes the thoughts of the country's leadership.

"Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" Trump said in a tweet posted late on September 23.

With tensions already heightened over Pyongyang's recent nuclear tests, Ri told the UN General Assembly in New York on September 23 that Trump was on a "suicide mission" and that his vow to "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary had made "our rockets' visit to the entire U.S. mainland all the more inevitable."

Referring to Trump as a "mentally deranged person full of megalomania," Ri said the U.S. president posed "the gravest threat to international peace and security today."

In his first address to the General Assembly on September 19, Trump called Kim a "rocket man" on a "suicide mission."

Ri said Trump was turning the United Nations into a "gangsters' nest where money is respected and bloodshed is the order of the day," and accused him of insulting Kim.

"None other than Trump himself is on a suicide mission," he said.

Ri's barbs came on the same day U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighter jets flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea.

The flight was the farthest north of the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea that any U.S. fighter jet or bomber has flown in the 21st century, the Pentagon said.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-north- korea-kim-jon-un-foreign-minister-un- general-assembly/28753872.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 on North Korea's Leader: 'Little Rocket Man' Won't Be Around Much Longer

Sputnik News

08:02 24.09.2017(updated 09:08 24.09.2017)

Donald Trump has responded to North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong's UN General Assembly speech with threats that Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer."

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  US President Donald Trump went on to exchange threats with Pyongyang on Sunday, referring to the country's leader as "Little Rocket Man" again.

"Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" Trump wrote on his Twitter page.

On Saturday, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said in his address to the UN General Assembly that Trump would face the negative consequences of his remarks about North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un. In particular, the Minister said that Trump's policy would make "our rockets' visit to the entire US mainland inevitable all the more."

Tensions between the two states have escalated recently, with the countries' leaders regularly exchanging harsh statements. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday accused US President Donald Trump of exhibiting "mentally deranged behavior" and threatened Washington with a harsh response to the latest US actions against Pyongyang. Kim's statement came after Trump's first major UN speech, during which he called the North Korean leader a "rocket man" on a "suicide mission" and again warned Pyongyang that his country would be totally destroyed if it attacked the United States or its allies.

North Korea has been continuously performing missile launches and nuclear tests, all conducted in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The most recent test was made on September 15, when North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which flew over Japan before falling into the northern Pacific some 20 minutes after the launch.

 Sputnik

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Trump Issues More Threats Against N. Korea

By Margaret Besheer September 24, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump has responded to insults from North Korea's foreign minister with more threats.

"Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" Trump said on Twitter.

North Korea's foreign minister brought a dictionary full of insults for Trump when he addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday.

Ri Yong Ho said he needed to respond to Trump, who on Tuesday called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "Rocket Man" and said he was on a suicide mission with his nuclear program.

Ri called Trump "a mentally deranged person full of megalomania" who is on a suicide mission of his own.

"In case innocent lives of the U.S. are lost because of this suicide attack," Trump will be held totally responsible," he said, in response to the U.S. president's threat to "totally destroy" North Korea if it attacks the United States or one of its allies.

"During his eight months in power, he has turned the White House into a noisy marketing place full of crackling sounds of abacus beads, and now he has tried to turn the U.N. arena into a gangsters' nest where money is respected and bloodshed is the order of the day," Ri said, in an apparent criticism of Trump's billionaire businessman roots.

Sees itself as victim

Ri sought to portray his country as the victim of U.S. threats and aggression. He condemned earlier remarks by President Trump in which he promised "fire and fury like the world has never seen" after North Korea threatened to fire missiles at the U.S. island territory of Guam in August.

"What else could be a bigger threat than the violent remarks coming from the top authority of the world's biggest nuclear power?" Ri asked.

"The very reason the DPRK had to possess nuclear weapons is because of the U.S.," he said, using the acronym for the country's formal name.

But he appeared to almost mock Washington for saying that it hopes not to have to use a military option.

"Although they talk about "fire and fury," "total destruction" and whatever, every time they have to add various conditions such as, "hopefully this will not be necessary," "that is not our first option" and so on," Ri said.

Ri also lashed out at Japan and South Korea, calling them "stooges" of Washington.

On September 3, Pyongyang conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test to date.

The regime said it was the successful launch of a hydrogen bomb mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile. The foreign minister waxed poetic about it to the General Assembly.

"The ICBM marked with sacred name of DPRK flew over the universe above the endless blue sky, the warhead of our rocket left its trace on the blue waves of the Pacific Ocean and the tremendous explosion and vibration of the hydrogen bomb were recorded by this planet," Ri said.

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China Tightens Screws on DPRK With Oil Supply Cut, Textile Import Ban

Sputnik News

01:36 25.09.2017(updated 03:13 25.09.2017)

China announced on Saturday that it will limit energy supplies to North Korea and stop buying its textiles, in compliance with UN sanctions on Kim Jong-un's regime over Pyongyang's ongoing nuclear weapon and ballistic missile development.

The United Nations Security Council recently unanimously passed a US-drafted resolution mandating tougher new sanctions against the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK).

China's Ministry of Commerce said that in line with the decision, Beijing is limiting exports of refined petroleum to the DPRK to 2 million barrels per year, beginning January 1, 2018.

China is also depriving Pyongyang of one of its last major sources of foreign revenue by banning textile imports from its troubled neighbor.

China accounts for some 90 percent of North Korea's trade, making its cooperation critical to any efforts to derail Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.

Being far and away North Korea's most important trade partner, Beijing has been reluctant to put much pressure on the regime, fearing it could destroy the relationship between the two countries and harm ordinary North Koreans.

Beijing is also not happy with the fact that China bears the most of the cost of enforcing the US-led sanctions, which have hurt Chinese businesses in the country's northeast.

But with Kim Jong-un crossing the line in exhibiting Pyongyang's military might, China has agreed to push the DPRK harder, and support the latest round of UN sanctions.

Chen Fengying, senior researcher with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said that after ordering banks to block transactions for accounts held by North Koreans and stopping imports of coal, iron ore and seafood, China is now entering a key phase on DPRK sanctions.

"These restrictions from China  one of its few remaining trading partners  could have more of an impact on North Koreans than we've previously seen," Chen said, cited by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

In response to the newly-imposed sanctions, North Korea's official KCNA news agency threatened that the more sanctions are imposed on Pyongyang, the faster the country will move to complete its nuclear plans.

"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," according to the KCNA statement.

Cui Tiankai, China's ambassador to the US, urged US President Donald Trump to stop continuously threatening North Korea and focus instead on building bridges of understanding and negotiation.

 Sputnik

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Iran Test-Fires New Ballistic Missile With Range of 1,200 Miles - Reports

Sputnik News

10:36 23.09.2017(updated 14:48 23.09.2017)

According to the Press TV broadcaster, Iran successfully tested a new ballistic missile "Khorramshahr" that had been shown at a military parade the day before.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Iran has successfully carried out the test launch of a new ballistic missile "Khorramshahr" with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles), local media reported Saturday.

According to the Press TV broadcaster, the video footage released by state-run television does not provide any details regarding the location of the test sites. The missile was reportedly fired several hours after it had been unveiled during a military parade in Tehran.

On Friday, the Iranian capital hosted the military parade during which the new ballistic missile was showcased. The ballistic missile, named after the Iraqi city of Khorramshahr, one of Iraq's main targets during the Iran-Iraq war, was developed specially for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. The new ballistic missile is capable of carrying multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles over a distance of 1,800 kilometers.

Iran's ballistic missile program has triggered the discontent and concerns of other states, in particular, the United States due to its possible links to the Iranian nuclear program. Despite the attempts by Washington to include the provisions, concerning ballistic missiles, in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran nuclear deal, the proposal was not supported by other signatories.

 Sputnik

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FM Zarif urges US to respect Iran nuclear deal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New York, Sep 24, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged the United States to respect Iran nuclear deal also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Zarif and his counterparts from India and Oman held a trilateral on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meeting (UNGA 2017) to discuss major regional and international developments including the historic Iran nuclear deal.

'This was an informal meeting that Mr. Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah [Oman Foreign Minister] will brief you more fully but we discussed about possibilities for greater cooperation between three countries who have been very good friends and possibilities for us to be complimentary to each other in terms of our energy needs and other requirements so a very good preliminary discussion on the possibilities between three countries,' Zarif told reporters after the meeting.

In response to his insight of Trump's decision on JCPOA, he said ' he [Trump] keeps his decisions very close to his heart but everybody that we talked to is sending the message that the nuclear deal is a global achievement which is not bilateral but even a multilateral agreement, a decision by the Security Council supported by the international community and it has been working so it should be continued to be respected and the United Sates should also stay with it.'

9376**1394

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Iran has proven its missiles are for defense: Zarif

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sun / 24 September 2017 / 14:56

Tehran (ISNA) - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has touched on Iran's missile power, saying the country is developing its own defenses instead of buying billions of dollars' worth of the so-called beautiful military equipment from the US.

Zarif was referring to US President Donald Trump's remarks before a meeting with Qatrai Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani back in May, when he said, "One of the things we will discuss is the purchase of lots of beautiful military equipment because nobody makes it like the United States".

"We have said time and again and we have proven that our missiles are for defense," Zarif said in an interview with the US news network CNN aired on Sunday.

During the Iraqi-imposed war on Iran in the 1980s, Zarif noted, Iranian cities were being "showered" by missiles of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who was a "sweetheart" of the US and Western countries.

At that time, Iran did not have a single missile to use as deterrence, he said.

The foreign minister also said if the US withdrew from the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic could walk away from the accord and resume its peaceful nuclear activities.

Zarif was asked about Iran's reaction to Trump's possible withdrawal from the agreement or its decertification.

"Iran has a number of options, which include walking away from the deal and going back with greatest speed with its nuclear program, which will remain peaceful but which will not address and accept the limitations that we voluntarily accepted over out nuclear program."

The Trump administration has twice certified Iranian compliance with the deal in notifications to the US Congress under an American law. But it has signaled that a third verification  due in mid-October  would not be forthcoming.

Zarif told CNN host Fareed Zakaria that the certification is not part of the deal, but rather a US internal procedure, adding that the only authority that has been recognized to verify the nuclear deal is the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council  the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China  plus Germany signed the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in July 2015 and started implementing it in January 2016.

Under the deal, Iran applied some limits to its nuclear program in exchange for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against it.

All the parties to the deal are determined to sustain it except Washington, which seems to be planning a unilateral withdrawal.

End Item

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Iran rejects renegotiation, revision of nuclear deal: Velayati

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 05:27PM

A senior Iranian official says the Islamic Republic will never accept to renegotiate or revise the provisions of a nuclear agreement it struck with the P5+1 group of countries more than two years ago.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on international affairs, made the remarks in a meeting with the director general of France's Academie Diplomatique Internationale (ADI), Michel Duclos, in Tehran on Sunday.

The meeting came following a week of speeches at the UN General Assembly in New York, where US President Donald Trump said the internationally-negotiated nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with Iran was an "embarrassment" to the United States.

During his speech at the General Assembly on September 19, the Republican president described the JCPOA as "the worst and most one-sided transaction the US has ever entered into," a characterization he often used during his presidential campaign.

Velayati said, "The JCPOA is an international agreement and any renegotiation on and revision of the JCPOA are rejected by the Islamic Republic of Iran."

He also called on European countries, including France, to adopt "more independent policies" on the landmark nuclear deal.

Delivering a speech at the General Assembly on September 20, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani lashed out at the US president for his "ignorant and spiteful" comments, saying that the JCPOA was an international agreement backed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

"The JCPOA does not belong to one or two countries. The JCPOA is a UN Security Council document, which belongs to the entire international community," the Iranian president said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Velayati pointed to the ongoing regional and international developments and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always highlighted the need to fight against terrorism and support legitimate governments and the oppressed nations in the region as its principled policy."

If it was not for Iran's resistance and principled policies, the region would have witnessed the spread of terrorism and the rule of terrorist groups instead of legitimate governments, he said.

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IRGC begins military drills near Iran's northwest border

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 10:45AM

The ground forces of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have started heavy artillery fire drills in the country's southwestern area.

The security drills, codenamed Moharram, started out on Sunday, with Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the IRGC's second-in-command, and Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, who commands the Corps' ground forces in attendance, Sepah News reported.

The exercises are part of annual events held in Iran to mark the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran in 1980 which led to an eight-year war.

The maneuvers, centered in the Oshnavieh border region, will include artillery, armored and airborne units, state broadcaster IRIB reported.

The main part, which is already underway, involves practicing of defensive preparedness by infantry, armored, electronic warfare, and rocket units, as well as the ground-operating squadrons of the IRGC.

The Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shohadah Base of the IRGC ground forces plays the central part in the maneuvers.

The country's southwest has repeatedly witnessed inroads by terrorist and anti-revolutionary elements and hence constitutes a focus of the IRGC's counter-terrorism operations. Clashes with PJAK militant groups based in Iraq are a frequent occurrence in the border area.

New military achievements

Also on Sunday, Iran's Army unveiled three new achievements in the area of artillery fire, named as Heydar 7, 41, and 44 Projects, in the presence of Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, the commander of the Army's ground forces.

Heydar 7 comprises an eight-wheel drive vehicle, equipped with a new turret and a 23-millimeter gun.

Heydar 41 features a 122-millimeter howitzer, fitted with an automatic magazine loader, shorter combat readiness process, and remote activation capability.

Heydar 44 has witnessed a 122-millimeter rocket launcher system being made smart and automated, resulting in sped-up and more precise fire, as well as its becoming interconnected with frontline surveillance drones, suitable for installment on all artillery systems.

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Iran not buying 'beautiful' weapons from US: Zarif

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 10:15AM

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has touched on Iran's missile power, saying the country is developing its own defenses instead of buying billions of dollars worth of the so-called beautiful military equipment from the US.

Zarif was referring to US President Donald Trump's remarks before a meeting with Qatrai Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani back in May, when he said, "One of the things we will discuss is the purchase of lots of beautiful military equipment because nobody makes it like the United States."

"We have said time and again and we have proven that our missiles are for defense," Zarif said in an interview with the US news network CNN aired on Sunday.

During the Iraqi-imposed war on Iran in the 1980s, Zarif noted, Iranian cities were being "showered" by missiles of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who was a "sweetheart" of the US and Western countries.

At that time, Iran did not have a single missile to use as deterrence, he said.

Zarif was asked about Iran's reaction to Trump's possible withdrawal from the agreement or its decertification.

The foreign minister said if the US withdrew from the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic could walk away from the accord and resume its peaceful nuclear activities.

"Iran has a number of options, which include walking away from the deal and going back with greatest speed with its nuclear program, which will remain peaceful but which will not address and accept the limitations that we voluntarily accepted over out nuclear program."

The Trump administration has twice certified Iranian compliance with the deal in notifications to the US Congress under an American law. But it has signaled that a third verification  due in mid-October  would not be forthcoming.

Zarif told CNN host Fareed Zakaria that the certification is not part of the deal, but rather a US internal procedure, adding that the only authority that has been recognized to verify the nuclear deal is the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council  the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China  plus Germany signed the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in July 2015 and started implementing it in January 2016.

Under the deal, Iran applied some limits to its nuclear program in exchange for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against it.

All the parties to the deal are determined to sustain it except Washington, which seems to be planning a unilateral withdrawal.

Earlier this week, Trump said the JCPOA was "an embarrassment to the United States" and "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."

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Trump Questions Nuclear Deal After Iran Tests New Ballistic Missile

RFE/RL September 24, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran's test-launch of a new ballistic missile shows a landmark nuclear deal over the issue is questionable and that the Middle Eastern country is colluding with North Korea.

"Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel. They are also working with North Korea. Not much of an agreement we have!" Trump said in a tweet posted late on September 23.

Iran fired the missile, despite warnings from Washington that it was ready to ditch the agreement with the United States and other world powers.

State broadcaster IRIB carried footage of the test-firing of the Khorramshahr missile, which was first displayed at a high-profile military parade in Tehran on September 22.

"This is the third Iranian missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers," the broadcaster said as it showed footage on September 23.

State TV did not say when the test had been conducted, although Iranian officials said on September 22 that it would be tested "soon."

The unveiling of the missile came during a military parade that commemorated the 1980s Iraq-Iran War.

Iranian President Hassan Rohani said during the parade that Tehran will continue its missile program and boost the country's military capacities, despite Trump's demand that Iran stop developing "dangerous missiles."

On September 19, in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump accused Iran of supporting terrorists and called Tehran's government a "corrupt dictatorship."

Trump also called for a harder line against Iran from other members of the United Nations, saying "we cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles."

Referring to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers, including the United States, Trump said Washington "cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program."

Rohani responded to Trump remarks in his own speech to the UN General Assembly on September 20, saying Trump's speech was "ignorant, absurd, and hateful rhetoric."

Rohani said Iran will not be the first party in the nuclear accord to violate the agreement.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Trump had made a final decision to continue complying with the Iran nuclear deal, under which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

Trump's administration has twice certified that Iran is complying with its obligations under the accord.

But it also has said that Iran's missile program violates the spirit of the nuclear agreement.

Washington is due to announce on October 15 whether it considers Iran is still complying with the agreement.

Other signatories to the nuclear accord are Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany.

Washington has imposed unilateral sanctions against Iran, saying Tehran's ballistic-missile tests violated a UN resolution that endorsed the nuclear deal and called on Tehran not to undertake activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

Tehran insists its missile program doesn't violate the resolution, saying the missiles are not designed to carry nuclear weapons.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-agreement -missile/28753759.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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Iran parliament discusses referendum in Iraq's KRG

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Sep 24, IRNA -- Iranian parliament (Majlis) national security and foreign policy commission on Sunday discussed referendum in the Iraqi Kurdistan's semi-autonomous region.

'Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari was also present in the meeting,' rapporteur of national security and foreign policy commission Hossein Naqavi Hosseini said.

The referendum for independence in the northern Iraqi region 'will harm the Kurds and the Kurdish region at the first stage and Iraq, the neighbors and the region at the second stage,' Naqavi quoted the chairman of parliament national security and foreign policy commission.

Iraqi Kurdistan's ruling party president Masoud Barzani insists on holding referendum for independence on September 25 amid oppositions against referendum from the Iraqi central government and the international community.

Translator: Hamdollah Emadi Heydari

9191**2050

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Hashd al-Sha'abi not waiting for Peshmerga's permission to free Daesh-held areas: Cmdr.

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 02:11PM

A high-ranking commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units says the pro-government fighters will not wait for the permission of Kurdish Peshmerga forces to liberate areas still under control of Daesh, including the town of Hawijah in the country's oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

"We don't need permission from anyone whether inside or outside of Iraq to liberate our country and our land We don't need permission from the Kurdish Peshmerga. We have already closed in on Hawijah from the eastern, southern and northern prongs and are in no need of passageways from Peshmerga forces. We won't wait for the Kurds to grant us the permission," Secretary General of Badr Organization Hadi al-Ameri told Press TV in an exclusive interview in the town of Shirqat on Sunday.

He added that the Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) had called upon Peshmerga commanders to cooperate with both government forces and Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by their Arabic name as Hashd al-Sha'abi, but Kurdish military officials were yet to comply with the request.

"Up until now, there has been no cooperation regarding Hawijah liberation operation despite the JOC's official request. All this is happening as Iraqi forces are going to announce the full recapture of Hawijah soon," Ameri pointed out.

On September 21, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the launch of a new offensive to drive out Daesh militants from Hawijah, located 45 kilometers west of Kirkuk.

The operation to free Hawijah came as tensions were running high between the central government in Baghdad and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan after the local Kurdish government insisted on holding a controversial independence referendum on Monday.

The Iraqi government has warned that it is ready to use force if the referendum leads to violence.

Iraq's neighboring countries, including Turkey, Iran and Syria, have also strongly opposed the vote.

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Iran closes airspace to all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 12:15PM

Iran has closed its airspace to all flights to and from the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq at the request of the country's federal government, Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) says.

"At the request of the central government of Iraq, all flights from Iran to Sulaymaniyah and Erbil airports as well as all flights through our country's airspace originating in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region have been halted," Keyvan Khosravi, a spokesman for the SNSC, said on Sunday.

He added that the decision had been made during an emergency session of the SNSC earlier in the day after Iran's "political" efforts proved ineffective in the face of Kurdish officials' insistence on holding a planned referendum on the independence of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

The Iranian official warned that hasty decisions made by some officials of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region would limit the power of the Iraqi Kurds for engaging in constructive dialogue within Iraq's government structure and would also pose serious challenges to security of the Kurdish people, the entire Iraq and the region.

There are conflicting reports as to whether a referendum on possible independence of the Iraqi Kurdistan on Monday will go ahead as planned after several regional officials warned the vote could have serious consequences.

The high council for referendum affairs, which is supervised by Iraqi Kurdish leader, Massoud Barzani, rejected reports of a postponement as rumors, the Kurdistan 24 news station said.

Iraq's government has called the referendum unconstitutional with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi rejecting it "whether today or in the future."

The planned referendum has raised fears of a fresh conflict in the region, which is trying to emerge from years of Daesh campaign of death and destruction.

In a statement on September 18, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Iraq's Kurdish leaders to scrap an upcoming independence vote, saying it would undermine the ongoing battle in the Arab country against Daesh terrorists.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on international affairs, on September 16 expressed the Islamic Republic's opposition to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region's independence referendum, warning that separatist moves in the region would ultimately serve the interests of the US and the Israeli regime.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran opposes any move either knowingly or unknowingly towards independence of one part of Iraq or any other country in the region," Velayati added.

The Iranian official noted that Iran was a "strategic ally" of Iraq, which was in agreement with whatever demand put forth by the legitimate government in the Arab country.

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Iraq's Kurdish Leader Says Referendum To Go Ahead, Despite International Opposition

RFE/RL September 24, 2017

The leader of Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region says a controversial vote on independence will go ahead as planned on September 25, despite mounting pressure to call off the referendum.

The president of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masud Barzani, said on September 24 that the nonbinding vote will be the first step in a long process to negotiate independence.

"The partnership with Baghdad has failed and we will not return to it," Barzani told a press conference in Irbil, urging all Kurds to vote "in peace."

The Baghdad government and the international community have opposed the referendum -- including neighboring Turkey and Iran, which themselves have sizable Kurdish minorities.

In a televised address on September 24, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi called the vote "unconstitutional and against civil peace" and said Baghdad would take the "necessary measures" to protect the unity of the country.

The vote, Abadi said, ''could lead to ethnic divisions, exposing [the Iraqis] to disastrous dangers that only God knows.''

According to a statement published by Abadi's office, the Iraqi government asked the Kurdish region to hand over international border posts and its international airports.

It called on foreign countries to deal with the central government in regards to airports and borders and to stop oil trading with the region.

Meanwhile, Keivan Khosravi, the spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the country halted all flights between the Islamic republic and Iraq's Kurdish region at the request of the government in Baghdad, Iranian state media reported.

The office of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he and Iranian President Hassan Rohani, during a telephone conversation, voiced concern that the referendum will cause "chaos in the region."

And Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said his country "will never, ever tolerate any status change or any new formations on its southern borders" and that the KRG "will be primarily responsible for the probable developments after this referendum.''

The United Nations, the United States, and other Western powers have expressed concerns that the referendum could distract from the war against the extremist group Islamic State (IS) should it lead to unrest in disputed areas.

Barzani said that he expects the strong reactions of the international community opposing Kurdish independence ''not to last forever'' after the vote is held.

He also dismissed concern that the referendum could destabilize the region and pledged to not seek to redraw the region's borders.

Iraqi Kurdish leaders have said the referendum will take place in the three provinces that officially make up the Kurdish autonomous region -- Dahuk, Irbil, and Sulaimaniya -- and some neighboring areas.

These areas include disputed cities such as oil-rich Kirkuk, Makhmour, Khanaqin, and Sinjar, over which Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have established control while fighting against IS militants who captured large parts of Iraq in 2014.

With reporting by AP, AFP, IRIB, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-iraq- military-exercises-kurdish-region- independence-vote/28754061.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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Iraqi Kurdistan's Security May Be Ensured 'Only Through Independence' From Iraq

Sputnik News

21:06 24.09.2017

Iraqi Kurdistan's President Masoud Barzani said on Sunday that Erbil is determined to hold a referendum on independence despite objections from Baghdad and other regional powers, stressing that Kurds are ready for the "long" talks to reach the peace in the region.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Iraqi Kurdistan has come to the conclusion that the autonomous region's security can be ensured only through gaining independence from Iraq, Masoud Barzani said at a press conference on Sunday.

Barzani noted that the anti-Kurdish atrocities committed during the rule of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as well as the violence of the Daesh terror group, outlawed in Russia, were rooted in the thousand-year-long culture of denial of the Kurdish existence in the area.

"That is why, we reached this conclusion that only through independence we can secure our future, that we are not going to have to pass the atrocities we had previously," the region's president said.

Barzani stressed that Iraqi Kurdistan wants to establish "very good and excellent cooperation and relationship" with the neighboring countries, "even if they have negative perceptions." He said that Iraqi Kurds "do not think about a military conflict" with Baghdad, adding that Kurdish forces have coordination between Peshmerga Iraqi Kurdistan's forces and the Iraqi army.

He also said Erbil will be ready for a long negotiation process with Baghdad on the issue of the borders of the Kurdish state following the vote.

"I would like to reiterate and to underline this referendum is not to draw the border of Kurdistan, this referendum is not to impose any status on any area  and after the referendum we will be ready to start the long process of dialogue with Baghdad and we are ready to give as much time as needed," he added.

On Friday, Barzani said that Iraqi Kurdistan would not postpone the referendum on the independence of the autonomy from Baghdad, despite the pressure, and will hold it on target date on September 25.

 Sputnik

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Iraqi Forces Kill Hundreds of Daesh Terrorists During Offensive in Hawija

Sputnik News

00:44 24.09.2017(updated 06:48 24.09.2017)

The Iraqi armed forces killed over 200 Daesh militants in Hawija during first days of their massive offensive and liberated vast areas occupied by terrorists.

BAGHDAD (Sputnik)  The Iraqi forces have killed more than 200 Daesh terrorists, and liberated around 500 square kilometers (over 190 square miles) of territory west from the northern town of Hawija, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the start of the operation to clear the territories of western Anbar province and Anah city from the remaining Daesh terrorist groups.

"The units of the federal police and mechanized brigade have completed the first and second stages of the operation, regained control of over 480 square kilometers of the territory, liberated 41 villages and destroyed 225 Daesh militants," the statement read.

The command noted that the armed forces also destroyed the vehicles and weapons, which belonged to the terrorists and managed to move 90 families away from the area of clashes.

Meanwhile, the Middle Euphrates River Valley is one of the two areas where Daesh fighters remain in Iraq. The other zone is the western Anbar province.

The Daesh terror group took control of Hawijah in 2014. This area became a main stronghold of terrorists after the Iraqi army regained control of Mosul in July.

Earlier, the Iraqi authorities announced that they had freed over 90 percent of their territory from terrorists. According to the government data, over 2.2 million refugees have returned to the Iraqi regions which have been liberated from the terrorists.

 Sputnik

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Barzani Urges Kurds to Vote 'In Peace' in Independence Poll

By VOA News September 24, 2017

The president of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq, Massoud Barzani, urged his people to go to the polls  a day before Kurds will vote in a referendum to gain independence from Iraq.

"We have reached the conclusion that independence will allow us not to repeat past tragedies," he told a news conference in Irbil, capital of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan in northern Iraq.

"The partnership with Baghdad has failed and we will not return to it," said the Kurdish leader said, urging all Kurds to vote "in peace" on Monday.

Earlier Sunday, neighboring Iran announced that it has stopped all flights to the Kurdish region of Iraq.

The move is the first concrete retaliation to the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) referendum on independence from Iraq, which is opposed by the national government as well as by powerful neighbors Iran and Turkey.

The Kurdish region has repeatedly ignored calls to cancel the referendum, and the supreme court, which moved to suspend the referendum last week, has little power to implement its order.

Barzani said Monday's referendum on independence would not result in an immediate change, but instead would trigger talks with Baghdad about an independent future.

Barzani told VOA's Persian service last week that following the referendum, which has widespread support among Iraqi Kurds, the Kurdish government would begin discussions with Iraqi officials on such issues as border demarcation, division of natural resources and a timeline for declaring independence. Barzani estimated the transition time would be one to two years.

Turkey, which borders the Iraqi Kurdish region, has strong ties with Barzani, but Ankara has been stepping up its pressure to call off the vote.

VOA's Persian service contributed to this report.

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UN official says Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh need 'massive assistance'

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 03:32PM

The head of the UN refugee agency says Bangladesh needs "massive international assistance" to feed and shelter over 430,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled Myanmar in recent weeks.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Sunday that there were "immense" challenges at the overflowing Rohingya refugee camps around Cox's Bazar in southern Bangladesh.

"I was struck by the incredible magnitude of their needs. They need everything, they need food, they need clean water, they need shelter, they need proper health care," Grandi said after visiting the camps.

The UN official said there had been an "incredible outpouring of local generosity" but that now needed to be "beefed up by massive international assistance, financial and material." He said his office was providing "technical assistance" to help Bangladesh register the Rohingya. "That's partly why I am here, to help... the government organize that response."

The scale of the influx, which the UN official called the "fastest and most urgent refugee emergency in the world," had made it difficult to assess the needs quickly.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Grandi said the influx had slowed in recent days but it was impossible to tell whether more would come.

The latest figures by the UN show that 436,000 Rohingya had arrived from Myanmar's Rakhine state since an outbreak of violence there a month ago.

Meanwhile, Amir Hossain Amu, a senior Bangladeshi minister, said on Sunday that the country had "no plan for the time being" to grant refugee status to the newly-arrived Rohingya.

Amu, who chairs a cabinet committee on national security, said, "We want Rohingya to return to their own land."

Bangladesh has begun providing those who have just arrived with identity cards and recording their biometric data. The process is expected to take several months to complete.

At the moment, UN agencies say it is difficult to ensure aid is distributed evenly because refugees are undocumented. They are still moving from one place to another.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said a plane carrying 100 tons of emergency aid from Europe had reached Bangladesh. The aid includes water purifying tablets, sanitary items and plastic tarpaulins.

Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine have been subject to systematic persecution and violence at the hands of the military and Buddhist mobs for decades.

The minority group has been facing an escalated campaign of horrific violence since late last year, when the military laid siege to Rakhine. There have been widespread reports and eyewitness accounts of killings, raping, indiscriminate shootings at fleeing civilians, and the burning down of houses.

Over the past month, thousands of Rohingya have fled from the brutal army-led crackdown across the border in Rakhine. The recent exodus of Rohingya has brought the number of refugees from Rakhine living in Bangladesh to over 800,000.

Myanmar's government claims it is fighting militants in the area, but the UN says the situation is better described as the "ethnic cleansing" of the Rohingya Muslims, whom the government refuses to recognize as citizens despite the fact that the 1.1-million-strong population has been living in the country for generations.

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UNHCR: Bangladesh Needs 'Massive International Assistance' for Rohingya

By VOA News September 24, 2017

The head of the U.N. refugee agency says Bangladesh needs "massive international assistance" to feed and shelter the Rohingya who have fled Myanmar.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said Sunday in the Bangladeshi town of Cox's Bazar the needs of more than 430,000 people who have fled violence in Myanmar are enormous and Bangladesh is facing "immense" challenges.

"I spoke to many of the refugees that have just arrived and I must say that on the one hand I was struck by the incredible magnitude of their needs. They need everything, as I said, they need food, they need clean water, they need shelter, they need proper health care, and perhaps the most urgent need is to find them a proper accommodation," he said.

Grandi said an "incredible outpouring of local generosity" needs to be "beefed up by massive international assistance, financial and material".

The latest round of violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state erupted August 25 when a Rohingya insurgent group launched deadly attacks on security posts. Myanmar responded with military "clearance operations" to root out the rebels.

"First and foremost violence has to stop because it is that violence that has caused the flight of the people. Violence has to stop. Access by humanitarian organizations like mine in northern Rakhine have to be fully restored. You know that UNHCR, the World Food Program are maintaining a presence there but our movement is still restricted. This, once the security is reestablished, has to be restored so that we can also help those that have not come over and address their needs."

Grandi said the refugee flow has slowed, but it is impossible to tell whether more would come.

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Syria Reserves Right to Respond Any Violation to Territorial Unity of Country

Sputnik News

17:54 23.09.2017(updated 01:45 24.09.2017)

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem stated in his address to UN General Assembly that the country reserves the right to respond to any violation of its territorial unity.

De-escalation Zones

He also underlined that creation of de-escalation zones in Syria is a temporary measure.

"Notwithstanding its commitment to the memorandum on the 'de-escalation zones,' Syria reserves the right to respond to any violation by the other party. Syria also stresses that these zones are a temporary arrangement that must not violate the territorial unity of Syria," the minister said.

He stated that the victory over terrorists in Syria is possible after the Aleppo, Palmyra, Deir ez Zor liberation.

"My country, along with its steadfast people and its brave army, supported by our loyal allies, is marching steadily towards the goal of rooting out terrorism. The liberation of Aleppo and Palmyra, the lifting of the siege of Deir Ez-Zor and the eradication of terrorism from many parts of Syria prove that victory is now within reach," Muallem said.

"For more than six years, Syrians have endured the worst and have made great sacrifices to defend their country in the face of a terrorist war of unprecedented brutality, which has spared no one and no-thing, targeting innocent people, services, the infrastructure and cultural heritage. Despite it all, Syria is determined, more than ever, to eradicate terrorism from every part of the country, without exception, thanks to the sacrifices of our army and the steadfastness of our people," Muallem said.

Damascus will increase its reconciliation efforts in order to restore stability in the country, Syrian Foreign Minister stated.

"Syria is determined to scale up reconciliation efforts, whenever possible, because it is the best means to alleviate the suffering of Syrians and restore stability and normalcy," the minister said, adding that the efforts undertaken so far "have allowed tens of thousands of IDPs [internally displaced persons] and refugees to go back home" and helped improve the living conditions of a great number of Syrians who had fallen victim to terrorist crimes.

In August, Syrian government forces, backed by Russian aviation, liberated the town of Al-Sukhnah, overlooking the strategic M20 highway which connects Deir ez-Zor with Palmyra, and are now moving northeast methodically flushing out jihadist militants on both sides of the highway.

Meanwhile, the Russian Aerospace Forces and warships in the Mediterranean are clearing the way for the advancing Syrian government forces with airstrikes and cruise missile attacks.

US-led Coalition Actions

Walid al-Moualem expressed hope that Astana process will help the country to reach 'actual cessation of hostilities'.

"We are encouraged by the Astana process and the resulting 'de-escalation zones' and hope that it will help us reach an actual cessation of hostilities and separate terrorist groups, such as ISIL [Daesh], Al-Nusra [Nusra Front, both terrorist groups banned in numerous countries] and others, from those groups that have agreed to join the Astana process," Muallem said in his address to the UN General Assembly.

According to him, the US-led coalition against Daesh achieved no result in the fight against terrorism in Syria, killing more civilians than militants. He noted that the anti-terror fight in the country impossible without the coordination with the Syrian government, claiming that any foreign presence without its permission is illegal.

"We have declared more than once that it is impossible to combat terrorism without coordination with the Syrian government. This is the only way to make real gains in the war on terrorism. Any presence of foreign troops on Syrian grounds, without the consent of the government, is considered a form of occupation, a wanton aggression, and a flagrant violation of international laws and the Charter of the United Nations," Muallem said.

"While the coalition failed to make any meaningful progress against the terrorist group of ISIL [Daesh], the Syrian Army, along with its allies and friends, has been able to secure real and significant gains and drive out terrorists from large parts of the Syrian Desert," Muallem said in his address to the UN General Assembly.

"The so-called 'International Coalition' led by the US, which was created three years ago to allegedly fight terrorist groups such as ISIL [Daesh], has killed much more innocent Syrians, mostly women and children, than terrorists and has destroyed vital infrastructure that Syrians have worked for years to build. It has also used phosphorus bombs and other internationally-prohibited weapons before the eyes of the whole world," Muallem added.

The United States, Russia, Iran and other players are running out of room to avoid direct conflicts as territory ruled by the Daesh terrorist group (banned in Russia) shrinks and fighting becomes more intense, the private intelligence firm Soufan Group warned in a report on Friday.

The report cited last week's shelling of Syrian government units, including Russian special forces, by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as well as the bombing of SDF forces and embedded US special-operations units, by Russian planes as one example of conflicts that are likely to intensify.

On September 21, Russian military spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov warned US commanders that Russia would target SDF and US personnel operating near the city of Deir ez-Zor, if Russian and Syrian forces continued to come under fire from those areas, according to the report.

Chemical Weapons

The foreign minister also confirmed Syria's commitment to Geneva process, intention to achieve progress in these negotiations.

"The Syrian government reaffirms its commitment to the Geneva process and further progress on that track. This process has yet to bear fruit in the absence of a genuine national opposition that can be a partner in Syria's future, and as countries with influence over the other party continue to block any meaningful progress," Muallem said in his address to the UN General Assembly.

He reaffirmed Damascus' readiness to accept UN experts for investigation on reports about chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun.

"And as was the case after every accusation of this kind, we confirmed our readiness to receive and cooperate with UN investigation teams," Muallem said in his address to the UN General Assembly.

On April 4, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces announced that several dozen people had been killed in a suspected chemical attack in Khan Shaykhun in Syria's province of Idlib. Four days later, the United States fired missiles at a Syrian government airbase in Idlib in response to the alleged attack, which the White House blamed Damascus for, albeit without providing evidence.

Syrian authorities have refuted any involvement in the incident, saying that the complete elimination of the Syrian government's stockpile of chemical weapons was confirmed by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in January 2016. Russia considers US claims of having evidence that Damascus used chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhoun unfounded.

 Sputnik

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Russian general killed in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr by Daesh

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 11:42PM

A Russian general has been killed by Daesh terrorists close to Syria's eastern Dayr al-Zawr province.

According to a statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday, Lieutenant-General Valery Asapov was killed after coming under Daesh mortar fire.

The statement added that Asapov, a senior military advisor in the country, was stationed at a Syrian command outpost aiding in the liberation of Dayr al-Zawr when he was killed.

"As a result of a sudden mortar shelling by Daesh militants, Lieutenant-General Valery Asapov was fatally wounded by an exploding shell," read the statement.

In early September, the ministry announced the death of two more Russian servicemen in Daesh shelling in Syria. Together with Asapov, that brings the overall death toll of Russian troops in Syria to 37.

Last week, Moscow announced that the Syrian military had liberated more than 85 percent of the strategic eastern city of Dayr al-Zawr from Daesh terrorists.

The Syrian army's liberation operation in Dayr al-Zawr is facing strong resistance and massive fire from areas where militant groups and US-backed forces are stationed.

Daesh overran large parts of Dayr al-Zawr province, including its oilfields, in mid-2014 as it seized swathes of land in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

By early 2015, the Takfiri terrorists were in control of some parts of Dayr al-Zawr and besieged the remaining parts, which were under government control.

The blockade was lifted in early September by Syrian government forces, which brought relief to tens of thousands of people trapped in the city. It is estimated that 100,000 people remain in the government-held parts of the city.

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Iranian drones destroy Daesh bases in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 08:42PM

According to an IRINN TV report on Sunday, during the IRGC operations carried out in Syria's eastern Dayr al-Zawr province, many terrorists were killed in the attacks, which also destroyed large amounts of terrorists' equipment and weapons.

The report noted that the attacks were part of operations aimed at clearing the Syria-Iraq border of the Daesh terrorists group.

In June, the IRGC fired six medium-range ground-to-ground ballistic missiles into Daesh bases in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr in retaliation for twin terrorist attacks in the Iranian capital Tehran, which killed 17 people and injured over 50 others.

On June 7, gunmen mounted almost simultaneous assaults on Iran's Parliament and the Mausoleum of the late Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini. The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assaults.

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Over 2,800 Syrian civilians killed in US-led airstrikes in 3 years: SOHR

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 04:15PM

A monitoring group says more than 2,800 civilians have lost their lives in three years as the US-led coalition purportedly fighting Daesh Takfiri terrorist group continues its aerial assaults against residential areas across Syria.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 427 people, including 137 minors and 113 women, were killed in US-led aerial attacks against civilian areas in the conflict-plagued Arab country between May 23 and June 23 this year.

The Britain-based monitoring group added that the US-led air raids also resulted in the injury of hundreds of civilians, some of whom suffered permanent disabilities and had to have their limbs amputated. The US-led raids also caused massive destruction of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.

The SOHR went on to say that the civilian fatalities were mostly recorded in the northern provinces of Hasakah, Raqqah, Aleppo and Idlib in addition to the eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.

The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.

The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of achieving its declared goal of destroying Daesh.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, in two separate letters sent to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and rotating President of the UN Security Council Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta on August 24, stated that the US-led coalition was perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity through aerial bombardment of residential neighborhoods.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry also stressed that the military alliance was using internationally-banned white phosphorus munitions in flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

Russian airstrikes kill dozens of Takfiri terrorists in Idlib

Meanwhile, the Observatory said Russian airstrikes had killed 45 members of the Takfiri Faylaq al-Sham (Levant Legion) terror group in Idlib province.

The monitoring group said the airstrikes targeted the outskirts of the village of Tal Mardikh.

Russian military aircraft have been targeting terrorist positions in Syria since September 2015 upon a request from the Damascus government.

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'US violating Syria sovereignty in name of fighting terror'

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 24, 2017 11:38AM

The coalition led by the United States has killed many more civilians than terrorists did over the past three years in Syria. This is according to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem. Addressing the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Muallem also slammed the "international community's silence" over the crimes committed by the US-led coalition in Syria, arguing that any foreign military presence without the approval of the government in Damascus constitutes an act of occupation and a flagrant violation of international law.

Talking to Press TV, Ken Stone, with Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War, said Muallem's comments revealed the truth of war in Syria.

"I read the foreign minister's speech at the United Nations and I have to say that truer words were never spoken at the General Assembly," Stone underlined.

"He said quite clearly and correctly that this is all a hoax, because the terrorists who operate in Syria, the al-Nusra, al-Qaeda, and the ISIS [Daesh] terrorists that operate in that country could not exist, could not operate without the backing, the support, the coordination, the funding, and the arming by the United States, its NATO allies and the Arab monarchies," the analyst noted.

"The US-led coalition has been wantonly violating the sovereignty of Syria all in the name of fighting the terrorists that they themselves created."

He further added that as long as Washington excludes itself as an exceptional country which can act beyond the UN Charter and international law, there would be no peace in the world.

The United States is operating under Trump as it did under Obama and Bush and Clinton under the supposition that it is exceptional, Stone said.

"The international law does not apply to the United States. Respect for borders is not a condition for the United States. Sovereignty is not important for the United States unless it affects the sovereignty of the United States. So, the United States goes ahead and intervenes militarily all over the world and threatens the world even right on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly in violation of the UN Charter," he concluded.

The United States and its allies have been bombarding what they call Daesh positions inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate. They also support some groups, such as the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces, claiming that they help them in their fight against Daesh terrorists. Damascus has repeatedly voiced its opposition to the operations of the coalition.

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Russian General Killed In Syria Fighting, Defense Ministry Says

September 24, 2017

The Russian Defense Ministry says one of its generals, who was serving as an adviser to Syrian government troops, has been killed in the country's east, according to state news agency TASS.

The ministry was quoted as saying on September 24 that Lieutenant General Valery Asapov "was at a command post of Syrian troops, assisting the Syrian commanders in the operation for the liberation of the city of Deir al-Zor," when he was "mortally wounded" by mortar shelling by the extremist group Islamic State (IS).

The ministry added that Asapov would be posthumously decorated for his service.

Russia and the United States back separate military offensives in the Syrian war, both of which are advancing against IS militants in the east of the country near Iraq.

The Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air power and Iranian-allied militiamen, have gained control of most of the city of Deir al-Zor on the western side of the Euphrates river.

A U.S.-backed Kurdish-led militia the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said on September 20 that its campaign to capture the IS stronghold of Raqqa, north of Deir al-Zor, was in its final stages.

The SDF, supported by U.S.-led coalition air cover, has also launched an operation in Deir Zor Province, capturing its northern countryside and advancing east of the Euphrates River.

Based on reporting by TASS

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-general- killed-syria/28754501.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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MINNEAPOLIS (TNS)  Traci Earls had a problem. She had been promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Kansas National Guard and needed to participate in a war fighter exercise at the same time she was being groomed to be general manager of a Cargill protein processing plant near Milwaukee.

Earls went to her civilian boss. I feel bad that I have to be gone, she told him.

Dont, he replied.

In a country where companies sometimes pay lip service to military service, Cargill, based outside the Twin Cities, has set a national example for recruiting employees with military experience and supporting them. The Department of Defense just recognized the company as one of the 15 best in the nation for supporting active reservists and National Guard members. The secretary of defense picked Cargill and 14 others from a pool of more than 3,000 employee-nominated businesses.

The company does far more than the law requires, said Earls, who filed the winning nomination.

Earls, 44, not only got time off for the war fighter exercise, her boss suggested that she shift some training for her new job to Cargills Wichita office so that Cargill could pick up the airfare for every other monthly Guard drill in Kansas.

This is not what everyone gets, said Earls, who went to work for Cargill in 2010. My peers are in awe.

Cargill is among many companies that have geared up efforts to attract employees with military experience, said Chip Altman, a Navy vet charged with drawing veterans, and Guard and reserve members, into the University of Minnesotas Carlson School of Business.

Minnesotas Xcel Energy, Walmart and Starbucks are among those placing an emphasis on military hiring. But Cargill, an agricultural processing and shipping giant, is certainly among those on the cutting edge, Altman said.

Too many employers are reluctant to let workers with military obligations take leadership roles, Earls said. Some appear begrudging about time off for reserve or National Guard duty, even though they must provide it.

I know a lot of people who just get what the law requires, and then its like, Oh great, youre going away again? Earls said.

Cargill, meanwhile, pays the difference between a reservist or Guard members military salary while on active duty and her or his company pay. It has its own support network for military employees. But the companys commitment to time off is as important as pay or in-house programs.

Service to country in an era of a protracted war on terror has made some employers leery of hiring people with military obligations. Jobless rates for veterans after the Sept. 11 attacks has become an ongoing source of concern. Attention to the problem from private employers and public policymakers has driven the national unemployment rate for post-9/11 vets from 12.1 percent in 2011 to 5.1 percent in 2016.

In a statement after the Defense Department award, Cargill CEO David MacLennan called on corporate leaders across the country to share best practices for hiring veterans. We can do more to support and help ease the transition to civilian life and the business world, he said.

Carlsons Altman said Cargill and others are doing this because they recognize that people leave the military with great skills. He talked about loyalty, the ability to work in groups and being familiar with large, complex organizations.

Unfortunately, those skills are not always expressed in ways that translate to corporate hiring regimes. So Cargill places military job candidates into a special diversity status to make sure they get looked at carefully. When she is not recruiting, Jessen spends her time shepherding military applicants through the hiring process. Because theyre used to pushing selflessly toward a common goal, people in the military may not send enough I messages in interviews, she said. They may be opportunity blind or speak in acronyms and terms that civilian hiring managers dont understand.

Sometimes there is a disconnect between civilian recruiters and those serving in the military, Jessen said

Something as simple as a job title on a resume can be the difference between a military applicant finding a civilian job and staying unemployed, Jessen noted.

I look for military jargon in resumes, Jessen said. I say, Lets translate the job title so civilians can understand.

Otherwise, hiring managers may not get it.

Altman, who had decades of training and command responsibility in the military, tells a story of losing a job as he tried to move from the Navy to a major Minnesota corporation.

I went through three sets of interviews. The first had six people on the panel, two who understood the military. The second had three on the panel with one who understood the military. The third interview, with the hiring authority, had absolutely zero experience with the military. Someone with five years of experience at a local business got the job instead of me.

Cargills participation in American Corporate Partners is designed to help level the playing field. ACP matches mentors from civilian companies with people on the verge of leaving active military duty. The mentorship, which may include explanations of corporate culture and mock interviews, can last up to a year. Cargills participants do not necessarily advise people who have applied for jobs at the company. But the program does, says Jessen, allow our civilian employees to understand veterans.

Cargill also operates its own military support group.

With the global war on terror, a lot of employees are deployed again and again, and we need to make sure companies are supporting families, said Robert Frias, who was just elected vice president of Cargills veterans support network.

In the active Army and reserves for 34 years, Frias rose to lieutentant colonel. He had two deployments to Afghanistan and one to Iraq. Yet Frias needed a mulligan in the interview process to get his job at Cargill in August 2013.

It was the hardest professional change I have ever made, he said. Frias, like many vets, was attracted to Cargills list of core principles:

Obey the law. Conduct business with integrity. Keep accurate and honest records. Honor business obligations. Treat people with dignity and respect. Protect information, assets and interests. Commit to being a responsible global citizen.

Frias wanted to do all of those things, but his first interviews did not go well. In some ways he was still thinking  and talking  a little too much like a soldier. He was proud of the positions he had earned defending the country, even if they sounded off-point to civilians.

It took the intervention of a manager with prior military service to get him a second chance  or, as Frias put it, an opportunity to re-explain.

Now, everyone understands. Cargill knows what Frias brings to his job. And Frias knows the kind of commitment his employer has made.

As he spoke, the 52-year-old military officer and civilian employment relations specialist had just returned from 24 days training with the Army reserve.

My boss and her boss said, Dont worry, well get you back up to speed, Frias explained. My peers took on my workload. This is the first company where I have worked where I feel completely at ease with whatever the Army throws at me.

Just dont ask him if it feels good to work for a company that accommodates his obligation to his country. Accommodate sounds wrong, Frias said. They appreciate the service.

The Department of Defense just recognized Cargill as one of the 15 best companies in the nation for supporting active reservists and National Guard members.
Russian Lieutenant-General Killed in Daesh Shelling in Syria - MoD

Sputnik News

21:46 24.09.2017(updated 02:38 25.09.2017)

Russia's Lt. Gen. Asapov, who helped Syrian forces during the operation to lift the blockade of Deir ez-Zor, died as a result of Daesh shelling, the Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday.

Lt. Gen. Valery Asapov died after sustaining a "fatal injury" in the "sudden Daesh mortar shelling," the ministry said.

"Lt. Gen. Valery Asapov died in the Syrian Arab Republic as a result of the Daesh shelling," the statement said.

The ministry specified that Asapov was a member of the group of Russian military advisers providing Syrian commanders with assistance during the operation aimed at the liberation of the city of Deir ez-Zor.

According to the ministry, the deceased serviceman will receive a state award posthumously.

In early September, the Syrian government troops, backed by Russian airstrikes, broke a three-year Daesh blockade to the west and south of Deir ez-Zor. On Monday, the Syrian Army crossed the Euphrates River with the support of the Russian Aerospace Forces near Deir ez-Zor, knocking militants out from a number of settlements, and are currently developing an offensive eastward.

 Sputnik

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Turkey's Parliament Extends Mandate to Use Troops in Syria, Iraq for One Year

Sputnik News

20:46 23.09.2017(updated 23:17 23.09.2017)

The Turkish parliament on Saturday approved a motion to extend a mandate, authorizing military operations in Syria and Iraq for one year, in the light of a scheduled referendum on the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan, which Ankara strongly opposes, according to the voting results.

ANKARA (Sputnik)  The parliament held an extraordinary session to decide on the mandate, which was valid until October 30.

The Iraqi Kurdistan authorities have called the vote for September 25, drawing international criticism. The UN Security Council warned Thursday the referendum might destabilize the region still threatened by radical Islamist militancy.

The mandate was supported by the ruling Justice and Development Party, far-right Nationalist Movement Party, center-left Republican People's Party, while the Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party voted against the bill.

Earlier in the day, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag demanded the referendum's cancellation. The official said that Kurds still had time to change their mind, citing lack of support for the vote among the region's ethnic Turkmen and Arab residents.

 Sputnik

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Moscow Concerned Over Possible Supply of Canadian Lethal Weapons to Kiev

Sputnik News

23:42 23.09.2017(updated 04:52 24.09.2017)

The Russian lawmaker of the parliament's state lower chamber expressed concerns over potential shipments of lethal armament to Ukraine. The statement came a day after reports appeared that Canadian government is mulling deliveries of lethal weapons to Kiev.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Moscow should counter Ottawa's plans to allow deliveries of lethal weapons to Kiev as the respective decision on the issue may hamper the crisis settlement process in eastern Ukraine, the first deputy chairman of the Russian lower house's Defense Committee told Sputnik.

On Friday, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, said he was moving forward on adding Ukraine to the list of countries allowed to receive supplies of lethal weapons.

"[Russia] has to strongly condemn these short-sighted statements and do everything possible to prevent it from happening," Andrey Krasov said.

The lawmaker noted that Trudeau's statement illustrated Canada's inconsistent policy on Ukraine as the most important issue on the crisis settlement agenda was ensuring that the Ukrainian government fully implemented the Minsk agreements.

"Canada's leadership should not be concerned about lethal weapons deliveries to Ukraine. It is more important to make Poroshenko implement Minsk agreements unconditionally and without any alternatives. Only when Ukraine itself fulfills the agreements, the violence will stop on the territories of Donbas republics and only then the parties will sit at the negotiating table," Krasov underlined.

Ukraine has repeatedly asked to be supplied with lethal and non-lethal weapons from the European Union and the United States. Russia strongly criticized the idea, stressing that it would only lead to an escalation of the situation in Donbas rather than the implementation of the Minsk agreements and ultimate resolution to the crisis.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last month that all the states, especially those engaged in settling the Ukrainian conflicts, should avoid actions leading to further escalation of tensions.This standpoint has been backed by several European officials.

Kiev launched a military operation in the east of Ukraine in 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new government that came to power then. The ceasefire agreement was reached in Minsk in 2015, brokered by the leaders of the Normandy Four group, namely France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine, but the situation has remained tense.

 Sputnik

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Heifer International is proud to announce its 20th anniversary of working in Nepal as a sustainable development non-profit leader in smallholder agriculture. Heifer Nepal has achieved two decades of uplifting vulnerable families, guiding their path to self-sufficiency and resilience through a values-based holistic community development approach.

At the request of Nepals government, Heifer started working in the country in 1957, providing high-yielding, improved breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs for cross-breeding along with hatchery for poultry. The livestock were placed in Singha Durbar Livestock Farm and Chitlang Sheep Farm, which were later moved to a livestock farm at Khumaltar. After a long gap, in 1993, the first community development project, Baruwa Goat Raising Project, was implemented in Gitanagar, Chitwan, benefiting 25 families.

Heifer established its branch office in Nepal in 1997 by signing the first formal agreement with the Social Welfare Council. Since then, Heifer has supported more than 250,000 poor and vulnerable families in 41 districts of Nepal. With support of more than 100 implementing partner NGOs, Heifers programs are able to organize families into self-help groups and federate these groups into more than 200 womens cooperatives and three district unions.

By 2023, Heifer Nepal plans to bring 500,000 families from a state of poverty and vulnerability to sustainability and resilience through engagement in competitive, sustainable and inclusive goat and dairy value chain enterprises. This will bring economic growth, improved livelihoods and food and nutrition security.

To achieve this goal, Heifer has been following two major pathways: empowerment and institutional strengthening, and sustainable production and market systems. On one hand, Heifer Nepal uses the values-based holistic community development approach for empowerment of individuals. The approach unveils and nurtures womens leadership; strengthens social harmony; builds grassroots institutions and enables them to emerge as strong players in the community and the value chain.

On the other hand, the approach creates production support systems, including inputs, technology and financial services. It also creates business hubs and market accessibility for rural farmers to enhance production, meet economy of scale and develop farm enterprises.

Heifer International would like to heartily express our sincere thanks to Government of Nepal- its Ministries, departments, divisions, and district and local chapters, implementing local partner NGOs, donors and collaborators, and media for walking together with us in this 20 years journey, and helping us to help the communities in need. We are committed to continue our development journey in Nepal and hope this partnership will remain in the years to come.
Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Randy Taormina to Area Managing Director, Dream Hotels, in New York City, effective immediately. In this new role, Taormina will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Dream Downtown and executive oversight of Dream Midtown properties in Manhattan. Taormina arrived at Dream Hotel Group as General Manager of Dream Midtown last year. Joining from Highgate Hotels, where he most recently served as Area Managing Director in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area, Taormina brings nearly 20 years of experience to the growing Dream team. In his last six years with Highgate, he held the roles of General Manager at the Refinery Hotel in New York City for more than three years and General Manager of Doubletree by Hilton Syracuse for the two years prior. Under his leadership, the Refinery Hotel was named a TripAdvisor Travelers Choice award-winner in its opening year with a 94 percent approval rating, one of only three NYC hotels to make the list. Prior to Highgate, Taormina spent eight years with Lodgian Inc. as a General Manager at properties in Da llas, Phoenix, Denver and Pittsburgh under hotel brands Marriott, Hilton and IHG. At age 24, he became the youngest General Manager within Lodgians 90-hotel portfolio and operated some of its highest revenue-generating properties. He also served as General Manager of the landmark Silversmith Hotel, part of Crestline Hotels & Resorts, in Chicago. Taormina launched his hospitality career as Food & Beverage Director at a private resort on Hilton Head, South Carolina, and went on to become Assistant General Manager at resorts across the island.
In this new role Gingerich will run Kimptons locally inspired bars and restaurants in the East and West respectively. Hell partner with the executive chef and on-property teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences and generate a profitable bottom line for Kimptons more than 80 restaurants and bars, according to the brand. Gingerich will work closely F&B leadership to develop key food and beverage initiatives and expand Kimptons international footprint. Gingerich is no stranger to Kimpton, having previously served as regional VP, restaurants + bars, where he was responsible for overseeing all personnel and systems to develop, renovate, operate and maintain the growing number of restaurants and bars managed by Kimpton in the western half of the U.S.
The Dalles Inn, The Dalles, Oregon sold by Crystal Investment Property, LLC

Crystal Investment Property, LLC, a member of Hotel Brokers International, announced the successful sale of The Dalles Inn, The Dalles, Oregon. Crystal Investment Property, LLC, a licensed Oregon broker, exclusively represented the Seller in the sale. Joseph P. Kennedy, President of CIP, worked closely with the Seller and Buyer as well as lenders and other professionals, to negotiate a mutually acceptable sale. The final sale price was confidential.

The 64-key property sits off Highway 84 in the heart of booming Columbia Gorge city of The Dalles, Oregon. With excellent proximity to shops, restaurants, businesses and being visible from Interstate 84 with easy access to tens of thousands of daily travelers, The Dalles Inn enjoys an ideal location.

Joseph Kennedy, President of Crystal Investment Property said, "The booming economy and unique appeal of the Columbia Gorge attracted a strong cadre of interested investors over the term of our marketing. We were pleased to be able to secure an outstandingly capable party to assume the operations of this terrific city center hotel."

Crystal Investment Property, a premiere hospitality investment advisory and brokerage company located in the Pacific Northwest, maintains the most cutting-edge technological, online and social media presence as well as a full range of traditional and web-based marketing reaching local, regional, national and international clientele. The firms core services of hospitality asset acquisition/disposition are supported by innovative and creative solutions to maintain position as the most active and successful hotel broker in the region. Crystal Investment Property represents the full spectrum of hospitality real estate owners and their experience covers all hospitality assets types, including: full service hotels, boutique hotels, select service hotels, limited service hotels, as well as development projects, and leasehold transactions. Crystal Investment Property may be accessed online at www.crystalip.com.

Founded in 1959, Hotel Brokers International members lead the industry in hotel real estate sales. HBI hotel brokerage specialists have successfully negotiated more than 10,000 hotel real estate transactions and consistently account for the largest share of all select-service and economy hotel sales in the United States. The organizations database currently comprises more than 100 property listings and the HBI website attracts site visitors from around the world. Founder and host of the popular Hotel Investors Marketplace Webcast, HBI also developed the Certified Hotel Broker professional designation program. In addition to hospitality real estate advisory services, HBI offers affiliate membership to professionals in allied fields, including franchising, lending, appraisals and investment services. For more information about HBIs hotel listings or to become a broker or affiliate member, visit www.hbihotels.com.

For more information contact:

Joseph P. Kennedy, President

Crystal Investment Property, LLC

Portland, Oregon

503.530.1316

joe@crystalip.com

Glenda J. Webb, Managing Director

Hotel Brokers International

Kansas City, Missouri

816.505.4315

gwebb@hbihotels.com
Home2 Suites by Hilton Dickson City Scranton Opens

Located at 914 Scranton-Carbondale Highway, Home2 Suites by Hilton Dickson City Scranton offers guests convenient access to popular local attractions, including Steamtown National Historic Site, Elk Mountain Ski Resort and Montage Mountain Ski Resort/Summer Waterpark.

Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) All Suites portfolio, announced today its newest property, Home2 Suites by Hilton Dickson City Scranton. Designed for travelers who want to maintain their normal routine, the hotel features 70 suites and a range of value, tech-focused and eco-conscious amenities. Located on the scenic Route 6, Home2 Suites by Hilton Dickson City Scranton adds new options that guarantee a fresh, new approach for travelers.

"Whether visiting the city to experience the historic national sites, such as Nay Aug Park and the Electric City Trolley Museum, or for business, Home2 Suites is focused on providing guests convenience, accessibility and top-notch service at a great value," said Jason Yasinskas, general manager. "Our new hotel brings a unique concept to lodging and is an ideal choice for both one-night and extended-stay travelers."

Owned and managed by Millett Real Estate Inc., Home2 Suites by Hilton Dickson City Scranton offers all-suite accommodations with fully equipped kitchens and modular furniture, providing guests the flexibility to customize their suite to their style and preference. The hotel also features complimentary Internet, inviting communal spaces, and trademark Home2 Suites amenities such as Spin2 Cycle, a combined laundry and fitness area, Home2 MKT for grab-and-go items, and the Inspired Table, a complimentary daily breakfast that includes more than 400 potential combinations. Guests can also enjoy an indoor saline pool and whirlpool. Home2 Suites by Hilton Dickson City Scranton is pet-friendly.

Located at 914 Scranton-Carbondale Highway, Home2 Suites by Hilton Dickson City Scranton offers guests convenient access to popular local attractions, including Steamtown National Historic Site, Elk Mountain Ski Resort and Montage Mountain Ski Resort/Summer Waterpark. University of Scranton, Marywood University, Penn State Worthington Scranton Campus and other nearby colleges and universities are just minutes away.
MADISON  A federal appeals court Friday largely upheld the constitutionality of the town of Campbells ordinance prohibiting banners from highway overpasses but returned a lawsuit for proof the ban should extend 100 feet beyond structures.

The ordinance has prompted two lawsuits, both on First Amendment grounds: one by two tea party activists who hung a HONK TO IMPEACH OBAMA banner in 2014 and a second by a leader of the organization Overpasses of America.

In July 2015, District Judge William Conley dismissed the suit Gregory Luce and Nicholas Newman brought against the town and former town Police Chief Tim Kelemen.

Luce and Nicholas contended that the First Amendment gave them the right to post political messages anywhere in town, including its three highway overpasses.

According to the opinion:

Luce and other demonstrators were cited for ordinance violations and escorted from the overpass. The act was videotaped by other demonstrators and posted to a website.

Kelemen, according to his deposition, contended the demonstrators were trying to mess with us and decided to act as a vigilante and mess with them.

Acting anonymously, Kelemen posted Luces name and email address on websites catering to gay men and consumers of pornography, causing him embarrassment and unwanted email. Kelemen also posted comments on the local newspapers website accusing Luce of failing to pay his property taxes and other debts and asserting that his car was about to be repossessed.

Trying to hide his role, Kelemen signed the comments Bill OReilly, but his identity eventually came out. Luce sued on theory that Kelemen was penalizing both the tea party speech on the bridge and its videos.

Kelemen resigned, pleaded no contest to unlawful use of a computer and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement.

However, Conley dismissed Kelemen from the suit contending that he had not violated Luces First Amendment rights as a public official.

While Luces case was pending, the second overpass suit was filed against the town, Police Chief Drew Gavrilos and others by Frederick Schneider, who last October displayed a Police lives matter sign from Bainbridge pedestrian overpass on I-90.

In April, District Judge James Peterson dismissed the suit except the First Amendment claim and waited for the Chicago-based U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to rule on Luces suit.

On Friday, the appeals court concluded that the ordinance was constitutional as it banned all non-informational signs from overpasses over highways with posted speeds in excess of 40 mph. Echoing Conleys reasoning, the court found the ordinance was a permissible restriction on speech as it was content-neutral and aimed at eliminating distracting messages that could jeopardize public safety.

Injury accidents can happen when motorists travel at different speeds, and a banner hanging directly over travel lanes can cause some drivers to slow up to read it, which can contribute to unsafe conditions. Regulating signs on a time, place and manner basis has been upheld in other cases, the court noted.

However, the court did not apply the same approach to the ordinances ban on any sign within 100 feet of an overpass.

The town can prohibit signs when they are large enough to attract a drivers attention, but a small For Sale sign on either of the two homes that are within 100 feet of the overpass, which ordinance prohibits, goes beyond the significant governmental interest in regulating highway safety, according to the opinion.

It is hard to see why signs off the highway, and too small to cause drivers to react, should be banned, Appellate Judge Frank Easterbrook wrote in the 11-page Luce opinion.

The opinion may open the way for demonstrations to be held within 100 feet of the overpass, as one of the plaintiffs said he avoided doing so out of fear of being prosecuted, according to the opinion.

The court returned the suit to Conley to determine whether the town can justify banning signs and demonstrations within 100 feet of overpasses on public safety grounds.

Calls to attorneys representing the town and the plaintiffs and town Chair Terry Schaller were not returned before deadline.
A shooter reportedly wearing a clown mask opened fire in a Tennessee church on Sunday, leaving one woman dead with at least seven others, including the gunman, wounded. According to authorities, the suspect, 25-year old Emanuel Kidega Samson, entered the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessejust outside of Nashville. It was just after 11 a.m that he began shooting, arriving at the churchs parking lot where he shot and killed 39-year old Melanie Smith as she was walking to her car said Don Aaron, spokesman of the Metropolitan Nashville Police.

He then made his way inside he church through a back door and opened fire as the service was ending. He reportedly pistol-whipped an usher, 22-year old Robert Engle, before accidentally shooting himself. Engle then grabbed his own firearm from his car and held the suspect off until authorities arrived on the scene.

All of the victims but the deceased Smith are over the age of 60, and most have been transported to and treated at the Vanderbilt Medical Center. Victims included William Jenkins, 83; Marlene Jenkins, 84; Peggy Span, 65; Linda Bush, 68, and David Span, 60. Katherine Dickerson, 64, and the aforementioned Engle were being treated at the areas Skyline Medical Center.

Samson was also treated and released into police custody where he is now being charged with murder and attempted murder according to Nashville Police.

Reports also state that the FBI will be initiating a civil rights investigation in association with the shooting at the predominantly white church at the hands of a black assailant. Samson is identified as a Sudanese imigrant who migrated to the States in 1996. Churchgoers say he frequented the church one or two years ago, but hadnt been an active part of the congregation in recent times.

This is a terrible tragedy for our city, wrote Mayor Megan Barry in a statement. My heart aches for the family and friends of the deceased as well as for the wounded victims and their loved ones. Their lives have been forever changed, as has the life of their faith community at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ. My administration, especially the Metro Nashville Police Department, will continue to work with community members to stop crime before it starts, encourage peaceful conflict resolution, and promote non-violence. This story is still developing.

Tennessee
We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
The water table in the La Crosse River Marsh is likely safe, according to a La Crosse-based environmental science group, despite contamination associated with trap shooting in the wetlands decades ago.

Consultant John Storlie told the Board of Public Works Monday that while lead and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons have both been found in the marsh, the threat from the contamination is minimal. Storlie, a consultant with Coulee Environmental Solutions, a division of The OS Group, was hired by the city last year to compile a comprehensive site investigation report to present to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

What we found is that essentially the lead is not impacting the water table, Storlie said, later adding that his team also tested for PAH in the water table and did not find it.

Chuck Lee: Marsh protects us, come storms and high water How many aspects of our lives in the Coulee Region should we rethink given the reality of cl

The lead and PAH is left over from the La Crosse Gun Club, which leased a portion of Myrick Park from 1929 to 1963. The club up four trap shooting stations to shoot targets out over the marsh, leaving lead pellets and the remains of trap shooting targets where they lay.

A University of Wisconsin-La Crosse study presented to the city in early 2015 showed 50,000 lead pellets per square meter imbedded in the underwater soil, based on analysis of 400 surface soil samples and 33 core samples.

According to the study, which was first presented to the board in February 2015, the soils on the west side had surface lead levels as high as 26,700 milligrams per kilogram, qualifying the area as contaminated. However, the study concluded a cleanup would cause more harm than good.

Storlie and his team installed three nested wells  one at the water table, one 15 feet lower and a third 30 feet below the water table  in the marsh near the highest area of lead concentration found in the UW-L study to investigate the contamination threat.

Storlie found that the pressure surfaces in the wells shows a downward flow, which he attributes to the high marsh levels and significant rain events the marsh has weathered in the past year.

This is important because if it were a consistently downward flow like that, it would suggest there is some potential threat that the lead could, in the future, impact the underlying aquifer, Storlie said. Wisconsin would treat that underlying aquifer like a drinking water source, which, in theory, eventually, it could be.

However, Storlie thinks the downward flow is unusual, saying the marsh is predominately ground water filling upward, rather than water flowing down. His assessment is bolstered from measurements showing a significant increase in downward pressure from the year before.

We dont think thats typical, and I think we have sufficient evidence to show its not, so we really think that the future potential threats to the water table from the lead contamination is minimal, if not nil, Storlie said.

The investigation also looked at PAH contamination from the clay targets used in trap shooting, with The OS Group taking sediment samples from 25 areas.

What we found is that there PAHs everywhere, including the background samples, Storlie said. The difference was degree and the number of different compounds that we found. Given that this is receiving urban stormwater, we think that is at least contributing to it.

Storlie said some areas did exceed interim guidelines published by the DNR in 2003, and the DNR may or may not ask for additional core samples.

Generally, leads not very mobile, which may be one of the reasons were not seeing it in the water table, Strolie said.

Likewise, PAH is not highly soluble in water, he added.

Chuck Lee, president of the Friends of the La Crosse River Marsh, said the results were not a surprise, as the legacy lead shot contamination is well known and monitors have yet to see an observable impact on the environment.

Its not going to be a hazardous waste site, Lee said.

Lee was more concerned about the PAH, which he described as ubiquitous in urban areas.

It doesnt make it safe. It just makes it common, Lee said.

In addition to the bonding agent in clay pigeons, PAH is also found in oil and oil-based products.

Youve got street water draining into the marsh, and youre going to get various chemical pollutants contaminating that, Lee said.

Lee said the report addressed some of his concerns.

It is something we want to, at the very least, continue to monitor. As conditions change, we need to know whats happening, Lee said.

The board went into closed session to discuss the report, which will be shared with the DNR, and what mitigation efforts the city may decide to take.

Photos: Wildlife in the La Crosse River marsh
New Delhi, Sep 25 (IBNS): Prime minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday will preside over the party's national executive where the leaders are likely to discuss about the road map to 2019 Lok Sabha election.

The executive will be held on 100th birth anniversary of party ideologue Deendayal Upadhaya.

The meeting will see a participation of several BJP members including party MLAs, MPs, chief ministers of different states that are ruled by the saffron party.

The two top leaders of the party, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, will discuss about different schemes that have been launched by the BJP government since coming to power in 2014 and plan to propagate them to reach out to the entire mass of the country.

Despite the slow down in GDP in the last two quarters, the prime minister will be speaking about different developmental works that his government has done for the betterment of the poorer sections of the society.
New Delhi, Sep 25 (IBNS): Prime minister Narendra Modi, after presiding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s national conclave on Monday, said the central government will provide electricity to each house in the country.

The prime minister on Monday has clearly stated that electrification in all houses will be one of the major aims of the government in coming years.

With less than two years to go for the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, Modi said his government will bear all costs of electrifying around four crore people, who are presently living in darkness, that amounts to Rs.16,000 crore.

The prime minister even remembered his childhood days when he used to study in kerosene lamps which made him realise the plight of crores of Indians living in darkness.

Highlighting the success of the central government in power sector area, the PM said: "India is becoming an electricity surplus leaving behind the tag of electricity lacking country."

Taking a dig at the UPA government which ruled the country in the previous decade, Modi said the news of power cut in different states which were so familiar in earlier days are now a history.

Praising the work of his own government after coming to power in May 2014, the PM said: "Policies taken in power sector made ease of doing business."

The national conclave, which was presided by BJP president Amit Shah along with PM Modi, were attended by several party members, MPs, MLAs and chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech at the party's national executive, focused on making the party an instrument of mass participation.

He said the PM aimed at taking BJP party beyond elections.

"Main point of PM's speech was that we should take BJP beyond elections and make it instrument of mass participation," Jaitley told media.

Speaking on the meeting, Jaitley said: "13 CMs, 6 Deputy CMs, 232 state min, 1500 MLA, 334 MPs were present in BJP National Executive Meeting."

Jaitley said: "BJP is the most important political party in the country."
New Delhi, Sept 25 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invited the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation(ONGC) to take up a challenge, on the occasion of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyayas birth anniversary.

Addressing officers and staff of the ONGC at a function to mark the launch of the SAUBHAGYA Yojana, the Prime Minister exhorted them to work towards making an efficient electric chulha (stove), which would enable cooking through the use of electricity.

The Prime Minister said this innovation would, in one stroke, significantly impact the nations dependence on imported fuel.

He said that while the world is working towards electric cars, in India, in addition to electric cars, electric stoves would go a long way in meeting the needs of the people.

He asked ONGC to invite startups and youth to innovate in this field.
By Sandip Hor Sydney, Sept 25 (IBNS) LUXPERIENCE is the Southern Hemisphere's only luxury business event that connects the innovative experiential tourism authorities in the premium travel market. In its sixth year, the event once again proved to be one adored with success stories as it was held in Sydney from 1-20 Sep at the Dolton House, Australian Technology Park.

It was launched in 2012 as an annual three and a half day luxury travel business exchange event with the aim to provide delegates inspirational ideas and create long term meaningful connections.

Its more than a trade show. The event provides an exclusive, innovative global business exchange connecting experiential and discerning travel products directly to their market in a creative and inspirational exchange. It connects and nurtures relationships between highly sought-after luxury experiences and agents who influence the travel decision among the world's top-end travellers.

The only forum of its kind, Luxperience helps to identify and drive trends in the luxury and experiential travel sector, and in turn attracts highly desirable, difficult to reach clients. True to its name, it's not just a trade show; it's an immersive luxurious experience, driven by a highly experienced team, resulting in real business for its clients.

The event theme this time focussed on transformation whether on a personal or professional level and this was reflected in every aspect from the chosen Thought Leaders program to various discussions and meetings.

There were more than 10,000 meetings connecting the 300 exhibitors with over 400 elite local and international buyers and meeting organisers along with key media. A dazzling array of high end travel products and experiences from across the globe were on display in a convivial and relaxed atmosphere.

There was a strong contingent of exhibitors and buyers from India under the banner of Incredible India. In addition to India Tourism, Air India and Taj Hotels, some of the other exhibitors from India were IBEX Expeditions, Indian Holidays, Target Tours, Incentive Destinations, Magadh Travels & Tours, Discoveries India and Inspiration India. Its ameaningful event in the high-end market to participate, said Kanchan K Kukreja Head of India Tourism in Australia

Our targeted approach to all invitees of the exhibition ensures it maintains quality of not only products but also participants, safeguarding its mandate of inspiring meaningful connections, says Michelle Papas, Luxury Brand Strategist at Luxperience. This strong ethos will continue for Luxperience 2018 and beyond.

It was announced that next year's theme will be the Blue Print  a world re-designed and will be held in Sydney from 16 to 19 September 2018 with exceptional early bird rates already on offer.

Visit www.luxperience.com.au for details.
Image: www.YouTube.com

Abu Dhabi, Sep 25 (IBNS) : The world's heaviest woman Eman Ahmed died in Abu Dhabi on Monday morning, Khaleej Times reported. She was 36.

Eman suffered from kidney dysfunction and heart disease that worsened her condition in the last few days. She had been under supervision of 20 doctors from different specialties, a hospital official has been quoted as saying.

Egyptian national Eman Ahmed Abdul Atti had come to India for weight loss treatment.

She was discharged from Mumbais Saifee Hospital on May four.

She was then shifted to UAE's Burjeel Hospital and remained there for close to four months.

Eman, who initially weighed 500kg, was seen dancing in her bed last month after it was reported she was making progress.
Lahore, Sept 24 (IBNS): Security forces have killed three suspected terrorists in Gara Madda area of Dera Ismail Khan of Pakistan, media reports said on Sunday.

The incident occurred as security forces carried out an intelligence-based search operation in the area.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations, during a search operation, suspected persons riding a motorcycle started firing at troops after they were signalled to stop, Geo News reported.

Three terrorists were killed during fire exchange.

The terrorists were identified as Iqbal, Waheed and Majid, media reports said.
Naypyidaw, Sep 25 (IBNS): The death toll of Hindus in Myanmar's Rakhine state has risen from 28 to 45, a recent media report stated.

Earlier, Myanmar had accused the Rohingya Muslims of killing people in 28 Hindu villages in Rakhine state.

Hindus along with Buddhists have been displaced by the violence in the state.

The Myanmar government's Information Committee, on a Facebook post, said that mass Hindu graves had been found in the state.

The post said around 300 Arsa militants had attacked 100 Hindus and killed most of them.

The killing took place on August 25, the day when the conflict in the state started.

In last one month, more than 400,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar due to ongoing violence.

Rohingyas are stateless Muslims minorities, who primarily reside in Myamnar's Rakhine state.

Even though they have the maximum stronghold in Myanmar, Rohingyas are also found living in certain parts of Asia.

The United Nations has blamed the Burmese army of indulging in ethnic cleansing.

However, according to the Burmese government, atrocities have been carried out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army or ARSA, a Rohingya militant group, who promises to continued resistance until Rohingya demands for the restoration of citizenship rights within Myanmar are met.

On August 25, earlier this year, scores of ARSA militants struck at least 25 police posts across the two northern townships of Maungdaw and Buthidaung in Myanmar, resulting in the death of at least 100 people.

According to experts, radicalisation is slowly gripping the Rohingyas, who, historically have displayed a more timid attitude.

Experts also feel that the new age gun wielding Rohingyas are more prone to be sucked into terrorism and are likely to pledge alliance with global terror networks, thus exacerbating their already vulnerable state of affairs.

Even though the so called 'resistance' has proved to be disastrous, the young brigade is unwilling to budge from their stand.

However, it is an open secret now that Pakistan-based jihadists are contributing to the situation.

Evidences showed that Aqa Mul Mujahideen (AMM), responsible for the attacks in Myanmar, is an offshoot of Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami Arakan (HUJI-A), a Pakistan-based terror outfit which is involved with the Rohingya Muslim issue in Myanmar.

According to media reports, HUJI-A is headed by Abdus Qadoos Burmi, a Pakistani national of Rohingya origin, closely associated with LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, for training and radicalising Rohingyas.
Washington, Sep 25 (IBNS): The US government has added North Korea, Chad and Venezuela in its existing list of countries with travel prohibitions, to make 'America safe again'.

Conforming the development, US President Donald trump tweeted, "Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet."

The original and earlier travel ban included countries like Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia.

With the new ban in place, Trump's travel embargo is no more directed towards Muslim-majority nations.

Both North Korea and Venezuela fell out of America's favour after defying the latter's sanctions.

While Kim Jong-un led North Korea continued with their nuclear programme, much to Trump's chagrin, Venezuela defied his order when its President Nicolas Maduro didn't pay heed to stop an election, which according to Venezuelan opponents and few other neighbouring nations, gave Maduro a 'dictator-like power'.

Chad was included in the list after it failed to share terrorism-related information with the US.

Here's the full text of Trump:

In Executive Order 13780 of March 6, 2017 (Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States), on the recommendations of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, I ordered a worldwide review of whether, and if so what, additional information would be needed from each foreign country to assess adequately whether their nationals seeking to enter the United States pose a security or safety threat. This was the first such review of its kind in United States history. As part of the review, the Secretary of Homeland Security established global requirements for information sharing in support of immigration screening and vetting. The Secretary of Homeland Security developed a comprehensive set of criteria and applied it to the information-sharing practices, policies, and capabilities of foreign governments. The Secretary of State thereafter engaged with the countries reviewed in an effort to address deficiencies and achieve improvements. In many instances, those efforts produced positive results. By obtaining additional information and formal commitments from foreign governments, the United States Government has improved its capacity and ability to assess whether foreign nationals attempting to enter the United States pose a security or safety threat. Our Nation is safer as a result of this work.

Despite those efforts, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, has determined that a small number of countries -- out of nearly 200 evaluated -- remain deficient at this time with respect to their identity-management and information-sharing capabilities, protocols, and practices. In some cases, these countries also have a significant terrorist presence within their territory.

As President, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people. I am committed to our ongoing efforts to engage those countries willing to cooperate, improve information-sharing and identity-management protocols and procedures, and address both terrorism-related and public-safety risks. Some of the countries with remaining inadequacies face significant challenges. Others have made strides to improve their protocols and procedures, and I commend them for these efforts. But until they satisfactorily address the identified inadequacies, I have determined, on the basis of recommendations from the Secretary of Homeland Security and other members of my Cabinet, to impose certain conditional restrictions and limitations, as set forth more fully below, on entry into the United States of nationals of the countries identified in section 2 of this proclamation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, hereby find that, absent the measures set forth in this proclamation, the immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of persons described in section 2 of this proclamation would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and that their entry should be subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and exceptions. I therefore hereby proclaim the following:

Section 1. Policy and Purpose. (a) It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks and other public-safety threats. Screening and vetting protocols and procedures associated with visa adjudications and other immigration processes play a critical role in implementing that policy. They enhance our ability to detect foreign nationals who may commit, aid, or support acts of terrorism, or otherwise pose a safety threat, and they aid our efforts to prevent such individuals from entering the United States.

(b) Information-sharing and identity-management protocols and practices of foreign governments are important for the effectiveness of the screening and vetting protocols and procedures of the United States. Governments manage the identity and travel documents of their nationals and residents. They also control the circumstances under which they provide information about their nationals to other governments, including information about known or suspected terrorists and criminal-history information. It is, therefore, the policy of the United States to take all necessary and appropriate steps to encourage foreign governments to improve their information-sharing and identity-management protocols and practices and to regularly share identity and threat information with our immigration screening and vetting systems.

(c) Section 2(a) of Executive Order 13780 directed a "worldwide review to identify whether, and if so what, additional information will be needed from each foreign country to adjudicate an application by a national of that country for a visa, admission, or other benefit under the INA (adjudications) in order to determine that the individual is not a security or public-safety threat." That review culminated in a report submitted to the President by the Secretary of Homeland Security on July 9, 2017. In that review, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, developed a baseline for the kinds of information required from foreign governments to support the United States Government's ability to confirm the identity of individuals seeking entry into the United States as immigrants and nonimmigrants, as well as individuals applying for any other benefit under the immigration laws, and to assess whether they are a security or public-safety threat. That baseline incorporates three categories of criteria:

(i) Identity-management information. The United States expects foreign governments to provide the information needed to determine whether individuals seeking benefits under the immigration laws are who they claim to be. The identity-management information category focuses on the integrity of documents required for travel to the United States. The criteria assessed in this category include whether the country issues electronic passports embedded with data to enable confirmation of identity, reports lost and stolen passports to appropriate entities, and makes available upon request identity-related information not included in its passports.

(ii) National security and public-safety information. The United States expects foreign governments to provide information about whether persons who seek entry to this country pose national security or public-safety risks. The criteria assessed in this category include whether the country makes available, directly or indirectly, known or suspected terrorist and criminal-history information upon request, whether the country provides passport and national-identity document exemplars, and whether the country impedes the United States Government's receipt of information about passengers and crew traveling to the United States.

(iii) National security and public-safety risk assessment. The national security and public-safety risk assessment category focuses on national security risk indicators. The criteria assessed in this category include whether the country is a known or potential terrorist safe haven, whether it is a participant in the Visa Waiver Program established under section 217 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187, that meets all of its requirements, and whether it regularly fails to receive its nationals subject to final orders of removal from the United States.

(d) The Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Department of State, collected data on the performance of all foreign governments and assessed each country against the baseline described in subsection (c) of this section. The assessment focused, in particular, on identity management, security and public-safety threats, and national security risks. Through this assessment, the agencies measured each country's performance with respect to issuing reliable travel documents and implementing adequate identity-management and information-sharing protocols and procedures, and evaluated terrorism-related and public-safety risks associated with foreign nationals seeking entry into the United States from each country.

(e) The Department of Homeland Security evaluated each country against the baseline described in subsection (c) of this section. The Secretary of Homeland Security identified 16 countries as being "inadequate" based on an analysis of their identity-management protocols, information-sharing practices, and risk factors. Thirty-one additional countries were classified "at risk" of becoming "inadequate" based on those criteria.

(f) As required by section 2(d) of Executive Order 13780, the Department of State conducted a 50-day engagement period to encourage all foreign governments, not just the 47 identified as either "inadequate" or "at risk," to improve their performance with respect to the baseline described in subsection (c) of this section. Those engagements yielded significant improvements in many countries. Twenty-nine countries, for example, provided travel document exemplars for use by Department of Homeland Security officials to combat fraud. Eleven countries agreed to share information on known or suspected terrorists.

(g) The Secretary of Homeland Security assesses that the following countries continue to have "inadequate" identity-management protocols, information-sharing practices, and risk factors, with respect to the baseline described in subsection (c) of this section, such that entry restrictions and limitations are recommended: Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The Secretary of Homeland Security also assesses that Iraq did not meet the baseline, but that entry restrictions and limitations under a Presidential proclamation are not warranted. The Secretary of Homeland Security recommends, however, that nationals of Iraq who seek to enter the United States be subject to additional scrutiny to determine if they pose risks to the national security or public safety of the United States. In reaching these conclusions, the Secretary of Homeland Security considered the close cooperative relationship between the United States and the democratically elected government of Iraq, the strong United States diplomatic presence in Iraq, the significant presence of United States forces in Iraq, and Iraq's commitment to combating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

(h) Section 2(e) of Executive Order 13780 directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to "submit to the President a list of countries recommended for inclusion in a Presidential proclamation that would prohibit the entry of appropriate categories of foreign nationals of countries that have not provided the information requested until they do so or until the Secretary of Homeland Security certifies that the country has an adequate plan to do so, or has adequately shared information through other means." On September 15, 2017, the Secretary of Homeland Security submitted a report to me recommending entry restrictions and limitations on certain nationals of 7 countries determined to be "inadequate" in providing such information and in light of other factors discussed in the report. According to the report, the recommended restrictions would help address the threats that the countries' identity-management protocols, information-sharing inadequacies, and other risk factors pose to the security and welfare of the United States. The restrictions also encourage the countries to work with the United States to address those inadequacies and risks so that the restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation may be relaxed or removed as soon as possible.

(i) In evaluating the recommendations of the Secretary of Homeland Security and in determining what restrictions to impose for each country, I consulted with appropriate Assistants to the President and members of the Cabinet, including the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Homeland Security, and the Attorney General. I considered several factors, including each country's capacity, ability, and willingness to cooperate with our identity-management and information-sharing policies and each country's risk factors, such as whether it has a significant terrorist presence within its territory. I also considered foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism goals. I reviewed these factors and assessed these goals, with a particular focus on crafting those country-specific restrictions that would be most likely to encourage cooperation given each country's distinct circumstances, and that would, at the same time, protect the United States until such time as improvements occur. The restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation are, in my judgment, necessary to prevent the entry of those foreign nationals about whom the United States Government lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose to the United States. These restrictions and limitations are also needed to elicit improved identity-management and information-sharing protocols and practices from foreign governments; and to advance foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives.

(ii) After reviewing the Secretary of Homeland Security's report of September 15, 2017, and accounting for the foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives of the United States, I have determined to restrict and limit the entry of nationals of 7 countries found to be "inadequate" with respect to the baseline described in subsection (c) of this section: Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. These restrictions distinguish between the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants. Persons admitted on immigrant visas become lawful permanent residents of the United States. Such persons may present national security or public-safety concerns that may be distinct from those admitted as nonimmigrants. The United States affords lawful permanent residents more enduring rights than it does to nonimmigrants. Lawful permanent residents are more difficult to remove than nonimmigrants even after national security concerns arise, which heightens the costs and dangers of errors associated with admitting such individuals. And although immigrants generally receive more extensive vetting than nonimmigrants, such vetting is less reliable when the country from which someone seeks to emigrate exhibits significant gaps in its identity-management or information-sharing policies, or presents risks to the national security of the United States. For all but one of those 7 countries, therefore, I am restricting the entry of all immigrants.

(iii) I am adopting a more tailored approach with respect to nonimmigrants, in accordance with the recommendations of the Secretary of Homeland Security. For some countries found to be "inadequate" with respect to the baseline described in subsection (c) of this section, I am restricting the entry of all nonimmigrants. For countries with certain mitigating factors, such as a willingness to cooperate or play a substantial role in combatting terrorism, I am restricting the entry only of certain categories of nonimmigrants, which will mitigate the security threats presented by their entry into the United States. In those cases in which future cooperation seems reasonably likely, and accounting for foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives, I have tailored the restrictions to encourage such improvements.

(i) Section 2(e) of Executive Order 13780 also provided that the "Secretary of State, the Attorney General, or the Secretary of Homeland Security may also submit to the President the names of additional countries for which any of them recommends other lawful restrictions or limitations deemed necessary for the security or welfare of the United States." The Secretary of Homeland Security determined that Somalia generally satisfies the information-sharing requirements of the baseline described in subsection (c) of this section, but its government's inability to effectively and consistently cooperate, combined with the terrorist threat that emanates from its territory, present special circumstances that warrant restrictions and limitations on the entry of its nationals into the United States. Somalia's identity-management deficiencies and the significant terrorist presence within its territory make it a source of particular risks to the national security and public safety of the United States. Based on the considerations mentioned above, and as described further in section 2(h) of this proclamation, I have determined that entry restrictions, limitations, and other measures designed to ensure proper screening and vetting for nationals of Somalia are necessary for the security and welfare of the United States.

(j) Section 2 of this proclamation describes some of the inadequacies that led me to impose restrictions on the specified countries. Describing all of those reasons publicly, however, would cause serious damage to the national security of the United States, and many such descriptions are classified.

Sec. 2. Suspension of Entry for Nationals of Countries of Identified Concern. The entry into the United States of nationals of the following countries is hereby suspended and limited, as follows, subject to categorical exceptions and case by-case waivers, as described in sections 3 and 6 of this proclamation:

(a) Chad.

(i) The government of Chad is an important and valuable counterterrorism partner of the United States, and the United States Government looks forward to expanding that cooperation, including in the areas of immigration and border management. Chad has shown a clear willingness to improve in these areas. Nonetheless, Chad does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information and fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion. Additionally, several terrorist groups are active within Chad or in the surrounding region, including elements of Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb. At this time, additional information sharing to identify those foreign nationals applying for visas or seeking entry into the United States who represent national security and public-safety threats is necessary given the significant terrorism-related risk from this country.

(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of Chad, as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, is hereby suspended.

(b) Iran.

(i) Iran regularly fails to cooperate with the United States Government in identifying security risks, fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion, is the source of significant terrorist threats, and fails to receive its nationals subject to final orders of removal from the United States. The Department of State has also designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism.

(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of Iran as immigrants and as nonimmigrants is hereby suspended, except that entry by such nationals under valid student (F and M) and exchange visitor (J) visas is not suspended, although such individuals should be subject to enhanced screening and vetting requirements.

(c) Libya.

(i) The government of Libya is an important and valuable counterterrorism partner of the United States, and the United States Government looks forward to expanding on that cooperation, including in the areas of immigration and border management. Libya, nonetheless, faces significant challenges in sharing several types of information, including public-safety and terrorism-related information necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the United States. Libya also has significant inadequacies in its identity-management protocols. Further, Libya fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion and has been assessed to be not fully cooperative with respect to receiving its nationals subject to final orders of removal from the United States. The substantial terrorist presence within Libya's territory amplifies the risks posed by the entry into the United States of its nationals.

(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of Libya, as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, is hereby suspended.

(d) North Korea.

(i) North Korea does not cooperate with the United States Government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements.

(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of North Korea as immigrants and nonimmigrants is hereby suspended.

(e) Syria.

(i) Syria regularly fails to cooperate with the United States Government in identifying security risks, is the source of significant terrorist threats, and has been designated by the Department of State as a state sponsor of terrorism. Syria has significant inadequacies in identity-management protocols, fails to share public-safety and terrorism information, and fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion.

(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of Syria as immigrants and nonimmigrants is hereby suspended.

(f) Venezuela.

(i) Venezuela has adopted many of the baseline standards identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security and in section 1 of this proclamation, but its government is uncooperative in verifying whether its citizens pose national security or public-safety threats. Venezuela's government fails to share public-safety and terrorism-related information adequately, fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion, and has been assessed to be not fully cooperative with respect to receiving its nationals subject to final orders of removal from the United States. There are, however, alternative sources for obtaining information to verify the citizenship and identity of nationals from Venezuela. As a result, the restrictions imposed by this proclamation focus on government officials of Venezuela who are responsible for the identified inadequacies.

(ii) Notwithstanding section 3(b)(v) of this proclamation, the entry into the United States of officials of government agencies of Venezuela involved in screening and vetting procedures -- including the Ministry of the Popular Power for Interior, Justice and Peace; the Administrative Service of Identification, Migration and Immigration; the Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigation Service Corps; the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service; and the Ministry of the Popular Power for Foreign Relations -- and their immediate family members, as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, is hereby suspended. Further, nationals of Venezuela who are visa holders should be subject to appropriate additional measures to ensure traveler information remains current.

(g) Yemen.

(i) The government of Yemen is an important and valuable counterterrorism partner, and the United States Government looks forward to expanding that cooperation, including in the areas of immigration and border management. Yemen, nonetheless, faces significant identity-management challenges, which are amplified by the notable terrorist presence within its territory. The government of Yemen fails to satisfy critical identity-management requirements, does not share public-safety and terrorism-related information adequately, and fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion.

(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of Yemen as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas, is hereby suspended.

(h) Somalia.

(i) The Secretary of Homeland Security's report of September 15, 2017, determined that Somalia satisfies the information-sharing requirements of the baseline described in section 1(c) of this proclamation. But several other considerations support imposing entry restrictions and limitations on Somalia. Somalia has significant identity-management deficiencies. For example, while Somalia issues an electronic passport, the United States and many other countries do not recognize it. A persistent terrorist threat also emanates from Somalia's territory. The United States Government has identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven. Somalia stands apart from other countries in the degree to which its government lacks command and control of its territory, which greatly limits the effectiveness of its national capabilities in a variety of respects. Terrorists use under-governed areas in northern, central, and southern Somalia as safe havens from which to plan, facilitate, and conduct their operations. Somalia also remains a destination for individuals attempting to join terrorist groups that threaten the national security of the United States. The State Department's 2016 Country Reports on Terrorism observed that Somalia has not sufficiently degraded the ability of terrorist groups to plan and mount attacks from its territory. Further, despite having made significant progress toward formally federating its member states, and its willingness to fight terrorism, Somalia continues to struggle to provide the governance needed to limit terrorists' freedom of movement, access to resources, and capacity to operate. The government of Somalia's lack of territorial control also compromises Somalia's ability, already limited because of poor recordkeeping, to share information about its nationals who pose criminal or terrorist risks. As a result of these and other factors, Somalia presents special concerns that distinguish it from other countries.

(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of Somalia as immigrants is hereby suspended. Additionally, visa adjudications for nationals of Somalia and decisions regarding their entry as nonimmigrants should be subject to additional scrutiny to determine if applicants are connected to terrorist organizations or otherwise pose a threat to the national security or public safety of the United States.

Sec. 3. Scope and Implementation of Suspensions and Limitations. (a) Scope. Subject to the exceptions set forth in subsection (b) of this section and any waiver under subsection (c) of this section, the suspensions of and limitations on entry pursuant to section 2 of this proclamation shall apply only to foreign nationals of the designated countries who:

(i) are outside the United States on the applicable effective date under section 7 of this proclamation;

(ii) do not have a valid visa on the applicable effective date under section 7 of this proclamation; and

(iii) do not qualify for a visa or other valid travel document under section 6(d) of this proclamation.

(b) Exceptions. The suspension of entry pursuant to section 2 of this proclamation shall not apply to:

(i) any lawful permanent resident of the United States;

(ii) any foreign national who is admitted to or paroled into the United States on or after the applicable effective date under section 7 of this proclamation;

(iii) any foreign national who has a document other than a visa -- such as a transportation letter, an appropriate boarding foil, or an advance parole document -- valid on the applicable effective date under section 7 of this proclamation or issued on any date thereafter, that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission;

(iv) any dual national of a country designated under section 2 of this proclamation when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a non-designated country;

(v) any foreign national traveling on a diplomatic or diplomatic-type visa, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visa, C-2 visa for travel to the United Nations, or G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 visa; or

(vi) any foreign national who has been granted asylum by the United States; any refugee who has already been admitted to the United States; or any individual who has been granted withholding of removal, advance parole, or protection under the Convention Against Torture.

(c) Waivers. Notwithstanding the suspensions of and limitations on entry set forth in section 2 of this proclamation, a consular officer, or the Commissioner, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or the Commissioner's designee, as appropriate, may, in their discretion, grant waivers on a case-by-case basis to permit the entry of foreign nationals for whom entry is otherwise suspended or limited if such foreign nationals demonstrate that waivers would be appropriate and consistent with subsections (i) through (iv) of this subsection. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate to adopt guidance addressing the circumstances in which waivers may be appropriate for foreign nationals seeking entry as immigrants or nonimmigrants.

(i) A waiver may be granted only if a foreign national demonstrates to the consular officer's or CBP official's satisfaction that:

(A) denying entry would cause the foreign national undue hardship;

(B) entry would not pose a threat to the national security or public safety of the United States; and

(C) entry would be in the national interest.

(ii) The guidance issued by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security under this subsection shall address the standards, policies, and procedures for:

(A) determining whether the entry of a foreign national would not pose a threat to the national security or public safety of the United States;

(B) determining whether the entry of a foreign national would be in the national interest;

(C) addressing and managing the risks of making such a determination in light of the inadequacies in information sharing, identity management, and other potential dangers posed by the nationals of individual countries subject to the restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation;

(D) assessing whether the United States has access, at the time of the waiver determination, to sufficient information about the foreign national to determine whether entry would satisfy the requirements of subsection (i) of this subsection; and

(E) determining the special circumstances that would justify granting a waiver under subsection (iv)(E) of this subsection.

(iii) Unless otherwise specified by the Secretary of Homeland Security, any waiver issued by a consular officer as part of the visa adjudication process will be effective both for the issuance of a visa and for any subsequent entry on that visa, but will leave unchanged all other requirements for admission or entry.

(iv) Case-by-case waivers may not be granted categorically, but may be appropriate, subject to the limitations, conditions, and requirements set forth under subsection (i) of this subsection and the guidance issued under subsection (ii) of this subsection, in individual circumstances such as the following:

(A) the foreign national has previously been admitted to the United States for a continuous period of work, study, or other long-term activity, is outside the United States on the applicable effective date under section 7 of this proclamation, seeks to reenter the United States to resume that activity, and the denial of reentry would impair that activity;

(B) the foreign national has previously established significant contacts with the United States but is outside the United States on the applicable effective date under section 7 of this proclamation for work, study, or other lawful activity;

(C) the foreign national seeks to enter the United States for significant business or professional obligations and the denial of entry would impair those obligations;

(D) the foreign national seeks to enter the United States to visit or reside with a close family member (e.g., a spouse, child, or parent) who is a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, or alien lawfully admitted on a valid nonimmigrant visa, and the denial of entry would cause the foreign national undue hardship;

(E) the foreign national is an infant, a young child or adoptee, an individual needing urgent medical care, or someone whose entry is otherwise justified by the special circumstances of the case;

(F) the foreign national has been employed by, or on behalf of, the United States Government (or is an eligible dependent of such an employee), and the foreign national can document that he or she has provided faithful and valuable service to the United States Government;

(G) the foreign national is traveling for purposes related to an international organization designated under the International Organizations Immunities Act (IOIA), 22 U.S.C. 288 et seq., traveling for purposes of conducting meetings or business with the United States Government, or traveling to conduct business on behalf of an international organization not designated under the IOIA;

(H) the foreign national is a Canadian permanent resident who applies for a visa at a location within Canada;

(I) the foreign national is traveling as a United States Government-sponsored exchange visitor; or

(J) the foreign national is traveling to the United States, at the request of a United States Government department or agency, for legitimate law enforcement, foreign policy, or national security purposes.

Sec. 4. Adjustments to and Removal of Suspensions and Limitations. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, in consultation with the Secretary of State, devise a process to assess whether any suspensions and limitations imposed by section 2 of this proclamation should be continued, terminated, modified, or supplemented. The process shall account for whether countries have improved their identity-management and information-sharing protocols and procedures based on the criteria set forth in section 1 of this proclamation and the Secretary of Homeland Security's report of September 15, 2017. Within 180 days of the date of this proclamation, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and other appropriate heads of agencies, shall submit a report with recommendations to the President, through appropriate Assistants to the President, regarding the following:

(i) the interests of the United States, if any, that continue to require the suspension of, or limitations on, the entry on certain classes of nationals of countries identified in section 2 of this proclamation and whether the restrictions and limitations imposed by section 2 of this proclamation should be continued, modified, terminated, or supplemented; and

(ii) the interests of the United States, if any, that require the suspension of, or limitations on, the entry of certain classes of nationals of countries not identified in this proclamation.

(b) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and the head of any other executive department or agency (agency) that the Secretary of State deems appropriate, shall engage the countries listed in section 2 of this proclamation, and any other countries that have information-sharing, identity-management, or risk-factor deficiencies as practicable, appropriate, and consistent with the foreign policy, national security, and public-safety objectives of the United States.

(c) Notwithstanding the process described above, and consistent with the process described in section 2(f) of Executive Order 13780, if the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Director of National Intelligence, determines, at any time, that a country meets the standards of the baseline described in section 1(c) of this proclamation, that a country has an adequate plan to provide such information, or that one or more of the restrictions or limitations imposed on the entry of a country's nationals are no longer necessary for the security or welfare of the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security may recommend to the President the removal or modification of any or all such restrictions and limitations. The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, or the Attorney General may also, as provided for in Executive Order 13780, submit to the President the names of additional countries for which any of them recommends any lawful restrictions or limitations deemed necessary for the security or welfare of the United States.

Sec. 5. Reports on Screening and Vetting Procedures. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and other appropriate heads of agencies shall submit periodic reports to the President, through appropriate Assistants to the President, that:

(i) describe the steps the United States Government has taken to improve vetting for nationals of all foreign countries, including through improved collection of biometric and biographic data;

(ii) describe the scope and magnitude of fraud, errors, false information, and unverifiable claims, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security on the basis of a validation study, made in applications for immigration benefits under the immigration laws; and

(iii) evaluate the procedures related to screening and vetting established by the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs in order to enhance the safety and security of the United States and to ensure sufficient review of applications for immigration benefits.

(b) The initial report required under subsection (a) of this section shall be submitted within 180 days of the date of this proclamation; the second report shall be submitted within 270 days of the first report; and reports shall be submitted annually thereafter.

(c) The agency heads identified in subsection (a) of this section shall coordinate any policy developments associated with the reports described in subsection (a) of this section through the appropriate Assistants to the President.

Sec. 6. Enforcement. (a) The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult with appropriate domestic and international partners, including countries and organizations, to ensure efficient, effective, and appropriate implementation of this proclamation.

(b) In implementing this proclamation, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those that provide an opportunity for individuals to enter the United States on the basis of a credible claim of fear of persecution or torture.

(c) No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the applicable effective date under section 7 of this proclamation shall be revoked pursuant to this proclamation.

(d) Any individual whose visa was marked revoked or marked canceled as a result of Executive Order 13769 of January 27, 2017 (Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States), shall be entitled to a travel document confirming that the individual is permitted to travel to the United States and seek entry under the terms and conditions of the visa marked revoked or marked canceled. Any prior cancellation or revocation of a visa that was solely pursuant to Executive Order 13769 shall not be the basis of inadmissibility for any future determination about entry or admissibility.

(e) This proclamation shall not apply to an individual who has been granted asylum by the United States, to a refugee who has already been admitted to the United States, or to an individual granted withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to limit the ability of an individual to seek asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture, consistent with the laws of the United States.

Sec. 7. Effective Dates. Executive Order 13780 ordered a temporary pause on the entry of foreign nationals from certain foreign countries. In two cases, however, Federal courts have enjoined those restrictions. The Supreme Court has stayed those injunctions as to foreign nationals who lack a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States, pending its review of the decisions of the lower courts.

(a) The restrictions and limitations established in section 2 of this proclamation are effective at 3:30 p.m. eastern daylight time on September 24, 2017, for foreign nationals who:

(i) were subject to entry restrictions under section 2 of Executive Order 13780, or would have been subject to the restrictions but for section 3 of that Executive Order, and

(ii) lack a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.

(b) The restrictions and limitations established in section 2 of this proclamation are effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on October 18, 2017, for all other persons subject to this proclamation, including nationals of:

(i) Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States; and

(ii) Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela.

Sec. 8. Severability. It is the policy of the United States to enforce this proclamation to the maximum extent possible to advance the national security, foreign policy, and counterterrorism interests of the United States. Accordingly:

(a) if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and the application of its other provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby; and

(b) if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid because of the lack of certain procedural requirements, the relevant executive branch officials shall implement those procedural requirements to conform with existing law and with any applicable court orders.

Sec. 9. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This proclamation shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.



Image: Wallpaper
Ottawa, Sep 25 (IBNS): A research has recently found out that around 80% of Dawoodi Bohra women in Canada, who were surveyed, had undergone female genital mutilation, media reports said.

The 80% of the women said FGM had been performed on them in Canada. Two of the 18 Canadian women, who were surveyed, said the practice has occurred within the borders of Canada.

The survey was conducted by Sahiyo, an organisation that comprises of anti-FGM activities and Dawoodi Bohra women. It was completed in February.

The survey was carried out on 385 women including 18 Canadians. 80% of them said they want the practice to end and also do not want their daughters to undergo the same practice.

The authors' lines were quoted by the Star as saying: "The findings (of the study) demonstrate that FGC (female genital cutting) is deeply rooted in the communitys culture."

"Understanding the complex social norms and cultural values systems that shape the meaning and significance of the practice within this community is critical work of anti-FGC advocates," the authors said in the research.

Female genital mutilation, also known as female genital cutting or female circumcision, is a way of changing or injuring external female organs. It also causes partial or total of clitoris and labis.

The study said the FGM is done because of several reasons. One of the reasons is religion and the others include maintaining the Muslim customs and traditions and curbing sexual arousal in women.

The study was conducted to inform the Canadian government about the crime which is going on in the country. It has an aim to inform the policy makers and health officials to end the practice which is done on Muslim women in Canada.

Shaheeda Tavawalla-Kirtane, Sahiyos Canadian co-founder, who works to create awareness about FGM in India, has been tweeting the Canadian ministers with an aim to inform them about the crime that is going in the country.

In 1997, the FGM was included in the criminal code under aggravated assault.

(Reporting by Souvik Ghosh)
Anthony Weiner's sexting compulsion cost him his seat in Congress, his shot at becoming New York mayor and his marriage, and may have even denied Hillary Clinton the presidency. On Monday, it cost him his freedom.

Key events in the saga of Anthony Weiner, the former New York congressman who pleaded guilty Friday to transmitting sexual material to a minor:

1998

Nov. 3: Weiner, a Democrat, is elected to Congress.

2005

Sept 13: Weiner comes in second in a bid for the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City.

2010

July 10: Weiner weds Huma Abedin, a close aide to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Former President Bill Clinton officiates.

2011

May 27: A lewd photograph of a man's underwear-clad crotch is sent from Weiner's Twitter account, and then is quickly taken down.

May 29: A spokesman says Weiner's accounts were hacked and calls the burgeoning social media scandal "a distraction."

June 6: Weiner tearfully admits to sending the lewd photo and then lying repeatedly to protect himself. He refuses to resign.

June 11: Weiner seeks a temporary leave of absence from the House while he seeks professional treatment. A spokeswoman says he will focus on "becoming a better husband and healthier person."

June 16: Weiner says he is resigning from Congress during a news conference in Brooklyn interrupted by hecklers. Weiner apologizes "for the personal mistakes I have made and the embarrassment I have caused."

2013

May 22: Weiner launches his re-entry into the world of politics with a run for New York City mayor, asking voters for a second chance.

July 22: With Weiner leading in the polls, a gossip website posts sexually explicit messages it says were exchanged between Weiner and a woman later identified as Indiana native Sydney Leathers. The woman claims Weiner used the alias "Carlos Danger" for their exchanges.

July 23: Weiner says he won't drop out of mayoral race, saying at a news conference: "This is entirely behind me."

Sept. 10: Weiner finishes fifth in Democratic mayoral primary.

2016

Aug. 28: The New York Post publishes photos the newspaper says Weiner sent the previous year to a "40-something" divorced woman. One bulging-underwear shot shows his and Abedin's toddler son cuddling next to him.

Aug. 29: Abedin says she is separating from Weiner.

Sept. 21: The DailyMail.com publishes an interview with a 15-year-old girl who says she had sexually explicit online text and video exchanges with Weiner. Weiner acknowledges communications but also claims he's been the subject of a hoax. FBI agents soon begin investigating Weiner's communications with the girl, seizing his computer.

Oct. 28: In a letter to Congress, then-FBI Director James Comey says his agency is investigating whether there is classified information in newly discovered emails of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, now the Democratic presidential nominee. The emails, containing correspondence between Clinton and Abedin, were discovered on the Weiner computer seized in the sexting investigation.

Nov. 6: Two days before the presidential election, Comey tells Congress a review of the newly discovered emails hasn't changed the FBI's view that Clinton should not face charges over her handling of classified information.

2017

May 19: Weiner pleads guilty to criminal charges in connection with his online communications with the 15-year-old girl.

Sept. 25: A federal judge sentences Weiner to 21 months in prison, orders him to report to prison in November.
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In Person Our Top Priority is to Achieve Peace

Kachin State Chief Minister Dr. Khet Aung. / Nan Lwin Hnin Pwint / The Irrawaddy

Kachin State chief minister Dr. Khet Aung recently sat down with The Irrawaddys Nan Lwin Hnin Pwint and talked about his governments undertakings and plans for this term, as well as the controversial China-backed Myitsone Dam project.

What has the state government done for Kachin State over past 18 months since it took office?

Mainly, we concentrated on infrastructural development such as building bridges, roads, power stations and the electricity supply. We were able to electrify some 200 villages with the 2016-17 fiscal year budget. And we also upgraded the Sumprabum section of the Union Highway. Previously, the road was only accessible by foot, and even motorbikes could not drive on it in the rainy season. This year, cars can use it in the rainy season.

What are the top priorities of your government since it assumed office?

The State Counselor is organizing the 21st Century Panglong peace conference. Our top priority is to achieve peace. Our second priority is to fight drugs. It is critical that we fight drugs nationwide. I visited Bhamo Prison and asked the warden about the number of prisoners and their crimes. He said there were 1,493 prisoners and more than 1,200 were imprisoned on drug charges. This is not a good sign.

I also visited Myitkyina Prison. There were more than 3,200 prisoners with more than 2,800 imprisoned on drug charges. Recently, I also visited Mohnyin, and the township administrative department said that the prison was only recently built but already full of inmates, and 90 percent of them are imprisoned on drug charges.

Drugs are an acute problem not only in Kachin State but also across the entire country. It is a real cause for concern. We are fighting it the best we can. When I went to Mohnyin, we seized more than 300 million kyats worth of drugs.

In previous years, community-based anti-drug group Pat Jasan launched anti-narcotics campaigns in the state. But there was fierce resistance from poppy growers, and their activities ceased after growers started firing shots during their campaigns. What do you think of Pat Jasan?

Their intentions are good, but we want them to cooperate with us within the legal framework to combat drugs more effectively. Weve invited them to cooperate. Weve formed anti-drug committees at the district, township, ward and village levels. If they can work in close coordination, well be able to overcome the drug problem.

In Special Region (1), militias have admitted to also growing poppies. How will the government handle this?

Frankly speaking, it is difficult to handle. Militias and border guard forces are controlled by the army. We cannot handle them directly and there are difficulties.

How is Myitsone Dam project going now?

The report on the dam has yet to be the submitted to the President. This is all I can say for the time being. The public will be informed after the report is submitted.

I heard that a Chinese government delegation met the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) and talked about resuming the dam project. Did China talk with the Kachin State government about the dam?

No, they didnt.

People object to the project. What is the stance of the Kachin State government?

We share the same view as the people. They elect us and their wishes are of the utmost importance to us. If the people dont want it, it wont happen.

Why has it taken so long to submit the report [on the assessment of the possible impacts of the dam] to the President?

There is a lot to coordinate between different stakeholders. The process also included consultation with international experts, which takes a while.

Ive talked to locals and they are concerned that the Myitsone Dam project will be resumed. What would you say to them?

I would say that it depends on their wishes.

Locals have borne the brunt of clashes between the Myanmar Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), who were fighting for their own reasons. What do you have to say about that?

As weve not yet achieved peace, problems such as displacement arise when the Tatmadaw [Myanmar Army] conducts clearance operations in areas that are not controlled by the government. What we can do is to minimize the troubles people are facing. We are different. The Tatmadaw carries out [operations] with a military outlook.

Speaking of clashes in Kachin State, it is the Tatmadaw that launched assaults, and local activists claim that it doesnt want peace. What do you think?

As Ive said, it acted with a military outlook. Its primary concern is state security and it acts based on that.

What are the challenges facing the Kachin State civilian government?

As peace is not yet achieved, there are some difficulties in the administrative system. I dont want to go into detail.

Kachin people had great expectations for the National League for Democracy (NLD) government as well as your [state] government. But they have faced some frustrations. What would you say to your constituents?

We have only been in office for 18 months and we are seeing the problems that people face. We will try our best to mitigate these. We have a mission and a vision.

Our vision is a peaceful, modern, developed, drug-free state with the co-existence of Union brethren. Our mission is peace, smooth transportation, electricity supply for all towns and villages, drug elimination, and strengthening friendship between ethnicities, security and rule of law.

Wed also strive for the socio-economic development of local people by promoting agriculture, livestock breeding and tourism. And we are inviting foreign direct investment in agricultural and livestock sectors in our state.

We will also make sure there is reliable and speedy public service delivery as well as fight corruption. These are our goals for the five-year term.
Burma Govt Urges UNFC to Cooperate with Peace Process

The Peace Commission and the United Nationalities Federal Council meet for informal talks in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Sept 25, 2017. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

CHIANG MAI, Thailand  The governments Peace Commission on Monday urged the ethnic bloc of nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) non-signatories the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) to cooperate with the government to achieve peace in the country.

Peace Commission members and the UNFCs delegation for political negotiation (DPN) met for informal talks in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand on Monday, with Peace Commission member U Aung Soe and DPN head Khu Oo Reh making opening remarks.

Mondays meeting follows the sixth round of formal talks between the two parties in Yangon last month. Talks have been delayed due to the illness of Peace Commission chair Dr. Tin Myo Win and instability in Rakhine State since Aug. 25.

Khu Oo Reh said the UNFC had the same will to continue talks and understood the delay due to unavoidable causes.

Talks covered the DPNs nine-point proposal to signing the NCA, the seventh round of formal talks, and the possibility of high-level meetings between the government and UNFC leaders.

We have been thinking whether it would be smoother to have [high-level] negotiations through our senior leaders, or whether we should continue this current form of negotiation, Khu Oo Reh said in his speech.

If the ethnic bloc participates in the upcoming third session of the 21st Century Panglong Union peace conference, U Aung Soe said in his speech, then we could say that our political process is effective to some extent.

The DPN did not join the last session of peace conference in May.

U Aung Soe said the government is collaborating with all relevant stakeholders, including the government, parliament, the Tatmadaw, ethnic armed organizations, and political parties, on the amendments of the political dialogue framework in order to convene the third session of the peace conference.

The government plans to hold the next session in November, though peace negotiators believe it will be delayed.

U Aung Soe said all parties need to try harder to make progress in the peace process as they have not seen any success even though the National League for Democracy (NLD) government has been in power for more than one and a half years.

He said the UNFC should consider collaborating with the civilian government to reach its four commitments to achieve peace, national reconciliation, and rule of law, and to amend the 2008 Constitution.

Our government believes solving remaining problems would be easier if all of our ethnic groups stand together with us in peace building, along with the current political crisis [in Rakhine], U Aung Soe added.

The government has not yet, however, entered into talks with the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committeean alliance of armed groups in northern Myanmar led by the United Wa State Army.

There will be a delay in UNFC members signing the NCA due to the seventh round of talks between DPN and the Peace Commission at the beginning of October, said DPN spokesperson Nai Aung Mange at a press conference following the meeting.

He reiterated that collaboration in the peace process would help in the amendment of the Constitution, which parliament also has a part to play in.

He referred to an understanding between the government and the military that a Union Accord agreed upon at the Union Peace Conference could invoke a new constitution, and encouraged everyones participation.

We believe we would be able to implement the changes in the 2008 Constitution which is the most important task for our country in the short term, if we combine parliamentary politics and peace process, he said.

As you all know, we are not able to amend the Constitution without the Tatmadaws agreement. Thus, if we all try together, we soon will be able to build the democratic federal Union that we all aim for.
Burma Locals to Protest UNESCO Natural World Heritage Designation at Hkakabo Razi

Mt. Phongun Razi in the northwest of Putao in Kachin State, Myanmar. April 2014. / Khin Zarchi Latt

YANGON  Citing concerns of land loss, locals are planning protests over a Mt. Hkakabo Razi National Park expansion project, which aims to distinguish the locale as Myanmars first UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. Demonstrations are scheduled to be held in northern Kachin States Putao, Machanbaw and Naungmon townships on Sept. 28.

U Yaw Gu, chair of Rawang Literature and Cultural Affairs in Putao, told The Irrawaddy that around 10,000 people are expected to participate in the protests.

Locals dont agree with expanding the area for Mt. Hkakabo Razi National Park. They believe that it will impact their life negatively, he explained.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation published an announcement that the mountains national park would be expanded so that it could earn Myanmars first Natural World Heritage Site designation.

The Kachin Political Cooperation Committee (KPCC) published a statement on Sept. 18 condemning the ministrys announcement and calling on them to stop the implementation of the process.

We objected to the project due to peoples will. Theres no transparency in it and locals will not get compensation [] for losing their land due to the expansion of the area, said U Lan Yaw, general secretary of the Kachin National Congress Party.

We simply dont want anyone to exploit our land, he added, citing previous land grabs in the Hukawng Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

Hkakabo Razis landscape is rich in ecological diversity, including rare species of orchids.

Mt. Hkakabo Razi National Park was established in 1996 with an area of 1,472 square miles around Southeast Asias highest mountain, located in Putao, Kachin State.

Myanmars Forest Department has working with UNESCO since 2013 to designate the area as a Natural World Heritage Site. The Forest Department and UNESCO are now undergoing an intiative to safeguard natural heritage in Myanmar. According to a Forest Department announcement, community members from nearby villages have been appointed and trained as park guards in both the national park and the wildlife sanctuary to monitor and report on the illegal activities in the areas.

The tentative list of Natural World Heritage Sites in Myanmar include the Hkakabo Razi landscape, Hukawng Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary, Natmataung National Park, Myeik Archipelago, the Irrawaddy River Corridor and the Tanintharyi Forest Corridor. Among these tentative sites, Mt. Hkakabo Razi has been given top priority; the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has already acknowledged all of the potential sites.
Burma Muslim Militants Allegedly Kill Hindus, 45 Bodies Unearthed in Rakhine: Community Leader

A member of the security forces stands near a pit where Hindu bodies were found on Sunday. / Supplied

YANGON  Security forces unearthed 45 dead Hindus, including six children, near Ye Baw Kya village in northern Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, according to a statement issued by the governments Information Committee and later reports from a Hindu community leader.

The governments statement  based on Hindu community leader U Ni Mals testimony  on Sunday said members of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) arrested some 100 men and women from several Hindu villages in Kha Maung Seik village tract on Aug. 25 and killed the majority of abductees.

U Ni Mal told The Irrawaddy this afternoon after he and villagers assisted security forces in searching for additional burial sites.

The community leader claimed the 45 deceased were brutally killed and some were beheaded or had their throats slit. Among the bodies were 20 women, 19 men, and six children. A mass grave of 28 was found of Sunday, with 17 discovered on Monday afternoon.

U Ni Mal said that the Hindu community had verbally and officially requested that authorities and Arakan National Party lawmakers looks into the deaths, but that there were delays due to security concerns.

The UN estimates that some 500 Hindus fled to Bangladesh after Muslim militants attacked border police posts on August 25 and resulting Myanmar Army security clearance operations have followed. The refugees are sheltering in makeshift camps on the Bangladesh border alongside a UN-estimated 420,000 self-identifying Rohingya Muslims.

U Ni Mal expressed that the Hindu community wants justice for these attacks.

Some 30,000 Hindus and Buddhists in Maungdaw were also displaced to other areas in Rakhine State after military clearance operations began following Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacks on border police posts.

During a visit by The Irrawaddys reporter in early September, some Hindus expressed that they would no longer live alongside Muslims in Maungdaw if the government planned to relocate them.

We are not comfortable living alongside them anymore, said U Ni Mal.
Burma Yangon Govt to Accommodate Squatters by 2020

A squatter sits at the Shwe Lin Pan Industrial Zone in 2014. / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  The Yangon regional government will provide accommodation for all squatters in the region in the next three years before the current administrations term expires in 2020, said Yangon chief minister U Phyo Min Thein.

Weve started making preparations this month to accommodate squatters. Our regional government will draw up a plan to accommodate them because squatters are a burden to industrial zones, said the chief minister at a meeting between Vice President U Myint Swe and businesspeople in Yangon on Saturday.

The regional government surveyed the population of squatters since last September and issued smart identity documents to them. According to the survey, there are some 100,000 squatters in the region.

There have been reported cases of squatters occupying vacant spaces in factory compounds in some of the regions 29 industrial zones and demanding money from factory owners to vacate.

To upgrade the regions industrial zones, it is important to address the issue of squatters, said U Phyo Min Thein.

Squatters, water and electricity supply, sewage systems, and dumping are the pressing issues to upgrading the industrial zones. And we plan to build industrial zones in every township [in Yangon], said the chief minister.

The plan also includes the creation of jobs at new industrial zones for squatters, he said.

According to the regional government, it also plans to establish small-scale industrial zones in 12 townships in the region outside the municipal border of the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC).

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
Brisbane-based industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and operation technology (OT) solutions provider RIoT Solutions is trumpeting significant growth on the back of its digital transformation business in the two years since its establishment.

Rob Merkwitza, managing director and founder, claims a move to smart, connected networks puts the company in a very strong position to significantly grow business as demand for secure IoT connectivity increases.

Weve built the company to focus almost entirely on OT and IT infrastructures, providing the digital plumbing required to bring together industrial and IT networks that deliver secure, smart and connected outcomes.

According to Merkwitza, RIoT Solutions has made significant investment in its cyber security credentials ensuring customers take "a 'first line of defence approach to protecting and securing OT and IT network environments from a new wave of sophisticated hazards.

We have seen increased demand for security services in the fields of smart cities, intelligent transport systems (ITS), utilities, manufacturing and building management systems (BMS).

Cyber security for critical infrastructures must be robust and built in as a fundamental component to fortifying industrial networks. This is why we encourage all of our experts to cross-skill in both network and cyber security domains.

Merkwitza says the company has grown to 20 employees, most of whom he claims are highly qualified specialists in their fields, to bring a holistic offering to organisations as they migrate to digital environments.

According to Merkwitza, RIoT Solutions has signed more than 50 customers in Australia, including state governments, regional councils, transportation, utilities and manufacturing organisations specifically in OT and IT. The enterprise IT business has also seen growth in network architecture and cyber security services.

RIoT Solutions also announced the appointment of Colin Sayward, previously with Queensland Urban Utilities, as technical infrastructure consultant. Also announced were the appointments of Dany Bashour as support engineer; Trevor Laughton as enterprise account executive; and Angela Zelinksi as project co-ordinator.
How does one describe the annual results from NBN Co, a company that loses $4.24 billion and then announces that it "delivered strong financial results, exceeding key targets set by the board?"

And how does one react when that same company sends out those results on Friday afternoon, ensuring that only the very stoic will be able to comb through the 172 pages of verbiage in order to compile a report?

Australia, fortunately, has many an apt phrase to cut through BS of this kind; what NBN Co has done is best described as a supreme effort to polish a turd.

If losing $4.24 billion is a good result  bearing in mind that the previous full-year loss was $2.75 billion  then, pray, what is a bad result?

It reminds this writer of an example that he has used before when writing about: words spoken by the late Yasser Arafat soon after his Palestine Liberation Organisation was forced to leave Beirut in the 1980s.

The PLO left the Lebanese capital with its tail between its legs, but at the very next annual meeting of all Palestinian factions, Arafat tried to paint the evacuation from Beirut as some kind of great military victory.

This led one of the more down-to-earth Palestinian faction leaders, the late George Habash, to comment that if the Palestinians had any more "victories" of the Lebanese kind, they would end up holding their next annual meeting in Fiji.

If the NBN Co has any more "strong financial results" of the kind it has just announced, then its chief executive, Bill Morrow, who is paid $3.56 million from the public till, may well have to write out his resignation.

One does not have to read far into the report to realise that one might as well read the fairy tales spun by the brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen instead.

NBN Co lists as its strategic imperatives the following:

A high-performing and reliable network;

Effective and efficient processes and systems;

United partnership with vendors, delivery partners (DPs) and RSPs;

Affordable products and services; and

A great place to work.

Which one of those has it achieved even in part? It could claim the last one probably, because none of us, dear reader, has any idea of what it is like to work in this august organisation.

But a high-performing and reliable network? Really? Then why are people complaining until they are blue in the face? When did someone last spot a good-news story about the network?

NBN Co has been one of the worst communicators in the telco business, unable to provide answers to Senata committees on time and at times unable to do so at all.

It has consistently sought to blame others for its own mistakes, and has fought tooth and nail with its delivery partners and RSPs.

And if the products it sells are affordable, then why are Australians always buying the cheapest packages, the slowest in Mbps terms?

How much did it cost to draft and print this massive exercise in spin?

When is some government minister going to sit up and take note of the monumental deception that is being practised in broad daylight and with gay abandon?

Or has the entire Coalition Government reached the point where it couldn't care less what a company that it owns does in its name?
Researchers at security firm Trend Micro say they have discovered a new campaign that aims to implant a cryptocurrency miner when users visit infected websites using Chrome or Internet Explorer.

Named the EITest campaign, it uses a tech support scam to deliver the cryptocurrency miner written in JavaScript.

Trend Micro said in a month it had identified 990 compromised websites which had a malicious script that diverted a visitor to a second site related to the tech support scam. The campaign began in January.

The addition of the cryptocurrency miner was a recent twist. "Of late, though, the campaign has added the Coinhive JS miner into ongoing attacks, turning the victims computer into a monero cryptocurrency miner," the researchers said.

"Analysis also revealed that this JS cryptocurrency miner is the same 'Coinhive' JS miner found embedded in The Pirate Bays website."

Country distribution of EITests tech support scam.

Most of the victims have been in Japan but a small number have been affected in Australia as well.

On visiting a compromised website, the browser being used if identified. Then a phishing script is injected directly into the web page if the users browser is Chrome. Initial tests show that Firefox is not affected.

"The phishing script is coded to notify the user to download the Hoefler Text font to properly display the page, but it actually downloads a malicious executable file," the researchers said.

"EITest takes this up a notch: If the users browser is Internet Explorer, he/she is redirected to a tech support phishing page containing the Coinhive monero-mining JS script."

Screenshot of the tech support scam web page.

The website hosting the tech support scam masquerades as a legitimate Windows notification, alerting victims that the system has been infected with malware.

"It will prod the user to call their 'technical department' to resolve the issue," Trend Micro said. "Behind the scenes, however, the web page will load script from Coinhives server and launch a JS cryptocurrency miner. Users wont notice that their system has been affected apart from system lags or performance issues."

But there was a simple way to stop the miner from running: one could just close the web page as the script in question had no persistence mechanism.

Graphics: courtesy Trend Micro
Australia plans to set up an industry-led cyber security co-operative research centre, with the government announcing an investment of $50 million.

The Cyber Security CRC will receive about $89 million from 25 industry, research and government partners, according to a joint statement from Craig Laundy, Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, and Dan Tehan, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security.

The announcement was welcomed by the Edith Cowan University which said it, and the state of Western Australia, would be lead partners in the new centre.

The CRC will focus on:

Ensuring the security of critical infrastructure by developing new approaches, tools and techniques to predict, prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats from nation states, criminals, and other individuals;

Ensuring industry, SMEs and the community can access online services with confidence. This will also grow Australias reputation as a safe and trusted place to do business and access cyber space; and

Build and develop the next generation of industry, government and research cyber security leaders.

Laundy said: This investment will contribute to Australias reputation as a secure and trusted place to do business, enabling industry to attract and increase investment, trade and commerce and delivering broad economic benefit.

ECU vice-chancellor Professor Steve Chapman said: ECU is already recognised as a world leader in cyber security research and teaching. Our academics regularly assist Interpol, WA Police and the WA Auditor-Generals Office. We welcome the opportunity to continue to grow Australias cyber capabilities.

ECU Security Research Institute director Professor Craig Valli said cyber security was now everyones business.

The growth in popularity of cloud-based services, personal mobile devices and social networking sites has meant an increasing number of organisations and individuals are being exposed to higher levels of security threats, he said.

The Cyber Security CRC will work with key government, industry and research groups to strengthen systems and networks and train the next generation of cyber security specialists. Ultimately, this will have benefits for the community who will enjoy an online experience that is more secure.

The centre will bring together expertise across six of Australias leading cyber security universities together with industry and government partners, including the AFP, ATO, the Attorney-Generals Department, CERT, Cisco, the Department of Defence, Data61, Tata Consultancy Services, Jemena, ActewAGL and Singtel Optus.
Accountancy firm Deloitte has suffered a data breach that has resulted in the leaking of confidential emails and the plans of some of its clients.

The Guardian reported that the company, one of the big four in the accountancy industry, had been the victim of an attack that had not been noticed for months.

The attacker was said to have gained access to the company's global email server through an admin account.

The company was using Microsoft's Azure Cloud service to host its email system. It has a total of 244,000 employees worldwide.

The company, which is registered in London and has its headquarters in New York, reported US$37 billion revenue last year. Its clients include some of the world's biggest banks, multinationals, media companies, pharmaceutical firms and government bodies, the report said.

The news comes close on the heels of a breach reported by US credit information provider Equifax which may have compromised the details of some 143 million Americans.

Data from clients across all these sectors was present in the company email system that was hacked.

While an internal review is underway, the report said that six of Deloitte's clients had been told they had been "impacted".

Deloittes US offices have everything from Netbios to RDP to Exchange Admin (single factor) etc etc etc. They should get an auditor. pic.twitter.com/C8aoN5YQMn  Kevin Beaumont ? (@GossiTheDog) 25 September 2017

The report said the firm discovered the hack in March but added that it believed the breach may have taken place in October or November last year.

The Guardian said that apart from emails, the attackers had access to usernames, passwords, IP addresses, architectural diagrams for businesses and health information.

The internal review is codenamed Windham. The hack was said to have been at the Deloitte offices in Rosslyn, Virginia, and the investigators are working from that location for the last six months, the report said.

Dont present RDP directly to internet, rename and disable domain administrator account, patch. (Found by @Viss) pic.twitter.com/ZFS5YvaeqB  Kevin Beaumont ? (@GossiTheDog) 26 September 2017

Deloitte told The Guardian in response to queries that only a few of its clients were "impacted" by the hack. A total of five million emails were in the cloud and could have been accessed.

A spokesman was quoted as saying: "In response to a cyber incident, Deloitte implemented its comprehensive security protocol and began an intensive and thorough review including mobilising a team of cyber security and confidentiality experts inside and outside of Deloitte.

"The review has enabled us to understand what information was at risk and what the hacker actually did, and demonstrated that no disruption has occurred to client businesses, to Deloittes ability to continue to serve clients, or to consumers."

iTWire has contacted the local Deloitte branch for comment.
Australia is to establish its own space agency with the federal government set to announce plans for the agency as it looks to cash in on the growing global space industry estimated to be worth $400 billion.

A commitment to establish the space agency was announced by the Acting Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Michaelia Cash on Monday at the International Astronautical Congress which is being held in Adelaide.

The announcement follows a recommendation for the national space agency from a review announced by Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos in July.

State and Territory governments have been urging the federal government to establish a space agency over several months and there has been no indication yet as to where the agency will be headquartered and where launch operations will occur.

"The global space industry is growing rapidly and it's crucial that Australia is part of this growth," Senator Cash said.

"A national space agency will ensure we have a strategic long-term plan that supports the development and application of space technologies and grows our domestic space industry.

"The agency will be the anchor for our domestic coordination and the front door for our international engagement."

Labor welcomed the governments announcement that it will establish the space agency and its plans to increase Australias share of the global aeronautical industry worth more than $400 billion.

The Opposition spokesman for innovation, industry and science, Kim Carr, said the move was overdue, given Australia is one of only two OECD countries without a dedicated space agency.

Were only receiving about 0.8 per cent of the global space industry at this time, and thats because weve failed to actually take advantage of the enormous opportunities that the $420 billion industry is actually creating around the world, Senator Carr said on ABC radio.

A government-established Expert Reference Group, chaired by former CSIRO Chief Dr Megan Clark, is now focusing on writing a charter for the Space Agency and will deliver its full report to the government in March next year.

And in an open letter to the government Flavia Tata Nardini, chief executive of nanosatellite space-tech start-up Fleet, has called on the Australian Government to create a dedicated Australian Space Agency as part of the Space Activities Act reform, saying that Australia cant afford not to have an agency.

"The next industrial revolution is going to be driven from space, and so to future-proof Australia's economic prosperity, we have to be a part of that movement today." Nardini says.

Nardini points out that Australia is "amazing" at space research, but our commercial application of the sector needs work.

"Australia's role in space must be on our national agenda if we are to truly capitalise on the opportunities it presents," Nardini says. "The sector is quickly growing and will become a key part of any nation with a successful innovation agenda in the coming decade."

And coinciding with the governments announcement, Fleet and the French space agency CNES today announced that they would enter into a strategic collaboration with CNES to track and support Fleets first nanosatellites once launched.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations will be signed today.

Partnering with a leading international space agency puts us in a strong position for the future, said Nardini.

The support of CNES comes at a critical phase in our space mission. The relationship will play a key role in ensuring that the digital nervous system were creating for Earth succeeds. They will also serve as a valuable asset as we begin to connect organisations to our network.

At CNES, we are actively looking for partnerships with game changing NewSpace players, said Dr Jean-Yves Le Gall, president of CNES.

Fleet is a leader in the Australian NewSpace scene, building on the small satellite revolution to provide the world with innovative connectivity solutions. As one of the greatest challenges in space applications today, this is also something we are looking into closely. Joining forces with Fleet has therefore emerged as a natural development.

As part of this relationship, CNES will use its network of ground communications antennas to track Fleets two nanosatellites that will be launched in 2018. CNES support will include orbital diagnostics to characterise the satellites orbits.

Meanwhile, the Australian National University (ANU) announced it is poised to play a key role the new Australian space agency and to help drive Australias future space industries.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said the national university was central to Australias space industries through its strengths in space engineering and technology, and through the Universitys national leadership in space research.

ANU is home to the Mount Stromlo Observatory and the world-leading ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA), where Professor Schmidt conducted his Nobel-Prize winning research into the expanding universe.

ANU is a national resource with leading facilities which drive Australias research, as well as space industry and technology, Professor Schmidt said.

ANU global research and industry collaborations are helping to make space safer for space travel and satellites, and driving new technologies to develop the communications, instruments and space plasma thrusters for future space missions.

And ANU is a partner in the Giant Magellan Telescope project and has collaboration agreements with the European Southern Observatory, as well as close associations with leading research institutions and space agencies around the world.

In addition, ANU is also home to a $20 million Co-operative Research Centre which is tracking and cleaning up hundreds of thousands of pieces of space debris which orbit Earth and which the centre says pose serious risks of collision with satellites, space stations and other space craft.
With Australia about to embark on setting up its own space agency, the Australian National Universitys (ANU) Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) has announced a new agreement with UNSW Canberra on building and testing satellites and space instruments.

The agreement, announced on Monday, is designed to boost the role of the Advanced Instrumental Technology Centre (AITC) at ANU as a key national resource for Australias space industry.

The AITC at the ANU Mount Stromlo Observatory hosts Australias most sophisticated space testing facility, including complex equipment that can reproduce the vibration shock of rocket launches and the temperature extremes experienced in the vacuum of space.

And, as a global leader in the design and fabrication of state-of-the-art optical and laser instrumentation and scientific payloads, the AITC has participated in major international space missions for more than 30 years.

AITC director Professor Anna Moore claimed the UNSW Canberra team would contribute an impressive set of engineering and technical skills, including their experience with CubeSats  a miniaturised satellite system for space research.

Together, the collaborating institutions will provide an end-to-end capability for mission and payload design, assembly and testing.

Professor Moore said aligning the skills of the ANU-AITC and UNSW Canberra Space teams would help enable the future of Australias space industry.

As a part of our mission as a national university, the AITC establishes these strategic partnerships to focus the facilities and talent Australia needs to build its own domestic space industry," she said.

This endeavour will provide a significant new pathway to answering important questions in environmental science, defence, space physics and astronomy.

We are excited about what we can do together and look forward to collaborating with industry and other research institutes across Australia, and around the world, to drive innovation and establish a leadership position for Australia in space.

The MOU between AITC and UNSW Canberra was signed on Monday at the International Astronautical Congress currently being held in Adelaide.

Image: Cubesats being tested at the ANU AITC space simulator. Photo by Stuart Hay ANU
The European Union has given an indication that it is serious about going after big technology companies that avoid paying taxes in states that belong to the union.

In a speech to the European Commission last week, EC vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis of Latvia said a simple principle would be applied: "Companies should pay tax where their real economic activity is taking place. In other words, we need to ensure effective taxation."

Dombrovskis said profits earned in the EU should be taxed in the EU. "This is the way to prevent losses to the budgets of European countries."

He said this principle should be true for companies that had traditional shops and employees on European soil. "And also for digital businesses that make high profits in Europe without necessarily having a physical presence here."

Complaints about multinational technology companies avoiding tax have been voiced by many countries, including Australia.

Last year, Bloomberg, citing regulatory filings in the Netherlands, reported that Google had avoided paying US$3.6 billion (A$4.49 billion) in taxes globally in 2015 by shifting US$15.5 billion to a company in Bermuda that is just a shell.

Multinational tech companies, including Apple and Microsoft, have faced questioning in the Australian Senate over tax minimisation.

Justifying his argument that brick-and-mortar companies and and online outfits should be treated the same, Dombrovskis said: "In fact, traditional businesses are increasingly operating online. Take for example, the retail sector. Between 2008 and 2016, revenue by the top five e-commerce retailers grew on average by 32% per year. During the same period, revenue in the entire EU retail sector grew on average by 1% per year.

"Therefore our thinking applies not only to taxing digital companies, but more broadly to dealing with tax in an increasingly digitalised economy."

He said at the level of the union, "the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base proposal offers a basis to address key challenges, for example by further adjusting permanent establishment rules".

Dombrovskis said that while a global solution was best, the EU should be prepared to act in the event that other regions dragged their heels on finding a solution.

The EC will present a number of options for resolving the tax issue at an EU summit on digital issues to be held in Tallinn, Estonia, on 29 September.
The NBN Co, the company rolling out Australia's national broadband network, has made a loss of $4.24 billion for the 2017 year, according to the accounts which were released on Friday.

This is much greater than the loss of $2.75 billion for the previous financial year.

However the company claimed in a statement that it had delivered "strong financial results, exceeding key targets set by the board".

"The footprint near doubled to 5.7 million premises, active end users doubled to 2.4 million premises and revenue more than doubled to $1 billion," it said.

The results were announced on 15 August but the full accounts and a fiscal review were released on Friday.

Chief executive Bill Morrow took home $3.56 million for the year to become the second highest paid public sector boss in the country. Australia Post's Ahmed Fahour was paid $6.06 million last year.

The company's revenue was just over $1 billion compared to the previous year's $421 million. Average revenue per user was flat at $43.

A summary, jointly signed by Morrow and chairman Ziggy Switkowski, said: With more than one in two homes now able to order a service over the NBN network, NBN Co and its delivery partners are very much on track, with an expectation that almost three in four premises will be able to connect by 30 June 2018.

As more data-heavy applications are used by Australians, NBN Co expects usage to continue to grow, driving demand for higher speed tier internet plans.

With a greater focus on speed, increased performance visibility will be expected as it is in other global markets. NBN Co continues to work with the industry and regulators to provide clear, timely, factual information on the network and premises line speeds.

By the end of 2017, every existing eligible home and business in Australia will be either in design, construction or already able to order a service over the NBN network.

NBN Co also promised increases for the Sky Muster wholesale data cap in October to improve services in the bush, as well even faster speeds in 2018 than the existing 100Mbps.

The annual report can be accessed here.
A data center is the physical facility providing the compute power to run applications, the storage capabilities to process data, and the networking to connect employees with the resources needed to do their jobs.

Experts have been predicting that the on-premises data center will be replaced by cloud-based alternatives, but many organizations have concluded that they will always have applications that need to live on-premises. Rather than dying, the data center is evolving.

It is becoming more distributed, with edge data centers springing up to process IoT data. It is being modernized to operate more efficiently through technologies like virtualization and containers. It is adding cloud-like features such as self-service. And the on-prem data center is integrating with cloud resources in a hybrid model.

Once only available to large organizations that could afford the space, resources, and staff to maintain them, todays data centers come in many forms, including colocated, hosted, cloud and edge. In all of these scenarios, the data center is a locked-away space, noisy and cold, that keeps your application servers and storage devices safe to do their thing 24 hours a day.

What are the components of a data center?

All data centers share a similar underlying infrastructure that enables reliable, consistent performance. Basic components include:

Power: Data centers need to deliver clean, reliable power to keep equipment running around the clock. A data center will have multiple power circuits for redundancy and high availability, providing a backup through Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS) batteries and diesel generators.

Cooling: Electronics generate heat, which, if not mitigated, can cause damage to the equipment. Data centers are designed to draw heat away while providing cool air to eliminate overheating equipment. This complex balance of air pressure and fluid dynamics involves the uniform placement of cold aisles where the air is pumped in and hot aisles to collect it.

Network: Within the data center, devices are interconnected so they can talk to each other. And network service providers deliver connectivity to the outside world, facilitating access to enterprise applications from anywhere.

Security: A dedicated data center provides a layer of physical security far beyond what can be achieved when computer gear is stored in a wiring closet or other location not specifically designed from the ground up for security. In a purpose-built data center, equipment is safely tucked away behind locked doors and housed in cabinets with protocols to ensure only authorized personnel can access the equipment.

What are the types of data centers?

On-premises: This is the traditional data center, built on the organizations property with all the necessary infrastructure. An on-premises data center requires an expensive real estate and resource investment, but it is appropriate for applications that cant move to the cloud for security, compliance or other reasons.

Colocation: A colo is a data center owned by a third party that provides the physical infrastructure and management for a fee. You pay for the physical space, the power you consume, and network connectivity within the facility. Physical security is provided through locked data center racks or caged areas under lock and key. Access to the facility requires credentialing and biometrics to ensure authorization. There are two options within the colo model: You can maintain total control of your resources, or you can go with more a hosted option in which the third-party vendor takes responsibility for the physical servers and storage units.

IaaS: Cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Services, or Microsoft Azure provide Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), allowing customers remote access to dedicated slices of shared servers and storage through a web-based user interface to build and manage a virtual infrastructure. Cloud services are paid for based on resource consumption, and you can dynamically grow or shrink your infrastructure. The service provider manages all equipment, security, power, and cooling; as the customer, you are never allowed physical access to it.

Hybrid: In a hybrid model, resources may be housed in multiple locations and interact as if in the same place. A high-speed network link between the sites facilitates faster data movement. A hybrid configuration is excellent for keeping latency or security-sensitive applications close to home while accessing cloud-based resources as an extension of your infrastructure. A hybrid model also allows for the rapid deployment and deprecating of temporary equipment, eliminating the need to over-provision purchases to support business peaks.

Edge: Edge data centers typically house equipment that needs to be closer to the end user, such as cached storage devices, which hold copies of latency sensitive data due to performance needs. It is common to place backup systems in an edge data center, giving operators better access to remove and replace backup media (such as tape) for sending to offsite storage facilities.

What are the four data center tiers?

Data centers are built around service level agreements (SLAs) that account for the potential risk of service interruption over a calendar year. To reduce downtime, a data center will deploy more redundant resources for greater reliability (for example, there may be four geographically diverse power circuits in the facility instead of two). Uptime is expressed as a percentage, often referred to as nines, reflecting the number of the digit 9 in the uptime percentage, as in four nines or 99.99%.

Data Centers are measured in 4 tiers:

Tier 1: No more than 29 hours of potential service interruption in a calendar year (99.671% uptime).

Tier 2: No more than 22 hours (99.741%).

Tier 3: No more than 1.6 hours (99.982%).

Tier 4 no more than 26.3 minutes (99.995%).

As you can see, there is a big difference between Tier 1 and 4 classifications, and as you would expect, there can be dramatic cost differences between tiers.

What is hyper-converged infrastructure?

The traditional data center is built on a three-tier infrastructure with discreet blocks of compute, storage, and network resources allocated to support specific applications. In a hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), the three tiers are combined into a single building block called a node. Multiple nodes can be clustered together to form a pool of resources that can be managed through a software layer.

Part of the appeal of HCI is that it combines storage, computing, and networking into a single system to reduce complexity and streamline deployments across data centers, remote branches, and edge locations.

What is Data Center modernization?

Historically, the data center was viewed as a distinct collection of equipment serving specific applications. As each application needed more resources, equipment was procured, downtime was required to deploy it, along with ever-increasing use of physical space, power, and cooling.

With the development of virtualization technologies, our perspective shifted. Today, we see the data center holistically as a pool of resources to be partitioned logically and, as a bonus, used more efficiently to serve multiple applications. As with cloud services, application infrastructures containing servers, storage, and networks can be configured on the fly from a single pane of glass. More efficient use of hardware allows for more efficient, greener data centers, reducing the need for more cooling and power.

What is the role of AI in the Data Center?

Artificial intelligence (AI) allows algorithms to play the traditional Data Center Infrastructure Manager (DCIM) role, watching power distribution, cooling efficiency, server workload, and cyber threats in real-time and to make efficiency adjustments automatically. AI can shift workloads to underutilized resources, detect potential component failures and balances resources in the pool. It does all this with little human interaction.

Future of the data center

The data center is far from obsolete. CBRE, one of the largest commercial real estate investment and services firms, says the North American data center market grew new capacity by 17% in 2021, much of this due to hyperscalers like AWS and Azure, as well as social media giant Meta.

Enterprises are generating more data every day, whether thats business process data, customer data, IoT data, OT data, data from patient monitoring devices, etc. And they are looking to perform analytics on that data, either at the edge, on prem, in the cloud, or in a hybrid model. Companies might not be physically building brand new, centralized data centers, but they are modernizing their existing data center facilities and expanding their data center footprint to edge locations.

Looking ahead, demand from autonomous vehicle technology, blockchain, virtual reality and the metaverse will only spur increased data center growth.
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TeleSur |  

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from the original, mostly Muslim-majority list.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuela and North Korea will be added to the list of countries banned from traveling to the United States.

The order outlines different restrictions for each country on the list.

In the case of Venezuela, the new decree is aimed at certain Venezuelan government officials and their immediate family members, according to the White House press office.

In the case of North Korea, all foreign nationals from the country are barred from entering the United States.

The sweeping new travel ban will also slap restrictions on ran, Chad, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, the Trump administration said on Sunday.

The new restrictions, slated to go into effect on October 18, resulted from a review after President Donald Trumps original travel bans were challenged in court.

Iraq was dropped from a revised list due to ongoing military collaboration with the U.S. against the Islamic State group, but the new order does recommend that Iraqis be subject to additional scrutiny to determine the danger they may pose to U.S. national security.

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from the original, mostly Muslim-majority list.

North Korea does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements, the proclamation said.

An administration official, briefing reporters on a conference call, acknowledged that the number of North Koreans traveling to the United States now was very low.

Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet, Trump said in a tweet shortly after the announcement was made.

Via TeleSur



Related video added by Juan Cole:

Coke Studio: Trump Restricts Visas From Eight Countries as Travel Order Expires North Korea, Venezuela
Gov. Scott Walker on Monday announced he was appointing Dan Meyer, a former chamber of commerce director and Republican lawmaker from northern Wisconsin, as state Department of Natural Resources secretary, a pick that drew guarded praise from at least one conservation group.

Meyers voting record representing an Assembly district around Eagle River from 2001 to 2012 earned him an approval rating of under 37 percent from the League of Conservation Voters. But the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation said his grasp of how environmental protection improves hunting and fishing may make him an improvement over Walkers last appointee.

Meyer replaces Cathy Stepp, whom Walker appointed in 2011 saying he wanted someone with a chamber of commerce mentality in charge of the department.

Walker, who lauded Stepp for her performance, said Meyer was an avid outdoorsman who would properly balance business interests and conservation.

He understands the balance between protecting our natural resources and supporting economic prosperity in our state, Walker said in a statement. As a highly respected former legislator and mayor who cares deeply about conservation, Dan will serve in the best interests of Wisconsin.

When Meyer was first elected to the state Assembly in 2001 he pushed to weaken shoreline protections, but his longtime interest in hunting and fishing helped him learn over time about the importance of protecting wildlife habitat, said George Meyer, wildlife federation director.

I think hes someone who can be worked with on conservation issues, said George Meyer, a former DNR secretary who isnt related to Dan Meyer.

Although the state League of Conservation Voters gave $17,433 to his Democratic Party opponent in 2008, the group said there are reasons to hope the new DNR chief will be more independent from the governor than his predecessor.

Dan Meyer was not a consistent champion of conservation issues during his time in the legislature, but he repeatedly voted to re-establish an independent DNR secretary, said league legislative director Jennifer Giegerich.

State law was changed in 1995 to place the DNR chief under direct control of the governor, instead of the Natural Resources Board. Environmentalists say the change allowed Walker and Stepp to prevent agency experts from alerting the public to dangers of ongoing rollbacks of air and water protections.

It is our hope that he will show some independence as Gov. Walkers DNR Secretary and return the DNR to its mission, including enforcing against illegal polluters, working with communities to make sure our drinking water is safe and protecting lakes, rivers and public lands for future generations, Giegerich said.

He received ratings between 70 and 93 percent from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau and Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group founded by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, according to votesmart.org.

Meyer graduated with a bachelors in business administration from UW-Oshkosh in 1978. He was executive director of the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center before serving as Eagle Rivers mayor from 1997 to 2001.

Meyer didnt seek re-election in 2012, saying his 12 years in the Legislature was enough.

The governors office said Meyer had been a strong advocate for the environment, with a particular interest in protecting Wisconsins lakes from invasive species.

I am honored to serve as DNR secretary, Meyer said in the statement from the governor. Our state is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, and we will work to responsibly protect them and ensure they remain a source of recreation, tourism, economic growth, and rich natural history now and for our children.

Meyers salary will match the $127,026 that Stepp made, Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said.

Stepp, who also served as a Republican lawmaker, resigned recently to take a post in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

During her tenure, Stepp drew rebukes from members of the public after the department removed language about the causes of climate change from its website. She publicly supported Walker and the GOP-controlled Legislature when they withdrew tax support for state parks and eliminated the jobs of research scientists because they had studied the impact of mining and climate change on wildlife habitat and water quality.
Reno, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - September 25, 2017) - Scandium International Mining Corp. (TSX: SCY) ("Scandium International" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary company, Scandium International Mining Corp., Norway AS, has been granted a reservation on an Exploration License for the Kiviniemi Scandium Property in central Finland from the Finnish regulatory body governing mineral exploration and mining in Finland. The Geological Survey of Finland ("GTK") conducted airborne survey work on the area in 1986, conducted exploration drilling on the property in 2008-2010, and published those program results on their public GTK website in 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Kiviniemi property previously identified for scandium and explored by GTK,

Kiviniemi property previously identified for scandium and explored by GTK, Property is a high iron content, medium grade scandium target, located on surface, with on-site upgrade potential,

Early resource upgrade work done for GTK promising, confirmed by SCY,

Property is all-weather accessible, close to infrastructure, and

Finland location is mining-friendly and ideally suited to EU customer markets.

DISCUSSION:

Property/Location. The Kiviniemi property is located in the municipality of Rautalampi, Eastern Finland Province, approximately 350km northeast of Helsinki, by road. The closest major city/airport is Kuopio (pop. 110,000), approximately 70km to the northeast of the property. The exploration target is located on a small portion of a family farm, partially cleared for farming. Most of the property is wooded, including the area where the mineralization has been located,



SCY Mineral Reservation. SCY applied for a reservation on the property in early 2017, which was granted in June, after the public comment period ended. The reserved exploration area is approximately 24.6 hectares (0.25 square kilometer), identical to the historic GTK exploration license on the property, which expired in 2015. The mineralized area, as defined on GTK resource modeling maps, is approximately 25% of the total reservation. This reservation grants SCY a first position right to apply for an exploration license on the property (protected through 2018). The Company is preparing the application, which is a straightforward process.

Prior Exploration Work. GTK performed magnetic surveys on the general area in 1986, focused on copper/nickel/cobalt targets, and based on current mining activity in the area. That initial field work located a significant magnetic anomaly on the Kiviniemi property. In 2008, GTK initiated an exploration drilling program on the property, completing 4 diamond core holes in that first program phase, followed by a further 5 diamond holes in 2010, totaling 1,250 meters, at an average (angled) length of 139 meters, and a maximum vertical extension of 167 meters. The drill spacing varied from 50-200 meters, using a diamond drill size of 46mm (T56).

Four of the nine total holes drilled (approx. 850 meters) are in the mineralized area, with the remainder defining portions of the mag zone that did not contain scandium. The mag zone is generally very high in iron, ranging from about 20% to 35% Fe. The GTK published the results of the drill program assays, and other information on the geology and mineralization, on their website in 2016.

Geology of Resource Target. The host rock is very iron-rich, garnet-bearing fayalite ferro(monzo) diorite. The main minerals in the deposit include: plagioclase, potassium feldspar, ferrohedenbergite (clinopyroxene), ferrohastingsite (amphibole), almandine garnet and fayalite.

The principal scandium carrier minerals are ferrohastingsite (59 %) and ferrohedenbergite (40 %).

Resource Modeling. GTK completed and published a paper outlining property work including a 3D modeling and resource estimation on the project, in March 2016. The authors employed data from 6 holes, and used an industry standard GEOVIA Surpac software to produce a geological 3D domain model, and inverse distance was run to estimate resource grades into the block model. The authors declined to specifically characterize the resource on the basis of limited holes and uneven spacing, describing their estimate as an "exploration potential measurement". The authors estimated that another 500-700 meters of drilling (5-7 holes) would establish 50 meter centers on the target and allow a resource classification. The mineralized target remains open at depth.

The authors did provide a table of results on tonnage estimates from their modeling work, at various cut off values, excerpts of which are presented below.

Kiviniemi Scandium Property - GTK Resource Potential Estimate Estimated

Potential

Tonnage (Mt) Sc Cut Off

Grade (ppm) Average Grade Estimate (ppm) Scandium Yttrium Zirconium 12.6 12.5 11.1 60 100 150 170.1 170.9 173.3 80.5 80.3 80.2 1745 1744 1830

SOURCE: Publication, GTK, "3D Modeling and Mineral Resource Estimation of the Kiviniemi Scandium Deposit Eastern Finland". Authors, Janne Hokka & Tapio Halkoaho

NOTE: This historical resource estimate does not use the categories prescribed by NI 43-101. A qualified person (as defined in NI 43-101) has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.

The Company believes the standards and controls employed by GTK are consistent with the standards contemplated by NI 43-101. However establishing a mineral resource that meets the standards prescribed by NI 43-101 will require independent verification of past results and infill drilling.

Metallurgical Upgrade Work. In 2010, GTK engaged their metallurgical research laboratory (at Outokumpu) to conduct standard upgrade testing on the drill core sample material, specifically magnetic gravity separations. The mag separation work suggested a scandium upgrade to approximately 346ppm, based on a resource material head grade of 160-200ppm, and a 72% scandium recovery.

In June 2017, SCY engaged FLSmidth (Salt Lake City, Utah) seeking to duplicate the earlier 2010 upgrade work and confirm the earlier results. The earlier results were generally confirmed, in that the 2017 work achieved magnetic separation upgrade assays of 286ppm on a resource material head grade of 186ppm. SCY supplied FLSmidth with approximately 16kg of resource material sourced from GTK, all samples from a single hole (P433-R3). FLSmidth also carried out scandium check assays on the individual drill hole samples provided by GTK, with good grade correlation to GTK data.

Summary. The Kiviniemi property represents a medium grade scandium resource target that has remained unrecognized and overlooked by exploration work, largely due to the absence of the more commonly sought-after minerals in the region, specifically copper, nickel and cobalt. The target has benefited significantly from valuable early exploration work by the GTK, which has advanced the property to a stage where successful metallurgical investigations may prove value that offsets grade concerns. SCY estimates roughly US$2M of work value has been directed at this property to date, including field work, drilling programs, assay work, overheads, and metallurgical upgrade studies, but firm numbers are not available.

We intend to first secure our exploration license, then plan a limited drill program to augment the existing GTK data, and provide more sample material for metallurgical test work programs to define economic site upgrade possibilities on the scandium mineralization observed to date.

George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented:

"We are interested in Kiviniemi because it addresses our objective to find a potentially significant scandium production source in Europe that we believe will be welcomed by European markets. This target benefits from high quality, well documented grass roots exploration work done by GTK, which gives us a faster start in our search for that European production asset. Equally important, we see positive early potential to address mineral grade concerns with low cost, on-site, effective upgrade techniques, which we intend to pursue with test work and our scandium processing know how."

QUALIFIED PERSONS AND NI 43-101 TECHNICAL REPORT

Casey Danielson, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and a Consulting Geologist to the Company, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release on behalf of the Company.

ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.

The Company is focused on developing the Nyngan Scandium Project into the world's first scandium-only producing mine. The Company owns an 80% interest in both the Nyngan Scandium Project, and the adjacent Honeybugle Scandium Property, in New South Wales, Australia, and is manager of both projects. In September 2017, SCY shareholders approved a share exchange deal with our 20% Nyngan/Honeybugle project partner, Scandium Investments LLC ("SIL") which will raise SCY's project interests to 100% for the Nyngan/Honeybugle Projects, in return for issuance of common shares in SCY equivalent to 20% of the Company outstanding shares, post transaction. The share exchange is expected to close later this year.

The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in May 2016, titled "Feasibility Study  Nyngan Scandium Project". That feasibility study delivered an expanded scandium resource, a first reserve figure, and an estimated 33.1% IRR on the project, supported by extensive metallurgical test work and an independent, 10-year global marketing outlook for scandium demand.
OTTAWA, Ontario, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. (Cornerstone or the Company) (TSXV:CGP) (Frankfurt:GWN) (Berlin:GWN) (OTC:CTNXF) is pleased to announce results from the initial field program at its Bramaderos Gold-Copper Project in southern Ecuador where its subsidiary La Plata Minerales S.A. (PLAMIN) has signed a binding letter of intent with Sunstone Metals Ltd. (formerly Avalon Minerals Ltd.) (ASX:AVI) whereby Sunstone will have the right to earn a majority interest in the project subject to satisfaction of certain conditions (see news release 17-08 dated April 10, 2017).

A location map of the Bramaderos concession, figures and photographs can be seen in PDF format by accessing the version of this release on the Companys website (www.cornerstoneresources.com)

Highlights:

The first five trenches completed at the West Zone epithermal gold prospect within the Bramaderos Project have returned assays 1 of: 22m at 4.8g/t Au (including 7m at 12.7g/t Au) 9m at 1.9g/t Au, and 12m at 1.6g/t Au

of: Soil sampling suggests that the mineralized system is larger than the immediate area of trenching, with further trenching results due in October and November

Drilling permits are expected to be received by the end of this calendar year, with drilling to commence on the Bramaderos, Main and Limon targets immediately thereafter

Detailed mapping and soil sampling is ongoing on the other Bramaderos target areas

Further Information:

These results are from the first five trenches of the planned 20-trench program. The five trenches are located within an area of 100 x 100m, and occur within the larger 700m x 400m West Zone gold-in-soil anomaly. The trenches, which were no more than 1.2m deep, are sampling basement rock units in a continuous and systematic fashion. The locations of the trenches are shown in Figures 2 & 3 below.

The West Zone prospect has not seen any historical drill testing by previous explorers. Further assays from subsequent trenches are now pending and Cornerstone and Sunstone plan to start drilling at the West Zone in December provided they have secured the necessary approvals.

Trench Gold and Silver Assay Results

Trench Number Interval (m) Gold Grade

(g/t Au) Silver Grade

(g/t Ag) Comments Tr LB01 39.04 1.00 1.8 Open  last sample 0.3 g/t Au includes 12.1 1.55 2.1 Tr LB02 32.03 0.74 0.9 Open  last sample 0.42 g/t Au includes 9.93 1.40 2.0 Tr LB03 51.31 1.06 3.1 Open  first sample 0.43 g/t Au,

last sample 0.27 g/t Au includes 11.58 1.35 9.3 and 9.04 1.92 1.1 Tr LB04 19.11 0.54 1.6 Open  first sample 0.24 g/t Au Tr LB06 30.03 3.60 1.5 Open - last sample 1.18g/t Au includes 21.99 4.78 1.5 includes 6.92 12.71 1.1

Discussion of Trench Results

The surface trench results are significant because they follow a partially outcropping epithermal system which then continues under cover (colluvium on the slopes of hills). The trench data, soil data, surface mapping, and a planned detailed heli-magnetic geophysical survey to be conducted in November and December will provide all required datasets for drill targeting.

Geological mapping is still at an early stage in the West Zone area and mineralization controls have not yet been clearly defined. Information collected during this and future programs will help in defining any mineralized trend. The trenching program is conducted by first digging to a depth of up to 1.2 metres, followed by marking up of geological boundaries. Samples are then taken between each geological boundary by either hammer where the ground is friable or a cutting saw in areas of greater competency as shown in Figure 4 below.

Drill Permitting

The drilling permit requires a community consultation process of the drilling program with local communities, authorities and landowner groups. This process is part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and will take place once the technical part of the EIA has been approved by the Ministry of Environment (ME). The parameters of the community consultation process will then be defined jointly with ME. It is expected that the EIA document will be submitted to ME in the next 10 days.

A water permit application for industrial use (drilling) has been submitted to the water agency SENAGUA (Secretaria Nacional del Agua) and technically pre-qualified. Parameters of the corresponding socialization process and a field inspection date are currently being defined by the agency.

Qualified Person:

Yvan Crepeau, MBA, P.Geo., Cornerstones Vice President, Exploration and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Bramaderos project for Cornerstone and has reviewed and approved the information contained in this news release.

Sampling and assaying

Rock samples are collected by PLAMINs personnel, placed in plastic bags, labeled and sealed, and stored in a secure place until delivery by PLAMIN employees to the LAC y Asociados ISO 9001-2008 certified sample preparation facility in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Rock samples are prepared crushing to 70% passing 2 mm (10 mesh), splitting 250 g and pulverizing to 85% passing 75 microns (200 mesh) (MSA code PRP-910). Prepared samples are then shipped to MS Analytical Services (MSA), an ISO 9001-2008 laboratory in Langley, BC, Canada, where samples are assayed for a multi-element suite (MSA code IMS-136, 15.0 g split, Aqua Regia digestion, ICP-AES/MS finish) and gold by Fire Assay (MSA code FAS-111, 30 g fusion, AAS finish). Over limit results for Cu (>1%) are systematically re-assayed (MSA code ICF-6Cu, 0.2 g, 4-acid digestion, ICP-AES finish). Gold is assayed using a 30 g split, Fire Assay (FA) and AAS finish (MSA code FAS 111). Over limit results for Au (>10 g/t) are systematically re-assayed (MSA code FAS-415, FA, 30g., gravimetric finish).

Quality assurance / Quality control (QA/QC)

The MSA Analytical Laboratory is a qualified assayer that performs and makes available internal assaying controls. Duplicates, certified blanks and standards are systematically used (1 control sample every 20-25 samples) as part of PLAMINs QA/QC program. Rejects, a 100 g pulp for each rock sample, are stored for future use and controls.

About Cornerstone:

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a well-funded mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, and a proven ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 25, 2017) - B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has completed construction of the Fekola mill and commenced ore processing, more than three months ahead of schedule and on budget, at the Fekola Mine.

Gold is now in the circuit and the first gold pour is anticipated by mid-October 2017. The Company expects to achieve commercial production and produce between 50,000 to 55,000 ounces of gold by the end of 2017. In addition, the Company announces it has completed a new Life of Mine ("LoM") plan for the Fekola deposit that projects higher mill throughput and annual gold production, and lower projected operating costs per ounce and all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") per ounce of gold than the original (4 million tonnes per annum ("MTPA")) plan in the Optimized Feasibility Study ("OFS"). The new LoM plan was completed based on the expanded 5 MTPA mill throughput and takes into account an early start-up, increased processing throughput, and improved open-pit design and scheduling versus the OFS (see table below).

New Fekola LoM Plan Highlights:

A comparison of the OFS and LoM is as follows:

Parameters1 OFS  4 MTPA

(June 2015) New LoM  5 MTPA

(September 2017) LoM Gold Production (million ounces) 3.45 3.45 LoM (years) 12.5 10 Gold Production: LoM ('000 ounces) 276 345 Gold Production: Years 1-3 ('000 ounces) 333 400 Gold Production: Years 1-7 ('000 ounces) 350 374 Operating Cash Cost: LoM (US$/oz) 552 428 Operating Cash Cost: Years 1-3 (US$/oz) 464 357 Operating Cash Cost: Years 1-7 (US$/oz) 418 391 AISC: LoM (US$/oz) 752 664 AISC: Years 1-3 (US$/oz) 717 604 AISC: Years 1-7 (US$/oz) 661 643

No material change to Feasibility Mineral Reserves with the new resource model, pit and phase designs, and production plan. The contained Mineral Reserve remains 3.34 million ounces2 contained in 43.8 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.37g/t

No material change to mining production or fleet size

Processing throughput increased to 5 Mtpa vs. 4 Mtpa in the OFS

Significant upside in mine life and ounces produced exists within current resource, with further potential as adjacent and other targets are developed

1Gold production, cash operating costs and AISC are presented on an average annual basis

2Mineral Reserves are reported on a 90% attributable basis

The Fekola Project has been built using the same construction team that had previously completed four gold mines, on schedule and on budget, for B2Gold's predecessor company (Bema Gold Corporation) and B2Gold. Prior to construction, the Company recognized the exploration potential beyond the initial reserves and decided to build the Fekola mill with a 25% design capacity to allow for future expansion of the mill throughput from 4 MTPA to 5 MTPA for an additional expenditure of approximately $18 million. Due to the success of the Fekola Mine construction (more than three months ahead of schedule and on budget) and further exploration success at Fekola, the Company decided to expedite the expansion and complete it during the construction phase rather than post construction. The Fekola Project remains on budget; total cumulative forecast construction costs for the project (from inception to completion) include pre-construction sunk costs of approximately $41 million, feasibility study construction costs of $462 million and $18 million additional costs for the mill expansion to 5 MTPA. Additionally, another $20 million is expected to be spent on relocating the village of Fadougou.

In 2018, the Fekola Mine is now projected to produce between 400,000 and 410,000 ounces of gold at an operating cost of approximately $354 and AISC of $609 per ounce of gold.

Exploration

B2Gold's exploration team believes the expansive Fekola property has the potential to host additional large Fekola-style gold deposits. Surface exploration, regional drilling and geophysics to date have identified numerous targets.

The Company has drilled approximately 2,800 aircore, reverse circulation and diamond drill holes totalling 180,000 metres. Approximately 75% of the drilling has focused on exploration drilling with the remainder on in-fill drilling. Based on the successful results to date, the Fekola Mine and regional exploration budgets for 2017 have been increased by $3.8 million to $15.4 million.

The resource identified to date from drilling below and to the north of the Fekola reserve boundary combined with the near-pit portion of the Kiwi zone (to the north) could add 900,000 ounces (2/3 in the indicated category) and is being further drilled to potentially move resources from the inferred category into the measured and indicated categories. Drilling further to the north of the reserve pit boundary has identified additional gold mineralization near surface and in some deeper holes. This indicates the potential to increase the gold resources and ultimately expand the planned Fekola reserves further to the north.

Deeper below the Kiwi zone is the down-plunge extension of the main Fekola ore body. Drilling in this zone (Fekola Deeps) has intercepted Fekola-type gold grades over large intervals. If the on-going drilling between the near surface Kiwi zone and Fekola Deeps continues to encounter good grade gold mineralization, there is the potential for the Fekola pit to ultimately become much larger to exploit both the Kiwi zone and a portion of Fekola Deeps by open pit. The Fekola Deeps zone remains open further to the north further down dip and has the potential to be exploited by underground mining.

The Company anticipates another large exploration budget (approximately $15 million) for Fekola in 2018, for in-fill drilling, further exploration drilling at the Kiwi and Fekola Deeps zones and regional exploration. The Company anticipates announcing results from the 2017 drilling program in November 2017.

Update on the Fekola Shareholder Agreement and Mining Convention

In 2016, pursuant to applicable mining law, the Company formed a new 100% owned subsidiary company, Fekola SA, which now holds the Company's interest in the Fekola Project. Upon signing of a shareholder's agreement between the Company and the State of Mali (the "Fekola Shareholder Agreement"), the Company will contribute a 10% free carried interest in Fekola SA to the State of Mali. The State of Mali also has the option to purchase an additional 10% of Fekola SA which it has confirmed its intent to exercise. The Company has signed a mining convention in the form required under the 2012 Mining Code (the "Fekola Convention") that relates to, among other things, the ownership, permitting, reclamation bond requirements, development, operation and taxation applicable to the Fekola Project with the State of Mali. The Company recently finalized certain additional agreements with the State of Mali including the Fekola Shareholders Agreement and an amendment to the Fekola Mining convention to address and clarify certain issues under the 2012 Mining Code. The Fekola Mining Convention, as amended, will govern the procedural and economic parameters pursuant to which the Company will operate the Fekola Project.

About B2Gold Corp.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, B2Gold Corp. is one of the fastest-growing intermediate gold producers in the world. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has five operating mines (four in production and one in pre-production), and numerous exploration and development projects in various countries including Finland, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Namibia, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Based on current assumptions and updates to B2Gold's current year guidance and long-term mine plans, the Company is projecting consolidated gold production in 2017 of between 530,000 and 570,000 ounces (including estimated pre-commercial production from the Fekola Mine of between 50,000 and 55,000 ounces); and in 2018, significantly increasing to between 925,000 and 975,000 ounces, with the inclusion of the anticipated first full-year of commercial production at Fekola.
New York City, NY, 09/25/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

A June 2017 subway derailment in Harlem, New York has been attributed to human error, according to Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) officials. The derailment injured 39 people and caused widespread delays along several areas of the subway system.

MTA officials have reported that a piece of replacement rail being used in repair work was not stored properly and was instead lying on the tracks. This apparently caused the derailment to occur. One witness stated that the train hit a wall after it jumped the tracks.

In late June 2017, two track supervisors were suspended without pay following the derailment. The media has also reported that federal authorities have opened an investigation into the incident.

Injuries Caused by Train Derailments

Trail derailments are obviously scary any time they happen. Fortunately, no one was killed in the Harlem train derailment. However, past train derailments have caused fatalities. Trains, including subway trains, move at high speeds. The 2015 derailment of an Amtrak 188 train in Philadelphia claimed the lives of eight people. The catastrophic accident injured 200 others, with some injury victims suffering paralysis after the accident. In that case, the trains engineer was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The witness accounts from the Amtrak 188 derailment are horrifying. Passengers describe the lights being abruptly cut and being plunged into instant darkness. The front trains were twisted hunks of metal, and many passengers were trapped. The force of the crash was so violent that people were thrown from their seats  others were belted in their seats, only to have their entire seats ripped from the floor of the train.

Injures included:

Concussions

Broken bones

Neck injuries

Back injuries

Head injuries

Blunt trauma injuries

Spinal cord injuries

Lacerations

Injuries to internal organs

Traumatic brain injuries

Common carriers that operate as a public utility must exercise the highest standard of care when it comes to their passengers. Public utilities include the subway, which is regulated and administered by the MTA. They must take all reasonable steps to prevent accidents. Although time will tell what liability the subway system has with respect to the Harlem derailment, its obvious to anyone that pieces of replacement track should not be left lying around on active sections of track where trains are scheduled to be traveling at high rates of speed with passengers on board.

Contact a Mass Transit Accident Lawyer

New York City mass transit accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter states, New Yorkers depend on mass transit like the subway to get around the city safely. These systems are the backbone of the city, and people count on them to function properly. As the Harlem derailment accident shows, even one careless or negligent moment of forgetfulness can cause a devastating accident that injures dozens of people. In this case, no one got hurt. But the derailment could have easily turned out much differently.

If youve been injured in a train accident or any kind of mass transit accident, contact an experienced New York mass transit accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case.

Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm, PLLC

Media Contact:

New York City airline accident lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter. T: 866-324-9211.

Attorney Advertising

Prior results cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future case. Recoveries always depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case, the injuries suffered, damages incurred, and the responsibility of those involved.

Sources:

source: https://injuryaccidentnews.jcreiterlaw.com/2017/09/20/new-york-mass-transit-accident-lawyer-says-harlem-train-derailment-caused-human-error/

Social Media Tags:Harlem Train Derailment, Injuries Caused by Train Derailments, New York Mass Transit Accident, New York Mass Transit Accident Lawyer

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By Kim Jae-kyoung





SINGAPORE _ A growing number of nations are downgrading diplomatic ties with North Korea to deepen the Kim Jong-un regime's isolation following its sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3.

Most recently, on Sept. 18, Spain asked the North Korean ambassador in Madrid to leave the country by the end of September, becoming the first European country to expel a North Korean diplomatic envoy.

The move followed in the footsteps of Mexico, Peru and Kuwait. It came as the United Nations passed a resolution that imposed a ban on the country's textile exports and capped its crude oil imports.

Against this backdrop, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member nations need to play a more active role in reining in North Korea by taking action rather than just talking.

Following the North's nuke test, ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement to condemn Pyongyang, using strong words such as "deplore" and "grave concern" numerous times. A few of them issued a separate statement of condemnation.

However, among the 10 ASEAN member states, the Philippines, chair of ASEAN this year, is the only county that has taken actual measures against the North's nuclear threat by suspending trade with Pyongyang.

No other country from the 10-member bloc, which also consists of consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, has followed the Philippines' example.

Amid growing nuclear threats from the North, ASEAN member nations' more active roles are particularly important in two aspects.

First, some of the countries have maintained long, friendly relations with North Korea. Although their overall volume of economic interaction is much smaller than China's, the North's relationship with this region is deep and extensive.

Vietnam and Laos share the communist ideology while Cambodia and Myanmar have traditional friendships with North Korea. Malaysia, even after the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, half brother of Kim Jong-un, at a Malaysian airport, still maintains diplomatic ties with Pyongyang.

Secondly, the ASEAN region has emerged as a hub for North Korea's illegal trade in the wake of China's tightening of sanctions against the North. In other words, ASEAN is becoming a source for the North to evade sanctions and earn hard currency.

"North Korea has manipulated diplomatic ties with and regulatory loopholes in Southeast Asian countries to overcome U.N. sanctions through illicit activities such as counterfeiting, money laundering, drugs and arms trade," Hoang Thi Ha, lead researcher at the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, wrote recently in ASEAN Focus.

In this regard, any ASEAN member suspending bilateral trade or expelling a diplomatic envoy will have a bigger impact on the North, intensifying its isolation and thus making Kim Jong-un rethink his strategy.

See Seng Tan, deputy director at the Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies of Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said ASEAN member states need to consider taking steps similar to the Philippines.

"Southeast Asia has been in the news lately regarding its trade ties with North Korea, which, in the view of some observers, are not in step with U.N. resolutions against North Korea," he told the Korea Times.

He pointed out the Philippines' decision to suspend trade with the North has to do with the country being the current chair of ASEAN and intending to lead by example.

"Most ASEAN countries have condemned Pyongyang's provocations. If they are serious about sending a message, then following Manila's example is not a bad idea," he said.

If ASEAN nations view North Korean provocations as serious threats to regional peace and stability, it is time for them to make more proactive efforts not only to comply with U.N. resolutions but also to take more stringent individual actions against the Kim Jong-un regime.
Standing inside a cramped visitors booth at the Dane County Jail, a handcuffed Joseph Jakubowski allowed his mind to drift back to the moment last April, during his 10-day run from the law, when he says he shot a wild turkey in the woods somewhere in western Wisconsin.

The 33-year-old self-proclaimed anarchist from Janesville smiled as he closed one eye, cocked his head and made a clicking sound to mimic gunfire coming from an assault rifle  one of more than a dozen guns he admits he stole a few days earlier from a Janesville gun shop.

Those were the best days of my life, said Jakubowski, then the subject of one of the largest manhunts in Wisconsin history after he mailed an anti-government manifesto to President Donald Trump, stole the weapons, burned his truck and disappeared on April 4. For once in my life I was free. Nobody told me what I had to do. All I had to do was wake up and live.

With his trial scheduled to begin Monday in federal court in Madison, Jakubowski said he has mixed feelings about how his attempt to escape the law and get off the grid ended with his capture without incident on a bluff in Vernon County on April 14.

A self-taught and streetwise craftsman and roofer, Jakubowski is proud of how he was able to publicize his anger and frustration toward the U.S. government. But sounding almost wistful, he says he would have preferred dying in a hail of bullets in a battle with police. Better that, he said, than the prison sentence that awaits if hes convicted in federal court as well as the state charges he faces at a trial in Rock County Circuit Court in October.

I didnt go into it planning to die; that would be suicide, he said. But on the other hand, I havent been afraid of dying for a long time. How can you value life when youre told what to do for your entire life?

The number of guns Jakubowski is accused of stealing has varied since his arrest, but federal prosecutors now say there are 12 guns unaccounted for, including one high-priced assault rifle. Jakubowski said he no plans to give any details about the missing guns other than to say he buried them.

Some law enforcement officials and others speculate Jakubowski used some of the stolen guns to pay for transportation out of the area. But Jakubowski said his plan was to walk to North Dakota, where he hoped to drop out of society and give up things like money or cellphones. As he began his trek, he said, he traveled through fields and along the edges of woods with the help of an old atlas and a compass.

He said he got a ride at one point  he wouldnt give a mileage estimate  from a person who didnt recognize him, never entered a single building and walked near populated areas only at night.

But the hike took a toll. The two heavy backpacks he carried as well as a duffel bag in which he said he kept the stolen guns eventually wore him down.

He also had to forage for food because the apples, oranges and noodles he brought with him lasted just a couple of days. I was exhausted at the end, mainly because I was so hungry, he said.

Jeffrey Gorn, a retired school superintendent who had spent a career as a guidance counselor and clinical psychologist, would later discover the fugitive camping on his land April 13. After a lengthy, often fraught, encounter, Gorn extracted himself and called police, who arrested Jakubowski the next day. Although he had five guns and a samurai sword with him, he surrendered without incident.

The silence following Jakubowskis disappearance stoked fears that he was plotting an attack, Rock County Sheriff Bob Spoden said. In the days after the burglary, law enforcement from every level of government was mobilized, schools and churches were closed and a national media frenzy had everyone on edge because nobody knew what Jakubowski was going to do, including Jakubowski, Spoden said.

Spoden, who believes Jakubowski either sold the stolen guns that are still missing or threw them in a river to lighten his load, says he thinks Jakubowski was truthful when he said he just wanted to live on his own, free from other people and money.

He couldve done that without stealing the guns and nobody would know where he is right now, which is exactly what he says he wanted, Spoden said.

Seemed suicidal

Two days before Jakubowski disappeared, Renata Hackl, the owner of the Drunken Monkey bar on Janesvilles West Side where Jakubowski was a regular, said she confronted him because she thought he seemed suicidal.

He had been coming into the bar about four times a week and then last October he stopped coming. Then he shows up again in March but hes real quiet and deep in thought, she said. Then, out of the blue, right before he disappeared, hes all happy-go-lucky like he just won the lottery. Thats exactly what they tell you to look for in somebody who is suicidal.

When Jakubowski told her in an excited tone, Theres going to be a change, Hackl said she asked him several times if that meant he was contemplating suicide. He said, Id never do that, Hackl said.

Hackl said she was stunned to learn later that Jakubowski was accused of burglarizing the Armageddon Supplies gun shop and feared he was planning to commit suicide by cop. I thought, This is going to end very badly, she said.

Hackl still harbors a soft spot for Jakubowski after she said he looked after her youngest son, Rudy, who worked as a roofer with Jakubowski.

My son was wearing the wrong kind of shoes so Joe went out and bought him $300 boots to make sure he was safe, Hackl said. Thats the kind of guy he is.

But, she said, Jakubowski still needs a kick in the ass for what he did.

I dont know what happened, but its clear he needs a psychologists help, she said.

Wired differently

Jakubowski says he cant remember a time when people didnt call him crazy or socially awkward. But he says he has never been treated for a mental disorder or taken any medication for one. Ive always prided myself on being different, he said.

Since his arrest in April, Jakubowski claims he has disowned his mother and stepfather and hasnt communicated with any other family members for months. He says he doesnt read books, has never watched television and has been a loner for much of his life because people can scramble his thoughts. He prefers to form opinions and gain knowledge by observing.

I just think, he says.

Robert Schug, an assistant professor of criminology, criminal justice and forensic psychology at California State University, Long Beach, said Jakubowski comes across as having a schizotypal personality disorder.

Schizotypal people are kind of odd, kind of magical thinking and have unconventional beliefs, Schug said. These people are sometimes the UFO fanatics or conspiracy theorists. Their brains, because of the way they are wired, think about things differently. Its like they are putting the pieces of the puzzle together like we all are but they are missing pieces, and they make inferences without getting facts.

While people with schizotypal personality disorders often come across as defiant, their thoughts and decisions are typically rooted in fear, Schug said.

They are afraid of losing control of their lives, he said. In my opinion, guys like (Jakubowskis), as long as they arent hurting anybody, should go live in the woods. Be the artist. Hes probably a tremendously talented artist. Hes right-brained, probably with raw artistic talent, I would imagine.

Jakubowskis writings and his decision to steal guns in a bid to take on the U.S. government is all part of how hes compensating for feeling small and insignificant, probably because of his background, Schug said.

Left home at 13

Jakubowski said he left home when he was 13 after repeated fights with his mother and stepfather, which he said included beatings. Shortly thereafter he started selling drugs, which introduced him to a new level of violence.

After he attacked a Janesville police officer in 2008, Jakubowski became a two-time felon and was ordered to get help for his anger and drinking problems.

Although he would go on to forge a career as a roofer, crafting jewelry and furniture and doing custom work on vehicles and motorcycles, Jakubowskis violent past  combined with threats he made in his manifesto to resist authorities with force  fed the image of him as a public menace after the theft and disappearance.

But Jakubowski said he was crushed to learn after his arrest that schools and churches around Janesville closed during the manhunt because they were told he may be targeting them.

That was contradictory to what I was doing, he insisted. Anybody who knows me knows I wouldnt hurt a child or anybody in a church.

Get ready to see me

When Jakubowski started writing the 161-page manifesto last October, he said he had just hurt his back, lost his job as a roofer and had to move in with his sister because he could no longer pay the rent on his apartment.

Deep down he was probably feeling insecure and scared and his way of projecting strength is to be the anti-government guy, Schug said. It makes sense to him and he can have control over it.

By the time he finished it in mid-March, Jakubowski said, he had decided on making a statement that couldnt be ignored.

I made it very clear I was going to do it, too, said Jakubowski. I was telling everybody: Get ready to see me in the news because Im picking a fight with the government.

Stealing the guns was central to the plan. He said he wanted to show how the federal law forbidding felons from owning a gun was proof the government was corrupt. I have the right to defend myself, he said.

But he may not have the right to argue that at his trial.

In anticipation of Jakubowski seeking to use the trial as his personal soapbox, prosecutors have asked the judge to block him from introducing testimony or prior statements like his manifesto to argue he stole the guns to protect himself from a broken system. They said he doesnt meet any of the requirements needed for such a defense.

Still, Jakubowski  who has already shown his contempt for judges in his earlier courtroom appearances  is hoping he can make his case. He said he has told his attorney, Joe Bugni, to ignore any plea deals.

I wont submit to this government. I refuse, he said.
It takes a brave soul (in some cases, emboldened by a strong drink or two) to get a tattoo. And while people may spend time considering what design to have pierced onto their bodies, few may consider exactly what happens to the ink once it is injected under their skin.

In fact, scientists are still investigating that question.

To make a tattoo permanent, a tattoo artist punctures the skin with hundreds of needle pricks. Each prick delivers a deposit of ink into the dermis, the layer of skin that lies below the epidermis, which is populated with blood vessels and nerves.

Once the ink is inserted into the dermis, it doesn't all stay put, research is finding. Some ink particles migrate through the lymphatic system and the bloodstream and are delivered to the lymph nodes. Research on mice suggests some particles of ink may also end up in the liver.

"When you inject particles into the skin, some travel to the lymph nodes within minutes," Ines Schreiver, a chemist with the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Berlin,told Live Science. [5 Weird Ways Tattoos Affect Your Health]

Where the ink goes

To be clear, most of the tattoo pigment stays put after a person gets a tattoo. The ink that's not cleared away by special repair cells, called macrophages, stays in the dermis within trapped macrophages or skin cells called fibroblasts. It then shows through the skin, perhaps spelling out "Mom" or featuring that eagle design you spent weeks choosing.

"Normally, the ink doesn't migrate too far from where it's injected," Dr. Arisa Ortiz, a dermatologist and director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at the U.C. San Diego Health, told Live Science. "For the most part, it is engulfed [by skin or immune cells] and then kind of sticks around in the dermis."

But researchers are now taking a closer look at the tattoo ink that does travel to other parts of the body, particularly the lymph nodes.

Schreiver was part of a team of German and French scientists that performed the first chemical analyses on tattoo ink collected at human lymph nodes. The researchers analyzed the lymph nodes of four cadavers that had tattoos, as well as two cadavers that had no tattoos, which served as controls.

The researchers pointed out in their study, published in the journal Scientific Reports (opens in new tab), that "pigmented and enlarged lymph nodes have been noticed in tattooed individuals for decades." Those reports came mostly from pathologists who began noticing unusual coloring in lymph node biopsies taken from tattooed patients.

For example, a 2015 report in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology described how doctors at first thought a woman's cervical cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. After surgically removing the nodes, the doctors realized that what had appeared to be malignant cells were actually tattoo ink particles.

"I was very curious about the chemical side effect of tattoos," Schreiver said. "I think people are aware that you can get skin infections from a tattoo, but I don't think most are aware that there may also be risks from the ink."

To investigate these side effects, Schreiver and her colleagues used several different tests, to analyze what forms of tattoo ink were collecting in the lymph nodes and any damage that might have resulted. Among their findings was that nanoparticles  particles measuring less than 100 nanometers across  were most likely to have migrated to the lymph nodes.

Carbon black, which is one of the most common ingredients in tattoo inks, appears to break down readily into nanoparticles and end up in the lymph nodes, the study found. The team also looked at titanium dioxide (TiO2), which is a common ingredient in a white pigment usually combined with other colors to create certain shades. This type of ink does not appear to break down into particles as small as those found with carbon black, but some larger particles of TiO2 were still detected in the cadavers' lymph nodes, the study said.

Disturbingly, Schreiver and her colleagues found that some potentially toxic heavy metals originating in tattoo ink also made their way to the lymph nodes. The scientists detected particles of cobalt, nickel and chromium, which are sometimes added to organic tattoo pigment as preservatives, at the lymph nodes.

"These are not things you want to have permanently deposited in your body," Schreiver said.

Is it harmful?

Other research has shown that tattoo pigment may land elsewhere in the body. For a May 2017 study published in the journal Dermatology, researchers tattooed the backs of mice with black and red ink.

About a year later, the team found ink pigment in the mice's lymph nodes, as was found in human studies, but also within liver cells.

"It was a quite interesting and very surprising finding," said Mitra Sepehri, lead author of the research in mice and an M.D./Ph.D. candidate at the Wound Healing Centre of Bispebjerg University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. "To reach the liver cells, the pigment has to go through the blood to reach the liver. So, we have shown that tattoo pigment can spread through the mouse's blood system as well as through the lymphatic system."

The ink pigment was detected inside special cells in the liver that remove toxic substances, called Kupffer cells. These cells appeared to be in the process of "eating" the pigment particles, Sepehri said. Of course, mice aren't humans, and, as Sepehri pointed out, the study did not confirm that tattooed humans can end up with pigment in their livers. Plus, she added, since mouse skin is thinner than human skin, tattoo ink may be more likely to be deposited more deeply in mice and more likely to enter the bloodstream.

"Even if we find out maybe in five or 10 years that tattoo ink can be deposited in the liver in human beings, we still don't know if it's harmful," Sepehri said. "It may pose no risk"

It's also not known if it's harmful for tattoo pigment particles to accumulate in the lymph nodes. So far, evidence suggests such deposits may cause enlargement of the lymph nodes and some blood clotting. But long-term studies in humans are needed to definitively link tattoo ink in lymph nodes to any harmful effect.

The ingredients within tattoo ink itself also remain largely unknown and under-regulated. A study from Denmark in 2011 found that 10 percent of unopened tattoo ink bottles tested were contaminated with bacteria. And a 2012 Danish Environmental Protection Agency study revealed that 1 in 5 tattoo inks contained carcinogenic chemicals.

Schreiver said she and her team hope to start raising the curtain on tattoo ink ingredients. They next plan to investigate inks associated with tattoo-related skin reactions and infections by analyzing skin biopsies of human patients. For example, it's commonly known that red tattoo ink is often associated with nasty skin reactions. But not all red inks are the same.

"As a chemist, describing a pigment as 'red' means nothing to me," Schreiver said. "We need to analyze the chemistry."

Tattoo ink manufacturing in the United States is overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but as a cosmetic. As the FDA states, "because of other competing public health priorities and a previous lack of evidence of safety problems specifically associated with these pigments, FDA traditionally has not exercised regulatory authority for color additives on the pigments used in tattoo inks."

Ortiz said this needs to change. She works with the U.C. San Diego Clean Slate Tattoo Removal Program, which provides free care to former gang members who wish to erase their gang-associated tattoos to make it easier to enter the job market or the military. She said she sees many tattoo-related problems that can flare up again during tattoo removal.

"People have tattooed their bodies for thousands of years. Clearly, they're not going to stop," Ortiz said. "So, we need more testing on both the tattooing process and the ink to know potential reactions in the skin so we can optimize the safety of tattoos."

Originally published on Live Science.
This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

As a university professor and a mother of teen boys, I am immersed in a world of young faces buried in their phones. To be fair, adults, too, are enamored with the tiny, powerful computing devices in the palms of their hands. The patterns of daily life have been forever altered by the ubiquity of digital devices. The world has been rewired. And nobody wrote a user's manual.

Advances in digital media and mobile devices, and the rising power of social media, are changing the way people engage not only with the world but also with close friends and family. This generation of parents faces rapidly emerging and unprecedented challenges in managing digital devices and the activities they enable  and must simultaneously wrestle with these issues in their own lives and in the lives of their children.

I recently led a research project investigating the effects of digital devices on family life in Japan. As part of that work, we compared our results from Japan to studies asking similar questions of U.S. families, conducted by our collaborator Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization focusing on children and technology. We found Japanese and U.S. families struggling in very similar ways with the impact of technology on their lives, their relationships and each other.

Parents and teens in both societies use online media for long periods every day, which at times causes family stress and arguments. Some feel addicted to their devices, and many worry about family members' apparent addictions to technology. And in both countries, there are children who feel their parents neglect them in favor of digital devices.

Shared feelings of anxiety

We polled 1,200 Japanese parents and teens to find out how the saturation of cellphones and other devices in family life is playing out in homes and child-parent relationships. We compared their answers to Common Sense's existing research on U.S. teens and parents.

The findings are clear: Parents and teens in the high-tech societies of Japan and the U.S. find it hard to imagine life without mobile phones and tablets. And they share similar struggles with the role of technology in their lives: In both countries, the "always-on" media environment leads a great many teens and parents to feel the need to check their devices frequently, often several times an hour.

And large numbers of parents and teens feel the need to "respond immediately" to texts, social networking messages and notifications.

Feelings of distraction

We also took a closer look at how parents and teens perceive their own, and each other's dependency on mobile phones. In both the U.S. and Japan, the answers were surprisingly consistent: Roughly half of teens reported feeling "addicted" to their mobile devices, and so did more than a quarter of parents.

Many parents and teens surveyed in both countries feel that the always-available mobile devices have interfered with their family connections. More than half of parents in both the U.S. and Japan think their teens spend too much time on their mobile devices. More than half of American teens think the same about their parents, though far fewer Japanese teens share that view.

Both parents and teens often feel the other is frequently distracted and not able to be fully present when they're spending time together.

These conflicts play out in frequent disagreements  roughly one-third of U.S. parents and teens argue about device use every day. The numbers are lower in Japan, but families there are having the same fight.

And some parents and teens in both countries say mobile device use has hurt the relationship between parents and children. In particular, one in four Japanese parents expressed concern about the damaging effects of digital device use.

Teenagers voiced concerns of their own. In both countries, teens watch their parents engage with their own devices and it's not always a comfortable experience: 6 percent of U.S. teens, and more than three times as many Japanese teens, say they have sometimes felt that a parent thinks their mobile device is more important than their child.

A complex relationship

While these results highlight the ways in which mobile devices have become a source of tension in family life, they also reveal a common belief that using them prepares teens for jobs in the 21st century. It's not just teens who see the benefits of digital device use: 25 percent of Japanese and 88 percent of U.S. parents feel it helps their children acquire new skills.

This study focused on patterns of use and exposure to digital media, but leads to further questions about what content families engage with and their reasons for using media. For instance, what do people mean when they use the term "addicted" in reference to mobile technology? What drives people's need for digital connection? How might social and cultural differences alter the effects of digital devices on family life? And, of course, expanding these questions beyond just two countries will help inform a global conversation about how families can integrate technology into their lives in thoughtful and productive ways.

Willow Bay, Dean and Walter H. Annenberg Chair in Communication, University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Children who watch movies that include gun violence may be more likely to use guns themselves, a new study finds.

In the study, kids who watched a movie with gun violence later played with a gun for longer and pulled the trigger more times than kids who watched a movie without gun violence, according to the study, published today (Sept. 25) in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. The study used a real, but unloaded gun, and the children's parents gave consent.

The study is unlike any previous research conducted on the subject, said senior study author Brad Bushman, a professor of communication and psychology at the Ohio State University. But the findings were not surprising, he said. [9 Weird Ways Kids Can Get Hurt]

"Kids think movie characters are cool, and kids want to imitate movie characters," Bushman told Live Science. Indeed, previous research showed that kids who see movie characters smoking cigarettes are more likely to smoke themselves, and kids who see movie characters drinking alcohol are more likely to drink themselves, Bushman said. "It would be more surprising if [kids] imitated movie characters who smoked and drank but didn't imitate movie characters who did other things," he said.

Still, the study is likely to drum up controversy; indeed, it touches two "third rails" of academic medicine: media violence and guns, two editors of JAMA Pediatrics wrote in an editorial published alongside the study.

"We are aware that critics will seek flaws in the science and take issue with the conclusions," Dr. Dimitri Christakis, associate editor of the journal, and Dr. Frederick Rivara, editor of the journal, wrote in the editorial. However, they stressed the rigor of the science and data analysis.

Movie and play time

The study involved 52 pairs of children ages 8 to 12. The pairs were randomly assigned to watch a 20-minute version of a PG-rated movie either containing gun violence or not containing gun violence. Both movies contained action sequences. Following the movie, the pairs of children were taken to a separate room that had a cabinet filled with toys and games, including Legos, Nerf guns and checkers.

The cabinet also contained a real handgun. The gun was unloaded and modified so that it could not fire, but it was wired to count how many times the trigger was pulled. (The children's parents were informed that the experiment would involve this gun, and they gave their consent.) The gun was hidden, but the children in the study could find it if they looked, Bushman said.

The researchers told the kids that they could play with anything in the room for 20 minutes, and then left the pairs of children unattended. A researcher sat just outside the room, in case the kids had any questions. In addition, parents and other researchers watched the kids in the playroom on live video. [Top 5 Benefits of Play]

In 43 of the 52 pairs of kids in the study, one or both of the children found the gun in the playroom; of these, 22 of the pairs handled the gun, and 14 either gave the gun to the research assistant sitting outside or told the research assistant that they had found a gun.

On average, pairs of children who watched the movies with gun violence pulled the gun's trigger more than those who watched the movies without gun violence: The median number of trigger pulls for pairs who saw the movie with guns was three, compared with zero for pairs who watched the movie without guns. In addition, those who watched the movie with guns held the gun for a median of 53 seconds, compared with 11 seconds for the kids who watched the movie without guns.

Boys tended to pull the trigger more times than girls did, the researchers found. However, there were no differences between the sexes in how long the children held the gun.

The lab vs. the real world

The researchers noted that the study had several limitations. For example, only one real gun was used in the study, but two Nerf guns were available. This may have inadvertently encouraged the kids to play with the Nerf guns instead, the researchers wrote.

In addition, conducting future research in a more natural setting, such as a real home, would make the findings more generalizable, the study said.

But Bushman noted that "lots of other study findings on media violence apply outside of the lab, so it's hard to imagine that it would not apply outside [the lab] for this study but would for every other type of study."

"Skeptics will note that the non-real-world nature of the study limits its implications," Christakis and Rivara wrote in the editorial. But they also argued that the findings must be put in context.

"The children were not in their homes, but might the experimental situation be akin to being at a friend's home, a not-uncommon place where fatal unintentional shootings of children occur?" the editorial authors wrote. "If anything, the nature of the experiment  being in an unfamiliar setting  might induce them to report the gun (it wasn't theirs after all) or to feel less comfortable with it." [5 Milestones in Gun Control History]

Advice for parents

Bushman advised parents to be careful about what their children see in the media.

"Acts of gun violence in PG-13 movies have more than tripled since 1985," he said. In the study, the movies selected were rated PG, so it's possible that watching more-graphic representations of gun violence could have a greater effect on kids' likelihood to use a gun, he said.

Movies that contain drinking and smoking contain warnings, Bushman said, so why not have a warning for movie characters who use guns?

In addition, Bushman stressed the importance of locking up guns. "Sixty percent of gun owners don't" lock up their guns, and children may discover the weapons because of that, he said.

Originally published on Live Science.
Damage to the Guajataca Dam in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico, caused by Hurricane Maria could affect 70,000 residents in the river valley below.

As Puerto Rico struggles to recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria, a new threat is on the horizon  a storm-cracked dam is in danger of failing, and could flood a river valley inhabited by tens out thousands of people.

Heavy rains and flooding cracked the Guajataca Dam, in northwestern Puerto Rico in the municipality of Quebradillas, about 60 miles (nearly 100 kilometers) to the west of San Juan. Portions of its spillway  drainage channels for surplus water  also collapsed, Miguel Abrams, emergency management director of the city of Quebradillas, told The New York Times.

Evacuation orders for the 70,000 people living in the area were issued on Friday (Sept. 22), and on Saturday (Sept. 23), Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello surveyed the damage, calling the crack "a significant rupture" and telling people to evacuate for their own safety, Reuters reported. And with widespread power failure and loss of cellular communications across the island, authorities went door-to-door to warn residents of the dam's compromised condition, according to CNN. [Hurricane Maria's Aftermath: Photos Reveal Devastation on Caribbean Islands]

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority built the Guajataca Dam in 1929 to supply water for drinking and irrigation. It has a water storage capacity of 34,276 acre-feet (42.3 million cubic meters), and provides drinking water for approximately 179,000 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

On Sept. 24, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash-flood warning for Puerto Rico's Isabela and Quebradillas municipalities, noting the risk of dam failure causing downstream flooding that could prove deadly.

"Stay away or be swept away," NWS officials warned. "River banks and culverts can become unstable and unsafe. Stay away from evacuated areas until told by emergency officials it is safe to return," they instructed.

Maria, the first Category 4 hurricane to strike Puerto Rico since 1932, tore into the island on Sept. 20, with winds reaching 155 mph (250 km/h). Maria flattened homes and other structures, flooded roads, stripped greenery from trees and left the entire island  home to 3.4 million people  without power. The storm is also responsible for the deaths of 10 people on the island, though that figure is likely to rise, Slate reported.

"This is a game changer," Rossello told CNN in a television interview earlier today (Sept. 25), describing the staggering extent of the storm's damage. "We need to prevent a humanitarian crisis occurring in America."

Original article on Live Science.
A "Janus cat," born with two faces, meows from two mouths in a new video from Chongqing, China.

The cat, according to Newsflare, died at 2 days old. A short life span is common for these two-faced cats, which have a condition called diprosopus. The name "Janus" refers to the similarly two-faced Roman god.

Occasionally, diprosopus is caused by a case of conjoined twinning in which just one head forms, said Niels Pedersen, a professor emeritus at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. More often, Pedersen told Live Science, the problem is a hiccup in a gene that makes a protein named "sonic hedgehog." The protein is important in the embryonic development of the skull and face, as well as the extremities. It's named after the video game hedgehog for quirky reasons: Previously discovered, related proteins, had been named after different species of hedgehogs because of their spiky shapes. The discovery of the sonic hedgehog gene happened just around the time the Sega game hit the U.S. (The researcher who named it had kids who were aficionados.) [The 12 Weirdest Animal Discoveries]

Mutations in the sonic hedgehog gene are partially responsible for the loss of limbs in snakes, for example, and changes in the gene have been implicated in the evolutionary divergence between species.

In diprosopus, the sonic hedgehog protein is overexpressed, meaning the body makes too much of it. (Other genetic mutations might cause diprosopus, too, feline geneticist Leslie Lyons told National Geographic in 2014 (opens in new tab); it would take genetic testing to prove the culprit.) Diprosopus can happen in animals other than cats, with reported cases including pigs and chicks. In humans, diprosopus is incredibly rare, with one 2014 case report in the Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology pegging the rate at between 1 in 180,000 and 1 in 15 million births. At the time it was published, that paper  which reported on the stillbirth of a 26-week-old fetus with two complete faces  there had been only 35 previous cases reported in the medical literature. Most fetuses with diprosopus develop other anatomical problems, according to that case study. In the 2014 case, the fetus also had anencephaly, meaning that the brain and skull were underdeveloped.

Only a few human infants with diprosopus have survived past birth, the researchers wrote. The longest-living child with the condition, Lali Singh, was born in 2008 in Delhi and survived for two months. In 2014, a set of conjoined twins named Faith and Hope Howie were born in Australia with one head, two faces and two brains, each joined to a single brain stem and body. The babies lived for 19 days.

Like the unfortunate kitten in China, most animals with diprosopus are either stillborn or can't survive long outside the womb. The most famous exception was Frank and Louie, a Janus cat that lived a remarkable 15 years. Frank and Louie died of cancer in 2014, two years after claiming a Guinness World Record as the world's oldest Janus cat.

Original article on Live Science.
Ram Nath Kovind Biography

About Ram Nath Kovind

Ram Nath Kovind, the former governor of Bihar, has been elected as the 14th President of India. Kovind was nominated as the presidential nominee by the NDA, the ruling arty of India. In the elections, Ram Nath Kovind defeated Meira Kumar. While Kovind bagged 65.65 percent of the total votes, Meira Kumar got just 34.35 percent of the votes. Kovind is a Dalit leader who hails from Uttar Pradesh.

Kovind may have kept a low profile during his stint as a Rajya Sabha Member, but he has had an illustrious career wherein he has worked towards the upliftment of the marginalised society, especially the Dalits. Colleagues in Parliament remember him as a gentle, soft-spoken and yet a focused person.

Before entering the world of politics, Kovind practiced as a lawyer in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court for 16 years. He made a debut into the world of politics when he was elected as the Rajya Sabha Member from Uttar Pradesh in 1994.

Kovind served for two consecutive terms as a Rajya Sabha MP from 1994 till 2006. During his appointment as the member of Rajya Sabha, Ram Nath Kovind has had the honour of representing India in New York as well as addressing the United Nations General Assembly in October 2002.

Kovind has always worked towards uplifting the lives of the marginalised society. During his parliamentary tenure Kovind emphasised on the requirement of basic infrastructure for education in the rural areas. He helped in the construction of school buildings in Uttar Pradesh as well as Uttarakhand under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme. Kovind has also been an active member of parliamentary committees like Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Tribes, Parliamentary Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, etc.

He has also held the office as a member of the Board of Management of Dr. B.R Ambedkar University, Lucknow, and Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata.

Humble Beginning

Ram Nath Kovind represents the rural, agrarian, and economically and socially underprivileged sections of the society.

Apart from belonging to the Dalit caste, Kovind has very humble beginnings. He is the son of a farmer and belongs to a lower middle class background. However, even at a young age Kovind knew the importance of education and armed himself with a Bachelors Degree in Commerce and an LLB from Kanpur University.

Family

Ram Nath Kovind is married to Savita Kovind and has two children  a son, Prashant Kumar and a daughter, Swati.

Career

After completing his LLB, Kovind proceeded to Delhi to prepare for the civil services examination. However, after clearing it in the third attempt, he opted out as he was selected for an allied service instead of IAS. He started practicing law. In 1971 Kovind was enrolled as an advocate with the bar council of Delhi. Kovind provided free legal aid to the weaker sections of the society including women, minority, as well as the poor under the Free Legal Aid Society in New Delhi.

Ram Nath Kovind became an advocate-on-record of the Supreme Court of India in 1978. He served as the personal assistant of the Prime Minister Morarji Desai in the period 1977-78.

Since then he has held other prestigious positions including that of the Central Government Advocate in the Delhi High Court from 1977 to 1979, Central Government standing counsel in the Supreme Court for more than a decade from 1980 to 1993. Kovind practiced in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for about 16 years until 1993.

Political Career

Kovinds journey in the political world began in 1991 when he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Since then he has been a loyal member of the party and even donated his ancestral home in Derapur to the RSS. As a member of BJP, Kovind served as the President of the BJP Dalit Morcha between 1998 and 2002, and President of the All-India Koli Samaj. He was also the national spokesperson of the party. Kovind contested from Ghatampur and Bhognipur (Uttar Pradesh) assembly constituencies on the BJP ticket but lost both the elections.

He was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP in 1994 and held this illustrious position for two terms till 2006. During his stint as the Rajya Sabha MP, Kovind has travelled to Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom and the United States on study tours.

Kovind was appointed as the Governor of Bihar on 8 August 2015 by the President of India, and since then he held the office till he resigned after being nominated for the office of the President of India. As the Governor of Bihar, Kovind has had a quiet innings but his non-confrontational conduct prompted the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has been battling the BJP in the state, to praise him for his exemplary work as the Governor of Bihar. During his stint as the Governor of Bihar, Kovind constituted a judicial commission to investigate irregularities in promotion of undeserving teachers, mismanagement of funds and appointment of undeserving candidates in universities, for which he received a lot of praise and accolades from all fronts.

Kovind As The President Of India

The Office of the President of India, barring a couple of episodes, has been non-controversial since India gained independence in 1947. Kovind, with a gentle temperament, affable nature, an in-depth knowledge of the Constitution of India, and organisational skills is certain to fit smoothly into the job. His exposure to global politics while he served as a Rajya Sabha MP will also come handy because as the President of India he will receive and interact with leaders from across the globe.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 25, 2017

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has vetoed a privacy bill that would have required app developers, ad networks and other online companies to obtain consumers' opt-in consent before collecting or disclosing information about their physical locations.

The Geolocation Privacy Protection Act, which would have been the first location-privacy bill in the country to be enacted, drew the support of more than two dozen organizations and tech companies, including search engine Duck Duck Go.

Business groups, including the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Internet Association (which represents many of Silicon Valley's largest companies), NetChoice (which represents ecommerce companies) and ACT, The App Association (which represents app developers and tech companies) had opposed the measure.

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The bill "would have stifled innovation in Illinois' tech industries, burdened app users, and given Illinois a bad reputation in comparison to other states," the Illinois Chamber of Commerce stated after Rauner's veto.

Earlier this month, a new group called the Illinois Data Security Alliance claimed in an online ad campaign that the bill "forces users to review additional complex disclosures and puts them at risk of fraud."

Privacy advocates condemned the campaign as misleading. "It is impossible that a bill that would make companies be transparent about what they're doing with the information would put consumers at risk for fraud," Ari Scharg, a privacy lawyer who heads the advocacy group Digital Privacy Alliance, told MediaPost last week.

State lawmakers can override the veto, but doing so requires a three-fifths majority -- which comes to 71 votes in the House and 36 in the Senate. This spring, 69 House members and 33 Senate members voted in favor of the bill. It's not yet clear whether proponents will be able to convince at least five additional lawmakers to vote in favor of the measure.

Illinois wasn't the only state to consider new privacy laws this year. Legislation was introduced in at least 20 other states and two cities, including Seattle and Washington, D.C., and two municipalities in Pennsylvania. To date, Seattle appears to be the only locale that passed a new online privacy bill. That measure requires cable providers to obtain subscribers' opt-in consent before using information about their Web browsing for ad purposes.
by Sara Guaglione , September 25, 2017

New Republic has appointed J.J. Gould, former editor of The Atlantics site, as its new editor.

Gould succeeds Eric Bates, who joined the magazine in April 2016, but stepped down recently. Bates will remain at New Republic as editor-at-large. Bates has also accepted a position as visiting scholar at the Institute for Public Knowledge at NYU.

Win McCormack named himself editor-in-chief of the magazine shortly after he bought New Republic early last year. The editor of the magazine reports directly to him.

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Owners of New Republic usually get the title of EIC; Chris Hughes and Marty Peretz held the role.

Last year, McCormack stated that an editor for New Republic has to meld relevant investigative journalism, fact-based political analysis, and incisive cultural commentary, with a leavening degree of irony and humor, as well as stake out a philosophical position that is bold, coherent and meaningful.

In a statement today, he said Goulds extensive knowledge of history, strong commitment to independent journalism, and confident grasp of the dynamics of our current politics make him especially suited to become the New Republics next editor.

Gould is also a lecturer in history and politics at Yale University.

Before the seven years he spent at The Atlantic, Gould was an editor at the Journal of Democracy. He has also written for the Washington Monthly, The American Prospect, The Chronicle Herald, The European Journal of Political Theory and The Moscow Times.

New Republic publisher Hamilton Fish stated Goulds leadership at the TheAtlantic.com highlights his ability to bridge the gap between print and digital to deliver engaging, informative and thought-provoking journalism to wider audiences.

His editorial skills and experience in the new media environment will strengthen all aspects of our publication, Fish added.
Fat necrosis can affect any area of fatty tissue. However, it often occurs in the breast. Where there was previously fatty tissue, there may now be scar tissue or a cyst, which appears as a lump. Necrosis happens when fat cells become inflamed and die due to a lack of oxygen supply. When this happens, the oily contents of the fat cells that are no longer functioning replace the fatty tissue. In 70% of cases, there is no clear cause. However, it can result from: trauma or surgery

the use of blood thinning drugs

some infections and diseases

radiation therapy Areas of necrosis or oil cysts can feel like a round, firm lump, and there may also be dimpling, bruising, or changes in color on nearby skin. This can be worrying. However, fat necrosis and oil cysts are not cancerous. Fat necrosis can occur anywhere that fatty tissue is present. However, it commonly affects the breast. Around 2.75% of all breast lesions are due to fat necrosis. This article will look at how fat necrosis can affect the breast, what oil cysts are, and what to do if these conditions occur.

Symptoms of fat necrosis in the breast Fat necrosis in the breast may occur without symptoms. If symptoms appear, a person will usually notice lumps under the skin. These are often, but not always, around the areola, the part that surrounds the nipple. Fat necrosis and oil cysts are not usually painful. However, they can be. If a lump or oil cyst develops, it may appear as: a single smooth lump

several smooth, round nodules

fixed, irregular masses There may also be: changes in skin color

bruising

dimpling

thickening or retraction of the skin

nipple retraction

swelling in the lymph nodes Fat necrosis occurs in stages: The fat cells die and release their contents. The released oil forms a sac of greasy liquid, called an oil cyst. In time, calcium builds up around the outside, forming a hard lump visible on a mammogram. The body repairs the damaged tissue, and thicker scar tissue forms. The symptoms of fat necrosis do not usually show up immediately after a trauma or surgery. They can take weeks or months to appear. Fat necrosis in the abdomen, buttocks, arms, and legs Fat necrosis usually affects the breasts. However, it can occur anywhere there is fat tissue. In the abdomen, it can sometimes result in acute or sudden pain. In this case, it can affect the internal organs and visceral areas.

It can affect the buttocks after surgery to increase buttock size by transferring fat from elsewhere in the body.

the buttocks after surgery to increase buttock size by transferring fat from elsewhere in the body. Following a trauma, it can occur on the shins, thighs, and arms.

Fat necrosis and breast cancer According to the American Cancer Society , fat necrosis and oil cysts are not cancerous and do not increase the risk of breast cancer. However, the symptoms can resemble those of breast cancer. For this reason, a doctor may recommend testing and follow-up screening for breast cancer if a person seeks advice for a breast lump, even if it is most likely due to fat necrosis. Anyone who notices a new breast lump should seek medical attention, as it is important to rule out the possibility of breast cancer. Learn more about different types of breast lumps.

Diagnosing fat necrosis in the breast If anyone seeks advice for a lump in the breast, a doctor will most likely: ask about their health status and medical history

ask about their family medical history

ask about any recent events, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or an injury to the breast

carry out a physical examination

suggest an imaging scan to help identify if the lump is due to fat necrosis or another cause.

Scans and tests for breast fat necrosis Examples of the imaging tools a doctor may use include : Mammogram X-rays, such as mammography, can help identify areas of fat necrosis or an oil cyst. If fat necrosis is present, a mammogram may show: no change if it is in the early stage

a lump with a smooth border that appears to give off light

a collection of microcalcifications How changes appear can depend on the stage of necrosis. The image may also share features with scarring or a cancerous tumor. If the result does not clearly show fat necrosis, the doctor may recommend other tests. Breast ultrasound Ultrasound technology uses sound waves to re-create an image of the underlying tissues. Ultrasound can help identify cysts that are not fully solid and may have oily contents. Fat necrosis can show up in various ways on ultrasound, including: no change

changes in tissue just under the skin

a cyst or other mass

a solid mass

whether there is blood supply to a lesion, which could indicate cancer In some cases, ultrasound can show clearly if a person has an oil cyst due to fat necrosis. However, the results may not be specific enough to identify fat necrosis, in which case a doctor may recommend other tests. MRI MRI uses magnetic waves to produce images. It can help identify fat necrosis in the later stages and distinguish it from a cancerous tumor. However, it may not be able to show if early-stage changes are due to an oil cyst or fat necrosis. The result can vary depending on the level of inflammation. On a fat saturation image  a technique that focuses specifically on fatty tissue  an oil cyst most commonly shows up as a round or oval mass if fat necrosis is present. Sometimes, a doctor will recommend using intravenous contrast to make areas of fat necrosis show up more easily, although this is not always helpful. In some instances, more tests may be necessary to find out if changes are cancerous or not. Which imaging type is best? Breast fat necrosis may appear differently on the various imaging types. The choice of imaging technology may depend on the stage of fat necrosis. Some research suggests that: a mammogram most clearly shows calcifications

ultrasound more effectively shows oil cysts

MRI gives the clearest image of fat necrosis If the results are unclear, a doctor may recommend a biopsy, which involves taking tissue samples from the affected area and testing the cells for the presence of cancer. They may also recommend a CT scan if there is a possibility that cancer may be present. Learn more about a breast biopsy.

Treatment of fat necrosis in the breast An area of breast fat necrosis may remain unchanged or go away on its own. Often, no treatment is necessary. However, if an area of fat necrosis gets bigger or is otherwise troublesome, a doctor may recommend: Needle aspiration To treat a fluid-filled mass, the doctor can insert a thin, hollow needle into the cyst to drain the contents. This will usually cause the lump to disappear. If a biopsy is necessary, the doctor may aspirate the contents at the same time. Surgery In the case of a solid mass or more extensive changes, a doctor may recommend surgery. Options include : removing the lump surgically, possibly with a fat graft from elsewhere in the body

debridement, which involves removing the affected tissue

further reconstruction, possibly with a different technique, such as an implant

surgery on the other breast to improve symmetry

Outlook The outlook for breast fat necrosis and oil cysts is good. They are not cancerous and do not increase the risk of cancer. They often go away without treatment or remain unchanged. However, some can increase in size. Although fat necrosis is benign, a doctor may recommend regular screening to ensure they have correctly identified a lump as fat necrosis, because it can be difficult to distinguish oil cysts from other types of lumps.
New research recently published in the journal NeuroToxicology suggests that excessive exposure to air manganese might have adverse neurodevelopmental effects; children exposed to the metal were found to have lower IQ scores.

Share on Pinterest Manganese is an essential mineral, but too much of it may have neurotoxic effects.

The new study  which was led by Dr. Erin Haynes, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio  was carried out among the residents of East Liverpool, OH.

East Liverpool is a city whose levels of air manganese have been exceeding those recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for over a decade. In fact, a 2010 report from the EPA confirmed that airborne manganese concentrations consistently exceeded their guideline values at all monitoring locations.

Manganese is an essential mineral, key to brain development and growth. But the EPA warn that it can be toxic at excessive exposure levels.

Manganese is often used to make steel and other alloys, batteries, fertilizers, and ceramics, among other things.

The EPA refer to studies that have found that chronic exposure to air manganese correlated with Parkinsons-like neurological changes, and living in areas with excessive levels of the metal has been linked to neurological deficits  especially in men over 50 years old.

Children and young adults are also at risk, the EPA caution, as excessive manganese may impact learning and behavior.

The residents of East Liverpool may be particularly vulnerable to the risks posed by manganese, given that the city is home to a waste incinerator and a manganese processor. For this reason, research into the potential effects of manganese exposure on the population was long overdue.
A suprapubic catheter is a type of urinary catheter. It empties the bladder through an incision in the belly instead of a tube in the urethra. A catheter usually includes a flexible tube that drains the urine and a place for the urine to empty into, such as a bag. A person may need a catheter if they cannot urinate on their own. There are several different types of catheters. The one most frequently used is known as a urethral catheter. It is inserted directly into the urethra, where urine naturally comes out of the body. A suprapubic catheter may be an option for people who cannot have or do not want a urethral catheter. This type of catheter has some advantages over a urethral catheter, but it also needs special care to avoid infections and other problems. Find out how this catheter works, when it is a good option, and how to care for it.

Uses Share on Pinterest Suprapubic catheters are not used as often as urethral catheters, but may be recommended if long-term use is expected. A suprapubic catheter offers an alternative to the frequently used urethral catheter. Suprapubic catheters may be used: when the urethra is damaged or injured

if the pelvic floor muscles are weakened, causing a urethral catheter to fall out

after surgeries that involve the bladder, uterus, prostate, or nearby organs

if the person is sexually active and needs a catheter for a longer period of time

for long-term use, as it may be more comfortable and easier to change than a urethral catheter Long-term use of suprapubic catheters is sometimes needed when the person: has a bladder blockage that cannot be corrected with surgery or other treatments

has incontinence that is causing skin rashes and irritation or making them worse

is terminally ill or severely impaired, making bed changes difficult or painful

How it works Inserting a suprapubic catheter requires a minor surgical procedure. People are given numbing medicine, or anesthetic, to manage any pain from the procedure. A surgeon makes a small cut in the abdomen, usually a few inches below the belly button. A suprapubic catheter does not come into contact with the urethra or genital area. The catheter has a small balloon at the end, and once the catheter is in place in the bladder, the doctor inflates the balloon. This balloon helps prevent the tube from falling out.

Risks and benefits Share on Pinterest There are various risks that a suprapubic catheter may pose. Any concerns should be discussed with a medical professional. Both suprapubic and urethral catheters have some risks. If bacteria get into the catheter and travel to the bladder, they can cause an infection. The infection can affect the urinary tract and bladder and can spread to the kidneys. This type of infection is known as CAUTI or catheter-associated urinary tract infection. CAUTIs can become serious, especially in those with weakened immune systems and other health conditions. A persons chances of developing an infection increase the longer the catheter is in place. An article in American Family Physician cautions against the long-term use of catheters unless absolutely necessary. Complications of long-term catheter use include: kidney inflammation

chronic kidney infections

kidney or bladder stones

sepsis, an extreme and life-threatening response to infection A report in Translational Andrology and Urology states that infections and complication rates are about the same for suprapubic and urinary catheters. But, the authors note, suprapubic catheters are often considered to be more comfortable and that people prefer them. This is because: Suprapubic catheters may be easier for a person to change and clean for long-term use.

A cut in the belly may be more comfortable than having a catheter placed in the urethra, especially if the person is in a wheelchair.

A person may feel more confident with a belly incision instead of a device placed in the genital area. Another study also found that people prefer the suprapubic catheter over a urethral one overall. However, the authors state, they found a significant mortality rate associated with the insertion procedure in high-risk people. People at high-risk may have other medical conditions or previous surgeries that make them more likely to develop complications. The procedure may be simple but some patients and their conditions are not, the authors state. For this reason, the study authors recommend: careful screening of people before inserting a suprapubic catheter

good medical care after the procedure

giving antibiotics through a vein during the procedure to help prevent bacterial infection

Care steps for a catheter Suprapubic catheters can often be managed at home, either by the individual or a caregiver. Caring for a suprapubic catheter takes some time and requires careful attention to cleanliness. Following a few steps from the beginning will help people get off to a good start with the catheter and minimize the risk of infection. Get instructions and ask questions Share on Pinterest Receiving professional instruction on how to care for a catheter is important. A doctor should provide clear direction, and be able to answer any questions. Before going home with a suprapubic catheter, it is crucial for people to understand how to care for it to help avoid problems if they or a family member will be caring for it. People should talk with their doctor and get any questions answered. Get handouts or have someone write down each step that is needed. This early learning is key to success, according to a report published in Home Healthcare Nurse. Questions that may be helpful to ask include: How can the catheter be kept clean? Thorough hand-washing before and after touching the catheter is vital.

Thorough hand-washing before and after touching the catheter is vital. How often should the catheter be changed? This will vary based on the persons medical condition and how long they need the catheter.

This will vary based on the persons medical condition and how long they need the catheter. What are the steps necessary to changing the catheter? Steps such as using lubricant on the tube, emptying or draining the device, and attaching a new bag may need to be reviewed.

Steps such as using lubricant on the tube, emptying or draining the device, and attaching a new bag may need to be reviewed. What kind of care is needed for the insertion site? People often go home with a wound dressing that may need to be kept in place until the wound has healed.

People often go home with a wound dressing that may need to be kept in place until the wound has healed. When can the person take a shower or bath? Showers are usually recommended with gentle cleansing and soap, but baths and hot tubs are often not advised.

Showers are usually recommended with gentle cleansing and soap, but baths and hot tubs are often not advised. How much fluid should the person drink? The user may benefit from drinking extra water to keep the bladder and kidneys flushed out, which can lower the risk of a urinary tract infection. Get necessary supplies If a person needs a suprapubic catheter long-term, they will need certain supplies. Discuss what these supplies might be with the doctor or nurse before going home. The person may get a prescription for some of the extra catheter supplies and can purchase them at a medical supply store or pharmacy. Supplies may include: extra catheter tubes and bags

sterile cleaning solution

disposable gloves

sterile lubricating gel that helps to insert the catheter

prescribed medications Know the signs of infection The signs of a catheter infection include: redness or tenderness around the cut in the belly

feeling an urgent need to urinate

pain while urinating

cloudy or discolored urine

fever greater than 104F The risk of infection can be significantly reduced by washing hands with soap and water for 30 seconds before and after changing, emptying, or handling the catheter. Signs of an infection require medical care. If any appear, one should call a doctor or go to the nearest emergency room.
A new study confirms the link between inflammation of the brain and the prevalence of suicidal thoughts in people diagnosed with major depression. This is the first study of its kind to measure relevant biomarkers in living individuals.

Share on Pinterest Researchers point to brain inflammation as a possible factor in suicidal ideation.

Major depression is a very common mental condition, with 6.7 percent of all adults in the United States having had at least one severe depressive episode in 2014 or 2015.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is also currently the leading cause of years spent with disability worldwide.

Some people diagnosed with major depression experience suicidal thoughts, which may result in suicide attempts. In the U.S., suicide is the 10th leading cause of death. Now, researchers wonder whether or not suicidal ideation in people with major depression may be linked to abnormal inflammation of the brain.

Dr. Peter Talbot and other researchers based at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom have conducted a study testing the levels of a biomarker associated with brain inflammation in the systems of people diagnosed with clinical depression.

The scientists findings were reported in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

This paper is an important addition to the view that inflammation is a feature of the neurobiology of a subgroup of depressed patients [] with suicidal ideation, says journal editor Dr. John Krystal.

This observation, he continues, is particularly important in light of recent evidence supporting a personalized medicine approach to depression, i.e., that anti-inflammatory drugs may have antidepressant effects that are limited to patients with demonstrable inflammation.
While a number of studies have suggested that marijuana may be effective for reducing seizures, new research cautions that potent and synthetic forms of the drug have the opposite effect. Share on Pinterest Researchers suggest that the use of potent cannabinoids have the potential to trigger seizures. Researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan found that natural tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)  the psychoactive chemical in marijuana  and the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 caused seizures in mice. Study leader Olga Malyshevskaya and colleagues say that their findings  which are published in the journal Scientific Reports  should serve as a public alert to the potential harms caused by high-potency and synthetic marijuana. While marijuana remains that  most commonly used illicit drug  in the United States, it is becoming increasingly legalized in individual states for medicinal purposes, recreational purposes, or both. There has been increasing research for the use of marijuana  particularly a cannabinoid in the drug called cannabidiol (CBD)  in the treatment of seizures in patients with epilepsy, though a debate surrounding its efficacy continues. The new study from Malyshevskaya and team suggests that general use of high-potency marijuana  that is, marijuana that contains high amounts of THC  may actually trigger seizures. The research also found that seizures could be prompted by JWH-018, which is a manmade cannabinoid that is the primary component of the synthetic marijuana known as spice.

Seizure frequency higher with JWH-018 The researchers came to their findings by analyzing the brain activity of male mice after they received THC or JWH-018. THC was given to the rodents in doses of 10 milligrams per kilogram (the equivalent to around 0.8 milligrams per kilogram in humans) and JWH-018 was administered in doses of 2.5 milligrams per kilogram (the equivalent to around 0.2 milligrams per kilograms in humans). The team implanted electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyogram electrodes into the brains of the mice, which allowed them to monitor any seizure-related electrical activity in response to the drug compounds. The movement and behavior of the rodents was also monitored through video recording. The study revealed that the mice experienced seizures shortly after administration with both THC and JWH-018, though seizure frequency was significantly higher with JWH-018. Seizure-related brain activity persisted for 4 hours after the administration of each drug, the team reports, but brain activity had returned to normal by the next day. Interestingly, the researchers found that pre-treating the mice with AM-251  which is a compound that binds to the cannabinoid-1-receptor  prevented seizures in response to THC and JWH-018. As such, the team suggests that cannabinoid receptor antagonists could be useful for preventing seizures in the case of marijuana overdose.
Solving for a better future

Realize the full promise of quantum to solve some of society's largest, most complex challenges with Microsoft's advancements in next-generation quantum computing devices.

Azure Quantum takes a comprehensive approach to delivering all the technology needed to enable commercial impact by innovating in parallel at all layers of the computing stack, including controls, software, and development tools and services. Now, Microsoft has all the building blocks of a topological qubita new and unique qubit that will be faster, smaller, and more reliable than other qubits. In time, topological qubits will power Microsoft's fully scalable, highly secure, next-generation quantum computer. Read more about this scientific discovery.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

African celebrated actor Van Vicker has added another tattoo on his skin, making it number two.

The Ghanaian actors first tattoo done in 2009 indicates his name, his wife and kids initials whilst the latest one is the popular Lion of Judah image.

In a chat with Mustapha Nii okai Inusah ( Nii Attractive) editor of ghanacreativearts.com after he dropped pictures and videos of his latest tattoo on his social media pages, he said that it is not necessarily the love of tattoos that made him get them on his skin.

I had my first tatoo done because my family is my life and it was one of the ways to show how treasured they are to me.

I have my wife and kids initials on my arm. It would interest you to know I had my sons initial tattooed before he was even born he said .

My second tattoo came about mainly to conceal a scare on my shoulder. What better tattoo to use than the lions head, which for me represents, Leo born, leadership, the Lion of Judah, Fierceness and Bravery.

His tatoo was done by Ghanaian tattooist Jeff Hendrix.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

LEGENDARY Ghanaian gospel artiste, Osomafo Yaw Sarpong, has received an honorary doctorate degree in Sacred Music from the Ecclesiastical Bishop Leaders Conference of Africa (EBLCA), an affiliate of the Kayiwa International University, Uganda.

At a colourful event held in Accra last Saturday, Mr Sarpong, who is celebrating 40 years of a blissful music career, was decorated with the title for his invaluable contributions to the development of the countrys gospel music industry.

His band, the Asomafo Band, was also presented with a plaque in recognition of its support to the gospel music icon.

PRISON PROJECT

Currently, Mr Sarpong is working on an initiative dubbed: The Prison Project with the aim to touching and transforming lives in the countrys prisons.

The project, which was launched on August 26 this year, seeks to establish music centres in all the prison facilities in the country to help rehabilitate the inmates.

He has signed a six-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Prison Service Board to allow the iconic gospel musician to implement the project.

We want to restore hope to prisoners through music. So in the next six years, the focus will be to build music centres across the prisons because there are talents among the inmates that need to be developed, Mr Sarpong told the Daily Graphic.

OTHER AWARDEES

Other personalities were honoured with the African Humanitarian Award for excelling in various fields of human endeavour.

Mr Oheneba Ntim-Barimah, an advocate of African medicine, won the award on health and community service, while Ms Elizabeth Akua Patterson was also celebrated for her role in girl-child education.

The Queen of the Mankesim Paramountcy in the Eastern Region, Nana Amazing Amissah-Arthur III, and a Development Chief of Tamale, Naa Gregory Arthur, each received a humanitarian award for contributing to development of chieftaincy and culture.

Lady Rev. Dr Abena Tay won the award on leadership, while the President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Mr Bice Osei Kufuor, won the music category.

The media personality award was presented to the General Manager of Unique FM, Mr Ebenezer Ogyawu.

DILIGENCE

In a speech read on his behalf, the Director of Awards and Honours at EBLCA, Prof. Tony Karbo, called for concerted efforts to tackle the development challenges facing the country rather than relying on external support.

He said what was more important was for the human and natural resources of the country to be properly tapped and channelled into critical areas of development.

He warned against negative perceptions and inferiority complex, saying that such tendencies stalled national development.

"Ghana, and for that matter Africa, has been a photocopier that always lives the way of the western world. It is time for leadership to lead the way to reverse that trend and look within for solution.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

Prolific music producer cum evangelist, Tolulope Baba Jide known as TBABZ is set to release a masterpiece duet Back To You collaborating with renown Lagos based talents Yoyo and Tiwezi.

This uplifting song was sung by Yoyo and Tiwezi, with their sonorous vocals and content on a well produced instrumental by TBABZ.

Am sure your heart will be tuned to the throne of Grace.

It doesnt matter the burden you are carrying, Christ said Come unto me, all ye that labour and heavy Laden, and I will give you rest.

Irrespective Of How Far Youve Strolled From God, you can run back!

Am sure youd have this song on repeat for a long time. Enjoy and be blessed!
25.09.2017 LISTEN

Today, on the 2nd anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, Reality Ghana wishes to pledge its commitment to acting on the agreed goals. Reality Ghana is committed to support World Leaders in order to achieve Global Goals, No Poverty and Zero Hunger by 2030.

World leaders, on 25th September 2015, agreed to a plan for the planet and its people by adopting 17 SDGs. The SDGs are a universal call to act on the challenges our generation face e.g. rising poverty, food insecurity, increasing conflict and among others.As the president of Reality Ghana, I believe if all the 193 governments who signed the SDGs hold to their commitments, the results will be extraordinary.

I want to use this medium to call on the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo, to use his office in the capacity as the Co-Chair of Eminent Advocates of SDGs to help ensure Ghanas Sustainable Development. I will also entreat the president to ensure that his Government Agrarian policies should be target based, to ensure everyone suffering from food insecurity and poverty feels the benefit of the policy.

On behalf of my team and our members at Reality Ghana, I wish to pledge uttermost support for the SDGs. Reality Ghana mainly, youth organization will ACT4SDGS by promoting initiatives in Agriculture to help create jobs, ensure food security and ending poverty.
Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations

Honourable Delegates,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to address the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly. I bring you warm greetings and good wishes from our President, H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo, and the entire Government and People of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Allow me to first congratulate the President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly for assuming this role, and for ably steering this august body toward a successful gathering. This years session also coincides on International Peace Day.

Yesterday, we observed the International Day of Peace. A day that called for togetherness and solidarity with those who have been forced to flee their homes and those who leave home to seek a better life. The theme of this years General Assembly, speaks of peace and a decent life in a sustainable planet. The similarity in focus, goes beyond coincidence to acknowledge that the pursuit for peace, decent life, respect, safety and dignity is a global need yet elusive for hundreds of millions of people in the world today.

From Syria to the Central African Republic, from the Rohingya people of Myanmar to the people of Libya, the number of protracted and new conflicts remains unacceptably high. The Somali people have for many years been the victims of war, famine and poverty, which has seen them displaced internally, while others made the perilous journey abroad. We therefore know too well, the necessity for others to open their doors to distraught and disillusioned people who just like us are looking for a safe and dignified living. I take this opportunity to thank all those who, even in challenging times, continue to uphold this spirit of oneness, of sharing and caring.

Mr. President,

Somalia is rising and we are determined to stay the course. Our aim is to contribute positively to the progress of our region, our continent and the world. Despite enormous challenges we are, among others, improving security, re-establishing law and order and conducting the necessary political and socio-economic reforms. The progress achieved so far, is because the Somali people have embraced a new dawn and our relentless partners continue to walk with us in our journey towards peace and prosperity. We will continue to formulate measures to strengthen Somalias progress including in revenue generation, however, there are some serious challenges beyond the control of the Somali government. Debt relief would have the effect of unlocking concessional financing, attracting foreign investment and providing an opportunity that is critical to sustaining our reform efforts and consequently reinvigorate our economy. We are already working with International Financial Institutions towards this objective and through this forum, seek your support.

Mr. President:

Terrorism remains one of our pressing challenges, with its repercussions felt globally. As such, our unity in addressing this scourge, collectively and sustainably, is critical. No effort should be spared in neutralizing the growth and influence of international terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda who as we know, are key influencers of localized terrorism. Efforts to step up military interventions against such groups should be re-doubled. In Somalia, we have made significant strides, which have weakened the capability of Al-Shabaab. In this regard, I would like to thank AMISOM for their sacrifice, unfailing support, dedication and solidarity in the fight against Al-Shabaab. To ensure the sustainability of such gains, we are focused on strengthening the military capacity of our national security forces. However, the arms embargo imposed against Somalia is a severe limitation towards this objective. The Federal Government of Somalia will continue to work with the Security Council and relevant actors on our roadmap towards lifting the arms embargo.

Poverty and lack of education and livelihood opportunities remain contributing factors to the growth of violent extremism. Across the world, disillusioned youth are at heightened risk of exploitation by criminal networks, including terrorists. The urgent need to invest in education, skills building and livelihood opportunities for our youth is crucial. Addressing these key strategic elements to counter terrorism is an enormous task, which requires a holistic approach and resources to match. We continue to call upon friends of Somalia to help us in this important undertaking.

Mr. President,

We cannot talk about a sustainable planet without demonstrating commitment to make this world livable for ourselves and the future generation. Somalia is one of the countries ravaged by a vicious cycle of man-made and natural disasters created directly by environmental degradation. Rains are scarce, leading to crop failure and death of livestock, which subsequently leads to drought and famine. Currently the humanitarian situation of millions of Somalis remains fragile as the bite of the current drought, which still threatens to develop into famine, continues. Our National Development Plan stipulates a clear and realistic roadmap to breaking this vicious cycle. However, Somalia, and many other countries who are on the receiving end of climate change are unable to find the resources required to tackle this ever-growing problem. In this regard, we urge all member states to continue improving Paris Climate Agreement which has the potential to mitigate the effects of climate change. Similarly, developing countries such as ourselves need investment in long term initiatives including infrastructure development, water conservation, innovative food and livestock production and creation of livelihood opportunities.

Mr. President,

We need to get better at streamlining global development and aid structures, especially for fragile states. We need to revisit the prevailing paradigms and take bold and innovative steps to improve this architecture. The New Deal Engagement in Fragile States, agreed in Busan South Korea in 2011, was certainly a great step in that direction. Somalia fully embraced this agreement. Yet with all its strength, the New Deal for Fragile States needs improvement. That said, the mutual accountability principles embedded in the framework are exactly what fragile countries like us need. Often times, pledges are made, only to be neglected later. That should not happen as fragile countries rely on such support to rebuild their state. Conversely, development partners are often frustrated with the weak transparency and accountability institutions that exist in fragile countries. That is a legitimate concern, and we as fragile nations need to do better by tackling corruption and plugging leakages.

Somalia has recently taken bold steps to address corruption. The Anti-Corruption Bill, critical for putting in place measures for good governance and accountability has been approved by the cabinet and tabled for enactment by parliament. The leadership of mycountry has also reiterated its zero tolerance to corruption.

Also relating to funding, we must find predictable funding for non-UN peacekeeping missions. This is particularly true for AMISOM in Somalia. For over a decade, they have registered tremendous success yet they continue to operate in uncertainty of funding each year. We believe that investment in peacekeeping is a worthy investment in peace-building and state-building and we have seen the dividends of this investment in Somalia. I look forward to engaging our partners on this matter in the coming weeks and months.

Mr. President, Distinguished Delegates, Excellencies:

A fundamental element of peace-building and state-building is how any country treats its marginalised and the voiceless. Women are crucial in decision making and investment in society. In spite of our many challenges, Somalia has made significant steps in this regard. During the 2016 election, the number of women in our bi-cameral Parliament increased from 14 percent to 24 percent. Although we missed our 30 percent target, we did improve markedly from a few years ago.

Six months ago, when I was forming my Council of Ministers, I appointed six women to my Cabinet. They hold some of the most important portfolios in our nation, including trade and industry, health, youth and sports, women and human rights and humanitarian affairs. In Somalia, women played an instrumental role during our worst times. In addition to being mothers and wives, they dominate the informal economy. Many living as refugees and migrants remain the lifeline of their families through remittances sent to Somalia.

Similarly, youth are vital to peace-building and state-building. The number of youth in our Parliament has increased exponentially. And I have also appointed a number of very young people to key cabinet positions. One of them, Abbas Siraji, was tragically killed in May this year. He was a beacon of hope for Somalias young people. Having grown up in the worlds largest refugee camp in Kenya, he worked hard, studied, and worked for various UN agencies. I appointed him to the Minister of Public Works and Reconstruction at age 31. Although he is no longer with us, his appointment spurred the potential of thousands of young people across the country. He showed them that, life in the refugee camps, as harsh as it was, didnt mean the end of hope.

Distinguished Delegates, Excellencies:

One of the core tenets of this United Nations is human rights.

We are working hard to ensure the respect for human rights of all people. The establishment of institutions such as the national human rights commission that is mandated to protect and promote human rights will be a significant step towards in this direction. Vital legislations on human rights such as the soon to be approved Sexual Offences Bill, provide the tools to fight impunity of sexual perpetuators. Even though we are fond of our traditions, it should never be a reason to condone impunity and my government is determined to find ways to harmonise our traditional dispute resolution and our conventional justice system in a manner that respects the human rights of its people.

Mr. President,

The United Nations continues to the worldsmost important common platform for nations to develop and strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations. It is a core UN principles for states to respect each others political independence sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is a principle that should be promoted and upheld at all times, especially when engaging with fragile state such Somalia.

Mr President,

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to add my voice to the reform process of the United Nations. This organization has worked for peace and stability for decades and I strongly believe that the Secretary Generals reform agenda will most certainly lead to a far responsive and dynamic institution. As a country that has greatly benefited from the UN system, we have also seen that it can improve its overall efficiency.

With that, I would like to conclude by onceagain reminding all of us, that we must redouble our efforts to focus on peace and decent life for a sustainable planet and that will take a collective recognition that, what happens in one corner of the world impacts another corner of the world.

Thank you, and may Allah bless you all.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

From far away in the distant land of Australia, the news of the merciless slaughter of innocent Ghanaians in pursuit of justice in recent times sent shivers down my spine. The much-publicised murder of Major Mahama is a most despicable act deserving of condemnation, and worthy of the public attention it received.

Nowhere in a modern democracy such what is practised in Ghana will people have the dexterity to take human life without fear of recrimination. But such has been the Ghanaian society for some time given the occasional rumours of instant justice.

These killings strike at the very heart of humanity! Never again should any Ghanaian suffer this fate regardless of their guilt or otherwise. In any case, the Judicial system is the sole institution responsible for the administration of justice in Ghana, as in other democracies.

The fight against mob justice can only be won if, and only if every Ghanaian, regardless of sex, age, religion, status, family background, occupation, level of education and class is deemed as important as any other. The outpouring of public sympathy to Major Mahamas family in the wake of his death is unprecedentedly, as is the state support in granting a state burial.

These honours are most deserving of a gentleman who dedicated his life to the protection of the country and its people. However, the lack of adequate attention, the absence of public sympathy in the aftermath of the lynching of an alleged witch at Pelungu in the Upper East region is worrying. Every single case of mob justice deserves as much public attention; no one knows who will become the next victim.

To win a battle, one must know the enemy; the enemy in this instance, is mob justice. State institutions, the media and civil society organizations must work together to demonize this enemy of instant justice if the country is to win this battle. Since the incident, little is heard about developments or measures intended to curb such acts in the future, and this could eventually enable people to return to the uncivilised killing of innocent Ghanaians quietly in communities, particularly, in remote rural areas.

The onus lies with Parliament and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to lead the way in the fight against the monster of mob justice. The enactment of a law criminalizing mob justice could be the beginning of the fight. This could help broaden the legal framework, and increase the number of charges that could be brought against anybody participating in instant justice.

In line with this, it will be most suitable to adopt earlier suggestions to consider the enactment of Major Mahama Law to fight instant justice. Not only will the naming of the law be most befitting of the slain soldier, but also serve the purpose given the public attention his murder generated. What remains will be for the NCCE to sensitize people about the law on mob justice.

For the professionalism exhibited by Major Mahama in not fighting the onslaught of civilians against him, he will live long in the memory of Ghanaians. In an era of heightened political polarization in Ghana, the death of Major Mahama united the country on a just course. We must harness this unity for the benefit of all Ghanaians, and in the process, ensure that no one in Ghana will ever again suffer the fate of instant justice.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

The newly elected President of Hirshabelles Mr. Mohamed Abdi Waare supports the Somali Federal Governments position to stay neutral in the dispute between Qatar and the Saudi-UAE governments.

President Waare said that the Federal Government has the sole authority to speak on foreign affairs matters, and it is inappropriate that some regional state governments have taken the decision to disobey the Federal government in interfering.

The issue of foreign relations is for the central government and the only role the regional states has in this context is to contribute their recommendations to the central government, he noted.

In his interview with VOA Somali, President Waare called on the regional administrations to respect the provisional federal constitution that clearly defines the powers of the federal government and that of the regional states.

Jubbaland is the only remaining regional state that has not declared its position on this issue.
The Ghana Police Service has dispelled rumours of a supposed terror attack on Accra mall. According to the police there were reports on social media that the incident occurred at the mall on Sunday.

The Police this [Sunday] afternoon monitored information on social media that a group of terrorist had attacked the Accra mall.The police on receiving the information conducted a security checks on the mall and found the information to be false, a statement from the police and sighed by Director-General of the Public Affairs Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police, David E. Eklu added.

The police in the statement further cautioned persons behind such false information to desist from it since it has serious implications for the security of the whole country.

The police further assured that it is investigating to identify those behind the false information for necessary action to be taken.

Canada, UK issues terror attack alert in Ghana

The false terror report comes on the back of a terror alert the Canadian government issued to its citizens traveling to Ghana in August 2017.

There is a threat of terrorism. Terrorist targets could include shopping malls, government buildings, public areas such as bars, restaurants, hotels and sites frequented by Westerners. Be aware of your surroundings in public places, a notice posted by the Canadian government added.

The United Kingdom also in August added to Ghana's terrorism concerns with travel advice on its website indicating that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Ghana.

While there have been no recent attacks in Ghana, terrorist groups in west Africa have demonstrated their capability and intent by mounting attacks in 2015 and 2016 in Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Mali, targeting beach resorts, hotels, cafes and restaurants visited by foreigners, UK stated on its website.

Security services in Ghana in April 2016 warned of such terror attacks on the country but later said enough measures had been put in place to avert terrorism.



By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
25.09.2017 LISTEN

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (Ghana), Mrs Abiola Bawuah, has been adjudged the Marketing Woman of the Year 2016 at the 28th National Marketing Performance Awards.

The awards organised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) was held on Saturday 23, September, 2017 at the State Banquet Hall in Accra.

The awards which remains one of the most competitive and prestigious events to reward marketing excellence in the country, is in recognition of Mrs Bawuah's excellence in strategic marketing in the areas of Market Insights, People Management, Corporate Reputation Management, CSR, and Sound Marketing Management that set her apart as a corporate achiever for the year 2016.

The CIMG 2016 event saw some 35 awards handed to organisations and individuals for excellence and extraordinary work done in the year.

She received a plaque and a citation.

Although, humbled by the award, this did not come to her as a surprise, as a challenging 2016 business year, saw the United Bank for Africa (UBA Ghana) MD develop new strategies such as the 'Awoof' deposit mobilisation campaign to increase savings which reflected heavily in the banks bottom-line.

In less than a year of joining UBA, she was elevated to the position of MD/CEO, with two firsts: being the first indigenous CEO of a Pan African Bank and the first female CEO to take the helm. This is a position she has held until today and under her tenure, Mrs Bawuah has seen the profits of the bank increase by incredible margins.

The bank's deposits within the four years she has been at the helm of affairs rose from GHC350 million to the GHC1billion mark through 2016 deposit figures of over GHC3billion.

In 2015, as the MD/CEO of UBA Ghana, Mrs Bawuah was adjudged the overall Banking and Finance Female Personality of the Year 2014 at an awards ceremony held at the International Conference Centre in Accra.

The awards ceremony also saw her being awarded female banker of the year; while UBAs innovative female tailor- made product for discerning women, RUBY, was adjudged the product of the year. The awards were organized by the National Women in Finance Magazine (NWIF).

Commenting on the CIMG 2016 awards, Mrs. Abiola Bawuah, thanked the staff and management of UBA for their enormous support since taking office.

The celebrated banker was quick to mention her board as great part of her success as she continued to shower praise on them.

Our energy has been revived from the top. There is a new direction and already we have begun restrategising from 2018 through to 2020. We will continue to support our customers, build our employees who are our most prized asset and partner government projects as we have done in the past she said.

Mrs Bawuah was recently celebrated by Woman Rising, Ghanas leading network of Women Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders who released a comprehensive & inspiring list of the Top 50 Women Corporate Leaders in Ghana featuring 50 leading corporate women from various business sectors aimed at recognizing the outstanding achievements of women in the development of the Ghanaian economy and inspiring the next generation of globally minded women business leaders.

She was adjudged in the non-ranked top 50 female women in Ghana in that award.

Mrs. Bawuah comes with enormous experience in retail banking and marketing. She holds a BSc in Actuarial Science from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Legum Baccalaureus (LLB) with honors from the University of London, a diploma in Marketing from GIMPA and an EMBA (Finance) from the University of Ghana and also has numerous leadership qualifications from Harvard Business School, Columbia, University of New York, INSEAD and Institut Villa Pierrefeu in Switzerland.

UBA is a full service financial institution that offers a plethora of unique banking products and services, based on which our dear customers are being delighted. As Africa's global bank, UBA Ghana has developed a branch footprint and delivery network that has ensured that the Bank's services are always within the reach of its valued customers.

In line with the Banks positioning statement and strategic intent, UBA Ghana has a footprint of 26 fully networked branches, two agencies and over 50 ATM's spread across Accra, Tema, Tarkwa, Tamale, Takoradi, Kumasi, Tarkwa and Aflao.

Instructively, UBA Ghana, herein referred to as UBA, is a subsidiary of the United Bank for Africa Plc which is one of Africas leading financial institutions offering services to more than 14 million customers with over 1000 branches and customer touch points and robust online and mobile banking platforms in 19 African countries as well as presence in the United Kingdom, The United States of America and France.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

CAVNET Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Wa in the Upper West Region on Thursday trained and mentored over five hundred students across the Upper West and Northern Regions as part of a two-day event to mark the National Volunteer Day in Ghana.

National Volunteer Day (NVDay) which has over the years been marked on 21st September is geared towards encouraging Ghanaians to take up the attitude of Volunteerism.

The Peer Mentorship program was held in Wa and Tamale on September 21.

A team of 23 volunteers mentored children from the the Child Support Home Orphanage in Wa and students of the Business College International in Tamale.

Volunteers took the students through leadership skills, building self confidence, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and on reproductive health program.

The aim of the mentorship program according to the Executive Director of CAVNET Ghana, Issah Adil, was to empower girls and provide them with the skills and tools to make positive choices in order to achieve success.

Mr Adil added that the mentorship and training program is to impact lives of students and contribute to the development of communities in the two regions.

Last year, CAVNET Ghana organised a similar event to train over 250 children through its practical ICT Training at Piisi, a community in the Wa Municipality.

CAVNET Ghana also held practical ICT training for students in Wa on Saturday September 23 to introduce computers and ICT tools to students in Biihi a community in the Wa Municipality who do not have access to computers.

The Executive Director of CAVNET Ghana, Issah Adil, encouraged individuals to volunteer and contribute their quota to the development of the nation.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

It is no exaggeration to state that the unresolved public discourse on whether if we have a founder or founders, in our long, albeit heartrending journey to independence is becoming extremely dreary and irritating.

To be fair, though, the chivalrous enthusiast Dr Nkrumah's foresightedness and patriotism towards the attainment of independence cannot be overlooked anyhow.

To digress momentarily, historically, the patriots were the loyalists, colonists who remained loyal to England and King George. For the patriots, there was no alternative but to gain independence from England, the Mother Country.

In that regard, they worked strenuously to bring those men who were on the fence or neutral into their brood, knowing that they needed to build a massive support base. Patriots were masters of propaganda, as they composed literature to spread the cause of American nationalism.

Take, for example, Thomas Paine, a patriot and writer, shared the sentiment of his fellow man in a famous pamphlet called 'Common Sense.' His words echoed, 'These are the times that try men's souls,' and helped to incite the people's spirit against England.

Similarly, there were many great patriot leaders following the French and Indian War and leading up to the Revolutionary War because of the constant tensions between the colonists and British soldiers.

One such patriot was General George Washington, Commander-in-Chief. He led the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, which consisted of a patriotic crew of soldiers from all the colonies.

Apparently, Washington's bravery and ingenuity on the battlefield roused support from them, and they elected him the first President of the United States (Source: study.com).

Ironically, whilst the 'Nkrumaists' would only choose to project their Doyen's praiseworthy deeds, his obdurate antagonists would rather prefer to dwell largely on the infelicitous and somewhat catastrophic undertakings.

As a matter of fact, it would only take a remorseless polemicist to put up an argument against the well-acknowledged fact that Dr Nkrumah really did so much for Ghana; arguably, both good and bad.

But all said and done, the unresolved issue, however, is whether if Dr Nkrumah is the sole founder of Ghana or founded Ghana with other patriots.

It is, however, worthy of note that whilst some discussants hold a contestable view that such a public discourse is somewhat irrelevant and does not worth discussing, some reformists would rather like to see finality on the seemingly controversial issue.

Let me, however, state emphatically that this periodical does not seek to delve largely into the historical dimensions of the topic under discussion, but rather, it discusses who a founder really is, per the extant signification of the Queen's English morphemes.

Interestingly, the synonyms of the Queen's English word founder, according to the Oxford English dictionary, include, inter alia, originator, institutor, initiator, creator, organiser, instigator etc.

For the purposes of this periodical and based upon morphological interpretation, of all the above acceptations of who really is a founder, I will rather settle on 'originator' to advance my argument.

An originator or a founder is an individual who, on his/her own thought, initiates an idea and takes measures to bring that idea into reality or fruition.

The all-important question we should pose frankly then is: did Dr Nkrumah actually initiate the independence process?

In my humble opinion, if Dr Nkrumah did initiate the process, then, there should be no question whatsoever, as to whether if he is the founder of Ghana.

On the other hand, if Dr Nkrumah did not initiate the independence process in isolation, how could we then argue forcefully and somewhat inanely that he is the founder of Ghana?

Metaphorically, Dr Nkrumah took the final baton, then uncharacteristically dismissed the views of his compatriots and boldly skipped through the finishing line.

If that was the case, wouldn't be boundlessly unfair and incommodious to conclude that since Dr Nkrumah ran the final lap independent of the rest of the team, he did the job in isolation?

Of course, the notion that Dr Nkrumah met stiff opposition from his compatriots leading to the attainment of independence cannot be dismissed facilely.

But that said, it is worthy of note that working teams are synonymous with conflicts, and, the fact that there were unresolved conflicts among the team does not mean that Dr Nkrumah is the originator or founder of the entire process.

Apparently, it is well-documented that some true patriots initiated the idea of independence from the British long before the timeous arrival of Dr Nkrumah from the United Kingdom.

It is, however, worthy of mention that the umpteenth group back then, was the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), which was formed on 4th August 1947.

According to the available historical facts, the organisers magnanimously extended an invitation to the equally intrepid and patriotic Dr Nkrumah in London to take an important position as the paid General Secretary of the organisation.

To his credit, though, Dr Nkrumah graciously obliged and took the position. But as it is with any other working team, unexpected dissonance ensued and the members, unfortunately, parted ways.

Consequently, Dr Nkrumah, together with a few unhappy UGCC apologists broke away and formed the Convention Peoples Party (CPP).

While the other remaining members of the UGCC later formed a new party called the United Party (UP).

It is, however, worth stressing that the collective purpose was to attain the elusive independence from the colonial masters by any means possible.

The point of departure, though, was how to achieve the ultimate from the colonial masters.

And without sounding garrulous, Dr Nkrumah's approach appeared pragmatic and thus fast-tracked the process which contributed largely to the attainment of the elusive independence from the British on 6th March 1957.

Let us make no mistake, Dr Nkrumah took the final baton and estimably guided it to the finishing line in spite of the enormous exigencies along the way.

But all said and done, I do not want to buy the somewhat isolated thinker's viewpoint that Dr Nkrumah single-handedly founded Ghana (whatever that actually means), if we were to go by the existing significations of the Queen's English vocabulary called founder.

Based on the available evidence, it is crystal-clear that Dr Nkrumah could not have instigated the process from the United Kingdom, so what is all the farce about him being tagged as the sole founder of Ghana?

Let us, therefore, be honest, despite the profound divergence of opinions among the patriots back then, it is monstrously unfair and unconscionable to confer founding status to only Dr Nkrumah.

Without doubt, the deliberate and unpardonable refusal to celebrate the other patriots gives credence to the cliche: 'a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for'.

It is, therefore, boundlessly irrational for a few people to convene and decide who actually founded Ghana and then go ahead to celebrate only one contributor and shamefully and conveniently ignored the rest.

In sum, for the sake of fairness, we should rather celebrate the founding fathers' day and not the founding father's day.

K. Badu, UK.
Even before the various committees established to ensure the implementation of the Prof.KwesiBotchwey Committee report settle down for work, some party activists appeared to have strategized as to how to approach party work going forward.

I have on occasions encountered activists including extremely hard working ones of our party who indicate they have lately adopted a strategy as working smart instead of working hard by way of contribution towards the return of the National Democratic Congress [NDC] to power.

Quite curious working smart sounds, isnt it? I tried to ask what one means to be working smart.The explanation offered as I understand; issaddlingoneself with very little legwork or activism but buildingnetwork with those in the top echelons and positioning oneself for an opportunity in an event of victory.

Good to network and to position oneself, not so? Who then performs the legwork and how are we going to win an election, especially the 2020 without the real work?The new approach, borne outof past experiences - thatmost often than not those who toil most for the party in opposition are the neglected when the party annexes power.

Inasmuch as this is not a good enough or acceptable approach to party work, it seemed to be sounding good to some. I am just imagining the outcome having party folks claiming to be working smart.

Hard work does not break bones, the Human Resource Manager of my former firm, Vision Fund Ghana would always say butun-rewarding hard work can be demoralizing and affect the party.

The most dangerous mistake of any political force is to forget its roots. - J.J. Rawlings

Addressing neglect,more attractive NDC

Granted that the situation was not all gloom, many activists have benefitted in various ways to the extent of abuse of opportunities till todaybut how do we effectively tackle the issue of neglectas it seemed to threaten the NDCs resolve for 2020 elections?

Where is the partys base? It is a question always on the lips of Dr. David Percy, wonderingwhy the NDC would spend time chasing undecided voters instead of first consolidating its base.

Creeping amongst us; some youths understandably toil to reachleadership positionsbut forget why they get there, caring very little about those in the wildernesson whose back they rode; an attitude which has the tendency to kill attraction to the party.Political enthusiasts;young and old out there must find the NDC as the most attractive party to join and work for.

Musician Jewel Ackah who composed the NDCs anthem has been reported ill. He looked really unwell from the pictures. However, there is something I find worrying; the media every now and then had something to report on the musician which was casting the NDC in bad light even if not directly.

The media agreeably is doing its job as MrAckah equally needs assistance aside the numerous ones President John Mahama and the NDC keep providing him. There is however, something ceaselessly strikinganytime the musician speaks;that his association with the NDC killed his carrier.

Thatcomment, for me sounds unpleasant and requires attention and a comprehensively satisfactory action.This is not beyond the great NDC; otherwise, the media which the party cannot prevent will keep fishing for news about the musician for publication, leaving the party with the slur, no matter how remote. Remember, any Jewel Ackah news has the NDC anthem as the background song.

PrezAkufoAddo cannot be smarter

Party founder, H.E.Jerry Rawlings on his birthday this year had an early morning surprise; a private visit from President AkufoAddo. Politicians are not sworn enemies but hearing the news, I was left pondering over it for some time. Extreme partisanship and rivalry, yes butCeteris paribus, which political figure would ever get out of bed to hear the leader of a rival party; in this case the President of the land is at his gate and would refuse to let him in?At least, out of respect one would like to know the mission of the President.

Possible to imagine the reaction of a former President to such a surprise especially at a time there is the impression justifiably or not of not being wholly regarded by his own?

I am neither seeking to absolve anyone of blame nor lay same at someones door but looking among other things at the politics of it that President AkufoAddo will pay Papa J a surprise visit.

The AkufoAddo led Government, for me seemed to dread being under Papa Js microscope hence trying everything possible to avoid it, if possible divert attention. The NPP until today could say and describe our founder in all manner of forms.

According to President John Kufour, you do not become a victim of a dog attack while wielding a club. Today, we wield a club yet the dog,AkufoAddo government is playing smart seeking to damage us.

At this years Asofotufiam festival, former President Jerry Rawlings ceased the opportunity to state publicly what he would have done as a Sanitation Ambassador,has he powers. Think about it!

Just as former Black Stars goalie, Edward Ansah will always say as having a lot to offer the Black Stars and the rest of the national teams, so also is Papa J; always eager to contribute the best he can. NPP cannot be smarter than us; Papa Js searchlight must be redirected and for the betterment of Ghana.

Obsessed Martin Amidu, Blessed John Mahama

Lawyer Martin Amidu again found every means possible to link President John Mahama to the decision of the Kenyan Supreme Court. Will be cumbersome for anyone to convince me he is not obsessed by everything John Mahama for which he requires urgent attention, medical perhaps. Fortunately or unfortunately for him President John Mahama hardly hold grudges.

Hatred is the coward's revenge for being intimidated.  George Bernard Shaw

I am an avid respecter of order and venerability but it is very unfortunate; unacceptable; a case of morbid hatred to continually have not just an elderly but a bitter former running mate of our party always trying to denigrate the former President for no crime.

President John Mahamano doubt is such a blessed man considering his methodical and meteoric rise in politics; Member of Parliament [MP], Deputy Minister, Minister, Vice President, President. That is unprecedented not only in NDC but Ghanaspolitical history and beyond.

In such situations, what we the un-blessed and not-too-blessed including Martin Amiduhave to do is to seek an opportunity to go to the feet of the blessed to learn, not envy.

If you cannot beat them, follow[join] them, a popular quote of Jim Henson has it.

Candidate Prof John Mills decision in 2008 to pick John Mahama as his running mate had an element of divinity. I remember challenging Pollster, Ben Ephson through a text message on Ephsons file on Joy fm prior to the 2008 elections for underestimating John Mahamas worth to ProfMills ticket as if I had done any scientific work. His usual calm, Ben Ephson explained his work and by the end of the first round of the 2008 elections had his predictions reflecting the results.

The NDC and fine Prof Mills would have been languishing in opposition dungeon with diminishing election results if it had not dawned to dump a man who instead of adding to the ticket was taking away from it. Except Martin Amidu, all other NDC running mates added to the ticket.

Through the contribution of President John Mahama and many others including the grassroots had offered him ministerial appointments over which today he is so busy demanding gratuity. Many are nowhere near such benefits but are again back with thoughts; ideas to aid the NDC recapture power.

Mr Martin Amidu thinks after attempts to undermine the party, he could seek refuge in the shadows of founder. His Excellency, Jerry Rawlings remains as the founder and not going anywhere. Even in an unlikely event he chooses to exit, will be rejected. That is the difference between Founder and him.

It is not a crime to find a new love, the crimehowever, is to fake oblivion toall the rots, disregard for standard procedures, corruption, plain thieveryamong others by the AkufoAddo Government thatthe poor Ghanaianhave to wake up to on daily basis.

Kudos to Kenyan voters

In Kenya, it is self-restraint, maturity and patience of the people in the face of the Supreme Court decision to annulthe decision of 15 million people that deserves applause; not the four man decision.

Elections are expensive to run. Kenyas in nominal termsarguably is the most expensive globally; $500 million. The expenditure on Kenyas elections including the re-run is about 31% of the total amount spent on a flagship 470km rail system recently constructed. $500 million in itself could provide major transformation for the Kenyan people as it owns one of the worlds largest slums and battling droughts.

That necessary transformation has been denied out of someones belligerence, endorsed by some Justices. The effect of election violence is not lost on me but this election was lost which the vanquished realized after hitting the streets. Justices should not be legitimizing such things and be puttingan entire countryon edge. Some Kenyans describe the Supreme Court decision as a civil coup and that it is the Supreme Court that will take Kenya to war. I cannot agree more.

Kenyas educational system as I gathered is someway somehow in jeopardy as a result of the Supreme Court verdict. The pampered child,RailaOdinga appeared unconcerned by the consequences of that, sounding and acting uncooperative each other day. I only hope Kenya and Africa have not nurtured a monster for which we are fast becoming itsvictims.

Election observation, when hasthe assessment of Observer Missions become that supreme and over-riding? If it is, how come the NPP did not heed the verdict of the Observer Missions after the 2012 elections trashingbut went to the Supreme Court? Hippocrates!!!

Questionable verdict

The point must be made that President John Mahama never got any knife edge victory from the 2012 elections as Martin Amidu is having us believe. President John Mahama soundly defeated Nana AkufoAddo at the polls and followed it up in the Supreme Court.

What we perhaps never averted our minds to; a Supreme Court Judge who prior to the 2012 elections had sworn to a friend at a funeral in Nkawie that John Mahama would not win the 2012 elections got an opportunity on the Election Petition Panel. His rulings reflectedNkawie claims.

Also, when you have on the Panel Justice Jones Dotse who owns a law firm popularly knownas NPP chamber at Goil in Ho and whom prior to his higher appointment boasted of Ministerial offers made to him by former President Kufour and today not by an accident act as the Council Chairman of University of Health and Allied Sciences [UHAS], what else would one have expected from him as a panel member?

Much more critical and requiring attention, we have NPP financier, Kennedy Agyapong who says if President AkufoAddo dare sackthe CEO of BOST over corruption claims, he will reveal how NPP won the 2016 elections. True to word, the President is scared to act. That should be the focus of Mr. Martin Amidu if he indeed means well for Ghana.

But wait a minute, it is important forMr Martin Amiduto note that as principle and convinced as he is over his actions, the NDC Disciplinary Committee [DC] should not be struggling to locate him in handing over to him his summons letter. Being on-the-run, dodgy cannot be a good principle for some of us to emulate.
Women group in Asuasu a suburb of Adieso in Eastern Region has been charged to play key roles in the upbringing of their children education by Empowerment Aid, a Non- Governmental Organization based in Accra which seeks to improve the well-being of women and girls living in poor communities.

Empowering girls and women is the effective way to end poverty and build healthier, wealthier and educated communities. The NGO visited Asuasu as part of its educational tour embarking to ensure more girls are been enrolled to school.

Mrs Margaret Adomako, a member of Empowerment Aid (NGO) advised women to encourage their children and give more time and attention to their children education. When children are encourage it improves their capabilities, giving more time and attention also means; spending time with them, taking interest in their activities, guiding them for improvement and refraining them from bad attributes.

Nana Obiri Mantey, King of Asuasu community applauded the NGO for showing such a tremendous concern to his community. Nevertheless, Nana Obiri Mantey advised the women to help their children to improve their general habits and skills since women are the best source to teach children good habits. Women need to advise their children to sit to study, sleep in time, eat in time, and good communication and writing skills should also be taught to them.

However, the organization presented clothing, bags, books, school uniforms and shoes to the community and thanked them for their warmth reception.
According to Mr. Julius K. Nyerere, the immortalized Mwalimu and first postcolonial president of the Democratic Republic of Tanzania, it was the Anopheles Mosquito who, literally, wrote the most progressive and resplendent chapter of the history of the making or creation of Modern Ghana, and not lawyers, contrary to what President Addo DankwaAkufo-Addo would have Ghanaians believe (See  Noblest Chapters of Ghanas Modern History Written by Lawyers  Akufo-Addo Flagstaff House / Ghanaweb.com 9/11/17). President Nyerere was making a reference to the fact of Ghanas having been the first Sub-Saharan African nation to have reasserted her sovereignty from British colonial imperialism.

According to the late Tanzanian leader, it would be an egregious error for any Ghanaian leader, scholar or citizen to assume that Ghanaians had been endowed with an extraordinary genius of courage or wisdom and inventiveness that the citizens of the other so-called Black-African countries woefully lacked. Reading the report of Nana Akufo-Addos address to the National Conference of the members of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), I could not help but slap myself silly with uncontrollable laughter. The fact of the matter is that frontline lawyers like Mr. Joseph Ephraim Casely-Hayford and Dr. Joseph (Kwame Kyeretwie) Boakye-Danquah distinguished themselves more in their capacity as lambent-witted journalists than as leading legal lights, although an equally remarkable case could be made for their role in the latter professional enterprise as well.

As journalists, Messrs. Casely-Hayford and Danquah, and one flagrantly errs in omitting mention of the Rev. Attoh-Ahuma, these pioneering statesmen exponentially raised the civic consciousness of ordinary Ghanaian citizens on the need to hold their own proudly among the comity of global polities. But I also felt deeply scandalized by the implication that todays average Ghanaian lawyer, the shyster and criminal inventors of the morbid cultural regime of Judgment Debt, had anything worthwhile to do with the phenomenal achievements of immortalized luminaries like Messrs. Thomas Hutton-Mills  a Danquah mentor  KobinaSekyi, Kojo Thompson, AkilakpaSawyerr and Ebenezer Obetsebi-Lamptey, among a host of others.

The mention of Dr. Obed Asamoah sent me crashing off my chair and to the bare varnished wooden floor of my living room, if also because, as I vividly recalled, as the prime legal adviser, or Attorney-General, to strongman Jerry John Rawlings, the former University of Ghanas law school lecturer has done more to regress the legal and civic enlightenment of postcolonial Ghanaians than any other putative legal light. I also have absolutely no doubt in my mind that rascally and rogue lawyers like Messrs. TsatsuTsikata, AtoDadzie, Amaliba and the rest of the National Democratic Congress hoodlum pack have absolutely nothing to do with the salutary democratic dispensation being currently enjoyed by Ghanaian citizens.

Who can also doubt the front-row seat of Prof. Albert Adu-Boahen? Of course, Nana Akufo-Addo was dead-on-target to list the names of his own maternal uncle, Mr. William Paa Willie Ofori-Atta, the original proponent of free education in Ghana in the Twentieth Century (See Working Papers of the Gold Coast Youth Conference), as well as Messrs. B. J. daRocha, Joe Appiah and Victor Owusu, with Sgt. Adjetey, Cpl. Attipoe and Pt. Odartey-Lamptey bringing up the rear, as it were.

*Visit my blog at: kwameokoampaahoofe.wordpress.com Ghanaffairs
The Future of Ghana Publication is an annual project dedicated to searching for, showcasing and nurturing Ghana's leading talent from around the world.

The publication features Ghana's Top 30 Under 30 pioneering young talent impacting industries from around the world; including forward-thinking articles, interviews & features.

The initiative, now in its 3rd year, is part of Mefiri Ghana's effort to mobilize talents for the development of Ghana through its charity arm named as Future of Ghana.

The Future Of Ghana publication transcends stereotypes, highlighting the unsung contributions of future leaders and organizations that are making contributions to the Ghanaian and global economies.

It has been endorsed by prominent business leaders and government and distributed to over 7,500 readers around the world.

This year's Publication launched on March 6th, 2017. In addition to showcasing Ghana's Top 30 Under 30 pioneering youth from around the world, the Publication also features forward-thinking articles, features, and interviews highlighting key industries, innovators and organizations vision for Ghana and Africa.

The nomination process began in October 2016 and closed December 2016. The top 30 were independently selected by the 2017 Future of Ghana Judges. The selection was based on content provided by nominators and the guiding nomination criteria made public at the start of the campaign. The framework used to select the Top 30 U30 is guided by a constitution which can be read here

The Publication is entering its fourth year and is a benchmark that is helping to catalyze and encourage greater youth participation in the development of Ghana whilst acting as a visual source of inspiration for the emerging generation and a talent resource for investors and organizations. - Ben Anim-Antwi, Director of Communication, FOG.
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump issued a new travel ban on Sunday that saw North Korea, Venezuela and Chad among a list of eight countries cited for poor security and lack of cooperation with US authorities.

Trump ordered the new restrictions to replace an expiring measure that had locked him into political and legal battles over what critics alleged was an effort to block Muslims from entry into the country since he took office in January.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump said in a tweet.

Sudan, one of the six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list. Under the new restrictions, eight nations now have complete or partial blocks on travel to the United States.

Full travel bans were placed on nationals from North Korea and Chad, while the restrictions for Venezuela were limited to officials from a long list of government agencies and their families.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump said in a tweet

Other countries included in the ban were Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

In a presidential order, Trump said the action was needed to press the countries to improve procedures for identifying their nationals and sharing information with the United States.

In addition, he said, the list was created to "advance foreign policy, national security and counterterrorism objectives."

"These restrictions are both vital to national security and conditions-based, not time-based," a senior administration official said, noting that countries can be removed from the list if they can rise to US traveler vetting standards.

Officials stressed that while Iraq was not included on the new list, it was deeply deficient in security vetting of immigrants and travelers to the United States.

But Baghdad is a close ally and supports the presence of large numbers of US troops and civilian officials. But acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke recommended tough restrictions on travelers to the United States.

Not a 'Muslim ban'

Speaking on background, government officials said the addition of North Korea and Venezuela demonstrated that the measure was set on the basis of security and was not a "Muslim ban," as detractors have argued.

"Religion, or the religious origin of individuals or nations, was not a factor," a senior government official told reporters.

"The inclusion of those countries, Venezuela and North Korea, was about the fact that those governments are simply not compliant with our basic security requirements."

Chad was added to the list even though Trump's order called it "an important and valuable counterterrorism partner."

But the order noted the presence in Chad of several designated terror groups like the so-called Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.

Nevertheless, "Chad does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information," it said. And, the order added, the country failed on one "key" but unspecified criterion used in a broad review of countries for the travel ban.

North Korea, locked in a dangerous face-off with Washington over its nuclear weapons program, was added, the order said, because Pyongyang "does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect."

Venezuela, in a political and economic crisis due to its embattled, increasingly oppressive regime, was listed for a limited ban.

The order placed a prohibition on officials from state agencies responsible for weak security vetting and lack of cooperation with the United States, including the interior and foreign ministries and the main police and intelligence services.

The bans for the five countries from the previous 90-day order, which expired Sunday, would immediately continue under the new order. For North Korea, Chad, and Venezuela, the restrictions will be implemented starting October 18.
The Ghana Institute for Governance and Security (GIGS) has commended Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire for amicably settling the maritime boundary dispute through the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

The Institute notes in a release Sunday that the decision to go to ITLOS demonstrates the zeal of both countries to ensure a peaceful resolution of the matter that could have escalated into violence.

Although the ruling favoured Ghana, we believe the victory is for both countries and West Africa in general.

This is because, without their cooperation and commitment to a peaceful resolution, the adjudication process would have been frustrated, which could have created insecurity on the oil fields of the disputed area, said the statement signed by Executive Director, David Agbee.

Read the full statement below.

GIGS commends Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire on ITLOS ruling

The Ghana Institute of Governance and Security (GIGS) takes note of the ruling by the Special Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the maritime boundary dispute between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, which by unanimous decision declared Ghana victorious.

We also take note of the acceptance of the ruling by the two countries in a joint statement the representatives of the two countries issued after the Chamber ruled on the case in Hamburg on Saturday 23rd September 2017.

GIGS wishes to commend Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire for the peaceful and cooperative process they committed themselves to in settling the dispute.

The dispute posed an immense security and economic threat to both countries and the sub-region in general, and as witnessed in other zones, such disputes have led to violence.

It is worth noting that the option to resort to the ITLOS was taken after some 10 failed attempts to settle the dispute through mediation.

This, in itself, demonstrates the zeal of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire to ensure a peaceful and amicable resolution of the matter.

We are happy that the two West African neighbours have been able to diffuse such a complicated security and economic threat with calm and maturity, and through cooperation and legal means, without animosity.

Although the ruling favoured Ghana, we believe the victory is for both countries and West Africa in general.

This is because, without their cooperation and commitment to a peaceful resolution, the adjudication process would have been frustrated, which could have created insecurity on the oil fields of the disputed area.

GIGS, therefore, congratulates Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire for a shared victory, and commend them for showcasing the true meaning of diplomacy and good neighbourliness.

We also commend the Judges of the Special Chamber, specially created for the case, for the expeditious adjudication, and all institutions and individuals from both countries who played a role in achieving this feat.

Signed: 24th September 2017

David Agbee (Executive Director)

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
The issue of free Senior High School (SHS) has been on the discussion tables across the country, even in every bedrooms. Couple's decision to add up new offspring to the population has been based on whether they can take care of all the children or the government will make it easier through the policy at the SHS Level. This topic has warmed up on the political touchlines since 2008.

The idea had to be quenched and buried in two-four year terms when the electorates rejected the NPP, the spearheads of the policy and their flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwah Akkuffo-Addo in the 2008 and 2012 general election. There has since been a sharp division in the applicability and the possibility of the rolling-out of the policy.

The NPP has yelled that it is doable and beneficial to a country like Ghana whereas the NDC initially argued that it was never possible and then later threw in the quality question. Finally, the electorates agreed to give the NPP and their presidential candidate (who was at this time beyond the 70 year old mark) the last chance to redeem their promises including free SHS by voting massively for them in 2016. Voting for a much older candidate could be the test of the old age adage what an elder sees sitting cannot be sensed by a younger person even if he climbs onto the apex of the tallest tree in the world.

On September 11, 2017, the free SHS campaign finally came to an end when the president launched it on the WASSCE school premises in Accra to pave way for full implementation across all public senior high schools in the country. This was met with funfair all over the motherland except the few who openly admitted that, they will never take their children to public senior high schools even if they are accepted into the best.

Please, don't ask me their reasons because I am as lost as you for whatever reasons that would be. It was interesting to see first year SHS students, mostly early teenagers, walking and being driven into schools with smiles on their faces. The radiance on their parents and benefactors faces were even much brighter than the early morning sunrise in Bolga. It was the same in the crme de la crme of the schools and the most dejected schools in the hinterlands.

Joy of 'free-dom' should be nice, no matter where it takes place, I have learnt. At this same time, some school administrators had to face the sword of Ghana Education Service (GES) after parents bemoaned the collection of some sort of money, no matter the purpose, when the 'free' trumpet had been sounded. Over subscription of students into some schools and the craze for boarding status really made the first week of the free SHS implementation a daily discussion on the airwaves. I anticipated that though, I can't speak for the implementers about how they prepared for those shocks. Now, schools have started serious academic work.

Maybe not! Whatever the case, it is time to look into the future! The major question is, aside the sustainability of the program, what will be the quality of the education system and the products who graduate out of it? It is an open secret in Ghana that, cheaper or free things are of the least quality. It is very hard to erase this kind of thinking from my grandmother's mind.

I know it is the same with my good friend, Anchaba. It is therefore imminent to spend time to decide which one we are making this time; free and good or free hence free of any good. What is imperative now is to put aside the unguided political praises and antagonism. Rather, the policy implementers should make it clear how they intend to make the education obtained through the program the best and the students going through it will be as qualified as students of the same level from anywhere else in the world. Ghana is not the only country to make education free.

Countries such as our own Mauritius does not only provide free education from primary to high school, transportation is also free for all students. Other third world and emerging economies such as Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Argentina, Fiji, Uruguay, Sri Lanka and so forth are executing free education. Free education in each case may mean one thing in one of the countries but not same in another. Countries that have made education free even up to doctoral level have not compromised on quality.

Admittedly, it will be unfair to compare the free education systems in the western welfare states especially the Nordic countries because that might look like rocket science to many people. It is important to state that, the Scandinavian countries though provide education free of charge for all citizens and in many cases, to foreign students, they are almost always on top of world ranking of educational quality. It is now a known phenomenon to find Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland (all Nordic Countries) in the world 15 best educated.

Therefore, our local theory of free equal sub-standard is false. Free education at any level is not vague and empty after all. It can actually be a tool to make better educated citizens based on the national focus and interest. But, wait, we are talking about Ghana. A country where political pragmatism sit high above national interest.

That is my greatest fear. It is fearful than how death threatens nonagenarians. Once upon a time, three years of SHS was changed to four years. Behold, when government changed, it was reversed to three years again. Did anyone evaluate the difference before taking the politically motivated decision, I have no idea. In such an unstructured systems where whims and caprices are displayed, it is woefully gravious to stretch the neck to argue that free will be equal to quality.

The reversal of this thinking will largely be premised on commitment from governments of today and years to come. The last thing we need is hundreds of thousands of young people coming out of high schools annually with a tag of 'beneficial graduates of free SHS' who cannot do anything and know nothing.

The strength should be directed at ensuring that, each pesewa spent on the Ghanaian teenager through education, whether fully free or subsidized, should end up making such a child better and useful for him/herself and the country as a whole. Without this and other targets being in place, we should declare the policy as causing financial loss to the state. Funds should be sent promptly and used for the purpose for which it is sent to make academic work easy. Laboratories and workshops should be stocked with all relevant equipment, apparatus and materials.

Teachers should be committed to the careers they have taken. If government fulfills its part of their employment agreement, they (teachers) should not make outrageous demands that will be seen as taking the system hostage. Physical and technological infrastructure must be continuously improved to meet modern educational requirements. Most importantly, parents should actively play their roles by providing the needed support for their wards in order to make them psychologically fit for the lifelong educational journey.

Free SHS is here to stay, I guess. Let's come back in five years to do critical analysis when the first batch would be in the tertiary institutions.

Seth Amofah

PhD student (Urban and Development) Sociology

Tallinn University, Estonia

[email protected]
One of the key campaign promise by the Nana Addo government when in opposition, was to establish a factory in every region. The term "one district, one factory" was therefore coined in that regard.

Making true the campaign promise, the government has started working on the establishment of those factories and the first district to benefit, is the Ekumfi District in the Central Region, where a pineapple factory is being set up.

Though laudable, many people are very skeptic about the government's intension to give every district a factory, especially when certain important bodies are still not available to ensure the success of the policy.

One of such bodies is the Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB).

Established on 31st August, 1995 by an Act of Parliament  the Free Zone Act, 1995 (Act 504), is to enable the establishment of free zones in Ghana for the promotion of economic development; to provide for the regulation of activities in free zones and for related purposes.

The Board operates under a regulation (L.I. 1618) and actual implementation of the Programme commenced in September 1996.

The Ghana Free Zones Programme is designed to promote processing and manufacturing of goods through the establishment of Export Processing Zones (EPZs), and, encourage the development of commercial and service activities at sea- and air-port areas.

In essence therefore, the whole of Ghana is accessible to potential investors who have the opportunity to use the free zones as focal points to produce goods and services for foreign markets.

Though the Ghana Free Zones Board is headed by an executive secretary, it has a nine member board who are appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State. The Board is chaired by the Minister of Trade & Industry. The board's main role is to facilitate, regulate and monitor activities in the free zones.

Functions of the Board include granting licenses to applicants, assisting applicants for licenses under Act 504 and providing services for obtaining other relevant licenses, permits and facilities, among many others.

This therefore means that, the Board of the GFZB has a very key role to play in the running of the Secretariat, unlike other state institutions.

Sadly, the government of Nana Akufo Addo has failed to constitute the board of the GFZB after coming to office for about nine months.

This is even more worrisome, especially when the government has just four year mandate and the GFZB, per its functions could play a key role in the establishment of the one district, one factory policy.

The government of Nana Addo cannot fail the teeming unemployed Ghanaian youth who toiled to make the victory happen on December 7, 2016.

And it is my hope that the government urgently constitute the board of the Ghana Free Zones Board to augment the work of the Ministry of Trade to realise the dream of setting up factory in every district.

Boys Abr3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The West Africa International Press Limited has conferred the Africa International Award of Merit on Archbishop Prof. Dr. Asafo-Agyei Anane Frempong, Chief Executive Officer of the Asafo-Agyei Hospital in Kumasi, the Ashanti Region capital.

The award was conferred him for his exploits in the medical profession and his contribution to national development.

At the International Conference on Graduate Unemployment in Africa 2017 held last week in Accra to deliberate on how to cure the canker of graduate unemployment in the country and the sub-region, Archbishop Prof. Dr. Anane Frempong and 38 others were recognized for their role in impacting society through job creation and individual merit.

The event brought together gurus who matter in the economy to find a lasting solution to graduate unemployment in the country and the sub-region. President of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Nana Appiagyei Dankawoso I chaired the occasion.

The keynote speaker at the event was Prof. Goski Alabi, Dean, Centre for International Education & Collaboration, UPSA whilst Guest of Honour was Hon. Ignatius Baffour Awauah, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations

The West Africa International Press Limited organizes seminars and trade missions annually in the ECOWAS sub-region with the ultimate aim of fostering corporation among member countries and to complement the effort of the ECOWAS Commission and other regional bodies in the African continent.

Executive Director of the Institute, Dr. Dee Otibu-Asare who disclosed this in an address added WAI felt it was not appropriate to leave the economic integration dream of Africa to the governing class alone in view of the challenging trends in today's world as such assist in the dissemination of information on events, places and personalities of the West Africa sub-region and the African continent.

Archbishop Prof. Dr. Asafo-Agyei Anane Frempong was cited meritoriously as the first Ghanaian to qualify as an expert in the non-surgical treatment of piles in 1991.

As an anointed man of God and founder of the Great Eternal Harvest International Ministry in Kumasi, he is also a proud recipient of the International man of the year 1991, 1992 and the International man of achievement for 1993 and 1994 conferred on him by the International Biographical Centre (IBC) UK.

In May 2000, the IBC selected him for an outstanding scientific award in Cambridge for his contribution to the book, 2000 outstanding scientist for the 20th Century which still serves as a reference for University libraries across the world.

Receiving the award, Archbishop Prof. Dr. Anane Frempong observed the commitment and dedication to supporting humanity has earned him recognition across the globe and believed time was due to give more support as a way to give back to society and to fulfill God's work.

He disclosed the launch of his foundation, 'Archbishop Asafo-Agyei foundation' set up to assist in providing quality healthcare, education and missionary work as its key pillars to drive the course of giving more support to society.

Archbishop Prof. Dr. Asafo-Agyei announced the foundation whose Patron/President is His Royal Highness Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene will soon establish its foot in the USA, UK and other countries with the vision to impact lives and export the treatment of piles beyond the shores of Ghana through medical tourism and also spread the word of God through missions.

In a related development, the King is Coming Ministers' Conference in Conjunction with Celebrities Life Change Institute International last week in Kumasi conferred on Archbishop Prof. Dr. Asafo-Agyei Anane Frempong the legendary award of stewardship for his immense achievements in the Christian Ministry and the Public sector and for the huge impact he has made in the lives of people in Ghana and beyond.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
25.09.2017 LISTEN

Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - Mr Alwin Hoegerle, the General Manager of the Ghana Community Network (GCNet), has paid a working visit to the Tema Port to assess progress in respect of the full implementation of the paperless system.

The visit was also to get acquainted with any challenges associated with the roll out that GCNet, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and other players at the Port might have regarding the implementation of the system.

A statement issued in Accra by Mrs Aba Lokko, the Corporate Communications Manager, quoted Mr Hoegerle as saying; 'GCNet is committed to the port efficiency reforms.'

He expressed satisfaction at the robustness of the systems of GCNet in the clearance process and urged all to support the initiative of the Vice President.

Mr Hoegerle, who was accompanied by Mr Felix Mate-Kodjo, the Tema Sector Commander of Customs, visited the Golden Jubilee Terminal, particularly the Container Freight Station, to have a first-hand experience of the process.

Mr Titus Glover, Deputy Minister of Transport, in the company of the Board Chairman of GPHA, Mr Peter Mac Manu, and management members of the Authority, also met with GCNet staff at the Tema branch to interact with them on the implementation of the paperless system.

Mr Jimmy Allotey, the Tema Branch Manager of GCNet, assured the team that the system was performing adequately in the implementation of the paperless process.

It emerged from the briefing that there was the need for a centralised point to lodge complaints since declarants may not always know who to contact to resolve their issues given the multiplicity of stakeholders.

It was pointed out that GCNet had a fully functional Support Centre and would be ready to expand it to support all paperless related issues once approval was given.

The meeting noted that the process was not seamless as anticipated and, for that matter, consideration be given to deploying the existing joint inspection module developed in the Ghana Integrated Cargo Clearance Systems, deployed by GCNet, which had been tested with agencies and could be affirmed by the GPHA.

GNA
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stressed Ghana's, and indeed the African Continent's, commitment to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons for sustainable world peace and security.

For that reason Ghana had, three weeks ago, flown back highly-enriched uranium to China, ending the use of all such volatile materials in the country, President Akufo-Addo disclosed to the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

'Our nuclear reactor has, subsequently, been converted to use low-enriched fuel for power generation. A world, free of nuclear weapons, must be in all our collective interest,' he added.

President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to maintaining friendly and cordial relations with all the countries and peoples of the world.

'The full engagement of Ghana, through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in the process of West African integration, and through the African Union (AU), in the process of African integration, remains a goal of my government.

'Regional and continental integration are in Ghana's interest, as they represent one of the surest ways towards establishing the conditions for prosperity in our region and on the Continent in the decades ahead, as well as helping to ensure peace and security and combating the scourges of terrorism, extremism and intolerance,' he noted.

President Akufo-Addo said the continuous conflicts that plagued the world would be more effectively resolved if the international community supported and not 'undermine the efforts of our regional and continental organisations to deal with them.'

'Ghana will also continue to be active in the multilateral organisations to which we belong, such as La Francophonie, the Commonwealth of Nations, and this United Nations, because we believe multilateral action and international co-operation are in the interest of all of us,' he said.

GNA
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - Africa's time to shed its cloak of poverty and to hold its rightful place on the world stage is now at hand, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said.

'We believe it is time Africa comes of age and holds its rightful place on the world stage. This Africa will be neither a victim nor a pawn. This Africa will be honest to itself and to the world, and this Africa will shed its cloak of poverty, and become prosperous,' President Akufo-Addo said in an address to the 72nd UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

He said: 'We are not under any illusions about the hard work that it will take to achieve our stated goals, but we are not afraid of hard work.'

'We know that a critical ingredient in making sustainable economic progress is to ensure a stable democratic system of governance.'

In that regard, President Akufo-Addo said Ghana was making progress after years of political turmoil and the accompanying economic chaos, culminating in consensus building and the ensuing political stability in the last 25 years.

'I am here, today, because of elections last December in which the people of Ghana voted out an incumbent government, and gave me and my party the mandate and honour to govern our nation for the next four years.

'We continue to be a beacon of democracy and stability on the Continent, our institutions of state are growing stronger, and we have made more progress with our economy than at any time since independence,' he said.

Though Ghana is not where she wanted to be, however 'we are determined to realise our potential and make Ghana a prosperous nation,' the President said emphatically.

'There will always be adventurers amongst us Ghanaians who would want to seek challenges in different parts of the world, and we would wish them well, and expect that wherever they go, they would be welcomed and treated with dignity.

'But we are working to grow our economy and open up opportunities for all our citizens. No longer should Ghanaians feel they have to subject themselves to the intolerable and inhumane conditions of crossing the Sahara, and drowning in the Mediterranean, in the hope of making a living in Europe,' he said.

President Akufo-Addo said his government was working to grow Ghana's economy and, thereby, open up opportunities for the progress and prosperity of all Ghanaians.

'We do not want to be a scar on anybody's conscience. We want to build an economy that is not dependent on charity and hand-outs. Long and bitter experience has taught us no matter how generous the charity, we would remain poor.'

'We do want to discard a mind-set of dependency and living on handouts; we want to build a Ghana beyond aid. It is an easier platform on which to build sustainable relationships.

'We want to build a Ghana which looks to the use of its own resources and their proper management as the way to engineer social and economic growth in our country. We want to build an economy that looks past commodities to position our country in the global marketplace,' he said.

The President told the General Assembly that his government had started the Free Senior High School Programme, which aims to guarantee at least secondary education for all of Ghana's children.

'The Programme will ensure that all our children will be educated to secondary level, and money, or the lack of it, will no longer mean a denial of education. This has already led to an increase of more than 90,000 children who have entered secondary school this academic year, who would otherwise have dropped out at this stage,' he added.

The implementation of the Free SHS Policy, President Akufo-Addo added, would mean that Sustainable Development Goal-4, which aims at ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, would be within Ghana's reach by the target date of 2030.

GNA

By Ken Sackey, GNA
Accra, Sept 22, GNA - Professor Akilakpa Sawyer, Former Vice Chancellor of the University Of Ghana, has described the proposed Founder's day debate by government as 'not worth debating and a waste of time'.

President Akufo-Addo has proposed legislation to Parliament to designate August 4 as Founder's Day and September 21 as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, both of which will be observed as public holidays.

Professor Sawyer said the country must focus on strategizing on how best to respond to the developmental needs of the citizenry rather than a debate on Founder's day.

Speaking at a lecture in Accra on Founder's Day, the Professor said Dr Nkrumah was worth celebrating because he 'uniquely represented an inspired personality in the history of the country and occupied an iconic status both in Ghana and international'.

He said the struggle for independence was a collection decision which involved all and sundry but that action was spearheaded by Dr Nkrumah, adding that his movement captured the spirit and mobilised the masses to fight for the country's independence.

'Dr Nkrumah brought personal imprint on the character and pace of the country's independence, shaped the country's image and as well changed the fortunes of the African liberation movement'.

Prof Sawyer noted that Dr Nkrumah was remembered by his personal traits and the nature and balance of social, political and economic and ideological qualities that transformed the country's socio-economic development.

He said Dr Nkrumah's legacy on infrastructural development cannot be overlooked including Tema Harbour, Akosombo Dam, universities and training colleges, agricultural sector, industrialisation among others.

He disagrees with assertions that Dr Nkrumah did not win any elections, saying when he broke away from the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and formed the Convention People's Party, he 'won every single election he contested within two years'.

Mr Kwesi Pratt, a renowned Journalist, urged Political parties and all to come together to stand against all those who are determined to rewrite the history of the country.

He explained that the 'Big Six' were leaders of the UGCC, who were detained by the colonial authorities in 1948 following disturbances leading to the killing of three World War II veterans.

'There 'was no big six in our history. We often make reference to the so called big six; what big six? They became big six not because they were the founders of the UGCC.

'They became the big six because they were the people who were arrested by the colonial authority and blamed for the 1948 riots,' he added.

GNA

By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Sept 22, GNA - McHammah Engineering, a Ghanaian owned electromechanical engineering company, has urged government to award 50 per cent of the equipment contract for the One-District, One-Factory Project to local companies.

Mr Ebenezer McHammah, the Chief Executive Officer, McHammah Engineering, said Ghana had competent engineering companies such as McHammah Engineering and Kantanka Automobile, which were capable of producing quality equipment for the One-District, One-Factory Project.

The One-District, One-Factory, is the government's flagship programme, which focuses on agro-based industries creation to promote economic growth and job creation.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Mr McHammah explained that awarding the equipment production contract of the One-District, One-Factory Project to local companies would also go a long way to contribute to Ghana's socio-economic development.

He appealed to the government to reduce the importation of agricultural equipment; explaining that 'unless we own our own technology, there is no way out. We have to use our indigenous technology in agriculture mechanisation.'

He said it was high time industrial revolution took place in Ghana, alongside the One-District, One-Factory project.

'What we artisans and engineers in Ghana want to see at the end of the day is that at least 50 per cent of the project equipment are manufactured locally,' he added.

Mr McHammah said in the cause of producing the equipment, they would be impacting skills and knowledge to the youth.

He noted that they would also be preparing the grounds for future spare parts so that when there were any breakdown; stating that 'since it is made in Ghana, it will be easier to keep the spare parts'.

He said even if the spare parts were not cheap; the manufacturers would still be impacting skills and knowledge to the youth of the country.

He said McHammah Engineering would be establishing Training Centre at Akraman in the Central Region, which would provide skills training for those in both the formal and informal sector.

Among the versatile products of McHammah Engineering are Filling Machines, Stainless Steel Tanks, Soap Processing Machines, Conveyors, Fruit Extracting Machines, Industrial Blenders, Industrial Furnace, Powder-Cereal Processing Machines and Press Machines.

GNA

By Iddi Yire, GNA
You can speak with spiritual eloquence, pray in public, and maintain a holy appearance. But it is your behaviour that will reveal your true character  Steve Maraboli.

Waiting can sometimes be very painful. The anxiety that comes with waiting can sometimes be as disturbing as the bitterness associated with the anticipated news. I'm told those with very good shock absorbers are very bad at waiting. By good shock absorbers I mean those able to manage bad news well. I guess I'm one of those.

I'm usually bad at waiting. My mind keeps on buzzing with all manner of ideas as I ponder over the anticipated news. The anxiety manifests physically, making me develop insomnia and lose appetite. But I'm able to contain the shock of the news, no matter how bitter it is.

For the second time in four years, the country was made to sit on tenterhooks in anticipation of a court ruling. The first was on August 29, 2013, when we all waited anxiously for Justice William Atuguba to read the Supreme Court's ruling on the presidential petition case. The second was last Saturday, September 23, 2017, when the country experienced nervy moments as it waited for the ruling of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the maritime dispute with Ivory Coast.

Unlike the former which was monitored by the whole country, the latter was monitored by only those of us who cared about the maritime dispute. Again, unlike Atuguba and his fellow judges, the ITLOS panel did not make us wait too long.

I was fortunate to have watched the ITLOS ruling with two lawyers. Our anxiety heightened when the presiding judge began by shooting down most of Ghana's arguments. But the anxiety began to ease when arguments from the other side were equally shot down.

Despite the complex nature of the ruling, our two lawyer friends were able to simplify the ruling for us to appreciate the perspective of the court. The long and short of it all was that Ghana's argument was melodious, while Ivory Coast's argument sounded discordant in the ears of the tribunal.

It would be an understatement to say the ruling is good news. The ruling is a blessing as the country was fortunate not to have lost even a single of the TEN oilfields to its neighbour. Indeed, the new map with the latest co-ordinates indicates that the country has rather made some gains.

Soon after the ruling, Zu-za started tickling itself and laughing. The party released a statement claiming it was the foresight of President Ogwanfunu to start the litigation that eventually led to the all-important victory at ITLOS. Well, I do not mind at all if all share in the glory. After all, it's a victory for the country.

But coming from those who, only few days ago, denied the founders of UGCC any credit in the country's independence struggle, one cannot fail to notice the hypocrisy. Are they now realizing that the pioneers of a cause deserve commendation when victory is finally attained?

Certainly, the ruling of the tribunal means more revenue from the oil sector for the country. This also translates into more cowries to finance the much-loved and highly-appreciated FREE SHS programme. With adequate financing and proper planning, the success of the FREE SHS programme is guaranteed. And we all know how that could help in determining the political fortunes of Zu-za, don't we?

Anyone across the political divide can claim to be excited. Political parties can engage in gimmickry and claim all the credit for the ITLOS victory. They can even organize unity walks and demonstrations in the name of ITLOS victory.

But they cannot deceive us. We cannot be fooled because we can distinguish between a genuine smile and a wry one. We will not allow ourselves to be fooled by smiles from those who inwardly wish the downfall of the incorruptible Nana Addo government.

You see, they will celebrate with us as we bask in the ITLOS victory. They will pretend to be happy and even swear to be more patriotic than anyone or any group in this country. But their behaviour has already revealed their true character to us.

We all saw how the Cockerel, the Coconut, the Sun and other opposition parties supported and applauded the government's FREE SHS programme. It is, therefore, an open secret that only one party is saddened by the introduction of the programme. If members of such a party come smiling and claiming to be happy at the country's victory at ITLOS, do you need anyone to convince you that it is a wry smile?

See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!
An 18-year-old Achimota Senior High School (SHS) student, who shot and killed his colleague, Lily Dzigbordi Asibetse Donkor, has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment term by a juvenile court in Accra.

The final-year student, who will be spending his jail term at the Correctional Home in Accra, was found guilty after almost a nine-month long trial.

He was charged with manslaughter when he appeared before the court, presided over by Bernardine S A Senoo.

The convict was said to have brought out his father's gun from under a bed with intent to shoot into the air, but ended up killing his friend, Lily Donkor, who was also a third-year student at the same school.

However, days after the verdict, some Ghanaians, including the bereaved family, appear to be concerned about the jail term slapped on the convict.

Whilst some commentators believe the court did no wrong concerning the term of incarceration, others are of the view that the punishment was too soft due to the gravity of the offence.

According to the prosecution, Lily, a resident of Cantonments, was killed on January 4, 2017 at about 2pm when she visited her friend, at his house at Community 8, Tema.

The convict, in an attempt to fire his fathers gun into the air, mistakenly shot the abdomen of the girl.

She was quickly rushed to the Port Clinic in Tema by a neighbour, Gifty Billy, who heard the gunshot and rushed to the scene.

The victim was referred to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra as a result of the severity of the gunshot but she died on admission.

The convict was arrested, charged with manslaughter and arraigned before the Accra juvenile court, which sentenced him on Friday.

Vivian Donkor, mother of the deceased, believes that the punishment was flexible and that it should have been stiffer to serve as deterrent to others.

She was reported to have told Kasapa Fm that her daughter was deliberately killed.

Even when Lily was shot and was writhing in pain in a pool of blood, it took the boy and his family three hours before they took Lily to the hospital and even this was after her elder sister had called her [Lily's] phone several times which rang unanswered.

Is that how to treat someone's daughter who has visited your home? We're convinced they deliberately killed her, she lamented.

By Vincent Kubi
At a time when some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are expressing gloom over the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Tongu, Gabby Alexander Hottordze, has commended President Akufo-Addo and the NPP for the bold step taken to implement the flagship policy.

According to him, the policy is a laudable one and that he as an MP gives it his full support, saying, We as NDC are never against the policy, but we were only asking for the source of the money to fund it.

Mr. Hottordze declared, I as MP will support every development that the NPP is bringing to Central Tongu, including the Free SHS, 'One District, One Factory' and many others.

He therefore cautioned his constituents and members of his party against politicising laudable government development projects. There is no difference between the money that will come from NDC and the NPP for Ghana's benefit. Therefore, playing party cards at this time that the NPP is ruling will not help the development agenda of Central Tongu and the country as a whole, he averred.

The MP gave his support for the government's programme during a town hall meeting at Adidome in the Volta Region.

The meeting, which was organised by the Information Services Department and addressed by a Deputy Information Minister, Perry Okudzeto, highlighted the various projects and programmes of the government, the concerns of the chiefs and people of the South Tongu District and ways to deal with them.

The headmaster of Mafi Kumasi Senior High Technical School, Courage Meteku, was elated with the Free SHS policy saying, The free education has made my institution a first class school now, as his new enrollment has jumped from 300 last year to 876 this year.

He pleaded with the government to reconsider the provision of 9 exercise books and 4 notebooks, describing them as inadequate to cover the scope of work by the students.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

In a week just gone past, our one and only Busumuru President of the whole wide world was advising that our public policy and action should be directed to ensure WFE (Water, Food and Energy) security for all.

The President of the Republic was talking and walking industrialisation, job creation and education for all.

My humble self, I was thinking and wishing no noise, no plastics and sidewalk for all. For years, I have wished for no noise making to deny your neighbour rest and sleep in praise of God. I have wished all-nighters their kind would reason or be told or directed by their preacher leaders that nuisance noise by a mortal never secures heavenly visa because it violates Christ's love thy neighbour edict.

My neighbours and I are constantly tortured by Christ Apostolic Church and others in our neighbourhood.

My frontage is littered with plastic which collect into the gutter for me to hire labour to clean. And the street sides are littered with kiosks and containers that block pedestrian sidewalk access, and thus endanger motorist and pedestrian lives.

I am doubtful any 'Y dede' (make the loudest of noise) preacherperson who conducts an 'all night' to deprive of sleep will ever receive a visa to heaven because the action flouts Christ's 'love thy neighbour as thyself rule.'

It must be a mystery preacherpeople fail to realise those who invented the equipment they preacherpeople use to make their noise NEVER noise abuse neighbourhoods with their invented loudspeakers and amplifiers.

There is this vendor of foodstuffs who thinks the illegal place she is occupying is not enough and that she needs to stretch her vending area to sit a table on the gutter so that everyone has to walk on the street.

As if her pedestrian abuse is not enough, taxi drivers have established a station in front of her kiosk. So pedestrians are FORCED to walk on the street.

Another food vendor has built her structure on a hub for the neighbourhood underground water pipelines. One of the pipes is leaking.

When I drew the attention of the Ghana Water man for repairs to stop the leakage, he looked at the situation, cast his eyes at the aluminium kiosk, and all he could say was: 'We would come back and fix it.' He, or anyone else from Ghana Water, is yet to show up.

Ask me what he who has caused huge losses of our money had to say in that week.

He seemed to have gone dozing over the rot he presided over. Or, maybe, he thinks because we have short memory we have forgotten their (his and his appointees) misdeeds. He thinks no one is taking notice of the nauseating bus branding, tricycle procuring bungling, trotro ambulances and $81 million software purchase.

He sounds like no one is paying attention to all the other rotten public procurement transactions he and his people created, looted and chopped chopped. Someone may want to advise him to keep quiet. Those busy sorting his mess out need him to be quiet to be spared any distracting din.

The incumbent and his team deserve peace and quiet time to clean his mess to develop the economic mechanisms that would leapfrog the motherland into the class of first world motherlands.

Characteristic of him, though, he may choose to dance to 'Yntie obiara' and continue with the ugly noisemaking.

Asomasi's noisy contribution to public discourse that week targeted his congresspeople kin he accused and labelled as opportunists. .

He, however, wouldn't stop there. Shamelessly, he had the guts to complain a doer president is engaging in propaganda without addressing the challenge or rot he Asomasi has bequeathed.

Above all, you will not believe it, but my compatriots, the most unpatriotic leader of the motherland of all time actually accused you and I of being unpatriotic.

He might have received some sympathy if he had restricted that to the congress fold.

Please, someone please, tell him that if he doesn't know, one of the greatest joys of kicking him out of office is the feeling of relief by my compatriots. It is like a very, very heavy load has been lifted off people's shoulders.

The revelation upon revelation of the rot he presided over is moderated by the actioning Nana Addo who seems so determined to do good that we, the critics, are finding it difficult to track down possible rot.

It is a big struggle for congresspeople, who all of a sudden find themselves out of reach of cheap create, loot and share schemes.

Pity they think noisily demonising someone's implementation of free SHS, industrialisation and job creation will restore their public money stealing opportunities not unlike preacherpeople and their noisemaker flock will not see heaven by torturing their neighbourhoods with noise.

By Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh
Magnus Rex Danquah, a renowned businessman and CEO of RICS Consult has launched a book, The Mfantsipim Dream at the British Council Accra.

The launch of the book which was graced by the Omanhene of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, also had some dignitaries such as the Headmaster of Mfantsipim School, Mr. Barton Oduro, the administrative Bishop of the Methodist Church, Dr. Paul K. Boafo and the chairperson of the schools PTA, Dr. Frank Adu-Asante.

The author, Mr. Rex Danquah described the book as a product of his unending inquisitiveness about Mfantsipim School.

As a child I wanted to understand what Mfantsipim stood for, what it meant, I wanted to know the reason for the name, the reason for its emblem, I wanted to really understand why the people who started the school begun such a school, he noted

Samuel K Nkansah, a lecturer with the department of English at the University of Cape Coast who also served as the chairman of the event stated that the book encouraged people to eschew selfishness and rather live life for the good of humanity.

The destiny of Ghana is tied to the dream that Mfantsipim lives on. The selfless devotion of the founding fathers of Mfantsipim finds expression in Ghanas journey through independence. This book provides a reflection for generations to review the dream of Mfantsipim as a catalyst for national cohesion and development. Reading The Mfantsipim Dream imbues one with the urge to live not for oneself but for the good of humanity, he eulogised.

Enimil Ashon, the Executive Director for the Center for Communications and Culture, who reviewed the book, described it briefly and eloquently as

The Mfansipim Dream is a treasure worth sharing and a gospel worth spreading.

The writer of the book had also promised that 20 percent of the proceeds of the book would be given to the schools PTA to help augment the smooth running of the school.

The PTA Chairman in expressing gratitude urged all well meaning people to purchase the book to help the school.

I will urge everyone to buy a copy of the book for a worthy cause, he appealed.

The ceremony ended with a Tripartite agreement signed among the Mfantsipim Foundation, the Mfantsipim PTA and the RexDanquah Legacy trust to ultimately help with the running of the school for the next century.

BY Melvin Tarlue & Akpene Darko-Cobbina
Vitamilk has presented prizes to the winner of the 'King & Queen' of health competition, Thelma Emelia Adjei, at the offices of Vitamilk in Accra.

The prize presentation ceremony was attended by some of the participants of the competition, management of Vitamilk and representatives of Palm Media, organisers of Girl Talk concert.

The Vitamilk 'King & Queen' of health competition is a social media competition being organised to reward people living a healthy life.

This competition seeks to find that male/female who possesses all the qualities that make up today's well rounded, active and health conscious person.

Thelma Emelia Adjei, who was adjudged the overall winner, took home a cash of GH  1,000 plus a sponsored trip to South Africa.

According to the marketing manager of Vitamilk, Samuel Denkyi Boateng, his outfit decided to come up with the competition on social media to promote the health benefits of their products because we want people to be health-conscious, do a lot of exercises, eat good food and practice healthy habit.

He said the competition has yielded the result they were looking for adding, We are hoping to bring out other forms of competitions on social media as well so that we can get our loyal customer rewarded in a way. We are rolling a new one which is called what do you like about Vitamilk.

Vitamilk is the main sponsors of musical events such as Talk Concert, Girl Talk Hangout among others.

By George Clifford Owusu
The last batch of 368 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia arrived yesterday at the Kotoka International Airport at about 10.35am to the waiting arms of their family members.

Over 6000 Ghanaians performed this year's Hajj; the quota for the country being 6200. Since the return flights commenced, the Hajj Village has been bustling with activities as pilgrims frequent the location on daily basis to claim their luggage. While some have laid hands on theirs others continue to make daily trips with the hope that they could be lucky.

The return trip from the pilgrimage is a critical segment of the exercise because while most pilgrims buy souvenirs to be distributed to family members others buy stuff for commercial purposes sometimes exceeding the permissible weight limit. This situation compels, in some instances, the airline to drop the excess baggage for subsequent flights for safety reasons.

The Head of IT, Dr. Mohammed-Sanni Abdulai has commenced a survey to gather impressions and concerns about the hajj within the Islamic community.

The survey, he said, is not confined to only those who performed the Hajj but others who have the pilgrimage at heart. This way, he said, the authorities would be primed to fine-tune future Hajj operations.

The survey comes at the heels of conflicting impressions about Hajj 2017. The IT Head is encouraging all to fetch the link http://goo.gl/dBagMK and complete the confidential questionnaire.

Details of responses, he assured, would be confidential  the names of respondents not showing in the survey in any form.

Some members of the Hajj Board did not return yesterday as they are reportedly doing a mop-up operation in Saudi Arabia following the completion of the airlift.

By A.R. Gomda
Dan Kwaku Botwe, the Minister for Regional Reorganisation and Development and Member of Parliament (MP) for Okere in the Eastern Region, has entreated beneficiaries of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy to study hard and aspire for excellence.

Mr. Botwe toured the various Senior High Schools to assess the implementation of the policy over the weekend.

The Minister, who gave the advice when he visited almost all the senior high schools on the Akropong Ridge namely; Aburi Girls SHS, Adonten SHS, Mamfe Methodist Girls SHS, Nifa SHS, Benkum SHS, Okuapeman SHS, Mampong Presec, among others, admonished the students to dispel the notion that anything free is substandard, but make good use of it and pray for President Akufo-Addo to deliver on his promises.

The MP told the students that government had played its part by investing over GH400 million in their education, so they should also learn hard to pass their exams during the three-year programme.

The headmasters, who received the minister in the company of the Akuapem North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Dennis Miracle Aboagye, said they were facing some challenges despite the high enrollment.

The heads of some schools complained that many fresh students were placed in schools with limited capacities.

They also pleaded with the government to provide additional dormitories, assembly halls, beds and desks, and also complete some GETFund projects started by the previous Mahama administration.

Some head teachers were highly elated with the historic high enrollment for this academic year, promising to give off their best to ensure the success of the policy.

Many people, including some political parties, claimed Nana Addo could never implement the free SHS policy in Ghana.

From Daniel Bampoe, Akropong
Former Minister of State for Tertiary Education, Elizabeth Akua Ohene, has taken strong exception to the practice of referring to stealing in public officers as corruption.

According to her, The country is partly facing difficulties because we call stealing in the public offices as corruption instead of its proper name.

According to her, corruption is just thievery by public officials who siphon of huge amounts of money from the governments coffers.

The former minister disclosed that corruption should just bluntly be called by its proper name so that the lay man can easily know what it really means rather than our sanitisation of it.

She made the assertions when some members of Critical Thinkers International (CTI) namely, Adiepena Mirekua-Akwaa, Innocent Supremo Tetteh, Zenas Afram, paid a courtesy call on her at her residence recently in Accra.

Thoughtful corruption is a bane of development, the greater harm is from incompetence, because nobody is prepared to do the jobs they have been assigned to do properly to help in the better growth of the country and its citizens.

All Ghanaians must be diligent in their duties or whatever task they may be confronted with, because in doing so little mistakes which can generate into huge loss of money to the state can be avoided.

By Melvin Tarlue
Ghana under the leadership of Nana Akuffo Addo has initiated the Free Senior High School policy. Many, especially his political opponents have raised genuine and mischievous concerns about its sustainability by reason of financing. Many of these schools and their heads have also raised issues of infrastructural problems. Yet, we cannot stop nor truncate this policy because of them.

It is rather a shame for the enemies of this laudable project to say that it is the Free SHS which has caused or raised these problems which have been existential before Nana Akuffo Addo's administration. But equally so, it would be wrong to suppose or imagine that they do not exist. What can we do as "Citizens and NOT spectators" to alleviate or ameliorate these challenges?

We can neither wish it away nor solve it in a day. But consistent persistent conscientious efforts together as a people who have gone through the secondary education system can help in many ways.

Most of the schools have needs we do not need billions of dollars to solve. There are challenges that our little Cedi contribution can tackle without causing more trouble to the GOG.

I am rallying through this article to call on well meaning conscionable Ghanaians to stand up and support their Alma mater. The various old students associations can do better by calling on its members to be patriotic in building Mother Ghana through this Free SHS program. The benefits of this laudable program in spite of the few challenges is enormous! Many school children have benefited and families are smiling. Let us compliment this programme by standing in the gap to provide what else is lacking.

Arise Ghanaians!
MINNEAPOLIS (TNS)  Target has spent more than a decade adapting to the arrival of online shopping.

For a time, it outsourced much of its digital effort to Amazon. Then it tried to fight a head-to-head battle for the attention of internet shoppers.

Now CEO Brian Cornell is shifting the Minneapolis-based companys emphasis again to focus on a not-so-secret weapon: its stores.

While Walmart and other competitors move resources toward online operations, Target plans to invest more than $3 billion over the next three years in its brick-and-mortar locations. It is remodeling one-third of them and opening new, smaller ones in the heart of cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Despite the rapid growth were still seeing online and others are seeing online, the majority of retail shopping in America still takes place in a physical store, Cornell said, reiterating what has become one of his primary talking points.

The companys approach is counterintuitive at a time when the digital onslaught is leading other retailers to shutter hundreds of physical locations and some to go out of business altogether.

Yet Targets strategy has already shown signs of working, with an increase in sales during the spring quarter as the company remodeled stores and prepared to introduce new private-label clothing and home brands.

Whether it can build on this success will be a critical test for one of Minnesotas largest and most prominent businesses. But some retail observers believe that Cornell has identified an important advantage that online rivals cant counter.

With Amazon, you cant walk into a store and return it, said Brian Yarbrough, a retail analyst for Edward Jones. Thats one of the reasons why I think stores are here for the long term and arent going away. And its about convenience. Some people just like to shop.

There is a successful model for Targets approach.

When Hubert Joly took over Best Buy in 2012, the electronics chain, also based in the Twin Cities area, was in the midst of a do-or-die moment with Amazon. The companys previous leaders had closed 50 big-box stores and said more would be shutting soon.

Five years ago, there was a lot of words about, My God, Hubert, youre going to have to close a lot of stores, Joly said.

He bristled at the idea. Instead of viewing stores as a liability in an increasingly digital world, he argued that they were one of Best Buys biggest assets. Located closer to where most people live compared to its fewer and far between distribution centers, he turned the stores into shipping hubs to more quickly and cheaply ship online orders to customers doorsteps.

As technology has become more complex, Best Buy has also embraced the idea of having its stores become showrooms. Customers can discover and learn about the newest gadgets with the expert advice of blue-shirted employees, and the companys Geek Squad is available to help with installation. Thats an experience that is hard to replicate online.

Best Buy, which has 1,360 stores in the United States, has been quietly closing a few dozen a year, mostly its smaller mobile phone stores that are often in shopping malls. Joly said the retailer will continue to close some stores as leases come up for renewal, but that isnt the main plan.

We dont have a strategy to close stores, he said. Were excited by the roles that stores can play.

To be sure, both Target and Best Buy have also been investing billions of dollars to overhaul their supply chains to get online orders to customers doorsteps more quickly and efficiently. They have also been upgrading their websites to be faster and more user-friendly, with better search capabilities and display pages of products.

But online is also still a relatively small part of most retailers business, 4 percent of sales at Target and 13 percent at Best Buy.

Part of the reason to focus on leveraging stores is that retailers get a bigger payoff from in-store sales, said Audrey Manacek, who heads up the consulting giant McKinseys Minneapolis office. Online sales, which are growing much more quickly, are less profitable for retailers because they have to ship items to customers.

Still, retailers have to be in both games.

If you just stay focused on the stores and youre not also investing at an even faster pace in online, she said, youre going to miss the curve.

Even big believers in the future of online retail think it will evolve gradually. The Minneapolis-based venture capital firm Loup Ventures thinks the eventual balance will be 55 percent online and 45 percent in-store but says it could take 30 years to get there.

Customer habit is hard to change, said the firms Andrew Murphy. It will take a long time.

And then theres Amazon itself, which shook up the retail landscape this year by snapping up Whole Foods, giving it instant access to a network of 450 stores. The move was a validation of sorts for many traditional retailers: that even Amazon has come to realize that stores are useful.

Amazon is not a huge fan of physical retail, so I think it was a fairly large leap in their admitting to that weakness of not having physical stores, said Matt Sargent with consulting group Magid.

About 30 million people still visit a Target store every week. So Target is making major investments to keep them coming back for the foreseeable future.

Were not thinking about stores the same way we did even five years ago, Cornell said at a retail conference in March. If we did, wed be cooked.

A recent $10 million makeover of the store next to Targets downtown Minneapolis headquarters provides a glimpse into how its reformulating stores. Beyond the cosmetic changes with updated flooring and lighting, it has more of a department-store feel with more thought given to how items are displayed to help inspire more purchases.

And Target is looking to bring more digital elements into the experience, such as location-tracking capabilities that show shoppers what Cartwheel deals are nearby on the shelf through the Target app and via handheld devices through which employees can look up and order online different sizes or colors for customers.

Like Best Buy, more than half of Targets online orders are now either picked up in or shipped from its stores. Doing so has helped Target not only get packages to customers more quickly, but also cut down on shipping costs.

Target is testing ideas such as curbside pickup where customers can drive up to the parking lot to fetch online orders without having to step in the store. Walmart has already been aggressively rolling out a similar service focused on groceries to many of its stores.

While its trying to give customers what they want, Target also knows that if it gets people in the store theyre more likely to buy more things, said John Rabenhorst, a principal in the retail practice of consulting firm A.T. Kearney.

Thats been part of the secret sauce for Target  people walk in looking for a couple of items and walk out with a whole cart full of merchandise.

They dont know what they need until they see it, he said. This idea of discovery doesnt happen as much online.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

I read Dele Momodus piece on the Indigenous People of Biafras agitation and the Nigerian governments reaction to the groups confrontation, which he titled: Kanu maybe reckless, irresponsible and I could not help, but to wonder whether Dele truly understood what he was talking about. His bit disappointingly dwells more on his personal moods and allusions rather than historical facts, statutory records, findings and references about such sectional tension.

A Yourba adage says Ilu ti o ba si ofin, ko si ese ni be meaning In a city or town, where there is no law, one cannot run default of any law, commit any crime or be alleged of being lawless. This also implies that wherever there is law, one is expected to act in accordance with such laws or provisions of such laws.

It also follows that Nnamdi Kanu according to Dele Momodus description acted recklessly and irresponsibly. Other synonyms for recklessly are wildly, thoughtlessly, carelessly, uncontrollably, and hastily, while other substitutes for irresponsibly include foolishly, immaturely, undependably and unreliably. According to Deles narrative therefore, Kanu was all of these to the Nigerian state, yet he believes the Nigerian government should have ignored or overlooked his inadequacies. But what Dele Momodu failed to understand is that just as the country and/or the Nigerian government has a trailer-load of obligations and accountabilities to an average Nigerian, so also does an average Nigerian to the country. And it is often said that ignorance has no place in law.

It means that one must be mindful of the truth that his individual fundamental rights, as stipulated under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which include rights to life, fair hearing, freedom of expression, freedom from discrimination, dignity of human persons, personal liberty, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom of movement, amongst others, are not particularly absolute. It equally means that just as Chapter II of the Constitution stipulates under Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, the fundamental obligations of the government, it also expects some duties from the citizens, amongst others.

And while Section 14, Subsection (2a) states that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through the constitution derives all its powers and authority, (b) that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government and (c) that the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with provisions of the constitution, Section 24 says in part (a) that every citizen shall abide by the constitution, respect its ideals and institutions, the national flag, anthem, pledge, and legitimate authorities. Part (b) says every citizen shall help to enhance the power, prestige and good name of Nigeria, defend Nigeria and render such national service, as maybe required. Part (c) expects every citizen to respect the dignity of other citizens, rights, and legitimate interests of others, and live in unity and harmony, and in the spirit of common brotherhood. Part (d) says make positive and useful contribution to the advancement, progress and well-being of the community, where he resides. Part (e) says render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order. Part (f) says declare his income honestly to appropriate and lawful agencies and pay his tax promptly.

In addition to these constitutional expectations, there are other issues that define and border around the sovereignty of Nigeria and the quest for secession by any of its parts. Lets borrow some knowledge from the write-up of one of Nigerias foremost lawmakers and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu tagged; Biafra: The Legal, Political, Economic and Social Questions. Ekweremadu in this piece submits that Nigeria is a sovereign state, with a well-defined territory that is recognized by the international community. He explained that Nigeria is also a member of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and the United Nations, amongst others. And the Southeast, in the eyes of these international organizations, is part of this territory. The deputy senate president also said while the right to self-determination is guaranteed under different charters of these international organizations, this right has laid down procedures that must be religiously followed to the letter to attain. He also clarified that while the call for a referendum is legal, it does not come by fiat, ultimatum or war. He said referendum is always an ultimate result of wide and persistent negotiations, consultations and processes that involve the international communities, as have been seen in cases of several countries, which have successfully seceded.

All of the aforementioned therefore, are to establish that Kanus recent actions considerably threatened the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria. He, one must confess, did not only behave reckless and irresponsible, his approach had been too provocative, immature, unpatriotic and unaccountable even to his ethnic divide and leadership, let alone a federal government that has respected all provisions of his fundamental rights, and continually performed its statutory obligations, to Kanu through all units of the federation that make up the Southeast region of the country. This also infers that the government of President Buhari has duly performed its duties, if not for anything, at least, Nigerians are yet to see a single governor from the Southeast, either in the ruling or opposition parties, who has come open to alleged that the federal government has defaulted in its monthly sharing of the federal allocation or had ever refused to attend to any pressing social, economic, environmental or infrastructural problems or needs of any individual state in the region.

It is obvious from the above that there cannot be a nation inside another sovereign nation, just like there cannot be two captains in one ship. One wonders, why Dele Momodu and in fact, some respected human rights lawyers, are of the opinion that President Buhari lacks constitutional backing or powers to deploy soldiers to the Southeast in the face of sectional threats to the peace, unity and sovereignty of the nation. As far as the statutory book of the land is concerned, the constitutional duty of the Nigerian police is essentially to maintain law and order, during any internal crisis, breakdown of law and order, and threat to civil peace and progress. This could be in form of communal clashes between two communities, two groups and political mayhems. But then, in a situation, where the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation is being threatened, the military are constitutionally empowered to be drafted in.

Section 217 subsection (1) of the 1999 constitution says there shall be an armed forces for the federation, which shall consist of an Army, Navy, an Air Force and such other branches of the armed forces of the federation, as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly. Part (2) says the Armed Forces, also known as the military, may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of: (a) defending Nigeria from external aggression; (b) maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea, or air; (c) suppressing insurrection (rebellion, revolt, revolution or insurgency) and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order, when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.; and (d) performing such other functions, as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

It dictates therefore, that those saying the President has no powers to deploy the military to Abia state can only base such arguments on the ground that the recent deployment by the president was not based on an Act of the National Assembly, not on the basis that the President particularly, lacks such powers. But then, it is also useful to ask if the President should just fold his arms and watch the country boil, just because the National Assembly members are on recess? If not for anything, at least, every action taken by the IPOB, if not just its motive of tension, poses a sovereign threat. Its name Biafra reminds Nigeria of that dreadful time and war that claimed a large portion, if not millions of its population and resources, particularly women and children.

Biafras renewed flag, logo and alleged secret service and guards are also pointers to the fact that these Southeastern elements are warming up for a second civil war. No doubt, with all of these in place, it would be totally foolish of the federal government to fold its arms and continue to watch, while innocent Nigerians are being intimidated and harassed all over the region of the country. Take or leave it, with or without this Act, the President, as the Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces has a constitutional duty first, to protect the large chunk of Nigerians from any assault, harassment, and humiliation of any of such groups. Second, it would amount to the notion that the military, especially the Service Chiefs, lack understanding of what their jobs entail, if they decided to wait for an Act of the National Assembly before moving into action.

Sentiments aside, Nnamdi Kanu and his people crossed the red-line, and they deserve to be treated as terrorists. Their agitations are equivalent to external aggression and threat to the nations territorial integrity, especially with the development of a Biafran national flag, logo, and even alleged armed carrying guards, if not secret service. Some people, especially the human rights community, are quick to condemn President Buhari, for deploying the military to the Southeast, but the same set of people were practically deaf and dumb, when Kanu decided to disrespect and violate the same law and constitution by which the Nigerian government is today being called out for. Kanu, believe it or not, violated all the bail conditions granted to him by a competent court of law, and even did worse, according to the account of an Igbo man, Kelechi Mbamnozie, who claimed to be working with the United Nations. He believes the struggle for self-determination even if possible, transcends an individual. According to him, Nnamdi Kanu, the acclaimed leader of IPOB was not supposed to be in hiding, never. The fact that he is not operating openly now shows that he is on the wrong side of this agitation, again.

Kanu was advised to rally around the traditional and political leaders of the southeast. As an Igbo man I was thought honor, respect, love, self-giving and honesty by my parents, and the community, where I grew up. You cannot bring a fight inside the house, if you do; you are considered a fool. When Kanu was released, he enjoyed the encomiums of the majority of Nigerian, who saw the federal governments lawless detention as evil and unconstitutional, because he never committed any crime to be locked up for 2years. He was hosted by Senators and Governors, his fathers house became a Mecca of sought. He enjoyed the peoples patronage, not until the butterfly started thinking himself a bird. The self-aggrandizement overwhelmed him so much that he declared that there would not be any election in Anambra, and his reason was purely because Kanu said so.

He brought the battle inside his home. He started receiving genuflection, as a tiny god, and even Senator Abaribe, who was amongst those, who signed his bail surety could no longer talk sense into his skull. He spoke to him, Eastern governors and some traditional rulers did the same thing, but he was too pompous to apply wisdom, humility and honor, which he wants others to, accord him. Now, all those people, who have stood behind him, are now doubtful of his intentions, so they stayed clear of him. Now that they have started chasing him, where will he run to? What exactly is Kanus sin? The moment he commissioned the local army on record, posted it out on social media and spoke openly at a rally about the need to have the Biafra Secret Force, he fell from grace to grass.

He did not only play into the nest orchestrated by the Nigerian state, he ignited the article in the Constitution of Nigeria that prohibits anyone from organizing an army against the sovereignty of Nigeria. Whether you like it or not, Nigeria is sovereign, Biafra is not and was never. So it is not even a conquered territory, as ill-conceived by late literary giant, Chinua Achebe in his book There was a Country. Every bit of information coming out of Kanus house was fake news, and propaganda. His statement that the UN did this and that were all lies. I have been here at the UN Headquarters and never a time has any issue about Biafra brought to bear in any open sessions of the General Assembly or the Security Council Consultations, never. But our gullible hardworking brothers, whom he met at home never wanted to listen, they believed his lies. The agitation must be seen, as non-violent as possible.

The long and short of this, is to buttress the fact that no one man is bigger than the Nigerian state. Although, Section 14 subsection (2a) says sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this constitution derives all its powers and authority, it is also expected that every member of the said people must respect authorities and powers of the constitution; hence it is a collective power. It also goes to underscore the truth that even ones fundamental rights are not particularly absolute or sacrosanct.

I guess Dele Momodu and those human rights lawyers, condemning the Federal Governments action, are not also aware that already arms and ammunitions are being accumulated and stockpiled in some quarters by some aggressors and warmongers, in the country. If not for anything, at least, the over 2,000 pump action rifles and ammunition intercepted recently, allegedly from Turkey, tells to a considerable extent, the obvious. And Just suddenly after the video clip of the clash between the military and some IPOB members in Abia state surfaced on the social media, a Turkish citizen, Abdulkadir Erkahraman accused the Nigerian government of crossing the redline. Prior to this development and perhaps statement, this same controversial man had visited Nnamdi Kanu in his country home.

The Turkish Embassy, no doubt, had come open, in a press statement, to deny Erkahraman. The statement indicated that he was neither a diplomat nor a civil servant, and that he was not in a position to speak for the Turkish government. It also reiterated the embassys commitment and support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria, and emphasized that it could never support any secessionist group against Nigeria. First, this embassys statement only goes to buttress the fact that Biafras action has been threatening the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria, and secondly, it clarifies how the international communities perceive Biafras struggle. Again, for some people, this swift move from the Turkish embassy, settles it all, but for those, who understand who and what Turkey characterizes, will know that there is fire on the mountain. Turkey, without shredding words, maybe fronting for some other countries, known for arms-running, and Russia, an obvious vital ally, is allegedly globally known, as the world deport of arms and ammunitions, and apparently blamable for 85%, if not 90% of all arms and ammunitions infiltration in the world. It is therefore, not a co-incidence for a Turkish citizen, if not a representative of some gun-running syndicates, to make such inflaming comment. Its also not impossible that Turkey and Russias primary intention is to see Nigeria boil, to create markets for their arms and ammunitions.

But then, one cannot help but to measure, how effective can the Biafra struggle be on the nation, Nigeria. To this end, it follows therefore, that comparing the person of Nnamdi Kanu with that of Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu and the circumstances, abetting their quest at different times and periods of the Nigerian life and history, would to some extent, provide some rundowns, if not accurate expectations, by which the struggle can best be tried. Ojukwu no doubt, was a smart, intelligent and resourceful military officer, who according to the countrys regional setting then, leverage on his military trainings, experiences, as an officer; all military formations in the Southeast and the backings of key military officers, if not all military personnel from the region then, yet he came out of the war ultimately with a warning that Biafra should never be re-visited.

Kanu, on the other hand, is a noncombatant, without any military training, no military or southeast leadership support, no military bases or formations, yet he wants to re-visit Biafra. It is evident that only a foolish man, with his two eyes wide-opened and common sense intact that would follow such a tactless, insensitive and undiplomatic leader. Let us even assume that Kanu is being backed and supported by some international partners, desperately looking for avenues to sell their arms and ammunition, as long as the Biafra nation does not have its own legal tender (currency), to close basic deals of arms transaction, it would be eternally difficult for it to prosecute a war successfully. Russia, France, Britain or Turkey or any other country maybe interested in the Biafra struggle, the apparent truth about the matter is that they cannot be that lavishing to the extent that they will offer their arms and ammunition to Biafra free of any cost. This, amongst other resounding reasons, was why the Ojukwu-led Biafra failed.

And just like the Ojukwus Biafra, Kanus secessionists group also has a name, flag, logo, national guards, but lacks a currency. The Nigerian government thwarted and rendered the Ojukwu-led Biafra helpless, amongst other tactics, because it altered its currency. This means that it is logically and materially impossible to violently prosecute Biafra successfully using and banking on the Nigerian currency, for the sustenance of its procurements and consumptions. A country without a currency is a country without any life. This emphasizes why there was never a country, as misconceived by late literary giant, Chinua Achebe.

By Georges Macnobleson-Idowu,

News Editor, 96.9Coolfm, 95.1Wazobiafm & 99.3Nigeria Info fm, Lagos,

Email: [email protected]
25.09.2017 LISTEN

It is a shame that Accra Metropolitan Assembly has NOT in its recent history organised any EFFECTIVE town hall meetings to dialogue and inform residents of Accra of its developmental agenda and vision.

It is a pity that 21 Century Accra looks worse than the dark ages of colonial rule and slavery. Time and again, every mayor of Accra have proven how incompetent they are by the sort of mess they leave behind. We have absolutely no idea what is happening in Accra, even behind our our own houses and in our various communities.

We are treated as fools and slaves who must only abide by by-laws and directives. Are we animals in a zoo in Accra? Even animals are not this cheap and dirty. Our leaders have no conscience!

I use this medium and offensive to aggressively push the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to start holding at least, a monthly Town Hall meeting: to speak to and answer questions from residents of Accra. The time is now!

Naa Odey Annan

[email protected]
The bond and friendship between President Akufo-Addo and the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Anthonio Guterres, keep growing from strength to strength.

This became evident sometime last week when the two leaders met.

In spite of his busy schedule, the Secretary-General of the world governing body found time to meet President Akufo-Addo on the side-lines of the just-ended 72nd UN General Assembly meeting.

At a meeting held in the office of the Secretary-General, the two leaders were said to have exchanged views on the situation in Ghana and the West Africa sub-region.

Key among the issues discussed were the challenges of terrorism and violent extremism.

The Secretary-General was said to have expressed appreciation for President Akufo-Addo's engagement and commitment, as co-chair of the group of 17 eminent Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocates.

Mr Guterres also did commend the government and people of Ghana for their individual and collective contribution to the resolution of the post-electoral crisis in the Republic of The Gambia.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent
The Author

25.09.2017 LISTEN

Introduction

In a TV discussion on Ghana's legal victory in the maritime dispute with Ivory Coast, a legal luminary makes the following statements:

 "There IS some technical DIFFERENCES ..."

 "...The ULTIMATE legal CONCLUSION."

While the entire submission of the law guru is a reflection of legal excellence, the above statements have been attacked by some grammatical viruses. Yes! The first structure is fractured by the Error of Concord (in relation to the subject-verb agreement.) The second one is contaminated by the virus of tautology. Below is the justification of claim:

Justification

In line with the Rule of Concord, a singular subject agrees with a singular verb, and a plural subject agrees with a plural verb. The subject of the first structure is "DIFFERENCES", which is plural. The corresponding verb in the structure is "IS", which is singular. Clearly, the situation is a violation of the Rule of Concord. Two things may account for the error. These are the technique of inversion - by which the verb "IS" comes before the subject "DIFFERENCES" - and the emphatic element known in the grammatical parlance as "EXISTENTIAL THERE."

As stated earlier, the second structure contains two words of similar meanings that make it tautological. Indeed, "ULTIMATE" and "CONCLUSION mean the same thing although they belong to different lexical categories. "ULTIMATE", an adjective - in this context - means "FINAL". "CONCLUSION", a noun, means "FINALITY."

Correction

The first structure can be corrected in the following ways:

 There ARE some technical DIFFERENCES...(Here the plural subject "differences" agrees with the plural verb "are.")

It is instructive to state that the structure can be written without the word "THERE." In that case, it will be:

 Some technical DIFFERENCES ARE...

The correction of the second structure is relatively simpler. It is just a matter of deleting "ULTIMATE" from the structure, and the result would be:

 ...Legal CONCLUSION.

Conclusion

Dear reader, as you enjoy this discourse, you should be wary of temptations to use more words to express a few things. Those temptations may expose a text or a speech to the grammatical viruses of tautology and subject-verb mismatch.

Dedication

This discourse is dedicated to the team of legal minds and experts of maritime-related disciplines who have secured, for the Republic of Ghana, the historic victory in the dispute between Ghana and Ivory Coast... May Ghanaians learn from the unity that has provided the basis for this victory.

Allah is the Best Grammarian.

Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq Azindoo

Lecturer, University of Applied Management, Germany - Ghana Campus, McCarthy Hill, Accra.
Mr Abbdul Bashiru Ibrahim, one of the detainees

25.09.2017 LISTEN

Over five hundred Ghanaians are currently languishing in some jails in Libya in conditions that can be compared to those of the concentration camps in slave trade era are calling on government to help save their lives which is under threat of execution.

The crime of the Ghanaians is that they entered that country through unapproved means and some of them have been in jail for over two years without trial.

Todays sources at Kufra Maximum Prison in Libya where there are about 100 Ghanaians been held explained that most of the 'prisoners' are peel and ill but the Libyan authorities do not care about their health situation.

Currently, there is an outbreak of communicable diseases in most of those congested places where these Ghanaians are being kept and there are fears that some of them may die before the Libyan authorities kill them, as there are no medical facilities nor health personnel at the prisons

According to the source, one of the 'prisoners who he (the source) managed to speak with gave his name as Abbdul Bashiru Ibrahim, a 35-year-old who was said to be accosted at police barrier from Derna to Benghazi after close of work and he has been held behind bars for over one year now.

Todays investigation team traced the address, Mr Bashiru Ibrahim gave to our source to a house in Accra and caught up with some family members who are perplexed about the sons predicament especially the aged mother.

Speaking in an interview with Today, brother of the detainee, Shafaru Ibrahim told the team that their family is devastated when news got to them. Saying my brother called home and told us about his ordeal and ever since the family have been going through hard times, especially our mother.

As you can see she has reduced in size because she has not been eating, she has become restless and no one can tell what will happen to her if my brother is not release soon he added.

Mr Ibrahim explained that his brother got in touch with the family with the help of a detainee who managed to send a mobile phone into the prison.

He however, collaborated with our sources account that some of the detainees have started vanishing into thin air which had brought fear and anxiety among them, since no one knows his faith as to who will be killed next.

The source noticed that some of the detainees cannot be found in the prisons and we cannot question anybody.

The source told Today that some of the detainees have spent close to over one year and have not been questioned by the Libyan police or taken to court.

"The food they eat in the prisons cannot be described, as it is difficult to find words to described the food and most of us are sick but we don't get any medical attention," the source added.

The source maintained that the Libyan authorities constantly subject their detainees to torture, making a number of them to get physically weak.

"If no intervention by the countrys government as well as international and civil rights organisation is taken all the detainees will not get out of these places alive and those who will come out will not be fit for the rest of life," It lamented.

It is on this note that they are calling on the government through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to move swiftly to save those hundreds of Ghanaians whose fate hangs in balance.
Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, the Accra Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Church, on Sunday cautioned the youth over their addiction to cell phones, which he said could distract them from their self-development.

He said parents must control how their children use such gadgets to avoid abuse and exposure to unworthy material.

He advised the youth to be self-disciplined when using mobile devices, and endeavor to use them only for profitable activities spiritually or professionally.

He charged the youth to sidestep unworthy materials that would jeopardize their future. Archbishop Palmer-Buckle gave the advice at a Confirmation Service of the St James Catholic Church at Osu in Accra.

Do not let the cell phone imprison you that is why it is called a cell phone, it puts you into cells, many of you are not aware how much you have become prisoners of this gadget, some of you do not sleep in the night, it is always on and you do not have a good rest,'' he said.

He said workers were also guilty when it comes to using cell phone abuse, adding; We go to work and we do not work well and then we are fired. Then we say why is the man firing me? And we incite the TUC and the Unions to go on strike when we know we've not been sleeping adequately to enable us to perform better.

Thirty-nine members of the St James Catholic Church took the Sacrament of Confirmation administered by Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle. Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and the last of four initiation rites for Catholics.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle admonished Christians to be prayerful and always find time to read and study the Bible, seek the Holy Spirit through fasting and lead humble and dignified lives worthy of emulation.


The controversial $72 million software procured by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is functioning despite an earlier claim to the contrary.

Investigations by Joy News have revealed key modules of the Operating Business Suite (OBS) are working to expectation.

Out of the total 14 modules of the OBS, only one module - the compliance module - is yet to function at full capacity.

Related Article: Former SSNIT Boss rejects claim expensive software not functioning

Current SSNIT Director-General Dr John Kojo Ofori Tenkorang

The revelation was made by Joy News Evans Mensah, Kwetey Nartey and host of Joy FMs Super Morning Show, Kojo Yankson after weeks of painstakingly probing the claim made by the current SSNIT management.

Current SSNIT Director-General, Dr John Kojo Ofori Tenkorang told Joy News in August, the entire software is not functioning despite the huge money spent on it.

Related Article: I'm still paying cash for faulty $72m software  New SSNIT boss

He said the non-functioning of the software is due to alterations made on it and some legal regime regulating their operations.

Former SSNIT boss, Ernest Thompson

But his predecessor, Ernest Thompson dismissed the claim, saying he was aware only one module was challenged.

When I was in office, we realized that that particular module was not giving us the correct figures that we wanted, he told Joy News.

The initial cost of the software procured to automate processes at SSNIT was $34 million when it was awarded to Perfect Business Systems and Silver Lake Consortium in 2012. But this ballooned to $72 million, creating disaffection for the Trust.

Joy News Kwetey Nartey visited some SSNIT branches to access his pension contributions and expressed fascination at the speed his statement was printed.

He said: within less than a minute I had my statement in handand updated my records.

Joy News also established that the same SSNIT OBS was used by government to rid the payroll of over 50,000 ghost names.

A statement by the Finance Ministry said the cleaning of governments payroll saved the country some 35 million.

Joy News Evans Mensah was emphatic that it will be bluntly erroneous to simply say the OBS isnt working without specifying which module is not working.

But acting Corporate Affairs Director at SSNIT, Victoria Abedu said their argument was not that the entire software was not functioning.

The system is not as we were thinking [and] we have always indicated that the system is working but some are not functional, she clarified.

She defended the claim made by Dr Tenkorang, saying her boss was rather making reference to those systems that were not working.

Mrs Abedu said the non-functioning of the compliance module could derail the progress of the Trust if it is not addressed.

Compliance is a big deal when it comes to social security operation so when the compliance module is not working then that is a big loss to SSNIT, she said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com |
Bukavu (DR Congo) (AFP) - A teenager was killed on Monday in protests against instability in Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a local official said.

The 14-year-old student died after being hit by a bullet. A further seven people were treated in hospital, an AFP correspondent said.

Protestor Robert Njangala accused police of firing bullets in the area where the teenager was killed, after attempts to disperse the crowd with tear gas failed.

Education minister Ladislas Muganza said protesters who attempted to carry the student's body to the town hall were blocked by a police cordon.

Protestors in the poor neighbourhood of Panzi ransacked local offices and a police station before setting them on fire.

Locals are protesting against chronic instability, including a spate of armed robberies, in Bukavu, the regional capital of South Kivu province which lies on the border with Rwanda.

The east of the country has been prey to attacks by rival armed groups for more than 20 years.

Local authorities were not available for comment when contacted by AFP.

Meanwhile 34 prisoners -- including 27 convicted rapists -- escaped from a prison in Mwenga, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) from Bukavu, on Sunday.

It was the latest in a series of violent incidents at prisons in the troubled country.

The prisoners, some serving sentences for murder and robbery, fled in the pouring rain after cutting through the iron bars.

Local authorities said three of the prisoners had since been found.

In June 900 prisoners in the neighbouring province of North Kivu broke free and more than 4,000 fled from a jail in the capital Kinshasa in May.
25.09.2017 LISTEN

Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - A communiquA has been signed by the stakeholders of the New Times Corporation (NTC) for the amicable settlement of the industrial action between the workers, the Board and Management.

The communiquA was signed by Ms Ivy Austin, the Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors; Mr Solomon Kotei, the General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) and copied to the Chairman of the National Media Commission and the Chairman of the National Labour Commission.

It said that the issues that culminated in the upheaval should be amicably settled by due process and by that arrangement immediate normalcy was expected to return to the NTC.

It said the Union, particularly, should take steps to ensure that sanity prevailed on the premises of the NTC and that the Board of Directors and Management should ensure that the concerns of the workers were fully addressed through due process.

The communiquA said no worker should be victimised as a result of the industrial action.

This came about following a meeting held on Friday, September 22, 2017, on the developments that took place from Monday, September 18, 2017 involving the workers of the Corporation, the Board of Directors, Management and the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union representing the workers of NTC.

GNA
The Roman Ridge School (TRRS) has emerged victorious as the winner of multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the 2017 Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Essay Competition.

During a Special Awards Ceremony held at the school recently, the Principal of the school. Mrs. Valerie Mainoo congratulated the teachers and student body for participating and winning medals in a competition that promotes literacy and critical thinking.

Mr. John Apea, the Africa Head of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) in the United Kingdom, the organisers of the competition, commended TRRS for  being a relatively young but dynamic school that consistently punches well above its weight.

Special messages of congratulations were also made from the podium by the Special Guest, Ghanas illustrious son and former Supreme Court Judge, Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe and and former Minister of Education, Rev. Dr. Joyce R. Aryee, Chair of the Academic Board of Governors, TRRS. Other dignitaries on hand to celebrate with the parents, teachers and students were: Mr. Gideon Commey, Africa Youth Coordinator for the RCS, Mrs. Celine Duros, Director with the innovative Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology and Mrs. Aseye Tamakloe, a Professor at the National Film and Television Institute and global first place winner of the Queens Essay Competition in 1994.
Aba (Nigeria) (AFP) - Sixty suspected members of a pro-Biafran group were remanded in custody on Monday when they appeared in court after clashes with the security services in southeast Nigeria.

The defendants, all said to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, are charged with a string of offences, including attempted murder and terrorism.

Abia state police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said the case before magistrates in the state capital Umuahia was adjourned until October 25. No plea was entered.

The case is the second involving suspected IPOB members following the clashes earlier this month that were sparked by a build-up of troops in the southeast.

Seven people were remanded in custody last week in the commercial hub, Aba.

IPOB wants an independent state for the Igbo people who dominate the southeast region, reviving secessionist sentiment that led to a brutal civil war 50 years ago.

Tension has been building since October 2015 when the group's leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was arrested and held in custody until he was released on bail in April this year.

His trial on charges of treasonable felony is expected to resume next month.

The army earlier this month flooded Abia state with troops, ostensibly as part of an operation against violent crime, but IPOB suspected it was an attempt to curb its activities.

Supporters clashed in Abia and neighbouring Rivers state, while the violence threatened to take on a wider ethnic dimension when unrest flared in the central city of Jos.

Nigeria's government has since formally proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organisation and accused it of stoking tensions by making false claims online of genocide against Igbos.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed said last week that IPOB's "financial headquarters" was in France. Paris said it has "no knowledge of a particular IPOB presidence in France".

"We would like to reiterate that France actively cooperates with Nigeria in the field of security and that we strongly support the unity of the country," the French embassy said.
The Chartered Global Investment Analyst has approved Westlion as one of its accredited training partner for the West African region.

The CGIA is therefore delighted to inform its growing members across West Africa that they can now receive tuition and application insights from Westlion.

The Chartered Global Investment Analyst (CGIA - USA) is the worlds largest and recognized professional body providing approved designation for Securities, Investment Banking, Wealth Management, Accounting, Statistics, Insurance, Financial Planning, Economics, Investment, Stock Brokering, Financial Management, Business Management, Actuarial Science professionals globally.

CGIA Charter Program is certified by the Global Academy of Finance and Management (GAFM) which is a global professional body of investment and finance professionals in over 150 countries and with over 10,000 members worldwide.

The CGIA Charter designation is a gateway to a network of more than 10,000 investment professionals recognized in over 100 countries worldwide. It has recently launched a campaign across Africa and is vigorously working with major stakeholders within the Financial Services Sector across the region.

According to the West Africa regional director for the CGIA, Mr. Charles Yeboah, We are very inspired by what we are achieving in Africa, especially in West Africa with the CGIA program. The interest receive across the board from all stakeholders in the financial services industry is very inspiring. Members and professionals are committed to maintaining the highest level of professionalism and integrity in discharging their responsibilities, hence their involvement with the CGIA

He also touched on the partnership approach of the CGIA Our approach is more of partnership in each region. We find ways on how to work together with the various regulatory bodies in each country. We see this as very critical to all our current and future members

Westlion, a leading business facilitation firm headquartered in Accra, is now accredited to provide tuition for all CGIA members who requires tuition in order to prepare for their CGIA exam.

For more information, contact the CGIA via www.cgiaglobal.com / www.westliongroup.com / [email protected]
25.09.2017 LISTEN

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecom World 2017 conference opened today with an urgent call on governments as well as local and global ICT players to work together and connect the 3.9 billion people who lack ICT access in the world today.

ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao, who made the call at the grand opening ceremony, observed that whereas it was refreshing to note that 95 per cent of the world today has mobile connections, it is sad note 3.9 billion people were yet to be connected.

He said this year's ITU Telecom World, taking place in Busan, South Korea under the theme Smart Digital Transformation, Global Opportunities, was therefore dedicated, among other things, to forging business to business as well as business to government partnerships as part of the drive to connect the unconnected.

Houlin Zhao noted that special attention would also be paid to small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the ICT industry because they are doing a lot to connected the unserved and underserved and ITU is seeking mainstream them to drive that agenda strongly.

Indeed, in Ghana, government, through the National Communications Authority (NCA), recently announced a novelty authorization for telcos to use their 900MHz 2G spectrum to deploy Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems (UMTS) and provide affordable 3G service in the unserved and underserved areas.

Government is giving this authorization for free to the telcos, and the telcos themselves have said that deploying UMTS on 900MHz is much cheaper than deploying same on the 2100MHz originally licensed to them for 3G.

The telcos said they are therefore happy to apply for the authorization and deploy 3G to the unconnected areas of the country, in line ITU vision of connection the unconnected 3.9 billion people of the world.

Again, team Ghana, at the ITU would be showcasing the e-Transform agenda, which is a national drive towards digitizing all state institutions and digitalizing services from the state to citizens.

Part of that agenda would be to digitalize citizens records in order for government to serve them better.

Indeed, Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu Ekuful put it more succinctly in her statement to participants of the ITU Telecom World saying "As part of our Digital Ghana Agenda, we are embarking on an ambitious infrastructure development programme for the ICT Sector, with a national broadband infrastructure and total connectivity for the unserved and underserved at the heart of the agenda. No one will be left behind."

The Minister, who is being represented at the ITU Conference by his Deputy, Nenyi George Kojo Andah, took the opportunity to invite participants to Ghana's stand to interact with Ghana's exhibitors and to see the innovative products being showcased by the Ghanaian delegation.

Those on team Ghana are National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Subah Ghana, GCNet and the Wireless Applications Service Providers Association of Ghana (WASPAG).

WASPAG

The ITU is placing strong emphasis on the role of tech SMEs in bridging the digital gap, and WASPAG is a group of Ghanaian tech SMEs using affordable mobile technologies to deliver services in both privileged and less-privileged communities.

WASPAG is at the ITU conference to take advantage of ITU's focus on SMEs to showcase what they do as separate entities to ensure digital inclusion, particularly their mobile health service that bring health professional to the doorstep of customers at very affordable rates.

WASPAG Chair, Ismael Yamson told Adom News they contribute to expanding connectivity to underserved areas through GIFEC, the universal access fund, and they would also be happy to extend services to those areas once there is connectivity.

GIFEC

GIFEC is also undertaking an ambitious smart communities project to ensure affordable and or free WIFI to specific communities to help grow businesses, access to information and essential services through local WIFI connectivity.

This project, slated to take off next month, will run on the back of government's 4G LTE set up under NITA and also on GIFEC's own Satellite Hub.

Administrator of GIFEC, Kofi Asante who led the GIFEC team to Busan, told Adom News smart communities project will start from four communities - Berekum, Goaso, Asankragwa and Asomura, and it will be spread to other areas going forward.

He said GIFEC are also remodeling their operations to now partner with telcos and infrastructure companies to raise more towers at a faster rate in the unserved and underserved communities.

"For starters, we are working with MTN and Huawei to raise 100 of such towers by the close of this year alone and next year we will raise 200 more of such towers - which is much better than the 170 towers GIFEC has put up under the old model," he said.

NITA

On their part, NITA has laid fibre network from Accra through the eastern corridor (Volta Region) to Bawku, and has spread 120 4G LTE towers across the country and are they working on laying fibre along the western corridor through to Hamile in the north.

NITA boss, Jeffrey Konadu Addo also told Adom News the vision is to ready the communities for industry players to find it viable to connect to the government infrastructure and offer affordable WIFI service in the deprived areas.

He said NITA is about to connect schools on the infrastructure it has spread across the country and that will also benefit the communities in which the schools are.

"Currently our infrastructure is only serving government institutions but we are in talks with some private businesses who want to come on board but we need to regulate well in order for there to be sanity in the system," the NITA boss.

ITU 2018

Meanwhile, South African Minister of Telecoms and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele announced that South Africa is ready to host ITU Telecom World 2018 "not just because of South Africa but it is time the ITU comes to Africa."

He noted that the ITU cannot quite be global unless its global conference comes to Africa and the time is now.

Siyabonga Cwele said Africa is now on the move as far as ICTs and mobile technologies are concerned, and the continent remains the leading investment destination in the world, offering the most promising investment opportunities.

He therefore urged the world to "come to Africa through South Africa and join the move."

Hungary also offered to host the ITU Telecom World in 2019.
Patients and staff of the Worawora General Hospital, can now heave a sigh of relief following an intervention by a philanthropist to renovate their dilapidated medical theatre facility.

The hospital is the only major health facility in the northern enclaves of the Volta Region, serving at least the three districts of Biakoye, Jasikan and Krachi East with an average daily attendance of 400 patients.

The deteriorating nature of the medical theatre is affecting the delivery of quality healthcare. Its roofs which are corrugated iron sheets have rusted and leaks anytime it rains.

The windows of the theater are damaged, with many louver blades broken. The hospital has seen no major renovation for decades.

Daniel Kosina, the philanthropist, has pledged to renovate the entire Medical Theatre and equip it with the necessary equipment to improve healthcare delivery in the area.

He said he was particularly moved to extend the gesture as a result of the challenges expectant mothers face in accessing essential medical services in the area.

The main reason for this donation is that, as a result of the poor nature of the building and its equipment, when women and children come for operations, doctors are unable to do their work efficiently; the rains and the roofing disturb them he said

Mr. Kosina, who is also a three-time parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party in the Biakoye Constituency, presented bundles of iron sheets and boxes of nails to commence the first phase of the work.

He told Citi News he was hopeful works on the structure would be completed by the first quarter of 2018.

Dr. Isaac Secor, the acting Medical Superintendent at the hospital, expressed gratitude to Mr. Kosino for the gesture, stating that it would go a long way to improve upon the services rendered by the facility.



By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Joy in Giving Foundation, an initiative of renowned Broadcast Journalist, Joyce Midley, has donated assorted items and cash to the Volta Home Orphanage at Vedeme in the Volta Region.

The Broadcast Journalist with over a decade experience in television also feted the children at the Orphanage on Saturday, September 23, 2017.

This is not the first time Joyce Midley is providing such a gesture to the Volta Home Orphanage. In 2015 and 2016, Joyce Midley put together her Easter and Christmas packages and donated them to this orphanage and two others in the country. The aim was to put a smile on the faces of these fortunate children in society.

Joyce Midley told Myjoyonline.com that this year, she plans on embarking on a special project with selected orphanages in the country. This involves physically visiting, feting and donating food items to some orphanages across the country.

The foundation is kick-starting the project with the Volta Home Orphanage in Vedeme in the Volta Region.

This follows a request from the orphanage that some of the children aspire to pursue a career in broadcasting and therefore would request my mentorship, guidance, advice and motivation, she explained.

About 60 children of the Volta Home Orphanage were feted and benefited from cash donations as well as well as groceries such as rice, tin fish, milk, juice, diapers, educational materials, some dresses Joyce Midley wore for her news presentations, 10 yards of cloth, biscuits among others.

Orphanages that have benefitted under this project are the Osu Childrens Home in Accra, the Volta Home Orphanage in Vedeme in the Volta Region and the Alpha & Omega Orphanage at Suhum in the Eastern Region.

The exercise is by the kind courtesy of Melcom Ghana Limited, Mothers of Africa, Patrick Quainoo Ministries and Friends of Joyce Midley.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Libreville (AFP) - Wildlife guards funded by the WWF and other conservation groups have carried out systematic abuses against tribes in central Africa, an activist group claimed on Monday.

Survival International, a British rights group, published a report containing more than 200 reported incidents against the Baka and Bayaka Pygmies in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic since 1989.

It claimed some of the world's largest conservation organisations, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), have illegally evicted the tribes from their ancestral homelands "in the name of conservation".

In response, WWF said it did not employ eco-guards and described the reported abuse as "totally unacceptable".

Survival International said the creation of new national parks leave the tribes open to accusations of poaching when they hunt to feed their families.

"Together with their neighbours, they face harassment and beatings, torture and death. The anti-poaching squads that commit these atrocities are funded and equipped by the same conservation organisations," the report said.

Survival said the "harrowing accounts" it had gathered represented only a small fraction of the real number of such cases as the vast majority go undocumented.

"All these abuses should have been investigated swiftly and fairly, but almost always go unpunished, and are frequently denied."

WWF said it does not employ eco-guards, but does fund equipment and uniforms as part of its conservation work.

"We are shocked and saddened to hear of the violence and abuse of indigenous people. It is totally unacceptable," it said in a statement.

WWF said it has repeatedly asked Survival International to share information about the incidents so it can urge the authorities to act.

The Baka and Bayaka Pygmies are a hunter-gatherer people who have lived in the tropical forests of the Congo River basin for generations.

The report said in one incident wildlife rangers arrived at a Baka village in WWF-marked cars and beat villagers who were forced to flee. A young girl and an elderly man later died of their injuries.

Survival said "green colonialism" is not just destroying lives but also harming conservation.

"Scapegoating tribal people diverts action away from tackling the real causes of environmental destruction in the Congo Basin: logging and corruption," it said.
Mr Okatakyie Amankwaa Afrifa

25.09.2017 LISTEN

Mr Okatakyie Amankwaa Afrifa, a son of former Head of State, Gen. Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa, has suggested that churches across the country could be taxed, and the money used to sustain the free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

According to him, though there have been calls by some Non-governmental organizations for government to increase VAT by 2.5% purposely to fund the policy, it would be proper if churches across the length and breadth of this country paid what he called "church tax" as a subvention solely for the support of the free education policy.

In his own estimation government generating GHC1.3 billion a year from the increase in VAT alone cannot cater for all three years, in addition to expanding infrastructure of SHSs.

According to him, if churches across the country paid a percentage of money they generate into funding this policy, the policy would be sustained and the children of members of these churches will continue to benefit from the programme.

Addressing journalists in the Western region, over the weekend, Okatayie Amankwaa noted that successive governments will only abandon such a social intervention due to lack of funds, adding that with a strong financial muscle, continuity of this laudable initiative will not collapse.

Okatakyie Afrifa, who is also the Western Regional Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) was of the firm belief that the introduction of a revenue generation regime to cater solely for this policy will reduce the tendency of successive governments abandoning it in the future.

The Akufo-Addo led government, earlier this month launched a flagship programme, the free SHS, starting with the 2017/2018 academic calendar.

Many were the arguments mainly from the opponents of government that there were no funds to roll out the policy, an argument the NPP vehemently downplayed.

In the run up to the 2016 general elections, the party, led by the current President, Nana Akufo-Addo, gave countless measures to sustain the policy, amongst them was the use of the proceeds from the countrys oil.

Interacting with the media, the General Manager of Dynamite FM in Tarkwa, Okatakyie Amankwaa Afrifa, applauded the implementation of governments pro poor policies especially the free SHS.

He also congratulated President Akufo-Addo and government for honoring their promise of implementing free SHS policy.

According to him, since education is one key tool in bridging the gap between the poor and the rich, the policy will in the future eradicate extreme poverty and hunger from the Country.

However, he advised that such a great initiative will need a strong financial support or else its sustenance will be defective.

He also commended government's intention to use part of the proceeds of our natural resources to fund the free SHS policy, but however urged government to back this with a Legislative Instrument to let it stand any political transitions.

Okatakyie Afrifa urged all Ghanaians especially the people of Western Region and educationists to support the smooth implementation of this policy and further urged them to resist any attempt by future governments to scrap the policy.
Last week was a quieter one for crypto traders as the market reflected on the China crypto ban announcements. After the initial panic, prices seem to have stabilised for now.

The total market cap of all cryptos according to coinmarketcap.com is currently US$128 billion.

Technically the market remains in an up-trend, though the recent volatility suggests that it could trade sideways in the run-up to Christmas as traders and investors wait to see what happens next.

But, behind the scenes, bitcoin (BTC) made some progress on the march towards public acceptance.

Australias government has introduced a bill that delivers on a long-standing promise to solve a double taxation problem for cryptocurrencies.

The government explained:

The Bill will ensure that Australians are no longer charged GST on purchases of digital currency, allowing it to be treated the same way as physical money for GST purposes. The law change will retrospectively apply from 1 July 2017, in line with the 2017 Budget announcement.

Future legislation on other issues like Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules are expected soon.

Heres the roundup of cryptocurrency prices in Australian dollars

Bitcoin Price: $4,617, -1.411%

Ethereum Price: $353, -0.32%

Zcash Price: $220.50, +2.61%

MaidSafeCoin Price: $0.47, -0.432%

Dash Price: $422, -3.61%

With interest growing around the world, there has never been a better time to learn more about the incredible potential of cryptocurrencies. But there are some very real risks for investors. Dont invest until youve read Sam Volkerings latest special report here

Regards,

Ryan Dinse,

Editor, Money Morning
The share price for Sheffield Resources Ltd [ASX:SFX] has gained 10.7% today. Sheffield has snagged a big buyer for its zircon.

Whats the deal with Sheffield Resources Share Price?

Sheffield owns and operates WA mine project Thunderbird, a site that is rich in zircon. Today, Sheffield announced that it had signed a deal with Indian company Sukaso Ceracolors. The nations largest raw ceramic supplier.

The agreement will see Sheffield supply 12,000 tonnes of zircon to the Indian company annually. The deal will last for five years, but could be extended thereafter.

Sheffield will certainly be looking to build a strong relationship. Especially as their mine has an expected life of 42 years.

What next for Sheffield Resources?

Todays deal is a big deal, but they still need more customers. The deal means theyve got buyers for 36% of their total zircon output. A great start, but hopefully they can snag a few more buyers soon.

Sheffields Managing Direction Bruce McFadzean commented:

With more than one third of our premium zircon for Stage 1 of Thunderbird now under binding agreement, over the coming months we will continue to deliver on our offtake and funding objectives which we commenced in 2017.

Construction of the site is expected to start later this year.

If youre looking for other potential superstar mining stocks, weve got you covered. Check out what we believe are the top 10 mining stocks on the ASX in this report.

Regards,

Ryan Clarkson-Ledward,

Junior Analyst, Money Morning
'The big truck is still on ...
Sacramento, CA  California Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill declaring the Augustynolophus morrisi as the states official dinosaur.

The legislation signed over the weekend notes that it was a unique creature and found only in California. The species is a type of hadrosaur known for having mouths shaped like the bill of a duck. The author of the legislation, Democrat Richard Bloom of Santa Monica, argued that it will help inspire young Californians to become interested in paleontology and other scientific fields. Specimens of Augustynolophus were located in the late 1930s in the Moreno Shale Formation of the Panoche Hills in Fresno County.

California becomes one of eight states to designate an official dinosaur.

California earlier declared the state animal as the California Grizzly Bear, the amphibian the California Red-Legged Frog, the bird the California Valley Quail, the mineral gold, the flower the California Poppy and tree the California Redwood.
Maroon PT Cruiser of interest in Justice For CiCi related assault incident Sept 23 2017 AC Police Photo View Photos

Angels Camp, CA  Tempers that were already flaring between animal rights protesters and supporters of a pet business owner facing trial over animal cruelty and other charges came to a head over the weekend.

Angels Camp Police Chief Todd Fordahl has released still images from local surveillance footage that depict two suspects and a vehicle of interest from a fight that broke out Saturday afternoon in front of Pet Bath House, located at 172 S. Main Street, resulting in injuries to two protesters.

According to police, eyewitnesses reported a male and female approached the protesters and began yelling at them to leave the area. The female allegedly proceeded to flip over the protesters table and struck a female protester numerous times with a closed fist. A second protester after running to assist the first and yell for the female to cease the assault was also struck twice in the face by the female suspect. Both protesters suffered minor injuries.

Witnesses state both suspects ran from the scene after a third protester retrieved a stick from her vehicle and brandished it while warning them to leave. The male and female were seen fleeing to a maroon colored PT Cruiser with an unknown license plate, which departed westbound on Stockton Road.

Police Seeking Odd Pair, PT Cruiser

Police are currently looking for both suspects. The female is described as approximately 56 tall, 140 pounds and wearing a white tank top at the time of the attack. As she also had on a dark, shoulder-length wig, witnesses could not provide an approximate age or ethnicity. The male is described as approximately 25 years of age and heavyset with dark hair. He was wearing a black beanie cap and a black hooded sweatshirt. Due to conflicting witness descriptions police did not release an approximate height. To view an image captured of the two, click into the image box slideshow. Officers, who subsequently spoke to Pet Bath House owner Vonna Hughes near the scene, say she denied any involvement or knowledge of the fight.

The protest stems back several weeks to early July, shortly after a displaced Butte Fire survivor living in San Andreas  who had been boarding his three dogs for about 18 months without incident at a Valley Springs kennel  had recently moved them to Hughes facility. Within a couple of days Hughes reported the trio were attacking other dogs; within another week, the canines disappeared and Hughes told the owner they had been put down.

As reported here, a few weeks later  with the help of flyers carrying photos of the missing animals posted through the community  two were found alive and returned to their owner. The remains of the third whose name was CiCi were recovered following their discovery by a utility company employee working in the area. Since then, protesters wearing shirts and carrying signs Justice For Cici have been picketing in front of the Pet Bath House and due to protesters complaints the planning department is investigating the business to determine if there is cause for revoking Hughes business license.

As the case is actively under investigation police are busily examining more surveillance footage and requesting anyone with information about the incident to contact the Angels Camp Police Department at 209 736-2567 or by email at acpd@angelscamp.gov.
The Igbo-Ukwu bronzes are so mysterious and seem to have such a long, unrevealed history. Nigerian scientists believe that the ancestors used it during the burial ceremony of highly important people. One has to wonder why the tradition of bronze casting was so strong at that time and why blacksmiths worked only on the Igbo-Ukwu at? Lets find out more about the most enigmatic secrets from the history of Igbo-Ukwu art.

Nigerian Igbo-Ukwu art

The bronze sculpture of West Africa is the evidence of a highly developed, magnificent artistic tradition in this part of the continent. This technically innovative and gorgeously polished form of bronze is art historians and anthropologists most favorite discursive topic.

The earliest examples of cast bronze artifacts were found in Igbo-Ukwu, Nigeria, in the 9th century. In West Africa, the tradition of bronze casting reached its peak during the Great kingdoms periods. The hardest cire perdue technique was used for the creation of different items made of bronze. The lost-wax casting technique is the process of duplicating metal sculpture ( silver, bronze or gold) from an original one.

Bronze casters organized some special formations and held a key position in the society. At that time, only a king was able to demand the production of bronze items and control the distribution of metal relics. The most popular bronze artifact was calabash bowl. It was commonly decorated with pyroengraved designs.

READ ALSO: Nigerian traditional art and culture

The Igbo-Ukwu town art

The Nigerian town Igbo-Ukwu is famous for its archaeological sites, where for the first time, bronze artifacts were found. The discovered items are examples of Nigerian refined bronze art. Igbo-Ukwu is located near the well-known modern town of Onitsha, which is in the southeast of Nigeria. Igbo-Ukwu is situated in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State. The town has a historical and cultural significance for Igbo and Nigerians as a whole. In the past, Igbo-Ukwu was part of the Nri Kingdom, (the 10th century AD).

The prominent Igbo-Ukwu archaeological site has different parts, including the main burial place with caches and shrines. Archaeological experts discovered the site in 1939 when an Igbo farmer named Isaiah Anozie accidentally stumble upon several bronze objects. He was digging the soil to hold water in the dry seasons and never thought he could find something so precious in his yard. In 1959, archaeologist Alice Apley started to study more about local Igbo-Ukwu population and their culture.

She talks a bit about the art of the locals, saying:" The inhabitants of Igbo-Ukwu had a metalworking art that flourished as early as the ninth century. Three sites have been excavated, revealing hundreds of ritual vessels and regalia castings of bronze or leaded bronze that are among the most inventive and technically accomplished bronzes ever made.

Alice Apley also stated that Igbo-Ukwu people were the earliest coppersmiths in West Africa. They started to work with metal by bending, twisting and incising it. They are considered to be the earliest groups of West Africans who used casting techniques to produce bronze sculptures. Although they were not familiar with soldering, riveting and raising metal techniques, they managed to make fine bronze items.

6 Top interesting facts about Igbo-Ukwu bronze art

Almost all of Igbo Ukwu bronze art objects were made around the 9th century AD. Usually, Igbo-Ukwu art is represented with the traditional ceremonial vessel. There are also a lot of extravagant bronze vases and bowls. The numerous ornaments and lost wax technique are really impressive.

Igbo Ukwu art bronze is considered to be the earliest type of art in sub-Sahara region.

The bronze items were mass-produced locally but the Nri Kingdom was involved in a long-distance and cross African trade, which means that Igbo-Ukwu art could be sold to any other country in sub-Sahara region.

The three sites of Igbo-Ukwu art were discovered during 1938-1959 years. The discoveries include Igbo Richard (a burial chamber), Igbo Isaiah (a shrine), and Igbo Jonah (a cache).

The discovered Igbo-Ukwu bronze artifacts are believed to be the remnants from the burial. The imets found include crowns, breastplates, ritual vessels, pendants, jewelry, ceramics, copper, iron objects and thousands of glass beads.

The Igbo-Ukwu bronze castings are made in different stages, using the lost wax technique. This is the direct proof of Igbo ancestors high bronze casting skills.

The Igbo-Ukwu art examples

There are three basic Igbo-Ukwu artifacts known as the key ones: vessels, masks, and sculptures.

The Igbo-Ukwu vessels

The Igbo Ukwu vessels usually have some insects ornament on them and a mix of parallel lines. Perhaps the insects reflect the importance of controlling the creatures in the area where yam crop is grown.

The traditional Igbo Ukwu shell with parallel lines and granulations typical for Igbo-Ukwu art

Most of the vessels are decorated with animal pictures or symmetric circles. Some parts of such vessels are made in the shape of a particular animal. In the picture below you can see the traditional Igbo-Ukwu shell with leopard standing upon a pedestal. The decoration consists of concentric circles and herringbone ornamentation.

The Igbo-Ukwu sculpture

The traditional sculpture consists of the portraits of important people and military generals. Most of the sculptures were produced to express the respect to elites.

The Igbo-Ukwu masks

Aside from traditional bronze Igbo-Ukwu vessels and sculptures, the Igbo people are known for making various types of bronze masks, Mbari houses, and mud sculptures.

The examples of Igbo Ukwu traditional bronze mask design

The most sophisticated and precious art of Nigeria is Igbo-Ukwu bronze art. It is undoubtedly the earliest type of art in Nigeria and the first one to set on trade. Looking at all these interesting ornaments and patterns makes you wonder at how a person can express is/her own perception of the world in art. The bronze seems to be perfect material at all times.

READ ALSO: Igbo cultural dance attire

Source: Legit.ng
Jim Ovia is not only the founder of Zenith bank but also an inspirational speaker, whose speeches motivate people to pursue their own dreams. He promotes the development of the IT sector in Nigeria and does a lot of charity work. Who is the man whose net worth currently goes up to $980 million? Lets find out interesting facts from Jim Ovia biography and learn all about his path to the top of Forbes list.

From clerk to CEO

Jim Ovia was born in Agbor, Delta State, on November 4, 1951. After he completed his secondary education, he was hired by the Ikeja branch of Barclays Bank where he held the position of a clerical officer. He worked in the bank for several years before he moved to the USA. The future businessman got admitted into the Southern University, Louisiana, and began studying Business Administration in 1977.

He later studied at the University of Louisiana in Monroe and two years later, he got his Masters degree in 1979. Jims biggest achievement in the academic field is undoubtedly him being an alumnus of the Harvard Business School. All these institutions gave Jim a lot of knowledge and experience but the most challenging task was ahead.

READ ALSO: Zenith-Prudential Insurance berths in Nigeria

After he returned to Nigeria, he was hired to work in Lion Bank and where he soon became the manager of one of the banks branches in Lagos. Soon after that, he joined the International Merchant Bank and got promoted from the position of a financial analyst to manager.

After the deregulation of the banking sector in the 1980s, Jim Ovia cooperated with some other partners and applied for a banking license. In May 1990, 20 shareholders founded Zenith International bank and Jim Ovia started to move in a completely different direction.

Zenith Bank

Jim founded Zenith Bank Plc in 1990 and has held the position of Chief Executive Officer until 2010. Under his leadership, Zenith Bank grew into the biggest and one of the fastest developing banks in Nigeria. These days, Zenith Bank has become a huge success in Nigeria with branches in Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and the United Kingdom.

Being a very skilled banker, he presented a lot of new ideas and innovations. He integrated them not only into the Zenith bank system but the Nigerian banking industry as well. Zenith Bank was soon honoured with the Central Banks recognition award.

Zenith was ruled by a man who had great passion and skills for the work he does. During his two decades of leadership, Zenith bank was ranked as one of the most trustworthy and profitable banks in Africa.

When Jim talks about Zenith banks challenging beginning, he says: When we started Zenith in 1990, it was extremely difficult as the necessary resources and infrastructure to do business, particularly banking, were not in place. There were no ATMs, no mobile phones and ICT was a rarely known concept in the business space.

Membership & Awards

Jim Ovia keeps on receiving numerous awards from different institutions. The smart businessman was honored with the Zik Award for Professional Leadership, the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) given by the President and much more.

He also obtained a degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Finance from the Lagos State University and is a current member of the Governing Council of Lagos State University. It is important to mention that he is also a member of the Board of Trustees, Redeemers University for Nations, Lagos.

In addition, Jim Ovia is also the creator of Visafone Communications Limited and the chairman of two advisory councils: the National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC) and Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI). But that is not all, Jim is a current member of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) and chairman of Cyberspace Network Limited.

Jims kind heart

Some people say all celebrities and businessmen do charity because they feel guilty for all the money they have which others do not have. Jim Ovia thinks differently. He sets an example and creates more opportunities for youths and young businessmen to pursue their dreams. As a result, he is a head of numerous NGOs and the initiator of Mankind United to Support Total Education (MUSTE). This is a charitable organization with a focus on providing scholarships for those who can not afford to pay their own tuition or have no funding to start a business.

In the framework of Youth Empowerment / ICT Foundation, Jim also does a lot to improve the socio-economic welfare of Nigerian youths. He organizes conferences to talk about information and communication technology, inspiring youths to develop personal and professional skills.

One of the richest men in Africa, Jim Ovia is not only a great businessman but a philanthropist and a man with a big heart. He is married, has two beautiful children and everything he ever dreamed of. Jim serves as a truly inspiring example of an unstoppable worker, who always persisted to fulfill his own dreams.

READ ALSO: 4 Nigerian businessmen capable of managing Nigeria's assets

Source: Legit.ng
- Nigerian army says troops neutralised 2 Boko Haram terrorists in Bama local government area of Borno state

- Troops also discovered an Improvised Explosive Device along Bama-Aulari road which was safely detonated

- A suspected physically challenged Boko Haram terrorists informant, Mr. Audu Usman was also arrested in one of the troops' operations

Two Boko Haram terrorists have lost their lives after they came in contact with men of Nigerian army at Feri-Feri and Tashan Goto axis in Bama local government area of Borno state.

The army recovered two bicycles and three wheel barrows after neutralizing two of the terrorists.

Nigerian army made this known on Sunday, September 24 on their Facebook page.

The statement read: "On Friday 22nd September 2017, based on confirmed information, 202 Battalion, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, dispatched 2 ambush teams towards Feri-Feri and Tashan Goto axis in Bama local government area of Borno state.

READ ALSO: 2019 Election: List of 7 forces Atiku must overcome

"Both teams came in contact with suspected Boko Haram terrorists trying to cross and dealt decisively with them by neutralizing 2 terrorists and recovered 2 bicycles and 3 wheel barrows.

"The teams also canalized suspected Boko Haram terrorists while trying to circumnavigate the ditch at Shetimari, causing them to flee into the bush with gunshot wounds as traces of blood were seen during exploitation."

Similarly, the troops on Saturday, September 23, discovered an Improvised Explosive Device along Bama-Aulari road which safely detonated by the Explosive Ordinance Device team attached to the patrol team

"At about 9.00am on Saturday 23rd September 2017, troops of 201 Battalion, 21 Brigade Nigerian Army while on fighting patrol in conjunction Mobile Strike Team 21.

"It was however safely detonated by the Explosive Ordinance Device team attached to the patrol team."

In a related development, troops of 7 Brigade Garrison on 20th September 2017, arrested a suspected physically challenged Boko Haram terrorists informant, Mr. Audu Usman at Doron Baga, northern Borno state.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the federal government of Nigeria through Abubakar Malami the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, announced the resumption of the trial of suspected terrorists.

The trial, which was suspended since the annual vacation of judges across the country began in July, according to the Malami will continue on October 9.

All is now set to begin the arraignment of suspected Boko Haram suspects in various detention facilities in the country.

Source: Legit.ng
- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has again hit hard on those opposing the restructuring of Nigeria

- He described the critics of restructuring of Nigeria as lazy people

- He affirmed that he would continue to champion the course of restructuring even at detriment of his political ambition

The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has again lambasted the people opposing the calls for the restructuring of Nigeria, saying that anyone opposed to the current clamour for restructuring of the nation was lazy.

According to a report, Atiku, who spoke last weekend in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a youth forum, said he would continue to speak against the current faulty unitary federalism structure even at the detriment of his political ambition.

READ ALSO: Customs reveal owners of arms impounded at the Tin Can Island port

Legit.ng gathered that Atiku said that: I dont know what those who are against restructuring are afraid of. Those afraid must be lazy.

I want to agree essentially that there is every need for us to sit down and talk about our future. This is because the arrangements in the last 50 years or so have not served us very well.

I am not a product of the current structure of Nigeria. I am a product of regional government. I saw the government at work and I have also seen the current arrangement at work.

That was why I came out, some people even said to the detriment of my political career, to advocate for restructuring or rearrangement or whatever you call it, of the present structure of the country. I still stand by it.

But we cannot determine the nitty-gritty of this restructuring until we are able to dialogue and agree on how we want to continue to live together as a country.

It is good that all the representatives of the ethnic groups agreed that we should continue to live together. I believe it is imperative. But I also dont believe in the current arrangement, which I have always referred to as unitary federalism, which was a creation of a prolonged military rule.

It all started after the civil war, when General Murtala Mohammed set up the Constituent Assembly of 1978 and specifically instructed the Assembly to recommend a very strong Federal Government which no component can challenge or try to secede from. He was understandably coming from the perception of Biafra civil war.

He felt that the war was caused by the region, which felt that it was too independent to pull out of the country. Subsequently, they kept amending the constitution centralising more and more power at the centre, he said.

The Waziri Adamawa blamed the current political structure on the failure by military government to implement the Constitutional Conference of 1994/1995 recommendation of a single term of six years for the president to rotate among all the six geo-political zones.

Of course, I was a member of the Constitutional Conference of 1994/1995, and what we actually drafted was not what they eventually came out with. We proposed a presidential system with single term of six years to be rotated among the six geo-political zones of the country.

By now, about four zones would have produced the president. We also said that after 36 years, we could review that provision if Nigerians believed it is the best season, otherwise we could discard it.

By the time we won election in 1999, we saw an entirely different constitution. I was told that they set us a review committee headed by Niki Tobi (retired Justice of the Supreme Court), which tampered with the draft and ended up with the constitution we now have today.

However, on a serious note, we have seen that the fact that a zone produced a president does not mean that he will get the zone developed. Former president Jonathan could not construct a road from Port Harcourt to Bayelsa.

Even the southwest road we started during our administration, he could not continue. Until former president Obasanjo finished his eight-year term, he could not complete the road from Lagos to Otta where his farm is.

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Another issue that needs restructuring is the economy. Left for me, I will ask every part of this country to take charge of its resources while the Federal Government should handle defence, foreign affairs, and immigration among others in the Exclusive List.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said that Nigeria could be restructured in six months as he identified the issue of resource control as preventing the move.

Watch a Legit.ng TV video below of Nigerians speaking about restructuring:

Source: Legit.ng
- The commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), Maj.-Gen. Yousef Al-Hnaity has arrived Nigeria

- He arrived Nigeria four days after Jordan donated 200 armoured vehicles to fight terrorism

- The director of public relations and information, Nigerian Air force, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the visit was to further explore areas of collaboration between RJAF and NAF

The commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), Maj.-Gen. Yousef Al-Hnaity, on Sunday, September 24 arrived in Nigeria on a week-long working visit to Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The director of public relations and information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, said in Abuja that the visit was to further explore areas of collaboration between RJAF and NAF.

READ ALSO: Customs reveal owners of arms impounded at the Tin Can Island port

Nigerian Air Force chiefs had visited Jordan in August to initiate collaboration between RJAF and NAF.

Nigeria's minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali discussing with the commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), Maj.-Gen. Yousef Al-Hnaity

The visit to RJAF was fruitful, leading to a promise to provide necessary military assistance and training to NAF.

While in Nigeria, the top military officer from Jordan will pay a courtesy call on the minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, and the CAS, all in Abuja.

Nigeria's minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali with the commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), Maj.-Gen. Yousef Al-Hnaity

He will also visit several NAF bases including the ones in Kaduna State and Lagos State, as well as interact with NAF frontline pilots in Maiduguri and Yola, the statement by NAF said.

The statement expressed optimism that Nigeria would benefit greatly from the visit, particularly in area of capacity building for NAF pilots and aircraft engineers who could train with their Jordanian counterparts.

Nigeria's minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali discussing with the commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), Maj.-Gen. Yousef Al-Hnaity

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It noted that Jordan shared similar security challenges with Nigeria as well as experiences that would impact positively on the global efforts to deal with terrorism (NAN)

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari on 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.

Nigeria's minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali discussing with the commander of the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), Maj.-Gen. Yousef Al-Hnaity

In this Legit.ng video below, Nigerian Air Force gives an update on operations against Boko Haram in 2017:

Source: Legit.ng
- Police have stopped Bama IDPs from trekking back to their various homes

- Bama was taken hostage by Boko Haram terrorists on 1st September 2014 as many people were killed while some people were rendered homeless.

- The IDPs were said to have complained of overstay, and determined to leave the camp at all cost

The police in Borno state have trailed and stopped hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who abandoned their various camps with a mission to trek to their native home town.

In a story sent to Legit.ng, a Facebook user, Comr Mohammed Pulka, said that: in the three years of our displacement, life has been so miserable, our people are been followed and killed even at the so called IDP camps, while others are artificially dying of disease, poverty and hunger. Enough is enough

Legit.ng gathered that the angry IDPs from Bama Local Government Area of the state who constituted the larger population of the displaced persons currently taking refuge in official and unofficial IDP camps in Maiduguri, have always complained of overstay, and were determined to go although they had no permission and no arrangement for their safety from relevant authorities.

Protesting IDPs in Borno state. Photo credit: Mohammed Pulka

READ ALSO: Customs reveal owners of arms impounded at the Tin Can Island port

Bama was overrun by Boko Haram militants on 1st September, 2014 and in March 2015 was recaptured by the military; and since September last year, the town has been under reconstruction, being carried out by the state government.

It was gathered that on Saturday, September 23, an emergency meeting was held by some representatives of the IDPs who have been agitating for the return of all displaced persons from Bama town and environs.

It has been observed that the fear of insecurity will keep us for yet another unknown number of years languishing on expectation that things will be okay very soon but how soon? a source said.

He called on all their counterparts who wanted to stay behind as well as friends and well-wishers to pray for them for the journey.

As planned, hundreds of IDPs from Bama town, who heeded the call to trek back home regardless of any permission or proper arrangement from either Borno state government or the military, converged bearing placards and banners with texts: We are returning to our home, and 3 years of displacement is not a day.

However, before they could start the trek towards Bama, a town 70 kilometres from Maiduguri, a team of policemen led by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Damian Chukwu, visited, urging them to seek proper arrangement from relevant authorities.

Protesting IDPs in Borno state. Photo credit: Mohammed Pulka

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Allowing you to return to Bama is like allowing you to commit suic*ide, the Police Commissioner told leaders of the IDPs, adding, You can manageably move up to Konduga, but from Konduga up to Bama, theres no way you can get to these places without being escorted by full security.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Bama Initiative for Human Development, an NGO, in Maiduguri staged a peaceful demonstration demanding the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their respective communities in Bama.

Watch a Legit.ng Tv video of Boko Haram survivors narrating their horrible experience:

Source: Legit.ng
A group of dancers led by a 29-year-old Abu Sefau has been discovered in Lagos. The group of six consists of guys whose ages range from ten to thirty.

Legit.ng had an exclusive chat with the leader of the group and some of his members after watching them perform in an open space in the heart of Yaba market in Lagos. The skills shown by the young men thrilled their audience and made them win series of applaud from the cheering crowd.

Sefau who hails from Gombe state has been in Lagos since 2015. He started his career by working in a building and construction site where he does manual labour before he started training to learn how to perform.

Sefau and his group performing in Yaba.

The 29-year-old man spent four years during this training as it requires skills and constant practice. He shared the journey of how they started with Legit.ng when he took a break from the performance. There and then, he shared details of the group with us speaking more about the other members.

READ ALSO: Sani Abacha's daughter celebrates birthday in grand style (photos)

The members if the group were listed as 10-year-old Musa Ayuba from Kaduna, 10-year-old Ali Musa who lives at Idi-Araba, 25-year-old Ibrahim Ayuba from Kaduna, 20-year-old Dimoka Ali from Kano and 30-year-old Jemilu Muhammad from Kano.

The Hausa performing group got everybody's attention as they performed.

Sefau spoke extensively on their performances saying they undergo a lot of rigorous activities in order to entertain people. The young man who lives in Idi Araba said the highest he has ever made from the performance was twenty five thousand naira. This was a one-time profit according to him.

The group members took turn to display their talents.

He confessed to people compensating them with a token after watching them perform. Sometimes they get hundred naira from a person and get as low as twenty naira from others.

Sefau whose parents are in Gombe said he has trained about forty people ever since he started. He has also had the privilege of contributing to the development of the society with the little he makes daily. He has placed some of the youngest members of his group in schools.

Folded and unharmed.

He talked about a 12-year-old boy he recently enrolled in a secondary school in Mushin. According to him, there are about three of them in school. He is solely responsible for their well-being.

Sefaus mission is to keep the youths around him busy with the performance. He advised the young ones to learn a skill or venture into some kind of trade in order to survive in the country.

The men showed how flexible they were with the stunts they pulled.

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The video team of Legit.ng had a great time talking to the guys as they were able to pull off different stunt with their performance during the interview. The group members were able to make everyone stand still with their breath taking and dangerous moves during the performance.

Watch the Legit.ng TV video below to see the young artist who draws prominent Nigerians:

Source: Legit.ng
- The presidency has said that the sureties of Nnamdi Kanu risk imprisonment

- The presidency also said the bond presented by the sureties might be forfeited

- The special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on prosecution Okoi Obono-Obla said the court might also issue an arrest warrant for the IPOB leader

The presidency has said that those who stood as sureties for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu risk imprisonment if he fails to appear in court on his next adjourned date.

The special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on prosecution Okoi Obono-Obla said the court might also issue an arrest warrant for the IPOB leader.

Obono-Obla said while the federal government has filed a motion on notice for the court to set the bail already granted Kanu, the fact that he (Kanu) has not been seen since the military exercise in his residence means he might not appear in court.

READ ALSO: Fani-Kayode warns Buhari to take Obasanjo, Tinubus advice on Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB

He said the bail bond made available by his sureties might also be forfeited.

He further added that the only reason the bonds will not be forfeited would be if the sureties give good reason for that.

Obono-Obla said: "The federal government has already filed a motion to set aside the bail of Kanu.

Following the military exercise carried out in Umuahia, Abia State and the subsequent proscription of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has not been seen and may have gone underground.

So it is not likely that he will appear in court on the next adjourned day for fear of being arrested by the police or security agencies. Kanu had sureties that entered into recognizance or signed bail bonds as ordered by the court that led to his release.

READ ALSO: Security agents identify Nigerian in charge of IPOBs account in France

What is a recognizance? In law, recognizance is a security entered into before a court with a condition to perform some act required by law; on failure to perform that act a sum is forfeited.

The position of the law as provided under Section 173 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, is that a defendant whom recognizance was entered on his behalf and who is subsequently released on bail is bound to appear before the court at every time and place to which during the course of the proceedings, the hearing may from time to time be adjourned.

The court also may issue a warrant of arrest where a defendant (Kanu) bound by a recognizance or bond fails to appear before a court or police station. It follows that if Kanu fails to appear before the Federal High Court on the next adjourned date, the Judge will likely order a warrant for his arrest.

The implication of the failure of Kanu to appear in court on the next adjourned date on those who stood sureties for his recognizance is that his recognizance shall be forfeited.

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The court shall order his bond entered by his sureties to pay the penalty or to show sufficient cause why the penalty should not be paid.

It follows that Kanus three sureties will be ordered to pay N100 million each. Where sufficient cause is not shown by the sureties or the persons bound and the penalty is not paid, the court may recover the penalty from the person bound or from his estate if he is dead, in the manner laid down in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 for the recovery of fine.

However, where the penalty is not paid and cannot be recovered in the manner laid down by the law, the person bound shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months."

Recall that following Kanu's release from prison, a source close to him confirmed that three people stood as surety for him. He said the three people were the chairman of the Senates southeast caucus, Eyinnaya Abaribe; a Jewish priest, Immanuel Shalom; and an accountant and Abuja resident, Tochukwu Uchendu.

READ ALSO: 4 days after donating 200 armoured vehicles, Jordan sends top military chief to Nigeria (photos)

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the IPOB leader paid a courtesy visit to the deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu a visit after his release from Kuje prison.

Some of the people who were present during the visit included Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who stood as surety for Kanu's bail, Theodore Orji, Mao Ohabunwa, Sam Egwu among many others.

Watch this Legit.ng TV video of Nnamdi Kanu's father talking about the activities of his son as IPOB's leader:

Source: Legit.ng
- The Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence in Southern Nigeria has bashed 5 northern governors, following their recent visit to Rivers state, after the clash between IPOB and northerners in the state

- The group lamented over the fact that the governors had not paid a visit to the Hausa community affected during the clash and bashed the governors for not valuing the northerners residing in the south

- The group further urged all Nigerians to live in peace and harmony and counseled against reprisal attacks

The five northern governors who paid a visit to Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, after the clash between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Hausa community in the state, have been condemned by the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence in Southern Nigeria (AIPCSN), Vanguard reports.

Alhaji Musa Saidu, the groups national coordinator, bashed the governors for failing to meet with the affected northerners, or even visit the site of the incident.

READ ALSO: IPOBs agitation is a misplacement of priorities - University Don

Legit.ng gathers that Saidu stated that the actions of the northern governors only showed that the leaders had no value for the northerners residing in the southern part of the country.

He stated: Now, we know that five of our own governors came to the state, stayed and left without a message for us. We had expected the governors to visit us and know how we are feeling.

We had expected them to come and commiserate with the Hausa community in Rivers state.

They did not visit us, they did not visit the scene where the incident happened in Rivers state. Their action was not good.

Saidu further urged all Nigerians to live together peacefully, as he stressed that religion should not be brought into the mix.

In his words: Nigerians should learn to live together as brothers and sisters. We need peace and we want peace in all parts of the country. We want to live in peace.

Even if you kill the man selling groundnut, or the shoemaker (cobbler) in the street, what is your gain? My plea is, let us live together.

We dont want reprisal from any quarters.

Please, we should not bring religion into it, because if we do that, it would have more adverse effects on everybody in the country.

"Let us appreciate our peaceful coexistence and live in harmony.

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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari dispatched a delegation of northern governors to the south-east and south-south in a bid to secure peace after riots broke out in Abia state over deployment of the military to the area.

The governors also met with their Rivers counterpart, Nyesom Wike, as they touched down in the south-south state.

Watch this Legit.ng TV video of Nnamdi Kanu's father talking about the IPOB leader's Biafra agitation:

Source: Legit.ng
- Dr. Olusina Fape, the Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province, Anglican Communion, has described Nigeria as a sick and confused country, as it approaches its 57th anniversary

- The cleric bashed the nations past and present leaders for being corrupt and selfish, even as he urged all citizens to humble themselves and seek the face of God

- He further stated that the country has shed innocent blood and that the blood of assassinated innocents was crying out for vengeance

- Fape however noted that despite all this, there was still something worth celebrating, as he stated that despite a civil war, coups and counter coups, Nigeria has enjoyed 17 years of democratic governance

The Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Dr. Olusina Fape, has stated that Nigeria is sick and confused, because its citizens- leaders and followers- are suffering from corruption and selfishness, Vanguard reports.

The cleric made his comments during a sermon at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, to mark the nations upcoming 57th anniversary on October 1.

READ ALSO: Northern governors did not visit Hausa community affected by IPOB clash in Rivers - Arewa group

Legit.ng gathers that Fape also stated that the blood of prominent Nigerians who were assassinated - Bola Ige, Dele Giwa , Kudirat Abiola and Funsho Williams - was crying out for vengeance.

He lampooned the nation's clueless leaders, both past and present, for not making Nigeria work, as he lamented over the nations failing infrastructure.

He stated: We have been seeking the face of God but have not turned from our wickedness.

We have shed many bloods of many innocent souls in this nation.

From Dele Giwa to Bola Ige to Alfred Rewane to Funsho Williams to our Kudirat Abiola and many more. You can still count on.

And the blood of these innocent ones are crying for vengeance.

Should we continue in sins and ask for forgiveness? Absolutely not.

Fape urged Nigerians to humble themselves and seek the face of God.

However, the cleric congratulated the country over the fact that despite going through civil war, military coups and counter coups, it had enjoyed democracy for the past 17 years.

He stated further: Many nations went into civil war but never came out successfully; we went through it and by grace of God, here we are today.

There have been military coups and counter coups; and eventually, we have come to the period of democratic dispensation.

For 17 years unbroken and beyond, our democracy has been intact by the grace of God, Halleluyah.

Someone says the worst democracy is better than best military rule. There have been accusations and counter accusations, but in spite of all these the Lord has kept us together. As we are celebrating 57 years of our existence as an independent nation, I want to tell you my brothers and sisters, Nigeria is sick.

There is no doubt about that.

Then, when can we actually say a nation is sick and it is in need of healing?

A nation is sick when it is confused on which path is to tread, giving the enormity of the challenges that are bedeviling it because of the clueless leaders at the helms of affairs whether past or present governments.

Brethren, can we say a nation is sick when the leaders know what to do but because of arrogance and selfish interest, they have put those they are ruling over, perpetually under their feet to be trampled upon because of the power they exercise?

Someone says nothing makes armed robbers different from the ordinary person, rather than the gun they are using.

When is a nation sick? Is it a time like this when there is agitation for restructuring right from the southwest?

Is it a time like this when there is agitation for Republic of Biafra in the southeast?

Is it a time like this when there is environmental degradation in the southsouth?

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Ango Abdullahi, described Nigeria as a failure as the country clocks 57 years of independence on October 1.

Abdullahi stated that when compared to other countries that gained independence around the same period, the nation is a failure.

Watch this Legit.ng TV video asking Nigerians what countries they would rather be in:

Source: Legit.ng
- The federal government said France will cooperate with Nigeria over IPOB's funding

- It said apart from France, the group's cash flow comes through six other countries

- It promised to write those countries too to block the group's account

The federal government has revealed that France is ready to cooperate with Nigeria after the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was declared a terrorist group.

Legit.ng had reported that Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture, had said that IPOBs main account was in France and that it was from there that fund was being disbursed to members.

READ ALSO: Security agents unmask person managing IPOB account in France

France however responded that the country has no knowledge of IPOBs financial operation.

The Punch reports that a very senior government official said the federal government had reached out to France that it was not accusing it of supporting IPOB but that the group was disbursing fund from it.

The government said it has instructed the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the Central Bank of Nigeria to compile the needed information on the sponsors and hand it over to the French government.

The source said: The French Government has reached out to us over the IPOB matter. It said we should give it account details and any other evidence showing that France was where the majority of the money was coming from.

So, the government has accepted that challenge and we will be instructing the NFIU, SCUML and the CBN to hand over all the details of IPOBs funding to us in one comprehensive report which will be submitted to the French Government.

Since IPOB has been declared a terrorist organisation by a court in Nigeria, the French Government, which claims to be against Nigerias break-up, is expected to give us maximum cooperation.

Apart from France, it was revealed that IPOBs cash-flow also came through six other countries.

They are: Turkey, Senegal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and the United States.

The source said the aforementioned countries will also be sent reports.

Before his arrest, Nnamdi Kanu had appealed to people of Igbo extraction in some of these countries to provide him with funds which would be used in buying weapons and bringing down the Nigerian Government.

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In a video, which has even gone viral on Youtube, Kanu said he needed guns. This is not hearsay.

We will also be writing these countries informing them of the need to ensure that IPOBs source of funding is traced and blocked, the source added.

Chief Okoi Obono-Obla who is the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on prosecution has insisted that the IPOB remains a terrorist organisation.

The Punch reports that the presidential aide was reacting to the United States and the European Unions position that the group was not a terrorist organisation.

Watch the activities that was daily happening in Nnamdi Kanu's home before IPOB was proscribed:

Source: Legit.ng
- The Igbos for Nigeria Movement has disclosed why Ohaneze Ndigbo must apologize to the military over the recent tension caused by Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) in southeast

- INM said Ohaneze Ndigbo should apologize to the military for being silent over the issue of agitation majorly led by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB

- The group, however, said it is sad that some Igbo political leaders banked on using IPOB to score political points in the region

The Igbos for Nigeria Movement (INM) has called on Ohaneze Ndigbo to apologize to the military for allowing Nnamdi Kanu, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to cause hatred in southeast.

According to Nigerian Tribune, INM explained that some top members of Ohaneze and Igbo political leaders had banked on using IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu to score political points in the region.

Legit.ng gathered that the recent quit notice issued to Igbos by some northern youths showed how groups like IPOB placed Igbos at a disadvantage.

READ ALSO: What will happen to Senator Abaribe, others if Nnamdi Kanu fails to appear in court - Presidency

The group also said the Igbos settle in other parts of the country in large numbers while only a few people of other ethnic groups make Igboland their homes because of attitudes like the one exhibited by Kanu.

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The movement said the expectation is that Ohaneze and anyone that genuinely calls himself a leader in Igboland must now put the interest of Igbo people above their personal interest.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that IPOB declared its readiness to stand before a commission of inquiry into the activities of the Operation Python Dance 2 in the southeast.

Watch this Legit.ng TV video of Nnamdi kanu's father revealing many things about his son, Kanu:

Source: Legit.ng
- A top aide of President Buhari has been attacked by the leadership of All Progressives Congress

- The APC said, chairaman of Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay is arrogant and a rogue elephant

- APC said Sagay has no respect, even for President Muhammadu Buhari

Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), has come under attack from the national leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The APC in a statement described Sagay as arrogant and a rogue elephant who has no respect even for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The APC said the only reason Sagay occupies the position he has today was because the ruling party won the presidential election.

The statement which was signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary read:

READ ALSO: France to cooperate with Nigeria after IPOB is declared a terrorist group

"Our attention has been brought to an interview published on pages 46-47 of The Nation Newspaper of Sunday, September 24, 2017, granted by the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN).

"In the said interview, Sagay described the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the most unprincipled group of people who are encouraging and accepting rogues in the party. He said: When I say rogues, I dont mean stealing. In literature, when you say someone is a rogue elephant, it means people who are running riot and destroying the party.

"The Webster dictionary defines rogue elephant as one whose behaviour resembles that of a rogue elephant in being aberrant or independent. Clearly if we have today, anyone in our government or, by extension, the party who feels accountable only to his own ego; who does not feel the need to bridle his tongue for the sake of anything that is higher than himself; who feels independent of everyone and every institution; that person is Professor Sagay.

"Asked by the interviewer if he would stop speaking if the President asks him to stop speaking, he said: Yes, he is my employer. If he tells me to stop talking, Ill stop talking. But I have certain rights too that I can exercise in addition to that, because Im not going to be in a position where I am impotent. So, I must obey him, but I can go beyond that and obey myself too. Thats it. Framed in another way, what Sagay is saying here is that, no matter what is at stake, he would rather resign than obey the President if the President tries to restrain him. This is the quintessential rogue elephant behaviour.

"In his sheer arrogance, he forgets that it is impossible for him to call out the leadership of the party as weak and unprincipled without indicting the president, who is the leader of the party and has the fundamental responsibility to build the party.

"If Sagay had any iota of respect for the man who dug him back from inevitable oblivion and puts him in a position in which he now feels superior to everyone, he would channel his opinions and advice to the President on how to make the party stronger and more principled. It appears however that Sagay does not have anything constructive to say about anything. He only knows how to tear down and assault everyone and everything.

"We want to remind Sagay and all other appointees of our government that the only reason they occupy their current position today is because the APC won the election. There is, therefore, a matter of honour to show decorum and respect for the party and its leadership. You cannot love the fruit and hate the tree that produced it."

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay, once again accused Nigerian senators of getting overpaid.

Watch Legit.ng video of Nigerians speaking about corrupt leaders:

Source: Legit.ng
President Muhammadu Buhari has finally returned to the country from London where he had travelled to after taking part in the United Nations General Assembly for 2017.

The president landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport late on Monday, September 23 after four days in London.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, September 21, departed New York for London as announced by Femi Adesina.

Before leaving London, Buhari met with the Nigerian officials in the country. Credit: Femi Adesina

Adesina confirmed his return with photographs showing President Buhari with Nigerian foreign officials in United Kingdom shortly before his departure for Abuja and when he was welcomed by Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, David Umahi of Ebonyi and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, who is also the chairman of Governor's Forum as he arrived Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Another top politician dumps APC for PDP, claims Atiku will soon do same

Legit.ng had also reported that the presidency released pictures showing the moment President Muhammadu Buhari departed New York for London in what some have described as another scheduled medical appointment with his doctors.

The president is expected to return to Nigeria after his transit to London. However, the presidency has declined to state if Buhari's trip is medically related.

President Buhari was received in Nigeria by three governors including Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, Dave Umari of Ebonyi and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara. Credit: Femi Adesina

Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said he cannot confirm if the president was going to see his doctors in London.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

I cannot confirm to you. I am in Abuja right now I cannot speak on what I dont know, nobody has communicated with me, he reportedly told Premium Times on Thursday, September 21, in a telephone conversation.

President Buhari was also welcomed by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu. Credit: Femi Adesina

Watch this video and hear what some Nigerians think about Buhari:

Source: Legit.ng
Last week, we called out CalPERS for changing its board election procedures. The new process violates the California constitutional requirement that voting be secret by having voters who use mailed-in paper ballots, the most popular method for voting, sign the ballot itself. This deviates from the process stipulated by the California Secretary of State for absentee ballots, and used routinely for other public election mail-in votes. Any voter identifying information, such as a signature, is on the return envelope only. That is separated from the ballot so as to keep the identity of the voter confidential.

The risk of voters having how they voted be vote accessible is real. Even if CalPERS were to try to restrict access, they are public records. One expert thought they would become part of the state archives and thus be open to the public. Even if that is not the case, they would still be public records and therefore subject to disclosure the Public Records Act.1

In addition, as we and others have dug into the election procedures further, weve not only unearthed even more violations of law, but have also ascertained that this election is not secure and cannot be audited as required by CalPERS own regulation due to the lack of a paper trail for voting by phone and Internet.

Last week, CalPERS effort to tamp down the escalating controversy over its election backfired. CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost invited board candidates to meet with CalPERS staff and the election subcontractors. Curiously, Frost didnt show up at the meeting and the union candidates also blew it off. The candidates who participated in person were Margaret Brown and Mike Flaherman, and by conference call, Wisom (Sam) Altowaiji and Bruce H. Jennings. General counsel Matt Jacobs led the CalPERS side. CalPERS promised to provide a list of attendees but has not done so.

Not only were the answers to questions unsatisfactory, but the vendors lied repeatedly and had to retreat when called out. As a result, board candidate Margaret Brown wrote a letter to Frost, CalPERS board members, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and key legislators who sit on pension fund oversight committees. She gave a high-level overview of the problems and set forth remedies to bring the election procedures into legal and regulatory compliance. Weve embedded her missive at the end of this post.

CalPERS Non-Secret Election Is Also Insecure and Unauditable

As we described at length last week, CalPERS is using new election procedures that violate the California constitution and election laws by having paper ballots that are not secret and by allowing for voting over the Internet, which is against the California election code.

This alone should raise alarms. As board candidate Mike Flaherman said, A non-secret ballot is an emergency for democracy. CalPERS board members are state officials. Over 1.4 million CalPERS beneficiaries are eligible to vote. Paper ballots that identify voters is a prescription for intimidation and harassment of those who voted the wrong way, most importantly active employees who voted against the recommendation of their union.

Upon further investigation, it turns out that CalPERS new election process also violates its own election regulation. In addition, CalPERS staff lied to the board by saying the the vendor who is responsible for processing the paper ballots, Integrity Voting Systems, a division of K&H Printing, is certified by the Secretary of State. IVS has no certifications whatsoever. K&H is certified only to print a subset of the ballots used in electronic voting machines in California. It is not certified to produce the ballot CalPERS is using, nor is it certified to count ballots.

As JJ Jelincic said by e-mail:

Board President Rob Feckner has said (on camera yet) that he has never been mislead by staff (even though he was Board President while the CEO was collecting shoe boxes of cash). Board member Bill Slaton has said that whether staff had mislead the Board was a matter of opinion. In this case, there is every reason to believe the staff knew that what it was telling the Board was just wrong.

Even worse, the IVS vote-counting operation is obviously amateurish and insecure. Brown and a witness toured the IVS facility.except it wasnt an IVS facility. It was a K&H Printing facility in Everett, Washington, certified for printing and finishing some types of ballots used in California voting systems. There was no IVS sign on the facility nor did any employees have IVS business cards. The Integrity Voting Systems part of the operation is very much an afterthought.

Brown said the printing part of this facility, which took up the overwhelming majority of the space in the building, was clean and looked state-of-the-art, as you can see from this promotional video. As Brown said by e-mail:

K&H appears to be a successful high-tech, high-volume printer. The built-out office space inside the huge K&H warehouse is modern with cubicles and matching furniture. K&H branding including motivational sayings are professionally displayed on the walls.

Even the vending machine outside the room used to process the mailed-in CalPERS ballots looked spiffy:

By contrast, Brown said the room in which the ballots were being opened and scanned looked like a breakout room from the 1990s, with antiquated equipment:

Four older upright style scanners, similar to those junior high teachers use to grade multiple choice tests, were placed on two sides of the table. A variety of laptops used to check the pdf-format files were also on the table.

The process is not secure:

1. The ballots were in the open after the days count, in piles on the table or in boxes. Normal procedure in elections is for ballots to be secured in cages. Brown was told the ballots were kept in boxes in an adjacent room. That door was also open but she was not shown that room. 2. The internal door to counting room was propped open. 3. The counting room has an exterior glass door that leads to the parking lot.

One of the employees said hed tidied up the room before Brown and her witness came in. When Brown asked to see a ballot, one was flipped over, allowing her to see the vote and the voters signature.

IVS also gave implausible answers regarding how the ballot counting process worked. During Browns visit, the employees maintained that all they were doing was checking ballots to see if they had the required signatures, adjudicating ones where the ballot marks might not scan correctly (for instance, if the voter had made a tick marks rather than filling in the circles by the candidates names) and making and checking the PDFs that were then to be sent to yet another vendor, Everyone Counts, for the tally.

My, why are we hearing that Everyone Counts name only now? Why has it been kept under wraps, with nary a mention to the board? Could it be because a web search would have revealed unflattering information about Everyone Counts overhyping its pet initiative, voting over the Internet? From a 2016 article in the Atlantic, which among other things, discusses an Internet voting fiasco in Estonia:

Theyre pretending like voting is no different than buying a book on Amazon, and theyre completely, by virtue of ignorance or malice, ignoring the truth of the world, said Joe Kiniry, a cybersecurity researcher. The simplest way to check the veracity of their statements is to call up any security researcher in the world that you find online who has made public statements about end-to-end verifiable elections and ask them. And you will find that 999 out of 1000 will tell you that [the likes of] Everyone Counts, [other online voting venders], and Estonia are full of shit.

Well have more to say about Everyone Counts in due course.2

IVS said Everyone Counts was not just running the vote by phone and Internet parts of the election, but also doing all the tabulation. The reason that sounds implausible is that the equipment in IVS sad-looking counting room was equipment is uses to sum up votes for private elections, meaning non-government elections, such as union elections, as indicated on its web site. Brown saw only ten machines. The six laptops were not capable of scanning. The four other devices are designed not just to create images (which they would do to have an audit trail) but primarily to score tests or ballots.

So what seems more likely is that IVS is in fact tabulating votes. Perhaps K&H has restricted IVS to vote counting only for private elections so as not to risk tainting its bigger business of printing ballots for public elections. Thus IVS can claim it is not tabulating votes because only the tally by Everyone Counts will be treated as official.3

Note that Everyone Counts has no election certifications whatsoever from the California Secretary of State.

Moreover, no matter what assumptions you make about how the paper ballots are being counted, it cannot comply with CalPERS own regulation:

 554.8. Ballot Counting and Runoff Election. On the date specified in the Notice of Election at the location designated by CalPERS, the validated paper ballots shall be tabulated publicly by an independent, neutral agent appointed by CalPERS for that purpose. Online and telephone votes will be tabulated on the date specified in the Notice of Election and be auditable by an independent, neutral agent appointed by CalPERS for that purpose.

1. It is the paper ballots that are supposed to be tabulated, not PDFs. That is clearly not happening since IVS said it is sending the PDFs, and not the actual ballots, to Everyone Counts. 2. The tabulation is to take place only on the date specified. Yet IVS is reviewing paper ballots on a daily basis and making decisions not just about whether the ballots were signed (CalPERS ballots require a signature as an affirmation; unsigned ballots are not eligible to be counted) but as to whether and how to interpret marks that are on the ballot that the scanners were unable to read or are presumed to be unable to read. Ballots that got mangled in the mail or by the ballot readers would also be subject to special handling.

Making calls about these outstacked ballots is an integral part of the tabulation process. This goes beyond mere validation. Having IVS make these decisions on a daily basis in and of itself is a violation of the regulation. Those outstacked ballots sit outside the pretense of a tabulation on the final day. They also make the idea that the paper ballots will be tabluated publicly even more of a joke.

IVS told Brown repeatedly that Everyone Counts was handling all of the vote-counting, meaning for the ballots and the online and the telephone voting. Yet the IVS personnel also told her that Everyone Counts has no scanning machines and everything it does is on line. Thus it is impossible for Everyone Counts to tabulate of the paper ballots as stipulated by the regulation. Inherently, it can only be done by one party, in one place, for a period of time on a designated day. And for the paper ballots which represent the majority of the votes, if what IVS told Brown is accurate, that party cannot be Everyone Counts.

So it should come as no surprise that in the meeting with the candidates, CalPERS and the vendors were unable to say where the ballots would be tabulated publicly so the candidates could supervise the process. They first gave a California address but backpedaled when Brown said the ballots were in Washington and had already been scanned to be tallied as PDFs. They said theyd have to get back to the candidates regarding where the public tabulation of the ballots would take place. Brown and Flaherman said they have not gotten any additional information.

Finally, the regulation calls for the online and telephone votes to be auditable by an independent, neutral agent appointed by CalPERS for that purpose. That means auditable by a party separate from the one that does the tabulation, which is Everyone Counts.

However, in the meeting with the candidates, Everyone Counts said it does not produce paper records. This means its process cannot be verified. Even in more secure voting via voting machines, ones that produce paper records are the only type that can be audited properly. As NBC News pointed out:

Breaches in Arizona and Illinois, tied to Russian hackers by intelligence officials, involved Internet-linked registration databases, not the manipulation of voting or tabulation machines, which are offline. But any meddling can undermine public confidence in the systems integrity. Even benign breakdowns of aging equipment  43 states have machines that are more than a decade old  can stir chaos and uncertainty. The antidote, many experts say, is replacing the old machines with ones that provide paper ballots or receipts that can be used to verify any outcome in the event of a close call, challenge or catastrophe. I really think its negligence for a secretary of state anywhere in the country now not to have a paper trail for their votes, not to have some backup system, because the risks are just too great in this cyber Wild West, Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said last month.

And thats before getting to the fact that there is little reason to have confidence in Everyone Counts. It recently ran the vastly smaller elections for Los Angeles neighborhood councils. Tony Butka described the outcome in LA Citywatch:

Here in LA we recently went through a round of Neighborhood Council elections, and the new experiment of online voting proved to be a total disaster with mass confusion, verification nightmares, limitations in actually getting online to vote, you name it. The City had to shut the idea down.

Voters also told Brown that they had trouble voting by phone, that they found it difficult to reach a live person on the number provided, which is a help desk number for Everyone Counts. I experienced the same thing myself when I called: one time the call did not go through at all, the other times I had extremely long hold times. One of the agents to whom I spoke said she had heard of complaints from unions forwarding calls, presumably from get out the vote efforts. So Everyone Counts simpler vote by phone isnt working well either.

Lies About the Election Process

Weve already pointed out one lie made in the meeting between CalPERS and the candidates last week, that the ballots would be tabulated at the end of the election in California. Maybe CalPERS will figure a way to make that happen but that was clearly not the plan as of the meeting.

CalPERS and the vendors tried to claim that the bar codes on each ballot were not linked to individual voters, which seemed implausible on its face. When asked how CalPERS could cancel ballots and reissue them, there was a long silence and CalPERS admitted the bar codes were identifiers.

As Brown states in her memo below, the vendors were untruthful in two more ways.

Brown described in the meeting how she had called the Everyone Counts help desk number and asked the people who answered the phone about the complaints she had gotten about not being able to get through to vote and engaged the Everyone Counts staffers in conversation. They told her they were working at home, as contractors, and that they could access the entire CalPERS voting database (which was ported to Everyone Counts). I also made calls (identifying myself by name and saying I was working with some of the candidates) and was also told by the people who spoke to me that they worked at home. That alone raises huge concerns regarding security. Everyone Counts attempts to claim that its process is secure because it uses encryption, but that is not sufficient, since encrypted channels are vulnerable to man in the middle attacks. But a far more obvious fail is the human side. Allowing people to work at home, with no one on premises to supervise, allows for all sorts of routine security failures to happen, such as some other member of the household looking on or poking around using the Everyone Counts password (its common for people to write down difficult passwords and keep them near their computer).

Everyone Counts insisted all of its phone reps were employees. That conveniently diverted the focus from the bigger security problem of not monitoring them on site. Brown pressed them as to whether they got W-2s or 1099s. Everyone Counts retreated and said it would get back to her.

The second misrepresentation was that Everyone Counts website states that it has a joint venture with IVS to conduct the CalPERS election. Joint venture has a very specific meaning, that of a jointly owned independent legal entity. The vendors admitted they had no joint venture, only an operating agreement.

I encourage California readers to circulate this post widely. CalPERS continues to show that it has no respect for the law or even common-sense privacy protections. The time is long overdue for the legislature to wake up and start asking tough questions.

____

1 Note that after the election, the ballots go to the state archives under the control of the Secretary of State. CalPERS general counsel Matt Jacobs gave nonsensical answers during the meeting with the candidates, saying whether the records would be public depended on who was asking to see them and why. If nothing else, these records are accessible under the Public Records Act as public records, and the PRA does not require the requester to state any motive, not does it allow respondents to discriminate based on the identity of the requester. If CalPERS is to protect voter confidentiality, it must redact the bar codes and signatures on all the paper ballots, as Brown suggests. And that would need to be done before the ballots are sent to the state archives. Jacobs angrily refused to answer whether ballots would be confidential. He declared the question to be hypothetical and refused to answer it until it was posed to him in writing.

2 Space constraints prevent us from having more to say about what an absolutely awful idea online voting is. Consider this quote from the same Atlantic article:

One concern of cybersecurity experts is protecting both the anonymity of a voter, and allowing the voter to prove that their vote was actually cast. In an online purchase, both the merchant and credit-card company or bank attach the customers name to the purchase. Purchases are tied back to individualssomething customers want so that they can verify their purchases. But an online-voting system would need to separate the twoa voters identity from their ballotto protect voter anonymity. In that case, how can that voter be confident that their vote is counted at the end of the day?

Our Richard Smith added:

The other killer point is about authentication and SSNs [CalPERS is using Social Security number for authentication]. SSNs never were an authentication mechanism. They were a (somewhat Mickey Mouse) identification mechanism. Supplying an SSN is a way to tell a computer system who you are (thats identification). It doesnt prove you are who you say you are (thats authentication). Full details of this mixup, which clearly isnt going to die any time soon, from 2009:

https://www.welivesecurity.com/media_files/white-papers/EsetWP-SocialSecurityNumbers20090810.pdf How easy is it to get hold of someone elses genuine SSN? It used to be this easy:

http://www.pnas.org/content/106/27/10975.abstract Now it can be this easy, as often as not:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/07/equifax-credit-breach-hack-social-security

A good overview from late last year in the MIT Technology Review, The Internet Is No Place for Elections, includes this apt section:

In some cases, election officials dont have enough technical background to distrust claims from vendors, says Pamela Smith, president of Verified Voting, a nonprofit that advocates for greater integrity and verifiability in elections. Terms like military-grade encryption or unhackable should be red flags, she says.

Military-grade encryption is one of Everyone Counts pet claims.

3 This is the most charitable assumption one can make. It is plausible and more likely that IVS is tabulating the ballots daily and is either sending daily totals to Everyone Counts or will send its daily and final totals along with the PDFs at the end of the election for Everyone Counts to confirm, or perhaps even merely spot check.
Jerri-Lynn here: Wolf notes in his headnote to the original post:

Don Quijones and his wife, who is from Mexico, spent part of the summer in Mexico but returned to Spain a few days before the earthquake. DQs in-laws live in Puebla, Mexico City, and Morelos  among the hardest hit places. They got through it unharmed and are more or less OK for now.

By By Don Quijones of Spain, UK, & Mexico and an editor at Wolf Street. Originally published at Wolf Street

Rebuilding with no insurance and little government aid.

Rescue efforts in Mexico are beginning to wind down after a trepidatory (vertical) earthquake unleashed destruction and bedlam in Mexico City and the two central states of Puebla and Morelos on Tuesday. The temblor took place 32 years to the day after a horrendous quake killed at least 10,000 people in Mexico City in 1985.

Thankfully, the number of victims this time is many magnitudes lower, due largely to improved building standards and enhanced public awareness in the wake of the 85 quake. Nonetheless, the death toll is close to 300 with thousands more injured. And for survivors the financial toll is just beginning.

Just as happened in 1985, the response of civil society to the latest disaster has been astounding. As CNNs Mexico correspondent Susannah Rigg reports, rather than rushing away from danger in the immediate aftermath of the quake, many people ran towards it, in order to help others who may be trapped in collapsed buildings.

All over the city, people began forming human chains to help remove debris while other volunteers, including the so-called topos (moles), a famous volunteer group that formed after the 85 quake, burrowed into the loose wreckage in search of survivors. So far these groups have helped rescue scores of people, including eleven school children, from the debris. Social media has also played its part by helping send people to where they are most needed.

Its this kind of solidarity that is keeping Mexico going. In fact, in some areas there are so many people helping out that willing volunteers are being told that no more help is needed. Hospitals are providing free care to the quakes victims, architects and structural engineers are assessing the structural health of buildings free of charge, and therapists are offering free counselling.

Everybody wants to do their bit.

Even the government has tried to play a bigger role this time, after coming under scathing criticism for its inaction and corruption during the 85 quake. But the government, both local and federal, is already deeply in debt and local administrations are being forced to make drastic cuts in their spending. Of the limited funds the government does have at its disposal, serious doubts have been raised as to how much of it will end up reaching its intended recipients.

The total amount of money in Mexicos disaster relief fund is just 9 billion pesos (just over $500 million). Thats a tiny fraction of the amount of money Mexicos elected officials are alleged to have plundered from state coffers in recent years. According to the Mexican newspaper El Universal, Mexican state governors are estimated to have defrauded the country of 259 billion pesos ($14.6 billion), more than enough to fund the rebuilding effort not only in Mexico City, Puebla, and Morelos but also the south eastern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, which were rocked by a 8.2 quake over two weeks ago.

To further hamper the rebuilding effort, most of the apartment and office buildings affected in both quakes are not insured against natural disaster. This is one of the sharpest differences between disaster recovery efforts in advanced economies and emerging or developing ones. When people lose their homes or businesses in less advanced economies such as Mexico, they usually have to rebuild from scratch, with little or no financial support from the government or insurance firms.

Even among its peers in Latin America (with the notable exception of Brazil), Mexico is desperately under-insured, despite its heightened exposure to seismic activity and other forms of natural disaster. According to the Financial Inclusion Report of the National Banking and Securities Commission, the total penetration of the insurance sector in Mexico in 2015 was 2.1% of GDP, compared to an average of 3.1% for Latin America as a whole.

The Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS) reports that only 8.6% of homes have a policy that covers damages from natural disasters. Roughly 5% of micro-enterprises insure their properties, a percentage that increases to 15% among small businesses. In other words, more than nine out of every ten homes and more than eight out of every 10 businesses affected by the earthquake have zero insurance coverage.

In Mexico City a total of 38 buildings have collapsed completely since Tuesdays earthquake but another 3,800 are estimated to be damaged. That number is likely to rise sharply in the days and weeks to come as teams of surveyors assess the level of damage in each affected building. If the structure is deemed to be unsound, the building will have to be demolished.

Right now, thousands of people in Mexico City, Puebla, and Morelos, including close friends and family, are on tenterhooks. They know that if they lose the apartment or business they spent years (or even decades) paying off or building, theyre right back to square one. And for many, its probably already too late to go that far back.

So where does the money go that Mexico borrows? Answers emerge. Including offshore private accounts. Read Where Does the Money Go that Mexico Borrows?
Jerri-Lynn here: Persevere with this dense post, as its important.

This story shows just how much of a crook Paul Manafort is. And how the mainstream media  e.g., the WaPo and NYT misread solid evidence of the sleaze: theyve portrayed evidence of a real crime (fraud) as evidence of a fake one (failing to register as a foreign agent, etc.)  and how plain improbable Deripaskas partnership was for the stated reasons.

To put this in context, we put the question to John: is Deripaska connected to Putin?

He replied that yes, hes connected, but then all the oligarchs are  its a defining precondition, or else they dont stay oligarchs.

And then the follow-up: The more immediate question if Putin wanted to meddle, would he do so through a guy like Deripaska? The bottom line: probably not.

By John Helmer, the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to direct his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and an advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is the first and only member of a US presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to establish himself in Russia. Originally published at Dances with Bears

Oleg Deripaska (lead image, left) is famous for snatching other peoples money and legging it.

The records of the High Court in London show what he did to Mikhail Chernoy (Cherney), Boris Berezovsky, and Roman Abramovich. Chernoy recovered $200 million in 2012; click to open.

Only two people have ever taken Deripaskas money and legged it themselves. One was Anthony Louis, owner and editor of the Moscow Tribune, the first English-language newspaper published in Moscow. Louis took several thousand dollars in exchange for shares to keep his paper afloat but never handed over the shares to Deripaska. The newspaper sank without trace in 2002.

In April 2008 Paul Manafort (lead image, right) took $18,938,400 from Deripaska in return for which he promised to invest up to $100 million in Ukrainian cable television and telecommunications companies. Manafort trousered the cash, or so Deripaska has alleged in court, as he has been trying to get his money back.

But Manaforts hustle has been reported in US newspapers as an attempt to promote Kremlin influence in US elections, especially the one which put Donald Trump into the White House last November. The evidence for the subversion claim is now being gathered by the Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and reported publicly by leaks of what his investigation has placed in evidence before a grand jury. These include CIA, NSA and FBI surveillance and wire taps of Manafort during the presidential election campaign  yes, during the presidential campaign  and afterwards.

On September 20, the Washington Post, a catalogue belonging by Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, published excerpts of Manafort emails which have been leaked by the FBI, whose agents broke into Manaforts apartment at dawn on July 26, confiscating papers and computer records; by investigators with access to the files of Counsel Muller; and by other investigators, all of them pleading anonymity for themselves and authenticity for their leaks.

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/manafort-offered-to-give-russian-billionaire-private-briefings-on-2016-campaign/2017/09/20/399bba1a-9d48-11e7-8ea1-ed975285475e_story.html?utm_term=.4fb2225be458

The newspaper claims: 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. The newspapers reporters deny having read the emails directly. Instead, they claim that portions of which were read to The Washington Post along with other Manafort correspondence from that time. The newspaper describes the readers on whom it relies for the veracity of the email quotes as people familiar with the discussions and investigators.

A Manafort spokesman called Jason Maloni is cited by the newspaper saying the email exchanges reflected an innocuous effort to collect past debts. Its no secret Mr. Manafort was owed money by past clients, Maloni said. The reporters omitted to ask Maloni to comment on public court records indicating that at the time of the excerpted emails Manafort was in debt to Deripaska for more than $18 million.

Elsewhere Malonis (pictured below left) repeated disclaimer that Manafort owes Deripaska money is carefully worded to allow the possibility that companies Manafort controls may indeed have owed, and still owe, companies controlled by Deripaska. For the names of the roster of front companies which both men have used to deal with each other, click to read.

One of Deripaskas spokesmen in Moscow, Vera Kurochkina (above, right), has accused Manafort of being a hustler, but she doesnt admit Deripaska was conned. Last week Kurochkina was reported as telling the Washington Post the leaked Manaforts email excerpts amounted to [scheming by] consultants in the notorious beltway bandit industry. She also told the newspaper its investigations 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. Kurochkina was not asked by reporters if Deripaska confirms that Manafort owes him money. She isnt saying if so.

The Deripaska case that he was hustled out of $18 million by Manafort was set out in papers currently on file in the Financial Services Division of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. Filing was on December 9, 2014. They describe a scheme aimed initially at investing $200 million of Deripaskas money, along with others, to create commercial monopolies out of targeted retailers, television cable companies, and road builders operating in eastern Ukraine, particularly Odessa  Deripaskas family origin  Mariupol, and Kiev.

Read the 16-page court dossier here.

A New York Times version of what happened, based on accountancy reports and loan records found for Cyprus-registered companies belonging to Deripaska, Manafort and their associates, was reported in July.

The Cayman Island litigation is a case of applying to a judge to bar the barn door after the horses had bolted several years earlier. It is an application from Deripaskas lawyers to wind up the partnership which he and Manafort had registered on the island through a string of their cutout companies on the ground that Manafort had run away.

The relationship between the Petitioner [Deripaska entities] and the GP [General Partner, Manafort entities] has irretrievably broken down [with] justifiable loss of trust and confidence in the GP.. The papers request a court order to terminate the partnership of the Deripaska and Manafort entities with an investigation to be conducted into the current status of the Partnerships assets [read Deripaskas money] and the way in which the Partnerships business has been conducted by those [read Manafort] entrusted to to administer its affairs.

At the start, according to claim file, Deripaska and Manafort had been thinking big. (a) The Partnerships investment objective is to generate significant long term capital appreciation by making private equity investments in Ukraine, Russia, other countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States, Montenegro, and eastern and southern Europe; (b) The Partnership originally sought US$200 million of aggregate capital commitments from qualified investors; (c) The Partnership sought to achieve an aggregate compounded annual rate of return of approximately 30%; (d) The Partnerships investment strategy was to take a disciplined and value-orientated, approach by inter alia: (i) targeting deals requiring $10 to $20 million of capital where the Partnership had the ability to exert significant control or influence over the direction of its portfolio companies; and (ii) obtaining, where possible, a senior level or secured debt position and sufficient asset or cash flow coverage on an absolute or return basis.

Deripaska names the Manafort men involved in furthering the Partnerships investment program included Rick Davis, Rick Gates, Paul Manafort, Alexander Balanutsa, Christian Ferry, Philip Griffin, and Konstantin Kilimnik. On his own side of the partnership Deripaska doesnt mention himself or the associates working for him in Odessa, Mariupol and Kiev.

Deripaska was promising Manafort a lot, and it is unclear why, with so much cash Deripaska was proposing to raise for investing in Ukraine, he needed Manafort at all, let alone pay him a management fee to the Investment Manager  equal to 2% per annum of commitments during the first 4 years and then 2% of funded commitments thereafter.

Manafort appears to have been Deripaskas camouflage for dealing with Ukrainian asset-owners it was also Manaforts job to camouflage. Watch carefully  no money at all was to be raised by Manafort or contributed by the Ukrainian asset owners whom Deripaska was targeting for buy-outs. The Petitioner [Deripaska] acquired its interest in the Partnership [Deripaska-Manafort] through Altimax Investments Limited. Altimax is a special purpose vehicle within the same group of companies  and is related to the petitioner having common beneficial ownership [Deripaska]. Alatimax had originally become a limited partner of the Partnership by entering into a limited partnership agreement, on 17 April 2007. Altimax had agreed to commit US$200 million to the Partnership pursuant to a subscription agreement dated 22 February 2007. On 21 November 2007, Altimax [Deripaska] agreed to transfer, convey and assign to the Petitioner [Deripaska] its full limited partnership interest in the Partnership [Deripaska-Manafort]

Months of negotiations followed, including unidentified Ukrainians with retail businesses, television cable companies, and road builders for sale. Following numerous discussions between the GP [Manafort] and the Petitioners [Deripaska] representatives discussing the proposed investments of the Partnership (during the time period mid-2007 to mid-2008), the Petitioner [Deripaska] entered into a subscription agreement with the Partnership and the GP [Manafort] dated 1 July 2008.  At that point, either the Ukrainians had dropped their price demands, or else Deripaska had decided to cut his Ukrainian outlay risk in half. The court papers say: At that time the Petitioner agreed to commit US$100 million to the Partnership.

Not even this much turned out to be necessary. Save for one investment into a Ukrainian company, Black Sea Cable (Ukraine) (BSC) in the telecommunications sector, providing cable and internet services, these investments did not eventuate. The court papers go on to describe a pyramid of cutout companies by which Manafort proposed to Deripaska to take his money and spend it to take control of Nika TV, Satelit Limited, Ideal+, Black Sea Telecompany, and Cardman.

No Ukrainian sellers were identified in this dealmaking, except for one  Sergei Gennadievich Smirnov, who was hanging on to a minority stake in Nika. On April 15, 2008, Deripaska says he paid Manafort and their partnership $18,938,400.

Their partnership deal obliged Manafort to put 0.2% ($378,768) of Deripaskas contribution into the pot. However, Deripaska didnt check at the time if he had done so. Years later he admitted in court the Petitioner does not know whether the GP paid.

Deripaska does remember, though, that his deal with Manafort allowed a 2.7% management fee. Manafort was religious about sending six-monthly invoices for this, commencing in April 2007. By the end of 2008, Deripaska had paid $7,350,000 on the explicit instructions of Paul Manafort. The court papers are silent on what Manafort had done for his money  or if indeed he had passed the money on to Ukrainians, whose television assets were Deripaskas apparent target.

The second half of 2008 was a very bad time for Deripaska, as the Russian aluminium and other businesses on which he depended, collapsed into insolvency with accumulated debts at one point of about $20 billion. Deripaska told the Cayman Island court: By mid-summer 2008, there were clear indications of the oncoming world financial crisis, and at this time the Petitioner was the only limited partner in the Partnership which had made only one investment (BSC [Black Sea Cable]). In September 2008 the Petitioner [Deripaska] informed the GP [Manafort] that it was suspending further investment into the Partnership.

For the next three years, the court papers claim, Deripaska tried to get Manafort to provide accounting reports of what he had done with the money, but received nothing. The Petitioner has not been provided with these audit reports nor is it aware whether any further audits were performed in respect of the Partnership. There is no trace or sign in these records, or in the New York Times excerpts of the Cyprus cutout loan accounts, that any Ukrainian asset had been purchased. If Deripaskas court claim is to be believed, Manafort had legged it with the cash  Deripaska had been hustled.

A few weeks ago Kurochkina refused to tell the New York Times whether Deripaska is continuing to pursue Manaforts $18 million debt. That newspaper claimed Mr. Deripaska appears to have stopped pursuing his court action against Mr. Manafort and his former investment partners, Rick Gates and Rick Davis, in late 2015. The newspaper reporters didnt ask, and Kurochkina didnt explain, what services Manafort had invoiced Deripaska for which $7.3 million was paid out. Noone has asked Deripaska whether he thinks Manafort kept the money for himself.

The years 2008 and 2009 turned out to go badly for Deripaska in the US, particularly as he had set his heart on a German and Russian Government-financed buyout of General Motors Opel car division. The lobbying in Washington which Deripaska paid for, as well his reason to believe then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton supported his Opel deal, were reported here. But Clinton, the US Treasury and other Obama Administration officials broke their word, and cancelled the Opel sale. If Deripaska had been content to leave Manafort holding $26,288,400 of the Russian oligarchs cash through the 2008 crisis and the General Motors negotiations in 2009, his patience had run out by November 2009, when the cancellation of the Opel sale became public.

On November 5, 2009, then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced after his cabinet ministers had discussed the Opel deal, it shows that our American partners have a very original culture when dealing with counterparties. We will have to take into account this style of dealing with partners in the future, though this scornful approach toward partners mainly affects the Europeans, not us. GM did not warn anyone, did not speak to anyone despite all the agreements reached and documents signed. Well, I think it is a good lesson.

These days, according to the media leaks, US Government investigators of Manafort are pursuing a different lesson. This is that Manafort took Deripaskas money for the purpose of subverting the US presidential election of 2016. The court evidence indicates that Manafort was paid for Ukrainian assets which didnt materialize, and kept the money for himself through a period when the US government first decided to sell a multi-billion dollar part of then-bankrupt General Motors to Derripaska, and then, quite suddenly, decided not to.

Afterwards, thats between 2010 and 2014, Deripaska (Petitioner) changed his mind, too.

Andrei Petrushinin (right) is Deripaskas spokesman at his EN+ holding company in Moscow. He doesnt mention that if he can avoid it; for example, when he wrote an article for the Japanese-owned Financial Times, defending the bankrupt Deripaska aluminium smelter in Montenegro. Click to open  the word Deripaska doesnt appear.

Petrushinin was asked on Friday if Deripaska has a continuing claim for return of investment of $18 million against Manafort, or has the Cayman Island court case been settled? If settled, Petrushinin was asked, on what terms?

Acknowledging the questions, an assistant said Petrushinin was at a morning meeting and requested a call-back in the afternoon. The afternoon call was rebuffed with the claim that Petrushinin was at another meeting and unlikely to return to the office. The questions were then emailed to him. He has not replied.
By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She now spends much of her time in Asia and is currently working on a book about textile artisans.

The United Nations General Assembly earlier this month adopted a wide-ranging resolution calling for a crackdown on illicit wildlife trafficking.

Wildlife trafficking operations have become increasingly sophisticated, often utilising organised crime networks. Rhinoceros poaching is only one of several sad examples I could cite one that this recent Inter Press Service article, The Shifting Dynamics of Rhino Horn Trafficking brought to my attention.

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network comprising 120 staff member working on five continents, released a report last week documenting how some criminal networks of Chinese origin operating in South Africa are now processing rhino horn locally into small items beads, bracelets, bangles and powder to evade detection and provide ready-made products to Asian consumers (mainly Vietnam and China). Previously, the trade occurred in whole rhino horns, which were more difficult to conceal.

Nonetheless, more than 7,100 rhinos have been killed for their horns in Africa alone over the past decade, according to TRAFFIC. Most of the poaching 91% of known losses in the continent occurred in South Africa, home to 79% of Africas last remaining rhinos.

According to the TRAFFIC report:

The smuggling routes are complex and dynamic, exploiting weaknesses in border controls and law enforcement capacity constraints to provide a steady supply of rhino horn to Asian black markets. The routes span multiple airports, borders and legal jurisdictions, taking advantage of fragmented law enforcement responses that are hamstrung by bureaucracy, insufficient international co-operation and corruption. Smuggling methods are infinitely versatile, limited only by imagination and opportunity. As new smuggling methods are identified by law enforcement agencies, trafficking networks adapt and refine their tactics, finding new methods of concealment and new weaknesses to exploit.

Ive uploaded a copy of TRAFFICs report below, which makes for depressing reading.

Rhino horns are only one item targeted by illicit wildlife trafficking. The UN Resolution gives prominence to poaching of both rhinos and elephants the latter targeted for their ivory and also mentions trade in:

ockquote>other protected wildlife species, including, but not limited to, reptiles, tortoises, marine and freshwater turtles, sharks, ornamental fish, pangolins, great apes, parrots, raptors, the helmeted hornbill and big cats.

Poaching of these and other species threatens them with local extinction and, in some cases, leads to global extinction. Having visited India many times over the last decade or so, Im well aware of efforts to protect tigers and have indeed, been lucky enough to see some in the wild, at various national parks (admittedly, the sense of seeing one of these animals in the wild is somewhat diminished when the big cat is wearing a radio collar). Sadly, however, I think it only a matter of time before Indian tigers will only be found in zoos, or in closely policed, limited game preserves. If the poachers dont get them, government policies that are allowing habitat destruction will.

UN Resolution

The UN Resolution calls on General Assembly members to improve their criminal legal systems so as to target wildlife trafficking more effectively. The resolution:

Calls upon Member States to review and amend national legislation, as necessary and appropriate, so that offences connected to the illegal trade in wildlife are treated as predicate offences, as defined in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, for the purposes of domestic money-laundering offences and are actionable under domestic proceeds of crime legislation, and that assets linked to illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products can be seized, confiscated and disposed; Encourages Member States to make use, to the greatest extent possible, of legal instruments available at the national level to tackle illicit trafficking in wildlife, including through legislation related to money-laundering, corruption, fraud, racketeering and financial crime; Also encourages Member States to harmonize their judicial, legal and administrative regulations to support the exchange of evidence regarding and criminal prosecution of illicit trafficking in wildlife, as well as to establish national level inter-agency wildlife crime task forces and facilitate the exchange of evidence between the different government agencies, to the extent consistent with national legislation; Further encourages Member States to enhance their enforcement efforts, including through recording and monitoring both seizures and successful prosecutions, in order to more effectively counter and deter the illegal trade in wildlife;

Using Financial Investigation to Combat Wildlife Crime

The idea of using domestic money laundering statutes as a way of countering illicit wildlife trafficking is, in theory, a good one. In a September 2017 paper, Follow the Money: Using Financial Investigation to Combat Wildlife Crime, authors Cathy Haenlein and Tom Keatinge write:

As global efforts to address the wildlife crime crisis have expanded, the financial dimensions of this destructive crime have been overlooked. Instead, responses have typically comprised targeted anti-poaching and anti-trafficking measures, the promotion of sustainable livelihoods, and initiatives to reduce demand for wildlife products. These measures are crucial and have at times yielded positive outcomes in particular locations. Yet until the responses deployed include a significant financial crime-related element to undermine perpetrators profit-seeking motivation, this low-risk, high-reward crime will continue to thrive largely unimpeded. For other crime types, financial investigation is viewed as central to identifying not only the individual criminal but also their network of facilitators. Yet where wildlife crime is concerned, financial investigation is not employed on anything approaching a systematic basis. This paper argues that there is an urgent need for those charged with disrupting wildlife crime to add a financial dimension to their approach. The paper refers primarily  but not exclusively  to East Africa, and is the final output of a year-long project researching wildlife-linked illicit financial flows in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (Haenlein and Keatinge, p. vii).

In addition to recognising wildlife crime as a predicate offense to money laundering, Haenlein and Keating call for those investigating wildlife trafficking to:

Conduct parallel financial investigations as a matter of routine. Follow-on investigations must be carried out after all major seizures. In line with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 30, these must include parallel financial investigations. This would assist law enforcement agencies by providing additional evidence to identify the broader criminal network and locate the proceeds of crime. The financing of bail payments and the ease with which those convicted can pay fines to avoid custodial sentences should also be the subject of financial investigation;

Freeze, seize and confiscate assets. Wherever possible, freezing, seizure and confiscation measures should be used to strip perpetrators of the proceeds of wildlife crime. This can offer a more powerful deterrent than custodial sentences, remove potential financing of future criminality, and allow the reinvestment of seized assets into measures to disrupt the predicate crime; and

Prosecute under alternative legislation. In many jurisdictions, there are options to arrest, detain and prosecute illegal operators under laws other than those relating directly to wildlife. Prosecution under economic crimes legislation may increase the prospects of substantial penalties being imposed where associated crime types  from money laundering to corruption  carry weightier custodial sentences (Haenlein and Keatinge, p. viii).

Bottom Line

Many of these recommendations are fairly obvious. Im actually somewhat surprised that given the dire state of affairs with respect to wildlife trafficking, investigators dont already follow the money in tracking their trafficking quarry. Although there has been increased recognition in the last couple of years of the seriousness of wildlife trafficking as well as greater involvement by organised crime as Haenlein and Keating note:
(Natural News) While youve probably heard of the term fake news, which is most often used in reference to the spread of inaccurate or fabricated political rhetoric, one term that is heard less often but deserves just as much attention is fake science. As the name implies, fake science refers to scientific data that has been intentionally manipulated or altered in some way so as to advance a particular political agenda. If this sounds familiar, thats because you witness it almost every time you turn on cable news or sit down inside of your college classroom; indeed, fake science is exactly what progressives perpetuate whenever they talk about manmade climate change.

In a recent article published on The Daily Caller, columnist David Lewis, Research Director at the Focus For Health Foundation and a former EPA scientist, called on President Trump to put an end to the fake science routinely being perpetuated by leftists and radical environmentalists alike.

Trump can eliminate federal funding of data fabrication, Lewis wrote. It just takes putting accomplished scientists in charge, who understand both science and the federal bureaucracy from top to bottom and will do whatever is necessary.

As Lewis argued in the preceding part of his article, the need for President Trump to take action against the federal funding of fake science is so important because of how often data on climate change is being manipulated for political purposes. The public is largely unaware that federal agencies often engage in fabricating scientific data to support their policies and cover up any evidence whenever they screw up, Lewis wrote, adding that the manipulation of data isnt a practice that is solely limited to the Environmental Protection Agency or the CDC.

As proof, Lewis gave two examples. First, he pointed out how Deputy Inspector General Mary L. Kenda reported on widespread scientific misconduct last year within a U.S. Geological Survey lab in Lakewood, Colorado. At the time, Kenda argued that this data manipulation had a serious and far ranging impact on the credibility of the agency as a whole, which frankly should have been expected from the start.

Lewis also recalled more climate data manipulation that occurred back in 2008, when the EPA, the USDA and the University of Georgia were caught pushing false information to cover up cattle deaths linked to EPA and USDA environmental policies.

Reversing this culture of corruption will require changing the dimensions and course of the river of federal funds flowing into pools of academic scientists willing to selectively publish data to support government policies and certain industry practices, Lewis ultimately concluded before calling on Trump to end the spread of fake science.

Truth be told, the idea that man is contributing to rising sea levels and the warming of our planet every time he drives his Hummer to the grocery store is the biggest lie ever successfully perpetuated to the masses. (Related: The founder of the Weather Channel has told CNN that climate change is a hoax.) But the goal of the progressive left isnt even to rally people to their cause and convince Americans that saving the environment is a battle worth having; in fact, it has nothing to do with the environment in the slightest.

Ottmar Edenhofer, lead author of the IPCCs fourth summary report released ten years ago, let the cat out of the bag during a speech he gave in 2010, in which he admitted that climate policy is really about how we redistribute de facto the worlds wealth. (Related: Climate change science is exploding as it is revealed that IPCC climate models have been wrong all along.)

In this way, all of the climate change propaganda that the liberals are constantly spewing out has more to do with economics and the size of government than anything else. The idea that human beings are contributing to earths destruction is nothing more than a vehicle the progressives use to implement their totalitarian agenda. The sooner Americans wake up to this fact, and the more that President Trump does to stop it, the better.

Sources Include:

DailyCaller.com

ClimateDepot.com
(Natural News) Its official: The last vestiges of common sense have now finally gone out the window. The Washington Times is reporting that climate alarmists are calling for those who do not buy into the catastrophic man-made global warming narrative to be jailed  for murder! Thats right folks; if you dont accept the idea that humans are causing temperatures to soar at an alarming rate and destroying the planet, youre a murderer  and must be punished as such.

Recent headlines clearly reflect the increasing frustration felt by climate change fanatics.

A September 1 headline in Outline declared, Climate change denial should be a crime, with writer Brian Merchant claiming, In the wake of Harvey, its time to treat science denial as gross negligence  and hold those who do the denying accountable.

An article a week later in the Nation boldly stated that, Climate Denialism Is Literally Killing Us, with the writer angrily declaring that murder is murder and we should punish it as such.

These writers and other global warming believers claim that any who contradict or refuse to accept this belief  but particularly those in governmental and other positions of authority  should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Alarmism has risen exponentially since Hurricanes Harvey and Irma made landfall in the States, with many  mistakenly  believing that global warming was responsible for their exceptional power and destructiveness. (Related: Preppers see Hurricane Harvey as a precursor for whats coming; some disasters are just too big for governments to handle.)

Ever since Hurricane Harvey, the global warming-hurricane hysteria has ratcheted up to levels I havent seen since 2006, Judith Curry, a retired Georgia Tech professor, told the Times.

Even Catholic Pope Francis observed that these two category 4 storms back-to-back are tangible proof of catastrophic climate change. He angrily ranted that history will judge the decisions of those who choose not to accept global warming as a reality.

It is important to note, however, that even so-called mainstream scientists are not backing this theory. (Related: Find out what issues are really threatening our planet at Environ.news.)

Curry explained that Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, was actually largely fueled by very weak wind shear, and intensified even though temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean were not unusually warm for that time of year.

Business Insider explains how conditions over the Atlantic were unfortunately perfect this year to create devastating hurricanes:

This year, El Nino is in a neutral cycle, meaning theres no particularly warm or cool conditions in the Pacific Ocean. If there is an El Nino or La Nina system raising or lowering Pacific temperatures, that tends to create high wind shear in the Atlantic. Wind shear refers to differences in the directions or speeds wind blows at different heights in the atmosphere. It often rips storms apart before they develop into massive systems like Irma. 

As NOAA explains, a storm system thats not sheared off at the top will keep dragging moisture into the atmosphere and growing.

In fact, Harvey and Irma are the first hurricanes to make landfall in the United States in over a decade, and according to Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach, neither was unprecedented in terms of power.

Irma was only the seventh most powerful storm to hit the mainland, at 929 millibars, while Harvey was 17th at 938 millibars.

Even the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has advised caution, stressing:

It is premature to conclude that human activities  and particularly greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming  have already had a detectable impact on Atlantic hurricane or tropical cyclone activity.

So, scientists do not agree that global warming caused these devastating hurricanes, but if the mainstream media gets its way repeating that fact could land you in jail anyway.

Sources include:

WashingtonTimes.com

Express.co.uk

BusinessInsider.com

OceanExplorer.NOAA.gov
For years Microsoft has talked about, previewed and at some times delayed the release of its Azure Stack hybrid cloud computing platform.

But this week at its Ignite conference in Orlando Microsoft announced that Azure Stack is now shipping to customers, and in doing so the company is pitching its hybrid cloud platform as being about more than just connecting customer data centers to the public cloud.

+MORE AT NETWORK WORLD: Azure Stack: Microsofts private-cloud platform and what IT pros need to know about it +

Microsoft says hybrid cloud computing should be considered in a wider context that includes not just the infrastructure components, but also security and access policy, plus applications and databases spanning these hybrid environments. To that end, Microsoft also announced this week that its popular SQL Server database is now generally available either on premises or in the cloud  across Windows, Linux and in Docker container environments. Microsoft has also announced a new database migration service that makes it easier to copy or move databases from on premises to its Azure public cloud.

Customers have largely gone to a cloud-first strategy, which is great, but that doesn't mean cloud-only, said Microsoft corporate vice president Julia White said in an interview before Ignite. Our approach to hybrid is to look at hybrid end-to-end.

Microsoft offers a license package as part of Azure Stack that allows customers to purchase Azure licenses and use them toward either the Azure IaaS public cloud, or the Azure Stack private cloud.

Gartner VP and Distinguished Analyst Ed Anderson  who formerly worked at Microsoft  says this ability to span licenses from the data center to the cloud gives customers the freedom to choose where they want workloads to run. One of the value propositions from Microsofts perspective is that you can build applications for Azure public cloud or Azure Stack and they will run in the same way, that means there is parity in terms of the APIs and design goals, Anderson notes.

He says Microsofts competitors in IaaS offer hybrid cloud tools, but theyre not as fully featured as Microsofts approach. Amazon Web Services, for example, offers gateways for customers to link their storage platforms in with its Simple Storage Service (S3). AWS also offers virtual private cloud and direct connect options for customers to connect their on-premises workloads to the public cloud. Both AWS and IBM have partnerships with VMware to extend on-premises VMware environments to the public cloud. Even Oracle gives customers the opportunity to run database infrastructure behind their firewall but have it be fully managed as a service.
I recently gave a webinar on how to best architect your network for Office 365. It comes on the heels of a number of complaints from customers around their struggles deploying responsive Office 365 implementations. SharePoint doesnt quite work; Skype calls are unclear. And forget about OneDrive for Business. Its incredibly slow.

Latency and Office 365

Ensuring a smooth transition to Office 365, or for that matter any cloud deployment, involves a solid understanding of which Office 365 applications are being deployed. Here latency matters. Microsoft recommends that round trip latency for Office 365 does not exceed 275 ms, but those metrics change significantly depending on the Office 365 application. Latency should not exceeds 50ms with Exchange Online and 25ms with SharePoint. (Check out my ultimate list of Office 365 networking tools for help with your O365 deployment.)

One customers experience particularly stuck out for me as it typifies the challenges many enterprises face when deploying Office 365. The companys office in Poland had purchased Office 365 licenses, which were accessing an instance in the Microsofts Netherlands datacenter. Despite the relatively short distance from Poland to the Netherlands, the company experienced painfully long data transfers to and from SharePoint Online. Were talking minutes to move just 10 MB files.

As part of the customer engagement, we examined their routing policies. The company was backhauling Internet traffic across their MPLS network to an exit point in the US. The traffic then traveled back across the Internet to reach their Office 365 instance in the Netherlands. No wonder they were having latency issues.

The 4 O365 network architectures and how to evaluate them

The fix seemed simple: eliminate the backhaul by providing them with direct Internet access. But as we discussed in the webinar, throughput and the consistency of performance are only part of the consideration when evaluating Office 365 network architectures. You also need to look at security, deployment, mobile support and costs.

Those characteristics can differ significantly between the four network architectures we examined during the webinar. Distributed Internet access is the simplest, connecting offices directly to the Internet but theres no inherent security. WAN Extension brings better performance and improve security management, but is more challenging to deploy, extending the WAN to the Microsoft edge. Express Route goes the opposite way, bringing the Microsoft edge to the WAN. Cloud-based SD-WAN seems to offer a happy medium between the approach,

In the end, we deployed an SD-WAN appliance at the Polish office that broke out the Internet traffic. Office 365 traffic was sent directly to the public Internet; WAN traffic continued to be hauled back to the US. With RTT cut in half, Office 365s problems were magically resolved. And as for security, they used the SD-WAN stateful firewall, which was open only to requisite Office 365 domains/IPs, while the remaining traffic continued to be backhauled to the USA. Budget and management of a local firewall was a motivating factor for this.

SD-WAN security is essential

While distributed Internet access may work for this customer it may not work for you. Managing security at the branch site is an enormous issue for many of my companies. While one or two offices may not pose an issue, delivering security across branch offices at scale are a problem.

Which is why Ive been saying that security should be integrated with the SD-WAN. I dont mean encryption, which every SD-WAN provider offers. I mean advance security such as next-generation firewall (NGFW), an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), and Secure Web Gateway (SWG).

SD-WAN vendors have progressed on this front. Last August, Cato added IPS to its converged networking and security cloud-based SD-WAN service. Open Systems repackages third-party services in its appliances and offers NextGen firewall, IDS/IPS and network security monitoring. Versa Networks offers a vCPE that runs the various security VNFs, which includes SSL inspection in their firewall.

Where SD-WAN vendors dont integrate security, many use service insertion and service chaining to simplify third-party integration. Velocloud, for example, has been building a third-party ecosystem of security vendors, such as Palo Alto, Fortinet and Check Point. It recently expanded that ecosystem to include Symantec, VMware, and Forcepoint. Silver Peak has a similar integration with Zscaler, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet and Check Point.

Delivering security becomes more challenging than when security is integrated into the SD-WAN. You still need to deploy third-party security products and services at the branch with all of the complexity and costs which that entails

The issues of rolling out Office 365 are many spanning security, performance and more. Four architectures can address various aspects of these challenges. Which approach is right will depend on your organization.
Everything about the modern doctors office feels primitive. Its one of the few businesses that requires I use my telephone for scheduling  unless its about lab results. For that, they prefer fax. Even the doctors tools, such as the blood pressure cuff, scale and stethoscope, are largely the same as the equipment used in my childhood.

I get that the industry needs to be cautious regarding change and that legal requirements further complicate matters, but changes are overdue. Because medical professionals are unlikely to adopt unproven tech, the evolution will most likely come from existing tech being used in other applications.

Lets take a look at how things might change in healthcare technology:

Video technologies in healthcare

The cost of video has significantly dropped, and the availability of video equipment (webcams and mobile phones) has significantly increased. Telemedicine is in, and doctors are now seeing patients for consults and treatments. Doctors are also using telemedicine technologies for expert consults with other doctors.

Telemedicine will soon expand from offices and homes to the field. Ambulances and paramedics will use two-way video for emergencies. Some facilities now are geared specifically for telemedicine, such as Mercys Virtual Care Center, which serves and monitors remote patients.

Temasys offers a teleconference technology that provides secure conversation among a pharmacist, patient and caregiver. In addition to encrypted live video and voice chat, Temasys records the conversations for retrieval via its patient portal.

Drones

Drones are already being equipped to deliver packages, and they offer significant benefits for rural environments. California-based Zipline has been drone-delivering blood for transfusions in Rwanda and is expanding into Tanzania. New drones are being developed to transport blood and medicines even across deserts, and a drone-ambulance is in the works.

Telemedicine and drones will converge to create a solution that provides real-time information during rapidly changing events or situations.

Eran Westman, CEO of Vidyo, said the technology is already being used today by a national fire brigade. We are also working closely with police, EMTs, emergency responders and internal communications agencies to help them enhance their current videoconferencing capabilities with live images from drones.

Mobile wearables

The boom in consumer fitness wearables is already bleeding over into the medical industry. Ive shared my logs with my doctor, and theres really no reason to limit the collection of medical information to in-office visits. The medical industry is moving in with personal, at-home and wearable devices that adhere to stricter security and privacy policies. Some of these newer devices transmit data continuously.

Market Research.com forecasts that Internet of Things (IoT) devices and wearables in healthcare could hit $117 billion by 2020. Another approach is to create peripherals that extend the capabilities of smartphones. Testing blood sugar and urine at home has never been easier. There are even smartphone accessories for an at-home echocardiogram.

Artificial intelligence

Do you remember Doctor on Star Trek Voyager? He, or it, was an Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) that was installed in the ships sickbay. Upon activation, he would say, "Please state the nature of the medical emergency." Well, thats still in the future, but we are getting closer. Today we have a host of AI-powered, virtual doctors such as Ada.

This is very complex stuff, as AI has not been mastered yet. For example, IBMs efforts to use Watson to improve cancer treatments have not been as revolutionary as many expected.

However, AI is proving to be helpful in some unexpected ways. GE Healthcare and Johns Hopkins Hospital are using predictive analytics to reduce bottlenecks and improve patient flow.

AI will also be increasingly used in all of these other categories, especially robots.

Robots

Robots are practically de rigeur in complex surgical procedures, and they will inevitably play a major role in our healthcare, including exams and therapy. The market is already there for senior care. Many Japanese firms are developing Carebots that assist the elderly in a variety of home-based services, such as monitoring medicine consumption and mobility. The Robobear bot can assist seniors in transferring from a bed to a wheelchair.

With significant advances in robot interactions, they can provide people company and even teach exercise classes.

I think about all of the time I sit in front of a computer monitor, and I get excited about a future where technology will be used to improve my health. IoT has the potential to personalize our treatment and transition healthcare into a proactive industry. Someday  though not tomorrow  the doctor will be the one calling to make an appointment regarding real-time results.
Three characteristics of the Internet of Things (IoT) differentiate it from industrial automation.

IoT devices are inexpensive. IoT devices can be ubiquitously connected everyplace and anyplace. IoT devices have inexpensive or zero-cost deployment.

It explains why we see so few IoT networks and why most of the industrial IoT forecasts are measurements of industrial automation that we have had for decades.

The first one, with the exception of the issue of strong security, is easy. The second two, though, in New Jersey parlance  says easy does hard.

Ubiquitous connectivity is talked about, and there is a glimmer of hope presented by Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN) such as Senet that focus on both low-cost technology and a business model for entrepreneurial partners to deploy networks. But waiting for carriers to perfect and deploy 5G networks to build IoT solutions will delay innovators and prevent early adopters from building proof-of-concept and prototype networks essential for the iterative learning of technical methods, business cases and making financial projections of the benefits of IoT.

Sending a trained technical representative out to deploy anything is expensive. Building an organization of technical representatives, training them, and maintaining a fleet of vehicles is prohibitively expensive. Plus, there are call centers to operate and other customer-facing systems to plan.

Creating a zero-cost IoT network

An interesting paper from researchers at Georgia Tech and University of Stuttgart (pdf) explains how a publisher-subscriber (Pub/Sub) model could be used to create a ubiquitous zero-cost IoT network. The researchers report on using existing social sensing that can conscript existing devices into a network with actionable data.

In theory, emergency responders could use humans as sensor carriers, sensor operators and sensors themselves to provide situational awareness. The idea is if the software is installed on these devices, they can interconnect, creating an ad hoc network, and send useful data to a central point from which critical events can be understood.

Examples of device mesh networks

There are good use cases that prove conscripting a lot of devices to build a network is possible. For example, when rescue workers landed in Haiti in 2010 after the earthquake disaster and turned on their phones, the mobile networks crashed from contention.

Two Mitre engineers who volunteered in the rescue effort were inspired to build a prototype smartphone mesh network that used the phone's Wi-Fi to bypass a failed carrier network called Smart Phone Ad-Hoc Networks (SPAN). They proved that as long as network participants stayed within Wi-Fi range, they could continue to make calls and message. And if one of the phones also was connected to a carrier network, all could reach cloud services. SPAN was built in 2012 when mobile platforms were immature, requiring the Mitre engineers to root the phones and install custom software.

Political protesters added mobile technology over a decade ago with instantaneous coordination, becoming smart mobs. Hong Kong student protesters used FireChat, a messaging platform built on a resilient, self-healing mesh network that could not be controlled by any central organization or shut down. It was built later on a more mature mobile platform.

Another example is the Beacon of Hope project. Inexpensive Bluetooth beacons, registered with law enforcement and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fighting human trafficking are left in places where victims in transit can find them. When enabled, the beacons signal distress to the smartphones of volunteers running an app the relays the signal and geographic location of the victim.

Georgia Techs Pub/Sub architecture

With Georgia Techs Pub/Sub architecture, messages are sent to subscribers that have categorized a class of messages that are of interest. Interest may be in performing an actionable operation on the message or interest may mean republishing the message, relaying it to another subscriber when a communications link becomes available.

One of the examples cited by the researchers was social sensing services to learn about the transportation infrastructure. In the example, buses would have a small computer that would query the sensors on the smartphones of passengers for information such as destination so that the optimal route could be determined.

Buses within range of one another could exchange information that, when a WAN network is within range, would be uploaded to a cloud application to determine passenger counts, service variability, predicted timetables and other metrics.

Sensors at bus stops would also query the phones of waiting passengers and use Pub/Sub to relay their location either directly if a WAN connection is available or indirectly through other passengers and buses on different routes.

Another example of Pub/Sub is the Facebook Safety Check that Facebook users have seen during the recent hurricanes, natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Facebook Safety Check uses both WAN and peer connections to report subscribers status as OK.

Nothing comes without a price, though. The researchers propose an API for subscribing, publishing and reading sensors. For an IoT Pub/Sub model to work, IoT makers would need to standardize on an API and run software on their devices, and smartphone users would need to install an app. The Pub/Sub network would not work for low-latency applications, at least not until a ubiquitous low-latency network is deployed by carriers and IoT network operators. And, of course, there is the issue of privacy that IoT application developers would have to adopt and clearly communicate to users.

Pub/Sub could enable many IoT applications ahead of the buildout of a ubiquitous network. It would serve as a ubiquitous network infrastructure for IoT proof of concepts and prototypes. True, says easy does hard  but reaching an agreement between IoT makers and finding a value proposition for users may not be as hard as accelerating carriers deployment of ubiquitous 5G IoT networks.
The spread of a single multidrug resistant malaria parasite strain in Vietnam is cause for alarm say researchers. Writing in a letter in the latest issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Mallika Imwong, Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University Bankok, Thailand, and colleagues say that there is a rise of resistance to Artemisinin among the Plasmodium falciparum or malaria parasites in the Greater Mekong subregion.

Mosquito. Image Credit: mycteria / Shutterstock

The researchers explain that this rise of resistance to artemisinin compounds means that these are resistant to several other antimalarial drugs that are at hand. This could be one of the greatest threats to the control and elimination of malaria they write. This new found resistance to artemisinin they explain is due to genetic mutations in the PfKelch gene. They said that initially they noted several mutations or genetic alterations at the Kelch gene. However very recently a sinister development took place that lead to the rise of a mutant lineage of the malaria parasite called the P falciparumC580Y mutant in western Cambodia. This outgrew the other mutant strains and also developed a resistance to another anitmalarial drug called piperaquine. This mutant parasite line was first found in Pailin in western Cambodia and was termed PfPailin.

Cambodia was using dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine as first-line antimalarial treatment. Now with the emerging resistant strains has changed to artesunate-mefloquine. PfPailin from western Cambodia has since then spread to northeastern Thailand and southern Lao. Now these mutant strains have spread to south of Vietnam. There too there are reported cases of failure of the malaria cases to respond to treatment with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine that is the National standard treatment as first line for malaria. This spread is a worry that could be concern the world said the researchers.

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Prof Arjen Dondorp, the head of the unit called it a serious threat and said that it is something to alarmed about that the strain is spreading so rapidly. He added that this strain could not cross borders and eventually jump to Africa. He said that in Vietnam one in three cases were failing to respond to the national first line treatment. In some areas of Cambodia the failire rate was close to two in three he added.

Malaria

Malaria affects 212 million people yearly worldwide. It is manifested by fever along with chills and rigors. Unless it is diagnosed and treated promptly, it can be fatal. It is spread by mosquitoes that feed upon the infected blood and spread it to others.

It is caused by malaria parasite called Plasmodium. This is a microscopic parasite that is transmitted by certain species of mosquitoes. The Plasmodium parasite is mainly spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes, which are night-biting mosquitoes. Although there are numerous types of Plasmodia parasites, only four cause malaria in humans. These include Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae.

Malaria is diagnosed by looking at blood samples and antigen tests. The parasites are visible under the microscope. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment should be begun promptly. Almost all individuals make complete recovery. Anti-malarial medication is used both to treat and prevent malaria. Malaria can sometimes become complicated leading to life-threatening consequences such as severe anemia, cerebral malaria, rupture of sleep, kidney damage and multi-organ failure.

References: http://www.tropmedres.ac/superbug-s-spread-to-vietnam-threatens-malaria-control and http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2817%2930524-8/fulltext
Australian laws need to change to allow women carrying mitochondrial disease to access a ground-breaking IVF procedure so they can have healthy, biologically-related children free from this incurable and life-threatening genetic disease, according to the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.

Speaking at the AMDF Mitochondrial Donation Symposium in Melbourne during Global Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week, AMDF CEO Sean Murray called on the Australian Government to revise its legislation and give women the choice to access mitochondrial donation in Australian IVF clinics.

At least 60 Australian babies each year could be prevented from suffering severely disabling and potentially fatal forms of mitochondrial disease if mitochondrial donation was available here. It offers the first practical hope for future generations to live free of maternally inherited mitochondrial disease, Mr Murray said.

Mitochondrial donation involves replacing the mothers faulty mitochondrial DNA (0.1% of her eggs genetic material) with healthy donor mitochondrial DNA so the resulting baby will not suffer mitochondrial disease, a serious genetic disorder that starves the bodys cells of energy, causing multiple organ dysfunction or failure and potentially death.

Pioneering legislative changes in the UK permit mitochondrial donation for women at risk of having a baby suffering severe mitochondrial disease, with the first births expected in 2018, Mr Murray said.

Depending on which parts of their bodies are most affected and to what extent, people with mitochondrial disease can lose their sight or hearing, be unable to walk, eat or talk normally, have strokes or seizures, develop liver disease or diabetes, suffer cardiac, respiratory or digestive problems, or experience developmental delays or intellectual disability.

You wouldnt wish mitochondrial disease on your worst enemy, so the prospect of mitochondrial donation is a beacon of hope for women who dont want to risk their babies suffering or dying from mito.

Mitochondrial donation could become a reality in Australia by amending two federal laws, which are being reviewed by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The groundwork has already been laid in the UK, with extensive research and a ten-year global scientific and ethical review leading to the establishment of the worlds first regulated system to provide mitochondrial donation.

Its time for Australia to have these conversations and get moving for mito; for many affected women who want children, this change cant come soon enough and is sadly too late for some families.

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Australias mitochondrial disease community is actively involved in encouraging the Federal Government to legalize mitochondrial donation. People affected by mito have now met with close to 40 federal MPs to seek their support in changing government legislation so women here can utilize this innovative procedure to prevent their children inheriting mitochondrial disease, he said.

At least one Australian child born each week  or 62 children every year  will develop a severe or life-threatening form of mitochondrial disease, and half will die in childhood; it is now the second most commonly diagnosed serious genetic disease after cystic fibrosis.

Globally, it is estimated 37.5 million children and adults (1 in 200) may suffer with mitochondrial disease or could pass it to their unborn children, yet most people had not heard of mito until UK baby Charlie Gards recent tragic plight sparked worldwide sympathy and calls for more research.

New international best practice guidelines for patient care

Mr Murray also urged Australian healthcare professionals to follow new international best practice guidelines for high quality patient care published by the Mitochondrial Medicine Society, which were developed with input from Australian experts Professor John Christodoulou and Professor Carolyn Sue.

These new global standards of care  available at amdf.org.au  provide essential, peer-reviewed guidelines so healthcare professionals can ensure their mitochondrial disease patients receive the care they deserve to live the best life possible in spite of this debilitating, life-limiting disorder, he said.

There are unfortunately few effective treatments and no cure for mitochondrial disease, which can cause any symptom in any organ at any age, and often affects multiple family members.

Its a complex disease with more than 100 sub-types, so it is a challenge for doctors and their patients, who currently have to rely on symptom management and lifestyle modifications.

Global Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week, 17-23 September, focuses welcome attention on this little known disease, and the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation urges the medical community and the public to learn more and donate for research, patient support and education.
New research conducted in a cancer center in a state that had legalized the use of recreational and medicinal cannabis shown that about one-fourth of surveyed cancer patients used cannabis in the previous year, mostly for psychological and physical symptoms. The study also indicated that legalization increased the likelihood of a rise of cannabis use among cancer patients.

 OpenRangeStock / Shutterstock.com

Cannabis is recreationally legal in the District of Columbia and eight other U.S. states, and approximately half the states in the U.S. have passed laws that allow the use of medical cannabis in some form. As the acceptance and availability of cannabis use continues to rise, several cancer patients will have easy access to cannabis in the course of their cancer treatment.

Patterns of marijuana use among cancer patients are lesser known, and there is some research to indicate that usage could improve the symptoms that are related to cancer treatment. To investigate usage patterns, Steven Pergam, MD, MPH, of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and his team of researchers conducted a study on 926 cancer patients at the Seattle Cancer Center Alliance.

Researchers found that most of the patients were very interested in knowing about cannabis during their treatment and 74% were interested in getting information from cancer care professionals.

The study also revealed that 66% of the cancer patients used cannabis in the past, 24% in the previous year, and 21% in the previous month. Most of the patients consumed or smoked cannabis mainly for psychological reasons (such as depression, insomnia, and stress) or for physical symptoms (such as nausea and pain).

The study states that the random investigation of patient urine samples indicated that 14% of the patients had some evidence of recent cannabis use, which is close to the 18% of those who reported use within the previous week.

Although all the patients were likely to receive information directly from their physicians, most of them were also interested in getting information from sources that are outside the health care system.

Dr. Pergam stated that "Cancer patients desire but are not receiving information from their cancer doctors about marijuana use during their treatment, so many of them are seeking information from alternate non-scientific sources." He further added that cannabis use may be harmful for some cancer patients or result in unwanted after effects.
Chronic throat irritation, a permanent globus sensation, a sore or dry sensation in the throat are common symptoms, which are often trivialized and wrongly attributed to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. However, these are also the characteristic symptoms of patients suffering from displaced gastric mucosa in the esophagus (ectopic mucosa). The recent study conducted by researchers from MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital has now brought a break-through in the treatment of patients with this condition. For the first time in the world, the new radiofrequency ablation technique has been successfully used in severe cases.

The symptoms are caused by a section of misplaced gastric mucosa, which is found in the esophagus rather than as normal in the stomach during gastroscopy in nearly 10 - 15% of people and this results in chronic damage to the larynx due to the production of acid and mucus. Up until now there has been no safe and effective option for treating pronounced forms of this condition. The first application of radiofrequency ablation brings about a significant improvement in the condition. The study has now been published in the leading journal "Digestive Endoscopy".

Radiofrequency ablation

"Radiofrequency ablation is a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive technique that has been developed for treating the precancerous stages and early stages of esophageal cancer, which we offer on an out-patient basis during a gastroscopy," explains Ivan Kristo, lead author of the study and surgeon at the Department of Surgery of MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital (Head: Michael Gnant). He goes on to explain: "This new technique enables us to deliver a controlled charge of energy that destroys unhealthy tissue while causing minimal side-effects. In the patients we have treated so far, the technique produces an improvement that is visible to the doctor and perceptible to the patient."

New study planned

In order to consolidate the success of the new treatment technique, lead investigator Sebastian Schoppmann, surgeon and Head of the Diseases of the Stomach and Oesophagus working group at MedUni Vienna's Department of Surgery, is currently preparing a randomized, controlled trial. "Our innovation has enabled us to treat patients with this condition for the very first time worldwide."
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US President Donald Trump expands travel ban to North Korea and Chad

Washington : US President Donald Trump has issued a new order banning almost all travel to the country from seven nations, including North Korea and Chad, saying that the citizens of these countries pose a threat to the US national security.

According to report on Sunday, the new order is more far-reaching than the President's original travel ban, imposing permanent restrictions on travel, rather than the 90-day suspension that Trump authorised soon after taking office.

Pentagon: US military B-1B Lancer bombers stage North Korea's coast in show of force

From the next month, most citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea will not be allowed in the US, Trump was quoted as saying. Also, Iraqi citizens and some groups of people in Venezuela visiting the US will face heightened scrutiny.

'Madman' Kim Jong-un calls Donald Trumps 'dotard' as North Korea hints at Hydrogen bomb

Earlier this year, Trump's original travel ban evoked widespread criticism and caused chaos at airports. The order expired on Sunday and the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments about its constitutionality next month. The new order will take effect October 18.

"As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the US and its people," Trump said. According to the officials, the new order is more targeted effort than the President's earlier one.

"Each of the countries will be under its own set of travel restrictions, though in most cases citizens of the countries will be unable to emigrate to the United States personally and most will be barred from coming to work, study or vacation in America," the report noted.

US to put more sanctions on North Korea, says US President Donald Trump

Trump restricted only the travel of government officials and their families in Venezuela, saying the ban was focused on that group because they were "responsible for the identified inadequacies" in sharing information about travelers.

"This is an apparent effort to paper over the original sin of the Muslim ban, especially when just last week Trump said he wanted a 'larger, tougher, more specific' ban," said Anthony D. Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Donald Trump is mentally deranged, will pay, says North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

Unlike the earlier travel ban, officials said the new policy was the result of months of deliberation with State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the White House and other agencies responsible for security and the border.

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We are realistic about the issue:

A top government source said that the issue of pay gap will be addressed. We are realistic about the issue and have considered the demands made by the CG employees. At first the government was in two minds about the reduction of pay gap. The government has almost decided that there would be no pay commissions in the future and the salaries would be hiked on an annual basis. However the government now feels that if the pay gap issue is not addressed, then the government employees would have to wait until 2019. The government wants to address the issue by this year itself.

Finance Minister in the loop:

For the sake of a better living, Central Government employees need a reduction in the pay gap. Leaders say that it is a difficult situation, but they would continue to fight for it. The Finance Minister has said in several meetings that the issue will be addressed. He said that he had promised the CG employees that he would look into the matter and will not go back on his word. Government employees have been demanding for a long time to pay ratio should be minimised. They have also demanded that Rs 25,000 should be the minimum pay in the new pay scale and the fitment factor will be higher than the 2.57 times approved by the government based on the pay panel's recommendations.

7th Pay Commission will always be the worst:

For CG employees the 7th Pay Commission was a cruel joke. Not a single demand of theirs' had been met in this pay panel. All pay commissions in the past had made up the pay gap between the lower paid employees and the top officials from second Pay Commission 1:41 ratio to 6th Pay Commission 1:12. In the first pay commission, the pay of the top bureaucrats was 41 times higher than the employee earning the lowest. The future pay commissions however reduced the ratio from 1:41 in 1947 to about 1:12 in 2006.

OneIndia News
Modi government is anti CG employees

It was a rotten fruit that they received after 10 years of hard work, the employees feel. There is news that the Modi government will increase the minimum pay to Rs 21,000 next year. But will it have any impact on the employees' financial position? It would not have any impact as the hike is a meagre one feel many. We have become a victim of anti-employee policies of the Modi government, they say.

Frustration will continue

The CG employees got a 14.27 per cent pay hike this year. They were frustrated as they cannot make two ends meet with such a meagre hike. While the government will increase the basic minimum pay to Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000, the question is will this be enough. Only hiking it to Rs 26,000 will ease the financial burden.

What about arrears

The government is clear that it would increase the pay, but will not give arrears. This appears to be a major problem for the CG employees. What is the point in giving a meagre rise and not paying arrears. The only way the problems of the CG employees can be solved is if the government gives arrears. If arrears cannot be paid, then the government should increase the basic minimum pay to Rs 26,000.

7th Pay Commission could cost Modi government 2019 elections

There are 50 lakh employees who depend on the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. If the Narendra Modi-led BJP government does not consider the demands of the Central government employees, it will affect the party's prospects in the 2019 general elections. "NDA government is the worst one for the Central government employees. Common and poor people, including the Indian Armed Forces personnel are worst hit," said SK Nair Kulengara working with the Indian Navy.
Accused in job scam extradited from Singapore

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

An accused in a job scam racket was extradited to India from Singapore. Mohammad Sultan Abu Bakar Kadir alias Captain Kadir was brought to India by the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai police.

He is accused of cheating over 30 people with the promise of jobs with shipping firms. Kadir is alleged to have been running a company called Worldwide Shipping Management, a Singapore based recruitment firm.

Kadir would offer jobs to seafarers in shipping firms. After conducting the 'interviews' and 'shortlisting the candidates', the aspirants were asked to pay Rs 1 lakh as a facilitation fee. Once the money was paid, the victims were asked to travel to Singapore where, upon their arrival, Kadir reportedly made excuses and did not get them their jobs. Frustrated, the people returned.

In 2006, 30 people filed a case in which they alleged that they were cheated by Kadir. The case was transferred to the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai police. The officials first arrested the accused's wife, Mureeza who was running the racket from Mumbai.

In 2013, a Red Corner Notice was issued against Kadir, based on which the Singapore Police arrested Kadir in May this year. The process for his extradition was initiated and after the Law Council of Singapore found merit in the case, the order to extradite him was passed. Kadir was brought to Mumbai on Sunday morning.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 8:15 [IST]
BHU lathicharge: Sharad Yadav blames Centre, UP govt

India

oi-PTI

Patna, September 25: Rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav on Monday blamed the Centre and Yogi Aditynanath's Uttar Pradesh government for the "barbaric" lathicharge on Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students.

"The students were staging a protest over a genuine demand. It was a small matter but the administration in Varanasi resorted to a barbaric lathicharge on them," he told reporters at the airport here.

"The BHU is among the oldest educational institutions in the country. Such a sordid event has never happened anywhere in the country in the 70 years since Independence. This is the reason we are fighting against such forces," Yadav said.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in the BHU, where a protest against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent on Saturday night.

Accompanied by suspended JD(U) Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar and former MP Arjun Rai among others, Yadav said he would tour Bihar for four days, starting today, to take feedback from the people against the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

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He attacked the Narendra Modi government for allegedly not honouring its poll promises in the first three years of its rule.

"Modi had made promises like creating two crore jobs for the youth every year and enhancing the minimum support price to farmers, but none of the promises was kept," Yadav alleged.

He added that going by the prime minister's words, six crore jobs should have been created in the country by now, but instead, three crore jobs were lost "due to demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST)".

Yadav also came down heavily on the JD(U)-BJP government, headed by Nitish Kumar, in Bihar on the law-and-order situation in the state.

"The law-and-order (in Bihar) is ruined," he alleged.

The JD(U) faction, headed by Kumar, however, made light of Yadav's Bihar tour and dubbed the former party president as a "political tourist".

"Being a politician, he (Yadav) has the right to go to any place he wishes to. The people of Bihar are very happy with the new JD(U)-BJP government headed by Kumar. Hence, no one will pay any heed to Yadav during his tour of parts of Bihar as a political tourist," state JD(U) chief spokesman Sanjay Singh told PTI.

Both the JD(U) factions, headed by Kumar and Yadav respectively, have approached the Election Commission for recognition as the original party.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 17:21 [IST]
Bihar: Two army jawans exchange fire, kill each other following argument

India

oi-Madhuri

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Two army jawans opened fire and killed each other following an altercation at a house near Army cantonment Danapur town of Patna in Bihar on Monday.

According to the Bihar police, due to an ongoing dispute the Army jawans fired at each other.

Incidents of fratricide have reduced in the army over the last decade as the force has taken a raft of measures to address the issue.

Earlier, Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre had informed the Rajya Sabha that 310 army personnel had committed suicide since 2014. And nine officers and 19 junior commissioned officers were among those who committed suicide between 2014 and July 31. There have already been 44 suicides and a fratricide case in the Army alone this year, while in 2016 there were 101 cases, going past the figures of 78 in 2015, 84 in 2014, 86 in 2013 and 95 in 2012.

Steps taken by the government to prevent fratricide include professional psychological counseling, workshops on mental health, meditation being made part of unit routine, yoga classes, improvement in living conditions and liberalised leave policy. Apart from fratricide, more than 100 cases of suicide are reported every year in the armed forces.

OneIndia News
BJP-bound former Congress leader Narayan Rane to meet Amit Shah

India

oi-Anusha

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister a Narayan Rane will meet BJP national President Amit Shah for the first time after quitting the Congress. The Konkan strongman told the media that he would join the BJP 'if ideologies matched'.

Rane, who quit the Shiv Sena in 2005 to join the Congress chose to quit the party as well. Rane who has had several rounds of meetings with BJP leaders including Amit Shah before announcing his exit from the Congress, will meet Shah for the first time after his exit. While the BJP's ally in Maharashtra- Shiv Sena- has vehemently opposed Rane's induction into the BJP, the central leadership seems to be keen on the Konkan strongman.

Rane's meeting with Shah has only fuelled speculation of him joining the BJP despite opposition by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself. Rane is meeting Shah on the pretext of inviting him the inauguration of a medical college in his hometown Sindhudurg. The BJP national executive meeting is currently underway in Delhi and a decision on Rane's induction is likely to be taken.

Rane holds sway over the Konkan region where Shiv Sena has created a niche for itself while the BJP is on the backfoot. Rane's induction will help the BJP fight the next assembly elections independently and as a stronger party in the region where it has failed to get a grip. Rane's induction is part of BJP's larger plans to come back to power in the state as the single largest party. The results fo civic body elections have come as boosters to the BJP while a sulking Shiv Sena is fighting for relevance.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 11:18 [IST]
Board of Administrators take charge of the GTA

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

Darjeeling, September 25, 2017: Amidst much criticism from different quarters the Board of Administrators (BOA) took charge of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in Darjeeling on Monday.

Incidentally on June 23, 2017, GTA Chief Bimal Gurung along with 42 Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) elected and nominated members had tendered their resignations from the GTA en masse.

On September 20, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the formation of the BOA invoking Clause 65B of the GTA Act.

The BOA announced by the CM comprised of Binay Tamang as the Chairman, Anit Thapa as Vice Chairman along with 7 members.

The members included Darjeeling MLA Amar Singh Rai; Mirik Municipal Chairman LB Rai; GTA Principal Secretary; GNLF President Mann Ghising; Sanchabir Subba, Joytun Khatun and Anu Chettri.

Gurung and the GJM were under pressure from the Gorkhaland Movement Coordination Committee (a conglomeration of 14 pro Gorkhaland outfits) to resign from the GTA and walk the path of agitation.

"Our priority will be a corruption free GTA along with good governance" stated Binay Tamang, Chairman, BOA, GTA talking to media persons.

The focus of the BOA will be on water, education, health, tourism and infrastructure development.

"First the incomplete projects will be completed and the roads in bad condition repaired, then only we will take up new projects concerning roads. Communication and connectivity has to be developed but we will not start immediately by building roads." added Tamang.

Two back to back meetings took place after the BOA took charge. First the BOA met which was followed by the meeting of the BOA with the GTA Departmental Heads and Executive Directors.

The departmental heads have been asked to prepare a list of all assets under the GTA within October 10. They have also asked to prepare a detailed report of damages (total and partial) to all GTA properties during the past 103 days of agitation and bandh.

Incidents of arson and vandalizing have been rampant during the agitation in which properties owned by the State as well as the GTA have been torched, vandalised and damaged.

The Board will also stress on improving work culture in the GTA offices. "All employees of the GTA including Officers or Group D staff have to be present in office from 10am to 4pm. We will be installing biometric scanners to keep tab" stated Tamang.

The Lalkothi in Darjeeling will function as a full fledged Secretariat of the GTA. "Security features in the Lalkothi will also be beefed up" added Tamang.

Tamang has also asked the District Administration to remove the Security Forces presently stationed at the Gorkha Ranga Mancha Bhawan and return the Bhawan to the GTA.

Following clashes between GJM supporters and police forces on June 8, the District Administration had taken control of the Rangamancha and sealed it.

"Many of the GTA departments have offices in the Ranga Mancha, hence we have requested the district administration to return the premises to the GTA" stated Tamang.

However GNLF President Mann Ghising and Amar Singh Rai have refused to be a part of the BOA. Both were not present at the Lalkothi on Monday.

Incidentally an agitation had taken place under the aegis of Bimal Gurung and the GJM in 2008 which culminated in the signing of the GTA Accord between the Union, State and the GJM on July 18, 2011.

The tripartite accord had paved way for the formation of the GTA, an autonomous administrative body, in the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. Election to the GTA was held on July 30, 2012. After winning all 45 seats of the GTA, the GJM members led by Gurung had been sworn to office on 4th August 2012.

OneIndia News
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Cops assault journalist in Kerala

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

A senior journalist of a regional weekly news magazine was allegedly assaulted by Kerala police near Varkala, sub-urban town of Thiruvananthapuram.

The journalist, Sajeev Gopalan who works for 'Kalakaumudi', was allegedly assaulted by cops on Sunday evening. Injured Sajeev Gopalan is undergoing treatment in hospital.

According to 'Kerala Kaumudi' reports, the incident took place on Sunday by around 10.00 pm. Sajeev got out of house to send off his relatives who visited his family after dinner, and two police officers who came on a bike started hitting him without any reason. His wife and daughter who came running out of the house listening to the commotion outside begged with the officers to stop hitting him but in vein.

The officers then called up SI Biju over the wireless, and the SI arrived with a team of police and started beating up Sajeev.

The attack on journalist comes days after unidentified assailants attacked Asianet Television Network's Alappuzha bureau office in Kerala. The attackers vandalized company car parked outside the office. No causalities reported.

OneIndia News
Cops book case after rape survivor writes to PMO

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A rape survivor sent an anonymous mail to the Prime Minister's Officer, following which two accused were booked by the Haryana police. Two employees of a private school at Sonipat district were booked on charges of rape.

In her email the survivor, who is a minor said that she was gang raped by the duo and was also forced to accompany them to a hotel. She alleged that she had informed the school teacher, principal and also the director. However no action was taken, following which she decided to mail the PMO.

In the mail, she also copies the Haryana Chief Minister's office and the DGP of the state. She said in the mail that they would kill herself is no action was taken.

The mail ensured a prompt response from the police who swung into action. The cops sourced the CCTV footage from the school campus and began investigations. The police after booking a case also questioned the two accused persons- a clerk and an accountant who were named by the survivor.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 8:27 [IST]
Economic slow down, mission Kashmir on BJPs menu at National Executive

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The National Executive meeting of the BJP is being held in New Delhi. The meeting will have several brain storming sessions and the performance of the government would be reviewed.

The BJP which is getting ready for a couple of electoral battles, including the one in 2019 will chalk out a road map. Various issues which would include, economic slowdown, the impact of GST, demonetisation would be discussed.

The government has been severely criticised and critics have called these decisions as mis-adventures. During the meeting, the BJP big-wigs would look and find ways on justifying these decisions. The main stand that the party is expected to take is that most of these decisions were aimed at wiping out black money and curbing corruption.

The party's top brass would also tell the leaders to highlight issues such as the battle in Kashmir where the Indian Army has managed to gun down several terrorists. In focus would also be some schemes of the government which are said to be pro-poor.

OneIndia News
ED set to join probe against Dawoods brother, Iqbal Kaskar

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Thane police is set to rope in the Enforcement Directorate to probe the financial links concerning Dawood Ibrahim's brother, Iqbal Kaskar. With several traces of illegal financial transactions coming to light, the police feel that the ED would be the ideal agency to probe the case.

There were several suspicious financial transactions that have come to light during the probe. The police say that there are also hawala transactions that were undertaken by Kaskar, which need to be probed by the ED.

The police also found that there were several benami properties which were purchased through ill-gotten wealth.

Meanwhile the Thane police is all set to arrest two corporators from Thane for their alleged links to Dawood Ibrahim's brother, Iqbal Kaskar. The coporators are likely to be summoned for questioning and the probability of an arrest is not ruled out. During the interrogation, Kaskar details how he rewarded the coporator for helping him collect money.

Iqbal had identified a builder in the Thane area and told the corporator to collect Rs 30 lakh from him. The corporator, notorious for land grabbing and illegal constructions in an around the Thane area contacted the builder and asked him to cough up the money.

The builder said that he could pay the money in installments. The deal was struck and the amount was collected in six installments. After collecting the last installment, the corporator met with Kaskar and handed him the money.

Kaskar was impressed and took the corporator out for a treat. An officer privy to the probe informed that Kaskar and the coporator went out for dinner at a famous restaurant in Pydhonie, Mumbai. On the menu was a plate of biriyani and beja fry. It may be recalled that Iqbal at the time of his arrest was eating biriyani and watching his favourite show, 'Kaun Banega Crorepati."

Iqbal has also revealed the role played by the second corporator in the case. He played the role of forcibly brokering a deal between Iqbal and a jeweler in the Thane area. The corporator was paid a portion of the protection money, Iqbal also revealed.

With the arrest of Kaskar more builders have started approaching the police and filing complaints. Big political names too are tumbling out and the police is probing further. The police will now summon the corporators and put them before Kaskar for a face to face confrontation.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 15:40 [IST]
Hamid Ansari draws VHP's ire for attending PFI event

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi/Kozhikode, Sep 24: Stating that Hamid Ansari was spreading dissatisfaction in the Muslim community even when he was holding the office, the VHP has lashed out at the former vice president for attending an event organised by the women's wing of Popular Front of India.

Popular Front of India is under the scanner for alleged links with terror outfits.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain said Ansari stands exposed after attending the programme.

"He was spreading dissatisfaction in the Muslim community even when he was holding the post of Vice President," he said.

Ansari attended the two-day international conference on "the role of women in making humane society" in Kerala's Kozhikode organised by the Institute of Objective Studies in association with the National Women's Front, the women's wing of the PFI.

However, PFI sources in Kerala said that only the Delhi- based Institute of Objective Studies organised the event and the PFI has not organised it.

Jain in a statement alleged that the PFI is nothing but a new and extended avatar of banned outfit SIMI. He also alleged that the PFI is involved in terror activities and the killing of "patriots" in Kerala.

Earlier, the Calicut University which had allowed the programme to be held at the varsity campus, later cancelled the permission saying that the Federation of Muslim Colleges, the parent body of the Chair of Islamic Studies at the University, objected to certain organisations which were not part of of the programme later collaborating with it. T

he National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a report to the Union Home Ministry had claimed that the PFI has been involved in terror acts, including running terror camps and making bombs, and it was a fit case to be declared banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The PFI reportedly has presence in 23 states and is strongest in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

PTI
Thief calls cops for help after being caught by mob

India sends 620 tonnes of food Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

India

oi-PTI

Rajamahendravaram September 25: A few weeks after India had ferried around 55 tonnes of relief material, nearly 620 tonnes of food material were on Monday shipped from the Kakinada Deep Water Port in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district for distribution among the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Faced with an onslaught from the Myanmar army, scores of Rohingya people have recently fled the Rakhine state of that country and taken refuge in Bangladesh.

On the directions of the Government of India, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) has arranged for 62,000 food packets, each containing five kg of parboiled rice, two kg of dal, edible oil, sugar, salt, tea and milk powder, East Godavari district's Collector Kartikeya Misra said.

The packets also contain a mosquito net each.

"As per the suggestions of the NAFED, we have arranged for the food material and got it packed at two different locations in the district. The cargo is being shipped to Chittagong (in Bangladesh) and is expected to reach there in two days," Misra said.

The Indian Air Force had ferried around 55 tonnes of relief material for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The assistance to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is being provided by New Delhi as part of its humanitarian aid.

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 16:45 [IST]
Jharkhand crisis: UPA to stage protest across state on Nov 5 against 'attempts to destabilise govt'

Jharkhand: Explosion in firecracker factory, 8 killed, 25 injured

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

At least eight persons were killed and 25 others injured after an explosion at the godown of a firecracker factory in Jharkhand's Kumardubi. The incident occurred Sunday evening.

Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the fire that broke out following the blast, reports news agency ANI.

As per Hindustan Times, "A few villagers were making crackers for the festive season but they suddenly burst killing five people and sparking a fire which also spread to the adjacent houses," station in-charge-of Barsole police station, Binod Paswan said.

Local people said that explosions continued till late in the evening. They alleged that fire tenders did not reach in time and so the fire caused greater damage.Local BJP MP Bidyut Baran Mahato rushed to the spot on being informed about the incident.

"I have already apprised the incident to Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and urged the local administration to make adequate arrangement to provide the best medical aid to the injured in Jamshedpur," he said

Mahto said that the chief minister assured him that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be paid to the next of kin of the deceased while the injured will get Rs 50,000.

(With agency inputs)
JNU, DU students, professors, TN Farmers stand in solidarity with BHU

India

oi-Shreya

By Shreya

The violence unleashed on female students of Banaras Hindu University on September 23, by police - for protesting against an alleged eve teasing, triggered massive outrage in different parts of the country.

The next day, students, professors, citizens of Delhi came together in Delhi's Jantar Mantar to stand in solidarity with the students of BHU and to condemn the brutal assault by the police on the female students.

The protest meet saw professors from Jawaharlal Nehru university, Delhi University, students of both the universities, and also alumni of BHU. Tamil Nadu farmers who had been protesting in Jantar Mantar for over 100 days also stood in solidarity with the students in BHU and President of the farmers's association Ayyakannu also spoke of how such activities of suppression and force defy the Constitution.

Anubhuti, a student from JNU said that such incidents are reflections of the deep rooted patriarchy which makes men feel that they are entitled to decide on behalf of women and hence any act of resistance by women are never tolerated. She also said that the members of the Civil Society should remember that the protest is not only about the crowd of fancy banners, but to bring about a change in the mindset of people to ensure safety of women.

Dr Lata, Academic Council Member, Delhi University called out the hypocrisy of the society, she said, "India worships women, then beats them up. This is not just an attack on women, this is an attack on all youth who dare to ask question,"

Writer and Professor Purushottom Agarwal also called this a fascist attack and an effort to curb the freedom of student who wanted to raise questions.

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In light of the violence that erupted in the varsity, the BHU will close for its sumer break from September 25, three days prior to its scheduled holidays from Navratri.

Apart from students, some journalists have also been injured in the lathicharge by the police.

Many condemned the violence on students on social media, including samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.

Uttar Prdesh Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has also sought for a report from the Divisional Commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident, meanwhile authorities continue denying allegations of violence on students. A similar incident also happened in renouned Jadavpur University in Kolkata, where female students were thrashed by male police.

The question remains, even with such outrage and protest meet all over the country, will the violence on women stop?

OneIndia News
Justice (Retd) A Arumughaswamy of Madras High Court to probe Jayalalithaa's death

India

oi-Anusha

The Tamil Nadu government has appointed Justice (Retd) Arumughaswamy to head the inquiry commission that will probe into the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy had, in August, issued orders for a judicial inquiry making way for two warring factions of the AIADMK to merge.

Justice A Arumughaswamy retired from the Madras High Court in 2014. He was later named as chairman of the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) in Mumbai. Justice Arumughaswamy joined in the Subordinate Judiciary as District Munsif in 1986 and was promoted as Subjudge 1991 and promoted as District Judge in 1998. He was appointed the Registrar General of High Court of Madras in 2009 and elevated as High Court Judge in 2010. He demitted the office as Chairperson Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai in 2016 after which he took charge as Judicial Member, Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras Bench in Chennai.

Judicial probe ordered into former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's death

O Panneerselvam, after breaking away from the AIADMK had demanded a probe into the death of J Jayalalithaa. After months of dilly-dallying, the Tamil Nadu government ordered a probe but the intent was, however, to make the path easier for Edappadi Palanisamy and Panneerselvam camps of the AIADMK to merge.

Several activists in Tamil Nadu had sought a probe into Jayalalithaa's death. Speculations were raised over her health condition and time of death from day one. On Friday, Sreenivasan, the forest minister of Tamil Nadu, raised a storm after 'admitting to lying' about Jayalalithaa's health condition. He told a meeting of party workers that none had met Jayalalithaa when she was under treatment in Apollo hospital. He apologized to the people for lying about how Jayalalithaa had recovered and was consuming food.

TTV Dinakaran on Monday, in a bid to rubbish Sreenivasan's claims, said that Sasikala Natarajan had recorded videos of Jayalalithaa in the hospital. He assured that the same would be handed over to the inquiry commission. Justice (Retd) Arumughaswamy will now head the probe into Jayalalithaa's death as well as the speculation around it.

OneIndia News
China Mobile, the worlds largest mobile operator with 874 million customers, has been negotiating with the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) for the possible purchase of Brazilian telecoms operator Oi, Brazilian magazine Exame wrote.

At the end of 2016, Oi, the largest telecommunications company in Brazil, had a portfolio of 63.6 million customers, of which 39.9 million in mobile telephony, 16.4 million in fixed telephony, Internet access and subscriptions, 6.6 million users in the corporate segment and 700,000 public telephones.

On 20 June, 2016, Oi filed a request for receivership, the largest in Brazils history, with a liability of 65 billion reais (USD20.7 billion).

Exame also reported that the potential acquisition of Oi by China Mobile would be the ideal solution for Anatel, and the advisors of this public institution held meetings with executives of the Chinese state-owned company to discuss investments in Brazil, including the troubled Brazilian operator, which is 27 percent owned by Portuguese company Pharol.

The Chinese company last week opened an office in Sao Paulo that will be the business center of the telecommunications company in Latin America, according to company officials.

Juarez Quadros, president of Anatel, met with the Chinese company and the China Development Bank on 11 September in Brasilia, and the Brazilian magazine confirmed that Oi was the subject of the talks. MDT/Macauhub
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Kashmir terror funding: Up next is Geelani

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Up next for questioning in the Kashmir terror funding case is Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The Hurriyat hawk is the centre piece of the probe being conducted by the National Investigation Agency.

NIA sources say that Geelani was always on the radar, but before getting to the big-wig they wanted to set up a water tight case. Meanwhile the NIA has summoned Kashmir University PhD student Aala Fazil, head of Kashmir Traders' and Marketing Federation chief Yaseen Khan and two Hurriyat leaders Abdul Hameed Magrey and Wali Mohammad for questioning.

The Kashmir traders' body has called for a strike on Monday to protest Khan's summoning. Sources said they will be questioned about alleged funding to various groups which pelted security forces with stones.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Bar Association president Mian Qayoom is likely to be summoned again by the NIA, sources said.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 8:07 [IST]
On 'wanted' list, Honeypreet moves Delhi HC seeking anticipatory bail

India

oi-PTI

On the run since August 25, Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's close aide, Honeypreet has moved the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

Priyanka Taneja alias Honeypreet, the adopted daughter of the jailed Dera chief, tops the list of 43 persons 'wanted' by the Haryana Police in connection with incidents of violence that had followed Ram Rahim's conviction in the rape cases.

Earlier, a lookout notice was issued against Honeypreet by the police.

Her lawyer Pradeep Kumar Arya told PTI that they have filed the anticipatory bail petition in the Delhi High Court and the matter would be mentioned tomorrow before a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal for early hearing.

Ram Rahim was convicted by the special CBI court in Panchkula on August 25, following which violence and arson had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa districts of Haryana which had left 41 people dead and several others injured.

The CBI court on August 28 had sentenced Ram Rahim to 20 years in prison for raping two of his disciples in 2002.

Honeypreet had accompanied the Dera head when he had come to the special CBI court on August 25. She had also travelled along with him in the special chopper which ferried them to Rohtak from Panchkula after the conviction.

The controversial sect head is currently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak district of Haryana.

Several teams of Haryana Police have travelled across the country, including the Indo-Nepal border, to trace the whereabouts of Honeypreet.

Meanwhile, Ram Rahim on Monday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the trial court's verdict.

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 21:34 [IST]
Man who was used as human shield in J&K was on poll duty

Police report on Kashmirs human shield: Farooq voted, kept under wrongful confinement by army

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Srinagar, Sep 25: In its report, the Jammu and Kashmir police have confirmed that Farooq Ahmad Dar, the man who was used as a human shield by the army during the bye-election to the Srinagar parliamentary constituency in April this year, had cast his vote before the "shocking" incident took place.

"During investigation, it came to surface that the victim Farooq Ahmad Dar cast his vote at polling booth in his native village, Chill. After casting his vote, he along with Hilal Ahmad Magrey left for condolence meeting to Gampora," the police report stated.

The report, which has come to light on Monday, was submitted by the Budgam district police to the state's director general of police in August.

The report added that Dar was picked up by the army "during stone pelting, and was tied to the bonnet of a vehicle as human shield under threat". "He was kept under wrongful confinement and was paraded/moved around in the area."

This is what the police report says in details:

"During investigation it came to surface that on 09.04.02017 during bye-poll elections various stone pelting incidents took place in the jurisdiction of Police Station, Beerwah and on the same day the said Farooq Ahmad Dar S/O Abdul Rahim R/O Chill accompanied by Hilal Ahmad Magray S/O Ghulam Mohammad R/O Chill (witness No. 01 above mentioned) proceeded to village Gampora for condolence and after spending some time there left from village Gampora and reached Ultigam crossing where from he was lifted by Army during stone pelting and was tied to bonnet of the Army vehicle as human shield under threat, kept him under wrongful confinement and has been paraded/moved around within the area.

Later on he was released. During investigation it came to surface that victim Farooq Ahmad Dar has cast his vote at polling booth installed in his native village i.e. Chill after casting vote he left alongwith Hilal Ahmad Magray for condolence to village Gampora, the investigation of the instant case is going on and after obtaining reports from District Election office Budgam/ Coy Commander 53 RR Camp Beerwah and analysing of video clips the investigation of the instant case will be concluded on its merits."

Dar, who was severely injured in the incident, told local reporters, "Why would I pelt stones when I had voted?" He added that the Election Commission (EC) could check whether he voted or not on April 9 Srinagar Lok Sabha bye-polls.

A video went viral on social media showing Dar tied to an army jeep with a note pinned to his chest that read, "This will be the fate of stone-pelters."

The resident of Chill village in Beerwah sub-district said he was caught by the army after he went to cast his vote in the Srinagar Lok Sabha bye-polls. He added, "I thrashed severely with gun butts and wooden sticks and in an almost unconscious state tied to the front of the jeep and paraded."

Major Leetul Gogoi of 53 Rashtriya Rifles, who took the decision to tie Dar to a jeep, alleged that the shawl weaver was instigating the crowd to pelt stones against the army jawans and was thus forced to use the man as a human shield to save civilians.

Major Gogoi was awarded the Army Chief's Commendation Card almost a month after the incident. Army chief Bipin Rawat too had defended Major Gogoi.

The commendation card for Major Gogoi was given for "sustained efforts" in counter insurgency operations, an army official said. However, Major Gogoi was not honoured for the human shield incident.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 15:33 [IST]
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Rahul's campaign in Gujarat won't make any difference, Congress will lose: Swamy

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

With Rahul Gandhi set to kick-start his three-day Gujarat campaign from Monday, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said the Congress would lose whatever little votes it could have got.

Rahul will begin a three-day Gujarat campaign today in politically crucial Saurashtra region, a Patidar community heartland. He will begin the campaign by offering prayers at the popular Dwarkadhish temple.

"Rahul Gandhi can campaign wherever he likes, it makes no difference...I am quite confident that we (BJP) will win in Gujarat," Swamy told news agency ANI.

Taking a dig at the Congress vice-president, Swamy said due to Rahul's campaign the grand old party will lose whatever "little votes the Congress may be getting".

After offering prayers at the Dwarkadhish temple, Rahul will hit the road for a tour of the Saurashtra region as part of the party's election campaign in Gujarat.

Rahul will make brief halts where he will interact with farmers and traders before addressing a rally in the afternoon.

Gujarat Assembly elections are likely to be held towards the end of 2017 or January, 2018.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 8:46 [IST]
Ram Rahim appeals against CBI court verdict in Punjab and Haryana HC

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

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Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who has been sentenced to 20 years in jail by a CBI court in twin rape cases, on Monday appealed against the verdict in Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging his conviction in two rape cases. The petition was filed in the High Court and the matter is yet to be listed for hearing.

The matter is expected to come up for the hearing next week. In his petition, he has said that he was wrongly convicted of rape charges. He also challenged the witness statements against him and termed them as flawed in nature.

Ram Rahim Singh was on August 25 held guilty of rape charges by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Panchkula. The quantum of punishment was announced on August 28.

Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in jail by a special CBI court. He was accused of raping two devotees at the Dera Sacha Sauda several years back.

The case was taken up by the Central Bureau of Investigation after an anonymous letter was shot off. It was the High Court that ordered a CBI probe into the matter. The Special CBI court found him guilty in both cases and sentenced him to 20 years in jail.

Trial court judge Jagdeep Singh had announced the verdict amid unprecedented security.

Massive violence broke in Panchkula immediately after the verdict as Dera followers went on a rampage damaging public property and burning down vehicles. Violence was also witnessed in Sirsa, Dera's headquarters, and several other parts of Haryana.

The court held that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Ram Rahim was guilty of rape. The court also took into account the gravity of the offence while pronouncing the sentence of 20 years which is the maximum under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code.

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Rape accused Falahari Maharaj undergoes virility test

India

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Jaipur, September 25: Self-styled godman Swami Kaushlendra Prapannachari Falahari Maharaj has undergone a virility test after being arrested on charges of raping a law student.

The samples will be sent to a forensic laboratory for confirmatory tests, SHO of Aravali Vihar police station Shishram Meena said.

The self-styled godman was arrested on Saturday by the Alwar Police after a 21-year-old women from Chhattisgarh, whose parents were his followers, filed a rape complaint earlier this month.

The complainant, a 21-year-old law student from Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, said she had recently got an internship position and had gone to donate her first stipend - Rs 3,000 - to Falahari's ashram on August 7, when the incident occurred.

Police have seized laptops, CDs, other gadgets and CCTV footage from Falahari Maharaj's room and sent it for forensic examination, Meena said. His judicial remand will end on October 6, he said.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 14:17 [IST]
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Swamy likens BHU violence to naxalite movement'

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

With the violence at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus sending political temperatures soaring, BJP's Subramanian Swamy has likened it to a 'naxalite movement'.

Swamy also backed UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's decision seeking comprehensive report on the BHU violence.

"I support the vice chancellor in this matter because it looks like a naxalite movement, which means they wanted to enter the vice chancellor's office and there they would have conducted violence," Swamy told news agency ANI.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus on Saturday witnessed violence by students who were lathi-charged by the police, in an ugly turn of a protest against an alleged eve-teasing incident.

The students alleged that the police lathi-charged without provocation and didn't even spare women students. They also alleged that the cops entered a girls' hostel. At least three motorcycles were set on fire in the violence allegedly by some of the protesters.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a report on the incident from the divisional commissioner.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 9:42 [IST]
Places of Worship Act: SC gives more time to Centre to file affidavit by Dec 12

The Rohingya tug of war

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

Darjeeling, September 25, 2017: While the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has filed a writ petition to the Supreme Court against the Union Government's notification to the State governments to deport all Rohingyas, the Border Security Force (BSF) guarding the Indo-Bangladesh border, is ready to foil any attempt by the Rohingyas to enter the country.

The Rohingyas are an ethnic group, majority belonging to the Muslim faith, who have lived for centuries in Myanmar. Currently, there are about 1.1 million Rohingya who live in the predominantly Buddhist country.

The Rohingya speak the unique Ruaingga dialect but are not considered one of Myanmar's 135 official ethnic groups. They have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since 1982. This has rendered the Rohingya's stateless.

Nearly all of the Rohingyas in Myanmar live in the western coastal state of Rakhine in camps. Time and again there have been allegations of Myanmar embarking on ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya's which the country has denied.

Following an attack on the police posts and an army base in Myanmar on August 25 that left 12 officers dead, the Myanmar military has imposed a crackdown on the Rohingya population which they have dubbed a clearance operation against an insurgent terrorist group.

Due to ongoing violence and persecution, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to neighbouring countries either by land or boat.

The Indian Government recently submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court recently, fearing an influx of Rohingyas into West Bengal and then spreading across the country. The Centre feels that it will pose a serious threat to the security of the country. The affidavit claims that some of the Rohingyas have links with Pakistan based terror outfits as per intelligence inputs.

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The affidavit traced probable routes that the Rohingya's could use to enter the country as Benepole-Haridaspur (South Bengal) Hilli (North Bengal) Sonamara (Tripura) with destinations being Kolkata and Guwahati.

Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, stated in Parliament recently that the Union government has directed the State authorities to identify and deport all illegal immigrants, including Rohingyas. A notification to this effect has been sent to the State Governments.

Reports state that a staggering 4 lakh Rohingyas have fled from Mayanmar to Bangladesh over the past three weeks alone. Out of the 4 lakh, at least 2 lakh 40,000 are children.

The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has filed a writ petition to the Supreme Court against the Centre's notification to the State governments to deport the Rohingyas.

Ananya Chakraborti, Chairperson, WBCPCR stated that there are 24 Rohingya children in shelter homes in West Bengal including the Liluah shelter in the Howrah district.

"Keeping with the regulations they had been produced in front of the Child Welfare Committees (CWC) under the Juvenile Justice Act. They cannot be deported without CWC's consent as per law. Moreover, they have no homes in Myanmar, so where will they be sent?" questioned Chakroborty.

The West Bengal government had earlier planned to hand over UN refugee cards to the 24. However this did not see the light of day with the Centre's directive the State Government's to deport the Rohingyas.

Meanwhile the BSF guarding the 2217 km border that West Bengal shares with Bangladesh have beefed up security to thwart any attempt of a Rohingya influx.

There are intelligence inputs that with Bangladesh having reached a saturation point the Rohingyas could try to cross over to India, West Bengal being the safest bet.

The border is semi-porous with an active network of middlemen and touts and middlemen helping infiltrators to cross over. They even provide the immigrants with fake identification documents.

The problem is not new. The BSF has been checking attempts of Rohingya cross over in the West Bengal-Bangladesh border areas since 2013. With similarity in language and appearance, the Rohingyas try to pass off as Bangladeshis so as not to be arrested for illegally entering the country. This poses as a major challenge for the BSF.

The BSF is relying on intelligence gathering and local sources to ward off future attempts.

Recently there has been a series of coordination meetings of BSF top brass in Delhi followed by Kolkata.

Though in the past after being identified as Rohingyas they used to be handed over to the State police but not there is a change of strategy.

Reports state that PSR Anajaneyulu, IG, BSF (South Bengal) has stated that there are clear instructions to deal with the Rohingyas firmly. "We will identify and push them back" he has stated.

Coordination meetings have been held with different agencies and vulnerable areas have been earmarked. In North Bengal, the BSF have stepped up vigil in Hili, the transit town in South Dinajpur district.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern about India's plans to deport the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. UN principles of non-refoulement are applicable in this case claim the UN. These principles state that no nation shall expel or return a refugee in any manner to territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

Minister Rijiju had said that according to available data, more than 14,000 Rohingyas, registered with the UNHCR, are presently staying in India.

"However, inputs indicate that around 40,000 Rohingyas are staying in India illegally and they are mainly located in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan," Rijjiju had stated.

Backing India's decision to push back the Rohingya's, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh claimed that Rohingya's are not refugees but illegal immigrants in India.

The Minister further claimed that India would not violate any international law by deporting Rohingyas as it was not a signatory to the UN Refugees Convention 1951. The minister said Rohingyas had come to India without following proper procedures of applying for asylum.

"We are providing all humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh in handling Rohingya crisis. Why is all this hue and cry when Myanmar is ready to take the Rohingyas back?" questioned Singh.

The Rohingya crisis hit another high with the Myanmar Army claiming to have stumbled across a mass grave in which 20 Hindu women, 8 Hindu men and 6 Hindu boys were laid out in rows outside the Ye Baw Kya village in the Rakhine state of Myanmar believed to be the handwork of the Rohingya militant outfit The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

Thousands of Hindus have fled villages alleging that they were being persecuted by militants whose August 25 raids plunged Rakhine into communal violence along with ARSA's attacks on the Myanmar police and military outposts thereby triggering the ongoing crisis.

A post in the Myanmar Army Chief's website claimed "Security members found and dug up 28 dead bodies of Hindus who were cruelly and violently killed by ARSA extremist Bengali terrorists in Rakhine State."

Political commentators feel that this development would definitely evoke strong reactions from the saffron camp thereby providing more muscle to the Indian Government to go ahead with their plans of deporting the Rohingya's.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 14:25 [IST]
This Navratri, Mumbaikars get in the groove of Silent Garba

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Garba organisers in Mumbai have set a new trend this Navratri to continue the festivities till late in the night. 'Silent Garba' is the new concept in the financial capital of the country to avoid noise pollution.

'Garba' is a Gujarati folk dance celebrated in Navratri, a celebration lasting nine nights. Garba songs typically revolve around the subjects of Lord Krishna or the nine goddesses. Sanedo is an example of a very popular song. Garba styles vary from place to place in Gujarat.

Rajmahal Banquets in Malad West has introduced the concept of "Silent Garba" nights, which will enable people to groove to the tunes of their choice using headphones from 11 PM to at least 2 am.

As per Indian Express reports, the event is organised in an air-conditioned hall with live music from 7 pm to 10 pm, after which people will switch to headphones. The concept has attracted many residents, resulting in a surge in bookings.

Participants get a specially-designed headphone, where the listener has three tracks to choose from - traditional Garba music, Bollywood songs and fusion music.

People form groups based on their preferences, which are highlighted by the colour-coded lights on their headphones.

#WATCH: This Navratri, silent Garba at a Malad pandal; people groove to the tunes of their choice using headphones from 11 PM-2AM #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/UgLf1AC6Mr  ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017

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To fund Kashmir terror, Hafiz Saeed was just a call away for separatists.

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Enforcement Directorate filed a detailed chargesheet against Shabir Shah, the separatist from Kashmir. Shah was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on July 25 from Srinagar and was brought to Delhi where he was produced in a court.

In its chargesheet, the ED also mentioned that Aslam Wani disclosed receiving deliveries of Hawala money on behalf of Shabir Shah at Delhi which was delivered to him by Pakistan Hawala operator Shafi Shayar.

According to the police Wani had claimed that he had given Rs 2.25 crore to Shah.

"Shabir Shah admitted that he talks to Hafiz Saeed over the phone on the issue of Kashmir. He recently spoke to Saeed in January 2017," ED in its chargesheet said.

It also added that Shah received funds from Pakistan terror outfits to promote terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir and others parts of India.

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Shabir Shah further admitted he has no source of income of his own and as such he does not file any ITR regarding his income, ED claimed.

Shah only receives donations in cash from locals and his well-wishers towards party fund which amounts to eight to 10 lakhs per annum.

ED in its chargesheet also found that Shabir Shah's wife Dr Bilquis was also involved in collecting money through Hawala in terror funding.

The ED had registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Shah for his involvement in a decade-old money laundering case for alleged terror financing.

Earlier in August, the court had allowed the ED, custody of Shah after the agency alleged that he was "ruining" the country by using money to fund terror.

The ED had issued multiple summons to Shah, but he never deposed before the central probe agency.

The agency had been issuing to Shah summons earlier too in pursuance of the August 2005 case in which the Delhi Police's Special Cell had arrested Mohammed Aslam Wani (35), an alleged hawala dealer.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 8:38 [IST]
The Philippines said yesterday it respects Malaysias decision to dissociate itself from a statement on Myanmars Rakhine state issued by Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Malaysias Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said this weekend that Malaysia was dissociating itself from the statement because it misrepresents the reality of the situation, omits reference to Rohingya Muslims as one of the affected communities and was not based on consensus  a rare public spat in ASEAN, which prides itself in its unity and decisions by consensus.

Manila said the Philippines, as ASEAN chair, issued the statement taking into account sentiments of others in the 10-member regional bloc and after extensive consultation with Malaysia.

The ASEAN chairmans statement condemned the attacks against Myanmar security forces and all acts of violence which resulted in loss of civilian lives, destruction of homes and displacement of large numbers of people.
Was scouting for Rohingya Muslims in Delhi, Mizoram says al-Qaeda operative

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Shauman Haq who was arrested by the Delhi police said that he was sent on a specific mission to recruit Rohingya Muslims. He told the police that he was targeting the Rohingyas in Delhi, Manipur and Mizoram.

I was told to recruit a few vulnerable Rohingyas and set up a module, he also said during his interrogation. We were hatching a specific plan to set up modules and also carry out attack, Haq said while also adding that the same was being done to take revenge.

He said that he had no recruits in joining the al-Qaeda. The specific goal was to take revenge and tell the world about the plight of the Rohingya Muslims, he also said.

A Delhi police officer informed that Rahman was radicalised in jail when he was arrested on charges of rash driving in London.

Rahman alias Raju Bhai, a British national of Bangladeshi origin was arrested on Sunday from Vikas Marg, Shakarpur (near ITO by the Delhi Police's Special Cell, that was on his trail since July.

Rahman is trained in using hi-end weapons and has fought against the Syrian forces on behalf of Jabhat al Nusra, an affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria. The investigators describe him as a "trained solider fighting for a wrong cause". Rahman's father had moved from Bangladesh to London in the 1960s and had set up his business there. His family lives in posh central London.

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The 27-year-old's elder siblings are settled in London. One of his brothers is in the banking sector while his three sisters are associated with banks and social work, the police said. During interrogation, Rahman told police that in 2011-12, he was arrested in London for rash driving. "While he was lodged in a jail there for close to eight months, he came in contact with some people and that was where his indoctrination started," said an officer privy to the probe.

Subsequently in 2013, he travelled to Mauritania in west Africa, to "gain knowledge about religion", the police said, adding that it is suspected that he was radicalised there.

Mauritania is the stronghold of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a Salafi-jihadist militant group. After his radicalisation, he was sent to Atmeh, Syria, where he was trained in using weapons, including AK-47, and IEDs (improvised explosive device) for close to three months. He was sent to Aleppo where he fought against the Syrian government forces as a member of Jabhat Al Nusra, an affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria, the police said. In between, he also visited London where intelligence agencies questioned him for his alleged links with al-Qaeda.

With his Bangladeshi background, he was selected to raise a fighter group there. In 2014, he arrived in Bangladesh to radicalise youth to join al-Qaeda with the help of a person named Yasina, a resident of Bangladesh and an old al-Qaeda cadre, the police said. He visited Dhaka and other places and radicalised dozens of young people in Bangladesh for their entry into Myanmar from Chittagong. He came in contact with two youths Tanzeel, the son of a bureaucrat and Adnan, son of a former High Court judge. Before he could radicalise more youths, he was arrested in September 2014 in Bangladesh on charges of terror financing and recruitment.

He was lodged in jail till April this year. While he was in jail, he came in contact with members of other terror outfits, including Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, said an investigator. After he was released on bail in April this year, he was asked to travel to India since the Bangladeshi authorities were already on his trail. He entered India illegally in April and on the instruction of top leaders of al-Qaeda, started looking for Rohingya Muslims so that he could "radicalise" them and train them to fight against the Myanmarese army, said the investigator.

During this period, he stayed at various madrassas in Kishanganj (Bihar), Hazari Bagh (Jharkhand), NCR and other places. He had plans to set up base in Mizoram or Manipur to train radicalised youths. Police also suspect that he was in touch with some militant organisations in Kashmir but till now, they have not found any clue whether he had any plans specific to India. A tech-savvy person, Rahman was in touch with top leaders of al-Qaeda, Muhammad al-Jawlani, head of al-Nusrah Front through secure messaging apps like Telegram, the investigator said.

He knew how to use protected sites so that his conversations could not be deciphered by the intelligence agencies.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 15:45 [IST]
West Bengal Group D Result 2017, important dates, check category wise marks here

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The West Bengal Group D Result 2017 has been declared and the interviews would be held from October 16 2017 onwards. The results are available on the official website.

The OMR sheets of the candidates, who appeared in the West Bengal Group D written examination have been scanned and evaluated electronically, said a statement from the organisors. Approximately, three times the total number of 6000 Group D vacancies will be intimated for the interviews. The candidates who are selected after the West Bengal Group D written exam, on the basis of the provisional Merit list will be called for Interview in a phased manner.

The West Bengal group D interviews are proposed to start from October 16, 2017, said a statement.

The recruitment of group D employees is being organised in West Bengal after a long interval. The last Group D recruitment was done during the erstwhile Left Front regime.

How to check West Bengal Group D Result 2017:

Go to wbgdrb.in

Click on the results tab

Click on the link "Result of Gr. D Examination 2017" from that page

Enter nine-digit application number and date of birth on the next page

Submit the details and check your results

Take a printout

OneIndia News
What was Hamid Ansari doing at a PFI event

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Former vice president of India, Hamid Ansari is facing criticism after he attended an event organised by the Popular Front of India, a group accused of having terror links.

Ansari attended the two-day international conference on "the role of women in making humane society" in Kerala's Kozhikode organised by the Institute of Objective Studies in association with the National Women's Front, the women's wing of the PFI.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad's joint secretary, Surendra Jain said that that Ansari stands exposed after attending the programme. "He was spreading dissatisfaction in the Muslim community.

However, PFI sources in Kerala said that only the Delhi-based Institute of Objective Studies organised the event and the PFI has not organised it.

Jain in a statement alleged that the PFI is nothing but a new and extended avatar of banned outfit SIMI. He also alleged that the PFI is involved in terror activities and the killing of "patriots" in Kerala.

Earlier, the Calicut University which had allowed the programme to be held at the varsity campus, later cancelled the permission saying that the Federation of Muslim Colleges, the parent body of the Chair of Islamic Studies at the University, objected to certain organisations which were not part of of the programme later collaborating with it.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a report to the Union Home Ministry had claimed that the PFI has been involved in terror acts, including running terror camps and making bombs, and it was a fit case to be declared banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

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When warring factions besieged the priest of Orthodox Syrian Church in Kochi

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

The head of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was besieged for hours on Sunday as two factions clashed at the St Mary's Church at Varikkoli. Mass turned into a mess on Sunday with followers of the Syrian Jacobite Church and Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church clashed for several hours.

The police had to intervene and also resort to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control after the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church supremo was besieged by the Syrian Jacobite faction. The faction was protesting against an alleged attempt by the Orthodox group to take over the administration of Jacobite churches.

Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, the head priest of Malankara Orthodox church was kept under siege till Sunday evening. He was visiting the church to conduct the Sunday mass but was blocked by the Jacobite faction while exiting the Church.

People started climbing up the church tower attempting to deface the emblem of the patriarch by pouring paint over it. The police who arrived at the spot stopped the situation from going overboard.

Following Sunday's ruckus, the Church has been locked up by the district authorities. The officials stated that the church will be reopened only after the impasse between the two factions ends. The drama began as early as 6.30 on Sunday morning when the priest entered the church to lead a Mass. The rival faction shut the Church's gates and prevented him from leaving the premises. The emblem of patriarchy has been a matter of dispute ever since the orthodox faction took control of the church based on an SC verdict a few weeks ago.

The Jacobite faction of the Church is led by the Patriarch of Antioch, based in Damascus. The feud between the two factions, officials said, has been raging on for more than a century.

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 15:50 [IST]
Who lied about Jayalalithaa's health? RTI reply contradicts TN minister's claims

India

oi-Anusha

A reply from the Tamil Nadu government under Right to Information act contradicts claims made by Forest Minister C Sreenivasan on Jayalalithaa's time in Apollo Hospital last year. While the minister claimed that the party, as well as the government, lied about Jayalalithaa's condition, the RTI reply claims that the then Chief Minister had met officials and oversaw meetings on Cauvery issue. Who really is lying to the people of Tamil Nadu has now become the big question.

On Friday, Tamil Nadu minister Sreenivasan made startling claims about how none ever met Jayalalithaa in the hospital but lied about her improving health, consumption of food and interaction with officials. An RTI query acquired by a Bengaluru-based activist dated June 2017 contradicts the minister's statements.

"We never met Jayalalithaa in the hospital, all of us lied": TN minister says 'sorry'

Even as the debate over the truth about Jayalalithaa in Apollo rages on TTV Dinakaran on Monday claimed that videos of the late Chief Minister in the hospital have been recorded. "We have videos of Jayalalithaa watching TV in the hospital. We are willing to hand it over to the probe committee. Let a senior judge lead the investigations," TTV Dinakaran said. He added that Jayalalithaa was dressed informally and hence the video was not fit to be made public.

A letter of reply from Joint Secretary to Tamil Nadu government, P M Ambalavanan, dated June 16, 2017, details meetings that Jayalalithaa is said to have held with officials. "The late Chief Minister interacted with family and government officials on some important issues including the Cauvery issue. The late Chief Minister's clinical course deteriorated later and subsequently recovered substantially to being able to take food orally," the reply to an RTI query states.

This is in sheer contradiction to Sreenivasan's claims that nobody was allowed to meet J Jayalalithaa when she was at the Apollo hospital. He had alleged that the government, as well as the party, had lied about her health status and apologized to the people for lying.

The contradiction makes it clear that either the government of Tamil Nadu had lied in the RTI query or the minister was lying to the public. With many unanswered questions already raising suspicion over Jayalalithaa's death, the latest revelation from Sreenivasan only fuelled further speculation.

The reply to the RTI query also states that Jayalalithaa's recorded time of death was 11.30 PM. This is yet again a contradiction to O Panneerselvam's claim of Jayalalithaa passing away on the evening of December 5.

"No information, unless specified otherwise, can be denied under the RTI. If there is a delay in providing information under the RTI, a maximum penalty of Rs 20,000 can be imposed on the Public information officer. The same will apply to false information," said activist Narasimhamurthy. An advocate, Murthy had sought information regarding Jayalalithaa's health condition, medical expenses, the cost to the ex-chequer and details of doctors who treated her. He received a reply in June where information about her health was denied since the matter was 'private'.

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Will god solve Naga political problem? NSCN-IM prays hard

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Since several decades, Naga groups from the state of Nagaland are fighting a long-drawn "freedom struggle" for an "independent Nagalim" (an independent country for the Naga people).

Currently, Naga rebel group--the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM)--is in talk with the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to find a solution to their age-old problem.

Since the talk between the Centre and the NSCN-IM seems to have reached a stalemate, the Naga rebel group sought "divine intervention" for an early solution to the political crisis on Sunday.

The "invocation" for a political solution to the Naga issue was a part of the day one of a month-long special prayer meet at Camp Hebron (the designated headquarter from which the NSCN-IM conducts its official works). The camp of the NSCN-IM is located near Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland.

"The final touch of the divine is all we need at this point of time, the touch of Almighty God for an early, honourable and acceptable solution to Indo-Naga political issue. Understanding the difficulties and the importance of the Indo-Naga political dialogue is wisdom. If we fail today, maybe we may never succeed in a thousand years also. The opportunity that is in our hands is ample. Nothing like this one may come for a second time, I guess. Therefore, your constructive involvement and positive participation in the cause are vital," Reverend Seksim Kasar, general secretary of Council of Naga Churches (CNC), an NSCN-backed umbrella organisation of churches in Nagaland, said in a statement.

During the special prayers, the members of the NSCN-IM also sought blessings from the almighty for its chief negotiator Thuingaleng Muivah, Centre's interlocutor RN Ravi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet and NSCN authorities, among others.

Based on the framework agreement signed between the outfit and Delhi in August 2015, talks are underway between the NSCN-IM and the Centre to work out details for a permanent solution to the Naga political issue.

Reports indicate that the month-long special prayer has been organised to take other Naga groups into confidence and defeat the "misinformation being spread by a section".

"Avoiding listening to destructive elements is half wisdom. Complete rejection of their misrepresentation and conscious participation in a noble cause is full wisdom. Political dialogue is essential because it decides our future. It's not a fun game. Seriously, it is a matter of life or death," the statement said.

The special meeting is likely to see participation of intellectuals, members of civil society groups and Naga groups. The meeting will end on October 24.

OneIndia News
11th Dubai International Food Safety Conference to discuss trending technologies

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Dubai : The 11th Dubai International Conference on Food Safety, which will be held from 19 to 21 November 2017, will discuss trending technologies such as Artificial Intelligence; Big Data, IoT Devices and their uses in food safety.

The conference, which be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, is organized by the Food Safety Department of Dubai Municipality with support from the International Association for Food Protection, International Union of Food Science and Technology and the Institute of Food Technologists.

Food safety experts and professionals from around the world will review, over three days, the most important smart solutions, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) and electronic sensing tools, to take advantage of all these techniques to find innovative solutions to the challenges to food safety at the international level, and discuss how regulatory authorities can use these techniques to adopt the required food safety measures.

Announcing the launch of the conference, Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Municipality, said that this year's conference coincides with the launch of the vision of the future by the Government of Dubai (10X) and other initiatives that support the emirate's drive to make Dubai a unique destination of progress and development.

"Therefore, the theme of this year's conference is: Predict...Prevent...Protect. The topics of the conference will focus on the application of forecasting, tracking and pro-preventive measures that benefit from modern food safety techniques in light of the enormous information revolution that has taken place all over the world," he said.

Lootah said that the past ten sessions of Dubai International Conference on Food Safety have witnessed significant development in all aspects of the conference in terms of the number of attendees and the variety of programs and events associated with the conference.

He said that the conference has become a platform to provide solutions to the challenges facing food safety at regional and international levels thanks to the distinguished constellation of experts and specialists participating in the conference, as well as the smart partnerships that have been developed between the Municipality and many local, regional and international players involved in food safety and nutrition.

Lootah added that the conference is a great opportunity to activate the role of the media on the various aspects of food safety, in particular how media deals with food-related rumors by focusing on professionalism away from the press excitement.

"There will be a special session on the role of media in food safety and nutrition. The star journalists, broadcasters, television program presenters and social media activists will be invited to this session," he said and hoped that this distinguished media session will achieve the desired objectives in determining the different roles of regulators, media and the public alike.

Khalid Sharif Al Awadhi, Assistant Director General for Environment, Health and Safety Control Sector, said that while looking at technology and data driven systems as enablers, the conference will, as every year, bring to the room the latest trends and challenges in the more fundamental aspects of food safety, including approaches to food inspections and audits, microbiological and chemical risk assessment, and the human behavioral aspects of food safety management.

"We are sure that the programs of the conference will help all those involved in the development, implementation and maintenance of food safety programs as they are designed for food safety professionals from the food industry, regulatory authorities, policy makers and academic institutions and students," he said.

Al Awadhi said that the conference is also an opportunity to reiterate Dubai Municipality's partnership with universities and its role in sponsoring young students and researchers by preparing programs for students and researchers to equip universities and students for the next generation of modern technologies in the field of food safety and nutrition.

He said that this year's events will include - for the fifth year in a row - a specialized program in Arabic to keep abreast of the best practices and concepts in the field of food safety and nutrition. "The Arabic program will include two seminars, the first one will be on the role of media in food safety and nutrition and the second seminar will focus on smart food tracking, where best practices from the private sector will be reviewed, as well as the role of early warning systems in enhancing food safety," said Al Awadhi.

Noura Al Shamsi, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Conference said that more than 2,500 participants are expected to attend this year, representing more than 55 nationalities from various food-related entities such as regulatory authorities, universities and research centers, food companies and civil society organizations.

"Various workshops, technical sessions, and poster presentations during the conference will feature more than 200 presenters from all across the globe. A specialized exhibition is also being organized on the sidelines of the conference, which will showcase integrated solutions for food safety by various companies working in the field of Information Technology and electronic and smart solutions. Food regulatory authorities, food testing laboratories, food training and consulting companies will also participate in the exhibition," she said.

"In this year's conference we aim to focus on timely and trending topics that will address the opportunities and challenges in the emerging technology and data-driven food safety world. To list a few, the use of Whole Genome Sequencing to track outbreaks, the use of IoT (Internet of Things) devices to ensure accurate process monitoring and decision making, use of smart mobile devices to connect us with a network of humans and machines with back-end applications that can manage and analyse data for action in real time," said Al Shamsi.

Topics of discussion in the conference also include Data Science, Food Additives, HACCP, TACCP, Social Media and Risk Communication, Microbial Risk Assessment, Predictive Microbiology, Food Traceability, DNA Barcoding, Microbiological Shelf Life, Food Inspection and Auditing, Cleaning and Disinfection, Pest Management, Pesticide Residues, Antimicrobial Resistance, Food Safety Culture, Vision Expo 2020, Packaging Technology, Food Banks, Food Sustainability, Applied Nutrition and Food in Schools.

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Panama papers case: Sharif returns to Pakistan to face charges

International

pti-PTI

Islamabad, Sep 25: In connection with Panama papers probe, ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday returned to Pakistan from the UK after nearly a month to face corruption and money laundering charges.

He was in London from August 31 to be with his ailing wife Kulsoom who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer. Sharif, 67, decided to return after consultations with senior party leaders including his younger brother and Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in London, party officials said.

The aircraft carrying him landed here at around 7.30 AM and a confident Sharif came out, waved to his supporters and left, TV news reports showed. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) officials said that he would stay in Punjab House in Islamabad and hold meetings with party leaders today and tomorrow.

Sharif's spokesman Asif Kirmani told reporters that the former premier would appear before the accountability court tomorrow.

"Nawaz Sharif is meeting with advisors and party leaders for political and legal consultations. He would appear before the court (tomorrow)," he said.

The Accountability Court in Islamabad, which is hearing the corruption cases against the Sharif family, last week summoned Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law capt (retd) Safdar to appear before it on September 26.

Sharif stepped down after the Supreme Court disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons -- Hassan and Hussain, daughter -- Maryam, son-in-law -- Safdar, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Accountability Court in Islamabad and Rawalpindi recently.

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The anti-graft body last week froze the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court. Earlier, Sharif skipped a court hearing last week to defy the cases. His family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated. Maryam said that Sharif was returning to face cases for the sake of his people.

"Knowing what he faces is not accountability, the man decides to return. It is not about this person anymore. It is the battle of 200 million (Pakistanis)," she said in a tweet.

Sharif's wife has undergone three successful surgeries for her cancer. Kulsoom contested on Lahore's NA-120 seat that fell vacant in the wake of his disqualification and won. Their three children are still in London as he prepares to appear before the court in Islamabad tomorrow. The court has also summoned Maryam, Hussain, Hasan and Safdar but it was not immediately known if they would appear before the court tomorrow.

PTI
Mamata miffed for not being invited to be part of Bangaldesh PM's India visit

Reports of plot to kill Sheikh Hasina 'baseless': Bangladesh PMO

International

oi-PTI

Dhaka, September 25: The Prime Minister's Office of Bangladesh in it's statement dismissed as "baseless" media reports that some of the bodyguards of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were plotting to assassinate her last month.

"This is to inform all that the report of the attack on the honourable Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) on August 24, 2017 is completely baseless, misleading and motivated, the PMO said in a statement.

It said "some media outlets on September 23 published and broadcast a report about a failed attempt on the life of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina using as the source a foreign TV channel and an international online news agency".

It said a number of TV channels also aired the news and held talk shows on the "so-called" failed attack on the premier by involving some members of a special force.

"It is not expected at all from any responsible person or conscious media to publish or broadcast such a confusing report which goes against the overall interest of the country's security," the statement read.

According to the reports the foiled attack was plotted by rogue members of the Special Security Force or SSF in coordination with banned terrorist outfit Jama'tul Mujahideen Bangladesh or JMB, bdnews24 reported.

The reports said six to seven SSF personnel were preparing to attack Hasina on August 24.

The reports said JMB members were supposed to trigger explosions around the office to create a diversion and provide an escape route for the assassins.

Hasina is now in the US, where she had gone to attend the 72nd UN General Assembly.

Hasina was targeted by an Islamist extremist group in 2004. Islamist militants allegedly backed by a quarters of the then ruling BNP of ex-premier Khaleda Zia hurled grenades in a political rally of the then opposition of her Awami League.

Though Hasina narrowly escaped the attempt, but sustained permanent hearing impairment. However, 24 people including Awami League's women front chief and former Bangladesh president Zillur Rahmans wife Ivy Rahman were killed.

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, September 25, 2017, 9:06 [IST]
Shinzo Abe calls for early election in Japan

International

pti-PTI

Tokyo, Sep 25: In a bid to capitalise on a weak and fractured opposition, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday called a snap election, seeking a fresh term at the helm of the world's third-largest economy.

Abe hopes to capitalise on a weak and fractured opposition to sweep back into power, as polls show him regaining ground after a series of scandals.

"I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th" of September, Abe told reporters, a precursor to a general election. The prime minister did not give a date for the election but it will reportedly be on October 22.

Surveys suggest voters approve of the hardline stance taken by the nationalist Abe on North Korea, which fired two missiles over the country in the space of a month and has threatened to "sink" Japan.

According to a weekend poll in business daily Nikkei, 44 percent of voters plan to vote for Abe's conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), while only eight percent favoured the main opposition Democratic Party.

Nevertheless, one-fifth of those polled said they were still undecided, potentially opening the door for gains by a new party formed by allies of the popular mayor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike, which will field dozens of candidates. Koike's Tomin First no Kai (Tokyo Residents First) party humiliated Abe and the LDP in local elections in July, but analysts say the new grouping has not had time to lay a national foundation to mount a serious challenge to the prime minister.

In an apparent bid to steal Abe's limelight, Koike went before the cameras just hours before his announcement to announce she was creating a national political party called "Kibo no To" (Party of Hope).

"Japan is facing a difficult time considering the situation in North Korea. Economically, the world is making a big move while Japan's presence is gradually declining," said Koike.

"Can we continue letting (the existing lawmakers) handle politics?" But Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University in Japan, said there was "no opposition worthy of the name in Japan".

"The LDP is a giant among dwarves. It would take a major scandal to derail the Abe express," said the analyst.

The winner of the expected snap election faces a daunting in-tray of challenges ranging from an unprecedented crisis with North Korea to reviving the once world-beating Japanese economy. In addition to threats to destroy Japan, Pyongyang has fired two missiles over the northern island of Hokkaido in the space of less than a month.

However, the North Korea crisis appears to have given the hawkish Abe a welcome boost in the polls following a series of scandals, including allegations he improperly favoured a friend in a business deal.

Despite a recent run of growth, the election winner will also have to contend with a sluggish economy, as the heavily indebted country grapples with a low birth rate and a shrinking labour force.

PTI
China announced Saturday that it will limit energy supplies to North Korea and stop buying its textiles under U.N. sanctions imposed over its nuclear and missile development, further reducing support from Pyongyangs last ally.

Exports of refined petroleum to the North will be limited to 2 million barrels per year, effective Jan. 1, the Commerce Ministry said. Sales of liquefied natural gas are banned outright.

North Korea depends on China for almost all its oil and gas but estimates of its consumption are low, leaving it unclear how Beijings new limit will affect them. The restrictions announced Saturday do not apply to crude oil, which makes up the biggest share of energy exports to the North.

China also will ban textile imports from the North, the ministry said. Textiles are believed to be the Norths biggest source of foreign revenue following rounds of U.N. sanctions under which Beijing cut off purchases of coal, iron ore, seafood and other goods.

China accounts for some 90 percent of the Norths trade, making its cooperation critical to efforts to derail Pyongyangs nuclear and missile development.

Chinese leaders were long the Norths diplomatic protectors but express increasing frustration with the government of Kim Jong Un. They support the latest U.N. Security Council sanctions but are reluctant to push Pyongyang too hard for fear Kims government might collapse. They also argue against doing anything that might hurt ordinary North Koreans.

Chinese officials complain their country bears the cost of enforcing sanctions, which have hurt businesses in its northeast that trade with the North.

The U.N. Security Council voted Sept. 11 to limit fuel supplies and ban the Norths textile exports. China, one of five permanent council members with power to veto U.N. action, agreed to the measure after the United States toned down a proposal for a complete oil embargo.

Petroleum exports for use in the Norths ballistic missile program or other activities banned by U.N. sanctions also are prohibited, the Commerce Ministry said.

The U.S. governments Energy Information Agency estimates the Norths 2016 daily imports from China at 15,000 barrels of crude oil and 6,000 barrels of refined products. That would be the equivalent of almost 5.5 million barrels of crude and 2.2 million barrels of refined products for the full year.

North Korea has abundant coal but depends almost entirely on imports for oil and gas.

North Korean textile exports in 2016 totaled USD750 million, according to South Koreas Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. It said nearly 80 percent went to China. Joe McDonald, Beijing, AP
Indian-origin Sikh woman who wears turban is new councillor of Canadian city Brampton

World's ex-heaviest woman Eman Abdul Atti passes away at 37

International

oi-Madhuri

Recommended Video

World's heaviest woman Eman Abdul Atti passes away due to heart and kidney dysfunction

Eman Abdul Atti, once known as the world's heaviest woman passed away on Monday due to complications from heart disease and kidney dysfunction.

According to the statement released by Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi where they treated Egyptian national said,''Eman Abdul Atti passed away at 4:35 AM on Monday due to "complications from the underlying comorbid conditions, including heart disease and kidney dysfunction".

Earlier on September 9, Eman had celebrated her 37th birthday, surrounded by family and friends.

The 36-year-old had arrived at the Bureej hospital in Abu Dhabi on May 4 to complete her treatment trip. Before the operation, Eman Abdul Atti was bedbound and her weight stood at 500 kgs, according to media reports. She suffered from "a disruption of the glands and elephantiasis disease" causing huge amounts of water to be retained in the body.

OneIndia News
From Alternet

Thomas Ricks' book is the latest offering history's lessons in our dangerous time.

Donald Trump's reactionary presidency and Silicon Valley's spying on online users is pushing the nation and world in dangerous directions comparable to past eras, where authoritarian rule and totalitarian belief held sway. A handful of writers have urged Americans to heed history's lessons on resisting tyranny -- in all of its forms.

One of the most recent is Thomas Ricks, who, for the past two decades has been among the most prominent journalists covering the military and war. His newest book compares and contrasts Winston Churchill and George Orwell, tracing how both came to recognize and resist abuses of power and political propaganda to side with individual dignity.

AlterNet's Steven Rosenfeld interviewed Ricks, who recounted those lessons and their critical relevance today in an era dominated by fake news politics and predatory hi-tech.

Steven Rosenfeld: Your book, Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom, is remarkable in many ways. You tell how both men shaped the 20th Century and remain more than relevant. You describe how they evolved, held their own against their day's political conformists and ideologues, both left and right; and how they came to understand how authoritarian and totalitarian regimes operate.

The takeaways resonate today, whether we're talking about an executive branch that lies, erases and revises history, or the tech sectors that spies on citizens and sells its files. What prompted these men, and especially Orwell, to reject herd mentalities in private and in public?

Thomas Ricks: Oddly enough, I suspect for Orwell, it began with his love of personal observation. Even a child, he loved observing nature, and that continued throughout his life. If you read his diaries, he had a habit of just writing down what he physically sees around him, what he's thinking about, what he's hearing people talk about -- just basic observation. I think for Orwell, that becomes a part of departure, that human freedom begins with the right to perceive and to trust your own perceptions.

Of course, Orwell as an adult, bangs up against Stalinism, which says, "No, we will tell you what to think. If you're a good member of the Communist Party, you will believe what we tell you to think. We will decide what is right and what is wrong. We will decide what the facts of the matter are." That's where Orwell breaks with Stalinism, but he doesn't break with the left. He remains a socialist all his life.

Steven Rosenfeld: That's what's so interesting about this, at least in more recent modern America. The political right has lionized Orwell, and not the left, which you point out.

Thomas Ricks: That's one thing I was trying to do in this book, was to kind of recover both these guys for liberalism, and even progressivism. Churchill was not always a conservative, and Orwell was always the socialist. Yet both have been claimed by the American right, in ways that I dislike. With this but I was trying to say, Churchill is more complex political figure than he's seen as today, and Orwell should be seen properly as a member of the left throughout his life. Delivering a leftist critique of Western capitalist democratic society, all his life.

Steven Rosenfeld: When you say you want to recover their legacy for liberalism, what you're talking about is they both, and particularly Orwell, rejected political ideologues of their day based on personal experience. They came to understand how authoritarian and totalitarian systems work, and how propaganda works. Can you describe that arc?

Thomas Ricks: Sure. Orwell goes into the 1930s, a pretty typical leftist of his time. He believes leftist good, right is bad. So socialism and communism is good, and capitalism and fascism, bad. Then he goes to Spain late in 1936. There he has the great political education of his life. He is a member of a small political splinter group they're fighting in the Spanish Civil War, Anarchist Trotskyites. They are part of the left, but they are not mainstream left in Spain. Now the problem was at the time, Stalin of Russia could not stand the idea of a competing leader of world communism. With Trotsky having been a comrade of Stalin's, and then fled Russia, what was becoming? So the first enemy of Stalin was non-Stalinists on the left. These are the people he really went after. As the Soviet Union became more and more influential in the Spanish Civil War, one of the things it did was use its security apparatus, the NKVD, the predecessor of the KGB. The NKVD runs the security forces, the police and the secret place of the Spanish Republic, the left-wing government. It goes after the non-Stalinist parts of the left in Spain.

Orwell is up writing on the front against the nationalists-fascists. Then he comes back to Barcelona on leave in May 1937 to see his wife, who was working in Barcelona, and is shocked to find himself getting involved in street fighting with the republican government attacking his own people, his little faction. Then he goes back to the front, fights the fascist and nationalists again, and is shot through the neck. To his amazement, he doesn't die. The bullet misses the artery, the windpipe, and the spine, which is kind of a miraculous thing to have happen. He flees Spain. He doesn't know it at the time. We know actually, he and his wife were both indicted right about the time they left, by the republican government for treason and Trotskyite deviationism.

He flees Spain, goes home to England, and sits down, and reads all the newspapers, and all their coverage of the Spanish Civil War. He reads the right-wing newspaper. He's not surprised they're lying about what's going on. But then he picks up the left-wing newspapers, with all their coverage of the war over the last six months, and he's shocked to find they're lying too. He comes away from Spain, and the experience of seeing friends of his killed by a left-wing government, thinking very differently about leftist politics. He decides that fascism and communism are actually pretty close together. They are different manifestations of the same thing. They are right-wing and left-wing manifestations of totalitarianism. He decides the key to freedom, begins with personal liberty, with the right of the individual to proceed.

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Trump

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This is not surprising. A competent, responsible leader exercises restraint in discussing relations with nations where there is friction. A stupid piece of sh*t leader mouths off with zero consideration of repercussions.

It is not unreasonable for Korea's leader to translate from English to Korean Trumps frothings at the mouth as threats or even declarations of war. So, it seems, our idiot in chief has accidentally declared war, or at least that's the way Kim Jong-un is taking/framing what Trump has bellowed.

Trump could easily, even though unintentionally, tweet the planet into a nuclear war, and be assured it will be his fault and his alone if there is a nuclear confrontation with North Korea or Iran. This POSPOTUS (piece of sh*t President of the United States) is so despicably narcissistic it is an almost certainty that he will start wars so he can fully exert his power to command the military and the weapons he commands.

This situation, where N. Korea now says the US has declared war against it, is incredibly dangerous and it is insane the the congress would allow Trump to be the person at the helm.

It is time for congress to exercise the 25th amendment and to take Trump out of the picture. There is no time for impeachment. The planet and the future of humanity is at stake.


made in china

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Article originally published in LaborPress

By Robert Weiner and Ben Lasky

After deferring to China for Korea and seeing no results, President Trump's return to disciplining China over trade crimes is the right position. On Aug. 14, President Trump authorized a probe on China's trade practices, with a focus on intellectual property theft as well as theft of American technologies. Add to the mix: devalued currency, refusal to sell fair quantities of American-made products, unbelievably low worker wages, lead and other poisons in dog food and baby food, plagiarized health and cancer research, deficient tires. Trump has now come back around to the correct view.

The President slipped off the wagon for a while. He pressed on the point that the U.S. needed China to help deter a nuclear North Korea. However, dozens of missile tests later, with Kim Jong Un even closer to a long-range nuclear weapon, Trump now realizes that China only used the North Korea bait to give themselves more trade freedom against us. It is time to call the Chinese government out.

The U.S. economy is weakened by Chinese intellectual property theft, counterfeit goods, and deficient products competing with American brands. China was unwilling to help make North Korea release Otto Warmbier early enough to get him medical help. In an interview on CNN Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) the Senate Democratic Leader, told Trump how to handle China: "You say, 'you can't push America around anymore,' which they've been able to do for administration after administration. Stop doing that. The President should say, 'You're not dealing with North Korea the way you should be.'"

On June 20, Trump tweeted about Warmbier, "While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!"

Instead, China is giving us a victory here and there-- they will now import beef from us. That's nice of them. Apparently we can sell cows to China, but not cars.

Schumer criticized Trump for at first reversing course. In an April 12 press conference right after his meetings with China's leader, Trump said, "They're not currency manipulators," which he had called them at least fifteen times on the campaign trail. Schumer said of Trump and his team, "Now they say they (China) aren't manipulating their currency. They are. I think China just does what it wants "They gain trillions of dollars by stealing intellectual property, by dumping excess steel and aluminum. The way to get China to help with North Korea is be tougher with them on trade."

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Amid tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile tests, 51 countries have signed the world's first legally binding treaty banning nuclear weapons. It prohibits the development, testing and possession of nuclear weapons, as well as using or threatening to use these weapons. It was first adopted in July by 122 U.N. member states, despite heavy U.S. opposition. None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons signed the measure, including Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. We speak with Susi Snyder, nuclear disarmament program manager for the Netherlands-based group PAX and author of the report "Don't Bank on the Bomb."

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I'm Amy Goodman. Amidst tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile tests, President Donald Trump told the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday the United States would totally destroy North Korea, a country of 25 million people. Then, on Wednesday, 51 countries signed a new treaty that would ban nuclear weapons. The United Nations calls it the world's first legally binding treaty banning nuclear weapons. It prohibits the development, testing, and possession of nuclear weapons, as well as using or threatening to use these weapons. The treaty is set to take effect 90 days after it is ratified. It was first adopted in July by 122 U.N. member states, despite heavy U.S. opposition. None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons signed the measure. Those countries are the United States, Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.

For more, we're joined by Susi Snyder, nuclear disarmament program manager for the Netherlands-based group PAX and author of the report "Don't Bank on the Bomb."

Welcome to Democracy Now!

SUSI SNYDER: Thank you very much.

AMY GOODMAN: Talk about what happened this week at the U.N.

SUSI SNYDER: So, this week, 50 countries said, "We ultimately reject nuclear weapons. We find them completely illegitimate, and we are willing to sign the first treaty that makes them totally illegal." And this is the first 50. There were 42 in an hour. And it's the first time that nuclear weapons are categorically prohibited. This is new, and it is an effective measure that responsible countries are taking to make sure to reduce nuclear dangers.

AMY GOODMAN: So, what does it mean exactly? What does it mean to adopt it and now to sign it? And what happens with ratification?

SUSI SNYDER: Right, so, every country has a ratification process that's a little different, so it means adopting this treaty as part of your national law. Now, there's already 115 countries that have rejected nuclear weapons in regional agreements. And we expect that a lot of those are going to be able to ratify very quickly. All the way through this process, countries have been condemning nuclear weapons because they're inhumane at catastrophic effect. And this is a humanitarian treaty that's rooted in international humanitarian law, the law of war, saying nuclear weapons can't be possessed or used, or even the threat of nuclear weapons is illegal. And that's a very positive step for us. So, we'll see 50 ratifications in the coming year or so, and then the treaty will enter into force.

AMY GOODMAN: So what does it mean that the nuclear countries, none of them participated?

SUSI SNYDER: Yeah, well, it's really unfortunate, especially since five [of] them are required by the Non-Proliferation Treaty to negotiate nuclear disarmament. They did not do that. And they are missing an opportunity. The countries that led this process recognize that it's the impact of nuclear weapons, that we need to talk about them as weapons, not as tools. And that is what reframed the debate. It reframed the discussion. And the impact it will have on the nuclear-armed states is that we're strengthening a norm, and we're making their weapons illegitimate. And that has led historically to disarmament.

AMY GOODMAN: You're author of "Don't Bank on the Bomb." What's this campaign?

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From Mike Malloy Website

Watching Kim and Donnie trade insults underscores their mutual insanity and arrested development. It would be eye-rolling except for all the very real weaponry they command. It's not enough we have to worry about deadly hurricanes hurtling toward us every few weeks, or earthquakes, wildfires, and flash flooding. Or the Neocon wet dream of decimating Medicaid. No, we have to worry about these two adolescent madmen and their arsenals.

Well, at least Crazy Kim offered up a vocabulary lesson: "Dotage" is "a state or period of senile decay marked by decline of mental poise and alertness." I still like psychopath better. Besides, The Don's mental state isn't declining as much as intensifying in its delusional narcissism. And I'd rather get my vocab lessons from a crossword puzzle or "Jeopardy" than in a game of nuclear "chicken." Really, I don't need that kind of motivation to expand my word power.

Seriously, though, the insult-hurtling has reached a new level, and is starting to get scary, as Buzzfeed reports:

"The heightened rhetoric comes weeks after an explosion in North Korea appeared to be a nuclear weapons test. North Korean media claimed it was an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be fitted onto an intercontinental ballistic missile and sent to the US. "North Korea has also said it's reviewing its military plans for an attack on Guam, and Trump, as well as Secretary of Defense James Mattis, have said threats to the US will be met with a 'massive military response.' "On Thursday, the North Korean dictator, who has previously made threats against perceived US 'aggression,' in addition to conducting regular missile tests, added that he would not back down. "'Now that Trump has denied the existence of and insulted me and my country in front of the eyes of the world and made the most ferocious declaration of a war in history that he would destroy the DPRK, we will consider with seriousness exercising of a corresponding, highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history,' Kim said. "Speaking to reporters in New York, North Korea's foreign minister said that could mean a hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean, Yonhap News reported. "'It could be the most powerful detonation of an H-bomb in the Pacific,' foreign minister Ri Yong-ho told reporters. 'We have no idea about what actions could be taken as it will be ordered by leader Kim Jong-un.' "In his statement, the North Korean dictator added that he would make Trump 'pay dearly' for the speech, though he did not specify what form that might take. "'Whatever Trump might have expected, he will face results beyond his expectation,' Kim said. 'I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire.'"

Hydrogen bomb over the Pacific?

Yeah -- so's your mama ...
From Reader Supported News

Representative John Conyers and Senator Bernie Sanders have introduced the most important legislation I have ever seen. It may not pass in my lifetime, but it will save lives when it does.

Single payer healthcare is what I am talking about. I am not afraid to call it what is. I don't care what you call it. It is morally and economically right. Yes, I said economically right. Only the insurance industry would disagree with that. What do insurance companies provide us anyway? An overpriced payee is what they are and all they are. They don't care about our health; they are designed for their own profit.

It is personal for me -- I am dying from kidney failure. My insurance company would rather pay for dialysis three times a week than cover a transplant. I could go to Iowa City a few hours away from my house and get on the transplant list, but I don't drive. I also could have gone on Medicare early and got the transplant in Des Moines at the hospital near me. I didn't choose Medicare during the last enrollment period. The insurance company I had in 2016 covered a transplant at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. I had no idea my new insurer wouldn't cover an operation in Des Moines.

My previous insurer, Coventry, sent me a letter in 2016 telling me that Aetna was taking over for them. So when I enrolled for 2017, I chose the Aetna Mercy healthcare plan. Everything looked the same to me. It turned out to be a huge mistake. They started out claiming my dialysis was out of network. It was not. For the last year, I have had to fight to get them to pay my bills. It only took me a few weeks to hit my deductible, but somehow they keep claiming I'm under the deductible on a regular basis until I complain.

The last thing people who are sick need is to have to be stressed out with medical bills. All over the world, governments take care of the cost of healthcare. It is far from free -- the money is raised in taxes just like funding for fire departments, the police, the military, and public education. Medicare for All, as Bernie and Rep. Conyers are calling it, would result in a tax raise. The simple fact, though, is that most people's tax hike would be more than offset by no longer having high premiums, co-pays, and deductibles.

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By *Peter Koenig





There are no words, other than Monster, not even human monster, that can describe Trump's appearance before the UN General Assembly last Tuesday, 19 September.

It's of no use to go through details of the insults he yelled at the word -- many others have explained and analyzed that already -- and done it well -- remains to say that what Trump demonstrated with threats of total devastation of North Korea, war against Iran, total asphyxiation of Venezuela, regime change in Syria -- and more -- is sheer criminal, war criminal behavior.

Pledging for respect of nations' sovereignty, yet threatening the world at large -- except for Israel -- with total annihilation if it doesn't follow Washington's orders, is pure hypocrisy; it has never been expressed as desperately before the entire UN body of nations as did Trump last Monday. While some of his predecessors have not talked kindly to this league of nations, expressing threats, lies and humiliations, the extent of Trump's atrocious behavior has no precedent in the history of the UN.

The ongoing US indiscriminate killing around the globe -- tens of millions of people in the last 70 years alone -- plus these ferocious, insane threats, and economic strangulations through illegal sanctions, are ripe for a new Nuremburg type tribunal.

It is a typical and dangerous conduct for a dying beast. Lashing out at its surroundings, at the world, as it were -- for intimidation, disgrace and foremost to pull as many as possible with the dying monster into its self-made grave.

But the burning question that we have to ask ourselves, is this: Why did almost nobody, save for Iran and North Korea and perhaps one or the other country representative, walk out?

Why did of the more than 180 nations who wish and desire the final demise of this murderous empire, not dare to exit the room of the Monster, the General Assembly, and let Trump speak and yell atrocities to empty walls and to himself?

The New York Times reports that "world leaders were stoic and quiet, barely reacting to his remarks about their countries."

Why? Out of fear? What fear? -- Could and would this military dictatorship, run by "Mad Dog" et al, a top brass military junta, destroy the world as we know it? -- I don't think so.

Is it for the money, because the US is currently footing almost a quarter of the UN budget and is threatening to withdraw her funding, if the UN is not "restructured," meaning, to become a total puppet of Washington and its deep state? -- I don't think so. Indeed, by 22 September 2017, the USofA had not paid her dues.

Every halfway sane nation knows that the UN already today is barely more than a stooge to Washington, so are most of the UN specialized agencies and international courts that were once created with good intentions, I hope to believe.

So, then why?

Wouldn't walking out have been a clear act of world solidarity, of a world that stands for peace and not for eternal war, not for a weapons and military based economy, but one that thrives on peace, on people's development and wellbeing?

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MGM has donated funds and offered volunteer support for the Macau community following Typhoon Hato last month. Now it is also sponsoring the training of disaster-management specialists in anticipation of future natural disasters.

The gaming operator said it had purchased rehab buses for Caritas de Macau and Fuhong Society of Macau, stair aids for Caritas de Macau, and diagnostic equipment for the Macau Deaf Association. In the case of the final institution, MGM also helped to set up an audiometer testing room.

Moreover, it has made donations to repair damage to the exterior and interior of Sao Jose Ka Ho School and to the Macau Special Olympics social enterprise, Sociedade de Ngai Chun Se Ltda, to purchase cleaning equipment.

During the week in which Typhoon Hato struck the city, the Golden Lion Volunteer Team joined forces with Uniao Geral das Associacoes dos Moradores de Macau (UGAMM) and Macau Federation of Trade Unions to help distribute meal boxes and water to senior citizens.

Recently, in collaboration with UGAMM Peng On Tong Calling Service Center, the Volunteer Team set out to Rua da Praia do Manduco, which is the citys worst-affected area, and Seac Pai Van, to visit nearly 120 senior citizens. A goodie-bag containing food, a flashlight, duct tape and typhoon preparedness tips was prepared for each senior citizen.

Meanwhile, other volunteers continued their efforts to clear debris in Coloane to restore the natural beauty of Macau.

Aside from these immediate responses, MGM is supporting the improvement of disaster-

response capabilities for the community. The company has sponsored staff from Caritas de Macau to participate in disaster management training in Nepal to create trained locals for future emergencies.

Grant Bowie, chief executive officer and executive director of MGM China Holdings Limited, said, [the typhoon] has brought about the united spirit of Macau residents with their swift actions and selfless effort to help each other.

With our ethos of Creating a Better Macau, we will not only focus on rebuilding Macau in the short term, but more importantly, the sustainable recovery of our local community in the long run, he added.
NorthTree Associates Announces OWON SDS1022 SE Economical Digital Oscilloscope

The OWON SDS1022 SE Super Economical Digital Storage Oscilloscope is the most economical version of the OWON SDS Deep Memory Digital Storage Oscilloscopes.For those who either have a limited budget or don't require all the full features, the OWON SDS1022 SE Economical Oscilloscope is a good alternative. The SDS1022 SE Oscilloscope features 2 channels, up to 100MS/s real-time sample rates, maximum 20MHz bandwidth, and a 7 inch color LCD screen with 800x600 resolution. The SDS1022 SE Oscilloscope offers a 10K record length per channel of memory, SCPI supported, and a 3-year warranty.Main Features- Bandwidth: 20MHz- Sample rate: 100MS/s- 10K record length- Ultra-thin body- 7 inch High-Def TFT displaySDS1022 SE Oscilloscopes have a front side USB CI design outlet for easier access connectivity. A large 7 inch high resolution display provides a better waveform view for the user. In addition to better viewing of waveforms, the OWON SDS1022 SE has a user-friendly interface with a simple, clear menu that will get the results needed to evaluate a signal. Other viewing functions include a windows extension to observe abnormal signals throughout a full waveform, and a snapshot view of 30 auto-measurements.The OWON SDS Smart Series Oscilloscopes are 2 channel digital storage oscilloscopes with up to 3.2GS/s real-time sample rate, up to 300MHz bandwidth, and an 8 inch color TFT-LCD screen with 800x600 resolution. They offer a 10M record length per channel of memory, USB flash storage support, and a 3-year warranty. These units are supplied with two passive probes that are switchable between 1:1 and 10:1 input ratio. Also included are a USB cable, AC power cord, user manual, and a software CD-ROM. All accessories have a one year warranty. There is a battery option for operating away from 110V  great for field use!Established in 2004, NorthTree Associates (Cologne, MN) is a North American Master Distributor for OWON oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analyzers, waveform generators, and programmable power supplies. NorthTree Associates provides unique OWON Electronic Test & Measurement tools for design engineers, test engineers and production engineers.SalesNorthTree Associates301 Playhouse Street EastCologne, MN 55322
Baby Care Products Market  Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-2025

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www.qyresearchreports.com

The Global Baby Care Products Market is drastically increased, owing to increase in infant population and high spending capacity of the people. Baby care products market is anticipated by the positive impact of rising number of women in the workforce, which is accounted to be on an average of 4.1% globally over the last three decades. Moreover, health concerns of consumers and desire to purchase products at premium prices has led to the growth of baby products market globally. The choice of baby care products by consumer depends upon various aspects, such as product sustainability, cost efficiency with value perceived, health benefits, and convenient usage, which is further driving the growth of the baby care products market.Request Sample of Baby Care Products Market:Manufactures are promoting baby hygiene with the help of government and NGOs, in turn is fueling the demand for baby care products during the forecast period.Global Baby Care Products Market TaxonomyOn the basis of product, the baby care products market in segmented in:Baby Skin CareBaby Massage OilBody LotionsCreams/MoisturizersTalcum PowderBaby Hair Care ProductsBaby Shampoo and ConditionerDetanglesBathing ProductsSoapsBubble Bath/Shower gelBaby ToiletriesDiapersBaby WipesBaby Fragrances/PerfumesBaby Food & BeveragesBottled Baby FoodBaby Fruit & Vegetable JuicesPureed Baby FoodBaby Food CerealsBaby Milk ProductBaby Food SoupsOn the basis of distribution channel, the baby care product market is segmented as:HypermarketsSupermarketsSpecialty StoresConvenient StoresOnline MarketsOn the basis of category, the baby care products market is segmented as:Premium ProductsMass ProductsBaby Skin Care products and Toiletries segments holds the highest prominent share in baby care products market, due to the increase in awareness of child safety and increase in the standard of living of the people.Furthermore, in toiletries, baby diapers holds the largest market share in the baby care product market, owing to rise in expenditure of healthcare, increasing awareness in personal hygiene and sanitization, urbanization, and cautions taken by parents. However, baby hair care products hold relatively smaller share in the global baby care products market.Baby food products holds the second largest segment in the global baby care product market, as it provides various nutrients such as protein, vitamin B12, iron, and carbohydrates to the baby. On the other side, baby bathing products is witnessed to have a significant growth in the baby care products market.Check the Trending Report of Baby Care Products Market:Global Baby Care Products Market OutlookThe North America accounts to largest share in the global baby care product market and it is projected to continue dominance over forecast period, due to the high spending rate, advanced technology, and infant safety. According to National Centre for Health Statistics, the birth rate in US is up to 12.4 per 1000 people. Europe, Middle East, and Africa are projected to have the significant growth rate with high share contribution in the baby care products market.Asia Pacific is witnessed to be the fastest growing region in the baby care products market, due to rising birthrate among the emerging economies, such as China and India with increasing demand for infant care items over the forecast period. Additionally, changing lifestyle, rise in disposable incomes, increasing awareness of infant nutrition, hygiene, and safety is driving the growth of baby care products market in Asia Pacific region.In India, key players such as Johnson and Johnson, Nestle, and Danone Inc. are aiming to grow the market up to 15% on account of increase in spending capacity per child. Furthermore, it is projected that the number of babies between the age group of 0-5 is witnessed to increase from 127 million to 135 million over the forecast period. This will further enhance the global baby care products market.The major players are adopting organic and inorganic strategies such as, focusing on increasing their presence through mergers and acquisitions. For instance, in 2016, Dabur South Africa (Pty) Ltd., acquired South Africas CLT group of Companies personal care, hair care, and cream businesses.To Get Discounton this Report:In July 2016, Johnson and Johnson acquired Vogue International LLC which manufactures and distributes hair care and other personal care products.Global Baby Care Product market is dominated by various companies such as Procter & Gamble Co., Kimberly Clark Corp., Johnson and Johnson, Unilever Plc., Abbott Nutrition, Nestle S.A., BABISIL, Cotton Babies, Inc., Danone S.A., The Himalaya Drug Company, Farlin Infant Products Corporation, Avon Healthcare Limited Company, Bonpoint S.A., Dabur International Limited, Burts Bees Inc., LOreal S.A., etc.About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
c Market Outlook 2017 Extrapack OOD, DAGOPLAST AS, Terdex GmbH

Trash Bags Market

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Trash Bags Industry Research Report 2017A market study  Trash Bags Market  will help you understand, formulate and implement strategic decisions by offering critical data, insights and analysis from technology as well as commercial perspective on the Trash Bags market. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Trash Bags market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report consist of comprehensive market data, on a granular level, providing a holistic picture of the Trash Bags market for maximum clarity and understanding.The Trash Bags Market 2017 report includes Trash Bags market Revenue, market Share, Trash Bags industry volume, market Trends, Trash Bags Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report.It shows manufacturing capacity, Trash Bags Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.Sample Report Of Trash Bags Market:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Players of Trash Bags Market 2017 :Novolasta, s.r.o SenkviceExtrapack OODDAGOPLAST ASTerdex GmbHInternantional Plastics?MirPack TMPack-It BVAchaika Plastic S.APlasta.ItPrimax D.o.oDeliMiaojieFirstly, the report covers the top Trash Bags manufacturing industry players worldwide. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions like United States, Europe, Japan, China, Southeast Asia and Middle East and Africa. Furthermore the report covers Trash Bags market on the basis of product types and its applications.The Trash Bags report gives information on the top company profiles, market share, contact details and manufacturing cost analysis along with value chain analysis of Trash Bags industry, Trash Bags industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Trash Bags Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Access Full Report :The Trash Bags research report splits on the basis product types that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme, production and contribution to the Trash Bags market revenue worldwide.Finally, Trash Bags market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:"Spire Market Research" is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us5001 Spring Valley Road,Suite 400 East,Dallas, TX 75244, USAContact: +1-214-661-1669Web:
Global Range Hood Fans Market 2017 - BSH Group, Electrolux, Whirlpool, Elica, ROBAM, Fuji Industrial

Range Hood Fans Market

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Global Range Hood Fans 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 Range Hood Fans Market 2017-2022 " represent the market share and size of Range Hood Fans in international Industry. MRS Research Group added latest market research report by QY Research. Research Report provides an essential information and statistically evaluated data about the Range Hood Fans. The research report provides a detailed study of the Range Hood Fans 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 @Report Focuses on Some Important Manufacturers in Global Market Includes :BSH Group, Electrolux, Whirlpool, Elica, ROBAM, Fuji Industrial, VATTI, Miele, FOTILE, Midea, Nortek, SACON, FABER, Haier, Macro, DE&E, Panasonic, FAGOR, Tecnowind, Vanward, SAKURA, Sanfer, Bertazzoni, SummitReports Describes Product Type Devided by :Under-Cabinet Hood, Wall-Chimney Hood, Island Hood, Downdraft Hood, Other HoodReport Focuses on the Status and Outlook for Major Applications/End Users Includes:On-line Shop, Franchised Store, Shopping Mall & SupermarketReport Covers by Some Importatnt Regions/Countries as Following :United States, EU, Japan, China, India, Southeast AsiaThe research report provides the Range Hood Fans markets classification in detail. The Range Hood Fans market is bifurcated into a number of segments on the basis of materials,types,applications,and end-users. The geographical analysis of the global Range Hood Fans 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 Range Hood Fans 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 Range Hood Fans 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 Range Hood Fans 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 Range Hood Fans 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
Global Industrial and Institutional Cleaning Chemicals Market 2017 - Huntsman Corporation, Henkel AG & Co KGaA, Solvay SA, Eastman Chemical Company, Lonza Group

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Industrial and Institutional Cleaning Chemicals market size will be XX million (USD) in 2022, from the XX million (USD) in 2017, with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) XX% from 2016 to 2022.Market Segment by Countries, this report splits Global into several key Countries, with sales, revenue, market share of top 5 players in these Countries, from 2012 to 2017 (forecast), like United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, India, Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil, Middle East and Africa. Product type is split with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type. Split by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Industrial and Institutional Cleaning Chemicals in each application.Request For Sample Report @For Market chain analysis, the report covers upstream raw materials, equipment, downstream client survey, marketing channels, Market development trend and proposals, which more specifically include valuable information on Industrial and Institutional Cleaning Chemicals key applications and consumption, key regions and consumption, key global distributors , major raw materials suppliers and contact information, major manufacturing equipment suppliers and contact information, major suppliers and contact Information, key consumers and contact information, and supply chain relationship analysis.Industrial and Institutional Cleaning Chemicals report studies the overview and market size, Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate, Market Share by Manufacturers, Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types by Manufacturers, Market Competitive Situation and Trends, Market Competitive Situation and Trends, Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion, market share by type and market share by application, gross margin, Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis, how the product will be marketed and how will it be market positioned in the market, what will the future for revenue and consumption be. The progress that technology is making and the impact that Economic and Politics will have on the environment is also overlooked.Access Full Report @In addition, considering that the global economy is ever-changing depending upon several factors, it is important to take a note that our report contains data that are not only conducted regarding CAGR forecasts but it also analyzes the key parameters such as yearly market growth in order to have complete information about the future of the market worldwide. It also helps in identifying the wide opportunities that will open up for the market. The other key feature included in this report is the analysis of the revenue forecasts of all the important regions and applications, which is in terms of dollars.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.Mark StoneSales ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Circulating Tumor Cells Prognostic Technologies Market Expansion Projected to Gain an Uptick During 2020

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Circulating tumor cells refer to specialized rare cells that are separated from the primary tumors, which further spread in the vasculature system of the human body. The dissemination of these cells further causes metastasis. CTCs act as a seed for the development of metastatic tumors in the vital distant organs; these tumors are considered as a major cause for cancer-related deaths. Technological developments in this field are one of the major factors contributing substantially towards the growth of the market.A new market research study, published by Transparency Market Research is titled Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) Prognostic Technologies Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020. This study provides a detailed analysis of the market, focusing on the current trends, major growth drivers, and barriers. The product segmentation, major geographical segments, and competitive landscape of the CTCs prognostic technologies market have also been mentioned in the research report. According to the study, in 2013, the global circulating tumor cells prognostic technologies market for was worth US$0.43 bn. The market is projected to register an impressive 26.30% CAGR between 2014 and 2020, reaching a value of US$2.16 bn by the end of 2020.View and Download TOC of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) Prognostic Technologies Market Research Report@Furthermore, the growing prevalence rate of cancer, increasing evaluation of therapeutic monitoring, and high cost-benefit ratio are some of the other factors propelling the global CTCs prognostic technologies market. However, the lack of sensitivity and specificity and high costing associated with CTCs detection are projected to curtail the growth of the market in the coming years.By application, the global CTCs prognostic technologies market has been classified into prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and others. The others segment has been sub-classified into ovarian, pancreatic, and lung cancer. Among these, the prostate cancer segment is anticipated to exhibit a progressive 25.20% CAGR between 2014 and 2020. On the other hand, the breast cancer segment is estimated to register an impressive 27.10% CAGR between 2014 and 2020.Request and Download Sample Report@By geography, the global CTCs prognostic technologies market has been broadly divided into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World. At present, North America accounts for the largest share in the global CTCs prognostic technologies market and is anticipated to remain in this position in the next few years. The rapid growth of this region can be attributed to the growing adoption rate for advanced prognostic technologies and rising incidence of cancer across the globe. Nevertheless, the high development cost and low commercial viability of these technologies are some of the key factors leading to sluggish growth of the market. Furthermore, the Asia Pacific market for CTCs prognostic technologies is projected to witness substantial growth throughout the forecast period, owing to the increasing research and development activities in this region.The leading players operating in the global circulating tumor cells prognostic technologies market include Vitatex, Inc., Rarecells USA, Inc., Fluxion Biosciences, Inc., AdnaGen GmbH, Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Inc., Epic Sciences, Inc., Celula, Inc., AVIVA Biosciences Corporation, Veridex, LLC, and Silicon Biosystems, S.p.A. To provide a clear understanding of the market, the research study has mentioned the company profiles, contact information, financial status, business strategies, SWOT analysis, and recent news and developments, if any.Buy Full Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) Prognostic Technologies 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:
Computer Network Attached Storage Report provides Company and Distribution Shares & Market Outlook to 2022

Computer Network Attached Storage

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ReportsMonitor.com has added a new report to its database United States Computer Network Attached Storage Market Report 2017.This report identifies the Computer Network Attached Storage 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 Computer Network Attached Storage market.Computer Network Attached Storage 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, coveringWestern Digital CorporationNetgear IncSynology IncQNAP SystemsAsustor IncBuffalo America IncZyXEL Communications IncThecus Technology CorporationThe competitive landscape of the global market for Computer Network Attached Storage is determined by evaluating the various market participants, production capacity, Computer Network Attached Storage markets production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Computer Network Attached Storage market worldwide.This report segments the Computer Network Attached Storage market1-Bay2-Bays3-Bays4-Bays5-Bays6-BaysAbove 6-BaysOn the basis of application:HomeBusinessFor comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, the Computer Network Attached Storage market is analyzed across key geographies namely:The WestSouthwestThe Middle AtlanticNew EnglandThe SouthThe MidwestEach 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:United States Computer Network Attached Storage Market Report 20171 Computer Network Attached Storage Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Computer Network Attached Storage1.2 Classification of Computer Network Attached Storage by Product Category1.2.1 United States Computer Network Attached Storage Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)7 Computer Network Attached Storage Manufacturing Cost Analysis7.1 Computer Network Attached Storage Key Raw Materials Analysis7.1.1 Key Raw Materials7.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials7.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials7.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials7.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure7.2.1 Raw Materials7.2.2 Labor Cost7.2.3 Manufacturing Expenses7.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Computer Network Attached StorageReports 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 Microalgae Market to Record High Demand by 2017-2022

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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.comReport Overview: The report offers a detailed insight into the upstream raw material analysis and downstream demand analysis along with crucial elements of Global Microalgae Market report for furthermore highlights key proposals for new project development along with offering an assessment of investment feasibility analysis. This study is a useful guide to all investors to identify the lucrative market avenues across different segments and geographical regions. The market entry conditions along with emerging avenues will help the new entrants to gauge the pulse of the market. Furthermore, the study tracks industry news in terms of new mergers and acquisition made by prominent companies to expand their product offerings across various countries. The report is a useful guide to market players, all stakeholders, interested market participants and investors to formulate their strategies.Microphytes or microalgae are microscopic algae, typically found in freshwater and marine systems living in both the water column and sediment. They are unicellular species which exist individually, or in chains or groups. Depending on the species, their sizes can range from a few micrometers to a few hundreds of micrometers. Unlike higher plants, microalgae do not have roots, stems, or leaves.Get sample copy of this report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Microalgae 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 DIC Corporation, Cyanotech Corporation, Algaetech GroupMarket 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, coversMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFood, Feed (For Bivalves, For Shrimp, For Marine fish larvae, For zooplankton)Key Chapters of this reports1 Market Overview1.1 Microalgae Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Food1.3.2 Feed (For Bivalves, For Shrimp, For Marine fish larvae, For zooplankton)1.3.3 Pharmaceuticals2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 DIC Corporation2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Microalgae Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 23 Global Microalgae Market Competition, by Manufacturer3.1 Global Microalgae Sales and Market Share by Manufacturer3.2 Global Microalgae Revenue and Market Share by Manufacturer3.3 Market Concentration Rate3.3.1 Top 3 Microalgae Manufacturer Market ShareContinueBrowse this complete report @Who we areResearch 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.
Global Piling Machine Market To Be Worth US$ 1,577.6 Mn by 2024

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New sales of piling machines in 2015 was pegged at 1,611 units and this is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 3.8% over the forecast period (20162024) to reach 2,259 units by 2024. In a new report titled Global Piling Machine Market: Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024, Persistence Market Research analyzes the global piling machine market performance between 2016 and 2024 and provides insights into the key drivers and restraints impacting the market.View and Download TOC of Piling Machines Market Research Report@The global piling machine market is likely to grow exponentially over the forecast period owing to an increasing demand for residential and commercial infrastructure such as residential buildings, commercial buildings, bridges, highways, metro rails, etc. as a result of the growing population worldwide, along with increasing disposable income especially in emerging economies such as China and India. A rising investment in advanced technologies for the production of energy from non-conventional sources such as wind and solar energy is further likely to boost market growth. However, rising concerns over air and noise pollution during the operation of piling machines resulting in stringent regulatory policies regarding the same is expected to restrict sustained growth of the global piling machine market.The global piling market has been segmented on the basis of product type (diesel hammer, vertical travel lead systems, hydraulic hammer, hydraulic press-in, vibratory pile driver, piling rig) and region (North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa). According to analysts at Persistence Market Research, the piling rig product type segment is estimated to account for a maximum share of 36.4% of overall market sales by the end of 2016 and this segment is anticipated to be valued at US$ 678.9 Mn by 2024. The vibratory pile driver segment is projected to be the second largest segment and is anticipated to contribute a sales revenue of US$ 192.9 Mn by 2016. The hydraulic press-in segment is anticipated to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period and is expected to reach a market value of US$ 120.6 Mn by 2024.The hydraulic press-in and piling rig segments are expected to continue to be the most prominent segments in this market and are expected to grow significantly due to increasing demand, especially in emerging economies. Analyst, Persistence Market Research.Request and Download Sample Report@Among regions, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing market for piling machines over the forecast period. The market for piling machines in the APAC region is estimated to reach a valuation of US$ 829.7 Mn by the end of 2024. Sales revenue in the North America market is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast period and reach US$ 328.7 Mn by 2024. Sales of piling machines in Europe was valued at US$ 169.9 Mn in 2015 and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 5.5% over the forecast period to reach a market valuation of US$ 274.1 Mn by 2024.The report profiles leading players operating in the global piling machine market such as Bauer Group, Junttan Oy, Soilmec S.p.A, Liebherr Group, BSP International Foundations, Casagrande S.p.A., International Construction Equipment, DELMAG GmbH & Co. KG, Changsha Tianwei Engineering Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and MAIT S.p.A. Leading companies are focusing on creating innovative energy-efficient and economical products to remain competitive and to boost sales in emerging markets such as Asia Pacific.Buy Full Piling Machines 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:
Automotive Rain Sensors Market Is Expected To Propel Growth Based On Technological Advancements And Supportive Government Funding Till 2022: Reports Monitor

Global Automotive Rain Sensors Market Research Report 2017

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ReportsMonitor.Com Adds Global Automotive Rain Sensors Market Research Report 2017Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Automotive Rain Sensors in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaIndiaGET SAMPLE REPORT @Global Automotive Rain Sensors market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingDenso Corporation (Japan)Hella KGAA Hueck & Co. (Germany)ZF TRW (U.S.)Robert Bosch GmBH (Germany)Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.(Japan)Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (Japan)Vishay Intertechnology Inc.(the U.S.)Melexis Microelectronic Systems (Belgium)The Kostal Group (Germany)Valeo SA (France)On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoOEMSAftermarketOn 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 Automotive Rain Sensors for each application, includingPassenger Car (PC)Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV)To Enquire about report @Table of ContentsGlobal Automotive Rain Sensors Market Research Report 20171 Automotive Rain Sensors Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Automotive Rain Sensors1.2 Automotive Rain Sensors Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Automotive Rain Sensors Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Automotive Rain Sensors Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 OEMS1.2.4 Aftermarket1.3 Global Automotive Rain Sensors Segment by Application1.3.1 Automotive Rain Sensors Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Passenger Car (PC)1.3.3 Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)1.3.4 Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV)1.4 Global Automotive Rain Sensors Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Automotive Rain Sensors Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)BROWSE 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 Information:Jay MatthewsDirect: +1 513 549-5911Email: sales@reportsmonitor.comWebsite:
Britain and China have finalised an agreement which will end more than 150 years of UK rule in Hong Kong.

The proposal  which will hand control of the colony to China in 1997  creates an island of capitalism within a communist state.

In a ceremony at the Great Hall of People in Beijing the document was initialled by the UK ambassador to China, Sir Richard Evans, and the head of the Chinese negotiating team, Zhou Nan.

The British Government has been asked to give its approval to the treaty which ends two years of hard bargaining between the countries.

Under the accord, the Chinese authorities have agreed Hong Kong will maintain a high degree of local autonomy and keep power over its social, economic and legal systems.

But China will gain control of the citys defence and foreign affairs.

Britain, which has controlled the island of Hong Kong almost interrupted since 1842, has also persuaded the Chinese to leave the colony untouched for 50 years and provide a plan for its future.

Sir Richard said the joint declaration was the practical embodiment of the imaginative concept of one country, two systems.

The Governor of the island, Sir Edward Youde, flew straight back from the ceremony to address a special meeting of the Hong Kong Legislative Council about the agreement.

It constitutes a blueprint for a new stage in Hong Kongs development  as such I commend it to this council and to the community at large, he said.

The British Government has set up an assessment office to gauge the public response to the White Paper.

But although the people of Hong Kong can technically reject the proposals, the declaration makes it clear any other agreement may not go so far to protect their interests.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

The agreement was finally signed in December 1984.

Control of the colony was handed over to the Chinese at midnight on 1 July 1997 after a spectacular ceremony.

Prince Charles and Chris Patten  the twenty-eighth and final governor of Hong Kong  left the island on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

They left a population with mixed feelings about the incoming regime and Hong Kongs Democratic Party already protesting against what it saw as the loss of democracy.

The Provisional Legislative Council, lead by Tung Chee-hwa and picked by Beijing, was sworn in almost immediately after the handover, replacing the previous elected body.
Forecast on Emission Control Catalyst Market for the Period 2014 - 2020

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Emission control and reduction are among the priorities of all the commercial, industrial, and government sector companies. Growing concerns towards mitigation of the ill effects of carbon emissions or pollution are leading to manufacturing and process industries adopting new methods, technologies, materials, and processes. Emission control catalysts are used in catalytic convertors to lessen harmful emissions to the environment. A catalytic convertor houses a typical honeycomb structure coated with emission control catalysts such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Emission control catalysts can be segmented on the basis of their application as mobile and stationary.Mobile applications include automotives. These catalysts are also called automotive catalysts. Stationary applications include thermal or conventional power plants, and other industries.Request For Report Sample@Mobile application presently is the largest segment for emission control catalysts due to the increasing demand for light and heavy commercial vehicles across the globe. Catalytic convertors are mostly used in the automotive industry while stationary emission control systems utilise selective catalytic reduction, catalytic incineration, filters, and catalytic oxidation. Passenger vehicles and cargo trucks are the main source of vehicle pollution followed by two and three wheeler vehicles. Emission control catalysts or convertors are now increasingly being used for NOx reduction from power plants, reduction of sulphur, and removal of toxins from exhaust smoke.Europe is the most lucrative emission control catalyst market. The heavy presence of automobiles manufacturers, power sector companies, and industrialisation across various geographical locations in Europe are the major driving factors for the emission control catalyst market. Europe witnessed 8.8% growth in commercial vehicle registrations. This prominent market was the global leader in FY 2013, and is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the future. Supportive government regulations to curb the ill effects of pollution offer a smooth roadmap for emission control catalyst enterprises to penetrate in European market. Industrial pollution in Europe is the next major setback for the government, as it costs them billions of dollars. Germany, Poland, UK, and Italy possess major refineries and heavy power segments which contribute major damage to the European nations. In such a scenario, the European market is in need of effective solutions that possess the capability to curb the pollution. Therefore, Europe is seen as the most lucrative market for business enterprises operating in the emission control catalyst market.Other prominent markets are North America followed by MENA and APAC region. North America contributes a major share to global pollution. USA is the leading market as the highest contributor to air pollution in North America region. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas are the states reporting the highest air pollution levels in USA. Many prominent locations in USA are witnessing ozone depletion which is a major cause of concern for government officials. As such, this situation makes emission control catalysts an urgent need in these pollution chronic regions. MENA is the next potential region for the emission control catalyst market. Presence of mining industries and oil borne locations are the major driving factors in MENA region. India, China and Singapore are the prominent destinations for emission control segment. Development in the automobile sector, oil refineries and maritime transportation are the main driving factors in APAC.Visit For TOC@Increasing automotive fleet and stringent environmental regulations on the international platform are the prime driving factors for growth in emission control catalyst consumption. The global emission control catalyst market is expected to grow between 7% and 9% CAGR over the next five years. Though the market seems promising for business enterprises operating in emission control catalysts, the emergence of battery-powered vehicles could be a major setback to this flourishing industry. Some of the major players include Johnson Matthey, BASF, Umicore, Faurecia, Nett Technologies, and others. Companies are investing in R&D to offer first class products to different end use industry verticals. Acquisitions and mergers are the strategies adopted by key market players to strengthen their position on the global market platform.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 Baby Mats and Gyms Market 2017 - Infantino, Disney, Fisher, Skip Hop, Baby Einstein

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This Baby Mats and Gyms report comprehends outline in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia. It focuses on top most manufacturers in global market, with production, price, and revenue and market share for each manufacturer. Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key. It splits into Product type and product application.Request For Sample Report @Global Baby Mats and Gyms Market Research Report 2017 tracks the important market events including product launches, technological developments, mergers & 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 Baby Mats and Gyms market. It also focuses on the key drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges. The definition of the market which helps in understanding the background of the market about what majorly the Baby Mats and Gyms market deals with. The market is divided in a broad way to examine the market in a better way. The sub-segments of Baby Mats and Gyms market are also included for better analysis of the market. The contribution 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 Baby Mats and Gyms market are condensed so that the market players can make smart decisions in order to maintain the competitive edge.Access Full Report @Results gained from analytical tools such as investment feasibility analysis and investment return analysis reveal market attractiveness, while SWOT analysis of the major players reveals winning market strategies and the most recent hierarchy in the Baby Mats and Gyms market.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.Mark StoneSales ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) Equipment Market Will hit at a CAGR of 13.9% from 2017 to 2027

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Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) or 3-D mammography new installations (includes new equipment and 3-D upgradation) expected to reach 4,547 units in 2016, up from 4,061 units in 2015. In terms of revenues, the global digital breast tomosynthesis equipment market is expected to reach 1,007.6 Mn in 2016, witnessing a year-over-year growth of 13.7%.Limitations concerning the flat nature of images achieved through a 2-D full-field digital mammography (FFDM) is influencing end-users to adopt DBT equipment for diagnosis of breast cancers. Digital breast tomosynthesis enables radiologists to analyse abnormalities lucidly, helping improve detection rates while reducing callbacks. In the backdrop of these factors, demand for digital breast tomosynthesis equipment is witnessing an uptick, and the trend is expected to gain further momentum in the future.View and Download TOC of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) Equipment Market Research Report@Sales of DBTs have remained quite robust in the US in the recent past, making North America the most lucrative market globally. The market in the region is largely dominated by Hologic, Inc. although GE and Siemens Healthineers have also registered their presence by launching innovative DBT products at competitive prices. Total DBT equipment revenues in North America were pegged at 472.8 Mn in 2015, with the U.S. accounting for bulk of revenue share. New equipment installation base in North America is expected to reach 2,327 in 2016, up from 2,066 in 2015.In addition to North America, digital breast tomosynthesis sales are also growing steadily in Western Europe and APEJ. Revenues in Western Europe are anticipated to grow by 13.4% in 2016, whereas APEJ is expected to increase at 12.2%.By end-users, hospitals account for higher demand for DBTs vis-a-vis diagnostic centres. Many hospitals are in the process of upgrading their existing mammography machines, owing to which demand for DBT equipment is growing at a steady rate. However, high costs, coupled with lack of awareness can impede adoption rates in both hospitals and diagnostic centres, and slow down the growth of the market globally. Installations of DBTs in hospitals totalled 3,020 in 2015, representing a market value worth 542.8 Mn.Request and Download Sample Report@Key players in the global digital breast tomosynthesis equipment market include Hologic Inc., GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Internazionale Medico Scientifica, Fujifilm, and Planmed Oy. The top 3 players - Hologic, Inc., GE Healthcare, and Siemens Healthineers collectively account for nearly 90% revenue share of the market.Long-term Outlook: In terms of revenues, the global tomosynthesis equipment market is expected to increase at 13.9% CAGR during the forecast period 2016-2026. Total installations of DBT equipment are anticipated to reach 17,700 units.Buy Full Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) Equipment Market Report@Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage,NY616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage,NYFuture 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 Lactase Market 2017 - DSM, Novozymes, DuPont, Chr. Hansen Holding, Amano Enzyme, Enzyme Development

Lactase Market

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Global Lactase 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 Lactase Market 2017-2022 " represent the market share and size of Lactase in international Industry. MRS Research Group added latest market research report by QY Research. Research Report provides an essential information and statistically evaluated data about the Lactase. The research report provides a detailed study of the Lactase 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 @Report Focuses on Some Important Manufacturers in Global Market Includes :DSM, Novozymes, DuPont, Chr. Hansen Holding, Amano Enzyme, Enzyme Development, SternEnzym, Specialty Enzymes & Biotechnologies, Enzyme Solutions, Advanced Enzymes, Zhongnuo BioTech, Enze Bio, Meihua BioTech, Kono ChemReport Covers by Some Importatnt Regions/Countries as Following :United States, EU, Japan, China, India, Southeast AsiaThe research report provides the Lactase markets classification in detail. The Lactase market is bifurcated into a number of segments on the basis of materials,types,applications,and end-users. The geographical analysis of the global Lactase 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 Lactase 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 Lactase 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 Lactase 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 Lactase 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
Global Aerogel Market 2017 - Cabot Corporation, BASF SE, Aerogel Technologies LLC, Aspen Aerogels, Growth

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The Report describe Aerogel Introduction, product scope, market overview, opportunities, risk, driving force also to analyze the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue, and price, market type and application from 2017 to 2022. Geographically, the global Aerogel market is designed for the following regional markets like North America, Europe and Asia and the main countries like United States, Germany, Japan and China.Request For Sample Report @Backed by substantial primary and secondary research, the report Global Aerogel Industry delivers valuable market insights. The report has been prepared using inputs from industry experts and features valuable recommendations from senior analysts. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the Global Aerogel market.The reports includes market drivers, restraints, challenges, opportunities, investment potential, leading technologies, future roadmap, player profile, regulatory ecosystem, and strategies. The report also delivers market size forecasts for Aerogel. The forecasts are further mentioned for the top segment of the Aerogel market. This report comes with several charts, graphs, and graphics to make it an interesting read.Some of the features of the report are definition, classification and application of product, Industry Development Overview, Aerogel Market Comparison Analysis, Upstream Raw Materials Analysis, Down Stream Market Analysis, Productions Supply Sales Demand Market Status and Forecast, Key Manufacturers Analysis, Industry development trend, Channels and Investment Feasibility, Marketing Channels Development Proposals Analysis, Development Environmental Analysis,Some of the key questions that report asks are:How vast is the market opportunity?What are the powers affecting the Aerogel industry growth?What will be the Aerogel market size at the end of the forecast?Which regions and sub-segments will grow at the highest rate?How will the regulatory scenario impact the Aerogel market?What are the priority strategies that the companies in the market are espousing?How will the patent expires shape the Aerogel market gestures?Access Full Report @Thus, the research study provides a comprehensive view of the global Aerogel market, offering industry dimensions and evaluations for the period from 2017 to 2022, keeping in mind the aforementioned factors.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.Mark StoneSales ManagerOffice-102, Sanskriti AspirationsBaner Road, Pune,MH 411045IndiaPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Surface Mining Market - Comprehensive Analysis of World Markets, Trade, Commodity Review and Outlook of Global Market Including Long-term Forecasts 2019

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With the ever rising demand for the minerals and metals, the need for surface mining is increasing and has lead to a direct positive effect on the surface mining market. According to EIA the world coal consumption is increasing at the rate of 1.3% per year, which is extracted mostly from the surface and the underground activities. As per the report of Hartman and Mutmansky (2002), in USA the surface mining contributes about 85% of all mineral exploitation (metallic ore 98%, non metallic ore 97% and coal 61%). Beside coal, the demand for other minerals and metals such as gold, chromium, nickel and iron ore is also rising, hence we can think of the overall positive impact on the surface mining market.Download a Brochure for Research Report & Insights :The surface mining market can be segmented on the basis of methodology, minerals extracted, and the geographical locations of the surface mining regions and companies. According to the technology involved, the surface mining can be classified as strip mining, mountain removal mining and open pit mining. Strip mining is applied when the mineral deposits and the surface of the ground are near to each other. Mountain removal mining is a kind of surface mining that involves the mining of the summit ridge of a mountain. Open cast or the open pit mining is the method of removal of ores and minerals from a pit. Open cast mines that produce dimension stones and the building materials are called quarries. According to the mineral extracted mining can be divided as the metallic ore mining, non metallic ore mining and the coal mining. Metallic ore mining involves extraction of zinc, gold, silver, copper, lead and others. Non metallic ore mining involves extraction of lime, salt, phosphates and others.Regional segmentation can be done on the basis of the location of surface mining companies and the major mining regions of the world. Major surface mining companies are located in the United States and Canada (North America), United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and Denmark (European region), China, India, Australia and Indonesia (Asia Pacific region), South Africa and Nigeria (Middle East and Africa) and Brazil in RoW (rest of World). The U.S nonmetallic mineral and quarrying industry includes around 3300 companies. Major regions where surface mining is done are the United States, Canada, Mexico, South Africa Kazakhstan, Peru, Ukraine, India, China, Indonesia, Angola, Chile, Brazil and Australia. According to a media release about 75% of the world gold mining companies are headquartered in Canada.Increasing demands for metallic and non metallic minerals, abundance of reserves that can be exploited using surface mining, less capital requirement as compared to underground and marine mining and increasing energy consumption are the factors that are driving the surface mining market. Stringent environmental regulations and difficulties related to land acquisition can act as the restraint in the surface mining market. With the advancements in mining technologies, growing concerns among countries regarding energy security and increasing energy demand, the opportunities for the surface mining market are expected to be high.View and Download TOC:Surface mining market is a fragmented market with a number of players competing for the market share. Major players in the surface mining market includes companies such as BHP Billiton (Anglo Australian), Vale S.A (Brazil), Rio Tinto (British Australian), Anglo American, Freeport-McMoran (United States), Barrick Gold ( Canada),Teck( Canada), Goldcorp (Canada) and others.About UsTransparency Market Research 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. 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 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: 866-552-3453E-mail: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
UPS Market : Projection of Each Major Segment over the Forecast Period

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The dominance of a handful of large players renders stiff competition in the global UPS market, says Transparency Market Research in a new report. Keen players are striving to launch technologically advanced products to stay competitive in this market which is at a mature stage.Key participants in the global UPS market to name a few are Eaton Corporation Plc., Emerson Electric, Uninterruptible Power Supplies Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Riello Elettronica, Schneider Electric SE (APC), Legrand, Vertiv Co., and ABB Limited.A report by Transparency Market Research envisages the global UPS market to peg a CAGR of 7.5% between 2017 and 2025, for the market to become worth US$9,881.9 mn by the end of 2025 from US$5,201.9 mn in 2016.Obtain Report @Data center and facility application segment led the UPS market in 2016 in terms of revenue. Going ahead, the segment is expected to clock a significant 7.5% CAGR between 2017 and 2025. Based on kVA range, in 2016, 20.1-60 kVA range segment accounted for the leading revenue contribution mainly because of its high adoption in data centers. On the other hand, the segment of less than 5kVA segment is predicted to expand at a significant CAGR from 2017 to 2025.Geography-wise, Europe followed by North America were the leading revenue generating regions in 2016. These regions are expected to hold on to maintain their positions over the forecast period.Majorly fuelling the global UPS market is the increasing frequency of power fluctuations and growth in the number of data centers and cloud storage utilization capacity. Natural causes, short circuits as well as manmade outages are the some of the key factors for power fluctuations that can cause equipment degradation over a period or instantaneous loss of data stored on the equipment. This necessitates power backup, especially in emerging economies that do not have reliable energy infrastructure.Power backup in small and large scale industries protects sensitive equipment from getting damaged in the event of fluctuations in the power grid. UPS systems are crucial for hospitals wherein power fluctuations can put patients life in danger. UPS systems are also crucial for factories to prevent accidents, loss of downtime.Get sample report @At present, expansion of wireless internet connectivity and the incessant penetration of smartphones have led to generation of massive volumes of data thus leading to the need for mega capacity data centers. Data centers require continuous power supply to protect operational data, IT equipment and to keep cooling systems running. Emerging economies such as China and India have emerged as preferred destinations for setting up data centers due to the advantage of reliable infrastructure at low costs. Global mobile service providers are constructing mega capacity data centers in these destinations to manage rapidly-increasing data traffic. As a result, Asia Pacific is emerging to be a key market for UPS for power backup needs of these establishments.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.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Military Biometrics Market Overview and Forecast up to 2025

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The competitive scenario of The Global Military Biometrics Market is intense and extremely competitive and Transparency Market Research (TMR) in its latest report predicts that the competition will gain more momentum in the years to come on account of new players entering in the market. These new players could possibly cause ripples among the large pool of existing global players. The top five companies within the global military biometrics market are: Crossmatch, Safran, M2SYS Technology, 3M Cogent, and NEC Corporation.These five companies collectively held a whopping 61% of the market in 2016. Leading players are engaging in the development of new products so as to gain competitive advantage among other players. Players are increasingly investing in research and development so as to come up with products that are technologically advanced. Players are also working closely with end users, software integrators, and resellers so as to make most of the opportunity in hand and enhance the return on investment.According to a TMR, the global market for military biometrics will be worth US$10.62 bn by 2025, expanding at a 7.4% CAGR from 2017 to 2025. By geography, Asia Pacific will emerge as a lucrative region. Europe and North America collectively accounted for 55% of the market in 2016. North America is anticipated to lead in the market for the rest of the forecast period driven by the growing concerns over illegal migration in the U.S. On the basis of type, the market is expected to be led by the fingerprint recognition segment. Facial recognition segment is also anticipated to witness a steady growth in the years to come.Request to download and view full ToC -Growing Infiltration and Identity Threats to Drive Demand for Military BiometricsA TMR analyst said that, the demand for military biometrics is anticipated to increase in the coming years on account of the growing demand for advanced technology so as to fight terrorism. With growing need for addressing infiltration and similar security issues, it has become utmost important to adopt military biometrics. The growing number of nations struggling with forged identities, identity thefts, and illegal immigrations will spur a heightened demand for military biometrics. More and more airports and borders across countries are making use of biometrics authentication systems in a bid to reduce terrorism and terror attacks.Request to view Sample Report -Complicated Installation to Pose a Challenge for Military Biometrics MarketOn the other hand, the complexity of military biometrics systems could be a challenge. The high cost may also be a deterring factor for large scale adoption. In addition to this, the installation of these systems is complicated and requires skilled personnel. The fact that it involves security of highly confidential data, necessitates for the system to never be compromised and as this system cannot be reset easily, it is a big factor for reduced adoption. However, the continuous technological advancements in this field is estimated to reduce the impact of this restraint.Military Biometrics 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:
Thermoform Packaging Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-25

Thermoform Packaging Market

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Thermoforming is the process of molding material (plastic, aluminum, wood, and rubber) into desired shape to create packaging containers. The process allows the molding of large size containers from sheets in extremely cost effective way. Moreover, thermoform packaging can be customized into various shapes and sizes, and is more durable compared to its counterparts. Post molding, printing can be done to make products aesthetically appealing.Cost effectiveness and ability for mass manufacturing make it a popular choice among the industries such as food and pharmaceutical. The major challenges are the environmental repercussions of using plastic packaging. Moreover, thermoformed material cannot bear excess weight and cannot be used for the packaging of heavy materials.Request a sample copy of this report:Thermoform Packaging Market Taxonomy:On the basis of process, the thermoform packaging market is segmented as-Vacuum FormingPressure FormingPlug Assist FormingDrape FormingCavity FormingTwin Sheet FormingOn the basis of heat seal coating, the thermoform packaging market is segmented as-Water BasedSolvent BasedHot Melt BasedOn the basis of material, the thermoform packaging market is segmented as-PlasticPolyethylene Terephthalate (PET)Polyethylene (PE)Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)Polypropylene (PP)Polystyrene (PS)OthersPaper and PaperboardSBSWLCOtherAluminumWoodPlaster of ParisOthersOn basis of packaging type, the thermoform packaging market is segmented as-Clamshell PackagingMockTwo pieceTri foldBlister Card PackagingFace SealFull Face SealTrapped BlisterFull Card BlisterSkin PackagingOthersOn basis of end-use, the thermoform packaging market is segmented as-Food and BeveragesPharmaceuticalsElectronicsConsumer GoodsOthersAccess Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Plastic is the most used material for the manufacture of thermoform packaging due to its widespread availability and cheap material cost. Clamshell packaging is used for consumer goods. They are usually transparent to ensure that the consumer can see the contents of the packaging. Whereas blister cards are used in pharmaceutical industry and are manufactured by heat sealing a sheet foil.Skin packaging is gaining popularity due to its increased performance such as more durability, toughness, improved aesthetics, and lower material use over conventional blister packaging.The largest end use industry is food and beverages. The ability of thermoform material to be customized makes it very popular in food, pharmaceutical and electronics industries for packaging of small items. Its durability ensures product is not damaged and contamination is prevented.Thermoform Packaging Market Outlook:North America and Europe are the largest markets for thermoformed packaging due to high disposable incomes in the regions. Moreover, a preference for packaged food and disposable products has also driven market. According to the Population Reference Bureau, in Canada and EU, the geriatric population in North America is around 51 million and around 94 million in Europe, has boosted the growth of pharmaceutical industry.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market with the worlds largest population in India and China, boosting the demand for food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. These countries are also growing as manufacturing hubs for pharmaceuticals and electronics due to low cost of labor and raw material. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asia Pacific region accounted for 50% of the worlds GDP and is slated to become a prime consumer hub in the forecast period.Latin American population is getting shifted to higher income brackets, packaged food and beverages. Increased consumption of packaged commodities indicates a shift towards a higher quality of life of consumers. This has driven the growth for food, pharmaceutical, and electronics industries.The Middle East and Africa are fast growing markets for thermoform packaging due to large working migrant population in GCC countries and fast growing economies in Africa are major drivers for end user industries.A new thermoforming technique, known as Computational Thermoforming has come up as an alternative to 3D printing. It was developed by Zurich based Interactive Geometry Lab in 2016. This largely cuts down time required for manufacturing special purpose packaging.Key Players in the Thermoform Packaging Market:Key Players in the thermoform packaging market include Amcor Limited, Bemis Company, Inc., WestRock Company, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, DS Smith Plc., Constantia Flexibles GmbH, Sonoco Products Company, Anchor Packaging, Tekni-plex Inc., G. Mondini S.p.A, and Display Pack Inc.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:Coherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com
Dispensing spouts Market Forecast Research Reports Offers Key Insights

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Dispensing spouts are generally utilized to reseal packaging post-removal of required amount of the product. Substantially used for packaging viscous or liquid products, dispensing spouts render easy use and transportation of the product and prevent damaging of the package even if product is being used frequently. Increasing utilization of products in small quantities has been driving demand for dispensing spouts across the globe. On the basis of the product, dispensing spouts come in various shapes such as dropper, valve, cap, or pump. Dispensing spouts are put at the bottom or on the top for efficient and complete utilisation of the product. Manufacturers are now able to innovate various forms and designs of packaging, attracting more customers by enhancing the product appeal.View TOC for this Market Report @Market DynamicsThe functionality of being used repeatedly makes dispensing spouts sustainable for packaging. Increased usage of dispensing spouts in packaging helps manufacturers in reducing the utilization of raw materials, and lowers carbon footprint & cost of packaging. They are used in a variety of applications across sectors such as home care, toiletries, household chemicals, and food & beverages. Improvements in the economic conditions, coupled with stringent guidelines for environment protection, and increasing health concerns have driven demand for high barrier, lightweight, cost-efficient, and bio-degradable packaging products. This further necessitates the requirement for dispensing spouts for increasing efficiency of these packaging products.Various innovations in dispensing spouts have been introduced in the market, which reduce time, wastage, glugging, and splashing of products. These innovative designs have improved pouring accuracy with increased control and visibility, which in turn is expected to drive growth of the market. In addition, the variety of application offered with more convenience has been further influencing the growth of the global dispensing spouts market. However, it has been observed that dispensing spouts used for water storage are highly prone to growth of bacteria, limiting opportunities for growth of the market.North America will lead the market, with the market for consumer goods in the region being aligned with the market for dispensing spouts. Factors such as manufacturing practices and consumer preference in North America are contributing to growth of the dispensing spout market. The market for dispensing spout in APEJ is estimated to expand throughout the forecast period. This is mainly attributed to continuously changing retail pattern and lifestyle of people in China and South-East Asia. Global demand for dispensing spouts will increase on the back of its characteristics, which help in lowering carbon footprint of packaging materials, and prices of the products, benefitting end-users.For more information on this report, fill the form @Key Market PlayersSome players in the global market for dispensing spouts include Tomlinson Industries, AptarGroup, Inc., Precision Valve Corporation, Nilkanth Polyplast., Glenroy, Inc., O.Berk Company, Poppelmann GmbH & Co. KG, LLC, Rieke Corporation, Stern Engineering Ltd., Weener Plastik GmbH, Liqui-Box Corporation, Elkay Manufacturing Company, Inc., Tacom SA, Uflex Ltd., and Guangdong Danqing Plastic Packaging & Printing 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:
Bureaucracy is equally as astonishing and stifling in Macau, as it seems to be everywhere else in the world.

Or at least thats what I thought until very recently. I assumed that bureaucracy was pretty much the same the world over, but maybe made slightly worse in Macau by the not unusual instances of unprofessionalism.

What I mean by unprofessionalism is mainly staff members  usually customer service reps  not knowing or pretending not to know the answers to the most basic of enquiries. Sometimes, they answer you anyway, though the tone in their voice suggests far from 100 percent confidence.

I am told that the six months-plus lead-time needed by some government institutions to process an application is warranted by a backlog of thousands of other applications. In which case, why is it so difficult to recall the circumstances of those other applications and advise on specific requirements?

I follow a rule of three when trying to extract information from customer service representatives: 1. Call up a representative and ask what is required. 2. Call another representative, ask what is required and verify any discrepancies. 3. Repeat step 2.

This helps to avoid turning in a pink form only to be told you need a yellow one.

When I first arrived in Macau, I learnt this the hard way. For one application, I downloaded an official form from the institutions website, completed it and turned it in to the application center. But the staff member told me that my form was outdated and could not be accepted. I hadnt realized that the departments website was update-free since 2004, but the staff member I rang up didnt tell me that either.

Like many others, I quickly became resigned to the headaches of Macaus bureaucracy and complained about it often. But then, only a few months ago, I had a revelation of sorts when attempting to navigate the bureaucratic landscape of my home country.

My rule of three, born out of practicality in Macau, was tested to its limit in Britain. Its not that customer service representatives werent helpful; they just didnt know the correct procedure but offered an opinion anyway. Each rep that I contacted had a different, but assured perspective on how to file the application and the required supporting documents.

Then there is the fact that some UK government websites have no direct contact information listed. Instead, they charge concerned applicants the equivalent of about MOP60 per email enquiry, only to reply with a one-line answer. Did that answer your question? No? Feel free to send us another email.

We foreigners forget how lucky we have things in Macau, and the locals and mainlanders are  thankfully  happy to show us another way.

I recall one instance, around two years ago, when I needed to apply for a tourist visa at a consulate in Macau. I arrived with the required paperwork complete, only I had forgotten to bring with me a passport-sized picture to affix to my application.

With only an hour or so to go before closing time, I decided to ask a security officer at the consulate for the closest place to have such a picture taken.

The security officer, who was stationed in a small security office at the consulates entrance, motioned for me to walk around to his side of the desk and step into a tight storage cupboard, no more than 60cm wide. I hesitated but complied, and the security officer pulled down a white backdrop and took a picture of me with his phone.

Feeling rather sheepish and possibly the butt of a joke, I was told by the security officer to wait for a little while. Less than 15 minutes later and about MOP100 lighter, someone dropped off four, professional-looking passport-sized photos.

Now thats economic diversification.
Drug Device Combination Products Market Analysis and Forecast Study for (2017-2027)

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Drug device combination products are devices which consists medical device along with the pharmaceutical ingredient that helps to deliver the drug to desired location in the patients body. These combination products have emerged as innovative medical devices owing to the contribution in advancing medical care and are thus expected to have major impact in the coming years. Drug device combination products product includes inhalers, drug eluting stents, and wound care products among others. The advantages offered by drug device combination products include minimal side effects, controlled drug administration, improved patient compliance, and targeted drug delivery. Owing to its wide range of advantages and increased sophistication, these devices have been widely adopted across the medical industry.Drug Device Combination Products Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growth of global drug device combination products market is attributed to the growing incidence of chronic diseases such as prostate cancer, cardiovascular diseases, colorectal cancer, diabetic neuropathy; increasing concerns related to obesity and diabetes; and growing geriatric population. In addition, several government initiatives and CSR activities conducted by leading players is expected to boost the growth of drug device combination products market. For instance, government and NGO initiatives are promoting drug delivery implants in different regions is propelling the growth of the market. Moreover, increasing popularity of minimally invasive surgeries and portable devices such as nebulizers and inhalers are few of the prime factors responsible for the market growth. On the other hand, several product recall and associated complication are likely to hinder the market to certain extent. Additionally, stringent government regulations of minimally invasive drug device combination products limits the market growth.Request Report Sample@Drug Device Combination Products Market: SegmentationThe global market for drug device combination products market is segmented on the basis of product type, end user, and geography.Based on product type, the global drug device combination products market is segmented into following:Drug Eluting StentsPeripheral Vascular StentsCoronary StentsInfusion PumpsImplantable Infusion PumpsAmbulatory Infusion PumpsOrthopedic Combination ProductsWound Care Combination ProductsInhalers & NebulizersDry Powder InhalersMetered Dose InhalersNebulizersUltrasonic NebulizersCompressor NebulizersMesh NebulizersTransdermal PatchesOther ProductsVisit For TOC@Based on end user, the global drug device combination products market is segmented into following:Hospitals & ClinicsEmergency Service CentersAmbulatory Surgical CentersHome Care SettingsBased on Regions, the global drug device combination products market is segmented into following:North AmericaLatin AmericaEastern EuropeWestern EuropeAsia-Pacific excluding JapanJapanMiddle East & AfricaDrug Device Combination Products Market: OverviewDevelopment of advanced but low cost drug device combination Products will pave the road for new entrants. The upcoming research and development activities will open a new avenue and extraordinary opportunities for drug device combination products manufacturing companies. The cost of Drug Device Combination Products is currently high owing to incorporation of advanced technologies and complex consumers requirements. However, many Chinese manufacturers are now coming up with the low cost devices. Thus, the price of these devices is expected to decrease as compared to the branded products in coming years.Drug Device Combination Products Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, the global drug device combination products market is segmented into regions namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific Excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Among all the regions, North America would dominate the global drug device combination products market and is anticipated to lead the marker throughout the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the most lucrative drug device combination products market due to the growing incidences of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, increasing concerns of obesity and diabetes.Drug Device Combination Products Market: Key PlayersKey players operating in the global drug device combination products market are Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, Inc, CareFusion Corporation, Allergen, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Bausch & Lomb, Inc., Stryker Corporation, The 3M Company, Arrow International, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Biomet Orthopedics, INC., C.R. BARD, INC., and Ethicon, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson) 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.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:
Intelligent Network Market trends estimates high demand by 2019

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An intelligent network has become one of the most critical technologies in the information industry because of its promising features like efficient network resource utilization, quick service deployment, vendor independence through standardization, and the separation of intelligence and switching functionality. An intelligent network is required for making networking smoother and for providing a reliable and flexible path for databases. It deals with the latest and new researches and the policies of telecommunication services. These networks are designed to satisfy many purposes such as for avoiding the use of line switching, for centralizing the whole system, and to provide new services to customers.The market can be segmented on the basis of applications into freephone service market, personal service market, virtual private network service market, alternative automatic billing service market, and premium rate services market. The intelligent network market is a multibillion dollar one and is expected to show a substantial growth with a single digit CAGR over the period 2013-2019.Request Sample Copy of the Report@One of the key drivers of the market includes digitalization and change of line switching. It helps in increasing the competition in the market by arranging or producing new services, it enhances the evolution and development of new services for the customers or users; it is able to manage the creations or the inventions of new telecom standards and also enables the operating staff to manage various types of services of a particular module. The market has various opportunities and offers music on demand, video links that can display complex images over a long distance. In addition, it facilitates interactive home shopping, and offers internet on a TV. Some of the factors restraining the market include large expenses for installation and difficult configuration because it is created with the help of small pieces of hardware.Some of the key players in this market are EADS, Raytheon, Alcatel-Lucent, Thales, Huawei, Harris, and Fujitsu. These players have created remarkable portfolios for intelligent network applications and services.Request TOC of the Report@This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsAbout 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:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Market to increase rapidly by 2024

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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurological disease and also termed as Lou Gehrigs disease. The disease affects the motor neurons, which control the action of voluntary muscles, as a result the messages between brain and muscle fibers are blocked. ALS could occur in a person due to genetic inheritance, mutation in gene which encodes enzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase coupled with defect in chromosome 9. This disease is more prevalent in males. All these abnormalities results in the release of glutamate which damage the motor neurons controlling voluntary muscles. ALS projects various symptoms such as spasticity, cramps, fasciculation, respiratory problems and muscles weakness. The mortality rate has been studied to be higher in the ALS patients mainly due to respiratory failures. ALS results in the inability to breathe; this is due to non- functioning of diaphragram and chest muscles caused due to muscle weakness It has been estimated that every year around 5,000 people in U.S. are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is diagnosed with electromyography (EMG) test which detect electrical activities of muscles. In addition, ALS can also be diagnosed through nerve conduction study (NCS) test. This test measures electrical energy used to send a signal by neurons. The ALS detection only by symptoms is difficult since various other diseases such as spinal cord tumor, syringomelia, cervical spondylosis and herniated neck disc. Succeeding diagnosis, physicians prescribe various treatment options such as physical, speech, occupational, chemotherapy and other therapies. Chemotherapy includes only one drug which is riluzole and is the only drug approved by FDA. Riluzole reduces motor neuron damage by decreasing the release of glutamate. Other treatments which can be given to an ALS patient include muscle relaxants, ventilators and drugs which would reduce fatigue, excessive salivation and control spasticity. These drugs would only improve the quality of life of ALS patient.The age groups of 55 to 66 are highly prone to ALS due to weak immune system. Rise in aging population worldwide would augment the growth of this market. In addition, the government is also concerned for the various treatment options of ALS. Recently in 2008, Collaborative ALS Drug Discovery Initiative (CADDI) helped to initiate and accelerate the new drug development and effective treatment of ALS. This initiative increased the number of ALS treating pipeline drugs. Despite all these, various factors such as high cost of treatment, unawareness about the disease and availability of ineffective diagnosis methods would hinder the growth of this market.Some of the major market players in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis market include Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Avicena Inc., Sanofi Inc., Biogen Inc. and others.Request TOC of the Report@This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsAbout 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:
Ionic Liquids 2017 Global Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 9.31% and Forecast to 2021

Ionic Liquids Market 2017

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Ionic Liquids 2017 Global Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 9.31% and Forecast to 2021.The analysts forecast the global ionic liquids market to grow at a CAGR of 9.31% during the period 2017-2021.Ionic liquids are salts with melting points lower than 100C (212F). They are synthetic (organic) liquids that contain a positive ion (cation) and a negative ion (anion), wherein one or both of the ions are organic compounds. Organic cations typically contain nitrogen or phosphorus compounds, such as imidazolium, phosphonium, pyridinium, and ammonium, that are poorly coordinated with the anion. At least one of the ions has a delocalized charge such that the formation of the stable crystal lattice is prevented and strong electrostatic forces hold the ions together.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 ionic liquids 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: Americas APAC Europe ROWThe report, Global Ionic Liquids 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 vendors BASF Evonik Industries Merck Solvay Strem ChemicalsOther prominent vendors CoorsTek Iolitec Ionic Liquids Technologies Jinxi Jinkai Chemical proionic Reinste Nano Ventures Santa Cruz Biotechnology Scionix Solaronix SOLVIONIC Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem Tokyo Chemical IndustryMarket driver Use of ionic liquids as replacements for solvents For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge High price of ionic liquids For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Increasing environmental awareness drives the demand for ionic liquids For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space?Ask Query @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryPART 02: Scope of the reportPART 03: Research MethodologyPART 04: Introduction Market outlinePART 05: Market landscape Global ionic liquids market Five forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by application Global ionic liquids market by application Global ionic liquids market in solvents and catalysts Global ionic liquids market in extraction and separations Global ionic liquids market in bio-refineries Global ionic liquids market in batteries and electrochemistry Global ionic liquids market in othersPART 07: Geographical segmentation Global ionic liquids market by geography Ionic liquids market in APAC Ionic liquids market in Americas Ionic liquids market in Europe Ionic liquids market in ROWPART 08: Decision frameworkPART 09: Drivers and challenges Market drivers Market challengesPART 10: Market trends Increasing environmental awareness drives the demand for ionic liquids Increasing demand for ionic liquids in bio-refineries and energy storage applications Emerging new alkylation technology that uses ionic liquids as catalysts in refining applicationsPART 11: Vendor landscape Competitive scenario Other prominent vendorsPART 12: Key vendor analysis BASF Evonik Industries Merck Solvay Strem ChemicalsContinue.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.
Apheresis Market Globally Reflecting a CAGR of 10.2% during 2017  2023

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Market Highlight:Apheresis is the medical technology which is used for the purification of the blood or separation of different component of blood. It involves removing of the blood from the donor or patients and collecting it into an apparatus which separates the desired component from the blood, while the rest of the blood is send back to the donor or patients. This separation of the component was done by two process namely centrifugation and filtration.Global apheresis market is driven by development in the new apheresis techniques and increasing prevalence of different chronic diseases blood related diseases and many more. Increasing demand for the different component of the bloods, rising complex surgical procedures and increasing number of accidents across the globe has also contributed in the growth of the market.According to National Health Service (NHS) Blood and Transplant, the demand for platelets. While lack of skilled professional. Blood and blood product can be infected very easily, this risk of infection also contribute in hindering the market growth.The market for apheresis is increasing at a rapid pace which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% during forecasted period 2017-2023.Request a Sample Report @Competitive Analysis for Global Apheresis Market: Asahi Kasei Medical Co. Ltd. (Japan) Fresenius Medical Care (Germany) Terumo BCT Inc. (US) Haemonetics Corporation (US) Kawasumi Laboratories Inc. (Japan) HemaCare Corporation (US) Kaneka Corporation (Japan) and Nikkiso Co. Ltd. (Japan) Cerus Corporation (US) B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany) Nikkiso Ltd. (Japan) Therakos, Inc. (US).Market Categorization:Global apheresis market is segmented on the basis of product into devices and disposables. Devices are further segmented into: Plasma Separators Platelets separatorsOn the basis of procedures they are Plateletpheresis Leukapheresis Erythrocytapheresis Plasmapheresis On the basis of methods they are centrifugation and filtration. Centrifugation is further segmented into continuous flow centrifugation Intermittent Flow CentrifugationOn The Basis Of Application the Market Is Segmented Into Oncological Diseases Renal Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Haematological Diseases Immunological Diseases Neurological DiseasesOn The Basis Of End User They Are Blood Banks HospitalsBrowse Report @Study objectives global apheresis market Detail analysis of global apheresis market with region specific growth and competitive analysis on the basis of major players present in the market Detail analysis of global apheresis market and different drivers and restraints affecting the growth of the market Detailed analysis of the historical and forecasted market analysis of the market on the basis of factors like- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. 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 apheresis Detail analysis on the possible segments and sub segments of the market. And regional analysis of the market- Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa. Insights on the major countries/regions in which these major industries is flourishing and to also identify the untapped regions which could be the potential markets in futureRegional analysisOn regional basis, Americas hold the largest share in the global apheresis market. Continuous advance in technology, increasing opportunity for apheresis products and presence of a huge number of people suffering from different chronic diseases has spurred the growth of this market in Americas. Europe is the second leading market which is followed by Asia Pacific. However Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for the market. Increasing demand for different blood components for the patients, rapid development in healthcare and increasing healthcare expenditure are contributing in the growth of Asia Pacific apheresis market.The report for global apheresis 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.Check Discount for this Report @ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Apheresis Market -Global Forecast To 2023 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.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, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.comAt 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, 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.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Battery Materials 2017 Global Market Key Players  3M, Asahi Kasei Corporation, BASF, Dow, Hitachi Chemical  Analysis and Forecast to 2022

Battery Materials Market

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Battery Materials Market 2017Wiseguyreports.Com adds Battery Materials 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 Battery Materials Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Battery Materials 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 Battery Materials 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, covering3MAsahi Kasei CorporationBasfDowCelgardE. I. Du Pont De Nemours & CompanyEcoproEntek InternationalHitachi ChemicalItochuKurehaMitsubishi ChemicalNichia CorporationNippon DenkoNingbo Shanshan CompanyRequest a Sample Report @By types, the market can be split intoCathodeAnodeElectrolyteSeparatorBinderPackaging materialsBy Application, the market can be split intoLaptops or NotebooksCellular or Mobile phonesAutomotivePower toolsHousehold devicesOthersBy 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 Battery Materials1.1 Definition and Specifications of Battery Materials1.1.1 Definition of Battery Materials1.1.2 Specifications of Battery Materials1.2 Classification of Battery Materials1.2.1 Cathode1.2.2 Anode1.2.3 Electrolyte1.2.4 Separator1.2.5 Binder1.2.6 Packaging materials1.3 Applications of Battery Materials1.3.1 Laptops or Notebooks1.3.2 Cellular or Mobile phones1.3.3 Automotive1.3.4 Power tools1.3.5 Household devices1.3.6 Others1.4 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 Battery Materials8.1 3M8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 3M 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 3M 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Asahi Kasei Corporation8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Asahi Kasei Corporation 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Asahi Kasei Corporation 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Basf8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 Product A8.3.2.2 Product B8.3.3 Basf 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Basf 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Dow8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 Product A8.4.2.2 Product B8.4.3 Dow 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Dow 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.5 Celgard8.5.1 Company Profile8.5.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.5.2.1 Product A8.5.2.2 Product B8.5.3 Celgard 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.5.4 Celgard 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.6 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours & Company8.6.1 Company Profile8.6.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.6.2.1 Product A8.6.2.2 Product B8.6.3 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours & Company 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.6.4 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours & Company 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.7 Ecopro8.7.1 Company Profile8.7.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.7.2.1 Product A8.7.2.2 Product B8.7.3 Ecopro 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.7.4 Ecopro 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.8 Entek International8.8.1 Company Profile8.8.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.8.2.1 Product A8.8.2.2 Product B8.8.3 Entek International 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.8.4 Entek International 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.9 Hitachi Chemical8.9.1 Company Profile8.9.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.9.2.1 Product A8.9.2.2 Product B8.9.3 Hitachi Chemical 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.9.4 Hitachi Chemical 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.10 Itochu8.10.1 Company Profile8.10.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.10.2.1 Product A8.10.2.2 Product B8.10.3 Itochu 2016 Battery Materials Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.10.4 Itochu 2016 Battery Materials Business Region Distribution Analysis8.11 Kureha8.12 Mitsubishi ChemicalContinued.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
Dry Shampoo Market by Manufacturers,Types,Regions and Applications Research Report Forecast to 2021

Dry Shampoo Industry

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Dry Shampoo Market by Manufacturers,Types,Regions and Applications Research Report Forecast to 2021.The analysts forecast the global dry shampoo market to decline at a CAGR of (18.75%) during the period 2017-2021. A hair styling product comes in both spray (aerosol) and powder forms. A dry shampoo is a product that reduces greasiness in hair without using water. It offers features and benefits like regular shampoos. The global dry shampoo market hair has a high growth potential, which attracts several hair care brands to compete for market share. Women comprise the largest customer segment in the global dry shampoo market. It has been observed that men are increasingly becoming conscious about their personal grooming and wellness. These aspects provide a good opportunity for vendors to tap into the growing market and increase their revenue share.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 dry shampoo market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the value sales of dry shampoos.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEAThe report, Global Dry Shampoo 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 vendors Estee Lauder Henkel Kao L'Oreal Procter & Gamble (P&G) UnileverOther prominent vendors Church & Dwight Coty Kao MOROCCANOIL New Avon Pierre Fabre REVLONMarket driver Product innovation leading to product premiumization For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Allergic reactions and other harmful effects of dry shampoo For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Celebrity endorsements For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space?Ask Query @Table Of Contents  Major Key PointsPART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYPART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORTPART 03: RESEARCH METHODOLOGYPART 04: INTRODUCTION Market outlinePART 05: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market overview Market size and forecast Five forces analysisPART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL Global dry shampoo market by distribution channel Global dry shampoo market through offline distribution channel Global dry shampoo market through online distribution channelPART 07: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT TYPE Global dry shampoo market by product typePART 08: REGIONAL LANDSCAPE Global dry shampoo market by geography Regional comparison Americas  Market size and forecast EMEA  Market size and forecast APAC  Market size and forecast Key leading countries Market opportunityPART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORKPART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challengesPART 11: MARKET TRENDS Celebrity endorsements Rise in demand for natural and organic products Ease of usage and availability of small travel-size packsPART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Competitive scenario Key competitive strategies Comparative analysis of key vendorsPART 13: KEY VENDOR ANALYSIS Estee Lauder Henkel Kao L'Oreal P&G Unilever Other prominent vendorsPART 14: 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.
Water Filters Market by Manufacturers,Types,Regions and Applications Research Report Forecast to 2022

Water Filters Industry

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - Water Filters Market by Manufacturers,Types,Regions and Applications Research Report Forecast to 2022.This report studies the Water Filters market, which removes impurities by minimizing contamination of water using a fine physical barrier, a chemical process or a biological process. Filters cleanse water to different extents for purposes such as providing agricultural irrigation, accessible drinking water, public and private aquaria, and the safe use of ponds and swimming pools.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comScope of the Report:This report focuses on the Water Filters 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 coversSundyleeHanstonDoultonFlanne3MDolonsHoneywellGEEverpureMideaCillitAmway eSpringEcowatergdQinyuanStevoorTORAYHaierCulliganGREERoyalstarWattsJoyoungQuanlaiBRITAMarket 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, coversReverse Osmosis Water FilterUltrafiltration Membrane Water FilterOtherMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoHouseholdCommercialAsk Query @There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Water Filters market.Chapter 1, to describe Water Filters Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Water Filters, with sales, revenue, and price of Water Filters, 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 Water Filters, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;ContinueTable Of Contents  Major Key Points1 Market Overview1.1 Water Filters Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Reverse Osmosis Water Filter1.2.2 Ultrafiltration Membrane Water Filter1.2.3 Other1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Household1.3.2 Commercial1.4 Market Analysis by Regions1.4.1 North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)1.4.1.1 USA Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.2 Canada Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.1.3 Mexico Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2 Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)1.4.2.1 Germany Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.2 France Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.3 UK Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.4 Russia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.2.5 Italy Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)1.4.3.1 China Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.2 Japan Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.3 Korea Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.4 India Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.3.5 Southeast Asia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4 South America, Middle East and Africa1.4.4.1 Brazil Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.2 Egypt Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.3 Saudi Arabia Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.4 South Africa Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.4.4.5 Nigeria Market States and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Market Opportunities1.5.2 Market Risk1.5.3 Market Driving Force2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 Sundylee2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Water Filters Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 Sundylee Water Filters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Hanston2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Water Filters Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Hanston Water Filters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Doulton2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Water Filters Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Doulton Water Filters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.4 Flanne2.4.1 Business Overview2.4.2 Water Filters Type and Applications2.4.2.1 Type 12.4.2.2 Type 22.4.3 Flanne Water Filters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.5 3M2.5.1 Business Overview2.5.2 Water Filters Type and Applications2.5.2.1 Type 12.5.2.2 Type 22.5.3 3M Water Filters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.6 Dolons2.6.1 Business Overview2.6.2 Water Filters Type and Applications2.6.2.1 Type 12.6.2.2 Type 22.6.3 Dolons Water Filters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.7 Honeywell2.7.1 Business Overview2.7.2 Water Filters Type and Applications2.7.2.1 Type 12.7.2.2 Type 22.7.3 Honeywell Water Filters Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)Continue.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.
Energy Storage Technologies Market Analysis, Segments, Growth and Value Chain 2016-2024

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Global Energy Storage Technologies Market: OverviewEnergy storage refers to a process of transfiguring energy from the traditional sources to a form that can be easily stored and then again converted back to the original state as per requirement. This process helps in storing energy that can be later used at peak demand and consumption periods, high generation costs, and low energy production. A robust rise in the demand for energy across the globe is expected to bode well for the growth of the global energy storage technologies market. Rising need to develop advanced low carbon energy technology is anticipated to drive the deployment of energy storage technologies across various industries. In addition, the mounting requirement for reliability and resiliency of the energy grid coupled with the integration of the available renewable energy resources is further expected to accelerate the progress of the global energy storage technologies market. Energy storage technologies are also anticipated to a play a prominent role in the energy industry in terms of de-carbonization by efficiently connecting electricity with heat networks. Energy storage technologies can shift the balance of supply and demand of energy for a short period of time. This helps in avoiding blackouts and also corrects load imbalances.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The research report is an examination of the growth trajectory based on the historical, current, and future opportunities of the global energy storage technologies market. It provides an evaluation of the dynamics that are anticipated to affect the progress of the market and the predominant trends have also been stated in the study. The report also presents a diverse viewpoint on the competitive landscape of the market through the value chain and Porters five forces analysis. The report mentions the research and development projects, mergers and acquisitions, details on collaborations and licensing. The study provides insights into the marketing strategies, products, and shares of the key players operating in the global energy storage technologies market.Global Energy Storage Technologies Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe growth of the global energy storage technologies market can be attributed to the growing demand for energy across the globe along with the rising need for low carbon emitting technologies. Energy storage technologies have application in cooling and heating networks, off-grid applications, and electricity grids. However, the most efficient and cost effective energy storage devices also face difficulties in terms of harsh regulatory and market conditions that are expected to hinder their deployment. Research and development may help in addressing these issues and are also likely to provide companies lucrative growth opportunities.Based on technology, the global energy storage technologies market has been segmented into solid state batteries, flow batteries, flywheels, compressed air energy storage, thermal energy storage, and hydro-power. Initial high investment and capital cost is further expected to restrict the growth of the market. In spite of the high cost, the pumped storage hydropower segment is likely to gain traction in the near future.Global Energy Storage Technologies Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the global energy storage technologies market is classified into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Among these, North America is expected to emerge as the potential consumer region owing to its technological diversity. With the introduction of high-end storage projects, Europe and Asia Pacific are also expected to follow the trail.Companies Mentioned in the ReportThe key companies in the market are SEEO Inc., S&C Electric Company, Hawaiian Electric Company Inc., Eos Energy Storage, Convergent Energy + Power, General Electric, AES Corporation, ABB Ltd., and Alstom.Request TOC of the 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:
Organic Food Market Growth, Trends, Absolute Opportunity and Value Chain 2016-2024

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Global Organic Food Market: OverviewIn todays world where everything is powered by the latest cutting-edge technology, farmers are heralding back to age-old practices in agriculture for greater good of humankind on this planet. This has been necessitated by a new crop of health-conscious consumers increasingly aware about the harmful effects of chemicals and other additives in food, farmers are now heralding back to age-old farming practices to produce what is known as organic food. From the seed to the soil or water and the final product, everything that goes into bringing organic food to the table is natural and free from pesticides, chemicals, and fertilizers.Request Sample Copy of the Report @On account of the antiquated methods used, organic food takes longer to produce and requires more care. As a result, they cost more than other foods that are produced in less amount of time with the use of various chemicals and fertilizers. Consumers who consider health to be of paramount importance, however, do not mind shelling out a little more for organic food products. According to the Transparency Market Research report, the global market for organic food will likely expand at a healthy rate in the coming years, especially in developed regions.Global Organic Food Market: Drivers and TrendsBesides discerning consumers, an important factor driving the growth of the market are concerns about the environment. Pesticides used to thwart pests ranging from bacteria, insects, mites, and mollusks to birds and rodents that not just make their way into the human body but also accumulate in the soil and water. This damages the environment and hence, by consuming inorganic food, humans contribute to environmental degradation.Organic food, on the other hand, is produced by farmers through reusable resources, limiting the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals in food. They are usually cultivated in small, family-run farms, wherein preservation of the quality of soil and water is of utmost importance so that future generations inherit fertile lands. Farmers also follow crop rotation methods to retain the fertility of the soil. Such form of farming reduces the toxic load on the environment. As a result, governments in many nations are funding organic farming. This, coupled with many private players foraying into the field as well as growing population pressure, has majorly boosted the market so far.Global Organic Food Market: Geographical OutlookOn the basis of geography, the global organic food market can be divided into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of World. Among them, Europe has been leading the market with the maximum amount of revenue. Economies in North America are expected to grow at a good clip too due to the substantial purchasing of the large middle class population there. It is the Rest of the World and Asia Pacific, however, that are predicted to outpace the two continents in terms of growth rate. Developed countries such as Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, the U.S., and Germany have so far witnessed maximum demand for organically grown food.Key Players Mentioned in the ReportSome of the key players in the global market for organic food are Spartan Stores Inc, Hain Celestial Group Inc., United Natural Foods Inc., AMCON Distributing Co., Amys Kitchen, Whole Foods Market Inc., Clif Bar & Company, The Kroger Co., Inc, Dole Food Co., Inc., Frito-Lay, Newmans Own, Inc., Dean Foods, and Organic Valley.Request TOC of the 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:
The Macau governments intended amendments to the Labor Law will add flexibility, negotiability and functionality to the current legal regime by establishing seven priority changes, the Labor Affairs Bureau (DSAL) informed the media in a press conference yesterday at their headquarters. A public consultation on the matter will launch today.

Among the changes proposed by DSAL director Wong Chi Hong is the addition of three to five days of paid paternity leave, as well as the possibility of an additional 14 days of unpaid leave for new mothers (after the 56 paid days granted by maternity leave) in cases where their absence from work can be justified.

The proposal also addresses the much-discussed topic of workers rights to enjoy an additional rest day for public holidays that coincide with their weekly rest day  an issue that the current law does not regulate and that several lawmakers have demanded be amended.

The new proposal provides that whenever a public holiday overlaps with an employees rest day, the employer should determine an added rest day for the employee within a period of 30 days.

Another proposed change is the introduction of a mechanism that allows employees to, by written agreement with their employer, select any three out of a total of 10 obligatory public holidays in which they will take leave from work.

DSAL said the mechanism should help to manage human resources.

The current law also affords employees who must work on a public holiday an additional day of leave within 30 days, which the government proposes to amend to 90 days.

The current law stated that employees who work on public holidays must be compensated with salary for that day, plus either a compensatory rest day or double the amount of paid compensation. The proposal would amend this to compensation of two rest days, triple the amount of paid compensation, or both a rest day and one day of extra payment.

Wong stated that these revisions were formulated from opinions collected and suggestions from representatives of the employers and employees at the Coordination of the Social Affairs, noting that priority was given to the issues that society pays more importance.

The proposal is open to submissions from the public over the next 45 days (until November 8), after which results will be analyzed and considered as part of the final bill. This will then be sent to the Legislative Assembly for debate and approval.

In order to facilitate this process, DSAL has launched a dedicated website where members of the public may access and download the proposal as well as make their submissions.

Minimum wage only for 2019

Questioned by the media during the press conference, representatives of the Labor Affairs Bureau confirmed that the minimum wage would only be discussed during the first quarter of 2019. The confirmation follows information aired by Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, when he informed of such date at the Legislative Assembly (AL) in late March this year. Choi Kit Wa, deputy head of the division of information and studies of DSAL said that the work is already planned in the policy address for 2018 and 2019, being expected to reach the AL in the first trimester of 2019.

Part-time work to have new regulations

In the double announcement made yesterday by the Labor Affairs Bureau, the officials also said that a part-time work regime will finally get the green light, after a document announcing a public consultation was presented.

The new regime was said to be justified by a need for a more flexible and resilient way of working, that was said to have been raised by society and necessitated by the MSARs social and economical development.

The document, which proposes to allow the population to adjust their work to study and family needs, sets out a group of rules to grant workers formal employment protection, keeping most of their social safeguards.

It defines part-time employment as any work that does not exceed 72 hours for each four-week [period], work that needs to be agreed between employers and employees and that will be subject to a written supporting document. With regards to the latter, Choi Kit Wa, deputy head of the division of information and studies of DSAL said, it doesnt need to be a formal contract but a certificate that proves the work relationship.

The regime also sets out to regulate part 

time work, such as through the inclusion of a system where both parties can agree on compensation for overtime and/or in days of weekly rest or public holiday.

It is also proposed that the worker retains rights such as sick leave and maternity leave, although of a non-remunerated kind.

On the other hand, is suggested that regimes such as probation period, annual leave, prior notice, compensation for termination of contract and payments for social welfare, would not apply to this system.

Choi further remarked that the regime would only be applied to resident workers.

We suggest that this regime wouldnt apply to non-resident workers. Our purpose is to allow more locals to enter the work market and to allow more options [for employers reducing in this way the need for non-residents].
Hospital Supplies Market Value Share, Supply Demand, share and Value Chain 2016-2024

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Hospital supplies, the medical equipment and devices that are supplied in various medical centers, medical institutions, and hospitals, are more in demand than ever before. Leading players in the global hospital supplies market are introducing technically advanced hospital supplies to help medical professionals better manage their patients. Demand for different types of hospital supplies is expected to increase rapidly during the period between 2012 and 2018. With a wide variety of development and investment opportunities for emerging players seeking to be a part of the medical device market, steady growth of the global hospital supplies market is anticipated.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The global hospital supplies market is segmented on the basis of geography and product type. Based on product type, the global hospital supplies market is classified into disposable hospital supplies, mobility aids and transportation equipment, operating room equipment, patient examination devices, sterilization and disinfectant equipment, and syringes and needles. All these hospital supplies are governed by strict rules that are region-specific. The leading market players need to stay informed about the changing trends and regulations to stay competitive in the market.The overview section of the global hospital supplies market report highlights current industry trends, factors driving the market, restraints, industry structure, and market predictions for the coming few years. The report gives a blueprint of key development areas, competitive analysis, key leading players, and changing trends in the global hospital supplies market. The report covers analysis by the Porters five forces model to study the feasibility of new projects and carry out competitive analysis for the leading players across all regions. The report includes a detailed review of the macro and micro factors that help existing and emerging companies grow.Overview of the Hospital Supplies MarketThe global hospital supplies market is predicted to reach US$37 bn at an 11.0% CAGR during the period from 2012 to 2018.By product type, the disposable hospital supplies sector is recognized as the fastest growing sector in the global hospital supplies market, accounting for more than 44% of the market. The disposable hospital supplies sector is predicted to reach US$18.2 bn by 2016 at a 13.0% CAGR from 2012 to 2018. The syringes and needles sector stood second in the global hospital supplies market and accounted for a 25% share in the global market.By geography, the global hospital supplies market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.Factors such as the continuously growing population, increasing frequency of communal diseases, and increasing number of hospitals are generating the need for medical and healthcare supplies, thus propelling the global hospital supplies market. Increase in the aging population and increasing awareness about controlling hospital acquired infections (HAIs) will further boost the global hospital supplies market.Companies mentioned in the research reportThe global hospital supplies market is equally distributed as the leading companies cover different areas across the globe. Some of the prominent players in the global hospital supplies market are Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Advanced Sterilization Products Services Inc., Cardinal Health, Inc., 3M Health Care, Becton, Dickinson and Company, and B. Braun Melsungen AG. The leading players in the global hospital supplies market are expected to face cut-throat competition from some of the emerging companies in the coming years, illustrating the open nature of the global medical supplies market.Request TOC of the 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:
Global Renewable Energy Market Size, Analysis, and Forecast Report 2016-2024

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Renewable Energy Market: OverviewIt is already a known fact that all renewable energies are cost-effective, environment-friendly, and clean. While many regions are engrossed with armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions, clean renewable energy can offer extra relief, i.e., energy security and independence. Considering the many benefits of renewable energy, emerging nations are concentrating more on using available sources of renewable energy.Request Sample Copy of the Report @As the security of energy is the need of the hour, many nations are taking efforts to minimize their reliability on fossil fuels. The availability, affordability, and accessibility of fossil fuels varies from geography to geography, which has propelled the use of renewable energy. At present, wind energy is the most used and most mature renewable energy, followed by solar energy. The global demand for renewable energy is increasing at a significant pace.The report briefs readers about the global renewable energy market by highlighting key companies, changing competitive dynamics, future prospective, product segments, and key competitors. Industry-standard tools such as SWOT analysis and Porters five force analysis are used to evaluate vital factors driving and restricting the global renewable energy market. The report further briefs readers about the macro and micro factors affecting the growth of the global market.Renewable Energy Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe trends in renewable energy are changing at a significant pace and key companies are focusing on using various sources to generate energy. Some of the leading sources of renewable energy are solar energy and wind. Ocean energy, biomass, and geothermal have also gained acceptance as other forms of renewable energy. Many leading companies are currently concentrating on geothermal energy that has the capacity to supply base load requirements.Although the global renewable energy market is expected to undergo a smooth growth, it is likely to face a few challenges. Renewable energy generates electricity at a high tariff, which is one of the biggest factor expected to challenge the global renewable energy market. However, technological developments and advancements in the manufacturing procedures have led to the maturity of the global renewable energy market.Renewable Energy Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global renewable energy market is regionally divided into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World. At present, the global market for renewable energy is dominated by Asia Pacific owing to the mandates issued by governments of many nations for minimizing the emissions of greenhouse gas. Europe is predicted to be the second largest market for renewable energy owing to the advancement in the technology and the availability of new forms of energy across the region. Ocean energy and offshore wind energy are two of the forms of renewable energy sources in Europe.Key Players mentioned in the Report:Vestas Wind Power A/S, Enel Green Power, Yingli Solar, Calpine Corporation, and Pelamis Wave Power are some of the leading companies operating in the global renewable energy market. Key companies are taking efforts to reach the untapped market, which will help them maintain their dominance throughout the forecast period. The entry of new companies is predicted to make the global renewable energy market highly competitive.Request TOC of the 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:
Ready Meals Market for the forecast period, 2016-2024

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Global Ready Meals Market: OverviewThe global ready meals market is primarily driven by the convenience these products offer to students and working professionals. Ready meals are precooked and prepackaged meals that can be consumed with minimum or no preparation. Due to the busy lifestyles, consumers prefer ready-to-eat meals that decrease the preparation time, thereby propelling the demand for ready meals. These meals provide a healthier alternative to junk food and cheaper alternative to eating out. Moreover, the rising disposable income of consumers is contributing to the growth of the market. According to a report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 90% of the population in the U.S. consume ready meals daily; they provide more than 7% of the total daily energy to Americans, studies show.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The report provides a 360-degree view of the global ready meals market. It offers valuable insights into several aspects of the market including its dynamics, geographical landscape, technological developments, and competitive landscape. Information from a number of press releases, presentations, white papers, paid databases, and journals has been taken under consideration for collating this report.Global Ready Meals Market: Restraints and OpportunitiesDespite the convenience offered, the negative perception of ready meals among health-conscious consumers is adversely affecting the growth of the global market. The increasing consumption of these meals is concomitant with the rise in the prevalence of obesity and other lifestyle-related diseases. Moreover, events such as the horse meat scandal in the U.K. have drawn consumers away from these meals. Such events are increasing the skepticism regarding the purity of raw materials amongst consumers, thereby impeding the growth of the market. Furthermore, with the existing storage and transportation system, several manufacturers are unable to ensure quality and consistency, which is hampering the growth prospects of the market.On the other hand, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the packaging as it plays a vital role in retaining the product quality, vitamin content, taste, texture, color, and shelf life. Manufacturers are collaborating with packaging companies to develop advanced and innovative packaging such as biodegradable barrier tray to expand their consumer base. This is likely to provide a significant push to the market in the near future. Moreover, consistent PR efforts by the leading manufacturers are expected to help in rebuilding the positive image of ready meals.Global Ready Meals Market: Geographical SegmentationRegional markets studied in the report are North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW). North America is expected to witness robust growth during the forecast period owing to the presence of a large working population. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to flourish owing to the financially strengthening consumer base, rising population, and rapid industrialization in emerging economies such as India and China. The growth of the ready meals market in Europe is driven by countries such as Spain, the U.K., France, Germany, and Russia. The introduction of various healthy ready meals such as frozen salads, vegetables, and gluten-free meat is contributing to the growth of the Europe region.Companies Mentioned in the ReportDue to the low scope of product differentiation, the global ready meals market is characterized by high competitive rivalry. Companies are investing large capital in research and development to launch innovative products in order to stay ahead in the market. Some of the leading players in the market are Bakkavor Foods Ltd., ConAgra, Greencore Group Plc., JH Heinz Company Ltd., Nestle, Northern Food Ltd., Kerry Foods Ltd., and Premier Foods Group Ltd.Request TOC of the 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:
Thermal Labels Global Market 2017: Key Players  Technicode, Inc., Avery Dennison Corporation, 3M Company, NPI, AM Labels Ltd, Resource Label Group

Thermal Labels Market 2017

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Thermal Labels Market 2017Summary:MarketResearchFuture adds Thermal Labels Market 2017: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, Forecast to 2023reports to its Database.Key Players:The prominent players in the Thermal Labels market include -Technicode, Inc. (Michigan)Avery Dennison Corporation (U.S.)3M Company (U.S.), NPI (U.S.)AM Labels Ltd (UK)Resource Label Group (US)Thermal Label Warehouse LLC (U.S.)Brady Corporation (U.S.)Consolidated Label Co (U.S.)Labelmakers Group Pty Ltd (Australia)Hence, global direct thermal labels market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period.Market ScenarioOn the basis of regions, global direct thermal labels market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). Asia-Pacific dominates the global direct thermal labels market. It is expected to be the fastest growing region for direct thermal labels market. Rapid growth in e-commerce and transportation sectors, is driving the growth of the market in Asia-Pacific region. The growing organized retails have widened the scope of warehousing solutions, which staggers the demand for direct thermal labels. North America is expected to contribute significantly during the forecast period.Request For Sample Report @Global direct thermal labels market has been segmented based on face stock material, application and region. On the basis of face stock material, the market is segmented as paper and plastic. Different types of plastic such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and others are used in face stock. These synthetic direct thermal labels offer better durability, longer-lasting are used in face stock to abrasion, moisture, and chemicals. On the basis of applications, the market is segmented as food & beverages, pharmaceutical, personal care, retail and others. Food & Beverages segment dominates the application segment of the market. Growing demand of processed and packaged food across the globe, is driving the demand of the market. The retail segment is anticipated to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period.The report for Global Direct Thermal Labels 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, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Complete Report Details @Table of Contents1 Executive Summary4 Global Direct Thermal Labels Market, By Face Stock Material4.1 Paper4.2 Plastic5 Global Direct Thermal Labels Market, By Application5.1 Introduction5.2 Food & Beverages5.3 Pharmaceuticals5.4 Personal Care5.5 Retail5.6 Others..7 Competitive Analysis7.1 Introduction7.2 Competitive Scenario7.2.1 Market Share Analysis7.2.2 Market Development Analysis7.2.3 Product/Service Benchmarking7.3 Avery Dennison Corporation7.3.1 Overview7.3.2 Product/Service Offering7.3.3 Strategy7.4 3M Company7.4.1 Overview7.4.2 Product/Service Offering7.4.3 Strategy7.5 Technicode, Inc.7.5.1 Overview7.5.2 Product/Service Offering7.5.3 Strategy7.6 NPI7.6.1 Overview7.6.2 Product/Service Offering7.6.3 Strategy7.7 AM Labels Ltd7.7.1 Overview7.7.2 Product/Service Offering7.7.3 Strategy7.8 Resource Label Group7.8.1 Overview7.8.2 Product/Service Offering7.8.3 Strategy7.9 Thermal Label Warehouse LLC7.9.1 Overview7.9.2 Product/Service Offering7.9.3 Strategy7.10 Brady Corporation7.10.1 Overview7.10.2 Product/Service Offering7.10.3 Strategy7.11 Consolidated Label Co.7.11.1 Overview7.11.2 Product/Service Offering7.11.3 Strategy7.12 Labelmakers Group Pty Ltd7.12.1 Overview7.12.2 Product/Service Offering7.12.3 StrategyContinued.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 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.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.CONTACT US:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) Market 2017 - Hella, Continental, Youngshin, Tuopu Group

Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) Market

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Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) 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 Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) industry, and estimates the future trend of Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportHellaContinentalYoungshinTuopu GroupVIEThe market research report explores the Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) 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 Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump). Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The report helps answer the following questions:- What is the current size (volume and value) of the Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market in global sector?- How much Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump)s are produced in global sector?- What is the price for Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump)s in global sector?- How is the market split into different types of Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump)s?- How are the overall market and different product types growing?- How is the market predicted to develop in the future?- Who are the market players?The competitive landscape of the global market for Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market globally.The latest industry data included in this report:- Demand (volume and value) for Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump)s, 2010-2021- Production of Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump)s, 2010-2021- Price for Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump)s, 2010-2021- Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market size by product type, 2010-2021- Growth rates of the overall market and different product segments, 2010-2021- Shares of different product segments of the overall market, 2010, 2017, and 2021Enquire Before Buying @The worldwide Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) production volume, data pertaining to demand and Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) 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 Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) across the world.Among the key reasons to purchase include the following:- Gain an outlook of the historical development, current market situation, and future outlook of the Automotive Evp (Electric Vacuum Pump) market in global sector to 2021- Track industry developments and identify market opportunities- Plan and develop marketing, market-entry, market expansion, and other business strategies by identifying the key market opportunities and prospects- Save time and money with the readily accessible key market data included in this PDF format industry report. The data is clearly presented and can be easily incorporated into presentations and internal reports.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
Automotive Interior Leather Market 2017 - JBS, Boxmark, Couro Azul, Eagle Ottawa, Wollsdorf

Automotive Interior Leather Market

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Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Automotive Interior Leather Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Automotive Interior Leather 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 Automotive Interior Leather industry, and estimates the future trend of Automotive Interior Leather market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Automotive Interior Leather Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportEagle OttawaGST AutoLeatherBader GmbHBoxmarkKyowa Leather ClothExco TechnologiesWollsdorfJBSMingxin LeatherScottish Leather GroupCouro AzulD.K Leather CorporationElmo Sweden ABConneaut Leather IncDani S.p.A.The market research report explores the Automotive Interior Leather market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Automotive Interior Leather 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 Automotive Interior Leather market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Automotive Interior Leather. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Automotive Interior Leather market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The report helps answer the following questions:- What is the current size (volume and value) of the Automotive Interior Leather market in global sector?- How much Automotive Interior Leathers are produced in global sector?- What is the price for Automotive Interior Leathers in global sector?- How is the market split into different types of Automotive Interior Leathers?- How are the overall market and different product types growing?- How is the market predicted to develop in the future?- Who are the market players?The competitive landscape of the global market for Automotive Interior Leather is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Automotive Interior Leather market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Automotive Interior Leather market globally.The latest industry data included in this report:- Demand (volume and value) for Automotive Interior Leathers, 2010-2021- Production of Automotive Interior Leathers, 2010-2021- Price for Automotive Interior Leathers, 2010-2021- Automotive Interior Leather market size by product type, 2010-2021- Growth rates of the overall market and different product segments, 2010-2021- Shares of different product segments of the overall market, 2010, 2017, and 2021Enquire Before Buying @The worldwide Automotive Interior Leather market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Automotive Interior Leather production volume, data pertaining to demand and Automotive Interior Leather supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Automotive Interior Leather 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 Automotive Interior Leather across the world.Among the key reasons to purchase include the following:- Gain an outlook of the historical development, current market situation, and future outlook of the Automotive Interior Leather market in global sector to 2021- Track industry developments and identify market opportunities- Plan and develop marketing, market-entry, market expansion, and other business strategies by identifying the key market opportunities and prospects- Save time and money with the readily accessible key market data included in this PDF format industry report. The data is clearly presented and can be easily incorporated into presentations and internal reports.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 Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market is Expected to Witness A high Growth CAGR by 2027

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Market Research Future has a cooked research report on the global Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing market. Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Is Projected To Witness A high Growth CAGR by 2027Global Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Information, by types (Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, Finished Dosage Formulation (FDF) secondary market, others) - Forecast to 2027A contract manufacturing organization (CMO), in some cases called an agreement improvement and manufacturing association, is an organization that serves different organizations in the pharmaceutical business on a contract basis to give extensive services from drug advancement through drug manufacturing. This permits major pharmaceutical organizations to outsource those parts of the business, which can help with versatility or can permit the major organization to concentrate on drug discovery and drug advertising.Key Players for Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market:Some of the key players in this market are: Aenova Holding GmbH (Germany), Catalent, Inc (US), FAMAR Health (GREECE), HAUPT PHARMA LIVRON S.A.S (France), Jubilant HollisterStier LLC (US), Pfizer Inc. (US), Recipharm AB (Sweden), Vetter (Germany)Sample Report Available atStudy Objectives of Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing 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 Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing market, To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth, To analyze the Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing 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-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. 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 type, by application, by end users and its sub-segments, 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 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 Pharmaceutical Contract ManufacturingSegments:Global Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing market has been segmented on the basis of types which involve Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, Finished Dosage Formulation (FDF), secondary market and others and others.Browse complete report atThe report for Global Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing 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 regionsAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact usMarket Research FutureMaharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@Marketresearchfuture.Com
Global Liquid Biopsy market is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 28 % by 2022

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Market research future published a cooked research report on global liquid biopsy market. The global liquid biopsy market is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 28% during the period of 2015 to 2022.Global Liquid Biopsy Market Information, by Biomarker Types (Circulating Tumor Cells (Ctcs), Circulating Tumor Dna (Ctdna), Extracellular Vesicles (Evs) and Other Biomarker (Circulating Rna And Proteins), by Application (Cancer Therapeutic Application, Reproductive Health, Other Therapeutic Application), by Sample (Blood Sample, Urine Sample, Other) And End User (Hospitals and Laboratories, Academic And Research Centers, Other End Users) - Forecast to 2022Market HighlightsBiopsy involves extracting a sample of tissue and testing it for the presence of diseases especially cancer. Traditional tissue biopsy is a painful technique and also has a high rate of false results. Moreover the technique is costly, time consuming and not applicable for extracting samples such as those close to vital organs such as heart. Liquid biopsy overcomes these problems of tissue biopsy by using biomarkers present in samples such as blood, urine etc. and thus is a comparatively non-invasive technique. Liquid biopsy also provides greater information about the sample which is real time. The real time data can be used for monitoring and thereby determining the treatment for diseases such as cancer. The greater sensitivity of tissue biopsy coupled with the development of sophisticated detectors with extremely low detection rates have enabled the early detection of diseases which is the holy grail of cancer.Other market drivers for the liquid biopsy market are rising rates of cancer, growing investment in research and development, collaborations between companies and public organizations, rise in geriatric population, rising expenditure on health etc. The factors which are inhibiting the growth of the market includes the prohibitive costs associated with liquid biopsy and the differential awareness and availability between developing and the developed world. However, not all cancer patients benefit from early detection as some cancer types such as brain cancer and prostate cancer may lie dormant for many years. Further liquid biopsy is not all non-invasive as can be seen in case of using spinal fluid as sample.Major Players of Global liquid biopsy market:The major participants of this market are: Guardant Health, Inc., Trovagene, Inc., RainDance Technologies, Inc., Agena Bioscience Inc. Inc., Admera Health, Biocept, Inc., Circulogene Theranostics, Inivata Ltd., SAGA Diagnostics AB, Exosome Diagnostics and others.Sample Report Available atKey findings Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) segment dominates both in terms of market share as well as revenues, contributing approx. 55.48% of the revenue share of the liquid biopsy market. On the basis of the therapeutic application, the segment for Cancer will reflect the highest growth potential, with over 82.83% of the market share by revenues. However, the urine sample segment is anticipated to witness noticeable growth. The market for liquid biopsy is dominated by North America and Europe and this trend will continue. Asia-Pacific market is the fastest growing market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 29.7% during forecasted periodSegments:Global Liquid Biopsy market has been segmented on the basis of biomarker type which comprises of circulating tumor cells (Ctcs), circulating tumor DNA (Ctdna), extracellular vesicles (Evs) and other biomarker. On the basis of application; market is segmented into cancer therapeutic application, reproductive health, and other therapeutic application. On the basis of sample; market is segmented into blood, urine and others. On the basis of end-users; market is segmented into hospitals and laboratories, academic and research centers and others.Regional Analysis of Global Liquid Biopsy market:Globally North America is the largest market for Global Liquid Biopsy market. Europe is the second-largest market for Global Liquid Biopsy market. However the developing regions market particularly Asia Pacific will be the fastest growing and will be the key to the future. North America accounted for the largest market share of 37.95% in 2016 accounting for a market value of 1,499.10 million in 2016. Asia pacific is the fastest growing market which is growing at a CAGR of 28.8%.Browse complete report atTable 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 Methodology4. Market Dynamics4.1 Introduction4.2 Drivers4.2.1 Comparatively painless and non-invasive technique4.2.2 Early real time high precision detection of diseases4.2.3 Useful for designing effective treatment strategies based on the real time molecular assessment for the progression of the disease4.2.4 Rise in cases of cancer and other diseases4.2.5 Lifestyle changes and environmental factors4.2.6 Other advantages over other techniques4.2.7 The recent technological advancements has increased the appeal of liquid biopsy4.2.8 Transferability of liquid biopsy4.2.9 Rising investment in research and development and collaborations between companies and public organizations4.2.10 Greater focus on venture capital4.2.11 Demographical factors4.3 Restraints4.3.1 Prohibitive costs associated with liquid biopsy4.3.2 Lower sensitivity for certain biomarkers4.3.3 Not all cancers patients benefit from early detection4.3.4 Liquid biopsy is not all non-invasive4.3.5 Differential awareness and availability between developing and developed world4.3.6 Issues in venture capital, startups and collaborations4.4 Opportunities4.4.1 Growing collaboration between companies has become the entrance gateway for new firms4.4.2 Funding from public organizations is a good strategy to reduce development costs4.4.3 Rise in research and development investment4.4.4 Developing economies provide an unserved market for liquid biopsy4.4.5 Growing trend of start-ups and venture investment in the field of liquid biopsy4.5 Challenges4.5.1 Information and interest gap between the investors and the developers4.5.2 Lack of trained professionals in developing regions4.5.3 Lack of standardization and transparencyAt Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@Marketresearchfuture.Com
Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market is Projected to Reach CAGR at a ~ 11.2 % by 2023

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Market Research Future has a half cooked research report on the global human rotavirus vaccine market. Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market is Expected to Grow CAGR at a ~ 11.2 % by 2023Human rotavirus vaccine market information: by type (Rotarix, RotaTeq, Rotavac, Rotavin-M1, Lanzhou lamb, others) by end users (hospitals & clinics, academic and research, others) - Global forecast till 2023Market Highlights:Rotavirus vaccine is used to protect against rotavirus infections which cause severe diarrhoea among young children. Rotavirus vaccine is administered by mouth and requires two or three doses which are given starting around six weeks of age. The vaccine first became available in the United States in 2006. Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus of the family Reoviridae and is transmitted by the faecal-oral route. It infects the cell lining of the small intestine and causes gastroenteritis. According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, rotavirus related diarrhoea is responsible for killing about 600,000 children in 2015, with more than 80% of all rotavirus-related deaths occurring in in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Rotavirus-related deaths represent approximately 5% of all deaths in children younger than 5 years of age worldwide. Almost every child in the world is infected with rotavirus at least once by the age of five. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that rotavirus vaccine be included in national routine vaccinations programs. The vaccines is responsible to prevent 15 to 34% of severe diarrhoea in the developing world and 37 to 96% of severe diarrhoea in the developed world. According to World Health Organization (WHO) in Mexico a decline of up to 50% in diarrhoeal deaths in children less than 5 years of age was attributed directly to the use of the vaccine.Product development is the most attractive strategy for the human rotavirus vaccine industry. Latest vaccines have withstood historic safety profiles because intussusception was a complication of the first rotavirus vaccine, RotaShield. Cost effective production remains another challenge as human rotavirus vaccines are many times expensive per dose than the cheapest traditional treatment.Sample Report Available atGlobal Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market PlayersKey players profiled in the report are Bharat Biotech, Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Sanofi and others.Regional AnalysisThe Americas account for a significant market share owing to extensive use of medications and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new technology in the US drives the global human rotavirus vaccine market. Also, concentration of major research companies and vaccine research sector in the developed countries of this region is adding fuel to the market growth.Europe is the second largest market in the world due to high income and healthcare penetration.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly and China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector during the forecast period.Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare development.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread over 80 pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content (TOC) & market synopsis on Global Human rotavirus vaccine Market Research Report  Forecast till 2023.SegmentationThe global Human rotavirus vaccine market has been segmented on the basis of type and end users.Based on type, the market has been segmented as Rotarix, RotaTeq, Rotavac, Rotavin-M1, Lanzhou lamb and others.Based on the end users, the market has been segmented as hospitals & clinics, academic and research and others.Market scenarioRotavirus vaccine is used to protect against rotavirus infections which cause severe diarrhoea among young children. Symptoms of rotavirus infection include severe diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain which can result in disease. Rotavirus vaccine is administered by mouth and requires two or three doses starting around six weeks of age. The vaccine first became available in the United States in 2006.Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus of the family Reoviridae and is transmitted through the faecal-oral route. It infects the cell lining of the small intestine and causes gastroenteritis. According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, rotavirus related diarrhoea was responsible for killing about 600,000 children in 2015, with more than 80% of all rotavirus-related deaths occurring in in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Rotavirus-related deaths represent approximately 5% of all deaths in children younger than 5 years of age worldwide. Almost every child in the world is infected with rotavirus at least once by the age of five. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that rotavirus vaccine be included in national routine vaccinations programs. The vaccines is responsible to prevent 15 to 34% of severe diarrhoea in the developing world and 37 to 96% of severe diarrhoea in the developed world. According to World Health Organization (WHO) in Mexico a decline of up to 50% in diarrhoeal deaths in children less than 5 years of age was attributed directly to the use of the vaccine.The market drivers for rotavirus vaccine market are its safety profile including use in HIV/AIDS patients, growing number of immunity-compromised individuals, increasing geriatric population, growing population and live births etc. The market restraints are risks such as immune reaction, babies who have had intussusception, low healthcare expenditure in developing regions, cleanliness initiatives by NGOs and health awareness creation to eradicate the prevalence of this virus etc.Browse complete report atRegional analysis:The Americas account for a significant market share owing to extensive use of medications and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new technology in the US drives the global human rotavirus vaccine market. Also, concentration of major research companies and vaccine research sector in the developed countries of this region is adding fuel to the market growth.Europe is the second largest market in the world due to high income and healthcare penetration.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly and China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector during the forecast period.Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare development.Get a discount atThe report for Global Human rotavirus vaccine market by 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 a deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of the current market scenario which includes past and estimated future market size with respect to value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides detail information about and strategies used by top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact usMarket Research FutureMaharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@Marketresearchfuture.Com
Medical Tourism Market Grows Invasively: Confirms MRFR Unleashing Market Prognostications Up To 2022

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Market Research Future published a Cooked research Global Medical Tourism Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022 - Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast up to 2022Medical tourism market information: by treatment types (orthopedic/spine treatments, oncology/cancer treatments, cosmetic treatments, cardiovascular/cardiology treatments, dental treatments, neurology/neurosurgery treatments, fertility/IVF treatments, others) - Forecast till 2023According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, The global market of Medical Tourism is projected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period (2017  2022). The Market is forecasted to account for a surplus growth with a striking CAGR between 2017 and 2022.The striking growth of Medical Tourism Market is attributed to the advanced and cost effective technologies, states the Research Analyst responsible for the contribution to the in depth Market study report by the Market Research Future. The increasing globalization, increasing global capital funding and advancement in medical technology has led to the betterment of international healthcare services. Medical Tourism Market is majorly led by the Medical excellence along with international accreditation. Increasing accredited facilities is a prime factor propelling the market growth of Medical Tourism.However, medical tourists are highly prone to a wide variety of health risks after they return. The conditions may include TB, paratyphoid, amoebic dysentery, deep vein thrombosis, and more; usually caused due to poor post-operative care and inadequate rest. This could affect the market to some extent. Additionally, factors such as stringent documentation processes, issues related to visa approval, and limited insurance coverage are also anticipated to pose as a challenge to the growth of the Medical Tourism global market.Sample Report Available atMedical Tourism refers to the activity where patients travel across borders for the purpose of better health and treatment. It is estimated that thousands of US residents travel abroad for healthcare each year. Many factors influence the decision to seek medical care overseas such as cost effective surgeries & procedures, quality of the service which includes technical or mechanical quality and serviceable or functional quality in healthcare sector. The history of Medical Tourism goes back to the ancient civilizations. Medical Tourism is as old as health care itself since then, Medical Tourism has grown in terms of travellers and destinations. Nowadays, people travel for medical treatments primarily because of affordable, quality health care. Having said that, developing countries have become popular destinations for patients. In terms of treatments and health care, there are some markets across the globe which rank as top attractions in terms of Medical Tourism, such as Malaysia, Thailand and Turkey. As in Thailand, tourism has precisely been clubbed in with medical treatment. Hospitals have incorporated help desks in terms of language support.Medical Tourism Market  Competitive AnalysisCharacterized by the presence of several major players, having international recognition; the global market of Medical Tourism appears to be highly fragmented and competitive. Marketers compete based upon price and brand reinforcement. Well established players incorporate acquisition, collaboration, partnership, expansion, and technology launch in order to gain competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position.Medical Tourism Market  SegmentsThe Medical Tourism Market is segmented in to 2 key dynamics for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding;Segmentation By Treatment : Comprises Cosmetic Surgery, Dentistry, Cardiology/Cardiac Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Fertility/Reproductive System, Organ and Tissue Transplantation, Eye Surgery and Others.Segmentation By Regions : Comprises Geographical regions - North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the World.Segment Cosmetic Treatments accounts for the largest market share which is 20%; followed by Dental and Orthopaedic/ Spine Treatments Segments which is 15% of market shareCardiovascular/ Cardiology Treatments account for 13% of the market share.Neurology/ Neurosurgery Treatments, Fertility/ IVF Treatments and other hold for 10%, 8% and 6% of market share respectively.Browse complete report atCancer therapy, cardiovascular surgeries, Orthopaedic treatments, Dentistry, Cosmetic Surgeries, Reproductive treatments, Weight loss therapies, and health screenings etc are some of the top treatments people travel abroad for. Sometimes it is also for to seek second opinion from specialist doctors out of their countries.High treatment costs and lengthy waiting times for medical procedures, being the two major factors in driving medical tourism, are also supported by easier and cheaper international travel. While the U.K.s population prefers to travel abroad for bypassing long waits, patients from the U.S. travel outside for availing of treatments at cheaper costs.Medical Tourism Market  Regional AnalysisGlobally North America is the largest market for Medical Tourism. The North American market for Medical Tourism is expected to reach astronomical amounts by the end of the forecasted period. Europe is the second-largest market for Medical Tourism which is expected to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. Asia Pacific region is expected to be fastest growing region in Medical Tourism market.Medical Tourism Market in India is booming attributed to the latest, low-cost technologies. The industry has evolved into a fully-fledged luxury market. Latest medical technologies in Indian hospitals at a lower cost is majorly contributing towards the country emerging as the premier Medical Tourism hub of the world. Treatments provided in India from accredited facilities are at par with any developed country in the world but at a lower cost, thus making giving Medical Tourism a competitive advantage over others. The digitisation in the health industry will also make the flow of foreign patients easier in the upcoming time.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.Com
Three people were killed and 27 others injured when a bus mounted a pavement in Hong Kong on Friday evening.

The police said the accident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. local time at a junction in the Sham Shui Po district. When a taxi in front braked, the double-decker bus hit the rear of the taxi, then swerved left and mounted the pavement, smashing through railings and hitting a buildings canopy.

Pictures of the scene show that an overhanging advertisement on the building had partly pierced through the front window of the upper deck.

Choi Wai Fung, director of the Mong Kok Fire Station, said firefighters arrived at the scene minutes later and found four passengers trapped on the upper deck and four people rolled under the bus. It took around 30 minutes to rescue all the injured out.

Many ambulances were sent to the scene for rescue efforts. An official in charge of paramedic efforts for this accident said one person was declared dead at the scene, while another two succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

The injured were sent to four nearby hospitals, and eight of them were in critical condition, according to the official. The police arrested the 44-year-old bus driver on suspicion of dangerous driving.

The bus company Citybus said the driver joined the company in May 2012 and he had started work at 5:25 p.m. It was his first shift of the day. Citybus extended its condolences to the families of the dead, and said it would offer assistance to the families as well as those injured. The crossroad was cordoned off. Traffic on nearby roads was temporarily suspended. Xinhua
Digital Valve Positioner Market 2017 - Contact Decision Matrix, Strategic Initiatives Competitors, Industry Peers, News and significant

Digital Valve Positioner Market

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Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Digital Valve Positioner Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of "Digital Valve Positioner 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 Digital Valve Positioner industry, and estimates the future trend of Digital Valve Positioner market on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares "Digital Valve Positioner Market" performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportEmersonFlowserveMetsoGeneral ElectricSiemensABBSAMSON AGRotorkAzbilBurkertSchneider ElectricGEMUYokogawaChongqing Chuanyi AutomationMaxonicThe market research report explores the Digital Valve Positioner market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of "Digital Valve Positioner 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 Digital Valve Positioner market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Digital Valve Positioner. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Digital Valve Positioner 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 Digital Valve Positioner is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Digital Valve Positioner market's production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Digital Valve Positioner market globally.Enquire Before Buying @The worldwide Digital Valve Positioner market 2017 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Digital Valve Positioner production volume, data pertaining to demand and Digital Valve Positioner supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Digital Valve Positioner 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 Digital Valve Positioner across the world.About UsApex Research offer latest market research reports 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 Chemica1l 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.bizPhone: +177390426831155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606
Ammonium Chloride Market Report for Period 2017 till 2023 Tianjin Bohua YongLi Chemical, Haohua Junhua Group, Jiangsu Debang Chemical and Others

Ammonium Chloride Market

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Global Ammonium Chloride Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Tianjin Bohua YongLi Chemical, Haohua Junhua Group, Jiangsu Debang Chemical 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.Ammonium chloride, NH4Cl, is an inorganic, mildly acidic, white crystalline salt compound that is highly soluble in water. The mineral is commonly formed on burning coal dumps due to condensation of coal-derived gases. It is also found around some types of volcanic vents. It is used as a flavoring agent in licorice. Ammonium chloride is the product from the reaction of hydrochloric acid and ammonia.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Ammonium Chloride Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:BASFDallas GroupCentral GlassTuticorin AlkaliTincoHubei YihuaJinshan ChemicalCNSGHEBANGTianjin Bohua YongLi ChemicalHaohua Junhua GroupJiangsu Debang ChemicalJiangsu Huachang ChemicalDahua GroupOthersGlobal Ammonium Chloride Market: Key Product TypeAgriculture GradeIndustrial GradeFood GradeOthersGlobal Ammonium Chloride Market: Key ApplicationBiology and AgricultureBuffer SolutionPyrotechnicsTextile and LeatherMetalworkFoodOthersGlobal Ammonium Chloride Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Ammonium Chloride Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Ammonium Chloride 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 Ammonium Chloride 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 Agriculture Grade1.1.2.2 Industrial Grade1.1.2.3 Food Grade1.1.3 Market by Application1.1.3.1 Biology and Agriculture1.1.3.2 Buffer Solution1.1.3.3 Pyrotechnics1.1.3.4 Textile and Leather.......................Continue (Global Ammonium Chloride 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
Aircraft Tractor Market Report for Period 2017 till 2025 Fresia SpA, JBT Aero, Kalmar Motor AB and Others

Aircraft Tractor Market

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Global Aircraft Tractor Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Fresia SpA, JBT Aero, Kalmar Motor AB 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.Aircraft towing tractors (conventional/towbar and towbarless) are an important part of the airport ground support equipment industry. These specially designed low-profile vehicles perform the functions of pushing back an aircraft from its gate, towing the aircraft between its hangar and gate, and towing for maintenance purposes. Aircraft towing tractors have been designed to tow a wide range of aircraft, from small/narrow-bodied regional aircraft to wide-bodied aircraftRequest for Free Sample Copy of Global Aircraft Tractor Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:TLD groupGoldhofer AGTUGTREPELNepeanEagle TugsDouglasFresia SpAJBT AeroKalmar Motor ABLektroWeihai GuangtaiCharlatte ManutentionMajor applications as follows:Civil AviationMilitaryOthersGlobal Aircraft Tractor Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaThe Global Aircraft Tractor Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Aircraft Tractor 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 Aircraft Tractor 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 Global Market Overview1.1 Scope of Statistics1.1.1 Scope of Products1.1.2 Scope of Manufacturers1.1.3 Scope of Application1.1.4 Scope of Regions/Countries1.2 Global Market Size2 Regional Market2.1 Regional Production2.2 Regional Demand2.3 Regional Trade3 Key Manufacturers3.1 TLD group3.1.2 Company Information......................Continue (Global Aircraft Tractor 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
Air Curtain Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Powered Aire, Mitsubishi, Pioneer, Thermoscreens and Others

Air Curtain Market

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Global Air Curtain Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Powered Aire, Mitsubishi, Pioneer, Thermoscreens 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.An air door or air curtain is a device used to prevent air or contaminants from moving from one open space to another. The most common use is a downward-facing blower fan mounted over an entrance to a building, or an opening between two spaces conditioned at different temperatures.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Air Curtain Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:RosenbergPanasonicMars Air SystemsSystemairToshibaPowered AireMitsubishiPioneerThermoscreens2VVBernerTeplomashNortekEnvirotecBiddleTheodoorGENUINMideaGuangzhou YuanhuaShanghai LingfengNedfonNanyooJinling Ventilating FansOthersGlobal Air Curtain Market: Key ApplicationIndustrialCommercialOthersGlobal Air Curtain Market: Key RegionNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificChinaThe Global Air Curtain Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Air Curtain 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 Air Curtain 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:Part 1. Exclusive SummaryPart 2. Methodology2.1 Research Methodology2.2 Geographic Scope2.3 Years ConsideredPart 3. Introduction3.1 Product Overview3.2 Types of Air Curtain3.3 Applications of Air Curtain......................Continue (Global Air Curtain 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
AES Resin Market Report for Period 2011 till 2023 UMG, Nippon AL, A. Schulman, Romira and Others

AES Resin Market

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Global AES Resin Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely UMG, Nippon AL, A. Schulman, Romira 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.AES resin (acrylonitrile EPDM rubber/styrene copolymer) has excellent weather resistance, even if long time exposure to ultraviolet light, moisture, rain, outdoor light and ozone conditions without coating as well as the physical stability. Especially suitable for coating used directly in the outdoorRequest for Free Sample Copy of Global AES Resin Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:Techno PolymerUMGNippon ALA. SchulmanRomiraKumho SunnyOthersGlobal AES Resin Market: Key Product TypeGeneral GradeHigh Impact GradeHeat Resistant GradeOthersGlobal AES Resin Market: Key ApplicationAutomobileHousehold AppliancesElectronicsOutdoor DecorationOthersGlobal AES Resin Market: Key RegionAsia-PacificNorth AmericaEuropeSouth AmericaMiddle East AfricaThe Global AES Resin Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global AES 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 AES 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 Objectives of Research1.1.1 Definition1.1.2 Specifications1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 by Type1.2.1.1 General Grade1.2.1.2 High Impact Grade1.2.1.3 Heat Resistant Grade1.2.1.4 Others1.2.2 by Application1.2.2.1 Automobile......................Continue (Global AES 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
Artificial Pancreas Market CAGR ~ 15.2 % Estimated To Boost By 2023

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The Global Artificial Pancreas Market report analyze developments which are competitive in nature such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments along with research and developments that are currently taking place in the global artificial pancreas markets.Get Sample PDF Illustration @Artificial pancreas is devices that mimic the glucose regulating function of healthy pancreas. These devices use computer-controlled algorithm so as to precisely calculate the amount of insulin to be delivered by using an insulin infusion pump. Advanced products can deliver bi-hormones so as to avoid excessive fall in blood sugar and more closely mimic the working of healthy pancreas with little or no input from the patient.Key Players for Global Artificial Pancreas Market:Key players profiled in the report are Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Beta Bionics, Bigfoot Biomedical, Admetsys (pipeline product analysis), Animas Corporation, Defymed, dexcom, Insulet, medtech, Medtronic, Semma Therapeutics, Tandem Diabetes Care, TypeZero Technologies, and others.Considering all these factors the Artificial Pancreas Market is expected to reach $ 360 million by the end of 2023, this market is projected to growing at a CAGR of ~ 15.2 % during 2017-2023.Artificial pancreas is devices that mimic the glucose regulating function of healthy pancreas. These devices use computer-controlled algorithm so as to precisely calculate the amount of insulin to be delivered by using an insulin infusion pump. Advanced products can deliver bi-hormones so as to avoid excessive fall in blood sugar and more closely mimic the working of healthy pancreas with little or no input from the patient.Considering all these factors the market for Artificial Pancreas is expected to reach $ 360 million by the end of 2023, this market is projected to growing at a CAGR of ~ 15.2 % during 2017-2023.Artificial Pancreas Market Segments:The global artificial pancreas market is segmented on the basis of type and end users. Based on type, the market has been segmented as threshold suspend device system, non-threshold suspend device system, control-to-range (CTR) system, and control-to-target (CTT) system. Based on the treatment type, the market has been segmented as insulin only, bi-hormonal, and hybrid. Based on the end users, the market has been segmented as hospitals and clinics, research, and others.Artificial Pancreas Market Regional analysis:US accounts for the maximum market share due to favorable reimbursement scenario and greater expenditure on healthcare. The faster market uptake of new technology in the US is also an important driver of the market for global artificial pancreas. Europe is the second largest market due to large disposable income and rising awareness. Asia Pacific region is expected to have the most potential which is estimated to be led by China and India. The Middle East & Africa market is led by the gulf nations particularly Saudi Arabia and UAE. The poor regions of Africa are expected to be a laggard due to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare penetration.Get Discount @Major TOC for Artificial Pancreas Market:Research methodologyMarket dynamicsMarket factor analysisGlobal artificial pancreas market, by typeGlobal artificial pancreas market, by treatmentGlobal artificial pancreas market, by end userGlobal artificial pancreas market, by regionCompetitive landscapeCompany profileConclusionMarket Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Acrylic Rubber Market Report for Period 2012 till 2022 NOK, Haiba, Qinglong and Others

Acrylic Rubber Market

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Global Acrylic Rubber Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely NOK, Haiba, Qinglong 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.Acrylic Rubber is a type of rubber that has outstanding resistance to hot oil and oxidation. It belongs to specialty rubbers. Acrylate rubber referred to as ACM, predominantly acrylate monomers by copolymerization of elastomer, its main chain is saturated carbon chain, side base for polar ester base.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global Acrylic Rubber Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:ZEONNOKHaibaQinglongJiujiangshilongOthersGlobal Acrylic Rubber Market: Key Product TypeActive chlorine acrylate RubberEpoxy acrylate RubberDienes acrylate RubberCarboxyl type acrylate RubberOthersGlobal Acrylic Rubber Market: Key ApplicationAutomotive industryOthersGlobal Acrylic Rubber Market: Key RegionChinaJapanKoreaTaiwanSoutheast AsiaIndiaAustraliaThe Global Acrylic Rubber Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global Acrylic Rubber 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 Acrylic Rubber 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 Acrylic Rubber Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Active chlorine acrylate Rubber1.2.2 Epoxy acrylate Rubber1.2.3 Dienes acrylate Rubber1.2.4 Carboxyl type acrylate Rubber1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Automotive industry1.3.2 Other......................Continue (Global Acrylic Rubber 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
Global Argan Oil Competitive Market Report 2017: Focus on Markets, Companies, Products, Key Drivers, Crops and forecast to 2022.

Argan Oil market

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Global Argan Oil Market Research ReportSummaryGlobal Argan Oil Market Information- by Type (Natural, Organic), by Application (Food, Personal Care Products, Aromatherapy, others), by Distribution Channel (Supermarket/Hypermarket, Specialty Retailers, Convenience Stores, E-commerce, Others) and by Region Forecast till 2023Market Synopsis of Argan Oil:Market Definition:Argan oil is extracted from the kernels of argan tree which is found in Morocco. Argan oil has multi-purpose use which makes it more popular among the consumers. Major application of argan oil is found in food and personal care products. Argan oil is used for culinary purpose as it gives a unique flavor to the food. Healthy constituent such as antioxidants, beta amyrine, butyrospermol and lupenol Healthy fats found in argan oil also tend to increase its market value among the health conscious consumers. Argan oil is used in cosmetics and personal care products due to its high anti-oxidant value and rich vitamin-E content. The product is now widely used in aromatherapy and spa as it helps in nourishment of the skin and also exfoliates it.Market Scenario:Increasing health consciousness and awareness among the consumers about healthy oils have a major impact on the argan oil market. The multi-purpose application of argan oil across various industries is also driving the market of argan oil globally. Mass market penetration is leading to introduction of new products and their retail across various regions. High focus on Research and Development has led to innovations and in the product line which has fueled up the market share of argan oil in global market. High demand for food products with enhanced nutritional value is also supporting the sale of argan oil globally.Request for Sample Report @Among the various sources of argan oil, natural sourced argan oil is evaluated to hold a major share. In addition, due to increased demand for chemical-free products the sale of organic argan oil is anticipated to experience surge. Based on various applications, share of personal care products is found to be dominant followed by aromatherapy. Based on the distribution channel, sale through supermarkets and hypermarkets retailers is found to hold a major share owing to one-stop purchase and easy availability of the desired product through the channel.Study Objectives of Argan Oil Market: Detailed analysis of the markets segments and sub-segments To estimate and forecast market size by source, application, distribution channel & region To analyze key driving forces influencing the market Region level market analysis and market estimation of North America, Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world (ROW) and their countries Value Chain Analysis & Supply Chain Analysis of Argan Oil Company profiling of major players in the market Competitive strategy analysis and mapping key stakeholders in the market Analysis of historical market trends and technologies along with current government regulatory requirementsKey Findings: Market share of organic argan oil is found to be growing at a higher rate during the forecast period Top exporters of argan oil include Morocco, Spain, Italy, U.K., and FranceSegments:Argan Oil has been segmented on the basis of source which comprises of natural and organic. Natural sourced argan oil is found to hold a major share due to high consumer preference and lack of awareness about the organic oil properties.Argan Oil has been segmented on the basis of application which include food, personal care products, aromatherapy, others. Personal care products holds a lions share among the various applications based on its skin nourishing properties.Argan Oil has been segmented on the basis of distribution channel which comprises supermarket/hypermarket, specialty retailers, convenience stores, e-commerce, others. Sale through supermarket/hypermarket is growing at a higher growth rate backed up by a convenient shopping experience of the consumers.Regional Analysis:The Global Argan Oil Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (ROW). Middle East and Africa region covered in Rest of the World and has the major market share followed by North America. Developing economy has led to an increase in disposable income due to which Middle East region is projected to generate a high revenue during the given forecast period. The changing consumer preferences for healthy and natural products will support the sale of argan oil in various region during the forecast period. The major importers of argan oil include Morocco, U.S., the Netherlands, China, U.K., and Japan. Based on the higher demand for personal care products especially in female population, the import and export of argan oil in the developed countries is found to rise at a steady rate.Key Players:The key players profiled in the Global Argan Oil Market are Groupe Olvea (France) Zineglob SARL (Morocco) Argan Liquid Gold (U.K.) Nadifi Argan Oil (Morocco) Sidi Yassine (Morocco) Vima Souss (Morocco) Malak Bio (Morocco)The Global Argan Oil Market is segmented under the following regions mentioned below:North America U.S. Canada MexicoEurope Germany France Italy Spain U.K. Rest of EuropeAsia-Pacific China India Australia Japan Rest of Asia PacificRest of the world Morocco Saudi Arabia South Africa OthersThe report for Global Argan Oil 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 a clear picture of the current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro-economic and governing factors in the market. This report provides a detailed information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Browse Access Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comAt 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.Office No. 524/528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar
3D Laser Scanners Market Report for Period 2017 till 2022 Maptek, Kreon Technologies, Shapegrabber and Others

3D Laser Scanners Market

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Global 3D Laser Scanners Market report provides detailed analysis of companies namely Maptek, Kreon Technologies, Shapegrabber 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.3D Laser Scanning is a non-contact, non-destructive technology that digitally captures the shape of physical objects using a line of laser light. 3D laser scanners create point clouds of data from the surface of an object. In other words, 3D laser scanning is a way to capture a physical objects exact size and shape into the computer world as a digital 3-dimensional representation.Request for Free Sample Copy of Global 3D Laser Scanners Market 2017Top Company Profiles and Analysis included in this report:FaroTrimbleTopconHexagonNikon MetrologyCreaform (AMETEK)Teledyne OptechZ+F GmbHMaptekKreon TechnologiesShapegrabberSurphaserRiegl3D DigitalCarl ZeissHolon 3DHi-targetVishotShining 3DHangzhou Scan TechnologyOthersGlobal 3D Laser Scanners Market: Key Product TypeHandheldTripod MountedAutomated and CMM-basedDesktop and StationaryOthersGlobal 3D Laser Scanners Market: Key ApplicationAerospace and DefenseMedical and HealthcareArchitecture and EngineeringOil and gas, Energy and PowerAutomotive and TransportationManufacturing and OthersGlobal 3D Laser Scanners Market: Key RegionUnited StatesCanadaMexicoThe Global 3D Laser Scanners Market analysis report provides detailed value chain for analysis of Global 3D Laser Scanners 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 3D Laser Scanners 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 3D Laser Scanners Introduction1.2 Market Analysis by Type1.2.1 Handheld1.2.2 Tripod Mounted1.2.3 Automated and CMM-based1.2.4 Desktop and Stationary1.3 Market Analysis by Applications1.3.1 Aerospace and Defense.....................Continue (Global 3D Laser Scanners 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 Equipment Maintenance Market Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Challenges

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Medical equipment is used for the wellbeing of human lives and due to their high cost, they need to be maintained properly in order to achieve maximum use from the capital invested in these equipments. Medical equipment require calibration, maintenance, repair, user training, and decommissioning, and these activities are usually managed by clinical engineers. There is a broad category of medical equipment that can be reprocessed such as, medical imaging machines including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and medical monitors to analyze the medical state of the patient and life support system such as ventilators. The medical equipment maintenance involves planning, management and implementation of various parameters in order to achieve optimal functionality of equipment for a long span of time.Explore Report at:On the basis of device type, the medical equipment maintenance industry is segmented into imaging equipment, endoscopic devices, surgical instruments, electromedical equipment, and other medical equipment. In 2016, the imaging equipment segment accounted for the largest share of the market. This growth is attributable to the high demand of maintenance services for imaging equipment, due to high replacement cost of such devices and the need for ensuring maximum operation of the equipment for a longer time.On the basis of service type, the medical equipment maintenance market is segmented into corrective, preventive, and operational maintenance. Since all the maintenance types are important, it depends on the condition of the equipment, to assess the type of service it requires at a particular time. Preventive maintenance held the largest share of the global medical equipment maintenance market in 2016. The segment is expected to grow considerably in the forecast period (2017-2023), due to the growing technological advancements in medical devices and the need for their maintenance.Ask for Report Sample at:In June 2017, Telematic & Biomedical Services SL (TBS ES), the Spanish subsidiary of TBS Group, was awarded the tender for the supply of maintenance services of all medical equipment (excluding diagnostic industry) of the Hospital de Santiago de Compostela for a total value of $1.36 million.In July 2017, Pantheon Healthcare Group, provider of end-to-end managed equipment services and multi-vendor maintenance services to hospitals and diagnostic centres, completed the purchase of 95.4% share capital of TBS Group S.p.A. a provider of clinical engineering integrated solutions. This transaction was mainly aimed to strengthen the consolidation strategy of Pantheon Group.Browse Other Related Report at:The other key players in the global medical equipment maintenance market are GE Healthcare, Agfa-Gevaert Group, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Canon, Inc., Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Aramark Corporation, Pantheon Healthcare Group and Hitachi Ltd.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:
Iraqi Kurds were casting ballots yesterday in Iraqs Kurdish region and disputed territories on whether to support independence from Baghdad in a historic but non-binding vote that has raised regional tensions and fears of instability.

More than 3 million people are expected to vote across the three provinces that make up the Kurdish autonomous region, as well as residents in disputed territories  areas claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurds, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk  according to the Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission, the body overseeing the vote.

Lines began forming early in the day at polling stations across Irbil, the Kurdish regional capital. Tahsin Karim was one of the first people to vote in his Irbil neighborhood.

Today we came here to vote in the referendum for the independence of Kurdistan, he said. We hope that we can achieve independence.

The Kurdish regions president, Masoud Barzani, also voted early on Monday morning at a polling station packed with journalists and cameras. At a press conference in Irbil on the eve of the referendum, Barzani said he believed the vote would be peaceful, though he acknowledged that the path to independence would be risky.

We are ready to pay any price for our independence, he said.

The referendum is being carried out despite mounting opposition from Baghdad and the international community.

The United States, a key ally of Iraqs Kurds, has warned the vote will likely destabilize the region amid the fight with the Islamic State group. The Iraqi central government has also come out strongly against the referendum, demanding on Sunday that all airports and borders crossings in the Kurdish region be handed back to federal government control.

In a televised address from Baghdad on Sunday night, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that the referendum is unconstitutional. It threatens Iraq, peaceful coexistence among Iraqis and is a danger to the region.

We will take measures to safeguard the nations unity and protect all Iraqis, he added.

In a strongly worded statement, Turkey said on Monday that it doesnt recognize the referendum and declared its results would be null and void.

Turkeys Foreign Ministry called on the international community and especially regional countries not to recognize the vote either and urged Iraq Kurdish leaders to abandon utopic goals, accusing them of endangering peace and stability for Iraq and the whole region.

The ministry reiterated that Turkey would take all measures to thwart threats to its national security. On Saturday, Turkeys parliament met in an extraordinary session to extend a mandate allowing Turkeys military to send troops over its southern border if developments in Iraq and Syria are perceived as national security threats.

Initial results from the poll are expected on Tuesday, with the official results to be announced later in the week.

At his press conference, Barzani also said that while the referendum will be the first step in a long process to negotiate independence, the regions partnership with the Iraqi central government in Baghdad is over. Susannah George & Balint Szlanko, Irbil, AP
Boyaa Poker Tour Announces Schedule for Macau Final; 400 Qualifiers In

September 25, 2017 Boyaa Interactive

Typhoons have not dampened players' enthusiasm for the Boyaa Poker Tour. Online qualifiers for the Macau Final have delivered another round of wild poker clashes in our five worldwide regions.

The time is coming. Nerves are on edge, and since the starting of the qualifiers on Aug. 1, we've just reached 400 delivered invitation letters for the event in Macau that will guarantee a HK$6 million prize pool.

Here are the highlights of these online battles for tickets:

Mainland China (Total invitations: 163)

The popularity of Texas hold'em has been growing in China, and this shows in a new generation of gifted players that have taken the BPT qualifiers by storm. It's clear that our online system is becoming an opportunity for these Chinese poker players to show their knowledge and skills. Now we can only hope to get an invitation ourselves to learn from the winds of talent coming from The Middle Kingdom.

Macau, Hong Kong & Taiwan (Total invitations: 106)

With less of 3% of the population of Mainland China, this zone has already won 106 invitations for the Macau Final! An astonishing accomplishment of efficiency.

Not surprisingly, among these finalists there are old BPT veterans, players with thousands of hands of experience that know what to do in every situation. But Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are also bringing new blood to the poker field, and this combination of expertise and enthusiasm will surely deliver another brilliant performance in the Final. And don't forget; they will play the final at home, in the City of Dreams at Babylon Casino.

Southeast Asia (Total invitations: 89)

Our enthusiastic players from this zone of beaches and tropical jungles don't want to fall behind with Greater China and they are compensating their lower numbers of invitations, 89, with an astonishing percentage of activations. 90% in the case of Thailand!

Vietnam already finished its qualifiers last week with five more tickets, but their team partners in Thailand and Indonesia are still forging ahead like typhoons getting ready to head up to the north to the Final!

We can't wait to see this clash of powers!

Europe and Middle East (Total invitations: 42)

Coming from France, Germany, Poland, Ireland and other Mediterranean countries, this caravan of adventurers are getting ready to cross the world for the Macau Final. True, so far only 42 invitations have been sent out to this region, but we shouldn't forget that among these players there some who just fought in the BPT Dublin.

What kind of other tricks are they carrying? Is this next Macau champion among them? Only the gods know, but when the time comes, we will be there to see it all. Hopefully with you!

Boyaa Poker Tour Macau Schedule

For more information, please refer to the Boyaa Poker Tour website or visit Facebook and search "Boyaa Poker Tour."

Sponsor generated content by Boyaa Poker Tour
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 17:57:27

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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 Abaca Fiber Market: OverviewAbaca, also called as manila hemp, is extracted from the leaf sheath around the trunk of Musa textilis, a type of banana plant that is mostly found in the Philippines and humid tropics. Harvesting and cultivating abaca is a labor-intensive process as the pulp is removed by cutting strips and scraping stalks. Fibers obtained from the process are then dried and removed. Abaca fiber has high strength and is used in the paper industry for making mimeograph mats and teabags. It is also used to make handicraft such as carpets, furniture, clothing, and bags. Abaca fiber is used in fishing nets, hawsers, and shipping lines due to beneficial properties such as flexibility, durability, and saltwater resistance. It is classified as a hard fiber along with sisal, coir, and henequin. In addition, abaca fiber is used in gifts, toys, and housewares. Furthermore, it is used as an alternative to glass fiber reinforced plastics components. Various local textile manufacturers use 30% to 50% of abaca in the production of maong (denim).Request Sample Copy of the Report@Global Abaca Fiber Market: Drivers and RestraintsAbaca is used in end-user industries such as fiber craft, paper & pulp, and cordage. In terms of consumption, pulp & paper was the largest end-user of abaca fiber followed by cordage and fiber craft industries in 2014. Wide application range of abaca fiber in the production of specialty paper is anticipated to be one of the key factors driving demand for abaca fibers in the paper & pulp industry. Increasing demand for cordage in the production of ropes used in ships and other industrial applications is expected to boost demand for abaca fiber during the forecast period. The automotive industry also uses natural rubber as filling material in hat racks, bolster, damping, interior trim parts, and parcel trays. Therefore, rising demand for natural fiber in the automotive industry and increasing automobile sales in developing nations such as China, India, and Brazil are anticipated to fuel the abaca fiber market during the forecast period. Combining abaca with silk has resulted in the production of an acceptable textile for wearing purposes.Global Abaca Fiber Market: Geographical and Competitive DynamicsAsia Pacific was the fastest-growing and largest market for abaca fibers in 2014. More than three-fourth of the total abaca is produced in the Philippines. Initiatives are taken by the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) to increase usage of abaca fibers and gain economic benefits for the nation. Additionally, abaca is rapidly replacing non-biodegradable polymers. More than half of the total abaca produced is exported from Philippines and Bangladesh to Europe, North America, China and Japan. The abaca plant is vulnerable to a number of pathogens. Hence, supply of abaca fibers fluctuates, thus acting as restraint for growth of the abaca fiber market.Growth in the furniture industry is expected to drive the abaca fiber market in Asia Pacific during the forecast period. However, increasing environmental restrictions regarding the usage of non-biodegradable polymeric fibers is likely to act as an opportunity for the abaca fibers market during the forecast period. Research and development is being carried out to improve physical properties of abaca fibers. Abaca is mostly used in making teabags and cordage in Europe. Negligible amount of abaca fiber is used in Latin America and Middle East & Africa due to average demand from the end user industry.Key players in the abaca fiber market include Tag Fibers, Inc., Ching Bee Trading Corporation, MAP Enterprises, Selinrail International Trading, The Fiber World, Italfil Expo Bags Company Limited and Yzen Handicraft Export Trading.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)
Mathivanan Venkatachalam, Director of Product Management

PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 13:57:01

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ManageEngine

Sheikh Zayed Road



Shaina

Account Executive

0502531818

email

http://www.oakconsulting.biz/





# 353 Words

Sheikh Zayed RoadAccount Executive0502531818

ManageEngine, the real-time IT management company, today announced that their enterprise mobility management solution, Mobile Device Manager Plus, will support the features released with iOS 11 right from day one. This will allow IT admins to take full advantage of the features added in iOS 11, including QR code scanning and enhancements to the Classroom app.In terms of managing mobile devices, enterprises spend a large amount of time and resources on device onboarding and troubleshooting. While there are various methods available to automate these kinds of device management tasks, there is always room to improve by further reducing the amount of time admins and users have to spend configuring devices. Apples latest release of iOS 11, which includes the new screen recorder feature and support for adding any device to the DEP portal, is slated to streamline mobile device management tasks for IT admins. Mobile Device Manager Plus will support the new iOS 11 features right from launch day for both cloud and on-premises users.With iOS 11, Apple has released a large number of enhancements that allow us to provide admins with extensive device management capabilities, said Mathivanan Venkatachalam, director of product management at ManageEngine. By supporting these features right from day one, we are staying on top of market demands while ensuring enterprises benefit from these enhancements at the earliest. Supported iOS 11 FeaturesMobile Device Manager Plus will support a number of iOS 11 features, including: QR code scanning: Now that the native iOS camera app supports QR code scanning, users can easily enroll their devices in Mobile Device Manager Plus just by scanning a QR code with their smartphone or tablet. Additional security for AirPrint: Admins can now prevent users from using iBeacons to automatically detect AirPrint printers. Classroom app permissions: Admins can configure Classroom app permissions to automatically allow teachers to take control of students devices.Pricing and AvailabilityMobile Device Manager Plus, with these new features, is available immediately in both on-premises and cloud editions. Prices start at $15 per device per year. The free edition of Mobile Device Manager Plus is available on the cloud and on-premises to manage up to 25 devices.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 18:59:08

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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





# 1041 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

Baby Scales are commonly used to determine the weight of infants and toddlers. Weight of a baby is an indication of the growth, it should be within the standards and hence, it is important to check the weight gain during the growth process and also ensure that it follows a regular trend. A sudden increase or decrease in the weight points out an anomaly. These baby scales replace the traditional methods of weighing. They are designed in a manner that they are equipped with secure baby trays or seats that allows for comfort to the baby and convenient readings to the physicians or nurses working with the infants or newborns. The baby scales are useful as they offer reliable height and weight measurement for assessment of growth and nutrition. With the advancement in technology, various shapes and sizes of scales are available that could weigh with better accuracy and precision. Baby scales vary in their make, capacities, design etc, however, an ideal baby scale need to precise, easy to use, highly portable, durable and of low cost. It should be made up of material that provides stability and support during the weighing process. Baby scales have been customized in a way that they could be programmed to measure and record the data.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16247 Global baby scale market has been segmented by product type, type of material, end user, and geography. In term of product type, the market has been categorized into Digital balances and Electronic Balances. The digital balances can further categorized as Beam balances and spring balances. The beam balances are more preferred than the spring balances owing to its better holding capacity and design. The Electronic baby scales provide an accurate measurement and is also often accompanied with self-calibration capability. Based on the type of material used for baby scale, the market is segmented into Plastic, steel and others like glass. The Plastic type such as polystyrene baby scales are more prevalent and considered by majority of people owing to its enhanced safety and other features associated. End users for the Baby scale market consist of hospitals, neo-natal care centers, clinics and home-care settings.Geographically, the Baby Scale market has been segmented into five regional markets, namely, North America (United States and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, etc.), Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, Japan, India, etc.), Latin America (Mexico, Brazil etc.) and Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa etc.). Asia pacific region with high birth incidences is expected to register a higher growth. North America and Europe regions is anticipated to lead the market due to the advancement in technology. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are expected to record robust growth during the forecast period 2016-2024 due to growing health care industry.The baby scales market is an uprising market with addition of new technologies and features in the product that better serves the intended purpose. For example, the Withings Smart Baby scale by Withings SA, was awarded with CES Innovations Award in the year 2012 for its ability to connect with Wi-fi the weight measurements of the infants and toddlers. In addition to this, there are other factors that affect the growth of the Baby scales market such as rising awareness amongst parents and technological advancements such as development of Baby scales that could communicate through a wireless network. The convenience of having a baby scale at home-care settings avoids the frequent visit to the doctor. The market is also experiencing certain restraints, such as, the lack of guidelines and information about which type of baby scales to be used.Key players:The major players operating in the neuroendovascular coil market include DETECTO Scale Company, seca, Zhejiang Conqueror Weighing Apparatus Co.,Ltd , DUCK image, Salter Housewares, Sunbeam Products, Inc, Binatone Global, Withings SA., TanitaThe 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)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketNote: Although care has been taken to maintain the highest levels of accuracy in TMRs reports, recent market/vendor-specific changes may take time to reflect in the analysis.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=16247
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 18:59:06

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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





# 881 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

Digital diagnostics deals with a common tool in which a person can easily collaborate across the entire application lifecycle by allowing quick isolation and resolution of issues. This new technology supports to progress in medical care system by contributing in the precision and correctness of the diagnostics output. Digital diagnostics categorizes, prioritizes and reports on hitches. Digital diagnostics tracks regular scans through every inch of your portfolio, from websites and widgets to social and mobile. The process of digital diagnostics is now a common term for many medical device applications, the installed software delivers deep drill down into transactions from the end user through the back end. Digital diagnostics makes use of unified tools to hold the entire classification of medical device providers, consumers and healthcare professionals and hence grades in enhanced care quality and access, improved patient engagement, closing communication gaps, improved decision making by consumers and medical device providers & reduction in healthcare cost. Healthcare experts recommend that through digital diagnostics, programmed health assessments can be carried out virtually and electronically. The terrestrial barriers can be concentrated with this technology by making it conceivable to diagnose patients placed away from the diagnostic center and clinics.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16232 The global digital diagnostics market is segmented on the basis of product type, end users and region. The product type include Oxitone, Cerora Borealis, Oto, Midmark IQvitals, IQecg, IQholter, IQspiro and IQstress, Lifepatch, Intelligent Breast Exam (iBE), Biomeme device, iBrain, Fever Smart, HealthPatch MD, VitalPatch, BioStampRC, Qardioarm, Qardiobase, and Qardiocore, HxM BT, HxM Smart, and BioHarness 3 and others. Currently, manufacturing companies have established their individual mobile applications and software programs to make remote diagnostics conceivable. During the forecast period, it is projected that more cutting-edge high-end programs will be produced by the companies to diagnose patients irrespective of their physical existence in the diagnostic facility. The integration of medical codes linked with healthcare informatics software solutions requires additional IT investments. This IT trend will attract numerous start-up vendors and medical outsourcing solutions providers in the digital diagnostic market during the forecast period. The U.S. is a major market for digital diagnostics services because of advanced and improved healthcare IT infrastructure, launching reliable healthcare data prototypes. Advancement in information & technology and medical health applications, help minimize errors and heighten working procedures.The key mass drivers supporting the market growth of digital diagnostics are growing awareness related to daily health diagnostics, patients are expected to prefer digital diagnostic over laboratory or hospital visit, and this technology platform is estimated to surge the approachability for patients as well as medical practitioners. Digital diagnostics market often depresses entry barriers, causing established boundaries between sectors to tumble. Moreover the nature of digital technology causes value chains to disaggregate, generating opportunities for focused, fast-moving entrants. New market competitors often scale up rapidly at lower cost and returns may grow swiftly as more customers will connect to the online network. Expertise technology companies like Google, Microsoft & Apple are capitalizing significantly in this canvas. The initial utilizers of digital tools are individuals or parents, people with health issues and young adults. Even though still in its emerging stage, digital diagnostics market seems to offer a mix of suitability, customization, accessibility or simply the need to have a digital device. For e.g. Accenture is now offering better software tools to access the information from both the ends, such as from end user to the physician directly within seconds. For healthier patient experience. Information fed electronically or manually to mobile applications, such as Well Docs BlueStar, is analysed to guide the individual and send the synchronized data to their physician to track the progress. This optimises time and treatment proficiencies.Based on geography, the global digital diagnostics market is segmented into five key regions, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America is the leading regional market for digital diagnostics and is trailed by Europe due to the existence of a large number of population suffering with diseases, and high patient awareness related to disease diagnosis in these regions. Some countries from AsiaPacific and Latin America are expected to enter the market late because of lack of digital infrastructure, and accessibility to advanced technology. However, rising healthcare expenditure, developing healthcare infrastructure and increasing awareness related to the disease diagnosis. However, poor healthcare facilities in underdeveloped and emerging countries which lack appropriate healthcare infrastructure and trained staff is anticipated to affect the adoption in these countries.Some of the major players in the global digital diagnostics market include Neurovigil, Inc., Oxitone Medical Ltd., Cerora, CellScope, MidMark Corp., MC10, Inc., Qardio, Inc., Vital Connect, Fever Smart, UE LifeSciences, Inc., Biomeme, Medtronic, Inc. and 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.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=16232
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 18:31:13

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Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 401 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Emerald Bay Energy Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Calgary, Alberta (FSCWire) - Emerald Bay Energy Inc. (TSX Venture:EBY). has issued a press release with the following headline:Emerald Bay Receives Drilling Permit for the Kuhn 4 Well at Wooden HorseTo 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 Emerald Bay Energy 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/Emerald Bay Energy Inc.Source: Emerald Bay Energy Inc. (TSX Venture: EBY, OTC Bulletin Board: EMBYF)Date: September 25, 2017Time: 12:26 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Emerald Bay Energy 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.)
Eyewear Market report is segmented on the basis of material, distribution channel, and product type - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-2025

Eyewear Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 14:40:00

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Coherent Market Insights

Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154





Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154



Mr.Shah

Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Email:sales@cohe

2067016702

email

http://www.coherentmarketinsights.com





# 658 Words

Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Email:sales@cohe2067016702

Eyewear is corrective or protective devices worn for the eyes. They are used to correct poor vision due to eye disorders or protect the eyes from UV rays, dust, and external contaminants. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 246 million people worldwide suffered from poor vision in 2014. This outlines the massive scope of this market. Also, decorative eyewear among the urban youth has also boosted the eyewear market.The major drivers for the eyewear market are an increasing incidence of eye disorders which can be attributed to increased exposure to electronic devices. Also, increased awareness and rural initiatives regarding eye health has contributed to eyewear market growth. The restraint is the growing popularity of corrective eye surgeries is the restraint for the eyewear market. Although, public acceptance is trifling due to the high cost of surgery.Request a sample copy of this report: https://goo.gl/mXGx8C Global Eyewear Market TaxonomyOn basis of Product TypeSpectaclesPrescriptionDecorative/Non-prescriptionContact LensesPrescriptionDecorative/Non-prescriptionSunglassesPolarizedNon-PolarizedOn basis of MaterialSpectaclesFramesPlasticMetalOtherLensesHigh-Index PlasticsTribridPolycarbonateTrivexCR-39 PolycarbonateCrown GlassContact LensesSoft LensesSilicone HydrogelGas PermeablePMMAHybridSunglassesFramesPlasticMetalOtherLensesCR-39PolycarbonateOn basis of Distribution ChannelOnlineBrick and MortarOptical StoresBrand OutletsRetail OutletsOthersIn hydrogel lenses, the major component is water, with 70% water in soft lenses. The advantages of these lenses over glass and plastic lenses are that they comfort and convenience. The lenses can be worn for a long time without any discomfort.The dominant distribution channel is brick and mortar. Customers prefer a tactile experience for buying eyewear to gauge the products quality. Although, online eyewear market places have gained acceptance in current times. For instance, Lenskart is a popular Indian eyewear marketplace which operates in both brick & mortar and online portals.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report: https://goo.gl/2gzXQ8 Global Eyewear Market OutlookAsia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market for eyewear in the forecast period. The WHO estimates that, 1/3rd of the Indian population is visually impaired and requires some form of eye correction measure. Although, most cases go untreated, due to the paucity of ophthalmologists in the country. In China, urbanization has exposed youngsters to electronics which has resulted in a high incidence of myopia. According to Chinese government controlled Xinhua News Agency, 86% of high school students in Shanghai suffer from near sightedness.Europe and North America have large geriatric population which has boosted the eyewear market in these regions. According to the Population Reference Bureau, Statistics Canada and EU, the geriatric populations in these regions are 51 million in North America and 94 million in, Europe which has boosted the eyewear industry.A lack of eye care specialists in Africa and Latin America has resulted in eye defects going undiagnosed. According to WHO, 80% of all impairments in Africa are treatable by minor surgery or corrective eyewear.Middle East region has high disposable incomes in the GCC countries and Israel. This has resulted in the demand for luxury eyewear brands for both prescription and non-prescription purposes. High value brands are in high demand among the rich populations of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.Google Glass is a type of eyewear, which acts as a head mounted display. The wearable eyewear has potential applications in journalism, military, film making, and healthcare. Major players on in the global eyewear market are Luxottica, Safilo, Marchon, Charmant, Marcolin, and De Rigo.View this full report: https://goo.gl/3VAhnr 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:Coherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 09:24:02

Independent Tankers Corporation Limited (the "Company") advises that the 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company was held on September 22, 2017 at 12:15 p.m. at the Elbow Beach Hotel, 60 South Shore Road, Page PG04, Bermuda. The audited consolidated financial statements for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2016 were presented to the Meeting.

In addition, the following resolutions were passed:

To re-elect Kate Blankenship as a Director of the Company;

To re-elect Inger M. Klemp as a Director of the Company.

To re-elect Georgina E. Sousa as a Director of the Company.

To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers AS of Oslo, Norway as auditors and to authorise the Directors to determine their remuneration.

That the remuneration payable to the Company's Board of Directors of a total amount of fees not to exceed US$30,000 be approved for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Hamilton, Bermuda

September 22, 2017

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: Independent Tankers Corporation Limited via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 19:04:03

A Type of Beef Which Surpasses Conventional Notions of Beef

Japan Livestock Products Export Promotion Council

Exhibits Genuine Wagyu Beef at The Restaurant Show in London, the United Kingdom

Japan Livestock Products Export Promotion Council

The Restaurant Show Secretariat

Mikako Kuwajima

kuwajima@claritas-marketing.com

Japan Livestock Products Export Promotion CouncilPresidentToshiaki Nambaannounces its participation at The Restaurant Show in London, the United Kingdom, from October 2nd-4th (Mon-Wed). It will hold a series of PR events highlighting the attractions of Wagyu beef.

Japan Livestock Products Export Promotion Council will run seminars in its exhibition booth to show how the delicious taste and premium quality of Wagyu beef produced in Japan differs from conventional beef, thereby highlighting the meaning of Japan quality. A tasting menu of dishes showcasing Wagyu beef will also be on offer.

We want you to taste for yourself why Japanese Wagyu beef is said to be the best beef in the world.

Notes

1. Exhibition details

 Wagyu beef seminars (about 3 times a day).

Explanation of the attractions of Wagyu beef, with a tasting menu on offer.

Cooking demonstrations of Wagyu beef by one of the top chefs

 Supporting material on the attractions of Wagyu beef handed out.

 Distribution of Wagyu beef recipes

 Screening of videos on the attractions of Wagyu beef and how Wagyu cattle are reared.

2. Overview of the event

Name: The Restaurant Show

Dates: October 2nd (Mon)  October 4th (Wed)

Location: London, the United Kingdom

Venue: OLYMPIA

Address: Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UX

3. Special Website

URL: http://wagyuexhibition.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201709250060

Try Japanese Genuine Wagyu Beef at The Restaurant Show in London, the United Kingdom.
Kreston Reeves

PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 15:36:07

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Kreston Reeves

37 St Margaret's Street



Canterbury



Kent



CT1 2TU



Harry Dance

Marketing Manager

01227 768231

email

http://www.krestonreeves.com/





# 353 Words

37 St Margaret's StreetCanterburyKentCT1 2TUMarketing Manager01227 768231

Kreston Reeves is delighted to welcome 29 new students to the firm this month.This new intake of trainee accountants and financial advisers includes a mix of GCSE, A-level students and graduates who have joined the firms offices across London, Kent and Sussex. The students will be studying under our new apprenticeship scheme for a range of training programmes including ACA (ICAEW Chartered Accountant qualification), AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians), ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians), ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and CFAB (Certificate in Finance and Business) qualifications. We have also recruited a number of industrial placements for students who are required to complete a year in industry as part of their degree course.We are committed to offering the highest quality training packages, delivered within a friendly, proactive and supportive environment, for which the firm has been recognised in the shortlist for the Graduate and Non-Graduate Programme of the Year category in the 2017 British Accountancy Awards  winners will be announced in October. We were also named finalist in the Employer of the year category at the 2016 Kent Excellence in Business awards (KEiBA) and as Training Team of the Year at the 2014 British Accountancy Awards.This record breaking student intake comes in a year in which the firm has achieved the apprenticeship Employee Training Provider status for its graduate and non-graduate training programme. We are just one of three UK accountancy firms, and the only mid-sized firm, to hold this coveted status making the firm an attractive organisation for aspiring accountants and financial advisers when choosing the firm in which they want to begin their careers.Richard Heasman, HR Partner at Kreston Reeves commented, We are thrilled to welcome this historic number of trainees to our firm, especially in such a competitive climate in which many firms struggle to attract and hire talent.The addition of such a large pool of fresh talent and perspectives makes the firm well equipped to continue to grow and develop, and provide the highest quality client service.We welcome all new employees and look forward to working with them towards an exciting future for the firm.
Hong Kong Stock Exchange has always been considered as the bellwether for initial public offering (IPO) in the global market, as it plays a leading role as an important gateway for companies to reach a wider pool of investors. As more Malaysian companies are expanding their regional businesses, it seems that they are also keen in floating their shares in Hong Kong, Xinhua news agency reported.

The most recent example was BGMC, the first Malaysia-

based construction services company that made its debut in Hong Kong last month. BGMCs management told Xinhua that it sees Hong Kongs stock market as one with higher recognition among global investors, as it is an Asian financial hub. Listing in Hong Kong helps differentiate the group from its peers in Malaysia and contribute to the groups future expansion and business growth both in Malaysia and overseas, the management added.

For Wong Teck Meng, chief executive officer of Malaysias fund management company Areca Capital, Hong Kong as a financial hub also has a more liberalized and advanced stock market. He sees the trend to continue as Hong Kong remains an attractive platform for Malaysian companies to grow their regional platform. Besides, Malaysian companies that listed in Hong Kong tend to have higher valuations, he said.

His views have been shared with Kong Hon Kong, founder of Nirvana Asia Group, the largest integrated bereavement care service provider in Asia with a presence in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.When I listed Nirvana in Hong Kong, the share was traded as much as 20 times of its price to earnings ratios (P/Es). But when it was listed in Malaysia, the average P/E of the share was only 10 times, Kong told Xinhua.

The recently listed company BGMC also noted it would enhance the groups profile among potential customers in China who are eyeing the Southeast Asian markets in light of the Belt and Road Initiative. Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. MDT/Xinhua
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 18:00:59

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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 Oral Healthcare Tracker Market: OverviewThe global oral healthcare tracker market is currently set to clutch auspicious growth opportunities and affirm broadening expansion with novel and technologically advanced products. For instance, the embedded artificial intelligence (AI) offered with oral health tech company Kolibrees smart toothbrush has recently made the headlines. According to Kolibree, Ara is the first toothbrush with AI technology. The smart toothbrush is able to record the brushing data of the user, even offline, which gets automatically synced with the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE 4.0) app.Request Sample Copy of the Report@Such innovative advancements in the field have supplemented personalized healthcare and the need for oral disease prevention and wellness, thus ensuring a tangible growth for the global market.The international market for oral healthcare tracker can see a stratification by product type, end user, application, and of course, geography. The product type of segmentation showcases the different technologies and devices used for measuring oral health while the application segments represent the various ways in which these tracking gadgets are used.The report on the global oral healthcare tracker market provides a thorough analysis of the epoch-making facets, including growth factors and limitations, company profiling, bargaining power of buyers, and the threat of new entrants and substitutes. The key inputs offered by our seasoned analysts have proved to be extremely decisive and vital for the report buyers to plan out result-oriented strategies.Global Oral Healthcare Tracker Market: Drivers and OpportunitiesAs per the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 27.4% of adults and 17.5% of children still untreated for their different oral diseases on a worldwide platform. These coarse-grained figures by the CDC have provided a wide opening for the new players to exhibit their innovative products and the battle-scarred vendors to make a promising comeback. Moreover, according to WHO, approximately 50.0% of HIV-positive patients are struggling with oral health problems such as oral bacterial, fungal, or viral infection.A low degree of awareness about oral healthcare, especially amongst the disadvantaged population, is foreseen to blemish the progress of the global oral healthcare tracker market.Howbeit, rising voluntary and not-for-profit efforts toward general healthcare awareness and treatment around the globe is expected to gradually dissolve the ignorance pertaining to disease prevention and health benefits. Other factors that could heavily contribute to the healthy growth of the global oral healthcare tracker market include surging geriatric population, increasing per capita healthcare expenditure, oral healthcare technology innovation, agreeable insurance and reimbursement policies, and rising number of oral diseases.Global Oral Healthcare Tracker Market: Geographical Analysis and Key PlayersThe international oral healthcare tracker market is majorly influenced by the growing number of oral health problems and generous support to the public through Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid programs in North America. The segment also receives support from the crucial involvements of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Following North America are other significant geographies, i.e. Europe and Asia Pacific.Request TOC of the Report@Some of the important vendors studied in the global oral healthcare tracker market report are Briggs Healthcare, Breathometer Inc., Medline Industries, Inc., Planmeca USA, Philips, Welch Allyn, Geratherm Medical AG, and Visiomed Group.Market segmentation based on geography: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)This report gives access to decisive data, such as:Market growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for the coming years
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 15:04:02

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, ProLynx announced it was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the NIH to expand its technology platform to control delivery of two or more drugs in a single agent. In the ProLynx platform, a drug is tethered to hydrogel microspheres by a self-cleaving linker that is pre-programmed to release the drug at a pre-determined rate. After subcutaneous injection, the drug is slowly released from the microsphere carrier into the systemic circulation. Since the half-life of the released drug is solely dictated by the cleavage rate of the linker used, if two different drugs are attached to the same carrier by the same linker, the in vivo half-lives of the two drugs released will be the same. The relative potencies of each drug are controlled by the relative amounts of each drug attached to the carrier.

Daniel Santi, cofounder, stated, "We will first develop this technology with a combination of our long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist plus a glucagon or GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide) receptor agonist. If successful, we will have a rapid and impactful entry into the competitive area aimed at dual agonist anti-obesity drugs targeting type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease/NASH." Santi added: "Since amounts of the two drugs released are simply controlled by the amounts attached to the carrier, we have a simple, flexible and effective way to discover and produce dual-agonist combination drugs with balanced activities. By facilitating determination of the optimal ratio of agonists, the approach sharply contrasts with the technically challenging incorporation of two perfectly balanced agonist activities into the same peptide." William J. Rutter, Chairman of the ProLynx Board, commented, "The novel ProLynx dual agonist approach could become a preferred mode for delivery of combination peptidic therapeutics."

About ProLynx : ProLynx LLC is a privately held biotechnology company located in San Francisco, CA, developing proprietary drug delivery systems for half-life extension of small molecules, peptides and proteins. The company applies its technology to extend half-lives of drug candidates of pharmaceutical companies, and to improve properties of off-patent therapeutics. ProLynx has a monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist and a subcutaneous long-acting octreotide in its pre-clinical portfolio, and a PEG~SN38 in Phase 1 clinical trials. Further information about the company may be found at www.ProLynxllc.com.

Contact:

BD@ProLynxllc.com 415-552-5306 or

linda@pullanconsulting.com 805-558-0361

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: ProLynx LLC via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 18:36:11

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FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Resinco Capital Partners Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, BC (FSCWire) - Resinco Capital Partners Inc. (TSX Venture:RIN). has issued a press release with the following headline:Resinco Capital Partners Inc. Increases Planned 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 Resinco Capital Partners 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/Resinco Capital Partners Inc.Source: Resinco Capital Partners Inc. (TSX Venture: RIN)Date: September 25, 2017Time: 12:36 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Resinco Capital Partners 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.)
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 18:59:06

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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

According to U.S. FDA, sigmoidoscope is a class II medical device used in a sigmoidoscopy procedure to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. Generally, sigmoidoscope is a small tube-like device which consists light source to see the internal part of the rectum and sigmoid colon. Physician or nurse inserts this device into the colon through end part of the large intestine called anus and pushes slowly into the rectum and sigmoid colon. Over the last few decades, prevalence and incidence rates of gastrointestinal diseases (GIT) is increasing notably and is expected to drive the overall GIT diagnosis devices market including sigmoidoscope devices over the forecast period. There are two different types of sigmoidoscopes such as flexible sigmoidoscope and rigid sigmoidoscope are available in the market to cater the patients. Among all, flexible sigmoidoscope devices are commonly used. These devices allow a physician to see around bends in the colon and it provides prominent results in the lower colon examination. Rigid sigmoidoscope is used to check the rectum part and is used less often when compared to flexible sigmoidoscope. In the aforementioned devices, flexible sigmoidoscopes are expected to register robust growth in a CAGR over the forecast period.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16235 Generally, sigmoidscope is used to find the cause of abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. Moreover, the device used to find the malignant polyps and benign, as well as early signs of cancer in the lower part of colon and rectum. By using flexible sigmoidoscope device, the physician can see inflammation, intestinal bleeding, ulcers and abnormal growths in the descending colon and rectum. The entire sigmoidoscopy procedure will take 20 minutes to complete and whilst performing the procedure, the patient may feel uncomfortable. Before performing procedure, patients rectum and colon must be empty. Moreover, patient has to take only clear liquids for 12 to 24 hours beforehand. Patient has to take edema before performing procedure, so that washes out the intestine.Increasing prevalence of GIT diseases is one of the major factor which is expected to drive the overall sigmoidoscope devices marker over the forecast period. Moreover, increasing technological advancements in the medical devices industry along with increasing awareness about healthcare is expected to drive the overall market demand for sigmoidoscope devices during forecast period. However, the cost of the procedure and dearth of skilled healthcare professionals in the under developed countries is expected to hamper the marker revenue growth over the forecast period. Moreover, availability of high end medical devices which offer multiple services including sigmoidoscopy is one of the key restraints for this market.This market can be categorized on three major bases such as product type, application, end user, and geography. On the basis of key products, the market can be classified into flexible sigmoidoscope and rigid sigmoidoscope. Based on the application, the market has been segmented into diagnosis, monitoring. Based on end user type the market has been segmented into hospital, ambulatory surgical centers, and gastroenterology institutes.Geographically, the sigmoidscope devices market can be classified into five regional markets such as North America (United States and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, etc.) and Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, Japan, India, etc.), Latin America and rest of the world. The emerging markets in Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are expected to register robust growth during the forecast period 2016-2024. This would majorly be attributed to increasing investments by the key players operating in these countries, increasing prevalence of Gastro intestinal track cancers. India, China and Brazil are expected to drive strong growth among the emerging countries, owing to the increasing investments by government bodies to enhance healthcare facilities.Key companies operating in the global sigmoidscope devices market are Anetic Aid, Parburch Medical Ltd., HIENE USA LTD. Welch Allyn, Jindal Medical & Scientific Instruments Company (Pvt.) Ltd., Pal Surgicals and Evexar Medical, GE Healthcare to name few.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=16235
PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 13:33:01

HONG KONG, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home Inc., a social e-commerce platform for the home furnishing industry, recently announced the completion of a $5 million Series A+ round of financing led by Sky9 Capital with participation from existing investor Capital Today.

Home Inc. is a leading social e-commerce platform for furniture and home furnishings in China. The Hangzhou-based company provides an online platform that utilizes an innovative, sharing-economy approach to sales and marketing, connecting prospective customers with prior customers both online and offline. The company is different from other furniture e-commerce companies because it provides a network of virtual showrooms, called "Lifestyle Homes", for prospective customers to personally experience the products in a real offline home environment. The prospective customer can also interact with existing furniture owners either online or offline at these Lifestyle Homes for detailed information on the products prior to purchasing, resulting in improved customer experience and satisfaction.



Home Inc.'s Founder and CEO Qiming Zhao commented: "The furniture industry is complicated, so I have been very selective about potential investors. Sky9's team has a strong track record of investing in some of the leading sharing economy and social e-commerce companies in China, like Tujia, PinDuoDuo, MaMaDaV, and XiaoHongChun. I look forward to continuing to work with the partners of Sky9 as I value their experience and strategic insights."

"As a serial entrepreneur in the furnishing business, Qiming has demonstrated his operating strength as well as his insight into how the industry will evolve in the future," said Sky9 Capital Founder and Managing Director Ron Cao. "His authenticity and leadership qualities are truly impressive, and we are excited to be part of this unique opportunity to build a truly differentiated business."

Home Inc. currently has 20,000+ registers members and a network of 300+ virtual showrooms in cities such as Hangzhou, Beijing, Wuhan, and Xiamen.

About Sky9 Capital

Sky9 Capital is a leading early-stage China-focused technology venture capital firm focused on the Internet, enterprise and deep technology sectors. With its mission to partner with bold innovators to build world-class companies together and to make a positive impact on the world, Sky9 approaches investing with a global perspective and selectively partners with early-stage companies that have exceptional founding teams, disruptive and scalable business models, or transformational technology. www.sky9capital.com.

Anthony Lo

+86-21-5238-3699

tony@sky9capital.com

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: Sky9 Capital via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2017-09-25 18:59:09

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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

Introduction:Sweet potatoes are basically root vegetable which is rich in starch, vitamins, potassium, fiber and higher source of beta carotene. They primarily considered as a staple food as have significant proportion in form of daily routine intake food products. Nowadays the product has become more popular due to its wide application in ethnic cuisines, culinary uses, everyday meal and many other food products. This has insist the food manufacturers and companies to offer different varieties of snacks, meals, syrups etc. to cater the growing demand of consumers in global level food market. Production of sweet potatoes has increased substantially over the past decade and majority of demand accounts from North America, Europe and countries from Asia-pacific region.Request Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=16250 Market Dynamics of Sweet Potato Market:Market of sweet potatoes is expected to drive by its greater demand from food manufacturers as companies are offering innovative everyday meal products, snacks, meals made with sweet potatoes. On the other side, market of sweet potato market is also gaining traction from demand side drivers as it is mostly consumed in everyday meal and also from the side of health conscious consumers who are seeking for food products with health benefits. Moreover, the demand of sweet potato is also growing as it used as a taste enhancer and to increase the texture in food recipes.Market Segmentation of Sweet Potato Market:Market segment of sweet potato in food and beverage industry is segmented on different basis such as by application, by form, by type and by end use. On the basis of application, its market segmented in food, beverage and animal feed. In food, sweet potatoes market is sub-segmented into culinary food, snacks and meals and in beverage, the sub-segment of product includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Market segment as per the form, is segmented as flour, paste and as a whole product. Another segment of sweet potatoes market is on the basis of type which includes canned, frozen and puree and as per end use market segment, it includes commercial use and residential use. On analyzing the demand of sweet potatoes on pie chart, it assessed that food industry acquires majority of market share in terms of both volume and value. In terms of consumption, the demand of sweet potatoes has increased in past decade due to its higher demand in preparing culinary dishes, snacks, everyday meals and in many other food products. Furthermore, demand of sweet potatoes is also growing in international market due to its high nutritional value as it is good source of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, C, B1, B2, and B6, fiber, phosphorous, potassium and many other minerals.Regional Outlook of Sweet Potatoes Market:On the basis of regional outlook, market segment of sweet potatoes is segmented in five different regions which include North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa. On the analyzing the market of sweet potatoes at global level, it is expected that North America and Asia-Pacific is the largest producer of sweet potatoes. On the other side in terms of consumption, European region has the largest consumption of sweet potatoes.Key Market Players in Sweet Potatoes Market:Major players in sweet potatoes market are: Bright Harvest Sweet Potato Company, ConAgra Foods, Inc., Nash Produce, The Sweet Potato Spirit Co., Ham Farms, Dole Food Company Inc., McCain Foods Limited, Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients, H.J. Heinz Company Brands LLC., and Wayne Bailey Produce Company.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, and others)Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Benelux, Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketNote: Although care has been taken to maintain the highest levels of accuracy in TMRs reports, recent market/vendor-specific changes may take time to reflect in the analysis.Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=16250
Mozambiques economy is expected to grow by 5.3 percent in 2018, up from the 4.7 percent forecast for this year, according to the proposed Economic and Social Plan and State Budget bill for the coming year, approved last week by the government, the Mozambican press reported.

The bill approved by the government meeting in an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers outlines a budget deficit of 77.009 billion meticais (USD1.228 billion), which is 9.7 percent of GDP, said spokeswoman Ana Comoana, who recalled that a budget deficit of 10.7 percent of GDP is forecast for this year.

Expenditure recorded in the State Budget amounted to 374.3 billion meticais ($5.968 million), a year-on-year increase of 37.4 percent, against revenues of 222.86 billion meticais ($3.553 billion).

The spokeswoman and deputy minister of Culture said that the deficit will be met using internal and external credit and external donations, with the latter accounting for almost 2.6 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

Comoana said that the two documents took into account the national and international macroeconomic context, with an optimistic outlook for 2018, with economic growth being particularly stimulated by the trend of rising prices of the main exported goods.

The Mozambican government expects exports of $4.1 billion in 2018 compared to $3.4 billion this year. MDT/Macauhub
The Philippine government said yesterday a Vietnamese fishing vessel initiated very dangerous maneuvers and slammed into a Filipino navy boat during a chase, prompting its sailors to fire warning shots then later found two Vietnamese dead on the vessel.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano informed his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Binh Minh, of the deadly encounter that occurred early Saturday off the northwestern Philippines and assured him of a fair investigation.

Cayetano talked to Minh, who also serves as Vietnam deputy prime minister, during a meeting at the United Nations in New York.

We would like to offer our sympathies over the unfortunate loss of life and give you our assurance that we will conduct a fair and thorough investigation into this matter, a Department of Foreign Affairs statement issued in Manila quoted Cayetano as telling Minh.

Cayetano assured Minh that the five other Vietnamese fishermen who were taken into custody by Philippine authorities will be treated well and could be accessed anytime by Vietnamese officials, who are being updated on developments.

A Philippine security official told The Associated Press on Sunday that the incident unfolded closer to the Philippine coast and was not related to the main territorial disputes farther out in the South China Sea. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila was the one authorized to speak on the issue.

Still, the deadly incident underscores the danger that lurks due to overlapping territorial claims in a region where competition is heavy for fish, oil, gas and other maritime resources. In 2013, Philippine coast guard personnel opened fire and killed a Taiwanese fisherman on board a boat that sailed in waters between the northern Philippines and Taiwan, sparking protests in Taiwan. Taiwan imposed sanctions before the row was diplomatically resolved.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said a Philippine navy patrol vessel encountered six Vietnamese boats fishing within the countrys exclusive economic zone about 34 nautical miles off Cape Bolina in the Philippine province of Pangasinan.

Such zones extend 200 nautical miles where a coastal state has internationally recognized exclusive rights to fish and exploit other sea resources although foreign ships could pass through.

The Filipino sailors chased the Vietnamese fishing vessels, one of which initiated very dangerous maneuvers that resulted in it slamming into the left front and left center of the Philippine patrol vessel, the department said.

That prompted personnel on board the navy vessel to fire warning shots and when the navy personnel boarded the fishing vessel, they found two dead Vietnamese fishermen, the department said, adding five other Vietnamese fishermen surrendered and were taken into custody.

The security official told AP the Vietnamese vessels were using powerful lights to attract fish off Bolinao town. The use of lights for that purpose is prohibited under Philippine law.

The Filipino navy personnel followed the rules of engagement, including identification protocol and use of radio and public address system, the official said, adding that the Vietnamese fishing boat was towed to Pangasinan afterward. AP
Singapore has overtaken nations including the U.S., Russia and China as the country launching the most cyber attacks globally, according to Israeli data security firm Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

The company, whose software tracks an average of eight to 10 million live cyber attacks daily, said Singapore rose to pole position after ranking in the top five attacking countries for the previous two weeks. It is not particularly unusual for Singapore to be featured among the top attacking countries, said Eying Wee, Check Points Asia-Pacific spokeswoman.

A key Southeast Asian technology hub, much of the internet traffic flowing through Singapore originates in other countries. That means a cyber attack recorded as coming from Singapore may have been launched outside the country, she said.

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore said there are a number of reports measuring cyber attacks, which are based on various methodologies and therefore provide different perspectives of the situation.

As a commercial hub with high interconnectivity, Singapore is undoubtedly an attractive target for cybercriminals, a spokesman for the agency said in an email, adding that its important for the nation to maintain high cybersecurity standards and take necessary measures to protect its systems and data.

The city-state, which wants to become a global technology hub, recently stepped up efforts to tighten cyber security after several high profile attacks on government agencies and companies.

Singapore has now found itself on someones list, Singapores Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said in July. The attacks are orchestrated, the attacks are targeted, they want to steal specific information, there are minds behind this orchestration.

Earlier this year, Singapores military established a cyber defense unit while the government drafted legislation to impose new cyber security requirements aimed at helping companies protect critical information infrastructure.

In May, Singapore stopped most of its public servants from being able to access the internet from their work computers. The nations central bank has also set up an international advisory committee dedicated to enhancing the safety and resilience of Singapores financial sector. Bloomberg
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.




NORTH KOREAs top diplomat says President Donald Trumps tweet that leader Kim Jong Un wont be around much longer was a declaration of war against his country by the United States. Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters yesterday that North Korea now has every right under the U.N. Charter to take countermeasures, including the right to shoot down the United States strategic bombers even if theyre not yet inside the airspace border of our country.

MYANMAR Officials said yesterday they have discovered at least 45 slain Hindus in three mass graves in the Southeast Asian countrys conflict-torn northern Rakhine state. The government blames Muslim insurgents for the killings, but international media say there is no immediate way to verify the assertions.

INDONESIA Nearly 50,000 people have fled the Mount Agung volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali, fearing an imminent eruption as dozens of tremors rattle the surrounding region. Indonesian authorities have raised the volcanos alert status to the highest level following a dramatic increase in seismic activity. More on p13

RUSSIA The U.N. human rights office said in a report yesterday that Russia is violating international law in Crimea by imposing Russian citizenship on its people and deliberately transferring hundreds of prisoners to Russia.

SYRIA U.S.-backed forces in eastern Syria say Russia bombed their positions yesterday in a major natural gas field they recently captured from Islamic State militants. The two sides are racing to defeat the militants and snap up oil and gas fields, fueling fears of conflict.

TURKEY-IRAQ Turkey is strongly opposed to the referendum Iraqi Kurds are holding on whether their semi-autonomous region should seek independence from Baghdad. The Turkish government, which has been fighting a Kurdish rebel insurgency for more than three decades, has threatened economic and military action. More on p14

ROMANIAs ruling party yesterday backed two ministers who have been named in a criminal inquiry into allegations of abuse of office during a land transfer.

GERMANY Chancellor Angela Merkel defended an election campaign that left her conservative bloc in first place but significantly weakened as she embarked yesterday on what could be a lengthy quest to form a new government. More on p15
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Lindsay McKenna comes from a long line of family members who have served in the U.S. military. A Navy veteran herself, she says her writing is inspired by her patriotism and support for women and men in uniform. Her stories draw deeply from her years in the service.

McKenna, who started writing at 13, began to focus on the military in her work because she felt that those who served were unfairly perceived due to antiwar sentiments in the U.S. during Vietnam. In her books, she strives to portray those who serve in the military as emotionally multifaceted human beingsas more than soldierswhose postservice lives are full of hardship, hope, and, of course, romance. In 1964, as a fresh-faced 18-year-old recruit from rural California, McKenna, in uniform, was shaken after being chased by a group of antiwar protesters in San Francisco. "I swore on that day that I would somehow change civilian people's minds about military people. I threw myself into writing while carrying out my duties as a meteorologist at operations," McKenna says.

It took 22 years of dedicated hard work and a thousand rejection slips before McKenna was first published at the age of 35. After writing a couple of love stories for Berkley's Second Chance imprint, McKenna wrote Captive of Fate, about a Marine Corps colonel sent to Costa Rica as an emergency responder following a devastating earthquake. Berkley rejected the book for being "too serious" but Simon & Schuster's Silhouette imprint snapped it up, and it helped define a genre, becoming one of the first military romances ever published. "Clearly, from the sales of it, there was a group of readers hungering for realistic, gripping, and highly emotional page-turners," about the military, McKenna recalls.



Since her first book was published in 1982, McKenna has authored just shy of 200 novels. Her latest title, Wrangler's Challenge, is the fourth book in the Wind River Valley series, which is set in a fictional Wyoming valley and features stories about military vetscowboys who work at the Bar C ranchcoming home from Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, trying to adjust to civilian life.

Wrangler's Challenge is an unlikely love story. It follows Noah Mabry, whose marriage fell apart after his service in Afghanistan; and Dair Wilson, an amputee and Marine Corps vet, who shows up at the ranch where Mabry is working with horses. Mabry suggests equine therapy to Dair, vowing to work with her himself. She is struggling to cope not only with the loss of a limb and her favorite dog, but with childhood trauma. Together, they find the healing power of love.

Many of the characters in the Wind River Valley series cope with PTSD, and McKenna sees it as an important part of her writerly mission to educate people about the disorder and to bring compassionate attention to the lives of those who suffer from it. McKenna herself faced PTSD while in the military, so she draws on her own experience. She says her experience with PTSD is "reflected in the stories I write about vets struggling with this insidious, ongoing trauma. I didn't need to do research. All I have to do is look at my own symptoms and write about them to educate my readers."

In Wrangler's Challenge, the heroine is a force of nature, a common character type in McKenna's work, which is known for strong female heroines. McKenna has never let herself be held back by her gender. She began riding wild mustangs at 12, founded an earthworm business at 16, signed up for flight lessons at 17, was one of the first women to fence epee and saber in the U.S. Navy, and served as a volunteer firefighter at 35. "My characters take on elements of myself. I don't allow men to treat me like I'm a second class citizen," she says. "I'm an equal. I also like to write what I call 21st-century males' who treat the heroines like equals."

Despite the adversity that they have had to face in combat, McKenna's characters are able to find love. "I believe love is the most powerful, positive human emotion we have within us. It is the most healing and unifying emotion," McKenna explains. "That is why I write love stories: to teach gently about the goodness and the heart of our military people and the unselfish service they give to America."
Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's prolific editor-author relationship began in 2010 with Pekkanen's debut novel, The Opposite of Me.

The two women formed an instant connection, which grew into a close friendship while Hendricks edited six more of Pekkanen's novels, the latest being The Perfect Neighbors (2016).

Hendricks joined Simon & Schuster in 1994 as an assistant editor at Scribner Books. In 1996 she began working at Pocket Books and Washington Square Press. During her tenure at Simon & Schuster, Hendricks helped to discover and edit numerous writers including Jennifer Weiner, Stephen Chbosky, and Pekkanen. In 2001, she helped launch Atria Books, which acquired The Opposite of Me.

When Hendricks left the publishing company in 2014, she told only a few people, including Pekkanen, that she wanted to write a novel. Pekkanen, who had written everything from investigative newspaper series and magazine features to short stories, was eager to challenge herself. She believed collaborating with Hendricks on a novel could help her grow creatively.

Hendricks was briefly hesitant. "When Sarah approached me about writing together, I initially worried it would be copping out to work with someone else," Hendricks explains, "that it would be less of an accomplishment." But the former editor called Pekkanen 12 hours later and said, "Let's do it!"

"I realized it would be crazy to turn down this opportunity," Hendricks says. "While I had published a few personal essays and edited hundreds of books, I knew I had a lot to learn about writing an actual novel."

Pekkanen was confident the two could create something special together. "Not only do we share strikingly similar narrative instincts and approaches to storytelling, but we get along beautifully as friends," she says.

And so began the process of writing The Wife Between Us.

The result is a psychological thriller that explores the complexities of marriage, relationships between women, and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love. It will be published in 28 countriesand countingand has been optioned for film by a major studio.

The Wife Between Us is packed with surprising twists and turns that might remind readers of Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train.

"We both studied journalism and psychology, which makes us curious students of human nature," Hendricks says. "In The Wife Between Us, we wanted to explore how memories are colored by the lenses through which we view our worlds, and how people can share an experience but carry away markedly different perspectives and emotions."

In addition to exploring the Rashomon effect, the writing team also made it a priority to "create protagonists who are compelling and original, yet relatable," Pekkanen says.

Those protagonists, the entire plot, and almost every word of the novel were crafted by both authors. Unlike many writing partners, who take on alternating chapters or different characters, Hendricks and Pekkanenwho live in New York City and Washington, D.C., respectivelynever wrote separately. Every idea and word grew and developed from their shared consciousness.

"The third partner in our collaboration is Google Docs and Hangouts," Hendricks says. "These tools let us write our manuscripts together in real time while we simultaneously talk." They would also convene in a hotel room in either Manhattan or D.C. each month during the writing process for a 36-hour stretch. There they would "Homeland the walls" with Post-it notes. "I like the walls to be as messy as possible," Pekkanen says. "Greer prefers them to be neatly organized."

The duo spent hours creating, rejecting, and fine-tuning ideas. "We often joke that we have one mind," Pekkanen says. "It's not unusual for us to come up with an identical thought or word choice at the exact same time."

And that's about all the authors want to reveal about their first collaboration.

"We don't want to say much more about The Wife Between Us," says Hendricks. "Because we don't want to spoil the many surprises awaiting readers."
Some 600,000 migrants have crossed from Libya to Italy on flimsy boats on the Mediterranean since 2014, with 94,000 arriving in the first half of this year alone. But the numbers dropped precipitously this summer. Much of this change has been attributed to European governments' tactics to prevent migrant boats leaving Libya  both by helping Libya's weak UN-backed government to improve its border patrolling and by brokering deals with governments and others, including human trafficking militias, to keep migrants in place. While this strategy of treating migration from Libya as a border security problem has led to the reduction in migration across the Mediterranean in the near term, current efforts to keep migrants in Libya are fraught with risks, exacerbate a massive human rights problem, and may not address the problems in the long run. Instead, seeking ways to improve stability and governance in Libya, through diplomatic and economic means, could help make the summer's decline in migration an enduring trend.

Since 2011, some 4.3 million refugees and economic migrants crossed into Europe through multiple land and sea routes. European nations have struggled to strike a balance between protection of lives, providing humanitarian relief on one hand, and ensuring European security and economic interests, on the other. The two busiest routes were from Turkey to Greece and from Libya to Italy. The 2016 EU-Turkey deal, which provided $7 billion in European aid to Turkey in exchange for Turkey keeping refugees inside its borders and taking back those who had crossed irregularly, closed off most of the first route. Libya has remained the most active, though dangerous, entryway to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea  and a focal point of human trafficking.

Addressing this mainly as a border control issue rather than holistically investing in Libya's economic and political stabilization has risks and costs.

European efforts to keep people in Libya are simply containing a grave humanitarian crisis  not solving it.

First, European efforts to keep people in Libya are simply containing a grave humanitarian crisis  not solving it. Human trafficking is lucrative and extensive in Libya. There are an estimated 700,000 to 1 million migrants trapped in Libya. Traffickers taking people from sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere have used Libya as a launchpad to Europe, because no single, manageable security entity exercises control over its vast desert territory, borders, and shores. The United Nations has documented widespread abuses of migrants in Libya, including arbitrary detention, inhumane detention conditions, forced labor, torture, extortion, and sexual violence. Forcing these large numbers of people to endure such conditions without an onward solution could lead to further radicalization and destabilization along Europe's Mediterranean border. Furthermore, if localized militias are incentivized through financial benefits or other carrots to keep migrants from leaving Libya, treatment of them could get worse, not better. European nations risk complicity in this, if they are backing the very government that is affiliated with militias and tribes that have driven the human trafficking industry.

Second, Europe's uncoordinated actions could worsen the instability in Libya. The 2014 post-Gaddafi civil conflict created competing governments, each backed by an array of international entities. The UN-backed government in Tripoli is working closely with the Italians, while the eastern government in Tobruk, which is nominally supported by Russia, considers the partnership a violation of national sovereignty. Some funding provided by Italy is being funneled via the UN-backed Libyan government to the Libyan militias in charge of migrant detention centers. This further empowers the militias and undermines prospects for stability and rule of law under a single government. Amid this chaos, the Islamic State has resurged, despite European governments' attempts to mitigate it by trying to form a unified Libyan state to fight it. Meanwhile, efforts to press Libyan power brokers to stop the human suffering and torture in migrant detention camps have yielded little success.

Third, the EU is committing $55 million to help the Libyan government halt traffic from its shores and may consider a total of $7 billion aid package  the same amount offered to Turkey last year to cut off the Balkan route. An agreement similar to the one with Turkey poses risks because there is no single government to work with  rival forces share Libya's stretch of coastline and the desert areas. Large sums of aid money also could create conditions for corruption, unless funding is carefully monitored and accompanied by assistance in brokering political reconciliation and rule of law.

Finally, simply strengthening borders fails to address the causes of migration  the civil conflicts, famines, and poverty that drive people from their homes in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere and onward to Europe. The militias may keep the human smuggling business and other illicit trade throughout North Africa via alternate routes and means.

Europeans are eager to find immediate solutions. Immediate steps in Libya to keep the influx of migrants have reduced the number of migrants taking boats across the Mediterranean. In the long run, an approach that treats irregular migration primarily as a border control issue with Libya will not be likely in the best interests of either European security or humanitarian values.

Amanda Kadlec is a policy analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. She conducted fieldwork in Libya and authored the Libya chapter in The Middle East (2013). Shelly Culbertson is a senior policy researcher at RAND. She is the author of The Fires of Spring: A Post-Arab Spring Journey Through the Turbulent New Middle East (2016).

This commentary originally appeared on Foreign Policy Concepts on September 23, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
A little more than three years after the Islamic State (or ISIS) stormed onto the world stage by violently capturing large swaths of territory throughout Iraq and Syria, the campaign to counter the group has made significant progress. But predictions of the group's ultimate demise are premature. What the world is witnessing is the transition, and in many ways degeneration, from an insurgent organization with a fixed headquarters to a clandestine terrorist network dispersed throughout the region and the globe.

From Regional to Global

Iraqi security forces have ejected ISIS fighters from key cities they once controlled, including Fallujah, Ramadi, Tal Afar, and most recently Mosul, which served as an important base of operations for the insurgents over the past three-and-a-half years. Across the border in Syria, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces claim to have retaken nearly 80 percent of Raqqa, ISIS' overall headquarters and the heart of its so-called caliphate. In recent weeks, Russian military and forces loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad have been fighting to seize Deir Ezzor, a longtime ISIS stronghold in Syria. Its strategic location close to the Iraqi border has been used as a logistical hub to smuggle reinforcements to the insurgents.

There is little doubt that the patchwork of forces arrayed against ISIS currently possesses the momentum. U.S. airstrikes consistently obliterate ISIS targets, which include groups of fighters holed up in entrenched fighting positions with few options for escape. According to U.S. Brigadier General Andrew Croft, ISIS leadership is more fractured, less robust, flimsy and sporadic at this point in the fight. There are also reports of dissent and infighting within the ranks and low morale plaguing the organization as the failure of its state-building project is laid bare for all to see.

ISIS is being forced to change its strategy and tactics, but it has been proactively preparing for the next phase of the conflict. In short, it is transitioning from an insurgent organization to a terrorist group. Insurgent organizations hold and seize territory, can exercise sovereignty over a population, operate in the open as armed units, and can engage in mass mobilization. Terrorists can do none of these things. Rather, terrorists conduct attacks with members operating in small cells and rarely hold territoryif they do, it is for a very short period of time.

The result of this transition is that ISIS-perpetrated violence should be far less concentrated and more dispersed.

The result of this transition is that ISIS-perpetrated violence should be far less concentrated and more dispersed. The group will continue to operate underground in the desert areas of eastern Syria and western Iraq for the foreseeable future, relying upon classic guerilla tactics such as sniping, ambushes, hit and run attacks, car bombs, and assassinations.

The sustained extirpation of ISIS from the region can probably only be achieved in tandem with competent local security forces, including police and militaries capable of operating among the predominantly Sunni enclaves in Iraq and Syria. These types of units are completely absent in Iraq; where they exist in Syriafor example the popular mobilization units (PMUs)they are too often sectarian in nature, and therefore barely effective in the short term and counterproductive in the long term. Recent polling data from Iraq suggests that 22 percent of Iraqi Sunni Arabs do not trust that the government will treat them as it does Arab Shiites, a pessimistic start for the future of sectarian relations and potentially fertile ground for ISIS influence to take hold going forward.

The transition from insurgency to terrorism will lead ISIS to shift resources to bolster existing franchises in Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It will simultaneously also seek to gain entry into other failed states and ungoverned territories sympathetic to its Salafi-jihadist ideology, from the North Caucasus to Southeast Asia.

A year after losing the town of Sirte, in Libya, ISIS fighters have regrouped in smaller clandestine cells throughout the country, from Sabrati and Ben Walid in the north, to Ubari and Ghat further south. And although al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is the greater threat to stability, ISIS seems intent on establishing a presence ( PDF ) in the countrywhich it has deemed an essential front in its global campaignparticularly given its location bordering Saudi Arabia. In addition to establishing a caliphate, ISIS ultimately wants to usurp what it sees as a corrupt and apostate regime in Riyadh and supplant the House of Saud with its own adherents, which it believes are the right and proper guardians of two of the holiest sites in Sunni Islam.

In Afghanistan, ISIS has grown its network substantially over the past year and claimed responsibility for a number of highly lethal sectarian attacks, including a suicide attack against a Shiite mosque in Kabul in late August. Its terrorist activities are also increasing in the northern part of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, despite the billions of dollars the United States has given to the government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for counterterrorism. In mid-September, 18 policemen were killed by an ISIS car bomb attack in the Sinai. The group has even made inroads further afield in Southeast Asia, where forces loyal to ISIS have fought a bloody campaign against the Filipino security forces in Marawi and ISIS recruiting centers have sprung up in Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia.

Part of the revised ISIS strategy will likely include a rejuvenated focus on planning and conducting spectacular attacks in the West, part of an effort to garner attention and prove that the group is, if anything, resilient in the face of suppression. Toward this end, ISIS may rely heavily on Turkey as a logistics hub, using the country's geographic proximity to Europe as a conduit for militants attempting to infiltrate the continent. This past May and August, the number of terrorist attacks by ISIS in Europe reached double digits ( PDF ), even as the group lost more territoryperhaps further proof that the group is embracing the transition from insurgency to terrorism.

ISIS will likely continue to use encrypted communications to direct terrorist attacks abroad, even as it morphs into a less centralized entity. This virtual element will likely assume even greater significance, as the group exhorts its followers around the world to commit acts of violence in its name until the caliphate can be restored at some yet-to-be-determined future date. Governments must respond with a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy that involves a mixture of policy initiatives, from increased information sharing between intelligence and security agencies to well-funded and well-staffed programs focused on countering violent extremism.

As terrorism scholars Charlie Winter and Haroro Ingram recently pointed out, ISIS has also grown adept at branding its failures as successes. Its narrative of the September 15 Parsons Green attack in London, for example, was not that the Tube bomb failed to kill any commuters that morning, but instead that the group was capable of striking the United Kingdom for the fourth time in six months. The West has failed miserably in the battle of the narrative, consistently allowing ISIS and other terrorist groups to seize the initiative in promoting their propaganda. Western governments need to devote significantly more resources to strategic communications and information operations aimed at blunting the impact of terrorist messaging.

The Right Strategy

Recognizing ISIS's transition from insurgent organization to terrorist network is critical to crafting the right strategy and allocating the proper resources necessary to fight for its ultimate defeat. Just as insurgency and terrorism are not the same, the objectives of counterinsurgency and counterterrorism are different, too. Nuanced approaches to fighting highly adaptive adversaries require a different mix of toolsmilitary, police, diplomatic, economicto effectively counter the Islamic State's protean campaign of violence.

Colin P. Clarke is a political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and an associate fellow at the International Centre for Counter Terrorism-The Hague.

This commentary originally appeared on Foreign Affairs on September 25, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Project Overview

The Islamic State has proven a resilient insurgent force capable of controlling territory and administering local governance. At its peak, the Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or by the acronyms ISIL or ISIS, controlled vast portions of territory in Iraq and Syria. At times, ISIL was able to build a dense governing apparatus that helped maintain stable local commercial activity, particularly within its strategic capitals in Raqqah and Mosul. At other times, the group inadvertently mismanaged key resources or sought to punish its citizenry rather than govern it.

The global appeal of its self-styled 'caliphate' has been integral to the group's efforts to recruit foreign fighters and inspire attacks globally. Given the importance of its state-like governance, this study offers a comprehensive and wide-ranging look into life within the Islamic State at the peak of its territorial control in Iraq and Syria from January 2013 through May 2016. Although significant attention has been devoted to the humanitarian impact of ISIL's brutal rule, this report focuses on the economic impact of the group's efforts to govern the territory and population under its control. Local economic activity is a useful proxy for the effectiveness of ISIL governance, particularly because the group is reliant upon local taxation for a significant portion of its revenue, and has publicly linked the appeal of its caliphate to perceptions of its prosperity.

This project offers a unique, data-driven, methodological approach to solve the problem of measuring economic activity inside areas controlled by the Islamic State. Where traditional data are unavailable to diagnose conditions on the ground from within ISIL-held cities, we instead look down upon these cities from space.

Mosul's Bab al-Toob market shows comparable levels of activity before and after ISIL takeover, and highlights where ISIL has built new structures in the market.

This analysis paints a bleak picture of economic life under the Islamic State. Over the course of its peak territorial control and decline through mid-2016, the economy of the Islamic State writ large was clearly in decay.

Across all of Iraq and Syria, ISIL takeover did little to help local economies, driving the following effects:

An 80-percent reduction in urban electricity consumption in Iraq and 61-percent reduction in Syria, which equates to a 23-percent reduction in the GDP of the caliphate. A 36-percent reduction in the population of cities under its control A 20-percent reduction in agricultural output Steady upticks in violence

Detailed case studies of Mosul, Raqqah, Ramadi, Deir ez-Zor, and Tikrit offer evidence that ISIL governance shoulders at least some blame for these poor economic conditions. At times, ISIL inadvertently mismanaged key natural resources or local businesses, sought to punish its citizenry rather than govern it (in cities like Tikrit), or showed sheer indifference to the status of local economic activity.

However, researchers suggest that it is too simplistic to blame stagnant local economic conditions entirely on the quality of ISIL's governance. Across the caliphate, our satellite-based indicators of economic activity offer contrasting evidence that ISIL effectively managed portions of local economies: 

Successfully provided public services within its territory Prioritized electricity to hospitals Successfully repaired damaged power grids, and Invested in local infrastructure.

In its strategic capitals  Mosul and Raqqah  dense ISIL regulatory regimes and more stable security situations coincided with evidence of active markets, robust commercial vehicle traffic and persistent agricultural production following the time after ISIL takeover. The service-sector and industrial components of these economies were particularly resilient, even where ISIL control was associated with larger negative impacts on electricity consumption and population outflows.

Given its relative success in Mosul and Raqqah, but difficulties supporting economic activity on the periphery of its territory, this analysis concludes that military opposition to the group was the main driving factor behind ISIL's bleak economic outlook. ISIL proved unable or unwilling to govern parts of its caliphate in the face of effective military opposition

For a closer look at the realities of life in a city under ISIL control, explore one of this research project's case study cities.
As it finalises its MIPCOM slate, the international distribution arm of Banijay Group, Banijay Rights, has sold the new Welsh/English crime drama Bang to SVT Sweden.





Produced by Joio and Artists Studio for S4C, the 8x60 series is set in the South Wales steel town of Port Talbot and tells the story of a brother, a sister and a gun, from the pen of BAFTA award-winning writer Roger Williams. Loner Sam has his life transformed when he comes into possession of a gun and starts to break the law. His ambitious policewoman sister Gina makes it her mission to find the owner of the weapon. The crime series premiered on the Welsh language channel earlier this month.Banijay Rights will launch a number of brand new dramas at MIPCOM, including The Restaurant, a 10x60 impassioned family saga about love, conflict and betrayal produced by Banijays Jarowskij, in collaboration with SVT, Viaplay and Film i Vast; Juda, an 8x45 thriller series produced by United Studios of Israel for HOT showing how the eponymous low-life gambler is hustling a living in the murky depths of the criminal underworld; and Resolve, a 1x90 TV movie produced by Banijays Screentime NZ, based on a true story in which one man takes a stand against gang intimidation and pays a terrible price.Also available for the first time from Banijay Rights in Cannes is season two of the hit cult series Wolf Creek (6x60), a Stan original series produced by Screentime, and the second 6x60 season of contemporary family drama Secret Daughter, produced by Banijays Screentime Australia for Channel 7.Commenting on the announcements, Caroline Torrance, head of scripted at Banijay Rights , said: We are very proud of our fiction line-up for MIPCOM  it is extremely diverse and holds wide appeal for our international clients and their audiences. The common denominators are good story telling, of course, and high-quality production values throughout. We have had the pleasure to work with many of the worlds leading talent both in front of and behind the camera and this is illustrated by the extraordinary drama we will present in Cannes.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative alliance has won a fourth term in power, election exit polls suggest, but will face a more volatile parliament after the far-right made historic gains.

Merkel's bloc of the Christian Democratic Party and the Bavarian-only Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) won between 32.5 percent and 33.5 percent of the vote in the September 24 national elections, according to polls conducted for public television channels ARD and ZDF.

If confirmed, the numbers are the worst result for the CDU/CSU alliance under Merkel's 12-year leadership.

The polls indicated that the blocs outgoing coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD) led by Martin Schulz, garnered between 20 percent and 21 percent support -- a post-World War II low.

They also suggested that the far-right, populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as Germany's third-strongest party with 13 percent to 13.5 percent support.

The rise of the AfD comes after shock election results last year, from Britain's vote to leave the European Union to the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, where nationalist and anti-immigrant parties made major gains.

Europe's establishment had hoped Merkel would restore liberal order but the results could force her to rein in plans to re-shape Europe together with France's Emmanuel Macron.

"Of course we had hoped for a slightly better result," Merkel said after her conservative bloc slumped in the polls from 41.5 percent at the last election in 2013.

But the pastor's daughter who grew up in communist East Germany was quick to add: "We are the strongest party, we have the mandate to build the next government -- and there cannot be a coalition government built against us."

AfD's performance means that the anti-immigrant party is on track to have a seat at the Bundestag for the first time ever.

It would also be the first time in 60 years that a far-right party would win representation in the chamber, but all other German parties have ruled out working with the AfD.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the party's headquarters in Berlin to protest AfDs entry into parliament. Similar protests were held in other cities, including Cologne and Frankfurt.

With a fractured parliament of six parties, the process of forming a coalition government could take months.

Addressing her supporters, she said that she would listen to the "anxieties" of voters of the AfD in order to win them back.

Schulz said the SPD would go into opposition, putting an end to the current coalition with Merkels alliance.

"It's a difficult and bitter day for social democrats in Germany," Schulz told supporters. "We haven't reached our objective."

The AfD has grown in popularity in the midst of an influx of around 1 million mostly Muslim migrants and refugees.

The Greens, the Free Democratic Party, and the Left Party were also poised to pass the 5-percent hurdle to enter the Bundestag.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, and the BBC
Agents of the Russian state have committed serious human rights abuses, including torture, since Russia occupied and seized control of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, a UN human rights report says.

The rights situation in Crimea "has significantly deteriorated under Russian occupation," the UN Human Rights Office says in the September 25 report, also citing disappearances, infringements of the Geneva Conventions, and violations of international law.

It says that "grave human rights violations, such as arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, ill-treatment and torture, and at least one extra-judicial execution were documented."

"There is an urgent need for accountability for human rights violations and abuses and for providing the victims with redress," UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

Russia seized Crimea in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegal by dozens of countries, after Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by mass protests in Kyiv.

Many Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the takeover of the Black Sea peninsula.

The UN report says the Geneva Conventions and other international humanitarian and human rights laws were violated when Moscow replaced Ukrainian laws with Russian laws in Crimea and imposed Russian citizenship on tens of thousands of residents.

The imposition of Russian citizenship had a particularly harsh impact on residents "who formally rejected citizenship; civil servants who had to renounced their Ukrainian citizenship or lose their jobs, and Crimean residents who did not meet the legal criteria" for Russian citizenship and "became foreigners," the UN report says.

People without Russian citizenship who hold a residency permit in Crimea are now "deprived of important rights" and "do not enjoy equality before the law," it says. It said they "cannot own agricultural land, vote and be elected, register a religious community, apply to hold a public meeting, hold positions in the public administration, and reregister their private vehicle on the peninsula."

"Education in the Ukrainian language has almost disappeared from Crimea," the report says.

The report says hundreds of prisoners and pretrial detainees have been transferred to Russia, a practice it says is "strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law."

The report also says at least three detainees died after not receiving adequate medical care in custody.

In addition to seizing Crimea, Russia fomented separatism across much of Ukraine after Yanukovych's ouster and has supported separatists fighting against Kyiv's forces in a conflict that has killed more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP


The latest book by Pulitzer Prize-winning American historian Anne Applebaum, Red Famine: Stalin's War On Ukraine, sheds new light on one of the seminal events in Ukrainian history  the deadly famine of 1932-33 that Ukrainians call the Holodomor. Some 4 million Ukrainians were killed in a famine that was engineered by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin to eliminate a perceived threat to central Soviet power.



RFE/RL Russian Service correspondent Natalya Golitsina spoke with Applebaum about this tragedy and the role it continues to play in Ukraine's relations with Russia.



RFE/RL: What caused the Holodomor?

Anne Applebaum: The Holodomor was created deliberately by Stalin. There was, in 1932, the beginnings of broad Soviet famine that was caused by collectivization and the grain-requisitions policy. By the autumn of 1932, Stalin decided to make use of this crisis, to use it in order to target Ukraine specifically. And at that time, as my book shows, there were a number of measures taken that specifically affected Ukraine: blacklisting of particular farms and towns and villages, a cordon around the border so that people were unable to leave Ukraine, special measures against Ukrainian cultural institutions and the Ukrainian language. And these were all undertaken at the same time.

I do believe that was intended to kill more people in Ukraine and that it did so and that the Ukrainian Communist Party and the Soviet Communist Party knew that this was happening. Yes, it was an intentional famine.

RFE/RL: And Stalin was responsible?

Applebaum: Stalin is personally responsible, but a lot of other people were also responsible, too. The famine was carried out with the help of Ukrainian bureaucrats, the Ukrainian Communist Party, as well as by Russians and Soviet leaders who came into the country from outside.

In order to carry out a famine like this  remember, it involved removing the food (not only grain, but also other kinds of food) from people's homes -- in order to carry it out, they needed many people. So I would say there was a wider social responsibility.



RFE/RL: Why would Stalin target Ukraine in this way?

Applebaum: Stalin was afraid of counterrevolution and he was particularly afraid of Ukraine. He remembered that during the Civil War era, there had been a major peasant rebellion in Ukraine. And in 1932, he knew there had been an armed uprising in opposition to collectivization in Ukraine. And he also knew that there were many people in Moscow who were upset more generally about collectivization and about its impact.

Actually, in the autumn of 1932 when they passed the decrees that were designed specifically toward Ukraine, one of the decrees they passed was an end to [the 1920s-era policy of] 'Ukrainization'  that is, language and culture, the propagation of Ukrainian identity. This was seen as somehow counterrevolutionary and dangerous and they sought to end it. He was afraid that this would harm him. So, the famine, along with a crackdown on Ukrainian intellectuals  these two things together were an attempt to make sure there would be no counterrevolution coming from Ukraine.



I think that for Stalin, Ukraine represented an idea. The idea of an independent Ukraine was a challenge to central Soviet power that could potentially undermine the Soviet state. This is what he believed. I think he also believed a sovereign Ukraine would find allies, would ally themselves with Poland or other countries and they might not be loyal to the Soviet system. For him, it was very important to eliminate this Ukrainian idea. He believed it was a challenge to the Soviet idea.

And I should say that if you step back and look at it, he may have been right because, of course, the revival of the Ukrainian idea that happened in the late 1980s and early 1990s, ultimately leading to an independent Ukraine in 1991, did help undermine the Soviet Union. It was a challenge and a real threat to Soviet power  and [Stalin] sought to eliminate it in any way.

RFE/RL: How many people died as a result of the Holodomor?

Applebaum: Over the last several years, a team of really good Ukrainian demographers has gone back through the archival material and has looked at local birth and death records. And the number they have come up with is that 3.9 million -- nearly 4 million people -- died in Ukraine. So-called excess deaths. In other words, more than the number of people who would normally have died. So we can say that that is the number of people who died.

The numbers have been difficult to calculate because the Soviet system tried to cover up the famine immediately after it happened, even going to the extent of covering up and hiding a census that was taken in 1937, which showed large numbers of deaths. But this team of Ukrainian demographers recently has come up with, I think, finally, very good numbers.



RFE/RL: There has been much debate over whether the Holodomor should be considered an act of genocide. Where do you stand on that?

Applebaum: I'm very happy to call it a genocide, according to the original definition of the word genocide as it was invented by Raphael Lemkin, who was the lawyer who came up with the term. I think it fits perfectly into his definition of genocide.

I know it is more difficult to do so in international law because of the way that international law was written and in particular because the UN Convention on Genocide was created with the help of the Soviet Union, which was very anxious not to include Ukrainian famine and other Soviet crimes. I know that legally it can be more difficult to do it, but, yes, of course, I believe in essence it was a genocide.

RFE/RL: Why didn't the Soviet Union seek international assistance during the famine as it did during other famines in the 1920s?

Applebaum: The Soviet Union didn't ask for assistance in 1932 and 1933 partly because Stalin didn't want the world to know that collectivization, which he was trumpeting as a great triumph  he didn't want people to know that it was a real disaster. He didn't want people inside the Soviet Union to know and he didn't want people abroad to know.

I think that for Putin, Ukraine represents a challenge a little bit the way Ukrainian sovereignty was a challenge for Stalin."

But, of course, the second reason was that he was using this general famine to target Ukraine. He wasn't interested in saving people. He wanted the peasants, as a group, to be weakened and he didn't want people to survive. So there was no effort to collect international aid.



RFE/RL: How were the grain requisitions carried out?



Applebaum: It is important to note that the famine was not just the result of grain requisition, although that was the most important part of it. Brigades of activists came through Ukrainian villages and they took not only grain but everything else. They took all other kinds of food  vegetables, beets, potatoes. There were meat quotas they had to fulfill. They took everything they could out of people's homes. It was a crude and violent operation.

In the course of doing so, they would beat people up and throw them out of their homes. They would attack them and torture them in order to get them to They believed the peasants were hiding grain and food. And, of course, sometimes they were. So they would torment people in order to get them to give up the grain and the food. It was a very violent and chaotic operation. But the long-term effect of it was that people were left with literally nothing. They would have no food in their houses at all.



RFE/RL: How widespread was cannibalism in Ukraine at this time?

Applebaum: Cannibalism wasn't common, but it did happen and there were many incidents of it that were reported to police. They knew about it, the authorities knew about it, and they would have passed it on to higher levels. It is important to note that even then, even when there was no food at all, cannibalism was never considered normal. It always evoked reactions of horror. Cannibals were often arrested.

People began speaking again about the famine right at the time when Ukrainian independence became something that was possible again."

There is some evidence that cannibals were later on even kept together in the [gulag] camp system. There were reports of people who saw them on the Solovetsky Islands a little bit later on. It was, if not common, it was there and in almost every one of the famine districts there were incidents of cannibalism. And there are descriptions in the archives and in people's memoirs.



RFE/RL: Did Ukrainians fight back, resist during the Holodomor?

Applebaum: There was initially resistance to collectivization. And then there was resistance to requisitions. People hid their grain. Later on, when the famine began, there was very little resistance because people were simply too hungry and not able to resist anymore. But there were also some Ukrainian peasants who collaborated and helped carry out the requisitions.

This is an important point to remember because it is an indication of just how effective propaganda and terror were in convincing people to do terrible things. People were afraid of being deprived of food. They were afraid of the violence. They wanted to save their own families and their own children, so some local people did help the activist brigades carry out the requisitions and carry out the food searches. In effect, the Ukrainian peasantry was divided between those who suffered and those who sought to find ways of surviving themselves.



RFE/RL: Why is the Holodomor such an important chapter in Ukraine's history and such an integral part of Ukrainian national identity?

Applebaum: The Holodomor, because it was repressed and because you were not allowed to speak about it, became part of a kind of underground culture in Ukraine. People spoke about it behind the scenes and passed the story of it from parents to children. The Ukrainian diaspora began to speak about it and write about it and even commemorate it, particularly after they were able to leave the country in large numbers in the 1940s and 1950s. It became a kind of symbol of Ukraine's untold history. It is a way in which Ukraine's history is different from that of Russia, and it is being denied.

In the late 1980s [came the Chernobyl disaster] and immediately afterward many Ukrainians began saying, Look, this is something that has happened to us before. We had this famine disaster and that was also kept secret. People began speaking again about the famine right at the time when Ukrainian independence became something that was possible again. Although I think there are other reasons why Ukraine sought independence, it was an important motivation for people, a memory of something terrible that had happened and that had been silenced. One of the motivations for people to begin speaking again about Ukraine and Ukrainian sovereignty was to talk once again about the famine.



RFE/RL: You discussed earlier how Ukraine presented a challenge to Stalin. Is there something similar going on now with Russian President Vladimir Putin?

Applebaum: I think that for Putin, Ukraine represents a challenge a little bit the way Ukrainian sovereignty was a challenge for Stalin. Ukrainian independence represents a challenge for Putin as well, particularly a Ukraine which is pro-European, which is democratic, which believes in freedom of speech and the rule of law. These are all idealsthe kinds of values and ideas that threaten Putinism because Putinism is an oligarchic autocracy that would be in trouble if there was complete freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the rule of law.

A Ukraine which embodies European values is a genuine ideological challenge to Putin. I wouldn't say to Russia itself because I think Russia and Ukraine should be close neighbors. If they both shared the same values, they would have valuable exchanges and trade and so on. But Putin's political system does feel challenged by these values and that explains both his attitude toward Ukraine and his invasion of Ukraine.
Kurdish men and women cast their ballots amid tight security in Irbil on September 25 in an independence vote organized by the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region. Over five million people are estimated to be eligible to vote in the nonbinding referendum, held in spite of opposition from Iraq's central government and the UN. The election is expected to give Kurdish leader Masud Barzani, who came to vote in a village near Irbil, a mandate to negotiate with Baghdad and neighboring states over the secession of the oil-producing region. (Reuters)
ISLAMABAD -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has returned to Islamabad after a month in London, arriving in the capital a day before his scheduled appearance at an accountability court over corruption allegations that led to his disqualification from office for life.

Upon his arrival at Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Rawalpindi early on September 25, Sharif was met by several key allies from his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) political party.

They included National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, PML-N Information Secretary Mushahidullah Khan, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, and the prime minister's adviser on aviation, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi.

Sharif has been summoned by a court from Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to appear on September 26 in regard to three corruption allegations.

Those allegations stem from investigations into the so-called Panama Papers leaks in April 2016, when documents from a Panama-based law firm revealed that three of Sharifs four children owned offshore companies and used them to buy properties in London.

On July 28, Pakistans Supreme Court disqualified Sharif from office for life, citing undeclared assets, and ordered a criminal probe into his familys wealth. He resigned shortly after the ruling and later left the country.

Sharif, 67, had been visiting his wife Kulsoom Nawaz in recent weeks in London, where she is undergoing cancer treatment.

Family members who were in London with Sharif, including his daughter Maryam and sons Hussain and Hassan, did not accompany him on his return to Pakistan.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, a political ally of Sharif who also has been summoned to appear before the NAB court, returned to Islamabad from London on September 24.

The NAB court issued arrest warrants for Dar after he failed to appear before the court on September 20.

Dar had been attending the UN General Assembly in New York with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for the past week.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and Dawn.com
BRUSSELS -- Russian civil society activists are urging European Union member states to investigate crimes allegedly committed by Chechen authorities on gay men.

Igor Kochetkov, the founder and council member of the Russian LGBT Network, told the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on September 25 that his organization had helped 76 people to leave Chechnya.

"We should understand that those evacuated from Chechnya are still under threat not only in Chechnya but also outside. The Chechen authorities look for them directly or through their relatives and try to intimidate them," he told the committee.

Kochetkov also said that there were dozens of victims and witnesses of crimes that live in EU countries that are prepared to testify but that "they need guarantees of safety for themselves and their relatives."

"If the EU is really interested in investigating these crimes it is not just sufficient to just accept these refugees, you could launch you own investigations, you could give fully-fledged state support and protection of witnesses and victims of those crimes," he said.

The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta has reported that more than 100 men were detained in Chechnya on the basis of the assumption that they were gay, and that at least three of them were killed. Others were reportedly tortured.

That reporting has been corroborated in part or in whole by rights groups and RFE/RL.

The Kremlin has downplayed the accusations, as has Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, who has asserted that homosexuality does not exist in Chechen society.
Special forces from Russia and Pakistan have begun a two-week joint training exercise in Russias North Caucasus republic of Karachayevo-Cherkessia.

At a September 25 opening ceremony attended by 200 troops and special forces commanders from both countries, Pakistani General Saeed Alamdar Houssein Shah said the exercises were "of great importance" to both Islamabad and Moscow.

"The drills are aimed at exchanging professional experience and to consolidate cooperation in the military sphere between Russian and Pakistani mountain units," Shah said at the opening ceremony in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz.

Vadim Astafyev, spokesman for the forces in Russia's Southern Military District, said the Druzhba 2017 drills would enhance cooperation in counterterrorism operations, hostage rescue missions, and cordon-and-search operations.

The drills are scheduled to continue through October 4.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, said Pakistani Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa is expected to visit Russia during the first week of October.

Pakistan and Russia signed a defense cooperation agreement in 2014 that provides for cooperation on promoting international security.

The accord also calls for intensification of counterterrorism efforts and arms control activities as well as strengthening military cooperation and sharing experiences in counterterrorism operations.

The two countries conducted their first joint exercises under the accord in September 2016  dubbed as Druzhba 2016 -- in the mountains near the Pakistani village of Cherat between the cities of Peshawar and Rawalpindi.

With reporting by AP, Dawn.com, TASS, and Interfax


Police in the Russian city of Perm have refused to launch an investigation into a local food shop over a sign emphasizing in vulgar language that homosexuals are "not allowed" inside.

Maya Gorbunova, one of two women who filed a complaint with police in the Urals city in June about the shop -- part of a chain established in Russia by a prominent businessman -- posted a police statement about the issue on Facebook on September 23.

In the letter to a local prosecutor, which Gorbunova received on September 22, a police official says there are no grounds for a probe because, it asserts, the words pederast and pederasty are "scientific" terms for "male homosexuality" and not expletives.

The sign on the food shop, however, contains not the word pederast but a variant that is spelled differently and is widely considered in Russia to be an insulting expletive referring to a gay man.

The letter, dated August 29, gives no further explanation. It also says nothing about whether it is legal to bar gay men from an establishment in Russia, where homosexual relations were decriminalized in the 1990s.

"I think it is immoral and offensive to limit the entrance to a store, which is a public place, to anyone.... I will not allow anyone to rudely insult others in my city," Gorbunova wrote on Facebook.

Local media reports on September 25 said that the human rights ombudswoman in the Perm region, Tatyana Margolina, had urged prosecutors to look into the issue despite the police decision.

The shop in Perm is part of a chain called Khleb Sol (Bread and Salt) that is owned by German Sterligov, a prominent businessman in the early 1990s who is now an avowed monarchist and champion of what he says are traditional Russian values.

In 2013, President Vladimir Putin signed a law that bans disseminating "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors, which Kremlin critics say amounts to a ban on gay-rights rallies and could encourage discrimination and violence against gays.

With reporting by 59.ru and Permnews.ru
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the governor of the Samara Oblast, Nikolai Merkushkin, amid speculation that a shake-up of regional leaders is imminent ahead of a presidential election in March.

The move, in a decree announced on September 25, comes weeks after Kremlin-backed candidates swept to victory in gubernatorial elections that Putin's spokesman said demonstrated voters' approval of the president's regional personnel policies.

The decree on the Kremlin website said that Putin accepted Merkushkin's resignation and appointed Dmitry Azarov, a member of Russia's upper parliament house and a former mayor of the city of Samara, as acting governor of the region on the Volga River.

With a separate decree, Putin appointed Merkushkin as his representative to the World Congress of the Finno-Ugric Peoples.

Merkushkin had been governor of Samara Oblast since May 2012. Before that, he was head of his native Republic of Mordovia -- whose indigenous ethnic group, the Mordvinians, speak a Finno-Ugric language.

Rumors have bubbled in recent weeks about the possible looming dismissals of a string of regional heads, speculation that has snowballed since Kremlin-backed candidates swept all 16 gubernatorial elections held on September 10.

Political analysts have linked the potential shake-up to preparations for the presidential election scheduled for March 18, 2018, in which Putin is widely expected to seek and secure a fourth term even though he has not announced his candidacy.

In past elections, the Kremlin has looked to regional governors to secure as much support as possible for Putin.

In the run-up to the September 10 elections, Putin had dismissed several regional heads and installed acting replacements who went on to win their respective posts on the ticket of the ruling United Russia party. Like Azarov, 47, several of these new governors are younger than 50 and were plucked from government posts in Moscow.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on September 11 that the success of United Russia candidates in the gubernatorial elections shows a "deep trust" in the candidates Putin put forward.

Kremlin critics accused authorities of exploiting a bureaucratic requirement to narrow the field in the gubernatorial elections and prevent potentially strong candidates from challenging United Russia in the elections.

Hours before Merkushkin's dismissal was announced, the Russian newspaper Kommersant had cited unnamed sources close to the Kremlin as saying he would soon be out.

Kommersant also quoted unnamed sources as saying governors of several other regions -- including Ivanovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Murmansk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Altai Krai, and the Nenets Autonomous Region -- would step down in the coming days.

Asked about the Kommersant report, Peskov said on September 25 that "people write all kinds of things" and that the Kremlin did not confirm or deny reports about personnel moves.

With reporting by Kommersant, Interfax, and TASS
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said he thinks the United States will not strike North Korea because it knows Pyongyang possesses nuclear weapons.

"The Americans won't carry out a strike on [North] Korea because it's not that they suspect, they know for sure that it has nuclear bombs," Lavrov said in an interview with Russia's NTV television that aired on September 24.

"I'm not defending North Korea, I'm just saying that almost everyone agrees with such an analysis," he added.

Tensions have been on the rise recently over North Korea's nuclear tests.

Earlier this month, North Korea carried out an underground test on a hydrogen bomb estimated to be 16 times the size of the bomb the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

In response, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighter jets flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on September 23. The flight was the farthest north of the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea that any U.S. fighter jet or bomber has flown in the 21st century.

"Regarding this issue, President [Vladimir] Putin has repeatedly said it was impossible to imagine that the U.S., or someone else, has 100 percent information on all of the [nuclear] weapons" North Korea may have, Lavrov said.

In his first address to the UN General Assembly on September 19, U.S. President Donald Trump called leader Kim Jong Un a "Rocket Man" on a "suicide mission," while North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the same venue that Trump is a "mentally deranged person full of megalomania," who poses "the gravest threat to international peace and security today."

Lavrov, who in a speech to the United Nations on September 22 characterized the rhetoric as "a kindergarten fight between children," said that if the United States hasnt considered the North actually possessing nuclear weapons, the situation could spiral out of control, so that thousands, dozens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of innocent people will suffer in South Korea, as well as in the North, certainly in Japan, with Russia and China nearby too.

Russias top diplomat urged "suggestion and persuasion" to resolve the situation.

With reporting by NTV, AFP, and TASS
MOSCOW -- Kremlin foe Aleksei Navalny is trading barbs with Russian celebrity and TV host Ksenia Sobchak over speculation she will run for the Russian presidency in March -- a rumor widely discussed in media reports that she has yet to confirm or explicitly deny.



A bid for the Kremlin by the liberal-minded socialite-cum-journalist would set up a potential showdown with President Vladimir Putin, the KGB lieutenant colonel who cut his political teeth in the 1990s working for her father, then St. Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak.



The persistence of the unconfirmed media reports has already convinced some observers of their veracity -- and drawn fire from Navalny, the opposition leader who is currently on tour in the Far East trying to whip up support for his own presidential campaign.



Navalny claims that if Sobchak runs, she would serve as a Kremlin-backed liberal spoiler who would hurt his campaign while lending credibility to the election. Officials have said Navalny is barred from running due to an embezzlement conviction he calls politically motivated.



"The Kremlin's idea is very simple," Navalny told his followers on YouTube on September 21. "They need a caricature liberal candidate, especially if they don't want to register me. They'll say: 'We won't allow Navalny [to run] because he's a criminal extremist, but look, here is Ksenia Sobchak. She says everything the opposition wants.'"

He called Sobchak's economic and political views "fairly cannibalistic" and typical of the early 1990s liberals from whom Navalny has sought to distance himself in a bid to broaden his appeal to the Russian everyman with promises of higher wages, less corruption, and tighter restrictions on Central Asian migrants.



Sobchak responded on September 23, dismissing his comments as "populist" and accusing Navalny of grossly misrepresenting her views. She also questioned why -- given that they know one another -- he didn't just call her rather than denouncing her on YouTube.



"Why are you feeding off these leaks made specially (and you cannot, as a politician, not understand this) to discredit and doom such thoughts, if I were having them, at the start," she wrote on Instagram.



She accused Navalny of seeking a "monopoly" on opposition activity and accused him of not actively supporting the campaign led by opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov to win seats in municipal elections in Moscow on September 10.



'Ideal' Candidate



Sobchack rose to prominence in the 2000s as a reality TV host and regular fixture in gossip columns but transformed into a prominent Kremlin critic during the opposition protests that erupted in late 2011 over election-rigging allegations. She now works as a journalist for the independent news outlet TV Rain.



The first public indication she might bid for the Kremlin came in the Vedomosti newspaper on September 1. Citing sources in the Kremlin, the paper reported that officials believe a female candidate in the March 2018 election would inject interest into an otherwise staid race expected to hand Putin another six-year term.



The Kremlin is reviewing various possible female candidates, with one source touting Sobchak as the "ideal" one, the Vedomosti report said.



The purported electoral stage-management was reminiscent of claims around liberal-minded tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov's candidacy in the 2012 presidential election. Prokhorov was seen as a Kremlin-approved straw man invited to create the illusion of a contest, a characterization the billionaire rejected.



Sobchak has denied any kind of partnership with the Kremlin, writing on Facebook that she is "an independent person" and "proud of that."

She has repeatedly panned media reports about her supposed bid for the presidency as attempts to "discredit" her.



On September 20, speaking to TV Rain, she said "the rumors of my bid are a provocation and the latest attempt to discredit," adding, without elaborating: "I am currently working on a big project, but it is journalistic, not political."



Nonetheless, the rumors and leaks have not abated. On September 22, journalist Ilya Varlamov's popular blog cited sources as saying that Sobchak would announce her campaign after a meeting with Putin.



Putin's Mentor



Putin has not declared his intention to run in the election, though he is expected to do so and to win.



An electoral encounter between Sobchak and Putin might make an interesting spectacle because of the family connection.



Putin considers her late father, St. Petersburg's mayor from 1991-96, to be a mentor. Putin was one of two deputy mayors under Anatoly Sobchak, who lost reelection in 1996 and fled Russia the following year amid criminal investigations he was facing.



He returned after Putin was named prime minister in 1999 and died of a heart attack a month before Putin was elected to his first term in March 2000. His death triggered allegations that he was poisoned.



Putin himself commented on speculation about Ksenia Sobchak's possible presidential bid, calling her father a "remarkable figure in modern Russian history" and a "very honorable" man who "played a big role in my fate."



"But when we're talking about running for the presidency, things like personal character cannot play any significant role. It depends on the kind of program she proposes, if she really is going to run, and how she manages her presidential campaign," Putin said.
A top Russian Foreign Ministry official has asserted the United States is to blame for the death of a Russian general killed in eastern Syria over the weekend.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov's comments on September 25 were some of the bluntest to date as Russia-backed forces move dangerously close to U.S.-trained and -supplied forces in eastern Syria.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a day earlier that Lieutenant General Valery Asapov had been killed amid shelling near the city of Deir al-Zor.

"The death of the Russian commander is the price, the bloody price for the two-faced American policy in Syria," Ryabkov, was quoted by state-run RIA Novosti and other news agencies as saying.

"The American side declares that it is interested in the elimination of [Islamic State]...but some of its actions show it is doing the opposite and that some political and geopolitical goals are more important for Washington," he said.

Moscow and Washington back separate military forces in the Syrian war, both of which are advancing against Islamic State (IS) militants in the east of the country near the Iraqi border.

There was no immediate response in Washington to Ryabkov's comments. The United States has made similar accusations against Moscow, asserting that Russian forces say they are targeting IS fighters, but are in fact targeting U.S.-backed forces.

Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air power and Iranian-allied militias, have gained control of most of Deir al-Zor on the western side of the Euphrates River.

A U.S.-backed Kurdish-led militia, along with fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces, said on September 20 that their campaign to capture the IS stronghold of Raqqa, north of Deir al-Zor, was in its final stages.

With the two opposing forces fighting in close proximity to one another, fears have grown that U.S. and Russian air power could be drawn into the fight, and even end up facing one another.

Russia had warned the United States that it would retaliate immediately if Syrian government forces came under fire from the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led militia.

That led U.S. and Russian generals to hold a first face-to-face meeting last week in an effort to avoid accidental clashes and prevent a direct confrontation between the two sides.

Meanwhile, a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spokesman said Russian planes targeted their fighters in gas fields not far from Deir al-Zor.

Brigadier Talal Silo did not specify the number of dead or wounded from the attacks.

The Russian military denied the accusations, saying it conducts accurate air strikes on targets "confirmed by multiple sources."

SDF fighters captured the war-torn country's largest gas field, Koniko, from IS militants on September 23.

Elsewhere in Syria, an activist monitoring group said that Russian air strikes had killed 36 civilians in the northwestern province of Idlib.

Russia, Turkey, and Iran earlier this month agreed to create a "de-escalation zone" in Idlib, an area under the control of opposition forces in the north.

With reporting by RIA Novosti, TASS, and dpa
20 Russian soldiers and Archbishop Michael from Geneva stand in front of a monument dedicated to Russian General Alexander Suvorov, who in 1799 crossed the Alps from Italy to cut off the advance of Napoleon's troops, during a commemoration event in the Schoellenenschlucht ravine near Andermatt in central Switzerland on September 24. (epa-efe/Alexandra Wey)
Envoys of the Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region have opened up a new representative office in the southern French city of Marseille.

The center, which was formally unveiled on September 25, was the latest effort by separatist officials to try and legitimize their authority in eastern Ukraine, where war broke out in March 2014.

The office was organized with the help of a small right-wing French political party known as the National Center of Independents and Peasants.

Hubert Fayard, who heads a branch of the party and is heading the new center, said the goal was to "inform French people of developments in Donbas," the region encompassing much of the eastern Ukrainian industrial heartland.

"France, as we know, does not officially recognize [the separatists in Donbas] but this does not prevent us from this activity, from informing people, establishing humanitarian contacts," Fayard was quoted by the Russian state-run news agency TASS as saying.

A spokesman for France's Foreign Ministry last week said the government had no plans to recognize the new center in Marseille.

At least 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting in eastern Ukraine between government forces and separatists who are backed by Russia, sometimes with heavy weaponry.

According to TASS, similar centers have been opened in other European countries including Finland, Greece, and Italy.

An office in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava was shut down in June after the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sent a note of protest.

With reporting by TASS
Amnesty International has accused a Ukrainian state-owned company of trying to violate a UN embargo on arms sales to South Sudan, saying the company sought to supply the African country with thousands of machine guns, mortars, and other weapons.

The British-based rights group said Ukrinmash worked with a U.A.E. company in 2014 to circumvent a United Nations ban on arms sales to the war-torn African state.

The group said it was not able to determine whether some or all of the weapons listed in the contact documents, estimated at $169 million, had been delivered to South Sudan.

But if they were, the group said it would be one of the largest publicly disclosed arms transfers since the outbreak of fighting in South Sudan in December 2013.

Yuriy Kyrylych, a representative of state-run Ukrinmash, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that the company had not, in fact, supplied any weapons and did not plan to.

Amnesty alleged that the Ukrainian and UAE companies sought to use a tiny British-registered company as the supplier in the deal and that the British government has done nothing to clamp down on this or similar arms sales.
The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of entities and individuals that it says are involved in supplying Russia with military technology to use in its war against Ukraine.

The Treasury said in a statement on November 14 that the sanctions targeted a "transnational network procuring technology that supports the Russian military-industrial complex."

In addition, it also designated a global network of financial facilitators, enablers, and others associated with two key Kremlin-linked elites whose fortunes are intertwined with the West. In all, the actions designated 14 individuals and 28 entities, and identified eight aircraft as blocked property.

Washington has targeted sanctions at major military industrial firms in Russia and made moves to cut off exports of U.S.-made components and U.S. technologies that have been used in some of Russia's military hardware.

This has pushed the Kremlin to seek other military suppliers such as Iran, which has supplied Moscow with drones that are said to be part of Russia's barrage of air attacks on cities across Ukraine in recent weeks.

"The United States will continue to expose and disrupt the Kremlin's military supply chains and deny Russia the equipment and technology it needs to wage its illegal war against Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.

"Today's actions demonstrate Treasury's steadfast commitment to targeting people around the world aiding [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war effort and the crony elites who bankroll his regime. Together with our broad coalition of partners, we will continue to use our sanctions and export controls to weaken Russia's military on the battlefield and cut into the revenue Putin is using to fund his brutal invasion."

Milandr, a Russian microelectronics company that the United States says is part of Moscow's military research and development structure, was placed on the list, as well as three entities tied to the company and several company executives.

The sanctions also targeted the family of billionaire oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, who was already placed on the list in September, and a network of people around businesses he is linked to.

Kerimov, a trained economist who made a career investing in distressed companies in Russia, is considered to have close ties with Putin.

In May, Fiji seized a $300 million yacht he owns at the request of the United States. It is now impounded in San Diego, California.

The sanctions target Kerimov's wife, children, and a nephew, four French real estate firms controlled by one of his daughters, and several Swiss nationals linked to Kerimov's companies.

Among them is Swiss national Alexander-Walter Studhalter, who was placed under sanctions along with Russian businessman Murat Aliyev for their involvement in more than a dozen companies in Kerimov's financial network, according to the Treasury Department.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Studhalter as "a key player in Kerimov's financial network." Blinken said he was designated along with eight Studhalter-linked entities across five European countries and two of Kerimov's adult sons who hold leadership positions in their father's companies.

In addition, the Treasury Department placed a block on eight small jet aircraft it said were luxury planes used by Kerimov's family, leaving them potentially vulnerable to seizure.

The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets belonging to the foundation and generally bars Americans from dealing with it. Those dealing in certain transactions with the foundation also risk sanctions.

In response to Moscow's unprovoked war against Ukraine, the United States will continue to disrupt Russia's military supply chains and impose high costs on President Putin's enablers, it said, as well as all those who support Russia's brutality against its neighbor.
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.
NASA's Earth-observing satellites can track the forces that create malaria outbreaks, and their data will soon help local communities make big strides toward warding off the deadly disease.

The Land Data Assimilation System (LDAS) project allows satellites from far above the Amazon rainforest in South America to track environmental factors (such as rainfall) and human activities (such as logging) that may attract the Anopheles darlingi mosquito, the host of malaria in the region.

NASA's Applied Sciences Program is funding the investigation into using the LDAS to predict malaria outbreaks. William Pan of the Duke Global Health Institute, who is leading the project, said it could be ready to be implemented within a few years, and its analytical models can also be extended to help prevent the spread of Zika, dengue or other diseases. [Why Use Satellites To Measure Rain? (Video)]

Several Earth-observing NASA satellites collect data about rainfall. Mosquitoes that carry malaria like standing water to lay their eggs, so rainfall data can help public health researchers access where a deadly malaria outbreak is likeliest to occur. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Joy Ng)

By pinpointing areas with warm air temperatures that are likely to have calm ponds or puddles of water, the satellites provide data that Pan and his research team can use, in cooperation with the Peruvian government, to forecast malaria outbreaks down to the household level, NASA officials said in a statement.

Malaria is a deadly global disease that is transmitted by about 40 species of mosquitoes, according to NASA. And in nations like Peru, it is difficult to assess where contaminated female mosquitoes are laying their eggs. The insects look for warm and calm waters, which, according to NASA, can emerge in changing parts of the rainforest, depending on where rainfall accumulates and where logging ditches are dug.

The Amazon basin is witnessing a recent rise in malaria infections, which have particularly severe effects on young children and the elderly. According to the World Health Organization's 2016 Malaria Report, Peru and Venezuela were each experiencing more than 20 percent spikes in estimated malaria cases as well as in estimated mortality rates. People do not always experience their first symptoms of malaria where they contract the disease, so containing an outbreak is challenging. Malaria is passed from female mosquitoes when they feed on blood, and frequently lay eggs as they have short life cycles of just two weeks.

NASA's Applied Sciences Program is funding a public health project that uses NASA satellites to track the spread of malaria infections in the Amazon rainforest of Peru. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Joy Ng )

Pan and his team can get data about precipitation, soil moisture, air temperature and vegetation from the LDAS, which folds in data from satellites such as Landsat, Global Precipitation Measurement, Terra and Aqua.

By showing where calm puddles and ponds are likely to form, the team can anticipate where malaria outbreaks are likeliest to occur.

"These models let us predict where the soil moisture is going to be in a condition that will allow for breeding sites to form," Ben Zaitchik, the project's co-investigator, said in the statement.

As NASA satellites detect rainfall, scientists can make predictions about where loggers are likeliest to enter the jungles  and, therefore, where they might catch malaria  since logs are easier to transport via timber floating, where there is a body of water they can travel upon. Malaria is often a byproduct of deforestation, and several nations in the Amazon basin, like Peru, are home to extensive, and sometimes illegal, logging. As the prediction models analyze the data from NASA's satellites, public health officials can make better-informed preparations by sending aid to people living near malaria breeding grounds in the country.

The project is now in the third and final year of its NASA grant, and Pan's team continues to refine the models. The Peruvian government is already familiarizing itself with LDAS, according to NASA, and the malaria prediction tools should be ready for use within the next few years. Colombia and Ecuador, which also have lands inside the Amazon basin, have expressed interest in the initiative.

Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter @salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
During early evenings every September, the constellation Lyra occupies a position almost directly overhead, ideal positioning for skywatchers to view its delicious showpiece, the Ring Nebula (inset). In a backyard telescope, this stellar corpse resembles a tiny smoke ring. The constellation's very bright star Vega makes it easy for skywatchers to find Lyra.

An astronomical breakfast awaits if you look straight up in the sky in the upcoming nights.

This time of year, the constellation Lyra occupies a prime location at the apex of the early evening sky. Astronomers know that the best time to view an object is when it is directly overhead, when it shines through the thinnest possible layer of Earth's distorting atmosphere. So, right now is a great time to view the treats  a "double double" and a donut  in Lyra's "coffee shop"!

Lyra is an easy constellation for skywatchers to find using the naked eye, and it contains celestial treats visible in binoculars and backyard telescopes. In this edition of Mobile Astronomy, we'll tell you how to use your favorite sky-charting app to enjoy this constellation.

Why looking straight up is best

Once it's dark, tilt your head back  or set out a blanket, gravity chair or chaise  and look waaay up. The point in the sky directly above you is called the zenith. During the night, various stars and constellations will pass through that patch of sky as the Earth's rotation carries them from east to west. While objects occupy that position, they will always appear at their best.

That's because of the effects of the atmosphere. When light rays from stars, planets and deep-sky objects pass through the Earth's atmosphere, the rays experience some scattering and attenuation, making the object appear less sharp and bright than it would if viewed from space. The rays are also subject to moment-by-moment distortions caused by turbulence in the air, resulting in twinkling; the longer the rays spend traveling through air, the more the view of an object is degraded. [Night Sky: Visible Planets, Moon Phases & Events, September 2017]

So, objects in the zenith appear clearer, because starlight arriving to our eyes (or telescopes) from the zenith passes through the least amount of atmosphere. Starlight from objects lower in the sky passes through much more air. For example, light from stars sitting about 30 degrees above the horizon is traversing twice as much air as those at the zenith, and light from objects near the horizon is being viewed through as much as six times the air mass.

That's why professional and amateur astronomers use planetarium software to determine the dates and times when their viewing targets are highest in the night sky. It's also why our views of Saturn have been less than ideal for the past couple of years. The ringed planet has been appearing during the summer months, when the plane where we find all the planets, called the ecliptic, is very low in the nighttime southern sky. Saturn's orbit around the sun takes 29.4 years, so we will have to wait a while longer before the planet moves into a higher position in the autumn sky.

Where's Lyra?

In early evening in mid-September every year, the constellation of Lyra the Harp passes near the zenith. Let's tour this constellation, pointing out some objects you can see with binoculars and small telescopes. Your favorite sky-charting app  such as SkySafari 5 for iOS (opens in new tab) and Android, Star Walk 2 and Stellarium Mobile  can help you find Lyra's "donut" and its "double-double" (coffee)!

In Greek mythology, Lyra represented the harp played by Orpheus. Visible from spring to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, this constellation is flanked by Hercules on the west, Draco on the north, Cygnus on the East and Vulpecula on the south. The Milky Way passes nearby, enriching Lyra's star fields. (Image credit: SkySafari 5 App

In Greek mythology, Lyra was the musical instrument created from a turtle shell by Hermes and later used by Orpheus in his ill-fated attempt to rescue his lost love Eurydice from the underworld. The constellation is one of the original 48 listed by Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, who lived during the second century. It is bounded by the much larger constellations of Hercules on the west, Cygnus on the east and Draco to the north. For skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere, Lyra is visible from spring through autumn.

Once it gets dark, at about 8:30 p.m. local time, face south and look just to the lower right of the zenith. Your eye will be drawn to the very bright star Vega, also known as Alpha Lyrae, the brightest star in Lyra. Vega is the fifth brightest star in the entire night sky, partly because it is only about 25 light-years away and partly because it is a very hot, luminous star. The name Vega was adapted from the Arabic "al Nasr al WakI," or the "Swooping Eagle." Traditionally, the Lyre was pictured as being grasped in the talons of an eagle.

The north end of the Earth's axis of rotation points to a location in the sky called the north celestial pole (NCP). Just as a spinning top's axis slowly processes, the NCP moves in a circle through the stars, taking millennia to complete each circuit. At present, the star Polaris sits close to the pole, but in the distant past, Vega (at bottom) was the most prominent polar star, as it will be again in about A.D. 13,700. (Image credit: Tauolunga/ Wikimedia Commons

Vega is heading toward the sun and will continually brighten over time, becoming the brightest star in the night sky a few hundred thousand years from now. Meanwhile, the slow wobble of the Earth's axis will cause Vega to become the North Pole Star around A.D. 13,700, as it was around 12,000 BC. (You can see this in your sky-charting app by adjusting the year. Switching on the equatorial grid, which is centered on the north celestial pole, will make it more obvious. In those eras, Vega sits near the pole, although not as close to it as the north star Polaris is now.)

Vega also is the brightest, highest and most westerly of the three beautiful, blue-white stars of the Summer Triangle. Moving clockwise, Altair is about three fist widths below and to the left of Vega. Deneb, slightly dimmer than the other two, completes the large triangle at the upper left. The separation between Deneb and Vega is shorter, only 24 degrees or 2.5 fist widths.

Chinese culture celebrates a love story in which the cowherd Niu Lang () is the star Altair. In the legend, he and his two children, represented by Beta and Gamma Aquilae, the stars that flank Altair, were separated from the children's mother, Zhi Nu () the "Weaving Girl" (Vega), by a river, which is represented by the Milky Way. Each year, on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, magpies are said to make a bridge so that the family can be together again for a single night.

Seeing double double

Look for a medium-dim star about a finger's width to the left of Vega and a similarly dim star about a finger's width below Vega. The three stars form a neat little triangle, with Vega at the right vertex.

Binoculars or a small telescope will reveal that the triangle's star to the left of Vega, designated Epsilon Lyrae, actually consists of a close pair of stars. A larger telescope will reveal that each of these two "stars" is itself a very close pair! This quadruple star system, or "double-double," is about 162 light-years from Earth. Even more interesting, the paired stars are orbiting one another, and the two pairs may also be orbiting one another  in a neat little square dance that takes thousands of years to complete! [Awesome Binocular Astronomy with the Help of Mobile Apps]

Lyra contains a number of double stars that are visible in binoculars and backyard telescopes, including Epsilon Lyrae (nicknamed the Double Double), Delta Lyrae and Zeta Lyrae (also called al Nasr al Waki). Deep-sky objects include the Ring Nebula (labeled here as M57); the globular star cluster Messier 56 at lower left; and two open clusters, NGC 6791 and 6743. (Image credit: Stellarium Mobile App

The other corner of our little triangle is the star Zeta Lyrae, and it, too, splits into a double star when viewed with binoculars. Both of those stars are white, and one is slightly brighter than its partner. These stars are about 152 light-years away from Earth, and they themselves have partners that are too close to split visually. Some apps label Zeta as Nasr Alwaki.

Zeta is the top right star of a narrow, upright parallelogram  about two fingers wide and four fingers tall  that forms the rest of the constellation. Moving clockwise through the corners, the three other stars are Sheliak, Sulafat and Delta Lyrae. Sheliak, meaning "Harp," is the brightest member of a tight little grouping of stars visible in a telescope. Sheliak itself has a close-in dim partner that orbits the main star; every 13 days, the brighter star is blocked and the total brightness drops by a noticeable amount. This is called an eclipsing binary system.

At the bottom left corner of the parallelogram sits Sulafat, which means "Turtle"  the star is named for the shell forming the body of the Lyre. Sulafat is a hot, blue, giant star located 620 light-years away from Earth. Similar in color to Vega, Sulafat is much larger; it is an old star on its way to becoming an orange giant many years from now.

Finally, at the upper left of the parallelogram is Delta Lyrae. Sharp eyes and binoculars will easily show that this is yet another pair of stars, one blue (upper) and one red (lower). The two stars are not related; the blue one is several hundred light-years farther away than the red one. They just happen to appear close together along the same line of sight.

Selecting an object and tapping Info in the SkySafari 5 app brings up a page containing alternative names for that object, its sky location, its distance, and details about the object's discovery and astrophysical characteristics. The Galaxy icon at lower right presents the object's location within the Milky Way. (Image credit: SkySafari 5 App

Where's the donut?

So, where's the donut? Train your telescope midway between Sheliak and Sulafat, and look for the little, dim, gray circle known as the Ring Nebula (also known as Messier 57). This little bubble of gas in space, which resembles a smoke ring when viewed in a backyard telescope, is the remnant of a dead star that was very much like our sun.

When a small star exhausts the fuel in its core, it undergoes a gravitational collapse and rebound that expels the star's outer layers, leaving the blazing-hot core exposed as a white dwarf star. The expanding stellar material is made to shine by the radiation emitted from the white dwarf.

These stellar corpses are common throughout the galaxy, appearing in a variety of shapes and colors. Astronomers call them planetary nebulas because they appear as little round disks in the sky, like planets. The SkySafari app has an advanced search option that you can use to find more of them. [Who 1st Saw the Ring Nebula? 238-Year-Old Mystery Is Solved]

There's one more deep-sky treat in Lyra. Using binoculars or a telescope under a dark sky, scan toward the lower left along the imaginary line connecting Sheliak to Sulafat. At about twice their separation (from Sulafat) sits a globular star cluster called Messier 56. It will appear as a dim fuzzy patch  a donut hole!

Globular clusters are spherical-shaped old concentrations of stars that orbit just outside our galaxy. Messier 56 is not a particularly bright one. For an easier globular cluster, search for Messier 13 in your app. It's not too far away.

The Kepler space telescope stared at the same region of sky near Lyra for several years, detecting the slight dimming of stars' light that occurred when the exoplanets that orbit them transited the stars. To date, about 2,500 confirmed exoplanets have been discovered in that patch of sky alone, and 30 of those are believed to be Earth-size and within their stars' habitable zones. (Image credit: Carter Roberts/Eastbay Astronomical Society via NASA

Going beyond

Lyra sits just beside the rich star fields of the Milky Way, so it's an area of sky that rewards scanning with binoculars and backyard telescopes.

Professional astronomers have studied this region of sky, too. To find exoplanets, the Kepler space telescope mission stared at an area a bit larger than a clenched fist (115 square degrees) located just to the upper left of Lyra. The telescope was looking for the slight dimming of starlight produced when planets cross in front of their host stars. To date, about 2,500 confirmed exoplanets have been discovered in that patch of sky alone, and 30 of those are believed to be Earth-size and in their stars' habitable zones!

In a future edition of Mobile Astronomy, we'll talk about how distances to stars are measured, cover wireless telescope remote control and look into more topics. In the meantime, keep looking up!

Editor's note: Chris Vaughan is an astronomy public-outreach and education specialist at AstroGeo, a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, and an operator of the historic 74-inch (1.88 meters) David Dunlap Observatory telescope. You can reach him via email, and follow him on Twitter @astrogeoguy, as well as on Facebook and Tumblr.

This article was provided by Simulation Curriculum, the leader in space science curriculum solutions and the makers of the SkySafari app for Android and iOS. Follow SkySafari on Twitter @SkySafariAstro. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
T he historian Amanda Foreman is campaigning for private secondary schools to return 18th- and 19th-century classics to their curricula. Having educated her five children at British public schools, she says she was horrified to discover that her 16-year-old had read not a single pre-20th-century novel. She now fears that kids are leaving school shut out from their literary heritage.

The first reaction to this  for those who cant afford to send their own children to elite boarding schools  may be a resounding ha ha ha. While state secondaries are at least dabbling in Shakespeare and Dickens thanks to Michael Goves intervention in the national curriculum, private schools are choosing books that are easier to teach to the exam, the better to lure in paying punters with lustrous results. Thats market forces, baby!

But I wonder, in any case, whether this is automatically as bad a thing as Dr Foreman thinks. We do need to strip out the natural declinist belief of each generation that what it learned at school was a proper education; likewise the social cachet of classics and the twined notions, not always congruous, that they are important and that they are delighting.

More middle-class parents, I suspect, claim to love 19th-century classics than spend their spare time reading them. The professed enjoyment is something they consider mandatory, rather, for their children. And if a well-educated mum cant be arsed with Middlemarch, how can she expect her teenager to revel in it? Come to that, how much can even an intelligent 16-year-old understand, say, George Eliot  maybe the most grown-up novelist in English?

The canon is important for the proper study of literature; but pleasure is what gets the process underway. Literature is not a museum. Its an amusement park. Few teenagers can really be expected to have a profound sense of how you get from Beowulf to Bellow  and thats not the most important bit at that stage anyway.

In youth it matters less what you read than that you read a lot. If you enjoy it, youll keep going, and if you keep going, you will come to Dickens and Dostoyevsky. I work as a literary journalist. Im reasonably well-read. But until I was in my mid-teens, I read X-Men comics, Nancy Drew, Willard Price, Dr Who novelisations, Stephen King, and such Wilbur Smith and Harold Robbins as I could find on my parents shelves (many of which books were, in terms of their place in the culture, not that far off Dickens until he was injected with the formaldehyde of posthumous reverence). Those, not early experiments with Flaubert, were really what got me going.

A fledgling critical faculty can be as penetratingly applied to Auster as to Austen; and will be keener if the book is a pleasure rather than a chore. Learning about theme, character, the way sentences work  thats the stuff of literary criticism. The rest is Dr Foremans specialism: history.

Why Londons criminals are having a good hair day

The latest crime-wave is a crime against waves: thieves have taken, its reported, to raiding hair salons to steal hair-straighteners. Not just any hair-straighteners: theyre going straight for ghds (for good hair day). We dont stock the ghds, one salon owner is quoted as saying ruefully. People just pinch them off the shelves.

I prefer not to think that these things are being offloaded for the Christmas market in the back rooms of pubs for a sheaf of tenners. Rather, that frizzy-haired petty criminals are knocking over hair salons and retiring to their dens to spend all night straightening their hair.

Ronnie and Reggie Kray would, were they still with us, have been shaking their Brylcreemed heads that this is what Londons noble criminal traditions have come to.

When Prince Harry met Melania...

Melania Trump with Prince Harry

The staged photograph of Prince Harry meeting Melania Trump at the Invictus Games repays close investigation. Look at the unreadable faces. Look at the not-in-the-same-room body language. Notice how Prince Harry has tucked the second and third fingers of his left hand into his jacket so at first glance it looks like hes throwing some sort of gang sign. And  though Im not much for fashion (see byline photograph, left)  what is Melania wearing? She looks like nothing so much as an haute couture riff on a Dalek. I tell you, well miss her when shes only ever photographed on prison visits.

* Speaking of literature, its Banned Books Week this week. I dont know about you, but Im thinking of holding a street party: everyone should turn up dressed as a book theyd like to ban. You hear so much guff about the importance of free speech, these days; here, at last, is a proper celebration of censorship. Which book would you proscribe? I have my eye on grown-up colouring books, anything whose title contains the phrase shaped the modern world, and anything whose blurb talks about memory and loss. Readers: what do you reckon? I  oh, hang on. Ive misread this press release, havent I?
S am Steiner's plays have great titles - but they are also, by all accounts, great plays. Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons was a critically-acclaimed sell out hit at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe and had a reading by Sienna Miller and Russell Tovey in New York last year. His follow-up, Kanye the First, explores the second coming of pop icon Kanye West, reborn after his death into the body of a teenage girl called Annie.

Following its premiere at HighTide Festival in Aldeburgh, Kanye the First has a second coming in Walthamstow this week. Running from September 26 to October 8 in a temporary theatre space, it can be seen alongside Nessa Muthy's Heroine, about a young female soldier's experiences of PTSD after medical discharge from the army, and Theresa Ikoko's acclaimed drama Girls.

Ahead of the London opening, we asked Steiner why exactly he decided to write a play about Kanye West.

Why do you think Kanye West is the subject of such wide intrigue?

I think there are a lot of reasons. One is his musical talent and influence - whether or not youre happy about it he is objectively one of the most influential pop musicians of the 21st century. Hes also defiantly outspoken and I think a lot of the media coverage of him stems from his inherent quotability. He speaks in superlatives and bravado-infused, headline-friendly axioms.

I think too often our information culture is stripped of empathy. Were so much more interested in what people have said, in catching people out for misspeaking than we are in the meaning behind what they were trying to get across. Kanye West regularly makes himself a perfect target for that. I think one of my main concerns as a writer is that we may be losing out ability to communicate empathetically with each other.

Sam Steiner

What interested you about him?

I started pitching the play around this time last year. Kanye West was going through a very public breakdown at the time and I found a lot of the media coverage around it very cruel. Id also been angered by the petition to cancel his Glastonbury headline set in 2015. It felt worryingly and dangerously exclusionary to me.

I wanted to interrogate how the two-dimensional version of his persona that we see in the media had led a supposedly liberal audience, a group Id usually count myself a part of, to try to exclude him from the festival. So the play explores this empathy gap. The plot of the play literalises a process of cultural appropriation - when one culture uses a two-dimensional reading of another culture for their own personal gain.

What issues did you want to explore in Kanye the First?

I think one of the fascinating things about his persona is his perpetual outsider complex. From the start of his career to the present day I think hes always seen and portrayed himself as an outsider even after marrying one of the most famous insiders in the world.

He was the middle class kid at Jay-Zs record label; the disgraced, narcissistic pop star after the VMAs; the rapper trying to get into the fashion world. Theres this sense of desperation to prove himself, covered in a kind of braggadocio entitlement to a lot of what he does. I think theres something very - and I really hate this word - millennial about that. It resounded with how, deep down, I felt about some things, how I think my friends feel some of the time. But Kanye does it on such an epic scale that I think that can sometimes get lost in translation.

Maybe its because we dont like to admit that we feel those things and therefore flinch away from someone doing it so openly and brazenly. I wanted to explore that.

Were you ever concerned that a play named after Kanye West would distract people from what the play is really about?

Not really. I thought it might help bring a new, younger audience into the theatre and that excited me. I also liked the idea of people sitting down to watch a play called Kanye The First and, for the first 10 minutes at least, just seeing a young British woman struggling to connect with the world. I think whenever you subvert peoples expectations in the theatre it forces them to be more active as an audience. There was also something satisfyingly Kanye-ish about the Shakespeare-aping title, about setting this weird, silly story against a tradition of English history plays.

Do you think our ability to create personas hinders or helps our ability for self-expression?

I think this is something the play hopefully really digs into. Annie, the main character, uses personas in order to be more honest with people. She puts on masks in order to reveal herself more freely, to connect with others - both the other characters and the public/audience. But the other side of that is we become too focussed on viewing ourselves from an outside perspective - looking at what others think of us, the image that we present to the world, rather than growing our identity more organically.

Something Ive become obsessed with recently is who we view as capable of changing. I think too often we decide to view people as fixed entities and that can be reductive and even dehumanising. Theres a link between the way we create personas and our ridiculous expectation that our identities remain constant and unchanging.

You have written a play about Kanye West and a play about lemons. What will you write about next?

Ive decided to take a much-needed break from hip hop superstars and citrus fruit and am writing a play for Paines Plough and Theatre Royal Plymouth about a helpline at the end of the world. Its hopefully going to be this strange little thing about optimism.

Is Kanye invited to the play?

Of course. Does anyone have his email address?

Kanye the First is at The Mix in Walthamstow from September 26 - October 8; hightide.org.uk/festival-walthamstow-2017
B eing a city that reinvents itself after dark, the best time to arrive in Tel Aviv is as the sun is setting.

As clusters of golden bodies gather on the beach, each taking the opportunity to jog or swim off the working hours, the full skin-burning shine of the day gives way to a happy hour limbo in which people are out and about, talking, eating and mingling; everyone is waiting for signs that the nightlife adventures are beginning again.

Of course there are so many ways to see a city, and working upwards from Tel Avivs bars might not be everyones gin and tonic, especially after a long day of travelling, but in recent years Ive found it a fascinating - not to mention delicious - way of settling in. Its an opportunity to sample the local drinks, to hear stories from bartenders, and get a feel for how local people socialise after the suns gone in.

Tel Aviv is a city that never sleeps and you can really feel it - every time you walk around the street at night, its buzzing but the nightlife is just so good there, I could never have enough time to tell you all the places to go out, said the London-based Israeli chef Eran Tibi to me in a recent interview.

So it was that at around 10.30pm on a recent balmy Friday, four of us joined local nightlife entrepreneur Ido Weil to begin a trail around as many bars as we could handle before you guys need to go home. There was a lot resting on this.

Weil meets us near the beautiful tree-lined Rothschild Boulevard in the city centre, but begins rather disconcertingly by telling us that the early part of our crawl could be challenging, since most of the nightlife gets going much later on. But well see what we can find! This place is so fun, he adds, grinning.

Nevertheless in minutes we end up in what I assume is the entrance of a club, where bouncers glare at us from behind a rope. Immediately on seeing Weil, they smile, shake his hand, check our IDs, and let us through a door.

Moments later we are in Kula Aila bar (10 Mikve Israel St), a huge cartoonish basement, where giant illustrations of whisky bottles and tiny Manga-like dancing figures line the walls, an exhibition of erotic art is displayed in a whitewashed gallery, groups of people glug beers and more line up at the bar to order alcoholic slushies. We walk round, we take in the smiles and a (quite nice) yellow slushie, and then we move on.

The Kuli Alma bar

In stark contrast, Aria (66 Nahalat Binyamin St) a few streets away, is a swish, air-conditioned room with mirrors, shiny black fittings, a cocktail list of classics with twists, and a restaurant upstairs, all set inside a recently restored family house. Swish it may be, but it isnt where we want to spend time and when one of our group peels off to bed, its time to head elsewhere.

Despite being next to a beautiful coffee bar that is still offering hot drinks at 11pm, we access the more upbeat Rothschild 12 bar (12 Rothschild Blvd) from what feels like (but actually isnt) a secret entrance around the back - no bouncers this time, but a creative-looking cocktail list chalked onto a blackboard, a table of girls booked in for birthday celebrations in the centre, and lots more sipping drinks at tables. Weil tells us he likes this one because its got a great DJ lineup but, then, he has more to show us.

The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe 1 /33 The top 25 cheapest city breaks in Europe Bratislava, Slovakia Typical price per night: 36 Shutterstock Athens, Greece Typical price per night: 36 Milos Bicanski/Getty Images Vilnius, Lithuania Typical price per night: 35 Maciej Lulko/Flickr Istanbul, Turkey Typical price per night: 27 Chris McGrath/Getty Images Belgrade, Serbia Typical price per night: 27 Shutterstock Wrocaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Janek SkarzynskiFP/Getty Images Toulouse, France Typical price per night: 36.50 Rob DeGraff/Flickr Ljubljana, Slovenia Typical price per night: 36.50 Pedro Szekely/Flickr Thessaloniki, Greece Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Zadar, Croatia Typical price per night: 36.50 Min Zhou/Flickr Riga, Latvia Typical price per night: 36.50 AFP/Getty Images Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria Typical price per night: 33 Shutterstock Sofia, Bulgaria Typical price per night: 28 Dennis Jarvis/Flickr Tbilisi, Georgia Typical price per night: 24 Shutterstock Nantes, France Typical price per night: 38 AFP/Getty Images Palermo, Sicily Typical price per night: 36.50 Shutterstock Budapest, Hungary Typical price per night: 36 GLars Baron/Getty Images Catania, Sicily Typical price per night: 35 Carlos Bustamante Restrepo/Flickr Leipzig, Germany Typical price per night: 32.50 Shutterstock Krakow, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Jan Kucharzyk/Getty Images Zagreb, Croatia Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Saint Petersburg, Russia Typical price per night: 28.50 Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Bucharest, Romania Typical price per night: 28 Shutterstock Warsaw, Poland Typical price per night: 32 Shutterstock Kiev, Ukraine Typical price per night: 28.50 Marco Verch/Flickr

Weil, a young Israeli entrepreneur who was born and raised in Tel Aviv, founded his company TLV Nights in 2011 because it gives him what he describes as a chance to show people what my home city has to offer. I truly believe that by showing visitors how Telavivian people party and live, I can change their perspective of Israel.

Even after more than six years, I still enjoy my job. Meeting new people every week makes it interesting for me and when I hear someone say that they enjoyed the night, it fills me with energy. While he occasionally works with businesses looking for top recommendations, the majority of Weils clients are young professionals from Europe and North America who come for a city break or for a week or 10-day trip to Israel, and want to drink off the beaten track; some also sign up in order to meet other travellers.

Five minutes later, having glided down an alleyway and past more bouncers who are given the obligatory fist pump, we arrive inside an open area covered in dangling plants and space-themed objects. This is Sputnik, he explains (Sputnik, 122 Alenby St), adding that the bar has been such a success that the owners are set to open another soon.

Ignoring this first room, Weil leads us through an entanglement of spaces filled with more creatively-dressed people, landing finally at the bottom of a staircase in a room with a DJ at one end, backed by graphics that hop in time to the housey beats. We buy a round of the local drink, Arak, a colourless liquid that turns cloudy when water is added.

We take turns trying it with lemonade and grapefruit juice, eventually deciding grapefruit is best; like ouzo in Greece or raki in Turkey, Arak is thick, heavily aniseedy and delicious, and suits having a whoosh of sharp citrus fruit to cut through the clag. And then were off again.

Next were drinking shots of our new favourite liquor at Jimmy Who (24 Rothschild Blvd), a huge drinking zone split into three parts, one suitable for a quick boogie. Its fun but as usual Weil feels there is more of that to be had, and as we exit another writer heads back to the hotel, leaving the remaining three of us to scoot over to Billie Jean (10 Rothschild Blvd).

Billie Jean bar

Aha, youve made it to this point. You are good Telavivians, laughs Weil, as we turn up in a kind of wooden chalet box rammed with people, mostly under 30. Later I ask him whether its the people or the places that make the nightlife here so special. He believes its mainly the latter: Israelis love to party all the time and Tel Aviv is the capital of fun. Tel Aviv has a lot of creative energy which shows in the nightlife with its diverse and unique places and so much quality content, like live bands, exhibitions and so on.

At Bille Jean the music, a hilarious combination of loud salsa, pop and power ballads, fuels a number of girls (customers in this case) to begin dancing on the bar, as staff selling shots of Arak push through the sweaty folk; every so often a server bar jumps up and uses a CO2 canister to shoot through a pile of napkins so that they flutter over us all.

After five minutes, its clear that the best space is indeed on the bar, so Weil, Anna and I balance glasses and bags in our hands, and are cheered on by fellow drinkers we clamber onto it. After three songs, though, were off again.

With no clue of where were going, were surprised when a guy standing outside a disused concrete block motions to our guide. But theres that smile, the handshake, and soon were past the gates, winding down a concrete staircase and through a heavy leather curtain. Here is Weils favourite bar of all, a kind of low-lit music cave called Radio E.P.G.B (7 Shadal St), with people either cosying up to each other on sofas or dancing to disco beats around the bar.

Perhaps because its 2am, or perhaps because its true, but here the Arak with grapefruit - made with fresh fruit juice, and well balanced against the heavy booze - is the best weve had so far. Either way, after a few more drinks and dancing, a nighttime dip in the sea feels like the right way to end the night.

The following day, the city appears bright and shiny, almost unrecognisable from the cavernous warren of the night before. We meet a local guy who is appalled when we say were only visiting his city for two days: Its not enough! But when I describe our commitment to the night before, he smiles, reassured. OK, you did well. You can come back any time!

TEL AVIV - BAR HIGHLIGHTS

Kuli Alma, 10 Mikve Israel St, www.kulialma.com

Aria, 66 Nahalat Binyamin St, www.ariatlv.co.il

Rothschild 12, 12 Rothschild Blvd, www.rothschild12.co.il

Sputnik, 122 Alenby St, m.facebook.com/sputnikTLV

Jimmy Who, 24 Rothschild Blvd, m.facebook.com/pages/Jimmy-Who/439823066059403

Billie Jean, 10 Rothschild Blvd, m.facebook.com/pages/Billie-Jean/1421307498099621

Radio E.P.G.B, 7 Shadal S, www.facebook.com/radioepgb

For more information on Tel Aviv bar tours with Ido Weil, visit TLVnights.com.

Follow Victoria on Twitter @vicstewart and Instagram @victoriastewartpics
T hey say when youve seen the world, theres always Greenland. From the air, my first glimpse of this vast Arctic tundra is astonishing in its emptiness.

Glaciers cloak the earth and icebergs like sugar crystals drift away on the sea. The only sign of mans hand on the landscape is the airport at Constable Point  a dirt landing strip and a cluster of red huts on the edge of the ocean. Behind it stretches the white abyss.

Waiting off the quay is the Ocean Nova, one of Quark Expeditions fleet of adventure cruise ships and my home for a 10-day voyage up the islands wild, barely inhabited east coast. Being on board feels like living on a spaceship  warm and comfortable, while a perilous, inhospitable world of cold beauty glides past.

Each day we sail further along the immense fjord system of Scoresbysund. My favourite place on the ship is the bridge, where I can sit with binoculars and scour the rocky shoreline for the white flash of a polar bear. There are only a few thousand in Greenland, where its legal to hunt ursus maritimus, but knowing they are out there is tantalising and I keep watch, just in case.

Whenever the ship drops anchor in a new bay all those who sail in her head to land in dinghies. Our guides, armed with rifles, look out for bears while we hike along the shore. They like telling us that were on an expedition but it feels more like the most astounding school trip in the world. On land we find tiny wild flowers struggling to grow on the tundra. Enormous musk ox ramble the hills, shedding their woolly coats in fat clumps. Bright-eyed arctic hares watch us inquisitively from behind the rocks.

Now that Ive found my sea legs I love exploring these waters by kayak. The qajaq was traditionally a whalebone frame covered with tightly stretched sealskin and waterproofed with animal fat. Ours are brightly coloured plastic but they nevertheless give us the freedom to paddle in the shadow of huge icebergs and creep up close to their smaller counterparts, the wonderfully named bergie bits. One morning we watch in awe as an ice shelf the size of a cathedral caves into the sea.

When ringed seals pop their heads up to check us out I think about the Inuit goddess Sedna. She keeps the oceans mammals safe in her long, waving hair, and when hunters have a bad season their shamans travel down into the depths to comb Sednas locks. Placated, she releases the seals, narwhals and walruses she keeps in them.

Greenlands name was bestowed upon it by Viking Erik the Red in a bid to attract settlers from Iceland, but for the 56,000 Inuit who call it home it is Kalaallit Nunaat, land of the people. Life here is a strange mix of old and new customs, and many villages now eke out a living from tourism as well as hunting and fishing. I walk through Ittoqqortoormiit, the most remote inhabited community in the western hemisphere.

Seal fur coats are laid out to dry outside brightly painted wooden cabins and husky puppies run up begging for cuddles. The towns young men roar around on quad bikes; I sit and play hand-clapping games with the towns teenage girls, all kitted out in fashionable Puffa jackets. Contact with the wider world isnt just changing Greenlands society  the environment is shifting too. Nowhere has been harder hit by climate change than the Arctic, where temperatures are rising more than twice as fast as the global average.

At 2am the next morning a message runs around the ship  the Northern Lights have been spotted. I scramble on deck  above me, ribbons of an alien, pulsing green split the night. Greenlanders believe that when a person dies their soul joins those of others waiting to be reborn in the aurora borealis.

We sail into Gasefjord, an inlet so seldom explored that it appears as empty space on the captains navigational system. Its time for the Arctic travellers rite of passage  the Polar Plunge, a jump off the ship into the freezing ocean. Im tied to the boat (in case I pass out from shock) before walking the plank and diving into the water.

As we leave the fjord, with the setting sun turning the glacier pink and gold, I finally see him  my polar bear. Hes on an ice floe with a seal kill, too engrossed to pay us much attention. As we sail past, he lifts his bloodstained muzzle and watches as we leave him in peace in his frost-bound, vulnerable domain.

Details:

Greenland, Quark Expeditions (0180 2490 1737, quarkexpeditions.com) Arctic Express tour costs 4,100, including all food and return flights from the UK to Reykjavik.
S an Francisco is a city with an abundance of historic charms. The Golden Gate Bridge, steep streets lined with colourful Victorian-era homes and the citys iconic cable cars are a powerful reminder that youre in one of the most culturally important cities in the USA.

But despite this rich heritage, the Northern Californian metropolis continues to innovate and inspire, with a pioneering farm-to-table restaurant scene, legendary covered food market and all-encompassing eco vibe.

Foodie focus

There's plenty of fresh produce at the thrice-weekly farmers' market in the Ferry Building / Alamy

Pier 39 is the classic, bustling bayside pier, and a must-visit on any itinerary - although save your hunger for Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

Following the devastating earthquake in 1989, the citys grandiose but declining transit hub was repurposed as Californias culinary epicentre, which reopened in 2003 with an unwavering focus on local, sustainable and independent stalls and restaurants.

Often copied (an Oakland replica is currently on the cards), the Ferry Building has never been bettered, and the thrice-weekly farmers market (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until 2pm) keeps it real amid hip foodtrucks and cult bakeries.

Market highlights include Pepples organic vegan doughnuts, Hog Islands oyster chowder and the freshly-baked scuffins (the lovechild of a scone and muffin) from Frog Hollow Farm.

The city's iconic cable cars / Getty Images

For a substantial feed, queue for the walk-ins-only bar and order spring rolls and shaking beef at The Slanted Door, the citys deservedly hyped Vietnamese eatery.

San Francisco has also been a cultural hotbed for decades, home to Beat Generation writers such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg in the Fifties, birthplace of the hippie movement of the late Sixties and Seventies, and an incubator of countless varied jazz, rock and experimental music scenes, in the bars of Haight-Ashbury and beyond.

Today, independent galleries as well as world-class art museums make San Francisco a feast of inspiration for creative spirits.

Many of the most established galleries are clustered around Union Square downtown, while Potrero Hill is San Franciscos emerging art district.

Dont miss 111 Minna, a gallery by day, dance club by night, with a bar that is practically a work of art in itself: a 25ft long rolled steel and copper creation by local sculptor Jud Bergeron.

With such a vibrant cultural and culinary scene, San Francisco is everything an intrepid traveller could demand from a city break.

However, its also endowed with ravishingly natural scenery and a geographic position that makes it a perfect base for explorations further afield in the state of California - not to mention a gateway city to airports across the globe.

Escape to nature

Stretching across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, 200 miles east of San Francisco, Yosemite is Californias most celebrated national park and a bucket list destination for all nature-loving adventures.

This is where youll find yourself scaling spectacular granite cliffs, marvelling at waterfalls, rafting clear streams and losing yourself in vast sequoia groves.

Step inside the 111 Minna gallery / Alamy

Then consider retreating to a mountain lodge to treat weary limbs to a hot tub under the stars accompanied by a Sonoma chardonnay.

Speaking of chardonnay, touring the vineyards of boutique Sonoma and big-hitter Napa is a birthright for most Californians, and a thrilling farm-to-table dining scene has sprung up among the vines, making this a dream destination for lovers of food and wine alike.

With so much to see, do and taste too, when you fly into San Francisco, its just the start of a Californian adventure.

A San Francisco break the British way

Book your next trip to San Francisco at ba.com/sanfrancisco
H eavy with Southern charm and creatively inclined, New Orleans seduces visitors hard and fast with its non-stop nightlife, thrilling live music scene and a piquant, inventive cuisine.

What's more, the Big Easy's party spirit is the stuff of legends, extending far beyond Mardi Gras, the late-winter carnival marked by colourful costumed parades and wild street parties.

The city celebrates some 200 festivals every year, and unusually for the US, drinking in the streets is considered a basic human right, and the bars never close.

History at its heart

At the heart of the action is the citys architectural and historic centre, the chi-chi French Quarter.

Settled in 1718 by the French, New Orleans was later ceded to the Spanish, then reclaimed by the French, before being sold by Napoleon to the US as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

Explore the above ground crypts at the legendary St Louis Cemetery No. 1 / Alamy

It is that melting pot of European traditions, with the West African and Caribbean influence of slaves and free people of colour stirred in, that defines New Orleans culture. Gumbo, the signature dish of Louisiana, is a French-style roux containing Cajun sausage, served with American Indian sassafras and West African fried okra - not a bad metaphor for the city herself.

Bikes to beignets

But theres so much more to New Orleans than the French Quarter, and the city rewards travellers who get out and explore.

Rent a bike from Buzz Nola and cruise-drive along the Lafitte Greenway or Esplanade Avenue through Treme and Mid-City, before exploring City Park, the largest green expanse in the city.

Art lovers should make a pilgrimage to the Warehouse Districts Contemporary Arts Center, which is largely responsible for the citys renewed rise to cultural capital status. Good coffee stops along the way include Church Alley Coffee Bar and Morning Call, a 150-year-old cult coffee and beignet stand with outposts across the city.

Hire a bike and head to the Treme district / Alamy

Ride the St Charles streetcar to travel back in time, watch fireflies dance on Bayou St John, and wander around St Louis Cemetery No. 1 for a thrilling fix of Southern gothic atmosphere, and allow the eccentric, hedonistic spirit of New Orleans to sink into your soul.

As American city breaks go, it doesnt get much more exotic than New Orleans.

A New Orleans break the British way

Book your next trip to New Orleans at ba.com/neworleans
A s I scanned through Airbnbs latest New York City Experiences, I couldnt help but wonder: Could I go on a shopping trip with none other than Carrie Bradshaw herself?

The answer is yes  the ever-growing rental marketplace is expanding their Experience offers and you have the chance to hang out with New Yorks finest, SJP.

Airbnb started offering up Harlem Experiences in March of this year, allowing guests to explore the neighbourhoods street fashion with a local designer, learn how to freestyle with a Spanish Harlem hip-hop artist and much more.

Since then, the company has decided to expand their Experiences meaning you can now choose from over 150 different activities across all five boroughs of the Big Apple.

From feasting on Greek staples such as baklava and gyros in New Yorks Little Athens, to beekeeping on the rooftops of Staten Island and meditating in Central Park, theres something for everyone.

To celebrate the launch, Airbnb is giving you an exclusive opportunity to go shopping with Sex and the City star and one of New Yorks ultimate fashion icons, Sarah Jessica Parker.

The sure-to-be unforgettable day will include a once in a lifetime shoe-shopping experience at Bloomingdales - SJP will assist you in finding the perfect pair of shoes from her own collection. Up next youll both head off for fro-yo fun at Forty Carrots where you can chat all things New York before being whisked away for a night at the ballet. With some of the best seats in the house youll be given the ultimate VIP treatment.

Getty Images

If you dont have a passion for fashion then never fear because a day with actor and teen heart-throb Ansel Elgort is also available. Born in Manhattan and living in Brooklyn, the Baby Driver star wants to show you his favourite city spots.

Prepare to get active with a trip to Brooklyn Boulders, a 22,000 square foot climbing gym, before Elgort impresses you with his musical prowess at Main Drag Music. After a walk along the Williamsburg waterfront, youll finally be sent off to enjoy a complimentary meal at an authentic German Biergarten.

Famous faces aside, Airbnb has an incredible range of Experiences to choose from allowing you to really get to know the city that never sleeps.

You can find out more about Airbnb's New York City Experiences here.
T raders today joined leading politicians in calls for a total clampdown on the sale of acid after a terrifying attack in a crowded shopping mall left three victims in hospital.

It came after a homeless man told how he helped one of six people who were injured when a bottle filled with a noxious substance was sprayed during a fight in the Stratford Centre, near the Olympic Park, at 8pm on Saturday.

Witnesses reported bystanders screaming in pain, with one person shouting: I cant see, I cant see.

Detectives are said to be investigating whether the rampage is part of a tit-for-tat turf war between gangs following the shooting of Corey Junior Davis, 14, in Forest Gate earlier this month.

Paul Andrews, 57, today told how he helped one of the more seriously hurt victims after also being splashed with the substance sprayed from a Lucozade bottle by a masked youth.

Helper: rough sleeper Paul Andrews, who was hurt himself, took another victim into Burger King to rinse his face after the acid attack

Mr Andrews, a rough sleeper whose own face was blistering, said: I saw that his skin was white and flaky so I grabbed him and took him into Burger King where I threw water into his eyes and rinsed his face.

Burger King worker Akter Hossen, 28, said: He helped the victim rinse the acid until the police came and there was water everywhere.

Ministers have been accused of dragging their feet on acid sales after a dramatic spike in the violent incidents which saw 454 reported attacks last year, three times the number in 2014.

Almost 400 of Londons 1,500 incidents in the past five years took place in Newham. Local traders have called for more visible police patrols.

Labour wants the Government to license the sale of corrosive substances rather than rely on a voluntary agreement with shopkeepers which encourages shops in east London not to sell corrosive substances to under-18s.

But Louise Haigh, shadow minister for policing, said: The Government appears content to stick to a series of completely unenforceable voluntary commitments that will leave the public at risk.

Its time ministers stopped dragging their feet. If they bring forward proposals to restrict the sale of substances like sulphuric acid they will have the support of Parliament and the public.

Currently sulphuric acid is classed as a reportable substance, meaning retailers only have to report suspicious transactions to the police.

Ms Haigh wants it reclassified as a regulated substance that requires a licence and could only be sold by pharmacies. The Home Office said the 1972 Poisons Act is under review to see how controls on dangerous chemicals can be tightened to limit criminal access.

A 15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm following the attack was today released on bail.
T he director of campaign group Cage has been convicted of a terrorism offence after refusing to disclose the pin to his mobile phone at Heathrow Airport.

Muhammad Rabbani, 36, was stopped on November 20 last year after returning home from a wedding in Doha, Qatar.

He refused to give his pin or the password to his laptop, saying he had been stopped many times before and had never been required to give these details.

Rabbani said he had highly confidential information on his device and that handing it to police would be a breach of his "personal and professional" privacy.

But on Monday he was convicted at Westminster Magistrates' Court of one count of wilfully obstructing a stop-and-search under Section 7 of the Terrorism Act.

Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot said: "He took a calculated risk. At the time of the stop he was warned over and over he would be committing an offence if he didn't provide the information."

Muhammad Rabbani arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court / AFP/Getty Images

The court heard that Rabbani refused to tell officers what he did for a living or give out his Pin saying "it won't help you in any way" and that it breached his privacy.

Pc Tariq Chaudhry, the officer who conducted the search, said: "I asked him questions about his occupation and he said he was a director of a company but wouldn't go any further - he kept saying 'You don't need to and it won't help you in any way'."

Pc Chaudhry said that Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act gives officers their right to stop and search people "with or without suspicion".

Rabbani was repeatedly warned that he would be arrested if he failed to give his Pin codes, but said he had never been asked to give this information during previous stop-and-searches.

In a prepared statement given at his second police interview in May this year, Rabbani said: "I considered that although the police were in law entitled to ask questions so that they could satisfy themselves I was not engaged in terrorist activity, that did not justify my in addition being required to expose all the sensitive contents of my phone to being copied and undoubtedly disseminated not just to police but to intelligence services and possibly elsewhere in the world - an unjustifiable, uncontrolled acquisition of material."

Giving evidence on Monday, he said that he had a large volume of documents relating to a Qatari client allegedly tortured in the US on his devices.

"It was a case involving the US against an individual who was allegedly tortured over the course of 12 or 13 years in US custody," he said.

"There were around 30,000 (documents) which I was especially uncomfortable handling and I felt an enormous responsibility to try and discharge the trust that was given to me."

But Judge Arbuthnot rejected his defence, finding he had taken a "calculated risk" in not providing the information despite being warned of the consequences by police.

He was handed a copy dictionary discharge, ordered to pay 600 costs and 20 victim surcharge.

Cage describes itself as an "independent advocacy organisation working to empower communities impacted by the War on Terror".

The organisation sparked controversy when it emerged Isis executioner Mohammed Emwazi, dubbed 'Jihadi John', had sought advice from Cage over alleged harassment by the British authorities before leaving for Syria in 2012.

Speaking outside court Rabbani said the Schedule 7 powers amounted to a "digital strip search" and that he had been racially profiled by the officers that stopped him.

He said: "I was prepared from the outset to pay the ultimate price, even if that meant imprisonment."

He continued: "At no point was I under suspicion and this was a matter of being profiled at the airport. There are important implications for our collective privacy as Schedule 7 acts as a digital strip search.

"I took the decision not to raise the details of an important torture case before my arrest and ultimately I have been convicted of protecting the confidentiality of my client.

"If privacy and confidentiality are crimes, then the law stands condemned."

He vowed to launch an appeal against the verdict.

Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: "Today's verdict is an important one.

"It's crucial that police are able to use the legislation that exists to help keep the public safe.

"Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is a vital tool in the fight against terrorism and we are committed to ensuring the power is used appropriately and proportionately, as it was in this case.

"The Met has retained Rabbani's phone and laptop and is continuing its efforts to examine the contents."
A heroic 73-year-old man today described how he used an empty suitcase to shield his wife and relatives from an attack by a machete-wielding moped gang.

The couple, who were on the final day of a holiday to visit their brother and sister-in-law in Thornton Heath in south London, had just been on a shopping trip to buy a new suitcase for the journey home to India.

The family, who have asked not to be identified, were walking along Benshaam Manor Road at 3.10pm last Wednesday when they were approached by a masked man dressed in black and waving a foot-long knife.

Footage filmed from a neighbours window and later posted online shows him demanding jewellery from the two women, aged 66 and 67.

The elderly man can be seen trying to protect his family from the thugs, who pushed him to the ground. The gang then snatched three gold necklaces  worth thousands of pounds  before fleeing on mopeds.

The man, who was treated for head injuries in hospital, said: I tried to use [the suitcase] to shield the ladies from the man with the knife. Sometimes offence is the best defence.

But they pushed me to the floor hard and I hit my head on the footpath. Blood was oozing from my head and my glasses broke. My wife handed her chain to him and they got on the two mopeds and drove off. He added: It is a shame because the suitcase was bought to take all these sweet memories of London home, but this has marred everything.

The mans wife said: I was screaming so loud but no one came to help. He grabbed my chain from behind and I was crying, Help me. My sister-in-law was panicked and he then demanded her chain too and she gave it him.

The chains are like wedding rings and I have had mine for 47 years. Its the sentimental value. Im numb by whats happened.

Police said three of the moped riders were white and one was black. All wore wearing masks and helmets. There have been no arrests.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call Croydon CID on 101 or contact them via Twitter @MetCC
A burglar who sprayed acid at a 69-year-old woman in her own home leaving her with horrific injuries has been jailed.

Gerard Whelan, 46, of Penfold Place, Paddington, was sentenced to 18 years in prison at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday after carrying out a string of acid robberies.

He broke into the womans home in Ilford, east London, as she slept, holding a screwdriver over her as she lay in bed, the court heard.

When she woke he said: "If you dont be quiet I will kill you" before snatching a bangle and rings from her hand and arm.

Jailed: Gerard Whelan / Met Police

He made her sit downstairs while he searched kitchen cupboards and when she tried to escape he squeezed a substance onto her from a white bottle causing her serious injuries.

The victim was left her with burns to a quarter of her body and having to undergo skin grafts and surgeries, with permanent scars to her arms, legs, body and face.

She spent over eight weeks in hospital and still hasnt returned to work or regained full mobility of both arms, police said.

The acid used in the attack, which happened on December 13 last year, was found to be of the same strength as sulphuric acid.

The woman was attacked in December last year / Met Police

Whelan carried out a number of other offences on two other days in December, several of which also involved squeezing liquid at victims from a bottle.

On December 12, he broke into another home in Ilford, the first of a series of offences on the same day.

He threatened his 89-year-old victim with a screwdriver, sprayed a substance he said was acid on the wall and demanded money. His victim handed over 190.

He also tried to rob a 39-year-old woman of a car as she was dropping her daughter off at school, spraying the liquid towards her but missing.

Another man, aged 40, was squirted with liquid after he lowered the window of his car, experiencing a burning sensation to his mouth and eyes.

The remains of a bottle used in one of Whelan's attacks / Met Police

He assaulted a 38-year-old woman as he tried to steal her handbag, throwing a substance over her face that smelled like ammonia. She could feel liquid burning and stinging her skin and was temporarily unable to see out of her left eye.

On Christmas Day, Whelan attacked three further people in Palmers Green, north London.

He squeezed what one victim, a 36-year-old man, thought was acid from a bottle into his eye but the substance caused no lasting damage.

He assaulted a second man, aged 62, with the butt of a screwdriver four times while trying to get the keys to a car. Whelan also assaulted a 58-year-old woman, throwing her to the ground after she had started the engine of her car.

Senior Investigating Officer, DS Brett Hagen, said: "The length of the sentence today reflects the gravity and callous nature of these acid attacks.

Whelan embarked on a series of horrifying offences against a raft of innocent and vulnerable members of the public, many of whom were lucky not to incur serious injury.

Unfortunately several of the victims did sustain life changing injuries as a result of being sprayed with a noxious substance.

"One of these elderly ladies spent over eight weeks in hospital and now, some nine months later, still hasnt returned to work or regained full mobility of both arms."

Detective Superintendent Mike West, leading the response to corrosive attacks for the MPS, added: "This was a truly terrible series of offences, resulting in long lasting injuries to the victims and having an ongoing impact on them and their families.

Whelan admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and aggravated burglary at Wood Green Crown on July 14.
A n Oxford University student who a judge suggested was too clever to go to prison has been spared jail for stabbing her boyfriend in a drug and drink-fuelled attack.

Lavinia Woodward, 24, was handed a 10-month suspended prison sentence on Monday at Oxford Crown Court.

The aspiring heart surgeon had admitted knifing Thomas Fairclough in the leg with a bread knife as well as throwing a glass, a jam jar and a laptop at him at Christ Church College.

Judge Ian Pringle QC previously said a jail sentence may be too severe for Woodward because it could ruin her medical career. He added that the actions of the extraordinary able young lady appeared to be a complete one-off.

At the sentencing today, Judge Pringle said: "There are many mitigating features in your case.

"Principally, at the age of 24 you have no previous convictions of any nature whatsoever.

"Secondly, I find that you were genuinely remorseful following this event and, indeed, it was against your bail conditions, you contacted your partner to fully confess your guilt and your deep sorrow for what happened.

"Thirdly, whilst you are a clearly highly-intelligent individual, you had an immaturity about you which was not commensurate for someone of your age."

Lavinia Woodward was described by the judge as a "highly-intelligent individual" / PA

Judge Pringle went on: "Fourthly, as the reports from the experts make clear, you suffer from an emotionally-unstable personality disorder, a severe eating disorder and alcohol drug dependence.

"Finally, and most significantly, you have demonstrated over the last nine months that you are determined to rid yourself of your alcohol and drug addiction and have undergone extensive treatment including counselling to address the many issues that you face.

"In particular, you have demonstrated to me since I adjourned this matter in May a strong and unwavering determination to do so despite the enormous pressure under which you were put and which has been referred to me by your counsel."

Woodward began a relationship with a Cambridge University student in October last year, having met on dating app Tinder.

But, the court heard, she was still suffering a "very damaging" previous relationship, in which she had been introduced to Class A drugs.

On December 30, Woodward's partner visited her in Oxford and realised she had been drinking and contacted her mother via Skype.

"When you discovered this, you became extremely angry, starting to throw objects around. It is clear from the transcript of the 999 call that your partner summoned the help of the police before you picked up a bread knife which was in the room and struck a blow with it to his lower leg," the judge said.

"In the course of the incident two of his fingers also received cuts. Your partner managed to partly restrain you, albeit then you started to turn the knife on yourself and he had to further disarm you to prevent further self-harm.

"When the emergency services arrived it was abundantly clear that you were intoxicated, deeply distraught and mentally disturbed. You were taken to the police station in a very distressed state."


L awyers acting for a man alleged to have kidnapped British model Chloe Ayling have claimed the entire case could be a "sham" invented as a "publicity stunt".

A lawyer representing Michal Herba, 36, who is facing extradition to Italy, told a hearing today: "there is a real risk that the entire case is a sham."

Ms Ayling, 20, is said to have been snatched by a group calling itself Black Death after being lured to a fake modelling shoot in Milan in July.

Lukasz Herba, 30, is in custody in Italy, having been arrested after delivering Ms Ayling to the British Embassy on July 17 - six days after she was allegedly kidnapped. He has said he did not knowingly take part in any crime.

His 36-year-old brother, Michal Herba, was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Italian authorities last month.

He appeared in custody at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday to fight extradition, having been in custody since he was apprehended in the Tividale area of Sandwell in the West Midlands.

Prosecutor Florence Iveson said Herba has been requested by the court of Milan in relation to a single offence of kidnapping arising from events between July 11 and 17.

"The allegation is that Mr Herba acted in complicity with his brother, Lukasz Herba, and other unidentified persons to kidnap the victim in Milan," she said.

"It is said she was drugged and kidnapped and a 300,000 euro ransom was demanded."

But Herba's lawyer, George Hepburne Scott, raised questions over the account given by Ms Ayling, of Coulsdon, south London, who claims she was drugged and bundled into the boot of a car after being tricked into attending the bogus photoshoot in Milan on July 11.

"There is a real risk that the entire case is a sham," he said.

Referring to "open source material", Mr Scott said: "The same complainant, it seems, generated publicity from the fact she was nearby the scene of a terrorist attack at the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

"Prior to the release of the complainant, the kidnapper apparently issued a press release to a tabloid newspaper setting out that this lady was being held for auction."

The lawyer also pointed to an alleged incident during which Ms Ayling and her captor went shopping for shoes, calling it a "wholly anomalous feature of a hostage situation".

She also went to breakfast with the kidnapper before her release when the pair found the British consulate was closed, Mr Scott added.

"It would amount to an abuse of process of the court if there was any evidence to suggest this was a publicity stunt," he told the judge.

"This case has a unique set of anomalies which might lead to the conclusion that the Italian authorities have been duped and that their process has been abused."

District Judge Paul Goldspring pointed out much of the material relied on by Mr Scott came from press reports, which he said did not prove any of the theories in the case. He will give his ruling on Friday.

During the hearing, Herba, wearing a blue sweater and mauve tracksuit bottoms, limped to the witness box to be questioned over claims that he has a heavily pregnant girlfriend in the UK.

His lawyers argue that any extradition could breach his Article 6 human right to a family life, but Herba refused to name the woman, citing his fear that she would be harassed by journalists.

Mr Scott also said there was a lack of "particularity" in the allegations against his client, which refer to a "strong body of evidence", including DNA samples, statements from the victim, and telephone wire taps.

He said the prosecution case does not set out whether his client was one of the men alleged to have drugged and kidnapped Ms Ayling, or if he is said to have hired the car and the farmhouse used in the alleged offence.
A man was rushed to hospital after being attacked by thugs armed with a shovel and a pitchfork in a terrifying robbery in west London.

Three robbers broke into the home in Russell Kerr Close, Chiswick, before one of the group beat the 56-year-old man with the handle of the shovel or pitchfork, police said.

He was taken to hospital following the attack at about 11.10pm on Saturday, September 9. The man has since been discharged.

One of the gang stole his jewellery and watch after he had hit the 56-year-old over the head while the other two robbers searched the home.

The three men were then seen running to the nearby Burlington Lane, before fleeing in a silver Audi.

The Met Police has released descriptions of the three men they are hunting following the attack.

One of the robbers was described as 5ft 7in tall, of slim build with a British accent and another as aged in his 30s, 5ft 9in tall and of heavy build.

The final suspect is described as a 5ft 6in tall man believed to be in his 20s and of slim build.

PC Rhian Whitty, from Hounslow Police, said: "This was a violent incident which resulted in the victim having to go to hospital.

I would like so speak with anyone who was at the station between 10pm and 22:20hrs who remembers seeing the silver car, or the three men who were all dressed in black.

"Any piece of information could help us find these men and prevent them from carrying out further crimes."
P olice closed roads and evacuated homes as they carried out a controlled explosion outside the North Korean embassy in west London.

Officers were called to a suspicious item shortly before 8pm outside the semi-detached house in Ealing, Scotland Yard said.

They destroyed the item, which was discovered in Gunnserbury Avenue, at about 9.30pm and confirmed that it was found to be non-suspicious.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: Road closures were put in place and nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution.

A controlled explosion took place at around 21:28 hours. The item was found to be non-suspicious."

Roads have since been reopened.

The North Korean embassy is in a seven-bedroom residential house on the street.
A ctress and model Frida Farrell has warned women to take precautions against trafficking as she marked the grim 15th anniversary of her being drugged and sexually exploited in a Harley Street flat.

As part of the Evening Standard and Independents special investigation into modern slavery, 37-year-old Farrell told the harrowing story of the three-day kidnap ordeal during which she was locked up and forced to have sex with a parade of unknown men.

She was afraid her kidnapper would find her again if she came forward afterwards. I was silent for 10 years. I didnt tell anybody except my husband, my mother and a friend because I was so scared, she said. Farrell, who last year released the award-winning film Selling Isobel about her experience after finally plucking up the courage, called on women to be cautious  particularly when going to someones house for a photoshoot.

Bring a friend and make sure people know exactly where you are, so that if youre not back in an hour they can report it, she advised.

'I thought God help me': Farrelll was only 22 when the horrific ordeal took place () / Austin Hargrave

She also lent her backing to our investigation, saying: I am hugely impressed with the Standard and the Independent for launching this joint campaign to widen our knowledge of modern slavery  a problem thats quickly grown larger than we can comprehend  and to help stop other girls and women suffering what I went through.

Since Selling Isobel, she said she has received messages and emails from other victims saying something similar happened to me, or I was raped.

Swedish-born Farrell was 22 when she was approached near Oxford Circus after a shopping trip one September night in 2002 by a man who said he wanted to cast her in a photoshoot. He didnt grab my arm and pull me  he said, Call me if you want. And that makes you think Oh, hes not pushing me, she said. She showed up and as the photographer took a series of shots all seemed well. But when she arrived at his flat the next day there was no longer a photo studio inside  and her middle-aged photographers demeanour had changed.

He slammed the door behind me and locked it and put the key in his pocket. I thought What? and froze. My brain couldnt quite compute. He pulled out a hunting knife and just held it. Didnt threaten me  just held it by his side, almost as if to say, I have this. Dont f***ing do anything, she said. He told her to put on a set of lingerie and offered her some milk, which she suspected was drugged.

I thought Id rather just drink the milk and not live to see whats going to happen, she said. I didnt know if he was just a crazy man who was going to murder me, rape me or hit me ... so I just drank the milk and thought God help me.

She woke up in a different flat and, over the next three days, at least six men abused her while she pleaded for help. Her captor also assaulted her.

But on the third day he left the flat without locking the door. She fled and didnt stop until she was past Bond Street. She told police a few days later, but today still doesnt know if her captor was ever found.

How to spot the signs of slavery

Now she wants similar victims to feel unafraid to approach police, friends, family or therapists to tell their stories. I was so scared because I was embarrassed, and I blamed myself, which is stupid. But I took some time, and now Im coming out and talking about it, and its helping, she said.

I thought if theres just one woman who could have been saved before it happened because she was educated about it, then my job would have been done.

This autumn she is taking Selling Isobel to the San Diego film festival, with a theatre run planned for London and LA. She hopes it will raise awareness of trafficking, and says: Then I would have turned the worst thing in my life into something good.

Take action to end slavery by going to the Evening Standard's online activity platform.
A cut in air taxes is needed to protect growth after Brexit, two major airlines said today.

American Airlines and Emirates joined with Heathrow Airport in warning that British business travellers are being charged more than continental neighbours.

Campaign group A Fair Tax on Flying said cutting Air Passenger Duty by half could boost UK earnings by 5 billion in the first year, rising to 20 billion by 2022.

Rhett Workman, managing director of American Airlines at Heathrow, said: Post-Brexit Britain needs to be open for business.

Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates, said: UK aviation taxes are among the highest in the world. Cutting them will benefit consumers, stimulate more leisure and business travel, and send a strong signal that the UK is serious about building ever stronger international air and trade links, particularly in the post-Brexit world.

APD was introduced by Gordon Brown in 1994 as a charge on holidaymakers and other travellers. It ranges from 13 for short-haul economy flights to 75 for long-haul business class.

Heathrow argues that a cut would allow it to open more routes for post-Brexit trade. It says the UK paid 225 million more in taxes on domestic flights alone than counterparts in other EU countries.

The calls come ahead of the budget on November 22.
E U ministers today pushed the UK to provide more clarity on Theresa Mays Brexit concessions at the start of a crunch week of talks in Brussels.

Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU negotiator Michel Barnier were meeting today to launch the latest round of formal negotiations.

But Estonian deputy prime minister Matti Maasikas, on his way into an EU ministers meeting this morning, said: There has been some progress, but we really need to move forward now. Time is of the essence.

Danish foreign minister Anders Samuelson said that money was definitely the most contentious issue for the fourth round of talks.

The Prime Minister sought to break the deadlock in talks with her speech in Florence which struck a warmer tone towards the EU and made clear she would pay substantial sums, expected to end up at about 40 billion.

Belgian deputy prime minister Didier Reynders said the EU could now see things a little bit more clearly but we dont yet have very precise elements.

French and Irish leaders, as well as Mr Barnier, have called on the government for more detail on money, citizens and the Irish border, the blocs three priorities for the divorce.

One senior EU official said the prime ministers speech  which essentially offered to delay Brexit until 2021, cover the EUs budget hole to 2020 and guarantee EU citizens rights directly in UK law  was wordy and unclear.

We dont negotiate on the basis of a speech, said the official.

There are also growing fears that Mrs May will say the exact opposite of her speech at a Conservative Party conference next week, an EU official said. This follows the re-emerging rift in the party between hardline Brexiteers, led by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, and Chancellor Philip Hammonds softer stance.

In an interview with the Evening Standard last week, EU agriculture chief Phil Hogan criticised Mr Johnson as out of the loop and said the Prime Minister should not follow his vague Brexit strategy.

EU leaders will meet at the end of October to judge whether sufficient progress has been made on the divorce deal before moving talks on to trade, though most in Brussels say they expect a December summit to be a more likely date.
A ngela Merkel today began the tough challenge of forming Germanys next government as a stunning election breakthrough for the far-Right sparked widespread protests.

Chancellor Merkel was re-elected for a fourth term but left weakened by the poll which reverberated across the country and beyond. Her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won just 33 per cent of the vote  its worst result since the Second World War.

The big winners were the hard-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which became the first nationalist party to win seats in the Bundestag for half a century.

Hundreds of police were deployed around Berlins Alexanderplatz last night to protect the anti-immigrant AfD faithful celebrating the election of 94 representatives into the national parliament at the Traffic nightclub. Huge crowds gathered outside, shouting Nazis out and all of Berlin hates the AfD, as dozens of police officers sealed off the clubs entrance, making a handful of arrests over small incidents.

Other protests were held in Cologne and in the northern city of Hamburg, where demonstrators marched towards the partys local headquarters.

Activists are held back by riot police in Berlin, Germany / Bongarts/Getty Images

Mrs Merkel is now likely to seek a previously untried three-way coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats and the traditionally Left-leaning Greens after the centre-Left Social Democrats also suffered losses.

The Social Democrats won just over 20 per cent of the vote and its leader Martin Schultz called for the immediate ending of the grand coalition with the CDU. The AfD surged to third, winning 12.6 per cent of the poll.

However the party suffered a blow today as one of its leaders, Frauke Petry, announced she would not take her parliamentary seat following a bitter leadership struggle.

The AfDs co-leader Alexander Gauland today vowed to fight an invasion of foreigners into the country.

Opponents of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) protest after the party saw a surge in support during Germany's General Election / Getty Images

One million people, foreigners, being brought into this country are taking away a piece of this country and we as AfD dont want that, he told a news conference.

We dont want to lose Germany to an invasion of foreigners from a different culture. Very simple. He recently said that Germans should be proud of their Second World War veterans. The AfD began life in 2013 as an anti-Europe protest party but then shifted focus to capitalise on misgivings over the record migrant influx in Germany. Its tone turned increasingly extreme in the last stretch of campaigning, with commentators calling its election result a watershed moment in German post-war politics.

Weeks of horse trading will now ensue as Mrs Merkel seeks to build a workable coalition. For all their victory celebrations the AfD will be isolated in parliament as all other parties have said they will not work with it.
S adiq Khan said Theresa May should be utterly ashamed of cuts to the heroic emergency services in a powerful speech at the Labour party conference.

The mayor of London used his talk to praise the response of the emergency services to terrorist attacks in the capital and the Grenfell Tower disaster.

He also voiced his support for Jeremy Corbyn  who he has clashed with in the past  by stating that only the Labour leader will give emergency service workers the pay rise they properly deserve.

Mr Khan highlighted 1 billion of real-terms cuts to Scotland Yard between 2010 and 2021, adding that police funding for counter-terrorism is set to fall by 7 per cent over the next three years.

He said: Theresa May should be utterly ashamed of her record.

He added: This isnt the 1990s, this is now. Its like Back to the Future but it isnt funny. Police stations have been closed and neighbourhood policing is under attack.

The same goes for our fire service. The same story is true in our NHS, our transport and in every one of our national services.

Sadiq Khan talking Tory cuts at Labour Party conference

The mayor - who was initially denied a speech at the gathering in Brighton before a late change of plan - urged the Government to increase overall police funding in real terms at the Budget in November.

He said: "The Tories used to describe themselves as the party of law and order... well that sounds like a bad joke today. And frankly, as a former home secretary, Theresa May should be utterly ashamed of her record."

Labour leader Mr Corbyn was notably absent when Mr Khan was inaugurated as London mayor in 2016 and backed Owen Smith's leadership challenge.

But at the conference the mayor said: "We made huge progress in the general election and the credit for that goes to one person - the leader of our party - Jeremy Corbyn."

Comparing Mrs May's administration to the Conservative infighting at the end of Margaret Thatcher's rule, he said: "This all feels very familiar - a weak and divided Tory Government refusing to face up to the challenges ahead.

"Bickering and infighting over Europe putting our jobs and economy at risk. Chronic underinvestment in public services causing a crisis in our schools and hospitals. And crime on the rise. But conference, this isn't the 1990, this is now. It's like Back to the Future, but it isn't funny."
L abour was today caught in growing rows over illegal strikes, freedom of movement and renationalisation of key industries.

During a TV interview, shadow Chancellor John McDonnell refused five times to say whether he backed illegal walk-outs.

He was also forced to defend the decision for Labours annual rally not to debate a motion that could shackle the leadership into supporting the continuation of freedom of movement after Brexit. Other questions included compensation for shareholders if water, Royal Mail and other utility companies were renationalised.

Appearing on ITVs Good Morning Britain, Mr McDonnell was asked by presenter Piers Morgan: Would you support an illegal strike?

Left-winger Mr McDonnell replied: I dont think there will be any illegal strikes. Mr Morgan intervened: That was not the question. Mr McDonnell said: I am telling you the answer. I dont think there will be, so its a hypothetical question. I believe what will happen is that people on the issues around pay in particular are so angry at the moment they will be no prospects of illegal strikes because the vast majority, if they want industrial action they will vote for them.

But Mr Morgan came back: Len McCluskey [Unite union leader] has said that he is supportive of illegal strikes, so let me ask you again  simple question  if there was an illegal strike would you and Mr Corbyn support it?

Mr McDonnell said: Im telling you I dont think there will be any prospect of illegal strikes. People are so angry that union members if they wish to strike I think they will have an overwhelming majority

Mr Morgan intervened: You understand that when people are watching this, they have heard you say you are a straight talker and Ive asked you a very simple question and you just dont want to answer it.

Mr McDonnell said: No, Im answering it in the terms that I believe is the most effective way to get across to people exactly what the real issue is.

But Mr Morgan said: There is a fundamental issue here: you are the number two of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn is the number one and at the heart and soul of this new Labour Party is a great relationship with your unions, and they in many ways helped get Jeremy Corbyn where he is. Here you have a top union leader advocating illegal strikes, everyone wants clarity from the leadership about whether fundamentally, you agree with Len McCluskey or not, that illegal strikes are permissible?

Mr McDonnell said: I want to tell you what the real issues are.

The shadow chancellor also sought to play down the significance of Momentum using its app to advise supporters not to back having a freedom of movement motion, saying groups from all sides of the party had always sought to influence the direction of conference. Mary Creagh MP said: It is disappointing that we as a party that aspires to be in government have ducked the biggest issue of the day.

The shadow chancellor also said Labour was committed to bringing key sectors of the economy into public ownership including rail and water, as well as a decentralised energy system.

Concerns are mounting that a Labour Party rule change for tougher action on anti-Semitism could be blocked by anti-Zionists who think it could shut down debate about Israel and Palestine.
S adiq Khan waded into Labours Brexit row today with a call for the UK to stay in the single market after the two-year transition period was over.

The Mayor questioned whether Brexit would in fact ever happen as the goal-posts have moved so much since last years vote to leave.

He said that if Britains departure it went ahead London would need a special deal on immigration so it could get the lions share of talent.

Mr Khans heavyweight intervention comes after Jeremy Corbyn supporters saw off an attempt to bind Labour to a policy of staying in the single market.

Several pro-European Union MPs criticised the decision not to give a vote on the specific question.

Lewisham East MP Heidi Alexander said she was gobsmacked by the decision while Chuka Unumma accused the party of ducking debate rather than leading it.

Mr Khan told BBC radio: I am quite clear when it comes to us leaving the EU, if we do leave the European Union, there will have to be a new deal...

I think the goal-posts have moved in relation to the terms of trade that the Prime Minister does with the European Union.

Before the general election [she] was talking about no transitional period, not even having access to the single market, let alone being members of the single market. I think the goal posts have moved. I want us to continue to be members of the single market.

Mr Khan called for special treatment for London in negotiations with the EU on free movement of people.

I think London is different to the rest of the country. Why? Because we are the only region to vote to remain in the EU. Why? Because not only do we need immigration, but we want it.

However, Mr Khan did say he accepted the referendum result, despite the capital voting to remain. The British public voted to leave the EU, he said.
B illions of pounds worth of controversial private finance deals used to build hospitals and schools by Gordon Brown and Tony Blair in the heyday of New Labour will be torn up, John McDonnell was announcing today.

He was due to tell the Brighton conference that Labour would cancel contracts where it thought taxpayers were being ripped off with excessive charges and unfair profits. Well bring existing PFI contracts back in-house, he was expected to say. Well bring them back.

The move marks another major break with the Blair-Brown era  and another move to the Left by a leadership emboldened by its election gains.

But it is certain to spark uproar among investors who signed contracts lasting decades and may trigger demands for billions of pounds in compensation.

Mr McDonnell said he would target PFI deals in which excessive profits of up to 30 per cent were being made, plus those where investors were siphoning profits into tax havens abroad: The Government could intervene immediately to ensure that companies in tax havens cant own shares in PFI companies, and their profits arent hidden from HMRC.

Well put an end to this scandal and reduce the cost to the taxpayers.

PFI deals enabled a huge expansion of NHS and other public sector building works without showing up as an increase in Government borrowing.

Under the schemes, investors would build and maintain a new hospital, for example, in return for a guaranteed income and other charges over 30 or 40 years.

However, they saddled the public sector with higher costs as financing became cheaper and firms found loopholes to impose extra charges, such as a reported 5,000 to install a blind at a school.

Mr McDonnell said they had created huge, long-term costs for tax payers whilst handing out enormous profits for some companies  profits which are coming out of the budgets of our public services.

He said the deals had cost the NHS alone 831 million in excessive costs over six years. Across the public sector, he claimed 200 billion had been wasted.

The Public Accounts Committee reported in 2011 that 12 offshore infrastructure funds held equity in 74 per cent of PFI projects.

Todays announcement goes further than the last manifesto which promised to stop using the deals.

Mr McDonnell faced more controversy after he said Labour would also cap credit card interest so that no one pays back more than twice the amount of their original borrowing.

He said a debt crisis had left three million people trapped in persistent credit cards debts totalling 14 billion, which was endangering the economy.

But UK Finance chief executive Stephen Jones said the policy could backfire with side effects, including that the less well-off would be denied credit.

There would be a withdrawal of credit from those who most need it, he told BBC radio.
T he multi-billion pound HS2 high-speed rail link is dependent on the construction of Londons Crossrail 2 line, a senior figure in the project has warned.

The 56bn HS2 project would see a high-speed line built linking London, Birmingham and Manchester, cutting journey times into the capital.

But a senior boss managing the project has warned that any benefits would be lost unless there were serious improvements at Euston station, which already deals with more than double its supposed 20 million passenger-a-year capacity.

Crossrail 2 plans would see a huge tunnel built beneath the capital linking Euston to key commuter hubs such as Clapham Junction and Victoria station.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned London's transport network would "grind to a halt" without Crossrail 2 / Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

HS2 executives have warned that Euston would buckle under the pressure of extra commuters brought in by the national high-speed line.

A source told the Financial Times: We are dependent on Crossrail 2 for the train line to work properly at Euston.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has in the past warned the capitals transport network would grind to a halt unless the 30 billion Crossrail 2 project is built.

In July, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed he supported the scheme in a major step forward for the project.

Speaking at a London Assembly meeting in June, Val Shawcross , the deputy mayor for Transport, warned HS2 will generate enormous bottlenecks at Euston.

But a HS2 spokesman said he was confident Euston could cope with the thousands of extra passengers the line with bring daily to London.

He told the FT: We are confident that Euston will be able to handle the extra passengers that HS2 services will deliver and we are working with [Transport for London] to plan a major revamp of the existing Underground station.

HS2 further supports the ongoing improvement to transport capacity and connectivity around the whole country.
T his is the first picture of a British retiree who was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs in Greece.

The 62-year-olds body was found on Saturday with markings suggesting she had been savaged by animals, two days after she made a frantic final phone call to her family.

The woman, named locally as Celia Hollingworth, was walking back to her guest house from an archaeological site in Mesimvria, northern Greece, when she called her family to tell them she had been attacked.

Worried relatives then contacted Greek authorities and a search operation was launched.

A source close to the rescue bid was quoted by the Sunday Mirror as saying: "It's an absolute tragedy.

The victim was a regular visitor to Greece because she loved the people and the culture.

"Everybody involved in the rescue attempt was left deeply shocked by the scene they found when the woman's body was discovered."

The Foreign Office confirmed to the Standard that it was assisting the woman's family.

A spokeswoman said: We are in contact with Greek Police in relation to a British woman missing in northern Greece since Thursday.

We are also providing consular assistance to her family.
T ransport for London and the Metropolitan Police were today urged to do more to keep personal data watertight after it emerged they have experienced more than 200 data breaches over the last five years.

The bodies, part of the Greater London Authority, were warned not to abuse the trust of the public who provided personal  and in some cases highly sensitive  information.

Len Duvall, chairman of the GLAs oversight committee, said that even though the majority of breaches were due to human error it was vital for TfL, the Met and other organisations to be on top of the issue.

The Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, told the committee that too much focus on big cyber-attacks, such as the NHS ransomware virus, risked neglecting the source of the majority of breaches.

Ms Denham said: The biggest risk is people, but that is also the biggest solution. Part of the problem is everybody is focusing on big cyber hacks and criminal actions... but I can tell you that 95 per cent of the data breaches that are reported to us are low-tech, and are not criminal hacks.

They are completely preventable through training, up-to-date software, clear roles and responsibilities and evergreen IT security practices.

In figures seen by the Standard, the majority, 162, of the 285 data breaches in the GLA group happened at the Met while a further 96 took place at TfL.

The London Legacy Development Corporation had 15 breaches and City Hall nine.

The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and the Mayors Office for Policing and Crime had two and one respectively.

Just 10 of the breaches were serious enough to report to the Information Commissioners Office.

TfL collects personal data from passengers moving around the capital every time they use a registered Oyster or contactless payment card.

It also records vehicles travelling across Londons low-emission and C-charge zones through number plate recognition cameras. The Met can also see this data.

In addition, Scotland Yard has access to sensitive information including the health records of vulnerable individuals and victims of crime.

It has also used facial recognition technology at events such as the Notting Hill carnival.

Mr Duvall said: When a large organisation is collecting vast amounts of data from customers, security must be watertight.
T he far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party sent shock waves through the country's political mainstream as it gained seats in the Bundestag for the first time.

Despite being re-elected, Chancellor Angela Merkels political position was weakened and the AfD saw a surge in support to make it the country's first significant hard-right party since the Nazis.

It received 12.6 per cent of votes in Sunday's election to become the third-largest caucus in Parliament behind Mrs Merkel's bloc and the Social Democrats.

The once economic-focused party has drifted further towards the hard-right since it was launched four years ago, and on Sunday won 94 seats in the German Bundestag.

Protest: Demonstrators protesting against the nationalist AfD, party / AP

A party built on economic principles

In 2013, economist and former State Secretary Bernd Lucke and former journalist Konrad Adam launched political group Wahlalternative 2013 (Electoral Alternative 2013).

AfD figures' most controversial comments Former co-chair Frauke Petry said German police should be armed to shoot refugees who are entering the country illegally to prevent illegal border crossings. The partys head in Thuringia, Bjorn Hocke, said Germany should stop feeling shame for its Nazi past and descried the Holocaust memorial in Berlin as a memorial of shame. Member of Parliament Andre Wendt sparked outrage after inquiring to what extent the state covers the cost of sterilising unaccompanied refugee minors. Co-chairman Alexander Gauland said the German footballer Jerome Boateng  who is half Ghanaian  is a talented sportsman but said most people would not want "someone like Boateng as a neighbour." Gauland also said Germany should close its borders and not be blackmailed by childrens eyes in response to an infamous image of a drowned child refugee.

The group was founded on the principle that, at the height of the eurozone crisis, there was a feeling of discontent over Germany bailing out southern European countries.

The groups initial manifesto opposed German federal policies and stated the eurozone was "unsuitable" as a currency area and was leaving southern European states "sinking into poverty".

The manifesto was endorsed by respected journalists, academics, business leaders and economists.

Members of the group decided to seek election in 2013 and formed the Alternative for Germany party, which was backed by the same groups.

Infighting and leadership woes

In the 2013 federal election, the party narrowly failed to pass the five per cent threshold to enter parliament but the following year won seven seats in the European Parliament.

Election: German Chancellor Angela Merkel was weakened by a surge in popularity for the AfD / REUTERS

The votes were won on a Eurosceptic platform, but members of the party were careful not to present themselves as too anti-European.

In fact, there was a debate over whether the slogan of Courage to Stand up for Germany was too strong and, as a result, it was later changed to MUT ZU D*EU*TSCHLAND with the EU encircled with the stars of the European flag.

At one time, AfD officials said they had discussed alliances with UKIP  a collaboration opposed by Mr Lucke and the federal board - but this was later ruled out.

Nationalism: The party has built a lot of its policies around the 'loss of German identity' / AFP/Getty Images

In 2015 Frauke Petry was elected principal speaker and her leadership saw the party shift more to the right and focus on a hard-line anti-immigration policy.

Mr Lucke later announced he was resigning from the party and blamed the rise of xenophobic and pro-Russian sentiments.

At a party congress in 2016, the AfD adopted a policy platform based upon opposition to Islam, calling for the ban of Islamic symbols and dress and using the slogan "Islam is not a part of Germany".

Frauke Petry: The former chairwoman of the anti-immigration party the AfD (AfD) / REUTERS

Ms Petry was accused of turning the AfD into an anti-Islam party and five MEPs left the group in protest.

The partys collaboration with the far-right Freedom Party of Austria then saw it expelled from the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament in 2016.

But, with rising tensions over Angela Merkel's decision to open Germany's gates to hundreds of thousands of refugees, the AfD continued to grow in popularity.

In recent months, Ms Petry became embroiled in a spat with other senior figures after urging her party to exclude members who express extremist views with the aim of attracting moderate voters.

Controversial: The party's federal spokesman Joerg Meuthen / REUTERS

Ms Petry shocked the AfD as she announced her resignation from the party on Monday, just a day after it made stunning election gains, thanks to disagreements with members from its more radical wing.

Far-right?

AfD's opponents have described the party as a far-right or even extreme-right, citing the xenophobic views expressed by some of its members.

But political scientists caution that while there are extremists in the party's ranks, its ideas are closer to those once held by the conservative wing of Ms Merkel's party than to the far-right fringe of German politics.

However, the party and party leaders have often been affiliated with extreme anti-Islam groups and anti-Semitic beliefs.

Angela Merkel Wins German Election 2017

Earlier this year, Mr Hocke called for a "U-turn" in the way Germany remembers its Nazi past.

In a speech referring to the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, he stated that "we Germans are the only people in the world who have planted a memorial of shame in the heart of their capital" and suggested Germans "need to make a 180 degree change in their politics of commemoration."

And party co-leader Alexander Gauland prompted controversy again weeks before the election by saying that "we have the right to be proud of the achievements of Germans soldiers in two world wars".

The AfD has also been linked to the citizens movement Pegida - the Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West  due to the overlap of ideologies and politics.

Bjorn Hocke: The politician said Germany should no longer have to feel shame over its Nazi history / AP

Policies

Nationalism:

The party initially centred on an anti-Eurozone stance, focusing on financial policies. But this has since developed into more of a nationalist agenda supporting calls for Germany to hold a referendum on EU sovereignty similar to Britain.

Senior members of the party have also expressed a desire to reclaim Germanys national pride  specifically in relation to shame regarding the countrys Nazi history.

Hocke often speaks of the "Fatherland" and has said that Germany should make a "180 degree" turn with regard to its sense of national pride. The party has also suggested that the countrys identity as under threat immigrants and refugees.

Campaign: An election campaign poster of the right-wing reads: "Stop Islamisation. Vote AfD!" / Getty Images

The traditional family:

The AfD is anti-abortion, against same-sex marriage and adoption and seeks to promote the traditional family unit.

It also favours traditional roles for women. Wolfgang Gedeon, an elected AfD representative, said feminism, sexualism, and migrationism are examples of the green communism he opposes.

Russia :

It has taken a very pro-Russia stance, calling for Western sanctions against Moscow over its involvement in the Ukraine conflict to be dropped.

Ms Petry travelled to Russia earlier this year for a secretive meeting with members of Russian president Vladimir Putin's party and AfD has courted Russian-speaking German voters with considerable success.

Environment:

The party has a platform of climate change denial ad wants to restrict "uncontrolled expansion of wind energy".

Conscription:

AfD wants a reinstatement of conscription, starting for men at the age of 18.
D onald Trump has extended travel restrictions on entering the US to a further eight countries, saying "making America safe" is is his number one priority.

The US president issued an order that will see people from North Korea, Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen all subjected to severe new restrictions on entry into the US.

Trump posted on Twitter: "Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet."

The new rules will come into effect on October 18 and range from an indefinite ban on visas for citizens of countries such as Syria to more targeted restrictions.

For example, a suspension of non-immigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela will apply only to certain government officials and their immediate families.

The announcement comes the same day as Mr Trump's temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was set to expire 90 days after it went into effect.

That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the US.

Only one of those countries, Sudan, will no longer be subject to travel restrictions.

Unlike the first iteration of Mr Trump's travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges, officials stressed they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.

To limit confusion, valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers for citizens of the affected countries who meet certain criteria.

People who have previously worked or studied in the US for a lengthy and continuous period of time may be exempt on a case-by-case basis.

Those who have previously established "significant contacts" in the US and have "significant business or professional obligations" in the US could also avoid the ban.

The restrictions are targeted at countries that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says fail to share sufficient information with the US. or have not taken necessary security precautions.

Over the course of the last three months, DHS worked to developed new security measures, which include factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information, report lost or stolen passports to Interpol, and share information about travellers' terror-related and criminal histories.

The US has given every country in the world 50 days to comply with these new requirements.

A total of 16 countries did not comply at first, officials said, but half worked with the US to improve their information-sharing and security practices.

The remaining eight are now subject to the new restrictions until they are deemed in compliance.

The includes a suspension of all immigrants visas for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, and the suspension of non-immigrant visas, such as for business and tourism, to nationals of Chad, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Yemen.

Citizens of Iran will not be eligible for tourism and business visas, but remain eligible for student and cultural exchange visas if they undergo additional scrutiny. Such additional scrutiny will also be required for Somali citizens applying for all non-immigrant visas.
A n Egyptian woman believed to have once been the heaviest in the world has died aged 37.

Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, who weighed 78 stone before she travelled to India for weight loss surgery, has died from heart disease and kidney dysfunction.

She was labelled the worlds heaviest woman before she was flown to India for the operation, during which she lost more than 15 stone.

But despite the surgery she died in the United Arab Emirates from complications from other health conditions, Burjeel Hospital said in a statement.

Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, who performed the bariatric surgery on the 37-year-old, paid tribute to her on Twitter.

He posted: You shall always remain in my thoughts and prayers #EmanAhmed .Shall forever remember her smile RIP.

Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is a stomach shrinking bypass procedure considered a last resort to treat people who are dangerously obese.

According to Ms Abd El Aty's family, she weighed 5kg at birth and as a child was diagnosed with elephantiasis, a condition that causes the limbs to swell.

She was flown by chartered plane to India for the surgery after an online campaign from her sister, but her family accused doctors at the Mumbai hospital of lying over her weight loss.

Ms Abd El Aty was being treated in Abu Dhabi since May.
A quick-thinking tourist prevented a bus from plunging over a cliff edge in the Austrian Alps after the driver lost consciousness at the wheel.

The vehicle, carrying 21 passengers, was passing through the mountains in the Tyrolean Alps when the driver, 76, fainted, according to local police.

As the bus travelled downhill towards the cliffs edge, the French tourist was able to climb over the driver and hit the brakes.

Before it could be stopped, the bus gathered speed and repeatedly banged into the mountainside lining the road.

The vehicle came to a grinding halt only before its front end was jutting over the edge of a 330-foot drop.

Four people were rushed to hospital following the shocking incident, and 10 in total needed treatment, police said.

The Frenchman, 65, was sitting close to the driver when he fell ill, the BBC reported.

"We were a hair's breadth from catastrophe," a local police spokesman said.
The Geordie Shore star had previously said shed been banned from taking part in the programme after winning Celebrity Big Brother, but producers are thought to have reconsidered.

Crosby may be hoping to enjoy the same success on the show as fellow Geordies Vicky Pattinson and Scarlett Moffatt who were both crowned Queen of the Jungle in previous series.

A source told The Sun: "Charlotte has signed up to this year's I'm A Celebrity. She's nervous but so excited at the same time.

I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here 2016 1 /72 I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here 2016 Scarlett Moffatt in the Bishtucker trial 'Cavern of Claws' ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt is the 2016 winner of 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' with Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly ITV/Rex Joel Dommett, Scarlett Moffatt, Adam Thomas are the final three contestants in 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' ITV/Rex Martin Roberts holds a Lobster in his mouth for his Bushtucker Trial on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' ITV/Rex Lisa Snowden leaves the I'm A Celebrity 2016 camp ITV Larry Lamb and Martin Roberts have an intense discussion ITV/Rex Danny Baker is the first contestant voted off I'm A Celebrity camp ITV Sam Quek, Ola Jordan, Adam Thomas and Wayne Bridge take oart in The Dingo Dollar Challenge: Get The Measure of It ITV/Rex Martin Roberts and Ola Jordan compete in the Bushtucker Trial: Bush Brewery ITV/Rex Adam takes revenge on Martin for spilling water all over his bed ITV/Rex 'Claim of Thrones' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Adam Thomas, Martin Roberts, Sam Quek, Wayne Bridge in 'Claim of Thrones' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Martin Roberts hugging trees ITV/Rex Adam Thomas gets stuck into the 'Food Factory' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Lisa Snowdon in the shower ITV/Rex Wayne Bridge gets all emotional ITV/Rex Joel Dommett and Carol Vorderman get to grips with 'Simply the Nest' in the Dingo Dollar challenge ITV/Rex Martin Roberts during 'Hell Hollow' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Martin Roberts gets tearful in camp ITV/Rex Danny talks to the celebs about his cancer ITV/Rex The blue and yellow teams battle it out in Hungry Games Part 2 ITV/Rex Ola Jordan showers ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt ITV/Rex Sam Quek and Martin Roberts attack the Rank Tanks in The Hungry Games Part 1 ITV/Rex Sam Quek and Martin Roberts during the Rank Tanks in The Hungry Games Part 1 ITV/Rex Carol Vorderman has a massage in camp ITV/Rex Joel Dommett takes part in 'The Great Ascent' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Jordan Banjo, Ola Jordan and Kiosk Keith take part in 'Dingo Dollar Crazy Golf' ITV/Rex Joel Dommett, Scarlett Moffatt, Sam Quek and Carol Vorderman relax in camp ITV/Rex Wayne Bridge, Scarlett Moffatt and Joel Dommett in 'Dingo Dollar Crazy Golf' ITV/Rex Ant and Dec make a controversial joke on Stephen Hawking ITV Scarlett Moffatt pull a face during a moment in camp ITV/Rex Adam Thomas in 'Stranded' the overnight challenge ITV/Rex Jordan Banjo feels a bit homesick on 'I'm a Celebrity .. Get me out of here!' ITV Ola Jordan, Carol Vorderman, Sam Quek and Scarlett Moffatt strike a pose in the jungle ITV/Rex Jordan Banjo and Wayne Bridge in 'Stranded' the overnight challenge ITV/Rex Lisa Snowdon takes a refreshing dip ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt during her 'I'm a Celebrity Big Bush Bake Off' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Carol Vorderman during her 'I'm a Celebrity Big Bush Bake Off' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt during her 'I'm a Celebrity Big Bush Bake Off' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt and Carol Vordermanduring her 'I'm a Celebrity Big Bush Bake Off' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Sam Quek consoles Scarlett Moffatt after their 'Tomb of Torment' Bushtucker Trial ITV/Rex Ola Jordan in the shower ITV/Rex Sam Quek, Scarlett Moffatt and Ola Jordan in the shower ITV/Rex Sam Quek, Scarlett Moffatt, Jordan Banjoa, Lisa Snowdon, Wayne Bridge, Ola Jordan, Joel Dommett, Adam Thomas and Carol Vorderman enter camp for the first time ITV/Rex James Jordan wants a mud fight between Sam Quek and Ola Jordan ITV/Rex Scarlett Moffatt's canoe capsizes on I'm A Celebrity ITV Carol Voderman walks the plank ITV/Rex Larry Lamb and Scarlett Moffatt head for camp in the 'Cruel Canoe' Challenge ITV/Rex Carol Vorderman takes a break in camp ITV/Rex Ola Jordan gets used to her new surroundings ITV/Rex Sam Quek parachutes from the helicopter in the Sky Challenge ITV/Rex Wayne Bridge, Joel Dommett and Adam Thomas hit the Jungle shower ITV/Rex Lisa Snowdon looks a tad nervous before her 'Sky Challenge' into camp ITV/Rex

She never thought she'd get a chance to go on the show because she thought they wouldn't take her on because she's done other reality shows like Big Brother.

"Charlotte is hilarious and she'll be a brilliant camp mate. She's not scared about getting her hands dirty in camp," they added.

Crosby previously told the publication shed be up for getting involved in the shows infamous bush tucker trials.

You know Id eat a kangaroos testicle and everything. I love Im A Celeb so much.

Other celebrities rumoured to be heading out to Australia for the 2017 series are EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, DJ and TV presenter Craig Charles, former Strictly Come Dancing professional and CBB star James Jordan and even ex-LBC radio host Katie Hopkins.

Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here returns to ITV later this year.
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The United States has sent MQ-1C UAVs to the Philippines to assist Filipino troops fighting Islamic terrorists in the southern part of the country. These UAVs belong to the U.S. Army which normally deploys them as an aviation company but sometime a detachment from an aviation company is sent overseas. An MQ-1C aviation company has 150 troops, 12 MQ-1Cs and five ground stations.

The first MQ-1C company entered service in 2013 with the U.S. Army 160th SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment), which belongs to SOCOM. Most MQ-1C companies are assigned to army combat brigades. The original plan was to establish 45 of these aviation companies but there was not enough money for that but there were enough MQ-1Cs to organize sufficient aviation companies for each combat brigade sent overseas as well as to train all combat brigades to get the most out of an MQ-1C company. Before these aviation companies were formed some MQ-1Cs were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010 for field testing. That was successful and reports from the MQ-1Cs in Iraq and Afghanistan helped shape the first MQ-1C aviation companies as they were being formed. There are now at least ten of these aviation companies, two of them assigned to SOCOM.

While the U.S. Air Force has flown most of the UAV missions against ISIL in Syria and Iraq the army began sending MQ-1Cs to join that effort in early 2015. The air force already had older MQ-1As there and these have flown about 20 percent of air force missions and for most of those missions the MQ-1A is armed with Hellfire missiles. On about a fifth of its missions in Syria and Iraq the MQ-1As use their missiles. The army has not reported how often the MQ-1Cs use their missiles but many of the MQ-1Cs fly surveillance missions while armed with missiles and at least three MQ-1Cs have been lost in action so far. Earlier in 2017 an MQ-1C company was sent to South Korea.

While air force Predators and Reapers are flown by officers, assisted by sergeants operating sensors, the army operators are mostly sergeants and warrant officers. The air force operators control their UAVs via satellite link from a base in the United States. Only the ground crews go overseas. But army operators and ground crews not only go overseas, but are assigned to a specific brigade, which they are a part of. That makes a big difference. When an army UAV operator provides overhead surveillance for troops, he often knows some of those troops. Even if he doesn't know them personally, he knows they are part of his brigade, and if anything goes very right, or wrong, he might receive a personal visit from those involved. With the air force operators, it's a job. With the army operators, it's personal. For this reason, the army has refused air force calls for all heavy (over one ton) UAVs to be pooled. The air force cannot understand the personal angle, but for the army and marines it's essential. Moreover, when there's a victory out there because of UAVs, it is for all to see in the UAV operations center, on big, flat screen displays. The response among the UAV operators is emotional, just as it is, in a more somber way, if there are problems down there.

Nevertheless the army is adding a satellite control option to the MQ-1C, apparently for situations where a platoon (a few MQ-1Cs) are being sent overseas. You still have to send some maintainers but all the ground control gear can stay behind. Moreover the MQ-1C, unlike the Reaper and Predator, uses automatic landing and takeoff software.

The MQ-1C Block 1 Gray Eagle weighs 1.5 tons, carries 135.4 kg (300 pounds) of sensors internally, and up to 227.3 kg (500 pounds) of sensors or weapons externally. It has an endurance of 30 hours and a top speed of 270 kilometers an hour. MQ-1C has a wingspan of 18 meters (56 feet) and is 9 meters (28 feet) long. The MQ-1C can carry four Hellfire missiles (compared to two on the Predator) or a dozen smaller 70mm guided missiles. A new, Block 2 version of Gray Eagle entered service in 2016. Block 2 has a better engine, fifty percent more fuel capacity, over 75 percent more endurance (from 30 to 53 hours), and its payload increased by 50 percent from 372 kg (798 pounds) to 558 kg (1,227 pounds). The fuselage has been modified to handle the increased fuel load and has greater reliability and stability in the air. The additional internal space makes it easier to install a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that makes it possible to fly in airspace used by civilian manned aircraft. MQ-1Cs have always had flight control software that handles takeoffs and landings automatically and this software has been very reliable, as have the MQ-1Cs themselves with readiness levels comparable to manned aircraft.

It is not known if the MQ-1Cs sent to the Philippines will be armed as their primary mission is to provide the Filipino troops on the ground with improved surveillance of Islamic terrorists in areas there these ISIL affiliated groups are most active. Filipino troop commanders are familiar with this type of surveillance as the U.S. has supplied the Philippines with aircraft that use similar surveillance and communications equipment. SOCOM has had teams of personnel equipped with ground receivers for this video. The U.S. is also providing the specialized software for keeping track of what UAV surveillance detects and can quickly analyze patterns of what is seen and indicate what the enemy is probably up to.
Soldiers fire an M777 howitzer during a training event at the Oro Grande range complex in New Mexico, Sept. 20, 2017. The soldiers are assigned to Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Eaddy

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Burmese suspicions voiced earlier in 2017 that someone was supplying cash to buy arms and otherwise support Rohingya rebels turned out to be true as more became known about the origins of the ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army), its founder and why much of the cash came from Saudi Arabia.

The army prefers to call groups like ARSA Islamic terrorists but until ARSA and the Saudi cash showed up there had not been much, if any, religious aspect to the armed Rohingya resistance. The army has responded with continued searches for rebels or supporters and applied its usual methods of persuading northern minorities to cooperate. This includes lots of random violence and frequent blockades to keep out food and other essential supplies.

What is happening in Rakhine State is a side effect of the current worldwide outbreak of Islamic radicalism and terrorism. Burmese Buddhist nationalists have used the threat of Islamic terrorism to revive a decades old effort to expel most of its Moslem minority because many Burmese fear the Rohingya Moslems will be a source of Islamic terrorists. While Moslem majority neighbor Bangladesh has arrested a few Pakistan trained Rohingya Islamic terrorists the Rohingya in Burma have largely avoided Islamic terrorism. Bangladesh borders Burmas Rakhine State which contains most of the Burmese Rohingya. Burma insists the Rohingya are Bangladeshis who are in Burma illegally. Bangladesh has never agreed with that. This is a dispute that goes back to the 19th century and is still unresolved.

ARSA is now openly calling for Rohingya worldwide to support a war against Burma for the bad treatment the Rohingya have received since 2012. The ARSA leader; Ataullah abu Ammar Jununi (or just Ata Ullah) has received more attention now that Islamic terror groups like al Qaeda are calling for its members to help ARSA and the Burmese Rohingya any way they can. In Pakistan government-backed Islamic terror groups are now admitting that Ata Ullah was born in Pakistan (Karachi) in the 1980s but that the family moved to Saudi Arabia where there was more work and Ata Ullah did well in school, particularly when it came to religious studies. Ata Ullahs father was also a popular Islamic cleric and his son was noticed by Saudi clerics who saw to it that Ata Ullah got a good education in Saudi Arabia. Eventually Ata Ullah became an Islamic cleric and the religious leader for the 150,000 Rohingya living and working in Saudi Arabia. This was largely because Ata Ullah was popular with many wealthy Saudis and their families. Ata Ullah always condemned the poor treatment of Rohingya in Burma and after 2011 called for extreme measures (Islamic terrorism) to enable Burmese Rohingya to defend themselves. While that attracted financial support from wealthy Saudis and charities that supported Islamic terrorism, Ata Ullah says he was treated poorly when he went to Pakistan in 2012 to try and obtain assistance from government supported Islamic terror groups there. What Ata Ullah encountered in Pakistan was a reluctance to get involved with a long-shot Moslem expatriate who had grown up in Saudi Arabia and while pleasant came off as clueless.

Ata Ullah then went into hiding and sought to recruit Rohingya wherever he could find them in Burma or Bangladesh who were willing to help build the ARSA. While most Rohingya are in Bangladesh and Burma there is a large overseas community who over half a million in Pakistan and the Persian Gulf (mainly Saudi Arabia) where there are jobs and educational opportunities for able, ambitious and religions Rohingya. Via these expatriates was able to establish contacts in Burma.

Ata Ullah is one of these overseas Rohingya but of the generation born in exile and under the influence of some very conservative Islamic ideas. In Saudi Arabia local religious groups and clerics are encoruaged to help these foreign workers become more religiously conservative and eventually return to where they are from to spread the conservative form of Islam (Wahhabism) predominant in Saudi Arabia. Moslem majority nations like Pakistan have learned to be wary of this sort of thing since when transplanted to places like Pakistan Wahhabism tends to create local Islamic terror groups who want to establish a religious dictatorship in Pakistan. That is apparently why Ata Ullah received such a hostile reception when he first returned to Pakistan looking for help in forming an Islamic terror organization in Burma to support the Rohingya there. But now these same Pakistani Islamic terror groups are offering help and Ata Ullah is turning it down, apparently because he figured out that the Pakistani Islamic terrorists now see an opportunity to establish themselves in Bangladesh and Burma and do so at the expense of the Rohingya and their self-proclaimed Rohingya-exile turned leader. If this sounds like Syria, Libya and numerous other revolutions in Islamic nations it is. Islamic conservatives see situations like this as attacks on Islam, not just another ethnic dispute.

This upsurge of international Islamic outrage follows August 25 attacks against security forces in northwest Burma similar to those that took place in October 2016 when three guard posts along the Bangladesh border were attacked by over 200 Rohingya men armed with a few firearms and, for most of them, swords, spears and clubs. Nine border guards were killed and some weapons and equipment stolen. In August 2017 it was different as there were more attackers. Police reported 77 attackers killed along with a dozen police after an army base station and three police outposts were attacked by poorly armed men. This time the same person (Ata Ullah) took credit more convincingly and said the violence was a defensive action in 25 different locations to protect Rohingya civilians from police and army violence.

The ARSA tactics are not what the army is used to dealing with. Most of the armed opposition in the north is in the form of uniformed and well organized tribal militias, some of them armed and trained as well as the army. The army has long used tactics that emphasize attacking civilians to force the rebel militias to fight and similar tactics appear to be used against the ARSA. That means burning down Rohingya villages and forcing civilians to flee the country. The army also treats foreign aid organizations roughly, accusing the foreign aid workers of supporting the armed opposition. That is true in an indirect (and, very rarely, directly) sense because the armed opposition (or Islamic terrorist) groups depend on the aid to survive as well and are usually responsible for most of the attacks (to plunder, not chase away) on the foreign aid workers.

Ata Ullah will have a hard time finding a safe hideout in or around Burma. Neighboring Bangladesh is not only very hostile to Islamic terrorist groups but also very effective in dealing with persistent efforts by Islamic terrorists to establish themselves in Bangladesh. There are practical reasons for this attitude. Recently Bangladesh released details on an August 24th assassination against the prime minister (Sheikh Hasina). This effort involved seven members of the special unit assigned to protect senior officials. The government, with the help of Indian intelligence, managed to detect the plot (which apparently involved Pakistani Islamic terrorists) and the seven Bangladeshi troops were arrested before they could carry out their plan (which came very close to succeeding). Now Bangladesh is seeking more information on foreign support or Islamic terrorist activities in Bangladesh. This sort of support has been more noticeable in the last few years, which is why the Bangladeshis were already working with Indian intelligence. This is not the first time Islamic terrorists have tried to kill Sheikh Hasina, who has survived 11 assassination attempts since she took office (as prime minister) in 2009. Bangladesh is not a safe place for anyone connected with Islamic terror groups or defending Islam by any means necessary.

People Without A Country

The Rohingya are not a unique situation but are part of an ancient pattern that has become a common cause of large scale disorder. This is all about the existence of large stateless populations. This has become a more difficult problem since national states became a common form of government and it became common for there to be disputes over who belonged and who did not. The UN estimates that there are currently over ten million such stateless people.

Most of the stateless are that way because they dont want to live where they, or their ancestors, came from. Thus there are a million Moslems in Burma who originally (often over a century ago) came from Bangladesh but dont want to return there. They prefer to live in Burma, where most of the population is Buddhist. There is a similar situation in the African country of Ivory Coast, where 700,000 people (a quarter of the population) are migrants (or the descendants of migrants) from Burkina Faso, Mali and Ghana. Over the last half century Ivory Coast encouraged these people to come work on coffee and cotton plantations. Unfortunately Ivory Coast never agreed to offer citizenship and that led to a recent civil war between the migrants and the natives.

In the Middle East you have over 100,000 stateless nomads in Kuwait. Called the bedoon, these people were not considered Kuwaitis in 1962 (when Kuwait became independent) because the nomads came and went as they pleased and did not seem interested. But as the oil wealth grew interest arose. At that point Kuwait decided it was not making anyone else citizens. In Syria and Iraq there have been government attempts to punish rebellious Kurds by declaring some of them not citizens. That has not worked out well and the question of who the Kurds are and where they belong is still a problem.

In Russia and former (after 1991) states of the Soviet Union there are over half a million people who ended up in a country that did not want them. About half of these unwanted are ethnic Russians who ended up outside Russia and liked being where they were but the locals did not want them. The other half were non-Russians who ended up in Russia but were not wanted. In Thailand there are over half a million tribal refugees from the numerous tribal rebellions in neighboring Burma. These people do not want to go back, would like to become Thai citizens but the Thais dont want them.

In the Dominican Republic you have hostility towards migrants from neighboring Haiti which led to new laws making many migrants non-citizens. In Europe you have over 50,000 Roma (gypsies) who are nomadic and prefer to not register births with the state and not leave a paper trail. Many Roma have settled down, but enough have not to remain a problem.

There is a worldwide problem with illegal migrants going somewhere to find jobs, staying, not being detected for a while, if at all, and eventually their descendants demand citizenship. This often leads to violence and resists lots of solutions thus becoming long-term problems.

While Bangladesh accuses Burma for making this particular incident of statelessness worse India and China have sided with the Burmese government, in large part because India and China have faced this problem before and are still subject to additional outbreaks. This support is important because China has a veto in the UN and can stop any resolutions to sanction or otherwise persuade Burma to do whatever. There is no easy solution and the usual outcome is messy, murderous and satisfying to no one but media outlets who know this sort of thing is good for business, especially if you put emphasis on real or imagined atrocities. There is no shortage of either in situations like this.

India and China also backed the response of Burmese political leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who won international praise for her decades of efforts to get Burmese democracy revived in 2011 (with the removal of a military government). Aung San Suu Kyi has been criticized for not speaking out more forcefully against the treatment of the Burmese Rohingya. But all politics is local and Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese Buddhist who sympathizes with the plight of the Rohingya but recognizes that most Burmese feel less certain about who is at fault here. Aung San Suu Kyi also went against international opinion by agreeing with the Burmese military that major operations against the ARSA in Rakhine State had ended by September 5th and much of the media reports of subsequent military operations was invented or misinterpreted.

The Burmese Response

Since the August 25th attacks the government has moved more than 10,000 addition soldiers to Rakhine State. Across the border in Bangladesh local authorities report that as many as 400,000 additional Burmese Rohingya have arrived since August 25th but that the number arriving each day has declined considerably. Bangladeshi border guards believe that there are simply very few Burmese Rohingya still living near the border.

September 24, 2017: The government is backing complaints from Hindus in Rakhine State that on August 25th a group of armed men claiming to be ARSA attacked and looted a Hindu village sending hundreds of local Hindus fleeing for their lives. The army eventually showed up, reported they found evidence of such violence and the bodies of 28 villagers recently left in several mass graves.

September 23, 2017: India has ordered its border police to use forceful measures to stop Burmese Rohingya Moslems trying to enter India. There are already 40,000 Rohingya India is trying to send back to Bangladesh, where nearly half a million Rohingya refugees from Burma have arrived since 2012. Economic prospects for Rohingya are better in India but only the most determined Rohingya, with access to some cash, can move on from Bangladesh to enter India illegally.

September 22, 2017: In the northwest (Rakhine State) a bomb went off in a mosque compound during weekly prayers. There were no injuries and police recover many components of the crudely built device. No one took credit for this attack.

September 14, 2017: In the north (Shan state) fighting broke out between TNLA rebels and soldiers in three different areas, leaving three soldiers dead. Some soldiers and rebels may have been wounded but no additional deaths were reported.

September 1, 2017: In the northwest (Rakhine State) a week after the latest outbreak of mass violence here police say 370 ARSA men have been killed. Local Rohingya say many of these dead are just Rohingya men soldiers killed and then claimed the victims were ARSA members. In any event it is difficult to tell who is ARSA and who is not because most ARSA are armed with whatever sharp implements they can find and none carry identification of ARSA membership. The UN refugee officials on duty along the Bangladesh side of the border reported nearly 40,000 Burmese Rohingya had been detected crossing the border since August 25th.

Bangladesh complained to Burma about at least three instances since August 27th when Burmese military helicopters had briefly crossed the border.

August 30, 2017: In the west (Chin state) soldiers clashed with members of the AA (Arakan Army) tribal rebels near the Indian and Bangladesh border. The AA accused the army of entering AA territory without permission. This may have been because of the increased military effort to find those responsible for the August 25th attacks in nearby Rakhine State.

August 25, 2017: In the northwest (Rakhine State) there were attacks on 30 police outposts and an army base with ARSA taking credit.
Friday brought the surprising news that the Transport for London (TfL) Authority wouldn't allow Uber to renew its private operator's license in the city, thereby threatening to remove the US firm's operations from the UK's capital. But it's been revealed that TfL gave Uber the "green light" to continue working in London on ten previous occasions, according to The Times.

In last week's statement, the TfL said it rejected Uber's renewal application because the company is not "fit and proper" to hold a license. The regulator said the ride-hailing firm's "approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues."

But data released under the Freedom of Information Act in July shows that inspectors found nothing amiss during the ten times they visited the company over the last four years. The only issue that arose came in 2016, which the TfL said was outside of Uber's control and that the firm took "all reasonable steps" to address the problem.

Uber has said that it isn't clear exactly why London's transport regulator refused it a new license.

"Sitting down with TfL (Transport for London) representatives as soon as possible would be the most helpful thing to really understand their concerns to work out what they are," Uber's UK Head of Cities Fred Jones told BBC radio. "It's just not clear for us what their concerns might be."

While Uber is allowed to continue its operations in London during the appeals process, the threat of 40,000 drivers losing their jobs and the effect the ban would have on London residents has seen the launch of a petition to stop Uber being removed from the city. So far, it has gained almost 740,000 signatures as it closes in on its target of 1 million supporters.

Following the ban, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a statement: "I fully support TfL's decision - it would be wrong if TfL continued to license Uber if there is any way that this could pose a threat to Londoners' safety and security."

News that Uber passed ten previous inspections has led to accusations that the ban was politically motivated. Mayor Khan says he was not involved in the decision, but recent revelations that his election campaign received 30,000 (around $40,500) from the cab drivers' union GMB, which has an resentful relationship toward Uber, doesn't look good.

"He [Khan] appears to have put narrow political interests ahead of the interests of the wider general public,' said Croydon South Tory MP Chris Philp.

Uber said it is ready to make concessions involving passenger safety and drivers' benefits if it means resolving the situation. "While we haven't been asked to make any changes, we'd like to know what we can do," Tom Elvidge, Uber's general manager in London, told The Times. "But that requires a dialogue we sadly haven't been able to have recently."
The suspect has been identified as a UVA student. All three of the victims were football players. | Read More
2017 Kia Forte S Drive and Review By Larry Nutson

...go make the deal!

2017 Kia Forte S

More sport; Good value

By Larry Nutson

Senior Editor and Bureau Chief

Chicago Bureau

Its all about the deal. Or, so it seems. And, the Kia Forte appears to be a good deal for lots of folks.

November 2016 was Kias seventh month of sales growth with a 15.3% increase and it was also the best month for the Forte line-up with a double-digit increase.

For 2017 theres three Forte bodystyles--the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 hatchback and Forte Koup 2-door. Theres something for everyone.



I recently spent time with a Kia Forte S sedan that has refreshed exterior styling and a new 2.0-Liter engine for 2017. The S trim is new for this year, sitting between the base LX and the top-of-the-line EX.

The LX can be had with manual or automatic transmission, priced at $16,490 and $17,500, respectively. The base price on the S is $19,200 and the EX is $21,200, each only offered with an automatic.

On the outside the Forte has a new front bumper and tiger nose grille that flows into newly designed headlights. There are new taillights at the rear and Xenon HID headlights and LED taillights are now optional.



On the inside, LX and S trims have new cloth materials for the seats. The EX now comes standard with leather-trimmed and heated front seats, dual-zone full automatic temperature control, rear vents, and a push-button start with Smart Key. Both the S and EX trims have a 7-inch touch screen display and includes a suite of smartphone functions via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a rear view camera is also standard.

For 2017 the engine is upgraded from a 1.8-liter to a now standard 147 HP 2.0-liter Atkinson I-4 on the LX with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic and on the S with a 6-speed automatic. The EX gets the 164HP 2.0-liter GDI I-4 with a 6- speed automatic.



Forte sedans best EPA test-cycle fuel economy ratings are with the 147HP and automatic rated at 32 mpg combined with 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.

With seating for five, a roomy 14.9 cuft trunk and a 13.2 gallon fuel tank that should be good for about 500 miles of driving, the Forte could very well make for an efficient car for that trip to visit the in-laws besides being a good daily-commuter.

By the way, both engines are certified as ultra low emission in the new Forte. This is noteworthy not only from the green perspective, but also beneficial in that there may be specific closer-to-the-front-door parking for you at your workplace if you work in a LEED certified facility.

The Forte is also offered with many driver-assistance safety features including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, and Rear-Cross Traffic Alert. These were equipped on the media-loaner I drove all bundled in a Technology Package for $1,490. Id recommend choosing these features since some day they may well pay off by helping you avoid a collision.

To help drivers understand this equipment the National Safety Council and the University of Iowa have teamed up to provide an online, mobile- and tablet-friendly resource www.mycardoeswhat.org to help educate consumers.



The new S trim that I drove features a sport-tuned suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, LED positioning lights, rear spoiler, and a chrome exhaust tip. The S trim also gets exclusive black cloth seats with white contrasting stitching, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

A Drive Mode System is standard on the S-trim and it allows the driver to change from Normal to Eco or to Sport mode. The Sport mode has later transmission upshifts and better throttle response. With the Eco mode its the opposite. I also discovered during some snow covered road driving that the Eco mode with its softer throttle works well for starting from stop in slippery conditions.

You can get more information, detailed specifications and view all the standard features as well as options on the entire 2017 Kia Forte model line just a mouse click away at www.kia.com.

Overall the 2017 Kia Forte is well balanced in terms of features and equipment, overall driving performance and value oriented pricing. Plus Kia offers a lot of high-tech at reasonable prices. The 147 HP engine delivered good acceleration from stop as well as highway merging and passing. Ride and handling is predictable as well as comfortable. The Sport suspension is not too firm even on pock-marked city streets. The inside is roomy; controls are easy to use; the touch screen interface is simple to use and intuitivewhats not to like. Oh, and the warranty is better than most.

As for the good deal I mentioned, Ive seen the Forte advertised for $129 a month for a 39 month lease with $1999 down. And Kia is running a Holiday sales event with payments deferred for 90 days and zero-percent APR for up to 66 months.

What are you waiting for? Go make the deal!

2016 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy

The Most In-Depth Independent Kia Vehicle Shopper's Research - Anywhere!
CULVER CITY, Calif.Envoy Technologies today announced that the company has been awarded $1.5M in funding from the California Energy Commission. The grant will allow Envoy to develop and implement an Electric Vehicle Shared Mobility Program that will primarily benefit disadvantaged communities in the greater Sacramento Metropolitan and the California Bay Area.

Envoy provides shared mobility as an amenity where people live, work and stay. Envoy's turnkey solution enables the real estate industry, companies, communities and municipalities the ability to implement closed and exclusive car sharing, e-bike and e-scooter sharing for any size community. Envoy is uniquely suited in the mobility space to implement all-electric, multi-modal shared vehicles in private communities.

Members of the disadvantaged communities where Envoy will be installed will be able to reserve vehicles for either personal use or to earn income driving for delivery services such as Postmates, Grubhub and ride hailing companies like Uber and Lyft.

We are very excited to have the opportunity to partner with the California Energy Commission, said Aric Ohana, Co-Founder of Envoy. The goal of the CarShare Expansion is to create a sustainable car sharing program to serve as a model of partnership and efficient use of public funds that is easily replicated by other MSAs within California.

Envoy partnered with ChargePoint for installation of EV chargers. Envoy also obtained letters of support from Mercy Housing and USA Properties Fund. Envoy plans on deploying over 80 vehicles in Sacramento Metro and Bay Area.

Our partners were essential in the development on this proposal, said Ori Sagie, Co-Founder of Envoy. We are excited to see the impact our project will have on the communities in the Bay Area and Sacramento as we strive to decrease traffic congestion, reduce parking needs and promote the use of electric vehicles.

About Envoy Technologies

Envoy Technologies is a fully integrated technology platform and operations solutions that allows property owners to implement mobility as a community or municipal amenity. Founded in 2016, by a team of seasoned real estate investors with a passion for technology, Envoy has created a turnkey closed car-sharing network for communities, not accessible by the public. Envoy headquarters are in Los Angeles, CA. For more information, visit EnvoyThere.com.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/09/2017 (1876 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A local organization that works to help the homeless and underprivileged has moved their operation into a much larger space, and with the move hope to offer more programs, services and resources to assist those who need a helping hand in the southeast community.

Family programming is always a priority, Steinbach Community Outreach (SCO) executive director Irene Kroeker said, while sitting in the new childrens area at the SCO headquarters in Steinbach.

We want to provide a welcoming and safe space for people and families to come and spend time together as a family.

DAVE BAXTER | THE CARILLON Steinbach Community Outreach executive director Irene Kroeker and Today House board chair Simone Penner visit the childrens area at the new and expanded space that outreach organization will now call home.

SCO is a Steinbach-based organization that works to help the poor and homeless in the southeast community by offering housing support, basic needs like food, clothing and toiletries, a drop-in area for families and assistance with accessing resources.

Along with programming, SCO also offers assistance to people looking to fill out paperwork for things like obtaining an ID card or social security number, or applying for social assistance.

Kroeker said they work on a housing-first model where their first priority is always to get families into housing, but she said there is more involved with helping those in need than simply getting them into a home and helping them with basic needs.

We also want to offer a place where they can come so they feel like they have a community and can build relationships and connections, and that is what this place offers, she said.

For years SCO offered a drop-in space of less than 500 square feet located at the Steinbach Mennonite Church on Loewen Ave., but about two weeks ago SCO moved their operation into a different space at the church, and they now have more than 6,000 square feet of space to work with.

Along with the new space, SCO also now has a whole lot of new ideas for what they can start to offer to their clients, and to the community.

There are a lot of ideas that are percolating because we can now do some real programming, Kroeker said. We now have so many ideas that we are planning and that are in the works.

The organization now has a large drop-in centre that features a sitting area, a childrens area where they will offer programming and activities for children, a games room where families can play a variety of games, a room where families can work on art projects, and a brand new kitchen area where they can now offer basic cooking and nutritional programming to families.

Kroeker said the goal of the organization is to get families to a place where they no longer need SCOs services and can be self-sufficient, and she said programming is a big part of that goal.

We want to start making a real difference to families that are in that cycle, she said.

We want to break that cycle.

She added they are already planning a family day where one set of volunteers can be in the childrens area working with children, while another group of volunteers will be out in the sitting area working with parents.

Kroeker added they also want to expand or introduce a number of programs that are now in the works.

We are getting it all organized but its coming along, Kroeker said.

We have had the most amazing donations, and we are absolutely overwhelmed with the generosity of the people that we have here in this community.

SCO currently offers a drop-in program for families on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at 345 Loewen Ave. in Steinbach.

More information on SCO and what they offer can be found by visiting steinbachcommunityoutreach.com.
Anthony Weiner. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Former Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in prison on Monday, the Associated Press reports. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, have zero contact with his victim, and, after serving his time, enroll in a sex-offender treatment program and subject himself to internet monitoring.

In May, Weiner pleaded guilty to one charge of transferring obscene material to a minor following reports that he had sexted with a 15-year-old girl. Among their communications, according to prosecutors, was Weiner asking 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. They requested a sentence of 21 to 27 months, while his camp attempted to argue that he was being rehabilitated and requested probation.

Weiners sexting habits first came to light in 2011, when he accidentally tweeted out an explicit photo of himself. He resigned from his congressional seat in the fallout, and, a few years later, he attempted a mayoral run, in which he was the front-runner until yet another scandal broke. (It was also revealed that he was using the sexting nom de plume Carlos Danger.)

The underaged sexting case is also linked to an FBI probe mere weeks before the 2016 election: James Comey reopened the case of Clintons private server after reportedly discovering emails on Weiners electronic devices, which had been seized after there were claims that he had engaged in illicit communication with a minor.

Weiner is ordered to report to prison on November 6 to begin his sentence.
Photo: Melodie Jeng/Getty Images

In fashion, there is always a price to pay  even when something is free. And an ongoing debate between street-style photographers and influencers, which came to a boil at Milan Fashion Week, is making this loud and clear.

It all began on Thursday, when a group of 30-something street-style photographers met to organize an unofficial union. Their goal, as outlined in a statement obtained by WWD, is to stop disproportionate gain being derived by the influencers and to no longer be viewed as a passive entity in the equation of this industry. In other words, The Photographers, as this anonymous group calls themselves, argue that they need to be seen as an invaluable part of the equation; theyre done watching influencers profit off their images, with no compensation or acknowledgement in return.

The Photographers statement read:

Brands, influencers and bloggers regularly make use of these photographers copyright-protected photos to fulfill their responsibilities to the brands that pay them to wear and promote the garments and accessories which they wear to the fashion shows and events. The group will no longer tag or credit these influencers and instead, will replace their tag/credit with an agreed-on hashtag: #NoFreePhotos.

Though the Photographers concluded by saying they intend no malice with their new union and stipulations, the #NoFreePhotos hashtag quickly made the rounds on Instagram, sparking a conversation that focused on monetary compensation for both sides. On Friday, the popular blogger and influencer Bryan Grey Yambao also known as Bryanboy, posted his own rebuttal:

While I have enormous respect to all of these lensmen (and women), the notion that many influencers are being disproportionately paid to wear clothes is quite laughable.

I dont get paid to wear clothes at a show, Bryanboy told the Cut in a follow-up conversation. No one gets paid to wear clothes; most people dont even get paid to attend the show. Its really about establishing relationships with the brands and playing your cards right. Brands work with us throughout the year on different projects, but theyre not going to pay me to get shot by someone else.

According to Bryanboy, influencers actually end up spending money during Fashion Week. At the end of the day, Uber rides to and from showrooms to borrow clothes, shipping them around the globe, plus hotels and flights are all business expenses that influencers like himself figure into their budgets.

As an influencer, theres something demoralizing about a brand passive-aggressively asking you to be dressed and then theyre going to put you in the third row, Bryanboy added of giving free press to brands just to establish a good relationship with them. (Much like many street-style photographers do as well.) But it gets your foot in the door, and hopefully results in paying gigs down the line. So, even if influencers are not profiting directly from street-style photos, they are potentially gaining from them in the long run.

In a recent article titled, The Big Business of Street Style Bait, the blogger Zanita Whittington told Refinery29 that street style is a huge part of [her] business. She explained that these photos help boost her reputation as a style authority, and a single New York Fashion Week season could yield as much as $100,000.

Some bloggers and street-style stars hire their own photographers, but most of the time, theyre relying on the photographers outside of shows  some of whom are being paid by magazines, and others who are also working for free to kickstart their careers. These photographers run after influencers for the chance to be featured on their Instagrams, and the influencers know this, with some then turning it into a game of cat and mouse  as well as a competition amongst photographers. This is exactly the power dynamic that #NoFreePhotos is trying to dismantle.

Some of these photographers have been involved in the promotion of the girls, making them famous and a nice product for brands to use, said Nabile Quenum, the Cuts street-style photographer who runs his own journal Jai Perdu Ma Veste. We have a platform where we put them, too. People and brands come to us to see who to follow. Street style is about the details, buts also about finding cool people with good taste. But then they just take all that and say, Oh no, I did everything all by myself. I dont owe anything to photographers. Im just asking for respect.

Quenum, who claimed he was one of the organizers behind the #NoFreePhotos union, said that the story has been deformed a bit, because the focus in the past few days has been about money. Yes, the Photographers are arguing that if their photos are being used for advertising (either during or after Fashion Week), that they should also get something in return. But in general, they want there to be more transparency and communication about how their photos are being sourced, and what for.

With magazines, the rules are clear. But on social media, the rules are blurry, Quenum continued. We have a tacit understanding: If you want to use my picture, you tag me. But the point of this is the use of the picture, and thats where something has to be done. Its easy to screen capture a photo and use it for an ad and make money. But wheres the photographer in that? Somehow, street style photographers lost everything in the conversation.

Unfortunately, the immediate reaction to this unionization has perhaps even furthered the divide between street-style photographers and influencers. They want the same thing, though, and also depend on each other to succeed. They are also both still at the mercy of brands and magazines to pay their rent, but as the past few years have proven, power dynamics in the industry are shifting; if they banded together, they could come out on top.

In this way, #NoFreePhotos is a natural evolution in an industry where the influence of images on individual platforms is quantifiable and quickly usurping traditional modes of distribution. Despite the current drama, photographers trying to unionize and protect their work is a sign of maturity for social media and fashion. There are all kinds of rules to protect photographers in print  page rates, usage fees, copyrighting, etc.  because early fashion photographers demanded them. So, a viral, charged-up hashtag may not be an elegant or final solution, but it indicates a shift in the seriousness with which we must take non-print media, from photographers to street-style stars.

Will #NoFreePhotos immediately change the way things are done? Probably not. As Bryanboy said, Theres always going to be someone who will work for free. But the beauty of social media is that it can start a conversation, and at no cost.
The scene where people were injured when gunfire erupted at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 24, 2017. (Metro Nashville Police Department/Handout via Reuters)

10-Year-Old Boy Helped Barricade Door in Tennessee Church Shooting

A 10-year-old boy was among those caught up in the Tennessee church shooting that left one woman dead and six worshippers injured.

The boy, Jeremiah Reese, described the terrifying ordeal when he helped barricade a door with several pieces of furniture to The Tennessean.

At first, Jeremiah thought the gunshots were fireworks, he said, explaining the moment when he started to hear gunfire.

Jeremiah Reese barricaded himself in a room by the auditorium at Burnette Chapel until the gunfire stopped. pic.twitter.com/SR8Wu2MW0g  Blake Farmer (@flakebarmer) September 24, 2017

Jeremiah was with others in the church but in a separate room from the gunman,

When I heard more and more and more I thought OK those arent fireworks,' he said, The Tennessean reported.

When I heard someone scream Get down and more screaming, I grabbed a couch and turned it on its side and I got a table and I got chairs and I just put chairs and chairs [by the door], he said.

The masked gunman who entered the Nashville church was identified as 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson. He walked into the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ on Sunday, Sept. 24, wearing a ski mask and opened fire, police said.

Melanie Smith, a 39-year-old mother of two was killed in the shooting, according to authorities.

Everybodys looking for why, why, why, her daughter Breanna Smith told CBS. Theres no understanding evil. Theres no understanding hate.

The suspect shot and injured himself as he struggled with a church usher, 22-year-old Robert Caleb Engle, who was struck in the head by the suspects gun, reports said. Engle then managed to go to his car to fetch his gun, officials said, and came back to guard the injured gunman until the police arrived.

Metropolitan Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron described Engle as exceptionally brave.

Many have called Engle a hero for confronting the gunman in the church. Engle said in a statement published by WKRN: I do not want to be labeled a hero. The real heroes are the police, first responders and medical staff and doctors who have helped me and everyone affected.

He was released from hospital at some point on Sunday night and is now resting with his family, per the news outlet.
L: Circa 330 BC, Alexander the Great (356 - 323 BC) King of Macedonia, on his horse Bucephalus. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images); R: Approximate location of the ancient city at Qalatga Darband in Iraq. (Screenshot via Google Maps)

2,000-Year-Old Lost City of Alexander the Great Found

An ancient city possibly founded by Alexander the Great has been discovered in Iraq thanks to the release of old spy photos and new drone footage.

The city, over 2,000 years old, was discovered by British Museum archaeologists. They stumbled upon it studying spy satellite photos taken over Iraq by the American government in the 1960s. The images were declassified in 1996.

The archaeologists think the city was built on a route the Alexander of Macedon took in 331 BC while pursuing Persian King Darius III; who was fleeing from his defeat at the Battle of Gaugamela.

The city, nearby Lake Dukan in northeast Iraq, was circled by a wall and had a fort, a temple, and wine presses.

Its early days, but we think it would have been a bustling city on a road from Iraq to Iran. You can imagine people supplying wine to soldiers passing through, said John MacGinnis, British Museum archaeologist, according to The Times.

The archaeologists were unable to organize a dig both during the Saddam Hussein era and during the Iraq war. They were only able to start field work last year thanks to sufficient security in the area and a program to train Iraqi archaeologists to recover relics ruined by ISIS terrorists.

In response to ISIS destroying cultural heritage sites in Iraq and Syria, the British Museum secured almost $4 million from the British government to train 50 staffers of the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage in a wide variety of sophisticated techniques of retrieval and rescue archaeology, the museum stated on its website.

Part of the training was field work in Iraq, including a dig at Qalatga Darband scheduled to start in September 2016.

The Iraqis flew a camera-equipped drone over the site and then looked for patterns in the wheat and barley fields.

The drone yielded excellent information, said MacGinnis, lead archaeologist of the museums program. We got coverage of all the site using the drone in the springanalyzing crop marks hasnt been done at all in Mesopotamian archaeology.

Where there are walls underground the wheat and barley dont grow so well, so there are color differences in the crop growth.

They also conducted excavations and found terracotta roof tiles as well as the remains of two statues, one possibly of Persephone, the queen of the underworld, and the other of Adonis, another figure of Greek mythology thought to represent an ancient spirit of vegetation.

It is not clear if the city was actually founded by Alexander, or if it was just established roughly in the same historical period.L: Circa 330 BC, Alexander the Great (356  323 BC) King of Macedonia, on his horse Boucephalus. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images); R: Approximate location of the ancient city at Qalatga Darband in Iraq. (Screenshot via Google Maps)
Australia Enters Space Race With Creation of Its Own Space Agency

Australia announced on Monday that it will finally establish its own space agency, joining the ranks of other developed nations in competing for influence in outer space.

Western Australian Sen. Michaelia Cash, who serves as the acting minister of industry, innovation, and science for Malcolm Turnbulls Liberal Party government, said on Monday that the government will create a dedicated national space agency that will make Australia part of the rapidly growing sector in space. Cash announced the news prior to attending the International Astronomical Congress in Adelaide, Australia.

A national space agency will ensure we have a strategic, long-term plan that supports the development and application of space technologies and grows our domestic space industry, Cash said.

Australia has been one of the few developed countries in the world without a dedicated space agency funded by the government. In the increasingly contested Asia-Pacific region, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia all have their own space agencies and have received various levels of funding and support from their respective national governments. Australias much smaller neighbor New Zealand also launched its own space agency in 2016.

Australia has not had a space agency before, but the countrys private space industry is estimated to be worth as much as AU$4 billion per year (US$3.18 billion), according to The Canberra Times. It currently employs about 11,500 workers.

The creation of a dedicated space agency has received bipartisan support, with Australias opposition Labor Party also expressing support for the program. The new agency could create thousands of new jobs in Australia, said Labor Party science and research spokesman Kim Carr.

The Australian government has not announced where the agency will be based, but South Australian Sen. Simon Birmingham says his state will benefit, given its unique geography.

Being situated in the Southern Hemisphere under Asia gives Australia an advantage, making it an ideal location for relaying information from space to the major space powers in the Northern Hemisphere. Photos of the historic Apollo 11 moonwalk in 1969, for example, were first received by stations in Australia and then relayed to NASA in the United States.
British Model Kidnap Is a Sham Says Lawyer

The lawyer for a man who is a suspect for the alleged kidnapping of a British model in Italy claimed on Monday that the entire case could be a sham.

The model, Chloe Ayling, said she was drugged, kidnapped and stuffed into a suitcase in Italy after being invited to a fake modeling shoot in July.

Michal Herba is accused of conspiring with his brother Lukasz Pawel Herba to kidnap the 20-year-old model, according to the BBC.

The allegation is that Mr. Herba acted in complicity with his brother, Lukasz Herba, and other unidentified persons to kidnap the victim in Milan, said prosecutor Florence Iveson, per the BBC.

It is said she was drugged and kidnapped and a 300,000 euros (355,000 USD) ransom was demanded.

Lukasz Herba, 30, a Polish citizen is in custody in Italy on suspicion of kidnapping, while his brother Michal Herba has been in custody since his arrest in the West Midlands, UK, over his alleged involvement.

Speaking at Westminster Magistrates Court, London, Michal Herbas lawyer, George Hepburne Scott said there was a real risk that the entire case is a sham, per the BBC.

This case has a unique set of anomalies which might lead to the conclusion that the Italian authorities have been duped and that their process has been abused, he said to district Judge Paul Goldspring.

Prior to the release of the complainant, the kidnapper apparently issued a press release to a tabloid newspaper setting out that this lady was being held for auction, Scott said.

The judge pointed out that just because the material that Scott referred to had appeared in the media, it did not make them true, said Reuters.

Some believe it to be a sham, the judge said. This material doesnt prove that.

Michal Herba has a heavily pregnant girlfriend in the UK, and his lawyers said that his extradition may breach his right to a family life under the Human Rights Act, per the BBC.

The case continues.
Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui dishes on top Chinese officials' wrongdoing during one of his YouTube livestream sessions. (Screenshot via YouTube/Guo Wengui)

Chinese Billionaire Dissident Guo Wengui Unleashes Accusations of Organ Harvesting by Top Officials in China

For months, this Chinese billionaire video-blogging from his swanky Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park has captivated the attention of Chinese at home and abroad.

His livestream videos and posts on Twitter contain incendiary allegations against top officials within the current Chinese Communist leadership, including widespread corruption and adultery.

Guo Wengui, a New York-based real estate tycoon who also goes by the name Miles Kwok, has close ties to Chinas inner circle of political players. He made his money as a property developer in Beijing, his most notable asset being the torch-shaped Pangu Plaza building near the Olympic stadium.

But in recent months, he seems to have broken rank and begun revealing their secrets. Chinese netizens have been glued to their screens to hear what kind of dirt he has on Chinas most powerful men. He is the countrys highest profile dissenter.

His most shocking claim to date could be the revelations of organ harvesting undertaken by top officials to keep themselves and their relatives healthy.

In a series of posts and videos uploaded to Twitter on Sept. 1, Guo claimed former leader Jiang Zemins son, Jiang Mianheng, had three surgeries for kidney transplantation at the Nanjing military hospital between 2004 and 2008, all done by killing live patients on the spot for immediate organ harvesting. Five people died as a result, he claimed.

The timing falls in line with Chinese media reports that said Jiang Mianheng was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had a kidney transplant back in 2004, done at a Shanghai hospital.

Guo also claimed Meng Jianzhu, the countrys top security chief, engaged in a similar practice, searching for organ matches among Chinese prisoners to treat his mothers and his wifes kidney and liver ailments.

According to a Brookings Institute report, Meng is known to be part of the Shanghai gang, a group of officials who rose to power through ties with Jiang Zemin. Before becoming leader of the entire Communist regime during the 1990s, Jiang ruled over Shanghai as party secretary.

Since 2006, media outlets and independent researchers have reported on the widespread, state-sanctioned practice of organ harvesting in China. Researchers believe most of the organs are sourced from prisoners of conscience, in particular from adherents of Falun Gong, but also from Tibetans, house Christians, and Uyghurs.

An award-winning documentary on the subject, Human Harvest, details how the transplant industry in China skyrocketed after Jiang launched a nationwide persecution of Falun Gong, with many adherents arrested and sentenced to prison.

The documentary explains that the organ removal is done while the victims heart is still beating, resulting in the victim dying from the subsequent loss of blood and trauma. Meanwhile, this method allows the organ to remain in its optimum state.

Its unclear why exactly Guo has turned against the regime, but he has his grievances. In late 2014, a business deal that went wrongresulting in his ally and former top Chinese intelligence official Ma Jian getting arrestedprompted him to flee the country. Guo claims the Chinese authorities have since seized his assets and detained his relatives in China, according to a report by South China Morning Post.

Guo has applied for political asylum in the United States. In a report by the New York Times, his lawyer said his accusations against Chinese officials have made him a political opponent of the Chinese regime.

Additional reporting and translation by Annie Wu
Holly Bobo Case Update: Suspect Gets Life

Zachary Adams will spend the rest of his life in prison for the 2011 kidnapping, rape and murder of Tennessee nursing student Holly Bobo after a plea deal on Saturday spared him from the death penalty.

Adams, 33, the first of three men to face trial in the high-profile case, was found guilty of all counts on Friday in Savannah, Tennessee. He was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape in a case that drew so much media attention that a judge had moved the trial from Decatur County to neighboring Hardin County to secure an unbiased jury.

As part of a plea agreement worked out before the scheduled sentencing hearing on Saturday morning, Judge C. Creed McGinley ordered Adams to serve a life sentence plus 50 years, without the possibility of parole but also no possibility of execution.

After the agreement was disclosed in court on Saturday, Bobos mother, Karen Bobo, thanked the jury and then asked to address Adams. She asked court officials to be sure Adams was looking at her.

I know that my daughter fought and fought hard for her life, she said. And I know that she begged for her life because my daughter loved and enjoyed her life. But you chose to take that from her, and you have shown absolutely no remorse for anything that youve done.

Trial dates have not been set for the other two defendants, Adams brother Dylan Adams and friend Jason Autry. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

BREAKING: Jury finds Zachary Adams guilty of felony murder in the death of Holly Bobo https://t.co/SZG3JXiHaq pic.twitter.com/ryTdPM6Fuz  CBS News (@CBSNews) September 22, 2017

Autry, however, admitted in his own role in the murder in testimony that was key to the prosecutions case against Zachary Adams.

Bobos brother, the last person to see her, said she left the family property and walked into the woods with a man in camouflage whom he mistook for her boyfriend.

JUST IN: Guilty verdict for Zachary Adams in case of 2011 slaying of Holly Bobo https://t.co/G3Wng2jDRD pic.twitter.com/QKyXaW5OGi  48 Hours (@48hours) September 22, 2017

In September 2014, two men searching for ginseng in the woods in Decatur County discovered a human skull, identified by dental records as Bobos.
TWIN FALLS  Public maps online can tell you when your garbage day is, where you can find the citys parks and where you can park your car downtown.

But now, the city is taking ArcGIS software to the next level: public safety. A new online map inventories the locations of automated external defibrillators in Twin Falls. The City Council will hear more about the map at its meeting Monday.

ArcGIS is an online mapping platform the city has used for years.

We use it for engineering and zoning and planning, city spokesman Joshua Palmer said. Its there. We can use it, hopefully, to save lives.

The city decided to upload the map and solicit public collaboration after hearing from first responders about the importance of AEDs in saving lives.

Its not minutes that count; seconds count, Palmer said.

Every second the heart isnt beating, blood isnt going to the brain, which can cause serious damage.

Citizens are asked to let the city know about the location of any publicly available AEDs. A form is available on the citys website and can be emailed to tfis@tfid.org or mailed to City of Twin Falls, P.O. Box 1907, Twin Falls, Idaho 83303-1907.

The online map can be found at: https://cotf.maps.arcgis.com.

On Monday, the City Council will receive a presentation about the map and how geographic data is used in city departments. The Council meets at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 305 Third Ave. E.

Also at the meeting, the Council will consider:

Allocating $256,315 in anticipated excess revenue from the general fund to support capital acquisitions. This includes putting $50,000 toward a Rock Creek Trail extension.

Adopting a utility rate resolution for the 2018 fiscal year. The city has already adopted a 2017-2018 budget increasing water rates by 2.5 percent, wastewater rates by 5 percent and sanitation rates by 2.14 percent.

Modifying the speed zone on Orchard Drive between Washington Street S. and Blue Lakes Blvd. S. to 35 mph.

Amending the 2016-2017 budget.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends a news conference to announce snap election at his official residence in Tokyo, Japan, September 25, 2017. (REUTERS/Toru Hanai)

Japans Abe Announces Snap Election Amid Worries Over North Korea

TOKYOJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would dissolve parliaments lower house on Thursday for a snap election, seeking a mandate to stick to his tough stance toward a volatile North Korea and rebalance the social security system.

Abe, in power for five years, had been expected to call the election for next month to take advantage of improved support and disarray in the opposition camp.

Ill demonstrate strong leadership and stand at the forefront to face a national crisis, Abe told reporters, mentioning Japans fast-ageing population and North Korea.

This is my responsibility as leader and my mission as prime minister.

Natsuo Yamaguchi, the head of Abes junior coalition partner the Komeito party, said he understood the election would be on Oct. 22.

Abe said he would redirect some revenue from a planned sales tax hike in 2019 to child care and education rather than paying back public debt, although he added he would not abandon fiscal reform. Rebalancing the spending would offset the potential negative effect on consumption from the tax rise, he said.

We will turn Japans social security system into one that responds to all generations by boldly diverting policy resources to resolve the two major concerns  child rearing and (elderly) nursing care  that working generations confront, he said.

Abe rejected criticism that holding an election would create a political vacuum at a time of rising tension over North Koreas missile and nuclear arms program. Pyongyang has fired ballistic missiles over Japan twice in the last month and conducted its sixth and biggest nuclear test on Sept. 3

We must not give in to North Koreas threats. By gaining a mandate from the people with this election, I will forge ahead with strong diplomacy, Abe said, adding that now was the time to put more pressure on Pyongyang, not open dialogue.

Abe, whose ratings have risen to around 50 percent from around 30 percent in July, is gambling his ruling bloc can keep its lower house majority even if it loses the two-thirds super majority needed to achieve his long-held goal of revising the post-war pacifist constitution to clarify the militarys role.

He said his goal was for his coalition to retain a majority in the chamber.

Big Gamble?

A weekend survey by the Nikkei business daily showed 44 percent of voters planned to vote for Abes Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) versus 8 percent for the main opposition Democratic Party and another 8 percent for a new party launched by popular Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.

The Nikkei poll was more positive for Abes prospects than a Kyodo news agency survey that showed his LDP garnering 27.7 percent support, with 42.2 percent undecided.

Abes image as a strong leader has bolstered his ratings amid the North Korea crisis and overshadowed opposition criticism of the premier for suspected cronyism scandals that eroded his support earlier this year.

Given the results seen in other major developed countries, however, some political analysts are not ruling out the unexpected.

Abes big gamble could yield a big surprise, veteran independent political analyst Minoru Morita said.

The prime minister had been expected to face a grilling over the cronyism scandals during a session of parliament from Thursday and opposition party officials saw the move as a ploy to avoid difficult questions.

Abe on Monday asked his cabinet to compile a 2 trillion yen ($18 billion) economic package by year-end to focus on child care, education and encouraging corporate investment.

He told public broadcaster NHK that diverting sales tax revenue would make it impossible to meet the governments target of balancing Japans budget  excluding debt servicing costs and bond sales  by the year beginning April 2020.

But we are absolutely not lowering the flag of fiscal consolidation, he said.

He said he believed it was necessary to revise the constitutions pacifist article 9 to clarify the militarys status but said the wording of a proposed change was up to his party.

The main opposition Democratic Party is struggling with single-digit ratings and much depends on whether it can cooperate with liberal opposition groups.

On Monday, just hours before Abes election announcement, Tokyo Governor Koike said she would lead a new conservative, reform-minded Party of Hope to offer voters an alternative to the LDP.

Our ideal is to proceed free of special interests, Koike, a former LDP member, told a news conference.

An LDP internal survey showed seats held by the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito could fall to 280 from the 323 they now hold, the Nikkei reported on Saturday. Reforms adopted last year will cut the number of lower house seats to 465 from 475.

By Linda Sieg and Tetsushi Kajimoto
Protesters gather around a fire they started in the street following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on Jan. 20, 2017. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Judge Wont Dismiss Charges Against Protesters Arrested on Trumps Inauguration Day

A Washington, D.C., judge denied requests to dismiss charges against some 200 people indicted with rioting during President Donald Trumps Inauguration Day earlier this year.

Lynn Leibovitz, a District of Columbia superior court judge, issued an order that shut down the motions to dismiss charges last Thursday, according to Buzzfeed News. Theyll now be tried in groups starting in November 2017 until sometime in 2018. Leibovitz heard arguments in July.

Jason Flores-Williams, a defense attorney, said hes preparing for the trials.

It provides us with the opportunity to take these important issues to the jury, which, thankfully, is the way our democratic legal system was designed, Flores-Williams said.

Leibovitz, however, maintained that their cases should go ahead and any issues raised by the defense need to be addressed during a trial.

It is well settled that persons who may intend political protest, but who become violent or who willfully incite violence or other conduct that creates a grave risk of injury to property and persons in the course of the protest, are not shielded from prosecution, she wrote.

The issue of the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain any of these charges against any particular defendant is deferred until the trials of the defendants, Leibovitz also wrote, according to WTOP.

Police in Washington arrested 234 people during demonstrations and riots on Jan. 20. Some burned cars, burned trash cans, broke windows, and damaged property. According to court filings, more than $100,000 in property damage was done.

So far, 19 defendants have pleaded guilty to felony rioting and property destruction charges, Buzzfeed reported.

In one instance, a 31-year-old man from Tampa Bay, Florida, got a jail sentence of four months for his role in the riots, the Washington Post reported in July. In the trial, Dane Powell asked Leibovitz for leniency, adding that I stand before you today asking for forgiveness for anyone who was scared, hurt, or felt threatened by me on that day.

Powell had pleaded guilty to assault on a police officer and inciting a riotboth felonies.

The group he was with is accused of forming a black bloc, a common tactic used by the far-left extremist group, Antifa. Participants dress in all black, wear masks, and sometimes goggles to cover their faces. The group has been accused of fomenting violence in demonstrations across the United States.
A man was arrested with a car full of weapons near the White House on Sept. 24, 2017. (AgnosticPreachersKid/CC-BY-SA 3.0))

Man Arrested With Car Full Of Guns Near White House

Suspect was seeking advice from Secretary of Defense on 'chip in his head'

A man looking for advice from the U.S. Secretary of defense on how to get the chip out of his head was arrested near the White House on Sunday, Sept. 24, after police discovered a trunkload of guns in his car.

The man was arrested in the 700 Block of 17th St, NW at 7:15 a.m. after police on foot patrol in full uniform observed him urinating in public.

When officers approached the man, he said he came to the White House in order to speak with Adm. Mike Rogers and Gen. Jim Mattis for advice on missing paychecks and how to get the dog chip out of my head, according to an incident report D.C. metro police provided to The Epoch Times.

Two more officers arrived at the scene and asked if they could search the suspects Silver 2009 Nissan 370Z bearing Tennesee plates with Fraternal Order of Police tags. They asked if they could also search the trunk, and he gave permission, saying Yes, I dont care, according to the report.

The officers saw three hard gun cases in plain view and called in the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Crime Scene Unit to do a more thorough search and document the situation.

The suspect was then arrested on six charges including possession of a prohibited weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm or destructive device, and unlawful transportation of a firearm.

The mans small armory comprised nine guns: a Glock 30, .357 Rossi, .40 Smith & Wesson, M-4 Bushmaster, .45 V10 Vulcan, a TEC-9 with a silencer, a .45 XDS, AK-47 Platform Norinco, and a .45 Smith & Wesson.

He also had three knives, some brass knuckles, and a black jack.

He was arrested outside the Smithsonians Renwick Gallery, about 350 yards from the White House.

The suspect was taken to a D.C. facility for mental observation, according to the report and then taken to a D.C. police station, where he was charged with multiple weapons violations.

Police have not yet released his name or said whether he was previously known to law enforcement.

Its not the only recent arrest of a man with multiple weapons near the White House.

On May 31, a man was arrested after he left a Bushmaster carbine rifle similar to the M4 in plain view in his car while he stayed at the Trump Hotel near the White House.

Police also found a Glock 23 in his glove box. The man was charged with possession of firearms without a license and illegal possession of ammunition.

A year earlier, another man was shot by a secret service officer after he walked up to a guard booth at the White House with a pistol that he refused to put down.

One retired Secret Service officer told NBC he blamed the increasingly polarized political climate for the rise in such incidents.
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacts on first exit polls in the German general election (Bundestagswahl) in Berlin, Germany on Sept. 24, 2017. (REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)

Merkel Wins Fourth Term as Far-Right Enters German Parliament

BERLINChancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term in office on Sunday but will have to build an uneasy coalition to form a German government after her conservatives haemorrhaged support in the face of a surge by the far-right.

The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by winning 13.1 percent of the vote, projected results showed, a result that will bring a far-right party into parliament for the first time in more than half a century.

Merkels conservative bloc emerged as the largest parliamentary party but, with just 33.2 percent of the vote, saw its support slump to the lowest since 1949  the first time national elections were held in post-war Germany.

Her main Social Democrat rivals also received their worst result since the 1940s  just 20.8 percent  after nearly half of voters repudiated the two parties that have dominated Germany since World War Two.

With parliament now fragmented, Merkel appears likely to cobble together a tricky three-way coalition with a pro-business group and the Greens.

Merkel said the success of the far right was a test for Germans. It was important to listen to the concerns of their voters and win them back.

Of course we had hoped for a slightly better result. But we mustnt forget that we have just completed an extraordinarily challenging legislative period, so I am happy that we reached the strategic goals of our election campaign, Merkel said.

We are the strongest party, we have the mandate to build the next government  and there cannot be a coalition government built against us, Merkel added.

The election was fought on the tense backdrop of surging support for far left and far right parties across Europe.

Germany in particular is coping with the arrival of more than 1 million refugees and other new migrants, with tension with Russia since Moscows incursions into Ukraine, and with doubt about Europes future since Britain voted to quit the EU.

After large changes last year, from the Brexit vote to the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, leaders of Europes establishment have looked to Merkel to rally the liberal Western order.

While she maintained status quo in Europe, she now faces an unstable situation at home as she must now form a coalition, an arduous process that could take months.

Immediately after the release of exit polls, the deputy party leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), junior partners in a grand coalition with Merkels conservatives for the last four years, said her party would now go into opposition.

For us, the grand coalition ends today, Manuela Schwesig told ZDF broadcaster. For us its clear that well go into opposition as demanded by the voter.

Without the SPD, Merkels only straightforward path to a majority in parliament would be a three-way tie-up with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens, known as a Jamaica coalition because the black, yellow and green colors of the three parties match the Jamaican flag.

Such an arrangement is untested at the national level in Germany and widely seen as inherently unstable. Both the FDP and the Greens have played down the prospect of a three-way coalition, but neither won enough seats on Sunday to give Merkel a majority on its own.

New Era

Whatever the make-up of her coalition, Merkel, 63, faces four years of government in a fragmented parliament after the return of the FDP  unrepresented at national level for the last four years  and the arrival of the AfD.

Founded in 2013 by an anti-euro group of academics, the AfD has surged as an anti-immigrant group in the wake of Merkels 2015 decision to leave German borders open to over 1 million migrants, most of them fleeing war in the Middle East.

The partys entry into the national parliament heralds the beginning of a new era in German politics that will see more robust debate and a departure from the steady, consensus-based approach that has marked the post-war period.

The other parties elected to the Bundestag all refuse to work with the AfD, which says it will press for Merkel to be severely punished for opening the door to refugees and migrants.

After the AfD hurt her conservatives in regional elections last year, Merkel, a pastors daughter who grew up in Communist East Germany, wondered if she should run for re-election.

But with the migrant issue under control this year, she threw herself into a punishing campaign schedule.

Despite losing support, Merkel, Europes longest serving leader, will join the late Helmut Kohl, her mentor who reunified Germany, and Konrad Adenauer, who led Germanys rebirth after World War Two, as the only post-war chancellors to win four national elections.

By Paul Carrel and Maria Sheahan
A relative prays to Our Lady of Fatima during a search for survivors in a collapsed building after an earthquake, at Roma neighborhood in Mexico City, Mexico on Sept. 23, 2017. (REUTERS/Carlos Jasso)

Mexicans Pray as Hope Fades for Quake Victims, Toll Hits 319

MEXICO CITYMexicans packed churches on Sunday to pray for the victims of the countrys deadliest quake in 32 years as rescue teams searched against the odds for any survivors trapped under rubble six days after the tremor shook Mexico City and nearby states.

As a fresh aftershock jolted southwestern Mexico on Sunday, the death toll from Tuesdays 7.1 magnitude earthquake climbed to 319 people. With thousands of buildings damaged, survivors slept on the street outside their homes and estimates of the cost of the earthquake ran as high as $8 billion.

Many have been traumatized by the second major quake to strike Mexico City in their lifetime after a devastating 1985 tremor killed an estimated 10,000 people.

In the vast Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the north of the capital, the national shrine of the majority Catholic country, thousands of people gathered to pray.

I came to ask God for strength for those who lost loved ones and for the Virgin to watch over us and keep us safe, said 69-year-old Maria Gema Ortiz. Thanks to all those who came from other countries to help. Thanks to all and long live Mexico!

Makeshift places of worship have popped up next to the crumbling cement and mangled steel of collapsed buildings in the deeply religious country.

In upscale Roma, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods of the capital, a priest led mass for nearly two dozen people under a blue tarp while a nun handed out small cards with an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who according to the Catholic faith first appeared to an Aztec convert in 1531.

President Enrique Pena Nieto, who has visited the scene of the devastation, has urged Mexicans to turn their attention to rebuilding and many schools were expected to reopen on Monday.

Rescuers narrowed their search to a handful of buildings in the sprawling capital of 20 million people, using advanced audio equipment to detect signs of life beneath tonnes of rubble, with help from teams from as far afield as Israel and Japan.

The search and rescue in Mexico City continues as a priority, with cooperation from national and international groups, tweeted Miguel Angel Mancera, Mexico Citys mayor.

Rising Frustration

With Mexico facing a presidential election next year, the governments response to the disaster is under close scrutiny.

Frustration has grown among the thousands left homeless by Tuesdays quake, with critics saying the governments reaction pales in comparison with an outpouring of volunteer support, from rescue work to food donations.

We have received no help from authorities, said Antonio Ramirez, who was conducting a survey of damaged homes in the historic Xochimilco district in the south of the capital.

The help has come from ordinary people, the 57-year-old retired teacher said. Soldiers, instead of carrying picks and shovels, brought their guns.

Hitting back against criticism of his government, Pena Nieto has promised ongoing support to those affected. The governments resources, however, are being stretched by the magnitude of the disaster.

Tuesdays quake, which completely flattened dozens of structures in Mexico City, was the second major earthquake to strike the country of 127 million people this month.

A massive 8.1 magnitude quake on Sept. 7 off the southwestern coast of Mexico killed around 100 people, most of them in the nearby states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. A series of aftershocks since then have sown panic.

The latest tremor, of 5.7 magnitude, struck on Sunday off the west coast, with its epicenter 50 miles south-southwest of Tonala, in Chiapas, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of significant damage.

Many more quakes are likely, warned Xyoli Perez Campos, director of Mexicos National Seismological Service.

We have already recorded more than 4,300 aftershocks, Campos said. So more aftershocks are to come. What we dont know is if they are going to be of significant magnitude.

Life Must Go On

In Mexico City, the search for survivors from Tuesdays quake continued in a ruined office building in the Roma neighborhood and in a five-story apartment building in historic Tlalpan.

Authorities called off efforts in the upper-middle class Linda Vista zone after pulling 10 bodies from the rubble, while work at the Tlalpan building was briefly halted on Saturday by a magnitude 6.2 aftershock.

Roberto Hernandez, 62, leading a group of Mexicos famed mole rescue workers at the collapsed office building in Roma, said he believed 30 people were trapped in the rubble, though it was not clear how many were sill alive.

We cant guarantee there is life but we can guarantee well turn over every last stone, Hernandez said, adding that one person was found alive in a crushed building 15 days after the 1985 earthquake.

In tents set up in different parts of the city, psychologists offered mental health support to traumatized survivors and rescuers. Acts of solidarity came from all corners of Mexican society.

While lessons were expected to resume on Monday, at least 7,000 schools across the country have been damaged by the quakes. The Mexican government says at least 350 of them need to be completely rebuilt.

Like many residents, 36-year-old Claudia Avila was determined to return to some semblance of normality.

We are afraid, but life must go on, said Avila, whose sons are 9 and 16. Tomorrow I will take my children back to school. They know that if something happens, they must protect themselves. It has been a rude awakening.

Pena Nieto highlighted his governments aid for survivors on a Saturday tour of Jiquipilas in Chiapas, which was badly hit by the Sept. 7 quake.

Be assured that the federal government is here, the state and local governments, supporting you, hand in hand, to rebuild, he said.

But many Mexicans are wary of politicians using the quake to score political points ahead of 2018 elections that are seen as a referendum on the patchy record of the Institutional Revolutionary Party since its return to power in 2012.

Francisco Honoraro, a 46-year-old farmer in Xochimilco, is living on the streets while he waits for authorities to assess damage to his home.

This is going to become political, a campaign issue and a source of profit, he said. If you support me and you vote for me, we will help you.'

By Alexandra Alper and Lizbeth Diaz
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent. New travel restrictions announced Sept. 24, 2017, will bar almost all citizens from seven countries to the United States indefinitely. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

New US Travel Ban on 8 Countries Is Indefinite and Tailored

Trump adds North Korea, Chad, and Venezuela to the list; Sudan gets reprieve

WASHINGTONNew, more refined travel restrictions were issued in a proclamation by President Donald Trump late Sept. 24.

Citing national security threats, Trump placed limits on citizens from eight countries traveling to the United States.

Almost all citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen will be banned indefinitely from entering the United States as of Oct. 18. Some Venezuelan citizens will be restricted, and Iraq citizens will not be subject to restrictions, but will face heightened scrutiny.

Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela are new to the list. The other countries had been named in Trumps original 90-day visa ban announced in January and again in March in the revised version following a court injunction that blocked the original ban. Restrictions were lifted on Sudan, which was also named in previous bans.

Each of the eight countries has tailor-made restrictions, but citizens from most of them will be unable to emigrate under the new ban.

The new rules do not apply to legal permanent residents of the United States, and visas already issued to citizens from those countries will not be revoked. Once the nonimmigrant visas expire, however, they will be subject to the new restrictions.

Following an extensive review by the Department of Homeland Security, we are taking action today to protect the safety and security of the American people by establishing a minimum security baseline for entry into the United States, Trump said in a statement on Sept. 24.

We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people.

The Immigration and Nationality Act states that the president may suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens whenever he finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.

Review Process

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reviewed almost 200 countries between March and July to identify those that needed to provide more information with visa applications to satisfy U.S. authorities that the individual is not a security or public-safety threat.

One criterion was document integrityfor example, whether a country issued passports with an embedded chip or not, or whether the country could provide evidence that their citizens are who they say they are.

Other criteria include whether the country is a known or potential terrorist safe haven; whether it is a participant in the Visa Waiver Program; and whether it regularly fails to receive its nationals who are subject to orders of removal from the United States.

The DHS initially identified 16 countries as being inadequate and 31 additional countries as at risk of becoming inadequate based on those criteria.

The State Department then spent 50 days engaging with those countries to help them meet the criteria and avoid travel restrictions.

Those engagements yielded significant improvements in many countries, the proclamation states. Twenty-nine countries, for example, provided travel document exemplars for use by Department of Homeland Security officials to combat fraud. Eleven countries agreed to share information on known or suspected terrorists.

Exceptions

Officials said waivers can be granted on a case-by-case basis if denying entry would cause the foreign national undue hardship, and if allowing entry would not pose a threat to the national security or public safety of the United States, and if entry would be in the national interest.

Individuals with close family ties in the United States could be exempt from the restrictions.

More than 1 million immigrants from more than 150 countries are provided with permanent residency in the United States every year, with a path to citizenship, according to DHS.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has an asylum backlog of more than 270,000 people.

Many of those immigrating and traveling to the United States come from areas with serious terrorism concerns, significant instability, substantial stresses on public systems, and other security and safety threats, the administration said.

The restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation are, in my judgment, necessary to prevent the entry of those foreign nationals about whom the United States Government lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose to the United States, Trump said.

The travel restrictions can be lifted from the countries at any time, once the criteria have been satisfactorily met, he said.

8 Countries With Restrictions*

The restrictions distinguish between immigrants and nonimmigrants, mostly because immigrant visas lead to lawful permanent resident status.

Lawful permanent residents are more difficult to remove than nonimmigrants even after national security concerns arise, which heightens the costs and dangers of errors associated with admitting such individuals, the proclamation states.

North Korea, Syria

Immigrant and nonimmigrant entries are suspended.

Chad, Libya, Yemen

Immigrant entries are suspended.

Nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas are suspended.

Iran

Immigrant entries are suspended.

Nonimmigrant entries are suspended, except those with valid student (F and M) and exchange visitor (J) visasalthough theyre subject to enhanced vetting.

Somalia

Immigrant entries are suspended.

Nonimmigrant visa adjudications are subject to additional scrutiny.

Venezuela

Officials of government agencies involved in screening and vetting procedures and their immediate family members, as nonimmigrants on business (B-1), tourist (B-2), and business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas are suspended.

Other visa holders are subject to additional measures to ensure traveler information remains current.

*Iraq

While citizens of Iraq do not face travel restrictions, travelers are subject to additional scrutiny.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un makes a statement regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's speech at the U.N. General Assembly, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang Sept. 22, 2017. (KCNA via Reuters)

North Korea Has Up to 5,000 Tons of Chemical Weapons, Expert Warns

North Korea faces mounting pressure from world leaders to abandon its nuclear weapons program, meanwhile the reclusive communist regimes chemical weapons stockpile is one of the largest in the world and, if deployed, could cause catastrophic loss of life.

North Korea dictator Kim Jong Un has stockpiled from 2,500 to 5,000 tons of chemical weapons, according to The Center for Nonproliferation Studies. The regime may either use these weapons as an opening move in a conflict or sell the technology and ingredients needed to produce them to the ISIS terrorist group.

The chance that North Korea might provide jihadis with some of their chemical or nuclear capability is a huge concern at the moment, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former commanding officer of the U.K. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Regiment, told NBC.

What some people forget  is that in 2006 North Korea helped [Syrian President Bashar al-] Assad and his regime set up their own nuclear program, which was destroyed by the Israelis, De Bretton-Gordon added. But only as recently as a few weeks ago, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons intercepted two North Korean ships heading toward northern Syria with equipment to make chemical weapons.

Nerve agents VX and sarin are the focus of Pyongyangs chemical weapons production, according to the Sisa Journal. VX is considered the most toxic chemical weapon ever produced, with a microscopic amount of the substance enough to kill a human being according to De-Bretton-Gordon. According to the Federation of American Scientists, a 10-milligram dose of VX is enough to kill an average adult male, which means that North Korea may possess enough chemicals to kill millions.

Traces of VX were found in the body of Kim Jong Nam after he was assassinated at Kuala Lumpur Airport. VX does not evaporate quickly but is deadly when it comes in contact with skin, even if microscopic amounts.

North Korea is one of six nations that never signed or acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Pyongyang claims not to possess any chemical weapons and has signed the Geneva Protocol, which prohibits the use of chemical weapons in warfare, but does not prohibit stockpiling them.

As sanctions on North Korea intensify, De Bretton-Gordon fears that Kim may sell part of his chemical weapons stockpile to ISIS terrorists in order to stay afloat.

We know that the jihadis have a lot of money and only last year tried to buy highly enriched uranium from Russian criminals for $40 million a kilogram, he said. So, would Kim Jong Un sell deadly VX for $40 million a kilogram? I think absolutely they would the more that they get pushed.

But a sale to terrorist groups is unlikely to occur, according to professor Hazel Smith at Londons School of Oriental and African Studies. North Korea values state sovereignty, Smith said, and is thus unlikely to deal with non-state terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.

Given the level of surveillance over their shipping activities its also unlikely they would be able to, or try to transport weapons, Smith said.

If Kim doesnt peddle the chemical weapons to terrorists, he could still use them in open conflict. His missile program has already developed rockets that can travel thousands of miles. A warhead containing half a ton of VX could be attached to a missile, creating a weapon that can kill tens of thousands of people, de Bretton-Gordon said.

I think we now know that they have 5,000 tons of VX, de Bretton-Gordon said. We are focusing on the nuclear  but whatever military option there is [for dealing with] North Korea, it must include mitigating and destroying that very large stock of VX that we know of.
The North Korean Embassy in London, located on Gunnersbury Avenue. (Google Street View)

North Korean Embassy Evacuated Over Suspicious Item: Reports

A suspicious package prompted evacuations near the North Korean Embassy in London, according to reports on Monday evening, Sept.25.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that they were called about a suspicious item before 8 p.m. local time, The Independent reported.

Police blocked off roads, evacuated homes, and then carried out a controlled demolition at 9:30 p.m.

The package was found to be non-threatening.

Ambulances were also called to the scene. Its unclear if there were any injuries.

The North Korean Embassy is located within a seven bedroom suburban house once owned by Carry On actor Sid James, The Independent reported.

The home was bought by Pyongyang in 2003 for 1.3 million pounds ($1.75 million).

My parents just got evacuated from their house. Mum said some kind of explosion went off in North Korea embassy. #NorthKoreaNukes pic.twitter.com/ckFrZKknMO  El Macro Kurdo (@macrokurd) September 25, 2017

The Daily Mail, meanwhile, reported that it was a backpack that police blew up.

Police were called on Monday, Sept.25, to a report of a suspicious item at 7.52 p.m. outside an address in Gunnersbury Ave, a Metropolitan police representative told the paper.

North Koreas embassy in London is in lockdown & houses next door evacuated. Police on scene due to suspicious package. pic.twitter.com/K8pbFVjyHX  InsideNK (@inside_nk) September 25, 2017

Officers attended along with other emergency services. Road closures were put in place and nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution.

A controlled explosion took place at 9.28 p.m. The item was found to be non-suspicious.
Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff Jennifer Smiley helps a man who is overdosing in the Drexel neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio, on Aug. 3, 2017. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Reining in the Opioid Crisis

Americas seemingly insatiable desire for opioids is driving up overdoses to a level beyond what has ever been seen before.

Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50.

Based on preliminary data, approximately 64,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses last year, according to the Department of Justice. This is up 23 percent from 2015, when 52,000 people died of overdoses.

The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues, said Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

That would be the highest drug death toll and the fastest increase in that death toll in American history, Sessions said during a speech to law enforcement officers in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 22.

Pennsylvania has been hit hard by the crisis, with an average of 13 people dying of an overdose per day last year. The states fatal overdoses jumped 37 percent from 2015 to 2016.

These trends are shocking, and the numbers tell us a lotbut they arent just numbers. They represent moms and dads, brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends, Sessions said.

Most often an opioid addiction starts with a prescription pill obtained through a friend or family member. It can take just one painkiller like oxycodone, or an anti-anxiety medication like Adderall, for some people to get hooked.

A typical scenario is that, once hooked, the addict will exhaust all options to obtain more prescription pills, and once that becomes too difficult or too expensive, heroin becomes the drug of choice.

Now, however, heroin is laced with synthetic derivatives such as fentanyl, which is mostly made in China. Fentanyl, originally developed as a painkiller and an anesthetic, is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin. Two milligrams of fentanyl is a lethal dose for a non-opioid user.

A police officer in Eastern Ohio suffered an overdose after brushing what he thought was white powder from his uniform after a routine traffic stop, Sessions said. The powder was fentanyl.

The synthetic carfentanil is less common but much more deadly; it is used as an elephant tranquilizer and is 10,000 times more powerful than morphine, according to the DEA. Even a few specks of airborne powder can be fatal.

So, overdoses are increasing, the death toll is rising, and emergency services are using more and more Narcan to revive patients. Narcan is an opioid-blocker than can often revive an overdose patient within minutes.

Between 2013 and 2014, there was a 79 percent increase in deaths related to synthetic opioids, according to the 2016 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) heroin report.

Sessions said prescription opioid addiction costs the economy an estimated $78 billion a year, while illicit drugs cost about $193 billion a year.

President Donald Trump has said stemming the drug crisis is a priority for his administration.

Its a tremendous problem in our country, and were going to take care of it as well as it can be taken care of, Trump said at a press briefing in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Aug. 8. Nobody is safe from this epidemic that threatens young and old, rich and poor, urban and rural communitieseverybody is threatened.

He said federal prosecutions will increase again, after decreasing by 23 percent between 2011 and the end of 2016.

So they looked at this scourge, and they let it go by, Trump said, referring to the Obama administration. And were not letting it go by.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price said, during a press briefing on Aug. 8, that a vaccine for addiction is being developed and that the agency is looking into alternatives to narcotics for pain treatment.

On the law enforcement side, Sessions announced that $58.8 million has been allocated to strengthen drug court programs and to help public health agencies address prescription drug and opioid abuse.

Combatting this poison is a top priority for President Trump and his administration, and you can be sure that we are taking action to address it, Sessions said on Sept. 22.

Sessions said around $24 million will be awarded to 50 cities, counties, and public health departments to create comprehensive diversion and alternatives to incarceration programs for those impacted by the opioid epidemic.

An additional $3.1 million will be awarded by the National Institute of Justice for research and evaluation on drugs and crime. The research priorities are heroin and other opioids and synthetic drugs.

Another $22.2 million will go toward treatment for veterans and $9.5 million toward juvenile programs.

Two months ago, Sessions said the Department of Justice arrested more than 400 people in the largest health care fraud takedown in American history.

More than 100 of these defendants have been charged with opioid-related crimes, including many doctors. This was also the largest opioid-related fraud takedown in American history, Sessions said.

A week later, the department seized AlphaBay, the largest darknet marketplace for selling drugs.

This site hosted some 220,000 drug listings and was responsible for countless synthetic opioid overdoses, including the tragic death of a 13-year-old in Utah, Sessions said.

In August, Sessions announced the formation of a unit that will investigate the overprescribing of opioids within the health care system.

This is an urgent problem, and we are making it a top priority, Sessions said. The best long-term solution is prevention. The best action is not to start. Just say no.
Reports of Shooting at Tennessee Church

Eight shot, 1 dead

Multiple people were shot at a church in Tennessee on Sunday morning, Fox News reported. Eight people were shot in total, including the alleged gunman.

NBC reported that one person died.

This is a mass casualty situation. All of the wounded have been transported to area hospitals. The majority are older adults, the Nashville Fire Department tweeted.

Nashville Police said the shooting occurred at the Burnette Chapel Church in Antioch just after 12 p.m.

The church is located outside of Nashville.

Fox17 in Nashville reported that the gunman was also shot. Other churchgoers were taken to a safe location, the fire department confirmed.

A person was taken into police custody, officials told Fox.

All of the victimsexcept for oneare over the age of 60, NBC reported.

Reported shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ on Pin Hook Rd. in Antioch. pic.twitter.com/Gyak0jEDRZ  FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) September 24, 2017

At around 11:15 a.m., police started getting calls about gunshots being fired, according to a dispatcher, The Tennessean reported.

The victims were transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center, local reports say.

#breaking We are on the scene of a reported church shooting on Pin Hook Rd. in Antioch. Ambulances leaving the Church of Christ area @NC5 pic.twitter.com/H0khSuWCsG  Alexandra Koehn (@NC5_AKoehn) September 24, 2017

The Nashville Fire Department tweeted about the incident.

Medical personnel are treating 8 wounded church goers shot at Burnetts Chapel Church of Christ. Shooter among wounded.  Nashville Fire Dept (@NashvilleFD) September 24, 2017

This is a developing story; check back for updates.
BOISE  A man serving time on a drunken driving charge was beaten to death in an Idaho prison, and officials say his cellmate  who was convicted of killing his three small children in Twin Falls more than a decade ago  is a suspect in the case.

Idaho Department of Correction spokesman Jeff Ray wrote in a prepared statement that staffers at the prison south of Boise learned Sept. 22 that Glenn Arthur Cox had been assaulted.

They found the 52-year-old Cox unresponsive in the cell he shared with 45-year-old James Junior Nice.

Medical staffers attempted to resuscitate Cox, but he was pronounced dead a little less than an hour later.

The Ada County Sheriffs Office is investigating the case, and spokesman Patrick Orr says Nice has been moved to the states maximum security prison in the meantime.

Ray declined to answer questions about the two men, including how long they had been sharing a cell. He said the department didnt want to say or do anything that could potentially interfere with the Ada County sheriffs investigation.

Orr said Cox and Nice were the only two people in the cell when the assault occurred.

Nice is serving three life sentences for killing his twin 6-year-old boys and his 2-year-old daughter with rat poison and medications at their Twin Falls home.

Cox was serving an eight-year prison term for a felony driving under the influence conviction handed down in Bonneville County in 2015. When he was sentenced, the judge said he would be able to apply for parole after serving one year of the term.

Nice was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in Twin Falls County in 2006. He agreed to plead guilty to murdering his three kids in exchange for avoiding a possible death sentence.

His children, twins Justin and Spencer, and Raquel, were found dead Dec. 21, 2005, in a house in Twin Falls. At the time, police said Nice told them he didnt want the kids to suffer through the divorce.

Authorities said Nice also tried to poison himself but survived.

Another child in the family died a year earlier, prompting state officials to temporarily remove the kids from their parents custody. Twenty-two-month-old Ian Nice was found drowned in a park in May 2004.
Scientists Reveal Plans to Have Thousands of People Living on the Moon

Researchers are studying lava tunnels in order to have humans colonize the moon by 2030.

At the 2017 European Planetary Science Congress in Riga, Latvia, researchers laid out a plan for what life on the moon could look like. Village representative Bernard Foing spoke of families leaving Earth to live on the moon, and even of human children being born there in the future, the Daily Mail reported.

Foing commented that the plan was more practical than running the International Space Station, since materials native to the moon would be used to sustain the functioning of life and society rather than materials needing to be constantly built and transported from Earth.

Researchers think tunnels below the moons surface can support a colonization plan such as this. The tunnels are from volcanoes. Lava tunnels also exist on Earth. Lava pushes a tunnel through the Earth, and then drains away. But researchers think that the moons low gravity has resulted in much wider tunnels more practical to building a society.

According to the Daily Mail, moon tunnels would provide protection from cosmic radiation and asteroid strikes. The plan is supposed to allow the European Space Agency to set up a base on the moon by 2030. By 2050 scientists hope the base will grow into a colony of thousands of people.

First scientists want to develop a spacecraft that can locate the tube networks on the moon and on Mars. A team at the University of Trento is working on a radar system that can be used for just that purpose.

The International Space Station has only until 2024 before it is decommissioned. Scientists know they will have to find a different outpost if they are going to continue the type of low gravity research projects that take place there. The moon has been a hot option for the European Space Agency even though astronauts havent been there since 1972.

Researcher are also looking at how the moon can be a launching pad for future space missions, and how certain elements on the moon could be used for rocket fuel, how water can be extracted from ice on the moon, and other possibilities.

To go into Earth orbit  it is 40 times cheaper to go from the moon than from Earth, because the Earth has such high gravity that you have to fight against it, said Foing, via AFP.

But there are still many obstacles to those that seek a lunar civilization.

It is highly frustrating  We still dont have the top leaders interested, said physicist Vidvuds Beldavs, who runs the International Lunar Decade.

And money is a big issue, as well. National space agencies dont always have the funds, and even attracting private investment could be difficult in a project of this scale. There is also the practical aspect of living on the moon itself, and if that is even tolerable for would-be colonizers.

Physicist Christiane Heinicke spent a year in a mock environment set up in Hawaii to emulate life on Mars.

Being either inside the habitat or inside a suit means that youre never able to actually FEEL the moon/planet youre on. You cant feel the wind (if there is any, like on Mars), you dont feel the sun on your skin, and whatever you touch feels like the inside of your gloves, she said, via AFP.

From NTD.tv
Authorities have evacuated tens of thousands from a danger zone on the popular holiday island of Bali in Indonesia, fearing an imminent volcanic eruption.

Some countries have issued travel warnings, but no flights have been canceled. Indonesian authorities have been implementing a contingency plan to handle disruption from any potential ash cloud.

With hundreds of tremors recorded every few hours over the weekend, volcanologists warn that the Agung volcano could erupt imminently. Authorities have imposed a 7.5 mile exclusion zone. The last time Agung erupted in 1963, nearly 2,000 people were killed.

Volcanic activity has ratcheted up over the last month or so, building to hundreds of tremors on Sept. 24volcanologists raised the threat level to 4the highest possible level.

An eruption is highly likely say volcanologists, but not certain.

Millions of visitors fly to Balis main airport every year, which is only 43 miles away from Agung volcano. For now, tourism appears to be unaffected by the stirrings of mount Agung. According to CNN, Bali airport said that no flights have been canceled as of Monday morning.

Many travelers are concerned about the broader disruption of ash clouds to fights in the area.

According to the Red Cross, over 42,000 have been evacuated from the exclusion zone. Authorities estimate that there are over 60,000 inhabitants within the area.

Red Cross Indonesia tweeted a video taken at the edge of the exclusion zone, where authorities have erected warning banners.

Kemarin (24/9) PMI memasang spanduk sebagai penanda zona berbahaya #SiagaGunungAgung pic.twitter.com/GPjjTYfuwF  Indonesian Red Cross (@palangmerah) September 25, 2017

The rumblings of the volcano have prompted several nations to post travel advisories over the weekend and on Monday, Sept. 25. The UK, New Zealand, and Australia have been fairly muted in their warnings, advising travelers to keep up to date with the news. Singapore, however, issued a more serious warning.

Given the possible eruption of Mount Agung, Singaporeans should defer non-essential travel to the affected areas at this juncture, the foreign ministry said in an online statement.

Early on Sept. 24, a 650-foot-tall column of smoke was seen rising from the mountain, according to the chief geologist monitoring the site, Gede Suantika.

We observed sulphuric smoke spewing from its crater and we never saw this before, Suantika told Reuters.

There are some who are staying behind because the volcano hasnt erupted yet or because of religious beliefs, said Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho at a news conference.

Nugroho said Mount Agung has entered a critical phase, with hundreds of shallow volcanic tremors indicating that magma has risen closer to the surface.

The Bali tourist board said on Sunday that no ash had been detected in the atmosphere despite intense monitoring and that authorities and airlines had been working on contingency plans to handle an ash cloud.

Airline activities around Bali airspace are still normal with passengers arrival departure process maintained and no record of rushed departure of tourists, said statement by the tourist board. Ferries and fast boats between Bali and neighbouring islands of Lombok and Java are also running their typical schedules.

On a busy dedicated chat forum on Trip Advisor, anxious travelers are sharing information and tips. For the most they appear to be carefully monitoring the situation, rather than rushing to change travel plans.

One poster from Singapore, however, had clearly given into the fears that others were wrestling with.

I have tickets booked to Bali tomorrow, returning on Friday which Ive decided not to use. Non refundable unless the airline cancels the flight but I would rather lose the money then end up stuck there if the airport gets closed.

Im not too worried about safety as the volcano is miles away, its the idea of being unable to leave if ash clouds close the airport. There will be chaos with thousands of people scrambling to get out by any means they can.
Syrian refugee Baraa Haj Khalaf (L) and her daughter Shams (R) are greeted by her brother Mohamad and mother Fattuom after arriving at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, Ill. on Feb. 7, 2017. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Trump Suspends Visas From Six Terror-Prone Countries, Pauses Refugee Program

A much quieter response greeted President Donald Trumps narrower version of the temporary travel and refugee ban that stirred controversy and lawsuits six weeks ago. However, legal challenges are still expected.

Iraq was taken off the suspended list, as were green card holders and current visa holders, and there was no mention of religion.

A period of 10 days was given for the rollout, mitigating the chaos and protests surrounding the first executive order on Jan. 27.

During the announcement on March 6, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said that Americans are not invulnerable to terrorist threats, and that our enemies will exploit our freedoms and generosity to harm us.

We cannot risk the prospect of malevolent actors using our immigration system to take American lives, he said.

90-Day Visa Suspension

For 90 days, new visas will not be issued to nationals and citizens of Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen.

Any national or citizen from one of those six countries who is without a valid visa and outside the United States on March 16 at 12:01 a.m. EST is not eligible to travel to the United States.

An estimated 15,800 fewer visasa 25 percent decreasewill be issued to the six countries affected by the 90-day travel ban (based on fiscal 2015 numbers).

Individuals who already have valid visas or travel documents for the United States are exempt from the executive order.

The FBI is investigating about 300 refugees in the United States for links to terrorism.

Iraq has been taken off the suspension list. Iraqs commitment to combat ISIS [justifies] different treatment, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Q&A form states. But visa applications and applications for admission to the United States by Iraqi nationals will be subjected to additional scrutiny to determine if they have connections with ISIS or other terrorist organizations.

The United States has the worlds most generous immigration system, yet it has been repeatedly exploited by terrorists and other malicious actors who seek to do us harm, a DHS fact sheet released on March 6 states.

In the first 20 days of the suspension, DHS will conduct a review of the identity and security information each country in the world provides to the U.S. government. Countries will then have 50 days to comply with requests to update or improve the quality of the information they provide.

Trump reiterated his case on immigration in his first speech to a special joint session of Congress on Feb. 28.

Related Coverage Trump Inherits Immigration Turmoil

It is not compassionate, but reckless, to allow uncontrolled entry from places where proper vetting cannot occur, Trump said. Those given the high honor of admission to the United States should support this country and love its people and its values.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Congress gives the president the authority to suspend the entry of any class of aliens the president deems detrimental to the national interest.

120-Day Refugee Program Suspension

The 120-day Refugee Admissions Program suspension applies to all refugee applicants who have not already been formally scheduled for transit by the State Department. Refugees from Syria are not banned indefinitely, a turnaround from Trumps original Jan. 27 executive order.

During the 120-day period, some individuals may be admitted on a case-by-case basis.

At the same time, the DHS and interagency partners will review screening procedures to ensure refugees admitted in the future do not pose a security risk to the United States.

The FBI has reported that approximately 300 persons who entered the United States as refugees are currently the subjects of counterterrorism investigations, according to the DHS.

Refugee admissions to the United States have been capped at 50,000 for fiscal year 2017.

The total number of refugees accepted into the Unites States in fiscal 2015 was 69,920, according to DHS. Of that number, 15,243 were admitted from five of the six countries (DHS does not include the number for Libya).

The United States first created a refugee classification in 1946. After that, many different refugee programs were enacted on an ad hoc basis, including the Displaced Persons Act, and the Cuban Adjustment and Indochinese Refugee Adjustment acts.

Since 1957, most refugee admissions have been granted refugee status and later given lawful permanent resident status, or if the limit has been reached, the attorney general has had the authority to parole more refugees in, according to DHS.

Related Coverage Deportations Likely to Increase Under New Immigration Priorities

The United States defines a refugee as an alien outside the United States who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.

Asylum status is granted to people who are already in the United States or seeking admission at a port of entry. An asylee must also meet the definition of refugee. An individual may apply for asylum in the United States regardless of their country of origin or current immigration status.

Other Changes

The executive order also instructs the secretary of state to review all nonimmigrant visa reciprocity agreements.

The Department of State will also require more in-person interviews for visas.

Every six months, the DHS will publish information regarding the number of foreign nationals who have been charged with or convicted of terrorism-related offenses while in the United States, or removed from the United States based on terrorism-related activity or any other national-security reasons. The department will also release information regarding the number and types of acts of gender-based violence against women, including so-called honor killings, in the United States by foreign nationals.
AMERICAN ESSENCE: Theres Only 51 of These Vintage Tucker Cars in the World, and Theyre Worth Millions Each
Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government patrol to prevent Islamic State resurgence on the outskirts of Sirte, Libya, Aug. 4, 2017. Reuters/Ismail Zitouny

US Hits ISIS Camps In Libya With Precision Airstrikes, Killing 17

United States forces carried out six precision air strikes against an ISIS desert camp in Libya on Friday, Sept. 22, killing 17 ISIS militants and destroying three of their vehicles.

The strikes, which were not announced until Monday, were the first the United States had carried out in the North African country since Donald Trump assumed the presidency.

The U.S. African Command said the strikes were carried out in coordination with Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA), Libyas U.N.-backed interim government.

The camp was located approximately 150 miles southeast of Sirte, not far from the two camps U.S. forces bombed the day before Trump assumed office on Jan. 19. Those attacks came after GNA-aligned forces dislodged ISIS fighters from the city of Sirte the year before.

Those attacks claimed the lives of 80 ISIS militants, some of who were actively plotting attacks in Europe and America, outgoing U.S. defense secretary, Ashton Carter, told reporters at the time.

The camp hit in these latest airstrikes was also used to plot and conduct attacks, according to the U.S. African Command. It was also used to move fighters in and out of Libya and stockpile weapons.

ISIS has used the chaos and political instability in Libya to carve out safe havens, one of the few places in North Africa and the Middle East where the terrorist group isnt being routed by U.S.-backed domestic forces.

ISIS and al-Qaeda have taken advantage of ungoverned spaces in Libya to establish sanctuaries for plotting, inspiring and directing terror attacks; recruiting and facilitating the movement of foreign terrorist fighters; and raising and moving funds to support their operations, said U.S. African Command.

These terrorists have sought safe haven and freedom of movement in Libya to launch external terror attacks in neighboring countries, and their operatives in Libya have also been connected to multiple attacks across Europe.

Those attacks included the Manchester Arena bombing in May, which was carried out by a British-born man of Libyan descent in close contact with family in Libya who have proven links to ISIS.

According to the military statement, if the ISIS camps in Libya were left unaddressed, they would allow the terror group to inspire attacks against the United States, its allies, and interests around the world.

The United States will track and hunt these terrorists, degrade their capabilities and disrupt their planning and operations by all appropriate, lawful, and proportional means, says the statement.

The military says its allies in Libya have been stalwart opponents of the terror group.

A recent tweet from AFRICOM says that the focus of U.S. forces in Libya is to support the GNA in its fight against ISIS.

Cmdr: Focus in #Libya is support GNA in ISIS fight, work to open comms w/ LNAs Haftar and work to prevent Libyan civil war #Usafrica17  US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) September 13, 2017
White House Denies Claims That US Declared War on North Korea

WASHINGTONWhite House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Monday, Sept. 25, denied that the United States had declared war on North Korea.

Weve not declared war on North Korea. And frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd, Sanders said.

North Koreas foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho, had said earlier in the day that a tweet by President Donald Trump over the weekend was a declaration of war.

In the tweet, Trump referred to Ris speech at the U.N. General Assembly, in which he said that North Korea would make its rockets visit the entire U.S. mainland.

In his response, Trump said that if Ris comments reflected those of North Koreas dictator Kim Jong-Un, they wont be around much longer!

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

Ri also said that the communist dictatorship intends to shoot down U.S. bombers in international airspace. Ris comments came just days after he said in his U.N. speech that the Norths nuclear weapons program is almost completed.

Last week Trump spoke in his speech at the U.N. against North Koreas missile program, calling on other nations to stand up against it.

President Donald Trump addresses the 72nd Annual UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 19, 2017. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

North Koreas reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life, Trump said.

He said that while the United States has great strength and patience it could totally destroy North Korea if forced to defend itself or its allies.

North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles over Japanese airspace into the Pacific Ocean. Earlier this month, the regime also conducted an underground nuclear test.

Ri in his speech said that North Korea successfully completed a test of a nuclear weapon that fits on the warhead of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The ICBM marked with the sacred name of the DPRK flew over the universe above the endless blue sky, the warhead of our rocket left its trace on the blue waves of the Pacific Ocean and the tremendous explosion and vibration of the hydrogen bomb were recorded by this planet, Ri said in an apparent reference to an ICBM test earlier this year where the missile left the atmosphere, and its nuclear test earlier this month.

Experts say that the ICBM was destroyed when it re-entered the atmosphere.

An Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron prepares to take off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on Sept. 23, 2017. (Staff Sgt. Joshua Smoot)

On Sept. 23, the United States and South Korea conducted military exercises in international airspace over waters east of North Korea.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers were accompanied by fighter jets in the exercises.

The Pentagon said the flight was the farthest north of the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea that any U.S. fighter jet or bomber has flown in the 21st century.

That operation was conducted in international airspace, over international waters, so we have the right to fly, sail, and operate where legally permissible around the globe, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said Sept. 25.

Its never appropriate for a country to shoot down another countrys aircraft when its over international waters. Our goal is still the same: We continue to seek the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsulathats our focusdoing that through both the most maximum economic and diplomatic pressures as possible at this point, Sanders said.

Earlier this month, the Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea in response to its latest nuclear test. The sanctions prohibit the sale of natural gas to the North and limits the amount of crude and refined oil that can be sold to reclusive country.

Separate from the resolution, Chinas Central Bank instructed Chinese banks to stop providing financing to North Korea.

Fight Against Communism

In Trumps speech to the U.N. on Sept. 19 he called out a number of regimes, including North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba.

He called out communism and socialism as being responsible for the economic and political crises, as well as the suppression of the people, in Cuba and Venezuela.

From the Soviet Union to Cuba to Venezuela, wherever true socialism or communism has been adopted, it has delivered anguish and devastation and failure, Trump said.

Ri said that North Korea stands with Cuba and Venezuela in defense of socialism.

With reporting by Charlotte Cuthbertson
Xi Jinping Seeks To Silence Jiang Faction with TV Program Cancellations

As the pivotal 19th Party Congress draws closer, Xi consolidates power over media

In oppressive regimes, the media is a dangerous weapon that can be used to distort the truth and spread false information, a form of thought control.

In China, propaganda can be spread under the guise of seemingly legitimate media.

Though Phoenix TV is based in Hong Kong, where media have the legal right to operate independently of Chinese censorship, the station has long been known as a de-facto mouthpiece for Beijingand specifically, a faction within the Chinese Communist Party loyal to former leader Jiang Zemin, who was the party boss from 1989 to 2002.

On September 13, Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily reported that three of Phoenix TVs major news commentary programs were canceled. Due to adjustments in programming, Behind the Headlines will temporarily stop broadcasting, one of the programs publicly announced on its official Weibo account, Chinas equivalent to Twitter.

Ahead of the 19th national congress to be held in October, when the Party will convene to usher in the next round of leadership, news analysts told The Epoch Times the changes at the television station represent an effort from current leader Xi Jinping to silence the Jiang faction.

Phoenixs Record

The television station presents itself as an independent voice, concealing its pro-Beijing agenda by occasionally reporting on topics taboo in mainland China, such as food safety scandals. In fact, its founder, Liu Changle, was a former officer in the Peoples Liberation Army propaganda department, and later worked at the Communist Partys official radio station.

Since Liu founded Phoenix TV in 1996, the broadcaster has consistently carried out the agenda of former leader Jiang. In 1999, feeling threatened by the growing popularity of the spiritual meditation practice Falun Gong, Jiang launched a nationwide persecution in 1999 to arrest, imprison, and torture adherents of the practice.

Phoenix TV aided in Jiangs propaganda campaign to smear Falun Gong and turn public opinion against the group. The Epoch Times has identified multiple television segments aired by Phoenix since 1999 that defame Falun Gong.

Jiang has ensured that his legacy of persecution has persisted long after he stepped down as head of the Party in 2002. During the administration of the next leader, Hu Jintao (2002-2012), Jiang and his cronies controlled large parts of the regime, and in particular members of his faction held sway over the media.

In 2008, Phoenix TV aired a segment attempting to discredit a report by two Canadian human rights lawyers documenting evidence of widespread organ harvesting from members of Falun Gong and other dissident groups in China. Jiangs administration was responsible for beginning mass, forced, live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in 2000, an atrocity that continues to this day.

Liu is also known to be a close friend to Bo Xilai, the former Chongqing party chief and a core member of Jiangs faction, who dramatically fell from power in 2012. In 2011 Liu brought a team from Phoenix TV to Chongqing to give Bo positive media coverage.

Without the support of Jiangs faction, there is no way he [Liu] would have been able to establish an overseas version of CCTV [the states official broadcaster], said New York-based commentator Zhu Ming.

During the 2014 Umbrella Movement, the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong that dominated headlines around the world, Phoenix TV portrayed the protesters as meddlers who intentionally clashed with police and caused disruption to the city. Political analysts have said that inflaming discord in Hong Kong served the political interests of Jiangs faction.

Most recently, the television station broadcast interviews with mainland Chinese human rights activists who were detained or kidnapped by authorities, during which they confessed to wrongdoing. The human rights lawyer Zhang Kai later issued a statement via Voice of America, expressing that he was coerced to say those things out of fear.

Implications

The 19th national congress is a major event for the Communist Party. Every five years, a new leadership is selected. Xi Jinping is expected to continue as general secretary of the Party for a second five-year term.

But Xi continues to consolidate his power by taking down officials loyal to Jiang. Since Xi took power in 2012, he has launched anti-corruption campaigns to round up high-ranking officials in Jiangs faction, such as Zhou Yongkang, who headed the Chinese regimes domestic security apparatus. Zhou was convicted of corruption and sentenced to life in prison in 2015.

According to political commentator Tang Jingyuan, the recent program cancellations at Phoenix, all of which cover current affairs, send a clear message to the Jiang faction: Dont try to stir up things ahead of the 19th national congress. Dont try to use political issues to sway public opinion and provoke an incident.

Additional reporting and translation by Annie Wu
Recovery support

Recovery For Life groups meet at 7 p.m. Mondays at Twin Falls Reformed Church, 1631 Grandview Drive N. A free meal begins at 6 p.m.

Groups and classes include Cancer Support, Hope 12-Step, Parenting Skills, Codependency, GriefShare, Cooking Matters, Womens Word for Life Bible Study, and Special Parents Special Kids. Veterans Christian Fellowship also meets on Mondays.

Free child care and transportation. Information: 208-733-6128.

Parenting, coping support

Voices Against Violence is offering support groups at 212 Second Ave. W., No. 200, Twin Falls.

Parenting Group, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, to help improve parenting skills as well as learn rewards and consequences.

Mas alla de mi, Empoderando a las Mujeres domestic violence group in Spanish, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, for those who have been involved in an abusive or traumatic relationship, and also helps women develop a support system.

The Power to Change Group, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, provides information and support to women 18 and older, who have experienced difficulties in coping with past experiences.

Domestic Violence Support Group, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, provides information and community to individuals 18 and older, who have experienced domestic abuse or gender violence.

Information: 208-733-2558.

Victims support

Support group for victims of domestic violence, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Mini-Cassia Shelter Haven of Hope, 323 First St., Rupert.

Information: Rachel, 208-312-7021.

Alzheimers support

Alzheimers Association, Greater Idaho Chapter, will hold Caregiver Support Group meetings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at DeSano Place Suites, 545 Nevada St., Gooding, 208-934-4623; and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at DeSano Place Village, 1015 E. Ave. K, Jerome; information: Becci Bowler, 208-749-1621.

Vision support

Visually Impaired Support Group meeting, 12:45 to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., Twin Falls.

Topics: glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes-caused vision problems.

Information: Idaho Commission for the Blind, 208-734-2140.

Grief support

Visions of Hope meeting, 5 p.m. every Thursday at Hospice Visions, 1770 Park View Drive, Twin Falls.

This grief support group is open to everyone in the community.

Information: 208-735-0121.

Mental health support

Mental Health Support Group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at 826 Eastland Drive in Twin Falls. The free support group is open to Magic Valley residents.

Information: 208-539-7492.

Grief support

Griefshare meeting, 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Oct. 5 at Lighthouse Church, 960 Eastland Drive, Twin Falls.

Anyone who has lost a loved one or friend is welcome to attend. A separate class for pre-teen and teens will meet at the same time. Participants can attend any session. Enter through the east doors at the rear of the building.

Information: 208-737-4667.

CPR, infant safety

Infant safety and cardiopulmonary resuscitation class, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, in Oak Rooms 2-4 on the lower level of St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls.

New parents, grandparents and caregivers learn CPR and what to do if an infant chokes. The class isnt a certification course.

Free; no registration required. 208-814-0402.

Brain injury support

Traumatic Brain Injury Group meeting, 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 3 in CSIs Taylor Building, room 276 (handicap accessible).

The group is hosted by Michael Howell, with an objective is to provide informational sessions, speakers and other local resources to those suffering from traumatic brain injury. Howell experienced this type of injury after being in an ATV accident that led to brain injuries.

Individuals of all injury levels are welcome to attend. The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month.

Information: Amy Barker, CSI office specialist, 208-732-6800.

Senior living

Senior Life Choices Education Fair sponsored by Harrisons Hope Hospice, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 4 at Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W.

Guest speakers will provide information and answer questions pertaining to legal, financial, health, housing, and end-of-life decision-making.

Information: 208-734-5084.

C-sections

Caesarean childbirth class, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Oak Rooms 2-4 on the lower level of St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls.

Topics: Caesarean delivery procedures, pain management, and non-conforming labors.

Free; pre-registration is required, 208-814-0402.

Childbirth

St. Lukes Magic Valley prepared childbirth bootcamp, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 7 in the Oak Room at St. Lukes, 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. This session is for those unable to attend the five-week prepared childbirth classes.

Topics: wellness during pregnancy; labor process with relaxation and breathing techniques; videos of deliveries and labor positions; and care of the postpartum mother and newborn. Bring a labor support person if possible.

Cost is $25 and pre-registration is required, 208-814-0402.
The older I get, the more I like term limits.

This is not to say that longevity is all bad. Sen. Mike Crapo, who chairs the banking committee, and Congressman Mike Simpson, who sits on the appropriations committee, are in those high places partly because theyve been around for a long time.

But there also are benefits to occasional turnover, and fresh perspectives. Three of the four members of Idahos congressional delegation essentially have the job security of U.S. Supreme Court justices. They are not likely to be voted out of office, and campaign funds will not dry up.

Next years Republican primary will be different because of the chain reaction caused by Gov. Butch Otters decision to retire after 12 years. Were seeing three strong candidates vying to take his place in Lt. Gov. Brad Little, Congressman Raul Labrador and Boise developer Tommy Ahlquist.

With Labrador leaving his First District seat, we have three solid candidates on the campaign trail  former Lt. Gov. David Leroy, former state Sen. Russ Fulcher and state Rep. Luke Malek. Four candidates, at the moment, are lined up for lieutenant governor  Sen. Marv Hagedorn, Rep. Kelly Packer, former state GOP chairman Steve Yates and former Rep. Janice McGeachin.

A couple of candidates are trying to ensure that spirited races become part of the norm in Idaho. Leroy is calling for term limits in Congress, while Ahlquist is seeking term limits in state offices. They are not breaking new ground. Idaho voters approved term limits, only to be overturned by the Legislature in 2002.

Labrador, who has proposed a constitutional amendment calling for term limits, is the only Idaho candidate with legislation on the table. But dont hold your breath for the career politicians in Congress to push term limits upon themselves. Leroy thinks theres a better chance for states to ratify the amendment, and go over the heads of Congress. Thats also a long shot, but Leroy says it could be an issue if anger at the federal level continues to sizzle.

Its easy for Leroy to talk about term limits. Hell be a 70-year-old freshman if he wins, and he wouldnt be there for more than a few terms anyway. Its a more difficult proposition for Malek, who is in his 30s and has more long-term ambitions if he wins the congressional seat.

I have always opposed term limits, Malek says. They imply that people dont have the wisdom to choose representation. More complacency is the last thing we need in politics right now.

In my view, the electorate collectively doesnt have the wisdom, brains or desire to choose its representatives. Primary elections have disgustingly low turnouts and general elections are an exercise of voting for the person with the R by his/her name, regardless of competency. Yes, complacency is alive and well in the Gem State.

Fulcher favors a constitutional amendment for term limits for all members of Congress, but discourages Idaho from going on its own. Hes right on this one. Tenure is a factor when it comes to the assignment of chairmanships, and leadership roles in Congress; and those roles come with incremental influence.

On the state side, Ahlquist is calling for state constitutional officers to be limited to eight years, and he makes a good case. This step is critical to ensuring we have responsive, citizen-based leadership  and to avoid allowing the status quo to run the Statehouse for years on end.

I dont feel so strongly about limiting state offices, other than the governor, to eight years. Voters hardly pay attention to those offices, and research rarely goes beyond voting for the Republican on the ballot. But I have never seen a governor, or U.S. president for that matter, who I wanted to see in office for more than eight years.

Well see where all this goes. There could be enough fuel for a voter initiative for term limits, and Id bet on passage if that happens. Term limits on the congressional level are less likely anytime soon, but theres no telling what a Trump-like revolution might produce  and especially if Congress continues to accomplish nothing.
This appeared in Sundays Washington Post.

Early this month, Facebook announced the first hard evidence of Russian efforts to spread disinformation over social media during the election: 470 fake accounts and pages, which paid $100,000 to run thousands of advertisements apparently designed to heighten political tensions. Now, after weeks of uncertainty, the company has made the correct decision to share the ads with congressional investigators probing election interference. Next it should do the same for the public.

The company first argued that federal privacy law prevented it from sharing the ads and fake accounts. While it handed over the material to special counsel Robert Mueller III, likely after he acquired a warrant, it balked at providing copies to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Now, Facebook says its legal obligations dont prohibit disclosure after all. Its giving Congress not only the advertisements, but also user information belonging to the fake accounts, along with the terms the advertisers used to target particular Facebook users. The latter may be particularly important as investigators examine whether the ads aimed to influence particular groups of voters by location, demographic and interest in certain topics. For example, did the Kremlin seek to push voters in certain areas of the country to support President Donald Trump by showing them anti-refugee propaganda?

Facebooks decision to provide Congress with ad information is an important step. But while reporting has revealedsomesamples of the fake accounts, Facebook has declined to make public any information about what the advertisements looked like or what messages they distributed.

Facebook argues that handing the advertising information to Congress is the best way to provide a public accounting of Russian election interference, reasoning that congressional investigators are best positioned to interpret Facebooks data in the context of sensitive intelligence. Its true that members of the public dont have the same insight into election interference as the intelligence committees do. But it will take time for the committees to complete the thorough investigation that is needed and to release their findings. While the investigators work, the public should be able to begin an informed discussion about how a hostile foreign power sought to undermine American democracy by warping its citizens behavior.

Though Facebook is right to be careful about distributing material that might raise privacy concerns, an advertisement is public by nature. Facebook might choose not to make public potentially sensitive account information or targeting data, but its hard to see whats keeping it from releasing ads that have already been displayed to thousandsif not millionsof users.

Alongside its announcement about sharing information with Congress, Facebook released a promise to continue its internal investigation into misuse of its platform and a commitment to greater transparency in the ads it runs. This is an encouraging sign of its willingness to think of itself as a partial custodian of democratic debate, as more and more Americans receive their news from social media. That willingness also requires swifter accountability to the public.
Halifax may be one of the smallest cities vying for Amazon.com Inc.s second headquarters, but what it lacks in heft it makes up for with lobsters, beer and a new generation of startups, according to its mayor.

The city of 403,000 on Canadas east coast has traditionally relied on fishing and shipbuilding but has been expanding into technology, attracting firms such as International Business Machines Corp.

Lobsters and fiddles and bagpipes are really cool but theyre not a value proposition, Mayor Michael Savage said in an interview at Bloombergs Toronto office. Theres no better place in the world to have a drink than Halifax at our many bars and restaurants, but it doesnt pay the bills. So weve been trying to add to that over the last number of years.

Read more:

Halifax becoming boom town as it welcomes population, economic growth

Why Toronto may not be the best place for Amazons new HQ: Wells

Toronto fighting to land Amazons new headquarters

Heres Savages Amazon pitch:

Millennials: The city has long struggled with its demographics, with nearly a quarter of the population over the age of 60. But 2016 marked a shift: the 25-to-39-year-old cohort increased by a record 3,800 people, as the job market improved. Halifax is also growing via immigration, with the province of Nova Scotia accepting 1,000 Syrian refugees so far, and international students, who comprise 20 per cent of university enrolments.

Affordable housing: The average price of a property in Halifax was $288,000 in August, about one-third of Torontos and a fraction of the equivalent $852,000 in Amazons Seattle headquarters. Apartments and condos are going up to match the population influx, with housing starts rising 37 per cent in the first six months of this year.

Burgeoning tech: Companies havent looked to Halifax traditionally as an innovator, Savage said. Theyve seen us more as a girlfriend than a wife, or a boyfriend than a husband, he said. You visit, but you dont necessarily stay, ya know?

Thats changing. Its so-called ocean cluster has more than 60 companies focused on technology related to the sea.

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When the Rick Mercer Report returns to CBC Tuesday night, the opening headline will be Final Season.

The Canadian comedian has decided to end the show in March after 15 seasons and 277 episodes.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Mercer said there was no seismic event or epiphany that this should be the end. Its still the best job in the world.

It was simply the right time, he said.

Mercer, who turns 48 next month, posted his announcement Monday in a specially taped rant to his 1.3 million Twitter followers.

It will be one of 264 rants he will have performed since the series premiered on Jan. 12, 2004  all captured in various graffiti-strewn Toronto alleyways by director of photography Don Spence.

Im incredibly proud of the show and everything weve done, said Mercer.

To get ready for one last season, he flew thousands of kilometres this summer, taping segments from sea to sea to sea. One 12-day trip saw him snorkelling in the Arctic Ocean off Cambridge Bay where Canadian underwater archeologists are based.

Theyre way up there, said Mercer. It was fantastic.

In P.E.I., he hung off the side of the Confederation Bridge with a maintenance crew.

I had nightmares for days afterwards, he said.

A stop on the B.C. coast saw him helping to release eagles into the wild. In rural Manitoba, he helped seniors paint a grain elevator.

Three coasts and a grain elevator, said Mercer. You cant get more Canadian than that.

All that travel left him with luggage in my house in various stages of packed and unpacked for 15 years.

He praised members of his road crew, including field producer John Marshall, who have been with him from the beginning.

Hes proud of all the money raised for causes such as the malaria-prevention Spread the Net campaign.

Thats engaged a whole bunch of young people in ways that just keeps on paying dividends, said Mercer.

Read more:

Humour is Canadas way of pushing back against U.S. dominance

CBCs fall lineup includes Alias Grace, TVs third dose of Margaret Atwood

Canadians are funny that way  at least thats the myth

Just how lucky hes been hit him a few years ago when he struck up a conversation with a passenger on a plane.

He revealed to me, sadly, that he didnt have long to live, said Mercer. This man had compiled a bucket list of, like, a hundred things that he was going to do.

So he started explaining his bucket list to me, and I had to stop myself because everything he said, I was like, Oh, youve got to do that! Its great!

Mercer realized that hes been living a bucket list life.

You dont know how many people you might meet whose fondest dream is to fly in the back of a fighter jet, he said. Well, Ive done that three times.

So why walk away from the best job in television?

Ive done this before, said Mercer, who was one of the founders of This Hour Has 22 Minutes. That series returns Tuesday night for its 25th season right after the Mercer Report.

Mercer was 23 when 22 Minutes launched and left after eight seasons.

A lot of people said, Youre mad, why would you walk away from this? said Mercer, Sometimes you have to take a chance.

What followed was a five-season run on the sitcom Made in Canada. He also scored huge ratings with his Talking to Americans comedy special. Factor in Mercer Report and he will have been a key part of the CBC schedule for 25 consecutive seasons.

Now that the series is ending, will politicians be clamouring for one last appearance? Mercer shot segments with everyone from former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chretien to NDP leadership hopeful Jagmeet Singh. Hes shied away from that lately, but if Bob Rae wants to get naked again for one last skinny dip, hes welcome.

He swears hes not leaving to write a book or accept a Senate appointment. Hes not angling for a raise or looking to spend more time with my family. And he promises he wont grow a giant beard like David Letterman.

He doubts hell change his mind, either.

Theres a lot of people whove worked on this show for a long time, he said. Theyre like family in many ways. They deserve the heads-up.

Mercer talked it over with his partner at home and work, executive producer Gerald Lunz. It was their call to go out on top.

You leave to protect the legacy of the show, he said. Thats what you have to do.

What will he do next?

I honestly dont know the answer, said Mercer. Right now, I just want this to be the best season ever.

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UNITED NATIONSThe UN Human Rights Council is expected to discuss a report on issues affecting Black Canadians that makes recommendations to the federal government, including that it apologize for slavery and consider providing reparations for historical injustices.

A UN working group will submit its final report on the human rights situation of people of African descent in Canada to the council Monday based on its consultations with government officials and interest groups during an October 2016 mission to Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and Montreal.

Some report findings released in August raised deep concerns about Canadas legacy of anti-black racism, which traces its origins to slavery in the 16th century and reverberates into the present day.

History informs anti-black racism and racial stereotypes that are so deeply entrenched in institutions, policies and practices, that its institutional and systemic forms are either functionally normalized or rendered invisible, especially to the dominant group, the UN officials wrote.

This contemporary form of racism replicates the historical ... conditions and effects of spatial segregation, economic disadvantage and social exclusion.

Slavery was abolished in the British colonies in the 1830s.

The working group laid out dozens of recommendations to redress past and present wrongs affecting Black Canadians, the first among which calls on Ottawa to apologize for slavery and consider issuing reparations.

It is important to underline that the experience of African Canadians is unique because of the particular history of anti-black racism in Canada, the report said. The government of Canada should take concrete steps to preserve the history of enslavement and the political, social and economic contributions of African Canadians by establishing monuments in their honour.

The report draws a through-line between Canadas history of racial segregation to the structural racism that lies at the core of many Canadian institutions today, manifesting itself in the form of poverty, health problems, low educational attainment, higher rates of unemployment and overrepresentation if Black Canadians in the criminal justice system.

This history is particularly poignant in Nova Scotia, where over the course of generations, Black Nova Scotians have demonstrated resistance and resilience to develop a distinct culture, the report said.

In Halifax, the community of Africville thrived despite the harshest opposition, the report said, and most of its residents were landowners.

The working group said city officials employed deplorable tactics to displace Africvilles Black residents when the neighbourhood was razed in the late-1960s, marking a dark period in Nova Scotian history.

The city offered a formal apology in 2010 and allocated $3 million to build a museum on the site, which members of the working group welcomed as recognition of its significance to Nova Scotias Black community.

Socioeconomic conditions in African-Nova Scotian communities remain deplorable, they said, and the provincial government is falling short in its efforts to establish land titles for the descendants of the black loyalists.

The authors appealed to the federal government to provide financial support to help claimants cover the costs involved in resolving land disputes, centuries after their ancestors were denied title to the rocky plots where they settled.

The report also suggested that Ottawa work with provincial and municipal authorities to develop legislation regarding what it called environmental racism, the risks created by environmental hazards like landfills, waste dumps and pollutants that are disproportionately situated near Black communities.

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is expect to address the UN report on Monday.

At the national level, the working group said Ottawa should develop a strategy to address anti-Black racism in the criminal justice system.

Between 2005 and 2015, the number of Black inmates in federal prisons rose by more than 71 per cent, the report said.

The authors were troubled by statistics suggesting that Black people are extraordinarily overrepresented when it comes police use of lethal force, and noted that the lack of race-based data about these incidents makes its difficult to assess the scope of the problem.

Racial profiling is endemic in strategies used by Canadian law enforcement, the working group said, and called for practices they said disproportionately affect Black Canadians  such as street checks and solitary confinement  to be abolished.

The report recommended the creation of a federal department of African-Canadian affairs and create special measures to compensate for the effects of discrimination, such as targeted hiring policies similar to those for Indigenous people.

It said existing federal anti-discrimination legislation relies on terms such as visible minority that obscure the degrees of disparity faced by different ethnic groups and fails to fully account for the specific human rights concerns of Black Canadians.

The working group encouraged federal lawmakers to legally recognize Black Canadians as a distinct group who have made and continue to make profound economic, political, social, cultural and spiritual contributions to Canadian society.

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OTTAWAThe federal government has issued new regulations to Canadas security agencies to restrict the use of intelligence possibly obtained through mistreatment or torture  unless the information is needed to prevent the loss of life.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale on Monday issued directives to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Canada Border Services Agency.

The ministerial directives replace those issued in 2011 by the previous Conservative government and are meant to more clearly prohibit the disclosure or requesting of information that would result in a substantial risk of mistreatment, according to the public safety department.

That passing of information was behind the nightmare endured by Canadian Maher Arar. A public inquiry concluded that erroneous information passed by the RCMP led the Americans to deport Arar, eventually to Syria where he was tortured and held for about a year.

The new regulations bar each of the agencies from disclosing information that would result in a substantial risk of mistreatment of an individual by a foreign entity.

As well, they are prevented from asking for information that would put a person at risk of mistreatment.

Finally, the agencies are restricted in how they can use any intelligence that was likely obtained through mistreatment of an individual by a foreign entity.

The new rules are meant to guard against any complicity in mistreatment, a department official told reporters during a background briefing.

Yet there is not a blanket prohibition on the use of information where torture or mistreatment is suspected. The new directives do allow the use of such intelligence when necessary to prevent loss of life or significant personal injury.

Such cases would require high-level approval within the security agencies and will be flagged to the minister as well as the proposed oversight body comprised of MPs.

The government refused Monday to say how often it may have used intelligence obtained through torture and mistreatment, saying only that officials are sometimes required to interact with foreign entities that may engage in those practices that are contrary to our values and principles.

The ministerial directions are provided exactly to bring more clarity to the decision-making process, the official told reporters.

Security expert Stephanie Carvin said the new rules acknowledge the reality that confronts security agencies today.

We are an intelligence-consuming nation. Canada is heavily reliant on intelligence-sharing partnerships. You have to strike a balance that is also realistic, said Carvin, an assistant professor of international relations at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.

I wish we lived in a world where you could just cut yourself off from everyone who was bad but you cant, she said in an interview.

She said the challenge for security agencies will be sorting out which information may have been derived through mistreatment or torture. Given the prison conditions in some developing countries, just being detained might count as mistreatment and abuse, she said. Those kinds of cases still arent clear, Carvin said.

She did say the directives introduce some openness and political oversight. We really dont have a window into how often this is done . . . I think this goes a long way to creating some transparency.

Amnesty International said the new rules are a significant improvement but criticized the government for still allowing the possibility that intelligence obtained by torture could be used by security agencies.

The human rights organization said that loopholes and lack of clarity in some areas may still leave the door open to complicity in abuses and the tacit promotion of torture at the hands of foreign officials.

Amnesty said it was concerned that the new directives allow security agencies to co-operate with foreign entities with a shady human rights record and there is risk of abuse.

Promises not to torture from those who already break clear international and national laws by torturing in the first place are virtually worthless, Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty International Canada, said in a statement.

Neve also voiced concern that the directions allow Canadian officials to use information obtained through torture or mistreatment, albeit in limited circumstances.

Using any torture-tainted information almost certainly encourages torturers to continue with their crimes, knowing there are intelligence agencies and others ready and willing to receive and use it, Neve said.

New Democrat MP Matthew Dube said the new rules were a cosmetic change.

Weve raised the bar a little bit, but still far from being sufficient and I think that until were completely prohibiting the use of information obtained under torture, this wont be good enough, Dube told reporters on Parliament Hill.

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OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau downplayed pessimistic assessments of NAFTA negotiations amid uncertainty and confusion about exactly how President Donald Trump wants to rewrite the free trade pact to boost American industries and resolve international trade disputes.

At a news conference, Trudeau appeared to take a dig at the U.S. teams failure to put forward specific demands.

The prime minister said, while hes not concerned talks are stagnating, Canadian trade negotiators have done their homework and put concrete proposals on the table, and he is very pleased to have a chance to discuss them with our counterparts from the other countries.

Trudeau said Canada was very serious about advancing progressive labour and environmental standards and fair investor-state dispute mechanisms, while protecting its supply-managed agricultural sectors, such as dairy and poultry.

Canada, he said, is moving forward in good faith in these negotiations.

However, some observers, such as Unifor president Jerry Dias, head of Canadas largest private sector union, have suggested, by not tabling precise demands, the U.S. is not acting with the same good faith.

Conservative MP Erin O'Toole says he doesn't see the Liberal government fighting enough for key industries under NAFTA. The latest round of talks to modernize the trade deal is under way in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press)

The Star has learned that the Mexican team has privately told people here that the U.S. negotiating team has also not provided specifics for Trumps demand to revise labour standards that would apply evenly to all three NAFTA parties.

That is on top of a lack of clarity around precise American demands in at least five other specific areas: on increasing U.S. content in the auto sector, on rules of origin which apply more broadly to a range of manufactured goods, on how the U.S. wants to target Canadas dairy sector, on how it wants to revise the state-to-state dispute-resolution process, and how it wants to revise the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism in the current deal.

Dias released an open letter today to the American team expressing concern that the Americans are expected to table labour standards that would closely mirror the language adopted in the now defunct Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Dias said that is not good enough and does not provide the fundamental change in NAFTA that many in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico desire.

The TPP language only serves to enforce, not enhance, existing domestic labour standards, which are often insufficient, and in breach of international work standards. The TPP is entirely silent on issues of gender equality. It offers no reprieve for workers subjected to violence and intimidation for exercising their rights, and no penalties for governments and employers who breach those rights. It fails to effectively bar trade in goods made with forced or child labour.

Canadas chief negotiator Steve Verheul had no comment at midday Monday on how talks were proceeding.

Read more: Canadas top NAFTA negotiator says U.S. hasnt proposed changes to thorny issues

U.S. fails to deliver demands for next round of NAFTA talks

Striking CAMI workers look to NAFTA talks to level playing field

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OTTAWAWhen Malaika was 6, she travelled with her family on an airplane for the first time, on a summer vacation to Somalia to see her aunts, uncles and cousins.

While there, she was rounded up with other girls in the village and taken into a strangers living room, where her genitals were cut with a razor blade.

Now in her early 20s and pursuing a post-secondary degree, Malaika, who was born and raised in the Ottawa area, says she was told by family members to not speak about the cutting. For about 15 years she kept the secret.

I just felt really, really lonely, she says.

That was until two months ago, when she read Yasmin Mumeds story, published in the Star. Yasmin is a 24-year-old recent graduate of the University of Guelph who was subjected to female genital mutilation in her native Ethiopia when she was 6. Three years later, she immigrated to Canada.

On a recent day in August, the women met and spoke about their shared experiences and desire to see other girls spared from the same fate.

The Star is not revealing Malaikas real name and has withheld some details that could identify her. She asked that her identity be concealed because she is not comfortable sharing intimate details publicly. She has also never addressed what happened with her family and is concerned about receiving criticism from her community.

She worried that photographs showing even the colour of her nail polish or the hijab she often wears could offer clues to her identity to those closest to her.

A lot of women praise the procedure despite its negative health-related side effects, she says. I dont agree with what happened to me or the practice being done to millions of women across the globe. (But) I feel like coming out not agreeing with it would be like siding against my community.

A continuing Star investigation has revealed the federal government is aware of cases in which Canadian girls have been sent abroad and subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). The term often used to describe what happens to these children is vacation cutting.

There is no reliable data on the prevalence of the problem here, but officials from Global Affairs Canada say a few thousand Canadian girls could be at risk, some of whom will be taken overseas for the procedure, according to a 2015 internal email obtained by the Star.

Recent evidence also suggests FGM may be happening on Canadian soil, including a report that found two women from a small Muslim sect called the Dawoodi-Bohras who reported being cut here.

Since 1997, it has been illegal in Canada to subject a child to FGM. It is also illegal to remove them from the country for the same purpose.

Although federal government ministers have called the practice abhorrent and unacceptable, experts say Canada lags behind other developed countries, like the United Kingdom, which has dedicated charities and government agencies collecting statistics, administering education campaigns and taking other proactive measures, such as programs designed to identify potential victims at the airport.

It just makes me the most mad, says Malaika. She is measured and thoughtful with her words.

There was a possibility for this to not happen to me. It doesnt mean that just because you were born in a westernized country that its not going to happen.

FGM has no health benefits. It can cause severe bleeding, problems with urination and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths, according to the World Health Organization. It can also deny women sexual pleasure.

It varies from partial removal of the clitoris to its most severe form, a procedure known as infibulation, in which the clitoris and labia are excised and the vulva stitched together, leaving only a small opening.

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Today, Malaika remembers little about her cutting.

She knows it happened without any explanation or warning. She remembers only that other girls in the village were coming in and out of a living room in someones home, one at a time. Shes blocked out her memory of the procedure, except pain. Afterward, she recalled, the family continued with the vacation as if nothing happened.

She doesnt know for certain, but she believes her mother did not plan to have her cut before they left. I think its just something in the moment. That it was a pressure thing, she says. And maybe other girls . . . were doing it as well, so I guess it would look kind of weird if they didnt.

She has never spoken with her father about what happened, and does not know if he is aware.

FGM is known to be practised in 29 countries  most commonly in Africa, but also in other places like Indonesia and India. It is seen by some as a rite of passage into womanhood or a condition of marriage. It occurs in both Islamic and Christian communities, but is largely a cultural tradition that dates back hundreds of years. In many areas, there is huge social pressure on families to have their daughters cut.

When Malaika returned to Canada from her summer vacation, she pushed any memories aside until high school, when students in her class began to learn about and discuss FGM and how it was done in specific areas in Africa.

Thats when I realized it had happened to me, she says.

It just made me more sad. I was always saying, Why am I being punished for this?. . . On my confidence I think it hit the most there because youre constantly reminded that youre not like everyone else. This is something thats going to follow you for the rest of your life.

In August, around the same time Malaika was working up the courage to confide in a close girlfriend, she found Yasmins story in the Star. She read that Yasmin had made some peace with her cutting and that she is now pursuing reconstructive surgery in the United States. Malaika decided to confide in her friend.

It took my whole life to tell her about it, she says, adding that her friend encouraged her to reach out to Yasmin, so she could speak with someone who had been through the same thing.

Malaika got in touch with Yasmin on Instagram and the pair connected by phone. Their first conversation lasted more than two hours. About two weeks later, they met, after Yasmin drove, along with two Star journalists, to Ottawa to meet her.

Just talking to Yasmin and (knowing) there is a way we can move on from this and also help other people deal with it has been helpful, said Malaika as they chatted on the bank of the Ottawa River, the Parliament buildings in the background. I felt like someone understood me for the very first time.

Their stories have striking similarities.

Like Malaika, Yasmin kept her cutting a secret from those closest to her. She, too, buried the memories until her teens, when she started having flashbacks of women holding down her arms and legs, of a brand-new pink embroidered dress her grandmother had bought her covered in blood.

Like Malaika, she felt alone. She searched for services in the Toronto area where she grew up: a support group, specialized health-care professionals, an organization that focuses on FGM. She found nothing and had a negative experience with a local gynecologist, who she says told her she didnt need reconstructive surgery because she had not been cut enough to cause problems with going to the bathroom or giving birth.

The federal Justice Department recently gave $350,000 to a small Quebec organization to fight FGM in at-risk communities. Other than that, experts say there are few support services available for women living with the physical and psychological effects of FGM, regardless of when and where it happened to them.

Recent data from the provinces Ministry of Health offers a glimpse into the prevalence of women living with the effects  it shows Ontario doctors have performed 308 surgeries to reverse infibulations in the past seven years.

There is no medical procedure in Canada that aims to give women back sensation. Yasmin and Malaika are now pursuing a reconstructive surgery offered by a doctor in California. The surgery, which is controversial because some medical professionals have questioned whether it works, removes the scar tissue from the clitoris and cuts ligaments around it, allowing it to descend, in the hopes of giving the woman back some feeling.

Both are clear about why they want the surgery. They want to make their own decisions with their bodies. They want to try to get something back that was taken away without their consent.

Yasmin, who after much deliberation decided to speak publicly about what happened to her, says she did not do so to demonize her family (her beloved grandmother, who took her to be cut, believed it was what was best for her), but to take the issue out of the shadows.

About a week after her story was published, a man from her Oromo ethnic group recognized her at an Ethiopian restaurant. Hed been carrying around a copy of the Star and pulled it out to show her. He told her he was proud of her for speaking out.

Recently, she received a message from her mother, who read her story and called to say that she supports her and wants to travel with her to California when she gets the surgery.

Yasmin says the main reason she spoke out, though, was to reach young women like Malaika.

I thought . . . Im going to do it even if I reach one person, she says to Malaika as they sit on the river bank. I was like there is somebody out there like me who grew up here who feels so different than like her peers . . . When you reached out to me I was like this is it. This is what I did it for. 

Malaika hopes that by sharing her story, she can do the same.

I definitely think me reaching out to Yasmin will pave the way for other girls, she says. As Yasmin told me, this is not something that defines us.

Jayme Poisson can be reached at jpoisson@thestar.ca or (416) 814-2725

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The Superior Court of Justice is warning that it desperately needs more judges to keep up with an increasingly heavy and complex caseload.

The court, which handles all civil and some family matters, as well as the most serious criminal cases such as murder, has requested that federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould immediately add an extra 12 judges to Ontarios judicial complement.

Whether that will actually happen anytime soon remains to be seen, although it doesnt appear that Ontario will get all 12 judges in one round. Wilson-Rayboulds office said she is considering the request, as other provinces also put forward business cases for increases in their number of judges.

Courts across the country have been grappling since last year with the effect of a landmark Supreme Court of Canada case known as R v. Jordan, which set strict timelines to bring criminal cases to trial.

The Jordan ruling has left understaffed courthouses, including in Ontario, scrambling to redeploy judges to criminal matters at risk of being tossed due to delay, to the detriment of non-urgent civil and family matters.

In addition to the courts criminal workload, an immediate addition to Ontarios Superior Court judicial complement is desperately needed to deal with families in crisis and urgent child protection cases, Mohan Sharma, counsel in the office of Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Heather Smith, told the Star in an emailed statement.

Ontarios population has increased by 3.4 million since 2000, Sharma said, but over the last 17 years, the Superior Court of Justice has not received a proportionate increase to its judicial complement.

The last time an increase was made to the complement was in 2008, when the court received eight additional judges, Sharma said. There are currently about 330 Superior Court judges allotted to Ontario.

The courts request is supported by leaders from the associations that represent criminal, civil and family lawyers, who point out the addition of judges is just one way to speed up the justice system post-Jordan.

Theres no question that the Toronto courts have been plagued with too many cases and not enough judges for them to be heard, said Michael Lacy, a vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers Association.

If theres going to be a meaningful response to Jordan and a meaningful approach to ensuring that people get a trial in a reasonable time, the obvious thing to do is add more judges.

While praising the Superior Courts request, the chair of the Family Lawyers Association pointed out that the bulk of family matters are heard at the lower level in the Ontario Court of Justice, which also requires more resources.

I just dont want the Ontario Court of Justice to be forgotten, that we need to be aware that that court requires resources, said Katharina Janczaruk.

I think we need to be particularly concerned because of the population that utilizes the Ontario Court of Justice are, by and large, low-income individuals. They're entitled to have their matters heard on a timely basis.

Sharma, at Superior Court, said the court was unable to provide a copy of the business case sent to Wilson-Raybould because communications between the chief justice and minister are treated as confidential.

But Sharma said the business case identified the Toronto, Central West and Central East regions, which cover the GTA, as well as the East region, which includes Ottawa and Kingston, as being in the greatest demand for additional judicial resources.

The court is looking to get its hands on some of the new judicial positions created in this years federal budget, which proposed spending $55 million over five years, and $15.6 million per year thereafter, to cover the costs for 28 new judges.

The government has already said that 12 would be allotted to Alberta, and one to Yukon, while the remaining 15 would be assigned across the country depending on need. Two have since been allotted to Quebec, which leaves 13 positions in the pool, of which Ontario wants 12.

The appointment of 12 of the 28 new judge positions to Ontario should be viewed nationally as a fair apportionment, Sharma said.

Ontario initially requested six positions last October, but revised that request to 12 following the budget announcement in March.

A statement from Wilson-Rayboulds office sent to the Star said Ontarios subsequent request for additional judges will be evaluated in a separate round, funding for which may be sought in Budget 2018.

The minister of justice has not yet made appointments in Ontario using the pool positions. We anticipate that such appointments will be made in the coming months, although we cannot confirm in advance exactly how many pool positions will be allotted to Ontario.

The judge shortage also highlights the fact that while criminal matters carry a constitutional right to a trial in a reasonable time, no such right exists in civil and family matters.

Civil lawyers, for example, have complained of their cases being pushed even further down the road because the judge hearing the matter has had to be redeployed to a criminal case.

As somebody who represents very seriously injured people, you sort of wonder why a woman whose back is broken by the negligent act of someone else is treated differently than an alleged criminal who needs to have their case tried, even for just a minor criminal offence, said Ron Bohm, president-elect of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, which represents lawyers acting for plaintiffs.

In Ontario, all criminal cases begin at the lower level of the court system, in the Ontario Court of Justice. In some cases, criminal matters that then head to Superior Court first go through a preliminary hearing in the Ontario Court of Justice to determine if theres enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Heather Smith, chief justice of the Superior Court, has said that the addition of 13 judges to the Ontario Court of Justice by the provincial government to respond to Jordan has meant that cases are now making their way to her court even faster. But there are simply not enough Superior Court judges to deal with the influx.

The great efforts of our dedicated judges have held the line in criminal cases until now, Smith said in remarks at the opening of the courts ceremony in Toronto earlier this month. But, nothing short of a very immediate increase to the judicial complement of the Superior Court will allow this court to maintain control of its very heavy and highly complex criminal caseload.

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Shadi Alkhalifeh was full of guilt when he, his wife and three children were picked to resettle to Canada last year, leaving behind their loved ones in Turkey and Syria.

Almost a year after arriving in Uxbridge, the family lives comfortably in a modest three-bedroom apartment; the children are in school and learning; and Alkhalifeh, a former surgical nurse, works as a personal support worker in a mental health facility in Newmarket.

Since coming to Canada, Alkhalifeh has been tirelessly looking for ways to help bring his loved ones here, including his parents. The Uxbridge sponsorship group that brought the Alkahlifehs to Canada is already sponsoring his younger brother, Mohamad, in Turkey.

That is our dream, said Alkhalifeh, 39. Life is miserable in Turkey and Syria for my family. We think of them all the time. We are happy we have the opportunity for a new life in Canada but we are missing our families a lot. Our new life is incomplete without them.

However, the journey of family reunification wont be easy because Ottawa limits the number of refugees that can be resettled by sponsorship groups each year.

After welcoming more than 48,000 Syrian refugees into the country over the last two years, Canada is faced with a new challenge known in the refugee sponsorship circles as the echo effect  the surge in demand to sponsor the families and relatives of recently resettled refugees, said Janet Dench of the Canadian Council for refugees.

In 2017, there are only some 16,000 private sponsorship spots for refugees. Separately, there are 7,500 spots for government-assisted refugees and 1,500 for those referred by visa offices, who are selected by authorities and prioritized for the most vulnerable. The spots must accommodate refugees from around the world.

A spokesperson for the Immigration Department said the government has to limit the number of applications so officials can work through large inventories and reduce wait times.

While asylum-seekers must typically obtain a refugee determination certificate from United Nations to be eligible for resettlement in Canada, Ottawa exempted all Syrians and Iraqis from the requirement in 2015 and 2016. However, this year, only the first 1,000 are not required to get the UN designation.

As a result of the echo effect, the Immigration Department currently is having problem finding community groups to sponsor refugees to fill the visa-office-referred refugee spots because community sponsorship groups would rather focus on bringing in those connected with their sponsored families.

When you resettle refugees, there are family members that they are concerned about, said Dench. You hear them talk about their parents, brothers and sisters somewhere else. It is hard for sponsorship groups to sponsor somebody else and turn your back on a real situation before you.

Rob Shropshire, who works on refugee sponsorship and special projects at the Presbyterian Church in Canada, said his sponsors only picked up 10 refugee cases referred by Canadian officials this year, less than a third of the 33 total in 2016 when sponsorship groups were desperate to match with just about any Syrian family.

Last year we had a lot of interest for the (visa-office) referred cases, but not this year, said Shropshire, whose group has been allotted only 77 spots for refugees from all countries under the churchs cap this year. There is a big demand for named sponsorships for Syrians.

Colleen Colman, a volunteer with Ripple Effect, the sponsorship group that brought the Alkhalifehs to Canada, said getting their loved ones out of harms way has preoccupied the familys mind and affected their full settlement.

They have a lot of guilt being safe and away, and not able to help. Part of the heartache is they need to establish themselves before they can sponsor their family members, said Colman. It occupies a lot of their waking thoughts. Its like a piece of them is not in Canada yet.

In addition to the annual cap, Canadas refugee sponsorship program only allows resettlement of those displaced outside of their country of origin. In Alkhalifehs case, his parents, Mahmoud and Sabah, and a younger sister, Ataa, are still stranded in Syria.

The only option for Alkhalifeh is to bring them to Canada on his own under the family reunification program, which only allots 10,000 spaces for parents and grandparents this year through lottery. However, as a family of five persons, he would need to make $66,654 a year to be eligible to sponsor his parents; he now makes only $14 an hour while working 42 hours a week  less than half of what he needs.

Alkhalifeh said he and his family last saw his parents in 2010 before civil war erupted in Syria. Since then, they only communicate through WhatsApp and Skype when internet service is available in Damascus.

My kids miss their grandpa and grandma, and all their cousins. We just feel so sad, said Alkhalifeh, who has lost some 3,000 precious family photos that were on his smartphone after it was infected with viruses. If you can help us to see our family, we would be really grateful.

Debbie Douglas of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants said Ottawa must remove its caps on refugee resettlement and put more resources into processing sponsorship applications.

Family reunifications for refugees should be a priority. The government needs to lift the caps and beef up the processing time, she said.

Between November 2015 and this past July, Canada welcomed 25,000 government-assisted Syrian refugees, as well as 19,000 by private sponsors and 4,400 under the joint government-and-private sponsorships. There are some 5,000 government-supported and 16,000 privately-sponsored applications in process.

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U.S. President Donald Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has used a private email account to conduct and discuss official White House business dozens of times, his lawyer confirmed Sunday.

Kushner used the private account through his first nine months in government service, even as the president continued to criticize his opponent in the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton, for her use of a private email account for government business. Kushner several times used his account to exchange news stories and minor reactions or updates with other administration officials.

Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, set up the private account before Donald Trump moved into the White House and Kushner was named a senior adviser to the president in January. Once in the White House, Kushner used his private account for convenience from time to time  especially when he was travelling or using a personal laptop, according to two people familiar with his practice. A person who has reviewed the emails said many were quickly forwarded to his government account and none appear to contain classified information.

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Clinton offered a similar explanation in 2015 when it was revealed that she set up a private email account as her exclusive means of email communication when she was secretary of state. Clinton also said she opted for private email as a matter of convenience. She insisted that she never shared classified information on her private account or tried to sidestep the federal law that requires that official government communications are preserved. She said nearly all of her communication was stored by the government because she was communicating with other officials on their government accounts.

Kushners use of a private account was first reported Sunday by Politico.

Trump repeatedly blasted Clinton during the 2016 campaign for her email practices  and has continued to do so for many months after defeating her in the race to the White House.

What the prosecutors should be looking at are Hillary Clintons 33,000 deleted emails, Trump said in West Virginia in early August. He made the comment just hours after news broke that Special Counsel Robert Mueller was using a grand jury to investigate the Trump campaigns possible collusion with Russia.

The president had a similar refrain in mid-July, when his son Donald Trump Jr. faced questions about a meeting he had with a Russian lawyer during the campaign after he was offered incriminating information about Clinton.

Hillary Clinton can illegally get the questions to the Debate & delete 33,000 emails but my son Don is being scorned by the Fake News Media? Trump tweeted on July 13.

Kushners use of a private account, however, does appear to differ in degree from the former secretary of state and Democratic nominee, according to the descriptions provided Sunday. Kushner and his wife didnt set up a private server, two people familiar with their email account said. Kushners lawyer said his client used official White House email to conduct much of his official government business, and the private email was incidental.

Fewer than a hundred emails from January through August were either sent to or returned by Mr. Kushner to colleagues in the White House from his personal email account, Kushners lawyer Abbe Lowell said Sunday. These usually forwarded news articles or political commentary and most often occurred when someone initiated the exchange by sending an email to his personal, rather than his White House, address. All non-personal emails were forwarded to his official address and all have been preserved in any event.

These dozens of emails typically discussed media stories about the Trump White House, planning for coming events and some reactions and logistics. A person who has reviewed the emails said several contained nothing more than links to news stories.

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Lowell declined to answer questions about how it was determined that none of the emails contained classified information. Clinton also claimed none of her emails contained classified information, but later reviews founds hundreds contained secret information and a small handful contained top secret material.

Lowell declined to specify if Kushner routinely forwarded all of his private emails to his government account, but said that all have since been forwarded for preservation.

Kushners use of a private account mirrors a broader trend within the Trump White House. He is not alone in communicating about official business over private channels.

Many senior White House officials and others in the administration regularly correspond with journalists about government business on their personal cellphones, as opposed to using their official lines. People familiar with his communications said former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and former senior adviser Stephen Bannon also used private email accounts from time to time, including in their exchanges with Kushner. Its unclear if these officials forwarded emails to their White House accounts, said one White House official.

Bannon could not be reached for comment Sunday.

William Burck, an attorney for Priebus, declined to comment.

A person familiar with Priebus email use said his general practice was to use his White House account but confirmed he used a personal account from time to time, particularly to respond when other people emailed him using the account. This person said such exchanges were rare, but more common at the start of Trumps term, particularly since Priebus had been using the account during the presidential transition. The account was one he had held for a number of years.

Hillary Clinton said in a new interview that, if not for a controversial letter from FBI Director James Comey and Russian interference in the election, she would have been elected President of the United States.

Clinton was the subject of a massive FBI investigation last year that focused on whether she or her aides had mishandled classified information when she set up a private server to handle all of her work discussions on email. Clinton has since blamed her loss of the presidential race on the flawed explanations and hyperbolic reaction to her use of a private email account. She said that then-FBI Director James Comeys decision to publicly announce he was reviving the investigation in the final days of her campaign battle tipped the election to Trump.

Clintons choice to entirely sidestep government emails during her tenure while also using a private server was unprecedented. But Congress has lambasted other government officials who appeared to be trying to shroud their communications from public view. Republicans criticized former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson for using a dummy account name  Richard Windsor  on an EPA government email account for some of her personal communications.

They also criticized Jonathan Silver, a Barack Obama appointee to the Energy Department, when one of his emails showed him warning his subordinates amid a discussion of government business: Dont ever send an email on doe email with private email addresses. That makes them supoenable.

The Federal Records Act requires government officials and agencies to create systems and practices so that they preserve all records, memos, correspondence and other documents that detail their government work.

The use of personal email to conduct government business potentially puts those messages beyond the reach of congressional investigators and the media requesting public information. Private accounts can also open security risks if the email service used is lax on password security or doesnt regularly patch its software  weaknesses that hackers can exploit to gain access.

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YANGON, BURMABurma officials said Monday they have discovered at least 45 slain Hindus in three mass graves in the Southeast Asian countrys conflict-torn northern Rakhine state. The government blames Muslim insurgents for the killings.

Two of the graves were found Sunday and contained the bodies of 20 females and eight males, Border Guard Police Maj. Zayar Nyein said. The governments Information Committee said on its Facebook page that all eight males were boys, including six who were under 10 years old.

It said another mass grave was discovered 200 metres away on Monday that contained the bodies of 17 more Hindu villagers.

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Police blame the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army insurgent group, or ARSA. Security forces say the bodies are among about 100 Hindus missing since ARSA attacked at least 30 police outposts Aug. 25.

There was no immediate way to independently verify the governments assertions.

A government crackdown that followed the attacks left more than 200 Rohingya Muslim villages burned and sent at least 420,000 Rohingya fleeing into Bangladesh. The government has said most of the hundreds of people who were killed were insurgents.

The Information Committee said the bodies were found in Yebawkya village of Maungdaw township, which was hardest hit by the violence.

It said a Hindu man who lived in the village and has since fled to Bangladesh told a local leader that ARSA insurgents took about 100 Hindus from the village and killed all of them except for eight women who were forced to convert to Islam and brought to Bangladesh.

The committee said nearby residents searched and found the pits holding the bodies in the northwest part of the village.

Our correspondent reports from a sprawling makeshift city that houses hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people, driven from their homes by Burma's military. (The New York Times)

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IRBIL, IRAQIraqi Kurds voted Monday in a landmark referendum on supporting independence, a move billed by the Kurdish leadership as an exercise in self-determination but viewed as a hostile act by Iraqs central government. Neighbouring Turkey even threatened a military response.

To Baghdad, the vote threatens a redrawing Iraqs borders, taking a sizable part of the countrys oil wealth with it. For Turkey and Iran, leaders feared the move would embolden their own Kurdish populations.

The vote  likely to be a resounding yes when official results are revealed later this week  is not binding and will not immediately bring independence to the autonomous region. Nevertheless, it has raised tensions and fears of instability in Iraq and beyond.

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Just hours after polls closed Monday night across the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, the Defence Ministry announced the launch of large-scale joint military exercises with Turkey.

Earlier in the day, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey threatened the Kurdish region with military intervention. Iran  which also opposed the vote  held military exercises along their border Sunday.

The Iraqi Kurdish push for independence has been made even more combustible because Kurdish forces captured extensive territory in fighting against Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, in the past year. Those areas run from northwestern Iraq to the Iranian border on the east  including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. Baghdad claims those territories, but the Kurds say they are part of their zone and some residents there are participating in the referendum.

An escalation in rhetoric within Iraq set the stage for increased tensions as Iraqi Kurds lined up to vote.

The Kurdish regions president, Masoud Barzani, and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi both threatened to use force ahead of Mondays vote.

Barzani softened his tone before he voted. He told a news conference Sunday that he believed the vote would be peaceful but acknowledged the path to independence would be risky.

We are ready to pay any price for our independence, he said.

Al-Abadi had said on the eve of the referendum that the vote threatens Iraq and is a danger to the region.

We will take measures to safeguard the nations unity and protect all Iraqis, he warned in a televised address from Baghdad.

The United States came out as an early opponent to the vote, initially urging it to be called off and then announcing a deal had been presented to Baghdad and Iraqs Kurdish leadership. But the Kurdish region pressed on with the vote despite the concerns.

U.S. officials warned that the vote is likely to destabilize the region and take resources and attention from the fight against Daesh.

The promise of an independent state has long been at the centre of Iraqi Kurdish politics. When colonial powers drew the map of the Middle East after World War I, the Kurds were divided among Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq.

That dream was evident among some of the voters in the disputed city of Kirkuk.

I feel so great and happy. I feel well be free, said Kurdish resident Suad Pirot after voting. Nobody will rule us. We will be independent.

The oil-rich city has large Kurdish, Arab, Turkmen and Christian communities, and it has seen some low-level clashes in the days leading up to the vote. A curfew was imposed Monday evening for fear of more violence.

Baghdad residents strongly criticized the referendum, saying it would raise sectarian tensions and create an Israel in Iraq.

This is a division of Iraq, said journalist Raad Mohammad. Another Baghdad resident, Ali al-Rubayah, described the vote as a black day in the history of the Kurds.

Lawyer Tariq al-Zubaydi said the referendum was inappropriate amid the ongoing threat of terrorism and (Daesh) militants.

The country is going through a difficult period. This requires a coming together of our efforts, he said. A unified country is better for all.

Speaking in Istanbul, Erdogan said Turkey doesnt recognize the referendum and declared its results would be null and void.

Erdogan also suggested Turkey could halt the flow of oil from a pipeline from northern Iraq, a lifeline for the landlocked Kurdish region battling a severe economic crisis.

Turkey has urged the international community  and especially regional countries  not to recognize the vote and urged Iraq Kurdish leaders to abandon utopic goals, accusing them of endangering peace and stability for Iraq and the whole region.

We could arrive suddenly one night, Erdogan said, pointing to Turkish military exercises underway along Turkeys border with the Iraqi Kurdish region.

Our military is not (there) for nothing, he added.

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Sen. John McCain said U.S. President Donald Trump still hasnt apologized for disparaging his war record on the campaign trail, but signalled he had put the matter behind him and would be open to reconciling with the president.

During an interview with 60 Minutes broadcast late Sunday, host Lesley Stahl asked the Arizona Republican whether he would be receptive to a rapprochement with Trump, who mocked him in 2015 for being captured and imprisoned during the Vietnam War.

Of course. Ive supported him on national security. Ive supported his team, McCain said.

But personal, Stahl asked. Im talking about man to man.

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Personal? Sure, McCain said. Id be glad to converse with him. But I also understand that were very different people.

CBS News started promoting the interview around the same time Friday that McCain announced he would not vote for the latest Republican effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, potentially dooming the bill sponsored by Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham. McCain said he thought lawmakers could develop better legislation by working across the aisle.

Trump tweeted his outrage at McCains decision early Saturday morning, saying the senator had betrayed his state and his colleagues.

John McCain never had any intention of voting for this bill, which his governor loves, Trump wrote.

The U.S. Senate rejected a Republican measure to repeal portions of former president Obama's health care reform law. Republicans John McCain, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joined the Democrats in voting down the measure, 49-51. (The Associated Pres

In July, McCain broke with his party and voted against a different ACA repeal measure that the White House and Republican leaders hoped would deliver on years of promises to unravel the health care law. Cameras captured the dramatic moment late that night when McCain approached the Senate clerk, raised his arm gave a thumbs down, sinking the legislation and infuriating the president.

Tension between Trump and McCain goes back years. Shortly after Trump announced he was running for president in summer 2015, he ridiculed McCains military service at a summit in Iowa. McCain, a decorated U.S. navy pilot, was imprisoned in Vietnam for more than five years, during which time he was tortured and kept in solitary confinement. Hes not a war hero, Trump said, adding I like people that werent captured.

The remarks, which have tainted the relationship between the two men ever since, came up again in McCains interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday. After playing a clip of Trumps words, Stahl asked if McCains theatrical no vote in July was more like a middle finger and an attempt to retaliate against Trump.

If I took offence at everybody who has said something about me, or disparaged me or something like that  life is too short, McCain said. Youve got to move on. And on an issue of this importance to the nation, for me to worry about a personal relationship, then Im not doing my job.

The interview also touched on Trumps decision to end DACA, the Obama-era program that allowed young undocumented immigrants to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation.

Trump has met with Democratic leaders in recent weeks to discuss a legislative deal to allow hundreds of thousands of Dreamers, as the young immigrants are called, to remain in the country. The White House has offered conflicting messages about whether such a deal is feasible, and some in Trumps conservative base have recoiled at the possibility.

Stahl asked McCain if the president had initiated divorce proceedings with Republicans.

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I dont know what hes gonna do tomorrow or say tomorrow, McCain told the host. He changes his statements almost on a daily basis. So for me to spend my time trying to analyze what he says, I dont know.

When the conversation turned to Trumps comments about McCains war record, McCain said the president had never apologized to him. He said he would be happy to talk with Trump but noted that they had different life experiences.

He is in the business of making money and he has been successful both in television as well as Miss America and others, McCain said. I was raised in the concept and belief that duty, honour, country is the lodestar for behaviour that we have to exhibit every single day.

McCain has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump. In a commentary for The Washington Post last month, he urged members Congress to seek compromise with each other, even if it means bucking the president. Trump, he said, has no experience of public office, is often poorly informed and can be impulsive in his speech and conduct.

We must, where we can, co-operate with him. But we are not his subordinates, McCain wrote. We dont answer to him. We answer to the American people.

McCain, 81, was diagnosed with a deadly brain cancer called a glioblastoma in July. He receives chemotherapy and radiation treatment in the mornings, then heads to the Capitol for work. The cancer is fatal for many patients. McCain said he would not let the disease slow him down.

He told 60 Minutes: Its a very poor prognosis. So I just said, I understand. Now were gonna do what we can, get the best doctors we can find and do the best we can. And, at the same time, celebrate with gratitude a life well lived.

I am more energetic and more engaged as a result of this, he added, because I know that Ive got to do everything I can to serve this country while I can.

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BRIGHTON, ENGLANDBen Asson drove 320 kilometres and slept in his car to deliver a message to Britains Labour party and its left-wing leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

The brewer from Wales stood outside the seaside conference centre hosting the opposition partys annual gathering with a handwritten sign: Get real, JC. Stop riding the fence. Stand up for our EU rights.

Brexit is the biggest question, said Asson, who wants a new referendum on membership in the bloc. Everything else is just moving around the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Some 48 per cent of British voters backed staying in the European Union in last years referendum, and many of them hope the countrys main opposition party can soften or stop Brexit. Hundreds of demonstrators marched past the conference on Sunday, urging Labour to back an exit from Brexit.

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But the party is hesitating over picking up the anti-Brexit mantle. Labour has yet to decide whether it wants the U.K. to be in the EU, semi-detached or fully outside the bloc.

Pro-EU party members failed to get a vote on Brexit policy onto the agenda at the four-day conference, which runs until Wednesday in the English seaside city of Brighton.

Labour finance spokesman John McDonnell, a Corbyn ally, said Monday said there needed to be a bit more consensus-building before a decision.

But lawmaker Heidi Alexander said Labour looked like a laughing stock for dodging the issue.

The Brexit divide is clouding what should be an upbeat gathering. Labour stunned pundits and pollsters in Junes snap election by reducing Prime Minister Theresa Mays Conservatives to a minority administration.

Labours old-school socialist policies  nationalizing railways, scrapping university fees, giving all children free school lunches  appealed to many voters weary after seven years of spending cuts by the Conservative government.

While Labour didnt win, its result far outstripped expectations, and made the 68-year-old Corbyn a hero to the partys growing and increasingly youthful membership.

The bearded, no-frills Corbyn is greeted like a rock star at mass rallies across the country. As the conference opened Sunday, delegates in the auditorium belted out his now-ubiquitous theme song: Oh, Jeremy Corbyn, sung to the riff from the White Stripes Seven Nation Army.

Some grassroots Labour members feel like theyve got their party back after the slick, centrist New Labour years under former prime minister Tony Blair and his successors.

It used be very suit-orientated, said delegate Andrew Ward, sporting a kilt, a red Labour T-shirt and multiple facial piercings. Its not now. Its very inclusive of young people. Its for everybody.

Many Labour lawmakers and party officials are less enthusiastic about the partys new direction  and Corbyns position on the EU is one reason why.

Corbyn opposed Britain joining the bloc in the 1970s, and he was a half-hearted campaigner for remaining during last years referendum.

Many in the party want to keep Britains economy close to the EU after Brexit by staying inside the blocs single market in goods and services and its tariff-free customs union. But Corbyn says staying in the single market could tie the hands of a future Labour government by limiting state aid to industry.

He also says a Labour government would limit immigration, a repudiation of the EU principle of free movement.

Some in the party worry that Labour is betraying its internationalist principles.

We are not being honest about the cost of Brexit, lawmaker Seema Malhotra told a meeting at the conference. In my local hospital, theres a 15 per cent vacancy rate for doctors and nurses as EU citizens begin to leave.

She said Europeans have begun to feel unwelcome in Britain, and that is an outrageous message for us to be sending.

So far, Labour has committed only to staying in the single market and customs union during a limited transition period after Brexit.

That is also the view of the government. May said last week that Britain is willing to keep paying into EU coffers, and abiding by EU rules, for two years after the U.K. formally leaves the bloc in March 2019.

The partys ambiguity on Brexit is, in a sense, pragmatic. Labour leaders are trying to appeal to remain voters in London and other big cities, and to people in struggling former industrial towns who voted to leave.

For now, Labour is waiting  to see whether the divorce negotiations grind to a halt, or whether Mays challengers in the Conservative Party try to topple her.

What Im hoping is that there will be a general election before these negotiations are over, said Labours Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer. So that we can take over the negotiations and we can fight for the sort of relationship with Europe that we believe in.

The precise details of that relationship remain to be seen.

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In the span of a 15-minute radio interview on Monday, President Donald Trump took fresh aim at Sen. John McCain, calling his opposition to legislation to overhaul the Affordable Care Act a tremendous slap in the face to the Republican Party.

He referred to an Alabama Republican Senate candidate by the wrong name  and later said that wasnt a good sign for the candidate.

And Trump dinged another Republican, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, saying: Mitch is not, polling-wise, the most popular guy in this country.

Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump

The presidents comments came during a call into the Rick & Bubba Show, a syndicated radio program based in Alabama that airs across the South. The hosts bill themselves as the two sexiest fat men alive.

Trump spent much of his time on the program pitching the candidacy of Sen. Luther Strange, who is struggling in a special Republican primary runoff on Tuesday against Roy Moore, a former chief justice of Alabama who was twice removed from the bench for defying judicial orders.

Trumps most pointed remarks were directed at McCain, who on Friday declared his opposition to the latest Republican attempt to replace President Barack Obamas signature health-care law, imperiling its chances in the Senate, where the GOP can afford to lose only two votes.

You can call it what you want, but thats the only reason we dont have it, because of John McCain, Trump said of multiple GOP attempts to repeal the ACA.

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McCain had earlier delivered a dramatic thumbs-down to a previous Republican proposal on the Senate floor, incurring Trumps ire.

Without John McCain, we already have the health care, Trump said on the radio program.

In a lengthy written statement Friday, McCain said he cannot in good conscience vote for the bill written by Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham taking issue with the hurried process leaders have used to move the measure ahead.

Trump said Americans were right to be frustrated with Congress for not delivering on a marquee campaign promise.

They should be. Its disgusting, Trump said. When I ran, I was told Id have a bill on my desk. Id sign it Day One.

Trump said that when President Barack Obama was in office, Republicans voted for dozens of bills repealing and replacing Obamacare.

Now when it matters because you have a president whos actually going to sign it, they dont do it, he said. And they pander, and they grandstand.

Trump stopped short of acknowledging defeat on the latest bill, which Senate leaders are scrambling to pass this week, but did not sound optimistic.

Looks like Susan Collins and some others will vote against, Trump said, referring to the Republican from Maine, who has said she is leaning against it. So were going to lose two or three votes, and thats the end of that.

Trump visited Alabama on Friday to campaign for Strange, who has been trailing Moore in recent polls.

As he did at Fridays rally, Trump argued that Strange would be the stronger general election candidate against the Democrat, former U.S. attorney Doug Jones.

He will absolutely win against the Democrat, whereas Rays going to have a hard time, you know that, Trump said, using an incorrect name for Stranges GOP primary opponent.

One of the hosts corrected Trump, telling him the candidates first name is Roy.

I dont know Roy Moore at all, Trump later said. And I think its perhaps indicative when somebody doesnt even know his name. You know, thats not a good sign  for him.

Trump also said that Strange had been unfairly tarred as being too close to McConnell.

Mitch is not, polling-wise, the most popular guy in this country, Trump said. They like to label him [Strange] as Mitchs best friend, but hes not.

Trump said his appearance on the Rick & Bubba Show was his first radio interview since taking office.

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This story has been updated with an additional response from Facebook.

WASHINGTON  Nine days after Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg dismissed as crazy the idea that fake news on his companys social network played a key role in the U.S. election, President Barack Obama pulled the youthful tech billionaire aside and delivered what he hoped would be a wake-up call.

For months leading up to the vote, Obama and his top aides quietly agonized over how to respond to Russias brazen intervention on behalf of the Donald Trump campaign without making matters worse. Weeks after Trumps surprise victory, some of Obamas aides looked back with regret and wished they had done more.

Now huddled in a private room on the sidelines of a meeting of world leaders in Lima, Peru, two months before Trumps inauguration, Obama made a personal appeal to Zuckerberg to take the threat of fake news and political disinformation seriously. Unless Facebook and the government did more to address the threat, Obama warned, it would only get worse in the next presidential race.

Zuckerberg acknowledged the problem posed by fake news. But he told Obama those messages werent widespread on Facebook and that there was no easy fix, according to people briefed on the exchange, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of a private conversation.

The conversation on Nov. 19 was a flashpoint in a tumultuous year in which Zuckerberg came to recognize the magnitude of a new threat  a co-ordinated assault on a U.S. election by a shadowy foreign force that exploited the social network he created.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the company is "actively working" with the U.S. government on its ongoing investigations into Russian interference into the 2016 presidential election. (The Associated Press)

Like the U.S. government, Facebook didnt foresee the wave of disinformation that was coming and the political pressure that followed. The company then grappled with a series of hard choices designed to shore up its own systems without impinging on free discourse for its users around the world.

One outcome of those efforts was Zuckerbergs admission on Thursday that Facebook had indeed been manipulated and that the company would now turn over to Congress more than 3,000 politically themed advertisements that were bought by suspected Russian operatives.

But that highly public moment came after months of manoeuvring behind the scenes that has thrust Facebook, one of the worlds most valuable companies  and one thats used by one-third of the worlds population each month  into a multi-sided Washington power struggle in which the company has much to lose.

Some critics say Facebook dragged its feet and is acting only now because of outside political pressure.

Theres been a systematic failure of responsibility on Facebooks part, said Zeynep Tufekci, as associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies social media companies impact on society and governments. Its rooted in their overconfidence that they know best, their naivete about how the world works, their expensive effort to avoid oversight, and their business model of having very few employees so that no one is minding the store.

Facebook says it responded appropriately.

We believe in the power of democracy, which is why were taking this work on elections integrity so seriously, and have come forward at every opportunity to share what weve found, said Elliot Schrage, vice president for public policy and communications. A spokesperson for Obama declined to comment.

In a statement issued on Monday following publication of this article in the Washington Post, Schrage said that Obamas conversation with Zuckerberg was about misinformation and false news and did not include any references to possible foreign interference or suggestions about confronting threats to Facebook.

This account  based on interviews with more than a dozen people involved in the governments investigation and Facebooks response  provides the first detailed backstory of a 16-month journey in which the company came to terms with an unanticipated foreign attack on the U.S. political system and its search for tools to limit the damage.

Among the revelations is how Facebook detected elements of the Russian information operation in June 2016 and then notified the FBI. Yet in the months that followed, the government and the private sector struggled to work together to diagnose and fix the problem.

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The growing political drama over these issues has come at a time of broader reckoning for Facebook, as Zuckerberg has wrestled with whether to take a more active role in combating an emerging dark side on the social network  including fake news, suicides on live video, and allegations that the company was censoring political speech.

These issues have forced Facebook and other Silicon Valley companies to weigh core values, including freedom of speech, against the problems created when malevolent actors use those same freedoms to pump messages of violence, hate and disinformation.

There has been a rising bipartisan clamour, meanwhile, for new regulation of a tech industry that, amid a historic surge in wealth and power over the past decade, has largely had its way in Washington despite concerns raised by critics about its behaviour.

In particular, momentum is building in Congress and elsewhere in the federal government for a law requiring tech companies  like newspapers, television stations and other traditional carriers of campaign messages  to disclose who buys political ads and how much they spend on them.

There is no question that the idea that Silicon Valley is the darling of our markets and of our society  that sentiment is definitely turning, said Tim OReilly, an adviser to tech executives and chief executive of the influential Silicon Valley-based publisher OReilly Media.

Thwarting Daesh

The encounter in Lima was not the first time Obama had sought Facebooks help.

In the aftermath of the December 2015 shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., the president dispatched members of his national security team  including Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and top counterterrorism adviser Lisa Monaco  to huddle with leading Silicon Valley executives over ways to thwart the Daesh practice of using U.S.-based technology platforms to recruit members and inspire attacks.

The result was a summit, on Jan. 8, 2016, which was attended by one of Zuckerbergs top deputies, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. The outreach effort paid off in the view of the Obama administration when Facebook agreed to set up a special unit to develop tools for finding messages from Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, and blocking their dissemination.

Facebooks efforts were aided in part by the relatively transparent ways in which the extremist group sought to build its global brand. Most of its propaganda messages on Facebook incorporated the Daeshs distinctive black flag  the kind of image that software programs can be trained to automatically detect.

In contrast, the Russian disinformation effort has proven far harder to track and combat because Russian operatives were taking advantage of Facebooks core functions, connecting users with shared content and with targeted native ads to shape the political environment in an unusually contentious political season, say people familiar with Facebooks response.

Unlike Daesh, what Russian operatives posted on Facebook was, for the most part, indistinguishable from legitimate political speech. The difference was the accounts that were set up to spread the misinformation and hate were illegitimate.

A Russian operation

It turned out that Facebook, without realizing it, had stumbled into the Russian operation as it was getting underway in June 2016.

At the time, cybersecurity experts at the company were tracking a Russian hacker group known as APT28, or Fancy Bear, which U.S. intelligence officials considered an arm of the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU, according to people familiar with Facebooks activities.

Members of the Russian hacker group were best known for stealing military plans and data from political targets, so the security experts assumed that they were planning some sort of espionage operation  not a sweeping disinformation campaign designed to shape the outcome of the U.S. presidential race.

Facebook executives shared with the FBI their suspicions that a Russian espionage operation was in the works, a person familiar with the matter said. An FBI spokesperson had no immediate comment.

Soon thereafter, Facebooks cyber experts found evidence that members of APT28 were setting up a series of shadowy accounts  including a persona known as Guccifer 2.0 and a Facebook page called DCLeaks  to promote stolen emails and other documents during the presidential race. Facebook officials once again contacted the FBI to share what they had seen.

After the November election, Facebook began to look more broadly at the accounts that had been created during the campaign.

A review by the company found that most of the groups behind the problematic pages had clear financial motives, which suggested that they werent working for a foreign government.

But amid the mass of data the company was analyzing, the security team did not find clear evidence of Russian disinformation or ad purchases by Russian-linked accounts.

Nor did any U.S. law enforcement or intelligence officials visit the company to lay out what they knew, said people familiar with the effort, even after the nations top intelligence official, James Clapper, testified on Capitol Hill in January that the Russians had waged a massive propaganda campaign online.

The sophistication of the Russian tactics caught Facebook off-guard. Its highly regarded security team had erected formidable defences against traditional cyber attacks but failed to anticipate that Facebook users  deploying easily available automated tools such as ad micro-targeting  pumped skilfully crafted propaganda through the social network without setting off any alarm bells.

Political post-mortem

As Facebook struggled to find clear evidence of Russian manipulation, the idea was gaining credence in other influential quarters.

In the electrified aftermath of the election, aides to Hillary Clinton and Obama pored over polling numbers and turnout data, looking for clues to explain what they saw as an unnatural turn of events.

One of the theories to emerge from their post-mortem was that Russian operatives who were directed by the Kremlin to support Trump may have taken advantage of Facebook and other social media platforms to direct their messages to American voters in key demographic areas in order to increase enthusiasm for Trump and suppress support for Clinton.

These former advisers didnt have hard evidence that Russian trolls were using Facebook to micro-target voters in swing districts  at least not yet  but they shared their theories with the House and Senate intelligence committees, which launched parallel investigations into Russias role in the presidential campaign in January.

Sen. Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, initially wasnt sure what to make of Facebooks role. U.S. intelligence agencies had briefed the Virginia Democrat and other members of the committee about alleged Russian contacts with the Trump campaign and about how the Kremlin leaked Democratic emails to WikiLeaks to undercut Clinton.

But the intelligence agencies had little data on Russias use of Facebook and other U.S.-based social media platforms, in part because of rules designed to protect the privacy of communications between Americans.

Facebooks effort to understand Russias multi-faceted influence campaign continued as well.

Zuckerberg announced in a 6,000-word blog post in February that Facebook needed to play a greater role in controlling its dark side.

It is our responsibility, he wrote, to amplify the good effects (of the Facebook platform) and mitigate the bad  to continue increasing diversity while strengthening our common understanding so our community can create the greatest positive impact on the world.

A critical juncture

The extent of Facebooks internal self-examination became clear in April, when Facebook Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos co-authored a 13-page white paper detailing the results of a sprawling research effort that included input from experts from across the company, who in some cases also worked to build new software aimed specifically at detecting foreign propaganda.

Facebook sits at a critical juncture, Stamos wrote in the paper, adding that the effort focused on actions taken by organized actors (governments or non-state actors) to distort domestic or foreign political sentiment, most frequently to achieve a strategic and/or geopolitical outcome. He described how the company had used a technique known as machine learning to build specialized data-mining software that can detect patterns of behaviour  for example, the repeated posting of the same content  that malevolent actors might use.

The software tool was given a secret designation, and Facebook is now deploying it and others in the run-up to elections around the world. It was used in the French election in May, where it helped disable 30,000 fake accounts, the company said. It was put to the test again on Sunday when Germans went to the polls. Facebook declined to share the software tools code name. Another recently developed tool shows users when articles have been disputed by third-party fact checkers.

Notably, Stamoss paper did not raise the topic of political advertising  an omission that was noticed by Capitol Hill investigators. Facebook, worth $495 billion, is the largest online advertising company in the world after Google. Although not mentioned explicitly in the report, Stamoss team had searched extensively for evidence of foreign purchases of political advertising but had come up short.

A few weeks after the French election, Warner flew out to California to visit Facebook in person. It was an opportunity for the senator to press Stamos directly on whether the Russians had used the companys tools to disseminate anti-Clinton ads to key districts.

Officials said Stamos underlined to Warner the magnitude of the challenge Facebook faced policing political content that looked legitimate.

Stamos told Warner that Facebook had found no accounts that used advertising but agreed with the senator that some likely existed. The difficulty for Facebook was finding them.

Finally, Stamos appealed to Warner for help: If U.S. intelligence agencies had any information about the Russian operation or the troll farms it used to disseminate misinformation, they should share it with Facebook. The company is still waiting, people involved in the matter said.

Breakthrough moment

For months, a team of engineers at Facebook had been searching through accounts, looking for signs that they were set up by operatives working on behalf of the Kremlin. The task was immense.

Warners visit spurred the company to make some changes in how it conducted its internal investigation. Instead of searching through impossibly large batches of data, Facebook decided to focus on a subset of political ads.

Technicians then searched for indicators that would link those ads to Russia. To narrow down the search further, Facebook zeroed in on a Russian entity known as the internet Research Agency, which had been publicly identified as a troll farm.

They worked backwards, a U.S. official said of the process at Facebook.

The breakthrough moment came just days after a Facebook spokesman on July 20 told CNN that we have seen no evidence that Russian actors bought ads on Facebook in connection with the election.

Facebooks talking points were about to change.

By early August, Facebook had identified more than 3,000 ads addressing social and political issues that ran in the United States between 2015 and 2017 and that appear to have come from accounts associated with the internet Research Agency.

After making the discovery, Facebook reached out to Warners staff to share what they had learned.

Congressional investigators say the disclosure only scratches the surface. One called Facebooks discoveries thus far the tip of the iceberg. Nobody really knows how many accounts are out there and how to prevent more of them from being created to shape the next election  and turn American society against itself.

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Soon after it became public that math EQAO scores did not improve despite spending $60 million on its renewed math strategy, Ontarios Ministry of Education announced a curriculum refresh.

An expert panel is to make recommendations on a host of issues, including report cards, transferable skills and the role of standardized testing. Mathematics is to be a focus. But educational issues are not so easily disentangled.

Consider something as seemingly simple as reducing class sizes.

In his book, David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell discusses small class sizes  generally considered an educational advantage  in a section called The advantages of disadvantages (and the disadvantages of advantages). He found no statistical effect in policies that lowered class sizes and wondered if the effect of lowering them might be represented by an inverted U-shaped curve. If class sizes were really large, lowering the sizes might have a positive effect on classroom achievement  but only to a point. Once a certain point has been reached, lowering it further actually has a negative effect. He even noted that in Singapore  a country often cited for its academic success  we can rule out any noteworthy causal effect of class size on student performance.

It would seem reasonable to think that fewer students in a class results in more individual attention for each student. However, research shows that teachers often instruct the same way regardless of the number of students in the class so smaller class sizes dont usually result in more individual attention.

What we do know is that it is very costly to reduce class sizes.

As Ontario embarks on this latest review, it may be instructive to consider the possible disadvantages of factors that have traditionally been perceived as advantages. And there are plenty to consider.

Classroom teachers know many factors affect classroom achievement, even when related to something as seemingly simple as class size. Its not always obvious what the best number for a class is because it depends on the age and makeup of the class, the grade and course being taught and the personalities and skills of the students and teacher. But smaller is not always better. Classes that are too small have their own challenges.

This became clear to me the year I was assigned to teach two classes of Grade 8 mathematics as part of my timetable. The first was a regular class with about 35 students. The other was a special education class for students with learning disabilities. It had less than a quarter of the students and another teacher to assist. We found that with so few students, the mood of the class changed quickly. Things could be going well one moment and then one student would know exactly how to provoke another in order to disrupt the class because they knew each other so well. Some days the students seemed to take on the roles of siblings annoying each other on a long car ride.

The learning needs of the students in the special education class varied so greatly, the small size didnt make up for the complexities. Even though there werent very many of them, I found myself working just as hard to meet the needs of the smaller class as the larger. Would it have been better to mix the students and have two classes numbering in the low 20s? Im not sure. But it would have been unlikely to have the extra teacher in both classes.

Another hot button issue closely related to class size is combined grades. Most teachers I know would willingly teach more students in a straight grade than less in a combined one because they dont feel the smaller class size makes up for the complexities of multiple grades in the same class. Even though some research points to potential advantages of combining grades, they too depend on how a teacher organizes and teaches the class. Too often, the perceived advantage is actually a disadvantage.

Those convened for the expert panel will need to keep an open mind as they study the issues and try to untangle the evidence. Are there perceived advantages that are actually disadvantages in their thinking?

But no matter what they recommend, there will continue to be math review at home in my sons future.

Catherine Little is a Toronto-based educator, consultant and writer.

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Here are Jim Cramer's top thoughts on some of the biggest stories of the week.

Jim Cramer: Food Stocks Are Going Hungry



Is it higher rates? Is it an understanding that there's a new world out there dominated by Amazon (AMZN) - Get Free Report -Whole Foods (WFM) and Walmart (WMT) - Get Free Report and they are squeezing everyone?

More From Jim Cramer

Is it that miserable General Mills (GIS) - Get Free Report quarter and a recognition that there are actually some double-digit decline categories for food like yogurt and single-digit for cereal?

Whatever it is, the magic of the food portion of the consumer-products stocks seems to be gone and the next level of these stocks seems dramatically lower.

You could say it all started with the Amazon gambit, but I wonder if it didn't start with the Kraft-Heinz (KHC) - Get Free Report -Unilever (UL) - Get Free Report bid, the bid too far where at last we saw there was one left to buy that was consensual and that left the companies to sink or swim on organic growth, and there isn't a lot of it out there.

Plus, with the Fed seemingly endorsing higher rates, there really isn't much to be said about a 2.7% yield other than it doesn't stop a selloff (using the generic yield out there).

This is an amazing moment because ever since the Great Recession, something always saved this group, whether it be takeovers or raw-cost declines or the ever-rising dividends.

But the streak has seemed to run out. What's the investment case for Conagra (CAG) - Get Free Report , which has restructured and restructured to no avail? Why own Hershey (HSY) - Get Free Report if it said no to Mondelez (MDLZ) - Get Free Report , pretty much at any price? Why own Mondelez if, even after all of the restructuring, there's no love?

And why own Kraft-Heinz when there aren't that many costs left to take out and there's negative growth and no one left to buy?

You have to wonder where Procter & Gamble (PG) - Get Free Report would be without Nelson Peltz fighting the good fight?

How about lower? Maybe much lower?

This is a defining moment. Most people seem to be focused on Apple (AAPL) - Get Free Report and its derivatives being shelled.

I can only thank Matt Horween, my writing partner, for pointing out this incredible, accelerating trend. (Apple is part of TheStreet's Action Alerts PLUS portfolio.)

For the moment, I just don't see how it can be stopped.

Action Alerts PLUS, which Cramer co-manages as a charitable trust, is long AAPL.

Originally published Sept. 22 at 4:15 p.m. EDT.

Jim Cramer: European Pressure on China Could Change the North Korea Story

You put the pressure on Europe. That's how you change the dynamic in North Korea.

More From Jim Cramer

The markets are hostage to Rocket Man because of the increasingly bellicose -- increasingly crazy, bellicose -- language out of North Korea.

But I think in the last few weeks, something positive may have happened here that nobody's talking about. The Europeans, who are no longer in our camp on pretty much anything except outright terrorism since President Trump was elected, recognize the danger North Korea is now propelling the entire world toward. And the Japanese -- a nation that is far more respected in Europe than we are -- are certainly looking for help beyond our borders to protect themselves.

What could coalesce here is pressure from other countries besides us on China against North Korea. Take Europe: 25% of Chinese exports go to Europe. If the Europeans get involved enough to try to shut down Kim Jong Un, and actually make their displeasure known to the Chinese, then I think the Chinese will actually feel that they need to do something to stop this craziness.

Right now, the dialogue is always the same: "When will the Chinese help us shut down this crazy man?"

That's a ridiculously wrong read of the entire situation. The Chinese own this guy. The Chinese determine whether he lives or dies. The Chinese, in other words, can dispose of him and put someone less crazy in -- and everybody wins.

If you put enough economic pressure on China to break with Kim Jong Un and replace their puppet, they will. They are not wedded to him. And they can take him out a lot easier than we can.

The entire time I have been reading about this region, I am amazed that the press buys the line that the Chinese are our allies against him. The Chinese are our enemies with him. But enemies can disagree, and if China fears a decline in trade because of North Korea, then he will be gone.

That's becoming the endgame -- and it is a hopeful one versus the one that looks like it's about to happen: thermonuclear war.

(Read here for more of TheStreet's coverage on this topic by Sarge Guilfoyle.)

Jim Cramer Reveals Why He Sold Western Digital for His Charitable Trust

Cramer: Dominoes Are in Play Today

Originally published Sept. 22 at 10:41 a.m. EDT.

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American International Group Inc. (AIG) - Get Free Report will reorganize into three new business units and cut its Commercial and Consumer operations, the company said in a statement Monday, Sept. 25.

The new organizational structure will consist of General Insurance led by Peter Zaffino, Life & Retirement led by Kevin Hogan and a "stand-alone, technology-enabled platform" led by Seraina Macia.

With the changes, former CEO of AIG's Commercial business Rob Schimek will leave the company at the end of October.

AIG said the new structure is expected to be reflected in year-end financial reporting. The company will alter incentive and performance management systems to align with organizational updates.

AIG CEO Brian Duperreault said the competitively advantageous changes "will maximize [AIG's] global platform by empowering [AIG's] local geographies."

AIG stock traded slightly up 0.15% premarket Monday to $60.80.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will have North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un to thank if his party wins big in the next election, which Abe has just precipitated. And the world will have Kim to thank if that victory reignites the drive to reform the moribund Japanese economy and create the military presence the country deserves.

On Monday evening in Tokyo, Abe called for an election in Japan, forcing it to take place a year earlier than scheduled. He said he will seek a fresh mandate for change with Japan facing a "national crisis" after North Korea blew two long-range ballistic missiles over the Japanese mainland.

Abe had been Japan's most popular prime minister in post-World War II history, fueling the reform drive of his Abenomics strategy. But his administration had lost its way in recent months due to a series of domestic scandals.

His approval rate sank to a record low over the summer after suggestions of cronyism and self-dealing by members of his cabinet and even his wife. Only the ineptitude of his opposition, which is in total disarray, has saved him from a leadership challenge.

Abe has not set a date for the election, but according to the Japanese media it will take place on Oct. 22. Abe also announced a stimulus package of 2 trillion ($18 billion) to be spent on education and social services -- both vote-getters.

The nuclear crisis created by North Korea's missile and bomb tests has seen Abe's popularity skyrocket once again. A staunch nationalist who would like to push through a highly controversial revision of Japan's post-World War II constitution to allow it to have a standing army, Abe once again is finding support for a stronger military presence in Japan.

I'm all for Japan having an army. And I'm an Abe fan.

Abenomics has been working. The first two arrows of getting the government to spend cash and getting the Bank of Japan to print lots of money and buy lots of stocks and bonds were easy enough to fire and land. But the third, structural reform, is incredibly hard to push through anywhere, let alone in a highly traditional society such as Japan.

Japan needs new thinking. Younger Japanese know this. And they respond at the voting booth.

The farming industry, which is politically powerful and protected by punitive import duties, consists of elderly farmers tilling unprofitable plots. It needs to go. Japan's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was going to push down many of those agricultural subsidies. Japan's participation in the TPP at all was a major political coup for Abe, until Donald Trump torpedoed the 12-nation trade pact by pulling the United States out of it.

The country's system of cross-holdings also needs to go. These holdings between big banks and their customers encourage neither to put pressure on the other. It has created an unwillingness for financial institutions to call in bad debts, allowing companies to function inefficiently and in bloated fashion. They refuse to sell off unprofitable or non-core subsidiaries. They resist calls to spend the cash they have often hoarded on their books, either through capital expenditure or by returning it to investors in the form of dividends.

The Stewardship Code and Corporate Governance Code recently introduced in Japan show the way forward. They encourage institutional investors, which have been complicit in the situation by failing to press for change in the boards of the companies they at least partially own, to reveal their voting patterns and be more accountable. They encourage companies to focus on investor returns when the interests of management, customers and employees previously had been paramount.

Although an electoral victory for Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, would be powered by geopolitical tensions, it would give Abenomics a boost, too. Abe said in announcing the election that he would continue to push for fiscal reform and plans to use the recently introduced sales tax to balance the budget and reduce government debt.

Japan never seems in bad shape when I visit it. But the travails of companies such as Sharp (SHCAY) , which recently sold out to the Taiwanese Apple (AAPL) - Get Free Report parts supplier Foxconn (HNHPF) , show how far behind some of the early pioneers of Japan's economy (Pioneer (PNCOY) being another!) have fallen, as electronics companies are outpaced by faster-moving Korean and Chinese rivals.

We need a strong Japan, and Abe needs a strong government behind him. He's also encouraging more women to enter the work force, making some changes at the fringes of immigration -- another highly contentious issue in Japan -- to allow more foreign workers to enter the country and making part-time work better rewarded. That's essential in a country where the number of people over age 90 has topped 2 million for the first time.

We need a strong Japan in Asia, too. It's a counterweight to China's growing might. A muscular Japan on the military side would be very welcome as China pushes its claims in the South China Sea, on the Himalayan plateau and everywhere in between.

It would require a change in the constitution, written with help from the United States, to make specific recognition of the role of the military. Japan's "Self-Defense Forces" help with disaster relief at home and humanitarian missions abroad. But their role should be expanded so Japan can retain soldiers and sailors on home soil and send them overseas if needed.

It requires a lot of pushing to get the world's third-largest economy out of the rut it has found itself. But with GDP growth for Japan now at an annualized rate of 4.0% in the second quarter, it finally appears to be on its way. Abe needs to keep his support behind him as he continues that drive of reform.

Abe's main challenge may come from the current Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, a former member of the LDP cabinet. Abe may fail to retain the two-thirds majority of the government that he needs to push through a constitutional change. But a victory would put him in place to become the longest-serving Japanese leader since World War II.

Let's hope, for geopolitical stability here in Asia and the global economic good, he succeeds.

(This article originally appeared at 10:00 a.m. ET Sept. 25 on Real Money, our premium site for active traders. Click here to get great columns like this from Jim Cramer and other writers even earlier in the trading day.)

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Tuesday Morning's undefined shares are up 15% Monday morning after activists announced that they are seeking to elect two dissident directors onto an eight-person board of the discount retailer to oust its CEO, who himself had previously been an insurgent hedge fund manager.

The two insurgents, Jeereddi II LP and Purple Mountain Capital Partners LLC reported owning a 2.4% stake and sent a letter to Tuesday Morning that they were seeking to elect Michael Barnes, a former chief executive of Signet Jewelers, to the company's board in an effort to have him installed as the company's CEO. Also, the fund is seeking to install Purple Mountain's James Corcoran to the board. The funds are seeking to replace Steven Becker, who they argue has had "zero prior operating experience." The boardroom battle is set to come to a head at the company's annual meeting, scheduled for Nov. 15.

Becker, who became CEO in 2015, had previously worked as a co-managing partner at an activist hedge fund, Becker Drapkin Management, with another insurgent manager, Matt Drapkin. In 2012, the duo launched an activist campaign at Tuesday Morning, reporting a 5.7% stake in a 13D filing in the retailer. Later that year, the company agreed to bring Becker onto its board and fire its then CEO, Kathleen Mason. Becker later liquidated his position with the activist fund and was appointed Tuesday Morning CEO in December 2015. He had served as chairman of the board between 2012 and 2015.

Becker had some retail boardroom experience, previously serving on the board of restaurant chain Ruby Tuesday (RT) and Hot Topic Inc., an apparel retailer.

The boardroom battle - pitting activist against activist -- comes after Dallas-based Tuesday Morning's shares have been on a downward trajectory in recent years, dropping from about $21 a share in 2014 to trade at roughly $2.35 a share on Friday before spiking upwards to trade early Monday at $2.60 a share. The shares have dropped significantly since Becker became CEO in December 2015.

In the letter, the activist funds said Tuesday Morning's board wasn't interested in listening to the activist funds request that they install Barnes in the CEO position. In response, Tuesday Morning board chairman Terry Burman said that the activist funds' board nominees would "inject instability and disruption into the company's boardroom..." Burman added that the Tuesday Morning board "fully supports" the company's existing management team, including Becker.

Jeereddi Partners is a value-oriented investment fund based in LA, and Purple Mountain Capital is an event-driven investment fund.

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Texas factory activity as measured by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas rose to its highest level in seven months, suggesting damage from Hurricane Harvey has not heavily weighed on manufacturing as of the end of September.

The general business activity index increased to 21.3 in September from an August reading of 17. Analysts polled by FactSet expected Monday's September reading to be 10.3.

The index, which measures current manufacturing activity and growth, is the first reading from the Dallas Fed since Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area late last month. It asks Texas firms whether output, employment, orders, prices and other indicators changed over the previous month.

Respondents reported damage from Hurricane Harvey, which resulted in increased raw materials costs and increased inventories for factories. Logistics were also impacted.

41% of firms said Harvey had a negative impact on revenue and production, while 50% reported no impact. Over the next six months, a majority of firms reported no impact from the storm.

Overall, Harvey damage was worse for some firms than others. While one metal manufacturing firm said it expects an "increase in business" related to the storm, one metal manufacturer said Harvey "seriously impacted our facilities, employees and customers, shutting us down for two weeks. Turnaround maintenance has been pushed into next year, leaving a hole for us to fill."

Though the production index "edged down" to 19.5 in September from 20.3 last month, output grew at "about the same pace."

The Dallas Fed's new orders, capacity utilization and shipment indexes all increased. Labor statistics suggested "faster employment growth and longer workweeks this month," the Dallas Fed said. The employment index reached 16.3, the highest reading since April of 2014. 28% if surveyed firms reported hiring, with 11% reporting net layoffs.

"Expectations regarding future business conditions continued to improve," the Dallas Fed wrote, as indexes for future general business activity and future company outlook remained positive. The next reading is due Oct. 30.

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Volvo AB (VOLVF) will invest an additional $520 million in its South Carolina plant currently under construction to increase capacity for production of a second model in coming years, Reuters reported.

Volvo had previously announced plans to hire 2,000 workers in South Carolina for production of the S60 sedan. Monday's announcement calls for another 2,000 employees, who will build a revamped XC90 sport utility vehicle expected to start production in 2021.

The most recent move brings total investment at the South Carolina plant close to $1 billion and total employment near 4,000 workers. Volvo received more than $200 million in incentives from South Carolina when it chose to build its first U.S. factory there in 2015.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said Volvo plans to add sales offices, a training facility and a research and development center to its Berkeley County property northwest of Charleston. South Carolina officials plan to ask for $46 million in bonds for the company with the new expansion, the Department of Commerce said.

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As North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said recent actions from the U.S. are a declaration of war against North Korea and Pyongyang will consider all possible responses, investors looking to shore up safety in an uncertain market sent gold prices surging.

Following Ri's comments Monday, Sept. 25, gold futures for December delivery spiked up $14.30, or 1.1%, to $1,311.80 per ounce in late afternoon trading. Before Ri's comments, gold was trading down about 0.05%. Monday's gains put gold at about a 14% gain for the year so far.

Ri said North Korea would "shoot down U.S. strategic bombers, even if they are not yet inside air-space border of our country." Ri's comments come after U.S. warplanes flew near the reclusive country's coastline north of a demilitarized zone between North and South Korea on Saturday, Sept. 23.

As geopolitical concerns reached closer to a boiling point Monday, the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries fell 1.5% and all three benchmark stock market indexes declined in late afternoon trading. The CBOE Volatility Index undefined jumped as high as 14% Monday, suggesting investors have returned to betting on market volatility after shrugging off previous tension with North Korea last week.

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JetBlue (JBLU) - Get Free Report CEO Robin Hayes said that the sixth-largest airline in the U.S. would decide whether or not to offer transatlantic flights at the end of the year.

Hayes was speaking on Monday at the APEX Expo, which brings together airlines, buyers, and suppliers of those that influence the passenger experience.

JetBlue, which currently has a market cap of $6.19 billion, serves 101 destinations in the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

Shares of JetBlue were rising over 1% in afternoon trading on Monday.

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Real Housewives of Miami star Joanna Krupa made for a beautiful bridesmaid when her sister Marta tied the knot with her Indycar driver fiance Marco Andretti in a stunning outdoor ceremony.

The reality star donned a pretty one-shoulder pale pink dress for her model sister's big day, who took to Instagram to share some gorgeous behind-the-scenes snaps of how the day unfolded.

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Bridesmaids wore matching maxi gowns in different shades of pink for the occasion, which were embellished with a pretty floral one shoulder strap.

However Maid of Honour Joanna's dress differed slightly, with a diamonte covered strap on the opposite shoulder to the others.

"Married the man of my dreams" said the bride in a post featuring several photos of the big day, including one with her 'dog of honour' pet pooch.

"Congrats to my Gorgeous sissypoo and her new husband," Joanna captioned her photo of her little sister.

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"Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness."

Joanna, 38, recently had herself painted as a tiger as she joined forces with animal rights group Peta to get wild animals banned from the circus.

She appeared at Westminster calling on the UK government to lead the way by banning the use of animals in shows.

"Its not natural for an animal to do all these tricks," she said, "but they do them in the circus because they know they are going to be treated horribly, theyre going to be shocked, theyre going to be chained, you know and theyre traumatised.

Video of the Day

Its about time that we are the voice for the animals."
A bride has described how her dream wedding turned into a nightmare after she was left in excruciating pain after exchanging vows with her new husband.

Ciara Keenan, from Co Tyrone, spent her wedding night in hospital throwing up blood and was unable to attend her own reception after suffering stomach ulcers.

Expand Close Ciara Keenan and John Cowan are now on their honeymoon / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ciara Keenan and John Cowan are now on their honeymoon

In the days leading up to her wedding to John Cowan earlier this month, Ciara had started to feel some pain, but put it down to the stress of finishing the PhD in education she was studying for at Queens University.

The night before the wedding, her conditioned worsened.

My mum and bridesmaid had stayed in the hotel with me, said Ciara, who was in her wedding dress for just two hours.

I was just vomiting blood and I was feeling really ill.

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Whatsapp Ciara was rushed to hospital by ambulance just hours after the ceremony

The videographer and the make-up artists arrived the following morning, and Ciara was able to make it out of bed and into her wedding dress.

I am sure the photos and video were not great, she said. I was really not great at this point.

By the time she arrived at Derryloran Parish Church in Cookstown, the minister prepared to help her through the ceremony.

He knew I was feeling unwell so he had a chair on standby and a glass of water, she said.

Video of the Day

Despite this, Ciara was determined to make it through the ceremony standing, and after making her vows the wedding party helped her to the back of the church to sign the register.

The next challenge was the journey back to Annahavil Farm in Moneymore where the couple were having the reception.

It was funny. As soon as I got into the car I started throwing up blood over Johns leg and my dress, so he got into the front to drive, she said.

So my first journey as a bride was sitting in the back seat alone, being sick into a bag.

Once back at the farm her condition deteriorated and an ambulance was called to take her to hospital, where she found out she had been suffering from stomach ulcers. She was kept in for three days, with John by her side. But in a turn of good fortune, the new bride was discharged just in time for their flight to the Seychelles where they are currently enjoying their honeymoon.

Ciara said the couple had blown their life savings for a party that we missed, but that money is replaceable  my health isnt.

We still feel very lucky to have each other and marry each other, and especially to see the kindness, she said, adding that her hairdresser and make-up artist had offered their services for free if she is able to have her reception again.
CoreLogic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides property information, insight, analytics, and data-enabled solutions in North America, Western Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Property Intelligence & Risk Management Solutions (PIRM) and Underwriting & Workflow Solutions (UWS). The PIRM segment combines property information, mortgage information, and consumer information to deliver housing market and property-level insights, predictive analytics, and risk management capabilities. It also offers proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with decision-making and compliance tools in the real estate and insurance industries. This segment primarily serves commercial banks, mortgage lenders and brokers, investment banks, fixed-income investors, real estate agents, MLS companies, property and casualty insurance companies, title insurance companies, government agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises. The UWS segment combines property, mortgage, and consumer information to provide comprehensive mortgage origination and monitoring solutions, including underwriting-related solutions, and data-enabled valuations and appraisals. This segment also provides proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with vetting and onboarding prospects, and meeting compliance regulations, as well as understanding, evaluating, monitoring property values. It primarily serves mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, credit unions, commercial banks, fixed-income investors, government agencies, and property and casualty insurance companies. The company was formerly known as The First American Corporation and changed its name to CoreLogic, Inc. in June 2010. CoreLogic, Inc. was incorporated in 1894 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.
The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V..

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Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., through its subsidiaries, produces, markets, and distributes fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Fresh and Value-Added Products, Banana, and Other Products and Services. It offers pineapples, fresh-cut fruit, fresh-cut vegetables, melons, and vegetables; non-tropical fruits, such as grapes, apples, citrus, blueberries, strawberries, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, and kiwis; other fruit and vegetables, and avocados; and prepared fruit and vegetables, juices, other beverages, and meals and snacks. The company also engages in the sale of poultry and meat products; and third-party freight services business. In addition, it manufactures and sells plastic and box products, such as bins, trays, bags, and boxes. The company offers its products under the Del Monte brand, as well as under other brands, such as UTC, Rosy, Fruit Express, Just Juice, Fruitini, Mann's Logo, Arcadian Harvest, Nourish Bowls, Broccolini, Caulilini, Better Burger Leaf, RomaLeaf, and other regional brands. It markets and distributes its products to retail stores, club stores, convenience stores, wholesalers, distributors, and foodservice operators. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. was founded in 1886 and is based in George Town, Cayman Islands.
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The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a very innovative and exciting foldable phone, but Samsung doesnt justify the high price for this first-generation device.

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a phone that elicits mixed emotions. On the one hand, theres the sheer wonder and excitement of holding a foldable phone  and seeing it transform from a 4.6-inch handset to a 7.3-inch tablet and back again. That excitement continues when you see an app that's running on the front screen instantly pop up on the larger display, and when you start running three apps at once on the bigger canvas.

The other emotion is trepidation. Even though Samsung has made several enhancements to make the Galaxy Fold more durable since it delayed the devices launch, the company strongly suggests that you use a light touch when pressing on the display. Then theres the emotional sticker shock when you realize that this phone costs nearly $2,000.

As I used the device for this Samsung Galaxy Fold review, I vacillated between all of these emotions  and kept coming back to a single question: Who is the Galaxy Fold made for? The answer is: Very brave and very well-off early adopters who are willing to live with a product that feels like a refined prototype.

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Cheat sheet

Galaxy Fold specs Starting Price: $1,980

OS: Android 9.9 with One UI

CPU: Snapdragon 855

RAM: 12GB

Storage: 512GB

External display (closed): 4.6 inches (HD+)

Main display: 7.3 inches (QXGA+)

Rear cameras: 12-MP wide-angle (f/1.5 to f/2.4); 12-MP telephoto (f/2.4); 16-MP ultra-wide (f/2.2)

Front camera (closed): 10-MP selfie (f/2.2)

Front camera (open): 10-MP selfie (f/2.2); 8-MP RGB depth (f/1.9)

Fingerprint sensor: Bixby button

Colors: Space Silver, Cosmos Black

Battery: 4,380 mAh

Battery Life: 10:01

Size: 6.3 x 2.5 x 0.66 inches (62.9 x 160.9 x 17mm)

Weight: 9.48 ounces

Samsung has durability improvements to the Galaxy Fold, including extending the top display, adding caps to the hinges, and putting a metal layer beneath the screen.

The 7.3-inch display is very immersive and lets you run three apps on the screen at once, but the front 4.6-inch screen is quite small.

When folded, the Galaxy Fold is considerably thicker than other phones, which means its best stored in a jacket pocket or purse.

The Galaxy Fold lasted 10 hours on the Tom's Guide web-surfing battery test, which is not great, but you can save power by using the front screen for checking notifications.

AT&T is the only carrier that is selling the Galaxy Fold directly, but you can also buy it unlocked. And that's not a bad idea; the AT&T version comes with lots of bloatware.

A Galaxy Fold case comes in the box to further protect the device, along with a pair of wireless Galaxy Buds.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold went on sale through AT&T (opens in new tab) and Best Buy (opens in new tab) on Sept. 27, as well as through Samsung.com .

The Fold is one of the most expensive phones ever. It costs $1,980 in the U.S. and 1,800 in the U.K. (2,000, $2,214), or about double the price of most premium flagships. (For context, the Galaxy S10 Plus starts at $999, and you can get a model with 1TB of storage and 12GB of RAM for $1,599. The iPhone 11 Pro Max with 512GB of storage costs $1,449. In essence, youre paying about a $380 to $530 premium for the Folds ability to fold.

For those scoring at home, the Fold would cost you $66 per month, at least if you pay off your phone in 30 months using one of AT&T's Next plans.

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Design

Even though this is my second go-around with the Samsung Galaxy Fold, theres still a real Wow factor to this device. Thanks to a sophisticated, 20-part, dual-axis hinge, you can open this clamshell just like a book, transforming the Fold from phone to tablet mode.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The motion is fairly smooth and natural; Ill admit I felt a bit like a secret agent as I used the Fold in public, surfing the web or watching a video and then closing the whole thing up before I walked away. But I also felt nervous that someone might try to steal the device from me.

It's worth noting that the main display is plastic, not Gorilla Glass, like the outer cover display. But Samsung has fortified the larger panel by placing a metal layer beneath the screen. (See more on the Galaxy Folds durability below).

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

When closed, the Galaxy Fold feels like a throwback phone, and a chunky one at that. Its quite tall and narrow, and 0.66 inches thick. Thats about double the thickness of the Galaxy S10 and iPhone 11 Pro Max. This size was not optimal for the front pocket of my pants; its a better fit for a blazer pocket or a purse.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The Galaxy Fold weighs a hefty 9.5 ounces, compared to 7.97 ounces for the iPhone 11 Pro Max and 6.9 ounces for the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. And I felt this weight strain my hands and forearms a bit when playing games for more than 10 minutes at a time; but if youre watching a movie or TV show, you can lean the Fold on your lap.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Im not a fan of the Galaxy Folds button layout: Samsung decided to separate the power button and fingerprint reader on the right edge of the Galaxy Fold. It would have made more sense to combine them, which would have enabled users to power on and unlock in one fluid motion. Instead, the fingerprint sensor doubles as the Bixby button, which you can program to open other apps, as well. Even though its less secure, I wound up using facial recognition to unlock the Fold because its simply faster.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The device comes in two color options: Space Silver and Cosmos Black. That's a bummer, because Samsung was going to offer funkier colors like Astro Blue and Martian Green through its site before it redesigned the phone.

The other important thing to note is that the Fold doesnt have a headphone jack, but this isnt a huge deal because Samsung includes wireless Galaxy Buds in the box.

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Durability

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Samsung made several changes to the Galaxy Fold's design to address durability concerns before it launched for the public.

Top display extended: Some reviewers accidentally removed this protective layer, so now it goes all the way to the edge; users are much less likely to accidentally damage the device.

Some reviewers accidentally removed this protective layer, so now it goes all the way to the edge; users are much less likely to accidentally damage the device. Hinges now have caps on them: This move should prevent debris from getting caught behind the screen.

This move should prevent debris from getting caught behind the screen. Samsung narrowed the gap between the two sides: There's still a small space for stuff to get inside the Fold when closed, but it's improved.

There's still a small space for stuff to get inside the Fold when closed, but it's improved. Metal layer added underneath the display: This increases rigidity and makes touch interactions feel more solid.

All of these tweaks add up to a foldable that feels much closer to a $2,000 phone. Closing the phone still has a reassuring clap, like a book, and the hinge system feels pretty smooth. However, Samsung still treats this as a different class of phone when it comes to how it wants you to handle it. The company cautions that you  use a light touch when touching the 7.3-inch display and to keep the Fold free of water and dust.

One reviewer from TechCrunch (opens in new tab) reported that his Galaxy Fold was damaged after one day of use. The center of the screen became pixelated with a blob, but the cause is not clear. Thus far, we have not encountered issues with our review unit.

Samsung claims that the Galaxy Fold can withstand 200,000 opens.

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Displays

Its best to think of the front display on the Samsung Galaxy Fold as an at-a-glance screen for quick interactions. Thats because its just 4.6 inches, which is Lilliputian compared to even the best small phones (typically 5.5 inches and up). Because the screen is narrow, its also difficult to type on.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

During my testing, I used the front display maybe 15% of the time, which included checking Gmail (but not responding), reading a news story with one hand while on the subway, and changing tracks on Spotify. Anything more made me feel that I needed the larger screen.

Samsung Galaxy Fold (left) and Apple iPad Mini (right).

The interior 7.3-inch display is where the real action is  an oversized Super Active Matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) canvas thats sharp and colorful but with a couple of trade-offs. On the plus side, I really enjoyed watching the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer; it really felt like I was using a tablet. I could even access and edit articles in our site's CMS because of how wide the display is. This is something I cant do as easily on the 6-inch-plus-size screens of the Galaxy Note 10 and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

(Image credit: Future)

During one commute home, I watched The Boys on the Prime Video app and felt like I had a mini movie theater in front of my eyes. If youd rather not have big bars above and below the display you can choose which apps go full screen in the Settings app.

However, the crease in the middle of the Folds display is noticeable when you use apps with a white background, such as Chrome and Gmail. Its not ugly, just distracting. And you can feel the crease when youre using various apps. The good news is that the crease isnt as noticeable when viewing head-on movies, photos or anything with lots of colors.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

On our testing, the Galaxy Folds display averaged 525 nits of brightness, which is not as bright as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus (686 nits) and nowhere near as bright as the iPhone 11 Pro Max (761 nits).

The OLED panel on the Fold of the color gamut registered 124.8% of the sRGB color gamut in Natural mode, which is about the same as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus and a bit higher than the iPhone 11 Pro Max (118.6%).

The notch in the top right corner of the display can cut off videos should you decide to watch in full-screen mode; you can hide this notch by turning on an option in Software, but this just creates a black bar across the top of the screen.

My bigger problem with the Folds notch is that you cant swipe down from the right side of the screen to reveal your notifications and quick settings. Instead, I had to shift my finger toward the middle of the display. However, you can also use the fingerprint sensor to open and close the notification shade with a swipe down and up.

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Software

To make the most of its foldable design, Samsung worked with Google to devise a couple of clever software features. The first is App Continuity, which enables you to open an app on the cover display and then have the app immediately fill the larger screen when you unfold the phone.

One of the coolest features of the Galaxy Fold is App Continuity. If you're using an app like Google Maps on the front screen, you can open the display and it will instantly fill the larger display. This feature worked really well in my testing, with most apps popping up instantly.But you will need to tweak a setting if you want a given app to keep running on the small screen when you close the phone again.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The other handy feature is Multi Active Window, which allows you to run up to three apps at once on the Galaxy Folds large display. You swipe in from the right side of the screen to open additional apps, and can also easily resize the apps and move them around with your finger.

A decent number of third-party apps already support this multitasking mode, such as Spotify and Slack, but I noticed that Skype does not. It will take time for more developers to update their software for foldable phones like this.

By default, the big-screen keyboard offers a split layout to speedup thumb typing on such a large canvas, but I found myself switching to a regular layout because it felt like less work. No matter which mode you choose, swipe typing is supported.

If youre not a fan of carrier bloatware, I recommend that you buy the unlocked version of the Galaxy Fold. The AT&T model I reviewed had 19 apps from AT&T and AT&T-owned brands, including everything from DriveMode and Visual Voicemail to Bleacher Report and AT&T TV. I would prefer a much cleaner canvas for a $2,000 smartphone and I think Fold owners would, too.

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Cameras

Having six cameras on a phone seems like overkill, but it isnt given the Samsung Galaxy Folds unique design. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 10 , theres three shooters on the back of the Galaxy Fold: a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 16-MP ultra-wide lens and a 12-MP telephoto lens.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Up front  when the Fold is closed  theres a 10-MP camera for selfies. And when unfolded, the Galaxy Fold has another 10-MP main camera plus an 8-MP depth camera for portraits.

Shooting with the Fold closed feels borderline sneaky because its so compact. You just double press the power button and start firing away. Its particularly good for selfies, as you dont have to stretch your thumb far at all to shoot.

The problem is that the 4.6-inch screen is pretty small for framing shots; I found myself using the larger 7.3-inch panel when I wanted to make sure that I liked what I was capturing. Surprisingly, I didnt find shooting with a tablet-size display in front of my face embarrassing, which is probably due to the small bezels around the screen. But, in this mode, it is a two-handed affair.

Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom's Guide) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The Galaxy Fold is capable of delivering gorgeous photos with saturated color and a stunning amount of detail, as evidenced by this flower close-up. The rich purple really shines through, and the veins in the petals are well defined.

Image 1 of 3 Galaxy Fold (standard lens) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Galaxy Fold (wide-angle lens) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Galaxy Fold (zoom lens) (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I also had fun playing with the multiple lenses in Times Square. The standard wide-angle camera captured the myriad signs with crisp detail, and I could easily make out details on the signs as I zoomed in. The wide-angle shot resulted in a noticeable fish-eye effect toward the edges, but it got a lot more of the surrounding buildings into the frame.

Like the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10, the Galaxy Fold comes with artistic new Live Focus modes, including spin bokeh, zoom bokeh and color print. I especially like the latter option, as it colorizes the main subject while leaving everything else black and white.

However, the Fold fell flat compared with the iPhone 11 Pro Max in this portrait of my two colleagues, Henry and Kate. The camera washed out both of the subjects faces and made Henrys jeans look like pants. Adam Ismail, who reviews lots of phones for Toms Guide, said of the Folds shot that Henry and Kate looked like they needed medical attention. You can also make out more texture and details in Kates shirt on the iPhone 11 Pro Maxs shot.

The Galaxy Fold also offers a dedicated Night mode, which I put up against the Night mode of the iPhone 11 Pro Max. When I snapped a photo outside around 7:30 p.m. in almost complete darkness, the Fold produced a brighter image, as you can make out more of the tree in the foreground. The iPhone 11 Pro Maxs shot also has more of an orange cast to it, especially in the street, it's image also provides better contrast in the bricks and better detail.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The front camera on the Galaxy Fold can take sharp selfies. Theres a fair amount of detail here in my hair and in the folds in my shirt.

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Video

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a very capable phone when it comes to shooting video. It can record in 4K at up to 60 frames per second. And the device can shoot super steady video when you press the hand icon in the camera app.

In our footage shot near Bryant Park, the Galaxy Fold kept stead as I walked, but the camera had some trouble with the bright sunlight, as some faces looked washed out. However, the fountain looked pretty sharp, and the Fold did a good job rendering the surrounding buildings when I activated the ultra-wide camera.

When I engaged the telephoto lens on the Fold to shoot a nearby Le Pain Quotidien, I could make out small details like the Pick Up Here sign.

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Performance

Given that the Samsung Galaxy Fold has the same Snapdragon 855 processor as the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 line of phones, its not a surprise that it offers comparable performance. The main difference is the whopping 12GB of RAM included in the Fold, which did seem to help juggle having multiple apps open on screen at once. I didnt notice much lag as I ran three apps simultaneously.

On Geekbench 5, a relatively new benchmark that measures overall performance, the Galaxy Fold scored 728 on the single-core portion of the test and 2,619 on the multi-core portion. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus scored 736 and 2,691 respectively, which is pretty much identical, while the OnePlus 7T scored a slightly higher 744 and 2,802.

The iPhone 11 Pro Max blew away the field with a single-core mark of 1,334 and a multi-core score of 3,517. We'll be running additional tests throughout our time with the device.

To gauge graphics performance on the Galaxy Fold, we ran GFXBench; the phone turned in a score 1,038 frames on the high-tier version of the Aztec Ruins Vulkan test (offscreen). The iPhone 11 Pro max notched a higher number  1,657 frames.

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Battery life

With a 4,380 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has pretty good staying power given its huge display, but other phones last longer on a charge. On the Tom's Guide battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over 4G LTE (we used AT&T's network) at 150 nits of screen brightness, the Galaxy Fold's battery lasted 10 hours and 1 minute.

This runtime is pretty good when you consider that we used the larger 7.3-inch display for the entire duration of this test. (We will be retesting where we use the smaller front display for a quarter of the time.) By comparison, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus lasted an average of 11:09 on our test, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max averaged 11:54.

Best phone battery life: Longest-lasting smartphones

On a day with intermittent usage, which included snapping photos, streaming music, watching video clips and checking email, the phone still had 60% capacity left at 9:15 p.m; I had unplugged the phone at 6:30 a.m.

On a day when I used the Galaxy Fold more heavily, which included watching two full TV episodes on Netflix, the Fold was down to 25% come 9 p.m. Thats still more than a full days worth of endurance.

(Image credit: Future)

I loved being able to fire up the Wireless PowerShare feature on the Galaxy Fold, which allows you to charge other phones and accessories by simply placing them on the back of the Samsung handset. This includes the wireless Galaxy Buds, which Samsung throws in for the $1,980 price.

Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Verdict

The Galaxy Fold feels like a phone from the future, and yet from a practical perspective it falls a bit short. When I was using Slack in one window, Gmail in another and Spotify in yet another on the 7.3-inch screen, I could see myself using my laptop less and a device like this more. I also liked being able to review and edit large documents on the go. And its just cool to close the whole thing up when youre ready to walk way.

But that doesnt mean you should invest $2,000 of your own money. Even if you put aside the lingering durability concerns around the Galaxy Fold, I find the overall design bulky and heavy, and the front display is too small. And while the cameras are solid, the iPhone 11 Pro has leapt ahead with its better HDR and night mode.

So as much as I appreciate what Samsung has accomplished with this first-generation foldable phone, I would suggest that most people wait for the sequel and for other foldables to hit the market before they take the foldable plunge.
At the backdrop of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly, on 21st September 2017 in the Conference Room of the African Union Permanent Mission in New York (USA), Ministers of Trade and Industry from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe held Informal Consultations on the matter of reservations made on the CFTA Modalities on liberalization of Trade in Goods.

The meeting was chaired by H.E. Dr. Okechukwu E. Enelamah, Minister for Trade and Industry of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the African Union Ministers responsible for Trade.

H.E. Ambassador Albert M. Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Industry took part in the meeting. Chairman of the meeting also invited Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, who currently chairs the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) Negotiating Forum, to provide technical inputs into the discussion.

The consultative meeting was convened in line with the AU Assembly Decision that mandated the CFTA Champion to engage with the concerned countries in order to find an amicable solution to the reservations made on the level of ambition for tariff liberalisation in the CFTA.

At the 28th Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of State and Government, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2017, the Summit mandated H.E. Mr. Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger to champion the process for the conclusion of the CFTA Negotiations no later than the end of this year.

At the 29th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, that took place on July 3rd and 4th 2017, H.E. President Mahamadou Issoufou reported on the progress made in the CFTA negotiations. The President informed the Assembly that AU Ministers of Trade had approved the modalities for the CFTA tariff liberalization and trade in services negotiations. Ministers had agreed on an ambitious target of 90% for tariff liberalization.

The President also reported that seven AU Member States registered reservations on the level of ambition of 90%; and, had proposed 85% in view of their economic circumstances.

The AU Assembly noted the Report on the status of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations submitted by H.E. President Issoufou and reaffirmed the Commitment to conclude the negotiations of the Continental Free Trade Area by December 2017.

The Heads of State and Government approved the modalities for trade in services negotiations as well as modalities for tariff negotiations with a level of ambition of 90% in line with the adopted Modalities.
The African Union Commission in collaboration with the Mauritius Revenue Authority organized the 3rd African Union Customs Experts Trade Facilitation Forum from 20-22 September 2017 at the Custom House, Mer Rouge in Port-Louis.

The three-day forum was organized in line with the Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade, endorsed by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government through their 2012 pdf Decision on Boosting Intra-African Trade and fast tracking the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area (34 KB) (CFTA) by 2017 as an indicative date, as well as taking into account the coming into force of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) on 22 February 2017.

The ultimate objective of the forum was to assist African Union Member States in their endeavor related to the simplification and harmonization of customs procedures including their documentation and regulations to boost intra-African trade within the context of the Agenda 2063 ten-year implementation plan.

The meeting was attended by delegates from nearly 30 (thirty) AU Member States, representatives of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Private Sectors, and experts from the African Union Commission. Mr. William Murashwa Gadzikwa of Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Chaired the meeting in Zimbabwes capacity as chair of the AU Sub-Committee Director General of Customs. Due to his delayed arrival, Mr. Gasper Konneh delivered an address in his capacity as Vice-Chair of the AU Sub-Committee of Director General of Customs of Cameroon.

Director General of Mauritius Revenue Authority, Mr. Sudhamo Lal, welcomed all the participants to the Forum and indicated that the implementation of trade facilitation measures will bring numerous benefits to the African Continent through improvements in the areas of Transparency and fairness, good governance and modernization of the trade supply chain. Mr. Lal highlighted some of the achievements of the MRA customs department in terms of trade facilitation and tax administration reforms.

After thanking the Government of Mauritius and Mauritius Revenue Authority for organizing the Forum, Mr. Gasper Konneh, Vice Chair of the AU Sub-Committee of Directors General of Customs, said: Its our hope that the quality of the outcomes of this Forum will be commensurate with our high expertise in the various issues and with the high expectations placed on us by our various countries and organizations who have invested their limited resource to ensure the effective participation of delegates in this forum.

Addressing the participants, Mrs. Treasure Maphanga, Director of Trade and Industry, extended her gratitude to the Government and People of the Republic of Mauritius for hosting the meeting and thanked the participants for responding positively to the invitations to attend the meeting.

The Commission of the African Union is in the process of developing a draft AU Trade Facilitation Strategy for the consideration of African Union Member States and we believe that it will facilitate the implementation of both the WTO TFA and the AUs BIAT Program, she said.

Mrs Treasure applauded Africas customs Administrations for undertaking various modernization programs in respective countries so as to ease the way of doing business on the continent. What we are talking about shall undoubtedly contribute to the attainment of our common vision for Africa in Agenda 2063, but what we need to keep in mind is that we need to act on it with the urgency required as if we were implementing Agenda now, she concluded.

In his speech, Mr. Vivekanand Ramburun, Director, Customs Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), welcomed the participants to the Mauritius Multilingual Regional Training Center for the meeting and raised the importance of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) that entered into force in February 2017. He emphasised that the implementation of TFA measures is mandatory and no longer a choice.

In addition, Mr. Ramburun urged customs Administrations to be more forceful in various forums where trade facilitation is on agenda. He welcomed the opportunity to share experiences in order to move forward together.

The Report of the outcome of the Meeting will be submitted to the Director Generals of Customs in November for consideration and adoption.
As the tiny house movement seems to be gaining quite a bit of ground in the United States, north of the border in Canada, things seem to be picking up as well. Besides its first tiny house festival a couple of years back, we're now seeing a number of high-quality tiny houses come out of Canada.

Quebec tiny house builder Minimaliste is one of these up-and-coming builders creating thoughtfully designed small spaces. We were thoroughly impressed with one of their previous builds, and now co-founder Phil Beaudoin gives a tour of the company's latest work, The Eucalyptus, with a characteristic tongue-in-cheek sense of humour:

The 28-foot long house was commissioned by a client living in California, but has been winter-proofed as a four-season type of home, as the client may someday move to the northeast US, or potentially sell it to someone living in a colder climate. Most notably, it is built with a large 2-kilowatt roof solar system to go completely off-the-grid, but contains all the amenities: dishwasher, washer, refrigerator and so on.

 Minimaliste

Coming in, the space hosts the living room right in the middle of the home. Since the clients have a dog, the main door has a SureFlap pet door that uses an electronic collar worn by the pet to unlock it.

 Minimaliste

 Minimaliste

To the right is the kitchen, and a stairway going up to the main sleeping space. The stairs are beautifully done, with the storage drawers well-integrated enough so that they are not too apparent. The propane heater is also hidden within the stair itself. Safety is kept in mind with a custom-made industrial pipe railing on the outside of the stair.

 Minimaliste

Minimaliste/Video screen capture

The U-shaped kitchen offers a lot of counter space; there's an 18-inch dishwasher as well as a full-sized stove and medium-sized refrigerator.

 Minimaliste

 Minimaliste

 Minimaliste

 Minimaliste

 Minimaliste

The modern-industrial theme is kept in the bedroom upstairs, from the railing to the shelving.

 Minimaliste

 Minimaliste

 Minimaliste

The bathroom is pretty big thanks to the layout: there's a stainless-steel shower, a composting toilet, and a combination washer-dryer.

 Minimaliste

 Minimaliste

Above the bathroom is the secondary loft, which can be used for guests or for storage, and is accessed with a ladder that can be put away when not in use.

 Minimaliste

According to the company, the house cost about USD $90,000 to $100,000 to build -- which is definitely on the expensive end of the scale, but costs add up when you use quality materials, high-end appliances and size in a big solar system. In any case, it's a beautifully executed design, and we'll be watching for more from Minimaliste.
When it comes to the future of wind power, one company thinks it looks a lot different than you would expect, and cheaper and more efficient to boot. Saphon Energy, out of Tunisia, is interested in finding partners to mass-produce and market their unique wind energy device, based on their own Zero Blade technology.

"The Zero-Blade Technology is largely inspired from the sailboat and is likely to increase the efficiency of the current wind power conversion devices. The blades are replaced by a sail shaped body while both hub and gearbox are removed."

2.3 Times More Efficient

According to the company, their zero-blade technology devices are capable of overcoming the Betz' limit, which states that no turbine can capture more than 59.3 percent of the kinetic energy of the wind. An average wind turbine captures only 30 to 40%, while the Saphon turbine is said to be 2.3 times more efficient. Additionally, the cost is expected to be 45% less than a conventional turbine, mostly due to the fact that there are no blades, no hub, and no gearbox on the units.

Solving the Storage Issue

Saphon Energy's Zero Blade technology is different in other ways as well, most significantly being storage of energy. Most of the kinetic energy can be stored (via a hydraulic accumulator) or converted to electricity with a hydraulic motor and generator.

"We've developed several prototypes. We are at our second generation prototype. We did the testing and this second one is twice as efficient as a three blade turbine and in terms of manufacturing is at least 50 percent cheaper." - Hassine Labaied

The company is now looking for manufacturing partners to bring the turbine to market, and once that happens, they expect to be shipping out units anywhere from 18 to 24 months afterward.
Hi everyone,

I am from the UK and arrived in Punta Cana last night. We were due to stay at the Dreams resort and spa but as per the reports they aren't taking any further guests at the moment. We have been moved to Dreams Palm Beach instead, we weren't told this was going to happen until we found our rep at the airport, so we will be making a complaint about that as the communication was poor. We've also been given a twin room when we booked a double but this should be changed today when people check out.

Dreams Palm Beach doesn't even look like they've experienced a hurricane recently, they've done a great job of clearing it up. Other than a small amount of plant remains to clear up it looks spot on, and that includes the beach. In fact the whole island looked like that when we transferred from the airport, other than trees down by the side of the road and some large puddles in areas it didn't look bad at all.

For anyone coming to a Dreams resort, don't cancel because you will still have a great time. It's 10am here and I'm sat by the pool in 30 degree heat. The weather app says cloudy but there are about 2 clouds.
how many days in cairns and gold coast?

how many days in cairns and gold coast?

Hello,

I will be travelling to Australia from 7 december - 13th december (total 6 days) under a package offer so dates are fixed. The flight will arrive to Gold Coast on 8th morning and we are departing from Cairns back home at night on 13th.

The question is which day we should fly from Gold Coast to Cairns

1. fly to Cairns on 10th of December in the morning, so total number of full days in GC = 8th, 9th

2. fly to Cairns on 11th of December in the morning, so total number of days in GC = 8th, 9th, 10th and then in Cairns for half of 11th, entire 12th and half of 13th.

Which do you recommend? Are there more things to do in GC or Cairns? We are interested in snorkelling in Cairns and visiting the amusement parks and wildlife animals e.g koalas, kangaroos in Gold Coast.
It's OK, Ohio - I knew you meant "Autumn". Just as my US friends know I mean "Fall" when I babble on about wanting to see their trees' wonderful Autumn colours.

Here's my tip for your quick little Sunday afternoon - Monday morning trip. Stay at Pulman Grand or the Marriott Sydney Harbour - right on Circular Quay.

Hop into a cab at the airport & you should be booking in around 20 mins later.

Unfortunately, you're a week too early for Vivid, but that means fewer people to have to share the Harbour views, bars & eateries with.

Others have made great suggestions as to what to do.

Going back to the airport, if you only have a little luggage - take the train from Circular Quay statation. It takes about 20 mins & will cost about $35 for two. If you have a ton of luggage, take a cab or Uber.

The reason I'm suggesting the train is that it's often quicker than a cab on weekdays. Weekend track work can mess about with the trains - hence the cab recommendation. It's an easy walk from either of these hotels to Circular Quay Station.
Hi, I plan to visit Tasmania for the first time in February next year over Chinese New Year. I believe Australia does not celebrate CNY, but since February is peak time, will it still be very busy? I plan to travel around by campervan like I've done many times in Australia and New Zealand, usually outside peak season, and I liked the fact that I didn't have to pre-book camp sites, but could just go as far as I wanted and stay where I wanted. If I go in Feb, will it be necessary to pre-book?
If you r talking about Manzanillo in Limon province, take a cheap local bus, about US$1.00 pp, or pay in CRC, to The Jaguar Rescue Centre near Puerto Viejo. They have 9:30 and 11:30 am public tours included with admission for US$20 pp. 6 days a week. Tours might be in English or in Spanish. We had about 20 ppl with us, and they divided about 60 ppl who arrived for the 11:30 am tour into 3 groups, with 3 volunteer guides. You might want to add a few extra dollars to tip the guide, as ours was very good and we wanted to do it, but it is not required. There r no jaguars there, but a lot of other animals, incl. baby sloths. See the bus schedule here: https://www.puertoviejosatellite.com/transport-to-puerto-viejo.php . You will need 1.5-2 hrs for that.

After the tour, come out and walk right. Along the main road and the beach, you will come to Punta Uva. Beautiful beach + Sloth Point river kayak rental. The rental ppl showed us a sloth in the trees, too.

Take an early bus from Manzanillo, preferably not on the wknd, and go to Cahuita NP. No guide required, admission is by donation. Though this yr.m we noticed that started asking for US$5 pp, but you can give what you want. There are rangers by the entrance you can hire as a guide. The trail is 8.5 km long, you do not really need a guide. Wear swimwear underneath your hiking clothes, as there are places to swim. Notice the colour of the flags affixed to the branches or stuck in the sand - if red, do not swim there, riptides.

The guide inside the park is needed only for snorkelling inside the park.

If you hike the entire trail and exit at the other end, not back in Cahuita, you can cross the main road and take the bus back to Manzanillo, you would be closer to Manzanillo than from Cahuita.

See my review of the park, if you want: .

I think I have seen tours of the park with snorkelling for US$55 pp. You can just snorkelling by itself ($25-35 pp), or a guided hikes without snorkelling. We did not snorkel, as the waves were too big in Manzanillo and at the beginning of Cahuita park, + the visibility was very poor, as we were there in July and another time in August.

You can do guided hike of the Gadoca-Manzanillo Reserve. One of the guides lives and has a white sign by the road on the right side of the road leading toward the village of Manzanillo, before the last right turn. When / if you make arrangements with him, you may want to ask how many other ppl will be on a tour with you and the others' age. Do not go in the rain. We did and saw basically nothing, hiked with him through the hilly muddy slippery trails for 6 hrs there.

Do not go into the Reserve, other than the first part where the Observation point is, without a local guide for safety concerns. Read the G-M Reserve reviews.

https://www.caribeshuttle.com has daily shuttle to Bocas Del Toro, Panama. The transfer itself is US$35 pp from Puerto Viejo, more from Cahuita or Manzanillo. See their site for border crosding info or read here:

https://www.puertoviejosatellite.com/transportation-from-puerto-viejo-to-bocas-del-toro.php . Of course it depends on your total time in S. Caribbean, and I would not go for 1 day. Better do border crossing not on a weekend. See Caribeshuttle reviews on TA and filter the results by the key words Border crossing (you will get info on Nicaragua and on CR-Panama. crossings).
My husband and I are planning a 2 week trip to Costa RIca in either November of December 2017. This will be our first time in CR. We would like to travel using our timeshare exchange to stay a week in two different locations. At this point our options are resorts in El Roble/Puntarenas (Hilton Doubletree), Tamarindo (The Oaks) and Playa Azul (The Sanctuary). While we enjoy resort amenities, when we vacation we usually rent a car and spend most of our time away from the resort sightseeing. Nightlife is not important to us. There is so much to see and do in Costa RIca...we would like to choose locations that offer the best locations for day trips, seeing nature/wildlife, visiting beaches etc. Our thought was to stay one week at the resort in El Roble/Puntarenas area and the second week in either Tamarindo or Playa Azul. We can fly into/out of either Liberia or San Jose at relatively the same cost for airfare. We do plan to rent a car. My questions are 1) Does is sound like a good idea to stay one week in the El Roble/Puntarenas area and the second week in either Tamarindo or Playa Azul? 2) Between Tamarindo and Playa Azul, which would be the better area for day trips/sightseeing/beaches?
CR has various microclimates, and the weather in Manuel Antonio/Quepos is not the same as on the Caribbean coast. + Tortuguero may get rain all yr round. See http://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/best-time/august/ about weather.

We went to Manuel Antonio mid/end August this yr., and it did rain on some days, sometimes a lot, but it was not days and days of rain. The rest was some sun, clouds, hot. We did not enjoy the touristy and crowded MA/Quepos area and park and do not see ourselves ever wanting to go back there. In contrast, we returned to S. Caribbean twice and can imagine going to some other areas on the Pacific again, just not to MA.

Tortuguero is far from Uvita or MA. It is boat access only. It is not comparable with a stay in Tamarindo. August is turtle season in Tortuguero. + canal tours to see wildlife. Most ppl spend 1-3 nights max there, staying in Tortuguero village or in one of the lodges offering half of full board and tours, too. You cannot swim from the beach in Tortuguero due to surf/riptides and, I believe, bull sharks. Some of the pricier lodges have own pools.
I want to book soon due to limited options but I want to know if you were flying into Liberia in Mid december for two weeks, what 2-3 places in costa rica would you visit and how long at each spot? My boyfriend and I love ziplining, and we wanted to kayak the Rio celeste. I was thinking that we could stay one week in Arenal and One week in playas del coco. I wanted to stay in playas del coco nd visit all the nearby beaches, and do a day tour to Nicaragua. We will probably stay at a hotel in Arenal and Air b&B while in playas del coco. I was also looking into Manuel Antonio as a possible 3rd destination. Do you have any advice this is so overwhelming and I don't want to miss out. Should I keep it at these 2 places or add a 3rd, if so, what is a must add destination? Thanks so much in advance. We will be renting a car.
I'm traveling to Vietnam for 14 days in mid October after spending a week in Cambodia. I'm planning to take some $USD to use in both countries, but don't want to carry excess cash or solely use our Visa cards.

I have 2 prepaid Qantas cash cards that I've used without problem in the USA and Canada, I realize the cards attract hefty fees but I'm willing to lump it. My problem is that I'm unable to load Viet Dong on the cards. Can I load $AUD or $USD and use them at ATMs in Vietnam (ie the currency is automatically converted)? Any other suggestions?

I've been reading this forum but can't find anything that addresses my problem.

Edited: 5 years ago
I also went to the doctor in July and was also informed anti malarials were not needed for these areas. The outbreak started around April of this year.

Here is a link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-41351160

There are also many more links if you just Google "malaria superbug asia."

To be honest I think I have read too much into it. I am not sure how legit these sites are. I have Foreign Office alerts on my phone and I am sure I would have had an alert about this if it was as serious as these websites are making out.
We are a family of 3 travelling to Japan for first time.

Staying in Tokoyo for 4 nights then on to Hiroshima & Kyoto.

We have purchased a Japanese Railpass for 7 days & planning to activate this on our trip to Kyoto & Hiroshima.

In the meantime we plan to buy a Pasmo card for travel around Tokoyo. We have booked accomodation in Shinjuku.

We have also got a trip booked to Mt Fuji. My questions are the best option from Narita to Shinjuku at 7pm on a Monday night when we arrive?

How much should we load on our Pasmo card?

Does the Pasmo card work out of metro area, as we have to make our way back from Odawara station following our Mt Fuji tour.

Would really appreciate some answers. Thankyou
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- President Uhuru Kenyatta will make a meet-the-people tour of Embu and Chuka on Monday, September 25 as bitter rival Raila Odinga plots nationwide protests against the IEBC

- Raila said NASA supporters are ready to invade the Anniversary Towers where IEBC headquarters are located to oust Chiloba and his team

- NASA has demanded the removal of IEBC officials whom it has accused of bungling the August 8 election

President Uhuru Kenyatta will embark on campaign rallies Monday, September 25, with his first stop being in Embu county as he seeks re-election in the fresh election.

Uhuru will also visit Chuka to drum up support for his re-election bid.

State House announced that Uhuru is living up to his promise of going back to the people to ask for their mandate after the Supreme Court disappointed him by overturning his win.

Uhuru heads to Embu on vote hunting mission as opposition plots demos against IEBC Photo: Facebook/Uhuru Kenyatta

READ ALSO: Vocal IEBC Commissioner dismisses WhatsApp screenshots and warns they are fake news

"No one has contested the number of votes the president garnered in the August 8 elections, and the margin of 1.4 million votes that separated him from his closest rival remains one of the largest in our nations history. On the back of this fact, the president will urge Kenyans to turn up in large numbers again to cast their votes to reconfirm their choice," the statement read.

The Supreme Court ruled that the August 8 election was marred by irregularities and illegalities and ordered for a fresh poll within 60 days.

Uhuru has since blasted the court for what he said is judicial coup that overturned the will of Kenyans.

Raila has called on his supporters to protest towards IEBC offices Photo: Facebook/Raila Odinga

READ ALSO: Raila Odinga to lead anti-Chiloba and IEBC demo on Tuesday

He vowed to revisit the composition of the Supreme Court and the ruling itself.

In the meantime, NASA leader Raila Odinga is planning to invade Anniversary Towers building to oust IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba and other officials accused of bungling the polls.

As reported by TUKO.co.ke, Raila announced Sunday, September 24, that he will his supporters in protests outside IEBC offices to demand Chiloba's removal.

READ ALSO: William Ruto reveals what he will do if Uhuru loses to Raila

The move comes after NASA's irreducible minimums demands were apparently ignored by IEBC and the state.

IEBC has set Thursday, October 26, as the day for the repeat poll. It will also be Uhuru's birthday.

Kenyans react to supreme court's final verdict

Have something to add to this article or suggestions? Send to news@tuko.co.ke

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- Kenyans have expressed mixed reactions after Embakasi East MP Babu Owino insulted President Uhuru Kenyatta and his mother

- A section of Kenyans supported his remarks claiming Jubilee leaders had also abused NASA leader Raila Odinga previously but no action was taken against them

- In Kiambu county, residents held demonstrations calling for the arrest of the former student leader

Kenyans on social media are divided over remarks made by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino after he used what some termed derogatory language against President Uhuru Kenyatta.

During a National Super Alliance (NASA) campaign rally in parts of Nairobi on Sunday, September 24, Owino had used the moment to tell off Kenyatta but its the choice of his words that has become subject of discussion on social media.

The first time MP has however said he will not apologise explaining that he had not mentioned the president by name.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. Photo: Babu Owino/Facebook

READ ALSO: Mt. Kenya businessmen set to organise protests to counter those of NASA against IEBC

Protest erupted in parts of Mt Kenya region as locals in those areas said the MP had disrespected the president.

But those who support the legislator turned the heat against the President saying he is also fond of abusing NASA leader Raila Odinga using derogatory language.

READ ALSO: Babu Owino captured using unprintable words against Uhuru and his mother

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and NASA leader Raila Odinga. Photo: Babu Owino/Facebook

Those seen as leaning towards the Opposition maintained hard line positions as they sought to remind their Jubilee counterparts to reprimand their leaders in equal measure when they insult NASA leaders.

READ ALSO: Chebukati, you should leave before Raila comes for you - Abduba Dida

Presidential candidate Ekuru Aukot also condemned Owino's utterances.

Owino has remained defiant saying he is ready to be taken to the cells for his stand.

From a drug trafficker to a mentor

Source: TUKO.co.ke
- The GEMA business community in Nairobi is set to hold counter protests to face off with NASA's against IEBC officials

- The business community said they will not sit and watch their businesses disrupted

- They have vowed to protect CEO Ezra Chiloba against eviction from office

- NASA will hold its demos on Tuesday, September 25 as announced by leader Raila Odinga

The planned National Super Alliance (NASA) protests against IEBC officials are likely to face stiff opposition from pro-IEBC supporters if the latest threats are anything to go by.

GEMA business community in Nairobi has threatened to organise counter demonstrations in a bid to thwart those planned by NASA on Tuesday, September 26.

Speaking in Nairobi on Monday, September 25, the GEMA business community said they will not sit down and watch NASA supporters disrupt their businesses in the name of removing IEBC officials from office.

Raila Odinga led CORD demos to remove IEBC officials from office in 2016 Photo: Nation

READ ALSO: Uhuru heads to Embu on vote hunting mission as opposition plots demos against IEBC

"NASA followers have for a long time robbed us and interfered with our business, so this time we say enough is enough. As they prepare to oust Chiloba, we will be right there to protect him and our businesses. They have taken advantage of our silence, if Chiloba has to go so should Chebukati," they said.

The business community further warned that this time round, unlike in previous instances, they will not sit down and watch Chiloba and his team get ousted from office and their businesses disrupted.

READ ALSO: Tension in Mombasa as Governor Hassan Joho is detained

"We have in the past experienced wanton destruction of our business in Nairobi due to demos. NASA are just interested in unleashing violence for half the government. Nobody will remove Chiloba from office as we watch. Now let Kenyans meet Kenyans," they added.

Mt. Kenya businessmen set to organise protests to counter those of NASA against IEBC Photo: Citizen TV

NASA leader Raila Odinga called on supporters to pour into the streets of Nairobi on Tuesday and match to IEBC offices in Anniversary Towers to outs CEO Ezra Chiloba and other officials accused of bungling the August 8 election.

READ ALSO: Vocal IEBC Commissioner dismisses WhatsApp screenshots and warns they are fake news

NASA says the officials bungled the election to give Uhuru a win before the Supreme Court overturned the results.

They have said the same team cannot oversee a repeat poll slated for Thursday, October 26.

Kenyans react to supreme court's final verdict

Have something to add to this article or suggestions? Send to news@tuko.co.ke

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 amount of weapons and ammunition supplied from Russia to the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions not under Ukraine's control is growing every day, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov has said.

He stated this at a meeting with a Canadian parliament delegation led by Chairman of the Standing Committee on National Defense Stephen Fuhr, the council's press service reports.

"We understand why [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is against an armed UN mission that would control the border with Russia, because only the closing of the border can stop supplies of military weapons and ammunition from Russia to the occupied territory," Turchynov said.

He also said that Russia would continue the war until control over the border is established.

Turchynov said that the Kremlin demonstrated its readiness for an offensive war during the Russian-Belarusian exercises Zapad 2017.

"The last stage of the exercises was devoted to testing the combat readiness of a nuclear triad. Air, land and sea components were worked out. Thus Putin demonstrates his readiness for waging a powerful continental war," he said.

According to the report, the meeting participants discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine, the build-up of Russia's military potential in Crimea, and its dominance in the Black Sea basin.

In addition, the sides discussed the reform of the Ukrainian security and defense sector and cooperation between the two countries in the military and technical sphere.

In this context, Turchynov noted that Ukraine was considering Canada not only as a strategic partner, but also as a friend.

Fuhr, in turn, said that Canada "is always ready to help Ukraine in every possible way."

op
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelian has filed a lawsuit against Ukraine International Airlines (UIA).

He stated this at a press conference on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I have prepared a lawsuit to protect my honor and dignity. It has been submitted, and I hope it will be considered by the court as soon as possible. I think that manipulations taking place on the part of UIA are dishonorable and have nothing to do with fair competition. They will all attempts to disrupt the entry of low-cost airlines into the Ukrainian market so as to prevent Ukrainians from flying cheaply," Omelian said.

UIA initiated a series of lawsuits with the requirement to cancel Ryanair's contract with the Lviv airport and a ban on the ministry from assisting Ryanair in Ukraine.

The Infrastructure Ministry, in the person of Minister Omelian, in turn, said that he could send a counterclaim against Ukraine International Airlines so as to deprive the carrier of a position on the market.

op
Ukraine's consulate general in Munich has confirmed that a Ukrainian citizen was found dead in his room in a refugee camp in the Bavarian town of Eggenfelden on September 24.

"The criminal police in the town of Passau confirmed that death had occurred as a result of killing," the Consular Service Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement obtained by Ukrinform.

The consulate general established contact with the relatives of the deceased.

The media reported earlier that a 28-year-old Ukrainian was stabbed to death in a clash with his roommate at a refugee hostel in southern Germany on Saturday evening. The Ukrainian man was stabbed by his 47-year-old roommate from Kazakhstan. The 28-year-old suffered injuries so serious that he died at the scene.

op
A visit by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to Toronto has confirmed Canada's strategic support for Ukraine.

This was stated by Deputy Head of Ukraine's Presidential Administration Kostiantyn Yeliseyev, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The first thing we got from this visit is strategic support from one of the most influential countries in the world. Canada will chair the Group of Seven next year, and it was very important for us, before the presidency, to agree on certain positions in order to ensure that the Ukrainian issue is put on the G7 agenda," Yeliseyev said.

According to him, support for the Ukrainian initiatives regarding the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force to Donbas was also very important to Ukraine.

"Now, after the [Ukrainian] president's visit to the United States and Canada, we can state that if the question of deploying a peacekeeping force was only Ukraine's initiative, then today it is an initiative of the entire civilized democratic world," Yeliseyev said.

He added that Ukraine had received from Canada "the assurances of support for this idea." "And we are very pleased that our position has in fact become the position of the world," he said.

op
The talks between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Toronto were very successful, Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Waschuk has told an Ukrinform reporter.

"We are definitely satisfied with the results of the talks between the heads of state. I think we got even a little more than we expected," Waschuk said.

He said that it was very interesting for Canada to better understand Ukraine's arguments regarding the possible deployment of UN peacekeepers to Donbas.

"During the discussion, the question arose about how we can help Ukraine understand the role of UN peacekeepers and think ourselves how to contribute to this issue," the diplomat said.

He added that Canada had not yet developed its position on this issue and waited "until Ukraine expresses its vision."

"Peacekeepers were among a major subject during the negotiations Earlier we did not really think about it, but now we got an impulse to rethink it," the ambassador said.

According to him, Canada also sought "to confirm partnership and discuss practical steps to step up free trade."

As reported, Poroshenko and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met in Toronto this weekend to discuss a number of topical issues in bilateral cooperation.

op
The Ukrainian Embassy in Belarus has recommended that Ukrainian citizens cross the Belarusian-Russian border only by plane, the embassy's press service has reported.

"Russia, referring to the absence of checkpoints through the Russian-Belarusian state border, banned its crossing by citizens of third countries, except citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, including by members of diplomatic, administrative and technical personnel of diplomatic missions, consular offices and representations of international organizations," reads the report.

However, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that from May 15, 2017, the Russian side had carried out border control of aircraft arriving in Russia from Belarus, as well as returning in the opposite direction.

"In this regard, all citizens of third countries, including members of diplomatic, administrative and technical personnel of diplomatic missions, consular offices and representations of international organizations, are recommended to use air transport for trips on the specified route," the embassy said.

op
The Russian authorities should release Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko from the Lefortovo detention facility and guarantee him safe return to Ukraine.

This is stated in an appeal by a group of deputies from three factions of the European Parliament, which was published on the day of the Moscow court decision to extend Sushchenko's arrest for two more months, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the statement, Russia and Ukraine should also resume the exchange of political prisoners in accordance with the Minsk accords, as well as to ensure international monitoring of the conditions of detention and the physical and mental condition of prisoners.

"The case of Roman Sushchenko, which is waiting for the court decision to be made on the 30th of September, is one of the issues of big concern for the Members of the European Parliament," MEPs said.

They said that according to the investigation of international independent organizations, the cases of other Ukrainian political prisoners, including Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko, were also trumped-up.

The European politicians recalled that the negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia on the release of political prisoners had been frozen in late May 2016.

"Since then none of the prisoners has been released or exchanged. We consider such a situation as a deterrent to fulfill the Minsk Agreements, in particular the art. 5, 6 and 7 of the document mentioned," reads the statement.

MEPs said that the "release of Roman Sushchenko gives the chance to restore possible negotiation process regarding the exchange issues, as to restore the negotiation process regarding the other humanitarian issues, foreseen in the Minsk Agreements."

The deputies paid attention to the need for "more extensive and detailed monitoring on the situation of political prisoners of Ukraine," in particular the attention of the international community to the "Sushchenko case."

In this context, European politicians urged Russia to release Ukrinform's correspondent in Paris, Roman Sushchenko, from the Lefortovo detention facility and give him an opportunity to return safely to Ukraine. They also insisted on speeding up the comprehensive and objective investigation into the cases of Ukrainian political prisoners and arranging legal circumstances for the international rapporteur to be able to come to their places of imprisoning to monitor their physical and mental health. MEPs also called for the support of the resumption of talks on the implementation of articles 5, 6 and 7 of the Minsk Agreements during the next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group.

The appeal is addressed to Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland. The appeal was signed by MEPs Michal Boni, Pavel Svoboda, Eduard Kukan, Carlos Coelho, Tunne Kelam and Michael Gahler from the European People's Party, Helga Stevens, Mark Demesmeaker and Monica Macovei from the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists, and Rebecca Harms from the Greens/European Free Alliance group.

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A March of Peace, directed "against aggressive hostilities by Russia, the DPRK and other countries," was held on the central avenue in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, on September 24, one of the organizers, Irina Kalmykova, has told an Ukrinform reporter.

"About 50 people attended our event. It's a lot if we take into account that the event was conducted by the Russian European Movement [a public democratic organization founded in Lithuania by Russian emigrants]. Not all Lithuanians and residents of Vilnius understand what kind of Russians they are. Besides, the crews of Russian television channels were also present at the event," Kalmykova said.

The activist also said that the Russian European Movement also planned to hold monthly pickets to protect political prisoners in Russia (both Russian and Ukrainian political prisoners, including Crimean Tatars).

On the Russian Constitution Day (on December 12) it is planned to hold an event "Funeral of the Russian Constitution".

"There was an offer to go to Riga and hold an event in Latvia. But we don't have a lot of money, nobody finances us, and we do everything on our own initiative," Kalmykova said.

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The field of bladder cancer is changing rapidly. The near future will look completely different and the way we treat bladder cancer will change totally. New evidence and new methodologies are just around the corner.Imagine what it would mean to you to have a complete update on bladder cancer in just three days; to be able to discuss all your questions with a multidisciplinary faculty and to meet colleagues from around the world; to have an updated, participatory, umbrella congress where you can meet people in real life and talk to the major voices in bladder cancer in a relaxed atmosphere.Well, thats what you get at BLADDR.Last year, the first Global Congress on Bladder Cancer exceeded expectations and there was great enthusiasm for growing this educational concept. Therefore, we are very happy to invite you to the beautiful city of Edinburgh (UK) for our second congress, where once again we aim to bring together all the key opinion leaders in all disciplines and to update you on all novelties in bladder cancer treatment.Over two days the congress will focus on topics that are actual and controversial and that have an impact on day-to-day clinical practice. This will be of interest to all specialities dealing with bladder cancer.We will go in-depth and beyond geographical and disciplinary boundaries, offering an exciting and fully up-to-date programme.You will get the opportunity to:The multidisciplinary and internationally influential faculty will bring you presentations and interactive case discussions on state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of patients with various stages of bladder cancer.So let us meet in Edinburgh, in the historical Assembly Rooms.We look forward to sharing some exciting and fascinating days with you.See you in October.
Vienna, Austria (UroToday.com) Dr. Axel Merseburger from Germany and Dr. Markus Aly from Sweden provided a spirited discussion about the challenge of treating oligometastatic disease at this afternoons EAU Update on prostate cancer.Dr. Merseburger started his presentation by drawing from a question posed to the panel at the 2017 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference [1]: In a patient with newly diagnosed oligometastatic disease, do you recommend local treatment of the primary tumor and all metastases instead of systemic treatment? 38% of respondents said that in a minority of select patients they would offer primary therapy, while 62% said they would not offer local therapy. There are various definitions of oligometastatic prostate cancer, with the consensus generally being that there is no visceral disease, nodal disease may be present, with several bone metastases limited to the vertebrae or pelvis. Dr. Merseburger then introduced the term Modern Imaging Assessment (MIA), which he describes new imaging technologies (PSMA-PET, choline-PET, whole body-MRI) that are able to detect more oligometastatic disease than in previous years with a CT/bone scan. Although these modalities have very high diagnostic performance, the demonstration of clinical benefit is pending.Case #1Dr. Merseburger describes a 61-year-old male with a PSA of 29 ng/mL, T3b disease, Gleason 3+4 in 8/12 cores (90% involvement), with a negative bone and CT scan. An MRI of the pelvis was sensitive to detect a pubic symphysis metastasis, so Dr. Merseburger notes that the goal with additional imaging is to improve OS and quality of life rather than curative local therapy. As we have seen recently, there is emerging retrospective literature supporting a possible role for local primary therapy in patients with oligometastatic disease. Data from the Munich Cancer Registry found that men with oligometastatic disease that underwent radical prostatectomy had a 5-year OS rate of 55% compared to 21% for patients who did not undergo radical prostatectomy [2]. Similar results were found for brachytherapy or radical prostatectomy vs no local treatment in the SEER database [3]. As Dr. Merseburger notes, we eagerly await the results of the SWOG phase III study which will compare patients with metastatic disease receiving standard systemic therapy to standard systemic therapy + definitive treatment of the primary tumor (radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy). The primary endpoint for this trial is OS and secondary endpoints include disease progression and CRPC. In Dr. Merseburgers opinion, there are several questions to still be addressed:(i) What is our target: prostate only, +/- nodes, +/- distant metastases?(ii) What is the best local strategy: surgery, radiation, or the combination of the two?(iii) Who are the patients most likely to benefit?(iv) Does the type of systemic therapy influence the need for control of the primary tumor?Dr. Merseburger concludes his section of the presentation with several take-home points:(i) Oligometastatic disease is the result of modern imaging assessments(ii) Treatment of the primary tumor in this disease state is a very individual decision and patient informed consent is important(iii) Evaluation of this question is best performed within the setting of a clinical trial, although radical prostatectomy appears safe and feasible in men with M+ disease(iv) Local tumor control has proven beneficial in high-risk prostate cancer and helps to avoid locoregional symptoms(v) There is increasing evidence that metastasis targeted therapy is an option in selected men with oligometastatic prostate cancerDr. Aly started his part of the session noting that survival in patients with positive lymph node disease undergoing radical prostatectomy is better than in those where surgery was abandoned after lymph node sampling. Data from the Munich Cancer Registry found that among 1,413 men with lymph node positivity, 957 of these men who underwent completion radical prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy. These men had improved 5-year and 10-year OS rates (84% and 64%) compared to men where radical prostatectomy was abandoned (60% vs 28%) [4]. A recent study from the prostate cancer database of Sweden assessed men at high risk of disseminated prostate cancer (PSA >50 ng/mL) initially treated with radiation therapy (n=630) or radical prostatectomy (n=120) or ADT (n=17,602) [5]. After 15 years of follow-up, initial ADT was associated with a nearly three-fold higher risk of prostate cancer death compared to initial radical therapy (HR 2.87, 95%CI 2.16-3.82). Furthermore, Dr. Aly notes that the cancer specific mortality in men with distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis treated with non-curative intent is dismal with 50% of men dead within 3 years [6]. In addition to the previously mentioned SWOG study, there are several important ongoing randomized studies, (i) g-RAMPP: a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial evaluating the effect of medial standard treatment with or without radical prostatectomy with lymph node dissection in men with oligometastatic disease (aim to randomize 450 patients), and (ii) TRoMbone: a feasibility trial testing radical prostatectomy in men with prostate cancer and oligometastases to the bone.Case #2This patient was a 67-year-old married professor who presented in 2007 with a PSA of 141 ng/mL, ALP of 0.8 U/L, Gleason 3+4 disease in 8/8 biopsies, and clinical T3. He subsequently underwent a bone and PET/CT scan which showed no evidence of metastasis, so he underwent three months of ADT followed by an MRI that showed tumor volume decrease, followed by 25 Gy of radiation. He then underwent a cystoprostatectomy with extended lymph node dissection with a Kock reservoir. His pathology demonstrated pT3bN1R0 disease and his PSA after 10 years was <0.1 ng/mL on intermittent hormonal therapy.Case #3This gentleman was 51-years-old, an architect, healthy, with LUTS. His PSA was 10 ng/mL and a biopsy demonstrated Gleason 4+5 disease in 4/10 cores, pT2NxM1 (pelvic metastasis). After 3 months of ADT he underwent a radical prostatectomy with lymph node dissection, pathology pT2N1R0, two positive lymph nodes and Gleason 4+5 disease. Post-operatively he received GnRH treatment and one year from surgery he was using no pads for incontinence, and being followed every 3 months with a PSA. Two years from surgery his PSA was still <0.1 ng/mL on ADT, however at 3-years from surgery his PSA was up to 0.3 ng/mL, with no signs of metastasis on staging imaging. At 4 years his PSA continued to rise and he received docetaxel chemotherapy.Speaker: Axel Merseburger, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lubeck, Germany; Markus Aly, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SwedenWritten By: Zachary Klaassen, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre @zklaassen_md at the EAU - Update on Prostate Cancer  September 15-16, 2017, Vienna, AustriaReferences:2. Gratzke C, Engel J, Stief CG. Role of radical prostatectomy in metastatic prostate cancer: Data from the Munich Cancer Registry. Eur Urol 2014;66(3):602-603.3. Culp SH, Schellhammer PF, Williams MB. Might men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer benefit from definitive treatment of the primary tumor? A SEER-based study. Eur Urol 2014;65(6):1058-1066. 4. Engel J, Bastian PJ, Baur H, et al. Survival benefit of radical prostatectomy in lymph node-positive patients with prostate cancer. Eur Urol 2010;57(5):754-761.5.Sooriakumaran P, Nyberg T, Akre O, et al. Survival among men at high risk of disseminated prostate cancer receiving initial locally directed radical treatment or initial androgen deprivation therapy. Eur Urol 2017;72(3):345-351.6. Rider JR, Sandin F, Andren O, et al. Long-term outcomes among noncuratively treated men according to prostate cancer risk category in a nationwide, population-based study. Eur Urol 2013;63(1):88-96.
Vienna, Austria (UroToday.com) Dr. Alberto Briganti from Italy and Dr. Steven Joniau from Belgium provided a spirited discussion of the management of clinically node positive patients at this afternoons EAU Update on Prostate Cancer in Vienna, Austria.Case #1This patient was a 61-year-old professor of social sciences with a first PSA in November 2015 of 110 ng/mL and a stone-hard prostate on DRE. A TRUS biopsy found 10/10 cores positive for Gleason 4+5 disease; mpMRI of the prostate showed locally advanced disease with clinically positive lymphadenopathy. A recent study from the prostate cancer database of Sweden assessed men at high risk of disseminated prostate cancer (PSA >50 ng/mL) initially treated with radiation therapy (n=630) or radical prostatectomy (n=120) or ADT (n=17,602) [1]. After 15 years of follow-up, initial ADT was associated with a nearly three-fold higher risk of prostate cancer death compared to initial radical therapy (HR 2.87, 95%CI 2.16-3.82). As Dr. Briganti notes, the authors concluded that radical prostatectomy in these patients appears safe in meticulously selected patients and complication rates are not more frequent than when radical prostatectomy is performed for standard indications. In a recent study of the National Cancer Database, Seisen et al. [2] assessed the efficacy of local therapy (radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy) +/- ADT vs ADT alone for clinical N1 prostate cancer. Local therapy +/- ADT was associated with a significant overall mortality survival benefit (HR 0.31, 95%CI 0.13-0.74) when compared to ADT alone. Interestingly, there was no difference when comparing radical prostatectomy +/- ADT versus radiotherapy +/- ADT for overall mortality free survival (HR 0.54, 95%CI 0.19-1.52).In April 2016, the patient in the case presentation underwent a radical prostatectomy + super-extended lymphadenectomy, pathology demonstrating Gleason 5+4 disease, bilateral seminal vesicle invasion, extracapsular extension, multiple positive margins, 14/49 lymph nodes positive, for pT4N1M1a disease. His continence was almost fully recovered at 4 months post-operatively, with absent erections and no lymphedema. After a multi-disciplinary discussion at tumor board, the decision was made to add IMRT to the prostate bed (70 Gy) and pelvis + para-aortic regions (56 Gy) in 35 fractions, as well as LHRH therapy for 2 years.Case #2This gentleman was 54 years of age and in November 2011 he underwent a robotic prostatectomy with extended lymphadenectomy, pathology demonstrating pT3aN0R0 (0/22 nodes) and postoperative PSA <0.001 ng/mL. In January 2014, his PSA was 0.4 ng/mL and in May 2014 up to 0.7 ng/mL. At this point he underwent a PSMA-PET/CT that showed one positive area in the retroperitoneum. Dr. Briganti notes that for salvage lymph node dissection, the EAU Guidelines state that men may be considered for salvage lymph node dissection, but it should be considered experimental and biochemical recurrence after salvage lymph node dissection occurs in the majority of cases [3]. In November 2014, the patient underwent a robotic assisted salvage lymph node dissection of the pelvic and retroperitoneal nodes with 5/38 nodes positive for prostate cancer. His PSA in January 2015 was 0.3 ng/mL and the decision was made to forego any further systemic therapy at this point in time. His PSA trend was as follows: April 2015 0.3 ng/mL, July 2015 0.36 ng/mL, and October 2015 0.51 ng/mL. A PSMA-PET/CT scan at this point was negative and in January 2016 his PSA was 0.89 ng/mL, followed by 1.19 ng/mL in August 2016. A subsequent PSMA-PET/CT scan then demonstrated a small lymph node recurrence in the pelvis adjacent to the rectum. At this point after multi-disciplinary discussion he underwent whole pelvis radiotherapy with a boost to the lymph node and 6 months of concomitant ADT. His PSA decreased to 0.3 ng/mL, however 6 months later was 1.81 ng/mL  subsequent PSMA-PET/CT scan showed multiple thoracic lymph nodes and he was placed once again on ADT.Speaker: Alberto Briganti, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Steven Joniau, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumWritten by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre @zklaassen_md at the EAU - Update on Prostate Cancer  September 15-16, 2017, Vienna, AustriaReferences:1. Sooriakumaran P, Nyberg T, Akre O, et al. Survival among men at high risk of disseminated prostate cancer receiving initial locally directed radical treatment or initial androgen deprivation therapy.2017;72(3):345-351.2. Seisen T, Vetterlein MW, Karabon P, et al. Efficacy of local treatment in prostate cancer patients with clinically pelvic lymph node-positive disease at initial diagnosis.2017 [Epub ahead of print].3. Mottet N, Bellmunt J, Bolla M, et al. EAU-ESTRO-SIOG Guidelines on Prostate Cancer. Part 1: Screening Diagnosis, and Local Treatment with Curative Intent. Eur Urol 2017;71(4):618-629.
High specificity for receptors

Fast circulation through the body

Fast clearance from background

Easy to produce and label

High stability with no host immune response

Vienna, Austria (UroToday.com) Dr. Stefano Fanti from Italy and Dr. Boris Hadaschik from Germany provided several cases and discussion points regarding the use of novel imaging approaches for prostate cancer patients at this afternoons EAU Update on Prostate Cancer.Case #1This patient was 72 years-old treated in October 2007 with a radical prostatectomy and adjuvant ADT for Gleason 4+4, pT3bN0R0Mx disease, and initial PSA of 14.1 ng/mL. In March 2009, he had a biochemical relapse with a PSA of 0.3 ng/mL, followed by PSA continually increasing to 1.73 ng/mL. Conventional imaging was negative and he was restarted on ADT with an appropriate undetectable PSA response. In June 2011, his PSA once again was detectable at 0.32 ng/mL; ADT was continued in the castrate setting and in February 2012 his PSA was up to 1.12 ng/mL. At this point Dr. Fanti notes that he underwent a 11C-choline PET/CT scan, demonstrating a solitary positive lesion in the pubic symphysis. He then received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to the osteoblastic bone lesion and his PSA responded to 0.65 ng/mL six months after therapy.Case #2This patient was 69 years-old, treated in June 2011 with a radical prostatectomy for Gleason 4+3, pT3aN0R0Mx prostate cancer with an initial PSA of 7.5 ng/mL. In October 2012, he had a biochemical recurrence with a PSA of 0.42 ng/mL and subsequent PSA rise to 0.86 in January 2013; no ADT was administered. He was then scheduled for salvage radiotherapy in the prostatic bed, with a 11C-choline PET/CT scan scheduled prior to radiotherapy for up to date staging. This imaging resulted in a single positive lymph node in the left external iliac region, allowing salvage radiotherapy to include this positive lymph node; post-treatment PSA was < 0.2 ng/mL.Case #3This gentleman was an 80-year-old fellow with a diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2000 with a pre-surgery PSA of 10 ng/mL; radical prostatectomy pathology showed Gleason 3+4, pT3aN0Mx. Post-operatively his PSA was undetectable and no hormonal or radiotherapy was administered. In 2013, he had a biochemical relapse with a PSA reaching 16 ng/mL. Dr. Fanti notes that in situations where local recurrence is suspected, imaging should include MRI in addition to 11C-choline PET/CT for assessing distant disease.Case #4This patient was 72-years-old and underwent a radical prostatectomy in August 2011 for Gleason 4+5, pT3bN1MxR1 disease with an initial PSA of 7.13 ng/mL. After surgery, radiotherapy was targeted to the prostatic bed and hormonal therapy was started. In 2014, he presented with a biochemical recurrence and PSA to 1.84 ng/mL. A 11C-choline PET/CT showed multiple bone lesions and metastatic lymph nodes.Dr. Hadaschik started his portion of the discussion by noting that small molecules for molecular imaging allow better images and improved clinical decision making. The optimal properties of a tracer according to Dr. Hadaschik include:PSMA is a 750-amino acid cell surface glycoprotein, membrane-bound binuclear zinc metallopeptidase expressed in the brain, kidney, spleen, intestine, salivary glands and prostate. Dr. Hadaschik notes that-Gallium PSMA-11 PET/CT is currently the present PSMA standard molecule for imaging men with biochemical recurrence, performing with better specificity and detection rates than 11C-choline PET/CT.Case #5This patient was a 64-year-old who underwent a radical prostatectomy in 2008 for pT2cN0 (0/15 nodes), Gleason 7 prostate cancer with a post-operative PSA of 0.78 ng/mL. A PSMA-PET demonstrated a conglomeration of right iliac lymph nodes and the patient underwent a salvage lymphadenectomy with 4/26 lymph nodes positive.Case #6This man was 69-years-old and underwent a radical prostatectomy in October 2012 for pT3bpN0 (0/8), Gleason 4+4 prostate cancer who underwent salvage radiotherapy in 2014. His PSA subsequent increased to 2.6 ng/mL. A PSMA-PET/CT showed retroperitoneal lymph node positivity and he underwent a salvage lymphadenectomy that demonstrated 32/66 lymph nodes positive. The patient subsequently was placed on intermittent ADT.Case #7This man was 72 years-old with a PSA of 0.65 ng/mL after a radical prostatectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy in 2003. A PSMA-PET/CT scan and MRI demonstrated a local recurrence in the pelvis. A biopsy subsequently showed 4/7 cores positive and he underwent salvage HDR brachytherapy with a subsequent undetectable PSA.Speaker: Stefano Fanti, Universita di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Boris Hadaschik, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, GermanyWritten by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre @zklaassen_md at the EAU - Update on Prostate Cancer  September 15-16, 2017, Vienna, Austria
This years city council election in Lowell, Massachusetts, is turning the former mill town on its head.

What was once expected to be the year when a minority candidate, possibly from the large Cambodian community, won a seat now hinges on the fate of Lowell High School.

Nine incumbents, including the mayor, are seeking re-election. Some of them have been in the office over a decade.

At stake is whether to renovate the existing high school or to build a new school.

In a city notable for its diversity  taken together, ethnic minorities form a majority  few question the need to do something about the out-of-date but historically significant Lowell High School, built on the site of boading houses that were used for mill workers.

It would cost an estimated $350 million to renovate the centrally located, downtown campus. The alternative is building a new school by Cawley Stadium, currently the Lowell High School (LHS) home field in the Belvidere neighborhood, a predominantly white, well-educated and wealthy enclave.

Building a new school, for a student population that is 70 percent minority, would cost an estimated $334 million and put taxpayers on the hook for $3.2 million in annual transportation costs for students unable to walk to the outlying campus.

On June 20, the City Council voted 5-4 to authorize construction of a new school at the Cawley Stadium site. At least five city council members live in Belvidere. All the council members are white.

Eight days later, the six-member Lowell School Committee, the citys version of a school board, voted 5-1 to keep the school downtown. All the school committee members are white.

Lowell residents, on each side of the issue, quickly formed rival, active Facebook groups and collected more than 5,000 signatures demanding that the issue be put on the Nov. 7 ballot, deepening a fast-forming divide.

On Aug. 31, the school committee filed suit against the City Council in the Middlesex Superior Court, arguing only the committee held the authority to decide between renovating or new construction.

There are 23 candidates on the City Council ballot for the vote on Tuesday, which will winnow the field to the 18 permitted on the November ballot.

Before the school issue erupted, the big struggle was getting representation for the citys minorities. Now the only topic that matters to most voters is a candidates stance on Lowell High  downtown or Belvidere?

This is a very crucial election for the city. It is going to affect everybody, said Sokhary Chau, one of four Cambodian-American candidates from the second-largest Cambodian population in the U.S. The largest is in Long Beach, California.

This can be good and bad, Chau added. The good thing is a lot of people are going to get involved in this election. The bad is the city is dividing.



Dividing minority candidates

Before the school controversy erupted, the top issue in the City Council vote was how should Lowell respond to a federal lawsuit filed in May that alleges that the citys at-large, or winner-take-all electoral system discriminated against them and people from their communities running for city offices.

Given the majority of minorities, representation matters. But, what about Lowell High?

First-time candidate Chau, a 44-year-old father of two boys who manages a local law firm, is running for city council. Hes campaigning as a unifier.

Leaders from different groups support me, he said. I can bring all communities together.

Hes also backing the high schools 2.9-mile move. Two other Cambodian-American candidates do as well.

But Cambodian-American candidate Vesna Noun, a former councilor, wants the high school to stay downtown on its more than century-old sites, which has been upgraded to a state-of-the-art institution.

LHS's location in downtown is very important for minority students who find extracurricular activities accessible in the area after school hours, Noun said.

Noun, a Cambodian-American, who won a seat in 2010, lost when he ran in 2013 and 2015. He agrees the high school issue has created a big division among voters and candidates this year.

A call for inside change

Those voters and candidates are also still divided about the federal lawsuit and the issue of minority representation on the City Council.

The city has to come together and discuss this matter and resolve it internally, Noun said. It will affect the reputation of the city, if this matter is handled at the federal court.

Chau, who like Noun arrived in the U.S. as a refugee in the early 1980s, agrees.

It is better to change from the inside, he said, adding he believes there might be some kind of repercussion from the City Hall, given the current political environment in the city.

Both Chau and Noun want to see the City Council adopt a mixed electoral system of ward-based and at-large representatives similar to that used in nearby Springfield, which implemented systems very similar to the action sought by Lowell residents in 2006.

Hong Net, a three-term Cambodian-American city councilor in nearby Lynn since 2011 said, For Lowell, a diverse city, a mixed electoral system is good for the whole city, because minority candidates have a better chance of winning.

At-large councilors focus on developments, tax rates, budgets and creating ordinances in the city, while ward-based councilors work on responding to all concerns of minority groups who have not had any representation from their community at the City Council, said Net, who escaped the Khmer Rouge genocide and arrived in the U.S. in late 1982.

Although Noun disagrees with his three fellow Cambodian-American candidates over the high school debate, for him, this election is very meaningful, he said. Because I hope one or more of us would win.

Dissatisfaction and disconnection

Amid the lawsuits, and the high school dispute, newly minted candidates, such as Chau, are calling for a change in the government leadership.

Since 1999 only four candidates from Asian or Hispanic communities have been elected to the City Council. Voters have never selected a minority candidate for the Lowell School Committee.

There are a lot of dissatisfaction and disconnection to the local government, Chau said. I hope to bring diversity and new ideas, pretty much new faces to the city.

Mathew LeLacheur, a white candidate for City Council, said he wants to see minority involvement at all levels of government, regardless of the outcome in November.

LeLacheur, who grew up in Lowell during the influx of the Southeast Asian immigrants, said, What I would like to see happen is that more [of the Cambodian] community are on more of our boards, more on our commissions.

But what about the high school? LeLacheur is Team Belvidere all the way.
North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said Monday the United States has declared war on his country and Pyongyang would take counter-actions if threatened, including shooting down American war planes in the region.

Ri directly linked U.S. President Donald Trumps comments Saturday night on social media platform Twitter to the threat.



In a tweet late Saturday responding to Ris United Nations General Assembly speech earlier in the day, Trump wrote: Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!



On Monday, North Korea's foreign minister responded:

Given the fact that this comes from someone who is currently holding the seat of United States presidency, this is clearly a declaration of war," Ri told reporters outside his New York hotel.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country," Ri continued. "Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down the United States strategic bombers, even when they are not yet inside the airspace border of our country, he warned.



The question of who wont be around much longer will be answered then, Ri said, before walking toward his vehicle. A moment later, he returned to the microphones and added a final point.

In light of the declaration of war by Trump, all options will be on the operations table of the supreme leadership of the DPRK, he said referring to North Korea by its acronym.



The comments follow an escalation in rhetoric between North Korean leaders and Trump last week, during and on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

'Rocket Man'



Describing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as Rocket Man on a suicide mission, Trump used his maiden address to the U.N. General Assembly last Tuesday to warn the Pyongyang regime that its current course could lead to "total destruction."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un responded with a statement calling Trump a "dotard" expressing "mentally deranged behavior.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said if North Korea carried out the threat of a hydrogen bomb test, it would be a "shocking" irresponsibility.

"This would be a shocking display of irresponsibility toward global health, toward stability, toward non-proliferation," Mattis told reporters early Monday, on route to New Delhi for talks this week with Indian officials.
African first ladies and activists hailed progress that some governments on the continent are making on gender equality. They met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

We used to have 23 percent female representation in parliament but, with the stroke of a pen it went up to 48 percent. So, we managed to double our female representation with that decision, said Namibias first lady Monica Geingos at a roundtable invitation-only event co-hosted by the Global First Ladies Alliance (GFLA) and Facebook.

Geingos credited the quota enacted by the ruling SWAPO party of her husband, President Hage Geingob. But she said a similar quota might be needed for Namibias private sector, where only 10 to 15 percent of executives are women.

The private sector has to do more, they have to do it faster, and there needs to be targets, Geingos said during a panel discussion broadcast live on Facebook. Its not only about representation at the top. Its also about hiring female talent so female talent is around when decisions are being made on leadership and key positions within an organization.

But government help is still needed in providing better access to capital for female entrepreneurs and prioritizing government procurement from female-owned or represented businesses, Geingos said.

We should make it wrong to procure from businesses that are all male. Because, theyre not inclusive of our societies, she added.

South Africas first lady Tobeka Madiba Zuma agreed and underscored the importance of providing equitable access to education for girls.

They then become economically empowered. And, when theyre economically empowered that will guarantee their success in future that they will not be dependent on men, Zuma said. We just need to ensure that we encourage our youth and harness entrepreneurship, she added.

Empowering women

The Elman Peace and Human Rights Center for Somalia has for been working for decades to break down stereotypes in gender roles by teaching young women to become electricians, mechanics, and learn to repair mobile phones.

Women in my country are often viewed as victims of war, spoils of war. At the very best, beneficiaries receiving the impact of these various resolutions, declarations, and treaties that are meant to build peace, said Somali peace activist Ilwad Elman, who was a refugee in Kenya as a child before her family moved to Canada. But rarely are they engaged in creating peace in the country. And, thats incredibly diminutive of their ability and their capacity.

Elman noted while Somalia has been in a state of war for a quarter century, half the population  women  have been sidelined from government.

The role of Somali women in society, if I was to sum it up, the easiest way to say it is that they do everything. They are the breadwinners, they are the economic powerhouses, they are the decision-makers, the influencers. However, their role has never been institutionalized, Elman said. And, for my country to transition out of this period of conflict that weve been in, and we are seeing progress now, is that we have to engage women. And, not just see them as beneficiaries but assets.

Somalia has a new government in place this year considered to be the peoples choice, Elman said.

Its not a perfect system. However, it did yield a huge spike in representation of women parliamentarians, women that are in ministerial roles. And, that is how real change happens, she said.

Role of technology

Women in Africa need positive leadership examples to follow and give them the confidence and courage to feel they belong in sectors dominated by men, said model Grace Mahary.

I need my sisters and younger sisters to go on social media and see this every day and not just see, Im not going to say names, male leaders of the world. Because, thats all that you do see, Mahary said. And, I need to see the first ladies work on social media.

The Victorias Secret model, who founded Project Tsehigh to bring solar lighting to homes in Eritrea, said social media provided a unique opportunity for female leaders such as First Ladies to connect with younger women across the African continent.

Were here on Facebook Live panel. Do you know how important that is? Growing up, I didnt have Facebook Live. I didnt see the first lady of Nigeria or the first lady of the Congo or any of these first ladies because I didnt know they existed, I didnt know what they were doing, Mahary said.

First ladies have an important responsibility because of their proximity to power and influence, Geingos said.

To me, the role of a first lady, and any powerful woman for that matter, in helping the generation beneath us to come up, is not to stand in the way, its not to compete, its to facilitate, its to provide a bridge.

But Geingos said their role should not be to underscore their successes as female leaders but to show young African women the challenges they will face and the importance of learning from their failures.

I think we have a responsibility to sit on panels like this and talk about what we have failed at, she said.

Geingos went on to say that their success as first ladies would be measured by the gradual elimination of the institution itself.

If we succeed, and we have a society thats equal and we have a society where we have many female heads of state, the institution of first ladyism is likely to fall away.So, we must actually fight for the institution of first ladyism to fall away, she said.

But progress on female heads of state in Africa has a long way to go.

Despite the improvements in representation of women parliamentarians in Africa, Geingos noted the continent currently has only one female president, Liberias Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is about to leave office.
Washingtons gaze shifts southward this week to the state of Alabama, where a Republican primary contest for a U.S. Senate seat will be decided Tuesday. VOAs Michael Bowman reports, President Donald Trump put his prestige on the line by campaigning for incumbent Luther Strange, who has trailed in the polls against a firebrand conservative challenger loathed by the Republican establishment.
The Army is making moves to deal with an embarrassing number of misconduct and behavior problems among senior officers.

This includes putting together a series of new mental health, counseling and career management programs to shape stronger, more ethical leaders.

The programs stem from a broader worry across the military about the need to bolster professionalism within the officer corps while holding accountable those who abuse their power.

The Army plan appears to focus more on building character than on berating bad conduct.

Stumbles in recent years by general officers - from one-star to four-star level - have violated the military code of conduct they've lived under and enforced.

Some infractions involved extramarital affairs, inappropriate relationships with subordinates or improper use of government funds.
Chelsea Manning, a former U.S. intelligence analyst convicted of espionage for passing information to WikiLeaks, has been barred from entering Canada.

On Monday, Manning posted on Twitter a report from the Canadian government that identified her as a foreign national "who has not been authorized to enter Canada" due to prior convictions.

"So, I guess Canada has permanently banned me?" wrote Manning.

Manning told Reuters that she tried to enter Canada on Thursday evening, planning to vacation in Montreal and Vancouver.

She said she was stopped at the border and detained overnight before being handed a letter stating she was inadmissible "on grounds of serious criminality."

The letter said that if the same offense had been carried out in Canada, it "would equate to an indictable offence, namely treason," and could result in up to 14 years in prison. For this reason, Manning was deemed inadmissible to Canada.

Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks three years earlier. While in prison, Manning, a 29-year-old transgender woman formerly known as Bradley Manning, fought for and won the right to start hormone treatment.

She served seven years before then-president Barack Obama commuted her sentence days before he left office in January.
When Tashitaa Tufaa first arrived in Minneapolis from Ethiopia in 1992, he remembers craning his head skyward in disbelief. Looking up at the tallest skyscraper he had ever seen, he began counting the stories until he couldnt count anymore. Eventually, he found out the building had 55 floors.

It was a long way from Negele Arsi district in the Oromia region of Ethiopia where he grew up. As a child, he worked alongside his 13 siblings on the family farm.

Now hed have to do other types of work. He thought he had a fluent command of English that would open doors in the job market.

But I found out that I didn't after I came to Minneapolis, he said.

So he began as a dishwasher at the Hilton Hotel, earning $5.65 an hour. Eventually, he held as many as three jobs at once, including ones at manufacturing companies and another as a security guard.

The small paychecks of those days are long gone for Tufaa, who is now president of a successful bus company.

Each day, Metropolitan Transportation Network carries more than 15,000 children to schools, field trips and other destinations in Minneapolis and other Minnesota cities. The multimillion-dollar transportation company has more than 300 employees and recently moved to a new, larger operations center.

WATCH: From Dishwasher to Millionaire, Ethiopian Refugee Achieves American Dream

'I do not believe in giving up'

The road to success hasnt been easy, but Tufaa believes his experience shows that for those willing to work hard, anything is possible.

I do not believe in giving up, he told VOA.

Tufaa came to the U.S. as a refugee. He had been a school teacher in Ethiopia and was also active in politics. Following the fall of Ethiopias communist Derg regime in 1991, he helped campaign for the Oromo Liberation Front in his native Oromia region.

When his party withdrew from the transitional government after a fallout with the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, Tufaa no longer felt safe in the country and decided to leave.



I was a political asylee. I didn't like or agree with the Ethiopian government, he said.



While working his menial jobs in the U.S. he also earned his masters degree in political science and international relations from the University of Minnesota. After obtaining the degree, he worked for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

Dishwashing and factory work were not enough to provide for his family, so he took an evening and weekend job as a shuttle driver, transporting senior citizens and people with disabilities to and from work.



As a result I fell in love with transportation and I call myself an addicted driver, he said with a chuckle.



He left his city job after a conflict with a supervisor and began driving taxis. But other drivers complained that he worked long hours and favored shorter trips to avoid long queues at the airport.

Eventually the taxi company fired him and, with no other options, he decided to strike out on his own.



To do a business, you need to face a challenge. You can't start business if there is luxury, Tufaa said.

Starting with one van

After sketching out their idea for a transportation company in 2003, Tufaa and his brother began delivering handwritten letters to public school districts seeking contracts. He started with his wifes single minivan transporting homeless children.

Tufaa  who had once aspired to be a diplomat  says his negotiation and bargaining skills paid off. Their service was rated as excellent by public school districts and the business grew.



The business has steadily grown and now includes a fleet of nearly 300 buses and vans that take children to schools across the state. In 2012 Tufaa was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Metropolitan Economic Development Association in Minneapolis.



Since the beginning, Tufaa says, he prioritized the safety and punctuality of the children his company serves.

I will not accept for my kids to arrive in school one minute late, the father of five said. I make sure that is the case for all the children we serve.



Minnesota has long, snowy winters. Although buses typically drop off kids and leave, MTN pays its drivers to wait until the children get inside their homes or are met by an adult.



Employees marvel at his ability to grow the business without sacrificing his values.

When I joined everything all I was hearing was, We want to be more like a family, said Charles Marks, an assistant transportation manager at the company. We kept that tradition and that makes the drivers come back every year. I always keep an empty chair next to my desk for anyone who wants to come and talk.



Tufaa believes in building and empowering communities to be self-sufficient. He is active in the local Oromo community.

Estimated at 40,000 by the Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota is home to the largest Oromo population outside of Ethiopia in the U.S.

Tufaa advises and mentors employees interested in starting their own business. In fact, since 2012, three former employees have started their own successful transportation companies.

The greatest gift I think you can give people like you is that it can be done and I feel like I've done that, Tufaa said.



This, he says, is a lesson for all African immigrants pursuing their American dream.

When a person is free, you can do anything, he said. So appreciate what you have, work so very hard, and get rid of the wrong pride we have back home that if you have a college degree you have to be in a professional line [of work] and you can't dig the potatoes or do the dishes. Work is work and go out there and do what is available. Be proud of it.
On the eve of the historic referendum on independence, Kurds across the region were celebrating. Young people honked their horns and shot celebratory gunfire into the air of major cities.

But not in Tuz Khurmatu, an Iraqi town of more than 100,000 that is violently split among Kurds and Shi'ite Turkmen, who oppose Monday's referendum.

"I hope the referendum will be canceled," said Luay, a Turkman shopkeeper in Tuz. "If they don't, the Kurds will take over by force and there won't be any Turkmen or Arabs left."

The town is part of the disputed territories, ethnically mixed areas in northern Iraq claimed by both the central government in Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdish government in the north. Each side has tried to consolidate their power over the town since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Kurdish officials have insisted throughout the referendum campaign that all residents of the disputed territories  including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and other minorities  would be allowed to vote.

However, by Sunday afternoon, the ballot boxes had yet to be distributed throughout the rundown town, which local Kurdish officials attributed to a lack of security forces able to help deploy them safely.

Plans had been made to have polling stations in all neighborhoods, said Arslan Ali, a local representative of Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which has been pushing for the referendum.

"We will make it happen," Ali said.

This was unlikely, since Tuz Khurmatu is unmistakably split: while Kurdish Peshmerga forces control a Kurdish half, Iran-backed Shi'ite paramilitary groups (PMF) control the Turkmen neighborhoods.

"We will not let them approach the Turkmen areas," said Mohammed Mahdi al-Bayati, a senior leader in the Badr Organization, the preeminent PMF force in the area. "They want to seize the disputed territories, but we will not let them."



A decision by Kurdish President Massoud Barzani to include these ethnically mixed areas in the plebiscite was widely interpreted as a unilateral move to consolidate Kurdish control.

When Islamic State militants overran about one third of Iraq in 2014, the Kurds seized the moment and took over vast areas in northern Iraq, left vulnerable by a fleeing Iraqi army.

Peshmerga fighters moved deeper into the disputed territories, including Tuz Khurmatu, which they defended against the militants.

But this ignited the Shi'ite Turkmen's fears of being subjected to Kurdish rule. Though PMF-led Turkmen worked together to push Islamic State militants out of Tuz Khurmatu, ultimately the fragile coalition fell apart and led to open hostilities.

"The referendum will be the start of a crisis in the disputed territories," al-Bayati said, at a his organization's base in Tuz Khurmatu, where it has been based since 2014.

Asked whether his forces would move to prevent such a crisis, al-Bayati made only veiled reference to looming violence: "There will be conflict for sure within 24 hours of the referendum."

Memories of Mixed Neighborhood

Walking through the Turkmen neighborhood of Aksu, solid-black flags flutter alongside banners with Shi'ite iconography, a reminder of the somber month of Muharram.

The area used to house the main market, where both ethnic groups used to trade. It is now encased in blast walls and guarded by PMF fighters. According to Turkmen residents and shopkeepers, Kurdish shops and houses were burned down, forcing Kurds to move out.

"I used to like that it was mixed neighborhood," said Luay, the Turkman shopkeeper. "But then the Kurds killed my brother on this street."

A five-minute drive away is the rival Kurdish market, where tri-color Kurdish flags were flying high. It was established by Kurds afraid of the old market.

"I used to have lots of Turkmen and Arab friends," said Shalaw, a Kurdish toyshop owner. "Many of the Turkmen have since joined [the PMF], and I'm afraid to cross the city border to go and see them. I'll be killed."

Like other Kurds interviewed in the market in al-Jumhuriyah, Shalaw lamented Tuz Khurmatu's split, which he blamed on the PM's arrival. But he said he will vote for independence on Monday.

Badr leader Al-Bayati cynically said the referendum suited his group's interests.

"Iraq is against the Kurds, so are the Turks, the Iranians, the whole Arab region and Europe. They are going to live in a cage."
In the photograph, the distraught blonde-haired woman is surrounded by lascivious Middle Eastern-looking men. The caption refers to New Years Eve, a reference to the mass sexual assaults reported mainly in Cologne on December 31, 2015, involving men of Arab or North African appearance.

Posted on social media sites earlier this month, the photograph included the symbol of the far-right populist party, Alternative for Germany, which on Sunday eclipsed Angela Merkels re-election as German chancellor by winning nearly 100 seats in the Bundestag, becoming Germanys third largest parliamentary party.

The photograph  it has emerged  was a falsification: the woman pictured was a British glamor model, her image lifted from a glossy magazine, and the men, Egyptians protesting in Cairo in 2011.

In the three-month election campaign that ended Sunday mainstream politicians, some from minority backgrounds, lamented the rabble-rousing tactics of the AfD and its grassroots agitators and fellow-travelers and their menacing social media propaganda playing on fears of Islam and Muslim criminality and on foreigners in general.

From fringe to center of power

Winning seats in the Bundestag marks a startling new phase in the partys progress from the fringe of German politics to closer to the center of power in Berlin. For far-right counterparts elsewhere in Europe the AfDs electoral breakthrough serves as a consolation prize for election setbacks this year of like-minded populists elsewhere  Marine Le Pen in France and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands.

For mainstream German politicians, and Germany minorities, the rise of the AfD, which has called for the sealing of borders and a slimmed down appeals process for asylum-seekers making deportations easier, is a door opening on a German past they thought long buried.

This is the most aggressive election campaign that Germany has seen since 1945, lamented Senegal-born Karamba Diaby, who was first elected to the Bundestag in 2013 to become the countrys first black African lawmaker. Last month, he filed a legal complaint against members of the openly neo-Nazi National Democratic Party, whose supporters have been backing the AfD, for calling him an ape on a Facebook page.

For Diaby and other lawmakers from Germanys major parties, the arrival of the AfD raises perplexing questions about how they should treat the first open nationalists to sit in the German legislature since the 1933 razing of the Reichstag by Adolf Hitler.

But treating AfD lawmakers any differently from other elected representatives could play into the hands of the far-right populists, allowing them to portray themselves as political victims and to claim that a political oligarchy is intent on ignoring the 12.6 percent of the population that voted for them.

Commentator Kay-Alexander Scholz argues that ostracizing the AfD in parliament would likely backfire. He maintains all the established parties should be asking themselves what they did wrong over the last several years to set the stage for the AfD.

Luring back AfD voters

Merkel went out of her way on Sunday night following the election results to reach out to AfD voters - especially those who defected from her Christian Democrats. We want to win back AfD voters by solving problems, by taking account of their concerns and fears, she said.

One of her advisers, Michael Fuchs, told VOA that it isn't good enough just to view the party as Nazi. He argued that some members are just conservatives and he held out the prospect that under the pressure of day-to-day legislative work the AfD could split between its more moderate wing and the radicals.

But AfD moderates are hardly normal conservatives, either. Earlier this month the newspaper Welt am Sonntag published a 2013 memo written by one of the AfDs stars, Alice Weidel, a leading moderate and lesbian, condemning the Merkel government as pigs [who] are nothing other than marionettes of the victorious powers of World War II, whose task it is to keep down the German people.

This month it emerged that another of the partys co-leaders, Alexander Gauland, another moderate, believes Germans have the right to be proud of the achievements of German soldiers in two world wars.

Chancellor Angela Merkels decision to admit more than a million refugees, breathed new life into the party, which lurched rightwards. Since 2015 the party has secured seats in all but three of Germanys 16 regional parliaments.

The party appears in no mood to shift its confrontational tactics, a rejection of Germanys post-war collaborative political ethos. Gauland signaled that in his post-poll comments to cheering supporters in Berlin: We will change this country. We will chase them down, Angela Merkel and whoever else, and we will take our country back, he said.
The far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party has pledged to use its platform in parliament to "reclaim the country and its people." The AfD won close to 14 percent of the vote in Sundays election, giving them 94 seats  the first significant far-right presence in Germany's parliament since World War II. Henry Ridgwell reports from Berlin.
The Alternative for Germany party has pledged to use its platform in parliament to "reclaim the country and its people." The AfD won nearly 14 percent of the vote in Sunday's election, giving them 94 seats.

Many believed the turmoil of the 20th century had immunized Germany from a return of far-right politics, but Sunday's result proved them wrong.

For the group's opponents who gathered to protest the result in Berlin, the Alternative for Germany's anti-migrant agenda has parallels with the Nazis' rise to power.

"It is the first time since after the war that a racist and neo-Nazi party is in parliament," said one protester. "So that is really worrying to us. And this reminds everyone of 1933."

Jewish groups were among those expressing fear over the results.

The AfD's co-leader, Alexander Gauland, has previously said Germans should be proud of their military's achievements in World War II. However, at a news conference Monday, he denied the party is racist.

Gauland said there is nothing in the party or in its program that could or should disturb Jewish people in Germany. He said his pledge to "reclaim the country" is meant symbolically, adding he does "not want to lose Germany to an invasion of foreign people from foreign cultures."

Analyst Professor Tanja Borzel of Berlin's Free University says Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to let close to a million migrants into Germany at the height of the migrant and refugee crisis in 2015 led many to punish her at the polls.

Merkel's Christian Democrats won the highest number of votes Sunday, but gained their lowest share in 70 years.

"Most people who voted for the Alternative for Germany did not vote for the party because they share the platform. It was a protest vote, clearly," Borzel said.

The far-right's success overshadowed Merkel's win, which gives her a fourth term in power.

She told supporters Monday that her aspiration is to win the AfD voters back through good politics and problem solving.

Her first problem is forming a government. The second-placed Social Democrats have ruled out working together, so Merkel's best option is likely a coalition with the Liberals and the Greens that could take months, Borzel says.

"It will be very hard to find a compromise on issues such as migration and refugees, but also climate change," Borzel said. "So, we are looking at probably some lengthy negotiations."

The AfD, meanwhile, has pledged to use its new platform in parliament to, in its words, "hunt down" Merkel and reclaim the country.
The latest Republican effort to overhaul the nation's health care system appears to have failed after another Republican senator came out against the plan.

Senator Susan Collins from Maine became the third Republican senator to oppose the measure, saying Monday night, "This is simply not the way that we should be approaching an important and complex issue that must be handled thoughtfully and fairly for all Americans."

Collins' announcement came after the Congressional Budget Office said the attempt to end the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, would reduce health insurance coverage for "millions" of people.

With 52 seats in the 100-member Senate, Republicans could afford only two "no" votes from their ranks if the health reform bill were to pass, given unified opposition from Democrats.

Previously, two Republicans, John McCain of Arizona and Rand Paul of Kentucky, had announced their opposition to the legislation.

The only remaining hope for Republican party leaders is to change opponents' minds.

Earlier Monday, U.S. senators alternately criticized or defended the last-ditch Republican attempt to end Obamacare at the only committee hearing to examine the bill.

Wheelchair-bound demonstrators chanting "No cuts to Medicaid" delayed the start of the hearing by nearly 20 minutes to the irritation of the Senate Finance Committee's chairman, Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah.

"If you want a hearing, you'd better shut up," Hatch warned before calling a brief recess so police officers could remove the protesters. When the hearing resumed, he pleaded, "Let's have a civil discussion."

At issue is Graham-Cassidy, the Republican bill that would break up Obamacare, transfer funding to all 50 U.S. states to craft their own health care programs, and pare back federal dollars for Medicaid, a program that pays medical costs for the poor and disabled. Republicans have until the end of the month to pass the bill with a simple majority vote in the Senate.

Proponents argued the status quo will bankrupt America.

"By 2027, we're going to be spending more on Medicaid than on the [U.S.] military," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who co-authored the bill with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, testifying as a witness before the committee. "We're going to send this money back to the states.  My goal is to get the money and power out of Washington, closer to where people live.

"We're going to get a better outcome," Graham added.

Opponents accused Republicans of rushing to pass a poorly-crafted bill that will leave dozens of states with less health care funding.

"This Trumpcare bill is a health care lemon, a disaster in the making," said the committee's top Democrat, Ron Wyden of Oregon. "It's going to be a nightmare for tens of millions of Americans, and it makes a mockery of the president's promise of better insurance for everybody, at lower cost."

President Donald Trump has blasted Senate Republicans for failing to repeal and replace Obamacare, one of the party's core promises to voters since the law was enacted in 2010.

"7 years of Repeal & Replace and some senators not there," Trump lamented on Twitter on Sunday. A day earlier, he tweeted, "Large Block Grants to States is a good thing to do. Better control & management."

Democrats noted that a bipartisan effort was under way to fix Obamacare's shortcomings without scrapping the law entirely, but said the effort has been undermined by Graham-Cassidy, the latest in a series of Republican attempts to reform health care on their own.

"Millions of lives are at stake. Let's return to the bipartisan negotiations," urged Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. "This is exactly how we should approach health care in our country."

Republican leaders tried on Sunday night to persuade senators on the fence to vote for Graham-Cassidy by adding additional health care funding to their states, including the states of Maine, Arizona and Kentucky.

McCain provided the decisive "no" vote that torpedoed a previous Republican health care bill in July. The Arizona senator argued the bill had not been properly vetted in committee, a criticism he repeated last week in explaining his opposition to Graham-Cassidy.
Iraqi Kurds Monday voted in an independence referendum that is widely expected to yield an overwhelming yes vote, even though the poll is facing objections from the government in Baghdad as well as neighboring countries and the United States.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected on Monday to announce a snap election for next month to take advantage of improved ratings and opposition disarray, despite criticism that he is creating a political vacuum amid worries over North Korea.

Abe is expected to hold a news conference after meeting party executives and will likely put pledges to spend on education and child care, stay tough on North Korea and revise the constitution at the forefront of his campaign.

Abe, whose ratings have risen to around 50 percent from around 30 percent in July, is betting his ruling bloc can keep its lower house majority even if they lose the two-thirds "super majority" needed to achieve his long-held goal of revising the post-war pacifist Constitution to clarify the military's role.

A weekend survey by the Nikkei business daily survey showed 44 percent of voters planned to vote for Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) versus 8 percent for the main opposition Democratic Party. That was higher than the 27.7 percent a Kyodo news agency survey showed voting for Abe's party, with 42.2 percent undecided.

Abe's image as a strong leader has bolstered his ratings amid rising regional tensions over North Korea's nuclear arms and missile programs and overshadowed opposition criticism of the premier for suspected cronyism scandals that had eroded his support.

Ruling Liberal Democratic Party senior official Koichi Hagiuda on Sunday brushed off concerns about a political vacuum during the election campaign.

"Even if there is a contingency during the election, I am confident that we can respond properly," Hagiuda said on public broadcaster NHK.

Opposition party officials have said calling an election would be an attempt by Abe to dodge questioning over the cronyism scandals in a session of parliament set to begin on Thursday. Abe is expected to dissolve the chamber that same day.

Sources have said Abe's election platform will see him promise to go ahead with a planned rise in the national sales tax to 10 percent from 8 percent in 2019 but increase the proportion of revenue spent on child care and education, delaying a target of putting the budget in the black in the fiscal year ending March 2021.

Abe will also tell his cabinet to compile a 2 trillion yen ($17.80 billion) economic package by year-end, composed mostly of spending on child care and education, to cover the three years from April 2018 until sales tax revenue kicks in, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Monday.

An LDP internal survey showed seats held by the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito could fall to 280 from the 323 they now hold, the Nikkei reported on Saturday. Reforms enacted last year will cut the number of lower house seats to 465 from 475.

The main opposition Democratic Party is struggling with single-digit ratings while a new conservative party expected to be launched this week by allies of popular Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is racing to get ready for the vote.

($1 = 112.3400 yen)
People younger than 30 make up half the world's population, but their well-being has improved by only 2 percent since 2014, says the 2017 Global Youth Wellbeing Index.

"Two percent is pathetic," said Ritu Sharma, director of the Global Center for Gender and Youth at the International Youth Foundation in Baltimore.

At this rate, she said, it would take well over a century to improve the well-being of youths by 100 percent.

"Young people make up half the globe, we cannot take 150 years," she said.

The index ranks 30 countries that are home to approximately 70 percent of youths worldwide. Among people ages 15 to 29 years old who were surveyed, the index found:

11 percent experience high levels of well-being.

The highest levels of well-being are in education; however, too few are getting what they need to be successful in work and life.

Two in three youths said their government does not care about their wants and needs.

74 percent feel they will get the kind of job they want.

65 percent feel they will be make as much money as they want.

Almost 90 percent of youth surveyed agreed that "women should have all the same rights as men."

Youths rely on phones for information; less than half have access to internet at home.

Millions of young people, most of them men, used smoking or chewing tobacco products.

Road-related accidents remain the leading cause of death for youths worldwide.

Suicide rates are consistently high.

"As the global community works toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, too many young people remain disconnected from vital skills, economic opportunities, local communities, and national governments," states the index's executive summary.

It identifies where "investments need to be made now to ensure that this current generation of youth can thrive in a world with increasing challenges."

The Global Youth Wellbeing Index uses 35 indicators to evaluate the state of young people ages 15 to 29 in each participating country. All the indicators fall under seven categories: gender equality, economic opportunity, education, health, safety and security, citizen participation, and information and communication technology.

The 30 participating countries are chosen on population, data availability, income level and regional distribution. All data comes from internationally recognized organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization.

The index defines well-being as a "multidimensional concept that includes a person's physical and mental health, educational status, economic position, physical safety, access to freedoms, and ability to participate in civic life." Or, more simply, "the abundance or scarcity of opportunities available to an individual."

Global rankings

Sweden ranked first on the index with an overall score of 83. Runners up Australia and the United Kingdom scored 81 and 80, respectively. Germany came in fourth with a score of 78, and the United States was fifth with a 73.

This index is not the first to collect global data solely on youths. The Commonwealth Secretariat's Youth Development Index surveys 183 countries using 18 indicators.

"We also include youth opinion," said Sharma, "Not just hard data."

"I'm not surprised," said Ruby Vishnick, a third-year journalism student at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. This London native credits Britain's welfare state as to why they scored so high.

"People are not scared to go to the doctor, because it's free and it's accessible," she said. "And not only is it easy to book an appointment, you can also walk into any clinic, no questions asked."

Yi Jin Kim, a student from Seoul, also wasn't surprised to hear her country ranked on the index's top 10.

"I personally think the level of education in South Korea is a big factor," she said. Korean students typically go directly to university upon graduating high school.

"This is because our parents' generation really cares about their kids' education, and Korean society is very competitive," she said. "Our parents' generation did not have enough educational opportunities, as Korea at that time was not economically developed at all."

Challenges for youths

More than half the youths who participated in the International Youth Foundation's Global Millennial Viewpoints, which is part of the 2017 Global Youth Wellbeing Index, think emotional challenges get in the way of school, career or life.

"I think what we're seeing now is that the world is way more stressful for young people than it was in the past," Sharma noted. Combined with sparse economic opportunity, feeling unsupported by their government, and inadequate mental health care, that stress can bring drastic results. "In many industrial countries, the suicide rates are consistently high."

Death by road accidents remains high. From 1990 to 2015, index countries reduced youth road-related fatalities by 21 percent. Middle-income countries accounted for 90 percent of traffic-related deaths.

The bottom five countries in the index were Vietnam, India, Uganda, Egypt and Nigeria.

The index is part of the Youth, Prosperity and Security Initiative founded by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the International Youth Foundation in Washington.

Sharma said CSIS would like to see more indicators added to the index, but since categories must apply to all participating countries and not all countries collect the same data, some indicators will have to wait. With more research and surveys, more countries could participate and the index's analysis could be "even more robust."

How do you feel about the well-being of youths in your country? Please share your suggestion in the Comments here, and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, thanks!
John McCain faced a choice that balanced friendship, party loyalty and his convictions. He made the decision some of his closest advisers expected.

Looking at the twilight of his career and a grim cancer diagnosis, the Republican senator from Arizona who prides himself on an independent streak could not be moved to go along with a last-ditch GOP push to overhaul the nation's health care system.



Those close to him say he wrestled with the choice  the legislation was championed by his best friend in the Senate  but rarely strayed from his intention to send a message to the institution where he's spent three decades.



That message was bipartisanship and what he cast as the integrity of the Senate process that insists on debate and often yields compromise. The call for "regular order" isn't the stuff of campaign bumper stickers, but it has become McCain's mission since he's returned to Washington, to keep up his work and treatment for an often fatal brain tumor.



"If he supported this, then he guts his whole message that he's been trying to give his colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans," said Rick Davis, who managed McCain's two presidential campaigns and remains close to the lawmaker.



Davis said Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., "made his pitch" to his longtime friend, but McCain was motivated by "his drive to move the Senate toward more comity and bipartisanship."



McCain's decision probably will kill the bill and crush the GOP's hopes for repealing the Obama health law this year. Republicans have tried to go it alone in overhauling the Affordable Care Act, speeding two attempts at passage along with minimal hearings and debate.



McCain's statement declaring his opposition to the legislation Friday was the second time he derailed the effort.



In July, bearing a fresh surgery scar over his left eye, McCain scolded lawmakers from the Senate floor.

Incremental progress isn't glamorous or exciting, and it can be "less satisfying than winning," said the man who won his party's nomination but lost the White House in 2008.

He struck a similar tone on Friday in a written statement, saying he believed "we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried."



That McCain is well enough to play this central figure in the Republican health care efforts is a surprise to many given the gravity of his diagnosis. He announced this summer that he had an aggressive and usually fatal tumor called glioblastoma, the same type of tumor that killed Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., in 2009 and Beau Biden, son of then-Vice President Joe Biden, in 2015.



Biden is among the many longtime colleagues who has been in touch with McCain since his diagnosis, and the two are scheduled to reunite next month, when Biden presents the senator with the National Constitution Center's Liberty Medal.



McCain has privately bristled at his return to Washington being covered like a melodrama, and his friends have steadfastly tried to avoid treating him like a man nearing the end of his life. When McCain's children and some colleagues flocked to his Arizona ranch this summer, the mood was upbeat and the senator often joined his guests for hikes.



"What this man has been through in his life gives him a very calm and reasoned attitude toward death," said Charlie Black, a veteran McCain adviser. "He believes he's escaped it many times and maybe will again."



Persevering against seemingly insurmountable odds has been a constant in McCain's life and shaped his political career.

As a Navy pilot, McCain survived a fire that killed 134 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. He was captured after his plane was shot down during a bombing mission over Hanoi and spent five years as a prisoner of war, refusing early release. Later in life, he survived several bouts with melanoma, a dangerous skin cancer.



McCain, his staff and his family have made some adjustments to account for his desire to work through his illness.



After finishing his first round of radiation and chemotherapy this summer at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, McCain and his wife Cindy decided to decamp to Washington, moving the senator's treatment to the National Institutes of Health. He's undergoing a second round of therapies now and spends weekends in the nation's capital rather than returning to Arizona.



Friends notice that the 81-year-old tires more easily in the afternoon, and his staff tries to front-load his schedule most days, a challenge in the sometimes nocturnal Senate. But friends and advisers say the senator is committed to keeping up as much of a regular schedule as possible while Congress is in session.

As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he stays in regular touch with top administration officials, including national security adviser H.R. McMaster and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.



"The citizens of Arizona are getting their money's worth," said Steve Duprey, a friend of the senator.
Mexicans packed churches on Sunday to pray for the victims of the country's deadliest quake in 32 years as rescue teams searched against the odds for any survivors trapped under rubble six days after the tremor shook Mexico City and nearby states.

As a fresh aftershock jolted southwestern Mexico on Sunday, the death toll from Tuesday's 7.1 magnitude earthquake climbed to 320 people. With thousands of buildings damaged, survivors slept on the street outside their homes and estimates of the cost of the earthquake ran as high as $8 billion.

Many have been traumatized by the second major quake to strike Mexico City in their lifetime after a devastating 1985 tremor killed an estimated 10,000 people.

In the vast Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the north of the capital, the national shrine of the majority Catholic country, thousands of people gathered to pray.

"I came to ask God for strength for those who lost loved ones and for the Virgin to watch over us and keep us safe," said 69-year-old Maria Gema Ortiz. "Thanks to all those who came from other countries to help. Thanks to all and long live Mexico!"

Makeshift places of worship have popped up next to the crumbling cement and mangled steel of collapsed buildings in the deeply religious country.

In upscale Roma, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods of the capital, a priest led mass for nearly two dozen people under a blue tarp while a nun handed out small cards with an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who according to the Catholic faith first appeared to an Aztec convert in 1531.

President Enrique Pena Nieto, who has visited the scene of the devastation, has urged Mexicans to turn their attention to rebuilding and many schools were expected to reopen on Monday.

Rescuers narrowed their search to a handful of buildings in the sprawling capital of 20 million people, using advanced audio equipment to detect signs of life beneath tons of rubble, with help from teams from as far afield as Israel and Japan.

"The search and rescue in Mexico City continues as a priority, with cooperation from national and international groups," tweeted Miguel Angel Mancera, Mexico City's mayor.

Rising Frustration

With Mexico facing a presidential election next year, the government's response to the disaster is under close scrutiny.

Frustration has grown among the thousands left homeless by Tuesday's quake, with critics saying the government's reaction pales in comparison with an outpouring of volunteer support, from rescue work to food donations.

"We have received no help from authorities," said Antonio Ramirez, who was conducting a survey of damaged homes in the historic Xochimilco district in the south of the capital.

"The help has come from ordinary people," the 57-year-old retired teacher said. "Soldiers, instead of carrying picks and shovels, brought their guns."

Hitting back against criticism of his government, Pena Nieto has promised ongoing support to those affected. The government's resources, however, are being stretched by the magnitude of the disaster.

Tuesday's quake, which completely flattened dozens of structures in Mexico City, was the second major earthquake to strike the country of 127 million people this month.

A massive 8.1 magnitude quake on Sept. 7 off the southwestern coast of Mexico killed around 100 people, most of them in the nearby states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. A series of aftershocks since then have sown panic.

The latest tremor, of 5.7 magnitude, struck on Sunday off the west coast, with its epicenter 80 km (50 miles) south-southwest of Tonala, in Chiapas, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of significant damage.

Many more quakes are likely, warned Xyoli Perez Campos, director of Mexico's National Seismological Service.

"We have already recorded more than 4,300 aftershocks," Campos said. "So more aftershocks are to come. What we don't know is if they are going to be of significant magnitude."

'Life Must Go On'

In Mexico City, the search for survivors from Tuesday's quake continued in a ruined office building in the Roma neighborhood and in a five-story apartment building in historic Tlalpan.

Authorities called off efforts in the upper-middle class Linda Vista zone after pulling 10 bodies from the rubble, while work at the Tlalpan building was briefly halted on Saturday by a magnitude 6.2 aftershock.

Roberto Hernandez, 62, leading a group of Mexico's famed "mole" rescue workers at the collapsed office building in Roma, said he believed 30 people were trapped in the rubble, though it was not clear how many were sill alive.

"We can't guarantee there is life but we can guarantee we'll turn over every last stone," Hernandez said, adding that one person was found alive in a crushed building 15 days after the 1985 earthquake.

In tents set up in different parts of the city, psychologists offered mental health support to traumatized survivors and rescuers. Acts of solidarity came from all corners of Mexican society.

While lessons were expected to resume on Monday, at least 7,000 schools across the country have been damaged by the quakes. The Mexican government says at least 350 of them need to be completely rebuilt.

Like many residents, 36-year-old Claudia Avila was determined to return to some semblance of normality.

"We are afraid, but life must go on," said Avila, whose sons are 9 and 16. "Tomorrow I will take my children back to school. They know that if something happens, they must protect themselves. It has been a rude awakening."

Pena Nieto highlighted his government's aid for survivors on a Saturday tour of Jiquipilas in Chiapas, which was badly hit by the Sept. 7 quake.

"Be assured that the federal government is here, the state and local governments, supporting you, hand in hand, to rebuild," he said.

But many Mexicans are wary of politicians' using the quake to score political points ahead of 2018 elections that are seen as a referendum on the patchy record of the Institutional Revolutionary Party since its return to power in 2012.

Francisco Honoraro, a 46-year-old farmer in Xochimilco, is living on the streets while he waits for authorities to assess damage to his home.

"This is going to become political, a campaign issue and a source of profit," he said. "'If you support me and you vote for me, we will help you.'"
Our Lady of Angels Church has survived several major earthquakes, but Tuesday's magnitude 7.1 shake proved to be the final death knell for the Mexico City building's historic cupola.



Violent cracks crisscrossed the dome, and stone from the roof continued to fall onto the church's wooden pews. On Sunday evening, the cupola split and half crashed to the floor.



"Each earthquake has left its mark,'' said Marco Antonio Fuentes, part of the church's ministry. "This one seems to be the straw that will break the camel's back.''



According to the Archdiocese of Mexico, more than 150 religious temples in this deeply Roman Catholic country were damaged by Tuesday's deadly quake. Statues of saints have been left maimed, missing hands and feet. Once towering, celestial church naves now open to the sky. Dust from fallen stone and concrete cover altars.

Many of the battered churches are in the state of Puebla, where the quake's epicenter was located. There in the city of Atzala, a child's baptism turned into tragedy when the roof of a church collapsed, killing 11 family members inside, including the 2-month-old girl being christened.



On the first Sunday since the earthquake, priests no longer able to say Mass inside collapsing churches instead held services outside paying homage to victims and survivors.



"Our religion is more than a building,'' Colin Noguez, the priest at Our Lady of Angels, told parishioners inside a tent with a table holding a cross and candles from the building.

Many of the collapsed buildings where rescuers have been searching for survivors held offices and apartments, places where people worked and lived. The damage to churches hit a different chord  striking places that in many Mexican cities serve as pillars of strength in times of distress.



"It's our mother,'' Azalia Ramirez, 60, said of Our Lady of Angels, which sits in a working class neighborhood. "We come here looking for communion, peace and tranquility.''



Our Lady of Angels is believed to be the most heavily damaged church in Mexico City, while the severity of destruction to religious structures is largely concentrated in Puebla.



In Atzala, a town of 1,200 people, little remains of the golden yellow church with a red roof where the 11 people died. The interior where worshippers once prayed from pews is now a mess of twisted metal and fallen stone leading to an altar where the word "merciful'' now hangs at a slant.



"Everything happened in the blink of an eye,'' said Sergio Montiel, the church's sexton.

As the Santiago de Apostol church shifted to recovery mode, a planned wedding instead took place outside under a beige tent with mariachi players standing nearby. The bride and groom exchanged rings and a kiss before being showered with rice and confetti just feet from the destruction.



"I'm very sad for the church,'' said Aremy Sanchez, the bride. ``But we must go on.''

At Mass in Puebla and elsewhere, priests urged parishioners to use the painful moment as a time of reflection. Damaged churches held mass in plazas and auditoriums. In San Francisco Xochiteopan, clergy members moved broken statues of saints into a gym and proceeded with a service. At the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a national shrine in Mexico City, Cardinal Norberto Rivera asked God to deliver peace.



"It pains us to see our city hurt, so many hopes lost,'' he said, speaking before a giant Mexican flag. "For that reason, we come to you, consoler of the afflicted.''



The origin of Our Lady of Angels dates back 433 years, when a painting of the Virgin Mary transported by a Spanish ship was found to have been damaged by water during the journey. A painter in the city's then-predominantly indigenous community was commissioned to create a replica.



The replica, cracked and with progressively fading paint, has stood at the altar from the time the church was little more than a small hut to its present-day construction, built in the 19th century. The Virgin Mary painting has withstood seven floods and more earthquakes than parishioners can remember.



"I say Our Lady of Angels holds the miracle of perseverance,'' said Adela Corona, a member of the ministry.



Engineers told the church's leaders that the cupola has a 60 percent to 70 percent chance of collapsing. It contains stained glass brought from Germany depicting singing archangels. Projecting above the roof, the cupola is meant to symbolize how the church brings those inside closer to God.



"It is an important part of our historical heritage,'' Fuentes said as the sound of small bits of the dome falling onto the floor echoed in the church. "Our idea is to save it.''



But just hours later, half the cupola came crashing down. No one was inside and the painting of the Virgin Mary, protected by a glass case, appeared unscathed.



"Hijole,'' Fuentes said after the dome fell, using a popular Spanish word to express astonishment. "There's sadness, surprise and fear for those who live here.''



But, he added, the Virgin Mary painting's survival is what mattered: "She's the boss here.''
Mass graves of dozens of slain Hindus have been found in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state, according to government officials.

Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye told VOAs Burmese Service he witnessed another 17 bodies recovered Monday, after 25 bodies were found in two mass graves a day earlier. Aye said most bodies were of women and children, many with their hands tied, and some which had been beheaded.

Aye and a police chief both told VOA Burmese they believe the bodies belong to more than 100 Hindus who have been missing for a month.

The military, which said it discovered two mud pits with 28 Hindu corpses Sunday outside the village of Ye Baw Kyaw in northern Rakhine, has blamed Rohingya "extremist terrorists" for the killings.

Violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state, which has caused more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh and resulted in widespread claims of atrocities and ethnic cleansing, was a discussed frequently at the U.N. General Assembly last week.

VOA's Bangla Service spoke with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday, who said that the concern of the international community is "one positive thing", though Bangladesh has been providing shelter to Rohingya who crossed the border without international support.

Already we started by ourselves. We didnt wait for anybodys assistance. Whatever resources we have, we have already started giving them shelter, food..." she told VOA Bangla.

But she warned that more pressure must be put on Myanmar to take back their refugees.

"Yes, we have given them shelter, it is temporary. But Myanmar government should accept that they are their citizens and it is their duty to take them back and give them their, ensure them security and also give them their house and they should resettle these people," she said, adding that what the Myanmar government was doing was "barbaric".

Violence erupted there August 25, when a group of Rohingya militants attacked dozens of police posts and an army base in what they said was an effort to protect their ethnic minority from persecution.

About 400 people have been killed in subsequent clashes, and a military counteroffensive sent more than 400,000 people fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh.
President Donald Trump's announcement on Sunday restricting travelers from an expanded list of countries has already been roundly criticized by immigrant and civil rights groups as no more lawful than his previous travel ban, but it could stand a better chance of holding up in court, legal experts said.

The new presidential proclamation, which Trump said is needed to screen out terrorist or public safety threats, indefinitely restricts travel from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea. Certain government officials from Venezuela will also be barred.

Trump's Mar. 6 temporary travel ban, which replaced another ban from January and expired on Sunday, targeted six Muslim-majority countries. It sparked international outrage and was quickly blocked by federal courts as unconstitutional discrimination or a violation of immigration law.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a limited version of the ban to go ahead while the justices examine its legality.

The proclamation, set to go into effect on Oct. 18, could be less vulnerable to legal attack, scholars and other experts said, because it is the result of a months-long analysis of foreign vetting procedures by U.S. officials. It also might be less easily tied to Trump's campaign-trail statements some courts viewed as biased against Muslims.

"The greater the sense that the policy reflects a considered, expert judgment, the less the temptation [by courts] to second-guess the executive," said Saikrishna Prakash, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, in an email. "It looks less like a matter of prejudice or a desire to fulfill a campaign promise."

The government has said the president has broad authority in immigration and national security matters, but challengers to the Mar. 6 ban had argued that it ran afoul of the U.S. Constitution's bar on favoring one religion over another.

They cited statements Trump made during his 2016 campaign for president, including his call for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."

Within hours of Sunday's proclamation, representatives for the Hawaii, New York and California attorneys general said their offices were reviewing the new restrictions. Advocacy organizations denounced it as more of the same.

"This is still a Muslim ban  they simply added three additional countries," said Becca Heller, director of the International Refugee Assistance Project, which previously sued to block Trump's travel ban executive orders.

"Of those countries, Chad is majority Muslim, travel from North Korea is already basically frozen and the restrictions on Venezuela only affect government officials on certain visas," Heller said.

But the worldwide review, and the new restrictions tailored by country, could weaken such arguments in court.

While the previous ban targeted Muslim-majority nations Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan, the restrictions announced on Sunday include North Korea and Venezuela and omit Sudan altogether. It also allows some travelers from Somalia and Iran to enter the U.S.

The review also examined each country's ability to issue reliable electronic passports and share security risk data with the U.S. Overall, 47 countries had problems, and 40 made improvements, including 11 that agreed to share information on known or suspected terrorists, Trump's proclamation said.

The review "at least arguably attenuates the link between the president's alleged bias and the policy," said Margo Schlanger, a University of Michigan Law School professor.

Openings for challengers



The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments over the original travel ban on Oct. 10, including whether it discriminated against Muslims. Sunday's proclamation could lead the high court to skip deciding the case altogether.

While new claims of religious discrimination might be harder to press, experts said challengers could potentially argue that the expanded ban violates the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, which forbids the government from discriminating based on an individual's nationality when issuing visas. "Congress decided that it didn't want an immigration system that played favorites among countries," Schlanger said.

Jeffrey Gorsky, the former chief of the legal advisory division at the U.S. State Department's Visa Office, said the new ban could be viewed as overly broad in whom it applies to, keeping out all manner of people from those countries "with no evidence of adverse affect on U.S. interests."
When the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army offered a month-long cease-fire on September 10 with the stated purpose of facilitating aid through the conflict zone in Rakhine State, Myanmars response was swift.

We have no policy to negotiate with terrorists, Zaw Htay, spokesman for de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said on Twitter the same day.

Myanmar branded the group, known in shorthand as ARSA, a terrorist organization after it carried out deadly attacks on police and army posts on August 25, prompting a military crackdown that has caused more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh and resulted in widespread claims of atrocities and ethnic cleansing.

But as observers  and even ARSA members  have pointed out, Myanmar continues to negotiate with several ethnic armed groups fighting for more autonomy in its border regions. Some of them have also been called terrorist outfits, though not by the central government.

So why the apparent double standard?

The difference is in the way that Myanmars government, and some of the ethnic armed groups themselves, view the legitimacy of the Rohingya struggle.

They don't recognize the Rohingya as one of Myanmar's many "national races," insisting they are immigrants from Bangladesh, despite generational roots. Negotiating with them could, indirectly, provide that recognition.

They are not our ethnic groups. They claim to be ethnic. But we cant give [it to] them. In our history there is no Rohingya, said Nyan Win, a spokesman for the National League for Democracy, Suu Kyis political party. It is different from Karen or Kachin or Shan," he added, referring to three of the larger recognized ethnicities in Myanmar.

As for ARSA, they are just insurgents.

They make trouble in Rakhine State, and [then] they said cease-fire. We dont understand what they mean," Nyan Win said.

He rejected claims that Myanmar treated ARSA differently because it remains the only Muslim armed faction in a largely Buddhist country that has struggled to contain anti-Muslim sentiment.

Though ethnic armed groups have fought against the same military cracking down on insurgents in Rakhine State, they have distanced themselves from ARSA.

We do not recognize the term Rohingya, Nai Hong Sar, the chairman of the UNFC, an umbrella organization representing a handful of ethnic armed groups, was quoted as saying earlier this month.

While the UNFC, which stands for the United Nationalities Federal Council, does not represent all factions involved in ongoing peace talks in Myanmar, its statement speaks volumes about the rare unity of views between the military, the government and some ethnic armed groups.

As weve seen, the ARSA is a kind of terrorist group because of their activities, said Tar Bone Kyaw, the general secretary of the Tang National Liberation Army, based in northern Myanmar and representing the ethnic Palaung people. He cited ARSAs alleged killing of civilians, which the group denies.

The way they operate is like the acts of terrorists. So as for us we cannot regard them as a revolutionary group or something like that. So they are just terrorists. That is our view on the Rohingya organization, he said.

At the same time, he condemned the military operation in Rakhine State, saying it has cost a lot of human life. The military has responded to such claims by insisting it is hunting terrorists not civilians.

Still, like other factions, Tar Bone Kyaw said the TNLA does not recognize the ethnic group.

There is no Rohingya in Burma. They are just Bengali. They came from Bangladesh. So they are not the indigenous ethnic people in Burma, he said, using another name for Myanmar.

Representatives of additional ethnic armed groups could not be reached on Monday.

The more than one million Rohingya minority in Rakhine State are denied citizenship, and ARSA says it is simply fighting for the groups basic rights. Myanmars security apparatus has suggested it is trying to carve out an Islamic state in Rakhine.

While hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since August 25, the violence in Rakhine State has also affected Buddhists, Hindus and smaller non-Muslim ethnic minorities who have fled their homes or died in the fighting.

Myanmars army on Monday says it discovered a mass grave of 28 Hindus in northern Rakhine State, blaming the murders on the Rohingya insurgents. ARSA refuted the accusations, Reuters reported.
Pakistani and Russian military commandos have launched joint counterterrorism drills in the mountains and forests of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia.

The two-week-long exercise dubbed as "Friendship 2017" involves more than 200 mostly special forces from both countries who will conduct joint "hostage rescue" and "cordon-and-search" operations, according to the Pakistani military.

"The joint exercise will enhance and further strengthen military ties between the countries and share Pakistan army's experience in war against terrorism," it added.

Meanwhile, a nearly three-week-long joint air force exercises China is hosting with Pakistan are due to conclude this week. A spokesman for the Chinese air force described them as "routine" exercises.

Pakistan's deepening political, economic and defense ties with traditional ally China and its emerging new alliance with Russia come amid Islamabad's increasingly uneasy and strained relations with the United States.

The tensions stem from persistent U.S. allegations that Pakistan is not doing enough to prevent terrorist groups on its soil from undertaking deadly attacks against American troops in Afghanistan or from undermining peace-building efforts in the war-ravaged country.

Bilateral ties have plunged to new lows following U.S. President Donald Trump's policy speech last month that accused Islamabad of not ending terrorist safe havens on its soil. U.S. officials have also threatened, among other punitive measures, to degrade Pakistan's status of a major non-NATO ally.

Islamabad promptly rejected the charges, saying no sanctuaries exist on Pakistani soil because of sustained security operations. It asserted Washington was "scapegoating" Pakistan because of its own "failures" in ending the Afghan war.

Pakistan hosted the inaugural round of the counterterrorism drills with Russia late last year, their first-ever joint military exercise.

The drills stem from a defense cooperation agreement the two countries signed in 2014, lifting a long-running Russian embargo on arms sales to Pakistan.

The deal paved the way for the sale of Mi-35 combat helicopters to Islamabad, despite objections by India, Moscow's longtime ally and Pakistan's archenemy.

The October 4 conclusion of the drills is expected to coincide with an official visit to Russia by Pakistan army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said the visit is a regular high-level exchange between the two sides that "has set the stage for translating political goodwill into a substantial partnership, in particular, in the field of defense."
Vice President Mike Pence went home to Indiana on Friday to pressure the state's lone Democratic senator to support a GOP tax overhaul. He'll bounce to Alabama on Monday, campaigning for President Donald Trump's pick in a special Senate election. And by Thursday, he's scheduled to be in Milwaukee, headlining a $35,000-per-couple fundraiser.



Such is life for Pence, Trump's political utility player, whose services are increasingly in demand as Republicans brace for a Democratic onslaught in the 2018 elections.



Pence is planning a torrent of campaign events across the county in the coming months, aiming to raise money for Trump's re-election, reward incumbents for tough votes and help former colleagues from his 12-years in Congress. It's a push that plays to the vice president's sharpened skills and is also likely to bolster a political network that could serve him for years to come.



While Trump is a divisive figure whose presence could create a headache for a swing district incumbent, Pence comes with less baggage but still brings the celebrity of the White House, as well as his own prodigious fundraising ability.



A former talk radio host, congressman and Indiana governor, Pence has had plenty of time to hone his skills. He's known to be adept at sizing up a room, knowing what message will play well and sticking to it. Pence, who once joked that he was tea party before it was cool, helps put GOP skeptics at ease.



He's genuine

Craig Dunn, a former GOP chairman in Indiana's Howard County, says one of Pence's strengths is he doesn't look over your shoulder to who is more important in the room.



Some guys breeze in [to a fundraising dinner] with their entourage like Christ to cleanse the temple. You come away thinking, I need to take a shower, said Dunn, who has known Pence since he was a congressman. Mike is just not that type of person. He's genuine.



Pence has been far less effective as a deal-maker when trying to use his relationships with GOP leaders in Congress to advance the president's agenda. The latest Trump-backed effort to repeal Obamacare all but flamed out Friday when Republican Sen. John McCain announced he wouldn't vote for it. Pence breezed past that development during a speech a short while later in Anderson, Indiana, acknowledging that an anticipated vote next week was not going to be easy but insisting President Trump and I are undeterred.



The response was typical for a man who defaults to sunny optimism - mimicking his political idol, former president Ronald Reagan - while sometimes steering clear of inconvenient facts.



For some Republicans, particularly conventional party stalwarts, Pence has been a reassuring presence in unpredictable times. In June, he helped draw more than 1,400 to Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst's annual fundraiser.

Trump carried Iowa last year, but some traditional conservatives said they were waiting to see evidence of a socially conservative agenda from the president, which is not something they question about Pence.



Early in the president's tenure there were people that believed the Trump-Pence ticket had to prove themselves, said Jeff Kaufmann, chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. I think Mike Pence calms those waters.



He gives social conservatives assurance that this administration is not going to waver on some issues that are very important to them.

Cultivating networks, relationships

In May, Pence formed a leadership PAC to raise money for Trump's re-election and for other Republican candidates, aiming to capitalize on his deep ties to party activists and donors.



He has cultivated a fundraising network over a long span of time that is very loyal to him, said John Hammond III, Indiana's committeeman on the Republican National Committee.



Pence has maintained relationships with Trump loyalists during dinners at his Naval Observatory residence and in fundraisers around the country that are already preparing for Trump's 2020 re-election campaign.



The vice president is scheduled to headline a $35,000-per-couple dinner in Milwaukee on Thursday that will benefit a joint fundraising committee set up to help Trump's re-election efforts and also feature RNC chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel and RNC finance chairman Steve Wynn.



Pence is expected to campaign extensively on behalf of congressional Republicans seeking to maintain their majorities next year. More immediately, Republicans expect him to help Ed Gillespie, the former Republican National Committee chairman who is running for governor in Virginia this fall.



Second lady Karen Pence appeared with Gillespie at a Women for Ed fundraising reception in Fairfax Station, Virginia, on Monday night, her first political event since the inauguration. The Pences have been friends with Gillespie and his wife, Cathy, since the candidate was RNC chairman and a top aide to President George W. Bush.



An adviser to the second lady said she attended the fundraiser because of her personal friendship with the couple and was open to being supportive of Republicans on the ballot in 2018 however she can be. The adviser spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is facing his biggest ever wave of public protests, driven by fears of martial law and outrage over reports that police killed teenagers in an anti-drug campaign. But analysts expect his popularity to hold strong.

They say the tough-talking 72-year-old Duterte will retain his high popularity because a quiet majority of Filipinos feel safer now than before he took office 15 months ago.

There is distrust over this increase in the cases that the police target practically anyone, but to a large extent the public actually agrees with the way the drug war is being conducted, said Herman Kraft, a political scientist at University of the Philippines Diliman.

Surge in protests

On Thursday, thousands of people, including university students and opposition party members, demonstrated in Manila against what they see as extra heavy-handed policing in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Hundreds of police officers tracked the demonstration, which was timed for the anniversary of ex-president Ferdinand Marcoss declaration of martial law in 1972. Smaller demonstrations erupted in Manila earlier in the month.

Some protesters compare Duterte to Marcos, who declared martial law and curbed peoples freedoms.

They believe Duterte has condoned extrajudicial killings by police officers as part of a campaign launched last year to eradicate the drug trade within six months. New York-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch estimates 7,000 extrajudicial killings under Duterte.

"On the killings, if the government is serious about solving them, it should allow an independent, impartial body...to conduct the investigation of these killings so as to be more credible to the public," the opposition Liberal Party said on its website.

The president has also declared martial law on the southern island Mindanao through the end of the year to help troops fight an armed Muslim rebel group in Marawi City. Curfews and road checkpoints on Mindanao raised fears Duterte would extend martial law to other parts of the 7,100-island archipelago.

People began to protest after mid-August, when 17-year-old high school student Kian Loyd Delos Santos of Caloocan City was shot to death north of the capital Manila, possibly by police. In separate police-linked incidents, a 19-year-old man was found shot to death and the body of a 14-year-old boy turned up full of stab wounds.

Calls for more due process

The government should rethink its approach in its anti-drug campaign, Vice President Leni Robredo said in a statement this month. Robredo, who is separately elected and close to opposition political groups, called for more due process and rehabilitation of drug users.

In February Duterte temporarily reined in violence in the anti-drug campaign to zoom in on stopping excesses among the Philippine National Police. His head of drug enforcement has also suggested more rehabilitation for drug abusers.

Dutertes spokesman Ernesto Abella said Sunday the president is open to dissent. We have always kept the doors open for constructive dialogue with the strategic sectors of society, including those who do not share the stance of the Administration on certain issues, Abella said on the presidential office website.

Signs of continued support for Duterte

A Global Attitudes Survey poll taken in the first half of 2017 found that 86 percent of Filipinos approve of their president and 78 percent back his handling of illegal drugs. Metro Manila-based research institution Social Weather Stations said last week 80 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with the way democracy works in the country.

Fifty-seven percent say they are satisfied with the way things are going in their country, up from 36 percent three years ago, the Pew Research Center said in a report released Thursday. Analysts say this level support is unlikely to waver.

Protests against Duterte have failed the scale or length of time it took to challenge leaders in other countries. In Taiwan, tens of thousands gathered for 24 days in 2014 to spark a movement that eventually hurt the ruling party in elections. Last year hundreds of thousands demonstrated in South Korea to press then-president Park Geun-hye toward her resignation.

The Philippine economy also has expanded more than 6 percent over the past nine quarters, said Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist with Banco de Oro UniBank in Metro Manila. Investors like that, he said.

Look at the forest not the trees, Ravelas said. I know that there are a lot of issues that we can talk about. However if you look at the general direction of the economy, it seems to be moving forward.

Failure to act against rising prices, unemployment and graft could affect Dutertes ratings longer term, said Maria Ela Atienza, a political science professor in Metro Manila. When people are asked about their priorities, its still getting a job, addressing poverty and graft and corruption, she said.

But a lot of Filipinos say their neighborhoods feel safer from all manner of crime under Duterte than before. The methamphetamine strain shabu underpins much of the country's street crime.

The governments proposed allocation of just 1,000 pesos ($19.50) next year to a police watchdog agency also points to confidence in public opinion, said Carl Baker, director of programs with the think tank Pacific Forum CSIS in Honolulu.

This development suggests to me that there is still a large number of people who continue to support Duterte's aggressive approach to the drug problem and are willing to look the other way in the face of extrajudicial killings, he said.
A United Nations report finds a sharp deterioration in the human rights situation in Crimea since Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula in March 2014, triggering the biggest crisis between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War.

In the most comprehensive report to date on Russian-occupied Crimea, the U.N. Human Rights Office report documents grave human rights violations between February 2014 and September 2017. It finds Russia, as the occupying power, to be in breach of multiple international humanitarian and human rights laws.

The report says most of these violations, including arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, involve members of the security forces and Crimean self-defense, and have not been effectively investigated.

It says there is no accountability for these crimes, so violations continue with impunity. The head of the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Fiona Frazer, said dissent and criticism are not tolerated by Russian Federation authorities in Crimea.

One way that is manifested is by the fact that criminal and administrative law that concerns offenses of separatism, terrorism and extremes are often used to stifle any such dissent and, also, in a way to restrict certain freedoms, Frazer said.

Thousands of Crimean residents have refused to live under Russian rule and fled to the Ukrainian mainland. The report says tens of thousands more who continue to live on the peninsula and did not assume Russian citizenship face hardships.

It says they have limited access to or are prevented from getting jobs and health care. It says they are stripped of property and political rights. In some cases, it says even Ukrainian citizens have been forcibly deported from the only home they have ever known.

The U.N. monitors note the deportation of citizens of an occupied territory is prohibited under international humanitarian law.

The United States and European Union imposed sanctions on Russia following its annexation of Crimea, and expanded them after Moscow instigated and has militarily supported a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine.

Russian officials argue Crimea was historically always a part of Russia. It was transferred to what was then the Ukrainian SSR by then Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in 1954.
A senior Somali military officer was gunned down in Mogadishu Sunday evening, security sources told VOA's Somali service.

Gunmen armed with pistols fatally shot General Abdullahi Mohamed Sheikh Qururuh and a bodyguard as the two men were walking home from a mosque in the Somali capital, witnesses said.

The attackers walked past General Qururuh and the bodyguard, then turned and shot them from behind, the sources quoted the witnesses as saying.

Both victims died on the spot.

Qururuh was a senior army officer at Somalias command and control headquarters in Mogadishu. He served previously as deputy commander of logistics for the Somali army.

There no immediate claim of responsibility for the assassinations. Al-Shabab militants are believed to be involved in most such attacks on government officials.

One week ago a similar shooting in southern Mogadishu killed a senior Somali intelligence officer and his bodyguard. The attackers in that case were in a vehicle that fired on Mohamud Moallim Hassan Qoley and his bodyguard in the capital's Dharkaynlay district. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for those killings.

In a separate incident late Sunday, two government soldiers and a civilian were killed in an Al-Shabab ambush in Somalias Puntland region, witnesses said.

Hospital officials in Bosaso confirmed to VOA Somali that they had received the bodies of two soldiers and one woman following the attack in Galgala Highlands, 40 kilometers south of Bosaso, a regional commercial center. Sources said five other soldiers were wounded.

Al-Shabab militants said they carried out the attack, targeting a military vehicle carrying soldiers to the Puntland base in Galgala Highlands.
3 A Hindu woman, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, holds her baby as she sits inside a refugee camp set up for Hindu refugees near Kutupalong, Bangladesh.
As lawmakers propose banning the sale of shark fins in the U.S., a pair of scientists is pushing back, saying the effort might actually harm attempts to conserve the marine predators.

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey introduced a bill this year designed to prevent people from possessing or selling shark fins in America, much to the delight of conservation groups such as Oceana. But marine scientists David Shiffman and Robert Hueter said this approach could be wrongheaded.

Shiffman and Hueter authored a study that appears in the November issue of the journal Marine Policy, saying that the U.S. has long been a leader in shark fisheries management and that shutting down the U.S. fin trade entirely would remove a model for sustainability for the rest of the world.

The U.S. also is a minor contributor to the worldwide shark fin trade, and countries with less regulated fisheries would likely step in to fill the void if America left the business altogether, Shiffman said.

"Removing that from the marketplace removes a template of a well-managed fishery,'' said Shiffman, a shark researcher with Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. ``It's much easier for us to say, here's a way you can do this.''

Shark fins are most often used in a soup considered a delicacy in Asia. Shark fins that American fishermen harvest are often shipped to Asia for processing.

Environmentalists and animal advocates have long blamed shark fin soup for the decline of certain shark species. Their criticism of shark fin soup often includes arguments against "finning,'' which is a practice that's illegal in the United States and involves removing the fins from recently caught, often live sharks and discarding the animals.

Nearly a quarter of U.S. states have bans in place on the sale of fins, and sharks were afforded new protections with the Shark Conservation Act of 2010. But the country still has hundreds of shark fishermen, and they are allowed to have the shark's fins removed for sale during processing on land.

Booker's proposal would change that, making it illegal for any person to "possess, transport, offer for sale, sell, or purchase shark fins or products containing shark fins.'' The bill was approved by a commerce and science committee in May, and a similar bill has been proposed in the House of Representatives.

More than 100 scientists have endorsed the bill, said Kristin Lynch, a spokeswoman for Booker.

"Unfortunately, current laws have proven inadequate at stopping the trade of fins from threatened and endangered sharks,'' she said.

Marine conservation group Oceana is standing by Booker's proposal, said Lora Snyder, a campaign director for the group. Shutting down the fin trade is akin to getting the U.S. out of the ivory business, she said.

A "near total'' ban on commercial elephant ivory took hold in the U.S. last year, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The U.S. fin trade needs to be shut down in part because violations of the "finning'' ban have continued to take place, Snyder said. An investigation by Booker's office earlier this year showed that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has investigated more than 500 incidents of alleged shark finning since 2010.

"Yes, we are better, but just because we are better doesn't mean we are good,'' Snyder said. ``There are other threats facing sharks, but this is a very important step in the right direction.''

Some commercial fishing groups have vowed to fight efforts to shut down the fin trade. About a quarter of the value of a shark is in its fins, and the rest is in its meat, Shiffman and Hueter's study said.

That means the fin ban is essentially an effort to shut down shark fishing altogether, said Jeff Oden, a Hatteras, North Carolina, fisherman who started fishing for sharks about 30 years ago.

"They want to stop it, just period,'' he said. "Forget the fact that we fish sustainably in this country.''
The U.S. Supreme Court has canceled arguments on President Donald Trump's travel ban in light of a new order that was signed Sunday.

The announcement comes a day after Trump signed a revised travel ban order, implementing new restrictions for travelers to the United States from eight countries.

In an unsigned order, the court has asked both sides to weigh in by October 5th to decide what to do with the case. The court has been prepared to hear arguments about the legality of Trump's executive order, but the new revised version may call for a new case against it.

What is going to happen in the Supreme Court now that the travel ban has changed? asked Jeanne M. Atkinson, executive director of Catholic Legal Immigration at an immigration law and policy conference at Georgetown University Monday.

I think if you stick around and listen today you are going to hear opinions going all different directions. It is a complex issue because of the changes in the travel ban  It's a new ban; it's going to have to be looked at on its own.

The new travel rules, which take effect on Oct. 18, affect citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Refusal to share information

U.S. officials said these countries have refused to share information about terrorism and other issues with the United States.

The announcement late Sunday came as Trump's previous temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was expiring, 90 days after it went into effect. The earlier order had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S. unless they had a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.

Reaction to the president's order from human-rights organizations and other groups that work with immigrants was swift, and largely negative.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said the latest version of the Muslim ban that Trump tried to introduce on taking office earlier this year was part of the administration's ugly white supremacist agenda.

Trump said in the new proclamation: As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people. The restrictions announced are tough and tailored, and they send a message to foreign governments that they must work with us to enhance security.

Sudan dropped from list

The new ban drops Sudan from the list but adds Chad, Venezuela and North Korea to the original six Muslim-majority countries.

North Korea does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements, the presidential declaration said.

Venezuela was cited for failing to cooperate in verifying whether its citizens pose national security or public-safety threats. U.S. officials also said the Caracas government does not willingly receive Venezuelans deported by the United States.

Chad, a valuable and important counter-terrorism partner, failed to share terrorism-related and other public safety information, the proclamation said.

Reaction to new ban

Amnesty International lashed out at the new ban.

Since the last ban was implemented 10 months ago, we have seen families torn apart and whole nations of people demonized for the crimes of a few, the human-rights group said in a statement Sunday. The order was a catastrophe not just for those seeking safety but for those who simply want to travel, work or study in the United States. Today's action neither relieves this tension nor keeps anyone safe.

Trump last week called for a tougher travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.

The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific  but stupidly, that would not be politically correct! Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.

Aline Barros contributed to this report.
U.S.-backed Syrian militias said Russian warplanes struck their positions in Deir el-Zour province on Monday near a natural gas field they seized from Islamic State last week, but Russia denied it.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias fighting with a U.S.-led coalition said the attack killed one of its fighters and injured two others.

Russia's RIA news agency cited Major-General Igor Konashenkov as issuing the denial and saying Russia was always careful to ensure its airstrikes were accurate.

A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, Colonel Ryan Dillon, said rounds had hit in the area around the SDF but he could not confirm they were fired by Russia.

Russia and the United States back separate offensives against Islamic State in eastern Syria, with both advancing in oil-rich Deir el-Zour bordering Iraq.

The assaults are converging on Islamic State from opposite sides of the Euphrates river that bisects Deir el-Zour, the jihadists' last major foothold in Syria.

With Russian air power and Iran-backed militias, Syrian troops closed in from the west.

A Kurdish commander of the SDF, which has advanced from the east with U.S. jets and special forces, told Reuters on Monday the alliance expected to completely push Islamic State out of its former Syrian headquarters of Raqqa in less than a month.

The SDF also captured the large gas field on the Euphrates' bank on Saturday.

"Russian and regime forces have mounted a treacherous attack against our forces [there] ...with artillery and aircraft," the SDF said in a statement.

"We will not stand by with our arms crossed and we will use our legitimate right to self-defense."

The Russian- and U.S.-led forces battling Islamic State in Syria have mostly stayed out of each other's way, with the river often acting as a dividing line. But the proximity of their offensives has at times raised the prospect of clashes that could stoke tensions between the competing world powers.

Last week, the Pentagon accused Moscow of bombing SDF positions on the eastern side of the river. Russia denied this, warning the United States it would target the SDF if its own forces came under fire.

Dillon, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said it was communicating with Russia to ensure measures to avoid unintended conflict between the offensives were being followed.
In his dark suit, Thai junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha cut an incongruous figure guiding a rice tractor across a muddy paddy field in front of cameras and watching villagers.

The prime minister's latest photo opportunity won applause from farmers watching in straw hats and his visit to Suphan Buri on Monday brought a call from a local political bigwig for him to stay in power for another decade.

Political activities in Thailand have been suspended since Prayuth's 2014 coup, but Thai politicians are asking whether what looks like campaigning is exactly what it seems.

The trips to the countryside, a new Facebook account and a chorus of political groups offering support are raising suspicions of a plan to keep Prayuth in power even if long-promised elections happen next year.

"It's not beyond expectations that he is out campaigning in the provinces to prepare to become prime minister again," said Chaturon Chaisang, a leader of the Pheu Thai party, which under various names has won every election for a generation.

Since August, Prayuth has visited six provinces, including places traditionally considered important battlegrounds for elections. Such trips with his cabinet will now be monthly.

In the previous three years, he had only taken two such trips outside Bangkok.

"I am not here to make people love me, but I want everyone to love the country," Prayuth, 63, told farmers in Suphan Buri, 100 km (60 miles) north of Bangkok.

Said 60-year-old farmer Samruay Tongpratet: "If the prime minister can truly help the poor then he can stay as long as he wants."

Prayuth's office declined to comment on any plan to keep him in power.

Cremation and Coronation

Politics will not resume until well after the cremation next month of the revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died last October, and the subsequent coronation of his son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

In the meantime, Prayuth has the field to himself.

"That's why he needed to hold these mobile cabinet meetings in the provinces, act more like a politician, hold rallies, and meet the people," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, noting the signs that Prayuth wants to stay longer.

Last month, Prayuth set up a Facebook page with pictures of him walking with his arm around a farmer's shoulder and giving alms to monks. It now has nearly 11,000 likes.

A poll in June showed that 53 percent of Thais would like Prayuth to serve another term.

Although Thailand's economic growth lags other countries in Southeast Asia and dissent is strongly repressed, surveys show that Prayuth's backers welcome the stability since the coup.

Whether that calm survives electioneering is another question after over a decade of turmoil between color-coded factions that Prayuth said he sought to end with his coup.

On one side is the 'yellow' Democrat Party, which is popular with middle-class voters and has strong support in Bangkok and parts of the south.

On the other side is the 'red' movement of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose parties appeal to poorer voters, particularly in the populous northeast.

Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was overthrown by Prayuth in the 2014 coup and last month fled Thailand ahead of a verdict in a corruption trial - eliminating a charismatic party figurehead who might also have rallied opposition to Prayuth.

'Outside Prime Minister'

Although he cannot technically stand for election because he would have needed to resign by July, a new constitution drawn up at the junta's behest does offer him a route.

He could be chosen as an "outside prime minister" - foreseen under the constitution if the winning party fails to get enough votes for its candidate in the 500-member lower house of parliament.

In such a case, the upper house would also have a say - its 250 members will be picked by the military. Prayuth would still need support from at least half the lower house, however.

Although neither of Thailand's two main political parties has said it would endorse him, smaller players are mobilizing.

Paiboon Nititawan, a former member of a now-defunct reform council, has set up an office for a new People's Reform Party to back Prayuth.

Suchart Chantharachotikul, a classmate of Prayuth from military school, told Reuters he is coordinating smaller parties to form a grouping to back the junta leader.

"Prayuth's military government isn't perfect, but they took care of problems like unrest. It wouldn't be so strange if he stays on for another four years," Suchart said.

A composer of sentimental ballads, Prayuth has dropped hints in his music of a longer term political future. His latest song, "Bridge", repeats a message that he will stay as long as it takes to steer Thailand through troubled waters.

"My two hands won't let you go," says one refrain.
The Trump administration announced Monday that it would offer at least $200 million in grant funding annually for programs that offer science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and particularly computer science education.



With 6 million job openings in the United States, administration officials said it was making the pledge to extend computer science education because of a skills gap.



Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump and an adviser to the administration, said less than half of kindergarten through 12th grade schools in the U.S. offer a single computer course. She headed to Detroit on Tuesday with tech leaders from Microsoft, Code.org and others.



As a country we want to embrace innovation, but we need to plan for it, she said.



The grant program is not new. President Trump was expected to sign a presidential memorandum on the program Monday at the White House, directing Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to prioritize STEM education, with a focus on computer science, in existing competitive grant programs. STEM education involves specific disciplines taught together in an interdisciplinary and applied approach.



The announcement is expected to be followed Tuesday with pledges from businesses, such as Google and Facebook.

Ivanka Trump noted that women make up 22 percent of the technology work force, down from 35 percent in 1990. While designing their programs, grant seekers should keep gender and racial diversity in mind, she said.



The programs goal is to offer every student in the country access to technology education, said a senior administration official.



We want it to reach across the country, said the official. Certainly that includes areas that are under-representedWe can't allow our students to be left behind.
Travelers to the United States from eight countries will face new restrictions under a revised travel ban order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday.

The new rules, which take effect on Oct. 18, affect citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

U.S. officials said these countries have refused to share information about terrorism and other issues with the United States.

The announcement late Sunday came as Trump's previous temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries was expiring, 90 days after it went into effect. The earlier order had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S. unless they had a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.''

Reaction to the president's order from human-rights organizations and other groups that work with immigrants was swift, and largely negative.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said the latest version of the "Muslim ban that Trump tried to introduce on taking office earlier this year was part of the administration's "ugly white supremacist agenda.

Trump said in the new proclamation: "As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people. The restrictions announced are tough and tailored, and they send a message to foreign governments that they must work with us to enhance security."

The new ban drops Sudan from the list but adds Chad, Venezuela and North Korea to the original six Muslim-majority countries.

"North Korea does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements," the presidential declaration said.

Venezuela was cited for failing to cooperate "in verifying whether its citizens pose national security or public-safety threats. "U.S. officials also said the Caracas government does not willingly receive Venezuelans deported by the United States.

Chad, a "valuable and important" counter-terrorism partner, failed to share terrorism-related and other public safety information, the proclamation said.

Amnesty International lashed out at the new ban.

Since the last ban was "implemented 10 months ago, we have seen families torn apart and whole nations of people demonized for the crimes of a few," the human-rights group said in a statement Sunday. "The order was a catastrophe not just for those seeking safety but for those who simply want to travel, work or study in the United States. Today's action neither relieves this tension nor keeps anyone safe."

Trump last week called for a "tougher'' travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.

"The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific - but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!'' Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.
In the hours after the mutilated body of a 9-year-old girl was found in a forest near the Ukrainian port city of Odessa, rumors spread quickly that a local Roma man had been arrested  and violent retribution followed.

A meeting of local leaders the same day in August last year denounced nearby Roma as criminals and demanded evictions, while a mob circled homes, pelting buildings with rocks and trashing a community where many Roma had lived for a decade, said rights groups.

By early September, all two dozen Roma targeted, including 17 children, had fled.

A year on, they remain in temporary housing in Izmail, southwest Ukraine, and say they are unable to return home to their village of Loshchinovka for fear of further violence, according to the Roma Human Rights Center (RHRC).

Rights groups say the attack follows a pattern of xenophobic "pogroms" across Ukraine against the Roma, also known as gypsies, to which the state has turned a blind eye.

With ancestral roots in India, the Roma migrated to eastern Europe in the 10th century and have a history marked by persecution.

Since Ukraine's "Euromaiden" revolution of 2014, government agencies  bogged down in a series of economic and political crises and a conflict with Russian-backed forces in the east  have failed to guarantee the safety of Roma, said Volodymyr Kondur, head of Odessa RHRC.

"The situation has become more complicated throughout Ukraine: Roma are not protected, the state is not able to provide security," Kondur, who works to represent the affected communities in Izmail, told Reuters.

There are between 120,000 and 400,000 Roma in Ukraine who face poverty and discrimination, with limited access to justice and their property rights barely protected, according to the European Roma Rights Centre.

In the year since the Odessa riot, there have been at least eight mass attacks on Roma, in the metropolitan regions of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv as well as the rural areas of Transcarpathi and Chernigov, said Kondur.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said 20 police officers in Odessa had undergone training since the attacks to teach them how to deal with hate crimes and investigate Roma communities without discrimination.

A spokesman said police and local authorities have planned further training exercises to encourage cooperation with Roma communities, including a series of classes for Roma participants on legal rights.

Ukraine's 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

In Odessa, 22-year-old Roma man, Mykhaylo Chebotar, accused of the young girl's rape and murder, is in custody and is scheduled to go on trial October 19, according to the Ukrainian Human Rights Information Center.

But campaigners said an entire community has been collectively punished with exile.

Oleg Shynkarenko, a writer and activist at the advocacy group the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU) likens the story to a Ukrainian retelling of To Kill a Mockingbird, the novel about a lawyer defending a black man against murder charges, amid racial hatred in the American South.

"Nobody knows if that gypsy man is the real murderer, because the trial is not finished, but the locals have destroyed Roma's buildings and state officials did not stop it or even condemn it," Shynkarenko told Reuters.

Odessa State Regional Administration did not respond to written questions or phone calls.

Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who was then governor of Odessa State, singled out Chebotar for blame in the murder case in a news conference the day after the attack.

Saakashvili said he understood the anger directed at the Roma, claiming Chebotar was among "anti-social elements" in the village that he said were involved in "massive drug dealing."

Such sweeping charges are "indicative of the treatment that many Roma in Ukraine experience on a regular basis," said Neil Clarke, European Managing Director of Minority Rights Group International.

Justice soon?

Kondur said authorities have offered no answers about when the Roma families can return to Loshchinovka or why police did not intervene to stop the vigilante attacks.

Rights groups' demands for alternative housing for the Roma have not been met, with authorities blaming the war and the country's economic troubles for their inability to provide homes, he added.

Attempts by the community to pursue justice in courts have moved slowly but, in April, UHHRU lawyer Yulia Lisova secured a hearing in Ukraine's administrative courts that will consider whether Roma's rights were violated by the authorities' failure to protect them from attack.

"If we get the result in defense of the Roma, the community will understand that there will always be a punishment for crimes. Then people will think about their actions before they commit," Kondur said.
U.S.-backed forces in Syria's eastern Deir el-Zour province say Russian forces struck their position in a field recently captured from Islamic State militants.

Fighters with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said a Russian attack killed one of their fighters and wounded two others Monday in the Conoco natural gas field, which was taken from Islamic State fighters over the weekend. Russia has denied the report.

Counter-Islamic State coalition spokesman U.S. Army Col. Ryan Dillon told VOA that initial reports could not confirm whether there were any casualties. The indirect surface-to-surface fire, he said, was believed to have come from either Syrian or Russian forces.

Oil-and-gas rich province

The coalition contacted the Russian military "immediately after the impact" via an established communications line used for deconflicting air and ground operations in Syria, Dillon said.

When asked by reporters whether the deconfliction line was "working well" in Syria, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Robert Manning told reporters Monday that "there is always room for improvement  but they are effective."

"Deconfliction is important. It is a very busy battlefield there," he added.

The possibility for conflict between the two groups has increased as both sides work to defeat Islamic State in the oil-and-gas rich province.

Not the first time

Monday was not the first time that coalition-backed forces have accused Russia and Syria of targeting them in Deir el-Zour province, where Russian-backed Syrian troops are waging a separate offensive against the extremists.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon said Russia bombed a position east of the Euphrates River where it knew SDF fighters and coalition advisers were stationed. The jets did not injure coalition forces, but the SDF said six of its fighters were wounded in the strike.
North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said Monday the United States has declared war on his country and Pyongyang would take counter-actions if threatened, including shooting down American war planes in the region.

Ri directly linked U.S. President Donald Trumps comments Saturday night on social media platform Twitter to the threat.



In a tweet late Saturday responding to Ris United Nations General Assembly speech earlier in the day, Trump wrote: Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!



On Monday, North Korea's foreign minister responded:

Given the fact that this comes from someone who is currently holding the seat of United States presidency, this is clearly a declaration of war," Ri told reporters outside his New York hotel. "All the member states participating in the United Nations and the whole world should clearly remember that it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country."

The North Korean foreign minister added, "we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down the United States strategic bombers, even when they are not yet inside the airspace border of our country, he warned.

US responds

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said "We've not declared war on North Korea," adding that the suggestion is "absurd."

At the Pentagon, spokesman Army Colonel Robert Manning told reporters, "If North Korea does not stop their provocative actions, we (the military) will make sure that we provide options to the president to deal with North Korea. We have the right to fly, sail and operate where legally permissible around the globe.

On Saturday, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers from Guam escorted by F-16 fighter jets from a U.S. base in Japan flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea.

Manning said the show of force, meant to display some of the military options available to President Trump, was the farthest north of the demilitarized zone any U.S. fighter or bomber aircraft have flown off North Koreas coast in the 21st century.

We are postured. We are ready to fight tonight, the Pentagon spokesman noted, while declining to discuss any possible troop movements to the region in light of escalating tensions.

'Rocket Man'

Rhetoric between North Korean leaders and Trump has escalated in the past week, both during and on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

Describing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as Rocket Man on a suicide mission, Trump used his maiden address to the UNGA last Tuesday to warn the Pyongyang regime that its current course could lead to "total destruction."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called Trump a "dotard" expressing "mentally deranged behavior.

Ri threatened Saturday his country could conduct an atmospheric hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis responded Monday that if North Korea carried out its threat, "This would be a shocking display of irresponsibility toward global health, toward stability, toward non-proliferation,"
Venezuela's foreign minister has dismissed his country being added to the U.S. administration's travel ban and said President Donald Trump acted like the "world's emperor" at the United Nations General Assembly last week.

"As if he were the world's emperor, President Donald Trump used this rostrum built for peace to announce war, the total destruction of member states," Jorge Arreaza Montserrat told delegates at the annual U.N. gathering, which wrapped up Monday.

Last week, Trump warned North Korea from the same lectern that its current course could lead to its "total destruction."

"Today, we must report to the world that our people have been directly threatened by the president of the United States with the use of the most powerful military force that ever existed in the history of humanity," Arreaza said.

Reaction to Trump comments

Arreaza was referring to remarks President Trump made on August 11, saying he would not rule out a "military option" in Venezuela as the regime of Nicolas Maduro consolidates power.

The United States imposed sanctions that day on President Maduro and more than two dozen other former and current Venezuelan officials.

"Venezuela will always deal with the government of the United States with mutual respect," Arreaza said. "But as a free people, we are prepared to defend our sovereignty, our independence and our democracy under any scenario and in any way."

'New aggression'

At a news conference following his speech to delegates at the U.N., the foreign minister said the Trump administration's move to add Venezuela to its expanded travel ban was a "new aggression" and intended to play to public opinion in the U.S. against the Maduro government.

Arreaza reiterated that Venezuela is not against the idea of dialogue, saying his government is looking for channels to the U.S. administration.

"We have to stop the madness and the irrationality," he said.
A High Court judge has dropped bail conditions for Pastor Evan Mawarire of #ThisFlag pending the finalization of charges laid against him of attempting to subvert a constitutionally-elected government and inciting public violence last year.

Pastor Mawarire, who was arrested again a few days ago, may face similar charges after he made a public appearance castigating President Robert Mugabes government of failing to cater for the needs of citizens.

He is yet to appear in court on these fresh charges and will likely remain in detention until his case is brought to court as per the provisions of some statutes, which dont allow the state to detain a person for more than 48 hours.

In granting him bail on 2016 charges, Justice Patricia Chigumba said Pastor Mawarire would face trial while living at his home.

On Saturday, he was picked up at His Generation Church for allegedly violating his bail conditions.

His lawyer, Harrison Nkomo said he was optimistic that Pastor Mawarires fresh charges would be spelt out within the next few hours.
During our numerous expeditions to Erta Ale and Dallol , we have documented the active lava lake and its surroundings and changes over the years.
Yemens internationally recognized President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi says he is open for military action to outdo Houthi rebels noting that negotiations with the rebels will always fail because of Irans influence.

Hadi told Saudi Arabia media Al-Arabiya television broadcast on the sideline of UN General Assembly in an interview that the military solution is the most likely solution arguing the decision does not rest with the rebels but with their supporter, Iran.

Even if you come to an agreement with them, they call up Iran  back out, and then you dont have a deal, Hadi said in the interview aired this week-end.

Yemen descended into a conflict two years ago after Houthis, associated with former President Saleh, and with the support of Iran took control of capital Sanaa, forcing Hadi to flee briefly to Saudi Arabia before coming back to the countrys second city of Aden.

The rebels came close to taking over the entire territory but were stopped by a Saudi-led coalition which backed up Hadi forces.

UN-led negotiations to end the conflict which has killed over 10,000 people have failed.

Yemen authorities have accused Iran of derailing the process.

Iranians official sources this month noted that Saudi Arabia sought Teherans help in advancing peace talks.

Hadi praised President Trumps policy in the region; pressure on Iran and the Houthis.

Yemeni leader chided Barack Obama whom he said was more concerned with achieving the historical 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. For me the deal instead expanded the Islamic Republics influence in the region.
After working largely out of the spotlight for decades, Americas thousands of credit-reporting companies found themselves in trouble in the late 1960s as lawmakers grew concerned about the massive troves of sensitive information the firms had collected on private citizens.

The target of many of these complaints was one company, Atlanta-based Retail Credit Co.  now known as Equifax.

Among the companys critics was an insurance executive named James T. Baker, who told a Senate committee in 1968 that he was having trouble finding a job after the company put a derogatory note in his file, alleging he had been fired for breaking the rules at his former employer. The note was incorrect, but the company refused to change it, Baker told the committee, according to media reports at the time.

The backlash against the industry led to landmark legislation, the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970, that now governs the way credit-rating agencies operate. But it did little to restrain Equifaxs ambition.

Nearly 50 years later, the company has grown into a data-mining behemoth that uses artificial intelligence and other sophisticated tools to help companies determine whether to extend credit to nearly 1 billion people around the world. It is a leader among a number of information giants that play a critical role in financial markets, operating largely behind the scenes.



Equifax CEO Richard Smith in 2007. State and federal authorities are proposing tougher regulations against Equifax and the entire credit monitoring industry. (Joey Ivansco/AP)

Look at them as sleeping giants. They make the financial industry tick, said Keith Snyder, an industry analyst at CFRA Research. Theyre the rails that the financial train runs on. Without them, everything would grind to a halt.

That role is suddenly in question again over the companys handling of personal data. Earlier this month, Equifax announced that a massive data breach had exposed sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, of 143 million people to hackers, setting off complaints it has grown too big and waited too long to alert consumers.

[Data of 143 million Americans exposed in hack]

Equifax has apologized and said it moved as quickly as it could once it understood the severity of the problem. But the scrutiny comes at a time when credit-rating companies had hoped the Trump administration would roll back regulations, including limiting the powers one of its major watchdogs, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Instead, the industry is facing its biggest challenge in decades.

The Merchants Guide

Equifax traces its roots to 1899, when two Atlanta grocery store owners, Cator and Guy Woolford, started what was then known as Retail Credit Co. by going door-to-door to collect information about people in their community. Their $25 book, "The Merchant's Guide," noted who in the neighborhood typically paid promptly or who shouldn't be trusted with credit.

The guide served as a key reference to local businesses that were grappling with rapid urbanization, said Josh Lauer, associate professor of media studies at the University of New Hampshire. Traditionally, local owners knew their customers, but as people flooded into the city, that had become more difficult, he said. They were providing a service, trying to make lending safer, he said.

But it also set up an adversarial relationship with consumers that survives today. Their whole history is about skepticism toward consumers, believing that consumers are trying to get over on the local businesses, said Lauer, author of Creditworthy: A History of Consumer Surveillance and Financial Identity in America.

Over time, credit bureaus, such as Retail Credit, would often align themselves with law enforcement, Lauer said. Some had desks set aside in their offices for the Internal Revenue Service or Federal Bureau of Investigation, he said. There was no firewall, no protection for consumers at all.

By the late 1960s, the countrys thousands of credit bureaus were under scrutiny by Congress. The public was beginning to become aware of the massive amounts of data they housed, and many questioned the accuracy of the information.

Retail Credit drew particular scrutiny because of its history of working with health and life insurance companies. When building reports about whether someone should be extended policies, the company would collect information from neighbors and family members about that persons health, reputation, and sometimes note if they were homosexual, Lauer said.

Credit worthiness was tied to character, he said.

After a series of congressional hearings, lawmakers adopted the Fair Credit Reporting Act, giving consumers access to their reports for the first time and requiring the companies to change incorrect data.

But even after the legislation, Retail Credit continued to see itself portrayed as a villain on Capitol Hill and in the media. In 1974, four former employees of the company told a Senate subcommittee that they were forced to falsify credit reports and meet unrealistic goals to keep their jobs, including ensuring there was adverse information about 6 percent to 10 percent of consumers to prove to their business customers that they were being thorough.

That same year, a woman sued for invasion of privacy after her auto insurance company canceled her policy because Retail Credit reported that she was living with a man without benefit of wedlock.

In 1975, in the wake of the controversy, the company changed its name to Equifax. The change was to better portray a company in the equitable distribution of facts, according to a company statement.

Branching into new markets

More than 40 years later, Equifax is one of the worlds largest data providers. Instead of simply selling credit reports to the business community, it has branched into new markets, using artificial intelligence, machine learning and other tactics to unearth information, even sweeping up Facebook and Twitter data on consumers to help companies decide whom to lend money to.

We manage massive amounts of unique data, we have data on approaching a billion people. We have data on approaching 100 million companies around the world. The data assets are so large, so unique, Richard Smith, the companys longtime chief executive, said in speech at the University of Georgia business school in August.

You think about the largest library in the world . . . the Library of Congress, we manage almost 1,200 times that amount of content every day, around the world.

The hard-charging chief executive took over the company in 2005 after spending 22 years at General Electric under Jack Welch. In his time at the helm of Equifax, the companys stock price has soared 200 percent. Its market value has jumped from $3 billion to about $20 billion. Instead of focusing solely on the United States, Smith has pushed Equifax into 24 countries.

Smith has done a lot of great things with Equifax. He took the company and made it the leader it is today, said Snyder of CFRA Research.

That has included collecting a lot more data on people. Early in his tenure, Smith made a risky bet to jump into a new market, buying Talx, which housed the worlds largest repository of employment data.

Every time an employee was paid, it creates 50 data attributes, including how much a person earns and how much was comprised of a bonus, Smith said in an August talk. The company could combine that information with data it already had on customers to create new products, he said.

Equifax looked at the billions pieces of information it was collecting and decided it could use it to make money in other ways, Snyder said. They said, hey, we have all this great data on consumers, how else can we slice and dice it and make more money from the data we already have?

As part of its expansion  the company creates 50 to 75 products a year  Equifax also pitches itself to companies concerned about becoming the victim of a data breach, offering the services of the Equifax Data Breach Response Team.

"In addition to extensive experience, Equifax has the most comprehensive set of identity theft products and customer service coverage in the market," the company says on its website. "You'll feel safer with Equifax."

And Smith has set some ambitious new goals for the company, including doubling its revenue from $4 billion to $8 billion within five years.

Those ambitions may be derailed by the companys handling of a massive data breach that exposed to sensitive information of millions of people. On Sept. 7, Equifax announced that hackers had gained access to the sensitive personal data  Social Security numbers, birth dates and home addresses  for up to 143 million Americans by exploiting a website application vulnerability.

The disclosure has sparked reviews by the company's regulators, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission, as well as the FBI. "We apologize to everyone affected. This is the most humbling moment in our 118-year history," Smith said in a USA Today column after the breach.

Still, the company has outraged consumers by bungling key parts of its response. For several days, the company's Twitter account directed consumers in search of help to a fake site pretending to be Equifax. It initially required companies to agree not to join a class-action lawsuit to get some forms of help.

Their game plan is fairly aggressive, so obviously this might put a damper on their aspirations, Snyder said.

Now, Smith is facing potentially the biggest challenge of his career when he testifies before a House committee next week. Lawmakers have criticized the company for waiting six weeks after learning of the breach to tell the public, and some have called for a shake-up of the companys management.

It is the companys best chance to change the narrative and steal momentum from its critics, Jaret Seiberg, an analyst with Cowen and Co.s Washington Research Group, said in a recent report. If the company underperforms, the risk is high that it will . . . be constantly dragged back into the spotlight in the coming years.
GAS INDUSTRY

Exxon says it will curb methane emissions

ExxonMobil vowed to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from its natural gas drilling operations.

But company officials have declined to put a figure on how much they can or will reduce emissions, making the energy giants public commitment difficult to gauge.

Exxon said Monday it would improve detection of methane leaks and the repair equipment causing them across its XTO Energy natural gas subsidiary. XTO President Sara Ortwein said the company would provide new training for workers and install new equipment that uses compressed air instead of natural gas to run pneumatic equipment in the field.

Ortwein and another Exxon official said the energy giant is assessing the use of planes, satellites and drones mounted with optical gas-imaging cameras to find leaks.

Ortwein said, however, that it was too early to say how much the measures would reduce leaks, and declined to say how much Exxon would spend on 

the effort.

 Associated Press

WALL STREET

$500 million IPO expected for Switch

Switch aims to raise as much as $500 million in its initial public offering, which would make it the third-biggest U.S. technology listing of the year.

The data center company intends to sell 31.25 million shares at $14 to $16 apiece, according to a filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. At the high end of the range, the IPO would value the Las Vegas-based company at about $4 billion.

Switch could trail only Snaps $3.9 billion IPO and Altice USAs $2.2 billion share sale for the biggest tech and communications deals this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News.

Switch designs, builds and operates data centers and has been profitable for at least the past four years. The company posted 2016 net income of $31.4 million on revenue of $318.4 million, according to the filing.

The company intends to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWCH.

 Bloomberg News

FOOD SAFETY

Nonprofit seeks cancer warning for coffee

Coffee could carry a cancer warning in California if a nonprofit group prevails in a Los Angeles courtroom.

An attorney representing the Council for Education and Research on Toxics is presenting evidence to a judge in a seven-year-old case aimed at Starbucks and coffee distributors and retailers.

The council says coffee companies violated a state law requiring they warn consumers about a chemical created in the roasting process that could cause cancer. Acrylamide is on the states list of dangerous chemicals that must be disclosed to consumers.

Attorneys for about 90 coffee companies acknowledge acrylamide is present but say its at harmless levels and is outweighed by the benefits from drinking coffee.

 Associated Press

Also in Business

Accounting firm Deloitte said Monday it was the victim of a cyberattack that affected the data of a small number of clients. Deloitte said attackers accessed data from the company's email platform. The attack appeared to target its U.S. operations, was discovered in March and could have begun as early as October 2016, according to the Guardian, which broke news of the hack Monday. Deloitte's statement did not confirm those details.

Gillette on Monday sued the maker of Schick razors for the second time in 13 months, seeking to stop its sale of razor blade cartridges designed to fit Gillette's Fusion handles. In a complaint filed in federal court in New Haven, Conn., the Procter & Gamble unit said Schick willfully infringed its 2015 patent for a removable shaving cartridge assembly by designing Hydro Connect 5 and Hydro Connect 5 Sensitive cartridges to fit Fusion razor handles.

Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. and Raycom Media have agreed to merge into a new, privately owned media group, CNHI said in a statement Monday. Both companies are based in Montgomery, Ala., and are financed by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. CNHI owns more than 110 newspapers, websites and publications in 22 states. Raycom owns or operates 65 television and two radio stations in 20 states. CNHI will operate as a Raycom subsidiary.

 From news reports

Coming today

9 a.m.: Standard & Poor's releases S&P/Case-Shiller Index of home prices for July.

10 a.m.: The Commerce Department releases new-home sales for August.

10 a.m.: The Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index for September.
This story has been updated with an additional response from Facebook.

Nine days after Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg dismissed as crazy the idea that fake news on his companys social network played a key role in the U.S. election, President Barack Obama pulled the youthful tech billionaire aside and delivered what he hoped would be a wake-up call.

For months leading up to the vote, Obama and his top aides quietly agonized over how to respond to Russias brazen intervention on behalf of the Donald Trump campaign without making matters worse. Weeks after Trumps surprise victory, some of Obamas aides looked back with regret and wished they had done more.

Now huddled in a private room on the sidelines of a meeting of world leaders in Lima, Peru, two months before Trumps inauguration, Obama made a personal appeal to Zuckerberg to take the threat of fake news and political disinformation seriously, although Facebook representatives say the president did not single out Russia specifically. Unless Facebook and the government did more to address the threat, Obama warned, it would only get worse in the next presidential race.

[Mark Zuckerberg denies that fake news on Facebook influenced the elections]

Zuckerberg acknowledged the problem posed by fake news. But he told Obama that those messages werent widespread on Facebook and that there was no easy remedy, according to people briefed on the exchange, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of a private conversation.

The conversation on Nov. 19 was a flashpoint in a tumultuous year in which Zuckerberg came to recognize the magnitude of a new threat  a coordinated assault on a U.S. election by a shadowy foreign force that exploited the social network he created.

Like the U.S. government, Facebook didnt foresee the wave of disinformation that was coming and the political pressure that followed. The company then grappled with a series of hard choices designed to shore up its own systems without impinging on free discourse for its users around the world.

One outcome of those efforts was Zuckerbergs admission on Thursday that Facebook had indeed been manipulated and that the company would now turn over to Congress more than 3,000 politically themed advertisements that were bought by suspected Russian operatives.

[Facebook to turn over thousands of Russian ads to Congress]

But that highly public moment came after months of maneuvering behind the scenes that has thrust Facebook, one of the worlds most valuable companies  and one thats used by one-third of the worlds population each month  into a multi-sided Washington power struggle in which the company has much to lose.

Some critics say Facebook dragged its feet and is acting only now because of outside political pressure.

Theres been a systematic failure of responsibility on Facebooks part, said Zeynep Tufekci, as associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies social media companies impact on society and governments. Its rooted in their overconfidence that they know best, their naivete about how the world works, their extensive effort to avoid oversight, and their business model of having very few employees so that no one is minding the store.

Facebook says it responded appropriately.

We believe in the power of democracy, which is why were taking this work on elections integrity so seriously, and have come forward at every opportunity to share what weve found, said Elliot Schrage, vice president for public policy and communications.

A spokesperson for Obama declined to comment.

In a statement issued on Monday following publication of the Washington Post report, Schrage said that Obamas conversation with Zuckerberg was about misinformation and false news and did not include any references to possible foreign interference or suggestions about confronting threats to Facebook.

This account  based on interviews with more than a dozen people involved in the government's investigation and Facebook's response  provides the first detailed backstory of a 16-month journey in which the company came to terms with an unanticipated foreign attack on the U.S. political system and its search for tools to limit the damage.

Among the revelations is how Facebook detected elements of the Russian information operation in June 2016 and then notified the FBI. Yet in the months that followed, the government and the private sector struggled to work together to diagnose and fix the problem.

The growing political drama over these issues has come at a time of broader reckoning for Facebook, as Zuckerberg has wrestled with whether to take a more active role in combatting an emerging dark side on the social network  including fake news and suicides on live video, and allegations that the company was censoring political speech.

[Facebook wanted visceral live video. Its getting live-streaming killers and suicides.]

These issues have forced Facebook and other Silicon Valley companies to weigh core values, including freedom of speech, against the problems created when malevolent actors use those same freedoms to pump messages of violence, hate and disinformation.

There has been a rising bipartisan clamor, meanwhile, for new regulation of a tech industry that, amid a historic surge in wealth and power over the past decade, has largely had its way in Washington despite concerns raised by critics about its behavior.

In particular, momentum is building in Congress and elsewhere in the federal government for a law requiring tech companies  like newspapers, television stations and other traditional carriers of campaign messages  to disclose who buys political ads and how much they spend on them.

There is no question that the idea that Silicon Valley is the darling of our markets and of our society  that sentiment is definitely turning, said Tim OReilly, an adviser to tech executives and chief executive of the influential technology publisher OReilly Media.

Thwarting the Islamic State

The encounter in Lima was not the first time Obama had sought Facebooks help.

In the aftermath of the December 2015 shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., the president dispatched members of his national security team  including Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and top counterterrorism adviser Lisa Monaco  to huddle with leading Silicon Valley executives over ways to thwart the Islamic States practice of using U.S.-based technology platforms to recruit members and inspire attacks.

[One year after the San Bernardino attack]

The result was a summit, on Jan. 8, 2016, which was attended by one of Zuckerbergs top deputies, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. The outreach effort paid off in the view of the Obama administration when Facebook agreed to set up a special unit to develop tools for finding Islamic State messages and blocking their dissemination.

Facebooks efforts were aided in part by the relatively transparent ways in which the extremist group sought to build its global brand. Most of its propaganda messages on Facebook incorporated the Islamic States distinctive black flag  the kind of image that software programs can be trained to automatically detect.

In contrast, the Russian disinformation effort has proven far harder to track and combat because Russian operatives were taking advantage of Facebooks core functions, connecting users with shared content and with targeted native ads to shape the political environment in an unusually contentious political season, say people familiar with Facebooks response.

Unlike the Islamic State, what Russian operatives posted on Facebook was, for the most part, indistinguishable from legitimate political speech. The difference was the accounts that were set up to spread the misinformation and hate were illegitimate.

A Russian operation

It turned out that Facebook, without realizing it, had stumbled into the Russian operation as it was getting underway in June 2016.

At the time, cybersecurity experts at the company were tracking a Russian hacker group known as APT28, or Fancy Bear, which U.S. intelligence officials considered an arm of the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU, according to people familiar with Facebooks activities.

Members of the Russian hacker group were best known for stealing military plans and data from political targets, so the security experts assumed that they were planning some sort of espionage operation  not a far-reaching disinformation campaign designed to shape the outcome of the U.S. presidential race.

Facebook executives shared with the FBI their suspicions that a Russian espionage operation was in the works, a person familiar with the matter said. An FBI spokesperson had no comment.

Soon thereafter, Facebooks cyber experts found evidence that members of APT28 were setting up a series of shadowy accounts  including a persona known as Guccifer 2.0 and a Facebook page called DCLeaks  to promote stolen emails and other documents during the presidential race. Facebook officials once again contacted the FBI to share what they had seen.

After the November election, Facebook began to look more broadly at the accounts that had been created during the campaign.

A review by the company found that most of the groups behind the problematic pages had clear financial motives, which suggested that they werent working for a foreign government.

But amid the mass of data the company was analyzing, the security team did not find clear evidence of Russian disinformation or ad purchases by Russian-linked accounts.

Nor did any U.S. law enforcement or intelligence officials visit the company to lay out what they knew, said people familiar with the effort, even after the nations top intelligence official, James R. Clapper Jr., testified on Capitol Hill in January that the Russians had waged a massive propaganda campaign online.

[Top U.S. intelligence official: Russia meddled in election by hacking, spreading of propaganda]

The sophistication of the Russian tactics caught Facebook off-guard. Its highly regarded security team had erected formidable defenses against traditional cyber attacks but failed to anticipate that Facebook users  deploying easily available automated tools such as ad micro-targeting  pumped skillfully crafted propaganda through the social network without setting off any alarm bells.

Political post-mortem

As Facebook struggled to find clear evidence of Russian manipulation, the idea was gaining credence in other influential quarters.

In the electrified aftermath of the election, aides to Hillary Clinton and Obama pored over polling numbers and turnout data, looking for clues to explain what they saw as an unnatural turn of events.

One of the theories to emerge from their post-mortem was that Russian operatives who were directed by the Kremlin to support Trump may have taken advantage of Facebook and other social media platforms to direct their messages to American voters in key demographic areas in order to increase enthusiasm for Trump and suppress support for Clinton.

These former advisers didnt have hard evidence that Russian trolls were using Facebook to micro-target voters in swing districts  at least not yet  but they shared their theories with the House and Senate intelligence committees, which launched parallel investigations into Russias role in the presidential campaign in January.

[Congressional investigations into alleged Russian hacking begin without end in sight]

Sen. Mark R. Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, initially wasnt sure what to make of Facebooks role. U.S. intelligence agencies had briefed the Virginia Democrat and other members of the committee about alleged Russian contacts with the Trump campaign and about how the Kremlin leaked Democratic emails to WikiLeaks to undercut Clinton.

But the intelligence agencies had little data on Russias use of Facebook and other U.S.-based social media platforms, in part because of rules designed to protect the privacy of communications between Americans.

Facebooks effort to understand Russias multifaceted influence campaign continued as well.

Zuckerberg announced in a 6,000-word blog post in February that Facebook needed to play a greater role in controlling its dark side.

It is our responsibility, he wrote, to amplify the good effects [of the Facebook platform] and mitigate the bad  to continue increasing diversity while strengthening our common understanding so our community can create the greatest positive impact on the world.

A critical juncture

The extent of Facebook's internal self-examination became clear in April, when Facebook Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos co-authored a 13-page white paper detailing the results of a sprawling research effort that included input from experts from across the company, who in some cases also worked to build new software aimed specifically at detecting foreign propaganda.

Facebook sits at a critical juncture, Stamos wrote in the paper, adding that the effort focused on actions taken by organized actors (governments or non-state actors) to distort domestic or foreign political sentiment, most frequently to achieve a strategic and/or geopolitical outcome. He described how the company had used a technique known as machine learning to build specialized data-mining software that can detect patterns of behavior  for example, the repeated posting of the same content  that malevolent actors might use.

The software tool was given a secret designation, and Facebook is now deploying it and others in the run-up to elections around the world. It was used in the French election in May, where it helped disable 30,000 fake accounts, the company said. It was put to the test again on Sunday when Germans went to the polls. Facebook declined to share the software tool's code name. Another recently developed tool shows users when articles have been disputed by third-party fact checkers.

Notably, Stamoss paper did not raise the topic of political advertising  an omission that was noticed by Capitol Hill investigators. Facebook, worth $495 billion, is the largest online advertising company in the world after Google. Although not mentioned explicitly in the report, Stamos's team had searched extensively for evidence of foreign purchases of political advertising but had come up short.

A few weeks after the French election, Warner flew out to California to visit Facebook in person. It was an opportunity for the senator to press Stamos directly on whether the Russians had used the companys tools to disseminate anti-Clinton ads to key districts.

Officials said Stamos underlined to Warner the magnitude of the challenge Facebook faced policing political content that looked legitimate.

Stamos told Warner that Facebook had found no accounts that used advertising but agreed with the senator that some probably existed. The difficulty for Facebook was finding them.

Finally, Stamos appealed to Warner for help: If U.S. intelligence agencies had any information about the Russian operation or the troll farms it used to disseminate misinformation, they should share it with Facebook. The company is still waiting, people involved in the matter said.

Breakthrough moment

For months, a team of engineers at Facebook had been searching through accounts, looking for signs that they were set up by operatives working on behalf of the Kremlin. The task was immense.

Warners visit spurred the company to make some changes in how it conducted its internal investigation. Instead of searching through impossibly large batches of data, Facebook decided to focus on a subset of political ads.

Technicians then searched for indicators that would link those ads to Russia. To narrow down the search further, Facebook zeroed in on a Russian entity known as the Internet Research Agency, which had been publicly identified as a troll farm.

They worked backwards, a U.S. official said of the process at Facebook.

The breakthrough moment came just days after a Facebook spokesman on July 20 told CNN that we have seen no evidence that Russian actors bought ads on Facebook in connection with the election.

Facebooks talking points were about to change.

By early August, Facebook had identified more than 3,000 ads addressing social and political issues that ran in the United States between 2015 and 2017 and that appear to have come from accounts associated with the Internet Research Agency.

After making the discovery, Facebook reached out to Warners staff to share what they had learned.

Congressional investigators say the disclosure only scratches the surface. One called Facebooks discoveries thus far the tip of the iceberg. Nobody really knows how many accounts are out there and how to prevent more of them from being created to shape the next election  and turn American society against itself.

Dwoskin reported from San Francisco. Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.
Four new books celebrate the unlimited possibilities of books, old and new. Two that focus on libraries show the power of collecting and protecting the past. The other two explore what inspired present-day authors when they were kids and how they pursued their craft. Any and all of these books could inspire you to write down your own ideas and stories.

Books! Books! Books! Explore the Amazing Collection of the British Library



HANDOUT IMAGE: "Books Books Books: Explore the Collection of the British Libary" is by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom. (Candlewick)

By Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom. Ages 8 to 12.

The British Library has 400 miles of shelves, 15 floors (five below the ground) and 150 million items, so this slim, dynamically illustrated book can only hint at what it holds and preserves. Highlights include the librarys oldest book (dating from the 7th century), its biggest (a gigantic atlas that requires six people to lift), as well as the original manuscripts of such famous books as Alices Adventures in Wonderland. An early set of William Shakespeares plays is so valuable that its kept deep underground in a bombproof room.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library



HANDOUT IMAGE: "Schomberg: The Man Who Built a Libary" is by Carole Boston Weatherford. (Candlewick)

By Carole Boston Weatherford.

Illustrated by Eric Velasquez.

Ages 9 to 12.

Arturo Schomburg (1874-1938) was a treasure hunter who was interested in historical knowledge rather than money and jewels. He searched for the important but little-known contributions that people of African heritage had made to the world. Carole Boston Weatherfords descriptions and Eric Velasquezs illustrations make clear how tirelessly Schomburg searched for books, pamphlets and art that could tell our stories, proclaim our glories. They also provide intriguing mini-portraits of the people (such as Benjamin Banneker and Phillis Wheatley) who inspired Schomburg. Although he died about 80 years ago, his library in New York City is a national historic landmark, as big and bustling as ever.

Our Story Begins: Your Favorite Authors and Illustrators Share Fun, Inspiring, and Occasionally Ridiculous Things They Wrote and Drew as Kids



HANDOUT IMAGE: "Our Story Begins," which was edited by Elissa Brent Weissman, is a collection of stories by children's authors of what they wrote as kids. (Athenaeum)

Edited by Elissa Brent Weissman.

Ages 8 to 12.

Is it hard to imagine that the authors and illustrators you admire ever struggle with their work? This fun book goes back to where all of these childrens book legends started  a time when they were kids trying to get their ideas onto paper. The 26 entries, each of which features a childhood photograph, include the pages of a chapter book Marla Frazee wrote and illustrated when she was in third grade, a book created by Grace Lin when she was in middle school, and a poem written by 12-year-old Kwame Alexander to his adored mother, who, of course, framed it.

Writing Radar: Using Your Journal to Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories



HANDOUT IMAGE: "Writing Radar" by Jack Gantos is a middle-grade book about journaling as a starting point to writing stories. (Macmillan)

By Jack Gantos.

Ages 9 to 12.

With humor and swift pacing, the author of the Joey Pigza books and Dead End in Norvelt spills all of his writing secrets about making stories out of everyday life. The key, he says, is writing ideas down as you have them and then giving them structure and emotion. He shares his early stories and explains how he developed into the observant author he has become. It will probably make you want to read Gantoss stories as well as to create your own.

Read more on books from KidsPost:

Beyond Captain Underpants: Dav Pilkey talks about new Dogman book

Two boys get a lesson in courage in Jason Reynoldss As Brave as You

Childhood accident inspires Ruth Behars latest book


These are boom times for the anti-Trump industrial complex. Fundraising is through the roof, and the grass roots have never been greener. (Washington Post illustration)

Noah Bookbinder may not be the first guy youd draft to help unseat a president.

For months, panicky liberals have gazed hopefully at special counsel Robert Mueller, the square-jawed former FBI director whose legal dream team has been kicking down doors and questioning countless Donald Trump associates over allegations that sound like something out of a spy novel. But the likeliest person to take down Trump might well be an unassuming lawyer with the demeanor of your friendly neighborhood dry cleaner.

Bookbinders nonprofit, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, sued the president this year for allegedly breaching the Constitutions little-known emoluments clause by enriching himself with foreign payments. If successful, CREW could win access to the presidents closely guarded business records and tax returns.

And if it gets to that point, said Bookbinder, a short, balding man who keeps his spartan office stocked with rice cakes, he might rather resign.

Of course, its also highly possible that this lawsuit will go nowhere. But CREW will still have won, with its soaring new stature in the fast-growing sector of the Beltway economy devoted to disrupting the Disrupter-in-Chief.

These are boom times for the anti-Trump industrial complex. Fundraising is through the roof for lefty organizations that hadn't been relevant since the Clinton era; the grass roots have never been greener for new activist groups; and political hacks may be sexier than ever. A clique of former Obama speechwriters with a sideline in #Resistance podcasting is selling out 6,000-person concert halls; Rob Reiner, the director of "Spinal Tap," has teamed up with James R. Clapper Jr., the former director of national intelligence, to found the Committee to Investigate Russia; and liberal activists recently surpassed the Guinness world record for the most people on, yes, a conference call.

For Bookbinder, though, success could become a liability.

To get its day in court, CREW needs to prove it has standing  that it has been personally harmed by Trump's supposed misdeeds. Bookbinder's argument is equal parts brilliant and absurd: that the president's copious ethics controversies have become an unsurmountable time suck for CREW, preventing it from tending to traditional watchdog duties such as monitoring dark-money groups or catching congressmen who use taxpayer dollars to decorate their offices. The judge, however, may well note that since Trump took office, CREW has raised so much money from concerned citizens that it has doubled its staff and moved up to a better office of its own.

Bookbinder admits the lawsuit is a long shot and cautions that the toppling of the presidency isnt even the ultimate goal. CREW, he says, simply wants a return to ethical norms.

And yet . . .

If somehow he is not president anymore, then hes not violating the emoluments clause, and all of the ethical problems go away, he said with a smile, his eyebrows roaming excitedly onto the plains of his forehead. In some ways, it would be great to be the ones that did it.



It would be great to be the ones that did it: Noah Bookbinder, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington)

A hero complex can take you far in Washington. It's the engine driving underpaid campaign managers and Hill staffers through 20-hour days. It can help you win the unwinnable, or justify that which cannot be justified. It can make you a boss, if it doesn't make you an exile. You need a hero complex to run for president. And you definitely need one to take down a president.

A lot of this is casting the right person to meet the moment, said Ben Wikler, the Washington director at MoveOn.org. We have a many-tentacled antagonist, and the nations storytellers are begging for protagonists to battle against the hydra.

It's a cyclical phenomenon: The Obama presidency was the best thing that ever happened to Fox News, and it created the perfect climate for the Breitbart fever swamps. George W. Bush gave us the rise of Keith Olbermann rants and Jon Stewart snark, and there would be no vast right-wing conspiracy without the Clintons. Never waste a good crisis, D.C. denizens love to say. And they're not about to waste a great one.

Ive been doing this a long time, said Robert Creamer, a progressive organizer with Democracy Partners. And this is the most excitement Ive ever seen from groups on the left. That includes the civil rights era, Vietnam. . . . People know to strike when the iron is hot.

[The moment when it really started to feel insane: An oral history of the Scaramucci era]

The left is enjoying more donations, more volunteers, bigger budgets, greater enthusiasm. If Trump were to fire Mueller, dozens of organizations that have been gathering on weekly phone calls stand ready to put together a nationwide protest on the same day.

But while the right fights over who gets to draw up the blueprints for their kingdom, the left cant help but fight over whose army will get to blow it up.

Were in the middle of a low-grade civil war on the left, said Rodell Mollineau, the former president of the American Bridge 21st Century super PAC. Everyones out there fighting for donors, for relevance, for power, for the chance to whisper in the next leaders ear.

Democrats seem destined to re-litigate the 2016 election until the end of time. A former Clinton aide founded Verrit, a website that aims to give liberals the tools to win social-media debates, and kicked off with, among other postings, one blaming Bernie Sanders for putting Trump in the White House. Members of the Sanders diaspora, meanwhile, have started the Our Revolution organization to try to keep dragging the party to the left.

Big players with bruised egos are looking for redemption. David Brock, the operative behind American Bridge and other Clinton-aligned groups, returned to work after having an actual post-election heart attack. The Center of American Progress, founded by John Podesta and heavily seeded with Clinton vets, has created a war room investigating Trumps ties with Russia. Its called the Moscow Project, which was a bummer for Zac Petkanas, another Democratic operative who wanted to call his own messaging start-up the Kremlin Project.

Sometimes it feels like were players on the same team competing for the home run record, said Harrell Kirstein, a spokesman for Bridge, which focuses on opposition research. If somebody gets the glory were going to be excited and jump on the train, but wed rather get there first.

[Lawyers upon lawyers upon lawyers: In Trump World, everyone has an attorney.]

But competition is a good thing, says Brad Woodhouse, a longtime Democratic operative now fighting Obamacare repeal efforts with a group called Protect Our Care.

Getting a spotlight shone on your work in many cases is a big part of the work, he said. For a group like CREW, the spotlight helps its mission of keeping the public informed.

Its also important, he added, for fundraising.

Democrats like to rage about money in politics and the distractions of fundraising. But when it comes to financing the cause of taking on the president, theyre all in. MoveOn.org has more than tripled its budget since Trump became president. New grass-roots groups like Indivisible have flourished thanks to thousands of new donors, many of whom barely gave a whit about politics before the last election.

And although its still possible to rally the base with issues of actual policy  witness the frenetic call-your-congressman campaign of the health-care fight  nothing gets these folks more energized than the promise of a successful presidentectomy. For them, 2020 and its growing crowd of Democratic challengers just isnt soon enough.

An online effort called ImpeachDonaldTrumpNow.org raised more than $200,000, some of which will fund a billboard outside of Mar-a-Lago reading No one is above the law. And even citizens with little or no political experience are getting in on the action. Kirstin Elaine Martin, a Massachusetts public-relations consultant in Massachusetts, raised $33,000 in a quixotic effort to petition the Supreme Court for a redo election.

If we can get a new election with the money weve raised, she said. Itll be the best deal in America.



Jon Favreau, the former Obama speechwriter who now runs a progressive podcast. Trump woke a lot of people up who werent paying attention. (Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for Politicon)

A couple of weeks before Bob Dylan plays Washington's new concert hall, the Anthem, the boys from the Pod Save America podcast will take the same big stage, probably sitting on a couch, to discuss resistance politics.

Trump is proof that politics is an every-day business, said Jon Favreau, a former Obama speechwriter and co-founder of the podcast. For progressives to realize the goals they believe in, you need constant activism. And Donald Trump woke a lot of people up who werent paying attention.

Its one of the great ironies of his presidency that many things Trump fights against end up doing well. Hes helped subscriptions soar at the failing New York Times. Lobbyists are flourishing in their role as swamp guides. And the left has never felt more emboldened  albeit cautiously, of course.

"I wouldn't choose to have him as president," said Wikler, of MoveOn.org. "But there's a chance that he ends up really helping the progressive cause by banding everyone together . . . if we can stop some of his worst impulses first."

He could help create a lasting progressive movement, said Creamer, of Democracy Partners. If we can avoid nuclear war.

For Adam Jentleson, who runs CAPs Moscow Project, the irony of his antagonistic relationship with the president is not lost on him. Potential hires have asked him: What happens if Trump leaves the White House?

Granted, Trump has already survived a lot; he may well go on to serve eight full years, despite the lawsuits, the investigations, the protests and all the pieces of damning opposition research that find their way onto the front pages of national newspapers.

And yet, with so many crosshairs trained on Trump, its only natural to wonder what would happen if his presidency ended prematurely  especially if your employment depends on it.

Talk about problems youd want to have, Jentleson said. Our first move would be to go get a drink and celebrate. But then . . . who knows? We might not have a job.
Kavita Krishnaswamy, with her mother Pushpa Krishnaswamy in Columbia, Md., has limited mobility, and she seeks to improve accessibility for herself and others with disabilities. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

Kavita Krishnaswamy had labored through seven years of coursework in math and computer sciences to achieve a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. The University of Maryland Baltimore County graduate student had invented robotic devices that are discussed around the world. She had spent three years narrowing the focus of her doctoral dissertation.

But when the day arrived to defend her dissertation proposal before the panel of senior academics who would allow her to proceed, she never showed up.

She sent her robot.

Krishnaswamy lives with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disorder in which a breakdown of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord prevents the brain from sending the messages that direct muscular movement. She defended her proposal the way she participates in every class and lecture  through the Beam, a rolling, two-way-telecasting robot that she operates from 16 miles away.

Paralyzed from the neck down but for a few muscles in her right hand, the 35-year-old Columbia, Md., woman needs round-the-clock care and rarely leaves her home. But she spends her days and nights designing devices that, like the robot she uses to visit UMBC and points beyond, help those living with severe disabilities to attain greater independence.

Already a recipient of Ford and National Science Foundation fellowships, she has earned additional funding for her research from two more awards: the Microsoft Fellowship and the Google Lime Scholarship.

Krishnaswamy designs robotic devices to allow severely disabled people to move their arms and legs simply by moving a computer trackball, speaking or changing their facial expressions. She is pursuing a doctorate in computer science.

Im always asking how technology can help a person who has a disability become more independent, she said.

Krishnaswamy, who is due to earn her doctorate next year, is working with one eye on the clock. Her illness is progressive.It could rob her of her remaining mobility  and her ability to breathe  with little warning.

Changing the world is a lot to ask of anyone, let alone a person who needs a machine to connect with it and has no idea whether her time on Earth is numbered in decades, years or weeks.

Those who know Krishnaswamy say that if anyone can invent a way, she can.

Krishnaswamy was born in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the daughter of Ramesh Krishnaswamy, an aerospace engineer, and his wife, Pushpa, who has a bachelors in economics.

Like most parents of children with SMA, they were unaware that both carried the genetic mutation that  if passed on by two parents  can trigger the disease. The malady affects 1 in every 10,000 births.

In healthy individuals, a gene known as SMN1 produces the survival-to-motor neuron, a protein that then generates the specialized nerve cells that control most muscles. People with SMA cant animate those muscles, leaving them to atrophy and eventually become paralyzed from disuse.

Sixty percent have the severest form of SMA, Type I, which appears during infancy, makes breathing difficult, and usually causes death by age 2. Another 20 percent have Type II, which materializes after a child learns to sit up and prevents further development.

Type II patients never crawl, walk or stand. All settle into a plateau of gradually decreasing strength.

All need extensive caregiving. A few survive into their 50s.

Thomas Crawford, a pediatric neurologist with Johns Hopkins Medicine who has treated Krishnaswamy since she was 12, says her condition is not unusual for a Type II adult.

She is profoundly weak, he says. Shes not sitting. She manages [her] communication device with the barest little bit of power in her fingers. She has her eyes and her voice  those work. And she has her intelligence, which is substantial.

In some ways, Krishnaswamys life has been a process of harnessing that intelligence and putting it to effective use.

Growing up, she was always a star in math, even as she dealt with skeletal pain and spinal fusion surgeries. She could operate a wheelchair during her high school years but had no idea whether she would have the strength or the opportunity to attend college.

In 1998, as a member of the math, engineering and science achievements club at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, she became the first student in school history to take part in the statewide robotics competition sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Unable to construct a device herself, she designed one digitally. Her younger brothers built it to her specs.

The competition was a race. Her device  a robot encased in a penguin costume  won third place, and a light went on in her mind.

At the time, I didnt know much about it  there was no Internet or Google  but I was thinking, maybe theres something I can really do with this, she recalled. Maybe I could do something more helpful to others. Maybe I could help to design the kind of technologies that could help people like me.

Assistive robots have existed for years, says Tim Oates, Krishnaswamys doctoral adviser.

But disability comes in an infinite range of severity, and most devices require at least moderate strength to operate.

Krishnaswamy found her passion, Oates said, in thinking about ways to create a low-fidelity interface, such as a mouse, to control a robot with high degrees of freedom.

What if you can only use a finger to control a mouse, or if you have tremors, or if the signal youre generating is noisy? How do you smooth that all out?

Krishnaswamy has spent her 10 years in graduate school addressing such questions. She has drawn on her skills in artificial intelligence, software design and other forms of technological communication to design simulated versions of more accessible devices.

She has invented 10 so far.

Several focus on ways of lifting or moving the body or limbs, a necessary element of health maintenance  and one for which people with severe disabilities typically depend on caregivers.

Many such people use specialized air mattresses to soften the pressure that can lead to bedsores, but current models require a caregiver to pump them up.

She devised and tested a simulated mattress whose nine chambers she can inflate or deflate by trackball or voice command.

UMBC engineering students have built a miniature version to her specs, and Krishnaswamy and Oates say the team will have a full-size version up and running within six months.

For her doctoral project, Krishnaswamy is working with Maya Cakmak, a computer science professor at the University of Washington who specializes in human-robotic interaction.

They are developing low-fidelity interfaces that control the PR2, a two-armed, multifunctional robot designed by Suitable Technologies, the Seattle firm that invented and markets the Beam. The PR2 can help people with disabilities reposition their arms or legs, feed themselves and brush their teeth.

Their goal is to help those with little or diminishing strength to control the PR2 using only a mouse or voice command.

No one knows how long an SMA patient will live  its progression is gradual yet steady throughout the course of a persons life  but Krishnaswamys case is so advanced that any further muscle loss could jeopardize the minimal mobility she has and, ultimately, her ability to breathe.

SMA patients and their families received good news in December when the FDA approved the first therapy for the disease, a drug developed by Biogen, known as Spinraza.

Approved for all types and stages of SMA, the drug offers no cure, but years of clinical trials show it can slow the progression of the disease and help sufferers meet motor milestones including head control, crawling and standing.

But it costs $125,000 per injection for five injections in the first year alone. Mandates for coverage within the insurance, state government and health-care bureaucracies are just coming into focus.

Johns Hopkins, a pioneer in the emerging field, is one of the handful of hospitals in the region to offer the treatment. But because its earliest clinical trials focused on the use of the drug for children, the facility has yet to secure full approval to offer it to patients of all ages.

Crawford says he expects that approval soon.

That could prove a lifeline for Krishnaswamy, who is too weak to travel to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, which offers the treatment.

Krishnaswamy confesses to moments of stress and anxiety, but she says knowing her purpose keeps her looking forward to a long and productive career in robotics research, either in a university setting or in private industry.

I think we are all born with a mission to complete in life, she says. If we find that, we can pursue it and have passion in life pursuing it. I believe God has given me this mission to bring this accessibility of robotics.

Where theres a will, theres a way.

 Baltimore Sun

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Oman authorities have asked an Indian Muslim scholar to leave the kingdom after criticizing Saudi Arabia for isolating a Muslim country in reference to Qatar and siding with Jewish and Christians, reports say.

The foreign ministry said Salman al-Husaini had been asked to leave the country adding that the scholars remarks at the lecture, at Muscats College of Shariah Sciences on Tuesday were inconsistent with the Sultanate policy and stance on the Gulf crisis which has opposed Qatar and Saudi Arabia supported by United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt.

The ministry reacted after a video of the lecture was widely shared on social media.

Al-Husaini, a scholar in Islamic studies laid into Saudi Arabia for its rapprochement with Israel and America, describing the US President Donald Trump as a devil pointing out that the US leader masterminded the crisis.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on June 5 severed ties with Qatar that they accuse of supporting terrorism. The four cut off air, sea and ground links with the tiny Emirate.

Oman has adopted a neutral position in the crisis and has banned comments within the country which may frustrate one side of the crisis.

The Oman ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said and his Kuwaiti counterpart Cheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jabir al-Sabah have been mediating the rift.

The Sultanate helped remedy the 2014 diplomatic row between Qatar on one side and Saudi Arabia, the UAE.

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi pulled out their diplomats accusing Qatar of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.
Richard Gorinson, owner of J&S Shoes Stride Rite, said the minimum wage proposal could put him out of business. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

The last time the Montgomery County Council voted to increase the minimum wage in Marylands largest jurisdiction, Richard Gorinson slashed his employees payroll hours by 26 percent. Sales had been flat since the 2008 recession at his shoe store in the Westfield Wheaton mall, and he said he couldnt afford to pay his workers more without also cutting their hours.

Now the council is weighing a bill to increase the hourly minimum even further  a revised version of legislation that was approved by the council but then vetoed earlier this year. It would put me out of business, said Gorinson, owner of J&S Shoes Stride Rite. Theres just no way I could staff the store properly and have to pay $15 or more.

Yet for Dana Lande, who owns a Rockville-based online jewelry design and manufacturing business, the cost of hiring, recruiting and training new staff is more daunting than a $15 minimum wage.

She said the bill  which will be the focus of a public hearing in Rockville on Tuesday evening  would probably mean reduced turnover in the long term.

One of the benefits I see of having higher wages is retaining employees, said Lande, who opened Dayna Designs in 2004. Its a silver lining for employers.



Montgomery County Exectuive Isiah Leggett D) wants the pace of any wage-boosting rules to be slower. (Jeffrey MacMillan)

The all-Democratic council has debated a $15 minimum wage before.

Lawmakers narrowly approved legislation in January that would have made the wealthy suburb the first jurisdiction in Maryland  and the second in the region after the District  to require $15 an hour by 2020 (businesses with 25 or fewer employees would have until 2022 to implement the higher wage).

County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) vetoed that bill, concerned about putting businesses in the county at a competitive disadvantage with those in neighboring Maryland jurisdictions. Six votes were needed to override Leggett's veto. Only five of the council's nine members  the same five who voted for the bill in the first place  were in favor.

Leggett then commissioned a study to quantify the effects of a $15 minimum wage. The research, conducted by the Philadelphia-based economic consulting group PFM, initially predicted that 47,000 jobs would be lost by 2022. But in August, the group admitted to "a computation error" that overestimated the number of lost jobs, handing a win to county lawmakers who had questioned the study's results.

Over the summer, council member Marc Elrich (D-At Large) introduced a revised bill that attempts to address Leggetts concerns that the original legislation was too much, too fast.

The proposal gives nonprofit organizations and adult day-care providers, as well as small businesses, until 2022 to begin paying $15 an hour. It is not yet clear whether that change is enough to win over an additional council member and create a veto-proof majority. With at least seven of the nine lawmakers running for another term or for a different office in 2018, their positions for or against a higher minimum wage could have political consequences.

Im hoping we can get more than six, Elrich said. I think were going to be able to pass the bill.

Leggett has made clear that the changes in the bill are not enough to satisfy his concerns. He is asking council members to expand the definition of small businesses to those with 50 or fewer employees  which would cover 96 percent of businesses, and 50 percent of county employees, according to Leggetts office. Leggett also suggested a new timeline so large businesses would have until 2022 to raise wages to at least $15 an hour, and small employers and nonprofit organizations would have until 2024.

My view is that if the legislation looks like the original one, Im not prone to approve that, Leggett said in an interview. Thats the bottom line.

Elrich said the definition of small businesses was a debatable issue but rejected calls to push back the timeline.

I appreciate [Leggett] is concerned about how will small businesses adjust at a higher wage, Elrich said. Then he offered this counter: How do poor people adjust to not being able to feed and clothe and house themselves?

Business owners who support a $15 minimum wage include Michael Lastoria, founder of &Pizza, which has locations in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia as well as the District, whose council voted last year to require a $15-an-hour minimum wage by 2020.

Lastoria said higher wages help connect people to their employers and, by reducing turnover, also reduce training costs.

The company pays its D.C. employees $13 to $15 an hour. Workers at the Montgomery outlets  in Bethesda, north Bethesda, Gaithersburg and Germantown  are paid $12.25 to $14.

Weve kicked this can as far down the road as we can, Lastoria said. You just cant live off the wages that the government mandates you to pay.

But many other business owners, and multiple chambers of commerce, lobbied against earlier versions of the Montgomery bill and are expected to do so again on Tuesday.

At a public hearing in June 2016, they called a $15 minimum wage a one-size-fits-all solution that would force business owners to reduce their workforces and increase wages at all levels to accommodate a bump at the bottom.

Joe Richardson employs about 260 people as the chief executive of the after-school and camp program Bar-T, which is based in Montgomery. He said he wouldnt be able to reduce his payroll by much if the council approves a higher minimum wage, given the number of kids Bar-T supervises. Instead, he would have to charge families more for programming, perhaps as much as $15 more per month.

Above all, he said, an increase in the minimum wage to $15 would have ripple effects for staffers at all levels.

If any entry-level person who you hired with no experience is making [$15 per hour], it doesnt feel right that people who have been working with you for a while at $16 or $17 not to have a bump up, Richardson said. But I couldnt increase everybody on that same curve.

Richardson said that if other jurisdictions in Maryland, or the entire state, were considering the increase, everyone would understand. But he argued that Montgomery, where the majority of Bar-T programs take place, should not become an outlier.

This is just Montgomery County being difficult for business, Richardson said.
A high percentage of Marylanders believe Gov. Larry Hogan has adequately distanced himself from President Trump, according to a new poll that also shows the state leader with a strong approval rating despite Democratic efforts to tie the two Republicans together.

The Goucher College survey, however, does not contain only good news for Hogan. The governor's approval rating remains nearly 10 points below the astronomical 71 percent recorded in polls one year ago. And the percentage of Marylanders who say they are committed or likely to vote for him in 2018 has fallen six percentage points since February.

Trump is deeply unpopular in the state, with 71 percent of Marylanders in the survey saying they disapprove or strongly disapprove of the job the president is doing. Twenty-five percent said they approve or strongly approve of his work.

Forty-three percent of respondents said Hogan has distanced himself from Trump about the right amount, while 27 percent said the governor has done too little and 11 percent said he has done too much.

Sixty-two percent of Marylanders approve of the job Hogan is doing, about even with his 63 percent approval rating in a February 2017 Goucher survey but eight points below his 70 percent approval rating in the organization's September 2016 poll.

Sixteen percent of respondents in the new poll said they disapprove or strongly disapprove of the job Hogan is doing, while 20 percent said they dont know and 1 percent declined to answer the question.

Fifty-one percent said they will definitely vote or are leaning toward voting for Hogan in 2018, including 35 percent of registered Democrats, 59 percent of independents and 83 percent of Republicans. Forty-two percent said they were considering or would definitely vote for someone other than Hogan, including 57 percent of registered Democrats, 30 percent of independents and 16 percent of Republicans.

In February, 57 percent of respondents said they were at least leaning toward voting for Hogan. Hogans reelection support dropped nine points among independents, five points among Republicans and two points among Democrats.

Hogan has angered some GOP voters by criticizing certain Trump administration policies and ordering the removal of a statue of Roger B. Taney, the chief justice of the United States and slavery supporter who wrote the Dred Scott decision in 1857. But Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary's College, said Republican discontent over such decisions is unlikely to carry over to the general election.

Some Republicans may be angry, but they know theres a huge difference between Hogan and anyone the Democrats nominate, he said. Its easy to win your own people back.

The poll also found a dip in the percentage of Marylanders who say the state is heading in the right direction: 55 percent, compared with 62 percent in February. Thirty-one percent said the state is on the wrong track, compared with 22 percent in February.

Mileah Kromer, a Goucher College political science professor who directed the polling team, attributed Hogans high approval rating to his ability to stay on a message that people care about and his focus on jobs and the economy, which 28 percent of Maryland residents say is their top priority. Fifty-seven percent said they have a mostly positive view of the states economic situation, compared with 33 percent who said they have a mostly negative view.

Education ranked as the second-highest priority for Marylanders, with 21 percent identifying that as their top issue, followed by taxes (12 percent), health care (12 percent), racial and social justice (11 percent), the environment (7 percent), and transportation and infrastructure (5 percent).

The poll questioned 671 Maryland adults and was conducted between Sept. 14 and 17. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Sunday, SEPT. 24

Dale City farmers market 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Dale City Commuter Lot (behind Center Plaza Shopping Center), Dale Boulevard, Dale City. 703-670-7112, Ext. 227. pwcparks.org.

Sunday breakfast All you can eat. 8-11 a.m. American Legion Post 10, 9950 Cockrell Rd., Manassas. 703-369-4900. $7.

Bird walk at Merrimac Farm Bring binoculars and cameras. 8 a.m. Merrimac Farm, Stone House, 15014 Deepwood Lane, Nokesville. 703-499-4954. alliance@pwconserve.org. Free, registration required.

Occoquan Fall Arts and Crafts Show For the 48th year, more than 300 local and national crafters and artisans fill the streets of Occoquan. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mill Street, Occoquan. 703-491-2128. occoquanva.gov. Free.

Manassas Latino Festival The annual festival features live music, folk dancing performances, arts and crafts, children's activities and food vendors. Noon.-5 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-361-9800. manassaslatinofestival.com. Free.

Animal Shelter open house Events include a rabies clinic, children's activities, vendors and raffles. Noon-4 p.m. Prince William County Animal Shelter, 14807 Bristow Rd., Manassas. 703-792-6465. Free.

U.S. Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps A concert on the parade deck. 2 p.m. National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle. 703-432-1775. Free.

International Day of Prayer The theme for this year's interfaith program is "Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All." A potluck dinner follows the program. 3-6 p.m. Congregation Ner Shalom, 14010 Spriggs Rd., Woodbridge. 703-717-3086. Free.

"Honor, Courage and Commitment: Marine Corps Art, 1975-2015" The first exhibit in the Combat Art Gallery features 100 works by 22 artists. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle. 703-784-6107. Free.

"Forest Folklore" Mixed-media art and paintings by Lauren Jacobs of Dumfries and wood turning by Greg Wandless of Fairfax. Through Oct. 2. Artists' Undertaking Gallery, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-494-0584. Free.

"Good Dogs, Bad Cats and Weirdos" An exhibit of often humorous paintings and painted objects by Charla Wilkerson. Through Oct. 1. The Loft Gallery, 313 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-490-1117. loftgallery.org. Free.

Monday, SEPT. 25

Bingo Proceeds support local veterans. Doors open 7:30 a.m. Games 9:15 a.m.-noon. American Legion Post 10, 9950 Cockrell Rd., Manassas. 703-369-4900. $16.

"Engineered Abstraction" closing reception Geometric paintings by David Levy of New Jersey. 12:15 p.m. Northern Virginia Community College, Colgan Hall, 10950 Campus Dr., Manassas. 703-323-3000. Free.

Park West Lions Club bingo Proceeds support local sight, hearing and youth projects. Doors open weekly at 4 p.m. Games begin at 7 p.m. Park West Lions Club, 8620 Sunnygate Dr., Manassas. 703-392-0077. pwlions@aol.com. $10.

Bingo Proceeds support Dale City Knights of Columbus activities and charities. Doors open 6 p.m. Games begin 7:30 p.m. VFW Post 1503, 14631 Minnieville Rd., Dale City. 703-491-2378. $9 minimum.

Cabin Branch Quilters guild meeting 7 p.m., Lake Ridge Baptist Church, 12450 Clipper Dr., Lake Ridge. 703-994-8702 or cabinbranchquilters.org. Free.

Prince William Art Society The meeting includes a program by Janet Flickinger. 7:30 p.m. Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Dr., Woodbridge. princewilliamartsociety.com. Free.

"A Peculiar Perspective" An exhibit of oil paintings by Manassas resident John Hartt. Through Oct. 31. The Hall at City Hall, 9027 Center St., Manassas. Free.

"Visual Magic: The Art of Four Picture Book Illustrators" An exhibit of works by Janet Stoeke, Carol Schwartz, Susan Roth, and Jennifer O'Connell. Through Oct. 26. The Center for the Arts, 9419 Battle St., Manassas. 703-330-2787. Free.

Tuesday, SEPT. 26

Matinee Idylls Mannheim Rocket Orchestra performs works including Mozart's "Quintet for Clarinet and Strings." A dessert reception follows the concert. Lunch at 12:30 p.m. Concert at 1:30 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas. 703-993-7759. hyltoncenter.org. Concert and dessert $27, lunch and concert $47.

"Democracy for Sale" A screening of the documentary followed by a panel discussion. 4 and 7 p.m. Northern Virginia Community College, Lakeside Theater, 2645 College Dr., Woodbridge. 703-323-3000. Free.

"The Revolutionary War in Prince William County" Historian John Maass discusses the county's Colonial and Revolutionary War history. 7 p.m. Bull Run Regional Library, 8051 Ashton Ave., Manassas. 703-792-4540. Free, registration suggested.

Wednesday, SEPT. 27

World War I Wednesdays World War I uniforms will be on display. Childrens activities are also offered. 10 a.m.-noon. National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle. 877-635-1775. Free.

Lake Ridge Toastmasters Club Members 18 and older develop their public speaking and leadership skills. 7:30-9:15 p.m. Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Dr., Lake Ridge. 703-491-3020. contact-8913@toastmastersclubs.org. lakeridge.toastmastersclubs.org. $34-$64 membership fee.

Thursday, SEPT. 28

Manassas farmers market Thursday 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St. Also Saturday 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Prince William Lot, Prince William Street, Manassas. 703-361-6599. visitmanassas.org.

Bingo Proceeds support Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary programs and community activities. Thursday and Tuesday. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Games begin 7:30 p.m. VFW Post 1503, 14631 Minnieville Rd., Dale City. 703-670-4124. $10 minimum.

Friday, SEPT. 29

American Legion dinner The public is invited to dinner with a different special every week. Proceeds support local veterans and the community. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. vapost364.org. $5-$15.

"Arsenic and Old Lace" Castaways Repertory Theatre stages the farcical black comedy. Opens Friday at 8 p.m. Through Oct. 15. Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis Dr., Woodbridge. 703-232-1710. $8-$15.

Saturday, SEPT. 30

Yoga on the Lawn Vinyasa yoga taught by certified yoga instructor Christopher Glowacki. 9 a.m. Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge. 703-499-9812. pwcgov.org/ripponlodge. $5.

Trail work Join the Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition for Public Lands Day to make improvements to the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. 9 a.m.-noon. Powells Creek Landing, Woodbridge. pwtsc.org. Free.

Steins, Wines and Spirits Festival Samples from local breweries, wineries and distilleries, along with an oyster tent, music and food trucks, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Manassas. Noon.-5 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-331-1284. visitmanassas.org. $20-$35.

 Compiled by Sarah Lane

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Board agrees to build a new animal shelter

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently agreed to construct a new $14.1 million animal shelter, a county news release said.

The 28,105-square-foot shelter will have 106 double-sided cat kennels and 56 double-sided dog kennels. Separate spaces will be provided for small mammals, reptiles and birds. The new shelter will include offices for animal control, dedicated rooms for animal isolation, quarantine and recovery, a multipurpose room for staff members and the community, an adoption lobby, and a complete veterinarian space.

The cost of the animal shelter was a significant point of consideration for the board. All of our options are expensive; theres no doubt about it, Occoquan District Supervisor Ruth Anderson said. I asked for the audit on the animal shelter, and I think the audit was clear. We have some high-risk problems, and most of them were related to the facility itself.

The facility will be built according to the Association of Shelter Veterinarians guidelines for animal shelters.
An 18-year-old man was fatally shot Sunday night in Northeast Washington, according to D.C. police.

The shooting occurred about 9:50 p.m. in the 2800 block of 14th Street NE. The victim was identified as Robert Lee Arthur Jr. of Northeast.

Police said Arthur was shot several times and died at a hospital. No other details of the shooting were made available.

In addition, police said a juvenile was shot and wounded early Sunday in the 4200 block of 7th Street SE, in the Washington Highlands neighborhood.

A police report said shots were fired at a house and at least one bullet went through a window. It is not clear whether the victim was inside or outside the residence. Police would not give the age of the victim.

They said the juvenile was struck in the abdomen and taken to a hospital. Authorities described the injuries as not life-threatening.
A man was charged with murder after police said he fatally stabbed his father and turned himself in at a police station in Virginia.

About 9 p.m. Sunday, Hector Anthony Flores Jr., 28, walked into Leesburg police headquarters and reported stabbing his father at their home in the 1000 block of Wythe Court, Leesburg police said in a statement.

[Man fatally stabbed in Leesburg, Va.]

When police responded to that address, they found Hector Anthony Flores, 48, suffering from an apparent stab wound. He died at the scene, police said.

An investigation found that the stabbing was the result of an altercation between the two men, police said.

Tracking D.C.-area homicides Mapping homicides in the District and the surrounding suburbs since 2000.



Flores Jr. was charged with first-degree murder. He is being held without bond, according to police.
The man who fatally shot a Prince Georges County firefighter answering a 911 call died last week, according to his attorney and his sister.

Darrell Lumpkin, 63, had suffered a stroke and was in the hospital for a few weeks before being released, said Lumpkins attorney, Brian K. McDaniel. About a week later, Lumpkin died of a heart condition, McDaniel said.

Lumpkin was sentenced to four years in prison in April for a weapons charge but had not yet reported to jail because the court was considering a motion to modify his sentence, McDaniel said.

McDaniel said Lumpkin lived the last year of his life under a significant amount of stress for accidentally shooting firefighter John Skillet Ulmschneider and wounding volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain as they answered a call for a welfare check at Lumpkins home.

[Maryland man who fatally shot firefighter is sentenced to 4 years in prison]

He was very sorry for the family and their loss and very concerned about the prospect of going to jail given his advanced age, McDaniel said.

Ulmschneider, Swain and Lumpkins brother broke into Lumpkins Temple Hills home in April 2016 believing Lumpkin was suffering a medical emergency. When the three came through the door, Lumpkin, who was incoherent from a diabetic episode, fired, believing intruders were entering, McDaniel said.

A grand jury did not charge Lumpkin with murder or manslaughter. But he pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a weapon. Lumpkin had legally obtained the guns he owned, but a change in Maryland law in 2012 banned him from possessing firearms because of a 1985 assault conviction he had in the District. Lumpkins sister said he had bought the weapons after a rash of burglaries in his neighborhood and did not know the law had changed.

[Emergency crews honor Md. firefighter who died answering 911 call]

This is an unfortunate end to an overall tragic incident, said Mark Brady, a spokesman for the Prince Georges County fire department.

Her brother had suffered heartbreak after his wife died in recent years, his sister said. The shooting added to his grief, his sister said.

The tragedy with the fireman was too much, Lumpkins sister said. He wouldnt have intentionally hurt those men and he definitely wouldnt hurt his own brother. He couldn't believe he did that.
An off-duty D.C. police officer was killed Monday morning after his car crossed a double-yellow line in the Clarksville area and collided with a tractor-trailer headed in the opposite direction, Howard County police said.

Authorities said that Barry Martin Eastman, 31, of Ellicott City died at the scene of the crash on Route 32, near Route 108 and Linden Church Road, about 8 a.m. Police said Eastman drove alone in his 2015 KIA Forte as he traveled northbound, when for unknown reasons, his car veered across the double line and hit the southbound 2014 Mack tractor-trailer.

The truck driver, 53-year-old Ira Goldberg of Frederick, was not injured, Howard County police said.

Eastman was assigned to the Third District and had been a member of the department for more than four years, said Margarita Mikhaylova, a D.C. police spokeswoman. D.C. police said the accident happened after Eastman left his overnight shift.

The Metropolitan Police Departments deepest condolences go out to the family, she said.

The D.C. police union issued a statement to officers that said Eastman is survived by his wife and two children.

Our prayers are with his wife, his children and family, said Officer Stephen Bigelow, vice chairman of the union.

Howard County police are investigating the cause of the crash, officials said.
A Northwest Washington man has been arrested in connection with a double homicide that occurred in the alley of a Prince Georges County strip mall in July.

Robert Suesbury, 28, is charged with first- and second-degree murder in the fatal shootings of Courtney Simms, 22, and Anthony Douglas, 23, according to Prince Georges police.

Simms and Douglas were killed about 7:20 p.m. July 9 in the 4600 block of Silver Hill Road in Suitland, police said.

Jharrod Armstrong, 19, of Northwest Washington was also arrested in what detectives believe was an attempted robbery, police said.
Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.
The U.S. Justice Department asked a full federal appeals court Monday to review a decision to throw out the first-degree murder conviction of one former Blackwater Worldwide security guard and the sentences of three others in shootings that killed 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Baghdad in 2007.

Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey B. Wall approved the decision, which was expected and filed by appeals lawyers for the departments criminal division, to seek a full court review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, after a three-judge panel ruled Aug. 4.

[Murder conviction in Blackwater case thrown out, other sentences overturned]

The panel said a trial court abused its discretion in not allowing Nicholas A. Slatten, 33, of Sparta, Tenn., to be tried separately from his three co-defendants in 2014 even though one of them said he, not Slatten, fired the first shots in the massacre. Slatten was convicted of murder

By a separate, 2-to-1 vote, the panel also found that the 30-year terms of the others convicted of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter  Paul A. Slough, 37, of Keller, Tex.; Evan S. Liberty, 35, of Rochester, N.H.; and Dustin L. Heard, 36, of Maryville, Tenn.  violated the constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

[Four Blackwater guards sentenced in Iraq shootings of 31 unarmed civilians]

They received the enhanced penalty because they were also convicted of using military firearms while committing a felony, a charge that primarily has been aimed at gang members and never before been used against security contractors given military weapons by the U.S. government.

The Justice Department filing called the panels sentencing finding as wrong as it is unprecedented, saying the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld longer sentences for lesser crimes.

By its plain terms, the statute applies to defendants, who used their most fearsome weapons to open fire on defenseless men, women, and children, the department said. Far from being unconstitutional, these sentences befit the enormity of defendants crimes.

The government also cited legal and factual errors in the ruling granting Slatten a retrial, noting the great international consequence of his prosecution for a humanitarian and diplomatic disaster.

A retrial in a prosecution of this magnitude (including reassembling the many Iraqi witnesses) poses considerable and uncommon challenges, the department wrote, urging the full court to reconsider in a case of such exceptional importance.

In their own filing Monday, attorneys for the four men asked the full court to toss out the case on jurisdictional grounds and so reverse the panels finding that civilian contractors supporting the Pentagon could be prosecuted under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act.

The attorneys could not be reached for comment. A group representing family members and friends of the four tweeted a statement from Slatten last month that said, Public outrage may be our only chance at true justice for all four of us. While it may be too early to seek pardons for my brothers from President Trump, he especially needs to hear from you.

Staff writer Ann E. Marimow contributed to this report.
A California man who breached the White House's secure perimeter and roamed free for nearly 17 minutes in March was sentenced Monday to two years probation and ordered to stay away from the White House, Mall and Trump hotels and properties worldwide.

Jonathan T. Tran, 27, of Milpitas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg of Washington after pleading guilty to one, misdemeanor count of knowingly entering and remaining on restricted grounds in July.

Tran, an unemployed electrical engineer diagnosed this summer with paranoid schizophrenia and depression, was unarmed during the March 10 incident and told the U.S. Secret Service he was a friend of the president who wanted to warn him about fake news. Tran was carrying a letter he wrote to President Trump that said he had information related to Russian hackers.

[White House fence jumper who roamed grounds for more than 16 minutes pleads guilty]

Tran's incursion led to renewed criticism of the service and further restrictions on public access around the presidential residence. Tran was not caught for nearly 17 minutes after being detected shortly before midnight on a rainy Friday night crossing a five-foot outer fence near East Executive Avenue and the Treasury Department. His breach triggered multiple alarms and, at various points, Tran peered into a White House window and hid behind a pillar, according to surveillance video and officer accounts.

In a brief statement in court Monday, Tran said, I severely regret what I did. Clearly it was wrong. I did not intent to encourage others  My mind was in another place..

Boasberg said he agreed with prosecutors that Trans was not a victimless crime, in that it distracted government officials and impeded them from other duties. This is a serious crime, and it needs to be taken seriously. That said, I do believe probation is an appropriate sentence, Boasberg said.

[After fence-jumping, lawmakers are counting on Homeland Security to clean up Secret Service]

U.S. prosecutors sought a six-month prison sentence, noting the Secret Service has reported an increase in actual and attempted fence jumping this year, in each case diverting a wide range of federal and local agencies from other emergencies.

Trans obsession with Trump appears to be too strong to be checked without incarceration and make him a continuing threat, Assistant U.S. attorney David J. Mudd wrote the court, adding that even after his arrest, Tran posted a social media message explaining that he went to the White House because he wanted to speak to [Trump] in daylight to clear up this dossier fiasco.

[Calif. man carrying Mace arrested on White House grounds after scaling fence]

Assistant Federal Defender Tony W. Miles opposed any incarceration as unjust because of Trans mental illness, lack of criminal history, adding that he has responded well to treatment and complied with release terms pending sentencing.

Mr. Trans offense occurred not because he is a bad person, but only because he experienced an uncontrollable mental health episode, Miles said.

Boasberg ordered that Tran continue mental health treatment and cooperate in threat assessment by the Secret Service.

Tran was jailed three days after his arrest before being released to his familys home in Northern California pending his return to court, subject to court and electronic monitoring, mental evaluation and treatment if necessary.
THE DISTRICT

Man slain in Northeast

An 18-year-old man was fatally shot Sunday night in Northeast Washington, according to D.C. police.

The shooting occurred about 9:50 p.m. in the 2800 block of 14th Street NE. The victim was identified as Robert Lee Arthur Jr. of Northeast.

Arthur was a student at Roosevelt STAY, an alternative high school and career technical program.

 Peter Hermann

White House fence

jumper is sentenced

A California man who breached the White House's secure perimeter and roamed free for nearly 17 minutes in March was sentenced Monday to two years probation and ordered to stay away from the White House, the Mall and Trump hotels and properties worldwide.

Jonathan T. Tran, 27, of Milpitas was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg of Washington after pleading guilty in July to one misdemeanor count of knowingly entering and remaining on restricted grounds.

Tran, an unemployed electrical engineer diagnosed this summer with paranoid schizophrenia and depression, was unarmed during the March 10 incident and told the U.S. Secret Service he was a friend of the president who wanted to warn him about fake news.

In a brief statement, Tran said, I severely regret what I did. Clearly it was wrong. I did not intent to encourage others . . . My mind was in another place.

 Spencer S. Hsu

MARYLAND

Man is arrested

in double homicide

A Northwest Washington man has been arrested in connection with a double homicide that occurred in the alley of a Prince Georges County strip mall in July.

Robert Suesbury, 28, is charged with first- and second-degree murder in the fatal shootings of Courtney Simms, 22, and Anthony Douglas, 23.

Simms and Douglas were killed July 9 in the 4600 block of Silver Hill Road in Suitland, police said.

Jharrod Armstrong, 19, of Northwest Washington was also arrested in what detectives think was an attempted robbery.

 Lynh Bui

Man is arrested

in fatal shooting

A College Park man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred during a party on Sunday.

Davie Serpas, 21, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder in the killing of Rogelio Sierra-Duran, 24, of Silver Spring, Prince Georges County police said.

The two men argued at a party at an apartment in the 9300 block of Cherry Hill Road shortly before 5:30 a.m., police said.

Sierra-Duran was shot and later died at a hospital, police said. Another person suffered wounds that did not appear to be life-threatening.

 Lynh Bui

VIRGINIA

Man turns himself in;

fatally stabbed father

A man was charged with murder after police said he fatally stabbed his father and turned himself in at a police station in Virginia.

About 9 p.m. Sunday, Hector Anthony Flores Jr., 28, walked into Leesburg police headquarters and reported stabbing his father at their home, Leesburg police said in a statement.

Police found Hector Anthony Flores, 48, suffering from an apparent stab wound. He died at the scene, police said.

An investigation found that the stabbing was the result of an altercation between the two men, police said.

 Justin Wm. Moyer
Its a bright, summerlike afternoon, and more than a hundred cars are idling in a lot near Terminal A at Reagan National Airport. Just two years ago, this was another parking lot. Now it is where drivers for Uber, Lyft, Via and other ride-booking services huddle until they are summoned by smartphone.

Each time a driver leaves the lot and heads to the terminal, thats another $4 for the agency that manages the airport. It might not seem like much, but multiplied over the course of a day, a month and a year, it adds up to millions.

The arrival of the ride-booking services was cheered by travelers, but the companies have also proved good news for airport executives here and across the country. After a rocky start, Uber, Lyft and other transportation networking companies (TNCs)  have formal agreements in place at more than 100 U.S. airports. And it seems, for now, that both sides are benefiting.

We work collaboratively with airports around the country to ensure that travelers can rely on Lyft for a safe, reliable and affordable ride on-demand, Bakari Brock, the companys senior director for business operations, said via email. By working closely with airport officials, were able to create the best experience possible for both drivers and passengers.

At National and Dulles International Airport, these services have quickly become one of the fastest-growing sources of revenue. In 2016, the airports made more than $14.5 million from ride-booking service fees. At Los Angeles International Airport, officials estimate the app-based services have brought in more $40 million since they began operating in 2015.

Ground transportation [at airports] has changed, said Carter Morris, executive vice president for AAAE Services at the American Association of Airport Executives.

[The battle between Uber, Lyft and taxis has moved to airports]

The sheer number of airport trips now handled by ride-booking services is staggering. At the Los Angeles airport, TNCs have given more than 10.5 million rides since December 2015. In Washington, officials estimate that ride-booking services account for an average of 14,800 trips a day to and from National and Dulles. The services have not eclipsed taxis at the Washington-area airports as they have at others around the country, however.

TNCs have become the largest segment of our ground transportation picture and the most popular form of commercial transportation, said Doug Yakel, spokesman for San Francisco International. In July, for example, travelers made 300,000 airport trips using TNCs vs. 100,000 via taxi, he said.

At Bostons Logan International Airport, which only recently allowed TNCs to pick up passengers, the services also are becoming serious players. A recent report found that ride-booking companies are quickly catching up to taxis. According to a recent report on the arrangement, in the six months since the airport began allowing TNCs to pick up passengers, their share of the market has grown to just over 18 percent.

Airport revenue has traditionally come from two sources: services provided to airlines, such as leases, landing fees, fuel and other aviation-related services  and non-aeronautical revenue, including rental car leases, shops, food and beverage sales, and now TNCs. In recent years, airports have sought to increase this share of their income as a hedge against the volatility of the airline business.

While they welcome the additional dollars, airport officials are quick to note that there are trade-offs. The impact of ride-booking services on the taxi industry has been well-documented, but it is the demand for parking that may be of most concern for airport officials since it is one of the airports biggest moneymakers. At National, where garages routinely used to fill so quickly during peak travel periods that officials created a reservation system, there are now spaces available even at busy travel times. In Los Angeles, parking revenue remains strong but has been lower than expected since the arrival of TNCs.

[Uber wants National, Dulles airports to reconsider that $4 fee]

Jerome Davis, chief revenue officer at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said parking fees account for about one-third of the money that MWAA brings in from non-airline sources.

The math is simple: MWAA makes $25 a day when a traveler parks in the daily garage at National, but only $8 if that same passenger decides to use a TNC to get to and from the airport. That $17 difference can add up quickly.

Airport officials say its not time to panic, however.

Parking will be around for a while, Davis said. Americans love their cars and they love owning their cars and driving their cars. But we still have to make sure were in the best position to reap the benefit of these new forms of transportation.

Even so, its possible that future building projects might include fewer parking garages and more focused efforts to maintain roads, he said.

MWAA might get a sense of the effects on traditional transportation services later this year, when negotiations begin on new taxi and rental car contracts.

For now, though, there is the question of managing the addition of thousands of vehicles at airports that werent designed to handle large volumes of traffic. In some cases it involves reallocating curb space, as officials did in San Francisco, where traditional shuttles lost space to make room for pickups and drop-offs by ride-booking services. At National, it has meant deploying police officers to unsnarl traffic jams around Terminal A, the main entry point for vehicles arriving at the airport.

Given how ubiquitous theyve become, its hard to believe that TNCs are a relatively new phenomenon. And its only in the past two years that airports have been able to benefit financially from the services, striking agreements to collect per-trip fees that are in most cases passed on to customers.

Before that, the services played a game of cat-and-mouse with airports, rallying their customers to lobby on their behalf when airports threatened to ban them.

Now the two sides talk about their partnerships. On their websites, both Uber and Lyft tout their airport service, offering customers the opportunity to book trips in advance.

Financial arrangements at airports vary. Some charge only when drivers pick up a passenger while others charge a set fee  between $2 and $5  for each pickup and drop-off.

[Uber and Lyft are now welcome at BWI]

At $4 a ride, National and Dulles are on the high end. At Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport, the charge is $2.50.

On a recent day, Uber driver Sid Bahbah popped out of his car for a quick smoke break between pickups at National. He said the lot where drivers queue is always crowded but moves quickly. He pulled out his smartphone, which showed that he was 19th in line to be called. A few seconds later, the phone beeped. Hed moved to 14th. Hed barely reached for a match to light his cigarette when the app indicated that he was eight minutes from being summoned. No time for a smoke, he said, heading back to his car.

MWAAs Davis thinks the changes ushered in by Uber and Lyft are only the beginning for airports.

Today its Uber  tomorrow, it may be self-driving cars, he said. We have to be prepared for the future.
Virginia gubernatorial candidates Ed Gillespie, left, and Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam shake hands at the end of their debate on Sept. 19. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)

Virginia gubernatorial contender Ralph Northam and other Democrats in statewide contests are leading their GOP opponents six weeks before Election Day, according to a new survey of likely voters.

The poll released Monday by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University found Northam had the support of 47 percent of voters while Republican Ed Gillespie had 41 percent. Libertarian Cliff Hyra claimed 4 percent of the vote, and another 8 percent of voters were undecided.

It's the latest in a series of polls to find Northam with a slight lead or in a dead heat with Gillespie ahead of the Nov. 7 contest.

[New burst of polls find tight race in governors race]

The Wason poll found Northam had double-digit leads in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, heavily populated, urban areas that have been key to Democratic victories in recent statewide contests. Gillespie had a slight edge among voters in rural southern and southwestern Virginia and an eight-point lead in the Richmond/central Virginia area.

Northam leads Gillespie among women and voters under 45, while Gillespie outpaces Northam among men. Each man has the clear support of his partys base, and they evenly split independents, 38 percent to 38 percent.

Northam is doing well where he needs to do well, said Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center. A Democratic plus-11 advantage in Northern Virginia and plus-20 in Hampton Roads are hard for a Republican to overcome in the rest of the state.

Northam, the states lieutenant governor, is a pediatric neurologist who served two terms in the state Senate. Gillespie, the GOPs unsuccessful 2014 nominee for U.S. Senate, is a longtime Republican political operative who served as a counselor to President George W. Bush and as chairman of the Republican National Committee. The man theyre competing to succeed, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), is prohibited by the states constitution from seeking a second consecutive term.

[Five key moments from Virginias first televised debate]

Voters in the new poll said their top concern is improving K-12 education, an issue that has been mostly drowned out as the candidates have sparred over hot-button issues, including Confederate statues, tax cuts and immigration. Northam has accused Gillespie in several commercials of trying to cut school funding, which Gillespie says is not true but Northams campaign says is inevitable given the Republicans proposal for tax cuts.

A third of all voters polled said education is the most important issue the next governor should address. About 40 percent of Northam voters said education is their most important issue, while 40 percent of Gillespie voters listed cutting taxes as their top concern.

The Wason Center also polled down-ballot races.

View Graphic The latest stories and details on the 2017 Virginia general election and race for governor.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Democratic attorney Justin Fairfax led Republican state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (Fauquier) by a 46-to-42 margin.

Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) had the support of 47 percent of likely voters in his bid for a second term, while his opponent John Adams had 40 percent.

In a generic test for House of Delegates seats, voters preferred Democrats by a 10-point margin. Republicans control the chamber by a 66-to-34 margin, and all 100 seats are on the ballot in November.

Between Sept. 12 and Sept. 22, pollsters surveyed 776 voters who have cast ballots in recent statewide elections and said they plan to vote. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
California

Inmate killed, others hurt in prison riot

An inmate was killed and several others were stabbed Sunday in a riot involving more than 160 inmates at a prison on Californias central coast, authorities said.

The melee broke out midday in the yard at the California Mens Colony in San Luis Obispo, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said.

The inmate who died was identified as Matthew Cook, 25, who was serving a 13-year sentence for burglary, the department said.

Nine wounded inmates were taken to an outside hospital for treatment.

The incident was contained to the yard, which was cleared after about an hour. No guards were hurt. Officials say they dont know what sparked the violence.

 Associated Press

Bill to ease crowded prisons goes to Brown

To ease overcrowding in state prisons, California lawmakers want to release more of the states older prisoners and more of the inmates who were young when they committed their crimes.

The two bills sent to Gov. Jerry Brown (D) in the waning days of the legislative session are the latest attempt to keep the prison population below the limit set by federal judges, with the goal of ending federal oversight.

One requires parole officials to consider whether age, time served and diminished physical condition reduced the risk for future violence by older inmates. And the other mandates officials consider whether young people fully understood their actions and if their lack of maturity allowed for a greater chance of rehabilitation.

 Associated Press

Sandy Hook memorial seeks architect: Officials are accepting design submissions for a permanent memorial to the 20 first-graders and six educators killed in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012. Kyle Lyddy heads the commission in Newtown responsible for coming up with a memorial. He said members are looking for a design that will be sensitive to everyone who was affected by the tragedy. He said the commission hopes to receive submissions from landscape architects, architects and artists, including emerging design professionals. Designs must be submitted to the town by Dec. 15. The town recently received a donation of more than five acres of land for the memorial. It includes open spaces that once were ballfields, two ponds and woodlands.

 Associated Press
This city has opened a new front in its effort to give black newborns the same chances of surviving infancy as white ones: training doulas to assist expectant mothers during pregnancy, delivery and afterward.

The initiative is the latest salvo in the Baltimore City Health Departments seven-year-old effort to combat high mortality rates among black newborns.

The impetus for this program is the huge disparity in infant mortality between blacks and whites born in this city, said Stacey Tuck, maternal and child health director at the department.

Baltimore is not alone. New York, Chicago and Tampa have also used doula training programs to improve newborn health.

Other cities may follow, according to Dale Kaplan of the MaternityWise Institute, which conducts doula training in Baltimore. Other cities, including Denver, San Antonio and San Francisco, have contacted his organization to inquire about starting programs.

The U.S. infant mortality rate among African Americans is more than twice as high as it is for white babies.

Doula comes from a Greek term meaning a woman who helps. Although doulas are trained to assist expectant mothers through labor, delivery and beyond, they are not medical providers, as midwives are. Dona International, which calls itself the largest doula-certifying organization in the world, said doulas help mothers achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.

A 2013 study found that doula-assisted mothers were less likely to deliver babies with low birth weights or with birth complications than were mothers who opted not to receive such support, and they were more likely to breast-feed their infants. Another study found that mothers attended by female caregivers during labor were less likely than others to have Caesarean births, require painkillers or deliver babies in poor health.

Continuous one-to-one emotional support provided by support personnel, such as a doula, is associated with improved outcomes for women in labor, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which cites other benefits, such as shortened labor, less need for pain medication and fewer operative deliveries.

African American women have a long history with doulas, particularly during the Jim Crow era when hospitals denied access to black women, forcing many to deliver their children at home, said Andrea Williams-Salaam, a doula trainer in the Baltimore program. But as race-based legal barriers vanished and the medical profession strongly promoted hospital deliveries as the safest option, fewer women practiced as doulas.

While a few continued to work in Baltimore, she said, the city decided to start training doulas, following the example of New York, which started its doula program in 2010. So far, New York has trained 68 doulas who have attended 580 births.

Gabriela Ammann, director of the By My Side Birth Support Doula Program, which seeks to reduce infant mortality in Brooklyn, helped start the New York program. She had been a part-time doula while teaching infant education classes in the Brooklyn Healthy Start Program.

I noticed when we talked about labor and birth support, participants often said they werent sure theyd have someone with them, she said. Sometimes they didnt have someone to support them, or that person had to stay home to take care of the other kids.

As a result, many of the women had to go through labor and delivery with only the help of strangers, adding to the stress of childbirth, she said.

Ammann started connecting some of those expectant mothers with doulas she knew. She persuaded the city to formalize the program and to train new doulas.

Like New York, Baltimore wants its doulas to work as independent contractors rather than as city employees. In addition to advising women about their pregnancies and baby care, Baltimores doulas will be trained to connect needy women to housing, transportation, nutrition and employment services.

The doulas are there to assist, support and empower a woman in whatever way she needs assistance, Williams-Salaam said. That could be accompanying the woman to medical visits to help with the terminology used by the caregiver or helping her obtain proper nutrition, housing or employment.

It was the idea of empowering other women that induced Keyona Hough to become one of the five doula trainees in Baltimore.

Too often, poor African American women are treated disrespectfully by the institutions they interact with, she said. She wants not only to advocate for her clients but also to teach them how to advocate for themselves.

Like me, a lot of these moms have been subjected to violence and trauma, she said. Thats why I want to help them understand what their rights are, so they can move through that system without being re-traumatized.

Training the initial group of Baltimore doulas cost about $5,000, Tuck said. She hopes to find thefunding to train many more.

The cost of hiring a doula varies widely, from as little as $100 to as much as $5,000, according to Ammann. There is generally no insurance reimbursement for doula services. Unlike New York, Baltimore will not pay the doulas for their work, so any money they make will come from clients.

The architects of the Baltimore program said they warned trainees from the start that they would not be able to make a living from their doula work. Many of their patients cannot afford to pay.

This is primarily about service and giving back to the community, Tuck said. The five women who have enrolled as trainees, their motivation is not compensation, thats for sure.

Stateline is an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Read more

The doula who saved my life

The rise of the postpartum helper

My grandmother, my midwife


Meryanne Aldea lost everything at her house when the winds of Hurricane Maria ripped away the roof. The mountain town of Juncos is one of the most affected areas in Puerto Rico, and it remains largely isolated from the rest of the island  and the world. (DENNIS M. Rivera Pichardo/For The Washington Post)

In the heat and humidity here in the central mountains, Meryanne Aldea fanned her bedridden mother with a piece of cardboard Sunday as the ailing woman lay on her side, relieving a large ulcer in her back.

The 63-year-old mother, Maria Dolores Hernandez, had cotton stuffed in her ears to keep flies out, since her now screenless windows were letting all sorts of bugs in. The gray-haired diabetic woman spoke with her daughter about her worries: that she would run out of prescription drugs, that they were almost out of generator fuel to keep her insulin refrigerated and to run the fans at night. With all the heat, she feared that her ulcer would become infected.

But she worried most about her daughters home on the floor above hers, which was destroyed by Hurricane Maria. The shrieking winds had ripped off the zinc roof and the pounding rains had soaked the unprotected rooms below. While the outer concrete walls were mostly intact, everything else was ruined, covered by dirty tree branches, leaves, glass and debris.

Aldea reached out to hold her mothers hand.

Relax, she said. Its okay.

[If anyone can hear us  help. Puerto Ricos mayors describe widespread devastation from Hurricane Maria]

Four days after a major hurricane battered Puerto Rico, leaving the entire island in a communications and power blackout, regions outside San Juan remained disconnected from the rest of the island  and the world. Juncos, in a mountainous region southeast of the capital that was slammed with Marias most powerful winds, remains isolated, alone, afraid.

1 of 75 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Hurricane Maria slammed Puerto Rico View Photos The storm has left widespread destruction along its path, including some areas battered earlier by the huge Hurricane Irma. Caption The storm has left widespread destruction along its path, including some areas battered earlier by the huge Hurricane Irma. Cedrick Isham Calvados Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

For many residents, the challenge of accessing the essentials of modern life  gasoline, cash, food, water  began to sink in. And government officials had no answers for them. Estimates for the return of electricity and basic services will be measured not in days but in weeks and months. For those most vulnerable, far too long.

Many have been openly wondering when help will arrive, whether from local officials or from the federal government. The first thing some people ask when they see outsiders: Are you FEMA?

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello is warning that his government needs broader assistance from the federal government, calling on the Pentagon especially to provide more aid for law enforcement and transportation. Rossello said hes also worried that Congress will shortchange his island once the initial wave of emergency relief is gone.

We still need some more help. This is clearly a critical disaster in Puerto Rico, he said Sunday night. It cant be minimized and we cant start overlooking us now that the storm passed, because the danger lurks.

[Puerto Rico governor: We still need some more help from Washington]

For federal agencies trying to respond to Maria, the situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is inescapably more challenging than the situations in Texas and Florida after hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Its difficult to get onto the islands.

The airports and harbors here were severely damaged. That means the islands are more isolated than ever, even as the humanitarian crisis has worsened by the day.

So although massive amounts of food, water, fuel and other supplies have been dispatched by federal agencies and private organizations, with more resources on the way, this has been an obstacle-filled process.

Federal agencies have succeeded in clearing the use of the Port of San Juan for daytime operations, but other ports remain closed pending inspections. Many roads are blocked, inhibiting relief convoys. The Transportation Department has opened five airports in Puerto Rico and two in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but only for military and relief efforts.

Six commercial cargo ships have delivered supplies including food, water and generators to the Caribbean islands, and more supplies are on the way by ship from Florida and by air from Florida and Kentucky. Among the provisions: The Defense Logistics Agency is sending 124,000 gallons of diesel fuel to Puerto Rico.

In addition to concerns about basic survival, on the west side of the island worries have intensified about a ruptured dam that has been tenuously holding back the waters of Lake Guajataca. Government officials said Sunday that the fissure in the dam is large and will collapse at any time. Throngs of residents in nearby towns have been urged to evacuate. The dams failure could lead to massive amounts of water flowing unabated through coastal communities.

In Juncos, scores of homes were destroyed, and thousands of homes sustained damage, Mayor Alfredo Alejandro estimated. Four highways are inaccessible by car, and two bridges were harmed. Roofs of homes all over town are gone, and almost all government buildings were damaged.

Mountains typically brimming with trees and other vegetation are brown and desolate, stripped of all greenery. The mayor of 17 years said he discovered a river he never knew existed in his town, because it was always overgrown with plants. Curved bamboo lining the winding roads were left as bare sticks.

Less than a week ago, Alejandro said, I had a pretty town.

Today I have a desert, he said.

Puerto Ricos executive director of emergency management said in an interview that aerial views of destruction in this region looked more like a tornado than a hurricane.

But Marias destruction in the town was just the beginning. The mayor said Juncos anxiously needs diesel, water, hospital equipment and satellite phones for local leadership.

Some local responders in Juncos were forced to clear area streets by hand with machetes, because the town doesnt have enough chain saws.



A man walks from Juncos to a nearby town in search of gasoline. (Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo/For The Washington Post)

Just two gas stations were functioning in the town, and lines stretched for more than half a mile. Some people walked and rode bicycles for miles with empty gas canisters in hand.

One of the towns two supermarkets was open Sunday, and employees would let in only 10 people at a time to avoid chaos. Residents, who stood in line for hours, could purchase only rationed food. There is no functioning bank or cash machine in the entire municipality.

When Aldea, 37, and her 5-year-old daughter walked through her shell of a home in Juncos after the hurricane had passed, the child hardly said a word. She scoured her pink room, with pony stickers on its walls, and picked out a couple of soaked dolls and coloring books.

We dont have a house anymore, Aldea explained to her daughter, Darangellie. Were going to have to start new with what we have.



A destroyed group of houses in Juncos. (Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo/For The Washington Post)

Aldea, who works as a secretary in the mayors office, is living with and taking care of her mother in the tiny room downstairs. Darangellie spends most of the days with a relative in town, but at night she sleeps with her mother. The child has asthma and needs to use a daily nebulizer treatment  requiring her mother to turn on their generator at night. They have enough diesel to power the generator for one more day.

She has a half-tank of gas left and can't set aside the entire day that would be necessary to wait in line for more because she has to care for her daughter and mother. It doesn't help that driving to town for her job  which usually takes seven minutes  now takes more than a half-hour because of blocked or inaccessible roads.

But Aldea remained calm. More than anything, she is thankful to be alive: If I dont stay strong, how can I take care of the two people who depend on me?



The house of Maribel Quinones Rivera and her family was left in ruins. (Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo/For The Washington Post)

Across town, a second-level three-bedroom apartment was ripped to shreds in the storm, the cooking appliances, kitchen counters and cabinets the only surviving evidence of the wooden structure.

Maribel Quinones Rivera, 53, lived with her husband in the home for decades, raising her children and grandchildren there. During the hurricane and in the days that followed, she sought shelter with relatives in their apartment directly below.

On Sunday, she still hadnt walked upstairs to see the debris up close. When asked why, she shook her head and cried. I cant, she said.

To make matters worse, Quinones Rivera and her relatives are out of cash  they used their last $30 to buy gasoline. They have five or six bottles of water left.

There are some moments of hope amid the misery in Juncos. On Sunday, about 30 people gathered in a small blue church for Mass. The priest apologized for the lack of a microphone and said the service would be brief.

Aida Sanchez, a member of the congregation, said she came to thank God.

Because despite the circumstances, she said, were alive.



Sunday Mass at San Juan Bautista Church in Juncos. (Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo/For The Washington Post)

Achenbach reported from Washington. Daniel Cassady in San Juan and Ed OKeefe in Washington contributed to this report.
MEXICO

360 structures at risk in quakes aftermath

As many as 360 buildings and homes in Mexico City are in danger of collapse or have major damage nearly a week after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake brought down 38 structures.

The risk of delayed collapse is real: The cupola of Our Lady of Angels Church, damaged and cracked by the Sept. 19 quake, split in half and crashed Sunday evening. There were no injuries.

Officials said that they had cleared only 103 of Mexico Citys nearly 9,000 schools to reopen Monday and that it could be two to three weeks before all were declared safe.

Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said at least seven schools were among the buildings thought to be at risk of tumbling.

Mancera said 360 red level buildings would either have to be demolished or receive major structural reinforcement. An additional 1,136 were reparable, and 8,030 of the buildings inspected were deemed habitable.

Search teams were still digging through rubble Monday, hoping against the odds to find survivors. The city has accounted for 186 of the 325 dead nationwide.

 Associated Press

EUROPEAN UNION

Pressure on Britain builds at Brexit talks

The European Union ramped up pressure on Britain at a new round of Brexit talks Monday as it ruled out broadening the negotiations anytime soon and warned that time is running out for Prime Minister Theresa May to clinch a deal.

Chief E.U. Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he was keen and eager to hear how his British counterparts would translate Mays Brexit speech last week into concrete proposals. But he said he had no mandate to discuss the two-year transition period that May has proposed to help ease Britain out of the E.U.

Barnier also warned that E.U. rules would apply if he is told to negotiate a phase-in period for after Britains split becomes official in March 2019.

E.U. leaders are scheduled to meet Oct. 19-20 to assess whether Britain has made sufficient progress on the terms of the divorce arrangements for negotiations to move on to the countrys future relations and trade with the bloc.

Britain says all issues are intertwined and should be discussed together.

Britain is due to leave the E.U. on March 29, 2019, but any deal must be sealed by October 2018 to leave time for parliaments to endorse it.

The Europeans are pessimistic about expanding the talks as little headway has been made on key issues.

 Associated Press

POLAND

President Duda offers alternative judicial plan

Polands president proposed changes Monday to the laws regulating top judicial bodies in a bid to prevent a power grab of the courts by the nations ruling party.

Andrzej Duda put forward legislative revisions that would strengthen the presidents role but also could address the European Unions concerns that the governing party plans to put Polands courts under its control.

Dudas proposals could ease the conflict with the E.U., but they also could put him on a collision course with the ruling Law and Justice party, which earlier this year presented its own plan for overhauling Polands legal system.

Dudas proposals give the president the power to appoint and dismiss judges. They call for a large majority of lawmakers to choose members of a key judicial body. They also reject the justice ministers plan to immediately fire current Supreme Court judges.

Duda also recommended giving Poles a way to make official complaints about final court verdicts they consider unjust.

His proposals must be approved by Parliament, which is controlled by the ruling party.

In July, prompted by street protests and E.U. criticism, Duda vetoed two bills proposed by the governing party and promised to hammer out his own plans.

 Associated Press

Iraq hangs 42 Sunnis convicted of terrorism: Iraq executed 42 Sunni Muslims convicted on terrorism charges, including killing security forces and detonating car bombs. It was the biggest mass execution this year in Iraq, and it came after Sunni suicide attacks killed at least 60 people near the southern city of Nasiriyah on Sept. 14.

Potential Sissi challenger sentenced to prison: An Egyptian court sentenced an opposition leader widely expected to run against President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi next year to three months in prison for offending public morals, his attorney said. Khaled Ali was convicted of making what was deemed an obscene hand gesture on the steps of a courthouse after winning a case against the government.

 From news services
Columnist

It is difficult to decide which is the worst aspect of the Republicans latest try at repealing Obamacare: the irresponsibility, the cruelty or the lies.

And it is impossible to ignore that the climax of this battle will take place under the shadow of President Trumps shameful, racially charged attacks on prominent African American athletes. Once again, Trump has demonstrated his lack of seriousness about the responsibilities of his office, his autocratic habit of demonizing dissent, and his willingness to play racial politics to divide and distract.

Trump has reason to distract because the repeal effort he has championed was dealt a near-fatal blow when Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced Friday that he would vote against the catastrophically flawed proposal to scrap the Affordable Care Act from Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.). McCain stuck to the principles he outlined when he voted against July's repeal bill , even though Graham is his best friend in the Senate and despite the pressure from Trump and GOP congressional leaders.

There is only one reason the Senate even considered a vote this week: The GOP base, and particularly the party's donor class, wants repeal. So never mind what happens to Americans with modest incomes who have cancer, diabetes or heart trouble. Politics matters more than giving serious thought to a bill that would upend one-sixth of our economy.

Thats why this bill was not subjected to any serious analysis or debate. Republicans scheduled a quickie, last-minute hearing this week for show. Because Trump and his party want a win, theyre willing to wreak havoc on the insurance markets, state governments and peoples lives to get it.

Any serious deliberative process would have forced the GOP to grapple with a statement from the bipartisan National Association of Medicaid Directors on Cassidy-Graham's approach of marrying block grants to severe cuts. The association called the bill "the largest intergovernmental transfer of financial risk from the federal government to the states in our country's history."

Any effort of this magnitude, the Medicaid directors added, needs thorough discussion, examination and analysis, and should not be rushed through without proper deliberation. Exactly.

There has always been something deeply wrong about our country's failure to provide health insurance for all our citizens, which all other wealthy industrialized nations do. It's not okay for people to face bankruptcy simply because they are doing everything they can to stay alive. Obamacare was a cautious, market-friendly attempt to make the system a bit kinder.

Since the Republicans launched this year's repeal offensive, many Americans who thought of the Affordable Care Act as a vague sort of failure have heard the compelling stories of those with preexisting conditions and serious illnesses who are far better off today because of the law. A Washington Post-ABC News poll released Friday showed Americans preferred Obamacare to Cassidy-Graham by 56 percent to 33 percent.

Many who believed Trump and other Republicans when they promised to pass something better than Obamacare now know that this pledge was a sham. What the GOP really wants is to spend a lot less government money helping people get health care. But Republicans cant admit this because it sounds heartless.

So instead, they lie outright about what their bill does. Slate's Jamelle Bouie provided one of the best compendiums of falsehoods being offered on behalf of this bill. Jimmy Kimmel called out Cassidy for failing to live up to what the senator himself called the "the Jimmy Kimmel test." Kimmel described this as a pledge that "no family should be denied medical care, emergency or otherwise, because they can't afford it." Cassidy, Kimmel charged last week, "lied right to my face."

Trump insisted in a tweet: "I would not sign Graham-Cassidy if it did not include coverage of pre-existing conditions. It does!" Actually, it lets states undermine this coverage.

And if Obamacare is so bad, why are Republicans reportedly trying to buy the vote of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) with a special provision that would, in effect, allow Alaska to keep the Affordable Care Act pretty much as is? Why not give every state this option by killing Cassidy-Graham altogether?

One can hope that McCain's brave decision and the doubts expressed Sunday by other Republican senators have done exactly that. But the GOP repeal effort never seems to die, so this week remains a testing time.

Its a test of whether the movement that saved the ACA this summer can rally once more. Its a test for Republicans who claim to take health-care policy seriously. And its a test for a president who prefers ripping the country apart to governing.

Read more from E.J. Dionne's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
An Egyptian protester uses scrap metal as a shield from tear gas during clashes with security forces near Tahrir Square in Cairo on Nov. 23, 2011. (Khalil Hamra/Associated Press)

Columnist

Under new rules coming soon from the Trump administration, more American guns could end up in the hands of human rights abusers, terrorists and international criminal gangs. Lawmakers are calling on President Trump to consider the implications before making the United States complicit in gun crimes around the world.

The administration is set to issue regulations that would significantly reduce oversight and transparency on small-arms exports to governments and private businesses in about three dozen countries, according to officials and lawmakers. First reported by Reuters, the new regulations would shift licensing for sales of handguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles and other light munitions from the State Department to the Commerce Department.

Should that shift occur, national security, foreign policy and human rights considerations could get short shrift and U.S. law enforcement would have less ability to track the weapons after they leave U.S. shores, harming the investigation and prosecution of international crimes.

Congress would also lose its primary oversight mechanism. Only last week, under congressional pressure, the Trump administration reversed itself on approving a plan to sell 1,600 semiautomatic pistols to the personal security force of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Last October, the Obama administration backed down from approving a plan to sell 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines' national police, after public opposition from Benjamin L. Cardin (Md.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This is the type of sale that might slip through under the Trump administration plan, Cardin told me.

The United States should never make it easier for foreign despots to slaughter their civilians or for American-made assault weapons to be readily available to paramilitary or terrorist groups, he said. The administrations proposal makes those scenarios even more possible. The United States is, and should be, better than this.

Cardin and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) attempted but failed to amend the defense policy bill to ensure continued congressional oversight if Trump moves forward. They and Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) urged Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to reject the move in a Sept. 15 letter and pointed out that small arms are most likely to be used to kill people in conflicts worldwide.

As such, they should be subject to more  not less  rigorous export controls and oversight, they wrote.

The Commerce Department exerts some controls over lethal weapons sales, but it has an institutional bias toward business and lacks expertise in foreign policy and national security considerations. Its licensing process is more dependent on companies volunteering information, creating greater risk of the weapons going to brokers who can speed them to the black market.

We have a president who says he wants to get tough on rogue regimes, terrorists and criminals, yet he is pushing a policy that will make it easier for U.S.-manufactured arms to fall into the wrong hands, said William Hartung, director of the Arms & Security Project at the Center for International Policy.

Trumps move would complete the arms export control reform initiative begun by the Obama administration in 2012. President Barack Obama moved oversight of many weapons exports from State to Commerce  but not small arms. While that change was under debate, the Sandy Hook school massacre happened, and the move became politically unpalatable.

Internally, Obama's own Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department expressed concerns that the move could harm their ability to keep firearms out of the hands of criminal groups, terrorist organizations and enemy combatants.

A recent study by the Institute for Science and International Security reported that "federal law enforcement agencies vehemently opposed the transfer" of small arms from the State Department's munitions list to the Commerce Department's list for this very reason.

The State Departments list is also subject to a range of federal laws that restrict arms sales to foreign governments on the basis of terrorism or human rights concerns. Those laws dont apply to items on the Commerce list.

The only beneficiaries of the move are U.S. gun manufacturers, whose stocks rose sharply when the news broke. Gun industry trade groups argue that these are sporting weapons and consumer products, but they have largely the same capabilities as military weapons. Supporters of the move also say if U.S. manufacturers don't supply the guns, buyers will simply take their business elsewhere.

That's true, but it misses the point. In 2011, Americans and Egyptians alike were outraged to discover that tear gas used in brutal crackdowns on peaceful protesters by Egyptian police had been approved for sale by the U.S. government.

It was not in our interest to have those canisters with Made in the USA stamped on them, said Tom Malinowski, former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.

In 1993, the Rwandan government imported $750,000 worth of machetes from China, which were later used to slaughter more than 800,000 innocent people.

The Chinese machete industry surely did well that year. The United States should never want that kind of business or that kind of blood on our hands.

Read more from Josh Rogin's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
ED GILLESPIE, Virginia's Republican gubernatorial candidate, likes to suggest the state's economy is in a tailspin. Yet he is proposing a tax plan predicated on the assumption that average household income in the state is set to soar by about 50 percent in the coming four years.

That's just a taste of the illogic at the heart of Mr. Gillespie's tax proposal. It would reduce income taxes by 10 percent over three years, costing the state more than $1.3 billion in annual revenue, which, by an act of magical thinking, the candidate says wouldn't put a dent in spending on schools, public safety, roads, parks and mental-health care.

Unhappily for Virginia voters, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, the Democratic candidate, is touting a fiscal plan that's hardly more tethered to earthly reality than Mr. Gillespie's. Mr. Northam would tailor his giveaway more narrowly to the poor  specifically, he says he'd scrap the state's 2.5 percent grocery tax for lower-income residents  but leaves unexplained which state-supported services would bear the brunt of the giveaway.

Of the two, Mr. Gillespies plan, which holds out the promise of a free lunch in the form of the largest tax cut in modern state history, is the more fanciful and the more insidious. Mr. Gillespie says it would trigger an economic boom and yield tens of thousands of new jobs. In fact, there is a recent and telling model of the effects of just such a policy: Kansas.

There, another Republican, Gov. Sam Brownback, promised that his own enormous income tax cut, also the largest in state history, would be "a shot of adrenaline in the heart of the Kansas economy." In fact, it turned out to be ruinous, crippling state revenue, sapping the state's economy and education spending, and sending investors fleeing. In June, even the Republicans who control Kansas's legislature had had enough; they joined Democrats in rolling back the Brownback tax cuts.

Perhaps mindful of the Kansas lesson, and a similar one in Louisiana, Mr. Gillespie says his own cuts would be triggered only if revenue projections held their ground. Thats a huge asterisk, and one that he may not want voters to pay much attention to before Election Day.

It's made more insulting by Mr. Gillespie's pledge that "average" households would save nearly $1,300 by his plan. It turns out that the "average" household he has in mind makes about $135,000 annually  about $45,000 more than the state's real average. Confronted with that ticklish fact, the Gillespie camp responds that average household income is projected to rise precipitously in the coming four years  an argument that also sits uncomfortably with the candidate's contention that the state's economy is in the doldrums.

The Gillespie plan is an eye-roll; the Northam plan is piffle. Each would be given short shrift by lawmakers in Richmond, who know better. Neither is worthy of voters serious regard.
The paucity of coverage and attention paid to Puerto Rico following the devastation of Hurricane Maria, as noted in the Sept. 22 editorial "Don't forget Puerto Rico," demonstrates a concerning lack of compassion for our fellow citizens. Even more appalling is the near-total news blackout on the destruction experienced by our fellow Americans in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The editorial would have done well to remind us of our duty to aid the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Puerto Rico.

I am a former executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and I have met Kenneth Mapp (I), governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Michelle Davis, the island's secretary of health. Both are capable of the near-impossible. But we must assist them in restoring basic necessities, such as hospital care, electricity, clean water and food  just as we would for our fellow citizens on the mainland.

Storms end after days, but the recovery and rebuilding of basic necessities in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands could take months to years.

Paul Jarris, Springfield

Before Hurricane Maria, the gross national product of Puerto Rico had declined 15 percent, as had its population, thanks to the ongoing recession that hit Puerto Rico in 2006. This translates into a dramatic reduction in economic activity in the already cash-strapped territory.

Fifty-eight percent of Puerto Rican children live in poverty.

Hurricane Maria has devastated Puerto Rico, which now looks like a war zone. Those with the least will suffer the most.

Let us stand with determination and a resolute will to rebuild. Let the rest of the United States show Puerto Rico our devotion and determination in this great time of need. Let this point be the bottom from which we will build up.

Paul Weiss, Washington

The writer was chief of staff

to then-Resident Commissioner

Anibal Acevedo-Vila from 2001 to 2005.

Puerto Rico's electric utility is bankrupt, has obsolete power plants despite extraordinarily high rates, and now has thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines to repair or replace because of Hurricane Maria ["Hurricane Maria deals heavy hit to Puerto Rico's bankrupt electric utility," news, Sept. 21].

This crisis offers a unique opportunity for the federal government to fund and private industry to build a 1-million-customer renewable (solar and wind) energy system with distributed energy generation and storm-hardened microgrids for the mountainous and heavily forested areas difficult to access by truck. Such a project also could prove the feasibility of mass energy storage. Any fossil-fueled power plants that werent destroyed by Maria could provide backup power for the occasional cloudy and wind-free day.

The Puerto Rican economy would benefit in the short run from the influx of construction jobs and in the long run from a reliable and efficient electric system. The continental U.S. companies that provided the solar- and wind-power equipment and labor to install it would benefit from the contracts financial stimulus as well as the success of such a huge demonstration project. The people of the world would benefit from the environmental impact of Puerto Rico no longer burning so much fossil fuel. The only loser would appear to be Big Oil, which could be expected to lobby against the United States seizing this great opportunity.

Charles M. Carron, Alexandria
Unless you are a political junkie, you may not know that something called the Unity Reform Commission has been meeting  yes, already  to write the rules for the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating process. It should surprise no one that the commission's deliberations have been enmeshed in lingering bitterness over the party's 2016 nomination contest  and shaped by premature views of what rules would benefit potential candidates for 2020. So let me offer an alternative approach: Let's focus reforms on making the Democratic Party nomination process more democratic.

Even if you believe (as I do) that Hillary Clinton won the 2016 Democratic nomination fair and square  i.e., she won it because more than 3.7 million more people voted for her than for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and not because the process was "rigged" by "DNC favoritism"  you have to acknowledge that the complexity of the process fuels criticism that it was constructed by insiders, to advantage insiders. Moreover, the current nominating process  built over decades in successive waves of reform, counter-reform and re-reform  is so jerry-rigged as to be incomprehensible to all but the most savvy observers. The Democratic nominating process is a 1977 AMC Gremlin. It should be a 2017 Tesla.

The Unity Reform Commissions charter calls for a process that is more accessible, transparent and inclusive, but it is also filled with caveats. Halfhearted reforms would be a mistake. Instead, its time for an overhaul around a core principle: The nominee should be democratically chosen by the broadest possible cross section of voters who can help elect the Democratic candidate for president.

That means, first, abolishing caucuses and using only primaries to pick convention delegates. (One exception can be made for the iconic Iowa caucuses.) The selection of a president should not be limited to those voters able to attend a caucus that may be inconvenient and lengthy, and that does not permit absentee or early voting. Caucuses lack the transparency of primaries, intimidate inexperienced voters and discriminate against voters of limited means, who should not have more barriers put in the way of their participation.

They also are an affront to the idea of one person, one vote. On March 5, 2016, just 39,000 caucus-goers in Kansas got to allocate 33 convention delegates; three days later, it took 221,000 voters in Mississippi to pick 36 delegates. Every 1,200 Kansas caucus-goers were represented by one delegate; it took 6,800 Mississippians to have the same sway. Why? Why did 230,000 caucus-goers in Washington state get to elect 101 delegates  while 846,000 Maryland primary voters picked 95?

Second, Democratic presidential primaries should not be limited to Democrats only. Independent voters not affiliated with any party should be allowed to vote; only members of other political parties should be barred (allowing Republicans to vote in the Democratic primaries could give rise to great mischief). About half of the primaries and caucuses held by Democrats in 2016 were "closed," meaning only registered Democrats could participate. What kind of message is sent to independents about Democrats' desire for their support in the fall by a nomination process displaying a "not welcome" sign in the spring?

There is always speculation as to the ideological impact of including independents in the process. In 2016, data showed that independents who were able to vote in Democratic primaries were more often Sanders voters; in other years, independents have been more centrist than rank-and-file Democrats. This far in advance of 2020, there's simply no way to know what sort of ideology these non-Democrats will reflect. What is clear is this: A party that needs to open its doors wider should start by inviting the largest possible swath of voters to help pick its standard-bearer.

Finally, it is time for the superdelegates to lose their convention votes. Actual voters should pick Democrats next nominee, not current elected officials, retired officials or DNC members. These party leaders should come to the convention as nonvoting delegates; their participation and leadership in the party-building that goes on at a convention are important. But when the presidential roll is called, only delegates picked by primary voters should vote.

The desire of some party leaders to hang on to their superdelegate votes is self-defeating. Superdelegates have never been decisive in the process; they have always ratified the choice of the primary voters. Their status as voting delegates creates intrigue and opacity without changing the result. Ironically, the superdelegates end-of-the-game declarations of support for the de facto nominee do not convey added legitimacy to that candidate  they do the opposite, conveying a sense that the nominee was selected in some backroom, closed-door process.

The Democratic Party has done more to promote equality, participation and inclusion than any political party in the history of the world. Its time to ensure that its most important task  picking the partys nominee for president  is as democratic as possible.
The Supreme Court has postponed for now a hearing on President Trumps power to ban immigrants from certain countries while it considers whether a new order issued Sunday night makes the case moot.

In an order issued Monday, the justices asked for new briefs about whether the third rendition of the travel ban means there is nothing left for the court to decide.

The briefs are due Oct. 5 and the court said for now it is removing from its oral argument calendar a hearing scheduled for Oct. 10.

The Trump administration announced new restrictions on visitors from eight countries  an expansion of an existing travel ban that has spurred fierce legal debates over security, immigration and discrimination.

The move came on the day the key portion of Trumps travel ban, one that bars the issuance of visas to citizens of six majority-Muslim countries, was due to expire.

[White House expands travel ban, restricting visitors from eight countries]

As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people, Trump wrote Sunday in a proclamation announcing the changes for citizens from specific nations. On Twitter, he added: Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet.

Trumps original travel ban, signed as an executive order in the first days of his presidency, was always meant to be a temporary measure while his administration crafted more permanent rules. A senior administration official cautioned that the new restrictions are not meant to last forever, but are necessary and conditions-based, not time-based.

Three nations were added to the list of countries whose citizens will face the restrictions: Chad, North Korea and Venezuela  although the restrictions on Venezuela are narrowly crafted, targeting that countrys leaders and their family members.

One country, Sudan, fell off the travel ban list issued at the beginning of the year. Senior administration officials said a review of Sudans cooperation with the U.S. government on national security and information-sharing showed it was appropriate to remove it from the list.

The new restrictions will be phased in over time, officials said, and the restrictions will not affect anyone who already holds a U.S. visa. For those visitors affected by the changed restrictions, the new rules will go into effect Oct. 18, according to the proclamation.

Both of Trumps orders have been blocked by judges, but the Supreme Court in June allowed it to go into effect with a significant caveat. The administration, the court said, could not block from entering the country those with a bona fide connection to the United States, such as family members or those with firm offers of employment.

The ban on citizens of the six countries was to last 90 days; the ban on refugees was to last 120 days. The refugee ban is set to expire Oct. 24, and it was not immediately clear what impact the new restrictions might have on it.
Majorities of Americans strongly support two potential components of immigration legislation this fall, including deportation protections for younger undocumented immigrants and requiring employers to verify workers are in the United States legally, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The findings suggest that President Trump and Congress might have a path to a major deal on immigration reform that has eluded Washington for three decades. Trump has said he is open to compromise with Democrats on a bill that would provide legal status for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, known as dreamers, combined with tougher border security measures.

The Post-ABC survey finds 86 percent support for dreamers who had been eligible for renewable two-year work permits under a deferred action program started by President Barack Obama to remain in the country. Trump's administration announced this month that it will end the program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and begin to phase out work permits in March if lawmakers do not act.

[Read full poll results | How the poll was conducted]

About 690,000 immigrants are covered by DACA status, according to the Department of Homeland Security, although Democrats are likely to seek protections for a significantly higher number.

More than two-thirds of adults  69 percent  support the DACA program strongly, which was described as allowing undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States if they had arrived as a child, had completed high school or served in the military and had not committed a serious crime. In a follow-up question, 65 percent back a law that would both allow dreamers to remain in the country and increase funding for border security. The poll did not measure public opinion about whether the dreamers should be offered a path to citizenship, a prospect GOP immigration hawks have called amnesty.

Trump and his aides have offered mixed signals on a deal. The president met with Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) this month and agreed to pursue a deal for the dreamers. Democratic aides said the deal would be based on the "Dream Act," a bipartisan proposal that offers a path to citizenship.

But Trump said two weeks ago on a trip to Florida that were not looking at citizenship. Were not looking at amnesty. Were looking at allowing people to stay here. . . . Were talking about taking care of people, people who were brought here, people whove done a good job.

The president added that any deal is contingent on including "extreme security" measures in terms of immigration enforcement, suggesting he envisioned at a minimum increased "surveillance" along the border. He also pledged to continue pushing for funding for a costly wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, which Democratic lawmakers and some moderate Republicans oppose.

Trump has said he will not demand that money for the wall is included in a dreamer bill but insisted the wall would have to be funded somehow. If theres not a wall, were doing nothing, he said.

The Post-ABC poll shows significant opposition to a wall. Roughly 6 in 10 continue to oppose the building of a barrier, which Trump made a centerpiece of his campaign, with attitudes little changed over the past year.

Trump also has suggested he would seek cuts to legal immigration in pursuing a deal for the dreamers. Republican Sens. Tom Cotton (Ark.) and David Perdue (Ga.) have proposed legislation called the Raise Act, which Trump has endorsed, that would slash the rate of legal immigration by half over a decade. Currently, more than 1 million foreigners each year receive green cards allowing them permanent legal status in the United States.

The survey finds that 55 percent oppose massive immigration cuts, which also are strongly opposed by business leaders.

An alternative border security concept draws higher marks from the public. A lopsided 79 percent supports requiring employers to verify that all new hires are living in the United States legally, including 61 percent who support such a requirement strongly.

The concept of using a computer database to force employers to vet the immigration status of their workers, under a program called E-Verify offered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has been included in previous immigration reform bills. But the program has not been universally implemented.

Conservative Republicans and immigration hawks, including conservative talk show hosts and restrictionist groups, support the expansion of the E-Verify program.

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates stricter immigration limits, has proposed coupling legal status for dreamers with cuts to legal immigration and the mandatory use of E-Verify by businesses.

"E-Verify already exists; last year, around half of new hires were screened through it," he wrote last month in National Review. "Rolling it out for the other half is something that would happen at the same time as the amnesty."

Trumps willingness to bargain with Democrats over his signature campaign issue has alarmed immigration hard-liners, who fear he is softening in hopes of scoring a legislative victory in a first year marked by stumbles and defeats on Capitol Hill.

At the same time, liberals and moderates believe Trump has been too draconian in his travel ban on immigrants and refugees from some majority-Muslim countries and his executive actions that have expanded the pool of undocumented immigrants who are targets for removal.

In all, 62 percent of Americans disapprove of Trumps handling of immigration matters. When asked about immigration enforcement, 49 percent of Americans believe enforcement was not tough enough under Obama, while 44 percent said it was just right and 6 percent say it was too tough.

Under Trump, 30 percent say enforcement levels are about right and 45 percent say they are too tough, seven times higher than before he entered office. Just about half of that  22 percent  say immigration enforcement is still not tough enough under Trump.

Though Trump has railed against the dangers of illegal immigration, and has met with victims of crimes in the Oval Office and at campaign events, most Americans have not embraced Trumps association of immigration with increased crime. Some 12 percent of the public say undocumented immigrants commit more crimes than other people in the country, while 19 percent say they commit fewer crimes. Sixty-four percent say there is no difference, while the rest have no opinion.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted Sept. 18-21 among a random national sample of 1,002 adults reached on cellular and landline phones. Overall results carrying a plus or minus 3.5-point margin of sampling error.

Emily Guskin contributed to this report.
A group of Senate Republicans spearheading a rollback of the Affordable Care Act tried to persuade three skeptical but critical senators to support their efforts over the weekend  but were unable to extract any promises that would guarantee the embattled measures success.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.), who introduced a revised version of his health-care bill earlier Monday, told The Washington Post in an interview that he mostly focused on tweaking the policy and left outreach up to two other Republican colleagues who helped craft the measure: Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) and former senator Rick Santorum (Pa.).

Cassidy said Graham and Santorum facilitated conversations with Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine) and John McCain (Ariz.), whose states would receive more federal health-care funding under his revamped bill compared to a previous version.

[New GOP health-care bill in jeopardy as Sen. Rand Paul expresses opposition]

Murkowski and Collins, whose votes are crucial to the success of the Cassidy-Graham measure, have insisted that any attempt to replace parts of the ACA must not hurt their states. Asked whether he designed those changes with the two moderate Republicans in mind, Cassidy insisted that many states  not just Alaska and Maine  would benefit.

But he acknowledged that the new version would indeed provide more funding to those states compared to the first iteration of his bill, stressing that it would include $1 billion more in block grants for Maine. And he expressed hope that Collins would support the measure.

If theres a billion more going to Maine . . . thats a heck of a lot, Cassidy said. Its not for Susan, its for the Mainers. But she cares so passionately about those Mainers, Im hoping those extra dollars going to her state . . . would make a difference to her.

[Want the inside skinny on health care? Get The Health 202]

The Louisiana Republican also suggested that Collins, who is considering running for governor in 2018, could help implement the measure if it passes.

Imagine what a smart governor who knew health insurance so well as Susan does could do with that money to benefit lower-income Mainers, he said.

Cassidy-Graham has been met with sharp resistance from several GOP senators, and seemed headed for a collapse before a vote that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he would hold this week.

Republicans can afford to lose the support of only two senators because of their slim 52-48 margin in the chamber, and time to deliver on a signature campaign promise is running short. On Saturday, special budget rules that allow them to pass health-care legislation without Democratic support will expire. President Trump has also urged Senate Republicans to pass the bill.

And Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Monday morning that the changes to Cassidy-Graham arent enough to persuade him.

Nonetheless, the Louisiana senator appeared exuberant that his measure has gained as much traction as it has, after Republicans failed to pass several other Obamacare replacement measures in July.

Two years ago people thought I was Don Quixote. A month ago people thought things were dead. Two weeks ago, people smiled - and now folks say, Wow, they may still pull it off, Cassidy said. If you keep your head down and keep plugging, good things happen.

Cassidy contended that naysayers like Paul should recognize that the new measure would save the country from the single-payer system that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and some Democrats are pushing for.

Im hoping Senator Paul would kind of have that epiphany, Cassidy said.

The legislation would broadly convert federal Medicaid funding for expansion programs and subsidies for low-income Americans to purchase health insurance into block grants for states to design their own health-care systems. But the new state-by-state formula in the revised measure introduced Monday morning has some winners and losers, with Alaska gaining 3 percent more than it would have under the old bill; Maine securing 43 percent more; and Arizona receiving 15 percent in additional federal funding. The measure would redistribute federal health-care funding among all states, not just the ones that expanded Medicaid under the ACA.

Cassidy defended the new distribution of funding, saying conversations with the moderates were about how do we hold your state harmless.

All of this was designed to as much as possible hold states harmless while benefiting those non [Medicaid] expansion states where there are so many folks who would benefit if the state could afford to provide them better coverage, he said.

Cassidy said hes holding out hope that with the boosted funding  along with a Monday afternoon Senate Finance Committee hearing on the measure, where he will testify  Murkowski, Collins and McCain will ultimately vote for the bill.

Our hope is that Maine gets a billion dollars more for four to five years, that we correct some problems that have been evident in Alaska. . . . Were having a hearing to vet these ideas that hopefully Senator McCain will say, Wait a second, were having a hearing after all,  Cassidy said.

McCain has complained about a lack of regular order  committee hearings, for instance  on major health-care legislation. He has said a single hearing isnt enough to satisfy his request.

Read more at PowerPost
Senate Republicans have just six more days to pass a last-ditch plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

That is very little time  and even less when you remember the bill was introduced less than two weeks ago. But this doesn't seem to matter to Republicans desperate to make good on seven years of campaign promises. They want to avoid a Democratic filibuster by passing something on health care by the end of the month, even if it means an unusually chaotic process.

The chances for the bill known as Cassidy-Graham are still up in the air as the week begins. Although some key senators have voiced concerns (Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska) or outright opposition (John McCain, R-Ariz., and Susan Collins, R-Maine), others who were expected to vote no have signaled new flexibility (Rand Paul, R-Ky.), putting the whip count back in flux. This has provided just enough hope to keep Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), the White House and GOP leaders busy trying to persuade undecided senators to support the measure.

[Why Senate Republicans are in such a rush this month on health care]



Sen. Lindsey O. Graham R-S.C.), left, speaks to the media, accompanied by Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Cornyn R-Tex.), Sen. Bill Cassidy R-La.), Sen. John Thune R-S.D.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R- Ky.) on Capitol Hill last week. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

If all of it has struck you as impulsive and haphazard, youre not alone. Here are seven ways the latest health-care effort has defied legislative norms.

 The bill was released less than two weeks ago.

Republicans seemed to have given up on repealing the Affordable Care Act until about a week ago, when GOP leaders in the Senate decided to go all in on an effort to win 50 votes for Cassidy-Graham  enough to pass, as a result of the all-but-certain tiebreaking vote of Vice President Pence. Just a few days earlier, on Sept. 13, the two senators had received little attention from the media or their fellow lawmakers when they released the proposal.

If the plan does receive a vote by the end of the month, its details will have been publicly available for just over two weeks.

 The bill will have only one legislative hearing.

In a normal process, legislation restructuring the health-care system would receive months or even years of work in several congressional committees. Lawmakers would attend informational hearings about the problems health-care legislation would try to solve. They would hear from medical provider groups, patient advocates, stakeholders from the health-care industry and outside experts at every step. A bill might go through several drafts, which would receive not only hearings but markups to allow lawmakers to debate the details.

Because the Cassidy-Graham bill came about in a completely different way, it wasn't clear that it would have a single hearing until McCain and others began expressing concerns. In the end, the Senate Finance Committee met Monday to discuss the measure, with primary testimony coming from Cassidy and Graham.

[The key players in Republicans last-ditch effort to kill the Affordable Care Act]

 Between Cassidy and Graham, only Cassidy specializes in health policy.

Its unusual that such a significant bill would have only one sponsor who specializes in health-care policy. Cassidy is not only a doctor but he sits on the two health-oriented Senate committees (Finance, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions). Graham sits on neither one.

 The CBO wont provide a complete score.

Most health-care bills that receive votes on Capitol Hill come with a complete analysis from Congresss nonpartisan budget analyst. These reports are designed to help lawmakers understand the likely consequences of legislation.

In the case of a health-care bill, the Congressional Budget Office typically estimates its effect on the federal budget and deficit, the number of Americans with health-care coverage and the amount insurers charge in monthly premiums. For Cassidy-Graham, however, the CBO said it would not have time to complete its normal projections. Senators will not receive the CBO's estimates on overall coverage or premium changes until later  almost certainly after any vote that might take place.

 Cassidy and Graham introduced a new version of the bill Monday.

As if the process werent complicated enough, the bills sponsors introduced a new version of the legislation Monday in a bid to win support from two key holdouts.

The new draft included more funding for Maine and Alaska, home of Collins and Murkowski , respectively, who have said they want to understand how Cassidy-Graham would affect their states before they vote. Previous estimates indicated the two states would lose funding under the bill.

The release of a new version means that if there is a vote, senators will have only a few days to study the legislation.

[As GOPs repeal bill struggles, Democrats ask whether they gave it life]

 That version wont get a complete score, either.

If the CBO couldn't produce a complete analysis of the first version of Cassidy-Graham within a week, it follows that it won't be able to do so for the second version, either. So if there's a vote, senators will have incomplete information either way.

To make things even more complicated, Cassidy has already urged people to discount the CBOs first report because it wont reflect the bills second draft.

Whatever the CBO scores [are] will be superseded by another score later this week, he told ABC on Sunday. So some of what well be seeing [Monday] will no longer be relevant.

 To pass a bill without Democratic votes, Republicans must act by Saturday.

Senate Republicans want to pass a health-care bill before the end of the month because that is when their ability to pass budget-related legislation with a simple majority of votes will expire. Starting Oct. 1, fiscal measures will require 60 votes to pass rather than 51, a situation that would force Republicans to form a coalition with some Democrats.

In a normal process, there would be no looming deadline, and lawmakers would not be in a rush.

Read more at PowerPost
President Trump's extension of his travel ban to North Korea is mostly symbolic and will have little to no effect on Kim Jong Un's regime, experts said Monday.

Trump on Sunday issued an executive order indefinitely banning travel to the United States by citizens of seven countries and the ruling class of an eighth. The list includes all but one of the countries covered by the original ban plus three more: Chad, Venezuela and North Korea. The restrictions on Venezuela apply to that country's leaders and their families.

While the entire order is sure to be controversial, the timing of the North Korea addition is particularly sensitive because it comes amid a protracted standoff over North Koreas nuclear weapons program.

Successive rounds of U.N. sanctions have done little to curb missile and nuclear tests, with the Kim regime pushing ahead and threatening, repeatedly, to target the United States.

In recent days, the situation has devolved into name-calling. Trump has tweeted vague threats to "Rocket Man" Kim, and the North Korean dictator has fired back at "dotard" Trump.

In the context of this escalating conflict, the North Korea travel ban may appear to be part of a U.S. push to isolate the regime. But experts said the provisions are unlikely to do so  or, in fact, accomplish anything concrete at all.

Trump pitched the new order as a measure designed to keep Americans safe. "Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," he tweeted.

The problem with punishing Pyongyang by stopping North Koreans from traveling to the United States is that very few  almost none  make the trip.

The new executive order suspends immigrant and nonimmigrant travel from North Korea to the United States. But people cannot emigrate from North Korea to the United States to begin with.

They should have checked if there is North Korean immigration before they banned it, said John Delury, an associate professor at Seouls Yonsei University. Why are you banning something that doesnt exist?

North Korean defectors who end up in the United States usually arrive via South Korea and are typically traveling on South Korean, not North Korean, passports.

Although North Korean diplomats do travel to the United States, mostly to United Nations headquarters in New York, the order notes that diplomatic visits are exempt from the ban.



Passengers board an Air Koryo plane bound for Beijing at the Pyongyang International Airport in North Korea in June 2015. (Wong Maye-E/AP)

That leaves only the handful of officials or academics who attend conferences in the United States each year, a group that is already closely vetted by the State Department.

Given all this, Cheng Xiaohe, a North Korea expert at Renmin University of China in Beijing, predicted that the impact of the ban on North Korea would be very limited.

Lu Chao, a Korea specialist at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences in Shenyang, China, said there would be no practical impact at all. Its propaganda, he said.

Yet, if this is a message, nobody seems certain what message Trump is trying send  or to whom.

Delury said the move may be aimed at a domestic audience, not an international one. The original travel ban was widely criticized for targeting Muslims  adding North Korea and Venezuela changes the conversation.

Theres no logic in the North Korea context, so we can conclude this is not really about North Korea, Delury said. This is not part of real North Korea policy at all.

Amber Ziye Wang and Shirley Feng in Beijing contributed to this report.

Read more:

White House expands travel ban, restricting visitors from eight countries

Trump calls North Koreas leader madman whose regime will face new tests

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Kurds packed polling stations across northern Iraq on Monday in a historic referendum on independence despite vigorous opposition from the country's central government as well as regional and world powers.

Church bells tolled, and imams implored Kurds over mosque loudspeakers to vote when polls opened across the Kurdish region  a swath of mountains, oil fields and desert that has been run as a semiautonomous enclave for decades.

The poll is expected to produce an overwhelming yes result that many Kurds see as the culmination of a century-long and bloody struggle for self-determination. Kurdish authorities said that 3.9 million people were eligible to vote and that final results were expected by Thursday.

As polls closed at 7 p.m., Iraqs defense ministry said it had started joint military exercises with the Turkish army along the shared border near Kurdish territory, heightening fears that the vote could set off another unpredictable and destabilizing cascade across the region.

Iran also launched military exercises along its borders with the Iraqi Kurdistan region ahead of the vote.

Turkey and Iran worry that Kurdish secession in Iraq could further embolden their own Kurdish minorities, including a separatist faction that has fought Turkish forces since the 1980s.

[Kurds were not the only ones seeking their own path]

The United States, traditionally a strong ally of Iraq's Kurds, has said the timing of the referendum threatens the fight against the Islamic State. U.S. officials also worry that the Kurdish move will weaken Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ahead of national elections next year while empowering sectarian political forces.

On Monday, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the United States is "deeply disappointed" that the Kurdistan regional government decided to conduct the referendum but added that Washington's "historic relationship with the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region will not change" in light of it.

For his part, Abadi tried up to the last minute to block the vote, and Iraqi leaders say they will not recognize the outcome  setting up a potential political standoff.

The United States, Iran and Turkey have called the referendum illegitimate and have also vowed not to recognize its results, saying it is a dangerous step toward the division of the country.

But Iraqi Kurds appeared intent on sending a powerful message as a distinct political force with a culture, language and history of their own. Many voters perceived the referendum as a symbol of their unity and separate political path rather than an immediate separation from Iraq.



Members of a Kurdish peshmerga battalion show their ink-stained fingers after casting their vote Monday in Irbil, Iraq. (Safin Hamed/AFP/Getty Images)

On Sunday, the Kurdish regional president, Masoud Barzani, whose party and powerful political family have been the primary engine behind the independence push, said the vote is the beginning of a years-long separation process from Iraq that he hopes will be achieved through dialogue and negotiations.

Lamia Amin, 60, linked arms with her blind husband as they walked out of a polling place in a working-class section of Irbil, the Kurdish regional capital. She said she could not sleep the night before, out of excitement about the referendum.

Amin, the mother of a police officer and a member of the Kurdish fighting force known as the peshmerga, said she cast her vote in honor of her brother, who was killed fighting in an insurrection against then-dictator Saddam Hussein in 1991 in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War.

She eagerly showed that she had changed her Facebook profile photo to a picture of her brother.

God willing, we will have a country, she said. We have sacrificed so much, waited so long. We can wait a little longer.

Her husband, Mohammed Sharif, 72, smiled and said Kurds will be remembered as Hollywood heroes for their determination.

Polling places also drew members of minority groups in the Kurdish region, such as Sunni Arabs. But many people who were technically ineligible to cast ballots, such as Arab refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan and Kurds who live in Baghdad, said they were permitted to vote anyway.

Khalil Hassan, 70, angrily railed against the central government of Iraq, which he accused of displacing him from his home in Salahuddin province in 2015 with its airstrikes during a campaign to uproot Islamic State militants. Since then, he said, he has lived in Kurdish territory as an internally displaced person.

"I voted for Kurdistan because the Shiites, the Iraqi government, destroyed our homes and had no mercy for anyone," he said. "No one has ever insulted me here. We support Masoud Barzani with our voices and our blood."

International observers expressed concerns that individual results will not be released by region or district, making it impossible to know how people in disputed areas voted.

[Iraqi Kurds set to vote on independence panicking neighbors and Washington]

Iraq and the United States were especially troubled by the Kurdish decision to include ethnically mixed cities, such as oil-rich Kirkuk, that have been historically claimed by both Kurds and Arabs.

In a sign of the regional spillover from the vote, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday threatened tough action against the Kurdish authorities, including the cutting off of a pipeline carrying oil from northern Iraq across the Turkish border, as well as unspecified military action and other measures.

Turkey, which has battled a decades-long insurgency by Kurdish militants at home, has become alarmed of late by increasingly assertive movements for Kurdish independence across its borders in Syria and Iraq. Erdogan has also faced pressure from Turkish nationalists who vehemently oppose Kurdish autonomy.

On Monday, Turkeys strident opposition to the ballot was splashed across the front pages of the countrys newspapers.

Barzani, the Kurdish regional president and an erstwhile ally of the Turkish government, was referred to as insolent and the vote as chaos.

Youre itching for it, Barzani, one headline said, splashed above photos of tanks rolling across the desert.

Erdogan warned that Turkey could block Iraqi Kurdistan's oil exports. "Turkey is in control of the tap," he said during an appearance in Istanbul on Monday, referring to a pipeline that carries hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil from northern Iraq across Turkey to the Mediterranean Sea.

Iran on Sunday closed its airspace to flights to and from Iraqi Kurdish cities administered by the Kurdistan government in Iraq, while Iraq's central government demanded that all ports and oil terminals in the Kurdish-controlled areas be handed back to federal custody.

U.S. officials have privately expressed frustration, viewing the referendum as a vehicle to keep Barzani in power. Barzanis term as regional president expired in 2015, but he has refused to step down  although he has indicated he will not run in elections scheduled for November.

The referendum was not initially backed by all Kurdish parties, but as international opposition grew, internal disputes over its timing were settled, and the vast majority of the Kurdish political class has come out in support of the vote.

Bashar Warda, the archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Irbil, said he hoped that the bellicose language between the two sides would subside and that Baghdad would recognize the peaceful democratic exercise and move forward with dialogue.

"Voting is such a peaceful event," Warda said as he left a polling place in the Christian enclave of Ankawa with members of his congregation. "In the Middle East, usually when a group wants to gain something, it is through violence. As a church, we will support a peaceful, mutual dialogue."

Fahim reported from Istanbul. Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more

Referendum puts U.S. at odds with old ally in the Middle East

Turkey expands strikes against Kurdish militants in Syria and Iraq

A new fight over oil shows why its so hard to keep Iraq from splintering

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
A day after Angela Merkel was humbled at home in national elections, Europe reckoned Monday with a new reality in which the German chancellor  long a rock of political stability for an unsettled continent  was suddenly rendered shaky.

Although Merkel's party emerged on top for the fourth consecutive time, tying a German postwar record, it lost crucial ground to the far right and endured its worst overall result since 1949.

The surprise outcome offered Merkel few viable options for forming a stable government, with an unwieldy and ideology-bending alliance of conservatives, libertarians and environmentally minded progressives considered the only likely course.

The results even frayed ties within her bloc, with her partys Bavarian sibling threatening Monday to set out on its own.

The implications for Europe could be vast. Long reliant on Merkel to patch it through tough times, the continent may find that her steady hand is not what it used to be.

Foreign policy power depends on your ability to govern back home and deliver. Merkel has always been able to deliver on the European stage. That will be a lot more complicated now, said Jan Techau, director of the Holbrooke Forum at the American Academy in Berlin. She will not be the same singular leader of the German political scene that she was before. Her position as this towering figure will be diminished.

The timing of Merkels stumble is especially troublesome for those who had been looking to the period after the German elections as an ideal moment to more tightly integrate Europe and shore up its rickety and crisis-prone foundations.

Foremost among them was French President Emmanuel Macron, who has laid out ambitious plans for a more centralized and efficient euro zone.

Macron had viewed the coming months as a rare window for change, with the leaders of Europes two most consequential players  Germany and France  both enjoying a fresh mandate from their voters.

Merkel, though more tentative, had reciprocated, endorsing some of Macrons ideas and expressing a willingness to work with him.

But the election results complicate that picture considerably.

The euro needs a revolutionary step forward to be resolved, Techau said. That was always unlikely. But its made even more difficult now.





The problem arises from Merkels need to watch her right flank, where she lost ground Sunday to the insurgent Alternative for Germany party (AfD) and where theres long been deep skepticism of any deal that could put German taxpayers on the hook for deficits in Europes less prosperous south.

Her vulnerability was underscored Monday when the more conservative Bavarian sister party to her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) said it would have to reexamine the two parties decades-old alliance.

Meanwhile, one of her would-be coalition partners, Free Democrat leader Christian Lindner, reiterated that his pro-business party would vehemently oppose any plans for a common euro-zone budget  a key element of Macrons plans.

And even within her party, where Merkel has long had near-absolute control, there were questions raised Monday that would have been unthinkable before Sundays results.

The Twilight of the Gods has started for Ms. Merkel, said Rupert Scholz, a former defense minister and veteran party lawmaker. You will feel it in a few months. There will be an intensive debate within the CDU.

All of that will limit Merkels room to maneuver and make any major European initiatives less likely, said Josef Janning, who leads the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

To compromise with other states, you need a strong chancellor, Janning said. Her leeway is reduced.

With Macron due to give a major speech on his proposals in Paris on Tuesday, French analysts acknowledged that prospects for his blueprint had dimmed, even if they had not been extinguished altogether.

The situation were seeing now, in terms of the next [German] coalition, is maybe the one that is the most delicate for the French, said Pierre Vimont, a former French ambassador to the European Union.

Macron has gambled much on his ability to work with Merkel to reach a deal.

On Friday, he dared go where few French presidents have ventured, by signing into law  despite significant protests  five major provisions that will deregulate France's labor market, mostly by making it easier for employers to hire and fire workers.

Officials in Berlin had signaled that such French domestic measures were a prerequisite for any broader euro-zone agreement that would loosen German purse strings.

Merkels strength in the E.U. is such that her voice is decisive on issues ranging from Greeces fate in the euro zone to sanctions against Russia. She has outlasted her rivals and pioneered a deliberate approach to leadership that has made her assent crucial to decisions that touch the half-billion citizens of the sprawling 28-nation bloc.

But now German domestic turmoil may blunt her ambition to further integrate the continent, while weighing down Europes agility during any future crisis.

Shes still by far the strongest European leader, but shes clearly in a phase of decline, said Stefan Lehne, a former senior Austrian diplomat who is now a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, a Brussels think tank. That will weaken her authority on the European level.

Still, there remains a wide range of E.U. issues that Merkel is likely to continue to advocate, Lehne said. The election results could only reinforce her hard-edge approach to slowing migration flows while demanding that other E.U. countries take in more asylum seekers.

If Merkels authority in Europe is starting to fade, that could leave the bloc without direction  or it may force other leaders to step up and articulate their goals.

People have gotten so used to relying on Germany for leadership that its actually become a bit unhealthy, said Heather Grabbe, the director of the Open Society European Policy Institute, a think tank. Everyone complains about Germany, but they hide behind Merkel and avoid having to take positions.

Merkel's enduring strength was probably the reason for the largely muted reaction from far-right leaders in Europe.

In Hungary, nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has tangled with Merkel on migration and on rule-of-law issues. But he refrained from taunting the chancellor Monday.

This is a clear signal that European citizens have voted in favor of a policy that guarantees the conservative fundamentals of security and economic stability, Orban wrote to Merkel, an Orban spokesman said.

In Berlin, meanwhile, Merkel was hardly the only politician under pressure. The AfD, which had been celebrating its third-place finish Sunday night, was sobered Monday morning by the surprise announcement by one of the partys most visible figures that she would not join the partys bloc in the Bundestag, the lower house of the German Parliament.

Frauke Petry, who is considered a relative moderate within the highly fractious AfD, announced at the start of a Berlin news conference that the party had become anarchical and that it cannot offer the voter a credible platform for government.

She then marched from the room without taking questions, leaving her AfD colleagues on the dais sputtering.

Id like to apologize in the name of my party, said AfD co-chairman Jorg Meuthen after Petry had left the room. This wasnt discussed with us.

McAuley reported from Paris and Birnbaum from Brussels. Isaac Stanley-Becker in Berlin and Annabell Van den Berghe in Brussels contributed to this report.

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Germans are learning to love Germany again, and Merkel takes note

After Trump trip, Merkel says Europe cant rely on others

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Six years after the eruption of the armed rebellion aimed at toppling President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian war is limping toward a conclusion  one that leaves many questions unanswered and many battles still to be fought, but a resolution of sorts nonetheless.

That Assad would prevail on the battlefield has been evident for years  since at least 2015, when Russia intervened to prop up his flagging army, and probably well before that, after the rebels failed to capitalize on their early momentum.

The absence of resolve on the part of the international community to prevent an Assad victory has also been clear for some time, perhaps as early as the first failed Geneva peace talks in 2014 and certainly since the governments recapture of Aleppo in December heralded the collapse of the Obama administrations diplomacy.

Those realities are now in the process of being cemented, bringing the blurred outlines of an endgame into view.

The war as we knew it is over. Whats left now is dividing the cake, said Joe Macaron, an analyst at the Arab Policy Center in Washington.





Under the scenario that is emerging, Assad remains in power indefinitely, there is no meaningful political settlement to remove or redeem him, and the war grinds on.

It is a bleak outlook, foreshadowing an unstable Syria mired in at least low-level conflict for years to come, its towns and cities in ruins, its people impoverished, and its economy starved of the funding it needs to rebuild the country.

It does, however, bring some clarity to the fate of the regime, now under less pressure than ever to make concessions or implement new policies and  for the first time since 2012  in control of more of the country than any of the other factions competing for territory.

The Trump administrations decision to cut off aid to the Syrian rebels, signals from the international community that it is dropping its insistence on a transition that leads to Assads departure, and the relative success of a Russian cease-fire initiative have all contributed to the sense that the war, if not over, is at least entering a phase in which Assads survival is no longer in question.

[Trump ends covert CIA program to arm anti-Assad rebels in Syria]

Some of the remaining battles could yet spin Syria off into unexpected directions. What began as a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters and then mutated into a raging war has now morphed again  into an international scramble for influence over the corners of the country still outside government control.

The fate of the Kurdish-controlled northeast, where the U.S. military has deployed troops and built bases for the purpose of fighting the Islamic State, is perhaps the biggest uncertainty. The United States has not committed to staying in Syria to protect the expanding Kurdish region after the defeat of the Islamic State. But the Assad regime has pledged to bring the area back under government control, by going to war if necessary with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the United States.



A man rides a bicycle past a billboard in Aleppo on Sept. 12. It depicts Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and reads Aleppo is in my eyes. (Max Black/AP)

Escalating tensions between the U.S.-backed SDF and its local allies and the Russian- and Iranian-backed government troops in the eastern desert province of Deir al-Zour could also spark a wider confrontation if U.S.-Russian talks to divide up the battlefield fail.

Israel's intentions are unclear as it eyes the likelihood of an indefinite Iranian presence on its northern border with Syria, in the form of the Iranian advisers and Iran-allied militias brought to the area to quell the rebellion. Israel has been stepping up airstrikes against Hezbollah and Iranian targets in Syria in recent weeks, and although the government has refrained from responding, that could change as Assad grows more confident.

The presence of thousands of al-Qaeda fighters in the northwestern province of Idlib makes that the likely venue of at least one more major round of fighting. There are still pockets of rebel-held territory dotted around Syria, in the suburbs of Damascus and along the Jordanian border that will have to be conquered or forced into a settlement.

[Al-Qaeda is eating us: Syrian rebels are losing out to extremists]

But it is hard to envision any of these battles directly challenging Assads hold on Damascus, analysts say. The map tells the story of a government increasingly dominating the country, now in control of all the major cities and 70 percent of the population and secure in its alliance with Russia and Iran.

For the regime, this has always been about survival, and its done everything it had to do to ensure its survival, said Yezid Sayigh of the Carnegie Middle East Center. Were left with a few bits of tidying up, in Idlib and in the east, and these are still unknowns, but I dont believe they will change the overall trend.

Assad has been careful not to declare victory. In recent speeches, he has emphasized the continued threat posed by Syrias Western enemies and their terrorist allies and the need to keep fighting until all of Syria is reclaimed.

Talking about foiling the Western project in the region doesnt mean we are victorious. They have failed, but the battle is still going on, he told a gathering of friendly foreign diplomats in Damascus last month. The signs of victory are there, but signs are something and victory itself is another thing.

Peace would bring new pressures on Assad to deliver dividends to his supporters in the form of reconstruction and a revival of the economy, said Jihad Yazigi, a Syrian economist and editor of the Syria Report. That could prove a tougher challenge than winning the war. Unforeseen developments, such as dissent among his supporters, may yet propel a different trajectory.

As he wins and his constituents are sure the war is over, there will be new expectations he is unable to meet, he said. Were not going to have anything close to reconciliation, and there is no money.

But in the absence of any meaningful international peace process, there is little reason to believe Assad will feel compelled to deliver political concessions likely to erode his hold on power. The Geneva peace process, initiated by the United States in 2012 when it looked as though the rebels were winning, has sputtered into oblivion.

The vacuum is being filled by a Russian-led initiative unfolding thousands of miles away in Kazakhstans capital, Astana. Those talks have already produced a set of de-escalation agreements that have somewhat reduced the violence.

Moscow is also pressing a package of measures that would bring opposition members into the government, freeze the front lines, give rebels a degree of autonomy in the areas they control and eventually bring them back under the auspices of the central government through a process of reconciliation. Under the Russian plan, Assad would run for a third seven-year term of office when elections are next due, in 2021.

Russia is keen to see a political settlement that would win broad consensus, open up access to international funding for reconstruction and legitimize Assads status and Russias role in Syria, according to Western diplomats who visit Damascus and meet with Russian officials.

The legitimization of the regime is something really quite important for the Russians, and thats not going to happen with the current regime, said a senior Western diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive subjects. The legitimization of the regime is necessary for Russia to have a politically secure environment for its presence.

The United States and its allies continue to insist on a substantive political process that at least dilutes Assads power, endorsed by the United Nations and the international community, as a precondition for contributing to the massive reconstruction effort that Syria badly needs.

Recovery and reconstruction support for Syria hinges on a credible political process leading to a genuine political transition that can be supported by a majority of the Syrian people, said a statement issued by the foreign ministers of 16 mostly Western and Arab nations, including the United States, at the conclusion of a meeting on Syria in New York last week.

In his August speech, however, the ever-defiant Assad made it clear that he does not expect or want aid from the countries that assisted the rebellion. Syria, he said, will rely on its existing friends and look east, to Asia, for reconstruction funding.

We will not allow enemies and rivals to achieve through politics what they failed to achieve through terrorism, he said.

There is therefore little reason to believe Assad will consent to anything more than cosmetic changes that will not infringe on his power, said Aron Lund of the Century Foundation.

Assad lost half of the country, half of Aleppo and parts of Damascus, and he wouldnt budge, he said. Now that hes taken most of that back, its ridiculous to think hell budge now.

Read more:

How far could the dangerous endgame in eastern Syria go?

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Russian trucks seen on the road heading to Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria, on Sept. 21, 2017. (Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)

U.S.-backed forces in Syria accused Russia on Monday of launching airstrikes on their positions in the country's east, where world powers and their proxies are scrambling for influence amid the collapse of the Islamic State militant group.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the United States, said Russian warplanes targeted SDF fighters in three locations in Deir al-Zour province Monday, including at a major gas field they had seized Saturday from militants. It was the second time this month that the SDF, a coalition of Arab and ethnic Kurdish fighters, has claimed it was targeted by Russian strikes.

Also Monday, Russia blamed what it called the duplicity of U.S. policy in Syria for the death of a Russian general killed by Islamic State mortar fire in Deir al-Zour. Lt. Gen. Valery Asapov is the highest-ranking Russian officer killed in Moscows intervention in Syria, which began two years ago.

His death was the price paid in blood for U.S. hypocrisy, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. Moscow has accused the United States of tacitly allowing the Islamic State to fight Syrian government forces while claiming to be Russias ally against terrorism.

[Russia threatens retaliation against U.S. troops and allies in Syria]

Tensions between the United States and Russia in eastern Syria have intensified in recent weeks, as both the Russian-backed Syrian government and U.S.-supported proxies fight parallel battles against the Islamic State.

In Deir al-Zour, a desert region rich in oil and gas, the extremist group is struggling to hold on to one of its last redoubts in Syria. As the Islamic States defenses crumble, the province has emerged as a key prize in the battle to shape the countrys postwar future.

The SDF, bolstered by U.S. airstrikes and Special Operations forces, has advanced on Deir al-Zour from the north. On Saturday, SDF fighters seized the Conoco gas field, named after the Houston-based oil conglomerate that built and operated a plant there in the early 2000s. It was one of the Islamic States most important sources of funding, analysts said.

For the government, such fields represent revenue and power, allowing it to reassert control in the face of years of armed rebellion. To the Kurds, whose militias dominate the SDF, the resources are a bargaining chip in their negotiations for autonomy.

Iran, a strong backer of the Syrian government, needs Deir al-Zour to secure a land corridor from Tehran to its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah. Iranian-backed militias have assisted the government in eastern Syria. And the United States, while insisting it is uninterested in the geopolitical fight, is likely to welcome any expansion of its allies territory as it looks to thwart Irans regional ambitions, analysts said.

The battles are taking place amid U.S.-Russian rivalry in Syria  and across the Middle East. U.S. power in the region has been challenged by the chaos of the Arab Spring, and Russias support for Syrias government has ensured Moscow a foothold in the region.

[How far could the dangerous endgame in eastern Syria go?]

In recent weeks, Russia has begun to take aim at the SDF and its U.S. backers. According to the state-run Rossiya-24 news channel, the Russian military believes that U.S. Special Operations forces are coordinating their moves in Syria with the Islamic State.

Russia recently staged a press tour to display its military strength in Syria, from special forces troops on the ground to a powerful naval force in the Mediterranean Sea.

At a news conference Monday, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, a Defense Ministry spokesman, said that Russian drones and intelligence in Deir al-Zour have not observed any military clashes between the SDF and the Islamic State.

The U.S.-led coalition said Monday that it was aware of reports of Russian strikes on SDF targets but called the accounts inconsistent.

A coalition spokesman, U.S. Army Col. Tom Veale, said in a statement that the coalition de-conflicts the complex and congested battlespace over eastern Syria with Russian officials on a regular basis.

The "communication between the coalition and the Russians ensures the safety of our collective aircrews and assets, and supports our operations on the ground."

Filipov reported from Moscow.

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Russia threatens retaliatory strikes against U.S. troops and their allies in Syria

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Disgraced former U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner, whose exchange of illicit messages with a teenager wound up playing a role in the 2016 presidential election, was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison, authorities said.

The penalty marks a stunning downfall for the New York Democrat whose propensity for sending lewd photos to women repeatedly derailed his career in politics, and  in a roundabout way  might also have affected Hillary Clintons bid to become president.

It was federal authorities investigation of Weiner that led them to emails of his wife, top Clinton aide Huma Abedin, and the discovery of those emails ultimately caused the FBI, as the election campaign drew to a close, to reopen the probe of Clintons use of a private email server.

[Computer seized in Weiner probe prompts FBI to take new steps in Clinton email inquiry]

Weiner, 53, pleaded guilty in May to transferring obscene material to a minor, stemming from interactions he had with a 15-year-old who later described the exchanges and released images to the Daily Mail.

The report in September 2016 was notable, although by then, Weiner was well known for such conduct. Abedin had recently separated from her husband, after the New York Post revealed he had sent photos and sexual texts to another woman, and the two are in the process of a divorce. Similar incidents had forced Weiner's resignation from Congress and dashed his hopes of becoming mayor of New York City.

Because of the teens age, Weiners exchanges with her would have far more dire consequences. Prosecutors said Weiner knew that the girl was a minor and nonetheless asked her to engage in explicit conduct, which is a crime. They asked for a sentence between 21 and 27 months, arguing that Weiners misdeeds were serious and his demonstrated need for deterrence is real.

The defendant did far more than exchange typed words on a lifeless cellphone screen with a faceless stranger, prosecutors wrote in sentencing papers. 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.

Weiners defense attorneys argued for a penalty that did not include jail time. They cast the former congressman as a man with an addiction problem and asserted that the teen had reached out to him hoping to generate material for a book deal.

She was paid $30,000 by the Daily Mail for her story, defense attorneys wrote, and an additional $10,000 for a recent appearance on Inside Edition. The teen also admitted to investigators that one of her goals was to affect the outcome of the presidential election, defense attorneys asserted.

For his part, Weiner, who appeared at the sentencing in federal district court in Manhattan on Monday, apologized for what he had done and said he is seeking treatment for his addiction.

I am profoundly sorry to her, he wrote in a letter to the court. I was selfish. I have no excuse for what I did to her.

When the investigation into Weiners exchanges with the girl were publicly revealed, the Trump campaign seized on the news to call for Clinton to return donations from Weiner. The Republican presidential candidate would soon have much more fodder.

In investigating Weiner, the FBI found correspondence between Clinton and Abedin on a device they had not examined previously. That discovery prompted them to reopen their investigation of Clintons use of a private email server, just weeks before the election. They sought a warrant to examine what they thought might be new emails.

[Emails between Clinton and top aide, but little else, spurred FBI to resume controversial probe]

The FBI had previously concluded that no one should be charged in the case, and agents ultimately found nothing that changed their minds. Still, the revelation that the probe was reopened became a major issue late in the presidential election, and Clinton has blamed it in part for her loss.

Weiners defense attorneys even noted the FBIs actions in urging a lenient sentence, arguing that the public disclosures of the investigative steps exacted significant extrajudicial punishment on Anthony and his family.

Anthony might once have been a punchline, but he is now  to many in this country  something far worse, as a result of Secretary Clintons loss, defense attorneys wrote.

In a news release, acting Manhattan U.S. attorney Joon H. Kim said Weiner received a just sentence that was appropriate for his crime.

U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote said at the hearing, This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment.

Weiner is scheduled to report to prison on Nov. 6, prosecutors said.

Arlo Devlin-Brown, Weiners defense attorney, said in a statement that the defense team was disappointed Weiner had been sentenced to prison.

Judge Cote reasoned that because of Anthonys notoriety, a sentence of imprisonment could discourage others from following in his footsteps, Devlin-Brown said. We certainly hope this public service message is received, but it has resulted in a punishment more severe than it had to be given the unusual facts and circumstances of this case.
President Trumps latest travel ban could block the issuance of tens of thousands of visas each year to people who want to immigrate to the U.S. or come as business travelers or tourists, according to a Post review of State Department data. (Jon Elswick/AP)

President Trumps latest travel ban could block the issuance of tens of thousands of visas each year to people who want to immigrate to the United States or come on business or as tourists, according to a Washington Post review of State Department data, and it is threatening to short-circuit the impending Supreme Court showdown over whether Trump can lawfully impose such wide-ranging travel restrictions.

On Monday, the Supreme Court put off  at least for now  a hearing on Trumps previous travel ban, asking instead for briefs on whether the latest restrictions mean there is nothing left for the justices to decide.

[Supreme Court postpones hearing on Trumps travel ban]

Opponents of the ban, meanwhile, vowed to fight on  asserting that the new measure inflicted some of the same harms of the first and that it was driven by the same discriminatory intent.

For us, this was a Muslim ban, and it remains a Muslim ban, said Zahra Billoo, the executive director of the San Francisco chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The newest ban is in some ways even more expansive than the last  remaining in effect indefinitely and imposing restrictions on eight, rather than six, countries. But unlike the last ban, the restrictions vary from place to place, and countries that increase their cooperation and information-sharing with the United States might be able to find their way off the list.

For Syria and North Korea, the presidents proclamation blocks immigrants wanting to relocate to the United States and non-immigrants wishing to visit in some capacity. For Iran, the proclamation blocks both immigrants and non-immigrants, though it exempts students and those participating in a cultural exchange.

The proclamation blocks people from Chad, Libya and Yemen from coming to the United States as immigrants or on business or tourist visas, and it blocks people from Somalia from coming as immigrants. The proclamation names Venezuela, but it only blocks certain government officials.

A Washington Post review of State Department data found that more than 65,000 visas were issued in fiscal 2016 that would now likely fall under the ban. The ban, though, contains a robust list of people who might qualify for a case-by-case exception, including those with significant U.S. contacts or those wanting to visit close family members.

The ban also exempts those already admitted to the United States on the effective date of the proclamation  which, for those not affected by the previous travel ban, is Oct. 18.

The Supreme Court had been set to hear arguments on Trumps previous travel ban, inked in March, but on Monday, it removed that hearing from the calendar and asked for briefs on whether the case was now moot.

One significant piece of the previous executive order  the 120-day ban on all refugees entering the United States  remains in effect until Oct. 24. The latest ban leaves unclear what will happen after that. U.S. officials have been discussing possibly lowering the refugee cap for fiscal 2018 to below 50,000. The fiscal year begins Sunday.

Many legal observers think the new directive will make moot the courts examination of the second executive order. While the courts three most conservative justices  Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gorsuch  would have allowed Trumps order to go into effect as written, the rest of the court has looked for a middle ground.

Its hard to see how the court will have much appetite to decide the merits of the dispute with a new order in place, Kannon Shanmugam, a Washington lawyer who argues frequently before the court, said last week.

In their initial briefs, lawyers for challengers of the executive order  immigrant groups and the state of Hawaii  as well as the Justice Department argued that the case was not moot. Those arguments came before the latest order was issued but with an awareness that the ban could expire before the court heard the case. After the new proclamation was released, Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco suggested to the justices that they order new briefings from the parties about how it affected the case.

Opponents of the ban were largely mum on what the legal path forward would be.

It does continue to injure our current plaintiffs, said Justin Cox, a staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center.

To establish the new ban, U.S. officials conducted a worldwide review of the information countries were able to provide on their travelers wanting to come to the United States.

Initially, 16 countries were deemed inadequate, and 31 were at risk of becoming inadequate, authorities said. U.S. officials then negotiated with foreign counterparts, ultimately producing a list of eight countries that were either unable or unwilling to provide the information the United States wanted.

Sudan was dropped from the ban list, and its removal is noteworthy in part because it is one of just three countries designated by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism. The other two, Iran and Syria, remain on the travel ban list.

Chad, North Korea and Venezuela were added. Those in Chad, in particular, seemed surprised.

The reaction has been astonishment and then indignation, said Nour Ibedou, director of the Chadian Human Rights Association. We do not understand how our country achieved this lack of trust from the United States.

Administration officials can now point to Venezuela and North Korea as being non-Muslim majority countries on the banned list  perhaps undercutting the argument of opponents that the measure is meant to fulfill Trumps campaign promise of a Muslim ban. But ban opponents note that the restrictions on Venezuela affect only government officials and that few people from North Korea travel to the United States.

[Almost no North Koreans travel to the U.S., so why ban them?]

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said the new ban was an unfounded strategy against the South American country.

Were looking for dialogue; were looking for channels, he said. We have to stop the madness and irrationality.

If the Supreme Court case over the ban is declared moot, there could be disagreement on what happens next. The government wants the high court to vacate the two appellate court decisions that said Trumps executive order could not be enforced and the precedent that would come with them. A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit said the order violated federal law, while the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit said Trumps ban was unconstitutional.

There is precedent for the Supreme Court to vacate those rulings. In a 1950 ruling in a case called United States v. Munsingwear, the court held that where intervening mootness prevents review of a lower court's decision, that decision should be vacated. But challengers of the ban assert in their briefs that should not be the result in this case here.

The ban could also face new legal challenges. But legal analysts said those suing would probably face immense hurdles.

My prediction is that given the importance of these powers, its very likely that the court will hold that the new measure contains the type of rigorous analysis and measured policy choices necessary to pass constitutional muster, said Leon Fresco, who worked in the office of immigration litigation in President Barack Obamas Justice Department. And, I do not see the Supreme Court holding any part of this new directive unconstitutional.

Kevin Sieff in Nairobi, Emily Rauhala in Hong Kong and Rachelle Krygier in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.
The Trump administration announced new restrictions Sunday on visitors from eight countries  an expansion of an existing travel ban that has spurred fierce legal debates over security, immigration and discrimination.

In announcing the new rules, officials said they are meant to be both tough and targeted. The move comes on the day the key portion of President Trumps travel ban, one that bars the issuance of visas to citizens of six majority-Muslim countries, was due to expire.

"As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," Trump wrote in a proclamation announcing the changes for citizens from specific nations. On Twitter, he added: "Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet."

Trumps original travel ban, signed as an executive order in the first days of his presidency, was always meant to be a temporary measure while his administration crafted more permanent rules. A senior administration official cautioned that the new restrictions are not meant to last forever, but are necessary and conditions-based, not time-based.

The new travel ban represents the third version offered by the Trump administration.

Three nations were added to the list of countries whose citizens will face the restrictions: Chad, North Korea and Venezuela  although the restrictions on Venezuela are narrowly crafted, targeting that countrys leaders and their family members.

One country, Sudan, fell off the travel ban list issued at the beginning of the year. Senior administration officials said a review of Sudans cooperation with the U.S. government on national security and information-sharing showed it was appropriate to remove it from the list.

The new restrictions will be phased in over time, officials said, and the restrictions will not affect anyone who already holds a U.S. visa. For those visitors affected by the changed restrictions, the new rules will go into effect Oct. 18, according to the proclamation.

The new rules vary per country, barring entry into the United States of immigrants and nonimmigrants from Chad, Libya and Yemen, on business, tourist or business-tourist visas. It bars entry of Iranian citizens, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, but provides an exception for Iranian students, provided they receive extra screening. The proclamation bars immigrants and nonimmigrants from North Korea and Syria. It bars immigration by citizens of Somalia.

Critics of the administration have argued that the travel bans are an unconstitutional attempt to deliver on Trumps campaign promise of a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. Administration officials deny that any of the bans were aimed at Muslims, saying they are based on security concerns about visitors from countries with failing or weak governments.

The restrictions either previously or now were never, ever ever based on race, religion or creed, one senior administration official said. Those governments are simply not compliant with our basic security requirements.

Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said adding North Korea and Venezuela to the administrations list does not fix the travel bans core problem.





President Trumps original sin of targeting Muslims, he said, cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list.

The original version, signed as an executive order in January, blocked citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries  Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Yemen and Syria  as well as all refugees across the globe.

When that measure was blocked in court, Trump signed a revised order removing Iraq from the banned list and only barring the issuance of visas to citizens of the six remaining countries and all refugees.

The second order, too, was blocked by judges, but the Supreme Court in June allowed it to go into effect with a significant caveat. The administration, the court said, could not block from entering the country those with a bona fide connection to the United States, such as family members or those with firm offers of employment.

The ban on citizens of the six countries was to last 90 days; the ban on refugees was to last 120 days. The refugee ban is set to expire Oct. 24, and it was not immediately clear what impact the new restrictions might have on it.

The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments for Oct. 10 on whether the measure, at its core, is legal. The Justice Department signaled Sunday night that the new rules could affect how the court handles the case  lawyers for the administration filed a letter asking for new court briefs to address issues raised by the new rules.

In explaining how the administration came to cite these eight countries, officials said many governments already met U.S. requests  using secure biometric passports, for example, and willingly passing along terrorism and criminal-history information. Others agreed to make changes and share more data. But some were either unable or unwilling to give the United States what it needed, officials said.

The president had signaled earlier this month that an expansion of the travel ban was likely. Citing an attack in London, Trump wrote on Twitter, The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific  but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!

Robert Barnes contributed to this report.
The Union left the road  and peoples fears  clear for the AfD. Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered heavy losses and now faces her most difficult round of coalition talks yet  with the FDP and the Greens. The Greens, especially, cant wait.

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Angela Merkel will no doubt have reacted stoically to the election result. She will remain as Chancellor. But her victory will be followed by a difficult few weeks or months: this will be the fourth time she has put a government together, and it will be the toughest. For Merkels favoured coalition partner, the SPD, is no longer available.

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Some Christian Democrats might have harboured the illusion that the Social Democrats, who have been humiliated again, could be enticed with grand promises into exploratory talks and then full coalition negotiations, but the party leadership certainly did not. There really is a limit, and the SPD has reached it  as far as being Merkels junior partner is concerned, at least.

And a number of Christian Democrats even acknowledge that the SPD cannot leave the role of main opposition party to the AfD. Which just creates a new problem for the CDU  because it means that the price of a Jamaica coalition (CDU/CSU, FDP and Greens) will rise dramatically.

Lesen Sie auch German election Merkels CDU, the bad coalition party

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Albeit not with the Greens, whose top candidates, Katrin Goring-Eckardt and Cem Ozdemir, gave the impression on election night that they just couldnt wait to be sworn in as Merkels ministers. Its a very different story with the FDP, though: the Schleswig-Holsteiner Wolfgang Kubicki, who now has a seat in the Bundestag, was the first of the Liberals to appear before the cameras  pokerfaced. The Union would have to invite them, he said.

When Horst Seehofer appeared before his supporters in Munich, he was not so much pokerfaced as wearing a mask of determination. The broadcaster ARD had just predicted a vote share of 39% for the CSU in Bavaria  a drop of ten points. We left ourselves open to attack from the right, was the CSU leaders assessment  something that the parliamentary group leader, Volker Kauder (CDU), had refused to accept just minutes earlier, on television.

Our key task in the weeks ahead will be to close that flank  to draw a clear line and set out clear political positions, Seehofer continued. It would be necessary for refugee and immigration policy to incorporate ideas from the plans drawn up for Bavaria: from the CSU election manifesto, in other words, the manifesto that the CDU had not wanted to co-sign.

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Seehofer did not use the taboo term upper limit, but his warning that there must be No false compromises was directed at the Chancellor. How Merkel is supposed to get an upper limit (something she herself has previously rejected) included in a coalition agreement with the Greens is something no one in Konrad Adenauer House could tell us on election night.

Merkels appearance at party HQ shortly afterwards must be understood as her response to Seehofer. We achieved our strategic goals for this election campaign, the CDU leader said. No one can form a government against us. After twelve years as Chancellor, this was not something that could have been taken for granted.

She said she would try to win back AfD voters by providing solutions for their concerns and fears. The reality is that the Union lost roughly a million voters to the AfD. When Merkel spoke of illegal migration, some people took it as an early indication of a change of course.

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Strategists had previously hoped for a higher turnout, of the kind that had significantly contributed to CDU success in three state elections in the spring. But the Bundestag election campaign seemed to run out of steam by the end.

The main reason for this was that, after the TV head-to-head between Merkel and her Social Democratic challenger, Martin Schulz, in early September, the election already seemed to have been won. For one thing, Schultz had blown his last chance to score an unexpected point against Merkel, and it now seemed clear that she would remain as Chancellor.

For another, the two contenders were so alike in what they were saying that observers commented that it had been more like a duet than a duel.

The ever-growing feeling that Merkel would win anyway and that everything would therefore stay as it was boosted support for the AfD. The right-wing populists could present themselves as the only real alternative. In addition to which, potential voters did not need to worry that Alexander Gauland, Alice Weidel and the rest of their dazzling troop would play in any part in forming a governing majority. This created the ideal constellation for protest voters.

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Even though Martin Schulz campaigned tirelessly throughout the country and his public speeches were well attended, and the FDP leader Christian Lindner managed to break through in the centre, in the last few days of the election campaign many people had the impression that the real choice was between the AfD and Merkel.

A maladroit comment made by the head of the Chancellery, Peter Altmaier (CDU), only made matters worse. Altmaier, a close confidant of Merkel, got carried away when answering a catch question, and said it would be better not to vote at all than to vote AfD. This just spurred the right-wing populists on even more.

With hindsight, the Merkel election campaign could be divided into three very different phases. To begin with, the Union parties were slow to get going. CDU and CSU were still arguing about refugee policy in January. It was only when the SPD nominated Schulz, rather than Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, as its top candidate  a decision that surprised a lot of people that the Union seemed to wake up.

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In the Chancellery and Konrad Adenauer House, the hype surrounding Schulz was observed with horror. Within just a few days, support for the SPD had risen by ten percentage points. One poll even had Schulz ahead of Merkel as the preferred Chancellor.

The Chancellor made changes to her election machine. Peter Tauber, a controversial figure in the party, was demoted from his former position of General Secretary and put in charge of door-to-door campaigning, which more or less entailed touring the provinces. Altmaier replaced him as the main author of the election manifesto.

Merkel also summoned the former CDU strategist Joachim Koschnicke, who had since been working as a lobbyist for the car industry, back to Adenauer House as head of the Political Planning Department. Merkels close confidante Eva Christiansen, who manages the Political Planning team at the Chancellery, was given a mini-job at CDU headquarters, in order to enable her to help shape the election campaign from the party centre.

The same legal arrangement allowed two other Chancellery staff to help shape the CDU election campaign. The trick with the mini-job, which the Chancellor tried to justify on the grounds of transparency, is being investigated by the Federal Audit Office  though the result of the investigation wont be known until after the election.

At first, the CDU election campaign led by government staff and Merkel confidants seemed to be being successful - though primarily against their competitors in the other peoples party.

Lesen Sie auch Failure for Schulz and the SPD Eerie celebrations of a humiliated party

However, in the last phase of the campaign this renewed success of the Merkel method was transformed into a danger. For Merkels CDU, which had moved a long way to the left-of-centre of the political spectrum, marginalised the SPD still further. To the right of the Union, however, a great deal of space had been opened up. And this is precisely where the AfD was able to flourish.

While Merkel was neutralising traditional SPD issues such as pensions or education by anticipating social democratic proposals for them, this was not happening on the other side of the political spectrum. She failed to communicate solutions to potential AfD issues such as family reunion for hundreds of thousands of recognised refugees or the fear of rising crime.

When Merkel then offered a guarantee that there would be no upper limit for refugees with her as Chancellor, it was not just Horst Seehofer who was left shaking his head. In Bavaria the CSU tried to signal a right turn of its own, but was not always very clever in the way it went about it  such as when Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann had to correct crime trend data used in the CSUs election campaign. The Union left the road, and peoples fears, clear for the AfD  and will now have to pay the price in parliament.

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Read the german version of this article:
Under Martin Schulz, the Social Democrats have experienced their worst result in Federal German history. The defeated candidate for the chancellorship wants to stay on as party leader, but there is a strong case for a new generation to take over.

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The people at Willy Brandt House are no strangers to bitter defeats, disappointing election results, intense humiliations. But this Sunday evening is a harder blow than the SPD has ever had to deal with in the whole of Federal German history. 24 September 2017 will be remembered as a historic debacle for the party.

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Their expressions are correspondingly dark and bitter as the greatly reduced red bar flickers across their screens at 6pm. Silence. A few gasps of Oh! More, when shortly afterwards the projection for the AfD share of the vote is made known. There arent even any whistles. Just utter dismay. Martin Schulz, the SPD candidate for the chancellorship, had mobilised against the AfD again and again. And for what?

By late on Sunday afternoon, the atrium of the SPDs Berlin headquarters was already a veritable rumour mill. The exit poll figures were doing the rounds. Word quickly got around that disaster loomed for the SPD. People keep saying there can be no question of a grand coalition this time. But will the SPD leader definitively rule it out in his Monday lunchtime meeting? No, he wont go that far, people are saying: the party has a political duty.

Andrea Nahles is going to become party leader in the Bundestag

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Upstairs, on the fifth floor of the party headquarters, the SPD leadership are holding a Sunday afternoon meeting. Word is, that the possibility of making a new start with a change of personnel has been broached at it. Andrea Nahles, hitherto Minister for Employment, is going to become party leader in the Bundestag, they say. Theres a rumour going round that Manuela Schwesig, state premier of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, is going to be made party leader. No, no! Others are sure that isnt going to happen: Martin Schulz wants to stay on as party leader, he has the right to do so, and he will!

At 6.30 pm the defeated candidate for the Chancellorship is greeted with cheers and calls of Martin! Martin! Staff and supporters fete Schulz as though he had just won an election. The atmosphere is eerie. Several times Schulz tries to speak, but cant make himself heard above the cheers. His smile looks agonised.

Lesen Sie auch Disaster for the Union The price Merkel now has to pay

Schwesig, Nahles and General Secretary Hubertus Heil arrange their faces into serious expressions. Malu Dreyer, who is already being touted as a future deputy leader, looks devastated. Whatever you do, dont let anyone see you grinning, the leading comrades seem to be urging themselves. No one must show themselves up on this of all evenings. It is striking, the way the party executive position themselves right at the front, next to Schulz: the normally rather masculine SPD suddenly looks decidedly female.

A bitter day for social democracy

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Just as he did after the three state elections earlier this year, Schulz speaks of a difficult and bitter day for social democracy. He is used to defeats, but it is hard to imagine a worse result than this one. The SPD has failed to achieve its electoral goal, he says. For the first time since January, Martin Schulz speaks in public without mentioning that he wants to become Chancellor. The SPD leader looks out into stony faces. As of today he is the biggest loser in the partys 154-year history.

That there is considerable discontent with the current leadership is made clear by one Social Democrat who used to work at Willy Brandt House. Renewal! Victory under new leaders!, it says on a small sign that he holds aloft. No more Mutti, he has written on another, No more grand coalition! on a third. But Schultz resists a little. He seems to see the new leaders thing quite differently.

First he invokes passion and strength; then he announces that he wants to stay on as party leader. Neither Nahles nor Schwesig applaud; but Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who has concealed himself at the back, just claps all the more loudly.

SPD would instigate a process of renewal

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Before this, Johannes Kahrs from the conservative Seeheim Circle and Matthias Miersch from the parliamentary Left expressed their support for Schulz as party leader. Thomas Oppermann, until now leader of the parliamentary party, did the same. Shortly after 6 pm he said that Schulz would instigate a ,process of renewal: We win together, we lose together.

Whether Oppermann will remain leader of the parliamentary party, or whether Nahles will replace him, still seems to be an open question on Sunday evening. As of now, the former Minister for Employment seems to be in with a better chance. Schulz makes it clear that he will not be a candidate for this post. Everything else will be discussed in committees. The executive committee, party executive and party managers will be meeting on Monday. At 2 pm Schulz will speak to the press.

Lesen Sie auch German election Merkels CDU, the bad coalition party

Schulz is cheered on Sunday evening when he proclaims, Our collaboration with the Union ends today! Nahles, Barley and Schwesig do not applaud, but deputy party leader Ralf Stegner and Michael Groschek, leader of the Westphalian branch of the SPD, do, warmly.

Its the CDUs turn to move

The Union, FDP and Greens could form a parliamentary majority, Schulz says, and Angela Merkel has expressed this as her preference. He will recommend to the SPD leadership that the party should go into opposition, he announces. The party will analyse the election result openly and honestly. And thats it. He leaves the stage.

How definitely the SPD has ruled out a grand coalition  or will do so  will be a regular topic of conversation in the coming days. The result was a rejection of the grand coalition, says Oppermann. But it will go the way it always goes, prophesies the left-wing SPD politician: the SPD will first rule out a new grand coalition, just as it did in 2013.

So the arguments will drag on until the state election in Lower Saxony. And then? Anything can happen. We have suffered a clear defeat. The Union needs to find a majority now: so goes the current official version, in this case from the lips of Johannes Kahrs. The Union should form a Jamaica coalition. On the other hand, Kahrs doesnt explicitly rule out SPD participation in another grand coalition when he says, Its not our turn just now. Its the CDUs turn to move. They will need to hold talks.

SPD will need a process of renewal

Large parts of the party, by no means only its left wing, would fight tooth and nail against the idea of paving the way to a third term in the Chancellery for Angela Merkel and the Union. In the base of the party there is a view that even new elections would be preferable to that  even though they know that this scenario could also pose a significant threat to the party.

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Throughout the election campaign, Schulz held open the possibility of a new grand coalition with Angela Merkel, and even a place in her cabinet, something his predecessor, Peer Steinbruck, ruled out in 2013. Two weeks ago, when asked about this, Schulz gave a reply that was preposterous rather than irritable, saying that Merkel could become his vice-chancellor. Schulz was still holding on to his claim to power, albeit at the cost of looking like a political illusionist  which is something he hasnt ever really been.

One way or another after this debacle, the SPD will need to embark on a process of renewal in both program and structure. It will need to analyse its credibility deficit. It must work out how it came to lose its connection with relevant voter groups. It is questionable whether Schulz is up to the task. After Sundays hard blow, party members are saying that self-critical analysis is needed now more than ever. The SPD has difficult days, weeks, months ahead  and, presumably, gruelling years as well.
Starting next month, business and tourist visas for Chadians will be suspended as United States of Americas President Donald Trump on Sunday added the central African nation to the countries affected by the United States travel ban.

Chad, North Korea and Venezuela are on the latest ban list signed by President Trump on Sunday. According to Trump, making America safe is one of his top priorities.

Human rights groups roundly condemned Mr. Trumps actions, describing them as officially sanctioned religious persecution dressed up to look like an effort to make the United States safer.

The new restrictions will be phased in over time, officials said, and the restrictions will not affect anyone who already holds a U.S. visa, it said.

For those visitors affected by the changed restrictions, the new rules will go into effect Oct. 18, according to the proclamation.

Trump administration officials stressed that the restrictions are conditions-based, not time-based, indicating that significant improvements by countries could see them delisted from the travel ban.

Sudan, one of the six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list.

Chad is one of the most affected countries by terrorism in Africa. Since early 2015, attacks in Chad by jihadists have killed hundreds, displaced more than 100,000 and damaged the regional economy of the Lake Chad basin.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/09/2017 (1876 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The lawyer for a Winnipeg nurse found guilty of professional misconduct as a result of a sexual assault allegation is asking the Manitoba Court of Appeal to quash the finding.

Nurse Tousif Ahmed listened intently in court Monday while his lawyer, Mark Toews, argued that the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba erred in finding him guilty.

Any decisions or orders of the panel of the College discipline committee may be appealed by the registered nurse to the Manitoba Court of Appeal.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Ahmed was a nurse working in the emergency department at Victoria General Hospital in January 2014 when a woman whose name is being withheld arrived, seeking treatment following a domestic assault.

She alleges that during what should have been a routine examination, he groped her breasts and touched her genitalia. While a criminal court acquitted Ahmed of sexual assault charges, the college committee deemed it more probable than not that the assault occurred and suspended his licence for 18 months in addition to imposing permanent restrictions on his practice.

That decision is flawed, Toews argued, because it deemed the numerous inconsistencies in the victims testimony to be inconsequential. Indeed, in a he-said, she-said case that saw discrepancies on the part of both victim and accused, the college committee determined the womans evidence to be the more reliable of the two.

Toews rejects that analysis.

This is a credibility issue, he told the court before noting the litany of issues with the womans testimony. Toews specifically highlighted a point at which the woman spoke first about her very good memory, but then struggled to remember details about the room in which the exam took place and whether the nurses hands went up or down while he was allegedly groping her breasts.

Toews was then asked by the Appeal Court judges to acknowledge the difference between quantity and quality of discrepancies. After all, the committee wrote that it believed Ahmed had intentionally misled the police about whether the woman suffered post-traumatic stress, a discrepancy it deemed much more severe than the womans own. Toews argued that Ahmed was simply answering questions from memory and actually pointed the police toward the hospital records that would have the correct answer. Thats hardly, he argued, the action of a man making a deliberate attempt to deceive.

Ultimately, while Toews did acknowledge that there is a difference between quantity and quality of discrepancies, he said, you cant ignore the quantity.

Each one alone might have been minor and immaterial, he said, but cumulatively it starts to paint a picture of unreliability.

The colleges lawyer, William Haight, rejected that idea, saying the college committee considered all the evidence and was ultimately satisfied with the complainants explanations. He went on to reiterate the committees own decision, saying it considered the small inconsistencies or omissions of detail but still deemed her credible.

They went through a very thorough analysis, he said, they do say overall that they believed her.

The court reserved its decision to a later date.

 with files from Katie May

jane.gerster@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/09/2017 (1876 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At a time when the need to improve infrastructure and prime the economy has never been greater, the Progressive Conservative government of Manitoba is coming perilously close to squandering hundreds of millions of dollars in federal infrastructure funding.

Ottawa has $300 million in unallocated funding for Manitoba infrastructure projects that cannot be accessed without contributions from the provincial and municipal governments. And for the moment, Premier Brian Pallister is playing hard to get when it comes to ponying up his share.

Federal infrastructure funds come from two main sources: the New Building Canada Fund, introduced in 2014 by the former Conservative government, and the Investing in Canada Plan, unveiled by the Liberal government following its win in the 2015 election.

For the New Building Canada Fund, Ottawa, the province and a municipality each provide one-third of total project funding. The Investing in Canada Plan provides 50 per cent federal funding for water, waste-water and transit projects, with the remaining money coming from either a province, a municipality or both.

On both streams of funding, Manitoba appears to be behind on submitting its requests.

All projects to be considered for funding under the New Building Canada Fund must be submitted to Ottawa by March 2018.

Although there is no deadline for completion of those projects, Manitoba has received only $212 million of its $467-million allocation, according to federal officials. That leaves $245 million  or 58 per cent of the total available  in limbo, with an application deadline looming in just over six months.

Will Manitoba bundle together enough projects to fully exhaust the remaining money? Most municipalities, including Winnipeg, have already provided a list of projects to the province, but have not yet received word back on how many will receive provincial funding support. They may need to wait until next springs provincial budget to get the final word.

Uptake on the Investing in Canada Plan, which requires projects to be completed by 2018, has been a bit better. Manitoba has already received $122 million of its $176-million total federal allocation. Still, seven of 10 provinces have applied for and received 90 per cent or more of available money under this program. Four provinces are already at 100 per cent.

There is still time, although questions have arisen lately about whether the province is going to provide the support necessary to trigger the release of the remaining $54.5 million.

This past week, the City of Winnipeg announced it was forced to withdraw applications for federal funding for eight projects worth $18 million because the Pallister government wouldnt provide a contribution. These projects included a much-anticipated $12.5-million pedestrian-bike bridge over Pembina Highway near the University of Manitoba.

The city did proceed on its own with applications for federal funding for seven other projects worth $35 million. If approved, the city will pay 50 per cent of total costs.

Civic officials were coy about their decision, but did reference uncertain provincial incremental funding as one of the main reasons why it was abandoning those eight other projects.

Why has Pallister become so reluctant to get involved in cost-sharing infrastructure? Largely, this is a byproduct of his governments decision to cap the total annual expenditure on infrastructure at $1 billion.

With many more demands for money than available dollars, this has prompted the Pallister government to cut back in some areas of infrastructure investment. That, in turn, has meant less money for some cost-shared programs where federal money is available.

If Pallister continues to demonstrate a reluctance to contribute a share of total costs, he runs the risk of starving Manitoba of hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity.

Consider the $245 million in unallocated federal money from the New Building Canada Fund. That funding represents one-third of total projects costs. If Manitoba does not find a way to access that federal money, the provincial economy will be denied many worthy infrastructure upgrades and $735 million in economic activity.

A similar crunch awaits the provincial economy with the Investing in Canada Plan. The remaining $54.5 million would translate into $109 million of economic activity. However, if Winnipegs recent decision to withdraw funding applications is any indication, Pallister is prepared to let the municipalities go it alone on this program.

As fiscal policy, this has to be one of the most powerful examples of a premier being penny wise and pound foolish.

Pallister desperately needs a significant boost to government revenues if he is going to have any chance of achieving his two top fiscal goals: balancing the budget and cutting the PST back to seven per cent. The premier has recently admitted that despite pledges to the contrary, he will not be able to meet these goals solely through expenditure control.

The premier knows there is no better way of boosting the economy  and driving increases in own-source revenue  than infrastructure investments. Even so, he remains ambivalent about putting provincial dollars on the table.

This miserly approach to infrastructure spending has rankled municipal leaders, the construction industry, and many in the provinces business and philanthropic communities, some of whom have put their own financial resources behind proposed public amenities that remain, along with many other core projects, in limbo.

The province still refuses to confirm its participation in the Winnipeg Art Gallerys $65-million Inuit Art Centre. The previous NDP government pledged $15 million to the project, matching grants provided by the city and federal government. Private donors have committed to covering the remaining $20 million. If the province pulls out, the project could be delayed or significantly downsized.

It is unclear why Pallister isnt more enthusiastic about this project. For every dollar the province provides, it would get four dollars in funding from other sources. By any measurement, public or private sector, that is an effective investment.

Pallister may meet all the deadlines and access all the federal money, although the timing will be tight. More curious is the premiers decision to procrastinate on cost-shared projects when he could be accessing hundreds of millions of dollars from other sources, thus putting a charge into the economy now.

Pallister needs to look around him. There is a ton of free money out there that could be used to prime the economy and drive revenues.

All the premier needs to do now is reach out and grab it.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/09/2017 (1876 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I had some spare time on my hands last week, so I came up with a plan for saving the planet.

This plan depends largely on my wifes participation, and I will get to that in a minute, but first we need to spend some time talking about the huge threat posed by cows.

So I came up with my planet-saving concept last week after reading a deeply moving story on the National Public Radio (NPR) website about the methane that cows pump into the atmosphere via their flatulence and, especially, their belches.

Angelika Warmuth / Deutsche Press-Agentur files Livestock accounts for 14.5 per cent of all greenhouse-gas emissions, with over half of that coming from cattle, according to a 2013 UN report.

It turns out that when they are not doing commercials for dairy products, cows spend most of their time standing around in little bovine clots, farting and belching.

Seriously, if we could get cows to wear hollowed-out watermelons on their heads, they would be indistinguishable from Saskatchewan Roughriders fans, although that is not todays scientific point.

No, todays scientific point is that cows are a bit on the gassy side. The stinky truth is that livestock accounts for 14.5 per cent of all greenhouse-gas emissions, with over half of that coming from cattle, according to a 2013 report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Anyway, the NPR story I read and partially understood focused on a group of scientists who have dedicated their lives to studying cattle emissions. Before you laugh your cruel little laugh, you should know that these scientists recently won the Public Library of Science Genetics Research Prize, which will go a long way toward improving their social lives.

Random woman in bar: Hello, handsome, so what do you do for a living?

Cattle scientist: Well, I spend most of my time studying cow farts and belches.

Random woman in bar: Ooh, lets go back to your place. Also, I really dig your pocket protector.

Based on what I read online, these scientists determined a cows genetic makeup plays a huge role in determining what microbes are found in its gut and, therefore, the amount of methane it releases into the air.

This is important because methane from cattle is a greenhouse gas, which leads to global warming, which causes the polar ice caps to melt, which causes former U.S. vice-president Al Gore to make long documentaries, which current U.S. President Donald Trump refuses to watch.

The really exciting thing is, these award-winning geneticists have determined that, theoretically speaking, it might be possible through selective breeding to produce cattle that do not emit large quantities of methane. Yes, it is entirely possible that, during our lifetimes, we might be able to live in a world populated by gas-free cows.

But first, it helps to identify which type of cows produce the most methane, and which ones give off the least gas, so to speak. It turns out that is easier said than done.

Q: How do you determine how much gas a standard cow is giving off from either end of its anatomy?

A: You have to put the cows into high-tech airtight chambers that analyze their outgassing.

Q: Airtight chambers for cows? Are you making that up?

A: No.

The big problem is that it is quite expensive to put cows into special sealed chambers. To measure methane emissions, it can cost $700 to $1,000 per cow, Filippo Miglior, a geneticist at Canadian Dairy Network and the University of Guelph, told NPR.

Thats a lot of money just for testing whether a cow has the natural ability to clear a crowded elevator, if you catch our subtle scientific drift. So, I told myself, there must be a better way to handle this sensitive yet odiferous task.

Which is where my wife, She Who Must Not Be Named, enters the picture. It dawned on me that my wife has the unique ability to detect methane particles at the molecular level, a skill she is not reluctant to put on display when we are enjoying time together at home.

We will be sitting in our den watching a gripping movie, or lying in bed reading before we go to sleep, when, suddenly and without warning, my wife will take a big sniff, scrunch her face into a look of disgust, fix me with a laser-like stare and growl: Yuck! You are such a pig!

Which is when I will adopt a look of righteous indignation and defiantly stomp out into the kitchen, where I will enjoy another helping of taco chips and bean dip.

The point I am making is that, for a reasonable fee, I am pretty sure I could talk my wife into donating her super-sensitive sniffer to the cause of science and the prospect of a world that will not be destroyed because of potentially lethal cattle burps and farts.

I dont want to get ahead of myself, but I think I can already detect the sweet smell of success  although its entirely possible that is just the aroma of leftover bean dip.

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/09/2017 (1876 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  A senator has joined calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fill the last remaining Manitoba seat in the upper chamber as the Senate tackles numerous issues affecting the province.

We are functioning short of what our requirement is, said Sen. Murray Sinclair, who himself is taking on a temporary role outside the Senate. Theyd never wait for this long to hold a byelection, if it were a member of Parliament.

Trudeau entered office in fall 2015 with four Manitoba vacancies, months before a fifth senator retired. He soon launched an advisory process in which Canadians over 30 can apply for Senate seats and bureaucrats present a short list to the prime minister.

Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files Murray Sinclair says another senator is needed to help address Manitoba issues.

In April 2016, Trudeau filled two of Manitobas vacancies, and in October 2016 he appointed three Manitobans to fill the remaining seats. But prospective senator Harvey Chochinov declined the role in February, citing personal reasons.

Sinclair said he is concerned because there appears to be no movement on replacing Chochinov.

In the Senate, we have a very significant role to play in representing territorial interests, and Manitobas interests are among them, he said.

He cited the loss of the railroad to Churchill, the recent fires near Island Lake and cuts in health services for Manitobans.

The Senate will also tackle marijuana legalization, which Manitoba has raised strong concerns about, as well as changes to the Indian Act that would likely see thousands of Manitobans gain Indian status.

Right now, we dont have the full quota of bodies that we need.

David Smith, a Saskatchewan scholar who specializes in parliamentary issues, has said Manitoba has been entitled to six Senate seats since 1905 in order to not be swamped by larger provinces in votes, unlike the Commons which allocates MPs by population. But Manitobas six seats havent all been filled since 2013.

The Privy Council wont say whether it will draw from 145 Manitobans who applied last August to present suggestions to Trudeau, or instead kick off another months-long application process. Instead, it repeated on Friday a summer statement that announcements will be made in due course.

Sinclair is puzzled at the lack of a straight answer. I wouldve thought that theyd have an ability to move on to the next name on the list.

The Senate has increasingly shaped legislation since Trudeau removed Liberal appointees from party command. Last spring, senators almost stalled the budget bill into the summer break, and theyre amending bills at a rate unseen in recent memory.

More recently, Senate sources say talks are ongoing to redistribute committees in October, to possibly give Independent senators chair and vice-chair positions. That could mean Manitobans steering legislation through hearings and amendments.

Manitobas Senate shortfall comes as Sinclair takes on other duties. Hes leading an investigation into the Thunder Bay Police Services Boards oversight into how police in that Ontario city treat the deaths of young Indigenous people.

His task, which was announced July 24, will culminate with a report in March.

I had a very long discussion with the Senate ethics office about mainlining separation between those two roles, said Sinclair, who chaired the recent Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools and co-led Manitobas Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in 1991.

Sinclair said he accepted the job on the condition that others would do the bulk of the footwork such as interviewing people in the community. His probe looks at oversight of the police, but its separate from an investigation of how officers handled specific cases.

They understood that I was a senator, and that I would have limited amount of time to give to it, said Sinclair, who intends to vote regularly and appear on Senate committees.

It adds to the burden of my work, theres no question about that. But I thought, when I was asked to do it, that it was an important responsibility that had to be done.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/09/2017 (1876 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

General Jeffrey Amherst, known for defeating the French in Montreal and capturing Fort Louisbourg, and who was once commander-in-chief of British forces in North America in the 1760s, has found himself in the news lately  for all the wrong reasons. There is a fair amount of controversy swirling around the use of Lord Amhersts name on a street in Montreal, a town in Nova Scotia and a national park in P.E.I.

It is worth recalling here that Amherst College in Massachusetts has recently moved to rename the Lord Jeffrey Inn (the only campus building named after him) and to no longer use Lord Jeff in its official communications or symbolism  including the ending of its unofficial Lord Jeff mascot. All of this was done in response to mostly student opposition to any commemoration of Amhersts very spotty record.

It is also important bear in mind that Amherst had nothing but contempt and hatred for Indigenous communities in the whole of British North America. In colonial Canada, he moved swiftly to end a very important tradition in Indigenous culture  namely, the sacred ceremony of gift-giving. And in his orders, letters and other writings, his disdain for them is painfully obvious.

RYAN REMIORZ / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES A sign for Amherst Street in Montreal, named after the British general who supported giving smallpox-laced blankets to the Indigenous people living there in the 1700s.

He once disturbingly wrote: Could it not be contrived to send the smallpox among those disaffected tribes of Indians? We must on this occasion use every strategy in our power to reduce them. And he went on to suggest that the military try every other method that can serve to extirpate this execrable race.

It is true that some scholars express skepticism about Amhersts use of smallpox-infected blankets (at Fort Pitt) against Indigenous Peoples in Pennsylvania. But it is worth pointing out that Donald H. Kent, the editor of Colonel Henry Bouquets papers, confirms the Amherst charge.

Kent informed one disbelieving historian that there is direct evidence that an attempt was actually made on the Indians with smallpox and that it was an official action. Though some academics still challenge this evidence, many historians accept the germ-warfare charge. And very few scholars think Amherst was incapable of such an atrocity, given his deep enmity toward Indigenous Peoples.

Interestingly, historian Elizabeth Fenn from the University of Colorado published a journal piece in 2000, Biological Warfare in Eighteenth Century North America: Beyond Amherst, in which she argues that Amhersts giving/ordering of infected blankets at Fort Pitt may not have been an isolated incident  and that there is evidence of an earlier case perpetrated by British forces.

I think its critically important for all of us to try to put ourselves in the shoes of the Mikmaq for a change and ask ourselves how we would feel if we had to see the name of a British general, who engaged in germ warfare against other Indigenous Peoples of North America, adorning a national park in P.E.I. or a street in Montreal.

What message about reconciliation does that send to the Mikmaq of this country? Why honour, sanitize or normalize Amhersts awful record (or racist colonialism, for that matter) by naming a national park or town after him? How hurtful, insensitive and devaluing is that to the Mikmaq of this land?

Removing the Amherst name is not about erasing history (to which, by the way, the Indigenous Peoples of this country have a much stronger claim in that regard); its about trying to make things right with Indigenous Peoples. With the 2016 release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions final report, it is glaringly obvious that meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is long overdue.

The report itself even points out that reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining respectful relationships. Clearly, retaining the name Amherst  especially on an historic park in P.E.I.  is incredibly disrespectful to the Mikmaq. I can only imagine that it makes them feel unimportant, marginalized and invisible.

The report goes on, moreover, to state plainly: A critical part of this process [of reconciliation] involves repairing damaged trust by making apologies, providing individual and collective reparations, and following through with concrete actions that demonstrate real societal change.

Surely, removing Amhersts name is a good place for change to start. For it is long past time that the Indigenous Peoples of this land took their rightful place in this country and that Canadians came to grips with their national shame regarding Indigenous communities.

Peter McKenna is professor and chair of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.
The United States (U.S.) this weekend said blacklisted-pro-Biafra group is not a terrorist organization as stated by the federal government of Nigeria.

According to the spokesman of the American Embassy in Abuja, Russell Brooks, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is not a terrorist organisation, but the United States government is strongly committed to Nigerias unity.

In his words, The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a terrorist organisation under US law.

The Nigerian military has recently declared the pro-Biafra separatist group, IPOB, a terrorist organisation.

The military made the declaration after days of violent clashes between soldiers on a military operation and IPOB members in Abia State in the West African nation.

The army had given reasons for pronouncing IPOB a terrorist organization to include that the groups members used stones, molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles, among others on a military patrol.

The Presidency on Sunday said that it has facts to show that IPOB was registered in the State of California in United States of America.

Nigeria had equally accused both the governments of France and the United Kingdom of being in support and as well as funding IPOBs activities in the Africas most populous nation.

IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, are campaigning for an independent country of Biafra made up of ethnic Igbos.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/09/2017 (1876 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sunny ways, meet money woes.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus plan to rework the business-tax framework was supposed to be a slam dunk: a simple, loophole-closing reform that was bound to be unpopular with some well-heeled Canadians but could still be wrapped up in a populist message most ordinary taxpayers would embrace.

It has turned out to be something quite different, and the federal Liberal government spent the first week of Parliaments fall session getting battered from pillar to post over what has quickly become a controversial and increasingly unpopular tax plan.

Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press FILES Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

The latest skirmish in the tax-reform fight was spread over multiple fronts, as the Canadian Federation of Independent Business enlisted the support of provincial leaders in a stepped-up campaign against the Liberals tax plan. That included a visit to Manitoba last Friday by CFIB president Dan Kelly, who joined Premier Brian Pallister at a news conference that also featured a number of local business owners.

Ask yourself this question: who do you trust to create jobs in Canada? the premier asked in a statement distributed before the event. Is it small businesses or the federal government that taxes those small businesses?

The CFIBs effort quickly gained traction on Friday, with the premiers of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as British Columbias finance minister, expressing concerns about the tax plan.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau seemed to concede that the tax plan has been poorly communicated, stating Friday that some pretty obvious misinformation had made its way into public discussion of the proposed changes and vowing that the federal government will work hard at setting the record straight.

The three-part tax plan, first released in mid-July, includes restrictions on the ability of business owners to reduce their tax rate by sprinkling their income to family members in lower tax brackets, even if those family members do not contribute to the company.

The prime ministers tax pain became more intense last week when the opposition Conservatives decided, quite rightly, there is political advantage in delving into Mr. Trudeaus personal finances. If the PMs populist reforms are, as he has insisted at almost every public discussion of the plan, intended to strip from the wealthiest Canadians some of the most unfair tax-loophole advantages, why wont he discuss the manner in which the considerable Trudeau family fortune has been protected?

Because, well, he wont.

I have been entirely consistent in my desire to not be perceived as bending or breaking any rules, he said at a Tuesday news conference, where he declined to offer details of the tax-reduction strategies used to limit his own tax burden. Obviously, we follow all the rules and Im assured that the folks who are managing my personal finances are following all the rules.

According to media reports, Mr. Trudeaus fathers assets were placed in a testamentary trust beginning in 2000. Upon becoming Liberal leader in 2013, Mr. Trudeaus own assets and holdings were placed in a blind trust.

Blind trust, however, is something fewer Canadians seem willing to place in the prime minister as the tax-reform sales pitch continues to unravel. He and Mr. Morneau have all but lost the public relations battle associated with the business-tax changes. And by being less than transparent about his own finances while asking business owners to reconsider how they report theirs, Mr. Trudeau has handed Andrew Scheer and the Conservatives a signature issue which they will no doubt try to ride all the way to the next federal election.
As the strike by close to 2,800 GM workers at its CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario approaches the end of its first week, the Unifor trade union is working behind the scenes to shut it down. Despite the militant determination of autoworkers to fight back against decades of concessions, the struggle is under imminent threat from the union bureaucracy.

The London Free Press reported late Thursday that Unifor had made an offer earlier in the day aimed at restarting talks with GM. In keeping with its refusal to tell workers anything about the content of negotiations, Unifor Local 88 chairman Mike Van Boekel merely noted that the union had offered GM concessions on monetary issues.

Strikers should be on their guard. Unifor has time and again imposed givebacks on monetary issues, i.e. slashing wages, attacking workers pensions, and giving up cost-of-living allowance (COLA) benefits. Van Boekels comments make clear that the union is preparing another sell-out so as to shut down the strike as quickly as possible. As Van Boekel, who earlier stated that a tentative agreement between GM and Unifor would be enough to call a halt to the labour stoppage, told the Free Press, We think this is a proposal that can get us moving really quickly.

Striking workers have made clear in discussions with the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter that they would support the mobilization of autoworkers across Canada, the United States and Mexico against the auto giants to win substantial wage increases, an end to multi-tier wages and benefits, and job security.

But Unifor is instead peddling the poison of Canadian nationalism, focusing on calls for GM to commit to Canadian made products and emblazoning the picket lines with huge Maple Leaf flags.

In a political stunt, Unifor bussed over one hundred CAMI workers to Ottawa Friday to participate in an explicitly nationalist rally on the eve of the opening of the next round of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks. In remarks that Donald Trump could have made, Van Boekel proclaimed, We are the poster child for NAFTA. This is exactly what were fighting about. We have to keep manufacturing in this country.

The efforts of Van Boekel and his fellow union bureaucrats to present such calls as being concerned with defending jobs are a fraud. For over three decades, Unifor and its predecessor, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), have trotted out the line of keeping manufacturing in this country to justify imposing one round of concessions after another, including thousands of layoffs, the introduction of two-and three-tier wage regimes in the auto plants, the elimination of defined-benefit pension rights, and the slashing of workplace benefits.

In truth, the principal concern of Unifor president Jerry Dias, Van Boekel and their colleagues is to exploit the CAMI strike to deepen their partnership with Justin Trudeaus Liberals. Dias was in Washington for the opening round of NAFTA talks so he could function as a de facto adviser to the Canadian governments delegation. In a disgusting nationalist tirade at a rally of Bombardier workers on Wednesday, he urged our federal governmentthe same right-wing big-business government that has hiked military spending by 70 percent and begun the implementation of a vast privatization program of public infrastructureto fight the United States and defend our jobs.

To defend its cozy alliance with Trudeaus Liberals, Unifor is seeking to whip up animosity towards Mexican autoworkers. Unifors appeal for GM to make CAMI the lead plant in manufacturing the Equinox is based on the bogus claim that Canadian workers can secure their jobs by calling on GM managers to lay off their colleagues in Mexico.

In contrast to Unifors nationalism, the reality is that CAMI workers, like fellow autoworkers in the United States, Mexico and the world over, confront a daily struggle against a major global corporation, which is working hand-in-glove with the union bureaucracy to exploit them ever more ruthlessly.

A CAMI worker told the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter about how the union has collaborated with management to impose bone-crunching 60-hour workweeks spread across six days. Throughout the launch of the 2018 Equinox our labour force under the guidance of Mike Van Boekel and Committee created a miserable and hazardous work place, the worker said. The launch began with inadequate training in a failed pilot-project introducing us to new components and processes. Incomplete processes, hazardous machinery and cluttered poorly laid-out workstations followed. Hourly job rotation required workers to perform 18-plus jobs per team throughout the day and made it impossible to make improvements to work stations or jobs on account of the 30-plus people rotating through the jobs per day.

Injuries have risen rapidly as a result. Look around the plant on any given day and you will see workers showing up for duty with bad backs, shoulders and hands. And its not just at work. Peoples personal lives are wrecked because of all the nagging injuries and downright exhaustion from these never-ending, six-day a week mandatory shifts and unsafe work practices that the union does nothing about, the worker added.

The union stood by as workers were laid off on the same day as temporary part-time (TPT) employees were hired on at lower wages and worse conditions. When union chairperson Van Boekel was questioned about the excessive hours and informed they exceeded Employment Standards he responded by saying we have workers getting laid off and to let the poor bastards work overtime, the worker continued. He opposed the complaint and encouraged workers to ignore the law. Hes the most anti-labour employee in our plant.

Unifor has suppressed numerous worker complaints, the worker added, telling workers who raised concerns to go to the companys HR department. Commenting on the prospects for a new contract, the worker remarked, Nobody believes the union will do anything. From what little theyve said, the proposal sounds terrible. The best we can hope for is the rotten (Unifor-Detroit Three) pattern.

This is why workers must immediately move to elect an action committee controlled by the rank-and-file and led by the most militant workers to seize control of the strike from the hands of Unifor. CAMI workers face powerful enemies, but they have stronger allies. The issues they are fighting for are the same as those confronting autoworkers at plants in the United States, Mexico and internationally. The action committee must therefore issue an immediate appeal to GM and other Detroit Three workers across North America to join their struggle by launching their own strikes and refusing to perform additional work demanded by GM to compensate for the strike. Autoworkers at other plants must be urged to join a broader counteroffensive against the decades of concessions and attacks imposed by management with the intimate collaboration of their Unifor and UAW lackeys.

This is, above all, a political fight. It requires the adoption of a socialist and internationalist program capable of guiding the struggles of autoworkers and the working class as a whole in the fight to put an end to the system of capitalist exploitation and replace it with a workers government committed to placing the needs of workers above the corporate drive to boost profits.
Facebook, the technology giant that controls the worlds largest social network, has announced that it will voluntarily turn over information on political advertisements allegedly tied to fake accounts operating out of Russia to the congressional committee investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Those user accounts, according to the New York Times, promoted inflammatory messages on divisive issues during the 2016 election. These inflammatory messages included, according to the Times, links to articles critical of US foreign policy.

The move by Facebook is a response to a narrative concocted by US intelligence agencies, New York Times investigations, and officials such as Mark Warner, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, that the Russian government sought to influence the outcome of the 2016 election by buying about $100,000 in political advertisements.

To say this argument is flimsy is an understatement. The alleged ads constitute approximately one-one thousandth of one percent of the total $6.5 billion spent in the 2016 US election cycle. If total election spending were an average-sized man, the ads would represent the weight of a fingernail.

But neither Facebook, congressional investigators, nor the newspapers hawking the story of alleged Russian interference in the election have presented any evidence to back up their claims that the ads were in fact tied to Russian intelligence agencies.

This contrived narrative, which begins by setting out to prove the trivially obviousthat some user accounts on social media networks are controlled by spam-bots, some of which operate out of Russia, and some of which post political messagesends with the suggestion that domestic political opposition is the product of the actions of hostile intelligence agencies and foreign subversion.

The goal of this bizarre conspiracy theory is to create a false equivalency between alleged Russian intervention in the 2016 US election and growing popular opposition to the political establishment, in order to legitimize the censorship of political discussion on the Internet.

The Times notes that some of the accounts allegedly reposted articles from DCLeaks.com, which published leaked documents contradicting official US policy.

Among the documents posted by the site included those showing that Gen. Philip Breedlove, who served as supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe, sought to meet with former Secretary of State Colin Powell to find ways to undermine the Obama administrations policies in the Ukraine conflict in order to promote a clash with Russia.

On CBSs Face the Nation program Sunday, Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff praised Facebooks move to turn over information about alleged Russian meddling, but said the question goes much further than alleged Russian interference in the election.

Theres also an issue about the use of Facebooks algorithms and the way it tends to potentially reinforce peoples informational bias, he said, and this is a problem that goes well beyond Russia.

What does Schiff mean when he says Facebooks algorithms serve to reinforce peoples informational bias? Schiff, as the ranking member of the House Permanent Subcommittee on Intelligence, is channeling the concerns of the major intelligence agencies that growing numbers of people are becoming critical of the political establishment, and that Facebook is providing millions of people with news and information that would reinforce their critical views.

Both Facebook and Google have announced over the past year plans to modify their algorithms in an effort to combat fake news, with Google stating that it intends to promote authoritative content over alternative viewpoints.

A WSWS investigation has revealed that Google traffic to 13 leading left-wing, progressive, and anti-war websites has fallen by some 55 percent since the company announced plans to modify its algorithm to combat fake news in April.

The Times breathless reporting of alleged Russian meddling in the election has been accompanied by calls for Facebook to take responsibility for what its users do online and partner more closely with intelligence agencies to take down objectionable content more rapidly.

In a commentary published in the New York Times Friday, which Google News kept on its front page nearly the whole day, Kevin Roose declares, If I were a Facebook executive, I might feel a Frankensteinian sense of unease these days  Facebook may have created something it cant fully control. He complains, Facebook was simply not built to handle [the] problems that come with billions of users. Its a technology company, not an intelligence agency.

He notes, optimistically, there are signs that Facebook is starting to understand its responsibilities. It has hired a slew of counterterrorism experts and is expanding teams of moderators around the world to look for and remove harmful content.

He adds, Facebook will need to keep investing heavily in defensive tools, including artificial intelligence and teams of human moderators, to shut down bad actors.

The goal of the latest chapter in the tall tale of Russian meddling in the 2016 election is to create the political climate for expanding such human moderators who would be empowered to remove content they deem to be harmful: i.e., content their employer, working in conjunction with the US intelligence agencies, does not want the public to have access to.
Outside a 7-Eleven convenience store Friday morning in Huntington Beach, California, a police officer shot unarmed Dillan Tabares, a white, 27-year-old veteran of the United States Navy. Later that day Chief of Police Robert Handy defended the brutal killing despite the posting of a bystander video on YouTube that clearly shows Tabares unarmed and not threatening the officer when he was shot seven times.

As of this writing important details remain unknown, including the name of the officer, a two-and-a-half-year veteran. The event was witnessed by multiple high-school students arriving at Marina High School directly across the street, where Tabares graduated in 2008 before enlisting and becoming an information systems technician stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.

That was actually basically seeing a person die. Its not like the movies, student Carmella Marshall told the Los Angeles Times. Its really real.

According to preliminary information from his family, after being discharged from the Navy, Tabares lost his security clearance due to a positive marijuana test and had developed profound depression, which he self-medicated.

Some accounts have characterized him as transient. There seems to be no question that he was emotionally disturbed and in need of treatment.

A second bystander video, which starts about 15 seconds earlier than the first, shows Tabares advancing quickly toward the officer who, while backing up, fires a Taser that seemed to have no effect.

The video vividly illustrates a little-known fact about the Tasera barbaric weapon designed to impale half-inch electrified darts into human beingsthat it is useless to counter an aggressive person advancing on an officer. Taser darts fired into the chest generally have little effect outside of occasionally triggering cardiac arrest through electrocution.

In any event, Tabares clearly swings at the officer a few times, and the two fall to the ground fighting. That is where the second video begins, providing a far better perspective on the shooting.

There was no call for service at the convenience store, and the reason for the officers initial contact with Tabares is unknown, though the 27-year-old acted as though provoked.

During the altercation on the asphalt parking lot, the officer put Tabares in a headlock and punched him repeatedly. Tabares removed a small black object from the officers equipment belt, perhaps an extra ammunition clip, but his hand was never near the officers gun. The officer unholstered his weapon as the two men separated and moved apart.

When shot, Tabares was standing straight up, unarmed and moving back from the officer. The officer appears in the videos to be at least 10 feet away when he fired without giving any commands or warning.

Despite the volley of six shots, Tabares remained standing, a gruesome image. The officer ordered him to get down as he fired a seventh round, and then Tabares collapsed against the side of the store. At least one bullet went through a window and into the store, where a worker was injured either by a bullet graze or shard of glass.

The Orange County Sheriffs Department, a notoriously corrupt agency, implicated recently in the cover-up of widespread constitutional violations by planting informants at its jail, will supposedly investigate the case.

This is the seventh police shooting in Huntington Beach this year, and the second human fatality. One dog has been killed.

Earlier this month, two Huntington Beach officers shot and wounded each other, along with a man they suspected of slashing tires. There were two shootings in March and three during one 25-hour span in January. None of the shootings involved a civilian with a firearm.

Huntington Beach is the fourth largest city in Orange County, with a population slightly less than 200,000. Predominately white and middle-class, Huntington Beach is known for miles of wide, sandy beaches and its annual surfing contest.

The fact that the national epidemic of police violence is now appearing with such virulence in communities such as Huntington Beach demonstrates that the fundamental causes are far deeper than racial discrimination. The historically unprecedented growth of social inequality domestically, coupled with imperialist aggression abroad, has increased the militarization of police agencies throughout the United States, and fomented homicidal behaviors among the bodies of armed men paid to maintain the capitalist order.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and chief opposition whip in the Sri Lankan parliament, has called on big business to recognise his party as a viable alternative to the countrys two establishment partiesthe United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Dissanayake made his appeal to a September 14 meeting of business leaders organised by the JVP at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. The event was entitled The Way Forward for Sri Lanka, We are Sri Lankan and is part of the JVPs campaign for the next parliamentary elections, scheduled in 2020.

In the 2015 presidential elections, the JVP backed Maithripala Sirisena to oust former President Mahinda Rajapakse, then supported the UNP-SLFP unity coalition government that was subsequently formed. Hypocritically, the JVP is now attempting to distance itself from this same regime, accusing it of corruption and blaming it for the countrys economic crisis.

Dissanayake assured business leaders that they should not harbour any doubts about the JVP and its attitude towards the private sector. We have Our Vision but the [JVPs] policies will be determined by taking together your ideas and ours. The private sector is essential for the economy, as well as the state sector, he declared.

The JVP was established in the 1960s based on an amalgam of Castroism, Stalinism and Sinhala chauvinism and advocating the armed struggle. It long ago abandoned its guerillaism and entered parliament to integrate into the Colombo political establishment. The JVP played a key role in assisting SLFP leaders Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapakse to become Sri Lankan presidents.

JVP parliamentarians were part of Kumaratungas coalition government in 2004 and held four ministerial positions. Dissanayake himself became the minister of agriculture, livestock, land and irrigation. The party backed the 30-year communalist war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and maintains close connections with Western diplomats, particularly the US embassy in Colombo.

Dissanayake told the September 14 gathering that there were five major features of the Sri Lankan economic crisis. The first of these, he said, was Sri Lankas debt, which has risen from 120 billion rupees in 1985 to 10,500 billion ($US68.5 billion) in 2016 November. The second feature was the countrys declining export earnings which were at 33 percent of GDP in 2000 but had dropped to 14 percent in 2014.

The third feature, Dissanayake said, was the collapse of state incomefrom 23 percent of the GDP in 1996 to 11.3 percent in 2014and the fourth and fifth features were the sharp fall in Sri Lankan production and the widening inequality of income distribution, respectively.

Dissanayake drew no connection between these features and the ongoing crisis of global capitalism but insisted that the predicament facing Sri Lanka could only be solved by taking into account the countrys location, its natural and human resources, and its history. He suggested that a future JVP government would adopt reactionary protectionist measuresonly accepting foreign investment in selected industries and seeking loans for development purposes.

In reality, the crisis in Sri Lanka stems from the worsening breakdown of global capitalism and the governments economic agenda, including savage austerity measures, is dictated by the IMF, not by Colombo. The JVP has already signalled its support of the IMFs anti-working class measures as its Our Vision program promises tax breaks for international investors and calls for the commercialisation of state-owned enterprises.

Dissanayake told the meeting that Sri Lanka did not have adequate resources to expand its export of goods but that it could increase export earnings by capturing a larger share of the global guest worker market.

What is required, he continued, is the creation of a highly skilled army of labour with increased government expenditure on education, health and sport. This perspective, he insisted, was not aimed at securing low income earning jobs like house maids but at exporting more highly paid professionals to compete with other countries.

The JVP leader also warned his big business audience of the dangers of income disparity in Sri Lanka, pointing out that 43 percent of the population were living on just two dollars a day. These comments were aimed at assuring big business that the party would act to suppress any future social and political explosions produced by this social polarisation.

While the JVP has been addressing dozens of public meetings as part of its 2020 election campaign, it has kept silent about its assurances to big business. In fact, the JVP campaignunder the slogan of Boost the villagePower for the countryconsists of populist denunciations of the corruption, fraud and bribe-taking of the previous Rajapakse government and the massive financial scandals of the current Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration.

Our countrys politics has become a profiteering business. Instead, we assure you [that a future JVP government] will transform politics into public service, Dissanayake told one meeting. At another event he demagogically declared. Lets get together to form a government. We can assure you that under our government the rulers will receive no extra benefit other than people receive.

Posturing as a clean party, the JVPs anti-corruption rhetoric is an attempt to keep the growing popular opposition to the governments attacks on social and democratic rights trapped within parliament channels. Dissanayake recently told Ceylon Today that his party was organising a broad front with civil organisations including professionals, journalists, farmers and fishermen.

The JVP leaders are hoping that workers, the poor and youth are suffering from political amnesia. Dissanayakes party, which is infamous for its countless fronts with establishment parties and groups, is directly responsible the wide-ranging attacks on the social and democratic rights of masses by successive governments.

The JVP played a key role in the regime-change campaign in the 2015 election to remove Rajapakse as president and promote Sirisenas so-called good governance movement. This has nothing to do with ending corruption or lifting living standards but was part of Washingtons efforts to bring Colombo into line with US economic and military strategic operations against China.

Five days after Sirisena was elected, Dissanayake issued a statement calling for the establishment of a National Executive Council (NEC) to advise the Sri Lankan cabinet. Enlisting the support of other parties, the JVP insisted that the NEC should be under the president and the prime minister.

Dissanayake, together with leaders from the Tamil and Muslim parties as well as various NGOs and the pseudo lefts, joined this new entity, providing critical political support for four months and helping to consolidate the new pro-American regime.

In order to hoodwink workers and youth the JVP still falsely claims some allegiance to Marxism and socialism. Virtually every page of its newspaper Niyamuwa is adorned with quotes from Marx, Engels or Lenin.

The JVP also ludicrously claims that China, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea and Cuba are socialist countries that have developed alternatives to capitalism. These countries are capitalist economies. Ruled by the remnants of the old Stalinist bureaucracies, these regimes transformed have their countries into cheap labour sweatshops of international investors.

To claim that these countries are socialist is not just to sow political confusion but is also a message to big business and international capital that the JVP will likewise encourage investors by boosting profits and ruthlessly suppressing any opposition by workers to their exploitation.

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Sri Lanka: JVP leader expresses support for privatisation

[27 August 2016]

Sri Lanka: JVP election manifesto woos big business

[4 August 2015]
Following this months devastating earthquakes, anger is rising at the Mexican governments sluggish distribution of supplies and minimal response to citizens needs, together with leading officials efforts to exploit the disaster for political gain. In many states, the working class has responded by bypassing the government altogether, organizing citizens brigades to independently canvass damaged areas and distribute aid to those in need.

On Saturday morning, a major earthquake struck Mexico for the third time this month. The latest disaster comes barely two weeks after the south of Mexico and Guatemala were hit by an 8.2 magnitude quake, the strongest in a century, as well as a 7.1 magnitude earthquake on September 19 that affected the capital and nine other states.

Saturdays earthquake had a magnitude of 6.1 with an epicenter in the southwestern state of Oaxaca. Although mostly unnoticed in the capital, the earthquake monitoring system went off in Mexico City, causing many to evacuate their homes. Two women, aged 58 and 80, died of heart attacks after hearing the alarm. In Oaxaca, at least two are dead and seven injured due to the latest quake.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the September 19 earthquake has risen to 318. At least 69 people had been rescued from collapsed buildings, overwhelmingly due to the efforts of thousands of working class volunteers who rallied to rescue trapped victims throughout the city. After the September 19 earthquake, over 11,200 residents of Mexico City have asked the government to evaluate the structural integrity of their homes, while in the State of Mexico over 2,000 homes were reportedly damaged. In the state of Puebla, over 12,500 homes are affected, of which 2,500 were considered beyond repair and will be demolished. About 55,000 homes were damaged in the state of Chiapas following the September 7 earthquake.

As with every other major natural disaster, the working class and peasantry will be forced to bear the cost of the earthquakes, with the government offering only minimal assistance. While the Secretary of Finance has announced that up to $360 million may be available through the World Bank, an initial assessment by the United States Geological Service found that damages from the September 19 quake alone could cost up to 1 percent of Mexicos GDP (about $10 billion).

Social tensions are rising as the official establishment continues to discredit itself in the eyes of the population. The left Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) governor of the state of Morelos, Graco Ramirez Abreu, came under criticism after a video went viral on social media showing police officers detaining several trucks from the National System for Integral Family Development (DIF) with supplies for the victims of the September 19 earthquake. Two drivers were reportedly ordered to unload their supplies at Morelos DIF, which is run by Elena Cepeda de Leon, the governors wife.

Protests and clashes with police ensued when it was discovered that the storage unit in Moreloss DIF already had over 90 tons of supplies. About 500 people gathered at the DIF on Friday night to remove goods from the storage center and distribute the aid themselves. Others reportedly blocked passage to police-escorted trucks going to the DIF. Cepeda de Leon denied that aid was being withheld for political reasons and threatened legal action against the looters. The states commissioner of public security warned that he would impose order in the city. The governor labeled the story as fake news, brushing aside numerous videos documenting the event.

In the Mexico City borough of Iztapalapa, residents took over water pipes and blocked roads to protest a severe water shortage caused by the earthquake affecting 80 percent of the borough, or 1.5 million people. Residents also hijacked several distribution vehicles, which they claimed were only servicing well-connected individuals. Protestors then marched to the boroughs city hall to confront officials who were giving an informational presentation to earthquake victims.

Thousands who suffered damage to their homes have yet to return due to a lack of qualified engineers to evaluate their safety. Many have reported that their homes were seen by non-specialized personnel, and inspections were often limited to assessing external structures, even when there is significant internal damage. Engineering professor Pablo Ivan Angeles Guzman told El Universal that in some cases there have already been visits by Civil Defense, but they are only filling out a simple three-page form, noting that his own evaluation would last a minimum of three hours. An investigation by the newspaper found that only four out of Mexico Citys 16 boroughs answered calls for help last Friday.

In an attempt to channel social anger back into bourgeois politics, the major Mexican political parties have given demagogical promises to donate some of their 2018 presidential campaign funds to the earthquakes victims, including the Party of National Action (PAN), the Party of Democratic Revolution (PRD), the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the Movement for National Regeneration (Morena), and the Citizens Movement (MC). Morena has also proposed cutting the salaries of government functionaries by 50 percent to give a paltry 2,400 pesos (about $135) a month to each affected household.

If elected, these tried-and-tested bourgeois partiesincluding the supposed lefts of Morenawould continue defending the capitalist system and the staggering social inequality it has produced in Mexico.

As has been the case with natural disasters in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the United States, it has been the working class which has taken independent action to help victims out of a sense of class solidarity. Nothing less than a frontal assault on the wealth of the ruling class can ensure that societys resources are distributed not to fill the pockets of the rich, but to prevent another disaster by allotting billions to infrastructure spending and to other social needs of working people.
Amid the Trump administrations continuing bellicose threats against Pyongyang, an opinion poll released yesterday confirmed that the overwhelming majority of the population in the United States is opposed to a war against North Korea and fearful of its catastrophic consequences.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 67 percent of respondents opposed pre-emptive US strikes on North Korea and agree to military action only if Pyongyang were to attack the United States or one of its allies. Even among those who strongly approve of Trumps job performancea shrinking minoritynearly 60 percent opposed a pre-emptive attack on North Korea.

The poll also revealed a broad understanding and fears that a US attack could quickly mushroom into a far wider war. If the United States did first launch a military strike on North Korea, 82 percent of Americans say it would risk starting a larger war in East Asia, including 69 percent citing a a major risk, the Washington Post reported.

In his fascistic rant at the United Nations last week, President Trump warned that the US would totally destroy North Koreaa threat that can only mean the nuclear annihilation of the small, economically backward country. In response to the UN speech by North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Young-ho yesterday, Trump tweeted that he and his leader Kim Jong-un wont be around much longer.

The broad opposition to a US war on North Korea is despite a concerted campaign by the Trump administration and the political and media establishment as a whole to vilify Kim Jong-un and his regime, grossly exaggerate the threats posed by Pyongyangs nuclear arsenal and openly canvass the military option to obliterate North Korea.

Trump is broadly distrusted at home. The opinion poll found that more than 60 percent of respondents trusted Trump not at all to responsibly handle the dangerous stand-off with North Korea. This compared to 37 percent who declared that they trusted Trump a great deal to manage the confrontation.

Amid a concerted effort in the American media to present the military top brass as a brake on Trumps reckless warmongering, 72 percent of adults said that they trusted US military leaders. However, while its tone might not be quite as belligerent and reckless as Trumps, the Pentagons provocative actions speak louder than words.

In a blunt threat to Pyongyang, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White reported that on Saturday, US B1-B strategic bombers accompanied by fighters flew in international airspace near the east coast of North Korea. This is the farthest north of the Demilitarised Zone [separating the two Koreas] any US fighter or bomber aircraft has flown off North Koreas coast in the 21st century, she said.

White menacingly declared: This mission is a demonstration of US resolve and a clear message that the president has many military options to defeat any threat. After repeating the mantra that North Korea poses a grave threat to the world, she warned: We are prepared to use the full range of military capabilities to defend the US homeland and our allies.

In reality, it is US imperialism that has demonstrated its criminality and lawlessness time and again over the past quarter century. Washington has repeatedly waged wars of aggression that have destroyed entire societies in the Middle East, northern Africa and Central Asia in pursuit of global dominance.

Now with utter recklessness, the US has deliberately pushed the confrontation with Pyongyang to the brink of wara situation in which a relatively minor incident could become the pretext for a massive attack on North Korea that could rapidly involve other nuclear powers, including China and Russia.

The bomber mission near the North Korean coast came less than a week after two B1-Bs along with four of the Pentagons hi-tech stealth fighters conducted a live fire exercise at a South Korean training range close to the Demilitarised Zone. The US has rejected Chinese and Russian calls for a suspension of its huge annual military drills with South Korea as a quid pro quo for North Korea to halt its weapons testing and lay the basis for negotiations.

Under the Trump administration, what has become a standard military threat all options are on the table, has taken on new meaning. All options include the nuclear optionthat is, nuclear strikes on North Koreaas Trump made clear last month when he threatened North Korea with fire and fury like the world has never seen.

Speaking yesterday on ABC News, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin sought to wind back the threat of nuclear war but in doing so acknowledged that it is being openly discussed in the White House. Asked if nuclear war was possible, Mnuchin, who sits on Trumps national security committee, declared that the president did not want a nuclear war, but then added: On the other hand, the president will protect the American people and our allies.

Mnuchin also made clear that the US confrontation with North Korea is being exploited by the Trump administration to advance a far broader agenda aimed at undermining and blocking any rival or group of rivals from global supremacy. Speaking of Trumps executive order last week, he said it allowed him to impose the strongest sanctions that have ever been done. I can cut off financial institutions anywhere in the world that support North Korea.

These so-called secondary sanctions are aimed in the first instance against China and Russia. Such measures could also be used against Washingtons allies in Europe if they do business with North Korea or other targets of US aggression such as Iran. Already, deep divisions are emerging with European powers over Trumps threat to end the 2015 deal with Iran to denuclearise, and adopt a far more aggressive stance towards Tehran.

Confronted with escalating threats from the US, North Korea has replied in kind, greatly heightening the danger of war. In his UN speech, Foreign Minister Ri denounced Trump as a mentally deranged person and warned that his threat to totally destroy North Korea made the prospect of our rockets visit to the US mainland all the more inevitable.

While such threats do nothing to protect the North Korean people, Pyongyang has clearly concluded that it has no other option than to escalate its own bluster and accelerate its nuclear program. What else could be a bigger threat than the violent remarks ... coming from the top authority of the worlds biggest nuclear power? Ri declared.

The danger of nuclear war cannot be halted, however, by reactionary threats to annihilate American cities which can only sow divisions in the international working classthe only social force capable of ending the US war drive.

The Washington Post-ABC opinion poll gives a glimpse of the deep-seated opposition to war among working people in the US, which finds no expression within any faction of the political establishment, including among the various pseudo-left organisations. Those sentiments, which exist in every country, must be given conscious political expression through the building of a unified movement of the international working class to put an end to the profit system that is the root cause of war.
The New Zealand election on Saturday delivered an inconclusive result, with neither the incumbent National Party nor the main opposition Labour Party in a clear position to form a government. The outcome is likely be decided by whichever is able to strike a deal with the right-wing, anti-Asian New Zealand First.

According to provisional results, National remains the largest party with 46 percent of the vote and 58 seats, two seats down on 2014. Labour has 35.8 percent (45 seats), NZ First 7.5 percent (9 seats), and the Greens 5.9 percent (7 seats). ACT with 0.5 percent has one seat by virtue of an electorate deal with National. Labour and the Greens, who campaigned as potential coalition partners, have a combined total of 43 percent.

Based on the current figures, a Labour-Green-NZ First government would command a majority of just 61 to 59. An estimated 384,000 special votes, including those cast overseas, 15 percent of the total, will not be counted until October 7.

On Saturday night, NZ First leader Winston Peters boasted, We hold all the main cards. He refused to answer questions about which party he would ally with. Peters has previously formed coalitions with National, from 199698, and Labour from 200508, the latter rewarding him with the post of foreign minister. NZ First ran a Trump-style campaign based on national protectionism, rabid anti-Asian xenophobia and calls for a massive cut to immigration.

Concerned about political instability, the corporate media has signalled its preference for a National-NZ First coalition. The Sunday Star Times insisted that Peters has no choice. The voting public, it warned, cannot, and will not tolerate him abusing his kingmaker position by supporting Labour when it trails National by 12 points. The papers front page highlighted Prime Minister Bill Englishs assertion that he has the moral authority to lead National into government for a fourth consecutive term.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern and Green Party leader James Shaw, however, have both declared they will try and form a coalition with NZ First.

The result reveals the same over-riding tendencies in recent elections in the US, Australia and France: widespread alienation and disaffection with the entire political establishment. Despite strenuous efforts to promote increased voter participation, the official turnout of 78.8 percent of registered voters was just above the 2014 figure of 77.9 percent. In that election, more than a million people either abstained or did not register.

The main feature of the campaign was the desperate attempt to divert widespread social opposition into safe parliamentary channels. This required a concerted operation to stave off the collapse of the Labour Party, which was polling at an historic low of 23 percent in July. The media, trade unions and pseudo-left groups sought to whip up support for Labour and its new leader Ardern, installed in August, based on bogus claims that the party would address the deepening social crisis facing working people.

Ardern, however, made no significant appeal to the working class. She rejected being called a socialist, instead saying she was a progressive and a pragmatist.

In the face of widespread anti-war sentiment, Ardern supported Englishs decision to send more New Zealand troops to Afghanistan. Both leaders refused to rule out joining a catastrophic US-led war against North Korea. Ardern repeatedly reassured big business that a Labour-led government would not increase taxes to address the worsening social disaster, including homelessness, the soaring cost of living and the crisis in the health system

The surge in support for Labour, particularly among youth and students, did not reach the level predicted. The partys vote rose to 36 percent from 25 percent in 2014, its worst result in 92 years. Much of the increase came from the Greens, whose support dropped from 10.7 to 5.9 percent. NZ First was polling at 13 percent before Arderns elevation, but ended on 7.5 percent, a point below its 2014 result.

Labour gained support from layers of the upper middle class, while losing votes in some of its strongholds. The Labour Party candidate for Ohariu, Greg OConnor, a former police union head, took the wealthy Wellington electorate from Nationals coalition partner United Future. Meanwhile in the nearby safe working-class seat of Hutt South, Labours candidate and party vice president Ginny Andersen lost by over 2,000 votes to Nationals Chris Bishop.

The most significant shift among working-class voters towards Labour occurred in the seven Maori electorates which Labour won by decisive margins. Labour had historically dominated the seats until inroads were made over the last 15 years by the Maori nationalist Maori Party and Mana, which postured as representing an independent Maori voice. In fact, both outfits represent the interests of a highly privileged layer who control $NZ40 billion in Maori business assets, while the majority of Maori remain highly oppressed and marginalised.

The Maori Party, which has been in coalition with National since 2008 and helped implement its austerity measures, received just 1.1 percent of the vote, and lost its two remaining MPs. Manas leader, Hone Harawira, who lost his seat in 2014, failed to regain it. Mana, falsely championed in previous elections by pseudo-left groups as pro-poor and anti-capitalist, is now a moribund organisation.

Labour failed to increase its support in a number of Aucklands urban working-class seats. The opposition parties campaign to scapegoat Asian migrants for the housing crisis, low wages and unemployment, coupled with demands for cutting immigration by more than 40 percent, was decisively rejected.

For the past five years, Labour, the Greens, Mana and the trade unions have largely adopted NZ Firsts anti-immigrant politics in order to divide the working class along racial lines, while lining up with Washingtons preparations for war against China.

More than a quarter of New Zealands population is immigrant, heavily concentrated in the Auckland region. An article by Newsroom pointed out that Labour made little headway in Auckland, performing worst in those seats with a high number of migrants.

In New Lynn, Labours support declined by 500 votes between 2014 and 2017. In nearby Te Atatu, Labours campaign chair Phil Twyford, infamous in 2015 for blaming ballooning house prices on people with Chinese sounding names, saw his majority cut by several hundred.

The final days of the election campaign were dominated by a witch-hunt against National Party MP Jian Yang and several other politicians based on wild and unsubstantiated accusations that they are Chinese Communist Party agents. The McCarthyite campaign, which appears to have involved individuals close to US and Australian intelligence agencies, is intended to shift New Zealand politics into closer alignment with the US preparations for war against China.

On September 19, NZ First, now being courted by both major parties, demanded a special commission to investigate Chinas impact on our democracy. Peters echoed Trump and Obamas hypocritical denunciation of Chinese expansionism, which has been the pretext for a major US military build-up against China.

The Daily Blog, funded by several trade unions, supports this pro-imperialist campaign. Following the election it declared, Nationals total acquiescence to Chinese business interests... will quickly become the major issue.

The next government, whatever its composition, will inevitably come into conflict with the working class as it continues to impose austerity while diverting billions of dollars to the military, strengthening ties with the US and promoting nationalism and xenophobia to prepare the country for war.

Attend the Socialist Equality Group public meeting in Wellington on Sunday October 1:After the election, the way forward in the fight against war

The authors also recommend:

No to war and social inequality! For world socialism! Statement of the Socialist Equality Group on the New Zealand election

[19 September 2017]
The Iraqi Kurdish Regional Governments (KRG) independence referendum slated for today has further escalated dangers of a major war in the Middle East. Threats from Baghdad, Tehran and Ankara, as well as warnings from the United States and European Union (EU), are raising the question of another possible military intervention, this time against Iraqi Kurds.

The Turkish governmentwhich has for more than two years launched military operations against Kurdish nationalist parties, both at home and in Iraq, devastating Kurdish-populated towns in Turkey and forcing tens of thousands of Kurds to flee their homesis leading the charge.

On Saturday, September 23, in an extraordinary session during which the chairman intervened to silence the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) spokesperson, the Turkish parliament extended the governments mandate for military action another one year. This mandate permits the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government to deploy troops to Iraq and Syria.

Thus the Turkish parliament has opened the door for a Turkish invasion of the KRG. It attacked the referendum as part of efforts to break the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria, which would endanger Turkeys national security.

During the parliamentary debate, spokespersons of the ruling AKP and its de facto partner, the fascistic Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), sharply criticized the referendum, calling for its cancellation, and attacking the KRGs President Barzani.

The spokesperson of the opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) also declared its support to the motion, however only after criticizing the AKPs foreign policy in the Middle East, including its active participation in the US-led wars in Iraq and Syria. The HDP was the only party that stood against the motion, arguing for the Kurdish peoples right to self-determination.

The Turkish parliaments decision came only hours after a meeting of Turkeys National Security Council (MGK) chaired by Erdogan on late Friday, September 22. The MGK issued a written statement warning that Turkey reserves its rights based on international conventions. This is an open threat of not only diplomatic and economic sanctions, but also a military intervention.

Speaking to reporters on the same day, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also said Ankara would not refrain from using its natural rights. ... This referendum is an issue of Turkeys national security.

Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kaln then issued a statement warning the KRG that the referendum would have serious consequences. On September 23, he wrote on his Twitter account that Erbil should immediately correct this grave mistake that will trigger new crises in the region.

Since September 18, the Turkish army has held military exercises in Turkeys Sirnak province, as a sign of Ankaras determination to avoid the emergence of an independent Kurdish state inside the current boundaries of Iraq. The Turkish army had already deployed troops, tanks and artillery to the Iraqi and Syrian border.

The Iraqi government in Baghdad has also threatened to intervene militarily against the KRG if the referendum results in violence. As the Turkish parliament debated the motion, Iraqi Chief of Staff General Othman al-Ghanimi arrived in Ankara to meet with his Turkish counterpart General Hulusi Akar and discuss the KRG referendum and Iraqs territorial integrity.

Akar reportedly plans to meet with his Iranian counterpart, Major General Mohamed Baqeri, to discuss events in Iraq and Syria and moves against the Kurdish-nationalist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which since 1984 has waged guerrilla war against the Turkish state. The Iranian Chief of General Staff had already paid a three-day visit to Ankara, in August 15-17, to discuss possible common military operations against terrorist organizations in the KRG.

The Iranian Chief of Staff also warned the referendum would be the basis for the start of a series of tensions and conflicts inside Iraq, the consequences of which will affect neighboring countries. So, for this reason, the authorities of the two countries [Turkey and Iran] are emphasizing that it is not possible and should not be done.

While the Turkish, Iranian and Iraqi governments regard the referendum as a serious threat to the territorial integrity of Iraq, the KRG's Western allies, including Washington and the EU, are mainly criticizing its timing. They cite the need to concentrate on the ongoing fight against the Islamic State (IS).

The Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, has openly supported the KRGs referendum on independence.

The growing threat of sanctions and or military action from Ankara, and repeated warnings from Baghdad and Tehran, as well as the Western powers, however, have apparently not impressed the KRGs President Masoud Barzani. He said on Saturday that they would not renounce independence, whatever the cost.

First elected in 2005 by the Kurdish regional parliament and in 2009 by popular vote as KRG president, Barzanis term of office in fact ran out in August 2015, after a two-year extension. Having presided over a de facto government since then, the corrupt Kurdish leader faces ever growing popular oppositionin part, over his regimes economic and financial dependence on Ankara, which brutally suppresses its own Kurds, and its slavish obedience to the US and European imperialists.

By pushing for the independence referendum, Barzani is playing the card of nationalism to disorient Kurdish workers, poor peasants and the youth, who have repeatedly paid the price of the decades-long maneuvers of the Kurdish nationalists with the imperialist and regional states.

The Iraqi Kurdish referendum and Ankaras military deployment along the border only fan the flames amidst ongoing war and growing ethnic and sectarian divisions, in Iraq and Syria and across the region.

Ankara has long been preparing to launch another military adventure in Iraq or Syriawith or without collaboration of, or even against, the Barzani leadership. This now also threatens to ignite a military conflict with the troops of Ankaras NATO allies, now operating on the ground with Kurdish forces. With all its unforeseen consequences, such an invasion would lead to a dangerous military escalation that could easily get out of control.
Eritrean government this weekend called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to lift the arms sanctions imposed on it by the council since 2009.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Horn of Africa tiny nations Foreign Affairs Minister, Osman Saleh Mohammed urged the U.N to do more to truly unite nations.

In his words, Eritrea strongly believes that its political, economic, social and diplomatic path would be smoother and easier if external obstacles that have been put on its path were removed.

Mohammed has invited developed nations to shoulder more responsibility in the march for a fairer world.

Eritrea has been under sanction by the U.N. Security Council since 2009, when it was accused of lending support to Islamist militant group Al-Shabab in Somalia.

In April, the Security Council extended the arms embargo on the country until 15 November 2017.

Human rights in Eritrea are viewed as among the worst in the world, particularly with regards to freedom of the press. Rights groups have accused the country of widespread repression of journalists and activists.

The country is ranked bottom of the NGO Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, below even North Korea.
Former New York congressman Anthony Weiner was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison with three years probation for sending sexually explicit messages and photos to a 15-year-old girl.

Weiner sobbed as Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York handed down the sentence, telling him, This is a serious crime that deserves serious punishment. He grabbed tissues to wipe away his tears and stood crying after the judge left the courtroom in lower Manhattan.

He will begin serving time on Nov. 6 and must register as a sex offender after his prison term is complete. He cannot appeal his sentence due to his guilty plea.

At the sentencing, prosecutor Amanda Kramer of the U.S. Attorneys office, asked for 21 to 27 months behind bars, noting that on three occasions in 2016, he asked the 15-year-old to get naked and asked her to perform.

Prior to his sentencing, Weiner cried while reading a written statement, saying in part, The crime I committed was my rock bottom, adding, I was a very sick man for a long time. He also admitted he is an addict and attends twice-weekly group therapy, individual therapy, and helps others.

Weiner, 53, whose estranged wife, Huma Abedin, was a top aide to Hillary Clinton, pleaded guilty in May to a single count of transferring obscene material to a minor.

Weiners parents and brother were in the courtroom, but Abedin was not.

Prosecutors continued, During the latter two Skype sessions, on February 18 and 23, 2016, and in a Snapchat communication on March 9, 2016, the defendant used graphic and obscene language to ask the Minor Victim to display her naked body and touch herself, which she did.

Weiner, the father of a 5-year-old son, also sent an obscene message to the teen on the app Confide, describing what he would do to her, if she were 18, prosecutors Amanda Kramer and Stephanie Lake wrote.

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

Weiner, a Democrat, resigned his congressional seat in June 2011 after his first sexting scandal, and his second sexting scandal in 2013 scuttled his bid for a political comeback as a New York City mayoral candidate.

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While Weiners attorneys asked for probation and no prison time, prosecutors wanted Weiner to serve to 21 to 27 months behind bars. He faced up to 10 years in prison.

On prior occasions, as here, Weiner has followed the same pattern: he initially denied his conduct; he suffered personal and professional consequences; he publicly apologized and claimed reform, prosecutors wrote in court papers.

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  a minor the law recognizes as needing protection.

The teen initiated the contact with Weiner on Jan. 23, 2016, via Twitter, and early on told Weiner that she was a high school student, prosecutors said. He told the teen she was kinda sorta gorgeous.

 PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Order is on sale now.

Their interactions continued intermittently through March 2016 over Twitter, Facebook Messenger, and the confidential messaging apps Kik, Confide and Snapchat.

When the victim revealed the exchanges to the Daily Mail in Sept. 2016, it led to the FBI seizing Weiners computer. Subsequently, former FBI Director James Comey made his bombshell announcement shortly before Election Day that the FBI had uncovered emails belonging to Abedin on Weiners computer that appeared to be pertinent to the Clinton email investigation. Comey announced that the FBI was re-opening its investigation into Clintons emails, which Clinton has said contributed to her defeat.

Nine days later, and just 36 hours before the election, Comey announced there was nothing new in this batch of emails and that the FBI would not seek charges against the Democratic nominee.

Well, great. Too little, too late, Clinton wrote in her new best-selling memoir, What Happened. The rest is history.
Meghan Markle made her first appearance with Prince Harry on Saturday, but that's not the only reason the Suits star stood out from the crowd! The stylish actress looked gorgeous at the Invictus Games opening ceremony in Toronto, wearing head-to-toe burgundy hues as she cheered on the athletes  and her royal boyfriend  from the stands.

CLICK FOR FULL GALLERY

Meghan wore a $185 dress from Wilfred at Aritzia Photo: Aritzia.com, Getty Images

GALLERY: DUCHESS KATE AND MEGHAN MARKLE'S SIMILAR STYLE

The 36-year-old wore a dress from one of her favorite Toronto stores for the occasion; the machine-washable 'Beaune' midi dress from Wilfred at Aritzia, which costs $185. The deep colored burgundy chiffon dress features a wrap silhouette and full pleated skirt. Meghan styled the feminine dress with a coordinating leather motorcycle jacket from her go-to coat label Mackage.

PHOTOS: MEGHAN MARKLE'S BEST LOOKS

A chic leather jacket by Mackage helped complete the look Photo: Getty Images

RELATED: MEGHAN MARKLE'S BEAUTY SECRETS

The actress wore the soft jacket draped over her shoulders for an effortlessly cool look. A tonal velvet clutch bag and pointed stiletto heels completed the outfit, with Meghan styling her glossy hair down in loose waves and adding smoky eye make-up for the perfect finishing touches.

For more on Meghan Markle, click here.
Where To Go When Your Local Emergency Room Goes Bankrupt?" During the past ten years 84 California hospitals have declared bankruptcy and closed their Emergency Rooms forever. Financially crippled by legislative and judicial mandates to treat illegal aliens have bankrupted hospitals! In 2010, in Los Angeles County alone, over 2 million illegal aliens recorded visits to county emergency rooms for both routine and emergency care. The cost is $1,000 dollars for every taxpayer. VIVA LA RAZA?
While the internet was exploding with theories about her reported pregnancy, Kylie Jenner was supporting her boyfriend Travis Scott at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Saturday, The Daily Mail reports. Photos show her there in an oversized grey T-shirt, shiny brown pants, and white sneakers with her BFF Jordyn Woods and a group of friends.

A video shared on Instagram by French Montana shows Kylie watching from the side of the stage as Travis performs alongside Demi Lovato, Chance the Rapper, and other artists during DJ Khaled's set, Just Jared reports. A clip shared by iHeartRadio's Twitter account also shows Kylie at the show.

iHeart Radio Festival, Backstage, Day 2, Las Vegas, USA - 23 Sep 2017 Buckner/Variety/REX/Shutterstock

Kylie also spent the weekend celebrating her friend Jordyn Woods' birthday. A video on Kylie's snapchat shows the group singing "Happy Birthday" to Jordyn around the table.

Kylie has yet to comment on the reports of her pregnancy, though her mom spoke to several media outlets about it on Saturday. "Shes not confirmed anything," Kris Jenner told The Cut. "I think its kind of wild that everyone is just assuming that thats just happening."

Related: Kylie Jenner Admitted She Wants Kids on Her TV Show

Check This Out:
(Photo: Today)

All of morning TVs eyes were on Megyn Kelly Monday morning, as she debuted her own morning show on NBC. Keen viewers noticed that she seemed to be making a statement about the move  with her outfit.

For the inaugural episode of Megyn Kelly TODAY, Kelly and presumably a team of stylists decided she would wear black trousers and a pink pussybow blouse. (Coincidentally, guest Megan Mullally, who was on to promote the premiere of Will & Grace, wore a very similar top.) The outfit, while simple, is notable for a few reasons.

Kelly comes to NBC after a controversial stint on Fox where, in a rule straight out of 1919, women werent allowed to wear pants on Fox & Friends. On-air host Gretchen Carlson confirmed the rule, which has apparently been amended since the ousting of Roger Ailes. But in choosing not to wear a skirt on her first day at a competing network, Kelly is perhaps throwing subtle shade to her former employer.

Up top: A pink pussybow blouse. Theres a feminist history behind the style. As CEO of Hewlett-Packard Meg Whitman revealed in a PBS documentary, she first wore the style to feminize the suit-and-tie look that their male counterparts wore to the office: We used to dress in suits with a skirt and a jacket with button-down shirts and a little bow tie, because that was sort of our interpretation of the mans tie. She continued, It was our attempt to be feminine but fit into what was then a male world. The title isnt even a coincidence  since they were invented to be a feminized version of the male business dress code, they were literally named after female genitalia. Whether Kelly was aware of it or not, she was summoning a feminist history by wearing one as a woman on television.

Style watchers may also remember the night during the election when Melania Trump wore a $1,100 Gucci pussybow blouse. In the debate shortly after her husbands Access Hollywood grab em tapes were released, Trump wore a shirt that seemingly referenced her husbands controversial remarks. She paired them with matching trousers  a surprise choice as Hillary Clinton is well-known for her pantsuits. Social media was quick to point out that the ensemble could hardly be seen as a coincidence.

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While Kelly may or may not have been trying to send a message with her clothing, viewers still readily examined them.

Megyn Kelly is wearing a pussy bow shirt  Emily Cohn (@emily_cohn) September 25, 2017

Megyn Kellys debut outfit on the Today show is similar to one of Melania Trumps most infamous outfits  and it could be a subtle dig at  Ondernemer tweets (@Ondernemertweet) September 25, 2017

If she did it on purpose, it's pretty funny. And if she did it by accident, it's even funnier. "Pussy Bow"! https://t.co/qfMCuq7iti  Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) October 10, 2016

In Kellys opening, she addressed and immediately distanced herself from any expectations that shell be reporting on politics. Next well be dissecting the latest tweet from President Trump! Oh wait, we will not be doing that. The truth is I am done with politics for now, she said.

Kelly may have said shes leaving the past behind, but her pussybow speaks differently.

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From Cosmopolitan

Photo credit: Samir Hussein / WireImage

Look at this photo of First Lady Melania Trump and Prince Harry. Yes, he's very dreamy. But what is going on with the British royal's hand?

Here is the scene from another angle:

Photo credit: Samir Hussein / WireImage

Harry met with FLOTUS at the Invictus Games, which started in Toronto on Saturday. (This was also where the prince and girlfriend Meghan Markle made their first public appearance together at an official royal event.) In almost all of their photos together, the prince has his middle and ring fingers slipped into his jacket.

Photo credit: Samir Hussein / WireImage

While it's customary for public figures to take photos with each other at these sorts of things, Harry's hand "pose" looks a lot like, among other things, the "hang ten" symbols, horns (which can represent the UT Longhorns and are, ah, the "sign of the devil"), or what someone who's nervous or uncomfortable does when they don't know how else to hold themselves.

As Jezebel reported, it's not as though the photographers happened to catch Harry's hand in the strange position. He held his hand that way for quite a bit - almost like he deliberately wanted all of the photos of him with FLOTUS to have this weird little visual:

WATCH: First lady Melania Trump meets with Prince Harry at Invictus Games in Toronto https://t.co/UsBWNODOxK

- NBC News (@NBCNews) September 23, 2017

Could this have been his sly way of signaling discomfort upon meeting the less tweet-happy Trump? It's unlikely that anyone in the royal family could comment, much less clarify, but feel free to let your imagination fill in the gaps.

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Scott Disick Sofia Richie pregnant

While you  and every other human on the planet  have been busy stalking all of Kylie Jenner's social media outlets for any sign of a baby bump, another Kardashian pregnancy rumor seemingly slipped under the radar over the weekend.

As if we weren't grossed out enough by Scott Disick's rumored relationship with 19-year-old model Sofia Richie (yes it's 2017 and every woman has a right to date whomever she wants but he's 34 and just gross in general), the voices of Hollywood gossip are now speculating that the couple is pregnant. And maybe also engaged.

Who knows.

RELATED: Kylie Jenner Is Pregnant With Travis Scott's Baby! See Pictures Of Her Adorable Baby Bump

Unlike most celebrity rumors, this one didn't spark from an "unnamed source close to the couple." This one came straight outta Instagram.

On Sept. 23, Scott posted a photo of him and Richie on his Instagram story, which in these modern times means making their relationship official. Sofia confirmed their romance by posting a similar photo on her story that same night.

Cute, but not all that exciting or surprising.

After he was linked to 19-year-old actress Bella Thorne (also not surprised), rumors about Scott and Sofia started circling.

So much so that in May, the model took to Twitter to squash any gossip about their love.

"Just so everyone can get their panties out of their asses, Scott and I are just homies. #Relax.

But the world did not relax and the rumors kept spreading. But the two finally seemed to be at peace with it  maybe because the incriminating (and misspelled) "Congratulations Scott and Sophia" is going to force them to make a more serious announcement in the near future.

RELATED: Scott Disick Just Made SHOCKING New Confession About Why He Cheats On Kourtney Kardashian

Though Sofia still a decently young adult, I doubt she's making Scott celebrate an "Instagram official" anniversary. Congratulations is something typically said to people who have gotten engaged or are pregnant.

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Friends who attended that same dinner with Scott and Sofia also posted pictures of the two kissing and of the "congratulations" plate. In a video, you could apparently hear people clapping in the background. But, of course, provided no helpful commentary as to what exactly they are celebrating.

According to TMZ, a source assured that the couple isn't engaged. So that just leaves the pregnancy rumor.

Though that hasn't been confirmed by anyone who we can trust, a source did tell E! News that the two are "inseparable right now and not leaving each other's side," and that he "is totally romancing her and she is under his spell."

Until someone says something is official, you can find me bump-watching all of Sofia's social media accounts. Stay tuned.

RELATED: 4 Facts & Rumors About The VERY Bizarre Rules Kim Kardashian And Kanye West Have For Their Surrogate

Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, true crime, dating, relationships and everything in between. Every Wednesday at 10:20 p.m. you can ask her any and all questions about self-love, dating, and relationships LIVE on YourTangos Facebook page. You can follow her on Instagram (@blackw00d) and Twitter (@emztweetz).

Keywords: Scott Disick, kardashians

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London (AFP) - An activist with a London-based rights group was convicted of a terrorism offence on Monday for refusing to divulge the passwords for his phone and laptop computer to the police.

Muhammad Rabbani, international director at the Cage advocacy group, was stopped for questioning at London's Heathrow airport on November 20, 2016, and arrested after refusing to divulge the passwords.

Cage has campaigned since 2003 on behalf of people who have allegedly suffered abuses in the United States' fight against terrorism.

Rabbani told the court he wanted to protect a Qatari client.

"It was a case involving the US against an individual who was allegedly tortured over the course of 12 or 13 years in US custody," he said.

"There were around 30,000 (documents) which I was especially uncomfortable handling and I felt an enormous responsibility to try and discharge the trust that was given to me," he said.

But the court dismissed Rabbani's arguments and handed him a 12-month conditional discharge, meaning no further action would be taken unless he commits a further offence.

Rabbani, 36, was also ordered to pay a fine of 620 ($835, 705 euros) and police have seized his phone and laptop.

Speaking outside court, Rabbani said the law amounted to a "digital strip search" and called for the legislation to be changed.

"I took the decision not to raise the details of an important torture case before my arrest and ultimately I have been convicted of protecting the confidentiality of my client," he said.

"If privacy and confidentiality are crimes, then the law stands condemned."

The head of London's counter-terrorism command, Dean Haydon, said the law under which Rabbani was convicted was crucial "to help keep the public safe".

"Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 is a vital tool in the fight against terrorism and we are committed to ensuring the power is used appropriately and proportionately, as it was in this case," he said in a statement.

Schedule 7 was also used in 2013 against the partner of Glenn Greenwald, the US journalist behind the Edward Snowden intelligence leaks.

David Miranda, a Brazilian citizen, was held for nine hours at Heathrow airport while police questioned him and seized items including his phone and laptop.
German Chancellor Angela Merkels Christian Democratic Union and its ally party, the Christian Social Union, cruised to victory for the fourth time in Sundays election, making her the longest-standing female head of state to date.

The results may have been bittersweet for women in Germany, though. Despite Merkels win, only 31 percent of those elected to Germanys parliament, known as the Bundestag, were women.

The 2013 elections saw the percentage of women sitting in the Bundestag rise to 36.5 percent, according to European Union statistics. A similar percentage of women exists at the federal levels of government, but local governments are seriously lacking in female representation.

From the outside, its easy to look at a country with a longstanding female leader and expect the approach to women in politics  and the workplace more generally  to be rather evolved.

Yet experts paint a grimmer picture. Its particularly difficult for women to break through in politics unless its in an ultra-liberal party with a female quota, Eva Hogl, deputy faction chairman of the Social Democratic Party, explained in Bundestags magazine, Der Bundeswahlleiter. And fewer than four percent of CEOs in the country are women, according to European Union statistics.

Its not surprising that so few women exist at the highest levels of government or the private sector, seeing as large parts of the country have for decades been defined by the male breadwinner model.

Germany is known for its abnormally high wage gap  women earn about 22 percent less than men on average, according to EU statistics from 2016, which is six points higher than the EU average. But some experts say its not because companies tend to be discriminatory towards women.

Women just tend to work part time, leading to lower wages, or they gravitate towards industries that are more traditionally female, Corinna Kleinert, a sociology professor at the University of Bamberg and the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories, told HuffPost.

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The male-female distinction dates back to the Cold War. West Germany prided itself on a patriarchal social structure, she said, while socialism in East Germany required both men and women to work.

This means that today, Kleinert said, although more women than ever are employed across the country, the part-time trend is more prevalent in West Germany (the more populous part of the country).

West German mothers traditionally feel they are not good mothers if they put their children in early care, she added.

Two demonstrators posing as unequally paid dentists, the woman holding a sign reading 'Not a Wish But a Right to More!', demonstrate during the 'Equal Pay Day' demonstration on March 21, 2014 in Berlin. (Photo: Adam Berry via Getty Images)

Plus, the eastern part of the country has pre-existing childcare infrastructure that the western region has struggled to match up to.

Even if western German women would like to [work full time], they have problems getting their kids into early care and difficulty finding care that allows full-time work, she said.

Merkel has been chancellor since 2005  in other words, shes had ample time to set a more rigorous gender agenda. Part of the problem is her obligation to cater to her partys largely conservative base.

Some significant reforms during her time in office have, however, created incremental improvements.

A law passed in 2013 offers every child over the age of one a spot in a daycare facility. But in many parts of the country, Kleinert said, it allows only part-time work because [daycare] facilities close too early.

Merkel also put in place a system whereby women (or men) receive partial income in the first year of parental leave, thereby encouraging them to come back to work sooner.

The issue remains that they mostly gravitate towards part-time work. This explains why women dont make their way into management positions, according to Kleinert.

In an effort to rectify that, the government passed a law in 2015 requiring the non-executive boards of publicly-traded German companies to consist of at least 30 percent women.

There is still a lot to do, thats evident, Katarina Barley, who heads the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, said in June.

Yet there is an undeniable call from the economy to integrate more women into the labor market, Kleinert said. Germany suffers from an aging population that could leave the economy partially bereft of skilled labor in the coming years. The easiest way to fill that gap is by qualified women.

Also on HuffPost

Friedrich Wilhelm Becker, co-owner of the Weingut Friedrich Becker Estate, fills a glass with pinot noir, also known as spatburgunder, during tasting at his winery in Schweigen, Germany, on Oct. 4, 2016. Global warming has been good to German viticulture, with average temperatures up 1.4 degrees centigrade over the past 40 years, creating the perfect climate for the notoriously finicky pinot noir vines.

Bottles of the Weingut Friedrich Becker Estate's 2012 pinot noir sit on display at the winery.

Friedrich Wilhelm Becker syphons pinot noir from a barrel during the Oct. 4 tasting.

Pinot noir grapes ferment in a tank at the Weingut Friedrich Becker Estate.

The juice of the grapes drips from a crushing machine during pinot noir production.

A forklift truck empties a crate of grapes into a crushing machine at the Weingut Friedrich Becker Estate.

A worker uses a high pressure water hose to clean a fermentation tank.

Pinot noir grape stalks sit in a bin.

A vintner stirs crushed grapes in a fermentation tank during pinot noir production.

A vintner mixes the pinot noir grapes in a fermentation tank.

A sign hangs outside the Weingut Friedrich Becker Estate winery in Schweigen, Germany.

A worker prepares white wine fermentation tanks for use on the Weingut Friedrich Becker Estate.

A vintner uses a pitchfork to load pinot noir grapes into a crushing machine.

A tractor transports crates of grapes during the pinot noir harvest.

Bunches of pinot noir grapes hang from the vines before the harvest.

Grape pickers work in the vineyard during the pinot noir harvest.

Bunches of grapes sit in a crate at harvesttime.

Pinot noir grape vines grow on the Weingut Friedrich Becker Estate as fog shrouds the landscape beyond in Schweigen, Germany, on Oct. 4, 2016.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
@NewsbySmiley

Stop the car, Francis Suarez told his police escort. They needed to go back.

Wayne Tillman eased the brakes on the black Ford Expedition and threw the SUV into reverse, slowly heading the wrong way past fallen trees shrouded by misty sheets of rain along an otherwise empty Biscayne Boulevard. He stopped when he rolled up to one of the few glass bus stops in Edgewater left intact by Hurricane Irma.

With wind gusts easily topping 90 miles per hour and two journalists in the back seat, the Miami city commissioner hopped out and jogged over to a bus bench. His hat on backwards, he sat down, crossed one leg over the other and flashed a thumbs-up for the cameras.

Behind him, one of his campaign bus ads bore a large image of his face and his campaign slogan: The next mayor of the City of Miami.

In the heat of campaign season, it was a lighthearted but foolhardy moment for the front-runner. What kind of candidate yucks it up in the middle of a hurricane? But with six weeks to go until election day, it looks like hell walk through Miamis stormy political season untouched.

To read the rest, click here.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party has won the country's general election albeit on a reduced vote share, according to projections of results released as polls closed.

Citizens finished voting at 6pm local time (12pm EST) on the vote to decide the composition of the federal parliament, or Bundestag, which will then appoint a chancellor to lead Germany for the next several years.

Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU), in partnership with its sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) is projected to take 32.5 percent of the vote in the exit poll conducted by ARD/Infratest Dimap.

09_22_Angela_Merkel_Speech

Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo/Reuters

Her nearest rival Martin Schulz, of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) is projected to secure just 20 percent.

If confirmed, the result would be a clear lead for Merkel but not a storming victory. In 2013, her party took 41.5 percent of the vote. This outcome would also be a slump for the SPD, who won 25.7 percent last time.

Another exit poll by ZDF showed similar results, with Merkel's party taking 33.5 percent to the SPD's 21 percent.

While parliament must now elect a chancellor in the coming days, if Merkels party does win the largest number of seats it is unlikely that anyone else will take the job.

According to the ARD/Infratest Dimap prediction, the hard-right, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) party will become the third largest party, with 13.5 percent of the vote. This will grant the party its first ever seats in the federal parliament since its formation in 2013.

The environmentalist Greens are predicted to take 9.5 percent, the classically liberal, pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) are expected to earn 10.5 percent, and the democratic socialist Left Party are set to secure 9 percent.

The result will be confirmed Sunday night. In general, German exit polls have been fairly accurate in the past. If the projections are borne out, it will usher in fevered coalition negotiations that could last days or weeks, as Merkel seeks to cobble together a governing majority by making deals with other parties.

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Her CDU has since 2013 governed in a grand coalition with the SPD, but many in the center-left party are unwilling to repeat the exercise, believing that their party needs a spell in opposition in order to rediscover its purpose and present a more original message to the electorate by the time of the next vote.

If the exit polls are confirmed, the result will open a debate over Merkel's continued popularity. While she has decisively seen off the opposition, this is a significant slump in support for a woman once considered so impervious she was known as "Teflon Merkel." Merkel faced criticism from rightwingers during 2015 for her liberal approach to refugees and migrants.

Merkel worked hard before the election to neutralize opponents on both the left and right.

While the anti-immigrant AfD is set to pick up its first seats, Merkel put to bed much of the criticism of her immigration policy by brokering a deal with Turkey in 2016 that partly stemmed the flow of migrants into Europe, and toughened up German asylum rules, while promising to explore a ban on Muslim face veils in some circumstances.

Meanwhile, she saw off one potential line of attack for more liberal parties by allowing a parliamentary vote in the summer to legalize gay marriage in Germany, though she herself voted against.

The close of polls comes after a lengthy campaign during which, thanks to the over-riding assumption of Merkels victory, heated debate failed to ignite.

International commentators have derided the low-energy contest, coming after more nailbiting fights in France and the U.S., as dull.

But Germans appear to have looked at the uncertainty in Britain and the U.S. after votes for Brexit and Donald Trump and plumped for stability.

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Updated | Sundays election in Germany is expected to bring big gains for the hard-right, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which exit polls predict will become the third largest political group as it enters federal parliament for the first time.

The party, which calls for a crackdown on asylum seekers and has said that Islam is not compatible with German values, will take 13 percent of the vote, according to latest projections at the time of writing. Results will be confirmed during Sunday night or Monday morning.

The AfD began life as a dry, academically-minded group largely opposed to the euro currency and closer integration in the eurozone. But it swiftly morphed into a populist, anti-immigrant force.

09_24_Alternative_For_Germany

Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo/reuters

During this election campaign, it has worked with Harris Media, a conservative Texas-based digital agency that lists Ted Cruz and Rand Paul among its clients and briefly worked for the Trump campaign before his 2016 victory.

But the party had already made much capital during 2015 and 2016 from Angela Merkels liberal policy toward refugees and migrants arriving from Syria and other parts of the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

In a famous speech in the summer of 2015, Merkel exhorted her fellow countrymen and women to welcome desperate people fleeing violence. We can do it! became her catchphrase on the issue; an affirmation of faith in the welcoming nature and liberal outlook of the German public.

Many Germans agreedmillions of them have backed Merkel for a fourth term in office, or supported other pro-immigrant partiesbut a sizable minority werent so sure.

It is these anti-immigration or anti-Islam voters the AfD has swept up support from. It has called for swathes of rejected asylum seekers to be sent back to their home countries, has proposed bans on minarets and full-face veils, and has declared the Islamic religion to be incompatible with Germany's constitution.

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All the while, it has mocked Merkels iconic words. We dont want to do this, at all! said Alexander Gauland, now a top candidate for the party, at a speech in 2016.

Like the National Front in France, with whom it is allied in the European Parliament, the AfD strives to avoid any association with the traditional far-right. In Germany, perhaps more even than other western democracies, the shadow of Naziism means that white racial politics and extreme nationalism are taboo for many people.

To that end, the AfD has made sure to present modern-looking, eloquent figureheads, especially in the international media. Both its previous co-leader, Frauke Petry, and its current top figure, Alice Weidel, are women. Weidel is openly gay and has worked as a banker at Goldman Sachs.

The partys supporters, too, would insist that criticism of Islam as a religion is not racist, and that concern about mass uncontrolled immigration or undocumented migrants is simply pragmatic.

But there can be no doubt that the AfD has a strongly nationalist vision that excludes many people because of their background. A poster that it used for this election campaign read New Germans? Well make them ourselves, accompanied by an image of a pregnant white woman.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany said the result posed a challenge for German democracy. "We expect our democratic forces to expose the true face of the AfD and lay bare its empty, populist promises," the council said in a statement.

Meanwhile, protests broke out against the party on Sunday evening in several major cities, among them Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Berlin.

The AfD is very far from power. As coalition negotiations begin, where Merkel will hammer out a deal to form the next multi-party government, all other main parties have ruled out working with the hard-right.

It would also be entirely wrong to paint Germans across the board as having rejected immigration or refugees, given the endorsement Merkel and other pro-immigrant politicians have gained.

But nonetheless, the major parties will need to analyze the causes of the AfDs success.

In particular, the party is cementing a reliable base of less skilled, less educated, older voters, especially in the Northeast, the former East Germany. Longterm, if the main parties dont manage to win them back, it could lead to new fractures in one of Europes most stable countries.

This story has been updated with new results projections, a quote from the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and information about protests.

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(Photo: Tsekhmister via Getty Images)

Do we eat the chickens that lay our eggs? Its not a dumb question to ask, and the answer might surprise you.

Unless youve raised backyard chickens, were willing to bet that the average egg consumer doesnt know that hens stop laying eggs pretty early on in their lives. Chickens live eight years on average, but hens only productively lay eggs in the first two, maybe three years of their lives. And on the commercial level, its closer to two years, and sometimes less.

When hens are productively laying eggs, theyll lay one egg about every 22 hours. As they get older, this becomes less and less frequent. So when youre a commercial egg farmer, what do you do with the thousands of hens taking up barn space that arent really laying eggs anymore?

Jesse Laflamme, CEO of Pete and Gerrys Organic Eggs (which raises certified humane eggs from small family farms), explained one way that non-humane egg factories deal with the situation.

What typically happens is they just gas them with CO2, and asphyxiate them. Then they put them into trucks or dumpsters and theyre landfilled, or they render them, Laflamme told HuffPost. Laflamme said he couldnt speak to what exactly happens when the chickens are rendered, but that its basically where they turn the hens into oils and other products that are used in various industries.

This sounds horrific, but Matt OHayer, CEO of Vital Farms (which also raises certified humane eggs) and a long-time vegetarian, said he thinks its actually one of the more humane ways currently used to deal with this problem. If you euthanize them on the farm at night, their life is over quickly, he said.

Another common solution to the problem of spent hens, as theyre called in the industry, is to turn them into pet food. OHayer says its the most common solution, but not a very humane one.

If you send them to a pet food plant, which is the biggest use of spent hens, they pack them into crates and ship them in trucks hundreds of miles. Its stressful for them and its not very humane, OHayer said.

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But OHayer said that this is sometimes the solution for his hens at Vital Farms. Most of our flocks are sold live by our family farmers to local families or to pet food companies, he explained. In the rare instance in which a flock must be depopulated on-farm, contractors are employed by the farmer, who typically use CO2, which is currently the most humane method.

Non-humane certified large-scale egg factories contacted by HuffPost were not willing to comment on these practices. They can house anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000 egg-laying hens at once, according to Laflamme. The hens are all generally the same age, so they typically stop laying around the same time. Essentially, when the chickens no longer lay eggs, the farmers are out of business until they can get new hens.

And then the process repeats.

Not all egg farmers engage in the practice of gassing and dumping their spent hens. Pete and Gerrys Organic Eggs outlines on their website how they treat the end of laying and life for their hens. Pete and Gerrys process their egg-laying hens for meat once they slow down their egg production, which is rare. For many, this solution feels more ethical than euthanizing and dumping.

The reason its not common to eat spent hens is two-fold.

First, egg-laying hens arent quite as tender as hens raised for meat. Thats because theyre older and their muscles have done a lot more work. They taste gamier and their meat is tougher. According to OHayer, a chicken thats raised for meat is only 40 days old, where an egg-laying chicken is on average around 560 days old. And he said that between 40-56 days theres a huge difference in flavor, so tack on an additional 500 and the difference is even greater.

Second, egg-laying hens and broiler hens (another term for meat hens) dont taste like the same bird. While they both come from the same chicken breed, throughout the years theyve been bred to either be more productive egg layers, or to produce more meat. The broiler hen vs. egg-laying hen is a crazy agricultural thing that has happened over the last 100 years, said Laflamme. In fact, the meat from Pete and Gerrys birds doesnt make it to the supermarket shelves because its sold at ethnic food markets, where the flavor of a gamier bird is desired.

So while youre probably not eating the chickens that laid your eggs, chances are those chickens didnt exactly roam green pastures and die a natural death in their final days.

Related...

Experts Explain The Real Difference Between Organic And Non-Organic Milk

Organic Water Is A Sign That Americans Have No Idea What 'Organic' Is

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(SANTA ANA, Calif.)  A California man who killed eight people at a hair salon in 2011 was sentenced to life without parole Friday in a courtroom packed with sobbing victims relatives, who shared vivid memories of their loved ones and wished the shooter a painful end in prison.

Scott Dekraai, a 47-year-old former tugboat operator, received eight consecutive life terms for the murders of his hairstylist ex-wife, her co-workers and others in the tight-knit seaside community of Seal Beach.

Paul Wilson, whose wife, Christy, was among those killed, said he would finally feel closure after six years of hearings. He wished a short life for the man who deprived his son of maternal support while battling cancer and his daughter the joy of her mother on her wedding day.

It is so gut-wrenching, especially because this coward is still allowed to breathe the same air that I do in this courtroom, he told the judge, before turning to Dekraai and saying, I can only hope your years in prison are rough.

The killings rocked the idyllic Orange County community known for its scenic pier and small-town feel, devastating hundreds of relatives, friends and community members.

Even though Dekraai pleaded guilty three years ago, his case has dragged on because of a long-running scandal over authorities use of jailhouse snitches to cull information from him and others housed in the countys jails.

While authorities can receive information from informants, they cant have snitches deliberately seek out information from inmates with legal representation.

Judge Thomas M. Goethals told a shackled Dekraai he likely would have faced a death sentence if not for the scandal, which he felt compelled him to remove execution as an option to ensure a fair trial.

The gates of hell flew open, and you emerged as the face of evil in this community, Goethals told Dekraai. Those rulings had nothing to do with you personally. Or the evil brutality that you inflicted on these people. The law required me to make those rulings.

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Dekraai apologized to victims relatives and acknowledged he could have found a peaceful solution to his problems. I am to blame for the total loss of self-control, he said.

Dekraai had been locked in a bitter custody dispute with ex-wife Michelle Fournier over their then-8-year-old son when he entered Salon Meritage in October 2011 wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with three weapons.

He shot and killed Fournier before turning his guns on the salon owner, stylists and customers, and a man sitting in his car in the parking lot. Dekraai was arrested within minutes of the rampage.

Besides Fournier, killed were Randy Fannin, Victoria Buzzo, Lucia Kondas, Laura Elody, Christy Wilson, Michelle Fast and David Caouette.

Those who survived and those who lost family said they are still struggling to heal.

Lisa Powers, who hid inside the salons bathroom while Dekraai was shooting, said she still remembers the smell of the gunpowder and walking over her friends bloodied bodies when it was finally safe to emerge.

I have nightmares every day. I cant even close the bathroom door when I go to the bathroom anymore, she said. You have hurt so many people. You dont even know the devastation and the horrors people go through.

Many in the courtroom in Santa Ana wore buttons and T-shirts printed with photos of their loved ones. One had an image of two of the victims laughing and the message love is louder.

Dekraai pleaded guilty to the eight counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, for which he received a term of seven years to life. He got 25 years to life for a gun enhancement on each of nine counts.

Goethals decided last month to remove capital punishment as an option after repeated failures by county authorities to furnish informant-related documents. The move came after he already had yanked the county district attorneys office from the case over the scandal.

The state attorney generals office, which took over the prosecution of Dekraai and had also recommended the death penalty, said Friday that California would not file an appeal.

Some victims relatives said they wished Dekraai had faced a death sentence. Others were simply relieved the case was over.

I never have to look at you again, said Butch Fournier, Michelles brother. Today that ends. You finally go away for the rest of your life.
Most of the self-driving truck attention has revolved around Tesla's much-teased reveal of its EV big rig next month and all the auto companies rushing to introduce their own electric models. But there's another autonomous truck-related race to develop tech and mechanisms to enable the safe travel of extensive convoys of these vehicles, known as 'platooning.' At the North American Commercial Vehicle Show this weekend, German automotive titan Daimler announced its trucks will engage in 'platooning' tests on highways in Oregon and Nevada.

Daimler will start with a test linking two of its larger Freightliner New Cascadia trucks that are 'paired' to move in sequence, tech that the company first publicly experimented with in a 2016 Europe-spanning challenge. In short, the autonomous trucks will 'talk' to each other and coordinate their driving to maximize efficiency, including keeping the trailing vehicle behind the front one to minimize drag, similar to how trains of cyclists 'draft' behind the leading one. The self-driving tech is also safer behind the wheel than humans, Daimler's press release claims, reacting to traffic in three-tenths of a second when it typically takes a person more than one to respond.

'Platooning' has been on automakers' radar as an intriguing automated evolution to long-haul trucking. Back in January, Toyota and Volkswagen started a three-year truck convoy test. Even Tesla is investigating the technology, leaked DMV correspondence revealed.
By Ruma Paul DHAKA (Reuters) - Two journalists from Myanmar, who had been detained in Bangladesh while reporting on the influx of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, have been released on bail, a police official said on Saturday. The journalists, Minzayar Oo and Hkun Lat, were detained in early September in the Cox's Bazar border region of Bangladesh, where refugees are arriving from Myanmar to escape a military offensive against insurgents. "A court granted them bail, but they can't go back to their country now," police official Ranajit Kumar Barua, told Reuters by telephone, adding that the court would decide whether the two could leave the country at a separate hearing which may take place sometime in the next week. The two were arrested for violating immigration laws, but no charge sheet against the two has been filed yet, said Barua, denying reports that the two had been charged with espionage activities. A lawyer for the two journalists also confirmed their release, but did not provide any further detail. Bangladesh police had said that the pair were detained for engaging in journalistic work for a German magazine, while on tourist visas. Some 429,000 refugees from Myanmar have poured into Bangladesh since Aug. 25, when attacks by Rohingya militants on security posts triggered a Myanmar army crackdown in response. Germany's GEO magazine, which had assigned Minzayar Oo to cover the Rohingya crisis, said he had traveled to Bangladesh on Sept. 6, and was detained the next day. Minzayar Oo is one of Myanmar's most prominent photographers and has worked for various media outlets, covering the country's emergence from military rule. He has previously worked as a contractor with Reuters. Hkun Lat is also a well-known photographer in Myanmar and has won prizes for his coverage of conflict in frontier regions. (Additional reporting by Mohammad Nurul Islam in Cox's Bazar; Editing by Martin Howell)
A picture is worth a thousand words. But some onlookers apparently thought this one, of Prince Harry and Melania Trump at the Invictus Games in Toronto over the weekend, is worth 666.

Harry and the first lady posed for a series of photos together before sitting down for a chat. Trump stood with her arms at her sides, while Harrys hand was half-tucked into his jacket in a very unusual way: His ring and middle fingers were tucked inside his coat along with his thumb, while he held his pinky and pointer fingers outside.

Hmm. (Photo: Pool/Samir Hussein via Getty Images)

His unusual gesture  and whether or not it was intentional  became a hot topic over the weekend, even eclipsing Harrys first official appearance with his American girlfriend Meghan Markle. People on Twitter and some media outlets noted it looks like Harry was giving a symbol of the devil, either signaling that he himself is the devil or that the spirit of the devil surrounded him.

But two body language experts think the gesture was misread in two very different ways. Patti Wood, body language expert and author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language & Charisma, told HuffPost that while Harry has held his jacket in photos before, this specific hand position is new.

This is called the horn or the devils horn, and what people are saying in the media about it is not correct, she said. It is not a sign that hes the devil, but rather a warning off of evil spirits. Its a protective gesture against evil or darkness and illness.

Huh. Wood said putting ones hand on ones stomach is an act of self-comfort, and she has previously noticed other world leaders exhibiting self-comfort in photo ops with President Donald Trump.

WATCH: First lady Melania Trump meets with Prince Harry at Invictus Games in Toronto https://t.co/UsBWNODOxK  NBC News (@NBCNews) September 23, 2017

Ive seen world leaders in photo shoots with Trump and I see a lot of what are called self-comfort cues, she said. This would be considered one of those. It looks like the devils horn but it is also hand to belly, she said. At the very least it would be a comfort cue, and show a lot of tension and a need to protect his central core.

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Joe Navarro, body language expert and author of What Every Body is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agents Guide to Speed-Reading People, is skeptical of reading any intention in Harrys body language. He pointed out to HuffPost that a photo is a moment in time, and a number of factors could have led to this particular positioning.

Had the photographers loitered too long? Is there something else going on? he asked, adding, I have to wonder, was he going to unbutton his jacket and then changed his mind? Was he in prep for sitting and then they asked him to stand again to do more photos? To me, you cant draw too many inferences from the photo. I wouldnt personally read too much into that.

But both experts agree that there is a level of tension visible in Harry, and both pointed out the prince usually looks much more relaxed and happy in such situations.

There was some psychological discomfort, Navarro said. The look of his face, the look of his hand is very unusual, except for the fact that he and his brother have a tendency to cover their belly which is a self-soothing behavior to deal with a bit of tension.

Holding his stomach Wwith Michelle Obama and Jill Biden at the Invictus Games in 2015. (Photo: SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)

His normal facial expression is actually typically a smile, which is wonderful and warm and engaging, Wood said. Here, the mouth is more closed, lips more pulled back and hes not smiling.

Wood also noted that Melania Trump, who kept her arms pressed closely to her body the whole time (a fear response), looked tense, too.

If you look at their smiles, hers has enormous amount of tension. Her look is slitted eyes, closed eyes, which we do in tension. We also close our eyes when we want to attack.

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Do you see it? (Photo: Pool/Samir Hussein via Getty Images)

Still, Navarro was firm that when it comes to Harry, we cant draw conclusions from a weird-looking hand position.

All we can say is that it is unusual, but we cant automatically say he intended it to be this or that, he said.

(Photo: SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)

That didnt stop Twitter users from saying it. They flooded the site with responses to the awkward photos, with many suggesting Harry was sending a subliminal message.

Prince Harry meeting FLOTUS and making devil hand sign. Is that a Hi Donald, or I'm Here So I Won't Get Fined? pic.twitter.com/BN61WH3dGx  Karen DaltonBeninato (@kbeninato) September 23, 2017

Prince Harry giving us a subliminal message that he knows the Trumps are the devil, too  Trying to ward off the evil  pic.twitter.com/1b6w1XGtOI  Sarah (@goldenlamb13) September 24, 2017

Prince #Harry's hand signal harkens back to Middle Ages - indicates that he believes the Devil's concubine is in the room. #FLOTUS45 pic.twitter.com/hsiCyhyuS0  Blake Lawrence (@BlakeLawrence) September 23, 2017

Is it just me, or does it look like Prince Harry is flashing some secret rescue hand signal here? pic.twitter.com/Hc2wkI1TUi  Kevin Flynn (@kevinpflynn) September 23, 2017

Gotta love Prince Harry trolling Melania Trump. The use of a hand gesture to ward off evil. America loves you Prince Harry! @KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/tjU1X3tTRS  RiotWomenn (@riotwomennn) September 24, 2017

Is the devil in the details? Unless Harry ever address his strange stance, we may never know.

Related...

Drop Everything And Look At This Photo Of Prince George And Prince Harry

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Also on HuffPost

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Kylie Jenner still hasnt confirmed or denied reports that she is pregnant with her first baby, with TMZ breaking the news about the 20-year-old star on Friday night.

However, many sources have come out of the woodwork to have their say on the make-up gurus news, with the latest claiming that Kylies dad, Caitlyn Jenner, is shocked and disappointed by her youngest daughters pregnancy.

Caitlyn isnt happy about the pregnancy. Copyright: [Getty]

Speaking to Hollywood Life, an insider explained: Caitlyn was really shocked and disappointed to learn that Kylie is pregnant.

She thinks Kylie is way too young to have a baby, and that she should have waited until she was in a long term committed relationship.

And although Kylie has millions in the bank, Caitlyn is more than aware that being a mum will take a huge toll on Kylies life.

Another source added that the former Olympian has vowed to support her daughter, however, she has mixed emotions over it all.

Kylie has been wearing baggy clothes as she ignores pregnancy rumours. Copyright: [Entertainment Tonight]

And it seems that Caitlyn isnt the only one to have her concerns, with it previously being reported that Kylies mum, Kris Jenner, and famous Kardashian sisters are worried that the reality star is naive about what she is getting herself into.

A source told People magazine: Kylie is very naive. Spending time with other peoples kids is obviously completely different than being a mum 24/7.

Kylie of course has no idea about all the hard work and sleepless nights. With Tyga, whenever things were good, Kylie said she wanted a baby.

Between spending lots of time with her nieces and nephews, and being around Tygas son [four-year-old King Cairo], she claimed she was ready.

Kylie and Travis have been dating since April. Copyright: [Rex]

Her family would beg her to protect herself. They were very concerned. They still think Kylie is too young to have a baby.

Kylie was pictured supporting her boyfriend Travis Scott at a music festival at the weekend, however, she was sure to keep any potential baby bump covered in a baggy jumper, with neither star commenting on the news.

Meanwhile, Kylies mum Kris refused to deny the speculation at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday, simply commenting that she was surprised to wake up to the rumours before adding: It wouldnt be the family if something didnt happen every single day.

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Kylie and Travis started dating in April, just weeks after she split from her long-term boyfriend Tyga.

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via @stevebousquet

Two judges who serve on Floridas First District Court of Appeal were table sponsors at a recent Friends of NRA charity fundraiser and were both listed by the title Judge in the events program, under the heading of sponsors and supporters.

Judges Clay Roberts and Kemmerly Thomas both confirmed they bought tables for the Sept. 15 event in Tallahassee. Both also said they asked the NRA that they be listed in the program by name only, not by title, and that they did not see the program beforehand.

Contributions to the Sept. 15 event in Tallahassee support The NRA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity. The program said the NRA Foundation supports initiatives, such as school safety, gun accident prevention and crime victim awareness. Two potential Republican opponents for governor, Richard Corcoran and Adam Putnam, were platinum sponsors. (Putnam is an announced candidate for governor, while Corcoran is still considering.)

Floridas Code of Judicial Conduct states that judges shall not use or permit the use of the prestige of judicial office for fundraising or membership solicitation.
Cambodia's opposition party on Monday began erecting banners nationwide calling for the release of its leader Kem Sokha, ahead of a bail ruling for the politician who was arrested three weeks ago.

The opposition leader was shunted into a remote prison on treason charges, which his allies have described as part of Premier Hun Sen's sweeping crackdown on dissent in the run-up to 2018 elections.

The self-described strongman has held power for 32 years in the impoverished democracy.

But his popularity slipped in a 2013 election and he has since moved deftly -- often leaning on pliant courts -- to silence critics in politics, the media and NGOs.

On Monday, a day before a court rules on the legality of Kem Sokha's detention, politicians from his embattled Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) erected a large banner outside their headquarters in Phnom Penh.

The mobilisation comes despite Hun Sen's threats to dissolve the party if they continue to "protect" their leader.

The banners show Kem Sokha waving to a sea of supporters during mass protests organised by the CNRP after the 2013 election, which the party accused Hun Sen of manipulating in his favour.

"We will erect the banners at all our offices in other provinces," deputy CNRP leader Pol Ham told reporters.

The goal was to "find justice for president Kem Sokha", added party whip Son Chhay.

Kem Sokha has been charged with conspiring in a "secret plan" with foreign entities that began in 1993.

Hun Sen has accused Washington of backing the alleged plot, sending relations into a tailspin, with the US ambassador denying the allegation as "absurd".

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met his Cambodian counterpart in Paris Monday to express concern at Kem Sokha's arrest, the ministry said in a statement.

Le Drian also expressed fears over the closure of several media outlets in Cambodia.

"He stressed the importance for Cambodia, in the run-up to the forthcoming parliamentary elections, to resume the path of a pluralistic democracy, respectful of human rights and fundamental freedoms," the ministry said.

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If Kem Sokha is found guilty, the new banners will have to be taken down under legislation banning parties from "using the voice, images or written documents" of anyone convicted of a crime.

That law, passed earlier this year, was aimed squarely at Kem Sokha's predecessor Sam Rainsy, who is living in exile to avoid a string of convictions he says are politically motivated.

The move was the latest in a long list of legal attempts to box the CNRP in, and sent the party scrambling to paint over Sam Rainsy's face on thousands of signs around the country.
By Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's main opposition party on Monday put up banners around the country calling for the release of its detained leader Kem Sokha in a challenge to the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, which has accused him of treason. Kem Sokha, the leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested on September 3 and charged with plotting against the state. Western countries and human rights groups have condemned the arrest and said it raises severe doubt over whether next year's general election can be fair. In the ballot, Hun Sen could face his greatest electoral test of more than three decades in power. The party's banners, which have a picture of Kem Sokha waving from a vehicle during the last election campaign in 2013, called for the leader's "immediate and unconditional release." Hun Sen has said the opposition must drop Kem Sokha and choose a new leader or face a total ban. "We will put up the banners, not just here, but we will put up banners at our branches in provinces," said Pol Ham, a deputy leader of the party. Son Chhay, another senior member of the party, said the crisis was worsening and talks were needed to resolve it. The evidence presented against Kem Sokha so far is a video recorded in 2013 in which he discusses a strategy to win power with the help of U.S. experts. Hun Sen says his rival was getting help from the United States. The U.S. embassy has rejected any suggestion of interference in politics. Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the opposition party's banners amounted to pressure on the court and an attempt to interfere with its work. "This is unacceptable," he said. A court is scheduled to hold a hearing to determine the legality of Kem Sokha's detention on Tuesday. (Editing by Michael Perry)
By Michelle Nichols and Christine Kim NEW YORK/SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's foreign minister said on Monday President Donald Trump had declared war on North Korea and that Pyongyang reserved the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down U.S. bombers even if they are not in its air space. Ri Yong Ho said a Twitter message by Trump on Saturday, in which the president warned that the minister and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer" if they acted on their threats, amounted to a declaration of war. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders on Monday denied the United States had declared war, calling the suggestion "absurd". Speaking earlier in New York, where he had been attending the annual U.N. General Assembly, Ri told reporters: "The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country." "Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country. "The question of who won't be around much longer will be answered then," Ri added. On Saturday, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew east of North Korea in a show of force after a heated exchange of rhetoric between Trump and Kim over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. "That operation was conducted in international airspace, over international waters, so we have the right to fly, sail and operate where legally permissible around the globe," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said on Monday. North Korea, which has remained technically at war with the United States since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty, has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the U.S. mainland and conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test this month. FEARS OF MISCALCULATION Pyongyang, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programs in defiance of international sanctions, accuses the United States of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies. However, recent rhetoric from both sides has been unusually harsh, raising fears of miscalculation that could have massive repercussions, even though U.S. officials have repeatedly stressed the administration prefers a negotiated solution. The latest round of heavy verbal salvoes began when Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address last Tuesday to "totally destroy" North Korea, a country of 26 million people, if it threatened the United States or its allies. In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim called Trump a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard" he would tame with fire. Kim said North Korea would consider the "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history" against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed Pyongyang's nuclear programme was "the correct path". Ri told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after "Mr Evil President" Trump called Kim a "rocket man" on a suicide mission. On Twitter late Saturday, Trump replied: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" On Monday, White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster defended Trump's rhetoric, saying he agreed with the U.S. president that the risk was that Kim Jong Un might fail to realise the danger he and his country were facing. McMaster voiced confidence that the United States could, for example, impose a military blockade if it chose, perhaps even as a part of a multinational effort. But he acknowledged risks of escalation with any U.S. military option. "We don't think there's an easy military solution to this problem. There's not a precision strike that solves the problem. There's not a military blockade that can solve the problem," he said, adding that ultimately it would come down to an international effort. Still, McMaster told a conference hosted by the Institute for the Study of War, Washington was concerned a nuclear-armed North Korea capable of hitting the United States was likely to engage in "nuclear blackmail," for instance to try to achieve its goal of getting U.S. troops off the Korean peninsula. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said it was vital Seoul and the United States handle the situation "with astuteness and steadfastness ... to prevent a further escalation of tension or any kind of accidental military clashes in the region which can quickly spiral out of control." "There cannot be another outbreak of war on the Korean peninsula; the consequences would be devastating," she told Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. CALLS FOR RESTRAINT Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the most senior serving U.S. official ever to visit Pyongyang, said it was "important to lower the temperature" of rhetoric. "I'm kind of concerned about accidents of some kind that might happen," she said. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the only solution to the crisis was a political one. "Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. China, North Korea's neighbour and main ally, which has nevertheless backed U.N. sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear programme, called for restraint on all sides. "We want things to calm down. It's getting too dangerous and it's in nobody's interest," China's U.N. Ambassador Liu Jieyi told Reuters. "We certainly hope (the United States and North Korea) will see that there is no other way than negotiations to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula ... The alternative is a disaster." China's said it was vital that everyone implement all North Korea-related U.N. resolutions, which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue. Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking to British Prime Minister Theresa May by telephone, said he hoped Britain could play a constructive role in achieving a peaceful solution via talks, Chinese state media said. Defence experts said North Korea would have difficulty shooting down a U.S. bomber with missiles or fighter planes given its limited capabilities, and if it tried and failed, would appear weak. "It is unlikely to take such a risk," said Bruce Bennett of the Rand Corp think tank. "So this sounds like another attempt by North Korea to 'deter by bluster' U.S. actions the regime does not like." Ri warned on Friday North Korea might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean, in what would be North Korea's first atmospheric nuclear test. Experts said such a move, while perhaps not imminent, would be proof of North Korea's ability to successfully deliver a nuclear warhead on a missile. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York, Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Christine Kim in Seoul; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom, Idrees Ali, Doina Chiacu, Phil Stewart and Matt Spetalnick in Washington, Zhu Zhang in Beijing, Elizabeth Piper in London and Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Writing by Philip Wen and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Grant McCool and James Dalgleish)
Thats one way to avoid paying the fare.

Video of a man clinging to the rear of a speeding train by a windshield wiper is getting a viral ride on the internet.

The daredevil was caught train surfing for about four minutes in Perth, Australia, on Saturday, The West Australian reported.

A railroad employee phoned the Public Transit Authority while the stunt was ongoing, and agency officers met the 23-year-old thrill-seeker at the next stop, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Were he to fall ... he would have almost certainly been killed, if not badly injured, PTA spokesman David Hynes said, per the outlet.

The train reached speeds of about 70 miles an hour as the man held on, 7News in Perth reported.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the PTAs decision to let the train continue to the next station instead of stopping immediately would be investigated. She called the stunt pure stupidity.

The unidentified man was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation, ABC said, and could face trespassing charges.

h/t HuffPost Australia

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Matchstick Model Train!

The world's largest matchstick model train has rolled into Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium.

Matchstick Model Train!

More than a million matchsticks went into the creation of "Plane Loco." The matchstick train is so big and so strong that visitors can climb aboard into the engineer's cabin and sit in the cab. The throttle, brake and forward levers all move -- just like a real train.

Matchstick Model Train!

The steampunk-inspired locomotive features classic turn-of-the century details of both a plane and a train.

Matchstick Model Train!

The exhibit is unbelievable in many ways, according to Edward Meyer, Ripley's VP of Exhibits and Archives. This train is an incredible work on its own, but the fact that Pat built it one single matchstick at a time is what visitors will find truly mind-boggling, he said.

Matchstick Model Train!

The matchstick locomotive, "Plane Loco," was created by Pat Acton, a matchstick artist based in Gladbrook, Iowa. He spent 3,000 hours over a 14-month period building the train, his largest creation yet.

Matchstick Model Train!

The train weighs more than 750 pounds, and contains 35 gallons of wood glue.

Matchstick Model Train!

Before the train could be installed at the Times Square Odditorium, Acton had it trucked from Iowa in 70 separate pieces. The artist personally supervised the installation.

Matchstick Model Train!

The train, which measures 22 feet long, 13 feet wide and 9 feet high, is now on display to the public.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Berlin (AFP) - The Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Sunday became the first hard-right, openly anti-immigration party to win dozens of seats in parliament since World War II, breaking a taboo despite mainstream politicians' calls to halt "the Nazis" in their tracks.

Exit polls credited the AfD with around 13 percent of the vote, making it the third biggest political force in Germany -- a stunning result for a party that was founded just four years ago.

"We will change this country," vowed Alexander Gauland, one of the party's top two candidates, pledging to "go after" Chancellor Angela Merkel's government.

It promised that it would make it a priority to launch a parliamentary probe against Merkel over her decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015.

After already winning seats in 13 of 16 state parliaments, the AfD will now send dozens of lawmakers to the Bundestag opposition benches, giving them a platform to spread their views, including challenging Germany's culture of atonement over World War II and the massacre of six million Jews and others in the Holocaust.

The AfD's feat sparked protests in several German cities, including hundreds of people in Berlin who shouted "Nazis out" in front of a club where the party was celebrating.

It was also condemned by Jewish groups and Germany's established political parties, but celebrated by Europe's far-right leaders like France's Marine Le Pen and the Netherlands' Geert Wilders.

World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder said "it is abhorrent that the AfD party, a disgraceful reactionary movement which recalls the worst of Germany's past and should be outlawed, now has the ability within the German parliament to promote its vile platform".

Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said that "unfortunately, our worst fears have come true: a party that tolerates far-right views in its ranks and incites hate against minorities in our country is today not only in almost all state parliaments but also represented in the Bundestag."

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"I expect all our democratic forces to unveil the real face of the AfD and to expose the party's empty, populist promises," Schuster added, calling on mainstream parties to close ranks and kick the upstarts out in the next election.

Merkel acknowledged that the party's entry into parliament posed a "big new challenge" and vowed to "win back AfD voters", while the Social Democratic Party's leader Martin Schulz vowed that his party, in opposition, would act as a "bulwark against these enemies of democracy".

- 'Bikinis, not burkas' -

The AfD began life in 2013 as an anti-euro protest party but then shifted focus to capitalise on misgivings over the record migrant influx in Germany.

Its tone turned increasingly extreme in the last stretch of campaigning, with one of its two leading candidates saying Germany should be proud of its war veterans and claiming that terror was grounded in Islam.

Provocative posters declared "Burkas? We prefer bikinis" and "New Germans? Let's make them ourselves", featuring a pregnant white woman.

Its supporters heckled Merkel's rallies across the country, jeering, whistling and chanting "get lost" in attempts to drown her out.

Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, a Social Democrat, has warned that "for the first time since the end of the second World War, real Nazis will sit in the German parliament".

The AfD will be a pariah in parliament as all mainstream parties have ruled out working with it, but the populists could still be vocally disruptive from the opposition benches.

- 'Le Pen pales in comparison' -

Critics say widening social inequality is also playing into the hands of AfD populists, especially in the deindustrialised heartlands of the former communist east.

The party captured close to one in four votes in the east, where it was the second strongest party.

Thorsten Benner, head of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin, said the AfD's rise shows that "our population is no more virtuous than the French population," and that "even Le Pen pales in comparison".

The AfD "will challenge key themes" in parliament, he said, pointing to Germany's culture of wartime remembrance and debate on cultural identity.

Gauland recently called for Germans to stop atoning for the past.

He also said integration commissioner Aydan Ozoguz should be "disposed of in Anatolia", suggesting she will never be German because of her Turkish origin.

The presence of the AfD "will very much change the tone of debate in parliament," Benner warned.
Donald Trump said he was working to

Donald Trump unveiled a revamped travel ban on Sunday just as his controversial immigration order covering six Muslim-majority nations was coming to an end.

Citizens of seven countries will face new restrictions on entry to the US under a proclamation signed by the US President.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Mr Trump said in a tweet.

The new rules, which will affect the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, will go into effect on October 18.

Most citizens of these countries will be indefinitely banned from entering the US.

Venezuela was also added to the list, but a suspension of non-immigrant visas to its citizens applies only to senior government officials and their immediate families.

Iraqi citizens will not be subject to travel prohibitions but will face enhanced scrutiny or vetting.

Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet.https://t.co/KJ886okyfC  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

The announcement comes the same day as Mr Trumps temporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries is set to expire, 90 days after it went into effect.

That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States" from entering the US. Restrictions on citizens from Sudan were lifted.

"As President, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States and its people," reads the proclamation.

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from the original, mostly Muslim-majority list.

"North Korea does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements," the proclamation said.

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An administration official, briefing reporters on a conference call, acknowledged that the number of North Koreans travelling to the United States now was very low.

Officials stressed that valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-case waivers.

Donald Trumps travel ban

The restrictions are targeted at countries that Department of Homeland Security officials say refuse to share information with the US or havent taken necessary security precautions.

"The acting secretary has recommended actions that are tough and that are tailored, including restrictions and enhanced screening for certain countries," said Miles Taylor, counselor to acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, said on Friday.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump told reporters about the ban: "The tougher, the better."

Unlike Mr Trumps first travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports across the country and a flurry of legal challenges, officials said they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.

The restrictions are based on a new baseline developed by DHS that includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information and share information about travellers terror-related and criminal histories. The US then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply.

The eight countries are those that refused or were unable to comply.

Mr Trump last week called for a "tougher" travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.

"The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!" he tweeted.

Critics have accused Mr Trump of overstepping his authority and violating the US Constitutions protections against religious bias. Mr Trump had called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" during his campaign.

The new policy could complicate the Supreme Courts review of the order, which is scheduled for argument next month.
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. 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.

Story continues

Originally published on Live Science.

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Istanbul (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Ankara would close its border with northern Iraq over an independence referendum and threatened the Iraqi Kurds with blocking their key oil exports.

"Entrance-exit will be closed" at the Habur border crossing, Turkey's sole land border crossing with Iraq, Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.

He said there were currently crossings allowed to the Iraqi side only but travel would be closed in both directions this week.

He added: "After this let's see through which channels they will send their oil through... and who they will sell to. The valve is with us. It's finished the moment we close it."

Iraqi Kurdish oil is exported through Turkey and its southern Ceyhan port, a key economic lifeline for the region.

Although Turkey enjoys strong ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Ankara fears the vote could raise separatist aspirations among its own sizeable Kurdish minority, the largest in the region.

Iraqi Kurds were voting on Monday in defiance of warnings from Ankara as well as Baghdad and Iran. But Erdogan said "irrespective of the result, we see this as null and void and say it is illegitimate".

He again urged the KRG to take a step back and appeared to threaten the northern Iraq administration of a possible cross-border operation.

"In Iraq, when necessary, we will not shy away from taking these types of steps," Erdogan said, referring to Turkey's military operation launched last year in Syria against Islamic State extremists and Syrian Kurdish militia.

Last week the Turkish armed forces began a military drill in the region around the border town of Silopi including 100 military vehicles, which continued with reinforcements this weekend.

"We are taking and will take all the steps on political, economic, trade and security fronts. The armed forces did not take necessary steps in Silopi for no reason. There is no compromise," Erdogan promised.

The Turkish parliament on Saturday approved overwhelmingly a one-year extension of a mandate to use troops abroad in Syria and Iraq.

Earlier Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ankara would take steps with regard to air space "before it is too late" although flights to northern Iraq from Turkey are reported to be running as normal.
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The ambassadors to Washington from Britain, France, Germany and the European Union all strongly backed the international nuclear agreement with Iran on Monday, as long as Tehran continues to comply with the pact. U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing whether the 2015 deal serves U.S. security interests as he faces a mid-October deadline for certifying that Iran is complying with the pact, a decision that could sink an agreement strongly supported by the other world powers that negotiated it. "We agree that the demise of this agreement would be a major loss," David O'Sullivan, the European Union's envoy in Washington, said at an Atlantic Council panel discussion. German Ambassador Peter Wittig said anyone advocating walking away should consider "larger issues," including an increased danger Iran would resume enrichment, danger of a nuclear arms race in an unstable region and impact on global nonproliferation efforts. "What kind of signal would this send to countries like North Korea?" Wittig asked. "It would send a signal that diplomacy is not reliable, that you can't trust diplomatic agreements, and that would affect, I believe, our credibility in the West when we're not honoring an agreement that Iran has not violated." If Trump does not recertify by Oct. 16, Congress has 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions suspended under the accord. That would let Congress, which is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, effectively decide whether to kill the deal. Although congressional leaders have declined to say whether they would seek to reimpose sanctions, every Republican lawmaker opposed the deal reached by Democratic President Barack Obama's administration. Many, like Trump, have made opposition to the agreement a campaign issue. If Washington pulls out of the deal, the ambassadors said they would do everything possible to protect any companies based in Europe that continue to do business with Iran from reimposed U.S. sanctions. Britain's ambassador, Kim Darroch, said Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May had devoted about half their discussion to Iran when they met in New York last week, although Trump did not reveal his decision. He said May had explained again why Britain supports the nuclear pact, seeing it as a matter of national security. "As long as the Iranians continue to comply with it, in the view of the IAEA, we will continue to support it," he said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Speaking separately at another event in Washington, White House national security adviser H.R. McMaster defended Trump's criticism of the deal. "I obviously agree with the president on this, I think it was the worst deal. It gave Iran all of the benefits up front," McMaster said, adding that it had the "fatal flaw of a 'sunset clause'." He was speaking at an event hosted by the Institute for the Study of War. The so-called sunset clauses are provisions under which some of the deal's restrictions on Iran's nuclear program expire from 2025. French Ambassador Gerard Araud noted that the other countries that signed the pact - Russia, China and Iran - had made clear that they do not support renegotiating. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle Additional reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and James Dalgleish)
via @ceostroff

Voicemails left on Florida Gov. Rick Scotts cellphone by employees of the Hollywood nursing home where 11 died in the post-Hurricane Irma heat have been deleted, according to the governors office.

Scott gave out his number to nursing homes and assisted living facilities ahead of the hurricane so administrators could report concerns, according to a timeline released by Scotts office. In the days following Irma, the staff at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills called four times. But the messages they left the governor werent kept, as first reported by CBS4s Jim DeFede.

The voicemails were not retained because the information from each voicemail was collected by the governors staff and given to the proper agency for handling. Every call was returned, Lauren Schenone, a spokeswoman for Scott, said in a statement on Sunday.

More here.
After New York, London and Milan, the French capital is rolling out the red carpet for Paris Fashion Week, which opens Monday, September 25, with a single show from Jacquemus at 8pm. This final Fashion Week for the spring/summer 2018 ready-to-wear season will be keenly watched, with debut collections, a birthday bonanza and a life-sized fashion show all on the agenda. Here are five of the hottest shows to watch out for at this season's Paris Fashion Week.

Lacoste's 85th anniversary

All eyes will be on Lacoste, Wednesday, September 27, with an eagerly awaited show launching various festivities to celebrate the brand's 85th anniversary. For the occasion, the brand -- founded in 1933 -- is making a comeback to Paris after no less than 13 years away. This return to its roots will allow Felipe Oliveira Baptista -- Lacoste creative director since 2010 -- to present his first collection for the crocodile brand in the French capital. All in all, it's set to be one of the most closely watched shows of this season's Paris Fashion Week.

A Givenchy debut

Back in March, Givenchy announced the arrival of English fashion designer Clare Waight Keller as its new creative director, replacing Riccardo Tisci, who stepped down a month earlier. The fashion house is now poised to reveal the first ever ready-to-wear collection from the former Chloe creative director. The show, held October 1, will be watched with eagle eyes, as the fashion world waits to find what new direction Givenchy will take, after being heavily influenced by Riccardo Tisci's style during his 12-year stint at the helm of the fashion house.

New designer at Chloe

As a result of Clare Waight Keller's departure, Chloe will also be in the spotlight this Fashion Week. The fashion house named Natacha Ramsay-Levi as its new creative director in March, shining the spotlight on a second female designer at this season's Paris Fashion Week. The French designer, who previously worked with Nicolas Ghesquiere, will present her first ever collection for the label, September 28.

Olivier Lapidus at Lanvin

Founded in 1889, Lanvin has seen several changes over the last couple of years. After the departure of Alber Elbaz in fall 2015, the fashion house waited five months to sign up Bouchra Jarrar as its new creative director of womenswear collections. Just two seasons later, the French fashion designer left the oldest Parisian fashion house still in operation. French designer Olivier Lapidus ultimately took the creative helm at Lanvin in July 2017. He joins the line-up of designers presenting debut collections at PFW, with his first collection for the house set to preview at an eagerly anticipated show, September 27.

The world's biggest fashion show

In partnership with the French federation of haute couture and fashion, and with support from Paris city hall, L'Oreal Paris is staging its first ever fashion and beauty show on the French capital's famous Champs-Elysees, October 1. This unprecedented event will bring no less than 30 makeup artists, 30 hair stylists, 50 L'Oreal Paris spokespeople and models, 600 front-row VIP guests, and some 300,000 Parisians to this most prestigious of avenues. It's definitely a must-see.
Despite once saying that it was "crazy" to believe Russians influenced the 2016 election, Facebook knew about a possible operation as early as June, 2016, the Washington Post reports. It only started taking it seriously after President Obama met privately with CEO Mark Zuckerberg ahead of Trump's inauguration. He warned that if the social network didn't take action to mitigate fake news and political agitprop, it would get worse during the next election. Obama's aides are said to regret not doing more to handle the problem. At the time, Zuckerberg admitted the social network knew about problems, but told Obama that it wasn't widespread and that there wasn't a lot Facebook could do in any case. In June 2016, Facebook's security team found suspicious accounts set up by the Kremlin-backed APT28 hacking team, also known as Guccifer 2.0, the Post says. However, it found no solid proof of Russian disinformation and turned over everything it found to the US government. Reportedly, neither US law enforcement nor national security personnel met with Facebook to share or discuss the information. After Obama pulled Zuckerberg aside, Facebook starting taking the problem more seriously, but again failed to find clear links to Russian operatives, the WaPo says. On July 20th this year, Facebook actually told CNN that "we have seen no evidence that Russian actors bought ads on Facebook in connection with the election." It finally uncovered proof of suspicious activity after tracking a firm called the Internet Research Agency, a known Russian hacking operation. By working backwards, it discovered over 3,000 ads around social and political issues it had posted between 2015 and 2017. Putin-backed Russian groups paid up to $100,000 to buy the ads, and boosted anti-immigrant rallies in Idaho, among other activities. Facebook recently turned over the ads to the US Intelligence Committee and congressional investigators, who say the findings are likely just "the tip of the iceberg." Facebook executives will also testify before a Senate Intelligence committee. While it appears that Facebook turned over any evidence to US law enforcement as soon as it found it, ads and fake news are filtered mostly by algorithms. Facebook's human content gatekeepers, often contractors, are mostly on the watch for violent or sexually explicit materials, not foreign propaganda. In response the latest report, a company spokesman says that "we believe in the power of democracy, which is why we're taking this work on elections integrity so seriously, and have come forward at every opportunity to share what we've found." However, many observers think that Facebook can't be trusted on the problem. "It's rooted in their overconfidence that they know best, their naivete about how the world works, their extensive effort to avoid oversight and their business model of having very few employees so that no one is minding the store," Professor Zeynep Tufekci from UNC Chapel Hill told the Post. Other critics believe that Facebook is going to need much more oversight. "Right now they are operating in an arena where they have some, but very few, legal responsibilities," Stanford Law School scholar Morgan Weiland told The Atlantic earlier this month. "We are going to keep seeing examples of this kind, and at some point the jig is going to be up and the regulators are going to act."

Right now they are operating in an arena where they have some, but very few, legal responsibilities. We are going to keep seeing examples of this kind, and at some point the jig is going to be up and the regulators are going to act.
German Chancellor and Christian Democrat (CDU) Angela Merkel speaks - Getty Images Europe

The far-Right returned to the German parliament for the first time in almost 60 years on Sunday night as Angela Merkel won a record-equalling fourth term in power.

The success of the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which became the third largest party, tempered a remarkable political comeback by Mrs Merkel after the controversy over her handling of the migrant crisis.

Her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) remained the largest party in parliament, and the only party capable of forming a government, although analysts said it could take until Christmas to forge a coalition.

Of course we hoped for a better result, Mrs Merkel told supporters in Berlin. But we have a mandate to form a government. And no government can be formed against us.

But she acknowledged that dramatic gains for the AfD were the biggest challenge facing her government, and vowed to win voters back from the party which campaigned on a nationalist anti-immigrant platform.

This is a great night. We did it. We are in parliament, Alexander Gauland, the AfDs chancellor candidate said. We will change this country, he vowed.

Supporters of the the German right-wing populist party 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD), react Credit: EPA/THORSTEN WAGNER

We will hunt Merkel, and reclaim our country and our people.

But Germanys system of coalition government will limit the impact of the AfD as mainstream parties unite against it. Mrs Merkels former coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) suffered the worst electoral defeat in its history and immediately announced it would go into opposition.

Initial exit polls gave the CDU 32.5 per cent of the vote together with its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU)  down from 41.5 per cent four years ago.

AfD top candidates Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel celebrate with their supporters Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner

The SPD were second with 20 per cent, followed by the AfD with 13.5 per cent  expected to translate to around 88 seats in parliament.

We lost the election, Martin Schulz, the SPD leader who was talked of as Germanys next chancellor as recently as six months ago, told supporters.

But he said he wanted to stay on as party leader and vowed to take the fight to the AfD. We are the bulwark of democracy, he said. AfD hopes of becoming the official opposition party appeared to be dashed when the SPD announced it would not seek a renewal of the current Grand Coalition with Mrs Merkel.

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German Social Democrat (SPD) and chancellor candidate Martin Schulz speaks Credit: Maja Hitij/Getty Images

This is a rejection of the Grand Coalition, Thomas Oppermann, the partys parliamentary leader said.

The rise of the AfD and the fall in the CDUs share of the vote were widely seen as a backlash over Mrs Merkels controversial 2015 decision to open Germanys borders to asylum-seekers.

But less than a year after many had written Mrs Merkels chances off and her political obituaries were being written, a result which allows her to remain chancellor will also be seen as a comeback.

Profile | Angela Merkel

All eyes will now turn to coalition talks, and Mrs Merkels attempts to form a new government. The SPDs decision to return to opposition has limited her options, with a three-way coalition with the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens the only obvious option.

The FDP, which returned to parliament with 10.5 per cent after losing all their seats four years ago, have long been seen as Mrs Merkels preferred coalition partner.

The Greens, who won 9 per cent, are also seen as a viable partner after moving to a more pragmatic, centrist course in recent years  but they are not natural bedfellows for the FDP.

The drop in the CDUs vote share means the two smaller parties will be able to demand a heavy price for their support.

It was a bad night for Martin Schulz and the Socialists, but also for Mrs Merkel and the Christian Democrats. She still heads the largest party, but she enters these coalition negotiations with a weakened hand, Christian Odendahl, of the Centre for European Reform think-tank in Berlin said.

It is the FDP who will be in the strongest position and will now demand the finance ministry, along with the Greens who showed they can win with centrist candidates."

"Forming a three-party government is going to be very difficult, said Dan Hough, professor of politics at the University of Sussex, who is in Germany to monitor the elections.

The Greens and the FDP will feel emboldened by the result and given their traditional animosity it's in no way certain that the three parties will be able to strike a coalition agreement.

The SPD will be traumatised. It's worse even than the doomsayers were predicting. What does all that mean? A betting man certainly would not discount another election before too long.

Coalition negotiations are likely to be protracted. Talks typically continue for several weeks or months as parties hold out for the best deal, and analysts said a new government may not be formed before Christmas.
Lukas Cavar was trapped in a cave during an Indiana University trip - Facebook

A US student was trapped in a cave for three days without food or water after he was left behind on a group excursion.

Lukas Cavar, a first year student at Indiana University, was on a spelunking trip when he became separated from the rest of the group.

The terrified 19-year-old survived by licking the moisture off the cave walls and left messages to his family and friends on his phone fearing he wouldnt make it out alive.

When the forgotten student reached the entrance of the cave he found it was padlocked shut. He couldnt get any reception on his phone and shouted for hours trying to attract the attention of passers-by.

I managed to get some water from the cave walls, by basically licking the moisture off the wall, he told Reuters.

My biggest worry was not making it out alive. I was afraid I would never see my friends or family again.

The teenager was eventually rescued after 60 hours when other members of the caving club and his parents reported him missing.

He didnt require any medical attention and said the first thing he wanted to do after being rescued was eat and drink and put on some warm clothes.

The university Caving Club told the Indiana Daily Student said there had been a failure in our leadership to follow the safety protocols.

We have a series of rigorous protocols in place that are supposed to prevent situations like this, but they are only effective if followed.
Mexico City (AFP) - With protective goggles fitted under her furry ears and boots on all four paws, Frida wags her tail as she scales the mountains of rubble left by this week's devastating earthquake in Mexico.

The golden labrador is using her sense of smell to try to detect any survivors left in the wreckage of buildings brought down on Tuesday by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake.

The courageous canine has become iconic in Mexico, a four-legged symbol of the solidarity behind the rescue operations whose fame has been spread on television and social media.

One man in Mexico's northeast has even had her image tattooed on his arm. And a t-shirt maker is selling a line with her face above the slogan "We can be heroes."

The dog is part of the Canine Unit of Mexico's Navy, which has been active at the sites of 39 buildings brought down in the quake.

Frida was notably deployed at a collapsed school in the capital's south where 19 children and six adults died. Officials say there is still the possibility that an adult is trapped alive in the debris.

"Frida is a specialist in detecting people alive under rubble," her handler, Petty Officer Israel Arauz told AFP.

In her career, which included being sent to Ecuador for a major earthquake last year, she has saved 12 lives, he said.

When she turns up, many Marines drop their stern military demeanor to rush to pet her and have a photo taken alongside her.

"She brings joy, tenderness and hope. Civilians salute her and applaud her in the street," said one soldier as he rubbed her belly.

The dog's personality is "very gentle, but also very strong temperamentally," Arauz said, adding that she would likely be retired next year when she turns eight.

"For me, it's an honor to handle her on these missions," he said.

- Dogs lost and found -

The spontaneous display of solidarity in Mexico against natural disasters has been a source of surprise and inspiration internationally.

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Media around the world covering this week's quake have highlighted the generosity of Mexicans who have donated food, medicine and basic supplies, as well as the volunteers who have leaped forward to help professional emergency crews to remove rubble.

That same rush to help can be seen with dog-owners.

"We have come to support the UNAM brigade to detect people and rescue them," said Jean Louis Zuniga, an amateur dog trainer who turned up at a collapsed building with several of his charges, including a labrador, a border collie, a boxer and a pitbull.

But dogs weren't only part of the rescue teams -- they were also among the quake's victims. Several died, others became trapped in the rubble after losing their owners or becoming injured.

Many have been rescued, with some being hauled out of windows on ropes.

There are also free veterinarian clinics dotted around the city to look after injured animals, and centers dispensing dog food and medicine.

"I'm so desperate, I am looking for my Candy," said Cecilia Vega, a university student ceaselessly going to each center, with a photograph in hand of her chihuahua missing since the earthquake.

Like Candy, many dogs have been found without owners. Images of them have started to circulate on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, on forums created especially.

"She's called Precious and she got lost during the earthquake. She has problems breathing and is skittish," read one posting on the Twitter feed of @MascotasSismo (translated as QuakePets), under the image of a white dog with the tongue hanging out.

"Back with his owners!" read another, showing Brook, a grey pitbull.
By Julien Toyer and Sam Edwards MADRID/BARCELONA (Reuters) - Spanish authorities have done enough to prevent any meaningful independence referendum in Catalonia, two senior government officials said on Monday, though they might let a mock secession "party" take place. Facing one of its biggest political crises since the return of democracy more than four decades ago, the government in Madrid has declared the Oct. 1 referendum unconstitutional and taken police and court action to block it. "There may be a party on Sunday at which, on squares and in streets, some voting stalls may be installed and a mock vote may take place," one of the officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "But it will not be a referendum," he added, describing the process as "discredited". The government has in recent weeks scaled up efforts to prevent the ballot by exerting more control over the use of public funds there, arresting regional officials and seizing election leaflets. It has also threatened fines against bureaucrats working on the referendum, including the region's election commission, which was dissolved last week. Those actions have sparked mass demonstrations, and Catalan leaders remain determined to hold the vote, saying the regional assembly in Barcelona would declare independence within 48 hours of a "yes". A 'yes' vote is likely, given that most of the 40 percent of Catalans who polls show support independence are expected to cast ballots while most of those against it are not. But the unrelenting opposition from Madrid means any such result would go all but unrecognised as a valid expression of the will of the wealthy region's 5.5 million voters. The officials said Catalonia lacked a proper election commission, ballots boxes, ballot papers, a transparent census and election material. "Not even Venezuela or North Korea will recognise it. And if they do, I am not sure it would help the independence campaign a lot," the first official said. A previous referendum on independence, held in November 2014 and also declared illegal by Madrid, saw a majority call for separation from Spain but was dismissed as non-representative as many in favour of staying boycotted it. The 2014 vote, when 2.23 million cast ballots, led to a snap election that returned a pro-independence coalition which relied on ten members of the far-left CUP to hold a parliamentary majority. Many observers believe the most likely outcome of the current independence campaign will be another snap election, paving the way for talks between central and local government including a potential constitutional reform to better accommodate Catalonia within Spain. (Reporting by Julien Toyer and Sam Edwards; Editing by Angus Berwick and John Stonestreet)
By Paul Carrel and Thomas Escritt

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives beat their rivals on Sunday to win her a fourth term in an election that will also bring a far-right party into Germany's parliament for the first time in more than half a century, exit polls showed.

After shock election results last year, from Britain's vote to leave the European Union to the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, many look to Merkel to rally a bruised liberal Western order, tasking her with leading a post-Brexit Europe.

She must now form a coalition government - an arduous process that could take months as all potential partners are unsure whether they really want to share power with her.

Merkel's conservative bloc won 32.5 percent of the vote, making them the largest parliamentary group, an exit poll for broadcaster ARD indicated. However, that was down from 41.5 percent in the last election, in 2013.

Support for their closest rivals, the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) which are currently junior partners in a so-called "grand coalition" with Merkel, slumped to 20.0 percent - a new post-war low. The SPD ruled out a re-run of that tie-up.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by finishing third and entering parliament for the first time with 13.5 percent of the vote.

Merkel, Europe's longest serving leader, joins the late Helmut Kohl, her mentor who reunified Germany, and Konrad Adenauer, who led Germany's rebirth after World War Two, as the only post-war chancellors to win four national elections.

SPD deputy leader Manuela Schwesig said her party would now go into opposition. That would rule out a re-run of Merkel's existing alliance with the SPD.

An alternative coalition for Merkel would be a three-way tie-up with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the ecologist Greens. That is a combination as yet untested at national level and known as the "Jamaica" option because the three parties' colors are those of the black-gold-green Jamaica national flag.

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Both the FDP and the environmentalist Greens have played down the prospect of a Jamaica coalition, but as they have been out of government for four and 12 years respectively, they may be lured into an alliance by the prospect of power.

NEW ERA

Whatever the make-up of her coalition, Merkel, 63, faces four years of government in a fragmented parliament after the return of the FDP - unrepresented at national level for the last four years - and the arrival of the AfD.

Founded in 2013 by an anti-euro group of academics, the AfD has morphed into an anti-immigration party that has profited from Merkel's 2015 decision to leave German borders open to over 1 million migrants, most of them fleeing war in the Middle East.

The party's entry into the national parliament heralds the beginning of a new era in German politics that will see more robust debate and a departure from the steady, consensus-based approach that has marked the post-war period.

The other parties elected to the Bundestag all refuse to work with the AfD, which says it will press for Merkel to be "severely punished" for opening the door to refugees and migrants.

After the AfD hurt her conservatives in regional elections last year, Merkel, a pastor's daughter who grew up in Communist East Germany, wondered if she should run for re-election.

But with the migrant issue under control this year, she threw herself into a punishing campaign schedule, presenting herself as an anchor of stability in an uncertain world.

Related:

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(Additional reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Keith Weir)
By Joseph Nasr BERLIN (Reuters) - Syrian refugees rejoiced on Sunday at the news that Angela Merkel had secured a fourth term as German chancellor, but said they were alarmed by the rise of the far-right AfD party, which they feared could push her to tighten asylum rules. "We prayed that Merkel would win," said Fatima al-Haidar, a mother of two from Damascus. "Allah answered our prayers. To us she represents wisdom and humanity." While Merkel's conservative bloc won most seats in parliament, the result was its worst since 1949 as voters turned en masse to smaller parties. The conservatives bled support to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), which entered parliament for the first time as the third-biggest party, cashing in on anger at Merkel's decision to welcome more than 1.3 million refugees. "Merkel put her career on the line to help us," said Haidar's 55-year-old husband Ayman. "We want to learn German and contribute to the success of this country through work, simply to prove that she was right and her opponents were wrong." Fatima and Ayman found out the election results from their 14-year-old son Zayd, who tuned in to the public broadcaster ZDF on his mobile phone to break the news to his parents and their friends as exit polls came in. "When Zayd told us Merkel had won we did a zalghouta," said Roula Mohammad, referring to a tongue trill that Arab women perform during weddings. "We need a wise woman like her in Syria to end the war." The Syrian refugees were having dinner at Al Dimashqi, a popular Arab restaurant on Sonnenallee, a long boulevard in Berlin's poor neighbourhood of Neukoelln that refugees call "Arab Street" for its abundance of Arabic shop signs. The AfD's campaign appealed unashamedly to voters who feel that the influx of mainly Muslim migrants will undermine German culture, asserting that Islamic customs have no place in Germany. Merkel's conservatives and their Social Democrat coalition partners in the outgoing government quietly introduced stricter asylum rules last year after losing support to the AfD in regional elections. Refugees fear that the AfD's stunning showing of more than 13 percent of the vote on Sunday could spell even tougher immigration rules under the next Merkel-led government. "She is less popular because of us," said Nabil Zainaldin, 32, from Aleppo. "We totally understand that Germans are worried. All we can do to reassure them is to be law-abiding citizens. But we are also worried: what will the asylum policy of the new government be?" (Additional reporting by Riham Alkoussa; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
We are green with envy over Gisele Bundchens latest red carpet look. The model attended the Green Carpet Fashion Awards during Milan Fashion Week in a stunning floor-length green gown with a huge cutout in the back.

Gisele Bundchen wore a gorgeous green dress on the green carpet at Milan Fashion Week. (Photo: Getty Images)

In keeping with the events theme, the Stella McCartney gown was beautiful and sustainable, crafted from sustainably sourced viscose from sustainably certified forests in Sweden, according to Bundchens Instagram.

And apparently, you can make one heck of a dress without all those fancy yet unethical materials.

Bundchen looked like a siren in the mermaid-style frock with spaghetti straps. The cutout went from midback to right above her tush, exposing a hefty amount of the former Victorias Secret Angels flawless skin. Her hair was in loose natural waves, and her face glowed.

The avid environmentalist was clearly excited that this event was happening, and not just because she won its Eco Laureate Award. The world needs people and businesses that can lead the way toward more sustainable solutions, she wrote on Instagram. The fashion industry has the power to lead this movement, bringing focus to environmental, social, and ethical challenges on a global scale. We need to unite to find real answers. Our very existence depends on the health of our planet. When we take care of the earth, we take care of ourselves. We are all connected. .

And she wasnt the star bringing the sustainably chic fashion. Dakota Johnson also showed up for the inaugural event hosted by Eco-Age. Johnson wore a black organic silk tulle dress with recycled brass embroidered cups. Swarovski crystals were featured on the straps, bodice, belt, and skirt. Her matching clutch featured recycled brass with lead-free metal hardware, plated with RJC-CoC [Responsible Jewelry Council Chain-of-Custody] certified gold, according to Milan Fashion Weeks Instagram.

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Johnson was sustainable from head to toe, wearing black biological silk platform shoes made with natural cork, recycled plastic, Italian vegetable-tanned soles, and insoles made with Forest Stewardship Council-certified cellulose and recycled polyester yarn.

Elsa Hosk accepted the Green Carpet Challenge in a red A-line gown with a ribbon belt and a high neck designed by Alberta Ferretti. The dress was made from certified organic silk chiffon, which was produced in a weaving mill in Como, Italy. The gown featured recycled hand-dyed lace and zippers.

Zoe Saldana walked the green carpet in Armani Prive. The floor-length lavender gown created a wispy look with cascading ruffles.

Naomi Campbell supported the event in an Atelier Versace Spring 2017 Couture mermaid gown with silver detailing and an ombre white-to-yellow feathered skirt.

Model Karolina Kurkova attended in a Ferragamo gown that featured floral appliques embroidered with lead-free advanced crystals from Swarowski. The silk organza look was woven and printed with GOTS-certified fibers, according to Milan Fashion Weeks Instagram. The short strapless number featured a panel in the back that created a butterfly effect. The bespoke accessories were also made of GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)-certified fibers.

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Saturdays Google Doodle paid homage to Asima Chatterjee, a renowned organic chemist from India.

Saturday marks what would have been Chatterjees 100th birthday. The chemist died at the age of 89 in 2006.

Chatterjee was the first woman to receive a Doctorate of Science in India and her work involved many breakthroughs in medicine. According to her Google Doodle page, her work contributed to the development of treatments for epilepsy, malaria and chemotherapy.

Chatterjee was also given high honors in India. She received the Padma Bhushan, which is the third-highest award a civilian can receive in India. She was also appointed as a member of the upper house of Parliament. She continued her work with chemistry by founding and heading the chemistry department for Lady Brabourne College, starting a research institute and mentoring others.

Todays Doodle pays homage to this trailblazer and her great accomplishments in the name of science, the statement read on the Google Doodle page.
Sleek, sophisticated hair with an edge is the way to go for Spring 2018, if the catwalk looks at Milan Fashion Week are anything to go by.

Multiple designers opted for a sleek blowout, with models taking to the runway wearing their hair straight and long. The look was extra glossy at Versace, where the models sported decorative hair pins, and slightly more romantic at Dolce & Gabbana, where the hair was softer, more flyaway, and accessorized with flowers and bejewelled headbands. There were lots of long side ponytails at The Sirius, but the label also made sure to represent the shag,' one of fall's hottest mid-length styles.

Shorter, more dramatic styles saw a catwalk resurgence, with Moschino dressing its models in gamine pixie crop wigs, and Giorgio Armani championing the bowl cut. Vivetta kept the hair slicked back from the face, in a nod to a trend that has been gaining momentum again on the red carpet recently.

There were plenty of quirky touches, too, with Fendi debuting fake bangs in teal and blue shades, that were swept over to one side of the face for an emo look. Les Copains channelled old-school Hollywood with glamorous finger waves, and Prada kept things edgy by showcasing spiky bangs and by pulling the hair in front of the ears to resemble sideburns.
Washington (AFP) - A masked gunman opened fire Sunday at a church near Nashville, Tennessee, killing a woman, wounding six more people and pistol-whipping another, police said.

The gunman, who is 26, shot himself after being confronted by an usher at the Church of Christ Burnette Chapel and has been hospitalized. But his life is not believed to be in danger, police spokesman Don Aaron told reporters.

In the latest chapter of America's epidemic of gun violence, police said the shooter, an African-American wearing a sort of ski mask, arrived at the church in a blue SUV as parishioners were leaving Sunday services and immediately shot a woman in the parking lot. She died later of her wounds.

He then entered the rear of the church while about 50 people were still inside and fired multiple rounds, wounding six more people, Aaron said.

After that gunfire, the usher ran up to the shooter and confronted him, and was pistol-whipped in the head.

Bleeding, the usher went outside to his vehicle and retrieved a licensed gun and went back into the church, the spokesman said.

"According to him, it was then that the gunman shot himself," Aaron said.

When police arrived at the church, the engine of the shooter's car was still running.

"It would appear he was not expecting a brave individual like the church usher to initiate the struggle and confrontation," Aaron said.

"This gentleman, this church usher (is) an extraordinarily brave individual."

Aaron said he did not know of any relationship between the gunman and the people at the church. While the gunman has been identified, authorities have yet to provide any more details on his identity.

The Nashville Fire Department said most of those wounded in the shooting were over the age of 60.
Health care bill protesters descend on Senate hearing U.S. Capitol Police drag a blind protester out of a Senate Finance Committee hearing about the proposed Graham-Cassidy Healthcare Bill in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill September 25, 2017 in Washington, DC. Demonstrators disrupted the hearing to protest the legislation, the next in a series of Republican proposals to replace the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The typically hushed corridors of the Russell Senate Building echoed with noise Monday as protesters, upset by the Senate Republicans health care bill, descended on lawmakers offices to let their displeasure be known  part of several such demonstrations around the U.S. Capitol.

An initial crowd estimated at around 100 protesters split into smaller groups once inside the building, with each subgroup seeking out the offices of specific senators, some of whom are positioned to cast critical swing votes on the legislation.

Capitol Police said in a statement they responded to 13 locations in Senate and House office buildings and as of late Monday afternoon had made 80 arrests. The officers warned the demonstrators to cease and desist with their unlawful demonstration activities, according to the statement, and those who did not were charged under a law prohibiting crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.

A group of around 20 protesters visited the office of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) in the Russell building, where they proceeded to enter and chant against what their signs termed Trumpcare. Ten later sat on the floor outside Flakes office, where they chanted Kill the bill and Flake, where are you?.

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Maud Dahme was only four in 1940 when the Netherlands, where she lived with her family, was invaded by the Nazis. She was six years old when she went into hiding with her sister Rita, who was two years younger.

I remember the bombings and the sirens going off, and having to go in a basement until there was an all-clear sign. Thats probably what stands out most from my childhood and the danger at that time, she told HuffPost from her home in Flemington, New Jersey.

Dahme, now an 82-year-old retired school board administrator, is as concerned with the events prior to her hiding  an escalation of hateful imagery and anti-Semitic rhetoric  as those during and after.

It frightens me because Ive seen how these things just build and build to something awful, she said.

Dahmes family was Jewish. She was born in The Netherlands, and at the time, many Jewish families were fleeing to the country from Germany. Dahme remembers wearing a yellow star as a child, but she didnt know what it meant. At the time, it made her feel proud. She had just become old enough to wear it.

In 1942, Dahmes parents sent her and her sister into hiding, telling them that they were going on vacation with family. Instead, the sisters were placed with a religious Christian couple in their 60s with no children, Hendrik and Jacobje Spronk. Maud and Ritas names were changed to Margie and Rika.

(Photo: maud dahme)

The sisters were in hiding for three years before the war ended. They learned that their parents had been hidden and survived. In 1950, the family, sponsored by family members in the U.S., made their way to America.

Dahmes message today is the same as its been for 30 years: without any effort toward respect and understanding, what happened before can happen again.

Im just hoping and praying that people will have better understanding of each other, and really respect each other more than anything, she says. You dont have to have the same religion, or you may have an accent, or you may have blue hair and green eyes, but inside, were all the same.

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I tell students they have to care, she says. I wouldnt be here today if people didnt care to save my sister and me.

Dahme recalls being stunned watching the news coverage of the neo-Nazi and white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville in August. Watching television and seeing what was happening in Charlottesville  it broke my heart, she says.

Though Dahme was just six years old when she went into hiding, she remembers she had a sense that things were changing.

As time went on during those years, in hiding, of course I began to understand more and more and seeing more and more things. You know, it started out with just a little thing, and then it was the next thing and the next thing and next thing, she says.

Dahmes family members, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and both sets of grandparents, were among more than 35,000 Jews from the Netherlands who perished in Sobibor, a Nazi death camp. (Photo: HuffPost)

For all she has seen and survived, Dahme has faith in kindness. She now urges Americans of all ages not just to remember the unimaginable horrors of the Nazis, but the unimaginable kindness that kept so many alive.

When she speaks with students and teachers, she makes sure they understand not only the plight of those who were persecuted but the courage of those who risked everything to help. It is their blind kindness in the face of hate that we need to remember now more than ever, Dahme says.

Now, at this time, I think its so important for people to hear the stories and how people cared. When I speak to students, I dont talk about the atrocities that Ive seen and things that have happened to me. Yes, I tell my story, but its positive, she says. I think its very important to remember that it was a time in history when millions of people died and only because of their religion, and theres also the other side of the story, which is how many people cared and were willing to risk their lives to save Jews and anyone else.

Now, Dahme speaks with students and teachers about her life. She published her memoir, Chocolate: The Taste Of Freedom in 2015. She works with Stockton Universitys Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center. Every year, she leads a group of teachers on a trip to Holocaust historical sites throughout Europe.

Its important for educators to see these camps, and actually feel it, smell it, she says. It changes everyone. It changes all the teachers, but the most wonderful thing is they bring all this back to the classroom, and all their students benefit from all that they have witnessed and learned, she said.

Dahme discovers something new every time she goes to Europe. Stories and items from her history, people and things she thought were long gone, are constantly revealing themselves.

During an August trip to Amsterdam, she visited a woman who helped take care of the Spronk farm when Dahme was in hiding. Her name was Ditte Spronk, and theyd reconnected five years ago. Ditte was in the hospital; she was dying. She had an envelope.

I opened the envelope, and there was a little childs fork in there. On back of the fork was inscribed my name, Dahme said. My mother gave me a spoon and a fork when we went into hiding in 1942, and somehow all these years later, it was found. 

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
A total of 181 protesters were arrested on Monday for demonstrating against Republicans latest beleaguered attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Hundreds of activists had gathered on Capitol Hill on Monday morning in protest of the GOP bill, with many who said they were prepared to be arrested.

U.S. Capitol Police announced late Monday that their officers arrested demonstrators who failed to cease and desist their unlawful demonstration activities in the committee hearing room, which disrupted the hearing.

Shortly after the hearing began, some protesters in wheelchairs were physically removed from the hearing room by police officers as protesters continued to chant No cuts to Medicaid!

Others were arrested in the hallway after police said they refused to cease and desist demonstrating there.

A protester dressed as the grim reaper stands outside the Senate Finance Committee hearing room Monday hours ahead a hearing on the latest effort to repeal Obamacare on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) put the committee in recess while police removed the protesters. Later, he told the shouting activists that if they cant remain quiet, then get the heck out.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the main co-sponsor of the repeal legislation, appeared undisturbed by the activists opposition, and was observed yawning as some protesters were forcibly removed.

Protesters who were removed continued chanting in the hallway outside the hearing.

When asked about reports of protesters being arrested, U.S. Capitol Police communications director Eva Malecki told HuffPost in an email that police are still processing the arrests and will issue a statement when activities have concluded.

I've been covering health care activism from day one and this is a sight that is still hard to make sense of pic.twitter.com/gFaR6V0yHv  Jeff Stein (@JStein_Vox) September 25, 2017

Hours before the hearing was set to begin over the controversial health care legislation, first introduced by Sens. Cassidy and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in late July, a line of activists waiting to sit in on the Senate hearing had grown so long it stretched into another building.

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Butch Brosman, a man with disabilities who traveled from Atlanta to protest the bill, told HuffPost that if it passed and became law, it would literally mean he and others with disabilities could die.

Death, Brosman said, death for me, death for millions of Americans. Its an assault on Medicaid, an assault on the lives of many Americans.

Michael Bancrowsky, a man from Philadelphia who traveled to D.C. to protest the bill, told HuffPost he was scared of it passing. It would be terrible because I need Medicaid. Basically I can barely afford the things I got, it would ruin everything in my life.

Stephanie Woodward, a woman with disabilities who traveled from Rochester, New York to protest the bill, said its passage would mean people with disabilities who need Medicaid in order to live would have their lives put at risk and their liberty. Woodward, along with several other protesters, said they were with ADAPT, an advocacy group for disabled people.

Community-based services are paid for through Medicaid, and if Medicaid gets cut, those community-based services get cut first and they end up in nursing homes and those nursing homes get cut too, she said. So where they end up is really shitty nursing homes where they are trapped and where theyll likely get poor services and die. We think its every Americans right to live in the community and cutting Medicaid means cutting our liberty.

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The line for the Graham-Cassidy hearing is so long it stretches into another building. pic.twitter.com/Nz1aj4mNZf  Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) September 25, 2017

THE SCENE  Hundreds of activists already lining hall outside of Graham-Cassidy hearingwhich is still 3 hours away. Photo via @AsyaPikovsky pic.twitter.com/yg5vq2AR5Q  Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) September 25, 2017

Cops have formed a human barricade outside the Graham-Cassidy hearing. pic.twitter.com/SVVnTdyd21  Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) September 25, 2017

On Friday, the Republicans last-ditch effort to repeal Obamacare appeared dead in the water as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he couldnt vote for the bill in good conscience.

Republicans, who hold 52 seats in the Senate, must win over their colleagues before Saturday, when they lose parliamentary authority to pass repeal with 50 votes instead of the usual 60.

Since the entire Democratic caucus opposes the bill, dubbed Cassidy-Graham, Republican leaders can afford to lose only two GOP senators votes. McCains decision means the bill doesnt appear to have the votes to pass. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has said hes opposed to it, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has said shes leaning against it. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who voted against the last repeal bill, has also raised concerns with this one.

But late Sunday, Republicans unveiled a new version of the bill with some key changes that appear to be aimed at capturing some of those senators who were still opposed.

The new version of the bill is a lot like the original bill, which would have decimated existing federal health programs, reduced government spending, and left many millions without insurance, HuffPost Jonathan Cohn reported. The revised legislation now includes a pair of important changes  an even more aggressive assault on protections for people with pre-existing conditions, as well as some extra money to blunt the impact of funding cuts for a handful of states.

This story has been updated to include details about ejected protesters, as well as comment from U.S. Capitol Police.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Lena Khan is the director and co-writer of "The Tiger Hunter." (Photo: Lena Khan "The Tiger Hunter" / Photo by Lara Solanki)

Like many children with immigrant parents, Muslim American filmmaker Lena Khan grew up hearing sensational tales of her parents exploits when they first came to America from India. Apparently, her father was worried about passing the medical tests required to get a U.S. visa in those days  so much so, Khan claims, that he ended up stealing a stool sample.

When Khan shared that story with coworkers at a production company years later, they were highly entertained. They encouraged her to think about turning her familys anecdotes into something bigger and eventually, Khan went on to speak with dozens of immigrants about their own stories.

These interviews served as the inspiration for The Tiger Hunter, Khans new film about the comical misadventures of a young Indian immigrant, which opened in theaters on Sept 22.

The Tiger Hunter is set in the 1970s and tells the story of Sami Malik, played by Community star, Danny Pudi. Malik comes to the United States with two big goals  to be successful enough to win the girl of his dreams, and to live up to the legacy of his dad, who was beloved in his hometown in India for being a glorious tiger hunter.

When the permanent job Malik wanted doesnt materialize, hes forced to take a low-ranking temporary position. He gets into all sorts of mischief with an eccentric and riotous group of young immigrant bachelors, all the while holding on to that dream of becoming a professional American and making his dad proud.

This is Khans first feature film. She described it to HuffPost as a a father-and-son story, a love story, and a heartfelt buddy comedy about a bunch of guys chasing success.

The film's main character Sami Malik arrives in America hoping to become as great a man as his father (pictured here), who was a tiger hunter. (Photo: Shout! Factory Films)

Some of the humorous scenes in the movie were inspired by stories Khan heard from other immigrant families. A friend once told her about his own fathers attempts at finding a job after landing in the country. The friends dad used to share one business suit with all of his roommates. The bachelors apparently scheduled all their job interviews around the availability of the suit, waiting at home in their underwear until the guy with the suit came back. Malik and his friends end up doing the same thing in the film.

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Khan said the interviews she conducted with immigrants helped convince her that it was fine to approach the topic of immigration through the lens of comedy.

Part of the reason I felt so good making this film a comedy is that unlike some of the sadder films about immigrants weve seen before, these immigrants spoke with such nostalgia and good-humor about the crazy things they had to do to survive and make a life, she said.

A still from "The Tiger Hunter," starring Danny Pudi. (Photo: Shout! Factory Films)

Khan faced her own challenges while writing, directing, and trying to sell the film. As a Muslim American woman seeking to find her place in Hollywood, Khan made it a priority to make sure the people working in front of and behind the camera were minorities in the industry. She said she often felt she and her two female producers was treated like little girls by people who should have been treating them like colleagues. And as a Muslim woman who wears the hijab, she said she sometimes felt like the oddity in the room.

It wasnt until recently that many people believed in a film with a bunch of minority characters. Very few people wanted to take the risk, and I credit the few investors, supporters and distributors that did, Khan said.

As Asians, we are still an other. I remember, for example, how some film buyers were concerned that our film was coming out the same time as another film with a South Asian lead ... As [if] to say There can only be ONE film with South Asians at a time!

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Danny Pudi and Karen David star in "The Tiger Hunter." (Photo: Shout! Factory Films)

Although The Tiger Hunter is meant to be a light, comedic film, Khan said that she does hope it speaks to the current political climate.

We are at a time of Muslim bans and limits on immigration, she said. I hope it can play an important role in adding color to the debate. We talk so much of numbers, and figures, but this is a story, based off of real immigrants, of people who America welcomes to this country decades ago. And after seeing the story, how do we feel about that?

The Tiger Hunter is currently playing in select theaters across the nation. Watch a trailer for the movie above.

Also on HuffPost

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Tehran (AFP) - Iran said Sunday it had blocked all flights to and from Iraq's Kurdistan at the request of Baghdad, a day before the autonomous region holds an independence referendum opposed by Tehran.

"At the request of the central government of Iraq, all flights from Iran to Sulaymaniyah and Arbil, as well as all flights through our airspace originating from the Kurdistan region, have been stopped," said Supreme National Security Council spokesman Keivan Khosravi, according to official news agency IRNA.

The move was due to "the insistence" of Kurdistan officials in holding the referendum, Khosravi said.

He did not specify how long the ban would stay in place.

The vote was set to go ahead Monday despite opposition from Baghdad and its neighbours, including Tehran.

Iran warned last week that independence for the region would mean an end to all of border and security arrangements.

There are several regular flights from Iranian cities to the Kurdistan region.

The news comes hours after Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards began military exercises along the border with Iraqi Kurdistan.

Such exercises are common in the region, due to the persistent threat posed by Kurdish separatists, who regularly carry out cross-border attacks against Iranian security forces.
Arbil (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi Kurds are to vote in an independence referendum Monday in defiance of Baghdad which has warned of "measures" to defend Iraq's unity and threatened to deprive their region of lifeline oil revenues.

The non-binding vote on the Kurds' long-cherished dream of independence, initiated by veteran leader Massud Barzani, has angered not only the federal government but also neighbouring Turkey and Iran, concerned it could stoke separatist aspirations among their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.

A total of 12,072 polling stations for the more than 5.3 million registered voters were to stay open for 12 hours from 8:00 am (0500 GMT).

The stations are scattered across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk, as well as in disputed bordering zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

Initial results are expected to be announced 24 hours after the vote but an overwhelming "Yes" outcome is not in doubt, with Kurdish flags festooned in all the streets, on cars and outside homes across Iraqi Kurdistan.

As Barzani pledged on Sunday to go ahead with the historic referendum after having resisted a barrage of international pressure to call it off, Iraq's leader pledged to take all the "necessary measures" to protect the country's unity and his government targeted the Kurds' oil sales.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that taking the Kurds' unilateral decision to stage a referendum affected both Iraqi and regional security, and was "unconstitutional and against civil peace".

"We will take the necessary measures to preserve the unity of the country," he said, without elaborating.

Hours later, the Iraqi government at a meeting of its security cabinet called on all countries "to deal only with it on matters of oil and borders".

The Iraqi Kurds export an average 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

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Tehran also upped the pressure on Sunday, saying it had blocked all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan at Baghdad's request.

Washington and many Western states had opposed the vote, saying it would hamper the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group in which cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurds has been key.

But Barzani said the Kurds' "partnership with Baghdad" since the ousted of dictator Saddam Hussein in the 2003 US-led invasion had failed and urged his people to turn out and vote.

"We expect reactions from one side or another but we are convinced that whatever the risk and the price, it's better than waiting for a dark outcome," he said.

"The referendum is not for defining borders or imposing a fait accompli. We want a dialogue with Baghdad to resolve the problems, and the dialogue can last one or two years," Barzani said of zones such as Kirkuk.
Arbil (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraq's Kurds defied widespread opposition to vote Monday in a historic independence referendum, sparking fresh tensions with Baghdad and threats from Turkey while Washington warned it would "increase instability".

The vote in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq and some disputed areas is non-binding and will not lead automatically to independence, but is seen by the Kurds as a major step towards a long-cherished dream of statehood.

Voters flocked to the polls, eager to show off their ink-stained fingers after casting their ballots.

Turnout was 72 percent, with 3.3 million of the 4.58 million registered voters taking part, election commission spokesman Shirwan Zirar said late Monday. Prior to the vote, the commission had put the electorate at 5.3 million.

Results were expected within 24 hours, with an overwhelming "yes" vote not in doubt.

The vote took place peacefully and in a festive atmosphere, but signs of potential trouble mounted as the day progressed, with Washington saying it was "deeply disappointed" that the ballot went ahead.

"The United States' historic relationship with the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region will not change in light of today's non-binding referendum, but we believe this step will increase instability and hardships for the Kurdistan region and its people," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

In New York, UN chief Antonio Guterres also expressed concern about the "potentially destabilising effects" of the referendum.

Expressing respect for "the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Iraq", he called for differences to be resolved through "structured dialogue and constructive compromise".

Lawmakers in Baghdad, which has declared the vote unconstitutional, demanded the government send troops to disputed areas where the referendum was taking place.

In Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkey -- which fears the effects of the vote on its own sizeable Kurdish population -- would shut its border with Iraqi Kurdistan and threatened to block key exports.

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And in Kirkuk, a disputed city where the vote controversially went ahead, security forces deployed on the streets after a curfew was imposed in parts of the city.

- 'Day of celebration' -

Soon after voting began in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, many men headed to polling stations dressed in traditional Kurdish dress of brown shirt and billowing trousers.

"I came very early to be the first to vote for a Kurdish state," said Diyar Abubakr, 33.

"It's a day of celebration today. That's why I've put on our traditional outfit, which I bought for the occasion."

Veteran Iraqi Kurd leader Massud Barzani, who initiated the vote, smiled as he cast his ballot early in the morning, wearing a traditional headscarf.

He pushed ahead with the referendum despite the opposition from Baghdad and Ankara, but also from Iran which has its own large Kurdish minority, and Western countries who fear the vote could hamper the fight against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in which cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurds has been key.

Polling stations were scattered across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan -- Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk -- as well as in disputed border zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

As voting progressed, Iraq's parliament ordered Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to "deploy forces" in disputed areas.

Asked about the risks of armed conflict, Abadi's spokesman Saad al-Hadithi told AFP: "If there are clashes in these zones, it will be the job of federal forces to apply the law."

Karim al-Nuri, a head of the Badr Brigade which forms part of the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units, suggested the Shiite group was ready to deploy to "Kirkuk and the disputed zones occupied by armed gangs, outlaws who do not respond to the army command."

- Curfew in Kirkuk -

Kirkuk, home to Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, has been a particular point of concern and late Monday police said a curfew was being imposed in the city centre and in Arab and Turkmen areas "to ensure security, monitor the situation and protect the citizens of Kirkuk".

A senior official in Kirkuk later said the situation was stable and that the curfew would be lifted within hours. "Tomorrow will be a normal work day in Kirkuk," he said.

Abadi on Sunday pledged to take all the "necessary measures" to protect Iraq's unity, as his government urged all countries to deal only with it on oil transactions.

The Iraqi Kurds export an average 600,000 barrels per day through a pipeline running through Turkey to Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

Erdogan on Monday threatened to halt these lifeline oil exports, angrily denouncing an "illegitimate" referendum.

He also said Turkey's Habur border crossing with Iraqi Kurdistan would be closed.

Tehran has increased pressure, announcing Sunday it had blocked all flights to and from the region at Baghdad's request.

However, the referendum sparked celebrations in the Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli, in solidarity with their brethren across the border.

"We've been waiting for this moment for more than 100 years, to celebrate the independence of Kurdistan," said one of the revellers, Rezkar Pigeot, 40, as young Kurds sang and danced in the streets.

Left without a state of their own when the borders of the Middle East were redrawn after World War I, the Kurds see themselves as the world's largest stateless people.

The non-Arab ethnic group number between 25 and 35 million people spread across Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria.
BRUSSELS/BERLIN (Reuters) - Jewish groups in Europe and the United States expressed alarm at the success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Sunday's parliamentary election and urged other parties not to form alliances with it. But a leading member of the AfD, which won 12.6 percent of the vote in the federal election to become the third largest party in Germany's lower house of parliament, said Jews had nothing to fear from his party's success. The far-right has not been represented in parliament since the 1950s, a reflection of Germany's efforts to distance itself from the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust. Ronald Lauder, president of the New York-based World Jewish Congress, called Chancellor Angela Merkel a "true friend of Israel and the Jewish people" and decried the AfD's gains at a time when anti-Semitism was increasing across the globe. "It is abhorrent that the AfD party, a disgraceful reactionary movement which recalls the worst of Germanys past and should be outlawed, now has the ability within the German parliament to promote its vile platform," Lauder said. Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked also expressed concern about the AfD's success: "I hope that the German people learn carefully the history of Germany and remember the Holocaust and all the ...reasons that led to this tragedy." The AfD, which has surged in the two years since Merkel opened Germany's borders to more than 1 million migrants mainly fleeing Middle East wars, says immigration jeopardizes Germany's culture but denies it is racist or anti-Semitic. "There's nothing in our party or in our program that could or should in any way concern Jewish people who live here in Germany," Alexander Gauland, the AfD's top candidate, told reporters on Monday. Gauland also cited Germany's strong diplomatic support for Israel, suggesting that it should also be ready to send troops if necessary to help defend the country as it faces off against the Palestinians and hostile neighboring states. Volker Beck, a member of the Greens, said Gauland's comments suggested that he was questioning Germany's support for Israel - a fundamental principle of its post-war foreign policy. "The message to his anti-Semitic fans is clear: There's no need for the NPD because the AfD is your political home," Beck said, in a reference to the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD), which Germany's Constitutional Court has said resembled Adolf Hitler's Nazi party. "INTOLERANCE" Gauland provoked outrage during the election campaign when he said Germans should be proud of what their soldiers achieved in two world wars. The European Jewish Congress urged other German political parties to stick to pre-election vows and not to consider any coalition talks with the AfD. "Some of the positions it has espoused during the election campaign display alarming levels of intolerance not seen in Germany for many decades and which are, of course, of great concerns to German and European Jews." The Central Council of Jews in Germany said the election results had confirmed its worst fears and urged other parties to remain united in opposing the AfD. "A party that tolerates right-wing extremist thinking in its ranks and incites hatred against minorities ...will now be represented in parliament and nearly all state legislatures," the group's president Josef Schuster said in a statement. "I expect our democratic forces to expose the true nature of the AfD and its empty, populist promises," he added. Germany, home today to an estimated 200,000 Jews, has built a reputation in recent decades as a tolerant, safe place for Jews to live, though data show anti-Semitic crimes reported to the police rose 4 percent to 681 in the first eight months of 2017 from the same period last year. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio in Brussels, Andrea Shalal in Berlin and Daniel Pleck in Jerusalem; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Gareth Jones)
On Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, the host discussed the recent trend of corporate consolidation that has created oligopolies, destroying smaller and/or rising competition.

Oliver pointed out that many companies, even ones you might think are small businesses, are actually owned by giant companies.

Burts Bees? Its not run by a backwoods bee-f**ker called Burt. Its run by Clorox. Toms of Maine? The deodorant which did so little to deodorize your freshman year roommate? Its now owned by Colgate-Palmolive.

Oliver pointed out how even his own show, Last Week Tonight, is getting caught up in the action as its parent company, Time Warner, is trying to merge with AT&T.

But its more than mergers  its the oligopolies that Oliver said create the biggest problems. He mentioned how over 80 percent of air travel in the U.S. is controlled by 4 companies.

This makes it easier for companies to collude in order to set a status quo  like fees for baggage.

Oliver issued a challenge to politicians who champion the phrase Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. He said of the politicians, If they really believe that, it may be time for them to stop talking about backbones, and actually f**king grow one.

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver airs Sundays at 11 p.m. on HBO.

See what John Oliver has to say about President Trumps stance on DACA:





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Kirkuk (Iraq) (AFP) - For Iraqi Kurds, the purple finger tip is a badge of honour, a sign that they have voted in Monday's referendum on independence for the autonomous northern region.

"If I had 20 fingers, I would have voted 20 times for my state," Ibtissam Mohammed, 45, says in the city of Kirkuk where control is disputed between the Kurds and the federal government in Baghdad.

She donned traditional Kurdish dress before casting her vote at a school in the city centre, and proudly shows journalists her ink-stained finger.

Voting is taking place in the oil-rich Kirkuk province despite it not forming part of the three-province Kurdish autonomous region.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is furious about the referendum, and on Sunday in a televised address threatened unspecified "necessary measures" to protect the country's unity.

The Kurds say that historically Kirkuk belongs to them, arguing that the late dictator Saddam Hussein chased them out and replaced them with Arabs.

But for the Kurds who now share Kirkuk with Arabs and Turkmen, Monday was a day which saw their community charged with enthusiasm.

Kurdish voters dream that the state for which they have fought for nearly a century will finally be born.

- 'Everyone's dream' -

Tawana Abd Eddine, 33, a member of the Assayesh Kurdish security forces, tells AFP he voted "for a state, for a better future and better security".

"Everyone dreams of having their own homeland," he adds.

For Nouzad Hamid, draped in the red, white and green Kurdish flag with its golden sun, "tomorrow the sun will shine, and it will be the dawn of a new life for the Kurds and the whole population of Kirkuk".

Few people slept the night before the vote as convoys of cars cruised the streets, loudhailers urging voters to turn out in force for the "historic referendum".

Kurdish leader Massud Barzani on Sunday said the partnership with Baghdad had failed and called on his people to make their preference known in the ballot box.

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"I have been waiting for this day since I was born. This is another birthday for me. This is a new day for me. I feel like I am born now," says 22-year-old architecture student Sammy Abderrahman after voting.

"My grandmother couldn't come here actually because she is very sick. She told me: 'you have to say yes!' because my uncles died for this day. How can I say no for the independence of Kurdistan?"

- Arab, Turkmen doubts -

On the eve of polling, Kirkuk governor Najm Eddine Karim called for a huge turnout by all of the province's population -- "Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, Sunnis and Shiites".

The 71-year-old neurologist who also has American citizenship was fired by Baghdad after his provincial council decided to back Barzani and take part in the referendum.

But his appeals for a huge turnout appear to have fallen on deaf ears in the Arab and Turkmen communities.

"I feel that my identity, my nationality, my heritage and my history will all be lost," says Abdullah Aouji, a 42-year-old Turkmen teacher.

This sentiment is shared by many in the Arab community.

Khalaf Majel al-Obeidi, 51, says: "The Arabs are the most vulnerable community in Kirkuk."

"We respect the right of the Kurds to decide their own fate, but we reject one community imposing its will on the others."

However, some members of the Arab community believe that an independent Kurdistan could also bring a better standard of living and boost the local economy.

"We're neither for or against the referendum," says 39-year-old florist Salam Jomaa.

"Anyway, it won't solve anything in just a day. All we Arabs and Turkmen want is peace."
Police have identified the gunman accused of killing one person and wounding six after opening fire in a parking lot and inside a Tennessee church Sunday.

He is Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, who officers have charged with murder and attempted murder, Metro Nashville Police Department said. He was taken to hospital after being wounded in the incident but has been released and is being held without police bond.

Tennessee church shooting

Metro Nashville PD

The shootings occurred at Burnett's Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee.

Samson is accused of opening fire on a 39-year-old Melanie Smith in the parking lot of the church at around 11.15 a.m. local time, killing her.

He then allegedly went into the church through the rear entrance and indiscriminately opened fire, wounding six.

The attacker wore a neoprene half-mask throughout the incident. Nasville Metro police spokesman Don Aaron told reporters at a briefing rumors the gunman was wearing a clown mask do not appear to be true, the mask was more like what you would see on a skier.

A church usher, identified by police as Robert Engle, 22, confronted the shooter. Police told local media that the attacker pistol whipped Engle, who went to his vehicle to get his own firearm.

At some point Samson was shot in the left pectoral, but police don't know if the injury happened because he discharged the gun accidentally or during his struggle with Engle.

Samson had attended the church at some point in the last two years, police said.

He is a native of Khartoum, Sudan, and arrived in the U.S. as a child. Though a legal resident, he is not a U.S. citizen.

The Memphis FBI Field Office's Nashville Resident Agency, the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee have opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting, the U.S. Attorneys Office said Sunday, as cited by ABC News.

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Police are still investigating the motive for the shooting. It is not known if Samson had a criminal record.

A Facebook page that appears to belong to Samson shows he went to Smyrna High School, then studied psychology at Mott Community College. In the social media profile he expresses an interest in bodybuilding and Christianity.

One of the last messages posted on the page, posted at around 10:22 a.m. says, cryptically, "Become the creator instead of what's created. Whatever you say, goes."

Everything youve ever doubted or made to be believe as false, is real. & vice versa, B, reads a second message posted minutes after.

His next scheduled court appearance is Wednesday.

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Masoud Barzani, president of Iraqi Kurdistan, was last night defiant over his decision to hold a controversial referendum on independence, even as its neighbour Iran mounted pressure by closing its airspace and launching military drills on the border.

Tehran announced on Sunday it was blocking all flights to and from Kurdistan at the request of ally Iraq, which has described the secession vote as unconstitutional and warned that it could fan the flames of tensions in the Middle East.

Some five million Kurds will go to the polls today in the three provinces that have since 2003 formed the autonomous region of Kurdistan, but also in territories disputed with Baghdad such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

Mr Barzani, a 71-year-old guerilla leader-turned-politician who enjoys something of a cult of personality in Kurdistan, has mustered huge popular support for the vote.

The streets of Erbil, Kurdistans capital, are festooned with red, white and green Kurdish flags and large crowds holding nightly rallies.

The Kurds - more than 30 million people spread across Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria - have long sought a state of their own. The result seems a foregone conclusion.

A woman flashes the V-sign as Iraqi Kurds take part in a rally to urge people to vote in the upcoming independence referendum Credit: SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images

But with not just Baghdad, Iran and Turkey but also the US and UN opposing the vote, there is little hope that dream will be quickly realised in Iraq.

Instead, observers say, Mr Barzani is using the referendum as leverage in the Kurdish Regional Government's longstanding disputes with federal authorities.

Our relationship with Baghdad is over, it is no longer working, Mr Barzani told reporters during a press conference at the presidential palace in the mountains outside Erbil.

Supporters wave flags and chant slogans inside the Erbil Stadium while waiting to hear Kurdish President Masoud Barzani speak Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Iraq has humiliated our people () They have galvanised the Iraqi people against Kurdistan."

He said he had hoped for a better relationship with Baghdad after the fall in 2003 of the late iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who arrested, tortured and killed tens of thousands of Kurds during his rule.

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We had a hope our relationship with Baghdad would improve, based on pluralism and democracy. But it didnt take us long to realise that while the faces of the politicians changed, their mentality was the same, he said.

When asked why the vote could not be delayed, as the international community has repeatedly requested, Mr Barzani said: "We cannot wait another year, they will not change their mind, it will only strengthen their position."

Some Kurds the Telegraph spoke to said they were planning to vote yes at the polls today, but worried about the consequences.

Our course we want our own country, to stand on our own, but I am scared about how our neighbours will respond, said student Ahmed Rasol.

We will not have security in the future if we have no friends.
Kylie Jenner isnt addressing those pregnancy reports, but nothing can keep the social media queen away from Instagram.

While several outlets confirmed that the Life of Kylie star is set to give birth in February, she has yet to confirm or deny the rumors. Instead, Kylie went on Instagram Sunday to post photos with her friends.

In the first post, Kylie was posing with Jordyn Woods and several other gal pals in white robes. The ladies looked ready for a spa day, and Kylie simply captioned the photo mornings with a smiley face emoticon.

The second post showed Kylie and Woods again, but this time without their posse. The Life of Kylie co-stars instead posed with a horse. yesterday was cute. hope you had the happiest of birthdays Jordy [sic], the 20-year-old wrote. Love you forever ever and beyond.

The youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan doesnt seem to be showing off a noticeable baby bump in the photos, but neither picture shows her stomach that well. Plus, Kylie is supposedly due in February, making her only about four months along. She probably wouldnt have much of a bump to show off anyway.

As previously reported, several insiders have said that Kylie is having a baby with her boyfriend Travis Scott. The rapper, 25, and the makeup mogul have been seeing each other since April. The couple supposedly started telling their loved ones that they were expecting earlier this month during Day N Night Fest in Anaheim, California.

All of the reports are from anonymous sources. Neither Kylie nor her family addressed the rumors. When her mother Kris Jenner was asked about it, she simply pointed out that Kylie has not announced her pregnancy.

[Kylie has] not confirmed anything, she told The Cut at the Bottega Veneta fashion show. I think its kind of wild that everyone is just assuming that thats just happening.

Something happens every single day. You never know what is going to break at any moment, the Jenner matriarch added.

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Kylie Jenner

Photo: Getty Images

Kylie hasnt exactly laid low since the news broke. On Saturday night, she attended the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas where Scott was performing. Kylie fueled pregnancy rumors by wearing a baggy t-shirt to the concert.

Rapper French Montana posted a video of the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star on Instagram. However, he didnt seem to be in the know when E! Online asked him about the pregnancy Friday night.

If she is pregnant and thats true, Im gonna be bringing my gift, Montana, who used to date Kylies sister Khloe Kardashian, said. Much blessings to her. Thats like my little sister. Shout out to the whole family.

After the news broke, Scott was spotted spending quality time with Scott Disick. The KUWTK star is father to Kourtney Kardashians three children. Disick attended Scotts performance at LIV nightclub in Miami.

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Social media is buzzing over the fact that Kylie Jenner, who is rumored to be pregnant, has a flat stomach. (Photo: Kylie Jenner via Instagram)

Kylie Jenners rumored pregnancy has sparked a million conspiracy theories  shes Kim Kardashians surrogate, ex-boyfriend Tyga is the babys father, etc.  but the most curious one is that Jenner isnt pregnant at all.

The internet proof: The 20-year-old star has a flat stomach.

In an Instagram photo posted on Sunday, Jenner poses with her best friend, Jordyn Woods, and a giraffe, with her hand on one hip and flashing the tiniest circumference of skin on her stomach.

yesterday was cute. hope you had the happiest of birthdays Jordy. Love you forever ever and beyond.. A post shared by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Sep 24, 2017 at 12:13pm PDT

Social media started doubting Jenners reported four-month pregnancy.

Kylie Jenner just showed her stomach on Snapchat, and it looked pretty flat to me. Not like a 4 month pregnant belly lol  Caitlyn (@CaitlynLoki143) September 25, 2017

I'm not believing that Travis Scott got Kylie Jenner pregnant until I see the receipts.  maya (@mayabrenay) September 22, 2017

I'm nervous Kylie's stomach looked so flat in her latest Insta. If she's not pregnant I'm gonna be so mad!!!!  wild thot (@dat_binch69) September 25, 2017

lmao Kylie is so not pregnant like on her snap her stomach lookin flat as a pancake  dani (@godsilk) September 25, 2017

Jenner has not confirmed that shes expecting a child with her rapper boyfriend, Travis Scott, but her loose clothing of late has fueled the gossip mill. On Sunday, she posted an Instagram snap of herself wearing a bulky bathrobe and another wearing a white bodysuit with a corset.

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However according to Tami Rowen, an ob-gyn at the University of California, San Francisco, a womans stomach isnt always an indicator of her pregnancy stage.

During pregnancy, the uterus grows one centimeter each week, so if a woman is 16 weeks pregnant, her uterus is only 16 centimeters  thats really small, Rowen tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

Most women dont begin to show until they reach 20 weeks, the point at which doctors begin measuring the uterus. However, several factors affect how pregnant someone can appear.

Everyones anatomy and body type are different, but as a general rule, shorter people show sooner compared to taller people, she says. Likewise, if a woman is carrying extra weight, people may not notice her pregnancy.

Rowen adds, While theres no data to support this, many of my patients expecting their second baby show much earlier than they did with their first, despite their uterus measuring the same in each pregnancy.

And lets not forget the clever tricks celebrities use to conceal their bumps with careful poses, images shot from the chest up, digital editing, and accessories.

Knowing the Kardashian-Jenners, well know soon enough if another baby is on its way. Until then, Jenners body isnt a clue.

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Celeste Ng was quite certain nobody would read her debut novel, 2014's "Everything I Never Told You." The book, which she began writing while working on her MFA from the University of Michigan, is the elegantly hypnotic tale of a devastated Chinese-American family in 1970s small-town Ohio. On the book's first page we meet the Lees and learn of their tragedy: Beloved daughter Lydia has drowned in the nearby lake. No one knows why.

"Debut novels are difficult because nobody knows you ... they just don't find a huge audience because that's how the market works," said Ng, on the phone from her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "The only way I could get myself to finish writing it was to tell myself, 'No one will ever read this, it will never get published, so you may as well write it down.' "

And then the reviews and accolades came pouring in. The book became a New York Times best-seller, was named Amazon's 2014 Book of the Year, received numerous literary honors, and was sold in more than 20 languages. (And yes, a movie is in development.)

"If you had asked me, in your wildest dreams, what do you think your book could do, that would have been it," said Ng. "It did well critically, did well commercially, connected with readers, and now it's starting to be taught in colleges and in high schools. I remember being in high school and being in college  those were books that shaped me. It's very humbling to think that I might be having any kind of influence."

Ng took herself back to those high-school years for her second novel, "Little Fires Everywhere," out this month from Penguin Press. The new book is set in the late 1990s in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights: a time and place Ng  a 1998 graduate of Shaker Heights High School  knows well.

"I really wanted to write about my hometown," she said, describing the book's impetus. "I think I had reached a stage where I'd been away long enough, so I could see it with a bit of distance. I loved growing up in Shaker Heights, and I really miss it."

It was, she said, an unusual place for its diversity, its frank awareness of issues of race (her high school had a race-relationships group), and its careful observance of rules for things like lawn-mowing and garbage pickup.

Thinking about her past, a story began to take shape. "I wanted to write about the community  it's got such idealism, so at odds with the messiness of the world that we live in," she said. "I started trying to think about a family that embodied that kind of spirit of the town, and how I could disrupt them."

That family became the Richardsons, whose warm, spacious home became a haven for teenage Pearl, new in town with her artistic single mother, Mia. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson live in suburban splendor with their four children: Lexie, Moody, Trip and Izzy  the last of whom is the black sheep of the family, the child within whom a strange fire burns.

It's a haunting, layered story of mothers and daughters, and how they attract and repel each other. There are Mia and her daughter Pearl; the very formal and controlled Mrs. Richardson and her two teenage girls; and Mrs. Richardson's friend Linda McCullough, who is trying to adopt a Chinese-American baby whose struggling mother would very much like to have her back. The mother roles switch back and forth: Izzy is drawn to arty, independent Mia; Pearl is fascinated by the more conventional Mrs. Richardson.

"It's kind of a mother/daughter Freaky Friday swap," said Ng. "Part of that speaks to the idea that there's the mother you are born to, and there's the mother that you choose. The one you are born to isn't always the one who can see you the most clearly. A lot of times you have to get that from outside  you and your mother are actually too much alike. I liked playing with that idea."

To create the three teenage girls at the center of the story, Ng drew on herself. "I would have been a senior in high school at the time it is set, same age as Lexie," she said. "They each have a different aspect of my personality. I would have liked to have been as cool as Lexie, but I think I was much more like Izzy and Pearl; I was sort of bookish and a little bit nerdy and kind of quiet, secretly radical but kind of a rebel without a cause, looking for things to express myself in."

As a teen, Ng said she avidly read poetry ("I really wanted to be a poet, until I realized that I really didn't have what it took to be a poet"), particularly Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath, and the plays of Samuel Beckett. She remains a tireless reader of fiction, citing Arundhati Roy's "The God of Small Things" ("I read part of it every year") and the works of Elizabeth Strout and Toni Morrison as inspirations. Strout's "Amy and Elizabeth" was "a big influence on 'Everything I Never Told You'  that claustrophobic story about a mother and daughter that also casts a wider view out to the whole community they live in."

For now, she's relieved, if a little apprehensive, to be sending her second novel out into the world. "It's been a little bit scary," Ng confessed. "I'm very much a people pleaser, and the first book had such a devoted and loving following. The response has been so heartfelt that I was hopeful that readers would be willing to follow me into the second world."

That unexpected success became, she said, a motivator. "I felt like there were readers who were cheering me on, and I was inspired by that."
To the parade of horribles likely to occur if the latest Republican plan to repeal Obamacare succeeds, add two more: health care jobs would dry up and recessions would likely end up worse.

S&P Global Ratings analyzed the Cassidy-Graham bill, which would repeal most of the major provisions of the Affordable Care Act, and found a sizable list of problems it would cause. Among other things, the bill would leave states and cities with a major funding shortfall. It would also cut employment by 580,000 jobsmostly in the health care industrysince federal health care funding would plummet starting in 2027. This comes after other researchers have determined that the bill would bump millions of Americans off the insurance rolls and once again allow insurers to charge people with pre-existing conditions dramatically higher rates.

One problem S&P highlights would arise from changes in the way Washington administers Medicaid, which is currently an open-ended entitlement program available to all who qualify. Federal Medicaid payments to the states normally rise during a recession, since thats when people lose jobs and more need public insurance. In that way, Medicaid is a stabilizer that provides more stimulus when the economy needs it most. But the Cassidy-Graham bill would change Medicaid to a block-grant system, with states getting a fixed amount each year and nothing extra during recessions. The legislation would result in more acute fiscal pressure on the states in economic downturns, S&P believes.

States would probably feel more pain well before a recession came along. The shift in Medicaid from federal to state control would require each state to set up new rules and agencies necessary to dole out the money and comply with federal regulations. The law is supposed to go into effect in 2020, but that wouldnt allow nearly enough time for state legislaturesmany of them part-time  to accomplish something so complicated. The bill wont work, writes Timothy Jost, emeritus professor of law at Washington & Lee University. The states cannot possibly design and implement new programs to replace the ACA marketplace subsidies and Medicaid expansions by 2020.

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Costumed as the grim reaper, a protestor opposed to the Republican health care bill waits prior to a hearing by the Senate Finance Committee on the Graham-Cassidy health care repeal, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Even if that were plausible, the sharp cutback in Medicaid funding overall would produce a variety of unhappy consequences. Some of the ramifications S&P predicts:

Rural areas would probably suffer more because theyve gotten a larger share of funding under the ACA. So unwinding the ACA, by contrast, would concentrate cutbacks there.

Revenue would decline for some health care providers, simply because there would be fewer people with health insurance seeking care. Many for-profit providers would have the agility to deal with that, but intense pressure could hammer nonprofits. We would expect  a sharp rise in charity care and bad debt, S&P says.

Health care providers might charge more, because theyll be looking for ways to make up for lost volume. States administering Medicaid will have less negotiating power than they do now.

Providers would also be more aggressive about cutting costs. This means smaller staffs, reduced services and possibly lower quality at hospitals, outpatient centers, and nursing homes.

A fiscal cliff would arise in 2027, because all funding under Cassidy-Graham ends in 2026. The idea is that Congress will have to come up with a new funding mechanism between now and then. Until that happens, however, states would be subject to massive uncertainty. This subjects states fiscal trajectories to considerable political risk, S&P says, Because Congress will have to reauthorize block grant funding before 2027 for the federal funds to flow to the states. This could cost taxpayers directly. Rating agencies like S&P, Moodys and Fitch base ratings on municipal bond issues on the predictability of revenue, and the less predictable it is, the lower the rating. Lower ratings mean issuers have to pay more to borrow, with the extra money coming from taxpayers.

If Congress didnt extend Cassidy-Graham or come up with something new, thats when health care employment would start to contract. The Brookings Institution estimates that 32 million fewer Americans would have insurance come 2027, which means demand for care would declineas would the health care workforce. S&P estimates that overall, the bill would kill 580,000 jobs, most of them after 2026. That would reduce economic activity by $240 billion.

The Cassidy-Graham bill, arguably the worst of several deeply flawed GOP efforts to kill Obamacare this year, seems to lack enough votes to pass the Senate. But the bills undaunted backers are twisting arms and offering deals in the hope of persuading moderate Republicans leaning against the bill to back it. If the Senate approves the bill, the House will probably pass it as well, and President Donald Trump has said hell sign it. Then the real trouble begins.

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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
Paris (AFP) - Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front (FN), and Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders saluted the advance of Germany's hard right AfD after the nationalists on Sunday became the third-largest party in parliament.

"Bravo to our AfD allies for this historic score," tweeted Le Pen, defeated by Emmanuel Macron in the French presidential election run-off four months ago.

Le Pen hailed the AfD after its breakthrough score of 13 percent, enough for close on 90 seats, saying the party was a "new symbol of (the) reawakening of European peoples."

Wilders, head of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), also tweeted his congratulations.

"I congratulate @FraukePetry (joint-chair of the AfD)) and @AfD," said Wilders, publishing a picture of himself alongside both Le Pen and Petry.

"The PVV is number two in the Netherlands, the FN is number two in France, the (far right) FPOe is second in Austria, AfD is third in Germany. The message is clear. We are not Islamic nations," wrote Wilders, whose party captured 20 seats in a March election.

One AfD (Alternative for Germany) Euro MP already sits alongside five FN lawmakers and four PVV colleagues in the European Parliament.
At least one woman was killed and seven people were injured Sunday when a masked gunman opened fire outside a Tennessee church, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Police said the 25-year-old suspect, identified as Emanuel Kidega Samson, opened fire outside of Burnette Chapel Church of Christ as people were leaving the church following Sunday morning services. As of Sunday afternoon, the suspect was in custody after he reportedly shot himself  his injuries are not life-threatening and will be charged with one count of murder, police said.

What happened at the Antioch Church?

Around 11:15 a.m. Central Daylight Time, dispatchers began receiving calls of a shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tenn. As of 11:40 a.m., the scene was still considered active.

The gunman arrived in a blue SUV and started unloading gunfire in the parking lot of the church, fatally striking one woman who was on her way to the car, according to a Nashville police press briefing. He then proceeded to fire multiple rounds inside the church.

A member of the church confronted the gunman inside and was pistol whipped. The churchgoer, who had a permit to carry a weapon, went to his car to retrieve his own gun. When he returned, he witnessed the gunman shoot himself, according to police.

The incident was described as a mass casualty situation with the wounded transported to area hospitals.

At about 1:40 p.m., the fire department announced that they had transported members of the church who werent injured in the shooting to a safe location.

Police are still investigating the shooting and interviewing witnesses.

Who was injured in the church shooting?

A female churchgoer was killed as she was leaving Burnette Chapel and six others were injured in the shooting, according to police

Three women and three men were among the injured, police said. All except one of the wounded was over 60 years old, according to a tweet from the Nashville Fire Department.

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Gunman opens fire at Church of Christ Burnette Chapel on Pin Hook Road. 1 woman dead in parking lot...6 other innocents shot... pic.twitter.com/yuwjfGPjXs  Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) September 24, 2017

The gunman was also injured by a self-inflicted gun shot wound. His condition is still unknown, according to Nashville police.

Who was responsible for the Tennessee church shooting?

Authorities identified the gunman as Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, of Murfreesboro, who came to the United States from Sudan in 1996 and was a legal U.S. resident.

His injuries have been described as non-life threatening and police said he was discharged from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but remains in police custody.

The Metropolitan Nashville police tweeted Sunday night that Samson will be charged with one count of murder and that multiple additional charges will be placed later.

His connection to the church is unclear.

What was the response in Tennessee to the church shooting?

Nashville Major Megan Barry called the deadly shooting a terrible tragedy for our city.

The shooting today at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ is a terrible tragedy for our city. Full statement: https://t.co/vk6DOxuMPc pic.twitter.com/x3UsUPDmA9  Megan Barry (@MayorMeganBarry) September 24, 2017

My heart aches for the family and friends of the deceased as well as for the wounded victims and their loved ones, Barry said in the statement. Their lives have been forever changed, as has the life of their faith community at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ. My administration, especially the Metro Nashville Police Department, will continue to work with community members to stop crime before it starts, encourage peaceful conflict resolution, and promote non-violence.
In a little over a decade, a small number of humans will be living on the Moon. Then in the following ten years, about a hundred more people will join them, according to Bernard Foing, a scientist at the European Space Agency (ESA).

He believes scientists, technicians, and engineers will be the first ones to officially call the lunar habit home. By 2040, he imagines the population will be 100.

"In 2050, you could have a thousand and then... naturally you could envisage to have family" accompanying their loved ones there, Foing told AFP.

09_23_Moon

Greg Newton/AFP/Getty Images

"There may be the possibility to have children born on the Moon," he added.

This week at the European Planetary Science Congress, Foing discussed the agencys plan to create a permanent settlement called the moon village. The plan was announced to the public last year at the 32nd Space Symposium. The village will be a base for science, business, mining, and even tourism, Jan Woerner, director general of the ESA, explains in the video below.

This futuristic idea would require the communities living on the moon to use local materials to survive and build shelter, among other structures. Volcanic rock may be useful in conjunction with 3D-printing technology, suggests physicist Vidvuds Beldavs of the University of Latvia. And in order to obtain water, ice from the Moons poles will have to be melted.

But before any of this happens, more people (particularly, politicians) need to get on board, especially considering the International Space Station is set to be decommissioned in 2024.

"It is highly frustrating... We still don't have the top leaders interested," said Beldavs, who runs a project advocating for joint exploration of the Moon.

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Many scientists and commercial prospectors are excited about the proposed idea of creating a moon village. Michelle Hanlon, co-founder of For All Moonkinda non-profit organization that seeks to preserve the six human lunar landing sitesexpressed her thoughts on the exploratory efforts.

We love the idea that there could be a human settlement on the Moon by 2030 and 'moonkind' numbering in the hundreds by 2040. But with technology and this awe-inspiring capability to not just return, but create a Moon community comes deep responsibility. We cannot allow ourselves to forsake the past in the name of the future, Hanlon told Newsweek via e-mail.

And before you book your one-way ticket to the Moon, heres a warning: its a tough life, physicist Christiane Heinicke told AFP. Heinicke spent a year living with five other people in a mock Mars environment in Hawaii. During this time, they had limited connection with the outside world. Its not for everyone, she says.

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Tweed suits and waxed mustaches loomed over mid-century motorcycles in downtown Missoula Sunday as local vintage bike connoisseurs swapped out their black leather fringes for a more refined look.

The Distinguished Gentlemans Ride wasnt just for showing off bowties and suspenders, but part of a worldwide fundraising effort for prostate cancer and mens mental health research.

The wily group of about 70 Missoula riders raised over $4,000, according to the organization's website, with over $4.3 million raised across the globe this year.

One of the local organizers for the event, Jim Beyer, said he had a personal connection to the cause after losing multiple friends to cancer. After working to raise money for this years event, he donned a long camel-hair coat, a French Foreign Legion hat and round-frame sunglasses for the ride.

The motorcycle caravan left Caras Park at 1 p.m. after snapping photos and trading compliments of their bikes and get-up. The gang of distinguished gentlemen headed out on a loop to Frenchtown and back into the city for post-ride refreshments at Draught Works brewery.

This year marks the third time the Distinguished Gentlemans Ride runs in Missoula, with the last two years led by Ryan Montgomery, co-owner of Montgomery Distillery. Beyer said Montgomery couldnt make it this year, but was pitching in for drinks at Draught Works at the end of the ride.

Chauncey Allison, 27, of Kalispell, said he doesnt usually wear a spiffy dark brown houndstooth sport coat, but it didnt take much convincing.

When I saw there was a ride in Missoula full of very well-dressed men and women, I definitely did not hesitate, Allison said, perched on his 70s cafe racer. The cause is great too. Being someone who has dealt with depression and lost friends to suicide, it gives us the opportunity to start a dialogue on a difficult subject, which I think men sometimes try to hide for too long. The bikes and the chance to pull out all the stops is pretty cool, too.

Rick Bargholz dressed up in a baby-blue disco suit, which he said he doesnt remember buying, but found in his closet with the thrift store tags still on it. With an ascot and 1957 BSA, Bargholz was dressed to kill.

Its awesome to see all these old bikes coming out for the event, he said. A lot of these bikes dont get taken out very often, so its a great chance to catch a glimpse of Missoulas coolest bikes.

Although his bike wasnt as shiny as some of the others at the gathering, Brett Leischners faded red Triumph holds a special place in his heart.

The bike belonged to his cousin, Natalie Cox, who died of breast cancer in 2007. He said it took three years to get the bike in running condition, but the work he put into it only made it more personal.

Im hoping to get her name stenciled across it, Leischner said. Its not super pretty, but its still my show bike since it means so much to me.
John Engen, Missoulas longest-serving mayor (and counting), says he still has the verve, support and fire in my belly to keep going for at least one more term. Or maybe one more term after that.

The 52-year-old (53 in October), three-term incumbent will have been in office for 12 years by the end of 2017.

Hes faces one challenger this election, Lisa Triepke, a Cost Care director. And he's coming off of a year that saw the city's long-fought eminent domain case against Mountain Water come to completion, as well as Engen's public admission to a stint in rehab last fall, following a six-month return to drinking  including during work  after years of being sober.

As long as hes relevant, effective and active  coasting, he said, is not my style  Engens committed to continuing his work.

Before he ran for his first term in 2005, Engen said he asked then-mayor Mike Kadas and former mayor Dan Kemmis how they decided whether or not to run for another term.

They both said, If youre doing this right, youre going to want a second term, Engen said. Its a long game.

And for three terms in a row at least, Missoulians affirmed his desire to continue serving. Hes won with over 60 percent of the vote in all of his elections, even ones with multiple opponents.

His current challenger, though, is making longevity a negative. Harping on an aside she said Engen made about being mayor for life at a City Club meeting earlier this year, Triepke casts Engen and his administration as a close inner circle who push through their agenda whether Missoula wants it or not.

Engen contends he didnt say anything about wanting to be mayor for life, at least not seriously, though others do bring it up from time to time.

Im not interested in being mayor for life, Engen said. He does oppose imposing term limits on the office, taking the tack that elections are a natural term limit, and that its cynical to force politicians out every term or two.

Term limits "suggest voters dont have the intelligence to make choices about who will represent them, Engen said. I believe the voters are smart enough to vote the bums out.

This election, he's not taking chances: Engens raised nearly $60,000 from hundreds of individual donors.

The best way to indicate a broad base of support, he said, is raising money.

We have reached out far and wide to make sure folks who want to support my candidacy can do so, Engen said. I run to win.

This election carries added uncertainty for Engen. He will see how much the community still supports him (with their votes at least) after he publicly shared his struggle with alcoholism and the time in rehab that kept him out of the office for several weeks last fall.

Engen said the treatment followed a six-month period where he started drinking again after six years of being sober. He admitted to being drunk at work during that time.

I drank every day, Engen said. I was never incapacitated while making decisions, but I certainly wasnt at the top of my game."

Engen said hes stayed sober since going to treatment last October and promised to continue.

Relapse is not uncommon, but I learned a lot in treatment, he said. I do the things every day that I need to ensure that Im treating my disease. It is not always easy, but in about a month, a little over a month, I will have had a year of sobriety.

Hell also continue to talk publicly about alcoholism, saying hes tired of elected officials who pretend they arent human. Everyone has something, he said, and his is alcohol addiction.

In my case, it was only fair that everyone knew what my 'something' was and is.

Just a couple of months removed from one of the longest, most time-consuming projects of his career in the Mountain Water condemnation, Engens figuring out how to spend his time when its not buried underneath stacks of court paperwork.

Every day there was some emergent piece of water business that we needed to deal with. It just took time.

So hes working back to basics, right now focused on gathering data across city departments to rework their best practices.

He wants to benchmark performance, comparing police calls today vs. this day last year, for example, or how many potholes get filled year over year.

Using that data can help department heads use their resources more efficiently, knowing what seasons are the busiest and how work trends over several years.

The next major point of focus  albeit one Engen's harped on since his first election  is housing: housing for everybody, from homeless people to seniors to downsizing couples to students or newlyweds.

The city's office of Housing and Community Development was started this year, with a department head dedicated to enacting a focused housing plan, Engen said.

Theres a bit of reflection mixed into campaign season along with looking forward. Engen was asked for some of his proudest accomplishments off the beaten path (no Mountain Water, Riverfront Triangle, Urban Renewal District development).

He started with the citys agreement with the Department of Justice on sexual assault and sexual violence response from the police department.

Missoulas now a model for a victim-centered approach to sexual violence, Engen thought, saying that while other communities may have dug in their heels or ignored the problem, Missoula faced it head on.

That could have gone very differently and its gone very differently in many communities, he said.

The Downtown Master Plan followed, which Engen credited with attracting new development to the once-flagging commercial sector.

The citys relationship with the Montana Department of Transportation has led to some fast-tracked projects, such as the Madison Street Bridge, Engen said, and continues with Russell Street Bridge construction next year and Higgins Avenue construction by 2020.

He cited the reworked city zoning code, which is more predictable and is updated more often to reflect changing needs in Missoula. The Development Services office, the Citizen Service program, which takes direct complaints from Missoulians and works to fix them, the citys conservation work, the fare-free Mountain Line bus system  he could go on.

Were just doing a lot of stuff better, he said.

And, most important: Im proud of the fact that when the Hells Angels came for the second time we didnt have a riot," as happened during the motorcycle club's 2000 visit.

As mayor, Engen chairs the Monday-evening City Council meetings. He hears every kind of comment, from being cursed out and called "your highness," to a citizen wishing him well the week after returning from rehab.

There have been more than 500 of those meetings and Engen said he still listens at every one.

My mind can still be changed and I respond to facts, he said.

And what has he learned from the dozen years as mayor?

Believe it or not, I listen more than I talk. I allow smart people to surround a problem and work toward solutions. I own my mistakes, and I make them. I apologize for them and I learn from them. And Im sometimes courageous.

Check back in The Missoulian and on missoulian.com the week of Oct. 2 to read a series of stories comparing John Engen's and Lisa Triepke's stances on five important city issues: affordable housing, homelessness, business/wages, infrastructure and the budget.
John Engen, Missoulas longest-serving mayor (and counting), says he still has the verve, support and fire in my belly to keep going for at 
Yangon (AFP) - Myanmar's army said Sunday that a mass grave of 28 Hindus had been discovered in violence-wracked Rakhine state, blaming the killings on Muslim Rohingya militants.

The announcement could not be independently verified in an region that has been seized by communal violence since Rohingya militant raids on August 25 triggered a sweeping security crackdown.

"Security members found and dug up 28 dead bodies of Hindus who were cruelly violently and killed by ARSA extremist Bengali terrorists in Rakhine State," a statement posted on the army chief's website said.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) is the group whose attacks on police posts triggered an army backlash so brutal that the UN believes it amounts to ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority.

More than 430,000 Rohingya have fled the region to Bangladesh in under a month.

Some 30,000 Hindus and Buddhists based in the area have also been displaced, with some saying were terrorised by Rohingya militants.

The army said that security officers found 20 dead women and eight men in the graves, including six boys under the age of ten.

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay confirmed the discovery of the 28 bodies on Sunday.

A senior police officer in northern Rakhine told AFP they had been "buried with 10-15 bodies in each hole."

The village where the army chief said the bodies were found, Ye Baw Kya, is near a cluster of Hindu and Muslim communities in northern Rakhine called Kha Maung Seik.

Hindus from the area have told AFP that militants swept into their villages on August 25, attacking people who stood in their way, killing many and taking others away into the forest.
(Photo: Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images)

Michael Cera recently returned to New York City to find his car of 13 years destroyed by what he thinks was  and might as well have been  a garbage truck. He went out of town, leaving it parked on the street. And that was that.

The car had been his mode of transportation, at least on lazy days, to a practice and studio space hes been using to learn the ins and outs of song production. Like other music spaces in the city, this little basement, as Cera described it to HuffPost during a phone conversation, can get swelteringly hot in the summer. (One popular recording and rehearsal spot in Brooklyn is lovingly called The Sweatshop.)

And yet Cera has stuck with the hobby, as he classifies it, that leaves him dripping sweat the whole time.

I love it, Cera said. I love recording, too, even if nothing comes of it. Its really a fun exercise.

By this point, Cera isnt exactly new to music. He surprise-released a whole album on Bandcamp in 2014, called true that, which Vulture described as really pretty good. Before that, he toured with the band Mister Heavenly, joining their lineup in 2010. Perhaps still most famously, he played guitar and sang the Moldy Peaches song Anyone Else But You alongside Ellen Page in Juno. The soundtrack reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart that year.

What has come out of his recent summer sessions, though, is a collaboration with Sharon Van Etten, the critically adored musician behind the 2014 album, Are We There.

Cera and Van Ettens new song is called, Best I Can. It too is really pretty good.

The two musicians have been sharing the cost of renting the basement space for a couple years now.

It basically got flooded, too, Cera said of the sweat-inducing room. But the rental has been worthwhile anyway. You can make as much noise as you want there, like all night, because its really in an area thats mostly populated by businesses. There doesnt seem to be anyone who can hear you at night. You can just be as loud as you want.

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His collaboration with Van Etten is just one in a string of notable collaborations throughout Ceras career of late. Earlier this summer, he showed up for one scene on David Lynchs critically-lauded revival of Twin Peaks to play the motorcycle-riding and open road-loving character, Wally Brando. Wally Brando Represents Everything Great About Twin Peaks And David Lynch Decider declared.

Its a miracle to me, to be honest, Cera said of getting the Lynch opportunity.

But think of any recent beloved cult project and theres a chance Ceras made an appearance in it. He showed up for the Netflix revival of Wet Hot American Summer. He lent his voice to the intercom of Childrens Hospital. He played a small role in Bill Murrays Christmas special, A Very Murray Christmas. He had an episode arc on Louie.

All the while, the most traditionally high profile part of his career has been voicing animated characters in well-received, tentpole movies like The LEGO Batman Movie and Sausage Party. He is, of course, also returning for another season of Arrested Development on Netflix, reprising his role as the unnervingly polite and anxiety-riddled George Michael.

That last character stuck with Cera for years, especially after he starred in movies with similarly well-mannered leads  2007s Superbad and Juno. He played against type in films like Youth in Revolt (2009) and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010). Nonetheless, his reputation persisted; Taran Killam memorialized the persona with a high-pitched, aww-shucks impersonation of Cera that recurred on Saturday Night Live. At it again in 2013, Cera made a redefining cameo in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldbergs This Is the End. Cera showed up to snort cocaine at a celebrity party, slap Rihannas ass, get impaled by a light-pole, and kick the overly nice guy characterization for good.

Altogether, Ceras resume highlights consist of an incredible and strange run of distinct career opportunities. Today, Cera is in the exceptionally rare position of getting to do only the things he finds creatively interesting, whether its a theater stint in New York City (he costarred in Kenneth Lonergans 2014 production of This Is Our Youth) or his new song with Van Etten.

For me its just sort of, the only compass I really have is what I like, Cera said. I also have this luxury of not really having to provide for a family or anything at the moment, which makes you have the ability to make choices and say, No, which is a luxury. I dont know, I dont take that for granted but its just  I can be patient and wait for things that appeal to me.

(Photo: Taylor Hill via Getty Images)

Cera did eventually get a new car. Replacing his old totaled vehicle was important to the 29-year-old actor. It helps him visit his family in Ontario, Canada, but also provides him with reassurance that he can escape the city at any moment.

You know, it was time, he said. I like having a car, too, just in case you ever want to just get out of town. Its kind of a good thing to have.

Whats next for Cera career-wise? Perhaps hell choose to star in another big movie. Perhaps hell show up in your new favorite show when you least expect it. Maybe hell release a few more songs. At this point, he has the fame, credibility and resources to consistently be a part of good, if small projects.

He has the freedom to go somewhere new.

You can also listen to Ceras track with Sharon Van Etten, Best I Can, on Spotify and download it on iTunes. The song will also appears in the upcoming documentary, Dina, which inspired the track art. Cera provided music for that movie.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
BERKELEY, Calif.  Milo Yiannopoulos didnt get his Free Speech Week.

What was supposed to be his four-day Woodstock at the University of California turned out to be his alt-right Fyre Festival. It was canceled before it ever began, and the notorious provocateur was forced to offer refunds to travelers during a very sad press conference on Facebook Live.

But Yiannopoulos doesnt go down without a troll. As he admitted defeat, he promised an unofficial rally for his followers on Sunday, effectively mobilizing hordes of counterprotesters, anti-fascists and anyone in his far-right brigade brave enough to face them.

We are going to be hosting an event, come hell or high water, tomorrow, he said during his Saturday presser.

He got what he wanted. The rally at Sproul Plaza on campus brought hundreds of demonstrators out, including Antifa activists and Yiannopoulos supporters. Police set up barriers with metal detectors before letting them into the area.

The British media personality showed up around noon to speak to a smattering of supporters and sign autographs. However, thirty minutes into his arrival, Yiannopoulos fled the area as his security detail escorted him to a white SUV.

Counter-protesters cheering after Milo leaves campus before the rally started, chanting "Si se puede!" #Berkeley pic.twitter.com/AJgXbMxP5H  Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) September 24, 2017

Sunsara Taylor with the New York City-based activist group Refuse Fascism called Yiannopoulos a salivating sycophant for Trump and took aim at the White House in a speech to crowds.

Were glad Milo got canceled but were here because we have white supremacists in the White House. Trump and Pence have got to go.

Chants of "Charlottesville never again!" as cops form a line between anti-fascists and Trump/Milo supporters #Berkeley pic.twitter.com/cIeaFTzgse  Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) September 24, 2017

Antonio Freeman, who identified himself as a bodyguard for the alt-right celebrity troll Baked Alaska, stood outside Sproul Plaza and scoffed at anti-fascists speaking into a megaphone. The 26-year-old Los Angeles area resident says hes part of the anti-government militia group Oathkeepers but opted not to show up in uniform.

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Freeman said he was here just supporting free speech. Just making sure people stay peaceful, that people are out here respecting each other and making sure things dont get too heated.

No bad optics, he added, referring to the violence that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month that left one anti-racist protester dead. No Charlottesville stuff. Cant have that anymore. Just a civil discourse.

He claimed to know Yiannopoulos personally but said he was more supportive of speakers today that are American citizens like his friend Mike Cernovich.

But the alt-right icons mere presence in Berkeley has been a huge burden on the community. The university said it was in the process of spending about a million dollars on security for the four days-long event, likely because the last one in February drew 1,500 protesters, violence and general chaos.

Yiannopoulos  who the Anti-Defamation League calls a misogynistic, racist, xenophobic, transphobic troll who is extremely good at getting people to pay attention to him  used the episode to play victim and claim that liberal-leaning colleges like UC Berkeley fight against free speech. He did so again during Saturdays presser, and some critics say that he only organizes these events to declare himself a martyr when platforms and venues refuse to host him or when counterprotesters appear.

He knows his trolling draws out only people who are ready for battle. Anti-fascist groups like Refuse Fascism were waiting in the wings to mobilize at any event Yiannopoulos threw, and mobilize they did.

More troubling, in an email chain obtained by the Bay Area News Group, right-wing blogger Lucian Wintrich for The Gateway Pundit, who was scheduled to speak, told UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof that organizers from the event knew they wouldnt go through with it from the start.

It was known that they didnt intend to actually go through with it last week, and completely decided on Wednesday, Wintrich wrote to Mogulof.

Wait, whoah, hold on a second, Mogulof responded. What, exactly, are you saying? What were you told by MILO Inc? Was it a set-up from the get-go?

Yes, Wintrich replied.

During the rally, 18-year-old college student Edgar Magana wore a Dangerous Faggot shirt  the title of Milos previous campus speaking tour  with an American flag wrapped around his neck.

He said universities across America are destroying Republican life on campus and that he showed up to support free speech and Yiannopoulos, who he referred to as his idol.

Milo says he's coming to Sproul Plaza TOMORROW at Noon. No Fucking Way! We need to start gathering there at 10AM... https://t.co/NNlWhPD5H9  RefuseFascismSF (@SFRefuseFascism) September 24, 2017

The failure of Yiannopoulos free speech rally echoed a similar one in Boston in August. While dozens of alt-righters came out for the rally, 40,000 more counterprotesters met them with a message of their own following the violence in Charlottesville: White supremacy has no place in this country.

Sebastian Murdock contributed reporting.

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A man wears a purple ribbon to remember Heather Heyer, who was killed protesting during a white supremacist rally, as he arrives for her memorial service at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 16, 2017.

The Paramount Theater marquee bears the name of Heather Heyer.

Heather Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, walks by a picture of her daughter after speaking at her memorial service.

Mourners gather inside the Paramount Theater.

Heather Heyer's father, Mark Heyer, speaks at her memorial service.

Mourners inside the Paramount Theater wear purple, as Heyer's family had requested. Purple was her favorite color.

People line up to attend the memorial service.

Marcus Martin (center), who was injured in the same car attack that killed Heyer, leaves the memorial service.

Anna Quillon hands out purple pieces of cloth outside the memorial service.

People wore stickers and ribbons to the memorial service.

A poster announcing the memorial service.

Mia Jones shows off the "NO H8" message written on her hands.

Outside the service, people carry guns to provide security in the event of far-right protesters.

A person tapes a note to the front door of a bookstore to announce that it will close during the memorial service for Heather Heyer.

A man puts on a purple ribbon while waiting in line.

People carry bats and shields to provide security.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Emanuel Kidega Samson, who shot himself in the chest amid the scuffle with Mr Engle, was taken into police custody after he was treated for his injury: Metro Nashville PD

An usher has been hailed a hero for jumping on a gunman who had just killed a woman and injured six others in a shooting spree at a church.

Emanuel Kidega Samson shot Melanie Smith, 39, dead in the car park of the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, Tennessee, Nashville, then went inside and started firing at worshippers who were filing out at the end of the service.

But Robert Engle pounced on ski mask-wearing Samson and after a struggle which saw Mr Engle pistol-whipped around the head, the assailant shot himself in the chest, witnesses said.

Church usher Robert Engle, in picture with unidentified baby, is being treated for a significant head injury he suffered in the scuffle (Facebook/Dave Visser)

Mr Engle then went to his car, got his own weapon and held Mr Samson at gunpoint until the police arrived.

The FBI have launched a civil rights investigation into the shooting after racial reasons were given for Mr Samsons attack.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson hailed Mr Engle, 22, as a hero after the incident on Sunday.

Mr Samson had been carrying at least two pistols, reports said, when he opened fire indiscriminately on worshippers before Mr Engle jumped on him.

"He's the hero. He's the person who stopped this madness," Mr Anderson said during a news conference, according to a report in the Tennessean.

Mr Engle appeared to shrug off the praise and instead focused on the welfare of others.

He said in a statement, in a report by Tennessean: "I ask everyone to pray for the victims, family members of the victims, our church community.

Please pray for healing. Also, please pray for the shooter, the shooters family and friends. They are hurting as well," he added.

Mr Engles grandmother, Rheta, said it was his nature to help others.

She told the Tennessean: Thats like him. Hes just someone who cares about a lot of people. He has all their feelings at heart.

It would make any parent, grandparent very, very proud of him.

A friend of Mr Engles added to the newspaper that he was a great guy. Just one of the kindest human beings youll ever meet.

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Mr Engle was being treated in hospital for a significant head injury he suffered during the scuffle, police said.

The three men and three women shot in the chapel were also being treated for their injuries but were said to be in a stable condition.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a tweet Mr Samson had been released from hospital after he was treated for his own injury and detained in custody.

He will be charged with murder and attempted murder.
(Photo: See below)

Looking for a fresh new voice in fiction? Youre in luck.

On Monday, the National Book Foundation announced its annual 5 Under 35 list, which honors five young debut fiction authors whose great early work marks them as writers to watch with anticipation throughout their careers.

This years list consists of five women whose debut novels and story collections dazzled the literary community, including Lesley Nneka Arimah and Leopoldine Core.

The five writers were chosen for the list by previous National Book finalists, winners or 5 Under 35 honorees  an annual reminder that this is a highly desirable club to get into. Since its institution in 2006, 5 Under 35 authors have numbered major talents such as Dinaw Mengestu, Karen Russell, Tiphanie Yanique and Tea Obreht among their ranks.

Zinzi Clemmons was selected by Angela Flournoy, author of the widely acclaimed novel The Turner House, a finalist for the National Book Award; Weike Wang made the list thanks to Sherman Alexie, a 2007 National Book Award winner for Young Peoples Literature and undeniable literary icon.

While the honor signals interest in these authors future work, it also recognizes the brilliant work theyve already published  so if you havent yet checked out these five debuts, consider this an invitation.

Here are the 2017 National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honorees and their books:

(Photo: Riverhead)

Lesley Nneka Arimah, author of What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky: Stories

(Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House)

Selected by Chris Bachelder, 2016 National Book Award Finalist for Fiction

In this short story collection, Arimah delves into questions of family and womanhood, laying bare the unsettling corners of human need. The stories range from fables and speculative fiction to more realist portrayals of families of the Nigerian diaspora.

(Photo: Curbside Splendor)

Halle Butler, author of Jillian

(Curbside Splendor)

Selected by Lydia Millet, 2016 National Book Award Longlist for Fiction

Butlers novel follows a disaffected, cynical narrator who becomes contemptuously obsessed with her more upbeat co-worker, the titular Jillian, as the other womans life begins to unravel.

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(Photo: Viking)

Zinzi Clemmons, author of What We Lose

(Viking / Penguin Random House)

Selected by Angela Flournoy, 2015 National Book Award Finalist for Fiction and 5 Under 35 honoree

What We Lose takes readers through the agonizing months during which a young woman, Thandi, watches her mother die of breast cancer  and her struggle to grieve afterward. Clemmons also examines the higher incidence of breast cancer deaths among black women, adding a sharper point to a universal story of loss.

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(Photo: Penguin)

Leopoldine Core, author of When Watched: Stories

(Penguin Books / Penguin Random House)

Selected by Karan Mahajan, 2016 National Book Award Finalist for Fiction

Cores collection of short fiction has already racked up a number of awards and nominations, including a Whiting Award. Her stories, many set in New York, take the reader into uneventful moments in her characters lives, evoking a powerful sense of the human condition.

(Photo: Knopf)

Weike Wang, author of Chemistry

(Knopf / Penguin Random House)

Selected by Sherman Alexie, 2007 National Book Award Winner for Young Peoples Literature

Wang explores a young chemists reckoning with her own limits and possibilities in this capably crafted, thoughtful novel.

Read HuffPosts full review.

Also on HuffPost

'Wolf In White Van' by John Darnielle

"A pop culture-infused novel that thoughtfully and nonjudgmentally considers the dark side of nerddom." A man badly disfigured in a gun accident ponders gaming, heavy metal, family, love and the crazed emotions that tend to surround our obsessions. Read full book review.

'Otherbound' by Corinne Duyvis

"Original and compelling; a stunning debut. (Fantasy. 14 & up)" Worlds collide as two teens fight for their lives. Read full book review.

'Love Me Back' by Merritt Tierce

"The cold and honest confessions of a damaged young woman who lives to serve." An emotionally barren waitress hustles her way through life, dulled by sex, drugs and self-inflicted burns. Read full book review.

'Gabi, A Girl In Pieces' by Isabel Quintero

"A fresh, authentic and honest exploration of contemporary Latina identity. (Fiction. 14 & up)" Struggles with body image, teen pregnancy, drug addiction, rape, coming out, first love and death are all experiences that touch Gabi's life in some way during her senior year, and she processes her raw and honest feelings in her journal as these events unfold. Read full book review.

'The Invention Of Exile' by Vanessa Manko

"A top-notch debut, at once sober and lively and provocative." A man separated from his family for years reckons with his isolation in Manko's debut, a superb study of statelessness. Read full book review.

'Rites Of Passage' by Joy N. Hensley

"Absolutely compelling. (Fiction. 14-18)" The absorbing story of the first girl to join a fictional military high school. Read full book review.

'Bird Box' by Josh Malerman

"An unsettling thriller, this earns comparisons to Hitchcock's The Birds, as well as the finer efforts of Stephen King and cult sci-fi fantasist Jonathan Carroll." In Malerman's chilling debut, an apocalyptic reality befalls a Michigan river communityand who knows how much of the rest of civilizationin the form of creatures that cause people who merely look at them to go mad and kill themselves. Read full book review.

'An Untamed State' by Roxane Gay

"A cutting and resonant debut." A harrowing and emotionally clear-eyed vision of one woman's ordeal during and after her kidnapping in Haiti. Read full book review.

'Sway' by Kat Spears

"A compelling debut told with swagger and real depth. (Fiction. 14-18)" Everybody knows Jesse, aka "Sway." For the right price or a later favor, Jesse will get you want you want, but he'll also acquire power over you. Read full book review.

'A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall' by Will Chancellor

"Some readers may stumble over the Latin, argot and allusions, but these are minor challenges in Chancellor's polymorphous entertainment." A father searches for his vanished son in this edgily comic first novel, which has fun with the worlds of art and academia. Read full book review.

'The Chance You Won't Return' by Annie Cardi

"An honest, uncompromising story. (Fiction. 14 & up)" Cardi delves into issues of love, acceptance, loss and identity in her engaging debut novel. Read full book review.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
By Michelle Nichols, Ben Blanchard and Christine Kim

UNITED NATIONS/BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's foreign minister said on Monday that President Donald Trump had declared war on North Korea and that Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down U.S. bombers even if they are not in its air space.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country," Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters in New York.

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country," Ri said.

"The question of who won't be around much longer will be answered then," Ri said in a direct reference to a Twitter post by Trump on Saturday.

The increasingly heated rhetoric between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is raising fears of a risk of a miscalculation by one side or the other that could have massive repercussions.

China called on Monday for all sides in the North Korea missile crisis to show restraint and not "add oil to the flames."

Ri told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday that targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after "Mr Evil President" Trump called Kim a "rocket man" on a suicide mission.

"Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!" Trump said on Twitter on Saturday.

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North Korea, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programs in defiance of international condemnation and economic sanctions, said it "bitterly condemned the reckless remarks" of Trump. They were an "intolerable insult to the Korean people" and a declaration of war, the North's official news agency said on Monday.

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Pyongyang accuses the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war, of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies. The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with North Korea because the 1950s conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

U.S. Treasury yields fell to session lows after Ri's comments on Monday.

'DERANGED'

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim described Trump as a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard" whom he would tame with fire.

Kim said North Korea would consider the "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history" against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed his nuclear program was "the correct path".

Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address last Tuesday to "totally destroy" the country of 26 million people if North Korea threatened the United States or its allies.

Asked how concerned China was the war of words between Trump and North Korea could get out of control, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described the situation as highly complex and sensitive.

It was vitally important everyone strictly, fully and correctly implemented all North Korea related U.N. resolutions, Lu said, resolutions which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

All sides should "not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present", Lu told a daily news briefing.

"We hope all sides do not continue doing things to irritate each other and should instead exercise restraint."

Speaking to British Prime Minister Theresa May by telephone, Chinese President Xi Jinping repeated Beijing's position that the North Korean issue should be resolved peacefully via talks, state media said.

China hopes Britain can play a constructive role in easing the situation and pushing for a resumption in talks, Xi said. May, like some other U.S. allies, has pushed for China to do more on North Korea.

Downing Street said the two leaders agreed there was a particular responsibility for China and Britain, as permanent Security Council members, to help find a diplomatic solution.

North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear bomb test on Sept. 3. Pyongyang said on Friday it might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

While China has been angered by North Korea's repeated nuclear and missile tests, it has also called for the United States and its allies to help lessen tension by dialing back their military drills.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on Saturday in a show of force the Pentagon said indicated the range of military options available to Trump.

In response to a question about the exercises, Chinese spokesman Lu said: "A continued rise in tensions on the peninsula, I believe, is not in the interests of any side."

Wang Jingdong, president of the world's largest lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), told reporters during a briefing the bank will "strictly implement U.N. Security Council decisions related to North Korea and carefully fulfill relevant international responsibility".

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said his decision to call a snap election would not distract his government from responding to North Korean threats.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Christine Kim in Seoul; Additional reporting by Shu Zhang in Beijing, Elizabeth Piper in London and Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Writing by Philip Wen; Editing by Nick Macfie and Grant McCool)
North Korean state media has released a new video depicting the destruction of US aircraft and warships and warning that any attack on the North will see US forces "head to the grave".

The 99-second clip was released on Sunday by the DPRK Today news site, just hours after two US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew off the coast of North Korea in a show of force.

Accompanied by US fighters based in Okinawa, the bombers flew further north of the Demilitarised Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula than any US military aircraft in the 21st century, according to the Pentagon.

A screenshot of the North Korean video showing the US carrier being blown up

The North Korean propaganda video begins with pictures of President Donald Trump, describing him as a "mad man".

It goes on to show a series of Pukguksong missiles being fired from mobile launch vehicles before an F-35 Raptor fighter and a nuclear-capable Lancer bomber are destroyed by computer-generated explosions.

The footage goes on to show a missile being fired from a submerged submarine before striking the USS Carl Vinson. The 103,000-tonne aircraft carrier is the flagship of Carrier Strike Croup 1 and conducted drills with another nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, off North Korea in June.

It has also carried out exercises, utilising its 90 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, with Korean navy units.

The footage shows USS Carl Vinson engulfed in flames after the missile strike, with subtitles stating, "Should F-35, B-1B or the Carl Vinson lead the US attack, they will head to the grave in that order".

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The Pentagon has warned that it is prepared to give Donald Trump options to deal with North Korea if the country's provocations continue.

"If North Korea does not stop their provocative actions, you know, we will make sure that we provide options to the President to deal with North Korea," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning told reporters.

Earlier that day, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho had told reporters that "the whole world should clearly remember it was the US who first declared war on our country".

Mr Ri was responding to comments from Mr Trump, in which the President claimed North Korean leaders "won't be around much longer" if they continued their threats. A senior administration official denied that the President was advocating regime change.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the Foreign Minister's comments "absurd".

"We've not declared war on North Korea. Frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd," she said.

The war of words between the two countries has escalated since April, when Pyongyang tried and failed to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile. The North Korean regime has since conducted several successful missile tests, and carried out its sixth-ever nuclear test earlier this month.

In his speech to the United Nations last week, Mr Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea, claiming leader Kim Jong-un was "on a suicide mission". In his own speech to the assembly, Mr Ri said it was Mr Trump who had a death wish.

"In case innocent lives of the US are harmed because of this suicide attack, Trump will be held totally responsible," the Foreign Minister said.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against the escalating rhetoric on Monday, saying: "Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings."

"The only solution for this is a political solution," he added.

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The Trump administration has so far pursued a path of diplomacy through the tensions, despite the President's bombastic words.

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, has helped negotiate stringent sanctions against North Korea. The UN Security Council voted earlier this month to cap the country's oil imports, ban their textile exports, and bar countries from giving work visas to North Korean citizens.

China and Russia  two of North Korea's biggest trading partners  have so far agreed to the Security Council's sanctions. But they have also pushed the US to find a non-military solution to the conflict.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said all sides should "not further irritate each other and add oil to the flames of the tense situation on the peninsula at present".

North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un reads out text in response Donald Trump's speech at the UN (AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS)

The US adopted its own sanctions against North Korea last week. The sanctions ban international banks that facilitate transactions with North Korea from the American market, and punish those that do business with North Korea's major industries.

Experts say the sanctions are stronger than those President Barack Obama imposed against Iran before successfully bringing them to the bargaining table.

Announcing the sanctions last Thursday, Mr Trump said: North Koreas nuclear weapons and nuclear development is a grave threat to peace and security in our world, and it is unacceptable that others financially support this criminal, rogue regime."
Key Republican senators were busy on Sunday, expressing their reservations about the latest effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which Senate GOP leaders are vowing to bring to a vote this week.

Taken together, Sundays statements make it difficult to see how the bill could pass, although at this point nobody takes anything for granted.

Senate Republicans face a hard deadline of Sept. 30. After that, they lose the ability to pass repeal with just 50 votes, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a tie, rather than the 60 it would take to overcome a filibuster. Republicans have only 52 seats in the Senate, meaning they can only lose two votes.

At the moment, at least five Republican senators are opposed to the bill or say they are leaning in that direction  and these are not reasons the bills sponsors, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), can address easily.

Most of the wavering or opposed senators are angry about the rushed, partisan process that produced the bill. No committee of jurisdiction held a hearing on the bill and the Congressional Budget Office will not have time to provide a full analysis, including all-important projections on insurance coverage and premiums, before the Sept. 30 deadline passes.

In addition, and more important, some of the dissenters worry the law will undermine coverage for too many people. Others are insisting upon more dramatic cutbacks in spending and regulation, which would inevitably undermine coverage for even more people. Any effort to please one group is bound to alienate the other even more.

This should not be surprising. Republicans have spent seven years promising that they had a way to repeal Obamacare, while giving everybody coverage that would be more comprehensive and more affordable. But these promises are not compatible, at least given the menu of options Republicans are willing to consider.

The Affordable Care Act has its problems, and plenty of people feel worse off, but its also brought the number of Americans without insurance to a historic low, improving access to care and financial security. Scale back the laws spending and regulation, or get rid of it entirely, and the inevitable result will be more people struggling to find care or facing hardship because of medical expenses.

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Consider how the Graham-Cassidy bill would work if it became law. It would replace the Affordable Care Act with a less generous program that states would operate more or less on their own, with freedom to waive regulations that protect people with pre-existing conditions. The bill would also cut Medicaid funding on top of that, effectively limiting the federal governments historic commitment to the program.

Graham and Cassidy insist states can innovate, in order to make coverage more available even with fewer funds  and that the waivers from the Affordable Care Acts insurance regulations wouldnt undermine protections for people with pre-existing condition. Neither claim is credible, as a parade of independent experts and organizations have said.

Something like 21 million more people would end up without insurance coverage, according to the latest and most reliable estimate, while some people with cancer, diabetes, and a host of other medical problems would have no way to get the comprehensive coverage they need.

The bill is highly unpopular and has provoked condemnation from virtually every major organization that represents either the people who provide health care, the people who pay for it, or the people who get it. Over the weekend, six groups, including the American Medical Association and Americas Health Insurance Plans, issued a rare joint letter condemning the proposal.

And thats on top of the hammering Cassidy, in particular, has taken from late night television host Jimmy Kimmel.

Of course, the proposal would realize some the long-standing conservative goal of reducing governments power over health care. It would also reduce premiums for those people, predominantly young or relatively healthy, for whom the 2010 health care law has meant higher premiums or out-of-pocket costs.

No less important, passing Graham-Cassidy would allow Republicans to tell their most fervent supporters that they have repealed Obamacare  and to quiet donors who, according to a recent New York Times story, are furious at the GOPs lack of legislative progress.

That probably goes a long way towards explaining why Graham and Cassidy are still tinkering with their bill, in the hopes of rallying 50 votes; why a vote could still take place, despite the long odds of success; and why the Affordable Care Acts defenders are still pleading with supporters to make their outrage known.

Here is where key GOP senators stand, based on their most recent public comments. Remember, if Republicans lose any three of the following, the bill cannot pass.

Sen. John McCain, Arizona: He said on Friday he cannot vote for the bill because it is not bipartisan and because it did not go through regular order, meaning no committee hearings and no CBO score.

Republican leaders have no way to meet either objection at this point, since Democrats are unified in opposition and, with only days left to pass the bill, its way too late to go through regular order. The Senate Finance Committee plans to hold a hearing this week, but at this point in the process such a hearing would be purely for show.

Note that McCain has been strikingly consistent about his insistence on a slow, deliberative, and ideally bipartisan process. He said it was his reason to vote no in July, when he cast a dramatic vote against repeal  and he said on Friday it was reason enough to stand his ground, even though it meant voting against a proposal from Graham, who happens to be his best friend in the Senate.

Sen. Susan Collins, Maine: Like McCain, Collins voted against repeal in July. Like McCain, she has cited process concerns that Republican leaders cannot address at this point, even if they were willing to do so. Collins has also made a very big deal about the proposals impact on coverage  the cuts to Medicaid, the gutting of protections for pre-existing conditions.

On Sunday, during an appearance on CNNs State of the Union, Collins said Its very difficult for me to envision a scenario where I would end up voting for this bill. It would take a surprise from the CBO, providing more optimistic assessments of the bills impact  and CBO has already said it cant do that in time for a vote.

Collins is the least conservative member of the Senate Republican caucus, representing a state that leans Democratic. She is also a former insurer regulator who knows that many claims Graham and Cassidy make on behalf of the bill are false.

Abortion funding hasnt come up in the public debate a lot lately, but Graham-Cassidy would defund Planned Parenthood and if that ends up in the final bill that, too, could be a deal-breaker for Collins.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska: Last of the trio to vote against repeal in July, shes also been the most circumspect about her opinion. Like Collins, she has expressed worries about the process and an enthusiasm for bipartisan solutions. Like Collins, Murkowski opposes efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Mostly, though, shes talked about what the bill would mean for her state  expressing concern about the impact on coverage, but refusing to declare a position until she was comfortable shed seen all the numbers.

GOP leaders have made no secret of their willingness to modify the bill to win her over, even if that means throwing extra money at Alaska, but so far every estimate shows her state faring worse, provoking criticism of the bill from her governor.

Murkowskis opposition to the July bill won her plaudits at home. After the vote, she literally got hugs at the Anchorage airport when she arrived. She easily won reelection in 2016, six years after winning as a write-in.

Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky: Paul has been the bills most outspoken critic, though he comes at it from the opposite side of the political spectrum. His beef with Graham-Cassidy is that, for all of its cuts and changes to regulations, it still leaves too much of Obamacare in place. On Sunday, as the bills fortunes seemed to be sinking fast, he began suggesting that maybe he could get yes after all, with enough concessions.

First he said on NBCs Meet the Press that hed support Graham-Cassidy if the sponsors just dropped the money the bill earmarks for (partly) replacing the Affordable Care Acts coverage expansion  and then, in an interview with the Washington Post, he said maybe hed think about a yes if the bill cut its proposed funding in half.

But these are not concessions the bills sponsors are in a position to meet. With less funding Graham-Cassidy would leave even more people without insurance coverage, further alienating Collins and Murkowski  a reality Paul acknowledged in the Post interview.

Would I talk to them if they said they wanted to make the block grants half as much? I might, Paul said. But Im afraid you get back in the box where the moderates want more and the conservatives want less.

Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas: Cruz had very little to say publicly until Sunday, when, during an interview at the annual Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, he announced that Right now they dont have my vote and I dont think they have Mike Lees either.

Lee is the Republican senator from Utah and his objection, like the one from Cruz, would sound a lot like Paul  they all think the Graham-Cassidy bill leaves too much of the Affordable Care Acts spending and regulations in place.

Its anybodys guess whether Cruz and Lee would really vote no if they held the decisive votes  if they were really all that stood between Republicans and a successful effort to repeal the 2010 health care law. Some are skeptical of Pauls opposition for the same reason.

But their skepticism is one more reminder that Republican leaders find themselves torn between two competing imperatives  to reduce federal spending and regulation on health care, while somehow helping people to get better, more affordable coverage. Theyre going to keep running into this very same problem, no matter how many times they keep trying.

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Taking Security Seriously

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) talks with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) before the start of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing concerning the roles and responsibilities for defending the nation against cyberattacks, on Oct. 19, 2017.

With Liberty And Justice...

Members of Code Pink for Peace protest before the start of a hearing where U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 18, 2017. Committee members questioned Sessions about conversations he had with President Donald Trump about the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, the ongoing investigation about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and other subjects.

Whispers

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), right, speaks with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) before a confirmation hearing for Christopher Sharpley, nominee for inspector general of the CIA, on Oct. 17, 2017.

Not Throwing Away His Shot

Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the musical "Hamilton," makes his way to a meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies in the Rayburn Office Building during a round of meetings to urge federal funding for the arts and humanities on Sept. 13, 2017.

Medicare For All

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), center, speaks on health care as Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), left, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), right, listen during an event to introduce the Medicare for All Act on Sept. 13, 2017.

Bernie Bros

Supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pack his office on Sept. 8, 2017. Members of the "Draft Bernie for a People's Party" campaign delivered a petition with more than 50,000 signatures to urge the senator to start and lead a new political party.

McCain Appearance

Sen. John McCain, second from left, leaves the Capitol after his first appearance since being diagnosed with cancer. He arrived to cast a vote to help Republican senators narrowly pass the motion to proceed for the replacement of the Affordable Care Act on July 25, 2017.

A Narrow Win

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, center, speaks alongside Sens. John Barrasso, left, John Cornyn, right, and John Thune, rear, after the Senate narrowly passed the motion to proceed for the replacement of the Affordable Care Act on July 25, 2017.

Kushner Questioning

Jared Kushner, White House senior adviser and son-in-law to President Donald Trump, arrives at the Capitol on July 25, 2017. Kushner was interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee in a closed-door meeting about contacts he had with Russia.

Hot Dogs On The Hill

Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) prepares a hot dog during the American Meat Institute's annual Hot Dog Lunch in the Rayburn Office Building courtyard on July 19, 2017.

And Their Veggie Counterparts

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) visits the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals veggie dog giveaway on July 19, 2017, countering a National Hot Dog Day event being held elsewhere on Capitol Hill.

Poised For Questions

Callista Gingrich, wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, waits for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on her nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican on July 18, 2017.

Speaking Up

Health care activists protest to stop the Republican health care bill at Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 17, 2017.

In The Fray

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks to members of the media after announcing the revised version of the Senate Republican health care bill on Capitol Hill on July 13, 2017.

Anticipation

Christopher Wray is seated with his daughter Caroline, left, as he prepares to testify at a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be the next FBI director on July 12, 2017.

Up In Arms

Health care activists protest to stop the Republican health care bill at Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 10, 2017.

Across A Table

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) meets with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Capitol Hill on June 29, 2017.

Somber Day

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks about the recent attack on the Republican congressional baseball team during her weekly press conference on Capitol Hill on June 15, 2017.

Family Matters

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), right, and his sons, Jack, 10, and Brad, arrive in the basement of the Capitol after a shooting at the Republican baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 14, 2017.

A Bipartisan Pause

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), right, coach of the Republican congressional baseball team, tells the story of the shooting that occurred during a baseball practice while he stands alongside Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), left, a coach of the Democratic congressional baseball team on June 14, 2017.

Hats On

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) reacts about the shooting he was present for at a Republican congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, as he speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 14, 2017.

Public Testimony

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is sworn in to testify before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on June 13, 2017.

Comey's Big Day

Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election on Capitol Hill on June 8, 2017.

Conveying His Point

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats testifies at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on his interactions with the Trump White House and on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act on June 7, 2017.

Selfie Time

Vice President Mike Pence takes a selfie with a tourist wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda on June 6, 2017. The vice president walked through the rotunda after attending the Senate Republican policy luncheon.

Budget Queries

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney testifies before the House Budget Committee about President Donald Trump's fiscal 2018 budget proposal on Capitol Hill on May 24, 2017.

Flagged Down By Reporters

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, leaves a closed committee meeting on Capitol Hill on May 24, 2017. The committee is investigating possible Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.

Shock And Awe

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) hold a news conference on the release of the president's fiscal 2018 budget proposal on Capitol Hill on May 23, 2017.

Seeing Double

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) arrives in the Capitol for the Senate Democrats' policy lunch on May 16, 2017.

Honoring Officers

President Donald Trump speaks at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service on the West Lawn of the Capitol on May 15, 2017.

Whispers

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.), right, and ranking member Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) talk during a hearing with the heads of the U.S. intelligence agencies in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 11, 2017.

Skeptical

Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates arrives to testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election on Capitol Hill on May 8, 2017.

Differing Opinions

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) gives a thumbs-up to protesters on the East Front of the Capitol after the House passed the Republicans' bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act on May 4, 2017. The protesters support the ACA.

Real Talk

United States Naval Academy Midshipman 2nd Class Shiela Craine (left), a sexual assault survivor, testifies before the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Military Personnel with (2nd from left to right) Ariana Bullard, Stephanie Gross and Annie Kendzior in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 2, 2017. Kendzior, a former midshipman, and Gross, a former cadet, were both raped twice during their time at the military academies. The academy superintendents were called to testify following the release of a survey last month by the Pentagon that said 12.2 percent of academy women and 1.7 percent of academy men reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact during the 2015-16 academic year.

In Support Of Immigrants

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), center, is joined by dozens of Democratic members of the House of Representatives to mark "Immigrant Rights Day" in the Capitol Visitor Center on May 1, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The Democratic legislators called on Republicans and President Donald Trump to join their push for comprehensive immigration reform.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Istanbul (AFP) - The controversial trial of 17 journalists and staff from the Turkish opposition daily Cumhuriyet began hearing witness testimony on Monday, with a key witness dismissing charges that the accused are linked to terror groups.

Five top figures from the newspaper, which has been deeply critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, remain in custody, though the remainder are now free while on trial.

In a case that has caused an international outcry, the staff members are charged with supporting in their coverage three groups that Turkey considers terror groups.

These are the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the ultra-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), and the movement of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based preacher whom Ankara accuses of ordering last year's coup attempt.

The Turkish government calls the movement the Fethullah Terror Group (FETO).

Supporters of the paper say it has always taken a tough line against the three organisations and is being punished for being one of the few opposition voices in the Turkish media.

"I worked with them. I know their past. These colleagues cannot be terrorists, those friends cannot be FETO," defence witness Alev Coskun, a board member of the Cumhuriyet foundation and influential writer, told the court.

He also pointed to tensions at the newspaper under the editorship of Can Dundar, who in 2015 broke an explosive story claiming Turkey was sending arms to Syria, and who now lives in exile in Germany.

"This is a serious newspaper. It is not a newspaper where Can Dundar played games," Coskun said.

The staff members still in custody include some of the biggest names in Turkish journalism, and the court has so far resisted pressure to free them.

The paper's chairman Akin Atalay, influential columnist Kadri Gursel and editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu have been held behind bars for 330 days.

Investigative reporter Ahmet Sik, who wrote a book exposing the past ties of members of the Turkish elite to the Gulen movement, has been held for 269 days, and accountant Emre Iper for 173 days.

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Earlier, a group of around 200 people gathered outside the Istanbul courthouse, carrying portraits of the journalists and banners with slogans "freedom for journalists" and "independent press cannot be silenced".

According to the P24 press freedom group, there are 171 journalists behind bars in Turkey, most of whom were arrested under the state of emergency imposed after the coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

The country ranks 155 out of 180 on the latest world press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
EUREKA  In its best year, the Eureka Lions annual Rumble in the Jungle auction raised $28,000 to help pay for extracurricular school activities.

On Saturday  after the school made the decision that all the money raised would go to help the people affected by the Caribou fire  close to 500 people converged on the tiny town of Rexford to bid on hundreds of donated items.

By the time the four-hour auction came to an end, the total at the bottom of the ledger read something close to $44,000.

I know there were people there who really couldnt afford to help, but they were there anyway. Thats what they do here in this community, said Lincoln County High School principal Joel Graves. Our community of Eureka and the surrounding area always steps up when people are in need. Its an amazing place to live.

The Caribou fire made a devastating run through the West Kootenai area, home for the oldest Amish community in the state. Its flames destroyed more than 10 homes and many more outbuildings.

It also put a lot of people out of work and created a variety of hardships for both the Amish and non-Amish who call that place home.

There are probably far more needs that we realize, Graves said. Hopefully, this will provide some of the resources they need to help them get back on their feet.

The organizers of the fundraiser created a panel of seven people who include both Amish and the English (the term the Amish use for everyone else) to ensure the money is distributed those who need it most.

One the fundraisers organizers, Jon Leonard of Eureka, said some money already had been donated toward that cause. He estimates there will be about $60,000 to distribute.

Most of the people who have their homes are extremely modest, Leonard said. They arent out there complaining about their loss. The challenge we might face is getting them to use this resource.

It was an amazing event, he said. To raise that much money from such a small community is remarkable. A lot of Canadians showed up and spent a lot of money. There were people here from every one of our small communities in this area. We had stuff to auction that came from the Flathead.

The whole thing was very humbling, Leonard said. It went from being a tragic story to one of amazing recovery for a small community.

Graves said he couldnt have been more proud of his school.

Supportive right from the beginning of the idea to use the annual auction as a way to help others, Graves said the schools students turned out en masse to help set up the event, bring forward the auction items and then put everything away.

We ended up having far more things donated that what we expected, Graves said. These kids worked nonstop for more than four hours. I was proud of them and our community.
Republicans on Sunday evening circulated a new version of their embattled legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Based on initial inspection, the new bill is a lot like the original bill, which would have decimated existing federal health programs, reduced government spending, and left many millions without insurance.

But now the legislation, which Politico and Vox first reported, includes a pair of important changes  an even more aggressive assault on protections for people with pre-existing conditions, as well as some extra money to blunt the impact of funding cuts for a handful of states.

Each set of revisions seems designed to win over key Republican senators who have been critical of the legislation so far  and to do so before Saturday, when Republicans, who hold just 52 seats in the Senate, lose parliamentary authority to pass repeal with 50 votes instead of the usual 60.

The broad architecture of the legislation, which Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced in late July and have been promoting ever since, hasnt changed all that much. As before, Republicans are proposing to replace the Affordable Care Act with a less generous state-based program, and then introduce a new, separate limit on federal Medicaid spending.

As originally written, the legislation would have left an additional 21 million people without insurance by 2026, with even more losing coverage after that, according to an estimate from the University of Southern California-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy.

But with Republicans clearly struggling to find 50 votes in favor of that bill, theyve made some important revisions. And while its difficult to be sure exactly what all the changes mean  analysts were still scrambling to read and digest the bill on Sunday evening  two sets of amendments stand out as important.

How the new bill weakens pre-existing condition protections

First, there are those changes to the rules for pre-existing conditions. Under the newly revised bill, states would have an even easier time junking rules that prohibit insurers from charging higher premiums to people with cancer, diabetes, or other medical conditions. They could also waive existing rules limiting out-of-pocket expenses, or setting minimum levels of coverage.

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To do this, state officials wouldnt even have to apply for a formal waiver. All they would have to do is file a plan explaining their proposal, and why officials believe it would provide adequate and affordable coverage for people with prior medical problems.

Thats not much protection, experts warned.

States dont have to submit waivers, they just have to describe the rules they set, if any, Larry Levitt, senior vice president at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, told HuffPost. It goes well beyond the previous bill by making clear that the federal out-of-pocket maximum and actuarial value requirements can be changed. That opens the door to very bare-bones insurance.

If there was any question about Graham-Cassidy's removal of federal protections for pre-existing conditions, this new draft is quite clear.  Larry Levitt (@larry_levitt) September 25, 2017

Of course, eliminating these proposals is precisely what many conservative Republicans want  and it would seem to have particular appeal to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who said hed vote no on the earlier Graham-Cassidy proposal because it left too much of Obamacare in place.

How the revisions help certain key states

As for the extra money, the biggest boost seems to be in the form of extra Medicaid matching funds for states that have poverty guidelines separate from the rest of the country. Only two states do that: Alaska and Hawaii.

Alaska would also benefit from some other funding changes, as would some other states.

Alaska matters politically because one of its Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski, was among the three Republicans who voted against repeal in July. She has not committed to a position on Graham-Cassidy, but has said she will look closely at its impact on her state.

Precisely how much the new funds help Alaska isnt clear  and may not be clear for a while, because thats the kind of exercise that requires careful study and in some cases complex modeling.

The bills sponsors have circulated figures to Senate offices, but those figures, from the Department of Health and Human Services, dont include some of the bills cuts to Medicaid and, according to several analysts, appear to double-count some savings.

And the bills sponsors already have a history of circulating misleading arguments and figures.

Could the changes sway two wary GOP senators?

Even with the new changes, Alaska, like all states, seems likely to lose money in the long run, because the bill only authorizes new spending through 2026 and because it subjects Medicaid to new spending limits. (The HHS figures also ignore this provision, by citing 2026 figures but no year after that.)

Its notable what hasnt changed, Aviva Aron-Dine, senior fellow and senior counselor at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told HuffPost. For example, theres still a cliff after 2026, still a crazy implementation timeline, per capita cap is essentially unchanged.

That might get Murkowskis attention, just as the bigger blow to pre-existing protections might. In June, Murkowski told constituents that she was committed to ensuring that important provisions of the ACA, such as covering those with preexisting conditions... remain intact.

Murkowski has mentioned other issues, too. She has said she wants to preserve funding for Planned Parenthood that this new bill, like previous repeal efforts, would prohibit. She has also echoed the concerns of other wary GOP senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, who have been frustrated with the rush to vote and lack of careful deliberation.

That concern would seem even more relevant now. The Congressional Budget Office had already said it couldnt complete full estimates of the original Graham-Cassidy bill before Sept. 30. With just days to go before that deadline hits, its hard to see how the agency could do much, if any, analysis on the new bill.

Meanwhile, whether the amendments to the bill are enough to win over Paul (and perhaps some other conservatives) is a separate, very different question. Paul has said repeatedly that he cant support a bill unless it has far less spending than the original version of Graham-Cassidy did. This newly revised legislation might actually have more.

Why the bill appeals to some Republicans

Still, the new bill, like the old one, would realize the longstanding conservative goal of reducing governments power over health care. It would also reduce premiums for those people, predominantly young or relatively healthy, for whom the 2010 health care law has meant higher premiums or out-of-pocket costs.

No less important, passing Graham-Cassidy would allow Republicans to tell their most fervent supporters that they have repealed Obamacare  and to quiet donors who, according to a recent New York Times story, are furious at the GOPs lack of legislative progress.

That may help explain why Republican leaders are still trying to get their bill through  even though it is highly unpopular and has provoked condemnation from virtually every major organization that represents the people who provide health care, the people who pay for it, or the people who get it.

Jennifer Bendery contributed reporting

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Once again, Congress is facing a looming vote on repealing the Affordable Care Act that will be decided by a handful of key Republicans.

As the Senate decides on the Graham-Cassidy bill this week, just three Republican senators would be enough to kill the bills chances, and doom GOPs best chance to overturn the bill on a simple majority vote before a Sept. 30 deadline.

With several Republicans expressing concern and even opposition to the bill, its future looks uncertain. On Monday, Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana put forward a revised version in an attempt to sway some holdouts.

According to analyses of the bill from multiple media outlets, the revised bill would give more funding to Alaska, Kentucky, Maine and Arizona, home states of some of the key votes.

Here are five senators to watch as the debate unfolds this week:

John McCain

In late July, the Arizona Republican joined Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in voting against an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Last week, McCain released a statement saying he could not vote in favor of Graham-Cassidy  not because he necessarily disagrees with the contents of the proposal, but because of the process used to write it.

I would consider supporting legislation similar to that offered by my friends Senators Graham and Cassidy were it the product of extensive hearings, debate and amendment, McCain said in a statement. But that has not been the case.

Those objections are pretty hard for the bills sponsors to address. While policy differences could be ironed out with some last-minute amendments, theres simply not enough time left for the bill to be considered under the type of hearings and bipartisan involvement that McCains preferred regular order would require.

Sen. Susan Collins

In the early days of the skinny repeal process, Collins and Murkowski expressed their opposition for the bill because of the effects it would have on millions of Americans set to lose coverage and cuts to Planned Parenthood funding. Collins has again emerged as a key figure in the fate of the latest repeal attempt.

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Collins signaled last week that she was leaning against voting for the measure. On Sunday, she told CNNs Jake Tapper it was very difficult for me to envision a scenario where I would end up voting for this bill.

Im concerned about the impact on cost and coverage, Collins said. We already have a problem under the Affordable Care act with the cost of premiums and deductibles, and finally, Im very concerned about the erosion of protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

She also said she would like to see a Congressional Budget Office analysis of the bill, parts of which are expected on Monday.

Lisa Murkowski

Murkowski has been mum about how she plans to vote for the bill, but officials in her home state of Alaska have been vocal about the effects it would have on its citizens. In an interview with the New York Times, independent Gov. Bill Walker said his state would not fare well under the legislation. Walker also signed on to a letter calling on Congress to take a bipartisan approach to health care.

Alaska would fare very, very poorly. Nothing has been brought to my attention that would increase my comfort level, Walker told the Times.

Alaskas Department of Health and Social Services also found that Alaska would see federal funding fall by 65% between 2020 and 2026 under the proposal.

Senators, however, are still hoping to sway Murkowski toward voting in favor of the bill  the revised version includes carve outs that would help her state: it would ensure Native Alaskans could keep Medicaid coverage after the program is curbed in 2020. While Alaska ending the Medicaid expansion would mean a loss of federal dollars for Alaska, the revised bill would guarantee a 3% increase in federal funds to the state over current levels.

Rand Paul

Sen. Rand Paul was among the first Senators to express opposition for the Graham-Cassidy bill. For the Kentucky Republican, the legislation does not go far enough in ending the Affordable Care Act. I wont vote for Obamacare Lite that keeps 90% of the taxes & spending just so some people can claim credit for something that didnt happen, Paul tweeted on Sept. 22.

I won't vote for Obamacare Lite that keeps 90% of the taxes & spending just so some people can claim credit for something that didn't happen  Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) September 22, 2017

The Hill reported Monday the Senator outlined additional steps the Senate would have to take in order for him to support the bill including a reassessment of money he says would not be spent if the Affordable Care Act were completely repealed. Graham/Cassidy keeps and redistributes/spends over a trillion dollars, Paul said, according to a document provided to the Hill. This is the primary obstacle to my support, and only a significant reassessment of this trillion-dollar spending regime would get my support.

The revised version of the bill would offer a 4% boost in federal funding to Kentucky. The carve outs for specific states are also a tough sell for some Republicans, who were critical when similar provisions were added to  and then taken out of  the Affordable Care Act to win support.

Ted Cruz

In a surprising twist, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas expressed opposition to the repeal bill on Sunday, a position that had not changed by Monday afternoon. At the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Cruz said that while he was working to get to yes on Graham-Cassidy, his vote has not yet been secured. Right now, they dont have my vote, and I dont think they have [Utah Senator] Mike Lees either, Cruz said.

If you want prices to go down  Econ 101, you want prices to go down, you want more choices, more options, more competition, and prices fall, said Cruz. What does Obamacare do? Fewer choices, less options, less competition, prices rise. If you want people to have access to health insurance, you want prices to fall.

Despite changes in the revised version that could be palatable for the conservative, Axios and the Hill report Cruzs position had not changed on Monday, but Cruz once led a government shutdown with the goal of forcing the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, so its possible he could swallow his objections and vote for Graham-Cassidy.
Masked gunman enters Nashville church after shooting woman dead



Man who tackled suspect pistol-whipped before gunman shoots self

One person was killed and seven injured in a shooting at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee. Photograph: Handout/Reuters

A masked gunman entered a church in Tennessee on Sunday and opened fire, killing one person and injuring seven others before shooting himself, an official said. Nashville mayor Megan Barry called the shooting a terrible tragedy for our city.

Metropolitan Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said a church usher who confronted the gunman was pistol-whipped by the suspect, who then apparently shot himself during a struggle. The usher then went to his own car to retrieve his own gun, Aaron said, returned and stood over the suspect until police arrived.

A witness said that without the usher, who was not immediately named, the situation could be worse. She called him a hero. Aaron called the usher an extraordinarily brave individual.

The police spokesman identified the suspect as 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson of Murfreesboro. He was discharged from Vanderbilt University Hospital. Charging warrants were being obtained.

Aaron said the gunman arrived at the parking lot as services were ending at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in the Antioch neighborhood. The suspect fatally shot a woman who was walking to her vehicle, then entered the rear of the church where six people were shot.

The witness, Minerva Rosa, has been a member at the church for eight years and was inside when the suspect opened fire. The suspect said nothing as he shot churchgoers, she said. As the gunman made his way down the aisle, Rosa said, the pastor started shouting, Run! Run! Gunshots!

The gunman and five others were treated for gunshot wounds at Vanderbilt University Hospital, Aaron said. One gunshot victim and the man who was struck with the pistol were taken to Skyline Medical Center.



Aaron said he was not aware of any relationship between the alleged gunman and any of the worshippers inside the church. Congregants were being interviewed.



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In a statement, Barry said her heart aches for the family and friends of the deceased as well as for the wounded victims and their loved ones. Their lives have been forever changed, as has the life of their faith community at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ.

The small, yellow brick church describes itself on its website as a friendly, Bible based group of folks who love the Lord and are interested in spreading His Word to those who are lost. Photos on the churchs Facebook page show a diverse congregation with people of various ages and ethnicities.

The mayor said her administration would continue to work with community members to stop crime before it starts, encourage peaceful conflict resolution, and promote non-violence.
Photo: Starz

Warning: This post contains spoilers for the All Debts Paid episode of Outlander.

Much like Claire and Frank, Caitriona Balfe and Tobias Menzies had concerns about their characters marital arrangement.

We didnt want it to be a blackand-white situation where Frank loved Claire and Claire loved Jamie and was never going to get over losing him, the end  because it is more complicated than that, Balfe says. That would have been boring and it would not have represented their history. He was the center of her world before Jamie. Frank has been a good husband to her. He was a great father to Brianna. There is love and respect there. Also who wants to just sit in misery all the time? [Theres always a] desire to live a happy life. Tobias and I fought to have that in there, and we worked very hard to get the complexity of a compromised marriage right.

But just because it was the right way to go doesnt mean it was easy to watch. No, its absolutely tragic, heartbreaking. Especially when you see them in separate beds. Youre just like, Ugh. How awful, Balfe laments. The saddest part is that they both at different times make overtures, but the timings never right. They both just keep missing each other. And by the time Claire feels like maybe she could be ready, when she suggests they go to the movies and he admits he has already seen them or when she realizes it hurts her that he was [missing] her graduation dinner to be with his girlfriend, its too late. Fundamentally, they just give each other what the other needs. Theres no romance, no fire anymore. They are just doing what they think is the right thing in staying together until Brianna is grown up. I think that happens to people a lot in real life, and it is so sad.

Photo: Starz

In this episode, the audience learned that after a few years of trying and failing to rekindle the romantic fire they once had, Claire and Frank came to an understanding that he could date as long as he kept things discreet, and they would continue to live as a couple and co-parent Brianna. Executive producer Maril Davis admits the compromise might sound a little progressive for the 60s, but all involved agreed that Claire and Frank would have had their reasons for agreeing to the new conditions.

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I think Claires whole intention in doing it this way was [because] its important to her child to have a mother and father, and Franks a good father. She wants Brianna to have a stable home unlike her own upbringing, so Claire can stick in this for her daughter, Davis explains. After all, shes the only reason Claire came back through the stones. If you look at it that way, you kind of understand why she did what she did even though it is sad.

Without love to live for, Claire throws herself into medical school. Balfe says, This is somebody who found a way to make their life a success. Shes become a surgeon. Shes very accomplished and Brianna is a very smart, well-raised girl. Still, the lack of intimacy took a toll on Claire. To live that long without your needs being tended to has to have a huge effect on somebody. Claire hasnt had sex in probably 17 years, and that was such an essential part of who she is, she continues. Weve known her as sexually liberated and so full of passion. She had such a passionate life with Jamie, and Frank before that, and now she has shelved a huge side of herself. Once you shut a part of yourself like that down, a sort of rigidity happens.

Balfe did tease that this repression has repercussions when  Spoiler alert if you have not read the novels!  Claire eventually tries to make her way back to Jamie. I wanted to give her that quality and hopefully then when she finally does have that reunion with Jamie, there has to be a breaking down of walls and peeling away the layers that shes gained over the years away from him. Its even represented in her costume. When she first goes back, shes like a schoolmarm; very buttoned-up. As she spends more time with Jamie and falls back into her old life and feels like her old self again, you see those layers being peeled away and theres a freedom to her again. A looseness comes back into her physicality and her emotions.

Balfe did worry that her actions and the compromise could be perceived as selfish. In many ways, Claire comes out of it as the most unsympathetic character. Especially during the last fight when he says he wants to go back to England, get a divorce, marry his new girlfriend, and take Brianna. Sometimes it seems like she wants Frank to be as miserable as her, but I think that is not intentional. Shes going through the worst grief you can imagine and in a way she makes the deal so that Frank can still find some happiness. He starts having the affairs after Claire has already rejected him so many times. But there were several times where, in defense of my character, I would say to the writers, Are you sure youre not turning Claire into the b**** here?

Davis agrees that wasnt ever Claires intention. It would be easy to see Claire as the bad guy in this relationship, but if not wanting the family unit to break up was selfish, I dont think it was intentional. It was not her master plan to prevent Frank from having a full life. She was more trying to do right by her daughter.

Photo: Starz

And ultimately the build-up and the risk of blame was worth it. When the situation came to a head in the last big fight and Frank wondered if she could have forgotten her Scottish soulmate in time, it resulted in Davis favorite line of the series so far. When she says that amount of time doesnt exist, thats actually my favorite line. Starz was going to tease that line for a while, and I was like, You cannot tease that. Let people see that in the moment. It is so powerful and beautiful. We dont want to ruin it. That line summarizes just how amazing Jamie and Claires love is and why she couldnt just go back to Frank and pick up where they left off. The fact that this much time has passed and she still feels the same as the day they parted says a lot about their love story.

Balfe agrees that the line was the dialogue equivalent of a gut punch. In some ways, its so cruel. But also, its honest and it comes from such a place of hurt, loss, and devastation. But, oh, what a thing to say! You just feel for everybody involved  Jamie, Frank, and Claire. None of them have had a happy go of it.

The heartbreak continued on set as they shot the scene in the morgue, after Franks fatal car accident. I liked that Claire got to tell Frank one last time that she did love him, that he got her first love, Balfe says. I think she was genuinely sad. She did not wish him dead at all. It was a very sad moment for her.

For Balfe, it was all too easy to get into character that day as it meant she also had a goodbye to deal with. With the premieres death of Black Jack and Franks car crash, Menzies time on the show was over. Tobias is such a brilliant actor as fans know, because he played two very different parts on our show. He always pushed to get things right and to go deeper. He will be missed, Balfe says. It was not difficult to act sad that day.

Davis hopes that in death, maybe fans will cut Frank a little bit of the break he deserves. I understand we are all rooting for Jamie and Claire to be together, but I have never understood why people give Frank such a hard time, especially the Frank of the series, not the books, she explains. Frank is one of the tragic characters of Outlander. He lost his wife not once, but twice. Its hard not to feel sympathy for Frank especially after Brianna is born and theres the moment in the hospital where you think maybe theyre going to make it and be happy  and then that cue about the red hair drops and you realize hes never going to rid of Jamie either. But still he takes in a woman who cheated, albeit in the past, and he sticks in this very one-sided marriage, even though its obvious she loves another man. He decides to raise her baby even though she isnt his and yet loves the child like she is. I think that says a lot about his character.

Outlander airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Starz.

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By Madeline Chambers BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is heading into months of uncertainty while Chancellor Angela Merkel embarks on a complex process trying to build a coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens, an alliance untested at the national level. Merkel won a fourth term on Sunday although support for her conservatives slumped to the lowest since 1949 and voters turned to the far right AfD in response to the migrant crisis. She says she will have a government by Christmas. Little movement is expected from any party before an election on Oct. 15 in the state of Lower Saxony, now ruled by the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens. Until a deal is agreed, the current "grand coalition" of Merkel's conservatives and the SPD will run the government but policy standstill looms in Europe's biggest economy. The SPD has vowed to leave the coalition and go into opposition after its worst election result since 1933. That means the likeliest path to a majority is a so-called "Jamaica" coalition, named for the three colours of the Jamaican flag: black representing Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU); green for the Greens; and yellow for the FDP. Exploratory talks would be the first step. If those talks succeed, the parties will start official coalition talks which could be tough given their opposing views on issues from EU reform to climate change and migrants. Provided the leaders agree a deal they must also secure approval from party membership approval. While the Jamaica option is widely seen as the likeliest outcome, other possibilities include a minority government or new elections. Merkel will be the most important figure but below are some less well known individuals who could play important roles: FDP CHRISTIAN LINDNER The 38-year old FDP leader will be crucial to the success of talks on Jamaica. Known for his designer look in black and white election campaign posters, Lindner has pulled the FDP back from the brink after it was voted out of parliament in 2013. He rejects deeper euro zone integration and has said the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 may have to be accepted. He said on Monday he was willing to take responsibility in government but could also envisage a role in opposition. Lindner may prefer not to take up a cabinet post but criticise government as head of the parliamentary party. However, it is unclear if that is a realistic option and if the FDP pushes for the finance ministry, he could end up as finance minister. WOLFGANG KUBICKI The 65-year old lawyer led the FDP to a strong result in May elections in the northern state of Schleswig Holstein, giving the party a tailwind before the federal vote and pursuing a 'Jamaica' coalition there. After attacking previous party leaders Guido Westerwelle and Philipp Roesler when they were in government with Merkel, he has helped Lindner revive the party. Named as a possible leader of the parliamentary party or minister, Kubicki said on Monday it was not the FDP's job to form a Jamaica coalition at any price. GREENS CEM OZDEMIR/KATRIN GOERING-ECKARDT The party's co-leaders are both from the pragmatic wing of the Greens, willing at least to consider a tie-up with the conservatives. Ozdemir, one of Germany's first lamakers with Turkish parents, is a popular figure in his party and has been outspoken in criticising Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. Both may be up for a ministerial job in a Jamaica coalition. ANTON HOFREITER One of the heads of the parliamentary party, Hofreiter represents the left wing of the Greens with closer links to the traditional eco-warriers that founded the party. Long-haired, bearded Hofreiter and those with similar views may be obstructive negotiating partners for a Jamaica coalition especially on climate and energy policy. CONSERVATIVES HORST SEEHOFER The charismatic leader of the CSU has been a thorn in Merkel's side over the migrant crisis and it is unlikely he will stop criticsing her now as his party faces a state election next year. He has already said the CSU must talk about its relationship with the CDU: the two have formed a parliamentary bloc for generations. Full of bluster and not afraid of issuing threats to Merkel, he is likely to be a tricky partner in coalition talks especially on security and immigration. JOACHIM HERRMANN Bavarian Interior Minister and a prominent member of the CSU, Herrmann was also a vocal critic of Merkel over her handling of the migrant crisis and he talks tough on security and crime. Herrmann, 61, is seen as a possible interior minister with a reputation as a competent, if tough, operator. JENS SPAHN A deputy finance minister under Wolfgang Schaeuble, the CDU's Spahn is talked of as a possible successor to Merkel and criticised her refugee policy. With a following within the CDU, the openly gay 37-year old from western Germany stands for socially liberal policies in the traditionally Christian party. Other senior conservatives including Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and head of chancellery Peter Altmeier will also play big roles. SPD ANDREA NAHLES The SPD may not be directly involved in coalition talks, but with Andrea Nahles as the new leader of the parliamentary party, it could be a strong opposition party. The 47-year old proved herself as an effective labour minister in Merkel's grand coalition, introducing a minimum wage in Germany. Traditionally from the left of the party, she is popular among rank and file. (Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Peter Graff)
Perez Hilton recently faced backlash after suggesting in one of his YouTube videos that Kylie Jenner should get an abortion.

After news broke about the 20-year-old reality TV stars pregnancy on Friday, the blogger released a lengthy video confirming the reports. At one point during his commentary, Hilton said, Um, I love life, I love babies. If I were Kris Jenner, I would tell that girl to get an abortion!

Minutes later, Hilton went under fire for seemingly suggesting that Jenner should get an abortion. One Twitter user wrote, Perez Hiltons latest video which I refuse to watch (all I had to do was read the headline to know) is beyond disgusting. Another critic wrote, Why you telling a woman what to do with her body?

A few days later, Hilton tried to make things clear by uploading another video on his YouTube channel. The dad of two explained that he didnt mean that Jenner should get an abortion right now, but its something that he wouldve encouraged her to do if he were her parent. The blogger continued by saying that the circumstances are not in Jenners favor since shes still very young, and her relationship with Travis Scott is not stable.

Hilton is a single dad to his children, Mario, 4, and Mia, 2  who were both delivered via surrogates. In the video, he also said that if his daughter would tell him that shes pregnant at a young age, he will also encourage her to get an abortion.

Meanwhile, Hilton also claimed that Jenners perception of reality is totally off since she grew up in the public eye. People magazine was quoted saying that Jenner has wanted to have a child for a very long time, but shes only 20 years old. Hilton said that this meant Jenner wanted to have a kid when she was much younger and possibly even when she was with ex-boyfriend and rapper Tyga.

As of late, Jenner and her family members have not yet reacted to Hiltons claims.

Perez Hilton

Photo: Getty Images/Frederick M. Brown

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Picfair, the London-based photo marketplace founded by ex-journalist Benji Lanyado, has raised 1.5 million in new funding -- capital it plans to use to market its "fair trade photography" proposition to the plethora of companies that need authentic photo content.

These include publishers, creative agencies, and, with the huge rise in so-called content marketing, SMEs and corporates. However, rather than spend a ton of money on paid-for online marketing, Lanyado says the plan is to "weaponise" the marketplace's 25,000 or so photographers, who, he believes, are best placed to spread awareness of Picfair and are already doing so.

Specifically, he says many of Picfair's photographers -- who range from smartphone photographers to professionals, as anyone can upload their work to the platform -- already share their Picfair-hosted photo listings on social media or embed a link to the marketplace on their own portfolio sites, in a bid to point buyers away from industry behemoths, such as Getty and Shutterstock, and to Picfair. That's because Picfair lets photographers set their own prices and takes a much smaller 20 per cent cut on each photo sold.

Now the startup wants to add a further incentive in the form of affiliate revenue, thus giving photographers an additional 10 per cent on every photo they sell direct. It is also developing tools to make embedding a Picfair buy button and other promotional materials much easier.

"Picfair's growth among photographers has been almost exclusively organic, all through word of mouth" Lanyado tells me. "We're the only place a photographer can set their own license prices, anywhere. That's crazy but it's true. Instead, the huge [photo] agencies have institutionalised their control of the industry by imposing themselves as brokers, setting the fees, and then -- brace yourself -- taking 80 per cent of the royalties. Picfair reverses this, giving 80 percent to the photographer. We only make money if they make a lot more".

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He says that photographers talk, and that the control and fairness that Picfair offers means they tell their friends, some of whom are on the demand side of the image licensing equation. "Creatives across publishing, the agency world, and the ever-expanding tier of corporates who license images (this is pretty much any company - website collateral, social media, content marketing; everyone's a publisher these days)," he says.

"So during Picfair's next phase, we want to supercharge this. We've started gradually rolling out out incentives for photographers who refer customers to us - splitting our 20 per cent commission with them for a year on every customer they refer. And then we want to tool them up - with online resource suites, marketing material, offline assets".

Meanwhile, the sell to photo buyers is that Picfair images are more authentic and unique, often avoiding the stale look of traditional stock photography. Despite living through the biggest proliferation of images in history, with the average image quality of non-professional imagery improving exponentially, "the supply of images to the industry is 99 per cent professional," Lanyado says.

Picfair's solution is to open the doors to everyone, while its "ever-improving curation technology" does the heavy-lifting of sorting through the resulting uploaded images for quality, agnostic of whether they are taken by an award-winning professional or a complete amateur.

The startup's new round of funding was led by the Claverley Group, owners of Express & Star regional U.K. newspaper. Picfair is also angel-backed by the likes of Alexis Ohanian, Tom Hulme, Duncan and Max Jennings (the VoucherCodes brothers), Richard Fearn, John Fingleton (former CE of the OFT and Treasury advisor), Jeremy Palmer (Quantum Black CEO), Chris Sheldrick (CEO of What3Words), Anthony Eskinazi (CEO of Just Park), Julian Worth, Force Over Mass, and D5 Capital.
President Donald Trumps continual threats to totally destroy North Korea and get rid of Rocket Man may not be helping him win over the public. In fact, more people have confidence in U.S. military leaders than Trump to handle North Korea and its dictator Kim Jong Un.

In a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Sunday morning, 72 percent of the respondents agreed that military leaders would handle the situation responsibly. In comparison to just 37 percent of adults who trust Trump either a great deal or a good amount to responsibly deal with North Korea.

The poll comes a day after Trump warned that North Koreas foreign minister Ri Yong Ho and Kimwho he refers to as Little Rocket Manwould not be around much longer. Trumps warning via Twitter came late Saturday after his speech at the United Nations.

09_24_Donald Trump

Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!, Trump tweeted.

The survey also revealed that two-thirds of Americans are against launching a preemptive strike against North Korea. About 23 percent of the respondents believe the U.S. should strike North Korea before the country attacks the U.S. first, but most say it will lead to more widespread conflict.

If the U.S. were to launch a military strike first on North Korea, a majority of respondents were confident it would risk starting a larger war in East Asia. A major risk that is, according to 69 percent of people. Another 13 percent of people believe it will be a risk, but not a major one.

While most of the respondents don't approve of Trump's job performance, they do agree with the way he is handling the hurricanes that slammed Texas and Florida. About a third of the respondents said they disapproved of his recent disaster response.

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The poll included a total of 1,002 adults, surveyed via telephone (landline and cell) from Sept. 18 to 21. The margin of error plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. A majority of the survey respondents identified themselves as Independent, 31 percent said they were Democrats and 23 percent were Republicans. The full poll results can be viewed here.

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President Donald Trump issued a new proclamation Sunday restricting citizens of eight countries from entering the U.S., replacing the expiring ban on travelers from six Muslim-majority nations.

The new travel ban, which will take effect on Oct. 18, will continue to impact citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Syria but will now also include travelers from Chad, North Korea and certain individuals from Venezuela.

Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet, Trump tweeted late Sunday.

The new restrictions vary from country to country and range from a blanket ban on immigrant visas to more targeted sanctions. Existing valid visas would not be revoked by the new ban, and it could be subject to categorical exceptions and case by-case waivers, according to the order.

Trumps announcement came the same day as a 90-day ban on travelers from six Muslim-majority nations was set to expire. Under the new rules, citizens from Sudan will no longer be subject to travel restrictions.

Advocacy groups say the latest changes are little more than window-dressing ahead of a Supreme Court review of the original travel ban, now set for October.

The administration is once again making cosmetic adjustments to the Muslim ban in hopes that it will pass the barest possible definition of anything else, Johnathan Smith, legal director of legal advocacy group Muslim Advocates, said in a statement. The vast majority of the executive order is completely unchanged.

Heres what to know about the new countries added to the travel ban.

Chad

According to the Trump administration, Chad is an important and valuable counterterrorism partner of the United States, and has shown willingness to make improvements in immigration and border management.

But Trumps proclamation states that the West African nation does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information. The order also cites terrorist elements active within Chad or in the surrounding region, such as Boko Haram, ISIS, and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

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Under Trumps latest directive, citizens of Chad will be barred from entering the U.S. as immigrants and will not be granted tourist or business visas.

North Korea

Tensions between North Korea and the U.S. have peaked in recent months, following Pyongyangs missile and nuclear tests and the escalation of a war of words between the U.S. President and Kim Jong Un. In a speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump threatened to totally destroy North Korea if provoked. In retort, Kim called Trump deranged and a dotard.

The Trump administration stated that Pyongyang does not cooperate with the United States Government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements. As a result, all North Koreans will be blocked from entering the U.S. under the new travel ban.

Venezuela

The Trump administration said Venezuelas government was uncooperative in verifying whether its citizens pose national security or public-safety threats, and failed to share anti-terror information. Trump also stated that Venezuela was not fully cooperating with deportations of its citizens from the U.S.

The new travel ban targets government officials who are responsible for the identified inadequacies, barring officials from five Venezuelan security agencies and their families from entering the U.S. on business and tourist visas. The U.S. has already imposed sanctions on certain senior Venezuelan government figures in response to the Presidents recent attempts to hold onto power, reports the Associated Press.

What else has changed?

Libyan and Yemeni nationals will no longer be able to enter the U.S. with tourist and business visas, or as immigrants, while all Syrian nationals are barred from entry. Somalian nationals are barred from emigrating to the U.S., while short-term visitors applying for visas will be subject to additional scrutiny.

Iranian nationals will only be allowed to enter the U.S. using valid student and exchange visitor visas, but such visitors will have to undergo enhanced screening and vetting requirements.

Why is Sudan removed from the list?

Sudans removal was not explicitly addressed by Trump or the White House in the proclamation. But according to both the Washington Post and the New York Times, the administration found that the African country has met security standards in its latest review.
By Dave Minsky

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (Reuters) - Prison guards fired rubber bullets and pepper spray to quell a riot on Sunday involving more than 160 inmates at a central California penitentiary in which one prisoner was stabbed to death and eight others wounded, state corrections officials said.

No staff members were injured in the disturbance, which erupted shortly before 11 a.m. at the California Men's Colony near San Luis Obispo, and took less than 10 minutes to bring under control, said Lieutenant Monica Ayon, the prison spokeswoman.

Nine inmates who suffered stab wounds in the melee were transported to a hospital for medical treatment, and one died there, she said. He was identified as Matthew Cook, who was serving a sentence of 13 years and eight months for burglary.

The condition of the eight others was not immediately known, but she said two of the injured were expected to be discharged and returned to the prison on Sunday evening.

At least three of the wounded inmates required trauma-level care, said Ron Yukelson, a spokesman for Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, where the prisoners were taken.

Ayon said the cause of the disturbance was under investigation. She said it was the largest riot, and the first such fatal incident, she could recall in her 22 years at the facility.

The California Men's Colony, opened in 1954, houses nearly 4,200 minimum- and medium-security inmates programs near San Luis Obispo, about 190 miles (305 km) north of Los Angeles.

Sunday's riot occurred in a medium-security yard where some 600 inmates were present, but the disturbance involved between 160 and 170 of the prisoners, Ayon said. The entire facility was placed under special restrictions after the incident, with virtually all inmates confined to their cells as the yard was being cleared, she said.

(Additional reporting and writing by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Cooney)
HAMILTON  Proposed changes limiting the number of guided floats on the West Fork and the upper sections of the Bitterroot River have generated a significant volume of comments from concerned citizens, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

For some, those restrictions go too far. For others, they miss the point. Put together by a citizen advisory council, the changes proposed largely favor the rights of private wade anglers and floaters over the rights of guides to float the river in an unlimited manner.

So far we have received a dozen comments from the first week, said Christine Oschell, the river recreation manager for FWP. I would say right now its about 50-50 between people opposed and in favor of the regulations. Then the other people think something has to be done, but are not sure what it is.

According to Oschell, most comments are coming in toward the end of the period.

A dozen in a week is quite a bit so far, Oschell said. I expect quite a bit of comment by the end.

In its environmental assessment, FWP broke the West Fork and the Upper Bitterroot into four distinct sections. Section 1 is from Painted Rocks Dam to Applebury Forest Service site, Section 2 is from Applebury to Trapper Creek Job Corps, Section 3 is from Trapper Creek to Hannon Memorial, and Section 4 is from Hannon Memorial to Wally Crawford.

The changes proposed would require licensed outfitters to acquire a permit and limit the number of floats they can take per day on particular sections of the two rivers. During the peak season, outfitters would be prohibited from floating particular sections on certain days of the week.

In addition to the regulations on outfitters, all floating would be prohibited on Fridays from Painted Rocks Dam to Applebury Forest Service site from July 1 through Sept. 15.

The West Fork is a unique Montana river in its usage, according to the FWP environmental assessment. Few respondents in FWP surveys were scenic floaters or tubers. Instead, at least 75 percent of the people who answered their survey were outfitted anglers, which led the state agency to believe local anglers were being displaced.

Eddie Olwell has been an outfitter for 17 years and was a past president of Trout Unlimited. Olwell participated in the citizens advisory council with the FWP that came up with the proposed regulations, and while he agrees that something needs to be done to reduce overcrowding, he's not sure this is the answer.

I felt the process was fair, Olwell said. Based on the growth weve seen I think that regulations are a good idea. Its use is definitely increasing over the years, both commercial and non-commercial, both wade and float fishing.

Yet the proposed changes will have a negative effect on his business, according to Olwell.

I think this is unfairly weighted toward locals, Olwell said. I think the nonresident anglers were somewhat left out of the process and thats wrong, because they pay a lot into the economy and most of the revenue into licenses. And then theyve also been hit with the extra burden for the AIS (Aquatic Invasive Species) program. Nonresidents are more than paying their way.

The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research estimated that outfitting and guiding was the second leading expenditure for nonresidents visiting Ravalli County. In 2015, nonresidents spent more than $7 million on outfitting and guiding alone, which does not take into account stops to fill up vehicles with gas, to buy ice for coolers, and other expenses like hotel stays and restaurant dinners.

I think theres far too much emphasis on limiting the fishermen, who I think are the solution, not the problem, Olwell said. I think far too little emphasis is put on the habitat of the West Fork; for example there was a garbage dump exposed by the high water this year and I dont really hear anyone complaining about it.

In response to the proposed changes, some citizens have organized a group in opposition. Mike Canning, a nonresident angler from California, has been leading the charge with the group, Anglers for Common Sense, which has more than 100 signers on a petition asking FWP to reconsider its proposed restrictions.

I think that the proposed regulations are well-intended, but the concerns that a number of us have are the unintended consequences, Canning said. The identification of beats (or river sections) is a problem. Some of those beats, during high water, it would be impossible to stop your float.

One of the main objections people make to putting restrictions on certain sections of river is that they say it will increase crowding on other sections.

Its exacerbating and relocating the problem, Canning said.

In the petition, Anglers for Common Sense suggests four amendments to the current proposal and cautions against the negative impacts of regulation.

First, it recommends removing any regulations on the main stem of the Bitterroot River from Hannon Memorial to Wally Crawford. According to Anglers for Common Sense, no significant data suggest conflicts between wade anglers and float anglers in that section.

It also proposes eliminating closures on certain sections of river on certain days of the week, saying that would crowd the open sections even more.

Anglers for Common Sense suggests that FWP should address illegal outfitting on the West Fork, as it occurs already; and grant the number of launches to each outfitter based on their historical use.

Sean O'Brien, the owner of Osprey Outfitters in Hamilton, has been guiding for 14 years. O'Brien served on the citizen advisory council, and though he ended up voting for the regulations that could go into effect, he hopes they're refined further.

"If it means the committee meets again this winter, I would definitely get back in there and I think a lot of the people on that committee would, too," O'Brien said. "Should there be an unlimited amount of use up there? No. Should there be a little regulation up there? Yeah."

The proposed alternative that FWP decided to vote for was a compromise for him, O'Brien said.

"There's this big conflict against some wade fishermen saying they dont want floaters on that section at all," O'Brien said. "We tried to appease them, give them one day a week, where it was closed to commercial outfitting. It's a compromise we came to. It was a compromise I didnt agree with, and will that create more wade fishermen up there? I doubt it."

Three public hearings will take place in October, one in Missoula, one in Hamilton, and the last in Butte. The meeting in Hamilton will be hosted in the Bitterroot National Forest Supervisors office on Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.

After the public comments are collected, FWP will review them and submit a recommendation to the FWP Commission. If the rules are adopted, a public awareness campaign would begin in early spring.

If people are concerned they should comment, Oschell said. I highly recommend people comment if this is something they care about.

FWP will collect public comment until Oct. 13. Questions can be directed to Chrissy Oschell, by phone at 406-542-5562 or email at coschell@mt.gov.
Berlin (AFP) - Protests broke out in several German cities against the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany which became the first nationalist party to win dozens of seats in parliament since World War II.

Hundreds of people gathered in front of a club where the AfD was celebrating in central Berlin, shouting "Nazis out" and "all of Berlin hates the AfD".

Mathias, who said he turned up after seeing a call on Facebook, said it was "important to show that it's not acceptable here in Germany for such a party to enter parliament."

He added that Germany's two biggest parties -- Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party -- "must reflect on how it can be that so many people voted for such racist politicians".

Dozens of police officers blocked off the club's entrance and made a handful of arrests over "small incidents," a police spokeswoman said.

Smaller protests were held in other German cities, including Cologne in the west, where around 400 people gathered, and in the northern port city of Hamburg, where demonstrators were marching towards the party's local headquarters.

Germany's financial hub Frankfurt also saw protests.

Preliminary results credited the AfD with around 13 percent of the vote, making it the third biggest political force in Germany -- a stunning result for a party that was founded just four years ago.

The AfD began life in 2013 as an anti-euro protest party but then shifted focus to capitalise on misgivings over the record migrant influx in Germany.

Its tone turned increasingly extreme in the last stretch of campaigning, with one of its two leading candidates saying Germany should be proud of its war veterans and claiming that terror was grounded in Islam.
Weve heard devastating stories in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, but not nearly enough about the impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico.

The U.S. territory was slammed by the tropical storm mere days ago. As 3.4 million residents continue to scramble to safety, the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, has called for more federal aid. Many residents do not have access to water, power or roads. Its been described as apocalyptic.

At least 13 lives have been lost in the storm and there are 70,000 more at risk should a dam in the western part of the island break.

Rossello said in an appearance on CNN Monday morning that the Guajataca dam has fallen apart in a critical infrastructure failure, adding that strenuous efforts are being made to ensure that everyone in the dams vicinity have been evacuated. When asked if he thinks the dam will falter, Rossello said hed have to assume so.

I dont have all the details. ... My action has been to order an evacuation. Id rather be wrong on that front than doing nothing and having it fail and costing peoples lives, he said.

Gov. of Puerto Rico Ricardo Rossello calls for a greater federal response following Hurricane Maria https://t.co/k03jIxMekj  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 25, 2017

Rossello added that hes made contact with all the municipalities within Puerto Rico and has established runners to go to those areas where we dont have telecoms or radio so that we can get information.

Weve established routes so that we can deliver food, water, diesel so that things can keep on moving. Weve energized the main hospital in Puerto Rico and given fuel to alternate hospitals around the island. Weve opened the ports to get more resources, he said.

An aerial view shows the damage Saturday to the Guajataca dam in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. (Photo: Alvin Baez / Reuters)

People queue to fill containers with gasoline at a gas station after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters)

A man looks at the damages to his house after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters)

Many residents have been unable to get in touch with their families outside of Puerto Rico and within, as nearly 95 percent of wireless cell service is currently out of service, according to the islands Federal Communications Commission.

Story continues

New Yorker Kristin Vazquez, 25, has family in Puerto Rico and tells HuffPost she hasnt spoken to her family since the day of the hurricane.

Im concerned about my great-grandmother. Shes 103 years old, and without the proper resources she may be in serious danger, Vazquez said. My cousin might fly down to Puerto Rico if she doesnt hear from them.

Others, some who have also been unable to speak with their families, have been sharing their stories on social media:

My family and the rest of Puerto Rico is gonna be without power and water and everything for the next 6 months or more  kaylaa (@kaycruz34_) September 25, 2017

Please talk about #PuertoRico I havent been able to talk to my family. 3.5 million US Citizens without food, electricity nor water. #help  Shea Lilly (@SheaHabla) September 23, 2017

From a friend in Puerto Rico: "We prepared for the worse, now we need to prepare for what we couldn't even conceive could be the worst."  Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) September 25, 2017

I got family without food or water in PR, people killing each other for food/water and gas, 2K for a plane ticket just to leave the island  Marcos (@StoiseIChooseU) September 25, 2017

Organizations on the ground are working tirelessly to assess damage and help provide much-needed aid to those affected, including ConPRMetidos, a nonprofit based in San Juan focused on connecting Puerto Ricans with personal, social and economic opportunities.

Isabel Rullan, director of ConPRMetidos, told HuffPost that fallen trees, broken glass and downed power lines litter the islands streets, alongside people desperately trying to find cell phone signals.

It looks like winter because theres no leaves on the trees, said Rullan, 29, said. Right now, in front of my desk, I see a tree completely pulled out from the roots.

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Six-hour lines have formed at some gas stations around San Juan, where people are desperate to fill up their tanks, Rullan said. Drinking water is scarce, too.

We dont have water in the office and there are no supermarkets around us, Rullan, 29, said. This is no joke. Someone is going to have to go get water.

Looting has also become an issue in some neighborhoods surrounding the islands capital.

We heard about an apartment building where four people broke in, Rullan said. People are worried ... and just trying to be really cautious. Someone told me today that a person went into a gas station with rifles and told everyone, Its our turn to fill our tanks.

Still, Rullan said shes been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and interest from those on the U.S. mainland reaching out to her organization in hopes of helping.

People are just so grateful to be alive, she said. Were working as a community. We dont have energy or water, but well figure it out.

San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz confirmed reports of looting. There is horror in the streets, Cruz said in an interview with The Washington Post published Monday. There is no electricity anywhere in Puerto Rico. People are actually becoming prisoners in their own homes.

Puerto Rico has suffered a major blow to its agricultural industry as well. More than 80 percent of the islands crops have been destroyed by the historic storm, reported The New York Times.

There will be no food in Puerto Rico, Jose A. Rivera, a farmer in southeast Puerto Rico, told the Times. There is no more agriculture in Puerto Rico. And there wont be any for a year or longer.

President Donald Trump pledged federal help for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but has yet to make a comment about the effects of the hurricane on the territory.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have both implored Trump to shift his attention to the dire situation in Puerto Rico:

President Trump, Sec. Mattis, and DOD should send the Navy, including the USNS Comfort, to Puerto Rico now. These are American citizens. https://t.co/J2FVg4II0n  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 24, 2017

It could take 6 months to restore power to 3.5 million Americans who live in Puerto Rico. #Trumpcare is not more pressing.  Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 25, 2017

If youre looking for ways to help the people of Puerto Rico, you can find some here.

This article has been updated to include quotes from Rullan and Cruz.

Also on HuffPost

A woman reacts while looking at the damage to her house after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria in Guayama, Puerto Rico.

Toys are seen in a damaged house in Guayama.

Lightposts lay on the ground after being damaged in San Juan.

Fishing boats with severe damage at Club Nautico in the San Juan Bay.

A damaged supermarket in Guayama.

A mattress, that fell from the third floor lays at ground level surrounded with debris from neighboring apartments at Ciudadela complex in Santurce.

A man runs on the street next to debris and damaged in Guayama.

A woman reacts while she looks at the damages in the house of her mother in Guayama.

A damaged banana plantation in Guayama.

A car is viewed stuck in a flooded street in Santurce, in San Juan.

A gas station is damaged in San Juan.

Trees block the streets at Escambron Beach in San Juan.

An uprooted tree in San Juan.

Residents of San Juan, Puerto Rico, deal with damage to their homes on Sept. 20, 2017, as Hurricane Maria batters the island.

Damage is seen in Guayama, Puerto Rico.

Maria slammed into Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017, cutting power on most of the U.S. territory as residents hunkered down in the face of the island's worst storm in living memory.

Rescue workers help people after the area was hit by Hurricane Maria.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Mexico City (AFP) - When rain fell on Lucia Zamora's face after long hours trapped in a coffin-like airspace amid the rubble of Mexico's quake, it "was the most wonderful feeling of my life."

The 36-year-old Mexican marketing consultant recounted an ordeal of more than 30 hours that started on Tuesday afternoon when the 7.1 earthquake hit Mexico City, bringing down the office block she was in, along with dozens of other buildings.

The suffocating isolation made her think she would die.

When the trembling started, Zamora told AFP, she grabbed her phone and went to the reception area on the third floor of the six-story structure.

From there, she and a workmate, Isaac, started to run for the fire escape -- but never made it.

"I fell halfway, and that was when the roof collapsed on top of us," she said.

"When everything stopped falling, the worst part started: you could hear screams, yells, people crying."

She checked her phone, but was unable to make calls.

"Little by little, I started to see I was in a tiny space, and I realized I was isolated. I only had a few scrapes. And I was next to Isaac... I practically couldn't move," Zamora said.

After asking each other if they were OK, the gravity of the situation sunk in.

"It's a shock. You find yourself there and you can't believe it. There was a wall about a hand's width from my face," she said.

"As the hours passed, bit by bit we came to accept the reality of it. And each time we heard noises, we yelled nonstop so someone would hear us: 'Help! We're here!'"

- 'Eternity' under the debris -

With no response, she and Isaac discussed where their other colleagues might be, and how things might have been different if they had acted differently, or sooner.

"But Isaac said to me, we went to the emergency exit. We did what we were supposed to do," Zamora said.

"And I said, if we're both here in this spot it's because it was the right spot to find ourselves in. Maybe two steps more and we would have died.... What kept me going was the simple fact of still being alive."

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Zamora said they shared much of their life stories during those hours of anguish, even though they barely knew each other before disaster struck.

At one point, they heard yells from another trapped colleague nearby, and asked her if she could hear any sounds from outside.

"The rescue took an eternity," Zamora said.

"It took until the next day to be rescued. I don't have the timeframe clear. But around 4:00 or 5:00 pm, we started to hear a lot of noises and machinery getting closer.

"That was when both of us started to yell out together, even though we were very tired," she added.

"And after a while, we heard a man ask, 'Are you there?' and it was the first time we'd heard someone else and a really special joy washed over us, and we gave them our names."

- Rescue 'like a birth' -

But even then, it took around another six hours of captivity under the tons of rubble before a way could be cleared to get them out.

"During that time, we stayed in contact with the rescue workers, swapping jokes, promising to invite them to dinner. They said they'd seen a photo of me, that I had a beautiful smile," Zamora said.

"Nobody should ever lose hope in these guys and their profession."

Finally an opening was made, and the rescue workers gained access.

"An arm reached in and took my hand, and for me it was a breath of fresh air, though I still couldn't see any light," Zamora recalled.

"They put me in a harness and ended up pulling me out -- and I so wanted to live.

"When I got out, it was raining -- and the rain on my face was the most wonderful feeling in my life," she added.

Around her, everybody applauded.

"For the rescue workers, each life saved is a big celebration, they treat it like a birth," Zamora said.

Now, Zamora, said, she can barely believe she escaped with only a few scrapes.

Returning to work will be some way off as she comes to terms with her near-fatal experience, spending days with her family.

"I'm so very grateful. I feel like I've been given a second chance and that I have an important mission to do in this life, that I will discover bit by bit," she said.
First daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump used a personal email account to communicate with at least one member of President Donald Trump's administration.

Federal watchdog group American Oversight obtained the documents through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and shared them with Newsweek on Monday. The documents show Ivanka Trump used a personal email account on February 28 during a correspondence with Linda McMahon, the administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Ivanka Trump reached out to McMahon in an effort to explore opportunities to collaborate with the Small Business Administration on womens entrepreneurship."

RELATED: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in Saudi Arabia, Israel



This report comes just one day after POLITICO reported Ivanka Trump's husband and Trump's senior advisor Jared Kushner has been using a private email account to discuss official government business.
Retired Air Force Medic Awarded New Harley

Lisa Benjamin, a retired Air Force medic, was in for a big surprise at Cowboys Alamo City Harley-Davidson in San Antonio, Texas last week. Lisa was awarded a 2018 Harley-Davidson Model Street Glide Special, powered by the new Milwaukee Eight Engine. The surprise moment was part of MISSION: "THANK YOU"  a cross-country tour led by Adam Sandoval to celebrate the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our freedom.

Lisa Benjamin enlisted after the 9/11 attacks and served as an Aeromedical Evacuation Medic in the Air Force. She was deployed in Iraq in 2003  before she was even truly eligible to deploy she was sent as a replacement for an injured crew member, where after only six months of training she stepped up and excelled. During eight years of service, she deployed to Iraq, Germany, and flew rescue missions when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.

READ MORE: ScootinAmerica - Eight Veterans to Receive Free Harleys

Every American can nominate a military member  past or present  who has dedicated their life to protecting our freedom by submitting their story of sacrifice, strength, and courage of service at MissionThankYou.com. A panel consisting of Adam Sandoval, Wounded Warrior Project representatives, and Harley-Davidson leadership select the deserving military members who will be honored with new motorcycles.

READ MORE: We Catch Up With the Veterans Charity Ride

Sandoval and his dog Scooter, a vicious chihuahua, have teamed up with Harley-Davidson in giving back to those who serve. The awards include new Harley motorcycles, Riding Academy passes, and lifetime memberships in the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.). The cross-country ScootinAmerica mission departed San Diego this spring and will continue through Veterans Day this year, November 11.

READ MORE: Indian Motorcycle Will Join Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis

The Mission: Thank You contest ends on October 25, 2017. Two entry periods remain; 9/22 - 10/12 and 10/13 - 10/25. Entries must include an essay on the nominees qualifications for the award, and the nominee must be a current or former member of the US Armed Forces.
Scott Disick recently partied in Miami with some of his friends and shared a group photo on his Instagram account.

In the snap, the 34-year-old reality TV star posed at a bar with his peers. Over the weekend, Disick was also spotted with Kylie Jenners boyfriend, Travis Scott. The two did not spend much time together, but they managed to squeeze in one photograph while at the LIV nightclub.

Since his split from Kourtney Kardashian, Disick has been partying nonstop with his male and female friends. But after he was linked to the likes of Bella Thorne and Madison Beer, multiple sources confirmed that he is in a relationship with Sofia Richie. Disick even posted a photo with his girlfriend on his Instagram stories.

But whether or not Disick has already moved on from his partner of nine years is something that only he knows. Just last week, the dad of three made a shocking confession during the 10th anniversary special of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

The pre-taped Sunday episode (via People) was shot in April, which means that five months have gone by with Disick and her estranged partner, Kourtney Kardashian, living separate lives. The 38-year-old eldest daughter of Kris Jenner is already dating Younes Bendjima.

At that time, Kardashian told the interviewers that she and Disick are just co-parenting their three children, Mason, 7, Penelope, 4, and Reign, 2, together. Disick stopped by to respond to his exs claims and jokingly said, Theres zero connection, she just made that very clear just now. I just want everyone to know we are just co-parenting.

Disick immediately became serious when he admitted that Kardashian was the only woman he has ever loved deeply. I think shes cute and stuff, he added. And when asked if he still hits on her, Disick candidly replied, Yeah, I try to [expletive] her like once a week.

As of late, its still unclear whether or not Disick was telling the truth or was just joking. But one things for sure, Kardashian has already moved on from him and their 9-year-relationship.

Story continues

Scott Disick

Photo: Getty Images/Chance Yeh

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Madrid (AFP) - Spain's chief public prosecutor refused on Monday to rule out the arrest of Catalan president Carles Puigdemont for pushing ahead with an independence referendum deemed illegal by Madrid.

"Legally the conditions may be met" for Puigdemont's arrest, Jose Manuel Maza said during an interview with radio Onda Cero.

"It's a decision that is possible but we have not considered that we should take it," he added.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy as repeatedly said that the referendum slated for October 1 -- which his conservative party insists is illegal and unconstitutional -- will not take place, and the legislation underpinning the vote has already been suspended by Spain's Constitutional Court.

Spanish prosecutors have warned that officials engaged in any preparations for the plebiscite could be charged with civil disobedience, abuse of office and misuse of public funds.

Maza said Puigdemont could be arrested for misuse of public funds, as this crime carries a jail sentence.

Prosecutors have also told police to investigate any efforts to promote the referendum and ordered a criminal investigation of over 700 Catalan mayors who have pledged to cooperate with the vote.

Police on Monday summoned 17 people for allegedly developing web platforms dedicated to the banned referendum.

Puigdemont, a former journalist and provincial mayor, regularly tweets links to the websites, which tell Catalans where they can vote in the referendum.

He has said he is ready to go to prison rather than give up his push for independence.

Key members of the team organising the vote have been put under official investigation for disobedience, malfeasance and embezzlement of public funds.

Organisers of protests last week have been threatened with charges of sedition.

And police have seized close to ten million ballot papers, as well as other items destined for the vote.

But Catalonia's pro-separatist government has vowed to go ahead with the referendum.

If the "yes" side wins it has said it would declare independence within days for the wealthy northeastern region of Spain, home to about 7.5 million people.

Polls show Catalans are split on the issue of independence, but a large majority want to vote in a legitimate referendum to settle the matter.
Subaru will be rolling deep at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show next month. The Japanese automaker has announced a number of different models that it will bring to the show, including three concepts, and limited editions of two different STI models.



At the top of the list, teased above, is the Subaru Viziv Performance Concept. This car sounds like it could be a sneak preview of a next-generation WRX, as Subaru describes it as a sport sedan that combines "enjoyment and peace of mind." The very nature of the model encourages active engagement, but Viziv Performance uses Subaru's EyeSight tech to provide advanced driver assistance. The teaser images don't give us much else to go on, but we'll keep our ear to the ground in case Subaru drops any more information ahead of the show on Oct. 25.



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Also coming to Tokyo will be to Japan-only limited edition versions of two STI models. The first is the Subaru S208, based on the WRX STI. A successor to the S207, the S208 is limited to just 450 units. It's quicker and more powerful than the S207, and features a carbon fiber roof to help lower the center of gravity. Engine output isn't givne, but the S207 made 323 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque. The S208 also has an upgraded suspension and exclusive interior and exterior styling upgrades.



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The other special edition is the Subaru BRZ STI Sport. It doesn't get more power, but Subaru did work to improve ride and handling. The BRZ STI Sport has a stiffer body and a specially tuned suspension to improve dynamic performance. It also gets its own interior and exterior touches, and a special Cool Grey Khaki paint color. Like the S208, it will be available only through lottery, but will be even more exclusive, at just 100 units.



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Subaru is bringing two yellow concepts to the show, the XV Fun Adventure Concept and the Impreza Future Sport Concept. The XV Fun Adventure gets off-road tires and updated body cladding. The Impreza Future Sport gets revised front and rear bumpers, a low center of gravity, and a central exhaust.





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Last, and probably least, Subaru will display the Outback Limited Smart Edition, with a few design touches like an exclusive grille and wheels, microfiber seats, plus navigation and a Harman/Kardon sound system.



Related Video:
The suspected Tennessee church gunman has been identified as one brave boy recounts the terrifying ordeal that left a woman dead.

Jeremiah Reese, 10, told WTVF that he helped barricade the doors of his Sunday school class at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch after shots rang out.

Read: College Student Shot and Killed by Police After Allegedly Refusing to Drop Knife

"I heard someone say, 'Get down.' We started grabbing couches and chairs to barricade it and stuff," he said.

But Reese said someone, who cops have identified as Emanuel Samson, opened the door and fired three times.

Reese was unscathed and five victims who were reportedly shot survived. Among the survivors was Joey Spann, the church's pastor.

But one churchgoer, 39-year-old Melanie Smith, was not as lucky.

Smith was reportedly killed in the church parking lot before the alleged gunman accidentally shot himself in the chest during a scuffle with church usher Robert Engle.

Samson was treated at a hospital and discharged hours later into police custody.

"Samson will be charged with one count of murder tonight," the Metropolitan Nashville Police said in a statement. "Multiple additional charges will be placed later."

In the hours leading to the attack, a man with the same name as Samson posted cryptic messages to Facebook, The Associated Press reported.

"Everything you've ever doubted or made to be believe as false, is real. & vice versa, B," one post read.

Read: Mother-of-5 Donates Kidney to Single Mother She Met at Church

Another read: "Become the creator instead of what's created. Whatever you say, goes."

Samson, 25, came to the United States from Sudan in the 1990s and is a legal U.S. resident.

Watch: Man Arrested for Drive-By Shooting Death of 8-Year-Old Boy Adopted From Taiwan

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As youve probably gathered TechCrunch is headed to Australia to find the most disruptive early-stage startups, in partnership with ELEVACAO. As we like to say these days, all roads lead to Disrupt and our focus now is to reach out internationally to find the best startups for our Disrupt stages, from all around the world.

TechCrunchs Startup Battlefield Australia is our first ever, and its particularly sweet for me to be able to leave London and come down under. Its a little-known fact that I have dual nationality, being both born in the UK but also holding an Australian passport. But more of that in a moment.

Australia is increasingly known as a tech startup hub in the last few years, witnessing MYOB's $833m IPO (Australias largest-ever tech IPO), Atlassians US-based IPO at $1.1 billion, a $250 million equity growth round for Australias Campaign Monitor and a $150 million round for New Zealands Xero. High-growth startups are inspiring a healthy crop of early-stage startups in the region.

TechCrunchs Startup Battlefield Australia will also see a number of great people joining us on stage including the following:



Mike Cannon-Brooks, Co-ceo and co-founder, Atlassian



Catriona Wallace, founder at Flamingo



James Cameron, partner at Airtree Ventures

TechCrunchs Startup Battlefield has been bringing world-class founders into the spotlight since 2007, and in the past decade almost 700 contestants have gone on to raise nearly $7 billion in funding and rack up nearly 100 exits.

Our community of Battlefield Alumni include companies like Mint, Dropbox, Yammer, TripIt, Getaround and Cloudflare. We are excited to showcase a diverse group for Australias first ever TC Battlefield.

The winner of TechCrunch Battlefield Australia will be the recipient of a $25,000 equity-free cash prize and an all-expense-paid trip (for two) to exhibit at TechCrunchs flagship global competition, Disrupt Battlefield SF 2018 and compete in the Startup Battlefield, assuming the company still qualifies for that competition. The entire event will be live-streamed (and later available on demand) and carried on TechCrunch.com, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

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To bring Battlefield to Australia, TechCrunch is partnering with the ELEVACAO Foundation, whose mission to empower women tech entrepreneurs globally aligns with TechCrunchs Include program to encourage more diversity in tech.

As for my history with Australia, the short story is that my family moved over for my father's job as a malaria scientist, working on programmes which were run in Newcastle and Canberra. In the process, I even ended up going to the ANU. During that time I did two main things (apart from my degree in literature). The first was get the bug for journalism by co-founding a student newspaper. The second was playing drums on the growing thrash/grunge/rock scene (hey, it was the late 80s). This led me to meet and play in the legendary (well, in my mind) ANU student band The Pleasureheads. With Tim leading on song-writing, and his scorching Telecaster, backed up by Adrian on bass and me on drums, we supported many headliner acts passing through Canberra.

The Pleasureheads: Adrian, Tim, and Mike

But rock bands are rarely forever, and eventually, Tim moved back to Sydney and formed another band, while I moved back to London to became a journalist. Tim's band became You Am I, one of the most successful bands ever to come out of Australia. Ive since had the pleasure of seeing the now-famous Tim Rogers and his band tour the UK, and Im relishing the idea of catching some always-fantastic Aussie music while Im there.
Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - At least 10 people were arrested after thousands of people uprooted from their homes by the Boko Haram insurgency protested in northeast Nigeria, march organisers said Monday.

Some 3,000 people from the Dalori camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) on the outskirts of Maiduguri took to the streets on Sunday, demanding improved conditions.

They also called for permission to return to their homes in the second-largest town in Borno state, Bama, but were blocked from heading to the governor Kashim Shettima's office.

Ibrahim Bukar, from protest organisers the Bama Youth Development Association, said they were told to disperse and return to the camp.

"But surprisingly, the police arrested eight people among us and took them to the police headquarters," he told AFP by telephone.

"Our leaders (chairman Kazalla Grema Kyari and secretary Mohammed Hassan) went to the police station to bail them out but they were also detained.

"They have been there since yesterday (Sunday). We have made several attempts to be allowed to see them but this is an order from above."

Bukar's account was backed by two other people from the protests. There was no immediate comment from the police when contacted by AFP.

At least 20,000 people have been killed and more than 2.6 million others forced to leave their homes in the eight-year insurgency, which has devastated remote northeast Nigeria.

Most of the displaced have been living with distant relatives and friends, many of them in Maiduguri, with the remainder forced into camps.

They have become reliant on aid agencies for food, water, shelter and healthcare, with the dire humanitarian situation leaving hundreds of thousands on the brink of famine.

Boko Haram has also shown no let-up in attacks in hard-to-reach rural areas, despite government denials, but many IDPs say the risks of returning are worth taking.

Bama -- once a major trading hub on the way to Cameroon -- has been virtually completely destroyed since it was captured by Boko Haram in September 2014 and liberated last year.
Doha (AFP) - Thousands of Qataris lined the streets of central Doha Sunday to welcome back the emir as he returned from his first trip abroad during the ongoing Gulf diplomatic crisis.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani travelled to Turkey, France, Germany and the US -- where he addressed the UN General Assembly -- his first overseas engagement since Qatar was isolated politically by neighbouring states.

The emir was greeted by crowds numbering in their thousands as his car, part of a large convoy, wound its way slowly through the capital, said an AFP correspondent on the spot.

People waved flags, danced on top of cars and children wore T-shirts depicting the ruler's face to show support for him.

Footage on social media showed him leaving his car to greet some well-wishers at one point.

Saud al-Abdullah, who was waiting to cheer the emir along with his wife and four children, said people had come voluntarily.

"It is a message of loyalty and support to our leadership," he told AFP.

"Qatar is a peaceful country and we do not want troubles with any country."

Foreigners were also in the crowds. Almost 90 percent of Qatar's population is made up of expatriates.

Qatar has been accused by Saudi Arabia and others of supporting extremism and fostering ties with Iran, charges which it denies.

The first leader Sheikh Tamim met on his trip was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on September 15, more than 100 days since the onset of the crisis.

That first meeting was also notable as Sheikh Tamim had been the first foreign leader to contact Erdogan during the July 2016 attempted coup in Turkey.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unleashed his citizens in a march in the capital city of Pyongyang Saturday to display support for his lashings of United States President Donald Trump, Agency France Presse reported.

Tens of thousands of people amassed in the citys Kim Il-Sung Squarenamed after the current leaders grandfather and the nations founderto represent workers, intellectuals and peasants in a likely forced showing of solidarity against Trump and for the totalitarian regime.

Marchers followed a banner reading: "Let us safeguard with our lives the central committee of the party headed by the great comrade Kim Jong-Un."

unnamed

KCNA via REUTERS

The march came as Trump and Kim Jong Un exchanged significant barbs this week. During his long-awaited speech before the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, Trump again called Kim rocket man, a reference to the governments ongoing and frightening missile and nuclear testing, and threatened the U.S. could destroy the North if it continued to make its own threats towards the U.S. and its allies like South Korea and Japan.

But Trumps apparent threat of military action against the North only resulted in another warning from Kim. The leader, who took over for his father Kim Jong Il in late 2011, fired back by calling Trump a barking dog and said the president would pay dearly for his comments before the United Nations.

While the march Saturday was just one of many the North frequently holds in order to show the current government has the backing of its peopleactual or notat least some of the marchers had choice words for Trump.

"I would like to put down my pen and take up arms again to perform my duty to defend the fatherland," a Pyongyang Mechanical University student Ri Il Ung said according to AFP.

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The student added: Trump is a warmonger and a backstreet gangster. Its quite ridiculous that such a person could become a politician.

Trump is far from the first U.S. leader to employ terse or volatile language in attempts to either bring the Norths leadership to its knees or the negotiating table, but Kim has not backed down. President George W. Bush lumped the North together with Iraq and Iran as part of his axis of evil, and Barack Obama said the U.S. would defend its allies while speaking in the South in 2014.

Related Articles
A UK court has reaffirmed the power for state agents to use sweeping counterterrorism legislation to require travelers hand over the passwords for their digital devices for their contents to be searched at borders.

A London court today found Muhammad Rabbani guilty of willfully obstructing the police by failing to hand over device passwords and the PIN code for his smartphone after he had been detained at a UK airport.

Director of @UK_CAGE Rabbani found guilty of refusing to breach confidentiality of a client who is a torture survivor #Schedule7 #Free2Fly pic.twitter.com/dGyevGdF4J  Fahad Ansari (@fahadansari) September 25, 2017

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Rabbani is international director of Cage, an advocacy organization for communities impacted by Western counterterrorism policies.

He says he had been returning from a business trip to the Middle East last year when he was detailed and questioned. He declined to provide his passwords because he said he wanted to protect sensitive information provided to Cage by a client who had been subjected to torture.

The Intercept has reported at some length on the case after the same counterterrorism legislation was used in 2013 to detain David Miranda, the partner of Intercept co-founder and investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald who had been in contact with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. In that instance UK authorities seized journalistic material stored on a hard drive being carried through a UK airport by Miranda -- apparently conflating journalism and terrorism.

The law being used by UK authorities to force people to provide access keys to their digital devices is Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 -- which is supposed to be used solely to determine whether a person is directly involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

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Critics have accused authorities of overusing the power, and say it is discriminatory because it disproportionately affects Muslims who travel.

According to Rabbani he had already been detained at airports as many as 20 times under the same power. And had also previously been asked for his passwords -- and had not been arrested when he refused.

In this instance, after again refusing to reveal his passwords, he says he was handed a leaflet stating it is now compulsory to surrender passwords. He was then arrested, and, in May, charged with obstructing justice. A guilty verdict can result in up to three months in jail and/or a fine.

At the start of 2016, the Intercept reported that a UK appeals court had partially overturned an earlier court ruling backing Schedule 7's powers after a legal challenge brought against it by Miranda -- with the appeals court saying the statute is not subject to adequate safeguards against its arbitrary exercise and is incompatible with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides the right to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers".

The UK government then amended a code of practice that outlines how officers should conduct searches under Schedule 7 -- saying they should cease reviewing, and not copy information which they have grounds to believe is attorney-client privileged, is journalistic material, or is another kind of information held in confidence, which a person has acquired or created in the course of any trade, business, profession or other occupation.

Given that apparent change to how the law is applied, which Rabbani says he was aware of, he told the Intercept he believed there should be grounds to challenge a demand for his passwords. And he pled not guilty to the charge of obstructing justice.

In a response to the court's verdict on Twitter today, Cage claimed the judge had been sympathetic to his argument that he was seeking to protect client confidentiality but said the current framing of the legislation left no choice but to deliver a guilty verdict.

"Our Director will consider challenging this decision and ensure the right to privacy is one that is upheld and protected," Cage also tweeted.

"To convict under terrorism law despite not having anything to do with it is a perfect example how scaremongering is used to erode our rights. It's precisely for this reason that CAGE will continue to call for the abolition of all counterterrorism legislation," it added.

It's not yet clear what sentence Rabbani is facing, though he has now confirmed to us he intends to appeal.

According to the Intercept, which cites a classified GCHQ document released to it by Snowden, UK authorities have used Schedule 7 powers to covertly download data from devices searched at borders. Downloaded data was then placed in a central database where it could be searched by GCHQ agents. Retained data could apparently include anything stored on a targets phone such as contact lists, text messages, and call records.

Separately, the UK government is facing a legal challenge to counterterrorism powers which utilize bulk collection of data as an investigatory dragnet.

Earlier this month an oversight court for domestic intelligence agencies refused to rule itself on the matter -- referring the issue to Europe's top court for a verdict. The court also refused to expedite the request, meaning it will likely take several years before any judgement is passed on the legality of powers that, in the meanwhile, continue to be used by UK state agents.
The Trump administration wants to ratchet up economic pressure on Iran, but unless it can persuade skeptical governments in Europe and Asia to join the effort, it will be forced to use unilateral measures that would probably prove ineffective at choking Tehrans economy, former officials, diplomats, and experts say.

With U.S. President Donald Trump facing a deadline next month to declare to Congress whether Iran is abiding by a nuclear deal, the administration has signaled plans for a tougher approach to the accord that could include fresh sanctions against Tehran or even triggering the reimposition of punishing sanctions that were lifted as part of the accord.

The other signatories to the accord  the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, and Russia  strongly support keeping the nuclear deal in place and have made clear they oppose snapping back the sanctions that preceded the agreement.

In his combative speech to the United Nations General Assembly last week, Trump himself called the deal one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. And administration officials, including U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, say Tehran is violating the spirit of the deal. They have argued for Trump to declare that Iran is not in compliance with the agreement, suggesting such a move could give Washington more leverage over Tehran.

If Trump decertifies Iran under U.S. law, Congress would have to decide within 60 days whether to reimpose an array of sanctions that were eased as part of the 2015 deal, which introduced limits on Irans nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions and freeing up frozen assets.

Some hawkish opponents of the nuclear agreement in Congress want to reimpose the old sanctions in hopes of recreating the economic pressure that squeezed Irans economy five years ago and brought Tehran to the negotiating table. One of the hardest-hitting measures required other countries to significantly reduce their purchases of Iranian oil or else face U.S. sanctions. That provision alone cost Iran tens of billions of dollars in annual oil revenues.

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But the Trump administration almost certainly wont be able to replicate the chokehold Obama placed on the Iranian economy in 2012 by limiting its crude oil exports.

Those sanctions, which reduced Irans exports from about 2.5 million barrels a day down to less than 1.5 million barrels a day, were ultimately successful for several different reasons. European and Asian countries supported the U.S. approach, parallel European sanctions had a crippling effect on Iranian exports, and U.S. diplomats coaxed, cajoled, and pleaded with oil-buying countries like China, India, and South Korea and successfully convinced them to limit their purchases of Iranian oil.

Since sanctions were lifted at the beginning of 2016, Iran has clawed back much of its share of the global oil market. By August of this year, it was pumping as as much oil as it had in a year (3.8 million barrels a day) and exporting 2.5 million barrels a day to traditional buyers. Europe is the main destination for Iranian oil, followed by China, India, South Korea, and Japan.

Theres no way to put that genie back in the bottle now, former government officials and energy experts say.

I think the likelihood is high that the administration decertifies the Iran deal, but its unlikely well see the the kind of impact  sanctions and one million barrels coming off the market  that we saw last time, said Jason Bordoff, a former energy advisor in Barack Obamas White House and Director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.

When the Obama administration pushed to reduce Irans oil revenues, it could argue to foreign governments that they would be making a temporary sacrifice to force Iran to negotiate the fate of its nuclear program.

It was a key selling point that we didnt want this to be forever. That one day we wanted to get rid of these sanctions, said Richard Nephew, who worked as the lead sanctions expert on the U.S. negotiating team for the nuclear deal.

But Trump and some of his hawkish supporters seem to be seeking a sanctions regime without a clear diplomatic goal in mind  which means it will have a much harder sell with countries in Europe and Asia, especially since the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly said Iran is in compliance with the deal.

Trump cant rewind to 2012, when [former Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad made it easy to isolate Iran, and the EU was willing to play ball, said Matthew Reed, vice president at Foreign Reports, an energy consultancy in Washington.

In order to reimpose sanctions unilaterally, the United States would have to threaten all customers who buy Iranian crude. The response would be global outrage and resistance, especially from our allies, he said.

The lack of international consensus is one of the biggest potential differences from five years ago, especially because EU sanctions on Iran specifically targeted shipping and maritime insurance, poleaxing Tehrans crude exports. Bordoff said few, if any, countries could be expected to join U.S. sanctions this time around.

The North Korean crisis also adds a different wrinkle to the Iran deal. In 2012 and after, the United States could lean on Asian buyers like China, South Korea, and Japan to sharply limit their purchases of Iranian crude. That was relatively easy to do for a couple of reasons.

First, Americas own oil production back then was flooding the market, meaning that knocking 1 million Iranian barrels of oil out of the global market didnt drive up prices; the United States isnt adding any extra barrels this time around.

Second, Washington wasnt in a nuclear showdown with Pyongyang where it desperately needed the diplomatic assistance of Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo  not to mention the support of European countries such as France, another big buyer of Iranian oil.

Opponents of the nuclear deal insist that opposition to sanctions from the EU, China, or Russia will fade once the mighty U.S. economy is put into play. They argue that after the United States enacts the sanctions, European and other foreign companies will be forced to choose between operating in Iran or the U.S. market and will inevitably choose to stay away from Iran.

In a policy memo that circulated among Republican lawmakers and at the White House, an outspoken critic of the Iran deal, Richard Goldberg, argued that it was unrealistic to think European and other foreign companies would keep doing business in Iran at the risk of being frozen out of the U.S. banking system.

No general counsels in their right minds would advise a corporate headquarters to play chicken with access to the U.S. financial system, wrote Goldberg, who served as a senior advisor to former Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois.

But that threat only works if Washington is willing to trigger a trade war with allies over the issue. If the United States backs down, Americas sanctions would be revealed as an empty threat, Nephew said.

You put yourself in a bear trap. Its hard to move without running risks in either direction, he said.

In the 1990s, the United States threatened sanctions against any company that made major investments in Irans oil and gas industry. The French oil giant Total and other firms defied the sanctions, and the European Union threatened to take the United States to the World Trade Organization over the issue. In the end, the Bill Clinton administration had to step back and strike a compromise in 1998.

When asked how the E.U. would respond to a possible reimposition of U.S. sanctions that could punish European firms investing in Iran, David OSullivan, the EU ambassador to Washington, said: I have no doubt that if this scenario materializes, which is not clear it will, the European Union will have to act to protect the legitimate interests of our companies with all the means at our disposal.

Speaking at an Atlantic Council think tank event, OSullivan cited EU blocking legislation that has been invoked in the past to safeguard European companies from U.S. secondary sanctions. But he added that the EU would wait to see what decision the United States takes on sanctions and the nuclear deal, and what rationale it offers.

Given Trumps track record of tough talk followed by modest action, experts say the administration could be trying, through threats of a return of sanctions, to extract additional concessions from Iran, possibly through a new follow-up deal.

The United States cant get a redo on the agreement, Reed said. But tough rhetoric could pave the way for new talks that address some of the nuclear accords flaws, he said, including Irans broader role in the region. This week, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the nuclear deal doesnt address Irans destabilizing influence in the Middle East, a criticism shared by the Trump administration.

Iran has already ruled out reopening negotiations over its nuclear program, and Washington has yet to offer any additional incentives or benefits that could persuade Tehran it was worth its while, Western diplomats said.

They were told clearly and definitively [by us] that the nuclear deal cannot be renegotiated, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last week in Tehran.

This article was updated with comments by the EU ambassador to the United States.

Photo credit: ATTA KENARE/AFP/GettyImages
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will prohibit entry of citizens from North Korea to the United States as part of a sweeping new travel ban that also slaps restrictions on Iran, Chad, Libya, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Somalia, the Trump administration said on Sunday.

The new restrictions, slated to go into effect on October 18, resulted from a review after President Donald Trump's original travel bans were challenged in court.

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from the original, mostly Muslim-majority list.

"North Korea does not cooperate with the United States government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements," the proclamation said.

An administration official, briefing reporters on a conference call, acknowledged that the number of North Koreans traveling to the United States now was very low.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Phil Stewart; Editing by Sandra Maler)
PureWow

King Charles is taking on yet another important role that was previously held by his late father, Prince Philip. This week, the royal family released a brand-new portrait of the monarch, as he officially takes on the role of Park Ranger of Windsor Great Park. In the photograph, His Majesty is standing next to a giant oak tree in an open field while the sun shines brightly. King Charles looks like a whole new man in the pic and is dressed in a camel-colored suit and holding a cane in his hand. Vi
Istanbul (AFP) - An Istanbul court on Monday ordered the release of leading Turkish journalist Kadri Gursel in the controversial trial of staff from the Cumhuriyet opposition newspaper, but ruled that four other detained suspects must stay in jail.

The judge ruled that Gursel, one of Turkey's most respected journalists, could go free after 11 months in jail though he remains on trial on charges of links to terror groups, an AFP correspondent said.

The trial of the staff from Cumhuriyet, a paper which has been deeply critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was adjourned until October 31.

Gursel, a journalist for three decades, was released from the Silivri jail outside Istanbul Monday night after formalities were completed, and was greeted by his relatives and colleagues.

Looking exhausted, Gursel said: "There is nothing to celebrate because a number of Cumhuriyet journalists are facing unfair and baseless accusations. Their freedoms have been taken away."

- 'Push my limits'-

The veteran journalist said he would continue to write despite the tough media environment.

"Every journalist would like to write as long as the conditions allow them. I will of course continue to write," Gursel said.

"A journalist should push his limits in order to remain a journalist," he said.

His wife Nazire said she had a "bittersweet" feeling as there were still journalists in prison.

"I cannot say that justice has been delivered today," she told reporters.

"Many blast this case as a theatre play but it would be an insult to theatre."

In a case that has caused an international outcry, 17 Cumhuriyet staff members are charged with supporting through their coverage three groups that Turkey considers terror groups.

These are the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the ultra-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), and the movement of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based preacher whom Ankara accuses of ordering last year's coup attempt.

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The Turkish government calls the movement the Fethullah Terror Group (FETO).

- 'Can't be terrorists' -

Supporters of the paper say it has always taken a tough line against the three organisations and is being punished for being one of the few opposition voices in the Turkish media.

"I worked with them. I know their past. These colleagues cannot be terrorists, those friends cannot be FETO," defence witness Alev Coskun, a board member of the Cumhuriyet foundation and influential writer, told the court.

He also pointed to tensions at the newspaper under the editorship of Can Dundar, who in 2015 broke an explosive story claiming Turkey was sending arms to Syria, and who now lives in exile in Germany.

"This is a serious newspaper. It is not a newspaper where Can Dundar played games," Coskun said.

Those remaining under arrest include the paper's chairman Akin Atalay and editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu, who like Gursel have been held behind bars for 330 days.

Investigative reporter Ahmet Sik, who has been held for 269 days, as well as accountant Emre Iper, detained for 173 days, also remain under arrest.

Sik wrote a book exposing the past ties of members of the Turkish elite to the Gulen movement.

Also on trial in the case is a teacher, Ahmet Kemal Aydogdu, who maintained a popular Twitter account. He is accused of being a terror group leader, and although his case is unrelated to the one against Cumhuriyet it has been merged into the same trial.

Earlier, about 200 people gathered outside the Istanbul courthouse, carrying portraits of the journalists and banners with slogans including "Freedom for journalists" and "Independent press cannot be silenced".

According to the P24 press freedom group, there are 171 journalists behind bars in Turkey, most of whom were arrested under the state of emergency imposed after the coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

The country ranks 155 out of 180 on the latest world press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

"We cannot talk about justice in a country where there is no judiciary," said Sezgin Tanrikulu, an MP with the opposition Republican People's Party.

"Our friend Kadri's release doesn't mean that there is justice," he said.
Istanbul (AFP) - Turkey Monday denied media reports it had closed its southern border gate with northern Iraq in response to the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, but said strict controls were in place.

"Habur border gate has not been closed," Customs Minister Bulent Tufenkci was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency. "A tight control is in place for security reasons."

Witnesses in the region also said the border gate remained open but cross-border traffic was slow.

Iraqi Kurds were bracing for a non-binding vote on independence set for Monday, despite warnings from Baghdad as well as neighbouring countries Iran and Turkey.

Ankara on Monday slammed the referendum bid by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as "null and void" and said it would not recognise it.

"We do not recognise this initiative which is deficient of any legal basis and lacks legitimacy," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ankara also vowed to take every measure in case any radicals sought to exploit the circumstances that will emerge following the referendum, or any attempt to carry out acts that target "our national security".

The ministry also updated its travel advice for Iraqi Kurdistan, strongly advising Turks to leave the cities of Dohuk, Arbil and Sulaymaniyah if they did not need to stay because of the security risks related to the poll.

Despite enjoying strong ties with the KRG in recent years, Turkey fears the vote could stoke separatist aspirations among its own sizeable Kurdish minority.

Turkey has warned of reprisals if the referendum goes ahead as planned but has never made clear what concrete action it might take against the regional government of Massud Barzani.

Business circles warn the closure of the Habur border gate could undermine $7 billion trade between Ankara and Arbil.
By Umit Bektas and Ece Toksabay HABUR, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan threatened on Monday to cut off the pipeline that carries oil from northern Iraq to the outside world, intensifying pressure on the Kurdish autonomous region over its independence referendum. Erdogan spoke shortly after Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ankara could take punitive measures involving borders and air space against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over the referendum and would not recognise the outcome. Voting began on Monday despite strong opposition from Iraq's central government and neighbouring Turkey and Iran - both with significant Kurdish populations - as well as Western warnings the move could aggravate Middle East instability. Erdogan, grappling with a long-standing Kurdish insurgency in Turkey's southeast, which borders northern Iraq, said the "separatist" referendum was unacceptable and economic, trade and security counter-measures would be taken. He stopped short of saying Turkey had decided to close off the oil flow. Hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil a day come through the pipeline in Turkey from northern Iraq, but he made clear the option was on the table. "After this, let's see through which channels the northern Iraqi regional government will send its oil, or where it will sell it," he said in a speech. "We have the tap. The moment we close the tap, then it's done." Yildirim said Ankara would decide on punitive measures against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) after talks with Iraq's central government. "Our energy, interior and customs ministries are working on (measures). We are evaluating steps regarding border gates and air space. We will take these steps quickly," Yildirim told Turkish broadcasters. Iraqi soldiers arrived in Turkey on Monday night to join a drill on the Turkish side of the border near the Habur area in the southeast, Turkey's military said in a statement. Iraq's defence ministry said the two armies started "major manoeuvres" at the border area. HABUR GATE Local media said Turkey had blocked access to the KRG via the Habur border crossing with Iraq. Ankara's customs minister denied this, saying Habur remained open but with tight controls on traffic, according to the state-run Anadolu agency. However, Erdogan later said traffic was only being allowed to cross from the Turkish side of the border into Iraq. Maruf Ari, a 50-year-old truck driver, was one of those who had crossed back into Turkey early on Monday morning. He said a closure of the gate would ruin his livelihood. "If the border is closed it will harm all of us. I'm doing this job for 20 years. I'm not making a lot of money. Around 1,000 lira ($285) a month. But if the gate is closed, we will go hungry." The United States and other Western powers also urged authorities in the KRG to cancel the vote, saying it would distract from the fight against Islamic State. Shares of Turkish Airlines , which has direct flights to northern Iraq, tumbled 6.5 percent, underperforming a 1.78 percent decline in the BIST 100 <.XU100> index. Turkey's currency, the lira , also weakened. Turkey took the Kurdish television channel Rudaw off its satellite service TurkSat, a Turkish broadcasting official told Reuters. Turkey has long been northern Iraq's main link to the outside world, but sees the referendum as a grave matter for its own national security. Turkey has the region's largest Kurdish population and has been fighting a three-decade insurgency in its mainly Kurdish southeast. PARLIAMENT VOTE On Saturday, Turkey's parliament voted to extend by a year a mandate authorising the deployment of troops in Iraq and Syria. Still, Ankara is unlikely to make rash moves when it comes to sanctions against the KRG, said Nihat Ali Ozcan, a professor of political science and international relations at TOBB University of Economics and Technology. "Closing the border gate, cancelling international flights and, at the final step, cutting the pipeline can be discussed," he said. "Military pressure can be used directly or indirectly." The Turkish army launched military exercises involving tanks and armoured vehicles near the Habur border crossing a week ago and they are expected to continue until at least Sept. 26. Additional units joined the exercises as they entered their second stage Turkey's military said in its statement that the third phase of the drill would be held on Sept. 26, and that Iraqi soldiers who arrived on Monday night would join. The military has also in recent days carried out daily air strikes against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq, where the group's commanders are based. The PKK launched its separatist insurgency in 1984, and more than 40,000 people have been killed since. It is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union. Militants in northern Iraq launched a cross-border mortar attack into Turkey's Hakkari province, hitting a temporary residence used by refugees, the interior ministry said. One refugee was killed and several others were injured, it said. In the eastern Agri province, near the border with Iran, individuals thought to be Kurdish militants opened fire on a mini-bus carrying foreign nationals, the ministry said. Three people were killed and four wounded in that attack, it said. (Additional reporting by Tulay Karadeniz, Dirimcan Barutin and Gulsen Solaker in Ankara and Ezgi Erkoyun in Istanbul; Writing by Daren Butler and David Dolan; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Larry King/Jeremy Gaunt)
By Daren Butler and Raya Jalabi ISTANBUL/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Turkey's parliament voted on Saturday to extend by a year a mandate authorizing the deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq and Syria, stepping up pressure against an independence referendum in northern Iraq's Kurdish region in two days' time. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Turkey would take security, economic and political steps in response to the referendum, which President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman described as a "terrible mistake" that would trigger new regional crises. The United States and other Western powers have, like Turkey, urged authorities in the semi-autonomous Iraqi region to cancel Monday's vote. They say the move by the oil-producing area distracts from the fight against Islamic State. In Iraq, a Kurdistan regional government delegation arrived in Baghdad for talks with the Iraqi government in an effort to defuse tensions, but a senior Kurdish official said the vote was going ahead. "The delegation will discuss the referendum but the referendum is still happening," Hoshiyar Zebari, a top adviser to Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, told Reuters. Turkey, which has NATO's second-largest army, said on Friday that the Iraqi vote would threaten its security and force it to slap sanctions on a neighbor and trading partner, although it did not specify what measures it might take. Asked on Saturday if a cross-border operation was among the options, Yildirim told reporters: "Naturally, it is a question of timing as to when security, economic and security options are implemented. Developing conditions will determine that." The mandate approved by Turkey's parliament on Saturday was first passed in 2014 with the aim of tackling threats from within its southern neighbors Iraq and Syria. It had been due to expire in October. "UNCONTROLLABLE FIRE" Turkey is home to the largest Kurdish population in the region and is itself fighting a Kurdish insurgency on its soil. But it is also the main conduit for oil exports from Iraq's Kurdish region and it has said that any break-up of neighboring Iraq or Syria could lead to a global conflict. In a speech to parliament, Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli voiced concern about the referendum's impact on the region's ethnic and sectarian relationships, saying it could trigger an "uncontrollable fire". "Pulling out just a brick from a structure based on very sensitive and fragile balances will sow the seeds for new hatred, enmity and clashes," he said. A particular area of concern is the multi-ethnic oil city of Kirkuk, which lies outside the recognized boundaries of the autonomous Kurdish region and is claimed by Baghdad. It is dominated by Kurds but is also home to Arabs, Assyrian Christians and Turkmen -- of whom Turkey has long seen itself as the protector. "If the referendum is not canceled, there will be serious consequences. Erbil must immediately refrain from this terrible mistake, which will trigger new crises in the region," Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted on Saturday. ROCKET ATTACK Militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) launched a rocket and mortar attack from the Iraqi side of the border on Turkey's Semdinli district on Saturday, killing one Turkish soldier and a worker in the area of a military base, the Hakkari governor's office said in a statement. The PKK launched its separatist insurgency in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict. It is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The Iraqi armys chief of staff, Lieutenant General Othman al-Ghanmi, met his Turkish counterpart, General Hulusi Akar, in Turkey and they discussed the "illegitimate" referendum, Turkey's military said. "The importance of maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity was stressed once again," it said. The Turkish army launched military exercises on Monday near the Habur border crossing to Iraq. Military sources said they were due to last until Sept. 26, the day after the planned vote. On Saturday the military said additional units had joined the exercises as they entered their second stage. Turkey has for years been northern Iraq's main link to the outside world. It has built strong trade ties with the semi-autonomous region, which exports hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil per day through Turkey to international markets. (Additional reporting by Maher Chmaytelli in Baghdad; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Edmund Blair and Stephen Powell)
By Rodi Said Deir al Zor, SYRIA (Reuters) - U.S.-allied militias in northern Syria announced on Saturday the formation of a civilian council to govern the oil rich eastern province of Deir al Zor where they are racing with the Syrian army to capture territory held by Islamic State. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes Arab militias but is dominated by the powerful Kurdish YPG militia, launched an operation in Deir Zor province which borders Iraq earlier this month which captured its northern countryside and advanced east of the Euphrates River. On Saturday they seized a major gas field in Deir al-Zor province from Islamic State militants in rapid advances that preempted the Syrian government that was also heading in that direction. In a separate offensive, Syrian army and Iranian backed militias with Russian air power had also this month broke a years-long Islamic State siege of government-held parts of Deir al-Zor on the other side of the Euphrates river. The advances against Islamic State have brought U.S.-backed forces and the Syrian government side, backed by Russia and Iran, into close proximity. The assaults by the Russian-backed Syrian army and the U.S.-backed SDF have at times raised fears of clashes that could stoke tensions between the competing world powers. The SDF appointed one hundred tribal figures to meet and elect a council to run the province on Sunday. In a final communique the council said its priority was the return of tens of thousands of displaced residents of the province who fled during the conflict and restoring basic utilities. It urged the U.S. led coalition to provide aid to the war-torn province. "We want to cement ties among the people of the province," the statement of the newly formed Deir al-Zor civil council said. The extent of Kurdish control in the eastern province that lies at the heart of Arab tribal area is sensitive both for residents and for Ankara, which has fought a three-decade Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey and fears growing YPG ascendancy just over the border in northern Syria. Many local Arab tribes from the region also complain they are marginalized in decision making and blame the YPG for discrimination against them, including the forced conscription of their youths. The YPG denies these allegations. The establishment of a local council effectively run by the SDF expands a sphere of Kurdish influence that has grown in northern Syria during the multi-sided conflict. It would mirror governing arrangements put in place in other towns after the SDF repelled Islamic State. (Writing and additional reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Kiev (AFP) - Former Ukrainian prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Monday he would sue Russia in the European Court of Human Rights over allegations that he fought Kremlin forces in Chechnya.

His spokeswoman Olga Lappo wrote on Facebook that Yatsenyuk intended to prove "the entire absurdity of Russia's justice system".

Yatsenyuk headed the Kiev government from Ukraine's ouster of its Russian-backed leadership in a February 2014 revolution until his resignation over a seeming failure to fight corruption in April 2016.

He was cheered on by Kiev's US and EU allies during the early stages of his premiership for his reformist economic agenda and unbending desire to pull Ukraine out of Russia's orbit.

But the 43-year-old former banker was a bitter hate figure of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- a strongman Yatsenyuk accused of seizing Crimea by force and then pouring troops into eastern Ukraine between March and April of 2014.

The subsequent war in Ukraine's eastern rust belt in which Russia denies involvement has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

The Black Sea peninsula of Crimea remains under Russian control but is globally recognised as part of Ukraine.

Moscow's charges that Yatsenyuk was supposedly fighting alongside Chechen rebels during their 1994-1996 war for independence from Russia first emerged in 2015.

The Russian Investigative Committee -- a powerful counterpart to the US CIA -- accused Yatsenyuk of being involved in at least two military confrontations in 1994-1995.

Yatsenyuk was only 21 at the time and officially studying law at Ukraine's prestigious Chernivtsi National University.

But pro-Kremlin media circulated what Kiev said were doctored photos of a man who somewhat resembled Yatsenyuk posing together with several of Chechnya's most feared warlords of the time.

The first Chechen campaign ended with the republic's de facto independence. The lawless north Caucasus region was finally brought under Russian control during a brief war launched by Putin in October 1999.

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Yatsenyuk has laughed off the charges of fighting against Russians alongside the Chechens.

But the story was circulated widely in Russia and resulted in Moscow's demand for his extradition for trial.

Yatsenyuk spokeswoman Lappo said the former Ukrainian cabinet leader would appeal to the European rights court because he could not expect justice in Russia.

A formal lawsuit with the Strasbourg-based court may only be filed after all other avenues in local court systems -- in this case those involving Russia -- are exhausted.

Lappo said Yatsenyuk would turn to the ECHR as soon as Russia rejected his appeal.

"Russia lacks a justice system," Lappo wrote.

"This absurd case will be brought to a close by the European Court of Human Rights."

Yatsenyuk currently has no position in government but heads Ukraine's second-largest parliamentary party.
The news out of Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria is, quite frankly, horrifying. The entire island could be without power for months. A crucial dam, the Guajataca, may be about to burst. Communication with the island is limited at best. There are many people still trying to get in touch with family, to make sure that loved ones living on the devastated island are okay.

Now, Univision News is trying to make that a bit easier. They've built a tool (available in Spanish only) where you can choose the region of the country you're concerned about, and Univision will tell you the most recent and up-to-date news about the situation in that area.

The information provided includes a roundup of pictures, tweets and other social media, reports from sources on the ground in the area and more. Everything we're hearing about Puerto Rico has been so dire. It's nice to have a concrete resource with timely information that can help.

Univision News is also trying to directly connect people with friends and relatives in Puerto Rico. Using their reporting team on the island, as well as a social media team in Miami using radios, WhatsApp and Zello, they're doing what they can to locate and reconnect people. You can request their help by filling out this Google form and see inspiring and heartwarming stories of the connections they've already made happen on their website.
Beirut (AFP) - The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces militia Monday accused Russia of killing one of its fighters and wounding others in strikes on a gas facility it captured two days earlier from the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.

"Russian air strikes and mortar fire hit the Conoco gas plant where a large number of our forces are stationed," SDF spokeswoman Lilwa Abdallah told AFP.

A statement issued later by the militia said one fighter had been killed and six wounded in the bombing.

Moscow neither confirmed nor denied the report, noting only that Russian warplanes were carrying out strikes on "terrorist sites" in support of regime operations against the jihadists in Deir Ezzor province.

Abdallah said Syrian regime forces carried out additional bombardment of SDF positions after the initial Russian bombing.

"We reserve the right to respond," she added.

The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, captured the Conoco plant in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province on Saturday.

The militia is fighting a campaign against IS on the eastern side of the Euphrates River that cuts diagonally across Deir Ezzor, a resource-rich province that borders Iraq.

Syria's regime, backed by its ally Russia, is carrying out its own campaign against IS in Deir Ezzor, largely on the western side of the Euphrates, including in provincial capital Deir Ezzor city.

A "de-confliction" line is supposed to prevent the two campaigns from clashing, but Monday's alleged bombardment is the second time the SDF has accused Russia and the regime of hitting its fighters.

On September 16, the group said six of its fighters were wounded in air strikes by regime and Russian warplanes in the Al-Sinaaiya area around seven kilometres (four miles) from the eastern bank of the Euphrates.

And on September 21, Moscow warned Washington of reprisals after accusing the SDF of firing on Syrian regime forces in the province.
New Delhi (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday it would be "shocking" irresponsibility for North Korea to carry out its threat to test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific.

The new comments, made while Mattis headed for India, followed a shrill war of words between the North Korean and US leaders over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

Pyongyang's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Saturday that his country could test a nuclear bomb over the Pacific.

"This would be a shocking display of irresponsibility for global health, towards stability, towards non-proliferation," Mattis told reporters on his flight to India.

He declined to comment when asked if such a test would constitute an act of war.

Amid bitter wrangling between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, US bombers and jet fighters flew off the North Korean coast on Saturday in a show of force.

The North's nuclear programme will be one of the regional security topics raised by Mattis with Indian leaders during his three-day stay.
Mr Trump's original ban provoked mass protests and legal challenges: EPA

Donald Trump has slapped new travel restrictions on citizens from North Korea, Venezuela and Chad, expanding to eight the list of countries covered by his original travel bans that have been derided by critics and challenged in court.

Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia were left on the list of affected countries in a new proclamation issued by the president on Sunday. Restrictions on citizens from Sudan were lifted.

The measures help fulfil a campaign promise Mr Trump made to make it harder to migrate to the US. Unlike the president's original bans, which had time limits, this one is open-ended.

"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Mr Trump tweeted shortly after the proclamation was released.

Iraqi citizens will not be subject to travel prohibitions but will face enhanced scrutiny or vetting.

The current ban, enacted in March, was set to expire on Sunday evening. The new restrictions are due to take effect on October 18 and resulted from a review after Trump's original travel bans sparked international outrage and legal challenges.

The addition of North Korea and Venezuela broadens the restrictions from the original, mostly Muslim-majority list.

Critics have accused the Republican president of discriminating against Muslims in violation of constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and equal protection under the law, breaking existing US immigration law and stoking religious hatred.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which is one of the organisations challenging Mr Trumps original travel ban, described it as a new "Muslim ban" - a description the president has rejected - adding the addition of North Korea did not change that.

ACLU executive director Anthony D Romero said: "Six of President Trump's targeted countries are Muslim. The fact that Trump has added North Korea  with few visitors to the US  and a few government officials from Venezuela doesn't obfuscate the real fact that the administration's order is still a Muslim ban.

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"President Trump's original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list.

An administration official, briefing reporters on a conference call, acknowledged that the number of North Koreans now travelling to the United States was very low.

Rights group Amnesty International USA also condemned the measures.

"Just because the original ban was especially outrageous does not mean we should stand for yet another version of government-sanctioned discrimination," it said in a statement.

"It is senseless and cruel to ban whole nationalities of people who are often fleeing the very same violence that the US government wishes to keep out. This must not be normalised."

The White House portrayed the restrictions as consequences for countries that did not meet new requirements for vetting of immigrants and issuing of visas. Those requirements were shared in July with foreign governments, which had 50 days to make improvements if needed, the White House said.

A number of countries made improvements by enhancing the security of travel documents or the reporting of passports that were lost or stolen. Others did not, sparking the restrictions.

The announcement came as the US Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments on Oct. 10 over the legality of Mr Trump's previous travel ban, including whether it discriminated against Muslims.

Mr Trump has threatened to "destroy" North Korea if it attacks the United States or its allies. Pyongyang earlier this month conducted its most powerful nuclear bomb test. The president has also directed harsh criticism at Venezuela, once hinting at a potential military option to deal with Caracas.

But the officials described the addition of the two countries to Mr Trump's travel restrictions as the result of a purely objective review.

In the case of North Korea, where the suspension was sweeping and applied to both immigrants and non-immigrants, officials said it was hard for the United States to validate the identity of someone coming from North Korea or to find out if that person was a threat.

"North Korea, quite bluntly, does not cooperate whatsoever," one official said.

The restrictions on Venezuela focused on Socialist government officials that the Trump administration blamed for the country's slide into economic disarray, including officials from the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service and their immediate families.

Mr Trump received a set of policy recommendations on Friday from acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke and was briefed on the matter by other administration officials, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a White House aide said.

The rollout on Sunday was decidedly more organised than Trump's first stab at a travel ban, which was unveiled with little warning and sparked protests at airports worldwide.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump told reporters about the ban: "The tougher, the better."

Rather than a total ban on entry to the United States, the proposed restrictions differ by nation, based on cooperation with American security mandates, the threat the United States believes each country presents and other variables, officials said.

Somalis, for example, are barred from entering the United States as immigrants and subjected to greater screening for visits.

After the September 15 bombing attack on a London Tube train, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter that the new ban "should be far larger, tougher and more specific - but stupidly, that would not be politically correct."

The expiring ban blocked entry into the United States by people from the six countries for 90 days and locked out most aspiring refugees for 120 days to give Mr Trump's administration time to conduct a worldwide review of US vetting procedures for foreign visitors.

Some federal courts blocked the ban, but the US Supreme Court allowed it to take effect in June with some restrictions.

Agencies contributed to this report
Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela accused the United States on Monday of "psychological terrorism" designed to bring down the government after it was included in a list of eight countries targeted by a travel ban.

"As if it mattered to us to have a visa for the United States. I only go to the United States if I have to go to the UN, to the OAS," President Nicolas Maduro said, referring to the Organization of American States.

Speaking at a meeting with governors broadcast by state television VTV, Maduro said US President Donald Trump has "isolated the United States" with his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last week, in which he called the Venezuelan leader a "dictator."

He was speaking a day after Venezuela was added to a new list of countries targeted by the US ban, due to what it called poor security and a lack of cooperation with American authorities.

The restrictions on Venezuela were limited to officials from a list of government agencies and their families, while full travel bans were placed on nationals from the other seven countries, including Chad and North Korea.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza described Trump as acting like "the world's emperor."

Amid an escalating war of words, Arreaza told the UN General Assembly that Venezuela would seek dialogue with Washington to "stop the madness and irrationality."

Last week, he accused Trump of being "racist and supremacist" after the US leader told the annual UN gathering that the US was ready to act to restore Venezuela's democracy.

"As a free people, we are ready to defend our sovereignty, our independence and our democracy in any scenario and in any way," Arreaza said.

In a short statement to reporters following his speech, he added: "I insist, if they attack us on the ground, we will respond forcefully in the defense of our country and of our people."

His foreign ministry said that "these types of lists... are incompatible with international law and constitute in themselves a form of psychological and political terrorism."

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Most of the nations affected by the US ban were part of a measure targeting Muslim countries that Trump authorized shortly after taking office.

Maduro's socialist government said Washington was using the fight against terrorism for its own political ends.

- 'Irrational decision' -

The foreign ministry statement said the ban was seeking to "stigmatize" Venezuela "under the pretext of combating terrorism, by including it in a unilaterally drawn-up list and accusing other states of being alleged promoters of this terrible scourge."

It rejected "the irrational decision of the United States government to once again catalog the noble Venezuelan people as a threat to their national security."

Venezuela has been rocked by months of economic chaos and deadly protests as Maduro tries to consolidate control, including through a new Constituent Assembly that has wrested power from the opposition-dominated legislature.

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro called for additional sanctions against the Maduro government, denouncing what he called the "consolidation of the dictatorial regime in Venezuela."

His organization's fourth report on the Venezuelan political crisis says that democracy was "completely eliminated" when the "illegitimate" Constituent Assembly was established on July 30.
Sen. John McCain opened up Sunday about the moment he was diagnosed with an aggressive, often deadly form of brain cancer earlier this year.

In a forthcoming interview on CBS 60 Minutes, the Arizona senator spoke about what it was like when doctors told him he had glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. At the time, McCain was visiting his doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix to check out a blood clot in his eye.

As you know, doctors are interesting, he told CBS, adding that he repeatedly told his doctors to tell it to me straight.

It was only days after the operation that doctors confirmed the results via labs. They told McCain that his prognosis was not bright.

Some say 3 percent, some say 14 percent. You know itsits a very poor prognosis, he told CBS. So I just said, I understand. Now were going to do what we can, get the best doctors we can find and do the best we can, and at the same time celebrate with gratitude a life well lived.'

Since his diagnosis earlier this summer, McCain has already completed his first round of chemotherapy treatment.

And despite the unexpected cancer diagnosis, McCain returned to work at the Senate shortly after he recovered from the surgery for his blood clot  casting the deciding vote that ended a previous attempt by Republican senators to repeal and replace Obamacare in July.

And earlier this week, he once again came out against the latest GOP health care repeal plan, dubbed the Graham-Cassidy bill.

I cannot in good conscience vote for the Graham-Cassidy proposal, McCain said in a statement. I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not really tried. Nor could I support it without knowing how much it will cost, how it will effect insurance premiums, and how many people will be helped or hurt by it.
Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh) (AFP) - The World Health Organisation warned Monday of a growing cholera risk in the makeshift refugee camps in Bangladesh where more than 435,000 Rohingya Muslims have sought shelter from unrest in Myanmar.

A month after the exodus began, those dispersed in some 68 camps and settlements along the border do not have safe drinking water and hygiene facilities, according to the WHO.

The camps also face dire shortages of food and medicine in what has quickly become one of the world's largest refugee settlements.

"Risk of water borne diseases is high, especially there is very high risk of cholera and this is why everyone is concerned," the WHO said in a statement.

"Interventions are being scaled-up, however, the situation remains critical and challenging."

The latest influx has overwhelmed the camps around Cox's Bazar, which previously housed at least 300,000 people who had fled earlier violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

The WHO says mobile medical centres have been set up, while Bangladesh health authorities say they have treated some 4,500 Rohingya for diarrhoea in a month and vaccinated some 80,000 children for measles and polio.

"We are trying our best to face the challenges. But we are concerned," Enayet Hossain, deputy head of Bangladesh's health services department, told AFP.

The department said that at least 10 Rohingya have died in Bangladesh since the influx, most from bullet and blast wounds suffered in Rakhine.

Two elderly Rohingya men died of diarrhoea at a charity clinic more than a week ago, said Misbah Uddin Ahmed, a health department official at Ukhia, where most of the camps are located.

"They were also suffering from old age complications and gastroenteritis," he told AFP.

Two Rohingya women, aged 50 and 60, were shifted to a hospital in the port city of Chittagong after they were diagnosed with HIV, police said.

Ahmed said specialists from Bangladesh's International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDRB) and government scientists had visited camps to take samples.

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"They are going to set up two field stations here," he told AFP.

- 'Situation under control' -

The Doctors Without Borders (MSF) group said last week the camps were on the brink of a public health disaster as filthy water and faeces flow through shanties.

It said a "massive scale-up of humanitarian aid" was needed, with adults on the cusp of dying from dehydration.

But Ahmed said the situation was improving as hundreds of latrines and tube-wells were being dug by government services and local charities.

The army, which has taken over aid management, says it has made sanitary facilities the "highest priority" in an effort to stave off a health emergency.

"The situation is still under control," Ahmed said.

More than 436,000 refugees have crossed the border from Rakhine since August 25 when a military crackdown was launched following attacks by Rohingya militants, according to UN figures on Monday.

The refugees have given shocking accounts of killings and mass rapes by Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs. The Myanmar military says they have only targeted Rohingya militants.
Washington (AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif branded Washington "unreliable" Sunday in response to threats over the future of a nuclear deal with Iran.

"What the United States is doing, in addition to being unpredictable -- which might sometimes work -- is proving that it is unreliable," Zarif told CNN.

The deal, agreed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers -- the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany -- lifts economic sanctions put in place in 2005 in exchange for curbs to Tehran's nuclear program.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is responsible for verifying that Iran meets the terms of the agreement.

But since arriving in the White House, Donald Trump has attacked the deal on numerous occasions, vowing to tear it up.

"Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it," he told the UN General Assembly Tuesday.

The president cast further doubt over the deal after the Islamic republic tested a new medium-range Khoramshahr missile Saturday.

"Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel. They are also working with North Korea. Not much of an agreement we have!" Trump tweeted.

But Zarif brushed off the threat, saying Washington cannot act alone to end the agreement.

"This is not a bilateral agreement," he told CNN's Fareed Zakaria.

"It's not even a multilateral treaty. It's a Security Council agreement and the United States is a member of the Security Council."

The foreign minister added that Donald Trump's certification of whether Iran is abiding by the deal -- due mid-October -- is an "internal procedure" that in itself does not endanger the agreement.

"The only authority that has been recognized in the nuclear deal to verify is the IAEA," he said.

But according to diplomats, "non-certification" by Trump would lead to re-imposition of sanctions and the "political death" of the agreement.

Zarif said Iran will "consider its options" if Trump tells Congress on October 15 he believes it is not complying with the deal and it is not in US interests to stick by it.

"Iran has a number of options, which include walking away from the deal and going back with greater speed with its nuclear program, which will remain peaceful -- but which will not address and accept the limitations that we voluntarily accepted over our nuclear program," he said.
LONDON  Lyft, Uber's closest U.S. rival in the taxi-hailing business, met repeatedly with officials from London's transport regulator over the past year, a sign it may be targeting the city for international expansion.

Transport for London (TfL), which oversees taxi and private hire car operators, published details of the meetings with Lyft executives in response to a UK government freedom of information request in July.

If Lyft enters the London market Uber would face its first well-funded competitor in Europe when it is trying to overturn a decision by TfL not to renew its license. Lyft has raised around $2.6 billion in financing, including an investment round of $600 million in April, according to funding tracker Crunchbase.

Lyft's investors include automaker General Motors.

London's transport regulator on Friday said it would not renew Uber's license to operate, citing the firm's approach to reporting serious criminal offenses and background checks on drivers.

Lyft has already signaled it is looking at expansion outside the United States. Chief Executive Logan Green told the Associated Press in August that Lyft planned to go international "in the not too distant future."

A Lyft spokeswoman declined to comment on the timing of any expansion moves or the nature of Lyft meetings with London officials. It now operates ride services in more than 600 cities, covering as much as 95 percent of the U.S. population.

Four TfL officials met with Lyft's Chief Strategy Officer Raj Kapoor and Michael Masserman, its director of international government relations, in December 2016. Three unnamed members of the Greater London Authority were also present, according to TfL documents. Lyft presented details of its business model in that meeting.

Subsequent follow-up-conversations took place between TfL's Director of Transport Innovation Michael Hurwitz and Lyft executives Kapoor and Masserman over the phone in December and in January, TfL documents showed.

Story continues

This was followed by another meeting between the three in New York in March.

"We regularly talk to companies around the world about innovation that could improve transport in London," Hurwitz, said in a statement.

Reporting by Eric Auchard and Costas Pitas.



Related Video:
Matilda star Mara Wilson recently confessed that she often wishes she hadnt come out as bisexual when she did.

Mara Wilson (Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)

The Mrs. Doubtfire actress opened up about her sexuality the same day as the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shootings in Orlando, Florida and received backlash for her timing.

I often wish that I hadnt done it then because I got accused of taking advantage of a tragedy for personal attention, she told the LGBTQ legal website, Lambda Legal, last week. Now clearly I like attention, but I am not so callous as to make a tragedy about myself, my life and my story. That isnt what I was going for.

Mara Wilson attends the 'Mrs. Doubtfire' Beverly Hills Premiere on November 22, 1993. (Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images)

She also added:

A lot of people like to tell women  and especially queer women  that they are doing things for attention. And it is strange to me that the worst thing a woman can do is do something for attention.

On June 12, 2016, a gunman killed 49 people and injured 53 others when he opened fire at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in Orlando. That same day, Wilson tweeted the following:

Me at a gay club when I was eighteen. I feel embarrassed looking at it now... pic.twitter.com/qMZec3WBvu  Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 12, 2016

She continued in the thread of her post:

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

Being a "straight girl" where I clearly didn't belong, but I will say, I felt so welcomed there.  Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 12, 2016

I have never had a better experience at a club than I did then. Great music and people. And one of my friends met his partner that night!  Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 12, 2016

I haven't been to one since college, except once when a friend brought me along. I didn't feel like I belonged there.  Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 12, 2016

But the LGBTQ community has always felt like home, especially a few years later when I, uh, learned something about myself.  Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 12, 2016

So thank you.  Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 12, 2016

In a series of tweets over the next few days, Wilson eventually said she identifies as bisexual.

Story continues

.@__SonjaLouise__ I said I *used* to identify as mostly straight. I've embraced the Bi/Queer label lately  Mara Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 14, 2016

Wilson later told Vanity Fair that her decision to reveal her sexuality in that way was an impulsive, emotional decision.

Yet, Wilson told Lambda Legal she does not regret opening up about that part of her life.

I think that if youre in a place of security and privilege  which I can admit that I am  its important for you to [come out], she told the site.

I dont see myself as anybodys savior, but Id rather it were me  who can afford therapy and afford this platform  getting harassed for being who I am than a young LGBTQ kid. I think its important.

She also feels its important to speak about her sexuality, since bisexuality still carries a stigma.

One of the reasons I didnt come out for a very long time was because I grew up hearing that bisexual girls were crazy, she said. I heard that all the time. I heard that bisexual girls were crazy, they were greedy, they were selfish and they caused drama. They were the worst. They wanted attention.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
On Saturday morning, Zach Adams, who was found guilty of first-degree murder and the aggravated rape of Holly Bobo, was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Adams, 33, was found guilty on Friday and defense and state prosecutors worked together to arrive at a plea agreement which allowed Adams to avoid the death penalty, reports CBS News.

Lawyers reached the plea deal early Saturday morning before jurors in Hardin County were brought in for sentencing, according to News Channel 5.

As part of the agreement, Karen Bobo, mother of Holly Bobo, was allowed to deliver a statement before the jury, reports WSMV.

Adams will serve life without parole on the murder counts  he was found guilty of eight counts  which were merged into one count. An additional 50 years was added to the sentence for the rape convictions.

On Friday, Adams was found guilty in the killing of Bobo, a 20-year-old Tennessee nursing student, was found dead in the woods in 2014, 3  years after she was taken from outside of her familys semi-rural Decatur County home on April 13, 2011.

Adams is the first of three men to go to trial in the killing of Bobo. Jason Autry and John Dylan Adams (Zachs brother) were also charged. All three men pled not guilty.

Mark Gwyn, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director, said in a statement Friday that he hoped the verdict would bring closure to Bobos family, according to The Jackson Sun.

Since the start of this investigation, our priority has been to pursue justice for the family and friends of Holly Bobo, he said. Today, though we are gratified by the jurys verdict, our thoughts remain with them.

In mid-September, Autry testified that he acted as a lookout for Adams while his friend fired a bullet at Bobo that killed her.

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

I need you to help bury this body, Autry said, repeating the words Adams spoke to him at the time.

Story continues

According to the Associated Press, Autry was on a list of witnesses who were offered immunity in the case. Autry said he testified because he was seeking leniency, the AP reports.

Autrys lawyer indicated to the judge in the case that he had reached a deal with prosecutors, while a trial date for John Adams has not been set, according to the AP.

PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Order is on sale now.

Prosecutor Paul Hagerman said Autrys testimony had been corroborated, corroborated, and corroborated again, according to CBS News.

She was never gonna come out of that blanket alive, not a chance, Hagerman said. [Autry] knew just how guilty he was, just how guilty they all were  and for years, he kept his secret.

Bobos family was present throughout the trial, with her mother breaking down in tears as she testified.
ENGLAND

His great grandfathers brother was the prime minister of the United Kingdom in the earlier 20th century. A decade later, as British foreign secretary, he wrote the document known as the Balfour Declaration , which recognized the Jewish peoples right to a national home in the Land of Israel.

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But Lord Roddy Balfour never truly understood what his last name meant to the Jews and the importance of his relative, Lord Arthur James Balfour, until that rainy evening in the mid 1960s, when he got into a taxi in London with a rather unusual baggage.

Lord Roddy Balfour with his famous relatives portrait. In the last 20 years, people have often been saying to me, Its your Balfour declaration thats caused all the problems in the Middle East (Photo: Yaniv Halily)

I was coming home from Eton one evening, and Id collected a picture from my aunt. It was the days of the old cabs where you always put your luggage in an open place next door to the driver. I was on my way back to Paris and I had my school trunk in the car. So this driver spotted the name Balfour on the luggage tag and asked me was I anything to do with Arthur James Balfour. I said, Yes, Im his great great nephew. And he suddenly broke into sort of Hebrew song and said, This is incredible. This is the eve of the Passover, and this is my last fare and then Im going back to the east End of London to celebrate Passover with my family. When I tell them Ive had a relation of Arthur Balfours in the car, theyre going to just be amazed.

I was so taken with his singing and was very moved, as Id never come across this before. And in getting out and thanking him and him getting out of the car and embracing me, Id left the picture in the back of the cab. My father was going to kill me because it was a family picture. So I rang the lost property office and went up to Islington, and there was this picture wrapped in brown paper with string, saying Balfour on it, which I hadnt done. And this guy, who was on his way back for the eve of the Passover, had taken the trouble to get this Balfour picture to the lost property office and beautifully wrapped. Amazing. That was my first interaction with somebody Jewish who explained to me the importance of the declaration.

With a surname that is part of Israels history textbooks, and an aristocratic estate that looks like it was taken out of a fairytale, Lord Roderick Francis Arthur Balfour is the direct successor of Arthur Balfour, the British politician who was one of the first leaders in the world to support a national home for the Jews in the Land of Israel.

Lord Arthur James Balfour, the man behind the declaration (Photo: Getty Images)

Arthur Balfour was born in 1848. When he served as prime minister from 1902 to 1905, Britain was the first country to try to help the Jews find a homeland. Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain proposed to Theodor Herzl to provide a portion of British East Africa to the Jewish people as a homeland (the Uganda Scheme).

On November 2, 1917, a year after being appointed foreign secretary, Balfour wrote a letter to Lord Walter Rothschild, one of the leaders of the British Jewish community, which later became known as the Balfour Declaration. The letter was written after Zionist leaders Dr. Chaim, Weizmann and Nahum Sokolow asked the British government to acknowledge the Jews right to immigrate to the Land of Israel and recognize the Zionist Movements institutions there.

A rare show of support for the Zionist idea by a foreign leader, the declaration is seen as an important event in the history of the Jewish people. The Balfour Declaration was a ray of light in the dark history of Jews in the first half of the 20th century, following persecutions and pogroms and before the Holocaust which nearly eliminated the Jewish people. It was compared in the Jewish world to the Cyrus Charter, which marked the Jewish peoples return to their land after the First Temples destruction.

He was always known as Uncle

Arthur Balfour inherited the title of Lord from his father. He himself was childless, however, so the title was passed on to his brother Gerald and his sons. The current Lord Balfour is Roddy, his brothers great grandson, who not only holds the official title but is also considered Arthurs successor.

His luxurious home, in the county of Sussex, a 90-minute drive from London, is decorated with many items that used to belong to his famous relative, including an original wax seal of Queen Victoria and a ring with the official family symbol imprinted on it. The only thing thats missing, Balfour says, is a Torah scroll that Arthur received when he laid the cornerstone for the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem and which went missing over the years.

The Balfour Declaration

What did you know about Arthur?

I knew primarily that he got through a huge fortune, running this house, financing all his family, very poor investing. He was a philosopher, he was a man of letters, he was a very thoughtful politician. They always said the problem with Arthur is hes weak in the House of Commons because when hes asked questions, he says: On the one hand this, and on the other hand that.

He was always known as Nuncy in the family, like Uncle. Obviously, his memory was very revered within the family, other than the fact that he got through so much money. When he inherited it in the mid 19th century, I think he was one of the two or three richest bachelors in Britain.

Arthur Balfour never married, but the family knew about his liaison with Lady Elcho, who was married to his good friend Lord Elcho. When he died, he left houses, land and money to his brother and to his nephews and nieces. Some of this inheritance reached Roddy Balfour as well, although he stresses that he belongs to the poor, political side of the family.

The familys political branch produced another prime minister (Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil), two parliament members and a member of the House of Lords (the upper house of the British Parliament). But theres no need to feel sorry for Roddy Balfour: The palace of the Duke of Norfolk is not far from his house, and the duke just happens to be the brother of Tessa, Balfours wife in the past 46 years. Balfours four daughters stand to receive an impressive inheritance one day. One problem has yet to be solved though: The hereditary title is only passed down to sons. He tried to change it, his driver explained to me, but was unsuccessful.

A magnificent portrait of Arthur Balfour, from his days as prime minister, hangs alongside original works of art in the spacious parlor. It wasnt the political status which generated the subdued wealth reflected from every corner, which is typical of families of old money. The Balfour family became very rich when India was a British colony. One of the family members, James Balfour, made his fortune in India, where he developed engineering infrastrctures for the British empire. He returned to Scotland, where the family originally came from, and built luxurious estates which the family still owns to this very day.

Almost everything you see around you belongs to the family, through an inheritance or marriage, Balfours elderly driver tells me as we make our way to the family estate, on the top of a green hill.

Working for the Rothschild family

Roddy Balfour was born in London on the exact same year as the State of Israel. His father, Eustace, was in charge of the business operations of a large British engineering company in France, and Roderick was brought up abroad.

I was brought up in Brazil at first and then in France, he says. I came to school in England. But in the summer holidays wed go and stay with all our cousins in Scotland and see these big houses, and therefore one was conscious of the whole family history because one was staying in these huge houses. In those days, Arthur hadnt been dead for more than 30 years or something, so one was conscious that hed been prime minister and that this was a big family who had achieved something in life. It wasnt something we thought about every day. We led a very suburban life in the suburbs of Paris.

But his surname dictated his path. He studied at Eton College, a prestigious boarding school for boys which has educated members of the royal family and boys who went on to become Britains prime ministers.

Its a select club, he says. We had marvelous tutors. I think its always attracted good people, good masters. In the old days, you got in there in a way because you were your fathers son. But you still got a very good education, and the idea was that you would end up in Oxford or Cambridge. In those days, it was much easier to progress. It was self-perpetuating, because you had big families who ran industrieswhether it was brewing, whether it was bankingwho had been to Eton, and they understood the education people had had at Eton, so it was natural for them to want to employ people whod had that training.

Balfour works as a tax consultant for wealthy people and large companies trying to avoid double taxation in their worldwide businesses. He experienced a sort of closure in one of his first jobs, working for the Rothschild family. In the 1980s he also worked for Nikanor, a company owned by Israeli billionaire Beny Steinmetz, who was recently detained over suspected bribery and fraud.

Lord Arthur Balfour during a visit to Palestine in 1925 (Photo: Getty Images)

Twenty-five years ago, Roddy Balfour opened the newspaper one day and saw that the Anglo-Israel Association had had a dinner for the 75th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. It had all the people who attended, and there was no Balfour there! he says. I thought that was strange, so I wrote to the Association and said: Whats going on? Do you know any of the Balfours? And they said no. So I said, Id be very pleased to get involved. I feel we should reconnect, the Balfour family, with the declaration. So Ive been involved in the Anglo-Israel Association in London for that 25 years.

The famous declaration is essentially a letter which was written following many debates in the British Cabinet and after many drafts. The original wording included the following sentence: His Majesty's Government accepts the principle of recognizing Palestine as the National Home of the Jewish people. The final version states: His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people 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 last sentenced sparked a row, which we will get back to later.

"All that generation were very supportive (of the idea of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine), says Balfour, apart from (Edwin) Montagu, the Jew in the cabinet who opposed the declaration and thought that it would not help British Jewry.

We all knew that the Jews needed a home because of persecution, so it wasnt something to debate, it was just a fact of life. Later on, obviously, one realized what sort of amount of lobbying and battling needed to go on to get the declaration produced.

You have to look at Palestine as it was then. It was a desert, a mosquito-infested swamp. The Palestinians on the whole were looking after their goats and sheep. And so, after all, all of us who are of the Abrahamic faith, whether youre Christian or Muslim, were all brought up to believe in Moses and Abraham and then later on Jerusalem and Bethlehem. So the Holy Land is absolutely ingrained in the Old Testament, which we all read. All these things were so natural, so to put it down in the Holy Land didnt arouse a lot of discussion because that was the land of the Jews. That was what everybody thought. Nobody really thought about the Arabs as Muslims in those days with their separate religion.

I dont know what arguments there were about Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock and all that sort of stuff those years, and there was obviously a bit of resistance by the indigenous Palestinians. But when you look at it, there was just a huge uninhabited land basically. When these guys did the declaration, they had no possible incline that there would be this sort of invasion and birth explosion in the place, and they never knew Hitler was coming along and then the Holocaust.

The declaration was adopted after weeks of debates.

"It was a government thing. There was a big debate about where it should be in. There was the idea that it could be in Uganda originally. We were a primary recipient of victims of the pogroms here. They came to England, and then some of them crossed over to Liverpool, went off to the US.

Lord Arthur Balfour and the first military governor of Jerusalem, Sir Ronald Storrs (on his right) during a visit to a church in the city in 1925 (Photo: Getty Images)

So that was one of the reasons for this declaration, for this support for finding a solution for the Jews.

Yeah. I mean, we complain about the Muslims today arriving in their burqas or their hijabs, and not speaking English. But its slightly different. Theyve come here voluntarily, an awful lot of them. But the people from the pogroms arrived from the shtetls speaking Yiddish. They had no idea what English was, so they suddenly arrived on boats in England, unable to communicate with different religious habits, not wanting to do anything on a Saturday and just looking different. Exactly the same problem of integration. And I think they just made a very good case for the Holy Land, and there wasnt any real reason to resist it. This was an empty barren land, and the Israelis have done so much. All the kibbutz and draining the swamp and growing everything. Palestinians could have done that for themselves, but theyve never chosen to do so.

You keep what you conquer

Roddy Balfour is very supportive of the declaration and of the State of Israel, and he doesnt hide it.

We just knew that Jews live in Israel, it was just axiomatic. There was no debate about whether they should. Then of course we had the Six-Day War and I worked for the Herald Tribune in Paris at the time, and France was very pro-Israeli. There were massive demonstrations in Paris in favor of Israel, so I was very conscious then of this as well.

Obviously we were suddenly conscious of all these options when you had the Six-day War and Egypt trying to be opportunistic to wipe out Israel, and Israel just smashed them to pieces and took over the occupied territories, Sinai and the Golan and everything. And that to us seemed, you know, if you winthats what you do. You keep what you conquer, especially if its going to increase your security.

Its only really in the last 20 years where weve gone from nobody talking about the declaration to often saying to me, Oh, yeah, of course its your Balfour Declaration thats caused all the problems in the Middle East, to which I say, you cant really say that, because the world was a very different place when it was made, when it was posted to Lord Rothschild.

The Palestinian population has expanded, and one of the problems is that the Palestinians are not self-sufficient. They lived in the same land, they had the same opportunity, they can cultivate stuff, they could do whatever it is, but they dont seem to want to help themselves and I dont think they have any more right to Palestine than the Jews do, all the Abrahamic faiths. But they just do think of it in a different manner. I think it is really sad that they cant sort of get their economy together and dont seem to be politically motivated to do so. Its almost a sort of totalitarian idea: We will live in misery because we can then blame all our misery on Israel.

A lot of people blame the lack of leadership on the Palestinian side with this entire situation.

Well, theres leadership, but its leadership of the wrong sort. Its wanting to subjugate. I think its just very sad that we cant get these people to all work together in their respective territories to have economic wellbeing. You know, the Israelis dont want to rub out all the Muslims, but the Muslims do want to rub out the Israelis.

If Arthur Balfour were alive today and visited Israel, what would he think?

"I think the fact that weve had these terrible events, the Jewish persecution and the Holocaust, the genocide, and it offered a way if you could escape for somewhere to go and live with your own kind, I think it was a great thing to have done. I suspect Arthur and all that generation would be incredibly proud had they known what Hitler was going to do to the Jews, they would have been even more pleased with what they set in motion. But they wouldnt be pleased about the hopeless situation between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The central tenet in the thing about the indigenous population has rather gone out of the window in just increasing the settlements and evicting Palestinians. Not good politics, you know, for the rest of the world.

Lord Roddy Balfour in the living room of his estate (Photo: Yakir Zur)

Roddy Balfour has never actually seen the original declaration, which is in the British Library. Im ashamed to say I can never remember the wording of it, he says. I should know it by heart, but I dont.

In the coming months, however, he will be required to delve into its details repeatedly, when he takes part in many events in Britain marking the declarations 100th anniversary. The events will also be used to strengthen the already warm relations between Israel and Britain. British Prime Minister Theresa May, perhaps the most pro-Israel person who has ever lived on 10 Downing Street, is expected to deliver a special speech. Last December, in her first speech to Conservative Friends of Israel as prime minister, she stated that the Balfour Declaration had been "one of the most important letters in history."

The Palestinians, of course, see no cause for celebration. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas argued in the past year that the Balfour Declaration ultimately led to the Palestinian Nakba and urged the British government to apologize to his people. We ask Great Britain to draw the necessary lessons and to bear its historic, legal, political, material and moral responsibility for the consequences of this declaration, including an apology to the Palestinian people for the catastrophes, misery and injustice this declaration created and to act to rectify these disasters and remedy its consequences, including by the recognition of the state of Palestine, he told the UN General Assembly in 2016. This is the least Great Britain can do.

The British government refused to apologize . Balfour agrees, explaining the declaration was issued out of good intentions and there is no reason to apologize for the fact that reality did not turn out the way the Palestinians wanted it to.

At the end of the interview, he stands in front of his great-great uncles portrait, failing to hide his admiration. And then he remembers something. The first time he visited Israel, he came to Tel Aviv and discovered that the street named after General Allenby is longer than Balfour Street. I think it should be the other way around, he says.
In case you didnt know, youre happyor at least content. Next time you chat with your friends, remember you must stop complaining. Yes, youre content.

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According to a special poll conducted last week by Dr. Mina Tzemach and Mano Geva among 533 people, who make up a representative sample of Israels adult population, 86 percent rated their personal situation as good, very good or excellent, and nearly half of them (49 percent) chose the higher levelsexcellent and very good. Only 10 percent of the population said their situation was bad, very bad or extremely bad.

As a side note, there is no difference between men and women in this satisfaction index and it has nothing to do with the respondents age.

Anti-corruption protest near the attorney generals home. In a country with so many problems, who would have thought we would be so content? (Photo: Yariv Katz)

There appears to be a correlation between our satisfaction with the situation in Israel and our feelings regarding our personal situation. Seventy-one percent of Israelis rate the security situation as good to excellent, and 53 percent say the same about the economic situation. The social situation, however, is not as good (only 42 percent rate is as good to excellent, compared to 55 percent who believe it is bad to extremely bad).

Nevertheless, in a country with so many protestsfrom the disabled to the anti-corruption demonstrations outside the attorney generals housewhere young people are unable to buy an apartment and are forced to increasingly rely on their parents, where the poverty index increases every year and the security threats grow, who would have thought we would still be so content?

When the respondents were asked to choose the State of Israels most serious problem, there was no unanimity. The cost of living came in first, selected by 30 percent of respondents. It was followed, way behind, by the security situation (17 percent), the gaps between rich and poor (15 percent), housing prices (12 percent), tensions between rightists and leftists (9 percent) and tensions between religious and secular Jews (8 percent).

The most interesting figure is a decisive response to Culture Minister Miri Regev, who made quite a contribution this year to the incitement between Sephardim and Ashkenazim in Israel: Only 1 percent of the public believe that the tensions between Ashkenazim and Sephardim are the State of Israels most serious problem, which only goes to show that while the Israeli public doesnt consider the ethnic demon a real problem, it serves as a tool in the hands of politicians or other interested parties.

If theres one issue the majority clearly agrees on its the equal share of the burden. The secular Israeli public wont accept the fact that the ultra-Orthodox arent sharing the security burden. Seventy percent of respondents are in favor of drafting Haredim into the IDF, only 20 percent are against it, and 10 percent havent made up their minds.

But when it comes to the High Court of Justice, which recently struck down a law postponing Haredi draft , 46 percent of the public believe the court is overstepping its authority by cancelling laws enacted by the Knesset, while 39 percent disagree.

Yeshiva students at IDF recruitment center. If theres one issue the majority clearly agrees on its the equal share of the burden (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

An even more alarming figure is that 50 percent of the Israeli public see the need for legislation to restrict the High Courts authority. In other words, they are in favor of the law planned by Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to restore balance between Israels three legislative branches that would essentially enable the government to bypass High Court rulings.

The political arena offers some significant changes. According to Tzemach and Gevas Rosh Hashana survey, the right-wing campwhich include the Likud, Kulanu, Bayit Yehudi and Yisrael Beytenu partiesis losing support: From 54 seats in the current Knesset to only 50 seats according to the poll.

In the centrist-leftist camp, Labor leader Avi Gabbay remains impressively stable with 22 Knesset seats for the Zionist Union. An interesting figure revealed by the poll is that following Gabbays election, voters loyalty to the Zionist Union is higher than voters loyalty to Likud. Seventy-four percent of respondents who voted for the Zionist Union in 2015 say they plan to vote for the party again in the next elections, while only 62% of respondents who voted Likud plan to vote Likud again in the next elections.

Another significant finding has to do with the effect the prime ministers investigations have on Likud voters. Only 74 percent of those who voted for Likud in 2015, and who say they believe Benjamin Netanyahu is innocent, plan to vote for Likud again. Twenty-five percent say they will vote for other parties. Among those who voted for Likud in 2015 and who dont believe Netanyahu is innocent, only 35 percent plan to vote for Likud again. Forty-seven percent say they will vote for other parties. This goes to show that the mass support rallies organized for Netanyahu do not reflect Likud voters real stance.

The following figures refute Sara and Benjamin Netanyahus repeated statement that they have the peoples support. Asked do you or dont you believe Netanyahu when he says there is no truth whatsoever in any of the suspicions raised against him in the investigated affairs, only 12 percent said they had complete faith in the prime minister. Twenty-two percent tend to believe him, while 20 percent tend not to believe him and 34 percent (more than one-third of the Israeli public) dont believe him at all.

The publics faith in the prime ministers wife is even lower. Asked do you or dont you believe Sara Netanyahu when she says she was unaware of the food ordered from luxury restaurants at the states expense for the Netanyahu familys private needs, only 8 percent of respondents said they believed her. Twenty-one percent of the public tend not to believe her, and forty-nine percent (almost half of the Israeli public) dont believe her at all.

Only 8 percent of the public believes Sara Netanyahu was unaware of the food ordered from luxury restaurants at the states expense (Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO

I wonder what the result would be had the respondents been asked if they believed Sara Netanyahu worked as a full-time psychologist in the public service, as the Netanyahus and their associates have been claiming all these years. Figures published last week , following a court appeal filed by journalist Ben Caspit, revealed that Mrs. Netanyahu worked an average of two hours a day, which are nowhere near a full-time job, and was absent most of the time (for justified reasons, of course. Yeah, right).

This leads to the interesting finding provided by the following question: If the attorney general decides to indict Netanyahu, should the prime minister resign or not? Sixty-three percent said they were certain or thought Netanyahu would have to resign, and only 29 percent are certain or think he wont have to resign.

What will happen if Netanyahu does resign? Fifty-seven percent of the public say general elections should be called. Thats quite a high number, considering the fact that the public is usually against general elections. Twenty-eight percent believe that if Netanyahu resigns, he should be replaced by another candidate from the Likud party who will establish a new government in the current Knesset.

These figures point to the publics maturity. On the one hand, the public is against corruption and believes that if there is any truth in the suspicions, the prime minister must resign. On the other hand, the grade Netanyahu receives for his performance as prime minister is better than expected. Forty-nine percent rated him as a pretty good to very good prime minister.

Asked who is best suited to be prime minister, most respondents still favor Netanyahu over his rivals. Twenty-nine percent believe Netanyahu is the best candidate while 12 percent prefer Yair Lapid, who is followed by Avi Gabbay with 10 percent, and Moshe Kahlon and Naftali Bennett with 5 percent each. Twenty-four percent, by the way, say none of these five party leaders are fit to be prime minister. In other words, there is still no alternative for the position of prime minister apart from the incumbent prime minister.

The respondents were also asked to choose the best suited person for defense minister out of a list of four namesthe current defense minister and three former chiefs of staff who are not part of the political system at the moment. Former IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi was selected by 24 percent of respondents, followed by former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon (20 percent) and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (17 percent). Despite all of his titles and the growing interest in his tweets, only 9 percent of the public would like to see former Chief of Staff, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak return to the Defense Ministry.

At the start of a new Jewish year, about 61 percent of Israelis say they are optimistic or pretty optimistic about the states future, compared to 32 percent who are quite pessimistic or very pessimistic. The poll further reveals that men are more optimistic than women, and that optimism increases with age. Sixty-nine percent of Israelis over the age of 55 are optimistic compared to only 51 percent of Israelis aged 18 to 24. Lets just hope that the future in Israel doesnt just belong to men over the age of 55.
The Israeli Arabs disaster is manifested in people like Knesset Member Hanin Zoabi, Sheikh Raed Salah and filmmaker Mohammad Bakri.

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According to every single poll, most Israeli Arabs are loyal citizenssomething that must be mentioned repeatedly. Most of them support the two-states-for-two-people solution, recognizing Israeldirectly and unequivocallyas a Jewish and democratic state; volunteer rates for community and national service among young Israeli Arabs are growing, in spite of the political leaderships defiance; furthermore, according to the Israel Democracy Institute, 55 percent of Israels Arabs are proud to be Israelis.

This situation bothers strife mongers like Bakri, who has made every effort to create the opposite impression. His film Jenin, Jenin has already been officially recognized as false propaganda. But a person like Bakri doesnt stop. He has gone all the way to Lebanon to screen his films, which were made under the occupation government. Its not that people there are in need of incitement against Israel, but Bakri went there to add more fuel to the fire of hatred.

Bakri on the cover of Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar. Normalization with the Zionist enemy is treason

The Arab world does have, after all, a movement that supports peace and reconciliation. In light of what is going on in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Iraq, it should already be clear the enemies are not the Zionists, but rather the IslamistsSunnis or Shiites. And of all the different movements, Bakri chose to give an interview to a Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper, to convey the following messages: Normalization with the Zionist enemy is treason.

In Lebanon of all places? Why, even if Israel tries, and it wont, it wont reach one-tenth of the oppression and killing the Palestinians have been subject to from Lebanon or from Hezbollah forces in Syria. Because Lebanon has adopted an official apartheid policy. The Palestinians have no right to use the countrys health services, they have no right to own any property and they are banned from a long list of occupations.

The Palestinians' descendants have been living in Lebanon for decades, but have yet to be granted citizenship. To be more accurate, the Christians and the Shiites, who arrived following the Nakba, did receive citizenship. But the Sunnis, who are the large majority, didnt. Both groups are no longer Palestinians; they are Lebanese for all intents and purposes. But they are inferior Lebanese. According to a 2010 report, 56 percent of them are unemployed, and according to a UN Refugee Agency report from last year, their situation has only gotten worse.

The former grand mufti of Lebanon, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, referred to the Palestinians as unwanted trash, and the Lebanese are about to complete the construction of a separation wall around the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. Because thats what should be done to those unwanted brethren, although they are members of the same families, the same religion, the same language and the same culture. The result is great misery.

According to every possible parameter, the Arabs situation under Israeli rulewithin and beyond the Green Lineis far better than the situation of their brethren in Lebanon. Bakri visited refugee camps near Beirut and saw the poverty and the misery there, but his incitement was directed at Israel. Thats what propagandists do. They nurture deception, especially the worst deception of allself-deception.

Bakri arrived in Lebanon to attend the Palestinian Days film festival, which was dedicated to him and to his work. Its the worst country in the world for Palestiniansnot as a result of a temporary crisis, but as a matter of policy but to hell with the facts. He didnt go there to improve his brothers situation. Between working for Palestinian prosperity and inciting against Israel, Bakrijust like Hamashas chosen incitement. Thats the only thing that matters, and to hell with the Palestinians.

Culture Minister Miri Regev is wrong to demand an investigation against Bakri. Thats exactly what he wants. Thats exactly how he will turn into a martyr. Theres no need to give him the pleasure. He should be presented as the enemy of the Palestinians, because thats what he is.
An Israeli Haredi citizen was stabbed in his chest Monday during an altercation that broke out between Hasidic Jews in the Ukrainian city of Uman.

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The victim was said to be in serious condition and a medical helicopter is expected to fly the currently hospitalized 42-year-old Israeli back to Israel overnight.

Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg

The suspect who carried out the stabbing is believed to also be an Israeli and was arrested by the state authorities.

After the Hasid was rushed to the hospital in the city, local police launched a criminal investigation into the attack and arrested a 52-year-old man on suspicion of intentionally causing serious bodily harm, a crime which carries a maximum sentence in Ukraine of up to eight years in prison.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had obtained information from the consulate in Ukraine about an Israeli who had been hospitalized in central Uman after being stabbed.
Montana shelters need funding, not cuts

Our work at Domestic and Sexual Violence Services in Red Lodge is challenging. The survivors we help have many barriers to navigate. Unfortunately, the work will get harder and the barriers more numerous when the funding is further cut in the state budget.

Domestic violence shelters and programs like ours across the state will lose crucial funding. Nonprofits in Billings, Missoula and Helena that provide housing and support for teenage mothers will lose funding. The partnership with Children Advocacy Centers will be terminated. Health case management for foster children will be cut.

These cuts put peoples lives at risk  often the most vulnerable people whom we serve every day: people experiencing violence at home, children who are abused and women seeking medical help after sexual assault. Rural Montana, like our neighbors here in Red Lodge, will be hit the hardest.

Our state legislature and governor need to get a quick reality check and reconsider revenue instead of balancing the state budget on the backs of struggling Montanans. Elected officials need to look at reasonable measures like tobacco tax, alcohol tax and revising tax codes for millionaires. The crises that Montanans face daily cannot be solved by cutting our way through this budget crisis.

-- Kelly Heaton, executive director, Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, Red Lodge
It is a story that may sound unbelievable but someway, somehow, Ghana could also now boast of having persons we can call our own innovators.

For a country blessed with so much resources, it is baffling how Ghana is still yet to really count it's first original technologist.

The said invention of James and Fredrick

The only story that easily comes to mind is that of Apostle Kwadwo Safo, who has strived to finally put his 'Kantanka' cars and other machines on the market.

READ ALSO: A Plus' Wedding: When Akosua Vee failed to style herself well at her own wedding

But he is now not alone. Somewhere in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, there are two young innovators also trying their best to put Ghana on the map.

Fredrick and James are brothers aged 23 and 20 respectively. But despite their relatively young ages, these two have minds as big as anything you can guess.

The duo are the manufacturers of a car that can carry three passengers around.

Young innovators: The two Ghanaian brothers who have successfully made a three-passenger car

Their story first came to light after they were discovered by a reader of YEN.com.gh, who could not help but share the tale after being awed by their invention.

He narrated that upon enquiring from Fredrick and James, he was told the pair used aluminum plate and some other hard metals in building the body parts of this three-passenger vehicle.

How amazing?

READ ALSO: Achimota School marks 90th anniversary with praise jam

He continued that the two brothers are originally from Swedru in the Central Region of Ghana but moved with their parents to Koforidua in their formative years.

Both Fredrick and James are Junior High School graduates, and started the idea of making these three-passenger cars right after their completion of Junior High School(JHS).

Since then, they have been making good use of their God-given talent, despite receiving minimum support.

Get more YEN news here.

They are therefore seeking support from government, NGOs and the general public to help them take this innovation to a whole new level.

The duo are the manufacturers of a car that can carry three passengers around.

Send us a message on our official YEN Facebook group or at info@yen.com.gh.

YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other.

Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome.

Source: YEN.com.gh
- Immediate past attorney general, Marietta Brew Oppong, is calling for negotiations with Togo over disputed border lands

- Marietta Brew Oppong was part of the legal council that represented Ghana at the maritime dispute court case

- Click here for the latest stories in Ghana

Former attorney general under the Mahama administration, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong is calling for immediate steps to prevent a future maritime dispute with neighboring country - Togo.

Former A-G warns of possible maritime dispute with Togo

READ ALSO: Fresh teachers to strike on October 2 over unpaid salaries

As we speak, the clear boarder delimitation between Ghana and Togo remains unclear as worrying stories of houses been built between Ghana and Togo continues to question the limitation of the frontiers of both countries.

Commenting on the recent victory Ghana chalked against Ivory Coast at the Special Court of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the former attorney general called for the need of negotiations between both countries in order to come out with a clear boarder.

The disputed maritime boundary between Ghana and Ivory Coast

The NPP administration in a reaction to the victory has hinted of a possible legal tussle between both countries should government not put in place intense efforts of resolve the ambiguity of these boarders.

Former A-G warns of possible maritime dispute with Togo

But speaking in an interview with Joy News, the former attorney general made the case that a legal tussle will be the last thing that could happen between Ghana and Togo.

We should remember that litigation is always the last resort especially when it comes to your neighboring state or country. I believe that negotiations will take place between Ghana and Togo on that particular boundary, she argued.

YEN.com.gh has simplified the ruling by the Special Chamber of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea which involved the Maritime dispute between both countries and also instructs that Ghana should pay no compensation to Ivory Coast.

READ ALSO: Fresh teachers to strike on October 2 over unpaid salaries

Meanwhile, both countries - Ghana and Ivory Coast - have agreed to stick with the judgement of the Special Chamber of ITLOS.

YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident,want to tell about a local problem, know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message on our official YEN Facebook group or at info@yen.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Elizabeth, IL - A rural Illinois woman faces murder charges in the death of her infant son.

Elizabeth Roen, 27, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after a follow-up probe into the May 15 death of 5-month-old Tripp C. Luebke.

Jo Daviess County States Attorney John Hay told reporters the charges include two theories of murder. The first is that Roen allegedly suffocated the child knowing there was a strong probability of great bodily harm; and the second theory, that there was a strong probability of death. If she is convicted, the two charges would merge into a single count at sentencing.

Roens arrest was announced Thursday, September 21, by the Northwest Illinois Critical Incident Response Team. Several police agencies, including the FBI, were involved in the investigation. Roen was taken into custody Wednesday, September 20, by members of the Elizabeth Police Department.

Police say that on May 15, officers and EMTs were dispatched to a home in the village of Elizabeth, about 150 miles west of Chicago, for a report of an unresponsive child. The boy was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Galena, Illinois, and later airlifted to Rockford Memorial Hospital, where he died at around 5:45 p.m.

Roen told police that she put her son down to sleep and left the room. When she returned, he wasnt breathing.

Published reports indicate that in 2009, Roen was convicted of child abuse in Wisconsin and is a registered sex offender. In the 2009 case, Roens daughter suffered severe burns after being left in a bathtub filled with scalding-hot water. The child also had injuries on her face. Roen stated that she left the child unattended in the bathroom while she changed bedding in another room. She was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail and three years of probation.

According to Wisconsin court records, Roen was convicted of incest, a Class F felony, in 2010, and sentenced to three months in jail and five months probation. She is currently listed on the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry.

In Illinois, first-degree murder is Class M felony, punishable by 20-60 years in prison. An offender may be sentenced to life if aggravating factors are present.

[Featured Image by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Sex Offender Registry]
MUSCATINE  The city of Muscatine's more than $500,000 annual street repair project continues this month, with road closures expected on Isett Avenue and Cypress Street beginning Tuesday.

Each year, Muscatine hires a contractor to perform asphalt overlay work on portions of the city's 140 miles of streets, according to Public Works Director Brian Stineman. In the past six years, streets, alleys and parking lots have been repaired for around $2.9 million, through the Road Use Tax Fund and Local Option Sales Tax.

Stineman said the city prioritizes what streets to fix each year depending on the average level of traffic in each area, plus how badly repairs are needed. This month, work has already been done on McArthur and Washington streets.

This week, Stineman said, asphalt will be laid on Isett Avenue and Cypress Street.

"Cypress and Isett  those streets that head over toward Heinz  we want to get that done as fast as they can because the amount of traffic," he said. "Most of the others are residential (streets), so the traffic is not quite as heavy."

On Tuesday, crews will work on Isett Aenue from Bidwell Road to East 11th Street; then on Wednesday, work moves to Cypress Street, from East 9th to East 11th streets. Stineman said milling is done in phases, with crews working on seven streets now before moving on to the rest of this year's list.

"We don't want streets sitting there without a surface for long because they'll start to deteriorate pretty quickly," he said. "So, hopefully, it'll just be a few days a week before we start re-laying (asphalt)."

The city said no vehicles can be parked on streets prior to the milling process, and door knockers will inform residents in each area when they should move their vehicles.

Muscatine awarded Illowa Investment, Inc., the asphalt overlay contract for $519,250 in July, according to the city.

Along with the ongoing milling work, crews are still rebuilding Mississippi Drive and Cleveland Street, as well as East 5th Street as part of the West Hill Sewer Separation Project. The city hopes construction work will wrap up before winter.

First streets for asphalt overlay

Washington Street (Diagonal Street to River Road)

McArthur Street (from Lincoln Avenue to Summit Avenue)

Isett Avenue (East 11th Street to Woodlawn Avenue)

Cypress Street (East 11th Street to #9 Alley)

Jefferson Street (Lincoln Avenue to Fillmore Street)

Howard Street (Clay Street to Jackson Street)

Lincoln Avenue (Clay Street to Lake Park Boulevard)

Final round of street repairs

West Cleveland Street (Isett Avenue to Dead End)

5th Avenue (Webster Street to Blaine Street)

Elfers Street (Grandview Avenue to railroad tracks)

57th Street (67th Avenue to railroad tracks)

Eisenhower Street (Devitt Avenue to Dead End)
Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi []